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Many U.S. cities face potential risk in summer of low, moderate, or high populations of the mosquito species that transmits Zika virus (colored circles). The mosquito has been observed in parts of the United States (shaded portion of map) and can establish populations in additional cities because of favorable summertime meteorological conditions. In addiiton, Zika risk may be elevated in cities with more air travelers arriving from Latin America and the Caribbean (larger circles)
What if the $500 million we send China for Carnival throws stayed in New Orleans?: Jarvis DeBerry
Trump may sound like George Wallace, but he's attracting more than poor white voters: Jarvis DeBerry
The federal government plans to pour $125 million into the fight against a mysterious disease that has ravaged corals in Florida and much of the Caribbean, and now poses a dire threat to the treasured reefs off the Louisiana and Texas coasts.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has issued a subpoena to Donald Trump. The nine-member panel sent a letter to the former president's lawyers on Friday, demanding his testimony under oath by mid-November and outlining a series of corresponding documents. The decision by lawmakers to exercise their subpoena power comes a week after the committee made its final case against the former president, who they say is the "central cause" of the multi-part effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. It remains unclear how Trump and his legal team will respond to the subpoena, if at all.
News / Africa

by Freeman Razemba

FIVE Zimbabweans who were part of an eight-member gang that has been peddling drugs in South Africa were arrested last Thursday after they were caught manufacturing heroin worth over $2,6 million in the neighbouring country.The eight suspects, aged between 25 and 45, were arrested by the Hawks and members of the Crime Intelligence from Chartsworth Cluster, while manufacturing drugs at a house which they had turned into a heroin packaging laboratory at Durban's North Coast.According to the South African Police Services website, following their arrest, the eight - five of them Zimbabwean nationals - were found with 26kg of heroin powder and 14kg of uncut heroin with an estimated street value of R17 million.The drugs were hidden at different compartments inside the house.SAPS also recovered R1 million worth of heroin-producing equipment which was seized.It is reported that the suspects had been on the Hawks' radar for a few weeks after receiving tip-offs concerning the illegal activities at the premises.South African police are still looking for other suspects and more arrests are imminent.Meanwhile, a 49-year-old Mozambican national was arrested after he was found in possession of heroin worth over $7,5 million.According to reports, Joromino Mateus Masoio appeared before the Barberton Magistrates' Court in South Africa last Monday, facing a charge of dealing in drugs.Masoio was arrested on March 6, by the White River K9 Unit, after the unit received information regarding a vehicle which was from Mozambique heading to Gauteng, transporting drugs.Police in South Africa then instituted a lookout for the vehicle, a white Toyota Prado, which was spotted and stopped at Kaapmuiden near Nelspruit for a search. During the search, police found R50 million worth of Heroin stashed in a petrol tank.The suspect was remanded in custody.Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma was quoted saying: "This clearly shows the strength of our intelligence on the ground and dedication. It is also a clear message to drug syndicates that we will not allow any drug trafficking in our country."One cannot emphasise enough how these drugs are ravaging our communities. I applaud the sterling work done by the teams."
Iowa School for the Deaf is a lot like other K-12 schools in the state, but its also a unique institution  dubbed a special school by the Iowa Board of Regents that have oversight of the Council Bluffs campus.

Along with Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, ISD is funded as part of the regents share of the state budget, not through the same funding processes as public schools. So when lawmakers agree to fix a rate of increase to supplemental state aid, for example, that doesnt carryover to ISD unless its explicitly included.

Superintendent Steve Gettel, who oversees ISD and IESBVI, said Gov. Terry Branstads initial proposal was to give $7.1 million to the regents institutions  including the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa  which is the last ISD has heard about the budgeting process this year.

I dont know what that means, he said.

Gettel said he has asked for 4 percent allowable growth, the same rate proposed by Iowa Senate Democrats for the K-12 boost to supplemental state aid. Branstads budget for K-12 schools was at 2.45 percent, with 2 percent proposed by Iowa House Republicans. A compromise of 2.25 percent has been mentioned in discussions about negotiations.

In addition to allowable growth, ISD is asking for $245,000 in additional state support for the new Northeast Regional Academy in Charles City, which provides services for blind, visually impaired, deaf and hard-of-hearing students in that area of the state to provide a middle ground between traveling teachers in local schools and a residential setting.

That would bring ISDs and the Braille Schools total overall budget request to about a 5.85 percent overall, which wouldnt be split exactly evenly between the two special schools, Gettel said. Even if the schools receive that, they are still not where they want to be financially.

For example, Gettel said the average compensation increase last year for teachers was 3.1 percent. ISD was able to give 1 percent to its faculty. Worse, some of the faculty hired for the Charles City program were paid by a grant.

Our head is above water, he said. When we say were going to open up this academy, weve gotten some relief to hire staff because of a grant through the Department of Education, but thats not going to be there forever.

Without legislative support for the academy, the program could become too expensive because school districts wont be nearly as likely to send students if their share goes beyond what the state funds for a special education student with the highest needs. Gettel said ISD and IESBVI are picking up administrative costs eating into their regular budgets.

Finding highly qualified teachers is hard enough, even without increasing the financial concerns, said Deb LeHeup, ISDs human resources director.

Our teachers are equally qualified to be public school teachers and have additional training, degrees and endorsements in the specialty area they work in, LeHeup said. Its a small pool, and we have to be competitive to draw in those great quality candidates.

Most of the schools recruiting comes from out of state, she said. Iowa Western Community College is teaching out its interpreter training program as well, so that is a trend likely to continue, with the nearest training programs now located at Nebraska universities.

Gettel said the special schools supports 94 teachers working through agreements with area education agencies. Half of the staff are over age 50, with more than 70 percent of ISD teachers getting close to retirement. He said more than a third of the staff will retire over the next decade, adding fuel to a recruitment fire facing the programs.

Were looking at a problem, he said.

LeHeup said shes happy to get two qualified applicants for a job posting, and Gettel said that the school wont necessarily hire someone just because they meet the minimum requirements.

Candidates are not knocking the doors down to come to Iowa, he said.

Mike Morgan, ISDs business operations director, compared salaries at ISD to those of the neighboring Lewis Central Community School District. He said the average salary was essentially the same, but ISDs staff was typically a decade older, bringing more experience that normally would have them earning higher wages.

Effectively, were probably not paying as much, he said, noting ISD and Lewis Central staff have roughly the same amount of advanced degrees and other qualifications that move employees higher on the pay scale.

Comparing the two pay scales, The Daily Nonpareil found the salary for a beginning teacher with just a bachelors degree at L.C. was $40,068 compared to ISDs $43,795. New teachers with a masters degree make $45,703 at L.C. and $51,408 at ISD. The schedule stays consistently higher at ISD, but it narrows some if teachers dont advance their education. A teacher with a bachelors degree after five years, for example, earns $45,545 from L.C. and $47,757 from ISD.

We have an advantage now, Gettel said. But if things continue the same, well lose the advantage even locally.

State appropriations for the programs have climbed a net of 4.5 percent over the past five years, he said. Personnel costs have gone up 3.55 percent. Inflation, however, was 5.3 percent, putting ISD is a worse financial position than five years ago based on spending power of the dollars it receives in state funding.

The school tries to grow some of its own talent, but Gettel said lawmakers need to provide enough funding to help ISD with recruitment efforts, especially bringing teachers to the Council Bluffs metro area and supporting the academy pilot program. Those with Iowa connections are easier to convince to settle here.

If you cant compete in Iowa, then youre cooked, Gettel said. They have got to be kids from Iowa. I dont know how else were going to do it.
News / Education

by Daniel Nemukuyu

THE High Court has temporarily suspended the demolition of the multimillion-dollar Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University in Bindura pending determination of the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa church's application for rescission of the court's decision.A fortnight ago, Justice Joseph Musakwa granted a default order for the eviction of Zaoga from the piece of land where the university was built, to pave way for businessman Mr Charles Chakumba to conduct his gold mining activities on the land.The church last week filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court for stay of execution of the default order pending determination of a rescission application. On Monday, another judge, Justice Joseph Mafusire, granted an interim relief barring any eviction or demolition of property until finalisation of the pending dispute.This followed convincing arguments by Advocate Fadzai Mahere and Mr Sebastian Guwuriro of Guwuriro and Associates Legal Practitioners that the church needs to be heard first before any action was taken. The contested default judgment was granted on March 3 this year after Zaoga and its previous lawyers, Debwe and Partners, failed to turn up for pre-trial conference.Debwe and Partners last week renounced agency in the matter after pressure mounted as the clients demanded answers as to how they missed the pre-trial conference date.Mr Chakumba, who is being represented by Mr Vusani Bangidza of Tavenhave and Machingauta Legal Practitioners, was allocated mining claims 31 and 32 under registration number 22441 and 22442 respectively at Barasse Farm by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development in 1994.Mr Chakumba had been operating from the area until 2010 when the church was also allocated the same piece of land for the construction of a university by Bindura Municipality.The church, in its urgent chamber application, argued that its failure to attend the pre-trial conference was due to a mistake on the part of the lawyers' secretary who was served with the pre-trial hearing notice and misfiled it.The church said it only became aware of the eviction order through a report published in The Herald.The church indicated that it had since filed an application for rescission of the default order and that pending finalisation of that matter, the eviction and possible demolition should be suspended.In the summons issued by Mr Chakumba in August last year, he argued that he was the legitimate owner of the mining claims adding that Zaoga was barring him from exercising his mining rights.Zaoga also claimed to be the legitimate owners of the piece of land after it was allocated to the church by council.However, Mr Chakumba said the dispute was resolved by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development that declared him as the rightful owner.Despite caution, Mr Chakumba stated, Zaoga refused to vacate the land and was continuously interfering with his right to the mining claims.Mr Chakumba then instituted legal proceedings to evict the church.In its opposing papers, the university argued that it had been duly allocated the land by Bindura Municipality in 2008."The said piece of land was allocated to defendant's university by the Municipality of Bindura in March 2008 in consultation with the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing," read the papers.The church argued that the matter should be dismissed because the summons were filed after the required period of up to three years in terms of the Prescription Act.The church confirmed to the court that it indeed refused to vacate the land because it had also been allocated the same piece of land by council.Zaoga questioned the propriety decision of the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development declaring Mr Chakumba as the lawful owner of the claims.
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Fast-flowing water a concern this week

Conservation Sudbury has issued a watershed conditions statement for all parts of the Greater Sudbury watersheds effective 1 p.m. on March 15. This statement will remain in effect until another update is provided.

The swollen waters of Junction Creek between Riverside Drive and Brady Street clearly is one of the reasons why the Nickel District Conservation Authority warned Monday that water levels have risen substantially in some areas, increasing flood worries even more. Photo by Jonathan Migneault.

Conservation Sudbury has issued a watershed conditions statement for all parts of the Greater Sudbury watersheds effective 1 p.m. on March 15.



This statement will remain in effect until another update is provided. Conservation Sudbury remains in direct contact with the City of Greater Sudbury and all other partners as required.



The current Environment Canada forecast for rest of the week indicates warmer temperatures during the day and much cooler at night with additional precipitation.



The northern portions of the watersheds still have snow pack with significant water content.



Warmer temperatures and runoff from the recent rain will cause stream flows to increase in the coming days. Expect higher and faster-flowing water in most watercourses.



The ground is saturated therefore precipitation and the melting snowpack is not being absorbed, with the runoff going directly into the creeks and rivers.



Runoff into watercourses will be increased if the precipitation forecast is received over the next 24 to 36 hours.



The developing conditions must be closely monitored by all residents especially those living in known low-lying, hazard areas where overland flooding could become an issue.



Residents in the City of Greater Sudbury who may experience problems due to overland runoff or flooding should call 3-1-1. The service operates 24 hours a day.



Public safety is absolutely the number one priority, especially for children who may be attracted to the edge of creeks or rivers. The cold, fast flowing water must be avoided. Stream banks will be very slippery and unsafe, and must be avoided.



Open water areas along the edges of ice-covered lakes will continue to widen and these must also be avoided.



Conservation Sudbury staff continue their monitoring of water levels and updates will be provided as required. For more information please visit conservationsudbury.ca
News / Health

by staff Reporter

Patients are losing their lives in the once glamourous central hospitals across Zimbabwe due to an overwhelming shortage of junior doctors in the health institutions since the 1st of March 2016. People are having to spend up to 12 hours in queues and some collapse and even lose their lives whilist the only available doctor is seeing another patient. The members of the public are now skeptical about visiting the central hospitals but have no choice due to lack of adequate funds to seek alternative medical attention.A probe into the issue has revealed that the shortage of junior doctors is due to a new development in their employment system.The Health Services Board (HSB) in Zimbabwe has introduced a contract for newly graduated doctors in order for them to be employed. Junior doctors have since rejected the new contract stating that it has many flaws and violates human rights, labour rights amd women's rights. They reported for work but the HSB ordered that they should not start work until they sign the contract.This has led to a severe shortage of doctors in the central hospitals.The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) had employed most of the doctors as they previously did in past years on the 1st of March 2016, but then introduced an additional contract. For the past 2 weeks the junior doctors have since not reported for work, leading to severe understaffing and adversely affecting health delivery at central hospitals.Mpilo hospital and United Bulawayo Hospital have since resorted to opening overtime slots for the more senior junior doctors who have been serving for a year. This means the hospital is paying the doctors to cover work that should be done by the junior doctors and sources say this move is not sustainable. Today, the new junior doctors were called again in an attempt to make them sign these contracts but they turned them down.Junior doctors have since sent a petition to the HSB highlighting the flaws of this new contract, but the HSB has given no direct communication to the junior doctors as yet. Sources say the HSB Chair, Dr Mbengeranwa said he does not recognise the new junior doctors as employees and he will not scrap the contract. He allegedly said he will not listen to a bunch of rowdy rascals and will not engage in any form of dialogue with them. A week prior to this, he denied even receivng a petition.The MOHCC has traditionally employed Junior doctors through deployment and signing of assumption of duty forms, and these are legally binding. The current junior doctors are therefore full time employees of the MOHCC but the HSB says it will not recognise that until the new contract is signed.This new contract denies martenity leave, the right to join any workers association and the right to practice free political freedom amongst other things. Salaries are not stated and are 'subject to review by the employer ' and allowances 'may be paid'. An inside source says the HSB plans on not paying junior doctors a single cent in the long run, and this move is meant to barr any industrial action when the HSB pulls this stunt.The junior doctors suspect that these are acts of sabotage by the Health Services Board Chair and his subordinates which actsare intended to bring the government into disrepute and to sow seeds ofdiscontent towards the government.Comments from some of the junior doctors show that they indeed have a willingness to serve, but 'a disgruntled doctor is no good to a patient'. The doctors are also queering why the contract was now introduced this year when attempts to introduce it last year failed dismally after the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) threatened to put their tools down.The lives of people are now hanging on already overworked and unqualified medical students and the tirelessly serving available second year junior doctors who are being both seduced and coerced to stretch and cover the load of up to 3 doctors. One of the 2nd year junior doctors said 'We refused to be downgraded to 1st year junior doctors but we are still being forced to cover that gap. The risk of human error is now high as we work long hours with no rest at all'
News / Local

by Stephen Jakes

Parkridge Estate, Housing Consortium near Kuwadzana Extension has reportedly continued to demand money from beneficiaries in total defiance of the Harare City Council new Housing Policy which has banned the payment of any monies to consortium leaderships.Harare Residents Trust said reports indicate that one Believer Mupawaenda, a Housing Cooperative Officer, stationed at Remembrance Council Offices in Mbare approached Parkridge Estate consortium with 54 housing cooperatives and advised them to continue receiving money from individual cooperatives of US$1 000 allegedly for sewer and water designs."This action, despite the council banning consortium leaderships from demanding payments from housing cooperatives," said the trust."When the HRT sought Mupawaenda's response to these serious allegations being leveled against him by housing cooperatives on his mobile number 0772 929 046, Mupawaenda denied the allegations, but when pressed further to explain the situation, he switched off his phone."The trust said but another housing cooperative officer only identified as Dzehonye has told housing cooperatives to adhere to the housing policy of the City of Harare, and expose every other council official who continued to cause confusion and steal funds from the people."Corruption has continued to hinder the provision of housing to desperate home seekers, with council officials and elected representatives being accused of creating this current chaotic situation in order to milk the poor people of their hard earned cash," said the trust.
News / Local

by Staff Reporter

The Ambassador of Japan to Zimbabwe, H.E. Mr Yoshi Tendai Hiraishi, today officially handed over a facility for crop storage and community gathering in Binga District.In February last year, the Embassy of Japan extended a grant of eighty-five thousand, seven hundred and thirty dollars (USD 85,730) to a local NGO, KAITE-Trust for the implementation of The Project for Construction of Facility for Crop Storage and Community Gathering".This project focused on local farmers who are producing rosella tea made from hibiscus, using organic farming methods in communal areas in Binga District. The grant was used for newly constructing a facility for crop storage as well as agricultural training and information sharing among farmers in the area.Before this project was implemented, a lack of proper storage caused disposal of around 15% of total harvest every year. Even though farmers have been promoting organic farming, they faced challenges in maintaining the quality of crop due to a lack of storage space. Furthermore, a lack of facility not only prevented smooth communication and information sharing among members of the productive association, but also limited the number of agricultural training farmers could receive. This project, therefore, has made a very positive impact on the improvement of the production process for more than 450 farmers in Binga District.Speaking at the occasion, H.E. Ambassador Hiraishi, stressed the importance of maintenance of the facility by community members and expressed his hope that it would be fully utilized for the uplift of the standards of living of local people.
Warriors prop Ben Matulino is free to play the Storm on Sunday after he was found not guilty of a shoulder charge on Brisbane's Corey Oates at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night.

Matulino's defence team argued that he was bracing for contact, and that the involvement of a second tackler meant he couldn't properly wrap his arms around Oates.

Their evidence suggested the tackle was not by definition a shoulder charge, and the panel agreed, clearing the Kiwis front-rower to play this weekend.

The incident took place late in Friday's 15-point loss at Suncorp Stadium, with Oates set to be sidelined for up to six weeks with a shoulder injury.

Matulino had been looking at a three game ban for the Grade One offence after being charged for a similar incident on the Dragons' Gareth Widdop last year.

The not guilty verdict means all three players at Wednesday night's judiciary were exonerated after Canterbury's David Klemmer and North Queensland's Matt Scott were cleared of their respective charges.
News / Local

by Thobekile Zhou

MDC MP Pricsilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga has demanded to know why late Matabeleland academics Professor Sam Moyo and former NUST vice chancellor Lindela Ndlovu where not offered State assisted funerals last year.She said Zanu PF apologists Vimbai Chivaura who died during the same period with Moyo and Ndlovu was the only one bestowed with liberation war heroes status and offered a state assisted funeral.She asked VP Emmerson Mnangagwa whether both Moyo and Ndlovu where denied same treatment because they come from Matabeleland.She said in parliament today. "The three where well known academics in the country and died at the same time but Chivaura was declared a liberation war."Is it because Moyo and Ndlovu are from Matabeleland?" she asked exclusively in Ndebele. Responding in Shona Mnangagwa said Matabeleland region never put forward Moyo and Ndlovu's names for consideration."A liberation hero would have done a splendid job in liberating and uplifted the country. They are liberation heroes."As for Moyo and Ndlovu we do not look at where a person comes from...".
PORTER  Shirley Heinze Land Trust will host an educational bus tour of its nature preserves from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 30. Staff, board members and guest speakers, including author Dr. Ken Schoon and IUN Geosciences Professor Dr. Erin Argyilan, will provide insights on land conservation and the ecology, geology, and history of Northwest Indiana.

The bus will depart promptly at 8 a.m. from the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, 1215 N. Ind. 49. The bus will head west to Portage for the first stop at John Merle Coulter Nature Preserve. Here participants will depart the bus for a brief hike, guided by Eric Bird, Stewardship Director for Shirley Heinze Land Trust. This is a special opportunity to learn about the unique land use history of this preserve and how management led to habitat recovery, resulting in a highly diverse native plant community.

The bus will then head to the west end of the operating area for a brief stop at Ivanhoe South Nature Preserve to see a globally-rare dune and swale habitat.

After a stop at Ivanhoe South, the tour will pass by several preserves in the City of Hobart including Hidden Prairie, Ivory Wetlands, Bur Oak Woods and Gordon and Faith Greiner Nature Preserves. From there, the bus will head to Cressmoor Prairie for a short hike. The bus will then depart Cressmoor for Meadowbrook Conservation Center and Preserve in Valparaiso, then lunch.

The afternoon portion of the tour will focus on several preserves in Porter and LaPorte Counties, including a stop at the WykesPlampin Nature Preserve in Chesterton to hear about the Little Calumet Conservation Corridor project and the restoration and public access improvements being performed in this project area. From there the bus will make a brief stop at Ambler Flatwoods Nature Preserve to learn about some exciting new acquisitions to our largest preserve. Next on the agenda is a brief hike at one of our newest preserves, Father Basil Moreau Preserve in Michigan City.

On the last leg of the tour, the bus will pass through the Beverly Shores Project area for a glimpse of the Great Marsh properties located there. Water birds such as herons and egrets can often be seen perching on branches within this marsh restoration area. The tour will conclude back at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center at 3:30 p.m.

The cost to attend the tour is $35 per person, or $60 per couple. Reservations are required and may be made by calling (219) 242-8558 or through the website www.heinzetrust.org. Reservations must be made no later than April 25. Seating is limited, so early reservations are advised. The bus is restroom equipped.
CROWN POINT  For the past 22 years, the National School Board Association has recognized excellent school districts across the nation with their top honor, the Magna Award.

This award program recognizes school districts and their leaders for taking bold and innovative steps to improve the lives of their students and their communities. An independent panel of school board members, administrators and other educators select the winners.

Public schools work tirelessly to improve student achievement, said Thomas J. Gentzel, executive director, NSBA. These Magna Award-winning districts are some of the finest examples of the creativity and dedication of our public school leaders across this nation.

The NSBA names Crown Point Community School Corp. the 2016 Magna Grand Prize winner for the 20,000 to 5,000 enrollment category in the 22nd annual Magna Awards Program. Crown Point schools is the first Indiana school corporation in history to receive this category distinguished award and selected the CPHS Summer Engage Program in relation to the Freshman School within a School to represent the district. The Summer Engage Program provides a positive first experience at the high school level for students who have had academic or behavioral difficulties in middle school. The experience gives students a renewed enthusiasm and confidence toward school and self.

Through research and data analysis, the Crown Point schools leaders determined that, as the schools enrollment continued to grow, it needed to develop a solid transition program for incoming high school freshmen to help them feel connected to the school and maximize their potential. In 2010 the school incorporated several transition strategies to ensure a soft landing at the high school for incoming freshmen and to create a culture in which students, faculty, parents, and community work together to assist all those entering their high school journey.

A group of teachers  representing the subjects of mathematics, English, reading, and physical education  worked with the freshman principal, Mark Gianfermi, to create a summer school curriculum that would remediate necessary core subject skills while also providing students with opportunities to make mature decisions, demonstrate leadership skills, and advocate for themselves.

Since the launch of the Summer Engage Program, the Crown Point High School graduation rate reached a high of 98 percent (a 15 percentage point improvement). It helped to change and reshape the culture of the school. It takes at-risk students and folds them into a community of learners who encourage one another. The Summer Engage Program celebrates success, gives students a chance to learn from their mistakes, and recognizes that all students have potential if given the right start.

We proudly embrace this prestigious award on behalf of our students, faculties, and employees, said Teresa A. Eineman, superintendent of schools. Creating possibilities, ensuring success, and inspiring character one student at a time is our passionate mission supported by a caring community and dedicated board of school trustees.
WASHINGTON  President Barack Obama nominated appeals court judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, thrusting a respected moderate jurist and former prosecutor into the center of an election-year clash over the future of the nation's highest court.

Obama cast the 63-year-old Garland, who was born in Chicago, as "a serious man and an exemplary judge" deserving of a full hearing and a Senate confirmation vote, despite Republican vows to deny him both. Standing in the White House Rose Garden with Garland, Obama argued the integrity of the court was at stake and appealed to the Senate to "play it straight" in filling the seat left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

"It's supposed to be above politics," Obama said of the high court. "It has to be. And it should stay that way."

Republican leaders, however, held to their refusal to consider any nominee, saying the seat should be filled by the next president after this year's election. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke with Garland by phone but did not change his position that "the American people will have a voice." He said he would not be holding "a perfunctory meeting but he wished Judge Garland well," a spokesman said.

Others in the GOP ranks were less wedded to the no-hearing, no-vote, not-even-a-meeting stance  a sign that Republicans are aware the strategy could leave them branded as obstructionist.

Unlike McConnell, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley said he is open to meeting with Garland in the coming weeks, as did five other Republican senators  Rob Portman of Ohio, Jeff Flake of Arizona, Susan Collins of Maine, James Inhofe of Oklahoma and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire. The judge will begin visiting with Democratic senators on Thursday at the Capitol, before the Senate breaks for a two-week recess.

Scheduling courtesy meetings is a long way from securing a full hearing, much less winning the 60 votes needed for confirmation. Still, the White House seized the comments as evidence Garland's weighty resume and bipartisan credentials were putting pressure on Republicans.

Garland, 63, is the chief judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, a court whose influence over federal policy and national security matters has made it a proving ground for potential justices.

A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Garland has clerked for two appointees of Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower  the liberal Justice William Brennan Jr. as well as Judge Henry J. Friendly, for whom Chief Justice John Roberts, who grew up in Long Beach, Indiana, also clerked. As a federal prosecutor, he made his reputation overseeing the investigation and prosecutions in the Oklahoma City bombing case in 1995, as well as the case against Unabomber Ted Kaczynski.

When confirmed to the D.C. Circuit in 1997, Garland won backing from a majority in both parties, including seven current Republicans senators.

As a replacement for Scalia, Garland would undoubtedly shift the court away from its conservative tilt. He would be expected to align with the more liberal members on environmental regulation, labor disputes and campaign finance.

The D.C. Circuit isn't a hotbed for cases on social issues, leaving few solid indicators of Garland's views on abortion rights or the death penalty.

Garland's involvement in two high-profile gun rights cases has prompted concern from gun control opponents. In 2007, Garland wanted the full court to reconsider a panel decision that struck down Washington, D.C.'s ban on handgun ownership. But Garland never took a position on the merits of the case.

In 2000, he was part of a 2-1 majority that said the FBI could retain gun purchase records for six months to make sure the computerized instant background check system was working. The FBI's position was challenged by the National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups.

But he is not viewed as a down-the-line liberal. He's ruled against giving the District of Columbia a vote in Congress. Particularly on criminal defense and national security cases, he's earned a reputation as centrist with a law-and-order streak, siding more often with prosecutors.

When his name was floated for the Supreme Court in the past, it was liberal groups that expressed concerns, pointing to early decisions favoring the government in disputes over the legal rights of detainees at the Guantanamo Bay prison.

Progressives and civil rights activists also had pushed the president to name an African-American woman or to otherwise expand the court's diversity. Obama passed over appeals court Judge Sri Srinivasan, who would have been the first Asian-American justice, and Judge Paul Watford, who would have been the second African-American.

Garland  a white, male jurist with an Ivy League pedigree and a career largely in the upper echelon of Washington's legal elite  breaks no barriers. He would be the oldest Supreme Court nominee since Lewis Powell, who was 64 when he was confirmed in 1971.

In emotional remarks in the Rose Garden, he choked back tears, calling the nomination "the greatest honor of my life." He described his grandparents' flight from anti-Semitism in Eastern Europe and his modest upbringing. He said he viewed a judge's job as a mandate to set aside personal preferences and "follow the law, not make it."

Obama quoted past praise for Garland from Roberts and Sen. Orrin Hatch. In 2010, Hatch said he could be confirmed to the highest court "virtually unanimously."

Garland has experience with a prolonged confirmation process. He waited 2 years to win confirmation to the appeals court. Then, as now, one of the men blocking his path was Grassley, who argued he had no quarrel with Garland's credentials but objected to a Democratic president trying to fill an appeals court he felt had too many seats.
After scoring big in Tuesday's primary, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is now setting her sights on the next round of primaries and caucuses.

Voters in Arizona, Idaho, and Utah will get their say Tuesday.

While the former New York senator's lead is growing, rival Bernie Sanders is still in the race.

Clinton has 1,132 delegates to Sanders's 818, including super delegates, and they are both still waiting on the outcome of the close vote in Missouri.

Clinton herself isn't saying much about the Brooklyn-native Sanders, but her campaign put out a memo outlining how difficult it would be for the Vermont senator to overtake her.

"The bottom-line results from last night: Hillary Clinton's pledged delegate lead grew by more than 40 percent, to a lead of more than 300, leaving Sen. Sanders overwhelmingly behind in the nomination contest  and without a clear path to catching up," the memo said.

Sanders said his campaign still has a chance moving forward despite the numbers.

"The reason that we have defied all expectations is that we are doing something very radical in American politics: we're telling the truth," Sanders said.

Meanwhile, Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is already focusing on Clinton as the likely Democratic nominee, releasing a new web ad that has her barking like a dog.
A man has been arrested and charged after authorities say his 11-year-old grandson brought a loaded gun into his school in Queens.

Kenneth Miley, 54, faces charges that include criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child.



Investigators say the 11-year old brought the gun seen above into P.S. 40 in Jamaica on Tuesday.

Police say school officials found it in his backpack with one live round in the magazine.



While being interrogated, authorities say the boy told police the gun belonged to his grandfather.

Parents NY1 spoke with at the school were upset.



"Wow that's crazy," said one parent. "Like, but nobody notified me. But they notify me for anything else, when my child is sick, but come on, this is something serious. A gun? Come on, and you don't notify nobody's parents? It's crazy."

Miley was arraigned Wednesday night.

His attorney says Miley found the gun in his yard and had every intention of turning it in.



The Department of Education says they are working with police as the investigation continues.

The Administration for Children's Services is also investigating.


Police in Manhattan are looking for whoever stabbed two people and slashed three others early Wednesday morning.

Investigators said a dispute broke out around 6 a.m. when a large dispute broke out in the basement of what police called an illegal social club near the corner of West 171st Street and Amsterdam Avenue in Washington Heights.

According to the police department, a 31-year-old man and a 24-year-old man were stabbed once in the stomach, a 28-year-old man and 44-year-old woman were slashed in the chest, and a 30-year-old female was slashed in the face.

All five victims were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police said two male suspects may have been behind the attack.

No arrests have been made. The investigation continues.

Anyone with information on the case should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com
WASHINGTON  Days after a huge bomb killed 168 people in Oklahoma City in April 1995, Merrick B. Garland was on the ground even as bodies were still being recovered, examining the crime scene and preparing for an eventual prosecution.

Its pretty somber when youre looking at a desk with a jacket on the chair and a bottle of Coke, and a foot and a half away there is no floor  its just open air, said Donna A. Bucella, a former colleague who went with Mr. Garland to survey the devastation.

Now a federal appeals court judge and a potential Supreme Court nominee, Judge Garland was then the highest-ranking Justice Department official dispatched to Oklahoma City in the aftermath of the bombing. He spent the ensuing weeks helping to start the case, and later supervised the prosecutors from department headquarters.

For Judge Garland, the Oklahoma City bombing was the centerpiece of a constellation of federal criminal cases in which he played a role before President Bill Clinton appointed him to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1997.
A bizarre governing apparatus subject to his whims coalesced around him. State television cameras recorded nearly every public appearance, many of them to make surprise, unscripted announcements, often in his military uniform and paratroopers red beret. He might rail against Venezuelas high consumption of Scotch whisky  he did not drink alcohol, his aides said  or its high demand for breast augmentation surgery. He once stunned citizens by decreeing a new time zone for the nation, a half-hour behind its previous one.

Astute and Manipulative

Dr. Edmundo Chirinos, a psychiatrist who got to know Mr. Chavez as a patient, described him in a profile in The New Yorker in 2001 as a hyperkinetic and imprudent man, unpunctual, someone who overreacts to criticism, harbors grudges, is politically astute and manipulative, and possesses tremendous stamina, never sleeping more than two or three hours a night.

Mr. Chavez would delight in angering his critics in rich countries. He heaped praise, for instance, on Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, the Venezuelan terrorist better known as Carlos the Jackal, with whom he corresponded.

I defend him, Mr. Chavez said of his friend, who was jailed in France on charges of murdering two French police agents and a Lebanese informer in Paris in 1975. I dont care what they say tomorrow in Europe.

No mentor was more supportive than Mr. Castro, who well understood how important Venezuelas subsidized oil shipments were to Cubas fragile economy. An ally from the start of Mr. Chavezs presidency in 1999, he offered help in one of Mr. Chavezs most difficult moments, a coup detat that removed him from office for 48 hours in April 2002. Mr. Castro telephoned Venezuelas top military officials, pressing them to assist in returning Mr. Chavez to office.

The collapse of the coup, which received tacit support from the Bush administration, and Mr. Chavezs swift return to power signaled a shift in his presidency. Seemingly chastened, Mr. Chavez promised compromise and harmony in the future. But instead of reconciliation, his response was retaliation.

He began describing his critics as golpistas, or putschists, while recasting his own failed 1992 coup as a patriotic uprising. He purged opponents from the national oil company, expropriated the land of others and imprisoned retired military officials who had dared to stand against him. The countrys political debate became increasingly poisonous, and it took its toll on the country.
For the second time in a matter of days, federal agents on Tuesday seized what they described as an illicit antiquity, valued at several hundred thousand dollars, and scheduled to be sold during New Yorks Asia Week, a celebration of Asian art that includes museum exhibitions and sales by dealers and auction houses.

Officials with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations said in a statement that they had confiscated a second century bodhisattva schist head from the Gandhara civilization and likely looted from a region that is now part of Pakistan.

But they provided few other details about the seizure, including where it had taken place, except to say that the head had been intercepted at a port in the New York area. The statement said that the head was in transit to an East Coast auction house.

On Friday, federal agents seized two sculptures from Christies in Midtown Manhattan, both of which were characterized as looted and both of which were scheduled to have been sold this week.
News / National

by Zvamaida Murwira

Foreign embassies, which have gone for long periods in a state of dilapidation, will soon get a facelift after Government resolved to commit resources to their refurbishment, Parliament heard yesterday.Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa told the National Assembly that Cabinet resolved yesterday to refurbish embassies starting with that in Ethiopia. He was responding to a report by the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Makonde MP Kindness Paradza (Zanu-PF) that bemoaned the state of embassies, which he said was an embarrassment.Legislators had also called for the dismissal of Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi for not only failing to address the challenge but failing to attend Parliament sittings.VP Mnangagwa said Minister Mumbengegwi was in Botswana attending a sadc Council of Ministers."There are indeed problems of administration and maintenance of embassies. However, and fortunately this afternoon we were seized with the state of the affairs of our embassies in Cabinet. We resolved to start with Ethiopia so that we change the face of it. The concern expressed by members is quite legitimate. As an Executive we have resolved to attend to that issue," said VP Mnangagwa.In his report, Paradza said they visited Ethiopia and Botswana and the embassies were in bad shape."The embassy buildings in the two countries are in such a deplorable state of dilapidation to the extent that they are actually unsuitable for human habitation and occupancy. Visitors are greeted by cracked and crumbling walls which at best resemble an abandoned building," said Paradza while showing graphic details of the buildings."The roof at the Ethiopian embassy is leaking and monumental damage is being inflicted to the electrical cables. The carpets have been severely damaged by water which leaks from the roof during rainy seasons. What your committee saw can best be described as reckless abandon and gross neglect of the chancery by responsible authorities here in Harare."The committee noted that Zimbabwean ambassadors accredited to African countries would often chair meetings by virtue of the President being the chair of sadc and African Union, thereby exposing the image of the country.He said several African countries whose Gross Domestic Product was lesser than that of Harare had good infrastructure at their embassies.Several legislators who subsequently rose to make contributions rapped Minister Mumbengegwi and recommended there be a reduction of embassies to manageable sizes.Chegutu West MP Dexter Nduna (Zanu-PF) called for optimal mobilisation of resources saying the money could be used to address such challenges.Shamva South MP Joseph Mapiki (Zanu-PF) said Minister Mumbengegwi should be called to Parliament to explain why the situation was allowed to deteriorate to that extent.Tafara-Mabvuku MP Mr James Maridadi (MDC-T) rapped Government saying it was intriguing that the whole Cabinet would discuss operational issues like refurbishment of embassies something that should be mundane instead of discussing policy issues.Kuwadzana East MP Mr Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T) said it was critical that the country strove to improve its image.
LONDON  On a breezy day in 1992, the Dutch photographer Rineke Dijkstra asked a local teenager in Hilton Head, S.C., to pose on the beach. Weeks later, as Ms. Dijkstra was developing the C-print, which would later appear in her series Beach Portraits, she had an uncanny feeling.

I thought, Hey, this looks just like a picture I remember from art history, she said. The girl, Erin Kinney, was holding her windswept hair with one hand, the other resting on her thigh, with one knee slightly bent. Unconsciously, she had assumed the pose from Sandro Botticellis 1485 painting, The Birth of Venus.

Its so ubiquitous in our culture that it was her default pose for pretty, Ms. Dijkstra said.

The photograph is one of about 150 in Botticelli Reimagined, an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum here that runs through July 3. The show explores his influence through works by pre-Raphaelite, modern and contemporary artists, as well as photographers and filmmakers.

Botticelli was born Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi around 1445 in Florence (the nickname Botticelli means small wine cask).
Anterra Capital, a venture capital firm focused on food and farming start-ups, plans to announce on Wednesday that it has closed its investment fund at $125 million.

Anterra also plans to announce that it has opened an office in Boston, giving the Amsterdam-based firm a physical presence in the United States as well as in Europe.

The pending announcement, which is expected to come at the World Agri-Tech Investment Summit in San Francisco, represents a continued bet on advancements in farming technology. The industry includes efforts to develop new fertilizers and pesticides, Internet-connected devices to help farmers better raise crops, and data services that help food producers analyze their businesses.

Financing for agriculture tech start-ups climbed to $4.6 billion last year, nearly doubling what was raised in 2014, according to AgFunder, a crowdfunding platform for the sector.
Nonetheless, he sought to reassure his investors.

We are going to take a much more proactive role at the company to protect and maximize the value of our investment, he said, adding that Steve Fraidin, Pershing Squares vice chairman, joined the board of Valeant last week in an effort to take control of the situation.

The decline of the stock and bond markets this year has been painful, and it remains difficult to predict what is in store for the future. Navigating Uncertainty: There seems to be growing acceptance that some kind of a recession might be coming. Here is There seems to be growing acceptance that some kind of a recession might be coming. Here is how investors should approach the situation

A Bad Year for Bonds : This has been the most devastating time for bonds since at least 1926  and maybe in centuries. This has been the most devastating time for bonds since at least 1926  and maybe in centuries. But much of the damage is already behind us

Weathering the Storm: The rout in the stock and bond markets has been especially rough on people paying for college, retirement or a new home. The rout in the stock and bond markets has been especially rough on people paying for college, retirement or a new home. Here is some advice

College Savings: As the stock and bond markets wobble, 529 plans are taking a tumble. Whats a family to do? Theres no one-size-fits-all answer, but As the stock and bond markets wobble, 529 plans are taking a tumble. Whats a family to do? Theres no one-size-fits-all answer, but you have options

Mr. Ackmans first interaction with Valeant was in 2014, when he teamed up with the company in a joint bid to acquire Allergan, the maker of Botox. Valeant was spurned, and Allergan then agreed to be acquired by another pharmaceutical company, Actavis.

Since then, Mr. Ackman has become increasingly vocal. In October, he held a three-hour conference call to defend Valeant after the stock went into a free fall in the face of concerns about a federal investigation.

It will take some time for the stock to recover, Mr. Ackman said at the time, adding that investors did not appreciate how valuable the company was.

The biggest regret I have with Valeant is that were not in a position to buy more, he said on Nov. 9. Later that month, he did just that, sharply increasing his position in Valeant to 9.9 percent from 5.7 percent. Pershing Square now has a 9 percent stake, after selling some of its shares at the end of the year, making it the companys second-largest shareholder.

The largest shareholder is Ruane, Cunniff & Goldfarb, an investment fund once known for its ties to Warren E. Buffett.
For 10 years, Alberta Ojera bounced around the United States, from Poughkeepsie, N.Y., to Chicago to New York City. But without legal status, she could not go home to Mexico to visit her aging parents. So in 2012, Ms. Ojera and her three children, all born in Chicago, moved back to the small town of Cienega de Zimatlan.

They traded a cramped apartment for a farm. But it came at a cost.

Her partner and the father of their children, Carlos Ramirez, stayed behind in Queens to support the family. He works six days a week as a cook at a bar on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and occasionally works as a tattoo artist.

Their story has become a common one: A recent Pew Research Center report showed that from 2009 to 2014, more Mexican immigrants and their families, including their American-born children, returned to Mexico than migrated to the United States.

That journey has been captured in a new film by Tatyana Kleyn, a professor of bilingual education at the City College of New York, called Una Vida, Dos Paises  One Life, Two Countries  which explores the alienation and disruption that results when children who have spent all or most of their lives in the United States move with their families to Oaxaca, Mexico. The 30-minute film will be shown for the first time in the United States on March 24 at City College.
A 24-year-old woman was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of killing her 2-year-old daughter in the familys Brooklyn apartment, the police said.

The girl, Melody Pheng, died on Sunday, and the citys Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said on Tuesday that she had drowned. Her mother, Lin Li, has been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and act injurious to a child, the authorities said.

Melody was found unconscious and unresponsive around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday when police officers arrived at the familys apartment on 47th Street, near Seventh Avenue, in the Sunset Park neighborhood, the authorities said. Her 30-year-old father, whose name was not released, was trying to resuscitate the girl when officers arrived, the police said.
ALBANY  Twenty thousand times the average cost of a pound of shredded cheese. Roughly 27 percent of the estimated price of a 2016 Ferrari. Or $4,600 more than Yogi Berras salary in 1957.

There are many ways to come up with the number $69,600, but in the case of the New York State Assembly, the far easier way  so some say  is to take 40 percent of the annual salary of State Supreme Court justices, who start at $174,000.

That number became the focus of debate on Tuesday, as the Assembly, which Democrats control, passed an ethics bill that would allow legislators to earn $69,600 in outside income in addition to their base salary of $79,500.

And with a looming pay raise for justices, that outside income figure would go even higher, to $77,178, allowing lawmakers to nearly double their income with nonlegislative jobs.
Updated, 9:55 a.m.

Good morning on this mild Wednesday.

Sure, every dog has its day.

And now you can celebrate with your favorite Fido at a restaurant in New York City.

The citys Health Department issued an advisory on Tuesday that allows dogs to accompany human diners at restaurants with outdoor seating. The move follows the State Legislatures passage last year of a bill that eased the rules regarding dogs and dining.

While the dogs must be licensed and vaccinated against rabies to take a place at the table, the authorities will not insist on seeing your pets papers. Instead, participating restaurants must post signs informing customers about the requirements.

Im so pleased that the City Department of Health threw dog lovers a bone, State Assemblywoman Linda B. Rosenthal, who sponsored the state law, said in a statement.
Ed Shevlin is hardly a typical academic.

He dropped out of high school and tended bar in the Rockaways in Queens, where he has lived his entire life.

Mr. Shevlin, 55, a husky man with a strong Queens accent, earned his high school equivalency diploma when he was 30 and became a New York City sanitation worker known for his study of the Irish language, which is often loosely called Gaelic in the United States. He would practice the language with older Irish immigrants living along his Rockaway route.

But he also worked tirelessly to get a bachelors degree and arranged his vacation weeks to fit in studies in Ireland.

He recently began a masters degree program in Irish and Irish-American Studies at New York University, where one of his professors, Marion R. Casey, mentioned an old newspaper article about John Kilgallon, a native of Far Rockaway who sailed to a Dublin boarding school as a young man and wound up fighting in the 1916 Easter Rising rebellion against the British, which helped lead to Irish independence.
Should a judge care what happens, years down the road, to the defendants convicted in his courtroom?

In 2003, John Gleeson, a federal district judge in Brooklyn, presided over the trial of a woman charged for her role in faking a car accident for the insurance payments. After a jury found her guilty, Judge Gleeson sentenced the woman to 15 months in prison.

Many judges might leave it at that, but in an extraordinary 31-page opinion released on March 7, Judge Gleeson stepped back into the case. Finding that this one conviction continued to scare off employers and make it impossible for the woman, identified in court records only as Jane Doe, to get hired as a nurse, Judge Gleeson gave her what amounted to a voucher of good character  he called it a federal certificate of rehabilitation.

No such certificate exists under federal law, so the judge designed one himself and attached it to his opinion.
Yes, its inevitable. Try to shrug off that Clinton fatigue. Hold your nose, if you have to. The only thing standing between a thuggish narcissist and the White House is the almost-certain Democratic nominee  Hillary Clinton.

Not-quite-as-Super Tuesday was an unqualified triumph for Clinton, who outperformed polls and expectations across much of the map. Whatever momentum Bernie Sanders had after the upset in Michigan dissipated Tuesday night. Madame secretary cleaned his clock where she had to.

It was the last chance for Sanders to show that he had a path to the nomination. The math now makes it nearly impossible for him to get the bid, even with a favorable string of states ahead.

Particularly in Florida  with a Democratic Party of New America demographics  Clinton showed once again that her appeal is far broader than Sanderss. To catch Clinton, Sanders needed to get beyond his core of young, college-educated whites. If hed won Ohio and Illinois, where he was competitive, hed have some wind at his back. Hes a statement candidate now  a strong one, full of integrity.
News / National

by Walter Mswazie

THE Airforce of Zimbabwe was on Sunday summoned to rescue three people who were marooned on an island in Runde River in Triangle.An Airforce of Zimbabwe helicopter flew from Thornhill Airbase in Gweru to rescue the three men who had endured two sleepless nights stranded on the island.The men, whose names were not immediately available, screamed for help to no avail.Acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa said the trio was marooned on Friday at around 5.30PM while fishing in Runde River only to be rescued on the third day."I can confirm receiving a report of three men from Triangle who were marooned on an island while fishing along Runde River after a heavy downpour in Triangle."The three were fishing when it started to rain upstream. We're yet to know the identities of these suspected fish poachers," said Asst Insp Dehwa.He said on Friday, William Mboma, 34, of Chahoba Resettlement reported at Mpapa Police base that he had spotted a man marooned about one kilometre from the confluence of the Runde and Tokwe Rivers.One of the marooned men is said to have climbed a tree as he shouted for help.Insp Dehwa said when police went to the scene, they realised that there were three men who had been marooned."Police failed to communicate with the men and called for help from the Airforce of Zimbabwe from Thornhill Airbase in Gweru."A helicopter then safely airlifted the trio on Sunday at around 5PM, three days after the incident," he said.Asst Insp Dehwa advised members of the public not to attempt to cross flooded rivers or to be near water bodies when it is raining.
Even in the last limping years of his deeply unpopular administration, George W. Bush was still popular with Republican voters. After Barack Obama took office, Bushs image popped up in anti-Obama iconography, with a cheeky miss me yet? attached. And as his presidency receded, Bushs favorable ratings floated upward, rising above President Obamas and Hillary Clintons as the 2016 campaign got underway.

These numbers were no doubt present in Jeb Bushs consciousness when he made his fateful and destructive decision to run for president. But they were also clearly part of Marco Rubios read on the Republican Party, which ultimately led him to last nights campaign-ending defeat: Even more than George W. Bushs own brother, Rubio tried to make himself an heir to Bushism, and to build a bridge between the last Republican administration and the one that he aspired to lead.

Rubios defeat, like most in politics, had many causes: a weak ground game, a media strategy that was overwhelmed by Donald Trumps cable-TV dominance, a persona and positioning that made him a second choice all over the map but a winner hardly anywhere, a youthful mien in a hard man for hard times election, and of course that one dreadful New Hampshire debate.

But in purely ideological terms, what primary voters were rejecting when they rejected him was the political synthesis of George W. Bush.
They see a probable Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, who is so personally flawed, politically clumsy and out of sync with this anti-establishment moment that shes ripe for defeat. Then they look at their own contest and see an outcome that might well ensure her victory.

Kasich and Cruz together should do well enough in the states ahead to prevent Trump from getting a majority of delegates. That foretells a chaotic convention, and its hard to see how the bedlam will position the party well.

Theres no consensus yet among Republicans. Theres more acrimony than clarity. Whos to say whether former Rubio supporters and donors flock to Kasich, Cruz . . . or even Trump?

There are traditionalists rooting for Trump over Cruz, and the thinking of some goes like this: Neither candidate can win the presidency. But while Cruz has almost no crossover appeal beyond committed Republicans, Trump might draw enough independents, blue-collar Democrats and new voters in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania to buoy Republicans in tight Senate races there.

Besides which, he scrambles all rules and all precedents so thoroughly that you never know. Victory isnt unthinkable, and better a Republican whos allergic to caution, oblivious to actual information and altogether dangerous than a Democrat wholl dole out all the plum administration jobs to her own party.

Republican traditionalists who prefer Cruz are no more ebullient in their outlooks.

Cruz is a disaster for the party, one of them told me. Trump is a disaster for the country.

If Cruz is the nominee, we get wiped out, he added, with a resigned voice. And we rebuild. The party needs that anyway.
One key measure of how well a demographic group is doing is the percentage of children living in communities of high concentrated poverty, in so-called toxic social environments.

There is a rapidly growing body of evidence, compiled by economists, sociologists and public policy experts, which demonstrates the depth of the damage inflicted on children in such toxic neighborhoods.

Thirty years of research has converged on a clear and compelling fact: Its not just the family a child is born into that determines her fate, but the neighborhood she grows up in, Stefanie DeLuca, a sociologist at Johns Hopkins, wrote to me.

DeLuca is one of the authors of a forthcoming book, Coming of Age in the Other America, along with Susan Clampet-Lundquist and Kathryn Edin. The book provides evidence that African-American children born in Baltimores large public housing projects made significant educational gains relative to their parents when their families left the projects, using federally issued housing vouchers to move to privately owned properties.

Reed Jordan, of the Urban Institute, describes in detail how detrimental the effects of impoverished neighborhoods like the constant anxiety

resulting from witnessing and experiencing trauma and violence in distressed neighborhoods, negotiating the sacrifices and trade-offs caused by food insecurity, living in unstable housing conditions, struggling to pay bills, and dealing with numerous other worries burn up cognitive capacity.

Elaborating further, Jordan continues:

Persistent stress and exposure to trauma trigger harmful stress hormones that permanently affect childrens brain development and even their genes. The damage to childhood development is so severe that medical professionals now describe the early effects of poverty as a childhood disease.

Another researcher who has mapped the impact of concentrated poverty is Patrick Sharkey, a sociologist at N.Y.U. Sharkey emailed his findings to me:

If we want to understand why middle-class black Americans are more likely than whites to experience downward mobility, then we should focus on the neighborhoods where blacks and whites have lived for the past 40 years. Blacks making more than $100,000 per year live in more disadvantaged neighborhoods than whites making less than $30,000 per year.

Sharkey points out that

Black children still live in neighborhoods that offer lower quality schools, more toxic stressors like violent crime, more pollution and environmental hazards than white children from similar families. These differences play a big role in explaining racial gaps in economic mobility over the past two generations.

In a 2009 Pew Charitable Trusts report, Neighborhoods and the Black-White Mobility Gap, Sharkey argued that:

Neighborhood poverty alone accounts for a greater portion of the black-white downward mobility gap than the effects of parental education, occupation, labor force participation, and a range of other family characteristics combined.

Elizabeth Kneebone, a Brookings Institution scholar, confirms the brutal impact on poor families of concentrated deprivation. In a 2014 essay, The Growth and Spread of Concentrated Poverty, she reported that:

The challenges of poor neighborhoods  including worse health outcomes, higher crime rates, failing schools, and fewer job opportunities  make it that much harder for individuals and families to escape poverty and often perpetuate and entrench poverty across generations.

During the 1990s, there was a substantial decline in the percentage of families of all races and ethnicities, including African Americans, living in neighborhoods of dense poverty.
When European leaders, who are under pressure to find solutions to the refugee crisis, meet this week to finalize a deal with Turkey, they should weigh the serious legal and moral questions it raises.

The proposal calls on Turkey to take back, on a fast-tracked basis, people lacking proper documentation who traveled through Turkey to Greece. In exchange, Europe would take in Syrian refugees from Turkey who have been properly certified. The European Union would also enhance visa-free travel in Europe for Turkish citizens, accelerate the process toward Turkeys membership in the European Union, and pay Turkey as much as 6 billion euros (about $6.7 billion) to help it manage refugees.

Turkey needs and deserves help to deal with the nearly three million refugees  most of whom have fled violence in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan  it has already taken in. But Europe is not giving Turkey billions of euros just to help it care for the refugees already in Turkey. It is sweetening a deal to get Turkey to help stem the migration flow to Europe.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have questioned the legality of the deal under the 1951 Geneva Convention on refugees, with its rules on what constitutes safe haven, and the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits mass expulsions.
Americans are still barred by law from traveling to Cuba as tourists, despite the Obama administrations opening with that country. But new rules announced by the administration on Tuesday will make traveling there easier and cheaper.

In the past, Americans who wanted to travel legally to Cuba had to rely on companies licensed by the Treasury Department, which required that the tour operators keep detailed itineraries and records to prove that the trips were cultural and educational experiences  not mojito-packed beach getaways.

The tourism ban, which is codified in law, will remain in place. But under the new rules, proving that the trip has educational purposes will rest with the travelers. (And any seasoned traveler will tell you that conversations with bartenders, beachside or not, can be mightily educational.)

The new rules will also loosen banking and financial transaction restrictions, and allow Cubans to work in the United States under temporary visas. These changes will make it easier for Cuban athletes, artists and scholars to temporarily travel to the United States for conferences, fellowships and short-term employment opportunities.
After decades of pandering to intolerance while working against the needs of working-class Americans and minorities, the Republican Party appears headed for disaster. As its post-mortem report said, it didnt have to be this way.

The question now is, what will the candidates beaten by Mr. Trump, like Mr. Rubio, do? Will they endorse the man they portrayed as a threat to the nation, or take a more principled stand? What are party leaders like Reince Priebus, the Republican National Committee chairman, prepared to do?

For Democrats, the remainder of the primary season will be less perilous. While Hillary Clinton continues her march toward the nomination, the weakness of her appeal among the young, independents, men and some working-class voters cannot be ignored. Though she and her campaign insist they have always envisioned a long, tough battle with Bernie Sanders, they have been challenged in ways they could not have expected. And Mr. Sanders has the drive, the money and the delegates to stay in the race until the end. No matter what happens, he will help determine the partys future priorities.

Mr. Sanderss quixotic candidacy has not offered concrete ways to achieve his goals with a Republican-controlled Congress, and he hasnt been able to win over enough African-American and Latino voters. But he has managed to take aim at Mrs. Clintons vulnerabilities  like her paid speeches to Wall Street firms and her shifts in position on issues like gay marriage, trade agreements and immigration  to some effect. Some voters accuse her of saying whatever it takes to win, and as she tacks to the left in response to Mr. Sanderss challenge, that perception may increase.

Still, Mrs. Clintons strong performance Tuesday puts her even further out of Mr. Sanderss reach. But she has to do more than defeat him for the nomination. Mr. Sanderss success has been as the voice of Democrats resentful of a party establishment that has been too tepid in taking on issues like income inequality. She will have to somehow connect with his supporters and show them she understands them, particularly since some of them are potential Republican voters come November.
We needed a minimalist palette because the objects in our house are so diverse and weird, says Holt, pointing to a cluster of Lambs chairs: a triangular pewter stool, a black lacquered mini bench and a perforated copper seat. The humble, handcrafted look of Lambs work belies his technically meticulous construction methods. He sculpted the copper chair, for example, from a wax form that he submerged in a tank of copper sulphate. The copper grew on the wax form, which was then melted away. The pewter stool was created with a primitive casting technique that involves pouring liquid metal into a mold dug out in sand. Lamb first experimented with the method on the beaches of the south coast of Cornwall in England  a spot where he grew up building sand castles and tunnels. Lamb says he sees the world as a working landscape where he can exploit raw materials to draw out their natural beauty.

This combination of vision and resourcefulness has made his work in demand among those who appreciate his somewhat Brutalist pieces as both furniture and works of art. Hes been commissioned by stores like Acne and Opening Ceremony, and his work is exhibited at blue-chip design galleries like Johnson Trading Gallery in New York and Gallery Fumi in London. At last years Milan Furniture Fair, he created Exercises in Seating, an installation that became the must-see of the show. In it he arranged 42 of his chair designs in an enormous circle, starting from the first he ever made, in 2004. There was a design manifesto to accompany the exhibit, which included an exposition of his wide-ranging techniques  from ceramic shelling to spruing  as well as a nerdish homage to the extensive range of tools and materials he uses, including the 187-year-old ash tree he felled at his grandfathers farm and later turned into tables and chairs.
My Golden Days, the latest film from the French director Arnaud Desplechin, is a constantly shifting catalogue of allusions to literature, film  even some of Desplechins previous work. Set mostly in the late 1980s, the coming-of-age film serves as an origin story for Desplechins 1996 film, My Sex Life ... or How I Got Into an Argument. The director revisits his characters Paul Dedalus and Esther  first played by Mathieu Amalric and Emmanuelle Devos  in their relationship as teenagers, but now uses an unknown cast that includes Quentin Dolmaire as Paul and Lou Roy-Lecollinet as his object of desire. The film is a referential collage, moving through a series of genres and incorporating a jukebox of dance-party pop songs and impressions of Desplechins eclectic cinematic taste.

Before he begins shooting, Desplechin says he enjoys the ceremony of watching a film with the cast and crew. This time around, he screened Milos Formans Loves of a Blond for everyone  a film that also stars inexperienced actors. Its okay if we fail, he told his audience. But this is where well aim. This is our target. Separately, he worked with his two young main actors on their scenes by showing them clips from Clint Eastwoods Bird, about a jazz musician in Paris. Its the best love story Ive ever seen on the screen, he says. When the actors were confused, he explained the relevance by posing a question central to both films: Can you be a perfect match and be absolutely opposite at the same time? Later, he showed Dolmaire Francois Truffauts Bed and Board and Roy-Lecollinet Roman Polanskis Tess as examples of young actors carrying an entire film. Youre not alone, he told them as encouragement. It happened before you, so you will be able to find your own way.

Other references in the film  to James Joyce, William Butler Yeats and the Odyssey, among others  are equally obscure. Im using them to make it easier for the audience, not to make it more complicated, Desplechin says. The name Dedalus is coming from Joyce, but if youre 16, you dont know anything about Joyce. The direct meaning of each reference isnt important, he adds, noting that he uses music in the same way. (My Golden Years features tracks from De La Soul, The Jam and George Clinton, and snippets from the soundtrack to Hitchcocks Vertigo all placed against one another.) He credits this approach to the influence of Martin Scorsese and his editor Thelma Schoonmaker. It creates another meaning, another layer of feelings you cant predict, he says. Youre just plunging into feelings, and if the audience can connect with the emotions of the character, Ive done my job.
A NEW DESTINATION IN BERMUDA

A major project to increase tourism is underway on the island of Bermuda: The Bermuda-based real estate company Morgans Point Ltd. announced today its plans for Caroline Bay, a development on the islands west end with a 79-room Ritz-Carlton Reserve hotel, residences, restaurants, high-end retail shops and a megayacht marina with slips for 77 boats and 21 super yachts. Construction for the project has already started and is expected to be completed in 2018. Morgans Point is planning a second phase of development within Caroline Bay that includes a larger hotel, an inner harbor megayacht marina, more residences and a boardwalk.

A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE AT ROCCO FORTE HOTELS

Rocco Forte Hotels wants the guests at its 10 properties to see their destination like a local, and to help make that happen, the brand recently launched Insiders, a program of itineraries created by notable residents in each city. Guests of the hotels will find a package in their rooms with a map of the city along with a guide of suggestions from three locals on their most treasured places to eat, drink and visit. Guests at the Hotel Astoria, St. Petersburg, for example, can read recommendations from Irada Vovnenko, the deputy director of St. Isaacs Cathedral; she likes early morning walks along Nevsky Prospect, a lunch of sea bass at Astoria Cafe and walking in the park at Tsarskoye Selo in the suburb of Pushkin. Munich, Frankfurt and London are among other cities where Rocce Forte has properties.

A JEWEL TOUR IN RUSSIA

Appreciating Russias past and present jewelry culture is the focus of a new trip from the art travel company Adventures in Art. Called Jewels of Russia, it takes place from May 22 to 26 in St. Petersburg and Moscow and includes a visit to the Faberge Museum at the Shuvalov Palace in St. Petersburg; in Moscow, travelers get a tour of the imperial crown jewels at the Diamond Fund in the Kremlin, a visit to the workshop of the renowned contemporary jeweler Ilgiz Fazulzyanov and dinner at the home of a prominent jewelry collector. The companys co-founders, the art specialist Karen Stone Talwar and the jewelry historian Amanda Triossi, will lead the trip. Prices from $7,950 a person.

PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE FOCUS FOR LUXURY COLLECTION PROGRAM

The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, a portfolio of more than a 100 high-end properties that is part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, is collaborating with Leica Camera to lend its guests cameras during their stay. The cameras are available on a first-come, first-serve basis through the concierge and come with a booklet of images by a notable local photographer who shares suggestions on locations to shoot. The French photographer Francois Fontaine, for example, guides guests of the Prince de Galles in Paris to capture picturesque spots throughout the city such as the art museum Musee Bourdelle. Meanwhile, the New York-based photographer Jillian Guyette encourages guests at the Chatwal to photograph such landmarks as the Chelsea Flower Market. The program is free, and guests get a memory card of their images to take home.
The reforms include changing policies on stun guns and on shooting at moving vehicles, repealing questionable laws and carrying out new guidelines for stops and searches by local law enforcement. The city must also hire an independent monitor to ensure that the changes are enacted properly.

When federal officials and the city announced the accord in late January after several months of talks, they did so with optimism that the city was turning a new leaf and setting a national example for change. About a year earlier, the government had released the scathing results of an investigation that found that Fergusons law enforcement system regularly violated peoples constitutional rights and used its police and courts to make money rather than ensure public safety. The investigation unfolded in the wake of the fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown, after complaints from the predominantly black population of Ferguson and surrounding communities that the police regularly harassed them.

But after the Council held several public hearings, members started to waver. While many in the community urged the Council to pass the agreement, others expressed concern that its cost would bankrupt the city. Fergusons finance director, Jeffrey Blume, said enacting the agreement would cost as much as $3.7 million in the first year and $3 million in subsequent years. Yet others argued that challenging the agreement would lead to a court battle that one lawyer for the city estimated would cost as much as $8 million.

The city has been running an operating deficit of about $2.5 million a year since the Brown shooting, which led to widespread demonstrations and unrest.

The Council voted a little more than a month ago to send the agreement back to the Justice Department with seven amendments, even though federal officials had said they would sue if the city did not approve the consent decree in its entirety. The Justice Department did just that, filing a lawsuit the day after the Councils vote.

But Ferguson officials started showing signs of a change of heart about a week ago after the Justice Department sent them a letter saying it would work with them to keep the costs of the changes in check. To help cover the costs of the agreement, the city has placed tax increases on the ballot next month.

The federal government now, and their monitor, will oversee and watch and report back on the progress weve made, Mr. Knowles said in an interview. This is no longer me sitting at a meeting saying, Look at all the stuff we did, and people saying, Ah, youre lying. That will really help us get past that level of distrust.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

ENVIRONMENT, WATER AND CLIMATE Minister Oppah Muchinguri has said Finance and Economic Development ministry this year availed $300 000 for cloud seeding as drought had seemed to be prevailing.She said the Government of Zimbabwe has been providing funding for the national cloud seeding programme. This is one of its yearly priority areas of focus and carried out by the Meteorological Services Department.She said since independence, the national cloud seeding programme has been carried out every year except for 4 years due to various reasons."I also wish to advise Hon. Members that before the cloud seeding programme became operational, extensive research and experimentation was done for 5 years. After these 5 years of experimentation, the scientist determined that cloud seeding for the purposes of increasing precipitation enhanced the rainfall amounts by at least 25%," Muchinguri said."On average, seeded clouds start precipitating 15 minutes after seeding. This is significant and in line with the findings of other experiments in many countries of the World. For your information, a minimum of 50 countries worldwide are presently conducting cloud seeding for various purposes. I understand that, due to increasing impacts of climate change, the number of countries intending to embark on cloud seeding is increasing, including some of those in SADC, Zimbabwe has been approached in this regard and is already assisting," she said."The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development availed $300 000 on 10 January 2016 for the purposes of cloud seeding. On 11 January (the next day) cloud seeding operations commenced. This year we hired and deployed 2 aircrafts for the exercise, in order to reduce time for flying to the target areas as well as, maximizing on capturing as many rain-pregnant clouds as possible."She said one craft is based in Harare and should cover all the Mashonaland provinces, Manicaland as well as parts of Midlands."The second aircraft is based in Bulawayo to cover the Matabeleland provinces, Masvingo as well as parts of Midlands. As such the exercise has been countrywide," Muchinguri. "As of Monday, 29 February 2016, U$86 000 is the balance of the funds remaining. This amounts to approximately 15 days of cloud seeding."
A second State Supreme Court justice quit Tuesday in a scandal over offensive emails that he and others exchanged with friends and lawyers. Justice Michael Eakins decision to retire is the latest fallout since Attorney General Kathleen Kane of Pennsylvania began releasing hundreds of emails in 2014 to the news media and ethics agencies. Ms. Kane has since been indicted on perjury and other charges that she says were trumped up because she took on what she called the old boys club of the judiciary and law enforcement. Mr. Eakins lawyer, Bill Costopoulos, said an ethics trial related to the emails, which had been scheduled to start in two weeks, would not proceed. He said Mr. Eakin, a Republican who was first elected to the court in 2001, would agree to the allegations, leaving nothing left to try. Justice Seamus McCaffery, a Democrat, retired in 2014 after being suspended for his role in swapping the emails. This is the only process I know of in America where you can be charged with sending emails to friends that were inappropriate and face the death penalty, Mr. Costopoulos said. The board that investigates accusations of judicial misconduct said Mr. Eakin had sent or responded to emails that included a satirical video about a busload of sluts crashing, a joke about a woman told to keep her mouth shut after telling her doctor that her drunken husband had beaten her, a sexually suggestive thread/conversation about one of Mr. Eakins female employees and a joke about Tiger Woods that referred to his African-American and Asian background.
Hillary Clinton swept major primaries in Florida, North Carolina and Ohio on Tuesday, rebounding from her upset loss to Bernie Sanders in Michigan a week earlier and securing a political and psychological victory for her campaign.

The results were a significant setback for Mr. Sanders, who was counting on his fiery arguments against free trade to help him prevail across the industrial Midwest. He spent heavily trying to win Ohio, as well as Tuesdays contests in Illinois and Missouri, but he came away with his presidential bid looking increasingly hopeless, since Mrs. Clinton is far ahead in amassing delegates needed to win the nomination.

Early Wednesday, The Associated Press declared Mrs. Clinton the winner in Illinois, too. Votes were still being counted in Missouri.

For Mrs. Clinton, Tuesdays double-digit victories netted her so many delegates that her lead over Mr. Sanders is now about three times what Barack Obamas was over her in 2008. On a personal level, too, she and her advisers were reassured that regardless of her Michigan defeat, her political arguments about jobs and the economy had potency in states that will be major battlegrounds in November.
There is no analogous election in the modern era where the two top candidates for the nomination are as divisive and weak, said Steve Schmidt, a top campaign adviser to George W. Bush in 2004 and John McCain in 2008. There is no precedent for it.

Mrs. Clintons commanding wins in the swing states of Ohio, North Carolina and Florida seemed to hobble the once robust challenge of Senator Bernie Sanders. And Mr. Trumps dominance in Florida, North Carolina and Illinois knocked out Senator Marco Rubio and propelled Mr. Trump even closer to the Republican nomination.

This would be the moment, under normal circumstances, when the de facto nominees, emerging victorious from the intramural skirmishes of their parties nominating contests, would invite an eager national electorate to take their measure. And in their victory speeches, both tried their best, issuing broad appeals for Americans to unite behind them.

But Mr. Trump has unnerved many Americans with his inflammatory oratory and radical-sounding proposals. And Mrs. Clinton, while viewed as a more seasoned and serious political figure, has struggled in her campaign to win the trust of the American electorate. And it is all but impossible for the country to take a fresh look at them.
Mr. Rubios ill-fated campaign for the White House, which was virtually broke by the time Tuesdays primary arrived, was built on mistaken assumptions about the mood and preferences of the electorate, a misplaced faith in the charisma of the candidate and misguided predictions about the course of the Republican race.

He promised to change the face of modern conservatism and to make the Republican Party more appealing to young and minority voters. Instead, his gauzy calls for a generational torch-passing were ill suited to a Republican electorate who wanted someone angrier and more hostile to the system than Mr. Rubio could bring himself to be.

Mr. Rubios campaign relied not on any one slice of the Republican Party but on a broad coalition of voters who would unite behind him as a safe and rational choice. But in trying to be too many things to too many people, he won over too few.

The final weeks of his race were a descent into political and personal embarrassment. As his wife fretted audibly about the dwindling size of his crowds, Mr. Rubio  who had tried to combine John F. Kennedys oratory, Ronald Reagans inspirational conservatism and Barack Obamas message discipline  instead wound up apologizing for crude bathroom jokes.

In an interview aboard his campaign bus, Mr. Rubio sounded despondent as he contemplated how ugly the race had become  and his role in its devolution.

I kind of said, Gosh, you know what? It even got to me,  he said, recalling a difficult conversation he had with his embarrassed teenage daughters, who asked why he had belittled Mr. Trump as a pants-wetter with a bad spray tan. He could not give them a good answer, he said. And Im someone whos run this whole campaign trying to be above all that stuff. For a brief moment, it even got to me.
Donald J. Trump rolled to victory in the Republican presidential primaries in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina on Tuesday, driving Senator Marco Rubio from the race and amassing a formidable delegate advantage that will be exceedingly difficult for any rival to overcome.

But with a victory in Ohio, his home state, Gov. John Kasich denied Mr. Trump one of the nights biggest prizes and made it harder for him to clinch the nomination outright before primary voting ends in June.

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas finished second in Illinois and North Carolina and was locked in a tight race with Mr. Trump in Missouri, ensuring that he, too, would earn a share of delegates.

Mr. Trump has faced mounting criticism from Republicans for the vitriolic tone of his candidacy, but he struck a defiant note Tuesday night, describing himself proudly as a candidate of the angry and disaffected. There is great anger, he said. Believe me, there is great anger.
WASHINGTON  For five years, President Obama has steadfastly rejected the argument that the United States could intervene in Syria, alter the equation on the battlefield and avoid being sucked into a quagmire. Now, it appears that President Vladimir V. Putin has done exactly that.

The Russian leaders announcement on Monday that he would withdraw the bulk of his forces from Syria not only caught the White House by surprise, it seemed to belie Mr. Obamas regular warnings that Russia would be severely damaged by its military adventurism. And it reinforced the sense that Mr. Putin has managed to maintain the initiative in Syria against an American president who wants to keep the war at arms length.

The White House on Tuesday cautiously welcomed Russias latest move, even as it continued to criticize its intervention, and administration officials struggled to understand Mr. Putins motives for acting now.

The Russia military intervention propped up Assad and only made it more difficult for that political resolution to be reached, the White House press secretary, Josh Earnest, said, referring to President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. If they continue to follow through, he added, then that would be a positive outcome.
CHICAGO  Cook Countys top prosecutor, who was derided for taking more than a year to charge a white Chicago police officer in the death of a black teenager here, was soundly defeated by a primary challenger on Tuesday.

Anita Alvarez, a two-term incumbent Democrat, was plagued for months along the campaign trail for her role in the case of Laquan McDonald, the teenager who was shot 16 times in October of 2014. A judge ordered a police video of the shooting made public in November 2015, at which point Ms. Alvarez announced first-degree murder charges against the officer involved, Jason Van Dyke. Demonstrators denounced the delay, and targeted Ms. Alvarez  as well as Mayor Rahm Emanuel  in a series of marches, demands for resignations, and, for Ms. Alvarez, a potent campaign battle.

With most of the precincts reporting late Tuesday, Kim Foxx, a former prosecutor and the strongest challenger to Ms. Alvarez, was leading by about 28 percentage points, The Associated Press reported.

Ive been criticized that I wasnt a very good politician, and thats probably right  and thats probably why I stand here before you tonight, Ms. Alvarez said late Tuesday, as the results grew clear. But Im very damn proud of the fact that I am a good prosecutor.
MELA THIRUVENKATANATHAPURAM, India  A bare-chested priest sat cross-legged in the temple of this farming village on a recent morning and recited all 1,008 names of Vishnu, the Hindu god, in the hope of soon receiving good news from the White House.

A junior priest sprinkled the idol, known as Balaji, with shredded tulsi leaves and rose-water. The subject of their prayers was Sri Srinivasan, an Indian-born judge on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia who is rumored to be a top contender for President Obama to nominate to the Supreme Court.

In Washington, Judge Srinivasan is known as a brilliant lawyer, and  what may be more important this year  so difficult to pigeonhole ideologically that his current appointment passed a bitterly divided Senate 97-0.

In Mela Thiruvenkatanathapuram, though, he is known as the grandson of a local schoolteacher and yarn merchant who drove an ox-cart and typically wore a traditional wraparound dhoti.
Former Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, a veteran diplomat and North Korea troubleshooter, met with two North Korean diplomats from the United Nations on Tuesday to press for the release of an American college student arrested in the North more than two months ago.

Mr. Richardson said the meeting, at a hotel near the United Nations headquarters in New York, was his first face-to-face dealing with the North Koreans since he was asked by Gov. John Kasich of Ohio to get involved in the case of the arrested student, Otto F. Warmbier of Cincinnati.

I urged the humanitarian release of Otto, and they agreed to convey our request, Mr. Richardson said by telephone afterward. He also said the diplomats, Ambassador Jang Il-hun and a subordinate, confirmed that Mr. Warmbier had been seen in Pyongyang, the Norths capital, by a diplomat from Sweden, which represents the United Statess interests in North Korea.
Hong Kong Ballet is an enigma, though not a particularly riveting one. At its Joyce Theater debut on Tuesday night, this company of lovely dancers seemed like a shiny white envelope  without a stamp. As polished as its dancers are, its choreography washes them out.

Formed in 1979 and led since 2009 by Madeleine Onne, a former artistic director and principal dancer of the Royal Swedish Ballet, the group led off with an excerpt by Fei Bo, who choreographed the National Ballet of Chinas production of Peony Pavilion. He offers a pas de trois from A Room of Her Own (2011), inspired by Virginia Woolfs similarly titled essay.

This homage is on the thin side, yet the problem could be walking in on the middle of it. Liu Yu-yao, supple in blue, sits behind an austere table; two others, Liu Miao-miao and Li Jia-bo, both in white, enter backward from opposite sides of the stage and merge in swirling duets that Liu Yu-yao, the obvious outsider and racked by jealousy, either instigates or interrupts. In the end, she crumples her papers, and the couple dash offstage.

Nacho Duatos Castrati (2002), for an all-male cast, looks at the practice of castrating young men to preserve their singing voices. Here, the boy is Shen Jie, who often lies on his back with his legs in the air; understandably, he wears an expression of anguish. (Bloody hands come later.) But Mr. Duatos melding of punctuated arm jabs, crotch grabs and swirling turns offers little rhythmic distinction.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

The Zimbabwe First party has said when it gets into power it will respect the will of the people and will always be guided by the national constitution."Zimbabwe People First Is the Real People Driven Party. The Party seeks to build a free society with a government that enacts the will of the people instead of catering to the whims of the powerful. A ZimFirst government will be eternally fearful of the will of the people and forever restrained by the limits of the constitution which governs it," said the party."Zimbabwe First (ZimFirst) was founded on 10 April 2015 and officially launched on 26 September 2015 in Murewa, at a colourful ceremony attended by thousands of people from the 10 provinces in the country."The party said its ideology is Country First and People First, meaning that the citizens of Zimbabwe should dedicate all their effort towards promoting the interests of country and its people first.It said Zimbabwe needs to be refocused into the future by a political adult, who will lead the country in a new direction towards prosperity and the political adult is ZimFirst."As a party, ZimFirst has begun to prepare the country for a future economic boom by putting in place new the systems to achieve an unsoiled leadership which is forward thinking, a committed leadership willing to install a transparent and accountable system of government, and through the development of think tanks to work on the blueprint of a brighter future for Zimbabwe," said the party."ZimFirst promises to bring a breath of fresh air to the country's political landscape as it prides itself to being a party that will transcend petty personal politics and pointless abuses of power to build a strong, free, and democratic Zimbabwe through the electoral process."The party said its policies are essential if we are to overcome the present turmoil and create a sustainable and fair future for our country. Our vision is of a fairer society that meets everyone's needs, and an economy that works for us rather than against us."It is for a more equal society and for higher incomes for public servants rather than corrupt ministers. For stronger local community with quality education for the children. Health, safe, and quality food with enough time to appreciate it. This dream is achievable. All it requires is political courage  and popular democratic support backing that courage. In its first five years in office after elected, the party would bring direct investment to boost manufacturing and raw material processing capability to provide jobs, quality goods for local consumption and export," the party said."Zimbabwe is labouring under a debilitating liquidity crunch, a collapsed manufacturing sector and an 80 percent unemployment keg, mostly inundated by the youth."ZimFirst said the collapse of Zimbabwe's manufacturing and agricultural industries has cut the size of the economy by half and left the nation with fewer people in formal employment than at any time in almost half a century."About 700,000 people have formal jobs, almost equally split between the state and private companies, government and independent statistics show. That's the lowest number since 1968, when President Mugabe was a jailed freedom fighter, and Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith's white-minority government was under sanctions for unilaterally declaring independence from the U.K," said the party."ZimFirst party will be governed by the three core value pillars of honesty, accountability and unity, and seeks to thereby achieve the stated goals of national unity, economic transformation, transparency, and accountability. ZimFirst is necessary to overcome rampant inequality and corruption, to modernize the economy through deregulation and laissez-faire policy. Only ZimFirst can enact the lessons learned from the past financial crisis.""Corruption is endemic in our nation and is the elephant in the room. Leaders in all spheres of our society will be asked to act in unison to address the scourge which can easily dash away any hopes of economic recovery. Last year the Deputy Ambassador of Sweden Maria Selin said although corruption was everywhere, in Zimbabwe the scourge was "rampant," the party added.ZimFirst promises to enforce the anti corruption laws and commit to arrest the scourge of corruption as the party has a vision for Zimbabwe that would see a better quality of life for everyone.ZimFirst will build a free society with a government that enacts the will of the people instead of catering to the whims of the powerful."Our government will be eternally fearful of the will of the people and forever restrained by the limits of the constitution which governs it," it said."ZimFirst emphatically reject the tenets of any political system or form of government or political idea that sets one person above another, that limits the freedom of the individual for the greater good', or attempts to convince any individual that they have no rights or fewer rights than the rights man is endowed with by their Creator."
ROME  Italian officials have arrested 12 people in connection with the brazen theft in November of 17 paintings, including works by Pisanello and Rubens, from a museum in Verona, the police said Wednesday.

Investigators said that five people were arrested on Tuesday in Moldova and seven in Italy, including some Moldovan citizens, but that the paintings had not been found. Some of those arrested had criminal records, but not for art theft, officials said at a news conference in Verona on Wednesday.

Gen. Mariano Mossa, the commander of Italys specialized art theft squad, said that the paintings were probably still in Moldova and had not been dispersed.

Thieves broke into the museum, the Castelvecchio, on Nov. 19 just as it was closing but before the alarms had been turned on, officials said at the time.
KABUL, Afghanistan  This countrys arts and craft emporiums have long been deserted, given that few foreigners come here now, aside from soldiers and diplomats who are not allowed to go out and shop, and the odd aid worker or journalist who is. So if Americans are no longer going to Afghanistan, why not take Afghan artisans to America?

Turquoise Mountain: Artists Transforming Afghanistan, an epic 11-month show that opened this month at the Smithsonian Institution, aims to do that literally.

Not only was Afghan earth imported to plant a bush that provides the dye that gives the countrys traditional Istalif pottery its amazing deep-sea-blue glaze, but an actual potter and his wheel as well. Afghan carpet weavers, jewelers, calligraphers and carpenters people a hand-carved caravansary of Himalayan cedar that was shipped to Washington and reassembled for the show, presented by the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art.

An important opportunity for the Afghan artisans, it is also something of a declaration of independence by the Freer/Sackler from traditional ways of realizing museum exhibitions. I would like to see this as part of a global change in the museum field, said the Freer/Sacklers director, Julian Raby. I think many museums tended to have cryogenic displays with these dead voices, in the mistaken belief that were being objective. This exhibition will feel very different.
LOS ANGELES  Everyone  almost everyone  agrees. Artwise, Los Angeles is having a moment. Again. Or still. Numbers say so. Not long ago, galleries here numbered in the few dozens; now there are around 200  huge, teensy, rich, shoestring  clumped across the city. Several of the largest are imports from the East Coast and abroad. And last week a contingent of out-of-town art power flew in for the debut of one of them, the largest so far, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, in the downtown arts district.

The new space is declaratively, competitively immense. Housed in a revamped industrial complex  a flour mill built in incremental sections in the late 19th and early 20th centuries  its a commercial gallery on an institutional scale. At 113,000 square feet, with 24,000 devoted to gallery space, its bigger than either the Met Breuer or the New Museum in New York. And despite having Zurich roots, it comes with strong local credentials. It represents several major Southern California artists, and Paul Schimmel, the former chief curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art here, is a Hauser & Wirth partner and director of the new branch.

Mr. Schimmel could have gone for Instagrammable red carpet splash with his inaugural presentation. Instead, he has opted for intelligence, politics and history in a show called Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947-2016. He made a particularly smart choice in his co-curator, Jenni Sorkin, an art historian who worked on the 2007 exhibition Wack! Art and the Feminist Revolution, one of the great history-writing shows of the century so far, and one that originated at the Museum of Contemporary Art here.
EAST HAMPTON, N.Y.  For years, visitors to the Home Sweet Home museum, just a few blocks west of this villages fancy shopping district, have been told that this 1750 saltbox was the birthplace of the actor and playwright John Howard Payne (1791-1852), and that it was the house he had in mind when he wrote the lyrics to what would become one of the most famous songs of the 19th century.

Originally penned as the climactic number for a now-obscure 1823 opera, Home Sweet Home would be sung by homesick Civil War soldiers and in the parlors of America for decades to come: Be it ever so humble, theres no place like home. Home, home, sweet, sweet, home! Theres no place like home, oh, theres no place like home!

The story of Paynes connection to the house in this scenic village on the East End of Long Island is almost as sentimental as the emotions expressed in the song, which the museum was founded in 1928 to celebrate. Theres just one problem: Its not true.
This is not Disneyland, but a real place, said Meryl Levitz, president and chief executive of Visit Philadelphia, the citys main nonprofit tourism promotion agency. This is where America began. I dont think you can have too much of that. The population keeps expanding, so there are always more people to attract, and from what we know, those people want more, better and newer.

Such a concentration of resources for one historical topic is unusual. Although Memphis has several rock, blues and other music-genre museums, and San Diego concentrates its museum culture in Balboa Park, most cities offer a panoply of tourist destinations. Ms. Levitzs agency certainly promotes Philadelphias art museums, its thriving theater scene and what the city calls its Restaurant Renaissance, but the backbone of its tourism is the connection to the founding of the country.

As completion of the new museum moves forward, those places already devoted to that period expect not competition but collaboration.

All of us are looking to tell a fuller story, said Vince Stango, chief operating officer of the National Constitution Center. In our case, it does start with the context of 1787, but we want to bring that all the way forward to today, educating people about the Constitution.

The National Constitution Center opened on July 4, 2003, and its chairmen have included Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida. It has had some recent financial issues, laying off 17 staff members three years ago, but its books show no deficit now. Mr. Stango said he was, at this point, unworried about the new museums potential to eat into the centers audience.

We will have to wait to see what consumer tastes are, he said, noting that about 60 percent of visitors to the center are school groups coming from within 100 miles. Meanwhile, we will see what we need to do to evolve.
He had a long detour into the mental health field, and although he wasnt a therapist, eventually headed a psychotherapy training program. (Mr. Bergman said that in some ways his current work was a form of therapy for artists.)

Through his network of colleagues, Mr. Bergman met Krasners lawyer, Gerald Dickler, who had pressed her to make a will with a philanthropic focus. Mr. Bergmans longtime interest in art, dating to his college years, and his administrative skills were enough to get him the position running the foundation.

Now that the foundation is well established, Mr. Bergman said one of his goals was to persuade successful artists who have accumulated a fortune to pass at least some of it on.

Its been my mission and my unrequited, unfulfilled dream that I could get others to emulate Lees generous example, he said.

As for his encounter with Pollock, which Mr. Bergman said he had never before recounted for publication, he said: I have had many opportunities to answer the question, Did you know Jackson Pollock? I always said, out of respect for Lee, No, I really didnt know him.
Where has he been?

I could not help wondering this on Tuesday evening, when Kent Nagano conducted the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in an impressive program at Carnegie Hall, this ensembles first appearance in New York in five years. Mr. Nagano opened with a slyly seductive account of Ravels La Valse, followed by a majestic performance of Beethovens Third Piano Concerto with the distinguished Portuguese pianist Maria Joao Pires, then ended with a grim, weighty take on Stravinskys The Rite of Spring.

That this orchestra, which Mr. Nagano has directed since 2006, had not played in New York since the Spring for Music festival at Carnegie in 2011 was only one issue. Why has the California-born Mr. Nagano, 64, a major international artist, hardly been engaged by New Yorks leading orchestra and opera company?

Since his 1987 New York Philharmonic debut, he has returned only once, for a Bach and Messiaen program in 2005. Mr. Nagano has been a leading opera conductor in Europe and is the music director of the Hamburg State Opera. Yet his only work to date at the Metropolitan Opera was a revival of Poulencs Dialogues of the Carmelites in 1994.

Whatever the reasons, his absence is certainly a loss for audiences in New York. Mr. Nagano had an enthusiastic Carnegie crowd with him on Tuesday from the first bars of La Valse. His interpretation of the murky, halting opening section made it sound as if the music were emerging from a primordial stew. Slowly, fragments coalesced into a glittering, surreal, even dangerous exploration of the Viennese waltz.
March is Donizetti Month in New York this year. LElisir dAmore, Don Pasquale and Roberto Devereux are all being performed at the Metropolitan Opera, and his music is also being celebrated in the East Village, where the plucky Amore Opera is offering LElisir and Poliuto.

Poliuto, a rarely staged historical drama about a third-century Christian martyr in Armenia, has received a handful of airings in recent years. Amores rendition at the Sheen Center, which opened on Tuesday, is being billed by the company as the first fully staged American production since 1859.

Inspired by the Roman persecution of Christians, the main action centers on a love triangle. Paolina has married Poliuto, a Roman convert to Christianity, although she is still in love with the Roman general Severo, who she mistakenly believes is dead. Paolina eventually converts and, along with other condemned Christians, is thrown to the lions with Poliuto.

Given the current persecution of Christians in the Middle East, the story remains all too relevant. The music is certainly alluring: Donizetti wrote lovely choruses for the Christian worshipers; memorable arias, like Severos ode to Paolina; and passionate duets, like the one in the second act.
William A. Ackmans hedge fund is selling a big stake in a stock  but its not the one that has cost his fund billions of dollars.

On Wednesday, Pershing Square Capital Management, Mr. Ackmans $12 billion hedge fund, sold 20 million shares in the food and beverage company Mondelez International.

We are reducing the position size for portfolio management purposes only, Mr. Ackman said in a letter sent to investors. After the sale, Pershing Square will have a 5.6 percent stake, he said.

A day earlier, Valeant, in which Pershing Square has a 9 percent stake, announced that it would not be able to file its annual financial statement in time and warned that it could default on some of its debt as a result. The shares halved in value after the news, putting pressure on Mr. Ackman.
MANILA  It is a financial whodunit for the digital era: More than $80 million of Bangladeshs money vanished last month after it was electronically transferred out of that countrys account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

As officials around the world search for the money and place blame, the caper is highlighting what looks like a weak point in the global financial system that allowed the money to get by regulators: the murky banking system of the Philippines.

The countrys investigators are now looking into how the money came to be transferred to that Pacific nation  and what happened to it afterward. The trip, which appears to jump from Philippine banks to the countrys lightly regulated casinos and then to points unknown, touches on a number of pressure points where United States officials and experts say the country is vulnerable to potential corruption and money-laundering.

Specifically, they point to the countrys increasingly flush casino industry, which is exempt from many of the anti-money-laundering requirements in the Philippines. The Philippines also retains what one United States official once called some of the worlds toughest bank secrecy laws, recalling a time before the rise of concerns about terrorism financing and tax evasion, when countries promised privacy in the hopes of becoming financial hubs.
News / National

by Fungai Lupande

A 27-Year-Old man allegedly lured 11 women from Norton, promising them employment in Harare before raping and robbing them.Trymore Musakanya from Kingsdale Farm in Norton raped four of his victims in a bushy area in Pomona, Harare, after telling them that he was a Satanist.He is facing 22 counts of rape and robbery.He appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya and was remanded in custody.Musakanya pleaded not guilty to all counts and told the court that he loaned the women money.Prosecutor Mr Ephraim Zinyandu, alleges that in September last year Musakanya approached a woman in Norton and sweet talked her into a job in Harare.He promised the woman that food and accommodation will be provided and the woman was interested.They proceeded to Harare together and dropped off before Marlborough around 4pm and waited till it was dark.It is alleged that Musakanya led the woman through a bushy area in Pomona and attacked her.He allegedly told her that he was lying about the job.The court heard that he threatened that he was a Satanist, who wanted to suck her blood and cause his satanic snakes to sexually abuse her.Musakanya allegedly snatched the woman's handbag containing two cellphones.The woman managed to escape.The following month Musakanya lured another woman and attacked her on the same spot.With threats that he was a Satanist Musakanya managed to rob the woman of cash and valuables.A Norton teacher also fell victim to Musakanya's tactics.He allegedly sweet-talked her into a job as a till operator in Harare.The pair proceeded to Harare and in a bushy area in Ashdown Park, Mabelreign, the accused pounced on the woman.He again told her that he was a Satanist and the woman indicated that she was also a Satanist.Musakanya snatched the woman's satchel with her academic certificates and cash.Two other women who were on their menstruation periods were not sexually abused but lost valuables.
An advocate for stricter Wall Street regulations is asking shareholders of JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup to vote to consider breaking up the banks.

The proposal, by Bartlett Naylor, the financial policy advocate at the activist organization Public Citizen, is expected to appear in the annual proxy filings of both banks and will then be put up for a vote among all investors who own shares in the banks.

Similar proposals from Mr. Naylor have been either shot down or defeated by the banks in the past. Last year, only 4 percent of Bank of Americas shareholders voted for a similar proposal from Mr. Naylor.

But public debate about breaking up the banks has, if anything, heightened over the last year as Senator Bernie Sanders has put the issue at the center of his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. More surprisingly, last month Neel Kashkari, a former Goldman Sachs executive and the new president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, said that more still needed to be done to shrink the largest banks.
WASHINGTON  A Senate panel advanced an aviation policy bill Wednesday after a partisan fight over whether airlines gouge consumers with fees for basic services like checked bags, seat assignments and ticket changes.

The Senate Commerce Committee approved by voice vote a bill to continue the Federal Aviation Administrations authority to operate through Oct. 1, 2017. That authority is set to expire on March 31.

The committees Democrats, led by Senator Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts, tried to add a provision to the bill that would prohibit airlines from setting unreasonable fees. The amendment failed on a party-line tie vote.

Consumers are being gouged by excessive fees, but they must pay them to get to their destination, Senator Markey said.
Adding to the disarray in the current fashion world, Ennio Capasa, creative director of Costume National, and his brother, Carlo Capasa, its chief executive, announced on Tuesday that they were leaving the brand they founded 30 years ago.

Today is for us a bittersweet time, as we end this extraordinary creative cycle, the Capasas said in a joint announcement.

Costume National, which is based in Milan although it shows in Paris, rose to prominence by defining a certain cool minimalist style in the 1990s. Their signature look was the black trouser suit with a rock n roll edge. In recent years, the brand has struggled financially: After its former partner Ittierre declared bankruptcy, Costume National accepted another minority shareholder, the Asian investment firm Sequedge, in 2009. The deal included an option to buy out the Capasas after a certain time, which Sequedge exercised this year.

Though Carlo Capasa said he and his brother had explored ways to raise enough money to buy out their partners, he added that they had not been successful. On Monday evening, they decided it would be better to leave than to become employees serving someone elses vision. The brothers had different ideas from their investor, he said, about retail growth and online strategy, among other issues. However, he added, there was no rancor in the parting.
PARIS  At the tail end of Paris Fashion Week, at a party whose threshold was near impossible to breach, Rick Owens was chatting up Kris Van Assche, the Dior Homme designer, not far from Emmanuelle Alt, the editor of Paris Vogue. Chloe Sevigny was holding court in one corner.

The evenings host, however, was most excited by the presence of teenage skateboarders in sweatsuit finery. Inside they mixed with fashion editors, while outside many more waited on quiet rue Barbette, desperate to get in.

Supreme, the New York skate line and 22-year-young beacon of cool, had arrived.

Its impresario, James Jebbia, 52, is not generally given to discussing the phenomenon he has presided over for two decades. The less known the better, he said in a rare interview. He is its founder and owner but not its designer, and prefers not to delve too deeply into the specifics of who is. The star of Supreme is Supreme.

Ralph Lauren has Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger has Tommy Hilfiger, Angelo Baque, Supremes brand director, explained. We like for Supreme to be at the forefront when you think of Supreme. Thats the key, at least for me, for the brand to stay ageless and timeless.
A branch bank had just been robbed in College Point, Queens. Inspector Michael S. McGrath of the New York Police Department ushered me into a small grocers next door. A few boxes were arrayed haphazardly on nearly empty shelves. This place was almost surely a front.

The inspector approached the counter. I didnt notice him casually placing his right hand on it.

Turning to me unexpectedly, he asked, What have I just done wrong?

I had no idea.

Inspector McGrath looked down his white shirt sleeve to the tips of his fingers, whose prints were now on the counter top. I may have just contaminated the scene, he said.
So far, 36 states have signed onto the agreement, but there have been some notable holdouts, including California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Wisconsin. Regulators in Connecticut and Wisconsin have expressed concern about the risks to students if their states were to join the shared system. In Minnesota, which has signed on, the state attorney general has described the agreement as an excuse to protect the industry by claiming that the state cannot regulate how online schools treat Minnesota students.

In New York, the State Legislature passed a bill last year authorizing the education commissioner to enter into the agreement, and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed the legislation.

Ms. Elia, who was not available for comment, is expected to sign the agreement soon.

The states deputy education commissioner for higher education, John DAgati, said in an interview that he did not understand the advocates concerns. Currently, he said, the Education Department does not regulate online programs based in other states at all, because the agency does not have the legal authority or the resources to do so.

There seems to be this, yknow, I want you to put up a wall to not allow Phoenix or Kaplan or whatever to come into New York, Mr. DAgati said, referring to two for-profit colleges, the University of Phoenix and Kaplan University. But, he added, Theyre here already.

Robert Shireman, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, a liberal think tank, and a former deputy undersecretary in the federal Education Department who signed the letter opposing the agreement, said that though New York did not currently regulate out-of-state online colleges, it could in the future. By signing the agreement, he said, the state would lose that option.

They shouldnt give up that right until weve got an agreement that will work, he said.

The New York attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman, declined to comment on the agreement, but his office has in the past used the states education laws to bring cases against colleges, something critics say would no longer be possible with colleges in other states if New York agreed to participate in the shared system.
Patrick Thomas was pushing carts filled with breakfast for guests at the Rodeway Inn on the Upper West Side of Manhattan on Wednesday when the buildings electricity began to falter. The lights flickered and the elevator hesitated as Mr. Thomas, a housekeeper, made his way to a basement room to examine the electricity panel.

When he knocked on the door just after 7 a.m., two masked men threw him to the ground, and he felt a foot pressed into the back of his neck. You have money on you? What do you have? Mr. Thomas recalled the men asking as they covered his mouth and fished through his pockets.

Another hotel employee soon came looking for Mr. Thomas, and he, too, was beaten and robbed. The assailants left soon after through a side door.

It was only after Mr. Thomas turned on the lights that he saw the extent of the crime. Two other hotel employees  the general manager and a front desk clerk  were sprawled on the floor, bleeding from gashes on their heads. Their hands and feet had been bound with black zip ties.
The bulk of the Sanders campaigns complaint seemed to be aimed at the coverage of the Republican front-runner, whom the campaign accused the networks of wildly overplaying, while at the same time wildly underplaying Sanders.

(It should be noted that liberal outlets/entities like AlterNet have also accused this newspaper of being part of the Bernie Blackout. The Times public editor, Margaret Sullivan, weighed in in September:

The Times has not ignored Mr. Sanderss campaign, but it hasnt always taken it very seriously. The tone of some stories is regrettably dismissive, even mocking at times. Some of that is focused on the candidates age, appearance and style, rather than what he has to say.)

A strong argument could be made by all candidates  Democrat and Republican  that there has been some level of media malpractice as it relates to the amount of coverage received by their campaigns and that of the Republican front-runner, and they would be right. If any candidate had received the huge media coverage of the current G.O.P. front-runner, they would likely be in a stronger position now.

But the more consequential distinction for Democrats at this point is coverage between Clinton and Sanders.

There appear to be two parallel universes of Democratic voters this season  one disproportionately older, the other disproportionately younger  whose habits make them almost invisible to each other.

Clintons voters may be less likely to show up to rallies, or post on social media or be serial commenters who commandeer comments sections, but they do show up to vote. But these are the same voters who are less likely to hear much news about Sanders.

In a February Pew Research Center survey, a plurality of people 18 to 29 years old said that the social media was their most helpful source for learning about the 2016 presidential election. A plurality of those 30 and over cited cable news as the primary source. Network news was the second most popular source for those 65 and older.
ISTANBUL  I recently spent a few days in Malaysia, where I was promoting the publication of the Malay edition of my book, Islam Without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty. The publisher, a progressive Muslim organization called the Islamic Renaissance Front, had set up several talks for me in Kuala Lumpur. As any author would be, I was happy to learn that the team was enthusiastic about my book and had been getting good feedback from audiences and readers. But I was troubled by something else that I suspect many Muslim authors have experienced: My publisher was worried about censorship.

The risk, I was told, was that the Department of Islamic Development, a government body that was formed to protect the purity of faith, could ban the book if it was viewed as violating traditional Islamic doctrine.

So far, the Malaysian government has not banned my book. But if it did I wouldnt be surprised. The department has already outlawed more than a thousand books translated into Malay. Charles Darwins On the Origin of Species was banned because, according to the home minister, it goes against Islamic teachings, and even endangers public harmony  whatever that means. Islam: A Short History, a fairly sympathetic study by the best-selling author Karen Armstrong, was similarly banned for being incompatible with peace and social harmony.

Malaysia isnt an anomaly in the Muslim world. In the more extreme case of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Information can censor any publication it wants, and the religious police can confiscate books if they detect what they perceive as a hint of blasphemy. Even the Bible, the worlds best seller, is banned in Saudi Arabia  no matter that the Quran praises it. In Egypt, under the iron fist of President Abdelfattah al-Sisi, a range of literary works can be outlawed. Last month, a novelist was sentenced to two years in prison for violating public modesty.
Even allowing for fading memories, there is a good deal of misinformation being thrown around about what actually happened in 1987. Senate Democrats and a few Republicans united to filibuster the nomination, according to a recent story in the conservative Washington Examiner. Not so. It was as far from a filibuster as is possible to imagine. Despite having voted 9 to 5 to reject the nomination, the Senate Judiciary Committee sent Judge Borks name to the Senate floor for an up-or-down vote, which the White House and the nominee insisted on. The vote was 58 to 42 to reject the nomination. There was never the hint of a filibuster.

The confirmation hearing itself, presided over by Joseph R. Biden Jr., then a senator and the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, lasted for a spellbinding week. The senators questioned Judge Bork extensively about his academic writing, his speeches and his opinions for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, to which President Reagan had appointed him (along with Antonin Scalia) as a justice-in-waiting. Judge Bork answered their questions, at length. His problem wasnt that he didnt get a chance to explain himself. It was that a majority of the Senate, including six Republicans who voted against him, didnt like what he said.

The Democratic opposition, supported by a broad coalition of civil rights groups, worked hard to position Judge Bork as out of the mainstream. To this day, his supporters  the man himself died in December 2012  insist that the characterization was unfair. But the mainstream has no fixed definition in any event. It is the product of lived experience, always up for grabs as norms and expectations change. To the extent that the Supreme Court plays a role in shaping the mainstream, it is most often the role of a mirror, reflecting those developments in society and politics that are sufficiently contested to end up in litigation. (Think same-sex marriage.)

At its heart, the Bork Battle was really a struggle over where, in the last quarter of 20th-century America, the mainstream of constitutional understanding was to be found. The confirmation process became a referendum on the constitutional status quo; as brilliantly formulated by the Bork opposition, the question was whether the public wanted to turn back the clock on womens rights and the hard-won achievements of the civil rights movement. By speaking derisively about the constitutional right to privacy, the nominee played into the oppositions strategy, which was to avoid a debate over abortion by using the less polarizing privacy as a stand-in. Clearly, Judge Bork regarded Roe v. Wade as illegitimate. The campaign against him was intended to suggest that his views threatened other rights to intimate choices that people took for granted regardless of their views on abortion.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

The youth assembly of the Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF) has hailed former president of the party Fidelis Ncube popularly known as General Nandinandi for what they called a wonderful leadership during his time as a leader of the party.Ncube stepped down from the helm of the party last week amid indications that he holds Botswana citizenship hence that country's authorities said they do not allow its citizens to participate in politics across its borders.In a statement the MLF youth secretary Nobuhle Ndlovu said following the resignation of Ncube they were thanking him for the work he did for the organisation."We thank you for the ideas you have given to us, your effort, your commitment you had during your presidency. We thank the work you did," Ndlovu said. "We will always remember all this on our way to restoration of Umthwakazi. This is not the end of the road, it is high time we work hard to succeed. The aims and visions of the MLF still stand, will be fulfilled. We say this as MLF youth encouraging all members and all Mthwakazians. We will fight for our freedom until the restoration is done."She said as the youth they were asking all people in Matabeleland to join Mthwakazi and fight for their freedom."Lets look around us and see what is happening and stand up to find the way to get out of this oppression. To Zipra cadres, we wish you to transform that spirit you had during Intumbane to us so that we have courage to free ourselves from this oppression. Each and every day it becomes harder and harder in life by the things that are done purposely. We think this should stop and it should be stopped by our restoration. We thank all Mthwakazi groups who are fighting for freedom, lets fight until we free ourselves. Lets come together and fight for our freedom as we live like prisoners in our country. Lets join hands and fight this battle," Ndlovu said.
AROUND 12:45 p.m. on April 29, 1916, Nurse Elizabeth OFarrell left 15 Moore Street in Dublin to deliver the surrender message that would end the Easter Rising. Inside the house, where the division of Irish rebels under the command of Padraig Pearse had retreated, her comrades in arms watched her walk away through the bullet-riddled streets, fearing she would be shot down. But as she neared the British military outpost, the firing eased and Ms. OFarrell accomplished her mission without injury.

Ms. OFarrells act of bravery has become one of the iconic moments of the Rising, not so much for the act itself, but for how it was documented. In a photo of the surrender taken later with Pearse and two British officers, only Ms. OFarrells boots were visible. When the photo was first published in a British newspaper, even the boots had disappeared.

Ms. OFarrell claimed later that she deliberately stepped out of sight. But rightly or wrongly, that photo has come to symbolize the airbrushing  or Eire-brushing, as some have said  of women out of Irelands history. Now, as the centenary celebrations of the Easter Rising get underway, a determined effort is being made to reinsert the lost stories of female heroism into the male-dominated narrative of the struggle for Irish independence. As these stories come into focus, the doctored image could be said to represent something more that has consequences to this day: the removal of women from a public role in the republic they helped bring into being.

Aside from a few stars like Constance Markievicz, who was second in command at the rebels St. Stephens Green outpost in Dublin, or the schoolteacher turned sniper Margaret Skinnider, most of the estimated 260 women who took part in the 1916 insurrection never found their way into the history books. In recent decades, several historians, mostly women, have worked to change that. Among them, as part of a government-funded commemorative effort, Mary McAuliffe and Liz Gillis have unearthed a wealth of information on the 77 women who were imprisoned for their role in the uprising.
To the Editor:

Re Mr. Netanyahus Lost Opportunities (editorial, March 14):

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didnt cancel his meeting with President Obama, as your editorial and a news article suggested, because no meeting was set. Israel had checked into the possibility of meeting with the president as part of a potential visit to Washington to address the American Israel Public Affairs Committees policy conference.

The White House confirmed that possibility and Israel expressed its appreciation. But I personally told a White House official that there was a good chance that the prime minister would not visit the United States.

Israel also did not announce this decision in the media rather than to the White House, as your editorial says. While an erroneous report on the prime ministers visit did appear in the Israeli press, the Prime Ministers Office officially notified the administration that Mr. Netanyahu would not be going to the United States before notifying the media.

In addition, your editorial asserts that Mr. Netanyahu never showed any serious willingness to advance Middle East peace, as is made clear by his expansion of Israeli settlements. Mr. Netanyahus repeated requests for negotiations without preconditions have been consistently spurned by the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas.
Hamburg, Germany  DEAR Britons: I feel your pain. As a former Brussels correspondent still traumatized by the posting, I have no illusions left about the European Unions shortcomings and overreaches. I wont play the Good German, begging you to stay. If you feel you have to leave, of course you must. But theres this: A Brexit isnt in your national interest. And I believe that, in leaving, you would betray your nations heritage.

In fact, you Britons have backed the winning horse. Thanks to you, todays European Union is more ready than ever to own up to its failures. That is something you have always demanded and, now, have finally secured.

Thats why I dont get the point of a Brexit. Just as your time has come, as the Continent sits up and listens to London, you want to slink away in a sulk? Even in Germany, the homeland of starry-eyed euro-naivete, you are no longer deemed anti-European for pointing out the hollowness of the unions many promises  promises that have now become problems.

The first false promise you spotted was the European Union elites lazy leniency, their false friendship toward one another and to the challenges of our times. The union regularly goes small on the big issues and big on the small issues. What we needed in Brussels was sobriety and what we got was sentimentality.
For a glimpse of what teenagers are into these days, all you have to do is visit Abbot Kinney Boulevard in the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles. On weekend nights, the half-mile shopping drag is packed with style-conscious kids who traipse past coffee shops, ice cream parlors and boutiques, often while taking selfies.

Yet one of the most popular destinations for these teenagers is a white, single-story building with big pink letters on the roof that spell Vnyl. The store sells vinyl records, and the kids who gather there are often in awe.

Id say half of the teens who hang out in my store have never seen a record player before, said Nick Alt, the founder of Vnyl. They will walk up to the turntable, and they have no concept where to put the needle. But once they figure out that the needle goes into the outermost groove, those smartphone-toting teenagers are hooked.

Whenever a new technology comes out, we often believe it will make an older technology obsolete. As a reporter who has been covering technology for The New York Times for more than a decade, Ive made such proclamations, saying that the iPad would kill the Kindle (I later realized the error of my ways, and now own both), that eBooks would be the death of print (I later reversed myself, several times), and that driverless cars will make driving passe and allow us to nap in the front seat (this has yet to be disproved).
There were already signs Wednesday that the nomination has become a fund-raising tool. The House Majority PAC, which supports Democrats, sent out a solicitation urging recipients to contribute money to help us support President Obamas Supreme Court nominee. FreedomWorks, meanwhile, is making its own fund-raising pitch, saying we cannot allow another liberal on the Supreme Court.

The White House on Wednesday declined to say whether the White House would coordinate with the groups to push for Judge Garland.

Part of the intensity of the effort on both sides is a reflection of the diverse range of special interest groups that have decided to engage in what will be the first confirmation fight in an age in which social media has become a dominant force. In many cases, the groups have set aside longstanding tensions that have prevented them from teaming up in a unified way.

On the right, conservative groups like Heritage Action, which have in the past sparred with Senator Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican and majority leader, are already working closely with his office to back up his call that the Senate should wait until the next president is sworn in to fill the court vacancy. Judge Garland was approved by the Senate to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a 76-to-23 vote in 1997.
As President Obama announced the nomination of Merrick B. Garland to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, the debate over who should nominate a judge to fill the vacancy spilled onto the campaign trail, with presidential candidates from both parties digging in to their respective positions.

Accusing their opponents of weakening an entire branch of government, Democrats pressed the point that a sitting president has the right, and the obligation, to fill openings on the bench. Republican hopefuls disagreed, and aggressively urged senators from their party not to cave to pressure from Democrats to hold hearings for Judge Garland.

The debate is expected to continue into November, with the fragile balance of the court raising the stakes of the presidential election.
These are some of our most important takeaways from Tuesdays voting:

Trump is bleeding

When presidential candidates get closer to their partys nomination, they often gain stature and appear more formidable as they approach the general election. For Mr. Trump, the opposite may be happening.

He is winning, but at a terrible price. The intensifying attacks on his personal character and business record, and the scenes of violence at his rallies, appear to be taking a toll, exit polls show. In no state did a majority of Republican primary voters say they believed he was honest and trustworthy. In every state that voted on Tuesday except for Florida, about two in five Republicans said they would consider voting for a third-party candidate over Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton in November.

Clinton is in command

With landslide wins in Florida and Ohio, Mrs. Clinton re-established herself as the prohibitive favorite in the Democratic race. Taking Ohio by double digits, she eased fears that Mr. Sanders might become a breakaway favorite across the Midwest after his upset victory in Michigan last week.

There were no cracks in her base of support with black and Latino voters, or with older Democrats in general.

And voters appear sympathetic to her criticism of Mr. Sanders as a candidate making fantastical promises: In every state on Tuesday, about three-quarters of Democratic primary voters said they considered Mrs. Clintons policy proposals realistic, putting her ahead of Mr. Sanders in that category by double digits in every state but Illinois.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  With more than half the states having now held their nominating contests, Donald J. Trump and Senator Ted Cruz are quietly directing their attention to a second, shadow election campaign  one that is out of sight, little understood but absolutely critical if Republicans arrive at their national convention with Mr. Trump short of a majority of delegates.

This parallel campaign is to select the individual delegates who will go to Cleveland in July for what could be the first contested convention in American politics in more than 60 years. Chosen through a byzantine process in each state, most of the delegates will become free agents if no one wins a majority on the first ballot.

The mere prospect that delegates could deny Mr. Trump the nomination led him to predict Wednesday that violence could erupt in such a situation.

I think youd have riots, Mr. Trump warned. It seemed no idle speculation after the recent mayhem at Trump rallies. Mr. Trump told CNN that he still expected to reach the majority of 1,237 delegates needed for a first-ballot nomination before the end of the nominating season. Im a closer, he said. I get things closed.
HOUSTON  After months squaring off against Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, presuming him to be the chief obstacle to a one-on-one showdown with Donald J. Trump, Senator Ted Cruz on Wednesday emerged from the latest Republican primaries with a new foe who was actually there all along: Gov. John Kasich of Ohio.

The transition seemed a bit jarring for all involved. The men had scarcely said a cross word about each other before Tuesday nights contests.

There had been little need. While Mr. Cruz, of Texas, has moved to consolidate support among evangelical and Tea Party voters, Mr. Kasich has made a play for party moderates, outlasting establishment rivals like Jeb Bush, Chris Christie and Mr. Rubio, who dropped out Tuesday after losing his home state.

Now, it seems, Mr. Cruz and Mr. Kasich will get to know each other a bit better. And their opening gambits were to argue that the other has no chance of becoming president .
WASHINGTON  Buses overflowed, bike lanes swelled and highways across Maryland and Virginia were stop-and-go as this city crawled its way through two elongated and unpredictable rush hours on Wednesday, brought on by a decision to shutter the regions subway system for an emergency safety inspection.

But for much of the day in downtown Washington, where Metro, as the regions subway is known, was gated shut, there was relative calm, as street and foot traffic  made lighter by legions of workers clocking in from home  moved at a steady clip. Many who went about their weekday routines said they could deal with a days disruption if it meant safer rides on a public transportation system where reliability and safety have become perennial concerns.

Late Wednesday afternoon, Paul J. Wiedefeld, Metros general manager, said that the inspections had helped to do just that and that he had authorized the system to reopen on Thursday morning as planned, after repairs to more than two dozen cables found to be damaged are completed.

I know this has presented hardship to the region, Mr. Wiedefeld said at a news conference. The shutdown today was necessary.
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Robert Mugabe claims that at least $15 billion was carted off Zimbabwe's coffers from diamond proceeds could be a classic case of "a thief reporting themselves to police", an influential gems lobby group, Global Witness, has said.In a statement yesterday, Global Witness said Mugabe's admission, made during his 92nd birthday interview early this month vindicated calls for reforms in the sector that the veteran ruler has rebuffed for over a decade.Mugabe's stunning admission which has been received with anger and disbelief by opposition parties came shortly after Mines and Mining Development minister Walter Chidakwa ordered all gem-mining firms out of the Marange diamond fields to make way for a State-controlled merger company.
DAKAR, Senegal  Two female suicide bombers detonated explosives on Wednesday morning in an attack on a mosque in northeastern Nigeria, killing 24 people and wounding 18.

The first blast tore through the mosque, and the second occurred near the building a few minutes later in Ummarari, a village outside Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State and a longtime target of the militant Islamic group Boko Haram.

Boko Haram has been terrorizing this part of Nigeria for years and is suspected of carrying out the attacks, according to a statement from Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, a spokesman for the Nigerian Army.

The militants have been increasingly using suicide bombers  many of them women and girls  to carry out attacks on mosques, markets and other public spaces in recent weeks, as the group shifts away from seizing huge sections of territory. In Wednesdays attack, at least one of the bombers was dressed as a man, probably to gain better access to the crowds inside the mosque, where women are not allowed in some areas.
BEIJING  Not long after 8 a.m. on Wednesday, a line of buses roared onto cordoned-off Tiananmen Square in the heart of Beijing to drop off hundreds of delegates to the National Peoples Congress. They walked quickly to the granite-pillared Great Hall of the People on the west side of the square for the final meeting of this years session.

Inside, for about an hour, they voted on some of the most important government measures this year, approving all by large majorities. As the delegates silently pressed buttons, the results flashed on large blue screens in the huge red-and-gold hall. On a dais above them sat Chinas top leaders, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

The votes included:

The 13th Five-Year-Plan, the first formulated under Mr. Xi. The result: 2,778 for, 53 against, 25 abstentions.

The annual government budget: 2,467 for, 299 against, 90 abstentions.

The Supreme Peoples Court report: 2,600 for, 208 against, 46 abstentions.
BEIJING  Ban eating cats and dogs. Raise teachers pay. Make the college entrance exam the same for everyone throughout China.

These three proposals by delegates at the annual sessions of the National Peoples Congress, the countrys legislature, and Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, an advisory body, which just concluded, received the most support from Chinese Internet users in an unofficial poll. According to Sohu.com, which conducted the poll, they attracted about 8.6 million, 8 million and 7.5 million votes.

The poll, which allowed anyone to vote on more than 140 proposals filed by delegates, is hardly scientific. But it does provide a glimpse into some issues that Chinese people care about today.

It is unclear which of the proposals the government may eventually take up. Only certain departments, and not individual delegates, can file formal motions to the legislature. These include the State Council, Chinas cabinet; the Supreme Peoples Court; and the Central Military Commission. But each year, delegates present hundreds of proposals and suggestions  last year, about 600 in all, the government said.
SEOUL, South Korea  An American college student who tearfully apologized for trying to steal a political propaganda poster from his hotel in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, was sentenced on Wednesday to 15 years of prison and hard labor.

The punishment of the student, Otto F. Warmbier, infuriated the White House and elicited strong condemnations from other officials and rights activists. It came amid rising tensions between North Korea and the United States over North Koreas unbridled nuclear weapons and missile testing.

Hours later, the Obama administration announced broad new sanctions against North Korean officials and a range of industries in the country, including the shipping, mining, energy and financial service sectors. American officials said the sanctions were an outcome of a new United Nations Security Council resolution imposed on North Korea two weeks ago.

These actions are consistent with our longstanding commitment to apply sustained pressure on the North Korean regime, the White House said in a statement.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan  The Pakistani Supreme Court on Wednesday withdrew a travel ban imposed on the former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, paving the way for him to seek medical treatment abroad even as he awaits trial on treason charges.

Mr. Musharraf is accused of subverting the Constitution in late 2007 when he declared emergency rule and fired almost all the senior judiciary, and he faces the possibility of a death sentence if convicted.

The case has caused a major rift between the civilian government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was deposed by the coup that brought Mr. Musharraf to power in 1999, and the powerful military establishment, which has been wary of having its former chief put on trial. No one who once led the army had been the target of criminal prosecution before Mr. Musharraf.

On Wednesday, a five-member bench of the Supreme Court, overseen by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, turned down an appeal by the federal government of a lower-court ruling that lifted the travel restrictions, which have been in effect since 2013. However, the court noted that the government would be allowed to take additional legal measures that could restrict or regulate Mr. Musharrafs movements.
Someone got onto the bus, left the baggage and got off, said Mubarak Zeb Khan, the capital city police chief.

The police bomb disposal squad said the bomb weighed 11 to 13 pounds and was attached to a timer. The head of the squad, Shafqat Malik, said many elements were similar to a September 2013 blast, also on a government bus, that killed 19 and wounded dozens.

Peshawar has long been a target for attacks by the Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups. A statement purportedly from the outlawed group Lashkar-i-Islam claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in revenge for death sentences passed down by a military court for 13 men convicted on terrorism charges. The claim could not be independently confirmed.

The police said the bus was in routine service, bringing government employees from other districts to the provincial capital for work.

Rescue workers took the dead and wounded to nearby hospitals. Witnesses said the rescuers used cutters to remove windows and pull victims out of the bus.

A doctor at the Lady Reading Hospital, the citys largest medical facility, said several of the wounded were in critical condition.

Some of them have been released after first aid, but others are under observation, said Dr. Ghulam Subhani, the hospitals deputy medical superintendent.
The report was prepared by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, an international panel of social scientists that includes economists, psychologists and public health experts convened by the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon.

Though the findings do not represent the formal views of the United Nations, the network is closely tied to the Sustainable Development Goals, which the organization adopted in September, aiming, among other things, to end poverty and hunger by 2030, while saving the planet from the most destructive effects of climate change.

The field of happiness research has grown in recent years, but there is significant disagreement about how to measure happiness. Some scholars find peoples subjective assessments of their well-being to be unreliable, and they prefer objective indicators like economic and health data. The scholars behind the World Happiness Report said they tried to take both types of data into account.

In a chapter of the report on the distribution of happiness around the world, three economists  John F. Helliwell, of the University of British Columbia; Haifang Huang of the University of Alberta; and Shun Wang of the Korea Development Institute  argued against a widely held view that changes in peoples assessments of their lives are largely transitory. Under this view, people have a baseline level of contentment and rapidly adapt to changing circumstances.

The three economists noted research showing that peoples evaluations of their lives differ significantly and systematically among countries; that within countries, subgroups differ widely in their levels of happiness; that unemployment and major disabilities have lasting influences on well-being; and that the happiness of migrants approximates that of their new country, instead of their country of origin.

The three economists noted that crises can prompt vastly different responses based on the underlying social fabric. In Greece, where the economy began to plummet in 2007, setting off a crisis in the eurozone that has resulted in three financial bailouts, widespread corruption and mistrust were associated with the diminishing sense of happiness over the past decade.
LONDON  Doctoral students the world over have long despaired about the grueling hours required to obtain a Ph.D. Just ask Colette Bourlier, age 90.

This week, Ms. Bourlier became one of the oldest people in France to be awarded a doctorate, 30 years after she first began researching immigrant workers in Besancon, in eastern France.

She wrote all 400 pages of her thesis by hand, according to her thesis adviser, Serge Ormaux, vice president of the Universite de Franche-Comte in Besancon, where she received the degree.

On Tuesday, she was awarded a doctorate in geography after being questioned for more than two hours by an academic jury.
BEIRUT, Lebanon  Syrian Kurdish parties are working on a plan to declare a federal region across much of northern Syria, several of their representatives said on Wednesday. They said their aim was to formalize the semiautonomous zone they have established during five years of war and to create a model for decentralized government throughout the country.

If they move ahead with the plan, they will be dipping a toe into the roiling waters of debate over two proposals to redraw the Middle East, each with major implications for Syria and its neighbors.

One is the longstanding aspiration of Kurds across the region to a state of their own or, failing that, greater autonomy in the countries where they are concentrated: Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria, all of which view such prospects with varying degrees of horror.

The other is the idea of settling the Syrian civil war by carving up the country, whether into rump states or, more likely, into some kind of federal system. The proposal for a federal system has lately been floated by former Obama administration officials and publicly considered by Secretary of State John Kerry, but rejected not only by the Syrian government but by much of the opposition as well.
To the Editor:

I was taken aback to read in Brenda Wineapples review of Anne Boyd Riouxs Constance Fenimore Woolson (March 6) that Woolson, when she was working on a novel, was plagued by a debilitating pain in her right arm that was most likely psychosomatic. Earlier Wineapple had explained that after her fathers death, Woolson was soon writing for Harpers Magazine, producing more stories than it could possibly publish.

Is it not possible that Woolson was suffering from something like carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition that could not have been diagnosed in her time? It is well known that male doctors are quick to dismiss womens physical symptoms as psychosomatic, but to encounter that assumption in this book and review was very disappointing.

ALIX SCHWARTZ

MOORESTOWN, N.J.

*

To the Editor:

I was gripped by Jill Lepores impassioned review of Elaine Showalters biography The Civil Wars of Julia Ward Howe (March 6). She brilliantly captured the tragedy of Howes silencing as well as that of other women writers imprisoned by the patriarchal expectations and rules of their day. The review underscored the deservedly righteous anger of these women, which they were able to express as a healthy and relentless effort at speaking up against all odds.

It was with dismay, then, that I read Lepores last paragraph, stating that it would be good to get past feminism, which she calls so old a fight. She then contradicts herself by claiming that doesnt mean the fight isnt urgent. So which is it? Too old or still urgent? As a woman and a feminist, I am not only puzzled by Lepores statements, but deeply concerned because they sound like the sentiments of an anti-feminist apologist, utterly in contradiction both to Showalters book and to the rest of the review.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

Parliament's Health Portfolio Committee has advised government to stop training nurses for three years until those unemployed are absorbed.Committee chairperson Ruth Ladode told parliaments on Tuesday, that thousands of qualified nurses are still jobless."Minister, I hear you but my concern as a committee in which you also sat, you were part of that committee where we agreed that if we acknowledged if a nurse was trained in 2013 and up to now the nurse does not practice, literally we are saying that nurse is useless."We agreed that since Government does not have money, let us suspend training for three years so that we then recruit those who are outside."Three years these nurses who are already on training - so what is your problem".In response, deputy Health minister, Adrian Musiiwa said it was not possible to suspend training as the training institutions would be redundant."Training schools by their nature are actually training establishments. They are just like a school."We have tutors, the schools are different from the hospital so if you close the training schools, they become redundant."It's true, it's also concerns us as government that we have nurses who were trained and qualified, it is not only those trained in 2013 even those who qualified in 2012."The position is that the government currently does not have finances to employ these nurses."Our request was that this august house as we vote the budget, we should vote for more funds to be allocated to the ministry."We need nurses in the hospitals. They are supposed to be employed after completion"
On the fourth day, he found his way to lower ground and a small village called Furuflaten. He saw a house and stumbled inside. This turned out to be Baalsruds great stroke of luck. The house belonged to the sister of Marius Gronvoll, an active member of the resistance. A building nearby was a German military headquarters; he just as easily could have barged in there, and his story would have ended.

Instead, in a remarkably coordinated effort, many in the village came together to help harbor the fugitive and get him on his way, all without the Germans noticing. The Gronvoll family stashed Baalsrud in their barn for four days as he tried to recuperate. According to Haug and Karlsen Scott, two German soldiers searched the barn once but walked out before checking the loft where Baalsrud was hiding behind a bed of hay. Slowly, the Gronvolls brought Baalsrud back to life. But the frostbite had taken hold, and Baalsrud was no longer able to walk on his own. Marius recruited three others to help put Baalsrud on a stretcher, sneak him past the Germans into a rowboat and take him across the fjord, pretending to fish the whole time. When the terrain on the other side proved too steep to negotiate with a stretcher, Marius hid Baalsrud in a small shed and returned to Furuflaten, where he convinced a local schoolteacher with carpentry skills to make a sled  no small feat, considering the school was where all the soldiers congregated. The teacher made it in pieces, and it was assembled on the other side of the fjord.

Today, Furuflaten is still very small, with about 250 people. Along the main road is a little museum devoted to Baalsrud  really just an alcove inside a community center, a wooden barn-style building with a stage for assemblies and community theater. Its open only a few days a week, and there is no sign outside to tell anyone that it exists. There are Baalsruds wooden skis, recovered by a local resident in the bottom of the valley in the summer of 1943 and hidden until the end of the war. There is Baalsruds gun, the snub-nosed Colt, which Baalsruds brother had given to a museum near Oslo before it was transported back to Furuflaten. There are four little dioramas, each depicting a scene in Baalsruds escape in an almost twee Wes Anderson fashion. And there is a replica of the sled that transported Baalsrud, with a mannequin of Baalsrud himself lying on top. A few feet away is a stuffed fox, with a paper sign hanging around its neck. The message, in Norwegian: I saw him, but I didnt say anything. This is a museum devoted to the successful keeping of a secret.

The Gronvoll familys barn, where Baalsrud, snow-blind and lame, recovered after the avalanche, is still standing just up the road. After the war, Marius married a young woman named Agnete Lanes, who had helped him tend to Baalsrud. They had seven children, three of whom met me at the barn: two sons, Are and Dag, and a daughter, Kjellaug. They are all at least 50 now, decades older than their parents were when Baalsrud came into their lives. Kjellaug still lives in Furuflaten, working as a nurse in a neighboring town. Dag works in the pharmaceutical industry in Tromso. Are, who has an uncanny resemblance to the pictures I saw of his father, works in the local fish-feed industry.

Staying silent about helping Baalsrud, keeping the secret, took a toll on the Gronvoll family. In a very real sense, it fractured them. My father had two sisters, Are said, and he sent them away for the duration of the war. If the Germans found out what happened, at least his sisters would survive. Their heroism, like Baalsruds, was of an ambiguous kind, and Howarths question occurred to me again. Even years after the war  despite the book, the movie and the indomitable legend  some of his neighbors, Are said, still thought of Marius and his family as troublemakers, the ones who had endangered their community, who put everyone at risk.
A PUEBLO-STYLE HOME BETWEEN OCEAN AND RAIN FOREST

$1,200,000

This four-bedroom three-bath house in the city of Luquillo has an unusual look for Puerto Rico: It is designed in the Pueblo Revival style typically found in the Southwestern United States.

I wanted to build something unique, said Rosa Jusino, the seller, who is a real estate lawyer with a love of horses and historic architecture.

The villa, named Rancho Soberano, or Sovereign Ranch, sits at the end of a long, tree-lined driveway. The front of the house faces El Yunque rain forest, and the back faces the Atlantic Ocean. The front doors, which have quaint adornments including a lookout window, lead to a foyer. Just past it is the living room, which has 15-foot ceilings and a rounded kiva fireplace. It may seem unusual to have a fireplace on a tropical island, Ms. Jusino said, but lighting a fire or heating up bread there feels homey.

The open kitchen, which includes a dining area, is to the right of the living room. On the other side of the house, to the left of the living room, are three bedrooms, including the master, which has an en-suite bath. It also has a rounded wall with windows that overlook the yard and the ocean in the distance. Two other bedrooms next to it share a hall bath. The fourth bedroom has an en-suite, wheelchair-accessible bathroom, Ms. Jusino said.
The Hawaiians are usually given credit for having invented surfing, and yet until recently, surfwear  neon-splashed board shorts; baggy, logo-printed T-shirts  was usually made elsewhere. In the 1980s and 90s, it was mostly produced by three Australian mega-brands: Quiksilver, Rip Curl and Billabong. Then, a few years ago, small labels like the New York-based Saturdays Surf and Pilgrim Surf + Supply reimagined what apres-surf clothes should look and feel like, slimming down the cuts and upgrading the fabrics.

These days, though, some of the coolest surfwear is being made in, appropriately, Hawaii, by a crop of mostly thirtysomething locals for whom the sport isnt just the means to a certain sartorial aesthetic, but a part of daily life. In doing so, theyre reclaiming not just the history and the heritage of surfing, but creating a specific look, one that works as well in a cafe as it does on the beach, and in New York as well as in Honolulu.
Joseph V. Melillo, the executive producer of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, saw Mr. Tennants performance for the first time recently, on video. Theres a kind of gentleness in his acting, his interpretation, that you dont often see, he said by phone a few days later. Its not the kind of bravura physicality, its much more internalized and soft. Its fascinating.

Sheltered because he took the throne at the age of 10, Richard II was deposed at 32 and died in captivity the following year; Shakespeares play covers the last two years of his life.

If you are in a world where the divine right of kings is a thing, and as a child youre told, God has chosen you to lead these people, and youre then surrounded by acquiescence and adulation, what does that do to you? Mr. Tennant asked. How does that form the man you become? Thats what fascinates me about trying to find a center for who this character was.

One of the things about Mr. Tennants portrayal that drew the most notice in Britain  and will be on display again in Brooklyn  was Richards cascading hair. (Accomplished with extensions in the original production, the do will be a wig this time around.) It was a choice in keeping with his rarefied approach to the character.

I liked the idea that he would alight on something he found rather beautiful, Mr. Tennant said. Hes an aesthete. If he found it rather glorious, thered be no one to challenge that it was wrong or unacceptable or not what men did. From that, we got the idea that he would have gold leaf on his fingernails. It was looking for a few things that would set him apart, because he could. Because no one would tell him he couldnt.

Sitting for an interview in a Manhattan hotel bar, a pot of tea at his elbow, Mr. Tennant was in town doing publicity for the Netflix series Jessica Jones, which had been released a few days earlier. (His villainous character, Kilgrave, possesses powers of mind control and is obsessed with the heroine.) Just before that he had taken part in his first read-through for the revival of Richard II, nearly two years after the British production closed.
The service was friendly and meandering; a big sign out front proclaims If no can, no can; if can, Vernas! Its a twist on a phrase that sums up, in a lot of ways, the spirit of Hawaii: If something works out, great. If not, no need to worry. Vernas gravy cheeseburger, at $3.65, was something of a revelation. The meat was charred so that the outside of the patty almost had a crust. The gravy and American cheese melded together to create a single, super condiment. I had never had gravy on a burger before, but I cant wait to try it again.

When I arrived at Akikos Buddhist Bed and Breakfast and told my host, Akiko Masuda, about what Id just had, she made a face and teasingly slapped me on the arm. Akikos is a quaint and quiet operation just outside the town of Hakalau; I paid $65 for a good-size, simple room with a large common space and shared bathroom.

Ms. Masuda, like many Buddhists, rarely eats meat, but was not judgmental; her demeanor was an interesting mix of calm wisdom you might expect from one who meditates every morning at 5:30 during the week (as she does) and of a former wild child, a firebrand who had had periods of profligacy. She was, in a word, wonderful.

I was in the Peace Corps, too! she told me one morning, over a simple breakfast of rambutans, oranges, granola and coffee (breakfast is included, and communal with other guests). Ms. Masuda, who looks to be in her late 60s, is petite, muscular and tan. She adjusted her do-rag. But I got kicked out, she continued, flashing a smile somewhere between sly and winsome, for shacking up with a volunteer.

The B&B is set up like a little compound: A couple of buildings hold guests, theres an office, a space for meals, and a different building used for meditation. There are outdoor cats  lots of them  that patrol the area. (Dont worry about allergies: Im fiercely allergic and had no problems.)
What first catches your eye as you descend into Puerto Plata are the majestic mountains looming over the roads. Next you will see gleaming waves that inspired the name of the province  plata means silver in Spanish.

What most tourists miss in this resort town are the people who keep it humming along. Most of them moved to this region from other small provinces because they could find work in the resorts and hotels, and some make the four- to five-hour daily commute from Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata to run shops, which are more profitable in this area.

Tourists may soon see more of the locals. Carnival has built an $85 million port, Amber Cove, from which it will operate a nontraditional cruise line called Fathom. The line, which is to begin service in April, aims to appeal to travelers who might shun standard Caribbean cruises by offering volunteer trips to the Dominican Republic and people-to-people tours of Cuba. The 710-passenger Adonia will alternate destinations from Miami. Weeklong trips to the north shore of the Dominican Republic include four days on the island with opportunities to farm, teach English or make water filters (from $974). It is meant for people who are seeking to travel and have a positive effect on the area, said Tara Russell, the president of Fathom.
Opinion / Columnist

The story by the Newsday of 15 March 2016 claiming that Father Zimbabwe's Kezi home is falling down, cannot go unchallenged as leaving it like that gives a wrong perception to the public. The Newsday cited Matabeleland South Senator Sithembile Mlotshwa of the MDC-T as saying that the homestead has its precast security wall falling.Surprisingly the same newspaper went on to write that story when Mr Edward Nyongolo Nkomo who is the only surviving young brother to Father Zimbabwe has dismissed that notion as false after the same newspaper sought a comment about that issue from him. Mr Nyongolo Nkomo went on to tell the same newspaper that he has employed a caretaker who is paid to look after that homestead and there was no substance to support Senator Mlotshwa's statement in parliament. Mr Nyongolo Nkomo told the Newsday that the homestead was well looked after by that caretaker and he has not reported anything associated with the fall of the said precast security wall.Senator Mlotshwa being someone coming from the opposition side has showed that she is always trying by all means to make sure that she de-campaigns everything that the ZANU PF government could be doing in the country. It is a fact that Father Zimbabwe left behind a home in Kezi and as such it needs to be looked after but it is the responsibility of everyone to look after it as well as the government and even relatives of Father Zimbabwe like what Mr Edward Nyongolo Nkomo is doing to that homestead.Considering the fact that both Father Zimbabwe and Mama Mafuyana are no longer with us, there is need for any responsible citizen to look after it as to complement what Mr Edward Nkomo is doing. It is not right for people like Senator Mlotshwa to rush into blaming the government on that as if it is a crime for her to give assistance to Mr Edward N Nkomo in making sure that Father Zimbabwe's homestead is looked after. Actually looking after homesteads of the fallen heroes is the responsibility of every citizen of Zimbabwe and the government can come in as a regulator on such scenarios.It boggles the mind to find out that some opposition political figures wants to always raise a smoke even where there is no fire. Why is it that Senator Mlotshwa wants to mislead the public into believing that Father Zimbabwe's homestead is falling down when Mr Edward Nyongolo is looking after it. Is that not an insult to the intelligence of Mr Nyongolo for someone to claim that the homestead is falling down when there is a caretaker who is being paid to look after it on daily basis? Whom do Senator Mlotshwa wants to please by not being aligned with the truth here?It is not necessary for certain individuals to try to score political mileage by debating in parliament about how Father Zimbabwe's home could be looked after as if they are so concerned about that. Such people who rush into raising such issues have nothing to offer. If one is concerned with what the homesteads of fallen heroes are appearing to be falling like that of Father Zimbabwe, he/she must first give assistance to the need before blowing such issues out of proportion. It is not proper to try to get political relevance using names of important people as if they do care very much.It should be known that Members of Parliament are supposed to lead by example and they should not try to score political mileage where there is no need to do so. While it is good for the Members of Parliament to let people know more about important issues affecting the country but they should not try as well to mislead the public. People need to be appraised of what is happening in the country. They need to know about solution that might be affecting them in the country not to hear there MPs and Senators trying to score political mileage by coming up with unfounded statements which has no substance to the suffering public.Actually Zimbabwe is a country which got independence through the armed struggle and quite a number of some fallen heroes left behind their homes with their relatives looking after the same as Mr Edward Nyongolo Nkomo is doing with Father Zimbabwe's homestead. For that reason Senator Mlotshwa should be well informed that no amount of false statements would make her gain political mileage. Zimbabweans are well informed on what they are supposed to know and entertain hence they are not the easy people who can be misled so easily.Zimbabweans should guard against such MPs and Senators who always wants to create chaos in the country by coming up with unsubstantiated statements. Zimbabwe is a peaceful country hence, MPs should not be found to be preaching statements that can create confusion and animosity among individuals in the country. It should be known that the truth always sets every one free and we expect our MPs and Senators to lead by exampleFor that reason Senator Mlotshwa should in future check her facts before she presents them in parliament because what she said about the homestead of Father Zimbabwe has been said to be not true as pointed out by Mr Edward Nyongolo Nkomo. Actually Father Zimbabwe's homestead is under care and Mr E Nyongolo Nkomo should be applauded for doing that excellent work of making sure that that homestead is well looked after.
Opinion / Columnist

Unrelenting succession battles that have turned into a tribal conflict within Zanu-pf is the short circuit needed to cause an explosion that will split Zimbabwe into two and deliver the birth of The Republic of Matabeleland by 2018.The "big fall' is not without drama. Morality and dignity take the backstage. Dirty laundry is hanged in public. Accusations of witchcraft, adultery, theft, assassination plots, disciplinary meetings, suspensions and dismissals are now the order of the day in the beleaguered and cursed political party.After successfully operating behind the mask of nationalism for 36 years, ethnonationalism is now unmasking itself as Shona clans have come out of their shells to fight over the post of President. Tribalism which is Zanu-pf trade mark is now in the open as songs like Zezurus are unconquerable are played at rallies organised by the G40, a Zezuru faction composed of young turks led by First Lady Grace Mugabe. This faction seeks to secure political power and keep it in the hands of the Zezurus/Kore kore tribe.Karangas are having none of it, they have openly declared that it is time for one of their own to occupy Zimbabwe state house . A section of War Vets that supports Team Lacoste, a Karanga faction led by VP Mnangagwa, is threatening to go to war. It seems the firing and hiring is a recipe for disaster, disaster which Matebeleland Liberation Organisation welcomes.Once again Zimbabwe political projects have rejected Matabeles without an iota of guilt or shame. Shona reins supreme as Matebeles are discriminated and shut out of the race for the highest position in the land. It is the same story with MDC T, PDP led by Tendai Biti and newly formed Zimbabwe People First fronted by Joyce Mujuru where Methuseli Moyo cuts a lonely figure as the only Matabele in the national executive. The apple does not fall far from the tree. Does it?The highest position a Matabele can get here is that of a ceremonial vice president. If this is not tribalism then nothing is.Our memories are not too short to forget that a highest degree of tribalism and hate was demonstrated by both perpetrator and cheerer in the 1980s when the Zimbabwe national army 5th brigade code named gukurahundi received much support and cheering from Mashonaland while it slaughtered civilians in Matabeleland.More than 40 000 innocent lives that were lost are our beloved relatives, more than 100 000 women that were raped are our sisters, mothers and grandmothers, more than 100 000 homes that were burnt belonged to our fathers, more than 1 million that were displaced into foreign countries are our brothers and sisters. We will leave no stone unturned to see that the government of Zimbabwe is held accountable for acts of barbarism committed in Matabeleland. We refuse to be ruled by cold hearted murderers who believe that we are chickens for slaughter. We want to govern ourselves not to be governed better by anyone from Mashonaland.As much as the "big fall" is entertaining, it will be too luxurious, complacent and very dangerous for Matabeles to fold their hands and watch. We must go for the kill. Its now or never! We must all get together and exploit the situation.We should be able to see the hand of God that is manipulating political events in our favour. The five political indices which MLO uses as sign posts that show which direction and course the struggle should take are now clearly playing out in the ruling party. The writing is on the wall.Do not be fooled. Matabeleland restoration cause is not tribalism. Actually, demanding the reinstatement of our state is the right thing to do. How can perpetrators of Gukurahundi genocide and their supporters give you good advise? An oppressor will never give you a clue on how to free yourself. Only the opposite is true. They will tell you that talking about gukurahundi genocide is tribalism, talking about marginalisation of Matabeleland is tribalism, speaking Ndebele language is tribalism, talking about Matebele oppression is tribalism, talking about politically engineered low pass rates in Matabeleland schools is tribalism. How on earth does bringing up such valid grievances which are actually a crime against humanity earn one a tribal tag?In order to avoid the tribalist tag, a Matebele must support Zimbabwe anti- Matebele projects which act as political parties by day and tribal clans that conspire against Mthwakazi by night, support and believe in the myth of all myths called Zimbabwe. What rubbish!Matabeleland was captured. It was not taken through the ballot paper, referendum or negotiations but through the barrel of the machine gun. Matebeles must know that freedom has never been and will never be donated. It must be fought for painfully as it is. Yes there would be loss of life, yes there would be loss of property, and yes there would be temporary loss of freedom but there would be a big gain of FREEDOM and INDEPENDENCE FOR EVER.As MLO we don't believe The Republic of Matabeleland will be a miracle child that would be given on a silver platter. We will roll out our programs that are aimed at restoring our statehood in broad day light without fear. Should our aggressive neighbours who are in the habit of murdering innocent civilians provoke us again, we shall defend our people. Anyone who stands against the cause shall pay the price. Fear not people of Matabeleland!BE PREPARED !Siyaphambili !Izenzo kungemazwi !
Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik has protested his treatment in prison  claiming, among many things, that his coffee comes cold and he does not have enough moisturizer for his skin.

He appeared in court Tuesday to call out authorities for violating the European Convention on Human Rights  and gave them the Nazi salute.

Its pathetic. Its a farce, Lisbeth Royneland, whose daughter was killed by Breivik, said about his new trial, according to the Associated Press.

It was the first time in nearly four years that Breivik, 37, has appeared in public since he was convicted in a 2011 bombing and shooting spree that has been called the deadliest massacre in Norway since World War II.

On July 22, 2011, Breivik killed eight people when he bombed Oslos government district and then slaughtered 69 others  mostly teenagers  gunning them down at a summer camp for the Labor Partys up-and-coming leaders, according to Reuters.

Breivik was convicted of terrorism in 2012 and given the countrys maximum sentence: 21 years behind bars, although the sentence can be extended.

The plaintiff has not shown any sign of remorse, government attorney Marius Emberland said during opening remarks, according to the Associated Press. Breivik is a very dangerous man.

Breivik, who has been held in isolation in Norways Skien prison, not far from Oslo, filed a lawsuit, claiming his time in solitary confinement is inhuman.

Authorities said Breivik has been kept in a three-room prison cell  with an area for sleeping, an area for studying and an area for working out  where he can run on a treadmill, watch DVDs or play games on a Sony PlayStation, according to The New York Times.

He has also been taking distance-learning courses at the university.
A coffee enthusiast fascinated with its origins, Cal State Fullerton assistant professor of anthropology Sarah Grant became intrigued with the Vietnamese coffee industry after researching its history.

Her interest in the Vietnamese coffee industry and the obstacles facing coffee farmers in the country has led her to 10 years of research in the topic.

Ultimately my research isnt just about the coffee  its about Vietnamese in coffee-producing regions grappling with loss, opportunity, ambition, rapid economic development and subsequent stagnation and dreams about the future, said Grant, who specializes in economic anthropology.

The focus of Grants research is how Vietnamese coffee growers are working to adapt to changing market conditions.

Her current research focuses on the third wave of the coffee industry  high end, specialty coffee  and its effect on the Vietnamese coffee industry.

While Vietnamese coffee farmers face typical agricultural problems including climate change, pests and agricultural diseases, they must also face the obstacle of finding a niche market for specialty coffee brewed outside of the traditional methods, she said.

Specialty coffee refers to coffee beans that are grown in a specific microclimate and soil chemistry. The coffee beans are carefully preserved, evenly dried, stored in proper temperature conditions, shipped, roasted, ground and brewed  each step with its own set of meticulous guidelines.

Vietnamese coffee farmers are attempting to thrive in the specialty coffee industry while recognizing the challenges of producing it in Vietnam, including a massive time and emotional commitment, Grant said.

(Specialty coffee beans) require different irrigation techniques, she said. They are different coffees. A lot of people dont make that connection.

Another obstacle lies in in translating specialty coffee into Vietnamese.

The words translate, but the nuance is trickier to get across, Grant said. This is definitely another small but important challenge.

While specialty coffee has taken off in the United States, it has yet to find widespread approval in Vietnam.

According to the Specialty Coffee Association of America, in 1993 nearly 3,000 specialty coffee shops existed in the United States. In 2013, that number had risen to more than 29,000.

Vietnamese coffee farmers dabbling in the specialty coffee industry are focusing on introducing their product to Vietnamese consumers first and then gradually shifting their mindset to exporting their product globally, Grant said.

This summer, Grant will travel to Vietnam to speak to female coffee farmers about their goals and struggles in the coffee industry as part of her goal to develop a Vietnamese chapter of the International Womens Coffee Alliance.

Persistent efforts to develop third-wave coffee in Vietnam speak to a larger effort to engage with a global community while still maintaining a distinct Vietnamese-ness to it, Grant said.

Vietnamese coffee growers, in the meantime, have long struggled because of a lack of branding for their coffee, including a lack of a visual representation.

While a number of countries, including the United States, import coffee with Vietnamese origins, it is oftentimes unlabeled, she said. You rarely see that it has a picture of Vietnam on it.

Visual representation through images, media coverage and advertisements could help large-scale companies sell Vietnam as a coffee-producing country, Grant said.

Some great work has been in my field about the significance of coffee origins and branding but little has been done in the way of largely unbranded or semi-invisible coffees such as (coffee) coming out of Vietnam, she said. I have a gap to fill for sure.

Grant lived in Dalat, Vietnam from 2010 to 2011 while gathering research.

She has visited the country numerous times to speak with local coffee farmers, government officials and certification agency representatives in several cities, including Buon Ma Thuot  which is considered the coffee capital of Vietnam.

I drank a lot of coffee while talking about coffee at cafes, Grant said.

The time she spent at the cafes allowed her to observe what type of coffee is consumed in particular areas, as well as what social purpose coffee serves in the country.

Looking forward, Grant, who joined CSUF last fall, would like to include students in her research by developing a research project in Orange Countys Little Saigon.

Contact the writer: amarcos@ocregister.com
Five San Clemente residents filed a notice of intent Monday to launch a ballot intiative, intent on changing the way voters elect City Council members.

A group calling itself San Clemente Residents for Reform  Jim Bieber, Ken Royal, Eva OKeefe, Brad Malamud and Steven Swartz  asserts that every neighborhood in town should have an equal voice and voters are disenfranchized because four of the councils five members live within a few blocks of each other.

The group proposes to divide San Clemente into five voting districts, starting with 2018 council elections.

The proposal is for the city clerk to appoint one resident each from Talega, Rancho San Clemente, Southwest San Clemente, Forster Ranch and North Beach/Marblehead Coastal to a task force to determinefive districts of equal population, based on the 2010 census. The task force would be assisted by the city attorney and city clerk.

Supporters of the initiative could be out circulating petitions within 15 days, after the city attorney creates a title and summary for the ballot measure.

The proponents say they need to obtain 3,733 signatures from registered San Clemente voters to qualify a ballot measure. They will have 180 days.

This initiative will guarantee that future City Council members will represent all areas of the city through the creation of five districts with an equal number of residents, Bieber said in a statement announcing the campaign. No longer will our beautiful community be run by a cartel of neighbors within walking distance from each other.

Mayor Bob Baker disagreed with the premise that place of residence has made any difference in council decisions. Ive tried to represent the entire city of San Clemente in my decisions on the City Council and I think all the other city council members that Ive been associated with have done the same thing, Baker said.

The notice of intent contends that:

 Residents are disenfranchised by the majority of council members living in one section of one neighborhood.

 Council members are unable to address citywide issues due to the concentration of their homes being in one neighborhood.

 Current council members ignore the concerns of residents in areas of town they do not frequent or travel to.

 Taxpayer resources have been disproportionately dedicated to the general area of the concentration where current council members reside.

 Residents should have the right to representation by people who represent the unique and diverse ethnic, geographic and demographic areas of the community.

Council members, in a recent Orange County Register article, weighed in on the issue, asserting that:

 Council members meet with residents from all neighborhoods.

 If a playground needs new equipment or a street needs to be paved, it gets it, regardless of neighborhood.

 People should be elected or voted out of office based on their actions and views, not their addresses.

 There is a concern that the city becomes divided. Residents tend to be passionate about a lot of things, and finding common ground is important.

 Since the Capistrano Unified School District switched to voting districts, San Clemente has had issues with the board, with only one trustee accountable to the voters who elected him.

Contact the writer: fswegles@ocregister.com or 949-492-5127
Sheriff Sandra Hutchens got the OK Tuesday to hire an attorney to analyze high-risk issues at the Sheriffs Department, which is facing intense scrutiny for a recent jailbreak and an ongoing jailhouse snitch scandal.

Hutchens framed the hire as a response to the national trend of increasing public examination of law enforcement actions, though it comes amid numerous allegations that operational missteps and negligence led to the departments controversies. The Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the new adviser position.

I think its a good time, given that we still have federal Department of Justice looking at our jails, said Hutchens, who said the recent issues were not the impetus for creating the position. So I think its an insurance policy to have someone looking at those high-risk issues and advising how we can address them.

The Sheriffs Department has come under fire for its misuse of jailhouse informants and allegations by a judge that two deputies lied or withheld evidence on the witness stand. The scandal has led to six criminal cases unraveling.

Hutchens said one project the new adviser might tackle is to review the departments basic training education through a civil rights eye, paying special attention to how the department teaches deputies to use force. She mentioned Los Angeles Police Departments recent education of de-escalation techniques to its officers as the type of practice her adviser might investigate to assess whether it would benefit Orange County.

During Tuesdays meeting, county supervisors Todd Spitzer and Lisa Bartlett questioned whether the new position would be redundant to the Office of Independent Review  created by the county in 2008 to monitor the department and review allegations of deputy misconduct, following an incident in which a county inmate was beaten to death by fellow prisoners.

But Hutchens said the new role, called a constitutional policing adviser, would differ in two ways. First, she alone will hire and direct the adviser, rather than the board, allowing her more control over the advisers focus. Secondly, she said the adviser would work to fix problems before they arose, rather than reacting to them.

Say we have an officer-involved shooting, the Office of Independent Review comes in after the fact, Hutchens said. (This is) more of a proactive position in terms of looking at what we have in place in terms of policies and procedures, and how we might change those to  reduce incidents that might cause litigation.

Spitzer noted that the Office of Independent of Review is in flux, with its embattled executive director Steve Connolly set to resign March 31, following months of supervisorial accusations that he had become too close to the sheriff and was ineffective in his role. Spitzer said the board was in the process of determining whether Connollys replacement would be full time or part time.

If a law enforcement and elected department head is asking us to provide her resources that she believes will not only make her agency better, but will help protect us from potential litigation,  I think thats to be commended, Spitzer said.

But the Orange County sheriffs deputies union president, Tom Dominguez, expressed disappointment with Hutchens, saying the department should spend money on fixing equipment or bolstering rank-and-file staffing rather than adding an executive aide. The Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs sued Hutchens and the department in February, saying that staff reductions, unsafe jail conditions and operational missteps allowed three inmates to escape in January.

It is disappointing the Sheriff made adding another executive to her command staff a priority over correcting the unsafe staffing levels, unreliable radios and other unacceptable safety conditions which continue to persist at the Central Mens Jail nearly two months after three inmates cut their way out of the jail facility and escaped, Dominguez said in an email.

The new position will cost the department an additional $124,000 annually after a technician position is cut.

Other Southern California law enforcement agencies have created similar adviser positions, often following accusations of officer misconduct.

Following the Rampart scandal in the late 1990s, in which numerous Los Angeles police officers were accused of crimes ranging from planting evidence to bank robbery, that department hired attorneys to help the chief proactively identify problems. Last year, the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department created an oversight adviser role after the U.S. Department of Justice found sheriffs deputies had used racial profiling, intimidation and unreasonable force.

Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Irvine School of Law, said Monday he thought the new adviser could have helped to prevent  the unconstitutional use of jailhouse informants, in Orange County.

Contact the writer: jgraham@ocregister.com or 714-796-7960
A fire at a duplex in Tustin displaced a man, woman and their two dogs Tuesday, authorities said.

The fire began shortly before 5:57 p.m. in the kitchen of a single-story duplex in the 2200 block of Cranberry Road and spread to the attic, said Capt. Larry Kurtz of the Orange County Fire Authority. Twenty-six OCFA firefighters put out the blaze around 6:07 p.m.

A man and woman, both 25, and their two small dogs were displaced but not hurt. No responders were injured.

The American Red Cross of Orange County was en route to the home to assist the residents, Kurtz said.

The cause is under investigation and no damage estimate was available.

Contact the writer: 714-796-2478 or lcasiano@ocregister.com
Alaska Airlines launched new flights Wednesday from John Wayne Airport to Santa Rosa/Sonoma County and Reno/Tahoe.

One-way flights for each option start at $79. Inbound and outbound routes will be available once a day.

Alaska Airlines now operates 13 daily flights out of John Wayne. In October, the airline added flights to Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos, Mexico.

The airport saw record numbers in 2015 as traffic topped 10 million passengers, an 8.5 percent increase over 2014.

The record numbers were attributed to new flights offered by Southwest and Alaska Airlines.

This summer, Southwest added flights to Seattle, Portland, Ore., Chicago, Austin, Texas, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Southwest also added two nonstop routes to Kansas City and St. Louis on Nov. 22.

Contact the writer: hmadans@ocregister.com or Twitter: @HannahMadans
WASHINGTON  President Barack Obama nominated appeals court judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, thrusting a respected moderate jurist and former prosecutor into the center of an election-year clash over the future of the nations highest court.

Obama cast the 63-year-old Garland as a serious man and an exemplary judge deserving of a full hearing and a Senate confirmation vote, despite Republican vows to deny him both. Standing in the White House Rose Garden with Garland, Obama argued the integrity of the court was at stake and appealed to the Senate to play it straight in filling the seat left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

Its supposed to be above politics, Obama said of the high court. It has to be. And it should stay that way.

Republican leaders, however, held to their refusal to consider any nominee, saying the seat should be filled by the next president after this years election. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke with Garland by phone but did not change his position that the American people will have a voice. He said he would not be holding a perfunctory meeting but he wished Judge Garland well, a spokesman said.

Others in the GOP ranks were less wedded to the no-hearing, no-vote, not-even-a-meeting stance  a sign that Republicans are aware the strategy could leave them branded as obstructionist.

Unlike McConnell, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley said he is open to meeting with Garland in the coming weeks, as did five other Republican senators  Rob Portman of Ohio, Jeff Flake of Arizona, Susan Collins of Maine, James Inhofe of Oklahoma and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire. The judge will begin visiting with Democratic senators on Thursday at the Capitol, before the Senate breaks for a two-week recess.

Scheduling courtesy meetings is a long way from securing a full hearing, much less winning the 60 votes needed for confirmation. Still, the White House seized the comments as evidence Garlands weighty resume and bipartisan credentials were putting pressure on Republicans.

Garland, 63, is the chief judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, a court whose influence over federal policy and national security matters has made it a proving ground for potential justices.

A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Garland has clerked for two appointees of Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower  the liberal Justice William Brennan Jr. as well as Judge Henry J. Friendly, for whom Chief Justice John Roberts also clerked. As a federal prosecutor, he made his reputation overseeing the investigation and prosecutions in the Oklahoma City bombing case in 1995, as well as the case against Unabomber Ted Kaczynski.

When confirmed to the D.C. Circuit in 1997, Garland won backing from a majority in both parties, including seven current Republicans senators.

As a replacement for Scalia, Garland would undoubtedly shift the court away from its conservative tilt. He would be expected to align with the more liberal members on environmental regulation, labor disputes and campaign finance.

The D.C. Circuit isnt a hotbed for cases on social issues, leaving few solid indicators of Garlands views on abortion rights or the death penalty.

Garlands involvement in two high-profile gun rights cases has prompted concern from gun control opponents. In 2007, Garland wanted the full court to reconsider a panel decision that struck down Washington, D.C.s ban on handgun ownership. But Garland never took a position on the merits of the case.

In 2000, he was part of a 2-1 majority that said the FBI could retain gun purchase records for six months to make sure the computerized instant background check system was working. The FBIs position was challenged by the National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups.

But he is not viewed as a down-the-line liberal. Hes ruled against giving the District of Columbia a vote in Congress. Particularly on criminal defense and national security cases, hes earned a reputation as centrist with a law-and-order streak, siding more often with prosecutors.

When his name was floated for the Supreme Court in the past, it was liberal groups that expressed concerns, pointing to early decisions favoring the government in disputes over the legal rights of detainees at the Guantanamo Bay prison.

Progressives and civil rights activists also had pushed the president to name an African-American woman or to otherwise expand the courts diversity. Obama passed over appeals court Judge Sri Srinivasan, who would have been the first Asian-American justice, and Judge Paul Watford, who would have been the second African-American.

Garland  a white, male jurist with an Ivy League pedigree and a career largely in the upper echelon of Washingtons legal elite  breaks no barriers. He would be the oldest Supreme Court nominee since Lewis Powell, who was 64 when he was confirmed in 1971.

In emotional remarks in the Rose Garden, he choked back tears, calling the nomination the greatest honor of my life. He described his grandparents flight from anti-Semitism in Eastern Europe and his modest upbringing. He said he viewed a judges job as a mandate to set aside personal preferences and follow the law, not make it.

Obama quoted past praise for Garland from Roberts and Sen. Orrin Hatch. In 2010, Hatch said he could be confirmed to the highest court virtually unanimously.

Garland has experience with a prolonged confirmation process. He waited 2 1/2 years to win confirmation to the appeals court. Then, as now, one of the men blocking his path was Grassley, who argued he had no quarrel with Garlands credentials but objected to a Democratic president trying to fill an appeals court he felt had too many seats.
WASHINGTON  More than a dozen U.S. military personnel have been disciplined  but face no criminal charges  for mistakes that led to the bombing of a Doctors Without Borders hospital that killed 42 people in Afghanistan last year, U.S. defense officials say.

The punishments, which have not been publicly announced, are largely administrative. But in some cases the actions, such as letters of reprimand, are tough enough to effectively end chances for further promotion.

The military previously has said some personnel were suspended from their duties but it has given no further details.

The disciplined include both officers and enlisted personnel, but officials said none is a general.

The officials, who were not authorized to discuss the outcomes publicly and so spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the disciplinary process is nearly complete. It is derived from a military investigation of the Oct. 3, 2015, attack, the results of which are expected to be made public in a partially redacted form in coming days.

Sandra Murillo, a spokeswoman for Doctors Without Borders, said the charity would not comment on disciplinary actions until the Pentagon communicates its decisions directly to the group or makes a public announcement.

The hospital, run by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders in the northern city of Kunduz, was attacked by a U.S. Air Force special operations AC-130 gunship, one of the most lethal aircraft in the U.S. arsenal.

Doctors Without Borders called the attack relentless and brutal and demanded an international investigation, but none has been undertaken.

Army Gen. John Campbell, who was the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan at the time but since has relinquished command, has called it a tragic but avoidable accident caused primarily by human error.

The attack was unleashed as U.S. military advisers were helping Afghan forces retake Kunduz, which had fallen to the Taliban on Sept. 28. It was the first major city to fall since the Taliban were expelled from Kabul in 2001.

Afghan officials said the hospital had been overrun by the Taliban, but no evidence of that has surfaced. The hospital was destroyed, and Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French acronym, MSF, ceased operations in Kunduz.

President Barack Obama apologized for the attack, which was one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in the 15-year war.
A contentious plan that would redistribute property tax dollars to keep Irvine in Orange Countys largest emergency services agency was rejected by a state appeals court Tuesday.

The ruling rekindles questions about the future of the Orange County Fire Authority, which provides emergency services to 1.8 million people in 23 cities and the unincorporated pockets of Orange County.

At issue is an agreement reached between OCFA and Irvine to return more than $134 million in property tax collections to the city. Studies have shown that Irvine pays more than its share of costs for the fire agency and, by some estimates, the citys taxpayers could save some $20 million a year if Irvine started its own fire department.

Related: Orange County Fire Authority faces financial deficit, pensions and Irvine threatening to drop it

Orange County challenged the proposed tax equity plan, saying it violated state laws that restrict how property taxes collected for emergency services can be used.

It was a gimmick, said county Supervisor Shawn Nelson, who backed the legal challenge to the proposed Irvine-fire authority deal. Dont ever start with, Heres the result I want, now find me the facts that get me here.

No one ever looked at the facts and said, Whats the state of the law? It was just, How can we get the money?

The Fire Authority declined comment until it reviews the courts decision.

Irvine City Councilman Jeff Lalloway, who represents Irvine on the authority board, said officials will discuss next moves, which could include appealing the decision to the California Supreme Court.

The Fire Authority is funded by two sources: Direct fees for service paid by eight cash contract cities, and a slice of property taxes designated for fire protection from the unincorporated areas and 15 cities, including Irvine.

The county won in lower court and, in the decision issued Tuesday, the state Court of Appeal upheld that earlier ruling.

The Authority cannot be allowed to transfer its funds to Irvine, without strings attached requiring the funds to be spent for fire protection purposes, the justices wrote. Nothing in (the law) indicates the Authority can avoid its prohibitions through clever accounting.

The fairness that Irvine and OCFA were seeking through the plan to return funds to the city doesnt exist, the court continued. There is no equitable way to share property tax revenues, only different degrees of inequity, the decision says, citing an opinion from an earlier case.

The court said county government is the proper forum to consider adjustments to the allocation of property taxes. Nelson, the county supervisor, agreed, saying thats where Irvine and the Fire Authority should have started the process.

Proposition 13, which froze property tax allocations as they existed 30 years ago, has created many of the current inequities, officials say.

We know all about inequity, Nelson said, adding the Irvine case is not an isolated discussion.

Perhaps there are other countywide services that need additional funding more than the city of Irvine, he said.

Contact the writer: tsforza@ocregister.com
HOLLYWOOD, CA  Sarah Vandella has a brand new scene on GloryHole.com, which is part of the DogFart Network. In the scene, she explores the dark world of an adult store video arcade and ends up in a room with glory holes. After watching an explicit movie, a giant black cock appears in one of the holes ready to give her everything shes looking for. Watch the scene and see the trailer here.



Vandella also has a new scene on Mrs. Creampie. The brand new Naughty America site features MILFs who like a creamy finish. Her scene is entitled Special Delivery: Hot Italian Sausage. Johnny Castle is the pizza boy and Vandella doesnt have enough money for the tip, so she finds a way to make it up to him. Watch the trailer and the scene here.



Working with DogFart is always great, and I like how creative they get with the storylines. The scene turned out well and I hope my fans enjoy it, says Vandella. Its amazing to be one of the first scenes on Naughty Americas newest site, Mrs. Creampie. Its one of my best scenes with Johnny Castle and the banter and humor was almost as awesome as the sex. Both scenes are very different but definitely ones you dont want to miss!



Another place to find Vandella is on Mean Bitches in Sarah Vandella POV Slave Orders. The scene is part of the Mean Bitches Megasite and features Vandella abducting a co-worker who had said no to her request for a date. Now, he has to pay by being her sexual plaything and engaging in some ass worship, facesitting and feet worship. Watch the trailer and the scene here.
Everyone is Irish on St. Patricks Day.

Its the day for the wearing o the green and the drinking o the beer.

In A.D. 433, it is said, Patrick stood on a hilltop, dressed in green attire. He waved his staff and all of the snakes in Ireland were expelled from the Emerald Isle forever. Pretty impressive.

Although considered a celebrity of sorts, Patrick isnt the only patron saint of Ireland. Theres also St. Kevin and St. Brigid, the patroness of Ireland.

Orange County Catholic Bishop Kevin Vann bears the name of the former. Vann related the most popular legend about the Wonder Worker of Ireland.

Kevin was in St. Petroc Monastery, praying with his arms outstretched on the first day of Lent. A blackbird landed on his palm and proceeded to construct a nest. Kevin remained perfectly still for the whole of Lent, the legend goes. The blackbird fed Kevin berries and nuts to sustain him.

The blackbirds hatchlings left the nest just in time for Kevin to attend Easter Mass.

Legends about the Catholic saints are not unlike tales from all cultures that connect the past to the present.

The stories about Kevin and the other saints are part of an oral tradition to inspire holiness and give hope, Vann said. They connect us throughout history and send us forward to the present moment.

LEGENDS OF ST. KEVIN

 After being ordained, Kevin spent seven years as a hermit in a 5-by-7-foot cliffside cave. (The cave, now known as Kevins Bed, is a shrine in County Wicklow in eastern Ireland.) During the winter, Kevin would visit a lake below the cave and stand up to his neck in the ice cold water to pray. Once he slipped and dropped his prayer book in the water. An otter appeared from the bottom of the lake and returned the book undamaged. Henceforth, the otter would bring fish to Kevin for food.

 A cow from a nearby dairy farm would visit Kevin and lick the saints feet while he knelt in prayer. After doing so, the cow would return to her owner and produce triple the amount of milk.

 King Colman of Faelan had lost all of his sons but his youngest to a viral illness. He sent the baby to Kevins monastery. There were no cows to provide milk to feed the babe. but Kevin spotted a doe and ordered her to nurse the boy. Alas, a she-wolf killed the doe, so as penance, Kevin commanded the wolf to provide milk for the child.

 Kevin was preparing meals for the harvesters at the monastery. A dozen thirsty men on a religious pilgrimage stopped by. Kevin gave them the harvesters ale, but was rebuked by his superiors. Kevin told the attendants to fill the vessels with water, instead. He prayed, and the water turned to ale.

LEGENDS OF ST. BRIGID

 Brigid was outstandingly beautiful, but she hated her beauty. She had taken the promise of perpetual chastity but she was constantly being pursued by lusty suitors.

 She prayed to become ugly and got her wish: One of her eyes disappeared while the other became grotesquely huge. Her father then consented to her joining a convent.

 While she was taking her final vows, a group of angels shoved aside the attending priests and presented Brigid with a veil that miraculously restored her beauty. In fact, she was even more beautiful than before.

 After washing her cloak, she could summon a sunbeam to dry it. The beam glowed even through the night.

 She taught a fox to dance.

 And she could turn her bathwater into beer.

Now thats impressive.
The dispatch call was vague: A 20-year-old woman was sick and needed help.

An oversized rig carrying a team of Anaheim firefighters rolled up to the modest apartment on the citys west side, followed moments later by an ambulance driven by Victoria Morrison.

Morrison, a nurse practitioner, rushed to the womans bedside to take her vital signs and ask a few questions to determine whether she needed to be taken to an emergency room or could be treated at her own home.

Given the symptoms she saw, Morrison advised the woman to go to a hospital.

A lot of people call 911 because theyre scared, Morrison said while walking back to the ambulance. Sometimes they just need a medical professional to treat something small, like a stomachache. Other times they really do need to visit the emergency room.

Morrison is the sole nurse practitioner working in Anaheim Fire & Rescues Community Care Response Unit, which launched May 31 to treat at-home, low-level 911 medical calls, such as nausea or cuts that require stitches. A nurse practitioner can also prescribe medicine.

The one-year pilot program aims to cut costs from the health care system, keep patients from making unnecessary, and potentially costly, trips to the hospital and also freeing up Anaheim firefighters to respond to bigger emergencies in Orange Countys most populous city.

Were really good at responding to the traffic accidents, the gunshot wounds and the heart attacks because we have a set protocol for those calls, said Capt. Dave Barry, the Fire Departments emergency medical services manager and Morrisons ride-along partner.

The tough calls are the low-acuity calls that arent really an emergency, where we dont need to transport someone with the lights and sirens on, Barry said. They need another type of care that Victoria has done an excellent job in treating and keeping them out of the hospital.

Of 230 patients visited by Morrison since the program started, 46 percent were treated on the spot or were advised to visit their primary doctor for further care.

The new program cost about $500,000 this year  that covers the cost of Morrisons 40-hour weekly salary, medicine, equipment and insurance. The public-private partnership includes Kaiser Permanente, which provided a $210,000 grant, and Care Ambulance Service, which provided a modified ambulance.

Anaheim fire Chief Randy Bruegman said he plans to ask the City Council to continue the program into the next year.

I think the residents appreciate this alternative model because they get quality care, it costs less money and they get treated right in their own home, Bruegman said.

Anaheim was the first city in California to adopt the treatment program, modeled after one started in 2008 by Dr. Gary Smith to treat a nasty flu outbreak in Mesa, Ariz. With little funding, the Arizona program lasted three months, but was resurrected in 2011 with help from the city of Mesa and a hospital. It now operates 24 hours a day.

Five cities across the country have followed Smiths prescription, including Los Angeles.

Were striving to be on the leading edge by taking medical service right into the patients home, and the results are magnificent, Smith said.

Patients who opt to be treated by Morrison would still pay the $350 response fee but save the cost of an ambulance ride and ER visit that could run into the thousands of dollars. More importantly, they save time by getting immediate treatment from a health care professional, rather than waiting several hours to see the next available hospital physician.

Some people think they will be treated faster in the emergency room if they arrive in an ambulance, but that isnt always the case, Morrison said.

My job is to tell them that theyll get the same level of service from me, and its faster.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7831 or amarroquin@ocregister.com
Nutrition and power bar maker Nellson Nutraceutical will create 225 new jobs in Orange County after shifting its Irwindale headquarters to a 300,000-square-foot facility in Anaheim.

The companys nutritional powder operation in Salt Lake City also will be moved to the Anaheim facility.

The companys website listed 32 jobs for its Anaheim plant with positions in research and development, production and customer service.

Over the last 14 months the manufacturer acquired two companies, which prompted Nellson to realign its operational capabilities, CEO Scott Greenwood said in a statement.

Last spring, Nellson acquired production assets, materials, packaging, labeling, inventories and contracts from NBTYs nutritional bar and powder manufacturing operations. NBTY, formerly known as Natures Bounty, manufacturers nutritional supplements.

At the end of 2014 Nellson Nutraceutical announced the acquisition of Le Groupe Multibar., or Multibar, a Canadian snack bar manufacturer.

Nellson is a portfolio company of New York-based private equity firm Kohlberg & Co.

Calls to the company to determine the address of the headquarters went unanswered Friday.

Contact the writer: hmadans@ocregister.com or Twitter: @HannahMadans
SEOUL  The University of Virginia student being held in North Korea was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison with hard labor for trying to steal a propaganda sign from a hotel in Pyongyang.

Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old from Cincinnati whod gone to North Korea in a tour group, was convicted after a one-hour trial in the Supreme Court. Video footage showed Warmbier, dressed in the same clothes he was wearing during a highly-choreographed press conference last month, being led into the court room in handcuffs.

Diplomats from the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang, which represents American interests in North Korea because the United States does not have diplomatic relations with the country, were present at the trial.

Warmbier was charged with subversion under Article 60 of North Koreas criminal code, the Associated Press reported from Pyongyang. The court held that he had committed a crime pursuant to the U.S. governments hostile policy toward the North, in a bid to impair the unity of its people after entering it as a tourist.

North Korea has detained and convicted a number of Americans in recent years and used them as bargaining chips with the United States. Recent detainees include Kenneth Bae, a Korean American missionary who was sentenced to 15 years hard labor, and was released after 18 months.

Rowan Beard of Young Pioneer Tours, the adventure travel company that took Warmbier to Pyongyang, said that Warmbiers sentence should be viewed in similar context of previous cases of Americans being sentenced in North Korea. We are continuing to work closely with relevant authorities to ensure a speedy and satisfactory outcome for Mr. Warmbier, Beard said in a statement.

Anthony de Bruyn of the University of Virginia said, The University is aware of the recent media reports regarding Otto Warmbier and remains in touch with his family. We will have no additional comment at this time. 

Warmbiers mother did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Warmbier is being held at a particularly sensitive time, when annual military drills between the United States and South Korea are coinciding with international sanctions against North Koreas regime to punish it for its recent nuclear test and missile launches.

North Korea always protests the joint military drills in South Korea because it sees them as a pretext for an invasion, but Pyongyangs reaction is particularly ferocious this year because the allies are practicing decapitation strikes that target North Koreas leadership and its nuclear and missile facilities.

Furthermore, the sanctions imposed by the United Nations, coupled with direct measures taken by the United States, Japan and South Korea, are the toughest yet and could inflict a significant amount of pain on the North Korean regime.

Warmbier, an economics major, was arrested at Pyongyang airport on Jan. 2, at the end of a five-day tour to North Korea. When it announced his detention three weeks later, the North Korean authorities said he was being held for an unspecified hostile act against the state.

Warmbier was then brought out to address diplomats and mainly North Korean reporters at a news conference in Pyongyang at the end of February, during which he confessed to a very severe and pre-planned crime.

In the wee hours of January 1, he tried to steal a propaganda sign from a staff-only floor of the Yanggakdo International Hotel, one of the main places where foreign tourists stay in Pyongyang. He reportedly pulled the banner from the wall but realized it was too big to carry off, so he abandoned it there.

The aim of my task was to harm the motivation and work ethic of the Korean people. This was a very foolish aim, Warmbier said, reading from handwritten notes, at the press conference. He described a bizarre plot in which he was directed to steal the sign by a church member, a U-Va student group, and the United States government.

Previous Americans detained in North Korea also have been brought by authorities before the media to confess their crimes, with the detainees told what to say and the reporters told what to ask.

Analysts expect that Warmbier also was directed in this way to deliver the statement, in which the student said he was impressed by North Koreas humanitarian treatment of severe criminals like myself.

Americans are not banned from traveling to North Korea, which has in recent years been promoting tourism and has loosened restrictions on American visitors. But with the increasing number of U.S. citizens running into trouble there, the State Department strongly advises against travel to the country.

Several U.S. citizens have been held in Pyongyang in recent years have been detained in North Korea for activities relating to spreading Christianity, which is banned by the regime, or otherwise running afoul of the regime.

They have been released after high-profile interventions that the regime can use for its domestic propaganda purposes, portraying the visits by officials as Americans coming to pay homage to North Korea.

Former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter have both been to Pyongyang for this reason, and James R. Clapper Jr., the Director of National Intelligence, went to Pyongyang at the end of 2014 to free three Americans being held there.

One of them, Bae, a Korean American missionary, had been sentenced to 15 years hard labor for hostile acts against the republic, including proselytizing and attempting to overthrow the regime. Baes sister described how he was having to do manual work on a farm for eight hours a day, six days a week.

Another, Matthew Miller from California, had been sentenced to six years hard labor after ripping up his tourist visa on arrival in North Korea.

At U-Va., Warmbier was selected as an Echols Scholar, a special four-year academic program for fewer than 250 students in each class. Those chosen are described as intellectual risk-takers who have shown academic excellence, intellectual leadership, and evidence of the ability to grapple with complex topics, according to the universitys website.



Keywords:
GENEVA  Syrias government on Wednesday firmly rejected direct negotiations with opposition envoys, dampening hopes of greater compromise at peace talks after Russia this week began drawing down its troops from the war torn-country.

Meanwhile, signs emerged in Syria that a group affiliated with al-Qaida may be trying to make gains during a cease-fire between the Syrian government and rebels and the surprise pullout of Russian warplanes this week.

Rallies against the militants, Jabhat al-Nusra, broke out in Syrias northwestern Idlib province after its fighters attacked U.S.-backed rebels, according to local residents.

Over the weekend, Nusra militants killed and detained members of a unit called Division 13, a Free Syrian Army rebel group, opposition fighters in the area said.

The moves have raised concerns that Nusra is trying exploit a partial truce brokered by Russia and the United States to eliminate potential rivals and seize territory. That, in turn, would further undermine the bargaining power of the opposition delegation taking part in the Geneva talks.

Demonstrations are still happening, and no one can stop things from getting worse, said a lawyer in Maaret al-Numan, a town in Idlib where the clashes have taken place. The lawyer spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.

The al-Qaida affiliate is not included in the cease-fire, which took effect Feb. 27 as part of a political process that helped pave the way for a resumption of peace talks in Geneva on Monday.

Division 13 has received U.S.-made BGM-71 TOW missiles under a covert CIA program in early 2014, although the members of group say that none of the anti-tank weapons have fallen into the hands of Nusra militants.

Video of a demonstration in Maaret al-Numan from Monday purports Division 13 backers demonstrating against Nusra militants. One video claimed to show angry protesters setting fire a building used by Nusra, possibly as an attempt to release detained rebel fighters.

There are still 17 officers and members from Division 13 detained by Nusra and allied extremists, rebel groups commander, Col. Ahmed Saud, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.

In Geneva, the talks have struggled to gain momentum.

The Syrian governments lead representative, Bashar Jaafari, dismissed the opposition delegates as terrorists who should apologize for Syrias civil war.

He also questioned the legitimacy of the opposition team, represented by an umbrella group known as the High Negotiations Committee, suggesting that it did not adequately reflect the full spectrum of groups against Syrian President Bashar Assad.

No Syrian faction can monopolize the representation of all the opposition, Jaafari told journalists after meeting the U.N. envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura.

The talks involve de Mistura shuttling between the opposing sides, but the goal remains direct political dialogue between the government and the groups that sought to bring it down.

Diplomats and opposition members have expressed guarded optimism over the new effort, citing Russian President Vladimir Putins surprise announcement Monday to withdraw most of his military forces from Syria as a positive step.

Many see the move as an attempt to pressure Assad to make concessions in the talks, which were restarted after a previous round last month collapsed because of intense fighting in Syria.

Jaafari repeated the governments denial that the Russian leaders announcement took the Syrian leadership by surprise. Russia intervened militarily in the Syrian conflict in September, firing airstrikes at rebel groups in attacks that have bolstered Assads rule and badly weakened the armed opposition.

It wasnt a surprise for us. It was coordinated, said Jaafari, who also is the Syrian ambassador to the United Nations.

On Tuesday, the opposition delegation criticized the government for failing, among other things, to release detainees. That is a requirement in the U.N. resolutions and communiqus from previous rounds of peace talks that serve as a roadmap for the current negotiations.
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Gerald Ford in 1974. ERISA establishes minimum standards for private sector pension plans. One of the most important standards requires businesses to fully fund their pension plans annually and recognize their entire pension benefit liability on their balance sheets. The amount funded annually and reported on balance sheets must equal the total amount the company would pay out to everyone vested in their pension plan over their lifetime, based on actuarial tables, whether the individual is currently retired or not.

Conveniently, government or public-sector pension plans were exempt from ERISA standards. So the state of Californias pension plan and all county and municipal pension plans have never had to recognize or fully fund their pension liabilities. Over the years this unfunded public sector pension liability has been ignored by state and local leaders despite growing significantly as government employees were given ever more generous pensions and benefits. The only obligation state and local leaders had was funding the current years payments to retirees, which was always done out of current tax revenue.

This has also been the case in Europe, where European Union nation leaders ignored their growing pension liabilities and paid retirees from current tax revenue. But, as reported last week in the Wall Street Journal, the EU has a much higher share of its population at or above age 65 than does the U.S.

EU demographics are only going to get worse, due to low birth rates and people living longer.

The combination of older demographics and a greater share of pensioners means many EU countries are facing promised pensions that have not been funded and that governments cannot afford.

Of the 28 EU countries, only Norway, the U.K. and the Netherlands have considerable funding for public pension obligations. The other 25 have little or no funding.

California and many of its counties and municipalities will soon face the same fiscal crisis as many EU countries. For decades, California state and local leaders have focused only on their current budgets, paying little or no attention to future obligations. This failure has resulted in a combined state and local current unfunded pension liability estimated at $435 billion.

Now, the days are over when state and local leaders could pass this growing unfunded pension liability on to future leaders, or just ignore it. Beginning with fiscal year 2015, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board mandated that the state and local governments report their unfunded pension liabilities on their audited balance sheets as part of their comprehensive annual financial reports.

The fiscal 2015 CAFRs are due by the end of this month. The state government, along with its 58 counties and 482 cities, are all expected to include unfunded pension liabilities for the first time. As such, the current forecast is that Californias cumulative net worth, year-over-year, could decline by a half-trillion dollars.

For Orange County, the GASB requirement is expected to have a year-over-year unfavorable impact of $3.2 billion, from a $330 million surplus versus a forecast $2.9 billion net deficit.

Two California cities, Stockton and San Bernardino, sought bankruptcy protection in recent years, due primarily to pension costs they could not afford.

Expect more EU members to declare insolvency in the coming months, and, later this year, expect to see more California municipalities filing for bankruptcy protection.

The public sector pension bill has come due, and there is simply not enough money in the till.
SANTA ANA  Police are searching for a 78-year-old man with multiple medical conditions including Alzheimers who disappeared Tuesday afternoon and needs medication.

Prasert Sornnoi of La Habra was last seen at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday when his roommate left him alone in a car outside a building in the 1600 block of West Edinger Avenue, said Santa Ana Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

Sorrnoi takes four medications daily and did not have any with him when he disappeared, police said.

Police began searching for him Tuesday night.

Sornnoi, who goes by Joe, has gone missing in the past and walked 25 miles before being found by the California Highway Patrol. He does not use public transportation but just walks, police said.

He is described as a 4 feet, 11 inches tall, Asian, with gray hair and black eyes. He weighs about 120 pounds and was last seen wearing a blue-and-white horizontal-striped shirt, blue jeans and brown sandals. He was also wearing a lanyard with a name tag containing his personal information.

Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator Velarde-Reyes at 714-245-8393; the watch commander at 714-245-8701; or Dispatch at 714-834-4211.

Callers can also contact Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
MIAMI  After Marco Rubio rode the tea party wave of 2010 to the Senate, he seemed confident he knew what needed to be done.

What Americans are looking for desperately, he said in an electrifying victory speech that blamed Republicans and Democrats for the countrys problems, are people that will go to Washington, D.C., and stand up to this agenda that is taking us in the wrong direction and offer a clear and genuine alternative.

On Tuesday night, Rubio took the stage again in his home state, this time humiliated  his presidential aspirations vanquished by the same voters who had propelled him just six years earlier.

The fresh-faced newcomer who promised to shake up Washington and remake the Republican Party was swamped by a wave even bigger than the one that boosted him in 2010  a real tsunami, as he described it in his concession speech.

Now, the 44-year-old Rubio, who is not running for re-election to the Senate, faces an uncertain political future with no obvious path for a comeback.

To many Republicans here, Rubios devastating defeat in his home state to Donald Trump was the logical outcome for a politician who failed to follow through on his enormous potential  and never built a coherent, lasting coalition of supporters.

In Florida, Washington and the early nominating states, Rubio never constructed a base to keep him afloat when times were tough and lift him higher when they were good.

Rubios political identify was a blur. He had won in 2010 as a tea party hero, then worked with liberal Democrats on an immigration bill and then eventually emerged as the GOP establishments favorite presidential candidate.

As he ran for the White House, he tried to appeal to many different constituencies and geographic areas, often shortchanging his home state and leaving many activists and voters yearning for more attention.

He rarely toured his home state or championed local needs. He missed many Senate votes. And he struggled to cultivate alliances with Florida political leaders, many of whom were deeply loyal to Jeb Bush and felt bruised by Rubios fierce rivalry with the former governor in the GOP campaign

My concern about Marco Rubio was that he was elected by a very conservative wing of the party and he didnt do very conservative things, said Mike Levine, chairman of the Lake County Republican Party.

Levine, whose region is a crucial stronghold for the Florida GOP, added, My relationship with Marco Rubio personally is minimal.

As Mark Meckler, president of the conservative group Citizens for Self-Governance, put it: Hes not purely an establishment guy  he was elected in the tea party wave. But hes also not really of the tea party and never really has been.

The result was that Rubio became the ultimate bandwagon candidate. When he was hot, voters gravitated to him. But he was no match for the allure of Trump.

His lack of a clear identity made it easier for opponents to brand him negatively, especially after Bush bowed out in February.

As these other guys dropped out, people started seeing Marco as the establishment, said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who endorsed Rubio after Bush dropped out. As these establishment candidates were still in, Marco was viewed as somewhat of a rebel.

Just as frustrating, supporters said, was lack of interest he showed in nurturing key relationships.

Alfonso Aguilar, president of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles who backed Bush and then Rubio, recalled that Bushs campaign frequently reached out to Hispanic conservatives such as himself. But the only time Aguilar was able to reach the senator during his presidential campaign was by accident, aboard a flight to Miami when they ended up next to each other in first class.

That was before the first debate, Aguilar recalled. But he seemed busy with his computer.

During the first few months of his run, Rubios presence on the campaign trail was modest. He focused heavily on raising money, drawing criticism from opponents and even some supporters who argued that he wasnt spending enough time meeting voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

Polls showed Rubio was the second choice for many voters  a role he was content to play, believing that he would be poised to capitalize as the field narrowed.

He pitched himself to Christian conservatives, defense hawks and suburban centrists all at once, running nuanced TV ads that varied from one state to next. His overarching message, promising a new American century  even though he held mostly orthodox Republican views  was meant to convince voters that he was fresh and likable, and that his opponents were not.

It was natural for him to do it because it was real, said Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, a Rubio supporter who praised his attempts to unite different GOP factions.

But Rubios campaign was badly out of step with a restive Republican electorate, which was drawn to the candidates who seemed to capture the anger of the electorate  Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas). Rubio failed to adapt to the prevailing mood. He never seemed sure about how to deal with Trumps unlikely rise, and his furious assault against Cruz fell short.

Rubio, in an interview before his Tuesday night defeat, defended his approach.

He said that, after New Hampshire and South Carolina, everyone started to wake up to the reality that the majority of Republicans dont want Donald Trump to be their nominee, but all those people are divided.

So Rubio tried to ignore Trump.

Im out there carrying out my own message and trying to convince people to vote for me not against someone else, he said.

A turning point came in late February when Rubio unleashed a furious string of personal attacks against Trump  first in a debate and then on the campaign trail. It was out of step with his self-described optimistic style, and it turned off many potential backers.

Rubio then drew the ire of Trump, who disparaged him repeatedly as Little Marco, turning the Rubio campaigns branding of Rubio as the more casual Marco into a devastating effort to belittle him.

Rubio lost 10 of 11 states on Super Tuesday five days after the debate. Things got worse from there. Only Puerto Rico and the District gave him victories in the next two weeks.

Rubios strategists believe that the Super Tuesday losses and the defeats he suffered the following Saturday effectively ended his chances of competing for the nomination.

At this point, Rubios lack of deep support was becoming increasingly apparent.

Many of his most prominent supporters had only recently jumped on board, having waited until after Bush dropped out last month.

Rubio retuned to Florida in search of salvation. But what he found was a more hostile state than the one that catapulted him onto the national radar. His crowds were small. Bush and many other Florida Republicans did not rise to his defense.

Meanwhile, a new wave fueled by anti-establishment anger had swept across through Florida with Trump as its standard-bearer.

At the start of a campaign stop at a central Florida retirement community on Sunday, Rubio name-checked young rising Republican stars backing him  including South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott , R-S.C.  each from outside Florida. He mentioned Haley and the governors of Arkansas and New Mexico on Tuesday morning when a local TV news anchor asked whether he was upset Bush hadnt endorsed him.

In ending his campaign Tuesday night, Rubio told supporters at Florida International University that he had endeavored to bridge divisions among Republicans.

His concession speech took place eight miles from the hotel ballroom in Coral Gables where he had declared victory in 2010.

In that speech, Rubio said he was aware that politicians often head to Washington and they dont come back the same way we sent them.

To many Republican voters here, he fit that mold.

I think Rubio was a better candidate when he was first running, said Broward County GOP Chairman Bob Sutton, adding that Rubio had lost his human touch.
The Register reported that, on March 8, Mike Matsuda, superintendent of the Anaheim Union High School District, screened for the AUHSD board a documentary, Killing Ed, which is apparently an unkind portrayal of charter schools and their connection to Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric [Anaheim district shows film critical of charter schools, Local, March 10].

The meeting, it turns out, was an attempt by Matsuda to disparage Magnolia Public Schools by charging it as having links to Gulen. Magnolia operates 11 charter schools, one of which is located within the AUHSD. While some 900 educators, parents and students were welcomed at the screening, Magnolia representatives were turned away on the ground that the event was invitation only. This is a common pattern seen when the bureaucrats who are paid to run our public schools gain control of a school board; only one point of view is recognized, and skewed facts are presented with a political goal in mind.

When Matsuda spoke to the crowd at the screening, the Register quoted him for only this: We wanted to show this documentary because of the critical lack of transparency in the Gulen organization. My question was and continues to be: What do they have to hide? In other words, Matsuda has no evidence of a link between Gulen and Magnolia; he speculates that Gulen might have something to hide about someone, and hopes listeners will believe that is proof of a link to Magnolia. It isnt.

The political goal of the screening was to promote a statewide moratorium on charter schools. The bureaucrats who run our public schools support this because they like things the way they are. Matsuda received $231,529 in pay and benefits in 2014 (Source: Transparent California). Being in the bottom five in performance among the 50 states is good for those who make their living in Californias public schools. Its just terrible for the kids.

Robert Loewen

Laguna Beach

  

A nation of laws or men?

Re: Disorder in the court [Local, March 10]: After reading in the Register about the recent courthouse scuffle, it appears there are two types of justice in Orange County  special justice reserved for the district attorney and his employees and regular justice for everyone else. Rest assured, if I punched someone in the face, I would be in jail.

Jon Railsback

Brea
BAGHDAD  Omar al-Shishani, a top Islamic State commander who was a magnet for fighters from the former Soviet Union, has died of wounds suffered in a U.S. airstrike in Syria, a senior Iraqi intelligence official and the head of a Syrian activist group said Tuesday.

Al-Shishani, who was wounded in a U.S. airstrike this month, died Monday evening outside the Islamic States main stronghold of Raqqa in Syria, the two said. A U.S. military spokesman confirmed the reports.

The Islamic State-affiliated Aamaq news agency cited an unidentified source as denying that al-Shishani was wounded or killed, without providing any evidence that he was alive.

The red-bearded al-Shishani, who was in his 30s, was one of the most prominent Islamic State commanders, appearing in online videos leading fighters into battle.

He served as the top commander in Syria before being appointed to lead three elite units that carried out special missions in Syria and Iraq, according to Hisham al-Hashimi, an Iraqi scholar who closely follows the group.

Al-Shishani, whose real name was Tarkhan Batirashvili, was born in the Pankisi Valley, a predominantly ethnic Chechen region within the former Soviet republic of Georgia.

He did military service in the Georgian army but was discharged after an unspecified illness, a former neighbor said in 2014.

Georgian police later arrested him for illegal possession of arms, the neighbor said. Upon his release in 2010, Batirashvili left for Turkey.

He first surfaced in Syria in 2013 with his nom de guerre, which means Omar the Chechen in Arabic, leading an al-Qaida-inspired group called the Army of Emigrants and Partisans, which included a large number of fighters from the former Soviet Union.

About 1,500 battle-hardened fighters from the Caucasus region joined Islamic State because of al-Shishani, al-Hashimi said.

He first showed his battlefield prowess in August 2013, when his fighters proved pivotal in taking the Syrian militarys Managh air base in the north of the country.

Rebels had been trying for months to take the base, but it fell soon after al-Shishani joined the battle, said an activist from the region, Abu al-Hassan Maraee.

The spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, U.S. Army Col. Steve Warren, said Tuesday that the coalition was able to assess that he is dead.

Warren described al-Shishani as a very important figure in the Islamic State, who was hit as part of a stepped-up campaign of U.S.-led airstrikes targeting the groups leadership.
MONTREAL, QCStunner Media has long been committed to keeping the sites under its umbrella on pace with advances in technology and design, along with meeting the changing demands of the industry and surfers. This year, the Canadian company will celebrate 16 successful years in the business and theyre doing it by cranking the quality of their original content. All content shot for phoenixxx.com in 2016 , and moving forward, will be shot in true 4K resolution.

We actually shot our first batch of 4K content in December last year and we were blown away by the quality of the footage, said Content Production Manager, Erynn V.

Phoenixxx was first launched in June, 2011, featuring two sites within its network, MyHusbandIsGay.com and MyGayBoss.com. The sites' success prompted Stunner to add an additional two sites to the network, the Daddy/boy themed BangMeSugarDaddy.com and ImYourBoyToy.com.

In 2015, Phoenixxx released several big DVD titles, including Canal St. Lads, which was shot on location in Manchester. The Wood in the Cabin: Part 1 saw the site collaborate with FrenchTwinks.com to produce content in a gorgeous chalet in the woods outside of Montreal. Twinks On Top was filmed due to demand and features young and eager twink models topping older, beefy men.

Weve got some exciting things planned for 2016, said Erynn. Were going to continue shooting in Montreal, as well as looking at opportunities in Europe with our partners.

The 4K videos will first be seen on Phoenixxxs line of twink-on-twink content, aptly named "Phoenixxx Twinks." Members will be able to freely stream lower quality versions of the content, while 4K will be readily available for download. For more information, please visit nats.phoenixxx.com.
Knotts Berry Farm park-goers have a new place to turn for their caffeine fix: Starbucks.

A 935-square-foot store, which had its soft opening this week, will officially debut Friday.

The coffee shop anchors the California MarketPlace just outside the parks entrance. It will feature one specialty drink unique to Knotts, a boysenberry Frappuccino.

Starbucks took over the former Dreyers Ice Cream shop, which will move within Knotts to a location not yet announced.

Starbucks isnt new to the Buena Park theme park. A limited selection of its drinks have been offered since November 2014 at the Gourmet Coffee Hut, located in the Boardwalk area of the park. Starbucks is also available at the Grand Bakery just outside of the park and the Ghost Town Bakery in Ghost Town. Starbucks drinks will continue to be served at those locations.

The Seattle-based coffee giant has been steadily increasing its presence in and around theme parks. It first partnered with Disney theme parks in 2009, when a Starbucks cafe opened in Disney Village at Disneyland Paris.

Starbucks beverages  not stores  debuted in 2012 at California Adventure as part of a partnership to bring the brand to several cafes at Disney theme parks in Anaheim and Florida.

In 2013, the Market House on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland began selling Starbucks beverages. The company in 2014 opened a store at Downtown Disney, its first company-run cafe on Disney property in the U.S.

An additional Starbucks location is under construction at Downtown Disney.

Staff writer Nancy Luna contributed to this report.

Correction: Knotts told the Register on Wednesday that its Starbucks store would include a specialty drink. The story has been updated to reflect the change.

Contact the writer: hmadans@ocregister.com or Twitter: @HannahMadans
CLEVELAND  Hillary Clinton triumphed Tuesday in the Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Illinois presidential primaries, putting her in a commanding position to become the first woman in U.S. history to win a major-party nomination. Donald Trump strengthened his hand in the Republican race with a big win in Florida but fell in Ohio to that states governor, John Kasich.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio ended his once-promising campaign after his devastating home-state loss, so the GOP primary is now down to three candidates: Trump, Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

Trump also picked up wins in North Carolina and Illinois, and was locked in a close race with Cruz in Missouri.

Margins in Democratic and Republican primaries in Missouri are separated by less than one-half of 1 percentage point with 100% of precincts reporting, according to AP vote tallies.

AP says rules in state would allow losing candidates to request a recount, as such wont call either race at this time.

ABC News also said both races would be too close to project; NBC News declared Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump apparent winners; CNN, CBS and Fox News hadnt made projections as of 10:20 p.m. PST.

The billionaire businessman told a victory rally, This was an amazing night.

Trump is the only Republican candidate with a realistic path to the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination before the July convention. But his loss in Ohio kept hope alive for mainstream Republicans dismayed by his candidacy and suggesting the real estate mogul can still be stopped in a convention fight.

The campaign goes on, Kasich declared at a victory rally. Now thrust into the center of a campaign that has been bitingly personal, Kasich vowed to not take the low road to the highest office in the land.

A confident Clinton pivoted quickly to November during her victory rally, assailing Trumps hard-line immigration positions and support for torture. Our commander-in-chief has to be able to defend our country, not embarrass it, she declared.

Underscoring Republican concerns about Trump, Rubio focused heavily on an implicit critique of Trump in a speech announcing he was dropping out of the race. The senator urged Americans to not give in to the fear, do not give in to the frustration.

A favorite of Republican leaders, Rubio is the latest candidate to fall victim to an unpredictable election cycle and Trumps unmatched ability to tap into the publics anger with Washington and frustration with sweeping economic changes.

Clintons victories in Ohio, Florida and Illinois were blows to rival Bernie Sanders and bolstered her argument that shes the best Democratic candidate to take on the eventual Republican nominee in the general election. Her win in Ohio was a particular relief for her campaign, which grew anxious after Sanders pulled off a surprising win last week in Michigan, another important Midwestern state.

Clinton kept up her large margins with black voters, a crucial group for Democrats in the general election. Democratic voters were more likely to describe Sanders as honest, but more likely to describe Clintons policies as realistic, according to exit polls.

Campaigning Tuesday in North Carolina, Clinton said the numbers are adding up in my favor. She signaled an eagerness to move on to a possible general election showdown with Trump, saying hes laid out a really dangerous path for the country.

Votes were also being counted Tuesday in Missouri, though races in both parties were too close to call.

Trump entered Tuesdays primaries embroiled in one of the biggest controversies of his contentious campaign. The GOP front-runner has encouraged supporters to confront protesters at his events and is now facing accusations of encouraging violence after skirmishes at a rally last week in Chicago.

The atmosphere at his events has deepened the concern over his candidacy in some Republican circles. Rubio and Kasich have suggested they might not be able to support Trump if hes the nominee, an extraordinary stance for intraparty rivals.

His closest competition so far has come from Cruz, who has kept relatively close to the businessman in the delegate count and has been urging other candidates to drop out so he can take Trump on one-on-one.

After another good night for Trump, some Republicans were struggling to come to grips with the prospect of him becoming the nominee and desperate to find long-shot ways to stop him.

A group of conservatives planned to meet Thursday to discuss options including a contested convention or by rallying around a third-party candidate. While no such candidate has been identified, meeting participants planned to discuss ballot access issues, including using an existing third party as a vehicle or securing signatures for an independent bid.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., did not rule out the idea of being drafted by the party at the convention.

People say, What about the contested convention? Ryan said in an interview with CNBC. I say, well, there are a lot of people running for president. Well see. Who knows?

Bloomberg News contributed to this report.
Fresh off three more primary victories, Donald Trump said Wednesday hell blow off the next Republican presidential debate and warned of riots if power-brokers deny him the nomination at the convention even if hes leading in the delegate count.

The billionaire New York developer, who held a narrow lead in Missouri and lost Ohio on Tuesday, is faced with the prospect of a floor fight at the party convention in July if hes leading in delegates but falls short of a majority, 1,237.

I think well win before getting to the convention, but I can tell you, if we didnt and if were 20 votes short or if were 100 short and were at 1,100 and somebody else is at 500 or 400 cause were way ahead of everybody, I dont think you can say that we dont get it automatically, Trump said on CNN on Wednesday. I think youd have riots.

I wouldnt lead it, but I think bad things would happen, Trump said, adding the outcome would disenfranchise his supporters.

Trumps decision likely will scuttle the debate set for Monday in Salt Lake City and hosted by Fox News. He claimed to have been caught off guard by the event. Weve had enough debates, he said on the network Wednesday. Nobody told me about it and I wont be there. He said skipping the debate would allow him to speak at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference running from Sunday to Tuesday in Washington.

Ohio Governor John Kasich, who won his homestates primary on Tuesday, wont take part in the debate if Trumps not there, a top aide, John Weaver, said. Representatives of Texas Senator Ted Cruz didnt immediately return telephone calls seeking comment.

Trump has skipped a debate beforethe one held days before the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1 that were won by Cruz. Trump had complained about Fox News treatment of him at the time, and instead held an event that he said raised money for veterans charities. Utah holds its Republican caucuses on March 22.

Representatives of Fox News didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kasich deprived Trump of a sweep on Tuesday by winning the Buckeye State. Senator Marco Rubio ended his campaign for the Republican nomination after getting beaten badly by Trump in Florida.

On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton defeated Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in four of five contests and held a narrow lead in Missouri, a race the Associated Press said was too close to call. Her victory speech made clear she is increasingly focusing on a general-election race against Trump in the fall.

Cruz, who says he intends to win 1,237 delegates before the convention, noted in a CNN interview that if he falls short, delegates will have discretion on whom they vote for.

Cruz strategists have been gaming scenarios in which they pick off delegates to keep Trump from clinching the nomination in Cleveland. If no candidate gets to the convention with a majority, Cruz could try to flip delegates pledged to Rubio, Kasich, and other candidates on the second ballot. Forty-four states allow a state party convention or executive committee to assign delegates to their preferred candidates.

Kasich is banking on the possibility of convention rules being rewritten when the delegates arrive, allowing him to compete there. (Hes not expected to win the number of states required to appear on a convention ballot under current rules.) But with the majority of delegates already claimed by Trump and Cruz, they may be unwilling to give Kasich a chance.

The Cruz folks would never allow the rules to be changed and of course we wouldnt either, said Barry Bennett, a Trump convention strategist, according to Politico.

The possibility of a chaotic convention even led former House Speaker John Boehner on Wednesday to say hed hypothetically support his successor, Paul Ryan, as nominee, despite voting for Kasich in the Ohio primary. Ryan has said he isnt interested.

If we dont have a nominee who can win on the first ballot, Im for none of the above, Boehner said at a conference, according to Politico. They all had a chance to win. None of them won. So Im for none of the above. Im for Paul Ryan to be our nominee.

He has endorsed Governor John Kasich, Boehner spokesman David Schnittger said in an e-mail. His off-the-cuff comments this morning were about a hypothetical scenario in which none of the current candidates are able to secure the nomination at the convention.

Republicans havent had a contested convention since 1976, when President Gerald Ford edged an insurgent Ronald Reagan.
ISTANBUL  A woman affiliated with Kurdish militias was responsible for carrying out a suicide car bombing in Ankara over the weekend, the Turkish Interior Ministry said Tuesday.

The attacker, who struck Kizilay Square in central Ankara, the capital, on Sunday killing at least 37 people, has been identified as Seher Cagla Demir, a Turkish citizen born in 1992.

The ministry said that Demir joined the Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the PKK, in 2013 and later crossed into Syria to receive training from Syrian Kurdish militants from the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units, or YPG. Turkey considers both groups to be terrorist organizations.

The ministrys claim could not be independently verified. The PKK has a history of attacking Turkish security forces but not civilians.

No one has claimed responsibility for Sundays attack in Ankara, which came three weeks after another car bombing in the capital that killed 30 people. A splinter group of the PKK claimed that attack.

The ministrys announcement is likely to heighten tensions between Turkey and the United States, which has been coordinating with YPG forces on the ground in Syria in the fight against the Islamic State.

The United States stance toward the YPG, including an insistence on differentiating between the group and the PKK, has angered Turkey, a NATO ally, which views the groups as one and the same.

Turkish security forces have been at war with Kurdish militants in southeastern Turkey since the breakdown of a fragile peace process last year. The Turkish army has also been shelling YPG positions in northern Syria.

Turkish officials fear that the Syrian Kurds expansion across Turkeys 560-mile border with Syria will fuel separatist ambitions among Kurds in Turkey.
FRESNO  Recent storms that nearly filled Northern Californias major reservoirs and created a deep snowpack in the Sierra Nevada have some water districts questioning whether a drought emergency still exists.

While key reservoirs in Northern California are reaching normal levels, those in Central and Southern California remain low. The statewide snowpack is at 92 percent of normal for this time of year, according to the state Department of Water Resources.

Meanwhile, regulators said Tuesday that they will soon consider relaxing or even dropping strict conservation orders.

April signals the end to Californias rainy season, and the State Water Resources Control Board will then take a look at the snowpack and reservoir levels to decide if its time to change conservation mandates, said Felicia Marcus, the boards chairwoman.

Until then, she urges residents to keep saving water.

We want to make changes based on reality, rather than hope, Marcus said. March is a key month for rainfall.

California is in its fifth year of drought, following the driest four-year period on record in the state.

Gov. Jerry Brown last year mandated that residents and businesses cut their water use by 25 percent compared to 2013. The state water board extended a similar order through much of this year.

Winter started with an above-average snowpack in parts of the Sierra Nevada. In February, however, skies cleared and temperatures soared during a dry spell followed by a downpour in early March that pushed key reservoirs in Northern California above their historical average.

A local water official cautioned against giving recent rainfall too much credit.

Were nowhere near the drought being over, said Joone Lopez, general manager of the Moulton Niguel Water District, which serves Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo and Dana Point. Its going to take more than a season of pretty good rainfall in one part of the state to truly get us back to whats normal.

Still, brimming reservoirs and packed ski slopes will inevitably lead residents to grow weary of drought restrictions, said Robert Roscoe, general manager of Sacramento Suburban Water District. The emergency has been a useful tool, but he fears it could be abused.

We need to save the emergency declaration stuff for the true water emergencies, like last year, Roscoe said. If the public views the imposition of emergency actions well past when the emergency ended, we lose credibility with the public.

Jack Hawks, executive director of the California Water Agency, which represents public utilities that provide 6 million residents with water, said the emergency regulations need to reflect the improving conditions, especially if another round of storms moves over California, as expected early next week.

If that happens, then the March miracle that everybody was hoping for will have been realized, he said.

Staff writer Joanna Clay contributed to this report.
About 10 ballet dancers effortlessly rise and fall on their toes from sounds of a classical piano playing over the studios sound system.

The students in this class last week ranged from girls in their early teenage years to a ballet teacher keeping her skills sharp for her own students.

Instructor Hanna Przyludzka-Karacic walks around the room, correcting students when they miss a step or need to move the position of the head, torso and arms.

Southland Ballet Academy in Fountain Valley has provided professional training for more than 31 years to students who want to pursue dance in higher education or as a member of a professional dance company.

Salwa Rizkalla, artistic director for Southland Ballet Academy, said she still urges her students to get an education in other fields to sustain them after reaching retirement age for a dancer at 35.

I want them to have a career in ballet and a career in life, Rizkalla said.

Rizkalla created the nonprofit Festival Ballet Theatre 26 years ago to provide young adult dancers with the opportunity to professionally display their fine art during four annual productions.

The companys next performance, Swan Lake, will take flight at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Irvine Barclay Theatre.

Even though the Festival Ballet Theatre gets some financial help from students of the Southland Ballet Academy paying to attend the productions, theres a lot that happens because of volunteers, Rizkalla said. They help with repair, fitting and cleaning of costumes, design of headpieces, handling props backstage and transportation.

Were operating like a very big company on a very small budget, Rizkalla said.

Rizkalla said she picked Swan Lake because she does a traditional fairy tale ballet every year.

You dont have a ballet company without the classics, she said.

Dale Merrill, dean of the College of Performing Arts and associate professor of dance at Chapman University, has seen a few students from Southland Ballet Academy move on to Chapman. He characterized the academy as having a strong focus in classical ballet.

He was particularly impressed by Ellen Akashi of Fountain Valley, who is now dancing in Nixon in China at the San Diego Opera.

Her love for other types of dance helped her skyrocket, Merrill said.

Having the connection between the Southland Ballet Academy and Festival Ballet Theatre allows young dancers a chance to see the work ethic it takes to be in a professional company.

Skye Schmidt, 20, of Fountain Valley is a member of the Festival Ballet Theatre who is pursuing a bachelor of fine arts in dance performance at UC Irvine. She started training at Southland Ballet Academy when she was 4.

One of Schmidts favorite early memories at Southland Ballet Academy was performing as a first-grader in The Nutcracker next to guest artists from other ballet companies. She now enjoys the camaraderie between dancers over the eight weeks of rehearsals to prepare for a Festival Ballet Theatre production.

I get so sad when the performances are over because were not performing on stage or warming up back stage, Schmidt said. I know it sounds cheesy, but we form really strong bonds.

Rizkalla said she hopes people who see Swan Lake come to appreciate that Orange County has a really good ballet being produced locally.

I want people to know about us more and take pride in and support the dancers we are creating in Orange County, she said.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7831 or dlanghorne@ocregister.com
When your neighbor suffers a medical emergency, or the business down the street spills a load of stinky chemicals, or flames roar through a nearby arroyo, chances are good that alarm bells will ring at one of the Orange County Fire Authoritys 72 stations.

The Fire Authority is O.C.s security blanket, providing emergency services to 1.8 million people in 23 cities and the unincorporated pockets of Orange County. But its facing financial uncertainties that some officials warn threaten its very existence.

New, more transparent accounting rules have flipped its official balance sheet into negative territory, largely due to unfunded pension obligations. And Irvine  its largest member city and funding partner  is threatening to secede from the fire protection network, adding to questions about the agencys future.

The red ink could cost taxpayers more by raising the costs of borrowing. And without Irvine  and the $68 million a year its property taxpayers provide  the Fire Authority would lose 20 percent of its budget. That could prompt remaining cities in the joint powers authority to pay more and reassess their emergency response services.

Cities have been assured that, in a worst-case scenario, the red ink now being reported by the authority would not become debt owed by the member cities. But there are differing legal theories on that question.

Jeff Lalloway, an Irvine city councilman who represents his city on the Fire Authoritys large board, says it is an existential threat. Were sending down a liability to our children that I dont think can ever be paid.

The Fire Authoritys assistant chief, Lori Zeller, said the agency is working to correct the imbalance. She said its a product of accounting changes, not a sign of problems that jeopardize operations.

Nothing has changed in our true financial position, said Zeller. Were in solid financial shape.

DIRE STRAITS?

New rules were imposed by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board to force public agencies to formally recognize long-term liabilities that were relegated to audit footnotes. The intent is to paint a clearer picture of what government agencies actually owe and eventually must pay for promised pensions.

This is the first year under the new rules, and the effects can be dramatic.

When unfunded pension, medical and other liabilities are formally included on its balance sheet, the Fire Authoritys debts exceeded its assets by $169 million for the fiscal year that ended in June.

Thats a plunge of more than 680 percent in its net position, or more than $420 million, over a single year.

The Fire Authority isnt alone in seeing millions  and even billions  of dollars in recorded assets instantly vanish. The County of Orange had more than $3.5 billion disappear from its financial cushion because of the new rules, with its net position shrinking from a comfortable $5.5 billion to $2 billion.

Observers are bracing for the state and other agencies large and small to release their numbers. But only a small percentage of the thousands of government agencies in California are expected to fall into the red as a result.

The Fire Authority has been hit particularly hard hit because its an independent government whose entire business is public safety, and public safety workers have the most expensive pension costs.

STATEWIDE PROBLEM

Consider: The County of Orange had 2,348 public safety workers wholl receive retirement checks equal to 3 percent of pay for each year worked once they hit age 50. That translates to 90 percent of pay for those who work 30 years, plus regular cost-of-living adjustments.

But public safety workers comprise only 13 percent of the workforce, making the hit to county governments bottom line less painful.

The Fire Authority, by contrast, had 892 workers covered by 3 percent at 50  or more than 70 percent of its workforce. There are dramatically fewer workers with lower-cost retirement benefits to blunt its financial exposure.

California has about 550 special districts like the Fire Authority, formed specifically for public safety jobs such as policing, fire suppression and ambulance services. Many of those agencies could suffer similar pressures.

Why does it matter to you? In California  outside of federal bankruptcy court  public pension promises are legally protected. If employer and employee contributions and investments dont earn enough to pay whats been promised, taxpayers must make up the difference.

The gap between what the Fire Authority has promised workers and what it currently has available for retirement benefits is $442.3 million. Thats more than double the 2004 gap of $186.1 million.

SNOWBALL STRATEGY

The new accounting rules  and moves by pension plan administrators like the Orange County Employees Retirement System to extract greater contributions from employers and employees alike  are designed to force agencies to put enough money aside now to make good on future pension obligations.

The Fire Authority has been one of the most proactive in trying to close the gaps. For four years, it has dissected its debts in great public detail and set money aside to cover not just its unfunded pension liabilities, but also unfunded health care liabilities. Most public agencies havent put much, if anything, aside for retiree health care costs, which are growing rapidly.

The money is coming from property taxes, fees and contract payments from member cities.

Assistant Chief Zeller calls it the snowball strategy. It will shift an extra $254.5 million to authority retirement funds administered by OCERS over the next dozen years.

Thats on top of the Fire Authoritys required annual payments to OCERS, which total $72.3 million this year, or 22 percent of the general fund budget.

You wont find many agencies with aggressive plans like ours in place, Zeller said. We engage our board and our labor groups in these decisions, and our financial statements win awards. We had a clean opinion from our auditor  we had zero findings.

I believe were financially strong, and will continue to be financially strong, she said.

ENRON 2016

Bankruptcy attorney Rick Barnett, a councilman for Villa Park, has represented his city on the Fire Authoritys board for four years. He gives the agency points for trying hard and doing a lot of good work, but says its attitude toward pension liabilities is ineffective, naive and frustrating.

I complain year after year that this agency is a financial disaster because of its unfunded pension liability, and every time I do, I get the same response: Were fine, everythings good. Approval of those extra pension payments allows us to pay down our deficit ahead of schedule, Barnett said.

I said, Are you serious? No one has any idea what our liability really is or will be. These numbers are a joke  sheer speculation.

The numbers recorded on agencies balance sheets for unfunded liabilities are, indeed, moving targets. They will grow, and shrink, depending on myriad variables. Barnett suspects the Fire Authority is actually a half-billion dollars in the red  or more  when longer life expectancies and more conservative investment returns are factored in.

Barnett thinks guaranteed and open-ended pensions are dangerous for public agencies and he fears the Fire Authority may be Enron 2016.

In 37 years of bankruptcy practice, Ive never been involved with an entity as financially troubled or with such irresponsible financial governance, he said. In his view, the Fire Authority needs to freeze wage and benefit increases in light of its deficit.

BURNING QUESTION

Could member cities be on the hook for authority debts at some point?

The agreement creating the Fire Authority specifically states that The Authority shall be a public entity separate from the (members) and its debts, liabilities and obligations shall not be the debts, liabilities and obligations of its members.

Irvines position is the same as other cities, Irvine City Manager Sean Joyce said. We confidently believe that OCFAs unfunded liabilities responsibility belongs with OCFA  the agency, not the member cities.

However, a legal analysis titled Liability of Municipal Members of a Joint Powers Authority, prepared for the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association when the city of Richmond considered joining a JPA, concluded that individual cities would remain liable  as to any damages arising from a JPAs activities.

Some O.C. city officials worry that their rainy-day funds might be tapped some day to cover Fire Authority obligations, or that theyll have to increase annual payments to make ends meet. That could mean less money to pay for other services for residents, from street repairs to parks and recreation programs, they said.

The unfunded liabilities at every level are incredibly disturbing to me, said Irvines Lalloway. Its the reason I ran for office in 2010, to try to fix this for my kids. Its bad for the taxpayers, and its bad for the people depending on these benefits.

IRVINE FIGHT

The new accounting requirements are playing out against the backdrop of Irvines threatened secession. Its an issue of fairness, the city argues.

The Fire Authoritys funding come from two sources: Direct fees for service paid by eight cash contract cities, including Santa Ana, San Clemente and Tustin; and a slice of property taxes designated for fire protection from 15 cities and the unincorporated areas, including Irvine.

Property owners in Irvine have been paying more to the Fire Authority each year than it costs to provide service, studies have found. By some estimates, the city could save some $20 million a year by pulling out and starting its own fire department.

In an attempt to keep the Fire Authority intact, an equity plan refunding millions to Irvine was negotiated. But the County of Orange balked. Property taxes received by the Fire Authority are specifically designated for fire protection, the county argued in a lawsuit, asserting that returning a portion to Irvine to use however it sees fit is an illegal gift of public funds.

A Superior Court judge agreed with the county and threw out the equity plan. Irvine and the Fire Authority have appealed; a decision is expected next week.

Irvine has the ability to leave the Fire Authority in 2020, and statements from council are, if we dont work something out, well have to explore our options, Lalloway said.

He likened the Fire Authority to a car careening down the highway out of control. Sooner or later, its going to hit something, Lalloway said.

FUTURE

Joe Kerr, spokesman for the firefighters association, believes the Fire Authority will weather the storms. If its time to adjust how much property tax is directed to firefighting, the association can help address that, he said.

But please. Balance the needs of a regional system, he said. There will never be what some would call complete equity in a regional system. But when you consolidate overhead and share economies of scale, it will always be more efficient than running your own fire department.

The red ink tied to pensions doesnt worry him, either. Unfunded liabilities will be addressed in a prudent way over the long-term, he said. Firefighters are paying more toward their retirements than ever before, and the Fire Authoritys snowball strategy is managing the deficit, he said.

We dont draw the conclusion, like some of these guys do, that the last decade and a half represents a one-way trend and that pension liabilities are on the way to swallowing OCFAs budget, he said. Quite the contrary.

The Orange County Fire Authority was created in the 100 days of turmoil post-bankruptcy back in 1995. Since then, Orange County firefighters have lowered health care costs, pre-funded retiree health care, found new functional revenue. The Fire Authority is solvent, safe and the best way to provide fire service to the county, Kerr said.

Contact the writer: tsforza@ocregister.com
As voters prepare to decide on billions of dollars worth of new borrowing for Very Important and Worthy Projects this year, a state senator from Orange County proposes bringing a fire hose to the party.

Senate Bill 1251  otherwise known as the California Financial Transparency Act of 2016  would ensure that a simplified, one-page summary of the states financial data is included in the official voter information pamphlets that land in your mailbox.

Before you vote on a $9 billion school bond measure, wouldnt it be good to know how much debt the state has? asked Sen. John Moorlach, R-Costa Mesa. If you could just show the balance sheet and give voters a little more information, it would help them make more informed, educated decisions.

Right now, voters who seek a clear-eyed, nonpartisan snapshot of the states finances can peruse Californias audited financial statement. Online. All 285 pages of it.

I just dont think people are doing that, said Moorlach, a certified public accountant.

Moorlach, whose crusades against expensive public pensions have earned the wrath of public worker unions, hopes it will be hard for lawmakers to argue against a simple transparency measure. But there are already rumblings of opposition, as some say it could cost millions of extra dollars to add an extra page to the official pamphlet, and that the information is already publicly available.

The Republicans proposal may face formidable resistance in the Democrat-controlled Legislature. A committee hearing on the bill is slated for April 12. No official support or opposition has been logged yet, and no nonpartisan analysis has been done on what the extra page might actually cost.

We dont have a position at this time. Our staff is reviewing, said Dave Low, chair of Californians for Retirement Security, coalition of 1.6 million public workers and retirees. Generally speaking, we are not in favor of having Senator Moorlach self-selecting what specific data to include in order to pursue his personal agenda.

There are myriad measures concerning dollars and cents on or angling for the ballot this year. They include:

 A $9 billion bond funding proposal to improve K-12 schools and community colleges , that would cost $17.6 billion to pay off over 35 years, according to the states summary.

 A water measure that would redirect $10.7 billion in unused bond authority from high-speed rail and other ventures to water storage and irrigation.

 Another measure would prevent the sale of more high-speed rail bonds entirely.

Ive always thought that if you could just do legislation that just makes sense, that would be kind of fun, Moorlach said. It will be interesting to see who votes against this. Why wouldnt you want your stakeholders to know this?

Californias latest audit is due out in a few weeks. It will, for the first time, record unfunded pension and health care liabilities on the states balance sheet, resulting in what observers expect to be a loss of hundreds of billions from its bottom line.

From Moorlachs fact sheet on SB 1251:

Over the past two decades, Californians have been asked to make decisions regarding billions in spending and bond measures, as well as decide on candidates who have differing viewpoints regarding fiscal issues. These decisions impact the states finances for decades, yet in the midst of the election frenzy, most voters find it difficult to access basic, reliable, non-partisan financial information before making their ballot choices. There are non-partisan and highly credible sources for various measures of Californias financial status. SB 1251 provides that the information is compiled and reported to the Secretary of State, prior to each statewide election, select data measures regarding the states fiscal health.

The listed fiscal data includes: immediate past fiscal year state revenue; immediate past fiscal year state expenditures; current unfunded state pension fund and retiree medical liabilities; current issued bond debt; current net unrestricted assets/net unrestricted liabilities from the most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

Contact the writer: tsforza@ocregister.com

Updated 12:23 p.m. March 17 with initiative examples and links to source documents
(L to R) Charisse Jones, USA Today; John Kell, Fortune; Rubin Ramirez, TheStreet. (photo: Sharlene Spingler)

Building strong relationships with business editors was described as the royal route to coverage, five editors told about 50 PR people last night at the New York office of MSLGroup, a unit of Publicis. They did not give out their business cards or provide phone numbers or emails.

Business writers usually reach out to PR people they have come to know and trust, panel members said. Breaking into this inner circle is the challenge presented to PR people.



Contact points for one of the editors, Crystal Lau, producer of CNBC's "Closing Bell," may be available if a PR person joins premium LinkedIn and pays $29.99 a month.



Chapter president Bill Doescher has been asked to supply the emails of the editors if they are publicly available.

Rubin Ramirez, assignment editor and head of video, TheStreet, looks for two sentences telling me what the story is about followed by three bullet points."

He wants to be able to grasp the pitch within 30 seconds. The name of a contact and client availability are what he wants rather than two pages of extraneous details.

Sending pitches as early in the day as possible was urged by the editors including Lau and Kevin Chupka, producer, Yahoo! Finance.

Sending a pitch in the afternoon is a mistake because other PR firms may have already contacted the editors, it was said.

Meeting was held at MSLGROUP offices in NYC. (photo: Sharlene Spingler)

Telling an editor that a story is exclusive when it isnt was advised against. John Kell, senior reporter, Fortune, said Its insulting when you give us a story and then give it to a competitor. PR people also have to follow the beats editors may be working on since these change, he said.

Timely, Thoughtful, Clever Pitches Work

The editors agreed that email is the best way to reach them although such information was not provided at last nights session.

Send editors lists of the clients of the PR firm and links to videos, was other advice. The editors would like to see evidence that the client can speak well on TV, said Lau.

Do lots of research before approaching an editor and make sure you spell his or her name correctly, was other advice. One small mistake can cause an editor to trash the pitch, it was implied.

Advised against was reminding a reporter of an article he or she wrote six months ago and trying to connect this with what a client is currently pitching.

Follow what I do and pitch me a couple of ideas that will form a bond, said Charisse Jones, who covers business travel for USA Today.

If I dont respond after the second time Ive seen it, Im just not that interested, its nothing personal, said Chupka.



Members paid $60 for the event and non-members, $80. Party sandwiches, fruit and trays of cookies and brownies were served as well as water and soda. The chapter had net assets of $166,368 as of Dec. 31, 2013 and cash of $156,457, the latest figures available on GuideStar. Biggest operating expense was $76,038 management fee to the Charles Group, Fairfield, N.J. The Big Apple Awards generated $1146,985 in 2013. Costs were $90K.
President of NUI Maynooth, Professor Philip Nolan and Director of Maynooth Access Programme, Rose Ryan, recently presented awards to seventy five 3rd years, twenty four 6th Years and twenty three Teachers/Staff Members from schools linked to the Maynooth Access Programme with awards for their hard work and dedication.

President of NUI Maynooth, Professor Philip Nolan and Director of Maynooth Access Programme, Rose Ryan, recently presented awards to seventy five 3rd years, twenty four 6th Years and twenty three Teachers/Staff Members from schools linked to the Maynooth Access Programme with awards for their hard work and dedication.

Among the recipients were students and teachers from Offaly. Mrs. Mary Gorry from Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa, Clara received an NUI Maynooth Inspirational School Staff Member Award.

Zara Dunne, also from Ard Scoil Chiarain, was the recipient of an NUI Maynooth 6th Year Inspirational Student while Jade Doolan also picked up an award.

Tullamore College student Jennifer Coyne from Tullamore College received was an NUI Maynooth 3rd Year Special Award Winner French

The 3rd Year Special Awards are given to students (13-14 years old) who have been nominated by their school for the hard work in a subject area: English, Irish, Languages, Mathematics and Science.

The 6th Year Inspirational Students (16-17 years old) have been nominated by their school because they are role models to other students and they are inspirational in their school. The 6th Year Inspirational Students who receive awards each nominate a teacher or staff member from their school who has served as an inspiration to them on their education path. These teachers receive awards to show that NUIM appreciates the dedication made by school staff to guide and prepare young people for their futures and the powerful impact teachers have on students.

NUIM places a great value on the developed links we have with 14 second level schools in Kildare, Offaly, and West Dublin and a further four schools in Kilkenny. The Second Level Awards are one example of how NUIM engages with schools to enhance educational and civic participation, with the objective of having a lasting impact on educational participation and attainment.

NUI Maynooth Access Programme (MAP) hosts ceremonies in Maynooth and Kilkenny annually. The Second Level Awards are an important event for the recipients. The message they receive by collecting their award from the President of NUIM, Professor Philip Nolan, is that college is a real possibility and we have found that many recipients become university students in the years that follow. It is a great boost to young peoples self-esteem and confidence and it is great for families as well.

The Access Programme at NUI Maynooth provides a number of initiatives to increase the participation rate of those whose social, economic and educational experiences have prevented them from realising their full educational potential. MAP works in close cooperation with second level schools, many other third level institutions, state agencies, and a range of community groups and businesses to widen participation at third level.
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Some people celebrate St. Patricks Day by taking the day off from work and heading to their favorite Irish beverage establishment. That is not the case for employees of Senior Market Sales of Omaha.

The independent marketing organization, with 165 employees at 8420 West Dodge Road, rolls out the green carpet to its staff for a whole week of Irish-inspired fun and festivities. Employees are encouraged to decorate their office space, dress up in costumes, play games and participate in interoffice competitions in the days leading up to St. Patricks Day.

It all started with SMS President Jim Summers. For the Kansas City, Missouri, native who hails from two Irish families, St. Patricks Day has always been a time for celebration. He served on Kansas Citys St. Patricks Day Parade committee for more than a decade before moving to Omaha in 1984.

In 1998, not long after joining the staff at SMS, Summers decided it was time to bring some St. Patricks Day fun to the company, then with 14 employees in the Omaha office. What began with one day and a few decorations quickly grew into something bigger.

As the company has grown, weve developed a culture where we have three or four special events a year, and St. Patricks Day has its own personality, he said.

Each year, theres a theme. Past themes have included the Olympics, the eco-friendly Going Green and March Madness. This year, the theme is Star Wars.

In the past, cubicles have been transformed into Irish villages, an Irish castle and an Irish pub  complete with plywood walls.

Then, there are the costumes. Just ask Ken Colvard, SMSs 6-foot 2-inch tall leprechaun with the snappy green suit, hat and long red beard.

They threw a Star Wars theme on me this year, and I wasnt sure how I was going to incorporate that, but I found a way, said Colvard, a marketing coordinator. Its going to be the leprechaun outfit with a Jedi robe on and Im calling myself Obi-Chaun Kenobi.

Other activities include Spud Wars  a team competition where employees decorate a potato in the most creative way they can; Test Your Jedi Senses, where blindfolded employees guess what color of Froot Loops cereal theyve eaten; and Destroy the Deathstar, where employees toss toy leprechauns into a cutout of the Deathstar spaceship.

The competitions are held in all SMSs offices, including those in Harlan, Iowa; Alexandria, Virginia; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They compete via web cameras. Traveling trophies and other prizes are awarded, and the competitions can get quite fierce, employees said.

Senior Licensed Agent Bob Glaze said his group once got accused of cheating for even considering inviting an art teacher to give them decorating ideas.

Office-to-office rivalries have been born. I think its Harlan versus Omaha, said Robin Butler, lead licensed agent for SMSs retail division in Harlan, which has six employees and has won a trophy three years in a row.

The week also allows the company to give back to the community. The festivities include a casual for a cause fundraiser, which allows employees to wear jeans for a monetary donation, said Sandy Washa, SMS human resources director. This year, funds raised will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Even with the competitive nature of the celebration, employees find it all in good fun. Glaze said the festivities come at a good time of the year when peoples moods are being lightened by the prospect of spring.

On a day to day basis, were all pretty intent on what we are doing, he said. ... This gives us a break ... and it also gives us an opportunity to collaborate as a team, too.
Avon Products Inc., the cosmetics company with a 130-year history in New York, is heading for the United Kingdom.

The company announced plans this week to move its corporate headquarters across the Atlantic as part of a cost-cutting push. Avon, which split off its North American operations earlier this month, also will eliminate about 2,500 jobs. The idea is to save as much as $70 million by 2017, according to a statement.

Though Avon hasnt said where in the U.K. it would be relocating, the company currently has offices in Northampton, England, about a 90-minute drive from central London. The move should have tax benefits for the makeup seller, and it will put Avon closer to customers in Europe. Since shedding its North American business, the company no longer has customers in its home country.

With the recent completion of the sale of the North American business, our commercial operations are now fully outside of the United States, allowing us to dramatically rethink our operating model, Chief Executive Officer Sheri McCoy said.

The move follows a March deal with Cerberus Capital Management that separated Avons domestic operations. Cerberus acquired majority control of the North American business, letting Avon shift its focus overseas, where door-to-door cosmetics sales have bigger growth potential.

Relocating to the U.K. is part of a broader effort to reduce corporate infrastructure, said Avon, which already has significant commercial operations in the country. Avon has been discussing ways to lower its tax bill, but the plan isnt a tax inversion  a maneuver where a business merges with an offshore company and leaves the U.S.

Chief Financial Officer James Scully alluded to tax-saving efforts in a presentation in January.

Given our footprint going forward, there are strategies we can pursue, he said. Inversion is not one of them. We do not meet the bright-line test for inverting, but there are other tax strategies that we can deploy which can reduce cash taxes.

The shake-up will generate one-time expenses of about $60 million in the first quarter from severance and other costs, the company said.

Shifting its corporate offices offshore would complete a transition begun when Avon announced plans in December to break off its North American division. That business became a privately held entity this month, with Avon maintaining a 20 percent stake. As part of the deal, Cerberus invested $435 million in Avon and $170 million in the newly created North American company.

Avon was founded in New York in 1886 by David McConnell, a traveling book salesman who offered beauty products as a perk to female customers. The company flourished during an era when door-to-door sales were common, but that channel has waned, especially in the U.S.

Avon posted four straight years of declining sales and red ink, prompting it to pursue the Cerberus deal. The idea was to shed the troubled North American operations and concentrate on geographies with more potential.

A group of activist investors led by Barington Capital Group welcomed this weeks announcement, while saying there is still much more that needs to be done. The group, which owns more than 3 percent of Avon and includes NuOrion Partners AG, went public with its criticisms in December.

We are pleased that Avon is following our recommendation to reduce excess costs and corporate overhead, Barington CEO James A. Mitarotonda said in a statement.
CBS plans to sell one of its legacy brands: CBS Radio.

We will begin to explore strategic options, CBS Chairman and Chief Executive Leslie Moonves said Tuesday during the companys investor day. We will be prudent and judicious. We will take our time to make sure that we do it right.

The move represents a recognition that terrestrial radio is no longer a growth industry, particularly as major advertisers shift their spending to digital platforms.

However, the proposed sale is symbolic because the broadcasting company was built on the back of its TV and radio stations, which have adapted and thrived over the decades as consumption patterns changed.

CBS Radio, launched in 1928, also represents one of the largest radio station groups in the nation, reaching an estimated 70 million consumers nationwide each week, according to the companys website.

Chipotle sales down again in February

NEW YORK  Chipotle says sales were down 26 percent for February and that it expects to report a loss for the first quarter as it works to recover from a series of food scares.

The drop in sales at established locations for February follows a 36 percent decline for January. The February results were boosted by an extra day in the month this year, the Denver company said.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. is trying to bounce back after an E. coli outbreak and other incidents sent sales plummeting starting at the end of October. To get customers back in stores, the chain known for its burritos and bowls has stepped up marketing and promotions.

Google says 77 percent of online traffic encrypted

SAN FRANCISCO  Google is disclosing how much of the traffic to its search engine and other services is being protected from hackers as part of its push to encrypt all online activity.

Encryption shields 77 percent of the requests sent from around the world to Googles data centers, up from 52 percent at the end of 2013, according to company statistics released Tuesday.

The numbers cover all Google services except its YouTube video site, which has more than 1 billion users. Google plans to add YouTube to its encryption breakdown by the end of this year.

Encryption is a security measure that scrambles transmitted information so its unintelligible if its intercepted by a third party.

Google began emphasizing the need to encrypt peoples online activities after confidential documents leaked in 2013 by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden revealed that the U.S. government had been vacuuming up personal data transferred over the Internet. The surveillance programs exploited gaping holes in unencrypted websites.
NEW YORK (AP)  New York City restaurants with outdoor tables will soon be able to welcome four-legged guests under new rules announced by the citys health department.

The regulations announced Tuesday will permit dogs that are licensed and vaccinated against rabies to join their human chowhounds at participating restaurants.

The New York Legislature passed a law last year allowing municipalities to set their own rules for dogs in outdoor dining areas.

The bills sponsor, Democratic Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, said shes pleased that the city Health Department threw dog lovers a bone.

City Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett said the new rules will take effect in 30 days, just in time for outdoor dining season.

New York City restaurants were previously required to restrict dogs to the area outside the patio railing.
Wall Street analysts have been touring Teslas huge factory in Fremont, California, and theyre returning with the same conclusion: Elon Musks electric-vehicle company is getting ready for something big.

In a sign of this enthusiasm, Robert W. Baird & Co. upgraded its Tesla rating this week following a factory tour.

Tesla spent some $1.6 billion on upgrades last year as it prepares to launch its first attempt at a mass-market car  the Model 3  on March 31. The factory transformation is striking, according to auto analysts at Stifel Financial, Credit Suisse Group and Baird.

Those firms are telling investors that Tesla is learning from the mistakes that delayed its previous launches and is on track to make the transition from producing tens of thousands of $80,000 cars to hundreds of thousands of $35,000 cars  assuming the Model 3 is a hit with drivers.

Last week, Stifel analysts returned from their fourth visit in four years to Teslas flagship factory in Fremont.

In roughly one year since our last visit, wrote analyst James Albertine, the progress witnessed is truly stunning.

Tesla shares have jumped 45 percent in the last month as Musk, the chief executive, has reassured investors that the company is still on track after the much-delayed launch of the Model X luxury SUV.

Stifel and Credit Suisse both noted Teslas new aluminum stamping press, which Credit Suisses Dan Galves says has 10 to 20 times the output of Teslas older machine. The bodies of the Model S and Model X are made of aluminum, which costs twice as much as steel but weighs less. Tesla hasnt yet disclosed the composition of the Model 3.

Reducing the weight of electric vehicles helps achieve maximum range from the battery, but maintaining a balance between cost and performance is crucial for a mass-market plug-in car.

Tesla has built a new state-of-the-art paint shop thats capable of scaling up to 500,000 cars a year. That happens to be Teslas production forecast for 2020, a tenfold increase from last years sales.

Teslas assembly lines are faster and more automated than those observed during a tour 18 months ago, according to Galves. The body assembly line is now rated to produce about 175,000 cars a year, with final-assembly capability of more than 100,000 cars.

This new area of the factory is a place where Tesla engineers can stress-test vehicle design features in a controlled environment on-site, said Albertine.

Robotics systems are customized, production processes are revolutionary, and attention-to-detail/supply chain management is improving by the minute, he wrote. We do not believe this production process is one competitors can easily re-create.

Tesla expanded its workforce by 29 percent last year, to 13,058, according to company filings. Thats up from fewer than 900 employees in 2010. The workers have been consolidated within the Fremont facility, which started its life in the 1960s as a General Motors plant, then was a GM-Toyota joint venture from 1984 to 2010.

There was an energy and buzz within the facility that is hard to imagine as an outsider, Albertine said.

Tesla is shifting battery production to its gigafactory under construction in Nevada.

After the factory tour in Fremont, Bairds Ben Kallo came back convinced that Teslas battery costs already are just half of the industry average and are falling more quickly than most estimates.

This should allow Tesla to produce the Model 3 with healthy margins, and to invest in vehicle aesthetics and performance, placing it above competing vehicles, he wrote in a note to investors March 14.
Two modern-day Offutt Air Force Base airmen laid a wreath Tuesday at a memorial monument to six airmen killed exactly 35 years ago in the crash of an Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance jet in Alaska.

About 300 people  including five of 18 survivors of the accident  heard stories of the two veterans who ran surveillance missions out of Shemya Air Force Base in the Aleutian islands, where the plane crashed in near-blizzard conditions March 15, 1981.

"Flying in Alaska back in those days was very dangerous," said retired Lt. Col. Kingdon Hawes, a former reconnaissance pilot from Omaha, who spoke at the ceremony. "Nobody talked about these things. It was all so secret."

A relatively inexperienced cockpit crew was flying Cobra Ball 664 on a seven-hour training flight from Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska, to Shemya, considered by many pilots to be the most challenging landing strip in the Air Force because of persistent snow, wind and fog.

"You never knew what you were going to get," said retired Col. Bill Ernst, former commander of the 45th Reconnaissance Squadron. "Very, very seldom did you ever see the island before you landed."

The pilot had difficulty keeping Cobra Ball 664 on course in blowing snow and severe crosswinds as it approached Shemya that night. It clipped approach lights and slammed into the ground just short of the runway, catching fire as it slid down the pavement and onto the beach.

A bugler played taps in memory of the six airmen who died: Maj. William Bennett, 36; Capt. Larry Mayfield, 34; 1st Lt. Loren Ginter, 28; Master Sgt. Stephen Kish, 37; Staff Sgt. Steven Balcer, 24; and Staff Sgt. Harry Parsons III, 24.

"It's just about honoring these guys," said Paul Jeanes of Papillion, a Cobra Ball crewman who flew to Shemya on a tanker that refueled the plane a few hours before it crashed. He snapped a photo of the refueling that proved to be the last picture of Cobra Ball 664 intact, and he received a commendation medal for helping to rescue injured crewmen from the runway at Shemya.

Despite the sad occasion, the ceremony had the feel of a military reunion for those who served in the 24th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, which operated the Cobra Ball missions until the Offutt-based 45th squadron took them over after the Cold War. The monument was erected at Shemya but was moved to Offutt in 1996.

"It's good to see old friends," said Thom Reimers of Minden, Nevada, who served in the 24th squadron at the time of the crash. "We all had to live in these old hangars. It makes for bonds that you just don't let go of."

Von Clemence, then an Air Force captain, survived the crash of Cobra Ball 664 by escaping from an overwing exit into the snowstorm before the fuselage exploded in flames. Other 664 survivors present included Bill Van Horn, Bill Maxwell, Harry Coogle, and Rick Grove.

"It was a nice ceremony  very moving," said Clemence, of Reno, Nevada. "It's just good to come back and remember."

Contact the writer: 402-444-1186, steve.liewer@owh.com
Why does Kannur in Kerala burn when polls are round the corner?

Kerala

oi-Vicky

When elections are round the corner there is always escalation of both violence and tension in Kannur, Kerala.

In the past thirty years, Kannur has always been on the boil when elections are round the corner and some statistics would reveal that there have been nearly 280 deaths during this period.

Two incidents have been reported in the recent weeks which have left everyone shell shocked. K Biju an RSS activist was attacked and according to the police this was the handiwork of few elements who were linked to the CPI(M).

Also read: Youth Congress worker hacked to death; political violence rises in Kerala

Biju survived the assault. Last month another RSS worker, Sujith was killed after being attacked near his home at Pappinassery.

Political killings and unprecedented violence:

For the past many years one has witnessed this trend where political killings and violence have shot up when the elections are round the corner. The violence is higher during the assembly elections as the stakes are considerably higher.

Experts point out that the fight is for supremacy between the RSS and the CPI(M). The CPI(M) considers Kannur as its main stay and is not ready to let go of the supremacy they enjoy over here.

The RSS has been making inroads in Kannur district and this has led to the escalation of the violence. It is a bloody battle for supremacy over here, police officials who have investigated these cases of violence say.

Also read: Kerala polls 2016: UDF partner says it's unhappy with seat-sharing talks

In some of the cases it is straight forward killing while in others it is revenge. The case relating to K Manoj of the RSS who was killed in 2014 was stated to be a case of revenge.

The police investigation showed that Manoj's murder was orchestrated by one Jayarajan who is a CPI(M) Kannur district leader.

It was said that there was an attempt made on Jayarajan's life in 1999 and hence he avenged it by killing Manoj.

The BJP which is trying to make inroads into Kerala says that these incidents of violence and killings are due to the growing insecurity among the CPI(M) leaders.

In Kannur district both the BJP and the CPI(M) have a good vote bank. The BJP in particular is banking on the Ezhava community for their votes.

Kannur district comprises a good number of Muslims and Ezhavas. The Ezhavas and the Nairs are the two major Hindu communities in the state and the former alone comprises 20 per cent of them.

The RSS and the BJP say that it is the insecurity within the CPI(M) which is causing these incidents. However the CPI(M) has a different story to tell.

Also read: How much will Kerala politicians rely on social media this time

They say if one takes the number of deaths and injuries there are much more on their side. They also feel that the RSS is backed by a business lobby which is trying to check the growth of Muslim traders in this district who are considered to be extremely influential in nature.

The violence in Kannur has not been restricted to just the BJP and the CPI(M). In the later half of 1980 when the Congress took on the CPI(M) the violence had escalated to another level.

From street and sword fights, Kannur district witnessed bomb attacks as well with workers of both parties trying to outdo each other.

The battle between the Congress and CPI(M) lasted until 2007 and then the BJP returned to being the enemy of the latter.
British Airways: Loving India back since 1924

Feature

oi-Shradha

By Shradha

Flying, for some can be an exhilarating experience. To enjoy the feeling of being airborne, amidst the clouds comes very close to feeling of being as free as a bird. However, for some, leaving behind loved ones with only memories of the times well-spent, the hours spent in an airplane are not that pleasant.

A British Airways video shows how the flight crew members are not just regular employees of the company. They are the family that fliers have- once airborne, to take care of the passengers, to tend to their needs and to ensure that the journey itself is nothing short of an experience. And they have been 'loving India back since 1924.'

An old lady, after meeting her son in Britain is on a British Airways flight, returning to India. She misses her son terribly but has to return to Hyderabad where her whole family is waiting for her.

"Let me help you," a British Airways flight attendant tells the lady when she is attempting to buckle her safety-belt.

She befriends the compassionate flight attendant,Helena Flynn, 23-years-old, of the Worldwide Main crew for whom this is the first trip to India. Having read about India as a country with diverse cultures and languages, Flynn is both excited as well as nervous about her visit to the country.

Later, Flynn, while making a routine check on the flight passengers finds the old lady silently shedding tears as she is missing her son. Flynn says that she understands the feeling of missing someone and tries to comfort the lady by asking her to think of her family instead, who have been missing her and are looking forward to her coming back.

To divert the old lady's mind, Flynn helps her to select a show on TV, promises to be back with a cup of tea only to find the old lady sleeping peacefully.

Flynn removes the headphones from the lady's head and tucks her in just like a mother tucks in a small child.

"Thank you so much," the old lady tells Flynn while getting off from the flight and invites the flight attendant to her home. She gives Flynn her son's card and insists that Flynn should come and visit her as there is a festival coming up the next day.

Flynn, who initially didn't think that she would be going found herself not only meeting the old lady at her residence, but also spending time with the whole family-making memories of her first visit to India.

Since it was a festival, there was a whole lot of exciting food prepared including 'Payasam'- which Flynn said was her favorite. Flynn found herself relishing the company of the whole family, trying her hand at cooking and enjoying a dance performance too by one of the girls.

The old lady then packs homemade food for Flynn and also gives her a hand- embroidered handkerchief on which a BA airhostess and an airplane are made along with her name Helena Flynn.Overcome by the old lady's kindness, Flynn hugs her and thanks her.

Helena Flynn has been flying to India for two years now, falling in love with the country with each passing day as she discovers more about the country - a feeling she says she cannot describe.
108-foot statue of Kempegowda to be unveiled by PM in Karnataka: Basavaraj Bommai

Is Beti Bachao just a slogan or India actually taking concrete steps?

Feature

oi-Lisa

By Lisa

The trend of decline in the Child Sex Ratio (CSR), defined as number of girls per 1000 of boys between 0-6 years of age, has been unabated since 1961. The decline from 945 in 1991 to 927 in 2001 and further to 918 in 2011 is alarming.

The decline in the CSR is a major indicator of women disempowerment. CSR reflects both, pre-birth discrimination manifested through gender biased sex selection, and post birth discrimination against girls.

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has started collecting data on female foeticide since 2014. A total of 50 cases were reported under female foeticide in 2014.

Madhya Pradesh with 15 and Rajasthan with 11 cases top the shameful data list.

Prime Minister Modi called for the eradication of female foeticide and invited suggestions from the citizens of India on "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" while speaking on the occasion of International Day of the Girl Child. The suggestions were put by the people on MyGov.in portal.

The hashtag #SelfieWithDaughter which trended worldwide on twitter was promoted by PM Modi after he came to know about the effort of sarpanch of the village Bibipur in Haryana who took a selfie with his daughter and posted on Facebook on 19 June 2015 and asked people from his village to do the same.

Government has also adopted a multi-pronged strategy entailing schemes and programmes and awareness generation or advocacy measures to build a positive environment for the girl child through gender sensitive policies, provisions and legislation.

The details of important measures taken for implementation of various provisions of PC&PNDT Act, 1994 and Rules made thereunder, as amended from time to time, are given below:

The Government has intensified effective implementation of the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 and amended various provisions of the Rules. The Government is rendering financial support to the States and UTs for operationalization of PNDT Cells, Capacity Building, Orientation &Sensitisation Workshop, Information, Education and Communication campaigns and for strengthening structures for the implementation of the PC & PNDT Act under the National Health Mission (NHM). A National review under the chairmanship of Additional Secretary and Mission Director, MoHFW was held on 21st September, 2015 through video conference. Program review at the state level has been intensified. Five regional review workshops for North, West, Central, North East and Southern regions were organized during 2014-15. During 2015-16 three regional review workshops have been organized for Northern Eastern, Northern and Eastern States in Imphal, Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar respectively. National campaign "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" was launched in 100 gender critical districts in partnership with the Ministry of Woman and Child Development and the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Directions given by the Honourable Supreme Court in the matter of WP(C) 349/2006 (Voluntary Health Association of Punjab vs. UOI & others), were communicated to the States/ UTs time to time for ensuring compliance. Inspections by the National Inspection and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) have been scaled up. In year 2014-15, 19 inspection visits have been undertaken in different States. During 2015-16, 22 NIMC inspections have been undertaken in the States of Punjab, Puducherry, Tripura, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Mizoram, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Assam, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. States have been advised to focus on Districts/Blocks/Villages with low Child Sex Ratio to ascertain the causes, plan appropriate behaviour change communication campaigns and effectively implement provisions of the PC & PNDT Act.

As per Quarterly Progress Reports (QPRs) submitted by States/ UTs following actions have been taken against the violators since inception of the Act:

A total of 1573 ultrasound machines have been sealed and seized for violations of the PC & PNDT Act and rules made there under. A total of 2152 court cases have been filed by various State Appropriate Authorities and 306 convictions have so far been secured under the Act. Registration of 100 medical professionals convicted under the Act has been suspended/cancelled by the concerned State Medical Councils.

Thanks to these measures Haryana which has been ill famous for a skewed sex ratio crossed the 900 marks for the first time in 10 years with 903 girls being born for every 1000 boys.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 16, 2016, 12:52 [IST]
In Pics: President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurates India Aviation 2016

Feature

oi-Lisa

By Lisa

President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the fifth edition of 'India Aviation 2016' in Hyderabad today. The five day event is being held at the Begumpet Airport. President witnessed the aerobatic display as part of the event.

The event is organised by Ministry of Civil Aviation along with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

Participants:

More than 200 major participants from 25 countries are taking part in the India Aviation 2016 show. The partner countries for this year's expo are the US and Canada.

[Aviation must not hinder but complement economic growth: Raju]

Objectives:

Developing India as a hub for aerospace manufacturing and MRO services by nurturing next generation of aerospace workers Undertaking regulatory policies and measures for creating a win-win situation for stakeholders Highlighting major technologies for promoting indigenisation of aerospace manufacturing Encouraging new forms of publicprivate partnership tailored to air connectivity needs Showing up innovative financial techniques and methodologies to meet the growing financing needs Addressing issues relating to air cargo industry enabling them to reach their full potential

One day conference:

'Indian Civil Aviation Sector: Potential As Global Manufacturing and MRO Hub' is the theme of this year's conference where numerous experts will share their views and opinions.



Attendees:

The event was attended by E S Lakshmi Narsimhan, Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister of Telangana KCR, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandra Babu Naidu and Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati. Seven countries are at least expected to send their ambassadors to participate in the event.

Aviation giants taking part in the show:

Major aviation giants like Boeing, Airbus, Textron, Embraer, Gulfstream, Dassault, Agusta Westland, Bell Helicopters and Russian Helicopters are taking part in the show.

Well-known engine manufacturers like CFM, UTC, GE Aviation, Rolls Royce and Pratt and Whitney will showcase their products and expertise.

Supporters of the show:

A press release from the organisers mentions that the event is supported by Air India, Airports Authority of India, Director General Civil Aviation, Pawan Hans, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Fornborough International, SP Guide Publications, Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies and Industries and Business Aircraft Operators Association.

Aerobatics:

The highlight of the five-day programme will be an aerobatic flying display. FICCI has got pilot Mark Jefferies and his team to put up aerobatics show twice a day on all the five days to pull more and more crowd. FICCI stated that, "This time, Mark's team of four pilots and planes will be flying. It promises to be more interesting than previous years when only two aircraft were used for performances".

Ministry of Civil Aviation, Secretary says:

R.N Choubey, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India said that, "India Aviation series of event is Government's distinctive initiative to encourage private sector participation in aerospace industry and to encourage manufacturing and MRO in civil aviation sector in India. This would also give impetus to MAKE IN INDIA POLICY of the government. India Aviation is the largest event in this part of the world on Civil/ Business Aviation sectors jointly organised by Ministry of Civil Aviation along with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)."
Beef price in Bangladesh shoots up as India hits cattle smugglers hard

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Mar 16: During an address to the BSF personnel a year back, Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister had said that he hears the price of beef had gone up in Bangladesh by 30 per cent due to the heightened vigil. He also said that if the vigil against cattle smugglers continues in the right direction, then the price of beef in Bangladesh will escalate by at least 80 per cent.

The statement by the union home minister is a direct indicator that the BSF over the past year and half has focused extensively on curbing cattle smuggling along the Indo-Bangladesh border.

The heightened vigil along the border has ensured that cattle smuggling has dropped drastically which in turn has led to a major demand in Bangladesh resulting in prices escalating.

Vigil at all time high

There is a great demand for beef in Bangladesh. There is a major market for beef and this in turn had led to extensive cattle smuggling along the border. The BSF had been instructed to curb cattle smuggling which was rampant along the border.

The BSF had in 2014 shot down 10 cattle smugglers who were trying to flee. In the year 2015, the number of cattle smugglers killed was 24. These statistics indicate the seriousness with which India is handling the issue of cattle smuggling along the India-Bangladesh border.

The BSF is also aware that smugglers will come up with newer techniques to ensure that cattle is smuggled. The BSF has ensured a proper mechanism is in place to ensure that this menace comes down or stop entirely. We need to be on our toes all the time, an official said.

The security forces from Bangladesh too have been helping the BSF in curbing this racket. Bangladesh has also encouraged farmers to take up cow fattening and cow farming on a large scale to ensure that the smugglers do not thrive.

OneIndia News
Chhagan Bhujbal gets bail after two years in PMLA case

Chhagan Bhujbal rules out Malik's resignation, says Centre putting pressure on min to collapse Maha govt

Case against Maha former minister for allegedly threatening to kill man

Arrested NCP leader Bhujbal complains of uneasiness, doctors sent to ED office

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Mar 16: A team of doctors from the government-run JJ Hospital was today sent to the Enforcement Directorate's office here to examine NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal after he complained of uneasiness.

The ED arrested the former Maharashtra PWD minister in a money-laundering case on March 14. A court yesterday remanded him in ED's custody till March 17.

"We have sent a team of doctors to the ED office to examine Bhujbal after he complained of uneasiness," dean of JJ Hospital Dr TP Lahane told PTI.

Meanwhile, an ED source said Bhujbal denied he had any knowledge about the Maharashtra Sadan scam even today.

(Time has avenged Bhujbal's attempt to jail Bal Thackeray: Sena)

"Today we confronted him with statements given by some of the persons (witnesses). However he denied everything," said an ED official.

Bhujbal is accused of taking kickbacks in awarding of contract for Maharashtra Sadan, the state guest house in Delhi.

The ED had told the court that his arrest was necessary as he was not cooperating with the probe. He would be produced in the court tomorrow.

PTI
BSNL cancels 4G tender after DoT directs it not to use Chinese telecom gear

BSNL to launch wi-fi facility at Vaishno Devi tomorrow

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Mar 16: State-run BSNL will launch wi-fi facility at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine tomorrow, its 1,000th hotspot in the country. Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will launch the facility from Delhi.

BSNL had planned to set up 2,500 wi-fi hotspots in 250 locations at a cost of Rs 500 crore in the current fiscal. A couple of days back, the customs department had cleared another 750 hotspots which will be set up in the next few days, according to a BSNL official.

The official said the telecom company will set up as many hotspots as possible in the next 15 days to meet the target.

As part of the Digital India programme, the government is working towards enabling all cities, with a population of over one million, tourist centres and religious places with wi-fi hotspots.

BSNL usually provides free wi-fi services for 30 minutes and after the free usage limit is exhausted, the user has to buy subscription plans which are available in various denomination.

PTI
CBSE exams: Students allege Maths paper leaked on WhatsApp

India

oi-Mukul

New Delhi, Mar 16: Several students who were appearing for class 12th exam on Monday alleged that Maths paper was already leaked.

Polls: Class 12 CBSE exams rescheduled in West Bengal, Assam

Disappointed students from Ranchi and Dhanbad region said that many questions and their sequence were similar to a question paper which was leaked on WhatsApp on Sunday. Their parents too said that touts were found selling 51 questions and answers near exam centres.

Requesting Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to cancel the paper, students' parents reportedly mailed the board regarding the issue.

Mail which was acessed by TOI reads, "Please do the needful at the earliest. So many agents were selling the solved paper of math in the night of March 13".

However, Board and school teachers have rejected students' claim that paper was already leaked.

Earlier, CBSE students and teachers alleged that Maths paper was very very tough. Students complained that even one mark questions were very lengthy. They also demanded Board to retest the exam.

A student was quoted as saying, "Concepts such as Linear Programming and Matrices which have generally got easy questions over the years had tough questions this time. Every question was tricky, as a result of which many of us found it tough to finish the paper on time and many students, including the top scorers in schools, were crying after the exam".

OneIndia News
CPI(M) accuses BJP of 'betraying' people of Andhra Pradesh

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, March 15: CPI(M) on Wednesday, March 16 accused NDA major BJP of "openly betraying" the people of Andhra Pradesh by not keeping its electoral promise of giving special status along with financial allocations to the state and said Left parties will mount pressure on the Centre over the issue.

Speaking to reporters here, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury slammed the Centre for making a "poor" allocation of Rs 100 crore for Polavaram dam, tagged as national project, and charged the BJP with "making a joke" out of the entire episode.

According to the state government estimates, the project is likely to cost Rs 36,000 crore. "The BJP had made the promises (special status and Polavaram) when it was in opposition. It said it will implement it after coming to power.

"(But) nothing has happened two years down the line. So, this is nothing else but open betrayal of their own promises and assurances," Yechury said. He made the remarks after holding discussions with Andhra Pradesh Congress leaders over the issues here.

The Rajya Sabha member further said Left parties have already taken up the issue among people and added the same will be raised in Parliament as well. "We extended our support when the issue figured in the Parliament today. We will take it up again," he added.

PTI
Horse assault: Chop my leg if am found guilty, say BJP MLA

India

oi-Sandra

New Delhi, March 16: BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi, who attacked a police horse on Monday, Mar 14 on Wednesday said that if he is found guilty, he is willing to face punishment.

Joshi who faced a lot of ire from many animal lovers from across the country said: "When I saw that my party workers were being attacked by the police, I took the lathi from one of the cops and hit it on the ground. I did this to save my people. I did not hit the horse.

Caught on camera: BJP MLA beats up police horse with a lathi, breaks its leg

In the video footage that is being circulated, you can clearly see that there is sufficient distance between me and the horse... I allow animal activists to take action against me if the charges against me are proven. Chop off my leg if am proven guilty."

Meanwhile, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi called for an immediate explusion of Joshi for attacking the 13-year-old horse named Shaktiman with a lathi. The horse has suffered several injuries including a fracture on one of its hind legs.

However, according to latest reports police has registered a case against Joshi under the Cruelty to Animals Act in connection with the incident.

Shaktiman has served in the police for about 10 years and not just used for law and order situations but he is also a regular at ceremonial functions and parades.

OneIndia News
Pakistan should continue to take credible action against terror: India

Indian defence sites main target of Pak-based cyber attackers

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Mar 16: India has been facing continued threats from suspected Pakistan-based cyber attackers for the last few years, with online criminals sending phishing emails containing malware aimed at country's defence establishments, cyber security firm FireEye said today.

A cyber threat operation in which malware 'Seedoor' was used has been targeting in India since at least 2013, FireEye said in a report.

"The threat group behind the operation likely reached its targets by sending spear phishing emails with malware attachments. The lures used in the email were related to regional military and defense issues, often involving India-Pakistan relations and current events," it said.

Stating that establishments both in India and Pakistan were targeted, FireEye said "suspected Pakistani threat actor used surveillance malware against Indian and Pakistani entities."

It however neither identified the location of the cyber attacks nor the success ratio. It did not say if the attackers succeeded in penetrating any sensitive establishment.

"Robust surveillance malware Seedoor was likely distributed via spear phishing emails about current events, defense issues and women," the report said.

Based on the themes used in the emails and decoy documents, it is likely the threat actor intended to target Indian government and military personnel, as well as political dissidents in Pakistan in order to collect intelligence, it added.

"The line between real world conflict and cyber conflict continues to blur. Wherever you see geopolitical tensions you are likely to find cyber campaigns beneath the surface, FireEye chief technology officer Asia Pacific Bryce Boland told PTI. He however declined to comment on the scale of these attacks or potential damage.

"... We have been in touch with concerned authorities for this report," he added.

Seedoor's built-in functionality includes interacting with the file system, simulating mouse clicks, starting and terminating processes, transferring files, making recordings and screenshots of desktop, recording sound from microphone, recording and taking snapshots from webcams, and in some cases collecting Microsoft Outlook emails and attachments.

"The threat actor used a variety of lures focused on defence and military topics, as well as issues pertinent to India-Pakistan relations, including regional areas of conflict such as Afghanistan or, separately, Balochistan (a Pakistani province)," Boland said.

In multiple instances, the threat actor named the malware attachments the title of news articles from popular Pakistan news sites, including Dawn and the Express Tribune, he added.

The threat actor also used images of women, including several associated with India or Pakistan, the report said.

PTI
JNU denies media reports on rustication of students

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, March 15: Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tuesday denied media reports that a high-level inquiry committee had recommended the rustication of five students from the university.

"It is not true. Not at all...," Chief Proctor Ashok Dimri told IANS when asked if the media reports were correct.

"What the panel has recommended is a different issue. I've just received the report and will review it when the time comes. The students have been issued show-cause notices in which there are different clauses. But the media reports are not true," Dimri said.

"The quantum of punishment will be decided once I receive the responses to the show cause (notices)," he added.

On Monday, media reports said the panel had recommended the rustication of JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya and two other students for their alleged role in raising anti-national slogans on the campus on February 9.

Meanwhile, the JNU Teachers Association also said the media reports on rustication were false.

"These reports are completely false. The teaching community is going to demand from the JNU administration to set up an inquiry and find out who leaked the rumours in media. We want the media organisations which carried the report to disclose the name of the person who said this," JNUTA general secretary Professor Bikramaditya Chaudhury told IANS.

The committee - formed on February 10 - submitted its report last week. It comprises Professor Rakesh Bhatnagar, Professor Himadri Bohidar, Professor Suman K Dhar, Professor Ummu Salma Bawa and Professor GJV Prasad.

On Monday, 21 students were issued the show-cause notices.

"I am not authorised to speak on this matter (rustication). Speak to the vice chancellor or the public relations officer. They are the right people (to talk). A lot has been published wrongly in the newspapers... One should check their facts and do their homework before publishing anything...," Bhatnagar said earlier in the day.

IANS
Delhi-based Journalist questioned over 'misreporting'

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Mar 15: A Delhi-based journalist was today questioned by police for his news report claiming that the government had been discriminating against Muslims in appointment as yoga instructors in Ayush Ministry.

Journalist Pushp Sharma of Milli Gazette, where the story was published, was questioned at Kotla Mubarakpur police station in south Delhi on a complaint by a senior Ayush Ministry official, police said.

A senior police officer said that Sharma had earlier been arrested in 2009 on the charge of extorting government officials by threatening sting operations on them.

There were also allegations that Sharma even tried to extort police officers, the officer said. The Ministry had earlier condemned the "misreporting" which it claimed was aimed at causing a "chasm" between different sections of society and "promoting disharmony and mistrust with ulterior motives".

"The Ministry of AYUSH has noted with anguish certain mischievous misinformation being spread in certain section of media and social media quoting a reply to an RTI by mentioning a fabricated draft as Annexure I to that letter, which has never been issued by the Ministry of AYUSH or any of its agencies.

"The Ministry strongly condemns this piece of misreporting, clearly aimed at causing chasm between different sections of society and promoting disharmony and mistrust with ulterior motives," the Ministry had said in a statement.

The Milli Gazette issued a statement on its Facebook page, saying "a police force claiming to be from Kotla Mubarakpur police station in New Delhi picked up journalist Pushp Sharma from his home in Lajpat Nagar at around 6:30 pm today." It also claimed that Sharma has been arrested. However, police did not confirm report of his arrest.

PTI
Lok Sabha rejects RS recommendations, passes Aadhar Bill

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Mar 16: Rejecting Rajya Sabha's five amendments and opposition's appeal not to make "haste", the Lok Sabha today passed the legislation that aims at better targeting of subsidies through the Aadhar unique identity number within hours of the Upper Housing returning it.

Just moments before it was adjourned for more than a month-long recess for scrutiny of budget, the Lok Sabha adopted the the Aadhar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other subsidies, benefits and services) Bill, 2016, by a voice vote after rejecting the recommendations for five amendments made by the Upper House earlier in the evening.

Armed with the Speaker's that it was a money bill, the government rushed it through the Rajya Sabha, which cannot amend it but only make recommendations for amendment to the Lok Sabha.

Once the Lok Sabha passes a money bill with or without amendments recommended by the Rajya Sabha, it is deemed to have been passed by both the Houses.

Showing urgency in getting the law through, the government, which enjoys a comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha, brought the measure to the lower house within an hour of being returned by the Rajya Sabha.

The government considers the Aadhar bill as a significant instrument for implementing its Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes by better targeting of beneficiaries but the Opposition attacked the government saying it was violating the Supreme Court direction that Aadhar card cannot be made mandatory but should only be voluntary.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who moved the bill and piloted them in both the Houses, also turned down opposition argument that Parliament cannot legislate since the matter is before Supreme Court.

Parliament cannot abdicate its duty under the Constitutional which clearly separates powers among various institutions, he said.

In last-ditch attempts, Opposition members including those from Trinamool, CPI(M) and BJD appealed to the government to respect the "wisdom" of the house of elders and accept their amendments in a democratic spirit and not to reject them on "ego".

The Lok Sabha rejected the amendments proposed by the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote amid walk out by opposition parties including Trinamool Congress, BJD and CPM. Congress members were conspicuous by their absence.

PTI
Not just future of Sena but democracy at stake, says Uddhav

Mumbai: Gathering of 5 or more, loud speakers, illegal processions banned for a fortnight from Nov 1

Mumbai: Guard killed by colleagues; police nab accused within minutes

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Mar 16: A security guard was murdered allegedly by two persons following an altercation between them in Navi Mumbai with police claiming to have solved the case minutes after the crime was committed.

The assailants were yesterday nabbed within three minutes of receipt of information about the crime, police said. "Information was received on wireless that some persons are quarreling at Alaknanda Society in Sector 14 of Vashi," Senior Police Inspector of Vashi police station Ajaykumar Landge said.

"Policemen reached the spot and saw a person lying with injuries on ground and two persons running away from the spot. Police personnel Shabir Tadvi and Anil Pawar chased and caught them," he said.

The injured was taken to a civic hospital where he was declared dead on arrival, police said. It was found that both the assailants and the victim worked as security guards at the house of one Suresh Bijlani, police said.

DCP Shahaji Umap has announced a cash reward of Rs 5,000 for the policemen who reached the murder spot within three minutes and nabbed the killers.

PTI
No clarity on operation claiming to have killed 3 terrorists from Pak

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Mar 16: There is not much clarity on an operation which was undertaken in which 3 terrorists were killed in a Western State of India.

Top officials in the Home Ministry and the Intelligence Bureau when contacted told OneIndia that there is an operation underway at a Western State. We cannot share more details than this, the officials also informed.

It may be recalled that Pakistan had alerted India about the entry of ten terrorists into India. The terrorists who took the sea route into Gujarat had planned on attacking the Somnath Temple in Saurashtra.

Following this intercept security had been stepped up in Gujarat.

No clarity on operation

While it was claimed that three out of the ten terrorists were shot down, there is no clarity on the exact spot where the operation took place. The identity of the terrorists has not been revealed.

Moreover it is also not clear which security force or police department undertook the operation. No details of the dead bodies are available too.

Highly placed sources say that they were acting on the tip off given by Pakistan. We cannot share details as the operation to track the terrorists is still underway.

Moreover we are also ascertaining to find out if these are the same terrorists who had come in from Pakistan as suggested in the intercept shared with India, the officer also noted.

When Pakistan has shared the intercept, India had viewed it as a move by them to reduce the trust deficit following the Pathankot attack. For a considerable amount of time, the Intelligence Bureau or the Gujarat police were unable to trace the location of these terrorists.

The report was considered seriously, but IB officials were working to find out if the alert was actionable or not.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, March 16, 2016, 8:25 [IST]
Pathankot mystery- Two terrorists will remain unidentified, Pakistan help will be sought

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Two humans, but no DNA samples. This is what the forensic report as sought by the National Investigation Agency probing the Pathankot attack has to say.

However this forensic report clears out a major mystery surrounding the attack where doubts were being cast about the number of terrorists involved in that operation.

While this report clarifies a major doubt, it is also important to note that the two terrorists will remain unidentified in the chargesheet unless the Pakistan probe into the attack can shed more light.

The NIA would seek details from Pakistan on the identity of the two other terrorists.

While the NSG claimed at first there were six terrorists in all, doubts had been raised since the remains of two terrorists were not found.

The charred remains collected from the spot where the last leg of the operation took place was sent for forensic analysis and after much delay the report finally suggested that there were human remains. However the report also states that it was unable to collect the DNA samples.

The mystery:

On day one of the attack, the security agencies had neutralised four terrorists. However another operation took place lasting over 30 hours to neutralise two others.

The security agencies were able to recover four bodies and the same have been preserved as well.

However in the case of the other two there were no traces and agencies suspected that they may have been charred.

The NIA probe which was stuck due to this mystery sought a forensic report on this issue. After reminding the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory twice, the report finally reached the NIA.

The report just confirms the presence of two different humans. However it says that since the bodies were charred, it was not possible to collect DNA samples.

NIA officials tell OneIndia that this was a mystery that they were trying to solve. The probe was stuck due to this aspect and in order to file a chargesheet the exact count of terrorists is important.

However with this report coming in, it will help us go ahead with the probe, the officer also informed.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 16, 2016, 8:36 [IST]
Punjab Assembly rocked by SYL issue

India

oi-PTI

Chandigarh, Mar 16: Opposition Congress today staged a walkout in the Punjab Assembly after the Speaker refused to allow them to raise the vexed issue of construction of Sutlej Yamuna Link canal.

During the Zero hour, Leader of Opposition Charanjit Singh Channi wanted to discuss about the status of the Bill on Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL), which was disallowed by the Speaker, sparking protests from the Congress members leading to adjournment of the House for 47 minutes.

The Speaker noted that the issue was a "procedural matter" and he will not allow the opposition to speak on it. Channi along with his party members then went into the well of the House and raised slogans against the state government.

The Speaker said that the matter has gone to the Legal Remembrance (LR) and he will not allow the opposition members to rake up the issue.

As the House re-assembled, Channi was again on his feet asking the Speaker why Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who led a delegation to the Governor yesterday on the issue, did not carry a copy of the Bill with him.

"The Governor has not given ascent to the Bill as Badal failed to carry it along with him yesterday when the CM went to meet him," he said. Congress members later trooped out of the House.

Manoranjan Kalia of BJP alleged the opposition wanted to create a law and order problem in the state. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Mohan Mittal said the Congress had been directed by their senior party leaders not to allow smooth functioning of Parliament and state assemblies.

Later, the Congress boycotted the proceedings in the Assembly related to general discussion on budget estimates.

PTI
Dhanteras 2022: How much gold can you buy from Dubai

RSS bats for dialogue with Pak, calls separatists 'silly'

India

oi-PTI

Jammu, Mar 16: The Centre should not give into "provocation" and continue its engagement with Pakistan, the RSS today said and ridiculed the separatists who have been invited by Pakistan for 'Pakistan Day' function at its High Commission in Delhi.

"They (separatists) don't want us to be friendly with that country (Pakistan). We want good relations with our neighbours. We should continue on our aims and objectives rather than bothering about such silly people," Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) Prant Sang Chalak, Jammu and Kashmir, Brig Suchet Singh told reporters here.

"Such a provocation by inviting them should not matter. We should continue with the dialogue (Pakistan) and in a positive manner," he said Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani and Asiya Andrabi among others have been invited by Pakistan to attend 'Pakistan Day' function at its High Commission in Delhi on March 23.

Besides them, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik and Hurriyat's moderate faction chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have also been called to attend the event, official sources said.

"We should put up our point of view in a strong manner and let them (separatists) do whatever they want," Singh said.

Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh has also been invited to the function. However, sources said it is unlikely that he will attend the function.

Pakistan has been inviting separatist leaders every year to attend the 'Pakistan Day' function. Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh had represented the government at the Pakistan National Day reception last year.

The meetings of Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders with Pakistani establishments have always raised eyebrows here.

On August 23 last year, a controversy had erupted over the proposed meeting between Pakistan's former National Security Adviser Sartaz Aziz and Hurriyat leaders ahead of NSA-level talks in India.

India had then advised Pakistan that it would not be appropriate for Aziz to meet Hurriyat representatives. Pakistan had then called off the NSA talks between the two nations.

PTI
Sedition law under review, Kiren Rijiju tells Rajya Sabha

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, March 16: The law on sedition is under review of the Law Commission and the home ministry has asked for a report on the issue as soon as possible, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Rijiju also admitted in the upper house that the cases of sedition were often found to be violative of the right to freedom of speech.

JNU denies media reports on rustication of students

"The provisions (of the sedition law) are very wide. Anyone who speaks against the government established by the law can be booked under the sedition law," Rijiju said in response to a question.

"Often the sedition charge is found to be violative of Article 19(1)(a), freedom of speech and expression," he said.

Asking supplementaries to the question raised by Shiv Sena member Anil Desai, Leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad sought that inciting of communal sentiments should be included in the law, while Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav demanded that the law be scrapped.

The minister informed the upper house that a Law Commission report in 1997 had admitted that the sedition law was defective, but did not ask for its deletion.

In 2006, the 156th report of the Law Commission also sought substitution of the word 'sedition' but did not ask for its deletion.

Delhi HC to hear another sedition plea against Kanhaiya

"... reports and suggestions have come that there should be a comprehensive review of the criminal justice system in the country... sedition law has also been brought under this scrutiny, that there must be some amendment to it because the meaning is very wide," he said.

Rijiju said the government wants the Law Commission to take steps as soon as possible to address this law.

"There are cases and concerns are being raised. That is why I would like to quote the reports and we would like to see that the Law Commission takes steps as early as possible so that the concerns raised in the country are addressed," the union minister said.

The home ministry has, from time to time, the latest in 2012, written to the law ministry to speed up the process, he said.

Speaking on similar lines, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said: "The Law Commission is reviewing (the law); we have asked the Law Commission to give the report soon."

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad suggested that speeches inciting communal feelings also should be included in the category of sedition.

To this, Rajnath Singh said: "We agree 100 percent; there should be action against those who divide on communal lines."

Rijiju also defended the government over the Jawaharlal Nehru University case, and clarified that the Centre was not involved in the filing of the sedition cases against leaders like Sitaram Yechury, Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal who went to the campus.

"The JNU case is sub judice; investigation is going on... How are you directly accusing the government of taking action against students? There are cases against these students. There are some cases against politicians also not filed in Delhi. It's not the action of the government of India," he said.

Giving out figures, Rijiju said in 2014, the highest number of 16 sedition cases were filed in Bihar, in which 28 people were arrested. Jharkhand came second, Kerala third, and Odisha fourth on this count, he said.

PTI
Not just future of Sena but democracy at stake, says Uddhav

Time has avenged Bhujbal's attempt to jail Bal Thackeray: Sena

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Mar 16: In a jibe at arrested NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday said time has avenged his attempt to put Sena supremo Bal Thackeray behind bars during his tenure as Maharashtra Home Minister.

"Time has avenged" Bhujbal's action, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said here, adding the NCP leader, who left Sena in 1991, is to be blamed "for his destruction".

Bhujbal's arrest: 'Law doesn't mandate prior intimation'

"When Bhujbal was the home minister, he was bent on putting Balasaheb (Thackeray) behind bars because he had given a 'Hindutva vadi' (pro-Hindu) speech that was aimed at awakening the people of the country.

Even that was a case of political revenge and personal enmity," it alleged. Bhujbal had "misused" the government machinery "to create false cases" against those who "did not listen to him", so that they could be put behind bars, the Sena charged.

Bhujbal was arrested on Monday in connection with the alleged scam in construction of Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi.

A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court sent the 68-year-old leader in Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till March 17. The NCP had described his arrest as "vendetta politics" by the BJP. The Sena, which is part of the ruling alliance, said the people protesting Bhujbal's arrest today will soon forget about it.

"Chhagan Bhujbal was arrested a number of times while he was in the Sena. But then, he was arrested for protesting against atrocities against Marathi people. Now, when he is with the Congress and NCP, he is in jail on charges of corruption.

"He is responsible for his own destruction. People who are today protesting against his arrest will soon forget the issue and go about their usual business," he said.

Bhujbal started his political career with the Shiv Sena and was in the party for over two decades. He left the Sena in 1991 and joined the Congress. Later, after Sharad Pawar decided to split from the Congress and form NCP, the former PWD minister went along with him.

PTI
Rs 1,000 fine if found without wearing rear seat belt in Karnataka

'Kantara' impact: 'Daiva Narthakas' above 60 years of age to get Rs 2,000 monthly allowance

Late actor Puneeth Rajkumar to be conferred with 'Karnataka Ratna' award on Nov 1

Karnataka to strengthen ATS and up the number of prisons

Twitteratti remembers late IAS officer DK Ravi on his 1st death anniversary

India

oi-Preeti

Bengaluru, March 16: Doddakoppalu Kariyappa Ravi, popularly known as DK Ravi, was an honest and hard-working 2009-batch IAS officer from Karnataka.

On March 16, 2015, he was found hanging inside his apartment in Koramangala in Bengaluru, under mysterious circumstances. [Remembering IAS officer DK Ravi on his 1st death anniversary]

He was known to take tough stand against sand mining and land grabbing in Kolar district, when he was district collector there. Then in Oct 2014, he was appointed as Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (Enforcement) in Bengaluru, after a transfer from Kolar.

[Timeline: IAS officer DK Ravi mysterious death case]

Born on June 10, 1979, Ravi was a native of Doddakoppalu village in Kunigal taluk, Tumkur district of Karnataka.

His sudden death was followed by complete shutdown of shops, commercial establishments, schools and colleges, as a part of his mourning and also to demand fair probe into his death.

After a lot of pressure, the government initially ordered a CID probe, but later due to more mounting of pressure by opposition parties, the CBI took over the investigation.

On micro-blogging site Twitter, people are paying tributes to late DK Ravi, on his first death anniversary today. Here are some tweets:

@CTRavi_BJP but his suicidal cannot inspire UPSC aspirants. I miss DK Ravi   Vidyasagar Khuba (@VidyasagarKhuba) March 16, 2016

So today its March 16, 2015. One year after the death of DK Ravi. :-( looks like the case is closed under table .@TimesNow @ndtv @ZeeNews  abhishekjeet (@abhishekjeet) March 16, 2016

DK Ravi sir s inspiration to so many youngsters To make India s corruption free s impossible bcoz ppl who r honestly try They get murdered  Pranavi the star (@MKB_KITKIT) March 16, 2016

it's been a yr A man who dreamt to make Karnataka Corruption free&a kind honest inspiration 1&only great IAS officer Mr DK Ravi passed away  Pranavi the star (@MKB_KITKIT) March 16, 2016

Honest officer Dk Ravi mother Pledge her gold Chain for her Son Death Anniversary.

Congress govt promised to help his family nt helped.  Ramrao kulkarni (@RamraoKP_) March 13, 2016

RIP DK Ravi's investigation !!

Our system won't deserve Officers like you sir !! Sorry !! https://t.co/l9mPt6IQGs  Mailaragouda (@mailaragouda) March 13, 2016

Young crusadr DK Ravi Death Cse 1yr ovr cbi yet to file report, DK Ravi mother wth othr on padayathra @VipinGaurnai pic.twitter.com/VsXCcNwfRM  Pramesh Jain (@prameshjain12) March 16, 2016

OneIndia News
Two JMB operatives arrested in West Bengal

India

oi-Vicky

Kolkata, Mar 16: The National Investigating Agency has arrested two persons suspected to be members of the dreaded Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh.

The duo arrested are Enamul Mollah and Habibul Haq. The NIA conducted this operation jointly with the Special Task Force unit of Kolkata after a tip off about the two was received.

The duo were picked up from a house in Metiabruz area in Kolkata. The NIA is now probing to find out if these two were linked to the Burdwan blasts. The NIA says that these two persons were recruited into the JMB by Yousuf Ghazi who is a prime accused in the Burdwan blasts.

The NIA is also probing to find out if these two persons were trying to revive the JMB in West Bengal and neighbouring states. Further information about the rest of the JMB operatives in West Bengal is also being sought out by the NIA.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 16, 2016, 13:03 [IST]
At UNSC, US calls on world to tell Russia to stop its nuclear threats

US supply of F-16 planes to Pak a "serious threat" to India: Cong member

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Mar 15: Congress member Pramod Tiwari today raised in Rajya Sabha the supply of F-16 fighter planes to Pakistan by the US and asked the government to impress upon Washington not to go ahead with the deal saying it was a "serious danger" to India.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour amid din, Tiwari said India's relations with all neighbouring countries, be it Nepal, China or Pakistan, have worsened.

Supply of F-16 planes to Pakistan will be "a serious danger and challenge" for India, he said. Tiwari said the government has "failed" to convince the US that Pakistan would not use the planes against terror activities but against India.

"This is a matter concerning the security of the country...Government should strongly put its side before the US," he said. He expressed concern that the Chinese army has entered the Pak-Occupied Kashmir and Pakistan and China were jointly making constructions there.

"This is a big threat for India," he said. He also said the Chinese army entered five and half kilometers in India. He further said India's boundaries have been encroached upon 1400 times. India's image has emerged as "weak" nation with a "weak" foreign policy.

Praveen Rashtrapal (Cong) demanded more special courts in the wake of "increase" in atrocities against SC and STs. Citing examples, he said 14,268 cases are pending in Madhya Pradesh and 13,678 in Rajasthan.

Husain Dalwai of Congress raised the issue of deaths in road accidents. In the last decade, road crashes in India have killed over 12 lakh people and seriously injured or left permanently disabled another 55 lakh, he said.

Sanjay Sinh (Cong) talked about "serious irregularities" in payment of compensation to farmers for land acquired for construction of Varanasi-Lucknow National Highway No 56.

He demanded an inquiry by a central team into land acquired from farmers of Sultanpur block.

PTI
Fact Check: Did Trump thank Musk for welcoming him back to Twitter

Anonymous threatens Donald Trump, declares a complete war against him

International

oi-Sandra

Washington, Mar 16: While Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump may be celebrating his latest win, the hacking collective Anonymous has 'declared a complete war' on the business tycoon.

Anonymous, who have in the past waged a virtual war on the terrorist group ISIS [Online war: Anonymous claims to take down over 5000 ISIS linked accounts], on Tuesday said that they would dismantle Trump's presidential campaign on April 1.

The group said: "We have been watching you for a long time and what we've seen is deeply disturbing. You don't stand for anything but your personal greed and power.

"This is a call to arms. Shut down his websites, research and expose what he doesn't want the public to know. We need you to dismantle his campaign and sabotage his brand."

Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton move closer to Presidential face-off

"This is not a warning. It is a declaration of a total war. Donald Trump-it is too late to expect us," the group said.

The group aims to take down Trump's property websites on April 1. Last year, the group had declared a war on Trump after the latter said that Muslims immigrants must be banned from entering the US.

In response to this, the group took down the website of Trump Tower.

Meanwhile, Trump swept the crucial Republican presidential primary in Florida taking away with all the 99 delegates from the State.

OneIndia News
Argentina: Navy sinks Chinese boat fishing illegally

International

oi-PTI

Buenos Aires, Mar 16: Argentina's navy has announced that it used gunfire to sink a Chinese-flagged boat that was fishing illegally in national waters.

China's government said it expressed its serious concern to Argentina and called for an investigation The navy statement said yesterday the boat was intercepted on Monday off the coast of Puerto Madryn, about 1,460 kilometres south of Buenos Aires.

The statement said the boat did not heed warning calls and instead tried to ram an Argentine naval vessel. Sailors then shot holes in different parts of the fishing boat, causing it to sink, the navy said.

Four people on board were rescued and arrested. They remained in custody and were to go before a federal judge in southern Chubut province, the statement said.

The navy said it had been 15 years since one of its vessels last sank a foreign vessel fishing illegally in Argentina's waters.

In Beijing, Lu Kang, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, posted a statement on the ministry's website saying the boat had been fishing in Argentine waters and was chased for several hours before Argentine naval fire holed the vessel.

It said four Chinese were picked up by the Argentines and 28 more were rescued by a nearby Chinese vessel.

The statement did not directly address the question of whether the boat was fishing illegally or tried to ram the Argentine navy vessel.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy to Argentina have lodged urgent representations with Argentina, expressing serious concern, urging Argentina to carry out a full investigation immediately and to inform China of the details, to protect the safety and lawful rights of Chinese sailors, and to take effective measures to avoid similar incidents," the statement said.

AP
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For an experiment, NASA to set fire in space

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Washington, Mar 16: NASA's John H Glenn Research Centre is going to light a "large scale fire" in space as part of an experiment that seeks to understand how fire spreads in a micro-gravity environment.

Called the Spacecraft Fire Experiment (Saffire), the experiment on board the next Orbital/ATK Cygnus cargo mission will begin after the unmanned resupply vehicle will undock the International Space Station (ISS) after dropping key science supplies.

"Saffire I, II, and III will launch separately in 2016 aboard resupply missions to the ISS. But they will not be unloaded and after the Orbital/ATK Cygnus pulls far away from the space station, the experiments will begin," NASA Glenn said in a YouTube video.

The fire will take place in a box full of "cotton-fiberglass composite" and the data generated from the experiment will be beamed back to Earth before Cygnus starts re-entry.

Instruments on the returning Cygnus will measure flame growth, oxygen use and more.

NASA scientists know that flames can be erratic in space but they don't fully understand their properties and mechanics, Tech Insider reported.

US record-setting astronaut Scott Kelly to retire: NASA

Come March 22 and NASA's commercial partner Orbital ATK will launch its Cygnus spacecraft into orbit atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket for its fifth contracted resupply mission to the International Space Station.

The flight, known as Orbital ATK CRS-6, will deliver investigations to the space station to study fire, meteors, regolith, adhesion, and 3D printing in microgravity.

Results could determine microgravity flammability limits for several spacecraft materials, help to validate NASA's material selection criteria, and help scientists understand how microgravity and limited oxygen affect flame size.

A less heated investigation called "Meteor Composition Determination" will enable the first space-based observations of meteors entering Earth's atmosphere from space.

From grounded to gripping, another investigation launching takes its inspiration from small lizards.

The "Gecko Gripper" investigation tests a gecko-adhesive gripping device that can stick on command in the harsh environment of space.

IANS
'No plans' to send British troops to Libya: UK government

International

oi-PTI

London, Mar 15: Britain has no plans to extend bombing or send troops to Libya, the defence ministry said in a statement today, after a committee of lawmakers said the nation could deploy a force of 1,000.

The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee had said that Britain could be part of a 6,000-strong international force in Libya, which has been riven with unrest since the fall of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon was expected to agree Britain's contribution to the force at a conference in Europe this week, the committee added. But a government spokeswoman said that the Foreign Affairs Committee was "wrong on a number of counts."

"There are no plans to extend airstrikes to Libya nor are there plans to send British troops to provide security on the ground in Libya," the spokeswoman said.

"It is therefore also wrong to suggest the Defence Secretary will agree any UK contribution this week." Western countries have agreed that action is needed to dislodge Islamic State (IS) jihadists from Libya but world powers say they want a national unity government to request help before formally intervening.

On Saturday, Libya's UN-backed unity government said it was taking office despite lacking parliamentary approval, with its US and European allies urging it to move to Tripoli and begin governing.

The allies also warned they would impose sanctions on anyone who acted to "undermine" Libya's political process.

The British committee had said that the interim Libyan Government of National Accord's "likely first formal action will be to request that the UK and its allies conduct airstrikes against ISIL (IS) targets in Libya."

The international force would seek to train the Libyan army and protect the newly-formed government, it said. Libya descended into chaos after the 2011 ouster of Kadhafi allowed extremist organisations, including IS, to gain significant ground.

Italy has agreed to lead a UN-mandated international stabilisation force into its troubled former colony, but the sticking point has been getting credible cover from a national authority.

AFP
For those who think Belur Math blast was just firecrackers: What exactly is a terror attack?

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Oxford professor solves 300-year-old math mystery, awarded

International

oi-PTI

London, Mar 16: An Oxford University professor has won a 500,000 pounds prize for cracking a 300-year-old mystery mathematical theorem described as an "epochal moment" for academics.

Sir Andrew Wiles has been awarded the Abel Prize by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters for his proof of Fermat's Last Theorem, which he published in 1994.

The 62-year-old will pick up the award and a cheque for six million Norwegian Krone (495,000 pounds) from Crown Prince Haakon of Norway in Oslo in May, for an achievement that the academy described as "an epochal moment for mathematics".

"It is a tremendous honour to receive the Abel Prize and to join the previous laureates who have made such outstanding contributions to the field.

"Fermat's equation was my passion from an early age, and solving it gave me an overwhelming sense of fulfilment," Sir Andrew, currently a professor at Oxford University's Mathematical Institute was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

"It has always been my hope that my solution of this age-old problem would inspire many young people to take up mathematics and to work on the many challenges of this beautiful and fascinating subject."

The academy said Sir Andrew was awarded the prize "for his stunning proof of Fermat's Last Theorem by way of the modularity conjecture for semistable elliptic curves, opening a new era in number theory.

Cambridge-born Sir Andrew made his breakthrough while working at Princeton. First formulated by the French mathematician Pierre de Fermat in 1637, the theorem states: There are no whole number solutions to the equation xn + yn = zn when n is greater than 2.

"Wiles' proof was not only the high point of his career - and an epochal moment for mathematics - but also the culmination of a remarkable personal journey that began three decades earlier," the academy said. The Abel Prize was created in 2002 and is named after Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel, who died in 1829.

PTI
Pak court lifts travel ban on Pervez Musharraf

International

oi-PTI

Islamabad, Mar 16: In a relief to Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the government to lift a travel ban on the former military ruler who is facing trial in a number of cases, including for high treason.

The court ruled that there was no legal bar on foreign travel by 72-year-old Musharraf unless he is stopped by the federal government. The court rejected the appeal by the government against a decision by the Sindh High Court which had also ruled that the former president can leave the country.

Musharraf's lawyer Farogh Naseem told media that the government had illegally stopped Musharraf from going abroad.

"As per verdict of Supreme Court, there is no bar on Musharraf to go abroad," he said.

However, he also added that government has authority to stop anyone leaving the country by placing the name on the Exit Control List (ECL). The issue of Musharraf's foreign travel arose when the government launched a high treason case against him in 2013 for suspending the constitution in 2007.

The government in April, 2014 banned Musharraf's foreign travels but the Sindh High Court in Karachi rejected the ban in a decision in June, 2014, which was challenged by the government in the Supreme Court.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali today upheld a Sindh High Court (SHC) decision, allowing Musharraf to travel abroad.

The bench also disposed off Musharraf's application seeking one-time permission to proceed abroad for medical treatment on grounds that the petition was now infructuous.

The court turned down the plea of Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt for rejection of the Sindh High Court decision. However, the apex court did not stop the government or the special court trying the former president for high treason from placing his name on the ECL, which lists names of people not allowed to leave the country.

The high treason case deals with suspension of the Constitution by Musharraf in 2007 which has been declared under Article 6 as being punishable by death. He was indicted in April, 2014 but since then no progress has been made in the case for various reasons.

In January, Musharraf was acquitted by an anti-terrorism court in the 2006 murder case of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, the first major relief to the ex-army chief entangled in several high-profile cases. He came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999, deposing then prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Facing impeachment following elections in 2008, Musharraf was forced to resign as president and went into self-imposed exile in Dubai. He is facing a slew of court cases after returning from five years in self-exile in Dubai to contest the general election in 2013 which he lost.

PTI
The joy of our lives: Sushma Swaraj's husband warm birthday wishes for late leader

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Sushma Swaraj, Sartaj Aziz meeting fixed for Thursday evening

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Pokhara, March 16: The most anticipated meeting between India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Sartaj Aziz, foreign relations adviser to the Pakistani prime minister, has been fixed for Thursday evening, Indian and Nepali diplomats said on Wednesday.

The two leaders arrived in Pokhara on Wednesday to attend the 37th meeting of the Saarc Council of Ministers.

The positive tone for the meeting was set on Tuesday during the dinner hosted by Nepal's Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi where the Indian and Pakistani foreign secretaries rubbed shoulders and held informal talks, said officials privy to the dinner.

The prospect of the meeting between Sushma Swaraj and Aziz grew further after they met during a reception hosted by Nepal's Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa on Wednesday evening.

"What I can confirm is that the meeting between Sushma and Aziz has been fixed in Hotel Grand on Thursday evening," said one Indian diplomat.

That meeting would take place once the ministerial meeting is over, he added.

After the ministerial meeting, the visiting foreign ministers and senior officials will leave for sightseeing. They will then return to the hotel and sit for talks.

IANS
Sting operation: Not every TMC MP happy with party's position

Kolkata

oi-Shubham

New Delhi, March 16: Two Members of Parliament (MPs) of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Sugata Bose and Dinesh Trivedi on Tuesday reportedly boycotted the party's protest agenda outside Parliament.



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Reason: They believe the party's image has been hurt by the Narada sting operation showed a number of leaders and ministers of the party 'accepting' bribes.

According to a report published in Bengali daily Anandabazar Patrika, the two parliamentarians expressed their dissatisfaction at a meeting of the party's MPs from both Houses and they were not seen at the TMC's protest over issues like Aadhar Card and public service near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Parliament premises. Another MP Moon Moon Sen also spoke to the MPs at the meeting, reports said.

However, the TMC MPs who gathered for the protest soon turned the occasion into a political one and attacked the Opposition in sharp terms. The Opposition said the party has been so rattled that it is using a national podium to retaliate against the charges.

Why party not clearing stand, wonder some MPs

Another report said some TMC MPs were surprised that the party was not clearing the air on the Narada sting operation, particulary when this episode has put its biggest capital---honesty---under a serious threat.

The discomfort in the TMC camp could be felt after party supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gave a clean chit to her party's honesty but did not challenge the content of the footage.

It was also said that the TMC's retaliation against the source of the funds for the operation suggested that it was validating the claim that the operation had indeed taken place.

Oneindia News
Dhanteras 2022: How much gold can you buy from Dubai

Indian-Americans back Donald Trump as US president

New Delhi

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, March 16: Indian-Americans' political preferences seem to be shifting in favour of the Republican Party, particularly Donald Trump, its front runner for the White House.



Marco Rubio pulls out of GOP race" title="Complete list of American presidential election primaries/caucuses schedules and results

Marco Rubio pulls out of GOP race" />Complete list of American presidential election primaries/caucuses schedules and results

Marco Rubio pulls out of GOP race

US magazine says Modi among top leaders to benefit from Trump Presidency

According to social media trends, the US's third largest ethnic group is overwhelmingly supporting Trump -- a billionaire real estate businessman-turned-politician who has courted many controversies ever since he jumped into the fray.

Indians in the US have traditionally been the vote bank for the Democrats. According to a study, as many as 65% of Indian-Americans leaned towards Democrats, making them the Asian-American subgroup most likely to identify with the party.

But this time there has been a shift, arguably for the first time in the American electoral history.

Several groups of Indian-Americans, a majority of them Hindus, have taken the social media route to voice their support for Trump. As the 2016 presidential election draws closer, various online communities and pages have come up in support of the realtor.

One such page on Facebook is "Hindus For Trump". With around 750 "likes", the page in its description says: "American Hindus are model citizens, educated and industrious. We want a responsible nation where Americans are both safe and free."

The page portrays Trump as Hindu god Vishnu, making him seated on what looks like a lotus with "Om" written at its centre.

There is also a Political Action Committee (PAC), formed by leading Indian American businessmen to pool in support and contribution for an effective presidential campaign of Trump. PAC is a type of organisation that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaign for or against candidates or legislations.

Indian-Americans For Trump 2016, one of the PACs supporting Trump, is formed by the members of the American-Hindu community, including Sudhir Parikh, who is the advisory chair for the organisation.

Parikh is the owner of Parikh World Media, an umbrella corporation which houses news outlets influential among Hindus such as Desi Talk, the Indian American and the Gujarat Times.

However, this is not the first presidential endorsement by Hindus for Trump. The world renowned and cross-sectional Indian American Intellectuals Forum (IAIF) endorsed him for the White House in August 2015 in its widely-circulated "India World Geopolitics" newspaper.

Although there has been a massive support for Trump from the Hindu community, a fraction of people from the Muslim community also seems to be supporting him, undeterred by his controversial remarks against the community.

Trump in one of his addresses said that "Islam hates us" and asserted that those having hatred against the US be denied entry into the country. He also called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the US "until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on".

The Republican has also made scathing remarks against the immigrants in his addresses.

Indian-Americans are among the most highly educated racial or ethnic groups in the US, according to a Pew Research Centre study.

According to the study, Hindus make for 51% of 3.2 million Indian-Americans, while Christians and Muslims comprise of 18 and 10% respectively.

IANS
Sky News 21 Oct 2022

Rishi Sunak supporters are claiming that he has the votes to progress to the next stage of the Conservative leadership contest.
Technology and healthcare have always gone hand in hand, and with the health of the world in crisis at the moment through the
Douglas Costa has admitted Juventus stars had doubts about Cristiano Ronaldo before his switch to Italy but conceded he won everyone over very quickly at the club.

The 34-year-old has proved a hit since joining the Old Lady in a 99m transfer last summer after nine trophy-laden years at Real Madrid.

The Portuguese star recently fired the Serie A holders into the Champions League last eight with his eighth European hat-trick in the 3-0 win against Athletico Madrid.

Despite rumours Ronaldos move would unsettle things in Turin, the five-time Ballon dOr winner has netted 24 goals in all competitions in his first season with Juve.

Speaking to YouTube channel De Sola, Costa said: Believe it or not but when Cristiano Ronaldos arrival was being talked about, I asked what will the dressing room be like?

We all have to love each other as team-mates because were all looking for a place in the team  but Cristiano won everyone over very quickly.

Hes a simple, hardworking guy who likes to win. Juventus were looking for a player with his mentality, so hes given us a lot.

When he arrived. I thought the best player in the world has joined, right?. As soon as he arrived, the club improved in every aspect. His contribution has been noticeable.

He scores goals every week, hes brought more fans to the stadium and we hope to win things with him so we make history with him by our side.

Hes a stand-up guy, hes hard-working and hes always with us.

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A picture showing some women holding canes during a church service  has been making the rounds on the internet for obvious reason.

According to a Facebook user who shared the photo, the female congregants were asked to bring canes to the church to flog their spiritual husbands believed to be responsible for them not getting married and also causing problems in marriages.

The photo has sparked mixed reactions from Nigerians, with some internet users criticizing the church members for trying to flog the devil with canes while others have urged the women to continue in their faith while fighting the spiritual battle.

Share this:
A young and notorious criminal who is said to have been terrorizing Umudioga community 
About two months ago, Sarz released his first-ever body of work, Sarz Is Not Your Mate (SINYM)  an impressive, six-track instrumental tape, which found the gifted producer showing off his oft-praised versatility.

Now, he released an energetic, star-studded video for one of the projects standout tracks, Good Morning Riddim.

Against a flawlessly produced afro-house beat, the lyrics Good morning, my neighbour/How are you doing?/Are you feeling ok? are repeated throughout the song, ensuring that it very quickly gets stuck in any listeners head.

For the video, Sarz enlists a bunch of his celebrity friends, including Niniola, Wizkid, Seyi Shay and more. The video definitely makes the song even more exciting, as you spend most of its runtime trying to guess which star is going to turn up next.

Watch the video right here:

[embedded content]
Sharon Ojong

Sharon Ojong, a Nigerian media mogul took to Instagram to narrate how she escaped death after taking drink spiked by a potential rapist at a house-warming party in Lagos.

According to the media personality, the past 48 hours has been long and restless with the drug in her system.

Sharon Ojong who escaped death after taking the drink spiked by the potential r*pist, disclosed that the suspect is blatantly lying instead of owning up or apologizing for attempting to kill or rape her.

She wrote as she shared her video;

Im so grateful to God for being with me as well as having a proactive friend who was with me and got me out of there ASAP. Although Ive spoken to medical professionals and taken what I needed to get the acid and ingredients out of my system, the past 48hrs have been long and restless with the drug in my system. I feel extremely disparaged. For a second, i feared speaking out will attract ill-mannered and uncouth comments but he chose the wrong woman. I refuse to be discouraged and silent.___Over two hundred women are being raped daily, with less than a hundred reporting to the police. Very few of these cases will be investigated, prosecuted, and no more than ten will result in a conviction and lenient sentence (with most perpetrators end up serving half their sentence). Most times nothing else has been done to pursue the investigation simply because victims cant provide any information to take this investigation further. But thank God for social media, this type of men need to be shamed!!!___P/S  For legal reasons, this post was taken down for more investigation. But back up now because I have never doubted my instincts and my suspect is blatantly lying instead of owning up and apologizing for attempting to kill or r*pe me

Watch her video below;
Beaming: Cristiano Ronaldo appeared in great spirits as he attended the opening of his

Cristiano Ronaldo and his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez appeared in great spirits as they attended the opening of his new hair transplant clinic, Insparya, in Madrid, Spain, on Monday morning.

The Juventus ace, 34, opted for a suave display as he rocked a slick white shirt and distressed indigo jeans to promote his exciting new business venture.

Family first: The Juventus ace, 34, was in good company as he was joined by his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez, 25

Cutting a stylish figure, model Georgina, 25, stunned in a sleek white blouse as she made a supportive appearance at the event.

The yummy mummy ensured she didnt let the hunky sportsman down in the style stakes as she complemented her ensemble with clingy leggings and edgy thigh-high leather boots by Christian Louboutin.

Catching the eye, Georgina accessorised with sparkly dangle earrings and swept her dark locks into a chic bun.

In a snap posted to Georginas Instagram account, the footballer appeared pensive as he joined a panel to discuss his hair clinic, which will be managed by his girlfriend.

Previously speaking about his new venture, Cristiano told Spanish paper ABC: Madrid is the city which made a mark on my life forever from a professional and emotional point of view.

I developed an important part of my career there and its also where I built my family. I like to support entrepreneurial projects with solid features to spread the best of what we have in Portugal throughout the world.

When I think its necessary [to have a transplant], of course Ill do it. Ones image is an essential tool for being successful. For me its fundamental.

New clinic Isparya, which is said to be the largest in Spain, offers hair, beard and eyebrow transplants.

***
Gbenga Daniel

Gbenga Daniel, Director General of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and from active politics on Saturday, citing a number of reasons.

In a letter dated March 14, 2019, and addressed to the National Chairman of the party, the former Governor of Ogun State noted that the decision is personal and that he decided to take on new challenges.

He also said he had decided to rejuvenate his charity-based organisation, the Gateway Front Foundation (GFF), and that he wanted to resuscitate the non-partisan Political Leadership Academy (POLA), which was established some years ago as a platform of political education to our citizens.

Daniel indeed made a feeble attempt at revealing the real motivation for his exit when he stated in the fifth and sixth paragraphs of his resignation letter thus: Notwithstanding these widely acclaimed achievements however, our party, the Peoples Democratic Party ran into trouble waters towards the end of our administration (about the year 2009) which led to the sad loss in the election of 2011, and regrettably ten (10) years after the party has been unable to resolve those internal disputes and challenges.

Meanwhile, the PDP in Ogun State was confronted with a very difficult situation in matter of choice. Whereas the national leadership of our party, recognized one candidate for the 2019 election, by court pronouncements another candidate, and in compliance with those court orders, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognized was on the INEC list. The candidates recognized by INEC were not acceptable to the national leadership of the party. Our situation was then compounded because the candidate which the court and INEC recognized and accepted as valid has also been expelled by the party. This was the dilemma we found ourselves as we approached the March 9, 2019 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

But SaharaReporters understands the issues run deeper than that.

Daniels Chairmanship Interest

These two exclude the straw that broke the camels back, which is his sidelining by the PDP from the moment he helped Atiku Abubakar secure the presidential ticket of the party  an action he considers not just an affront on himself but a continuation of the partys long-running disdain for the South-West. The story of Daniels emergence as Atikus campaign driector is itself steeped in his interest in the national chairmanship of the party, an ambition he ultimately failed to realise.

Gbenga Daniel contested the national chairmanship of the party in 2017, a source at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, who asked not to be named, told Saharareporters.

Then, everyone agreed, according to the Wike-Ekweremadu report, that the National Chairman should go to the South-West. But Wike, with his overbearing attitude, was everywhere blasting the South-West leadership that they wanted to reap where they did not sow; and in the end, the ticket was taken away from the South-West and taken to the South-South.

Seeing that the PDPs power brokers, spearheaded by Nyesom Wike, the major financier of the party, were bent on making a south-southerner the National Chairman, Daniel was forced for withdraw from the race.

Other politicians from the South-West who also withdrew are Rashidi ladoja, former Oyo State Governor; Jimi Agbaje, perennial Lagos State governorship aspirant; Aderemi Olusegun, an Ekiti State politician; and Bode George, former National Vice Chairman (South-West) of the party, who was very critical of the party.

The zoning principle, which was publicly reinforced last year in Port Harcourt, had specifically and rightly affirmed the South-West as the zone to produce the National Chairman. This binding proclamation was based on equity, fairness and natural balance that hold any organisation together, George said while announcing his withdrawal.

It appears the PDP is now bent on self-destruction. It has obviously allowed money moguls to dictate its thematic largeness. The party has lost its soul. It has lost its principled beginning and the predications of righteousness. It has traded the finer principles of democratic guidance and equity for the squalid, dirty and shameful resort to mercenary agenda where nothing matters save the putrid, oafish gains of the moment.

I cannot be part of this screaming aberration. And as the Atona of Yoruba land, I do not expect any well-meaning, well-disciplined, forthright, sincere Omoluabi of Yoruba land to continue with this deceit and shameful theater.

The Peoples Democratic Party has now mangled and distorted its soul and spirit. There is no morality here anymore. There is no sanity or any sense of enlightened civility. I, hereby, withdraw from this brazen fraud and absolutely preconceived, monetised, mercantilist convention.

Uche Secondus  one of only two south-southerners who showed interested in the race in contrast to seven from the South-West  eventually became National Chairman in December 2017. Raymond Dokepsei from the South-South and professors Taoheed Adedoja and Tunde Adeniran from the South-West were his only three opponents, after all others withdrew.

Removal From Atiku Campaign

Not long after that, Atiku, who was running for the PDP presidential ticket, approached Daniel and made him the Director-General of his campaign.

The entire PDP leadership also stood up against him, the Wikes of this world, the Fayoses of this world. And I can tell you that for the campaign, he spent most of the personal money because Atiku didnt spend as much as he spent on past primaries. Daniel wanted to prove a p0int as well, so he spent his money, said the source.

Now, Atiku won the ticket in Port Harcourt, against all odds and the gameplans of Wike. Goodluck Jonathan told Atiku in confidence that, having been a victim of it, Atiku should retain the structure that won him the ticket of the party  because if he gives in to the pressure of the party, they would end up milking him; and instead of concentrating on the campaign, they would concentrate on making money from him.

But what did they do? After he won the primary, they shove Daniel aside and brought Bukola Saraki from the North-Central. This is one of the anti-South-West sentiment going on in the PDP.

The Obasanjo-Kashamu, Kashamu-Adebutu Tussle

Since 2009, when Daniel was still Ogun State Governor, PDP has been in crisis, a part of which was the war between Ogun East Senator Buruji Kashamu and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Instead of the national exco to look for a way to resolve it, they turned it into a cash cow and started collecting money from both sides, a member of the PDP in Ogun told SaharaRepporters.

They did that till even 215 as well, when Jonathan was in government. Adamu Muazu was also collecting money from Buruji to give him the exco of the party. In 2019, it was Ladi they turned to, and they were collecting money from him; Ladi paid them to actually expel Buruji Kashamu from the party, so it was not really because they thought Buruji had violated the rules of the party. Thats just one of the PDP issues.

After the recent judgements that favoured Kashamu, it has become clear that the tussle will not end anytime soon.

Part of the judgement Kashamu got from the court is that after the tenure of this present exco ends in 2020, that exco, since it has now been legitimised, has the right to conduct a congress that will produce the next exco, which means it is either they remain in power or they make sure to bring on an exco that is loyal to Kashamu.

Therefore, Daniel, who is on Adebutus side, sees no place for himself in Ogun politics, especially with the party also factionalised. Adebutu has become a friend of Amosun, further depleting the PDPs rank.

On Sunday, Daniel held a meeting with his political family, who are now pressuring him to join to the All Progressives Congress (APC). That was a day after Dapo Abiodun, the Ogun State governor-elect, met with him at his home in Maryland, Lagos.

Daniel hasnt decided yet whether to join the APC.
It has been reported that another building has collapsed in Lagos, causing serious chaos in the area.

Local reports show that the building located at No 57, Egerton square in Alakoro area, Lagos Island, collapsed in Monday, 18th March 2019.

It was gathered that many people are still trapped in the rubble as rescue mission by residents and sympathizers start to pour in to help.

Below is a video from the scene of the incident:
Cross River stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have called for the cancellation and a re-run of the February 23 and March 9 Governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections in the state.

Hilliard Eta, APC South-South National Vice Chairman, made the call on Monday in Abuja while speaking with journalists on the outcome of the elections.

Mr Eta described the elections that were conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a sham and would not stand the test of time.

The National Assembly, Governorship and State Assembly elections organised by INEC in Cross River on Feb. 23 and March 9, are a sham.

The elections cannot stand the test of time; the contest was not just between the APC candidates on one hand and the candidates of other parties that participated in the exercise on the other hand.

The contest was between the APC candidates on one hand and the ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), INEC, and the state security forces on the other, he said.

(NAN)


Bill and Hillary Clinton

(Image by TheLipTV, Channel: TheLipTV) Details DMCA



Many Americans see the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as our ultimate line of defense. Some view it as an American puppet. Both takes need serious rethinking. NATO and its implicit ties to the European Union (EU) have come to pose an unexpected threat to the United States, and nowhere more dramatically than in Bill and Hillary Clinton's interventions in the Balkans and Ukraine and her unending push for military action, especially in Libya.

"I know the United States has taken some actions against terrorists inside Libya, particularly ISIS training camps," Hillary told CNN on February 23, "and I support that."

These actions are open and covert preparations for an allied war in Libya, as I reported last week, drawing on French media. Hillary may not have known the full story when she talked to CNN. But given her experience, contacts, and leading role in promoting the first Libyan war, she certainly knows what's coming.

NATO's place in all this has been less clear, reflecting how far the alliance has evolved. At the start in 1949, its first secretary general, Lord Ismay, famously quipped that its purpose was to "keep the Germans down, the Russians out, and the Americans in." The fall of the Berlin Wall four decades later, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the epic transition from the Common Market to the European Union have made the uses of NATO more complex, less predictable, and potentially more dangerous. The resulting rat's nest will cause grief no matter who becomes the next US president.

German chancellor Helmut Kohl and President George H.W. Bush opened the door to danger when they hoodwinked Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, into believing that they would not expand NATO to the east. Bill Clinton then led NATO to bring in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania. This put the world's most powerful military alliance right on Russia's doorstep, feeding a real, if historically overblown, sense of victimhood that Vladimir Putin puts at the heart of his national narrative.

"The policy of containment was not invented yesterday," he declared in his State of the Nation speech at the end of 2014. "It has been carried out against our country for many years, always, for decades, if not centuries. In short, whenever someone thinks that Russia has become too strong or independent, these tools are quickly put to use."

Without question, the proximity of a nuclear-armed NATO has provoked Russia to respond. But Putin has chosen the responses to make, whether preaching an increasingly right-wing Christian nationalism, "the historical reunification of Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia," massing his troops and little green men to back armed conflict in Ukraine, making nuclear threats, or funding Marine Le Pen and her father Jean-Marie here in France and reportedly the right-wing, anti-immigrant AfD in Germany.

NATO's expansion has also encouraged Eastern European nations -- even those not formally members of the alliance, such as Georgia -- to bait the Russian bear, foolishly expecting the United States and its allies will come to their aid.

The Balkan Express

Besides pushing NATO beyond its original theater of operations, presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton joined with Germany to redefine NATO's mission, most dramatically in the former Yugoslavia. As early as 1992, NATO began playing a small role in conjunction with United Nations peacekeepers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Clinton then pushed for a massive intervention after the July 1995 massacre in the village of Srebrenica, in which Bosnian Serbs rounded up and killed some 8,000 Muslims.

If ever a massive bloodletting cried out for international intervention, Srebrenica seemed the perfect case. But, as so often happens in supposedly humanitarian acts of war, Bill Clinton and his top foreign policy advisers had a much larger agenda and a truly imperial vision.

Richard Holbrooke, a one-time managing director of Lehman Brothers who became ambassador to Germany and assistant secretary of state, saw an expanded NATO as central to preserving American leadership throughout a stable, unified Europe, which would embrace democracy, Western values, and "free-market economies." Chancellor Kohl, French president Mitterrand, and their allies were just creating a newly strengthened European Union, and would -- with the Clinton administration's encouragement -- turn it into a bastion of neo-liberal economics.

Strobe Talbott, Clinton's deputy secretary of state, saw an expanded NATO primarily in terms of exercising hegemony over a weakened and pliable Russia. Now president of the Brookings Institution, he remains a friend and advisor to the Clintons.

Zbigniew Brzezinski, the grand old man of the Democratic foreign policy establishment, saw a much bigger goal in the control of Eurasia and its vast oil and gas reserves. "NATO entrenches American political influence and military power on the Eurasian mainland," he wrote in The Grand Chessboard. "A wider Europe and an enlarged NATO will serve the short-term and longer-term interests of U.S. policy."

Only a few savvy outsiders saw at the time the vast scope of these ambitions, which extended beyond Western Europe, beyond the EU, beyond Russia, and into the regions once controlled by the Ottoman Turks. In pushing NATO into Bosnia, the Clinton administration was looking to make the United States "the leader of an informal collection of Muslim nations from the Persian Gulf to the Balkans," wrote Jacob Heilbrun and Michael Lind in The New York Times in January 1996. "The disintegration of the Soviet Union has prompted the United States to expand its zone of military hegemony into Eastern Europe (through NATO) and into formerly neutral Yugoslavia. And -- most important of all -- the end of the Cold war has permitted America to deepen its involvement in the Middle East."
Reprinted from Paul Craig Roberts Website

A decade or more ago Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld claimed, as part of the "scare Americans to death about terrorism" strategy, that the prisoners in Washington's Guantanamo prison are "the most dangerous, best-trained, vicious killers on the face of the earth." Rumsfeld's erroneous claim was endlessly repeated by the presstitutes and swallowed whole by the gullible American and European public.

Nothing could have been further from the truth. At the time, I pointed out that in fact the prisoners were innocents captured by warlords in response to Washington's offer of a bounty for terrorists and sold to the US for money. The prisoners consisted of aide workers, traveling salesmen, and any unprotected people that warlords happened upon. Washington needed "terrorist prisoners" in order to cloak its massive war crime.



I was correct, not Rumsfeld. After many years of torture and brutal treatment, and despite attempted kangaroo court military trials, almost every single prisoner, about 700 males, turned out to be innocent and had to be released without charges after losing a decade or more of their lives to being tortured by the Americans.

The US government has a long record of shameful behavior, and the 14-year-long torture of fake "terrorists" in Guantanamo defines the inhumane character of the US government and its presstitutes, people devoid of integrity and insensitive to justice. It also shows that the US government has no difficulty in finding a sufficient number of psychopaths in the US military, CIA, and among academic psychologists to do its dirty work in its torture dungeons.
It was, recall, Russia's earlier lightning-fast air operation in Syria at the end of last year that has led to the current diplomatic track -- a track that Washington and its allies have had to belatedly conform to. Now this latest move by Russia serves to reinforce the diplomatic track, and once again it has sent Western counterparts into a tailspin.

In announcing military drawdown, Putin made it clear that it was "mission accomplished" in Syria, and that henceforth it is time for diplomacy and peace talks to take over -- or at least have a chance. Moscow's assessment was that its military objectives had been fulfilled. And it's hard to disagree .

Even Western media acknowledge that Russia's nearly six-month air operation had "inverted the course of the conflict," as the Washington Post put it this week.

Of course, what the Western media conveniently omit is that Russia secured the Syrian state from collapse in the face of a criminal foreign-backed insurgency fomented by the US government for the purpose of regime change.

Russia's air power has, however, enabled Syria to now pursue a solid political path towards a peaceful settlement of the five-year war.

Put it another way, without Russia's support, the Geneva talks this week would simply not be happening. No doubt the war would be grinding on into its sixth year with horrendous human suffering. Because, despite Western lies and distortions, the fact is that Washington and its allies were fueling a criminal covert war for regime change -- until, that is, Putin stepped in and overturned that execrable game.

The latest move by Putin to scale-back military force in Syria makes sense. The Syrian state and its institutions have been stabilized and the Geneva process is underpinned by the central principle of Syrian sovereignty as the ultimate determinant of the country's political future. The stage is set for dialogue. Whether or not that succeeds is another question.

Putin's announcement this week of military withdrawal reportedly blindsided Obama and other Western leaders. As befitting an independent major power, Moscow took the decision based on its own private assessment of the circumstances, without consulting Washington -- although Putin did reportedly confer with his Syrian ally on the decision.



Moscow's reasoning would be too objective and professional to be driven by petty politics. Nonetheless, there is an apposite putdown of Washington in the way that Putin did not inform Obama of the military pullout. Why should he anyway? What is Washington, but a lawless source of conflict and hubris. Russia makes its own mind up and acts accordingly.

Western governments were left "startled" by Putin's latest move, according to the Guardian.

And not being up to speed with Moscow's initiative, Western diplomats and media cavorted with catch-up by ruminating on vain speculations to make sense of it all.

Initially, it was reported that Russia was not serious about the announced military pullout, implying that it was an underhand "ruse."

Then it was speculated, with unseemly haste, that the Russian initiative indicated a "rift" between Moscow and its ally in Damascus. That notion was allegedly due to statements made last weekend by the Syrian government that it would not accept preconditions at negotiations in Geneva, in particular the demand by the US-backed Saudi opposition group for President Assad to stand down.

The Syrian government's position of rejecting preconditions is in fact consistent with Russia's position, which in turn complies with United Nations Resolution 2254 mandating the Geneva diplomatic process. The fate of Assad or the presidency is for the Syrian nation to decide alone, at some future date, without external interference.



Another line of vain speculation was that Putin's announced military pullout was as a result of pressure from Washington.

As the Washington Post, rather fancifully, opines: "Late last week, the [Obama] administration decided to publicly accuse Moscow of failing to rein in Assad, leading to a string of comments by officials including Secretary of State John F Kerry, who on Sunday called on Putin to take control of Russia's Syrian ally."
Reprinted from www.fairvote.org



Donald Trump

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Super Tuesday has come and gone, but headlines about Donald Trump's dominance would have been very different if the elections had been conducted under instant runoff voting, the single winner form of ranked choice voting. In fact, in head-to-head matchups with his strongest competitor, it is quite possible that Trump would have lost nine of eleven Super Tuesday states, along with the critically important Feb. 20th South Carolina primary. Instead, Trump has taken a commanding lead in the race for the nomination by winning pluralities in seven Super Tuesday states and a clean sweep of South Carolina's 50 delegates with less than a third of the vote.

By only allowing voters to select their first choice candidate, typical American elections do not accurately capture the complexity of voter opinion in a multi-candidate race. This shortcoming is particularly salient in this year's Republican presidential contest, as support from the majority of GOP voters that oppose Trump is divided among several challengers led by Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio and Governor John Kasich.

If Super Tuesday contests had been conducted with ranked choice voting -- a proven system that empowers voters to rank candidates by preference in order to elect the candidate with the strongest support and the one most likely to garner the support of a majority -- the results would look very different. Our models suggest that Trump would have won Alabama and Massachusetts, competed in toss-up races in Tennessee and Vermont, and lost the remaining seven states.

To model RCV elections based on the Super Tuesday results, we averaged two Public Policy Polling (PPP) poll datasets from North Carolina and South Carolina that ask respondents about hypothetical matchups between candidates. These questions specifically included candidate preference among the entire field, among the frontrunner three-way race (Cruz, Rubio, and Trump), and respective head to head matchups. By measuring the average change in voter preference for each candidate when other specific candidates are eliminated (and ignoring undecided voters, although evidence suggests that most would have broken against Trump), we were able to estimate the second and third preferences for each candidate's supporters. This distribution is then applied to the actual Super Tuesday results in each state, using the election results as the first round starting point for each simulation. Our data and model can be reviewed at this spreadsheet.

To provide a concrete example, the following interactive graphic illustrates our simulated RCV election in Georgia:



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Though Trump led the GOP field in Georgia with 38.8% of the vote on Super Tuesday, his support increases only incrementally in subsequent rounds of our simulated RCV election because large majorities of the supporters of other candidates likely would have prefered Cruz and Rubio. Ultimately, Rubio edges Trump 51% to 49% in the final instant runoff round of our simulation, despite Trump's fourteen point advantage in the initial round -- echoing our findings last week about Trump typically trailing in head-to-head polls and our YouGov/College of William and Mary poll.

Similar outcomes are modeled in the other Super Tuesday southern states, with each election becoming significantly closer when using RCV. Virginia, similar to Georgia, goes to a head to head matchup between Trump and Rubio, where the latter easily wins by more than 10 percentage points. Cruz decisively beats Trump in Arkansas by nearly 10 percentage points under RCV, despite trailing in the first round.

In the case of Alabama, Trump's vote share of 22% in the first round lead creates enough of a cushion to still win with RCV. In Tennessee, however, it would have been a toss-up, with Rubio and Cruz in a dead heat for second place once the field goes down to three, and then Rubio defeating Trump one-on-one and Cruz potentially doing so if undecided voters had broken his way. Outside the South, Trump would have easily carried Massachusetts, but Kasich would have seriously contended in Vermont where Trump led by merely 3 percentage points, 33% to 30%, in the actual vote.

Notably, there is no consistent beneficiary under RCV; rather, the Republican Party clearly has yet to settle on and coalesce around an alternative candidate. Our hypothetical for Super Tuesday shows Trump winning two states (Alabama and Massachusetts), Cruz winning four state (Alaska, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas), and Rubio winning three states (Georgia, Minnesota and Virginia) -- with Kasich having a real chance in Vermont and Tennessee too close to call.

These divided results provide further evidence that Republicans are facing a complicated and challenging nomination process no matter the voting system. Nonetheless, RCV would encourage candidates to find common ground with other candidates' supporters instead of waging scorched-earth, overly-negative campaigns that define politics today. As FairVote's primary focus series pointed out last week, RCV would almost certainly result in campaigns that are more civil and substantive based on findings from Rutgers-Eagleton Poll surveying seven cities using RCV in 2013-2014.

All of the Super Tuesday states utilize a form of proportional delegate allocation, where determining the singular winner is less important for delegate counts and more important for commanding media attention and providing campaign momentum. But all one has to do is watch Trump's Super Tuesday speech from to observe these phenomena in action, as his Super Tuesday victories were seen as a strong affirmation of his status as the frontrunner. For these proportional states, FairVote recommends eliminating candidates from the bottom up until all remaining candidates are above the threshold to win delegates, a change that would have put Rubio over the 20% threshold in Texas this past week.

Looking forward to winner-take-all states like the primaries in Ohio and Florida on March 15th, RCV would be fundamental to ensuring the winning candidate is actually the candidate with the most support. For example, looking back to South Carolina, we find that in an RCV election those fifty delegates would likely have gone to Rubio instead of Trump, with Rubio winning by nearly nine percentage points in the final round.

In our current primary system, attention and momentum is often misdirected. Ranked choice voting would accurately measure the second and third choice support of GOP voters to truly reveal the energy behind each candidate and ultimately nominate the candidate who best reflects majority opinion within the party.

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Duluth, Minnesota (OpEdNews) March 15, 2016: Out of ancient Greek culture, the prophet/philosopher Socrates emerged. In Athens during the experiment in limited participatory democracy, he made a big impression on impressionable young men such as Plato. Tragically, Socrates was brought to trial on trumped up charges, found guilty, and executed. His grief-stricken follower Plato memorialized him as the fictional character named Socrates in his artfully written dialogues.

It has famously been said that all of Western philosophy is a series of footnotes to Plato. Over the centuries, footnotes to Plato have been written by secularists, Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

Our American experiment in representative democracy emerged out of the philosophical thought of the Enlightenment (also known as the Age of Reason). As a result, figuratively speaking, we Americans are living footnotes to Plato, including those Americans who have not cultivated a philosophical mind. But in American culture today, we still have a certain number of professors of philosophy in academia who try to make a big impression on impressionable young men and women enticing them to cultivate the philosophical mind.

But a few centuries after the prophet/philosopher Socrates' tragic death in Athens, a religious prophet named Jesus of Nazareth emerged out of the matrix of the ancient Hebrew religious culture that is now memorialized in the Hebrew Bible. In Jerusalem at the time of the festival of the Passover one year, something happened involving Jesus. As a result, he was brought before the local authorities of the Roman Empire on trumped up charges, found guilty, and executed by crucifixion, as Paula Fredriksen explains in her book Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews: A Jewish Life and the Emergence of Christianity (Knopf, 1999). But his grief-stricken followers memorialized his life and tragic death by constructing the greatest story ever told with Jesus portrayed as the long-awaited Messiah (also known as the Christ). In American culture today, we still have a certain number of Christians.

Historically in American culture, the tradition of freedom of religion (i.e., no established church) emerged in our experiment with representative democracy, alongside the tradition of free speech (i.e., free political speech) and the tradition of separating church and state.

But political speech involves articulating and expressing political values.

But where do our political values in American culture come from? Do the political values expressed in our founding documents (the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and its Amendments) express the grand total of our political values?

But doesn't our practice of occasionally voting in new amendments show that as our American culture continues along its evolutionary trajectory we tend to articulate and express evolving new political values?

But does our American tradition of separating church and state mean that only political values emerging from our American state's official documents, including of course the various amendments, should be discussed in the so-called public square?

This brings me to the American Catholic law professor M. Cathleen Kaveny's new book Prophecy without Contempt: Religious Discourse in the Public Square (Harvard University Press, 2016). It is ironic that her new book came out at a time when Donald J. Trump is the front-runner for the Republican Party's presidential nomination in 2016.

Kaveny is the Darald and Juliet Libby Professor at Boston College, a Jesuit university, a position which allows her to teach in both the department of theology and the law school. She did her undergraduate studies at Princeton University and graduated summa cum laude (1984). She holds four advanced degrees from Yale University: M.A., M.Phil., J.D., and Ph.D. In her 1991 doctoral dissertation she focused on the theme of the common good. Her prestige education qualifies her to try to make her mark in life in the prestige culture in American culture. Her educational credentials also contribute to her ethos appeal.

Having her book published by Harvard University Press is prestigious and contributes to her ethos appeal. Because of the prestige of Princeton, Yale, and Harvard universities in American culture today, perhaps I should explain here that each of these universities has a school of divinity, but it may not be in good odor with certain anti-religion secularists in other university units.

In the present essay, my pathos appeal involves the frustration and understandable anger that progressives and liberals feel about the obstructionist tactic of anti-60s radical conservatives in the Congress and in the Republican Party. In certain respects this pathos appeal is similar to Kaveny's pathos appeal in her new book.

As progressives and liberals may know, in the book The Theocons: Secular America under Siege (Doubleday, 2006), Damon Linker delineates how radical conservative American Catholics have conspired in recent decades to bring their anti-abortion religious zealotry and other rash religious views to greater prominence in American culture.

In the book Decade of Nightmares: The End of the Sixties and the Making of Eighties America (Oxford University Press, 2006), Philip Jenkins details how the 1973 Roe v. Wade was, for rhetorical purposes, subsumed under anti-60s rhetoric to promote radical conservative candidates and issues in the Republican Party.

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Reprinted from Reader Supported News

The Washington Post reported last week that the National Security Agency soon would begin providing local law enforcement with data on American citizens intercepted without probable cause and without a warrant. This data has nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism. It apparently will be used mostly in drug cases, although it could conceivably be used against any American for any reason.

Most Americans shrugged their shoulders when the news became public. But the Massachusetts ACLU published a blog post that tried to explain why this is so important and so dangerous to our civil liberties.

The ACLU said:

"Domestic law enforcement officials now have access to huge troves of American communications, obtained without warrants, that they can use to put people in cages. FBI agents don't need to have any 'national security' reason to plug your name, email address, phone number, or other 'selector' into the NSA's gargantuan data trove. They can simply poke around in your private information in the course of totally routine investigations. And if they find something that suggests, say, involvement in illegal drug activity, they can send that information to local or state police. That means information the NSA collects for purposes of so-called 'national security' will be used by police to lock up ordinary Americans for routine crimes. And we don't have to guess who's going to suffer this unconstitutional indignity the most brutally. It'll be Black, Brown, poor, immigrant, Muslim, and dissident Americans: the same people who are always targeted by law enforcement for extra 'special' attention."

Until recently, according to the New York Times, NSA analysts "filtered" the information before providing it to other governmental entities. The NSA would mask the names and any irrelevant information about innocent Americans before passing the information to the CIA, the FBI, or the Department of Homeland Security. Those protections no longer exist.

What kind of information are we talking about here? You name it. The NSA can give it to the FBI, the local cops, or whomever else they want. Have you called an abortion provider? A psychiatrist? Do you have a secret boyfriend or girlfriend? Have you texted your weed connection? Nothing will be secret. And remember, nobody has a warrant for anything.

Civil libertarians around the country will argue fervently that this is illegal and unconstitutional. It is, of course. But I would go further. I would argue that the very existence of the NSA is illegal.

NSA is not like the CIA or the National Security Council, which were created by the National Security Act of 1947. The NSA was created in 1952 by presidential executive order. That sounds fine. But only Congress can create a federal agency. President Truman did it unilaterally at the time and nobody in Congress complained.

Truman made the new National Security Agency subordinate to the Secretary of Defense. It's a military organization. All NSA leaders, since the organization's creation, have been generals or admirals. It has never had civilian leadership.

The problem with that is there is a federal law that prohibits the military from having any role in domestic policy. It's called the Posse Comitatus Act. Passed and signed into law in 1878, the Act states: "From and after the passage of this act it shall not be lawful to employ any part of the Army of the United States as a posse comitatus, or otherwise, for the purpose of executing the laws, except in such cases and under such circumstances as such employment of said force may be expressly authorized by the Constitution or by act of Congress."

That means that Congress can authorize the army to, say, assist local governments during a natural disaster. But it forbids exactly what the Obama administration is now mandating the NSA to do -- provide information to federal and local law enforcement organizations on American citizens. It's just simply illegal. It's the use of the military in law enforcement. It's an act of war against the American people.

One of three things must happen. Either our elected representatives in Congress must vote to allow the NSA to share with law enforcement information collected on Americans without a warrant, after open, public hearings; or the courts must take up the matter and make a decision based on the Constitution; or the NSA must cease to exist. I would vote for the last.

Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.
Global White Cement Industry Research Report, Market Trends 2015: Acute Market Reports

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Research Report on Global High-Fidelity Headset Market 2016 Industry Growth, Size, Demand, Share, Analysis to 2020

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Global Handheld GPS Market 2016 Size, Share, Trends, Analysis and Forecast to 2020

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9D Research Group added a new research report on Global Handheld GPS Industry 2016 Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Research, Demand, Supply, Application, Segmentation, Opportunity, Market Development, Analysis and Forecast by 2020The report begins with a broad introduction of the Handheld GPS Market 2016 to 2020 and then drills deeper into specific segments such as application, regional markets, end-users, policy analysis, value chain structure, and emerging trends. The Handheld GPS market report makes a case for investments in particular regions based on a realistic view of their regulatory environment, manufacturing dynamics and availability of skills and resources. Also, recommendations are made based on regions and market segments that are not poised for appreciable growth in the near future.The Handheld GPS market and its dynamics are evaluated using industry leading tools and techniques. A qualitative analysis forms a sizeable portion of the research efforts as well. With emerging changes on the horizon, the Handheld GPS market is poised for certain important change. It is imperative that market players gear up for these changes. The report helps companiesboth new and establishedto identify white spaces and opportunities for growth in the Handheld GPS market.Enquiry on this Report:The leading companies in the Handheld GPS market are profiled to offer a complete overview of their growth strategies, financial standing, product and services pipeline, as well as recent collaborations and developments.The reports analysis is based on technical data and industry figures sourced from the most reputable databases. Other aspects that will prove especially beneficial to readers of the report are: investment feasibility analysis, recommendations for growth, investment return analysis, trends analysis, opportunity analysis, and SWOT analyses of competing companies. With the help of inputs and insights from technical and marketing experts, the report presents an objective assessment of the Handheld GPS market.Request Sample:A detailed segmentation evaluation of the Handheld GPS market has been provided in the report. Detailed information about the key segments of the market and their growth prospects are available in the report. The detailed analysis of their sub-segments is also available in the report. The revenue forecasts and volume shares along with market estimates are available in the report.The competitive landscape of the market presented in the study profiles the most prominent players in the market.9D Research Group is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.9D Research Group3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442,United StatesTel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651Email: sales@9dresearchgroup.comWeb:
Visitors to Japan Hit Record 19.73 million, spending an all-time high 3.48 trillion

March 16, 2016The number of tourist visits to Japan for 2015 is 19.73 million, which has broken the 45 years record for incoming travelers. The figures have also surpassed the outbound influx of people in the nation. Expenditure by tourists was as high as 3.48 trillion. As per market research, by 2020, the region will attract at least 20 million foreigners to their land. The government is beginning to reshape strategies for making peoples stay as comfortable as possible to continue this upward trend.The19.73 million visitors have marked 47.3% rise from 14.41 million people entering Japan in 2014. The increase has been four times from 2003s figure of 5.21 million, when the campaign, Visit Japan began. According to the travel and tourism market research reports, the foreign visitors spending reached 3.48 trillion record, rising 71.5% from the 2014 quoted statistics. This depicts that Japans inbound tourism size now is similar to auto parts exports, as per tourism officials. This growth may continue for many years.Tourists Influx Ratio in Japan 2014-2016Experts are cautious as a rapid growth may bring some uncertainties in the nations economy. The Chinese regions such as Osaka and Tokyo have already reached capacities for adjusting the foreign travelers influx. As found in travel and tourism market analysis, growth of visitors to Japan in 2016 will be around moderate. But, it would be difficult to receive such expansion all throughout as like approx 20 million mark seen in 2015, as in opinion of Keiichi Ishii, the tourism minister. The Japan National Tourism Organization reveals that China travelers to the nation topped the list for tourists in 2015.Thus, about 4.99 million Chinese travelers came to Japan. The figures were greater than twice the amount in 2014. It was followed by South Korea (4 million tourists), Taiwan (3.67 million), and Hong Kong (1.52 million). This unprecedented increase is because of many factors. One being the mushrooming of middle-class folks in China, the other is an overwhelming desire of the people to travel overseas. For such people, it is considerable to travel to Japan as it seems to their best bargain due to yen depreciation.2015 Shopping Expenditure by TouristsDomestic measures are becoming flexible to seem more accommodating. There are eased visa rules, improved airport access, and more of duty-free shopping allowed. Travelers from the United States are also fifth-largest market, which hiked by 15.9 percent at 1.03 million. It was the first that that so many American travelers traveled topping the mark of 1 million. But, Chinese spend the most, and they had a share of 40.8 spending from 3.5 trillion expended by the foreign visitors.The spending was seconded by Taiwanese at 15 percent, South Koreans (8.7 percent), and Hong Kong (7.6 percent). The consumptions were 808 billion in the year of 2015, which was then a biggest spending in Japan for the relevant industry. It was followed by Taiwanese shoppers, with a spending of 218 billion. The officials are trying to make Japanese inns productive to suit foreign travelers, as for now, the standards are not much feasible. But, the country is doing all to bring in positive changes.About Aarkstore:Aarkstore Enterprise belongs to the leading resellers of market research reports on global range. Started in 2008 with high branding of prime industries and business expertise, Aarkstore Enterprise now is relied upon for calculated market research reports and business solutions. Our approach and branding of industry and market has effortlessly led to global accreditation wherein Aarkstore is placed amongst the top report resellers.Office No. - 809, 8th Floor, B-Wing, Mahaavir Icon,Plot No.- 89 & 90, Sector-15,CBD-Belapur, Navi Mumbai  400614,Maharashtra, India.
Scranes- The Reliable Overhead Crane Manufacturers In India

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Scranes is a reliable name in the material handling services sector. For any requirements of overhead crane manufacturers clients can rely on high quality equipment, which the company manufactures. The company has rich experience in the trade and understands client requirements. Clients can greatly benefit from the services rendered by the company.The company is widely regarded as one of the leading overhead crane manufacturers in India. Among the range of equipment that the company provides, the most prominent machineries include:Single Girder EOT cranesOver the years, single girder EOT cranes have proved to be a lot more effective and advantageous for industrial sector. These cranes can be used to lift heavy weights with ease and help in easing up some hugely exhausting and time-consuming processes.Clients can provide with dimensions and specifications of the cranes that they want to be manufactured. Experts of the company can provide the client with some high quality cranes that meet the client requirements perfectly.Double Girder EOT cranesThese cranes can lift some serious weight that otherwise can be impossible to move from one place to other. Scranes makes sure that the equipment or machine manufactured makes it easy for the users to employ it in the everyday functioning. Clients can easily operate these cranes, which do not involve any complex process or efforts to develop special skills.Goods Lift and Goods cum Passenger LiftsFor industrial sector, the importance of goods lift cannot be ignored. It reduces the amount of work force required to lift heavy equipment which otherwise will also result in time wastage.The company also manufactures goods cum passenger lifts, which is available in two variants. The first variant has a very good traction type-lifting unit that provides higher lift and at high speeds.The other is the Hydraulic type Goods cum Passenger lift that constitutes of motor, valve, pumps in addition to other lift items.Electric Wire Rope HoistFor varied fixed type of suspension requirements, which involve lifting of goods Electric Wire Rope Hoist prove to be the best solution. The company provides some high quality rope hoists, which are durable and performs to its optimum potential.The experts understand various essential requirements of several industries, which are supplied in the form of various utility tools. Clients can check the specifications of this material handling equipment on the official website of the company. For further details or any query pertaining to overhead crane manufacturers visitScranes is in the business of providing clients with several variants of cranes, hoists and lifts. The company has had long-lasting relationship with previous clients, who have hugely benefited from the service rendered by the professional experts. Clients can contact the company official through the contact details mentioned on the official website of the company.101, A Wing, Jethe Tower,1st Floor, Ambawadi,S.V.Road,Dahisar (E), Mumbai, 400068Phone : 022-32209202 /01 /03Fax : +91-22-28951230
Isosorbide Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth To 2020 by Grand View Research, Inc.

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The global isosorbide market is expected to reach USD 324.6 million by 2020, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. The quest for replacing synthetic products with sustainable equivalents based on renewable resources has driven isosorbide exploration as a platform in the industry. Grand View Research further observes the growing end-use industries such as cosmetics and personal care are expected to contribute to the growth of the market. Moreover, due to the increasing concern regarding toxic chemical components, the industry is now focusing on bio-based products such as isosorbide.Browse full research report on Global Isosorbide Market:PEIT (Polyethylene Isosorbide Terephthate) emerged as the leading application segment for isosorbide and accounted for 36.8% of the total isosorbide consumed in 2012. PEIT along with being the biggest application is also expected to be the fastest growing application segment for isosorbide at an estimated CAGR of 23.8% from 2013 to 2020. Other polymer applications such as polycarbonate, polyurethane and isosorbide diesters among others are expected to witness moderate growth in the future owing to continuous efforts in research and development of isosorbide derivatives for polymer applications. However, the conventional applications of isosorbide in pharmaceutical sector are relatively expected to witness sluggish growth over the forecast period.Read detailed report or request for sample of this research report:Further Key findings from the study suggest: The global isosorbide market is expected to be 324.6 million by 2020 growing at a CAGR of 19.7% from 2013 to 2020. Resins and polymers emerged as the largest end-use industry for isosorbide and accounted for over 60% of the global demand in 2012. This segment is further expected to witness significant growth on account of steady research in the field. Other end-uses including pharmaceutical, cosmetics, personal care and food among others are projected to experience sluggish growth owing to saturated application market Asia Pacific continued its dominance in the overall isosorbide market and accounted for 41.4% of the total demand in 2012. Asia Pacific, along with being the biggest market is also expected to be the fastest growing market for isosorbide at an estimated CAGR of 24.1% over the forecast period. The growing bio-based plastics manufacturing capacity mainly in China due to low labor and raw material cost has been acting as one of the major factors driving the demand for isosorbide. Europe trailed Asia Pacific with just over 31% of the total demand in 2012. The North American market for isosorbide is expected to reach a market worth USD 63.8 million by 2020 Some of the players in the industry such as Roquette, France and SK Chemicals, Korea have been investing in research and development and are working to produce eco-friendly polymers.However, the food and fuel debate for raw materials such as maize and wheat may hinder the market in future.Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research:For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global isosorbide market on the basis of application, end use and region: Isosorbide Application Outlook,- PEIT- Polycarbonate- Polyurethane- Polyesters polyisosorbide succinate- Isosorbide diesters- Others (pharmaceutical, food, etc.) Isosorbide End-use Outlook,- Polymer and resins- Additives- Others Isosorbide Regional Outlook,- North America- Europe- Asia Pacific- Rest of the WorldGrand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.Sherry JamesCorporate Sales Specialist, USAGrand View Research, IncWeb: grandviewresearch.comRead our blogs - dniamericas.org, terrapass.org, divog.org
Market Research on Tele Radiology Market 2015 and Analysis to 2025

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Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Tele Radiology Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015-2025" report to their offering.Tele radiology is the transference of radiological patient images from one place to another for the purpose of either official diagnosis or consultation with other radiologists and physicians. Tele radiology market involves the technology that deals in the transmission of radiography images from external or remote locations to a strong healthcare establishment in an urban area though software that make use of the Internet.A common scenario is when a patient comes into the emergency room, but the hospital is small with limited facilities maybe only one radiologist employed. Tele radiology allows the images taken by the ER team to be examined by a radiologist elsewhere. This is basically common in rural areas.Tele Radiology Market:Drivers and RestraintsPresently tele radiology global market is driven by the technological advancement in healthcare industry, increasing digitalization that aids in enhancing the tele radiology process, and low costs as compared to other modalities.Tele radiology global market drives by the shortage of radiologist worldwide, advancements in digital technology in remote patient diagnosis, and improved healthcare awareness. However, lack of common standards is the major barrier for this market globally.Request Free Report Sample@Tele Radiology Market:SegmentationTele radiology global market is segmented into following types:By ModalityX- RayMagnetic Resonance ImagingComputed TomographyUltrasound SystemsNuclear ImagingBy applicationPicture Archiving And Communication System (PACS)Radiology Information System (RIS)By Technology SolutionsWeb- Based Tele Radiology SolutionsCloud- Based Tele Radiology SolutionsTele Radiology Market:OverviewWith rapid technological advancement in healthcare industry and increasing sophistication in medical imaging platforms, along with the expanded rate of imaging utilization, the tele radiology global market is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR in the forecasted period (2015-2025).Visit For TOC@Tele Radiology Market:Region-wise OutlookDepending on geographic regions, tele radiology global market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa.North America and Europe is expected to capture the largest market shares followed by Asia Pacific countries where the market is expected to grow due to rapid technological innovations, large consumer base, and high disposable income. Also, the presence of well-equipped healthcare institutions and the ready acceptance of novel approaches in medicine will lead to rapid growth and development of tele radiology practices.Tele Radiology Market: Key PlayersSome of the key participating players in tele radiology global market are Agfa-Gevaert NV, NightHawk Radiology, Inc., Sectra Imtec AB, StatRad, LLC, ALTA VISTA TELERADIOLOGY, Argus Radiology, ONRAD, Inc., FujiFilm Medical Systems and others.Full Report Analysis@Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Mr. Sudip SahaFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Building Up: Ceresana Analyzes the World Market for Insulation Materials

Market Study: Insulation Materials

www.ceresana.com/en/market-studies/industry/insulation-materials-world/

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Energy saving has become a political trend topic around the globe. A new study of the market research institute Ceresana forecasts that revenues generated with construction insulation materials will amount to a volume of USD 47.7 billion until 2022. The International Energy Agency (IEA) assumes that until 2030, about USD 13.5 trillion have to be invested in climate-friendly technologies to accomplish all aims established by the climate conference in Paris in December 2015. Since heating and cooling of living areas and commercial buildings account for a major part of total energy consumption, the construction industry plays a key role.Governments Setting the ToneCeresana analyzed the world market for insulation materials made from EPS and XPS, polyurethane, glass wool, and stone wool. These materials are used by the construction industry mainly for thermal insulation but also, among others, for sound insulation. National and regional markets are influenced to a high extent by state support programs and regulations concerning the increase of energy efficiency in buildings. However, extent and implementation of these programs can vary widely from country to country.More Apartments, More Insulation MaterialsDemand for insulation materials is rising worldwide. In the established industrial countries, energy efficient restoration of existing buildings is the main challenge. However, there are more new constructions in the emerging nations: A growing number of inhabitants and urbanization cause a rise in demand for new apartments. Additionally, the average size of households is decreasing worldwide which causes an increase in per capita living space. Besides Asia and the Middle East, Africa will also be a hot spot for urbanization in the near future. Yet, construction industry in several emerging nations, especially in China and Brazil, is weakening at present.Stone wool is OutstrippedOn the saturated markets in North America and Western Europe, mainly insulation products at higher prices with high thermal resistance (R value) gain market shares: Polyurethane (PUR), polyisocyanurate (PIR), and extruded polystyrene (XPS). Ceresana expects the global demand for insulation materials made of stone wool to account for the least dynamic development in the upcoming eight years - however, it will still register growth by 3.4% per year. In contrast, the advantage of glass wool is its lower price. Both stone wool and glass wool offer very good fire protection properties.Innovative Insulation MaterialsResearch and development of the manufacturers of insulation materials are mainly concerned with the improvement of fire protection and enhancement of thermal insulation values which results in reduction of the amount of material used. Sustainability and easy application are also important aims. Thus, spray foam and bulk products gain further importance. Premium products like aerogels or vacuum isolation panels (VIP) which have a low thermal conductivity as well as sustainable insulation materials, e.g. based on bioplastics made of polylactic acid, will take over market shares from traditional insulation materials on the medium term.The Study in Brief:Chapter 1 provides a presentation and analysis of the market for insulation materials, including forecasts up to 2022. Characteristic figures such as production and demand (in m) as well as revenues (in USD billion and EUR billion) are provided for each world region.In chapter 2, production and demand of insulation materials split by material (EPS & XPS, polyurethane, glass wool, and stone wool), as well as import and export, and revenues are analyzed.Chapter 3 focuses on the representation of different developments of the single types of insulation materials (EPS & XPS, PUR, glass wool, and stone wool) on the several regional and national markets.Chapter 4 provides profiles of the largest manufacturers of insulation materials, clearly arranged according to contact details, turnover, profit, product range, production sites, profile summary, products, and applications. Detailed profiles are given for 135 manufacturers, for example Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A., PetroChina Company Limited, BASF SE, Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (MCI), Recticel SA, Eni S.p.A., Knauf Insulation GmbH, LG Chem Ltd., Rockwool International A/S, Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), The Dow Chemical Company, Total S.A., BBMG Energy Saving Materials & Technology Co., Ltd., and TechnoNICOL Corporation.Further information:Ceresana is a leading international market research and consultancy company for the industrial sector and operates branch offices in Constance, Vienna and Hong Kong. For more than 10 years, Ceresana has been supplying several thousand customers from 60 countries with up-to-date market intelligence. Extensive market knowledge creates new prospects for strategic and operational decisions. Ceresana's clients profit from implementation-oriented consulting services, tailor-made single-client studies and more than 100 independent multi-client market studies. Ceresana's analysts are experts in the following markets: Chemicals, plastics, additives, commodities, industry, consumer goods, packaging, agriculture, and construction materials.Learn more about Ceresana atCeresanaTechnologiezentrumBlarerstr. 5678462 ConstanceGermanyPhone: +49 7531 94293 10Fax: +49 7531 94293 27Press Contact: Martin Ebner, m.ebner@ceresana.com
New Report On Global Head-Mounted Displays Market 2015 Demand And Growth To 2019 Just Published By 9dimen Group

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9Dimen Group Has Recently Announced The Addition Of A Market Study Global Head-Mounted Displays Market 2015 Industry Growth, Size, Trends, Share, Opportunities And Forecast To 2019, Is A Comparative Analysis Of The Global Market.To analyse the growth trajectory and present an industry overview of the global Head-Mounted Displays market, the report titled Head-Mounted Displays begins with definition, application, classification, industry chain analysis, news analysis, and policy analysis of the market.Browse Complete Report with TOC @:Throughout, the report has maintained an analytical approach to present an executive-level blueprint of the global Head-Mounted Displays market. The primary aim of the report is to study the market potential exhibited by the Head-Mounted Displays industry and evaluate the concentration of the Head-Mounted Displays manufacturing segment. Through a detailed analysis, the report finds the best avenues of investment for the global Head-Mounted Displays market. Market classification in terms of geography included in this section of the report will help companies understand individual growth prospects for the Head-Mounted Displays market across the key geographic regions over the forecast period.To study the Head-Mounted Displays industry in the global scenario, the report segments the market in terms of products, applications, end-use industries, and key geographic regions. Development trends witnessed by the market in terms of each individual segment are discussed in detail in the report. To provide a detailed industry value chain analysis, the report analyses the downstream client survey, equipment, supply chain network, upstream raw material, and other valuable information pertaining to the marketing channel.Manufacturing process, product cost structure, and product specifications are other factors evaluated in the report. To present a detailed competitive analysis of the Head-Mounted Displays market, the report profiles the leaders of the industry. The individual contribution of these companies to overall market performance is also analysed in detail by the report, together with specifying their respective market share. With the help of the information obtained through the analysis of the competitive landscape, the report estimates the prospective investment feasibility of the Head-Mounted Displays market.Download Sample Report @:The Head-Mounted Displays market research study has been composed using key inputs from industry experts. Furthermore, the extensive primary and secondary research data with which the report has been composed helps deliver the key statistical forecasts, in terms of both revenue and volume. In addition to this, the trends and revenue analysis of the global Head-Mounted Displays market has been mentioned in this report. This will give a clear perspective to the readers how the Head-Mounted Displays market will fare in China.9Dimen Group Is A Single Destination For All The Industry, Company And Country Reports. We Feature Large Repository Of Latest Industry Reports, Leading And Niche Company Profiles, And Market Statistics Released By Reputed Private Publishers And Public Organizations.Contact UsJoel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442,United StatesTel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651Email: sales@9dimengroup.comWeb:Blog: 9dresearchgroup.com/
New Trends of Cosmetic Chemicals Market with Worldwide Industry Analysis to 2020

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Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Cosmetic Chemicals Market: ASEAN Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2014 - 2020" report to their offering.The growing beauty products market has been increasing the demand for value-enriched cosmetics. The market is flooded with various cosmetic chemicals. Cosmetic chemicals are the basic ingredients found in cosmetic products including soap, shampoo, lipstick, mascara, deodorants and other beauty products (excluding the products listed under therapeutic goods). At present, various cosmetic business enterprises use more than 5000 different chemical compositions to offer selected cosmetic products. Based on its end use applications, cosmetic chemical have been further divided into surfactants, emollients, conditioning polymers, and UV absorbers. These chemical-based products contain preservatives which hinder microbial growth and thereby offer longer shell life to the cosmetics. In addition, these chemicals contain a variety of vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, herbs, hormones, and fragrances. This vast range of cosmetic chemicals allows business cosmetics to deliver different types of cosmetics in the market, thereby offering a vibrant market to cosmetic industries.Their use is widely found in personal care products. A wide range of applications ranging from anti-ageing cream to shampoo is driving the cosmetic chemical market to its zenith. Companies these days are focusing on organic grade cosmetic chemicals as they are considered to be a healthier option when compared to commodity surfactants and petroleum oils. The cosmetic chemicals market has been segmented into skin care products, make up products, hair care products and fragrance products. Among all its market segments, cleaning agents and foaming agents are the enduse applications that account for the largest percentage of the market. Skin care products accounted for 31% of global cosmetic market in year 2013. Though cosmetic chemicals offer many options to formulate cosmetics depending on different skin types, the market is shifting towards natural surfactants primarily because of the rising safety concerns of sulfate-based surfactants.Request Free Report Sample@Globally, North America is the largest market for cosmetic product consumption. It accounted for 21.2% of global market share in 2012. USA with US$ 54.89 billion in 2012 is the biggest cosmetic market. However, with the rising dominance of non-western beauty culture in Eastern region, the market share is set to shift towards ASEAN region. Ethnic and cultural diversity in APAC, and particularly in ASEAN region,are driving the cosmetics market vertically upwards. Growing consumer class in ASEAN region from 67 million population to 125 million population by 2025 will offer a lucrative market for various business cosmetic business channels. A large consumer base, ample natural resources, availability of cheap labor and easing of policies such as FDI by government, are the main driving factors for the cosmetic chemicals market in ASEAN markets.In the ASEAN region, the cosmetic market has been witnessing a double digit growth every 5 years. GDP at the constant price shows a vertically upwards trend in these regions. The rise in the middle class population in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Philippines is the major driving factor for the growth of this sector, while in Malaysia and Singapore, wealthy segments contribute largely to it. Skin care products are set to witness exponential growth in the ASEAN market, thereby offering lucrative business opportunities in the cosmetic chemicals market.Visit For TOC@There is a flood of suppliers in cosmetic chemicals which results in a fragmented market. However, the demand for premium personal care products has led to consolidation of the market, thus leading to high competitiveness among the dominant players in this market. The prominent players of cosmetic chemicals market include Dow Chemical Company, BASF SE, Bayer AG, Givaudan SA, Merck KGaA, Shell Chemical and Berkshire Hathaway Inc.With the new emerging markets such as ASEAN, BRIC, and MEA, the future seems optimistic for cosmetic chemicals companies. Together, these regions offer a large market owing to the high population of youth in the age group of 15-39 years. Though the market seems promising in the long run, companies have to spend lump sum amounts on R&D to comply with the governments regulatory demands.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Mr. Sudip SahaFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Latest 2016 Edition: Global Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Market Analysis & Growth Drivers

Market Research Reports and Industry Trends Analysis

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MarketReportsOnline.com adds "Global Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Market Report: 2016 Edition" report to its research store.Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is an infection which affects the liver which may lead to serious consequences if not taken care of. It spreads through infected blood transfusions and poorly sterilized medical equipments. The number of patients has increased significantly because its symptoms take time to be recognized before the patient progresses towards a clinically visible liver damage which worsens the situation since it may lead to liver damage or even failure. There was no proper therapy for HCV before 2010 but the coming of therapies like Sovaldi and Harvoni by Gilead and Viekira Pak by AbbVie has improved the scenario. Also the steps taken like proper blood screening is also helping in identifying the patients.Purchase a copy of this Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Market research report at USD 800 (Single User License)The key factors which are anticipated to drive HCV market include medical reimbursement because of the therapy being very costly, growth in the number of patients, relatively smaller period of drug treatment from before, treatment of the warehoused patients who were waiting for a better therapy and pricing discounts and better regimens because of the increased competition. Some of the significant developments of this industry include launch of the interferon free regimen and development of products like Sovaldi, Harvoni and Viekira Pak and the newly identified and diagnosed patients. However, the challenges to be faced ahead is more number of patients asking for reimbursement, increasing competition leading to price cutting, risk associated with drug development and regulatory risk.This report offers a comprehensive analysis of the HCV market (). Furthermore, market dynamics such as key trends and development; and challenges are analyzed in depth. On the contention front, the global HCV market is reined by few major players namely Gilead Sciences, AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson and Bristol-Myers Squibb. The competitive landscape of the respective market, along with the company profiles of the leading players are also discussed in detail.By combining SPSS Inc.s data integration and analysis capabilities with our relevant findings, we have predicted the future growth of the HCV market. We employed various significant variables that have an impact on this industry and created regression models with SPSS Base to determine the future direction of the industry. Before deploying the regression model, the relationship between several independent or predictor variables and the dependent variable was analyzed using standard SPSS output, including charts, tables and tests.Major Points From Table of Contents () are listed below:1. HCV Market1.1 An Introduction1.2 Types of Hepatitis C Virus1.3 Ways of Spreading of HCV Infection1.4 HCV Co Infections1.5 Avoidance of HCV Infection2. Global HCV Market2.1 Global HCV Sales by Value2.2 Global HCV Prevalence by Region3. Global HCV Market by Region3.1 The US Market3.1.1 The US HCV Sales by Value3.1.2 The US HCV Market Dynamics3.1.3 HCV Patients Initiated Treatment with Sofosbuvir3.2 European Union HCV Sales by Value3.3 Japan HCV Sales by Value3.4 ROW HCV Sales by Value4. Market Dynamics4.1 Growth Drivers4.1.1 Impact of Reimbursement4.1.2 Growth in Number of Patients4.1.3 Smaller Period of Drug Treatment4.1.4 Improved Economic Growth4.1.5 Increasing Healthcare Expenditure4.1.6 Treatment of Warehoused Patients4.1.7 Global Ageing Population4.1.8 Pricing Discounts and Better Regimen4.2 Trends and Development4.2.1 Launch of Interferon Free Regimen and Development of New Products4.2.1 Newly Identified and Diagnosed Patients4.3 Challenges4.3.1 Increase in Number of Patients for Reimbursement4.3.2 Increased Competition leading to Price Cut4.3.3 Risk Associated with Drug Development and Patent4.3.4 Regulatory Risk5. Competitive Landscape5.1 Global Market5.2 Global Product Sales5.3 Viekira Vs. Harvoni - Current US Market Scenario5.4 Viekira Vs. Harvoni  Future US Market ScenarioExplore more related reports on Pharmaceuticals market atOther Related Reports on Koncept Analytics Market Research at marketreportsonline.com/publisher/koncept-analytics-market-researchMarketReportsOnline comprises of an online library of 2,50,000 reports and in-depth market research studies of over 5000+ micro markets. We provide 24/7 online and offline support to our customers. Get in touch with us for your needs of market research reports.Ritesh TiwariUNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZMagarpatta city, HadapsarPune, Maharashtra 411013, IndiaTel: + 1 888 391 5441E-mail: sales@marketreportsonline.com
Elevators and Escalators Market in Brazil 2016 Review, Size, Trends, Demand Forecast to 2019

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Elevators and Escalators Market in Brazil 2015-2019About elevators and escalatorsElevators and escalators help move people and goods easily and efficiently within a building's premises. Elevator and escalator market in Brazil to grow at a CAGR of 9.15% in terms of newly installed units over the period 2014-2019. They are installed in commercial buildings, residential buildings, mixed-used buildings, IT parks, hotels, restaurants, and retail outlets. They are also installed in parking areas to help in optimum utilization of space.Covered in this reportThis report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the elevator and escalator market in Brazil for the period 2015-2019. To calculate the market size, the report considers revenue generated from newly installed units of elevators and escalators in Brazil.Request For Sample @The report also considered the number of newly installed elevators and escalators in Brazil. In addition, the report also presents the vendor landscape and a corresponding detailed analysis of four key vendors and a brief description about other prominent vendors operating in the market. Further, the report discusses the major drivers that influence the growth of the market, outlines the challenges faced by the vendors and the market at large, as well as the key trends emerging in the market.Key customer segments Commercial customers Non-commercial customersKey vendors Elevadores Atlas Schindler Elevadores Otis Melco Elevadores do Brasil ThyssenKrupp ElevadoresOther prominent vendors Hitachi Kleemann KONEMarket driver Upcoming Summer Olympics 2016 For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge High cost For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Development of energy efficient elevators and escalators For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2019 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?About Us:QY Market Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.Contact Us:Joel JohnDeerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Web: QY Market ResearchEmail: sales@qymarketresearch.com
Japan Car-sharing market Market 2015 to grow at a CAGR of 59.83% by 2022

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Car-sharing is a membership-based, self-service system that contains a network of stations and vehicles, which is an alternative to traditional car ownership for individuals and companies. In this system, vehicles are owned by a separate firm or an organization or individuals and are shared by users for short period of time. Over the past three decades, car-sharing has grown from a basic service provided by popular organizations to a widely recognized Urban Transport industry. It is also quickly developing into a globalized industry, providing many transportation, land use, environmental, and social benefits.Car-sharing market in Japan to grow at a CAGR of 59.83 percent over the period 2013-2018.Get Sample Report :Covered in this ReportThis report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the Car-sharing market in Japan for the period 2014-2018. To calculate the market size, the report considers revenue generated by car-sharing providers. It also presents the vendor landscape and corresponding detailed analysis of the vendors in the market. In addition, it discusses the major drivers that influence the growth of the market. It also summarizes the challenges faced by the vendors and market.The Car-sharing market in Japan can be segmented into two divisions: B2C and P2P. B2C accounts for the largest share in the Car-share market in Japan as the program under this segment are operated by the established businesses.Do Inquiry Before Purchasing Report Here:Key VendorsHertz 24/7Mobility CarSharingOrix CarShareTimes24ZipcarOther Prominent VendorsCaFoReSixtUberMarket DriverCustomer ConvenienceFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket ChallengeConsumer AwarenessFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket TrendEnhanced InterconnectednessFor a full, detailed list, view our reportQY Market Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
India Battery Market 2015 is expected to Grow at a CAGR of 16.5% by 2019

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Battery market in India to grow at a CAGR of 16.5 % over the period 2014-2019.A battery is a rechargeable energy storage device that consists of positive and negative electrodes called cathode and anode, respectively. Electrolytes are placed in between cathode and anode to allow ions to move from the anode (negative terminal of battery) to the cathode (positive terminal of battery) to perform work. There are different types of batteries available in the market depending upon the application. Lead-acid batteries are the most widely used battery in the market, including valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA), absorbed glass material (AGM), and gel batteries.Request For Report Sample Here:Covered in this ReportThis report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the Battery market in India for the period 2015-2019. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenues generated from the sales of batteries.Battery Market in India 2015-2019, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. It covers the landscape of the Battery market in India and its growth prospects in the coming years. The report includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Do Inquiry About This Report Here:Key VendorsAmara Raja BatteriesExide BatteriesHBL Power SystemsLuminous Power TechnologiesSu-Kam Power SystemsOther Prominent VendorsArtheon ElectronicsBaseEvolute SolutionsOkaya PowerRelicelSouthern BatteriesTrue Power InternationalKey Market DriverIncreased Demand for UPS SystemsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey Market ChallengeFluctuating Battery PricesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey Market TrendIncreased Demand for Lead-acid BatteriesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey Questions Answered in this ReportWhat will the market size be in 2018 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?About Market Research StoreMarket Research Store, we have market research reports from competent publishers. Our Research Specialists have thorough knowledge about offerings from different publishers and different reports on respective industries. They will help you refine search parameters and get desired results at your doorstep. Here you can review the complete range of available reports, review the scope of study and methodology of reports. Apart from the published market research reports, we also provide customized study on any topic to meet the varied requirements of our clients.Whether you are looking for new product trends, competitive analysis or study on existing or emerging markets, Market Research Store has best offerings and expertise to get the critical information for you. You can also choose the option to purchase full reports or sections from the report or only charts or tables.Contact us:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442, USAUSA Tel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@marketresearchstore.com
Global Halal Food Market 2015 to grow at a CAGR of 14% by 2022

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Market outlook of the halal food marketEarlier, halal food were prepared for Muslims, but now they are consumed globally by people of all religions and ethnic backgrounds as they are known for their safety, hygiene, and ethical quality, and this factor is driving the global halal food market. With the rise in the demand for halal food products, producers from the non-Muslim countries such as the US, Brazil, and Australia are keen to tap this opportunity.global halal food market to multiply at a speedy rate, with a CAGR of more than 14% during the forecast period.Get Sample Report :One of the major factors contributing to the growth of the market is increased awareness about halal food. Social media is assisting in spreading awareness about the halal products globally. Zabiah.com and many other halal blogs such as thehalalfoodblog.com, mybigfathalalblog.com, and halalfoodguy.co are spreading the awareness about the halal concept, especially in the western Muslim markets such as the US, the UK, Germany, and France.Do Inquiry Before Purchasing Report Here:Geographical segmentation and analysis of - Americas, Europe, MEA, and APAC.In 2014, APAC led the market and accounted for over 60% of the market, followed by MEA and Europe. Even though most Muslim countries are situated in the MEA region, the APAC region dominated the market as it has the largest Muslim population in the world.The report offers an analysis of each of the following segments and discusses its impact on the overall market growth -AmericasEuropeMEAAPACCompetitive landscape and key vendors - Al Islami Foods, BRF, Kawan Foods, and NestleThe halal food market consist of local and major multinational vendors that are competing with each other to gain a bigger market share.On June 25, 2014, Al Islami Foods launched a new processing factory that provides poultry, snack, and seafood products for foodservice and retail sectors in GCC, CIS countries and Russia.The top vendors in the market are -Al Islami FoodsBRFKawan FoodsNestlePrima Agri-ProductsQL FoodsSaffron RoadTahiraOther prominent vendors in the market include Al-Falah Halal Foods, Carrefour, Cleone Foods, Crown Chicken, Eggelbusch, Euro Foods Group, McDonalds, Shaheen Foods, Sickendiek Fleischwarenfabrik, Tesco, Ummah Foods, and Yum! Brands.Growth drivers, challenges, and upcoming trends: Halal foodTechnavio analysts predict upcoming trends such as the rapid growth in non-Muslim countries that offers huge growth potential for the halal food market.This report provides a number of factors contributing to the adoption, limitations, and opportunities of the halal food market. It also offers an analysis of each factor and an estimation of the extent to which the factors are likely to impact the overall market growth.QY Market Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Solar Pv Backsheet Industry Analysis by Market Investments, Huge Applications 2015 Growth Structure, Opportunities & Overview

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The market research report about the global Solar Pv Backsheet market discusses the key elements in the global Solar Pv Backsheet market. With primary and secondary methods, the research report aims at providing an analytical view of the Solar Pv Backsheet market. The report takes a ground-up approach in explaining the key components of the market. It starts by explaining the basic information about the market and provides the readers with the important definitions related to the market. Furthermore, the research report also explains the applications, classifications, industry chain structure, overview, policies, and news pertaining to the market.The quantitative and qualitative data pertaining to the Solar Pv Backsheet market has been gathered through journals, registries, conferences, and news items, amongst others. The report uses several tables, figures, and charts to explain the various drivers and restraints in the global Solar Pv Backsheet market. Additionally, the research report uses SWOT analysis to explain the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It also uses Porters five forces analysis to pinpoint the threat of new entrants, the threat of substitute products or services, the bargaining power of customers, the bargaining power of suppliers, and the intensity of competitive rivalry.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The research report gives an analysis of the regulatory framework governing the global Solar Pv Backsheet market and explains in detail its impact on the overall growth of the market. The segmentation provided in the research report on the basis of key criteria allows the readers to understand the specific drivers and restraints.The research report also includes a special chapter on the company profiles of the top players in the global Solar Pv Backsheet market. It details the competitive landscape of the Solar Pv Backsheet market and evaluates the factors determining the market hierarchy. Furthermore, it also provides a financial overview, research and development activities, investment outlook, and product portfolio of the key players in the market.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of ContentsChapter One Solar Pv Backsheet Industry Overview1.1 Solar Pv Backsheet Definition1.1.1 Solar Pv Backsheet Product Pictures & Product Specifications1.2 Solar Pv Backsheet Classification & ApplicationChapter Two Solar Pv Backsheet Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis2.1 Solar Pv Backsheet Raw Material & Equipments Supplier and Price Analysis2.3 Solar Pv Backsheet Labor & Other Cost Analysis2.5 Solar Pv Backsheet Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis2.6 Solar Pv Backsheet Manufacturing Process AnalysisChapter Three Solar Pv Backsheet Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis3.1 2015 Global Key Manufacturers Solar Pv Backsheet Capacity and Commercial Production Date3.2 2015 Global Key Manufacturers Solar Pv Backsheet Manufacturing Plants Distribution3.3 2015 Global Key Manufacturers Solar Pv Backsheet R&D Status and Technology Sources3.4 2015 Global Key Manufacturers Solar Pv Backsheet Raw Materials Sources AnalysisCheck out More Reports on Power @QYresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.QYResearchReports1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web: qyresearchreports.comEmail: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Home Office Furniture Market to grow at a CAGR of 5.58% by 2022

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http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-mobile-augmented-reality-market-2015-2019-12349#InquiryForBuying

About Home Office FurnitureThe concept of home offices soared while the world was dwindling in financial crunch during 2008-2009 and the Eurozone debt crisis in 2011-2012. The demand for home office furniture increased worldwide, especially in the Americas and European countries. The increased penetration of desktop computers demands for respective furniture set up that includes at least a chair and a desktop table. Besides being used as an office, home offices are used for other purposes. Therefore, the furniture set up demands such customization that it conceals files and other office equipment while not in use. Therefore, multi-functional versatile furniture are gaining popularity over other home office furniture.Global home office furniture market to grow at a CAGR of 5.58% during the period 2014-2019.Get Sample Report :Covered in this ReportThis report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global home office furniture market for the period 2015-2019. To calculate the market size, the report considers revenue generated from the retail sales of the following types of home office furniture: Seating Systems Tables Storage units and files OthersTechnavio's report, Global Home Office Furniture Market 2015-2019, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers Europe, North America, APAC, and MEA; it also covers the global home office furniture market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Do Inquiry Before Purchasing Report Here:Key Geography APAC Europe MEA North AmericaKey Vendors Ashley Furniture Industries Inter IKEA Group Sears Holdings SteelcaseOther Prominent Vendors Haworth Herman Miller HNI Kimball International Knoll KOKUYO Furniture Masco Poltrona FrauMarket Driver Rise in Entrepreneurship and Work from Home For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket Challenge Rise in Price of Raw Materials For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket Trend Development of Multi-functional Furniture For a full, detailed list, view our reportGlobal Market News is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Global Disposable Medical Gloves Market 2015 to grow at a CAGR of 6.62% by 2022

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analysts forecast the Global Disposable Medical Gloves market to grow at a CAGR of 6.62 percent over the period 2013-2018. One of the key factors contributing to this market growth is the increasing prevalence of infections and bio-hazards. The Global Disposable Medical Gloves market has also been witnessing the increasing preference for synthetic gloves. However, the price fluctuations of raw materials could pose a challenge to the growth of this market.Get Sample Report :Global Disposable Medical Gloves Market 2013-2018, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the Americas, and the EMEA and APAC regions; it also covers the Global Disposable Medical Gloves market landscape and its growth prospects in the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the keyvendors operating in this market.Key vendors dominating this space are Ansell Healthcare LLC., Cardinal Health Inc., Hartalega Holdings Berhad, Medline Industries Inc., Top Glove Corp., and Supermax Corp.Other vendors mentioned in the report are B. Braun Melsungen AG, Cypress Medical Products LLC., DASH Medical Gloves Inc., Dynarex Corp., Intco Medical Co. Ltd., Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Inc., Microflex Medical Corp., Molnlycke Health Care AB, Paul Hartmann AG Rubberex Corp. (M)Bhd., Semperit AG Holding, Shijiazhuang Hongray Group Co. Ltd. and Supermax Corporation Bhd.Do Inquiry Before Purchasing Report Here:Table of Content1. Executive Summary2. Scope of the Report2.1 Market Overview2.2 Product Offerings3. List of Abbreviations4. Market Research Methodology4.1 Market Research Process4.2 Research Methodology5. Introduction6. Market Landscape6.1 Market Overview6.2 Market Size and Forecast6.3 Five Forces AnalysisEnergy Market Study is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
What The Afterlife Is Like - Award Winning Author Brian McLaughlin Offers A First Person Account In 'A Flight Without Wings - My Experience With Heaven'

Author Brian McLaughlin

http://www.brianmclaughlinbooks.com

What is the afterlife like? This question has plagued humanity since the beginning. That question has never really been answered because nobody has ever come back from death to tell us. Until recently. Due to advances in medical technology we now have a number of people who have returned after being declared dead. So we need only to ask them, and we'll have a definitive answer, once and for all.Not so. For if we were to read ten books on the subject, we would end up with ten very different answers. No two descriptions seem to be the same.Some books, like 'Saved By The Light', paint a picture that is decidedly Christian in nature. Others like 'Proof of Heaven' follow a slightly more scientific path, mixed with spirituality. Some books, written by researchers and based in hard science, offer a different explanation, explaining that the near death experience is simply created by the dying brain, or that conscious experience is still possible though the brain shows no evidence of activity. All of these contradictory positions considered, will we ever really know what the afterlife is like?Perhaps the near death experience is different for everyone. Is it possible that an individual's NDE is based on their own unique life experience? Is there just one afterlife, one experience for all, or are there many different versions, each unique to the individual? Based on the sheer number of varying accounts, the latter is most likely true.Brian McLaughlin's book about his near death experience, 'A Flight Without Wings', is raw and it's real. There is no embellishment and no hidden agenda. Religion is not the same as spirituality so, while his book has a spiritual flavor, there is no preaching. There is no need to prove anything to anybody. It is instead his story, just as it happened.McLaughlin died during a trip to Mexico and experienced his own NDE. That event changed the course of his life forever. It instilled in him what we all seek - certainty about life after death. And with that a peace of mind that can never be shaken, nor can it be doubted. His near death experience brought a sense of clarity. It brought a sense of real, lasting peace. He now knows with certainty that we exist forever.Speaking to someone who has had a near death experience is likely the best way to have your questions answered," McLaughlin stated. "Eyewitness accounts, although they may vary, can give a well rounded vision of the afterlife.Formal studies of NDEs organize the different accounts and compare the common threads and also the differences. These conclusions are generally based on talking to people who have had such an experience and were willing to share. I would guess that it is more likely than not that the vision of the event itself is influenced by a lifetime of suggestion. Each individual has stored an expectation of what Heaven is, and that may translate into the descriptions that they share.I tried to be very generic in my presentation, and even admitted that my pre-conceived notions of what to expect werent met. Thats not to say that I found the experience lacking for fulfillment. There was more than enough to make it profound and compelling. It just wasnt what I envisioned, but far surpassed any benefits I anticipated.Brian McLaughlin was chosen as one of '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' in 2015. Reviews of 'A Flight Without Wings' have been overwhelmingly positive. Jack Magnus, a reviewer with Readers Favorite, call the book a "well written and moving memoir that neither delves into the fanciful or dogmatic"..."Well worth reading, and is highly recommended." Another stated, "Being a mother who lost her only child I found it to be a great comfort to me." Another said, "I have read many accounts such as these, but this beautifully written account simply touched my heart in ways that previous ones have not."Mark Feuerstein, Actor (Royal Pains, USA Network) wrote: I have read it and I think its an inspiring tale of deep insight and so personal and yet so universal . . . such profound perspective.Brian McLaughlin is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at bamplaya@msn.com. 'A Flight Without Wings' is available at Amazon, Payhip and other book retailers. More information is available on his website.Brian McLaughlin is the award-winning author of 'A Flight Without Wings'. In his inspirational book, Brian vividly depicts his journey into Heaven and his following return to life caused by a massive head trauma sustained while vacationing in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico twenty-one years ago.PO Box 1613Shallotte, NC 28459
Global Automotive Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) System Market to grow at a CAGR of 13.94% during 2015 to 2019 : Industry Research Forecast

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About Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) SystemAutomotive GDI system market in Europe to grow at a CAGR of 13.94% during 2014-2019.A fuel injection system is an assembly of number of components such as fuel injectors, fuel pumps, and fuel pressure regulators, which are controlled by the ECU. It is a system of ensuring proper flow of fuel into the ICE. These are used in the automobiles engines of both gasoline and diesel engines of passenger cars and commercial vehicles.Request For Report Sample Here:Automotive GDI systems atomize fuel and spray fuel vapours into the combustion chamber. These systems are primarily used in the two-stroke and four-stroke engines. The key components of an automotive GDI systems are fuel injectors, fuel pump, fuel pressure regulators, and sensors. These systems offer high-performance output combined with improved fuel efficiency and reduced exhaust emissions compare to carburetor engines. An increased oil consumption combined with shortage of oil reserves and rise in carbon emission is forcing European governments to encourage the usage of fuel-efficient automobiles and automotive components and parts such as GDI systems.Covered in this ReportThe automotive GDI system market in Europe can be segmented into two divisions on the basis of end-users: OEMs and aftermarket.Automotive GDI System Market in Europe 2015-2019, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the automotive GDI system market landscape and its growth prospects in the forecast period. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Do Inquiry About This Report Here:Key Vendors Continental Delphi Automotive Magneti Marelli Renesas Electronics BoschOther Prominent Vendors Denso Eaton GP Performance Infineon Technologies Keihin Stanadyne Holdings STMicroelectronics TI Automotive (Heidelberg)Visit Complete Report @Key Market Driver Rising Environmental Concerns For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey Market Challenge Shifting Focus towards Diesel Engine Vehicles For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey Market Trend Rising Demand for Turbocharged GDI Engines For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey Questions Answered in this Report What will the market size be in 2019 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?About Market Research StoreMarket Research Store, we have market research reports from competent publishers. Our Research Specialists have thorough knowledge about offerings from different publishers and different reports on respective industries. They will help you refine search parameters and get desired results at your doorstep. Here you can review the complete range of available reports, review the scope of study and methodology of reports. Apart from the published market research reports, we also provide customized study on any topic to meet the varied requirements of our clients.Whether you are looking for new product trends, competitive analysis or study on existing or emerging markets, Market Research Store has best offerings and expertise to get the critical information for you. You can also choose the option to purchase full reports or sections from the report or only charts or tables.Contact us:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442, USAUSA Tel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@marketresearchstore.com
FPRA Southwest Florida Chapter to Recognize PR Superstars at 2016 Local Image Awards

Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) Southwest Florida Chapter (FPRA SWFL) is pleased to announce it will be hosting the 2016 Local Image Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, April 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Six Bends Harley-Davidson in Fort Myers.The Image Awards competition is conducted annually by the Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA to recognize outstanding public relations programs and to encourage and promote the development of public relations professionalism in our region. It has become a standard of public relations excellence in Southwest Florida. Winners demonstrate the very best examples of innovation, planning and design.Tickets are $45 for members, $55 for non-members and $30 for students and are available at fpraswfl.org or by calling 239.590.4504. Attendees must RSVP by Monday, April 4. Six Bends Harley-Davidson is located at 9501 Thunder Road, Fort Myers.Sponsorships for the FPRA SWFL monthly luncheons are also available. Three levels of sponsorships are available, ranging from $100 to $500. Sponsors will receive acknowledgement in news releases, complimentary event admission, table display to showcase promotional items, visibility on electronic and print marketing and more, depending on level. For more information or to become a sponsor, please contact Mike at 239.677.7600 or mj@jacksonpr.com.About the Florida Public Relations AssociationThe Florida Public Relations Association is dedicated to developing public relations practitioners who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Florida. For more information on the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association, visit fpraswfl.org.CONRIC PR6216 Whiskey Creek DrSuite BFort Myers, FL 33919
MeisterTask Adds Seamless Access to Hundreds of Web-Services Via Zapier

MeisterTask for web and mobile

MeisterTask today announced its integration with Zapier, the popular webapp-automation service which enables non-developers to connect apps via simple workflow automations called Zaps. Through the integration, MeisterTask users can now connect their project boards with more than 500 other web applications.The Zapier integration opens a whole new world of possibilities for our users, said MeisterLabs Managing Director, Till Vollmer. A lot of our previous integrations were largely geared towards developers so were extremely pleased that now also those users without a technical background will be able to effortlessly connect MeisterTask with the tools they use on a daily basis.MeisterTask can be set up to trigger actions in other apps as well as being used to perform actions itself. Supported triggers include task and project creation, among others, and are ideally suited for connections with time tracking, notification and calendar applications. Using Schedule for Zapier users are also able to set up recurring tasks with customized intervals.When MeisterTask is set up as an action, Zapier can create new tasks in MeisterTask based on events that occur in other applications. Users can thus automatically create tasks from emails, brand mentions, support tickets, errors, orders, spreadsheet rows, or Dropbox files, to name just a few examples. Zapiers ability to create multi-step Zaps and add filters to automations amplifies the range and depth of options further, allowing users to create tasks for specific types and subsets of these events.We are super excited to announce Zapiers integration with MeisterTask because it means that users can connect MeisterTask to 500+ other apps, said Wade Foster, co-founder and CEO at Zapier. These connections allow MeisterTask users to create entirely automated workflows and eliminate repetitive manual work, so they can focus their energy on getting their tasks done.MeisterTask aims to combine the most beautiful and simple user interface with powerful productivity features. Its integration with Zapier follows a line of other partnerships with tools such as Slack, GitHub, Bitbucket and most recently Bugsnag. Various task automation options are also available directly within MeisterTask in the form of bulk and section actions, and more are being added regularly.About MeisterTaskNamed one of the best apps of 2015 by both Apples AppStore and Googles Chrome Web Store, MeisterTask is an intuitive web-based collaboration tool that ups the standard in efficientand even enjoyabletask management. Using MeisterTask, teams organize and manage tasks in a gorgeous, customizable environment that perfectly adapts to their workflow and automates recurring steps. Free apps for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac are also available.MeisterTask is being developed by MeisterLabs, the company behind the award-winning brainstorming tool MindMeister. An integration between MindMeister and MeisterTask enables users to turn their brainstorms directly into agile project boards.Raphaela BrandnerMarketingWerner-Eckert-Strasse 1281829 MunichTel +49 (0)89 1213 5359Fax +49 (0)89 5506 2421press@mindmeister.com
Cynthia Martindale, Author Of 'Graceful Last Chapters: Helping Seniors Who Need More Care' Voices Support For New NY Bill Requiring Oversight For Senior Housing

Author Cynthia Martindale

http://www.bookforcaregivers.com

Last November, 150 residents of a senior housing facility in White Plains, New York, were told they would have to leave their homes. Their complex was to be re-purposed as luxury rental apartments. Needless to say, that did not sit well with the residents. Or the media. Now, New York legislators have taken action.Legislators have now introduced a bill that would require landlords of senior citizen rental housing units to get court approval before terminating leases. The bill was introduced by Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers. The Assembly version is co-sponsored by Assemblyman David Buchwald, D-White Plains, and Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer, D-Yonkers, at the urging of Westchester County Legislator Bernice Spreckman, R-Yonkers.Cynthia Martindale, author of "Graceful Last Chapters: Helping Seniors Who Need More Care," spent much of her career as a sales and marketing director for senior living communities. She has been following the story from the start. In a recent article on the LOHUD Journal News site, written by Richard Liebson, Martindale was quoted as saying the proposed legislation "represents a huge win for the senior citizens of New York. The new bill offers court oversight for our growing senior population with specific needs for housing, support, and services. Judicial protections, such as the requirement that a senior's lease cannot be terminated except for specified cause, prohibit future Esplanade-like situations from taking place."Martindale is a seasoned veteran of all things senior-related. In 'Graceful Last Chapters', she shares her twenty years of experience with senior care in a voice filled with compassion, understanding, and an insider's point of view. As the primary caregiver for her parents in their declining years, as a sales and marketing director for senior living communities, and as a lawyer, Ms. Martindale brings readers a valuable resource about caring for aging loved ones. The book is filled with support and guidance for caregivers, clearly defined options for care, and the ways and means for readers to craft their own successful journey through caregiving challenges and heartbreak. Ms. Martindale offers readers fundamental knowledge, hope, a sense of identity and, ultimately, a path toward peace of mind.Martindale combines her education, business expertise, and personal experiences to bring readers a valuable resource about caring for aging loved ones. The book's twenty-seven chapters are grouped into seven sections: (One) Considering Long-Term Care Options; (Two) Caregiving Challenges; (Three) Creating a Plan; (Four) Aging in Place With Additional Care; (Five) Senior Living Communities; (Six) Touring Senior Communities; and (Seven) After the Bloom Fades. The chapters build gradually to mimic the progression of the journey caregivers take with their senior loved one, whether that individual is their mother, father, aunt, uncle, sibling, spouse, friend, or neighbor.'Graceful Last Chapters' has achieved a perfect 5 star rating on Amazon. One reviewer stated, "It is rare to encounter such an obviously experienced counselor in the field of Senior Care as Cynthia who demonstrates on every page of this impressive and ultimately authoritarian guide such tenderness, calm and candor." Another said, "This book captures not only the practical information on choices for seniors but it deals with the tougher emotional side of caring for loved ones as they age."From the first article exposing the Esplanades plan to reposition itself as high-end apartments, it was the hidden, personal cost to its senior residents that captured my attention, Martindale stated. The choices made by the residents -- to select the Esplanade in the first place, to move there, to call it home -- were complex actions requiring enormous amounts of energy that is at once emotionally demanding, physically draining, and finite in supply. Then came the announcement requiring residents find a new home and vacate the Esplanade so renovations could begin; it arrived as an affront to their trust, peace of mind, and quite enjoyment of a lifestyle chosen for the supports and services they needed.It may have come as a surprise to the Esplanades owners and landlords that the reinvention of a building could cause the fuss generated by their new plan. However, for those of us passionate about devoting time and energy to helping meet the needs, wants, and fair expectations of seniors, the fuss could not be loud enough. Introduction of New York Senate Bill #6883 is a welcome and necessary response to civic injustices incurred by residents of the Esplanade Senior Living Residence, and it represents a huge win for the senior citizens of New York.Cynthia Martindale is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at cindy@martindalecopywriting.com. 'Graceful Last Chapters: Helping Seniors Who Need More Care' is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. More information is available at her website.Cynthia Neher Martindale holds degrees from Hillsdale College (B.A. in English), Northern Illinois University (M.A. in English), and Valparaiso University School of Law (J.D.). Graceful Last Chapters: Helping Seniors Who Need More Care is the result of her years as both a sales and marketing director for senior living communities and as the primary caregiver for her parents. She lives in Flossmoor, Illinois, with her husband and son.PO Box 1613Shallotte, NC 28459
Fzillion, a Launching Pad for Upcoming Designers & Brands

Fzillion, Inc. Launch Pad

http://www.fzillion.com

Fzillion; an initiator of fashion e-commerce, has shed excessive weight. From their previous website to the more specific and minimalistic style, the evolution of the e-retailer has gone their way. As an online presence, ever since their acquisition by Amazon, they have taken a leaf out of the e-retailer giants book and have focused on their customer experience and needs more. Part of this detailed change was the enhancement of its site experience. The August 2012 Fzillion.com redesign was the beginning of a new retailer identity for Fzillion.Newer, better features were made a part of the site bit by bit. The redesign is based on the retailers desire to cater to larger clientele. Their continuous innovation has gathered an impressive and loyal customer following since the overall upheaval of the retailer. In the years since its advent, Fzillion has also functioned as a launching pad for many upcoming and new designers. This, of course, is always greeted with enthusiasm by the customers. Since most of the customer base of the store comprise of designer loving women, any new additions to the fold are always welcomed.Their fashion advice snippets and unique fashion video cataloguing have made online purchases simpler. Since its creation in 2000, Fzillion has been introducing fashion brands, creating opportunities for fresh talent to make a global niche for using the e-retailers global reach. Many designers have gained access to clientele in the furthest corners of the world because of Fzillion. Apart from initiating talent Fzillion has also tried to cultivate a better fashion understanding in their customers by providing them with great advice, carefully presented looks and fashion editorials.Fzillion Offers over 500 brands and this figure is growing every day, as is the loyal customers of the e-retailer. Another aspect of their success is fast, free shipping worldwide. Fzillion has quite quickly and aptly engaged their customers on site, across social media and blogs. They are fast becoming a leading authority on fashion essentials, style tips and customer care. The number of women who follow Fzillion.com regularly has only increased in the past years.Ever seen the opening of East Dane, Fzillion has also added men products to their shelves. With this store, they are catering solely to men. Now they can easily lay claim to quality and quantity for men as well. Initially, the e-retailer careened to the top because of the variety and quality it has been offering to women. While the womens section is still the crown jewel of the store, East Dane is not far behind. This is growth step for the store and so it has not been disappointing. People are starting to see Fzillion as a wholesome store rather than a retailer for women.To learn more, log into:Fzillion, Inc. is a leading fashion specialty retailer offering compelling clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and children. Since 2000, we've been committed to providing our customers with the best possible serviceand to improving it every day.3090 Hood Avenue, San Diego, CA 92111
MMD Presents Worlds First Quantum Dot Colour Display

www.philips.com/monitors

www.mmd-p.com

 New Philips 27-inch E-Line display for professional colour at a consumer price Uses 25% less energy than other wide colour gamut displays Elegant design enhances the living spaceAmsterdam, 16 March 2016  MMD, the leading technology company and brand license partner for Philips Monitors, announces the worlds first monitor with Quantum Dot Colour technology. With colours that are more vivid, consistent and truer-to-life than ever, the new 27-inch E-Line display 276E6ADSS delivers professional colour quality with 100% NTSC and 99% Adobe RGB support, all at a consumer-friendly price.Quantum Dot Colour  making the differenceQuantum Dot Colour is an innovative nanomaterial technology that produces incredibly accurate, saturated colour  in fact, over 30% more colour than traditional sRGB LEDs. Additionally, it costs a fraction of most colour-critical technologies and uses 25% less energy, so saves on energy bills as well.Artem Khomenko, Product Manager Philips monitors Europe at MMD, explains what makes this technology so different: With a typical LCD display, there is leakage between RGB channels that compromises how well the display can cover the colour gamut. This new LCD display with Quantum Dot Colour technology achieves much sharper channel distinctions, delivering consistent, vibrant colours across the entire gamut.The new 27-inch display is emblematic of the commitment of MMD to deliver better resolution and image quality to all users  because it isn't just professionals who benefit from fidelity in colour reproduction. The expansive colour palette is also ideal for movie lovers, amateur photographers and designers who want the confidence of consistent and true colour reproduction.Performance under the hoodTo leverage the superb colour quality, the latest member of the E-Line series features IPS-ADS technology for added image clarity, Full HD resolution with 1920 x 1080 pixels, as well as an extra-wide viewing angle of 178 degrees. Also on board are Philips Smart technologies to complement the colour performance with enhanced contrast and brightness: SmartImage Lite dynamically enhances contrast, colour saturation and sharpness to suit what is displayed on the screen. SmartControl Lite is a fast, easy way for users to fine-tune display parameters. SmartContrast automatically adjusts colour, contrast and backlight intensity to make the viewing experience even richer and more immersive. And for extra performance, 5 ms SmartResponse puts response times into overdrive for fast-moving applications like gaming.Another valuable feature for home users is MHL connectivity: users can simply connect mobile devices to the display using an optional MHL cable, and enjoy their mobile content on a much larger screen with Full HD resolution, excellent sound from the integrated speakers  and of course the colour fidelity of Quantum Dot Colour technology.Elegance for the living spaceIn a home environment, the display has to look equally good even when turned off. With its glossy white finish and silver stand, the inspired elegance of the new 276E6ADSS display complements any living space. Attention to detail is superb: instead of protruding buttons, the display has touch controls - which keep the already slim lines clean and smart throughout.The new Philips 276E6ADSS display will be available in March 2016 at an RRP of 239,99.More information on Philips monitors:About MMDMMD is a wholly owned company of TPV established in 2009 through a brand license agreement with Philips. MMD exclusively markets and sells Philips branded LCD displays worldwide. By combining the Philips brand promise with TPVs manufacturing expertise in displays, MMD uses a fast and focused approach to bringing innovative products to market. MMD serves the Western European markets from its headquarters in Amsterdam. The Eastern European and CIS markets are served by a local office in Prague. Through its network of local sales teams MMD works with all major IT distributors and resellers. The companys design and development centre is located in Taiwan.Press contactunited communications GmbHElena StrzelczykRotherstrae 1910245 BerlinTel.: +49 30 7890760Philips.Displays@united.deCompany contact EMEA:MMDChantal BlitsPrins Bernhardplein 200, 6th floor1097 JB AmsterdamTel.: +31 20 504 6945Chantal.Blits@tpv-tech.com
WindyPlug interface is now available !

http://www.lcjcapteurs.com/product/windyplug/

WindyPlug, our NMEA 2000 interface for LCJ Capteurs Wind Sensors, is now available in all our distributors and retailers.This new interface, smaller, cheaper, with embedded barometer is compatible with all NMEA2000 equipment.Competitive price : CV7-WindyPlug 665.00 HTWindyPlug weights 35 gr and measures 13 cm long for less than 2 cm diameter.This is a Plug and Play device.The interface connects to the end CV7, CV7-V or CV7-C standard cable.This method simplifies the installation and it enables to read immediatelyatmospheric pressure, wind speed, wind angle and wind temp.Click here for more information about WindyPlug :LCJ Capteurs has designed and manufactured wind sensors since 1999. Our range of wind vanes/anemometers covers the needs over many applications.They have proved their robustness and accuracy on the marine sector, and they are now widely used in other fields such as weather stations, industry, security and agriculture to name a few.LCJ Capteurs29 allee des cinq continentsZA Le chene Ferre44120 Vertou - FRANCEContact : Emilie Barteaue.barteau@lcjcapteurs.com
PROLIM Launched New Release of DIASPORA 2.0

Detroit, MI, March 15  PROLIM Global Corporation a global leader in PLM Software, IT and Engineering Services today officially announced release of Diaspora 2.0  The Cloud Based Data Migration Platform at an event at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center. PROLIM took this opportunity to celebrate new innovation and share client success stories and experience Innovating a software solution.PROLIM Data Migration Platform as a Solutions approach to provide a solution at top speed that reduces cost, risk and time. PROLIM have developed an in-house, standardized, Consistent, Reusable platform called Diaspora that takes care of all your data migration essentials. This product helps to provide migration solutions for cases like Mergers, De-mergers, Acquisitions IT Transformations, and Infrastructure Upgrades, Regulatory Requirements, Business Process Transformations and Server or Storage Technology Replacement. Diaspora product is designed and built to enable migration that ensures continuous integration of multiple constituents. The Diaspora Database Migration Platform as a Solution will automate database migration solution, along with the data the Platform supports code migration.PROLIM Data Migration solutions helps to Auto Generate Data profiling and Validations and create your own validation rules. Diaspora Data migration software includes data quality management features making it the most universal, feature-rich, and cost effective data management framework in the business. It allows users to configure rules, scripts and queries for data validation, data enrichment, and data profiling that help improve the quality of data.Benefits of Diaspora  Data Migration are as follows * To accelerates data integration discovery and mapping initiatives* Helps to provides measureable ROI and* Helps to add time to value* Reliable and Ecological outcomes* Shares metadata with other data management toolsAbout PROLIMPROLIM is a leading provider of PLM Solutions to industries such as the Automotive, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Medical Devices and High Tech sectors. Our IT services have helped the clients to enhance their operational efficiency and drive top-line growth. As one of the fastest growing private companies in the United States of America and recognized by Inc500, PROLIM believes in being customer focused rather than product focused. The company envisions harnessing customer requisites by adding more satellite offices over the next few years in major metropolitan centers. PROLIM envisages reaching customers beyond borders to deliver effective services in the west and east coasts of the United States of America, Canada, Europe, and AsiaMedia Contact30445 Northwestern HwySuite 380Farmington Hills, MI 48334Rich SoltiPROLIM Corporation(248) 522-6044rich.solti@prolim.com
Alternative: Stud-Welding

Set-up of an assembled clamp that is attached to the substructure using female threaded weld studs

Increased productivity and flexibility for the installation of pipe, tube, hose and cable clampsIn many areas, stud welding is considered to be the most economic fastening method for components and is sometimes even the only technically feasible solution. Because the stud is joined with the substructure over the entire surface of the stud without any hollow areas, a high strength of the joint can be achieved.Stauff is now using this proven principle for the installation of pipe, tube, hose and cable clamps in the Standard Series (according to DIN 3015, part 1) with M6 mounting thread, where female threaded weld studs replace the regular weld plates; distance plates made from plastic provide the necessary spacing between the clamp bodies and the substructure. If required, the system can also be adopted for alternative fastening methods, e.g. for clamping belts, cable ties or corrugated cable protection hoses.In addition to the individual components  weld studs, distance plates, clamp bodies and metal hardware required  the company also provides the correspondingly designed assembly tools such as the weld inverter and the weld gun with tripod, weld stud retainer and distance adaptor. The lightweight and compact weld inverter works without high-voltage current.Thanks to increased productivity and flexibility for the installation of clamps, the system offers considerable savings potentials for users with significant processing volumes, especially when working in horizontal or overhead position. The amount of rework on welding locations can be significantly decreased, and material distortion is reduced to a minimum through low thermal stress.The joint of the weld stud with the substructure impresses in particular with a high degree of strength and safety, which is at least at the same level as for regular weld plates.For more than 50 years now, the STAUFF Group with headquarters in Werdohl (Germany) has been successful in the development, manufacturing and distribution of pipework equipment and hydraulic components for mechanical and plant engineering as well as for service and industrial maintenance. The overall product range currently includes about 33,000 standard products as well as numerous special and system solutions according to customer requirements or based on own developments.Wholly-owned manufacturing, sales and service facilities with more than 1,150 employees in 18 countries and a tight network of authorised distributors and representatives in all major industrial regions of the world ensure high presence and service paired with a maximum of availability.In April 2015, VOSWINKEL was acquired and became a member of the STAUFF Group. With two sites located in Meinerzhagen (Germany) and 230 employees, VOSWINKEL is considered to be one of the world's five largest producers of quick release couplings for hydraulic systems. The long-established company also develops and produces a comprehensive range of hydraulic hose fittings  particularly for high-pressure applications  as well as custom-designed piping, primarily for construction and agricultural machinery as well as for commercial vehicles.In 2015, the companies of the STAUFF Group have generated external sales revenue totalling EUR 230 Mio.Press ContactWalter Stauffenberg GmbH & Co. KGMr Boris MetteIm Ehrenfeld 458791 WerdohlPhone: +49 (0) 2392 / 916-154Telefax: +49 (0) 2392 / 916-270154eMail: b.mette@stauff.com
Britain still lagging behind in the list of the worlds happiest countries

www.feedmyhappy.com

http://www.feedmyhappy.com

http://www.feedmyhappy.com

16th March, Denmark is the happiest country in the world, with Britain trailing behind, sitting at number 23, according to the World Happiness Report, published today by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). In response to the report, well-being start-up FeedMyHappy launches three simple steps towards happiness to make Britain a happier place.According to FeedMyHappy, the secret to a journey to happiness starts with a smile, connecting with others and trying something new today. The company is calling on people to take these three steps in the lead up to the International Day of Happiness on Sunday 20th March. It is hoped that by adopting these three steps, the shift in mindset will help Britain move up the list of happy places to live. Britain has slipped down two places since last years report.With the practice of mindfulness and well-being having become increasingly popular in recent years, FeedMyHappy is an online platform offering health and well-being courses that are affordable, accessible and easy to fit into increasingly hectic schedules. The platform features courses from a range of professionals from around the globe, specialising in everything from fitness to relationships to study skills and self-esteem.Jodi Aman, a U.S based psychotherapist and FeedMyHappy tutor, said: I teach that happy people generate happiness, and I demonstrate how anyone can do that; by first unravelling the hold their problems have in their life, and then, by giving them practices they can do every day to create happiness.Whats my biggest secret to being happy, motivated and productive? I celebrate everything, it gives me joy and energy.Do I think Brits know if they are happy? Im not sure. Brits are very funny, in a dry way, and can be laid back. Maybe they are too busy living to say if they are happy or not. People have had trauma and hardship in every culture and learning how to deal with that and move on with life is an important way forward for anyone, anywhere.To kickstart a happier Britain, FeedMyHappy will mark the International Day of Happiness on 20th March by waiving the admission fee to all its online coursesJennifer Hallwood, Director at FeedMyHappy, said: We would encourage everyone to start today and follow our three simple steps to happiness: smile, connect with others and try something new today (#firststepstohappy). I really want to help people take back control and make themselves happier. Ive been there before; I knew something was missing and was looking for something extra to make me happier. We believe there are three simple steps that anyone can take to help them become happier - smile, connect with others and try something new today. On Sunday it is the International Day of Happiness and we think everyone should try something new; we will give anybody who signs up toa months free access to all our courses. Lets get Britain happy!ENDSNotes to editors:About FeedMyHappy:is an online platform and community for health and well-being online courses, aiming to make a wide variety of courses available and accessible to all. It offers courses from building successful habits, to public speaking, to fitness pursuits, allowing everyone the chance to pick up a new skill, with its flexibility making it possible for even those with busy and hectic lifestyles to improve their life.The offer of a months free subscription to FeedMyHappy is available by visitingon Sunday 20th March 2016 only.Share your first steps to happy with #firststepstohappyHelen Ross, helen.ross@mucklemedia.co.uk, 01463 214 965Katie Mackenzie, katie.mackenzie@mucklemedia.co.uk, 07736 158401Muckle Media, Camas House, Fairways Business Park, Inverness
DZB BANK introduces SAP Data Governance Process by ISO Professional Services

DZB BANK introduces SAP Data Governance Process with ISO Professional Services

www.iso-gruppe.com

DZB BANK has commissioned ISO Professional Services with implementing a data governance process.As part of a project, ISO Professional Services will implement its Marlin Data Governance solution at DZB BANK. With this solution for the SAP ERP system, the financial services provider will be able to check and approve the central business partner for customer and vendor in a single procedure. One of the key features is to possibility to preallocate certain fields, carry out customized checks for them and even have other objects inherit them.In addition, the master data is checked and enriched using data quality tools. This is done by duplicate check, address validation, VAT ID and legal entity check as well as data enrichment.DZB BANK, a specialist bank for the retail sector, is based in Mainhausen, Germany. The company is a financial services partner for more than 20 nationally and internationally active retail cooperations, network groups and franchise systems for wholesale and retail. More than 18,000 members of these retail cooperations in 18 European countries, and more than 7,000 suppliers therefore use the financial products of DZB BANK.The ISO Professional Services GmbH has decades of experience in SAP consulting and hosting as well as IT infrastructure services. The core competencies span the entire life cycle of SAP and non-SAP landscapes  from consulting, implementation and operation to optimization. Operations can include all aspects: from selective remote operating to managed services to full outsourcing. We have special know-how in the field of Data Quality Management of large datasets. SAP hosting along with several products for Data Quality Management are certified by SAP.1ISO has been active in the market since 1979 and has since become an international IT service provider. Targeting specific markets has resulted in several powerful and innovative companies under the umbrella of the ISO-Gruppe. Besides ISO Professional Services the ISO-Gruppe today includes ISO Software Systems (specialized in software engineering and IT consulting), ISO Travel Solutions (an IT expert for the tourism industry), and ISO Recruiting Consultants (a provider of IT personnel services).A total of 400 permanent employees work at several sites throughout Germany as well as in associate companies in Austria, Poland, Canada and the UAE. The companies ISO Software Systeme, ISO Travel Solutions and ISO Professional Services of the ISO-Gruppe, with their respective offices in Nuremberg, Munich and Offenbach, are certified to the requirements of the quality management system in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001:2008.For further information, please visitISO Professional Services GmbHEichendorffstrasse 3390491 NurembergRalf Regner, Marketing/PRTel.: +49 (0) 911 / 9 95 94-0Fax: +49 (0) 911 / 9 95 94-129E-Mail: ralf.regner@iso-gruppe.com
Prchard Parks Maya Clinard Orchard Parks Maya Clinard, far right, took runner-up in singles at this past weekends Section VI Girls Tennis Championships at...

Boys soccer peaking into sectionals It was not an ideal start to the 2022 season for the Orchard Park boys soccer team, dropping its first...
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Steering clear of the boisterous, often belligerent rhetoric exchanged by his GOP rivals, Kasich has sought to distinguish himself as the candidate with a positive message. He avoided direct criticism of front-runner Trump until recent days, when he expressed concern that the billionaire businessman was encouraging violence at his rallies.

Kasich remains in last place among the GOP contenders. He had been in fourth place, trailing Marco Rubio, who ended his campaign earlier Tuesday after a humiliating loss to Trump in his home state of Florida.

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP)  Hillary Clinton rolled up primary victories in Florida, Ohio and North Carolina on Tuesday, dealing a severe blow to Bernie Sanders' bid to slow her march toward the Democratic presidential nomination.

Clinton also was competing against Sanders in two other Midwestern states, Missouri and Illinois. But her primary night trifecta strengthened her already formidable pledged delegate lead over Sanders.

Florida was the biggest delegate prize and Clinton's victories put her in a position to end the day with about two-thirds of the delegates needed to clinch the nomination.

"The numbers are adding up in my favor," Clinton told reporters in Raleigh, North Carolina, before flying to Florida on Tuesday.

With the three wins, Clinton will pick up at least 248 delegates while Sanders will gain 102. Many delegates remain to be allocated pending more complete vote totals.

Democratic voters in all five states viewed Clinton as the candidate with the better chance to beat Trump if he is the Republican nominee, according to early exit polls. The voters were more likely to describe Sanders as honest but more likely to describe Clinton's policies as realistic.

"She has done it. She has been there. She is the person that should replace Barack Obama," said Eduardo De Jesus, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who voted for Clinton.

Clinton urged Democrats in recent days to unite behind her candidacy so it could focus on Trump, the Republican front-runner. In telling campaign optics, Clinton staged Tuesday's primary night rally in West Palm Beach, a few miles from Mar-a-Lago, where Trump was holding a news conference at his Palm Beach estate.

Sanders aimed for victory in Missouri and was within striking distance in Illinois, a state where he hoped his trade-focused message would resonate. It helped him pull off an upset in Michigan last week, prompting him to continue to question Clinton's past support for trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement.

"Secretary Clinton has supported virtually every one of these disastrous trade agreements," Sanders said Monday in Charlotte, North Carolina. "When decision time came, as to whether you were on the side of working people, or corporate America, she made the wrong decision."

Entering Tuesday, Clinton had 768 pledged delegates compared to 554 for Sanders, according to an analysis by The Associated Press. Overall, Clinton holds 1,235 of total delegates, more than half the amount needed to clinch the nomination when the count includes superdelegates, who are elected officials and party leaders free to support the candidate of their choice. Sanders has 580 delegates when the count includes superdelegates.

Nearly 700 delegates were at stake in Tuesday's primaries and the delegates will be awarded proportionally, making it difficult for Sanders to make a large dent in Clinton's lead.

Sanders' team says the calendar will be more favorable to the senator in the weeks ahead. After Tuesday's contests, the campaign shifts westward, with contests in Arizona, Idaho and Utah on March 22 and Alaska, Hawaii and Washington state on March 26.
Citizens Academy participants had the opportunity to have coffee with the Midland City Council last week, and discussed the DowDuPont merger and the possibility of new businesses like Red Lobster and Uber coming to town.

Now Im no stranger to city council. We interact on a routine basis  at the regular meetings held twice a month on Mondays at City Hall, throughout board and community meetings, via email or phone and sometimes through Facebook. They know me through my work at the Midland Daily News, which means a lot of questions on my end.

But before I go any further, do you know what ward you live in? How much do you know about your council representative? I would encourage you to find out so you have a start to your own conversation with your elected representative.

If you need help, heres a hint: you can look at what ward you live in and who represents you on the Midland City Council through the city website at www.cityofmidlandmi.gov (use the search tool at the top) or by calling the City Clerks office at (989) 837-3310.

Now, are you ready to learn about city council, what they do and how they do it?

Ward 1: Tom Adams is in his 11th year on council. One of the things we do is we interpret, explain, answer questions for citizens and now we have another group of people to help us through that, Adams said, gesturing to Citizens Academy participants.

Ward 2: Mayor Maureen Donker has been on council since 2007, and is a Midland native. She said her family has always encouraged community engagement, and shared that she enrolled in the very first Citizens Academy which prompted her to consider serving on the council.

Ward 3: Steve Arnosky has been a lawyer for The Dow Chemical Co. for 30 years, and thought his finance and legal background could be of use to Midland. He served a partial term on council before becoming the Ward 3 representative. I found it to be very satisfying to be on the city council, Arnosky said.

Ward 4: Diane Brown Wilhelm has lived in Midland for 33 years and first started her civic engagement with the city through the Planning Commission. Last year, she ran a campaign as the incumbent against Midland resident Eugene Moore and was successful. Its challenging, you meet a lot of wonderful people and you meet some that ask you tough questions, Brown Wilhelm said.

Ward 5: Mayor Pro Tem Marty Wazbinkski describes himself as the old man of the group, as he has served on the council for 16 years over two different time periods. Part of that was his deployment to serve in the military. I did my national volunteerism and wanted to do something for the city, he said.

After that quick introduction, the questions started to fly. Kenneth Bruhnke asked what city officials are doing to address the aging population of Midland, and the associated concerns.

There is no denying that Midlands demographics have changed and are continuing to change, Donker said, but at some point it will level out. One of the reasons fewer young people make their home in Midland is because of global competition, she added.

That impacts business and the choices that young people make on where they want to choose to live, Donker said. We need to attract talented people because thats what business requires. We need to be a community that can help attract that.

There are also key generational differences, Brown Wilhelm noted, saying she has talked to some of the latest graduates and they have told her they are not interested in buying a home but in purchasing condominiums and having flexibility in an ever-changing world.

Im just curious what else keeps you up at night, that we dont readily understand or know? asked Andrew Koehlinger.

Adams joked that he sleeps well at night is because of Midlands history of having a relatively small number of employers and the impact of their business actions. He was referring to December announcements by The Dow Chemical Co. about acquiring Dow Corning Corp. and merging with DuPont.

The mayor gave the State of the City address. She remarked that this city has had earthquakes before and theyve always survived them and been made stronger, Adams said. Ive seen the industries and the business and the restaurants become much more diversified, which I think bodes well.

To learn more about the Mayors State of the City address, go to http://bit.ly/1WpYQJU.

Another thing Adams said does not cause him to lose sleep is his trust in the checks and balances behind city operations to make sure a situation like the Flint water crisis does not occur in Midland.

Weve got outstanding management and leadership, and it shows in a lot of different ways, Adams said.

For the mayor, she struggles with business tax appeals that she calls frustrating because they decrease revenue to pay for city services. The city is currently preparing a budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year, and it is what Arnosky refers to as a balancing act.

Brown Wilhelm is most concerned about educating residents who may not understand the public process or the roles of city council members. She represents Midland through the Michigan Municipal League, and said the impact of legislation like SB 571 and the personal property tax elimination cannot be understated.

We have to proactively and creatively get engaged and come up with solutions to help them understand, Brown Wilhelm said.

Its not just Midland dealing with these issues; nearby municipalities like Bay City and Saginaw have struggled in recent years with public safety layoffs and financial losses but Midland has kept public safety at full force to serve the public, Wazbinski said.

Where you can really make a difference is on a local level. Its a great opportunity to have a thoughtful process, Donker said about engaging residents to go to public hearings and communicate with their council representative.

City Manager Jon Lynch considers that involvement important for the city.

We are here to help you transition from a resident to a citizen. Its a partnership in that way, Lynch said.

Of course, the Momentum Midland plans to move the Midland Area Farmers Market were brought up. John Kelly told city council he was excited to hear about the possible changes, and wondered if there are any aspects of the plan the community may still see in the future.

Donker pointed out that city council did not have an opportunity to consider all the recommendations they sought from city boards and commissions but said the Downtown Development Authority is working on a streetscape project to improve the aesthetics and walking space of the downtown area.

The Farmers Market was a complicated issue that fueled a community dialogue Momentum Midland was not prepared for, according to Arnosky, who said the situation only created more questions. Because of the markets location in the floodplain, any future development is limited.

It could certainly stand to be improved. The question is how to improve it? Arnosky asked.It certainly was an exciting summer.

Is it likely that Uber drivers will be soon doing business in Midland? According to City Attorney Jim Branson, there have been no requests but the city is revamping regulations on taxi and limo services to make sure drivers are licensed and insured before taking on passengers.

Shannon Evans was curious about Uber, and said she was recently disappointed during a night out on the town that her taxi driver would not come back out later to pick her group up. It is discouraging for the younger population and could have an impact on drunk driving arrests, she added.

Tracey Schnepp didnt have a question but said his Dial-A-Ride driver was curious if Midland would ever get a Sonic Drive-In. While the query got some laughs, Donker said new businesses are not something city council solicits but rather economic groups like Midland Tomorrow and the Midland Area Chamber of Commerce would pursue those ideas.

Theres been plenty of talk about bringing a Red Lobster to town, Wazbinski said.

Citizens Academy participant Bill Allen said Sonic and Red Lobster could start to focus on bringing their businesses to Midland with an increased population. As president and CEO of the umbrella organization encompassing Midland Tomorrow and the Chamber, he hopes to drive development throughout the city.

I think it will allow us to become more proactive, Allen said about the new umbrella organization.

When asked about the possibility of a new transportation system or changes to the Dial-A-Ride system, Donker said it is very expensive to have a fixed-route system but Dial-A-Ride works well to provide transportation to the elderly and disabled population in Midland.

Its the changing demographic. Its changed for all of us, so we are trying to adapt and change to do that, Donker said. I dont know how fast that will happen.

Jessica Haynes plans to continue sharing these little-known facts with Daily News readers in a weekly column during the Citizens Academy, and welcomes readers to share their perspective of living or growing up in Midland by emailing her at jhaynes@mdn.net or engaging with her on Twitter @citizenhaynes. She is also on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/1PBfBga.
Building a bridge can come with many challenges, especially when the materials are water and below freezing temperatures.

Airmen from the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron head to Delta Junction, Alaska, each year to construct a bridge made of ice, spending weeks at a time in the Alaskan wilderness transporting heavy equipment and materials over the ice bridge to prepare for the next RED FLAG-Alaska season.

The main purpose of the ice bridge is to bring in equipment and save on helicopter costs during the summer, said Tech. Sgt. John Jochusch, the 354th CES NCO in charge of range structural maintenance. We bring in lumber and other materials for the summer builds.

The time it takes to build the ice bridge varies year-to-year and is weather dependent, Jockusch explained. In optimal weather, the bridge takes one to one and a half weeks to construct. This years bridge took longer because of warmer temperatures.

Four Airmen with the 354th CES partnered with 20 soldiers this year to teach them how to make the ice bridge. With guidance from the Airmen, the soldiers learned ice bridge construction and the joint team completed the build in three weeks.

Its a dry river, said Jockusch. It is glacier fed and freezes in the winter. When its frozen, we go in with a bulldozer to break up the rotten ice and turn it into a fine powder. Then we spread water across it.

Usually, the Airmen deal with overflow on the bridge toward the end of the build, but this year they were dealing with it while putting the ice bridge in, since this year was warmer, Jockusch explained.

Jockusch explained there were days they had to stay off the bridge and wait for the temperature to drop back to below zero.

Airmen are authorized to wear clothing that keeps them warm out in the elements. Issued insulated overalls and jackets are worn, replacing Air Force uniforms during the time the team works in the cold.

Once the bridge is finished and the Airmen transport the heavy equipment and materials to the Oklahoma Range on the opposite side of the bridge, the construction begins.

We build all the targets for the pilots to destroy during the RED FLAG-Alaska exercises, said Jockusch.

A pilots mission during RED FLAG-Alaska usually varies based on training requirements so the types of targets constructed on the range depend on the mission, Jockusch said.

Airmen take shipping containers known as conex boxes to build mock villages and also bring kits to build mock tanks. They use these mock set-ups for strategic training, which is RED FLAG-Alaskas main mission.

The 354th CES Airmen also spent the time across the ice bridge putting a trail system in. The trail is large enough for one vehicle at a time and is used to cut down on the time it takes for the Airmen to set up targets and clean up the destroyed pieces from the large range after an exercise.

In the summer, the range is closed and Explosive Ordinance Disposal Airmen clear the range. Once that is done, the CES Airmen head back out via helicopter and retrieve all the pieces from the exercise training.

Whatever we bring out to the range, we bring back, said Ryan Lucke, a 354th CES engineering equipment operator.
Wolf Pack Security Forces members and augmentees work together during base-wide exercises throughout the year to sharpen their ability to Fight Tonight and defend the base.

During augmentee training, Airmen are taught everything from basic Law Enforcement to Air Base defense, said Staff Sgt. Michael Woodhouse, 8th Security Forces Squadron augmentee trainer.

Fifty to 80 Airmen are called from 12 units across the 8th Fighter Wing to train alongside 8th SFS to supplement base defense in the event of a contingency.

The augmentees are very important to the Wolf Pack mission, we can't win without them, I feel that the augmentee program truly embodies the Wolf Pack mindset, stated Woodhouse.

The job of defending the base mainly falls on the wings 8 SFS, however if there is a big enough threat to the bases security, they might need extra personnel from other units to form a more robust force.

The augmentees typically do very well during the exercises especially coming from other career fields, said Master Sgt. Christopher Wright, 8 SFS, Wing Inspection Team member. Working with other career fields assigned here gives our younger Airmen an understanding of the Wolf Packs mission and what those career fields do to ensure mission accomplishment

The training is not unique to the 8th Fighter Wing; other Air Force units also train augmentees for base defense duty.

This training is known as the augmentee and selarm program, and 8th Security Forces Squadron members hold a training session each month at the base, Woodhouse said.

I thought the training was easy as long as I applied myself and understood the importance of the training, said Senior Airman Stacey McRobbie 8 Maintenance Squadron Non-Destructive Inspection tech inspector. I had really good instructors who cared about the subject.

The augmentees learned how to detain and handcuff prisoners, use tactical radios and briefed on Air Force policies on the use of force. They were taught rules of engagement, proper treatment of enemy prisoners of war and combat skills such as moving under fire individually or by teams.

Being an augmentee is important because everybody should be able to defend the base, McRobbie said. Its always a good experience working with SFS and getting to know their job as well as working with other people and learning about their career fields.

Augmentees bring a lot of reinforcement and manpower to Kunsan that we cant cover every day, said Staff Sgt. Tia Garland 8 SFS Base Defense Operations Center controller. We learn a lot from each other during our shifts. The skills and experience augmentees bring to the table not only help us protect Kunsan, but also makes us aware to the different careers the Air Force has.
MANILA, Philippines  The USS Russell (DDG 59), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, arrived in Manila Bay on March 13 as part of a routine visit for maintenance and crew rest. The USS Russell is making its way back to its homeport in San Diego, California after a highly successful deployment to the U.S. Fifth Fleets Area of Responsibility.

The USS Russells port visit is intended to strengthen the relationship between the U.S. Navy and the people of the Philippines.

It is a once in a lifetime occasion, said SONAR Technician 3rd Class Jonathan Ferrel. Manila presents a unique chance to experience a rich culture different from my own.

While visiting the Philippines, crew members are looking forward to exploring the city, interacting with local citizens, enjoying opportunities for recreation, shopping and local cuisine, and learning more about the Philippines cultural roots and historical sites. Additionally, almost a dozen Russell sailors with family ties to the Philippines will use their time to visit loved ones while in Manila.

This port call is a fantastic opportunity for our crew, said CDR Gill McCarthy, commanding officer of the USS Russell. We are excited to develop deeper ties with the people of the Philippines and enjoy the tremendous offerings of the city of Manila.

Following the visit to Manila, the USS Russell will continue its voyage home, certainly with its crew bearing a better understanding of the history, culture, and people of a strong regional partner.
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Vice Adm. Nora Tyson visited Australia, March 9-12.

During her trip, she visited the Australian capital Canberra to meet with Chief of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Vice Adm. Tim Barrett, and travelled to Sydney where she met with RAN Fleet Commander Rear Adm. Stuart Mayer, attended briefs, and toured installations, vessels, and training facilities.

U.S. 3rd Fleet is operating throughout the Pacific more regularly, and Tyson said witnessing some of Australia's military capabilities and meeting with senior Navy leadership in person has been priceless.

"We value our alliances and partnerships throughout the region and understand it is these relationships and shared interests that allow us to work together across the full range of military operations," said Tyson.

Tyson said Australia has long been a vital partner and ally of the U.S.

"For more than 75 years, our countries have trained and fought alongside each other in every significant conflict since World War I. It is the steadfast alliance between the United States and Australia, supported by shared democratic values, common interests, and cultural ties, that is the anchor to peace and stability throughout the Asia-Pacific and around the world," said Tyson.

Tyson also noted, Australia has been a key participant in past Rim of the Pacific Exercises (RIMPAC) and has been invited to participate again this summer. RIMPAC is the world's largest international maritime exercise and takes place in and around the Hawaiian Islands every two years.

U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.
ARCTIC CIRCLE (NNS) -- Two Los Angeles-class submarines arrived at U.S. Navy Ice Camp Sargo, a temporary station on top of a floating ice sheet in the Arctic, March 14, as part of Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2016.

USS Hartford (SSN 768) from Groton, Connecticut, and USS Hampton (SSN 767) from San Diego will conduct multiple arctic transits, a North Pole surfacing, scientific data collection and other training evolutions during their time in the region.

"Submarine operations as part of ICEX provide the necessary training to maintain a working knowledge of an extremely challenging region that is very different than any other ocean in the world," said Cmdr. Scott Luers, ice camp officer-in-tactical-command and deputy director of operations for Commander Submarine Forces in Norfolk. "Navigating, communicating and maneuvering are all different in an arctic environment as there are surfaces both above and below a submarine."

ICEX 2016 is a five-week exercise designed to assess the operational readiness of the submarine force while also continuing to advance scientific research in the arctic region. The Navy's Arctic Submarine Laboratory, based in San Diego, serves as the lead organization for coordinating, planning and executing the exercise involving two submarines, multiple nations and more than 200 participants.

"Our Arctic Submarine Laboratory, led by Larry Estrada, continues to be the world leader in Arctic undersea operations," said Rear Adm. Jeff Trussler, commander, Undersea Warfighting Development Center.

Submarines have conducted under-ice operations in the Arctic region for more than 50 years. USS Nautilus (SSN 571) made the first transit in 1958. USS Skate (SSN 578) was the first U.S. submarine to surface through arctic ice at the North Pole in March, 1959. USS Sargo (SSN 583), which the temporary ice camp is named after, was the first submarine to make a winter Bering Strait transit in 1960.

Since those events, the U.S. Submarine Force has completed more than 26 Arctic exercises. ICEX 2016 is the latest exercise demonstrating the important and unique role the Submarine Force plays in implementing the Department of Defense's Arctic strategy.

"ICEX 2016 is our continued commitment to the development of undersea warfare capabilities and tactics in all areas of the world," said Trussler. "Our superiority in delivering effects in and from the undersea domain to the operational commanders is dependent on the regular exercise and demonstration of these capabilities."
Phase 2 of Irving Pulp & Paper's Modernization Project on Schedule in New Brunswick

March 16, 2016 - J.D. Irving said that Phase 2 of the modernization project at its Irving Pulp & Paper Mill in Saint John, New Brunswick is about 95% complete.

JDI said the new digester equipment and technology is on schedule for commissioning and start-up over the next few weeks.

According to JDI, the project is part of a $450 million modernization  the largest pulp mill investment in Canada since 1993.

To date, JDI has awarded over $90 million in contracts to 166 New Brunswick companies since the beginning of the modernization in 2014.

The current Phase 2 of the modernization has created about 450 direct and indirect construction jobs at the pulp mill site in west side Saint John.

Engineering and some civil work has started on Phase 3 of the modernization project  a $250 million pulp dryer project.

Irving Pulp & Paper produces of both Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) and Northern Bleached Hardwood Kraft (NBHK), and has an annual capacity of 335,000 tonnes per year. To learn more, please visit: www.jdirving.com.

SOURCE: J.D. Irving, Limited
In California, patients who are terminally ill will have an option to end their lives instead of continue suffering the disease they have. The option was under the law of End of Life Option Act that will be applied on June 9 this year.

A 46-year-old retired army sergeant named Matt Fairchild is suffering pain from advanced melanoma that is spreading in his bones and brain. His condition does not allow him to go out. He also takes 26 prescription drugs every day.

According to Fairchild, he refuses to say that he is fighting against cancer, because he knows he is the one losing the fight. He doesn't want to spend his last days in agony, he added.

According to CNN, California became the fifth state that allows suicide law that gives the patients who are terminally ill to choose between living their lives suffering from pain or end their lives with drugs prescribed by doctors. Religious groups and disability rights activist are against this law.

Fairchild said he feels ease when he knows that the law will become effective in June 9. Having that law will enable him to say his last farewell to his family and friends, he added.

As reported by Inquisitr, the suicide law or Aid-in-dying law was already signed by Governor Jerry Brown last year. An advocacy group called Hemlock Society, attentively campaigned to get the law approved. The law was medically assisted by suicide law allowing doctors to give deadly doses of medicine to the terminally ill patients.

According to Toni Broaddus, a campaign director of Hemlock Society California said, "We are telling people to start talking to their doctor now." The patients should consider the option and begin to talk about it with their respective doctors.

Senator Bill Monning, law's co-sponsor said "I certainly expect it's going to provoke conversations within families and between terminally ill patients and physicians."" We're glad to finally have arrived at this day where we have a date certain," he added.


A toddler miraculously escaped a hit-and-run accident which could have instantly ended his life. His dad and sister also could not believe how he survived unscathed.

Mirror reported that 16-month-old Thomas Smylie was knocked down twice in while he was feeding ducks with his dad and sister in Ireland. Smylie's dad, Paul, narrated that a car reversed on his son then drove on his leg before speeding off.

"The car reversed, hit him with the bumper and drove over his leg," he said in a Belfast Live report. "I yelled 'stop'. There were two fellas in the car and the windows were open."

He claimed that one of the passengers of the car even looked out the window before the car drove away. "He drove over his leg twice. I just could not believe it.I had to run to the passenger wheel to get him lifted and as soon as I did that he just drove over the youngster's leg again," added the worried father.

An ambulance immediately took the young boy to Daisy Hill Hospital then was transferred to the Royal in Belfast. Medical tests revealed that Smylie only suffered ligament damage with no serious injuries.

Though there were red marks on his legs, he was out of danger. "We just don't know how lucky we are. Had that of been above his waist, we just don't know what would have happened," Paul added.

According to Mirror, the toddler has already been release from the hospital. He was taken home where he will continue his recovery.

Meanwhile, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) asked for helped on any information about the driver and the passenger of the hit-and-run vehicle. "A toddler was knocked down by a blue Volkswagen-type car and the driver left the scene at around 4:20 p.m.," a PSNI spokesperson said. "If anybody has any information in relation to this incident please call 101 and quote ref number: 841."
After banning junk food advertisements on children's television, the United Kingdom may soon ban similar ads online. Some of the online content covered by this potential ban are those on YouTube and ITV Hub.

According to BBC, the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), UK's advertising watchdog, is set to launch a public consultation on this issue. It noted that the junk food advertisement ban on television is not enough if these can still be streamed online.

In addition, the Evening Times mentioned that this move from CAP is aimed at addressing the problem of obesity in the United Kingdom. It explained that a ban could also be applied for print materials and even on billboards.

It was noted that an epidemic on childhood obesity has been reported in the UK. CAP also said that they are concerned with the increasing number of children who are forced to have their teeth taken out because they are already decaying.

Blouin News noted that the said measures are expected to improve the health of young individuals in the United Kingdom. It will also lessen the spending of the UK on obesity-related costs.

Cancer Research U.K. London director of prevention Alison Cox said in the similar report that a ban on unhealthy food advertisements will lessen cancer cases in the country. "To help prevent thousands of cancer cases we want a ban on junk food ads during family viewing times, a sugary drinks tax and more sugar taken out of food," Cox noted.

It was added in the BBC report that the ban on "the advertising of food high in fat, sugar and salt" for television started in 2007. However, it said that companies turned to online videos and photos to promote their products to the youth. Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) chief executive Guy Parker said they would receive constant questions why they ban junk food ads on TV but allow the same online.
Fourteen-year-old Kaia Gerber proved that she is a spitting image of her supermodel mom, Cindy Crawford, after they posed together for the April 2016 cover of the French fashion bible, Vogue Paris. The stunning duo are twinning in the cover of the high-fashion magazine with their matching hoop earrings, black leather jackets, flowing brunette locks and strong brows.

According to CBS News, the photos were shot by Mario Testino on the beach of Malibu. Although Kaia and her brother Presley Gerber, 16, were already featured alongside with Crawford in the September 2015 issue of American Vogue, the recent shoot was the first for the mother-daughter duo.

"The family resemblance is striking," Emmanuelle Alt, Vogue Paris editor-in-chief described the two models. "There's the same brown eyes that gaze out from underneath the same full brows, the smile could charm the stars out of the sky, the cascade of hair would have Barbie green with envy and same enviable figure from the same genetic miracle."

Crawford has been very vocal in the past about her feelings on Kaia's entrance into the modeling industry. She said that she is worried about her daughter because of the pressure of being a model.

"Today, models are expected to be so tiny and I worry about that for her, because that was never my natural body type and I don't think it'll be hers either. Still, I'll say to her, 'Enjoy carbs while you can!'" she told The Edit, according to the Daily Mirror.

"Kaia's blossoming into such a beautiful young woman and I really want to let her shine," the 50-year-old supermodel added. "I don't want her to feel in competition with me, although I'll tease her, and say, 'You have my old hair-give it back!' Or, 'Give me back my legs!' But she'll be fine...She's much more together and worldly than I was at her age."

The Telegraph reported that Kaia, whose father is former model Rande Gerber, has quickly risen through the modeling ranks after signing a contract with IMG, a global modeling agency. She also recently landed a gig as the face of the latest campaign of New York fashion designer Alexander Wang.
A humanitarian affairs officer in London revealed that kids not older than six years old have no choice but to enter Syrian refugee camps alone after getting separated from their families. Some were so shell-shocked that they were at loss for words when questioned by camp personnel.

Rob Williams, head of War Child UK, explained to Evening Standard that kids are often separated from their parents whenever their villages are attacked. Families don't always run in the same direction that's why the most vulnerable usually get lost or left behind.

"We also meet families who have walked for seven or eight days, but the ones in Jordan have generally walked about 40 miles to get to the safety of the camp," said Williams. "When children arrive they can be very traumatized. You can see a child who internally is playing over an awful memory in [their] head over and over again."

According to the latest estimates by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, one-third of all Syrian children has grown up only knowing about war and conflict. Nearly 3.7 million Syrian kids were born since the dispute arose in 2011. As of the moment, a total of 8.4 million children, in Syria and in other neighboring nations, have been affected by the war.

Williams encouraged other countries to continue their financial support to the region so that Syrians won't have to take the dangerous migrant route to Europe. War Child UK is currently providing security and post-traumatic stress debriefing to young refugees.

"There was an eight-year-old girl who was captured by Isis as she tried to escape from Syria," Williams recalled. "If we didn't run a program in that camp, she would still be not speaking and sitting in the corner of a tent still locked up in her own isolation."

War Child UK also has a support service that guides parents on how to care for their traumatized kids. Other facilities include halls for learning, music and games.
A father was arrested in Houston, Texas for the murder of his own seven-week-old baby on March 15. Cops found the dead child with bruises all over his body on March 6 at 4400 Yellowstone.

In an article published by Chron, a man by the name of Carl Wayne Robertson, 24, was charged with capital murder for killing his infant, Prince Robertson, seven weeks old, on March 6 around 10:55 in the evening. Police found bruises all over the child's body, some of which were old and others still fresh.

How can ANY human being murder this or any other infant? God help US https://t.co/pXeyLLsB8q  Barry Ickes (@barryickes) March 5, 2016

According to Houston Government Newsroom, the culprit called the paramedics from his own house to go to the 4400 block of Yellowstone after he claimed that he found his own child unconscious. The paramedics then arrived at the place and noticed all the marks of injuries on different parts of the baby's body.

The baby was declared dead a few minutes after their attempt to rescue. Pre-autopsy results said that the baby died from blunt force trauma.

The autopsy also showed new injuries from the baby, which involved some broken ribs while old bruises included the child's brain was said to have bled. Reports also stated that baby Prince's death occurred when his brain stem was finally cut off due to all the trauma it went.

The father then admitted he murdered his own son telling the police he actually shook his baby first before hitting him. After his deposition, state District Judge Michael McSpadden ordered the suspect to be held without bail at Harris County jail.

Murdering a child whose age is below ten years old means he could serve life in prison without parole should he be found guilty of the crime. Aside from that, the DA's office in Harris County could even fight for a death penalty.
Italy is set to pass a new law that will require supermarkets to give unsold foods to charities than throw it in the waste. Italy will become the second European country after France to pass this law that bans supermarket to throw away unsold food.

According to Independent, the law is expected to be passed at the parliament on Monday, where it also receives bipartisan support. Italy wishes to offer businesses incentives by donating food and help the country's 12-billion-euro waste problem.

As of this moment, restaurants or supermarkets must declare their donations progress. The food safety regulation has 17 articles in the bill allowing businesses to offer food after its "best before" date.

Maurizio Martina, Italy's Agriculture Minister said, "We are making it more convenient for companies to donate than to waste." "We currently recover 550 million tonnes of excess food each year but we want to arrive at one billion in 2016," he added.

In other news, a Democratic Party MP named Maria Chiara Gadda who represented the law said, "Punishing wasters is not so helpful: this is all about encouraging donations." The Italian system is considering all food outlets wishes to give their extra food to charity, they must also declare it beforehand, according to The Telegraph.

The law also changes the rules on numbering of products, making it possible to donate it even if they passed its "best before" dates. Martina also said, "We are making it more convenient for companies to donate than to waste."

A million euros a year will be billed to the food packaging for the next three years. Leading supermarkets in UK pledge to downgrade their food and drinks waste. Local authorities and manufacturers are also committed to the contract created by the Waste and Resources Action Program.


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In 1948, the southern Dixiecrats walked out of the Democratic National Convention following the adoption of a civil rights plank in the party platform, and the nomination of Harry Truman for the presidency. The loss of the Solid South, which had provided the support for Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal, would follow roughly two decades later. The southern realignment followed a classic divide in left wing American politics between labor and social progressivism.

While the modern Democratic Party has encompassed both of these forces, and today, the split is less apparenteven nonexistent for many millennialsit is playing out in the presidential primary race between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Clinton has wrapped herself in the mantle of social liberalism while largely ignoring economic progressivism, and Sanders has embraced both with a heavy emphasis on the latter.

The classic fault lines may soon re-emerge in their full glory as Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump edge closer to winning their respective nominations. A recent survey found that 33 percent of Sanders supporters will not vote for Clinton in a general electionand many would defect to Trumpwhich means we may see something similar to the realignment of the South: the realignment of economic progressives.

Realignments, or voter shifts that change the political landscape, occur when there is a general discontent among the population that is unaddressed. The last realignment was the southern switch from blue to red, and now were on the cusp of another. The biggest issues of the day is the corrupting influence of money in politics and our rigged economy; they were the basis for the astro-turf Tea Party as well as the grassroots Occupy Movement.

Hillary Clinton is only starting to adopt the rhetoric of the new progressive movement, and it is clear to many that it is not where her heart is. Considering how much Citizens United and private election funding has helped her towards securing the nomination (83 percent of the former Secretarys campaign funding comes from large donors, and her campaign coordinates directly with a superPAC that raises money from Wall Street and big industry), it is unlikely this talk is sinceremeaning that if Clinton wins, the Democratic Party will not adequately address todays biggest issues.

At the same time, there is no question the Republican Party is undergoing a change. In recent years it has been taken over by the far right, which Donald Trump capitalized on by campaigning on a radically bigoted platform. However, as William Greider of The Nation points out in a fantastic article titled How Donald Trump Could Beat Hillary Clinton, his message may change for the general election. He could defeat the former Secretary by running to her right socially, but her left economically.

Though his current platform is typically Republican, featuring tax cuts at the top, deregulation, and hard lines on immigration and foreign policy, Mr. Trump has already indicated an affection for the economic populist rhetoric Bernie Sanders has espousedhimself talking about taxing hedge fund guys their fair share, allowing the government to negotiate drug prices with private companies, not taking money from corporate interests (though he is a corporate interest), and railing against bad free trade agreements.

If Trump capitalizes on Bernies progressive movement more than Clinton does, he could successfully pick up those voters Clinton would lose. In the process, he could save the Republican Party by transforming it. Trump is better positioned to accomplish this feat considering his outsider status, and how much Hillary has turned Bernies voters off with her record, her ties to big business, her reliance on Wall Street, the DNC, and the media in this primary, and her patronizing rhetoric aimed at millennials.

In this scenario, the Democratic Party would become a union of corporate interests and holdout single-issue social progressives, while the GOP would become the party of Bernie Sanders supporters, blue collar Americans, and the racist Tea Party. Over time, the Tea Party would likely fade into the fringe.

This is a kind of Bizarro reality I find myself writing aboutone that I would have never even considered if you told me about it a year ago. In November 2012, I predicted a realignment that would take on a less dramatic appearanceand that prediction could still hold true. However, with the rise of the political outsiders and the unique demand for change on the left (following Occupy), on the right (following the presidency of Americas first black president), and all over America due to the economic recession, we may see a complete change in both parties.

Of course, there are other possibilities too. American politics is anything but static. If Clinton and Trump win their nominations, a lot could happen. Theres a possibility that Trumps extreme rhetoric and inexperience will frighten enough Sanders supporters to vote Democratic down the line to propel Hillary to victory in November.

In that scenario, the big hold up is 2020a Census year with a high chance of Supreme Court turnover. Democrats must win, but the deck is stacked against them. The last time we had two consecutive two-term presidents from the same party was Madison to Monroe. In other words, it has never happened in our modern party system. A presidential loss in four years does not bode well for the Democrats prospects in state elections or Congress. However, this too could change if Bernies supporters hold Clintons feet to the fire, elect progressives like Tim Canova to Congress, and she responds well to the political pressure.

And then, theres still the chance that Sanders will win the nomination. No matter what happens, one thing is clear: progressives will determine the future of Americas political parties. They just have to own the moment.
Last night, Donald Trump moved ever closer to clinching the Republican presidential nomination. What was once a joke is looking more and more like an eventuality. But as Trumps loose-cannon, casually xenophobic rhetoric continues to inspire vitriolic responses from both his supporters and opponents, a pair of graphic designers from New York have chosen to respond with a message of love.

Timothy Goodman and Jessica Walsh, known previously for their 40 Days of Dating project, organized a group of people to stand in front of Trump Tower in New York yesterday, holding up large letters that read, Build Kindness Not Walls. The wall, of course, is a reference to Trumps crazy promise to erect a barrier between the United States and Mexico and somehow force Mexico pay for it.

Goodman and Walsh supplemented their display with a blog post on a website they set up to promote it:

On the whole, the Build Kindness Not Walls demonstration is part of a larger project called 12 Kinds of Kindness, in which Goodman and Walsh attempt to discover ways to build empathy. The 12th kind is their response to Trump, which in addition to the display outside Trump Tower includes a Trump insult soundboard and a poll asking what youll do if Trump wins.
When I first ranked some films from the archive of horror streaming service Shudder back in 2016, I was inclined to think This service probably beats out Netflix, in terms of offering a wider scope of both classic and modern horror cinema. After doing that ranking, Ive continued paying for a Shudder subscription, not only because its a useful service but because Ive wanted to support the very idea of a niche genre streaming service for horror movies. However, Ive never used Shudder quite often enough to really pay attention to all the titles that were being added throughout the last year, until returning to update my rankings.

All I can say now is: Wow. The Shudder library, which I once said probably beats out the likes of Netflix, now destroys Netflix in terms of both quality and quantity. With a library that I currently count at 729 horror films, a $4.99 monthly subscription to Shudder is a bit like having access to the best local independent video store you can imagine. The sheer variety is enough to make a horror geek lightheaded.

With that said, there are always some bugs. One eventually learns the little ins-and-outs of using Shudder, especially via a desktop web browser. The search function can be twitchyyou can type in part of a film title and it will fail to appear unless the whole title is filled in, for example. For this reason, it pays to check twice while searching. There are occasional errors in formatting and page loading. You may accidentally end up on pages for films that are no longer available, or not available in your country. But it comes with the territory of a service that is still being refined.

If theres one thing Im most impressed by in the Shudder experience, though, its the fact that their films actually feel like a vault, like a library that is meant to be permanent. Netflix, with its constant influx of films both in and out, necessitates you constantly look up which movies are leaving. Shudder, on the other hand, seems to almost never let its movies slip away after it adds them. After ranking 80 of them back in October, only ONE of those films is no longer available on the service in the U.S. (American Psycho) Thats a crazy percentage of retention. If this had been Netflix, 30 percent of those movies would be gone and replaced with other titles.

And so, if youre thinking about getting a Shudder subscription, or youre just wondering which movies on the service you should watch next, enjoy this sprawling ranking. Ive shuffled some things around from the previous version, added some new films and reevaluated a few old ones. Enjoy, horror geeks!



Year: 2008

Director: James Nguyen

Birdemic is an absolutely horrendous film, but its one that absolutely everyone whos ever enjoyed The Room needs to put on their list. On first inspection it simply looks like a rip-off of Hitchcocks The Birds, but in reality its so much worse and more fascinating than that. The parallels to The Room are extremely accurate: Like Tommy Wiseaus famously inept film, Birdemic is the product of a single, deranged mind, that of the Vietnamese-born would-be auteur James Nguyen, whose non-native writing fills the dialog with mind-bending absurdities and a pathetically sincere attempt at an ecological message. The actors seem to be people that Nguyen scooped off the street moments before shooting began, completely wooden and unsure of where they are or how they got here. Technical gaffes abound. And when the birds finally show up, the film is graced by some of the most gut-bustingly hilarious FX of all timeclip-art birds that flutter in place, suspended in mid-air while the heroes swipe at them with coat hangers. This is all in Birdemic. You need to see Birdemic. But please, Im warning you: Ignore Nguyens self-aware attempt to follow up on the film with Birdemic 2: The Resurrection. The magic, unsurprisingly, is gone.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1977

Director: George Barry

Patton Oswalt immortalized Death Bed with an uproarious four-minute piece of stand-up during his second album, forever catapulting this terrible movie into horror film infamywhich is reason enough that you should really watch it at least once. The subtitle isnt The Bed That Eats People as Oswalt believed; instead its the genuinely stupider and more vague The Bed That Eats. Although I suppose it is at least accurate, given that the evil, demon-possessed bed doesnt only eat human beings, and instead absorbs just about anything placed upon it. There are a few amusing gags, such as the scene where the Death Bed actually gets indigestion before consuming a bottle of Pepto Bismol, but the majority is still a dull, ugly 70s horror flick with zero budget. Watch it for the Death Bed, get your chuckles and get out.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1985

Director: Jay Schlossberg-Cohen

Night Train to Terror is a really awful movie, but its one of the most fun-bad and head-scratchingly hilarious films youll find in the Shudder library. Just trying to sum it up is challengingits sort of an anthology, but one that only exists because the producers decided to cobble several unfinished horror films together by use of a framing device. Oh, and WHAT a framing device! It involves some delightfully campy God and Satan caricatures sitting together in a train car, discussing the various stories the audience is viewing, and whether those participants are heaven or hell-bound. But thats not all. As God and Satan are having Socratic debate, the train is also filled with members of the worst synth rock band outside of Miami Connections Dragon Sound, who endlessly perform the same 60 seconds of of soulless pop-rock over and over on a loop, while dressed as 80s mall pirates. Truly, it must be seen to be believed, but all in all, Night Train to Terror is one of the most delightfully chopped together, Z-grade horror movies of the mid-80s. Schedule it for your next bad movie night, post-haste.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1963

Director: Herschell Gordon Lewis

Herschell Gordon Lewis is referred to as the Godfather of Gore primarily because of movies such as Blood Feast, which is often considered the first true splatter filma horror movie specifically concerned with the gruesome destruction of the human body. Before this point, horror cinema was much more ginger with actual blood and guts, but in the hands of Lewis, the blood splashed forth in great torrents. Blood Feasts psycho is a caterer who makes meals out of his victims, adding another taboo to the films bubbling pot in the form of cannibalism. By todays standards, the ground-breaking effects are sort of on the tame sidethe blood in particular is so bright and syrupy that its hard to take seriouslybut its fun to watch Blood Feast in 2016 and imagine drive-in audiences vomiting up their popcorn at the sight of brains being removed and hearts being devoured. Lewis went on to perfect his splatter films in future outings like 1970s The Wizard of Gore.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1974

Director: Paul Annett

Britains Amicus Productions is known to most horror geeks for their classic anthology films, which blend Hammer-style British horror and humor in titles such as Dr. Terrors House of Horrors and The House that Dripped Blood. Less well-known are the full-length features, which tended to come off as Hammer-lite, despite starring many of the same genre staples such as Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. This one is a rather farcical werewolf yarn, with elements that remind one somewhat of William Castles House on Haunted Hill, when it comes to gimmickry. A millionaire invites a bunch of suspects to his mansion, then reveals that one of them is actually  a werewolf! The group is subjected to some hilariously silly tests, including putting a silver bullet in their mouths, to suss out the werewolfs identity. Cushing is present in a professorial role, of the exact type that he played in seemingly every British horror film made between 1957-1975, and hes unsurprisingly the highlight. Near the end, this goofy flick even features a 30-second Werewolf Break, where the audience is asked to guess the wolfs identity. Castle would have loved its blend of silly horror and humor.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1987

Director: Jackie Kong

Blood Diner is a real piece of work, and completely deserving of cult classic status. This is a batshit, off-the-wall, gore-heavy horror film with plenty of comedy, perfectly in synch with the direct-to-video aesthetic of 1987. It revolves around two evil brothers who resurrect their insane uncle and put his psychic brain in a jar, which commands them to kill various women and stitch together a Bride of Frankenstein-style corpse to become the vessel for an ancient, evil goddess. The women are chosen from the pool of regular customers who patronize the brothers vegetarian-only (oh the irony, har har har) diner. If that sounds absurd, its really only scratching the surfacethis movie also contains a pro wrestling subplot where one of the brothers challenges and ultimately defeats despised local wrestler Jimmy Hitler. Colorful, gory and joyously ludicrous, Blood Diner is a near perfect selection for your next bad movie night.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1924

Director: Robert Wiene

Robert Wiene was the director of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, but the foundational film of German Expressionism wasnt his only contribution to classic horror cinema. Four years later he made The Hands of Orlac, a more conventional horror story that blends some of the Caligari visual flourishes with a story and pacing that would have fit in well during Universals original horror series. The film follows a concert pianist named Orlac (Caligaris somnambulist, Conrad Veidt) whose hands are severed in a terrible accident. When a surgeon transplants new hands, Orlac is shocked to find that they came from a vicious murderer. Soon, obsessed with thoughts of violence, Orlac is left wondering whether the murderers hands will spur him on to terrible deeds. Part mystery, part psychological horror, its a solid silent-era horror flick that illustrates how deep the Shudder library can be.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1977

Director: William Girdler

After Jaws became the first true summer blockbuster in 1975, animals attack films proliferated. 1976s Grizzly was the first big success in the Jaws on land variants, and director William Girdler followed it up with Day of the Animals, which could probably be considered the logical zenith of the nature attacks premiseall animals vs. all humans. As in, solar radiation somehow causes every animal above 5,000 feet of elevation to go insane, attacking anything in their path. A group of hikers are menaced by all kinds of animalsmountain lions, bears, birds of prey and even pet dogs. Leslie Nielsen, five years before his career-altering comedic turn in Airplane!, appears as the primary human villain, channeling a bit of his Creepshow character from the early 80s. Its sort of an ugly film to watch today, but imagine if they ever decided to remake this thing with a decent budget. I want to see that movie, and all the killer koalas it would surely entail.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2012

Directors: Adam Wingard, David Bruckner, Ti West, Joe Swanberg, Glenn McQuaid, Radio Silence

Horror anthologies are often difficult to rate, because youll have a hard time finding one that doesnt have some significant low points. Such is the case with the first two entries in the V/H/S seriesthe third is just plain bad. Some of the found footage segments work really well, and continue to point to great things in the future for directors such as David Bruckner, who followed up his Amateur Night segment here with what was maybe the best segment in this years Southbound horror anthology. Other guys, like promising indie horror director Ti West, took a step back here, as his naturalistic style makes for a glacially paced and weirdly mundane segment, Second Honeymoon. Still, there are some good scares in Amateur Night and Joe Swanbergs The Sick Thing That Happened to Emily When She Was Younger, and FX geeks will no doubt want to watch the crazy CGI that directing quartet Radio Silence pulls off on a budget in 10/31/98. Ultimately, you might say the V/H/S series would be best if all the best segments were simply cobbled into one film.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1932

Director: Victor Halperin

One doesnt need a Shudder subscription to see White Zombieits readily available in the public domain, and youll see it included in every cheapo horror box set for that reason. Outside of star Bela Lugosi, the acting is pretty atrocious, but its a film that horror genre purists need to check off their lists at some point simply due to its influence and importance to the genre as the first-ever zombie film. Zombies, of course, had a very different connotation in the pre-George Romero worldthese are Haitian voodoo zombies, with Lugosi as the spellbinding ringleader with the hypnotic eyes. This was in an age before subtlety had arrived in horror, so the name of Lugosis character is literally Murder, and he spends most of the film mucking about in the affairs of an engaged couple, zombifying the woman in the process to become his slave. Its only 67 minutes long, so what do you have to lose? If you end up watching Revolt of the Zombies, King of the Zombies and I Walked With a Zombie afterward, I swear off all responsibility.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1982

Director: Frank Henenlotter

Bargain bin horror really reached a new level in the 1980s as filmmaking equipment became more widely available. Made for only $33,000, Basket Case nevertheless received a fairly wide theatrical release, proving once again that horror is the genre where opportunity always knocks. Armed with little more than some crappy actors and a big wicker basket, Henenlotter crafted this schlocky tale of two brothers: A seemingly normal guy named Duane and his separated, deformed Siamese twin Belial, who he carries around with him at all times. Little more than a lumpy, fanged head with one random arm, Belial is at times stop-motion animated as he escapes from his basket and runs amok. The film eventually developed enough of a cult for Henenlotter to return and direct two sequels in the early 1990s. It combines some of the subversive humor of a Troma film with Henenlotters gory streak.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1959

Director: William Castle

For William Castle, going to the movies was a matter of life and death. Or at least he wanted to convince you as much: If he didnt have you believing you had some serious stakes in what was happening onscreen, then hethe 20th centurys consummate cinematic showmanwasnt doing his job. So begins The Tingler, Castles 1959 creature feature, wherein Castle appears on screen like a B-grade Alfred Hitchcock to remind the audience that what theyre about to see is hardly a lark. Fear is a natural but serious affliction, a building-up of poisonous humors within ones nervous system, and so it must be addressed should you endure the film hes about to show you. The only way to live through The Tingler? Youre going to have to scream. And, to prove his medical conclusions, Castle introduces us to Dr. Chapin (Vincent Price at the height of his weirdo sophisticate phase), a man who believes that every human being has a parasite living in their spine that feeds off of extreme fearthats the tingling sensation you get every time youre panicked. The parasite will grow and decimate a persons backbone unless its defeated/deflated by the only logical reaction to fear: screaming. Things of course get tinglier once Chapin captures an actual rubbery spine centipedeand, meanwhile, Castle was always ready to exploit his audiences squirm factor, having Percepto! contraptions installed into each theater seat, set to buzz the butts of already agitated film-goers to scare them into thinking the insectoid creature was crawling up their back. Among Castles many interactive gimmick films in the 1950s, The Tingler might be the Castle-est, a sincerely wacky, unsettling, imaginative experience whether youre equipped with a vibrating chair or not. And hearing Vincent Price hollering into the void of a pitch-black screen, Scream! Scream for your lives! The Tingler is loose in the theater!, offers enough urgency to persuade you something may be nipping at your backside after all. Dom Sinacola





Year: 1991

Director: Lam Nai-choi

Riki-Oh is a pretty unorthodox choice for Shudder to lump in among its horror fare, and you sort of have to have seen the movie to understand why youd find it here. Ostensibly a pulpy, exploitation-style martial arts thriller, it presumably makes the list for the fact that its one of the most violent, gory martial arts movies ever made. Seriouslyits like the Dead Alive of its genre, more or less. Following the titular Ricky, who is sent to a corrupt private prison because of his violent vigilantism, it essentially becomes the peons of the evil warden vs. our hero, who is so strong that his typical method of dealing with a threat is simply to punch gaping holes in people. The English dubbing is equal parts atrocious and hilarious, melding with the violence to make the film often feel like a parody of over-the-top martial arts cinema. But really, the thing that will stick with you for years afterward is the stylish, comic gore of Ricky exploding people with his bare fists. If you love comically gory movies, Riki-Oh is one of the essentials.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1988

Director: William Lustig

Maniac Cop is the rather unusual intersection between slasher film and buddy cop movieits like Lethal Weapon, if the villain were Jason Voorhees and the commissioner was Shaft. Unfortunately, its not quite as fun as that description would make it sound, but its a tough premise to live up to. A young Bruce Campbell, fresh off Evil Dead 2, plays the lead, but hes tuned down a bit from the frenetic energy of his work with Sam Raimi. The film revolves around a serial killer wearing a police officers uniform, eventually revealed as Robert The Chin ZDaralways a welcome, deranged face to see in this sort of movie. Opinion on whether the film is cult-worthy is often divided, but with Campbell, ZDar and plenty of gore, its an essential entry for the genre as the golden age of the slasher movie as winding down in the late 80s.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1984

Director: Douglas Cheek

It stands for Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers, if you were wondering. C.H.U.D. is a product of its time, the sort of mid-70s/early 80s horror film that sets itself in street-level New York City when the Big Apple was renowned as the crime-ridden cesspit of the nation. Cynical as hell, it imagines a race of cannibal monsters created by toxic waste dumped into the New York sewers, where it transforms the local homeless population. In execution, its sort of like a Troma film that has a larger budget, maintaining a grimy and tasteless aesthetic that nevertheless has a memorable quality that is hard to define. I think the effects are a part of thatquite icky, but fleeting. I look at this scene of a C.H.U.D. being beheaded and cant decide if its terrible, awesome or terribly awesome. C.H.U.D. has lived an entire second life as comedy material, with references ranging from The Simpsons to an April Fools prank from the Criterion Collection.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2011

Directors: Adam Rifkin, Tim Sullivan, Adam Green, Joe Lynch

Chillerama is another anthology, but with a framing story that is a bit more grounded and conventionalall the shorts are simply being viewed at a classic drive-in, until terror leaps off the screen in the form of a zombie outbreak in the theater in the final segment. The individual segments are much more comedy than straight horror, from the runaway killer sperm of Wadzilla to the decency-pushing crudeness of The Diary of Anne Frankenstein. Its the sort of horror comedy trying so hard to shock and offend that it occasionally seems desperate, but a good number of the jokes do indeed land. Theres a whos-who of B-movie actor staples as well: Ray Wise, Eric Roberts, Richard Riehle, Lin Shaye, Kane Hodder and more. A whole lot of filmmakers have tried to make films like this one in the last 15 years, but Chillerama can at least say it executes better than most. Throw it on at a party, if the people present arent easily offended.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1970

Director: Jesus Franco

Ah, Jess Franco. Of all the cinematic rabbit holes of Euro-horror, Francos may run the deepest. This is a man who personally directed almost 200 movies between 1959-2013, which ran the gamut between horror, giallo, comedy and outright pornography. Most tend to be on the ramshackle side, like an even more shoestring version of Mario Bava, but a few such as Count Dracula do have a sumptuous, plush look to them. This is an interesting film that seems at first familiar, thanks to the presence of Dracula icon Christopher Lee in the title role, but make no mistakethis isnt a Hammer Horror movie, despite taking place in the same time period when Lee was making Dracula movies in the U.K. Rather, this one plays like some kind of alternate dimension Dracula story, more closely based on Bram Stokers original novel. One suspects it was the promise of doing the story right that likely appealed to Lee, who occasionally resented the fact that his Dracula roles typecast him as a horror icon. Here, he launches into full-on thespian mode, presenting an aged Count ala Gary Oldman in Bram Stokers Dracula who grows younger as he drains the lovely young ladies of London. He does a few of the classic Dracula lines; even the fabulous children of the night quip, which is undeniably chilling. The other unique aspect of Francos Count Dracula is the presence of Klaus Kinski as the mad, fly-eating Renfieldironic, considering that 9 years later he would go on to portray the titular vampire in Werner Herzogs Nosferatu the Vampyre.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2010

Director: Adam Wingard

A Horrible Way to Die is the kind of uneven, rough draft of a feature film that makes you perk up and take interest in an indie filmmakers careerin this case, that of Adam Wingard. The first feature film to receive significant distribution by the guy who would later make The Guest and Youre Next, A Horrible Way to Die is a much simpler, more intimate story that fits neatly into the so-called mumblegore subgenre of low-budget, personal horror films. Casting is one of its strong suits, as Joe Swanberg and Amy Seimetz play recovering alcoholics who begin a relationship at the worst possible timeright as the female leads psychotic, serial killer ex-boyfriend (A.J. Bowen) escapes from police custody and begins tracking her down. The film gives an unflinching insight into the killers perspective, and casts him as the hero of his own story, although it also feels a bit rushed at times. Its the sort of film that feels like it could benefit from a higher tier of budget and production to make something more visually memorable, but Wingards talent for composition and characters is clear despite it. It continually hints at the superior movies hed be making in the next few years  recent Blair Witch remake excluded.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2013

Director: Chris LaMartina

The success or failure of WNUF Halloween Special was always going to come down to how faithfully it could replicate the look and feel of a real local news broadcast from 1987, and in this respect it hits a home run. The cheap VHS video aesthetic and smarmy news anchors create just the right touchschmaltzy, but in a way that is truly genuine rather than overtly parodic and over the top. Indeed, for the first 30 to 45 minutes of this film, it feels like a broadcast that could have truly happened. At the same time, that means this isnt a horror comedy going for the jugular in terms of gags; the fake commercials for carpeting warehouses, tampons and childrens toys are exactly as funny as an average commercial from 1987 is to watch in 2017. Which is to say theyre going for wry smiles rather than huge punchlines, and its very well calculated. When the broadcast finally does fall apart into supernatural territory, it breaks the illusion somewhat to become a merely average found footage horror comedy, but its the normalcy preceding the bloodshedding that is oddly memorable.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1980

Director: Umberto Lenzi

If you love ludicrous foreign horror cinema, and especially batshit crazy Italian zombie movies, then Nightmare City is like the holy grail of your subgenre. Because this movie is insane. Its zombies are irradiated and pizza-faced, with ridiculous makeup and a compulsion to drink blood like theyre vampires, because the radiation is destroying their own red blood cells. Theyre unique for zombies in the sense that they retain some cognitionenough to pretend that theyre uninfected until theyre within range of people to kill. And oh, how they kill! These zombies are armed to the teeth with knives, axes, even machineguns. I repeat: This movie features machinegun-firing zombies, priestly zombies, doctor zombies and even zombies that are implied to have somehow flown and landed a large military plane on their own. Add to that a delightfully wacky English dubbing, full of awkward pauses, strange voices and philosophical ramblings, and you have the birth of a camp classic on your hands. Nightmare City stars Mexican actor Hugo Stiglitz (yes, the source of the name in Tarantinos Inglorious Basterds) as a rogue news reporter who races across the countryside with his wife, trying to evade the ghouls as she rambles continuously about the futility of the human experience. It all builds to one of the most laugh-out-loud conclusions youll ever see in a zombie film, and I wouldnt dare spoil it. Suffice to say, Nightmare City is Euro-trash zombie cinema, but its GREAT Euro-trash zombie cinema for your next weird movie night.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2011

Director: Ben Wheatley

Kill List has received plenty of acclaim, and there are horror geeks who would have this film much higher on their lists, but its often as frustrating as it is effective. The story of a pair of out-of-work former soldiers who have become hitmen, it presents itself as a mystery or crime thriller as much as a true horror film, although there are certainly segments that are difficult to watch, such as the torture of a pornographer. It feels heavily inspired, especially toward the conclusion, by fellow British horror classic The Wicker Man, and aspires toward some kind of profound artistic statement, but isnt quite coherent enough to back up its self-confidence. There are some wonderful individual performances though, particularly Neil Maskell as the protagonist and troubled hitman, Jay. I wont ruin its various twists and turns through over-explanation, but viewers should be aware that Kill List is often more concerned with visual flourishes and general creepiness than helping the audience understand anyones motivations. In that way, you can think of it as an arthouse horror flick.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1980

Director: William Lustig

Eight years before Maniac Cop, William Lustig apparently still really liked how the word maniac sounded in film titles. This fairly standard low-budget slasher was remade in 2012 with Elijah Wood in the title role, but the original bears little resemblance to the arty, first-person perspective horror film it became in the remake. The ever-greasy Joe Spinell, best known to audiences as Stallones loan shark in Rocky, stars as a man who kills and scalps women for no real reason. It feels like a film that aspires to be a gritty character portrait, something along the lines of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, but is just a bit too tawdry and doesnt characterize its lead enough. However, its still something of a must for the horror completionist thanks to the splatterific effects by Tom Savini, who appears in the film and gets his own head blown off in an insanely over-the-top bit of grossness. CGI gore will never be as icky as this.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1980

Director: Ruggero Deodato

Infamous and influential in equal partsthats Cannibal Holocaust for you. It wasnt the first of the Italian cannibal films, but its certainly the most famous, and left the longest-lasting impact on horror cinema and pop culture. In its wake, films in this mold flourishedAmerican (or just generally white and naive) tourists or activists get lost in the jungle, captured by cannibal tribes and subjected to sadistic torturethe formula has stayed the same all the way up to Eli Roths recent The Green Inferno. Cannibal Holocaust, on the other hand, became more infamous for the rumors that surrounded it, namely that real-life human deaths had occurred on screen. This was blatantly untrue, although there are numerous real-life animal slayings, which make it a very difficult watch for anyone squeamish about animal violence. The brutality isnt its only attraction, thoughCannibal Holocaust is actually a better film and more interesting story than most give it credit for, and its better than most of the Italian follow-ups. If it ends up being something you enjoy, the derivative Cannibal Ferrox can also be found on Shudder.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1983

Director: Mark Rosman

If you dreamt up an early 80s slasher movie that wasnt a franchise, it would look exactly like The House on Sorority Row. Sororities have always been prime slasher territory, thanks to the preponderance of young female victims living under the same roofeven the first-ever true slasher, Black Christmas, was set in a sorority. This one reveals tightly around a group of seven girls who accidentally murder their overbearing house mother in a prank gone wrong. As they try to cover up the crime, members of the group start showing up dead, begging the question of who or what is doing the killing. Its pretty archetypal stuff, but a fun whodunit from smack dab in the middle of the golden era of the slasher.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2013

Director: Richard Raaphorst

Indie found footage horror, contrary to what the success of Paranormal Activity would have you believe, is not an easy propositionnot at all. The original Paranormal Activity succeeds as a low-budget triumph because it has such modest goals, and most of the other found footage successes share that in common, but Frankensteins Army is very different in that regard. Its the story of a troop of Russian soldiers in the waning days of WWII, infiltrating a German compound that turns out to be the testing grounds for a Frankenstein-descendent mad scientist. When his undead soldier creations come to life, the Russian soldiers end up fighting for their lives. Plot and performances are essentially unimportantwhat ends up being extremely impressive here are the fabulously grisly monster designs, practical effects and inventiveness in staging found footage action sequences. This is an ambitious film that can be dull when there arent monster attacks happening, but what they achieved on a limited budget in depicting their monsters is absolutely remarkable.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1986

Director: Steve Miner

House is a legitimately odd film, and not an easy one to classify. Ive read descriptions before that called it a horror comedy, but its not trying nearly hard enough to be funny to qualify on the comedy side of the spectrumnor is it serious enough in most of its scares to be legitimately frightening. Instead, its trapped in some kind of limbo in between; memorable in spurts for its idiosyncrasies. Our protagonist is a Stephen King-like horror novelist who suffers traumatic flashbacks to both his time in Vietnam and the unexplained disappearance of his son. He moves into the old, crumbling manor of a recently deceased aunt, where he begins to experience terrifying nightmares and is attacked by a variety of creatures, which may or may not be in his headthink Jacobs Ladder, but far goofier. George Wendt of Cheers makes an amusing appearance as the next door neighbor, but what most people remember House for is its unpredictability and Vietnam-inspired horrors.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1999

Director: Takashi Miike

One gets the feeling sometimes that Audition is one of those films that is almost more infamous/heard about rather than genuinely viewed, but in reality it earns its rather harrowing reputation. Its a protracted slow burn that is probably significantly longer than it needs to be, a mystery about a middle-aged man learning more about the young, beautiful woman who has suddenly come into his life. Only problem is, shes a little on the possessive side, and more than a little psychotic. Compare it to say, Fatal Attraction, if Glenn Close had the chance to enact an extended torture scene. That is of course what people tend to remember about Audition today, especially the harrowing portions with the needles and the piano wire, but the rest of the film is a deftly shot Miike thriller. Its one of those films where you can tell from the very beginning that the characters are headed for a soul-scarring fate, but in this case it may very well still be worse than you imagined.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2009

Director: Tommy Wirkola

Youd be surprised just how many Nazi zombie movies there truly are out thereits a subtype of the zombie film that was first made in the 70s with films such as Shock Waves and has never stopped being made since, but the highest profile version from recent years was Dead Snow and its ridiculous sequel, Red vs. Dead. The first Dead Snow, though no masterwork, is the better film because it at least partially tries to hit the horror audience instead of abandoning it for full-on horror-comedy camp. A group of students camp out in a remote, snowy cabin in Norway and unwittingly revive a regiment of Nazi zombies by appropriating their Nazi goldpretty standard stuff for the genre. The attempts at humor and characterization are so-so, but the FX and action work are top-notch for an indie feature, with great costuming for the zombies and lots of explosive bloodletting. Go in with low expectations and just enjoy the blood n guts.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2001

Director: Takashi Miike

Ichi the Killer is visually strikingin the sense that it will strike your eyeballs with its ultragore visuals for 129 minutes. This is not an easy film to watchperhaps even harder than Takashi Miikes own Audition, which was released two years earlier to significantly more acclaim. Ichi the Killer is less of a true horror film than that earlier effort, more gritty crime story in the mold of Oldboy, but any film with this degree of shocking sexual violence and luridalmost reprehensiblegore is on some level going to join the horror stable by default, because its pretty horrifying stuff to watch. Many will find it inherently distasteful, and discussion boils down to what Miike is attempting to accomplish or what kind of statement all of the straight-faced, non-comedic gore is supposed to evoke. Reading a description, you might actually question how people getting sliced in half by Ichis razor-tipped boots could come across as straight-faced, but it does. Its a film for those who can stand some truly harrowing sights.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1980

Director: Lucio Fulci

If its an Italian horror film from the 70s or 80s, and it doesnt involve cannibals, and its not a giallo, then its probably an arty, stylish, partially incomprehensible movie about zombies and ghosts. Such is City of the Living Dead, and such is almost everything in the filmography of Lucio Fulci. Never a director with the critical acclaim or heightened stature of a Dario Argento, Fulci was instead prolific, making his name in 1979 with the greatest of the Italian zombie films, Zombi 2. City of the Living Dead is considered the first in a so-called Gates of Hell trilogy, alongside two of his other best-known works, The Beyond and The House by the Cemetery. Like many of the Italian films its set in the U.S.A., which creates a strange, otherworldly quality given the international cast and dubbed dialog. It follows a young woman and her friends, who travel from New York to the Lovecraft-inspired town of Dunwich, where the suicide of a corrupted priest is causing the dead to rise from their graves and strike out at the living. Its almost more a series of vignettes and unrelated scenes than a straightforward narrative, as residents of the town are killed at random by the zombies. Thats just how Fulci rolls. You dont watch Lucio Fulci movies for plot; you watch them for atmosphere and stylish splatter.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2010

Director: Marvin Kren

One of the coolest things about Rammbock is that it knows its own limitations and doesnt attempt to stretch itself past the natural confines of its story. Its an indie German feature film that is only 63 minutes long, but director Marvin Kren was rightit really doesnt need to be a moment longer, and as a result its blissfully free from padding. The story revolves around Michael, something of a deluded sad-sack who was recently dumped by his girlfriend. His unannounced visit to return her keys just so happens to coincide with the citywide outbreak of a zombie virus, which leads to Michael and the various apartment/tenement dwellers being confronted with a wave of aggressive zombies pounding on their doors. In setting, one cant help but compare it to a sort of zombie Rear Window, as the various residents converse and call back and forth to each other, or simply observe each others lives. Were also given an unusual twist on zombie physiologyin this universe, mere infection doesnt necessarily mean death and zombification. Rather, its possible to survive infection if emotions can be suppressed  but strong emotions will trigger the full transformation into a zombie. The very low budget is consistently apparent in the dull-looking visual palette and single location, but Kren gets the most out of his actors in a zombie movie that is also surprisingly gore-less. And at only 63 minutes, it never has to worry about overstaying its welcome. Rammbock is a lean, mean little zombie story that does just enough differently from the template to be memorable.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2007-2017

Director: Various

Trailers From Hell is a charming web series that has since been gathered into several DVD releases, which are available on Shudder. The premise is simple but rewarding, as the creators get film directing and writing luminaries together to discuss classic film trailers. For the purposes of Shudder, the includes the likes of John Landis discussing _____, or Joe Dante waxing poetic on the joys of _____. Each entry is only 3-6 minutes long on average, making Trailers From Hell a series of bite-size excursions into film history with the most knowledgeable of tour guides. Not only can you hear what famous directors think of your favorite horror films; you can mine new entries for your to-watch list from some of their personal favorite movies. The series is both entertaining and instructive for all your future viewing.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2007

Director: Xavier Gens

Frontier(s) is a strange, grisly French horror film that has a certain bit of Eli Roths Hostel in its DNA, but especially seems inspired by The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Following the election of a far-right candidate to the French presidency (Donatien Trumplamoose?), Paris erupts in riots and a group of young thieves take advantage of the chaos to stage a robbery and escape into the countryside. Going by back roads, they eventually run afoul of a secret family of Nazi holdout sadists and are captured to be used as food, slaves or worse. Among this group is Yasmine, a fairly singular final girl in the sense that shes actually pregnant throughout with the child of one of the groups other members. Like Sally Hardesty in Texas Chainsaw, Yasmine truly suffers and watches her friends get picked off one by one, but unlike Sally, she refuses to simply run. Fighting her way through multiple members of the family, she delivers bloody, hyper-gory retribution throughout, clawing and throat-biting her way to freedom like shes Rick on The Walking Dead. With an impossibly strong will to live, Yasmine is not someone youd want to cross.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1983

Director: Robert Hiltzik

Of all the camp-based Friday the 13th rip-offs, Sleepaway Camp is probably the best one that isnt The Burning. Our main character is Angela, a troubled girl who absolutely everyone picks on for no good reason. Seriouslyits one of those 80s era movies with a main character who is an outsider constantly harassed by dozens of people, but without any impetus or explanationits just Angelas lot in life. Everyone who meets her immediately hates her guts and subjects her to cruel taunting. But soon, the people at the camp who were mean to Angela start getting knocked off. The movie seems calculated to come off as a straight horror film, but the death scenes are often so outlandish that it veers pleasurably into horror comedy as well. Highlights include the lecherous camp cook, who gets a giant vat of boiling water dumped on his face, or the kid who gets a beehive dropped into the outhouse with him. If you love classic slashers, its a must-see, especially for the ending. I wont spoil anything, but Sleepaway Camp can proudly lay claim to one of the most shocking, WTF endings in slasher movie history. Jim Vorel





Year: 2010

Director: Jorge Michel Grau

This 2010 Mexican horror thriller was remade in the U.S. in 2013 by the talented Jim Mickleand I have to admit, the American remake is the stronger of the two stories. Still, the original We Are What We Are sows the seeds of a compelling film. It follows a close-knit family of cannibals secretly maintaining their way of life in an urban setting. When the patriarch of the family drops dead, presumably from the cannibalism-related disease kuru, the family unit is thrown into disorder and the two teenage sons suddenly inherit the responsibility of obtaining fresh meat for the familys ritualized cannibalism. What follows is a somewhat awkward, very dour and morbid series of misadventures as they try to maintain their way of life. The film is both creepy and gory, but it lacks the strength of characters and relationships that are established in the American version, which delves deeper into the psyche of each family member. You can see why Mickle took an interest in the premise, though.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1982

Director: Juan Piquer Simon

Pieces is the sort of silly, head-scratching early 80s slasher where its difficult to decide if the director is trying to slyly parody the genre or actually believes in what hes doing. Regardless, its a delightfully stupid movie, featuring a killer who murders his mother with an axe as a child after she scolds him for assembling a naughty adult jigsaw puzzle. All grown up, he stalks women on a college campus and saws off pieces in order to build a real-life jigsaw woman. The individual sequences are completely and utterly bonkers, the best one being when the female lead is walking down a dark alley and is suddenly attacked by a tracksuit-wearing kung fu professor played by Brucesploitation actor Bruce Le. After she incapacitates him, he apologizes, says he must have had some bad chop suey, and waltzes out of the movie. The whole thing takes less than a minute. Thats the kind of randomness one finds in Pieces, which also boasts one of the best film taglines of all time: Pieces: Its exactly what you think it is!  Jim Vorel





Year: 1985

Director: Tom Holland

I dont think anyone will argue that the original Fright Night will ever stand alongside the more classic horror movies of the 80s  but, by God, if it isnt still a ton of fun. Certainly, for any major horror junkie, the idea of being the one person who can correctly spot a vampire must serve as some brand of wish fulfillment. In any case, thats precisely what happens to Charley Brewster when Chris Sarandons enigmatic Jerry moves into the neighborhood. Recruiting help from both his friend Evil Ed (a fantastically over-the-top Stephen Geoffreys) and horror-actor-turned-late-night-TV-host Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall at his curmudgeonly finest), Charley attempts to gather evidence that his new neighbor secretly wants to eat him. Though some of the make-up effects and dialogue are sheer 80s cornball, the film skates by on its genial, tongue-in-cheek approach as well as Sarandons debonair turn as the vampire-next-door.  Mark Rozeman





Year: 1990

Director: Clive Barker

Nightbreed is an odd duck of a movie, stranded somewhere between legitimate horror film and dark fantasy story. Clive Barker directs, only a few years after Hellraiser, but here his ambition perhaps got the best of him. Its pretty clear that he wanted Nightbreed to be something akin to a horror epic, a movie with a profound message about identity, acceptance and community. In execution, though, it has a hard time picking what tone its supposed to be emanating. Sometimes its darkly humorous. Sometimes its legitimately spooky. Other times youre not sure whether youre supposed to be taking the action on screen seriously or not. One thing that is spectacular throughout is the art direction, sets, costuming and makeup. Some of the character designs may come off as silly, but just as many of them are likely to end up in your nightmares. Nightbreed is a mixed bag, a would-be inspiring story about monsters trying to build a safe community to peacefully live their lives, but lacking the iconic nature of Barkers most famous creations.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2012

Director: Jon Wright

A surprisingly well-acted Irish/British indie sci-fi horror flick, Grabbers is unabashedly goofy but wholly professional and charming in spades. The story follows an alcoholic police officer who has to face a new threat to a sleepy seaside community when octopus-like aliens begin emerging from the sea and killing townspeople. These Grabbers, as theyre quickly dubbed, have only one weakness: Human blood is fatal to them if its over a certain percentage alcohol. Therefore, to combat the monsters and make themselves unpalatable, the police and townspeople have an obvious choice to make: Get totally hammered and grab a bunch of weapons. That may sound rather close to the summary of a direct-to-video movie by The Asylum, but Grabbers is surprisingly intelligent, witty and well-written in such a way that it easily escapes a fate in DVD bargain bin hell.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1989

Director: Shinya Tsukamato

Im warning you right now: Tetsuo is perhaps the weirdest, wildest film on this entire list, and thats saying a lot. This low-budget nightmare fever dream hails (naturally) from Japan, and combines aspects of Cronenbergian body horror with a somewhat cyberpunk aesthetic. When an ordinary businessman gets infected with some sort of metallic curse, his body slowly begins to morph into a monster. Before long, were talking razor arms and pneumatic drill penisesits pretty messed-up stuff. Its hard to describe the plot in any more detail; at only 67 or 77 minutes long (depending on the cut), it simply breezes by and leaves you asking What the hell did I just watch? What cant be denied, though, is how the imagery of Tetsuo will stick with you. Once youve seen its weirdness, you cant unsee it.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2012

Director: Brandon Cronenberg

When youre the son of David Cronenberg, you have a lot to live up to in a horror film debut, and Brandon Cronenberg does an admirable job in his cerebral and icky horror flick Antiviral. Although it can be a little slow and portentous, the setting and ideas are spectacular. The film imagines a near-future, sci-fi tinged world where obsession with celebrity lives has replaced nearly every other facet of the arts. People are so celebrity-obsessed, in fact, that a booming genetics business has developed to cater to disease houndspeople who literally want to be injected with specific strains of diseases, such as STDs, that have been harvested from various starlets. Elsewhere, people stand in line at meat markets to buy muscle tissue grown and cultivated from celebrity donors. Cronenberg may lay the social commentary on a little thick, but the results on screen are chilling. If the characters were a little bit more vivacious and interesting to follow, Antiviral could have been a modern classic, but its still an impressive debut for the younger Cronenberg.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2012

Director: Don Coscarelli

Your ability to withstand the absurdity of John Dies at the End will depend almost entirely on if youre able to tolerate nonlinear storylines and characters who tax the lengths of the imagination. An oftimes crude and farcical combination of horror, drug culture and philosophy, its a film you wont entirely grasp until youve seen it for yourself. Central is a drug known as soy sauce that causes the user to see outside the concept of linear time, existing at all times at once in a way that almost reminds one of the alien beings from Vonneguts Slaughterhouse-Five. Also appearing: Phantom limbs, an alien consciousness known as Shitload, a heroic dog and an evil, interdimensional supercomputer. No drugs necessarythe film will make you feel like youve already ransacked your medicine cabinet.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2009

Director: Benjamin Rocher, Yannick Dahan

The Horde plays a bit like someone in France saw From Dusk Till Dawn and wondered what the format of that movie might be like with zombies instead of vampires. Like the Robert Rodriguez film, we get sucked into a tense crime story first, following a group of police officers as they storm a mostly abandoned apartment high-rise to take down a gang of drug dealers who killed one of their own. And then, 20 minutes in  a bunch of zombies arrive! You almost have to admire the total lack of foreshadowingits a unique take on the world has come to an end, because in this story, the world comes to an end while the two sides (cops and drug dealers) are in the midst of a very pitched confrontation. They have no access to information on the wider world, and can only watch as Paris apparently tears itself apart. Naturally, the cops and robbers then need to team up in order to survive, in a strange mix of sadistic humor and emotional turmoil. As for the zombies, they actually look pretty awesome, although their abilities tend to vary wildly from scene to scene. An odd quirk: The zombies actually remove their own dead from the battlefield for reasons never fully explained, a trait Ive never seen in another zombie movie.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1963

Director: Mario Bava

The 60s and 70s were the heyday of the horror anthology overseas, and especially in Britain (with Amicus Productions) and Italy, where low-budget kingpins like Mario Bava lorded over the landscape of horror-tinged giallo pictures. Black Sabbath is a fairly typical example of those anthologies, but one that wisely limits its stories to three that it can tell a little more in-depth. They range from stories with criminal elements such as The Telephone to ones with more overtly supernatural or ghostly themes such as The Drop of Water. Bavas grisly crime stories laid the foundation for modern slasher pictures in particular, although this anthology is still one of his better-known worksinfluential enough that its title was the inspiration for Ozzy Osbournes most famous band.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2011

Directors: Colin Minihan and Stuart Ortiz, The Vicious Brothers

I genuinely dont understand why Grave Encounters doesnt have a better reputation among horror geeks, who largely seem to be aware of it but deride the found footage movie as either derivative or cheesy. In my own estimation, its one of the best found footage offerings of the last decade, and certainly one of the most legitimately frightening, as well as humorous when it wants to be. Its structured as a pitch-perfect parody of inane TV ghost-hunting shows, in the style of Travel Channels Ghost Adventures, and imagines the satisfying results of what might happen when one of these crews full of charlatans is subjected to a genuinely evil location. But Grave Encounters goes beyond what is expected of ityou hear that premise and expect some frantic, handicam running around and screaming in the dark, but it delivers far more. The FX work, on a small budget, is some of the best youre ever going to see in a found footage film, and the nature of the haunting is significantly more mind-bending than it first appears. Ill continue to defend this film, although you should steer clear of the less inspired sequel.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1990

Director: William Peter Blatty

Exorcist III, or Legion as its known in its directors cut form, focuses on grizzled, sardonic police detective Kinderman, played in the film by George C. Scott and by Lee J. Cobb in The Exorcist. Kinderman was more of a bystander to the events of the original film, but they still haunt him, 15 years after the fact. The past comes roaring back with bloody vengeancetheres a serial killer on the loose, and the murders seem to be connected to a mysterious patient locked up in a hospital psychiatric ward. And that mysterious patient just happens to look exactly like the deceased Father Damien Karras, one of the exorcists from the first film, who met an untimely end after launching himself out a window and tumbling down a particularly steep flight of stairs. What follows is a perpetually misunderstood and underrated horror film that is less a sequel to The Exorcist and more a channeler of the same disturbing spirit, complete with a few of the best jump scares in genre history. Chris Evangelista





Year: 1973

Director: George A. Romero

The Crazies is one of those lesser Romero works that tends to fall by the wayside because were always talking about his of the Dead films. Honestly, there are some horror fans out there who dont even know that Romero made any non-zombie movies, although in this case you could argue that the infected of The Crazies drew both on his own Night of the Living Dead ghouls and presaged their evolution in 1978s Dawn of the Dead. The tale of a small town gone mad in the wake of a biological weapons accident, its filled with great ideas and serviceable execution. The themes of mans inhumanity to man in times of crisis are pretty rough, and theres definitely some boundary-pushing material when it comes to sexuality as well, which make The Crazies a more cerebral watch than one might initially give it credit for. Jim Vorel





Year: 1976

Director: John Carpenter

Assault on Precinct 13 launches into its action-packed second act with one of the more audacious, transgressive acts youll ever see in a filmit almost feels like a taboo you wouldnt even see in a horror film today, and I wouldnt dare ruin it for you. Suffice to say, that one moment of unthinkable violence is the starting gun on a gritty thriller from John Carpenter, two years before Halloween made him a much bigger name. As such, you might expect Assault on Precinct 13 to be a more conventional or safe film, but if anything, its significantly more complex a project than Halloween would have been. Taking inspiration from Night of the Living Dead, Carpenter weaves a criminal action tale about an officer holding down a decommissioned police station that comes under siege by dozens of gang members. The interpersonal dynamics between officer and prisoners almost reflects the suspicion and brotherhood that would later be displayed between the arctic residents of Carpenters The Thing, and the shootouts are just as bloody. Even on a budget, its one of the best action movies of the 70s.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1958

Director: Terence Fisher

Curse of Frankenstein, the film that began Hammer Horrors illustrious reboot of the classic Universal monsters in glorious, gaudy color, was an immediate hit in the U.K. and U.S. when it arrived in 1957, so naturally it prompted an immediate series of sequels. In what begins a trend, antihero Dr. Frankenstein (the commanding Peter Cushing) escapes justice for the events and deaths of the previous film and strikes out to create a new monster, convinced that this time everything will go swimmingly. Or more accurately, this time around his plan is to transplant brains from one body to another, as in Universals The Ghost of Frankenstein. Cushing is wondrous as ever, hilariously hiding under the identity of Dr. Stein and supported by Karl the hunchback, who longs to have his brain transplanted into a new body that wont make him a social outcast. Its all around the strongest of the Hammer Frankenstein sequels, although theyre pretty much all worth seeing except Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1981

Director: Gary Sherman

Dead & Buried is a thoroughly unusual horror film that revolves around the reanimated dead, but in a way all its own. In a small New England coastal town, a rash of murders breaks out among those visiting the town. Unknown to the town sheriff, those bodies never quite make it to their graves  but people who look just like the murdered visitors are walking the streets as permanent residents. The zombies here are different in their autonomy and ability to act on their own and pass for human, although they do answer to a certain leader  but who is it? The film is part murder mystery, part cult story and part zombie flick, and it features some absolutely gross creature work and gore from the legendary Stan Winston. Its just a movie with a feel all its own, and one notable for some unusual casting choices. That includes a pre-Nightmare on Elm Street Robert Englund as one of the possibly zombified town locals, and, in a major role, Jack Albertson (Grandpa Joe from Willy Wonka) as the eccentric, jazz-loving town coroner/mortician, who steals every scene hes in. More people should see this weird little film.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2012

Director: H.P. Mendoza

I Am a Ghost is the type of arthouse horror film that will draw praise from film critics and some degree of consternation from the average viewer. Even at only 75 minutes in length, it still feels very much like a short film concept stretched and warped to fit the constraints of feature length, although most of those minutes are committed to the idea of committing to an artistic aesthetic. The camera is largely immobile through long chunks of the film, with slightly rounded edges to the screen that give the entire film a sense of voyeurism; the feeling that were doing something wrong by peeping in on the events as they (slowly) unfold. Our main (and only on-screen) character is, as the title suggests, a ghost, a restless spirit who doesnt know how to stop haunting the house where she died. Shes coached through this process by the voice of a psychic, but in execution its essentially a one-woman show. This is not a film for the impatientit opens with 13 minutes of relative silence before the first actual dialog occurs. Its a bold, ambitious movie that scores points for audaciousness and loses points during its placid stretches.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2008

Director: Joel Anderson

And speaking of found footage, heres another entry in the genre that has had considerably more positive critical attention. Lake Mungo could scarcely be more different from something like Grave Encountersthere are no ghosts or demons chasing screaming people down the hall, and its chiefly a story about family, emotion and our desire to seek closure after death. You could call it a member of the mumblegore family, without the gore. It centers around a family that has been shattered by a daughters drowning, and the familys subsequent entanglement in what may or may not be a haunting, and the mothers desire to determine what kind of life her daughter had been living. Powerfully acted and subtly shot, its a tense family drama with hints of the supernatural drifting around the fraying edges of their sanity. If theres such a thing as horror drama, this documentary-style film deserves the title.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2003

Director: Kim Jee-woon

A Tale of Two Sisters is a complex, somewhat confusingly wrought Korean horror-thriller, a twisting morass of relationships and family drama that clashes against a possible supernatural threat. One of Koreas highest-grossing horror films of all time, it combines a Hitchcockian vein of psychological/mental torture with a classical ghost story that almost invokes classic Hollywood, i.e. The Innocents or The Uninvited. It follows a pair of sisters, as the title would suggest, as the elder is released from a mental institution and back into the messed-up family dynamic that put her there. From there, the film asks many questions: What are the true motivations of the sisters cruel stepmother? What has been plaguing the younger sister? Is the father complicit in murder? What really happened to the sisters birth mother as she wasted away from illness in their now-haunted home? Its certainly a film that almost necessitates repeated viewings, as its twisting plot development is rather tough to grasp the first time through. At times, it almost carries the world-weariness and sense of encroaching inevitability of a Shakespearean tragedy.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1986

Director: John McNaughton

Henry stars Merle himself, Michael Rooker, as a character who is essentially meant to approximate serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, along with his demented sidekick Otis Toole. The film was shot and set in Chicago on a budget of only $100,000, and is an ugly, depraved journey into the depths of the darkness capable of infecting the human soul. That probably sounds like hyperbole, but Henry really is a gross, ugly filmyou feel dirty just watching it, from the filth-crusted streets of Chicago to the supremely unlikeable characters who prey on local prostitutes. Its not an easy watch, but if gritty true crime is your thing, its a must-see. Some of the sequences, such as the home video shot by Henry and Otis as they torture an entire family, gave the film a notorious reputation, even among horror fans.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1988

Director: Tony Randel

Hellbound is a somewhat divisive sequel among horror fans, but we can all at least agree on one thing: Its much, much better than any of the approximately 57 additional Hellraiser sequels that followed, most of which will make you wish the Cenobites were gouging your eyes out with their rusty hooks. Its actually a more ambitious, somewhat less intimate film than the first Hellraiser, greatly expanding upon the mythos of the series as Kirsty must journey to the hellish dimension of the demonic Cenobites to oppose an evil doctor whose dreams of power transform him into a Cenobite himself. The lovely Ashley Laurence returns as the protagonist, along with a young, emotionally disturbed girl who is adept at solving puzzles, which almost gives it the feel of a Nightmare on Elm Street sequel such as Dream Warriors. The Cenobites themselves get a little bit watered down from their nigh omnipotence in the original film, but the settings and effects are great for the meager budget and do as good a job as anyone could reasonably do of translating the twisted vision of Clive Barker to the screen.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2011

Director: Jason Eisener

Yeah, I know that some of these movies arent horror first and foremost, but theyre all on Shudder, and if theyre on the service Im not going to ignore them. Hobo With a Shotgun began its life as a fake trailer in front of Tarantinos Grindhouse, and grew into a feature from there. Its inspired by Death Wish-style revenge and vigilantism films, movies with a moral code that is comfortingly simple: An eye for an eye, and all the bad guys need to die. The titular hobo, wonderfully played by the gruff and boozed-up Rutger Hauer, is pushed into his life of vigilante violence when he witnesses the ineffectiveness of the corrupt police force, and ends up going up against local crime boss The Drake. The look of the film is absolutely spot-on for the grimy 70s aesthetic, and it goes to a few places the viewer doesnt expect while watching its first half. One thinks youre simply getting a Charles Bronson-type vehicle, but things take a spin for the more absurd by first incorporating gang theming in the style of The Warriors before veering almost into true sci-fi/horror territory. It retains the DNA of a fan film on some level, but it looks far slicker than any other fan film youre likely to see anytime soon.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1972

Director: Eugenio Martin

An unusual film for its time period, Horror Express stars both Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, and yet its not from Hammer as one would expect. Rather, it was a joint British/Spanish production simply aping the Hammer formula of classy actors in silly premises. This one is particularly weird: An archaeologist played by Lee discovers a missing link ape man buried in ice and tries to transport him in secret via train. The still-alive ape man defrosts, however, and proves to be armed with a rather unique set of powers. What follows is a bizarre film about stolen memories and brain-swapping, all taking place aboard the train. There are some really hypnotic performances, especially from relatively unknown Argentinean actor Alberto de Mendoza as a crazed priest. Telly Savalas, TVs Kojak, even shows up out of right field playing a Russian Cossack officer. Who loves ya, baby?  Jim Vorel





Year: 2000

Director: E. Elias Merhige

We now reach a special occasion in our vampire list. As it currently stands (and please someone correct me if Im mistaken), Willem Dafoe remains the only actor to be awarded an Oscar nomination for playing a literal vampire. And boy, does he earn it. A love letter to fans of both horror and film history, Shadow of the Vampire recounts the shooting of F.W. Murnaus vampire classic, Nosferatu, with an added revisionist twistthe actor who portrayed Count Orlok was an actual vampire that Murnau hired for authenticity. As the unhinged director, John Malkovich is perfectly cast, particularly in the moments where he goes off on infuriated tangents about Maxs behavior (when the vampire takes a bite of the productions cinematographer, Murnau berates him for not eating someone more disposable like the script girl). The film, however, belongs to Dafoe. His Max Schreck is at once frightening but also wryly funny. Whats more impressive are the moments where the film incorporates scenes from the actual Nosferatu, making it hard to distinguish Dafoes embodiment from the real thing.  Mark Rozeman





Year: 2010

Director: Andre vredal

Theres no denying that at its beginning, Troll Hunter seems like another Blair Witch Project knock-off. The first 20 minutes show us a young camera crew investigating some unexplained bear deaths and a suspicious man who may be poaching them. But rather than drawing out the mystery, it takes a sharp turn and tells us matter-of-factly that of course it was trolls killing the bears, and not only that, heres one of them ready to bonk you on the head. The titular Troll Hunter extraordinaire is played by the affable comedian Otto Jespersen, who brings the entire monster premise to an entirely different level through his nonchalant attitude. In every sense, Troll Hunter lives up to its ridiculous name and premise. Sean Gandert





Year: 1985

Director: Larry Cohen

A cult classic for sure, The Stuff was one of the best 1980s critiques of consumer culture, all wrapped up in the form of a horror movie. Profiteers find a white, gooey substance leaking up out of the Earth that proves both delicious and addictive  which they discover by simply tasting this stuff seeping up from the ground, in what is definitely a doctor-recommended action. Soon, repackaged as the secret ingredient-laden Stuff, it sweeps the world. The fake commercials are fantasticthis one has Abe Vigoda and actress Clara Peller, who only one year earlier began the famous Wheres the beef? campaign for Wendys. That is cross-cultural awareness. Its also a very fun, schlocky horror flick with gross-out special effects, because as you eat more of The Stuff it gradually takes over your body until it explodes out into a self-aware being. This film may actually be more relevant today than it was in the mid-1980s as awareness of fast food content becomes more widespread.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1925

Director: Rupert Julian

Before Dracula and the official birth of Universal Horror, there was Phantom of the Opera. I must note, by the way: It sucks that none of the major streamers, including Netflix and Shudder, have the rights to show all of the classic Universal Monster series. I want to be able to watch Son of Frankenstein or The Wolf Man streaming on demand some day, guys! Get those licensing deals in place! Regardless, its nice that Shudder has at least one of these old classics, on account of it being in the public domain. This is the original version of Phantom, starring Lon Chaney Sr., the Man of a Thousand Faces. The pace is slow, and you know how the classic story goes, but its indispensable for Chaneys self-devised makeup, which reportedly had theater patrons fainting in the aisles in 1925. The acting style is rather alien to watch today; overdramatic holdovers from the vaudeville era, but man, Chaneys face. Its one of the truly iconic faces of horror, right alongside Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi and Chaneys own son, Lon Chaney Jr., who would go on to play The Wolf Man.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1981

Director: Lucio Fulci

We had Fulcis City of the Living Dead on the list earlier, but this may be the best of his non-zombie movies. Which isnt to say there arent any zombies in it, but its not a Romero-style zombie movie, as Fulci pulled off in Zombi 2. The Beyond is the middle entry in Fulcis Gates of Hell trilogy, and takes place in and around a crumbling old hotel that just happens to have one of those gates to hell located in its cellar. When it opens, all hell starts to break loose in the building, in a film that combines a haunted house aesthetic with demonic possession, the living dead and ghostly apparitions. As with so many of the other films in this mold, its not always entirely clear whats going on  and honestly, the plot is more or less irrelevant. Youre watching it to see demons gouge peoples eyes out or watch heads being blown off, and theres no shortage of either of those things. Thinking back to Lucio Fulci movies after the fact, you wont remember any of the story structure. Youll just remember the ultra gory highlights, splattering across the screen in a way that continues to influence filmmakers to this day. Modern horror films such as We Are Still Here show heavy inspiration from Fulci, and The Beyond in particular.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1981

Director: Joe Dante

1981 happens to be the best year in the history of werewolf cinema, thanks to three films: An American Werewolf in London, The Howling and Wolfen. Of those, The Howling cant quite compete with the macabre humor and budget of John Landis British werewolf classic, but it still ranks among the best lycanthrope movies of all time. The Howling is grittier and darker, but it still maintains a sort of perverted, sadistic sense of humor as well. Its iconic transformation scenes are long, grisly and exceedingly painful looking, as is just about everything else in this movie, such as the werewolfs face that has been splashed with corrosive acidall of the practical effects are absolutely top notch. Its rife with historic werewolf movie references for the cinephiles in the audience, including obvious allusions to The Wolf Man and Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, while still delivering on the pulp, gore and cheap thrills demanded by the multiplex crowd. Thats the Joe Dante Special: Smart enough to appeal to the film geeks, but silly and funny enough for the layman.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1977

Director: Wes Craven

Seven years before A Nightmare on Elm Street made Wes Craven a household name, he was crafting a grindhouse classic in The Hills Have Eyes. It shares some DNA with his hard-to-watch revenge film The Last House on the Left, but its a far better film overall, with a tighter story. You probably know the basics: A family on vacation blunders into a stretch of the desert where they really shouldnt be and fall victim to a band of bestial hill people, with the weathered, unnatural face of Michael Berryman front and center. It received an X-rating on first release, which isnt too surprisingthis is a movie where cannibals steal a baby so they can eat it, after all. Its the sort of elemental good vs. evil story that we all fear, in the back of our minds, when we venture to the edges of the map and know how vulnerable we are away from the comforts of civilization.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1974

Director: Jorge Grau

The U.S.A. is the first nation one tends to associate with zombie cinema, likely followed by Italy, perhaps followed then by countries such as Britain or Japan. Let Sleeping Corpses Lie, then, is an interesting outlier, a Spanish zombie film (although set in England) from the 70s that took George Romeros ideas, played with them, and seemingly set a precedent for all of the Italian zombie movies that would follow. In this one, the living dead are brought up from the ground by a sonic radiation machine designed to kill insectsthe results, suffice to say, are not quite as intended. Its an interesting mix of American zombie tropes and hard-to-place foreignness. The zombies, however, look great, and the restored copy on Shudder is a wonderfully high-quality version of the film. Its a somewhat underappreciated entry in the zombie annals that you wont find in just anyones collection, but worth a look, especially if you love zombie films from the likes of Lucio Fulci.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2007

Director: Nacho Vigalondo

I wont try to make an argument that Timecrimes is a horror film, but this is a ranking of all the films on Shudder, so Ill simply state it thusly: Timecrimes is a sci-fi film youll also want to see. The plot of Spanish film Los Cronocrimenes (a.k.a. Timecrimes) emulates classic pulp science fiction, redolent of Alfred Bester or Philip K. Dick, as a middle-aged man finds his quiet afternoon disturbed by an intruder. Soon, he begins stalking, and being stalked by, a mysterious figure whose face is disguised in pink medical gauze. Theres also a naked girl involved, and a research scientist (Vigalondo) in an adjacent office park who happens to be testing out a new time machine. The bogeyman is an homage to James Whales 1933 film, The Invisible Man, but his identity doesnt stay secret for long. Watching the Chinese Box-like narrative unravel is the whole point, and Vigalondo choreographs the action with a suspenseful touch. Someday, someone is going to give Vigalondo a big-budget sci-fi film, and its going to be great.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1987

Director: Dario Argento

Giallo is not the kind of genre where directors end up receiving a lot of critical aplomb  with the occasional exception of Dario Argento. He is to the bloody, Italian precursor to slasher films as say, someone like Clive Barker is to more westernized horrorsan auteur willing to take chances, whose gaudy works are occasionally brilliant but just as often fall flat. Opera, though, is one of Argentos most purely watchable, fun films, following a young actress who seems to have developed a rather homicidal admireranyone who gets in the way of her career has a funny way of ending up dead, and her constant nightmares hint at a long-buried connection to the killer. Essentially the giallo equivalent of Phantom of the Opera, its canvas is splashed by Argentos signature color palette of bright, lurid tones and over-the-top deaths. If you love a good whodunnit and especially if you have an interest in cinematography, its a study in craftsmanship.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2008

Director: Bruce McDonald

A quick plot summary of Pontypool makes it sound like just a rehash of Orson Welles 1938 The War of the Worlds broadcast with zombies in the place of aliens, and although its certainly more than a little bit indebted to that work, that would be giving the film far too little credit. The movie instead draws thematic inspiration from the words of its radio broadcast and recasts the zombie disease as verbal, a product of mindless repetition and meaningless phrases in the English language. Pontypools clever script is superbly acted, and the film manages to take the zombie genre in a different direction without going the route of ironic deconstruction. In the end, theyre not truly zombies, but our insistence upon the term is part of the point the movie is trying to make. Its a horror film where the horror is the shallowness of modern society. Sean Gandert





Year: 2015

Director: Perry Blackshear

I fully expect there to be someone in the commentsone of the few people who has actually seen this filmarguing that it doesnt belong on a horror list, but its on Shudder, and thats our only qualifier. And indeed, They Look Like People is far more genuinely creepy than many other, more traditional horror films on this list that aim to entertain more than legitimately scare. What we have here is a very unusual, unflinching portrait of mental and emotional illnesses that spin wildly out of control. It would be really easy for the story to be more conventionalguys friend visits, but it turns out the friend is crazybut They Look Like People messes with the audiences expectations for the narrative by giving both of the male leads their own mental hurdles to overcome. They never react quite like we expect them to, because neither sees the world in a healthy way. Its a film where the threat and implication of terrible violence, evoked via constantly on-edge atmosphere, becomes almost unbearable, whether or not it actually arrives. Thanks to some very, very strong performances, you always feel balanced on the edge of a knife. Deliberately paced but thankfully brisk (only 80 minutes), it leaves much unanswered, but we still feel satisfied anyway.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1985

Director: Fred Dekker

Night of the Creeps feels like a bastard child of both Return of the Living Dead (primarily) and Re-Animator tangentially, but its honestly a weirder film than either of them, and thats saying something. Haphazardly blending sci-fi with horror-comedy, its about an invasion of parasitic alien slugs that turn their hosts into superpowered zombies. Directed by Fred Dekker, who would go on to helm the much more family-friendly Monster Squad a year later (which strangely enough, doesnt have any zombies), its a risque, rather tawdry horror film set at a college, and thus often feels like some kind of zombified twist on Animal House. Like ROTLD, its inherent 80s-ness is absolutely off the charts, but it has more of a science-y, lab-based feel thanks to the presence of aliens and a presumed plot to take over the world. In this way, its like the zombies were used to make the kind of 50s-style B-movie that otherwise would have starred alien invaders. They took the monster of the decade, zombies, and substituted them into an earlier style of film, ramped up the sexualization and rock n roll, and a cult classic was born.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2012

Director: Lynne Ramsay

We Need To Talk About Kevin concerns the experience of a mother struggling with the aftermath of a school massacre carried out by her son. In its narrative construction, it draws upon two key tropes: that of the whydunnit thriller, in which the the mystery of the perpetrators motivations are a driving factor, and that of the family horror, in which some dark element tears a traditional household apart. Indeed, the real horror is not that a teenager chose total negation over the banality of normative family lifeits that these appeared to be the only two choices available. Tilda Swinton is brilliant in the starring role as a mother who grapples with guilt about what her son has done and reflects on his childhood, wondering what, if anything, could possibly have been done differently when one gives birth to a bad seed. Donal Foreman





Year: 1968

Director: George A. Romero

Its not really necessary to delve into how influential George Romeros first zombie film has been to the genre and horror itselfits one of the most important horror movies ever made, and one of the most important independent films as well. The question is more accurately, how does it hold up today?, and the answer is okay. Unlike, say Dawn of the Dead (not on Shudder), Night is pretty placid most of the time. The story conventions are classic and the black-and-white cinematography still looks excellent, but some of the performances are downright irritating, particularly that of Judith ODea as Barbara. Duane Jones more than makes up for that as the heroic Ben, however, in a story that is very self-sufficient and provincialjust one small group of people in a house, with no real thought to the wider world. Its a horror film that is a MUST SEE for every student of the genre, which is easy, considering that the film actually remains in the public domain. But in terms of entertainment value, Romero would perfect the genre in his next few efforts. Also recommended: The 1990 remake of this film by Tom Savini, which is unfairly derided just for being a faithful remake.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2006

Director: Bong Joon-ho

Before he was breaking out internationally with tight action films such as Snowpiercer, this South Korean monster movie was Bong Joon-hos big work and calling card. Astoundingly successful at the box office in his home country, it straddles several genre lines between sci-fi, family drama and horror, but theres plenty of scary stuff with the monster menacing little kids in particular. Props to the designers on one of the more unique movie monsters of the last few decadesthe creature in this film looks sort of like a giant tadpole with teeth and legs, which is way more awesome than it sounds. The real heart of the film is a superb performance by Song Kang-ho (also in Snowpiercer) as a seemingly slow-witted father trying to hold his family together during the disaster. Thats a pretty common role to be playing in a horror film, but the performances and family dynamic in general truly are the key factor that help elevate The Host far above most of its ilk. Its not a coincidence that it became one of the most successful Korean films of all time.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2012

Director: Rodney Ascher

This attention-grabbing documentary from Rodney Ascher on the power and mythos of Stanley Kubricks The Shining has gotten a lot of criticism from viewers who dont seem to understand what the film is actually about. In short, its not about The Shining. Its not about the conspiracy theories based around The Shining. Its about the people and frame of mind that give birth to all these disparate, loony conspiracy theories. Its about the seemingly unhinged mind that watches The Shining dozens of times, obsessing over tiny details while coming to the conclusion that the film is about native American oppression. Or the Holocaust. Or Kubrick faking the moon landings. Or minotaur-centric Greek mythology that is too confusing to explain here. Room 237 is about the depths of obsession. Ascher doesnt even comment on that obsessionhe simply allows the subjects of the documentary to dig their own individual holes while we stand outside and wonder how deep theyll go. Its not a perfect documentary, but its pretty damn creepy to simply see such obsession in a naturalist way, especially when the theories are coming from people who seem otherwise normal. Its a film that makes you wonder what your friends and family are obsessing over behind closed doors.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2014

Director: David Gregory

Two documentaries in a row? Why not? Lost Soul is like a horror version of Lost in La Mancha or Jodorowskys Dune, a documentary about the strange, twisted journey toward making the much-derided 1996 version of The Island of Dr. Moreau. Originally intended for directorial duty was South African experimental/indie art film director Richard Stanley, who had become a hot name on the strength of the creative vision in early psychedelic horror efforts like 1992s Dust Devil. However, up against the massive egos of stars like Val Kilmer and the monolithic Marlon Brando, Stanley crumbles under the pressure and is forced out. What unfolds is like a diary of the most troubled, insane Hollywood shoot imaginable, with Brando rewriting entire scenes and characters as he sees fit while the replacement director, John Frankenheimer, goes to war with the cast and crew. Stanley, meanwhile, ends up secretly back on set, wearing a dog mask, appearing as an extra on the film he was supposed to direct right under the nose of those who stole it from him. Its an incredibly cautionary tale of Hollywood politics.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2007

Director: Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza

2007 was a breakthrough year for post-Blair Witch found-footage horror, including the first Paranormal Activity and Romeros own Diary of the Dead, but it wasnt only in the U.S. that people were effectively employing that technique. The best of all the found-footage zombie films is still probably REC, another film on this list that exhibits some playfulness in redetermining exactly what a zombie is or isnt. The Spanish film follows a news crew as they sneak inside a quarantined building that is experiencing the breakout of what essentially appears to be a zombie plague. The fast-moving infected resemble those of 28 Days Later and are later revealed to be demonically possessed in a way that moves through bites, ably blending traditional zombie lore and religious mysticism. Its a capable, professional-feeling film for its low budget, and there are some excellently choreographed scenes of zombie mayhem that feel all the more claustrophobic for being filmed in a limited, first-person viewpoint. Zombie horror seems to go hand-in-hand with the found-footage approach more naturally than some other horror genresperhaps its the fact that in the digital age, wed all be compelled to document any such outbreak on our phones or other devices? Regardless, its not nearly so forced as some entries in this particular horror subgenre, and gives an excellent sense of what it might be like if you were just an average person locked in a huge apartment building filled with zombies.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1960

Director: Mario Bava

Technically Mario Bavas directorial debut, and still considered by just about everyone his best film, Black Sunday is an extremely influential movie in the history of Italian horror and also managed to introduce audiences to 60s scream queen mainstay Barbara Steele. It establishes so many different tropes, such as its opening sequences of brutal Spanish Inquisition-era torture that establishes the supernatural evil that will return over time. A beautiful gothic horror picture, its fascinating how closely it in some ways mirrors the work of Terence Fisher over at Britains Hammer StudiosBlack Sunday is to Italy what Horror of Dracula was to Britain, some two years later, and with a sexy female witch/vampire instead of the gaunt Christopher Lee, one who returns 200 years later to terrorize her descendents. Its one of the most notable cases of a director delivering his greatest film on the first try and never again quite reaching the same heights.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1974

Director: Bob Clark

Its debatable as to what film deserves the title of the first true slasher movie, but Bob Clarks underappreciated 1974 classic Black Christmas deserves as much credit as any of them. Sure, the elements of this style already existed in a number of Italian giallos, but Black Christmas stylishly codified many of the tropes that would go on to be integral to the likes of Scream, decades later. The movie takes place in that holiest of slasher locales, a sorority house, as a number of female residents prepare for Christmas and begin to go missing. Could it have something to do with the obscene, disturbing phone calls the house keeps receiving? Final Girl Jess Bradford is an absolutely iconic character, placing at #1 in Pastes own ranking of the 20 best final girls of all time. Shes both realistic and relatable, brave and independent. Shes more than a screaming face, but less cliched than an action hero. Shes a great character, who receives one of the more iconic lines in slasher history: The calls are coming from inside the house!  Jim Vorel





Year: 2015

Director: Ted Geoghegan

We Are Still Here never wants for scares. It might actually be the single most terrifying movie of 2015, even next to David Robert Mitchells acclaimed and unsettling It Follows. But Geoghegan handles the transition smoothly, from the story of running away from tragedy We Are Still Here begins as to the bloodbath it becomes. Theres no sense of baiting or switching; the director flirts with danger confidently throughout. Plus, theres that New England winter to add an extra layer of despair. The elements forebode and forbid in equal measure. The weather outside is frightfuland the carbonized wraiths in the basement even more so. In the end, this is one haunted house that wont be denied.  Andy Crump





Year: 1973

Director: Robin Hardy

The original Wicker Man, a British film released in 1976, was a unique new horror tale with haunting cinematography and a deeply creepy soundtrack. The film explored gender politics and sexuality in a way that only 1970s horror flicks really could, combining eroticism with violence to titillate and horrify viewers. The acting is top-notch, with Edward Woodwards protagonist Sergeant Howie and Christopher Lees Lord Summerisle stealing the screen. Woodward manages to portray a virginal, overly righteous character in a way that is both sympathetic and thought-provoking. And it all builds to a conclusion that has to be regarded as among the most shocking of its era.  Danielle Ryan





Year: 1975

Director: Dario Argento

Dario Argento movies would be exceedingly easy to pick out of a police lineup, because when you add all of his little quirks together they form an instantly iconic styleessentially the literal definition of auteur theory. Deep Red is one of those films that simply couldnt have been made by anyone elseMario Bava could have tried, but it wouldnt have the instantly iconic soundtrack by Argento collaborators Goblin, nor the drifting, eccentric camerawork that constantly makes you question whether youre seeing the killers POV or not. The story is a classic giallo whodunit: Following the brutal murder of a German psychic, a music teacher who lives in her building starts putting the pieces together to solve the mystery, uncovering a tragic family history. Along the way, anyone who gets close to the answer gets a meat cleaver to the head from a mysterious assailant in black leather gloves. Except for the ones who die in much worse, more gruesome ways. Argento has a real eye for what is physically disconcerting to watchhe somehow makes scenes that are standard for the horror genre much more grisly and uncomfortable than one would think, simply reading a description. In Argentos hands, a slashing knife becomes a paintbrush.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1965

Director: Roman Polanski

Roman Polanskis landmark psychological horror film was the start of his so-called apartment trilogy, which also contained Rosemarys Baby and The Tenant, but Repulsion is the most stark and intimate of the three. We spend much of the film with a single woman, cloistered in a cracking, crumbling apartment that represents the slow erosion of her sanity. Carol is disgustedrepulsedby modern society, sexuality and the shallowness of interpersonal relationships, relying on her sisters presence to get by and keep her grounded. But when her sister leaves Carol alone on an extended trip to Italy, her fragile ties to reality quickly become unmoored. Modern audiences are likely to have some difficulty with Repulsion, as the minimal plot moves glacially and takes quite a long while to reach a conclusion that viewers will be aware from the beginning is headed their way. But at the same time, the dream sequences and hallucination scenes are the stuff of nightmares, a sort of evolution of the expressionist horror of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and others that deftly use both imagery and especially sound design to slowly ratchet up the intensity. Its not a horror film for the multiplex crowd, but students of film will find something in Repulsion that sticks with them for a long time.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1962

Director: Herk Harvey

Carnival of Souls is a film in the vein of Night of the Hunterartistically ambitious, from a first-time director, but largely overlooked in its initial release until its rediscovery years later. Granted, its not the masterpiece of Night of the Hunter, but its a chilling, effective, impressive little story of ghouls, guilt and restless spirits. The story follows a woman on the run from her past who is haunted by visions of a pale-faced man, beautifully shot (and played) by director Herk Harvey. As she seemingly begins to fade in and out of existence, the nature of her reality itself is questioned. Its vintage psychological horror on a miniscule budget, and has since been cited as an influence in the fever dream visions of directors such as David Lynch. To me, its always felt something like a movie-length episode of The Twilight Zone, and I mean that in the most complimentary way I can. Rod Serling would no doubt have been a fan.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1980

Director: John Carpenter

If youre a horror fan, its hard not to love the basic premise of The Fog, with its billowing clouds of white vapor that bring swift death along with them. John Carpenters follow-up to Halloween had a somewhat larger budget to work with, and the practical effects look great as a result, although it wasnt as successful at the box office. Regardless, The Fog is a superior film from a production standpoint, reuniting Carpenter with Jamie Lee Curtis, albeit in a less important role. It concerns a Californian coastal town that is celebrating its 100th anniversary when dark secrets from the 1800s begin to emerge. Turns out that the city fathers committed some pretty serious crimes against humanity, and now a crew of restless revenants has returned to dish out some much-deserved revenge. Caught up in the madness is Adrienne Barbeau, Carpenters wife of the time, who was making her screen debut in the role that would make her a scream queen figure for decades. Theres simply a great sense of atmosphere in The Fog, especially in the dense, otherworldly way that the creeping, glowing banks of fog move throughout town, which is only amplified by a classic John Carpenter synth soundtrack. Anyone who knows Carpenter would be able to pick out his unique style immediately.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2012

Director: Jeremy Gardner

The concept of a low-budget zombie drama is one that has become fairly common in the 2010s, likely owing to the influence of The Walking Dead and games such as The Last of Us, which treated zombies more like a set-piece to allow human drama to take shape. The Battery is an extrapolation of this format, a story about two men, a former baseball pitcher/catcher duo, traveling across the country together in the wake of a zombie apocalypse. And as for plot? Thats pretty much it. Its a self-contained film that leans entirely on the performances of two actors, showcasing the ways that two men with vastly different personalities handle the mental strain and emotional challenges of continuing on each day and finding a reason to exist. The zombies are there, but they dont really feel like active antagonists, as it weretheyre more like a constant roadblock and painful reminder of everything these men have lost in their former lives. Its a film that almost mirrors the struggle of just getting out of bed in the morning to tackle another daycall the zombies your neighbors, your coworkers, etc. Thats what zombies have become today: A walking representation of 21st century ennui.  Jim Vorel





Years: 1922 and 1979

Directors: F.W. Murnau and Werner Herzog

Both of these Nosferatu versions are streaming on Shudder, and I combine them into one entry because theyre equally worthy of viewing in 2016, for different reasons. Its only natural for a modern viewer to think to themselves, at least somewhat snidely, that the 1922 silent original isnt likely to be very scary, but they might be mistaken. If anything, the silent nature and griminess of old film stock give it a more ethereal quality that adds to its creep factornot to mention the fact that Max Schrecks otherworldly performance is truly incredible. The way he moves, coupled with the disturbing makeup, make Count Orlok one of the most frightening film vampires of all time, even today. Seriously, dont show Nosferatu to your young children. The Werner Herzog remake in 1979, on the other hand, somewhat tones down the outwardly frightening aspect, but Klaus Kinskis nuanced portrayal makes Orlok (or Dracula, this time) a much more interesting and emotionally invested charactera tragic monster invested with pathos, more in line with Frankensteins monster than most of the post-Lugosi Dracula clones. Theyre both great films, but in significantly different ways.  Jim Vorel





Year: 1920

Director: Robert Wiene

Good luck understanding the concept of German Expressionism without seeing The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari at least once. The quintessential work of an entire cinematic style, it was described by Roger Ebert as the first true horror film, although a modern viewing is understandably unlikely to elicit chills. Still, in the same vein as Nosferatu, its fantastical visual palette is instantly iconic and sticks in the memory forever. Buildings are canted in impossible angles and light plays strange tricksare those shadows real, or painted directly onto the set? The story revolves around a mad hypnotist who uses a troubled sleepwalker as his personal assassin, forcing him to exterminate his enemies at night. The astonishingly creative and free-thinking designs have had an indelible influence on every fantasy landscape depicted in the near-100 years since. You simply cant claim an appreciation for the roots of cinema without seeing the film.  Jim Vorel





Year: 2011

Director: Ti West

When youre working in indie horror, a big part of success is learning how to turn your budgetary limitations into a positiveto rely less heavily on effects and setting and more on characterization and filmcraft. Ti West understands this better than most, which is part of what made his earlier House of the Devil so effecti
The Harrison Ford nostalgia tour isnt over yet.

Today it was announced that Ford  who returned to the Star Wars franchise in last years The Force Awakens and will soon start shooting the sequel to 1982s Blade Runner  will return as Indiana Jones in a film set to be released in 2019, thirty-eight years after Ford first played the character in 1981s Raiders of the Lost Ark.1

Even more interesting is the fact that Steven Spielberg, who directed all four of the previous Indiana Jones films, is coming back to direct the new film.

There is no word yet as to what the story will be about or who will write it.

In the past, it was always George Lucas who would come up with a mystical artifact for Indy to pursue  and Lucas would stubbornly stick to his guns until Spielberg and Ford agreed with him. (Thus, we got UFOs and crystal skulls in the fourth film.)

But since Lucas sold his company to Disney four years ago, he will presumably have no say in the new movie, the same way he had no say in The Force Awakens.

The fact that Lucas is no longer involved with the franchises he created has sometimes meant that his collaborators were now free to do things that Lucas had nixed in the past. Consider, for example, what Ford and Lawrence Kasdan wanted to do with Han Solo in Return of the Jedi, and what they finally got to do in The Force Awakens.

Do Ford and Spielberg have a similar wishlist of sorts that Lucas kept in check?

Three other questions hang over the new film, for me.

First, when will it take place? The first three films were made in the 1980s and took place in the 1930s, and the fourth film was made in 2008 and took place in 1957. The fifth film will come out after an 11-year gap  will it take place in the late 1960s or maybe even the early 1970s? What would it mean to see Indy in that setting?

Second, Indy had a wife and a son at the end of the fourth film. Will Marion still be in the picture? Presumably Henry Mutt Williams wont be, given what has become of Shia Labeouf in recent years (including his falling out with Spielberg).

Finally, if Disney is behind the new film, will the franchise abandon its opening Paramount-logo gags, the same way The Force Awakens abandoned the 20th Century Fox fanfare? Or is it possible that Paramount will keep its logo in this film, the same way it kept its logo in the first few Marvel movies distributed by Disney?

As ever, well just have to wait and see what the filmmakers come up with.

In the meantime, you can read an article I wrote on the Indiana Jones series for Books & Culture here, and some extra deleted paragraphs from that article here.



1. Yes, that means the new Indiana Jones film will come out the same year Blade Runner takes place. And because Star Wars: Episode IX is scheduled to come out in 2019, it looks like that will be the first year to get both a new Star Wars movie and a new Indiana Jones movie  unless you count 2008, when the animated Clone Wars movie came out a few months after Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Patna: On the fourth day of the ongoing matriculation exams in Bihar, 116 students were caught cheating while 51 'Munna Bhais' were also taken into custody for taking exams on behalf of other students.

All 167 students were expelled from the exam and arrested.

Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) Chairperson Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, who was seen personally visiting exam centers at various places in Patna, said that though the Board was doing its best to keep exams free from unfair means, some students and their guardians were still taking chances in the hope of somehow getting away with their actions.

At Bankipore Girls High School, Singh encouraged students to proceed with the rest of the exams honestly and lawfully without resorting to unfair means.

He also visited Patna High School where he went from room to room to ensure no one was indulging in cheating.

"Deal with the students harshly if you catch them cheating. We are not going to let anyone get away with it," Singh told the Principal.
New Delhi: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday met with Central Road and Transportation Minister Nitin Gadkari and asked him to compensate Bihar farmers at a new rate for giving up their lands for the construction of National Highways passing through the state.

"The Center had agreed previously to compensate Bihar farmers at a rate that was four times higher than the existing market rate. However, it is yet to keep its promise that has resulted in widespread dissatisfaction among the farmers who are already reluctant to give up their land for the construction of National Highways in the state," the Chief Minister said.

Kumar said that the Center's attitude of dilly-dallying in compensating the farmers adequately had resulted in the delay of five National Highways in Bihar in spite of an agreement reached with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) back in 2010 and 2012.

He also made a passionate case for the re-building of the dilapidated Gandhi Setu that remains in a shamble with some major tragedy just waiting to happen.

"This bridge is the lifeline between north and south Bihar. We have been asking for help for its reconstruction for the last five years. It is very important that the Center approves this project at the earliest so we could issue a tender and get the work going as earliest as possible," he said.

Later, talking to the reporters, Kumar expressed his opinion on the sedition charges against Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student union president Kanhaiya Kumar and his comrades in arms saying there was no evidence Kumar and his cohorts said or did anything that is tantamount to sedition.

"There is a concerted attempt to malign the image of a prestigious institute like the JNU and we all must oppose it vehemently," he said.
"We're not used to seeing growth in our check business," said Deluxe's Tracey Engelhardt, who reports a 6% to 7% increase in revenue for check orders from businesses and consumers in each of the last three quarters, driven by various factors originating from the pandemic.
Iran Official Warns of 'Damage' if Nuclear Deal Fails to Boost Economy

03/16/16

By Henry Ridgwell, VOA

LONDON- A senior Iranian official has warned that if Iran does not benefit from increased trade following the nuclear deal with the West, the consequences for his nation would be grave.

Speaking at Londons Royal United Services Institute in London following a meeting with the British prime minister, the Iranian Presidents Chief of Staff Mohammed Nahavandian was frank about the reason for his visit.

After this nuclear deal, there is a real, serious opening up in Iran for economic relations. If it does not happen, and tangible results do not follow, the damage will be out of any calculation, he said.

The United States maintains sanctions against Tehran unrelated to its nuclear program. New sanctions were imposed following Iranian ballistic missile tests last year, which the U.S. and other western nations view as violating UN resolutions.

But Nahavandian says fear of those unilateral sanctions is preventing banks outside the United States from opening up to Iran.

Non-U.S. banks should not be limited in any kind of banking transactions with Iranian banks, he said.

Regional conflicts

The conflicts in Syria and Yemen have fueled tensions between Iran - the main Shia power in the region - and Sunni-led Saudi Arabia.

Nahavandian denied there was a Shia-Sunni conflict underway - but leveled thinly veiled accusations at Riyadh.

When it comes to Salafi thinking, which is unfortunately funded by billions of dollars, then that creates, as far as South Africa, the kind of groups who are not accepting anyone else. That kind of thinking is not tolerable. Thats not Sunni versus Shia, no, he said.

Nahavandian said Iran supports the Syrian peace talks taking place in Geneva. But he presented a one-sided view, says Malcolm Chalmers of the Royal United Services Institute.

No mention of course of the role of Shia militia, or Hezbollah, or all the other things which the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is involved in in Syria and elsewhere, he said.

The speech may have presented only Tehrans viewpoint - but observers say its another indication of Irans efforts to shape a different future in its relations with the West.
Iranian women given parity with men in blood money insurance

03/16/16 Source: Radio Zamaneh

Iran's Guardian Council has approved a parliamentary bill to make blood money for men and women equal for driving insurance purposes.





cartoon by Naeem Tadayyon, Shahrvand daily





Rahim Zareh, the spokesman for parliament's economic commission, said on television that the bill to implement parity in the third person life insurance of men and women had been prepared earlier, and the commission is pleased to announced it was approved by the Guardian Council.

He added that the commission had argued that many women are now sole guardians of their families and in case of their death, the financial health and security of their families is dependent on the insurance payouts, which need to be on par with what is paid out to men.

According to Zareh, once the new law is ratified, the government will have 15 days to implement it.

The spokesman for the judiciary recently announced that blood money has been increased to 190 million toumans.

Blood money is a form of Islamic life insurance, which is paid out to the deceased person's survivors.

At the beginning of the Islamic Revolution, senior cleric Ayatollah Beheshti suggested setting blood money for women at half the rate of that for men because he argued women were not providers for their families.
Iranian journalist, activist released from Evin prison for different reasons

03/16/16 Source: Radio Zamaneh

Jailed journalist Serajeddin Mirdamadi and jailed children's rights activist Saeed Hosseinzadeh were released from Evin Prison on Monday March 14. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports that Mirdamadi has been granted a conditional release, while Hosseinzadeh has been released for medical reasons.



Saeed Hosseinzadeh (L) and Sarajeddin MIrdamadi





MIrdamadi was released based on Article 58 of the Islamic Penal Code, which allows prisoners to be released after serving half or even a third of their sentence on the basis of "good behaviour" on the condition that they commit no other crimes after release.

Mirdamadi returned to Iran after the election of Hassan Rohani as president in 2013. His passport was confiscated at the airport and after several interrogation sessions he was arrested last May and charged with "activities against the regime" and "assembly and collusion for committing a crime against national security". He was sentenced to five years in jail, which was later reduced to two years.

Hosseinzadeh is suffering from several ailments including rheumatism, asthma, cardiac problems and stomach ulcers. He was arrested in 2013 by the Revolutionary Guards and sentenced to four years in jail for "insulting the leader and propaganda against the regime".

Earlier he issued a statement announcing that he is going on a hunger strike to protest his dire state in prison.
Foreign tourists spent billions in Iran last year

03/16/16

Source: Press TV

Masoud Soltanifar, head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, told reporters on Monday that some five million foreign tourists visited Iran last year, spending at least 7.5 billion dollars.





Foreign tourists in the city of Isfahan in central Iran

(May 2014 file photo by Amir Hosseini, Fars News Agency)



"Currently, the country's income from tourism industry accounts for half a percent of the global revenue," Soltanifar said, adding that the government seeks to increase the figure to two percent by 2025, IRNA reported.

The senior official, who is also a deputy to the Iranian president, noted that Iran ranks 47th on the list of countries with highest tourist number, saying that given its tourist destinations, the country needs to attract some 20 million foreign visitors by 2025.

A New York Times report last month said tour operators in America have been speaking of a surge in bookings by many Americans who, undeterred by a State Department warning about travel risks to Iran, are keen on visiting the country.

Iranian officials told the Associated Press last fall that the country's tourism sector aims to attract $30 billion by 2025.

Iran hosts some of the world's oldest cultural monuments, including 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and its varied terrain ranges from desert locales to ski resorts.

Iran tourism, however, reportedly suffers some deficiencies such as shortage of enough hotels and some financial restrictions for foreign money transfers.

Officials say hotel groups from Germany, Greece, South Korea and Singapore traveled to Iran last year for talks on hotel construction.

Europe's largest hotel group Accor has already built two four-star hotels at Imam Khomeini International Airport outside the capital, Tehran.

Also, the UAE-based Rotana plans to open a five-star 600-room hotel in Tehran and another in the city of Mashhad, which attracts millions of pilgrims each year.
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There are almost as many Android camera apps as there are Android phones, and as of 2014 Google has its own camera appthe aptly named Google Camera.

At first glance, Googles Camera app looks surprisingly simplenothing but a viewfinder and a shutter release. Once you start tapping and swiping, though, youll find a bevy of hidden options, ranging from a self-timer and exposure settings to a panorama mode and even the ability to create a Street View-like photo sphere.

Read on for 12 gotta-know Google Camera features, starting with

Note: Not all of the following features will be available for every Android phone; for example, Android tablets without a flash wont have any flash settings, while gyroscope-less devices wont be able to create panorama shots.

Snap photos with the volume buttons

As with iOS, tapping the (sometimes slippery) on-screen shutter release isnt the only way to take photos.

Ben Patterson Try snapping a photo with a volume button rather than dealing with the slippery on-screen shutter release.

Go ahead and press a volume buttonand when you do, youll start snapping. And if youre lucky enough to own a Nexus 6P, you can hold down the shutter button to take a series of burst photos.

Take a selfie

You might be a bit puzzled the first time you try taking a selfie with Google Camera, given that there arent any obvious on-screen controls besides the shutter release.

Ben Patterson Just tap the lens toggle button to switch between the front and rear camera lenses.

Look closely, though, and youll see a small, three-dot overflow button in the corner of the viewfinder (either the top or bottom corner, depending on how youre holding your Android device.)

Tap it, and a series of new buttons will slide into view, including one that looks like a phone with a lens and a little arrow. Tap that button to toggle between your devices rear and front-facing lenses.

Set the self timer

Time for a group shot, including you. Never fear: Google Camera has a self timer thatll give you up to 10 seconds to pose after youve tapped the shutter release.

Ben Patterson Once you pick a self timer setting, itll appear right next to the overflow button.

Just tap the three-dot overflow button, tap the button that looks like an alarm clock with a slash through it, then pick a timer settingeither three seconds or 10.

Once youve picked a self-timer setting, the interval you picked will appear right next to the overflow button.

Take charge of the flash

By default, the Google Camera app will fire off the flash whenever it thinks your shot needs a bit more light. If you like, though, you can take matters into your own hands and use the flash only when you want to.

Ben Patterson By default, Google Camera sets your devices flash to go off automatically.

Tap the overflow button, then tap the flash button to switch between three settings: auto, on, and off.

If youve picked any flash setting besides auto, a flash icon will appear next to the overflow button.

Focus where you want to focus

Whenever you aim the lens on your Android device, the Google Camera app will automatically pick a focal point and adjust the exposure depending on the available light. If you want, though, you can go ahead and pick your own focal point.

Ben Patterson Tap the screen to change the focal point of your snapshots.

Just tap anywhere on the viewfinder screen to make Google Camera refocus the image and change the exposure level.

Change the exposure manually

Unlike iOSs camera app, Google Camera wont let you lock the focal/exposure point in place. That said, the app offers a setting that iOS doesnt: the ability to tweak the exposure setting manually.

Ben Patterson Google Camera will let you manually boost or tone down the exposure of your photos.

Tap the three-dot overflow button again, then tap the two-tone square button with the plus and minus signs. When you do, Google Cameras exposure settings will appear above the shutter release; tap +1 or +2 to bump up the exposure a bit, or -1 or -2 to dial it down.

Once you adjust the exposure manually, youll see the new setting just next to the overflow button.

Activate High Dynamic Range mode to deal with high-contrast scenes

If youre trying to capture a scene that includes areas of bright light as well as pockets of deep shadow, it may be impossible to get the exposure just right even after tweaking the manual exposure settings.

Ben Patterson A standard photo (complete with a bright, overexposed light in the foreground and a dim background) is on the left; a HDR-enhanced snapshot is on the right.

In such cases, you might be better off using Google Cameras HDRor High Dynamic Rangesetting. With HDR (or HDR+, as Google calls it) switched on, the app will snap multiple shots at different exposures when you tap the shutter release. Once thats done, the camera will combine the images into a single photo that resolves (or tries to, anyway) the details in dark areas of the snapshot without overexposing the brightest areas.

To turn on HDR mode, tap the overflow button, then toggle on the HDR+ setting. If you have a newer Nexus 6, 5X, or 6P handset, youll also have the option of an auto-HDR setting.

Take a quick look at your most recent snapshots

If you want to review the photo you just snapped, tap the bubble that appears just above the overflow button; when you do, your most recent snapshot will slide into view.

Ben Patterson You can quickly review your latest Google Camera shots by swiping in from the right side of the screen.

No bubble? Just swipe in from the right edge of the screen to review the latest shots in your camera roll.

Add some lens blur to your shots

Now, time for the fun stuff, starting with a clever effect thatll add an artistic flourish to your photos.

Ben Patterson Google Cameras lens blur feature emphasizes your subject by adding a slight blur to the background.

Google Cameras lens blur feature softens the background of your images while leaving the focal pointideally, something in the foregroundrazor-sharp, giving your snapshot a greater sense of depth while focusing the eye on the subject of your image.

To get started, swipe in from the left side of the screen to open the effects drawer, then tap Lens Blur. Point the lens on your subject, tap the shutter release, then tilt your Android device slowly, following the on-screen guide arrow.

The Google Camera app will then capture the image and process it for several seconds. Swipe in from the right side of the screen to check out the results.

Make a panoramic or fisheye image

Sometimes, a single frame isnt enough to capture an entire landscape. Enter panorama mode, which lets you take multiple images of a scene and then stitch them together in a single, sweeping snapshot.

Ben Patterson Just follow the big white dots to create a panorama shot.

First, swipe in from the left edge of the display to open the feature drawer, then tap Panorama. Next, tap the three-dot overflow button to pick a format for your panoramic shot: landscape, portrait, square or an exaggerated fisheye view.

When youre ready, aim the lens and tap the shutter release. Next, youll begin a process of making the circle in the middle of the viewfinder fit over a series of large white dots; Google Camera will snap a photo each time the circle fits over a dot.

Once youve completed the circle-and-dot game, the app will stitch the photos together into a single image.

Create a photo sphere

With a little help from Google Camera, you can create your very own 360-degree Street View-style imagesones that you can pan around by swiping or even by holding up your Android device and twirling around.

Ben Patterson With Google Cameras photo sphere feature, you can create Street View-like images that you can rotate by swiping or (once you tap the compass button) by waving around your device.

The process of making a so-called photo sphere is similar to that of taking a panoramic shot, except youll have to snap a lot more photos to create the effect.

First, swipe in from the left side of the screen to reveal the feature drawer, then tap Photo Sphere. Tap the shutter release, then start aiming the viewfinder so the circle on the screen fits over the various white dots. Be prepared to (slowly) spin all the way aroundup and down, left and right. When youre done, the Camera app will need anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes to stitch the images together.

Once thats done, you can swipe in from the right side of the screen to see the result. Tap the Photo Sphere button to the right of the Share button to explore the image Street View-style, then start swiping around. You can also tap the compass button in the corner of the screen to pan around by waving your Android device in the air.

Tweak your photo and video resolution settings

If space is at a premium on your Android device, you can always dial down the resolution of your snapshots and recorded video clips. Your photos and videos wont be quite as sharp, but youll be able to shoot more images and clips before you run out of storage space.

Swipe in from the left edge of the display, then tap the settings button (the one that looks like a gear) in the corner of the screen. Next, tap Resolution & quality, then (under the Camera and Videos heading) tap the settings for your front and rear cameras to boost or lower the resolution for stills and videos.

Note: Owners of the Nexus 5X and 6P handsets will also find settings for slow-motion video capture, a feature that most of us (including me) cant try on our devices just yet.
Indias legislators are on Wednesday debating a law that would allow the government to collect biometric and demographic information from people in return for distributing to them government benefits and subsidies.

A number of legislators and civil rights activists are concerned about the absence of strong privacy safeguards in the legislation and a provision in the law that allows the government to access the data collected for national security reasons. There is also concern that such a large centralized database of personal information could be hacked and critical information leaked.

Biometric information, once leaked cannot be revoked, and identity fraud may in fact become harder to detect if Aadhaar is used for authentication of transactions, said Pranesh Prakash, policy director at the Centre for Internet and Society in Bangalore, in an email.

Activists are also wary that the program could be extended by the government to make it a mandatory digital ID card for people in the country. Already some telecommunications services and financial services companies use the biometric identity as an optional way for verifying customers. Currently, people can keep their personal information in silos, as for example their insurance company cant combine their database with that of a hospital, Prakash said. However, with Aadhaar as a unique linking factor, they could, even without the persons consent, he added.

The biometric ID, which assigns a person a 12-digit number called the Aadhaar number, requires the collection of photos, fingerprints, iris scans and other information such as the name, date of birth and address of the individual. Every time a person has to be verified, he has to present the Aadhaar number, and his biometric information has to match the data stored in a centralized repository.

The digital identity is expected to provide proof of identification to the large number of poor Indians who do not have house addresses, school certificates, birth certificates or other documents that are usually used to prove identity in India.

The traditional paper ration books used in the country are notoriously stuffed with people who are nonexistent or who do not typically qualify for benefits, so the government hopes to save some money by linking the benefits to a digital identity. But the new scheme addresses only end-user fraud and not the large-scale theft prevalent in the entire supply chain, according to analysts.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a member of Indias Parliament, has proposed amendments to the bill that would ensure that Aadhaar numbers should not be used as proof of identity for purposes other than subsidies and benefits. Chandrasekhar also wants the Unique Identification Authority of India that manages the project to be responsible for ensuring the security and privacy of the biometric and demographic information of the account holder, with liability for damages in a civil court in the case of a breach.

The Aadhaar program has been allotting IDs for a number of years, even under a previous government, but the program was the offshoot of an executive order and had no legal sanction. The countrys Supreme Court ruled in 2013 in an interim order that people cannot be required to have Aadhaar identification to collect state subsidies. Aware of the legal minefield it was treading on, the government had said the scheme was voluntary.

The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016 passed recently in the Lok Sabha, one of the houses of Indias parliament, now aims to make the scheme mandatory. The bill sailed through the Lok Sabha where the government has a majority, but will likely meet with strong opposition from the other house, the Rajya Sabha. But the government has classified the bill as a money bill and the Rajya Sabha does not have the final say on such bills. So the legislation is likely to be passed in any case despite its limitations.
Comcasts march towards gigabit ethernet for all over existing cable networks is underway. The company recently announced a trial program in the Atlanta area for its new service, using DOCSIS 3.1 technology to deliver faster speeds over current networks.

For $70 a month, subscribers selected for the pilot program get unlimited gigabit service with no activation or installation fees. That gets you a connection with up to 1 gigabit-per-second download speeds, but only 35 megabits-per-second uploads, as first reported by DSL Reports.

The catch, and theres always a catch, is that you must sign a three-year contract with Comcast attached to a hefty early termination fee (ETF) of $350 to get that $70 per month price. The ETF reduces on a sliding scale during the length of your contract, according to Ars Technica.

If you opt to go without a contract then youll pay nearly double at $140 per month, and theres a 300GB monthly data cap to boot. Anyone who wants no contract and unlimited service will have to pay an extra $35 a month, bringing the total contract-free cost to $175 per month.

Once the trial program is over its not clear if the $70 price will be applied nationwide. Comcast says $70 is a promotional contract price and that additional pricing will roll out in other markets to gauge consumer interest in Gigabit speeds.

The story behind the story: Comcast is structuring its pricing in such a way to force only the most contract-averse to opt for the everyday pricing. That means Comcast can try to lock up customers before Google Fiber expands its presence in Atlanta. In fact, if I had to guess Id expect to see the same sort of pricing structure to lock down customers for three years in markets where Google Fiber is scheduled to arrive or expand its service.

Google Fiber charges $70 per month for its 1Gbps service in Atlanta. The company will also waive the $100 installation fee if users sign a one-year contract. Google also offers Atlantans a basic service with 100Mbps up and down for $50 a month.

UPDATE: This article was updated on May 3, 2016 at 7:52 Pacific to clarify that Google Fiber offers 1Gbps speeds and not 2Gbps. We regret the error.
Digital rights group Fight for the Future is hoping to give voice to ordinary people concerned with the FBIs attempt to force Apple to help it unlock the iPhone used by a mass shooter.

Fight for the Futures new Save Security campaign, launched Wednesday, will collect comments from people worried about the Internet security implications of the FBIs court request. Organizers will display the comments and read them aloud outside a California courthouse before a hearing in the case next Tuesday.

Were actually trying to give a voice to people all over the world who are extremely concerned about this, said Evan Greer, campaign director for the group. Fight for the Future is trying to bring those voices into the conversation so that its not just a fight between a giant company and the government, Greer added.

The group is also asking websites to display logos in support of the Save Security campaign.

Forcing Apple and other tech companies to defeat security protections built into devices will expose users to attacks from criminals and foreign governments, say Fight for the Future and other critics of the FBIs position.

The case is not just about one phone, its about the future of safety and security for millions of people all over the world, Greer said.

But the FBI and President Barack Obamas administrative have argued that encryption and other security features on phones will make it more difficult to investigate crimes and terrorism.

The question we now have to ask is if technologically it is possible to make an impenetrable device or system where the encryption is so strong theres no key, theres no door at all, then how do we apprehend the child pornographer? Obama said recently. If you cant crack that [device] at all, if government cant get in, everybodys walking around with a Swiss bank account in their pocket.

Representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, the prosecutor asking the court for access to the iPhone, didnt immediately respond to requests for comments on the Fight for the Future campaign.

The FBI and DOJ want Apple to help them defeat a password security feature on an iPhone used by Syed Rizwan Farook, who killed 14 people in a mass shooting in San Bernardino in December.

The main goal of the new campaign is education, of the public, of lawmakers, of judges, and of the current and next presidential administrations, Greer said.

Its about educating decision-makers, but the more important thing is winning the hearts and minds of the public and helping people understand whats really going on here, Greer said. Im actually kind of shocked and blown away by how many members of the public seem to genuinely understand whats going on here, even given the gravity of the case that the FBI picked.

Recent polls have the U.S. public split on whether the FBI should able to force Apple to cooperate.

Fight for the Future hopes the education campaign targeting the public will have a trickle up effect on lawmakers, judges and other decision-makers, Greer said.

Fight for the Future was founded in 2011, but the relatively new group has enlisted tens of thousands of websites and hundreds of thousands of people in some of its past campaigns.

The group organized small flash protests against the FBIs position in about 40 cities last month.
Microsoft could roll out Windows 10 Mobile to older Windows Phone 8.1 phones as early as Thursday, according to a new report.

Former Twitter leaker and now VentureBeat contributor Evan Blass wrote Microsoft will announce the availability of Windows 10 Mobile tomorrow. According to Blass, users of select Windows Phone 8.1 devices will have the opportunity to request the update that same day. The update will be available only to a subset of the existing Windows Phone market, however, and which devices those would be wasnt clear.

Microsoft hasnt laid out what you need to do to prepare yourself for the update, but one step seems almost certain: your existing Windows Phone will need to be up-to-date, with Windows Phone 8.1 installed. How well the Windows 10 software will run on even older phones is unknown.

Microsoft representatives declined to comment.

Why this matters: What is clear, unfortunately, is that Microsoft originally promised broad availability of Windows 10 on other devices, including mobile phones, will begin rolling out in Decemberand its now March. Thats prompted a growing discontent among some Windows fan sites, who have noted that Windows 10 Mobile was announced in January 2015, but has taken more than a year (and counting) to be deployed to Microsofts existing base of Lumia phones, as well third-party Windows Phones like the HTC One M8. Microsoft needs to push this update out, and fast.

All quiet on the Redmond front

If Microsoft does plan to roll out the update on Thursday, there have been no hints.

Microsofts Gabe Aul, the Microsoft vice president who oversees the Windows and Devices group team, wrote on Twitter that he had no news to share on new software releases. He had previously indicated that his team was working on a new build of Windows 10 for the Fast ring of the Windows Insider beta program, but hadnt indicated whether it was for mobile phones or desktops.

Microsofts market share has fallen to about 1 percent of worldwide smartphone users, according to fourth-quarter 2015 results released by Gartner in February. ComScore has been slightly more favorable, reporting for March that Microsoft held a 2.7 percent share of all smartphones in the United States, a rolling three-month average that the company said was unchanged from the same period three months ago.

This week has also been marked by the official departure of Here Mapsfrom the Windows 10 ecosystem. But there was a bright spot, too: Twitter announced its first Windows 10 universal app, which will be used on mobile devices as well as desktops.
The county rewarded $150,000 on Tuesday to four tipsters who provided information leading to the capture of three escaped jail inmates, giving the lions share  $100,000  to a San Francisco homeless man.

However, a taxi driver kidnapped by the fugitives received no reward money, despite his claim that he convinced one escapee to surrender.

Long Hoang Mas attorney addressed the Orange County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, prior to the boards vote on how to divvy up the reward money, demanding that his client be compensated for his involvement in inmate Bac Duongs recapture.

Fountain Valley attorney Hoang Huy Tu said it was Mas convincing of Duong to abandon inmates Hossein Nayeri and Jonathan Tieu that forced those inmates to leave the sanctuary of the (San Jose) motel room, which eventually led to their apprehension in San Francisco.

Were it not for Mr. Mas actions, neither Duong, nor Nasseri, nor Tieu would be captured, as they were in possession of a handgun and desperate to evade recapture, Tu said. It was only matter of time before they would commit further acts, which would undoubtedly result in another member of the public being taken captive.

County Supervisor Todd Spitzer said he thought Ma was deserving of a reward but that the law didnt allow the county to give him one, because the Sheriffs Department investigation deemed Ma a victim, not a tipster.

I am very, very sorry, Spitzer said. I feel horrible, because a law doesnt allow us to issue public money.

The board voted Tuesday to reward $15,000 each to Rosemead Target store manager Hazel Javier and loss-prevention officer Jeffrey Arana for alerting authorities that men resembling the escaped inmates had been spotted in their store. The board gave $20,000 to Armando Damian, a Los Angeles man who said the inmates stole his van and supplied photos of the vehicle to authorities.

Supervisors gave $100,000 to Matthew Hay-Champan, a homeless man who recognized the stolen van in San Francisco and reported it to police, which led to the capture of Nayeri and Tieu.

The three inmates escaped Jan. 22, rappelling from the roof of Santa Ana Central Mens Jail using a rope made of bed sheets.

Contact the writer: jgraham@ocregister.com or 714-796-7960
Recently, presidential candidate Donald Trump made a statement on CNN saying that Islam hates us, referring to the United States. Anderson Cooper followed up by asking if he was talking about radical Islam or about the religion of Islam in general. Trump answered by saying, Its very hard to separate because you dont know whos who.

As an American Muslim, I can say with confidence that Islam does not hate America. In fact, Muslims are some of the most loyal citizens in this country. Many show their loyalty by serving this country as doctors, lawyers, teachers and even in the United States military.

A few years ago, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, USA launched the Muslims for Loyalty campaign to demonstrate their loyalty to this great country we all live in and pledge allegiance to. Today, this campaign continues and Muslims all over the country continue to spread the message of the Prophet Muhammad, who said that loyalty to ones country is part of your faith.

Just last month, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, USA held a briefing on Capitol Hill as part of their annual Day on the Hill event. It was attended by members of Congress from both parties, and the new True Islam and the Extremists campaign was launched. This campaign solves Mr. Trumps problem of separating radical Islam from true Islam.

The campaign aims to educate Americans on the true teachings of Islam based on the Koran and the Prophet Muhammad. The campaign asks all American Muslims to agree to and endorse 11 distinct points that define what Islam truly is, making it clear to Islamic extremists that the ideology they represent has nothing to do with the religion they claim to be a part of.

Mr. Trump, since you are struggling to separate radical from true Islam, it would be great if you would read about and endorse this campaign. Visit TrueIslam.com for information.

Sufyan Farooqi

Chino

Protestors to blame

It seems to me that all candidates  Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Ted Cruz, et al.  should be able to hold rallies, and folks that attend should be able to hear the message without being harassed by angry, loud protestors.

Protestors should be able to march, hold up signs, chant, do other legal anti-candidate stuff, but in a legal (outside the arena) venue.

Does anyone think they should be allowed to act like the protesters in Ferguson, in some cases, selectively?

When that is tolerated, should the candidate then be blamed for the protesters loud, angry, hostile or violent behavior inside the arena, at specific events, but not all of them?

A sane person would conclude, of course not.

Bob Haunschild

Hemet
Since Migliore Gourmet Foods debuted in November 2013 in Riversides Canyon Crest Towne Centre, folks have been gushing over its olive oils and snapping up its seasoning salts, rubs, balsamic vinegars, dipping oils, sauces and jams.

But Migliore, Italian for very best, has evolved into much more  a little bistro of sorts, where guests have cultivated friendships as well as an appreciation for cooking with oils and balsamics, said its owner, Debbie Pruneri McKeown. She has transformed her shop into an event destination, where capacity crowds learn about cooking and the uses and benefits of olive oil, or paint pictures, all while dining, schmoozing and sipping wine.

McKeown, who registered her shop at 5255 Canyon Crest Drive, No. 13, as a restaurant, hosts three series that serve food and allow guests to bring their own drinks, including alcohol.

Cooking demonstrations: Rotating between Wednesdays and Fridays, $45, 21/2 hours, includes a meal and a 60-milliliter bottle of balsamic or extra virgin olive oil, 20-person limit. Next: 6 p.m. March 25, truffled peppers, stuffed manicotti, broccoli de cipolla, espresso-soaked ladyfingers and chocolate chip yogurt torte. Chef Kirk Ian Campbell shows guests how to incorporate Migliores products into their cooking.

Painting classes with artist Desiree Habicht: Second Thursday of the month, $50, includes all materials. McKeown prepares a meal, such as tortilla soup, baked brie, fruit salad and carrot cake. Again, BYO libations. Next: 6 p.m. April14.

Olive oil tastings 101: Group bookings. Daytime, up to 12 people, $15. Evening, 6-12, $20. BYO drinks after hours. Both include a meal prepared by McKeown and paired with jams, rubs, oils and balsamics. Each guest gets a 60-milliliter bottle of his/her choice.

Information: 951-784-4422, migliore gourmet.com

SMALL BITES

Remodeled and reopened: Closed for two months, the popular student hangout Red Hot Kitchen is smokin again with its Asian Mexican fusion dishes designed to burn your lips off. At 1995 University Ave, Riverside, the 4-year-old restaurant has received some necessary nips and tucks to its decor, said Richard Ali Deeb, 22, the owners son. Among Red Hots specials: chimichanga, Korean torta, Cuban sandwich, kimchee fried rice, spicy teriyaki bowl, Mexican pizza, Hawaiian bread sliders, deep-fried hot dog and Korean barbecue sopes. Look for a new restaurant name next month and some menu rebrandings. 951-684-9800, rhkriverside .com

Coming soon: Poki Cat, 2630 Tuscany St., No. 102, in Crossings at Corona next to Cold Stone Creamery. Poke, which is raw fish salad and an appetizer in Hawaiian cuisine, and its cousin, sushi, are the menu stars. Poki Cat will let customers design their own meal by selecting the base, amount and type of fish, topping and sauces, according to its website, pokicat.com

Eat more plants: You can celebrate a lifestyle liberated from dairy and meat at the Herbivore Festival, noon-6 p.m. May 1 at Crafton Hills College, 121711 Sand Canyon Road, Yucaipa. Lectures, cooking demos, workshops, performances, fitness activities, vendors, lots of vegan food, kid friendly. Learn how to make vicken fingers, which are vegan fried chicken strips cooked with very little oil. Down organic, cold-pressed juices from The Living Root Cellar, located in Redlands and Riverside. Snack on dairy-free family recipe cakes from 3 Squares Home Bakery. herbivorefestival.com, facebook.com/herbivorefestival. Free.

Open: Pancheros Mexican Grill, part of a chain that presses tortillas to order, has just launched at 16421 Sierra Lakes Parkway, Suite 300, Fontana. The restaurant will host a $1 burrito night 4-6 p.m. Tuesday. Information, pancheros.com

DAYS OF WINE AND MURDER

The Annata Bistro/Bar at Mount Palomar Winery Resort, 33820 Rancho California Road, Temecula, is hosting a murder mystery where guests must match wits with the shifty cast to catch the killer and prevent a rising body count. Clue collecting and sleuthing will occur over cocktails and a three-course killer meal. Doors open at 7 p.m. April 1; dinner and show start at 8. Cost per couple: $152.93; cost per couple for wine club members, $140.18. Information: 951-676-5047, 800-854-5177, MountPalomarWinery .com

To pass on tips about restaurants, breweries and food shops that are opening or closing, contact Laurie Lucas at llucas@pressenterprise.com or 951-368-9559.

Contact the writer: llucas@pressenterprise.com, 951-368-9559
A Pomona man who is suspected of making death threats and brandishing a gun at police officers was shot at a motel by an Ontario police officer on Tuesday night, March 15.

The shooting occurred about 11:05 p.m. at the Quality Inn at the corner of G Street and Vineyard Avenue in Ontario, said Cpl. Fred Alvarez.

Alfredo Armando Morales, 44, is suspected of making death threats in the city of Pomona, Alvarez said. Once Pomona police learned that Morales was at the Ontario hotel and possibly armed, they called Ontario police for backup.

When officers arrived at the hotel, before they could contact Morales, he came outside and waved his gun, Alvarez said. An Ontario officer fired at Morales.

Alvarez did not know where Morales was shot or how many times, but said he was in stable condition Wednesday morning at the hospital.

Nobody else, including police officers, was hurt.

Ontario and Pomona investigators are working the case together, Alvarez said. Police are asking that anyone with information about the incident call Detective Jeff Wentz at 909-395-2715 or provide an anonymous tip to 1-800-78-CRIME or www.wetip.com.
That explains what the goats were doing out there.

The city of Murrieta and the county of Riverside announced this week that work on the extension of Clinton Keith Road started in February when goats were let loose to clear brush from the path of the new roadway in an environmentally-safe way.

The goats work is apparently complete and construction of the extension, which will give motorists a new way to access Winchester Road and French Valley from Interstate 215, is scheduled to start this month.

To mark the occasion, there will be a groundbreaking ceremony at 9:30 a.m., March 30, at the intersection of Clinton Keith Road and Trois Valley Street.

Im extremely excited that we are getting this project off the ground-it will ultimately serve the entire region and improve transportation for tens of thousands of residents and visitors, said Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington, a former council member in Murrieta and Temecula.

The county, which is spearheading the project, awarded the $23 million bid to a Santa Ana construction company in December. The project, which will feature two lanes in each direction, is expected to take about 18 months.

The ultimate plan for the corridor is three lanes in each direction and the project will be graded for that width when it is built, which will allow for a relatively quick upgrade when traffic levels merit the increase.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9698 or aclaverie@pressenterprise.com
The images of war coming from Syria are heartbreaking. I, like every American, am disgusted and saddened when I see children and other innocent people dying in Syrias civil war. Like many of the veterans of my district, I know this heartbreak from my own firsthand experiences with war. As a combat veteran, Ive seen human suffering, and I remember the urge to rush to their aid. Those images have stayed with me. But, when facing a tragedy like this, its not enough to just be compassionate. We also must be smart.

Some people think we should throw open our doors to people fleeing the wars in Syria and Iraq. After all, America often has provided safe haven for refugees. But in this case, hiding among the refugees are terrorists and extremists, bent on harming our nation. Before we consider allowing any refugees into America, we must have the ability to conduct complete and thorough background investigations. Thats why I call on the Senate and the president to pass the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act (SAFE), which I supported in the House.

The American SAFE Act will prevent any Syrian or Iraqi refugees from being brought to America until the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and the director of national intelligence can screen them to ensure that no one who is a threat can enter. If they cannot verify that there are no terrorists among the refugees, then no refugees would be admitted.

Fears of terrorists slipping through our refugee screening process arent idle speculation. As recently as January, federal prosecutors released indictments against two refugees from Iraq on international terrorism charges, including one who was living in California. Other refugees living in Houston and Michigan have been identified as supporters of al-Qaida or the Islamic State. Clearly, our current screening system is inadequate.

While the House passed the American SAFE Act by a veto-proof majority, a small handful of senators has blocked it. What these senators dont understand is that, when youre talking about security and American lives, its far better to be safe than sorry. More than 30 governors recognize this risk and have acted to block Syrian refugees from their states until a better screening system is adopted.

Americas safety and security must come first. We are the shining city on the hill, a beacon of hope for the oppressed around the world. But that will end if we open our gates to those who only seek to harm us. Much of Europe threw open its gates to refugees from Syria and Iraq and promised to take all they could, but the Paris attacks and sexual assaults in Germany quickly changed attitudes. Now we see fences going up across Europe as governments struggle to re-secure their borders.

America must show the world that the solution isnt to bring thousands of refugees to America, but to destroy ISIS so that civilians can return to their homes in Syria and Iraq. The sad truth is that there are many extremists who will gladly hide behind fleeing women and children for the opportunity to attack America. Without better safeguards, we will only invite more terror attacks on our homeland. The first duty of our government is to keep us safe, and as long as there are terrorists hiding among refugees, we cannot bring them to America.

Rep. Paul Cook represents Californias Eighth Congressional District.
Two San Diego men were shot and wounded Tuesday by a Riverside County sheriffs deputy following an armed robbery and short chase in Perris.

Both of the wounded men ran from deputies but were captured that afternoon, sheriffs officials said in a news release issued Wednesday. A third, uninjured suspect was arrested at the scene of the shooting.

Just before 11 a.m. Tuesday, a victim reported he had been robbed at knifepoint by three men at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Perris Boulevard. The three men left in a white, late-model SUV, sheriffs officials said.

As deputies arrived, they spotted the vehicle leaving and followed it about 2 miles to the intersection of Shark Street and Mako Lane, in a residential area. The driver, identified as 18-year-old Patrick Isaiah Shaw of Moreno Valley, stepped out of the SUV.

As the officer attempted to detain the suspects, an officer-involved shooting occurred, the release said. Sheriffs officials would not elaborate Wednesday on what prompted a deputy to shoot.

Shaw, who was not injured, was taken into custody, the release said.

The two men still in the SUV  Desean Stamps, 21, and Jordan Taylor Swanson, 20, both of San Diego  were injured in the shooting. They drove away, but hit a curb a few blocks away and took off running.

After a short foot pursuit, deputies caught Stamps in the 400 block of Dale Street, the news release said. He was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Swanson wasnt caught until sometime before 4:30 p.m. The release said the Riverside County SWAT team searched the area and found him in the 1000 block of Dolphin Drive. He too was taken to the hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

Two elementary schools were locked down because of the police activity, said Perris Elementary School District Human Resources Director Rob French.

Students were supposed to leave Sky View and Palms elementary schools at 1:15 p.m. because Tuesday was an early-release day, but the lockdown wasnt lifted until about 5 p.m. School officials worked with officers to begin releasing students to their parents about 2:30 p.m., French said.

Shaw and, after treatment, Swanson were booked into jail on suspicion of felony second-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit a felony, while Swanson also was booked on suspicion of felony burglary.

Jail records show that Shaws bail was set at $30,000. Swanson was not eligible for bail because of an out-of-county arrest warrant.

When he is released from the hospital, Stamps will be arrested on suspicion of armed robbery and conspiracy to commit a felony, the news release said.

No officers were injured in the shooting, the release said. The deputy who fired was placed on administrative leave, per department policy. His name was not released.
Hillary Clinton rolled up primary victories in four states  Florida, Ohio, Illinois and North Carolina  and dealt a severe blow Tuesday to Bernie Sanders hopes of denying her the Democratic presidential nomination.

Clinton called the outcome another Super Tuesday for her campaign. We are moving closer to securing the Democratic Party nomination and winning this election in November, Clinton told cheering supporters in Florida.

Clinton was locked with Sanders in a tight contest in Missouri, the fifth primary of the day, but her string of four triumphs strengthened her already formidable pledged delegate lead, and the former secretary of state said she expected to have a more than 300-delegate edge.

Sanders, addressing supporters in Phoenix, said his campaign had come a long way but made no mention of Tuesdays results during an hourlong speech. You do not have to accept the status quo. We can do better. Dont let people tell you that you cant think big, he said. Clinton and Sanders did not speak on primary night, aides said.

Florida was the biggest delegate prize and Clintons victories gave her about two-thirds of the delegates needed to clinch the nomination.

With four wins, Clinton will pick up at least 326 delegates while Sanders will gain 220. Many delegates remain to be allocated pending more complete vote totals.

According to an analysis by The Associated Press, Clinton held 1,561 of total delegates when the count includes superdelegates, who are elected officials and party leaders free to support the candidate of their choice. Sanders has 800 total delegates, including superdelegates.

Looking ahead to the fall, Clinton offered pointed words for businessman Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner: Our commander-in-chief has to be able to defend our country, not embarrass it. She said for the nation to be great, we cant be small. We cant lose what made America great in the first place.

Democratic voters in all five states viewed Clinton as the candidate with the better chance to beat Trump if he is the Republican nominee, according to exit polls. In Florida and North Carolina, about 8 in 10 black voters supported her, and she also won support of about 7 in 10 Hispanic voters in Florida.

She has done it. She has been there. She is the person that should replace Barack Obama, said Eduardo De Jesus, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who voted for Clinton.

Clinton urged Democrats in recent days to unite behind her candidacy so she could focus on Trump, the Republican front-runner. In telling campaign optics, Clinton staged Tuesdays primary night rally in West Palm Beach, a few miles from Mar-a-Lago, where Trump held a news conference at his Palm Beach estate.

Late Tuesday, Sanders held a narrow lead in Missouri and trailed Clinton in Illinois, a state where he hoped his trade-focused message would resonate. It helped him pull off an upset in Michigan last week and he continued to question Clintons past support for trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Sanders team said the calendar would be more favorable in the weeks ahead and vowed to go through the Democratic convention. After Tuesday, the campaign shifts westward, with contests in Arizona, Idaho and Utah on March 22. He wants to take this all the way to Philadelphia, said Sanders adviser Tad Devine.

Thomas reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Hope Yen in Washington, Meg Kinnard in Charlotte, N.C., and Alex Sanz in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., contributed to this report.
Paul Jacques, known for his annual portrayal of the great author at the annual Riverside Dickens Festival, is stepping into another role: director of the the smash comedy Monty Pythons Spamalot at the California Theatre of the Performing Arts in San Bernardino.

Its starring a lot of the Inland Empires best actors, Jacques said in a phone interview. Its such a great show with singing, dancing and all the silliness. Ill put it up against anyone elses production.

The historic venue, at which performances will be held at 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, is the same size as the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles and can seat 1,700 people, Jacques said.

Never have the Middle Ages been so funny as theyre depicted in this musical cloned from the classic 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Pythons own Eric Idle wrote the book and lyrics and composed the score with John Du Prez, and Spamalot opened on Broadway in February 2005. The madcap hit won three Tony Awards, including best musical, and ran for more than 1,500 performances.

During their pursuit of the Holy Grail  the cup that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper  the unswashbuckling King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table roam England with their servants, who double as their horses. As this band of bumblers travels to castles, through countryside and forests, they stumble upon killer rabbits, flying cows, dancing monks, coarse French soldiers and an armless and legless knight. They handle each adventure with aplomb, even participating in the showstopping numbers.

Spamalot is the second of four productions being produced by Worldwide Theatricals during the 2015-16 season. Others are West Side Story (April 23) and Into the Woods (June 11). For Worldwides 2016-17 season, the lineup includes South Pacific (Oct. 8), Hairspray (Feb. 18), Oliver (April 29, 2017) and The Wizard of Oz (June 10, 2017).

Contact the writer: llucas@pressenterprise.com, 951-368-9559
Two orchestral concerts in Temecula on Saturday will feature up-and-coming musicians.

The Temecula Valley Symphony will present Adventures in Music at 2 p.m. at the Golden Bears Theater at Temecula Valley High School, followed by a performance by the Inland Valley Youth Symphony and friends at 7:30 p.m.

The senior orchestra, formerly known as Inland Valley Symphony, offers the afternoon concert, under the direction of conductor John Mario, and will feature performances by the first- and second-place winners of the symphonys Young Artists Competition, held in January.

Cellist Paul Maxwell, who took first place, will perform one movement of the Saint-Saens cello concerto. A high school student in Vista, Maxwell studies with Ruslan Biryukov, the founder of the Glendale Philharmonic. Second-place finisher and pianist Malvyn Lai of San Diego will perform one movement of Mozarts Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor.

Every year we are amazed at the quality level of the applicants who participate in our competition. Both winners are very talented young musicians who have achieved high levels of competency, Alana Joos, symphony president and artistic director, wrote in an email.

Young musicians will receive more emphasis when the Inland Valley Youth Symphony comes to the stage to perform Danse Bacchanale by Saint-Saens. Conductor Thomas Kociela will direct the 50-member ensemble.

The Temecula Valley Symphony will add to the adventures with the Festive Overture by Shostakovich and Giuseppe Verdis overture to the opera Nabucco. For the program finale, the orchestra will perform the third and fourth movements from Beethovens Fifth Symphony. Members of the Inland Valley Youth Symphony will join in this work.

The 7:30 p.m. concert will be all youth, all the time. In addition to the Kociela-led Inland Valley Youth Symphony, the program will feature the Inland Valley Junior Youth Symphony, conducted by Scott Merrin. The program includes several works, including Jupiter  Bringer of Jollity from Holsts The Planets, Ancient Aires and Dances by Ottorino Respighi, and Ashokan Farewell from the soundtrack of Ken Burns The Civil War, with words and music by Jay Unger. The violin solo will be performed by Nicholas Casey.

A guest for the program will be the Chaparral Middle School Wind Ensemble from Diamond Bar. This group of 50, directed by Leslie Schroerlucke, has performed in national venues including Chicago Symphony Hall and the Kennedy Center.

Contact the writer: features@pressenterprise.com
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Barack Obama accused Senate Republicans on Wednesday of putting the Supreme Courts credibility at risk if they make good on their vow not to consider or vote on his pick to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia. He promised to nominate a candidate anyway.

Im going to do my job, Obama said.

Obama, weighing in during an Oval Office meeting, acknowledged that Republicans are under enormous pressure from their base to oppose his nominee. But he said if Republicans defy the Constitution by snubbing his nominee, the ability of any future president to pick judges will further erode.

At that point, not only are you going to see more and more vacancies and the court system break down, but the credibility of the Court begins to diminish because its viewed simply as an extension of our politics, Obama said after a meeting with Jordans King Abdullah II.

Senate Republicans want to hold off a Supreme Court pick until Obama leaves office in January. Just a day earlier, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said his 54-member GOP caucus was united against taking any step in the Senates advise and consent process. The Judiciary Committee wont hold confirmation hearings, he said. The committee and the full Senate will not vote.

The White House insists that unambiguous declaration doesnt mean game over for the president. Rather, Obama and his team are hoping to select a well-regarded candidate Republicans would be hard-pressed to oppose, then build a public campaign of support for him or her while ratcheting up political pressure on Republicans for standing in the way of fair consideration.

Once Republicans are faced with an actual candidate instead of an abstraction, Obama said, opposition might soften. He said he hoped Judiciary Committee members would recognize that it is their job to give this person a hearing and then let their conscience dictate their vote on the nominee.

I dont expect any member of the Republican caucus to stick their head out at the moment and say that, Obama said. But lets see how the public responds to the nominee that we put forward.

But Republicans showed no signs of backing down. A few Republicans, including McConnell, have said they would not even meet with the nominee when that person makes introductions on Capitol Hill.

Why would I? Weve made the decision, said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a committee member.

Obamas scuffle with Senate Republicans has reverberated on the presidential campaign trail, with growing prospects that the next president will take office without a Scalia replacement in place. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in a statement Wednesday called Republicans refusal to consider any appointee shameful and indefensible. She said it is offensive to Obama and the American people.

Its time for the Senate to put statesmanship over partisanship, and live up to our constitutional principles, Clinton said.

In his blog post earlier Wednesday on the legal site SCOTUSblog, Obama tried to quell conservative concerns that he would choose an unabashedly liberal who would upend the courts balance. He said he would pick someone who recognized the courts limits and knows that a judges job is to interpret law, not make it.

I seek judges who approach decisions without any particular ideology or agenda, but rather a commitment to impartial justice, a respect for precedent, and a determination to faithfully apply the law to the facts at hand, Obama said.

Yet in a nod to Democrats interests, Obama also said the law isnt clear in all cases that reach the high court. He said he was looking for someone whose life experience outside the court would allow that person to understand how decisions affect the daily reality of peoples lives in a big, complicated democracy.

There will be cases in which a judges analysis necessarily will be shaped by his or her own perspective, ethics, and judgment, he wrote, adding that he would announce a nominee in the next few weeks.

Filling the vacancy left by Scalias unexpected death on Feb. 13 is crucial because the Supreme Court now has a 4-4 ideological split between justices who are usually conservative and its liberal wing. The battle has invigorated both sides interest groups and voters who focus on abortion, immigration and other issues before the court.

He hasnt seen the pressure thats going to build, Sen. Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada said of McConnell. Its going to build in all facets of the political constituency and the country.

After meeting privately with GOP senators Tuesday, McConnell and other leaders said rank-and-file Republicans were overwhelmingly behind the decision to quickly halt the nomination process.

Why even put that ball on the field? Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said of hearings. All youre going to do is fumble it. Let the people decide.

Moderate Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., who faces a tough re-election race this fall, are among the few voicing support for at least holding hearings on an Obama nominee.

Since the Senate started routinely referring presidential nominations to committees for action in 1955, every Supreme Court nominee not later withdrawn has received a Judiciary Committee hearing, according to the Senate Historical Office.
Last night, Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes headlined a performance for politicians and staffers outside Parliament House, as part of a push by government backbencher Ewen Jones to get his colleagues focussing on the music industry.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Jimmy Barnes does #pfoam. I got to introduce him. pic.twitter.com/fKKk7okI1n  Ewen Jones MP (@EwenJonesMP) March 15, 2016

He and a bunch of other Aussie musicians  including Josh Pyke, Paul Dempsey, Baby Animals front-woman Suze DeMarchi  performed at the bequest of Jones on behalf of the Parliamentary Friends of Australian Music.

Musicians struggle for most of their careers, Barnes said, after performing an A+ acoustic version of his classic hit Flame Trees. There needs to be more funding around the arts, for music, for rock music. Ive seen a lot of great musicians, a lot of great songwriters, come and starve to death and disappear.



Yes, Jimmy Barnes is belting out Flame Trees at Parliament House with Bronwyn Bishop in the front row. pic.twitter.com/ib10z7Nc18  Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) March 15, 2016

Jones  the Federal Member for Herbet, Townsville  is pushing for music to be taken out of the arts portfolio, and put into the innovation and small business portfolios. He pointed out that while the top 2% of Australian artists make $200,000 a year in this $15-billion-a-year industry, 78% of artists make less than $10k a year.

We have to do better than that, he said. You wont find a more creative, more innovating industry than music. This is perfect for our agenda.



As well as pointing out that you could have a top 10 single in the world from any remote part of Australia, if youve got the technology in place to do it, both Jones and Barnes spoke out against Sydneys lockout laws as killing the live music scene and hurting the music industry as a whole.

The live music industry needs to be supported, the hotels association needs to get behind us, said Barnes. We need politicians to help us with lockout laws, theres got to be better ways with dealing with that, that dont compromise live music.



Jones also suggested the idea of holding a music festival on Capital Hill.

I want to see it looking out towards the War Memorial, looking out down the drive with electric guitars, he said. My dream is to see Tim Rogers and You Am I, playing Berlin Chair at full throttle, because no one in the world attacks a guitar like an Australian.



Wild.

Photo: James Doherty / Twitter.

Source: ABC / BuzzFeed News.
Jake Nowakowski was the only press photographer on the ground at last weekends Moomba Festival in Melbourne. Its likely the Herald Sun snapper was sent to just capture the atmosphere of the event; of course, what he ended up with was an instantly iconic shot from the middle of a frantic maelstrom.

It was just completely random. Herald Suns Jake Nowakowski was working when a riot broke out #Melbourne #abc730 pic.twitter.com/ugbMlnrJ01  abc730 (@abc730) March 16, 2016

Speaking to Madeleine Morris on ABCs 7.30 tonight, Nowakowski revisited the Federation Square precinct where hundreds of youths basically incited a riot. He recalled the scene, describing how rampant chants of fuck the police evolved into open provocations to the officers on duty. As the mood in the crowd intensified, police eventually used their OC foam to disperse the masses.

To Nowakowski, the most baffling thing was the random nature of it all; he described the scene as full of teenagers from a very varied ethnic background, all milling around the area without a hint of violence before it all kicked off.

That stands in contrast to the footage taken of the scene afterwards, showing a torrent of teens  some of whom were later identified as members of the Apex group  tearing through the precinct, forcing restaurant patrons to be locked inside as police took control of the scene.

Norris also spoke to a member of Apex, who claims fellow members have been unfairly targeted by the media, due to basically racism. James*, one of the groups members of South Sudanese descent, claimed the group isnt a gang, and that there wasnt a defined motive behind the numerous brawls.

Apex gang member James tells #abc730 that bystanders in Melbournes CBD brawl were not the targets pic.twitter.com/7CTrXXDMyB  abc730 (@abc730) March 16, 2016

Thats still up for debate, especially after reports the whole fracas was the result of a rivalry with another, competing group.

Even in the days after the furore died down, Melbourne is still trying to work out what the bloody hell happened. It almost seemed like Nowakowski is, too  but, in the meantime, weve got a pretty stunning, if shocking, image for us to dissect.

*Not his real name.

Source: ABC.

Photo: Twitter.
Remember that low point in internet history when the naked photos of dozens of females were leaked online to the furiously masturbating dudes on 4chan and Reddit in 2014, otherwise known as The Fappening?

The man responsible for accessing said nudes, a Pennsylvanian-based man by the name of Ryan Collins, will today plead guilty to violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Ugh, good.

He faces up to five years prison for accessing the Apple iCloud and Gmail accounts of more than 100 victims, including female celebrities, but will likely serve far less. Both parties have agreed to prison terms of 18 months, although the judge is not bound to that recommendation.

According to the Department of Justice, Collins accessed the accounts by sending out those goddamn phishing emails:

According to factual basis in the plea agreement, from November 2012 until the beginning of September 2014, Collins engaged in phishing scheme to obtain usernames and passwords for his victims. He sent e-mails to victims that appeared to be from Apple or Google and asked victims to provide their usernames and passwords. When the victims responded, Collins then had access to the victims e-mail accounts. After illegally accessing the e-mail accounts, Collins obtained personal information including nude photographs and videos, according to his plea agreement. In some instances, Collins would use a software program to download the entire contents of the victims Apple iCloud backups.

Interestingly enough, the DOJ says he didnt do the actual leaking. As per their report: Investigators have not uncovered any evidence linking Collins to the actual leaks of that Collins shared or uploaded the information he obtained.



His case is directly related to an ongoing investigation related to computers being seized from a Chicago address last year, belonging to a man called Emilio Herrera.

The subreddit where users where sharing and commenting on the photos  /r/TheFappening  became the fastest growing subreddit in Reddit history, and almost literally broke (the front page of) the internet. They came under heavy, heavy criticism for taking their sweet time in shutting it down, and if you want, you can read the very long-winded explanation why here.

Jennifer Lawrence  who, as the highest profile victim, became the face of the story  spoke out about last year to Vanity Fair, calling it a sex crime.

It is not a scandal. It is a sex crime. It is a sexual violation. Its disgusting. The law needs to be changed, and we need to change. Thats why these Web sites are responsible, she said. Just the fact that somebody can be sexually exploited and violated, and the first thought that crosses somebodys mind is to make a profit from it.



Source: Gawker.



Photo: Jamie McCarthy / Getty.
The GPS eighth grade Honors Algebra I class took a field trip as part of Tech Day, sponsored and hosted by Unum. The four-hour event exposed students to IT careers and showed them the scope of jobs involved with technology. The time at Unums fair allowed them to collaborate with other students, think creatively, and problem solve to reach a common goal, according to GPS faculty member Courtney Tallant.

The first activity the girls participated in was the design of an app to enhance the experience of middle school students at the Tennessee Aquarium, with various requirements such as identifying specific fish, connecting with other friends at the aquarium, and sharing information via social media. The design of the app had to keep in mind the requirements their customer wanted as part of the experience.

The girls also played agile ball, a game that allowed them to create, implement, and revise plans toward a common goal. Their goal was to pass as many balls as they could from the starting bin to the ending bin within certain time restraints. They learned to use the strengths of others, to fail fast as the UNUM crew described it, and to try new things each time.



At the tech fair they were able to walk around and talk to representatives from different branches of IT. The event also had a 3D printer, a drone, and a green screen, technology that is available to them at GPS.

At the conclusion of the event, Komal Patri was one of three students who received recognition for her knowledge and interest in technology. I was impressed with the girls creativity in designing their app, willingness to collaborate effectively with others, and ability to think critically, said Ms. Tallant.
Lincoln Memorial University sophomore Brianna Taylor from Ooltewah has been selected as the AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week, it was announced by the league office on Tuesday.



Taylor, a right-hander from the Chattanooga School of Arts and Sciences, helped lead the Lady Railsplitters to a perfect 6-0 week by turning in four dominant performances in the circle, going 4-0 with 21 strikeouts and just one earned run allowed over 22 2/3 innings of work.



The 5-8 sophomore kicked off her week by picking up both wins in Lincoln Memorial's doubleheader sweep of the King Tornado in the Dorothy Neely Field opener. In game one, Taylor relinquished just one unearned run and struck out five over 6 1/3 frames in a 4-1 win. She was then called on in relief in game two, holding the Tornado scoreless for 3 1/3 innings while fanning three in an 11-8 come-from-behind victory. She served up just 10 hits over 9 2/3 innings in that twinbill.



This past weekend at the West Virginia Wesleyan Tournament in Salem, Va., Taylor picked up two more wins and nearly threw her first career no-hitter.



In LMU's 11-0 win in six innings over Ohio Valley, Taylor held the Fighting Scots without a hit through five frames before finally allowing a pair of singles in the bottom of the sixth. She finished with eight strikeouts in the complete-game shutout. Taylor spun another complete game in the West Virginia Wesleyan Tournament finale, pacing a 4-1 win by giving up just three hits and one earned run with five strikeouts.



Taylor has earned the win in her last six appearances, fueling the Lady Railsplitters over a current season-high and SAC-best eight-game winning streak. She enters the week sporting a 7-6 record with 58 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings of action.

Taylor and the Lady Railsplitters are back in action on Saturday, March 19, when they kick off South Atlantic Conference play with a doubleheader at Wingate beginning at 1 p.m.
Election Q&A: Meet the candidates for Emmet County Commission

The first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth districts are all contested races on Nov. 8.


Qatar meeting would seek more commitments to cap production

RIYADH/DOHA

Petroleumworld.com 03 16 2016

Oil producers from OPEC and beyond are finalizing a plan to discuss freezing output at a meeting in Qatar in mid-April, the latest move in a campaign by financially-stricken crude exporters to shift the dynamics of an over-supplied market.

Prices have rallied more than 30 percent since a mid-February proposal by Saudi Arabia, Russia, Venezuela and Qatar in February to cap oil output and reduce a worldwide surplus that had seen prices slump to 12-year low in January. The summit in April would seek commitments from a wider range of producers both within and outside the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Qatar's oil minister said that countries would meet in the nation's capital Doha on April 17 without providing details of who would attend. Delegates from three members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said they hadn't yet received an invitation and two people with knowledge of the matter said no date had been finalized. They asked not to be identified because the talks are private.

Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi and his Russian counterpart Alexander Novak, who represent the world's largest exporters, will discuss the meeting on Wednesday by phone, one person said.

The proposed freeze put a floor under oil prices, Qatari Oil Minister Mohammad Al-Sada said in an e-mailed statement today. To date, around 15 OPEC and non-OPEC producers, accounting for about 73 percent of global oil output, are supporting this initiative.

Oil rallied after the Qatari statement, gaining as much 1.5 percent to $39.33 a barrel in London.

There are reasons to be doubtful that the planned freeze can radically alter an oil market that's fallen victim to a global fight for market share, causing stockpiles to rise to a record high. Most significantly, Iran is seeking to increase production after the end of economic sanctions and has said it won't participate in any accord until its output has recovered.

Iran increased output by 187,800 barrels a day to 3.13 million a day in February, the biggest monthly gain since 1997, OPEC said in its monthly report on Monday.

Brazil will also add more than 100,000 barrel of supply this year and has shown little interest in taking part.

We will now see if OPEC and Russia are able to freeze the bears in the oil market, said Olivier Jakob, managing director at consultants Petromatrix GmbH. The significance of the agreement is that it could remove the perception that OPEC is fighting for market share.

There have been other forces driving prices higher in recent weeks. Outages from Iraq and Nigeria have disrupted more than 800,000 barrels a day of supply and tightened the Brent market, according to Citigroup Inc. And falling drilling activity in the U.S. shale industry has seen analysts raise forecasts for declines in North American production.

One key question is how fast shale production production could come back if the OPEC and some non-OPEC producers succeed in driving prices higher.

It's not surprising they'd be willing to agree to this because the outlook for further production increase was quite limited, Jeff Currie, global head of commodities research at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., said in an interview of Bloomberg Television. You can't' operate a cartel the way you used to.








Venezuela says 20 countries to attend Doha April meet, talking to Iran

DUBAI/LONDON

Petroleumworld.com 03 16 2016

Oil producers including Gulf OPEC members support holding talks next month on a deal to freeze output even if Iran declines to participate, OPEC sources said, increasing the likelihood of the first global supply deal in 15 years.

That a meeting could go ahead with or without Iran indicates a shift in the stance of Gulf oil exporters including Saudi Arabia, who had previously maintained that all major producers should participate in any agreement.

OPEC and non-OPEC producers will meet in Doha on April 17, Qatari Energy Minister Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada said, following a February agreement between Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Venezuela and non-OPEC Russia to stabilize output.

"To date, around 15 OPEC and non-OPEC producers, accounting for about 73 percent of global oil output, are supporting this initiative," Sada said in a statement. Qatar holds the OPEC presidency in 2016 and has been organizing the effort.

Oil prices rose on Wednesday, supported by the announcement and on growing signs of a decline in U.S. crude production. Brent crude LCOc1 was trading above $40 a barrel, up from a 12-year low of $27.10 reached in January.

The reluctance of Iran to join an accord while it seeks to boost its oil exports to recover market share after the lifting of Western sanctions has been cited by OPEC sources as a potential roadblock to an agreement.

Sources familiar with the matter said the issue was among the factors which caused an earlier plan to hold the producer meeting on March 20 to be dropped.

But on Monday, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said after talks in Tehran that a deal could be signed in April and exclude Iran. An exemption for Iran is not a deal breaker, OPEC sources said.

"It's a setback but it will not necessarily change the positive atmosphere that has already started," said one OPEC source from a major producer, referring to Iran saying it will not join any freeze accord.

Novak said he talked to Sada and Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi on Wednesday. With the freeze deal, the oil market would rebalance as early as late 2016, Novak said, but without it the rebalancing would not happen until late next year.

A freeze in output would at least stop adding to the excess supply that has caused prices to collapse from levels above $100 a barrel seen in June 2014.

OPEC delegates have said that further action including a supply cut could follow by the end of the year, depending on Russia's commitment to the freeze and how much oil Iran adds to the market.

HARD TO BACKTRACK

A second delegate from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said a pact that failed to include Iran was not the worst possible outcome.

However, "if the others freeze and the Iranians are outside the agreement, it will not help the market unless the demand is very large", this delegate said. "January output is already at high levels."

Backtracking on the deal would risk jeopardizing the recent rally in oil prices, other OPEC sources said.

"You can't ignore all other oil producers. The meeting is likely to go ahead," a third source said, adding that the April meeting was likely to discuss and finalize details of the deal. "We will not just meet for the sake of meeting."

It was unclear whether all 13 OPEC members and which outside producers would attend. Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have said they would commit to the freeze if other major producers also participated.

Novak said Qatar was sending invitations to all OPEC members as well as to some producers outside the organization.

"After it receives confirmations it will be possible to talk about the exact number of participants," Novak said.

"Iran said it was ready to take part in this meeting," he added.

The willingness of Iraq, the biggest source of OPEC supply growth in 2015, to join the deal is also important. Baghdad on Monday said the freeze initiative was acceptable.






The Tennessee Republican Party released the following statement from Chairman Ryan Haynes regarding Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey's decision to not seek re-election in 2016:

"Over the years, Ron Ramsey has been a conservative leader in the Republican Party. He leaves an incredible legacy of reform that will be hard for anyone to match. The Tennessee Republican Party would not have reached its super-majority status without our Lieutenant Governor's clear vision, guidance, and support.

"Ron Ramsey proves the old adage is true: It matters who governs. I deeply appreciate all he has done to make Tennessee a better place to live, work, and raise a family."

Tennesseans for Conservative Action released the following statement:



We thank Lt. Governor Ramsey and his wife Sindy for their many years of dedicated service to the state of Tennessee. His unwavering conservative leadership for the state has left a legacy to all Tennesseans and we wish he and his family the best. All Tennessee conservatives owe a debt of gratitude to our Lt. Governor.

House Speaker Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) said, "I have served alongside Ron Ramsey for many years, and I have the utmost respect for him. He dedicated his time in public service to making Tennessee a great state. He often says that it matters who governs, and indeed it doesTennessee has had a great leader in Ron Ramsey. I know he will enjoy being able to spend more time with Sindy and with his precious grandchildren. I wish him the very best.

Betsy DeVos, chairman of the American Federation for Children said, "Few leaders can match the commitment and compassion Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey has toward the students of Tennessee and the families in need of school choice. We applaud and thank Lt. Gov. Ramsey for his commitment to public service and his leadership which has led to an ongoing conversation about the importance and pressing need for robust educational options for Tennessee families.

When we think of all the great gains Tennessee has made in improving education, not one was passed without a fight. Leading the way in every single fight was Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey. From his bold stance on collective bargaining reform, to his commitment to expanding educational options, Lt. Gov. Ramsey was the foundation on which others have built a better future for Tennessee's children. On behalf of the thousands of children and families who will continue the fight for better educational options, we thank Lt. Gov. Ramsey and wish him and the Ramsey family all the best.

"Tennessee's pro-life movement and unborn children have had no greater friend than Ron Ramsey," said Brian Harris, president of Tennessee Right to Life. "Part of his legacy will certainly be the election of pro-life super-majorities to the Legislature and passage of pro-life Amendment 1. Pro-life Tennesseans owe Ron Ramsey a debt of gratitude for helping to frame the debate on Right to Life issues in Tennessee."

House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick said, Ron Ramsey is to be congratulated and thanked for his service to our state and to the Tennessee General Assembly. His role as a pioneering Republican ranks him with Senator Howard Baker, Senator Bill Brock and Governor Winfield Dunn in building our party to its present state of super majority status. His decision to go home and spend more time with his family shows he has not lost his perspective on what is really important in life. I am proud to call Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey my friend.

Senate Democratic leaders released the following statements:







"Ron Ramsey is a true statesman and, really, a role model on authenticity in public life," Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris said. "He demonstrated that again today in how he announced his retirement. He set out a list of priorities and we would be lucky to be as smart, self-aware, authentic, and courageous enough to be able to do the same someday. We would all also be lucky to have even a portion of the blessings that Ramsey has had. He deserves a long-round of congratulations."





"Ron Ramsey went from being a junior member of the minority party in the House to leader of a supermajority in the state Senate in his 20 years in the General Assembly," Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman Jeff Yarbro said. "That's a testament to how strong a leader he has been. During my time in the legislature, we've had a strong and open relationship. Even when we've disagreed, we've done so as colleagues and as friends. And while it might surprise some folks to hear it, I'm going to miss him.Tyler and I wish him, Sindy, and his entire family all the best in the years to come."

Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris made the following statement:

There's a saying on the farm: 'Always look well to the other horse before you run in double harness.' Ron Ramsey and I have been together as a team in senate leadership for a decade. His retirement marks the end of a great era. Under his leadership, we not only gained the majority, but Tennessee has flourished in so many important ways. He demonstrated that 'it matters who governs.' I'm glad for his friendship and everything he has done to make Tennessee a better place.
An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and investigators with the Cocke County Sheriffs Department and the State Fire Marshals Bomb and Arson Section has resulted in the indictment of a Parrottsville man for the murder of his brother five years ago.

At the request of 4th District Attorney General James Dunn, TBI special agents, working alongside detectives with the Cocke County Sheriffs Department and State Bomb and Arson investigators, began investigating the Nov. 4, 2011, death of Richard D. Williams, 38. Mr. Williams body was found in the burned-out residence at 1120 Palmer Hollow Road in Parrottsville. An autopsy indicated that the death was a homicide. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information that the victims brother, James Pate Williams, was the individual responsible for the death of Richard Williams.

On Feb. 22, the Cocke County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Williams, 44, with one count of first-degree murder and one count of arson. Williams was arrested early Wednesday morning by deputies with the Cocke County Sheriffs Department, and he was booked into the Cocke County Jail. Williams is being held without bond.
Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson announced new promotions within the sheriff's office on Wednesday.

He said, "Great things are happening at the Bradley County Sheriff's Office, including the addition of a $2.8 million workhouse facility. I didnt want to increase the budget by hiring more supervisors, but adding this kind of responsibility  and all that goes with it - to our current supervisors workload wasnt the answer either. So, after a lot of consideration and prayer, weve come up with a win-win solution.

Three veteran officers will be assigned to new duties within the sheriffs office. Sheriff Watson said, I am blessed to have men of the caliber of Wayne White, Russ Henry and Keith Edwards, who are willing to accept jobs within the BCSO that will enhance the operation of the facilities and Patrol Division.



One of the first decisions made was to eliminate the rank of senior lieutenant, held by veteran deputy Wayne White. Mr. White will now assume the rank of captain of Patrol. Captain White is a graduate of Lee University and is an ordained bishop with the Church of God. The Patrol Division is probably the most visible of all divisions that make up the Bradley County Sheriffs Office. Sheriff Watson recognizes the Patrol Division is the first line of defense in the fight against the criminal element.



Another member of Sheriff Watsons staff has been appointed to one of the most important positions inside the Judicial Branch of Government. Captain Keith Edwards will become captain of Judicial Services and facilities, which encompasses the safety and security of the courtrooms, members of the judiciary, staff and public. Keith successfully has held many positions within his over 30 years with the BCSO, and I have every reason to believe Judicial Services is in capable hands with Captain Edwards. Sheriff Watson said. Judicial Services provides Court Security in three different locations. General Sessions Court and Criminal Court are in the Bradley County Judicial Center while Child Support, Civil Sessions Court, Chancery, and Circuit Courts are in the downtown Bradley County Courthouse. Juvenile Court is conducted in a separate facility on Johnson Boulevard.



Captain Edwards will be assisted in his efforts in Judicial Services by another veteran deputy, Sergeant Russ Henry. Sergeant Henry has served the sheriffs office for 18 years in various positions, most recently as a School Resource Officer and DARE Instructor at Parkview Elementary. He is now promoted to Lt. over Judicial Services. He also volunteers his time as an assistant Scout Master with Boy Scouts of America. Sheriff Watson said of Lt. Henry, I know Russ goes well over and above what is expected of him in any venture he is involved in. Working in Judicial Services will give him an opportunity to continue those activities.



The advent of the new Bradley County Workhouse, to be built at the County Jail and Judicial Services area, will mean a smaller census in the Bradley County Jail, yet will mean corrections staff will retain their responsibilities in the new facility. Sheriff Watson commented on the changes saying, We were able to eliminate the rank of patrol senior lieutenant at the sheriffs office, plus there have been deletions in the new workhouse facilities. Right now, it looks as if the Bradley County Workhouse will come in at about $15-million dollars. Much of that is due to mandates placed on Bradley County by Federal and State regulators.



The sheriff concluded by saying, I will see to it that the Bradley County Sheriffs Office will continue to operate with our citizens in mind. We are tasked with keeping our residents safe, while operating a safe and secure court and jail system. You can be sure we will do just that.






Chattanooga author Nan Coddington wrote her first book in her 80s. Not surprising for those who know this active and adventuresome person as she skied the Swiss Alps in her 70s and became a pilot in her 60s. She has written and published several inspirational devotionals and edited other religious literary works throughout her years.

Review for Love Came Near:

Love Came Near tells of the personal, heavenly happenings that God, Himself, can bring about in the life of a believer. It is the story of an awesome God and His love for all who will let Him into their heart. It speaks of the world which is showing signs of trouble and of what Christ has to say of these times. He desires that none shall perish.

Ms. Coddington will be signing her new book, Love Came Near, on Saturday, April 9, from noon-2 p.m. at Hixson LifeWay Christian Bookstore at Towne Center North, 5591 Highway 153, Suite 156.

Love Came Near is 152 pages and is published by LKC Publishing. The print edition is available for $10 at Hixson LifeWay Christian Bookstore and amazon.com. Electronic editions are available for $2.99 at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and wook.pt.

Ms. Coddington grew up in Indianapolis, In. She worked as a medical secretary for the chief nurses' office at the Veteran's Administration Hospital. Later, she would become secretary to the personnel director. It was while she was at the VA Hospital that she met a young medical student who would later become her husband. They have three grown children and seven grandchildren, of whom "all are smart, the boys handsome and the girls beautiful," she says. She and her husband live in Chattanooga where they have lived for the past many years.
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Youth Leadership Chattanooga is a YMCA of Greater Chattanooga program modeled after the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce "Leadership Chattanooga" program for adults.

This will be the 18th year for Youth Leadership Chattanooga which helps students develop leadership skills and gain a better understanding of the greater Chattanooga area. The program is open to all public, private and homeschool high school students in Hamilton County. Students must be rising sophomores or rising juniors with a 2.0 GPA or higher.

Up to 40 students will be chosen to participate in the nine month program. The 2016-2017 year will kickoff with a weekend retreat at the YMCA's Camp Ocoee in August and end with a graduation in May. Youth Leadership Chattanooga students meet once a month for day trips that highlight local opportunities for community involvement and potential career paths.

Program days include A Day in the Life of the Arts, Community Service, Economic Development, Education, Government and Justice, Health Services, Social & Human Services and Urban Planning, Design & the Environment. The students also participate in group projects.

Each year students meet with a variety of elected officials which can include the Chattanooga and Hamilton County mayor, Chattanooga City Council members, Hamilton County Commissioners and School Board members and state and federal elected representatives.

Students have also met with law enforcement officers including the Chattanooga Police Chief and Hamilton County Sheriff, and local, state and federal attorneys and judges.

They tour a variety of Chattanooga and Hamilton County businesses, nonprofits and other organizations as well.

Nominations will close April 1. Selected students will be notified by early May.

To nominate a student, click here or contact their school guidance office.

Since 1998, Youth Leadership Chattanooga has served more than 500 high school students in the Chattanooga area. Our goal is to have as many area schools represented as possible.

Youth Leadership Chattanooga participant Eriel Sales, a 10th grader at Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy says "Youth Leadership Chattanooga has helped me become a stronger person and I feel like I'm a good role model for others."

Youth Leadership Chattanooga states that 95% of its graduates go on to college.

This program is free to schools, students, and their families, thanks to the generosity of Chattanooga YMCA donors. If you would like to donate to the program, please contact Youth Leadership Chattanooga program director Brice Percy at 423-805-3315 or bpercy@ymcachattanooga.org. Donations in any amount are accepted. Without the generosity of community donors, it would cost $500 for a student to be in the Youth Leadership Chattanooga program.


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Brazil's Gaming Bill Makes Progress Despite Protests Against the Government

March 16, 2016 Jason Glatzer Editor

Due to the long-running economic recession in Brazil, the country's government is believed to be seriously considering voting into law Bill 186, which if passed would lead to regulated and legalized online poker.

Bill 186 was first introduced into Brazil's House of Representatives in December 2015 when the Special Commission on National Development overwhelming approved the bill by a vote of 8-2 and one member abstaining. The bill, authored by Senator Ciro Nogueira, still has a long path to become law of the land, requiring approval from both Brazil's lower house and President Dilma Rousseff.

Recently, amendments to the bill were approved by the House of Representatives giving further optimism that it may be approved into a new gaming regime in the country. In addition to regulated online poker, the bill would create a licensing processes for other online betting services, permit casino games and bingo at land-based premises, would allow video lottery terminals.

While it is believed that the bill has wide support from the House of Representative, the Senate, and President Rousseff, many remain skeptical that it will pass due to corruption allegations against the ruling party, the Workers Party. Recently, three million Brazilians in at least 17 regions across the country hit the streets in protest, blaming President Rousseff for the country's economic problems. The biggest protests drew seven-digit crowds including a whopping 1.4 million people in a single protest in Sao Paulo and another million-large crowd in Rio de Janeiro.

However, those optimistic about the bill believe that it is these very economic problems that could lead to the passing of Bill 186. The country's economy declined by four percent in 2015 and unemployment continues to rise. As Senator Nogueira noted, the passing of a gaming bill could bring in much needed new funds to help resolve the country's budgetary crisis.

"According to some studies, if regulated, the gambling market could bring to the State new revenues for at least R$15 billion (approximately $3.8 billion) a year," Nogueira said in 2014 when attempting to push through a different gaming bill that was eventually rejected by President Rousseff.

Lead image courtesy of deviantart.net.

Want to stay atop all the latest in the poker world? If so, make sure to get PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+!
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Hillary Clinton devastated Donald Trump in her victory speech, as the message to the billionaire was clear. Its on.

Clinton began by announcing that she will add to her delegate lead and that 2 million more Democrats voted for her.

She said that this might be one of the most consequential campaigns of our lifetimes. Clinton said that the next president will sit down at the desk and make decisions that impact the lives of every American and people around the world.

Former Sec. of State Clinton said that the next president will face the tasks of making a difference in peoples lives, keeping Americans safe, and bringing the country together. Clinton said that young people deserve a president who will help to relieve the burden of college debt. She said that Social Security needs to be expanded and that families deserve affordable child care, paid family leave, and equal pay for equal work for women. Clinton said that hardworking Americans deserve a president with the ideas and know how to create good jobs with higher wages. She called more good jobs in manufacturing, infrastructure, small businesses, and clean energy.

Clinton called out Trump without mentioning his name by saying that voters deserve candidates that are clear and honest about what their plans are and what they will cost. Clinton took down Trump by saying that our Commander In Chief must be able to defend America, not embarrass it.

Clinton said that when Trump embraces torture that doesnt make him strong, that doesnt make him wrong. Clinton called out Trump for his bluster and bigotry.

Hillary Clinton drew a clear contrast between herself and Donald Trump. Its clear that Clinton isnt going to wait for Trump to throw the first punch. She delivered an uplifting speech whose underlying tone contained a single message to Donald Trump.

Its on.
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Republican Governor John Kasich won his home state of Ohio tonight in a tight primary race with Donald Trump, in spite of trailing in the Republican primary elsewhere. Ohio is a winner take all state for Republicans, and considered pretty near a must win for Republicans.

Voter turnout was up compared to the historically low turnout in the 2012 presidential primary, the according to Cincinnati.com, thanks to the wild GOP race and a Democratic contest thats been more competitive than many expected.

The turnout for Kasich can be attributed in part to Democrats who crossed over to vote for Kasich, perhaps as part of the Stop Trump efforts being coordinated around the country.

Kaischs win can be seen as a block of Donald Trump as Ohio is pivotal for the Republican primaries. This loss for Donald Trump makes it difficult for the serial liar to get the 1,237 delegates he needs to win the nomination outright.

This is good news for the nation, as Donald Trump winning the Republican Partys nomination outright would be a tragedy for this country and the very foundations of democracy on which we pride ourselves.
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As Walter Scott said long before the current Republican party set about proving him right, Oh, what a tangled web we weavewhen first we practice to deceive.

And so we drop smack dab into the middle of one of the Republican partys current troubles, in between their likely nomination of Donald Trump and the fact that they cant get a budget together again. This trouble is in the Senate and it stems from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells (R-KY) inability to change course when he first realized his obstruct Obama all of the time strategy was backfiring, and in fact leading to Donald Trump.

McConnell has dumped his Republican Senators in the middle of his big lie about how there is no need to even hold a hearing for this incorrectly and offensively implied illegitimate Presidents Supreme Court nominee. Faced with angry voters who want them to do their jobs, the jobs the voters are paying them to do, which includes as a basic confirming Supreme Court nominees, Republicans are at a loss as to justify and sell McConnells big lie.

A rebellion is brewing in the Senate. A few tidbits from a round-up sent by Senator Harry Reids office:

Former NRSC Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS): That decision has already been made, Moran told the NLJ on Monday. If the president nominates somebody, Ill consider them by my constitutional responsibilities, but its my understanding there will be no hearings, there will be no meetings. http://bit.ly/22izAZB Senate Republican Conference Vice Chairman Roy Blunt (R-MO): I certainly wouldnt mind voting on the nominee that the President has. http://bit.ly/1S1OaQc Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI): Im not in charge of the process. http://bit.ly/1XsCbN6 Republican Senator to the Hill: Whats the Point of Falling On Our Swords http://bit.ly/1XsCbN6 Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) SMERCONISH: Its frustrating because I say, you know, theres got to be more respect shown for the office than to say we dont care who you send us. HATCH: Well, youre saying that we got to accept anybody this president sends up  SMERCONISH: No, Im not. No, Im not. Im saying have the dignity to welcome  HATCH: Yes, you are, youre saying  SMERCONISH:  the person into your office and hear them out. HATCH: I would if we havent made the decision that we shouldnt play a game here and let them know where we are and were going to put it over until next year. http://www.cnn.com/ TRANSCRIPTS/1602/27/smer.01. html Former Republican Leader Trent Lott (R-MS): I probably wouldve handled it differently, Lott told CNN senior political commentator David Axelrod on The Axe Files podcast, produced by CNN and the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. My attitude, particularly on the Supreme Court, was that elections do have consequences, sometimes bad, and I tried to lean towards being supportive of the Presidents nominees, Democrat or Republican. If they were qualified by education, experience, and demeanor and had no other side problem, my predisposition was to be for them, added the Mississippi Republican, who led the Senate from 1996 to 2001. http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/07/ politics/trent-lott-axe- axelrod-files/index.html

This will be even harder to defend when/if Donald Trump wins tonight in the Ides of March Super Super Tuesday, because then it will be obvious that Republicans will not be picking the next SCOTUS nominee. They will not even be in the majority in the Senate anymore and thus will have even less of a say As I wrote on day one of this epic disaster of a strategery.

The problem is that Republicans are refusing to do their jobs and changing the rules for no reason. They are not being obstructed, they are obstructing the President in a naked power grab from the legislative brach. Republicans used to stand for law and order but now, not so much. Now they are about chaos and disrespect. They are about Donald Trump and they are proving this in the Senate. Donald Trump is not an anomaly. He is the GOP.

Republicans have been obstructing Obama because they thought they would get to pick the next SCOTUS. Whatever gave them that idea based on the cage match style debates theyve been having or their polls is anyones guess. But now that Donald Trump is running away with the Republican nomination, its obvious to anyone with more than a single cell working that Republicans will not be making the next SCOTUS nomination. Now they are nervous because they fear Hillary Clintons choice, they would rather be stuck with Obamas choice than Hillarys.

Republicans will be lucky if they dont lose the House that they thought they had gerrymandered into safety for the next decade. What can we say, except You built that.
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Here are the winners and losers from super duper Tuesday.

Winners and Losers:

Winners:



1).Hillary Clinton  Super Duper Tuesday could not have gone better for Hillary Clinton if she scripted it herself. After winning Florida by a huge margin, Clinton was guaranteed to expand her delegate lead. Her win in Ohio may have put the Democratic nomination out of reach for Bernie Sanders. Except for thanking Sanders for running a vigorous campaign, Clintons speech was focused on Donald Trump. Hillary Clinton is now free to shift towards the general election, and her first volley at Trump was doozy. Clinton is already painting the contrast between herself and Trump. It was a dominating night in terms of delegates for former Sec. of State Clinton, and things may only get better from here.

2).John Kasich- The Republican Party needed Kasich to step up and deny a victory to Trump in his home state, and unlike Marco Rubio, he delivered. A Republican nomination probably isnt the cards for Kasich, but if he forces a brokered convention that denies Trump the Republican nomination, he will have done his job. Kasich is going to stay in the race, but for a candidate who didnt win anything outside of his home state, it is difficult to see him being a factor for the nomination.



3). Donald Trump  Out of the five Republican primaries, Trump got big wins in Florida and Illinois, and North Carolina. The bloom is slightly off the Trump rose as it is clear that he is not going to steamroll his way to the Republican nomination. The loss in Ohio might have been expected, but it still hurts. The Republican race is now centered around the question of whether or not the party can deny Trump enough delegates to clinch the nomination outright.

Listen to Sarah Jones and Jason Easley discuss the winners and losers:

Losers:



1).Marco Rubio  The ride is over for Rubio. The candidate that the establishment of the Republican Party picked to save them after Jeb Bush failed to launch got crushed in his home state of Florida by nearly 20 points. Ironically, Rubio may have given his best speech of his entire campaign as he was suspending his campaign. Rubios speech made it clear that he despises Donald Trump and the type of campaign that he is running. On the same day that it was reported that top conservatives were gathering to investigate the possibility of a third party conservative run if Trump is the Republican nominee, it was interesting that Rubio used his speech to define his meaning of conservatism.

2). Bernie Sanders  Super Duper Tuesday may have been the night where the dream of Bernie Sanders becoming the Democratic nominee was put out of reach. Sanders promised that he would win Ohio, but he was thumped by Hillary Clinton. Sanders has not been able to make inroads with African-Americans and was blown out in the South. The Clinton win in Ohio crushed the Sanders industrial Midwestern strategy. Bernie Sanders may pick up some wins out West, but his campaign realized the value of proportional delegate allocation too late. It isnt about winning states. The Democratic nomination is decided by the margin of victory. Bernie Sanders has blown out by too big of a margin in too many big delegate states, and it finally caught up to him on Super Duper Tuesday. Even if Sanders pulls out wins in Missouri and Illinois, they would be at best moral victories. Sanders continues to split the vote far too often while Clinton wins big.

3). Ted Cruz- Out of five Republican primaries, Ted Cruz has won exactly none. Cruz keeps positioning himself as the only candidate who can beat Trump, but there is a very good possibility that Cruz gets shut out. At best, Cruz might pull off a win in Missouri, but one for five is not the mark of a great contender.
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No-one in their right mind wants to be poor or homeless, so it is always curious why many Americans are cruel and inhumane toward the very least fortunate among us. It is a safe bet that if there were enough living-wage jobs, the number of Americans stuck in poverty and without a place to live would be far less. Whatever the reason a person is in economic despair and lacks a safe place to live, there is no reason whatsoever to criminalize them or their families for being poor or homeless.

On Monday, Attorney General Loretta Lynch issued a stern order to state court officials to stop, forthwith, targeting poor and homeless people and throwing them in jail for being too poor to pay fines for the crime of being too poor to have a place to live. In repeating what President Obama said about a year ago, the Justice Department reminded the state courts that the criminalizing poverty and homelessness is patently unconstitutional, and took special exception to sending the poor to debtors prison; a practice that A.G. Loretta Lynch said was entirely profit motivated and unusually burdensome on the poor.

In the strongly worded letter to court chief justices and administrators, the head of the DOJs Civil Rights Division, Vanita Gupta and Lisa Foster of the Office for Access to Justice leveled some harsh criticism against state judicial and law enforcement officials for arresting and jailing the poor as a revenue generating source. The letter said in part,

In addition to being unlawful, to the extent that these practices are geared not toward addressing public safety, but rather toward raising revenue, they cast doubt on the impartiality of the tribunal and erode trust between local governments and their constituents.

The DOJ got involved after finding that the justice system in Ferguson Missouri consistently set maximizing revenue as the priority in arresting and fining the poor to trap those individuals in a perpetual cycle of poverty. Gupta and Foster continued that, like in Ferguson, law enforcement and courts nationwide are out of line in forcing poor individuals into escalating debt, to lose their jobs, face unnecessary and repeated incarceration despite posing no danger to the community; and become trapped in inescapable cycles of poverty.

Right on cue and concurrent with the DOJ order, there was a civil rights lawsuit filed in federal court in Los Angeles accusing the city of endangering homeless peoples lives by seizing and destroying their tents, bedding, and worldly possessions during mass arrests. After imprisoning the homeless, the city waited to release them until the middle of the night with no shelter or belongings. The suit in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles rightly claims the city was deliberately targeting the poor and homeless as part of a well-devised campaign to criminalize poverty and homelessness to generate revenue; revenue from people too poor to afford shelter.

It was about a year-and-a-half ago that the United Nations Human Rights Commission (HRC) issued an official condemnation of Americas treatment of its poor and homeless population. The HRC labeled Americas treatment of its poor and homeless, millions whom are veterans, cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment. The U.N. HRC also reminded the U.S. that it was guilty of a violation of Americas obligation to adhere to international human rights treaties. The human rights treaties, by the way, were initiated, championed, and pushed on the rest of the world by America.

That condemnation prompted President Obama to take action and he dutifully attempted to correct the outrage and force communities to halt the cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment of people who are living in poverty. He has, by the way, attempted to reduce the number of Americans living in poverty or homelessness by calling for job creation and higher wages for about 7 years, but Republicans were too busy attacking womens healthcare and autonomy as human beings to ever do anything to address poverty and homeless.

The Obama Administration has argued that vile local ordinances criminalizing Americans for being too poor to afford shelter is unconstitutional. The Administration filed a brief in federal court arguing that criminalization violates the Eighth Amendments protections against cruel and unusual punishment. It also violates most states laws and two Supreme Court rulings banning debtors prisons and illegally seizing and disposing of every last possession of the homeless.

Still, despite a U.N. condemnation, two Supreme Court rulings, and a federal filing by the Obama Administration, states across America are still seizing homeless peoples worldly belongings, throwing them in jail, and levying exorbitant fines as a revenue producing ploy. Since punishing the poor for being poor has continued unabated, the Department of Justice did its job to protect Americans civil rights; issued a stark warning to the states to stop being barbaric and cruel to Americans for profit.

As Attorney General Loretta Lynch stated, The consequences of the criminalization of poverty are not only harmful  they are far-reaching. They not only affect an individuals ability to support their family, but also contribute to an erosion of our faith in government. The nasty criminalization of poverty, and homelessness, possibly does erode faith in government, but more than that it erodes what little faith many Americans have in what seems to be lacking most in America; humanity.
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Mitch McConnells plan to obstruct President Obamas Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, by holding no meetings, hearings, or votes is coming closer to collapse as eight Senate Republicans have stated that they will meet with the nominee.

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said:

Sen Susan Collins says she talked w/Potus recently & she'll meet w/#Scotus nom Garland. "I view it as my job."  Lisa Mascaro (@LisaMascaro) March 16, 2016

Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona said that he will meet with anyone:

.@JeffFlake will meet with Garland: "I meet with anyone."  Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) March 16, 2016

Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio told CNN:

Portman said "not in the habit of turning down meetings" but if he did meet w/Garland he didn't think would be good use of judge's time  Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrewalshcnn) March 16, 2016

Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma said, While I will evaluate the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland, the next president should be the one to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court. President Obama has worked to ram through his liberal agenda by way of executive actions, of which many are now tied up in the courts. This has created a situation where we need to be cautious as to who will fill the vacancy left behind by Justice Scalia. It makes the current presidential election all that more important as not only are the next four years in play, but an entire generation of Americans will be impacted by the balance of the court and its rulings. Sens. Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer and Harry Reid have all made statements that the Senate does not have to confirm presidential nominations in an election year. I will oppose this nomination as I firmly believe we must let the people decide the Supreme Courts future.

Even Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley is open to a meeting:

. @ChuckGrassley is definitely opening the door to meeting Merrick Garland, but says nomination is off the table: pic.twitter.com/QzqvKNCchw  Jason Noble (@jasonnobleDMR) March 16, 2016

Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi said:

GOP MS Sen Thad Cochran: I will give any consideration to a nominee. Its a very important position. #SCOTUS (but doesn't elaborate)  Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 16, 2016

Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire also said that she would meet with President Obamas nominee. These seven Republicans have joined Mark Kirk of Ilinois in defying Mitch McConnells blockade of Obamas Supreme Court nominee.

Compare the stance of the eight Republicans with McConnells own quote on not taking a meeting with the nominee, Well, look, I dont know how many times we need to keep saying this. The Judiciary Committee has unanimously recommended to me that there be no hearings. Ive said repeatedly, and Im now confident my conference agrees, that this decision ought to be made by the next president, whoever is elected. I dont know the purpose of such a visit. I would not be inclined to take one, myself.

It took just a few hours for President Obama to fracture Senate Republicans and break through Mitch McConnells plan to obstruct his Supreme Court nominee. Senate Republicans are already in retreat, and it is just a matter of time until Mitch McConnell caves and backs down.
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By calling the Republican bluff with the nomination of Merrick Garland, President Obama has trapped Senate Republicans in their own obstruction, fed the Senate rebellion, and gave Democrats a key issue for Novembers election.

Obama called Garland one of Americas best legal minds, and an evenhanded judge. The President said, This is not a responsibility that I take lightly. This is a decision that requires me to set aside short-term expediency and narrow politics so as to maintain the faith of our Founders and perhaps more importantly future generations.

Later in his remarks, the President sprung his trap, Merrick was nominated to whats often called the second-highest court in the land, the DC circuit court, During that confirmation process he earned bipartisan praise from Senators and legal experts alike. Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, who was then chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, supported his nomination. Back then, he said, In all honesty, I would like to see one person come to this floor and say one reason why Merrick Garland does not deserve this position. He actually accused fellow Senate Republicans trying to obstruct Merricks confirmation of playing politics with judges and has since said that Judge Garland would be a consensus nominee for the Supreme Court. He would be very well supported by all sides, and there would be no question that Merrick would be confirmed with bipartisan support.

Obama urged Republicans to give his nominee a hearing and an up or down vote, I simply ask Republicans in the Senate to give him a fair hearing and then an up or down vote. If you dont, then it will not only be an abdication of the Senates constitutional duty, it will indicate a process for nominating and confirming judges that is beyond repair. It will mean everything is subject to the most partisan politics.

Some progressives are already complaining about President Obamas choice. What they are missing is that if the President had chosen a liberal judge, he would have made it easy for Republicans to obstruct the nomination, and given the GOP a key 2016 election issue. Republicans would have been able to take the attention off Donald Trump and rally their party around the idea of blocking Obamas liberal Supreme Court pick.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell painted himself into a corner by promising to obstruct any Obama Supreme Court nominee. With the selection of Garland, Obama is going to force Republicans to argue an unpopular principle that has no legal merit or precedence. There was already growing unrest in the Senate Republican caucus over McConnells unilateral decision to obstruct, and that discontent will only grow after the Presidents Supreme Court pick.

President Obama has called the Republican bluff, and set a deadly political trap that may deliver the Senate back to Democrats in November.
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Mitch McConnells House of Obstruction Cards came tumbling down today in quick succession right after President Obama announced his nominee to be the highly respected Chief Judge Merrick Garland.

First Senator Mark Kirk (R-ILL) moved to protect himself when he realize following McConnells absurd strategy would cost him his seat.

Then eight Senate Republicans stated that they would break with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) by meeting with Obamas nominee.

PoliticusUSAs Jason Easley pointed out:

Compare the stance of the eight Republicans with McConnells own quote on not taking a meeting with the nominee, Well, look, I dont know how many times we need to keep saying this. The Judiciary Committee has unanimously recommended to me that there be no hearings. Ive said repeatedly, and Im now confident my conference agrees, that this decision ought to be made by the next president, whoever is elected. I dont know the purpose of such a visit. I would not be inclined to take one, myself.

A defensive McConnell tried to fall back on a false and cherry picked notion of a Biden Rule, in which Republicans pretend that a speech is equal to action and they conveniently cherry pick Bidens speech to leave out the last part. The Republican Senator said in a statement, The Senate will appropriately revisit the matter when it considers the qualifications of the nominee the next president nominates, whoever that might be.

Yeah, the next President. McConnell thinks his party will be making that nomination, so hes betting on Donald Trump doing a better job nominating a qualified candidate than the actual President, Barack Obama. Donald Trump said today that for foreign policy advisers he would rely on himself because he has said a lot of things. I labeled this The Ego Doctrine.

No, Im not joking. CNNs Jim Sciutto tweeted,

Trump on his foreign policy team: Im speaking with myself, number one, because I have a very good brain & Ive said a lot of things.

There is no precedent for McConnells failed strategy to delegitimize this President.

It sure looks like McConnells position is getting a little chilly.

Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) observed wryly, Republicans are backing down so quickly that theyre already bargaining about what month they will fully cave and confirm Judge Garland. There is no good reason for Republicans to waste any more of the American peoples time. Senator Grassley should do his job and start the confirmation process now.

There is no question in my mind that Senator McConnell will back down from his position that the vacancy be filled by the next president.' Reid predicted. Senator McConnell will cave and President Obama will fill this vacancy this year.

Unlike Mitch McConnell, Harry Reid has shown himself to be a savvy politician and President Obama has left McConnell in the dust so many times its a wonder McConnell is still trying the same old clunky tactics. My money is on Reid and Obama.
Illinois Primary Results: Anita Concedes To Foxx, Stratton Trounces Dunkin

By aaroncynic in News on Mar 16, 2016 2:04AM



Tuesday night's state primary results have already had some huge upsets for Illinois incumbents. States Attorney Anita Alvarez has been ousted by challenger Kim Foxx; when she conceded shortly after 8:30 p.m. she was lagging by a margin of nearly 30 percent. Alvarez, whos held the position since 2008, faced a huge swath of criticism for her role in the investigation of the shooting death of Laquan McDonald by Chicago Police officer Jason Van Dyke, along with dozens of other police shootings where she failed to prosecute officers.

Organizers with the #ByeAnita effortwho held several protest actions at campaign events, dropped 16 banners across the city denouncing her Monday, and flew planes connecting her with Hillary Clinton, Rahm Emanuel and Laquan McDonald on Tuesdaysaid they were excited. "This demonstrates what people power looks like," said Veronica Morris-Moore, who worked with the group. "When we started protesting Alvarez was in the lead and she lost by a huge margin. Make no mistake that has everything to do with the actions young black people have been bringing to the campaign trail."

The organizers behind the #ByeAnita actions never formally endorsed Foxx, rather instead putting all their focus on criticizing her failures. While Morris-Moore said they were currently celebrating, she added "you'll hear soon about an accountability plan for our new State's Attorney."

The group Assata's Daughters also made a statement on the State's Attorney's race. "This is about a legacy of anti-black state violence against our people, and this is just one step in the process of getting us free," the group said in a video posted to Facebook. "We were able to do this without endorsing a candidate, a very small budget, in coalition with other organizations...as young black mostly queer women...we were able to push passed the 16 shots and that spectacle of violence into the daily grind of the criminal justice in this country."

Our official statement on the States Attorney Race. #ByeAnita Posted by Assata's Daughters on Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Meanwhile, in the hotly contested 5th District, challenger Juliana Stratton trounced current representative Ken Dunkin, snapping up more than 30 percent of votes than the incumbent. Dunkin, whos represented the 5th since 2002, took harsh criticism when he chose to break ranks with Democrats in the Illinois House, failing to vote on several key pieces of legislation Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner opposed. President Barack Obama not only made a dig at him when he spoke to the Springfield legislature, but also formally endorsed Stratton.

And in another, less-surprising race with relatively early results, Republican Senator Mark Kirk and Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth each won their respective primaries tonight, meaning they will face off for Kirk's U.S. Senate seat in November. Duckworth beat out Andre Zopp and state senator Napoleon Harris for the Democratic nomination, while Kirk beat James Marter. The Tribune is already calling it the November race to watch.

And finally, in the presidential primary race, Donald Trump's victory in the Republican primary was called relatively early, while Hillary Clinton held a narrow lead over Bernie Sanders with over 90 percent of precincts reporting after 11:00 p.m.
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Illinois Primary Results: Clinton Narrowly Leads Sanders; Trump Takes GOP Race

By aaroncynic in News on Mar 16, 2016 4:00AM



Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton talks with Rev. Jesse Jackson during a visit to the Kids Off the Block memorial on March 14, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. Hillary Clinton visited the Kids Off the Block memorial that pays tribute to children that were killed by gun violence. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Updated: 11:40 p.m.

By Aaron Cynic and Rachel Cromidas

Hillary Clinton is narrowly leading in the Illinois democratic primary against Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who, despite drawing a crowd of thousands to a rally in Chicago Monday evening, hasn't closed the 1 to 2 percentage point gap between him and the native Illinoisian. With over 95 percent of polls reporting in, Clinton led Sanders 50.4 percent to 48.8.

"We are moving closer to securing the Democratic Party nomination and winning this election in November," Clinton said at a campaign rally in Miami, according to the Tribune. Sanders, who is likely to win Missouri tonight, told supporters at a rally in Phoenix:

"The reason we have done as well as we have, the reason we have defied all expectations is that we are doing something very radical in American politics  we're telling the truth."

Although he cancelled his high-profile Chicago rally at the last minute last week, bad man and frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination Donald Trump won the Illinois primary. With 40 percent of precincts reporting, Trump had 40 percent of the vote, according to the Tribune. Meanwhile, Ted Cruz had 27 percent, John Kasich had 21 percent, and Marco Rubio had just 9 percent. (After losing the primary in Florida tonightto be clear, that's the state where Rubio is a SenatorRubio suspended his campaign.)

"After tonight, it is clear that while we are on the right side, this year, we will not be on the winning side," Rubio told his supporters in Miami. In what became a rambling speech turned into a prayer, he also said that if the "descendants of immigrants and exiles" lost the idea they were "destined for more," "well still be rich, and well still be powerful, but we will no longer be special."

Kasich, meanwhile, celebrated his lone Ohio victory, trying to paint himself as a unifying candidate in the face of Trump's divisive rhetoric. Youd better believe its about pulling us together, not pulling us apart, he said, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

The Illinois primary has had several interesting elections to watch, with Kim Foxx beating incumbent Anita Alvarez for Cook County State's Attorney(a win many view as a referendum on police accountability in Chicago in the wake of the fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald by police), and more.
HARTFORD, Conn.  Chicago native Juan Hernandez fell in love with Hartford while attending Trinity College and decided to stay after graduation. But like many members of the millennial generation, he's learned that affording a place to live can be an expensive proposition.

Hernandez and his girlfriend pay $1,600 a month to rent a one-bedroom apartment. The grace period for his student loan payments expires this month. An aide to a city council member, the 25-year-old Hernandez plans to attend law school eventually. While he thinks it might make more financial sense to buy a home in Hartford. Hernandez is questioning whether he can qualify for a loan.

"If you're not working on Wall Street, how are you going to come up with that down payment?" said Hernandez, who considers himself lucky to have earned bachelor's and master's degrees with only about $15,000 in outstanding student loans. "I know people who graduated with $20,000, $40,000, $50,000 in loans. To be completely honest, most of them went back home."

Plugging the drain

Realizing that millennials like Hernandez are burdened with debt, a difficult job market, weak wage growth and a less affordable housing market than their parents, some states are looking to keep educated young professionals within their borders for years to come by helping out with their housing costs.

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Initiatives like mortgage down-payment assistance, rent subsidies, urban homesteading incentives, partial student loan reimbursement and even "millennial villages" are being considered across the country to help professionals put down roots in communities. Some programs already in place are being embraced by members of what's become a coveted population because of their sheer numbers, their education levels and their ability to spur urban revitalization and economic growth.

The first phase of Maryland's "You've Earned It" program ran out of money in less than two months because of demand. Now in its second phase, the program provides a discounted mortgage rate and down payment assistance to college graduates with more than $25,000 in student debt and who buy a home in certain regions of the state.

"Kids are struggling because they spend all this money on their education and then when they come back out to the real world, the jobs they get only pay $30,000, $40,000," said Hartford state Rep. Angel Arce, who would like to create a similar program in Connecticut. "These kids get their education in the state of Connecticut. They're from the state of Connecticut. Let's find a way to keep their knowledge, keep them here in the state of Connecticut."

Homebuyer help

A bill Connecticut lawmakers are considering would provide a financial incentive to recent college graduates to rent or buy their first home in certain urban areas. To be eligible, the millennial must have at least $20,000 in student debt. Those who meet the qualifications could deduct up to 10 percent of their annual rental or mortgage payments from their personal income liability, as long as the deduction doesn't exceed $1,200 annually.

The median price of a home in Hartford is about $111,200; the statewide median is $246,000.

Mark Sargent, 22, a public relations specialist in Mansfield, Connecticut, who is shouldering about $65,000 in student debt and would like to buy a home, said he has seen many of his fellow University of Connecticut graduates leave the state for places where they believe there's more opportunity. A housing incentive program, he said, might persuade them to stay.

"Connecticut is missing out on a huge opportunity with all these millennials out here, right in our backyard," he said.

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Some cities are using targeted marketing. Columbus, Ohio, bought ads in Washington, D.C., subway stations last year to attract young professionals, highlighting the lower cost of living. A few years ago in Niagara Falls, New York, city officials began offering up to $7,000 in student loan reimbursement to encourage young professionals to move downtown.

Rhode Island's new Ocean State Grad Grant program makes awards for mortgage down payments to recent college graduates. Recipients can get 3.5 percent of their first home's purchase price, up to $7,000.

Impossible dream

Travis Escobar, 25, president and co-founder of the Millennial Professional Group of Rhode Island and a 2013 graduate of Rhode Island College, said the incentive will help encourage young professionals to stay in Rhode Island, where the average student carries about $30,000 in debt.

Homeownership seems impossible when you're living on your own, often underemployed and making student loan payments, he said.

"Buying a house? You're not thinking about that," said Escobar, who lives in Providence.

A typical member of the class of 2013 graduated owing $27,300, according the College Board. That's an increase of $5,000 in current dollars since 2000, or a 22 percent jump. Meanwhile, those graduates who immediately pursue a master's degree often owe a combined $70,000.

A survey released in November by the National Association of Realtors found many millennials are forced to put off homeownership. A quarter of the first-time homebuyers surveyed said saving for a down payment was their biggest challenge, while a majority said school loans hurt their ability to set aside cash.

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In a report released this month, the Special Senate Committee on Housing in Massachusetts noted large numbers of millennials are moving to the Boston area. They are sharing rented apartments in the region's traditional housing stock, which includes triple-decker homes, duplexes and garden apartments, and that has priced out families. The price of triple-decker units increased 95 percent between 2009 and 2015, the report found.

The report recommends the state develop "millennial villages." Possibly located in renovated industrial buildings, the villages would include everything from micro apartments to multi-bedroom units to draw millennials out of the older housing stock and free up that traditional housing for working families at more reasonable rents and prices.
Take your idea from pitch to prototype at the Rochester Youth Startup Weekend. Sponsored by the Journey to Growth Partnership with support from Mayo Clinic Ventures, Rochester Community and Technical College, the Southeast Minnesota Small Business Development Center, and Techstars, the event brings together junior entrepreneurs with big ideas.

"The students meet for the first time, Friday evening, when they'll pitch their ideas. We'll divide into teams and the top vote getters are the ideas the teams will work on the rest of the weekend," said Rachelle Oribio, Rochester Youth Startup Weekend co-organizer.

"Saturday morning we'll have workshops  ideation, prototyping, customer validation  and in the afternoon adult mentors will be available to the teams, to answer questions and give advice. Sunday is when the groups pitch their ideas and show off their prototype, Shark Tank-style, to a panel of local entrepreneurs."

Open to middle- and high-school students, youth are invited to bring one or more pitches, ranging from something they just came up with to those they've been thinking about forever.

"You don't have to have an idea to attend, but if you have one, share one," Oribio said. "And yes, we see a lot of technology ideas come through, but it doesn't have to be that. If you're really interested in restaurants, pitch that idea. If you're really interested in the environment, pitch that. We know kids have great ideas. This is your opportunity to bring it from pitch to prototype in three days."

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Although this is Rochester's first ever Startup Weekend, the events have been taking place around the country and around the world since 2006. Originally created as adults-only events, student interest in Startup Weekends led to the creation of youth-only events four years ago. And although not always the case, prototypes developed at previous Startup Weekends have gone on to become real-world products.

"We started Startup Weekends for adults, but realized kids were attending the events with their parents," Oribio said regarding the impetus for the youth-only events. "Regardless if you're an adult or youth, the concept of the Startup Weekend is still the same: We bring together people with diverse backgrounds, from throughout the community, to work together on ideas."

Registration is free, is required, and runs through today, March 16. Email to check if there is room for you through limited walk-up registration the day of the event.

What: Rochester Youth Startup Weekend

Where: University Center Rochester, Cafeteria, East Hallthird floor, 851 30th Ave. SE

When: March 18-20

On the web: http://bit.ly/swroch16 (registration and information on Rochesters Startup Weekend), startupweekend.org (general information on Startup Weekends)

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Email: rochesteryouth@startupweekend.org

More Startup scoop

 Wondering how your student will spend their time? Go online for a complete schedule of events and activities, including the half-baked activity (6:45 p.m. Friday), a prototyping workshop (9 a.m. Saturday), and pitch practice (11 a.m. Sunday).

 Wondering who else is attending? Though typically under 100, the number of attendees at Startup Weekends varies. Recent Startup Weekends in Detroit had 75 attendees, in the Twin Cities 50. Organizers have been working with local youth groups  First Lego League, Boys & Girls Club, Scouts  to generate participants for Rochesters event.

 Wondering what they came up with? Parents are invited to attend the pitch presentations, 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Parents, and other interested community members, may register to attend the pitch presentation by visiting the Rochester Startup Weekend website.
AUSTIN  Residents and city officials gathered together for public forums at the Austin Public Library Tuesday, to discuss the proposed $35 million recreation center project that  if approved  would be built at the city's municipal plant site.

Matt Cano and Tanya Medgaarden, co-chairs of the Austin Community Recreation Center Committee (ACRCC), presented information for the Austin residents about what the project's intent was for the town as well as answering questions to what concerns might arise.

The Austin Utilities Board voted unanimously on March 8 to approve a conditional purchase agreement to sell the plant to Vision 2020. Ultimately, the city council has the final say on the project, and it will consider approval in early April. Vision 2020 intends to make an informal presentation during the council's work session on Monday.

The downtown power plant site was considered as "the preferred choice" for its centralized location and accessibility. Other sites were explored, however, some would have required eminent domain to acquire additional land, and the sites weren't as easily accessible to the public, according to the backers of the power plant site.

The city of Austin and the YMCA are drafting an operating agreement that establishes responsibility for different parts of the new building and which areas can be used for what purposes. As of now, the agreement is not finalized.

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"We were really excited to bring this information to the public," Cano said. "We've been transparent about the process all along."

In response to questions, Cano confirmed that the 7.5-acre site could accommodate the recreation center and have room to expand in the future. Originally, the ACRCC sought 10 acres, but some planned additional features were already implemented at Wescott Field and the Packer Dome.

At the meeting, some attendees opposed the idea of tearing down the municipal plant and having the YMCA operate what's supposed to be facility open to the public.

Quin Brunner, former interim director for Vision 2020, requested more transparency regarding the project before making any further progress.

"Vision 2020 released very little information to the public up until this point, and now they are looking to really push along the decision," Brunner said. "While Vision 2020 is willing to listen to our concerns, they don't seem willing to change any aspects of their proposal."

City council member Janet Anderson also voiced her concerns that not enough time was spent on exploring alternative uses for the municipal plant. She also served on the utilities building committee prior to it dissolving.

Anderson and Brunner organized the Save the Austin Municipal Power Plant group, which seeks to preserve the building as a historical landmark in the city and try to have it rehabilitated for potential business incubators and residential homes. Or, at the very least, they want to preserve some significant architectural parts of the building to integrate into the recreation center. However, city officials argue that there were little to no private developers or investors interested in purchasing the plant property since closing in 2009.

"As far as I know, there haven't been efforts to find developers that could save the building," Anderson said. "The concept of the recreation center is something that I support, as long as it's not on that site."

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However, the Hormel Foundation, which is providing much of the funding, backs the power plant site.

There were also additional inquiries as to how the project would be funded. Pledges from the Hormel Foundation and Hormel Foods is anticipated to cover roughly 85 to 90 percent of the cost. The rest of the $35 million project would be fundraised through a public campaign as well as from private donations.

The complex would be under the city's ownership, while the YMCA of Austin will be under a long-term lease agreement with Austin to operate the facilities. Those opposed to the project interjected to committee members that the project  which the city would pay $200,000 annually  stated that it would come out of taxpayer money.

Medgaarden said during the forum that the project would be funded privately and not affect the taxpayers. She also stated that the project would be "scaled back" if expenditures run over budget.

City Administrator Craig Clark, who also was in attendance, said that none of the project would be "built at the expense of the taxpayer."
BEIRUT  Syrian Kurds are preparing a plan to declare a federal region in the area they control across northern Syria, saying Wednesday it is a model for a more decentralized government in which all ethnic groups would be represented.

Although the idea might seem like a way forward after five years of civil war, it faces big obstacles: It was promptly dismissed by the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad and the rebels who oppose him, both fearing it would lead to a partition of the country.

Turkey also opposes it, wary of the growing Kurdish influence in the border region of northern Syria and its effect on its own Kurdish minority.

But Ahmad Araj, a Kurdish official in northern Syria, insisted that a federal system containing such a region, which would effectively combine three Kurdish-led autonomous areas, is in fact meant to preserve national unity and prevent Syria from breaking up along sectarian lines.

"After all the blood that has been spilled, Syrians will not accept anything less than decentralization," Araj said.

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By making the announcement as U.N.-sponsored peace negotiations take place in Geneva, Syria's main Kurdish faction was trying to become a major player in whatever central government emerges from the war. The faction has been excluded from the talks.

The idea of a federal region appears to have gained some traction lately as world and regional powers grapple with ways to end the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov this week said such a federal system is one possible option if the Syrian people agree to it. The U.S. also has been an ardent supporter of the Kurds in the region, helping them in navigating the delicate rivalries in Iraq after the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters that the U.S. opposes declarations of autonomous federal zones prior to a negotiated political resolution in Syria.

"We're focused on advancing a negotiated political transition toward an inclusive government that is capable of serving the interests of all the Syrian people," Toner said. "We've also been very clear that we're committed to the unity and territorial integrity of Syria."

However, if a resolution is reached by the Syrian people and their representative, and if it includes a federal system that allows for limited or semi-autonomy for different regions, Toner said Washington would not oppose it.

The Kurdish declaration is expected to be made at the end of a conference that began Wednesday in the town of Rmeilan, in Syria's northern Hassakeh province, and may last several days.

The plan could make sense in a country that has a multitude of sectarian and ethnic minorities for whom it would be difficult to share a unifying national sentiment.

The government, dominated by Assad's Alawite sect of Shiite Islam, controls Damascus, the Alawite heartland along the Mediterranean coast, and other cities and connecting corridors in between. The Kurds run their own affairs in the northeast.

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The militants of the Islamic State group control much of the Sunni heartland in the east. Other Sunni rebels control pockets in the north and south. The Druze remain loyal but are starting to talk about autonomy in their southern areas as well.

Any move to carve up the country could risk yet more violence, including ethnic or sectarian cleansing.

Joshua Landis, director of Middle East studies at the University of Oklahoma, said the federalist project has logic to it, but is doomed to fail under current conditions.

"The federal system would be the way forward if people would accept it," Landis said, "But they won't because they don't like each other."

Assad's multi-religious base and the largely secular Kurds distrust the Islamist-dominated opposition, and the opposition will not tolerate the continuation of Assad rule in any part of Syria, either in Damascus at the head of a federal government, or in the coastal region, where his Alawite supporters predominate.

In these conditions, it would be difficult for federalism to take root.

Kurds are the largest ethnic minority in Syria, making up more than 10 percent of the prewar population of 23 million. They control an area along the Turkish border stretching from eastern Syria, near the Iraqi border, to Afrin in the west, interrupted only by a stretch of territory controlled by the Islamic State group.

The Kurds declared their own civil administration in three distinct enclaves, or cantons, under their control: Jazira, Kobani and Afrin, in 2013.

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Federalism could be a first step toward creating an autonomous region similar to the one operated by the Kurds in Iraq, where their territory is virtually a separate country.

The main Syrian Kurdish group  the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and its military wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG)  have been excluded from the Geneva talks so as not to anger Turkey, despite Russia's insistence they participate. Ankara views the group as a terrorist organization.

Nawaf Khalil of the PYD told The Associated Press by phone from Germany, where he is based, that his party is not lobbying for a Kurdish region but an all-inclusive area with representation for Turkmen, Arabs and Kurds in northern Syria.

Salih Muslim, the co-president of the PYD, told the AP in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, that the decision to declare a federal region was not yet official, but any such announcement would be a positive step to help keep Syria together.

A Turkish Foreign Ministry official said his country rejects any moves that would compromise Syria's national unity, adding that "unilateral moves carry no validity."

It's up to the Syrian people to "decide on the executive and administrative structure of Syria in line with the new constitution which will be formulated through the political transition process," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of government practice.

Turkey views the PYD as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which has renewed a decades-old insurgency since peace talks collapsed last year. The U.S. also considers the PKK a terrorist group, but both Washington and Moscow support the YPG, which has been among the most effective forces against the Islamic State group.

Both the Syrian government and the opposition, at least in theory, reject any form of partition of Syria.

Syria's U.N. ambassador, Bashar Ja'afari, who also heads the government team in Geneva, said the talks are meant to discuss preserving Syria's territorial integrity.

"Betting on creating any kind of divisions among the Syrians will be a total failure," Ja'afari said.

Added Riad Naasan Agha, a member of the Saudi-backed Syrian opposition: "What someone declares on their own, far away from the Syrian people, is unacceptable."

The PYD's Khalil distinguished between autonomous rule over Kurdish areas  which has been in effect in Syria since 2013  and the federalism project, which he said was ethnically inclusive.

"The federalism project is a model for all Syria," he said.

The Kurdish plan comes at a critical juncture in the conflict. A 2-week-old Russian and U.S.-engineered partial cease-fire is holding, the peace talks have resumed, and Moscow on Tuesday began withdrawing most of its troops from Syria after a 5-month campaign of airstrikes supporting Assad, its longtime ally.

That has raised hopes for more meaningful discussions in Geneva, where U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura is shuttling between delegations from the Syrian government and the moderate, Western-backed opposition.

___

Associated Press writers Dominique Soguel in Istanbul, Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow, Matthew Lee in Washington, Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Lynne O'Donnell in Kabul contributed to this report.
FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER, New Zealand  New Zealand is renowned for its wondrous scenery, and among the country's top tourist attractions are two glaciers that are both stunning and unusual because they snake down from the mountains to a temperate rain forest, making them easy for people to walk up to and view.

But the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting at such a rapid rate that it has become too dangerous for tourists to hike onto them from the valley floor, ending a tradition that dates back a century. With continuing warm weather this year there are no signs of a turnaround, and scientists say it is another example of how global warming is impacting the environment.

Tourism in New Zealand is booming and nearly 1 million people last year flocked to get a glimpse of the glaciers and the spectacular valleys they've carved. But the only way to set foot on them now is to get flown onto them by helicopter.

Tour operators offer flights and guided glacier walks, although logistics limit this to 80,000 tourists per year, half the number that once hiked up from the valley floor. Up to another 150,000 people each year take scenic flights that land briefly at the top of the glaciers.

Flying in the UNESCO World Heritage area comes with its own risks, highlighted in November when a sightseeing helicopter crashed onto the Fox Glacier, killing all seven aboard.

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Sitting near the base of the Franz Josef Glacier, Wayne Costello, a district operations manager for the Department of Conservation, said that when he arrived eight years ago, the rock he was perched on would have been buried under tons of ice. Instead, the glacier now comes to an end a half-mile (800 meters) further up the valley.

"Like a loaf of bread shrinking in its tin, it's gone down a lot as well," Costello said. "So it's wasted away in terms of its thickness, and that's led to quite a rapid melt."

Because of that melt, the valley walls that were once braced by the glaciers have been left exposed and vulnerable to rock falls, making hiking up too dangerous. Tour operators stopped taking guided hikes onto the Franz Josef in 2012 and the nearby Fox in 2014.

A 2014 paper published in the journal Global and Planetary Change concluded the two glaciers have each melted by 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) in length since the 1800s, making them about 20 percent shorter. The glaciers have recently been melting at a faster pace than ever previously recorded, the authors said.

Heather Purdie, a scientist at the University of Canterbury and lead author of the paper, said climate change is the driving factor.

"We know that glaciers around the world, including the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers, are responding to that warmer temperature and they're retreating," she said. Small changes in temperature and snowfall tend to be magnified in the two glaciers and their retreat has been interrupted by advances that can last years, she said.

Costello and tour operators are hoping to see another advance soon. But there's no sign of that: February was the second-hottest month ever recorded in New Zealand.

The hot weather has even created a new type of tourist attraction over the other side of the mountains. Purdie said the glaciers there are also rapidly retreating, resulting in tourists taking boat rides on the lakes to see some of the massive icebergs that have begun to shear away.

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A helicopter trip onto the Fox Glacier reveals deep crevasses in the translucent blue ice and stunning ice caves through which guides take crampon-wearing tourists. A guide retells the indigenous Maori legend which would have it that the Franz Josef Glacier began as a stream of tears left by a young woman whose lover was killed by an avalanche.

The glaciers are formed by prevailing westerly winds dumping snow in a high-altitude basin. It compacts into ice and is pushed down the valleys much like toothpaste being squeezed from a tube. The glaciers slide and roll down the mountain at a rate of 4 meters (13 feet) each day, picking up rocks and debris along the way.

"It's the uniqueness, the rawness of the environment," that draws tourists from Australia, North America, Europe, and, increasingly, China, said Rob Jewell, chairman of the Glacier Country Tourism Group.

It's also a region which is subject to rapid changes in the weather. At the time of November's helicopter crash  which killed four tourists from Britain and two from Australia, as well as the New Zealand pilot  some observers said the weather and visibility were marginal for safe flying.

Jewell said he didn't want to comment until an investigation by authorities was complete. He said the crash hasn't affected tourist numbers, which have been stronger than ever this year.

At the base of the Franz Josef, Dutch tourist Dieuwke Derkse said she was overwhelmed by the beauty of the glacier and the purity of the environment.

She said she believed global warming was responsible for its retreat and felt a little guilty even visiting New Zealand because of the fossil fuels burned by the plane ride there. But she said the glacier also helped inspire her to live in a more environmentally conscious way.

"It makes me a little bit sad because you see how fast everything is going," she said. "The river is going very fast but the snow and glacier is going backward."
Yes, at the GEC voting center at the Westin.

Yes, at one of the satellite voting centers open on Saturdays.

No; I'm voting on Nov. 8.

No; I'm not voting in the general election.

Vote

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Hillary Clinton swept Bernie Sanders in the five Democratic primaries held yesterday. She crushed Sanders in Florida, Ohio and North Carolina. She edged him in Illinois and Missouri. This is what tends to happen in a landslide.

For the Democrats, its all over but the (monotonous) shouting and repeated enumeration of rights purportedly to be achieved (equal pay for equal work!) or to be advanced (LGBT!) (video below). Conspicuous by their absence are the right of free speech, the right of peaceable assembly, the right to keep and bear arms, and the right to be left alone. This is your future. Get used to it.

Donald Trump had a good and impressive night last night. John Kasichs victory in Ohio spoiled a perfect game, but Trump cleaned up in Florida and otherwise prevailed impressively in Illinois. He also edged Cruz in North Carolina and Missouri. It seems unlikely that Trump will secure a majority of delegates before the convention, but he also seems likely to be the partys nominee. (Sasha Issenberg takes a close look at the possibilities if Trump falls short of a majority of delegates.) Listening to John Kasichs victory speech in Ohio temporarily reconciled me to Trumps eventual nomination, but just for a moment.

Trumps smashing victory over Rubio in Florida compelled Rubio to suspend his campaign. Rubio gave an eloquent concession speech. Nothing became his campaign like the leaving of it. Rubios participation in the Gang of Eight with Chuck Schumer et al. proved to be an insuperable obstacle; the Reaganite optimism that is his natural key also proved to be out of joint with the times. (Jonathan Last takes issue with these points here.)

Anger pervades the medium of our politics. The anger is Obamas truest legacy.

RealClearPolitics collects yesterdays results here. I think after last night its Clinton versus Trump. So does John Cassidy. I think Republicans are practically handing Hillary the presidency. So does John Podhoretz.

In 1960 Norman Mailer took a now-famous look at the Democratic convention that nominated JFK for president in the Esquire essay Superman comes to the supermarket. Jay Rosen recalls it here. As Rosen notes, the title intend[ed] to say that the man of the hour, Kennedy, was about to send a powerful (and erotic) jolt into mainstream America  if he won the election.

Nurse Ratched comes to the asylum. Thats my take on last nights proceedings. Hillary Clinton is Nurse Ratched. See the video above. Has there ever been a more joyless or minatory victory speech in American politics?

Nurse Ratched will be administering the meds come January 2017. Short of an intervention by the FBI, on election day Clinton has a dose of humiliation in store for the mania afflicting Trump true believers. She will administer a shellacking in November.

Among Trumps true believers the will to believe is overwhelming. The reality principle operates on election day. Cognitive dissonance sets in the morning after. The true believers will resolve the dissonance by declaring defeat a great victory. Or so it seems to me.
Chicago's 5 Rabbit Brewery Has Made An Anti-Trump Beer

By Anthony Todd in Food on Mar 16, 2016 8:10PM



The label for the new beer. Photo via Facebook.

5 Rabbit Brewery takes great pride in its Latin-American roots, so it's not a surprise that they wouldn't be all that fond of The Donald. They've bottled that dislike into a new beer, which was released last Saturday.

This isn't the first time 5 Rabbit and Trump have clashed. When Trump originally made his statements about Mexican immigrants being rapists and criminals last year, 5 Rabbit pulled their products out of the bar inside Trump Tower.

Now, they invented a special beer, Chinga tu Pelo. Which means, colloquially, Fuck Your Hair. The beer apparently sold out in just a few hours, and the proceeds all went to charity.

5 Rabbit released the following statement on Facebook:

Help us take a stance against bigotry, misogyny and ignorance this Saturday, March 12th, 2pm at the brewery as we prepare for next week's IL primaries. Silence and complicity are no longer an option against the frontrunner for the republican nomination. We know we're small but our protest is real. Help us make it bigger! Stand with us against bullies who promote hate and fear. #chingatupelo #bulliesarentleaders

No word yet on whether they'll make another batch.

Correction: This post originally said that 5 Rabbit was in Pilsen. This is incorrect, as it is in Bedford Park. You should visit their taproom at 6398 W 74th Street.
Thought experiment: suppose a nativist or race-hate group put up flyers on every other door of a college dormitory attacking Mexico for allowing so many of its citizens to cross our southern border and take away jobs from Americans. Think there might be the usual outcry about racism and bigotry? The only question would be how fast the administration would go to DefCon1 and cancel classes for a day of healing and safe spaceouts. Ill bet the time could be measured in nanoseconds.

And would a college administration accept the excuse that since we put the flyers up on every other door, we werent targeting any racial or ethnic group? Of course they wouldnt.

So behold nearby the flyer from the Students for Justice in Palestine (just imagine what Orwell would do with this name) that appeared on every other door of the dormitories at Scripps College in California last week, which was approved by the Scripps administration.* When called on whether SJP is targeting Jewish students, they repair behind the every-other-door-so-its-random rationale, which, as I say, would not be acceptable in the case of any other nation or ethnic group.

These flyers are not unique to Scripps, of course, and show the rot of higher education that bends to the will of leftist pressure groups. Id like to see what happens if s Students for Trump group tries to put flyers on every other dorm door somewhere.

The photo nearby is a bit grainy, but you can make it out if you squint (or click to embiggen). I especially like the last complaintthat Palestinians havent been able to get building permits on the West Bank. Sounds just like California. How about justice for low income Hispanics in California who cant get affordable housing because of the anti-growth extremism of the white liberal elite? Reminds me of the time I remarked at a Smart Growth conference a few years ago in California that the Smart in Smart Growth clearly stands for Send Mexicans Across the River Tomorrow. The outrage was predictable, yet somehow no one could dispute the distributional effects of Californias land use regulations. But in any case, heres a victim class a lot closer to home, and more deserving, than the Palestinians. Instead, Ill just call Students for Justice in Palestine what they are: anti-Semitic bigots and tools.

* You may remember Scripps as the college that invitedand then disinvitedGeorge Will to speak after he had the temerity to question the premise of rape culture orthodoxy. Cant have any dissenting opinion on that.
Yesterday, Donald Trump won his biggest victory yet, a decisive triumph in Floridas winner-take-all primary. With the win, the tycoons hostile takeover of the Republican Party becomes overwhelmingly likely.

Where was Jeb Bush during the battle for his home states primary? He was pouting.

Spinning Bushs failure to endorse his one-time protege Marco Rubio (whom he once touted for the vice presidency), or another non-Trump candidate, the former governors confidante Al Cardenas said:

[Bush] put his heart and soul in this race, and the outcome was disappointing to him. You get emotionally drained, and you just want to stay off the grid for a while. If you support someone, you have to go out there and work for the candidate, and I think the governor just wanted to take some time off. He has no more political aspirations beyond what hes tried.

What nonsense. Bush could have endorsed another candidate without going on the campaign trail. In any event, is Bush so heartbroken that he couldnt have showed up at a rally or two?

The fact that Bush, thankfully, has no more political aspirations beyond what hes tried doesnt mean he shouldnt try to block Donald Trumps dangerous aspirations. At this point, it shouldnt be about Bush; it should be about the country.

Most likely, the main reason Bush didnt endorse Rubio is pettiness. As one Florida operative told the Washington Times, Rubio had a snowballs chance in hell, of getting Bushs backing after his ultimate betrayal of entering the 2016 race.

In addition, I suspect, Bush saw Trumps big Florida victory coming. Having already been trounced by Trump, he didnt want the additional indignity of seeing the fat cat romp to victory in Bushs home state in the face of Bushs endorsement of a rival candidate.

Whatever Bushs motive  pique, face-saving, or fatigue  his unwillingness to stand against Trump is unforgivable. Bush talks a high-minded game, but when push came to shove he put his own interests and feelings ahead of the national interest.

Chris Christie and Ben Carson  who also put their heart and soul in the race  have endorsed Trump. In doing so, they embarrass themselves. But at least they are in the arena pushing for the candidate of their choice.

Bushs refusal to take a stand is more embarrassing. You could even call it a disgrace.
President Obama reportedly has narrowed his list of Supreme Court candidates to three. They are Sri Srinivasan, Merrick Garland, and Paul Watford. The first two serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Watford is on the Ninth Circuit.

Garland is the most interesting of the three. Hes left of center and bad on the Second Amendment, but not an out-and-out leftist. Moreover, hes 63 years old and thus wouldnt likely be on the Court nearly as long the other two, who are much younger. Compared to a nominee selected by Hillary Clinton next year, Garland would be good. Compared to a nominee selected by a Republican (even Donald Trump) next year, hed be bad.

I suspect that Garland is head fake, sort of like when former Virginia governor Gerald Baliles kept appearing on Bill Clintons short list for attorney general. Everyone knew Clinton was going to appoint a woman, but the women he wanted for the job  Zoe Beard and Kimba Wood  kept running into ethical problems. Baliles stayed on the short list while new women appeared out of the blue. The process culminated in the selection of Janet Reno. Enough said.

Srinivasan would be a classic stealth nominee. Everyone knows hes a leftist, but he hasnt served as a judge long enough to leave much of a trail.

What little trail there is highlights his leftism. Srinivasan voted to deny a request for review of the the new EPA clean power regulations that would force power companies to fire thousands of employees while waiting for courts to determine the legality of the regulations. The Supreme Court ultimately granted the stay.

Srinivasan would be the first Asian-American and first Hindu on the Supreme Court. This fact plus his lack of a paper trail probably make him the favorite.

Srinivasan is said to be a friend of Ted Cruz from their time as clerks on the Fourth Circuit. Thats odd  his enemies keep saying that no one can stand Cruz. I guess smart non-Senators get along with Cruz well enough.

Watford, an African-American, also hasnt been an appellate judge very long. However, as Carrie Severino has shown, he is what would have once been described as a standard ACLU liberal  an anti-law enforcement extremist whose record on issues like illegal immigration and the death penalty makes it clear that he would push the Supreme Court to the far left.

According to reports, Obama may announce the nominee as early as tomorrow. Regardless of whom he selects, the nominee is unlikely to get a hearing and is almost certain not to be confirmed this year.
It looks like there will be no surprises on the Republican side tonight. As expected, Donald Trump is the runaway winner in Florida. He leads Marco Rubio 46-27 with most of the voted counted. Its an impressive victory, one that has caused Rubio to drop out of the race.

In Ohio, however, John Kasich leads Trump 43-34, and the networks have just called the race for the Governor. On the plus side, thats 66 delegates Trump wont get. On the minus side, Kasich will remain in the race, thus depriving us of the head-to-head Trump v. Cruz match some of us have been hoping for.

However, Rubios departure is good news at this point. The lions share of his support will go to Cruz, with some for Kasich. If Kasich withdraws, Trump, who appeals to some moderates, will likely pick up a share of that vote.

Trump is winning the other GOP races. In Illinois, hes almost 20 points ahead of Kasich and Ted Cruz, and hes above 40 percent. However, North Carolina and Missouri are fairly close. Cruz is within around 4 points of Trump in both states in the early returns. Trumps share is between 35 and 40 percent in both states.

CLINTON WINS OHIO: Hillary Clinton has bounced back from her shocking defeat in Michigan by winning Ohio by about 20 points. She even managed, if the exit polls are right, to narrowly win the White vote in the Buckeye State.

Im going to speculate that Clinton won Ohio for the same reason Kasich did  the state has done well economically. Its voters thus rewarded their governor and rejected the Socialist who proposes to tear the system down.

Is Kasich responsible for Ohios economic success? I dont know. I dont doubt that hes an effective governor, but usually the kind of turnaround Ohio has experienced is due mainly to circumstances beyond the control of any politician.

NORTH CAROLINA GOES TO TRUMP, BUT HE WINS FEWER THAN HALF THE DELEGATES: Trump has edged out Cruz in North Carolina, 40-36. Its far from clear that Trump would have won a two-man race against Cruz.

Fortunately, North Carolina isnt winner-take-all. And in fact, it looks like Trump will pick up only 27 of its 62 delegates. Cruz gets 24, while Kasich and Rubio receive 7 and 4, respectively.

MISSOURI TIGHTENS: Missouri is the only GOP race that hasnt been called. Trump has been leading all night, but Cruz has pulled close.

The latest returns show him only 1.5 point behind Trump. Harry Enten of FiveThirtyEight writes:

Theres still a lot of vote out [from] around Columbia, where Cruz is winning by 11 percentage points. The bottom line is that this race is very close.

The Democratic race in Missouri is also close. Sanders leads Clinton by about 4,000 votes with roughly 50 percent of the vote counted.

MISSOURI UPDATE: Trumps lead over Cruz is less than 3,000 with more than 700,000 votes (around 75 percent of the expected total) counted. Sanders has a comparatively comfortable lead of more than 10,000 votes over Clinton.

Unfortunately, Trump stands to win nearly all of Missouris 52 delegates if he holds onto his narrow lead, according to David Wasserman of FiveThirtyEight.

This highlights the tragedy (from my point of view) of the multi-candidate race. Theres almost no doubt that Cruz would have won Missouri in a two-way race, and he might well have won even in a three-man race. (I dont mean to exclude the possibility that he will come from behind and way anyway, though time is running out.)

MORE MISSOURI: On the Democratic side, Clinton has moved past Sanders, albeit by only around 1,200 votes. Its probably that same late vote from St. Louis that often rescues Democrats in general elections.

Only about 1 percent of the vote is out, so I imagine Clinton will prevail. If so, shell have gone five for five tonight.

Bummer.

On the GOP side, Trump leads Cruz by around 2,500 votes. Approximately 98 percent of the vote (or is it the precincts) is in, so Cruz will be hard-pressed to catch up.

At FiveThirtyEight, they estimate that Trump is on track to win about 67 percent of the delegates at stake tonight, even though hes averaged only a little more than 40 percent of todays votes. Until tonight, Trump had won 42 percent of all GOP delegates with 34 percent of the vote.

This demonstrates the impact of the races shift to more winner-take-all and quasi winner-take-all contests. And it suggests that Trump is going to be very difficult to stop.

Bummer.

With that, Ill sign off.
The current decline in global crude oil prices is a wake-up call for Nigerian states to rise to the realities of looking inwards to survive through the difficult times.

Most states of the federation apparently live from hand to mouth, severely feeling the impact of plunging oil prices.

Every month, their representatives go to Abuja for the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting, where oil revenues are shared among the three tiers of government and the FCT.

In days when crude oil sold for an average of $100 per barrel, money was not the problem for some of the states. Allocations were often above budgeted benchmark price, and, besides statutory allocations, the government had excess crude oil money to share.

With revenues from oil exports shrinking every passing day and the excess crude revenue account almost depleted, states have to explore alternative ways to survive.

Here are 14 survival tips for state governors in the period of economic downturn.

Kill corruption before it kills the states

One of the greatest challenges states are facing is corruption. States budgets are often padded with over-bloated contracts and bogus projects.

In many states, project sums are over-inflated, resulting in high incidences of abandoned projects. Sometimes before contracts are awarded, contractors are expected to make huge upfront payments to approving officials. If corruption is removed in the contract awarding process, states would save enough money for effective governance and development.

Cut the governors long convoys

Despite the poor revenue situation of the states, the flamboyant lifestyles of their governors remain untouched. The trademark of most state governments is long convoys of latest models of exotic cars for governors, members of the executive councils and wives.

The costs of maintenance, fuelling and repairs of these vehicles are always major drain pipes on the resources of the states. If the states could cut down their appetite for exotic cars in long official convoys, they will save significant resources for other development priorities.

First Class flight tickets and private jets

Apart from long official convoys, state functionaries spend huge portions of their resources on travelling within and outside the country.

Most state government officials travel with first class air tickets, while others have private executive jets permanently on standby to fly them across the country and abroad, many, on private trips.

Think about the cost of maintaining an aircraft  from parking permit at the airport, through insurance, to periodic maintenance abroad. If the states cut down the use of First Class air tickets and use of private jets, huge revenues can be saved from the excess expenditures associated with these lifestyles.

Cut down on retinue of personal aides, political appointees and overheads

State governments will save huge revenue for development if they significantly reduce the number of political appointees that draw hefty salaries and allowances.

Most of the political aides, who receive huge fringe benefits from the system, are purely for political patronage and dont bring any value to the system.

Monthly overhead payments to government departments should also be pruned, and redundant government agencies scraped to reduce wastages.

Do away with security votes allocations

Every year, allocations for security votes take a huge chunk of the states budgets. Generally, expenditures under security vote allocations are never subjected to scrutiny. So, governors are at liberty to spend the allocations on anything that catches their fancy.

However, since all the issues the security votes are meant to be used for have already been catered for in the annual budget of the different government agencies, the states could save big by abolishing continued allocation for security votes.

States liaison offices drain the purse

Every state has liaison offices in the Federal Capital Territory and other key states of the federation.

They have the full complement of staff and all the perks of office for the governor, ranging from official convoy of cars, governors lodge and guest houses, to political aides, advisers and assistants. All are maintained with huge allocations from the states. With such offices, most of the governors are virtually away from their states.

If the offices are scrapped, the budget allocations for their upkeep and maintenance will be saved for other meaningful uses in the state.

Stop playing Father Christmas

Most state government executives accumulate huge extra budgetary expenses in the form of donations that do not add value to the business of governance.

Governors also donate vehicles, money or give contracts at inflated rates to traditional rulers and top politicians to either get traditional titles or political favours.

If such expenses that do not add value to the economic development or social welfare of the citizenry are stopped, or cut down by at least by 30 to 50 per cent, states would have more revenue saved for other development purposes.

Check ghost workers

The payroll of most state governments are replete with names of non-existing workers who receive fat salaries and other benefits, including pensions, from more than one pay points in various ministries, departments and agencies.

States need to establish a structure that would check the ghost workers syndrome to save them huge revenues lost to faceless workers.

Halt the frivolous borrowing

Most states in Nigeria borrow to spend and not invest. Some of the projects for which loans were taken for implementation are often abandoned, as such monies are often diverted to private pockets.

If states cultivate the habit of borrowing only when it is absolutely necessary, they would be saved the pain of servicing loans that have no projects on ground to show for them.

Curb excessive media hugging

Most state governors love the media attention and publicity stunts.

States buy spaces in newspapers and magazines, prime time on live television and radio which often run for several hours. These media exposures cost a fortune of revenue that could have been saved for more important developmental uses.

For every conceivable programme, heads of state parastatals and agencies buy spaces in newspapers and magazines or TV airtime to sing the praises of governors and their wives.

Change the Owambe mentality

Most state governments see every little event, from the birthday of the governor or his wife, to the marriage of the relation of any of its functionaries, as an opportunity to organise expensive parties, where expensive drinks are served and costly gift items are distributed to guests.

During such ceremonies, special attires, with face of the government official embossed, are imported and distributed at state expense.

State sponsored banquets, lunch and dinner events are regular menus of some state governments.

In some instances, some governors hire private jets to convey guests to secluded locations for exclusive parties at the expense of their states.

If the states must survive the difficult times, the state governors must stop this attitude and ensure that every kobo at their disposal is spent wisely to the benefit of the people.

Stop award canvassing

State governors are known for jostling for recognition and seeking bogus awards from groups, organisations and media houses interested in merchandising same for cash.

Most of the governors pay huge amounts to be selected the best for the award so long as it does not come from their pocket.

Other governors pay millions of naira to get honorary doctorate degrees from universities in Nigeria and beyond.

Stopping this habit could save huge revenue for meaningful development project.

Look beyond oil glass; explore areas of comparative advantage

There is no state without one natural resource or other endowments that could be tapped into. Every state has several agricultural products they can develop into a veritable revenue spinner.

States must look inwards and identify these natural endowments and work towards establishing cottage industries in industrial clusters capable of creating jobs, while generating revenue for the government.

Farm settlements in areas of comparative agricultural advantage could be one of the viable ways to go.

Step up internal revenue generation drive

Without oil, states must look at other revenue generating avenues available. Citizens in most states do not seem to be paying taxes. States should think outside the box and decide to introduce taxes on luxury items. Tax consultants could be of help.
The Federal Government says its target is for the solid minerals sector to account for 10 per cent of the gross domestic product, GDP, in the nearest future.

The minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi, said this aspiration informed the present administrations efforts to reposition the solid minerals sector to diversify the countrys economy and create jobs through the sector.

The minister, who said that a lot of innovations were being put in place to overcome all the encumbrances that could hinder the attainment of the aspiration, explained that the major focus of the ministry was to ensure that the sector improved its contribution to the GDP from the current 0.3 per cent.

He was speaking at the 52nd conference of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society, NMGS in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Mr. Fayemi said he was confident that the target growth was achievable, adding that the minerals industry has great opportunities for diversification, apart from linkages to the development of other sectors of the Nigerian economy.

We strongly believe that the only way minerals development can be sustainable is through economic linkages, he said. We shall promote the development of industrial minerals and encourage downstream linkages leading to the processing of these minerals for our local industries.

It is expected that huge foreign exchange will be conserved through import substitution; jobs will be created; technological capacity will improve, and there shall be increase in resource rents. We shall concentrate on developing minerals that are critical feedstock in oil and gas, agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure.

The mining sector, the minister pointed out, has witnessed extensive reforms since 1999, centring on the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007, adding that an improved computerized mineral title administration would ensure transparent transaction of online application to mineral titles.

He said Nigeria was again on the path to providing a transparent and workable regulatory and policy environment for a private sector- led mining, noting that the generation of geosciences data to unlock the potential of the sector has been a major challenge.

Mr. Fayemi said the present administration believes improved generation of baseline data, namely geophysical, geochemical and geological datasets were necessary to unleash the countrys tremendous geological potential.

While promising to ensure that the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency and other similar agencies in the sector were adequately funded to accomplish this goal, the minister said government was determined to ensure best practices to restore investors confidence in the sector.

The ministry, he said, was set to build an integrated geospatial web portal to serve as a one-stop shop data window to stakeholders for unhindered access to information on the sector.

Noting that the bulk of mining activities in the country were still being done illegally, the minister said government would accelerate the formalization of artisanal and small scale miners to ensure sustainable development of the mineral resources.

Besides, he said already 3,000 members of the National Security & Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, have been deployed as mines police towards achieving this goal, adding the Ministry was also in talks with other agencies as the Nigerian Customs to stem illicit smuggling activities at the countrys borders.

On funding, the minister said discussions were on-going with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and commercial lenders to provide financing for Nigerian miners, while commercial banks were being encouraged to set up solid minerals desk to facilitate easy access to loans.
Leaders of 16 mangrove island communities in Akwa Ibom State have threatened to join Cameroon if the Nigerian government fails to stop Cameroonian gendarmes from constantly molesting them.

Already, the community leaders alleged that Cameroonian authorities have taken over their ancestral lands.

The communities allegedly annexed by the neighbouring country include Ine Odiong, Inua Mba, Ine Inua Abasi, Ine Usuk, Ibekwe, Itung Ibekwe, Akwa Ine Nsikak and Ine Ekeya.

Others are Ine Ebighi Edu, Ine Etakisib, Atabong, Akpakanya, Ine Okobedi, Ine Atayo, Ine Akpak and Abana.

The affected communities are part of Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, in southern Nigeria.

During a meeting with the village head of Abana, Nyong Etim Efa, a fact-finding team from the National Boundary Commission, led by Moses Onyoh, was told that the Government of the Republic of Cameroon had imposed taxes on Nigerians living in the 16 affected communities.

Mr. Efa said though he was appointed a village head by the Akwa Ibom State Government, he had also been given certificate as a village head by Republic of Cameroon.

The Cameroon Gendarmes have placed taxes on all the communities. In Abana, we are demanded to pay N500, 000 per month, the village head said.

The last time they came to collect the money and found out that I didnt convene a meeting to raise the tax, they raped my wife, beat me up and later detained me in their cell, he said.

For our youths who resisted them, they cut their fishing nets into pieces and seize their outboard engines.

We are weakened by repeated molestation from Cameroon Gendarmes. We are seriously considering taking up citizenship in Cameroon, since Nigerian Government cannot protect us, Mr. Efa said.

Another resident of the island community invaded, Etim Eyo, said they were left with no source of livelihoods.

On Saturday February 27, we experienced the worst onslaught on our people. The gendarmes raided our homes, raped our wives, seized 10 outboard engines, eight bags of crayfish and money, Mr. Eyo lamented.

After the incident, it has been difficult to eke a living. We dont have money to buy new outboard engines and fishing nets.

At a meeting at Enwang, the headquarters of Mbo Local Government, prominent leaders of the area called on the federal government to officially demarcate Nigerias maritime boundaries with Cameroon.

While decrying the failure of the government to correct the nations boundaries 13 years after the International Court of Justice ruling, the people vowed to launch a counter offensive anytime they were attacked by Cameroonian soldiers.

Some leaders of the area who attended the meeting were former Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Information, Chris Eyo, former Surveyor General of the state, Eyo Esin, former transition chairman for Mbo, Solomon Effiong, member representing Mbo in the House of Assembly, Samuel Ufuo, , Mbo Transition Committee Chairman, Cyril Etuk and village heads, youth and women from communities affected by the annexation.

Attempts to speak with the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umana, and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, failed as none of them responded to calls by PREMIUM TIMES.

The Senator representing Eket Senatorial District, Nelson Effiong, could not also be reached.
Two suicide bombers attacked a mosque in Maiduguri early Wednesday killing 22 people and injuring 18, the Nigerian Army has confirmed.

The attack in Umarari Village, on the outskirts of Maiduguri, occurred during early morning prayers, an official of the Civilian-JTF, Alhaji Danbatta, who coordinated the evacuation of victims, had told PREMIUM TIMES.

Umarari is about 5km south of Maiduguri, the northeast Nigeria city where Boko Haram insurgency birthed.

The spokesperson for the Army, Sani Usman, a Colonel, said in a statement that the first attack targeted a mosque while the second occurred about 50 metres away, and few minutes later.

This is to confirm that there were twin person-borne improvised explosive attack carried out by two female carriers in Ummarari village near Molai, outskirts of Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State, this morning, the statement said. Sadly, 22 people were killed and 18 others sustained various degrees of injuries.

Troops, security agents and care givers have been mobilized to scene, while the wounded have been evacuated to Molai General Hospital for treatment.

The troops, security agents and the Civilian JTF have secured the area and are combing the environment for possible clues.

While we commiserate with the families of the victims of this dastardly act, we wish to reassure the public that we would continue to rout the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists wherever they may be hiding. We will not rest on our oars until all those that masterminded this latest heinous and other similar crimes are apprehended and brought to justice.

Meanwhile, we implore the members of the public to be more security conscious, cooperate with the troops and security agencies. They should also please report any suspicious persons, objects or happenings to troops or security agencies at all times, the statement said.

The blast is the first to be recorded in Borno state since the last that killed about 50 persons at an IDP camp in Dikwa, a town 85km away from Maiduguri.
The House of Representatives is to receive the highest allocation in National Assemblys N115 billion budget for 2016, details of the proposal exclusively obtained by PREMIUM TIMES ahead of an official release, shows.

The public release of specific allocations to the various arms of the assembly will be the first time in five years.

Despite public criticisms against the assemblys huge budget, details seen by this newspaper show the N115 billion aggregate may be retained after all.

In the budget President Muhammadu Buhari presented to the joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives December 22, the sum of N115 billion was allocated to the National Assembly without breaking down the details of the allocations to its arms.

The bulk allocation to the National Assembly began in 2011. Since then the legislature has resisted demands for a breakdown of allocations to its arms and has rebuffed calls for transparency in its annual spending.

Since taking office in 2015, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who is the chairman of the National Assembly, repeatedly assured that henceforth the details of its budget would be made known to Nigerians as part of the efforts to ensure transparency in its operations.

The draft budgetary allocations to the National Assembly shows that out of the N115 billion allocated to the legislature, N105.4 billion has been set aside as recurrent expenditure while N9.6 billion is for capital projects.

The draft breakdown, expected to be adopted by the Senate and House of Representatives at their plenary sessions Thursday barring any last minute change of mind, also shows that the 360-member House of Representatives will get N47.2 billion.

Of that figure, proposed recurrent expenditure is N44. 6 billion while the capital expenditure is N2.7 billion. The personnel cost for the lower chamber is N4.9 billion while the overhead cost is N39.6 billion.

The proposed allocation to the Senate is N30. 2 billion. The breakdown shows that the upper house would spend N3.3 billion on capital projects and N26.97 billion on recurrent. Its personnel cost is N1,856,510,517 and overhead cost is N25,111,332,147.

The Public Accounts Committee of the Senate was allocated N115,008,000 while its House counterpart got N138,009,000.

The management arm has a total allocation of N11,625,392,906 with N10,048,616,823 as recurrent expenditure and N1,576,776,083 as capital votes. Its personnel cost is N6,372,434,997 and overhead cost N3,676,181,826.

The sum of N9458,800,803 was allocated for General Services. When broken down, the recurrent profile is N,669,079,143 while the capital expenditure profile stands at N789,721,660.

Other arms of the federal legislature that received allocations are National Assembly Service Commission and the National Assembly Legislative Institute.

The NASC got N1,971,833,327 with N1,858,033,532 as recurrent expenditure and N113,799,795 for capital projects. Its personnel cost is N810,084,566 while the overhead is N1,047,950,966.

On its part, the NALI secured a total of N4,208,813,051 with N3,844,990,172 as capital and N363,822,879 as recurrent. A further breakdown shows that its personnel cost is 363,522,879 while overhead is N3,019,355,811.

A total of N9,668,983,512 has been set aside for the legislative aides of the lawmakers while the Service Order Vote is N374,405,631.

Past Assurances

The expected release of the detailed budgetary allocations to the various arms of the National Assembly will be the first since 2011.

Until that year, allocations to the arms had been detailed in the budget presented by the past presidents to the legislature.

The budgets prepared by the Goodluck Jonathan administration for the National Assembly between 2011 and 2015 did not provide specifics.

Similarly, the then Senate President, David Mark, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, never bothered to disclose the details of the budgetary allocations to the National Assembly, which came to N715 billion.

The sum of N150 billion each was allocated to the legislature in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 while it got N115 billion in 2015.

The secrecy with which the National Assembly engaged in financial transactions attracted public outcry with many demanding that such transactions should be made open.

In January, a former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, in a letter he addressed to Mr. Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said the practice in the National Assembly detracts from distinguishness and honourability because it is shrouded in opaqueness and absolute lack of transparency and could not be regarded as normal, good and decent practice in a democracy that is supposed to be exemplary.

Since he assumed office last year, Mr. Saraki had repeatedly assured that the financial transactions of the National Assembly would be open.

In an interview with a team of editors of the London based magazine- the Economist last Sunday, the senate president said the budget breakdown of the lawmakers would be published this week.

He said the decision to publish the details of the budget was in line with the anti-corruption stance of the 8th National Assembly, adding that the legislature would not cover any form of corruption.

For the first time we promised Nigerians that the Senate will disclose its budget breakdown, the committee will make its report available by next week. We are resolved to break the tradition of one line item, he said.

Mr. Saraki said that the Senate would partner with President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the success of the anti-corruption war.

He had made similar promises in the past. In his inauguration speech on June 9, 2015, the senate president told Nigerians that the era of impunity and arrogance in the country was gone.

He said there would be a change from impunity and elite arrogance to a life of accountability and respect for every citizen, regardless of tribe, gender, religion and political persuasion. We must justify the privilege of representation conferred in us by the people.

As the President of the 8th Senate and chairman of the National Assembly, I shall be guided by the enormity of the responsibilities that this moment imposes on all of us, he stressed.

In another media interview, Mr. Saraki, He said, By the time we come in to the 2016 budget at the end of the year, it will be even clearer because people just see one item line.

But that is not going to happen now, you will see what goes to the Senate, what goes to the House of Reps, you are going to see what goes to management, what goes to Legislative Institute, we are going to make all these open and clear. That is part of the openness we promised.

Again, while receiving the leadership of the All Progressive Congress Youth Forum in his office as part of the celebration of this years International Youth Day in August, Mr. Saraki said the Senate had nothing to hide.

He said, I want to assure you, despite all what you read in the papers, be rest assured that we are here for serious business. We are all committed to make a difference and my doors are open.

Very soon, from what I am being told from the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, we are trying to move fast about the e-parliament so that everybody here can know what we are doing and they can also contribute to some of the discussions.

We want to make this place as open as possible. There is nothing here we are hiding. What is our great motivation? Nigerians spoke at the last elections and I dont think they spoke for things to be the same and we must not let it be the same. We must ensure that it is positively different.
A witness has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that N1.7 billion meant for the payment of Nigerian Air Force personnel was diverted by a former Chief of Air Staff, Alex Badeh, on a monthly basis.

The witness, Salisu Abdullahi, who was director of finance at the Nigerian Air Force between October 2010 and December 2013, said personnel salary received from the federal government was N4 billion, while what the actual salaries amounted to just above N2 billion.

Out of the balance of about N1.6 to N1.7 billion, the sum of N558 million was taken to Mr. Badehs personal residence at Niger Barracks after it is exchanged to dollars, he said.

He added that the balance of the money was returned to Mr. Badeh for further directive, saying expenditures made from the remaining money, were usually approved by the Chief of Air Staff through the procurement and planning committee.

Mr. Abdullahi said Mr. Badeh mostly didnt confirm receipt of the sum of N558 million in writing.

The only instruction he gives in writing are those requests forwarded in writing from branches and units for approval, he said.

Where such approvals are given, they are forwarded to my office for necessary payments, Mr. Abdullahi said.

Mr. Abdullahi further said that N120 million was at one time allotted for his office on a monthly basis, but that he rejected the offer, since he did not see any need for the money.

He added that his principal, Mr. Badeh, purchased several houses, including a shopping complex at the cost of N1.1 billion, named under the title of the second defendant, a company named Iyalikam.

Mr. Abdullahi said the shopping complex was purchased on the directive of Mr. Badeh, and that it was located at 600, Ogun Rivers Street, Maitama, Abuja.

He also added that he later discovered that Mr. Badehs son, Alex Junior, was to use the upper part of the complex as a restaurant.

According to Mr. Abdullahi, another building which Mr. Badeh said he would use as his office was purchased at N650 million, and under the name of a certain engineer, Mustafa Yarima.

Another building was purchased for his son, Alex Junior, at N260 million and renovated at N60 million, while N90 million was used for the purchase of furniture.

A fourth building was purchased at N330 million for Mr. Badehs second son, identified merely as Kam after a previous property was purchased for Mr. Kam at N240 million which he did not approve of.

Two other houses were also purchased in Kaduna, both of whom were uncompleted building.

All the houses were bought under the name of a third party, and mostly paid for, from the sum of N558 million remitted to Mr. Badeh monthly.

Mr. Abdullahi also revealed that Mr. Badehs official salary was within N2 million, but stated that he received absolutely no financial reward for taking N558 million to Mr. Badeh at his residence.

After the prosecution concluded its examination of the witness, the defence counsel sought the approval of the court to adjourn the case, saying that some of the information contained in the witness evidence were not in the stated proof of evidence.

Mr. Badehs lawyer, Samuel Zibiri, asked the court to permit him time to prepare the necessary questions for cross examination in the interest of fair hearing, giving the fact that new details had emerged that he would need time to properly analyse.

The counsel to the second defendant, Simon Olugunorsiha, also asked that he be given time to see to his health.

The judge, Okon Abang, adjourned the case to March 23, for cross examination of the first Prosecution Witness.
The History Of Chicago's Green River And St. Patrick's Day Parades

By Staff in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 16, 2016 3:15PM



Greening the river in 2006. (Getty)

The Irish population was growing steadily in Chicago by the mid-1800s, but it wasn't until the next century that St. Patrick's Day took hold of the city every March. The city's first parade was held in 1956, five years before the river started flowing green. We took a look at just how that tradition got started.

The tradition of dyeing the river green is unique to Chicago, and it all started in 1961 thanks to business manager Stephen Bailey of the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local 110. That Union is still responsible for the greening today. Here's how it all went down, according to one account:

In 1961 Stephen Bailey was approached by a plumber who was wearing some white coveralls, they knew this only because they could see some of the original color. These coveralls had been mostly stained or dyed a perfect shade of green, an Irish green to better describe it. It was when Stephen Bailey asked how the coveralls got this way, that they discovered that the dye used to detect leaks into the river turned green, not just any color green, but the perfect color green.

Since it didn't cause any harm to the water, and in fact was used to detect leaks and pollution, Bailey suggested the river go green every St. Patrick's Day, and so it was, starting in 1962, when a hundred pounds of dye was poured in the river. This turned it green for a full week. Since then, some adjustments have been made, and 40 pounds of dye is used, turning the river green for about five hours.



1961. (Photo via Chuckman's Photos)

As for the parade, while Chicagos Irish had staged a few since the 1840s, the first official one wasn't held until 1956, when Mayor Richard J. Daley made it a city-wide event. The Chicago Tribune reported on some of the numbers at the time: there were 65 marching units, 5,000 people marching, 11 bands playing, 29 colorful floats, and 100,000 spectators.

These days, we have two main paradesthe downtown parade and the South Side paradeand a flowing green river.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC on Wednesday strongly denied a report by the Auditor General of the Federation, Samuel Ukura, that the corporation failed to remit about N3.235 trillion to the Federation Account as at December 31, 2014.

The Group Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer (Finance & Accounts) of NNPC, Isiaka Abdulrazaq, who described the claims as erroneous, said in a statement that the period covered by the report was before the coming of the current management in August 2015.

Mr. Abdulrazaq said since the appointment of the current management, emphases have been on transparency, accountability and integrity, while focusing on re-positioning its operations through over 20 reform initiatives.

He listed some of the initiatives to include regular publication of NNPC monthly financial and operational reports in the media; cost reduction that resulted in a drop in monthly operational losses from N30 billion in August 2015 to N3billion in January 2016, and structuring of NNPC to focus on improved performance and profitability.

The declaration by the AuGF may have been borne out of misunderstanding of how revenues from crude oil and gas sales are remitted into the Federation Account, he noted.

Mr. Abdulrazaq said that although NNPC usually get allocation of 445,000 barrels per day for processing into petroleum products for distribution to the nation, any unprocessed crude was sold and the proceeds used to pay for fuel importation.

The proceeds from the sale of these products are remitted to the federation account after deducting the cost associated with the supply and distribution, he said.

As a major supplier of petroleum products, he said the NNPC was entitled to claims on subsidy from petroleum products sold at government regulated price.

Mr. Abdulrazaq said between January 2012 and December 2014, total subsidy approved for NNPC and certified by Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA was about N2.34trillion, apart from additional N7.96billion claims still under reconciliation.

During the same period, he said losses from vandalism of crude oil pipelines and petroleum products stood at about N202.68billion, while petroleum products strategic holding cost and pipeline repairs and maintenance cost for the period gulped N358.88billion.

Consequently, he said the total figure the NNPC owed the Federation Account as at January 2015 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting report was only N326.14 billion, which he said was still being reconciled, and not the N3.23trillion alleged by the AuGF.

He said NNPCs claims of N1.38 trillion pending against the Federation as at 2009 was currently being re-viewed by Forensic Auditors appointed by the former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

It is clear that the AuGF failed to reflect all the figures as they should be, not minding the fact that there is a clear process in conducting FAAC meetings where all Federation revenues are presented, discussed and approved, Mr. Abdulrazaq said.

There are series of meetings before and after FAAC meetings to reconcile and resolve any issue as the need may arise.

He denied knowledge about another $235million allegedly transferred to undisclosed Escrow Account from the sale of natural gas, saying NNPC does not have any secret Escrow Accounts.

The $235Million, the NNPC Financial Controller explained, represented proceeds from the sale of gas feed stock to Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, NLNG used to repay part of the Modified Carry Agreement, MCA loans, applicable royalty to the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR and tax to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS.

He accused the AuGF of ignoring global best practice and established due process in auditing, by refusing to convene an exit meeting between the auditor and the auditee where any outstanding issues were finally discussed and explained before the issuance of the audit report.

There was no such meeting, and NNPC did not receive any draft report from the AuGFs office for comments, Mr. Abdulrazaq argued.
An Abuja-based NGO, Aliwe Daughters Initiative, has petitioned the United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund to investigate the recent killings of children in Benue State, north central Nigeria.

Over 500 persons including women and children were reportedly murdered in a crisis between Benue farmers and Fulani herdsmen.

The groups chairperson, Ngunan Uganden, on Wednesday described the killing of innocent children and women as primitive, barbaric and unacceptable genocide that must not be allowed to continue.

She challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately deploy troops to the affected areas to support the efforts of Benue State government in ending the carnage.

Since the outbreak of the fresh crisis in Agatu, Buruku and Logo local government areas last month, she said hundreds had been killed and several communities sacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Mrs. Uganden said the saddest sides of the massacre were the killing, rape and kidnap of innocent children.

She, therefore, called on the UNICEF to investigate the perpetrators of these heinous acts and come to the aide of vulnerable children and women affected by the crisis.

We insist that the continued perpetration of crisis between herdsmen and farmers in Benue, which claimed hundreds of lives and property worth millions of naira, is bringing untold hardship to innocent people in the state who are predominantly farmers.

Cattle rearing is a business to Fulani people like farming is business for Benue farmers.

Fulanis should be compelled to establish ranches in their respective states to feed their animals.

The continued attacks on farmers by herdsmen can no longer be tolerated, she added.
Jacob Gyang Buba, the Gbong Gwom Jos and Chairman, Plateau Council of Chiefs, was on Wednesday installed as the 3rd Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka.

President Muhammadu Buhari performed the investiture as part of activities commemorating the 10th convocation of the institution.

Mr. Buhari, who is the visitor to the university, was represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie.

The president said the Federal Government was working hard to address the challenges facing educational development in the country.

The president expressed confidence in the ability of the UNIZIK`s new chancellor to discharge his duties creditably.

Mr. Buhari said that through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), more than 11,000 academics had benefitted from research funds, attendance of conferences and opportunity for staff sabbaticals.

He said that government was aware of the infrastructural deficits in the universities, pointing out that government would set up staff and students audit on infrastructural development to ensure judicious funds utilisation.

The president challenged universities in Nigeria to be at the vanguard of research, teaching and community service to enhance the nation`s development in all fields of human endeavours.

Responding, the Gbong Gwom Jos promised to leverage on the goodwill of the various stakeholders in diverse fields of knowledge to move the university forward.

He assured of the advancement of the noble goals of Nnamdi Azikiwe, whom the university was named after.

Nigerians must never forget this giant of Nigeria`s independence struggle, along with other contemporaries who are known as the founding fathers of independent Nigeria,  he said.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, said the chancellor would be an invaluable asset to the institution.

Dignitaries at the event included Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra, represented by his deputy, Dr Nkem Okeke, Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, members of the university`s Governing Council, among others.

(NAN)
The speaker of Kano State House of Assembly, Kabiru Rurum, on Tuesday led 36 of the 40 members of the Kano State House of Assembly to pledge allegiance to the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.

PREMIUM TIMES observed that none of the legislators wore the red cap, symbolising disloyalty to the former governor of the state, Rabiu Kwankwaso

Crisis broke in the ruling All Progressive Congress in the state when the party chairman, Umar Doguwa, announced a decision to penalise Mr. Kwankwaso for organising a violent rally.

Although Mr. Doguwa withdrew his statement three days after, citing coercion by the state government, the party leaders insisted the former governor must be disciplined for his action.

Pledging allegiance to the governor on Tuesday, the legislators expressed their loyalty to the governor as leader of APC in the state.

The speaker also urged the governor to abandon the red cap tradition, which signified loyalty to Mr. Kwankwaso.

He said there was no point donning the red cap when Mr. Kwankwaso and his supporters look down upon the incumbent governor.

The speaker said the entire state assembly is behind the governor, reaffirming that as the sitting governor, Mr. Ganduje is the leader of the party in the state.

In his response, Mr. Ganduje, who appeared in red cap, pacified the lawmakers and urged them to continue using the colour.

He however expressed happiness that the house had identified with him and had shown maturity by identifying with the established line of authority.
The Kaduna State Government has defended its controversial Religious Preaching Bill currently before the state House of Assembly.

The bills provisions, seen as seeking to curb religious freedoms, have caused widespread outrage.

The government said Wednesday the legislation was aimed at curbing religious extremism and hate speech.

The state government had in February sent the executive bill For A Law To Substitute The Kaduna State Religious Preaching Law, 1984.

The legislation requires a preacher in Kaduna State to obtain preaching permit. It bans residents from playing evangelical tapes and CDs in public places and allows loud speakers to be used only inside churches and mosques but not beyond 8.00pm.

According to the bill, violators are liable to a fine of N200, 000.

The bill has generated intense debate among residents and clerics of Christianity and Islam, the two major religions in the state.

The deputy governor of the state, Barnabas Bantex, told a delegation of the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) led by its chairman, Bishop George Dogo, that the government had a duty to ensure that religious violence no longer threatened the state.

He said the Kaduna State Government was always committed to ensuring that religion can be practiced in a safe and secure climate.

This is not a new law. It has existed since 1984, with amendments in 1987 and 1996. The military governments which created the law were responding to outbreaks of religious violence such as Maitatsine in 1983; the riots after the Kafanchan incidence of 1987, he said.

Kaduna State has a history of religious/sectarian crisis and what this bill seeks to do is not anything new but to learn from painful experience, and discourage the use of religion for violence and division. The Bill, by virtue of Section 45(1) of the 1999 Constitution, is in order and does not offend the provisions of the constitution. The provisions of the Bill are in tandem with the Constitution.

There is nothing in the Bill that suggests any effort to abolish, stop or derogate on the freedom of religion and religious beliefs. It merely seeks to ensure that religious preaching and activities in the State are conducted in ways that do not threaten public order, public safety, and to protect the rights and freedom of other persons.
President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned Wednesdays suicide bomb attack at a mosque in Maiduguri, in which 22 people were killed.

The attack at Umarari village, near Maiduguri, Borno State, was carried out by suspected Boko Haram terrorists, the Nigerian Army said.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president, quoted Mr. Buhari as saying with the renewed determination of the Nigerian security agencies, coupled with the regional and international attention constantly focused on the eradication of terrorism, the activities of Boko Haram would soon become history.

He said the condemnable and reprehensible attack on a place of worship by the perpetrators, who pretended to be worshippers, had once again exposed them as mere criminals who had no place among civilised people.

Mr. Buhari expressed his deepest sympathy and condolence to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Borno over the incident.

The president, who wished speedy recovery to those injured, commended the security agencies and care givers for their prompt deployment to the area.

According to him, those who perpetrate, finance, organise and sponsor these reprehensible acts of terrorism will not escape punishment.

He implored Nigerians to continue to remain vigilant to the antics of these lawless individuals and cooperate with the relevant government agencies in their unshaken resolve to defeat the enemy.

The president prayed that Almighty Allah would receive the souls of the departed.

(NAN)
Sani Yerima, a Senator of the All Progressives Congress from Zamfara, on Tuesday rallied lawmakers to defeat a bill seeking equal rights for women, and an end gender discrimination.

Mr. Yerima, a known opponent of reforms seeking to promote womens rights, argued that the Nigerian Constitution was clear on rights of citizens, including women.

The official title of the bill is: A bill for an Act to Incorporate and enforce certain provisions of the United Nations Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, the Protocol of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the rights of women in Africa, and other matters connected therewith, 2016 (SB. 116).

The bills sponsor, Abiodun Olujimi, (PDP-Ekiti State), said the proposed legislation was aimed at promoting gender parity and empowering women politically and socio-economically.

Mrs. Olujimi said the proposed law sought equal opportunity, development advancement for all Nigerian citizens irrespective of gender.

She emphasized the bill would promote girls access to education, freedom for women to participate in any economic activity and their right to freedom from violence.

She also said the bill would ensure equal rights for women in matters of marriage, divorce and inheritance.

The bill was supported Senate Leader, Ali Ndume and Bala NaAllah (APC-Kebbi State), who both emphasized the need to protect widowhood and inheritance rights of women.

The deputy senate president, Ike Ekwweremaudu, Fatimat Raji-Rasaki (PDP-Ekiti State) and Binta Garba (APC-Adamawa State) also supported the bill.

Mr. Yerima said the proposed law was in breach of the Nigerian Constitution. He said the bill was also in conflict with the Sharia Law which is recognised by the Constitution.

Although the bill, which was scheduled for second reading Tuesday, received support from a few Senators, including males, it surprisingly failed to scale through when the senate president, Bukola Saraki, called for a vote.

After the bill was rejected, a visibly happy Mr. Yerima invited journalists, and expressed satisfaction with the outcome.

Apart from Mr. Yerima, Adamu Aliero (APC-Kebbi State) and Immanuel Bwacha (PDP-Taraba State) also strongly opposed the bill.

Like his Zamfara counterpart, Mr. Alieros argument was that citizens rights were already prescribed by the Constitution.

Mr. Bwacha said he was drawing perspectives from the Bible and history in opposing the bill.

The Senates rejection of the bill has drawn criticisms from Nigerians.

On Wednesday, the senate president, Mr. Saraki, assured the bill would be reintroduced after it must have been amended to address reservations that led to its rejection.

Meanwhile, ActionAid has urged women population to be resolute in the quest to achieve gender equality.

Nigerias female citizens: young, old or in-between, easterner, northerner, southerner, westerner or in-between, Muslims, Christian or otherwise, rural, urban or peri-urban, rich, poor or neither, literate or not  let this rejection be our rallying cry, the ActionAid Country Director, Ojobo Atuluku said in a statement.

We have a responsibility to find a common space within which to pitch our voices and provide the source from which our women in public offices and their male allies can draw strength and rejuvenate themselves.

Mrs. Ojikutu called for electronic voting in the National Assembly to enable Nigerians know the choices made by their representatives.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has said it opted for a secret process of hiring new staff in the past two years because the bank was doing targeted recruitment.

The apex bank is at the centre of a recruitment scandal exposed by two newspapers.

A news report published Wednesday by Daily Trust, said the CBN secretly recruited 909 staff between June 2014 and February 2015, in violation of due process and federal character principles.

The report followed a news story by news website, SaharaReporters, on Tuesday, showing how children and relatives of some influential Nigerians, including a nephew of President Muhammadu Buhari, were dubiously and secretly hired by the CBN.

The CBNs acting Director of Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, told PREMIUM TIMES that the bank did nothing illegal or wrong in hiring without advertising.

In the last two years, we have had cause to recruit specialists, and what the law says is that if we are going for that kind of recruitment we should apply for waiver, so that we can do targeted recruitment, Mr. Okoroafor said.

He said the bank obtained waiver from the Federal Character Commission.

The other issue is that there are states that are not well represented (in the CBN), and in this case we focus on those states to recruits people of certain classes that we used to cover the shortfall in those states, Mr. Okoroafor said.

Mr. Okoroafor however said he was not ready to confirm or deny the names on the list.

Is there any qualified Nigerian who does not have the right to work in the CBN? he asked.
At least 22 Muslim worshippers were killed when a suicide bomber detonated himself in a mosque in Umarari Village, outskirts of Maiduguri, during the early morning prayers on Wednesday, an official said.

Umarari is about 5km south of Maiduguri, the northeast Nigeria city where Boko Haram insurgency birthed.

An official of the Civilian-JTF, Alhaji Danbatta, who coordinated the evacuation of victims said 14 other persons were injured in the blast.

The blast is the first to be recorded in Borno state since the last that killed about 50 persons at an IDP camp in Dikwa, a town 85km away from Maiduguri.

The bomb attack occurred this morning in Umarari village, just after Mulai Leprosy Hospital, outside Maiduguri, along the Biu-Maiduguri highway, said Mr. Danbatta.

It was a suicide attack: the bomber sneaked in while the worshippers were observing the morning congregational prayer. We evacuated 14 corpses and 21 injured ones were taken to the hospital.

More details later
A High Court in Bauchi State on Wednesday dismissed a suit against Governor Abubakar, accused of collecting N4 billion bank without the approval of the state House of Assembly.

A Bauchi citizen, Nasiru Darazo, had filed a suit against the governor for allegedly taking a N4 billion UBA loan.

The suit questioned the governors powers to source for, collect and utilise credit on behalf of the state without the approval of the assembly.

Delivering his judgment Wednesday, Justice Hamidu Kunaza said the respondent lacked the locus standi to file the suit.

He also said Mr. Darazo lacked competent evidence to support his claim that the loan facility was collected.

Mr. Darazos lawyer, Dahiru Bello, said his client would appeal the decision, saying that the ruling lacked merit because as a citizen of Bauchi, Mr. Darazo had the right to question the governments finances.

The governors lawyer, Abdullkadir Maunde, praised the court for the ruling.
The Kaduna State Chief Judge, Tanimu Zailani, on Wednesday released 56 inmates from the Kaduna Central prison as part of efforts to decongest prisons in the state.

The Chief Judge attributed the high number of inmates to the failure of judges to be fair and just in the discharge of their duties.

He stressed that only justice would prevent the current situation where people were sent to jail for trivial offences.

Most of the prisoners are in prison for simple theft, but were branded with armed robbery just to keep them in prison.

As Judges, we are supposed to be professionals and should not be found truncating justice in whatever guise. We are expected to uphold justice and that is what we must do.

For those with offence of court contempt, you can punish the offenders right there in the court. There is no need putting them in jail, he said.

Mr. Zailani said those released were first time offenders arrested for non-capital offences. He said some were unable to meet their bail conditions, while others case records were neither with the Ministry of Justice nor the Police.

As such there was no point keeping them in jail. Other offences were mainly court contempt that the judges could have settled them in court, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 82 inmates appeared before the Chief Judge for review of their cases, out of which 26 were turned down because of the criminal nature of their offences.

NAN also reports that the Kaduna central prison, established in 1915 for 547 inmates, currently has a total of 954 prisoners as at March 16.

Out of the figure, 576 are awaiting trial; 241 convicted; 103 condemned to death and 28 on life sentence, among others.

(NAN)
The Education Rights Campaign has said it was considering a street protest in solidarity with the students of the University of Lagos who were blocked from medical school by the institution.

At a press conference in Lagos, Monday, the group demanded that the affected students be allowed to proceed to the College of Medicine since they had met the entry requirements.

What we have done today is to announce to the world the crimes that the University of Lagos have committed against these students, said Hassan Soweto, National Coordinator, ERC.

We are going to follow up with further actions including lobbying, petitioning, but also practical actions on the streets, protests, demonstrations, to back up the suit that was filed by Barrister Jiti Ogunye over this matter.

The University of Lagos had blocked some of its 2014/2015 medical students from proceeding to the College of Medicine after introducing new academic qualifications in the middle of the schools academic calendar.

The new rules saw the school placing the students into departments other than the one they studied in during their first year.

For instance, a student who was admitted to study Nursing saw herself reposted to Radiography, while another who was in Medicine and Surgery was moved to Fisheries.

On February 10, the affected students and their parents protested the universitys decision, and the university responded by flooding the entrance to the school with armed police officers.

The students alleged that the new rules were made to allow more Diploma students  who pay over N400, 000 as against their N55, 000  into the College of Medicine.

Mr. Ogunye, a rights lawyer, had filed a suit on behalf of the students at the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The wheel of justice grinds slowly in this country, which is why we cannot fold our hands and say the matter is in court, we want to wait for judgment, Mr. Soweto said.

Even for us to ensure that the court accelerates the process, our protests will go a long way in effecting that because this is not an issue that you can allow to drag on for years because it concerns the future of young people, who will be growing older and getting more hopeless as they years roll by.

So we cant afford a long judicial process, which is why protests on the streets as well as other political actions have to take place.

Tuesdays press conference also had in attendance the aggrieved students under the aegis of UNILAG Medical Students for Justice as well as their parents.

Joshua Ilo, one for the affected students, accused the university of failing to comply with its own contract.

In Medicine and Surgery (allocated a quota of 150 students), out of the 147 students admitted into 100 level, 110 met the universitys requirement for the College of Medicine. But only 60 were selected.

Diploma is a complementary in fact they are supposed to tell Diploma right from the start that it depends on the UTME students that crossed over, said Mr. Ilo, who was admitted to study Medicine and Surgery but, based on the revised rules, was posted to Physiology.

110 crossed over. They would have complemented the 40. So I dont know how they decided to make it 60 for UTME. Imagine, 60 out of 150. Can you imagine that?

Do you know the courses they are doing in Diploma? They are just doing Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Maths. Do you know what we do in UTME? We do several Physics courses, Zoology compared to Diploma.

This is utterly ridiculous, he added.

Another affected student, Oludola Oyenuga, said the university did not warn them they were competing with Diploma students for slots into the College of Medicine.

The university authorities, through the VC, during the last Convocation claimed that Diploma students performed better than us, said Mr. Oyenuga, who was moved from Medicine and Surgery to Pharmacology  a course he said he rejected for three years.

Its known that we dont write the same exams (with Diploma students), we dont attend the same lectures, they dont use matric numbers.

If you had told us you want to put us in the same class and grade our performances according to our exams, that should have been the case, rather than arranging another exams for the Diploma students where they just write Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

Compared to us who run the normal university two semesters, about 18 courses with practicals and tests. The VC cannot claim that we didnt meet the requirements.
Ten persons were on Wednesday killed and six others injured in a ghastly car accident at the Ajebo end of the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.

A witness said the accident involved two vehicles, a fully-loaded Mazda commercial bus with the number plate APP 912 XH and an Iveco truck with number plate GGE 338 XL.

The Head of Operations, Federal Road Safety Corps, Ogun State Command, Divis Ogiamiem, said the accident was caused by wrong overtaking by the driver of the commercial bus, which was travelling from Ibadan to Lagos, at a section of the road where there was traffic diversion.

The cause of the crash was due to wrongful overtaking and loss of control by the driver of the Mazda commercial bus. He was travelling from Ibadan end to Lagos, it was in that process that the driver rammed the bus into an oncoming Iveco truck, travelling to Ibadan. The accident occurred around 2.10pm this afternoon, he said.

Mr. Ogiamiem, who is a Deputy Corps Commander, said the bodies of the victims had been deposited in the mortuary of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.

He also added that the six injured passengers were also receiving treatment in the same hospital.
This Summer will people of Ambuj Wadi, Malad(W) get Water?

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This Summer will people of Ambuj Wadi, Malad(W) get Water?

Mumbai. Ambuj Wadi at Malvani, Malad(W) does not has water connection from BMC and thousands of poor residents, who have valid ration cards, voter id card, electricity etc are suffering. Residents blame water mafia working along with BMC for the denial of connection. People are forced to buy water through tankers. They had already complained to the local politicians, MP etc but no action was taken. Manmohan Gupta of Gandhi Vichar Manch, a social organisation from the area has requested the BMC to take notice. He said" Incase the facility is not provided, Gandhi Vichar Manch will organise hunger protests with Ambujwadis residents.

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For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.

Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.





to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.





Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.

Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.

Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.




A screenshot taken from a Russian Defense Ministry video shows the first group of Russian Aerospace Force aircraft heading back to Russia from Syria, on March 15, 2016 (Xinhua/Sputnik)

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has once again upset his critics -- this time not by "invading" a country, but by calling back Russia's troops from Syria. The calculated move has come at a time when there are indications that Syria's bloody five-year conflict might be gradually heading towards a denouement.

Russia has been instrumental in changing the situation on the ground in Syria. Its fighter jets bombed anti-regime groups with ferocity, and in the process got results. Mr. Putin said that his country achieved its desired goals. Though, it was not clear what those "goals" were in the first place. It was also unknown how many troops will be withdrawn.

Again, there is no credible source for the exact number of troops Moscow had sent in Syria. Hence, it is difficult to judge the full impact of the Russian pullout at this critical juncture after Mr. Putin said that a major portion of his country's troops were being taken out of the conflict zone.

Russia started its military campaign last September and surprisingly changed the contour of the conflict within a short span of time. The Russian support helped Bashar al-Assad's forces regain roughly 10,000 sq km of territory from the rebels. Russian air power with more than 9,000 sorties provided the cover needed to weaken militant strongholds and destroy their infrastructure.

It gave a huge boost to the Syrian army. Though, it still faces a massive challenge to regain the other areas controlled by militant and opposition groups. However, the balance is now heavily tipped in favor of President Assad and previous efforts to isolate and finally remove him should have to be reconsidered.

Putin emerged as probably the only leader having clear ideas about the future of Syria. He knew that it was premature to term Assad as "history" who, as proved by the events, still enjoys the confidence of the army, which not only includes Shiites but also Sunnis. The Sunni generals and soldiers fighting against the hardcore Sunni rebels to keep a Shiite Alawite ruler in the saddle was something which several analysts would have deemed "unthinkable" after the eruption of civil war.

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OSLO, Norway, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Marine Solutions announced today it has signed a purchase agreement to acquire the marine division of Jeppesen, subject to regulatory approval.

Under the terms of the agreement, the former Jeppesen Marine will operate as a separate entity with its own dedicated resources and will trade under the C-MAP brand name. Jeppesen will remain as part of The Boeing Company.

Digital Marine Solutions is owned by the Altor 2003 Fund, which is part of the Nordic based Altor family of private equity funds. This strategic acquisition leverages Altor's experience in the Marine industry, where it also is the majority owner of the Navico house of marine brands. Digital Marine Solutions will ensure that Navico and other 3rd party electronic manufacturers continue to have access to the C-MAP portfolio for both recreational and commercial marine. Over time Digital Marine Solutions will develop C-MAP's capabilities and sales by offering enhanced charting, digital content, and services solutions.

"Jeppesen Marine is one of the premier players in electronic charting and value added services for recreational and commercial marine," said Leif Ottosson, future chairman of the buyer. "We look forward to working with the Jeppesen Marine team to create fresh innovations and to continue to work with Jeppesen Marine's existing customers to further grow the business."

"This is good news for the marine electronics industry, Jeppesen Marine staff and consumers, as C-MAP's high quality products and services will continue to be offered thus keeping the diversity in the market," said James Detar, Director Light Marine Portfolio at Jeppesen Marine.

"We believe that with the vision and values of Digital Marine Solutions we can further improve our portfolio and better service our customers," said Egil Aarstad, Director Voyage Solutions at Jeppesen Marine.

Pending regulatory approval, the transaction is expected to be completed toward the end of the second quarter, 2016.

For information on Jeppesen Marine visit c-map.jeppesen.com and ww1.jeppesen.com/marine.

SOURCE Digital Marine Solutions
CANNES, France, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

A high-level delegation of Italian government ministers, real estate and trade officials is flying the "Invest in Italy" banner at the annual MIPIM world real estate fair, which got underway Wednesday in Cannes.

This year, Italy is showcasing more than a thousand state-owned properties, including historic villas and palaces and a range of development opportunities in both the residential and commercial real estate sectors.

Over the past 24 months, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has pushed through a raft of economic reforms designed to cut red tape, create a more flexible labour market and lower a variety of taxes. The aim, as the Prime Minister said recently, is to show that "Italy is back" as an investor-friendly country with an economy that is growing again after years of recession.

In 2015 Italy's privatization efforts saw the sale of 752m worth of state-owned properties, ranking Italy's real estate disposals just behind the UK (842m) and ahead of Germany (699m) and France (572m).

The Rome-based Invest in Italy office of the Ministry of Economic Development, in cooperation with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), has also been re-energized by the prime minister's efforts and is now offering one-stop shopping for foreign investors.

Among its recent achievements, the newly streamlined FDI office managed to clear the way for a 1.4bn investment by Australia's Westfield group that will lead to the construction near Milan's Linate airport of what will become in 2020 the largest shopping complex in Europe, a sprawling 235,000 square-meter development that will feature 300 shops and 50 restaurants. The project will create 27,000 new jobs. The same team is now clearing away obstacles that could see more than 6bn of new investments in 20 other major Italian real estate projects.

Among those attending MIPIM are Italy's Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti and Ivan Scalfarotto, the newly named Vice Minister at the Ministry of Economic Development. At a special "Italy Day" conference held Wednesday and chaired by Riccardo Monti, President of ITA, the first 200 property assets went online on the new portal: http://www.investinitaly.com.

"Our presence here today," said Scalfarotto, "is proof of our ability to bring together key players in the public and private sectors." The Vice Minister said that total real estate transactions in Italy increased by 52.8% in 2015, to more than 8bn, of which three quarters came from foreign investment.

"The Government intends to build on this positive trend by accelerating its reforms and its policies aimed at making foreign direct investment in real estate simpler, more transparent and more secure," Scalfarotto added. The new web platform, he said, would contribute to making state-owned properties available to investors.

SOURCE Italian Trade Agency
DUBLIN, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The U.K. is experiencing its highest wheat sales in four years thanks to a declining pound, itself a result of concerns over Britain's vote on whether to leave the European Union. The Brexit's adverse effect on the pound has made British products more competitive for overseas buyers, triggering a growth in exports. A market report forecast wheat production in the United Kingdom to grow at a CAGR of 36.7% by 2018/19 due to increasing demand from export destinations. This forecast could be lower if Britain decides to stay in the EU, as the pound will quickly recover its value following such a decision.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130307/600769 )



British wheat exports reached almost 310,000 metric tons in January, the highest monthly amount since December 2011. The majority of January's exports went to EU countries, with Spain importing more than 175,000 tons. Two successive bumper harvests have left Britain with an excess of wheat, and the growth in exports is predicted to continue until Britain's relationship with the European Union is decided. Both sides of the Brexit debate claim long-term market benefits for grain farmers but it will take some time after the vote to determine the actual effect on the market.



The decision is expected to influence a range of related markets. The European market for seed treatment in wheat is projected to reach a value of USD 229.8 million by 2020, as noted in a recent report. This value could be higher if demand for U.K. wheat continues to grow, as British farmers will require additional resources such as seed treatment to ensure healthy and abundant crops.



The global bakery market is set to grow at a CAGR of 7.04% by 2019, as forecast in an industry report. This growth could be higher if European food producers continue to take advantage of the declining pound and heavily import British wheat.

For further information on this topic, and a full list of all related documentation, please visit the Crop Farming section at http://www.researchandmarkets.com/rm/NHKK.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-15/-brexit-debate-that-s-hurting-pound-is-a-boon-to-wheat-exports

About Research and Markets

Research and Markets is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.





Research and Markets

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 Flash

South Korea's foreign ministry on Tuesday warned of unbearable retaliations against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear threats.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuk told a regular press briefing that if Pyongyang conducts any other provocation, the DPRK will face the international community's retaliations it can no longer endure.

Cho said top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un recently ordered continued nuclear tests and a diversification of vehicles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, noting that such orders were provocative words.

South Korea and the international society will never tolerate Kim's comments, which were tantamount to declaring his willingness to continue provocations and escalate threats under a situation that the international community is sternly responding to the latest DPRK provocations, Cho noted.

The spokesman added that another DPRK provocation will lead the country to walk a path of destroying itself after facing unbearable retaliations from the international society.

Pyongyang launched a long-range rocket, which was condemned as a disguised test of ballistic missile technology, on Feb. 7 after testing what it claimed was its first hydrogen bomb on Jan. 6.

UN Security Council adopted tougher-than-ever sanctions on Pyongyang earlier this month in response to the nuclear test and rocket launch. South Korea imposed unilateral restrictions on the DPRK, including a ban on third-country ships having docked at the DPRK in the past 180 days from entering South Korean ports.

In response to the sanctions and the ongoing joint annual war games between Seoul and Washington, the DPRK made bellicose rhetoric recently, warning a "pre-emptive and offensive nuclear strike" against South Korea and the U.S. mainland.

Top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un warned of impending tests of nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles. According to the DPRK's KCNA news agency, Kim said a nuclear warhead explosion test and a test-fire of ballistic rockets capable of carrying nuclear warheads will be conducted in a short time to enhance the reliance of its nuclear attack capability.

Kim made the remarks when he guided the successful simulated test of re-entry technology needed to return a long-range missile's warhead back into atmosphere. Seoul's defense ministry said the DPRK has yet to secure such technology.

Last week, Kim said that Pyongyang has succeeded in miniaturizing nuclear warheads to fit on ballistic missiles while stressing the need for continued tests of nuclear explosions to improve nuclear attack capability.
HOUSTON, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Saudi Arabian Oil Company ("Saudi Aramco") through its wholly owned Saudi Refining Inc. ("SRI") subsidiary and Royal Dutch Shell plc ("Shell"), through its U.S. downstream affiliate, announce today they have signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to divide the assets of Motiva Enterprises LLC. The Motiva joint venture was formed in 1998 and has operated as a 50/50 refining and marketing joint venture between the parties since 2002.

In the proposed division of assets, SRI will retain the Motiva name, assume sole ownership of the Port Arthur, Texas refinery, retain 26 distribution terminals, and have an exclusive license to use the Shell brand for gasoline and diesel sales in Texas, the majority of the Mississippi Valley, the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic markets. Shell will assume sole ownership of the Norco, Louisiana refinery (where Shell operates a chemicals plant), the Convent, Louisiana refinery, nine distribution terminals, and Shell branded markets in Florida, Louisiana and the Northeastern region.

"Motiva's performance has been transformed in the last two years. We propose to combine the assets we will retain from the joint venture with Shell's other Downstream assets in North America. This is consistent with both the Group and Downstream strategy to provide simpler and more highly integrated businesses which deliver increased cash and returns," said John Abbott, Shell Downstream Director.

Abdulrahman F. Al-Wuhaib, Senior Vice President of Downstream, Saudi Aramco said: "Saudi Aramco subsidiaries and affiliates have had a presence in the U.S. for over 60 years, and the Motiva joint venture with Shell has served our downstream business objectives very well for many years. However, it is now time for the partners to pursue their independent downstream goals. The Port Arthur refinery will advance Saudi Aramco's global downstream integration strategy through supply & trading, refining and fuels marketing, chemicals and base oils. Motiva's employees will continue to be critical to fulfilling our future growth potential in the Americas, reinforcing our reliable customer service and supporting the communities where we operate. We fully support Motiva's continuing transformation journey to become an autonomous integrated downstream affiliate."

Dan Romasko, Motiva President and CEO, said: "Motiva has benefited greatly from the nearly two decades of support and resources provided by Shell and Saudi Aramco. While the parties work towards definitive agreements, Motiva will remain focused on our growth agenda, running operations in a safe, environmentally sound and efficient manner while continuing to reliably serve our customers."

Both Motiva shareholders are committed to supporting the venture during this period of transition and assuring excellent customer service and continued health, safety and environmental performance. During the period of transition, shareholder financing support arrangements for Motiva remain in place and both shareholders are committed to maintaining Motiva's balance sheet strength and liquidity.

Under the terms of the LOI, the partners will evaluate options and select an optimal deal structure with the objective of formalizing a definitive agreement to divide and transfer Motiva Enterprises LLC's assets, liabilities and employees between the companies. The companies will make a further joint announcement in due course.

Notes to the Editor:

Cooperation between the companies also includes: Saudi Aramco Shell Refinery Co. (SASREF) - a 50:50 joint venture refining enterprise at Jubail Industrial City in Saudi Arabia with a crude oil refining capacity of 305,000 bpd. Shell and Saudi Aramco also have a multiyear relationship in the Showa JV in Japan. Shell recently reached an agreement to sell shares representing a 33.24% shareholding in Showa to Idemitsu Kosan. Shell will retain a 1.80% holding in the company after completion later this year.

with a crude oil refining capacity of 305,000 bpd. Shell and Saudi Aramco also have a multiyear relationship in the Showa JV in Japan. Shell recently reached an agreement to sell shares representing a 33.24% shareholding in Showa to Idemitsu Kosan. Shell will retain a 1.80% holding in the company after completion later this year. The refining assets from Motiva which will be owned and operated by Shell include the 230,000 barrel per day Convent refinery located in St. James Parish, Louisiana and the 235,000 barrel per day Norco refinery located in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana .

refinery located in and the 235,000 barrel per day refinery located in . The refining asset from Motiva which will be owned and operated by Saudi Aramco is the 600,000 barrel per day Port Arthur refinery located in Port Arthur, Texas .

refinery located in . Distribution terminals, retail assets, branded and commercial customer agreements will be divided by geography in a way to ensure each partner has an integrated and robust business.

SRI will have exclusive use of the Shell brand through a long-term license agreement in its area of operation.

About Saudi Aramco

Saudi Aramco is a world leader in integrated energy and chemicals. We are driven by the core belief that energy is opportunity. From producing approximately one in every eight barrels of the world's crude oil supply to developing new energy technologies, our global team is dedicated to creating positive impact in all that we do. We focus on making our resources more sustainable and more useful. This promotes long-term economic growth and prosperity around the world.

www.saudiaramco.com

About Shell

Royal Dutch Shell plc, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with operations in more than 70 countries. In the U.S., Shell operates in 50 states and employs more than 20,000 people.

plc, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with operations in more than 70 countries. In the U.S., Shell operates in 50 states and employs more than 20,000 people. www.shellus.com

About Motiva Enterprises LLC

Headquartered in Houston, Texas , Motiva Enterprises LLC refines, distributes and markets petroleum products. With three refineries in the U.S. Gulf Coast region, Motiva has a combined capacity of over 1.1 million barrels per day. The company's marketing operations support a network of approximately 8,300 Shell-branded gasoline stations in the eastern and southern United States . Motiva is owned equally by affiliates of Saudi Aramco and Shell Oil Company.

, Motiva Enterprises LLC refines, distributes and markets petroleum products. With three refineries in the U.S. Gulf Coast region, Motiva has a combined capacity of over 1.1 million barrels per day. The company's marketing operations support a network of approximately 8,300 Shell-branded gasoline stations in the eastern and southern . Motiva is owned equally by affiliates of Saudi Aramco and Shell Oil Company. www.motivaenterprises.com

Enquires

Shell Media Relations International: +44 207 934 5550 Americas: +1 713 241 4544 Saudi Aramco Media Relations International: international.media@aramco.com Saudi Refining Media Relations: +1 713 432 4190 Shell Investor Relations Europe: + 31 70 377 4540 North America: +1 832 337 2034 Motiva Media Relations +1 713 427 3424

Cautionary note

The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this announcement "Shell", "Shell group" and "Royal Dutch Shell" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies. ''Subsidiaries'', "Shell subsidiaries" and "Shell companies" as used in this announcement refer to companies over which Royal Dutch Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Companies over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to "joint ventures" and companies over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as "associates". In this announcement, joint ventures and associates may also be referred to as "equity-accounted investments". The term "Shell interest" is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in a venture, partnership or company, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

This announcement contains forward-looking statements concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ''anticipate'', ''believe'', ''could'', ''estimate'', ''expect'', ''goals'', ''intend'', ''may'', ''objectives'', ''outlook'', ''plan'', ''probably'', ''project'', ''risks'', "schedule", ''seek'', ''should'', ''target'', ''will'' and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell's 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward looking statements contained in this announcement and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, March 16, 2016. Neither Royal Dutch Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.

We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this announcement that United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov. You can also obtain these forms from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

Related Links

http://www.shellus.com



SOURCE Royal Dutch Shell plc
WASHINGTON, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two-time Academy Award winning actress Sally Field spent years living in a rambling ranch house in the Malibu Hills with a swimming pool, plenty of room for her three sons and, later, her cancer-stricken mom, and a lifetime of accumulated stuff. Following the death of her mother at age 89, empty nester Field has settled into a new stage of life with a new way of thinking.

Sally Field AARP The Magazine Cover Issue

In an insightful interview with AARP The Magazine, Field discusses her early days feeling lonely at her first acting jobs and how work eventually became the most gratifying part of her life outside of family. Despite her love of acting, Field has been disappointed with how few great films have been coming along for aging actresses. Before being cast in Lincoln, Field had to fight for her role portraying Mary Todd Lincoln, a historical character 20 years younger than the actress. In her new role in the movie Hello, My Name Is Doris, Field plays a three-dimensional older female character who kisses a younger character in the movie's fantasy sequences. Field felt self-conscious about making out with New Girl actor Max Greenfield, given their 30-year difference in age.

The following are excerpts from the April/May issue of the AARP The Magazine cover story featuring Sally Field, available in homes today and online now at www.aarp.org/magazine/

On kissing much-younger actor Max Greenfield in Hello, My Name Is Doris:

"I am more than 30 years older than he is, and we do these scenes whereeven though it's supposed to be her fantasywe really did shoot those kissing scenes. I would go, 'I'm really sorry. I'm really embarrassed,' and he would go, 'Forget about it, please. No apology necessary.' We are taught as females in this country that when we have an older face or body, we should feel shame."



On the roles she is offered:

"I'm in a place in my life where stuff that comes to me is just so generic, and you're like, 'Oh-kay.' It's the mother with all the kids, and the story is really about all the kids, and the mother is just there."

On life after years of being her mother's caregiver :

"In so many ways I feel like I'm new to myself. I believe all of us, in every stage of our lives, are coming of age."

On the old adage that no one ever says on their deathbed they wish they'd worked more:

"That's bull----. That's the person who didn't want to go to work. Work was just something they had to do because it was the means with which to make money. My work has never been that."

On her love relationships:

She married young and divorced young, and then married and divorced again. "Obviously, I'm not very good at marriage," she says. She recently read Gloria Steinem's new memoir, and something Steinem wrote rang true to Field. "She said, if you never really had a productive connection with the father or fathers in your life, you have a hard time recognizing what the connection is. I don't think I have ever really understood what that connection is on a male and female level."

About AARP The Magazine

With nearly 36 million readers, AARP The Magazine is the world's largest circulation magazine and the definitive lifestyle publication for Americans 50+. AARP The Magazine delivers comprehensive content through health and fitness features, financial guidance, consumer interest information and tips, celebrity interviews, and book and movie reviews. AARP The Magazine was founded in 1958 and is published bimonthly in print and continually online. Learn more at www.aarp.org/magazine/. Twitter: twitter.com/AARP

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into 'Real Possibilities' by changing the way America defines aging. With staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and promote the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare security, financial security and personal fulfillment. AARP also advocates for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world's largest circulation magazine, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @aarp and our CEO @JoAnn_Jenkins on Twitter.

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SOURCE AARP

Related Links

http://www.aarp.org


TYSONS CORNER, Va., March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- We are pleased to announce the opening of the American Massage & Bodywork Institute (AMBI). AMBI was founded to provide an elite education to individuals who are interested in helping others achieve wellness through a career in massage therapy. With many years of combined massage and bodywork experience, the staff at AMBI is committed to ensuring that students who pass through our facility are given the most comprehensive education to start them on the best path to success. Students are educated through a unique hybrid program of hands-on bodywork experience and traditional classroom learning, supplemented by online education. AMBI is dedicated to producing the most work-ready massage therapists in the country, and to providing its alumni with the tools and resources necessary to succeed. The programs at AMBI are designed to be completed in as few as seven months!

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With America becoming more health conscious, and focused on overall wellbeing of both the mind and body, there has been a growing demand nationwide for massage therapists. According to the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the "employment of massage therapists is projected to grow 23 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Continued growth in the demand for massage services will lead to new openings for massage therapists." Massage therapy has been proven to improve circulation, relieve stress, help relieve chronic pain, and assist in healing certain injuries. Massage therapists are working in massage therapy clinics, spas, gyms, medical and chiropractic facilities, private practices, traveling practices, and physical therapy offices. With a vast array of positions available, and more appearing every day, the opportunities for properly trained massage therapists are almost limitless. Licensed massage therapists also enjoy great career portability with their ability to become licensed/certified in many different states.

"Massage therapy has become a gateway career to many people. We provide educational opportunities as a launching pad for students interested in advanced medical training such as nurses, chiropractors, physical therapists, and physician assistants. Massage therapy provides a great part-time income potential for these students while pursuing their advanced credentials to help offset some of their higher education costs. Massage therapy also provides these students with related field experience," said Scott Deidun, Co-owner, President and CEO of AMBI. "Massage therapy can also be a great second career for people who enjoy helping others feel better through the power of meaningful touch. We at AMBI encourage our students to pursue their career goals, and job placement services are provided to all of our graduates."

Those who are looking to diversify their practice also find themselves interested in massage therapy because of its in-demand nature. Personal trainers, yoga instructors, aestheticians, and dance instructors are learning to practice massage therapy to bring in new clients, and to further benefit their existing clients. Massage therapy is a fast-growing industry and there is already a shortage of licensed massage therapists to fill the current demands.

AMBI is conveniently located at 1593 Spring Hill Road, Suite 210 in Vienna. We are located on the Silver Line, two blocks from the Spring Hill Metro Station in beautiful Tysons Corner. For more information, please visit our website at www.ambimassageschool.com or call 571-620-7170 for more information on how to start yourself on the path to success with the American Massage & Bodywork Institute.

For media inquiries, please email.

AMBI is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

Media Contact

Katie Dudero

Email

571-620-7170

SOURCE American Massage & Bodywork Institute

Related Links

http://www.ambimassageschool.com


NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Captain Ds, the leading fast casual seafood restaurant, today announced the opening its newest franchised restaurant in Tuscaloosa, Al. on March 21. The restaurant is located at 760 Skyland Boulevard and will celebrate its opening with a ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m. on March 21 with members of the Tuscaloosa County Chamber, as well as other officials of the town of Tuscaloosa. This opening marks the brand's 71 location in the state, and marks the seventh location for the franchisee.

Captain D's

The new restaurant is owned and operated by Townsend Foods, Inc., which is owned by Bill and Gloria Townsend and Brian and Tammy Townsend. The Townsends have been with the brand since 2002 and currently own six locations in Alabama, Tennessee and Florida. The area manager for the Tuscaloosa market is a long time 25-year employee in Tuscaloosa, Scott O'Brien.

"We are excited to open a new Captain D's and open it in Tuscaloosa!" said Bill Townsend, Captain D's franchisee. "And, we have plans to open three additional new locations in the next four to five years. Captain D's is a great brand to grow with and we've made it a great family business! With the way Tuscaloosa loves Captain D's and the way Tuscaloosa County is growing, we could add a fourth store here in the future."

With 515 restaurants in 26 states, Captain D's is the fast-casual seafood leader and number one seafood franchise in America ranked by average unit volume. Captain D's recently unveiled a new design featuring a vibrant coastal atmosphere and upgraded the dining experience with new plate ware and silverware. Captain D's new menu, featuring several new fire-grilled items to satisfy guests' desire for lower calorie options, is brought to life with upgraded menu boards and also features several new kid's meal offerings. With these efforts, Captain D's has remained true to what it does best  serving high-quality seafood with warm hospitality at an affordable price.

Additionally, Captain D's experienced the most successful year in the company's rich history by establishing an all-time system-wide AUV record, marking the brand's third consecutive year of AUV record growth. Captain D's also saw a fourth-quarter system-wide same-store sales increase of 4 percent and a 4.3 percent system-wide same-store sales increase for the entire fiscal year, marking the company's seventeenth consecutive quarter and fifth consecutive year of positive growth.

Captain D's is currently seeking single- and multi-unit operators to join in the brand's rapid expansion. For more information about franchise opportunities, visit http://www.captaindsfranchising.com or call 800-550-4877.

ABOUT CAPTAIN D'S

Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Captain D's has 515 restaurants in 26 states, plus military bases around the world. Captain D's is the nation's leading fast casual seafood restaurant and was named the #1 seafood chain in the QSR 50, ranked by AUV. Founded in 1969, Captain D's has been offering its customers high-quality seafood at reasonable prices in a welcoming atmosphere for 45 years. Captain D's serves a widely variety of seafood that includes freshly prepared entrees and the company's signature hand-battered fish, which is cooked to order to ensure freshness. The restaurants also offer premium-quality, grilled fish, as well as shrimp, chicken, shrimp and beef kabobs, hushpuppies, desserts and freshly brewed, Southern-style sweet tea, a Captain D's favorite. For more information, please visit www.captainds.com.

Contact:

Andie Biederman

Fish Consulting

954-893-9150

[email protected]

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SOURCE Captain D's

Related Links

http://www.captainds.com


BEIJING, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Monday, March 14, at the Luohu Grand Hyatt Hotel in Shenzhen, China, the 2016 APEC SME Cross-Border E-commerce summit was held. Hosted by B2B E-commerce Marketplace DHgate.com, supported by the regional government of Luohu, Shenzhen, and endorsed by APEC. Over 1,000 individuals heard speeches from Rolf Visser, the founder and chairmen of CBEC (Cross-Border E-commerce Community), DHgate.com founder and CEO Diane Wang, and DHgate.com Vice presidents Tony Tai and TT Wang. The main topics of discussion were future trends of cross-border e-commerce around the globe, and how manufacturers can make the most of the opportunity to grow their companies. Later in the day forums were held to discuss leading product categories in cross-border e-commerce sales, tackling multilingual issues related to cross-border e-commerce, and the benefits to traditional trading companies moving online.

'ROLF VISSER'

Rolf Visser, founder and chairmen of CBEC, stressed the necessity of economies to work together in a collaborative effort and to "educate" the market wherever possible. He stressed the importance of cross-border e-commerce for future growth: "Domestic markets have become mature and saturated. Cross-border e-commerce is eventually the most logical way for future growth." He also stressed the need for the next generation of cross-border e-commerce innovation: "Educational and match making platforms are the next disrupters needed to speed up and boost Cross-border e-commerce."

Lastly, Rolf stressed the importance of engaging future customers: "The Who: we reached the turning point where 'millennials' in the age range of 18  34 (digital natives) are doing the research to long list interesting business partners."

'CROSS-BORDER E-COMMERCE COMMUNITY'

Cross-border E-commerce Community is a non-profit association which offers acquiring banks, payment service providers and their merchants' tremendous opportunities to expand their global footprint and benefit from emerging markets, once these stakeholders understand how to make cross-border ecommerce truly profitable.

'ABOUT DHgate.com'

DHgate is the oldest and the biggest transactional cross border B2B e-commerce marketplace in China. We aim to provide global buyers with quality products at competitive prices. Founded in 2004, DHgate.com has approximately 10 million global buyers from 230 countries and regions, with 1.2 million global sellers offering 33 million product listings. Our business enables buyers to directly access global manufacturers of the world's top brands with rich product selections. DHgate is an all-in-one platform with integrated services for international logistics, cross border payments, internet financing, etc. DHgate.com's US product distribution warehouses allow for 24 hour delivery and convenient product returns & refunds, bringing great convenience to US buyers at http://www.dhgate.com. For more information please e-mail [email protected] or call +86-10-8202-8870 x2398.

SOURCE DHgate.com

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http://www.dhgate.com


PHOENIX, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hastings & Hastings has saved its clients over $14,000,000 over the last nine years alone through their legendary discount accident fee.

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Hastings & Hastings has experience dealing with a wide range of accident cases, from car accidents, SUV accidents, motorcycle collisions, slip and falls, and wrongful deaths to 18-wheeler trucking accidents and dog bites.

With 11 Valley locations, Hastings & Hastings is well equipped to serve accident victims from every corner of Phoenix. Hastings & Hastings place a priority on establishing good client relations while fighting tirelessly to achieve the most favorable settlement possible.

In recent years, Hastings & Hastings has secured a $600,000 tire blow out settlement; a $190,000 go cart accident settlement; a $610,000 trucking case settlement; a $2,000,000 wrongful death settlement; a $200,000 accident with drunk driver settlement; and $550,000 on a car accident with facial injuries settlement.

At Hastings & Hastings, they understand that accidents can be life changing events. Accident victims need someone on their side; someone who can help them navigate the legal complexities surrounding accidents.

"Our philosophy focuses on care for accident victims. Every case is unique, and we keep in mind the hardship and suffering associated with our client's accident as we diligently represent them, and do all we can to secure the compensation our clients deserve," said David Hastings, the founder of Hastings and Hastings.

Hastings & Hastings success in early 2016 comes as no surprise. With an undeniable history of excellence and a commitment to client care, there is no reason to expect anything less.

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE Hastings & Hastings
ATLANTA, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Invesco Ltd. (NYSE: IVZ) will host an Investor Day meeting on Thursday, March 31, 2016, at the New York Stock Exchange beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET. This event will also be made available via a simultaneous Web cast on the Investor Relations section of Invesco's Web site at www.invesco.com.

The slides to be used during the presentation will be available on the Investor Relations section of the company Web site at www.invesco.com approximately one and one half hours before the call.

About Invesco Ltd.

Invesco Ltd. is a leading independent global investment management firm, dedicated to helping investors worldwide achieve their financial objectives. By delivering the combined power of our distinctive investment management capabilities, Invesco provides a wide range of investment strategies and vehicles to our clients around the world. Operating in more than 20 countries, the firm is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol IVZ. Additional information is available at www.invesco.com.

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SOURCE Invesco Ltd.

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CENTER VALLEY, Pa., March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympus, a global technology leader in designing and delivering innovative solutions for medical and surgical procedures, among other core businesses, today unveiled VISERA 4K UHD System, its state-of-the art Big Screen surgical system, at the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) 2016 Annual meeting in Boston.

Olympus' VISERA 55-inch primary operative display transforms minimally invasive surgery into an immersive experience by bringing the entire surgical team into the operation.

The VISERA 4K UHD System delivers four times the resolution of HD with better light and wider color spectrum, promising to help surgeons operate with increased precision and confidence. The only fully integrated 4K imaging chain available for healthcare use, VISERA 4K UHD allows operating room (OR) personnel to get closer to the operating field as they view cases live on a 55-inch operative display that magnifies anatomical features to deliver more visual information to the entire surgical team.

While bringing more efficiency to the hospital, it has also been shown that minimally invasive surgery can provide significant improvements in morbidity and mortality over open surgery, with benefits to patients including less post-operative pain and faster recuperation.



VISERA 4K UHD, the first of many products from the Sony Olympus Medical Solutions joint-venture, is now transforming healthcare by enhancing minimally-invasive surgery in a range of surgical specialties including general surgery, gastroenterology, gynecology, thoracic and urology for an estimated 20 million procedures annually. Olympus' first customers began using VISERA 4K UHD during the first week of March 2016.

"The color and contrast in the Olympus 4K image provides superb clarity, unlike any operative video image I have seen before," said Dr. Ninh Nguyen, Professor and Interim Chair, Department of Surgery at the University of California Irvine Medical Center.i "The image is so clear that I was able to see down to the capillary level. [Seeing the capillary level] is important for improved dissection of tissue and evaluating the perfusion of the tissue."

Benefits of the Integrated VISERA 4K UHD System:

The VISERA 4K UHD System was created to address unmet needs in surgical imaging by improving the visual elements essential for laparoscopic and arthroscopic surgery  light, color and resolution  via an optimized 4K imaging chain that works seamlessly together to improve visibility.

Light

To improve visibility, the VISERA 4K UHD System provides additional light to illuminate bleeding in surgical fields, visualize deep surgical cavities and enhance the viewing experience of a 5 mm telescope.

VISERA 4K UHD's advantages include:

Enabling advanced multi-quadrant procedures (5 mm)

Enhancing procedures with challenging access (5 mm)

Structure enhancement allows clearer recognition of human tissue

Providing compatibility with narrow band imaging

Color

Current surgical imaging technology offers only limited intra-operative color enhancement for identifying anatomical structures and for precise tissue delineation.

VISERA 4K UHD's advantages include:

Reproducing more vivid shades of red and yellow for better visualization

Allowing surgeons to observe fine patterns and structures in high precision

Delivering higher contrast levels with more detailed visualization to support greater accuracy

Higher Resolution

Current surgical imaging platforms do not allow for the level of magnification that can be experienced with Olympus 4K imaging.

The VISERA 4K UHD System:

Creates high-resolution images to help physicians identify fine patterns and anatomical structures

Creates an immersive experience through a reduced viewing distance and large format primary operative display

"With the introduction of the VISERA 4K UHD System, we launch a new chapter in the evolution of minimally invasive surgery  the era of Big Screen Surgery," said Todd Usen, President, Olympus Medical Systems Group at Olympus Corporation of the Americas. "Olympus is committed to ensuring that as the tools and techniques for minimally-invasive surgery evolve, we achieve commensurate progress in creating imaging solutions that approximate the direct view of open surgery. By working closely with OR teams around the world, and our partner Sony who brings the most advanced electronics, Olympus is proud to provide our US customers with the VISERA 4K UHD system for the ultimate visibility and clarity during surgery."

Each component of the VISERA 4K UHD System is built specifically for it by Sony Olympus Medical Solutions to ensure highest quality, control and cohesiveness of the unit. For more detailed information and full list of the VISERA 4K UHD System please visit medical.olympusamerica.com/products/VISERA-4K-UHD-System.

About Sony Olympus Medical Solutions

As a supplier of a complete range of endoscopes, Olympus has long been engaged in the development, manufacture and sales of endoscopy products for surgical use. Sony has a long history of state-of-the-art digital imaging offerings. In 2013 the joint venture Sony Olympus Medical Solutions was formed with the aim of contributing to advances in the medical field by developing improved endoscope systems that draw on Sony's state-of-the-art digital imaging technologies and know-how, especially for 4K imaging, as well as Olympus' lenses and other optical technologies and its experience in medical equipment manufacture and development.

About Olympus Medical Systems Group

Olympus Medical Systems Group, a division of global technology leader Olympus, develops solutions for healthcare professionals that help improve clinical outcomes, reduce overall costs and enhance quality of life for their patients. By enabling less invasive procedures, innovative diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, and early stage lung cancer evaluation and treatments, Olympus is transforming the future of healthcare.

For more information, visit Olympus at medical.olympusamerica.com.

i Dr. Ninh Nguyen is a paid consultant of Olympus.

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SOURCE Olympus Medical Systems Group

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STAMFORD, Conn., March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PASSUR Aerospace, Inc. (OTC: PSSR), a business intelligence, predictive analytics, and big data company, announced that an additional six airports have contracted to join the PASSUR Connectivity and Collaboration network, which provides close coordination and information sharing between airlines and airports, used to manage complex or disrupted operations and to reduce costs and passenger disruptions. The six airports are Ted Stevens Anchorage International (ANC), Reagan Washington National (DCA), Cleveland Hopkins International (CLE), Fairbanks International (FAI), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL), and Tampa International (TPA).

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This real time platform makes airports active partners in managing expensive, complex operations, such as major storms, large events, and peak congestion, enabling communication and collaboration with surrounding airports, over 125 airlines, as well as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Liaison Desk at the FAA Command Center to speed up proactive decision making and event recovery.

"When we can get the air navigation service provider, the operator, and the airport all sharing information in real time, it removes any misunderstandings. [The PASSUR Platform] allows everybody to share in the same situational awareness, which in the end equates to efficiency," said Bill Murphy, IATA Assistant Director, FAA Command Center (Airport Improvement Magazine, March/April 2015).

"To the airlines, time is money," explained Kyle Scapple, Airside Operations, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (Airport Improvement Magazine, March/April 2015). "Every time an aircraft is delayed, they're losing money. What the airport can do is get the key information as timely as possible to benefit their operation."

Rob Kelley, Manager, Airport Operations Control Center (AOCC), Broward County Aviation Department, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, stated, "PASSUR has become an excellent tool to meet our goal of providing consistent and timely two-way communications within our own organization, and between us and our stakeholders."

When airports subscribe to PASSUR Airport Communicator or PASSUR OPSnet, they are automatically enrolled in the IATA Tactical Operations Portal (ITOP) platform, provided by PASSUR to IATA to support IATA's Liaison Desk service, managed from the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center.

The PASSUR Connectivity and Collaboration platform has been instrumental in successfully managing several major events over the past few years, resulting in a quicker return to regular operations, fewer disruptions to passengers, and cost savings to airlines.

The newest release of the platform, PASSUR Airport Communicator, further enhances seamless communication and coordination through mobile-device compatibility, greater user configurability, and new airport-directed content management.

Local, National, and Global Collaborative Decision-Making Platform

PASSUR Airport Information Network (AIN) creates a single, centralized, and standardized resource to manage information sharing during normal activities, as well as during severe disruptions in the National Airspace, and includes centralized access to all PASSUR Airport Communicator and PASSUR OPSnet sites. The IATA Tactical Operations Portal (ITOP) provides airlines worldwide the ability to minimize same-day constraints in the US by providing access to critical information about US operations, expert traffic management support, and updates on the US National Airspace System (NAS)  all on a single, live, collaborative portal managed by IATA. Together these resources address the industry's need for a collaborative platform where all stakeholders  airports, airlines, corporate aviation, ATC, ground handlers, and other support services  are united on a common operating platform and share the same timely and accurate information.

About PASSUR Aerospace, Inc.

PASSUR Aerospace is a leading business intelligence company, providing predictive analytics and decision support technology for the aviation industry, primarily to improve the operational performance and cash flow of airlines and the airports where they operate. PASSUR Aerospace's information solutions are used by the largest five North American airlines, over 60 airport customers (including 22 of the top 30 North American airports), more than 200 corporate aviation customers, and the US government. PASSUR Aerospace owns and operates the largest commercial passive radar network in the world that provides aircraft position updates every 1 to 4.6 seconds, powering a proprietary database that is accessible in real time and delivers timely and accurate information and solutions via PASSUR's industry-leading algorithms and business logic included in its products. Visit PASSUR Aerospace's website at www.passur.com for updated products, solutions, and news.

The forward-looking statements in this press release, including statements relating to management's expectations and beliefs, are based on preliminary information and management assumptions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a wide range of risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ in material respects, including risks and uncertainties related to customer needs, budgetary constraints, competitive pressures, the success of airline trials, the profitable use of PASSUR Aerospace's owned PASSURs located at major airports, PASSUR Aerospace's maintenance of above average quality of its product and services, as well as potential regulatory changes. Further information regarding factors that could affect PASSUR Aerospace's results are contained in PASSUR Aerospace's SEC filings, including the October 31, 2015 Form 10-K and January 31, 2016 Form 10-Q. PASSUR Aerospace undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available, or other events occur in the future.

Contact: Ron Dunsky

SVP Marketing and Business Development

(203) 622-4086

Email

SOURCE PASSUR Aerospace, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.passur.com


ATLANTA, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM) announced today production of a zero net energy (ZNE) home prototype in Northern California, becoming the largest builder to participate in a pilot aimed at building new homes to achieve maximum energy efficiency and utility grid load reduction.

Pulte Zero Net Energy Prototype

"The Pulte ZNE prototype will help guide and create best practices for the Company in building more energy efficient new homes in California and, ultimately, across the nation," said Ryan Marshall, president of PulteGroup. "Our goal for this prototype is to help define the most efficient path to building zero net energy homes that effectively balance constructability, cost and quality."

The Pulte ZNE home prototype embraces California's long-term zero net energy goals by leveraging advanced design, construction and on-site renewable energy solutions. The home's design combines airtight building methods, highly efficient insulation, HVAC, lighting technologies and more, with on-site solar energy production to offset the home's energy consumption. Pulte is participating in Pacific Gas and Electric Company's (PG&E) Zero Net Energy Production Builder Demonstration program that supports California's energy efficiency and climate goals for all new residential construction to be zero net energy by 2020.

"California is clearly leading the charge on zero net energy, and we believe this is an opportunity to harness the lessons learned with our building partners so we can offer consumers the ultimate combination of affordability, quality and energy efficiency in the future," Marshall said. "We are already developing plans for future zero net prototypes."

A ZNE home or building is one designed with the goal of producing as much energy as it uses during a year. To cope with fluctuations in demand, ZNE homes are typically connected to the grid, exporting electricity when there is a surplus, and drawing electricity when not enough is being produced. Construction of the prototype in Botanica by Pulte Homes in Brentwood is expected to be complete in May 2016. The energy performance of the home will be monitored for a year after it is sold, and overall energy performance and consumption will be evaluated.

The ZNE project is a collaboration with many key partners, including solar power provider SolarCity, building materials producer Owens Corning, and heating/cooling systems provider, Lennox. "These companies are committed to offering the most innovative, renewable and affordable solutions that improve the lives of Pulte homebuyers and the world we live in," Marshall said.

About PulteGroup, Inc.

PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), based in Atlanta, is one of America's largest homebuilding companies with operations in approximately 50 markets throughout the country. Through its brand portfolio that includes Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, the company is one of the industry's most versatile homebuilders able to meet the needs of multiple buyer groups and respond to changing consumer demand. PulteGroup conducts extensive research to provide homebuyers with innovative solutions and consumer inspired homes and communities to make lives better.

For more information on Pulte Zero Net Energy, go to bit.ly/PulteZNE; #PulteZeroNet.

For more information about PulteGroup, Inc. and PulteGroup brands, go to pultegroupinc.com; www.pulte.com; www.centex.com; www.delwebb.com; www.divosta.com and www.jwhomes.com. Follow PulteGroup, Inc. on Twitter: @PulteGroupNews.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160316/345043-INFO

SOURCE PulteGroup, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.pulte.com


INDIANAPOLIS, March 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Raw Paws Pet Food really got excited when a pet industry blogger was recently featured in People Magazine for Pets.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160315/344595

The gist of the story is that pet parents can dramatically improve their pets' health through nutrition. And, since Raw Paws Pet Food is America's leader in Raw Pet Foods, Grain-free Kibble, Freeze-dried Meals and Natural treats - the company wanted to spread the word. In fact, Raw Paws will help you customize a meal plan that is perfect for each of your pets.

"We have great anecdotal stories on our website, Facebook, Twitter and emails from 'Pet Parents' whose lives were changed by the advancement of their pets' health through nutrition. Please visit our website to learn more - www.rawpawspetfood.com," said Shelli McDonald, owner of Raw Paws Pet Food.

Lastly, it's one of the reasons why Amazon.com has been so successful selling Raw Paws Pet Food. "We have been partnering with them on our natural treats - and, the customer feedback has been phenomenal," said McDonald. Again, all aspects of nutrition can help pets have active healthy lives.

"We truly look forward to working with you."

Media Contact:

Raw Paws Pet Food

5601 Fortune Circle South P

Indianapolis, IN 46241

3175099811

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE Raw Paws Pet Food

Related Links

http://www.rawpawspetfood.com


MALIBU, Calif., March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A private screening and reception of REMAND will be held on April 12th at the Historic Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, CA.

REMAND, a Revolution Pictures film, is a heartfelt and true story of the transformation of Uganda's criminal justice program that was sparked by one man's quest for justice on behalf of a juvenile prisoner. This is the film about the power of an idea. The audience will look deep into the faces of despair through the eyes of twelve law students as they meet several prisoners in their darkest hours, and watch as the story unfolds and leads to dramatic change in the criminal justice system of an entire country.

The Global Justice Program at the Pepperdine University School of Law provides law students and lawyers with a unique opportunity to have a direct impact on the justice system in the developing world. "Our program imbeds law students in numerous judicial systems around the world for summer internships and connects practicing lawyers with a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to influence the development of the law in underdeveloped nations," say Pepperdine Professor Jim Gash, who directs the Program.

Numerous international news outlets, including the BBC and Washington Post, have shared with their readership the captivating story of REMAND'S human transformation and structural reform within a country's justice system.

To view the trailer on BBC Click Here.

To view the BBC article Click Here.

To view the Washington Post article Click Here.

Guests will be welcomed at a reception catered by Alex Peyton Events in The Egyptian Theatre courtyard beginning at 7pm with the introduction and screening to follow in the majestic Egyptian main theatre at 8pm.

Event Information:

April 12th 2016, 7pm

THE EGYPTIAN THEATRE

6712 Hollywood Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90028

Parking adjacent to the Theatre

For information visit our website:

http://remandfilm.com/

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE REMAND Film

Related Links

http://remandfilm.com


LAS VEGAS, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Transbeam, Inc., a managed service provider of carrier-grade Data, Voice, Cloud, and Professional IT Services, announced the launch of a Fixed Wireless Solution in the greater New York Metro area. The service adds an alternate high speed Ethernet service delivered through digital microwave technology offering faster install times adding to Transbeam's existing data service lineup.

Transbeam has invested in building their own Fixed Wireless network initially in New York City with additional markets planned in the future. The service is a reliable and affordable solution for enterprise customers that need fast installation times combined with the same scalable and secure characteristics as Transbeam's traditional copper or fiber optic solutions. "Our new fixed wireless service is a strategic move for Transbeam to give our channel and wholesale partners a reliable broadband solution that can be installed quickly," stated Avner Nebel, Chief Operating Officer for Transbeam. "Additionally, since the hospitality and events markets are our special focus, having our own fixed wireless network gives us a competitive advantage and rounds-out our array of data services that we currently offer to businesses," added Nebel.

Transbeam's Fixed Wireless solution can be used as a more cost-efficient primary broadband solution or can be used as a backup solution with speeds ranging from 20 megabit per second up to 10 Gigabit per second.

Transbeam is currently presenting their new Fixed Wireless service and other enterprise-carrier grade data and voice solutions to their partners this week at Channel Partners Spring in Las Vegas. For more information about Transbeam, visit www.transbeam.com.

About Transbeam

Transbeam is a nationwide managed services provider of MPLS solutions, Carrier Grade Ethernet, Fiber, Hosted PBX service, Cloud solutions, and Temporary WiFi for Events backed by our next generation network and Intelligent Network Monitoring service. Transbeam offers one bill to manage all network needs for multi-site enterprises via our nationwide reach and strategic carrier interconnections. Our U.S. Based Network Operations Center (NOC) provides one call resolutions with certified technicians on hand. For more information visit www.transbeam.com.

Transbeam Media Contact:

Paula Como Kauth

Director, Marketing

[email protected] | Phone: 646.560.8106

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE Transbeam, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.transbeam.com


New Delhi, March 11 : Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday said 97 percent adult Indians now have an Aadhaar card and that the bill introduced by him in the Lok Sabha will go a long way in ensuring government subsidies and services directly reach the beneficiaries in entirety.

Initiating a debate on the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016, that was introduced by him in the lower house on March 3, 2016, Jaitley assured members that details provided for the card will not misused in any manner.

The bill intends to give legal teeth to the government in providing services to those residing in India by assigning them unique identity numbers, called Aadhaar. It will be given to every person who has stayed in India for 182 days in the one year preceding the date of application.

Jaitley also defended the move to turn it into a money bill, as the opposition Congress objected. The party's floor leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the previous one piloted by his party-led regime in 2010 did not term it as one.

Kharge alleged the government intented to call it a money bill, motivated by an apprehension that the draft legislation may face hurdles in the Rajya Sabha, where the ruling coalition does not enjoy a majority.

But Jaitley said the new bill is "unlike" the previous one moved by the Manmohan Singh government in 2010. The finance minister said its core focus was on the money the government will spend for beneficiaries and not a mere identification document.

"This bill deals with one primary focus and that is: Whoever gets benefit from the Consolidated Fund of India, either state government or the Centre and other institutions -- the person is entitled to have an Aadhaar card."

Regarding the coverage, he said 67 percent children are also enrolled and that 5-7 lakh people are being added to the system each day.

Among the other features of the bill, it calls for the government to ask a person to apply for one if he does not have an Aadhaar number, while providing an alternative means of identification. The card can be used as proof of identity, for not as a proof of citizenship or domicile.

Jaitley said the Aadhaar number will not be misused since the overseeing authority can respond to an authentication query only with a positive, negative or other appropriate response. He said it is not permitted to share the biometric attributes. These include finger prints and iris scans.

The details can be shared only under two circumstances: National security and court order.

The bill also calls for an imprisonment of up to three years and the minimum fine of Rs.10 lakh on a person for extending unauthorised access to the centralised data-base -- or for revealing any information stored in it.
Mumbai, March 11 : A nomination in the Best Actress Critics' Choice category at the second edition of Times of India Film Awards (TOIFA) was "unexpected" and a "great surprise" for Kalki Koechlin, who says it's because she "rarely gets nominated".

"I never expected a nomination as I rarely get nominated. So yes, being nominated for TOIFA 2016 is a great surprise," Kalki said in a statement.

Kalki portrayed a physically challenged character discovering her sexuality in "Margarita, with a Straw", which was directed by director duo Shonali Bose and Nilesh Maniyar.

The TOIFA 2016 awards ceremony will be held in Dubai on March 18, where celebrated names like Ranveer Singh, Amitabh Bachchan and Anushka Sharma will be awarded for their contribution to Hindi Cinema.
New Delhi, March 11 : The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Aadhaar bill to give legal teeth to the government in ensuring its subsidies and services reach the intended beneficiaries directly, thereby going beyond the scheme's current mandate of merely assigning a unique identity to residents.

The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016, was passed by the Lok Sabha with voice vote after a brief debate, during which Finance Minister Arun Jaitley assured the house that details provided for the card will not be misused in any manner.

When enacted, the bill will empower the government in providing targeted services to the intended beneficiaries by assigning them unique identity numbers, called Aadhaar. It will be given to every person who has stayed in India for 182 days in the year preceding the date of application.

During the debate, Jaitley said there is an "element of urgency" in passing the bill and urged the Congress party not to oppose or "even delay" its passage. All amendments to the bill moved by members of opposition parties were either defeated or withdrawn.

"Learning from the experience, we have improved upon the idea," Jaitley said and also maintained that the bill should also not be delayed by sending it to any parliamentary panel. "We have gone through it for seven years," he said.

Jaitley also said the bill tabled by the previous government in 2010 did not conceive the purpose of such a unique identification. This, he added, evoked public debate -- and even in courts -- on the intended legislation trespassing on the rights of citizens.

Biju Janata Dal member Tatagatha Sathpathy, who represents Dhenkanal constituency in Odisha, said he and his party were opposing it. But Jaitley rejected his apprehensions that Aadhaar card can be misused for "ethnic cleansing".

The finance minister also defended the move to turn it into a money bill, even as the opposition Congress objected to the move. The party's floor leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the previous one piloted by his party-led regime in 2010 did not term it as one.

Kharge also alleged the government intented to call it a money bill, motivated by an apprehension that the draft legislation may face hurdles in the Rajya Sabha, where the ruling coalition does not enjoy a majority.

But Jaitley said the new bill is "unlike" the previous one moved by the Manmohan Singh government in 2010. The finance minister said its core focus was on the money the government will spend for beneficiaries and not a mere identification document.

"This bill deals with one primary focus and that is: Whoever gets benefit from the Consolidated Fund of India, either state government or the Centre and other institutions -- the person is entitled to have an Aadhaar card."

Regarding the coverage, Jaitley said 97 percdnt of adult Indians now have an Aadhaar card, while 67 percent children also have been enrolled for it. He added that 5-7 lakh people are being added to the system each day.

Among the other features of the bill, it calls for the government to ask a person to apply for one if he does not have an Aadhaar number, while providing alternative means of identification in the interim.

The card can be used as proof of identity, but not as a proof of citizenship or domicile.

Jaitley said the Aadhaar number will not be misused since the overseeing authority can respond to an authentication query only with a positive, negative or other appropriate response. He said it is not permitted to share the biometric attributes. These include finger prints and iris scans.

The details can be shared only under two circumstances: National security and court order.

The bill also calls for an imprisonment of up to three years and the minimum fine of Rs.10 lakh on a person for extending unauthorised access to the centralised data-base -- or for revealing any information stored in it.

Jaitley also made a strong case for streamling the country's subsidy regime. "Subsidies should be targeted," he said, "Those who are undeserving should be phased out." He said the system, under which earlier he himself got subsidies for kerosene, needed to be corrected.
Bengaluru, March 11 : The Karnataka government on Friday seized 62 two-wheeler taxis belonging to app-based cab aggregator Uber for violating the Motor Vehicles Act and continuing to operate without requisite permission.

"We have seized 62 Uber bikes (two-wheeler taxis, uberMOTO) today (Friday) for operating illegally. We will take stern action against them (Uber) in accordance with the Motor Vehicles Act.," Karnataka Transport Commissioner Rame Gowda told IANS.

Gowda pointed out that white number plated uberMOTO two-wheelers do not comply with the rules and the drivers also lack a badge which a commercial vehicle driver should have.

The transport commissioner clarified that any commercial vehicle must first make an application to the Road Transport Authority (RTA) in their respective district or area to start business operations.

He said a committee including the deputy commissioner of a particular district or area as the chairman, RTO as the secretary and SP or DCP as the member will consider the application and deal with it according to the requirement.

"Without doing all these things, it is an illegal operation. Everybody should know what they (Uber) are doing, what business they are doing, how they are conducting," said Gowda.

"Let them follow the rules, we are not coming in their way. It should be transparent. If anything goes wrong ultimately who is responsible. It is not fair on their (Uber) part," Gowda told IANS.

On being asked if there would be any monetary penalty on Uber, Gowda said the court will decide.

According to media reports, Uber's rival Ola stopped its version of two-wheeler taxis Ola Bike which was also confirmed by Gowda leading to only Uber two-wheeler taxis being seized on Friday.

Despite several attempts by IANS to elicit the reasons for halting the two-wheeler taxi services and whether it received a notice from the government, Ola did not respond.

Interestingly, IANS succeeded in booking and cancelling an Uber two-wheeler taxi from the Bengaluru Press Club near Cubbon Park in the heart of the city.

The app confirmed a bike taxi to IANS reporter being operated by one Harish using a Bajaj Platina motorcycle to deliver the service.

On being asked if Uber informed the driver that the two-wheeler taxi service he is listed for is currently illegal, Harish, the bike driver said: "Uber did not inform me that the service is illegal."

He disconnected the call on being questioned further while Uber did not respond to IANS despite several attempts.

Uber and Ola launched pilot on-demand two-wheeler taxi services uberMOTO and Ola Bike, respectively, on March 3. Ola Bike later stopped its services and even removed the option to book a bike taxi on its app.

uberMOTO's minimum fare is pegged at Rs.15 per km followed by Rs.3 per km and Re.1 per minute of travel.
Beijing, March 12 : The growth targets China has set for this year and the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20) can be realised through improving domestic demand, consumption and innovation, without big stimulus, the country's central bank governor said on Saturday.

"China will stick to the prudent monetary policy," Xinhua quoted Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), as saying on the sidelines of the national legislature's annual session.

China's growth target for 2016 is in the range of 6.5 percent and seven percent, while that for years leading to 2020 is above 6.5 percent.

These are "anticipatory targets", which are made on the basis of China's growth trajectory in the past and its growth potential in the future, Zhou said.

China seeks growth by relying more on domestic demand, as the old growth driver of exports loses steam and is not able to contribute to the economic growth the way it used to, Zhou said.

China has no intention of manipulating its currency rate to stimulate exports, he added.

With the improvement in domestic demand, consumption and innovation, the growth targets are attainable without resorting to stimulus.

Yi Gang, PBOC vice governor, added that China's reform and opening-up drive will unleash more growth momentum.

In the event of global and domestic financial turbulence, however, Zhou said that China's monetary policy will be flexible.
Panaji, March 12 : The Opposition on Saturday collectively condemned Goa Governor Mridula Sinha's decision to grant assent to the controversial amendment to the state tree Act that de-recognises the coconut palm as a tree.

"With one stroke of a signature, the governor has made herself party to the destruction of Goa's environment and identity. It is ironical, that the de-recognition of our kalpvruksha coconut palm as a tree happened when a party which professes in the cause of Hindu religion is in power," Independent opposition legislator Vijai Sardesai told a joint press conference in Panaji.

The press meet was attended by other opposition legislators, including those from the Congress party.

The controversial amendment to the Goa, Daman and Diu Protection of Trees Act, which de-recognises the coconut palm as a tree, was passed by the assembly in January.

It was formally accorded assent by the governor earlier this week, according to chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar.

The opposition and environmentalists have slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition government for supporting the bill which, they say, will facilitate "mass massacre of coconut trees in the state".

The legislators of the ruling coalition said the amendment would allow farmers to cut old and non productive trees without red tape.

The opposition also alleged that the amendment was made to facilitate easy clearing of coconut groves, a common sight in Goa, to make way for real estate development.

Green activists have been meeting Governor Sinha to apprise her of their concerns.

The Congress has said that if voted to power in the 2017 assembly elections, it would accord the status of 'state tree' to the coconut palm.
Hyderabad, March 13 : A city court here has issued non-bailable warrants against now defunct Kingfisher Airlines chairman Vijay Mallya and chief financial officer A.Raghunath in an alleged cheating case.

The 14th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate G.S. Ramesh Kumar directed police to produce Mallya in court by April 13.

The liquor baron is currently in Britain.

The court issued the NBW on a petition filed by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. seeking prosecution of Mallya for defaulting on payments and cheating the company by issuing cheques that bounced.

The airport officials had filed 11 cases against Kingfisher for non-payment of dues to the tune of Rs.8 crore.

Cheques issued for Rs.50 lakh had bounced and a case in this connection was filed against him under provisions of the Negotiable Instruments Act.

The court had issued warrants against Mallya, the CFO and the company's authorised signatory, asking them to appear before it on March 10. However, none of them appeared.

When the matter came up for hearing on Saturday, Mallya's lawyer pleaded for exemption from appearence for some more time.

The GMR lawyer opposed the plea on the ground that it is not a routine case.

The lawyer also brought to notice of the court that there are indications that Mallya had left the country despite a lookout notice being issued. He cited a statement made by the attorney general in the Supreme Court a day earlier about Mallya's flight from the country.
Bhubaneswar, March 13 : The budget session of the Odisha assembly -- beginning on March 15 -- is expected to see the opposition Congress and the BJP raising issues like irregularities in distribution of ration cards and the alleged nexus of ruling BJD leaders with criminals.

The BJD said it was ready to counter the opposition by raising the issue of low central grants.

"We will raise issues affecting the common people. While law and order has deteriorated, several BJD leaders have links with criminals. Besides, the potato crisis and farmer issues will be raised in the budget session," said BJP president and legislative party leader Basant Panda.

Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra of the Congress said irregularities in distribution of ration cards under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), and law and order problems would be raised.

The government said it was ready to discuss any issue raised by the opposition.

"We are ready to discuss the issues to be raised by the opposition parties. The party (BJD) will finalise its strategy in a meeting on Monday," said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh.

Government chief whip Ananta Das said Odisha's share in devolution of funds was reduced by the 14th Finance Commission even though it increased the overall share of states from 32 percent to 42 percent.

The BJD would also come up with issues like failure of the central government to curb price rise, demand of special category status for Odisha and no central assistance for celebrating the birth centenary year of late former chief minister Biju Patnaik.
Kathmandu, March 14 : The 37th meeting of the Saarc Council of Ministers began on Monday in Nepal's lake city of Pokhara.

To take part in the meeting, External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj will arrive here on Wednesday while Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar will arrive on Tuesday.

Both will meet Nepal government political leaders, including Prime Minister K.P. Oli, and senior officials.

Six foreign ministers of the Saarc member states are participating in the regional meeting which is also called Mini Summit.

Meetings of programme committee at joint secretary- and foreign secretary-levels were scheduled to take place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Saarc Secretary General Arjun Bahadur Thapa inaugurated the meeting.

All visiting dignitaries and officials will be flown to Pokhara directly from Kathmandu on a special flight operated by the Nepal Army.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Hekmat Khalil Karzai and Pakistan Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz will also participate in the meeting.

The meeting convenes ahead of the upcoming Saarc Summit which also sets the tone for the summit meeting.

The date of the 19th Saarc summit meeting, to be held in Pakistan, is expected to be announced at the Council of Ministers meeting which will also appoint a new Saarc secretary general.

At present, Nepal's Arjun Bahadur Thapa is the secretary general.

Prime Minister Oli will inaugurate the ministerial meeting on Thursday in Pokhara. He will be meeting visiting foreign ministers from the member states, including India's Sushma Swaraj.
Islamabad, March 14 : Pakistan Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz is expected to meet Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in Nepal, sources said on Monday.

Quoting diplomatic sources, Express News reported that India and Pakistan were exploring the possibility of a meeting between Sushma Swaraj and Aziz and also between the foreign secretaries of the two countries in the Nepali tourist city of Pokhara.

Aziz and Swaraj will be in Pokhara for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting on March 16 and 17.

"Sartaj Aziz will meet Foreign Ministers of Saarc Countries on the sidelines of the Saarc Council of Ministers' meeting on 17 March 2016 in Nepal," a foreign ministry release here said.

"Aziz will extend Sharif's formal invitation to their respective Heads of State/Heads of Government for the 19th Saarc Summit, being hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad this year," it added.

The efforts to resume the India-Pakistan Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue hit a deadlock after the terror attack on Pathankot airbase that India has said was carried out by militants from Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad militant group.

Sources said Aziz and Sishma Swaraj, if they meet, will discuss the possibility of an interaction between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi later this month in Washington.

The two prime ministers are scheduled to travel to the United States later this month to attend a nuclear security summit to be hosted by US President Barack Obama.
Washington, March 16 : NASA's John H Glenn Research Centre is going to light a "large scale fire" in space as part of an experiment that seeks to understand how fire spreads in a micro-gravity environment.

Called the Spacecraft Fire Experiment (Saffire), the experiment on board the next Orbital/ATK Cygnus cargo mission will begin after the unmanned resupply vehicle will undock the International Space Station (ISS) after dropping key science supplies.

"Saffire I, II, and III will launch separately in 2016 aboard resupply missions to the ISS. But they will not be unloaded and after the Orbital/ATK Cygnus pulls far away from the space station, the experiments will begin," NASA Glenn said in a YouTube video.

The fire will take place in a box full of "cotton-fiberglass composite" and the data generated from the experiment will be beamed back to Earth before Cygnus starts re-entry.

Instruments on the returning Cygnus will measure flame growth, oxygen use and more.

NASA scientists know that flames can be erratic in space but they don't fully understand their properties and mechanics, Tech Insider reported.

Come March 22 and NASA's commercial partner Orbital ATK will launch its Cygnus spacecraft into orbit atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket for its fifth contracted resupply mission to the International Space Station.

The flight, known as Orbital ATK CRS-6, will deliver investigations to the space station to study fire, meteors, regolith, adhesion, and 3D printing in microgravity.

Results could determine microgravity flammability limits for several spacecraft materials, help to validate NASA's material selection criteria, and help scientists understand how microgravity and limited oxygen affect flame size.

A less heated investigation called "Meteor Composition Determination" will enable the first space-based observations of meteors entering Earth's atmosphere from space.

From grounded to gripping, another investigation launching takes its inspiration from small lizards.

The "Gecko Gripper" investigation tests a gecko-adhesive gripping device that can stick on command in the harsh environment of space.
New York, March 16 : Researchers have discovered why it is important to stay clam before taking any big decision in life. Anxiety disrupts brain activity that supports decision-making, says a study.

Anxiety disengages a region of the brain called the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which is critical for flexible decision making, the findings showed.

By monitoring the activity of neurons in the PFC while anxious rats had to make decisions about how to get a reward, the scientists made two observations.

First, anxiety leads to bad decisions when there are conflicting distractors present. Second, bad decisions under anxiety involve numbing of PFC neurons.

The data indicates that anxiety has an exquisitely selective effect on neuronal activity that supports decision making, said lead author of the study Bita Moghaddam, professor at University of Pittsburgh in the US.

The study was published in The Journal of Neuroscience.

The researchers monitored the activity of a large number of neurons as rats made decisions about which choice was most optimal for receiving a reward.

They compared behavior and neuronal activity in two groups: one group that had a placebo injection and another that got a low dose of an anxiety-inducing drug.

As with many people who suffer from anxiety but go through day-to-day life and make decisions, the anxious rats completed the decision-making task and, actually, did not do too badly.

But they made far more mistakes when the correct choice involved ignoring distracting information.

"A brain locus of vulnerability for these anxiety-induced mistakes was a group of cells in the PFC that specifically coded for choice. Anxiety weakened the coding power of these neurons," Moghaddam noted.

This better understanding of the brain mechanics behind anxiety and decision making could lead to better treatment of anxiety in people and, subsequently, better outcomes in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, she said.
Pyongyang, March 16 : US student Otto Frederick Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour for anti-North Korea crimes, the Supreme Court of North Korea said on Wednesday.

Warmbier, 21, was a student of finance from the University of Virginia. He confessed to committing the crimes of trying to take down a political slogan from a hotel, Xinhua reported.

The sentence of hard labour is being served starting from February 4, and the ruling was unappealable, the court said.

Warmbier on January 1 attempted to take down a political slogan which inspired people's love for North Korea from a staff-only area at Yanggakdo International Hotel, where he stayed during his tour to Pyongyang.

But the slogan was too heavy to carry. It dropped to the ground after Warmbier took it down from the wall.

Warmbier escaped from the scene. He was arrested and detained by the authorities at Pyongyang International Airport on January 2.

He was charged with following the US hostile policy against North Korea and undermining the unity of the country's people.

Warmbier was quoted as saying that the task was given by the Friendship United Methodist Church, at the encouragement of the Z Society and at the connivance of the US government, with the objective of undermining the unity of North Korean people and eventually overthrowing its system.

"The aim was to harm the work ethics and motivation of North Korean people," Warmbier said, adding that he was used and manipulated by the church and the Z society.

The Z Society is an organisation at the University of Virginia comprising students who give time, talent and financial contribution to groups and individuals that exemplify the spirit of the society and the ideals of the university. Membership is typically anonymous.
Hyderabad, March 16 : Emirates is looking to expand its operations in India and is negotiating with the Indian government for more seats, a top company official said here on Wednesday.

The airline, which is operating one A380 aircraft on Mumbai-Dubai route, is also keen to operate more such flights but the official said this would depend on the outcome of the negotiations, approvals and the facilities available at the airports.

Emirates senior Vice President Ahmed Hashim Khoorey was talking to reporters on the sidelines of India Aviation 2016, where the airline is displaying A380.

"We have been given 2000 plus seats to operate from Mumbai in 2014 that gave us capability to operate A 380," he said.

He was optimistic about the outcome of talks for additional seats on Indian routes. "The bilateral talks are on a fast track after Indian prime minister's visit to UAE last year. We hope that we will have something very soon," he said.

Emirates currently has more than 73 A 380 aircrafts in service. "We bring the A 380 to show our commitment to Hyderabad air show as well. It is a strong flagship carrier for emirates and it is a beautiful product. Serving A 380 depends on market demand and also depends on the airport, how it is ready to handle such an aircraft," said Essa Sulaimaan Ahmad, VP India and Nepal said.

Essa said Emirates would run A 380 on commercially viable routes. He did not rule out Hyderabad for its operation looking back how Emirates has grown over the past couple of Years.

"We started as first major international operations from here started with 8 aircrafts now we have daily services with three 777 aircrafts," he added.
New Delhi, March 16 : Former Meghalaya finance minister Conrad K. Sangma was on Wednesday elected the new national president of the National People's Party (NPP) following the demise of former national president of the party Purno Agitok Sangma.

Conrad, the youngest son of Sangma, was elected unopposed as the president of the NPP during a extraordinary general body meeting held in New Delhi.

The meeting was chaired by national working president Arvind Netam and attended, among others, by the central executive committee members and members of the general body.

"We, as a party, have elected Conrad as our new president because we have complete faith in his young and dynamic leadership to fulfil the vision and dreams of our departed leader," NPP spokesperson James Sangma told IANS.

James said the party will contest the Assam assembly elections scheduled to be held next month as this was announced by late Sangma.

The former speaker died following a massive heart attack on March 4 at the age of 68. Sangma presided over the 11th Lok Sabha as speaker from 1996 to 1998. He also served as chief minister of Meghalaya from 1988 to 1990.

Sangma was elected to the 16th Lok Sabha from Tura constituency on the NPP ticket, the political outfit he launched in 2013.

The former Lok Sabha speaker had founded NPP after he resigned from the Nationalist Congress Party in 2012 after unsuccessfully contesting the presidential elections last year as a candidate of the Tribal Forum of India.

The NPP has aligned with Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). It has two legislators in Meghalaya and four legislators in Rajasthan.
New Delhi, March 16 : Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien on Wednesday expressed his displeasure and anguish over display of what he said was lack of confidence in the chair by some members of the upper house.

"If you do not have confidence in me... if I cannot call a person to speak, why am I sitting here?" a visibly exasperated Kurien said after members from various parties, including the Samajwadi Party and the Trinamool Congress, raised objections when Kurien called CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury to speak on the Aadhaar Bill.

TMC's Derek O'Brien questioned as to how the time allotted for the principal opposition Congress in the house was passed on to the Communist Party of India-Marxist members.

"Is it because of any deal?" Derek O'Brien asked and was countered strongly by Yechury and other Left members.

"I cannot take these insults," Yechury said.

Earlier, Yechury and other opposition members like Naresh Agrawal of the Samajwadi Party objected to the government move to call the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016, a "money bill".

A piece of legislation declared as a "money bill" can be debated and discussed in the Rajya Sabha but not rejected by it. If the upper house votes amendments to it, but the Lok Sabha rejects these, the bill is deemed to have been passed by both the houses in its original form.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, defended the status and said the Lok Sabha speaker's ruling on the issue was binding on all.

The Aadhaar Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on March 11 with a voice vote after a brief debate.
Mumbai, March 16 : Actress Sayani Gupta, who made her debut in Hindi cinema with the film "Margarita With A Straw", says her co-star Kalki Koechlin has been a "massive" support system for her.

"She has been a massive support system. We are very alike in our thinking and have a similar kind of background in theatre. Hence, our approach towards work is also similar," Sayani, who has a role in "Fan" and "Jagga Jasoos", said in a statement.

She says if there's one thing she wants to learn from Kalki, it is time management.

"She manages to do so much film work, theatre, writing, directing, events, photo shoots all at the same time so beautifully," she added.

Sayani finds herself in a soup as far as managing dates is concerned.

"One of the biggest dilemmas that I face as an actor, is managing dates. When I was confirmed for 'Fan', I had already packed dates for 'Jagga Jasoos' and another film for Dharma Productions that eventually didn't take off.

"I called Kalki for advice and she said, 'Say yes to everything, one or the other will get pushed, if not all!'. And true that, one film never began and I was totally able to manage dates for 'Fan' and 'Jagga Jasoos' is still on," she said.
Bhubaneswar, March 16 : The Odisha assembly on Wednesday witnessed pandemonium after the opposition Congress and BJP members raised the issue of an alleged scam in the assistant executive engineers' recruitment process and demanded a clarification from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra urged speaker Niranjan Pujari to direct the chief minister to give a statement on the large scale irregularities in the recruitment process of AEEs in the works department.

"The chief minister accepting a Twitter suggestion over the recruitment scam ordered an inquiry into the matter. Besides, the issue has reached before the State Administrative Tribunal and is sub-judice. But, what transpired in the night that they (AEEs) were appointed. The house has the right to know," said Mishra.

The chief minister was under a cloud of corruption and he has to clarify the matter, said the opposition leader. "If the chief minister does not give a statement, we will be forced to point fingers at him for his involvement in the scam," said the opposition leader.

The State Administrative Tribunal on October 6 last year ordered the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) not to publish the final result of the AEE recruitment examination without its permission. The OPSC has published the results without getting the permission of the tribunal. A contempt of court case has been filed against the OPSC, said Mishra.

Pressing their demand, Congress and BJP members went to the well of the house and shouted slogans against the state government forcing the speaker to adjourn the house till 3 p.m. BJP legislative party leader Basant Panda told the media that they want a statement from the chief minister over the issue in the house since his department is involved in the scam.

Government chief whip Ananta Das said the chief minister should not give any statement in the house as the matter is sub-judice.
New Delhi, March 16 : BAE Systems' world-class, battle-proven M777 ultra lightweight howitzer, for which India and the United States are in discussions for a Foreign Military Sale for the Indian Army, will take centrestage at the company's stand at the ninth edition of DefExpo, India's premier land, naval and security exhibition in Goa later this month.

The company recently reaffirmed its commitment to Make in India by down-selecting Mahindra and Mahindra as its business partner for its proposed in-country assembly, integration and test facility, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

In addition to the M777, the company's showcase will include the Archer 155 mm FH 77 BW L52 self-propelled howitzer along with a full spectrum of munitions spanning hyper velocity projectile, 81 mm mortar, 105 mm and 155 mm artillery ammunition, 120 mm tank ammunition and the 3P ammo.

Recognising the ever-increasing importance of cyberspace in the defence mix, BAE Systems will also be showcasing its cyber defence and intelligence capabilities "giving our experts the opportunity to engage with local sector participants and demonstrate our unique set of solutions, systems, experience and processes", the statement said.

"These, combined with our Cyber Special Forces -- some of the most skilled people in the world -- enable us to defend against cyber attacks, fraud and financial crime, enable intelligence-led policing and solve complex data problems," the statement added.

The Hawk advanced jet trainer (AJT), with 123 aircraft ordered to date by the Indian Air Force (106) and the Indian Navy (17), will also find prominence on the stand.

"DefExpo is a strategic platform for the company to demonstrate our commitment to partner India to Make in India. Our showcase curates a range of capabilities and equipment, every one of which has a Make in India vision. In particular, the show is an excellent platform for us to strengthen existing partnerships and activate new ones," BAE managing director for India and South Asia John Brosnan said.
New Delhi, March 16 : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the Narendra Modi government of ignoring the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh by denying special status to the state.

"Unfortunately, the government of the day is not interested in supporting the aspirations of people of Andhra Pradesh. I have visited AP many a times to fight for special status, I have mentioned Polararam as well but the government of the day isn't interested," Gandhi said, addressing a delegation of Congress workers at party headquarters here.

He said the Congress party will ask the central government to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh. Congress workers have got one crore signatures for a petition from the people residing in Andhra Pradesh, demanding 'special status' for the state.

"We can exert pressure on government of India, that we can get special status and other demands that are rightfully yours," Gandhi said while making a reference towards prime minister "that he only understands pressure".

"The Congress party has managed to put pressure him (prime minister) on Land Bill that you have noticed and the budget after which it became the pro farmer budget. For two years, there was no interest of farmers, that they are dying didn't matter, that they are committing suicide it also doesn't matter, but Congress party exerted pressure and the budget became pro-farmer," Gandhi added.

He also asked the Congress cadre to work hard to bring the party back in power in Andhra Pradesh.

"Today, you might not have large votes in AP but it'll take little bit of hard work, we are going to help you and you'll see that you'll surprise yourself and come back to power much quicker than you think and lead AP once again," Gandhi said.
New Delhi, March 16 : The government on Wednesday said that it was not informed about the itinerary of the travel of various Pakistani High Commission officials to attend Pakistan's matches in the ongoing World Twnty20 in India.

Responding to a query following reports that five Pakistani diplomats were barred from visiting Kolkata for the March 19 India-Pakistan match, external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said that "Pakistan has not informed the government of the itinerary for the proposed travels, as required by bilateral practice".

"This was despite repeated reminders over the past few days," he said.

Swarup, however, said that considering the occasion, 19 approvals were issued as a gesture.

"This has been conveyed to Pakistan ministry of foreign affairs at senior levels," Swarup said.

"We have urged that agreed requirements are met so that the rest of the requests can be processed," he added.
Abuja, March 16 : At least 22 people were confirmed dead after two suicide attacks on Wednesday targeted a mosque in Umarari village of Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno, a spokesman of the Nigerian army said.

In a statement, Col. Sani Usman said one of the attacks took place inside the local mosque, while the second blast occurred a few minutes later, about 50 metres away, Xinhua reported.

Two female suicide bombers perpetrated the attacks, he added.

Earlier, local authorities who confirmed the incident said 21 people sustained various degrees of injury in the attack.

All the injured were evacuated to a state-run hospital near the commercial city of Maiduguri, the army spokesman said.

One of the suicide bombers sneaked into the mosque during early morning prayer, according to Alhaji Dambatta, leader of the civilian joint task force, who coordinated rescue operation after the incident.

Terror group Boko Haram was suspected to be responsible for the attacks. The group, which has spread its tentacles to Cameroon, Chad and Niger, has kidnapped thousands of people and killed more since 2009.

Early this year, the Nigerian government said it has "technically defeated" Boko Haram, but the unrelenting group has continued to carry out more attacks.
Peshawar, March 16 : A powerful bomb, detonated by a timing mechanism, ripped through a bus carrying government employees in Pakistan's Peshawar on Wednesday, killing at least 16 people and causing injuries to another two dozen commuters The attack took place on Peshawar's Sunehri Masjid road after the bus picked up government employees from Shergarh in Mardan and was transporting them to work in the city.

"The blast was caused by a timed-improvised explosive device (IED) planted in a tool box inside the bus," Superintendent of Police (SP) Cantonment Kashif Zulfiqar said.

"There were 40-50 people on the bus."

The bus was carrying employees of the Civil Secretariat and government officials coming from Mardan.

"The bus carrying government employees was targeted at at 7.55 a.m," DC Riaz Mehsud stated.

"The top part of the bus has blown off and is being cut to pull out the injured," an eyewitness told local Urdu tv.

"The bus carried on a few hundred yards after the explosion as the driver lost control of the vehicle," eyewitnesses said.

According to sources, 15 of the total number of injured people at Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) were air force employees.

Residents of the area shifted the injured in their cars to LRH, The area was closed for traffic.

According to hospital reports, most of the dead and injured were from Malakand, Mardan and Charsadda.

Bomb disposal squad officials said 10 kg of explosives were planted on the bus and further investigations were underway.

"Emergency has been declared and all doctors have been called in to handle trauma," hospital spokesperson Jamil Shah said. Many of the wounded were in critical condition and the death toll could rise, he said.

"There are eight buses that come from different areas to Hayatabad, Peshawar. The route of this bus was Dargai-Khanmai-Charsadda-Motorway-Hayatabad" SP Zulfiqar said.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack and expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the attack.

"These cowardly attacks cannot shatter our unflinching resolve against terrorism," Sharif said.

Further, the premier directed the concerned authorities to give the best treatment to those injured during the attack and also directed law enforcement agencies to hunt down those responsible for the attack.

The explosion came a day after the military top brass suggested publicly that the army was about to conclude the military offensive in North Waziristan's Shawal valley.

In January, the insurgency-ravaged province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa witnessed another A P S-style attack on Charsadda's Bacha Khan University, engineered by the mastermind of the horrific December 2014 massacre.

Since then, there have been numerous attacks targeting security forces' convoys and checkposts.

The most recent attack comes just days after a blast hit Charsadda's Shabqadar area, an attack claimed by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan splinter group Jamatul Ahrar.

On the other hand, official reports claim there have been thousands of intelligence-based operations, and scores of militants have been arrested and eliminated as per the implementation of NAP.
New Delhi, March 16 : A high-level committee of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, inquiring into the February 9 event, has said that the dean of students was "not vigilant enough" in preventing it and that varsity students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya were among those who did not submit the booking form to the appropriate authorities.

The five-member committee, which submitted its report last week, has also found faults with the university security for not making efforts to stop "outsiders" from raising provocative slogans at the event.

Anti-India slogans were allegedly raised at the event and sedition case was subsequently filed against JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, Khalid, Bhattacharya and three others. All three were arrested and while Kanhaiya Kumar was granted bail, the other two are still in custody.

"It is to be noted, given that the event had taken place in 2015 as well, DOS (dean of students) office was not vigilant enough to anticipate and prevent this event," the report said.

It also said security did not make any efforts to stop the outsiders from leaving the campus.

"... the security was not alert and vigilant to stop the posters for this event till after the chief security officer (CSO) met the authorities," it said.

The report also said that as the process of taking permission was not complete, there was confusion at the dean's office on whether the permission had been granted or not, and while the dean was not present on campus during the event, he was in touch over the phone with the CSO.

"The booking form was never submitted to the approving authorities by the students concerned (Khalid, Bhattacharya, Komal Mohite, Ashwati Nair). Since the process of seeking approval was never completed, the booking form did not reach the CSO. Therefore, the CSO did not know about the event," the report added.

The high-level inquiry committee included Professor Rakesh Bhatnagar, Professor H.B. Bohidar, Professor Suman K. Dhar, Professor G.J.V. Prasad, and Professor Ummu Salma Bava.

The report said that Mohite "misrepresented" her hostel address in the undertaking form and the other students did not write their full names.

The report also mentions that the undertaking form attached to the booking form did not have the full names and stamps of the four signing authorities- "the faculty, the chairperson, the dean of the school and dean of students/additional dean of students (DOS/ADOS)."

Kanhaiya Kumar along with JNUSU general secretary Rama Naga and varsity students Anant Prakash Narayan, Bhattacharya, Ashutosh, Khalid, Ashwarya Adhikari and Shwetha Raj were suspended on February 12.

However, the administration last week revoked the suspension of all after the committee submitted its report.
Guwahati, March 16 : Three militants of Bodo outfit NDFB -- two of whom were trained in Myanmar and were wanted in many cases -- were killed in gunfights with police in Assam, an official said on Wednesday.

Based on information that militants of the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) were moving in Majbat area in Udalguri district, police laid an ambush on Tuesday night, said Udalguri Superintendent of Police Rakesh Roushan, who led the operation.

"We spotted four people. When we asked them to stop, they ran and started firing at us forcing us to retaliate," he said.

During a search, police found two militants with bullet injuries. They were taken to the Majbat primary health centre but were declared dead by doctors.

The slain militants were identified as Daharu and Jackput, who were trained in Myanmar and were wanted in many cases.

Another cadre -- identified as B. Sumbla -- was killed in Majbat in a separate gun battle with police.

Police believe that ULFA and NDFB might try to create disturbances in the run-up to the assembly polls in Assam, scheduled for April 4 and 11.

"We cannot rule out the angle that the militants have been trying to carry out subversive activities in the run-up to the polls," the police official added.
New Delhi, March 16 : Delhi Police on Wednesday told a court here that JNU students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya organised the February 9 event on the campus while JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was not its organiser.

Police took the stand while opposing the bail plea of Khalid and Anirban, who are also facing sedition charge, in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh.

Police said their case was different from that of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar.

The court has set March 18 for its order on the bail plea of Khalid and Anirban.

Both have sought bail on the ground of "parity", saying that Kanhaiya Kumar was already granted six-month interim bail by the Delhi High court on March 2 in a sedition case.

Anti-national slogans were raised at the controversial event on the campus here.

Both the students surrendered before the police last month outside a university gate.

A case was registered against Khalid and Bhattacharya at the Vasant Kunj police station, soon after Kanhaiya was arrested on the same charge on February 12.

Police told court that the controversial poster for the event was designed by Anirban and finally approved by Khalid. The poster was mailed by Anirban to Khalid, Delhi Police told the court.

Delhi Police also told the court that the controversial poster bore the names of Khalid and Anirban as organisers. Both even went to the university office along with other students on February 8 for getting permission to hold the event.

First, the permission was allowed but when the event posters surfaced, university authority withdrew the permission.

Both the accused still went ahead with the event and led a procession in which anti-national slogans were shouted, police said.

The defence counsel of both questioned the authenticity of a video clip of the event aired on a private news channel.

Delhi Police told the court that besides the visual clip from a private channel, they have a videotape of the event taken by JNU staff member Jaspreet Singh. Both videos have been sent to a forensic science laboratory for tests.

Police said statements of 10 witnesses, including university staff, security personnel and students were recorded, and that support the allegations against the accused.

Citing Supreme Court judgment, defence counsel, however, contended that the case did not come under the sedition charge. The act does not amount to sedition unless there is incitement to violence which did not happen, the defence argued.

Police, however, contested the defence stand and said there was an attempt to incite people to violence as anti-national slogans were raised. It said involvement in violence was not at all required to support the charge.

In its status report filed before the court, Delhi Police said the case investigation was at a delicate stage as some accused people were still on the run.

"The larger conspiracy behind the seditious act of the accused is to be unearthed and exposed," police said in their status report.

They argued that if the accused were granted bail at this stage, the very line of investigation would get adversely affected.
New Delhi, March 16 : Supporting the jewellers' demand, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said the Centre should roll back the hike in the excise duty that has been levied on jewellery.

The Aam Aadmi Party leader said he would also write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about it.

"I strongly object to the excise levied on the jewel sector by the Central government. I demand a roll back of the same. The Centre should accept its mistake and rollback the duty immediately."

His demand came after a delegation of jewel traders met Kejriwal and sought his support towards the rollback of the one percent excise duty levied on Jewellery.

"Our party had raised this issue in the Parliament. I will write a letter to the prime minister on the issue and ask him to roll back the excise duty of one percent on Jewellery," Kejriwal said.

"Instead of harassing our jewellers, we should promote them. The Centre talks about 'Make in India' while on the other hand it is killing those who are making in India," he added.
Islamabad, March 16 : A three-member lady health worker anti-polio team was shot at and injured by armed men in Garhi Yasin area of Sindh province on Wednesday.

The polio team was working as part of the latest four-day polio vaccination drive launched across the country, reports Dawn.

Two lady health workers sustained gunshot injuries, while a third was injured while trying to flee the scene. The armed men were hidden in a forested area and ambushed the workers as they passed by.

The polio workers were not provided police security, which was standard procedure during anti-polio drives.

Polio workers have long been targeted in the country due to rumours that the polio immunisation drive is a front for espionage or is a conspiracy.
New Delhi, March 16 : The BJP on Wednesday stepped up its attack against the Trinamool Congress by demanding the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the wake of a sting operation showing her party leaders allegedly receiving money.

"All their MPs shown taking money should resign. Their leader (Mamata Banerjee) should also resign as earlier over similar case she had quit the NDA (Vajpayee government) once," union Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters, alluding to the Tehelka tapes revelation when Banerjee had quit as the railway minister.

BJP MP from Asansol in the state and union Minister Babul Supriyo said the issue was about corruption and not mere politics.

"This is not a question of politics. It's an issue of corruption. People know it well while Didi (Mamata) moves around in chappals, her party colleagues are no less than crorepatis (rich). Most of us are not surprised by the allegations of corruption against Trinamool leaders," Supriyo told IANS.

He said the portal that did the sting operation against Trinamool leaders has done a "good service" to the people of the state and would help the electorate make up their mind for the elections.

"Didi (Mamata) herself says, people always give their verdict in the mandate in the ballot box. Let us see how they decide in upcoming elections," he added.
Mumbai, March 16 : Reliance Power said on Wednesday that the union coal ministry has allowed the company's Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) in Madhya Pradesh to mine additional coal from its Moher and Moher Amlohri captive coal blocks attached to the project.

"Ministry of coal grants permission to Sasan Power Ltd. (SPL) to produce additional coal," Reliance Power, which wholly owns SPL, said in a stock exchange filing.

The project has been allowed to mine coal upto 17.20 million tonne per annum (mtpa) during the current fiscal, the company said.

"Based on representations by SPL (Sasan Power Ltd.) and its procurers to permit SPL to produce the requisite coal sufficient to meet the requirement of Sasan UMPP, MOC (ministry of coal) vide its letter of 15th March 2016 has permitted to increase the coal production upto 17.20 mtpa during 2015-16," it said in a statement.

In June 2015, the coal ministry had directed Sasan UMPP to limit annual coal production to 16 mtpa, it added.

The company said the permission will help it generate an additional 2,200 million units of electricity, which will benefit 42 crore people across seven procuring states.
Tehran, March 16 : Iran on Wednesday dismissed a recent report by the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Tehran, Ahmed Shaheed, as "politically-motivated", Tasnim news agency reported on Wednesday.

"We believe that the content of the rapporteur's report on Iran is biased and has been prepared with the political intents," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari said reacting to Shaheed's latest report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Shaheed's report has been made on the basis of unauthentic information rather than the realities on the ground, Jaber Ansari said.

Such approaches not only fail to improve the status of human rights in the world, but also downgrade the issue to the level of political disputes among the countries, he said.

Iran is committed to promoting human rights according to its own constitution and religious values, he added.

In his latest report on human rights condition in Iran, Shaheed said the Islamic republic was engaged in several human rights abuses in 2015, including the rise in the number of executions, as well as crackdowns on journalists and activists.

Iran has dismissed several times the reports by the UN human rights institutions, saying that they did not reflect the realities in the country.
Patna, March 16 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday ordered the suspension of a jail official for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl, an official said.

"The chief minister has directed top concerned officials to suspend Kishanganj jail superintendent Kripa Shankar Pandey and lodge a case against him for his crime," said an official from the Chief Minister's Office.

During a meeting with top administration officials, Nitish Kumar also expressed his unhappiness over the delay in taking action against Pandey.

The move came after a video went viral on social media on Tuesday in which Pandey was allegedly seen sexually assaulting a minor girl.

Kishanganj Superintendent of Police Rajiv Ranjan late on Tuesday asked Sub-Divisional Police Officer Kamini Bala to probe the matter and submit a report.
Washington, March 16 : US President Barack Obama will visit Saudi Arabia and Britain in April, ahead of his previously arranged trip to Germany, the White House said on Wednesday.

Obama will first head to Saudi Arabia on April 21 to attend a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, during which issues such as the fight against the Islamic State terrorist group, regional conflicts, and sectarian tensions will be discussed, according to a White House press release.

Obama will then travel to London, where he will have a private lunch with Queen Elizabeth II. He will then meet Prime Minister David Cameron.

The White House said Obama's final destination will be Germany, where he will attend the world's largest trade show for industrial technology -- the Hanover Messe. He will also meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel on his fifth visit to the European country.
New Delhi, March 16 : The Lok Sabha on Wednesday rejected all the five amendments to the Aadhaar bill recommended by the Rajya Sabha and passed the bill by voice vote.

The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016 was passed after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley sought to allay apprehensions of the Opposition concerning the bill.

The Congress and other opposition parties had made a strong pitch against the overall nature of the bill in the Rajya Sabha.

The bill was returned to the Lok Sabha with five amendments. The ruling NDA is in minority in the upper house.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha after CPI-M member Mohammad Salim referred to the amendments approved by the upper house, Jaitley said some of the amendments related to provisions of the bill were brought by the UPA government.

He said one of the amendments sought to replace the words "national security" with "public safety and public emergency" and added that these phrases had not been defined in the Constitution.

"These are undefined phrases (in the Constitution)," Jaitley said.

"Though I consider the wisdom of the upper house but I reject their amendments," he added.

Since it was introduced as a money bill by the government, the Aadhaar bill has now been passed by parliament.

As per constitutional provisions, the Rajya Sabha has limited powers with respect to money bills.

According to legislative functions of the Rajya Sabha: "A Money Bill after having been passed by the Lok Sabha, and sent to Rajya Sabha for its recommendations, has to be returned to Lok Sabha by the Rajya Sabha, with in a period of 14 days from the date of its receipt, with or without recommendations."

"If the Lok Sabha does not accept any of the recommendations of the Rajya Sabha, the Money Bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form in which it was passed by the Lok Sabha without any of the amendments recommended by the Rajya Sabha."
New Delhi, March 16 : The CBI on Wednesday carried out raids at 82 places in four cities in connection with two cases related to the multi-crore rupee chit fund scam, an official said.

The agency conducted raids at 82 locations in Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, including at the residence and office premises of the then managing directors of a group of 33 companies and a former MLA of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, who was the then managing director of a company.

"We recovered Rs.44.90 lakh from the residence of the former MLA and Rs.16.80 lakh from the residence of the then director of a private company along with various incriminating documents related to the cases," the official said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had earlier registered two cases against the group of companies, its then managing directors, then directors and others, on the directions of the Jharkhand High Court.

"It was alleged that the companies and their officials were involved in receiving huge public deposits illegally and fraudulently by way of cheating common people with false promises of high rate of interest, issuing share or debenture, private placement, purchase of land, product purchase and booking," CBI spokesperson Devpreet Singh said.

The official said the accused allegedly siphoned off the huge funds received illegally and dishonestly to the individual accounts of persons, firms and companies.
Hyderabad, March 16 : National carrier Air India is expected to see a turnaround in 2019, over an year before what the turnaround plan envisages, Civil Aviation Secretary R. N. Choubey said on Wednesday.

He told reporters during India Aviation 2016 here that the public carrier will be making a net profit by 2019.

Choubey however, said the project was based on the presumption that oil prices remain soft.

As per the plan, Air India is to achieve the turnaround by 2020.

The official said this was becoming possible because of better passenger yield and better passenger load factor. The airline has also overcome problems like shortage of crew.

He pointed out that for the first time in 10 years, Air India will not be making an operational loss this year. "From December onwards it started making operational profits," he said.

Parliament was told on Tuesday that Air India is expected to record an operating profit of Rs.8 crore in the current fiscal, the first time in eight years for the national carrier since the erstwhile Indian Airlines merged into Air India.

"Air India is expected to earn operating profit of Rs.8 crore as compared to the operating loss of Rs.2,636.18 crore in the previous year. This is the first time that the company is going to achieve operating profit since its merger in 2007-08," Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

Choubey said on an average, the government infused Rs.2,500 crore per annum in Air India as part of the turnaround plan.

"This is good news for us but bad news for those who don't like Air India," said Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Air India making operational profit.

Replying to queries, he said he did not like Air India being compared with the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines, which defaulted on payments to the tune of Rs.9,000 crore to banks.

"Air India definitely has lot of debts. There is no doubt about it and nobody is hiding this. But I have not heard Air India cheating somebody," the minister said and pointed out that the public carrier has not defaulted.

Referring to Kingfisher, he termed this as unfortunate. "It should not have happened but unfortunately it happened, bringing bad name to the airlines," he said.
Mumbai, March 16 : With the spectre of a severe drought looming large, Maharashtra will celebrate a 'dry Holi' this year to conserve water for the next 100 days before monsoon.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday appealed to the people to celebrate a 'dry Holi' on account of severe water shortage across the state.

"I am not saying don't play Holi. Let's play a dry Holi without water. Use less water. I appeal to all in the state to celebrate the ensuing festival of colours as a dry Holi," Fadnavis said at a water awareness programme here on Wednesday evening.

The popular festival will be celebrated across the country on March 23, followed by Rangpanchami on March 24.

Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan said swimming pools and water theme parks have been ordered to remain shut till the commencement of the rainy season in mid-June.

Similarly, rain dances in five-star hotels, resorts, bungalows of celebrities and housing complexes will also be curbed this year due to the water crises.

Some BJP corporators in the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation have demanded that a stiff penalty of Rs.50,000 be slapped on those violating the rules and wasting water during Holi.

Mahajan told mediapersons that all municipal corporations in the state have been issued directives on this to save every drop of water and make drinking a priority.

The minister informed that the state barely barely 25 percent water left in its reservoirs while in the parched Marathwada region, the situation is critical with just five percent water left.

"In such a scenario, nobody will be allowed to waste water. We must save every available drop," a grim Mahajan said.

Elsewhere in the state, the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation has launched a water conservation awareness week before Holi, Pune, Nashik, and Thane Municipal Corporation has barred water supply, including through private tankers, for any Holi revelry.
Islamabad, March 16 : Pakistan and Turkmenistan on Wednesday signed agreements including one on financial intelligence to curb money laundering and terrorism financing, officials said.

The visiting president of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif witnessed the signing ceremony in Islamabad, after the two leaders agreed to boost cooperation in various fields.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in exchange of financial intelligence related to money laundering and terrorism financing was inked by Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and his Turkmenistan counterpart Muhammetguly Muhammedov, a Radio Pakistan report said.

Other agreements related to cooperation in the field of energy, the Programme of Cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, as well as MoUs on cooperation in areas of information technology, education and research.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan was committed to the early completion of the multi-billion dollar Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project that will open a new chapter in economic collaboration and greater regional integration with Central Asia.

"Pakistan is ready to provide any assistance to expedite the implementation process of TAPI and help minimize the project cost," he said, adding Pakistan views TAPI not only as a gas pipeline project, but as a precursor to making it a trade and transit corridor as well.

"Such corridor could comprise gas pipeline, road, electricity transmission and fiber optic lines besides economic zones connecting Pakistan with Turkmenistan," said the prime minister.

He suggested that Pakistan and Turkmenistan could be connected through a railway corridor connecting Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran.

Sharif welcomed Turkmenistan's offer for export of 1,000 mega watt electricity to Pakistan and signing of tripartite MoU during his visit to Turkmenistan last December.

He stressed the need for greater cooperation in the fields of trade, energy, agriculture, education, science and technology, infrastructure and transportation. He said Pakistan looked towards Turkmenistan for future energy security and asked Turkmenistan to take advantage of Pakistani ports for its exports and imports.

On terrorism, he said Pakistan shares the concern that terrorism and extremism were the root cause of insecurity and instability in the region.

"This menace also undermines our endeavours for socio-economic development. We have to work collectively to eradicate the scourge of terrorism and extremism," he said.

The Turkmenistan president said both the countries are facing common challenges and "combating common threats is our goal."

He said the early completion of the TAPI gas pipeline project would not only solidify the relations between all the participating countries, but also create new opportunities.

"The gas line would bring warmth and cordiality, and generate economic activity, create job opportunities and improve the living standards," President Berdimuhamedov said.

He said the TAPI pipeline had a great impetus to boost socio-economic cooperation and hoped the project would be implemented soon.
Vatican City, March 16 : Pope Francis on Wednesday voiced solidarity with those in the Middle East who are currently suffering from wars and violence, and urged them to have trust in god.

"How many experiences of exile, expatriation, grief, and persecution that pushes us to doubt even the goodness of god, and his love for us," Vatican Radio quoted Francis as telling Arabic-speaking pilgrims in St. Peter's Square.

"Doubt which dissipates in front of the truth that god is faithful, close, and keeps his promise to those who do not doubt him, and for those who hope against hope," he told the pilgrims during his general audience.

"The lord bless you all, and protect you from evil!" he said.
New Delhi, March 16 : Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday asserted that defence installations in the country were completely secured and the government was spending more on the security apparatus in comparison to previous regimes.

"Defence installations are completely secured and since December 2014, not a single attack has taken place on defence installations in Jammu and Kashmir," Parrikar said, replying to a discussion on the country's security after an attack at the Pathankot air base.

"In 2014, 104 terrorists were neutralised, while we lost 31 security personnel. Earlier, the ratio used to be 1:1, while now it has shifted towards security forces 3:1. In 2015, it was 97 and 33," he said, adding that the government has "set up a committee for security audit".

"The defence forces have taken necessary steps to ensure that there is no breach in security establishment," Parrikar added.

"We have spent all the defence budget, and a part of that I have used a lot of money lying with the US government under foreign military sales. We have an agreement with them now, by which for the next two years, we won't send them dollars for procurement of foreign military weapons," Parrikar said in response to an interjection from the opposition regarding the government's expenditure to keep the nation secured.

The defence minister said the government moved special security forces from the adjoining cantonments to Pathankot at the time of the incident.

"It is wrong that we did not move security forces. At 8 p.m. on the same night, 1 para came to Pathankot from Sambha, another group was moved to Gurdaspur from Nahan at 12.30 in the night. So special security forces were moved," he said replying to the discussion.

Parrikar also took potshots at the opposition accusing them of sacrificing the country's military intelligence to gain political points.

"The intelligence build up cannot be done overnight. Intelligence which was developed over deep assets fell to the political policies and political scoring points. Military intelligence has been sacrificed to alter political goals. Once you do this, rebuilding intelligence takes time," he said, referring to the opposition benches.

"We came to know about suspected terrorist presence at 5.55 in the morning of January 1. Brig R.R. Singh, station commander of Tibrig Cantonment, Gurdaspur was informed that four suspects in army fatigue have hijacked a jeep and may be heading towards Pathankot," Parrikar told the house while disclosing specific information about the incident.

"So civil police was contacted for ensuring that patrolling for the area outside the base is carried out. At 6.15 a.m., Pathankot SSP also gave the same information that military had received earlier.

"At 3.11 p.m., there was a specific info that terrorists were inside military installation. There are three more army installation within 4-5 km of the area. At 4.35 p.m., helicopters were also launched in the search operation," he added.

The defence minister noted that the operation was completed in 43 hours contrary to the notion in media that it lasted for 3-4 days.

"Our forces had surrounded them concentrating the terrorists in a 200 by 200 metres pit from where they could not come out and the operation took only 43 hours to complete," Parrikar said.

"My instructions to the army chief were, there is no pressure of time but there should be no fatality. If we would trap them they would have no where to run. Hence the operation didn't take so long. The instructions were general in nature that we don't lose more men as we had already lost 6 men the previous day," he added.

The minister said such attacks like that on the Pathankot air base "should be treated as more of a mini war conducted by our adversaries because they are weak".

He also assured the house that the gaps in the security establishment have already been filled.
Pokhara, March 16 : The most anticipated meeting between India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Sartaj Aziz, foreign relations adviser to the Pakistani prime minister, has been fixed for Thursday evening, Indian and Nepali diplomats said on Wednesday.

The two leaders arrived in Pokhara on Wednesday to attend the 37th meeting of the Saarc Council of Ministers.

The positive tone for the meeting was set on Tuesday during the dinner hosted by Nepal's Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi where the Indian and Pakistani foreign secretaries rubbed shoulders and held informal talks, said officials privy to the dinner.

The prospect of the meeting between Sushma Swaraj and Aziz grew further after they met during a reception hosted by Nepal's Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa on Wednesday evening.

"What I can confirm is that the meeting between Sushma and Aziz has been fixed in Hotel Grand on Thursday evening," said one Indian diplomat.

That meeting would take place once the ministerial meeting is over, he added.

After the ministerial meeting, the visiting foreign ministers and senior officials will leave for sightseeing. They will then return to the hotel and sit for talks.

(Anil Giri can be contacted at girianil@gmail.com)
Hyderabad, March 16 : Air India on Wednesday signed an agreement for leasing 14 Airbus A320neo aircraft with ALAFCO, a Kuwait-based leasing company.

The delivery of aircraft is likely to start from early next year. The agreement was signed on the inaugural day of India Aviation 2016, the country's largest aviation conference and exhibition Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani and ALAFCO vice chairman and CEO Ahmad Al Zabin signed the agreement.

"This induction will augment Air India's capacity in domestic market. Air India already has strong infrastructure maintenance facilities for the Airbus A320 family," the state-owned carrier said in a statement.

"This is a very important partnership for Air India. The A320 aircraft will add strength to our existing fleet and enhance our role as a major player in the domestic market," said Lohani.

The A320neo aircraft will come fitted with the new generation CFM leap engines which will reduce noise and emissions, enhance the operational efficiency and reduce fuel consumption by at least 15 percent while offering the passengers the best in class comfort.

Meanwhile, IndiGo displayed its first A320neo on the inaugural day of the aviation show.

The aircraft was delivered on March 11 after a direct flight from Toulouse to Delhi International airport lasting over eight hours, the company said in a statement.

IndiGo, India's largest airline by passenger numbers is Airbus' biggest A320neo customer having ordered a total of 430 aircraft placed in 2011 and 2015.

The A320neo 'new engine option' incorporates many innovations, including latest generation engines and large Sharklet wing-tip devices, which together deliver 15 percent in fuel savings from day one and 20 per cent by 2020. This is equivalent to a reduction of 5,000 tonnes of CO2 per aircraft per year. So far Airbus has won orders for over 4,500 A320neo aircraft.
Washington, March 16 : Yale will become the first university member of the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (CPLC), a private-public partnership to strengthen carbon pricing policies through the development of a network for sharing best practices.

The partnership among the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), governments, nonprofits, and private sector companies was launched at the recent COP-21 climate summit in Paris by World Bank president Jim Yong Kim and IMF managing director Christine Lagarde.

The CPLC coalition includes over 90 business and strategic partners as well as more than 20 governments, ranging from Germany and France, to Mexico and Chile, to Ethiopia and Morocco.

The announcement was made Monday in Mumbai, during the World Bank's Corporate Carbon Pricing Leadership Workshop, according to a media release from New Haven, Connecticut based university.

Two recent Yale graduate and undergraduate students who work on Yale's Carbon Charge Project, Jennifer Milikowsky and Ryan Laemel, gave presentations at this workshop as well as at the India Climate Policy and Business Conclave in New Delhi on Tuesday.

"Universities have a critical role to play in offering leadership, teaching, and research expertise to help develop effective climate change solutions," said Yale President Peter Salovey.

"It has been an honour to work this past week with Indian officials, the World Bank, and member companies of the CPLC to share Yale's carbon charge pilot project," said Laemel.

"The lessons we are learning are an important extension of our efforts on campus. The CPLC's network will be an invaluable resource as we continue to test and develop the concept."

Milikowsky, who was a student representative to the Presidential Carbon Charge Task Force as a graduate student and now works on the carbon charge project, said: "The biggest opportunity for Yale in the next 10 years is to further its leadership role in climate action by developing concrete solutions that can extend beyond our campus to other universities and institutions around the world."

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
Kolkata, March 16 : The National Insurance Company on Wednesday said it is "ready" if the government starts the process of listing of state-run general insurance companies in the stock exchanges.

"In principle, the government announced that government-owned companies would be up for listing. We are ready if they want to start the process. It's the government's call, they have to take it," chairman-cum-managing director K. Sanath Kumar said on the sidelines of an interactive session organised by MCC Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

"Our company is fully owned by the government. So there has never been any need for valuation so far. But for listing, we have to transform our company into a public company owned by the government. For which we have to have a valuation," he said.

Presenting the budget for 2016-17, union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced that the general insurance companies owned by the government would be listed in the stock exchanges to promote transparency and accountability.

Sanath Kumar said the face value of shares needs to be brought down to attract participation of retail investors.

"There will be long procedures to follow and all including the brand equity should be valued. If the process starts, it usually takes about 9-10 months to be completed," he said when asked about the expected time by which the process could be completed.

He also said the company has no idea when the process would start but the government could start interacting after the budget session of parliament.

"The government would start interacting soon. Possibly, I think it will happen after the budget session, when they will have more time to deliver on these things, perhaps."

However, the company is facing challenges due to shortage of qualified professionals like surveyors available in the tier II and III cities. Due to this, claim settlements get delayed sometime, he said.

The general insurer collected Rs.11,200 crore total premium in the 2014-15 fiscal and is expecting to cross Rs.12,000 crore this year. "We are experiencing a subdued growth," he added.
Palermo (Italy), March 16 : Police in Sicily on Wednesday arrested 62 people in an anti-mafia operation that effectively wiped out two entire crime families in the Palermo area.

The suspects are from the from Palermo's Villagrazia-Santa Maria di Gesu and San Giuseppe Jato clans, police said. They face charges including mafia association, extortion, intimidation, criminal damage, receiving stolen goods, aiding and abetting, and firearms offences, according to police.

Police are also seizing businesses and property linked to the clans.

The operation resulted from two separate investigations into the two clans, which were led by elderly mafia convicts said to be close to jailed mafia 'boss of bosses' Toto Riina: Mariano Marchese, 77, and 81-year-old Gregorio Agrigento, who have already served prison sentences.

Marchese, boss of the Villagrazia-Santa Maria di Gesu clan and Agrigento, who heads the San Giuseppe Jato clan, command an 'army' of 50,000 mafia henchmen in the area around Palermo, according to investigators.

The clans had collected so-called 'protection money' from 16 local business people, none of whom had ever reported their extortionists, for fear of reprisals, police said.
New Delhi, March 16 : Congress on Wednesday slammed Narendra Modi government for the hike in petrol and diesel price, saying that it was "anti-farmer, anti-poor and anti-common Indian citizen".

"The Congress party is forced to wonder as to how much will this government take to prove that it is anti-farmer, anti-poor and anti-common Indian citizen. It beats any logic, whatsoever to hit the farmer with a diesel price hike, even as he is facing almost a calamity in the shape of unseasonal rains and hailstorm and inclement weather that has flatten crop across north India.," said party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

"In addition, the hike today (Wednesday) comes at a time when the farmers across the country will be indulging in cutting and threshing of the Rabi crop, which would entail heavier diesel consumption by them," he added.

State-run Indian Oil Corp (IOC) on Wednesday announced a big hike in transport fuel rates, increasing petrol by Rs.3.07 a litre and diesel by Rs.1.90 -- both at Delhi, with corresponding increase in other states.

The hikes will be effective midnight on Wednesday, the company said adding that the hardening of global crude oil rates warranted such an increase.

Surjewala further said: "It is for the third time in a row that the Modi government has hiked the prices of diesel by Rs 1.90 per litre, even as it continues to play the inexplicable game of see saw by increasing and decreasing petrol prices."

"During the past month, diesel prices have been raised by Rs 3.77 a litre and since February last year, the government has increased the diesel prices eight times, while the decreases have been effected only on three occasions," he added.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 16 : The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is trying to impose an extremist Hindu nationalism by weakening the real nationalism built on anti-colonial, secular-democratic values, eminent historian K N Panikkar has said.

The historian accused the RSS of trying to use myths to shroud documented history and of saffronizing science.

Sangh Parivar was using the executive machinery in their attempts at shoehorning the country into a narrow definition of Hindutva as given by their ideologues V D Savarkar and M S Golwalkar, Panikkar said.

He was speaking on the topic Nationalism: then and now at a function held at the press club here in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.

Saying that the RSS could not move forward without reconstructing the past in line with their notions, Panikkar asserted that the Sangh was trying to artificially manufacture heritage and distort history to suit their interests.

The Sangh Parivar believed that the Hindu culture was the real Indian culture and they were extending invites to all and sundry to embrace this cultural nationalism.

Real nationalism, he said, underwent modernisation and timely changes and took along all sections of society.

However, what we were seeing today was secular, liberal nationalism metamorphosing into extremist nationalism, he lamented.

The historian blamed the emergency for helping the right wing to cement influence in spheres previously unwelcome to them.

The emergency not only weakened democracy but also opened doors for communal forces to expand their influence. Emergency gave a place in the mainstream to the RSS and the Hindutva arguments they espoused, Panikkar said.

The dark days of emergency helped the RSS attain a political space on the one hand while on the other it opened doors for them to engage in activities of polarisation aimed at the creation a Hindu rashtra.

He stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in power only technically and that the RSS was, in reality, holding the reins of power.

Saying that differing voices were being supressed and those speaking in support of secularism were being branded anti-nationals, he exhorted the civil society to put up a strong resistance to weaken such communal agendas.
Los Angeles, March 17 : Former "Strictly Come Dancing" dance professional Ola Jordan, who appeared on the show for almost a decade, is ready to pen an "explosive" book.

"This is one explosive book, she is going to reveal all the backstage goings on and she won't hold back. It's going to be one of the biggest page turners to come from the show, it will definitely ruffle a few feathers. We are sure Ola has a lot to say, let's hope she checks it with her lawyer," a source told mirror.co.uk.

The 33-year-old dancer is also expected to divulge details on some of the show's most scandalous romances as well as give the low down on the judges and their voting tactics.

Jordan, who quit the show in 2015, a year after her husband James Jordan left, is planning to release her new book in October, so that it corresponds with the new series of the show.
New Delhi, March 17 : Using the ramp of the ongoing Amazon India Fashion Week (AIFW) Autumn-Winter 2016 here as a canvas to paint myriad emotions of women, designer duo Shantanu and Nikhil Mehra brought forward their collection titled 'The Last Walk' with a splash from the past in a flared, layered and frilled manner.

The designers, known for their drapes and ability to put subtle India on contemporary fashion, on Wednesday showcased their collection at the opening day of the five-day fashion gala, being held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here.

High on old world charm and regal style, the designers tried to narrate story of a woman's constant endeavour to redefine herself with the range in a more contemporary sense.

While talking to the media after the show, they explained their collection: "The only thing we did was to play around with the emotion, which led to the women rediscovering her existence, where she takes every steps of her journey in her life till the end, because she knows that she will be reborn the next day. It's all about the women of today."

The message was loud and clear - don't let emotions control you.

Taking hues from pastel colour palette, the highlight of the range were drapes, ruffled gowns, tulle skirts, sheer gowns, and capes. The collection also had traces of the Victorian era in terms of the vibe, and fashion. Colours that stood out were white, plum, beige, red, grey and cream.

The designers shared: "Yes, there were a few drapes that we worked with wherein we have brought in the old school sari. The collection was transient through many colours of life."

When it comes to silhouettes, it was all about layering, flares, frills and flowy with intricate detailing. Sticking true to the collection, the the show was layered in different sections through colour of ensembles presented.

Another highlight was the accessories. They were of the same colour as the ensemble. The 27th edition of the event, in association with Maybelline New York, was opened by ace designer Varun Bahl.
Property markets in the north of England are set to benefit from hundreds of millions of pounds of new investment in rail and road networks announced by the UK government.

As part of a continuing policy to create what is known as the northern powerhouse the Chancellor George Osborne has announced funding of 60 million for a HS3, a high speed rail link between Leeds and Manchester to cut journey times between the two cities.

He also announced 75million to explore options for an 18 mile Trans-Pennine road tunnel between Sheffield and Manchester which would be the longest road tunnel in Europe. Both projects are in the early phases of development and if they go ahead billions more will be invested in the region in the coming decades.

Experts believe that prices and demand for property will rise and while this will be good news for those selling it also means that first time buyers will find it harder to get on the housing ladder if values increase.

There could be a large influx of foreign buyers to the region, according to Jan Crosby, head of housing at KPMG, as connectivity across the region and with the wider UK is a significant tick on their wish list.

While property investors from the likes of Asia and the Middle East have been interested in the Governments narrative around the Northern Powerhouse, they have been waiting for the words to be backed with action and financial commitment to improve the regions infrastructure before making large scale investments, she explained.

The issue for these investors has been end user demand for property across the North as the scale of appetite simply isnt as high for housing or for commercial property as they are used to in London or the South, because the ecosystem of infrastructure hasnt been there to create an environment which attracts the end user in significant numbers, she pointed out.

However, with HS3, improved road links and a trans-Pennine tunnel all garnering the Chancellors support, occupier demand for homes and business in the surrounding areas will rise, which we can expect to attract international property investors looking to place their money outside of the capitals heated market, she added.

Graham Davidson, managing director of buy to let specialist, Sequre Property Investment, believes that the job creation that will come with the infrastructure projects will result in increased demand for property, providing a positive outlook for buy to let investors who are chasing returns that have been squeezed out of London and the South East.

Since the Northern Powerhouse agenda was first touted two years ago, our own business has seen a circa 30% rise in interest in northern property at a granular level with many millions being invested further up the chain at a global level in residential and commercial projects. The message is more clear than ever; the north is open for business, he said.

The new routes across the Pennines and between Manchester and Leeds will open an abundance of property markets to new buyers, according to Glynis Frew, managing director of Hunters Property Group, and he does not necessarily think that prices will soar.

HS3 will give people more choice over where they want to and can afford to live. This will stop the markets becoming saturated and should stabilise prices. We would also welcome funding for HS2 as we are already seeing areas such as York and Leeds being considered London commuter belt territory as buyers and tenants take advantage of more affordable property prices, he explained.



He pointed out that the north currently has very strong lettings and sales markets due to strong price growth, high rental yields and cheaper rents in comparison to the South. The market has experienced a 35% increase in buyers looking to invest in The North and this can be partly attributed to previous investment in the region. We have seen this in Yorkshire, Merseyside, Sheffield and Manchester, to name just a few locations, he added.

However, Ian Wilson, chief executive officer of lettings and property management franchise Martin & Co, voiced concern that there might not be enough capacity in the lettings market to cope with the infrastructure investment.

There will be contractors, architects and planners working in these places for the next 20 to 30 years to provide the infrastructure programmes, the majority of whom will rent. Whilst the north of England requires these services in order to compete on a national scale and make it a more appealing place to live, projects such as this are reliant on a buoyant private rented sector to support it, he explained.

Instead of supporting private landlords and ensuring there will be enough rental properties to support the temporary growth in population, the Government is imposing punitive measures which actively impinge upon this sector of the housing market, he added, referring to tax changes that come into force for landlords in the coming months which will see an extra 3% stamp duty tax on additional homes and changes to mortgage interest relief tax.
Precise Mortgages, part of the leading specialist lender OSB Group, has expanded its popular refurbishment buy to let proposition, to offer new exit products. Previously the product combined short-term finance with the security of a long term exit, but new options are now available, depending on the type of refurbishment work being carried out.

The products are designed to help brokers and their customers seeking buy to let lending solutions that provide support to improve the energy efficiency of a property, thereby improving the standard of their asset and in turn providing better quality housing for their tenants.

 Exit 1 Refurbishment of a property that already has an EPC rating of C or above, or is awarded a C rating as a result of the improvement work with rates from 3.79%

 Exit 2 Refurbishment which includes some element of energy efficiency, for example fitting double glazing, upgrading a boiler or adding loft insulation with rates from 3.89%

 Exit 3 Standard refurbishment to make a property habitable with rates from 3.99%

Jon Hall, Group Managing Director (Mortgages), OSB Group, said: There has been much talk within the industry about EPCs and many are unaware that we are still in a consultation period. No firm direction has yet been given by the Government, so it would be remiss to encourage landlords to upgrade their properties on the basis of achieving a certain EPC rating.

What we do know is that as much as 20% of all emissions comes directly from property and in line with OSB Groups commitment towards Net Zero, weve introduced these new exits to assist landlords in their endeavours to improve the standard of housing theyre offering to tenants. By doing so, were also making a positive impact on the environmental as well as social aspects of the ESG agenda.

Richard Merrett, Head of Strategic Development (Mortgages), SimplyBiz Mortgages commented This is a welcome announcement from Precise Mortgages and a real boost to our clients who are looking to improve the energy efficiency of homes, maximise their rental yields and optimise the capital value on their properties.

This refurbishment buy to let product is exactly the type of innovation we are looking for in the market, were all facing real challenges with the rising costs of living, the potential regulatory requirements, and the desire to do the right thing and its this type of creativity that the market really needs more of to encourage more people to make changes.
Arc.in technology streamlines the Revenue Cycle Management process and provides complete transparency between Access Healthcare and its customers. Automating the rule-based, repetitive processes frees up valuable time for our associates and leaders to focus on higher-order tasks. It allows them to be creative, learn, grow...

Access Healthcare, a leading provider of end-to-end healthcare revenue cycle services, has enabled new performance gains in revenue cycle management (RCM) by increasing efficiency through best practice process and the introduction of automation in its arc.in platform. Access Healthcares mission is to bring excellence back to revenue cycle management by leveraging best practices in three areas: People, Process, and Technology.

The arc.in platform is an integrated set of applications that have operationalized Access Healthcares best practices across all RCM processes. Three main areas include Workflow and Reporting, Operations Dashboard, and Knowledge Management. The technology simplifies and streamlines the process, completely digitizing the cycle from end to end, and provides complete transparency between Access Healthcare and its customers.

The arc.in platform allows seamless integration between my team and Access Healthcare, said Mike Barnell, CEO at Precision Practice Management. My staff can access real-time work-flow reports, view productivity levels, and customize overarching business rules to meet my organizations needs. As a result, my staff spends less time worrying about getting claims paid and more time on customer service and strategic priorities.

The company will be taking the arc.in technology a step further through the introduction of Robotics Process Automation (RPA) which will work on top of the arc.in platform. Access Healthcares team of developers are digging into every aspect of the process to determine which steps can be automated successfully, while still adhering to the highest standards in best practices.

Technology and people go hand in hand. To run a healthy revenue cycle for our customers, we cant ignore the human element, explained Prabhakar Munuswamy, Head of IT at Access Healthcare. Rather, we employ technology to assist in the process. Arc.in helps us communicate, visualize data, and adhere to best practices. Automating the rule-based, repetitive processes frees up valuable time for our associates and leaders to focus on higher-order tasks. It allows them to be creative, learn, grow, and not worry about mundane tasks that traditionally take a large amount of time, but very little brain power.

The introduction of RPA will impact both efficiency and quality for Access Healthcares health system and billing company customers. Turn around times which are currently highly people dependent will decrease. The reduction of human error will lead to a higher quality of work and superior oversight of the process. The added bonus of a happier, more engaged workforce, not bogged down with box checking is more of a welcome side-effect than a recognized end goal.

About Access Healthcare

Exceptional healthcare organizations compliment the highest standards of care with a commitment to excellence in revenue cycle management. Billing companies and healthcare provider systems use Access Healthcare to bring excellence to their back office Revenue Cycle Management enabling better focus on strategic priorities, like profitability and creating great patient experiences. By leveraging the Access Healthcare Best Practice Engine for Revenue Cycle Management, our focus on creating results enables not only improved profitability, but opportunity to cultivate growth through reduced costs, better productivity, and higher quality. For more information, check out accesshealthcare.org.
Canonball attended the Business Excellence Awards in Orlando, Florida, where the agency won the award for The Best Company Culture. The Business Excellence Awards recognize the Best of the Best in small- and medium-sized businesses and honor the achievements and accomplishments of owners across industries around the world.

Canonballs CEO, Jon Simpson was honored to have received this distinguished award on behalf of the agency: "The development and keeping of the culture and talent at Canonball is our highest priority. While winning this award is an honor and certainly validation for the work we've put in, our work towards building the company culture is never ending, as it should be in any organization."

Contact Ashley Tyndall at atyndall(at)canonball(dot)com with any questions.

Canonball Office Hours Monday  Friday 8:00am-5:00pm

About Canonball: Canonball has a wide-range of clients from many different verticals, but maintains a focus within high-end luxury real estate. The agency devotes its many talents to a single charge: building brands and increasing ROI for their clients through the use of effective branding and inbound marketing strategies.
A homeowner who has been foreclosed on by one with no right to do so has suffered an injurious invasion of his or her legal rights at the foreclosing entity's hands. No more is required for standing to sue.

Patricia Rodriguez , lead attorney for the Patricia Rodriguez Law Group, is one of several well known foreclosure defense attorneys who were recently empowered and vindicated by a landmark Supreme Court of California decision providing homeowner borrowers further grounds to sue against wrongful foreclosures instituted by their banks. The state Supreme Court opinion on the case of Yvanova v. New Century Mortgage Corp was filed on Thursday, February 18th, 2016, and came down unanimously in favor of borrowers over banks in that borrowers can now challenge in court foreclosures if the assigned holder of a loan cant prove it is the actual owner. This profoundly affects borrowers who received loans from banks which pooled mortgages into securitized trusts or other financial instruments.

The state Supreme Court stated in a 33-page ruling: "The borrower owes money not to the world at large but to a particular person or institution, and only the person or institution entitled to payment may enforce the debt by foreclosing on the security. And further, "A homeowner who has been foreclosed on by one with no right to do so has suffered an injurious invasion of his or her legal rights at the foreclosing entity's hands. No more is required for standing to sue."

The case for California homeowner Yvanova was argued before the state Supreme Court by attorney Richard Antognini. He had previously lost the Yvanova v New Century Mortgage Corp case in a California Court of Appeals and other lower courts. Similarly, Patricia Rodriguez was the attorney for the high profile and often-referenced homeowner borrowers rights case of Jenkins v. JPMorgan Chase (which also lost in 2011) in which the Court of Appeals said the borrower could not file a claim of wrongful foreclosure because they are not a party to or a holder of the debt.

Patricia Rodriguez is one of the pioneer attorneys in challenging foreclosing banks on the grounds of the chain of assignment of ownership of the loan and other related conditions. She commented, This is a critically and historically important reversal of the California lower courts opinions that blocked homeowner borrowers from suing banks based on which entity actually owns the debt. This is a tremendous opening for California homeowners who are in or have gone through nonjudicial foreclosure. Essentially, the court is saying if you claim you own a debt, then you have to prove you actually do own that debt, and a borrower can take that bank to court and prove the bank does not own it.

The state Supreme Court essentially sided with a 2013 state appellate ruling in Glaski v. Bank of America. This case held that borrowers can challenge a nonjudicial foreclosure sale based on alleged violations of pooling and servicing agreement terms.
"We knew from the beginning we were right in interpreting the fetal heart strip," said Piscadlo after the trial. The only challenge was getting the jury to understand the medical information and we did that with the help of medical experts.

Last month, Hodgkinson Street Mepham, LLC expertly defended an OB/GYN doctor in a wrongful death case regarding a stillbirth that occurred in 2009, in which the doctor was accused of negligence (Case No. 12-2-03990-2, Clark County Superior Court).

On December 9, 2009, the plaintiff arrived at the hospital in labor and was hooked up to a fetal heart monitor. She labored for about 15 hours, without complication, before the fetal heart monitor indicated signs of distress. She was immediately taken for an emergency cesarean section. The baby was born without a heartbeat and was not breathing. Doctors attempted resuscitation but were unable to save the baby.

The plaintiff alleged that her baby had suffered hypoxia, or suffocation in the uterus, and that had a cesarean section been done earlier, her baby would not have died. She also alleged that the doctor violated the duty of informed consent by not informing her of various risks alleged to be associated with continuing the labor. The plaintiff sought $3.5 million in damages.

During the trial, HSM attorneys, Jeffrey Street and Brad Piscadlo, successfully showed that the labor was normal and that the baby was not in distress until the very end due to the umbilical cord being compressed.

Throughout the two week trial, the defense presented evidence and testimony from expert witnesses, including three obstetricians and a neonatologist. The primary evidence in the case was the fetal heart strip, which provides a continuous record of the fetal heart rate during labor. The fetal heart strip proved that the baby was well oxygenated throughout the labor and that there was no indication for an earlier C-section.

"We knew from the beginning we were right in interpreting the fetal heart strip," said Piscadlo after the trial. The only challenge was getting the jury to understand the medical information and we did that with the help of medical experts.

The jury returned a unanimous verdict, in just 43 minutes, finding that the doctor was not negligent and did not violate the duty to provide informed consent.

About Hodgkinson Street Mepham, LLC

Hodgkinson Street Mepham, LLC (http://www.hs-legal.com) is a Portland litigation defense law firm established in 2009. Recognized as a leader in medical malpractice defense, construction defect, catastrophic personal injury, and real estate litigation, the firm represents some of the top healthcare professionals, corporations and individuals in the Pacific Northwest. Hodgkinson Street Mepham attorneys have tried hundreds of jury trials and arbitrations in Oregon and Washington throughout their careers.

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"Ethics & International Affairs" Journal Celebrates its 30th Anniversary In the next decade, 'Ethics & International Affairs' journal will continue to advance scholarship that helps us shed light on the deep norms and ideas that underlie global affairs.

This year Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs celebrates the 30th anniversary of its distinguished journal, "Ethics & International Affairs." In an age that thinks in terms of nanoseconds, the journals mission has acquired a new urgency. More than ever, the journal is committed to encouraging reflection, advancing scholarship, fostering respectful debate, and offering deep analysis of the values and ideals that animate global affairs.

The Councils premier publication, "Ethics & International Affairs" (EIA) is a quarterly peer-reviewed journal noted for its distinct focus on ethics, attention to both long-standing and immediate issues, and its ability to attract both senior scholars and new voices. EIA aims to bring together theory and practice by publishing original essays that integrate rigorous thinking about principles of ethics and justice into discussions of practical issues related to assessing and reforming specific policies, existing arrangements, and global institutions.

Founded in 1987, EIA started as an in-house annual publication. By 2005 it was a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal and in 2010 it announced its publishing partnership with Cambridge University Press, the leader in international affairs scholarly publications.

From the very start EIA attracted some of the big names in international relations scholarship, including Joseph Nye, Stanley Hoffmann, and Kenneth W. Thompson, among others. Reflecting the main preoccupations of the time, the journal focused on the ethics of the cold war, nuclear proliferation, and issues of power. Post 1989, the journal paid special attention to humanitarian intervention, globalization and its discontents, and the ethics of anti-terrorism policies. Most recently, EIA has also investigated timely topics such as drones, automated weapons systems, Big Data, climate change, migration, and global governance. At all times, the journal's focus has been on the rights and responsibilities in social relationshipswith each other, as fellow-citizens; with distant others, especially the global poor; and with the natural environment.

Theres no shortage of global challengeslong-standing and newthat demand our attention, says editor in chief Joel H. Rosenthal, who is also president of Carnegie Council. In the next decade, well continue to advance scholarship that helps us shed light on the deep norms and ideas that underlie global affairs. By focusing on ethics, we hope both to engage the public in foreign policy analysis and assist policy-makers in making better decisions.

ABOUT CARNEGIE COUNCIL

Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1914 and based in New York City, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is an educational, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that produces lectures, publications, and multimedia materials on the ethical challenges of living in a globalized world. For more information, go to http://www.carnegiecouncil.org.

ABOUT CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS

Cambridge University Press is part of the University of Cambridge. It furthers the University's mission by disseminating knowledge in the pursuit of education, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence. Its extensive peer-reviewed publishing lists comprise over 50,000 titles covering academic research, professional development, over 350 research journals, school-level education, English language teaching, and bible publishing. Playing a leading role in today's international market place, Cambridge University Press has more than 50 offices around the globe, and it distributes its products to nearly every country in the world. For more information, go to: http://www.cambridge.org.
Conscious Capitalism New York City will host its inaugural Conscious Investor Summit (https://consciousinvestorssummit.splashthat.com/?preview) on March 30 at New York University Stern School of Business from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Participants will explore the manner in which capital, when directed toward stakeholder-focused companies, can create opportunities for business and society to prosper together.

Featured speakers include some of the most significant thought leaders in the conscious investment world, including Trevor Neilson, CEO of i(x) Investments; Lily S. Trager, executive director of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management; and Sunny Vanderbeck, managing partner and co-founder of Satori Capital. Presenting companies manage over $200 billion.

This event is designed specifically for investment advisers, family offices, foundations, asset managers, private bankers, fund managers, and business leaders to:



Deepen their understanding of the conscious investment landscape.

Learn how to harness the power of conscious capitalism to strengthen investment, asset allocation, and wealth preservation strategies.

Develop relationships with likeminded investors and potential partners.

We look forward to bringing together an incredibly accomplished and forward-thinking group of investors to learn about the latest approaches in conscious investing, said event organizer Jeff Cherry.

The agenda will include keynotes, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be provided throughout the day, followed by cocktails and light appetizers.

The Conscious Investor Summit is part of Conscious Capitalism New York Citys ambitious plan to inspire $10 billion in investments in conscious companies by 2017. Were excited about tapping into the ideas and energy generated at the summit to make conscious investing an increasingly important topic for all investors, explained event organizer Daniel Dworkin.

For more information about the summit, a full speaker list, a high-level agenda, and tickets, visit the event website: consciousinvestorsummit.splashthat.com.

About Conscious Capitalism New York City

Conscious Capitalism New York Citys (http://www.consciouscapitalism.org/node/3025) mission is to impact the way leaders in business and government function by promoting the principles of conscious capitalism and enabling companies to operate consciously. Its focus is on driving $10 billion in investments in conscious companies by 2017. It strives to spark new and proven modes of thinking and behaving that will increase the rewards for all participants. Conscious Capitalism New York Citys tools are dialogue, debate, community, and action. Find it on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7494243).
Debbie Knieper, John Leatherwood, Lisa Strydom The single most interesting aspect of this business is all of the wonderful people I get to meet and to know

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty, a leading real estate firm at North Carolina's Outer Banks would like to congratulate The Sandman Team of the Kitty Hawk location Hills location for earning the Agent of the Month award for February 2016.

John Leatherwood, The Sandman is the leader of the successful Sandman Team OBX, which also includes Lisa Strydom and Sales Coordinator, Debbie Knieper.

"The single most interesting aspect of this business is all of the wonderful people I get to meet and to know. One thing each person has in common is their love for the Beach & OBX! I feel very blessed to be of assistance to clients purchasing or selling a property, but more so by the friendships I have made along the way!" says John Leatherwood of his experience this month. John Leatherwood can be reached by email at john(at)sandmanteamobx.com.

"I am always impressed by the level of customer service and commitment that John and his entire team offer to their clients. This, along with a tremendous work ethic, is just one of the reasons they continue to be very successful," says Pamela Smith, Vice President of Sales.

Locally established for over 25 years, both Kitty Hawk and in Kill Devil Hills Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty is family owner and operated with over 45 dedicated real estate professionals providing the full range of residential and commercial real estate services throughout the Outer Banks including Hatteras Island and all of Northeastern North Carolina. Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty sells more real estate than any other firm on the Outer Banks.*

For information about real estate on the Outer Banks and Northeastern North Carolina, visit http://www.CBSeaside.com or call 252-261-3800 in Kitty Hawk or 252-480-4444 in Kill Devi Hills to speak with one of our real estate professionals.

*As reported by OBAR for the period of 1/01/2015 - 12/31/2015
During the 2016 Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo, held March 3-6 at the Overland Park Kansas Convention Center, Snap-on Tools took home the award for 2016 Booth of the Year. The award was presented to Snap-on's Tools of Triumph Tour exhibit, which includes three trailers, an interactive product showcase and a 4-car race simulation experience.

"We are excited to hear of Snap-on winning the Booth of the Year award at Vision 2016. Snap-on Tools commissioned Traction Factory of Milwaukee, WI and SPEVCO to create and produce this tour. It's great to learn that it is seen out in the marketplace as first class and one of a kind." said Bill Victory, Mission Specialist at SPEVCO. The Booth of the Year award recognizes exhibits that have an excellent appearance, present products in a dynamic fashion, clearly exhibit the company identity and are managed by friendly, knowledgeable personnel.

SPEVCO is thrilled to have been a part of the team that worked on creating this award-winning exhibit. Together with Traction Factory, the companies worked to bring the ideas envisioned by Snap-on's marketing team to life and create both an exciting and informative mobile marketing tour. Traction Factory created the experience footprint and all interactive display components. SPEVCO provided the mobile vehicle platforms and worked to put the proper technology on board the exhibit to travel across the country.

The 2016 Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo was just one of many events that this interactive mobile marketing exhibit will participate in this year. "Snap-on Tools is a leader in the manufacture of tools, equipment, diagnostics & repair solutions for automotive professionals. They look to us for our expertise not only in building the exhibit but also in helping execute their tour schedule in 2016," Victory said. "It's a great way for the company to introduce new products to their customers and help build their brand."
Dave is a well-respected thought leader in Technology, and in particular the marketing, selling and delivering of a Platform, alongside a core Software-as-a-Service product, said Tal Shalit, CEO of Betterez. We are very pleased to welcome Dave to our Advisory Board, as the Platform approach is central to Betterez technology roadmap and growth in the RTM space.

Dave Wright currently serves as ServiceNows Chief Strategy Officer. Prior to joining ServiceNow, Dave spent over six years with VMware, Inc. as Vice President of Technical Services for EMEA. From 2003 to 2005 Dave headed up the technical division for Northern and Southern Europe at Mercury Interactive. Prior to that he spent six years at Peregrine Systems, Inc., where he held a variety of senior technical and marketing positions. Wright has also worked for Boole & Babbage, Inc. and Candle Services (later acquired by IBM).

I have been impressed with Betterez vision of a Reservations & Ticketing Management (RTM) market segment, as well as their from-the-ground-up API and Platform approach to architecting the RTM SaaS application, said Mr. Wright. I am pleased to start 2016 as part of Betterez Advisory Board, and look forward to contributing to their technology strategy and company growth.

About Betterez: Betterez, founded in 2011 is a next generation Reservations & Ticketing Management (RTM) technology company focused on helping Travel and Multi-use ticketing Operators grow their businesses more efficiently through the use of always on, world class Software, APIs and RTM Platform components. http://www.betterez.com
On March 8th The American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) in partnership with the West Virginia Citizens Defense League (WVCDL), applauded the override of Governor Tomblins veto of HB 4145. The legislation allows a law-abiding citizen of West Virginia, who is 21 years of age or older, to lawfully carry a knife, open or concealed, without needing to first obtain a government-issued permit. The West Virginia legislature overrode the veto this past Saturday, March 5th. The law goes into effect 90 days from the override.

AKTI is a non-profit 501(c)6 organization which represents all segments of the knife industry and knife users, promoting reasonable and responsible knife legislation and enforcement. We believe that law-abiding citizens should be able to carry their essential and valuable tools without the fear of arbitrary, inconsistent and ineffective governmental restrictions.

We are extremely pleased to see HB 4145 pass the West Virginia Legislature, said AKTIs Executive Director, Jan Billeb. We believe that HB 4145 will be beneficial to all citizens in the State of West Virginia. It allows for eligible persons to carry the knife of their choice. This positive legislation would ensure that law-abiding West Virginia citizens are not criminalized for possession and carry of a tool.

AKTI worked closely with WVCDL, who was instrumental in the momentum behind the legislation. WVCDL is a non-partisan, non-profit, all-volunteer, grassroots organization of concerned West Virginians who support our individual right to keep and bear arms for defense of self, family, home and state, and for lawful hunting and recreational use .

About AKTI:

The American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) is a non-profit organization (501(c)6) representing all segments of the knife industry and all knife users. Formed in true grassroots fashion by concerned industry leaders after considerable discussion with individual knifemakers, knife magazine publishers, and a broad section of the knife community, AKTI has been the reasonable and responsible voice of the knife community since 1998. AKTIs mission is to ensure that Americans will always be able to make, buy, sell, own, carry and use knives and edged tools. To learn more, please visit http://www.akti.org. and https://www.facebook.com/saveourknives/?fref=ts
Board Preppers The missing piece of the puzzle

Board Preppers helps graduates pass their National Physical Therapy Exam for PTA the first time with 93% success rate.

After the collapse of the mortgage industry in the late 2000s Scott Salamin went back to school to train as a physical therapist assistant. Upon completing his studies he was faced with passing the dreaded board exams in order to obtain his license.

After graduation, my university gave me a study guide and encouragement, but I was faced with preparation for the exam on my own. I searched for guidance on how to properly prepare, but unlike nursing and other professional licensure, PTA had nothing out there. Frankly, it was quite an unnerving process, Salamin said.

Salamin started a study group, early on during his education at the request of his program director, at South University, Tampa. This group was established to help others in his cohort, who were struggling to keep up. He was again asked to form a study group, but this time for the national licensure exam. His study group was so successful, he was asked to start another study group, and then another. Eventually he turned his passion for helping others prepare for the national board licensure exam into a business and launched Board Preppers.

Using live interactive webinars, detailed question and answer dissection, test taking strategies, and teaching time and anxiety management techniques, Board Preppers gives you the best chance of passing your exams, guaranteed. They provide day and evening classes to accommodate your schedule.

Their 40 hour review course, and 3 day workshop has helped hundreds across the country pass their NPTA for PTA with just over a 93% pass rate for first time takers and a 90% pass rate for repeat testers.

Their long-term goal is to help any and all licensed medical professionals to prepare for their national licensure exams. Today they specialize in helping PTAs, but soon will be helping PT, OT, COTA, LPN, RN and eventually PA, NA, and ARNP. They are committed to accommodating individuals whose first language is not English; currently, they are prepared to assist Spanish and Egyptian Arabic speakers, and will be expanding into other languages in the future.

Call Board Preppers at 84-HELPPASS / (844) 357-7277

Email Scott Salamin at info(at)boardpreppers.com

Visit them online at https://boardpreppers.com

Contact: Scott Salamin
Sandy Wieber, Senior Vice President, Strategic Marketing Over 1,100 people applied for this search, and to have individuals recognized from our territory shows that we have a strong tie to agriculture in our communities.

MidAtlantic Farm Credit announced the local winners of the national Fresh Perspectives Search, held as part of Farm Credits centennial celebration. The nationwide search ran from July through December 2015, looking for people making an impact in the agriculture industry, and leading the way for future generations.

Winners include: Trevor Hoff, a young entrepreneur who runs a farm market in New Windsor, Maryland, with his girlfriend Victoria Robinson; Kenny Bounds of Bethel, Maryland, a long time agriculture advocate; Allison Boyd, coordinator for the Farm Alliance of Baltimore City; Beckie Gurley, founder of Calverts Gift Farm in Sparks, Maryland and Chesapeake Farm to Table; Ann Karlen, executive director of Fair Food Philly; and Melissa Miller, farmer and manager of True Vine Farm in Strasburg, Pennsylvania.

Hoff and Robinson were one of ten winners chosen nationally, honored in the Entrepreneurship and Innovation category. They will be awarded a $10,000 cash prize to help them continue marketing their business, Local Homestead Products, as well as a paid trip to Washington, D.C. to accept their award later this year.

We couldnt be more proud of Trevor and Victoria, says Sandy Wieber, Senior Vice President, Strategic Marketing for MidAtlantic Farm Credit. They are a great example of young farmers who are making a huge difference in agriculture on a regional level, and we are thrilled that they are able to share their story with others across the country. Trevor started Local Homestead Products in 2012, while he was in college. Today, they sell fresh, local products directly to consumers in the area, including cheese, chicken, and vegetables.

Bounds was recognized in the Financial Stewardship category, Gurley was recognized in the Mentoring and Volunteerism category, and Miller was recognized in the Beginning Farmer or Rancher Achievement category. Both Boyd and Karlen were finalists in the Rural and Urban Connection category.

Farmers and ranchers, as well as individuals who represent other agribusinesses, cooperatives, academic institutions, government agencies, community and non-government organizations, applied to this nationwide search, which is recognizing leaders in agriculture. One hundred people were honored, with the top ten  one from each nomination category - being awarded $10,000. A reception will be held in Washington, D.C. in June, where they will be given the opportunity to meet with legislators and other supporters of the agricultural industry.

Over 1,100 people applied for this search, and to have individuals recognized from our territory shows that we have a strong tie to agriculture in our communities, says Wieber. Trevor and Victoria have a true passion for what they do, and it shows in their work.

For more information about Farm Credits centennial celebration, please visit mafc.com/fc100.php.

About MidAtlantic Farm Credit

MidAtlantic Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative owned by its memberborrowers. It provides farm loans for land, equipment, livestock and production; crop insurance; and rural home mortgages. The co-op has over 10,600 members and over $2.4 billion in loans outstanding. MidAtlantic has branches serving Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. It is part of the national Farm Credit System, a network of financial cooperatives established in 1916 to provide a dependable source of credit to farmers and rural America.
Chuck Proudfit, left, and six breakout speakers at AWOP Marketplace Mobilization 2016 (Memories Matter Photo). We need to focus less on belonging to a church and more on being the church to reclaim the marketplace for Christ, one work life at a time.

More than 500 people attended the At Work on Purpose (AWOP) Marketplace Mobilization 2016 faith-at-work event March 5 at Cincinnati Christian University in Cincinnati.

AWOP founder and president Chuck Proudfit told attendees that there are 350,000 working Christians in the greater Cincinnati area, yet only about 18,000less than five percent-- or a remnant, understand that work is a form of worship.

Proudfit called on this remnant, or ekklesia (Greek name for assembly called out) of Christians, to minister to people at work, eventually engaging them in faith conversations.

The success of the early Christian church relied on the ekklesia-- or a remnant of fully devoted followers-- to go into a territory to preach the good news, said Proudfit.

After Jesuss death, the apostles were a remnant community, but they were a remnant that changed the world, said Proudfit. Within 250 years, the original 120 Christian followers grew to half the Roman population.

Today, he said, we live in a post-Christian society. We need to focus less on belonging to a church and more on being the church to reclaim the marketplace for Christ, one work life at a time.

Participants attended breakout sessions given by faith-at-work experts who gave practical tips on how to integrate faith and work.

Al Erisman, a faculty member of Seattle Pacific University and member of the Theology of Work project in Seattle, spoke on Climbing the Corporate Ladder without Losing Your Soul. He is a 32-year veteran of Boeing, now retired, who directed a 300-employee research and development department of computer scientists, statisticians and mathematicians.

Erisman said every worker has a role to play to represent God in the community and in their work, and emphasized the importance of performing your job ethically and serving others in order to become a leader and advance in a career. He also said that God cares about your work.

Which wing of an airplane is more important, the left or right wing? he asked. Make decisions with grace and represent Christ as well as you can.

A career is about being in service, he added. Dont focus on titles and climbing the corporate ladder, but find Gods purpose for you and serve.

Rusty Geverdt, missionary and prayer pastor at North Star Church, spoke on Hearing Gods Voice at Work. Gerverdt is founder of the Cincinnati House of Prayer and is a leader in the prayer movement in greater Cincinnati.

He spoke about being a missionary in eastern Europe during the Cold War, and communicating in other languages throughout the day. He listened to the Voice of America on his short wave radio at night just to hear a voice speaking English.

The radio had a big dial and a small dial; once you tuned in a station, it would eventually begin to fade away, so you used the small dial to fine-tune it, he said. This is pretty much a metaphor for how God speaks to us.

He said we have to learn to tune in a little bit more and listen harder to what God says to us when we pray, because the tune and tenor of Gods voice comes from pausing in prayer just to listen to him at times.

When you pray, ask God what he is thinking and feeling, he suggested. If you create a morning routine of reading and prayer and listen to what comes to you in the pauses, you will create a reservoir of familiarity in which you will hear Gods voice, he added.

AWOP will offer additional sessions for marketplace mobilization in Cincinnati over the next two months.

Geverdt will offer expanded guidance and discussion on Hearing Gods Voice on the Job from 9 to 11 a.m. on March 19 at Community First Properties , 11176 Main St. in Sharonville, Ohio.

Doug Pollock, an author, speaker and teacher, will speak on Sharing the Good News at Work, from 9 to 11 a.m. on April 2, 9 and 16 at the At Work on Purpose suite, CMC Office Center, 10921 Reed Hartman Highway, Suite 120, in Blue Ash, Ohio.

Admission to both events is free, but RSVPs are required. To attend the sessions, contact Ron Touby at ron.touby@cru.org before March 30.

With more than 8,000 greater Cincinnati members, AWOP is the nations largest citywide marketplace ministry. AWOP was founded in 2003, and is located in Blue Ash.

For more information on AWOPs events, its faith-at-work tools and roundtables, go to http://www.atworkonpurpose.org or call (800) 513-9580.

Contact:

Laura Jackson

Phone; (800) 513-9580

Email: ljackson(at)skillsource(dot)com

About At Work on Purpose:

At Work on Purpose is the nation's largest, citywide marketplace ministry. Based in Cincinnati, the nonprofit organization helps working Christians mobilize the work world for Christ by offering inspiring and proactive ways to help them integrate faith into their work, transforming their jobs into platforms for ministry.
T.E.N., a technology and information security executive networking and relationship-marketing firm, honored finalists and winners Tuesday evening, March 15, at the 2016 ISE Southeast Executive Forum and Awards Gala at the Westin Peachtree Hotel in Atlanta, GA.

John Graham, chief security officer for Jabil, was selected as the Information Security Executive of the Year Award winner for the ISE Southeast Region. John has an extensive background as an information assurance executive with experience in strategy, design and implementation of solutions, which provide governance in Enterprise Risk Management, IT Risk Management, Security, Privacy, Compliance, and Business Continuity. Johns achievements include the creation of leverage between, required enterprise governance controls with cost savings, to include revenue generating value add services.

Jennifer Cole, VP Information Security & Governance for ServiceMaster, and David Rooker, chief security officer, Actian Corporation, were honored during the event as finalists in the executive category. Connie Barrera, director Info Assurance and chief information security officer for Jackson Health System, won the 2016 ISE Southeast Peoples Choice Award. This award represents the nominee who best exemplifies information security leadership as voted on by his peers in information security.

Cox Automotives Rugged DevOps project was selected as the ISE Southeast Project of the Year. Tony Spurlin, chief information security officer, accepted on behalf of the project. The project implemented a comprehensive application security program, integrating cloud-based static application security testing and in-house dynamic application security testing with its agile software development life-cycle (SDLC). As a result, Cox Automotive reduced application security vulnerabilities by 20% in the first year while cutting the amount of application rework by 60% to accelerate more secure solutions into production. This also enabled the company to strengthen its competitive advantage and lower costs.

Project finalists included SunTrusts DR Next Project, Elavons SecurityON, and Change Healthcares TITAN - Threat Intelligence Tactical Analysis Network.

Our judges faced a difficult challenge in evaluating such a high caliber group of executive and project nominees, said T.E.N. CEO and President Marci McCarthy. Each of them exhibits the innovation and ingenuity for which the ISE Awards stand and we are honored to have each and every one of join the ranks of our distinguished ISE Alumni.

Full list of nominees can be found on the T.E.N. website:

Executive: http://www.ten-inc.com/ise/southeast/exec_nominees.asp

Project: http://www.ten-inc.com/ise/southeast/project_nominees.asp

The ISE Southeast Awards recognize both information security executives and projects for outstanding achievements in risk management, data asset protection, compliance, privacy and network security. Award winners were selected from the U.S. Southeast region, which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The event is made possible by kilobyte sponsors: CloudPassage, Cisco, Exabeam, Globalscape, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Intralinks, Logrythym, Qualys, RSA, Symantec, and Trend Micro and display sponsors: Bromium Carbon Black, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd, Imperva, Fidelis Cybersecurity, Novetta, Onapsis, RiskIQ, ServiceNow, Splunk, Tufin, Varonis and Venafi. Learn more http://www.ten-inc.com/ise/southeast/sponsors.asp

About T.E.N.

T.E.N., a national technology and security executive networking organization, facilitates peer-to-peer relationships between top executives, industry visionaries and solutions providers. Nominated for numerous industry awards, T.E.N.s executive leadership programs enable information exchange, collaboration and decision-making. Its flagship program, the nationally-acclaimed Information Security Executive (ISE) of the Year Program Series and Awards, is North Americas largest leadership recognition and networking program for security professionals. Other offerings include The ISE Lions Den and Jungle Lounge, T.E.N. Custom Programs and the ISE Industry Expert Advisory Services, empowering IT solutions providers to gain access to highly credentialed IT business veterans expertise. For information, visit http://www.ten-inc.com.

About ISE Award Program Series

For more than a decade, the Information Security Executive (ISE) of the Year Award Program Series has empowered security executives and their project teams to Connect, Collaborate and Celebrate. Recognized as the industrys most prestigious IT Security award program, it has become the most anticipated award program for security executives and their project teams. Winners have included executives and project teams from leading organizations such as Nike, The Walt Disney Company, the United States Postal Service, Schlumberger, Texas Instruments, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Equifax, Comcast, PayPal, Northrop Grumman Corporation, and Nationwide.

Our distinguished ISE Judges are past nominees representing a cross section of industries, including commercial, government, health care and academic sectors. For this reason, the ISE Awards represent the best achievements of the year as evaluated by those regarded as the industry's most influential and successful thought leaders. Coupled with a one or two-day executive summit, the ISE Awards are held across the country and Canada in major cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, New York and San Francisco. The ISE Awards Program Series has reached more than 10,000 executives across a broad range of industries and has been a major influence in executives careers, knowledge sharing, and the development of peer-to-peer relationships.

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Note to editors: Trademarks and registered trademarks referenced herein remain the property of their respective owners.
Our collaboration with Milliman is an example of CMR Institutes commitment to deliver relevant, real-world perspective and knowledge.

CMR Institutethe leading provider of non-brand related education for biopharmaceutical, medical device & diagnostics (MD&D), and related life science industriesannounced that they are collaborating with Milliman, Inc., the leading provider of actuarial consulting services to the healthcare industry, to create expert risk contracting training resources to be available in April 2016. CMR will be working with Milliman consultants from their New York office.

As healthcare is transitioning to value-based care and alternative payment models, risk contracting between payers and providers is becoming a common practice. Understanding how payers, providers, and manufacturers can systematically approach risk contracting is critical for commercial sales teams from biopharmaceutical and medical device companies, as they create strategies to build more meaningful partnerships with their customers.

With increased focus on transitioning from volume to value, new business models are emerging for all stakeholders. We expect this to drive more payers and providers to increase their engagement in risk contracting with biopharmaceutical and medical device companies. said Michelle OConnor, President and CEO of CMR Institute. Our collaboration with Milliman is an example of CMR Institutes commitment to deliver relevant, real-world perspective and knowledge. With a deeper understanding of risk contracting, our clients commercial teams will be better prepared to have more meaningful and strategic discussions with their customers.

Many forward-thinking biopharmaceutical and MD&D companies are piloting risk contracts with key customers. Effectively designing these contracts is essential to ensure appropriate utilization, broader patient access to the most effective therapies, and improved healthcare outcomes.

A huge cross-section of the US healthcare system is shifting to risk, with Medicare and private payers implementing a variety of value-based systems, often through accountable care organizations, said Bruce Pyenson, Principal and Consulting Actuary in Millimans New York office. However, risk contracts are a newer and bigger challenge for biopharmaceutical and MD&D companies than for provider organizations. Our collaboration with CMR Institute will introduce the actuarial concepts and analytic rigor needed for risk contracts to these companies and will help build support for approaching risk in a systematic way.

Prior to the launch of the risk contracting training resources, CMR Institute and Milliman will be hosting a live, interactive webinar on Monday, April 11th at noon, to discuss risk sharing across the industry and the opportunities it presents life science companies. To learn more or register, visit http://www.cmrinstitute.org.

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About CMR Institute

CMR Institute is the leading independent provider of non-brand related training resources for the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries and has educated more than 150,000 professionals. Our training resources are created in partnership with leading academic experts and distinguished healthcare executivesto empower our clients and their commercial teams to achieve sustained success with applicable, actionable knowledge. CMR Institutes not-for-profit status allows it to re-invest its resources into its educational contentcontinually evaluating and updating resources based on ongoing expert input, industry insights, and marketplace changes. CMR Institutes commitment to training excellence ensures our clients are always ready to face the next marketplace challenge and successfully demonstrate their value-proposition. To learn more, visit http://www.cmrinstitute.org. @CMRInstitute

About Milliman

Milliman is among the world's largest providers of actuarial and related products and services. The firm has consulting practices in healthcare, property & casualty insurance, life insurance and financial services, and employee benefits. Founded in 1947, Milliman is an independent firm with offices in major cities around the globe. For further information, visit http://www.milliman.com.
Barry Brandman With the recent shootings at the Excel Industries, Hesston, Kansas facility so soon after the December 2015 incident at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, companies are justifiably concerned about this growing threat.

The law firm of Norris, McLaughlin & Marcus, P.A. will hold a seminar at their Bridgewater, New Jersey offices on March 30, 2016 that will feature Barry Brandman, President/CEO of Danbee Investigations, as one of the speakers. His presentation will explain how companies can best prevent and respond to these types of incidents.

More than half of shooter incidents in the United Sates occur in a commercial, business or education environment. According to an FBI study of Active Shooter Incidents between 2003  2013, there were 1,043 casualties with 486 of these resulting in fatalities.

Workplace violence, especially when lethal weapons are involved, is becoming all too commonplace. With the recent shootings at the Excel Industries, Hesston, Kansas facility so soon after the December 2015 incident at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, companies are justifiably concerned about this growing threat, explains Barry Brandman.

The speakers at this seminar include Norris, McLaughlin & Marcus, P.A. attorneys David E. Cassidy and Keya C. Denner, as well as Brandman and Jack DeLorenzo from Danbee Investigations.

Jack and I will be explaining how companies can reduce their risk by being strategically proactive, recognizing the characteristics of a current or former employee who may be a potential active shooter threat, how to respond should you find yourself in an active shooter situation, as well as how to properly interact with law enforcement when they arrive, explains Barry Brandman. More than half of these workplace attacks are over prior to uniformed police or SWAT teams responding, so its imperative to know what to do. Having this knowledge can literally mean the difference between life or death.

ABOUT DANBEE INVESTIGATIONS:

Danbee Investigations, headquartered in Fair Lawn, NJ, (http://www.danbeeinvestigations.com) is one of the most respected names in the corporate security industry, providing consulting and investigative services that include designing companywide asset protection programs, vulnerability assessments, an employee Hotline program, security auditing and specialized training. Their clients include Fortune 100 corporations as well as privately held companies and law firms both domestically and internationally.

SEMINAR PRESENTERS:

David E. Cassidy, Esq., Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, P.A  David has extensive experience representing management in labor and employment matters. He regularly litigates employment claims in state and federal court and before the American Arbitration Association. He also advises clients during union organizing campaigns, and represents clients in representation and unfair labor practice charge proceedings before the National Labor Relation Board.

Keya C. Denner, Esq., Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, P.A.  Keya has extensive litigation experience representing management in matters ranging from breach of employment agreements and restrictive covenants to discrimination, disability, and wage and hour violations under federal and state laws. He also advises clients during union organizing campaigns, and represents clients in representation and unfair labor practice charge proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board.

Barry Brandman, Danbee Investigations  Barry is President/CEO of Danbee Investigations. He has over 30 years experience designing asset protection programs for companies domestically and internationally and has also been a consultant with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Barry has authored two security manuals, Security Best Practices and The Executives Guide to Business Security, as well as articles for numerous publications, including Security Management, Corporate Security, and Risk Management. He has appeared on network television and been interviewed by USA Today, and Forbes.

Jack DeLorenzo, Danbee Investigations  Jack, a 25-year Law Enforcement veteran and former detective captain, is a certified instructor in active shooter situations, firearms, and terrorism awareness. He has completed numerous FBI training courses and is also certified by the U.S. Department of Justice as both a Community Terrorism Awareness Instructor as well as a School Resource Officer.
TruExperiences Tours is proud to announce the launch of a new, three-hour Toronto Small-Group City Tour starting May 1, 2016. This was prompted by rave reviews for the 2015 inaugural season of its day-long Niagara Falls Small-Group Day Tour from Toronto.

The Niagara Falls Small-Group Day Tour from Toronto and the new Toronto Small-Group City Tour are both limited to just fifteen guests and feature transportation by deluxe Mercedes-Benz Sprinters. Each vehicle has one driver and one guide so the driver can focus on driving and the guide can focus on making the tour exceptional for its guests. Both sightseeing tours operate from May 1 to October 31 and include complimentary pick up and drop off at all downtown Toronto hotels.

Todays traveler is looking for an authentic, immersive experience, and small group tours limited to just fifteen guests are an ideal way to experience a new city. A small group tour means more personal attention, more photo stops and more of an experience.

The Niagara Falls Small-Group Day Tour departs daily from Toronto at 9:30 a.m. with a 6:30 p.m. return time. Admission is included to the Hornblower Niagara Cruises boat tour. The tour includes ample leisure time to explore Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Private tours are also available.

The new three-hour Toronto Small-Group City Tour departs twice daily at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The tour includes visits to Torontos most popular sights as well as many hidden gems. Experienced guides will provide a true insiders perspective.

For complete details, please visit http://www.tetours.com http://www.tetours.com http://www.tetours.com.

TruExperiences Tours

Established in 1999, TruExperiences Tours is an award-winning tour company based in Toronto. The company is a member of Tourism Toronto and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada. Day tours and multi-day tours are expertly designed by TruExperiences Tours team of Travel Geniuses.
This event is an opportunity to create awareness of the power of libraries, said Terry Kirchner, WLS executive director. The storytelling project helps us promote what libraries can do and what we can do working together.

The Westchester Library System will highlight the many ways the Countys 38 public libraries influence their patrons lives at the 2016 Annual Breakfast on Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill Mansion, Tarrytown, NY. Not afraid to speak up in his political career, Barney Frank, former Massachusetts Congressman and fierce defender of civil liberties, will be the guest speaker. Individual tickets are $80 and are available online at westchesterlibraries.org.

This years theme, Speak-Up @ Your Library, is part of a system-wide marketing campaign funded through a grant from the Westchester Community Foundation. The campaign focuses on promoting library awareness through individual compelling patron stories. Those stories will serve as the focal point for the event. Libraries are invited to submit a compelling story for publication and display at the April 13th Breakfast. Six stories will be chosen to be professionally videotaped for a public service campaign that will be used to encourage county-wide library card sign-up. Currently nearly 50% of Westchester residents have a library card.

Barney Frank, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 to 2013, is no stranger to storytelling. His memoir, Frank: A life in Politics from the Great Society to Same Sex Marriage, reflects on his momentous career. A Washingtonian survey rated him the smartest, funniest, and most eloquent member of Congress. Copies of his book will be available for sale at the event and are currently available for lending through your local library.

The Annual Celebrating Westchester Libraries Breakfast is WLS only fund raising event. Proceeds from the event support the collective efforts of libraries to provide a rich variety of experiences for their patrons, from active learning programs, to new technologies, to the latest best sellers and the most current, reliable information on any topic. In addition to tickets, sponsorships are also available online at westchesterlibraries.org.
"During this time, we re-evaluated everything from our business partnerships, products and services, to our staffs job roles and internal processes. I encouraged everyone on our staff to ask why? about everything they did."

Innereactive Media, a marketing and design firm headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been declared one of the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch for 2016. Winners will be recognized at the 12th Annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business event on May 5, 2016 in Lansing, Michigan.

The 12th Annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business Awards Program and Celebration recognizes fifty companies that are innovative, achieving growth and success, and are looking forward to having a breakout year in 2016. Innereactive Media was one of hundreds of companies nominated and ultimately one of just fifty chosen as winners.

Samantha Toth, President and Founder of the company, recently discussed the companys success: After founding the company in 2003 we experienced several years of success. Then in 2013, we experienced the most difficult year in our history. During this time, we re-evaluated everything from our business partnerships, products and services, to our staffs job roles and internal processes. I encouraged everyone on our staff to ask why? about everything they did. I began challenging each person to offer ideas on how we can do a better job for our customers, and also become a better place for our team to work. This resulted in a company culture centered on the needs of our team, creating a happier staff, happier clients, and began driving exciting new product launches.

Beyond the requirements for size, nominees must demonstrate the intent and capacity to grow based on employee or sales growth, exhibit a sustainable competitive advantage, and have other notable successes. Innereactive Media has created several new jobs recently and has plans to add more in 2016. The company continues to grow rapidly by providing valuable marketing and advertising to small businesses and international brands alike.

This award is a testament to the amazing team of people who work here, said Samantha Toth. Its proof that investing time, resources, and trust in your team can produce outstanding results. I couldnt be more honored to share this with them.

Heather Jousma, Project Manager at Innereactive Media, has been with the company over four years. "I have witnessed the company persevere through some successes and failures, she said. Experiencing failure is eye opening, but it allows everyone to consider what we could do differently to succeed next time. It also encourages employees to come together and assess their skillsets to see if procedures could be functioning better. We believe in working together to create an environment that encourages sharing ideas, adapting to change, and implementing feedback from our customers. We have seen tremendous growth and potential in our staff, and we couldnt be more excited to see what the future brings.

Innereactive Media will receive their award at the 12th Annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business event on May 5, 2016 in Lansing, MI. The event and awards programs theme is Inspiring Progress and Prosperity Michigan Entrepreneurs and is expected to draw nearly 1,000 attendees from the region.

Innereactive Media is a full service marketing company based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They offer a full spectrum of creative services including graphic design, marketing and social media strategy, website development, and copywriting.
VisionGates accurate LuCED test for lung cancer and dysplasia, along with the companys exclusive rights to the therapeutic drug Iloprost, demonstrates incredible promise.

Trinnovate Ventures today announced it will partner with Phoenix-based VisionGate to help accelerate clinical trial programs for both LuCED, a non-invasive diagnostic test targeting early stage lung cancer that responds best to therapy, and Iloprost, a chemoprevention drug for patients who have a pre-cancerous condition of the lungs called dysplasia.

Trinnovate Ventures, a subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Arizona, seeks collaborations that promise to ultimately deliver the triple aim of lower healthcare costs, improved patient outcomes and better patient experiences.

Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer worldwide and is the only cancer whose five-year survival rate has remained virtually unchanged for decades due to the lack of an effective screening test that could significantly impact survival, while other cancers have benefited from a mammogram, Pap smear, colonoscopy, or PSA, Trinnovates Chief Executive Officer and BCBS of Arizonas Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vishu Jhaveri said. VisionGates accurate LuCED test for lung cancer and dysplasia, along with the companys exclusive rights to Iloprost, a therapeutic drug that has exhibited in Phase 2 clinical trials the ability to reverse pre-cancerous dysplasia to prevent lung cancer, demonstrates incredible promise.

As part of this collaboration, Trinnovate Ventures will serve as the lead investor for VisionGates $20-million funding round. Having evaluated VisionGate for over a year, Trinnovates strategic investment underscores VisionGates potential in the marketplace to significantly impact lung cancer mortality and bring a new paradigm for the management of this terrible disease. The partnership will propel the clinical research forward in hopes that Arizonans and people around the world will have quicker access to VisionGates potentially life-saving diagnostic and therapeutic innovations.

Our focus is on finding lung cancer early  when patients are pre-symptomatic, but when treatment is most effective. This is how we start eradicating lung cancer, VisionGates Chairman and CEO Dr. Alan Nelson said. Our partnership with Trinnovate is pivotal and accelerates our effort to lower healthcare costs through the application of our patented technologies that hold potential to dramatically alter the course of lung cancer, including its prevention.

For more information about VisionGate, please visit http://www.visiongate3d.com.

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About VisionGate

VisionGate is a highly patented, commercial stage company focused on dramatically improving the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. The Company has a comprehensive offering that includes both a diagnostic to accurately detect lung cancer across all stages as well as a chemoprevention drug to treat dysplasia, or pre-cancerous cells, of the lung. LuCED, the Companys diagnostic test, is a non-invasive, physician-ordered, take-home sputum test with exquisite sensitivity and specificity across all lung cancer types and stages. LuCED is processed on its proprietary, fully automated 3D cell imaging platform, the Cell-CT, which captures 1,000 cell images per second and measures 594 cell features. LuCED's potential to detect dysplasia, or precancerous cells, makes it a perfect companion to VisionGates chemoprevention therapy, currently in Phase IIb trials. For more information, please visit http://www.visiongate3d.com.

About Trinnovate Ventures

Trinnovate Ventures makes investments in healthcare innovations that incorporate three crucial components (the TRI in Trinnovate). These pillars of investment are partnership, collaboration and results. Together, these embody the mission statement of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, which is to provide the best value in health insurance and improve the quality of life for Arizonans.
Appealing to the growing number of women who like to embark on culinary adventures while globe-hopping, Barbara Pitcher, a well-known artist based in Provence, France teams with Tasha Powell, a classically trained chef and food stylist, to create travel programs that combine culinary adventure with foreign travel.

Adopting the philosophy of slow travel, where travellers integrate into the culture, customs and especially foods of a destination while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow adventurers, Pitcher and Powell are creating unique travel and culinary experiences for wanderlust cooking aficionados! The first destinations of the Pitcher & Powell agenda are the incredibly beautiful locations of Parry Sound, Canada and Provence, France. These culinary and cultural adventures will include such activities as wine tours, hikes, walks, canoe rides, local market tours, wine and food pairings and most of all, cooking lessons to improve your skills and provide exposure to different types of cuisines.

Background

Barbara and Tasha met in 2014 when a mutual friend asked if she could be added to the guest list for one of Barbaras magnificent dinner parties at her beautiful home in Eguilles, Aix-en-Provence. Tasha, who had just arrived in France 24 hours earlier, was so impressed with Barbaras effortless cooking style of French rustic meets urban sophisticate that they hit it off immediately, and the beginning of a new partnership was born!

Partnership :

Tasha lives in Los Angeles and works as a food stylist. She works with celebrity chefs, cooking and styling for cookbook authors and providing publicity for these professionals through Satellite Media Tours and other broadcast channels.

Barbara Pitcher is a well-known Canadian-Italian artist presently living in Provence, France. Earlier, after spending several years in the fashion business, she launched a twenty-five year career in worldwide event planning, where her formidable language skills (English, French, Italian, and some Spanish and German) and her passion for travel served her well. Barbaras most enduring passion is food. She is a self-trained, effortless cook and entertainer, as her guests will attest to.

Pitcher & Powell International Culinary and Cultural Adventures first excursion will be to Parry Sound from September 24th -30th, 2016, 7 days/6 nights.

And also on the schedule is a week in Provence, France from October 16th - 22nd, 7 days/6 nights.

New destinations will be announced in June, 2016.

For More information, please contact Tasha Powell or Barbara Pitcher at media(at)pitcherandpowell(dot)com or

Tasha Powell, Los Angeles: Phone: 424-288-9668

Barbara Pitcher, Toronto: Phone: 416-840-9530

Detailed agenda and registration information can be found here:

http://www.pitcherandpowell.com

info(at)pitcherandpowell(dot)com

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LumenVox announced today that InfinityCTI received LumenVox Partner Skills Certification. LumenVox Skills Certification demonstrates InfinityCTIs capability to deliver high quality speech solutions based on the LumenVox speech automation suite. InfinityCTI supports speech-enabled applications on the Avaya Aura Experience Portal and utilizes the LumenVox Speech Recognizer (ASR) and Text-To-Speech Server (TTS) to provide a carrier-grade, scalable self-service environment within the Call Center.

InfinityCTI has been a long standing LumenVox Partner and we are pleased to continue supporting them for both their hosted and premise based speech-enabled solutions, said LumenVox CEO Ed Miller. InfinityCTI has continued to grow their expertise to deliver a solid win for the customer.

InfinityCTI utilizes the LumenVox speech automation suite to provide an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system to automate membership renewal, card replacement and credit card payment services over the phone for AAA Arizona. The InfinityCTI speech-enabled application increased the call completion rate and reduced the call load in the live AAA Arizona Call Center. The enhanced tuning services provided by InfinityCTI with the LumenVox Speech Application Tuner have helped improve customer satisfaction with the call center and have helped InfinityCTI maintain AAA Arizona as a client.

We were impressed with the realistic and natural sounding speech provided by the LumenVox TTS, said InfinityCTI CEO Frank Guthrie. Coupled with the carrier-grade, scalable and highly reliable LumenVox architecture, it was an easy decision to go with LumenVox.

About InfinityCTI

InfinityCTI works closely with Avaya and its Partners to provide IVR and CTI development support and solutions. InfinityCTI specializes in customizing telephony software solutions to meet our customer's needs. InfinityCTI can build customized solutions from the ground up or modify existing solutions to improve your company's performance and profitability. When looking for a vendor that can provide a wide range of IVR and CTI solutions, look no further than InfinityCTI. InfinityCTI provides both hosted and on premise IVR application solutions and CTI integrations. See more at: http://www.infinitycti.com.

About LumenVox

LumenVox is a speech automation software company providing core speech technologies that include the LumenVox Speech Recognizer, Text-to-Speech Engine, Call Progress Analysis, Speech Tuner, and natural language solution support. Based on industry standards, LumenVox Speech Software is certified as one of the most accurate, natural sounding, and reliable solutions in the industry. LumenVox technology provides tools for effectively connecting and communicating with users, increasing user satisfaction, and improving employee productivity. For more information, call +1.858.707.7700 or visit http://www.lumenvox.com - See more at: http://www.lumenvox.com
South Bays premiere boutique lifestyle public relations and social media marketing agency BLND PR is pleased to announced their representation of internationally-renowned hotel line, Aloft Hotel. BLND PR has been chosen to provide its well-rounded and extensive repertoire of services to Aloft Hotels El Segundo location, set to open April 2016.

BLND PR plans to increase the awareness of Alofts aesthetically pleasing hotel to attract the millennial entrepreneur looking not to wind-down, but to continue experiencing their journey as they travel. By boosting Alofts presence in Los Angeles area, BLND PR will be able to enhance Alofts ability to individualize the uniquely customizable hotel experience for its clients.

The agency currently manages public relations and social media for Kandy Kiss, a leader in the apparel manufacturing industry with clothing in Target, Kohls, Forever21, and more. In addition, the agency works with international eyewear company JINS, Southern California based swimwear line Cabana Bros, modern and high-tech grill design company FUEGO, as well as boutique Napa wine company Together Wine Co., to name a few.

BLND PR has established relationships with media, obtaining coverage for client campaigns in publications and media outlets such as Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Refinery29, PopSugar, Forbes, Los Angeles Business Journal, Tech Insider, US Weekly, OK! Magazine, The Huffington Post, Locale Magazine, KTLA Morning News, Womens Health, Fox 11 Good Day LA, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Today, Cosmopolitan, among many others.

ABOUT ALOFT HOTEL

The Aloft Hotel line celebrates the individual who enjoys their freedom and loves the idea of customized features to fit their personal needs and unique style while traveling. It is a place where walls have been knocked down to create a space that is open in design and open to adventure. A place where energy flows, personalities mingle, and opportunities are endless. Aloft Hotel is where anything can happen. For more information, please visit http://www.aloftelsegundolax.com or follow Aloft Hotel on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

ABOUT BLND PR

BLND Public Relations is a boutique public relations and social media marketing firm. The agency specializes in representing a dynamic range of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands. BLND Public Relations is owned by Southern California native Bryanne Lawless. Prior to the inception of BLND Public Relations, Lawless launched multiple restaurants and fitness studios, as well as executed high-end events both locally and nationally, including a client event at the famed Sundance Film Festival. For more information, please visit http://www.blndpr.com, or follow BLND PR on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Combining the best-in-class service offering for our clients as well as an award winning customer service team dedicated to ensuring customer satisfaction is an undeniable winning combination

LECMPA, provider of wage loss protection for railroad and transportation workers, today announced it has been named the Gold Winner of Info Security Product Guides Global Excellence Awards for 2016 Customer Service Team of the Year.

The security industry celebrated its 12th Annual 2016 Global Excellence Awards by honoring excellence in every facet of the industry including products, people behind the successes and best companies.

More than 50 judges from a broad spectrum of industry voices from around the world participated and their average scores determined the 2016 Global Excellence Awards Finalists and Winners. Winners were announced during the awards dinner in San Francisco attended by finalists, judges and industry peers.

The LECMPA customer service team is committed to providing members of the non-profit provider of job insurance the best service possible in the transportation industry and ensuring customer satisfaction through a singular focus.

Info Security Products Guides recognition of the customer team at LECMPA indicates we are ahead of the curve in customer service and acknowledges the importance we attribute to this critical component, stated LECMPA President Susan Tukel. Combining the best-in-class service offering for our clients as well as an award winning customer service team dedicated to ensuring customer satisfaction is an undeniable winning combination.

About Info Security Products Guide

Info Security Products Guide plays a vital role in keeping end-users informed of the choices they can make when it comes to protecting their digital resources. It is written expressly for those who are adamant on staying informed of security threats and the preventive measure they can take. You will discover a wealth of information in this guide including tomorrow's technology today, best deployment scenarios, people and technologies shaping info security and market research reports that facilitate in making the most pertinent security decisions. The Info Security Products Guide Global Excellence Awards recognize and honor excellence in all areas of information security. To learn more, visit http://www.infosecurityproductsguide.com and stay secured.

About LECMPA

LECMPA, founded in 1910 as a cooperative assessment insurer for railroad workers, provides wage loss protection to unionized transportation workers in all crafts and industries throughout the United States. LECMPA is a nonprofit, member-owned company with approximately 27,000 members nationwide. LECMPA is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan and has regional offices throughout the United States. More information is available at http://www.lecmpa.org.
Yusen Logistics breaks ground for a warehouse in Guanajuato, Mexico, to service its auto customers. From left: Kunihiko Miyoshi, Chief Regional Officer of Yusen Logistics (Americas); Gonzalo Gonzalez "Our Bajio Logistics Center is in an ideal location to support the logistics needs of auto makers and suppliers and builds on our existing strengths and capabilities," said Kunihiko Miyoshi, Chief Regional Officer, Yusen Logistics (Americas).

Yusen Logistics, a leading third-party logistics provider, announced the start of construction of a logistics center near Celaya, Mexico, to meet the growing demands of its domestic and international automotive customers.

The company celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony in Apaseo el Grande, Guanajuato, on March 11, 2016. Kunihiko Miyoshi, Chief Regional Officer of Yusen Logistics Americas Region, presided over the event, which was attended by officials and representatives from the Guanajuato governors office and the office of the Celaya mayor.

The automotive industry is growing at a tremendous pace in Mexico. In recent years, a number of major auto manufacturers invested in large assembly plants in the Bajio area. This is bringing many Tier 1 and Tier 2 auto suppliers into the region as well, said Miyoshi. Our Bajio Logistics Center is in an ideal location to support the logistics needs of these companies and positions us as a key service provider, building on our existing strengths and capabilities. We look forward to serving our automotive customers as well as supporting the local community.

The 53,820-square-foot warehouse is strategically located on a 17-acre site in the world-class Amistad Industrial Park in the Bajio region, one of the largest automotive clusters in Latin America. The industrialized area offers access to a highly-developed road and rail network, and strengthens Yusen Logistics global capabilities to offer automotive supply chain solutions to OEMs, as well as Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, conducting business in Mexico.

Building the logistics center is an important milestone for our company, said Jordan Dewart, the newly-appointed President of Yusen Logistics (Mexico) S.A. de C.V. This investment demonstrates our commitment to meet the growing logistics needs of the markets we serve. Yusen Logistics global reach gives us a clear advantage in the Mexico automotive market.

Services include just-in-time scheduling, domestic truck, rail and intermodal transportation, international freight forwarding, project cargo, import/export services, warehousing and value-add services, and trade compliance.

The warehouse, slated to be operational by the end of 2016, will feature 10,764 square feet of office space, 10 dock doors, a large trailer yard and an ocean container depot. There is room for expansion, including the capacity to double the amount of warehouse and office space and add a cross-dock facility with 30 dock doors.

Last year, Yusen Logistics (Mexico) S.A. de C.V. launched an Automotive Logistics division in Celaya, Mexico, and established a customs office in the Mexico City Airport, as well as a cross-dock office for air exports outside the airport. The company also arranges significant U.S./Mexico cross-border rail and trucking for its customers and partners with its affiliate, Yusen Logistics (Americas), which operates a 100,000-square-foot warehouse in Laredo, TX.

About Yusen Logistics

Yusen Logistics is a global logistics and transportation provider that delivers custom supply chain solutions through one of the largest air, ocean and land transportation networks. We have over 475 offices in 40 countries, with more than 20,000 employees at your service. Combining our services gives you greater control over your supply chain. For more information, visit http://www.yusen-logistics.com.
Chevo is honored to continue providing support to the IRS CADE program," said Zaina Sahady, CEO of Chevo.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) awarded Chevo Consulting, LLC (Chevo), a provider of Strategic, Portfolio, Project, and Financial Management consulting services, the competitively solicited TIPSS-4 MBOSS Enterprise PMO (EPMO) Project Scheduling contract. This is a 5-year contract valued at over $9M to provide scheduling and management consulting services to the Customer Account Data Engine (CADE 2) and other EPMO programs.

Chevo has supported the CADE program since 2005 and CADE 2 since 2009, providing Strategy, Project Scheduling, Earned Value Management (EVM), and Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC)/Budget support. This new contract is for Project Scheduling services for the CADE 2 program and the application of industry, Treasury, and IRS scheduling best practices.

Chevo is honored to continue providing support to the IRS CADE program, said Zaina Sahady, CEO of Chevo. This contract award adds to our growing list of prime contracts across the Federal Government at agencies including GSA, Department of Labor, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Department of Energy.

About Chevo Consulting, LLC

Chevo Consulting, LLC (Chevo), a woman-owned small business (WOSB), is focused on providing management consulting services to the Federal Government. Chevo serves as a Trusted Advisor, supporting our clients long-term visions, from conception to implementation, by applying strategy, effective management, and communications. Chevo helps organizations change and evolve their business by providing a highly specialized range of services centered on Strategic, Portfolio, Project, and Financial Management. Chevo, headquartered in Rockville, MD, is a 2014 awardee of the GSA OASIS contract vehicle, signifying that they are one of the top 40 federal contractors of their size for delivering complex professional services, and is a four-time awardee of the Workplace Excellence Seal of Approval by the Alliance for Workplace Excellence (AWE). For more information, visit http://www.ChevoConsulting.com.
Engel & Volkers, a European-based premium real estate brand, today announced that Carol Dopkin has joined its Engel & Volkers Aspen shop as a Senior Real Estate Advisor and as a member of the firms exclusive Private Office network.

Dopkin comes to Engel & Volkers from Aspen Snowmass Sothebys International Realty in Aspen where she was a top producing real estate agent specializing in a wide range of properties in the Aspen | Snowmass area, from starter homes, executive estates, horse properties, condominiums, land, commercial and investment properties. With over 30 years of experience selling the Aspen lifestyle, she continues to provide her signature Blue Ribbon service to each and every client - whether buying or selling.

Carol has proven to be one of Aspens most seasoned and successful agents, and her dedication to serving the specialized residential property needs of the area will further strengthen our Engel & Volkers Aspen team, said Erik Berg, Licensed Partner of Engel & Volkers Aspen.

Carol is enlisted by sellers to market their homes for sale because of her marketing horsepower  from local and international print to targeted digital campaigns. There are very few people who do not know Carol from her consistent and distinctive advertising in the Aspen papers and magazines. Additionally, as part of Engel & Volkers Private Office, a division of the company recognizing its top producers with annual production of $25 million in sales, Carol has marketing tools and opportunities developed specifically for the companys premium clients and an international forum amongst global top producers to promote her listings.

No other brand in real estate offers the level of service that Private Office does, said Anthony Hitt, CEO of Engel & Volkers North America. Engel & Volkers attracts the best agents in each market we serve and Carol Dopkin represents the very best among them.

The opportunity to be part of an exclusive boutique operation and help expand the Aspen real estate communitys global footprint really drew me to Engel & Volkers Aspen, said Dopkin. The international reach and state-of-the-art marketing platforms of Engel & Volkers, coupled with my extensive experience in the Aspen real estate marketplace, will enable us to offer the utmost level of premium client services to the surrounding Aspen | Snowmass area.

About Engel & Volkers

Since its beginning in 1977 as a specialty boutique providing exclusive, high-end real estate services in Hamburg, Germany, Engel & Volkers has become one of the worlds leading companies specializing in the sale and lease of premium residential and commercial property, yachts and private aviation. Engel & Volkers currently operates a global network of over 7,000 real estate advisors in more than 700 brokerages spanning 37 countries across five continents, offering both private and institutional clients a professionally tailored range of luxury services. It established its North America corporate headquarters in 2007 and opened its first brokerage in the same year. Committed to exceptional service, Engel & Volkers supports its advisors with an array of premium quality business services; marketing programs and tools; multiple platforms for mobile, social and web; as well as access to its global network of real estate professionals, property listings and market data. Engel & Volkers is an active supporter of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each brokerage is independently owned and operated.
In recent years the financial advisor market has become increasingly crowded, with many different choices available for corporations. Not all of them are specialists. PLAN ADVISER highlights the standouts...

Everhart Advisors is pleased to announce recognition by PLANADVISER as one of the top 100 retirement plan advisers in the United States. The list is published annually and was developed to inform readers about the specialist adviser plan marketplace. Everhart was honored in the large team category, which requires 11 - 25 advisers and support staff, and more than 170 retirement plans under advisement. Everhart Advisors was also recognized as a top 100 retirement plan adviser in 2013 and 2015, and in 2013 Everhart was further recognized as one of 6 finalists for Retirement Plan Adviser Team of the Year.

In recent years the financial advisor market has become increasingly crowded, with many different choices available for corporations. said Scott Everhart, President & Senior Plan Consultant at Everhart Advisors. Not all of them are specialists. PLANADVISER highlights the standouts, which in turn helps corporations looking for attractive retirement plans make informed decisions.

The PLANADVISERs Top 100 Retirement Plan Adviser list is drawn solely from a set of quantitative variables and information obtained from a Retirement Plan Adviser Survey completed by financial advisers from across the country. A subset of the questions is used to determine eligibility for inclusion in the Top 100.

About Everhart Advisors

Established in 1995, Everhart Advisors provides investment consulting services to retirement plan sponsors, corporate executives and other individuals. The firms expertise, team approach, and independence allows it to deliver high-quality services with honesty, integrity, and world-class competence. Everharts team of Certified Financial Planner Professionals and Accredited Investment Fiduciaries develop customized plans and solutions to help corporations build and maintain successful retirement plans, and assist individuals with personal financial planning and wealth management. For more information, visit http://www.everhartadvisors.com.
Nectar Desk, provider of cloud based phone systems for business with analytic and reporting capabilities announces that they will be taking part in the CTA, Canadian Technology Accelerators Program taking place in New York City March 7th to June 30th. The Accelerator program is a program that is run by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada and designed to give technology startup business a kick start!

The program will provide the participants with a unique experience allowing access to New Yorks technology and business ecosystem, mentoring sessions, workshops and introductions to industry leaders and investors. Many successful companies have been through the CTA program.

Nectar Desk was selected to take part in this incredible opportunity through a rigorous process and are very excited to join this select group of Canadian Companies in New York.

The program kicked off last week which was the first of the series of monthly workshops designed to help new Technology companies challenge themselves and achieve their goals. The goal of the attendees is to establish a presence in international markets, assess market potential and find qualified contacts and partners to further Nectar Desks goals of success and strengthen their investor network.

The program has also matched Nectar Desk with great mentors that have solid presence in the New York market and connections that will help Nectar Desk establish roots in New York and help expand the business as a whole.

We are thrilled to take part in this opportunity, we believe we have a solid product offering and the meetings last week have validated that for us with great feedback from our mentors this program will help us make connections and build our strategy to take Nectar Desk to the next level - Andriy Azarov, CEO, Nectar Desk.

About Nectar Desk

Nectar Desk is the Interactive Phone System and Call Center Software for Small and Medium size businesses. Nectar Desks cloud solution allows companies to set their phone operations within 5 minutes and includes advanced functionality like IVR, call recordings and agent monitoring. Nectar Desk integrates with your CRM and Helpdesk tools to give you advanced visibility of Callers profile as well as to keep all communications under one interface

About CTA Accelerator

The CTA Digital Tech program at the Canadian Consulate in New York helps high-potential companies creating products and services in a variety of digital technology sectors including Ad Tech, Data Analytics, Fintech, E-Commerce, and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Through client acquisition, mentoring and introduction to business contacts, the program gives Canadian start-ups access to key resources in the New York City area to accelerate their growth, including connections to venture capital and strategic partnerships in the US. Since it was created in 2012, the CTA has helped generate results for over 70 companies
Airelle Skincare is proud to announce their participation as an exhibitor at the 48th edition of the Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna tradeshow, which is the top prestigious international platform for cosmetics and wellness industry. With a history of over 45 years, Cosmoprof Bologna now has over 2,500 international exhibitors from 148 different countries across the globe. Cosmoprof Bologna has grown to be the worlds leading event attended by all the suppliers, producers and distributors from the cosmetics industry. Cosmoprof Bologna allows acclaimed beauty brands to open business to new overseas markets and meet with the worlds top beauty suppliers, producers, and distributors. The Cosmoprof anticipates over 248,000 visitors at this years event.

Airelle Skincare will be exhibiting all four days at the Cosmoprof event to introduce their all-natural product line to multiple buyers around the world. Airelle skincare includes 5 unique products: The Age Defying Facial Serum, The Exfoliating Cleanser, The Intense Hydrating Repair Complex, The Eye and Lip Treatment, and The Manuka Mask. All products include Airelles unique ingredient Berrimatrix. Only Airelle products contain Berrimatrix, a deeply concentrated blueberry extract with 5x higher antioxidant levels than average blueberry extracts. These deeply concentrated antioxidants are shown to protect against photoaging. Airelle has shown to reduce fine lines and wrinkles with noticeably smoother skin reported in as little as 28 days. The Airelle exhibit will be demonstrating all 5 of their effective all-natural anti-aging products. Co-Founder Kasey D'Amato commented, "We have been fielding a lot of interest from the International market over the past year and we are excited to be able to personally introduce the Airelle brand to the sophisticated buyers of the world. It is a very exciting time for Airelle Skin". Visitors can find the Airelle exhibit at Hall #30 at booth #E32-F27E.

Airelle Skincare, LLC is a company that produces high quality natural anti-aging skin care. The Airelle Skincare photoprotective philosophy of skin care is a result of innovative ideas from its two founders; a television first AD and his wife, an aesthetic dermatology PA. The two collaborated with leading dermatologists from around the world to develop a modern product line that helps slow the aging process through unique photo protective science. Airelle Skincare is a living testament to the unique collaboration of Hollywood and science, as well as the founders' passion for helping people protect and beautify their skin.

http://airelleskin.com/

About Cosmoprof Asia

Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna is 90,000 square meters of exhibition space dedicated to the various sectors of the beauty industry. Vast numbers of exhibitors, visitors, and buyers from overseas turn to this event every year making it the official international hub for professionals and decision makers to meet and develop their business. The event will take place from March 18th- March 21st. See more at http://www.cosmoprof.com/.
Eagle Eye Networks, Inc., today announced that Tokyo-based Sony Business Solutions Corporation will sell and support the cloud-based Eagle Eye Security Camera Video Management System (VMS) throughout Japan.

Sony Business Solutions Corporation ("Sony Business Solutions"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony, provides technology and business support service to specialized industries, such as broadcasting, medical, large facilities and educational, financial, government and business offices.

Sony Business Solutions will offer the Eagle Eye Security Camera VMS for its customers to store and stream encrypted video from the cloud, provide secure remote access via smartphones, and deliver motion and system alerts. Live and recorded video from multiple premises can be securely accessed, expanding the system scalability.

We are pleased to work with Eagle Eye Networks to bring their cloud video surveillance solution to our customers, said Kazuo Miyajima, President, Sony Business Solutions Corporation. Eagle Eye Networks has developed the industrys most secure and reliable cloud security camera system. Further, their open API allows us to customize superior solutions for our clients.

Sony Business Solutions will use Eagle Eye Networks Complete Privacy Encryption to satisfy customer desires for privacy. The cloud video recording will be stored in a cloud data center located in Tokyo, with round-the-clock security monitoring, along with storage redundancy to eliminate risk of video loss.

We are honored to have Sony Business Solutions adopt our solution for their customers, especially given their state-of-the-art video and audio technology, said Dean Drako, President and CEO, Eagle Eye Networks. Sony Business Solutions is adding further value to their technology by delivering to its customers the advanced cloud Eagle Eye Security Camera VMS, with the same ease of use and innovation that fits their strong reputation.

ABOUT EAGLE EYE NETWORKS

Eagle Eye Networks delivers the first on-demand cloud based security and operations video management system (VMS) providing both cloud and on-premise recording. Eagle Eye also provides a cloud video API for integrations and application development. The Eagle Eye Platform offers secure, encrypted recording, camera management, mobile viewing and alerts  all 100% cloud managed. The Eagle Eye Cloud Security Camera Video Management System supports a broad array of IP and analog cameras while using Intelligent Bandwidth Management, making it easy to deploy at single and multiple sites. The API platform uses the Eagle Eye Big Data Video Framework, with time based data structures used for indexing, search, retrieval and analysis of the live and archived video. Eagle Eye Networks sells through authorized reseller and installation partners. The headquarters is at 4611 Bee Caves Rd, suite 200, Austin, Texas, 78746. For more information please visit http://www.eagleeyenetworks.com or call +1-512-473-0500.
TEICNEO, a specialized metal design manufacturer, has just launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. In less than 24hrs of the campaign, it has surpassed 50% of the funding goal with over 160 highly anticipated Backers. However, to continue with the campaign, TEICNEO has agreed to change the name of their newest micro audio amplifier to COBBLE. Official campaign page: http://spark.rurl.me/t/Cobble2A-KS

COBBLE is a portable audio amplifier that provides the best possible sound quality without sacrificing convenience. Weighing less than an ounce, COBBLE can be used anywhere, battery-free, so you can enjoy live concert music on the go. Its buttons-free, unibody design creates a smooth, round surface by using a special metal forming technology specialized by TEICNEO.

COBBLE is Apple certified and iPhone-mic-compatible, making it the world's first portable amplifier that allows the user to take control of their phone through the use of the mic box on the earphone wire. COBBLE does not limit iPhone functionalities while in use. Thus, allowing users to select and control playback media, or take incoming calls, hassle free.

For more information, please download electronic press kit: http://spark.rurl.me/t/Cobble2A-EPK

About TEICNEO

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TEICNEO, is a Taiwan-based company with extensive experience in the metal design manufacturing industry. The word TEICNEO is derived from the Irish name for Technology, best describes the infinite pursuit of a splendid life. We believe that not only does technology evolve with humanity, but should be persistently in seek of the next breakthrough, like metal being casted into the next innovative invention. Please visit http://spark.rurl.me/t/Cobble2A-KS

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Media Contact: Misha Graeme, 1-626-269-8288, misha.graeme(at)gmail(dot)com
Savills Studley, the leading global commercial real estate firm specializing in tenant representation, is pleased to announce the following promotions in its Washington, DC regional offices.

Wendy Feldman Block has been promoted to Senior Managing Director. Since joining Savills Studley in 1987, Feldman Block has provided real estate services to major tenants in Washington, DC and around the country with a focus on law firms, associations, and corporations. Her expertise lies in leveraging market intelligence and structuring transactions that best suit her clients unique objectives. Feldman Blocks experience includes a broad range of project types, including build-to-suit transactions, leases, due diligence, and acquisitions and dispositions. Notable clients include Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), McGladrey, Year Up, and Williams Mullen. Additionally, she is actively engaged in the community, playing a substantial role on many boards including the DC Chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women, IONA Senior Services and the Tikkun Olam Womens Foundation which funds social change to benefit women and girls.

Nicole Miller and Demetri Koutrouvelis have also each been promoted to Senior Managing Director. Miller focuses on serving the real estate needs of associations, non-profit organizations, law firms and corporations nationwide. She offers her clients full-service commercial real estate services, including strategic planning, lease, purchase, sale, and build-to-suit negotiations and analysis. Millers strong analytical skills and financial background, which includes an MBA with a concentration in finance from the University of Baltimore, are valuable for clients looking to integrate detailed financial analysis and forecasting into strategic real estate planning initiatives.

Koutrouvelis provides real estate services to corporations, associations, non-profit organizations and law firms throughout the country. His background in architecture and construction management has allowed him to offer his clients full service commercial real estate services including workplace strategies, strategic planning, leasing, purchase, sale, and build-to-suit transactions. Prior to joining the firm, Koutrouvelis was a project manager at Clark Construction, where he specialized in pre-construction and construction management of major base-building commercial office developments and prior to that spent several years as an architect for both Gensler and RTKL.

Working together, Miller and Koutrouvelis have been instrumental in assisting clients including the DC Bar, The Bozzuto Group, the American Hospital Association, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, the American Alliance of Museums and Mitsubishi Electric to enhance their business objectives through creative real estate solutions.

Greg Scheipers and Jon Glass were each promoted to Corporate Managing Director. Scheipers, who has been with Savills Studley since 2011, focuses on assisting nonprofits and associations, law firms and government contractors locally and nationally. Scheipers assists his clients throughout the entire processes starting with strategic planning, market analysis, and lease negotiations. He has worked on behalf of clients throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area such as Caplin & Drysdale, RatnerPrestia, Development Gateway, and GlobalGiving among others.

Glass focuses on managing the real estate needs of non-profits, technology firms, law firms and corporations throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area for such clients as Omidyar Network, The Truth Initiative, Wilkinson Barker Knauer and Senior Service America. His specialties include assisting clients with full-service commercial real estate services such as complex lease renewal and restructuring agreements, strategic planning for lease and purchase transactions and integrating financial modeling into executable long term strategies.

Were very pleased to announce the promotions of these exceptionally talented and valuable members of our firm, said Executive Vice President and Director David Lipson. Their commitment to clients and dedication to best practices in the industry contribute greatly to Savills Studleys ongoing success in the DC region.

About Savills Studley

Savills Studley is the leading commercial real estate services firm specializing in tenant representation. Founded in 1954, the firm pioneered the conflict-free business model of representing only tenants in their commercial real estate transactions. Today, supported by high quality market research and in-depth analysis, Savills Studley provides strategic real estate solutions to organizations across all industries. The firms comprehensive commercial real estate platform includes brokerage, project management, capital markets, consulting and corporate services.

With 27 offices in the U.S. and a heritage of innovation, Savills Studley is well known for tenacious client advocacy and exceptional service.

The firm is part of London-headquartered Savills plc, the premier global real estate service provider with over 30,000 professionals in over 60 countries around the world. Savills plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SVS.L).

For more information, please visit http://www.savills-studley.com and follow us on Twitter @SavillsStudley and LinkedIn.
The aim of the International Cider Awards is to draw attention to the numerous craft ciders being produced by dedicated cidermakers

Dan Berger announced today the launch of a new cider competition, the International Cider Awards (ICA). With a 35-year history of organizing wine competitions, Berger has teamed with broadly experienced competitions director Debra Del Fiorentino and The Cider Journal Publisher Tom Wark to launch the new cider judging with the aim of introducing consumers and the trade to the array of outstanding craft ciders now available in the American marketplace.

The cider competition will take place on May 9th in Sonoma County, California and is open to any cider available in the American marketplace. Among the judges who will evaluate ciders from around the country and globe are cider expert and author Ben Watson; cider buyer and enthusiast Jim Boyce from K&L Wine Merchants in Redwood City, California; Tom Wark, publisher of The Cider Journal and the Cider Competition Coordinator; Ellen Cavalli, Co-owner of Tilted Shed Ciderworks in Sonoma County; and Mike Reis, a Certified Cicerone and Operations Manager for Lime Ventures, cider distributor serving the state of California.

The expansion of the craft cider industry and the array of new, very high quality ciders is one of the most exciting alcohol industry developments in years, said Berger. The aim of the International Cider Awards is to draw attention to the numerous craft ciders being produced by dedicated cidermakers here in the states and around the world.

Cidermakers are invited to submit entries up until May 6th at http://www.dbiwc.com.

Dan Berger is the Dean of American wine competitions having been an organizer of competitions for 35 years and a sought after judge at competitions around the world. Berger is also a respected wine writer whose work is syndicated as well as published in his own newsletter, Vintage Experiences.

Cider at the new competition will be judged in 12 categories including dry and sweet common and traditional ciders, Spanish style cider, single variety cider, fruit ciders and perry among others. Best of Class, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will be awarded. The judging will take place in Sonoma, County California.

There are now hundreds of cideries in the United States alone, not to mention a growing number of ciders being imported from England, France, Spain and other countries, noted Wark. The choices for consumers are growing daily and a competition of this sort aimed at showcasing the variety and high quality of available ciders will be of terrific benefit to both consumers and cidermakers alike.
Cinia, a Finland-based designer, builder, and operator of intelligent connectivity and ICT solutions, today announced that it has selected Huawei, a leading provider of optical transport network solutions, as one of the platforms that will connect the European data hubs via C-Lion sea cable connection with the network and service providers in China and other Eastern markets.

Partnering with two innovative suppliers helps Cinia develop an efficient optical backbone network and offer cutting edge connectivity services. Cinias new optical transmission infrastructure will provide big data corporate customers and operators with a fast, reliable and high-quality network all over Europe, says Mr. Ari-Jussi Knaapila, the CEO of Cinia.

Cinias strategic ambition is to build and expand the cloud backbone to fuel the modern digital economy in Finland and Europe. The objective of Cinias international long-haul optical transmission infrastructure is twofold: building a high-capacity optical backbone network to connect data centers in Northern and Central Europe, and offering a low-latency route between Europe and Asia via the so called northern Silk Road route connecting Europe to China via Finland and Russia.

"We are honored to provide Cinia with our leading transmission solution to support Data Center Interconnect (DCI) application and Pan-European connection, said Jeff Gao, President of Huawei Transport Network Product Line.

The long-term partnership between Cinia and Huawei is the goal between the two parties. Huawei will continue to provide new leading technology to Cinia, to provide the best Pan-European connection network."

Huawei is among the leading suppliers in WDM areas. The 10G/40G/100G/400G/1T/2T transmission platform supports up to 21T per pair of fiber, which makes Huaweis solutions ready for future connectivity requirements.

Cinia Contacts:

Taneli Vuorinen, SVP Digital Infrastructure Services, Cinia Group

+358 50 2163 | taneli.vuorinen(at)cinia.fi

Sallamaari Muhonen, Netprofile for Cinia Group

+358 40 572 5729 | sallamaari(at)netprofile.fi

Huawei Contacts:

Omar Al-Mutar, Head of Huawei Enterprise, Huawei Finland

+358 50 573 1868 | omar.almutar(at)huawei.com

About Cinia Group

Cinia Group creates intelligent connectivity solutions that make the world smaller and your business smarter. We have over 10.000 km of own backbone and we are building international connectivity and sea cable connecting East and West.

With over 200 own professionals we design, build and operate nationally critical systems in open system environment serving many major traffic and energy distribution operators. We have a strategic ambition to build and expand Cloud Backbone to fuel Single Digital Market in Europe and offer system solutions created for private and public sector customers. http://www.cinia.fi

About Huawei

Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Through the dedication to customer-centric innovation and strong partnerships, Huawei has established end-to-end advantages in telecom networks, devices and cloud computing. Huawei is committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers by providing competitive solutions and services. Its products and solutions have been deployed in over 170 countries, serving more than one third of the worlds population.

For more information, visit Huawei online: http://www.huawei.com
Derek Connell, Senior Consultant, OpenSymmetry I am part of a wonderful organization. Since day one, Ive been surrounded by a driven group of people and owe my accomplishments to the great examples they set on a daily basis.

OpenSymmetry, a global consulting firm that delivers Incentive Compensation and Sales Performance Management solutions across Sales, HR, and Finance to drive accelerated business performance, would like to congratulate Derek Connell on his recent achievement of being selected as one of Consulting Magazines 35 under 35 Rising Stars.

Having one of our own consultants selected for this award for the second year in a row is a great honor. Our employees are the core of the business. We see how hard they work everyday to ensure our customers are successful and it is great to see this being recognized, said Todd LeBaron, CEO and Co-Founder of OpenSymmetry.

Derek joined OpenSymmetry in 2012 and has shown tremendous leadership skills since his start. His perseverance, constant hard work, and his unique ability to jump on a project team mid-stream, quickly add value, and drive a project to the finish line, has enabled him to progressively move to a Senior Consultant. Throughout the past four years, he has worked on projects of all shapes and sizes and has learned new skills from each unique experience. I once received great advice - no matter your role, whether you are at the bottom or at the top, be the best at your job. This is something Ive taken to heart throughout my career. I consider a project successful not just when the work is complete, but when the client is happy with our services and this is something OpenSymmetry lives by, said Derek Connell. He adds, I am part of a wonderful organization. Since day one, Ive been surrounded by a driven group of people and owe my accomplishments to the great examples they set on a daily basis.

Mark Van Daele, Senior VP Professional Services adds, Derek is a true rising star at OpenSymmetry. He has shown such tremendous growth and doesnt let a challenge stand in his way of reaching success. He is a very well respected Consultant and it is great that his dedication to client service excellence is being recognized.

At OpenSymmetry, we want our employees to be rewarded for doing what they like to do, which is why we invest heavily in our people. Through our strengths-based assessment, our team is able to get a better understanding of what they are naturally good at, and we let them focus on those strengths. We leverage this by ensuring our employees are put on the right projects so success is achievable for everyone, adds Todd LeBaron.

About OpenSymmetry

OpenSymmetry is a trusted leader and global advisor that delivers Sales, HR and Finance solutions to drive accelerated business performance. With a leading success rate across more than 20 industries worldwide, you can count on OpenSymmetry to deliver the comprehensive solutions you need for a proven path to rapid results. From customized, proven solutions to seamless implementation, testing, training and managed services, OpenSymmetry has the proven track record and expertise you can count on to move you quickly from Strategy-to-Success.

Founded in 2004, OpenSymmetry is head quartered in Austin, Texas with offices in London, Sydney, Chennai, and Kuala Lumpur. Clients range from SMB to Fortune 500 companies across various industries. For more information, please visit http://www.opensymmetry.com.
As a doctor-owned and managed provider, our radiologists play an instrumental role in ensuring our patients come first and that their expectations are exceeded."

EVDI Medical Imaging (EVDI), a leading diagnostic imaging provider based in the East Valley, today announced the addition of four radiologists to its team of 36 doctors. In business for more than 25 years, EVDI has grown to include six locations and approximately 300 employees total, and is equipped with the latest innovative technologies to provide patients with outstanding care.

As a doctor-owned and managed provider, our radiologists play an instrumental role in ensuring our patients come first and that their expectations are exceeded. Our new radiologists share in our commitment to stellar patient care and are highly trained, allowing us to expand our imaging specialties to meet the needs of the communities we serve, said Marvin K. Tam, M.D., EVDI Medical Imaging.

The four radiologists joining EVDI bring prestigious backgrounds and extensive expertise in several practice areas, ranging from diagnostic and musculoskeletal, to pediatric and neuroradiology. They have been published by well-respected industry journals and by professional organizations such as the American Journal of Neuroradiology, Orthopedics and the North American Society for Cardiovascular Imaging (NASCI), and have experience in teaching and mentoring medical students. The doctors are:

Asmaa Aamir, M.D., Diagnostic Radiologist

Aamir joins EVDI from Stanford University Medical Center where she completed her fellowship in body imaging. Prior to her work at Stanford University, she served in the pediatric radiology department at Doernbecher Childrens Hospital/OHSU in Portland, Oregon. Aamir graduated in the top three percent of her class at Allama Iqbal Medical College in Lahore, Pakistan, and is currently a member of both the Radiological Society of North America and the American College of Radiology.

Bradley Davis, M.D., Vascular and Interventional Radiologist

A graduate of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Davis completed his residency and fellowship at Duke University. He specializes in vascular and interventional radiology, and is currently researching pre-operative CT scans in assessment of vascular calcifications for renal transplant. Active in the professional community, Davis is a member of the Association of University Radiologists (AUR), the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Matthew Del Giudice, M.D., Musculoskeletal Radiologist

Del Giudice graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine. He specializes in MRI, CT, ultrasound and musculoskeletal procedures, and has experience working in level one trauma, transplant, pediatric and cancer center units. Most recently, Del Giudice served as a radiologist for Banner University Medical Center and as Director of Digital Radiography for the University of Arizona Health Network in Tucson, where he also completed his fellowship.

Saeed Fakhran, M.D., Neuroradiology

Specializing in neuroradiology, Fakhran is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Medicine and completed his fellowship at the Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Josephs Hospital in Phoenix. He taught at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he completed his residency. Fakhran was recognized for peer review by the American Journal of Neuroradiology in both 2013 and 2014, and recently received the American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR) Adult Brain Outstanding Presentation Award.

To learn more about EVDI or to view current career opportunities, please visit EVDI.com.

About EVDI Medical Imaging

EVDI Medical Imaging (EVDI) has been providing diagnostic imaging services to Phoenixs East Valley communities since 1989 and is an affiliate of Southwest Diagnostic Imaging (SDI). Owned and operated by its 40 highly specialized and board-certified radiologists, EVDI provides a variety of health care services including x-ray, ultrasound, breast imaging, CT and MRI procedures. Locations include Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert and Tempe, as well as two Desert Breast Centers in Mesa. For additional information about EVDI, to find a location or request an appointment, please visit EVDI.com or call 480-545-9779.

Media Contact:

Carol Klimas

Off Madison Ave

480.505.4527

Carol.Klimas(at)offmadisonave(dot)com

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The National Financial Plan Competition is organized through the IARFC for undergraduate students in a curriculum related to Financial Services and sponsored in part by an elite group of corporate sponsors. Participants were given a fictional case study of a family with an overview of their financial picture. From that data, teams were asked to produce a financial plan with recommendations for current and future action. The teams that advanced to the Finals were selected by the IARFC Board of Directors the day before their recent annual Board Meeting.

The Finalists proceeding through to Charlotte to compete are: Molly Funk from Bryant University in Smithfield, RI  Mara Derderian Professor; Cole Brownell and Anthony Peleaz from California State University Northridge in Northridge, CA  Inga Chira Professor; Daniel Ingles and Grant Hulett from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI  Doug Iles Professor.

The IARFC feels this competition gives students an exercise in real-world practice  that of analyzing a clients situation and critically thinking a course of action. In many cases, professors have used this exercise as part of their curriculum. Judging this competition as a Board Member of the IARFC gives each one of us an insight to the upcoming professionals in our field, said Jon Rogers, RFC and treasurer of the Association. I enjoy each phase of the competition and look forward to judging the Finals in Charlotte.

These live presentations of plans will again take place at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Club in Charlotte, NC - the second year in a row at this popular venue. The competition is a two-day event. Day 1, April 20th features industry relevant presentations for both the experienced consultant and those just starting their careers. Featured speakers are Barry L. Dayley, RFC, Money Concepts International, Inc. in Palm Beach, FL; Peter J. DArruda, RFC, Capital Financial Advisory Group, LLC in Apex, NC, Nicholas Royer, RFC, Group 10 Financial, LLC in Winter Park, FL; Stephanie Bailey RFC, HB Financial Resources, LTD in Charlotte, NC: and Jon Rogers RFC, Rogers Financial Group, LLC in Greenville, SC.

Registration to become a judge for the competition and attend the CE presentations on April 20-21 in Charlotte, NC can be found on the IARFC website.
Consolidar Network

Consolidar Network has launched a new website that connects Latino and Hispanic Job Seekers with Washington businesses looking to hire new employees.

The mission of the Consolidar Network is to partner with businesses and organizations to enable the American Dream for Latino communities across Washington State by fostering a culture of success that leads to better jobs, more education and healthy lifestyles. Consolidar is providing job-ready training to job seekers and enlisting the power of employers to conveniently fill their workforce needs from the fastest growing labor pool in the country.

Consolidars jobs network connects individual career development plans with 5 Star rated employers looking to hire. In addition to jobs, Consolidar Network serves the needs of both employees and employers by providing access to partner services along with enabling businesses to post their open positions on the Consolidar Networks website at http://www.consolidarnetwork.com

While the focus is on Latinos, access to the jobs network and partner services is available to anyone. The Consolidar ecosystem is a win-win for everyone that improves the strength and vibrancy of our communities. The Consolidar Network has jobs throughout all major cities in Washington State. The Consolidar Network has partnered with the Washington Restaurant Association (WRA), Washington Lodging Association (WLA), Building Industry of Washington (BIAW), SeaMar Community Health Centers and other business partners to assist and market open jobs from the partner business members.

The Consolidar Network was founded by Mike Sotelo, a leader and advocate for the Latino and Hispanic communities in Washington State. For more information or to partner with the Consolidar Network contact Sandra Miller, Chief Operating Officer at 360-259-7231 or visit http://www.consolidarnetwork.com
Allegis Partners, the global executive search firm, announced today they have placed Leah Swan as The Childrens Place Senior Vice President, Human Resources. She is scheduled to start on March 28.

Swan is an experienced human resource professional most recently serving as the Senior Vice President, Human Resources for Ross Stores Inc. She previously spent 10 years with GAP Inc. serving as Senior Vice President, Human Resources for the International Retail & Global Supply Chain organization based in London. Swan brings many years of experience to her new role having held HR roles in such retail organizations as Williams Sonoma, The Walt Disney Company, KPMG and BRASHS in Melbourne, Australia. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Canberra.

The Childrens Place was in need of a dedicated human resource professional with a deep understanding of the retail space, said Mike Bergen, Managing Partner and Global Practice Leader of Allegis Partners' Human Resources practice. Leah stood out as an exemplary candidate who will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to The Childrens Place.

Bergen along with Managing Director Cher Murphy led the search. Swan will report directly to CEO Jane Elfers and oversee all human resources functions for the New Jersey-based retailer.

About Allegis Partners, LLC

Allegis Partners, LLC is the global executive search firm delivering a boutique, high-touch approach to talent management. We focus on identifying diverse, top talent for board, C-suite and senior executive-level roles across a wide range of corporate functions and industries around the world. Allegis Partners, LLC is committed to understanding our client and, in turn, customizes each search to meet the needs of the client and specific position. We're backed by the extensive resources and knowledge of the Allegis Group, a $10+ billion privately held global human capital organization. To learn more about Allegis Partners, LLC visit http://www.allegis-partners.com.
TESOL will recognize 80 outstanding TESOL professionals and present success stories from the field.

TESOL International Association continues its year-long 50th-anniversary celebration by marking 17 March 2016 as TESOL Founders Day. To acknowledge the day, TESOL will recognize 80 outstanding TESOL professionals and present success stories from the field. Additionally, TESOL will offer 24 hours of special promotions and discounts on 17 March.

TESOL will honor two groups of professionals. The 50 at 50 recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the TESOL profession during the past 50 years. Following the 50th anniversary theme of Reflecting Forward, the 30 Up and Coming recognizes individuals who represent future leaders in the profession of English language teaching and learning. The selections were made from more than 250 nominations.

TESOL Executive Director Rosa Aronson thanked the volunteers who were involved in the selections. We are very grateful to the 50th anniversary team of volunteer leaders from across the world who kindly helped us make this milestone year a celebration of the past, present, and future of our community.

To highlight the impact of the TESOL profession, teachers and students from around the world submitted stories featuring the work of teachers and the success of students who are learning English as a second, or even as a third, language. The most inspiring TESOL Success Stories are now published on the TESOL website and will be included in a 50th anniversary commemorative publication available to attendees of the 2016 annual convention.

A special TESOL 50th Anniversary website showcases these outstanding professionals and the success stories. It also features one TESOL affiliate per week from a network of approximately 115 affiliates, and it highlights TESOL milestones during the past 50 years with an interactive timeline.

The 2016 TESOL International Convention & English Language Expo, 5-8 April in Baltimore, Maryland, will highlight a number of sessions and events focused on the 50th anniversary, including the recognition of the 50 at 50 and the 30 Up and Coming at a keynote session. The convention will close with the 50th Anniversary Block Party.

About TESOL International Association

Founded in 1966, TESOL International Association is a professional community of educators, researchers, administrators, and students committed to advancing excellence in English language teaching for speakers of other languages worldwide. With more than 12,000 members representing over 150 countries, TESOL fosters the exchange of ideas, research, and peer-to-peer knowledge, and provides expertise, resources, and a powerful voice on issues affecting the profession. Through professional development programs, its international conference, special interest groups, and publications, TESOL engages tens of thousands of professionals to collaborate globally and create a world of opportunity for millions of people of all ages who want to learn English.
Moen Kelsa Sink and Faucet Our new Kelsa kitchen faucet and sink are perfectly paired for the ideal experience at the sink, said Maribeth Kwasniewski, director of retail marketing, Moen.

Whether at work or home, teamwork is often the best way to get things done including at the sink. The new Kelsa faucet and sink combination from Moen provides two products that work as one, seamlessly simplifying kitchen tasks.

Our new Kelsa kitchen faucet and sink are perfectly paired for the ideal experience at the sink, said Maribeth Kwasniewski, director of retail marketing, Moen. This team of products offers innovative features that make time in the kitchen easier from initial installation to doing the dishes each day.

Constructed from sturdy 18-gauge stainless steel, the dual-mount sink can be installed as a drop-in or undermount, depending on user preference and kitchen design. Its large size  33 by 22 inches  provides plenty of space for washing dishes, while the nine-inch bowl depth ensures its easy to accommodate tall pitchers or deep pots. Plus, its wear-resistant finish stands up to daily usage.

The transitionally styled pulldown faucet features a three-function spray wand which enables users to switch the water flow from stream to spray with just the push of a button. Or, they can engage Moens unique pause setting to stop the flow of water  a useful added convenience when filling containers outside the sink. A coordinating soap dispenser provides additional convenience, while also reducing clutter from soap bottles on countertops.

THE NEW KELSA FAUCET AND SINK COMBINATION INCLUDES A VARIETY OF MOEN INNOVATIONS:

QuickMount Installation Hardware

Moens new QuickMount installation hardware is designed to cut down drop-in sink installation time considerably. While existing sink hardware requires set up entirely below the deck  forcing installers to work in a dark, cramped space for a lengthy period of time  QuickMount allows users to pre-install hardware onto the sink, above the deck, and tightens quickly and easily underneath with the provided installation tool  allowing installers to spend minimal time under the sink. The innovative spiral shape keeps the hardware out of the way when the sink is placed into the countertop. Then, it rotates itself into the correct position during tightening.

No additional tools are required to complete installation. The hardware tightens quickly and easily under the sink with the Moen kitchen installation tool installers already use and trust. It

also offers more installation flexibility. The new spiral mounting stud is more than 50 percent longer than the current stud, allowing it to accommodate a wider variety of countertop depths and materials. Also, the hardware can still be placed where necessary within the channel to help reduce gaps around sink edges and adapt to countertop imperfections.

Spot Resist Finish

Featured on the Kelsa faucet, Moens exclusive Spot Resist finish resists fingerprints and water spots to maintain the brilliance of the fixture.

Reflex System

Pullout and pulldown kitchen faucets with the Reflex system offer a self-retracting spray wand designed to put itself away, while also providing smooth operation, easy maneuverability and secure docking.

Duralock Quick-Connect System

The intuitive Duralock Quick-Connect System uses a proprietary, push-button connector that makes installing faucets quick, secure and hassle-free  no tools are required. A telltale click audibly signals a secure connection.

SoundSHIELD

SoundSHIELD undercoating provides exceptional noise reduction, creating a much quieter experience when working at the sink.

The Kelsa faucet and sink combination features Moens limited lifetime warranty** to ensure superior quality.

For more information about the Moen Kelsa faucet and sink combination, visit moen.com or call

1-800-BUY-MOEN (1-800-289-6636).

###

LINKS TO ADDITIONAL ASSETS

PHOTOGRAPHY http://www.moen.com/pressroom/image-library/results

VIDEOS http://www.moen.com/pressroom/videos

MOEN PRESS ROOM http://www.moen.com/pressroom

MOEN LOGOS http://www.moen.com/pressroom/image-library/results?type=logos

ABOUT MOEN

As the #1 faucet brand in North America, Moen offers a diverse selection of thoughtfully designed kitchen and bath faucets, showerheads, accessories, bath safety products, kitchen sinks and garbage disposals for residential applications  each delivering the best possible combination of meaningful innovation, useful features, on-trend styling and lasting value. In addition, Moen Commercial offers superior-performing products that can deliver lower lifetime costs for today's facilities.

Moen is part of Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. (NYSE: FBHS), which creates products and services that help fulfill the dreams of homeowners and help people feel more secure. The Company's trusted brands include Moen faucets, Master Lock and Sentry Safe security products, MasterBrand cabinets and Therma-Tru entry door systems. Fortune Brands holds market leadership positions in all of its segments. Fortune Brands is part of the S&P MidCap 400 Index. For more information, please visit http://www.FBHS.com.

CONTACT

Jennifer Allanson or Kristi Stolarski

Falls Communications

(216) 696-0229

jallanson(at)fallscommunications(dot)com

kstolarski(at)fallscommunications(dot)com
Students at Bridge's U.S. Higher Education Roadshow in Chile The purpose of this study is to provide insight on both the pace of adoption of agencies as a recruitment channel partner by U.S. universities, as well as how specific market forces and public opinion are influencing how this adoption takes place.

Bridge Education Group, a Denver-based ESL university pathways provider, and StudentMarketing, a market intelligence firm specializing in international education, UNWTO Affiliate Member and individual ESOMAR world research member, announce their joint research initiative on the pace of adoption of international student recruitment agencies by U.S. universities.

The use of agencies to recruit international students by universities in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom has been well documented, and to a large degree credited for the success of international student recruitment initiatives in those countries. It is estimated that between 30% - 50% of international students attending Australian, Canadian and UK universities are recruited via agencies.

The U.S., in contrast, has been seen to be reticent in adopting agents as recruitment channel partners for international student recruitment. In 2013, NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) reversed its ban on incentive compensation-based student recruitment. However, the Association specifically states that it does not endorse the practice. Today, the controversy over the use of commissioned agencies in international student recruitment in the United States continues with differences of opinion expressed by a variety of stakeholders on both sides of the issue.

The purpose of this study is to provide insight on both the pace of adoption of agencies as a recruitment channel partner by U.S. universities, as well as how specific market forces and public opinion are influencing how this adoption takes place and to what degree this differs from practices in other countries, explains Jean-Marc Alberola, President of Bridge Education Group.

Research began in September of 2015, and initial research findings were shared at the AIRC (American International Recruitment Council) Annual Conference in December of 2015. The findings included preliminary data on average number of university partners per agency, types of credentials required by universities of agencies, and commission rates.

The opportunity to present preliminary data findings was invaluable as it allowed both agencies and universities to share their insights and input and contribute to our efforts to improve the design and scope of survey instruments as our research continues into 2016, said Samuel Vetrak, CEO of StudentMarketing.

While much attention has been given to the controversy surrounding the use of agencies by U.S. institutions, to date, only limited research has been conducted on the pace of adoption, commercial aspects of agency-university relationships, the unique characteristics influencing how U.S. institutions engage with agencies, and analysis of future trends, all part of the scope of this research initiative.

The preliminary findings presented at the AIRC conference promise to provide research backed by sound statistical data which universities can use to form an opinion on whether or not to engage with agencies as recruitment partners and allow the community to further this discussion, said Chris McKenzie, Director, American Semester Program at Michigan State University.

Agents present at the AIRC conference also endorsed the research; Without a doubt, this research project is going to prove very valuable for all parties involved  institutions, education associations and agencies alike  as it provides a solid foundation for future discourse. I compliment Bridge Education Group and StudentMarketing on their pioneering efforts and I look forward to learning more once the results unfold, said Alexandra Michel, Associate Director of College Contact GmbH in Muenster, Germany.

The project is utilizing several research methods and is being carried out as a combination of secondary and primary research. More than 3,000 U.S. universities and colleges as well as 16,000 education agencies worldwide have been or will be invited to participate in quantitative surveys, with the aim of achieving a representative and one of the most robust research samples in international education. Furthermore, in-depth interviews with a wide-ranging pool of stakeholders (university representatives, agencies, accrediting bodies, government agencies, suppliers, etc.) will be taking place to provide qualitative insight to complement quantitative data.

StudentMarketing, a UNWTO Affiliate Member and member of ESOMAR, ensures compliance with the highest international research standards.

For additional information on this research including the Research Brief and how to participate please visit: http://www.Bridge.edu/Bridge-Research-Library

About Bridge Education Group, Inc. d/b/a Bridge (http://www.bridge.edu)

Founded in 1986, Bridge is a world leader in language and education abroad. An international company with headquarters in Denver, Colorado, Bridge offers a wide spectrum of language related products and services, including; university pathways, international student recruitment, language training and immersion programs, teacher training and development courses, language testing, translation and interpretation services, and cross-cultural travel programs including international service learning, language study and teaching English abroad.

Bridge, BridgePathways and BridgeAbroad are registered trademarks of Bridge Education Group, Inc. in the USA. All other company names may be trademarks of their respective owners.  2016 Bridge Education Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contact:

Lisa Rooney

303-785-8895

lrooney(at)bridge(dot)edu

About StudentMarketing (http://www.student-market.com)

StudentMarketing, a UNWTO Affiliate Member, is a global market intelligence and development firm specializing in the youth, student and educational travel market. The company provides comprehensive understanding of global student mobility patterns and market trends and is a preferred partner of destinations, educational institutions, associations and other top brands wanting to succeed in the international youth and student travel market. StudentMarketing develops strategies, drafts policies and provides tailor-made solutions. The company has 4 offices located in Europe and China, with team members holding individual membership in ESOMAR.
VirtualPBX Wins Best of San Francisco Award Were built on a foundation of service and sense of community that we reinforce from the top down, but in such a crowded field of worthy candidates, we're thrilled to have been chosen as a stand out in that regard.

VirtualPBX has been selected for the 2016 Best of San Francisco Award in the Telecommunications Services category by the San Francisco Award Program.

Each year, the San Francisco Award Program identifies companies that have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the San Francisco area a great place to live, work, and play.

Were honored to be recognized as a positive influence in the remarkable community of the San Francisco area, said Lon Baker, VirtualPBX Chief Operating Officer.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2016 San Francisco Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the San Francisco Award Program and data provided by third parties including industry peers and independent review agencies.

Were built on a foundation of service and sense of community that we reinforce from the top down, but in such a crowded field of worthy candidates, continued Baker, we're thrilled to have been chosen as a stand out in that regard.

The San Francisco Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in the San Francisco community. The organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, and other business advertising and marketing groups. The mission of the San Francisco Award Program is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.

About VirtualPBX

VirtualPBX was founded by members of the team who brought some of the first commercially available hosted PBX service to market in San Francisco in 1997. Born from the advent of the hosted telecom industry and driven by the innovative vision of its founders, VirtualPBX continues to deliver leading edge telephony products for business. Backed by award-winning, local, in-house support teams, VirtualPBX offers an array of services including disaster recovery, network monitoring and optimization, and professional system management.

VirtualPBX Contact

Rachel Anderson

Director of Marketing

888.825.0800 Ext. 339

Rachel(dot)Anderson(at)VirtualPBX(dot)com
Lucas Group The market overwhelmingly sees itself as a job generation force, yet theres been a consistent and conspicuous difference between theoretical job creation optimism and actual hiring plans.

Shifts in the economic and employment outlooks of Americas small to mid-sized business sector have generated a mixed set of market trends, according to a recent report published by executive recruitment firm Lucas Group. Examining over three years of market data from more than 2,800 SMB executives, the Q4 2015 SMB Job Generation Outlook evaluates responses from top decision makers in the small to mid-sized business market.

On a positive trend, the Q4 2015 SMB Job Generation Outlook found that an average of 92% of SMB executives surveyed in 2015 reported their companies to be in market positions of growth or stability maintenance, up eight points from 2013. The Outlook report also shows steady year-over-year growth in SMB optimism related to economic and job prospects for the United States, and an overall small increase (from 43% in 2013 to 47% in 2015) in the percentage of SMB executives who report plans to hire in the coming quarter.

Despite the strengthening of SMB self-positioning from 2013 to 2015, however, executives did not report significant or consistent growth in optimism regarding economic and job prospects of their own companies. National job prospect optimism grew from an average of 43% in 2013 to 51% in 2015, while company-specific job optimism saw only a slight uptick, from 55% to 57%. In addition, while optimism around U.S. economic prospects increased from 50% in 2013 to 56% in 2015, SMB executive self-confidence on company-specific economic opportunities dropped a point over the three-year timeframe, to an average of 69% in 2015.

Weve been closely monitoring executive outlooks among SMBs for several years, and while the sector seemingly wants to express optimism about the economy and jobs market, their self-confidence noticeably waivers when we ask about specific company plans and projections, said Lucas Group Chief Marketing Officer Scott Smith. The market overwhelmingly sees itself as a job generation force, yet theres been a consistent and conspicuous difference between theoretical job creation optimism and actual hiring plans.

In addition to economic and employment prospects, the Outlook also examines key challenges faced by the SMB. While Health Care costs, Talent Availability and Competition have consistently topped the SMBs challenge list, the Outlooks Q4 2015 responses were representative of several trends Lucas Group has been following. Primarily, concerns about Health Care costs are slowly declining while Talent Availability and Competition worries are on the rise. For the first time in Outlook history, more respondents named Talent Availability over Health Care costs as their most pressing business challenge. In Q4 2015, four in 10 SMB execs placed Talent Availability in the top spota 20-point increase from Q4 2012. In addition, more survey respondents are now citing Competition as their chief business concern. While an average of 19% ranked Competition #1 during 2013, top ranking of Competition rose to an average of 24% in 2015.

Talent availability challenges are creating real struggles for small to mid-sized companies, said Smith. Across industries and geographic markets, executives are sharing similar concerns. Every quarter, SMBs report that theyre increasingly challenged to find, hire and retain quality salespeople. Businesses may be poised for growth, but if they cant staff their sales forces with high-quality talent, then the fuel they need to drive revenue growth simply isnt there.

Lucas Group has conducted the quarterly Outlook survey since late 2012. Focused intentionally on C-level execs and business owners from industries and markets across the country, the Outlook captures plans and opinions on an array of business, social and political issues, including minimum wage, take-home pay, immigration reform, governmental impact and more.

Additional findings from Lucas Groups Q4 2015 survey:



In 2015, SMBs were particularly and consistently challenged to find and hire qualified professionals in the fields of Sales and Information Technology. In their efforts to attract and retain quality talent, 30% of SMB execs surveyed in 2015 reported reevaluating and increasing their compensation packages, salary bands, bonus plans and benefits.

Over three-fourths of SMB employees across America experienced take-home wage growth during 2015. The majority of SMBs (71%) saw collective and companywide wage increases between 1% and 5%, and another 6% of SMBs reported wage increases higher than 5%. One in five SMBs saw no net changes to wages last year and a handful of SMBs said overall take-home wages decreased in their company.

SMBs are increasingly reporting tangible impacts created by Baby Boomers departing the workforce. On average, 8% of SMB executives in 2013 predicted retirements would have a large impact on their business operations. In the following three years, that number more than doubled, and in 2015, an average of 18% of respondents reported retirements significantly affect their company.

The SMB Job Generation Outlook survey is conducted by Polaris Marketing Research on behalf of Lucas Group. For the full Q4 2015 SMB Job Generation Outlook, click here.

About the Survey

Conducted quarterly, the SMB Job Generation Outlook is a national survey of executive-level SMB leaders. The survey is conducted by Polaris Marketing Research on behalf of Lucas Group. Respondents include only CEOs, CFOs, COOs, chairmen, presidents, executive vice presidents and/or owners of their companies. Survey respondents represent a variety of geographic regions and industries, including manufacturing, finance/insurance/real estate, business services, IT and transportation. Eighty-five percent of Q4 2015 respondents are from companies with fewer than 1,500 employees and 82% projected 2015 business revenues under $300M.

About Lucas Group

Lucas Group is North Americas premier executive search firm. Since 1970, our culture and methodologies have driven superior results. We assist clients ranging in size from small to medium-sized businesses to Fortune 500 companies find transcendent, executive talent; candidates fully realize their ambitions; and associates find professional success. To learn more, please visit Lucas Group at http://www.lucasgroup.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
Cirque du Soleil returns to Florida this September and October 2016 to present OVO, the newest touring arena show. "OVO is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement."

The New Cirque Du Soleil Show "OVO" is Coming To Florida For the First Time

Tickets Available to the General Public Friday, March 25th

March 16, 2016  Cirque du Soleil returns to Florida this September and October 2016 to present its newest touring arena show, OVO, never before played in Florida!

The production, presented by Visa Signature, will be playing in the following three cities, as part of a global tour in arenas around North America:



Orlando: Sept. 21 - 25 at the Amway Center

Estero: Sept. 28  Oct. 2 at the Germain Arena

Jacksonville: Oct.5 - 9 at the Veterans Memorial Arena

Thrilling more than 4.5 million people worldwide since the show premiered in 2009, OVO will embark on a new journey, performing the same captivating production, now in arenas, giving more people the opportunity to enjoy a Cirque du Soleil show in their home town.

About The Show

OVO, meaning egg in Portuguese, is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement.

When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives. It is love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye  and the feeling is mutual.

The cast of OVO is comprised of 50 performing artists from 12 countries specializing in many acrobatic acts. One highlight of OVO is the stunning Flying Act where group of scarabs soar high above  from each corner of the stage  and land together on a platform in the middle.

The Creative Team behind the world of OVO is:

Artistic Guides Guy Laliberte and Gilles Ste-Croix

Writer, Director and Choreographer Deborah Colker (first female director at Cirque du Soleil)

Director of Creation Chantal Tremblay

Set and Prop Designer Gringo Cardia

Costume Designer Liz Vandal

Composer and Musical Director Berna Ceppas

Lighting Designer Eric Champoux

Sound Designer Jonathan Deans

Rigging and Acrobatic Equipment Designer Fred Gerard (for the first time at Cirque du Soleil)

Acrobatic Performance Designer Philippe Aubertin

Makeup Designer Julie Begin

Ticket Information

Advance tickets for OVO are now available online exclusively to Cirque Club members. Cirque Club membership is free and benefits includes access to advance tickets, special offers and exclusive behind-the-scenes information. To join, please visit http://www.cirqueclub.com.

Tickets for the general public will be available starting Friday, March 25th, 2016 at http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/ovo. Adult tickets start at $35 and child tickets start at $25 (subject to change).

Sponsors

OVO is presented by Visa Signature. DHL and ACTIVEON Action Camera are the official sponsors.

About Cirque du Soleil

The company has brought wonder and delight to more than 160 million spectators in more than 400 cities on six continents. Cirque du Soleil has almost 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from about 50 different countries. For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit http://www.cirquedusoleil.com. To find out more about the ONE DROP Foundation, visit http://www.onedrop.org.
Complete Integrated LTE and P25 Communications ESChats ISSI interface to the P25 radio network is available as a service that is hosted locally or in the cloud.

SLA Corporation, Tait Radio and Avtec Inc. have teamed up to demonstrate advanced P25 system integration at IWCE in Las Vegas Nevada on March 23 and 24, 2016. The demonstrations will include a Tait P25 radio network integrated with ESChat's full featured PTT over LTE via ISSI and Avtecs Scout Dispatch Console via CSSI.

As public safety agencies begin the process of augmenting their LMR networks and/or transitioning towards LTE based Push to Talk communication, integration will play a key role in ensuring a smooth transition that requires interoperability between the networks.

Tait is pleased to be partnered with ESChat to deliver leading convergence solutions, said Bruce Mazza, VP Solutions Management at Tait. Tait collaborated to deliver the ISSI server-based gateways and developed its UnifyVoice solution using the ESChat server and SDKs. Partnering with ESChat was the obvious choice for Tait since they have a proven, open platform, excellent reputation and innovative features.

ESChats Inter RF Subsystem Interface (ISSI) to the P25 radio network is available as a service that is hosted locally or in the cloud. This capability provides a software-only interface that does not require an incremental capital investment. The ESChat implementation of the ISSI interface is full featured, and supports multiple call types between the LTE and P25 networks, including Private Calls, Group Calls and Emergency Calls. System-wide display of radio and LTE device IDs are also supported.

The interface from Avtecs Scout console to the P25 RFSS uses standard IP transport as defined in the TIA-102.BACA standard; there are no external controllers or vocoders required. Scout uses the latest AMB E+2 with improved forward error correction (FEC) and noise reduction for excellent audio quality.

"This collaboration between SLA Corporation, Tait and Avtec represents a significant achievement in standards-based interoperability, said Michael Ridge, Avtec director of partnerships and alliances. In this configuration, the Scout console facilitates full command and control operations from different equipment and systems, without the need for customization. This brings tremendous value to an industry in which flexibility and interoperability are of increasing importance."

Further enhancing the interoperability experience is ESChats integrated Location Tracking and Mapping capability, said Josh Lober, President of SLA. Currently, ESChat users on 3G/4G/WiFi networks can view the real-time location of their ESChat contacts. ESChat is enhancing its ISSI offering so as to include the ability for the ESChat users to also view the location of the P25 radio users. This feature set will provide the most advanced real-time integrated communication and situational awareness platform available.

ABOUT SLA:

SLA's ESChat (http://www.eschat.com) is the leading solution for carrier independent Secure Push to Talk (PTT) over LTE communications. ESChat includes AES-256 encrypted PTT voice and multimedia (text and image) messaging. ESChat also provides live and historical (bread crumb) tracking and mapping. Currently used by the U.S. Military as well as Federal, State and Local law enforcement, ESChat is able to operate over FirstNet Band 14 LTE spectrum, commercial carriers and WiFi. ESChat supports interoperability with all LMR radio networks, including P25 via the native Inter RF Subsystem Interface (ISSI) protocol and DMR via the native Inter Application Interface Specification (AIS) protocol.

About Tait Communications:

Tait Communications (http://www.taitradio.com) is a global leader in designing, delivering and managing innovative critical communications solutions that help our customers keep lights on, keep communities safe and keep cities flowing. Tait is about smart, practical and secure delivery and for over 50 years we have adapted with our customers. We have moved simply from designing, assembling and delivering our own mobile radios and mobile solutions, to a highly sophisticated company that has the skills, scale and scope to manage and deliver on a variety of solutions to best suit our customers needs. With our global network of trusted partners and dealers, we work with customers to manage existing systems and support their move to future products, services and applications.

ABOUT Avtec Inc.:

Avtec, Inc. (http://www.avtecinc.com) provides pure Internet Protocol (IP) dispatch console solutions for the government, transportation, public safety, utility, and business & industry markets. For more than 35 years, customers have chosen Avtec's award-winning technology for their mission-critical dispatch centers. There are thousands of Scout Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) consoles installed worldwide.

Press Contacts:

For SLA / ESChat

Holly Luban

media(at)slacorp(dot)com

For Tait Radio

Bruce Mazza

bruce.mazza(at)taitradio(dot)com

For Avtec

Kerry Bohmert

kbohmert(at)avtecinc(dot)com
Sonwil Distribution Center

Sonwil Distribution Center today announced that it has opened a new operation on Longley Lane in Reno, Nevada. Sonwil is a third generation family-owned and operated logistics solutions firm which has been serving regional, national, and international clients for more than 70 years.

As a business making our first introduction to the Nevada market, we couldnt be more excited. We are proud to maintain long-lasting trusted partnerships with some of the largest manufacturers in the world, in a number of verticals, and we look forward to doing the same in Reno, said Don Dimitroff, chief sales officer of Sonwil Distribution Center. In addition to being a strategic location for our operations, Reno offers attractive freight rates, service levels, tax environment and business-friendly policies. Our focus will be two-pronged as we work to establish this facility as our Western USA operational hub  we will migrate existing clients to our Reno operation, in order to service their Western U.S. needs, and will proactively offer our services to companies operating, or planning to operate, in this region.

Sonwil is headquartered in Buffalo, New York, with additional locations in Carlstadt, New Jersey. The Nevada facility compliments the companys existing operations in New York and New Jersey, where they cover 55% of the U.S. market and 65% of the Canadian market in one days travel. The company has doubled its staff over the last four months, and with employees now totaling 10, Sonwil plans to continue their rate of workforce growth.

This is great news for Reno, said Reno City Councilmember Oscar Delgado, a representative of Ward 3, where the facility is located. Sonwil is helping to grow and expand Northern Nevadas economy by hiring local residents and establishing a home base here. I am pleased to welcome Sonwil to Reno and wish them much success.

Sonwil brings with their expansion, great jobs and a name that is recognized and respected in the logistics world, said Mike Kazmierski, CEO of EDAWN. Another significant investment and a great international company to add to our growing logistics presence in the Reno-Sparks area, he said.

Sonwil provides reliable services that free customers from operating expenses and management issues related to private facility ownership. The companys scalable logistics solutions help clients optimize revenue growth and reduce their operating expenses related to the management and distribution of their inventory by offering logistics to power distribution, technology to increase competitive edge, transportation to optimize the movement of freight, and commercial space to grow your business.

Several local businesses played an important role in assisting Sonwil with its Nevada expansion:



ABC Fire

CBRE

FCC Communications Inc.

Kelly Services

Masterson Electrical

NAI Alliance

Nevada Recycling and Salvage

Pallet Broker LLC

Reno Forklift

Tyco

About EDAWN:

The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada is a private/ public partnership established in 1983 committed to recruiting, expanding and supporting newly forming quality companies that bring jobs to the region and have a positive impact on the quality of life in Greater Reno-Sparks-Tahoe.

About Sonwil Distribution Center:

Sonwil Distribution Center, Inc., is a family-owned and operated logistics solutions firm headquartered in Buffalo, New York with additional locations in Carlstadt, New Jersey and Reno, Nevada which has been serving regional, national, and international clients for more than 70 years. Sonwils scalable logistics solutions help clients optimize revenue growth and reduce their operating expenses related to the management and distribution of their inventory. Sonwils solutions include a variety of warehousing services to dynamically manage your inventory, transportation to optimize the movement of your goods, technology to increase your competitive edge and Commercial Real Estate to grow your business. Learn more: http://www.sonwil.com.
Shareholders David Gitlin and Mark Mattioli of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP will be speaking on panels at the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital & Technologies (PACT) Digital Health Half-Day Summit Thursday, March 17, 2016.

According to its website, the summit will provide instrumental insight to small companies and entrepreneurs, where they can engage on key topics within the digital health sector and learn from industry experts. In addition, entrepreneurs will have the ability to pitch and receive venture capitalist feedback, and receive reverse pitches from large companies in the digital health sector.

Gitlin will be presenting on the panel, Working with Large Companies. The panel will discuss how entrepreneurs and smaller businesses can work with larger entities, featuring members of the Healthcare Innovation Collaborative and Digital Health startups which have successfully engaged with large organizations.

Mattioli will be presenting on the panel, Navigating Risk. The discussion will concentrate on what startups must address when pitching to a larger company. This includes the basics of cyber security, liability, data, compliance, and regulatory concerns.

Gitlin co-leads the firms Emerging Technology Practice. He focuses his practice on corporate and securities, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, technology development, and corporate finance. For more than 30 years, Gitlin has counseled foreign clients doing business in the U.S., as well as U.S. clients doing business abroad. He has structured more than 350 M&A and venture capital deals, many of which have been cross-border transactions involving leading businesses in Finland, India, Israel, and Sweden, among others.

Mattioli provides regulatory, transactional, and compliance guidance to hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers in a variety of areas, including antitrust, health care reform, managed care contracting, reimbursement, fraud, health information privacy and security, and medical staff credentialing. He has litigated numerous cases involving health care entities in antitrust, False Claims Act, breach of privacy, and commercial disputes with other providers.

Greenberg Traurig is also a sponsor of the summit.

About Greenberg Traurigs Emerging Technology Practice

Greenberg Traurigs Emerging Technology Group is a multidisciplinary legal team focused on guiding emerging technology companies through all the stages of their development, from initial business formation through angel or venture capital financing to initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions. Drawing on the firms broad platform, the group offers clients a streamlined approach to meeting their diverse legal needs  a single team that can scale up its services as clients businesses grow. The attorneys regularly advise clients on a host of pressing legal issues, from IP protection and software/IT matters through labor and employment, compensation, and tax issues.

About Greenberg Traurigs Health & FDA Business Group

Greenberg Traurigs multidisciplinary Health & FDA Business Group provides strategic counsel to a diverse group of companies and other organizations, helping them to respond proactively to the rapidly changing healthcare marketplace. The group combines dedicated experience in health care regulatory compliance and operational matters with the firms capabilities in corporate & securities, finance, tax, antitrust, ERISA, commercial and governmental litigation, restructuring, intellectual property and biotechnology, in order to provide a wide range of legal services. For more information, click here.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, multi-practice law firm with approximately 1900 attorneys serving clients from 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm is No 1. on the 2015 Law360 Most Charitable Firms list, third largest in the U.S. on the 2015 Law360 400, Top 20 on the 2015 Am Law Global 100, and among the 2015 BTI Brand Elite. More information at: http://www.gtlaw.com/.
Cubic Logo - 2014 Cubics addition of the Bandit Board capability provides another application to the P5 CTS, which significantly increases the return on investment (ROI) for air combat training events.

Cubic Global Defense (CGD), a business unit of Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB), today announced the completion of its first live-flight demonstration of the Cubic Bandit Board with partner Draken International, operator of the largest privately-owned fleet of ex-military aircraft. The Cubic Bandit Board is an integrated low-cost tactical training capability that transmits the live P5 Combat Training System (P5 CTS) picture onto a kneeboard tablet of a pilot in an aggressor Red Air aircraft. During the demonstration, Cubic successfully relayed the high-fidelity, real-time picture from the P5 CTS pod to a kneeboard tablet in a Draken A-4 cockpit. The Cubic Miniature Encryptor (CME), which demonstrated its encryption capability in September 2015, was utilized with an added data guard functionality as part of the Bandit Board flight demonstration.

Training for todays advanced threats to air combat operations requires adaptable, high-fidelity training tools. The P5 CTS is designed to provide secure, tailored and scalable instrumentation solutions to best support warfighter needs in air-to-air, air-to-ground and surface-to-air combat training missions. Cubics worldwide fielded system enhances real-time and post-mission training by displaying the live-air picture, recording mission data and relaying Time, Space and Positioning Information (TSPI) between participating aircraft during training sorties. Key components of the system include secure, GPS-enabled, aircraft-mounted airborne instrumentation pods plus ground stations, which help aircrew conduct, monitor and control air combat training and post-flight debriefing. Accurate scenario management and enhanced air combat training safety  especially for aircraft not equipped with Link-16  ensures desired tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) and learning objectives can be delivered in the most cost effective manner.

Cubics addition of the Bandit Board capability provides another application to the P5 CTS, which significantly increases the return on investment (ROI) for air combat training events, said Dave Buss, senior vice president of Cubic Global Defense and recently retired Commander, Naval Air Forces (the Navys Air Boss). We look forward to the adoption of our recently demonstrated Bandit Board and encryption solutions in expanded applications for the fielded P5 CTS system.

In the demonstration, two Draken fighter aircraft carried the CME encrypted P5 CTS pods and utilized their associated tablets to validate their positions and formations. Aircraft scalable location display, altitude, airspeed, vector and pairing data were part of the P5 CTS tablets software application. A P5 CTS Live Monitor ground station captured the sortie data and post flight validated the picture recorded on the tablets.

Cubic is committed to providing cost-effective and validated offerings, which now include encryption and the Bandit Board, said Michael Knowles, vice president and deputy general manager of Air Ranges, Cubic Global Defense. These field-ready solutions are available to help aircrew maximize the use of their P5 CTS and prepare for a seamless transition to the future Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) environment.

The successful flight of the Bandit Board follows Cubics flight demonstration of the CMEs encryption capability as well as a P5 CTS integrated LVC air combat training demonstration at the 2015 Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation & Education Conference.

YouTube video of Cubics successful live-flight demonstration of the Bandit Board is available for viewing at CGDs YouTube channel or https://youtu.be/EIm64O4gyk4.

# # #

About Cubic Corporation

Cubic Corporation designs, integrates and operates systems, products and services focused in the transportation, defense training and secure communications markets. As the parent company of two major business units, Cubics mission is to increase situational awareness and understanding for customers worldwide. Cubic Transportation Systems is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services to create intelligent travel solutions for transportation authorities and operators. Cubic Global Defense is a leading provider of realistic combat training systems, secure communications and networking and highly specialized support services for military and security forces of the U.S. and allied nations. For more information about Cubic, please visit the company's website at http://www.cubic.com or on Twitter @CubicCorp.

Media Contact

Laura Chon

Corporate Communications

Cubic Corporation

858-505-2181

laura.chon(at)cubic.com
The idea behind Build a Better Burger has always been to take Americas favorite wines and pair them with Americas favorite foodthe burger.

Sutter Home Family Vineyards, one of Americas favorite wine brands, just revealed the five finalists recipes to compete for the 2015 Build a Better Burger Recipe Contest and $25,000 grand prize. With lavish additions like cashew bacon crumble, caramelized sauerkraut and pickled saffron pears, Sutter Home Build a Better Burger Recipe Contest entrants continue to elevate the quintessential American burger.

Family-owned since 1948, Sutter Home is proud to be an American success story and a household name for wine lovers across the globe. In 1990, Sutter Home uncorked the wine industrys first major recipe contest: Build a Better Burger. There were 20 contestants at the first Build a Better Burger Recipe Contest cook-off in 1990, and the $10,000 Grand Prize went to a retired army colonel from Virginia named Jim Pleasants for his Napa Valley Basil-Smoked Burger. By the mid-1990s, Build a Better Burger became one of Americas most popular recipe competitions, a fact confirmed by its inclusion, in 1998, in a 26-segment PBS show on cooking contests called Cookoff America. In 2003, Build a Better Burger was featured on the first season of Food Network Challenge, a competitive cooking television series that aired on the Food Network.

For the 2015 Sutter Home Build a Better Burger Recipe Contest, burgers will be judged on taste, creativity, ease of preparation, and availability of ingredients. The action will unfold on May 19, 2016 at the winerys state-of-the-art culinary center in St. Helena, California. Each of the 2015 finalists burgers will be prepared by Sutter Homes culinary team and tasted by a panel of esteemed judges. The winning recipe will be announced on the Sutter Home Build a Better Burger website and Facebook page on or about May 20, 2016. In addition to the grand prize, all finalists will receive $1,000 towards the purchase of Weber products. Voting for the Peoples Choice Award will take place on http://www.sutterhome.com, beginning on April 1, 2016. The Peoples Choice Award winner will receive a cash prize of $5,000.

Building on Sutter Homes history of creating fun and exciting moments for its consumers, the 2015 Sutter Home Build A Better Burger Recipe Contest will feature special surprises including unique twists on Americas favorite meal and the Grand Prize Winner for the Best Burger, who will receive a cash prize of $25,000. The idea behind Build a Better Burger has always been to take Americas favorite wines and pair them with Americas favorite foodthe burger, explained Wendy Nyberg, Vice President of Marketing for Sutter Home. Passionate everyday cooks dont hesitate to experiment with flavors, and we love to see that creativity in the burger recipe entries as well as wine pairings.

If everyday cooks didnt get a chance to enter the 2015 contest, the 2016 recipe contest kicks off on March 31, 2016. Recipes can be entered at http://www.sutterhome.com.

The five 2015 recipes and finalists competing for $25,000 include:

Jamaican Rum Jerk Burgers

With Rum-Cola glaze, Jicama Cilantro Slaw and Jerk Mayonnaise

Recipe by Ashley Lyth, Brooklyn, New York

Suggested Wine Pairing: Gewurztraminer

Sweet & Smoky Spanish Beef Burgers

With Pickled Saffron Pears, Crispy Prosciutto and Smoky Paprika Aioli

Recipe by Phyllis O'Shaughnessy, Naperville, IL

Suggested Wine Pairing: Zinfandel

A Little Heat Pineapple Pork Burgers

With Cashew Bacon Crumble and Creamy Caraway Slaw

Recipe by Meredith Frye, Waverly, AL

Suggested Wine Pairing: Riesling

Garam Masala Lamb Burgers

With Sweet Dates and Salty Bacon Lardons

Recipe by Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, GA

Suggested Wine Pairing: Gewurztraminer

Bratty Patty Pork Burgers

With Caramelized Sauerkraut and Curry Ketchup

Recipe by Julie Merriman, Seattle, WA

Suggested Wine Pairing: Zinfandel

Promotional partners of the 2015 Sutter Home Build a Better Burger retail promotion include Weber-Stephen Products LLC, AlexiaFoods, The National Pork Board, PopChips, Dole Packaged Foods, and KC Masterpiece.

Promotional partners of the 2016 Sutter Home Build a Better Burger retail promotion include Bubba Burger, KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce, Cape Cod Chips, Dole Packaged Foods, Mezzetta Deli Sliced Peppers, Blue Rhino Propane, and Scripto Lighters.

For additional information on the contest or to access past Sutter Home Build a Better Burger recipes, along with wine pairing suggestions, visit http://www.sutterhome.com.

Finalist recipes, photos of the finalist burgers, and Sutter Home Bottle Shots can be accessed at the following links:

Finalist Burger Recipes

Finalist Burger Photos

Sutter Home Bottle Shots

About Sutter Home

When the Trinchero family bought the Sutter Home Winery in 1948, they had a vision, a passion, and an insight into consumer tastes. In the early 1970s, Sutter Home started a trend when the company created White Zinfandel, introducing a new, sweeter flavor profile that changed the way Americans enjoyed wine by offering high-quality varietals at an affordable price. By the 1980s, Sutter Home became a household name and the second largest independent, family-run winery in the United States. In 2005, the winery was the first to produce the groundbreaking single-serve and 187ml in lightweight plastic bottles. Sutter Home continues to evolve with consumers tastes and offers more than 25 different varietals to choose from. For more information visit http://www.SutterHome.com.

###

Media Contacts:

Elizabeth Hooker, Senior Director of Communications for Trinchero Family Estates

ehooker(at)tfewines(dot)com

707-294-7117

Carissa Abazia, Assoc. PR Manager for Trinchero Family Estates

cabazia(at)tfewines(dot)com

707-321-7019
Online brand protection can be an incredibly difficult subject to tackle, and Wiser's eBook is the first of its kind to help manufacturers uphold their brand value in the eCommerce industry.

Just as retailers make great efforts to improve and uphold their brand online, manufacturers go to great lengths to establish a brand protection strategy for their products. In the brick and mortar realm, it's easy for manufacturers to come in and inspect their products' placement and prices alike. But how can they protect it in the eCommerce landscape?

Wiser's new eBook, Top Tips to Protect Your Brand Online, is packed with advice for manufacturers looking to keep their brand out of harm's way in eCommerce. Online brand protection can be an incredibly difficult subject to tackle, and Wiser's eBook is the first of its kind to help manufacturers uphold their brand value in the eCommerce industry.

Jake Bailey, CEO of Wiser, said, "A tried and true way for a manufacturer to expand their reach is to sell through a network of retailers. Unfortunately, retailers can unintentionally damage the manufacturer's brand by something as simple as listing the product next to a competitor's. Wiser's new eBook provides strategies to help manufacturers monitor their products online and search for situations that could hurt brand equity.

Wiser's eBook addresses different kinds of protection methods, such as online planograms and automated price monitoring. eCommerce's exponential growth over the years has made retail even more competitive. For manufacturers who are looking to protect their brand from the competitive pressures of the eCommerce industry, Wiser's eBook provides top tier insight on the subject.

Get your complimentary copy of Top Tips to Protect Your Brand Online here.

About Wiser:

Wiser empowers brands and retailers to compete in the ever-changing retail industry. We level the retail playing field by equipping brands and retailers with a turnkey solution to sell the right products, at the right price, at the right time.

Wiser's suite of data-driven merchandising solutions include: dynamic pricing, assortment and pricing optimization, MAP monitoring, and more.

For more information on Wiser, please visit wiser.com.
Ramtech Building Systems of Mansfield, Texas has announced that two of the company's senior executives will be presenting at the Modular Building Institutes (MBI) 2016 World of Modular (WOM) annual convention and trade show being held March 17-20 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Diego, California. Ramtech President Linc Moss and Vice President of Design Roland Brown will both be presenting as part of a five person panel discussing the best practices on implementation strategies and guidelines for getting the most out of offsite construction. The two-part series will first examine pre-construction with a holistic view of the permanent modular construction industry as it exists today followed by an examination of some of the strategies and best practices required for launching a successful project. Topics will include modular design development and integration, ideal project delivery methods and contracts, as well as assigning roles as possibilities, and scope of work delineation at both the pre-bid and preconstruction phases. Part two of the presentation will focus on project execution by looking into the means and methods as well as the stakeholder scopes of work needed to execute strategies throughout the offsite and on-site building process. This includes final drawing submittals and approval, the zoning and permitting process, scheduling issues, building fabrication, site development and module setting, and finish out and commissioning of the project. Joining Ramtech's Moss and Brown on the panel will be Laurie Robert, VP Sales and Marketing and John Erb, Director of Sales and Business Development both of NRB, Inc., and Charlie Walden PMC Director of Silver Creek Industries.

The World of Modular conference is the modular building industries largest annual convention and trade exhibition drawing hundreds of expert modular construction professionals who gather to network, exchanges ideas, and discuss relevant issues affecting the commercial modular industry. Now in its 33rd year, the 2016 WOM will have 40 speakers who will address a wide variety of topics related to the multifamily, hospitality, education, healthcare, and government sectors.

About Ramtech Building Systems

Since 1982 Mansfield, Texas-based Ramtech Building Systems has been providing innovative permanent modular construction and relocatable modular buildings for educational institutions, government agencies, healthcare providers, and Fortune 500 companies throughout the Southern United States. As a design-build construction company, Ramtech offers full in-house design, a manufacturer direct product, and complete site construction services all within a single-source solution. By emphasizing a value engineering approach, Ramtech has successfully completed over 3,000 total projects of diverse sizes across multiple industries. For more information, visit the company's website at ramtechmodular.com.
RECESS will bring the Music + Ideas Festival 2016 Spring Tour to 18 colleges and universities across the country from April 5-18, 2016 "We were a college startup just a few years back and know first-hand the challenges they face. Our goal is to give our fellow startups the foundational support needed to make it to the next level. - RECESS co-founder, Jack Shannon.

RECESS, a leading creator of experiences, content and opportunities for motivated millennials, will bring the Music + Ideas Festival 2016 Spring Tour - the nations only touring startup pitch competition and music festival - to 18 colleges and universities across the country. From April 5-18, 2016, student entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to pitch their startup ideas to the biggest VCs and investors in the country during a bracket-format student startup pitch competition. To close out each regional leg of the Tour, some of the hottest names in music, including Lil Dicky, GoldLink, and Tory Lanez, will perform at RECESS After Party concerts following each Pitch Regional Semifinal round.

We are excited to see the success of student entrepreneurs coming out of our event, said RECESS co-founder, Jack Shannon. We were a college startup just a few years back and know first-hand the challenges they face. Our goal is to give our fellow startups the foundational support needed to make it to the next level.

The RECESS Music + Ideas Festival, which first launched in 2013, was designed to give student entrepreneurs the chance to take their innovative business concepts from the dorm room to the boardroom. Previous RECESS student entrepreneurs have gone on to raise aggregate seed funding of over $12 million from investors, such as Tim Draper, Mark Cuban, Marc Benioff and others. Past notable judges for the pitch competitions have included Cara Nortman (Upfront Ventures), Omar Al-Agely (Mark Cuban Companies), and Richard Jun (BAM Ventures). This years class is no exception, with judges from influential companies such as Techstars (judging the Boston, Denver, and Chicago Regional Semifinal rounds).

To elevate the experience around the Music + Ideas Festival, RECESS is teaming up with some of the worlds leading brands including:



Southwest Airlines - providing roundtrip travel for one travel-related startup to come to their headquarters in Dallas to meet with Southwest leaders and flights for winning teams to the National Final Rounds in Los Angeles;

Pivot - offering one environmentally-focused team the chance to be invited to a private pitch session at the Pivot/Participant Media headquarters in Los Angeles; and

Blue Ocean Enterprises - sponsoring the Capital Championship, which is a nationwide entrepreneurial tournament for established startups, that will run alongside RECESS Pitch competition. The three winning teams of the Capital Championships national semifinals and the winner of RECESS Pitch Competition will be eligible for a coveted $250,000 cash prize.

Returning as the Title Partner of the Pitch Competition and official travel partner of RECESS, Southwest Airlines recognizes the importance of RECESS goal of empowering young innovators.

Our customers and their expectations are constantly changing, says Heather Figallo, Senior Director of Customer Experience and Innovation at Southwest Airlines. In order to keep up, we must continuously look for ways to evolve our Customer Experience. Were inspired by these young innovators and what their ideas can hold for the future of the Southwest Airlines travel experience. Were excited to support their journey as the official travel [partner] of RECESS.

During the Spring 2016 Tour, RECESS will be visiting 18 colleges: three schools from six regions. Five students from each college will be selected from a pool of applicants to pitch before a panel of esteemed judges during the initial Pitch Campus Qualifier round. The winner of the Campus Qualifier, held on each schools campus, will advance to the Pitch Regional Semifinals where they will compete against the winning startups from the other schools from the region.

The prevailing teams will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to RECESS Field Trip in Los Angeles in June, where they will compete on a national level with other regional winners. There, they will compete in the National Finals round for the opportunity to pitch major investors and receive venture funding to turn their ideas into viable businesses.

Dates for the Pitch Regional Semifinals + After Party are:

Boston- 4/18/2016 @ The House of Blues

Philadelphia- 4/19/2016 @ Theater of Living Arts

Chicago- 4/22/2016 @ Concord Music Hall

Denver- 4/23/2016 @ Gothic Theatre

St. Louis- 4/26/2016 @ The Pageant

Los Angeles- 4/28/2016 @ Club Bahia

For more information and a full list of dates and campuses on the Spring 2016 Tour, or to RSVP for the Pitch Regional Semifinals + After Party, visit http://www.recess.is.

ABOUT RECESS:

RECESS Digital, Inc. was created to inspire and support next generation visionaries who will shape the future. It creates exclusive experiences for millennials  from nationwide entrepreneurial pitch competitions to concerts by the hottest acts in music. The companys flagship event, the RECESS Music + Ideas Festival, is the only nationwide college campus tour that unites the brightest young minds with successful entrepreneurs through a bracket-format student startup pitch competition. More than 70,000 student participants on 35 campuses nationwide, including Cornell, New York University and the University of Pennsylvania, have participated in previous RECESS events.

RECESS, named one of Fast Companys Most Innovative Live Events Companies of 2016, has worked with world-leading brands, such as LOreal Paris, Microsoft, IBM and LinkedIn.. Students that have come through the Recess Pitch Competition program have gone on to receive funding from world-renowned investors including Tim Draper, Mark Cuban, and Marc Benioff.

For more info visit http://www.RECESS.is.
Stain and Odor Gallon "Our retailers and customers have been asking for super-sized versions for a long time now...it was a no-brainer to come out with them at Global Pet Expo," said Macon Brock, president and co-founder, Skout's Honor

Skouts Honor, the fast-growing company that offers BETTER, FASTER and STRONGER solutions to everyday pet messes and odors, today announced that it will offer two of its best-selling products (the Stain & Odor Remover and the Urine Destroyer) by the gallon. The new gallon-sized products will be on display at the American Pet Products Association (APPA) Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Florida, March 16-18, 2016), in the Skouts Honor Booth #2487.

Our retailers and customers have been asking us for a super-sized version of these products since we introduced them last year  so it was a no-brainer for us to come out with them in time for Global Pet Expo, said Macon Brock, president and co-founder. Its nice to know that our customers have been so pleased with the products results, that they want us to give them more of it!

Stain & Odor Remover (MSRP: $44.99, 1 gallon)



Extra-strength, non-enzymatic cleaner to quickly eliminate stains and odors

Optimized for use on porous and non-porous surfaces

Great for everyday cleanup

Urine Destroyer (MSRP: $44.99, 1 gallon)



Powerful solution optimized to quickly penetrate deep into carpet padding, unsealed concrete and other porous surfaces to eliminate stubborn stains and odors

Skouts Honor products leverage BioKore technology and/or a rapidly biodegradable molecular deodorizer to provide pet owners with BETTER, FASTER, STRONGER environmentally and socially conscious cleaning solutions.

The Skouts Honor family of products is available at retailers across the United States and Canada, and also on Amazon.com. For specific retail locations, please visit the store locator.

Visit Skouts Honor in Booth #2487 at Global Pet Expo to find out what all the buzz is about! For distribution and sales opportunities, please contact Shannan Morlas, National Sales Manager, at shannan(at)skoutshonor(dot)com.

Skouts Honor

Skouts Honor is a company based in Irvine, Calif. that offers high-quality household pet cleaning products including a Stain & Odor Remover, Odor Eliminator, Urine Destroyer, Litter Box Deodorizer, Cat Urine & Odor Destroyer and Patio Cleaner & Deodorizer. Founded by a team of animal lovers and proud pet owners, the company created its Skouts Paw Pledge, and donates a days worth of food for a shelter animal in need with every product sold. In addition to being available at a variety of pet specialty retailers nationwide, the entire line of next generation green cleaning products is available for purchase on Amazon.com or the Skouts Honor website. For more information on the products and for specific retailers, please visit SkoutsHonor.com

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The support is an overwhelming validation that there is a high demand from cat owners everywhere for a better litter box. We are proud to continue offering Luuup on Indiegogo InDemand.

Luuup Litter Box, the ingenious three sifting tray litter box system, had so much record setting success on its Kickstarter that it is continuing the momentum on its new Indiegogo InDemand campaign.

InDemand is a platform for successful crowdfunding campaigns to continue to fulfill demand and take pre-orders from new backers.

We are absolutely amazed and deeply grateful for the incredible response and support we have received during our record setting campaign, said Luuup co-founder Dini Petty. The support is an overwhelming validation that there is a high demand from cat owners everywhere for a better litter box. We are proud to continue offering Luuup on Indiegogo InDemand.

Luuup moves on from Kickstarter in the record books as the most funded pet product in Kickstarter history. It raised a final tally of $1,178,504 CAD from 14,333 backers.

The Luuup Litter Box became cat owners' must have item because it eliminates the dreaded task of scooping out cat litter with its innovative litter sifting system. Each of Luuup's three slotted trays act as a sift, but when two trays are stacked together, the slots overlap to form a solid tray. By adding a third tray, a perpetual litter-sifting system is created.

The Luuup Litter Box has become a world-wide hit for the 2nd time. It returns to the market 20 years after it was launched as an As Seen On TV product that sold more than two-million units. In its Kickstarter campaign, Luuup set the new standard for pet product success with its ultra-modern 2.0 litter box for a new generation of cat lovers who all share the unenviable but necessary chore of cleaning the litter box.

Television broadcast legend Dini Petty, an original investor in the original product, joined forces with her son Nick to re-launch as Luuup, which looks as great as it works.

The Luuup Litter Box is now available on Indiegogo InDemand. For more information and to order, visit: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/luuup-litter-box-the-best-cat-litter-box-ever#/

About The Luuup Litter Box

What's old is new again. In the 1990s, Luuup sold more than two million units. Like many As Seen on TV products, it disappeared. Long-time TV personality Dini Petty, now working with her son Nick, have teamed up to bring back the best cat litter box ever made. They have created a new and even better litter box. The Luuup Litter Box is affordable, functional and high-quality. It will be the last litter box you will ever buy.
The SAE World Congress will feature an onsite Media Center with work stations for credentialed media.

SAE International invites journalists to attend the SAE 2016 World Congress, which will be held April 12-14 at Cobo Center in Detroit.

Toyota will provide Executive Leadership and Aisin will serve as Tier One Strategic Partner for the event, which has a theme of Powering Possibilities.

The SAE World Congress will feature an onsite Media Center with work stations for credentialed media.

Keynote speakers for the event will include:



Shad Khan, Owner of Flex-N-Gate

Kirk Steudle, Director, Michigan Department of Transportation  Mr. Steudle will present, "Future Mobility-Transportation and Technology Fusion"

Gary Silberg, Partner, National Automotive Leader, KPMG LLP  Mr. Silberg will present, "The Clockspeed Dilemma- what it means for automotive innovation"

Other highlights will include:

620 minutes of Tech Hub programming

1500+ technical presentations

10 technical expert panels

3 days of Young Professional activities

2-day Career Fair

For more information on the SAE 2016 World Congress and Exhibition, visit http://www.sae.org/congress/. To register as media or to request media credentials, visit http://www.sae.org/congress/attend/registration/, email pr(at)sae(dot)org or call 1-724-772-8522.

SAE International is a global association committed to being the ultimate knowledge source for the engineering profession. By uniting more than 128,000 engineers and technical experts, we drive knowledge and expertise across a broad spectrum of industries. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our philanthropic SAE Foundation, including programs like A World in Motion and the Collegiate Design Series.

http://www.sae.org
Daniel R. Wilson, MD, PhD

The second president of Western University of Health Sciences in its nearly 39-year history is a doctors son who studied at Yale, Harvard and Cambridge, ran a hospital as well as a large academic medical center, and has taught hundreds of todays physicians or other health professionals. But at heart, he is a small-town Iowa boy who grew up fascinated by, and caring for, his friends, neighbors, and all others who crossed his path.

Daniel R. Wilson, MD, PhD, currently Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Florida Health Science Center-Jacksonville, has been appointed President of Western University of Health Sciences. He succeeds Philip Pumerantz, PhD, the Universitys founding president, who retired in September 2015 after 38 years of service, and is now WesternU President Emeritus.

Dr. Wilsons first official day as president is July 1, 2016, although he expects to be on campus and at WesternU events prior to that date.

After an exhaustive search, the Presidential Search Advisory Committee found such a well-qualified candidate that President Pumerantz, all the deans, and most of the additional voices we heard were united behind him, said Richard Bond, DO, DrPH, chair of the WesternU Board of Trustees. We believe Dr. Wilson will lead the University into the challenges of the future with the support of the Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, and, of course, students.

Dan Wilsons experience, skills, education and personal philosophy make him an ideal fit for WesternU, Dr. Pumerantz said. He has a deep understanding and appreciation of the humanistic philosophy that lies at the core of our institution, and the capacity to take the University to new heights in health sciences education, research, and patient care.

Wilson, 60, a native of Manson, Iowa, will officially begin his tenure at WesternU on July 1. He was hired by the Board of Trustees following a 10-month national search, screening and interview process that yielded an initial field of 50 health administration professionals. Wilson was one of three finalists who met with various constituent groups and individuals at WesternU in January, and made presentations at individual town hall sessions on campus.

From the moment Sandy and I first stepped foot on campus, we immediately felt a true community of purpose with a vibrant and positive culture. A culture in which, at any time, thousands of young people in all the health professions are learning how science and humanism must converge, if patients are to recover, disease is to be prevented, and more importantly, well-being is to be fully attained, Wilson said.

As UF Health Science Center Vice President and Dean of Medicine, Wilson oversees the academic, clinical and research activities for the University of Florida in Jacksonville, which includes a 695-bed teaching hospital and schools of clinical medicine, nursing, and pharmacy. The center has more than 5,000 employees, including 750 physicians at 51 sites, and a total annual budget of about $800 million. Research grants and contracts have risen 34 percent during his tenure, and the centers more than 400 current faculty-led studies total more than $20 million in contract and grant funds.

Prior to joining the University of Florida, Wilson was Chairman of Psychiatry at Creighton University, where in 12 years he expanded the full-time psychiatric faculty from three to 30, raised clinical service and revenue six-fold, and grew the research portfolio from zero dollars to $17 million. He had arrived at Creighton from Ohio where he was medical director of the largest state hospital and served as a professor at the University of Cincinnati, and from 1987-92 he directed neuropsychiatry at McLean Hospital & Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Dr. Wilson is also an anthropologist and forensic psychiatrist and recently concluded a term as president of the American Neuropsychiatric Association. He has been an invited lecturer at more than 200 universities or professional societies worldwide with more than 350 formal scholarly communications, including more than 100 refereed research reports, chapters or other submissions, and more than 100 abstracts or presentations at national and international meetings. He has been principal investigator on more than 40 grants, with more than $10 million funded as a PI and Co-I or consultant on 50 other studies.

Dr. Wilson earned his bachelors degree in anthropology from Yale, a medical degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine, and a PhD in biological anthropology from Cambridge. He was an intern, resident and fellow at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Medical School.
What an honor to be recognized by the Business Journal and belong to this group of current award winners, and those from years past who have been recognized for innovation, job creation, and improving peoples lives.

Proove Biosciences is pleased to announce that its founder and CEO, Brian Meshkin, is a winner of the Orange County Business Journals 15th Annual Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award. More than 300 people gathered at the Hotel Irvine Jamboree Center on Thursday, March 10 to honor Orange Countys top business leaders for their entrepreneurial spirit and success. The Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards Program is a luncheon designed to celebrate individuals who, by their creativity and determination, have established and nurtured successful business ventures.

Orange County is an incredible business community with many successful entrepreneurs, states Brian Meshkin. What an honor to be recognized by the Business Journal and belong to this group of current award winners, and those from years past who have been recognized for innovation, job creation, and improving peoples lives.

Founded in 2009 by Brian Meshkin, Proove Biosciences has grown exponentially to become a commercial and research leader in personalized medicine. Using its patent protected bioinformatics platform, Proove delivers proof to improve health care decisions in the field of pain treatment  the largest and most expensive health care condition in the United States. The company has grown from about 150 tests in 2011 and three employees to more than 200,000 tests in 2015 with more than 250 employees. Physicians in Orange County and across the United States order Proove testing to choose the best medications for an individual patient, avoid addiction to prescription opioids, and help patients reduce their pain. Proove has been profitable and won awards for its research from leading medical societies including the American Society of Regional Anesthesia, American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians and others. Through its Proove Promise, the company works to achieve its mission and provides 40 hours of paid volunteer time to its employees who have volunteered for the Special Olympics, United Way, Second Harvest and other charities.

In addition to Meshkin, other winners this year included Burno Serato of Anaheim White House, Don DiCostanzo of Pedego Electric Bikes, Twila True of True Investments, and Alexis and Steve Schultze of Nektar Juice Bar.

Meshkin explains, It was so humbling to hear the stories of these other entrepreneurs. With Bruno working to feed a quarter of a million motel kids dinner, to Don creating the leading electric bike company in the country, hearing Twilas inspiring story of overcoming the circumstances of her birth in poverty to become a leading real estate investment firm, and Alexis and Steve achieving their mission of improving the health of our community in one of my favorite places to get a juice, it is truly an incredible group of individuals.

Brian Meshkin is a social entrepreneur who strives to solve societal problems through businesses and technology innovations. At Proove, the company is committed to address three epidemics:

1. The epidemic of unresolved pain in America that is the most prevalent and expensive health condition in the United States. By providing proof to improve decisions involved in the diagnosis and treatment of pain, Proove is having an enormous impact on the overall healthcare system.

2. The epidemic of prescription opioid abuse (RxO) is a condition affecting every community in America. With three times as many people dying from prescription narcotics than all of the illegal narcotics combined, RxO abuse is now the leading cause of injury death  more than automobile accidents, and the leading cause of death among teenagers. By being able to stratify patient risk, high risk patients who are 10 times more likely to abuse RxOs can be spared and low and moderate risk patients can get the opioid pain medications they need to control their pain.

3. The epidemic of disability due to muscular-skeletal injuries is the leading cause of disability in America. By being able to assist those with injuries and the orthopedic physicians treating them, Proove can provide proof to improve these decisions and improve outcomes.

Like many of the other winners, Proove is on a mission. I am honored to be recognized not only for creating a great business, but more importantly, like these other great entrepreneurs, for making a positive impact in the lives of others, states Meshkin.

About The Orange County Business Journal

The Orange County Business Journal is the weekly read that connects the Orange County business community. This is where the community doers in the most vibrant slice of the Southern California economy keep tabs on each other. With one of the highest circulations of all the Business Journals in the country, it continues to grow as a highly impactful and influential publication. More information on the Orange County Business Journal can be found at http://www.ocbj.com, or by calling 949-833-8373.
Bradley-Morris, Inc. (BMI), the largest military-focused recruiting firm in the U.S., announced their Exclusive Military Academy Graduate ConferenceHire event today that will take place on March 20-21 in Las Vegas, Nev. Thirty of Corporate Americas top employers, including Showcase Employers Aramark and Citi as well as Featured Employer Michelin, will interview job seekers at the event who are all graduates of the U.S. Military Service Academies.

We currently have thousands of talented veterans working at Aramark and are looking to add more across our food, facilities and uniforms businesses, said Lynn McKee, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Aramark. Veterans bring leadership qualities and unique skills that enrich the diversity of our workforce and strengthen the services we provide to our clients and consumers.

Academy graduates are highly sought after job seekers due to the advanced academic curriculum of the service academies as well as the leadership experience instilled from the candidates training and military service. All job seekers will have graduated from either the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colo.; the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) in New London, Conn.; the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, N.Y.; the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, N.Y.; or the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Md.

Citi has one of the premier financial services industry military officer transition programs called the Military Officer Leadership Program (MOLP) and whose participants are located across our various North American sites, said John Tien, Managing Director, Citigroup. This highly sought after program provides an immediate network of peers, exposure across businesses, and support toward participants overall success both personally and professionally. I look forward to discussing the MOLP with fellow Academy Graduates at this event.

Candidates will be interviewing for career fields that include Leadership Development Programs, Operations and Project Management, Business Management, Engineering / Engineering Management, Sales and Business Development, Consulting, Team Leadership, Production Engineering, Manufacturing Management, Logistics Management, Maintenance Management and Nuclear Power Leadership.

Bradley-Morris is excited to host this exclusive gathering of talent, both from an employer and job seeker perspective, said Tim Best, CEO, Bradley-Morris, Inc. The U.S. Service Academies only accept the upper echelon of high school graduates into their ranks. This track record of excellence typically continues throughout a candidates college career and goes on to be reflected in military performance evaluations as well. Its no wonder then that the top tier of employers will travel to BMIs event in Las Vegas to hire these leaders for their key career opportunities.

Employers and job seekers who are interested in learning more about this event or BMI's other recruiting services can go to Bradley-Morris.com or call 800-330-4950.

About Aramark

Aramark is in the customer service business across food, facilities and uniforms, wherever people work, learn, recover, and play. United by a passion to serve, our more than 270,000 employees deliver experiences that enrich and nourish the lives of millions of people in 22 countries around the world every day. Aramark is recognized among the Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE and the Worlds Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. Learn more at http://www.aramark.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Citi

Citi's Military Veteran Friendly Culture begins with our Citi Salutes program which focuses on helping military veterans and their family members as employees, customers, and through community service projects in our local communities. Please check out http://www.CitiSalutes.com for more information on this program. Across North America and at all of our major North American operations centers, we have two different programs that support our veterans - 15 Employee Military Veteran Networks as well as the employee-run North American Service Initiative which is focused on community service. Citi is proud of our growing ability to attract, develop, and retain talented veterans into our organization.

About Michelin

Since 1889, Michelin has constantly innovated to facilitate the mobility of people and goods. Today, it is setting new global standards in every tire and travel-related services market, while leading a global strategy to drive sustainable profitable growth. With more than 112,000 employees globally, the Michelin Brand is one of the top-selling tire brands worldwide. Michelin employs over 22,750 people in 20 plants, located across three countries in North America. These sites produce every type of tire, including tires for earthmovers, airplanes and vehicles worldwide.

About Bradley-Morris, Inc.

Bradley-Morris, the largest military-focused recruiting firm in the U.S., matches the top management, engineering, sales, operations, technical and diversity military-experienced job seekers with the leading jobs in the Fortune 1000. Our client-focused approach yields superior return-on-investment and results in a 96% customer service satisfaction rating from the valued companies that partner with us. In addition, 90% of our military job seekers receive interest from these companies by taking advantage of our free ConferenceHire and TargetHire processes. Serving the U.S., Europe and Asia, Bradley-Morris is headquartered in metro-Atlanta, Georgia, and can be found on the web at http://www.Bradley-Morris.com.
Dr. Kaixuan Liu This new service offers patients the opportunity to meet with spine doctors virtually to discuss their spine or neck related condition, share about their pain and consult about treatment options.

Atlantic Spine Center, a nationally recognized leader for minimally invasive spine surgery, announces the introduction of virtual consultations. This new service offers patients the opportunity to meet with spine doctors virtually to discuss their spine or neck related condition, share about their pain and consult about treatment options.

We are thrilled to be among the first in New Jersey and New York to offer patients the convenience and efficiency of this exciting new service, says Dr. Kaixuan Liu, spine specialist and founder of Atlantic Spine Center. With virtual consultations, patients and their families can literally see and talk with the doctor via video chat.

According to Dr. Liu, just like in a traditional office visit, spine conditions can be evaluated via diagnostic studies and through specific diagnostic questions by highly experienced doctors. The virtual consultation is an ideal first step for people seeking solutions to their chronic back and neck pain.

Heres how it works. Patients are directed to https://www.atlanticspinecenter.com/live-consultation/ page where they can access ASCs patient portal free sign up page. The sign up process is easy and securely allows patients to upload their medical records including MRIs and CT scans to their own uniquely created profile. They then have the option of setting up a live 1 on 1 virtual consultation with one of Atlantic Spine Centers highly experienced spine surgeons. In addition, a dedicated Patient Advocate is assigned to the patient to assist them through the whole process.

The convenience of not having to take off from work, to see and talk with a doctor in a familiar and non-threatening environment, to schedule the appointment at their convenience (perhaps in the early morning or late evening, to avoid travel, is a tremendous benefit to patients, adds Dr. Liu. We hope that the virtual consultation will make it easier for people get the medical attention they need, the second opinions they seek and ultimately, the solutions and relief for their chronic back and neck pain.

For more information about virtual consultations at Atlantic Spine Center, call (877) 836-7396.

Atlantic Spine Center is a nationally recognized leader for endoscopic spine surgery with several locations in NJ and NYC. http://www.atlanticspinecenter.com, http://www.atlanticspinecenter.nyc.

Kaixuan Liu, MD, PhD, is a board-certified physician who is fellowship-trained in minimally invasive spine surgery. He is the founder of Atlantic Spine Center.
To honor the top real estate CRM software in the industry, 10 Best CRM is pleased to announce the first recipients of the Best Real Estate CRM Software Award. This award is a new monthly honor that salutes leading real estate CRM software in the industry.

10 Best CRM is a trusted resource when it comes to ranking customer relationship management solutions. Their business experts understand the correlation between happy clients and repeat business. 10 Best CRM uses several ranking factors to make their award determinations.

According to the results of their ranking factors, Follow UP Boss is designated as the top real estate CRM software. IXACT Contact is ranked in the second-place spot. Third-place honors go to PlanPlus Online Real Estate. Each of the top recipients has made a significant impact on the real estate industry with their innovative CRM solutions.

Located in the heart of San Francisco, California, Follow UP Boss is the leading real estate CRM software that makes real estate transactions more efficient. Their CRM is specifically designed to meet the needs of real estate agents and brokers. Follow UP Boss enables real estate agents to focus on property transactions instead of transaction support activities. Through the Follow UP Boss CRM, real estate agents are able to simplify real estate transactions and convert leads into sales.

Top real estate CRM software IXACT Contact is a web-based CRM that enables real estate agents to improve sales and capture leads. Headquartered in Ontario, Canada, IXACT Contact has serviced some of the most esteemed real estate companies, including Keller Williams, RE/MAX and Global Luxury Realty. Other benefits of IXACT Contact are referral tracking and real estate transaction management.

PlanPlus Online Real Estate, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, completes the lineup of leading real estate software options on 10 Best CRMs list. This CRM solution offers plenty of benefits for agents who want to stay in contact with hot sales prospects. PlanPlus Online Real Estate CRM can be synced to smart phone devices, tablets and laptops. This is the perfect CRM solution for real estate agents who are constantly on the go.

10 Best CRM considered many factors as they selected the recipients of this award. The real estate software CRM award was granted to clients based on customer reviews, SEO rankings, site traffic and proprietary analytics.

For more information, visit http://www.10bestcrm.com.
Brookhaven Retreat  LLC, a unique residential treatment facility exclusively for women with mental health and/or substance abuse issues, raised awareness of the importance of sleep to clients during National Sleep Awareness Week, March 6 to 12.

Clients of The Lily Program , a 90-day program for women offered exclusively at Brookhaven Retreat, must adhere to a regulated sleep schedule during treatment to support their recovery process. The lack of proper sleep creates difficulty completing the program. The goal of the program, no matter what stage a client is in or the nature of their issue, is to create a life worth living. To successfully accomplish this goal requires willingness, strength, focus and determination. Interruptions in sleep or the lack of healthy sleep can disrupt any or all of these required facets.

According to the Tennessee Journalist, University of Tennessee professor Ralph Lydic spoke at the Quest science forum on Feb. 19 about the body's need for sleep and the results of neglected sleep. Lydic, Past President of the North American Sleep Research Society, said, Sleep is a major risk factor for disease and it's something we all devalue. It's something we do to get it over with.

Lydic explained the two major sources of disease risk: Those genes inherited from our parents and modifiable risk factors that stem from lifestyle choices and behaviors. For instance, it is a lifestyle choice to make proper sleep a priority.

Lydic says sleep has an under-recognized significance. The proof is in the approximate 70 million Americans who suffer from chronic sleep problems, of which there are 90 distinct disorders. These various sleep deficiencies can cause an array of health problems like anxiety, depression, obesity, diabetes, and even strokes.

The most common sleep disorder is insomnia, which affects about 1 in 3 people, according to the Sleep Health Foundation. The second most common disorder is sleep apnea, a treatable issue that disrupts proper breathing during sleep. Using alcohol and other drugs to self-treat insomnia can lead to addiction.

The addiction to technology is also contributing to sleep neglect. The use of electronic devices too close to bedtime or during what should be the hours of sleep, says Harvard Health Publications, can be detrimental to proper rest. The website reports, the light emitted from the screens of laptops, smartphones, or tablets has the ability to confuse your circadian rhythm, which may prevent you from falling asleep or from entering deep sleep.

Women in mental health treatment at Brookhaven Retreat have the benefit of therapy and regulated sleep cycles, meaning going to bed and waking up at the same times each day, and limited use of technology.

Brookhaven Retreat's founder, Jacqueline Dawes says, Our program is designed to help clients focus on their recovery. The structure of the schedule for each day is geared to nurturing them and focusing on health and healing the body, mind and spirit. There is time for eating well, sleeping well, physical activity, experiential therapy, self-expression and creativity, among other things, to make for a very well-rounded experience for working toward the goal of creating a life worth living.

About Brookhaven Retreat

Brookhaven Retreat is a women's treatment center nestled on a naturally beautiful 48-acre site secluded in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. It has helped hundreds of women across the United States overcome depression, trauma, anxiety, substance use and a range of other behavioral health challenges. Brookhaven's Founder, Jacqueline Dawes, has predicated its gender-specific treatment on healing emotional breakage for women. In this way, she has established a sanctuary and a place where women can feel safe, secure and cared for by a staff of highly trained professionals.
To be a doctor for me is to restore hope when human life is weakened by disease.

The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) comes together with the rest of America to salute our healthcare professionals on National Doctors Day, March 30. National Doctors Day is meant to celebrate the essential role that physicians serve in all of our daily lives, and to thank them for their contribution to our public health.

When asked about the meaning of being a doctor, ABPS Diplomate William J. Garrity, DO, FAASP of Suffield, CT identified the importance of physicians encouraging hope in the healing process of the body. "To be a doctor for me is to restore hope when human life is weakened by disease, Dr. Garrity said.

National Doctors Day was first observed in 1933. March 30 is the anniversary of the first use of general anesthetia in surgery dating back to 1842. President George H.W. Bush proclaimed Doctors Day a national day of celebration beginning in 1991.

The American Board of Physician Specialties is the third-largest nationally recognized multi-specialty certifying body of physicians in the United States. ABPS provides a path for qualified physicians, both allopathic and osteopathic, to pursue board certification in various medical specialties. The commitment of ABPS Diplomates to rigorous testing and quality healthcare is what makes ABPS an important part of the changing standard in physician board certification.
Were proud to acquire Ortho Solutions and deliver on our promise to continuously work on better serving our customers across countries and continents.

InTech Medical SAS (http://www.intech-medical.com), a world leader in Contract Manufacturing of surgical instruments in Orthopedics, announced today the acquisition of Ortho Solutions Sdn Bhd (http://www.orthosolutions.my), a premier Asian contract manufacturer of orthopedic implants and instruments.

The Ortho Solutions acquisition provides the InTech Medical Group with a well-established platform to increase its penetration of the Asia-Pacific markets. It is a key step to InTech Medicals worldwide expansion strategy. This latest milestone comes in the footstep of InTech Medicals acquisition of Turner Medical in 2015 in the United States, strengthening the companys global leadership as a contract manufacturer in orthopedics.

Were proud to acquire Ortho Solutions and deliver on our promise to continuously work on better serving our customers across countries and continents, said Laurent Pruvost, President of InTech Medical. We are excited to welcome Ortho Solutions talented team to the InTech Medical family and look forward to working with them on always finding creative engineering solutions to the benefit of our customers around the world.

This transaction was made possible by the long-term partnership between InTech Medical and TCR Capital - an independent private equity partnership that has been supporting InTech Medicals strategic growth since 2012.

"We are pleased to join forces with a renowned company, such as InTech Medical, that shares our values and dedication to manufacturing high quality instruments and implants for the orthopedic industry," said Darren Wong, General Manager of Ortho Solutions. "Their global strength and expertise will enhance our ability to serve our current and new customers, drive innovation, and expand.

The InTech Medical Group is in the business of building long-term relationships with its customers around the world, solving complicated engineering challenges and providing global manufacturing solutions for instruments and implants in Orthopedics.

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About InTech Medical

Founded in France in 2000, InTech Medical is a privately-held company that manufactures surgical instruments and implants. With the companys recent acquisition of Turner Medical, Inc., the Group is a global leader in orthopedic contract-manufacturing. Powered by a diverse product portfolio, an ability to find solutions to complex engineering challenges, and with close to 500 employees globally, InTech Medical is ideally positioned for sustainable growth and personalized customer care.
Dr. Robert M. Bernstein, a pioneer of robot-assisted hair transplantation, presented results of a study on a major new advance in robotic follicular unit harvesting, a key step in the surgical procedure, at the 2016 ARTAS User Group Meeting in Dana Point, CA. He reported that the new robotic technique resulted in a clinical benefit of up to 15% more hairs per harvest attempt and 11.4% more hairs per graft than with the current iteration of the ARTAS Robotic Hair Transplant System.

The improvement in graft harvesting should result in better aesthetic outcomes for patients, and this will have wide implications around the world as robotic hair transplant procedures are booming in popularity. Dr. Bernstein presented the findings to a whos who group in the new field of robotic hair restoration surgery at their annual meeting held on February 20th, 2016.

When asked about the significance of advanced robotic harvesting, Dr. Bernstein said:

Through the hard work and ingenuity that went into developing the robots new graft selection capability, we have moved this new ARTAS application from the proof of concept phase into an enabling technology that improves patient care.

In robotic follicular unit extraction (Robotic FUE) hair transplants, the surgeon seeks to harvest as much hair as possible through the fewest number of donor sites. By maximizing the hair-to-donor wound ratio, they can maximize the cosmetic benefit of the procedure. The ARTAS robots new advanced graft selection capability uses its updated computer algorithm to determine which of the hundreds of follicular units -- naturally-occurring groupings of one to four hair follicles -- to harvest. By programming the computer to select only the larger follicular units (i.e., ones containing two or more hairs), the robot can automatically maximize the hair-to-wound ratio. The result is more hairs harvested with fewer post-transplant scars and an improved cosmetic outcome for the patient. Previously, the robot randomly selected follicular units to harvest.

To demonstrate the benefit of advanced automated graft selection, Dr. Bernstein presented findings of a randomized, bilaterally-controlled study performed on robotic FUE patients at Bernstein Medical  Center for Hair Restoration. The robot was programmed to select follicular units of two or more hairs in a first pass, and then all follicular units in a second pass. The control for the experiment was an area, on the contra-lateral side, that was harvested with the graft selection capability disabled. The first pass yielded 15% more hairs per harvest attempt and 11.4% more hairs per graft compared to the control. The second pass yielded 12.3% more hairs per harvest attempt and 6.4% more hairs per graft. These findings suggest that there is a significant clinical benefit in using the advanced graft selection capability when compared to random selection of follicular units.

Robotic Hair Transplants at Bernstein Medical  Center for Hair Restoration

Bernstein Medical  Center for Hair Restoration was among the first hair restoration facilities in the world to use the ARTAS system to perform Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), a procedure pioneered by Dr. Bernstein. Bernstein Medical is a beta-test site for this innovative technology. Bernstein Medical physicians have introduced many new applications to the robotic system, including: robotic recipient site creation, advanced graft harvesting, custom punch sizes, and a long-hair harvesting technique. Every FUE procedure at Bernstein Medical uses the ARTAS Robot. Dr. Bernstein is a medical advisor to Restoration Robotics, Inc., the company that developed and manufactures the ARTAS system.

About Robert M. Bernstein, MD, MBA, FAAD, FISHRS

Dr. Robert M. Bernstein is a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Columbia University in New York, renowned pioneer of Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Robotic Follicular Unit Extraction (Robotic FUE) hair transplant procedures, and founder and lead surgeon at Bernstein Medical  Center for Hair Restoration in New York City. His more than 70 medical publications have fundamentally transformed the field of surgical hair restoration and he has received the Platinum Follicle Award, the highest honor in the field given by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS). Dr. Bernstein has been featured on: The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Dr. Oz Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Doctors on CBS, CBS News, ABC News, Fox News, Univision, and many other television shows. He has been interviewed by GQ Magazine, Mens Health, Vogue, Interview Magazine, NY Post, National Public Radio, Columbia Business, The Columbia Journalist, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.
In recent years, our nation has been plagued with a steep spike in opiate related overdoses, far too many of which sadly result in death.

Serenity Recovery, a holistic treatment center for addiction located in Michigan, has released a video that takes an intensive look on opiate overdose in America, examining the causes, effects, and possible solutions to this issue. Featuring testimonials from patients and nursing staff, this video can be viewed on the Serenity Recovery YouTube channel. A corresponding blog entry, which delves even deeper into this problem, is available on the treatment centers website.

In recent years, our nation has been plagued with a steep spike in opiate related overdoses, far too many of which sadly result in death, commented Serenity Recovery founder Per Wickstrom. The factors contributing to this dramatic increase in the number of cases of overdose are varied, from the over-medication of our population to the uncertain purity levels of illicit street drugs. Our biggest method of combating this problem is education  knowing the facts and sharing that information with others. This video is intended to raise awareness about how extremely dangerous and deadly opiate abuse can be, and to show people that there is hope for recovery.

The video has clips from interviews with Jacqueline W. and Tristam C., two patients at Serenity Recovery who are working towards overcoming their opiate addictions. Jacqueline shares her thoughts about witnessing friends who have overdosed, while Tristam speaks, who has survived several overdoses, from his own personal experience. Both patients discuss the thought processes of an individual addicted to heroin or opiates, and how these thought processes perpetuate the cycle of overdose and addiction.

A member of the Serenity Recovery nursing staff, Kelly, also speaks about her understanding of the nature of heroin overdose. Kelly spent many years as an Emergency Department nurse, and has seen her fair share of drug overdose. Paramedics or friends will give them Narcan, but that sends them into instant withdrawal, she observes. Narcan, or naloxone, is a quick method of counteracting an opiate overdose Theyre withdrawing horribly, and nobody, after giving them Narcan, will give them anything to help them withdraw so they go and get the drug again. The corresponding blog entry examines the statistics centered on opiate addiction and overdose in the US, and offers suggestions on how modern American society can address this issue. It is our hope that by sharing these facts and figures with the general population, we can help educate people on what makes these drugs so dangerous and what we can do to solve this problem, Wickstrom continued. We hope that this information will make our world a little healthier and safer, and maybe save a few lives in the process.

See the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN3BETmrllE
On Thursday, staff and parents of students at Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District received a letter from Jeffrey Holmes, Superintendent about active shooter swatting calls taking place at multiple school districts across the state. Swatting calls are hoax reports of threats made to police which insight panic.

Police say similar types of false threats have occurred at multiple schools across the state Thursday. These threats included 911 calls to police across the state claiming that schools had an active shooter.
Were in the midst of a weeklong national initiative to promote and encourage openness in government and freedom of information. Sunshine Week is an opportunity for us all to celebrate Wisconsins proud history of strong public records and open meetings laws.

As attorney general, I take seriously my duty to uphold these laws that are a cornerstone of democracy, which is why I was honored to learn that I will receive the Freedom of Information Councils Opee Award for political openness. The Award recognizes extraordinary achievement in the cause of open government.

Aside from my statutory obligation to interpret and enforce the states public records and open meetings laws, I have committed Department of Justice resources to lead on a number of initiatives to let the sun shine on state government. While resources at the Wisconsin DOJ are finite, we have made great strides in giving the public greater access to their government.

In June, we opened the doors to the Wisconsin DOJ Office of Open Government. A full-time attorney and two full-time legal assistants staff the agencys newest division and assist citizens and media in answering questions about public records and open meetings, and help mediate disputes whenever possible.

The Office of Open Government led an internal review of our own public records practices and overhauled the process to ensure public records requests are processed promptly and transparently, dramatically reducing the average response time in 2015 while the number of requests also dramatically increased. Just last week, the Office of Open Government published an updated fee schedule that more accurately reflects the actual cost of retrieving electronic records and will reduce fees in many cases. The revised fee schedule makes the basis for fees clearer and will continue shining light on our processes and procedures.

In July, we hosted the attorney generals first annual Open Government Summit, with the acknowledgment among many in the public and media that Wisconsins open meetings and public records laws are outdated. Our states open government laws were written before technology changed the way public bodies conduct business and the current law leaves many unanswered questions about the limits of open government.

This gathering of more than 200 stakeholders, from media representatives, to citizen watchdog groups to government records custodians, started the lengthy conversation about reforming and updating our open government laws. We continue this important dialogue with public officials, media representatives and citizens and look forward to hosting future meetings and discussions.

I am proud of the steps the Wisconsin Department of Justice has taken over the last year to make government more transparent and I will continue to fulfill my promise to let the sun shine on state government.
California made a bold move last week by passing legislation that raises from 18 to 21 the legal age for purchasing and using tobacco products. If Gov. Jerry Brown signs the measure, California will join Hawaii and a number of major American cities that ban anyone younger than 21 from smoking legally.

Laws that limit Americans freedom to smoke  combined with higher cigarette taxes and public awareness campaigns  have transformed the face of smoking in America in a good way. The National Center for Health Statistics reports that about 18 percent of Americans are smokers, a rate down significantly from 1997, when almost 25 percent smoked.

Heres how much things have changed: Granted, its been a while, but when I was in graduate school, no one paid much attention when professors lit a cigarette during class; this year the college where I work established a smoke-free environment, forbidding any use of tobacco anywhere on campus.

I dont smoke and dont plan to start; you probably dont either. Still, Ill admit to some ambivalent feelings about the pressure being put on smokers. We should probably always be wary when government regulation rubs up against personal freedom; friction is inevitable and theres rarely a vivid, clear line between whats right and whats wrong.

But more important is the premise that smoking is a very, very bad habit. And while we should be extremely reluctant to limit the freedom of adults to do just about anything they want  no matter how self-harmful  we should err on the side of boldness in favor of laws that prevent young people from beginning to smoke.

So, good for California and Hawaii, and may other states follow suit.

In fact, lets consider a significantly bolder step: Raising the smoking age to 25.

In realistic terms, this is unlikely to happen. Any proposal to raise the age to 25 would be particularly vulnerable to the objection most often raised against a drinking age of 21: If, at 18, youre old enough to fight and die for your country, youre old enough to drink. Or smoke. Or vote.

Or drive. Or get married. But most states permit these last two activities at ages considerably younger than 18, which is to say that weve never been able to determine a single one-size-fits-all age of maturity. And for many people, to smoke or not to smoke is a lifelong decision that 18-year-olds  or even 21-year-olds  are not yet mature enough to make.

Recent research indicates that the brain doesnt reach full maturity until around age 25, which is why car insurance companies charge their clients higher rates until they reach that age.

Heres some typical research: Neuroscientist Sandra Aamodt told National Public Radio recently that 18-year-olds are only about halfway through a maturation process that begins at puberty and ends at around age 25. Until that time, the undeveloped prefrontal cortex is unable to plan and organize for the future and to sufficiently control impulses and risk-taking. In short, many under the age of 25 dont have the mental maturity to decide if they want to take on an expensive, dangerous habit that will be extremely difficult to abandon.

By age 25, many have started careers and families. The drive to take risks and to impress their peers has begun to wane at the same time that they begin to notice the first inklings of their own mortality. As they begin to see their lives as spans with beginnings and ends, theyre much less likely to begin smoking.

Of course, in practical terms laws against smoking before age 25 may not prevent a 23-year-old from smoking any more than current laws prevent 16- and 17-year-olds.

Still its important for society to be on the right side of this issue, to take the position that under 25 years of age youre not mature enough to make this often irrevocable decision. And were not going to legitimize dangerous products by making it legal to sell them to you.

Beyond age 25, well, its a free country.
News

World news

Russia's Gazprom Signals Possible Gas Payment Default in Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia

While the markets are only small -- representing 4.3% of Gazprom's total exports to Europe and Turkey of 158.56 Bcm in 2015 -- they are of strategic importance to Gazprom, especially Bulgaria and Greece

AUTHOR: publics.bg



 Gazprom



Russia's Gazprom has said certain countries in southeast Europe may be at risk of defaulting on their payments for gas supplies.

In an upcoming Eurobond prospectus, Gazprom says Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia and Serbia could all miss payments for gas supplies given the current state of their credit rating, Platts reported citing Russian daily Vedomosti.

"Most of Gazprom's European customers have high credit ratings, but there are some countries in southern Europe that could defer payments or not pay at all," Vedomosti cited the document as saying.

The four countries mentioned in the prospectus -- which have all suffered recent credit rating downgrades -- accounted for a total of 6.83 Bcm of Russian gas supply in 2015, up from 5.95 Bcm the year before.

While the markets are only small -- representing 4.3% of Gazprom's total exports to Europe and Turkey of 158.56 Bcm in 2015 -- they are of strategic importance to Gazprom, especially Bulgaria and Greece.

Gazprom said last month it wanted to build a sub-Black Sea pipeline to Greece and Italy through unnamed third countries, one of which would have to be Bulgaria.

Russia and Bulgaria, whose relations in the energy sector have been strained for a number of years, also now seem to be rekindling their relationship, with Russia looking seriously at helping develop a Balkan gas hub in Bulgaria.
Four decades ago, Johanna Hurwitz, then a childrens librarian and mother of two adolescents, drew from her own life to write her debut novel, Busybody Nora, introducing Nora and Teddy, two siblings living in a New York City apartment building. Originally published by Morrow Junior Books in March 1976, the novel has remained consistently in print, currently under the HarperTrophy imprint of HarperCollins, which acquired Morrow in 1999.

Born in 1937 into a New York City book-loving family  her father was a journalist and bookseller and her mother a library assistant  Hurwitz recalled pretending to read aloud to her dolls before she could actually read. She also discovered her knack for making up stories at an early age, when she was regularly charged with keeping her restless  and hungry  younger brother entertained while their mother prepared dinner. This task helped her appreciate the power of story: rather than dashing to the table when dinner was served, her rapt sibling frequently asked if supper could wait until his sister told him more stories.

Once she mastered reading, Hurwitz began writing her stories down. Once, when I was eight or nine, I even got a classmate to agree to illustrate one of my stories, she recalled. That was my first book, and I began dreaming about writing childrens books. But when I told my parents I wanted to become a writer, they told me that was great, but said Id better find another job, too, so I could support myself. Since I loved going to our public library on a regular basis, I decided to become a librarian.

After graduating from Queens College and earning a masters degree in library science from Columbia, Hurwitz worked as a childrens librarian at the New York Public Library and in elementary schools. In her younger years, the fact that she hadnt traveled much beyond her home turf had squelched her writing ambitions since, she explained, It seemed to me that a book had to be set far away in order to be interesting. It took me a long time to realize that I could write about New York City!

Finally, at the age of 38, Hurwitz penned Busybody Nora, basing the title character on her daughter, Nomi, and Noras younger brother, Teddy, on her son Ben. And the storys apartment building setting bore a strong resemblance to the one her family lived in. That one story led to another and another, she said. In time, Hurwitz wrote 14 books about Nora, Teddy, and their neighbors Russell and Elisa, which comprise The Riverside Kids series, most of which are currently available as e-books from StarWalk Kids Media.

Acquired and originally edited by Connie Epstein at Morrow, Busybody Nora has had three illustrators over its long life: Susan Jeschke, Lillian Hoban, and currently Debbie Tilley (who is also the illustrator of the latest editions of the Riverside Kids titles). Hurwitzs first novel has also had a revolving roster of editors. After David Reuther took over from Connie at Morrow, and made the decision to have Lillian Hoban create new art for the book, Barbara Lalicki became the editor, said Hurwitz. David and Barbara are now retired, and Rosemary Brosnan [who joined HarperCollins during the Harper-Morrow merge] is now the books editor. Its amazing how many people have come and gone in the past 40 years.

Nora Moves On

Brosnan, now v-p and editorial director of HarperCollins Childrens Books, became Hurwitzs editor in 1998, as an editor working under Reuther at Morrow. I was absolutely thrilled, as I had been a longtime fan of Johannas work, she said. I think I took over as her editor when The Just Desserts Club  a book that included recipes  was in production. And then we worked on the wonderful Fourth-Grade Fuss together.

Musing on the key to Busybody Noras longevity and continued appeal, Brosnan credited Hurwitzs talent for writing realistic fiction that is at once classic and contemporary. Johannas books have a timeless feeling, she observed. Kids from any generation can identify with them. Johanna grew up in New York City, and I think the way she portrays life in an apartment building in Busybody Nora is fascinating to kids who have never lived in an apartment, and familiar to those who do.

A personal connection to the authors work, added Brosnan, further endears Hurwitzs novels to her. Johanna was my son Alans favorite author for years, explained the editor. He is now 25, but when he recently moved, he kept Johannas books, which are dog-eared from his having read them so many times! There is a certain comfort to be found in reading her novels  a reassuring sanity to the world she writes about, and a feeling that problems can be resolved. I have a feeling that kids will still be enjoying Johannas books in another 40 years  they just dont age.

Now a grandmother of three, Hurwitz finds inspiration from the newest generation of her family, and from her frequent visits to schools. From my grandchildren Ive learned expressions that I would never have thought of, she said. And listening to and even just looking at kids at schools, I get lots of ideas for stories. Ideas are everywhere, really! I wake up each morning with my head filled with stories, and I am eager to begin writing.

The author has recently finished a sequel to 2013s The Two and Only Kelly Twins, tentatively titled Double or Nothing, which is illustrated by Tuesday Mourning and due from Candlewick in spring 2017. Though shes looking forward to the publication of that book, celebrating Busybody Noras anniversary is currently a top priority for the author, who noted, I love the fact of Nora being five years old in 1976, and Nora being five years old in 2016. That is part of the magic of books!
Attorney Robert Lee Gevirtz says his client, 48-year-old Sivasubramani Rajaram, was charged in November with lying to a federal grand jury. A change-of-plea hearing is scheduled for April 20.

A grand jury had been investigating the purchasing of jobs and promotions in the clerk's office headed by Dorothy Brown, who was seeking the Democratic nomination for another term as court clerk.

Rajaram was hired by Brown after he allegedly loaned $15,000 to Goat Masters Corporation, a company whose president was Brown's husband, Benton Cook III. The indictment alleges Rajaram lied when he said he hadn't spoken to Brown after his 2014 hiring.

Neither Brown nor her husband is charged with wrongdoing.
CHICAGO (AP)  A man fatally wounded during a shootout with Chicago police was identified Tuesday as a gang member and convicted felon with more than 40 arrests.

Lamar Harris, 29, was killed late Monday after he fired on several police officers investigating alleged drug activity in Chicago's Homan Square neighborhood on the city's west side, according to police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. Three officers were wounded.

Officers at the scene with first aid kits and bandages were able to apply preliminary care to Harris while they waited for Chicago Fire Department emergency crews, Guglielmi said.

"The officers were trained by CPD in LEMART  Law Enforcement Medical AND Rescue Training  which is designed to render life-saving aid following tactical and emergency situations," he said in a statement.

The shootout occurred after officers observed a man and a woman acting suspiciously and decided to investigate, Guglielmi said. The pair fled, the officers gave chase and the man opened fire, hitting three of them multiple times. One of the officers returned fire, fatally injuring Harris.

One officer was shot in the back, another in the foot and a third in the chest, authorities said, adding his body armor likely deflected the bullet.

A gun used by the dead suspect was recovered at the scene, authorities said.

In a statement, police officials said Harris has 43 arrests on his record, 11 of them felonies. He was convicted of five felony charges, the latest being aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and resisting a peace officer, causing injury, in January 2012.

The woman was arrested Monday night but has not been charged, Guglielmi said.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Interim Police Superintendent John Escalante visited the officers and their families at the hospital. The shooting follows the mortal wounding of an undercover narcotics officer in Maryland who was shot by a colleague as a gunman attacked a police station Sunday night.

Police said in a statement that the city's Independent Police Review Authorities will investigate the shooting. The officers involved will be put on administrative duties for 30 days.
The Rev. John Regan had been scheduled for the probation revocation hearing in April because he has yet to repay the nearly $300,000 he stole from St. Walter Catholic Church in Roselle. He served there as the pastor until 2009.

Regan's attorney, Jack Donahue, told Judge John Kinsella during a DuPage County Circuit Court hearing that he met with prosecutors last week and they agreed to cancel the hearing. In return, Regan will have a final reporting date in 2019.

At his sentencing in 2011, Regan said he had struggled with a gambling addiction. He is currently assigned to a parish in the Joliet diocese.
ROCK ISLAND -- Mike Halpin came out on top of the bruising Democratic primary for state representative in District 72 Tuesday, winning the right to face Republican primary winner Brandi McGuire in the November General Election.

Mr. Halpin, an attorney, took about 39 percent of the votes to defeat fellow attorney Jeff Jacobs, who was on 32 percent with all 92 precincts in the district reporting.. Rock Island alderwoman Kate Hotle finished in third spot and the Rev. Glen Evans coming fourth.

State Rep. Pat Verschoore, D-Milan, who is Mr. Jacobs' uncle, has held the District 72 seat since 2003 but is retiring and had backed his nephew for the job, including by donating about $73,000 to Mr. Jacobs campaign.

Mr. Halpin had heavy backing from AFSCME and also benefited from a late infusion of $75,000 in campaign cash from state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale. The donation upset the Jacobs campaign, who said it was the result of pressure from Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, a claim Rep. Smiddy strongly denied.

Mr. Halpin also had run a series of negative mailers against Mr. Jacobs.

However, late Tuesday night, Mr. Halpin said he was looking forward to meeting Mr. Jacobs and Rep. Verschoore to talk about uniting the party in the campaign against Gov. Rauner and his Republican allies.

"The most important thing right now is to move forward and bring the party together," Mr. Halpin said. "We ran a strong campaign and now we have to talk about focusing on the real problem, which is Gov. Rauner."

Mr. Jacobs said that Speaker Madigan had backed Mr. Halpin in the race from the start, which helped Mr. Halpin raise money to spend on negative and "baseless" advertising. Speaker Madigan's spokesman had insisted he was not supporting any of the candidates.

"Their strategy obviously worked," Mr. Jacobs said, adding that he still wanted to congratulate Mr. Halpin on his victory.

Speaker Madigan also had used a political committee called Democratic Majority he chairs to spend almost $57,000 on negative mailers that criticized Ms. Hotle and were condemned by all of the Democratic candidates in the race.

Ms. Hotle ended up with about 21 percent of the vote and said she was pleased with the result, considering she only raised about $15,000 while the two front-runners cleared $100,000 each.

Asked if she had a message for Mr. Madigan, she said, "I would tell him thank you because he helped get the word out about my campaign more than I ever could have."

She said Mr. Madigan's intervention had shown the bad side of Springfield politics but had also driven some voters to support her.

Rev. Evans finished in last position but said he wanted to thank those who supported him and said he was disappointed with a turnout that looked to be at about 30 percent of registered voters in the county.

On the Republican side of the race, Brandi McGuire took about 59 percent of the vote to beat Jordan Thoms who had 41 percent with most precincts reporting.

Both candidates were political newcomers but Ms. McGuire was helped by $185,000 in outside money that came from Liberty Principles, a super PAC chaired by conservative talk show host Dan Proft with close ties to Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Ms. McGuire said would start formulating her plan to beat Mr. Halpin today and said she was confident she would prevail in a district that has long been in Democratic hands.

"The people of this district deserve to be heard," she said. "I am just a regular person, a mother of a middle class family, and I think Springfield needs people like me."

Mr. Thoms, who works as marketing manager for Fyre Lake, said he had a lot of "soul searching to do" after losing the campaign.

"I wish Brandi the best of luck in November," he added. "It's a big hill to climb against any Democrat in Rock Island County."

-Democratic District 72 primary results

Mike Halpin 5,673

Jeff Jacobs 4,681

Kate Hotle 3,037

Glen Evans 1,291

-Republican District 72 primary results

Brandi McGuire 5,164

Jordan Thoms 3,642

(With 92 of 92 precincts reporting)
CHICAGO (AP)  In an unusually passionate campaign season, gut emotion propelled many Illinois voters to the polls Tuesday. While some defined issues in this race that were dear to them, they were quick to talk in more emotional strokes of trust, revulsion, anger and maturity.

Retired Chicago machine repairman Juan Araujo said he voted for Democratic U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders because he "talks from the heart" and has Polish immigrant roots. He said he would never vote for Republican Donald Trump because  in his words  he's a "clown" who's not serious enough for the White House.

In the state capital, Trump supporter Gayle Swoik said she was drawn to the billionaire businessman because of his tough language on immigration and a sense that he'd be good to veterans like those in her family. But she acknowledged feeling fuzzy on the details.

"His policies are in transition," Swoik said.

After a last-minute push from presidential candidates who showed Illinois more attention than in most election years, it was the voters' turn to speak.

On Chicago's heavily Democratic South Side, the talk was mostly of Democrats Hillary Clinton and Sanders. But they also had their eyes on Trump, as they considered which candidate had the best shot at defeating the Republican front-runner in November should he win the GOP nomination.

Sharon Schaffer said she's praying that former Secretary of State Clinton can beat Trump if they end up facing each other. Trump's heated language on immigration and minorities has angered voters like her.

"I can't stand him," she said of Trump, joking that if he wins she'll leave the country. "I will go back to Africa  and I've never been," said the 65-year-old retiree.

Sheri Scott, a customer service worker and mother of three, voted for Sanders, saying she thinks the Vermont senator has a better shot against Trump because she believes he's more trustworthy than Clinton.

"I believe he's a genuine person with a good heart. I trust him," she said.

Illinois voters were also choosing candidates to face off for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Mark Kirk, who's seeking re-election, and were weighing in on several congressional and Statehouse races. Also on the ballot was the Democratic primary for Cook County state's attorney  a race that has drawn national attention because of incumbent Anita Alvarez's handling of the case of a white Chicago police officer who shot a black teenager 16 times.

Election officials said interest seemed to be higher than usual, at least in Chicago, where a record number of people cast early primary ballots.

Chicago Board of Elections spokesman Jim Allen said the number of people asking for Republican ballots also increased from eight years ago, from around 6 percent of voters to just less than 10 percent this election. That's a possible sign of Democratic voters wanting to weigh in on the GOP presidential primary.

Penny Shank was among voters choosing that strategy. She celebrated her 69th birthday Tuesday by picking up a Republican ballot for the first time at Veterans of Foreign Wars hall in Springfield, Illinois, to vote against Trump and other Republican candidates whom she called Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's "cronies."

"I think there are a lot of Democrats who are crossing over just to do that," said Shank, who voted for Ohio Gov. John Kasich. "I think Trump is an absolute joke."

She objects to Trump's views on immigration and women's rights.

For Republican voters like Don O'Neal, of Springfield, it came down to choosing who he thought was the "least confrontational candidate." He voted for Kasich.

"He has the most practical experience in governing," he said. "He's acting like more of an adult than some of the others."
MILWAUKEE  Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley and State Appeals Court Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg struck a sharp tone in a Tuesday night debate as each sparred over the others political ties and the relevance of Bradleys past.

The debate between the two Supreme Court candidates, moderated by Mike Gousha of Milwaukee TV station WISN, came after revelations last week of Bradleys controversial college-era writings that compared gay people to degenerate drug addicts and one in which she supported a scholars suggestion that women could be partially responsible for date rape.

It also comes after the publication of an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about Bradley representing a man she once dated in a child placement case.

Bradley apologized again on Tuesday for making anti-gay comments in the opinions written in 1992 and published in the student newspaper at Marquette University, where she attended college as an undergraduate student.

But Bradley lamented the comments becoming central to the election and blasted the Journal Sentinel article, asking Kloppenburg during the debate to disavow the article on live television.

If the shoe were on the other foot, and if an article like that talking about my personal life from 14 years ago, if that was written about my opponent I would have called her and I would have said, This is wrong, and I would have publicly disavowed it because I would have been so outraged, Bradley said.

Kloppenburg didnt agree.

Any article or reporting that has facts and that reports the choices that I have made, the words that I said, the judgment that I exercised, is fair game, Kloppenburg responded.

Though a judge in the case ruled she could continue representing the man, Kloppenburg said Bradleys decision to represent a person with whom she was romantically involved speaks to her judgment.

While officially nonpartisan, Supreme Court races draw heavy spending from outside groups aligned to political ideologies or special interests, which leads to candidates being pegged as aligned with conservatives or liberals.

During the debate, Gousha asked if the state should move away from electing Supreme Court justices to remove the outside spending and public perception of candidates being sympathetic to a specific political party.

Bradley, who is backed by conservatives, said the fact that partisan interests get involved in Supreme Court races is why she emphasizes her judicial philosophy of applying the law as its written and not based on her personal beliefs.

This is why this is the critical issue, she said. Every judge comes to the bench as a human being having opinions on the issues of the day.

It requires a judicial mindset when we put that black robe on to be able to set aside those personal opinions, policy preferences and political inclinations and to always follow the law and thats why I emphasize to the voters my judicial philosophy.

Kloppenburg said she should be considered more nonpartisan than Bradley because her resume does not include being appointed by an elected official. Bradley was appointed to three judgeships, including the Supreme Court, in three years.

But Bradley pointed out that Kloppenburg unsuccessfully applied for three different appointments under former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle and President Barack Obama.

I didnt get those appointments that I tried to get because I didnt have the political connections to get those appointments, Kloppenburg said.
ALPHA  Daniel Swanson, a former Henry County Board member from Alpha, won the Republican primary for the District 74 seat now held by Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson.

Mr. Swanson, an Iraqi war veteran and farmer, has been vocal about supporting veterans and services for those returning home.

Unofficial totals have Mr. Swanson garnering 7,805 votes. His opponents, Mike DeSutter, of Woodhull, and Wayne Saline, of Rio, received 4,961 votes and 2,218 votes respectively. The district covers all of Mercer County and parts of Bureau, Henry, Knox and Lee counties.

He will now face Democratic challenger Bill Butts, a Galesburg attorney who ran unopposed for his party's nomination Tuesday.

Rep. Moffitt was first elected to the Illinois House in 1992 and has decided to retire afer this year's general election.

"I'm humbled," Mr. Swanson said Tuesday evening. "When I started this campaign on the 25th of September, a lot of people didn't know who Dan Swanson was.

"Between now and then, I was able to convince people I'm someone they can trust and listen to, and will take the fight to Springfield."

Mr. Swanson said he and his wife, Tammy, will prepare for the Nov. 8 election after Tuesday's primary win. Mr. Swanson said with the storm damage on Tuesday, he said his win is put into perspective.

"I'm hearing about how some folks in the Avon area lost their homes, buildings, trucks," he said. "There are bigger things out there than my win in this campaign. I am certainly thankful to the people of the 74th District who put their trust in me."

Mr. Swanson said he father, Ron Swanson, celebrated his birthday on Tuesday.

"We're a farm family," Mr. Swanson said. "He still ran the combine and the tractor this past fall."

Mr. Swanson served with the U.S. Army for 23 1/2 years and served in Iraq from July 2007 to July 2008.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors awarded Matthew Hay-Chapman $100,000, said Jean Pasco, a county spokeswoman.

Two Target employees and a man whose van was stolen by the escapees will split the remaining $50,000.

Hossein Nayeri, Jonathan Tieu and Bac Duong escaped from Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana on Jan. 22 and were the subject of a statewide manhunt for days.

Hay-Chapman spotted Nayeri and Tieu on Jan. 28 in San Francisco and recognized their stolen white GMC van from news reports. He pointed them out to police officers in the area, leading to their arrest.

The third fugitive, Bac Duong, had surrendered to police in Orange County the day before.

The owner of the stolen van will receive $20,000, officials said.

Armando Damian, of Los Angeles, called police to say that a man responding to a Craig's List ad had taken it for a test drive on Jan. 23 and not returned.

A Target store manager and a loss prevention officer will each receive $15,000.

Manager Hazel Javier noticed two men acting suspiciously on surveillance footage on the night of Jan. 22. She showed the video to loss prevention officer Jeffrey Arana and called police because he thought the men might be the fugitives.

A cab driver who was held hostage for a week by the three men did not receive any of the reward money.
Nearly 1,500 people who had surgery at two hospitals in 2011 and 2012 are being warned to be tested for possible hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infection, said Julie Graham, a spokeswoman for Washingtons Department of Health.

Earlier estimates that 2,000 people were at possible risk have been revised, she said.

The hospitals include Seattles Northwest Hospital & Medical Center, which sent warning letters to more than 1,300 patients who underwent surgery in late 2011 and 2012, according to spokeswoman Karen Peck. Lakewood Surgery Center in Lakewood, Pierce County, is notifying about 135 patients who underwent surgery in late 2011 of potential risk.

The issue stems from the February indictment of Rocky Allen, 28, who was charged with stealing a syringe of the painkiller fentanyl in January and replacing it with another substance. He later tested positive for fentanyl and marijuana, federal court records show.

His action put nearly 3,000 patients at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colo., at potential risk from needle swapping and raised concerns about his actions at previous jobs.

Allen has also been accused of diverting drugs at hospitals in California and Arizona and tested positive for a blood pathogen, raising potential infection risk, Lakewood officials said.

On Wednesday, state health officials said they suspended Allens Washington credential on Feb. 29 after learning about the Colorado allegations. Allen had recently applied to have his license reactivated in Washington state, Graham said. The suspension prevents him from renewing his license until legal issues are resolved.

Court records show Allen worked at Northwest from January to March 2012. He worked at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bremerton, Wash., from 2008 to 2011, a spokeswoman said. He also worked briefly at Lakewood Surgery Center in late 2011, state health officials said.

Officials with Public Health  Seattle & King County notified Northwest officials in early February that Allen was being investigated for drug tampering that may have endangered patients.

Theres no evidence of any patient exposure at the hospital and the risk of potential infection is extremely low, Northwest Hospital officials said.

We are deeply saddened that the actions of a former employee may have placed our patients at risk and we understand the concern this notification may cause our patients and their loved ones, Northwest officials said in an online statement.

Lakewood officials said they would offer free, confidential blood tests to patients who had surgery during the time in question.

The naval hospital in Bremerton declined to notify patients because Allen tested negative for blood-borne pathogens during his employment, indicating no risk to patients, said Jessica Alexander, a hospital spokeswoman. Alexander said she did not know how many patients had surgery at the naval hospital during Allens tenure.

The Washington investigation included help from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, officials said.

Local officials did not issue an alert earlier about potential problems linked to Allen because they were notifying patients individually and the risk to the public is believed to be very low, said Dr. Jeff Duchin, health officer for Public Health  Seattle & King County.
Press release submitted Quad Cities Computer Society

The Quad Cities Computer Society is proud to present on Monday, April 4th, at 7 p.m. "Adaptive or Independent Living Devices presented by Liz Sherwin.

Liz Sherwin is Executive Director of Illinois/Iowa Center for Independent Living. She will share a wealth of information about technology-related devices now available to help people become more self-sufficient and independent.

Liz Sherwin Bio:

Liz has been employed by the Center for Independent Living since 1988 and became the Executive Director in 1998. The center is a civil rights and advocacy non-profit corporation that serves people with disabilities in western Illinois and eastern Iowa.

Recently she successfully spearheaded the construction of the Center for Independent Livings new state of the art $1.2 million facility. Liz has a checkered job history from counting jelly beans at Fresh Pak Candy, lasting boots at Service Rubber Company, booking offenders at the RIPD, evaluating funded programs for the Rock Island Model Cities, a case manager for Illinois DHS and social worker at Oak Glen Nursing Home. Liz was the first African American to serve as a District Supervisor for the 17th Congressional District of Illinois on the staff of Congressman Lane Evans.

Locally, she is a commissioner on the Bi-State Regional Commission and serves on the Rock Island Liquor Commission. She is a past chairpersons of the Martin Luther King Community Center Advisory Board and the Quad-City Council of Social Services. Liz served three terms as president of the Rock Island County Branch of the NAACP.

She is a 1966 graduate of Rock Island High School and certifications from Cornell University of New Yorks School of Industrial and Labor Relations and the Rehabilitation Research and Management Center.

Don't miss this event at the Butterworth Education Center, 7th Street and 12th Avenue, Moline, IL

A special invitation to new computer users is being extended to attend the Beginners SIG (Special Interest Group ) which meets at 5:30 PM just before the main meeting.

QCS monthly program meetings are free, handicapped accessible and open to the public. Check the Societys website for more details, qcs.org
Press release submitted by U.S. Army Garrison  Rock Island Arsenal

National Vietnam Veterans Day Commemorative Service Taking Place on Rock Island Arsenal

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill.  (March 15, 2016) Vietnam Veterans of America 299 is hosting its National Vietnam Veterans Day Commemorative Service on Rock Island Arsenal Saturday, March 26, in Heritage Hall, located in Building 60, beginning at 1 p.m.

As in years past, this is a Quad-City Area service and is open for the public to attend.

Nationally, the day of March 29, 2016, has been set aside as the observance of National Vietnam Veterans Day. This date is accepted as the day that the last combat troops left Vietnam in 1973. Vietnam Veterans of America 299 initiated a Quad-City memorial and remembrance service two years ago and will continue to pay their respect to the Nation's fallen brothers again this year. The ceremony is also part of the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War that is active May 28, 2012, through November 11, 2025, as proclaimed by the President of the United States.

The ceremony will include the reading of the names of the fallen from the Quad-Cities Area. Speakers during the program will include U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., Bill Albracht, president, Vietnam Veterans of America 299, Lt. Gen. Michael Tucker, commanding general, First Army, Maj. Gen. Kevin O'Connell, commanding general, Army Sustainment Command, and Col. Elmer Speights, Jr., garrison commander, U.S. Army Garrison Rock Island Arsenal. In addition, honors will be presented to the family of Spc. 4 Gale Kurk Vogler, an Army Soldier killed in action during the Vietnam War. State Rep. Neil Anderson, Ill.-36, will read the honors. The conclusion of the remembrance will include a rifle salute denoting Duty, Honor, Country, and the playing of Taps at the flagpole area outside of the venue.

Guests are invited to attend an open house at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum at the conclusion of the event.
Though no one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing, the attack underscored how despite Pakistan's sweeping military offensive, militants are still able to stage large-scale assaults. Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, is still reeling from a December 2014 massacre at an army public school in the city that killed 150, mostly children.

Hours after the explosion, the Pakistani army chief signed the death sentences for 13 Taliban militants convicted of several attacks, including an assault on a mountain resort that killed 10 foreign tourists.

Wednesday's explosion took place in an area of Peshawar that houses military institutions and residences, according to police official Abbas Majeed Marwat. The bus was taking government employees from several nearby towns on their daily commute to work at the provincial secretariat in Peshawar, he said.

At least 54 people, including women and children, were also wounded in the blast, which was set off by an improvised explosive time device planted under a seat, he added.

Suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban and other allied militant groups who have been waging a war on the state for more than a decade, killing tens of thousands of people in a quest to overthrow the government and install their own harsh brand of Islam.

Local TV footage showed the wreckage of the bus as police and rescue officials rushed the wounded people to hospitals. Footage from a surveillance camera had captured the moment of the explosion, showing the bus moving on a road and then blowing up into a cloud of thick smoke.

"I saw people flying out of the bus shortly after it exploded with a bang," bystander Amir Aalam, 35, told The Associated Press.

From his hospital bed, 50-year-old Kafayatullah Khan, who suffered multiple wounds, said he was "struck by something hard."

"It was like the sky falling," added Khan, an auditor in the provincial government. He was on the bus with about 70 other people, he said.

Rescuers had to cut through the bus to pull out several of the victims, both dead and wounded, said another police official, Mubarak Zeb. He said some 8 kilograms (about 17 pounds) of explosives was used in the bomb.

The bus bombing was the deadliest this year in Peshawar, though there have been major attacks in recent weeks in towns and districts just outside it. One of those was the January assault by Taliban gunmen on a university in the nearby town of Charsadda, when 21 students and teachers were killed.

Peshawar sits on the edge of Pakistan's lawless tribal region that is home to the Taliban and al-Qaida-linked Islamic groups. The Pakistani military in June 2004 launched a massive offensive in the region.

"We are facing these cowards," provincial spokesman Mushtaq Ghani told reporters at the scene of the blast Wednesday.

He said the militants who fled the military offensive in the countryside have found refuge in urban areas, where they now stage attacks seeking to strike at soft targets.

Since the 2014 Peshawar school attack, Pakistan has resorted to strict measures to battle insurgents, including setting up military courts and lifting a moratorium on the death sentence.

Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif on Wednesday confirmed death sentences for 13 Taliban militants, an army statement said.

Those convicted were tried in the closed door military courts for several attacks, including a 2013 attack at a base camp of a Pakistani northern peak called Nanga Parbat, popular with mountain climbers where the Taliban killed 10 foreign tourists and a Pakistani.
It was not clear whether the dead man was one of the suspects sought in the raid earlier Tuesday in the Forest neighborhood of Brussels, the Belgian capital where several of the Paris attackers lived. Four police officers from the French-Belgian operation were injured when at least one suspect opened fire through the door, apparently with an assault weapon, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said.

Forest mayor Marc-Jean Ghyssels told local media two people had barricaded themselves in a home during the raid, but it was not clear what happened to them.

The prosecutor, who asked not to be identified because the operation was not finished, said it was not clear if suspects from the raid were on the run. He said many people fled the area when they heard gunfire, and it was too early to say if some were suspects or all were just people trying to escape.

The anti-terror raid in the Forest neighborhood was linked to the Nov. 13 gun and bomb attacks on a stadium, cafes and a concert hall in Paris that left 130 people dead. Yet police didn't expect violent resistance on Tuesday, the prosecutor said. That indicated they were not targeting a major suspect like Salah Abdeslam, who fled Paris and remains on the run. Most of the attackers died that night, including Abdeslam's brother Brahim, who blew himself up.

Four months on, Belgian police and magistrates are still piecing together the role Belgian nationals and others living here played in aiding the Paris attackers.

The suspected ringleader of the attacks was a Brussels resident, Abdelhamid Abaaoud. Another attacker, Bilal Hadfi, was said to have lived for a time in the Forest neighborhood. Hadfi blew himself up outside a stadium in Paris the night of the attacks and Abaaoud was killed in a police raid in a Paris suburb soon after.

On Tuesday, the Forest neighborhood was locked down for five hours after the initial burst of gunfire.

Police sealed off a wide perimeter around the area where the shots were heard to keep the many bystanders at a safe distance. A helicopter was hovering overhead to patrol the area as police were still looking for at least one suspect. Several hundred spectators were trying to get a closer look at the operation in the multicultural neighborhood, which has a big Audi car factory nearby. Audi asked its personnel to stay at the plant while the police raid was going on.

Several hooded officers wearing body armor milled around the neighborhood and ambulances were on standby.

Belgian authorities have stepped up their counterterror efforts since a lone gunman killed four people at the Brussels Jewish museum in May 2014. The small western European country has also been prime recruiting ground for the Islamic State group, and officials freely acknowledge their concerns about what radicalized recruits might do after returning home from the battlefields of Syria or Iraq.

Tuesday's raid was a reminder of the anxious days the Belgian capital lived through in November and December, when the subway and schools were closed for a time, and the New Year's Eve fireworks display was cancelled because of the threat of extremist violence.
Al-Shishani, who was wounded in a U.S. airstrike earlier this month, died on Monday evening outside the Islamic State group's main stronghold of Raqqa in Syria, the two told The Associated Press. A U.S. military spokesman confirmed the reports.

The IS-affiliated Aamaq news agency cited an unnamed source as denying that al-Shishani was wounded or killed, without providing any evidence that he was still alive.

The red-bearded al-Shishani, who was in his 30s, was one of the most prominent IS commanders, appearing in several online videos leading fighters into battle. He served as the top commander in Syria before being appointed to lead three elite units that carried out special missions in Syria and Iraq, according to Hisham al-Hashimi, an Iraqi scholar who closely follows the group.

Al-Shishani, whose real name was Tarkhan Batirashvili, was born in the Pankisi Valley, a predominantly ethnic Chechen region within the former Soviet republic of Georgia.

He did military service in the Georgian army but was discharged after an unspecified illness, a former neighbor told The Associated Press in 2014. Georgian police later arrested him for illegal possession of arms, the neighbor said. Upon his release in 2010, Batirashvili left for Turkey.

He first surfaced in Syria in 2013 with his nom de guerre, which means "Omar the Chechen" in Arabic, leading an al-Qaida-inspired group called "The Army of Emigrants and Partisans," which included a large number of fighters from the former Soviet Union.

Some 1,500 battle-hardened fighters from the Caucasus region joined IS because of al-Shishani, al-Hashimi said.

He first showed his battlefield prowess in August 2013, when his fighters proved pivotal in taking the Syrian military's Managh air base in the north of the country. Rebels had been trying for months to take the base, but it fell soon after al-Shishani joined the battle, said an activist from the region, Abu al-Hassan Maraee.

In a video released in the summer of 2014, after IS swept across northern and western Iraq and declared an Islamic caliphate, al-Shishani stood next to the group's spokesman and other fighters as they declared the elimination of the border between Iraq and Syria.

A U.S. airstrike targeted al-Shishani on March 4 near Syria's eastern town of Shaddadeh, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said last week. Al-Shishani had been sent there to bolster IS fighters "following a series of strategic defeats," Cook said in the statement.

Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that after al-Shishani was wounded, IS "brought a number of doctors to treat him, but they were not able to."

Abdurrahman, whose group monitors the conflict through a network of activists inside Syria, said al-Shishani died in a hospital in the suburbs of Raqqa. The Iraqi intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to brief media, said the IS commander was buried in the eastern Syrian province of Deir el-Zour on Tuesday.

The Iraqi official said IS named an Iraqi to replace al-Shishani but did not give his name.

The spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, U.S. Army Col. Steve Warren, said Tuesday that the coalition was able to "assess that he is dead" and that it "got the word Monday morning."

Warren described al-Shishani as a "very important figure" in the Islamic State group, who was hit as part of a stepped-up campaign of U.S.-led airstrikes targeting IS leadership.

Al-Shishani was in the area of Shaddadeh "along with about a dozen other fighters who were in one spot ... and we struck it," Warren said last week.

Al-Hashimi said the U.S. decision to target top IS figures could have a major impact. "Maybe the death of al-Baghdadi will lead to a rapid collapse," he said, referring to the top IS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Iraqi officials said in November 2014 that al-Baghdadi was wounded in an airstrike. He has not been seen since then, but has released audio messages calling on his followers to step up attacks.

IS, which emerged from al-Qaida's branch in Iraq, has many Iraqis among its top leaders. It exploited the chaos of Syria's civil war to capture large areas in that country's north and west before sweeping into Iraq in 2014. It has suffered setbacks since then, but still controls large parts of both countries, including Iraq's second largest city, Mosul.

The U.N. has estimated that around 30,000 foreign fighters from 100 countries are actively working with the Islamic State, al-Qaida or other extremist groups. An earlier estimate by the International Center for the Study of Radicalization, a think tank at King's College London, said IS fighters include 3,300 Western Europeans and 100 or so Americans.

Dalia Ghanem-Yazbeck, an analyst at the Carnegie Middle East Center, cautioned that al-Shishani had been mistakenly reported dead on previous occasions. And she said the significance of his death, if confirmed, "is hard to say, because no one knows the exact extent of his work and importance within the leadership."
The joint session of the two houses of parliament broke into thundering applause as the speaker Mann Win Khaing Than announced the result: "I hereby announce the president of Myanmar is Htin Kyaw, as he won the majority of votes." Immediately, the state-run Myanmar TV's camera zoomed in from above on a beaming Suu Kyi, sitting in the front row, clapping excitedly, for a live nationwide audience.

The 70-year-old Htin Kyaw, a longtime confidant of Suu Kyi, will take office April 1 but questions remain about his position and power.

Rightfully, the job belonged to Suu Kyi, who has been the face of the pro-democracy movement and who endured decades of house arrest and harassment by military rulers without ever giving up on her non-violent campaign to unseat them. But a constitutional provision barred Suu Kyi from becoming president, and she made it clear that whoever sits in that chair will be her proxy.

Still, Htin Kyaw will be remembered by history as the first civilian president for Myanmar and the head of its first government to be elected in free and fair polls. After the parliament session ended, Suu Kyi did not comment as she exited, leaving the new president to deliver the first reaction.

"This is a victory for the people of this country," Htin Kyaw said in a brief comment to reporters.

He secured 360 votes from among 652 ballots cast in the bicameral parliament, where the vote count was read aloud and announced by a parliament official.

The military's nominee, Myint Swe, won 213 votes and will become the first vice president. Htin Kyaw's running mate from the National League for Democracy party, Henry Van Tio, won 79 votes and will take the post of second vice president.

"We are very satisfied with the result of the presidential election," said Tun Win, a legislator from the Arakan National Party. "He really should be the leader. I hope he can lead this country to peace and stability, equality and implement the rule of law in this country."

The United States congratulated Htin Kyaw on his election.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the election marked "yet another important step forward in Burma's democratic transition." He said the formation of a democratically elected, civilian-led government and the peaceful transfer of power "mark an extraordinary moment" in Myanmar's history. Earnest said additional democratic reforms must be implemented.

The NLD, and indeed Suu Kyi, came into prominence in 1988 when popular protests started against the military that had ruled in different incarnations since taking power in a 1962 coup. After crushing anti-government riots in which thousands of people were killed, the junta placed Suu Kyi under house arrest in 1989.

It called elections in 1990, which the NLD swept. But the military ignored the results and stayed in power. Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize a year later, and it was around this time that Htin Kyaw  then a computer programmer-turned-bureaucrat  became involved in party work. His father-in-law was already a prominent NLD leader and his wife a member.

Htin Kyaw, who had known Suu Kyi since grade school, became her confidant and adviser on foreign relations. As Myanmar lurched from one political crisis to another, Suu Kyi was released and re-arrested several times. The junta finally started loosening its grip on power in 2010, allowing elections that were won by a military-allied party after the NLD boycotted the polls as unfair.

After more reforms, another general election was held on Nov. 8 that was swept by the NLD, a reflection of Suu Kyi's widespread public support. The constitutional clause that denied her the presidency excludes anyone from the job who has a foreign spouse or children. Suu Kyi's two sons are British, as was her late husband. The clause is widely seen as having been written by the military with Suu Kyi in mind.

The military reserved for itself 25 percent of the seats in parliament, ensuring no government, current or future, can amend the constitution without its approval.

Myint Swe is seen as a close ally of former junta leader Than Shwe and remains on a U.S. Treasury Department blacklist that bars American companies from doing business with several tycoons and senior military figures connected with the former junta.
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Gov. Scott Walker wasted no time Wednesday signing a bill into law that makes Wisconsin the 31st state to adopt online voter registration.

News of Walker's signature came hours after the bill passed the state Senate Tuesday night.

Walker's signature means online registration will be available to voters as soon as this year and no later than in 2017, depending on the speed with which it can be implemented, according to the state elections agency, the Government Accountability Board.

The central premise of the bill -- allowing voters to register online -- enjoys bipartisan support. But Democrats and some civic groups have assailed a provision eliminating special registration deputies, or SRDs, who conduct voter registration drives for groups such as the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin.

Critics said that part of the bill counters the notion that the bill makes it easier to vote. Instead, they said it hampers ballot access by crippling the registration drives that address under-served populations.

Walker, in his statement announcing the signing, said the bill "brings Wisconsin elections into the 21st century."

"Senate Bill 295 makes it easier for Wisconsin veterans and seniors to vote and empowers our citizens to assist their communities in registering to vote, Walker said.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, and Rep. Kathleen Bernier, R-Chippewa Falls, also authorizes the use of veteran IDs to satisfy the state photo ID requirement for voting.

In a statement late Tuesday, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin urged Walker to veto the bill. It lauded the online registration and veterans ID provisions but said the elimination of special registration deputies outweighs the positive parts of the bill.

"No other state that has passed online voter registration has tied its passage to such severely restrictive measures on other methods of registration," the league said.

Assembly Republicans amended the bill to close a loophole in previously adopted changes to the state's campaign finance law that could allow out-of-state political action committees to give unlimited contributions to state political parties and legislative campaign committees. The amendment limits such contributions to $12,000 a year.
Drew Chapman is the CD for Grant Broadcasters River 949 in South East Queensland.

Radio Todays Mark Hales chatted to Drew to find out his background. Where he got his break into radio and what happened to Drew with Fifi Box in New Zealand?

Ten Questions answered with Drew Chapman

As a bit of background, what stations have you worked at during your career and in what roles?

I started at Mix and Sea FM Sunshine Coast while in high school in 1996 doing work experience/casual shifts/crosses etc. In 1999 I got my first full time gig as MD and Drive Announcer at the brand new Sea FM Townsville.September 2000 I moved to Triple M Sydney to do network mid dawns, which led to becoming PD of weekends and floating across the station.

In January 2002, I moved up the road from 2MMM to 4MMM to take up role as breakfast anchor for the Homegrown breakfast show. This role later grew into becoming producer of the show. By 2005 I moved into a day shift and became APD for Triple M.

In 2007 it was back to 2MMM to anchor the Shebang for Breakfast with Marty and Fifi. In 2008 my role was Operations Manager/Mornings Announcer at 2MMM. Then in 2009 (because I hadnt been up and down the Pacific Highway enough!) I moved back into Workday announcer/APD at 4MMM. In late 2010, I became PD of Mix 106.3/104.7 in Canberra, where I spent the next 3 years. Since November 2013, I have been PD of River 949.

What got you into radio?

When I was 15, I used to LOVE listening to 92.7 Mix FM at night (when Mike Nicholls was doing the Hot 20) and I used to call up and request songs, win dodgy Kulcha CDs, and in my squeaky teenage voice I would do IDs over the phone.

I sent Mike a letter asking if I could do a station visit, he got straight back to me, and I was in there by the end of the week. Even though I was the quietest kid at school, I HAD to work in radio (mainly because I would no longer have to pay for Breaka milk). From here, I rode my bike 15 kms each way from Maroochydore to Nambour a few times per week just so I could spend as much time at the station as possible. Highlight during this period was winning Big Macs for my entire class thanks to Mix FM (all of a sudden I became very popular)

Any jobs before radio?

From the age of 12 to 17 I had a 600 house pamphlet run 3 times a week and I worked 2 afternoons a week at a Fruit and Veg market in Buderim on the Coast.

What is the best lesson youve learnt during your career?

Many lessons have been and continue to be learnt, but the one that springs to mind first is listen more than you talk. As tempting as it is to arrive at a station and change the world on the first day, I found that its very important to spend time listening to the station and to its people. These people have been at this station for longer than me, they know the station and can offer insights into the market. No 2 markets are the same, so one bag of tricks wont work everywhere.

Describe a day in the life of Drew Chapman?

My day starts at 5.30am by tuning into the breakfast show. Even though we meet every day post show, the first part of my day is spent making sure were across what we need to be across.

Before 9am, while monitoring, I do the workday formguide, all writing (Promos, imaging, etc), rosters/reports etc done, so i can focus on breakfast/jocks/tactics/music during the day.

I meet with breakfast after 9am for between 30 and 60 minutes, where the main focus is on whats coming up.

From there, every day differs with exec meetings, airchecks with the workday guys, sales meetings, product meetings, etc.

I work very closely with River MD (and former Radio Today editor) Mark Hales (we share an office, which Im pretty sure he doesnt enjoy as much as I do).

We spend a LOT of time on how we can make the station sound better every day.

Around 3 months of the year are spent on air (covering for holidays) and I jump on a weekend shift most weekends, as I think this is really important as part of the role.

Who are the radio people and radio stations you enjoy listening to away from work?

To be honest, I can only pick up one radio station where I live (which is the station I work at  the transmitter is about 2 kms from the house!)

When Im driving though, i spend time listening to most of the Brisbane stations, and streaming stations from overseas.

What is your most embarrassing radio moment?

Theres a few! Most from the early days, but there was one in 2007 when I was anchoring the Shebang in Sydney. We all went to Queenstown, New Zealand for a week. There was a lot of talk about going bungee jumping, which I was DESPERATE to avoid.

Fifi was also keen to avoid it, so I thought as long as Fifi didnt do it, I might get out of it. Then, that night Fifi decided to bungee jump in the dark, so I had no way out. The next day it happened. I was deadset on that platform for at least 30 minutes, freaking out and thinking about which rock I was going to smash my head on before we finally let go (It was a tandem jump with one of the shows producers)

Id never been so happy to get into that boat below, until I walked back up to the office, where all the staff members were laughing HYSTERICALLY at our video. I asked them what was so funny, so they went back to the start and played it again.

My first instinct when falling was to flap like a bird..WHY?? I dont know, but holy shit I looked stupid. When I was done flapping like a bird, the angle of the video looked like I was groping the producers chest, which I honestly wasnt! But geez did I cop some grief on the show for weeks after the jump.

Whats the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is working with like-minded people who also want River to sound the best it can, and make it different every day.

I love trying different things all the time, as I think a lot of stations have become too structured. Example  we did a Back to the Future day last year (To coincide with the date that they travelled to in the 2nd movie  October 21st 2015)

We discussed all sorts of options including sprinkling some songs from 1985 into the day. But why couldnt we go all out and make a MASSIVE day out of it? From 5am till 6pm, we only played songs from 1985, and we literally took our listeners back there with news, sport, and even traffic updates from 1985. Its great to have that kind of flexibility. The feedback from listeners was incredible.

(Complete this sentence). in 5 years from now I will be

In VegasI actually will be, because Im having my 40th birthday over there.

The future of radio is.

Its been happening for decades I know, but I believe the future of radio is LIVE and LOCAL. Theres only a handful of stations like ours left, one thing online radio wont be able to do is connect locally.

(bonus question) What do you like doing in your spare time?

I live on a 100 acre farm, so the spare time is generally taken up with using some kind of machinery. A mower, tractor, whipper snipper or a quad bike. My fun spare time hobby though is taking photos of storms. Ill drive hundreds of ks just trying to get photos of lightning (I often wonder why too)
This is the way I started a video I shot on my iPhone on Sunday. Which has now been viewed over 11 thousand times by Canberrans. When I made it, I had no idea how much noise it would make.

The video is about having no friends in Canberra. How hard it is to find friends as an adult, and how lonely and isolated I feel on the weekends.

Anyone else finding it hard? Posted by Hit104.7 on Saturday, March 5, 2016

I also asked people who are friendless and lonely to contact me  my idea was, that even if it is/feels awkward at first, at least we would be hanging out together doing something. Much better than being sad and alone.

Admittedly, I have only lived in Canberra for just over two months, but I have found myself getting anxious about the weekends. As soon as I finish work on Friday I go, Uh oh, two days alone What am I going to do to fill in the time?!. There is only so much time you can spend with your own mind, watching TV and flicking between the same four social media apps.

So, I shared this video on Facebook and then discussed it on-air Monday morning and the response has been exceptional.

Over 415 inboxes to myself individually and to the station page. When I mentioned it on-air, our phone lines rang from 8am through till 9am. Every one of them saying the same thing. I have no friends in Canberra either.

Here are some of the comments we received:

 its really hard being alone on the weekends. I have tried making friends at work but everyone already seems to have their clique.

I just heard you on radio talking about the difficulties of finding friendships in Canberra and almost started crying. Ive been here for 7 years now and I dont have any friends.

Hi Tanya! I have lived in Canberra for 2 years we moved here for hubbys work and I have found it so difficult to make friends, so totally get you. I spend most of my time on Netflixits great but it doesnt talk back.

I hate the weekends too. I have no friends either! I moved here 4 years ago and I cant break into a friendship group or make new friends Ive given up trying.

THIS IS A THING! So many people live in Canberra with no friends/social life and I just didnt realise how many people arent doing anything socially in Canberra because they dont have any friends.

I guess, I should have realised that Canberra is a transient place. I believe over 25% of the population are here for work or university which results in people moving into a new town, generally alone.

Its so comforting to know Im not alone, but its also really sad to think so many people are feeling isolated in such a vibrant city.

The solution? Well, this weekend we are going on a mass friend date. Lots of people are going to come along alone and meet someone new. Hopefully many friendships will develop.

Im nervous. Like. Really nervous. (I think a lot of people think that because I work in radio Im super confident, but Im not in every aspect of life).

Meeting new people is scary, but I dont want to keep avoiding Canberra events because I dont want to go alone.

Im going to jump in at the deep end and hopefully we will all leave the night with someone to have Sunday brunch with. If not, it will be great to have plans on a Friday night. For once.

Check out the Hit 104.7 Facebook page for more information about Tanyas friends meet up.

Tanya Hennessy does Breakfast with Ryan Jon on hit104.7 in Canberra.

This story originally appeared on HerCanberra.com and has been republished with thanks to Tanya.
At the start of March, the race was on with Communications Minister Mitch Fifield announcing that the Coalition party room approved the reforms that will see the scrapping of the media reach rule and the two out of three rule; that restricts any company from owning more than three traditional media platforms in a single market; be it print, radio or TV. 16 Days later, Mitch has let rip at the National Press Club with a strong address : We must give our Australian media companies the chance to compete against the global media giants they are now up against.

Here is just one part of Mitch Fifields National Press Club address earlier today:

Now that the Government has announced this reform package, attention rightly turns to its passage through the Parliament.

The Government has responded to the Opposition and the crossbench who have asked for an opportunity to examine the detail by referring the legislation to a Senate inquiry. This is underway.

It is clear from the public comments others have made that there is broad support for the removal of the reach rule and for the local content protections the Government has proposed.

But there is hesitation in some quarters about removal of the 2 out of 3 rule on the grounds that it remains an important diversity protection.

I find this a difficult argument to understand.

What is the justification for keeping a rule that pretends there are only three media platforms?

Why retain a rule that pretends the Internet doesnt exist?

Why on earth would some Australian politicians hold our own companies hostage to rules that do not apply to their international competitors?

We must give our Australian media companies the chance to compete against the global media giants they are now up against.

The task they face is daunting.

The market capitalisation of all the major listed Australian commercial broadcasters is less than AUD $5 billion.

Netflix alone has a market cap of AUD $58 billion.

Facebooks is AUD $432 billion. Apple and Google each have market caps over AUD $700 billion.

Imagine how ridiculous it would be if, say, Apple were restricted to only selling you a few different products. Phones and tablets OK, but not computers nor TVs and certainly no music streaming.

Yet incredibly, some want to keep similar restrictions on Australian media companies that are trying to compete.

It is absolutely critical that we offer Australian media companies the opportunity to build scale.

You can read Communications Minister Mitch Fifield full address here.
Former radio programmer Joe Sands has passed away today (March 16) on the Gold Coast, after a battle with cancer.

Joe was a former Program Director of Sea FM Gold Coast, Announcer at B105 Brisbane, Wave FM Wollongong and 4MK Mackay.

Prior to that he was a student at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.

After his successful radio career, in 2000 Joe moved into advertising and marketing founding his own agency on the Gold Coast specialising in tourism and property.

This business ultimately merged with SMART in 2007 to become SmartSands, before being bought by IPG and becoming part of McCann Worldgroup, with Joe serving as Queensland Managing Director since that time.

Joe is survived by his wife Renae and son Jackson.

Vale Joe.


UW-Madison students are turning to social media using the hashtag #TheRealUW to tell their stories of discrimination on campus after news broke about a third alleged hate incident this semester.

#TheRealUW is white frat boys telling you you're cute for a black girl. 



For the record, I'm cute for any girl  Cydny Black (@SoSaysCyd) March 15, 2016

Is alcohol enforced more strictly than sexual abuse and hate crimes? #therealUW  Alexandria Mason (@raewithwords) March 14, 2016

We want students 2b culturally competent but the ppl running the university themselves are not culturally competent #TheRealUW  Jessica (@JessforPrezz) March 15, 2016

Im listening to our students at #therealuw. Thank you for sharing these difficult stories. Your openness will educate and make UW better.  Becky Blank (@BeckyBlank) March 14, 2016

#TheRealUW hashtag, previously a moribund catchall for sports, was reignited after an incident at Sellery Hall over the weekend, when a resident allegedly spit in the face of an African-American woman who also lived there and derided her for her race, gender and scholarship status.

The woman, along with two friends also involved in the confrontation, are part of First Wave, a program providing financial, academic and community support to hip-hop and spoken word artists. Many of its students live in Sellery Hall.

The student accused of lashing out at the First Wave students was cited for underage drinking and disorderly conduct, according to UW-Madison Police, who also said he was relocated from Sellery Hall after the incident.

Journalism student Marquise Mays, an organizer of the Twitter campaign, posted on his blog about the need to go public with stories of discrimination on #TheRealUW.

Mays wrote that students of color on the UW-Madison campus are tired.

Tired of being quiet for the sake of saving our scholarship. Tired of being told that we did not deserve our spots. Tired of being paraded around on brochures and websites like this place is diverse. Tired of having the pressure of educating white students on their ignorance. Tired of the white tears that commence when we address these issues. Tired of doing UWs job in making this place inclusive. Overall, were tired of UW.

Mays told the Cap Times that the Twitter vehicle is an important forum for students of color to send a message to university officials.

Usually badgers go on and on about the Wisconsin Experience and how much they are fulfilled from this University, but for students of color, this experience is quite different, Mays wrote in an email message Monday night. These are silenced stories from students of color that expose the current racial climate at UW. We want transparency from our University, we want action and #theRealUW is where we hold UW-Madison accountable for not fostering a welcoming environment for us.

Mays, like some #TheRealUW posters, said UW-Madison officials need to do more than make assurances.

They say that they are listening, but again you see no action being taken to combat these issues. UW officials are not taking this serious enough, he wrote.

UW-Madison faculty also turned to social media to organize a response to the Sellery Hall incident. Karma Chavez, an associate professor of communication arts, asked colleagues to sign on to a letter to Chancellor Rebecca Blank.

I recognize the full responsibility for student climate does not fall on your shoulders, but I want to strongly discourage more diversity forums and campus wide conversations that do little more than make administrators feel good about feeble efforts to make changes  many of them not structural  to this institution, she posted.

UW-Madison officials have said that an investigation of the conduct of the student who was cited will be investigated through established processes. Sanctions, if found appropriate, could range from required education to suspension or expulsion, they said.

At a media availability session Monday afternoon, officials condemned hate-motivated behavior but offered little detail about how the university would respond to the issue in general.

Youve got to just learn to keep your mouth quiet sometimes. Its not a joke and for the people on the other end, its very hurtful, said Jeff Novak, director of University Housing. Hateful speech, he said, is disrespectful, unacceptable for Badgers or really anyone.

Officials said they might consider more cultural competence education training for the whole campus community than the single class now required of students.

How to do it for a campus of this size is a challenge, said associate dean Argyle Wade. How we can produce Badgers who have cultural competency and put them out in the workforce? We think thats important for the future of the state.

Wade added that it is important that students from backgrounds get to know each other.

We need to look at ways to get students to be involved with each other and learn about differences and ways to navigate them that are respectful and also value diversity of thought and opinion, he said.

The flurry of publicity around hate speech on campus has raised questions about how university officials report incidents to those on campus and beyond.

Officials said Monday they did not know the total number of incidents reported this semester. Twenty-three incidents were enumerated in a report posted at the end of the fall semester.

The incident over the weekend at Sellery Hall became public after a blog post by a student who was present.

Wade and Novak were prevented during Mondays session from corroborating basic details by UW-Madison spokeswoman Meredith McGlone. She also stopped them from speaking about whether the accused student was relocated from Sellery Hall, as UW-Madison Police have said. She referred reporters to a document emailed after the session.

Students living in university housing where an apparent hate incident occurs currently are immediately notified by email, Novak said.

Immediate public reporting of sexual assaults is required by federal law, he pointed out. And while that is not required of hate incidents, some similar reporting has been considered.

But there is some concern whether a broader announcement for each incident might dilute their impact, he said.

We want to make sure delivery is timely, but appropriate and not taken lightly, Novak said.
A major electrical cable fire in a tunnel just outside the Washington Metro McPherson Square station early Monday, March 14, 2016 has led to the entire Metrorail system shutting down for a 29-hour period beginning March 16 at 12:00 a.m. for emergency safety inspections of third-rail power cables.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority General Manager Paul Wiedefeld took the unprecedented step of shutting down the entire Metrorail system until 5 a.m. on March 17 so crews could inspect about 600 underground third-rail power cables. Following Monday mornings cable fire, which affected Blue and Orange Line trains, WMATA suspended rail service between Foggy Bottom and Federal Triangle for repairs.

But Mondays fire was similar to one that occurred at the LEnfant Plaza station in January 2015. Smoke conditions resulting from that fire killed one person and injured several others. While the investigation [into the McPherson Square incident] is ongoing, the preliminary findings show commonalities with the cable fire in LEnfant Plaza a year ago, Wiedefeld said. While the risk to the public is very low, I cannot rule out a potential life safety issue here. This is why we must take this [step] immediately. When I say safety is our highest priority, I mean it.

WMATA Board Chairman Jack Evans said Metrorail has never shut down, except for weather-related causes, since the system opened in 1976.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authoritys decision to shut down Metrorail for 29 hours represents the agencys desire to put safety first for passengers and the agencys employees, said Jim Mathews, President and CEO of the National Association of Railroad Passengers. However, it also represents an unstable environment, in which D.C.s transportation system is constantly at risk of breaking down and putting passengers in harms wayhighlighted by Mondays fire, as well as the fire at LEnfant Plaza in January 2015. The confusion surrounding Metros actions underscores the need for appropriate transparency from Metro to passengers, and the involvement of stakeholder groups in resolving these issues. It also highlights the importance of sustainable levels of funding for the Metro system so these problems can be addressed now and prevented in the future.
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The Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network (HITN) has partnered with Natcom to include health and lifestyle segments as part of its regular programming.





The move is part of the networks mission to air educational content that meets the needs of the US Hispanic population.Natcom specialises in producing and distributing original health, wellbeing and lifestyle content. It will supply HITN-TV with 24 monthly segments in Spanish designed to promote healthful living habits among Hispanic viewers.We are proud to partner with Natcom in adding health segments to our programming, HITNs general manager, Eric Turpin, commented. This initiative reaffirms our networks commitment to raising awareness among our viewers of the importance of a healthful lifestyle in preventing many of the diseases that afflict the Hispanic population.The health segments airing on HITN starting this March include: Knowmore TV En Espanol, a Spanish-language segment offering general health and wellbeing tips; Health Day TV En Espanol, the latest scientific and medical research and studies, including new treatment options and other innovations; and EFE Tech En Espanol, news briefs focusing on technological advances and the latest trends in healthful living.It is exciting to collaborate with HITN on its mission of airing relevant educational programming to the US Hispanic audience, which represents such a large market, with Spanish-language health, wellbeing and lifestyle content, said Natcom CEO Robert J Rodriguez. This initiative is a way for us to join HITN in educating Latinos across the country and inspiring them to adopt a more healthful lifestyle.
Alleged hackers accused of attempted cyber-attack on major banks face new charges

MOSCOW, March 16 (RAPSI)  Nearly 30 alleged members of a criminal group accused of planning a series of massive cyber-attacks on major Russian banks and international payment systems face new charges, RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday.

Alleged members of the group were arrested in November 2015 on suspicion of planning cyber-attacks on the processing centres of Russian and foreign banks and stealing at least 1.5 billion rubles ($21,300).

All the men were charged with theft, fraud, illegal access to computer information, creation and distribution of malicious software.

Masterminds of the gang now face charges that they organized a criminal network and up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The criminal group may have comprised at about 100 members, according to the police. It was highly capable and well-prepared.
On Supreme Court -- Let the People Speak First, NRB Says

Contact: James A. Smith Sr., NRB, 202-999-8714, jsmith@nrb.org



MANASSAS, Va., March 16, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- National Religious Broadcasters support Congressional leaders in their resolve to allow the American people to have a voice at the ballot box before anyone is considered to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court following last month's passing of Justice Antonin Scalia, leaders said today in response to President Barack Obama's nomination of Judge Merrick Garland.



"Let us remember that Justice Scalia was an exceptional jurist with unwavering commitment to the integrity of the United States Constitution," stated Dr. Jerry A. Johnson, President & CEO of NRB. "We know the poor track record of the Obama Administration on respect for freedom and the rule of law. The American people should at least have a chance to vote in November before this President gets to place a third and likely generational-altering pick on the Court."



Last month in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Dr. Johnson assured him the NRB would stand with him in his decision to wait on consideration of any Scalia successor until after the November elections. In that letter, Dr. Johnson declared:

The Constitution that Justice Scalia fought for decades to uphold provides the President the power to nominate judges and the Senate the power of advice and consent. This is a key principle in the separation of powers between the branches of our nation's government. Unfortunately, America's current President has shown little restraint in asserting authority in areas properly belonging to other federal branches, the states, or the people themselves. I urge you to do all that you can to prevent the President from attempting to work around the will of the Legislative Branch in this matter.

Moreover, Dr. Johnson noted, "The American people began to vote for change in 2014 by giving a new party control of the chamber, and the people will have a chance to speak again in the months ahead essentially on the fate of all three branches of government."



The full text of Dr. Johnson's letter to Leader McConnell is here. Also, a letter signed by Dr. Johnson and more than 100 other leaders committed "to make clear to the American people what is at stake and to rally our fellow citizens to the cause of saving the Constitution" is here.



About NRB

The National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) is a non-partisan, international association of Christian communicators whose member organizations represent millions of listeners, viewers, and readers. Our mission is to advance biblical truth; to promote media excellence; and to defend free speech. In addition to promoting standards of excellence, integrity, and accountability, NRB provides networking, educational, ministry, and fellowship opportunities for its members. Learn more at www.nrb.org.



About the Convention

The annual NRB International Christian Media Convention is the largest nationally and internationally recognized event dedicated solely to assist those in the field of Christian communications. The dynamic Exposition consists of around 200 companies and is an active marketplace for those seeking tools and services to expand their organizations. The next Convention will be held at the Orlando World Marriott in Orlando, FL, February 27-March 2, 2017. For more information, go to www.nrbconvention.org.
MOSCOW, March 16 (RAPSI)  Senior officials from Russias Ministry of Culture and a range of businessmen involved in restoration of cultural heritage sites were detained on Wednesday on suspicion of embezzling state funds while searches at homes and offices of the suspects were underway.

Deputy Minister of Culture Grigory Pirumov was detained alongside other high-ranking officials, including Boris Mazo, the head of the Ministry Department of property management and investment policies, on charges of corruption and embezzling state funds. Oleg Ivanov, the head of a state unitary enterprise for restoration works supervised by the Ministry, Dmitry Sergeyev, the head of BaltStroy, and Nikita Kolesnikov, the head of Savva Corporate Group, were detained as well. The detention of Alexander Kochenov, the manager of BaltStroy, was prolonged until March 17.

Although as yet the Federal Security Service (FSB) incriminates the suspects the embezzlement of about 50 million rubles, much greater funds may be at stake, according to Kommersant newspaper.

The investigation has presumably started basing on a report by the Auditing Chamber on restoration of the Izborsk Fortress in the Pskov region presented yet in 2013; however, it may also involve such cultural heritage sites as the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg and the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow, as well as works carried out at the Ivanovsky Convent in Moscow, and a theater in Pskov. Thus, a source close to investigation confirmed to TASS news agency that Pirumov was detained over restoration works at the Novodevichy Convent, a UNESCO world heritage site. According to Kommersant newspaper, investigators believe that in Izborsk Pirumov and his accomplices could embezzle 186 million rubles and 73 million rubles in the course of works at the Pskov theater.

The scale of this corruption case is underlined by the fact that President Putin was informed about the investigation. On Tuesday the Minister of Culture Medinsky briefly discussed the matter with the President, as reported by the Putins press spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who though noted that it was too early to brand anybody in the Ministry as culprits before a respective court verdict.

Vladimir Medinsky told journalists that he personally and other Ministry officials were shocked by these corruption allegations. In its turn, the State Duma plans to conduct a respective parliamentary investigation and is expected to summon Medinsky for hearing his report on the matter.
As we see a surge in inflation globally, it is now critical that everyone is aware of the implications this will have along every step of the insurance and reinsurance value chain.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on March 14 that he would begin withdrawing his main forces from Syria. Russia appears to have deployed about 70 aircraft of a variety of types and more than 4,000 support personnel to protect and maintain the aircraft. It was not a major deployment, but it shifted the situation on the ground rapidly. Before the deployment there had been serious discussion that Bashar al-Assad's regime had its back against the wall. That expectation dissolved as Russians carried out attacks against those working to overthrow the regime.

It is unclear precisely why the expectations shifted. It is possible that the limited number of sorties the Russians could fly was sufficient to break the operational capabilities of the opposition. It is possible that simply the Russian presence was enough to shift the psychology of the opposition and break their will. It is also possible that the opposition was so fragmented and so fundamentally weak that virtually anything would shatter them. This can be discussed endlessly, but the fact is that the Russians came in and achieved the outcome they wanted.

The question of course remains: Why did the Russians intervene in the first place? Assad's father had been close to the Soviets, and post-Soviet Russia made gestures at continuing the relationship. But Syria was never central to Russian interests, and having any number of other problems, particularly Ukraine, devoting precious resources to solving what from Russia's perspective was a relatively small problem is odd. But when you think about it, it made complete sense, even beyond ensuring Assad's survival.

The first reason Putin intervened in Syria was simply to show that he could. He had two audiences for this: the Russian public and the West, particularly the United States. Russia's performance in Ukraine was mediocre at best. It "seized" Crimea against no opposition and encouraged an uprising in the east that failed to ignite the region. Its intelligence service failed to understand what was happening in Kiev and failed to shape it. And even more important, the plunge in oil prices created a massive economic crisis in Russia. It was a critical moment for Moscow domestically and in its foreign relations.

Deploying an air wing consisting of different kinds of aircraft and then maintaining them in combat operations for months demonstrated that Russia had a significant military capability and was able to deploy it effectively. In Russia, as in other countries, successful, short military operations generate massive support. It demonstrated to the United States that it had the ability and will to intrude into areas that the United States regarded as its own area of operations. It changed the perception of Russia as a declining power unable to control Ukraine, to a significant global force. Whether this was true was less important - it needed to appear to be true. And it cannot be denied that there was truth to it.

The second point is much stranger and not fully aligned with the prior reason. The Russians intervened in Syria in order to bail the United States out of a very difficult situation. The United States opposed the Assad regime and wanted it replaced by a coalition of opposition forces. It was increasingly obvious that this was not going to happen. Assad might fall but what would replace him was a fractious opposition as much at war with each other as with Assad. This might be preferable to Assad, but the Islamic State was deep into Syria and had already engaged and defeated some of Assad's armored forces - not to mention that IS controls far more territory than any other rebel group. If Assad fell, and if he was replaced by the opposition, it was conceivable they could in turn be replaced by IS. The U.S. was aware that it had constantly underestimated IS, and the possibility of IS in Damascus was both real and unacceptable to the United States.

The United States had a political problem. Not only had it opposed Assad, it had been deeply aligned with anti-Assad factions. It could not suddenly become the protector of the Assad regime. At the same time, the United States, at that moment, could not afford the fall of Assad. The Russian intervention solved the problem for the United States. Assad was saved. IS was blocked and a situation that was spiraling out of control was contained.

Was this a formal deal or merely the unexpected outcome? I doubt that papers were signed but I also doubt that it was unexpected by either side. The Russians certainly knew the American situation in Syria: the U.S. didn't trust its own sponsored opposition, was unnerved by IS and helpless to do what it had to. The Russian intervention followed directly from Moscow's public position and posed no problem for it.

By doing this, in the face of massive American air power, Russia either assumed that it could coordinate with the United States in time or that coordination was discussed in the beginning. The solution to the American problem in Syria is one of those things that you find out about 50 years later when documents are declassified. I am not saying there was an agreement. I am saying that, agreement or not, the Russians knew they were solving an American problem, and the Americans, for all their rhetoric, knew their problem was being solved. And that bought the Russians some points on their second biggest problem.

Their biggest problem is of course oil, for which there is no solution. Their second biggest problem is Ukraine, a fundamental interest of the Russians, which they cannot permit to become part of the Western alliance system - a matter we have extensively discussed. The core Russian interest is the military neutralization of Ukraine. Their secondary interests are some degree of autonomy in the east and some settlement on Crimea that gives Russia more extensive rights there than it had before.
home World ISIS news today: 16 killed in nursing home run by Christians in Yemen, established by Mother Teresa

Reports say 16 people were killed in a nursing home in Al Mukalla, Yemen. It was said that the establishment started in the 1970s by Mother Teresa. Christians from Aden City south of Yemen are in charge of its operations.

Killings have been growing in numbers for the past few months in Aden City. Authorities have spoken that civilians killed were Indian, Ethiopian and Yemeni citizens. Fifteen corpses were brought to Doctors Without Borders or MSF.

ISIS and al-Qaida affiliates have exploited the lawlessness and created safe havens in the south. Several cities were under the control of this rebellious group.

Saudi Arabia's U.N. ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi said that he is concerned about the worsening humanitarian situation.

European Parliament came up with the confiscation of weapons exports to Saudi Arabia. This will at least help in one way.

The war in Yemen has resulted in a lot of casualties. It has killed at least 6,200 civilians and injured tens of thousands of Yemenis, and 2.4 million people have been displaced, according to United Nations figures.

Until now, there are still reports coming in from security councils saying they believe that a political solution is still possible.
Russia's announcement that it is pulling troops out of Syria has been met with surprise from the Obama administration and a fair amount of clucking from pundits who see it as a vindication of Vladimir Putin's strategy in the region. It is also proof, many of those same pundits argue, that the Russian leader out-maneuvered U.S. President Barack Obama. Alexander Titov has a good rundown of the prospective gains that Russia will supposedly reap from its adventure in Syria, including the preservation of the Bashar Assad regime and Putin's ability to have a seat at the table for future negotiations.

But how much did Russia actually win in Syria?

First, it's important to emphasize that Russia hasn't actually withdrawn from Syria. They've merely announced their intention to do so. As the New York Times notes, they've pulled out about 10 planes and no sizeable number of troops. The United States should be acutely cautious about politicians claiming 'mission accomplished' before fully extricating themselves from a foreign entanglement. Even without frontline forces, Russian military advisers will undoubtedly still remain in the country.

Second, Putin's biggest accomplishment is unquestionably that Russia turned the tide of the war in Assad's favor. With Russia's help, the Assad regime has managed to cut rebel supply lines and reclaim territory in the north and south of the country. Militarily, a regime once reeling is no longer on the ropes.

In other words, instead of having Syria devolve into a totally lawless failed state, it's only now a semi-failed state with a ramshackle government that is still not in full control of its territory and has an Islamist insurgency raging in its borders. Assad's forces are unquestionably better positioned today thanks to Russian help, but Syria is a long way from being a viable, functioning state. Russia's client government is probably an assassination or two away from utter turmoil.

More importantly, what tangible good has propping up Assad done for Russia? Has it boosted the Russian economy? No. By all accounts, the Russian economy is performing poorly. Has it improved the standard of living for ordinary Russians? No, things look pretty bleak on that front too. Has it broken open new markets for Russian enterprises to sell into? Perhaps if Assad gets back on his feet, but not now. Has it gained Russia a powerful geopolitical ally? Even before it was a failed state, Syria was no regional powerhouse.

Meanwhile, Russia was flushing roughly $4 million a day into Syria as of October 2015 -- cheap by the standards of America's extravagant Mideast boondoggles, but costly nonetheless. It's not clear how many Russians have been killed in Syria, in part because Moscow is going to great lengths to obscure those figures, but Russia has seen its share of lives lost as well.

Still, Russia has achieved a limited set of results. It successfully propped up Assad and helped that regime recoup some of its lost territory. It has also ensured that it will be consulted in any negotiations involving the long-term fate of Syria's internal governance. Whether Syria was a prize worth investing in, only time will tell.

(AP Photo)
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/16/2016



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

, a new docu-reality series that will follow Mariah Carey in her career and personal life, has been picked up by E!.The network has announced it's ordered the new eight-episode series that will follow the pop icon as she goes on her "Sweet Sweet Fantasy" European concert tour while also planning her wedding to new fiance James Packer "Mariah is one of the most captivating pop superstars of our time and one of the rare artists whose first name alone is instantly recognized around the globe. We're excited to partner with Bunim/Murray Productions, Mariah and Stella Bulochnikov to offer our viewers exclusive access into her private world," E! executive Jeff Olde said in a statement."The series will present a unique, vulnerable and surprisingly humorous side to Mariah that her fans have never before seen while showcasing her unparalleled celebrity lifestyle filled with true glamour, maximum luxury and ultimate stardom."Carey is currently scheduled to make 28 performances on the tour and travel to destinations including the United Kingdom, Europe and Africa. The tour will bookend her "Mariah #1 to Infinity" residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, which has been extended into the fall."I'm excited to bring my fans into my life for the next journey I'm about to embark on," Carey, who will also be shown planning her wedding to Packer, added in her own statement. "I'm already having so much fun with this documentary and I know you will too. There is nothing like capturing these moments."Reports Carey was getting her own reality show first surfaced last week. She previously served on American Idol's judging panel with Keith Urban Nicki Minaj and Randy Jackson for Season 12 back in 2013. However, Carey called her gig the "worst experience of [her] life" and the show "fake" and "boring." The diva also feuded with Minaj basically the entire time on the set.Carey got engaged to Packer in January after America's Got Talent host Nick Cannon filed for divorce from her in December 2014. Carey and Cannon have four-year-old twins together named Monroe and Morrocan.is being produced by Bunim/Murray productions in association with Magic Carpet Productions. Carey, Gil Goldschein, Jeff Jenkins, Farnaz Farjam and Stella Bulochnikov are serving as executive producers.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/16/2016



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

couple Lauren Bushnell and Ben Higgins are happily engaged and can't wait to get married, so what do they have to say about their future nuptials?The day after 's finale aired, the couple participated in a conference call and reporters packed on questions about their wedding.Ben previously told Chris Harrison he'd love to get married "tomorrow" if he could because he's so in love with his fiancee, but when presented with the opportunity of a live TV wedding on After the Final Rose, both Lauren and Ben turned it down.Below is what the future Mr. and Mrs. Higgins revealed about their wedding plans.I think, you know, we haven't ruled anything out. And all of the support from everyone has been so amazing that it would be something that both of us would consider I think moving forward, depending on what opportunities come, to share our life with everyone around us who's been supportive -- and that includes Bachelor Nation.So, it's not ruled out but also, you know, we don't know what opportunities are going to present themselves. All we know is we want to get married! We want a wedding and we want our family and friends there. So, how that comes about, I'm not exactly sure, but we're excited.I mean, I think there's always a chance. We haven't discussed places let alone the date, but yeah! My parents are in Portland, I was born and raised there. I don't think that Ben or myself would rule anything out at this point, and Portland has some of the best summers, so I don't know. You never know; It's a possibility.Oh my gosh. I was completely surprised. I did not expect that at all. You know, I first of all, want to go on a date with Ben. There's so many things I want to do with him before actually saying, "I do." I want to try on dresses, I want to do some of the more traditional things.And so, for me, as much as I want to marry Ben tomorrow, I would also like a big celebration that's planned with my family and friends. So for me, I didn't really put too much thought into it although it was kind of tempting.I mean, as we had talked about, I knew that it wasn't something -- we weren't against getting married, but we also want to have our friends and family there to support us and celebrate with us. So, it just wasn't an option, but it was a good try!Oh goodness. You know what? I am not -- I have never been one who's dreamt about every little detail of my wedding. I haven't. It's just, I don't know, I think I started thinking about it after finding Ben and getting engaged, but it's not something I've thought about -- colors or anything like that.I honestly don't even know where I'd want to get married. (Laughs) So, all I know is that I want it to be a celebration with family and friends there. And that's about it! Other than that, I think since we're finally public and that's kind of off our shoulders, I feel like I can really start focusing more on what I want and what Ben wants when it comes to our wedding.I don't know! I always thought I wanted a summer wedding, but a fall wedding sounds beautiful. And then I was thinking how fun it would be to do a winter wedding, how romantic that sounds! So, I'm all over the place. (laughs) I don't know!No, we definitely talked about it, more so about how excited we are to marry each other. But we never really talked about the details. I think we both know we want to get married and we want to get married soon, so that wasn't ever a topic that needed a lot of discussion.It was just more so, I think we both just wanted to get to today so we can finally talk about just our relationship in general, and then the details of that wedding can kind of come after. But we were really just focused on how excited we were to get to today and get to start our life together.Check Reality TV World's page for more from Lauren and Ben's post-finale interview.
House flipping has reached its 10-year high, with gains reaching an average of up to $100,000 per flip, recent reports say.

According to Redfin, as reported by HousingWire, house flipping gains in 2015 rose to $102,400 per home from the previous year's $98,500 and from $90,900 in 2005 housing boom. The increase in gain was recorded despite the reduction in the number of homes flipped to 43,000 homes compared to 2005's peak of 95,000 homes.

Redfin ranked the top 10 neighborhoods that had the biggest gains from home flipping. Securing the No. 1 spot is Petworth in Washington, D.C., which recorded a gain of $337,000 per home flipped. Mount Washington in Los Angeles, California is trailing behind with $312,000 per deal, followed by Silverlake, also in LA, with a gain of $307,000.

Coming next at No. 4 is another Washington, D.C. neighborhood, Brookland, which recorded a profit of $290,000. Rounding up the top five of the hottest markets for house flipping is North Sunnyvale in San Jose, California with $268,000.

The rest of the list include: Brightwood (Washington, D.C.), $261,000; Richmond (Portland, VA), $260,000; Del Ray (Alexandria, VA), $255,000; Ballard (Seattle, WA), $247,000; and Los Feliz (Los Angeles, CA), $241,000.

Home flipping pertains to the purchase of a house for renovation and then reselling it with the aim of generating income in a short span of time. While the increase in the rate of returns is good news for house flipping investors, some experts have expressed concerns over the recent trends. As previously discussed here on Realty Today, some experts think that the increases are sending signals of a troubled housing market.

It has been noted that when house flipping reached its peak in 2005, two years later the mortgage market collapsed, the banking sector experienced crisis and then the recession happened.

Matthew Gardner, chief economist at Windermere Real Estate, said, house flipping sales "artificially inflate home prices, making housing even less affordable for buyers and increasing the risk of a bubble."
The modern lifestyle of millenials has inspired and influenced many housing trends. According to Curbed, millenials have an on-demand lifestyle which values location over the size of the house. It was reported that many working millenials want to be close to the center of the city and public transportation.

The site also reported that having a living room becomes less relevant for these working millenials as they hold lesser parties because they can socialize with other people online. Because of this, many home developers are looking into making micro apartments which can cater to the needs of these millenials.

Since 2008, the average unit across the country is only 995 square feet. Many developers are now looking into creating more studio and one-bedroom apartments since the sales have increased from 40 percent to 50 percent in the recent years.

The trend of having more efficient units has challenged many developers to be more creative with their micro units. Many architects design the kitchen to be part of the living space and add a more granular level of design. As of writing, micro apartments have been popular in big cities like San Francisco and New York.

Despite having small spaces, some of these units are still not affordable for many. According to the media outlet, rents in cities like San Francisco has become more expensive, so many real estate agents have recommended renters to move to more affordable towns like Fremont, Danville, or Walnut Creek. However, many people still want to be close to the city, and in turn it created a pressure on big tech companies like Google to build more campuses for their employees in San Francisco.
The English honors society, Sigma Tau Delta, has been reinvigorated to engage students interested in the subject more than in the past.
When sophomore Quinterrius Banks first drove to the University of Georgia for his orientation, he knew he would not run into anyone else from his graduating class, let alone his county.
United States Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Cuba's Minister of Transportation Adel Yzquierdo Rodriguez, right, sign the airline transportation agreement as Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin, top left, looks on in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. Cuba and the United States signed the agreement that will allow U.S. commercial airlines to begin operating flights to the island and vice-versa for the first time in decades. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan)

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By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ, AP Airlines Writer

NEW YORK (AP)  U.S. airlines are looking to serve Cuba primarily from their large hub cities, with Havana being the most popular destination.

At least eight carriers submitted applications to the U.S. Department of Transportation outlining what routes they would like to fly. The government will spend the next few months reviewing the requests and is expected to award the contested Havana routes this summer. Flights to smaller cities  if uncontested and lacking any contentious issues  could be approved much sooner.

Once routes are awarded, airlines will still need time to develop schedules and actually sell seats on the flights. And while the U.S. government will set the routes, airlines will also need to apply to Cuba's civil aviation authority for a permit to operate in the country.

All flights operating between the two countries today are charters, but an agreement signed between the two nations last month allows for up to 110 additional flights  more than five times the current charter operations.

Only 20 of those flights can go to Havana, in addition to the current 10 to 15 charter flights a day. The rest would fly to other Cuban cities.

U.S. tourists still won't legally be allowed to visit Cuba but the start of commercial flights will make it much easier for those who fall into one of the authorized travel categories. Charter flights are expensive, frequently chaotic and lack many of the traditional supports of commercial aviation such as online booking and 24-hour customer service.

Most of the planes proposed by U.S. airlines would carry about 160 passengers.

Nearly 160,000 U.S. leisure travelers flew to Cuba last year, along with hundreds of thousands of Cuban-Americans visiting family. Tourism is still barred, but the number of legal reasons to go to Cuba  from organizing professional meetings to distributing information to Cubans  has grown so large and is so loosely enforced that the distinction from tourism has blurred significantly.

American Airlines was the most-aggressive carrier in its approach, requesting more than half the possible slots to Havana plus service to five other, smaller Cuban cities. The airline has a large hub in Miami, home to the largest Cuban-American population.

In American's filing with the DOT, CEO Doug Parker wrote that his airline has been "the undisputed leader" in charter service, having done so since 1991.

The airline notes in its application that last year alone, it operated 1,084 Cuba charters while JetBlue Airways had 221 and Delta Air Lines had four.

Following Wednesday's route application deadline, airlines and the public have a chance to comment on the flights sought. That process will conclude by March 21.

The airlines won't get all of their requests, but below are the routes each carrier applied to fly:

 American is seeking 10 daily flights from Miami to Havana, one from Charlotte and one from Dallas as well as one weekly flight from both Los Angeles and Chicago. From Miami, it is also looking for two daily flights to Santa Clara, Holguin and Varadero and daily service to Camaguey and Cienfuegos.

 Delta is seeking flights from Atlanta, New York, Miami and Orlando to Havana. All would be daily, except for Miami where Delta is seeking two daily flights.

 JetBlue is looking to serve Havana with four daily flights from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, two from Tampa, Florida, Orlando and New York and one daily flight from Boston and Newark, New Jersey. It also wants one daily flight from Fort Lauderdale to Camaguey, Holguin and Santa Clara.

 Southwest Airlines wants to fly to Havana with six daily flights from Fort Lauderdale, two from Tampa and one daily flight from Orlando. It also applied for daily flights from Fort Lauderdale to Varadero and one to Santa Clara.

 United Airlines is asking for daily flights between Newark, New Jersey, and Havana with two flights on Saturdays. It also wants Saturday-only flights from Chicago, Houston and Washington D.C.

 Alaska Airlines wants two daily flights from Los Angeles to Havana.

 Frontier Airlines applied for one daily flight between Denver and Havana, three daily flights between Miami and Havana, one daily flight between Miami and Santiago, four weekly flights between Miami and Camaguey, three weekly flights between Miami and Santa Clara, one weekly flight between Chicago and Varadero and one weekly flight between Philadelphia and Varadero.

 Silver Airways, a Florida-based regional airline, wants to fly to Havana twice daily from West Palm Beach, once daily from Fort Myers and Fort Lauderdale, five times a week from Key West, and twice a week from Jacksonville. It also proposed to fly from Fort Lauderdale to nine other Cuban cities.
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By Andre Byik, Chico Enterprise Record

Patrick Feaster, the former Paradise police officer charged with manslaughter stemming from an on-duty shooting, was arrested Sunday in Chico on suspicion of being drunk in public, according to police records.

Feaster, 31, of Chico, was arrested by Chico police about 3:20 a.m. Sunday in the 1300 block of Laburnum Avenue, near East Third Avenue, Deputy Chief Dave Britt said.

Police had responded to a call reporting a vehicle had been parked at the end of a driveway on Laburnum Avenue, according to police records. The caller reported that the vehicles occupants exited the vehicle and were talking loudly, according to police records.

Feaster and his brother, Timothy Feaster, 28, of Berkeley, were arrested on suspicion of public intoxication and booked into Butte County Jail in Oroville.

Miranda Bowersox, a spokeswoman for the Butte County Sheriffs Office, said Patrick Feaster was released from jail when he was no longer under the influence of alcohol.

Bowersox said the case would not go to court. It was really just for his own safety, she said.

Paul Goyette, Patrick Feasters attorney, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment Tuesday afternoon.

Patrick Feaster is scheduled to appear Wednesday morning in Butte County Superior Court in Oroville for further arraignment on the manslaughter charge.

The former officer has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of 26-year-old Andrew Thomas.

Feaster shot Thomas around midnight on Thanksgiving eve in Paradise. Thomas was shot as he exited a vehicle after a rollover accident on Pearson Road that killed his estranged wife, Darien Ehorn, 23, of Paradise.

Feaster, who was employed with the Paradise Police Department at the time, told a supervising officer that he accidentally fired his gun.He has not yet entered a plea in the matter.
Virginia Anderson, with glasses, is shown Tuesday in Shasta County Superior Court with deputy public defender Stacey Madsen.

SHARE Jim Schultz/Record Searchlight Virginia Anderson, with glasses, is shown Tuesday in Shasta County Superior Court with deputy public defender Stacey Madsen.

By Jim Schultz of the Redding Record Searchlight

The trial for a Redding woman suspected of driving under the influence of drugs in a 2014 traffic wreck that killed 27-year-old motorcyclist Hayley Riggins of Redding was stopped in its tracks Tuesday in Shasta County Superior Court.

Although close to picking a jury, the trial was halted and potential jurors excused from the case after the public defense team representing Virginia Lyn Anderson, 53, told Superior Court Judge Greg Gaul it will be filing an emergency writ with the Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento to put the trial on hold.

That writ, expected to be filed Wednesday, is asking the appellate court to review a specific issue in the case that could potentially have statewide ramifications.

At the center of the writ are the felony charges filed against Anderson.

Although Gaul expressed his desire that the trial go forward and expressed his apologies for the delay, he said he was "pretty sure" the Court of Appeal would grant the defense writ.

And, he said, the defense has raised an important issue that needs to be addressed.

"This is a pretty unique issue," he said.

Anderson was initially charged with second-degree murder in the crash that killed Riggins, the mother of a then 1-year-old daughter.

But that charge was dismissed  twice  after separate judges ruled that prosecutors failed to show that Anderson acted with a deliberate disregard for human life.

She was later charged with DUI causing injury and a great bodily enhancement, a lesser offense than vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Although it's a lesser offense, it carries a greater punishment.

Anderson's public defenders said prosecutors are circumventing the intent of the law and that the case should have been filed as vehicular manslaughter.

The issue rose to the forefront on Monday after Gaul rejected a defense motion to dismiss the case against Anderson based on the defense attorney claims.

Anderson faces up to eight years in prison if convicted of the current charges against her.

She would have faced about four years in prison if she had been charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Deputy District Attorney Laura Smith, who is prosecuting the case and believes her office is in its legal right to file the DUI and great bodily injury charges, conceded the charges against Anderson might have to be amended should the appellate court rule in support the Public Defender's Office.

Anderson is being represented by deputy public defenders Ashley Jones and Stacey Madsen, who are receiving assistance from deputy public defender Walter Biggart on the appellate issue.

Although it was initially believed the Court of Appeal could quickly review and act upon the issue, Gaul later decided to dismiss the potential jurors and start all over again due to the availability of expert witnesses.

A new trial is expected to be scheduled on March 25.

Police say Anderson was driving under the influence of methamphetamine and other drugs when she allegedly ran a red turn arrow on April 24, 2014, at Buenaventura Boulevard and Placer Street and collided with Riggins.

Police said Anderson, whose criminal history includes a 1996 arrest on suspicion of methamphetamine possession, admitted using methamphetamine and other drugs before the fatal crash. In addition to felony DUI causing bodily injury, Anderson is also charged with two misdemeanor counts of being an unlicensed driver and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Sandy Haley, the mother of Riggins, has grown frustrated over the delays she's had to endure during the course of the case, but declined Tuesday to say much over the latest delay as she walked from the courtroom.

"I'm mad," she said.
Joseph Szydlowski/Record Searchlight Tehama County District Attorney Gregg Cohen displayed some of the items found during an operation targeting gang members in Tehama County during a news conference on Tuesday.

SHARE Joseph Szydlowski/Record Searchlight Law Enforcement officers found $31,000 in cash during an operation targeting gang members. Jose Vargas Joseph Szydlowski/Record Searchlight Authorities found numerous firearms in an operation targeting gang members in Tehama County. Joseph Szydlowski/Record Searchlight Bottles full of pot are displayed on Tuesday during a news conference about an operation targeting gangs in Tehama County.

By Joe Szydlowski of the Redding Record Searchlight

Authorities arrested 11 adults and one youth in an anti-gang sweep this week, the Tehama County District Attorney's office reported Tuesday afternoon.

They say they're also looking for a 13th suspect in connection to the anti-gang raids, said Gregg Cohen, district attorney for Tehama County.

Dubbed Operation Crimson Clover, law enforcement agents raided eight locations throughout Red Bluff, Proberta and Corning Sunday and Monday, Cohen said.

They were targeting members of the Nortenos gang, one believed connected to numerous shootings, drug sales and assaults in Tehama County, he said.

"We've had a lot of gang activity," Cohen said. "Corning Police Department has certainly been aware of it, as have Red Bluff police and our office."

The dozen suspects authorities arrested face a variety of charges, Cohen said.

Juan "Johnny Angel" Hernandez, of Corning, 35, Benjamin "Pudge" Hodges, 29, of Red Bluff, and Jorge "Hitter" Maldonado all face charges of being in a criminal gang and illegal firearms charges. Maldonado also faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon and shooting at a home, Cohen said.

Joshua Cortez, 19, Ty Martinovich, 28, of Corning, Charles "Chucky" Madden, 23, of Red Bluff, Eric Castillo, 19, of Red Bluff, and the unidentified 17-year-old currently face charges of violation of probation, Cohen said. Another man, Esteban Santiago, 21, of Corning, faces a charge of resisting a peace officer.

Jose "Hyphy" Santiago, 24, of Corning, and Rudolfo "Fito" Santiago, 19, of Corning, face charges related to marijuana sales and possession of non-firearm weapons, Cohen said.

One woman, Mykala Sanders, 32, of Corning, faces marijuana sales and grow charges and, along with Hernandez, child endangerment charges.

As of 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Tehama County jail's website reported only Hernandez and Martinovich in custody.

Cohen's office is still searching for Jorge Vargas, a.k.a. "Lil Jorje," wanted on several charges including firing at a home and gang activity. Anyone with information is asked to call 529-3590.

In addition to those arrested, agents found 14 firearms, including a homemade semi-automatic "assault weapon," in the hands of felons, $31,000 in cash, 525 pot plants and two honey oil labs, both in Corning, Cohen said.

"There'll be two less labs operating right now," he said.

Cohen declined to "speculate" on the number of gang members in Tehama County, but said he estimates around 1 percent of the population belongs to a gang.

He also declined to elaborate on the organization of the gang members or their ranks, though he said they hit the criminal enterprise at various levels with the arrests.

Cohen said his office plans additional anti-gang efforts.

"Can I promise you this is going to happen in the future? Absolutely," he said.
Members of four Facebook anti-crime groups protest Tuesday prior to the Redding City Council meeting at Redding City Hall.

SHARE Andreas Fuhrmann/Record Searchlight Volunteers with Shasta Support Service join an anti-crime and anti-heroin protest at Redding City Hall on Tuesday prior to the City Council meeting. Andreas Fuhrmann/Record Searchlight Members of four Facebook anti-crime groups protest before the start of the Redding City Council meeting.

By Jenny Espino of the Redding Record Searchlight

California's historic drought is far from over, even with the "March Miracle" heavy rains and snowpack filling the North State's reservoirs.

So when the weather turns hot and sunny, don't expect water conservation efforts to ease up.

The City Council on Tuesday approved a water conservation report that continues to limit outdoor watering to three days a week and sets the conservation target at 33 percent. That's little difference from last year, when the water-saving target was 36 percent.

"Even though our reservoirs are filling, they are not full statewide. Our aquifers are not replenished. We still have signs of the three- or four-year drought," said Brian Crane, Redding public works director, following the meeting. "Conservation is still important."

The water restrictions are in response to the State Water Resources Control Board, which last month extended the emergency drought rules through October. It keeps in place Gov. Jerry Brown's statewide call for a 25 percent cut in urban water use.

The council's 4-1 vote also directs staff to handle water transfer agreements for the year, including one possibly with the Bella Vista Water District. Councilman Gary Cadd, who had expected those contracts to reach the council, cast the dissenting vote.

Prior to the start of the meeting, about 20 people representing four crime-related groups on Facebook demonstrated outside City Hall as part of plan to put pressure on city leaders to put more focus on public safety issues.

The groups were Take Back Redding, Shasta Support Service, Heroin: Not in Our Town and Redding Crime 2.0.

It was a much quieter showing than members had anticipated. "As I sat inside the City Hall Chambers (Tuesday night) intending to speak, I started to feel as though the timing was just off," Sharon Smedley, a longtime member of Take Back Redding who helped organize the event, posted on Facebook.

Crane said his staff would continue to monitor water conservation efforts and use a media campaign to increase awareness.

"Last year, people were concerned the city didn't set an example. I think we're doing great," he said, holding up the work by parks and recreation maintenance staff.

The crew has removed 51,800 square feet of turf, changed 25 controllers, replaced 800 bad sprinkler heads and corrected irrigation patterns to prevent water from spraying the pavement.

Water consumption at parks was reduced by 44.5 percent.

Actions such as those, Crane said, probably will lead to even more savings this year.

Taken as a whole, Redding cut its water use by 27.1 percent, besting the statewide target.

City Hall's reductions averaged 21.5 percent, in large part because of Redding Electric Utility's power generation. Facing cutbacks in hydroelectric power through the Central Valley Project, the utility once again is having to fire up production at its natural gas power generators, which require massive amounts of water to cool them down. Without REU, the cutback at city facilities was 42.66 percent.

Crane spoke of a meeting he attended in Chico last week with Mayor Missy McArthur. There, they heard Felicia Marcus, the state water board chair, talk about not letting up on conservation efforts after one good year.

In other business, the council voted 5-0 to approve a $20,000 contract with Northern Valley Catholic Social Service to temporarily head up the Redding/Shasta County Homeless Continuum of Care.

NVCSS will submit the Point-In-Time homeless count and other data to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on behalf of the continuum of care. The planning body coordinates homelessness services in Shasta County.

Meanwhile, Smedley encouraged Facebook friends to search your heart and ask yourself is your family worth the fight in keeping pressure on the city.

But city officials have countered they are doing their part to respond to needs in the community.

City Manager Kurt Starman at last weeks Blueprint for Public Safety meeting presented a 21-point list public safety-related items the council has tackled in the past year.

That list noted the creation of the neighborhood policing unit, enhanced code enforcement, allocation of funds -- most of it in reserves -- to hire five officers, funds for the records management system that will allow data-driven crime analysis beginning in fall 2017, partnership with the Colt 45s for security at South City Park, bike patrols, the launch of the Adopt-A-Block program in the downtown and passage of the sit-lie and shopping cart ordinances.

Read Brian Crane's water conservation report: bit.ly/1M6E1m7
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Redding police said they arrested four people in connection with drug use and took away three young children for their safety following a probation search Tuesday at the Motel 6 on Hilltop Drive.

The Redding Police Department's Neighborhood Police Unit went to the motel in the 1600 block of Hilltop Drive to investigate ongoing drug activity. Its investigation started Feb. 4 when officers said they found drug paraphernalia on Ricky M. Jaramillo, 36, of Redding during a probation search. Jaramillo was cited and released.

Police collected information that Jaramillo continued to be involved with drugs so they went to the motel where he and his wife, Samantha Lyn Jaramillo, 35, were staying, officers said.

A probation search of the room turned up what police said was "disturbing" evidence of drug abuse and felony child endangerment, including methamphetamine, 43 needles and syringes, 14 spoons with drug residue, seven items used for smoking meth and heroin, and items used for packaging and weighing narcotics.

The drug items were close to the Jaramillos' young children and where they slept, police said.

Ricky and Samantha Jaramillo were arrested on suspicion of maintaining a residence for the possession and use of illegal narcotics and felony child endangerment. Ricky Jaramillo also was arrested for violation of probation.

The couple's three children were placed with Shasta County Child and Family Services for their safety.

Two men who were in the room also were arrested. Jacob Eugene James, 35, of Redding was arrested on suspicion of possessing drug paraphernalia and probation violation, police said.

Victor Luciano Cavagna, 36, of Redding was arrested on suspicion of possessing items used to smoke heroin, police said.
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The Redding City Council tonight will ask Northern Valley Catholic Social Service to temporarily head the planning body that coordinates homelessness services in Shasta County.

The city would use $20,000 in unspent Community Development Block Grant funds to pay NVCSS for data entry submissions on behalf of the Redding/Shasta County Homeless Continuum of Care to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Redding City Hall, 777 Cypress Ave.

Prior to the meeting, members of four Facebook crime groups will protest outside City Hall to put pressure on city leaders to put more focus on public safety issues.

The groups are Take Back Redding, Shasta Support Service, Heroin: Not in Our Town and Redding Crime 2.0.

Leaders for the social networking sites want the city to find funding to add more officers on the street.

City Manager Kurt Starman at last week's Blueprint for Public Safety meeting presented a 21-point list public safety-related items the council has tackled in the past year.

It's "just to say, 'we've done a lot," Starman told the council.

That list noted the creation of the neighborhood policing unit, enhanced code enforcement, allocation of funds -- most of it in reserves -- to hire five officers, funds for the records management system that will allow data-driven crime analysis beginning in fall 2017, partnership with the Colt 45s for security at South City Park, bike patrols, the launch of the Adopt-A-Block program in the downtown and passage of the sit-lie and shopping cart ordinances.

Sharon Smedley, a long-time member of the Take Back Redding, said she is concerned lack of response by police to calls for service may lead to vigilantism.

"I read these posts. People are starting to get more frustrated. People are saying, 'Why don't we get a gun and go out and shoot them?'" she said. "No, that's not what you're supposed to do."

Tweets by @jennyespino_RS
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Officers cleared in shooting of man

The Redding police officers who shot and killed a man outside an apartment complex in January "acted in self-defense and defense of others consistent with the laws of the state of California," the Shasta County District Attorney's Office said Tuesday.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett said the situations surrounding the Jan. 5 death of Stephen Bukwich indicate the officers were justified in firing at him to prevent him from firing at anyone else.

Bridgett said witnesses told officers that Bukwich had been talking "nonsensically" to them before firing a gun at their door frame and saying, "Do you want some of this, too?"

She said neighbors at the apartment complex on 273 Boulder Creek Drive also reported that Bukwich fired his gun "numerous times" and that "numerous apartments in the area were occupied."

Officers tried other methods to subdue Bukwich before shooting, Bridgett said, including a police dog  though it "did not engage Bukwich"  and a round of beanbags.

Family and friends have said that Bukwich suffered from mental health problems for decades, "but on this day he was acting out of character even given his issues," Bridgett said.

Man arrested after marijuana found

A 22-year-old Redding man was arrested and a child taken into protective custody after authorities found a honey oil lab and 53 pounds of marijuana at a Redding home on Tuesday.

Members of the Shasta Interagency Narcotics Task Force served a search warrant late Tuesday morning at a home in the 800 block of Montcrest Drive, according to SINTF.

Inside, they found 53 pounds of marijuana and the makings of a honey oil lab  13 cans of butane and a small amount of concentrated cannabis.

They arrested Codie Brian Parnell of Redding on suspicion of possessing marijuana for sale, manufacturing a controlled substance and child endangerment. Parnell was book at Shasta County Jail on the charges, according to agents.

Ex-Paradise officer arrested Sunday

Patrick Feaster, the former Paradise police officer charged with manslaughter stemming from an on-duty shooting, was arrested Sunday in Chico on suspicion of being drunk in public, according to police records.

Feaster, 31, of Chico, was arrested by Chico police about 3:20 a.m. Sunday, Deputy Chief Dave Britt said.

Police had responded to a call reporting a vehicle had been parked at the end of a driveway on Laburnum Avenue, according to police records. The caller reported that the vehicle's occupants exited the vehicle and were talking loudly, according to police records.

Feaster and his brother, Timothy Feaster, 28, of Berkeley, were arrested on suspicion of public intoxication and booked into Butte County Jail in Oroville.

Miranda Bowersox, a spokeswoman for the Butte County Sheriff's Office, said Patrick Feaster was released from jail when he was no longer under the influence of alcohol.

Bowersox said the case would not go to court. "It was really just for his own safety," she said.

Patrick Feaster is scheduled to appear Wednesday morning in Butte County Superior Court in Oroville for further arraignment on the manslaughter charge.

The former officer has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of 26-year-old Andrew Thomas.

Feaster shot Thomas around midnight on Thanksgiving eve in Paradise. Thomas was shot as he exited a vehicle after a rollover accident on Pearson Road that killed his estranged wife, Darien Ehorn, 23, of Paradise.

Feaster, who was employed with the Paradise Police Department at the time, told a supervising officer that he accidentally fired his gun. He has not yet entered a plea in the matter.

Story courtesy of Chico Enterprise-Record
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By Nathan Solis of the Redding Record Searchlight

Shasta County supervisors denied a request from the Sheriff's Office to appoint a captain to an interim position one day after he retired.

Sheriff Tom Bosenko wanted to appoint retiring Capt. David Dean to interim undersheriff, currently held by Eric Magrini. Magrini will be participating in out-of-state training for several weeks and Bosenko wanted Dean to fill in for him while he was out of town.

Dean would be paid $20,212 for 10 weeks' of work, according to Director of Support Services Angela Davis.

Dean is set to retire April 4 and would have assumed the interim position the very next day. Bosenko sought an exemption from the 180-day waiting period California Public Employees' Pension Reform put into place to discourage recently retired public workers from quickly jumping back into government work while simultaneously collecting a pension.

Supervisor David Kehoe said it would be difficult to explain to residents why the Sheriff's Office should fill a position with someone who retired the day before and pay him more than $20,000 for 10 weeks of work.

"People in the community would have a damn tough time understanding that logic. I'm not going to support this," Kehoe said after a lengthy conversation between supervisors and the sheriff.

Supervisors rejected Bosenko's request 3-2, with Supervisors Leonard Moty, Pam Giacomini and David Kehoe voting in the majority. They cited a number of reasons, including a separate agenda item to eliminate two vacant positions at the Sheriff's Office.

Supervisors voted to cut those two full-time employee positions, resulting in one patrol captain to oversee three lieutenants throughout the county, including Burney and the city of Shasta Lake. The move saves about $36,000 for the fiscal year, according to county documents.

Supervisors Moty and Kehoe asked why Bosenko could not temporarily promote a captain to fill the interim undersheriff's position.

Bosenko said Dean is the most qualified person to fill the position and with another captain out on a longer term leave, Dean would assist the office as the undersheriff.

Moty asked where the money would come from and why that additional money was not being used for other services within the Sheriff's Office. Bosenko said the money would come from the salary savings due to vacancies.

Supervisor Les Baugh insisted the sheriff should be the person to decide who should fill the position while Magrini attends an FBI training academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Moty said there are other ways to compensate for Magrini's absence, including assigning other personnel to the position or have Bosenko perform some of the responsibilities himself.

After the meeting, Bosenko said he and another captain will most likely fill in the duties of the undersheriff position while Magrini is gone, which include day-to-day operations and budgets.

Other action

Supervisors approved a $654,330 upgrade to the Shasta County Jail's heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, which is about 30 years old. Total cost for the project is estimated to be $900,000, according to county documents.

Supervisors agreed to purchase 250 acre-feet of water from The McConnell Foundation during the summer. The county will buy about 81 million gallons of water for $250 per acre-foot for municipal and irrigation purposes.

Areas to receive this water include county service areas, rural neighborhoods serviced by the county Public Works Department. Those include Castella, Jones Valley, Crag View and Keswick due to their water rights being suspended during the summer.

Water allotments will begin in April with Keswick receiving 1 acre-foot of water, and in August 58 acre-feet will be distributed to the CSAs.

The McConnell Foundation's water rights allows it to receive 5,100 acre-feet of water each year from the Bureau of Reclamation's Central Project.
The Buzz: Play Augusta National in Redding?

The indoor golf business features two simulators that feature a list of famous courses to play.
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By ophie Quinton, Stateline.org

WASHINGTON  As the gap between the rich and the poor widens, states are finding that taxing the incomes of the rich means living with unstable budgets.

Thats because wealthy Americans are more likely to have investments in the stock market. When the market falls, so do their tax payments. Stock market turmoil can hurt state pension funds, too. But while it takes years for states to feel that impact, a dip in the markets  or a lackluster Wall Street bonus season  can create an immediate fiscal crisis.

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy announced budget cuts in September as the sputtering stock market lowered revenue predictions. State analysts now predict a more than $200 million deficit, and the Democratic governor is preparing to announce layoffs and program cuts. Last week, he cut payments to hospitals by $140 million.

California is bracing for lower-than-expected revenue from capital gains this year, and economists have advised New York legislators to scale back their expectations for next year (New Yorks fiscal year ends this month).

Some states are adapting by tweaking their rainy day funds. Fundamentally, though, theyre grappling with a larger economic problem.

Connecticuts millionaires and billionaires file less than 1 percent of all residents tax returns but generate almost a third of the states personal income tax revenue, according to state records. In New York, the top 1 percent of taxpayers generate about 41 percent of income tax revenue.

During a news conference last month, Malloy said that hes long felt nervous about Connecticuts tax receipts. If you look at how we tax and how our income comes in, we are quite dependent on highest-income earners, and in many cases with passive income, to pay the tax bill.

State personal income tax revenue was three times more volatile during the 2000s than during the previous two decades, said Rick Mattoon, a senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. In a 2012 study, he found that the wild swings were driven by nonwage income, such as gains from the sale of stocks and real estate.

While nonwage income typically makes up a small share of state budgets, the share is large enough in some states that unexpected shortfalls  or surpluses  can create multimillion-dollar spending problems.

States base their spending for each fiscal year on how much they expect to bring in that year from taxes and other sources. But because capital gains are swayed by the stock market, theyre very difficult to predict. Thats especially true this year: According to one analysis, the start of 2016 ranks as the third-most chaotic in the history of the Standard & Poors 500 index.

States can anticipate a couple of key events. Policy changes, for instance: Many investors sold off assets in 2012 to avoid a looming federal tax increase. Or major public offerings: the year Facebook went public, California prepared for a capital gains bonanza as early investors and employees cashed in.

But exactly how much these kinds of events generate depends on the whims of the market.

Since 2010, Connecticut lawmakers have consistently overestimated or underestimated personal income tax proceeds  once by more than 11 percent  from payers with irregular incomes, a category that includes investors and some business owners, according to the Legislatures nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis.

Based on current receipts, that portion of income tax revenue is 4 percent below where it was last year, said Comptroller Kevin Lembo, falling far short of the projections that were used to build the budget in the first place.

By the end of the year, the fiscal office estimates that tax payments from irregular earners will be 9.3 percent lower than was budgeted for this fiscal year. Income taxes withheld from salaried workers, a much more stable source of funds, are expected to be down 1.6 percent.

When wealth shifts away from salaried workers and toward the top 1 percent, market fluctuations have a bigger impact on personal income tax revenue.

Connecticut has the widest gulf between high and low earners of any state, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank. Taxpayers in the top 1 percent of earners made about $2.7 million on average in 2012; the rest of the taxpayers averaged less than $53,000.

Connecticuts wealth  and capital gains  are concentrated in Fairfield County, home to bedroom communities for Wall Street financiers and most of the states 13 billionaires.

Meanwhile, high-earning, salaried jobs in insurance and finance have dwindled and more workers are taking low-income jobs, Lembo said. His offices March report on the state economy noted that Connecticuts manufacturing sector, another middle-class mainstay, continues to shrink.

Tax policy has further exposed some states to stock market risk, said E.J. McMahon of the New York-based Empire Center, a right-leaning think tank. New York moved its tax burden up the income scale in the 1990s, when it cut taxes for the middle class; and lawmakers keep extending a 2009 tax increase on wealthy earners, he said.

States may be exposing themselves even further by failing to raise income taxes when the economy sours, and failing to lower them when the economy improves. Since the 90s, states have left tax laws virtually unchanged despite economic swings, Mattoon found in his study.

States can make budgets more predictable by relying on more stable taxes, such as sales taxes. Seven states  Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming  refrain from taxing incomes at all. But by turning away from taxing the ultra-wealthy, states risk increasing the tax burdens on the middle class and the poor.

Personal income tax payments comprise about half of Connecticuts general fund revenue, according to the fiscal office there. Since 1991, Connecticut has taxed progressively  meaning that taxpayers in higher tax brackets face higher rates.

Lembo said that progressive structure isnt likely to change. Instead, last years budget requires the state to automatically deposit revenue that exceeds estimates into a rainy day fund, beginning in 2021. (The Pew Charitable Trusts, which also funds Stateline, lobbied for the legislation and has advised lawmakers in California and Minnesota on similar reforms.)

McMahon argues that, rather than adjusting their rainy day funds, states should set aside capital gains and other volatile revenue sources for specific, one-time projects. That way they wouldnt rely on the money to fund ongoing services.

In any case, Connecticuts rainy day fund reform isnt helping the state now. And the drop in estimated payments from taxpayers with irregular incomes was so sudden this quarter that Republican lawmakers say something else must be going on.

State Rep. Vincent Candelora, a supporter of the rainy day fund legislation, said hes heard that millionaires are moving out of Connecticut to avoid the states high taxes, including the recently raised estate tax. Many of our residents have homes in other states, so theyll change residency to avoid the tax, he said.

The Hartford Courant speculated recently that a single mans departure to Florida (net worth: $11.1 billion) worsened the states deficit.

Other states havent reported a recent drop as sharp as Connecticuts. Payments from irregular earners, however, were also lower than expected for both California and Massachusetts in January.

New York will end its fiscal year with more income tax revenue from nonwage income than expected, according to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomos 2017 budget plan. But his budget director told lawmakers at a recent hearing that the state would likely feel the impact of the stock markets gyrations next year  and that the markets outlook wasnt good.

There is broad agreement that New York state faces substantial risk given the nature of its revenue base, said budget director Robert Mujica.

Mujica warned of other forces that could weaken the economy, including the collapse of the energy sector and Chinas economic slowdown. Right now, both those factors are driving uncertainty in the stock market. And thats already enough to disrupt New Yorks budget.



2016 Stateline.org

Visit Stateline.org at www.stateline.org

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Courtesy of Caltrans

Recent storms caused part of Highway 3 near Weaverville to collapse on Monday. There's no word on when road will reopen.

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Update, 4:45 p.m.

The collapse of a portion of Highway 3 in Trinity County was likely caused by soaking rains, so the repair for the missing chunk of roadway will probably include a better drainage system, California Department of Transportation officials said today.

Don Anderson, District 2 deputy director for Caltrans, said the repair option his agency is leaning toward is backfilling the chunk of fallen highway "with a lot more drainage components."

"What that does is, it allows the opportunity to get the water out of the hillside," he said. "We think the failure has to do with just so much rain."

But some more studies over the weekend will determine the ultimate path for construction, which Anderson's agency announced this afternoon will be undertaken by Redding-based Tullis, Inc.

Update, 4:15 p.m.

Tullis, Inc., a Redding paving contractor, has been awarded an emergency contract to fix the collapsed portion of Highway 3 in Trinity County, the California Department of Transportation announced today.

Work will begin as soon as Friday, Caltrans said in a statement.

The contract is for up to $10 million based on estimates of how much such a project should cost. But any costs incurred over that amount will be paid as well, since the road needs to be fixed no matter what, said Don Anderson, deputy district director for Caltrans District 2.

"We'll have to ask for more money (if it's over $10 million)," he said. "We can't leave the road the way it is."

An alternate route is being developed, and it may open as early as mid-week next week. The route will be under constant traffic-control, Caltrans said, and priority will be given to residents and emergency and service vehicles.

The goal is to reopen "with limitations" by the week before Memorial Day, officials said. But until then, travel on the highway is advised against for recreational vehicles and those pulling trailers.

Denise Yergenson, a public information officer for Caltrans District 2, said the road probably won't be finished by then, but the goal is for it to be passable with remaining construction still happening.

Those who do use the highway before then should travel slowly, since portions of it are unpaved.

Update:

Highway 3 in Trinity County near Trinity Center remains closed, according to the California Department of Transportation, but the area near Scott Mountain is now open to traffic.

The road remains closed at Slate Creek, and Caltrans Maintenance will be monitoring and clearing snow and debris 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Original story:

Highway 3 in Trinity County is closed after part of the road collapsed, authorities said.

The California Highway Patrol reported the closure at 11:30 p.m. Monday. There is no estimate for when the road might reopen.

The closure is about 10 miles north of Weaverville, according to the California Department of Transportation.

Caltrans will meet at 4 p.m. today to discuss the situation and determine what it will do to repair the road. Caltrans and the Trinity County Public Works Departments are trying to determine whether there is a viable detour around the closure.

Road crews were working on road damage Monday evening but the remainder of the roadway collapsed during the operations, according to a news release from Caltrans.

A separate rock slide has also closed Highway 36 about 2 miles east of Forest Glen in southern Trinity County, Caltrans has reported.
The foundations of the army's own peculiar secularism are potentially being destabilised, says Ajai Shukla.

As anyone who has served in the Indian Army knows, it is refreshingly free from religious and political ideology.

Unlike the Pakistan Army, which heavily spices up nationalism with religious fervour, our men and women in olive green are clear about whom they serve -- the Union of India.

The India they defend is not a Hindu state and the "Bharat Maata ki jai" that is often chorused at army functions is an invocation to nationalism rather than religiosity.

While the army's soldiers are overwhelmingly Hindu, it has never been -- ideologically speaking -- a Hindu army.

Post-Independence politicians of various stripes have opportunistically polarised the public along communal lines, but have so far shrunk from meddling with the army's apolitical, secular structure.

The broad-based acceptability this has given the army amongst our diverse castes and creeds has made it India's most trusted national institution, respected for impartiality in even bitterly polarised environments.

Deployed in conflicts in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Kashmir, the army has been criticised for human rights abuses, but never for siding along religious or caste lines.

This renown extends beyond India's borders; in South Lebanon, Indian battalions have functioned impartially between Israeli and Hezbollah forces, trusted by both.

This is nothing short of astonishing, given that religion features prominently in army life.

Most soldiers are deeply religious, drawn as they are from villages and small towns where religion and spirituality are essential notes in the rhythms of daily life.

Most army combat units are organised along the lines of region (Dogra, Punjab, Garhwal, Kumaon regiments, etc); community (Jats, Ahirs, Mahars, etc); and even religion (Sikhs, Muslims).

The army's post-Independence policy is to raise new units on a mixed basis, incorporating soldiers from all regions, communities and religions, but the old "class composition" units remain a majority.

Depending upon the religious composition of a unit (battalion or regiment), they are posted with religious teachers -- pandits, maulvis, granthis or padres -- who look after the unit temple, mosque, gurudwara or church, and organise daily prayer services and religious festivals.

Given the hazardous conditions in which many army units function, these institutions provide soldiers the spiritual framework they need. Occasionally, especially in combat, they discharge the last rites of soldiers whose luck ran out.

This powerful religious framework is infused with a unique secularism.

Much of this stems from the army's officers, who have displayed a remarkable institutional ability to adapt to the religion of their troops.

To cite my own case, I was a Hindu Brahmin (albeit non-practising) officer who was commissioned into a Sikh sub-unit. Over years of attending prayers with my Sikh troops, celebrating festivals with them and invoking the Waheguru before and after every important event, my Brahmin identity (such as it was!) was effectively immersed into a new Sikh one.

To this day, 15 years after leaving my sardars, I am as much Sikh as Hindu in religious observance and ceremony. This is true for tens of thousands of officers who have, over the decades, subordinated their original Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist and animist identities to the religion of their troops.

The spiritual outlook of the army's rank and file could not but have been moulded by this conspicuous, on-going demonstration by their officers of a community identity that over-rides personal faith. This unique, amalgamated faith might well be called Armyism.

Worryingly, the foundations of this peculiar Indian Army secularism are being potentially destabilised -- by a series of events that I would dearly like to believe are accidental.

Last fortnight, the army was asked to build bridges over the Yamuna in Delhi for the so-called World Cultural Festival, organised by Art of Living guru, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who is known to be close to the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership.

But well before that, the BJP-led government had begun involving the army in activities that were labelled "cultural", but viewed by minority communities as symbolically Hindu.

On June 21, the Indian armed forces were shoehorned into celebrating International Yoga Day, with tens of thousands of soldiers filling up the numbers in an event that overtly aimed to establish a world record.

True, the UN General Assembly had adopted this event through a resolution in December 2014, but that was at India's behest.

Furthermore, it was scheduled on the death anniversary of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh ideologue, K B Hedgewar.

The military chiefs were aware, or should have been, that Muslim organisations, including the moderate Muslim Personal Law Board, had expressed alarm at what they considered right-wing Hindutva sponsorship of yoga, the singing of Vande Mataram in schools, and the performance of Surya Namaskar -- also a yoga asana.

There are powerful arguments on both sides about whether these activities are a part of Indian culture, or Hindu, or both, since these are not mutually exclusive.

That is not the point.

What is crucial is that the three service chiefs (who dutifully performed their asanas behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi) allowed their services to be sucked into controversy.

Having opened the gates, it becomes that much harder to guard them.

And so, in January, 250 army troopers were despatched to Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar, to train as yoga teachers who would spread the culture across the barracks.

This was harder to pass off as apolitical, since Ramdev -- an undisguised Narendra Modi acolyte -- had hosted a convention for the RSS in the same location in 2014.

It is nobody's argument that the army should remain at a remove from anything even faintly religious, particularly if it is Hindu. Over the years, army engineers have built pontoon bridges over the Ganga and the Yamuna for the once-in-12-years Kumbh Mela in Allahabad; and the army provides security for the Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir every year, despite its daunting counter-insurgency responsibilities.

These are truly public, cultural events worthy of the army's attention; not attention-grabbing jamborees like International Yoga Day or the World Cultural Festival.

Dismissing these concerns is easy, but that would be immensely damaging to the army and its reputation as an honest broker.



Ali Ahmed, a staunchly secular former army officer, in an article for the Economic and Political Weekly, has invoked the troubling prospect of a country in which the military has been insidiously "reset" by infusing it with the ethos of majoritarian nationalism.

With the right wing forces anticipating that their "makeover of India" would not be a peaceful exercise, they would like a placid military that watches from the sidelines as the storm troopers of Hindutva reshape the political and social landscape. These fears are growing.
'The police go into villages, kill villagers, rape women, burn homes, file false cases.'

'They want to empty Bastar of the tribals so that corporate houses can be given a free hand in our land.'

'My father was killed by Naxalites. This is very ironical because the police accuse me of being a Naxalite. If I had been a Naxalite, would I not have been able to prevent my father's death?'

IMAGE: Soni Sori at a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI

Tribal activist Soni Sori spent 13 days at the Apollo Hospital in New Delhi where she was treated for severe burns after three men threw a combination of grease and acid on her face.

Having been released from hospital, this fiery tribal leader has returned to Chhattisgarh to continue her struggle against the state police.

The burn marks on her face have begun to heal, but the healing process is expected to take another few weeks. Sori describes the scars on her face as representing the convulsions happening in Chhattisgarh. She spoke to Rashme Sehgal.

Doctors were apprehensive that you may lose your eyesight following the attack. Fortunately, that has not happened. Despite your life being in danger, you are determined to go back?

After what they have done to me, it would be prudent for me not to go back. But this attack has only strengthened my determination to go back and fight on behalf of the Adivasis of Bastar.

You have alleged that Inspector General of Police Shivram Kalluri is behind the attack.

Yes, my fight is directly against Kalluri. Even though the Supreme Court ordered a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) inquiry against him, he continues to enjoy a free hand.

He has been allowed to destroy the homes of villagers with no action taken against him.

We have seen a substantial increase in paramilitary forces. Every two kilometres, the state government has set up posts for paramilitary forces in Chhattisgarh.

Why do you believe you are being targeted?

They do not want any information about their misdeeds and heinous crimes to come into the limelight. That is why they have resorted to their goons to get rid of an independent journalist like Malini Subramanian and lawyers who were speaking out on behalf of the tribals.

I was a school teacher who did not hesitate to speak out against their misdeeds. That is why they resorted to harassing and torturing me.

When Kalluri was senior superintendent of police of Dantewada, he had me arrested on charges of being a Naxalite. He did the same with my husband Arun Kumar. We were both jailed.

My husband was beaten up so severely that he became paralysed. The police released him from jail last month, but he was so frail and sick that he could not survive. He died a month ago.

How long were you in jail and what were the charges?

I was arrested on the trumped up charge that I was a Naxalite. The same trumped up charge was levied against my husband. It was Kalluri who ordered these charges to be levied against us.

I was arrested and tortured for many months. They put current (electrical charges) up my anus. That is a standard torture method.

I was not able to walk for many months. During interrogation, the police put stones in my uterus. I used to be regularly beaten up.

I became so ill and would have died were it not for my activist friends in Delhi who placed a petition before the Supreme Court to have me released on medical grounds.

It was on the direction of the Supreme Court that I was taken to a hospital in Kolkata where these stones were removed. It's a miracle that I came out of jail alive.

It is shocking to hear that the police can act with such impunity.

There is no rule of law in Chhattisgarh.

Two local journalists who spoke out against police violence have been arrested and are in jail.

The police go into villages, kill villagers, rape women, burn homes, file false cases.

The kind of depravities in which they indulge are unimaginable.

I had a job as a primary school teacher and looked after students in a hostel. My nephew Ram Kedopi came to Ghaziabad to do a course in journalism. Kalluri gave a statement that he is a Naxalite and was the mastermind behind the April 6, 2010 killing of 70 jawans.

Prashant Bhushan brought the terrified boy to Swami Agnivesh and he went underground for some time. When he went returned to Chhattisgarh, he was arrested.

Did you receive prior warning that you were going to be attacked?

From the time I am speaking out on behalf of the Adivasis, I have received many warnings that they would kill me. I did not heed these warnings.

When the Hidma encounter incident at Marmud took place on February 15, in which a tribal who is a father of seven children was killed on grounds of his being a Naxalite, I took up his case.

You see, one month before he died, the police did his verification and cleared him and on that basis he was allowed to open a bank account. The man had an Aadhar card, a ration card and all other documents.

I got his family and his children and held a press conference to highlight how the police had killed an innocent man.

I also wanted to get an FIR filed against Kalluri. At 6.12 pm that evening, I received a phone call warning me that plans were afoot to attack me. I told them I was not afraid.

At 10 pm, we were at Geedam on our way to Dantewada when three miscreants stopped the motorcycle on which I was riding and threw this chemical on my face. I know the people who have done it. Their identities are known to me.

I was taken to a doctor in Geedam for treatment and then to Dantewada from where I was brought to the Apollo Hospital. I was in the ICU for 11 days and then kept in a room for three days. But they cannot silence me.

There are many activist women fighting in many states. We need to come together.

Your children are living alone in your village.

I have three children who are living in Chhattisgarh. I have two girls and one boy. My eldest daughter is presently appearing for her board exam.

I have already been warned that 'You must not forget you have a son who is presently studying in school.'

Are you saying there is no one in the state government who is sympathetic to tribals?

Of course not. They know what is going on. The collectors not allowed to speak. Kalluri silences them if they object to what is happening.

The lower rung police officers do not approve of what he is doing, but they are not allowed to speak.

You have had to pay a huge price for speaking out.

That is obvious to everyone who knows me. I am presently out on bail.

I have lost my job as a teacher. I had a home, a husband, parents, children, everything a woman could have asked for.

I lost my husband in a false case. My father was killed by Naxalites.

This is very ironical because the police accuse me of being a Naxalite. If I had been a Naxalite, would I not have been able to prevent my father's death?

The Naxalites came and killed him. The villagers around him saw what was happening, but they were too scared to speak out.

My mother died out of sorrow when I was arrested and put in jail. When my husband was dying, I too was in jail.

I put in a request in Dantewada court if I could meet him once before he died. They refused to give permission.

Look where I have reached. Look at the state to which I have been reduced. I have no money, no assistance of any kind. The villagers help me by giving me rice and dal. But will that bring back my family?

Despite all these adversities, you are ready to fight.

Someone has to speak out. They want to empty Bastar of the tribals so that large corporate houses can be given a free hand in our land in which we and our forefathers have lived for thousands of years.

How do your children cope?

My children have accepted the situation. The two-and-a-half years I spent in jail has made them stronger.

They see so much violence around them, but what can they do?

This is the fate of the tribal children of Chhattisgarh.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen MLA Waris Pathan was on Wednesday suspended from Maharashtra assembly for refusing to say 'Bharat mata ki jai' with legislators cutting across party lines pressing for action against him through a unanimous resolution.

Pathan, who represents Byculla seat in South Mumbai, will not be allowed to attend the proceedings of the house till the end of ongoing Budget session.

Parliamentary affairs minister Girish Bapat said, "Pathan was suspended from the assembly for showing disrespect to national heroes and refusal to say Bharat mata ki jai."

It all began when the AIMIM MLA from Aurangabad, Imtiaz Jaleel, was speaking on the debate on the Governor's address in the assembly.

Jaleel said the government should not spend taxpayers' money on building memorials of 'great personalities'.

A Shiv Sena MLA interjected, saying Jaleel's party leader Asaduddin Owaisi had recently stated he will not chant 'Bharat mata ki jai'.

To this, Pathan said, "We will say 'Jai Hind' but not 'Bharat mata ki jai'. There cannot be compulsion on saying 'Bharat mata ki jai'. The Constitution does not say this."

Immediately after his remarks, MLAs from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena and other Opposition parties including Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party demanded suspension of AIMIM legislators from the House.

Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse said the AIMIM MLAs should apologise but his suggestion was shot down by angry members of the House, who, setting aside political differences, sought their suspension.

Bapat said he will table a resolution seeking the approval of the House for suspension of AIMIM MLAs, after which it was adjourned for 10 minutes. It was again adjourned thrice amid noisy scenes.

When the proceedings resumed, Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil tabled the resolution, seeking suspension of Pathan, which was approved unanimously.

"Pathan has misused freedom of speech, violated Parliamentary traditions and insulted 'Bharat Mata (Mother India)," the minister said.

The resolution was tabled in keeping with the sentiments of the House, he added.

"During his suspension period, Pathan won't be able to attend House proceedings and won't be allowed near Vidhan Bhawan premises," Patil said.

Speaker Haribhau Bagade informed the House that the resolution was adopted unanimously.

The AIMIM has expressed its opposition to chant 'Bharat mata ki jai' as proposed by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat who had said that the new generation needs to be taught to chant slogans hailing mother India.

Owaisi had said he did not want to chant that slogan.

"What are you going to do, Bhagwat sahab. I won't utter that (slogan) even if you put a knife to my throat. Nowhere in the Constitution it says that one should say: 'Bharat Mata ki Jai," Owaisi had said addressing a public rally in Udgir tehsil of Latur district on March 13.

His comments had evoked strong reactions from the Shiv Sena and the BJP.
Four Kashmiri students were arrested on charges of disturbing public peace following rumours that they had cooked beef in their hostel room in a private university in Rajasthan's Chittorgarh district.

The police said the students were allegedly manhandled by some others students and locals after the rumours spread but prima facie the meat was not found to be beef.

The incident occurred on Monday night when the rumour spread that the Kashmiri students were cooking beef in the hostel room. Soon after some students as well as locals assembled in front of the MewarUniversity and demanded action against them.

The police rushed to the site and arrested four students under section 151 of IndianPenal Code (disturbance of public peace) on Tuesday.

"They were questioned about their role in bringing the meat to the hostel and cooking it," SHO Gangrar Police Station Labhu Ram said. Those arrested are Shakib Ashraf, Hilal Farukh, Mohammad Makbool and Shaukat Ali, aged between 21 to 27 years.

"We also collected the sample of the meat which prima facie does not appear to be beef. However, the samples have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for testing and the report is awaited," he said.

Public Relations Officer of the university said meat is not allowed in the campus.

"Cooking meat is against our policy. The police is investigating the case and during the initial probe, it was clear that the substance was not beef," Harish Gurnani, public relations officer of the autonomous university said.

He said the hostellers involved in the matter were undergraduates.
'The leak is likely to continue for some time before it becomes stable, but this is something that NPCIL, who is the plant operator, will have to do.'

'For this, we have to plan very carefully.'

Rashme Sehgal reports.

It has been over 100 hours since a major leak in the Kakrapar heavy water reactor located close to Surat in Gujarat was detected.

The leak has yet to be identified and plugged, but such is the veil of secrecy over this accident that the four million people living in a 30 kilometre radius around the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station remain clueless about the radiation levels they are presently being subjected to.

A concerned scientific community has questioned why the details of this accident have remained a secret. Dr A Gopalakrishnan, a former head of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, released a statement warning, 'The leak is not small, but moderately large, and still continuing. No one confirms that any one has entered the containment area (in protective clothing) for a quick physical assessment of the situation.'

This, Dr Gopalakrishnan, believes is because given the high radiation levels inside, 'it is not safe to do so.'

'In all likelihood,' Dr Gopalakrishnan therefore concluded, 'Kakrapur Unit-1 is undergoing a small Loss-of-Coolant Accident in progress. It is most likely that one or more pressure tubes in the reactor (which contains the fuel bundles) have cracked open, leaking hot primary system heavy-water coolant in the containment housing.'

Dr Gopalakrishnan has called for detailed analysis of the incident, but for that 'we need to see data, see how they are working, their plans and for that one requires much greater transparency. If we (scientists) were to criticise them they would turn around and say on what basis are you saying this. It is like throwing mud in the air.'

For people living in the vicinity of the power station, the lack of transparency has taken a heavy toll.

Local farmers fear that the radiation leak has entered the atmosphere and could contaminate their ground water and local water systems.

"With no clear information available about the incident, rumours have taken over," says Dr Sanghamitra Gadekar, a Surat physician active with Anumukti, a staunch anti-nuclear group.

"Everyone here wants to know just how much heavy water has been released. Have its vapours escaped into the atmosphere? Or even more alarming, has any of it contaminated our drinking water sources and our ground water?" she asks.

Dr Gadekar believes her concerns are well founded because she maintains that Unit-1 of the Kakrapur reactor was started in 1993 without detailed testing of its Emergency Core Cooling System. "We took up the issue with the then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao and the then Gujarat chief minister, who insisted everything was done according to procedure," she adds.

Others in Surat fear that if the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited is unable to plug the leak there could be even a possibility of a meltdown.

With the fifth anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster close on their heels, people are worried this should not become a repeat of the same tragedy.

Hari Kumar, spokesperson for the AERB, says a comparison with the Fukushima disaster is completely unfounded. "Comparing this incident with Fukushima is too extreme," he says. "In Fukushima, it was a bad situation because the reactor went into a cascading effect. There are no similarities between the two events," Kumar insists.

AERB. Kumar also points out, follows elaborate monitoring procedures which have ensured that between March 11 and 14, radioactivity has not exceeded normal levels. "We have an independent detailed environment monitoring system which has confirmed that no extra radioactivity has taken place," he stresses.

Nevertheless, AERB admits that the leak is significant enough to be considered a Level 1 accident on the International Nuclear Event Scale.

"A leak has occurred in one of the coolant channels," says Kumar, "but to ensure safety the focus presently is to ensure the nuclear fuel is being cooled."

He points out, "The leak is likely to continue for some time before it becomes stable, but this is something that NPCIL, who is the plant operator, will have to do. For this, we have to plan very carefully and therefore, the rectification of the leak will take time."

"As a regulator, from our side, we don't want to hurry it up."

Hofeza Merchant, a Greenpeace campaigner who works on nuclear issues, believes the Kakrapar accident could have been caused by degrading components given that the reactor is 20 years old.

The risk of accidents increases with age in Canada Ceuterium Uranium reactors with the inevitable degradation of hundreds of pipes that hold the fuel and transport heavy water.

Due to accident risks, these reactors are generally shut down and 'retubed' after around 25 years of operation in order to operate safely.

The Kakrapur atomic nuclear reactor has witnessed major accidents in the past. One occured in 1994 when the reactor was flooded and water reached inside the reactor building. In 2004, the control rods were damaged and then again in March 2011, there was a similar leak of heavy water.

Merchant has called for the setting up of an independent expert investigation into the Kakrapar accident and the immediate inspection of all (seven) other aging heavy water reactors which are also 20 years old. As a precautionary measure, he says, AERB should shut down the other reactors as is the practice around the world.

There have been recurring demands that AERB be given enough teeth to become an independent regulator authority though no one within the establishment is willing to talk on this subject.

On the contrary, the Department of Atomic Energy has demanded an amendment be brought to the Right to Information Act to exempt the nuclear bureaucracy from RTIs.

How much more secrecy do they want is the moot question?
American student Otto Warmbier has been sentenced to 15 years hard labour by North Korea's highest court after he was arrested for removing a political banner from a hotel.

According to the Guardian, the 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate student was convicted and sentenced in a one-hour trial on Wednesday morning at the country's Supreme Court after being charged with subversion.

Warmbier was arrested as he prepared to leave Pyongyang in January.

He was paraded last month in front of the media as North Korea announced that he was being charged with the theft of a political banner.

During the press conference he broke down, acknowledging and apologising for the supposed crime.

According to Warmbier's statement, he took the banner with a political slogan on it as a trophy for a church member.

After footage of Warmbier's "confession" was released, the US accused the North Korean regime of using him for propaganda purposes.

Warmbier was arrested while visiting the country with Young Pioneer Tours, an agency specialising in travel to North Korea
At least 16 Pakistani government employees were on Wednesday killed and over 30 others injured when a powerful bomb ripped through a bus ferrying them to work in this restive city, an attack Taliban said was to avenge death sentences confirmed against 13 militants a day ago.

IMAGE: Police and rescue personnel search a bus damaged in a bomb blast in Peshawar, Pakistan. Photograph: Fayaz Aziz/Reuters

The blast occurred this morning as a bomb placed inside the bus exploded when the vehicle packed with government employees reached Peshawar from Mardan.

The bomb exploded when the private bus was on Sunehri Masjid Road as it was taking civil secretariat employees for duty.

At least 16 people, including three women, were killed in the blast targeting the bus carrying government officials, SSP operations Peshawar Abbas Majeed Marwat said.

He said about 50 people were on board the bus at the time of the explosion. Over 30 people were injured in the blast.

SP Cantt Kashif Zulfiqar said the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device planted inside the bus.

About 8 kg of explosives were used in blast.

IMAGE: Policemen and rescue officials walk near a bus damaged in a bomb blast in Peshawar, Pakistan. Photograph: Fayaz Aziz/Reuters

A militant group affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban, Lashkar-e-Islam, claimed responsibility, saying it was to avenge the sentencing of 13 militants to death which was confirmed by army chief Raheel Sharif on Tuesday.

The injured were shifted to Lady Reading hospital. The condition of a majority of those injured was stated to be critical. Eight of the injured were admitted in ICU.

The security forces and police cordoned off the entire area and started a search operation.

Fear and panic spread among residents in the wake of the explosion.

"The top part of the bus has blown off and is being cut to pull out the injured," an eyewitness was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.

IMAGE: Policemen and rescue officials walk near a bus damaged in a bomb blast in Peshawar. Photograph: Fayaz Aziz/Reuters

Peshawar has seen scores of attacks on civilians as well as law enforcement personnel in the past.

The northwestern city is also the home to the XI Corps, an administrative corp of the Pakistan Army, which manages all military activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is currently engaged in a full-blown operation against militants in North Waziristan.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack in Peshawar and expressed grief over the loss of precious lives in the attack.

Image: Policemen and rescue officials walk near a bus damaged in a bomb blast in Peshawar, Pakistan. Photograph: Fayaz Aziz/Reuters

"These cowardly attacks cannot shatter our unflinching resolve against terrorism," Sharif said.

Pakistan Army launched its offensive in the region in 2014 in a bid to wipe out militant bases.

Attacks have decreased since the government crackdown after the 2014 ArmyPublic School attack and the Taliban have been squeezed into small pockets of territory. However, militant groups remain able to launch sporadic attacks on security forces and civilian targets.

IMAGE: Rescue officials go through the insides of the bus damaged in a bomb blast in Peshawar, Pakistan. Photograph: Fayaz Aziz/Reuters

Last week, 17 people were killed and 31 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowded court in Shabqadar Bazaar of Charsadda district near Peshawar, an attack the Taliban termed as revenge for the execution of the killer of liberal Punjab province governor Salman Taseer.
Front-runners Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton on Tuesday fast tracked their race to the White House after posting big wins in a decisive multi-state vote to stay on course for clinching their parties' presidential nominations.

Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton on Wednesday won pivotal primaries in the hotly-contested US presidential polls and an epic clash between the two front-runners seemed imminent as they nearly knocked out their rivals to secure their parties nomination.

Trump kept his substantial delegate lead by winning at least three Republican contests, including his knockout victory in Florida that pushed rival and Senator from the state Marco Rubio out of the race. Trump emphatically won Florida, the biggest prize on Super Tuesday 2.0, including all 99 of its delegates.

The 69-year-old real estate tycoon registered impressive wins in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina but lost to Ohio Governor John Kasich in his home state.

Clinton, 68, took big strides toward the Democratic nomination by winning Florida and North Carolina while also posting crucial victories over rival Bernie Sanders in the industrial Midwest by taking Ohio and Illinois.

Both Clinton and Trump piled up the delegates, much more than their nearest opponents, but both of them were still at a distance from securing the number of delegates required to be declared their respective parties presidential nominee.

IMAGE: Bob Bolus, a supporter of US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, gives the thumbs up to drivers as they pass by on Super Tuesday in Middleburg Heights, Ohio. Photograph: Aaron Josefczyk/Reuters

Trump was leading in the delegate count with 621. Texas Senator Ted Cruz had 396 delegates, Rubio 168 and Kasich 138.

Trump in his victory speech in Miami exuded confidence on winning the race and defeating his presumptive Democratic rival Clinton in the November polls. This was a great evening, he said. This was an amazing evening.

We have to bring our party together. We have something happening that makes the Republican party the story over the world. Millions of people are joining the party. We have a great opportunity. Democrats are coming in. Independents are coming in, Trump said.

The Republican party, meanwhile, veered closer to a contested convention after Kasich held his own state and deprived Trump of its 66 delegates. That makes it more difficult for the billionaire to reach the 1,237 delegates he needs to capture the Republican nomination.

IMAGE: Democratic US Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton arrives at a campaign rally at a community center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Based on the primary results, political pundits say Clinton in all probability is on her way to become the first woman presidential nominee of the Democratic party in the November 8 polls.

This was also evident in her victory speech as she used the occasion to attack Trump.

When we hear a candidate for president call for rounding up 12 million immigrants, banning all Muslims from entering the United States, when he embraces torture, that doesnt make him strong, it makes him wrong, Clinton said.

We should be bringing down barriers, not building walls. You know, to be great, we cant be small. We cant lose what made America great in the first place, she said amid applause and cheer from her supporters in West palm Beach, Florida.

The former Secretary of State now has 1,561 delegates as against 800 of her rival Sanders. She needs 2,382 of the 4,763 Democratic party delegates before the Philadelphia convention in July.

Sanders said he would continue with his campaign and has not given up despite the setback on Wednesday.

The only state whose results were still awaited was Missouri where Trump and Cruz were locked in a neck-and-neck race while on the Democratic side Clinton and Sanders were in a dead heat.

Vote counting was completed for the night in Missouri with both Clinton and Trump clinging to tight leads of less than half a percentage point, but US television networks did not project a winner in either contest as the margin of victory in each case is less than 1 percentage point.

IMAGE: Governor John Kasich celebrates after winning the Ohio Republican primary election during a campaign rally in Berea, Ohio. Photograph: Aaron Josefczyk/Reuters

Rubio was the only candidate on the either side to have dropped out of the race after his dismal performance.

However, he finally secured praise from his bitter rival Trump.

He (Rubio) has a great future, Trump said, exuding confidence that he would be able cross the halfway mark of 1,237 delegates much before the Republican convention in July.

We have something happening that actually makes the Republican party the biggest political story anywhere in the world. Millions of people are coming out to vote...I think were going to have a great victory, Trump said, claiming that he would defeat Clinton in the presidential elections.

Cruz, who was unable to score a win, claimed that the Republican primary race was not yet over and that he could overtake the delegate count of Trump.

He urged all the anti-Trump groups in the party to join his campaign.

But Ohio Governor, Kasich, who scored his first win and has 138 delegates in his account, said he would go all the way to the Cleveland convention to fight for his nomination.

Kasichs time has just begun, his campaign said.

IMAGE: Senator Marco Rubio flanked by his family announces he's suspending his campaign after losing his home state to Republican rival Donald Trump. Photograph: Angel Valentin/Getty Images

Political observers say a contested convention is a possibility as Trump may fall short of the delegate count for nomination.

However, rith wins in 18 states so far, Trump is far ahead of others in terms of delegate count.

There is great anger among the people. They want to see the country run properly, Trump said as he gave his characteristic speech reiterating his stand on terrorism, trade and the wall along the US-Mexico border.

We are going to make the best trade deal that you have ever seen. We need protection in the country. This country is going to start winning again, Trump said, adding that the US is no longer winning in trade with countries like China, Germany, Japan, Vietnam and India.

In his speech, Trump said Apple would be manufacturing its iPhone in the US and not in China.

Reiterating his resolve to rebuild the military, Trump said he would defeat the Islamic State and win against terrorism.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived in Pokhara on Wednesday on a three-day visit to Nepal to attend the SAARC ministerial meeting during which she will push ahead Indias neighbourhood first policy and review the progress of decisions taken by the grouping last year.

Swaraj arrived on a Mi17 chopper from Gorkhpur, Uttar Pradesh.

The 37th SAARC Council of Ministers meeting will take place on Thursday after which she will also hold bilateral talks with her counterparts from several countries.

The most anticipated meeting is the one with her Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz.

It is expected that this meeting could possibly pave the way for a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in the US later this month.

The minister is likely to raise the issue of the Pathankot attack and nudge Pakistan to take concrete action.

Another key meeting of her will be with the Nepali leadership. During his meeting with Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, Nepali Prime Minister K P Oli had said Nepals internal problem will be resolved soon as talks with the agitating Madhesi parties were heading towards a positive direction.

Oli had also sought Indias support in achieving economic prosperity.

On the SAARC front, India has been pushing for greater connectivity and integration. India also strongly supports deeper financial integration of the region and for achieving the South Asian Economic Union.

Swaraj is expected to bat for these issues besides focussing on counter-terrorism and seeking greater cooperation among SAARC countries to fight trafficking and fake currency among others.

She is also likely to push for SAARC Motor Vehicles Agreement and SAARC Railways Agreement as India feels that finalisation and implementation of these agreements will realise a long standing dream of seamless movement of passengers and cargo through the entire region.

SAARC member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Image: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj being welcomed by Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa. Photograph: @MEAIndia/Twitter
Trinamool Congress members found themselves under attack in both Houses of Parliament, following the telecast of a sting operation that showed party functionaries accepting cash from a fictitious private company.

The Lok Sabha saw the trading of charges and name-calling between members,

the Whistle Blower Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016.

while in the Rajya Sabha, Opposition parties asked the Centre to hold a proper investigation into the matter. The issue will continue to cause disruptions in Parliament which is yet to see the clearance of bill such as

Meanwhile, Tuesday was a good day for Parliament after it cleared the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) bill to regulate the sector and protect home buyers from land shark.
South Africa: Supreme Court ruling shows there can be no impunity for alleged war criminals

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 15 March 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, South Africa: Supreme Court ruling shows there can be no impunity for alleged war criminals, 15 March 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56e923484.html [accessed 22 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

"The Supreme Court of Appeal's ruling today upholds the rule of law and reinforces the country's progressive laws aimed at ending impunity for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. It is a stinging rebuke to the government for its failure to abide by its domestic and international obligations to arrest President Bashir and surrender him to the International Criminal Court," said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty International's Research and Advocacy Director for Africa.

"The South African government's decision not to arrest Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir during his visit to Johannesburg for the African Union Summit last year was a cruel betrayal of the hundreds of thousands of people killed and displaced during the Darfur conflict. The ruling that this decision was inconsistent with South African law is a small step towards justice for these victims and their families."

"He should never have been allowed to leave the country, and South Africa must now take full responsibility for its failure to respect its own laws as well as the ICC, and accept that it has played a part in providing impunity to Omar Al-Bashir."

The International Criminal Court issued two warrants of arrest against Omar al-Bashir in 2009 and 2010 respectively. He is facing seven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity as well as three counts of genocide.

Despite this, the South African authorities allowed him to freely attend the 24th African Union Summit in South Africa from 13-15 June 2015.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
From hope to horror: Five years of crisis in Syria

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 15 March 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, From hope to horror: Five years of crisis in Syria, 15 March 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56e923ba4.html [accessed 22 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

A horrifying catalogue of human rights abuses including war crimes and crimes against humanity have overwhelmed Syria over the past five years causing human suffering on a vast scale, said Amnesty International, marking the five-year anniversary of the start of anti-government protests in the country on 15 March 2011.

"The five years since the uprising in Syria first began have been marred by horror and bloodshed on a colossal scale. From the moment that Syrian government forces first opened fire on peaceful protesters, brutality and civilian suffering have been the tragic hallmarks of this crisis," said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

"Government forces have brazenly committed crimes against humanity through the use of appalling strategies such as relentless barrel bomb attacks on civilian areas, a campaign of mass disappearances and systematic, industrial-scale torture. Some armed groups, particularly IS, have exploited the international media spotlight to cynically broadcast their own war crimes, such as the abduction and summary killing of Syrian and foreign civilians."

Here is a reminder of five key moments that saw the crisis in Syria go from bad to worse over the past five years:

 On 18 March 2011, three days after the start of the uprising Syrian government forces opened fire on peaceful protesters in the southern city of Dera'a, using live ammunition against demonstrators demanding the release of boys arrested and tortured for anti-government graffiti. This marked a bloody turning point, and was a precursor to the widespread use of lethal force by government forces to suppress peaceful protests, which eventually evolved into a full-blown armed conflict.

 Video footage showing civilians suffering from the effects of a chemical weapons attack in Eastern Ghouta, east of Damascus in August 2013 shocked the world, acting as a wake-up call to the horrific and cruel nature of the abuses being committed in Syria. Sadly, this was just the tip of the iceberg. Across Syria, civilians continued to be killed on a daily basis often in far greater numbers in attacks using both other banned weapons such as cluster munitions and regular bombs, missiles and mortars. However, for years the UN Security Council dragged its feet, with member states failing to unite to refer the situation in Syria to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and Russia and China in particular blocking several resolutions on the protection of civilians using veto powers.

 The surreal images of crowds of besieged civilians queuing for aid parcels in Yarmouk on the outskirts of Damascus in January 2014 brought to life the tragic reality that thousands of people trapped under siege across Syria were dying from lack of food and medical care. Beyond Yarmouk starvation has been used as a weapon of war by both government forces and armed groups in areas such as Moadamiya, Eastern Ghouta, Madaya and al-Fouaa. Today more than 400,000 people are under siege in 15 locations across Syria. Despite limited deliveries of aid to besieged areas as part of the ceasefire agreed in recent weeks, civilians are still at risk of starving to death and in desperate need of unfettered humanitarian aid.

 Harrowing photographs showing tortured, starved and burnt bodies, known as the "Caesar" torture photos, were smuggled out of Syria by a military defector and published in January 2014. These provided the strongest evidence yet of systematic torture and extrajudicial executions taking place inside government detention centres, opening the world's eyes to the ruthless tactics used to punish those who dare to oppose the government of President Bashar al-Assad. Tens of thousands remain missing after being arrested by one of Syria's various security and intelligence forces.

 Russia began its first air strikes in support of the Syrian government in September 2015, ostensibly targeting IS but mostly hitting areas under the control of armed opposition groups. Russia's entry into the fray has led to intensive aerial bombardments, particularly in northern Syria, that have killed hundreds of civilians, including in attacks that appear to be war crimes. Most recently an offensive in the vicinity of Aleppo has seen Russian and Syrian warplanes bomb hospitals as part of its military strategy in flagrant violation of international law.

For more information or to show your support for Syria see the WithSyria page

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
With Syrian peace talks underway, UN urges support for negotiations and impacted Syrians

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 15 March 2016 Cite as UN News Service, With Syrian peace talks underway, UN urges support for negotiations and impacted Syrians, 15 March 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56e9294140d.html [accessed 22 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

15 March 2016 - Marking the fifth anniversary of the Syrian conflict, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today appealed to the stakeholders and the Security Council to fulfil their responsibilities and to help make the United Nations-mediated peace talks a success.

"If we miss this opportunity the consequences for the Syrian people and the world are too frightening to contemplate," the Secretary-General said in a message aimed at the Syrian parties, regional and international stakeholders and the Council.

Already in the past five years, more than one-quarter million Syrians have been killed and nearly half of all Syrians have been forced from their homes.

Terrorist groups such as Daesh and Al Nusra Front have capitalised on the chaos, with foreign fighters and sectarian militias continuing to pour into Syria, Mr. Ban said.

The conflict "has been the scene of the use of chemical weapons, siege and starvation as a tool of war, unlawful detention, torture, and the indiscriminate and criminal shelling and aerial bombardment of civilians," said Mr. Ban.

Syrian men, women and children feel abandoned by the international community, he said, urging those responsible for these crimes to be held to account.

"I repeat my call to the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court," Mr. Ban said. "In Syria as elsewhere, peace without justice is not sustainable."

Meanwhile, the intra-Syrian talks commenced this week with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura at the helm. The talks are being convened in the context of the full implementation of the Geneva Communique as the basis for a Syrian-led political transition.

Reacting today to the announcement by President Vladimir Putin that Russia is withdrawing the bulk of its forces from Syria, Mr. de Mistura called it a "significant development" which "we hope will have a positive impact on the progress of the negotiations."

More than funding needed

As the peace negotiations continue in Geneva, there are nearly five million refugees who had been forced to flee to neighbouring countries.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, and the agency's Special Envoy, Angelina Jolie Pitt, today called on Governments to follow through on financial pledges, as well as jobs, education, and other forms of international support for refugees.

Angelina Jolie Pitt calls for global solidarity on 5th anniversary of Syrian conflict. Credit: United Nations

"A tragedy of this scale demands solidarity beyond funding. Put simply, we need more countries to share the load by taking a greater share of refugees from what has become the biggest displacement crisis of a generation," said Mr. Grandi.

Five years on, the conflict has spawned 4.8 million refugees in neighbouring countries, hundreds of thousands in Europe, and 6.6 million people displaced inside Syria against a pre-war population of over 20 million.

In London last month, Governments pledged $5.9 billion for the 2016 appeal for humanitarian and development aid. In today's statement, Mr. Grandi called for additional forms of support, including better access to livelihoods and educations, and a greater sharing of responsibility by countries that are limiting and blocking numbers of refugees seeking safety in their borders.

The international community is at a "crossroads," he said, and "if the world fails to work together due to short-term interests, lack of courage and knee-jerk reactions to shift the burden elsewhere, we will look back ruefully on this lost opportunity to act with solidarity and shared humanity."

Call for reason, calm and foresight

In Lebanon, Ms. Jolie Pitt today marked the "grim anniversary" by helping the UN agency in an informal refugee settlement in Fayda, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.

Children use large, plastic buckets to collect drinking water from a nearby water point, in the Fayda informal tented settlement, in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. Photo: UNICEF/Shehzad Noorani

Speaking to reporters in pouring rain, she urged Governments to focus on the absolute root causes, and to display courage and foresight in their decisions.

"My plea today is that we need governments around the world to show leadership: to analyse the situation and understand exactly what their country can do," she said, to figure out how many refugees can be assisted and in what time frame, and to address the fears among their citizens.

"That starts with having a very robust asylum procedure to be able to hear the needs of the desperate families to identify who is most vulnerable and who has a genuine refugee claim," she explained.

She appealed also for Governments to uphold the 1951 Convention on Refugees and basic human rights law: "it is both necessary and possible to protect people fleeing persecution and death and protect citizens at home. It should not be reduced to a choice between one or the other."

The Special Envoy acknowledged that people in many different countries have fears about the refugee situation and its potential impact on their communities, livelihoods and security.

"It is not wrong to feel unsettled faced by a crisis of such complexity and such magnitude.

But we must not let fears get the better of us," she said. "It is a time for reason and calm and foresight."

New pathways

Later this month, UNHCR will host a high-level international conference in Geneva , calling on Governments for a major increase in countries hosting Syrians.

To date, some 170,000 such places have been pledged by governments around the world. UNHCR hopes to increase that to at least 10 per cent of the registered refugee population, currently at 4.8 million people in the immediate surrounding region alone, over the next few years.

Secretary-General Ban and High Commissioner Grandi will open the ministerial-level meeting on 30 March.
Thailand: Junta Critic Feared 'Disappeared'

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 15 March 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Thailand: Junta Critic Feared 'Disappeared', 15 March 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56e92b504.html [accessed 22 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Thai authorities should immediately disclose the whereabouts of an outspoken critic of the government who has not been heard from since his arrest on March 9, 2016, Human Rights Watch said today. The ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) junta has officially denied knowledge of the arrest and location of Sarawut Bamrungkittikhun, who runs an anti-junta Facebook page Perd Praden (Opening Issues), which raises grave concerns of an enforced disappearance.

On March 9, more than 30 soldiers and police arrested Sarawut at his house in Surat Thani province. Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that the security forces did not present a warrant or inform Sarawut of the reasons for his arrest before taking him away to an undisclosed location.

"Thailand's junta has repeatedly flouted international legal protections by secretly detaining critics of the government," said Brad Adams, Asia director. "The government should put to rest fears that Sarawut has been forcibly disappeared by immediately disclosing his whereabouts, allowing his family and lawyers access, and releasing him if he hasn't been charged."

NCPO spokesperson Col. Piyapong Klinphan told the media on March 12 that Thai authorities did not have knowledge of Sarawut's arrest or his whereabouts:

We will look into this report and verify it. But at the moment, we do not have information that [Sarawut] was arrested and detained by the military authorities. Let me assure you that all military units always strictly follow due process when they carry out an arrest and put people in custody. Every step of the NCPO's operations is transparent.

Contrary to the junta spokesperson's statement, since the May 2014 coup, the NCPO has detained hundreds of politicians, activists, journalists, and others accused of being involved in anti-junta protests and activities, supporting the deposed government, or disrespecting or offending the monarchy. Many of these people have been held incommunicado and interrogated while detained in military camps.

Sarawut's detention has already exceeded the seven-day administrative detention period permitted under NCPO Order 3/2558. There is no official notification that he has been formally charged. There are unverified reports that Sarawut was brought to Bangkok and put in detention at the prison facility inside the 11th Army Circle Camp. But his family and lawyers from the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights have not obtained permission to visit him or received official confirmation that he was actually detained there.

Human Rights Watch submitted a letter to the Thai government on November 24, 2015, raising serious concerns regarding conditions at the 11th Army Circle Camp after the deaths of fortuneteller Suriyan Sucharitpolwong and Police Maj. Prakrom Warunprapa during their detention there. A prominent human rights lawyer, Chuchart Kanpai, was threatened with defamation charges after he reported that his client, Bilal Mohammad (also known as Adem Karadag), was tortured at the 11th Army Circle Camp into confessing to the August 2015 bomb attack at Bangkok's Erawan Shrine, which killed 20 people.

Recent government statements have indicated an increased willingness by the junta to carry out arrests without a legal basis. NCPO Chairman and Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha said at a January 21, 2016 news conference that the authorities had wide leeway to arrest people who violated the junta's orders:

Officials could use any measures to carry out an arrest.... Why don't people respect the laws instead of asking for democracy and human rights all the time?... No one is allowed to oppose [the NCPO]. I dare you to try to oppose [the NCPO].... I don't care what the international community would think about this. I will send officials to explain to foreign embassies. I am not afraid of them. I will tell them to understand that this is Thailand and we are enforcing Thai laws.

Under the provisions of martial law and section 44 of the interim constitution, military authorities are empowered to arrest and secretly detain people for up to seven days, and interrogate them without access to lawyers or safeguards against mistreatment. The NCPO has repeatedly dismissed credible allegations that soldiers have tortured and ill-treated detainees, but has provided no evidence to rebut those allegations.

Human Rights Watch has regularly raised grave concerns regarding secret military detention in Thailand. The risk of enforced disappearance, torture, and other ill-treatment significantly increases when detainees are held incommunicado in military detention.

The government has not seriously investigated allegations of mistreatment by the armed forces. For instance, there has yet to be an official inquiry into the abduction and alleged beating and mistreatment of prominent student activist Sirawith Seritiwat by soldiers on January 20.

Enforced disappearances are defined under international law as the arrest or detention of a person by state officials or their agents followed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty, or to reveal the person's fate or whereabouts. Enforced disappearances violate a range of fundamental human rights protected under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Thailand is a party, including prohibitions against arbitrary arrest and detention; torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment; and extrajudicial execution. Since 1980, the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances has recorded 82 cases of enforced disappearance in Thailand. None of these cases have been successfully resolved.

"Gen. Prayut has vowed to respect human rights, but he has repeatedly failed to follow through on his words," Adams said. "Concerned governments should press the Thai government to immediately end arbitrary arrests and secret detentions, and release Sarawut and the rest of those wrongfully held."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Turkey: Academics Jailed For Signing Petition

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 16 March 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Turkey: Academics Jailed For Signing Petition, 16 March 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56e92bba4.html [accessed 22 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

In the latest attack on free speech in Turkey, three academics who signed a peace petition in January 2016 have been jailed by an Istanbul court on suspicion of "making terrorist propaganda." The three were jailed on March 15, 2016, pending the completion of a criminal investigation.

At least 30 other academics have been dismissed and 27 suspended by their universities pending investigation. The Istanbul prosecutor responsible for terrorism crimes is conducting a criminal investigation into all the academics who signed the petition and many local investigations are taking place.

"President Erdogan's vicious campaign against the academics is part of his drive to banish, punish, and silence all critical voices in Turkey," said Emma Sinclair-Webb, senior Turkey researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Turkey's universities, prosecutors, and courts should respect and protect free speech and the rule of law by immediately dropping all investigations and punitive measures against all those who signed the declaration."

The petition at issue, initially signed by 1,128 academics calling themselves Academics for Peace and then by more than 1,000 others, declared "We will not be party to this crime." They condemned the Turkish government's security operations against the armed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) youth movement in cities of southeast Turkey because of the disastrous impact on the Kurdish civilian population. Made public at an Istanbul news conference on January 11, the petition also called for a resumption of peace talks with the PKK.

In response, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan unleashed a harsh campaign vilifying the academics in at least five speeches - terming them vile, equal to terrorists, base and dark - and demanding sanctions against them. Human Rights Watch spoke to 12 petition signatories about the criminal and disciplinary investigations against them, the threats they received, and their suspensions and dismissals.

The three academics placed in pretrial detention today are Muzaffer Kaya, Esra Mungan and Kvanc Ersoy. Ersoy teaches in the mathematics department at Mimar Sinan University and Mungan in the psychology department at Bogazici University. Kaya was recently dismissed from the social work department at Nisantas University for signing the petition. They were detained and then jailed by a court a day after Erdogan called for the crime of terrorism to be widened to include expression which he judges "serves the aims of terrorists," and which would target professions such as journalists, politicians and activists. His remarks came after the March 13 bombing which killed 37 people in Ankara's city center.

"The three jailed academics have committed no crime and should be immediately released," said Sinclair-Webb. "Imprisoning advocates for peace who have criticized government policy not only flouts international standards, but will do nothing to prevent terrorism or bring justice for the victims of the Ankara bombing."

Universities should also promptly reinstate the academics who have been dismissed or suspended pending investigation, and prosecutors should ensure that the courts promptly lift overseas travel bans they have imposed on six of the signatories, Human Rights Watch said.

Over the past two months, police have detained around 15 academics for short periods and in some cases searched academics' homes and offices. An Istanbul prosecutor is conducting a criminal investigation into all signatories on suspicion that they "made terrorism propaganda" and "insulted the Turkish nation or state institutions," and there are many ongoing investigations opened by prosecutors throughout the country. The Council of Higher Education, which oversees Turkey's higher education system, pushed universities to investigate those who signed the petition.

The legal basis for suspending academics is not clear in university regulations, and universities have in many cases not provided grounds for the suspensions and dismissals. All the academics Human Rights Watch spoke to described being questioned by prosecutors about their political views, a line of inquiry completely unrelated to exercising their legitimate right to free speech by signing the petition.

Among those Human Rights Watch interviewed are:

Latife Akyuz: On January 13, Duzce University in northwest Turkey suspended Akyuz, an assistant professor of sociology, a day after President Erdogan's first speech. Akyuz learnt from the university website that the university had suspended her and was not sent a formal notification until a month later. On January 14, police searched her home and office at the university and took copies of her computer hard drive and other belongings. After she testified before the Duzce public prosecutor on January 16, a court imposed a travel ban on her, which was upheld on appeal. Following threats on social media and a report about her in the local media, Akyuz left Duzce. She told Human Rights Watch: "My friends cleared and emptied my home in Duzce. It's no longer possible for me to live in that house or city."

Sharo Garip: On January 15, police from the Anti-Terror Branch detained Garip, associate professor of sociology at Van 100 Yil University, in eastern Turkey, and held him overnight in a police cell. On January 16, he testified before the Van prosecutor, who had him taken before a judge to seek an overseas travel ban pending completion of a criminal investigation. The court released Garip, a German national, and did not impose a travel ban. However, the prosecutor appealed and Garip learned on February 13 that a ban had been imposed. The university employed Garip on an annual contract that was due for renewal on December 31, 2015. On January 25, the university informed him, without providing a reason, that his contract was not being renewed. He is now unemployed and cannot return to Germany because of the travel ban.

Among the others who signed at Van 100 Yl University, Eylem Klc, associate professor in the education faculty; Sebahattin Sen, researcher in the radio and television branch of the fine arts faculty; and Turan Keskin, researcher in the economics department, were also informed in February that they were banned by a court from overseas travel pending the completion of the ongoing criminal investigations against them.

Ramazan Kurt: Erzurum Ataturk University in eastern Turkey suspended Kurt, a researcher in the Faculty of Social Studies in the second year of a philosophy doctorate, for signing the petition. He told Human Rights Watch that on January 13 he received threats, including by telephone, visits to his office, a social media campaign against him, and a protest by a far-right group and students. He complained to the prosecutor and requested police protection, but the police said they could not provide protection and he could call them if anything happened to him. He went with this lawyer to the police, after hearing they were seeking to detain him, and then testified before the prosecutor, who asked the court to jail him pending completion of a criminal investigation. The court released him but imposed an overseas travel ban.

Eda Erdener: an associate professor in the Psychology Department of the Arts and Science at Bingol University in eastern Turkey, Erdener said that in response to signing the petition Bingol University has subjected her to three investigations. She testified before the public prosecutor in January and, like others questioned by prosecutors, was repeatedly asked questions about her political views and motivation for signing the petition.

Nil Mutluer: assistant professor and head of the sociology department at Nisantas University, Istanbul, Mutluer was fired on February 8, along with five other academics at the university - Cetin Gurer, Dilsa Deniz, Melih Krldog, Muzaffer Kaya, Selim Eyuboglu. The decision to terminate their contracts was made unilaterally by the Board of Trustees, whose chairman had previously publicly told the academics to resign for signing the petition. The pro-government daily newspaper Yeni Akit singled out a small group of academics in various universities, including Mutluer, for a front-page lead article including their photos and names, and falsely accused them of being members of a terrorist organization.

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
What you need to know about Powerball and the $580 million jackpot
Salsa verde  "green sauce"  will make you rethink the color of heat.

The core ingredients of Tex-Mex hot sauce usually are tomatoes, cilantro, onion, jalapenos and salt. For salsa verde, tomatillos replace the tomatoes and serrano chilies sub for the jalapenos.

Tomatillos are about the size of a small plum and have a paper-thin husk and slightly sticky skin. While they are in the same tomato family called nightshade, tomatillos have a distinct acidic flavor.

The husk is inedible and must be removed before use and the skin washed before chopping the tomatillos for a salsa. The tomatillos also can be boiled or roasted before being turned into salsa.

Serrano chilies are skinnier than jalapenos, but don't assume that means less heat. They range from a little hotter than a hot jalapeno to four times more heat, based on the Scoville scale.

In the "San Antonio Cookbook II" published in 1976 by the Women's Committee of the Symphony Society of San Antonio, the first of six salsa recipes is Salsa Verde. It calls for canned Mexican green tomatoes, which is another name for tomatillos.

Try salsa verde with chips, or add it to shredded beef or pork tacos for an herby, spicy, tangy kick.

For those like myself who prefer salsas that are like a sunset and not a lava flow, a milder version of salsa verde is possible. Just add a large avocado and crema Mexicana, which is a buttery, creamier version of sour cream.

Following is my update of the Salsa Verde recipe from "San Antonio Cookbook II," where one batch can make both the original salsa plus a milder, creamier one. For convenience, I used canned tomatillos.

SALSA VERDE TWO WAYS

Ingredients

1 (28-ounce) can tomatillos, drained

1 medium onion, chopped

1/4 cup (about 12-15 sprigs) cilantro leaves, chopped

1 serrano chili, sliced (For a milder version, try half a serrano first and add more if necessary after tasting. Add a second serrano for true chili heads.)

- Salt to taste

1 large avocado, peeled, seeded and sliced

- Juice from half a lemon

1/4 cup crema Mexicana (or more if salsa is too hot)

Directions

1. In a blender add tomatillos, onion, cilantro, serrano chili and salt. Whirl until combined. Taste and adjust chilies and salt, if necessary.

2. Pour half of the salsa into a serving dish. Cover and chill for one hour.

3. To the remaining salsa in the blender, add the avocado, lemon juice and crema. Whirl together until combined. Taste and adjust salt and crema if necessary. Cover and chill one hour before serving. Makes about 1 cup of each salsa.

LEFTOVER BANANAS

A quick bread is usually the last hoorah for overripe bananas.

Another possibility is the following recipe for Banana Cake from Mrs. Julius Wolfson in "San Antonio Cookbook II."

The cake is easy, simple and sweet but not over the top because it does not have icing.

My updates include replacing the white sugar with brown for a slightly more caramel flavor and clarifying the directions.

BANANA CAKE

Ingredients

- Butter and flour for baking dish

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 eggs at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup ripe bananas, mashed

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sour cream

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

- Powdered sugar

Directions

1. Butter and flour a 9-by 13-inch baking dish and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a stand-up mixer (or large mixing bowl using an electric mixer), cream well the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and mix well. Add the vanilla and bananas and mix well.

3. In a separate medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

4. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with the sour cream. Pour thick batter into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle pecans on top. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick poked in the middle comes out clean.

5. When cool, sprinkle top with powdered sugar.

Share your own old recipes or food-related historical recollections by emailing Laura Gutschke at lgutschke@gmail.com.
Lawrence Brandyburg stood in a room in the Abilene Educational Center of Cisco College on Tuesday afternoon, thousands of miles from home.

Brandyburg, chief executive officer of Lone Star College Jakarta, in Indonesia, is one of three candidates for president of Cisco College.

The three candidates each has been scheduled for interviews with the school's board of regents and informational forums with the public, students, faculty and staff.

The other candidates, Matt Joiner, an associate dean at Weatherford College, will be interviewed March 21, and Thad Anglin, vice provost for academic excellence and outreach at the University of North Texas at Dallas, will be interviewed March 28.

Cisco College did not specify when it would make the selection to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Bobby Smith in January.

During Tuesday's forums, one in the morning at the Cisco campus and the afternoon one in Abilene, Brandyburg spoke about his history, his thoughts about community colleges in general and discussed some of his ambitions, then answered a few questions from attendees.

"I really do this because I love what I do," he said. "I think what we do is pretty amazing. But I think we have to put everything into perspective. This community college is not about me, we're all here for the students. It's not about what time we get off work. I like to emphasize we're here to help the students."

While taking questions, Brandyburg was asked about leadership and whether he has found any common threads between his time in educational leadership, the military  he served as an infantry officer in the Army's 101st Airborne Division  and in retail.

He said one commonality involves how leaders treat the people working below them.

"If you treat your people fairly, I've found it all falls right into place," he said. "It's important people know you've got their back. And say what you mean and mean what you say."

Brandyburg also was asked about his take on dual credit, which allows high school students to earn credits toward an associate degree at Cisco.

Brandyburg said he's a strong supporter of such opportunities, even if they change the typical demographic of students on the campus. He said one of the greatest benefits of the program is the potential savings to families that may otherwise not be able to send students to college.

It also offers those who might not think they can make it to college an appetizer to whet their whistle.

"We have to figure out how to get them that taste of education," Brandyburg said. "When they get those 12 credit hours under them, something in their brain tells them, 'I'm going to be a college graduate someday.'"
Halloween events, fall festivals pack October in Abilene, Big Country

From family-friendly to frightful, there are plenty of opportunities to don the costumes and scare up some treats.
WEDNESDAY

Free tax assistance

The AARP will offer free assistance in preparing income tax forms for low- and middle-income taxpayers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St. Doors will open at 9 a.m. Space is limited, and help will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Art film

A showing of the film "The Rothko Conspiracy" will begin at noon at the Center for Contemporary Arts, 220 Cypress St. A discussion will follow. Participants are invited to bring a lunch.

Caregiver meeting

COMANCHE  The Alzheimer's Association will present a caregiver support group meeting from 2-3 p.m. at Western Hills Healthcare Residence. For more information, call 325-217-0822.

Other ...

Overeaters Anonymous, 8 a.m., Hinds Square Building, Room 112, 100 Chestnut St.

Blood drive, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hangar Club, Dyess Air Force Base.

Abilene Cactus Lions Club, 11:45 a.m., Cotton Patch Cafe, 3302 S. Clack St.

Abilene Wednesday Rotary Club, noon, Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway. $12 for lunch. Jo Ann Wilson, 325-677-6815.

Kiwanis Club of Abilene, noon, Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway Blvd.

Clearly Speaking Toastmaster Club, noon, Westgate Church of Christ, 402 S. Pioneer Drive. 325-795-5570.

Alzheimer's Association Caregiver Support Group, 2-3 p.m., Western Hills Healthcare Residence, Comanche.

Alzheimer's disease support group, 5:15 p.m., Cedar Crest Care Center, 1901 W. Elliott, Breckenridge. Assists those who have a family member with symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. 1-800-272-3900 or 254-559-3302.

Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 5:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St.

Veterans Peer Support Group, 6 p.m., 765 Orange St. 325-670-4818.

Mid-week Al-Anon Family Group, 6-7 p.m., Open Door Building, 3157 Russell Ave. 325-698-4995.

Advanced Square Dancing, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Wagon Wheel.

Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1501 N. Broadway, Ballinger. 817-689-2810 or 325-977-1007.

DivorceCare support group, 7 p.m., Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave. 325-691-4200.

THURSDAY

Free tax assistance

The AARP will offer free assistance in preparing income tax forms for low- and middle-income taxpayers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St. Doors will open at 9 a.m. Space is limited, and help will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Saint Patrick's Day

Keep Abilene Beautiful will present its "#GoGreenAbilene" Saint Patrick's Day celebration from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Mill Winery, 239 Locust St. Admission is free, with drink tickets provided to the first 100 participants.

Documentary showing

A free showing of a part of the PBS documentary series "Latino Americans" will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Mockingbird Branch of the Abilene Public Library, 1326 N. Mockingbird Lane.

'The Foreigner'

A production of the comedy "The Foreigner" will be presented at 7:30 p.m. at Abilene Community Theatre, 809 Barrow St. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students, seniors and military. For tickets, call 325-673-6271.

Other ...

Chronic Pain and Depression Group, 11 a.m. to noon, Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St., 325-673-2300.

Abilene Founder Lions Club, 11:30 a.m., Al's Mesquite Grill, 4801 Buffalo Gap Road.

Kiwanis Club of Greater Abilene, noon, Beehive Restaurant, 442 Cedar St. 325-695-0092.

Blood drive, noon to 4 p.m., Taylor County Courthouse, 300 Oak St.

Retired Military Wives Club social meeting, 1 p.m., Rose Park Senior Activity Center, 2625 South Seventh St. 325-677-9656 or 325-793-1490.

Mental Illness Open Support Group, 1-2 p.m., Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300.

Sagerton Hobby Club, 2 p.m., Sagerton Community Center.

Abilene 42 Club, 6 p.m., Rose Park Senior Center.

Teen Recovery Group, 6-7 p.m., Mission Abilene, 3001 N. Third St.

Free certified nurturing parent class (all ages), 6-8 p.m., Mission Church, North Third and Mockingbird streets. 325-672-9398.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 6:30 p.m. Brook Hollow Christian Church. Weigh-in begins at 5:30 p.m. 325-665-5052.

Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 6:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St.

Gambler's Anonymous, 6:30 p.m., Unity Spiritual Living Center, 2842 Barrow St. 325-338-2575.

Round Dancing, 7 p.m., Wagon Wheel. 325-829-1517.

South Pioneer Al-Anon Group, 8 p.m., 3157 Russell Ave.

Unity Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St.

FRIDAY

Free tax assistance

The AARP will offer free assistance in preparing income tax forms for low- and middle-income taxpayers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mockingbird Branch of the Abilene Public Library, 1214 N. Mockingbird Lane. Doors will open at 9 a.m. Space is limited, and help will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Barn dance

TYE  A barn dance featuring Muddy Creek will be 7-10 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel. Admission is $5. Information: 325-829-1517.

'The Foreigner'

A production of the comedy "The Foreigner" will be presented at 7:30 p.m. at Abilene Community Theatre, 809 Barrow St. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students, seniors and military. For tickets, call 325-673-6271.

Other ...

Blood drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Goodwill West Texas, 2200 N. First St.

Overeaters Anonymous, noon, Hinds Square Building, 100 Chestnut St., Room 112.

Abilene Chinese Corner, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Abilene Christian University library. lld09a@acu.edu.

Mid-City Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First Christian Church. 325-670-4304.

SATURDAY

Car show

MERKEL  The Merkel Classics Car Show will begin with registration from 8-10:30 a.m. in downtown Merkel. Awards will be presented at 1:30 p.m. For more information, call 325-338-7208.

Texas Gun & Knife Show

The Texas Gun & Knife show will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Abilene Civic Center, 1100 N. Sixth St. Admission is $5. For more information, go to www.texasgunandknifeshows.com.

Steam-n-Wheels

The 24th annual Steam-n-Wheels bike race and fun ride will begin at 10 a.m. at Nelson Park, 2070 Zoo Lane. Routes of 12, 32 and 48 miles are available. Advance registration is $25 for individuals and $50 for tandem teams; race day registration is $30 for individuals and $55 for tandem teams. To register, go to www.abilenetx.com or www.bikereg.com. For more information, call 325-676-6217.

Wildlife tracking workshop

COLORADO CITY  A workshop on wildlife tracks and signs will be presented from 10 to noon at Lake Colorado City State Park. Regular park admission will apply. For more information, call 325-728-3931.

Free tax assistance

The AARP will offer free assistance in preparing income tax forms for low- and middle-income taxpayers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mockingbird Branch of the Abilene Public Library, 1214 N. Mockingbird Lane. Doors will open at 9 a.m. Space is limited, and help will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Movie at the library

A free showing of a G-rated animated movie will begin at 3 p.m. at the Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St. Popcorn and lemonade will be provided while supplies last.

Fish fry

DESDEMONA  A fish fry will be served from 5-7 p.m. at the Desdemona Activity Center. The cost will be by donation.

Country musical

ANSON  A country musical show will begin at 6 p.m. at the Anson Opera House. Brisket will be served at 5 p.m. for $7. Information: 325-338-2184.

Art reception

A reception for the art exhibit "Edge" will be 6-8 p.m. at Studio 13, 909 N. 13th St. The exhibition will run through March 31.

'Steppin' Out for Memories'

The Alzheimer's Association  North Central Texas Chapter will conduct its 10th annual "Steppin' Out for Memories" dinner and auction at 6:30 p.m. at the Taylor County Expo Center. The theme is "Route 66," and Jody Nix will perform. Tickets are $75. For tickets, or for more information, call 325-672-2907.

'The Foreigner'

A production of the comedy "The Foreigner" will be presented at 7:30 p.m. at Abilene Community Theatre, 809 Barrow St. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students, seniors and military. For tickets, call 325-673-6271.

Square dance

TYE  The Wagon Wheel Squares will sponsor a square dance at 7:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel in.

Other ...

Overeaters Anonymous, 10 a.m., Shades of Hope, 402A Mulberry St., Buffalo Gap. 800-588-4673.

Big Country Chapter American Association of Medical Transcriptionists meeting, 10 a.m., Arbec Room, first floor, Texas State Technical College, East Highway 80, Abilene. For medical transcriptionists or anyone interested in becoming one. 325-698-8898.

Abilene Society of Model Railroaders, 10 a.m. to noon, 2043 N. Second St.
The Republican showdown for the 19th Congressional District has come down to two, and Lubbock Mayor Glen Robertson says he is confident he will emerge victorious over Jodey Arrington in the May 24 runoff.

Robertson, a 57-year-old warehouse operator and rancher, will face off against Arrington, a former George W. Bush aide and Texas Tech University administrator, for the seat being vacated by the retiring Randy Neugebauer. The winner will not face a Democratic opponent in November.

"Regardless of the outcome of the election, I'm going to be OK," Robertson told the Reporter-News on Tuesday, "because I'm going to know that I have put everything into it that I possibly could. The voters are going to make the final decision."

He's putting his money where his mouth is.

During his initial primary campaign, Robertson said he raised a little more than $100,000 but spent almost $900,000  loaning his campaign in excess of $800,000.

"It'll be between $350,000 and $400,000 to complete the runoff," he said.

"I will self-fund the majority of that, as well," Robertson said. "And the main reason is that I do not want to go to D.C. and owe special-interest groups favors. I think that's what's broken in D.C. ... the only people I want to represent are the people in the district."

Robertson earned about 27 percent of the vote in the March 1 Republican primary to Arrington's 26 percent, with Michael Bob Starr, former commander of Dyess Air Force Base, earning about 20 percent, in a congested field of eight candidates.

That potentially means that roughly 47 percent of the vote is up for grabs.

In an effort to capture those votes, Robertson said he has been reaching out to candidates who didn't make the runoff. That includes Starr, whom Robertson targeted in what some have called attack ads.

"My ad was more so in regard to Michael's Bob's handling of the situation," Robertson said.

"He has a First Amendment right to endorse or promote or actively engage in those LGBT runs, but he hid behind the flag when he started to make news conferences and (made) subtle allegations of his opponents being cowards and (Robertson's ad) being a well-funded smear campaign, instead of addressing the real issue," Robertson said. "My ads were never an attack on the LGBT community; they were an attack on Michael Bob Starr's duplicity."

"We should never discriminate against anybody based on their gender, sexual preference, their religion or their race," he added. "But there's a difference between not discriminating and actively reaching out and endorsing."

Robertson said former rival Jason Corley, a farmer and oil field consultant, already has publicly endorsed him on the radio. And he has visited with another former candidate, Donald May, a retired eye doctor.

"I meet with him tomorrow," Robertson said. "I'm talking with Greg Garrett (bank president and Realtor) next week."

But Robertson said he is not relying on his former rivals' support.

"Endorsements are important, but I give the average voter a lot more credit than to believe that they're just going to blindly follow who they supported in the first race's recommendation."

Robertson said that what separates Arrington and himself is that lawmakers' decisions have affected his business and his income.

"Jodey has been in a different world," he said. "He's been in appointed positions for politicians for the majority of his adult life and is more of a lifetime bureaucrat versus this small-town, full-time businessman."

He added that Arrington's former job as a White House staffer was about "handing out political favors" and not about passing legislation.

"You're not having to bring people together," Robertson said. "You're not having to try build a coalition. I've had to do that on a much smaller scale. My proven ability as mayor is to bring people together with completely opposite views and to reach solutions to where everybody gets a win."

Among the issues Robertson said he plans to address are agriculture, energy and ensuring the viability of Dyess Air Force Base.

Another is health care.

"We've got to talk about rural health care. Over 60 percent of this is district is rural," he said. "And rural health care is in crisis. We've also got to talk about the 28,000-plus small businesses and start dealing with the tax burdens that they got, overregulation and bad trade policies that are making it very difficult now to grow businesses and create jobs."

With the runoff a couple of months away, Robertson found time to attend the World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater over the weekend.

"I think Sweetwater will be very good preparation for going to D.C.," he joked.
The military plans to examine hundreds of sites nationwide, including Dyess Air Force Base, to determine whether chemicals from foam used to fight fires have contaminated groundwater and spread to drinking water, the Defense Department said.

The checks are planned for 664 sites where the military has conducted fire or crash training, military officials told The Associated Press this week.

"Dyess is committed to protecting human health and the environment," said Staff Sgt. Kia Atkins, Dyess spokeswoman. "We have and will continue to take all prudent measures to resolve potential contamination issues."

Since December, tests have been carried out at 28 naval sites in mostly coastal areas. Drinking water at a landing field in Virginia and the groundwater at another site in New Jersey have been found to contain levels above the guidance given by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the Navy said. Results of the other tests have either come up under federally acceptable levels or are pending.

The Navy is giving bottled water to its personnel at the Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Fentress in Chesapeake, Virginia, and is testing wells in a nearby rural area after the discovery of perfluorinated chemicals in drinking water, which the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry says may be associated with prostate, kidney and testicular cancer, along with other health issues.

The Navy found perfluorinated chemicals in the groundwater monitoring wells at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck, New Jersey, but not in the drinking water supply. Test results from off-base drinking water wells are expected this month.

And several congressmen are raising concerns about the safety of drinking water near two former Navy bases in suburban Philadelphia. The lawmakers say firefighting foams might be the source of chemicals found in nearly 100 public and private wells near the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove and the Naval Air Warfare Center in Warminster.

The foam is used where potentially catastrophic fuel fires can occur, such as in a plane crash, because it can rapidly extinguish them. It contains perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOS and PFOA, both considered emerging contaminants by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Defense Department said that until foam without perfluorinated chemicals can be certified for military use, it is removing stocks of it in some places and also trying to prevent any uncontrolled releases during training exercises.

The military is beginning to assess the risk to groundwater at the training sites not only to determine the extent of contamination, but also to identify any action the Defense Department needs to take, said Lt. Col. Eric D. Badger, a department spokesman.

California has the most sites, with 85, followed by Texas, with 57, Florida, with 38, and Alaska and South Carolina, each with 26, according to a list provided to the AP. Each state has at least one site.

Knowledge about the chemicals' effects has been evolving, and the EPA does not regulate them. The agency in 2009 issued guidance on the level at which they are considered harmful to health, but it was only an advisory  not a standard that could be legally enforced.

The EPA said then that it was assessing the potential risk from short-term exposure through drinking water. It later began studying the health effects from a lifetime of exposure. Those studies remain in progress.

The Navy started handing out bottled water in January to about 50 people at the contaminated Virginia site, and it worked with the city to set up a water station for concerned property owners after it found perfluorinated chemicals in on-base drinking water wells above the concentrations in the EPA advisory.

The Navy is testing private wells of nearby property owners; those results are due next week.

Chris Evans, of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, credited the Navy with being proactive but said he's concerned anytime there's a potential threat to human health and the environment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The two leading candidates for the Republican presidential nomination held a spirited debate over foreign policy last week, with striking differences.

Donald Trump would cozy up to devious Russian President Vladimir Putin; Texas Sen. Ted Cruz would escalate our new Cold War with Russia. Trump wants to renegotiate the nuclear deal with Iran; Cruz promises to "rip [it] to shreds on Day 1." Trump says he'd broker a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians; Cruz says he'd simply back Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the hilt.

See the pattern? Trump wants to make deals, with anyone. Cruz just wants to pick sides. There are differences  and similarities.

As for the Islamic State group, both suggested more U.S. bombing can win the war. (It can't.)

Trump says he'd kill terrorists' families, which would be a war crime. Cruz says he'd "carpet bomb" Islamic State group's strongholds  which would needlessly kill civilians.

Neither cares much who rules Syria, as long as it's not the Islamic State group.

And while both try to sound fierce, neither wants to deploy U.S. ground troops. In that way, Trump and Cruz mimic Obama.

These two "outsider" candidates' rise has been bad news for Republican internationalists, the hawkish conservatives who have dominated GOP foreign policy since World War II. Internationalists, including former Gov. Mitt Romney and Sen. John McCain, think Obama has been too cautious overseas. Many of them think the U.S. should set up (and defend) "safe zones" for the opposition.

But that's not where most GOP voters are this year. Of their favorite candidates, former Gov. Jeb Bush is out and Sen. Marco Rubio isn't faring too well.

"The American people, in both parties, are in a mood for retrenchment," said Robert Kagan, a former adviser to Romney.

As proof, last month, Trump called the 2003 invasion of Iraq "a big fat mistake," and also said the George W. Bush administration "lied" to sell the war to the public. GOP voters barely blinked.

Trump's foreign policy departs from GOP orthodoxy in many ways. He wants to demand increased payment for protection from Germany, South Korea, Japan and Saudi Arabia, moves that would strain those alliances. He wants to slap tariffs on goods imported from China and Mexico, almost surely setting off a costly trade war. And he says he'll force Mexico to pay for his wall on the border  not explaining how.

Cruz, too, calls the Iraq invasion a mistake. He calls "Washington neo-cons" (the GOP neoconservatives who backed the Iraq War) military interventionists.

His main example: the overthrow of Libyan dictator Moammar Kadafi in 2011. In Cruz's view, the United States should have protected, not helped topple Kadafi.

"Kadafi was a bad man. And yet  he had become a significant ally in fighting radical Islamic terrorism," Cruz argued last year.

Cruz says the U.S. should relegate human rights issues to a back burner, especially in the Middle East.

So what's an internationalist-minded Republican to do? Unappetizing, but I'd say: Choose Cruz.

Cruz is scary, Trump is dangerous. Cruz's liking for pro-American dictators would return to what prevailed before Ronald Reagan injected democracy promotion into GOP foreign policy.

But Trump, a distinct authoritarian, admires autocrats like Putin even when they're against us.

Kagan, who is writing a history of U.S. diplomacy, also favors Cruz.

"Trump is a throwback to the 1920s and 1930s view that the world can go to hell and it's not our problem," he said. "If Hitler were rampaging across Europe, Trump would say, as many said at the time, that he's someone we can do business with."

And if the choice is between Trump and Hillary Clinton?

Kagan, who worked in the Reagan administration, says he'd vote for Clinton.

Doyle McManus is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Readers may send him email at doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com
Most congressional districts in Texas have been drawn so the winner is determined in the primary election, not the general.

The districts were purposely drawn by the Republican-dominated Legislature to maximize Republican representation, and packing as many Democrats as possible into each Democratic district.

There is one exception: District 23, the sprawling West Texas district that is larger than several states. Since 2010, it has gone from Democrat to Republican and back in every general election.

The current occupant is Republican Will Hurd, a former CIA officer. His Democratic opponent in 2016 is Democrat Pete Gallego, who Hurd had unseated in 2014.

One reason the district seesaws back and forth is that the Legislature's map was redrawn by a three-judge federal court in 2006.

That came after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Legislature shifting thousands of Democratic voters into another district, and replacing them with Republicans to help Republican incumbent Henry Bonilla, violated the federal Voting Rights Act.

Former Democratic congressman Ciro Rodriguez then upset Bonilla in a 2006 special election, and was re-elected in 2008.

In 2010, Rodriguez was beaten by Republican Francisco "Quico" Canseco.

But in 2012, longtime Democratic state Rep. Gallego beat Rodriguez in the Democratic primary, and went on to unseat Canseco.

Since 2008, Democrats have won the 23rd in presidential election years, but lost to Republicans in nonpresidential years, when turnout drops by about 40 percent.

Democrat Gallego, for instance, beat Canseco in 2012, a presidential year, with 50.3 percent to 45.6 percent. The total turnout was 192,169 voters.

But in 2014, when Republican Hurd took on Gallego, the number of voters dropped 40 percent from 2012, to 115,429. Hurd got 49.8 percent of the lowered total, to 47.7 percent for Gallego.

The district is 70 percent Hispanic, and Texas Hispanics lean heavily Democratic  when they vote.

Gallego obviously hopes a presidential election year turnout generates enough additional Democratic voters to unseat Hurd  an African-American, and the first non-Hispanic to represent the district in its current configuration.

If Gallego wins, and there are no surprise upsets, the Texas delegation to the U.S. House will return to 24 Republicans and 12 Democrats from the current 25-11.

We'll see in November.

* * *

Minus "Muslim" Molly ... State Rep. Molly White of Belton, the freshman Republican from Central Texas House District 55, was made infamous last year by what some colleagues thought was insulting Muslims.

On Texas Muslim Capitol Day in late January of 2015, White displayed an Israeli flag in her office, and told staffers to ask visitors to "renounce Islamic terrorist groups and publicly announce allegiance to America and our laws."

That raised some hackles around the capitol. It also helped raise the interest of Hugh Shine of Temple in reclaiming the seat he'd held from late 1986 until 1991.

Shine, who left for an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 1990, won a squeaker Republican primary by 118 votes.

White, suspicious of irregularities, paid for a recount. Shine's edge dropped to 104 votes, but he still won.

No Democrat filed in the heavily Republican district, so Shine will replace White in January.

* * *

Trump Junior? ... While many mainstream Republicans fear damage Donald Trump's presidential bid might cause their party nationally, Republicans in Travis County, home of the Texas Capitol, have the same concerns about their newly elected county party chairman.

Robert Morrow, known for scatological and conspiracy-theory charges on social media and elsewhere, got 55 percent against incumbent James Dickey.

Morrow didn't campaign or spend any money. He credits his win to his name being first on the ballot.

Morrow's allegations include Lyndon Johnson having John F. Kennedy assassinated, the Clintons and Bushes involved in organized crime, and some Texas Republican politicians had secret homosexual affairs.

County chairman duties? Morrow, at a recent precinct meeting, said he's "very concerned about keeping the nuts-and-bolts operation of the Travis County Republican Party going as it always has."

"However," he added, "I will oppose any Republican candidates who I think are criminals or murderers, or rapists or CIA drug smugglers ... I will continue to savagely attack and tell the truth about the corroded political scum in the Republican Party, just as I have told the truth about the Clintons."

Meanwhile, local Republican officials, and even Gov. Greg Abbott, hope to wire around the outspoken Morrow.

Legal eagles say there's no way to oust Morrow absent a felony conviction or retirement, the county party's vice chairman, Mack Mackowiak, is trying to find one.

Abbott's office issued a statement: "Robert Morrow in no way speaks for the Republican Party or its values. He cannot adequately represent the Travis County GOP."

Contact Dave McNeely at davemcneely111@gmail.com or 512-458-2963.
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This just in...
Updated at 04:00 p.m. EST on 2016-03-16

A North Korean court on Wednesday handed a prison term of 15 years at hard labor to detained U.S. college student Otto Warmbier for what official media called a serious offense against the reclusive, nuclear-armed state.



Warmbier, 21, and an undergraduate student at the University of Virginia, was taken into custody on Jan. 2 as he prepared to leave Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), at the end of a five-day visit arranged by China-based Young Pioneer Tours during the New Year.



He was later charged with attempting to steal a banner bearing a propaganda slogan from his hotel room in what state media called a hostile act aimed at destroying the unity of the North Korean people.



Warmbiers sentencing comes at a time of heightened tensions between North Korea and the United States, with U.S. forces conducting joint military exercises with South Korea, and the U.N. imposing new sanctions against Pyongyang for a recent nuclear test and missile launch.



The accused confessed to the serious offense against the DPRK he had committed, pursuant to the U.S. governments hostile policy toward it, the state-controlled KCNA news service said in a statement on Wednesday.



Warmbier had committed his crime in a bid to impair the unity of [North Koreas] people after entering it as a tourist, KCNA said.



'Outrageous, shocking'



New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) slammed Warmbiers sentence on Wednesday, calling the judgment against him outrageous and shocking.



To sentence him to 15 years of hard labor is absolutely ridiculous, Phil Robertson, Deputy Director of HRWs Asia Division, told RFAs Korean Service.



This is an indication of how completely out of line North Korea is, that they somehow assume that because a college kid did something like this, that they are somehow trying to destabilize the government.



It shows a degree of paranoia, Robertson said.



What he did would have been a misdemeanor offense in most other countries, and they should release him on humanitarian grounds and let him go home.



White House spokesman Josh Earnest called on North Korea on Wednesday to immediately free Warmbier, saying that Pyongyang uses U.S. citizens jailed in the country as "political pawns to pursue a political agenda."



U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner meanwhile condemned Warmbier's sentence as "unduly harsh."



"The Department of State strongly recommends against all travel by U.S. citizens to North Korea," Toner added.

Reported by RFAs Korean Service and Richard Finney.


Military lawmakers arrive at parliament in Naypyidaw to cast votes for Myanmar's next president, March 15, 2016.

Myanmars military commander-in-chief on Wednesday endorsed incoming president Htin Kyaw and pledged that the countrys armed forces will cooperate with the new administration to bring stability, peace, unity and development to the country.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaings nod to Htin Kyaw from the National League of Democracy (NLD) party, which swept last Novembers national elections, comes as the government military continues to engage in hostilities with armed ethnic militias in various parts of the nation.

It is hereby announced that the Tatmadaw [military] takes pride in U [honorific] Htin Kyaws being elected as the President at the Second Union Parliament, and it will continue cooperating in every sector for the emergence of peace, unity and development, read a statement posted by the Office of the Commander-in-Chief on Facebook.

Htin Kyaw will take over from current President Thein Sein from the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) at the end of the month and appoint a cabinet.

The interests of the military, which controls a quarter of the seats in parliament and appointments to three key security ministries, will be represented in the new government by retired Lieutenant General Myint Swe, the 64-year-old chief minister of Yangon region, who was voted in by lawmakers as one of Myanmars two vice presidents on March 15.

No easy time ahead

Pyi Thway Naing, editor-in-chief of Khit Yanant monthly magazine, said Myint Swes appointment as first vice president would harm the powerful militarys relationship with citizens and cause problems for the NLD government.

When the military members of parliament [MPs] nominated Myint Swe as a vice president, people around the country were disappointed because they felt they were ignoring their wishes, he said.

As everybody knows, Myint Swe has connections with businessmen, has been tied to corruption, and is a hard-liner, he said, noting that the retired army officer had ordered crackdowns on democratic forces, especially Buddhist monks who led anti-government protests during the 2007 Saffron Revolution.

Myint Swe is on the U.S. governments list of sanctioned individuals for his actions under Myanmars military government, which was in power for a half-century until 2011.

Pyi Thway Naing also said the NLD would encounter difficulties in trying to work with Myint Swe.

I feel there will be problems between the NLD and him soon, he said.

Writer Nyi Pu Lay compared Myint Swe to a vulture among sparrows in parliament.

He will definitely become uncomfortable among other MPs who attend parliamentary meetings happily and in unity, he said. The NLD MPs will think about, decide and make laws based on the interests of the people. The military MPs will think about laws based on their self-interest.

Nevertheless, Nyi Pu Lay said he believes that military deputies will not pose a problem in parliament because the NLD holds more seats than they do.

There will be different perspectives or ways of thinking in parliament, but it will appear as though he [Myint Swe] is hanging by his neck if he does something against the NLDs MPs, he said.

Unity and discipline

NLD chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi issued a statement on Wednesday thanking lawmakers, especially deputies from her party who voted in unity and with discipline, for selecting Htin Kyaw as president and ethnic Chin lawmaker Henry Van Thio as second vice president.

In her first official statement following their elections, she also said she believes that Myanmar will overcome challenges to peace and national reconciliation after decades-long civil wars by cooperating with others in the government.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been at loggerheads with the military, which opposed changes she wanted to make to the constitution that would have reduced its power in parliament and allowed her to become president.

Aung San Suu Kyi is barred from the top office by a provision in the constitution, drafted in 2008 when the military junta ruled the country, which prohibits anyone with foreign-born relatives from becoming president.

After the NLD won the November elections, she met with Min Aung Hlaing three times to discuss the transfer of power to the new government led by her party, although pundits speculated that the meetings were ineffectual.

Activist Mya Aye, one of the members of Myanmars pro-democracy 88 Generation Student group, said it would be difficult for the NLD to work with the military deputies in parliament because they control 25 percent of the body's seats.

The NLD has to operate according to the constitution, he said. It will be difficult for the NLD to proceed because it must work with a group [the military] which has different experiences and perspectives.

Reported by Thinn Thiri and others for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Police escort former army Lt. Gen. Manas Kongpaen, a key defendant in a major human trafficking case in Thailand, and other defendants to a courtroom at the Bangkok criminal courthouse, Nov. 13, 2015.

The largest human-trafficking trial in Thai history opened Tuesday with testimony from a Rohingya man who told a harrowing tale of deception and suffering at the hands of people-smugglers.

Former Thai army Lt. Gen. Manas Kongoaen and 89 other defendants went on trial in Bangkok on charges of being involved in a transnational human-trafficking ring stretching from Myanmar to Malaysia via Thailand.

Both hands were tied with rope and we were forced to board the vessel, walk down to the second deck and sit on a cramped floor, Roshiduila, the Rohingya witness and a trafficking victim, testified in describing the start of his five-day sea journey from Myanmar to Ranonga port on Thailands Andaman Sea coastearly last year.

The trial of the defendants who include Manas and other army officers, policemen and government officials from several provinces in southern Thailand, is expected to last till mid-December.

Key charges against the defendants include human trafficking involving international crimes, illegally holding others and concealing bodies. The human trafficking charges carry a sentence of up to 15 years and a fine of up to 1 million baht (U.S. $28,469), if convicted.

Manas and the scores of co-defendants were chained at the ankles as they sat together on benches in the courtroom during the first day of their trial.

Manas and the others were arrested last year as part of a Thai crackdown on illegal immigration. The crackdown was triggered in May 2015, when the bodies of 32 suspected undocumented migrants were discovered at traffickers camps abandoned in the jungle in Songkhla province, near Thailands border with Malaysia.

Southern Thailand has long been a transit point for Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar and Bangladeshi migrants trying to enter Malaysia illegally by sea and land.

The discovery of the graves also led to Thailand imposing a maritime blockade on smugglers boats trying to land on its shores. The blockade precipitated a humanitarian crisis in Southeast Asia as thousands of desperate Rohingyas and Bangladeshis came ashore in nearby Malaysia and Indonesia.

Deceived

Roshiduila, a native of Hisuritha village in Myanmars Rakhine state, was the first witness called to the stand and the only one who testified on Tuesday.

Through an interpreter he testified that a local constable, Hashimyuila, served as a major broker who lured Rohingya Muslims into the clutches of a human-trafficking ring.

According to Roshiduila, Hashimyuila promised people like him a better life in Malaysia, away from persecution in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar.

Hashimyuila told me and three other friends there were jobs in the construction sector, and each would earn 1,500 ringgit (U.S. $361) a month, Roshiduila said, adding that the broker promised a journey in an air-conditioned cruiser.

Roshiduila said that he and some other villagers believed that the constable would not cheat them, so they decided to take a chance. One night early last year, he and 20 people from the village embarked on a small boat from a nearby pier.

The boat sailed to a rally point in the Andaman Sea, where many other victims of trafficking were forced to board fishing boats, he testified.

Some of them tried to resist, but they were kicked and forced to board the vessel by 10 Burmese-speaking men who were armed.

Roshiduila, who understands some Burmese, said he heard guards mention that the number of passengers had reached 270. The ship set sail the next evening.

He said guards told them they needed to keep quiet, that they would receive one meal a day along with a small portion of water twice daily, and could use a restroom once a day.

At the end of his testimony, Roshiduila identified photos of seven Thai and foreign traffickers whom he encountered at trafficking camps in Ranong. He referred to them as big bosses.

Testimony is scheduled to resume on Wednesday and go on through Friday.

During their arraignment in November, 88 suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges, as did two more suspects on Tuesday. Two other suspects are in custody but have not been charged. Investigators said another 61 suspects remain at large.

Back in November, a judge said that the court expected to hear from more than 400 witnesses as well as defendants.

Trial concerns

Meanwhile, a U.S.-based human rights advocacy group warned that the trial could be flawed.

Amy Smith, executive director of Fortify Rights, cited the fact that a key potential witness, former Thai Police Maj. Gen. Paween Pongsirin, the policeman who had headed the investigation into the transnational ring, fled to Australia in December, saying he feared for his safety after Thai authorities ordered a stop to the probe.

Pongsirin is a key witness in this case, and the fact that he fled Thailand in advance of this trial, fearing for his life, is deeply concerning, Smith said.

Weve talked to other witnesses who are also afraidand for good reason. Witnesses in this case are testifying against members of the Thai Army, Navy, Police, the Internal Security Operation Command and others, she added.

In addition, according to Fortify Rights, Thailand has failed to provide adequate protection to witnesses.

Of the hundreds of witnesses scheduled to testify, we are aware of only 12 that are receiving formal protection under the Ministry of Justice. If Thailand is genuine about seeing justice served in this case, protection of witnesses needs to be a top priority, Smith said.

Reported by RFA
An imam and eight farmers from a village in Aksu (in Chinese, Akesu) prefecture are serving prison sentences from seven to nine years for practicing their religion during Chinas strike hard campaign to crack down on ethnic Uyghurs in the countrys restive northwestern Xinjiang region, according to local residents and officials.

The imam, Eziz Emet, 47, who was arrested in May 2015, received a nine-year sentence last September for teaching religion illegally in the prefectures Peyshenbebazar village, while the farmers each received a seven-year sentence for praying together in places that authorities had not designated for Muslim worship, according to information recently obtained by RFAs Uyghur Service.

Among the farmers were Turdi Mamut, 57, Turdi Abla, 35, Tursun Mamut, 61, Ismail Awut, 62, Ablikim Tursun, 17, Exet Awut, 25, Abla Awut, 59, and Memet Setirash,42, all of whom authorities arrested in September of 2014 and sentenced last February, said Mamut Awut, security chairman of Peyshenbebazar village.

Although the sentencings occurred six to 13 months ago, a letter from a village resident sent recently to RFA said the imam and the farmers had now joined the ranks of political prisoners who number one per every three families in Peyshenbebazaran unusually high figure for a village where about 300 families comprise a population of 1,500 people.

I know that eight farmers were sentenced for seven years for praying together, Awut said. We warned them not to say Friday prayers separately, not following the designated imam, but they had prayed on Fridays together in different places four times in six months."

The farmers also had organized religious gatherings at other peoples homes, he said.

Strike hard begins

After a deadly suicide bombing in May 2014 in Xinjiangs regional capital Urumqi, Chinese authorities, who blamed the attack on Uyghur separatists, rolled out the strike hard campaign to crack down on members of the Turkic-speaking, Muslim minority group.

The campaign included police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people, including videos and other material.

It was during this time that authorities in Aykol township deemed the Peyshenbebazar village farmers private prayer sessions at places they had not officially designated for worship as a sign of religious extremism, Awut said.

As a result, the men were arrested and indicted on religion extremism charges, he said.

They were all obedient people,  but because they prayed separately instead of following the government-designated imam, they were wrong, Awut said. It was a clear expression of dissatisfaction with the government.

Awut, who helped local police conduct the search and arrest operations, said he never imagined that they would be sentenced for years.

Because most of the farmers have three or four young children, their wives have had to take on work as hired hands to support their families while their husbands are in prison, he said.

When RFA contacted the Aykol township police station, an officer who declined to give his name said he did not know exactly how many people from the village were behind bars.

But he confirmed that the number of political prisoners in the village was higher than it was in other places, because of a protest by Uyghurs on Aug. 8, 2013, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when authorities fired on a crowd, killing at least three people and injuring 50 others.

After the violent incident, Aykol township became a major focus of a crackdown by Chinese authorities, who rolled out the strike hard campaign the following year to stamp out acts of terrorism or Islamic extremism in Xinjiang.

Since then, local police have carried out more investigations and arrests of Uyghurs in Peyshenbebazar, according to officials and residents.

The map shows Aksu prefecture in northwestern China's Xinjiang region. RFA graphic Closed-door trials

The trials during which the farmers were sentenced were not open to public, although some family members were allowed to attend, said prisoner Turdi Mamuts 52-year-old wife Ayshigul, who was present at the sentencings.

I did not hear anything that indicated that these eight people committed any crimes, but only prayed together outside the government-designated mosque, she said.

I was baffled, she said. There were no religiously educated people who could interpret the Quran among them. Their knowledge of Islam is merely sufficient for them to fulfill the required prayers five times a day.

She added that she did not know why the farmers were considered a national security threat, because they were not involved in any other religious activities.

The whole neighborhood was shocked by their arrest, she said.

Mamut Awut also said he assisted with the arrest of imam Eziz Emet when a local police officer who only gave his first name Gheyret came to the village at the end of last April to apprehend him.

When Emet, who is a government-designated iman, insisted that he had not committed any crime, Awut told him that he need not be afraid if he hadnt done anything wrong and could clear up any misunderstandings.

Afterwards, when neither Awut nor Emets family received any information about him from police, some recently released prisoners informed them that Emet had been sentenced to nine years for illegally teaching religion to students, he said.

Although Emet had taught some teenagers how to read the Quran and some Quranic verses for praying, he had not imparted anything concerning extremist beliefs or ideology that went against the governments policies, Awut said.

I do not know why the government was suspicious about him, Awut said, adding that teaching a few teenagers how to read the Quran is deemed normal practice.

He did it during the strike hard campaignthat is why, he said.

Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Mamatjan Juma. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Soviet-era Belarusian dissident Syarhey Khanzhankou has passed away at the age of 74.

Khanzhankou's wife, Alena Skamyanava, told RFE/RL that her husband died due to a long-term illness on March 16 in Minsk.

Khanzhankou was born in the Soviet Union's remote Magadan region, known for its notorious gulag labor camps.

His father and grandfather were political prisoners and served time in Magadan.

Khanzhankou was sentenced to 10 years in jail in 1963 after a court in Minsk found him guilty of "anti-Soviet propaganda" and "an attempted terrorist act."

Khanzhankou and two friends planned to blow up a transmission tower near Minsk that was used by the Soviets to jam programs by Western radio stations, including RFE/RL and Voice of America. The men were arrested before they could carry out their plan.

After completing his prison term in 1973, Khanzhankou was allowed to return to Minsk.
The Georgian Prosecutor's office announced on March 15 that charges have been brought against five people in connection with illegal video footage featuring prominent political figures engaging in sexual intercourse.

The investigation that led to those arrests was launched before the release over the past five days of two such video clips, which Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani told the British daily The Guardian were made during the period when former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement (ENM) was in power.

Prosecutor Koka Katsitadze has declined to confirm or deny a direct connection between the recent leaks and the charges brought against the five.

The first clip, uploaded on March 11, reportedly featured a leading member of the opposition Free Democrats party.The second, uploaded on March 14, featured people who have not been identified and contained a warning voiced by a speaker off-screen to three politicians, one from the opposition and two from the ruling Georgian Dream coalition, plus one journalist, that comparable footage of them in intimate situations would be made public unless they withdrew from political activity by March 31 and left the country.

Most Georgian media outlets have declined to identify the politicians involved. But journalist Inga Grigolia, one of those threatened, responded by publicly reaffirming her right "as a woman, a mother, a daughter and a girlfriend" to continue enjoying sex with her lover.

'Dark Forces'

The clips, both of which were removed within hours of being posted, elicited widespread public condemnation. Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili responded to the first case with a statement in which he denounced the posting as "vile" and warned that whoever filmed and circulated the clip will be made to answer before the law. He pledged to "do everything to ensure that such horrible recordings disappear from our lives once and for all."

President Giorgi Margvelashvili responded only after the second clip surfaced on March 14. He assured those targeted of the authorities' full support and, echoing Kvirikashvili, warned that the "dark forces" that seek to "terrorize" and "blackmail" will be identified and apprehended.

This is by no means the first instance in recent Georgian history in which a video leak has made waves. A clip of a prisoner being sodomized by wardens with a broom handle, made public just weeks before the October 2012 parliamentary ballot, may well have contributed to the defeat of Saakashvili's ENM by the Georgian Dream coalition.

After the March 11 footage surfaced, Free Democrats' chairman Irakli Alasania construed it as an attack on his party in the run-up to parliamentary elections due in October. The posting of a second clip threatening the ruling coalition casts doubt on that argument, however.

According to Tsulukiani, the Georgian authorities have already formally requested help from the U.S. FBI and from a second country she declined to name in determining where the videos had been uploaded from. Georgian Dream, which came to power in 2012, pledged to destroy incriminating video footage and telephone conversations of political figures accumulated by the Interior Ministry under the ENM, but this has clearly not been done systematically.

On March 15, the prosecutor's office released a detailed account of how clandestinely filmed video footage of a politician from Georgian Dream was offered in mid-December to Eliso Kaladze, an editor for the Tbilisi-based newspaper Khronika+. That footage reportedly originated with Zurab Jamalashvili, a former employee of the Department for Constitutional Security who was arrested on March 15 together with his lawyer Irakli Pkhaladze. Both men deny owning or circulating any incriminating video footage.


All eyes may be on Russia's pullout in Syria.

But we should also be paying close attention to the Kremlin's next moves in Ukraine.

This is true because Syria and Ukraine are two fronts in one war that Moscow is fighting with the West -- and deescalation on one front has tended to mean escalation on the other.

This is true because the Kremlin is clearly hoping to leverage its success in Syria with a win in Ukraine as well.

This is true because Moscow thinks it has found a template in Syria to return to great power status.

This is true because Western resolve to keep sanctions in place appears to be weakening.

And this is true because Ukraine fatigue appears to be rising in Western capitals.

The Kremlin probably senses an opening in Ukraine -- and we should expect them to exploit it.

In a televised interview this past weekend, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov appeared to telegraph the pivot when he called on the United States to pressure Kyiv to implement the Minsk agreement -- presumably on Moscow's terms.

Russia will try to leverage the momentum from its Syrian gambit to get a final settlement in Ukraine that preserves Moscow's influence in the Donbas and gives it a virtual veto over Kyiv's political direction.

It will try to coax the West into forgetting about Crimea, lifting sanctions, and getting on with business as usual.

And if that doesn't work, well then the military card is always on the table.

Keep telling me what you think on The Power Vertical's Twitter feed and on our Facebook page.
The Daily Vertical is a video primer for Russia-watchers that appears Monday through Friday. Viewers can suggest topics via Twitter @PowerVertical or on the Power Vertical Facebook page.

A transcript of today's Daily Vertical can be found here.
Iran has slammed a United Nations report criticizing human rights in the Islamic republic.

Ahmed Shaheed, the UN's special rapporteur on Iran, raised concerns about the extremely high rate of executions, especially for juvenile offenders, in the country.

In his report to the UN Human Rights Council on March 14, Shaheed said "with at least 16 juvenile offenders reportedly hanged in 2014-15, Iran remains one of a few countries still resorting to this practice despite a strict prohibition against it under international law."

But Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari said in a statement on March 16 that Shaheed's report was "biased and pursues to achieve political purposes."

Iran is "committed to its obligations with regards to promotion of human rights in compliance with the constitution and religious values" and is preparing a charter on citizens rights, he added.

Shaheed noted that individuals accused of national security and drug-related crimes in Iran are often deprived of the most basic due process and fair trial rights.

Based on reporting by AFP and IRNA
Pakistani military courts have sentenced 13 militants to death for terrorism-related offenses, including the 2013 massacre of 10 foreign mountaineers, the army said on March 15.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan member Irfan Ullah was sentenced for the attack on the base camp at Nanga Parbat, Pakistan's second-highest mountain, which shocked the world and hurt the country's climbing tourism industry.

Gunmen dressed in police uniforms stormed the camp and shot dead 10 mountaineers from the United States, China, and other countries.

The army described the offenders as "hard-core terrorists" who committed "heinous offenses relating to terrorism," including attacking schools and an airport and killing security officials and civilians.

Pakistan has hanged more than 300 people since lifting a moratorium on the death penalty in December 2014. Many were convicted in closed military courts, which critics say fail to meet fair trial standards.

Pakistan amended its constitution to allow military courts to try hard-core militants after Taliban gunmen killed more than 150 people, most of them children, at an army-run school in Peshawar on December 16, 2014.

Based on reporting by AFP and dpa


Pakistan's Supreme Court has lifted a travel ban imposed on the country's former President Pervez Musharraf.

The ban, imposed in 2013, was removed in a court ruling on March 16.

The former military ruler returned to Pakistan to take part in elections in March 2013 but was barred from running and instead became embroiled in several court cases, including one that involved treason charges.

Musharraf's lawyers say he needs to go abroad for urgent spinal treatment not available in Pakistan.

The 70-year-old Musharraf took power in a 1999 coup by dismissing the government of then-and-now Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He stepped down in 2008 and left Pakistan.

The court decision pits Pakistan's powerful military, which is believed to still back Musharraf, against the civilian government, which wants him to face the courts.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP
A leading Russian rights activist has been attacked by masked men in Grozny, pelted with eggs, paint, and a cake after he was evicted from the hotel he was staying in.

Igor Kalyapin, who heads the Committee to Prevent Torture, had traveled to Grozny to witness the latest proceedings against two Ukrainian men facing charges for allegedly fighting against Russian forces during the first Chechen war in 1996.

Late on March 16, Kalyapin was ordered to leave his hotel by the hotel's administrator, accompanied by armed men.

As Kalyapin stood on the sidewalk outside the hotel, an RFE/RL correspondent watched as around 15 masked men attacked him, throwing eggs, paint, some sort of powder on him, and punching and kicking him.

Kalyapin did not appear to be seriously injured.

The incident happened a week after a minibus belonging to the Committee to Prevent Torture and carrying activists and journalists traveling to Grozny was attacked by some 20 masked men with knives and clubs.

Some of the journalists' equipment was smashed or stolen.
Moscow officials have recently demonstrated how modern technology can help them maintain city infrastructure -- with Photoshop.

On March 7, Voykovsky district resident Maria Lavrova filed a complaint with Our City, the official mayoral portal. She attached a photo of the outside of her apartment building saying that a trashcan installed a week prior was now missing.

After three days, an official responded to the complaint. "The management organization installed a trashcan at the indicated address," wrote Nikolai Kargin, acting head of the Voykovsky district.

He attached a photo to prove it.

What appears however, is simply an enlarged and retouched version of the picture submitted by Lavrova. A trashcan has been added in, apparently with the help of photo-editing software.

It is unclear if the authorities did actually install a trashcan, and simply used the photo for illustrative purposes. When contacted by RFE/RL's Current Time TV, a person who picked up the phone in Kargin's office refused to "share information" about the use of Photoshop or similar software on the website, or whether the trashcan had actually been replaced. She said the acting head is currently on vacation.

This would not be the first time Moscow officials have turned to altered images to address residents complaints. In 2013, the Moscow Orekhovo-Borisovo Severnoye district council head was fired after using retouched photos as proof that snow had been removed from district streets.

Local resident and blogger Yury Ursu had used the Our City portal to request that something be done about the snow. But as he later pointed out on his blog, where he published before-and-after photos, along with the snow someone had Photoshopped out graffiti reading: "Death to meat!"


When her 19-year-old daughter passed away two years ago after being hit by a car at a Moscow crosswalk, Yelena Sablina was devastated.

One month after burying Alina, her only child, Sablina suffered another shattering blow.

While perusing documents connected to the criminal case against the driver who killed Alina, she found out that her daughter had been laid to rest without seven of her organs, including her heart, kidneys, and part of her lungs.

"It was a shock because her organs had been removed without our consent," she says. "My child was gutted like a pig."

Sablina has since sought justice for what she considers a gross violation of both her daughter's dignity and her own rights as a mother.

Her legal battle ended last week when Russia's Constitutional Court refused to reconsider a previous court decision clearing the doctors who removed Alina's organs, stating that Russian medical institutions had the legal right to harvest organs from the deceased without notifying relatives.

Sablina's case has raised difficult ethical issues and revealed uncomfortable truths about what many health experts describe as Russia's flawed regulations governing organ-procurement practices.

"The law creates a complete lack of control over organ harvesting," Sablina charges. "People are buried and no one is even told that their organs were removed."

Last week's ruling has sparked an outcry among religious leaders in Russia.

"We understand that organs are needed for transplants, but taking them against the will of relatives and loved ones is inconceivable," says Chief Rabbi Berl Lazar.

Dmitry Pershin, a senior cleric from the Russian Orthodox Church, suggests that Russia introduce a voluntary donation system like those operating in the United States and other Western countries.

'Opt-Out System'

Russia has a so-called opt-out system, under which all adult citizens are presumed to have given consent to their organs being donated after their death unless they sign a notarized document stating otherwise.

Few Russians, however, are aware of this.

An opt-out system has been in place for decades in Israel, Singapore, and a number of European countries including Spain, Europe's leader in organ transplantation.

Organ donation advocates have long argued that the opposite opt-in system, in which donors must register their consent during their lifetime, has restricted the number of available organs and caused the death of countless patients waiting for a transplant.

But in Russia, health professionals say the effective absence of a national transplantation mechanism is canceling the benefits of an opt-out system.

Russia still performs very few organ transplants compared with Western countries, with fewer than 2,000 operations carried out in 2015.

Experts also warn that the vagueness of the country's law on organ donation, compounded by a lack of public awareness, has opened the door to violations, disputes, and public outrage.

"Presumed consent should not be in place in countries where people have a low level of trust in transplantology and in the health-care system," insists Vasily Vlasov, the president of the Russian Society for Evidence-Based Medicine and a professor at the Higher School of Economics.

Vlasov and other health professionals have long called on Russian authorities to switch to voluntary donation.

As a result of what he calls "substandard practices in transplantology," Vlasov says organs are often removed but not preserved, illegally handed over, and in some cases even sold by corrupt hospital staff.

"All this uncertainty fuels a deep distrust in the transplantation system among Russians," he says.

According to Sablina's lawyer, only three of the seven organs that doctors admitted harvesting from Alina actually featured in the hospital's official inventory.

Despite these troubling revelations, Vlasov says Sablina has been fighting a losing battle in Russian courts.

"In this case, the letter of the law was respected," he says. "But I very much want to believe that a wider public discussion will finally take place, and I hope this case will help foster such a discussion."

Prepped For Organ Harvesting

Russia's existing legislation on organ donation, which dates back to 1992, effectively allows doctors to hide the harvesting of organs from families in order to sidestep their potential opposition to the procedure.

And while the secrecy may help save lives, grieving relatives who accidentally find out about the postmortem surgery are often left feeling heartbroken and cheated.

"By concealing the planned organ removal, doctors create an artificial presumed consent," says Sablina's lawyer, Anton Burkov, co-director of the Yekaterinburg-based legal NGO Sutyazhnik.

In Alina Sablina's case, Burkov says doctors prepped the young woman for organ harvesting over a period of six days as her parents sat outside intensive care fervently hoping for her recovery.

"In court, we were able to establish that the head of the intensive-care unit called transplantologists the day after Alina was hospitalized and informed them that he had a potential donor," he says.

Yelena Sablina, who had flown from her hometown of Yekaterinburg to be close to her daughter, says she and Alina's father were deliberately kept in the dark.

"We spent these six days in the hospital, we visited the intensive care unit twice a day, we literally lived in the hospital," she says. "We were never asked if we consented to her organs being removed."

On the last day of Alina's life, her parents were barred from entering the intensive-care unit.

Sablina says doctors didn't even bother informing them that their daughter had passed away. She learned about Alina's death when a funeral home called her the next day to offer its services.

"This is inhumane," she says.

Sablina is now pinning her hopes on the European Court of Human Rights, in the French city of Strasbourg.

She, too, hopes her daughter's story will help generate a long-overdue public discussion on organ donation in Russia.

"People don't want to know about this law until the moment it personally affects them," she says. "I'm trying to draw attention to this issue so people know that such inhumane laws exist in our country. Changes need to be made to render these laws more compassionate."


KYIV -- Ukrainian officials said vile Russian missile strikes on civilian energy sites have caused power outages nationwide, leaving more than a million households without electricity, while Russian authorities ordered residents to leave Kherson "immediately" ahead of an expected effort by Kyivs forces to retake the crucial southern city.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, Russian protests, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Telegram on October 22 that Russia carried out a "massive attack" on Ukraine overnight and that "the aggressor continues to terrorize our country."



"At night, the enemy launched a massive attack: 36 rockets, most of which were shot down...These are vile strikes on critical objects. Typical tactics of terrorists," he wrote. "The world can and must stop this terror."



Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of Zelenskiys office, said Ukrainian air defense forces had shot down 18 of the missiles.



Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a number of missiles had been shot down on the approach to the capital.



"Several rockets flying toward Kyiv were shot down in the region by air defense forces. Thanks to our defenders!" Klitschko said.



There was no immediate word on deaths related to the missile attacks, but officials said several people had been injured.



It was not possible to verify the reports on either side.



In the face of continued Russian strikes, Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba again urged Ukraine's Western allies to speed up the delivery of modern air defense systems.



"We intercepted some, others hit the targets. Air defense saves lives. In [Western] capitals, there should not be a single minute of delay in the decision regarding air defense systems for Ukraine," Kuleba said.



Local officials said power stations were hit in the regions of Odesa, Kirovohrad, and Lutsk, while other regions reported problems with electricity.



"Another rocket attack from terrorists who are fighting against civilian infrastructure and people," the Ukrainian president's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, wrote on the Telegram app.



Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told a government meeting that from October 10 to October 20, Russian strikes damaged more than 400 facilities in 16 regions of Ukraine, including dozens of energy facilities.



"The Russian Army has identified our energy sector as one of the key targets for its attacks," Shmyhal said on October 21.



"Russian propagandists and officials speak openly about the purpose of all these attacks: Ukraine, according to them, should be left without water, without light, without heat," he said.



Meanwhile, Russian-appointed authorities in the occupied and illegally seized southern Kherson region on October 22 ordered the estimated 60,000 residents of the region's eponymous main city to leave "immediately" in the face of Kyiv's advancing counteroffensive.



"Due to the tense situation on the front, the increased danger of mass shelling of the city and the threat of terrorist attacks, all civilians must immediately leave the city and cross to the left bank of the Dnieper River," the region's Russia-backed authorities said on social media.

Russina-installed officials are moving people out of the strategic city in what they are calling an evacuation but which Ukrainian officials label as deportations.



The order came in spite of a claim by Russia's Defense Ministry on October 22 that its forces had prevented an attempt by Ukraine to break through its line of control in Kherson.



"All attacks were repulsed, the enemy was pushed back to their initial positions," the Defense Ministry said, adding that Ukraine's offensive was launched toward the settlements of Piatykhatky, Suhanove, Sablukivka and Bezvodne, on the west side of the Dnieper River.



The ministry's statement said Russian forces had also repelled attacks in the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.



Kherson city, which had a prewar population of 280,000, is one of the first urban areas occupied by Russia at the start of the invasion.



Zelenskiys office said 88 settlements in the southern Kherson region and 551 settlements in the northeastern Kharkiv region have been de-occupied, while the Ukrainian forces' counteroffensive in the Kherson region moves ahead.



Ukraine is trying to drive Russian forces in Kherson back east across the Dnieper. Russian soldiers on the western bank, where the city of Kherson is located, are reportedly close to being cut off from supply lines and reinforcements.



Natalya Humenyuk, a spokeswoman for Ukraines southern operational command, said the Ukrainian military struck the Antonivskiy Bridge over the Dnieper in the city of Kherson during an overnight curfew Russia-installed officials put in place to avoid civilian casualties.



We do not attack civilians and settlements," Humenyuk told Ukrainian television.



Ukrainian strikes made the Antonivskiy Bridge inoperable, prompting Russian authorities to set up ferry crossings and pontoon bridges to relocate civilians and transport supplies.



Russia has sent in thousands of recently mobilized troops to reinforce the defense of Kherson, the General Staff said on October 21.



Zelenskiy again on October 21 urged the West to warn Russia not to blow up a dam at the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant on the Dnieper River as this could flood settlements toward Kherson.



Zelenskiy said Russian forces had planted explosives inside the dam, which holds back an enormous reservoir, and were planning to blow it up.



"Now everyone in the world must act powerfully and quickly to prevent a new Russian terrorist attack. Destroying the dam would mean a large-scale disaster," he said in his nightly address.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP, and the BBC
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has arrived in Pakistan for a two-day visit that is expected to focus on a proposed gas pipeline from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan, Pakistan, and on to India.

The project, known as TAPI, is aimed at meeting the regions energy needs.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif received Berdymukhammedov in Islamabad on March 16.

The rare visit is considered important, especially as Russia no longer buys Turkmen gas.

The four countries' leaders broke ground for the billion-dollars project last December in the Turkmen city of Mary.

Sharif has been ambitious about the pipeline ever since he took office in mid-2013 after winning elections on a major promise of making Pakistan energy self-sufficient.

Based on reporting by AP and Xinhua


GRUNDY, Virginia -- When Kristin Mullins graduated from high school 12 years ago, the expectation was that many of her classmates would work underground: digging in the rich coal seams of this eastern seaboard state, extracting coal destined for American steel mills, and pulling in upward of $50,000 a year, an enviable salary in hardscrabble Appalachia.

No more, she says.

"There's a few who want to do what dad done, and grandpa done, and great grandpa done, but all of them aren't like that," Mullins, a 30-year-old nurse who's currently out of work, says. "And even if you do have these [university] degrees, you can't necessarily come back home because there's no job here for you to come back here to, which all revolves around the coal industry bottoming out."

The coal industry is in decline and jobs are scarce, young people are moving away, and the man to whom people here in this Blue Ridge Mountain state are looking for answers is the unlikeliest of candidates: a flamboyant real-estate tycoon and reality-TV star from New York City named Donald Trump.

"I would call it angry desperation. They're mad and they're angry and they're also desperate for help and answers," Mullins says.

The contest to succeed two-term President Barack Obama in the White House has entered unfamiliar waters this primary season.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was widely believed to be a shoo-in for the Democratic Party nomination, but she's been dogged by perceptions about her trustworthiness and ties to Wall Street. That's given her opponent, independent Senator Bernie Sanders, room to pose a serious challenge, although Clinton won Virginia's March 1 primary handily.

But on the Republican side, the campaign has taken on a circus atmosphere. Trump, a brash billionaire who has said Mexico is sending its "rapists" to the United States, Muslims should be barred from entering the country, and he has a "great relationship with the blacks," is closing in on the Republican nomination despite the party leadership's furious efforts to prevent it.

And it's in working-class, mostly white places like here in Buchanan County, wedged between West Virginia and Kentucky, where his campaign for the White House has gained the greatest momentum.

Populated by what Brookings Institution demographer William Frey recently called "a nonurban, blue-collar and now apparently quite angry population," Grundy and the surrounding county feel left behind by the high-tech revolution and the waning of heavy industry in the United States.

"They're not people who have moved around a lot, and things have been changing away from them," Frey was quoted as saying in The New York Times, "but they live in areas that feel stagnant in a lot of ways."

'War On Coal'

In rustic Buchanan County, 94 percent of residents are white and pickup trucks are the vehicle of choice -- many carry bumper stickers declaring the primacy of the region's main industry through slogans like "Can't Keep The Lights On in America Without Coal From Virginia" or "Stop The War On Coal."

For generations, coal has been the lifeblood in the region known as Appalachia, which includes southwestern Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, and parts of Pennsylvania.

That's changed drastically in the past 20 years. A major consumer of coal, the U.S. steel industry, has struggled against cheaper imports, closing down smelters from Pennsylvania to Ohio and cutting the demand for metallurgical coal, the higher-grade coal found in Buchanan and surrounding areas.

In the past five years, a global supply glut has driven down coal prices drastically. The company that operates Buchanan County's largest functioning coal mine reported a steep fall in fourth-quarter prices, from $68.58 per ton in 2014 to $48.41 in 2015.

That's resulted in a dramatic exodus, particularly of young families, as people search for jobs. Buchanan County's population fell from 26,978 at the time of the 2000 Census to a reported 23,106 in 2014. Its school-age population has declined from around 9,600 in the late 1990s to fewer than 2,800 today.

In Buchanan County, where the mining industry is the largest private employer, the official jobless rate is around 10.8 percent. (Locals say the figure is even higher.) State figures show that Virginia had more than 11,100 coal-industry jobs in 1988; today, fewer than 2,800 remain.

WATCH: Virginia Resident Kristin Mullins Explains Why She Supports Donald Trump For President

Blame for the county's misfortunes has largely been directed at one place: Washington, where the political atmosphere is deeply calcified and a Democratic presidential administration wary of the dangers of manmade climate change has aggressively pushed regulations curtailing operations at coal-fired power plants around the United States.

The result has been a rallying cry promoted heavily by Republicans and currently reflected in yard signs and bumper stickers accusing Obama of conducting a "war on coal." That has shifted voting patterns in and around Buchanan County, whose congressional district seat went to a Republican in 2011 for the first time in nearly 30 years.

"Everybody in the county that works, they don't mind taking a cut. They just want a job tomorrow. And the coal industry, with the political atmosphere in Washington? You get the point," says Joe Street, 69, who's run a business supplying conveyors and other heavy machinery to mines and related industries since 1981.

"Who's looking after the coal companies? Who's looking after the people in West Virginia? In southwest Virginia? Are they out to destroy the coal market? That's the attitude people are taking in Buchanan County," he says. "The mood in Buchanan County is, you know, are we going to have jobs next year?"

Trump Turnout



On March 1, one day after the owner of the county's largest coal mine announced it was being sold to a private-equity company, Buchanan County voters turned out in big numbers to vote in Virginia's statewide presidential primaries.

Clinton beat Sanders in the Democratic primary, 64 to 35 percent.

Trump walked away with nearly 70 percent of the Republican vote in the primary -- trouncing second-place Florida Senator Marco Rubio (nearly 14 percent) and third-place Texas Senator Ted Cruz (nearly 12 percent) -- his highest tally of any county in the country so far.

The victory surprised some pundits. Trump hadn't even campaigned in Buchanan County; the closest he came was on February 29 in Radford, Virginia, a three-hour drive to the east over a mountain road.

Trump has offered few proposals that might specifically address the economic challenges that Buchanan faces. The Trump campaign's website suggests southwest Virginia has absorbed "the brunt of the failed and misguided government policies for years," accusing Obama of waging an "outright war on coal [that] has uprooted and destroyed families and entire communities."

It's a message that resounded with people like Deborah Bostic, a 53-year-old employee of a local state agency whose husband hasn't been able to find work since losing his job at a surface-mining operation last fall.



Trump "seems to be one that wants to, you might say, take the bulls by the horns. He seems like he'll just jump right in there and get things done," Bostic says.

"He's a businessman and he's very successful, and maybe it's time that someone runs the country like a business," she says.

Earl Cole, who publishes a local newspaper called The Voice and hosts a weekly morning radio program called County Talk, says Buchanan's voters are desperate but they're also deluded. He blames years of Republican rhetoric that ties the coal industry's downturn to Obama's policies, and argues that the misfortune predates Obama. What's more, he says, White House regulations have targeted power plants that use so-called thermal coal, not the high-quality metallurgical coal that's mined in Buchanan.

"No matter who you put in office, in 90 days, he'll look like the same person who left office, so people just don't have any hope in our government," Cole says.



"They've sowed so much 'hate' in Obama that no matter what Obama does, people hate him."


Iranian factory workers and shopkeepers went on strike on October 22 as nationwide protests sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, arrested for "improperly" wearing a head scarf entered a sixth week, activists said.

The death of 22-year-old Amini has fueled the biggest protests seen in the Islamic republic in years.

Young women have led the charge, removing their head scarves, chanting anti-government slogans, and confronting the security forces on the streets, despite a crackdown that rights groups say has killed at least 215 people, including 27 children.

Activists issued a call for fresh demonstrations as the Iranian working week got under way on October 22, but it was difficult to immediately assess the turnout due to curbs on Internet access.

"On Saturday... We will be together for freedom," activist Atena Daemi said in a Twitter post that bore an image of a bare-headed woman with her fist raised in the air.

The 1500tasvir social media channel said that there were "strikes in a couple of cities including Sanandaj, Bukan, and Saqez" but added that it was difficult to see evidence of them online as "the internet connection is too slow."

Saqez, in the western province of Kurdistan, is Amini's home town, where angry protests broke out at her burial last month, sparking the nationwide demonstrations.

The Norway-based Hengaw rights group also said that shopkeepers were on strike in Bukan, Sanandaj, Saqez, and Marivan.



At Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, dozens of students were seen in a video tweeted by 1500tasvir clapping and chanting during a protest on October 22.

Dozens of workers were seen gathering outside the Aidin chocolate factory in Tabriz, the capital of East Azerbaijan province, in other footage it shared.

The videos have not been independently verified.

People were also gathering abroad for rallies in solidarity with the Iranian protest movement.

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of Berlin to show support. Iranian activist Hamed Esmaeilion -- whose wife and daughter were killed when a Ukrainian passenger plane was shot down near Tehran in 2020 --is expected to be the main speaker in the German capital.



An online petition promoted by Esmaeilion asking the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations to expel the Islamic republic's diplomats has so far garnered nearly 657,000 signatures.

In Tokyo, demonstrators held up portraits of Amini and others who have been killed in the crackdown, as well as a banner bearing the protest slogan, "Women, life, freedom."

A teachers' union in Iran has called for a nationwide strike on October 23 and 24.

The Coordinating Council of Teachers Syndicates said the "sit-in" would be in response to "systematic oppression" by the security forces at schools.

The council identified in a statement four teenagers who had been killed in the crackdown -- Nika Shahkarami, Sarina Esmailzadeh, Abolfazl Adinezadeh, and Asra Panahi -- and said a large number of teachers had been arrested without charge.

"Iran's teachers do not tolerate these atrocities and tyranny and proclaims that we are for the people, and these bullets and pellets you shoot at the people target our lives and souls," it said.

Meanwhile Reza Pahlavi, the exiled former crown prince of Iran, stressed in a speech on October 20 to the protesters that there is a need to form a "pluralist provisional government" for the transition from Iran's Islamic republic.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian accused the United States of supporting the protests in an effort to win concessions in talks aimed at restarting the nuclear 2015 agreement.



"The Americans continue to exchange messages with us, but they are trying to fan the flames of what has been going on inside Iran in recent days," Amir-Abdollahian said during a visit to Armenia.

U.S. officials have dismissed Tehrans accusations that the weeks-long mass protests in Iran have been orchestrated by the United States or Israel

With reporting by AFP and dpa
A high ranking officer of Uzbekistan's National Security Service has committed suicide, the second case in a few months.

Two law enforcement sources in Uzbekistan told RFE/RL on March 15 that the deputy head of the service's technical supply and finance department, Igor Pirojkov, shot himself dead on March 6.

According to the sources, Pirojkov's department has been under investigation for alleged embezzlement.

In December, another officer from the National Security Service shot himself dead, the sources said.

There have been a number of suicides among law enforcement officers in Uzbekistan.

At least five police officers across Uzbekistan committed suicide in the period between April and December last year.
6 Iran used the Tomcats extensively in its eight-year war with Iraq in the 1980s. Defense industry reports said that Iran was able to deploy up to 60 F-14s in the early years of the war, but this was reduced to less than 30 by 1986, due to combat losses and attrition. Iran had to cannibalize aircraft deemed beyond repair and reverse-engineer some parts, while sourcing others on the black market, according to Jane's Defence Weekly.


On March 16, 2014, residents of the Crimean peninsula voted to join Russia in a referendum condemned as illegal by Ukraine and nearly 100 other countries. On March 21, Russia officially annexed the territory. In the two years since, members of the Crimean Tatar minority have been among the most vocal critics of the annexation, and their self-governing body, the Mejlis, has refused to recognize the change of government. Some Crimean Tatars have fled the peninsula, and others who remained in Crimea have cited harassment by the Moscow-backed authorities.
Virginia State Police have received grand jury approval to investigate Mayor Dwight C. Jones in the ongoing probe into the connection between Jones church and city government, Richmond Commonwealths Attorney Michael N. Herring said Wednesday.

The FBI is also participating in the investigation, which until recently has been characterized as a joint effort between the state police, Herrings office and the city auditors office, according to sources with knowledge of the investigation.

State police are barred under Virginia law from investigating an elected official without approval from the governor, attorney general or a grand jury.

Herring said the decision to seek authorization for an investigation into Jones is part of the process initiated when the mayor requested in January that state police review a city auditors report that found the director of public works, Emmanuel Adediran, was overseeing a church construction project on city time.

The request for the review logically must include the principal actor, Herring said. Its all part and parcel in the review of the church project.

Jones press secretary, Tammy D. Hawley, said she would not answer questions about the investigation until it is complete, but added: We welcome this action that allows the state police to undertake the review weve asked for.

However, in his letter, Jones asks only for a review of the activities of Adediran  not his own. The state police came away with a similar understanding, thanking him in a response later that month for asking the police to review and evaluate the activities and records of the Richmond Department of Public Works.

State police spokeswoman Corinne Geller declined to comment, as did a spokeswoman for the FBI.

Steven D. Benjamin, a defense attorney and frequent legal commentator, questioned the suggestion that the grand jurys action would naturally follow Jones request for review.

This is significant because it suggests a broader investigation than requested by the mayor, and a desire by law enforcement to protect the results of their investigation from future challenge, Benjamin said. Grand jury authorization for an investigation of an elected official is not part of the normal process of investigating a city employee or department.

Emails obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch showed Jones was copied on numerous emails sent by Adediran during working hours about the project at First Baptist Church of South Richmond, where the mayor is senior pastor. The emails also included quotes from contractors for church purchases that listed the city of Richmond as the billing recipient.

The scrutiny surrounding ties between First Baptist and city government expanded at the end of last month when the Richmond Ambulance Authority severed ties with an employee, Pamela Branch, who also served as the clerk at Jones church.

Branch was the chief human resources and legal officer at the authority. When she learned that authority officials were investigating her, she threatened to file a religious discrimination complaint if the agency imposed any disciplinary action, according to documents obtained by The Times-Dispatch.

Branch also sent a text message to the authoritys director, Chip Decker, warning that she had brought the matter to Jones attention. I want to let you know I have spoken to Dwight regarding the events of the past week, she texted Decker. Hes not pleased.

Its not clear what role the issue with Branch would play in the ongoing investigation. Herring said investigators will likely review materials generated by the authority as part of their work.

Timothy J. Heaphy, former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia and partner at Hunton & Williams in Richmond, said that when the state police investigation is complete, it will be up to the commonwealths attorney to make a charging decision.

He said that could pose a problem for Herring, whose office is funded in part by the city.
A Maryland pimp who traveled with prostitutes between North Carolina and his home state, making frequent stops in Henrico County, was sentenced to spend 13 years in prison Tuesday.

Tyrone Hicks, 27, of Bowie, Md., originally faced 23 charges when his case went to trial in December. After a full day of testimony and evidence, Deputy Henrico County Commonwealths Attorney Michael Feinmel worried about establishing which crimes occurred where since Hicks traveled up and down the Mid-Atlantic region with women who were paid to have sex, the prosecutor said. So Feinmel offered Hicks a deal.

Hicks entered a plea of no contest to strangulation resulting in injury, racketeering, and pandering or receiving profits from someone involved in the sex trade. The remaining charges were dropped.

Four of the women who worked for Hicks testified against him. They ranged in age from 20 to 34, Feinmel said.

Last spring, one woman reported Hicks to Henrico police, saying he was her pimp. Another woman came forward after Hicks beat and strangled her for trying to get out of prostitution.

After that, Henrico detectives tracked Hicks through a Craigslist-like website, Backpage.com, where women post advertisements looking for men who will pay for sex.

More than 175 pages of Hicks phone browser history and text messages were used as evidence in the case against him, according to court documents. In one text exchange, Hicks, who was identified as King, messaged back and forth with a woman who asked him outright if he was a pimp.

Are u a P? she asked.

Wts a P angel?... replied King.

A pimp, the women said.

Im a business owner thats looking to simple be liked & loved and treated like a King and treat my Significant other like the Queen she is and share the (wealth) of our labor and inriched inheritance simple ... 

On the next page of evidence, Hicks had sent a screenshot of the conversation to another person. The person indicated laughter and replied: ...wat businesz?

In another exchange, Hicks tried to persuade a woman who was working for another pimp at the time to come work for him.

U got a good one right here tho, Hicks told her. My girls a testify to it for u.
All charges have been dismissed against Kayleb Moon-Robinson, the former Linkhorne Middle School student with autism who was charged with felony assault in 2014, according to a statement published Monday on the Change.org petition started on his behalf.

When I received the email a few days ago from Stacy, Kayleb's mother, that she had the official papers in hand dismissing ALL (yes, ALL!) charges against Kayleb, I thought my heart would burst. I was in public, but I could not stop the tears from coming, wrote Morenike Giwa Onaiwu, the Texas woman who started the petition, on the site.

In August, Kayleb came with his mother Stacey Doss, Onaiwu, and Kelly Israel, a policy associate for the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, to deliver the petition, with more than 150,000 signatures, to the office of Commonwealth Attorney Michael Doucette.

Kaylebs case is representative of a systemic problem in the state of Virginia and across the country, said a statement from the ASAN. Students with disabilities, particularly young students of color, are reported to law enforcement authorities at higher and higher rates for what should be school disciplinary matters in what is known as the school-to-prison pipeline. ASAN, like a number of other racial and disability rights organizations, believe that this trend often deprives children with disabilities, like Kayleb, of their right to a free and appropriate public education.
Among the many lamentable features of Donald Trumps ascendancy  and they are legion  two stand out as particularly alarming. One is the enthusiasm with which he endorses violence against his fellow Americans. The other is the degree to which he enables bigotry.

Trump has a history of swimming in those dank waters. He fed birtherist suspicions about President Obama long after such baseless rumors had been thoroughly debunked. Last year he Tweeted a flagrantly false graphic claiming that 81 percent of white homicide victims are killed by blacks (the actual figure is 15 percent). The Republican front-runner also has claimed that Mexican immigrants are drug dealers and rapists, has threatened to deport 11 million unlawfully present immigrants, and has proposed a ban on all Muslims entering the United States.

These are broadsides, but Trump also fuels bigotry in other ways. In late February he asked a demonstrator at one of his rallies, Are you from Mexico? He has dallied with the KKK, is fond of referring to demographic cohorts as the (the Muslims, the Hispanics, the blacks) and has defended two men who assaulted a Latino man as passionate. (Are Latinos who assault Anglos passionate? Better not to ask.)

Offenses against racial comity like these are overt, but Trump might have done the most damage through his infinitely elastic definition of political correctness.

Conservatives properly complain about the lefts profligate accusations of racism: Calling someone a hard worker is now racist, the new Ghostbusters movie apparently is racist, even undercooking rice is possibly racist, or at least disrespectful to Asian culture, at least at Oberlin College in Ohio. For social-justice warriors on the left, seemingly everything is racist. It is the go-to accusation that short-circuits reasoned debate with an all-purpose ad hominem.

But what the left has done to racism, Trump is now doing to political correctness  applying it to anything he dislikes. This conveniently avoids having to discuss the actual merits of the issue at hand.

The other day a reporter asked Trump what parents should tell their children about his public use of profanity. Trump did not even try to address the question. Oh, youre so politically correct, youre so beautiful, he replied sarcastically. Youre so perfect. Arent you perfect? Youre such a perfect young man. Give me a break.

Imagine for a moment how Trump supporters would react if Barack Obama sneered at someone like that.

It is not political correctness to wonder if a politicians coarseness could influence how children think and act. Conservatives wondered that very thing at great length when the country was discussing what Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky did with each others tingly parts.

In fact, GOP contender Ben Carson resurrected the point back in December: As a pediatric neurosurgeon, I deal with a lot of children, and I see them becoming coarser and wanting to know what certain things are that theyre hearing about on television  things that they wouldve never known about as kids before. And a certain innocence disappears from our society. Im sorry to see that happen, and Im sorry that it was because one of our presidents. Trump did not accuse Carson of political correctness.

There is evidence Trumps behavior is coarsening children, too. In a recent column in The Washington Post, Metro columnist Petula Dvorak described how Trumpian attitudes are trickling down: students from a predominantly white school holding Trump signs during a basketball game against a predominantly Latino school and chanting Build the wall!; third-graders in Fairfax telling their immigrant classmates they would be sent home. Two students at Northwestern have been arrested for desecrating a chapel with swastikas and other hate-filled messages; they also spray-painted Trump in a stairway.

And its not just children. Trump fans have been seen screaming Motherf---ing tacos! at nearby Latinos. Over the weekend a Trump supporter allegedly assaulted two minority students in Wichita, called them brown trash, and promised they would be thrown over the wall.

Criticizing virulent bigotry like that is not political correctness. Political correctness involves refusing to acknowledge uncomfortable truths out of ideological delusion or to avoid giving offense. But while Trump likes to portray himself as a courageous speaker of hard truths, he is anything but. To the contrary, he is a purveyor of lies.

It is a lie that most white people are killed by black people. It is a lie that Mexican immigrants are drug dealers and rapists  that Muslim refugees are terrorists, that Barack Obama was born abroad, and so on. Shouting them through a bullhorn does not make them any more true.
Last October, I wrote in these pages that I was sick and tired of people in charge not taking responsibility for the actions  or lack thereof  of their administrations.

Shortly thereafter, I was roundly criticized by two of my colleagues  Delegates David Toscano and Jimmie Massie  for having the temerity to suggest that Terry Sullivan, who is still president of the University of Virginia, should go.

Praising her to the metaphorical skies, they suggested that Sullivan was the right person in the right place, had successfully put an Office of Civil Rights (OCR) investigation behind her, and was a leader in whom everyone  including me  should have confidence.

Well, OK. But now we really know what happened. It is not pretty, and it certainly is not what any reasonable person would call a benchmark of leadership.

Last August, Terry Sullivan got a draft letter of a very critical OCR investigation into systemic rapes and abuse at the University of Virginia.

Until last week, that first letter stayed hidden from public view. But now we have two letters. One is long, detailed and damning, while the other  the one Terry Sullivan wanted and got  is limited in scope, has far fewer specifics and is much less sharp in its tone. And now we know why that is.

Mind you, I am no fan of the U.S. Department of Education, much less its Office of Civil Rights.

Even so, the first letters 39 pages recite chapter and verse of how we came to a place where parents worry when their children leave for Charlottesville. Even in its redacted form the facts confirm a significant disconnect between leadership and reality.

Its not as if we havent seen that before. In 2014, Sullivan decided her time would be better spent on a plane to Europe instead of staying in Charlottesville to address a damning Rolling Stone article.

Ultimately, that article was discredited. But keep this in mind: Terry Sullivan didnt know that when she handed in her boarding pass. Her community desperately needed a steady hand and calm voice, but she left town.

This time, Sullivan stayed put, but she enlisted the help of lobbyists and politicians in Richmond and Washington to change the outcome of a long-awaited report about just how bad bad could be. And it worked.

If you compare the draft with the final version, its as if nothing really, really bad ever happened, which may be the precisely polished and undoubtedly expensive fiction the school would like us to believe.

In all of this, the sad fact is that lives have been forever changed and grievances have gone unanswered, but there are other tragic losers.

Among them are concepts like transparency and candor, not to mention the kind of integrity and desire for truth in all things that Virginians have a right to expect, especially in this university presidents office.

Call this another lesson learned  and not one Mr. Jefferson would have wanted to unfold as it has.

Indeed, oversight and transparency might have prevented a cover-up thats now come to light, which is the reason I co-sponsored legislation to remove an exemption from Virginias open records law that protects university presidents working papers.

Had that legislation not been hijacked by university lobbyists, we would be able to know in clear and precise terms what the president knew, when she knew it and exactly what she did or didnt do about it.

Had that legislation passed, wed know if the alleged rapes  all of them  were reported in compliance with the Clery Act, which requires the timely notification to the community to protect the safety and welfare of students and the community as a whole.

Had that legislation passed, we would have been spared yet another embarrassing chapter. Now my hope is that it will find new patrons who believe enough is enough, be open to change, and do something about it.

As Toscano and Massie observed, the university has a new strategic plan that may further enhance its reputation as one of the best universities in the country. That may very well be true, but only if the people who pay the bills  Virginias taxpayers and parents who send their children off to Charlottesville with high hopes  can trust those who lead it.

If officials wont take the steps necessary to remove untrustworthy leaders, at least give Virginians the tools required to hold them accountable for the fundamental safety of our children.
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A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
St. Patricks Day may be a serious occasion in Ireland, but here it brings fun.

So here are some whimsical wearing-of-the-green memories  and a special nod to a neighbor whose decorations delight us:

A tip of my leprechaun cap to Roseann McDonald. Weve been enjoying her special, changing yard-art for months.

Because what says seasonally festive like a decorated port-a-potty in the front yard? First we admired the Christmas wreath on its door, then the Valentines heart and now the sparkly shamrock.

Roseann expects that the guys working on the addition to the family home will wrap up their work soon. If not, well be watching for an Easter array.

* * *

Yes, I confess to having dyed our food green for entire St. Patricks Days. The classic mashed potatoes: green? Check. And green Irish oatmeal with green yogurt made your basic Dr. Seussian green-eggs-with-ham look downright palatable by comparison.

Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time (40 years ago). But, hmm, even though I was once married to a fellow with an Irish surname, maybe such holiday silliness was one of our irreconcilable differences.

* * *

While I was greening my little corner of Massachusetts back then, a friend there shared her literally painful St. Patricks Day childhood memory.

Her mother had made her wear orange, not green, to school every March 17. Green was the Catholic color, my friend explained, and we were Protestant. So she got pinched by schoolmates each year.

* * *

Even this holiday has an anecdote for our naughty-but-amusing-pet story collection.

The late Shirley Brand had mentioned how much she liked corned beef and cabbage, but husband Cabell wasnt too keen on it. So my then-husband and I decided to invite her to a traditional St. Pats meal while Cabell was out of town.

Downton Abbey, I aint  but we pulled together a fairly civilized, genteel scene: Floral centerpiece, candles, linens, china. Wowsers, I had even polished some silver! (Mama was proud.)

So there we all are, dining and chatting and being mannerly. Suddenly I glimpsed our industrial-sized cat Rossetti hunkering down, ready to spring  and far enough away that he could really pick up speed. And speed-dash he did, running and leaping and sliding right down the length of the table  yep, curling up that lovely linen table-runner like an accordion. Then he just sat regally and stared at us.

Well, Shirley just about fell out on the floor with laughter. Even though the Brands had graciously and grandly hosted Important People, she had a lively sense of humor  and blessedly no pretensions.

We all chuckled about The Incident for years. And sometimes I would find good ol Rossetti playing the role of Dining Table Centerpiece, curled up in a big ol Waterford crystal bowl. The boy appreciated the finer things.

And heres to your own fine St. Patricks Day!
After 29 years at the Roanoke Valley Governors School for Science and Technology, Director John Kowalski plans to retire this summer.

Kowalski has been at the school for all but one year since it opened to students and has served as its director for the past seven. He said hes debated retiring for about a year now and decided this year it was time to move on from the school.

Im going to miss the interaction with the students and the teachers, Kowalski said. Everyone here is really just nice to work with.

Kowalski came to the school as a biology teacher and the science department chairman. Before moving to Roanoke, he taught at George Mason University.

Over the years, Kowalski said hes enjoyed watching the program grow. Having the continued support of the seven school districts whose students attend Governors School has been invaluable, he said.

Theyve recognized theres a need to serve gifted students and that by pooling resources, as they have done, we can create a really strong, dynamic program for the kids who come here, he said. Being part of that regional effort has been very nice.

Kowalskis last day at the Governors School will be June 30. He plans to take about six months off  he has trips to Bermuda and Italy planned  and then hopes to continue working in the education field in some way, either locally or statewide.

Alongside Kowalski, the Roanoke School Board also has approved another Roanoke principals retirement: Wasena Elementary Schools Babette Cribbs.

This is Cribbs seventh year leading Wasena. She served for five years as principal of Raleigh Court Elementary until the school was closed in 2009.

Last year, Wasena was named one of 24 schools nationwide singled out by the National Center for Urban School Transformation as a top school for urban education.

Cribbs last day also is June 30.
A federal judge has ruled that relatives of people who died in the crashes of two Boeing 737 Max planes are crime victims. The judge's ruling Friday could help clear the way for the families to challenge a settlement that spared Boeing from criminal prosecution. The judge's ruling means that the Justice Department should have notified families before privately negotiating a 2021 settlement with Boeing. Judge Reed O'Connor says the next step is deciding what remedies the families should get for not being told of the talks with Boeing. Some relatives want to scrap the settlement.
Robert (Rob) White was a resident of Hayes, Va. He passed peacefully at home on Tuesday, March 8, 2016, with his loving family at his side.He fought a courageous battle with cancer. He never complained and his faith was a great comfort to him. He attended the Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke, Va., for two years where he received his degree as a Paramedic. He received his RN from Thomas Nelson Community College in 2011. He worked in Roanoke as a Dispatcher with Carilion. Upon graduating as an RN, he worked at Walter Reed Hospital in Gloucester, Va. He enjoyed his yearly trips to Disney so much so that he and his wife, Liz, were married in the Chapel of the Grand Floridian in Disney.Rob is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Elizabeth Dysko White; his parents, Robert (Bob) White Jr. and Kristin (Kris) White; and brother, Gregory White.Rob's final request was that in lieu of flowers a donation to St. Jude's be made in his memory. A mass will be held at 11 a.m. on March 18, 2016, at Saint Joan of Arc in Yorktown. His family hopes that you join them to celebrate Rob's life. Prior to the service family will greet friends and a reception will follow. Burial will be private."Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway."- John Wayne
This newspaper ran a story recently about the Sons of Liberty Southwest Virginia, (Gun rights supporters rally on Roanoke street, Jan. 11 news story) which staged a demonstration to exercise our constitutional rights to assemble peacefully and to bear arms.

The group is part of a small social movement called the Three Percenters, who believe that only 3 percent of colonists fought to win independence in the American Revolution (a proposition not supported by empirical evidence) and that government is moving closer to the path of tyranny and citizens must be prepared to defend their liberty (a claim for which there is also no evidence).

Three Percenters often argue that the national government intends soon to confiscate all weapons from the citizenry and they pledge to resist such efforts by force. Human rights organizations classify these groups as anti-government and extremist.

The Roanoke group, several of whose members indicated they carry firearms each day to protect themselves, scheduled its demonstration before President Barack Obamas announced intention to strengthen background checks, study new gun safety technologies and otherwise work to ensure that firearms may be accessed only by mentally healthy law-abiding citizens.

But those who were there said that it was more important than ever to speak for gun rights and reiterated their fear that a governmental effort was afoot to take away their right to possess firearms.

In fact, however, the president made clear at his recent announcement that he was not contemplating the seizure or banning of the right to own firearms for any law abiding citizen, and since there is indeed no evidence that any such action will occur, it is important to ask two questions:

How did these Roanokers come to believe a proposition that bears no relationship to reality, and why do many of those who participated in the event feel the need to carry weapons each day? One might also ask of whom or of what precisely are these individuals afraid.

One explanation several analysts have offered for this sort of citizen action is that these individuals have been persuaded to adopt such views by the consistent onslaught of entertainment industry elements willing to play to their fears for profit.

Broadcast media networks and their star personalities, including Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin on radio as well as Ann Coulter and Bill OReilly on television, have made huge sums for many years telling Americans to fear the other, whether in the form of their governments, immigrants or changing norms and values, and to pillory these as the imagined architects of their unease.

These depictions are consistently bombastic and misleading, but it seems clear that some individuals believe them, even against all empirical evidence to the contrary.

Joschka Fischer, Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor of Germany from 1998-2005 has argued that the major share of citizens, working and lower middle class men especially, who respond to such claims ultimately sense that they are losing their special place at the apex of the social hierarchy.

White Men will no longer constitute the majority in the United States in coming years. And the social norms that long sustained their status have also changed and have done so quickly. Nor is it clear that the United States and Europe will stand alone astride the world as China and Asia rise with continuing globalization.

Moreover, that same globalization has, for the last several decades, resulted in the off-shoring of many jobs and stagnant or declining real wages for those who have not completed higher degrees or received new training needed to advance or adapt.

That is, many now joining such groups as the Three Percenters are worried about their economic lot and prospects, and are well aware of the swift pace of social change, including the rise of rights for women and other groups, occurring around them.

The combination of these economic and social forces leaves them fearful and looking for someone or some thing to blame for their angst.

Across America and other Western nations the targets of that fear today, as in the 1930s, are government, minorities, immigrants and the poor.

Persistent political and broadcast incitement, coupled with what Fischer aptly dubbed nationalist angst arising from global economic and social change, are creating conditions for the development of groups such as the Sons of Liberty Southwest Virginia, mobilized paradoxically, in the name of fear, to bear arms against their birthright to engage in their own governance along side their fellow citizens.
Change always seems threatening, especially to vested interests which are very powerful in this country and support both of our major political parties. The alternative options which Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders has put forth are steps in the direction this nation must move to relieve the ways economic equality affects the less privileged.

There is no reason why this nation could not take the first steps towards a single-payer system and wider sources of free education. And despite the casual dismissal of Bernie Sanders' as an impractical extremist, as implied in much of the media, unlike Hilary Clinton, he has outlined workable solutions for bringing these things about, even if they may involve higher taxes on the wealthy.

Democratic socialism is not communism or socialism. Many of the most successful nations in the world find this combination keeps their citizens comfortable, healthy, and educated, avoiding the extremes of poverty versus wealth. If taxes are somewhat higher, so are the advantages they gain.

Bernie Sanders' supporters, mostly young, educated, and hopeful, are looking towards the future. We are in a time of change. Dangers from wars in the Middle East and elsewhere, as well as divisions between nuclear powers are threats to world peace everywhere.

And while Hilary Clinton is valued for her foreign policy work as Secretary of State, there is not much positive to be seen in the unstable situation in the Middle East or Libya.

Bernie Sanders has so much to offer at this time that no other candidate can. The so-called Democratic Party has strongly supported its favored candidate who, despite her promises, many oddly identical to Sanders, will not rock the existing boat very hard, if at all.

It may or may not be too late to vote for Bernie Sanders. It takes courage to think beyond the labels of a prevailing mentality. But this election could be a time to show the world this is still a real democracy and not a wealth-dominated pretense.

ALWYN MOSS

BLACKSBURG
WITH David Cameron making a case for 80 million Turkish muslims to join the European Union, this must surely be the nail in the coffin for the people wanting to stay in.



To be blackmailed by the Turkish Government over the refugee crisis, and only willing to help if they receive billions of pounds and free visa travel for its citizens, should leave the  inners in doubt as to what the future will be for all of Europe if we allow this to happen.



When Mr Cameron first started his so called re-negotiation of Great Britains role in the EU, he stated that if he could not get what he wanted, and get a better deal for this country, then he would walk away. Well everyone now knows he got absolutely nothing, but instead of walking away he is now going the length and breadth of Europe trying to convince everyone that we must stay in this corrupt failing union.



If he really believed we are better off in than out, then why did he want us to have a referendum in the first place? If the majority of the Great British public want to be ruled from a small country like Belgium, with more Diesh fighters within Syria than any other country in the world, then I believe they will very soon realise the huge mistake they have made.



We now have the only chance we will ever get, to remove the shackles of Brussels, and make our own laws, and regain control of our borders, and once again be ruled by our own democratically elected members of our own Government.



Things may be difficult at the beginning if we leave, but as one of the richest nations on earth, we will survive and prosper. Do not believe the doom and gloom merchants, let us get out before it is too late, and be once again the great country we used to be, prior to our integration with the failing EU, and be the masters of our own destiny.


Gem Diamonds said its revenue for the year ending 31 December 2015 dropped 8 percent to $249.5 million compared to $270.8 million carats recorded a year earlier.

The companys underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) was also down 2 percent to $103.5 million during the same period under consideration from $106 million realised the previous year.

However, Gem Diamonds profit for the year rose 12 percent to $67.4 million from $60.4 million recorded in 2014.

Although 2015 was a challenging year for the diamond mining industry, it is encouraging to report that the Group has delivered a strong set of operational and financial results, said company chief executive Clifford Elphick.

The Group continued to implement its strategic objectives of capital discipline by investing in low cost high return capital projects. The increase in the recoveries of the important +100 carat diamonds from an average of 6 per year to 11 in 2015 demonstrates the success of the initiatives.

He said that prices achieved for Letseng's diamonds during 2015 had remained robust despite the sharp downturn in the global market.

The world class, high quality diamonds, for which Letseng is renowned, have contributed to the strong results at an average price of $2 299 per carat for the year, he said.

Meanwhile, Elphick said the companys key objectives for the development of Phase 1 at the Ghaghoo mine in Botswana had been achieved.

The average grade recovered during the year met the expected reserve grade and following the commissioning of the surge bin in January, the key metric of 2 000 tonnes per day through the processing plant was achieved, he said.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, from Gaborone, Botswana, Rough&Polished




The Indian governments Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS), which was launch on November 5 last year, has not seen much progress. The Finance Ministry has now called for another meeting of all stakeholders on March 18 to discuss why the scheme is not gaining momentum. The meeting will be chaired by Shaktikanta Das, Secretary Economic Affairs, Government of India, according to media reports.

The Indian Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA), representatives from refineries, presidents of hallmarking centres and Bureau of Indian Standards, RBI officials, official from Commerce Ministry, Indian Banks Association and chairpersons of leading banks active in gold scheme have been asked to be part of the meeting. IBJA has also proposed a scheme where jewellers can act as a collection and purity testing centers; and mobilise idle gold which can be used productively.

IBJA had proposed to open 1000 such centers across country.



Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished




The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) presented the India Gem & Jewellery Awards (IGJA) 2015 in Jaipurs Exhibition & Convention Centre.A total of 32 nomination awards and 5 felicitation awards were given away at GJEPC-IGJA 2015.A number of prominent industry leaders were present at a glittering event, including officials from the Government of Rajasthan and GJEPC's top representatives.Speaking at the event, Praveenshankar Pandya, Chairman, GJEPC, said, The 42nd India Gem & Jewellery Awards recognised the best performers of 2015 and paid rich tributes to the industrys movers and shakers. I am glad to announce that we have received a phenomenal response this year with over 364 nominations  an increase of around 34% from last year - from all across India. It was important to celebrate their performance as it came amidst a declining world economy. India has more than 3 million artisans and craftsmen who have taken it to a leadership position in the diamond business. We are ranked fourth in jewellery but aspire to take the top spot subject to favourable policies and the right stimulus. We are doing extremely well in fashion jewellery but need to learn more in terms of fine jewellery. But the Industry is currently grappling with problems of demand slowdown in the global markets. Thats why we urge the government to reconsider the excise duty levied on the industry in the Budget.He further added that the duty would create challenges of compliance for an industry, 75% of which are in the unorganized sector and also it will open up scope for harassment by the tax officials.Congratulating GJEPC, Hon. Minister Piyush Goyal, said, The gems and jewellery industry should engage the Government in dialogue and help it get rid of the malaise in administration to make the system more responsible and accountable. The industry should come up with suggestions to bring more integrity into the system and help realise the Prime Ministers dream.Praising the jewellery sector, Rajasthan State Minister Rajpal Singh Shekhawat said, Indias gems and jewellery industry is a rare combination of export capital intensive and labour intensive, which plays a significant role in the countrys balance of payment.
ALROSA helps to develop measures in support of Russias diamond cutting industry

15 march 2016 News

ALROSA is ready to provide Russian diamond manufacturers with rough of needed quality and in needed quantities. This was announced by the companys president Andrey Zharkov, who was speaking at an industry conference held on Tuesday in Moscow and organized by the Russian Jewelers Guild under the title The Market of Precious Stones and Jewelry. Urgent Challenges and Prospects.

According to Andrey Zharkov, the Russian diamond processing industry has great potential for development. Currently, Russia is cutting and polishing less than 1% of diamonds mined in the country. In 2015, the country produced about 300,000 carats of polished goods, totally worth $ 680 million; about 90% of polished production is exported. Meanwhile, diamond demand from end buyers in the domestic market is estimated at $ 300-350 million per year.

Of course, ALROSA would like to see the internal market having greater capacity and strength. It is necessary to maintain and develop enterprises engaged in diamond cutting in Russia, and being a diamond mining company we are interested in this, Andrey Zharkov said.

According to him, ALROSA is involved in the development of a package of measures to support the diamond manufacturing industry and has attracted independent consultancy Bain & Company to study the situation and develop proposals. The key finding of their research is as follows: Russian diamond manufacturers have a number of prerequisites to maintain and strengthen their competitiveness against the worlds leading manufacturers. In particular, our production costs for polished goods of 0.3 carats and above are comparable to India. However, to create a sustainable competitive industry we need targeted support from the state, by analogy with the leading diamond cutting centers in the world," Andrey Zharkov said.

He added that ALROSA had already initiated a working group under the Ministry of Finance to consider measures in support of the diamond manufacturing industry. The list of recommended measures includes elimination of unnecessary administrative barriers to movement of rough and polished diamonds across the border; introduction of a favorable tax regime for the sector, including lowering the income tax rate from 20% to 5% for 10 years; providing opportunities to attract financing at rates similar to rates applied in India and China; as well as further development of the personnel training system in Russia.




The number of women undergoing double mastectomies has tripled in the last ten years, according to a new study from researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. For the study the researchers reviewed records collected from 496,488 women in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registry.

They found that the number of women undergoing double mastectomies increased from 3.9 percent in 2002 to 12.7 percent in 2012.

"Despite all the data [over decades] comparing women who underwent breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy and the survival was exactly the same, the rate of bilateral mastectomy is actually picking up and not slowing down," Dr. Mehra Golshan, a researcher of surgical oncology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, told CNN.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Health News
London Stock Exchange Group plc (LSEG.L) announced Wednesday that it has reached agreement on the terms of a recommended all-share merger of equals with Germany's Deutsche Boerse AG (DBOEY.PK,DBOEF.PK).

The merger will be implemented through the establishment of a new UK holding company, UK TopCo, which will acquire LSE by way of a scheme of arrangement and will acquire Deutsche Boerse by making a securities exchange offer.

Under the deal terms, LSE shareholders will be entitled to receive 0.4421 UK TopCo shares in exchange for each share. Deutsche Boerse shareholders will be entitled to receive one UK TopCo share in exchange for each DBAG Share.

The companies have also agreed that LSE Shareholders will be entitled to receive dividends of 25.2 pence per LSE share for six months ended December 2015, and 12 pence per LSE share for six months ending June 2016. Deutsche Boerse shareholders will receive a dividend of 2.25 euros per share for 2015.

The companies currently expect that the merger will be completed by the end of 2016 or during first quarter 2017.

Assuming full acceptance of the offer, the merger will result in LSE shareholders owning 45.6 percent. of UK TopCo and Deutsche Boerse Shareholders owning remaining 54.4 percent.

The companies expect the merger to create significant value through cost synergies of 450 million euros per annum, achieved in year three post completion, and significant opportunity for revenue synergies. The Boards believe that the merger will accelerate revenue growth across multiple areas.

LSE noted that the Combined Group supports the main objectives of the European Capital Markets Union and will ultimately play a significant role in making the vision in Europe a reality.

LSEG in London and DBAG in Frankfurt would become intermediate subsidiaries of UK TopCo. The existing regulatory framework of all regulated entities within the Combined Group would remain unchanged, subject to customary and final regulatory approvals. LSEG and DBAG will continue to be subject to tax in their respective countries of incorporation.

The Combined Group will maintain its headquarters in London and Frankfurt. Donald Brydon, chairman of LSE, will become chairman of the combined group, while Carsten Kengeter, chief executive officer of Deutsche Borse, will become the new chief executive.

On completion, LSE Chief Executive Xavier Rolet will step down from his role, and will become an adviser to the chairman and deputy chairman to assist with a successful transition. It is presently envisaged that this arrangement would last for up to one year.

In London, LSE shares were trading at 2,890 pence, down 0.55 percent. Deutsche Boerse shares were at 76.19 euros in Germany, up 0.58 percent.

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Business News
U.S. student Otto Frederick Warmbier has been sentenced in North Korea to 15 years of hard labor on allegation of hostile acts against the country. He was arrested on January 2 at the Pyongyang International airport as he allegedly tried to steal a political slogan displayed at a hotel. He later reportedly confessed that he was trying to take the propaganda as a "trophy" to a church group.

Warmbier, 21, is an undergraduate student of University of Virginia and hails from Wyoming, Ohio. He was on a tour in North Korea for the New Year with a group of 20 people.

North Korea has released the pictures of Warmbier appearing in a court in February. Reports said that Warmbier apologized and requested for forgiveness.

U.S. has no formal diplomatic ties with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

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Business News
The U.S. Government has announced new significant regulatory changes that eases sanctions against Cuba.

The measures, announced by the Departments of the Treasury and Commerce Tuesday, make it easier for Americans to travel to Cuba, expand access to U.S. financial institutions and the U.S. dollar from Cuba, and expand the ability for Cubans living in the U.S. to earn a salary.

The change in rules is expected to encourage more person-to-person educational travel and allow Cuban nationals to get jobs in the United States or to open U.S. bank accounts.

Under the current travel rules, educational trips must be sponsored by an educational organization.

These changes, coupled with the arrangement recently announced by the Departments of State and Transportation allowing up to 110 non-stop flights daily between the United States and Cuba, will significantly increase the ability of U.S. Citizens to travel to Cuba to directly engage with the Cuban people.

It means Cuban athletes and entertainers need not defect from Cuba to get jobs in the United States, officials said.

The new regulatory changes in easing of Cuba Sanctions is a follow-up action to what President Barack Obama said in his State of the Union address, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement. The new measure will open the door to increased travel and commerce between the two countries, he added.

The new rules came into effect Wednesday, barely a week ahead of Obama's historic visit to Cuba.

The visit, which is scheduled for March 21-22, is the latest in a series of big steps by the Obama administration in its efforts to normalize relations with Cuba.

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Business News
In an apparent reference to Republican front-runner Donald Trump, President Barack Obama made a scathing attack against the vulgar and divisive rhetoric aimed at women and minorities in the US presidential campaign.

Speaking at the annual bipartisan St Patrick's Day gathering in Capitol Hill, Obama warned that such kind of campaigning is damaging America's image.

Obama criticized the Republican leadership for not responding to Trump's vulgar language, and said he is just one among millions of Americans who may be more than a little dismayed about what's happening on the campaign trail lately.

"We have heard vulgar and divisive rhetoric aimed at women and minorities -- at Americans who don't look like 'us', or pray like 'us' or vote like we do. We've seen misguided attempts to shut down that speech, however, offensive it may be. We live in a country where free speech is one of the most important rights that we hold," Obama said.

In response to those attempts, we've seen actual violence, and we've heard silence from too many of our leaders,

Obama cited the violence at Trump's rally in Chicago, which did not evoke any response from the Republican leadership.

Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, who is a GOP, was among those listening to Obama's speech.

Obama's criticism comes within days of his statement that Trump is unlikely to be elected as his successor.

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Political News
President Barack Obama will visit Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom next month as part of a previously announced trip overseas, the White House said on Wednesday.

The White House said Obama will participate in a summit with leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries while in Saudi Arabia on April 21st.

The summit will be an opportunity for leaders to review progress in strengthening U.S.-GCC security cooperation since the productive Camp David Summit hosted by Obama in May of 2015, the White House said.

The White House said the gathering will also allow leaders to discuss additional steps to intensify pressure on the terrorist group known as ISIS, address regional conflicts, and de-escalate regional and sectarian tensions.

Following the stop in Saudi Arabia, Obama will travel to the U.K., where he will meet with Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister David Cameron.

The White House said Obama will conclude his travel by visiting Germany, where he will participate in the Hannover Messe - the world's largest trade show for industrial - and meet Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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Political News
Millennial Moms Review: 2022 Acura MDX is pretty close to the perfect family car

I dont know if perfect is attainable, especially considering weve got the world of options when it comes to modern vehicles. Were spoiled and, as such, we have very specific needs and wants. Driving-wise, the 2022 Acura MDX is one of my favourite ...
50% of Indian mobile users wish to upgrade to new device in 5G era

About 50 per cent of smartphone users in India plan to buy a new device within the first year as 5G ...
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Trojans race to 46-7 win over Ellsworth in prep for postseason

If Southeast of Saline wins in the first round, it will host the second round game as well. The Trojans fell to Andale last season in the playoffs.
CHICAGO  On December 30, 2015, in honor of our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, while challenging the inclement weather conditions, the WWII Filipino veterans of Illinois volunteered to remove a tattered American Flag with a new one they donated.

Americas "Old Glory" was half shredded and still entangled in tree branches, the other half that was left of her still flying in pieces over a small veteran's memorial dedicated with names of the fallen during the Global War inscribed on a bronze "Honor Roll" plaque by those residing in a community.

These same WWII Filipino veterans renewed the task only years ago, to again bring public awareness to three church bells and cannon removed by the US Army in 1901 from the Town of Balangiga in Eastern Samar.

This has been a difficult mission for Filipino communities because of the lack of support by elected officials of the Philippine government to request a formal inquiry. In the US, we are uncertain if orders to suppress the church bell campaign had been issued to our local office of the Philippine Consulate General of Chicago via Ambassador Cuisia or by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Secretary Albert del Rosario.
With new regulations, PhilHealth should now be called PhilSick

New requirements put members at risk as parameters on treatment are set.

By Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD)

February 7, 2016

QUEZON CITY  The group Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) strongly condemned two recently released circulars by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) as arbitrary and anti-patient/anti-member.

PhilHealth Circulars 2016-001 and 002 or the Policy Statement on the Diagnosis and Management of Acute Gastroenteritis and Urinary Tract Infection, respectively, require a minimum hospital stay of 3 days for AGE and 4 days for uncomplicated UTI. Otherwise, claims will be denied.

Since when did it become PhilHealths role to determine and set limits to the diagnosis and management of patients? decried Dr. Joseph Carabeo, HEAD secretary-general.

In the first place, AGE and UTI do not often warrant hospital admission Carabeo added. When they do, the management is based on the status of the patient. Therefore, pre-determining the length of hospitalization is preposterous!

Additional but unnecessary burden is placed on healthcare providers. Longer hospital stay means use of more hospital resources. At the same time, patients are put on an even higher risk of hospital-acquired infection.

A health financing agency, a state-run one at that, should not in any influence patient care. PhilHealth is now acting like a private HMO (health maintenance organization) that dictates the quality of care for its members. In the United States, HMOs are notorious for interfering with patient care.


Left photo - NMP Tacloban Complex officer-in-charge Atty. Ruben Y. Maceda (second from right) briefs JICA Vice-President Mr. Hiroshi Kato (center) of the grant assistance; Right photo - NMP trainer Mr. Abraham E. Pingol (foremost right) shows Mr. Kato the operationalization of the JICA-donated GMDSS simulator.

JICA vice-president visits NMP

Press Release

February 9, 2016

TACLOBAN CITY  Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Vice-President Mr. Hiroshi Kato, visited today, 9 February 2016, the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), a government maritime training and research agency, located at Brgy. Cabalawan, Tacloban City.

The purpose is to conduct inspection tour on Japanese government-donated equipment based on the Grant Aid Agreement entered between NMP and JICA for the implementation of the formers rehabilitation and recovery efforts from Typhoon Yolanda.

It is recalled that the grant assistance helped NMP speed up the restoration of its training operations through the provision of state-of-the-art equipment. The donation consist a totally enclosed lifeboat and davit; installation and commissioning of 1 set full mission engine room simulator and 1 set global maritime distress and safety system simulator; a fast rescue boat davit; and various safety equipment. The fast rescue boat is expected to arrive in March 2016.

NMP Officer-in-Charge and Chief Administrative Officer Atty. Ruben Y. Maceda apprised the JICA official that the support from the Japanese government to the NMP through technical cooperation programs started in 1984 with the construction of the administration, training and generator buildings. This was followed with the provision of training facilities and equipment, upgrading training for trainers, technical advice in the preparation of trainer's manuals that addressed the new curriculum for adopting the revised Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) International Convention.

Further, he informed that to show appreciation of the technical cooperation, an NMP-JICA Friendship Park was established within the agency grounds with a marker that highlights the names of NMP scholars and those of their counterpart trainers in Japan.

Ms. Grace Marie T. Ayaso, NMP Head of Maritime Research and Development added that in 2012, the Japanese Government through its Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism also collaborated with the Philippine Government through the NMP, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and then Maritime Training Council in a research undertaking entitled In Their Own Words: Filipino Seafarers Experiences of Maritime Piracy.

We have a very long history of cooperation and this is not the end. Kato said.

With the newly-donated equipment, NMP expects to enhance the delivery of quality maritime training courses and the conduct of assessment of competences of Filipino seafarers to upgrade the seafaring expertise of merchant marine officers and ratings.

The JICA representatives were welcomed by NMP key officials Atty. Maceda, Ms. Ayaso, Maritime Training and Assessment Head Capt. Emmanuel Jesus M. Laguitan and maritime training specialists Engr. Ponciano V. Trinidad, Engr. Claro L. Coscos and Abraham E. Pingol.

In its effort to contribute in providing employment to Filipino seafarers, NMP continues to upgrade its facilities and provide quality maritime trainings required pursuant to the STCW Convention as amended in 2010.
Parkland, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/16/2016 -- Baker and Zimmerman is proud to announce that three attorneys in the firm, including both managing partners, have been included in the 2016 edition of "Super Lawyers". This is the fifth consecutive year that Robert Baker and Robert Zimmerman have been selected to this prestigious group. Partner Joshua Frachtman has earned the prestigious honor of being a "Super Lawyers Rising Star".



The mission of Super Lawyers is to bring visibility to attorneys who exhibit professional excellence. The attorney rating service recognizes outstanding lawyers from over 70 different practice areas based on a high degree of professional achievement and peer acknowledgement. Less than five percent of attorneys in the country are named Super Lawyers each year. Super Lawyers Rising Stars, found in a patented multiphase selection process, account for only 2.5 percent of attorneys in the state who are either 40 years old or younger, or have been practicing law for 10 years or less.



"We are very pleased that all of our hard work and dedication has been recognized by our peers. This reward is very gratifying", said Robert Baker. "We look forward to continuing to do our very best every day and live up to the high standards of the Super Lawyers."



Robert B. Baker is an experienced civil trial attorney who seeks justice for clients who have suffered serious injury due to the negligence of others. Robbie earned his law degree from Boston University School of Law in 1989. He represents clients in catastrophic personal injury cases involving wrongful death, boating/cruise ship accidents, jet ski accidents, burn injuries, product liability, and serious automobile accidents. Mr. Baker has earned Florida Bar Board Certification, the highest level of recognition by the Florida Bar for the competency and experience of a civil trial lawyer. Mr. Baker is a licensed attorney in New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Florida. He is licensed to practice in both federal and state court.



Robert Zimmerman, a native of Long Island, New York, has been helping victims through Florida and the United States seek justice for more than 20 years. Robert is a "Double Gator," obtaining both his B.S. and law degree from the University of Florida. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1989 and started the practice of law with the Judge Advocate General's Office of the United States Navy. While serving, Lieutenant Zimmerman was awarded the prestigious Navy Achievement Medal, which was presented by the Secretary of the United States Navy. He represents clients in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, and nursing home neglect.



Joshua Frachtman joined Baker & Zimmerman in 2012, after spending the early part of his career defending a wide range of civil issues with a focus on personal injury litigation. Joshua was born in Plantation, Florida, and grew up in Coral Springs and Parkland. After receiving his B.S. from the University of Florida, he returned to South Florida to attend law school at Nova Southeastern University. With Baker & Zimmerman, Mr. Frachtman has applied his knowledge of the techniques and strategies used by insurance companies when handling personal injury claims to achieve the best possible result for his clients who have suffered an injury.



About Baker and Zimmerman

At Baker & Zimmerman, every employee is a dedicated member of the team whose primary concern is defending the injured and seeking justice on behalf of our clients. We understand that no two cases are alike; therefore, no two cases are prepared the same way.



Our trial attorneys handle negligence claims involving serious and sometimes catastrophic personal injuries and wrongful death. This includes personal watercraft accidents, automobile/truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death claims, slip & fall accidents, cruise ship/boating accidents, products liability, insurance disputes/bad faith claims, drug/pharmaceutical claims, nursing home neglect cases, helicopter/plane accidents, dog bites and parasailing accidents.



We strongly believe that the key to a successful attorney/client relationship is communication. We pride ourselves in keeping our clients informed as to the progress of their cases and making ourselves available whenever necessary.



Media Contact:

Ryan Klein

rklein@bakerzimmerman.com

Parkland, FL

bakerzimmerman.com
Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/16/2016 -- This market research study analyzes the Pet Food Market in Europe, and provides estimates in terms of revenue (USD million) from 2015 to 2021 as well as volume in terms of kg million from 2015 to 2021. It recognizes the current market trends affecting the pet food market and analyzes their impact over the forecast period. Moreover, it also analyses the Average Selling Price (ASP) in various product segments across various countries.



Read Complete Report @ http://www.mrrse.com/europe-pet-food-market



The pet food market has been segmented by pet type into dog food, cat food and others. The others segment includes fish food, bird food, reptiles and other small animals. The cat food segment held the largest market share in Europe. Increasing trend for nuclear families coupled with demand for small pets is one of the major factors boosting the demand for cat food in Europe. In terms of food type the pet food market has been segmented into wet/canned food, dry food, nutritious food, snacks/treats and others. Raw meat and other household products are covered within the scope of others segment. However, the others segment including reptile food, bird food, fish food and other small pets is the fastest growing segment in pet food market in Europe.



The dry food segment held the largest market share in pet food market in Europe. Ease of handling and lower prices compared to other segments is one of the major factors boosting the demand in the dry food segment. Apart from this, added nutritional value in the dry food segment is also expected to boost the demand for dry food in Europe. However, the nutritional food segment is the fastest growing segment in Europe. Increasing awareness about pet health is one of the major factors boosting the demand in the nutritional food segment. In the coming years, with increasing concern the demand for nutritional food is expected to reach considerably.



Read Full Table of Content @ http://www.mrrse.com/europe-pet-food-market/toc



The pet food market in Europe has been segmented by country into, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands and rest of Europe. U.K. is the largest market for pet food in Europe. Increasing demand for pet specific products is one of the major factors boosting the demand in U.K.. Apart from this, nutritional food segment is the fastest growing segment in U.K.. Increasing awareness about pet health among the pet owners is one of the major factors boosting the demand for nutritional food in U.K.. However, Spain is the fastest growing market in Europe. Increasing trend for nuclear family is one of the major factors boosting the demand for pet food in Spain. Apart from this, increasing awareness about pet health is also boosting the demand for pet food in Spain.



The report also analyzes macro economic factors influencing and inhibiting the growth of pet food market in Europe. In addition, the report also provides Average Selling Price (ASP) across all the product segments in countries analyzed in the course of research. The report will help manufacturers, suppliers and distributors to understand the present and future trends in this market and formulate their strategies accordingly.



Request a Free Sample Copy of the Report @ http://www.mrrse.com/sample/795



This report provides strategic analysis of the Europe pet food market, and the growth forecast for the period 2015 to 2021. The span of the report includes competitive analysis of various market segments based on the pet type, food type and in-depth cross sectional analysis of the pet food market across different countries.



In the report, the market has been segmented by food type, pet type and by country. The study highlights current market trends and provides the forecast from 2015 to 2021. We have also covered the current market scenario for the pet food market and highlighted future trends that will affect demand. By country, the market has been segmented into U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands and rest of Europe. The present market size and forecast until 2021 have been provided in the report. In addition, the report also provides brand share of the major brands in the countries covered within the scope of research.



About MRRSE

MRRSE stands for Market Research Reports Search Engine, the largest online catalog of latest market research reports based on industries, companies, and countries. MRRSE sources thousands of industry reports, market statistics, and company profiles from trusted entities and makes them available at a click. Besides well-known private publishers, the reports featured on MRRSE typically come from national statistics agencies, investment agencies, leading media houses, trade unions, governments, and embassies.



Follow us @ https://twitter.com/MRRSEmrrse
Lagos, Nigeria -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/16/2016 -- Non surgical hair restoration clinic in Nigeria launches natural hair restoration remedies and therapies. Apart from hair restoration therapies, the clinic also offers several hair growth products such as vitamins and serums that enhance growth of hair naturally.



"My hair was matted and tangled. I was totally distressed with my hair and thought of cutting it off, until I came across this website and the extraordinary services. Hair restoration clinic can work wonders. I was amazed with the results. With natural therapies and treatments, I could detangle my matted hair and appear beautiful as ever before. Thanks to this superb clinic," quotes a customer.



Hair restoration clinic in Nigeria also offers training courses on how to manage tangled and severely matted hair in an easy manner. Various tips are offered to learners on ways to rejuvenate the growth of hair in a natural manner.



Based on the website, "We specialize in natural hair restoration techniques as well as service providers and educators for detangling and removing severely matted, tangled hair, braids, dreadlocks, hair weaves, hair extensions and twist."



The clinic offers treatments and solutions to grow hair back in a healthy and natural manner. Hair experts from the clinic travel around the world and provide seminars and services to demonstrate the significance of healthy hair, re-growth of hair, detangling hair and so forth.



Hair restoration training courses are also offered by experts from this clinic. The reasons for hair thinning, balding in men and women are emphasized in the seminars offered by hair experts. Natural healing therapies and remedies to enhance the growth of hair are also offered by these experts.



Different therapies for dry and damaged hair and scalp, matted and damaged hair are also offered by the Hair restoration clinic Africa. A close correspondent of the company quotes, "Even if your hair loss is a manifestation of life, cutting your hair is not the cure for tangled matted hair- it's never over. We provide help, treatment and solutions to restore your hair back to health."



To know more about non surgical hair restoration clinic in Nigeria, please visit the website: http://www.hairrestorationafrica.com/



About Hair Restoration Africa

Hair Restoration Africa is a hair clinic that offers hair restoration services through natural therapies without any invasive surgeries. The clinic also offers training courses for restoration of hair and other problems related to the growth of hair.



Media Contact

Hair Restoration Africa

Ogudu Road, Ogudu GRA

Lagos, Nigeria

Tel: +234-703-188-2527

Email: sales@hairrestorationafrica.com

http://www.hairrestorationafrica.com/
An international team of scientists, led by Dr. Stephan Getzin of the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research in Germany, has announced the exciting discovery of the so-called fairy circles in the remote outback of Western Australia.

According to plant biologists, fairy circles are one of natures greatest mysteries.

The circles are devoid of vegetation and often surrounded by a fringe of tall grasses. Although seedlings are sometimes found in these barren patches after rainfall, they usually do not survive, leaving the patches completely bare for most of the time.

Until now the phenomenon was only known to occur in the arid grasslands of Namibia.

There are various hypotheses about how these circles came about: (i) some researchers have explained them using termites or ants; (ii) other scientists believe that toxic carbon monoxide gas rises up from the interior of the Earth under the circles and kills the vegetation; (iii) a third camp thinks that the barren areas simply arise of their own accord under certain conditions, said Dr. Getzin, who has for years supported the third hypothesis.

To investigate the phenomenon more closely, Dr. Getzin and his colleagues went to the mining town of Newman, in the Pilbara of Australia.

The scientists measured the barren circles, compared their surface temperatures with those of vegetated areas and charted indications of ants and termites in four parts of the almost uninhabited region.

They observed how the water drained away in these areas and took soil samples. They also added aerial image evaluations, statistical analyses of the landscape patterns and computer simulations.

While in Namibia there are usually two to three species of termites or ants scuttling around in or on the fairy circles and opening up scope for speculation, the situation in Australia is clearer, Dr. Getzin said.

There we found in the majority of cases no nests in the circles and unlike in Namibia, cryptic sand termites do not exist in Australia. And the ones we did find have a completely different distribution pattern to the fairy circles.

For the team this is a clear indication that the barren patches are not produced by animal activities but the way in which the plants organize themselves.

We report that so far unknown fairy circles with the same spatial structure exist 10,000 km away from Namibia in the remote outback of Australia, Dr. Getzin and co-authors wrote in a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Combining fieldwork, remote sensing, spatial pattern analysis, and process-based mathematical modeling, we demonstrate that these patterns emerge by self-organization, with no correlation with termite activity; the driving mechanism is a positive biomasswater feedback associated with water runoff and biomass-dependent infiltration rates.

The remarkable match between the patterns of Australian and Namibian fairy circles and model results indicate that both patterns emerge from a nonuniform stationary instability, supporting a central universality principle of pattern-formation theory.

_____

Stephan Getzin et al. Discovery of fairy circles in Australia supports self-organization theory. PNAS, published online March 14, 2016; doi: 10.1073/pnas.1522130113
Many free, useful resources are available online on various aspects of mental health. The following are some key organisations and resources.

The global burden

The WHO leads on providing technical advice on mental health. Its mental health atlas sets out country-by-country baseline data on measures of burden, services and governance, including suicide rates and human resources. The WHOs Mental health action plan 2013-2020 is designed to guide countries own action plans for developing services, policies, legislation and strategies based on evidence-based practice.

A systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study looked at years lived with disability as a result of various health conditions in 188 countries between 1990 and 2013. It shows that depression is the second largest contributor to disability, affecting 600 million people globally. A map in The Economist using this data shows depression to be the leading cause of years lived with disability in the Indian subcontinent and in much of Africa.

Suicide affects poor people disproportionately: 75 per cent of the estimated 800,000 suicides a year occur in low- and middle-income countries, according to a WHO webpage on suicide statistics.

An article introducing a 2007 Lancet series on mental health explains the link with physical conditions. It argues that because this link has been overlooked, statisticians have probably underestimated how much of the global burden of disease is linked to mental health conditions.

Another article in the same series describes how the problem is compounded in the global South by inadequate resources for mental health, inequity in their distribution and inefficiencies in how they are used. A recent Guardian report summarises this nicely.

Risk factors including conflict and disease

In its 2012 report Risks to mental health, the WHO says determinants for poor mental health fall into three broad groups: personality issues such as poor self-esteem; social circumstances including bereavement and poverty; and environmental factors such as exposure to conflict and disease.

A separate WHO report explores these risk factors and argues that mental health issues cannot be considered separately from other areas of development. A review article examines the link between poverty and suicide, personality and mood disorders.

Both mild and severe mental disorders are common where people are affected by disasters or conflict. The WHO and UNHCR (the UN refugee agency) have published mental health assessment tools and guidance for use by staff working in humanitarian emergencies.

A paper on the mental health consequences of war reviews evidence of these impacts in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Chechnya in Russia, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Uganda. And according to medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, the incidence of severe mental disorders among Syrian refugees who have fled to Iraq doubled between 2012 and 2013. A 2015 review by the UNHCR describes the impact of the crisis on Syrians mental health.

The mental health impact of crises can be long-lasting: Nature reports that healthcare workers are still struggling to help families in West Africa as a result of Ebola. This is partly due to the lack of healthcare staff, according to a comment article in The Journal of the American Medical Association.

The profound psychological impacts on children and adolescents were discussed in a symposium convened last year by UNICEF (the UN Childrens Fund) and others.

And a paper in International Health, part of a special issue on global mental health [link to PDFs], reviews trends in humanitarian crises and documents a shift in focus from measuring burden to documenting the effectiveness of interventions to thinking about how to deliver care.

Culture, stigma and attitudes

Culture affects how mental disorders are viewed and the stigma that people with mental issues can experience. It also affects how patients describe clinical syndromes and accept treatments  an article in Scientific American explores the effect of culture on how mental illness is labelled.

Stigma is often a significant issue. In an article exploring cultural perspectives and attitudes in Nigeria , the author says mentally ill Nigerians will rarely seek conventional medical treatment because they believe their condition has a supernatural cause. In much of Africa, social stigma means mental illness is a silent epidemic, according to an article on social and cultural aspects of mental health on the continent. Stigma can be influenced by how people perceive the cause of the disorder, which itself is strongly influenced by culture  for example a condition might be less stigmatised if it is believed to have a genetic origin, according to a study in Chinese Americans

Because beliefs about mental health in developing countries can differ from those associated with Western medicine services need to be offered in a culturally sensitive way. A review article examines the challenges of doing this to create fit for purpose interventions. And another paper provides a culturally sensitive framework for psychosocial intervention that has since been widely applied. There are also non-traditional ways of tackling stigma. One example is Kenyas leading psychiatrist, Frank Njenga, who uses a TV talk show to promote better understanding of conditions such as schizophrenia and substance abuse.

Addressing needs in the global South

Mental health expert Vikram Patel has argued that low-income countries cannot effectively use Western-style models of mental health care, arguing instead that they should deliver treatment through the primary healthcare system.

A review article summarises strategies to overcome barriers to scaling up mental health services.

The WHO has made a serious effort to scale up global action by launching its Mental Health Gap Action Programme. Through a systematic review of evidence and consultation with experts, the Mental Health Gap Intervention Guide provides decision tools and treatment advice for non-specialists working in resource-poor settings. [1] In some countries, such as Sierra Leone, the guide is being used to train psychiatric nurses.

The WHO has also published toolkits for the clinical management of disorders and for assessing the mental health needs of people in emergency situations. In response to the West African Ebola epidemic, it also published toolkits for field workers giving psychological first aid, and a guide on providing psychosocial support. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a page of mental health resource links for those affected by a disaster. A 2015 UNHCR report, also cited above, offers information on sociocultural issues to guide staff offering psychosocial support to Syrian people.

The UNs Sustainable Development Goals include promoting mental wellbeing, with some advocating for stronger action via the umbrella campaign #FundaMentalSDG. In April 2016, the WHO and World Bank will hold a global mental health meeting to mobilise a coalition to scale up the implementation of interventions.

Organisations working for better mental health

Several organisations and networks in addition to those mentioned above work to improve mental health worldwide.

The Gulbenkian Global Mental Health Platform supports the UN summit on mental health and offers advice on scaling up services in developing countries. The Movement for Global Mental Health is a network that is calling for action to scale up services, which often means more community involvement.

The Mental Health Innovation Network is a community of mental health innovators that offers access to a database of more than 100 research-based innovations across the globe, from Palestine to Uganda.

The World Federation for Mental Health is a membership organisation focusing on grass-roots advocacy and public education on mental health issues.

PRIME (programme for improving mental health care) is a consortium of research institutions and ministries of health in Ethiopia, India, Nepal, South Africa and Uganda.

The Centre for Global Mental Health  a collaboration between Kings College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in the United Kingdom  runs 40 research projects to improve access to mental healthcare in developing countries. A programme at Columbia University, United States, also provides mental health research and training on a global scale. And the US National Institute of Mental Health has set up a collaborative network of regional hubs for interdisciplinary research in mental health.

The UNs Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict highlights the effects of war on children. The UK-based charity War Child offers both practical and psychological support to children in conflict areas.

Penny Warren is a freelance journalist based in the United Kingdom, and Neerja Chowdhary is a psychiatrist based in India (formerly global mental health coordinator at International Medical Corps). Warren can be contacted at [email protected] and Chowdhary at [email protected]

This article is part of our Spotlight on Mental health matters.
Not only does poverty cause many physical health problems  it is also a major risk factor for mental illness. Poor people worry more about daily survival, they also have a greater likelihood of being a victim of crime and less access to healthcare, justice, education and safe housing. This means that poor people tend to suffer more from mental illness than the rich.



Yet the poorest countries also have the fewest mental health professionals. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only 1-in-4 people in the developing world have access to a psychiatrist, psychologist or psychiatric nurse. In the lowest-income countries, which are also those most likely to be wrecked by war and food shortages, there can be as few as one psychiatrist for every two million people, the WHO found. Most mental health specialists work in cities, leaving remote and rural areas bereft of any support.



In mental health, human resources are essential. We dont have equipment that can replace human treatment, explains Ricardo Araya, codirector of the Centre for Global Mental Health, a collaboration between the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Kings College London, both in the United Kingdom. So we have to use the people who are available, providing support and training to doctors, nurses and healthcare workers.



In some places, mental health problems are seen as spiritual problems, involving witchcraft or possession Peter Hughes, University College London, United Kingdom

To achieve that, the WHO created the Mental Health Gap Action Programme in 2009, which includes guidelines to help general doctors and nurses identify and treat mental, neurological and substance use disorders. Their training includes depression, anxiety, epilepsy, psychosis and autism.



Cruel practices



But mental and neurological diseases are poorly understood in many parts of the world, and the associated stigma discourages people from seeking help, says Peter Hughes, a consultant psychiatrist based at University College London, United Kingdom, who trains health workers around the world for the WHO using the Mental Health Gap guidelines.



In some places, mental health problems are seen as spiritual problems, involving witchcraft or possession, Hughes explains.



Sometimes, mental health patients can be taken to private hospitals and subjected to cruel traditional healing methods involving forced restraints and denial of food or water. Last October, campaigners Human Rights Watch published a review of neglect in private mental healthcare in Somaliland, an autonomous region of Somalia. [1]



Only the people who have the money and the resources can make their way to the town and get good treatment for their relatives, Hughes says.



In India, awareness about mental health is rising, says Maneesh Gupta, a consultant psychiatrist in New Delhi. But local governments still make little effort to understand causes of mental health disorders, which affects available treatments, he explains. Everyone sees it as a social issue, he says.



Extreme situations such as war, natural disasters and displacement can compound shortages of mental health professionals. These drastically reduce treatment options, forcing communities to deal with mental illness themselves, says Peter Ventevogel, the senior mental health officer with UNHCR, the refugee agency of the United Nations. He describes how devastating this can be for the patient.



Tapping into primary care



Ventevogel notes that medical care and medication are essential to treat some mental health disorders, like epilepsy or schizophrenia. But for problems such as depression, many general doctors in developing countries who often see up to 200 patients a day  lack the time to provide the support the patient needs.

Every psychiatrist who has been to Sub-Saharan Africa will tell you about people who have been tied to a tree and being neglected Peter Ventevogel, UNHCR



Every psychiatrist who has been to Sub-Saharan Africa will tell you about people who have been tied to a tree, very disturbed, aggressive, self-neglecting and being neglected. And yet a short spell of drug treatment would help many, he says.



This is something the developing world has started to pick up on. Many countries are using the WHO Mental Health Gap guidelines to train primary healthcare providers to spot and treat mental health issues. [2] In Sri Lanka, where there are only about 50 psychiatrists for the countrys 20 million people, the programme is used to train doctors in communities displaced by war or disasters.



The health system is strong in the country, but the mental health [system] is lagging behind, says Chesmal Siriwardhana, a public health professor at Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom, who trains doctors in Sri Lanka about mental health conditions.

Community self-help

Siriwardhana is expanding the Sri Lankan programme to include nurses, midwifes and public health officials. They are the point of contact with the community. They visit people. They can identify those with mental health problems even if they are not looking for help with that, he says. These health workers can also help to reduce the stigma associated with mental health.



An alternative solution is to train laypeople to help each other. In Zimbabwe, the Friendship Bench project uses lay health workers called community grandmothers. These grandmothers (older women play an important role in supporting their communities) are trained to provide cognitive behavioural therapy  a form of therapy that aims to change thinking patterns  to people with HIV/AIDS who are depressed or have other mental health problems. This talking therapy takes place on benches in the grounds of a health clinic, and is free for patients.



The treatment involves six sessions of 45 minutes, including a home visit and, if needed, referral to other health or social services or to career centres. A study of the project, due to be published later this year, found that only around 1-in-10 people who received treatment were still depressed after six months, compared with 3-in-10 of those who got none. The success of the initiative means it will be rolled out to 60 primary healthcare clinics in Harare and two neighbouring cities.



I can see myself that mentally ill people are more likely to get treatment now than they used to. Peter Hughes, University College London, United Kingdom

In Pakistan, a similar strategy is being used to help children with intellectual disabilities and autism, and their families. According to the latest research [3] such disabilities affect around seven per cent of children in the country, or more than 13 million individuals. But most are not treated because of discrimination around mental disability and a lack of knowledge about such diseases among healthcare workers. This is why Pakistans Human Development Research Foundation (HDRF) started the Creating Family Networks project, which is funded by the health ministry.



The programme trains the parents (usually the mother) of children with mental disabilities in proper care, and provides supervisors to give continued support. Then each trained champion educates other families who are in a similar situation, explains HDRF assistant director Usman Hamdani. According to Hamdani, this helps reduce stigma in the community and encourages people to seek treatment for their children.



For the mothers, its a game changer, says Hamdani, as the programme not only improves the lives of their families, but also helps others around them. Each champion creates a network of about five to seven families.



Tech fixes



Another way to extend the reach of health workers is through technology. In Brazil and Peru, a pilot project called CONEMO uses a smartphone app to treat depression in people with chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. The app sends them messages, videos and activities several times a week, and health workers can monitor patients activity.



A soon-to-start project in Brazil will provide community health workers with tablets and apps in the shape of games, animations and activities to treat depression in elderly people. Health workers carry a tablet with them on home visits, says Araya from the Centre for Global Mental Health, who is involved with both projects. They identify patients who are depressed and can benefit from the app.

Ventevogel of the UNHCR adds that mobile technologies can be valuable for supervising local healthcare workers  especially when few local experts are available. In Chad, for example, there are no specialised nurses and one psychiatrist in the whole country, Ventevogel explains, so remote supervision and provision of long-distance training is essential.However, Hughes from University College London says technology also has pitfalls. Although mobile phones are popular in the developing world, people frequently change number, making it hard to keep track of patients and staff, he says. In addition, poor phone reception and internet access haunt rural areas, where mental health training is needed most, he says.But when it comes to training mental health professionals, even the smallest effort can do a lot of good, Hughes says. In Somaliland, the Mental Health Gap guidelines have been included in the curriculum of medical schools, along with online training from the WHO.And the situation has definitely improved, Hughes says. The doctors have a better knowledge of mental health. I can see myself that mentally ill people are more likely to get treatment now than they used to.This Spotlight article features a researcher from INASPs AuthorAID programme

This article is part of our Spotlight on Mental health matters.
Mental disorders such as anxiety, depression and suicide attempts are a reality for the poor as much as they are for the rich, even though they are often overlooked. Data from the WHOs Mental health atlas 2014 show that suicide rates can be very similar between countries as different in income status as Vietnam and the United Kingdom, with five and six suicides per 100,000 people, respectively. [1] But few people in the developing world get the mental healthcare they need, and many patients are treated inhumanely or offered treatments that do more harm than good.



Mental disorders and their causes



Mental illnesses include a range of conditions such as depression, generalised anxiety, panic attacks, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and dementia (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Mental disorders

Depression types

Depression: a condition with many symptoms that vary, but can include feeling tearful, restless, indecisive, despairing, isolated and irritable. Physical symptoms can include moving and speaking more slowly than usual, unexplained aches and pains, constipation and insomnia. Depression is described as mild, moderate or severe (clinical), depending on the impact it has on the persons life  from feeling in low spirits, especially when faced with personal loss, to feeling persistently sad in a way that interferes with everyday life. There are specific forms of depression such as seasonal affective disorder and postnatal depression, and people who are severely depressed can have psychotic experiences and suicidal feelings. Postnatal depression: a condition that usually develops within six weeks of giving birth, and should not be confused with the baby blues, which only lasts a few days and affects most mothers. Typical symptoms include feeling low, worthless, sad, tearful and guilty. Some mothers may feel hostile or indifferent to their baby or partner. The cause may be hormonal in combination with a lack of support, low self-esteem, poor living conditions and a history of mental health problems such as depression. Seasonal affective disorder: a type of depression related to the amount of daylight available in different seasons. It differs from most peoples reactions to changes in seasons by how severely mood and energy levels are affected, and by the impact of symptoms on day-to-day life. For most people, it begins as the days become shorter in autumn and winter and starts to lift in spring and summer. The causes are still unclear.



a condition with many symptoms that vary, but can include feeling tearful, restless, indecisive, despairing, isolated and irritable. Physical symptoms can include moving and speaking more slowly than usual, unexplained aches and pains, constipation and insomnia. Depression is described as mild, moderate or severe (clinical), depending on the impact it has on the persons life  from feeling in low spirits, especially when faced with personal loss, to feeling persistently sad in a way that interferes with everyday life. There are specific forms of depression such as seasonal affective disorder and postnatal depression, and people who are severely depressed can have psychotic experiences and suicidal feelings. Eating and body image

Body dysmorphic disorder: an anxiety disorder related to body image. Someone with the disorder is anxious about an aspect of their appearance such as a facial feature or their weight, and may develop rigid routines and habits such as checking how they look or picking at their skin. They can also experience shame, guilt, loneliness, depression and, in severe cases, even self-harm and suicidal feelings. Eating disorders: disorders that involve focusing on food as a distraction that helps people disguise painful feelings that are hard to face or resolve. Someone with bulimia nervosa tends to binge on large amounts of food in secret and then get rid of the food through vomiting or using laxatives. Someone with anorexia nervosa may dramatically reduce how much they eat, exercise compulsively and avoid high-calorie foods, and also use drugs to suppress appetite. Someone with binge eating disorder feels compelled to eat all the time, even when uncomfortably full. Eating disorders are associated with depression, self-esteem issues and anxiety.



an anxiety disorder related to body image. Someone with the disorder is anxious about an aspect of their appearance such as a facial feature or their weight, and may develop rigid routines and habits such as checking how they look or picking at their skin. They can also experience shame, guilt, loneliness, depression and, in severe cases, even self-harm and suicidal feelings. Mania

Bipolar disorder: a mood disorder previously called manic depression, which involves periods of feeling manic or high (excited, euphoric, supremely confident and adventurous) and then feeling depressive or low (tired, sluggish, listless and lacking in confidence). At times, a person can feel both high and low. The cause is still unknown, but likely factors include childhood trauma, stress, brain chemistry and genetics. Hypomania and mania: conditions that describe periods where people may feel intensely happy and high, self-important, energetic and restless. Their minds may race, they may talk extremely quickly, be easily distracted and become disinhibited and aggressive. They are related to bipolar disorder. Hypomania is less severe than full mania. Manic depression: see bipolar disorder.



a mood disorder previously called manic depression, which involves periods of feeling manic or high (excited, euphoric, supremely confident and adventurous) and then feeling depressive or low (tired, sluggish, listless and lacking in confidence). At times, a person can feel both high and low. The cause is still unknown, but likely factors include childhood trauma, stress, brain chemistry and genetics. Personality disorder types

Borderline personality disorder: a disorder of mood and of how the person interacts with others. People with the condition may: worry about others abandoning them; experience very intense emotions that can change rapidly; and feel emotionally empty and angry. Making and keeping stable relationships may be difficult for them, and the sense of who they are can change according to who is around them. When stressed, they can experience paranoia and have psychotic experiences. Personality disorders: conditions that cause people to have rigid patterns of feeling, thinking and behaving that make it harder for them to deal with everyday life. Psychiatrists have identified ten types of disorders in three groups. The suspicious group includes antisocial personality disorder, where people are likely to act impulsively and behave dangerously with no sense of guilt. The emotional and impulsive group includes borderline personality disorder. The anxious group includes narcissistic personality disorder, where people have fragile self-esteem, tend to resent others successes and believe they are more deserving than others.



a disorder of mood and of how the person interacts with others. People with the condition may: worry about others abandoning them; experience very intense emotions that can change rapidly; and feel emotionally empty and angry. Making and keeping stable relationships may be difficult for them, and the sense of who they are can change according to who is around them. When stressed, they can experience paranoia and have psychotic experiences. Psychosis, hearing voices and schizophrenia

Hearing voices: a form of auditory hallucination where a person hears voices when no one is around them, or which others cannot hear. Some may hear just their name or a few words, while others hear a running commentary. Hearing voices when falling asleep (hypnagogic hallucinations) or waking up (hypnopompic hallucinations) is caused by the brain partly being in a dream state. Other causes range from lack of sleep to physical illnesses, drugs, bereavement, traumatic experiences, psychotic experiences, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. Psychotic experiences : disorders in which people perceive or interpret things around them differently from others. One type is hallucinations, where people either experience things that arent there or see objects in a distorted way. They may hear voices or feel things such as insects crawling on their skin. Another type is delusions, where a person believes something that has no basis in fact  for example that they can bring people back from the dead. A paranoid delusion can be very frightening as the person believes they are in mortal danger. A third type is flight of ideas, where someone moves too quickly from thought to thought, making links that others cant follow. Schizoaffective disorder: a diagnosis applied to someone who has psychotic symptoms similar to schizophrenia and mood symptoms like someone with bipolar disorder. The symptoms they experience include hallucinations, delusions, hypomania and depression. Schizophrenia: a diagnosis given to people who experience symptoms including hallucinations, delusions, hearing voices, difficulty concentrating, a desire to avoid people and feeling disconnected from emotions. It is caused by a combination of factors, including stressful life events, drug abuse and too much of a chemical called dopamine that carries messages between brain cells. There is also a genetic component. Tardive dyskinesia: the medical term for sudden jerky movements that can be a side effect of some antipsychotic drugs. The movements are unusual and out of someones control. They can make sufferers very self-conscious and exacerbate anxiety.



a form of auditory hallucination where a person hears voices when no one is around them, or which others cannot hear. Some may hear just their name or a few words, while others hear a running commentary. Hearing voices when falling asleep (hypnagogic hallucinations) or waking up (hypnopompic hallucinations) is caused by the brain partly being in a dream state. Other causes range from lack of sleep to physical illnesses, drugs, bereavement, traumatic experiences, psychotic experiences, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. Sleep

Sleep problems: problems such as difficulty falling asleep or frequently waking up in the night lasting weeks, months or years and affecting day-to-day life. Among the most common are insomnia (where a person has difficulty falling asleep or getting back to sleep), oversleeping, nightmares, sleep paralysis (when a person wakes up in the night and cannot move or speak) and sleep walking. They can result from various factors including medication and physical or mental illness such as depression and bipolar disorder, anxiety and schizophrenia.



Stress and anxiety

Anger: an emotional reaction that becomes a problem when it harms the person or those around them. Signs of anger include shouting and being physically violent or verbally abusive. It can also be passive aggressive, where someone might ignore or be sarcastic to others, and it can be inwardly aggressive, where someone self-harms or experiences self-loathing. Anger can be a sign of a personality disorder or paranoia and it can also contribute to depression, anxiety and eating problems. Anxiety: a normal emotion when faced with a stressful event or decision, which becomes a problem if a person feels anxious all the time, or if they feel overwhelmed. It includes feeling tense, uneasy, worried and fearful. Potential causes vary widely, from childhood experiences to a genetic disposition. Anxiety is a major factor in a number of disorders: body dysmorphic disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder. Generalised anxiety disorder: a broad anxiety diagnosis given to people who constantly feel anxious and fearful with no specific cause. Panic attacks: extreme versions of the bodys reaction to stress and fear. A person having a panic attack may experience a pounding heartbeat, nausea and chest pains, have difficulty breathing and may feel faint or afraid they are about to die. Episodes can last from five to 20 minutes and can be very frightening. Anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder can result in panic attacks.

Suicide and self harm

Self-harm: a set of behaviours that can take many forms, from cutting or poisoning yourself to hair pulling, overexercising, overdosing and eating disorders. It is a way of finding release from difficult feelings. Some say it gives them a sense of control, or that it conveys severe distress and even suicidal feelings to others. The causes can include pressure from school or work, worries about bullying, abuse, difficult feelings linked to another mental health problem, or depression, anxiety and anger. Suicidal feelings: a sense of not wanting to go on living. A person with suicidal feelings is likely to feel overwhelmed by unbearable feelings and painful experiences, and may see no solution other than seeking nothingness. The feelings may result from a long list of factors that includes isolation and loneliness, the breakup of a relationship, bullying, debt, physical conditions and mental health problems such as depression, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.



a set of behaviours that can take many forms, from cutting or poisoning yourself to hair pulling, overexercising, overdosing and eating disorders. It is a way of finding release from difficult feelings. Some say it gives them a sense of control, or that it conveys severe distress and even suicidal feelings to others. The causes can include pressure from school or work, worries about bullying, abuse, difficult feelings linked to another mental health problem, or depression, anxiety and anger. Other

Autism: a developmental disorder often not considered a mental health problem on its own, but it can be associated with a mental disorder such as anxiety or depression. Most people with autism have problems with social interaction, communication and language, as well as a narrow range of thoughts, interests and activities that are carried out repetitively. These make everyday life confusing and even frightening. Some people with autism may also experience problems with sensitivity to their senses. Dementia: a condition linked with the ongoing decline of the brain beyond normal ageing. People with dementia may have problems with memory loss, language, understanding and judgement. These are usually accompanied by apathy, difficulty controlling emotions or poor motivation. Symptoms may also include depression and changes in mood or personality. Dementia is caused by disease or injury. Examples include Alzheimers disease, caused by the build-up of abnormal proteins in the brain, or stroke, which rapidly kills cells by inhibiting blood supply to the brain. Dissociative disorders: conditions that change a persons sense of reality beyond normal, brief periods of being disconnected. They are often linked with traumatic experiences. People with a dissociative disorder can end up with memory loss or feeling that their body is unreal. There are several types: in dissociative amnesia, a person forgets important incidents or personal information; in depersonalisation disorder, a person feels detached from their body; in dissociative fugue, someone can travel to a new location and assume a new identity; and in dissociative identity disorder, a person experiences shifts of identity as separate personalities. Loneliness: an unmet need for rewarding social contact and relationships. It is not the same as being alone  many people are content with their own company. Circumstances such as retirement or moving to a new area can cause loneliness, but some people feel lonely regardless of their situation. They may consider themselves unlikeable and lack confidence, isolating themselves from other people. Conditions such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks or a phobia can contribute to feeling lonely, and vice versa. Obsessive-compulsive disorder: an anxiety disorder where people have constant worrying thoughts that dominate their thinking. They might worry about harming themselves or others, for example, or obsess about infection and disease. To manage their obsessive thoughts, they develop compulsions. A person who worries about germs, for example, may develop handwashing rituals that they repeat many times a day. Paranoia: a condition in which people have fears and thoughts that are greatly exaggerated and unfounded. Common paranoias include people feeling at risk of psychological harm (someone spreading rumours about them or bullying them), physical harm (someone wants to hurt them) or financial harm (someone is stealing from them). If the paranoia is part of a psychotic disorder, a person may also be hearing voices, which can compound the problem. Factors that can cause the condition include stressful life events, anxiety and depression, lack of sleep, physical illness and drugs and alcohol. Phobias: extreme fears triggered by otherwise harmless objects, situations or events. They differ from everyday fears as they last for more than six months and have a major impact on a persons life. Phobias can be specific, such as fear of animals, heights, tunnels or injections. They can also be more complex, such as fear of social situations or open spaces. Someone with a phobia has intense anxiety, physical symptoms such as dizziness and sweating, and may even experience panic attacks. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): an anxiety disorder following a traumatic event such as war, road traffic accident, assault or natural disaster. While it is normal to feel distressed after witnessing such incidents, in PTSD the symptoms last for longer than a month and are very extreme. Symptoms include nightmares, distressing thoughts and flashbacks in which people relive the trauma, as well as physical symptoms such as insomnia, sweating and trembling. Self-esteem: a phrase that describes beliefs that people have about themselves, their abilities and expectations. Those with poor self-esteem tend to focus on mistakes theyve made and their weaknesses. Factors that can contribute to poor self-esteem include depression and anxiety as well as stress, poor relationships with people, loneliness, bullying in childhood and difficult life events such as bereavement.



Age-related conditions such as dementia, Parkinsons and Alzheimers diseases are also included in mental disorders.



The impact of conflicts and natural disasters on mental health is important to note given recent or long-term crises that continue to affect millions around the world. For example, estimates suggest that more than two million Syrians are suffering from mild to moderate mental disorders. In Sri Lanka, where the effect of internal conflicts lasting more than 25 years were compounded by the 2004 tsunami, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder have affected many. [2] Similarly, more than 20,000 people in Haiti sought care for psychosocial needs within 18 months of the major earthquake that hit the country in 2010. Nepal faced a devastating earthquake in April 2015, and as of May 2015 at least five per cent of people affected were at risk of suffering from mental health issues. The WHO estimates that humanitarian emergencies lead to mental disorders in five to ten per cent of the affected population.



Another important determinant of mental illness is violence in its many forms such as sexual abuse, trafficking and domestic violence by partners, more often inflicted upon children and women. A meta-analysis of studies on women exposed to intimate partner violence found post-traumatic stress disorder in more than 60 per cent of the women, depression in nearly half, suicidal thoughts and alcohol abuse in nearly a fifth, and drug abuse in about nine per cent. [3]



Social factors such as vulnerability to poverty can also influence the risk of mental illness. Studies from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) reveal a significant association between depression and poverty indicators such as limited education, low income, lack of employment and housing difficulties. [4]



Although mental disorders can affect anyone regardless of age or gender, some problems are gender specific, such as the onset of depression in women during or after childbirth. According to a 2012 systematic review, about ten per cent of pregnant women and 13 per cent of those who have recently given birth in LMICs suffer from anxiety and depression. [5]



Similarly, some mental illnesses are linked to advanced age. Mental health risks for the elderly are often associated with brain-related diseases such as dementia, Parkinsons and Alzheimers diseases, along with familial and social neglect and loneliness. In developing countries, about 15 per cent of the over 60s suffer from a mental disorder. The number of people living with dementia worldwide is forecast to increase from 47.5 million currently to 135.5 million in 2050, most of them people living in LMICs, according to the WHO.



Shorter lives, poorer health and other impacts



Mental disorders account for 13 per cent of the total global burden of disease (see figure 2). [6] Depression is the third leading contributor to this burden, according to 2011 estimates: an estimated 13 per cent of suicides are by people who suffer from depression, and people with depression are 20 times more likely to kill themselves than those who are not depressed. [7]



Suicide is a major contributor to the number of deaths across all ages worldwide. Nearly 900,000 people take their own lives each year and, this is expected to rise to 1.5 million deaths by 2020. [8] While getting accurate information on suicide is difficult in the global South because of political, cultural and religious hurdles, the WHOs first global report on suicide prevention suggests that three-quarters of suicides occur in LMICs. [9]



The Million Death Study conducted in India shows how important suicide is in some LMICs: the countrys suicide rates are among the highest in the world (see figure 2). The studys estimates for 2010 show that about three per cent of all deaths of those aged 15 or over were due to suicide, and that 40-50 per cent of suicides were by people aged between 15 and 29, with women more affected than men.

Figure 2

Apart from suicide, there are several other reasons for deaths due to mental illness. [10] Mental disorders increase the risk of substance abuse such as heavy smoking and drinking too much alcohol, as well as unhealthy eating habits. And these can lead to other health problems such as liver cirrhosis. In some cases, lifestyle and mental illness combine to raise the risk for other conditions. For example, people with schizophrenia who abuse alcohol are likely to engage in more risky sexual behaviour, increasing their risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS.



Overall, mental illness can dramatically shorten life expectancy. In a 20-year study in South India of people with schizophrenia, the average age at death was about 34 years compared with a national average of just over 60 years. [11]



And the severity of the impacts, including social exclusion, varies depending on age and the type of the problem. [12]

Stigma and other hurdles to care

And there are other effects that are gaining increasing attention. For example, maternal mental health has a great impact on childrens health and quality of life. According to a 2011 systematic review , the transgenerational effect of maternal depression includes children being born underweight or having stunted growth. [13] One dramatic results of this study is that if affected children had instead been entirely unexposed to maternal depression as infants, almost a third fewer would be underweight or stunted. A study on Malawian women suggests that maternal depression also raises the risk of malnutrition, infectious diseases, hospital admissions and reduced immunisations for their children because of behaviours such as a lack of physical care or social interaction. [14]Mental illness also has significant economic costs . [12] The World Economic Forum estimated that productivity losses in low-income countries due to mental illness cost US$200 billion in 2010, with this set to double by 2030. [15] Yet these countries invest a meagre 0.5 per cent of their total health spending on mental health , compared with 2.4 per cent in middle-income countries and 5.1 per cent in high-income ones.



Despite the huge burden of mental illness and proven efficacy of certain treatments in LMICs, only one in five people with severe mental disorders in these countries receives treatment. [16] Experts call this the treatment gap. [17]



Treatment for mental disorders has received little policy focus in the developing world. According to the WHOs Mental health atlas 2014, only 60 per cent of the surveyed 171 countries reported data on or evidence of all of the following: a relevant policy or action plan; relevant laws; programmes to promote mental health and prevent mental disorders; and mental health services and dedicated workforce. [1] The record is poorer when it comes to action plans: only about 15 per cent of countries have a fully implemented plan, 14 per cent have an unimplemented plan and ten per cent have no plan at all.



There is also a limited supply of resources: psychiatrists, nurses, care workers, hospital beds and other facilities. [18] On average, low-income countries have less than five psychiatrists for every million people  at least 10 times lower than high-income countries  and the difference in the rate of psychiatric nurses is much higher. [1] These figures show the huge inequalities in how skilled human resources for mental health are distributed across the world (see figure 2). Sierra Leone, for example, which endured civil conflict for years and more recently a deadly Ebola outbreak, has only one psychiatrist serving the entire country. And in India there is only one mental health worker for every 100,000 people despite a high national suicide rate of about 21 per 100,000 people.

Figure 3

Beyond the limited workforce and investments in mental healthcare, people in developing countries have another barrier to care: the high prevalence of stigma that often surrounds mental illness (See box 1). Stigma and social exclusion deter people from seeking help, delaying both the start of appropriate treatment and their recovery. Eventually, an emotionally and socially withdrawn person is likely to lose the opportunity to live a full and productive life. [19]

Box 1:Mental health and stigma



Experts believe In many countries  but perhaps more so in the global South  a mentally ill person is at risk of social stigma, discrimination or social exclusion that limits work opportunities. This affects both peoples livelihoods and a countrys productivity, translating to a high social and economic cost. In developing countries, where many people live in poverty and earn a living through informal work on a day-to-day basis, such discrimination and exclusion can severely affect their lives. And because of high healthcare costs and the need for multiple consultations, people on the poverty line either miss out on essential care or get pushed further into poverty.Experts believe stigma arises for three reasons . [20] First is a lack of scientific knowledge about mental health among the public or misleading information spread by sham doctors, leading to false beliefs about mental illness being associated with sin or supernatural causes. Second are negative attitudes and prejudices that people might hold, so excluding or discriminating against patients. Finally, patients themselves often stigmatise themselves by internalising negative attitudes, and this can feed into their mental illness.

Studies point to differences in stigma among cultural groups. For example, in much of Africa this is a silent epidemic  people with mental illness are hidden from their communities. [21] The stigmatisation of mental illness can be influenced by other factors, which are in turn strongly influenced by culture. The perceived cause of the illness is one example: in one study, the belief that mental illness has a genetic origin led Chinese Americans and European Americans to make different judgements about marriage and reproduction. [22] Beyond stigma, culture influences mental illness in diverse ways, for example in how people describe or name clinical syndromes or accept treatments.



Promising evidence-based strategies



Efforts to reduce the mental health treatment gap face many barriers. So innovative strategies are crucial to overcome them. Some programmes have attempted to do this by integrating mental health in primary care services, which makes care for mental illnesses more accessible and affordable. Another approach is to train lay or community health workers to deliver mental health treatments. This gets around the barriers of having enough human resources. Yet another approach is to adapt treatments in a systematic way to tackle stigma and other considerations that relate to the social environment, to address the acceptability barrier.

Non-specialist health workers with no mental health background have proved they can provide treatment effectively after a relatively short period of training and with continuing supervision. [23] One such example comes from Pakistan. Funded by research charity the Wellcome Trust, the experiment has proved that such an intervention can be integrated into healthcare systems where mental healthcare workforce or resources are limited. [24] And in Uganda, the Heartsounds programme has trained peer-support workers to help people who have used mental health services in Kampala after they have returned to their homes, helping to fight the stigma and discrimination often linked to getting help.



This model could also work in humanitarian settings such as during or after conflicts. A recent study from Sri Lanka has suggested this possibility. [25]

Making services culturally sensitive is an important step towards making them more accessible, and the cultural barriers to seeking help call for non-traditional methods of treatment that people might be more likely to accept. [26] Psychiatrist Vikram Patel has argued that Western-style models of mental healthcare need to be adapted for low-income countries also because resources are in short supply. Culturally adapting mental health services is difficult and has had mixed results, but a framework for culturally sensitive psychosocial interventions published a decade ago has been used widely. [27,28]



Tech support



Beyond community-based care, modern mental healthcare can also take advantage of technology such as mobile phones and teleconferencing to provide personalised or individualised care.



Although mobile phone use in developing countries continues to rise, experts argue that the potential of mobile-based health interventions (or mHealth) has yet to be fully realised for mental health. [29] Technological tools tend to be underused in developing countries: only last year, a systematic review of programmes that use the internet to provide mental healthcare in LMICs found too little evidence to draw conclusions. [30] But a programme designed to help care for children with developmental disorders in rural Pakistan shows how information and mobile phone technology can be used to train their families to offer support (see Box 2). And a study among low-income people in the United States shows that text messaging can complement therapy for depression, helping to track patients thought patterns, activities and general wellbeing. [31]

Box 2: Support through mobile phone technology in Pakistan In 2012, Pakistans Human Development Research Foundation (HDRF) set up Family Networks for Kids , a three-year programme designed to use information and mobile phone technology to build and sustain family networks that support children with developmental disorders in a rural population of 30,000 people. Children with autism also often suffer from mental illnesses such as anxiety or depression. Most are left untreated either because families are unaware of the need to care for them, because health services are hard to reach or because of stigma. The programme recruited and trained family members as champions to lead on helping children in their own family and a network of up to seven other families. They worked to reduce stigma, share the care of children with community health workers, assist other champions and support other services catering for the children to maximise their impact. To begin with, technological tools were used to both help identify children in need and train family members to care for them. Family members were able to ring a mobile phone-based interactive voice system that guides them through questions to help identify whether their child may have a developmental disorder. The system helps overcome an important barrier to care in rural areas: the need to travel to a doctor or wait for a health worker to visit. It also slashed the cost of screening each child from US$7 to US$0.07 simply by eliminating the need for a door-to-door survey. Champions received training in evidence-based interventions using a tablet-based system with interactive, storytelling avatars and learning modules based on the WHOs Mental Health Gap Action Plan (mhGAP). They used this technology to also train others in their part of the network. Although it was challenging to keep the volunteers motivated throughout the programme, there were positive results. In a recent evaluation, the project leaders report that the phone system correctly identified 84 per cent of under tens with developmental disorders. [32] There was also a fall in stigma and improvements in clinical measures such as childrens communication, mobility or ability to care for themselves.

There may be another advantage to using mobile phones for mental healthcare: because many people see smartphones as a status symbol, care workers could use them to tackle the stigma of mental illness. [29] This can be done both by encouraging patients to use them to access services, and by associating treatment with the devices as a way to change social attitudes to mental health.



More revolutionary ways of using technology to treat mental illness are under development. [33] They include virtual reality therapy, computer-based methods and video games for paramedics, care providers or patients.



The way forward

Providing care for mental disorders is challenging in any part of the world. Initiatives such as mhGAP by the WHO aim to mitigate the mental health crisis in the developing world or resource-limited settings such as conflict areas. It is also crucial to boost training for health professionals, and promote more open acceptance of mental disorders and to tackle stigma against people with mental illness. Initiatives such as the WHOs QualityRights project, which promotes human rights and better quality care for mental health patients, grabbed the attention of public figures such as film producer Gary Foster and author Gregory David Roberts  a potent way to make progress towards a better quality of life for millions of people with mental disorders in the developing world.



Neerja Chowdhary is a psychiatrist based in India (formerly global mental health coordinator at International Medical Corps), and Vijay Shankar is a freelance journalist based in the United Kingdom. Chowdhary can be contacted at [email protected] and Shankar at [email protected]

This article is part of our Spotlight on Mental health matters.
Evidence-based approaches can help poor countries overcome this major barrier to care, says Jagannath Lamichhane.

In 2008, Liza (name changed) moved to Harare, Zimbabwes capital, from her rural home town where she had been gang-raped by armed forces. She left traumatised and terrified. The event changed her life completely. Not only did she contract HIV from the rape, Liza also became severely depressed. And it took her six years to access any mental health service.

It was only in 2014, while visiting the local clinic for routine HIV/AIDS treatment, that Liza accidentally dropped into a counselling session for depression and quickly realised that she too was a sufferer. Thankfully, such sessions were already integrated into the centres services.

But for further counselling, Liza travels ten kilometres each day to a centre that is almost identical to the one in her community. Why? Like many, Liza is afraid of being identified as mentally ill. She fears being looked down on or even socially excluded if other people find out about her treatment for depression.

The stigma surrounding mental health in developing countries is a huge barrier to care  even more stigmatising than HIV/AIDS. And too little is being done to address it.

A range of costs

Across the developing world, there is a feeling that if an individuals mental illness diagnosis becomes widely known, it would cause a loss of social dignity and worth. A 2014 report by Human Rights Watch said that women in Indian mental health institutions were treated worse than animals. [1] This is not unique to India: inappropriate care, prejudice, neglect and feelings of shame are a reality in many developing countries. And it means people do not openly seek help for mental health problems.

The social burden of mental illness has proved the greatest hurdle for receiving and providing care. It largely explains the lack of demand for services in developing countries, where up to 90 per cent of people lack access to treatment and whatever treatment is available is kept away from the public domain. In rich countries, mental health services are 50 times more accessible.

The personal, social and economic costs of secrecy and untreated mental illness are tremendous. A label or diagnosis of mental illness alone can have lifelong implications for sufferers, excluding them from healthcare, family, employment and education. Mental health is also the leading cause of disability worldwide: its cost was estimated at US$2.5 trillion in 2010 and this is forecast to exceed US$6 trillion by 2030. [2]

In developing countries, up to 90 per cent of people lack access to treatment and whatever treatment is available is kept away from the public domain. In rich countries, mental health services are 50 times more accessible. Jagannath Lamichhane

There is yet another cost that has been overlooked. The mental health support that Liza received has transformed her life: she learned to be independent and can provide for her children. People around her see a positive change, but she does not share her stories of loss and struggle with depression even with her loved ones. For her and many others, this is a lost opportunity to help break the stigma associated with mental illness by showing improvement and creating awareness about the realities of mental illness.

Hell on earth

And yet, the international donors and health organisations pay little attention to mental health. Less than one per cent of developing countries healthcare budgets goes to mental health, and this is the health sector most overlooked by donors and development agencies.

Institutions are often in an appalling condition. For example, the wards of Nepals only mental hospital smell as if they havent been cleaned for months, and the patients  sometimes chained  say that, if there is a hell on earth, it is the hospital. You might also like Mental health matters

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Q&A: Online training revives Somalias mental healthcare

Better mental health in the global South: Key resources Because of near-zero investment, the absence of dignified treatment and the continued social segregation of sufferers, mental health treatment and services are not up to scratch.

A few efforts have nonetheless paved a way for progress.

A pragmatic shift

The Movement for Global Mental Health, a network I help coordinate, has built momentum by promoting human rights and better services based on scientific evidence.

Since 2008, the movement has supported a pragmatic shift, partly through a handful of innovative projects that go beyond traditional clinical treatment towards a holistic approach. The projects address key challenges such as integrating mental health into general healthcare or using technology to make services accessible and cost effective.

In Kenya, for example, a project is using mobile phones to help manage depression by accessing the WHOs Mental Health Gap Action Programme. It does this by training non-mental health workers to deliver a mobile-based and evidence-based intervention through a mobile app. The technology helps overcome the barriers of distance and travel, increasing and speeding up patients access to care.

These programmes appear to be making a difference. In August 2015, I visited the friendship bench project in Zimbabwe, which has mobilised female health workers to screen and provide counselling for various mental disorders.

The programme also embeds entrepreneurship training and financial incentives to successfully reintegrate female patients into society. Many of the beneficiaries living with depression and HIV/AIDS have transformed themselves into innovators and entrepreneurs after getting their mental illness under control. And although many still fear talking publicly about their recovery, the project has laid the groundwork for raising grass-roots voices to incrementally break the clutches of stigma. The project has also reduced stigma by becoming part of the general healthcare system.

Innovations like these are ongoing and growing, but the primary responsibility for addressing the mental health tragedy in developing countries lies with governments. They need to boost national funding and encourage investment from aid budgets. And they need to work with global partners to channel this investment towards novel strategies  to both tackle stigma and create services that are demand-driven, dignified and integrated into wider healthcare and communities.

Jagannath Lamichhane is principal coordinator of the Movement for Global Mental Health, founder of the Nepal Mental Health Foundation, a human rights activist and a freelance journalist. He can be contacted at [email protected]

This article is part of our Spotlight on Mental health matters.
In countries affected by conflict and political volatility, mental health problems are often serious and complex but poorly supported by public health services. Take Somalia. Here trauma is common, and illnesses such as depression  often caused or exacerbated by poverty  are widespread after decades of civil war, instability and (more recently) terrorism. The WHO estimates that 1-in-3 Somalis have been affected by a mental illness at some point in their lives.

War and poverty have decimated the countrys health sector. Services and research in mental health fare even worse: Somalia has only a handful of trained psychiatrists.

In this interview, we speak to Djibril Handuleh, a Somali doctor and mental health researcher working in Somaliland, a self-declared state in northwest Somalia, and member of the Kings Centre for Global Health in the United Kingdom.

Handuleh is active in using information and communications technologies (ICTs) as a cheap, effective way of training health workers in an impoverished nation where medical infrastructure is weak and opportunities for postgraduate training almost non-existent. He explains how training programmes can use technology to draw on regional and global expertise and develop robust, evidence-based systems of care.



What kind of mental health issues do people tend to be affected by in Somalia, and what is the capacity in terms of mental health support?

The main issues people in Somaliland face are those like post-traumatic stress disorder and substance misuse, as well as others that are closer to issues experienced in the rest of Somalia: depression, psychosis and so on.

I think Somalia is a typical example of a failed state and shows how to establish a health system again in a fragile state. Djibril Handuleh

The basic reality in this country is that the institutions are now building up after 25 years of conflict. The capacity [we have] now is just to train nurses and medical doctors. Postgraduate training is not yet established: those who want to study [mental health] have to go elsewhere and specialise in their respective fields.



Could you tell us more about your research on the training of mental health workers in Somalia?

Currently my research looks at the use of ICTs in mental health education.



What ICTs are used in mental health training? And how do you go about getting ICT training programmes up and running?

Because of poor access to mental health services, we need to train general healthcare workers to treat patients. Using local broadband internet, its possible to connect a supervisor to a practising physician or nurse based elsewhere, and then the supervisor can teach the nurse how to assess the patient, run a management plan and so on. The people doing the training can be in the country, in the region  wherever they work. This system has been used in other fragile states like Palestine and Sierra Leone

Its usually text-based teaching like PowerPoint presentations and a Facebook-like chatting system for teaching, where colleagues can have training sessions. We cannot do video-based teaching because of the low capacity of the internet at the Somaliland end.

My approach [to getting them up and running] would be very simple. First, I would start with the local government in the local town, then regional government and then the national ministry of health.



To give you an example: I developed an idea for training and then presented it to a medical school in Amoud in Borama, Somaliland. We then had to send a project proposal to a British NGO based in Somaliland, the Tropical Health & Education Trust, and applied for a UK Department for International Development grant to help establish mental health services in Borama. We had to present the idea at Somalilands ministry of health and get its endorsement.

The project had many facets: we planned to work in prisons, schools, the community. We had to write to Somalilands ministries of education and justice to get their approval for us to do the study. If youre working in a country like Somalia, you need to get everyone on board: the societies, womens associations, police, religious groups. Getting everyone on board is very important in any healthcare intervention.



You mentioned religious groups. Is religion something that comes into your work a lot?

It comes into it quite a lot, particularly when we are setting up mental health services for the first time. I would invite womens associations, religious community leaders, the elders of the community, young people, civil society groups, artists. As a big group they then can contribute to persuading decision-makers about the importance of mental health services for the public, and to explaining what everybody wanted.

For instance, in Borama, the idea was to convince people that we didnt need to put mental health separately  which would have just increased the stigma  but instead establish the mental health ward within the hospital in the town. To convince them, I had to present all the literature from elsewhere, whether from the WHO or case studies from other countries. And people then said: Other countries are doing the same. We can do the same. After all the meetings, they were able to say: Now its our responsibility and were going to build our own ward. And this is how the community themselves had crucial leadership in the set-up of their own services.

Its all about how we sell ideas to communities and get their trust. The communities usually listen and are willing to improve their own healthcare systems.



What about the different ways that people in different countries conceptualise and articulate mental health issues  does this come into your work often?

Yes, it comes into my work from the social cultural perspective and public health perspective. I think mental health systems in fragile states can be well addressed if theres the right commitment and the right people in place to work with the community and establish what is culturally feasible and realistic.



Have you found any kind of resistance to engaging with the idea of mental health treatment altogether, because it might be seen as showing weakness or being somehow culturally inappropriate?

Overall, the idea was to develop culturally sensitive course modules addressing Somali mental health perspectives  because we cannot put the core aspects of psychiatry into practice without cultural, religious and social understanding of the local context.

Yes, in my experience in the first one or two years it has been quite difficult to get the message across about how mental health presents in communities that have not been accustomed to mental health services. But when we had extensive community-based awareness and community work, we came to [see] that the people were very cooperative. And in the last project I was working on, the community had a bigger say in the design phase of the implementation of what they wanted, how the services would be established  things like that. This is a very positive note from the Somaliland community.



Do you think these findings are transferable to other countries?

Absolutely. I think Somalia is a typical example of a failed state and shows how to establish a health system again in a fragile state. And this could be used in other countries that have had similar experiences. There is room for improvement, and let us all be optimistic for a better world.

Q&As are edited for length and clarity. This Spotlight article features a researcher from INASPs AuthorAID programme.

This article is part of our Spotlight on Mental health matters.
[LONDON] Health activists are demanding an international treaty on medical research and development (R&D) to speed up the creation of cheap medicines.

Outdated intellectual property (IP) regimes and market distortions hold back research on new medicines, activists said at a meeting of the UN Secretary-Generals High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines, held on 10 March in London, United Kingdom.

We do our R&D in an IP system that has created a hugely wasteful process, said Els Torreele, the director of the Access to Essential Medicines Initiative of grant-making network the Open Society Foundations. We could do so much better if we werent limiting ourselves to only innovating what we can also patent.

We could do so much better if we werent limiting ourselves to only innovating what we can also patent. Els Torreele, Access to Essential Medicines Initiative

The medical industry focuses on creating patentable compounds that can be developed into products or sold for a good price, which channels research spending  both public and private  into just a few highly profitable areas, the event heard.

It also means medicines for small markets or diseases affecting poor people are less likely to be researched, attendees said.

An international agreement on medical R&D funding could help separate the cost of research from the final products price, resulting in cheaper drugs and more research on neglected diseases, said Tim Reed, the executive director of Netherlands-based NGO Health Action International.

This would entail governments pooling funding for innovation and taking a leading role in steering research efforts, rather than relying on companies to make these decisions, the panel heard.

This would get rid of the situation where medicine is only developed if [it can be] sold at high prices, Reed told the UN panel.

But pharmaceutical industry speakers, representing companies including Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Novartis, opposed the idea of an international agreement to control drug R&D spending. A spokesman for Eli Lilly said this would be unconstructive.

He pointed out that companies run compassionate programmes under which they distribute free medicines to health systems in poor countries.

But these programmes do not reach far enough, said Hans Hogerzeil, the chairman of The Lancet Commission on Essential Medicines Policies , a group of specialists tasked by The Lancet medical journal to offer recommendations for global essential medicine policies.

Hogerzeil told the panel that 110 million people in developing countries need insulin, but only 50,000 are covered by compassionate programmes, for example.

The third Sustainable Development Goal says that every person on the planet has the right to healthcare and medicine, said Ruth Dreifuss, the UN panels cochair  which puts pressure on international governance bodies to lower prices.

The hearing was part of a UN initiative to develop international medical innovation policy to ensure more life-saving medicines reach the poorest people in the world. A second meeting of the panel will take place tomorrow in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Specialists struggle with poor resources and social barriers. But theyre being creative to get people proper care.

One word  gap  shows up persistently in discussions about mental health in the global South. There is the treatment gap between how many people are affected by mental illnesses and the number who receive care for them. There is the gap between the need for services and resources allocated for them, fuelled by yet another gap between the volume of scientific studies that come from high-income compared with low- and middle-income countries (LIMCs). [1]

And, in response to these, there is mhGAP: the WHOs Mental Health Gap Action Programme, which offers evidence-based guidelines to help poorer countries better prevent and manage certain disorders.

The collection we publish today puts global mental health under the spotlight. It looks at evidence about the scale and neglect of mental illness, the complex issues that prevent care from reaching vulnerable people and some innovative strategies being used to help.

Burden and barriers to care

In an overview article with facts and figures, psychiatrist Neerja Chowdhary  who also advised us on this collection  and journalist Vijay Shankar explain the various mental disorders, their causes and impacts. They also outline the social and resource pressures that prevent people receiving proper care.

Just one statistic conveys the toll in the developing world: the WHO estimates that three-quarters of suicides occur in LMICs.

A separate feature written by Chowdhary and journalist Penny Warren adds to the evidence, rounding up key documents about mental disorders and organisations working in the field.

As part of their overview, Chowdhary and Shankar highlight innovative strategies that can go some way to break the barriers to care  among them training non-specialists and using technological tools that are already available.

These issues are explored in separate features.

Journalist Barbara Axt finds that a lack of resources means psychiatrists in many poor countries resort to training either staff who dont specialise in mental health, or people in the community who can then help each other manage mental illness.

In a Q&A, Somali doctor and mental health researcher Djibril Handuleh explains what it takes to use information and communications technologies to draw on global expertise and train health workers in a fragile state with weak infrastructure.

The weight of stigma

Running parallel to fragile systems and limited resources is another major barrier to care that is firmly rooted in wider society: stigma.

In an opinion article, Jagannath Lamichhane, founder of the Nepal Mental Health Foundation, gives a powerful account of how social stigma weighs heavily on people suffering from mental illness in the developing world. He argues for a pragmatic shift to address mental health holistically and integrate it into general healthcare.

Stigma is, of course, closely linked with culture. In the second opinion piece of the collection, Dinesh Bhugra, president of the World Psychiatric Association, offers a thorough account of the many ways in which culture matters for psychological care. He calls for doctors to be more aware of cultural differences between patients and to adapt care accordingly.

Bhugra uses the example of migrant groups to highlight the role culture plays in mental health. And the third opinion article focuses on the current pressing crisis affecting the millions forced to leave their homes in Syria.

Migration specialists Mohamed Elshazly and Sarah Harrison home in on the evidence gaps researchers need to fill with local research so Syrian refugees and others affected by the conflict can receive better care.

Bridging the treatment gap

In an audio interview, anthropologist Catherine Panter-Brick describes how one humanitarian programme is going the extra mile to evaluate its effectiveness with evidence of biological, not just psychological measures of how Syrian youth respond to stress.

The views and evidence in this collection show that resource limitations and sociocultural factors loom large in mental health  both as drivers of the treatment gap and as limitations that drive novel approaches to bridging it.

Prominent psychiatrists working at the policy level and on the ground reinforce some of these messages and offer additional insight.

Oye Gureje, director of Nigerias WHO collaborating centre for mental health research and training, says in a filmed interview that using non-specialists is the single most important step the country could take to scale up treatment.



Gureje also acknowledges the role of spiritual healers. Although their treatment can be harmful, he says, working with them is essential. This message is echoed by Olanrewaju Ibigbami, head of a mental health clinic in Nigerias Osun state, who says many people in his state visit spiritual healers and churches because they are unaware of services at the clinic.



Influential Indian psychiatrist Vikram Patel also discusses the role of religion and culture. In an audio interview, he explains how cultural understanding can help efforts to communicate with patients about their experience and to adapt services in a way that increases their acceptability and demand for them.

Patel also touches on how cinema is playing a part in approaching mental healthcare in a more innovative, holistic and participatory way. In India, for example, Bollywood songs and movie clips are being used to illustrate depression and drinking problems.

Moves to engage film and community groups show that the traditional setting of the clinic isnt enough to end neglect of mental illness. Innovative tools and approaches to training may get around resource constraints, and thats important. But a different kind of creativity is needed to get past social and cultural barriers to better mental health  one that draws on evidence to promote public discourse whether in communities, online or in cinema, to lift the cloak of stigma.

Anita Makri is opinion and special features editor at SciDev.Net. @anita_makri

This article is part of our Spotlight on Mental health matters.
[NAIROBI] Environmental experts have appealed to African governments to adopt policies that promote the sustainable management of forest and wildlife resources to conserve biodiversity and enhance socio-economic growth.

The appeal was made during the 20th Session of the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the 4th African Forestry and Wildlife Week held in Kenya last month (1-5 February).

Researchers and decision-makers at the session said that only by adopting such policies would African countries achieve the targets set in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and address the challenges posed by climate change.

To ensure that forests continue to contribute to sustainable development, countries in Africa should increase the establishment of fuel wood plantations to guarantee the availability of wood energy in the future. Foday Bojang, FAO

Governments must ensure that forest lands are used in a way that conserves biodiversity and releases their full potential to fulfil ecological, economic and social functions without damaging other ecosystems.

Forestry management will be important for the implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Joseph Hailwa, the director of Forestry in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Namibia and the chairperson of the session, told participants, emphasising the importance of forests and wildlife in livelihoods protection and in climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Ministers of environment, water and natural resources from African countries such as Burundi, Cote dIvoire, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe attended the meeting.

Kenyas cabinet secretary for environment and natural resources, Judi Wakhungu, expressed concern that little has been invested in research, with few studies conducted to quantify the contribution of forests to national development despite their importance to the economy and environmental stability.

Wakhungu said: The implication of undervaluation of forest resources is the low priority accorded to the sector by governments.

Wakhungu singled out endangered species such as elephants, rhinos and the East African sandalwood (Osyris tenuifolia) and called for African countries to strengthen regional and international cooperation and creating information sharing platforms to combat wildlife poaching and illegal trade.

The experts said that sustainable forest management requires the involvement of women and youth. Women in forest-related decision-making at the community level, they noted, could help control illegal activities and increase the capacity of community groups to manage conflicts.

Children and youth are future decision-makers, forest owners and managers, the session heard. To ensure that forests continue to contribute to sustainable development, countries in Africa should increase the establishment of fuel wood plantations to guarantee the availability of wood energy in the future, said Foday Bojang, a senior forestry officer in FAOs regional office in Ghana.

Bojang told SciDev.Net that despite many countries aspiring to introduce modern sources of energy, wood will continue to be the most important source of domestic energy until the transition to modern energy is completed.

Significant investment in forest restoration is needed particularly in the dry lands of Africa, where forests contribute greatly to social and economic development at the local level, Bojang pointed out.

Issa Hamis, a beekeeping researcher at Tanzanias Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, said Africa also needs increased forestry education and awareness for sustainable forest management. Hamis added that forestry education needs to be revived to ensure the continued development of the sector and its contribution to sustainable agriculture.



This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.
El-Giushy recognised Panamas experience in maritime affairs and particularly the logistics development which is based on the Panama Canal and the port activity as a transhipment hub. The minister of transport said he wanted to know first-hand the Panamanian experience, through an exchange of technical delegations.

Barakat had spoken at the V Conference of Maritime Logistics (MARLOG) on the Panamas opportunities, thanks to the expansion of the canal.

During his visit, Barakat also signed a letter of intent with the president of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Ismail Abdel Gaffar, to begin cooperation in training of seafarers between Panama and Egypt.

Alexandrias faculty of maritime transport of the Arab Academy has an integrated simulator centre and training centre for survival and training at sea.
Grupo Unidos Por el Canal (GUPC), comprising Spains Sacyr, Italys Impregilo, Belgium Jan de Nul and Panamanian CUSA, released a communique on Monday in which it offered the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) to co-finance the unexpected costs in order to continue the works and maintain the work force of about 10,000 people employed, thereby achieving the completion of the project in 2015. GUPC stands united and has always taken unitary decisions; it is not asking for extra profits but for the co-financing of the unforeseen costs pending the decision of the international arbitration.

GUPC explained that, The resources financed by the Canal Authority are fully covered by bank guarantees and insurance obtained by the consortium pending the outcome and final decision of the arbitrators on the responsibilities of these extra costs.

The consortium added: Technically speaking, nothing prevents us from reaching the finishing line. The only impediment is the difficult financial situation which has arisen due to the additional costs which occurred during the execution of the works, for which GUPC has requested relief.

However, the ACP, commenting on GUPCs proposal, told Seatrade Global that there is no possibility to reach any accord outside the contract [signed by the consortium and the ACP] and any offers should be formally presented to the ACP.

Canal officials are due to meet 21 January with the Swiss Insurance Company Zurich to discuss the state of the works and the future of the construction of the locks, which have reached a 65% of execution, while the total canal expansion is at 72%.
Under the easing of sanctions, EU owned or registered vessels will be allowed to carry Iranian oil cargoes, although the ban on importing Iranian oil and petroleum into the EU remains in place. Current bans on importing and carrying Iranian product cargoes are lifted, leaving them open to export and import, including into the EU. Natural gas cargoes remain under sanction, with the purchase, transport and import all banned.

Despite a lifting of the general rule preventing European companies chartering vessels "designed for the transport or storage of oil and petrochemical products" to Iran, designated entities such as the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) remain under sanction with chartering to NITC outlawed.

Complications are foreseen where companies are forced to interact with designated entities, such as port operators and agents. In such circumstances, the European Commission has advised that owners and their P&I clubs seek advice from competent authorities, as payments may be allowed to the frozen accounts of designated entities. Further difficulty may be faced in finding a bank willing to process the transaction, however.

Insurers will once again be free to insure cargoes that meet the above requirements, including oil and petroleum cargoes bound for China, India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Turkey.

With no clear message on whether a grace period will be allowed for contracts underway, the International Group of P&I clubs, which insures around 90% of the world fleet, has advised shipowners to only enter into contracts which will be executed by 20 July.

The US is expected to mirror the lifting of EU sanctions as closely as their legal system allows, with full details to be revealed today.
The company will be headed up by former Nordic Bulk Carriers ceo Christian Bonfils (pictured), described by the group as a pioneer in the use of the Northern Sea Route and Northwest Passage when they were opened for commercial shipping.

BW Group chief executive Carsten Mortensen said: Christian brings with him many years of experience in the international shipping industry, and in particular dry bulk shipping. We welcome a strong leader with a keen sense of the business.vessel

I am delighted to be part of BW, a successful and well-respected member of the maritime industry, said Bonfils. I look forward to leading BWs initiatives in a sector I am familiar with, and to working with a talented team to seize opportunities in the market.

Earlier today, Seatrade Maritime News reported that South Korean drybulk and boxship owner Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) fell to a massive $525m loss in 2015. The bulker vessel-price-per-dwt currently resides at a post-2008 low of $102.52, down from highs of $441.44 per dwt in Q3 of 2010, according to the VesselsValue Bulker Index.
he company will partially finance the $6m vessel with proceeds from the IPO where it raised IDR41.7bn ($3.46m) from the sale of 25% of its enlarged capital, earlier this month. The remainder is expected to come from bank loans, likely Bank Mandiri, which Capitol Nusantara normally banks with, the executive was quoted as saying.



The company also has future plans to acquire offshore support vessels and expand to Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and East Timor but will continue to focus on the domestic Indonesian market for this year.



Capitol Nusantara also revealed it is working with marine services provider Hafar Daya Samudera to install undersea pipelines and has secured projects in Papua and the north of Central Java.



The company estimates revenue will hit $7.8m in the first half of its financial year beginning July.

Copyright  2022. All rights reserved. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited.
On 28 December 2015, Beijing approved the strategic merger of China Merchants and Sinotrans & CSC, where the latter will become a subsidiary of the former.

China Merchants owns shipping arm China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES), while Sinotrans & CSC is itself the result of a 2009 merger between China National Foreign Trade Transportation (Group) Corp (Sinotrans) and Changjiang Shipping Co (CSC).

Li Jianhong, chairman of China Merchants and one who will lead the merged entity, highlighted that after Sinotrans & CSC is taken in, the enlarged corporation will enhance the competitiveness of Chinas state enterprises and promote industry consolidation.

Li urged both organisations to hasten the process of the merger, but did not specify a targeted completion date.

The grand meeting was chaired by Xiao Yaqing, chairman and deputy secretary of the party committee at State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC).

Xiao said that at present, Chinas state-owned corporations lacked vitality, competitiveness and resources have been stretched too thin due to fruitless attempts on expansion, leading to disorganised operations and poor management.

The coming together of China Merchants and Sinotrans & CSC is an important milestone yet as part of Chinas move to deepen the reform of state-owned enterprises, he added.

Sinotrans & CSC and China Merchants already have an existing joint venture for their VLCC business established in September 2014.

Apart from the tanker shipping business, the two organisations have to work on consolidating their other businesses including dry bulk shipping, ports and logistics.
Last year, the shipbuilding industry received new orders with tonnage amounting to 70m dwt, a jump of 242% year-on-year, according to figures from China's ministry of information and technology.

The top 20 Chinese yards won 80% of these new orders, up 5.5% over the previous year, the ministry revealed. It added that the shipbuilding industry has managed to attract orders for more sophisticated ships, including six LNG carriers and four VLGCs.

Shipowners have been returning to the newbuilding market, especially at Chinese yards, as they believed that new vessel prices have touched bottom, despite the lingering overcapacity that still exists in the shipping market.

Zhang Guangqin, president of China Association of National Shipbuilding Industry (Cansi), said earlier that China's surplus yard capacity is likely to last for another five years.

Zhang also urged Chinese shipbuilders to stop dangling low newbuilding prices and compromise on quality in order to win shipbuilding contracts.
The transportation ministry extended the deadline for issuing of concessions to private port operators to run public terminals from end-February to June pending assessment by the operators.

New regulations allow them to also run bigger public terminals which had previously been the domain of only state-owned companies. They are currently only allowed to run special terminals and dedicated terminals, or public terminals on yearly permits.

We are ready to sign the concession, but we need time to calculate the amount of time needed for the concession, Indonesian Port Operators Association (ABUPI) chairman Aulia Febrial Fatwa said.

Aulia was optimistic that private port operators would be able to complete preparations for the concession by June, adding that the February deadline was a rush.

Aulia said private operators saw benefits in running bigger terminals rather than special or dedicated ones but needed to assess potential profit and capital investment for assets during the concession, as fixed assets must be returned and the ministry will be entitled to buy movable assets at the end of the concession.

For example, for land assets, they will keep increasing, but movable assets tend to depreciate. This has to be calculated, with a forecast for five to 15 years later, he said.

Aulia said out of Indonesia's 2,000 ports, 900 are managed by special or dedicated port operators, state port operator Pelindo manages 112 ports, while the rest are operated by the transportation ministry.

The ABUPI chairman said at least 18 port operators had been invited by the ministry and had expressed their readiness to sign the concession from early February.

Aulia, who is also commercial and business development director of Pelabuhan Tegar Indonesia, the operator of Marunda Center Terminal multipurpose port in West Java, said the company aimed to sign the concession this year and plans to put to concession its first and second phases of development, in which it will upgrade its current 7.5m tonnes yearly capacity to 12-14m tonnes to prepare to become a public terminal.

The port operating unit of state-owned steelmaker Krakatau Steel, Krakatau Bandar Samudra, is another party interested in upgrading its facilities to a public terminal. The application process for concession started in December, said Krakatau Bandar Samudra commercial and development director David Rahadian.

It aims to more than double capacity from 21m tonnes to 40-45m tonnes by 2025 to prepare for future public terminal operation. The business will partly rely on Krakatau Steels business development.
The 44,404 dwt Hong-Kong-flagged vessel, which was swept between Korean and Japanese waters during its 19 days on fire, was finally extinguished by salvors last Thursday after having been ablaze since 29 December.

The vessels 27 crew were safely evacuated by the Korean Coast Guard in the early stages of the fire, which followed a collision between the tanker and newbuild car carrier Gravity Highway off Busan, while the latter was on a sea trial from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard. The tanker was carrying 29,337 tonnes of volatile chemicals.

It is now very crucial and important that the tanker is granted a place of shelter or port of refuge in order for the safe transfer of the remaining cargo and bunkers, MSI said in a statement. The firefighting efforts were hampered by the difficult weather conditions where the waves were sometimes up to 3m high.

As a result, the salvor could not carry out the fire fighting effectively and had to stop from time to time as it was too dangerous.

The news follows calls from the International Salvage Union (ISU), Internation Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Union of Maritime Insurance (IUMI) for governments to tackle to the issue of places of refuge for distressed vessels.
The enhanced service will offer an eight-day transit time from New Zealand, for which Swire Shipping believes is ideal for time sensitive or refrigerated cargo, and four direct calls per month from Brisbane, Australia.

The company said it is the only direct service connecting Lautoka and Suva in Fiji to Port Moresby. In return, it offers up to three calls per month from Port Moresby to the rest of Asia.

Swire Shipping has provided multipurpose liner service in the Asia-Pacific region for over 100 years. The introduction of a direct port call from New Zealand and Fiji to Port Moresby further supports Swire Shippings commitment to the Papua New Guinea community, said Jeremy Sutton, general manager of Swire Shipping.

The service upgrade will be supported by multipurpose vessels Kweilin and Nanchang from its East South East Asia (ESEA) service which are capable of carrying containerised, refrigerated, breakbulk and project cargoes.
The general cargoship Marzooqah was boarded on Saturday off the coast of Eritrea.

Initial reports from international naval forces operating in the area said the vessel had been hijacked after it was boarded by armed personnel who forced the vessel to anchor off the coast of Eritrea.

However, Reuters later quoted EU Navfor as saying that the vessel had been boarded by the Eritrean navy and not hijacked by pirates.

"We assess this is an operation by the Eritrean forces, who went on board the vessel," Lieutenant Commander Jacqueline Sherriff, spokeswoman for EU Navfor was quoted as saying. "We believe the vessel is now in the hands of the Eritrean forces.

The fact the vessel was taken to the Eritrean coast rather than moved to Somalia is not consistent with an attack by Somali pirates.
A Notice To Mariners, previously issued by the US Coast Guard Maritime Liason Office in Bahrain, was withdrawn at 10:15 local time. Further reports indicate the the ship's master has confirmed that both vessel and crew are safely at anchor at Eritrea's Port of Massawa.

Initial reports from international naval forces operating in the area said the vessel had been hijacked after it was boarded by armed personnel who forced the vessel to anchor off the coast of Eritrea.

However, Reuters later quoted EU Navfor as saying that the vessel had been boarded by the Eritrean navy and not hijacked by pirates.

"We assess this is an operation by the Eritrean forces, who went on board the vessel," Lieutenant Commander Jacqueline Sherriff, spokeswoman for EU Navfor was quoted as saying. "We believe the vessel is now in the hands of the Eritrean forces.
The project will consist of offshore logistics support for a 532km, $3.2bn deepwater gas pipeline, running between the Mnazi Bay gas field and the city of Dar es Salaam. Once completed, the pipeline is expected to supply the citys power stations with 3,900 megawatts of generating capacity, and support economic growth and infrastructure projects in the region.

ISS will provide husbandry services for a custom-built pipelayer with a 1600t crane and accommodation for 230 construction workers, as well as crew logistics services such as crew visa and work permit formalities, and airport transfers to the vessels.

We have built a reputation for effectively supporting one-of-a-kind offshore projects and were delighted to be approached by CPPB and Anglo Eastern, says ISS Tanzania gm TS Mahesh. Given our breadth of experience, we are able to support the project in a number of diverse areas. We look forward to working as partner on this project, which is due for completion in December 2014.
The vessel was fired upon by men in a skiff, at which point the master raised the alarm, increased the vessels speed and altered course, mustering non-security personnel in its citadel, while onboard security personnel exchanged fire with the pirates. Following the returned fire, the pirates called off their attack.

The attack, which took place on 17 January, emerges as the first pirate incident of the year, after other reports of a hijacking of General cargo vessel Marzooqah turned out to be a boarding by Eritrean Border Guards.

The incident occurred merely days after the IMB issued a report stating that piracy was down to its lowest level in six years.
Press Release

March 16, 2016 POE TO SPEND P40B TO FEED POOR STUDENTS Saying education and health would be her government's priorities, leading presidential aspirant Sen. Grace Poe said she was open to spending up to P40 billion to provide free meals to students in public schools. Speaking to members of the Makati Business Club (MBC), Poe said the feeding program for poor elementary students would not only address hunger but also reduce the drop-out rate among public school students. "Health and education are going to be among my key advocacies to promote inclusiveness," Poe said at the MBC's Presidential Dialogues. "I believe it is only right to give everybody's children access to the same levels of health and education that middle-class families enjoy. Children, after all, do not choose to be born and cannot choose their parents. I believe they should not be penalized in life because of the conditions they are born into," she said. When she assumed her Senate seat in 2013, Poe's first proposed legislation was the "Sustansya sa Batang Pilipino Act," which sought to institutionalize a free lunch program in all public elementary schools and day care centers. While the bill has yet to be passed, Poe was able to secure a P3.2 billion allocation in the 2015 national budget to feed more than two million malnourished and severely wasted schoolchildren. If she wins the presidency, the senator said she would expand the coverage of the feeding program and ensure that more indigent students benefit from it. "My economic advisers have asked why I am so insistent on aggressively expanding the school feeding program for young children, which would cost us about P30-40 billion a year," Poe said. "This is because, as a mother, in charge of the household budget, I am aware that in most schools, tuition is only a small part of the cost of educating a student. We have long been offering our students free tuition up to the high school level. But despite this, a majority voluntarily forego the benefit," she said. Based on her encounters with parents in poor Filipino households, she said the biggest problem for them is the cost of their children's meals and other expenses related to their children's education. "If we can offer children free lunches, on top of the tuition subsidy we now give through our public school systems, at least up to a certain grade, it will increase the chances of parents keeping their children in school," Poe said. Access to education and healthcare, she maintains, is crucial to lifting people out of poverty. "I know that we do not possess the financial resources of a first-world country, but even this early on, we should lay the groundwork to eventually become a nation that provides quality universal healthcare at the primary level and free education up to the tertiary level for those who are deserving but without means," she said.
Press Release

March 16, 2016 Recto: Hackers-RCBC connection key to money laundering mess No doubt it's a grand conspiracy, but the Senate needs to uncover the connection between a group of hackers and high officials of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) if it wants to solve the $81-million money laundering mystery that rocked the country's banking system. "Walang duda na may napakalaking sindikato na sangkot dito. Maliwanag din na may koneksyon ang mga hackers sa bangko at kailangan natin malaman kung sino ang koneksyon nila sa RCBC," said Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto in an interview with DZMM today. Recto backed the request of RCBC branch manager Maia Santos-Deguito for her to testify in an executive session of the Senate blue ribbon committee, saying "her testimony is crucial in identifying all the characters involved in the plot and in connecting the dots to unravel the mystery behind the cyberheist." Recto said he would ask for an executive session of the joint Committees on Blue Ribbon and on Banks and Financial Intermediaries, when hearing on the cyberheist scandal resumes at 1 p.m. tomorrow (March 17), in order to get all the leads needed in the Senate investigation of the money laundering scam. "Malinaw na may kinalaman si Deguito sa mga transaksyon. Pero imposible naman na isang branch manager lang ng bangko ang utak sa krimeng ito," the senator stressed. "Maliwanag na magkakakila ang mga taong sangkot dito. Kahit sa executive session lang, importante na malaman ang partisipasyon nila mula sa mga leads na ibibigay ng branch manager," he added. Recto admitted that it may be difficult to recover all the money stolen from the Bank of Bangladesh, noting that $66,000 is the only amount left in the Philippine bank after withdrawals from the heist plotters. What is important, he said, is to bust the syndicate of hackers and bankers involved in the plot and put them behind bars as part of measures to protect the country's banking system from cybercrimes. According to Recto, the grand conspiracy will be fully established if the Senate panel could follow the paper trail on the following transactions: Entry of stolen money ($81 million) to the Philippines through RCBC under the following four accounts: Enrico Teodoro Vasquez, Alfred Santos Vergara, Michael Francisco Cruz, and Jessie Christopher Lagrosas [of William Go];

Transfer of $22.7M from the account of Lagrosas to the account of William Go;

Transfer of money to Philrem Service Corp., a remittance company;

Conversion by Philrem, of the rest of the amount to Philippine peso through RCBC Treasury;

Remittance of the converted cash in Philippine peso to the following: Eastern Hawaii Leisure Corp - $21M, and Bloomberry Hotels, Inc. - $29M; and delivery of converted cash to Wei Kang Xu - $30M. "Lahat ng nakita natin sa hearing ng Senate kahapon, ipinapakita na may kuntsabahan," Recto said. What the Senate panel also needs to uncover in future hearings, he said, were the answers to the following questions: Who are the hackers' contact in the RCBC?

How was it possible to transfer huge amounts of money in such a short time?

Why AMLAC failed to monitor suspicious activity? "Unless these questions are answered and the loopholes in money laundering are plugged, international hackers may still consider the Philippines as a playground for cybrecrimes," Recto said. "For the hackers, it's really more fun in the Philippines. Araw-araw talaga ang fiesta nila," Recto added.
MIRIAM: PHILIPPINES RISKS BEING 'MONEY LAUNDERING' HUB

Presidential candidate Miriam Defensor Santiago on Wednesday said that, if elected in May, she will certify as urgent a bill expanding the coverage of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) to include casinos.

Santiago said the recent $81-million fiasco involving funds hacked from Bank of Bangladesh highlights the urgent need to require casinos to report questionable deals to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

"If the casino sector remains outside of the coverage of AMLA, the Philippines risks becoming the world's money laundering capital," the senator said.

Santiago won the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1988 for reforming the Commission on Immigration and Deportation, which was then known as the "fake passport capital of the world."

Her statement comes as the Senate blue ribbon committee continues to probe how the funds hacked from U.S. accounts managed to enter the Philippine financial system unchecked.

The funds were later transferred to accounts of major casino players, and were reportedly used to either "buy chips" or "pay for casino losses."

Santiago said the AMLA amendment is necessary for the Philippines to keep out of the blacklist of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global body against money laundering and terrorist financing.

If blacklisted by the FATF, the country would suffer higher financial transaction costs and stringent cross-border measures for money transactions. At present, the Philippines remains in the FATF "grey list."

The Congress has sought to require casinos to report to AMLC in 2012, but the proposal was opposed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., saying that the provision might drive away investors.

Santiago vowed to match the lobby from the casino sector with political will. "The Filipinos should elect a president who will not bow to the whims of big business, to the detriment of public interest," the senator said.
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Martin Muller, founder and impresario of the gallery Modernism, which has carried the banner of its eponymous mission in San Francisco for 37 years, confirms that he will enter the fray of gallery relocation and redefinition later this year.

We are exploring a few good options with our architects, Muller says. Ongoing construction and other changes at the Monadnock Building, the gallerys current home, make it time to move on. One location being considered is at the edge of the Tenderloin, he says, close to Van Ness and the new California Pacific Medical Center hospital.

This neighborhood, he adds, is flourishing, with new restaurants run by hip young chefs, trendy boutiques and already a few progressive galleries. That, to me, means near the indefatigable Jessica Silverman Gallery, which is as progressive, and newly influential, as they come.

YBCA announces pay what you wish membership: In news sure to be welcomed by cash-strapped art lovers, San Franciscos Yerba Buena Center for the Arts will announce that the price of individual membership will be set by the member. Currently $40-$65, membership includes free admission (but only for one person, as opposed to the current policy of two) to exhibitions and opening receptions, discounts on events and other perks.

A spokeswoman tells me, in nervous-making language, that the center has been looking for ways to help it explode out of the art discourse and into the action of truly generating culture. Whatever that means, its part of a larger effort by CEO Deborah Cullinan, who took over in 2013, to return YBCA to its founding mandate: to be a citizen institution.

That certainly sounds laudable. And who among us isnt dying to see the answers generated by one new program, which will have 90 YBCA Fellows tackle the question: Can we design freedom?

Windfall for new director at Sonoma Valley Museum: Linda Cano assumed her new role as executive director of Sonoma Valley Museum of Art on Feb. 16. Her first order of business? Spend $850,000.

That is the amount of a check received in December, but unannounced until now, from the estate of Calvin Vander Woude. A longtime supporter and member of the museums Board of Directors, Vander Woude died Sept. 7.

Cano comes to Sonoma from Fresno, where she was executive director and chief curator of the Fresno Art Museum from 2010 to 2014. She called the sum a very generous legacy gift and only part of a total bequest that will likely amount to well over a million dollars. It falls to her to recommend to the museums board how to use the unrestricted funds, the largest gift the museum has received. Cal was very interested in art education and public programs, and we will want to respect that interest as we expand our offerings to our public.

Do-over No. 1: With my piece last week on the new Manetti Shrem Museum at UC Davis, which announced an opening date of Nov. 13, I included some gorgeous renderings of the new building. But, though I credited the images to the architects, I did not mention them in the column, and several readers called me on it.

The designer is the Brooklyn firm SO-IL (formerly Solid Objectives-Idenburg Liu), founded by the husband-and-wife team of Florian Idenburg, 40, and Jing Liu, 35. It is the young firms first U.S. building, though they have received attention for some high-profile competition entries and small projects (a tent at the Frieze Art Fair in New York, a courtyard summer pavilion at MoMA PS1), and completed a striking, chain-link-clad art gallery in Seoul. Idenburg was previously project manager for the Japanese firm SANAA on two important American art projects, the Glass Pavilion for the Toledo Museum of Art and New Yorks New Museum.

SO-IL is working in association with Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, a 50-year-old San Francisco firm. Known for its work on college campuses (Williams, Dartmouth, the California Institute of Technology, et al.), the company has also completed several of those snazzy Apple stores  including the iconic glass box on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

Do-over No. 2: My review last Saturday of Hank Willis Thomas exceptional exhibition at Kadist Art Foundation briefly described his five-channel video work, A Person Is More Important Than Anything Else (2014). But Im not satisfied that I gave sufficient attention to what I called the art part of the 29-minute installation  its speculative embellishments. (The piece is utterly unreproducible in print  you will have to see it personally.)

The work is a tribute to author James Baldwin: part biography, part visual poetry. Asked, in one segment, by 1960s TV host David Frost about the disadvantages of starting out as a writer ... black, impoverished, homosexual, Baldwin claims: I thought I hit the jackpot.

That original exchange took place in a studio, the two men sitting at a conventionally polite distance. But Thomas juggles the images between the five, aligned monitors, using the space across them to play with the very idea of conversation: doubling the power of Baldwins visage by presenting it on two monitors; making him the center of attention by moving his talking head to the center; emphasizing the cultural gap between British personality and American author by separating them physically.

Such techniques are employed throughout the work, mirroring, weaving, sewing together and tearing apart. Bringing in voices from the past  including Baldwins own, with clips from various points in his life, in a variety of tones and paces  and present. The artist includes a poignant reading by Angela Davis of a letter Baldwin wrote her during her infamous trial, before she was cleared of conspiracy charges in a shooting incident.

Bessie Smiths Backwater Blues floats above one segment as Baldwin walks alone, or addresses the camera plaintively from a solitary video frame. Faux-African drums and movie-native gibberish follow elegant spoken passages. All the images disappear, and we hear his voice in the dark. The role of leader is thrust upon him by interviewers, and then he is assaulted by questions: What is the role of the Negro? Are Negro leaders encouraging conditions of violence? Are you a communist? A revolutionary? An American?

Its a bracingly complex work, with implications firing off in all directions at once. Central to these are intractable questions and challenges regarding race, in America and beyond. And yet I cant get the first words of the piece out my head  the words that transcend difference, that explain how the work, its subject (Baldwin), and the artist (Thomas) succeed so thoroughly in embracing us all.

It seems to me, Baldwin says, as a fragmented picture emerges from initial blackness, that the artists struggle for his integrity must be considered as a metaphor for the struggle which is universal, and daily, of all human beings on the face of this terrifying globe to get to become human beings.

Last chances

The Leo Vallador exhibition Color Space, closing Saturday, March 5, at Brian Gross Fine Art, gives us a view of the late artist as an abstractionist so inventive, he seems to be concocting his own definition of geometry ... Also closing Saturday, Fraenkel Gallerys quietly intense 21 Pictures by Peter Hujar ... and there must be something in the air: David Maisels show The Fall at Haines Gallery (closing March 12) and Thomas Heinsers Reduziert at Gallery 16 (through March 18) both present aerial photographs, pleasantly disorienting, if a bit designy.

Charles Desmarais is The San Francisco Chronicles art critic. Email: cdesmarais@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Artguy1
Despite a booming economy, more than half of San Franciscans believe the city is going in the wrong direction, a significant uptick from last year, according to a new poll from the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.

Concerns over homelessness are fueling that dissatisfaction, with 51 percent of respondents calling it a major issue facing the city, compared with 35 percent last year and 29 percent in 2014. Homelessness has overtaken affordability as the No. 1 concern among San Francisco residents.

Homelessness has always been a big issue, but never like this, said Jim Lazarus, senior vice president of the business-oriented organization.

Also, people have more negative views of the Police Department, believe traffic congestion is worse and say the cost of rent is as worrisome as ever. One bright spot is Muni, which continued its resurgence of positive reviews.

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The numbers are bad news for Mayor Ed Lee, who easily won re-election in November but has since faced criticism on multiple fronts, including his handling of the fatal police shooting of Mario Woods and mushrooming homeless encampments.

Timing of poll

Details of the annual poll will be made public Wednesday at the chambers annual City Beat breakfast. The poll was done by David Binder Research and is based on a telephone survey of 500 registered voters taken between Feb. 18 and 22. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.4 percent.

Among the polls major findings is that 51 percent of those surveyed believe the city is going in the wrong direction, compared with 34 percent last year.

One big reason: Unhappiness with the citys homeless population is higher than anytime in the past decade  although timing probably contributed to the polls results.

The survey was conducted during peak outrage over the hundreds of homeless people who had set up camp on Division Street under Highway 101. City officials forced them to relocate late last month, although the question of how the city will provide long-term solutions remains unanswered.

Voters appear willing to spend money to address the problem. Seventy-five percent of respondents said they support a $350 million bond on the June ballot that includes $20 million for transforming homeless shelters and $222 million for San Francisco General Hospital.

Affordability concerns

The No. 2 issue on residents minds  the cost of housing and affordability  continued to register as a serious concern. Forty-four percent of respondents said it was a major issue facing the city, about the same number as last year but well above the 21 percent in 2014.

The city is focused on these issues (of housing and homelessness), but the trouble is they are issues that are hard to solve. There are just not easy local fixes, Lazarus said.

Despite the negative trends, 73 percent of those surveyed said the quality of life in their neighborhood had stayed the same or is better.

Munis ratings climb

The most encouraging news in the poll comes from the citys long-maligned transit system. Favorable opinion of Muni continues to climb and is now at 55 percent, up from 48 percent last year. Lazarus attributed the jump to an increase in funding for Muni, which has resulted in new equipment and better reliability.

The San Francisco Police Department fared worse. While 64 percent of voters viewed the department favorably and 26 percent unfavorably, the approval rating marked a big drop from last year, when it had a 76 to 16 percent favorability rating.

Those numbers are unsurprising. Criticism of the department and demands for reform have made headlines since the fatal police shooting of 26-year-old Woods in December.

The favorite among city agencies continued to be San Franciscos Recreation and Park Department. Seventy percent of voters viewed the department favorably, with 13 percent giving it unfavorable ratings. Thats on par with last years poll.

Major problems out there

Not even the unbeatable Warriors could best the Recreation and Park Department. Sixty-two percent of respondents said they support the Warriors future home in Mission Bay  which is expected to open in 2019  while 29 percent oppose it.

People are pleased about their neighborhoods. They are pleased about city services. Theyre willing to spend money on bonds to improve the infrastructure of the city and support the Warriors arena project  but there are major problems out there, Lazarus said.

The Chamber of Commerce has commissioned the poll for more than two decades. Unlike last year, it did not release the results of how voters feel about the Board of Supervisors or Lee. Lazarus said the chamber always holds back some poll results, releasing those we think (are) most relevant and important to the public.

Emily Green is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: egreen@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @emilytgreen
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The Oakland City Council voted Tuesday to sign a deal for a controversial high-rise project on East 12th Street, in a meeting that was brought to a standstill when protesters took over the council chambers.

The meeting quietly resumed in a conference room of the mayors office, with only reporters allowed to attend. Down the hall, protesters chanted, banged cowbells, and waved a banner with the slogan No segregated housing on public land.

Within the conference room, council members had their own spirited debate about whether to pick the same developer behind last years ill-fated proposal for a 24-story market-rate apartment building on a prime acre of city-owned land by Lake Merritt. The deal was all but made final when the council abruptly scrapped it in July, after a memo leaked from the City Attorneys Office saying that it violated a state law governing the sale of surplus land.

Best interest of the city

On Tuesday, the City Council voted 6-1 to pursue a new agreement with developer Michael Johnson, this time for a better project by far, according to Councilman Abel Guillen, who represents the Lake Merritt district. Johnsons company, UrbanCore, has partnered with the nonprofit East Bay Asian Local Development Corp. to build a 360-unit apartment building in which one-third of the units would be affordable.

If we say no to this project, were saying no to $45 million in property tax revenue and an additional $21 million in business tax revenue, Guillen told his colleagues in the conference room. While this is a difficult vote to take, Id ask you to look at whats in the best interest of the city.

But Councilman Noel Gallo  the lone dissenting vote  said the city should have gone with a competing plan conceived by a group of Oakland residents who were angered by the original East 12th Street deal. It called for 133 units of affordable housing.

You have a key property that we own that everyone should share, not just the market-rate people, Gallo said. He pointed out that his children and their friends are living with roommates because they cant pay for their own housing in Oakland.

The protesters who disrupted Tuesdays meeting released a statement that night, denouncing the new project as a luxury development that includes a token amount of affordable housing in a segregated, separate building.

Their highly choreographed disruption began early in the meeting, when a man in a suit tried to divide the crowd up by income. He was led away by police.

Protesters disrupt meeting

Members of the crowd shouted and jeered as Councilman Larry Reid, who was acting as chair, threatened to remove instigators. He was forced to halt the meeting when protesters stormed the dais. Among them were a clarinetist, several people banging cowbells, and at least four people who chained themselves to gates surrounding the podium.

Oakland police said they didnt make any arrests.

It was the second takeover of an Oakland City Council meeting regarding the East 12th Street parcel. Last year, protesters stalled a council vote by chaining themselves to the dais and holding their own Peoples Council meeting.

We tend to have a lot of pressure on this one parcel to solve a lot of problems in this housing crisis, Councilwoman Annie Campbell Washington said in the conference room.

She supported the deal.

If we dont build (this development), well exacerbate displacement, she said.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @rachelswan
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Researchers from the Stanford Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine have discovered a therapy that could help prevent one of the peskiest parts of long-distance travel: jet lag.

Jet lag affects up to 95 percent of the millions of U.S. travelers who fly across time zones each year, generally leaving them fatigued, lacking in concentration and feeling unwell overall. Medical experts offer a list of strategies to minimize its symptoms, and light has long been considered as one way to beat it for its ability to help reset the bodys internal clock.

But Stanford scientists, setting out to determine the optimal way light can be used to offset jet lag, found that exposing a sleeping person to quick flashes of light for an hour was more than twice as effective as exposure to continuous light. Short flashes of light the night before travel tended to adjust the bodys internal clock by up to two hours, effectively helping to prevent jet lag, the researcher found.

Jamie Zeitzer, a Stanford professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and the studys author, said the results are tied to a sleeping persons increased sensitivity to light at night and the way the human eye takes in light and sends it to the brain.

The cells that move light from the eye to the clock in the brain have a weird biology, he said. They continue to respond to light when the light isnt there. They regenerate and become more sensitive.

The researchers said the human body begins adjusting on its own, shaving off the effects of a single, one-hour time-zone change on the first day after a trip. That natural adjustment coupled with the flashing-light therapy could mean a jet-lag-free trip for anyone whos flown across a three-hour time change, say, to the East Coast from the Bay Area.

Researchers said the use of light as a therapy in general is possible because of the bodys natural internal clock that is set by its response to the light from night and day.

The circadian clock is a clock in your brain that keeps track of 24-hour timing in the body, Zeitzer said. It helps time hormone release, when you feel tired, when you feel awake ... basically everything you can imagine that occurs over the day.

Warning offered

He said anyone looking to use the flashing light technique shouldnt try it at home. There is a proper protocol to make the therapy successful, said Zeitzer, who serves as a scientific adviser to a Bay Area startup as a means to allow the new science to be used by the public.

The company, LumosTech of Menlo Park, uses strong, yet small, LED lights inside a sleeping mask that covers the eyes and is controlled by an app on a smartphone. A user enters his or her travel information and typical sleep patterns and then wears the mask while sleeping the night before travel.

Most people report seeing one or two flashes at first, but then just go back to sleep, said Vanessa Burns, CEO of LumosTech and a doctoral student at Stanford.

Burns said the mask can shift a persons sleep cycle forward or backward depending on the direction of the trip.

The mask is still in the development stage, but Burns said it should be on the market this year.

Several jet lag devices now available use continuous light therapy. LumosTechs will be the only product to use the flashing light technology, specific to the Stanford study.

Test subjects

For their research, Zeitzer and his colleagues tested 39 participants, ranging in age from 19 to 36. The volunteers were put on a routine sleep-and-wake cycle for two weeks. Then they were asked to sleep in the lab, where researchers exposed some to continuous light for an hour and others to sequences of flashes of light for an hour.

The study, published Feb. 8 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, found 2-millisecond flashes of light adjusted the sleep cycle up to two hours, compared with continuous light, which adjusted the sleep cycle up to about 40 minutes.

Looking forward, Zeitzer said he and his colleagues want to advance and apply this sort of light therapy to others besides travelers.

Shift workers want to have a social life and be awake during the day, Zeitzer said. At this point that is something we are unable to do  that would be moving the clock 12 hours in a single day  thats what we are striving for.

Kevin Schultz is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kschultz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KevinEdSchultz
Following a bout of rain storms, dog walkers Tuesday came across several eucalyptus trees that had detached from their roots and crashed down in San Franciscos Pine Lake Park.

After a rainy weekend, skies were sunny and cloudless Tuesday afternoon when four tree trunks slammed into a pavilion over a rest area that has benches and a water fountain for dogs.
Biologic drugmaker Gilead Sciences Inc. has halted several patient studies of its cancer drug, Zydelig, because of increased risk of death and serious side effects.

The company said the adverse events were spotted during an ongoing review of late-stage testing in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a blood cancer, and patients with relapsed non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer of the infection-fighting lymphatic system.

Nathan Kaiser, a spokesman for the Foster City company, wouldnt disclose details, including how many patients died or suffered serious side effects.

We are conducting a comprehensive review of all ongoing studies and are consulting with regulatory authorities, Kaiser wrote in an email Tuesday.

Zydelig is approved for treating follicular B-cell non-Hodgkins lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia in patients who have failed other treatments.

Economy

Retail sales

fall in February

Retail sales slipped last month, pulled down by sharply lower gas prices, and Americans spent much less in January than previously estimated. The figures suggest that consumers remain cautious about spending despite steady hiring.

The Commerce Department said retail sales fell 0.1 percent in February. Excluding the volatile gas and auto categories, sales rose 0.3 percent. Overall sales were revised sharply lower in January, from a 0.2 percent gain to a drop of 0.4 percent.

The reluctance by shoppers to open their wallets could hold back growth. The report indicates that they are pocketing much of the savings from cheaper gas.

Americans are spending more on services such as health care, education and mobile data, so overall purchases may be rising.

Auto dealers, electronics and appliance stores, grocery stores and department stores all reported lower sales. Gas station sales plunged 4.4 percent.

A category that includes catalog and online sales slipped 0.2 percent, its worst showing in 13 months.

Sales at home supply, clothing, and sporting goods stores all rose. And people are still eating out. Sales at restaurants and bars jumped 1 percent.

Cyberseurity

Bangladesh bank head quits

The head of Bangladeshs central bank resigned Tuesday after hackers managed to divert $101 million from the countrys account with the Federal Reserve Bank in New York.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahmans resignation was accepted, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas spokesman Ihsanul Karim.

Rahman, who held the banks top post for seven years, told reporters he resigned voluntarily.

I submitted my resignation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ... tears rolled out from her two eyes, he said. Earlier he had said, If my resignation is better for the Bangladesh Bank, I have no hesitation.

The finance minister canceled a scheduled news conference without explanation Tuesday. Last week, he said Bangladesh was considering suing the U.S. bank over the loss of the funds, which were thought to have been transferred to the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

However, the New York Fed said it found no evidence that its own systems were compromised, and attention increasingly has focused on suspected vulnerabilities in Bangladesh Banks cybersecurity.

Rahman, the son of a landless herdsman, was a Dhaka University economist before joining the Bangladesh Bank. He said leaving the bank post was a difficult decision.

British spy bill

wins 1st OK

A proposed British law that gives police and spies unprecedented powers to look at the Internet browsing records of everyone in the country passed its first major vote in Parliament on Tuesday.

The interior minister, Home Secretary Theresa May, vowed that its intrusive reach would be governed by the strongest safeguards against abuse. Opening a House of Commons debate on the contentious bill, May said the law would provide unparalleled openness and transparency about the authorities surveillance powers.

The Investigatory Powers Bill gives law enforcement officials broad powers to obtain Internet connection records  a list of websites, apps and messaging services someone has visited, though not the individual pages they looked at or the messages they sent. It also requires telecommunications companies to keep records of customers Web histories for up to a year and to help security services gain access to suspects devices.

The bill also makes official  and legal, with some restraints  the intelligence agencies existing ability to harvest vast amounts of bulk online data.

May wants the bill to become law by years end. But it is strongly opposed by civil liberties groups, who say it grants spy agencies powers that are far too sweeping.

Restaurants

Chipotle

sales down

Chipotle says sales were down 26 percent for February and that it expects to report a loss for the first quarter as it works to recover from a series of food scares.

The Denver company had previously said it expected its earnings to be around break even for the period, after taking into account higher costs for marketing, promotions and tightened food safety to win back customers. The drop in sales for February at established locations follows a 36 percent decline for January. The February results were boosted by the extra day in month this year.

For the first quarter, Chipotle said, it expects to report a loss of $1 per share or more. In the same quarter last year, it earned $3.88 per share.

Chronicle News Services
LONDON  The London Stock Exchange Group and Deutsche Borse said Wednesday that they had agreed to merge in an all-stock deal that they hope will create a European champion in a rapidly consolidating industry.

The transaction would unite two of the biggest European exchange operators and would create one better able to compete globally for stock listings, as a provider of clearing services and as a purveyor of market data.

It would be worth about $30 billion, based on the market capitalization of the two exchange operators.

The combined group will be well placed to adapt to industry and regulatory dynamics and able to compete globally, said Carsten Kengeter, the Deutsche Borse CEO, on a conference call with analysts Wednesday.

Kengeter will be CEO of the combined exchange.

The agreement came three weeks after the companies announced they were in discussions, and after at least one other exchange operator publicly expressed interest in the London exchange.

IntercontinentalExchange, the owner of the New York Stock Exchange, said this month that it was considering a competing offer for the London Stock Exchange, but it never publicly indicated how much it was willing to pay. Other exchanges also were watching the discussions closely.

On Wednesday, the companies confirmed that there would be no termination fee if the London Stock Exchange were to walk away from the deal with Deutsche Borse.

They said that they expect to see about $500 million in annual savings.

Under the terms of the deal, shareholders in the London Stock Exchange would receive 0.4421 of a new share in the combined company for every share of the London Stock Exchange they own. Their counterparts at Deutsche Borse would receive one share of the new company for each of their shares, giving them a 54.4 percent stake in the united market operator.

The boards of both companies are recommending that shareholders approve the merger. The deal is subject to approval by regulators in the European Union, Russia and the U.S.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of this year or during the first quarter of 2017.

The combined company will be based in Britain and have headquarters in London and Frankfurt, home of the Deutsche Borse. It would list its stock in London and Frankfurt.

Its board of directors would have equal representation from both exchanges, and Donald Brydon, the London Stock Exchange chairman, would be its chairman.

After completion of the merger, Xavier Rolet will step down from his role as CEO of the London Stock Exchange and will serve as an adviser for up to one year.

The transaction will allow London to maintain economic ties to the Continent, even as Britons are set to vote in June on whether to leave the European Union.
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People who use ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft are also more likely to use public transportation, and transit agencies should work together with them to promote their services, a new report released Tuesday said.

The American Public Transportation Association released its findings and held a telephone news conference with officials from Uber, Lyft and the Dallas transit agency to discuss the findings.

Half of 4,500 Uber and Lyft users surveyed in seven cities said they also use public transit in a report, titled "Shared Mobility and the Transformation of Public Transit."

The report comes as New York's state Legislature continues to weigh approving legislation to allow the ride-hailing services to operate statewide.

"Ride sharing has emerged as a critical element in our industry," said Michael Melaniphy, president and CEO of the American Public Transportation Association. "Shared modes are a complement to public transportation."

Services like Uber and Lyft are also most often used for social trips between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., times when public transit runs infrequently or not at all, the report said.

People who use public transit often call a ride-hailing service to get there. "We see it in cities like Portland, where one of every four trips begins or ends at a rail station," said David Plouffe, chief adviser to Uber. "We really see ourselves as a linkage to public transportation."

Emily Castor, director of transportation for Lyft, agreed public transit should work together with companies like hers.

"When you need that last-minute connection to a rail station, we can do that for you," she said. Castor added the ride-hailing services also improve access for people who do not have a car or who have a disability that leaves them unable to drive.

Questions have been raised about access for the disabled when private car owners are using their own vehicles to work in the ride-hailing service.

Plouffe said it is unrealistic to expect all Uber or Lyft drivers to be required to have handicapped accessible vehicles, but Uber is working to make sure it has such vehicles available.

The agencies said millenials are more likely to live without the costs of owning and insuring a car, the ride providers said.

"Young people want to live in cities at a pace we've never seen before, and they'd love to live without a car," Plouffe said.

The report did not examine labor issues that have arisen with Uber and Lyft, which consider drivers independent contractors and not employees, nor did it examine recent concerns about whether background checks are sufficient, Melaniphy said.

Morgan Lyons, assistant vice president of Dallas Area Rapid Transit, said public transportation agencies should work together with ride-hailing companies. He envisioned being able to look up bus and train stations on the services' apps and the public transit agencies including links that enable their customers to get rides to take public buses or rail.

"We can work together to provide a first-mile, last-mile system," he said. "People want convenience, and if we don't make it convenient, people will find another way to get around."

tobrien@timesunion.com  518-454-5092  @timobrientu
Shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals crashed Tuesday after the embattled drugmaker failed to reassure investors that its getting back on track and even conceded for the first time that its technically in danger of defaulting on its debt.

The company faces a virtual Murphys Law of problems: falling sales, increased pressure to cut drug prices, huge debt, three federal probes of its accounting and pricing practices, and shareholder lawsuits in the U.S. and Canada.

Valeants already depressed shares took their biggest one-day tumble ever, falling just over 50 percent Tuesday after the company finally reported its overdue fourth-quarter results, which missed profit expectations. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. also slashed all its 2016 financial forecasts and said that its business model, based largely on huge price increases for its drugs, is no longer viable given strong objections from payers.

The turmoil led Pershing Square Capital Management  activist investor Bill Ackmans hedge fund and one of Valeants biggest shareholders  to send its own investors a note stating it will take a much more proactive role at the company to protect its investment.

Pershing wrote that Valeants businesses are worth multiples of the current price, but that shares wont hit that value until management regains shareholder confidence. The note added that Valeant shocked the market with revenue and earnings forecasts that dont seem to fit with favorable prescription trends or managements comments on the strength of its businesses.

Valeant CEO Michael Pearson told the analysts on a lengthy conference call that a probe of Valeants 2014 financial reporting by an ad hoc committee it appointed means that Valeant wont be able to file its annual financial report with the Securities and Exchange Commission until sometime in April at the earliest.

That would miss filing deadlines of March 16 and March 30 contained in Valeants agreements with bondholders and creditors, respectively. If those debtors chose to declare the company in default on its debt, which totals about $30 billion, Valeant could be forced to make repayments faster and see limits on future borrowing.

Analysts were further upset when the company incorrectly said in a press release that adjusted profit for the four quarters beginning in April would be $6.2 billion to $6.6 billion. A slide included in Valeants presentation to analysts had the correct number, $6 billion.

Its kind of the Inspector Clouseau school of management, said Erik Gordon, a professor and pharmaceuticals analyst at University of Michigans Ross School of Business. This is a fabulous example of getting everything wrong when youre trying to reassure investors.

Analyst Steve Brozak, president of WBB Securities, likewise said the gaffe raised questions about whether any of Valeants statements could be trusted.

There is no predicting what happens next, Brozak said. Valeant has had its worst day ever  so far.

Pearson, who recently returned from a two-month medical leave, said his team can turn things around and return to growth.

We do think we have a plan that will produce cash flow and allow paying down debt, he told analysts, adding, In terms of management credibility, we have to earn it.

Investors, already livid that Valeant shares had plunged from their $263.81 August high, didnt buy Pearsons pitch. They sold shares furiously, driving the price down $35.53, or 51.5 percent, to $33.51. Trading volume for the day exceeded 137 million shares, more than 14 times normal volume.

Valeant is facing an SEC investigation of its accounting from 2014, plus scrutiny from Congress and attorneys general in two states over its practice of buying rights to old drugs and raising their prices a few hundred percent. Valeant said it now will stick to modest or no price increases, noting demands from insurers for much-bigger discounts.

The company has made some concessions to shareholders, this month adding three directors to its board, including a Pershing Square executive.

Pearson said Valeant is in confidential discussions with partners on selling some noncore assets and hopes to use that and other money this year to pay off $1.7 billion of its debt, accumulated from a spree of acquisitions in recent years.

Valeant reported preliminary, unaudited results showing that it lost $336.4 million (98 cents per share) in the three months that ended Dec. 31. Excluding one-time items, earnings were $2.50 per share, far short of the $2.64 that analysts expected.

Revenue totaled $2.79 billion, just over projections for $2.76 billion. The company said sales were down or below expectations by a total of $1.3 billion in its dermatology, gastrointestinal, ophthalmology, womens health and Western Europe businesses, among others.

Deb Jorn, the executive vice president in charge of Valeants U.S dermatology and gastrointestinal businesses, resigned on March 3.

Valeant, based in Quebec, anticipates a first-quarter adjusted profit $1.30 to $1.55 per share on revenue in a range of $2.3 billion to $2.4 billion.
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Berkeley police have arrested a person in connection with a Tuesday shooting that left a 28-year-old man critically injured, authorities said.

The suspect in Tuesdays shooting, whose name was withheld, surrendered at Berkeley Police Station around 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, said Sgt. Andrew Frankel, a police spokesman.

A man was taken to Highland Hospital in Oakland with at least one life-threatening wound after he was found shot at around 11:30 a.m. near Delaware Street and San Pablo Avenue.

A shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding neighborhood as heavily armed officers searched for the assailant. Officer Byron White, a police spokesman, said Tuesdays shooting was a targeted attack.

We dont believe this was a random act, White said. We think it stems from some type of altercation.

The arrest comes after a man and a woman suffered critical injuries when they were shot in south Berkeley Wednesday morning, less than 14 hours after the first incident, authorities said.

Around 1 a.m., officers responded to reports of gunshots near the corner of Tremont and Prince streets near the Ashby BART Station, Frankel said.

Two victims, a man and a woman, were both found suffering from gunshot wounds near a white sedan and taken to nearby hospitals with life-threatening injuries, Frankel said.

No arrests were made and no description of the suspect or suspects was immediately available, Frankel said, though investigators believe the victims were also targeted.

Neither victim was identified.

Frankel said it was too early in the investigation of Wednesdays shooting to know if the two incidents were related.

Kale Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kwilliams@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfkale
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Jaycee Dugard, who was kidnapped at age 11 and held as a sex slave in a Bay Area backyard shack for 18 years, cannot sue the government for failing to arrest and jail her future abductor in repeated parole violations over a 2-year period, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.

The government and its officers who were monitoring Phillip Garrido during his parole from a previous rape conviction in the years before the abduction had no legal duty to protect Dugard from Garrido because they could not have known he would single her out as a victim, the U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco said in a 2-1 ruling.

The court did not address the question of whether parole officers had failed to do their jobs properly.

Garrido was paroled from prison in 1988 after serving 10 years for a rape in Nevada. In June 1991, he and his wife, Nancy, snatched Dugard while she was on her way to school in South Lake Tahoe and drove her to their home near Antioch, where she was held captive in a backyard shed before being rescued. Raped repeatedly, she gave birth to two daughters, in 1994 and 1997. The older child is also a plaintiff in her lawsuit.

Phillip Garrido was sentenced to 431 years in prison for kidnapping and rape, and Nancy Garrido was sentenced to 36 years to life.

In 2010, California lawmakers approved a $20 million settlement to Dugard and her children after investigators found that state officers had missed many opportunities to rescue the captives outside Antioch.

Dugards suit against the federal government focused on Garridos time on parole between late 1988 and her kidnapping. Her lawyer said parole officers knew he had repeatedly failed drug tests and admitted using drugs, but never notified the U.S. Parole Commission, which could have revoked his parole and returned him to prison.

The appeals court, upholding a judges dismissal of the suit, said federal law allows individuals to sue the government only if they could also sue a private institution under similar circumstances.

In California, the court said, a private company that runs a rehabilitation program cant be sued if one of its inmates or parolees eludes supervision and harms a member of the public.

The same protection applies to the government in this case, since there was no evidence that Dugard was a specially identifiable victim before her kidnapping, Judges Richard Clifton and John Owens said in the majority opinion.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko
It was a murder trial full of firsts.

The case against William Jones and Lance Molina for their roles in the slaying of Michael Bailey, a tourist from Louisiana killed during a botched robbery at the Alice Griffith public housing complex near Candlestick Park in 2009, was the first time gang enhancements were brought against the Double Rock street gang.

And, as the case came to a close Wednesday with the sentencing of Jones and Molina, it was the first time Eric Fleming, a veteran prosecutor and managing attorney of the district attorneys homicide unit, saw the family of a victim share hugs with the families of the defendants.

Bailey, a 26-year-old married father of three and a student at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., was lured along with two friends to the complex on Double Rock Street on the night of Oct. 4, 2009, after they met a woman at a South of Market nightclub who told them she had lost her car keys. The men offered to give her a ride home.

Prosecutors said the womans story was a ruse, part of a robbery setup planned by Molina. When Bailey and his friends drove the woman to Double Rock Street, they were confronted by Molina and Jones, who was armed with a gun. Bailey was shot in the head trying to get the gun away from Jones, who had pistol-whipped Kedric Green, one of Baileys friends.

Molina and Jones were convicted of first-degree murder with a gang enhancement in 2014 and sentenced Wednesday, with Jones receiving a sentence of 57 years to life and Molina getting 44 years to life.

The woman who allegedly lured Bailey to the complex was acquitted of all charges, and a fourth defendant, Maurice Lige, a minor at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to robbery with a gang enhancement and received a sentence of nine years after the jury deadlocked on his original murder charge.

The details of the proceeding, however, took a backseat to the emotionally charged statements from Baileys friends and family that were read at Wednesdays sentencing at the Hall of Justice.

Green, who was being pistol-whipped when Bailey intervened, described his slain friend as the bravest man Ive ever known. Dion Bailey, Michael Baileys widow, said she and her husband were college sweethearts and wrote of how their three children would never be able to see the similarities she sees between them and their father.

Ed Bailey, Michael Baileys father and a 24-year military veteran, was deployed in the Middle East when he got news of his sons death. He moved to the Bay Area and attended the trial each day.

That was my job, to make sure my son got some kind of justice, he said shortly after Molina and Jones were convicted. Its not going to bring him back, but you got to look at one thing. Sometimes, when you get shot, they cant ever find the person that shot you. At least here, we found the person who shot him and got some sort of closure.

The most powerful part of Wednesdays proceedings, Fleming said, came after the victim-impact statements had been read and the defendants sentences had been announced as numerous members of both mens families lined up to offer hugs to Ed Bailey.

It was the first time Ive ever seen that, said Fleming, who has been a prosecutor for 13 years. It was a testament to the victim and the power of forgiveness.

Kale Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kwilliams@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfkale
Palo Alto Police have released a sketch of a man who exposed himself to a 13-year-old girl while she was walking her dogs.

The girl was heading west on Melville Avenue from Middlefield Road Monday evening when a man approached her on the sidewalk, police said in a statement. He stopped, smiled and stooped down to pet her two dogs.
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Another shooting took place on Interstate 80 Tuesday evening following at least seven similar incidents on the freeway since November, officials said.

A woman was uninjured in Tuesdays incident after an unknown man fired from a car that pulled alongside hers on eastbound I-80 near Richmond Parkway, California Highway Patrol said.

The man, sitting in the left rear passenger seat of a green Toyota, rolled down his window and pointed a gun at the woman before firing multiple rounds into the air around 5 p.m. The driver fled. No injuries or car damage was reported.

At least seven similar shootings have occurred near that area of the freeway in the past four months.

Among them:

On Feb. 8, a man was critically injured after a shooting on I-80 in Pinole.

A man driving on I-80 in Richmond died in late February after a gunman in another car shot him near Richmond Parkway as well.

On Jan. 11, three people were injured, including a 2-year-old child, when an assailant fired at a car headed east on I-80 near Richmond Parkway.

A teenager and a man in his 20s showed up at a nearby hospital with gunshot wounds that were not life-threatening. Officials believed they were the targets of that shooting.

About a month before that shooting, on Dec. 17, a man was wounded in a car-to-car shooting on the freeway near San Pablo Dam Road in San Pablo.

In November, one man was killed and three others were injured in three separate shootings on Interstate 80.

CHP asks anyone who witnessed Tuesdays incident to call (707) 551-4100.

Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno
On a wintry evening on Market Street, the No. 1007 streetcar whirred along the tracks as the driver clanged its bell. Locals and tourists perched on small seats in a gleaming, circa 1948 interior with round ceiling lights and rows of small square windows.

Built for the San Francisco Municipal Railway by the St. Louis Car Co., the streetcars have a ruby and pale yellow exterior that harks back to the Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Co., which operated Red Arrow lines that served the citys western suburbs between 1949 and 1982.

The 1007 is one of several historic transit vehicles traveling up and down Market Street and the Embarcadero on the F-Market & Wharves line. The fleet, operated by Muni, includes antique and vintage streetcars made in San Francisco, Presidents Conference Committee streetcars, and international trams, trolleys and streetcars.

More than 30 Presidents cars make up the bulk of the F-lines convoy, and each underwent a complete restoration. Although the cars arrived from Newark, N.J., by way of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Philadelphia and San Francisco, theyre painted in a particular color scheme reflecting 22 of the 33 cities where the companys cars once operated.

A group of transit company executives formed Presidents in the 1930s to encourage people to take public transit. They designed a contemporary streetcar that would become popular throughout the United States.

Hop on an F-line streetcar and take a ride. Then head to the San Francisco Railway Museum & Gift Shop, a jewel box of a place operated by the nonprofit Market Street Railway. With a focus on the history of rail transit in the city, it features special and permanent exhibits, historical objects and archival photographs. Theres also a reproduction of the motormans platform of a 1911 San Francisco streetcar.

One of the museums current exhibits, Selling on Streetcars: Advertising Cards, 1915-1958, takes a look at the rapid growth of advertising on streetcars. Companies began placing ads on streetcars right before the turn of the century, and in less than 20 years, 50,000 streetcars displayed ads. The exhibit features San Francisco advertising car cards from the Western Railway Museum.

At the gift shop, find streetcar and cable car fleet posters as well as books, including On Track: A Field Guide to San Franciscos Historic Streetcars & Cable Cars by Rick Laubscher and more.

To find out which streetcars are operating on the F-line, check out http://bit.ly/1zUD33n.

San Francisco Railway Museum and Gift Shop, 77 Steuart St., S.F. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. (415) 974-1948, www.streetcar.org .

Stephanie Wright Hession is an arts, culture and travel writer and photographer. Instagram: @stephaniewrighthession Blog: www.bayareaarts.blogspot.com
Simon Dobson laughs when he hears the Internet tags attached to his name: alternative brass band, cinematic, contemporary classical, dub step, funk, punk, United Kingdom.

The British trumpeter and composer has played and written all kinds of music since he started at age 5. Born into a brass band-playing family in Cornwall, the coastal county in southwest England, Dobson came up playing in brass, rock and punk bands before getting a scholarship to study composition at Londons Royal College of Music. He was in his second year there when he got his first major commission  a fanfare for the London Philharmonic.

Celebrated for his bracing brass orchestra pieces, Dobson is also a busy studio musician and live performer whose associates include Martha and the Vandellas and the British metal band Bring Me the Horizon, whose new music hes arranging for symphonic orchestra. He leads a performance of it next month at the Royal Albert Hall, a prestigious place for Dobson to make his symphonic conducting debut.

Its going to be very cool, Dobson says on the phone from his home in Plymouth, England.

It was in Plymouth that he recorded the ambient sounds of waves, wind and docks that he wove into his new work for clarinet and electronics, A Modulation on Plymouth Sound. Commissioned by Curious Flights, the Bay Area organization that specializes in new and forgotten music, the piece will premiere Saturday, March 19, at the San Francisco Conservatory by Curious Flights clarinet-playing artistic director, Brenden Guy. It shares the bill with a new commissioned piece by Noah Luna, works by Robert Chastain, Samuel Adams and Mason Bates, and the U.S. premiere of two other Dobson pieces: Another Worlds Hell, performed by the San Francisco Wind Ensemble, and Crystal, a fanfare for eight trumpets.

On his 2014 recording Euneirophrenia, a collection of pieces that revel in rich brass sonorities and rocking funk grooves, lovely vocal harmonies and rumbling electronica, Dobson played all eight trumpet parts on Crystal. Hes not playing even one of them here.

It will be nice to hear how eight other people hear and play it, says Dobson, 34, who arrived in the Bay Area this week  his first visit to America  for a Curious Flights residency that includes rehearsing the music and giving master classes.

Dobson had never written for clarinet until Guy, an Englishman in San Francisco, suggested the commission. Nor had he ever incorporated natural sounds into his music.

Every chance I get to do something new, its exciting, he says.

Dobson was thinking about the forces of nature and human will when he wrote this piece. He wandered the banks and boatyards of Plymouth Sound, the bay on the English Channel, recording the natural music that makes up the works watery soundscape.

Over the course of five or six minutes, it slowly modulates from the organic sounds of waves into something very different, digital and inorganic, he says.

The clarinet part mirrors that gradual shift, from tranquillity to dissonance and cacophony, with Guy altering his clarinet sound with delay and reverb pedals.

Even as he branches out, Dobson remains deeply in love with the sonorities of the brass ensemble, the clarity and warmth of a sound thats woven into the fabric of the U.K. Brass bands are integral to the history of this country.

Its a working-class pastime that grew up around factories. Mines and factories have closed, thanks to a horrendous Tory government. What were left with is the beauty and the wealth of history encapsulated in the brass band world.

For more information, go to www.curiousflights.com.

Bamboo in Sonoma

Two new shows open at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art on Saturday, March 19: Modern Twist: Contemporary Japanese Bamboo Sculpture, featuring works by 17 Japanese artists whove taken traditional bamboo basketry to new places, and Thomas Ingmire: Contemporary Calligraphy, showcasing books, prints, poetry sheets and sketchbooks by the San Francisco calligrapher noted for his collaborations with artists such as Oliver Jackson and Manuel Neri.

The Ballet goes

to Washington

If youre going to be in the nations capital Oct. 26-30, you may want to catch San Francisco Ballet giving the D.C. premiere of Christopher Wheeldons winning Cinderella at the Kennedy Center. The ballet co-commissioned the work with the Dutch National Ballet and gave its U.S. premiere in the Bay Area in 2013.

For more information, go to www.sfballet.org.

Jesse Hamlin is a Bay Area journalist and former San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
Following an emotional debate, the Senate blocked a bill that would prevent states from requiring labeling of genetically modified food Wednesday.

The Biotechnology Labeling Solutions Act (S2609), authored by Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., which would create a national voluntary labeling standard for genetically engineered foods, did not pass. Roberts had hoped to pass the bill before Vermonts mandatory labeling law goes into effect July 1.

Despite getting support from Democrats such as Agriculture Committee members Joe Donnelly of Indiana and Heidi Heitcamp of North Dakota, he didnt get the 60 votes he needed. California Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein voted against the bill.

The discussion before the vote ranged over issues of farming, food companies and consumers right to know what is in their food.

Roberts said it would prevent a wrecking ball from hitting our entire supply chain, referring to a potential patchwork of inconsistent state laws. He emphasized that the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, and the Food and Drug Administration have all deemed genetically engineered foods safe. Its not about safety. Its not about health. Its not about nutrition. Its all about marketing, he said.

Bill supporters, including an industry lobby that called the bill the Safe Affordable Food Act, say such a patchwork would cost manufacturers $82 billion a year, which they argue would be passed along to the average American family at $1,050 per year. (That estimate has been disputed by groups like Consumer Reports, which estimates the cost to consumers at pennies per day.)

Senate Democrats presented a different consumer perspective than Roberts, pointing to various polls showing that roughly 90 percent of Americans favor labeling of genetically engineered foods.

Lets be honest with the American public, said Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., who has offered an alternative bill that would require national labeling of genetically engineered foods. All they want is for us to be honest with them about ingredients.

A last-minute amendment to the bill would call on manufacturers to provide toll-free numbers, websites, QR codes or social media symbols on labels to inform consumers whether genetically engineered ingredients are present in the product. If 80 percent of manufacturers fail to do that within three years, labeling of genetically engineered food would become mandatory nationally.

But Merkley said that wasnt enough, especially since the toll-free numbers or QR codes could be presented without explanation.

Thats why I call this a house of mirrors, said Merkley, who said people shouldnt have to spend an hour trying to find information.

Consumer and environmental groups applauded the defeat of Roberts bill.

Todays vote marked an important milestone for the more than 90 percent of Americans who want GMOs to be labeled, said Tom Colicchio, celebrity chef and Food Policy Action co-founder, in a statement. I am hopeful that the Senate will now work to craft a bipartisan mandatory on-pack GMO labeling bill that doesnt demonize science and gives consumers the information they demand.

Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taraduggan
The Big Thicket National Preserve and the Big Thicket Association Science Cafe program series continues Friday at 6 p.m. with a presentation from West Liberty University professor Zachary Loughman at the Logon Cafe, 3805 Calder Ave., Beaumont.

Loughman's presentation will focus on his survey of crayfish in Big Thicket National Preserve.

This survey will provide preserve managers and scientists with a baseline species inventory of crayfish, their habitats, and their conservation status, and give the general public the opportunity to become involved in science in the preserve.

This is the first comprehensive crayfish study focused on the waterways of Big Thicket National Preserve.

Prior surveys in the region of the Neches basin waterways documented 16 species of crayfish, an unusually high number for any U.S. watershed.

Given the diversity of wetland habitats in the preserve, it is likely that this study could find new species of crayfish as well as identify species at risk.

Crayfish are important members of Texas's riparian ecosystems, in both still and moving waters.

They both consume and provide tremendous amounts of nutrients in their roles as predators, scavengers, and prey, and their burrows provide refuges for many aquatic and terrestrial animals.

Loughman is a professor of biology at West Liberty University in West Liberty, West Virginia.

He has spent the last decade studying crayfishes across eastern and central North America, particularly in West Virginia and adjoining states.

He completed a study documenting West Virginia's crayfish, resulting in the WV Crayfish Atlas, and his work contributed to the development of West Virginia's State Wildlife Action Plan.

Loughman led field efforts in western Pennsylvania focused on determining the distribution of burrowing crayfishes, and has also worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide critical information on crayfish species of conservation concern.

As part of the All-Taxa Biodiversity Inventory effort to identify and learn about all living organisms in the Big Thicket area, Loughman's research provides valuable information on crayfish populations and ecology.

Information gathered from these studies will help the National Park Service and other land management agencies make informed decisions about the lands and waters where we live, work, and recreate in, while helping to protect these areas for future generations.

To learn more about this on-going All-Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, visit www.thicketofdiversity.org

The Science Cafe is free and open to the public.

For more information, call Park Ranger Mary Kay Manning, (409) 951-6720.

For general information about Big Thicket National Preserve, visit www.nps.gov/bith or call the preserve visitor center at 409-951-6700. Visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BigThicketNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/BigThicketNPS, and Instagram www.instagram.com/BigThicketNPS.
Try to imagine a movie that could make you want to blow up a perfectly innocent, absolutely adorable little girl. Try to conceive a set of circumstances in which such an action might be acceptable to you. And then, after deciding such a thing is beyond possibility, go see Eye in the Sky for an education in modern warfare.

Directed by Gavin Hood and written by Guy Hibbert, Eye in the Sky deals with the ethical questions surrounding the use of drones. At least half of the film depicts people staring at screens and arguing about what to do, and somehow this makes for intense drama. Add into that it features Helen Mirren at her icy best and Alan Rickman, who is outstanding in his last screen performance, and that should be enough to recommend it.

Mirren plays a British colonel working for military intelligence who has been tracking various terrorists for several years. Now some of the most dangerous, ranking members of this terrorist organization  think the Islamic State or al Qaeda  are going to be in the same house in Kenya. And so she coordinates with Kenyan officials on the scene and with the Americans, who have the eyes in the sky: drones capable of following the terrorists movements.

All is going according to plan for about 15 minutes, when the terrorists go off to another house, in the middle of a district that cant be invaded by police. The house is in a part of town run by the terrorists, and any attempt to make an arrest would result in a horrible battle, with lots of civilian casualties and the very real possibility of the lead terrorists getting away. So what starts off as an arrest plan becomes a different plan altogether  to use a Hellfire missile, fired from a drone, to blow up the terrorists in the house.

The film takes place in several areas of activity. The colonel (Mirren) heads the command center, and she is ready to blow up half the world to get these terrorists, one in particular. Alan Rickman, as a general, sits in a boardroom with politicians, trying to persuade them to allow the drone strike. And Aaron Paul is the bombardier, controlling the drone from a console somewhere in the United States.

Though Pauls scenes are played straight, the idea of him as a bombardier is actually funny if you think about it. This is an actor who specializes in characters who do terrible things and then feel horribly guilty afterward. Thus, he spends half of Eye in the Sky with his eyes filling with tears and his face frozen and throbbing with misery. He has the kind of sensitivity that would be valued in a friend, although the thought of an American army full of guys like Paul would be pretty terrifying.

In contrast with the drama of Pauls scenes, Hibbert combines drama with black comedy in the boardroom interludes. Thats a tone that Rickman understood instinctively and played expertly, never losing the drama while injecting shadings of comedy. Watching the timid British officials do their best to avoid making decisions evokes both humor and frustration. From an American perspective, its also amusing that on two occasions, U.S. government officials make an appearance, and they are portrayed as having none of the reticence of their British colleagues.

Eye in the Sky is refreshing in its lack of a political message. Mirren is chilling as the cold-blooded colonel, but her point of view is more than understandable, even justifiable, just as Pauls reluctant soldier is both right and wrong, as well. In a situation in which a good option does not exist, the choice is only between degrees of bad, and so its impossible for anyone to be entirely right. The moral discussion in Eye in the Sky amounts to various people deciding which variety of culpability they can live with. Its an awful place to be, and the movie puts us where we already were and didnt quite know it  right in there with them.

Mick LaSalle is The San Francisco Chronicles movie critic. Email: mlasalle@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MickLaSalle

Eye in the Sky

Starring Helen Mirren, Alan Rickman and Aaron Paul. Directed by Gavin Hood. (R. 102 minutes.)

To see the trailer of Eye in the Sky, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuZ7j_-fT1M.
1 Federal spending plan: The House Budget Committee on Wednesday pressed ahead with a 10-year spending plan that promises sweeping cuts to health care programs and federal agencies even as a Tea Party rebellion threatens to derail the measure later on. The committee vote would send the GOP blueprint to the full House, but passage is looking increasingly unlikely. Conservatives have rejected added spending for various government departments, as set in last years deal with President Obama. The situation is a setback for House Speaker Paul Ryan, who engineered passage of four separate budget plans as the committee chairman from 2011-14. In the first budget cycle as speaker, Ryan is not pressuring the GOP rank and file to fall in line behind the leadership-backed proposal.

2 Wind energy: Federal officials say more than 81,000 acres off the coast of Long island will be dedicated for the development of commercial wind energy. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said Wednesday that New York state has tremendous wind potential. Officials say the 81,130-acre area is large enough to make major renewable energy contributions. It would include up to 200 turbines generating 700 megawatts of energy with a price tag estimated at between $2 billion and $4 billion.
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Hillary Clinton triumphed Tuesday in the Florida, Ohio and North Carolina presidential primaries, a commanding showing for the Democratic front-runner now eager to move on to the general election. Republican Donald Trump swept to victory in Florida, too, capturing the nights biggest GOP prize and ending Marco Rubios once-promising campaign.

Rubio implicitly rebuked Trump throughout a speech announcing he was dropping out of the race, imploring Americans to not give in to the fear, do not give in to the frustration.

Rubio, a favorite of Republican leaders, is the latest candidate to fall victim to an unpredictable election cycle and Trumps unmatched ability to tap into the publics anger with Washington and frustration with sweeping economic changes.

Trump was locked in a close contest with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in North Carolina and Missouri. But Republicans were keeping an especially close watch on Ohio, where home state Gov. John Kasich kept the billionaire businessman from claiming the Midwests biggest cache of delegates.

Kasich scored his first win of the presidential nomination contest, grabbing all 66 delegates in the Ohio primary, in what could ultimately stall Donald Trumps decisive dash to the nomination.

Kasich entered the GOP presidential race as an underdog but surged to prominence after he secured second place in New Hampshires primary last month.

Trumps Florida prize

Trump picked up 99 delegates in Floridas winner-take-all contest, and another 66 were up for grabs in Ohio.

Clintons victories in Ohio and Florida bolstered her argument that shes the best Democratic candidate to take on Republicans in the general election. Her win in Ohio was a particular relief for her campaign, which grew anxious after rival Bernie Sanders pulled off a surprising win last week in Michigan, another important Midwestern state.

Sanders spent the week pounding Clintons past support for trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, which he says has been a job-killer in the U.S.

Secretary Clinton stood with the big money interests, Sanders said at a campaign stop Tuesday in Ohio.

According to early exit polls, Democratic voters were more likely to describe Sanders as honest, but more likely to describe Clintons policies as realistic.

Clinton confident

Campaigning Tuesday in North Carolina, Clinton said the numbers are adding up in my favor. She signaled an eagerness to move on to a possible general election showdown with Trump, saying hes laid out a really dangerous path for the country.

Trump entered Tuesdays primaries embroiled in one of the biggest controversies of his contentious campaign. The GOP front-runner has encouraged supporters to confront protesters at his events and is now facing accusations of encouraging violence after skirmishes at a rally last week in Chicago.

The atmosphere at his events has deepened the concern over his candidacy in some Republican circles. Rubio and Kasich have suggested they might not be able to support Trump if hes the nominee, an extraordinary stance for intraparty rivals.

Trumps closest competition so far has come from Cruz, who has kept relatively close to the businessman in the delegate count. Cruz has been urging Rubio and Kasich to step aside and let him get into a one-on-one race.

Even before Tuesdays results, a group of conservatives was planning a meeting to discuss options for stopping Trump, including at a contested convention or by rallying around a third-party candidate. While such no candidate has been identified, the participants in Tuesdays meeting planned to discuss ballot access issues, including using an existing third party as a vehicle or securing signatures for an independent bid.

A person familiar with the planning confirmed the meeting on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the gathering by name.

Despite concerns from party leaders, Republican voters continue to back Trumps most controversial proposals, with two-thirds of those who participated in GOP primaries Tuesday saying they support temporarily banning Muslims from the United States.

The exit polls were conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks.

Delegate tallies

Trumps Florida victory brought his delegate total to 568. Cruz has 370 delegates, Rubio has 163 and Kasich has 63. It takes 1,237 to win the GOP nomination.

Clinton has at least 1,353 delegates, including the superdelegates who are elected officials and party leaders free to support the candidate of their choice. Sanders has at least 625. It takes 2,383 to win the Democratic nomination.
Last night, in his victory speech after another slew of Republican primary wins on Super Tuesday, Donald Trump decided to return to one of his recurring themes for American business: repatriation and tax inversions.

If elected, Trump told his supporters, "Apple and all of these great companies will be making their products in the United States, not in China." Also, when it comes to preventing companies from moving overseas to dodge high domestic corporate taxes, Trump crowed, "You could make a deal on that in 10 minutes if you knew what you're doing."

It's a classic populist theme. Our greatest American brands have, for years, been pushed to move overseas, to escape onerous regulation and punishing taxation. That diminishes America on the world stage, and, if you want to Make America Great Again, you have get serious about lowering taxes and limiting the incentive for companies to buy overseas rivals simply to move to tax-friendlier nations.

What is different about the current debate is that it used to be framed around domestic jobs moving overseas. When a company closed a factory in Kansas City and moved it to Mexico, real Americans lost real jobs, increasing unemployment and hurting our domestic economy.

Related: States With the Lowest Corporate Income Tax Rates (Infographic)

Now, the debate isn't so concerned with people as much as capital. Jobs come and go, and America's entrepreneurial capitalist system has allowed for people to replace manufacturing jobs with roles at smaller businesses and given opportunities to even create businesses themselves. Even U.S. manufacturing has shown signs of recovery after hitting a low last year. It may not be politically popular to say, but jobs aren't really the problem here. Nor, with apologies to those Feeling the Bern, is the problem one of outsized corporate profits.

Rather, the issue is inefficient and onerous corporate taxation, and Trump seems alone now in making that a key part of his improbable, and likely unstoppable, run for the GOP nomination.

There is an estimated $2.5 trillion in profits held by U.S. companies in foreign subsidiaries. Technically, under our tax system, American corporations owe tax payments on all the money they make, no matter where. But there's a catch. Our IRS can't touch that money until a company repatriates, or brings it back to the U.S. to use. Rather than do that, companies have been reinvesting it locally instead, or using it in countries with much lower corporate tax rates than their own.

That may seem like "greedy" capitalism to some, but it's actually basic economics. Capital exists for reinvestment in some way. If you could guarantee a rate of return that was higher than the tax rate you would be paying on that profit, it would be a simple matter to bring your overseas profits back home and invest in the good ol' U.S. of A. But, with a federal corporate tax rate of 20 percent, and close to 40 percent when state taxation is applied, companies actually lose their ability to effectively reinvest that capital in innovation, research, equipment and -- yes -- jobs, so they don't even bother.

Related: Too Bad We're Number 1: High U.S. Corporate Tax Fuels Capital Flight

It has a huge impact on tax receipts. If the estimates of $2.5 trillion in overseas profit are accurate, U.S. companies would owe $620 billion in corporate taxes.

More importantly, though, that money represents a kind of economic stimulus that is hard to duplicate. In theory, if companies bring that money back, they could manufacture here (hence the mention of Apple, which, despite being a darling of the political left, is the country's worst offender for keeping profits offshore, to the tune of $200 billion). They would also not be looking to up and move offshore. Companies like Burger King and Medtronic have already acquired overseas companies and re-domiciled in low-tax countries. Trump often mentions the move of Pfizer, which was founded in Brooklyn but plans to be based in Ireland.

Trump wants to keep these companies -- and their capital -- American through a simple tax reduction. Trump has proposed a one-time 10 percent tax on foreign profits, paid whether the companies repatriate that cash or not. After that, companies would have to pay the standard corporate-tax rate (which he plans to reduce to 15 percent) on all profits, no matter where the company is based, ending the ability to defer. To avoid these companies being taxed twice, corporations could still claim a credit for the taxes they pay overseas.

As with everything any candidate says on the hustings, it isn't quite so simple. While the accounting might work, the impact on our economy is less certain. For instance, it isn't just the American tax burden that has made companies move overseas. In many cases, these are global businesses that need to operate globally, in local markets and those jobs and capital will never come back. Give Apple a one-time deferral of all the taxes it owes anywhere in the world and it's unlikely it will shutter its Chinese manufacturing operations. It simply has too much invested there, and the quality of the product is too sound to risk moving anywhere, including the U.S. Many entrepreneurs -- probably dreaming of the day when they have repatriation problems of their own -- weigh the pros and cons of manufacturing in places like China, and find it the best option, for a range a reasons that have nothing to do with the IRS.

Related: Why Corporate Tax Reform Is Not Enough

In fact, many U.S. multinational corporations don't view their operations overseas as an escape from the United States as much as an export of America's exceptional engineering and management skills to the rest of the world. It is beachhead for entrepreneurial capitalism, often in places (like Ireland, for instance) that are still shaking off the remnants and scars of their own brand of socialism. American involvement in many of these countries creates markets for American products and services. Companies would never want to change that. No U.S. citizen should want to, because that helps drive our own economic growth.

But Trump is correct that there needs to be more of a focus on bringing some of these profits back home for reinvestment, and he's also right in understanding that you can't ban U.S. companies from moving offshore, only fix the perverse tax incentives that exist that drive them to make the move.

It may take more than a 10-minute conversation (alacrity tops even integrity in the qualities Congress lacks most), but Trump's very high-profile support of this issue -- so important to American business -- seems a good first step.

Related:

As Trump Rolls On, Fixing Tax Loopholes Is a Clear Priority

What It Takes to Build a Startup City: Meet 7 Mayors Promoting Entrepreneurship

Irish Tax Changes May Cost U.S. Companies Like Apple and Google Billions of Dollars



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Jacom Stephens / Getty Images

Residents of a Berkeley neighborhood were ordered to shelter in place Tuesday afternoon as police hunted a suspect in an earlier shooting that left a man critically injured.

The victim, age 28, was taken to Highland Hospital in Oakland with at least one life-threatening wound from the shooting reported about 11:30 a.m. Police were canvassing the area for the suspect into the late afternoon, said Officer Byron White, a police spokesman.
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott spent Wednesday touring parts of Orange and Newton counties inundated by flood waters that have displaced thousands after a reservoir north of the area released billions of gallons of water into the Sabine River.

Abbott had not met with any residents when he addressed the media on Wednesday afternoon, but said he gathered from local officials that the overwhelming attitude is optimistic, despite some communities facing the daunting task of completely rebuilding.

It could be a few days before state officials know whether the area will qualify for federal disaster relief, which poorer areas in Newton County plan to rely on for rebuilding efforts, multiple officials said.

Seventeen Southeast Texas counties are listed in a state disaster declaration signed by Abbott. On Wednesday, the governor said four more will be added. Federal authorities will decide in the coming days whether to lend support.

President Barack Obama declared a major disaster in seven Louisiana parishes affected by recent flooding.

Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, said Texas must meet a higher threshold than Louisiana before it will be eligible for federal assistance.

For Louisiana, the threshold for federal funding assistance is a little more than $6 million, according to Kidd.

In Texas, where the population is far greater, Kidd said that number is around $35.4 million.

"We're working very closely with our local partners to provide those damage assessments to us for individual and public assistance," Kidd said.

Abbott said the helicopter view of damage in Newton and Orange counties "was stunning."

The governor was surprised by the size of the devastation.

Deweyville, a Newton County town with a population of about 1,000, is almost completely underwater.

Orange County Emergency Management officials estimate 10,000 people have been displaced so far, and the number will likely grow as the flood seeps into bayous.

"The size of it," Abbott said. "When you're in the air, you can see the massive area that is flooded. It is just stunning to see how widespread the water was and water just covering everything."

Reconsidering floodgates

It's been almost a week since the Toledo Bend Reservoir began releasing water from record rainfall at the dam in Newton County.

Ann Galassi, assistant general manager of administration at Sabine River Authority - the agency that controls the reservoir - said the dam was not built for flood control. The man-made reservoir was built to make electricity.

Galassi said that it would have been against protocol to release some of the water in advance of the deluge, which dumped up to 18 inches of rain over the reservoir late last week.

Some residents who are critical of the SRA have said flooding wouldn't have been as severe or as widespread if some of the water had been released in advance of the storm.

At Toledo Bend, the floodgates are designed to protect the integrity of the dam and prevent ruining the reservoir's hydroelectric system.

Galassi said Wednesday it could be worth reconsidering the guidelines on when to release water and the possibility of rebuilding the reservoir itself.

Record flooding spurs a lot of events, from people rethinking where they live to changing federal guidelines for opening floodgates, Galassi said.

The floodgates would have to be lowered and officials are still figuring out what all that entails.

"It would just have to all be looked at completely differently," Galassi said. "(Toledo Bend) wasn't built or engineered that way and I think that has a lot to do with it. I'm sure it's something we need to consider."

When asked about residents' concerns about the way the SRA handled the water release, Abbott punted.

"We would need more information," he said.

Read the complete story in the March 17 print edition of the Beaumont Enterprise.

BScott@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/BrandonKScott
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Google has a vision for a sparkling new, glass-filled building in Mountain View, but that project will mean the removal of prized California trees.

The latest set of plans for the site - known as Charleston East - includes a proposal to cut down 160 trees to create space for a 595,000-square-foot complex. One hundred of those are identified as "heritage" due to their size and type, according to a city breakdown of the project. Some of the trees are redwoods.

Catherine Martineau, executive director of the Palo Alto nonprofit Canopy, said any time a tree is cut down, it's a loss to the environment, but she added that these trees aren't worth a fight.

"I think it's important to say, 'Yes, we're going to lose something and it'll take time for new trees to mature," said Martineau, whose nonprofit aims to educate the community on the importance of urban trees. "But redwoods are definitely not a species of tree that belong in that area. They require a lot of water."

She added that a lot of the redwoods in this area are stressed  if not dead  and thinks this is either because they haven't been receiving enough water in the drought years or they're being fed high-salinity recycled water.

The project plan reports that an arborist found 23 percent of the trees at the site in declining health or dead.

The Charleston East site, which neighbors the Googleplex at 2000 North Shoreline Blvd., currently consists of an open field surrounded by bands of trees. Google's plan is to cut down some of those trees in phases, build the new two-level building and surround it with bike and walking paths, community spaces and landscaping using native trees and plants. The plans include corridors of oaks mixed with manzanita, sage, coffeeberry and native grasses to benefit birds and insects. A savannah grassland will provide a habitat for burrowing owls and willow and cottonwood thickets will support migratory birds. Googlers will be invited to pull fruit from an orchard.

Senior Mountain View City planner Stephanie Williams told NBC Bay Area that the replacement landscaping "far exceeds" the trees Google is cutting down.

"The landscaping they're proposing looks thoughtful and mimics native habitat and uses native plants," Martineau concurred.

But while experts agree that Google is presenting an environmentally friendly plan, a few locals have shared their frustration in the past around the city giving companies permission to cut down heritage trees.

"Do not allow City Council to green-light all applications to cut down heritage trees for every construction project put before them," one survey-taker wrote in a 2014 questionnaire regarding Mountain View's "Master Tree Plan." I have been to council meetings. In one of the meetings, City Council approved the removal of 16 Heritage Trees over the course of one evening."

"Do not permit land developers and companies like Google to circumvent the heritage tree ordinances," wrote another.

Matrineau recognizes this loss but thinks the long-term benefits will be worth it. "There is an immediate loss," she said. "It would be insulting to those who want to retain the trees to not say that. But the landscape will be better in the long run."

Google originally submitted an application to the City of Mountain View for the Charleston East project in May 2015 and an updated version of the plans last month. The City of Mountain View will invite the public to comment on the latest plans in a study session on March 29.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



An unoccupied car was found this morning down a steep embankment at San Francisco's Lake Merced, police and fire officials said.



The first call to the San Francisco Fire Department came in at 5:30 a.m. at Clearfield Drive and Lake Merced Boulevard, on the north side of the lake.



A person who called the Fire Department said some people walked up an embankment and talked for a few minutes before leaving in two separate white sedans at 2 a.m., according to fire officials.



The person reported seeing the car rolled over and saw a reflection of the car's lights.



Firefighters got to the embankment at 5:40 a.m. and after deploying a rescue K-9 named Inges, they found no one was in the car, which did not go into the water, fire department spokesman Jonathan Baxter said.



A rescue team confirmed the dog's finding after making their way down the embankment.



Police have not determined whether the car was stolen.
















SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



San Francisco Supervisor Mark Farrell today called for the development of a citywide municipal fiber network that could deliver high-speed internet service to every resident in the city.



The ambitious proposal is intended to help bridge the digital divide, bringing Internet service to the more than 100,000 San Francisco residents who currently lack access, including 14 percent of public school students.



Farrell said the Internet "is no longer a luxury, it's an absolute necessity" and should be widely available like other public utilities.



"When you turn on the faucet, clean water comes out. When you turn on the light switch, the lights come on," Farrell said. "And when you open your laptop, everyone should have access to a fast Internet connection -- whether you live in Pacific Heights or the Bayview."





A budget and analyst report released today analyzed the likely costs and obstacles to providing such a network and the best models for the city to pursue.



Construction costs for a "utility-based" system connecting to every home like the one Farrell is championing could reach $867.3 million or more, with ongoing annual costs of $231.7 million, the report found.



The report recommended that the city reduce those costs by partnering with a private company and by imposing a monthly utility fee on residents and businesses.



Farrell also announced the formation of a Municipal Fiber Advisory Panel, co-chaired by Miguel Gamino, head of the city's Department of Technology, and Jay Nath, head of the mayor's Office of Civic Innovation.



The panel, intended to advise policy makers on expansion of the city's fiber network, will begin meeting in April.
















PALO ALTO (BCN)



A 35-year-old train track security guard who allegedly exhibited lewd behavior while in a parked car last month in Palo Alto was arrested on Monday, police said.



Luke Ryan Sauer, a San Carlos resident, was arrested on suspicion of lewd conduct while taking a break from his job as a Track Watch security guard, according to police.



The city's Track Watch program began in 2009 and contracts for security guards to keep an eye on the Caltrain tracks in response to the number of teen suicides along the rails.



An officer saw a man, later identified as Sauer, slumped in a car parked in the 4000 block of Park Boulevard around 6:45 p.m. on Feb. 21, police said.



A welfare check was conducted on the man, who was a Track Watch security guard in uniform in his private car on his cellphone during a break from work, police said.



Based on an investigation, the officer suspected the man was masturbating, but he didn't witness a lewd act, according to police.



The officer sent a report to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, police said.



Sauer's employer, Cypress Security, suspended him after police told them of the incident the next day and prevented him from working another shift under the company's Track Watch contract, according to police.



Last Wednesday, the district attorney's office filed a misdemeanor count of lewd conduct against Sauer and officers obtained an arrest warrant for him, police said.



Sauer was arrested on James Avenue in Redwood City around 6:20 p.m. Monday and was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail, according to police.



Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call police at (650) 329-2413. Those who wish to remain anonymous may send an email to paloalto@tipnow.org or send a text message or voice mail to (650) 383-8984.
















Both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump are blaming free-trade deals for the decline of working-class jobs and incomes. Are they right?

Clearly, America has lost a significant number of factory jobs over the last three decades. In 1980, about 1 in 5 Americans worked in manufacturing. Now its about 1 in 12.

Today, Ohio has a third fewer manufacturing jobs than it had in 2000. Michigan is down 32 percent.

Trade isnt the only culprit. Technological change has also played a part.

When I visit one of Americas remaining factories, I rarely see assembly-line workers. I dont see many workers at all. Instead, I find a handful of technicians sitting behind computer screens. Theyre linked to fleets of robots and computerized machine tools that do the physical work.

Theres a lively debate among researchers as to whether trade or technology is more responsible for the decline in factory jobs. In reality, the two cant be separated.

Widening inequality

Were it not for technological breakthroughs we wouldnt have the huge cargo containers, enormous ports and cranes, and satellite and Internet communications systems that have created highly efficient worldwide manufacturing systems.

These systems have relocated factory jobs from the United States to Asia, especially to China. Researchers have found that the biggest losses in American manufacturing started in 2001, when China joined the World Trade Organization, requiring the United States to lower tariffs on Chinese goods.

MIT economist David Autor and two co-authors estimate that from 2000 to 2007 the United States lost close to 1 million manufacturing jobs to China  about a quarter of the total decline in those years. Robert Scott of the Economic Policy Institute puts the loss since 2001 at about 3 million.

This doesnt mean free trade has been entirely bad for Americans. Its given us access to cheaper goods, saving the typical American thousands of dollars a year. A recent study by economists at UCLA and Columbia University found that free trade has increased the real incomes of the U.S. middle class by 29 percent, and even more for those with lower incomes.

But trade has widened inequality and imposed a particular burden on Americas blue-collar workers.

If youre well educated, free trade has given you better access to global markets for your skills and insights  resulting directly or indirectly in higher pay.

On the other hand, if youre not well educated, the trade deals of the last quarter century have very likely taken away the factory job that you (or your parents or grandparents) once relied on for steady work with good pay and generous benefits.

These jobs were the backbone of the old American middle class. Now theyre almost all gone, replaced by lower-paying service jobs in places like retail stores, restaurants, hotels and hospitals.

The change has been a dramatic. A half century ago, Americas largest private-sector employer was General Motors, whose full-time workers earned an average hourly income (including health and pension benefits) of around $50, in todays dollars.

Today, Americas largest employer is Walmart, whose typical employee earns just over $9 an hour. A third of Walmarts employees work less than 28 hours per week and dont even qualify for benefits.

The core problem isnt really free trade or even the loss of factory jobs per se. Its the demise of an entire economic system in which people with only high-school degrees, or less, could count on good and secure jobs.

That old system included strong unions, CEOs with responsibilities to their employees and communities and not just to shareholders, and a financial sector that didnt demand the highest possible returns every quarter.

Trade has contributed to the loss of this old system, but that doesnt necessarily mean we should give up on free trade. We should create a new system in which a greater share of Americans can be winners.

But will we? The underlying political question is whether the winners from Americas current economic system  people with college degrees, the right connections and good jobs that put them on the winning side of the divide  will support new rules that widen the circle of prosperity to include those who have been on the losing side.

Voters eager to vent

Those new rules might include, for example, a much larger Earned Income Tax Credit (effectively, a wage subsidy for lower-income workers), stronger unions in the service sector, world-class education for all (including free public higher education), a single-payer health care plan, more generous Social Security, and higher taxes on the wealthy to pay for all this.

If the winners refuse to budge, America could turn its back on free trade  and much else. Indeed, theres no telling where the anger weve seen this primary season might lead.

 2016 Robert Reich
With Ohio Gov. John Kasich finally winning a Republican primary and Sen. Marco Rubio dropping out of the race Tuesday, Cleveland  site of the Republican National Convention in July  will be, for the first time in recent memory, the most exciting place on earth.

Thats because Tuesdays results  when voters in five critical states cast ballots  made it very likely the Republicans will lock horns in a once-in-a-generation convention floor fight to crown the partys nominee in Cleveland.

Meanwhile, Democrats moved closer Tuesday to coalescing around Hillary Clinton as its nominee as she won the delegate-rich states of Ohio, Florida and Illinois, as well as North Carolina. With nearly all the votes counted, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was leading in a near deadheat in Missouri.

Despite their divided results and ongoing voter concerns about Clintons trustworthiness, the Democrats nomination forecast appeared placid compared to the chaos swelling in the Republican Party.

After winning three states Tuesday, Donald Trump remains the Republican front-runner. But he would have to win roughly 60 percent of the remaining delegates to secure the nomination before the convention starts. That is unlikely, as many of the partys top elected leaders and wealthy donors find him so repellent  for everything from his divisive comments to his support of free trade  that theyre looking for any way to intercept him before Cleveland.

MSNBC exit polls Tuesday found that 27 percent of Republicans wouldnt vote for Trump if he were the partys nominee. The challenge for Republicans is that roughly the same number said they wouldnt vote for Kasich or the partys other surviving candidate, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

If this was any other situation, (Trump) would be the presumptive nominee, said Pope Mac McCorkle, an associate professor of public policy at Duke University in North Carolina and a longtime Democratic operative in the South. Now the Republicans have this choice: Would they deny him the nomination and what would that do to their party?

They cant live with him, McCorkle said, and they cant live without him.

If Trump doesnt win on the first ballot at the convention, said John Green, a professor of politics and religion at the University of Akron in Ohio, anything could happen.

But wresting the nomination from Trumps supporters would be ugly. He continues to win in all parts of the country because strong majorities of Republican voters felt betrayed by their party. In Ohio, CNN exit polls found that 57 percent of voters felt that way, almost the same as the 56 percent in North Carolina. Trump  a billionaire who has never held public office  is the vessel for their rage.

But the options for an establishment candidate to beat him grew slimmer Tuesday when Rubio, a sitting senator, lost his home state badly to Trump. It was an ignominious end for Rubio. Three years ago , Time magazine put him on its cover and dubbed him The Republican Savior. But Republican primary voters this year were dubious, not trusting him after he attempted to forge a compromise with Democrats three years ago on immigration reform. Rubio won only Minnesota and Puerto Rico.

America is in the middle of a real political storm, a tsunami, and we should have seen this coming, Rubio told supporters in Florida Tuesday as he suspended his campaign.

Its not like he didnt have money. A super PAC supporting him, The Conservative Solutions PAC, dropped $10 million on his behalf in Florida over the past several weeks, but Trump still humiliated him. In an ominous sign, the super PAC did not spend any money for future TV ads in states holding primaries after Florida.

The next great hope for the GOP establishment is Kasich, who has spent nearly all his adult life in politics since writing a fan letter to President Nixon asking to meet him back in the early 1970s. Kasich, who spent years as an Ohio congressman, won his home state, where he has an 80 percent approval rating among his fellow Republicans.

Now that he is one of the final three GOP candidates, Kasich promised not to stoop to trading insults with Trump. While Trump has called for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and a ban on Muslims entering the country, on Tuesday Kasich praised the mosaic that is America.

I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land, Kasich said during his victory speech.

But the high road will be harder climb for Kasich, Green said, because one big challenge will be money. In Ohio, he benefited from having organizing help from the Ohio Republican Party, but hes not going to have that in other states. Through January, Kasichs campaign and other outside organizations supporting him had only raised $27 million, the least amount of any remaining candidate.

Cruz did not have a good night. He lashed out at the media, saying the network suits who make the decisions want Donald Trump as the nominee because theyre all Democrats who think he will be an easier opponent for Clinton.

But the problem lies with Cruzs core supporters  evangelical Christians  who are abandoning him for Trump, particularly in Midwestern states like Ohio, where religious voters are more moderate.

Evangelicals are fed up with politics and fed up with the Republican leadership, Green said. And they do tend to have respect for strong leaders, which is why theyre attracted to the image of Trump. Many evangelical congregations are headed by strong leaders.

Massing against Trump is a coalition of left-leaning groups, who called his candidacy a five-alarm fire for our democracy in an open letter signed Tuesday by the leaders of the progressive organization MoveOn.org, whose members support Sanders and the Service Employees International Union, which has endorsed Clinton. It was also signed by Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club and Rashad Robinson, executive director of Color of Change, as individuals.

Trump, the letter said, is a hate-peddling bigot who openly incites violence (and) is the likely presidential nominee of one of our nations two major parties. It is alarming and dangerous. Donald Trumps candidacy is a threat to the America we love, and we must respond to him and what he is stoking as such. It promised a wave of nonviolent organizing against him over the next several months.

Though she had a strong night, Clinton cant yet pivot toward taking on Trump. While Sanders fell further behind in the delegate count Tuesday, he continues to be better in touch with younger voters whose enthusiasm Clinton needs should she win the nomination. Sanders tapped into the frustrations of younger voters of color in Chicago by railing against the citys mayor  and longtime friend of the Clintons, Rahm Emanuel  who is seen as not doing enough to stop the violence there.

Bernie has become a messenger candidate, said Jaime Dominguez, a professor of political science at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. Hes become a voice for a lot of issues and people within the Democratic Party that shes not reaching. Shes going to need that sector to be engaged to be successful.

Joe Garofoli is the San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
The furor over a plan to drastically reduce areas that permit off-leash dog walking in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area spilled over to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

By a 10-1 vote, with Supervisor Eric Mar in opposition, the board passed a resolution opposing the plan by GGNRA authorities.

The plan, released in February, would limit off-leash walking to five sites  Fort Funston, Crissy Field, Ocean Beach, Fort Mason and Rodeo Beach. Within those areas, the acreage allowed for off-leash walking would be trimmed. There would be no off-leash walking at GGNRA sites in San Mateo County, and practically none in Marin County.

Supervisor Katy Tang, a passionate dog lover, introduced the resolution.

Tang said she repeatedly asked GGNRA officials to keep her in the loop, only to have been contacted literally the day before the plan was released.

The message I am trying to send to GGNRA is please do listen to us, the public, she said.

Supervisor Scott Wiener also criticized the federal authorities in strong terms.

The National Park Service is trying to import its philosophy, which is pretty oppositional to dog access, and import that into our urban recreation (areas) here in San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties, he said. What does it take for the National Park Service to actually listen to the elected officials of the 2 million residents of these three counties?

But Mar, a self-proclaimed dog person, said the federal plan balances the needs of dog lovers while protecting the ecosystem of the affected areas. He noted that environmental groups like the Sierra Club support more restrictive off-leash dog regulations.

There has to be this balance, and we have to just not look at the happiness of dogs and dog owners  but we need to preserve this sacred space, Mar said.

In other news out of Tuesdays meeting, Supervisor Aaron Peskin introduced legislation that would legalize the construction of rent-controlled in-law units.

Last year, the Board of Supervisors passed similar legislation by supervisors Wiener and Julie Christensen  whom Peskin beat in the November election  that applied only in Districts Three and Eight.

Peskins ordinance is essentially the same with one significant difference. It would prohibit the in-law units from being used for short-term rentals like Airbnb. Wiener opposes the short-term rental restriction.

Emily Green is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: egreen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @emilytgreen
(Inside Science) -- Around Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, the Gulf Stream veers east, flowing away from the coastline of the United States and out into the Atlantic Ocean. Away from the stabilizing influence of the continent, the powerful current revels in its new freedom, spawning large circulating masses of water called eddies that scientists describe as the hurricanes of the ocean., in preliminary research, scientists are trying to figure out how great white sharks may use the spinning features.

Eddies are ubiquitous in the surface waters of the world's oceans. Many form when parcels of moving water pinch off from the main body of fast-moving currents like the Gulf Stream, which carries warm water from the subtropics and tropics to regions of the North Atlantic Ocean. On average, the swirls can stretch nearly 125 miles across and typically last weeks or months.

In the new research, Peter Gaube, a biophysical oceanographer at the Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington in Seattle, and his colleagues investigated how great white sharks may interact with the swirling pools of water. They partnered with OCEARCH, a nonprofit that tracks the movements of a number of sharks using satellite tags. Every time a tagged shark surfaces, its tracking device "pings" a satellite, creating a record of the shark's movements over time.

The scientists paired the travel histories of two female great white sharks -- named Mary Lee and Lydia -- with the locations of eddies in the North Atlantic. One of the animals was also tagged with a device that recorded water temperature and depth every 15 seconds. They found for the first time that the sharks appear to prefer the cores of anticyclonic eddies -- those that have centers of water warmer than the surrounding ocean -- to cyclonic, or cold-core, eddies while swimming in this region of the ocean. In particular, the depth data revealed that the tagged female appeared to spend more time and dive deeper in the warm-core eddies found near the Gulf Stream.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

The researchers suggest that the sharks' need to regulate their body temperatures could explain the longer, deeper dives observed in warm-core eddies. And it's possible that the animals are targeting those areas to feed, said Gaube, who presented the research at the 2016 Ocean Sciences Meeting in New Orleans last month.

That would be a surprising finding, said Scarla Weeks, a biophysical oceanographer at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, because "in warm-core eddies, there generally isn't forage food."

Instead, the animals that she's studied -- including manta rays and seabirds -- all target the boundaries of cold-core eddies because that's where the food hangs out, said Weeks, who wasn't involved in the research.

In general, the centers of cold-core eddies have more nutrient-rich water than the warm-core ones. Those nutrients, plus sunlight, fuel the growth of tiny organisms like phytoplankton, which tend to accumulate at the periphery of the cold-core eddies. Animals higher up the food chain follow.

The marine delicacies that may lure sharks to the heart of a North Atlantic Charybdis remain, for the moment, a mystery. But Gaube has a guess.

"Atlantic pomfret. They'd be the perfect shark snack." Anecdotal evidence from a colleague suggests the silvery fish, which can grow up to a few feet long, appear to congregate in anticyclones at depths similar to those the shark dove to, he said.

Although the researchers can't draw firm conclusions from data comprising just two sharks, "it's a good start . . . and quite exciting science," said Weeks. Teasing out how animals use oceanic eddies -- for foraging or for migration, for example -- is important because it can "help us understand and, therefore, potentially conserve some of our species," she said. "And it can also help us understand our oceans better and what impact climate change is having."

Scientists are still figuring out how eddies evolve in time and space and how they transport heat, salt, dissolved carbon dioxide and other materials throughout the ocean, said Bo Qiu, a physical oceanographer at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu, who wasn't involved in the research. That movement of heat and other materials in the ocean plays an important role in regulating Earth's climate, he said. Knowing how eddies work is crucial to understanding how climate change may be affecting them and what the effects of such changes might be.

For now, the next step for the researchers is uncovering what might lurk in the warm-core eddies. Figuring out that missing piece could help explain why the sharks seem to use the features differently than other species.

To do just that, Gaube is planning to return to the region in May.

"There's something good here. I can feel it," he said. "This is going to be really fun."

Emily DeMarco is a writer for the American Institute of Physics and the climate and environment editor for Inside Science. She tweets @emily_p_demarco.

Reprinted with permission from Inside Science, an editorially independent news product of the American Institute of Physics, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing, promoting and serving the physical sciences.
The story begins on a winters morning. A man building a sawmill walks down to a riverbank to check on the projects progress. He spots some shiny flakes in the river water, bends down, picks them up. Boys, by God, I believe Ive found a gold mine, he tells his crew. A few days later he tells his boss. They agree to keep the discovery secret. Good luck with that.

The time was January 1848; the man was James Marshall; the boss, a Swiss immigrant named John A. Sutter; the location a pretty spot alongside the American River named Coloma. The event was the launch of the California Gold Rush.

Think of the places you need to experience to say you know California: the Golden Gate, Half Dome, the curves of Highway 1 at Big Sur. Add this one, the Gold Country  the area bounded roughly by Nevada City to the north and Mariposa to the south. Its beautiful, its fascinating, its changing, and its the place where the California we know now, in 2016, began.

Coloma is just one small area of a very large gold deposit, says Ed Allen, who as historian for Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park knows the saga by heart. The deposit, Allen explains when you come to Coloma in El Dorado County to take his park tour, is the Mariposa Formation, more popularly called the Mother Lode, stretching for a couple of hundred miles beneath the Sierra foothills. How much gold did it contain? Oh, at least $50 billion worth in todays dollars.

James Tensuan/Special To The Chronicle

That gold lured the world. The Gold Rush drew an estimated 300,000 hopeful argonauts to California. They came from Connecticut and Chile and China, and established gold camps like Chinese Camp (Tuolumne County) and Mokelumne Hill (Calaveras County). Gold made California the nations 31st state; it funded the Union side in the Civil War; it made sleepy San Francisco a metropolis. To imagine how it shook the nation, imagine what social media might do with it today: miners bragging of their good luck on Snapchat, Gold Rush sirens like Lola Montez (she of the famed Spider Dance) on Instagram.

Gold Rush tales made literary careers: Mark Twains Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, Bret Hartes The Luck of Roaring Camp. It inspired one of the greatest of California songs, Dave Alvins King of California, written in the 1990s but seemingly transported from 1852, where a hopeful miner journeys from Ohio west to the Sierra gold fields dreaming just how a rich man feels. And then? Youll have to listen to the song.

From Coloma, you can head north on State Highway 49, the Gold Countrys Main Street, to Nevada City and Grass Valley in Nevada County, or south to Placerville in El Dorado County and beyond. Either way, you get a feel for these foothills. Other California landmarks  Yosemite or Death Valley or Big Sur  are in-your-face grand. The Gold Country is subtle. The highway twists, turns, shows you a hollow, a creek, blooming dogwood, leafing-out oaks, a battered barn, and then rises to present 50 miles of hills rolling to the snow-crested sweep of the Sierra.

You see, too, how the Gold Country is changing and how it isnt. In Placerville, the amazing Placerville Hardware has been supplying necessities  wrenches, bear spray, gold panning kits  and luxuries  ceramic squirrels and frogs  since 1852. One hundred and sixty years, says the woman at the cash register. We must be doing something right. Across the street, the Cary House Hotel, built in 1857, has a lobby with wainscoting polished to a high sheen and a memory book of famous guests, one page of which is devoted to famous peoples mothers, from Mark Twains (Jane) to Elvis Presleys (Gladys). Like most Gold Country towns, Placerville is also rich in antique stores, whose wares range from the beautiful (a 19th century chest of drawers) to the intriguing (a 1940s Braille typewriter, mint condition) to the disturbing (window displays of those dolls that in 70s horror movies turn out to be working for Satan).

James Tensuan/Special To The Chronicle

But there are alterations, too. The Gold Country has only a couple of working gold mines these days; instead, it has hundreds of wineries. Up Main Street from Placerville Hardware, the Independent restaurant has sleekly rustic decor and an impressive menu of craft cocktails. Tiny Amador City has a luxuriously restored hotel, the Imperial, and a bakery, Andraes, whose desserts would be enough to lure anybody here from Connecticut or China. Sutter Creek (Amador County) has a spa, Refresh, promising massage therapies in a relaxing and healing environment.

But then the Gold Country has always welcomed people who tried their luck, whether at placer mining or aromatherapy. That, says Ed Allen, is the Gold Rushs real legacy. You try to strike gold, and if you fail (and most people did fail), you try again. Here in California, you can make a mistake and it doesnt ruin you, not like in other places, Allen says. Thats why, he continues, there is more entrepreneurship going on in California than anywhere in the U.S. The line from the Amador County gold mine to the South of Market startup is a direct one.

South of Columbia (Tuolumne County)  the Gold Rushs Colonial Williamsburg  Highway 49 gets lonelier, steeper, reminding you that youre traversing the foothills of one of the worlds great mountain ranges. Eventually it dips and takes you to Mariposa and one final, essential stop. Tucked into a nondescript building on the Mariposa County Fairgrounds, the California State Mining and Mineral Museum is one of those small museums a lot of people expect to find snoozy. Its not.

Step inside and you can see a model of a stamp mill, and a miniature Gold Country town made out of petrified wood. You can walk through a replica of a mining tunnel. Then you venture into the room with the gold. Actually, the museum doesnt have as much gold as it used to. A few years ago, a group of robbers invaded it, taking an estimated million dollars worth of gold and gems.

But they didnt get the specimen they most wanted: the Fricot Nugget. It is still proudly, glitteringly on display. The Fricot Nugget was pulled from the American River in 1865. It weighs nearly 14 pounds. It is, the ranger on duty explains, an example of sponge gold, which explains why its shape is not nugget-compact but tendriled, like something alive. It is mesmerizing. This, you understand now, is what the Gold Rush was all about. This is gold to be lusted after, to be worth trekking across a continent to find. Dig up the Fricot Nugget and you would be the King of California. You could build a state on gold like this. And we did.

Peter Fish is a freelance writer. Email: travel@sfchronicle.com
On the fateful January day in 1848 when gold was discovered along the South Fork of the American River, it was James W. Marshall who first spied the gold flakes in the tailrace water of the sawmill he was building in partnership with John Sutter.

Despite attempts by Marshall and Sutter to keep the discovery quiet, word got out, and the news that large quantities of gold were being found at Sutters Mill set off a frenzy. Here was where the 1849 Gold Rush was born, in this stretch of the snowmelt-fed American River that runs past Coloma. By 1849, Coloma became a town with 10,000 people, with its own schoolhouse, general store and post office. Two years later, the gold gave out and most of the miners left.

Today, along this stretch of Highway 49 between Auburn and Placerville, its hard to believe the region was the booming center of one of the most significant events of California history. But Colomas historic buildings are protected as part of Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, including the working blacksmith shop, the Papini and Price-Thomas homes, and cabins belonging to James Marshall and others.

The historic town of Coloma has only about 200 year-round residents, and the quiet, tree-lined streets make it easy to meander through the park and imagine how significant a change it was when the gold ran out.

Perhaps the best place to start your tour is at the full-size replica of Sutters sawmill. Rebuilt near the discovery site after the original was abandoned and torn down for lumber, the replica is home to sawmill demonstrations. Look into the water here, just in case theres a little gold left.

For those who want to try their luck, recreational gold panning (with hands and pan only) is allowed in designated areas of the park across the river. Not a panning pro? You can take a lesson at the gold panning troughs, where you learn the proper method for swirling the dirt around. Just be sure to keep your eyes focused for those little glints of gold.

Exhibits in the Gold Discovery Museum include Indian and Gold Rush-era exhibits, with mining equipment, horse-drawn vehicles and household implements, as well as films about the gold discovery and early mining techniques. All show how drastically the discovery of those small gold flecks affected lives around the world.

The park has more than just history  its a great place for an outdoor excursion, as well. The Levee Trail and Gold Discovery Loop Trail are easy ways to see the park without too much exertion. But those looking for more exercise and great views should add a longer hike to their itinerary.

Find the Monument Trail near the Gold Discovery Museum to head by foot to the James Marshall Monument, which stands on a hilltop overlooking the town. The trail is short (about a half mile), but steep, and ends at the monument and grave where a statue of James Marshall points to his gold discovery site. This monument and the actual spot where he discovered gold are the two California Historical Landmarks in the park.

Hikers can turn around here, or continue on from the parking lot along the Monroe Ridge Trail, about a 3-mile walk to the North Beach picnic area, at the northern edge of the park. Even a half-mile up, with views down on the James Marshall Monument and Mount Murphy in the background, is worthwhile despite the heart-thumping hike. Farther up, at the top of Monroe Ridge, views encompass both the Coloma and Lotus valleys.

The trail ends at the Monroe Orchard. The familys orchard allowed the Monroe family to eventually own most of Coloma by selling their abundance of fruit and produce to hungry miners in the region.

Throughout the park, pause among native California riparian oak woodlands, as well as the Chinese Tree of Heaven, black locust, Texas mesquite, Southern pecan, Osage orange, persimmon and other trees planted by homesick miners as reminders of their former dwellings. Along with Colomas historic buildings, they stand as a silent reminder of the Gold Rush-era boomtown.

Jill K. Robinson is a freelance writer. Email: travel@sfchronicle.com

If you go

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, 310 Back St.; Coloma. (530) 622-3470; www.parks.ca.gov. Day use fee: $8 per car. Living History Day is the second Saturday of each month, where historical re-enactors dressed in period attire demonstrate aspects of pioneer life during the gold rush. Gold panning lessons: $7 per person.

Cafe Mahjaic & Lotus Inn, 1006 Lotus Road; Lotus. (530) 622-9587; www.cafemahjaic.com. Stick around for supper; dinners at Cafe Mahjaic feature dishes such as free-range chicken roasted with shallots, bacon, and crimini mushrooms. Stay overnight at the Lotus Inn, which has an apartment with a kitchen and two small cottages. Rates start at $109.

Eden Vale Inn, 1780 Springvale Road; Placerville. (530) 621-0901; www.edenvaleinn.com. This luxurious bed and breakfast has seven spacious guest rooms with rates starting at $175.

Resources, Gold Discovery Park Association, (530) 622-6198. Email: goldrush@marshallgold.com.
The scene was something out of The Revenant.

In the spring of 1852, one Augustus P. Dowd, known for his buckskin duds and tangle of curly blond hair, was tracking a grizzly bear through the forest above the Gold Rush town of Murphys. This was not Dowds first encounter with a California grizzly. Two years before, he had lost three fingers to one before killing it with a hunting knife.

But this time around, Dowd abandoned the hunt. He became distracted. Suddenly he had wandered into a grove of the largest trees he had ever seen  the largest trees, he thought, that anyone had ever seen.

These trees are Sequoiadendron giganteum, giant sequoias. They are now set aside in the North Grove of Calaveras Big Trees State Park. If you like giant redwoods  and who doesnt like giant redwoods?  these are trees you need to see. They arent as famous or as much-visited as the arboreal titans of Yosemite National Parks Mariposa Grove or Sequoias General Grant Grove. But here is where giant sequoias first became known to the non-American Indian world. (The local Miwok and Washoe peoples had, of course, known about them for centuries.)

Today, it takes maybe 25 minutes to drive the 15 miles from Murphys up Highway 4 to the trees. When Dowd persuaded a bunch of his disbelieving friends to come see his alleged discovery, it took them much of a day on horseback. Once they got there they were, of course, convinced. Yet over the next month, as word filtered out from the Gold Country down to San Francisco, the story was still deemed a tall tale.

Stroll the parks 1-mile North Grove Trail, and you experience both the wonder of these redwoods and the tragedy that befell some of them as Californians attempted to convince the outside world that they actually existed. Start with the specimen that Dowd first encountered  named, reasonably enough, the Discovery Tree. Say you find a magnificent tree, a really big tree, 280 feet tall, 25 feet in diameter at its base, and over 1,200 years old. But no one outside of Calaveras County thinks its real. What do you do? You saw it down, painfully  it takes more than a month  and ship sections of trunk and bark for display in San Francisco and then around Cape Horn to New York.

And when, for various reasons, the New York exhibition proves unsuccessful, you try again. The next victim is a lovely tree named the Mother of the Forest. This time, loggers removed 60 tons of its bark  a surgery guaranteed to be fatal  then reassembled it for display in New York and England. Here, at last, came show business success: An estimated 27,000 people viewed the Mother of the Forest on the first day it was exhibited in Londons Crystal Palace.

But by now, growing numbers of Americans were aghast at the destruction of the trees  no one more passionately than pioneer conservationist John Muir. Damning the fate of the Mother of the Forest, he wrote that the tree, one of the finest in the grove  was skinned alive to a height of 116 feet from the ground and the bark sent to London to show how fine and big that Calaveras tree was  as sensible a scheme as skinning our great men would be to prove their greatness.

Eventually, the remaining trees were saved  first as a privately owned but informally protected tourist attraction, and then, in 1931, as a state park. The North Groves remaining hundred-plus sequoias are everything you want in big trees: tall, majestic, with that auburn bark that seems to glow from within.

I just love this park, says George Leong, who as vice president of the Calaveras Big Trees Association  a nonprofit that helps raise money and run programs for the park  has spent a fair amount of time here. You look at these giant sequoias and realize that this species has been around since the dinosaurs. Leong also likes the way the sequoias teach the lesson that size doesnt always matter. The big sequoias come from the smallest seeds, he says. Only about the size of a piece of oatmeal. The biggest cones are the sugar pine, but they dont grow nearly as tall.

Another plus for the trees, you learn as you continue your stroll, is that they make great photo subjects, given that theyre beautiful but dont move. You walk past a man standing in front of a sequoia while his wife snaps his portrait with her smartphone.

Want to take a picture of some fool standing in front of a tree to show how big it gets? he shouts to passing hikers.

Oh, his wife says, they probably have their own fools.

If you want to admire even more trees, and find more solitude, take the 8-mile drive to Calaveras South Grove. Added to the park in 1954, it holds over a thousand giant sequoias, including the parks two largest trees, the Agassiz Tree and the Palace Hotel Tree. Its a much higher density of sequoias, than the North Grove, says Leong. And its a nice quiet, serene place to be. You can sit on a rock for an hour and not see any people, just the trees.

Peter Fish is a freelance writer. Email: travel@sfchronicle.com

If you go

Calaveras Big Trees State Park lies off Highway 4, about 15 miles northeast of Murphys. Along with hiking, it has 120 campsites ($35 per night) and four cabins ($165-$175 per night) to rent. Park entry fee: $10 per vehicle ($9 if one passenger is over 62). (209) 795-3840; www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=551
NEW DELHI  A newscast on whether India had become intolerant of dissent quickly spiraled into something darker after a guest on the program referred to a pamphlet that called the Hindu goddess Durga a sex worker. Though the host did not make the remarks, she was accused of disparaging the deity and was bombarded with more than 2,500 threatening calls.

Some called and said they would douse me with acid, Kerala journalist Sindhu Sooryakumar said. Six members of a militant group linked with Indias Hindu nationalist ruling party have been arrested.

Sooryakumar is one of a growing number of Indian journalists who say they are increasingly facing a backlash for producing work that raises questions or criticisms of Prime Minister Narendra Modis government or his Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP. The crackdowns are happening as journalists try to cover a nationwide debate on how Indian patriotism should be defined  as Hindu or multicultural, devout or secular  and whether dissent should be tolerated.

Members of Modis government have offered hard-line views on the issue, equating criticism of the government with criticism of the country. Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani said last month that the nation can never tolerate an insult to Mother India, while Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted that anyone shouting anti-India slogans will not be tolerated or spared.

Last week, one of Indias best-recognized TV anchors, Barkha Dutt, filed a police report after allegedly receiving anonymous abusive death threats. She had been reporting along with the rest of the capitals media on a university students arrest for allegedly making anti-India statements. The student criticized the 2013 secret hanging  under a previous government  of a Kashmiri separatist convicted of an attack on Parliament.

Dutt told a conference organized by a womens group that, after her reports, she received calls threatening rape, sexual abuse and even shooting me.

During that same students court hearing on sedition charges last month, lawyers beat reporters and damaged cameras and recording equipment while demanding they not cover public protests against the students arrest. Journalists from several broadcasters, newspapers and wire services were attacked, including an Associated Press photographer whose hand was bruised and camera lens broken.

The attacks have heightened concerns about the state of press freedom in India, the international Committee to Protect Journalists said.

Journalists have never been entirely safe in India  11 have been killed since 2010, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Most were working outside major cities, often covering small-town corruption, when they were killed.

The fact that journalists in major cities like New Delhi are now being hounded is relatively novel, after years during which they operated largely without fear of retribution thanks in part to the nations educated, urban elite and the foreign media bearing noisy witness.

As a journalist, you dont want to be the story yourself, said Swati Chaturvedi, a veteran print and TV journalist who filed a police report last year while she said she was receiving up to 400 threatening messages a day.
1 1 million refugees: The U.N. refugee agency says more than 1 million people have crossed into Greece alone since the start of 2015. UNHCR figures show more than 143,500 people  mostly Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans  have reached Greece from Turkey this year through March 14. A calculation of agency figures Wednesday shows total land and sea arrivals into Greece were 1,000,229 since Jan. 1, 2015.

2 Yemen conflict: The U.N.s humanitarian chief in Yemen said Wednesday that none of the warring parties there were fulfilling their obligations to protect civilians or facilitate humanitarian assistance. Jamie McGoldricks comments at a Sanaa news conference came one day after air strikes by a Saudi-led and U.S.-backed coalition targeted a busy market in a northern region controlled by Shiite Houthi rebels, killing and wounding dozens. Yemens war pits the Houthis and troops loyal to a former president against the internationally recognized government and an array of allied forces. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war on the governments side a year ago. The fighting has killed more than 6,200 civilians and displaced millions, pushing the Arab worlds poorest country to the brink of famine.
WASHINGTON  An unprecedented 29-hour safety shutdown of subways in the nations capital inconvenienced hundreds of thousands of people on Wednesday, but despite predictions of Metromageddon or Metropocalypse, it was hardly the end of the world.

Many riders shrugged it off, saying its what theyve come to expect from the aging, troubled Metro system.

One popular Twitter feed about the system, @unsuckdcmetro, was running a poll on whether the shutdown would solve Metros flaming cables problem. Thousands voted, with more than three quarters saying no.

Metro sucks, said Bob Jones, 26, of Arlington, Va., as he waited for a bus. The subways are always slow, always crowded, he complained.

The nations second-busiest rail system stopped its trains at midnight Tuesday for a systemwide inspection of its third-rail power cables after an electrical fire on Monday. Officials planned to reopen at 5 a.m. Thursday unless inspectors find an immediate safety threat, which the systems general manager said was unlikely.

Without working trains in the way, 22 inspection teams were walking 100 miles of underground track, checking power cables for potential problems. Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said Wednesday afternoon that some repairs were already being made.

Riders take more than 700,000 trips on Metro trains every day because its still a quick way to get downtown from Maryland, Virginia and the citys outer neighborhoods. But the system has become less reliable and ridership has suffered. By comparison, BART handles 430,000 trips on an average weekday.

Metros general manager, Paul Wiedefeld, who took over in November after running the Baltimore-Washington airport, acknowledged in a public letter last month that the agency must improve safety and security, deliver more reliable service, and continue reforms to get our financial house in order.

The system has closed for days for weather, but this was believed to be the first shutdown for mechanical reasons.

While the risk to the public is very low, I cannot rule out a potential life and safety issue here, and this is why we must take this action immediately, Wiedefeld said.

Delayed trains, closed escalators and other annoyances have become frequent, but the Metro has had deadly accidents as well, including a 2009 collision between two trains that killed nine people. Another passenger died last year, when malfunctioning electrical equipment filled a train with smoke. An electrical fire Monday was blamed on disturbingly similar conditions, Wiedefeld said in a statement.
WASHINGTON  President Obama levied sanctions against North Korea on Wednesday in response to the reclusive countrys recent illicit nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

The sanctions blocks certain transactions on property belonging to the North Korean government and to the Workers Party of Korea. They follow the U.N. Security Councils unanimous adoption this month of some of the toughest sanctions in decades against North Korea for defying the world by pushing ahead with its nuclear program. Obama enacted separate U.S. sanctions last month.

An executive order signed by Obama and effective Wednesday merges both sets of sanctions, enabling the U.S. government to implement them.

Obama acted hours after North Koreas highest court sentenced an American tourist accused of trying to steal a propaganda banner from a restricted area of his hotel to 15 years of hard labor.

Otto Warmbier, 21, a University of Virginia undergraduate student, was arrested in early January as he tried to leave the country after visiting as a tourist with a New Year's tour group.

Referring to the new sanctions, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement, These actions are consistent with our long-standing commitment to apply sustained pressure on the North Korean regime The U.S. and the global community will not tolerate North Koreas illicit nuclear and ballistic missile activities, and we will continue to impose costs on North Korea until it comes into compliance with its international obligations.

In a vote that reflected growing anger over North Koreas repeated violations of a ban on all nuclear-related activity, the U.N. Security Council on March 2 unanimously approved the toughest set of sanctions against the country in two decades. The punishment includes mandatory inspections of cargo leaving and entering North Korea by land, sea or air; a ban on all sales or transfers of small arms and light weapons to Pyongyang; and expulsion of diplomats from the North who engage in illicit activities.

Legislation that Obama signed into law on Feb. 18 was designed to deny North Korea the money it needs to develop miniaturized warheads and the long-range missiles required to deliver them.
New Mexicos state laws allow for the operation of smartphone-based ride-sharing services like Uber thanks to a bill signed this month by Gov. Susana Martinez. But drivers for the company say they dont feel any different, or any more legal, than they did before.

"We were having no problem," says Dave, a driver for the company who gave SFR a lift around downtown Santa Fe but preferred not to use his last name for publication.

Despite a flap with the Public Regulation Commission, the ride-sharing service has operated in Santa Fe and around New Mexico for years. In November 2014, Mayor Javier Gonzales became the first person in Santa Fe to use Uber when he took a short ride from City Hall to the Plaza to introduce and publicize its arrival to the city.

The new law, signed on March 9, intends to resolve confusion about these companies and their operating requirements in New Mexico. The governor says she favors the law change because it has the potential to motivate Lyft (one of Uber's competitors which vacated the state in 2015), and companies like it, to reconsider the state.

The law holds ride-sharing services to their own set of standards, however. It requires drivers to undergo background checks and maintain insurance, and companies must spend $10,000 for a permit. It does not require that Uber drivers be drug-tested, even though their taxi-driving counterparts must undergo those tests.

The discrepancy in drug-testing requirements between the transportation companies is not the only one. "City policy does require each Uber driver to get a business license," says Matt Ross, city spokesman. "As far as cab companies are concerned, each cab company just needs a business license, not each cab driver."

But city officials also say they can't rapidly query the business license database to determine how many, if any, Uber drivers have taken that step.



Santa Fe's sole cab company, Capital City Cab, has been operating taxis regulated by the state Public Regulation Commission for more than 30 years. Shortly after Uber appeared in the City Different, the company launched its own app that potential passengers can use to hail a cab. Capital City Cab also participates in DWI prevention efforts by offering rides from bars at discounted rates on Friday and Saturday nights. Knowles did not reply to SFR's request for comment this week.

Heather Vandagriff, a lifelong New Mexican and regular Uber rider, tells SFR she prefers the new option over traditional cabs. "It's cheaper, it's easier and it's faster," Vandagriff says. "I think it helps cut down on drunk driving, a lot," she added.

Drivers generally report that working for Uber is flexible and can help fill in the gaps.

"It's the freedom," says Joshua Milelkowsky, who started driving for the company in Santa Fe in February. "I go online whenever I want, and work like an hour or two hours and go home. So, it's the fact that I can do that, and it's my call. It's not a set schedule."

But one reason people perceive Uber as cheaper is because they're often leaving out an important part of the cost. Milelkowksy says the profitability of the venture fluctuates. Uber drivers use their personal vehicles and pay for their own gas. The company sets the fare and takes a significant chunk of every transaction, recently upping their percentage from 20 to 25 percent, he says.

Uber drivers don't get tipped by the automated payment system, and the app does not feature a way to add a tip digitally.

And Uber itself appears to discourageat least not encouragethe practice.

"You don't need cash when you ride with Uber," its website states. "Once you arrive at your destination, your fare is automatically charged to your credit card on filethere's no need to tip."

Tipping, Milelkowsky says, is "not required, but it is appreciated." .

This lack of certainty about tipping etiquette shows in both drivers and riders. Some drivers tell riders they can't accept a cash tip, while Dave says, "If half of the riders put in a dollar or two, you have all your gas taken care of for a night."

Vandagriff tells SFR she tips "sometimes, if I have cash on me."

Ben Grossklaus, who uses Uber frequently in Albuquerque, says, "I think that's something Uber has tried to work on, and I don't know, I feel like it's almost a gray area, but personally, I do not tip."

Representatives of Uber and Lyft did not respond to SFR's requests for comment for this story.



Santa Fe Reporter
Hidden beneath the layers of your adult-self, obscured in the forest of past experiences and your relationship with your family, lies perhaps the more real part of yourself. Maybe this version of you is 10 years old and walks alongside, not directly influencing your actions or speaking to you, but a distant reminder that you're the sum of your history plus unfulfilled desires. That's the gist of the film Only Yesterday, produced by Hayao Miyazaki in 1991. It was never released in the US, and with the success of The Tale of the Princess Kaguya last year, Studio Ghibli decided to record an English dialogue track and send it to Western audiences.

The main character is Taeko Okajima (voiced by Daisy Ridley), a single woman with a "good job in Tokyo." She travels out to the country to pick flowers historically used for rouge by aristocrats during Japan's feudal era. The process is slow, painstaking and entirely manual labor, but she can't wait to get started. Taeko's perception is split between memories of her childhood when she was 10 years old and her current experience in the countryside. During the childhood moments, she's back with her family in Tokyo, where she grew up, nearly reliving that portion of her life wherein the disappointments and difficulties in being a small girl in mid-sixties Japan are in sharp contrast to the pastoral idealism that she's partaking in as an adult.

The crux of the film forms around the notion that the dreams and wounds of youth influence who we are (duh), but more than that, they inform how we see ourselves, how we engage in our own personal dialogue. Taeko begins to question what it is to be happy and successful. Only Yesterday is a touching love letter to the era of youthful idealism and the regrets of adulthood. It's challenging not to be struck down to your core when watching it. And though the film is well steeped in post-war Japanese culture, the personal takeaways transcend those cultural boundaries. There's a character in this movie somewhere that you can connect to, even if you can't connect to the lead. The writing is so strong that you genuinely feel emotions for every person, and that is a rare feat for any motion picture, animated or otherwise. There are some definite feels here.

The pacing is a remarkably slow burn, especially when compared to more modern US studio system flicks. The runtime is a bit long for what the movie is, and it's a difficult slog at times to push your way through. Yet, it's well worth the effort to keep your butt in the seat and make it past the first half.

The handdrawn animation is simply beautiful. Every cell is colored with extreme care, and it shows. This is par for the course for any Miyazaki film, and Only Yesterday does not disappoint. You could level the criticism that the animation isn't used to its potential. Indeed, this could be a standard motion picture with living, breathing actors on screen instead of cartoon characters, so why animate at all? However, there's a subtlety in the color and character design that couldn't be done easily with real sets and people. The animation captures your attention, where it might otherwise run astray. It's not your standard fare for anime; there are no talking cats or robots or earth-shattering psychic powers. There's just a woman grappling with who she's become and who she was as a child.

Overall, the latest foray by Studio Ghibli (for Americans) can be hit-or-miss. It's really not the most exciting or powerful movie you'll ever see, but if you're lucky, you might just learn a little something about yourself after you leave the theater.



Only Yesterday

Directed by Isao Takahata

With Ridley and Dev Patel

CCA PG, 118 min.

Santa Fe Reporter
There has been a big shift in thinking in the past two years that trustees now have a fiduciary duty to consider environmental, social, and governance issues when investing money under their care, says Responsible Investment Association Australasian chair Pablo Berrutti.

He said from 2005 onwards it became legitimate for trustees to consider ESG factors but in the past couple of years that thinking has shifted to them having a duty to do so.

A UK Law Commission report in 2014 found that trustees should take into account ESG factors if they are financially material, Berutti said.

Similarly, the US Department of Labor released guidance in October last year that for the first time acknowledged ESG factors may have a direct relationship to the economic and financial value of an investment and should be considered by fiduciaries overseeing retirement plans that come under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. "When they do, these factors are more than just tiebreakers, but rather are proper components of the fiduciary's analysis of the economic and financial merits of competing investment choices," it said.

The department governs funds worth many trillions of dollars and "reinforced the UK Law Commission's view", said Berutti.

Law firm Minter Ellison warned last year that it was no longer safe for trustees to assume ESG issues are inherently non-financial. That followed a breach of duty claim in the US which highlighted the importance of fund trustees and their directors in remaining informed, proactive and engaged on material financial risks, regardless of whether they arise out of financial factors such as market change or non-financial factors such as ESG drivers.

Pension holders took a claim against the trustees of the Arch Coals company pension plan for continuing to invest in the companys stock, which had plummeted in value by 96 percent.

In another example, the international investor network, Principles for Responsible Investment, in a submission to the Fraser Review in Australia on a best practice governance code for not-for-profit super funds, said any code has to include a section on incorporating ESG factors into the investment process.

PRI said the code, which may eventually expand to all super funds in Australia, should state that funds have to disclose to members relevant ESG governance policies at trustee level, the funds proxy voting policies and material voting behaviour, and that trustee directors should consider independent third party assurance of ESG reports.

Berrutti said New Zealand, which has a high number of Maori and community trusts, could lead the way in matching a trusts social purpose with its investments whereas in Australia they are often quite separate.

But there is already a move away from funds just excluding negative impacts such as tobacco companies or fossil fuel companies from investment portfolios to actively seeking to make a positive impact, he said.

A cancer charity putting money into a tobacco company doesnt make sense and were seeing that flow through with the growth in impact investing where they can make investments that make money and have a positive impact on their community, he said.

Berrutti said the growing use of social media by those pushing specific ESG issues, such as the fossil fuel divestment campaign, was also having an effect on fund managers and trustees.

One example was the campaign last September by No Business in Abuse waged against corporate Transfield Services, now called Broadspectrum, which also operates in New Zealand, as it was about to sign a multi-billion dollar, five-year deal to continue operating the Manus Island and Nauru detention camps on behalf of the Australian federal government

The group targeted the companys investor base highlighting instances of alleged rape, violence and other incidents against camp detainees. It led to big super fund HESTA divesting A$23 million of Transfield stock and several other investors reviewing their holdings, forcing the companys share price down although it has since recovered.

The NZX is currently considering whether and how listed companies should have to report on ESG issues as part of its corporate governance reporting review, for which submissions recently closed.

Around 4 percent of total assets under total assets under management  some $3.2 billion  in New Zealand are invested in core socially responsible investment funds, compared to 2.5 percent or A$31.6 billion in Australia.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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AV accessories company KitSound has produced a special range of products for Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens with 1 from each sale going directly to the charity. These products include the Malibu headphones and the Boombar Bluetooth speaker.

As part of the partnership, KitSound worked with 16 year old cancer survivor Elliot to create a Bravery Playlist. It includes some of his favourite tracks, as well as those that inspired him to continue being brave whilst undergoing his treatment.

Elliot was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in September 2013, and took part in a Cancer Research UK funded trial which investigated a kinder treatment regime for children and young people.

Elliots story, as well as a list of the inspiring tunes he chose, can be found on any Malibu headphones or Boombar speaker packaging.

Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens launched in January 2015 with the aim of raising money for research specifically into cancers affecting children, teens and young adults.

It aims to double the amount spent on childrens cancer research over the next 5 to 10 years, to accelerate progress and find cures and kinder treatments. Prices for the special range of products start at 10.

For further information visit: www.kitsound.co.uk, http://www.facebook.com/CRUKKidsandTeens

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BENGALURU: Chinese mobile device maker Xiaomi today confermed that it has initiated a process to set up single-brand retail stores and expects to complete the same in the next few weeks. We have initiated the process and submitted a few documents online. However, this is very preliminary and the process will only be completed over the next few weeks, after which we will be sharing more details, Xiaomi said in an e-mail response. The move follows US technology major Apples similar application in India. The company sells its devices through select e-commerce platforms and retail stores.

India is one of the largest markets for Xiaomi globally, which assembles devices like Redmi 2 and Redmi Note at the manufacturing facility of Foxconn a leading contract manufacturer.

According to research firm IDC, shipments in India grew 28.8 percent yoy to 103.6 million units in 2015 compared with 10.1 percent growth for the global market.

Last year, the government had relaxed the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy for single-brand retail. In January, Apple had filed a proposal seeking permission for single-brand retail and selling products online, but DIPP had sought more information from the technology major due to certain gaps in the application.



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NEW DELHI: Amid ongoing controversies in some universities, President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday asked higher educational institutions to emphasise on inculcating core civilisational values of patriotism, compassion, honesty, tolerance and respect for women.



He was speaking at a function to honour Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Tezpur University for excellence in 'research' and 'innovation' and being the 'best university' respectively.



"To be a top higher educational institution requires one to adhere to a few basic pre-conditions. To my mind, the most critical amongst them are ensuring the quality of education and research, enhancing faculty standards and establishing collaborations and linkages with international as well as domestic organisations.



"The emphasis on academic excellence, as well as inculcating core civilizational values of patriotism, compassion, honesty, tolerance, performance of duty and respect for women as to be maintained all through," President Mukherjee said.



The President presented the Visitor's Awards for research as well as innovation to Prof Rakesh Bhatnagar and the Molecular Parasitology Group of JNU respectively.



Besides, Tezpur University in Assam was given the annual Visitor's award for the best university. The President is the Visitor of central universities.



"These Awards should inspire and motivate the central universities and their academic communities to excel further. You all must work towards becoming temples of knowledge and learning," he said at the function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

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UNITED NATIONS: Voicing concern over "unremitting distress signals" of a worsening security situation in war-torn Afghanistan, India said "effective" implementation of UN sanctions will ensure restrictions on the movements of groups perpetrating violence.



India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddinhighlighted the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and called for greater efforts by the international community to support the Afghan government.



"The distress signals are unremitting - a worsening security situation, an increase in the tempo of insurgent activities, a greater toll of civilian casualities, and a deteriorating humanitarian situation," he said.



"All point to the need for greater engagement by the international community in support of the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan," he said, addressing the Security Council debate on UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA) yesterday.



The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the UN mission in Afghanistan untilMarch 17, 2017.



The resolution said it "looks forward" to the next Ministerial Conference to be held in New Delhi this year and called on Afghanistan and its regional partners to keep up the momentum and continue their efforts to enhance regional dialogue and confidence.



India has in the past underscored that it is the responsibility of the sanctions committee to protect UN nations and its citizens from terror groups and has demanded that sanctions against listed individuals be strictly adhered to and implemented.



Akbaruddin said groups and individuals that perpetrate violence against the people and government of Afghanistan "cannot be allowed to exercise control or wield influence" over any part of Afghanistan's territory, as it would pose serious threats to the gains of the last 15 years.



"The effective implementation of the UNSC's Sanctions regime including the 1267 ISIL/ Al-Qaeda Sanctions regime and the 1988 Taliban Sanctions regime is a tangible measure that will go a long way in imposing restrictions on the listed entities/ individuals' movements, assets and arms embargo," he said.



Terming the expansion of the Taliban's territorial reach as a "disturbing development", Akbaruddin asked the Security Council to look into the security situation and the means to contain it with a "sense of urgency" adding that efforts to incite ethnic violence and conflict are also serious developments.



He voiced India's support to an Afghan government-led reconciliation process that respects the redlines drawn by the people of Afghanistan and the international community, adding that the "groups and individuals to be reconciled must give up violence and abide by the Constitution of Afghanistan.

Akbaruddin noted that that the Secretary General's report



on Afghanistan confirms the "worrisome security situation" that there have been more than 11,000 documented civilian causalities in 2015.



Reiterating India's commitment to stand "steadfastly" with Afghanistan during its transformation decade, he said India is working to support the Afghan government and people in accordance with their priorities and national circumstances.



He said Afghanistan will be able to achieve its "optimum" economic potential if it is allowed the freedom of transit to major markets of South Asia.



"We are working with Afghanistan and Iran to develop trilateral transit and participation in the development of the Chahbahar Port which will augment our connectivity with Afghanistan," he said.



He also reiterated that India extends its full support to Afghanistan for strengthening its defensive capabilities to preserve its unity and territorial integrity.



"We stand ready to collaborate with Afghanistan to expand the training opportunities for Afghan National Defence and Security Forces in relevant Indian institutions, based on the requirements of Afghanistan," he said.



The visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Afghanistan in December last year followed by Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah's visit to India earlier this year "reflect the blossoming with a renewed vigour and vitality of India's cooperation with Afghanistan," he added.



Afghanistan's Parliament complex, constructed under India-Afghan Development Cooperation, is a symbol of the belief that terror and violence cannot be the instrument to shape Afghanistan's future or dictate the choices the people of Afghanistan make, the Indian envoy said



The Secretary-General's Special Representative and UNAMA head Nicholas Haysom told the Council that the five major hurdles facing Afghan's National Unity Government include a contracting economy, an intensifying insurgency, an increasingly divided political environment, significant medium-term financial demand, and the need to achieve progress towards a sustainable peace.



Afghan envoy Mahmoud Saikal said peace talks with the Taliban must move forward, adding that "making peace with Pakistan is essential to making peace with the Taliban".



Pakistan's envoy Maleeha Lodhi hoped that direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban could resume soon, in line with the Quadrilateral Coordination Group road map and factors that would be critical are consistent declarations from the Afghan Government of its commitment to work for a negotiated peace, the ability of the Afghan security forces to hold their ground and the influence and political capital of all four members of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group members -Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US.



She emphasised that the Afghan government must come up with incentives to encourage the Taliban to engage in sustained talks, without preconditions that could halt negotiations before they started.

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The red-bearded al-Shishani, who was in his 30s, was one of the most prominent IS commanders, appearing in several online videos leading fighters into battle. He served as the top commander in Syria before being appointed to lead three elite units that carried out special missions in Syria and Iraq, according to Hisham al-Hashimi, an Iraqi scholar who follows the group.
She picked up twice the number of delegates than Sanders in Florida  the biggest prize of the night with 214 delegates  and stymied Sanders' efforts to make up ground by also winning North Carolina, Ohio and Illinois, stopping his momentum from a narrow win last week in Michigan. All the Democratic contests award delegates in proportion to the share of the vote, rather than winner-take-all, so even the loser gets some.
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/var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f024f120)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0cad308)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f024f120)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0cad308)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f024fd80)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0cad308)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0cad308)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e880c9c8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f04de968)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f04de968)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948

/var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f01b9538)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f04fb958)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f01b9538)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f04fb958)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f01f9fc0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f04fb958)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f04fb958)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e880d7e8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f06185b0)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f06185b0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948

/var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f065b948)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0745fb0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f065b948)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0745fb0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f067c6a0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0745fb0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0745fb0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612efeaf530)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f06ef350)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f06ef350)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
Any downgrades to interest rate forecasts by the US Federal Reserve will come as no surprise to investors watching its March meeting closely as the central bank's targeted rate hikes look further out of reach.

As financial markets price in just a 77 per cent chance of a single hike in 2016, the Fed's December 2015 forecast for four interest rate increases this year looks set to be binned.

Just how much lower the Federal Open Markets Committee is willing to go is unclear.

Economists think that Fed chair Janet Yellen still has a convincing case to raise rates because the unemployment rate is low and inflation excluding food and energy prices is rising. Economists also tend to agree with Yellen that interest rates are too low, and that poses risks to financial stability.

The bond market argues that the world is still rocked by the Fed's decision to stop printing trillions of dollars to buy bonds back in 2014, and that rate hikes will only make the tightening in US dollar liquidity worse, increasing the risk of a global recession.

"We think they're keeping rates way too low," said Vital Proulx, chief investment officer at the $US18 billion Montreal-based equities fund Hexavest. "It's not just a question of looking at inflation the negative consequences are misallocation of capital."

JPMorgan economists think the "dots", referring to the FOMC's internal forecasts, will only come down by the equivalent of one hike.

"With the economic forecast for this year little changed, on net, we think that even after next week's revision the dots will remain notably higher than market expectations for rate hikes this year," said Michael Feroli.

The problem, argues Citigroup's top US economist, William Lee, is that this is still far from where the market sees rates.

"We believe there will likely be no more than two rate increases this year, but the FOMC may put in a third one," said Lee. "If the [dot plot] continues to show a relatively aggressive rise, markets may either dismiss them as not credible, or react badly to continued interest rate normalisation, which is not currently priced," he warned.

Here's more
A Liberal MP who used part of a taxpayer-funded "study tour" of Europe to visit a Polish coal mine in which he owned shares has sold out of his investment weeks after Fairfax Media revealed the questionable stop over.

In an update to Parliament's register of pecuniary interests on Thursday, West Australian Liberal Luke Simpkins notified of the sale of his shares in Prairie Downs, an WA-based company now known as Prairie Mining.

In February, Fairfax Media revealed Mr Simpkins had overnighted in a regional town called Lublin, two hours drive south-east of the Polish capital Warsaw, where he met with officials from a Prairie Mining-owned mine.

The visit was part of a seven-day jaunt through Holland and Poland in April and May last year that cost taxpayers $5000.
Mr Osborne made the announcement in Wednesday's budget, in which other so-called "sin taxes", including the excise on beer, whiskey and cider, were all frozen. Mr Osborne said the tax increase, which the government ruled out as recently as February, was being introduced to improve children's health. "I am not prepared to look back at my time here in this Parliament, doing this job and say to my children's generation... I'm sorry. We knew there was a problem with sugary drinks. We knew it caused disease. But we ducked the difficult decisions and we did nothing," he told the House of Commons. The sugar tax will be limited to soft-drinks and not other sugary foods like lollies. "I think milk could have been bundled in," Oliver said.

How will the sugar levy work? Britain's sugar-levy will begin in 2018 which the government hopes will give manufacturers time to reduce the amount of sugar in their drinks. Drinks with more than 8 grams of sugar per 100 millilitres will be taxed at a higher rate than drinks with less than 5 grams of sugar per 100 millilitres. This will travel right around the world, to Canada, to Australia. Jamie Oliver "Pure fruit juices" and milkshakes will not be subject to the sugar-levy.

Isn't that unfair? Expect the soft-drink industry to argue this point given thickshakes, milkshakes, smoothies and juices can all contain a lot of sugar but won't be taxed under this measure. Who pays? Companies will pay the tax but the government expects some manufacturers will pass on the costs to customers making soft-drinks more expensive, and consumed less. How much money will it raise?

520 million or more than $1 billion. The UK government says it will spend the revenue on fitness programs and extended school hours for children so they can take part in more sports. Could Australia do this? Absolutely. Especially with the growth of the paleo and anti-sugar movement. Because sugar has no nutritional value and is linked to obesity, it is becoming an easier political target, but politicians are still cautious of going down this road because those on lower incomes tend to eat more sugary foods compared to those on higher incomes.

However, the fact that a conservative government (which decries the "nanny-state") is willing to go down this road shows they think the politics are possibly changing and are at the very least manageable. A study in 2015 suggested a whopping 85 per cent of Australians would support sugar tax revenue being spent on anti-obesity measures. The research was commissioned by the Obesity Coalition which is calling for a similar tax in Australia. So while its not currently on the radar in Australia it wouldn't take much for it to be placed back on the agenda. Who else has a sugar tax? Scandinavian countries, Hungary, Mexico, France, Chile, the Californian city of Berkeley and Dominica.
An inspection of the city's cooling towers has failed to identify the source of the Legionnaires' outbreak encircling the Town Hall area.

Health authorities confirmed on Wednesday that they had inspected and sampled all cooling towers and other potential Legionella sources such as decorative fountains in an area stretching from Elizabeth Street to Clarence Street, and Bathurst Street to King Street.

The blocks include the Queen Victoria Building, Pitt Street Mall, St Andrews Cathedral and the boundary of Hyde Park.

But the search is now complete, with inspectors none the wiser as to the source of the infection that has caused the hospitalisation of nine people and the death of an octogenarian.
Former State Emergency Service Commissioner Murray Kear has accused the state's corruption watchdog of "ruining his life" after he was cleared of criminal charges following a high-profile inquiry.

Mr Kear was charged under whistleblower protection laws with sacking his former deputy, Tara McCarthy, as a "reprisal" after she made misconduct allegations against his "mate" and deputy, Steve Pearce.

Former State Emergency Service Commissioner Murray Kear arrives at Sydney Central Local Court in February. Credit:James Alcock

But in another blow to the Independent Commission Against Corruption, which has come under sustained fire over its handling of the ill-fated inquiry into Crown Prosecutor Margaret Cunneen, SC, Local Court Magistrate Greg Grogin dismissed the charges on Wednesday.

There was "no element of revenge, payback or reprisal" in Mr Kear's dismissal of Ms McCarthy in May 2013, Mr Grogin said.
The infinite world of prime numbers just got a little more finite, after a pair of mathematicians discovered the prime number sequence isn't as random as once thought.

Primes hate to repeat themselves, the researchers from Stanford University, California have found.

It's a prime 'conspiracy' that has stunned mathematicians with its elegant simplicity.

Stretch your memory back to the gridded pages of your primary school maths book and you'll remember primes are numbers that are only divisible by themselves and 1.
Ever year on March 17, millions around the world with a skerrick of Irish lineage - and even those without - celebrate St Patrick's Day.

Indeed, until the late 20 century, the day was more widely embraced by the honorary Irish in places such as Australia than it was in Ireland.

Amid the festivities is a parade of stereotypes - leprechauns, shamrocks, the colour green and, of course, a pint or 10 of Guinness at the local Irish pub.
The ANU Arts Centre appears to be facing demolition. The building - home to two theatres as well as jazz venue The Gods Cafe & Bar and cabaret destination Teatro Vivaldi - would go as part of an extensive proposed redevelopment of Union Court and University Avenue at the Australian National University.

The draft plans include residential accommodation, shops, cafes and bars but no mention is made of replacing the two theatre spaces. It is understood the redevelopment will be discussed at a council meeting on April 1.

The Gods Cafe may be threatened if the arts centre is demolished as part of redevelopment proposal of union court. Credit:Jay Cronan

"Within the overall planning for Union Court, any proposal is likely to include the demolition of the Arts Centre," Chris Grange, the ANU executive director of administration and planning, said.

"What will replace it, and whether that will include theatre facilities, is still unclear."
A jury has decided the trial of a 52-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting his brother should continue despite being told there were "stark inconsistencies" in the case against him.

The man pleaded not guilty over the alleged incident at his brother's Canberra home and went on trial in the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday.

It is alleged the defendant's brother had fallen asleep on his loungeroom floor and awoke to feel a hand down his shorts.

At the same time his phone rang and when he answered it he allegedly saw the defendant, who was staying at his house at the time, tip-toeing down the hallway.

The court heard the phone call was from a family friend telling the man a relative had suffered a heart attack. He then got defendant, who drove the pair to hospital.
Nothing was going to stop aviation consultant Garry Saunders from booking his ticket on the first international flight out of Canberra Airport.

After working on the business case for direct international flights in recent years, the Sydney-based University of New South Wales aviation lecturer stayed awake into the early hours of the morning to book his ticket for the first flight, not due to take off until September.

Charlotte and Simon Hearder of Greenway will be among the first passengers to fly from Canberra to Singapore. Credit:Elesa Kurtz

"I did sit up until 1 o'clock in the morning ... and stalked the Singapore Airlines reservation system," he said.

"Up they came and I went straight in. I didn't know I would be the first, buying a ticket for myself and my wife, but I should have had a clue because when I was able to choose my seat, I could choose from any seat in the cabin. There were 200 free seats."
ACT Work Safety Commissioner Mark McCabe resigned after eight years in the job this week.

Access Canberra head Dave Peffer said Mr McCabe had always intended to retire at some point this year, and had spoken with him on Tuesday night about his decision to do so now, with effect from April 15.

Mark McCabe says he has been thinking about retirement for 'some time'. Credit:Rohan Thomson

As well the job of Work Safety Commissioner, where he has played a key role in the Fluffy demolition program, Mr McCabe headed up construction, environment and workplace protection in Access Canberra.

Mr Peffer said Greg Jones and Leesha Pitt would share the responsibilities of running the construction division until a permanent appointment was made.
The government will proceed with reforms and consider feedback on how they are working in 18 months rather than wait for the Productivity Commission to recommend the best way to improve the default superannuation market.

On Wednesday, the Productivity Commission released an issues paper that outlined the framework and approach for its three stage review into the efficiency and competitiveness of the superannuation system.

Small businesses are preparing a budget wish list for Small Business Minister and Assistant Treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer. Credit:Josh Robenstone

The Productivity Commission is a wholly government-funded independent policy research agency.

"This study will develop criteria for a future assessment of the efficiency and competitiveness of the superannuation system," the commission said. However, it emphasised the study would not evaluate the current performance of the superannuation system.
Thousands of Australian jobs are under threat with the largest privately owned coal miner in the world, Peabody Energy, warning overnight its financial survival was under a cloud.

The company operates a string of coal mines in Queensland and NSW, having outlaid $6.5 billion to acquire Australian miners such as Excel and Macarthur Coal during the past decade, buying Macarthur at what has in retrospect proved to be near the top of the market.

Jobs at Peabody's Metropolitan mine may be at risk from its deepening financial problems. Credit:Michele Mossop

Peabody's deepening financial woes come as other local coal miners have been retrenching staff and dumping mines amid the worst downturn in the coal market in decades. Just last week, BHP axed 300 jobs from one of its mines in the Hunter Valley, citing continued low prices, and Rio Tinto is seeking to offload the bulk of its local mines.

The troubled miner has declared a 30-day grace to make interest payments of $US71 million on two sets of borrowings and if the payments cannot be made, it could declare bankruptcy as it seeks to reorganise its finances in a bid to stay afloat.
Every day is grand final day at work, BHP Billiton chief executive Andrew Mackenzie has told employees, telling them that they need to be more flexible if they want to earn higher wages.



Speaking at the Australian Financial Review's Business Summit Mr Mackenzie also conceded that BHP had been "unprepared for what has been the greatest commodities boom of our time".



He called for tax and workplace reform to keep Australia internationally competitive. But he said that workplace issues in Australia were already relatively straightforward compared to other nations, meaning any advances could deliver real competitive benefits.



"I don't think industrial relations is a massive problem in this country, relative to other countries in which we operate, so this is as much of an opportunity," he said.



"We need to have a work place where people feel ... that they are coming to work each day to compete in the grand final and [that] therefore they are OK to change their way of working in order to be more competitive, to ultimately earn the right to be paid more."



Mr Mackenzie argued flexibility was a key issue for BHP. "We want a simplification that allows us to change their agreements around work ...that we think will favour the growing competitiveness of an Australian workplace which will guarantee more jobs and investment," he said.



Mr Mackenzie pointed to the abrupt end of the mining boom as the kind of development that demanded flexibility to remain competitive.



While BHP was on top of the trends that lead to end of the boom, "we didn't expect the scale and the speed with which it happened", he said.



While the boom had helped lift "hundreds of millions of people across China and Asia" out of poverty, the end of that boom "has taught us all a critical lesson.



"There are no certainties in the 21st century and the state of the global economy reflects this."



However, Mr Mackenzie said BHP, which is a sponsor of the conference, had weathered the cycles of the mining sector many times over its 130-year history.



This was why "the return to normality in prices and demand in the commodities sector today is not cause for long-term pessimism", he said.



"The perspective we gained through experience told us that the super profits of the past decade simply could not be sustained.



"Sooner or later natural market forces would bring prices back down to earth and when that happened the same approach that saw us prosper  would see us prosper again."



Regardless of ups and downs, BHP needed to invest through the cycle so it can grab opportunities when they arise, Mr Mackenzie said, adding that Australia needs to be able to the same as a nation.



"The time has come for this nation to renew its commitment to creating a stronger future, cast its ambitions beyond the horizon again and plan, invest, and act to create a more prosperous and resilient Australia."



He said Australia must look to boost its productivity and said that it is "in the national interest to simplify workplace agreements so that our teams have the flexibility to succeed in the global market."



"At BHP Billiton, we're concerned about the taxes that impact on competitiveness and productivity such as company tax. Australia has a higher company tax rate than the OECD average of 25 per cent."
The Goliaths of big business have sustained a damaging loss against the small business Davids thanks to the Turnbull government's decision to beef up competition laws.

The move to adopt an "effects test" competition regime makes it more difficult for big companies to use their financial might to take advantage of small rivals.

It is a decision that sees Turnbull backflip from a previously held position and graduate to a champion of small business.

But it's an outcome that will yet again place him in the firing line with the big business lobby.
Two men and a Moke

"Adventurer Hans Tholstrup and larger-than-life electronics millionaire Dick Smith drove a car across the waters of Rose Bay at 59 km/h yesterday," the Herald motoring writer reported. "They will claim the effort as a world speed record for a car-boat. The pair overcame a number of problems  including a puncture  when they set sail in their adapted Leyland Moke, called Eveready, for the speed record bid."

Hans Tholstrup (right) and Dick Smith with their amphibious Mini Moke. Credit:John O'Gready

Aldo Moro kidnapped

"Rome, Thursday: The leader of the Italian Christian Democratic Party, Mr Aldo Moro, was kidnapped and his five bodyguards were shot dead in a street ambush today. Mr Moro, 61, a former prime minister who is tipped to become the country's next President, was kidnapped by the Red Brigades urban guerrilla group. The group claimed responsibility in a telephone call to the Italian news agency ANSA."
Some found Anita Brookner's writing depressingly anaemic, poking fun at such Brooknerisms as "I loved him in the least restricted sense of the word" and "I was not entirely unhappy" (no Brookner emotion was ever expressed without its deflating qualifier).

An art historian by profession, Anita Brookner became  in a phrase she coined herself for artists such as Marcel Proust and Gustave Moreau  a "contemporary master of the unlived life". Her Booker-winning novel, the story of a genteel middle-aged romantic novelist who meets the man of her dreams but misses her own wedding by remaining in the car, provided a template for some 20 subsequent works in which polite, reticent, educated people  mainly, though not exclusively, women  suffer crises of confidence or conscience, succumb to inertia, stifle their emotions and squirm at the brash vulgarities of modern life.

Novelist Anita Brookner specialised in exploring the hidden pressures, ethical dilemmas and repressed emotions that shape ordinary lives, and won the 1984 Booker Prize for her fourth novel, Hotel du Lac.

An only child, Anita Brookner was born in London on July 16, 1928 and brought up in Herne Hill, near Dulwich. Her father, uncle and maternal grandfather were prosperous Jewish tobacco importers.

She was 12 years old when war broke out, yet nothing was said about what was happening in Germany, Poland or Russia. The only people who broke the silence were the maids, most of them stateless Jewish refugees, who would sometimes, terrifyingly and for no apparent reason, "cry and rage and weep".

After the war, she studied history at King's College, London, and joined one of the first post-war art history classes at the Courtauld Institute, from which she won a French government scholarship to the Ecole du Louvre. She left for Paris in 1950 and stayed there for the next decade.

Anita Brookner eventually returned to Britain to teach art history, first at Reading University then, from 1964, at the Courtauld, to which she had been invited by Anthony Blunt, and where she lectured until her retirement in 1988. In 1967 she had become the first woman to hold the Slade professorship at Cambridge University.

Her early career was overshadowed by her mother's failing health as, after her father's death from cancer in 1965, she became her mother's carer until she, too, died in 1969. Just over 10 years later, aged 53, Anita Brookner wrote her first novel, A Start in Life (1981), about a childless middle-aged woman who visits Paris, makes a brief unenthusiastic marriage, and outlives all the other members of her immigrant family.
Lynore Geia is a registered nurse, midwife and proud Bwgcolman woman from Palm Island in North Queensland. She is also a PhD and passionate educator, committed to developing the next generation of health professionals.

When a team from the Close the Gap campaign met Lynore last year, she shared with us her experiences in working to close the gap in health outcomes for her people. Working in health for the past four decades, Lynore has seen some improvements on Palm Island, but says people continue to die far too young.

"It's devastating when people die young in the community, the grief is palpable," Lynore says.

"There's intergenerational trauma that we're still dealing with here. Wider Australia can say, 'Oh people need to get over it', but when you have profound trauma it's not something you can just get over. You need to be able to work through that process."
The IKEA car park takes 1000 cars undercover. Or you can park in the sandpit across the road.

If you don't believe me, you've clearly not been on the Cedric Street off-ramp on Thursday nights or about 11.15am on Sunday mornings (it can't open until 11am on Sunday, but let's not get started on the WA's ridiculous retail trading hours).

As my car idles, I often wonder why we torture ourselves with not just the assembly of the famous flat-packs, but the assembly of traffic as it backs up towards the freeway.

Spare a thought for the nearby residents who just want to get home to their dog, watch Netflix and enjoy a beer - they don't want to construct a Billy bookcase but yet, here they are, stuck in a traffic jam as infuriating as the Swedish retailer's instruction leaflets.

The kinder drivers shuffle their cars over on to the off-ramp emergency lane to allow the drivers who want to turn right (and away from IKEA) the opportunity to bypass the jam and get on with their lives.
Bill Shorten is having a red hot go. How refreshing that an Opposition Leader releases policies early and states what he stands for, in contrast to the "no-no-no" of Tony Abbott three years ago and the Turnbull government's secretive "rule out rule out" tax reform process.

Mr Shorten and shadow treasurer Chris Bowen have now forced the Coalition to admit it too would have to reduce unnecessary tax breaks on superannuation. Labor's negative gearing windback policy pressured the government into an embarrassing scare campaign. The Opposition's costings of 70-plus policies  including tobacco excise rises  forced the government to consider banking them. They also forced Treasurer Scott Morrison to concede his promised personal tax cuts would not emerge until the budget was much healthier, although somehow company tax cuts are affordable sooner.

Barring future bungles, Bill Shorten presents today as a far more viable alternative PM than a few months back. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Shorten wants a contest about who can offer better schools and hospitals while fixing the budget fairly and producing more jobs. That's pivotal now that he has pledged "full employment" which he sees as close to 5 per cent and "every Australian working to his or her full capacity".

Granted, Mr Shorten's plans are just words, not guarantees. Likewise, Mr Turnbull's agility and ideas boom have so far proved mere public relations, although the government might start dribbling out more reforms pre-budget. The much-needed effects test announcement on competition policy on Wednesday was a good start to help small business.
The Australian government has outraged South Korea by awarding a $1 billion plus Defence supply ships contract to a Spanish company, despite the Asian nation believing it would be the preferred partner.

While officially the Republic of Korea is remaining calm, Fairfax Media understands its government and diplomats are fuming over the snub and believe it to be the latest instance in a long list of Australian double talking over defence materiel contracts.

South Korean army soldiers stand on their K-55 self-propelled howitzers during exercises near the North Korean border. Credit:Ahn Young-joon

A specially convened Senate estimates hearing on the Defence white paper will be conducted Thursday afternoon. The Blue House (Korea's White House) will be closely watching the proceedings.

Last week the Defence Capability and Acquisition Group notified the Korean embassy that Spanish Navantia had been selected as the preferred contractor for the SEA 1654 program for replenishment ships.
The government is very much about upper house voting reform this week (well, that's the plan).

So it was very happy when the opposition's former spokesman on such matters, Gary Gray, stood up in the House of Representatives a short time back to talk about why he disagrees with the position his party took on the matter.

"My party continues to simply make me sad.....There are no perfect reforms in this area. We can't make it perfect, but we can make it much better than what it currently is because currently and over the past few years as we've seen at state and federal level pop-up parties designed to attract small numbers of primary voters have been manipulated through our system of Senate voting."

"None of us can predict the outcome of future elections, but all of us should be concerned about future elections being manipulated by pop up parties being created and by outcomes being confected by those whose interests are not the national interest, are not the interest of the people and are not the interest of our community.....I strongly support reform of Senate voting practices. I am made sad by my party's position. I will vote for my party's position, but I will do it knowing full well that the reforms that are before the house and before the Senate as we speak are reforms that genuinely improve the operation of our Electoral Act, genuinely improve Senate voting and are in the interests."
Defence Minister Marise Payne is under pressure to publicly release an internal investigation into the use of controversial antimalarial drug mefloquine.

Australian soldiers and veterans have called for an inquiry into the drug claiming it scarred them with permanent psychological damage, anxiety attacks, vertigo, nightmares, suicidal thoughts and hallucinations.

Major Stuart McCarthy is one of many current and former ADF personnel calling for a public inquiry into the drug mefloquine. Credit:Brendon Thorne

Mefloquine, or Lariam, was trialled on Australian soldiers in 2001-02 and been prescribed to more than 1800 current and former ADF members.

The drug remains the third choice anti-malarial for the ADF despite it being banned from prescription to US Special Forces in 2013 and the subject of a British House of Commons defence select committee hearing.
All year 12 students should be made to study intermediate mathematics if they want to enrol in a science, engineering or commerce degree at university, according to a national report by the Australian Academy of Science (AAS).

The ten-year plan, to be launched by the federal education minister on Thursday, recommends mid-level maths - which includes a calculus component - be introduced as a prerequisite for STEM courses across all Australian university.

Only 14 per cent of university science degrees currently require students to have studied intermediate maths - the equivalent of the 2 unit advanced HSC course - in Year 12, according to the report compiled by the AAS National Committee of Mathematical Sciences.

"This is an absolutely critical issue. We've hit a pretty low point," said the director of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute Professor Geoff Prince, who helped develop the report.
Locking up Aboriginal children costs Australia almost a quarter of a billion dollars a year, according to new figures compiled by Save the Children and released on the eve of Close the Gap Day.

On an average day last June, there were 480 Indigenous young people behind bars, with each young person costing authorities $1355 a day.

Government data shows that Indigenous young people are 26 times more likely to be incarcerated than non-Indigenous young people. Most of those Indigenous young people in detention are yet to be sentenced.

And according to the most recent snapshot, Indigenous young people made up 54 per cent of young people in youth justice detention last June, despite comprising about 5 per cent of the population.
They're a heartbroken father's last moments with his precious little son.

Peter Atkinson knew he had just 45 minutes to spend with two-year-old Darcy before the young boy's life support machine was to be switched off at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, and his organs were donated.

Peter Atkinson cradled his son Darcy in The Children's Hospital at Westmead.

Mr Atkinson lay down on the bed with Darcy and cradled him, and took a few last photographs of his first-born child.

Three years after that traumatic and agonising day, Mr Atkinson says he still does not know what happened to Darcy in the days leading up to his death.
When the former head of a Sydney council recently visited the principal target in a multimillion-dollar corruption inquiry he first made sure to put their phones in the fridge, the ICAC has been told.

And the corruption hearing also heard on Wednesday about another employee, who failed to notice for a decade an $87,000 deposit into her bank account.

Botany Bay Council's former general manager Peter Fitzgerald, a long-standing senior Labor figure in local government across Sydney, visited that council's former chief financial officer Gary Goodman three weeks ago, Mr Goodman said on Wednesday.

Mr Fitzgerald took both their phones and put them in the fridge before the two began talking about the upcoming inquiry, Mr Goodman said.
The Brisbane City Council offered an aggrieved employee $10,000 in hush money after she made a formal bullying complaint against the council chairman less than a month before this weekend's election, emails obtained by Fairfax Media reveal.

The woman had been employed by councillor Angela Owen-Taylor at her ward office in Parkinson, in Brisbane's south, for nearly three years when she walked out in early February, citing a history of behaviour that left her feeling "unsafe and fearful" at work.

After an unsuccessful mediation session on February 15, the council offered the employee a $10,000 severance payout and asked her to sign a confidentiality clause that prohibited her from disclosing details of Cr Owen-Taylor's behaviour.

She claims council staff also warned her to take the money, saying there would be ramifications if she pursued the formal complaint.
Labor is not backing away from the Newman government casino plan, announcing that if either of the two regional integrated resort development proposals fall over, it reserves the right to look elsewhere.

The Newman government offered three more casino licences to the private sector as a carrot to build what it called interrelated resort developments, envisioning developments which could compete with those in the Middle East and Asia.

The Star Casino Group won one and will build the Queen's Wharf development in the Brisbane CBD.

Cairns, under a proposal from Aquis, is also slated to receive a multi-billion dollar resort, as is the Gold Coast, with Chinese developer ASF Consortium putting through a proposal for a five-hectare block next to the established Sea World resort at The Spit.
The Queensland Government is being lobbied hard by Darling Downs mayors for $2 million to upgrade a rundown rail siding that would trigger a $60 million abattoir expansion, create an extra 700 jobs and a new beef export market in Asia.

Refrigerated beef from Darling Downs and western Queensland could be flown direct into Asian cities from Toowoomba's new Wellcamp Airport.

Refrigerated beef from Darling Downs and western Queensland could be flown direct into Asian cities from Toowoomba. Credit:Holger Leue

However it depends on the Queensland Government providing around $2 million to improve the rundown Queensland Rail siding at Oakey and assurances from beef producers for extra cattle.

If the rail siding upgrade  a few hundred metres from the Oakey Beef Exports abattoir - gets state government approval, it could open the door to a doubling of beef cattle through the abattoir.
The Federal government wants to make it harder for big companies to brutalise their smaller competitors by throwing their weight around the market.

To do this, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced the government is accepting a recommendation of the Competition Policy Review completed last year by a team led by economist Ian Harper. It wants to replace the "misuse of market power" test in the Competition and Consumer Act with an "effects test". Sounds great, but what's in it for me?

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chairman Rod Sims.

What is an effects test?

As things stand, a large business can fall foul of the Competition and Consumer Act if it has substantial market power and takes advantage of that power to lessen competition. Predatory pricing is a classic example, where a big company sets prices so low that it forces its competition out of business.
Police were warned 12 months ago about a new breed of reckless young criminals with Calabrian heritage who were associating with Melbourne Mafia bosses, but were unable to quell their rising influence.

Homicide detectives are investigating whether one of this group - who were born and raised in Melbourne but idolise Italian Mafiosi - was involved in the murder of lawyer and cafe owner Joseph "Pino" Acquaro, 54, in Brunswick East in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The killing bears the hallmarks of a contract hit.

Victoria Police announced on Thursday that the Purana taskforce - specialists in Melbourne gangland criminals, would join the homicide squad to investigate the slaying and the extent of Mafia activity in Melbourne.
The Barnett government had to splash out almost $3 million to complete the troubled water park at Elizabeth Quay, according to the state opposition.

Mining giant BHP Billiton contributed $10 million to the water park, which has been shut on a number of occasions since it opened in late January because of bacteria.

But after Labor grilled the Liberal government in Parliament on Tuesday night, it discovered the final cost of the water park when it opened on January 29, was in fact $12.85 million.

Labor spokesperson for planning Rita Saffioti said the party also uncovered the water playground was only built to hold 150 people.
The charges against him claimed that the CIA, a secretive American university organisation and a member of a church in Ohio had encouraged him to commit the "hostile act" of stealing a political poster from a wall in his hotel. American student Otto Warmbier, 21, was sentenced to 15 years hard labour. Credit:AP In late February, Warmbier sobbed and pleaded for his release at a government-arranged news conference in Pyongyang, where he admitted to stealing the poster and said that the church member had offered to buy him a used car worth $10,000 in exchange. "I made the worst mistake of my life," Warmbier said. A video clip posted on CNN correspondent Will Ripley's Twitter account showed a sobbing Warmbier saying: "I have made the worst mistake of my life, but please act to save me." He said a "deaconess" had offered him a used car worth $US10,000 ($14,000) if he could present a US church with the slogan as a trophy from North Korea.

The acquaintance also said the church would pay his mother $US200,000 ($280,000) if he was detained by the North and did not return, KCNA quoted Warmbier as saying. "My crime is very severe and pre-planned," Warmbier was quoted as saying, adding that he was impressed by North Korea's "humanitarian treatment of severe criminals like myself". It was impossible to determine whether Warmbier had been coerced into making the statements. Some American detainees who have spoken at similar news conferences in Pyongyang later said, after being freed, that they had been forced to confess to crimes and to apologise. Former Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, a veteran diplomat and North Korea troubleshooter, met with two North Korean diplomats from the United Nations on Tuesday to press for Warmbier's release.

Richardson said the meeting, at a hotel near the UN headquarters in New York, was his first face-to-face dealing with the North Koreans since he was asked by Governor John Kasich of Ohio to get involved in the case. "I urged the humanitarian release of Otto, and they agreed to convey our request," Richardson said by telephone afterward. He also said the diplomats, Ambassador Jang Il Hun and a subordinate, confirmed that Warmbier had been seen in Pyongyang, the North's capital, by a diplomat from Sweden, which represents the United States' interests in North Korea. The imprisonment of Warmbier, if confirmed, would further chill relations with the US as the Obama administration seeks to ratchet up pressure on the regime in Pyongyang over a fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch weeks later. The United Nations Security Council this month passed a resolution tightening sanctions on North Korea, including a ban on exports of certain minerals - a key source of hard currency for the Kim Jong Un regime.

US President Barack Obama approved slapped new sanctions on Kim Jong-un's regime on Wednesday. He issued an executive order imposing "robust new sanctions" on North Korea, aimed at stopping North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The sanctions ban the export of certain minerals from the country, prohibits the sale of luxury items to North Korea, and imposes travel bans and asset freezes. North Korea has used detained and convicted US nationals as a way to draw prominent American figures such as former US president Jimmy Carter into Pyongyang as mediators to open negotiations with Washington. The US' efforts to help Warmbier are complicated by having no diplomatic relations with North Korea. Instead, it maintains contact through the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang.
Beijing: China has set up a tsunami alert centre in the South China Sea, the head of the country's maritime regulator said on Wednesday, in Beijing's latest effort to bolster its jurisdiction in the disputed waters.

China claims most of the energy-rich waters through which about $7 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

The United States has voiced concerns about China's assertive pursuit of territory in one of the world's busiest trade routes.
Lula has immunity from all but the Supreme Court after his nomination as Rousseff's most influential ministerial position was published in a special edition of the Official Gazette. State prosecutors had charged him with money laundering and fraud, and asked for his arrest.

Police said 2500 people demonstrated outside the presidential palace in the capital of Brasilia and others flocked to Sao Paulo's main Avenue Paulista and that of other cities. Dozens of opposition MPs interrupted a session of Congress, chanting for Rousseff to resign (video) .

Washington: Protests erupted in Brazilian cities on Wednesday evening after President Dilma Rousseff named her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as chief of staff and a taped telephone conversation between the two fed opposition claims the appointment was meant to shield Lula from prosecution.

Federal Judge Sergio Moro, who oversees the sprawling corruption investigation and authorised the release of the phone tapping, said in a court filing released on Wednesday that the recording showed Lula and Rousseff considered trying to influence his inquiry. The surveillance recordings of Lula's phone were previously authorised as part of a sprawling corruption scandal that began with irregularities at state-run oil company Petrobras.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff blows a kiss to supporters after visiting former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, at his residence in Sao Bernardo do Campo, after his brief detention for questioning. Credit:AP

Judge Moro admitted there was no indication that any attempt to influence authorities was actually carried out. The recording, made public by the court, also has Rousseff offering to send Lula a copy of his appointment papers, "in case it was necessary." His opponents accused him of politicising the judiciary.

Rousseff's opponents have said the appointment of Lula, a charismatic champion of the poor who remains one of Brazil's most influential figures six years after leaving office, was a desperate attempt to stave off impeachment proceedings and to spare the former president from arrest.

Rousseff said Lula was appointed for his experience and had a history of championing fiscal stability and combating inflation. She said his appointment did not mean he was above investigation as he could be tried by the country's Supreme Court.
A hiker has found a rare Roman gold coin, nearly 2000 years old, Israel's Antiquities Authority says.

The coin, from the year AD107, bears the image of Augustus, the first emperor of the Roman Empire.

The reverse side shows symbols of the Roman legions.

It was minted by Emperor Trajan as part of a series of coins honouring Roman rulers, the authority said.
Beijing: As China's rubber-stamp parliament gathered in central Beijing for its annual, heavily stage-managed meetings this past fortnight, some of their attention may well have strayed toward unrest in a small coal town in the country's north-east.

Hundreds of miners in Shuangyashan have staged large protests after provincial officials denied in their meetings in Beijing that the state-run Longmay Group owed employees months of backpay.

Miners arrive for shifts at a mine affiliated with Longmay Group, in Hegang, China. Credit:New York Times

In many respects, the struggling coal company shapes as a key test case for how the Chinese government calibrates its approach toward its long-held pledge to restructure unprofitable state-owned behemoths, while balancing the risk of social unrest prompted by widespread layoffs.
The West had been equally surprised by Mr Putin's decision to intervene. "Unfortunately none of us knows what the intent of Mr Putin is when he carries out any action, which is why he is a very difficult partner in any situation like this," Mr Hammond said. A Russian pilot is welcomed after returning from Syria at an airbase near the Russian city Voronezh on Tuesday. Credit:Russian Defence Ministry Analysts in Moscow said Mr Putin's acquisition of a seat at the diplomatic top table may have motivated his move to scale back his costly Syria campaign. Russia appeared to be following through on its pledge, the US White House said, but spokesman Josh Earnest said it was too early to assess the broader implications, adding Moscow did not give the US direct notice of its withdrawal plan. A Russian pilot prepares for take off at Hemeimeem air base in Syria on Tuesday. Credit:Russian Defence Ministry

The Geneva talks are part of a diplomatic push launched with US-Russian support to end a conflict that has killed more than 250,000 people, created the world's worst refugee crisis, and allowed for the rise of Islamic State. Opening the indirect talks, Mr de Mistura said Syria faced a "moment of truth". US-Russian co-operation has already brought about a lull in the war via a "cessation of hostilities agreement", though many violations have been reported. A Russian pilot receives a hero's welcome on returning from Syria at an airbase near the Russian city Voronezh on Tuesday. Credit:Russian Defence Ministry Opposition negotiators demanded on Tuesday that the government spell out its thoughts about a political transition in Syria, saying there had been no progress on freeing detainees, who were being executed at a rate of 50 a day. The HNC wants Assad out of power by the start of a transition. While some rebels have expressed guarded optimism at Mr Putin's announcement, others doubt he is about to put serious pressure on Mr Assad.

A Russian pilot who returned from Syria is welcomed with traditional bread and salt at an airbase near the Russian city Voronezh on Tuesday. Credit:Russian Defence Ministry "We do not trust them," said Fadi Ahmad of the First Coastal Division, who says his rebel group has been fighting a Russian-backed government offensive near the Turkish border throughout the cessation agreement that came into effect on February 27. The Syrian government, which had been losing territory to rebels before Russia intervened, had indicated it was in no mood to give ground to the opposition on the eve of the talks that started on Monday, calling the presidency a "red line". Russian television showed the first group of Su-34 jets landing from Syria at a base in the south of the country. The pilots were greeted by 200-300 servicemen, journalists, and their wives and daughters, waving Russian flags, balloons in red white and blue, and flowers. They were mobbed and thrown in the air by the crowd. A brass band played Soviet military songs and the national anthem. Two priests paraded a religious icon.

Russia flew more than 9000 sorties during the Syrian operation, according to Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. Military officials say they destroyed arms dumps, weapons and fuel supplies being used by what they called terrorists. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which reports on the war using sources on the ground, says Russian air strikes have killed more than 1700 civilians. Moscow denies that. Showing Russian warplanes were still active in Syria, heavy air support was reported helping the Syrian army make major gains against Islamic State near the ancient city of Palmyra. IS is not included in the cessation of hostilities. At least 26 people were killed east of the Islamic State-held city on Tuesday, the British-based Observatory reported. Mr Putin said Russia had largely fulfilled its objectives in a campaign which has so far cost Russia $US700-$800 million ($940 million - $1.1 billion) according to a Reuters estimate, an additional financial burden at a time of low oil prices.
"Tonight, Donald Trump could become the presumptive Republican nominee for president," the donation request began. Too many Republicans tried to ignore him until it was too late, it said. Hillary Clinton campaigning in Florida on Thursday. Credit:Bloomberg "It'd be easy for us Democrats to do the same thing now  Trump is so offensive, so vulgar, so self-evidently awful. You could look at him and think, 'there's no way he'll ever get elected,' and then just wish him away. But we can't." Sanders held a rally before about 7000 people in Phoenix on Tuesday night, a week ahead of Arizona's primary. Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday. Credit:Bloomberg

He said his campaign had "defied all expectations" but made no mention of the three states that had already been called in Clinton's favour. "What excites me so much as I go around the country is to see the incredible energy of people who love this country but know we can do so much better," Sanders said to loud screams. A Sanders campaign sign in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday. Credit:Bloomberg In a statement several hours later, Sanders vowed to fight on, saying: "With more than half the delegates yet to be chosen and a calendar that favours us in the weeks and months to come, we remain confident that our campaign is on a path to win the nomination." Some of his die-hard supporters expressed hope that he could still pull out the nomination.

"I still think the revolution is coming," said James Homan, 55, a sound engineer for rock musicians, who has homes in Illinois and Arizona. Homan expressed frustration that, as he saw it, "the fix was in" for Clinton among Democratic Party leaders, but he said he could see paths for Sanders to prevail, including the possibility of more fallout from the FBI investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. Democratic primary voters were split on the candidates' key attributes, with Clinton seen as more electable and Sanders as more honest, according to preliminary exit polls reported by ABC News. By roughly 2 to 1, voters across Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, Illinois and Missouri said Clinton had a better chance than Sanders of beating Trump in a general-election matchup. But roughly eight in 10 said Sanders was honest and trustworthy, compared with about six in 10 who felt that way about Clinton. Sanders has dominated among honesty-focused voters all year, while Clinton has won by a wide margin those who care more about electability. Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, had scored an upset victory last week against Clinton in Michigan and saw Tuesday's contests as a chance to pull off more come-from-behind wins in states where voters feel damaged by globalisation.

Repeating his playbook from Michigan, Sanders hit Clinton hard on her past support for "disastrous" trade deals, starting with the North American Free Trade Agreement when her husband was in the White House. After Clinton's loss in Michigan called her economic message into question, her campaign moved to retool her stance on trade by strengthening her opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership and emphasising support for manufacturing in her jobs plan. In Ohio, Clinton took specific aim at elements of the pending trade package seen as harmful to the auto and steel industries. Just over half of Ohio Democratic primary voters said free trade takes away US jobs, according to the early exit polls. In Michigan, Sanders won among voters with that view by double digits. The anti-trade cohort was slightly larger in Michigan (57 per cent) than in most states voting Tuesday, with less than half of Democrats in Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina saying trade costs US jobs. In Youngstown, Ohio, Dave Williams, 52, cast a ballot for Sanders. "I lost my house when the stock market crashed," said Williams, a member of the local cement finishers union. "I'm an angry voter, how 'bout that? I'm angry about the way the country is working for the blue-collar worker. Hillary gets a big, fat zero on that."

In Missouri, Sanders aides were optimistic in part because much of the state closely resembles Kansas, where the senator easily defeated Clinton in the Democratic caucuses early this month. It's worth noting, however, that Missouri was the smallest of the Democratic delegate prizes on Tuesday. Before the polls closed in Missouri, Clinton's campaign announced that she had been endorsed by the mother of Michael Brown, the teenager whose 2014 shooting by police in Ferguson, Missouri, brought more attention to officer-involved slayings of unarmed black men. Multiple polls in the days leading up to Tuesday's contests showed Sanders closing in on Clinton in the three states in the industrial midwest. In Chicago, where Clinton spent her childhood, Sanders sought to leverage support from voters disenchanted with the tenure of the city's embattled Democratic mayor, Rahm Emanuel, a Clinton ally. Emanuel's approval ratings have dropped to all-time lows amid controversies over a police shooting and school closings, and his popularity with African American voters has taken an especially big hit. In the closing days of the race, Sanders blasted Emanuel's decision to close schools in predominantly black and Latino neighbourhoods, and Sanders ran television ads featuring some of the mayor's critics.
The Sunshine State was to be Ground Zero for a desperate effort to trip up Trump. Rubio had the backing of the party establishment and an avalanche of money was spent on antiTrump advertising  and Rubio still went down in a screaming heap .

The implications of that outcome are staggering for the GOP.

Washington: In Florida on Tuesday, Donald Trump polled higher than the combined vote for Texas senator Ted Cruz and Florida senator Marco Rubio.

After losing the 2012 presidential election, the Republican Party supposedly took a good, hard look at itself and decided that to win this year required diversity, inclusion of minorities, a belief that the so-called American Dream should be for all, and a crackdown on corporate greed.

Donald Trump has escalated his attack on Hillary Clinton with a video released on Instagram. Credit:AP

Rubio was their best embodiment of that package, but then along came Trump - and despite the good political sense of the new policy direction, a greater truth prevailed. Trump rode in on what The New York Times called "decades of Republican pandering to intolerance while working against the needs of workingclass Americans and minorities".

More alarming still is the ease with which Trump is clearing his own path through the party. Without a pollster and as his own strategist, Trump has harnessed phenomenal anger over trade and jobs, migration and foreign policy.

Exit polls on Tuesday confirmed voter anger about the economy generally and - in the case of Republican voters - a sense that they had been betrayed by their own party.
PHILIPSBURG: ---Minister of Justice Edison Kirindongo announced on Wednesday that he is preparing with his staff to travel to the Netherlands to meet with the Minister of Kingdom Relations and Interior Affairs Ronald Plasterk and the Minister of Justice of the Netherlands Van der Steur. Minister Kirindongo will be leaving St. Maarten on Sunday for his visit, he said when he gets back to St. Maarten he will give an update on the results of his visit to the Kingdom.

During that visit the Minister of Justice of St. Maarten intends to visit the St. Maartens House, the Youth Detention Center, and some of their judicial partners in the Netherlands. On the agenda to be discussed with the Kingdom partners and the Ministers of the Netherlands are the plans of approach, the strengthening of the justice chain on St. Maarten especially KPSM and House of Detention on St. Maarten.
GREAT BAY:--- A unique anthology of poetry is now in the works for the Virgin Islands (Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke). And according to educator Dr. Pat Turnbull, What better way to mark World Book Day! than to meet with the territorys Minister of Education and Culture, Hon. Myron V. Walwyn to discuss the new book project.

There are at last three international poetry and book days celebrated between March 3 and March 28: World Book Day, World Poetry Day, and Childrens Picture Book Day. This is a great time to bridge awareness and love of poetry and books in Tortola and in the Caribbean, said Jacqueline Sample, president of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP).

Dr. Turnbull and her team of educators and writers are leading the rally from Tortola to encourage Virgin Islands poets, aspiring poets, spoken word artists, and rappers, to submit their poems to be critically reviewed, with the chance to get published in the book, said Sample.

The planned collection has as its working title Where I See the Sun  Contemporary Poetry in the Virgin Islands. As for bridging awareness of Caribbean books, publishing, and poetry among the regions people, the Virgin Islands collection will be edited by the St. Martin poet Lasana M. Sekou and it will be published here by HNP, said Sample.

With nearly 20 submissions already received, the deadline to email, FB messenger, or mail ones poems for a chance to get published in the Virgin Islands anthology has been extended to March 31, So craft your art and submit your poetry on time! said Dr. Turnbull. The publication guidelines can be found at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Facebook http://on.fb.me/1WpstuD, said Sample.
PACIFIC Digital Group Wins ADDY Award

SAN DIEGO, CA  (Marketwired)  03/15/16  , a discovery agency based in San Diego focusing on search marketing, won an American Advertising Award.

PACIFIC won the award for the Out-of-Home Poster Campaign for LiquidSpace, a global network of office spaces. The campaign concept, Big Ideas Need a Place to Meet Each Other illustrates that coworking spaces, in addition to being affordable offices for startups and small businesses, also provide the opportunity to meet new people, exchange knowledge, and even start great business deals.

We are thrilled to be recognized for our creative concepts and illustrative storytelling, said George Stein, Creative Director at PACIFIC. This big win represents the hard work of the design team and validates our agencys approach of blending search marketing with delightful and non-boring advertising campaigns.

Nico Cortinove led the art direction to illustrate coworking spaces as the environment where iconic business minds behind todays top tech companies have the chance to connect with future partners and produce big, successful ideas. PACIFIC worked to present LiquidSpace venues as more than tables to work on  they offer a creative, social environment that helps entrepreneurs take their business to the next level.

PACIFIC accepted its award at the 2016 San Diego American Advertising Awards Gala, held on Friday, March 4, 2016 at the Kona Kai Resort and Spa.

SDX, the San Diego chapter of the American Advertising Federation, presented 122 San Diego American Advertising Awards for excellence in 41 advertising, digital, and graphic design categories, culled from more than 335 entries. The American Advertising Awards is the advertising industrys largest competition. Its mission is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising.

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Photo caption: A newly published essay collection, The Relevance of Islamic Identity in Canada: Culture, Politics and the Self, edited by Nurjehan Aziz, launched on March 3 with a panel discussion./ Image courtesy of Mawenzi House Publishing

By Samaah Jaffer

Special to The Post

A panel discussion on the newly published collection of essays The Relevance of Islamic Identity in Canada: Culture, Politics, and Self, shows that there are multiple ways of being Muslim.

The event was held on March 3 at Simon Fraser Universitys Goldcorp Centre for the Arts in Vancouver, and opened with an address by the books editor and publisher, Nurjehan Aziz. Her vision of the diversity of Muslims in Canada is demonstrated in her selection of essay contributors.

Safia Fazlul, Ameen Merchant and Mohamed Alibhai were engaged in a one-on-one conversation with Zool Suleman, immigration lawyer and director of MARU, a non-profit organization that explores the intersections between migration, art and race.

Diversity in Islam

All three panellists spoke of their experiences as immigrants to Canada, and how being Muslim played into their relocation. Fazlul, who was born in Bangladesh, raised in Norway and moved to Toronto at the age of 10, explained that while she felt like an outsider in Norway, she experienced a greater sense of belonging in Canada because of the ethnic diversity.

It wasnt until after 9/11, when Fazlul was in grade 10, that she felt her identity as a Muslim in Canada was questioned. Fazlul chooses to keep her religious beliefs private, opting to not wear the hijab.

As a not-to-so religious person who grew up with very religious parents, I can offer a unique story with respect to being raised Muslim and hopefully challenge some stereotypes of Muslim women, said Fazlul.

Fazluls key message was, Muslims are the same  that being a Muslim means to simply practice a religion just like Jews and Christians do. Muslims are human beings, all from different walks of life and unique in thought.

Merchant, who was born in Mumbai, India, said he identifies as a cultural Muslim. He came to Canada in 1989 to pursue a graduate degree at the University of British Columbia in English Literature and Cultural Studies.

Merchant explained that he initially refused to contribute an essay for this project, as I did not think I was a the right person to address issues regarding Islam [and] Muslims.

However, he accepted in hopes of providing a different perspective. The plurality of interpretations is absolute for me. We all see the world through our own experiences of community and faith. No one interpretation is higher or more valid than the other. We are all composites of varied influences and identities. What unites us is our common humanity, said Merchant.

The final panellist, Mohamed Abualy Alibhai, was also born in India, grew up in Tanzania, and spent most of his adult life in the U.S. As a student of physics, mathematics and geophysics, Alibhai made a drastic change in his academic trajectory after being admitted to the Islamic Studies graduate program at McGill University, and thereafter obtaining a doctorate in Islamic Philosophy from Harvard University.

Islamic identity is very relevant to Canada because future generations of Muslims will be strong supporters of the Canadian Charter of Freedoms and will work to strengthen it for the benefit of all Canadians, said Alibhai.

Missing critical topics

Some Muslim-identified audience members were critical of the panel and the way the topic of Canadian Muslim identity was interpreted.

Community organizer Tahia Ahmed was drawn to the event because she felt a conversation on Muslim identity in Canada is important in the current post-Harper political climate, where she believes Islamophobia is alive and well despite losing its most powerful Canadian advocate.

I was anticipating a critical dialogue on key issues impacting Muslims, such as Bill C-51 and C-24, using Muslim women as political instruments during the last elections, and the use of fear mongering to justify racism against Muslims, said Ahmed.

Instead, the writers were disappointingly apologetic about their Muslim identity, many of them repeatedly asserting that they don't practice the religion.

She referred to Fazluls response to the question of what it means to be a Muslim  that a Muslim is just like a Christian and a Jew  as bizarre.

Itrath Syed, a PhD student in the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University, was worried by comments made regarding the situation of Muslims in the U.S.

Instead of reflecting critically on the racist discourse of the current election cycle in the U.S., [Alibhai] asserted that Trump has been misunderstood.

That may be the opinion of this speaker, but it is clearly not shared by the countless Americans and global individuals and organizations, both within and outside of the Muslim community, who are greatly alarmed by the language and proposed policies of Donald Trump and his supporters, said Syed.

I dont know how representative this small panel was of the content of the book, said Syed, However, this panel in no way represented the vast diversity of experiences and struggles of Muslims in Canada and the U.S.

A recent review of the book on rabble.ca criticized it for reinforcing the the conflation of Islam with South-Asian and Arab identity, also reflected in the entirely South-Asian panel.

This piece was originally appeared in New Canadian Media (newcanadianmedia.ca) See http://newcanadianmedia.ca/item/33670-panel-on-muslim-identity-dodges-critical-issues
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An artist's illustration of the European Space Agency's ExoMars 2016 mission, showing the Trace Gas Orbiter releasing the Schiaparelli lander as it arrives at the Red Planet. This latest Mars mission launched on March 14, 2016 and will arrive on Oct. 19.

DARMSTADT, Germany In 1877, Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli reported that he observed intriguing thin lines on the surface of Mars.

The discovery of those "canali" proved sensational. It fueled wild speculation that Earthlings were not alone in the solar system. American astronomer Percival Lowell interpreted the channels as canals dug by thirsty Martians desperate to get water flowing through their civilization.

Schiaparelli's canali turned out to be an optical illusion, and nearly 150 years later, scientists can safely say there are no shovel-wielding aliens living on Mars. Though the history of Mars exploration is littered with failures, dozens of robotic spacecraft have successfully made it to the Red Planet over the last 50 years. They've photographed its surface, analyzed its atmosphere and dug into its soil. Scientists now know the topography of Mars in greater detail than many parts Earth. [Read: Europe's 2016 ExoMars Mission Launches Toward Mars]

But humans keep sending missions to Mars because the central question Schiaparelli inspired remains: Is there, or was there ever, life elsewhere in the solar system? The launch Monday (March 14) of the first phase of ExoMars suggests scientists still think Mars might be the best place to look for an answer.

Mission scientists here at the European Space Agency's (ESA) Space Operations Centre (ESOC) cheered when the first autonomous signal came in from ExoMars, at around 5:29 p.m. EDT (2129 GMT). It was the first indication that the robotic spacecraft made it through the launch alive. (Liftoff occurred nearly 12 hours earlier, at 5:31 a.m. EDT.)

"It's an amazing first step for us in Europe,"said Mark McCaughrean, senior advisor to ESA's director of science. "Everything's gone great."

The ExoMars mission is led by ESA in partnership with the Russian space agency, Roscosmos. The first of the mission's two phases launched Monday (March 14) aboard a Russian Proton rocket. After a series of crucial maneuvers, the mission's orbiter and lander are on a path to Mars, where they should arrive in mid-October.

The 2016 ExoMars mission includes the Trace Gas Orbiter, or TGO, which will circle Mars looking for atmospheric gases that might hint at life below. A landing capsule named Schiaparelli a nod to that 19th century astronomer  is hitching a ride to Mars on TGO. Its landing on the surface of the Red Planet will pave the way for the second step of the mission, ExoMars 2018, which will put the first European rover on Mars.

A Russian Proton rocket launches the European Space Agency's ExoMars 2016 orbiter and lander into space from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on March 14, 2016. (Image credit: Stephane Corvaja/ESA)

Methane: the key to finding life on Mars?

"In science, in general, you're trying to get answers, but you get a few answers and then you get even more new questions," said Thomas Reiter, a former astronaut and ESA's director of human spaceflight and robotic exploration. He said that the same is true with Mars.

"The first missions gave some insights into this neighboring planet and its geological formations, and they built up the indications that there could have been life,"Reiter told Space.com. Now, he said, he hopes the technology on ExoMars will be sophisticated enough to find evidence of life on Mars.

ESA and its Russian partners are searching for signs of life that are much subtler than the canals Percival Lowell and others hoped would be on Mars. Today's scientists aren't obsessed with finding earthworks, but the researchers at ESOC for the launch were at least mad about methane.

"We already know the bulk constituents of Mars' atmosphere very well," said Manish Patel, of the Open University in the United Kingdom. "What we don't know about are the trace gases."

Trace gases are gases in concentrations of less than 1 percent. Patel, who is the co-investigator of NOMAD, one of TGO's gas-detecting instruments, noted that scientists talk about Martian methanein parts per billion; the gas is a small component of Mars' already thin atmosphere, which is largely made up of carbon dioxide. But this tiny amount of methane gas has significant implications because it could come from simple life-forms.

About 90 percent of the methane in Earth's atmosphere comes from biological sources. It gets burped out by cows, released from rice fields and spewed by decomposing organic matter in landfills.

Methane should have a lifetime of 300 to 600 years in the Martian atmosphere before getting destroyed by harsh radiation, so the methane found on Mars might be quite young, said ExoMars project scientist Jorge Vago. If the gas indeed comes from simple lifeforms, that means there's a good chance those tiny beings are still around today.

Still, there's the possibility that methane on Mars doesn't require an alien life explanation, but the finding would nonetheless be interesting to scientists. The methane might have gurgled up from a hydrothermal source underground. Scientists have speculated that Mars might have, or have had, the right geological conditions for serpentinization to take place, by which certain minerals like olivine can react with water to produce serpentine. This reaction also produces hydrogen, which, through reactions with carbon dioxide, can produce methane.

ESA's Red Planet probe Mars Express previously detected methane on Mars. And NASA's Curiosity rover also measured spikes of the gas. But ESA officials said TGO has 1,000 times better sensitivity for measuring gases than did previous instruments sent to Mars. And by observing the trace gas levels continually, ExoMars scientists hope to build a 4D, global picture of the Martian atmosphere and understand how it changes seasonally, Patel told Space.com. This way, when they observe a methane plume, the researchers might be able to link it to a source on the ground, Patel added, though he acknowledged that the task is "going to be incredibly difficult."

Identifying sources of methane could also help project managers to pick the landing site for the next ExoMars mission, in which a rover will dig dirt samples 6.5 feet (2 meters) underground, far deeper than any previous rover. There, ESA scientists hope they'll find microbes that have thus far eluded other Mars rovers.

"There's a big chance with the ExoMars rover we will find organics on Mars," Vago said.

Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
Google honored the the 266th birthday of German astronomer Caroline Herschel with her own animated Google doodle on March 16, 2016.

Google celebrated the legacy of famed German astronomer Caroline Herschel, the first woman ever to discover a comet, today (March 16) with an animated Google doodle gift for her 266th birthday.

Born in Germany in 1750, Herschel was one of ten children and the sister of another famed astronomer William Herschel - who went on to discover the planet Uranus. Caroline and William would eventually work to catalogue star clusters and nebulas that led to the New General Catalogue that gave the NGC moniker to non-stellar objects. On Aug. 1, 1786, Caroline spotted a slowly moving object in the night sky, and tracked over subsequent nights, becoming the first woman ever to discover a comet.

The folks behind Google's doodles lauded Herschel's astronomical discoveries in their blog post on her science legacy, which we've included below:

Caroline Herschel discovered several comets and other celestial objects.

"Caroline Herschel was diminutive in stature--she stood only 4'3"but her contributions to cosmological science were monumental.The late astronomer's parents presumed she would spend her life as a housemaid, but her considerable musical talent and formidable intellect intervened. With the help of her brother Isaac, Herschel left Germany in 1772 for Bath, England, where she took work as a soprano in the Royal Court."

"Her brother  also a skilled musician  started a small business making telescopes in his spare time, and the two took a deep interest in astronomy and observational cosmology. Herschel was a keen observer of the universe. She discovered hundreds of stars, eight comets (six of which still bear her name), and became the first female astronomer enlisted by the British monarchy. Today's Doodle by Juliana Chen celebrates Herschel's remarkable scientific achievements, which include the publication of Catalogue of Stars and a Gold Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society. Today would have been her 266th birthday."

Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+.
Supermassive black holes are the most extreme objects in the known universe, with masses millions or even billions of times the mass of our sun. Now astronomers have been able to study one of these behemoths inside a strange, distant quasar and they've made an astonishing discovery  it's spinning one-third the speed of light.

Studying a supermassive black hole some 3.5 billion light-years away is no easy feat, but this isn't a regular object: it's a quasar that shows quasi-periodic brightening events every 12 years or so  a fact that has helped astronomers reveal its extreme nature.

PHOTOS: When the World Went Gravitational Wave Crazy

Quasars are extremely bright accretion disks in galactic cores driven by copious quantities of matter falling into the central supermassive black hole. The vast majority of galaxies are thought to contain supermassive black holes, though modern galaxies have calmed down and quasars no longer shine. But it's a different story for galaxies that are billions of light-years away.

The object at the center of the strange quasar called OJ287 "weighs in" at 18 billion solar masses and is one of the biggest supermassive (or ultramassive?) black holes in the known universe. Interestingly, it is also one of the most well-studied quasars as it is located very close to the apparent path of the sun's motion across the sky as seen from Earth  a region where historic searches for asteroids and comets are regularly carried out. Therefore, astronomers have over 100 years of serendipitous brightness data for OJ287, allowing them to predict when the next flaring event would be.

On closer inspection of the flaring events that occurred in recent decades, astronomers realized that rather than a single brightening event occurring every 12 years, the brightening is actually a double peak, providing a clue as to what might be causing it.

ANALYSIS: Black Holes Slug it Out in Quasar Deathmatch

Mauri Valtonen of University of Turku, Finland, and his international team used several optical telescopes around the world in conjunction with NASA's SWIFT X-ray space telescope to realize that these 12-year double-brightening events are triggered by a smaller black hole in orbit around OJ287. Valtonen is the lead author of the study published in the Astrophysical Journal.

The massive black hole possesses a very hot accretion disk, a key component of a quasar. The material accumulates in the disk and gets pulled into the black hole, feeding it. Along the way, the disk material is heated and emits powerful electromagnetic radiation. OJ287's smaller black hole partner, which itself is still 100 million solar masses (still a huge black hole!) has a highly elongated orbit, swinging close to the more massive black hole every 12 years. During closest approach, the smaller black hole "splashes" into OJ287's accretion disk once during the incoming swing and once more as it swings around the black hole's far side, creating 2 distinct flaring events, as this diagram demonstrates:

An illustration of the binary black hole system in OJ287. The predictions of the model are verified by observations. (Image credit: Gary Poyner, UK)

NEWS: Surprise Quasar Quartet Defies Explanation

This periodic close encounter stirs up the supermassive black hole's accretion disk material, rapidly heating it twice in rapid succession. This is what causes OJ287's strange brightenings every 12 years.

With this binary black hole model in mind, the researchers were able to predict when the latest event was due to occur. The last brightening happened on Nov. 18, 2015, only a few days before Valtonen's prediction, confirming his team's binary black hole model. But through these observations, the supermassive black hole's spin could also be calculated and it's fast. The team's observations show that it is spinning at a third of the speed of light.

Interestingly, from the historical data of OJ287, the team was also able to calculate how much energy is being lost from the system via gravitational waves. Of course, gravitational waves are currently a very hot topic, having been directly detected for the first time by the US-based Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) and announced last month. That LIGO detection was the signature produced by 2 orbiting and merging black holes, a discovery that not only confirmed one of Einstein's final predictions of general relativity, but also directly confirmed the existence of 2 black holes merging as one.

ANALYSIS: We Just Heard the Spacetime 'Chirp' of Black Hole Rebirth

Though the gravitational waves of the OJ287 black hole binary are too weak to be detected by the current generation of gravitational wave detectors (as the source is far too distant), the Nov. 18 brightening of the quasar serves as a fitting celebration for Einstein's theory that he presented almost exactly 100 years before on Nov. 25, 1915.

Originally published on Discovery News.
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The Strongman

During a state trip last fall, Netanyahu's official plane flew through heavy, dark clouds, with the fasten seatbelt sign on. Just as the aircraft entered severe turbulence, Netanyahu appeared in the rear section of the aircraft, where the journalists sat. He wanted to give a background talk at that very moment. He had a full 12 hours to speak, but he only chose to do so a few minutes prior to landing.

As a hurricane-like storm brewed, the journalists clung to their seats. It was the middle of the night in Jerusalem and Netanyahu spoke with them about Syria and Iraq. He had dark circles under his eyes and unkempt hair. His words essentially amounted to nothing.

The plane swayed back and forth. His press spokesman then pulled at his sleeve, trying to get him to sit down. The aircraft hit an air pocket, but Netanyahu didn't flinch. This was and is his message. He stages politics as a never-ending dance at the brink of an abyss -- in which he constantly remains in control. This catastrophic backdrop allows Netanyahu to appear both as victim and savior. He turns everything into an existential question, because he derives his power from the existential.

"The survival mode is in the Israeli DNA," says journalist Nahum Barnea of Yedioth Yedioth Ahronoth, one of the country's biggest daily newspapers. He has followed Netanyahu for years. "He plays the type who holds the dam together."

And sometimes he also plays the type who offends and provokes. Last week, Netanyahu surprisingly canceled a meeting with US President Barack Obama scheduled for March 18. In yet another of a series of affronts between the two countries, the US government only learned of the cancellation through the media.

Netanyahu's displeasure over the nuclear agreement with Iran was probably behind the cancellation, despite the Israeli government's official explanation that it did not wish to be drawn into the US election campaign. Since coming into office, Netanyahu has been warning the world about Iran and the Iranian nuclear bomb. For Netanyahu, the agreement, which the United States and five other nations hammered out with Iran last year, was a humiliating defeat and also marked a low point in Israeli-American relations.

Skilled at Playing His Audience

Netanyahu continued to fight against the agreement, even after it had been signed. In early October, the Israeli prime minister stood before the United Nations General Assembly in New York and remained silent for 45 seconds. His silence was meant to symbolize the "deafening silence" of the world community, as he put it, in light of the threat of the extermination of Israel by Iran. Some of the diplomats in the audience looked down at the floor, while others rolled their eyes. But Netanyahu's real audience consisted of Israelis watching the speech on television back home.

"In every generation, there were those who rose up to destroy our people," the prime minister said. "The days when the Jewish people remained passive in the face of genocidal enemies -- those days are over."

Netanyahu knows the Israelis better than they know themselves, wrote Bradley Burston, an American-born Israeli columnist with the daily newspaper Haaretz. "Benjamin Netanyahu can play you like a Stradivarius. And he does." Netanyahu is a master at playing on people's feelings and the Jewish fear of being threatened from all sides and abandoned. He exploits the Israelis' sense of shame over having been victims, unable to defend themselves during the period surrounding World War II, and the resulting pain.

"Where is the diplomatic sense in mocking the entire world?" commentators asked after his speech before the UN. But Netanyahu isn't interested in diplomacy. In moments like these, he doesn't seem to care about whether he is doing damage. It is about a promise, Israel's raison d'etre, the slogan "Never again!"

What counts is the fact that he is fighting for his country -- and, again and again, to preserve his own power. Netanyahu dissolved his own government more than a year ago, fearing that there was a conspiracy against him. He was convinced his cabinet ministers were trying to overthrow him and called for new elections. For a moment, it seemed as if he had miscalculated. Shortly before the election, in March 2015, all the polls showed the opposition leading the race.

Family Scandals

It was a difficult time for the Netanyahus. The family was involved in a number of scandals. The Israelis learned how many thousands of shekels the couple spent each year on pistachio ice cream, candles and sushi. The situation became even more outlandish when the Netanyahus had a video produced to offset their image as a luxury couple. In the film, Netanyahu's wife Sarah gave a well-known decorator a tour of their dilapidated-looking kitchen. The man bent over the plastic coating that was peeling from the cabinets and finally said: "This looks like the kitchen of a Romanian orphanage from 1954!"

A few days later, it was revealed that the kitchen in the video was for staff, and that there was a state-of-the-art kitchen on the next floor above. Residents of liberal Tel Aviv felt ashamed, outraged and even a little amused. Few believed Netanyahu would be reelected.

But once again, Netanyahu knew what he had to do. Six days before the election, he appealed to the settler movement as his last chance to survive politically. He asked its leaders to his residence, where he told them: "I am about to lose the election. We will leave this residence, and you will have to leave your homes." The way to prevent this horrible outcome, he offered, was by voting for him instead of his right-wing rivals from The Jewish Home. Netanyahu publicly withdrew his support for the two-state solution.

He won because the settler activists convinced thousands of voters in villages and cities to cast their ballots for him. The election saw the largest last-minute turnout ever.

Soon after the election, Netanyahu apologized to the international community and Arab supporters of his party for statements he had made during the campaign. He repeatedly alienates important allies with this apparent vacillating, but not his voters.

Honesty is not what many Israelis expect from a political leader, says historian Tom Segev. They can even deal with corruption, "as long there are no bombs exploding under their cars."

But Netanyahu is not merely an opportunist. There is a belief system behind his tactical maneuvers that have been constant throughout his life. His father was a close associate of Vladimir Jabotinsky, the proponent of a Jewish state on both sides of the Jordan River. Netanyahu was 28 when he said in a TV debate: "The obstacle to peace in the Middle East is the demand for a Palestinian state."

One-State Solution

He fought against the Oslo peace process in the 1990s. As prime minister, he allowed settlement construction to move forward. In doing so, he increasingly made the two-state solution appear utopian. It seems all but impossible today.

Columnist Thomas Friedman recently wrote in the New York Times that Netanyahu is the father of a one-state solution. "Well, it's pretty clear now: Benjamin Netanyahu is going to be a major figure in Israeli history." He wrote: "Netanyahu will be the father of the one-state solution.  Now, if there are not going to be two states for two peoples in the area between the Jordan River and Mediterranean, then there is going to be only one state."

After almost 50 years of Israeli occupation of the West Bank, this state is now a reality. It is an unjust state with unequal citizens. It is a state suffering from violence, where Palestinian schoolgirls stab Israeli police officers. A few weeks ago, the police searched a 13-year-old girl's backpack and found notebooks, a calculator, a package of grape juice and two kitchen knives. They wanted to "kill Jews," the girl said at the police station,

When the attacks began in the fall, the country's largest tabloid newspaper called them "The Third Intifida." Netanyahu's approval ratings declined for a short time, and he resorted to the rhetoric of civil war. "We will forever live by the sword," he said in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in October. He wanted parts of East Jerusalem to be sealed off and the houses of the families of killers destroyed. His goal was to let the population know that he was in control and that he was the only one who could be.

Netanyahu has performed a skillful balancing act between demands from the right and those of the international community. He has played them off against each other. More settlement construction? Impossible, he tells the settlers, because of the United States. Suddenly he seems reasonable compared to those farther on the right in his government. Even his coalition's razor-thin majority in the Knesset, where he rules with a majority of only one vote, seems to work to Netanyahu's advantage. Each individual member of parliament can cause the government to fail. Each vote counts. Risk begets discipline. The left-wing media and NGOs that rage against Netanyahu come across as traitors to their country in light of the tense situation. Anything that is against Netanyahu benefits him.

But the violence continues, as Palestinian youths become radicalized through Facebook and YouTube, and attack Israeli police officers, ordinary men and even pregnant and elderly women. Terror has taken on a new quality, with the perpetrators acting independently instead of at the behest of organizations. And there is something deeply barbaric about people stabbing other people in the flesh at close range with the intention of killing them.

Will Terrorism Bring Him Down?

So is this the moment when Netanyahu's policy of maintaining the status quo could fail? When it becomes clear that purely managing the conflict is impossible?

Terrorism has been the downfall of other politicians in Israel. But it doesn't even scathe Netanyahu. He believes in and benefits from the eternally looming disaster on the horizon, which needs to be mastered. But this also means that the threat cannot disappear, and that there can be no solution. For Netanyahu, the status quo is the ideal, and the impending catastrophe the glue that holds everything together. This too is a reason why the conflict must be declared to be unsolvable.

To strengthen this narrative, Netanyahu has also not shied away from adding a new variant to the story of the Holocaust. At the World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem a few months ago, he declared that the Palestinian grand mufti of Jerusalem had suggested the idea of the "final solution" to Hitler.

The next day, he traveled to Berlin for a state visit. His speech there was the news of the day. The German government felt forced to reinforce Germany's responsibility for the Holocaust. In the ensuing days, prominent historians distanced themselves from him. He backpedaled. Old supporters called it "shameless," saying: "This time he has gone too far."

In the spring of 2016, little has remained of all that, at least nothing that would harm him -- except perhaps Netanyahu's statement that this is not a question of Palestinians against Israelis, but of Arabs against Jews, the idea that the Arabs have always wanted to kill the Jews, even without the Israeli occupation and the sense that this is a cultural conflict and not a political one.

"I am Israel, and Israel is what I am," Yedioth Yedioth Ahronoth's Barnea wrote, describing the prime minister's fusion with his country. "He no longer feels that he was elected, but rather chosen."

'All Others Are Idiots'

When Netanyahu looks around in his government, he determines that he is the cleverest and most experienced man far and wide. Advisers come and go, but only Netanyahu remains. In his administration, each minister is assigned to the most unsuitable position, both for himself and for the country. That too is part of his calculus. The culture minister is a former military sensor. The acting foreign minister shocked international diplomats by demanding that the Israeli flag be flown from the Temple Mount. The tourism minister is a lawyer. None can truly distinguish him or herself, and the opposition lacks strong leaders.

Netanyahu has created a situation in which there seems to be no alternative to him. He himself is convinced that this is true. One reason he has to remain in power is that he believes he is the only person who can save the country. If manipulation works, it works in both directions, ultimately reeling in the manipulator himself as well.

There is also a parallel to his childhood. "All others are idiots," wrote an old friend, describing his family's attitude. Although the Netanyahus were part of the elite, they saw themselves as outsiders in the hostile environment of the socialist-Zionist upper class that was in power at the time. Netanyahu's father, a historian who predicted the Holocaust, felt misunderstood throughout his life. He finally became so bitter that he took his family to the United States, leaving the country whose founding he had once stood up for.

He is especially beloved among so-called Oriental Jews who feel like outsiders in a society dominated by the elites who emigrated from Europe. Has Netanyahu imposed his convictions on the country? Or does the Israeli reality see itself reflected in him? Netanyahu and his voters are mirror images of their respective fears -- an eternal back-and-forth that narrows their perspective.

There have been more than 300 terrorist attacks in the last six months, in which about 30 Israelis and more than 180 Palestinians have died. Netanyahu's dark worldview is constantly seeking and finding validation, in a cycle in which fear spurs that which is feared.

The prime minister simply keeps on going. At the end of last year, the Education Ministry banned a schoolbook in which a Jewish woman falls in love with a Palestinian man. In February, Netanyahu announced the construction of a fence all the way around Israel. He wanted to bring internal political elections forward to February. In the end, they were cancelled because there was no opposing candidate.
The two conflicting blocs did sign a United Nations-brokered peace plan in December, which provides for the creation of a unity government, but both sides are now balking. In Tripoli, Vice President Awad Mohammed Abdul-Sadiq resides in Palace I, in the middle of a park filled with mansions Gadhafi once had built for state visitors. He's now refusing to make any of the major concessions demanded by the UN plan. "We control the capital, the majority of the population and have the most armed people on our side," he told DER SPIEGEL.

Despite such statements, his government's hold on power is very fragile, as unwittingly demonstrated by events at the end of February. Government officials had reported that the situation in Sabrata, just under 80 kilometers (50 miles) to the west, was completely under control again. The announcement came after the US military had bombed an IS training camp near Sabrata, killing more than 40 people. Only a few days later, though, Islamic State dispatched its terror squads to simultaneously attack in several places and behead people.

But now journalists can go in again, the government spokesperson assures, although he recommends traveling by helicopter. IS isn't the only force present there, after all. The Warshefana tribe, notorious for its kidnappings, controls a large area between Sabrata and Tripoli and has closed all roads heading west.

Intense Combat

After a five-hour delay, the aged Russian helicopter lifts off from the only airport in the city still operational after the other burned down in 2014. The aircraft immediately veers out over the sea and begins flying parallel to the coast. This precaution, too, has nothing to do with the jihadists, as a doctor on board explains over the deafening chopping of its rotors. It's "because of the Warshefana," he shouts, adding that the tribal fighters shot down a helicopter a few months ago using an anti-aircraft weapon. On board were three commanders with Libya Dawn, the militia that has control of Tripoli and its security forces. The militia commanders had wanted to put a stop to the kidnappings being carried out by Warshefana.

After 25 minutes, the helicopter lands at the empty Zuwara airport near the Tunisian border. The sentries on duty look confused. Nobody from the capital informed them, they say, that foreign journalists were coming.

"It's impossible for us to take you to Sabrata," one of them says tersely, leaving no room for negotiation. "Our men are engaged in intense combat." Waiting is pointless, he adds, and dangerous. "Go back immediately!"

Before take off, seven civilians who have been waiting for days for the chance to get out of the area are crammed into the helicopter. Overloaded, the helicopter begins its wobbly ascent before landing in Tripoli a short time later as if nothing happened.

Informants and Sleeper Cells

With Islamic State spreading across the country like the underground root system of a noxious weed, the peace in the capital is deceptive. The Islamists have informants and sleeper cells and they move freely along uncontrollable desert routes through the south.

"We have been warning for four months that Islamic State is inside Sabrata," laments a commander with Tripoli's Special Deterrence Force, an elite unit attached to the Interior Ministry. "But nothing has happened." Even Deputy Defense Minister Mohammed Al-Naas is critical, saying the political leadership "has no plan for stopping IS. We are doing our best to dispatch at least two or three battalions toward Sirte, but the army is in a deplorable state." Incidentally, he says, the greater opponent is General Haftar in the east. "Once he's gone, 80 percent of all problems will be solved." The government in the east, of course, has similar things to say about its rival in Tripoli.

The city that could ultimately determine who will win militarily or whether reason will perhaps indeed prevail is located between the two adversaries -- and in the direct vicinity of IS: Misrata. The rich, powerful trading city paid a terrible price in 2011 for resisting Gadhafi, whose troops besieged and shelled it for months. Still, the well-organized brigades from Misrata, who had been armed by local businessmen, proved decisive in the ground war.

Misrata long remained loyal to Tripoli, but that support is now crumbling. The designated head of the transitional government established by the UN -- which isn't recognized by either of the other two governments -- was welcomed here.

'We Have to Get Back to Business'

It is the subversive power of capitalism that drives the powers that be in Misrata to follow their own path. They are primarily concerned with making money and need peace in the country to do so. "We have to get back to business," says planning engineer Mohammed Eltumi, who is head of Project Misurata 2018, leader of the Libya Business Forum and by far the least patient interviewee in the country. His mission: "port expansion, development of the free-trade zone and we also need a new airport." As he is talks, he drums his fingers on the arm of the sofa. "We have an investor group in Kuwait that wants to invest $500 million!"

But the chaos in the country is disastrous for business. Toyota is the last major global company still present in the free trade zone, with warehouse space spreading over several hectares. "But with our location, we could be the perfect North African hub for many," says Eltumi.

Yet even as Eltumi and others want to launch into the 21st century, there are others, located just 100 kilometers further east, who are working with murderous persistence on returning to the 7th century. Islamic State has dug in where the sparsely vegetated hills surrounding Tripoli give way to the flat desert of central Libya -- in Sirte and its surroundings.

Sirte is the hometown of Libya's former dictator Gadhafi and, as the elderly Sheikh Mohammed Hanash admits, it's no accident that IS gained a foothold there. Hanash is one of the thousands of Sirte refugees who are now in Misrata. "We allowed it to happen," he says. "We were the city of losers, without protection, without help. And then these jihadists arrived, at first under a different name. They behaved amiably, mediated clan disputes, offered assistance and opened Islamic centers. More and more of them came and then, suddenly, at the end of last March, things shifted. The local radio station began broadcasting vows of loyalty to Islamic State and religious songs from Iraq. They took over all power and those who resisted simply disappeared or had to flee. They shot one of my sons and blew up our three homes. But I am not afraid. Only God will judge me!"

IS' Lightning Fast Strike

The sheikh's meager accommodations in Misrata have become a meeting point for many who have fled Sirte. With the fear of IS vengeance too great, few are willing to talk. The jihadists precisely repeated the pattern they followed when conquering parts of Syria: first friendly infiltration followed by a lightning fast strike. The Islamists murdered charismatic opponents and established a system of air-tight control that made local resistance all but impossible.

Just as in Syria, IS in Libya profits from having long been underestimated by its opponents. In Misrata, those in power are slowly realizing the dangers posed by their new neighbors. But the means available to them to do anything about it are limited.

The road from Misrata to the front lines leads 100 kilometers through the desert. Refugees fleeing Sirte in pick-up trucks loaded with their belongings are searched at lonely checkpoints.

At one of these checkpoints, our journey comes to an end. It is too dangerous to continue. A couple of men in uniform insist that the troops promised by Tripoli will soon be arriving. But they plead for foreign assistance for their wounded. "Complicated gunshot wounds can't be treated anywhere in Libya. We fly the wounded out to Turkey, but many of them die on the way," one of them says. A sentry comes outside with us so that the others can't hear him. "We've been sitting here for eight months. For eight months, we have been promised that reinforcements are on their way so that we can finally go on the attack. We wait and wait."

In front of him, the arrow-straight road stretches into the sand dunes, with IS-held territory beginning just over the horizon. "We are trying to build up a state here," the soldier says, staring through the shimmering heat into the distance. "We really are trying." But, he adds, there is nothing to prevent the IS from appearing out of the desert and attacking. "If we don't advance, they will."

Time Is Ticking

That's why those in power in Misrata don't want to send their troops to fight in the budding Libyan civil war. That would render their own city defenseless against IS.

Misrata isn't alone. An increasing number of Libyans are tired of the power struggles and of the corruption and criminality. One city after the other has taken control of its own destiny. In Zuwara, located in northwestern Libya, the Masked Men militia has taken up the fight against human smugglers after 183 dead bodies, all of them drowned, washed up on the beach in a single day last August. The militiamen wear masks because they often detain members of their own extended families. The city council of Bani Walid, a stronghold of ex-Gadhafi loyalists southeast of the capital, hopes to keep its 120,000 residents completely out of the east-west conflict and has even created its own flag. It is totally black, devoid of white writing so that nobody mistakes it for Islamic State's banner.

In Tripoli, the power supply and police force are working better now than they did months ago. The fact that the Interior Ministry's most effective unit in the fight against Islamists and criminal groups is led by a full-bearded Salafist militiaman is part of the peculiarity of the situation.

The only detonations that one can hear in Tripoli are the fireworks lit off during wedding parties. For couples who really want a show, the 50 selection called "NATO" is available.

But with their country racing toward bankruptcy, the Libyans don't have much time left. One of the country's leading oil executive receives his guests in the countryside estate near Tripoli. He doesn't want to provide a name and begins our conversation by saying that sarcasm is the only way he is able to remain calm about the situation. "Several of the major pipelines, oilfields and loading terminals have been destroyed. Others have been occupied by clans and sometimes we don't even know why. Do they want money? Jobs? We never learn why and they aren't even interested in negotiating." The pipelines slice through the country at head height, but from above they look like thin, fragile threads upon which the country's economy depends.

Daily oil output has plunged from 1.7 million barrels to just 350,000 and is still falling, the oil executive says. "But pumping costs are climbing at the same time because thousands of new people are being hired to keep residents near the facilities quiet. That means that the less we produce, the more expensive each barrel becomes. Already, our costs are over $20 per barrel. With the oil price barely above $30 per barrel, there isn't much left over."

The state will take in $4 billion in 2016, the manager continues, compared to around $7 billion in 2015. But spending will be at least four times as high. "We are using up our hard currency reserves," the executive says. "We still have between $60 and $70 billion. But if the situation doesn't change, we'll be in the shit in late 2017."

On that Sunday morning in Tripoli when the foreign minister inaugurated the building to the music of the marching band, the apex of the festivities came immediately after the cake: Masked policemen moved out ahead to secure the area. The Foreign Minister Ali Abu Zakouk strode up to christen -- with the name "Libyan Unity" --what is perhaps the most fitting symbol possible for the country: a traffic circle.
Published by the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) and the Scottish Agricultural Arbiters and Valuers Association (SAAVA), the fourth annual Agricultural Land Occupation Survey for Scotland showed a net loss of 12,000 acres of let land. This is the largest loss since the first survey in 2012, said Jeremy Moody, Secretary and Adviser to the CAAV.

The results of survey, unveiled at the SAAVA AGM in Dunblane on 15th March, covered more than 46,000 acres of let land where decisions were made about occupation, and revealed a worrying trend for the already declining Scottish tenanted sector. Of the let units that fell vacant in 2015, just half were re-let, with the rest taken back in-hand or offered out on contract farming or other short-term arrangements, said Mr Moody. This has fallen from an historic re-let figure of 75%, and if sustained the decline in the Scottish tenanted sector will accelerate.

Bare land (at 65%) also dominated new lettings. Three times as many units let in 2015 were bare land than had houses and less than half the area of land let had houses, said Mr Moody. This seems a natural consequence of the pressure for restructuring and the difficulty of justifying new investment in fixed equipment. This shift is important for debate about policy, which often assumes that a holding will be a fully equipped farm with a house, he added. It can no longer be assumed that a holding is a self-contained farm  and the cost of rising expectations for the standards of agricultural housing may encourage this trend.

Unlike England and Wales, landowners in Scotland were not taking advantage of increased land values to sell holdings when they fell vacant, said Mr Moody. The Governments Review Group said letting land in Scotland was seen as a high risk, low reward activity. Despite the simplicity and management of risk that a good tenancy system can offer, owners keeping land can be more comfortable with alternative arrangements, giving closer control over their land and which may have a lower investment demand, fewer taxation issues and less exposure to political uncertainty. Equally, land was being ear-marked for forestry and development.
In a five-point forestry action plan ahead of the Holyrood elections, Confor issues a rallying cry for new planting - and warns the target of 100,000 hectares of new woodland in Scotland in the decade to 2022 is in serious danger of being missed.

Confor's manifesto Forestry and Timber: Growing a Resilient Scotland calculates that the original target of 10,000 hectares (ha) of annual planting over a decade now needs to be increased to 13,000ha annually to reach 100,000ha by 2022.



First Minister Nicola Sturgeon pledged to hit the target in a major speech in late 2015, saying:

"We are committed to increase planting rates even further so that we plant 100,000 hectares of trees in the decade to 2022. That would be equivalent to 200 million new trees."



Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive of Confor, welcomed the commitment and said:

"Planting underpins everything - if we can hit these targets, very substantial economic, environmental and social benefits will flow from that. If we don't, we are in danger of falling into the 'timber gap' - a long-term drop-off in supply which could damage confidence, reduce investment and jeopardise jobs and businesses."



A report in late 2015 showed that the forestry and timber sector in Scotland is now worth 1 billion and supports well over 25,000 direct jobs with employee numbers rising dramatically during the economic downturn - a period of strong timber supplies due to historic planting.



The manifesto lists the significant opportunities of meeting planting targets and following through on the action plan:


Carol Kaliff / Carol Kaliff

The Connecticut Department of Banking levied $7.7 million last year in monetary sanctions and restitution on financial companies, less than half the penalties it exacted in 2014 and the lowest level since 2009.

In February 2015, Jorge Perez replaced Howard Pitkin as commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Banking, who had led the department since 2006. Perez previously had been a commercial loan executive with Middletown-based Liberty Bank. Perez told Hearst Wednesday that the lower collections reflect declines in the amount of malfeasance in the financial industry.
Some black smokers at risk for lung cancer might not be getting screened for the illness because their smoking habits make them ineligible for testing. Thats according to a study from the Yale University School of Public Health, published Tuesday in Nicotine & Tobacco Research.

The American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society and others recommend lung cancer screenings for those older than 55 who have a smoking history of at least 30 pack years  calculated by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by years of smoking. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also uses a minimum of 30 pack years as one of its criteria for determining whether to cover screenings.

The Yale study shows that black smokers tend to have a lower number of pack years by virtue of their smoking habits. Yet theyre still at as high or higher risk for tobacco-related illnesses as their white counterparts, said Theodore Holford, the studys senior author and Susan Dwight Bliss Professor of Public Health.

This suggests that we need to think about how to better develop criteria to determine eligibility, said Holford, also a member of the Yale Cancer Centers Cancer Prevention and Control Program.

His research team used data from the National Health Interview Surveys, conducted from 1965 to 2012, to pinpoint differences in tobacco-smoking habits between black and white smokers. They found that blacks are less likely than whites to start smoking in their late teen years, and black people who smoke report smoking fewer cigarettes per day. The latter is likely the main reason black smokers have fewer pack years than white smokers.

However, the researchers also found that black smokers are less likely than whites to quit as they get older, and they werent at lower risk for tobacco-related illnesses, which include heart and pulmonary disease in addition to lung cancer.

This new research suggests, however, that current guidelines are excluding some high-risk populations. Holford said more research needs to be done to determine whether thats the case, and, if so, what can be done to fix the problem.

Meanwhile, Bryte Johnson, Connecticut director of government relations for the American Cancer Societys Cancer Action Network, said the study underlines the need for better smoking prevention and cessation programs in Connecticut. He said he hadnt had a chance to fully analyze the study but at an initial glance, its very interesting and does, to me, point out an absolute need to have a robust tobacco control program in Connecticut.
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Not even the rebuilding of Sandy Hook Elementary School is insulated from deficit politics in Connecticut.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloys administration wants to repurpose $2.3 million of the $50 million that the state bonded for the project to help close a billion-dollar fiscal gap. It expects the project, which is nearing its completion, to come in under budget and to create an opportunity for savings from the surplus.

The measure is tucked into a proposal to cancel $385 million in bonds, which requires approval of the Legislature. Budget architects say the state must pare back its bonding to get below a cap that is tied to revenues.

But some Republicans have been critical of what they view as a cut by Malloy, a Democrat who became one of the public faces of the worst grade-school shooting in U.S. history in December 2012.

The last I heard about these funds was the governor was withholding $2.3 million of bond funds, said state Rep. J.P. Sredzinski, R-Monroe, whose district includes Newtown. I want to make sure that were getting all the funding from the state that was promised for the project.

Malloys budget architects reaffirmed their support for the politically sensitive and high-profile project, saying there are other sources of funding that are being discussed by the state and town.

The state is committed to seeing this project through with the appropriate funding and will ensure that happens, said Gian-Carl Casa, undersecretary for legislative affairs at the state Office of Policy and Management.

Built on the site where 20 first-graders and six educators were murdered by a heavily armed gunman, the new school is being funded entirely by the state. The Sandy Hook Elementary School was demolished.

State Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield, who also represents Newtown, urged Malloys administration to wait before trying to recoup surplus funds from the ongoing project.

I think, in some ways, the governors office and OPM might have been ahead of itself, Hwang said. Look, the project is not finished. Lets make sure we get it done first before we start allocating money elsewhere.

Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra, a Republican, downplayed the controversy in a recent email to Hearst Connecticut Media.

I think it has been resolved  not sure, though, Llodra said.

Newtown Schools Superintendent Joseph Erardi Jr. did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Robert Mitchell, the chairman of Newtowns public building and site commission, said the new school should be ready for occupancy in June and for when classes resume in August.

The project is running about $1 million to $2 million under budget, according to Mitchell, who said the town has been economical in the expenditure of taxpayer money.

We want to send something back to the state, Mitchell said.

Although the town is required by law to return surplus funds to the state, Sredzinski said Newtown should take steps to ensure the project doesnt run out of money.

I am very leery to support any giveback until I am certain there is not going to be a need for that money, Sredzinski said.

Hwang said state budget architects most likely were not up to speed on the projects schedule.

Until a project is done, you never know what expenses and costs may be incurred, he said.

Despite calling the governors proposal unsettling, Hwang said he trusts Malloy to make good.

I want to say the governors always shown great support for the Sandy Hook community, Hwang said. Through vigilance and consistently communicating, were confident that promise will be kept.

neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy
STAMFORD  A group of school board members have taken initial steps to protect whistle-blowers after several accusations of retaliation and lawsuits filed against the district in recent years.

The Board of Educations Policy Committee began discussing a potential policy Tuesday night as part of the boards ongoing efforts to address what has been called a culture of fear in the district, in which staff members have said they were concerned about retribution if they reported improper activities.

This is another step toward cleaning up the culture of retaliation, board member Michael Altamura said Wednesday. Its a way to tell the teachers and our employees that we want an open book. If theres something wrong, come to us.

The districts personnel guidelines contain no policy explicitly protecting whistle-blowers, said David Mannis, the committee chairman.

Mannis suggested the committee read the Connecticut Association of Boards of Educations template for these types of policies, as well as relevant sections of city code, before introducing a formal resolution.

A question for us, really, is should people be protected for calling someone out for violating our policy? Mannis asked at Tuesday nights meeting. Were talking about a lot of stuff you can get wrong  thousands of things you can get wrong. For me, that implies a certain risk.

As city employees, district staff comes under the same whistle-blower protection policies as other municipal workers. The city law and human resource departments did not immediately respond for comment on what protections, if any, are afforded to municipal employees.

Retaliation accusations

The former head of the districts English Language Learner, or ELL, program filed a lawsuit in January 2015 in state Superior Court, claiming she faced retaliation after she spoke out about the programs mismanagement.

Kristina Lawson, who managed the program from July 2010 to January 2013, claimed in the lawsuit that after she refused to certify the districts compliance with state and federal ELL guidelines, some of her responsibilities were removed and her position was ultimately eliminated.

Lawson had accused the district of over-counting the number of students eligible for ELL support, and therefore, received more federal grant money than it should have. She said students were being counted simply because they had Hispanic-sounding last names, according to the lawsuit. She claimed the district also counted students who emigrated from countries where English was spoken, such as Jamaica, the lawsuit said.

Lawson claimed to have been reprimanded when she brought her claims to then-Superintendent Joshua Starr, the lawsuit said. She said she was threatened by then-Deputy Superintendent Winifred Hamilton, according to the lawsuit.

Stamford is a very tight community, Hamilton said to Lawson, the lawsuit claims. You have a long career ahead of you. Id really hate to see something happen to you that would make you unemployable.

The U.S. Department of Justice reached a settlement with the district in 2012 after an investigation found the ELL program violated the federal Equal Opportunities Act.

Lawsons position was eliminated along with six others after Hamilton became superintendent and reorganized the districts central office in early 2013. Lawsons case is ongoing.

Assistant principals at Stamford High School also made retaliation accusations when they were transferred in 2011 after they questioned the newly hired principal's discipline tactics.

Michael Rinaldi, Angela Thomas-Graves, Tony Ramos and Carol Bjork collectively appealed to Starr and Hamilton in 2011 with concerns about then-Principal Donna Valentine. They cited several instances they felt Valentine didnt react properly to teacher and student discipline issues.

When the assistant principals tried to submit their concerns in writing, Rinaldi recalled, Starr wouldnt accept their statements.

He asked us if we understood that reporting your principal is a career-killer, Rinaldi told The Advocate last May.

Next steps

The committee is expected to review the citys whistle-blower protection ordinances in the coming weeks, as well as model policies from organizations such as the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.

If the board decides to enact whistle-blower protections, the Policy Committee will need to pass a resolution. That resolution must then pass two consecutive votes of the full board before it becomes policy.

ESimko-Bednarski@scni.com; 203-964-2215; stamfordadvocate.com/news
Dedicated technical support teams capable of taking care of everything from a crashed hard drive to a lost Microsoft Word document keep large organizations running. With the average annual salary of an experienced help desk technician ranging as high as $50,000 few smaller businesses typically can afford that luxury.

Many small businesses rely on local IT service providers that charge an hourly rate. They pay only when they need help and often assistance can be rendered by phone, using remote desktop software. However, those options often are still too costly for businesses trying to grow on a budget. For those businesses, the sharing economy provides a new option.

The sharing economy and desktop support.

Services like Uber and Instacart have revolutionized their respective industries, giving customers convenience at somewhat affordable prices. The services are set up so that everyday people provide the services to other people, rather than the work being a business-to-consumer relationship. Its a great way for local people to find work doing what they enjoy at prices that are usually a good deal for customers.

But how does this apply to technical support? Crowdsourced technical support has already been available in online forums for years. In fact, many technical problems can be resolved through a basic Google search, which will lead to information someone has previously posted about the problem. Many of those searches lead to Fixya, which is a community of consumers helping consumers with their technical problems.

Related: The Sharing Economy Is More than a Buzzword. It's Changing How We Live.

Onsite shared support.

As valuable as online help can be, though, some problems need hands-on help. An out-of-warranty malfunctioning printer, for instance, may require a person with hardware expertise to troubleshoot. Best Buys Geek Squad has been able to reach out to those smaller businesses that need occasional tech support, but their rates can be costly. In addition, Best Buy doesnt promise immediate turnaround on computer problems, although its business services promise 24/7 assistance online. Additionally, some customers have found the expertise of the technicians to be unreliable, with technicians having varying levels of experience.

A California company called Geekatoo has taken aim at Best Buys customer base. The company provides services at prices starting at $29 in cities around the country. Each local "geek" is verified and can provide services like computer troubleshooting and repair, TV mounting and home theater setup and troubleshooting. The service is designed to mimic services like TaskRabbit, with costs depending on the brand of the product being repaired, the degree of damage, and the cost of any parts necessary to make repairs.

Related: TaskRabbit CEO: What This Manager Won't Delegate

Utilizing the college crowd.

Another California company is joining the sharing economy space, as well. HelloTech recognized the large number of tech-savvy college students who are looking for a way to make extra money. The company charges $79 an hour to send vetted college students to a users home or business to make repairs. One thing giving HelloTech an edge is its speed of service. Unlike Geek Squad, HelloTech promises 24-hour turnaround, with the eventual goal of being on site the same day a call for help is made.

Unlike Geekatoo, HelloTech doesnt plan to rely solely on customer support calls. The company plans to set up a series of websites that offer product reviews and helpful how-to articles. In addition, the company will allow its representatives to sell products to the customers they help throughout the day. If a technician sees a customer would benefit from a Nest Learning Thermostat, for instance, that technician could recommend it and HelloTech would make money from the sale.

Related: 10 Questions to Ask When Hiring Your Company's First IT Support Person

The sharing economy gives consumers an alternative way to utilize low-cost services while also helping out those who need to make money. Sharing economy services have found a way to connect small business owners and consumers with talented IT workers at a fraction of the cost theyd pay a local IT service provider or a large retailer for the same service. This allows them to put money into buying better equipment and building their businesses rather than paying a high hourly fee to have a computer technician stop by.

Related:



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A mazon has reportedly become the latest US tech giant to come under the scrutiny of Italy's tax office.

The head of the online retail giant's Italian and Spanish business has revealed that the company is under investigation in Italy for alleged tax evasion, Bloomberg reported.

Francois Nuyts said it is co-operating with the investigation.

"Amazon pays all applicable taxes in every jurisdiction where we operate, including Italy, and we are cooperating fully with the Italian authorities," he told the news agency.

He went on: "E-commerce is a low-margin business, and Amazon is in a phase of heavy investment, so profits are slim.

"We are a retailer with a low-margin business and taxes are due on corporate profits. We invested over 15 billion (11.8 billion) in Europe in the last six years alone."

Italy's Amazon probe follows similar investigations into Google and Apple.

The iPhone maker agreed to pay 318 million to the tax office in settlement of a dispute over claims it failed to pay 880m in tax between 2008 and 2013.

In January Italian authorities alleged Google owed 227 million in unpaid taxes from between 2009 and 2013.
J ohn Longworth, the former British Chambers of Commerce boss, has made his first high-profile public appearance for the Brexit camp since his ousting.

Speaking on a panel with Brexiteer Tory MPs Chris Grayling and John Redwood, Longworth gave full vent to the anti-EU sentiments that made his position at the neutral business lobbying organisation untenable, declaring UK firms benefited little but suffered greatly from Britain being in.

In our metropolitan bubble, we forget the millions of people out there on low wages or unemployed who suffer from our being in the EU, he said.

We have the worst of both worlds: caps on visas for skilled workers outside the EU yet unlimited supplies of unskilled, cheap labour from Europe. The vast majority of workers in this country feel that acutely.

At the sidelines of the debate organised by fashion entrepreneur Harold Tillman to raise money for the Variety charity, Longworth said he had received dozens of messages of support from business chiefs.

TODO: define component type brightcove

In a before and after poll of audience members, undecided voters swung to the in camp, represented on stage by campaigner Roland Rudd, LibDem peer Baroness Brinton and Labour MP Emma Reynolds.
J ohn Longworth, a man with serious business experience, was by far the most convincing of the Brexiteers at the Variety charity EU debate last night.

Flanked by the old Eurosceptic faithfuls John Redwood and Chris Grayling, the man ousted from the British Chambers of Commerce for his anti-EU views lent an air of real life to the plastic politicians arguments.

Europe, he declared, was built for industrial countries like France and Germany, not service-based economies like ours.

Without its rules and regulations, we Brits could forge the most pro-business environment in the world. Not only that, wed be able to stop paying 20 billion a year to the EU for the privilege of being in their club. The audience was with him, sort of, until he slipped in that last misleading statistic.

As we all know by now, the 20 billion the Brexiteers constantly cite excludes all the rebates and grants we get back, which take the figure down to nearer 8 billion a year, or around 1.5% of total spending.

EU referendum: Should the UK vote to stay or leave?

In return, every business in the country gains total, free access to a potential market of 508 million people.

The Brexiteers then went on to argue that we import far more from Europe than we export, suggesting the free trade element of the EU matters little to UK exporters. But thats not something to be proud of. One of the biggest problems facing our economy right now is precisely that we dont export enough.

Unlike Germany, where small and medium-sized businesses see exports as a prime goal, British firms, often smaller than their German counterparts due to a lack of government support and tax breaks, tend to restrict their growth by staying local.

This self-imposed squeeze is hardly going to improve if we walk away from the trading partner that buys nearly half of our exports.

TODO: define component type apester

Longworth is absolutely right that being in the EU club, just like being in Nato or the UN, has its irritations. But compared with the bigger game  that huge potential market for decades to come  theyre just that: irritations.

Whats more, theyre annoyances we can try to negotiate away if were in the club. If were not, chances are well have to put up with them anyway if we want to keep exporting to Europe through bilateral Brexit trade deals.

At the post-match dinner of assorted business and political types hosted by the irrepressible Harold Tillman, I was sitting with an inner on one side and an outer on the other. Thats pretty typical of the countrys 50:50 split, if the polls are anything to go by.

Personally, I was with my friend on the left, and the 60% of Longworths former members at the BCC who disagree with him. Were better off in.
B udget day is always a quiet one for the market, with most traders having been glued to the screen to see what the Chancellor did.

Historically, the biggest movers are banks, builders, cigarettes and booze.

However, with the EU referendum looming, not to mention the fact this is the fourth time the Chancellor has made a statement in 12 months, some analysts were expecting a more muted market reaction.

What remained firmly in the maximum volume category are the miners and oil brands, who continue to sway wildly like a drunk Hen party in a karaoke booth on their fourth rendition of Summer Lovin.

After heavy falls overnight, the usual suspects started to tick upwards, sending the FTSE 100 up 20.15 points, or 0.33%, to 6160.12.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne holds up the Budget Box on Downing Street (Picture: Getty Images) / Getty

Anglo American was up 12.4p, or 2.54%, to 488.57p; BP rose 7.65p, or 2.24%, to 349.73p; Glencore climbed 2.95p, or 2.09%, to 143.78p and Royal Dutch Shell soared 32p, or 1.93%, to 32p.

Perhaps one day, someone  perhaps its new owners  might question whether the London Stock Exchange is too heavily influenced by natural resource gatherers in lands far away?

The reason for the rise are, again, the predictable lines  oil prices ticking up slightly, excitement that a meeting in Qatar might lead to a freeze in oil production (sending prices up) and an expectation that US production will also fall. Copper steadied and Chinese authorities promising more economic support also helped.

China economy explainer 2016

Sticking with the black stuff, Tullow Oil received a welcome boost, shares rose 4.5p, or 2.34%, to 196.6p, as bosses said it hit oil in Kenya, which could mean opening up a second oil basin for development in the country south of its present finds.

British engineering firm Smiths Group revealed operating profits fell 6% to 217 million in the six months to the end of January. It grew business in its medical division, which makes hospital and patient equipment, made up for poor performance at its largest unit John Crane.

The division, which makes industrial seals for BP, Shell and Chevron, suffered a sales fall of 13% to 393 million, as the recent low oil prices have seen its customers slash their expenditure. Shares fell 29p, or 2.69%, to 1048p, with most of the profit falls already expected.

Elsewhere, Premier Foods  makers of such delights as Mr Kipling cakes, Ambrosia custard and Bisto gravy  announced Jette Andersen is joining as managing director of its International Business, coming from Orangina Schweppes.

Star baker: Premier Foods' new recruit Paul Hollywood (Picture: Getty Images) / Anthony Harvey/Getty Images

She will report to chief executive Gavin Darby, who recently celebrated signing up Bake Offs Paul Hollywood for a range of home-baking products under the bakers name. Shares rose 0.5p, or 1.6%, to 31.75p.

Drug firm Hikma saw poor sales of its own gout drug dragged down 3% to $1.44 billion (1.02 billion) last year and operating profits fell 4% at $409 million. Shares fell 59p, or 3.43%, to 1662p.
I magine this scenario: a whistleblower calls a newspaper reporter to say she has something extraordinary to reveal.

They meet and she tells how her boss, a very senior police officer, has instituted a cover-up operation in order to conceal a major error by his force, which resulted in people dying.

The reporter, while checking out the details of the story, makes a series of phone calls and sends a number of emails. He always takes care to avoid identifying his source.

He is unable to gain much more evidence but his editor and the papers in-house lawyer believe he has enough damning material from the whistleblower to warrant writing the story.

The reporter then follows best journalistic practice by calling the forces press office, prior to publication, to enable the officer to know of the accusations and to comment on them.

An hour or so later, the force issues a statement through a news agency saying that an officer has been suspended for undisclosed misdemeanours involving dishonesty  that officer is the whistleblower.

"Unless we are able to protect our private conversations, sources will not come forward to confide in us. Stories will go unreported."

How did the police find out the identity of the whistleblower so quickly? By using surveillance powers granted under the Investigatory Powers Act (2016), the police obtained the reporters phone data and discovered the initial contact with the journalist by the junior officer.

This pre-emptive move effectively stymied the reporters story because it undermined the sources credibility.

This is, of course, a hypothetical case. The Act to which I refer is not yet on the statute book because it is still being debated. Indeed, the Investigatory Powers Bill received its second parliamentary reading on Tuesday.

But the story illustrates the dangers to journalism, which in turn means the dangers to the public, should the Bill in its present form pass unchallenged and unchanged before it gains royal assent.

My scenario is not far-fetched. There have been several instances under present legislation of journalists having their private conversations compromised by police snoopers.

It was hoped that the new Bill would provide safeguards to ensure that the authorities could not go trawling for journalists confidential information without an adequate reason. And that reason would have to be related to terrorism, which is  or should be  the whole point of the exercise.

Instead, as the former director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer, has pointed out, the Bill is not fit for purpose.

His views are supported by every newspaper lawyer Ive spoken to, plus every investigative reporter and by the National Union of Journalists. Three cross-party parliamentary committees have similarly registered their concerns about the unaccountable powers it grants to the authorities.

I should not have to state the obvious, but I will: British journalists are not terrorists. We must be able to carry out our public interest responsibilities, which includes monitoring the activities of the police, without having them looking over our shoulders.

MPs are debating the Investigatory Powers Act (Picture: Getty Images) / Getty

Unless we are able to protect our private conversations, sources will not come forward to confide in us. Stories will go unreported. Worse, if the people who blow the whistle are arrested because of speaking to us, we could end up being viewed as agents of the state.

Press freedom itself is under threat from this Bill. We are not asking to break the law. And we accept that terrorists must be fought. But it is hard not to conclude that under the guise of fighting terrorism, it is journalism that will be the loser.

Consider for instance the section of the Bill that allows for what is euphemistically called equipment interference. This enables the authorities to hack computers, thus exposing journalists emails and contacts. That is wrong in both principle and practice. The Investigatory Powers Bill must not pass as it is.

Roy Greenslade is Professor of Journalism, City University London, and writes a blog for the Guardian
B ritain's fraud prosecutor has called off a criminal probe into the rigging of the 3.5 trillion-a-day foreign exchange market.

The Serious Fraud Office said while it had reasonable grounds to suspect wrongdoing, there was little hope of it getting a conviction.

The latest setback for the SFO comes two months after six traders were cleared of rigging Libor rates in a high-profile prosecution brought by the agency.

A host of the worlds biggest financial institutions  Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Citigroup, UBS, JP Morgan, HSBC and Bank of America Merrill Lynch  have paid almost $10 billion (7 billion) in fines to regulators on both sides of the Atlantic for manipulating markets since 2014.

The Financial Conduct Authority  which levied 1.4 billion in fines in November 2014 and May last year  found that traders formed tight-knit groups such as the three musketeers and the A-team to share information and fix rates at the expense of their clients.

"A detailed review of the available evidence led us to the conclusion that the alleged conduct, even if proven and taken at its highest, would not meet the evidential test required to mount a prosecution."

In July 2014 the FCA referred the case to the SFO, which then launched an investigation involving 27 staff and the review of more than half a million documents.

But the SFO said that based on the material obtained, there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.

It added: Whilst there were reasonable grounds to suspect the commission of offences involving serious or complex fraud, a detailed review of the available evidence led us to the conclusion that the alleged conduct, even if proven and taken at its highest, would not meet the evidential test required to mount a prosecution.

It was decided, the SFO added, that this evidential position could not be remedied by continuing the investigation.

The only recent success for the agency in the arena of financial crime was the conviction of Tom Hayes, a UBS trader. Hayes, who maintains his innocence, received an 11-year sentence.

Ben Rose, white-collar crime expert and co-founder at law firm Hickman & Rose, said the SFO had been spooked by its failure at the trial in January.

Tuesdays decision, he added, suggests that the SFO is losing its appetite for risk and the Hayes verdict may be the high water mark for these prosecutions.

But the dropping of the SFOs criminal case does not end the prospect of further sanctions against individuals.

The FCA could consider a civil prosecution involving a lower standard of proof, potentially landing forex-riggers with fines and bans.

The SFO is also assisting the US Department of Justices criminal investigation into what attorney-general Loretta Lynch labelled a brazen display of collusion.
T he Chancellors Budget speech had a context and an agenda: the EU referendum and the Chancellors own leadership ambitions. If the Budget read more like a Queens speech, that is in keeping with George Osbornes hopes to succeed David Cameron.

Most importantly, from next April the tax-free allowance will go up to 11,500, which benefits not just the lowest paid but all taxpayers. Similarly Mr Osborne raised the higher tax threshold to 45,000, which takes many middle ranking workers out of tax altogether.

His tone was deliberately sober, with an eye to small business and employers at the expense of big corporations. There are cuts in corporation tax  to 17 per cent by 2020  and an extension of stamp duty relief to business. He has removed business rates from many small companies. His boast is of a nation of shopkeepers. Naturally he downplayed the Office for Budget Responsibilitys downgrade of the growth forecasts; optimistically, he assumes a turnaround by 2020.

The devolution of power was a big element of his pitch; so not only are there tax concessions on the oil industry for Scotland but in London the Greater London Authority will be retaining the proceeds of the business rate three years earlier than planned.

The most populist, and popular, aspects of the Budget are the measures specifically to deal with tax-avoiding developers responsible for some of Londons most expensive luxury properties, who make billions on apartments bought by international investors but whose headquarters are registered in lower-tax jurisdictions such as the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. This will not only please Londoners, who resent the proliferation of properties intended for wealthy overseas buyers, but also those companies that do pay UK tax.

There are two big elements to the spending promises in the Budget, to offset 3.5 billion cuts by 2020. One is infrastructure. The Chancellors trademark in office has been his support for big transport projects.

To Londons great benefit one of them is Crossrail 2, which this Budget confirms.

Focus on education

If the Chancellor mentioned that we put the next generation first he mentioned it half a dozen times. The surprise element of the Budget is its focus on schools, in particular, the funding for extended school hours. The Chancellor has let it be known that he is worried that the poorest pupils get the poorest education. The declaration that all schools will become academies is intended to help deal with that. The Chancellor justifies his intervention in education on the basis of its effect on productivity  the justification for his insistence that pupils will study maths until the age of 18. But for the working young, the young persons ISA may go some way towards making saving worthwhile.

Indeed, the Chancellors concern for the next generation goes beyond schools. He is not only taxing sugary fizzy drinks to make children healthier, he is using the proceeds to increase spending on sport in schools.

Political agenda

Mr Osborne is a famously political Chancellor and this is a political Budget. His refusal to raise fuel duty is a naked bid for the support of rural and business drivers. His declaration at the outset that economic performance would be endangered by uncertainty following Brexit is a swipe at his political opponents, including the Mayor. As a package, this Budget makes the most of his limited spending options and is a bid for him to be seen as a socially inclusive Chancellor, bent on helping children, working class savers, small businesses and would-be homeowners. Lets see how that plays with voters.
D enied the chance to be a big spender, George Osborne presented himself today as both the guarantor of economic stability and a radical reformer of public services. This particular Budget  his eighth  was delivered as a bold punctuation mark. In sharp contrast to the gimmickry and special effects of the Brexit debate, Osbornes speech was meant to reassure and to inspire: to present fiscal realism as the only reliable basis for reforming ambition.

We had been given ample warning that further cuts were on their way, forced by a global economic context full of uncertainty  the 3.5 billion of unspecified savings were somewhat lower than the 4 billion that had been widely forecast. There was palpable disappointment on the Conservative benches that these cuts have not been for the Chancellor to meet his debt targets. In every sense, Osbornes association with austerity is the greatest barrier to his leadership ambitions, and it is idle to pretend otherwise.

Yet as William Hague wrote in yesterdays Telegraph, the Chancellors readiness to cut spending has also been the basis of economic recovery: Steadiness and consistency are worth a lot more growth than a bit of extra spending, observed Hague  a maxim to which todays Budget remained true in its emphasis upon the long term.

In fact, Osbornes economic strategy has long been a brew of Nigel Lawsons rigour and Michael Heseltines love of the grand projet. The Chancellor believes in the states responsibility to oversee national infrastructure  a belief enshrined in the National Infrastructure Commission established last year under Lord Adonis. Already, for instance, the commission has recommended a fourth lane be added to the M62, a plan green-lit by the Treasury.

At the Conservative conference in Manchester last year, Osborne declared that we are the builders  borrowing Nye Bevans legendary promise of 1945 to characterise the new, wholly-Conservative government as a great engine of construction. Now he has thrown his weight behind Crossrail 2, pledging to legislate for the new north-south line through London. Also, journey times between Sheffield and Manchester will be cut by a mighty new Trans-Pennine tunnel.

Once again, the runes of this Budget revealed the essence of Osbornes social vision: not the minimal state after which the Tory Right hankers but government that steps in where it is needed, in home-buyers schemes or the 110 million announced today to combat rough-sleeping or in rising expenditure on the disabled. Yes, the Chancellor seeks savings so that he can cut taxes  notably corporation tax, which will fall to 17 per cent in 2020. But he is also looking for spending reductions so that he can continue to ringfence the NHS, schools, defence and international development budgets. If he and the Prime Minister have a theory of the state, it is based upon the identification of priorities rather than simply rolling back the frontiers of government.

Most striking of all was the emphasis of todays Budget upon education and provision for the next generation. Thousands of state schools will now be able to stay open for an hour longer after the traditional 3.30pm end to the day, enabling pupils to take additional academic classes or to pursue extra-curricular activities.

The abolition today of the local education authorities is, in one sense, a long-postponed mercy killing. The role of the LEAs has been progressively curtailed since Kenneth Bakers 1988 Education Reform Act introduced city technology colleges and grant-maintained schools, both free of town hall control. But LEAs have proved tenacious, incubating the forces of resistance to change that Nicky Morgans predecessor at Education, Michael Gove, called the Blob.

Indeed, todays announcements on schools policy reflect the conspicuous extent to which Osborne and Gove continue to see eye to eye politically  even though they now find themselves on different sides of the Brexit debate. The Chancellors announcement that all schools will become academies by 2022 is, in fact, a much more radical change than the lengthening of the school day. Rising from the ashes of the grant-maintained schools, academies  also outside LEA control  were Tony Blairs creation, reflecting his belated recognition that targets were less important than structures in the battle to raise standards.

'Osbornes economic strategy has long been a brew of Nigel Lawsons rigour and Michael Heseltines love of the grand projet'

As Education Secretary, Gove took the academies programme and ran with it, convinced that schools should be more than local branches of a national educational programme. Free to develop its own specialities and ethos, and to pursue additional sponsorship, the academy (he believed) would become an institution of civic pride and an engine of higher educational standards. These are significant changes in the public-sector landscape, and it is no accident that Osborne, rather than the Prime Minister, announced them. If we assume that Cameron would like to announce his departure some time in 2019, it follows that he has three years in which to secure his legacy. Pressing down upon him now is the battle to keep Britain in the EU. But intimately entangled with that is the campaign to keep Boris out of No 10.

Not so long ago, the PM included the Mayor in his list of contenders for the succession (alongside Osborne and Theresa May). But Boriss decision to back Brexit after many signals to the contrary has made him the PMs mortal enemy, and opened a rift between the two men that is quite different to the minor upsets of the past. It follows that Cameron will do everything in his power to help Osborne succeed him.

Craftily  or outrageously, depending upon your point of view  the Chancellor recruited to his side of the argument the Office for Budget Responsibilitys opinion that Brexit would lead to an extended period of uncertainty. If Britain votes to leave the EU on June 23, of course, both PM and Chancellor will be finished in frontline politics. Indeed, todays Budget may conceivably have been Osbornes swansong. But if the Brexiteers lose, the Chancellor will live to fight another day. In this performance  in his poise and refusal to panic  his enemies were given a taste of how hard that fight will be.
L earning on the job can be of huge benefit but only if apprenticeships are properly funded and managed. They are an important way of getting into full-time employment and also for existing staff who may have missed out at school but use apprenticeships to advance their careers. But the education provided must be of a high standard  no one wants to waste their time on poor- quality training.

Many employers are under pressure to cut costs, and unscrupulous bosses will exploit apprentices, while others use young workers as cheap labour under the guise of apprenticeships. There is now an established apprentice rate of 3.30 an hour, yet this is too low and many trainees drop out.

If the UK is to have world-class public services, then it needs a skilled workforce. People must be given the chance to develop their full potential.

Dave Prentis, general secretary, Unison

This week UK businesses are marking National Apprenticeship Week and it is vital for utility industries to consider how they will combat the potentially catastrophic skills gap which is likely to affect us all.

In recent decades apprenticeships have been underused and consequently have failed to address the UKs dearth of much-needed skills. One of the factors behind this decline is that apprenticeships have been increasingly removed from the influence of employers. I would urge employers to consider Trailblazer apprenticeships, recently established by the Government, which return to to the historical approach of on-the-job training. The ability to train key members of staff, realise clear business outcomes and understand their return on investment would be heightened considerably.

Investing in the next generation of skilled workers is of paramount importance and I believe this approach can make a significant contribution in this regard.

Chris Wood, CEO, Develop Training

In our role as the industry training board for the construction industry, we are encouraging young Londoners to fulfill their potential with a career in construction.

There are many ongoing developments, such as the 1 billion Olympicopolis project in Stratfords Olympic Park, which will require talented local people and our recent report forecasts that endeavours such as this will result in construction employment rising by 42,000 in the next five years in Greater London.

But we cant build the London we want without apprenticeships, and that is why we want to inspire more people to start apprenticeships and help more firms take them on so we can deliver major projects and new housing, faster and better.

Gillian Cain, Construction Industry Training Board

Zacs mayoral pitch is not consistent

When one looks at Zac Goldsmiths promises as he bids to be Mayor, they seem optimistic, given central Government measures his party has put in place and which he has backed.

He has vowed to start fixing Londons housing crisis yet he continues to support the sale of housing association properties. Also, he wants to encourage greener vehicles but last year supported a Budget that reduced incentives for people to buy low-emission cars.

I dont doubt he would be hard-working but these examples show he will promise one thing to win a mayoral election but back the Government on measures at odds with those promises.

Chris Key

Zac Goldsmiths proposal to make all new building developments provide space for start-ups and creative artists and his bid to protect music venues shows he has taken on board a crucial and growing problem  the shortage of artist studios and performing space in London. Without Bohemians, the city will lose its vivacity. If artists decamp to provincial cities such as Manchester itll be our loss, their gain.

M Dauti

Planners are on the side of developers

Last week Westminster City Council planners approved the proposal by an offshore company to pull down Elliott House in Marylebone in order to construct a new-build of luxury apartments with a deeper basement car park for 32 vehicles.

The objections fronted by local residents appear to have been largely ignored. The Art Deco facade of Elliott House, completed in 1939, is one of the few examples of work by the architect Gilbert MacKenzie Trench. Its destruction will be yet another example of replacing historic buildings with those of little or no interest or merit, designed with only maximum profit in mind.

This policy is slowly but surely ruining the London streetscape and needs to be stopped.

Charles Doxat

Westfield has let the disabled down

I took my granddaughters to Westfield in Stratford for a shopping trip treat but it certainly wasnt one for me. On arrival, there were no signs for disabled parking and while we did eventually find four spaces, all of them were occupied. Most shops were not accessible by mobility scooter as they had displays across the aisles, and it took us a long time to find Shopmobility without the help of a concierge.

My experience led me to the conclusion that Westfield does not welcome people with disabilities 

I certainly wont visit again.

Nadia Conway MBE

Fertility is not just an issue for women

Your front-page article about older mothers [March 11] made no mention of elderly fathers, despite them being part of the pregnancies discussed. Older men also contribute to infertility issues  it is not just a question of the mothers age.

Changes in hormone levels affect a mans sex drive, sexual function and sperm quality. As men get older, their semen declines in volume and quality, making it more difficult to get a woman pregnant or produce a healthy child. Instead of focusing on the age of the women alone, why not look at both partners?

Kate MacTiernan
The daughter of Lord Snowdon has launched a fashion label at the age of 36, citing life as her training.

Frances von Hofmannsthal told ES Magazine she has no nine to five, no degree, nothing. I just have background of ... life, I suppose. She is selling artist-style smock coats in three sizes under her label, Frances.

The mother of three, who is married to Austrian aristocrat Rodolphe von Hofmannsthal, is Lord Snowdons daughter from his second marriage, after his divorce from Princess Margaret in 1978.

She said she has a cobbled together style but loves things with a bit of a story.

The coats, which she will be selling at Dover Street Market, have a dye pattern inspired by the backdrops from her fathers Kensington studio, where he photographed the Queen and stars including David Bowie and Audrey Hepburn.

Lady Frances recalled how she was always brought down after the sitting and he would introduce me to the subject, ask what I thought of the lighting. It was magical.

Read the full interview in ES Magazine, free tomorrow and Friday
J ust as a dog is for more than Christmas, it's criminal to only visit a good Irish pub on St Patrick's Day.

In a city where even the plainest of pubs are seemingly obliged to go gastro, Irish joints offer welcome respite: much of their charm is being down-to-earth, old-fashioned boozers.

Besides being cheap  mostly  Irish pubs tend to offer a homely atmosphere and many have regular live music. Plenty have something on every week: if they don't have a website, ring up for details. You might not know the songs, but expect to have your feet moving like they're on strings.

Naturally, you'll want to get stuck into pints of stout, but be sure to try Irish whiskey where it's offered, which is usually a little sweet and easy drinking. If you see it, brave the powerful Poitin (you're asking for 'po-cheen').

The list below is in no particular order.

1. The Auld Shillelagh

From 11 in the morning until late, The Auld Shillelagh has been keeping things distinctively Irish for more than 30 years without seeming to try: it's an uncomplicated, honest place with a big heart, who offer table service  although you'll sometimes see pints of Guinness stacked up on the bar as thirsty punters get their rounds in. They're big on music, too, with foot stomping and fiddles guaranteed. The Irish Times declared it the most authentic Irish pub outside of Ireland.

105 Stoke Newington Church St, N16 0UD, theauldshillelagh.co.uk

2. The Faltering Fullback

Lauded by locals as the best pub in north London, this place has a lot to shout about. When faced with the difficulty of a small yard, the owners took the only option available to them and decided to build upwards: the effect is a cosy, but surprisingly spacious, split-level affair with a range of decking and tables. The Fullback is an early afternoon suntrap and only a stones throw from Finsbury Park station  and even in bad weather, the garden is a sight to behold. If you're in Islington, pop in to The Hemingford Arms on Offord Road, which is the Fullback's sister pub.

19 Perth Rd, N4 3HB, falteringfullback.com

3. The Sheephaven Bay

Proper pub: Sheephaven Bay

Hurrah: a proper pub, with a darts board and everything. The ceiling is a collage of scarves, the walls a tribute to Irish sport and there's plenty of beer on hand. The lounge is an comfortable spot, where you'll find most of the action, including live music  but if you're looking for something more cosy, head to the saloon. Fill up on a full Irish (a steal at around 6), and in summer, head to the beer garden. It's not a hard-knocks kind of pub, just one full of Irish charm.

2 Mornington St, NW1 7QD, sheephavenbaycamden.co.uk

4. The Tipperary

darkestlondon.com

The Tipperary has proved popular enough to stand for 400 years in the city, making it London's oldest Irish pub (or so they say). The first place place outside of Ireland to serve bottled Guinness, they're still one of the best places in London to enjoy a drop of the stuff, but beware that's it's one of London's narrowest pubs, so you'll want to watch for elbows or risk spilling your hard-earned drink over their shamrock mosaic floor. Still, perched up against the solid oak bar top, you'll find a friendly crowd ready to claim you as one of your own.

66 Fleet St, EC4Y 1HT, facebook.com

5. The Toucan

There's nothing especially friendly-looking about this Soho spot, but pull yourself together and get through the door. Guinness is the lifeblood of this buzzing Soho institution which, with its floor-to-ceiling posters serving as decoration-cum-wallpaper, is something of a homage to the stuff. It boasts multiple taps of it, as well as Guinness cocktails: you can get a concoction with champagne or a slightly cheaper offering with cider. Anyone looking for Irish whiskey is also in luck, as The Toucan has some rare breeds adorning its shelves, and on the menu, you'll find classic Celtic dishes like stew and colcannon. Beware that, especially lately, the Toucan has been steadily getting more and more popular, so you might struggle to get in. This place has Jimi Hendrix's seal of approval, too  he once played in the basement.

19 Carlisle St, W1D 3BY

6. The Boot

Given it's central location, one might expect The Boot to be busier than it is, but its quietness is part of its charm  it's far from dead, but you won't be hemmed in wondering why old pubs are so damned small. Kitted out with an array of nic-nacs  including, you guessed it, boot-themed bits 'n' bobs  they've also got a solid selection of beers and ales on, some decent food and friendly service. It's a charming spot that earns its regulars.

116 Cromer St, WC1H 8BS

7. Ramble Inn

It might not look much, but behind the unassuming frontage is a little pub beloved by its regulars. You'd not mistake this for an upmarket spot, but it excels at what it does. There's genuine Irish hospitality here, with table service, live Irish music, a well attended quiz night, where there's 100 up for grabs, and sports on three big screens. They've even got a poker night going.

223 Mitcham Rd, SW17 9JG, rambleinntooting.com

8. The Porterhouse

Vast den: The Porterhouse

Come here to get stuck into your drinks: this vast place, split over 12 levels, has the gold medal from Brewing Industry International Awards (what you might call the Olympics of brewing). Its stout is truly Irish: handcrafted in Dublin and then shipped to us in London. Still, you won't find any shamrocks or novelty tat here, just great Irish beers, good food and, in the basement, live rock music. Sure, there are a few tourists around  which dent the speed of its service  but it's big enough for just about anyone to find a spot and settle in for the evening, and the huge selection of beer doesn't hurt, either.

21-22 Maiden Lane, WC2E 7NA, theporterhouse.ie

9. The Kingdom

The Kingdom is a solid place, with solid regulars: it's a traditional boozer with no frills, which is to its credit. Come here to drink and to watch the telly and to have a good time  without any tacky gimmicks, it feels inherently Irish. You might also catch some cracking live music. Once you've shown your face a few times, they'll welcome you back with open arms.

229 Kilburn High Rd, NW6 7JG, facebook.com

10. The Crown and Cushion

One of life's little mysteries is why Irish pubs love to serve Thai food  but look out for it, because they really do, and The Crown and Cushion is no exception. Alongside it, you'll find cheap pints, a jukebox, sports on the telly, and an open fire. There's something endearing about the C&C that'll have you convinced a Thai curry is the perfect accompaniment to a pint of Guinness. Who knew?

133-135 Westminster Bridge Rd, SE1 7HR

11. Waxy O'Connors

Top of its game: Waxy O'Connors

A Gaelic behemoth, Waxy's is a labyrinth of staircases and passages which link four separate bars. Expect olde-worlde interiors that look like something from Hogwarts, a very warm welcome, lots of live music and and rugby-mad drinkers. Food-wise, Waxy's serves up pub grub with an Irish bent, such as steak and Guinness pie, Irish stew and crocks of mussels. There is a tree in the middle of the pub and lots of whiskey. No surprise it's been at the top of its game for 21 years. If you're looking for something a little calmer, head to nearby Waxys Little Sister.

14-16 Rupert St, W1D 6DD, waxyoconnors.co.uk

12. The Cow

Tom (son of Terence) Conrans faux-Irish pub is the smart option for celebrating Paddy's Day, although it's a little on the pricey side and definitely Irish-themed, rather than the real deal. As such, it's definitely not your rough-and-tumble Irish boozer  the house specialities include oysters and they've a sterling wine list. The food is first rate.

89 Westbourne Park Rd, W2 5QH, thecowlondon.co.uk

13. The Boston Arms

You won't struggle to find a spot here: The Boston Arms is huge. Cheap Guinness and Murphy's (our preference), there are plenty of pool tables too and a good, lively crowd. There's live music in their Boston Music Room and Tufnell Park Dome.

178 Junction Rd, N19 5QQ, bostonarms.co.uk

14. Tir Na Nog

This family run Irish-themed spot serve a mean stout, host live music on the weekends, and boasts a pool table, TV screens for the sport and plenty of nods to Ireland in the decor. If you're in the area and want somewhere with a little character, it's worth popping in. Oh, and the name means "Land of the Young".

107 Garratt Lane, SW18 4DW, thetirnanog.co.uk

15. Ganley's Irish Bar

Come for the service and the atmosphere, both very friendly. They've just celebrated 14 years being a local favourite, earning their reputation with fairly priced food, plenty of events and tongue-in-cheek decor. There's plenty of sport on, too.

43-47 London Rd, Morden, SM4 5HP, ganleysirishbar.com

16. Blythe Hill Tavern

This CAMRA award-winning pub is extremely traditional, all dark wood panelling and real ales on tap. While it's not exactly an 'Irish pub' per se, they have traditional Irish music every Thursday, they serve Guinness and there's a few Irish whiskies to choose from. A decent pub in all respects.

319 Stanstead Road, SE23 1JB, blythehilltavern.org.uk

17. The Lamb

This independent pub has beautiful green tiles on its frontage, a reliably excellent beer selection and is a top spot for barnstorming Irish music. There's Wraggle Taggle, a traditional session, every Tuesday, while most Sundays they have a more racous take on Irish music.

54 Holloway Rd, N7 8JL thelambn7.co.uk
T he world is being taken over by zombies infected by a killer virus - and you can fight them in London's latest immersive experience.

The Standard was the first publication to try out Virtually Dead, which opens this Saturday.

Participants meet at a secret east London location, to be picked up by an officer in a blacked-out army van and taken to the "Cultek Military & Training Facility", somewhere in Hackney. They change into a boiler suit and are told Arizona has been infected by a virus that has wiped out millions, and the UN is creating hubs to train up recruits should it spread.

There are 35 actors and countless scares in a one-hour experience set in a kilometre of tunnels, ladders and abandoned buildings. Players meet officers, scientists and, of course, the infected. The Standard was reduced to a quivering wreck hiding behind the tallest recruit in the room, clutching a saucepan for protection.

Virtually Dead in pictures 1 /8 Virtually Dead in pictures Nigel Howard Nigel Howard Nigel Howard Nigel Howard Nigel Howard

The experience is said to be the first in London to combine virtual reality and live acting. At one poiny players use a VR headset, with HTC Vive technology that gives a 360-degree view, for a zombie shoot 'em up.

Organisers ask that the rest is kept secret to avoid spoiling the fun.

James Cadwallader of Noma Labs, which created the experience, said: "There's no playbook for an event like this as it's never been done before. What we've created will blow people away."

Some 10,000 30 tickets for Virtually Dead sold out within hours, but 500 go on sale tomorrow at 3pm.Visit virtuallydead.co.uk for more information.

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C hinese food is about to go punk. DJ-turned-chef Carl Clarkes next venture is called Chinese Restaurant Syndrome and, with his business partners David Wolanski and Ash Mair, he plans to bring a bit of humour to the menu when it opens later this year. That means dishes like noodle crack, a Chinese burger and suckling pig cooked with a candle.

Clarke admits its Chinese food cooked by white kids but these kids have studied the matter and are running with a massive subject matter of good, fun food  there is such a broad range.

Mair has developed the perfect egg fried rice  the trick is to freeze the rice after boiling it. That stops it getting claggy. You want it to be crunchy in parts, with separate rice grains. You defrost it so the water evaporates before frying.

Clarkes Chinese food memories are of sweet-and-sour chicken on hungover Sundays but he also loves dim sum and the finer variations.

Regional Chinese food - in pictures 1 /16 Regional Chinese food - in pictures Fujian Province Stir-fried green beans junbug1973 / Tripadvisor Sichuan Province Boiled-sea-bass-with-sizzling-chilli-oil at Barshu Hunan Province Tofu with pork in a spicy broth at Local Friends Shanghai Steamed scallops at Red Sun <a href="http://www.feedthetang.com/">feedthetang.com</a> Shaanxi Province Stir-fried chicken with bones at Xian Impression Guizhou Province Spicy beef noodles at Maotai Kitchen Liaoning Province Pan-fried garlic chive pancake pocket <a href="http://dinnerathon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/top-taste-liaoning-in-bethnal-green.html">dinnerathon.blogspot.com</a> Xinjiang Province Lamb skewers at Silk Road Guangzhou Province Dim sum at Royal China Club Beijing Duck at Min Jiang Xizang Province (Tibet) Momo dumplings Creative Commons Taiwan Bao at Bao London

London is becoming the perfect place to have all of that. There are plenty of traditional Chinese restaurants  at the smart side there is Alan Yaus new venture Park Chinois, which serves sumptuous duck; A Wong in Victoria has a cult following for its soupy ginger pork dumplings  a feat of engineering  as well as beautiful tea eggs and custard buns, while Shaung Shaung is bringing the hot pot to a Shaftesbury Avenue audience.

Mama Lan is the broth cafe (brothel?) that was so popular in Brixton that it has expanded to Dalston, where mostly Chinese restaurant Fan Tong used to be. The wholesome beef noodles are up there with the best solace-giving foods. But its also worth mixing it up.

Shaung Shaung - New Chinese Hotpot Restaurant in London.mp4

If you cant wait for Chinese Restaurant Syndrome, BossLady is serving the ultimate Chinese comfort food until May from a cosy, 25-cover Portakabin in Peckham. Founder Henry Chung is from Hong Kong and came here to work as a graphic designer. He says: Two years ago I had a yearning for a style of beef brisket noodle that is a speciality in Hong Kong but difficult to find in London. I experimented with recipes and eventually decided to open a restaurant that serves it.

It is a meaty broth with wheat noodles and crunchy white radish. Chung describes it as very rich and soothing but clean tasting. The louder you slurp the better. The wontons are also popular.

The restaurants name comes from Hong Kong, where it is an affectionate term for female businesswomen in the food business. Chung spent a couple of months over there working for a boss lady to hone his technique.

The Chinese Laundry is another example of the new wave. Its part of the trend for Eighties dishes and serves all-day Chinese family fare. If you are brave, try Chinese breakfast with doufunao (silky tofy curd), chicken congee (a slimy rice porridge that tastes better than it looks) and pork dumpling omelette to fuel you. There are plenty of more delicate-sounding dishes, such as the wholesome milky little buns. Dinner options include twice-cooked crispy lamb and punchy sweet basil chicken popcorn. For vegetarians there are plenty of inventive takes on eggs, and smashed cucumber or grilled aubergine with peanut brittle and coriander that is popular with meat-eaters too.

The cocktails are another chance to try unusual flavours. The Dirty Laundry is a good way to introduce yourself to bai ju, a spirit thats made from grains.

Its pronounced bye zho and will test your mettle  its potent. They infuse it with chocolate and add dry vermouth, olive juice, cocoa powder and chocolate ice lollies. Recover with a soothing Silk Road Nowhere featuring eerguotou, another Chinese spirit, cherry, apricot liqueur, lemon and egg white.

The drinks menu at Chinese Restaurant Syndrome is shaping up to be just as interesting. It will be another way for Clarke to serve fun, colourful things. There will be some fish bowls, banana coladas and a woowoo or two.

If it becomes too colourful, prawn toast is said to be an effective hangover cure  packed with protein and the right amount of guilty grease. An excellent excuse to head back and try it the next day.

@susannahbutter

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A 30-year-old man was blasted in the legs during a west London drive-by shooting, police say.

Detectives believe two men driving a dark-coloured vehicle with tinted rear windows shot at three people using a black handgun.

Following the shooting in Brouncker Road, Acton, yesterday at around 4.45pm, police found the car abandoned in nearby Saxon Drive.

One man was shot in the legs and remains in a north London hospital. Two others, aged 24 and 25 received hospital treatment but have since been released.

Police are hunting two black men, both wearing dark clothing.

Detective Inspector Glenn Butler from Trident said he wanted to speak to anyone who was around Brouncker Road or Saxon Drive at the time.

He said: This appears to be a deliberate and targeted attack on the three men. Our investigation is ongoing and there will be a visible police presence in the area to reassure the local community."

Anyone with information should call Trident and Area Crime Command on 020 8358 0647 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


T he family of a cyclist who was left to die after being hit by a speeding driver today criticised the inhuman killer, who smiled in the dock as a judge jailed him for four years.

Father of two Ashad Ahmed, 32, was thrown into the air when he was hit by an Audi Quattro driven by Parvez Rahman in Commercial Road, Whitechapel. Mr Ahmed died of head and brain injuries two hours later in the Royal London Hospital.

Rahman, 22, who was doing 71mph in a 30mph zone, was jailed at Snaresbrook crown court on Monday after admitting causing death by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.

Kawsar, Mr Ahmeds brother, said: I think the system has let us down. The sentence he got didnt compare to what he did. Hes a scumbag.

It just seems unfair in this day and age, the law is like this when there are so many accidents like this. My parents cant comprehend how someone will just get four years for this. Im glad my parents didnt go to court to see his reactions. Words cant describe them. He was smiling as he was being led out of court. The shocking thing is he showed no remorse. This guy is inhuman.

Crash: Parvez Rahman fled the scene after hitting cyclist Ashad Ahmed / Central News

Mr Ahmed was struck as he cycled past two parked cars to make a right turn on a short journey to his parents home on November 24, 2014. Rahman drove off after the crash and abandoned his car but handed himself in to police the next day.

Mr Ahmed worked as a supply teacher at primary schools and in Bridge Express, his brothers convenience store in Shadwell, and was often seen riding around Whitechapel with his daughter, now seven. His brother added: Shes seriously affected. She misses her dad  she was glued to him. Theres nothing you can say to a child that age.

The court heard that Rahman was driving as hard as that car could have been driven at the time of the crash, and Paul Jackson, defending, said: He knows that he will never be forgiven for causing the death of the deceased. He will never forgive himself for doing it.

Judge Nicholas Huskinson said: If the defendant had been driving within the speed limit, there would have been plenty of time for the defendant to decelerate and avoid any kind of impact with Mr Ashad Ahmed.

He was a man who was married with two young children and, on the behalf of his family, there is a victim impact statement before the court that speaks in high terms about what a grievous loss his death has been to the family.

If someone drives at 71mph in a 30mph, effectively single carriageway, there is a substantial risk of danger and indeed of death.

Rahman, of Bethnal Green, was jailed for four years, banned from driving for five years and ordered to take an extended test after his ban expires.
D etectives today released CCTV footage of a man they want to speak to after a nightclub reveller was hit in the face with a bottle.

The 32-year-old victim was at Basing House nightclub in Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, in the early hours of September 6 last year when a man allegedly bumped into him.

Police said the man then attacked the partygoer before hitting him the face with a bottle which them smashed.

The victim sustained serious cuts to his face and was taken to an east London hospital where he required 25 stitches.

He was released from hospital two days later.

CCTV: Detectives want to speak to the man pictured in connection with the assault / Metropolitan Police

Bouncers at the venue intervened following the unprovoked attack and one man was ejected from the nightclub.

Detectives investigating the assault want to speak to the man captured on CCTV in connection with the attack.

The suspect is described as black, with short black hair and was wearing a dark coloured jumper.

Anyone with information should call DC David Leitner on 07825 793215 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting reference 194451.
P olice today issued a chilling warning after two lone women were targeted in terrifying attacks within the space of just a few hours.

Scotland Yard told people never take your safety for granted as detectives offered a 10,000 reward for information leading to the prosecution of a man believed to be behind the assaults in south London.

In the first, a 29-year-old woman was set upon from behind by a man who punched her to the floor before continuing the assault until he was disturbed by a member of the public.

The incident happened at about 10pm on December 20 in Challice Way, Streatham, police said. The suspect ran off in the direction of Hartwell Close.

Three hours later he is said to have struck again, this time targeting a 20-year-old woman walking along Streatham Common South.

Police issue warning after Streatham sex attacks

She noticed him pursuing her but before she could get away he attacked her in an alleyway between Convington Way and a recreation ground.

The attacker forced the victim to the ground and then sexually assaulted her before fleeing the scene, police said.

Scotland Yards Detective Constable Gemma Robb said: "This man has committed two violent offences against women and must be apprehended.

Both attacks have involved a significant level of violence and have been terrifying for the victims. I would urge anyone who has information that could assist this investigation, or anyone who knows who is responsible, to contact police."

The suspect is described as a male, aged in his mid to late 20s, of medium build and approximately 5ft 7inches tall. He also has a dark beard.

CCTV footage of him walking along Streatham Common South between the two attacks has been released by police as part of the effort to find him.

It came as detectives issued personal safety advice for Londoners, telling them to prepare travel arrangements before leaving the house and to ensure they look as assertive as possible when out alone.

One piece of advice reads: Never take your safety for granted and look after your friends so that they don't become vulnerable. Remember your personal safety is more important than your phone or other valuables.
A senior PR man at Santander has been jailed for two years after he admitted sexually assaulting a young woman during a trip to Brighton.

Media relations manager Jonathan Akerman, from Worcester Park in south-west London, was arrested after CCTV operators spotted him fondling the woman outside a Travelodge in the seaside town.

Police said it was clear to the camera operators that the 21-year-old woman was not able to consent to being touched by Akerman, 43.

The incident happened close to the sea front in the early hours of the morning in October last year.

Akerman, who started working at Santander in 2010, was jailed for two years on Friday after pleading guilty to sexual assault.

Detective constable Julian Harrison-Jones said: Akerman preyed on a vulnerable woman and completely took advantage of her.

His behaviour was unacceptable and the judge agreed. He will now go to prison for two years.

We have supported the victim throughout our investigation and we hope this sentence means she can begin to move forward with her life.

Santander declined to comment.
A woman and a Shih Tzu pet were injured after allegedly being attacked by two dogs in east London.

Police were called to London Road in Barking, after reports of a dog being attacked outside Harvey House.

Officers found a woman in her mid-40s with what is believed to be dog bites to her arms and hands after trying to stop her dog from being attacked.

The Shih Tzu was taken to an emergency vets for treatment and two Staffordshire bull terrier type dogs were seized by police.

A 48-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and was later further arrested on suspicion of having a dog dangerously out of control in a public place.

She has been bailed until mid-April while officers continue to investigate the incident, which happened shortly before 9.30pm on March 3.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
O ne of Londons top celebrity nightspots has been ordered to close its doors for the second time in months after a clubber was assaulted.

The reveller was wrestled to the floor, punched and kicked at Boujis, a one-time favourite nightspot of Princes William and Harry.

The nightclub was told its licence would be suspended after an application from the police. Kensington and Chelsea councils licensing committee made the order pending a full review hearing within 28 days.

At that meeting it will be decided if the licence should be revoked or if the club should be allowed to reopen, subject to certain conditions.

Stephen Walsh QC, the barrister for Boujis, told the committee the decision to suspend the licence may well be the death knell for the business because of reputational issues.

The committee heard police applied for the suspension of the clubs licence after CCTV footage of the incident inside the club at 02.10am.

13 seconds of the Boujis brawl

The police report said: Two patrons were fighting inside the premises. A male is seen to punch many times another male and then to kick him while on the floor. The victim sustained facial injury as a result and had to attend hospital. The victim suffered five lacerations to the face which required stitching and a suspected fractured cheekbone.

The one suspect was ejected from the premises and allowed to leave, even though there were numerous security staff... [he] was arrested nearly one hour later at his home having changed his clothing.

The report said staff cleaned the venue and called police at 02.36am and officers arrived at 02.52am. It said that despite conditions laid down by the licensing committee after a mass brawl outside the club in October, police were concerned the club had failed to act, especially [on] those issues relating to staff training. The committee heard evidence could have been lost when staff cleaned up.

The CCTV footage was screened at the meeting and showed two men, both over 25, grappling in a private room before one wrestles the victim to the floor and kicks him.

Celebrity haunt: Boujis / Getty

Boujis management told the meeting the two men were regulars and friends. They said the aggressor was remorseful and horrified and the club had safely hosted thousands of clubbers since its licence was reviewed in November. But in suspending its licence yesterday, committee chairman Charles Williams said: Serious crime and disorder is associated with the premises. The club, on Thurloe Street, must close its doors with immediate effect but can appeal the decision.

After the meeting, a spokesman said: We are mortified a minor argument between two friends that was quickly and efficiently resolved by security staff should have resulted in the reputation and livelihood of the club being put at risk in this way.

We have been working hard since last autumn with the council, our neighbours and the RBKC Metropolitan police licensing team to ensure the club remains a safe and enjoyable place for our guests and a considerate and active part of the community.The club followed police procedure to the letter, even though the matter had been resolved and the injured party did not want to press charges.

Boujis, which has hosted stars such as Rihanna, has been open 14 years and employs 22 staff. In November, the licensing committee said it was in the last-chance saloon.
T he Queen was congratulated on her conservation efforts as ancient woodland was dedicated to her by the City of London Corporation.

Lord Mayor Jeffrey Mountevans thanked the royal family for their "unswerving commitment" to the "greatest global challenges" as he announced that Epping Forest, on the border of London and Essex, would join The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy (QCC) initiative.

The QCC is designed to create a network of forest conservation initiatives across the 53 Commonwealth nations, in a bid to protect plants and trees.

The announcement was made at the annual High Commissioner's Banquet at the Guildhall in London, first held in 1874, which was attended by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Lord Mayor Mountevans said he was "delighted" to dedicate Epping Forest to the Queen, describing the woodland as "a jewel in the capital's crown".

In a speech opening the banquet he said there was no greater challenge than conserving "our precious natural resources and environment, for future generations".

"Above all, we have a shared responsibility, across the Commonwealth, to protect the woodlands which are the lungs of our planet", he said.

"So, on behalf of us all, may I congratulate Your Majesty for creating The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy: an excellent way to work together on forestry conservation."

Epping Forest has been managed by the City of London Corporation since 1878.

The QCC initiative is led by the Royal Commonwealth Society in partnership with charity Cool Earth and the Commonwealth Forestry Association.



Additional reporting by the Press Association
O fficials are braced for an "enormous backlash" after handing the contract to operate a much-loved family-run park cafe to a major chain.

For the past 33 years, the Parliament Hill Cafe on Hampstead Heath has been run by Alberto D'Auria, 70, and his family.

Regulars say the family have kept prices down while serving good food over the years.

But the City of London Corporation, which runs the vast north London green space, has incensed local residents by taking the business away from the family to put a chain at the helm.

The cafe at Golders Hill Park is also going to be managed by Benugo Mike Quinn / Mike Quinn

The City rejected the family's offer to continue running the business and instead awarded the contract to Benugo, which also has venues in Regent's Park and Hyde Park and across cultural institutions including the British Museum and the Barbican.

Local councillor Sally Gimson, who sits on the committee that made the decision but voted against it, told the Hampstead & Highgate Express: "Its almost as bad as if it were a Costa coffee.

"Benugo is gradually taking over all British institutions, from Regents Park to major museums and galleries in London.

"I have warned the committee there is likely to be an enormous backlash from the local community."

Walkers on Hampstead Heath Oast House Archive / Oast House Archive

Renowned jazz musician John Etheridge, who lives near the Heath and goes several times a week, told the paper: "It is a shame. A big chain is bad news.

"It is an old-fashioned local cafe with very good food and good prices. The pasta is good and I cannot imagine it will be as good or as cheap. A lot of people will be very upset."

TODO: define component type apester

Benugo will also take on the cafe in Golders Hill Park, which is on the other side of the Heath and another popular spot with locals, as well as a third in Highgate Wood, which is also managed by the City of London.

The contract to serve food and drinks at the lido on Hampstead Heath went to a local resident, Tara Kingsley.

A woman lies on the grass at the top of Parliament Hill / Rex

The cafes will change hands in May.

Mr D'Auria told the Standard: "We lost the bid because their offer was higher than ours. I think the prices will be doubled now.

"It gets into your blood, this passion to go every day and talk to customers, but everything comes to an end. We would just like to thank all our customers for supporting us."

A spokeswoman for Benugo said: "We were delighted find out about the tender opportunity in these three special locations, and are looking forward to being able to bring our fresh, high-quality, modern British food and flavours to these unique venues.

"We are of course very mindful that in some cases we will be inheriting established food operations and are confident that our vision, plans and menus for these spaces will be embraced by these local communities."

Sue Ireland, director of green spaces at the City of London Corporation, said: "We want to make sure our visitors are getting high quality, affordable, healthy food and refreshments, with the best possible service.

"We have a duty to run our services in the most cost-effective manner as it is only by doing so that we can invest 5 million a year into Hampstead Heath."
M ore than 30 firefighters battled a blaze at a block of flats in south east London after a fire broke out on a sixth floor balcony.

The building in Banning Street, Greenwich, was evacuated at 1.20pm on Wednesday after the fire alarm alerted residents to the blaze.

Six fire engines and 35 firefighters from East Greenwich, Dockhead, New Cross, Deptford, Greenwich and Lewisham fire station were called to the scene.

The fire was brought under control at 2.45pm, with firefighters containing damage to the balcony.

Nobody was injured in the fire.
A huge Star Wars fan drew inspiration from the film when he used R2-D2 to pop the question to his stunned girlfriend in Greenwich Park.

Brendan Reiss, 34, carried out the romantic proposal to Samantha Henderson, 32, on Monday with cameras capturing the moment the happy couple became engaged.

Mr Reiss, from San Francisco, used a replica R2-D2 to ask for his girlfriends hand in marriage after he reached out to the droid's Peckham-based creator Jason OShea.

The couple, who live in California, are visiting Ms Hendersons family in Surrey and celebrated her sisters wedding two days before the proposal.

Epic proposal: Brendan Reiss used R2-D2 to pop the question to his girlfriend Samantha Henderson / Brendan Reiss

Mr Reiss, a director of an audio visual company, said: The proposal went perfectly and it was a perfect fit to our relationship.

Im a huge Star Wars fan but Sam isnt as much. Last year we went to a convention in Anaheim but it was fully customised to us a couple.

It meant more proposing here in London instead of the States because she wouldnt have been expecting it.

Ms Henderson told the Standard she initially thought the replica was a toy being played with in the park before she realised her name was on the droid.

She said: I knew it was one of the droids from the film but I thought it might have been people playing with it in the park.

Stunned: Brendan Reiss employed the help of Jason O'Shea from Peckham, who built R2D2 in his kitchen / Brendan Reiss

It was only when it came towards me that I realised the lengths he had gone to. I had no idea he would be organising stuff because we have been so busy.

Im just super happy and its great for it to have happened here where my parents were able to congratulate us. It was an easy decision.

The couple met three years ago shortly after Ms Henderson relocated to San Francisco from her home in Surrey.

In February, Mr Reiss made contact with Mr OShea after he researched a website of UK R2-D2 builders.

Mr OShea, a missionary for London City Mission, said it took him a year to build the droid in his kitchen after no previous engineering experience.

He told the Standard: It was the first time I had taken him out and to see the reaction on the womans face was just amazing.

When I built it I thought it could be used to visit schools and hospitals but I didnt think it would be used for proposals.
A n elderly former headteacher today said she was left too frightened to use public transport after three upsetting ordeals on London buses in just one evening.

Gywnneth Pedler, 90, was allegedly refused entry to a bus from Brockwell Park towards central London on Monday by a driver who told her that her mobility scooter was not allowed on board.

Despite producing a Transport for London-approved disability card, which proves her scooter is small enough to use on buses, she claims that the driver would not to let her on until other passengers came to her aid to argue her case.

On the same night, a second bus driver allegedly refused to lower a disability ramp for her as he had parked too far away from the kerb.

And a third bus pulled away after she rang the bell to disembark, without stopping to let her off.

Ms Pedler travelling on the train

The grandmother, who lives in Dulwich, told the Standard: Bus drivers are not listening to their training. They just treat us with a lack of respect. It has got to stop.

Ive been left thinking that I really cant cope with travel anymore. Independence is very important to me. If I cant get on a bus to go anywhere, there is no life.

The disability campaigner, who moved to London two years ago, was travelling to a party at the Young Vic theatre when she claims the driver of the number 68 bus initially refused to let her board.

She became so upset by the way she was treated that when she eventually arrived at the party, she called her daughter Jennifer, 64, to ask her to accompany her on the journey home.

Ms Pedler, who worked as a headteacher at a school in Oxford, added: I felt really upset, I am 90. I was too frightened to get back on the bus again alone.

During the journey home with her daughter, Ms Pedler said she suffered the two further ordeals when travelling on the number three bus service towards Dulwich.

Ms Pedler is a disability campaigner

I couldnt get on the next bus as the driver had stopped too far away from the kerb, he drove off, she said.

After Id managed to board the next one, I pressed the bell when it was time to disembark and my daughter got off.

But then the bus driver started to drive away with me to the next stop and my daughter had to hammer on the window to get his attention.

Transport for London acknowledged that Ms Pedler's version of events are accurate and said it was investigating.

A TfL spokesman said: "All drivers are trained and encouraged to look out for vulnerable passengers. We will look into why this did not happen on these occasions."
S adiq Khan is taking his fight to the Tory heartlands. We meet outside Bromley South station in one of the boroughs credited with winning Boris Johnson the mayoralty, where he gives a pep talk to a straggling group of activists.

Theres a myth that there arent any Labour voters in Bromley, he tells them. Were all here, one supporter shouts out.

Everybody laughs, but therein lies the Labour mayoral hopefuls challenge. He has to win in all parts of London  taking supporters from the Tories and persuading non-voters to turn out if he is to make it to City Hall.

There has to be no no-go areas for Labour. We really cant afford to have a campaign like previous elections where weve focused on the so-called inner London vote, he says later in a cafe. Hes off to a strong start.

Mr Khan announced his main policies  a four-year transport fares freeze, a living rent and tackling air pollution  early and has been building momentum ever since.

He is ahead of his main rival Tory Zac Goldsmith in the polls and if the election was tomorrow, he would probably win. Mr Khan admits to being quietly confident. But it could all change. Mr Goldsmith is holding back his key proposals until closer to polling day and is expected to have deep pockets (not just his own) to dig into for a shock and awe style advertising assault. Mr Khan, MP for Tooting and a former minister, is bullish in the face of attacks so far.

He defends himself from accusations of flip-flopping  over Heathrow, the green belt  by saying it would be ridiculous if he wasnt prepared to adapt. Im not embarrassed at all at changing my mind if the facts change. I think somebody who is dogmatic and an ideologue  that way lies madness, he says. The Labour hopeful is equally unequivocal about the Vote Khan/Get Corbyn line of criticism, explaining it would have been the height of arrogance if Westminster politicians had blocked Jeremy Corbyns ascent.

So instead he nominated him  a decision he said he would make again  but voted for somebody else.

There is a brief flicker of regret when I ask whether he despairs at the whispered, and distracting, plots against the leadership. Yes, but I can only control what I can control, he sighs. But nobody has said to me I cant get involved in the campaign because Im busy plotting, he added. He has made it clear to Mr Corbyn that his name isnt on the ballot paper and that he doesnt want him to muddy the waters of his campaign. But will they be campaigning together? The pair have only been photographed together once, in November.

He bats away the question. Ive not seen my diary for the rest of the campaign. A politicians answer.

When the issue of extremist links comes up, however, the bravado fades away. Mr Khan has been criticised for giving oxygen to Islamists by sharing a platform with them, prompting some Tories to publicly question his ability to protect Londoners from terrorists.

He admits that although he has a thick skin his family find some of the stories very distressing, very difficult. It is his one moment of vulnerability, rare for such an experienced and pugilistic politician.

His other concern is that many Muslims will look at his experience and now think twice about getting involved in mainstream politics.

Sadiq Khan sets out his policies at the event / Alex Lentati

But isnt it fair enough to question his judgment? He doesnt really answer. I wouldve thought that in 2016 the idea of trying to win an election by nudge nudge, wink wink is not the way to win. Its for them to explain their desperate tactics, not me.

Mr Khan agrees, however, that a world city like London electing a Muslim mayor could send a powerful message to Islamists and Islamophobes alike, but adds thats not why Im doing it. Instead, he repeats his mantra of wanting all Londoners to get the opportunities he did.

Early on, he said the election would be a referendum on housing, and has a broad slate of ideas  some more realistic than others  that he claims will help solve the crisis. He has had more trouble with his transport pledges, with TfL suggesting his four-year fares freeze could cost 1.9 billion, rather than his lower 450 million.

He implies TfL has told him privately he could deliver the freeze without putting any infrastructure investment at risk. His plans include raising more revenue and cutting costs at flabby TfL. For the first time he admits the bill could go higher but insists TfL could still afford it. The money that we raise and the money that we save is far more than 450 million.

The former transport minister, whose selection campaign was funded by the unions, again defends their links. But he rows back slightly on his promise to stop Tube strikes by talking directly with union bosses. Ive never said Ill take part in negotiations. What Ive said is there has got to be a relationship between the mayor and the people who run our public transport.

He is keen to talk up dividing lines with Mr Goldsmith. A key one is the EU. He says it beggars belief that any prospective mayor could be in favour of Brexit. His own support for staying in the EU, he says, is reassuring for jittery City firms, particularly as many believe his party is anti-business.

The fate of Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, who has had his contract extended by just a year so the new mayor can decide on his future, is another. Mr Goldsmith is a fan.

I on the other hand think... the Commissioner will have a year to persuade me that I want to extend his contract, he says. Mr Khan praises the police chief for keeping London safe from terror threats and his emphasis on neighbourhood policing as a tool to do that, but shies away from criticism. Diversity and stop and search will be up there.

The third difference is the most telling. Khan is a formidable political campaigner. His gift of the gab and self-proclaimed funny guy status do not fully hide his hunger for the mayoralty, and the ruthlessness he is prepared to deploy to get there. Goldsmith, by comparison, is reserved, thoughtful, principled. Its not hard to see which might do better on the campaign trail. What is much less clear is how Khan might do if he wins the prize.
G eorge Osborne will today use the Budget to announce measures to lengthen the school day for thousands of pupils.

The move, part of a 1.5 billion package of additional funding for education, will be outlined alongside major efforts to improve infrastructure in London and tackle the capitals homelessness problem.

At least a quarter of secondary schools will be given cash to provide an extra five hours a week of lessons and activities including sport and art.

It forms part of a plan to force every school in England to become an academy by 2022  a move criticised by teaching unions as undoing over 50 years of comprehensive public education at a stroke.

More than 4,000 schools have already taken on academy status, freeing them from local authority control and giving head teachers and governors more power over discipline, curriculums and budgets.

The Conservative manifesto for last year's general election promised to extend the status to all coasting and failing schools, and Prime Minister David Cameron last autumn set the ambition to make every state school an academy.

Schools will be able to bid for new flexibility to tailor the structure and duration of their school day to suit their pupils' needs and at least 25 per cent will be give the extra funding to lengthen the day.

Osborne delivering his Autumn Statement last year / PA

Mr Osborne said: "The Budget I'll deliver today will put the next generation first. And at its heart will be a bold plan to make sure that every child gets the best start in life.

"It is simply unacceptable that Britain continues to sit too low down the global league tables for education. So I'm going to get on with finishing the job we started five years ago, to drive up standards and set schools free from the shackles of local bureaucracy.

"I also want to support secondary schools that want to offer their pupils longer school days with more extracurricular activities like sport and art. So we'll fund longer school days for at least 25 per cent of all secondary schools."

Mounting concern about the global economy will cast its shadow over Mr Osborne's eighth Budget, with the Chancellor planning to impose a further 4 billion of spending cuts to allow him to meet his fiscal target of getting the nation's finances into surplus by the next election.

Budget 2016: English State schools to become academies by 2022

But he will pledge to spend more than 110 million on a drive to end the scandal of rough sleeping in London and other cities, as revealed in the Evening Standard yesterday.

The Chancellor will champion a series of new measures, aimed particularly at the capital, to provide a better safety net for vulnerable people in danger of being forced onto the streets, including 100 million for 2,000 accommodation places for rough sleepers.

Crossrail 2, a major north-south London rail line, will also get the go-ahead, as well plans for a high speed link between Manchester and Leeds.

Plans for a new 1.2 billion fund to release brownfield land for 30,000 new starter homes are also set to feature.

Mr Osborne is also expected to confirm plans for a new 1.2 billion fund to release brownfield land for 30,000 new starter homes, as well as trials of driverless cars on British motorways, and he will confirm plans to crack down on the abuse of personal services companies by public sector workers seeking to minimise their tax bills.

TODO: define component type brightcove

All eyes will be focused on whether Mr Osborne hikes fuel duty for the first time in five years - raising 1 billion for every 2p on a litre at the pumps - despite pressure from Conservative MPs to hold back. He has already buckled to backbench protests by ditching a mooted plan to reform tax relief on pensions

And there is speculation that he will nudge up insurance premium tax, while charity Scope said disabled people were "anxiously awaiting" the Budget statement amid concerns they may face further cuts to their benefits.
J eremy Corbyn today accused George Osborne of being a bully who is robbing the disabled to cover the cost of his economic failure.

The Labour leader planned to launch his scathing attack on the Chancellors ongoing austerity cuts by claiming they had failed to solve the economys underlying problems.

In particular, targeted Mr Osbornes failure so far to abolish the deficit, despite six years at the Treasury.

He said: The price of his failure is now being borne by some of the most vulnerable in our society.

The Chancellor is robbing the disabled of up to 150 a week to cover for his own failure. These are not the actions of a responsible statesman. They are the actions of a bully.

Mr Osborne has signalled that he wants to make an extra 4 billion in spending cuts to keep his deficit reduction drive on track. Savings are expected to include changes to the Personal Independence Payment for disabled people, removing some from the system and reducing payments to others.

In the Commons, Mr Corbyn was to brand Mr Osbornes Budget as one with unfairness at its very core, paid for by those who can least afford it.

He was set to say: The Budget the Chancellor has just delivered is the culmination of six years of failure. This is a Budget built on failure and a recovery built on sand.

Budget in 90 seconds

"The Chancellor has failed on the budget deficit, failed on debt, failed on investment, failed on productivity and failed on the trade deficit.

Mr Corbyn was due to argue that there are huge economic opportunities for London and the rest of the country that the Chancellor has missed because he is more concerned about protecting vested interests.

He was to add: Over the past six years, this Chancellor has set targets on the deficit on the debt, on productivity, on manufacturing and construction, on exports  he has failed them all and he is failing our Britain.
G eorge Osborne today announced his plans for spending in his 2016 spring budget.

Measures unveiled included a new 'lifetime ISA' to help savers, a tax on sugary drinks and a rise in the threshold in the top rate of income tax.

Our live coverage below has finished. For more detailed stories and analysis click the links below:

Budget 2016: Osborne's tax on high sugar drinks

What will George Osborne's measures mean for Londoners?

Bully Chancellor robbing disabled to pay for cuts, claims Jeremy Corbyn

Here's how it happened:

2.20pm: Homelessness charity Crisis has welcomed Mr Osborne's pledge to spend more than 110 million in a drive to end rough sleeping first revealed by the Standard yesterday.

Chief executive John Sparkes said: We welcome todays commitment to help more people off the streets and out of hostels. Rough sleeping has more than doubled since 2010 and these vital funds are needed now more than ever."

But he added a change in the law to prevent single homeless people being turned away by councils was needed 'if the Government is serious about tackling' the issue.

2.01pm: That brings it to an end. But stay with us for reaction and full coverage of the key announcements from Mr Osborne's eighth Budget.

2pm: Mr Corbyn appears to stumble over his words as he closes his response to the Budget with a call to act in an intergenerational way to build a freer, more equal and more content Britain. The remarks are met with obligatory jeers from the Tory benches.

1.55pm: Academies. The Labour leader says plans to make all schools in England academies do not address the "real issues" of teacher shortages and "ballooning" class sizes.

1.50pm: This was George Osborne's face after a gag from Mr Corbyn, who claimed 12 homes had been built in Ebbsfleet for every press release the Government has released about the large-scale housing project.

1.42pm: Mr Corbyn is attacking the speech. He claims the Budget is a culmination of "six years of failure" with "unfairness at its very core."

Budget 2016: Jeremy Corbyn criticises George Osborne's six years of failure

1.37pm.. And he's finished. A bit of reaction from Mr Corbyn and we'll wrap things up here, but there will be more stories to follow, including further reaction and case studies.

1.34pm: ISA limit going up from just over 15k to over 20k.

Big news that could help Londoners struggling with property. A brand new pension system called 'the lifetime isa'. Anyone under 40 can save up to 4k each year, and for every 4 you save, the Government gives you 1.

The government is "giving people money to save for both property and retirement," the Chancellor said.

1.33pm: Changes to the personal allowance and the higher rate 40p tax threshold.

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1.32pm: Here's a graphic detailing forecasts for the UK's budget surplus

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1.30pm: Capital gains tax. Headline rate is 28pc. It's being cut to 20pc. Base rate going from 18pc to 10pc. This is aimed at freeing up homes in London and could be seen as good news for London property owners looking to turn a profit.

1.27pm: Fuel duty frozen for the sixth year in a row. "It's the tax boost that keeps Britain on the move," says the Chancellor.

Beer duty and cider duty also frozen. Further freeze on whiskey and other spirits.

Delicious pints hopefully won't get much more expensive. / iStock

1.23pm: New tax on sugary drinks to cut childhood obesity. There will be separate tax bands depending on how much sugar is contained in a drink. Companies may "choose to pass the cost on to consumers," says Mr Osborne.

Budget 2016: George Osborne announces levy on sugary drinks

He has announced a longer school day that will be voluntary for schools but compulsory for students. Money from the sugar tax will be used to fund sport in primary schools.

UPDATE: Jamie Oliver is very happy about this.

1.20pm: Schools - extra funding pledged so that every primary and secondary school can become an academy. London's school system has been "turned around," says Mr Osborne, adding he wants to do the same in the North.

Half a billion pounds has been earmarked to go towards this. It "puts the next generation first," says the Chancellor.

1.16pm: Green light to HS3 rail to "rebalance" the country.

London transport: Crossrail 2 will be "warmly welcomed." Mr Osborne uses this to make a jibe at Jeremy Corbyn, saying the link, which goes through Islington, would be perfect for him because he lives in the north and is "heading south."

And now a gag about "Broadchurch" linked to an annoucement about more money for cathedrals. Because there is one thing that is pretty clear these days, the Conservative party is a broad church, he says. He's on a roll.

1.14pm: A big one for firms in London. The GLA will get devolved powers to set business rates three years earlier than expected from next April.

Plans to help young people get on the housing ladder in London. "When the south-west votes blue their voice is heard loudly in Westminster."

Mr Osborne confirms fund is being set up to help tackle homelessness in the UK.

1.11pm: Mr Osborne announces a series of measures aimed at increased ties with Scotland. The price of the tolls on the Severn crossings will be halved by 2018. Northern Ireland is to get its first air ambulance service.

1.07pm: The oil and gas sector: "Oil prices continue to fall." Mr Osborne says he is cutting in half the supplementary charge on oil and gas to 10% and effectively abolishing petroleum revenue tax. This caused an outbreak of shouting from the opposition benches.

These cuts will be back dated to Jan 1 this year.

1.02pm: Steps to help small firms with new tax measures on web giants who store goods in the UK. Two new tax-free allowances for trading and property income. "A tax break for the digital age."

From April next year, 600,000 small business will pay no business rates at all, says the Chancellor.

"A typical corner shop in Barnstaple, a hairdresser in Leeds and a newsagents in Nuneaton will pay no business rates."

Mr Osborne announced changes to bands on stamp duty on commercial properties that will see a cut in tax bills for small businesses.

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1pm: Mr Osborne is explaining new plans for corporation tax and tax havens. It's complicated so if you want more details it will all be found here once he's finished.

Essentially, it will be cut to 17per cent by April 2020.

12.56pm: Steps to stop tax evasion will raise 12bn over this parliament, says Mr Osborne. He has criticised the previous Labour government over tax loopholes for the richest in society.

Mr Osborne says he has achieved solid, steady growth, more jobs, lower inflation and all "done in a fair way."

12.54pm: UK deficit revised up from 81.7pc to 82.6pc of GDP for 2016/2017

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12.51pm: Disability budget "will rise by more than 1bn," say the Chancellor. Foreign aid budget will not go up. Public Sector pensions employer contributions will rise but the cost to workers will not go up, claims the Chancellor, adding it's a budget "for the next generation."

12.48pm: Moving on to cuts. Mr Osborne says the country will be "spending no more than what is raised in taxes." Aim is to save 3.5bn in 2019/20.

12.46pm: Chancellor re-iterates his tag line: "act now so we don't pay later"

12.45pm: Lowest number of people on benefits since 1974, says Mr Osborne. 2m jobs created. Almost 90pc in skilled occupations. Three quarters are full-time and unemployment "falling fastest in the North East". Loud jeering from rival bench.

12.42pm: Britain expected to grow faster this year than any major country in the world, says the Chancellor. Cue lots of jeering. On the EU referendum, he is citing the OBR. "A vote to leave would cause disruptive uncertainty.

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"The house knows my view," says the Chancellor, "Britain would be stronger, safer and better off" within the EU.

12.40pm: Today, Britain is among the best-prepared countries for challenges that may lie ahead. "When I became Chancellor we borrowed 1 in every 4. Now it's 1 in 14", says Mr Osborne.

12.39pm: A picture of the Chancellor for no real reason:

Parliament TV

12.35pm: Labour market 'delivering highest employment in our history,' says the Chancellor. The economy is stronger because "difficult" decisions were made and the Tories stuck to their long-term economic plan, he says. Mr Osborne says the outcome for global economy is weak therefore Britain must act now to avoid "paying later."

12.34pm: PMQs over. Here we go

12.25pm: Oliver Tetlow shooting: PM asked by Brent MP Dawn Butler whether he will arrange meetings aimed at making the streets of London safer after a drive-by murder. Mr Cameron has said he will arrange meetings to ensure that voices are heard.

12.21pm: The Prime Minister is defending the arrangement over the deal for a power plant at Hinkley after being criticised by the SNP. Mr Cameron said the strength of the deal is that there is no payment unless it goes ahead and is built.

12.13pm: PMQs underway. And the first thing worth mentioning is Jeremy Corbyn's attire. He's much smarter than usual, but coming under a certain amount of criticism for wearing a blue jacket with black trousers. His collar however, is done up.

11.45am: At a glance: we can expect

Spending cuts - the government wants to slash 50p on every 100 it spends by 2020

A clampdown on tax loophole which lets companies disguise employees as freelancers

A possible holding back of fuel duty rises after pressure from Tory backbenchers

Cuts to Personal Independence Payments - a type of disability benefit offered to people between 16 and 64 which ranges between 21.80 and 139.75 per week

11.23am: The Chancellor has left Downing Street with the budget box ahead of the speech which will start at 12.30pm after PMQs

10.05am: The Times is reporting a possible cut to capital gains tax, which could be good news for people in affluent areas of London. Officials would hope it might encourage people into selling second homes and therefore help ease the London housing crisis.

9.51am The Treasury tweeted this:
S cotland Yard has ruled out bringing criminal charges over a series of allegations of electoral fraud in Tower Hamlets.

The announcement comes nearly 12 months after disgraced former mayor Lutfur Rahman was thrown out of office, after a High Court judge ruled he was fraudulently elected.

The Met had launched an investigation into allegations contained in a 200-page report which was published by the High Court after the hearing last April.

But police today said that no prosecution will be mounted as a result of the claims in the dossier.

In a statement, Scotland Yard said: After full consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service a decision has been made that there is insufficient evidence that criminal offences had been committed.

The Met said specialist detectives had studied the report and identified five new allegations, but none of them will lead to criminal charges. It added in the statement that the High Court hearing was a civil process and that "the rules regarding admissibility of evidence and liability were different to those applied for any criminal prosecution".

An earlier police investigation, conducted before the High Court hearing, did lead to two people receiving cautions and another being charged with an electoral fraud offence.

Today's news was met with heavy criticism in some quarters.

Councillor Peter Golds, leader of the Conservative group at Tower Hamlets council, said police should be "utterly ashamed" over their handling of the case.

He said: "For years they [the Metropolitan Police] have ignored or conducted tick box exercises regarding fraud.

"It took four brave people to risk their all to bring the election petition. It revealed extraordinary levels of corruption, yet the police do nothing - as they have repeatedly done in the past.

"Londoners who hope for free and fair elections [have been] failed by the MPS."

Scotland Yard added: "The Metropolitan Police Service takes any allegations of electoral fraud or malpractice very seriously.

"We will continue to work closely with the Electoral Commission, and local authorities, to ensure we play our part to protect the integrity of the electoral process in London."

A spokesman for Tower Hamlets council said: "We have put in place tough and detailed measures to combat fraud, and our response to allegations of fraud has been independently recognised as both comprehensive and rapid.

We are pleased that the review recognises our hard work and progress and the subsequent reduction in public concern around elections in the borough."
D onald Trump moved closer to a presidential showdown with Hillary Clinton after claiming three further states in the contest for the Republican nomination.

The property mogul, who has pledged a blanket ban on Muslims entering the US if he wins, scored victories in Florida, North Carolina and Illinois in what was dubbed mini super Tuesday.

His progress prompted establishment favourite Marco Rubio to drop out of the contest after the Florida senator lost his home state.

In the Democratic race, Mrs Clinton won at least four states, dealing a severe blow to contender Bernie Sanders. Some counts were yet to announce.

Mr Trump has upended the political establishment by winning most of the state-by-state competitions for delegates who will choose the Republican nominee.

He has seized on Americans' anger with Washington politicians, attracting voters with his simply worded promise to make America great again.

The billionaire entered Tuesday's primaries embroiled in one of the biggest controversies of his contentious campaign after he encouraged supporters to confront protesters at his events.

He is now facing accusations of encouraging violence after skirmishes at a rally last week in Chicago that he ended up cancelling.

But speaking on ABCs Good Morning America on Tuesday, he said: "I don't think I should be toning it down because I've had the biggest rallies of anybody probably ever.

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Tuesday's votes in five states had been viewed as a pivotal moment in the Republican campaign. For the first time, two states - Ohio and Florida - had winner-take-all contests.

A Trump sweep could have given him an insurmountable lead in the delegate count, but the contests brought little clarity.

Ohio governor John Kasich won his home state in his first victory of the campaign. He is seen as the Republican partys last true establishment candidate.

But arch-conservative Ted Cruz insisted the battle was a two person race between him and Mr Trump.

Mr Trump now has 621 delegates, while Mr Cruz has 396, Mr Kasich 138 and Mr Rubio left the race with 168. It takes 1,237 delegates to win the Republican nomination for president.

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In the Democratic race, Ms Clinton scored victories in Florida, Ohio, Illinois and North Carolina.

Mr Sanders, a Vermont senator and self-described democratic socialist, is unlikely to overtake her in the delegate count, but his victory last week in Michigan underscored the unease many party voters have about her candidacy.

Donald Trump's most controversial comments

Her wins on Tuesday put Ms Clinton in a commanding position to become the first woman in US history to win a major party nomination.
G oerge Osborne today unveiled a raft of measures in his eighth Budget as Chancellor.

He announced Corporation tax will be cut by 17 per cent April 2020 and 600,000 businesses would not pay any business rates.

There will also be a sugar tax introduced, as well as ISA incentives to help young people save to buy a house.

But what will the measures mean for Londoners?

Budget in 90 seconds

The small business owner: Small firms need more support and tax reliefs

Chef Alix Caiger, 27, lives in Hammersmith and has owned her Caiger & Co catering business for several years, delivering high-quality food to clients across London and the south of England. She employs one full-time member of staff and several waiting staff for events

Annual salary: 30,000

Monthly outgoings: 800 mortgage, 150 bills, 150 travel, 150 food, 200 going out

What could the Chancellor do to help people like you?

It would be tax reliefs and more support. I used to use the Growth Vouchers scheme [advice from private sectors to help small businesses] but the budget on that has been cut to virtually nothing. It seems there are fewer ways to get top-level advice to help the growth of small businesses. I have one full-time employee and with PAYE and National Insurance you are looking up to 13 per cent more on top of their salary, which is a lot for a small firm. Some help for small businesses looking to expand staff would help, like a National Insurance scheme for those with a low number of employees or a turnover below a certain amount. Or some form of money-back scheme. Help with pensions and automatic enrolment would also be beneficial.

Are you optimistic about the future?

The economy is good at the moment which when you are selling a luxury product like mine is good. When the economy is good corporate clients are more willing to spend on hospitality. Leaving the EU could be difficult and is a worry. We may have to pay additional costs to import certain products or we might lose some corporate clients. If it meant the value of the pound might drop or it would hit the economy that would potentially hit us as people are less likely to spend on catering.

The working family: Childcare costs stop Sian going back to work

Working family: Jono and Sian Wylie, both 23, live in a one-bed flat in Holloway with six-month-old daughter Belle / Nigel Howard

Jono and Sian Wylie, both 23, live in a one-bed flat in Holloway with six-month-old daughter Belle. Sian is a full-time mother and blogs about family life at wyliediaries.com. Jono works in brand and marketing

Annual salary: 30,000-35,000

Monthly outgoings (combined): 1,115 rent, 200 bills, 200 food and groceries, 150 travel, 50 going out, 150 clothes and sundries

What could the Chancellor do to help people like you?

The aim is for Sian to remain as a stay-at-home mother. The cost of childcare means it would not be worth her going back to work and we always wanted to have a big family young. I am in a good job that pays well, with a supportive company, and there is a lot of opportunity here. We are in Islington North, Jeremy Corbyns constituency. In terms of education and other facilities for a young family it has all been fantastic. The biggest thing that would help us, though, is housing. We are not just hundreds of pounds away from a deposit to buy a house but many thousands. The Chancellor gives treats away in his Budget but it never solves the problem. Last year, we saved 40 a week  and the average house price in our borough went up far more than that. So there was no point saving. Diversion tactics wont make a difference: something serious needs to be done to tackle housing.

Are you optimistic about the future?

London has always been the centre of opportunity and the economy seems to be good at the moment. We are comfortable and have disposable income so we are happy about the future. My job is secure and Sian is happy at home and with her blog. If that changes because of the EU or Brexit then we might have to do some hustling. Its hard to say whether we will have to leave London if our family expands. We still really believe that you can be young, ambitious, have a good job and be financially secure and have a baby in London.

The first-time buyer: 'More must be done to build affordable housing'

First time buyer: Max Dubiel / Nigel Howard

Max Dubiel, 26, works in publishing and lives in Streatham Common. He and partner Daniel Stocker, 25, are buying a house together in Hanger Lane

Annual salary: Max, 23,500; Daniel, 32,000

Monthly outgoings: 650 rent; 750 food, travel, bills

Expected monthly outgoings in new house: 1,100 mortgage; 800 food, travel, bills

What could the Chancellor do to help people like you?

More needs to be done to help first-time buyers, particularly in London.

We were a bit late for Help to Buy and I didnt want to do shared ownership. I felt a bit weird having a mortgage for a bit of a house. But then not everyone is as fortunate as me to have a deposit.

More needs to be done to build affordable housing too. I dont think we should go on to the green belt but I read recently that the Green mayoral candidate [Sian Berry] was talking about converting some of City airport into housing which on brief reading struck me as an excellent idea.

Are you optimistic about the future?

I do not think generally we should leave the EU. I think, much like Scotland, we are better together. In terms of the economy and my house, Brexit makes me nervous. Speculation as to whether we would leave the EU has already seen the exchange rate and the value of the pound alter.

My sister and I both had bonds for our deposits  hers was taken out last year and it stayed the same value whereas mine dropped due to Brexit fears.

So I have been hit by Brexit already. I dont think the value of my house will drop much as London property is fairly safe. But I worry it might mean I make less on it, which I care about.
T ory leadership rules must be shaken up to allow party members to choose from four candidates, a senior backbencher urged today.

Romford MP Andrew Rosindell called for reforms which would stop MPs presenting a list of just two contenders, with the final choice going to party members.

The change would make it more likely that Boris Johnson and a candidate from the partys Right, possibly former defence secretary Liam Fox, would be in the four chosen.

It would also make it more difficult for supporters of Chancellor George Osborne to engineer a contest between him and just one other candidate who was unlikely to beat him.

Mr Rosindell believes David Cameron is likely to stand down in 2018 or 2019 to give his successor a chance to establish himself, or herself, ahead of the next general election in 2020.

It is extremely important that in the upcoming leadership election party members are provided with a proper choice of candidates, he wrote on website ConservativeHome.

In my view, this would involve increasing the number of leadership candidates that can be presented to members from two to four.

He praised the recent selection process to pick the Tory candidate for Mayor of London where there were four contenders, although Zac Goldsmith was always favourite to win.

He also said there were four candidates in the 2005 leadership election, Mr Cameron, David Davis, Liam Fox and Ken Clarke, but this was narrowed down to a choice for party members between the first two.

Presenting all four of these candidates to members would have presented the latter with a more full choice, he explained.

He argued that Mr Fox was gaining momentum in his campaign just before he was knocked out of the contest.

So who is to say that he wouldnt have given both Cameron and Davis a run for their money if hed reached the final stage? he added.

Having four candidates, he insisted, would be a powerful demonstration of faith in the membership and would help to heal what has often been a strained relationship between grassroot Tories and the leadership.

Given that there are 330 Tory MPs, each candidate would need the backing of around 50 to be eligible for the four-strong shortlist.

However, party chiefs are unlikely to be keen to allow party members a greater say in selecting the next leader given the woes Labour has been plunged into by the election of Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Rosindell did, however, stress that his proposals would be limited to party members, not a wider electorate as happened with Labour which saw an influx of Left-wingers who backed Islington North MP Mr Corbyn.
M otorists are being fined up to 3million a week in fines issued on the Dartford Crossing, it has emerged.

More than 1.5million drivers were hit by penalty charge notices for failing to pay to use the bridge in the period from November 2014 to October last year, figures show.

It means drivers could be forking out more than 3 million per week if they pay the maximum 105 fine, which is payable if the charge is not settled within 28 days.

Drivers using the east London crossing who receive a penalty notice are charged 70 but the fine can be reduced to 35 if it is paid within 14 days.

Previously, motorists paid the 2 charge, which recently increased to 2.50, at the toll booths before the bridge but Highways England replaced the system with Dart Charge in November 2014.

Now drivers are charged through number plate recognition in an effort to reduce congestion.

However, motoring groups complained a huge number of motorists have received fines since the free-flow changes were introduced.

Paul Watters, from the AA, told LBC: It clearly is about raising revenue.

There really is no need for there to be charges there at all in our view because drivers already pay something like 46billion in motoring taxes every single year so anything on top of that is arguably a tax too far.

"This isn't a charge, it's a tax really, so it is a concern it's not about managing demand."

A spokesman for Highways England said: "Dart Charge continues to bring the benefits of relieving congestion and speeding up journeys at the Dartford Crossing; without the charge, traffic volumes would increase and the economic benefits from the Crossing would reduce significantly.

The vast majority of people are paying the charge on time. Our approach has always been to help drivers comply with the system, pay the charge and avoid penalties. Thats why we waive the first penalties for any vehicle if outstanding crossing charges are paid within 14 days of receipt of the first penalty charge notice.

It is only fair to those drivers that do pay the charge that we follow up on cases of continued non-payment.
T he Queen was hailed for her conservation efforts today as Epping Forest, the jewel in Londons crown, joined a project to protect woodland in the Commonwealth for future generations.

The Queens Commonwealth Canopy wants to create a network of forest conservation projects in the Commonwealths 53 nations.

It already includes thousands of hectares of land in Australia, Canada, India, Zambia and Malaysia. Now Epping Forest, Londons largest green space with more than one million trees, is joining the initiative.

The Queen and Prince Philip will today attend a reception for The High Commissioners Banquet at the Guildhall as part of Commonwealth week.

Jewel in the crown: the Queens Commonwealth Canopy will now include Epping Forest (Rex)

The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Jeffrey Mountevans, will announce he is dedicating Epping Forest to the QCC.

He said: The Queens Commonwealth Canopy is an excellent way to work together on forestry conservation in all 53 Commonwealth nations. The ancient woodland of Epping Forest is a jewel in the capitals crown, and we are delighted to share our experience, expertise and skills in this area for such an important global initiative.

The QCC is a partnership between Buckingham Palace, the Royal Commonwealth Society and rainforest charity Cool Earth.
T he Foreign Office today defended two British diplomats stopped by security officers after allegedly filming a military air base in Russia.

RAF attache Brigadier-General Carl Scott and assistant naval attache Captain Ryan Coatalen-Hodgson were alleged to have illegally snooped on Mozdok airport in the Caucasus.

Footage was released of police tailing their official car and of images of the attaches identity cards after they were pulled in at a checkpoint.

They were said to have carried out secret observation and using special photo and video recording equipment, according to an FSB secret service source. The police may in fact have been the FSB.

British defence attache held in Russia

The officials refused to show the Russians what if anything they had filmed at the airfield, citing diplomatic immunity, according to Moscow reports. Despite the incident, it is believed that no official complaint has been made to the British Embassy in Moscow.

The Foreign Office said: It is routine for defence attaches to travel around their host countries in the course of their diplomatic duties.

"The defence attaches from the British embassy in Moscow submitted to all relevant checks requested by the Russian authorities.
T wo terrorist suspects have been arrested in Brussels following a raid in which an alleged accomplice was killed and four police officers were wounded, security forces announced today.

All of those caught and killed are thought to be linked to last Novembers attacks on Paris, during which an Islamic State cell including suicide bombers murdered 130 people.

The pair who were taken into custody are thought to be brothers Khalid and Ibrahim El Bakraoui, known for their links with violent crime in the area around the Belgian capital.

Federal prosecutors spokesman Eric Van Der Sijpt said the pair fled when officers raided a flat in the Brussels suburb of Forest at 3pm yesterday in connection with forged documents.

As soon as the agents rang the doorbell of the property, gunfire was direc- ted at them from inside, said Mr Van Der Sijpt, who added that a Franco-Belgium team of officers was taken totally by surprise.

Brothers Khalid, 27, and Ibrahim, 30 are said to have fled the flat, where Kalashnikov assault rifles were found.

A French policewoman and two Belgian officers were wounded in the initial exchange of fire and another Belgian officer was hit during a gunfight later in the afternoon. A federal police spokesman today said all officers involved in the raid are believed to be accounted for.

Homes and schools in the area were evacuated, while a nearby Audi car plant was put into lockdown.

There was initial speculation that the raid was connected to Salah Abdeslam, a Brussels-born jihadi who was involved in the Paris attacks, but this was later discounted.

Abdeslam, 26, was known to have escaped to Belgium following the carnage in the French capital on November 13th, but he remains on the run.

The other nine men who took part in the attacks all died, either through machinegun fire or because they blew themselves up.

Eleven people based in Belgium have so far been charged in connection with the Paris attacks. Eight of those 11 remain in custody.

Forest is close to the Brussels suburb of Molenbeek, where many of those behind the Paris attacks lived.
P eople in the United Arab Emirates have been warned posting pictures or comments online about rain, fires or accidents could land them in jail, according to reports.

Posting negative images and views about places like Dubai on social networking sites could cause confusion or panic in society, along with damaging the reputation of the country, Emirates 24/7 reported.

During recent heavy rains in the Middle Eastern country, officials said many behaved irresponsibly on social media by posting photos of submerged cars and lightning strikes.

The Interior Ministry has allegedly warned there would be legal consequences for others who follow suit.

Colonel Dr Salah Obeid Al Ghoul told local newspaper Emarat Al Youm that reports of social media are misleading and lack credibility, and spreading rumours is a criminal offence.

He added that anyone who broadcasts false or malicious news that breaches public security would be jailed for anything between a month and three years.

Lawyer Yousef Al Sharif told Emirates 24/7 said violators could also be fined up to one million United Arab Emirates dirham [192,000] for damaging the countrys reputation.
A n American tourist was today sentenced to 15 years of hard labour in a North Korean prison after admitting attempting to steal a propaganda banner from hotel.

Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate student, was convicted of subversion and sentenced in a one-hour trial at the Supreme Court.

Mr Warmbier was arrested in early January as he tried to leave the country after visiting as a tourist with a new year tour group.

In a statement before his trial, he told a gathering of reporters in Pyongyang he wanted the banner as a trophy for the mother of a friend.

North Korea announced the arrest in late January, saying Mr Warmbier committed an anti-state crime with the tacit connivance of the US government and under its manipulation.

He had been staying at the Yanggakdo International Hotel, which is on an island in a river that runs through Pyongyang, the capital.
T he brand new trailer for the Ben Hur remake gives fans a first look at British star Jack Huston in action.

Hitting screens more than five decades after the Charlton Heston classic, the new film features stars including Morgan Freeman, Toby Kebbell and Nazanin Boniadi.

Giving viewers a taste of what to expect from the big screen release this summer, MGM-Paramount dropped the trailer on Wednesday.

The trailer shows Broadwalk Empire star Huston take the reins from Charlton Heston in the lead role as the Jewish prince betrayed into slavery.

Apparently staying true to the original, the story focuses on Hur taking his vengeance on the best friend who betrayed him.

Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) has directed the film from a screenplay written by Keith Clare and John Ridley.

While the remake of such an epic film has attracted some criticism from film fans, the project has been in the works for a few years.

The original film, which co-starred Stephen Boyd and Jack Hawkins won an impressive 11 Oscars at the Academy Awards back in 1959 including the coveted Best Picture.

The Ben Hur remake will hit cinemas on August 12.
S ince his breakthrough role in This Is England, Michael Sochas career has gone from strength to strength  but he is putting his plans to break America on hold to accommodate his toddler sons pre-school timetable.

The actor, 28, is currently starring in E4s The Aliens and is about to start rehearsals for his West End debut in This Is Living at the Trafalgar Studios.

Socha, who played Harvey in Shane Meadowss 2006 era-defining film and subsequent This Is England TV series, has a three-year-old son, Elis, with ex-partner Faye Ray.

In 2013 he won the lead in ABC series Once Upon A Time In Wonderland, which was filmed in Vancouver and involved spending months away from Elis. He said: It was a massive issue being so far away from him. His mum is really good and brings him out to visit me when Im filming, but hes been to five different countries before he was two. Hes starting pre-school and its important that hes settled and has a routine.

The actor, who lives in a village outside his native Derby so he can be close to Elis, said he was shitting himself about returning to theatre after eight years away, but performing on the London stage was a childhood ambition. He said: I started out doing theatre and that was all I wanted to do until This Is England came along. But it wasnt like I was actively looking to get back into theatre. This script came along and it just blew me away.

The two-hander, by Liam Borrett, is about a single father who is able to communicate with his late wife, played by Tamla Kari  Sochas co-star in BBC series Being Human. He said: I did draw on my own experience of being a father. Theres similarities between me and the character, but hes a lot nicer. Its about the acceptance of loss, having a family and love.

Best TV dramas 2016 1 /38 Best TV dramas 2016 The Missing The addictive and twisty second series of the BBC's crime anthology series BBC/New Pictures/Robert Viglasky Dark Angel Joanne Froggatt stared as Victorian mass murderer Mary Ann Cotton in this ITV drama ITV Close to the Enemy Stephen Poliakoff's post-war drama thriller BBC/Little Island Pictures Ordinary Lies The BBC anthology drama returns with more twisted tales BBC/Red Productions/Adrian Rogers The Night Of Riz Ahmed stars in HBO's critically acclaimed crime mini-series HBO Cold Feet The classic ITV comedy-drama returns - and it's just as good as it ever was ITV Victoria ITV have given Poldark some stiff competition with this period drama about a young Queen Victoria ITV Poldark The BBC's hit drama returns with more brooding, and less naked scything BBC/Robert Viglasky One of Us The BBC kept everyone guessing with this claustrophobic four-part whodunit Ripper Street The fan-favourite Victorian police drama returned for Series 4 BBC/Tiger Aspect 2016/Bernard Walsh The Secret Agent Toby Jones led the cast in the BBC's Joseph Conrad adaptation BBC/World Productions/Mark Mainz/Matt Burlem The Living and the Dead The BBC's gothic romance debuted in full on iPlayer BBC Preacher AMC's adaptation of Garth Ennis' cult comic book is available week-by-week on Amazon Prime Amazon / AMC Versailles A raunchy royal romp around the court of King Louis XIV, spicing up Wednesdays on BBC Two Canal +/ BBC Locked Up The Spanish prison drama came to the UK thanks to Channel 4's Walter Presents series Channel 4 / Global Series Peaky Blinders The Birmingham-set gangster thriller was more popular than ever in its third series BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd/Tiger Aspect/Robert Viglasky The A Word The BBC gave us a nuanced and emotional take on autism BBC/Fifty Fathoms Marcella Anna Friel stars in ITV's British take on the Scandi-noir thriller ITV Grantchester James Norton is back as the crime-solving vicar ITV / Lovely Day Stag The comedy-thriller from the team behind The Wrong Mans is both hilarious and chilling BBC/Des Willie/Hal Shinnie/Matt Burlem Vinyl Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger present a glossy drama about the Seventies music industry HBO American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson Cuba Gooding Jr leads an all-star cast in a dramatic re-telling of the 'trial of century' BBC/Fox Happy Valley Sarah Lancashire returned as Sgt Catherine Cawood for a second series of the gritty crime thriller BBC/Red Productions/Ben Blackall The X Files Mulder and Scully return for a brand new set of mysteries War and Peace The BBC's epic adaptation of the Russian literary classic BBC/Mitch Jenkins Call the Midwife The BBC period drama moved into the Sixties for Series 5 BBC/Neal Street Productions/Sophie Mutevelian Dickensian Charles Dickens' most famous characters collide in this historical soap BBC Jericho ITV's British western set in the wilds of Yorkshire Silent Witness The hugely popular detective drama returns for a 19th series

This Is Living runs from May 17 to June 11.
L ouis Theroux will front two brand new documentaries for the BBC later this year.

The journalist and filmmaker, who has interviewed the likes of Jimmy Savile and Max Clifford, will take a look at alcohol addiction and brain injury.

Drinking to Oblivion will be the first film, in which Theroux will spend time with people in the grips of alcohol addiction and the medical staff trying to help them.

The second film, Brain Injury, will explore the long-term effects of brain injury on individuals and their families in the UK.

Best TV dramas 2016 1 /38 Best TV dramas 2016 The Missing The addictive and twisty second series of the BBC's crime anthology series BBC/New Pictures/Robert Viglasky Dark Angel Joanne Froggatt stared as Victorian mass murderer Mary Ann Cotton in this ITV drama ITV Close to the Enemy Stephen Poliakoff's post-war drama thriller BBC/Little Island Pictures Ordinary Lies The BBC anthology drama returns with more twisted tales BBC/Red Productions/Adrian Rogers The Night Of Riz Ahmed stars in HBO's critically acclaimed crime mini-series HBO Cold Feet The classic ITV comedy-drama returns - and it's just as good as it ever was ITV Victoria ITV have given Poldark some stiff competition with this period drama about a young Queen Victoria ITV Poldark The BBC's hit drama returns with more brooding, and less naked scything BBC/Robert Viglasky One of Us The BBC kept everyone guessing with this claustrophobic four-part whodunit Ripper Street The fan-favourite Victorian police drama returned for Series 4 BBC/Tiger Aspect 2016/Bernard Walsh The Secret Agent Toby Jones led the cast in the BBC's Joseph Conrad adaptation BBC/World Productions/Mark Mainz/Matt Burlem The Living and the Dead The BBC's gothic romance debuted in full on iPlayer BBC Preacher AMC's adaptation of Garth Ennis' cult comic book is available week-by-week on Amazon Prime Amazon / AMC Versailles A raunchy royal romp around the court of King Louis XIV, spicing up Wednesdays on BBC Two Canal +/ BBC Locked Up The Spanish prison drama came to the UK thanks to Channel 4's Walter Presents series Channel 4 / Global Series Peaky Blinders The Birmingham-set gangster thriller was more popular than ever in its third series BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd/Tiger Aspect/Robert Viglasky The A Word The BBC gave us a nuanced and emotional take on autism BBC/Fifty Fathoms Marcella Anna Friel stars in ITV's British take on the Scandi-noir thriller ITV Grantchester James Norton is back as the crime-solving vicar ITV / Lovely Day Stag The comedy-thriller from the team behind The Wrong Mans is both hilarious and chilling BBC/Des Willie/Hal Shinnie/Matt Burlem Vinyl Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger present a glossy drama about the Seventies music industry HBO American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson Cuba Gooding Jr leads an all-star cast in a dramatic re-telling of the 'trial of century' BBC/Fox Happy Valley Sarah Lancashire returned as Sgt Catherine Cawood for a second series of the gritty crime thriller BBC/Red Productions/Ben Blackall The X Files Mulder and Scully return for a brand new set of mysteries War and Peace The BBC's epic adaptation of the Russian literary classic BBC/Mitch Jenkins Call the Midwife The BBC period drama moved into the Sixties for Series 5 BBC/Neal Street Productions/Sophie Mutevelian Dickensian Charles Dickens' most famous characters collide in this historical soap BBC Jericho ITV's British western set in the wilds of Yorkshire Silent Witness The hugely popular detective drama returns for a 19th series

Adam Barker, BBC Two Channel Editor, said: BBC Two is delighted to welcome Louis Theroux back to the channel with a set of films covering British subjects with his usual penetrating documentary gaze and commitment to unpicking complex human dilemmas with highly sophisticated filmmaking

Last year it was announced that Theroux would film a follow-up documentary about Savile.

The controversial filmmaker, who spent three months with the late TV presenter back in 2000, will re-interview those closest to him as well as some of his victims.

Theroux struck up a friendship with Savile- who was posthumously revealed to be a sex offender  after the interview, even staying over at his house on a number of occasions.

A BBC spokesperson said: At the time, he knew there was more to him than met the eye and, while he succeeded in showing a different side of Jimmy Savile, the darkest side of this hugely complex celebrity eluded him.

They added that, in the new film, Theroux will attempt to understand the personality of a man who was able to commit such a spectrum of sexual crimes.

How someone he once called a friend used his celebrity status to commit these crimes; and how the power of this public image afforded him immunity.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)  Overwhelming support for a bill is no guarantee of swift passage in the Nebraska Legislature, even as lawmakers face increasing deadlines in the final days of the 2016 session.

Senators voted 39-3 Tuesday to advance a bill that would allow the Game and Parks Commission to increase hunting and fishing permit fees, but only after spending six hours rejecting dozens of measures by Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers to kill, change or delay it.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. John McCollister of Omaha, said user fees were last adjusted in 2003 and increases would help the commission pay rising operational costs to maintain picnic tables, grills and roads in state parks.

Chambers launched a three-day attack on the bill and refused to back down until senators supported the revival of his failed bill to eliminate mountain lion hunting season in Nebraska, which is determined on a yearly basis by Game and Parks.

Chambers, the self-proclaimed defender of the downtrodden, calls mountain lions "shy, reclusive, unoffending animals," and says the population in Nebraska is so small that management isn't necessary.

McCollister said the commission's ability to regulate hunting is an important wildlife management tool and the Legislature should not interfere with the specifics of the process.

"Any effort to establish a provision for mountain lions or extend certain seasons or shorten any others makes absolutely no sense to me," McCollister said.

McCollister's bill could earn an estimated $2.5 million for the Game and Parks Commission the first year and $5 million the following year if all of the fees were raised to their new maximums. Supporters say the increases would only affect Nebraskans who actually use the parks, and the recreational activities and areas supported by Game and Parks further tourism, which is the state's third largest industry.

Some opponents questioned why the commission needs additional funding, especially after the Legislature approved more than $3 million annually in 2014 for deferred maintenance projects.

Sen. Lydia Brasch, of Bancroft, criticized using precious time for the lengthy debate before the Legislature has even begun discussing bills on property tax cuts or the state budget.

"If we do need to increase fees, I would ask that it wait, wait until the dust settles here," she said. "Wait until we're not on a short session."

The bill faces two more rounds of voting, and Chambers says he will continue to use legislative procedure to stall it.

"The place you've put me in is one where I have no choice but to come out fighting," he said.

___

The bill is LB 745.
This week is Sunshine Week.

It sounds like a day to celebrate spring-like temperatures, doesnt it? However, the week actually highlights the need for government transparency. Let the light shine on the truth.

When you read a newspaper story or watch a television news report, all the information is tied together in neat little packages. It seems easily put together. Journalists know that is not necessarily the case.

A few years ago, I attended a conference for health reporters in Philadelphia. One of the sessions, on filing Freedom of Information Act requests, was enlightening. Some of the reporters that were presenting, and even some in the audience, had FOIA requests that had been waiting for a response for years.

Not weeks. Years. On topics that seemed of importance, like where Medicare dollars were being spent. How were doctors or other health care professionals who had committed fraud able to pocket thousands of dollars? These reporters worked tirelessly, with a project always coming on and off the shelf, to highlight issues and concerns that have and could result in change. Some of the stories made you cringe, some of them made you cry. Some of the changes cited as the result of the work of reporters affected the lives of our nations elderly in the case of nursing home reform to our nations tiniest babies in child abuse exposes.

In Nebraska, within the last year, the Omaha World-Herald highlighted the woes of our prison system in its own series of stories that wouldnt have been possible without public records. They turned the light on sentence miscalculations that resulted in the early release. As a reporter, and a citizen, I was glued to the story about inmates - including Scotts Bluff County inmates  who had been released before completing their sentences. One man, who had been convicted of charges in Scotts Bluff County, severely beat another man after having been released from prison early. The Omaha World-Herald highlighted similar - and some much more serious  stories and weve seen reform of the prison system and that work continues today.

Not only did the series show that sentences had been miscalculated, but a lack of oversight by its leaders, financial problems, overcrowding and even failures in treating inmates for mental health illnesses. The report was great work and will hopefully result in great change, including the more efficient operation of our prison system.

The press are often called government watchdogs for a reason. It results in a love-hate relationship with our leaders, sometimes with our readers, but its work that needs to be done. All you need to do is look at a country without a free press to see where we could be without the work of the great Fourth Estate. We dont have presidential candidates attacking the media because they arent doing their jobs. Its because they are, and they arent propaganda machines.

However, the media cant do its job without you. Support your favorite media. Give em an atta boy once in awhile. It can be a thankless, even tiring, job.

Remember, they dont just do their jobs for themselves, but also for you. Without them, the world could even be darker.
This page is archived. Data published after 5 April 2022 can be found on the renewed website. Go to the new statistics page

Published: 16 March 2016

General government debt relative to GDP was 63.1 per cent at the end of 2015

General government EDP debt, or consolidated gross debt at nominal prices, totalled EUR 130.7 billion at the end of 2015. Compared with the previous year, general government debt increased by EUR 9.0 billion and the GDP share of the debt rose from 59.3 to 63.1 per cent. These data derive from Statistics Finland's statistics on general government debt by quarter.

General government debt by quarter

According to the initial preliminary data, Finland's general government debt grew during 2015 by EUR 9.0 billion to EUR 130.7 billion. At the end of 2015, debt relative to GDP was 63.1 per cent, which means that it exceeded the reference value of 60 per cent defined in the EU's Stability and Growth Pact. During the year, central government debt increased by EUR 5.8 billion, local government debt by EUR 0.8 billion, and social security funds' debt by EUR 0.9 billion. Debts between the sub-sectors of general government diminished by EUR 1.2 billion, when employment pension schemes decreased their investments in central government bonds.

During the last quarter of 2015, general government debt grew by EUR 4.7 billion. Central government debt increased by EUR 3.0 billion and totalled EUR 113.2 billion at the end of the quarter. Central government debt grew in the last quarter mainly because the stock of bonds increased by EUR 0.9 billion and short-term debt securities by EUR 1.9 billion. Local government debt, that is, the debt of municipalities and joint municipal authorities, rose by EUR 0.5 billion in the last quarter, and stood at EUR 18.5 billion at the end of the year. Social security funds also increased their debt during the last quarter by EUR 0.3 billion in total.

General government EDP debt describes general governments debt to other sectors of the national economy and to the rest of the world, and its development is influenced by changes in unconsolidated debt and internal general government debts. Consolidated general government gross debt is derived by deducting debts between units recorded under general government from unconsolidated gross debt. For this reason, general government debt is smaller than the combined debts of its sub-sectors.

In general government accounts, the European Financial Stability Facility EFSF is, based on Eurostat's decision, handled so that the EFSF's borrowing is recorded as part of the gross government debt of the countries that have provided guarantees, based on the share in the ECB's capital of each country participating in the support operations. At the end of 2015, EUR 3,401 million were recorded as debt granted by the EFSF to beneficiary countries in Finland's general government debt, the amount at the end of 2014 being EUR 3,611 million. Corresponding treatment does not apply to the European Stability Mechanism (ESM).

The EDP debt of general government differs conceptionally to some extent in the case of central government, from the central government debt published by the State Treasury. Central government's EDP debt includes loans granted to beneficiary counties by the European Financial Stability Facility EFSF mentioned above, received cash collaterals related to derivative contracts, the capital of the Nuclear Waste Management Fund, debts generated from investments in central government's PPP (public-private partnership) projects, coins that are in circulation, and the deposits of the European Commission. In National Accounts, central government is also a broader concept than budget and financial economy (http://www.stat.fi/meta/luokitukset/_linkki/julkisyhteisot.html). The valuation principle for both debt concepts is the nominal value, where the effect of currency swaps is taken into account.

The data are preliminary. The first data on general government deficit and debt to be reported to the European Commission will be published on 31 March 2016 in the statistics on General government deficit and debt. The data may become revised in that connection.

Source: General government debt by quarter, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Anu Marttila 029 551 2309, Riikka Tupala 029 551 3349, rahoitus.tilinpito@stat.fi

Director in charge: Ville Vertanen

Publication in pdf-format (214.1 kB)

Updated 16.03.2016

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): General government debt by quarter [e-publication].

ISSN=1799-8034. 4th quarter 2015. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 22.10.2022].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/jyev/2015/04/jyev_2015_04_2016-03-16_tie_001_en.html
This page is archived. Data published after 5 April 2022 can be found on the renewed website. Go to the new statistics page

Published: 16 March 2016

Gross domestic product grew by 0.5 per cent last year

According to Statistics Finlands preliminary data, the volume of Finlands GDP grew by 0.5 per cent in 2015. The growth rate became slightly revised from the data on quarterly national accounts published at the end of February (was 0.4 per cent). Last year, GDP that describes the output of the national economy stood at EUR 207 billion. National income describing the income of the national economy went up by 1.6 per cent in real terms.

Annual change in the volume of gross domestic product, per cent

Total manufacturing contracted by 0.6 per cent. Value added fell most in the manufacture of electrical and electronics industry, by 2.6 per cent. Service industries grew as a whole by 0.9 per cent. Private services grew by 1.8 per cent but public services decreased by 1.1 per cent. Growth was biggest in information and communication activities, 4.9 per cent and in financial and insurance activities, 3.8 per cent.

Despite the slight growth in production, the demand of the national economy decreased by 0.4 per cent last year. Demand was depressed by lower investments, public consumption and inventories. Investments decreased by 1.1 per cent. Public consumption contracted by 0.9 per cent but the volume of private consumption went up by 1.4 per cent. The volume of exports grew by 0.6 per cent and that of imports fell by 0.4 per cent.

Non-financial corporations' operating surplus describing profits from their actual operations contracted by one per cent. By contrast, entrepreneurial income that describes the profit before payment of taxes and dividends grew by four per cent. It is estimated that non-financial corporations paid eight per cent less dividends and 14 per cent more direct taxes than in the year before. Non-financial corporations' financial position showed a surplus of EUR 9.2 billion. The financial position improved thanks to a reduction in inventories.

The financial position of financial and insurance corporations showed a surplus of EUR 0.5 billion. Financial corporations commission income grew by four per cent but interest income (financial intermediation services indirectly measured) remained almost unchanged.

General government deficit 2.7 per cent of GDP

The financial position of general government, i.e. net lending, was in deficit for the seventh successive year, EUR 5.7 billion. In the previous year, the deficit was EUR 6.5 billion. The deficit was 2.7 per cent relative to GDP, which was below the three per cent reference value of the European Union unlike in 2014. Statistics Finland will publish the deficit and debt data that must be reported to the European Commission on 31 March 2016. The deficit data published here may become revised in that connection.

General government surplus / deficit relative to GDP, per cent

The deficit of central government was EUR 6.3 billion, while one year before it was EUR 7.7 billion. One of the reasons for the contraction of the deficit was a 1.7 per cent growth in tax revenues. The deficit or net borrowing of local government (municipalities and joint municipal authorities, etc.) contracted to EUR 1.4 billion according to preliminary data, having been EUR 1.6 billion in the year before.

The surplus of employment pension funds decreased from EUR 3.4 billion to EUR 2.9 billion. The State Pension Funds higher than usual income recognition to the state lowered the deficit. The surplus does not include holding gains in assets. Other social security funds were EUR 0.8 billion in deficit mainly due to increased unemployment expenses.

General government's share of the gross value added was 20.7 per cent in 2015, which was 0.1 percentage points lower than in 2014.

Households real income grew by one per cent

Households real income grew by one per cent. Households' adjusted real income grew by 0.6 per cent. Adjusted income also takes into consideration welfare services, i.e. the individual services that general government and organisations produce for households, such as educational, health and social services.

Wage and salary income grew by 0.8 per cent in nominal terms. Social security benefits went up by 3.2 per cent, as the number of pensioners and unemployed increased. By contrast, property income and entrepreneurial income decreased by 0.1 per cent.

Direct taxes paid by households and compulsory social security contributions increased by 2.1 per cent. In nominal terms, final consumption expenditure grew by 1.8 per cent but investments, mainly in dwelling, decreased by 0.8 per cent.

Source: National Accounts 2015, preliminary data. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Olli Savela 029 551 3316, Tuomas Rothovius 029 551 3360, kansantalous@stat.fi

Director in charge: Ville Vertanen

Publication in pdf-format (318.1 kB)

Updated 16.3.2016

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Annual national accounts [e-publication].

ISSN=1798-0623. 2015. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 22.10.2022].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/vtp/2015/vtp_2015_2016-03-16_tie_001_en.html
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Less than an hour after the final state polls closed, it was too early to declare a winner in a Republican race that has had Donald Trump as the national front-runner.

Clinton and Trump both also won Florida on Tuesday; the state is considered one of the night's biggest prizes, along with Ohio. But North Carolina also offers a hefty cache of delegates and has hosted numerous appearances by candidates.

In Raleigh, retail worker Ashley Wilson Brook voted for Clinton, saying: "I'm ready for the first woman president."

"She has America's future at stake and at heart, and echoes all my beliefs," Brook said. "She believes in climate change. She wants women's rights. She does not want to take us back. She wants to take us forward."

North Carolina has traditionally held presidential primaries in May, but legislative leaders decided in 2013 to move up the date  which has increased interest among voters.

"It's great that North Carolina is more competitive this year, and I hope it leads to more voter turnout," said Chantelle Wolpert, who joined a line snaking out the door at a Durham polling place Tuesday afternoon. She planned to vote for Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The State Board of Elections says 684,500 people voted at early voting sites statewide before they closed Saturday afternoon, setting a record. That represents more than 1 in 10 of the state's 6.5 million registered voters.

North Carolina Democrats will distribute 107 convention delegates and Republicans will allocate 72 delegates based on the presidential primary results. Both state parties allocate their delegates proportionally, either based on results by congressional districts or statewide.

The state's Democrats also have 14 superdelegates that can make their own endorsement decisions and aren't obligated to follow Tuesday's totals.

Dorothy Leamon of Clemmons said she voted for Trump because she thinks he'll shake things up in Washington.

"I think he is an innovator that can change the culture of the Washington people. I'm very interested in what he can do," said Leamon

Leamon, who said she's semi-retired and runs an accounting practice, would like to see Trump shift his campaign rhetoric: "I would like for him to tone it down a little bit, but I do like that he's a leader. And I think that has been missing for so long in the Obama administration."

Other voters also expressed misgivings about the tone of the campaign.

Elijah Morgan, an electrical engineering student at North Carolina State University who's registered as an unaffiliated voter, said he voted for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio even though he's not thrilled by the candidate.

"So he's not my picture-perfect candidate. But I do like a lot of the things he stands for," Morgan said.

However, he said he'd prefer a contested convention over a victory for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz or Trump.

Sam Vaughan, a lifelong Durham resident and registered Democrat, said he has usually supported Republican presidential candidates in the general election since Ronald Reagan. He said if the general election were today, he'd pick Cruz, but he lamented the tone of the current election.

"They're arguing and fussing over one another instead of the issues. They've not talked about the issues much at all," he said.

Because of his registration, he can't vote in the Republican primary. Asked if he was going to use his vote Tuesday, he declined to name his pick but smiled coyly and said: "I'm not voting for Hillary!"
On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton took her party's presidential primary by capturing support from black voters, women, the affluent and those struggling economically, the surveys showed.

Trump did best with voters in North Carolina's suburbs, small towns and rural areas. Republicans wanting a candidate who would bring change or who "tells it like it is" favored Trump, according to the early data from surveys conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks.

The billionaire businessman also was strongest among older voters, men, those without a college degree, those who said they are somewhat conservative, and those in households making less than $50,000 a year.Trump also won with the nearly 6 in 10 GOP voters who said they felt betrayed by Republican politicians. His backers also included 1 in 7 primary voters who said they were military veterans. And he divided the backing of born-again Christians with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

Here are more details of what exit polls found out about voters in the Tar Heel State:
By MARK EVANS mevans@stegenherald.com During last Thursdays county commission meeting, the topic of tourism came up. First District Commissioner Karen Stuppy reported on the Tourism Advisory Council and Tourism Tax Commissions joint meeting earlier that week, at which a task force was formed. She said that the tourism department has an $89,548 budget, with $45,000-50,000
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the office of Sen. Claire McCaskill issued a press release applauding the Senate action. It was issued by the Environmental Working Group. The Post-Dispatch regrets the error.

_____

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Senate on Wednesday blocked a bill that would nullify state and local efforts requiring food makers to label products made with genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, as the industry races to stop a Vermont law from taking effect July 1.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., comes amid growing calls for transparency in the U.S. food system. Labeling advocates oppose the bill because it leaves the decision to disclose GMO ingredients to the companies whose products contain them.

The bill is known as the Biotech Labeling Solutions Act by supporters and the Deny Americans the Right to Know, or DARK, Act, by opponents. Proponents of the legislation on Wednesday failed to obtain the necessary 60 votes to advance the bill in the Senate, with 49 yes votes and 48 no votes.

Roberts vowed to keep fighting as the deadline looms for Vermont's law  which requires labels on food products containing GMOs  to take effect.

"I remain at the ready to work on a solution," Roberts said.

In a press release Wednesday, the Environmental Working Group applauded Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., for voting to block the bill, calling the action "a major win for consumers."

Connecticut and Maine have passed GMO labeling laws similar to Vermont's, but those are on hold until other states enact similar measures. GMO labeling bills are pending in 31 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The United States is the world's largest market for foods made with genetically altered ingredients. Many processed foods are made with soybeans, corn and other biotech crops whose genetic traits have been manipulated, often to make them resistant to insects and pesticides.

Major food, farm and biotech seed companies spent more than $100 million in the United States last year fighting labeling efforts, according to the Environmental Working Group, which opposes the Roberts measure.

GMO labeling foes include trade groups such as the Grocery Manufacturers Association, whose members have included PepsiCo Inc. and Kellogg Co., and BIO, which counts Monsanto Co., Dow AgroSciences, a unit of Dow Chemical Co., and other companies that sell seeds that produce GMO crops among its members.

They say labeling would impose speech restrictions on food sellers, burden consumers with higher costs and create a patchwork of state GMO labeling policies that have "no basis in health, safety or science."

Some high-profile companies are not waiting for federal lawmakers to act, however. Whole Foods Market Inc., Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. and Campbell Soup Co. already have begun labeling or abandoning GMOs.
When the news broke in November that host Christopher Kimball was leaving Americas Test Kitchen after 16 seasons, fans were worried.

Would producers of the show, the most popular cooking series on public television with more than 2 million viewers a week, take this as a chance to reinvent it? Would the new host be, say, a Real Housewife, or a retired member of some boy band turned amateur chef?

You could almost hear the loud sighs of relief this month when the show announced two new co-hosts who are familiar indeed. Bridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison, both original cast members, take over for Season 17, which begins shooting in May for a January premiere. (Kimballs last season is now airing on Channel 9.)

Kimball and Lancaster were already scheduled to be in St. Louis this week for two appearances at the Central Library downtown. In between the afternoon and evening sessions, Lancaster stopped by to chat about anything and everything, including her new role and what fans can expect.

When it happened, when we found out Chris was leaving, I was very sad, she said. Chris is my friend, and he has been for a long time. What people who watch the show might not know is that Chris is exactly as you see him, only he has this great, dry sense of humor that might not come out on television. But he is also so exacting. The whole idea of Test Kitchen came from him; it wouldnt exist without him.

With fans feeling unsettled, bosses at Americas Test Kitchen, the umbrella company for the TV series and more, quickly started doing test shows for focus groups. Some featured Lancaster as host; others starred Davison.

The focus groups let them know they wanted to see Lancaster and Davison together, and that they didnt want either to stop cooking.

So we wont, Lancaster said. The way episodes begin will have Julia and me discussing the recipe, so thats different. It will also be different that were on camera together, which we never have been.

Then one or the other will be joined by a test cook, including most of those who are with the show now, and possibly some additions. Other times, the co-hosts themselves will cook. All the current segments, including the Tasting Lab and the Equipment Corner, will continue, Lancaster said.

Viewers got to know Kimball, but Lancaster and Davison remain something of a mystery. Lancaster was born in Charleston, W.Va., and attended Ohio State University. She and her Scottish husband, Stephen, a chef, live in Marblehead, Mass., with their two sons, Tom, 14, and James, 8, plus a Newfoundland, George. (The son of two cooks, Tom is an adventurous eater; James, however, subsists on grape jelly sandwiches, his mother said, shaking her head.)

Americas Test Kitchen is shot at a custom studio outside Boston, with a full season of 26 episodes completed in three weeks. Companion series Cooks Country inhabits a 200-year-old farmhouse in Vermont.

For each seasons two-week shoot, We all move up there, equipment and food supplies and all, Lancaster said. We look like the Beverly Hillbillies. But its such fun; its really like summer camp.

The future of Cooks Country hasnt yet been determined, but theres a chance it might relocate to somewhere less remote, Lancaster said. That would be more convenient, as long as we could keep the same feel.

A frequent question is the difference between the two shows. Americas Test Kitchen sets out to create recipes that work, while the homier Cooks Country looks at history as told through food, Lancaster said. With the same teams, though, the two shows may be almost indistinguishable to viewers.

Thats also true of good friends Lancaster and Davison, who are blond and roughly the same age.

Once a woman rushed up to me and told me how much she loved me and how much she enjoyed me on that show, Lancaster said. Then she added, But I cant stand that Bridget. Hoping the woman might just be confused, Lancaster said, The one with the ponytail? Yes, that one.

Im just happy people watch, Lancaster said. Sometimes I think, 16 seasons, that is crazy. How can I be so lucky? How can they pay me to have so much fun?
As we navigate our way through a volatile political climate, a scene from early church history can be instructive.

We often think of that period as a tranquil time when everyone got along. However, from the very beginning there was a degree of unrest. Those ancestral Christians came from diverse backgrounds and held differing opinions. Politics, defined as the art of people working out governance and policy, was ingrained in the movements DNA.

The 15th chapter of the churchs history book, Acts, describes a contentious debate between rival groups. The issue dealt with this question: Do you have to convert to Judaism first in order to become a Christian?

This isnt exactly a life-or-death query today, but back then the answer to it would determine the future direction of the church. Conservative Christians from Jewish heritage argued yes; more liberal Christians and those from non-Jewish backgrounds replied no. The latter won, much to the relief of Gentile Christians facing the prospect of circumcision.

As far as we know, this debate took place without much of a hitch. Each side had its say. No one from one group called the others names, or shouted them down. At one point Acts even notes that the whole assembly kept silence and listened (15:12a, NRSV).

In short, no one tried to take away the podium from someone with whom they disagreed.

Taking away the podium, however, was the reason a young man gave following a Trump rally in Ohio. He had rushed the stage while the candidate was speaking.

Considering the size and stature of Secret Service agents, that was a bit silly. He was making a point, however: Trump shouldnt be allowed to talk because of what hes saying.

Freedom of speech was a right unknown to the early Christians in Acts, but they respected it.

Its a right known to Americans, but some ignore it.

Isnt it ingrained in our American psyche to value the freedom to express what you think, without having your right to say it taken away? Yet it appears this doesnt apply to some political rallies. The result is deepening divisiveness and entrenchment. The fact that threats of violence caused Trump to cancel a Chicago appearance isnt a victory for some; rather, its a defeat for what our countrys founders believed.

Certainly protesting a candidates stance on issues is our right, and perhaps at times our moral obligation. It should be expressed clearly, passionately, appropriately. There is a difference, however, between expressing yourself and keeping another person from similar expression.

Allowing someone the right to the podium, no matter how strongly you disagree with that person, is a principle we have to agree upon if democracy has a future in our nation. If we cant see that what unites us as Americans is more important than the issues that divide us, we will lose our way.

As time went on in the early years of the church, a man named Paul emerged as the leader. He had been a key spokesman on the winning side in the Acts debate. Later, in trying to resolve another issue facing the movement, he said, There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28, NRSV).

In the church, there will always be differences. How we deal with differences, constructively or destructively, reflects if we are really one in Christ.

Similarly, in our country, there will always be Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. They are all, however, Americans.

Weeks is senior pastor of Manchester United Methodist Church. He is a regular Faith Perspectives contributor to STLtoday.com/religion.
Travel Seminar  Passport Luggage is hosting four seminars to offer shoppers expert tips of the ideal carry-on bag, travel safety, comfort while traveling and maximizing packing while minimizing weight. The seminars are March 19, April 23, May 21 and June 18 at Passport Luggage, 2404 Saint Louis Galleria. For more information on times or to RSVP (though not required), 314-726-1313 or galleria@landmarkluggage.com.

Haute Hip-Hop exhibit EXTENDED  If you missed the exuberant opening party including a showing by Ferguson artist Jermaine Clark, there's still time and don't miss the closing party from 5 to 8 p.m. March 25 at Projects+Gallery, 4733 McPherson Avenue. Much like the well-attended and fashionable opening, the closing will feature local hip-hop music artists, including Bates and fellow female emcees from St. Louis' own Femcee Nation Organization and DJ Agile One, will spin throughout the evening. The event coincides with the openings of neighboring shows at Duane Reed Gallery and Philip Slein Gallery. No RSVP required. Free to the public.

Style and Fashion Extravaganza  The Salvation Army Womens Auxiliary of St. Louis will hold its annual fundraiser at noon on April 1 at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac. The Spring Fashion Show and Luncheon features five local designers and items from Dillards at St. Louis Galleria. Doors will open for silent auction and seating at 11 a.m. Auction items include tickets to The Muny, an overnight stay at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac, a 32-inch flat screen TV, designer purses, and a variety of gift cards. Tickets are $55 and the amount over $30 is tax deductible. The fashion show helps raise money for The Salvation Armys service programs. For more information about the show visit stlsalvationarmy.org. For more information or to make a purchase by phone, call Kathy Poston at 314-646-3039.

Fashion Fund First Fridays  The Vault by Women's Closet Exchange is hosting three in-store fundraisers for the St. Louis Fashion Fund to further its mission to support and expand the fashion industry in the city. The famous resale shop will donate all of the profits from April 1 and May 6. Buyers will be on staff from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to purchase items that meet the shops selective criteria. Customers selling items can be paid immediately (no waiting period) or donate their check to the fund. The Vault is located at 2325 South Brentwood Boulevard, womensclosetexchange.net.

Four Seasons of Fashion  A benefit for the St. Louis Symphony featuring Cameron Silver, renowned fashion director, reality TV star and founder of Los Angeles premier vintage boutique, Decades. Silver will coordinate a runway presentation of classic couture from Versace, Christian Dior, YSL and more. And the procession will be beautifully interwoven with a chamber performance of Vivaldis The Four Seasons, led by Concertmaster David Halen with St. Louis Symphony musicians. Doors open for a silent auction and cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and the performance takes place from 7 to 8:30 p.m., April 4 at Powell Hall, 718 North Grand Boulevard. A fashion viewing and champagne reception will follow from 8:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets $125. Visit stlsymphony.org or call 314-534-1700 for details.

Runway Lights Fashion Show  This years fashionable fundraiser for Variety the Childrens Charity of St. Louis will features the red carpet designs of Carmen Marc Valvo. This American designer is well-known for his evening wear and high-end cocktail attire. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. and the show begins at noon on April 9 at Union Station, 1820 Market Street. Tickets $100 to $150 at varietystl.org or call 314-720-7700.

UPCOMING GALAS

St. Louis Ballet is hosting it's 2016 Spring Gala known as the Swan Ball beginning at 6 p.m., March 5 at the Contemporary Art Museum. The event will honor Gen Horiuchi and his 15th anniversary season as executive and artistic director of the St. Louis Ballet. There will be a short performance excerpt at 7 p.m. followed by dinner and dancing. Black and white evening attire suggested (features optional). Tickets $250 at stlouisballet.org or 636-537-1988.

Makers Ball will once again celebrate artisans, i.e. the makers, and the power of craft. The Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design celebration takes place April 30 at the Palladium St. Louis, 1400 Park Place. $250-$500. Purchase tickets at craftalliance.org. For more information, contact Megan Eyssell at 314-425-1177 x.333 or megan.eyssell@craftalliance.org.

The Center for Women in Transition is an organization dedicated to supporting women in the criminal justice system in making a successful transition to their families and communities through practicing and promoting restorative justice. The group's annual gala and auction, Beautiful Transformations, takes place 6 to 10 p.m., Saturday, April 23 at the Grand Hall on Chouteau at the Sheet Metal Workers Union Hall, 2319 Chouteau Avenue. $125, early bird tickets available online until March 23 at cwitstl.org/beautifultransformations. For more information contact Carrie Coats at 314-771-5207 or carriecoats@cwitstl.org.
In the end, a little razzle-dazzle did it. Or at least it helped.

Twelve-year-old Elliott Notrica, a seventh-grader at the College School in Webster Groves, won the second annual Post-Dispatch Kid Chef Contest last week. The competition was held at the Schnucks Cooking School at the Schnucks store in Des Peres, and was partly shown live on KTVI (Channel 2).

Elliott bested the two other finalists with his Asian-Marinated Smoked Salmon and a Blood Orange Mixed Bean Salad, which he served with Sour Cream and Scallion Drop Biscuits.

The whole meal was prepared and cooked in just one hour.

And the razzle-dazzle? That came with the smoking part of the smoked salmon.

The young cook recently bought a Smoking Gun smoke infuser, he said. This device allowed him to heat up oak wood chips in a small bowl and then feed the smoke through a tube into a dish covered with plastic wrap into which he had placed the marinated salmon. About three minutes of smoke before cooking the fish and a like amount of time after it was cooked was enough to give the salmon a mildly smoky taste.

The marinade had notable Asian overtones, with ginger, soy sauce, fish sauce and fresh lemon juice, but as a surprise  it wasnt part of his originally submitted recipe  he added a distinctly American touch. As part of the pan sauce, he added a bit of maple-flavored bourbon, which he then flambeed.

While he was making the fish, Elliott also whipped up the mixed bean salad, which was enlivened with a vinaigrette made from blood oranges, lime juice and olive oil.

And finally, he baked the sour cream and scallion drop biscuits which, as the name suggests, he dropped from his outstretched hand onto the baking sheet.

This was Elliotts second year as a finalist in the contest; last year he made a steak with mushrooms and green onions, and Brussels sprouts on the side. He showed a little razzle-dazzle then too, using a kitchen torch to sear the mushrooms.

Elliott said he enjoys cooking because I like the strategy in it, trying to figure out how to make things work so everything comes out at the right time. Also the speed and the pressure. Also, I guess, when people eat my food its a great feeling. If they like it, it makes me really happy.

He is already thinking about a career in cooking, possibly as a chef, though he said he is aware of the commitment in time and energy it takes to be a chef. Otherwise, he might look into food journalism or food photography, he said, adding I want to be in the food industry when I grow up.

The competition was both fierce and impressive, with the young cooks showing no sign of nerves.

Aiden Cizek, an 11-year-old fifth-grader at Chesterfield Day School, made Seafood Risotto with shrimp, scallops, snow peas and red peppers.

First, he toasted arborio rice in olive oil with sliced leeks and minced garlic. Then he added chicken broth and white wine, and patiently stirred and stirred while the rice absorbed the flavorful liquid. Making the risotto that way made the rice taste creamy, an effect enhanced with the addition of freshly ground Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

And Isabel Cepeda, just 9 years old and a fourth-grader at Kehrs Mill Elementary School in Chesterfield, made a Corn and Coconut Temptation.

A baked custard, this dish was created by her mother, Nathalia Garcia-Cepeda, who based it on the flavors of Latin America. It combines creamed corn with eggs and condensed milk and is spiked with shredded coconut and decorated with whole raspberries and blackberries on top.

Isabel had fun cooking in the competition, she said, and she looks forward to competing again next year.

For his victory, Elliott won a gift certificate to Schnucks; Isabel and Aiden received smaller gift certificates to Schnucks for being finalists.
HAGERSTOWN, Md.  Inmate dog-training programs often draw positive attention for prisons, but they also can open the door to potential problems  from bites to smuggling  that can creep in because of a lack common standards or central organization, according to experts.

More than half of the nations state prison agencies have the programs, according to William Paterson University sociologist Gennifer Furst. Inmates also train dogs at 19 federal correctional facilities, Bureau of Prisons spokesman Justin Long said.

Yet no correctional or animal-welfare organization promotes broadly applicable standards for selecting animals and inmates to minimize security and liability risks.

Thats definitely a problem, said Furst, author of the 2011 book Animal Programs in Prison: A Comprehensive Assessment.

Without common standards, individual prisons sometimes partner with local animal shelter and rescue groups to create programs lacking detailed, written operating agreements, The Associated Press found in a survey of 11 state agencies.

Typically, these programs have been one-offs, said Bernie Unti, senior policy adviser for the Humane Society of the United States. Theres no central organization, theres not real guidelines and, quite often, the people active in the field dont know one another and arent aware of one another.

Hundreds of inmates at scores of prisons across the country train service and assistance dogs, prepare shelter dogs for adoption and even provide obedience training for house pets.

Furst said the programs helped calm prisons by giving eager inmates an incentive to behave. And the inmates, some of whom are paid for their work, learn skills that can help them find jobs after theyre released.

Assistance dogs trained in a regimented prison environment were found by a Tufts University study to perform better than home-raised dogs, suggesting the inmates are saving more shelter dogs from euthanasia and providing more service animals for the disabled.

Paul Mundell, secretary of accrediting organization Assistance Dogs International, said the keys to a successful program included transparency between the prison staff and the dog provider, a thorough inmate-screening process and strong support from the prison warden or correctional agency.

Programs that are poorly run can produce potentially serious problems. For example:

 A Maryland inmate who was allowed to walk his dog outdoors at night alone allegedly used the trips to retrieve contraband from a drone flown over the prisons 12-foot fence.

At his trial Wednesday, the judge acquitted inmate Charles Brooks of 27 charges but said the jury still could consider those alleging he conspired to possess and distribute drugs that were found with a drone in a pickup truck belonging to one of two convicted co-conspirators.

 A Kansas inmate escaped in 2006 by charming an animal-shelter worker into smuggling him out in a dog crate inside her van.

 An Ohio inmate bitten by a dog won a $15,000 judgment in 2002.

 A Maryland prisons pet-adoption program, launched without a written agreement, grew to include dogs and cats supplied by three organizations in two counties. The state Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services killed the program after an inmate and staff member were bitten.

Wayne Webb, Marylands acting corrections commissioner, said the drone incident mainly reflected a lack of drone-detection capability, a problem for prison agencies nationwide. He acknowledged, though, that the inmate may not have been an appropriate candidate for the Americas VetDogs program, which trains service dogs for disabled military veterans.

Webb said the agency now required staff to know when an inmate takes a dog out to relieve itself, so the inmate can be observed. Most other state agencies surveyed by AP said they had similar rules for inmates living with dogs.

In Kansas, inmate dog trainers cant go out after the yard closes.

There is no exception to this, and any mess would need to be cleaned up by the inmate, Adam Pfannenstiel, spokesman for the Kansas Department of Corrections, wrote in an email.

Prison agencies surveyed by the AP generally limit program participation to inmates with exemplary behavior and exclude those convicted of animal cruelty or predatory sexual offenses.

Some states also exclude maximum-security institutions or inmates, either because their movements are more restricted or as a good-behavior incentive.

You have to work your way down into the facilities that offer these programs, said Laurie Kilpatrick, spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Americas VetDogs spokesman Bill Krol said his organization, based in Smithtown, N.Y., deferred to prison officials for inmate screening and then interviewed the candidates before deciding if they could join the program.

Americas VetDogs is accredited by Assistance Dogs International, which publishes guidelines for assistance-dog organizations looking to partner with prisons.

Organizations accredited by ADI have at least 106 prison-puppy programs nationwide, spokeswoman Jeanine Konopelski said.

Colorados prison agency wont partner with dog providers that arent ADI-accredited, according to the agencys website.

The ADI guidelines include expectations for written agreements with the prison and dog handlers but acknowledge potential conflicts with individual prison protocols.

Its very tough to create kind of an absolute blueprint for these programs so that they replicate one another, said the accrediting organizations Mundell, who is also CEO of Canine Companions For Independence, a provider of assistance and service dogs.
Former Cardinals scouting director Chris Correa will have to wait until June to find out how much time he will spend in prison for hacking the Houston Astros after the sentencing date was delayed again last week.

Correa lawyer David Adler filed a motion March 4 for asking for the delay, saying that he was in the middle of a trial and couldn't schedule and participate in Correas presentence report interview. Judge Lynn N. Hughes granted the motion March 9, setting the new sentencing date for June 6.

Correa's sentencing was originally set for April 11, then postponed to April 18 last month.

In January, Correa pleaded guilty in federal court in Houston to five counts of unauthorized access to a protected computer. He admitted accessing accounts of three Astros employees, viewing emails and information about aspiring major leaguers in the Astros' proprietary database called Ground Control.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Chu estimated during the hearing that the hacking cost the Astros $1.7 million. The calculation was based on the team's scouting budget and the number of players whose information Correa examined.

That loss amount means Correa faces three to four years under federal sentencing guidelines.

Correa, in that hearing, claimed that he trespassed. . . based on suspicions that (the Astros) had misappropriated proprietary work from myself and my colleagues. He was able to gain access to the first account because an Astros employee used a password that was similar to one that he used while working for the Cardinals.

So you broke in their house to find out if they were stealing your stuff? Hughes summarized.

Correa also claimed he told unspecified colleagues about what he claims he found.

Houston and its general manager, Jeff Luhnow, have repeatedly denied being in possession of proprietary Cardinals information. A lawyer for the Astros has said that the Cardinals have never raised any concerns about the issue, and Cardinals officials have denied Correas claims.
Gregory Bowman, released from prison in the murders of two young women in Belleville only to be convicted later of one in St. Louis County, died Tuesday in a Missouri prison.

Bowman, 64, had been ill for some time, which postponed a resentencing that could have reinstated a death sentence in the killing of Velda Joy Rumfelt in 1977. Bowman died of apparent natural causes at 10:10 a.m. at the Potosi Correctional Center in Potosi, officials said.

After being arrested in a failed kidnapping in Belleville in 1978, Bowman was convicted of two separate kidnap-murders earlier that year in that city. Elizabeth West, 14, disappeared while walking home from a school play, and Ruth Ann Jany, 21, disappeared from a downtown ATM. The body of West showed she had been strangled and presumably raped. Little could be gleaned from Janys skeletal remains.

Bowman had served time in prison already on a 1972 conviction for kidnapping a girl in eastern Illinois. He was convicted in an uncontested bench trial of killing West and Jany on the strength of his confession to a fellow jail inmate.

Twenty years later, a Post-Dispatch investigation showed that a detective had gotten the inmate to trick Bowman into confessing. An appellate court reversed the convictions, not because of the trick but because the defense had not been told of it.

He was charged again, but with the confession discredited and no physical evidence or witnesses against him, the prospects of a new conviction appeared slim. He was released on bail in 2007 pending a new trial, and police intensified efforts to connect him to any other crimes.

That led to a DNA match to semen on the clothing of Rumfelt, 16, who had disappeared from near what is now the St. Louis Galleria the year before the Belleville slayings. Rumfelts body was dumped in a remote area of St. Louis County after being strangled, slashed and raped.

Bowman was convicted in St. Louis County and sentenced to die for that crime. But in 2011, a judge decided there had been too much talk of the Illinois case at his sentencing hearing, and ordered a new one. With Bowman reported to be terminally ill, it was never held.

Among the last court filings in the St. Louis County case was Circuit Judge David Vincents Feb. 24 order for a mental exam to determine if Bowman would be fit for trial. Vincent also granted a continuance in the case October, ruling that Bowman lacks the mental and physical fitness to proceed.
ST. LOUIS  A man from Arizona who cost his Maryland Heights-based company $476,413 in fraudulent expenses pleaded guilty to federal charges here Wednesday.

At the time of John David Berretts indictment last summer, prosecutors said Berrett spent the money on a sex toy and college tuition, flowers, shoes and chocolates for online strippers.

Wednesdays hearing revealed few such details, but Berrett, 41, of Gilbert, Ariz., did admit submitting expense claims totaling more than $10,000 at a time. He also acknowledged that the expenses were for personal items, and that he was not allowed personal use of his company credit card.

Under federal guidelines, Berrett faces at least 21 months in prison for five felony counts of wire fraud, although officials believe he should get 33 to 41 months because he abused a position of trust and used special skills to perpetrate the fraud. He is expected to be sentenced at the end of June.

Berrett will also be ordered to repay the money.

He was an Internet technology architect for World Wide Technology Inc. who traveled the world to meet with clients and provide training and support.

Between September 2013 and October 2014, Berrett submitted bogus expenses of $476,413, according to his plea hearing. In the proceeding, he admitted that a series of expenditures were actually for his personal use, including $10,799.82 in expenses he submitted in July 2014 for consulting.

U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry asked Berrett, What was that for? What did you actually get for that amount of money?

Berretts attorney, John Dosdall, told Perry that some facts had been left out of the plea agreement. Dosdall said the money went to an online subscription.

The indictment says that Berrett bought online tokens to tip strippers on a website. In all, the indictment says, Berrett spent more than $100,000 on the tokens.

The website says that tokens can be used to chat with models, tip them or pay for private shows, which cost at least one token per second.

He also used his company credit card to buy chocolates, flowers, electronics, wine, a handbag and shoes, the indictment says. One woman received $26,800 for college tuition, new tires and her familys utility bills.

In December, Berretts lawyer subpoenaed years worth of expenses of 18 of his former colleagues, as well as audits and internal investigations.

In court filings aimed at quashing that subpoena, company lawyer Hal Goldsmith said Berrett was trying to suggest that the company accepted and encouraged such conduct.

Goldsmith wrote that WWTs general counsel told Berretts attorney that misusing WWTs funds is neither accepted or tolerated at WWT and would result in termination.

Goldsmith called it a flawed theory that was an attempt to muddy the waters with wholly irrelevant documents. Perry granted Goldsmiths motion to free the company from having to comply.

World Wide Technology was founded in 1990. The company says it employs more than 3,000 people around the world, with annual revenue of more than $7 billion.
CLAYTON  The St. Louis County police board may vote as early as Monday on whether to reinstate former Lt. Patrick Rick Hayes, who was fired nearly three years ago after internal affairs investigators determined that he ordered officers to profile African-Americans around shopping centers in South County.

Former Chief Tim Fitch fired Hayes in May 2013 after multiple officers said they heard Hayes use racist language in ordering them to target blacks in and around south St. Louis County shopping centers.

Hayes has insisted that he was the victim of retaliation for being a disciplinarian in his precinct. The police department investigation determined that none of the officers followed Hayes orders  a finding with which the St. Louis city chapter of the NAACP took issue, but the countys chapter did not.

Hayes appealed Fitchs decision, which triggered a police board trial. A hearing officer determines facts and delivers a private recommendation to the board.

Police board trials are rare in St. Louis County, and traditionally have been in public. But attorneys for St. Louis County argued  and the board agreed, over objections of Hayes attorney, Neil Bruntrager  that this one be closed to the public as a personnel matter.

The board hired Michael Flynn to preside over Hayes trial, which took place over 11 days between May 6 and Sept. 24. Flynn delivered a recommendation to the board in secret at Februarys meeting. The police boards vote on the appeal will be public.

Bruntrager and St. Louis County Counselor Carl Becker made final arguments to the board in a closed part of its meeting Wednesday. The commissioners typically have voted on hearing officers recommendations without a direct presentation from the lawyers.

The board scheduled another closed session for 8 a.m. Monday, to deliberate.

The board has four members: Chairman Roland Corvington, T.R. Carr, Laurie Westfall and Lawrence Wooten Sr.  all appointees of former County Executive Charles A. Dooley. County Executive Steve Stenger has yet to fill a board seat vacated by John Saracino, who left in January 2015 to work for Stengers administration.
WASHINGTON  Congressional members from Missouri and Illinois are asking House of Representatives appropriators to approve funding for 14 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets in the 2017 budget.

The Navy jets are made by Boeing in St. Louis. Area congressional members, including Reps. Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin; William Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis; Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, Mo.; Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, Ill.; and Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, Ill., along with eight other members from Illinois and Missouri, wrote the chairs of two House committees overseeing defense spending asking for the additional jets to be included in the budget.

President Barack Obamas proposed budget includes funding for two jets to replace training and operational losses, the letter says. The Navy also wants to boost funding to extend the service lives of older Hornets. The estimated cost of 14 jets is $1.54 billion.

The letter points out that the Chief of Naval Operations has told Congress it has an unfunded requirement for the 14 jets, and that the shortfall may be as high as 36 jets to meet operational needs.

Given the critical capability that the Super Hornet provides for ongoing wartime operations, any shortfall is dangerous to the Navys ability to project force throughout the world, the letter said.

Congress is in the midst of working through spending bills for 2017, and action on them is likely to last until fall.

Clay and Wagner made pleas for the jets in testimony before a House Defense Appropriations subcommittee this week.
JEFFERSON CITY  For the first time ever, the Missouri House used a power Wednesday forcing the governor to release less than $1 million he has held back from various programs.

Under current law, the governor can withhold money when state revenue is less than the estimate the appropriations are based on, to be released if they improve. But a measure approved by voters in 2014 allows lawmakers to override Gov. Jay Nixon's withholdings much like they do his line-item vetoes.

The House tested that new power Wednesday, overriding $925,000 worth of withholds for two programs. Those actions now move to the Senate for further debate.

"We have come to this place because we have a governor who has decided he does not respect the republic," said Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield. "This is our way of stopping the encroachment of one (branch of government) into the other."

The two programs are:

-- $575,000 for the Missouri Scholars and Fine Arts Academies, residential programs for the state's gifted high school students.

-- $350,000 for the Brain Injury Waiver, meant to keep those who suffer brain injuries out of nursing homes.

These were among a number of programs totaling more than $45 million Nixon withheld from the current year's budget in October. His withholds came after it was clear the state would not receive $50 million in tobacco settlement funds that lawmakers had banked on when making the budget.

In February, 2016 fiscal year-to-date general revenue was up 3 percent -- or $160 million -- compared to last year. Republican lawmakers Wednesday said there was enough to release funds for these programs.

Nixon responded to the House's actions in a Wednesday statement, saying he was "surprised and disappointed that the House, during tax season, is attempting to increase government spending, rather than pay the tax refunds that are owed to hardworking Missourians."

"As Governor, I will continue to fulfill my obligation to keep the budget in balance, protect our AAA credit rating, and pay Missourians the tax refunds they are owed, Nixon added.

Lawmakers must have a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override a withholding  109 in the House and 23 in the Senate  just like a veto override. The House had those numbers on both actions taken Wednesday, but not all members were on board with the idea.

Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, said overriding withholds is a bad precedent to set.

"Where do we draw the line?" she asked. "We should trust the processes in place."

The withholds now await action by the Senate.
WASHINGTON  Hillary Clinton continued her relentless march toward the Democratic nomination Tuesday, piling up decisive Ides of March victories over Bernie Sanders that showcased Clintons strength in swing states crucial to the election of the next president.

Clinton held a slim lead in Missouri over Sanders in unofficial results reported early Wednesday by the secretary of state. She narrowly pulled out a win in her home state of Illinois, and won more decisively in three other contests.

Those victories added to her momentum and delegate lead, making Sanders case for the nomination more difficult without some intervening event before the end of the primaries in early June.

Unlike the Republicans, Democrats dont have the winner-take-all possibilities in states still to come on the election calendar. Clinton can maintain her decisive advantage by continuing to pile up delegates proportionately.

The former secretary of state easily bested Sanders in Florida, piling up a roughly 2-1 advantage in a state that has been crucial in every general presidential election this century. She carried North Carolina, a recently emerged swing state, by a smaller but still decisive margin. This was the final cinch in a Clinton sweep of the 11 Southern-state primaries that have been held so far.

Clinton also beat Sanders convincingly in Ohio, another perennially important November swing state. In winning there, Clinton answered critics who said her loss to Sanders last week in Michigan exposed weaknesses on Clintons positions on trade and her appeal to blue-collar voters.

We are moving closer to securing the Democratic Party nomination and winning this election in November, a raspy-voiced Clinton said in a victory speech in Florida.

But some weaknesses for Clinton persisted. CNN exit polls showed her winning decisively among Democrats in Illinois and Missouri, but losing to Sanders by almost 3-1 among self-described independents in Illinois, and 2-1 in Missouri. Independents will be a decisive voting bloc for the Democratic and Republican nominees in November.

Sanders, speaking to an enthusiastic crowd in Phoenix, did not sound like a candidate willing to concede anything.

Reiterating his campaign themes of income inequality and big moneys influence on politics, he said: Are you tired of a few billionaires running our economy? Well, if you are, you have come to the right place.

In celebrating her victories, Clinton referenced Republican front-runner Donald Trump as much as Sanders, saying that Trumps tough stance on illegal immigration, torture and other issues doesnt make him strong, it makes him wrong. She appealed to Sanders youthful base, highlighting issues such as college affordability.

Both rhetorical gestures illustrated how Clinton has turned her primary focus toward the general election.

Unlike the Republican free-for-all, where stop-Trump movements have spiked and waned, the Democrats have progressed through a methodical, two-person contest. Clinton has ground out proportional wins and has piled up the vast majority of party superdelegates  elected officials and luminaries not bound to voter verdicts  to relentlessly build toward an insurmountable lead over Sanders. She said that at the end of the night she expected to lead by at least 300 delegates among those chosen in primaries and caucuses so far.

The final division of Missouris 71 Democratic delegates at stake Tuesday night (of a total of 84) was not immediately clear, but they are likely to be relatively evenly divided. Democrats have a more complicated delegate-apportioning process than Republicans, awarding them through a formula based on minimum-vote thresholds and returns on the congressional district and statewide level.

Clinton entered the day with a more than 2-1 delegate lead, controlling 1,235 delegates, more than half the 2,382 required to win the nomination.

Final vote totals for Kansas City and Jackson County, Mo., could not be confirmed by their local election boards.

Some voters made late switches. In Columbia, Ill., retired teacher Patricia Weber, 83, said she switched to Sanders from Clinton because she thought he would take a firm stand against corruption and fight the loss of jobs to foreign countries. She said she changed her mind after hearing Sanders on television Monday night.

Id always been for Hillary up to that point, Weber said, standing outside her polling place at the American Legion. But Hillarys background would lead her to work for the establishment.

Webers husband, George, said he had voted for Clinton because of her experience.

Louis Sanker, 43, also of Columbia, said he had voted for Sanders. Id like a change in management, he said.

In Missouri, the Rev. Brian Jackson, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Elmwood Park and president of the Beverly Hills Board of Aldermen, said he had voted for Clinton because he thought Congress would not work with Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist.

Youre talking about free college and health care as a right, Jackson said, describing Sanders campaign promises. Any red-state Democrat who supported that might as well walk out of office. You know those people (in Congress) are not going to vote for that.

Clinton corralled most of the Democratic establishment in Missouri, including Gov. Jay Nixon and Sen. Claire McCaskill.

The Democratic primary calendar now enters a relatively quiet period, with 435 delegates to be awarded over the next five weeks, before an April 19 showdown in New York, which has 291 delegates. A week later, Connecticut and Pennsylvania will anchor a five-state primary in which an additional 462 delegates will be apportioned.

Sanders has vowed to stay until the end, through the climactic June 7 six-state day that includes California and New Jersey, and in which 806 delegates will be at stake.

Jeremy Kohler and Kim Bell of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report from St. Louis.
UPDATED at 1 a.m. Wednesday reflecting revised unofficial final vote totals from Missouri secretary of state's office

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump apparently eked out razor-thin wins in Missouri's presidential primary Tuesday, according to unofficial final returns released by the Missouri secretary of state's office.

Clinton won 310,602 votes, or 49.61 percent of the Democratic vote, and Bernie Sanders got 309,071 votes, or 49.37 percent. The margin was 1,531 votes out of 626,075 cast.

Trump totaled 382,093 votes, or 40.83 percent of the Republican total. Second-place finisher Ted Cruz got 380,367 votes, for 40.65 percent. Trump's lead was 1,726 of 935,794 votes cast.

However, final returns in Kansas City could not be confirmed early Wednesday morning with election authorities there.

In any event, it's possible that recounts will take place in both the Democratic and Republican races. Under Missouri law, a losing candidate can get a recount if they trail by less than one-half of one percent of all votes cast.

Because many of Missouri's national convention delegates are awarded on a Congressional-district basis, it was not immediately clear what the breakdown between the four leading candidates would be.

Trailing in the GOP race were John Kasich and Marco Rubio, who got 10 percent and 6 percent of the Republican vote, respectively.

The contenders were competing for 52 Republican National Convention delegates and 71 on the Democratic side in Tuesday's Missouri primary.

The state's voters finally got their say following a flurry of late-breaking campaigning in metro St. Louis and other parts of Missouri the four leading contenders, according to polls, and some surrogates.

The St. Louis area segment of the campaigning included Republican rallies headlined by Trump downtown on Friday and Cruz in Chesterfield on Saturday.

On the Democratic side, Clinton spoke Saturday in north St. Louis and Affton and Sanders did the same in Affton on Sunday and St. Charles on Monday.

The two Missouri parties are using differing formulas for determining how their national convention delegates will be allotted.

Had any Republican won more than 50 percent of the statewide vote, he would have gotten all 52 GOP delegates from Missouri to the party's national convention this summer in Cleveland.

But that didn't happen. So the top vote-getting candidate statewide - apparently Trump - will get 12 and the remaining 40 will be awarded based on results in each of the state's eight U.S. House districts. The leading vote-getter in each district will each get five delegates.

The GOP calculations will be based only on the votes cast for the remaining active candidates.

Missouri Democrats are using a proportional system for determining the presidential commitments for delegates to their national convention in Philadelphia.

Forty-seven of the 71 will be divided based on their showings in the eight House districts. The remainder will be allotted based on their percentage of the statewide vote.

Only candidates receiving at least 15 percent of the votes statewide and districtwide can qualify.

The actual Missouri delegates in both parties won't be chosen until a series of upcoming local, regional and statewide caucuses and conventions but their presidential choices will be determined by the primary vote.

In addition, Missouri Democrats have a separate category of 13 superdelegates - high-level elected officials and party leaders who can back whatever candidate they prefer.

A few hours before the state released the unofficial final count, Sanders supporters gathered at a barbecue restaurant in downtown St. Louis broke out in cheers as they watched a cable news report showing the Vermont senator in the lead in Missouri for the first time.

Some of them said they were optimistic about Sanders' chances of winning the Democratic nomination while others showed concern as Clinton was racking up victories in other states.

"I'm hopeful," said Aaron Lerner, 25, of the Soulard neighborhood. "It's not over 'til it's over. Bernie is just a man. But this movement must stay alive, whatever happens."

A few blocks to the south at a Laborers Union hall on South Ewing Avenue,, Clinton supporters cheered loudly when reports of Clinton victories in other states showed up on TV screens.

Drew Pusateri, a Clinton campaign spokesman, said the campaign had a strong showing nationally on Tuesday.

A pre-election poll conducted for Missouri newspapers had showed Trump, a wealthy New York businessman, with a narrow lead over Cruz, a Texas senator. Far behind were Rubio, a Florida senator, and Kasich, the Ohio governor.

The poll showed Clinton, the former secretary of state, with a narrow lead over Sanders.

Rural central Missouri's Osage County ran out of Republican ballots Tuesday afternoon and had 800 more shipped in from southwest Missouri, said Osage County Clerk Patrick Steele. But Steele said he was concerned he might run short again before voting ends.

The Associated Press and Walker Moskop of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this article.
Update 12:02 a.m.

The Missouri Secretary of State's office, which oversees elections in the state, is reporting that all votes are in and counted.

Results are that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have won the state. Races on both sides are so close that recounts are likely because the law requires a recount if the loser requests it. That margin is 0.5 percent.

Clinton received 49.613 percent of the vote; Sanders received 49.365 percent. Trump received 40.828 percent; Ted Cruz received 40.653 percent.

Update, 11:40 p.m

A few thousand votes are all that separate national front-runners Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump from their challengers in Missouri's presidential primaries.

Former Secretary of State Clinton had a lead of about a thousand votes over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary, with 99 percent of precincts reporting results.

Trump had a lead of just a couple thousand votes over Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, with 98 percent of precincts reporting results.

The Associated Press was not declaring a winner in either race Tuesday.

Under Missouri law, candidates can request a recount if they lose by less than one-half of a percentage point. Both races could fall within that margin.

In the Republican race, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio trailed well behind in Missouri. Rubio ended his campaign Tuesday after losing his home state to Trump.

Earlier:

Hillary Clinton triumphed Tuesday in the Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Illinois presidential primaries, putting her in a commanding position to become the first woman in U.S. history to win a major-party nomination. Donald Trump strengthened his hand in the Republican race with a big win in Florida but fell in Ohio to that state's governor, John Kasich.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio ended his once-promising campaign after his devastating home-state loss, so the GOP primary is now down to three candidates: Trump, Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

Trump also picked up wins in North Carolina and Illinois, and was locked in a close race with Cruz in Missouri.

Earlier:

Billionaire businessman Donald Trump won Illinois' Republican primary Tuesday and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was victorious in her Democratic race against U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders during a drama-packed election that included several important down-ticket races.

Earlier:

The statistics blog FiveThirtyEight points out that in the 2008 presidential primary, Missouri results for both Democrats and Republicans were also within one percentage point. It's the last time a single state had two primaries with candidates within 1 percent, says David Wasserman. (Obama and John McCain won their respective primaries that year.)

Earlier:

National front-runners Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were facing tough challenges Tuesday in Missouri's Democratic and Republican primaries on a potentially pivotal day in the presidential campaign.

With more than 90 percent of precincts reporting results, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was narrowly ahead of the former secretary of state, but many of the still uncounted votes were in the St. Louis area, where Clinton was leading.

Trump, the billionaire businessman, was locked in a dead heat with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in the Republican race. They were separated by just a few thousand votes out of about 880,000 that already had been reported.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who ended his campaign after a disappointing showing in his home state, trailed well behind in Missouri's Republican primary.

Trump won Tuesday in Florida but lost to Kasich in Ohio's primary. Trump also won in North Carolina and Illinois.

Clinton won Florida, North Carolina and Ohio.

Earlier:

Hillary Clinton triumphed Tuesday in the Florida, Ohio and North Carolina presidential primaries, putting her in a commanding position to become the first woman in U.S. history to win a major party nomination. Donald Trump strengthened his hand in the Republican race with a big win in Florida but fell in Ohio to that state's governor, John Kasich.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio ended his once-promising campaign after his devastating home-state loss, so the GOP primary is now down to three candidates: Trump, Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

Trump also picked up wins in North Carolina and Illinois, and was locked in a close race with Cruz in Missouri.

The billionaire businessman told a victory rally, "This was an amazing night."

Trump is the only Republican candidate with a realistic path to the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination before the July convention. But his loss in Ohio kept hope alive for mainstream Republicans dismayed by his candidacy and suggesting the real estate mogul can still be stopped in a convention fight.

"The campaign goes on," Kasich declared at a victory rally. Now thrust into the center of a campaign that has been bitingly personal, Kasich vowed to "not take the low road to the highest office in the land."

A confident Clinton pivoted quickly to November during her victory rally, assailing Trump's hardline immigration positions and support for torture. "Our commander-in-chief has to be able to defend our country, not embarrass it," she declared.

Underscoring Republican concerns about Trump, Rubio focused heavily on an implicit critique of Trump in a speech announcing he was dropping out of the race. The senator urged Americans to "not give in to the fear, do not give in to the frustration."

A favorite of Republican leaders, Rubio is the latest candidate to fall victim to an unpredictable election cycle and Trump's unmatched ability to tap into the public's anger with Washington and frustration with sweeping economic changes.

Clinton's victories in Ohio and Florida were a blow to rival Bernie Sanders and bolstered her argument that she's the best Democratic candidate to take on the eventual Republican nominee in the general election. Her win in Ohio was a particular relief for her campaign, which grew anxious after Sanders pulled off a surprising win last week in Michigan, another important Midwestern state.

Clinton kept up her large margins with black voters, a crucial group for Democrats in the general election. Democratic voters were more likely to describe Sanders as honest, but more likely to describe Clinton's policies as realistic, according to exit polls.

Campaigning Tuesday in North Carolina, Clinton said "the numbers are adding up in my favor." She signaled an eagerness to move on to a possible general election showdown with Trump, saying he's laid out a "really dangerous path" for the country.

Votes were also being counted Tuesday in Missouri, though races in both parties were too close to call. Sanders and Clinton were locked in a close contest in Illinois.

Trump entered Tuesday's primaries embroiled in one of the biggest controversies of his contentious campaign. The GOP front-runner has encouraged supporters to confront protesters at his events and is now facing accusations of encouraging violence after skirmishes at a rally last week in Chicago.

The atmosphere at his events has deepened the concern over his candidacy in some Republican circles. Rubio and Kasich have suggested they might not be able to support Trump if he's the nominee, an extraordinary stance for intraparty rivals.

His closest competition so far has come from Cruz, who has kept relatively close to the businessman in the delegate count and has been urging other candidates to drop out so he can take Trump on one-on-one.

After another good night for Trump, some Republicans were struggling to come to grips with the prospect of him becoming the nominee and desperate to find long-shot ways to stop him.

A group of conservatives planned to meet Thursday to discuss options including a contested convention or by rallying around a third-party candidate. While such no candidate has been identified, meeting participants planned to discuss ballot access issues, including using an existing third party as a vehicle or securing signatures for an independent bid.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., did not rule out the idea of being drafted by the party at the convention.

"People say, 'What about the contested convention?'" Ryan said in an interview with CNBC. "I say, well, there are a lot of people running for president. We'll see. Who knows?"

Despite concerns from party leaders, Republican voters continue to back Trump's most controversial proposals, with two-thirds of those who participated in GOP primaries Tuesday saying they support temporarily banning Muslims from the United States.

The exit polls were conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks.

Trump's Florida victory brought his delegate total to 619. Cruz has 394 and Kasich 136. Rubio left the race with 167 delegates.

Clinton has at least 1,488 delegates, including the superdelegates who are elected officials and party leaders free to support the candidate of their choice. Sanders has at least 704. It takes 2,383 to win the Democratic nomination.
Incumbent Republican congressmen John Shimkus and Rodney Davis, whose districts include parts of the Metro East, were fending off challenges from their right flanks to win renomination in Tuesdays Illinois primary.

With more than half of the vote counted in the two districts, Shimkus, of Collinsville, was easily outpacing a state senator who accused him of betraying conservatism during two decades in Washington. Davis, of Taylorville, held a 3-to-1 advantage in his bid for a third term over Ethan Vandersand, a pharmacist from Carrollton who said God inspired him to run.

Shimkus was well ahead of state Sen. Kyle McCarter of Lebanon, who had support from Tea Party groups and the Club for Growth. Shimkus, in a statement Tuesday night, thanked supporters for spreading our conservative message throughout central and Southern Illinois in his bid for an 11th term. No Democrat filed to run against Shimkus.

In another Metro East district featuring a GOP challenge on the right, state Sen. Sam McCann of Plainview defeated Bryce Benton, a state trooper from Springfield, who had the benefit of Republican Gov. Bruce Rauners endorsement and a bombarding of anti-McCann TV ads by a conservative political action committee.

This proves that its about the people, not the money, McCann said late Tuesday. Representative government is alive, and our senate is not for sale.

Heavy voter turnout slowed the count in many areas. In Sangamon County, which includes Springfield and a big part of the McCann-Benton battle, polls were kept open 90 minutes later than usual to accommodate turnout. In Madison County, voting continued in some polling places much later than usual, said Diane Hoste of the county clerks office. St. Clair County reported heavy turnout but no unusually late voting.

One primary result was quick  Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk will face Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth of suburban Chicago in November. They easily won their primaries Tuesday.

The third Metro East congressman, first-term Republican Mike Bost of Murphysboro, had no party opponent in his bid for a second term. Two Green Party candidates, Paula Bradshaw of Carbondale and Sadona Folkner of Fairview Heights, vied for their district nomination. Bradshaw led in incomplete returns.

The Illinois congressional map splits Madison County three ways  Shimkus in the 15th has the eastern half, including part of Edwardsville, Bosts 12th has the cities along the Mississippi River, and Davis central Illinois 13th drops down between the other two to take Glen Carbon and Maryville. Bost also represents St. Clair County, and he and Shimkus divide the rest of Southern Illinois.

Bost and Davis will face Democrats in November.

In the McCann-Benton race, Benton had Rauners backing because McCann opposed the governor in a key legislative vote last August about bargaining for public-employee unions. Piling on for Benton was an expensive TV campaign by Liberty Principles PAC, led by conservative Chicago broadcaster Dan Proft.

McCann won the strong support of Illinois labor in a district with many state employees. The 50th Senate District runs from the Godfrey area north to part of Springfield and west to the Mississippi River.

To the south, Paul Schimpf of Waterloo defeated Sharee Langenstein of Murphysboro 2-to-1 for the Republican nomination to replace state Sen. David Luechtefeld of Okawville, who is retiring after 12 years representing the 58th Senate District. The winner will face Democrat Sheila Simon of Carbondale, a former Illinois lieutenant governor and daughter of the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon.

The only other Metro East legislative contest was the Republican nomination for the 95th House District, where Rep. Avery Bourne of Raymond was fending off two challengers in the GOP primary. Bourne, a former congressional intern to Shimkus and campaign worker for Rauner, was appointed one year ago at age 22 to fill a vacant House seat. She will face Democrat Mike Mathis of Gillespie in November.

The 95th includes far northern Madison County.

In St. Clair County, three circuit judges who seek to avoid the higher challenge of retention won nomination without opposition in the Democratic primary. The three  Chief Judge John Baricevic, Robert Haida and Robert LeChien  submitted resignations effective Dec. 4 and hope to be sworn back in two days later.

Only one other time has an Illinois circuit judge used this strategy to avoid the standard retention procedure, which requires approval from 60 percent of votes cast to stay on the bench. Belleville City Clerk Dallas Cook, a Republican, has protested the strategy. A judge in Springfield upheld the judges place on the primary ballot, but Cook has an appeal pending.

The primary means nothing, said Cook, who won his partys nomination for St. Clair County circuit clerk. He will face the incumbent clerk, Kahalah Clay, a Democrat, on Nov. 8.
Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton both won Illinois, continuing to clear their paths to the nomination.

With 98.7 percent of the vote counted, Clinton held a 50 percent to 48 percent margin over Bernie Sanders. In the Republican race, Trump bested Ted Cruz with 38 percent of the vote to Cruz's 30 percent.

Polls in most Illinois counties closed at 7 p.m. But a reported "historic turnout" forced authorities in several counties, including Adams and Sangamon, to extend voting hours to 8:30 p.m. Cook County extended hours to 8 p.m. on account of a delayed start on Tuesday morning.

Clinton and Sanders barnstormed throughout the state in the final days before the election. Republican Ted Cruz also had a significant presence, while Donald Trump appeared in Bloomington on Saturday, a day after cancelling a massive rally in Chicago.

Clinton, who grew up in the Chicago suburbs, addressed her supporters in Florida at 8 p.m., before the majority of Illinois' votes had been counted.

Clinton acknowledged that during her speech, saying: "We know we will add to our delegate lead."

Clinton performed well in Chicago and its suburbs, while Sanders did well in southern Illinois, including Madison and Monroe counties, although Clinton led Sanders in St. Clair.

The former secretary of state made little other mention of the state, but focused on hitting points of her national campaign message.

Trump performed well in nearly every corner of the state, including victories in Chicago and the Metro East's Madison, St. Clair, and Monroe counties.

The state's Republican winner will get a chance at the state's 69 delegates up for grabs. The candidate who wins Illinois' popular vote automatically gets 15 delegates, while the remaining 54 will be distributed to the top vote getter in each of the state's 18 congressional districts (three delegates per district).

Trump's commanding lead put him on pace to win a majority of the 69 delegates.

Meanwhile, 182 delegates are at stake for the Democrats. One-hundred-two of them are distributed proportionally to the winner in each congressional district. The state also has 26 Democratic superdelegates, including President Barack Obama, who can pledge their individual votes to any candidate.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
UPDATED at 7:30 a.m with Trump remarks during morning interviews

Billionaire businessman Donald Trump on Tuesday won his biggest electoral prize yet, trouncing Sen. Marco Rubio in his own home state of Florida and driving him from the Republican race, while racking up wins in Illinois, North Carolina and apparently Missouri.

But voters in Ohio prevented a Trump sweep in Tuesdays five-state cluster of primaries, keeping open the prospect of a brokered GOP convention later this year.

In Missouri, Trumps unofficial margin of victory over Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas was 1,726 of 935,794, according to the Missouri secretary of state. That opens the possibility of a recount.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich won his home state  his first and so far only victory of the primary election season, but enough to deny Trump a potentially decisive step toward winning the nomination.

Still, in the end, the night solidified Trumps status as the partys front-runner. He told supporters it was an amazing evening for his campaign.

Im just very proud to be a part of this, Trump said in a victory speech in Florida, employing what has become one of his key lines: This country is going to start winning again ... Were going to win, win, win!

During interviews Wednesday morning, Trump said he is privately being called by senators who are publicly critical of him. He said they want to be involved with his campaign. And he told CNN "we'd have riots" if he is within reach of the needed number of delegates at the summer convention and the party tried to deny him.

Trump significantly expanded his lead with Floridas 99 delegates. But Kasichs victory in Ohio  which, like Florida, is a winner-take-all state  blocked the billionaire from 66 more delegates that would have provided Trump with both a mathematical and psychological boost.

Less than 30 minutes after polls closed in Florida, with Trumps 18-point victory already clear, home-state Sen. Rubio announced in an emotional speech in Miami that he is suspending his campaign.

While we are on the right side this year, we will not be on the winning side, Rubio said in the halting speech, in which he made several references to the angry politics personified by Trumps campaign, without naming him. I ask the American people, do not give in to the fear.

Earlier Tuesday, before polls closed, Rubio insisted to one interviewer that he wouldnt drop out no matter what happened in Florida.

He also made comments that sounded as if he was considering reversing his earlier vow to support Trump if the billionaire wins the GOP nomination.

Every day it gets harder and harder to imagine supporting Donald Trump if hes our nominee, Rubio said in a radio interview from Florida on Tuesday. I think its unacceptable to have a nominee that encourages people to attack other people physically at rallies ... who has been disrespectful to women, to minorities, to the disabled.

If Trump is the nominee, Rubio added, were going to lose, and were going to lose by a lot, and then theres going to be a great reckoning.

In a speech to supporters, Cruz lauded Rubios campaign and said to Rubios supporters: We welcome you.

Cruz said that, with Rubio gone, there is now a clear choice between himself and Trump, adding, No one else has any mathematical possibility whatsoever.

Kasichs win in Ohio was a must for him to remain in the race. Still, it doesnt give him a mathematically realistic shot at the nomination, though his victory speech gave no hint of that fact.

Its about pulling us together, not pulling us apart, Kasich said in his exuberant, emotional speech. He added that the campaign has managed to deliver a message to America.

I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land, said Kasich, in an apparent reference to Trumps controversial, anger-stoked campaign.

Trump embraced that anger in his own victory speech in Florida  a rambling, stream-of-consciousness collection of philosophical declarations, vignettes, poll numbers and other elements that have become familiar in his raucous campaign rallies.

There is great anger, believe me, there is great anger, said Trump, berating the Iran anti-nuclear deal, trade deficits and other issues which he said, show that as a country, we dont win anymore.

In Missouri, the closeness of the race apparently would qualify for a recount under state law, which allows it for candidates who lose by less than one-half of 1 percent of all votes cast.

Republican primary turnout was strong in both Missouri and Illinois. It contributed to a shortage of Republican presidential primary ballots in Osage County in central Missouri. County Clerk Patrick Steele says his county ran out of Republican ballots Tuesday afternoon, and that 800 additional Republican ballots were shipped in from Springfield.

Polls in most Illinois counties closed at 7 p.m., but what officials called a historic turnout forced authorities in several counties, including Adams and Sangamon, to extend voting hours to 8:30 p.m. Cook County extended hours to 8 p.m. on account of a delayed start on Tuesday morning.

Trump appeared to be on the minds of many voters, whether they like him or not.

Before sunup in the Bevo Mill area, voter Paul Teeter showed up at Long Middle School to cast his ballot. Teeter, 46, said he has never seen anything like this election season  and doesnt like what he has seen.

The mood, he said, is pretty sad. Teeter said he hopes the electorate sends a clear message that Donald Trump is not the person for America.

Kurt Roettering exited the American Legion polling place in Columbia, Ill., and described the electorates mood, and his own, as scared and pissed off.

Roettering, 53, a police officer, said he supports Trump in part because hes a proven businessman.

I think the country needs to be run like a business, he said. I dont run my own household with credit card debt; why would we run a country with debt?

The Associated Press and Nicholas J.C. Pistor of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
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LONDON MARKET CLOSE: FTSE 100 ends higher; Mordaunt makes UK PM tilt

Friday, October 21, 2022 - 17:22

The pound regained some poise on Friday afternoon but remained in precarious territory, after falling below the $1.11 mark in afternoon trade.

The pound was quoted at $1.1203 at the close on Friday, down versus $1.1294 at the London equities close on Thursday. It hit an intraday low of $1.1063 not long after midday.

Sterling was hurt by continued political uncertainty. Speculation about who will join Penny Mordaunt in throwing their hats in the ring in the race for Number 10 continues. Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, one-time neighbours at Number 10 and 11 Downing Street - but now bitter rivals - have pockets of support from Tory MPs.

Adding to the pressure on sterling, disappointing UK retail sales data showed a bigger-than-expected decline in September, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.

Retail sales fell 6.9% annually in September, with the decline accelerating from a 5.6% fall in August. It also was worse than FXStreet-cited market consensus, which had expected a fall of just 5%.

The pound had initially found some support on Thursday after Liz Truss called an end to her disastrous tenure as prime minister - poking above $1.13 - but has since been dragged lower.

The FTSE 100 index closed up 25.82 points, or 0.4%, at 6,969.73 - closing out the week up 1.6%.

The FTSE 250 lost 182.38 points, or 1.1%, at 17,206.55, but still managed to gain 1.0% this week, and the AIM All-Share ended down 1.04 points, or 0.1% at 785.40 - but advanced 0.8% over the past five days.

The Cboe UK 100 closed up 0.4% at 696.31, the Cboe UK 250 ended down 1.0% at 14,694.15, and the Cboe Small Companies lost 0.3% at 12,240.46.

In European equities on Friday, the CAC 40 in Paris lost 0.9%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt gave back 0.3%.

The Tories have begun to declare their allegiances in the party's second leadership contest of the year as speculation mounts over who will seek to replace Truss at the helm of the party.

Supporters of Johnson are backing the former prime minister to make an extraordinary political comeback, while ex-chancellor Sunak and Commons Leader Mordaunt also have the public support of several MPs.

Mordaunt become the first to declare her candidacy, with a pledge to re-unite the bitterly divided party.

The leader of the House  who finished third in the last leadership election  said she had been encouraged by the support she had received from fellow Conservative MPs.

There has also been no declaration yet from Sunak, who did not answer questions from reporters as he left his home on Friday morning.

Whoever does win will face an immediate test, choosing whether to go ahead with the planned Halloween statement setting out how the government intends to get the public finances back on track, Downing Street has said.

Work is continuing in Whitehall, led by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, in preparation for the medium-term fiscal plan to be announced on October 31 along with an updated set of economic forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility.

However, a Number 10 spokeswoman said it would be up to Liz Truss's successor to decide whether to proceed with that approach and with the same timetable.

In London, blue chip miners helped push FTSE 100 higher. Glencore gained 3.6%, Anglo American 3.1%, Antofagasta 2.7%, and Rio Tinto added 1.6%.

Retailers, however, were showing weakness after the disappointing UK retail sales data. A profit warning from Adidas did nothing to help the mood either.

JD Sports closed down 6.1%, Frasers 4.0%, Burberry 2.2%, and Next shed 2.9%.

On Thursday, Adidas lowered annual guidance as it struggles with "deteriorating traffic" in China and high inventory levels.

The sports apparel maker said it has needed to turn to "higher clearance activity" to try and shift stock.

It lost 9.0% in Frankfurt.

Deliveroo gained 3.6%.

The London-based online food delivery service said gross transaction values rose 8.3% annually in the third quarter to 1.70 billion from 1.57 billion, though orders fell by 1.1% to 72.8 million from 73.6 million.

Deliveroo said the decline in orders was due to a difficult consumer environment. With economic data on Friday showing that UK consumer confidence remains near record lows, this seems unlikely to change anytime soon.

InterContinental Hotels gave back 2.2% but reported strong revenue growth in the third quarter to September 30, saying that high global employment levels are boosting occupancy levels.

Revenue per available room, or RevPAR, rose 28% year-on-year and now exceeds its pre-pandemic level, being up 2.7% on the third quarter of 2019.

In the third quarter of 2022, the average daily rate increased by 13% compared to a year ago and was up 11% on 2019.

Chief Financial Officer & Head of Strategy Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson will leave the company in six months time to become CFO of Flutter Entertainment in the first half of 2023.

IHG has started the process of finding a new CFO.

The euro stood at $0.9802 Friday evening, down against $0.9822 at the close on Thursday.

Against the yen, the dollar was trading at JP148.03, compared to JP149.77 late Thursday. The yen was staging a fightback after the open on Wall Street, after nearly hitting JP152 during the Asia session.

Stocks in New York opened higher on Friday, with the DJIA up 1.1%, the S&P 500 index up 0.9%, and the Nasdaq Composite was 0.6% higher.

Brent oil was quoted at $92.84 a barrel late Friday, down from $93.29 late Thursday. Gold was quoted at $1,643.70 an ounce Friday, up against $1,641.90 from Thursday.

In the international economics events calendar next week, Monday will be dominated by a slew of composite PMIs, with Japan overnight followed by Germany, eurozone and the UK in the morning then the US in the afternoon. A quiet Tuesday will be headlined by a US house price index.

On Wednesday, there is Chinese GDP, retail sales and industrial production overnight, then on Thursday attention will be on the European Central Bank interest rate decision at 1315 BST. Friday will be headlined by a Bank of Japan rate decision.

In the local corporate calendar on Monday, there are half-year results from Dr Martens, while education publishing firm Pearson will issue a third quarter update.

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Boutique is a word that gets thrown around a lot in marketing, especially cigars. While larger cigar companies fight for big chunks of market share, smaller boutique companies focus on filling the niches.

In many ways PG Cigars, founded in 1990 to coincide with Paul Garmirians book A Gourmet Guide to Cigars (which you can steal on Amazon for $4 shipped), could be considered one of the original boutique producers. Over the years, it has developed its niche by bringing well-aged cigars to market, and eschewing the industry norm of introducing a new cigar every year. Walk into the companys cigar shop and headquarters in McLean, Virginia, and youll find numerous cigars for sale with 20 years of age. (Id venture to guess the small, somewhat cramped stripmall storefront has more cigars for sale that have been aged 20 years or more than anywhere else in the country.)

With 2015 being the 25th anniversary of the company, PG Cigars did what any boutique cigar company would do: release a 25th Anniversary cigar, albeit in PGs own understated way. The lone announcement for the anniversary smoke came in a pre-Christmas email along with a link to an NPR story about Cuban cigars that quoted Garmirian.

The 25th Anniversary Connoisseur comes in one size, a 6-inch by 52-ring gauge toro. The company hasnt released details on the blend, but the deep brown, oily wrapper certainly looks similar to the Havana-seed wrapper used on PGs 20th Anniversary blend.

Each of the four cigars I smoked for this review (provided by PG Cigars, although I walked in intending to buy the samples) featured excellent construction. There wasnt a soft spot to be found on any of them and the burn and draw were flawless. (I also appreciate that the bands on these were easy to remove without damaging the wrapper, which is a problem Ive had on other PG smokes.)

Once lit, the Connoisseur starts out with a unique sweet and bready combination that reminds me of raisin bread. As it progresses, it reveals a combination of oak, cedar, mushroom, bread, and a salty savoriness that especially kicks in towards the second half of the cigar.

More than anything, this is a cigar characterized by restrained strength. You get the distinct sense that if it had been rushed at all the Connoisseur would have had some rough edges, but instead the full-bodied woodiness is tempered by a cornucopia of other subtle flavors.

While $19 is a lot for a cigar, and youd expect a lot for such a premium price, the PG 25th Anniversary delivers. It demands a slow, speculative pace to be fully appreciated, and each cigar I smoked easily lasted two hours, but the time is well spent.

For now, this is a single-vitola blend, but PGs 15th and 20th Anniversary blends were later expanded into multiple sizes, and I certainly hope the same happens for the 25th. In my opinion, the 25th Anniversary surpasses PGs 20th Anniversary blend and is the equal, although a very different cigar, to the 15th Anniversary. That earns the Paul Garmirian 25th Anniversary Connoisseur our highest rating of five stogies out of five.
In early 2016 Russia announced that it was abandoning plans to increase its airborne force. The main problem was obtaining sufficient new recruits. It would cost more in additional pay (to attract suitable recruits), training, bases and equipment than Russia could afford. Moreover Russia has been rebuilding its airborne force since the late 1990s and Russian military planners believe the current force is sufficient and the cost of maintaining these airborne units at a high state of readiness and combat capability remains expensive. The generals with combat experience advised that it was better to keep current airborne troops well equipped and trained than to cut back on that just to add more paratroopers.

Largely unnoticed by the rest of the world, since 2006 the Russian army has gone through a series of reforms, trying to transform the force that lost the Cold War into one that could win the next one. One element of the army, the airborne force has remained largely unchanged. Despite a recent reorganization that made the brigade, not the division the main combat unit, the airborne force still has divisions. The paratroopers are still all volunteers although money shortages have led to the use of more conscript volunteers in the last few years. Only about a third of airborne troops are career professionals ("contract soldiers"), yet the allure of the airborne is such that there are always qualified conscript volunteers. Alas, the conscripts leave after a year, so by the time you train them to a useful level they are gone. Still, if there is a national emergency that requires loyal, stalwart troops, the paratroopers are the ones you call. The airborne troops are one of the few bright spots in Russian military developments since the 1980s.

After the Cold War ended in 1991 the Russian army began to rapidly shrink. It was believed that the eight airborne divisions would shrink along with rest of the army. But that was not the case. Airborne commanders made a convincing case that their elite troops would remain professional and increasingly be among the few combat troops that could really be depended on. Thus the airborne force did not shrink as much as other ground troops. This decision was vindicated in 1999 when Russian troops were sent back into rebellious Chechnya and defeated the separatist rebels there. In the first three years of fighting in Chechnya, over 12,000 paratroopers served there and were the most effective troops. This success led to the temporary expansion of the airborne force from 40,000 troops to 45,000 troops.

This validated the claims that paratroopers were one of the first "special operations" forces to appear in the early 20th century. While no longer needed for mass jumps, the paratroopers are still popular as elite infantry. Thus airborne units tend to survive reorganizations or downsizing of military forces. This has been especially true in Russia and that the paratroopers proved their worth.

Although the last paratroopers withdrew from Chechnya in 2006, largely replaced by interior ministry paramilitary forces, it was believed that this force would soon come in handy again. In 2008 paratroopers again proved their professionalism and effectiveness when they led the invasion of Georgia, just south of Chechnya. By 2012 the airborne force consisted of about 35,000 troops (organized into four small divisions plus an independent brigade and an independent regiment). All that recent battlefield success justified the cost of expanding the force to its current 45,000 troops.

Throughout the post-Cold War period, most (about 60 percent) of paratroopers have been conscripts. But that is changing as conscription fades away in Russia. The paratroopers were supposed to be among the first components of the army to be all-volunteer. That did not work out because to get sufficient high-quality recruits turned out to cost more than expected. By 2014 there were added problems because of low oil prices and economic sanctions that put a stop to increasing the defense budget.

Russian paratroopers have been around since the 1930s. So far over 2.3 million troops have served in the airborne forces. These have always been the boldest and most reliable Russian troops available, and those currently serving as paratroopers are no different. Despite their good qualities, Russian paratroopers are no guarantee of success. That's because for most of their history the paratroopers were not used as paratroopers but as elite infantry and even then the airborne were often asked to do the impossible.

Russia pioneered the development of airborne forces in the 1930s, and by 1941 had five "airborne corps" (each with about 10,000 troops, equivalent to an American airborne division). These units were not fully equipped and the purges of the late 1930s had eliminated some of the best airborne officers. Then when the Germans invaded in June, 1941, the Russian air force was quickly destroyed. Lacking air transports, and with the Germans rapidly advancing on the ground, the five airborne corps were sent in as ground troops. Most of these paratroopers were killed before the end of the year, thus destroying the airborne force Russia had spent the last nine years building up. They did not die in vain, however, as the Germans had a tough time whenever they encountered the Russian paratroopers. But by early 1942, only two of the three airborne corps was intact and suffering from heavy losses. But the Germans now knew to be careful whenever they encountered Russian paratroopers.

Before the pre-war Russian paratroopers were destroyed some of them did get a chance to use their parachuting skills. Between December 1941 and March 1942, 3,500 paratroopers were dropped behind German lines to assist the growing number of guerilla units being formed. Another 7,000 troops were brought in via gliders (as were supplies for the guerillas). This activity caught the attention of the Germans and they eventually wiped out nearly all of these troops.

Undismayed, the surviving Russian paratroopers were used to train more airborne troops and five more airborne corps were quickly formed. All ten airborne corps saw a lot of combat during early 1942. There were some small parachute drops but none had much impact on the fighting. In mid-1942 the ten airborne corps, and five independent airborne brigades were turned into regular infantry units and sent south to fight in the battles that led to the German defeat at Stalingrad in early 1943. But even before this campaign was over paratroopers were pulled out of their infantry jobs at the end of 1942 and used to organize ten Guards Airborne Divisions (basically the same as the previous Airborne Corps). But again an emergency arose that kept the paratroopers on the ground. The Germans launched another major offensive in early 1943, and the paratroopers were once more sent in as ground troops and most of them were lost.

Undismayed, the Russians raised another twenty airborne brigades (about 50,000 troops), which they used to form another six airborne corps. Three of these brigades were used in the first deliberate attempt to use paratroopers to support a major attack and this turned out to be the largest Russian airborne operation to date.

On September 24th, 1943, three parachute and three air landing brigades hit ground 40 kilometers behind German lines along the Dnieper River near Kanev. It was a disaster. Hastily organized, most of the paratroopers had never jumped out of an airplane before, although most had at least jumped from a training tower in a parachute harness. The inexperienced pilots had to do the drop at night, to avoid the risk of German fighters and there was not enough transport aircraft. The Russians had also not learned how important it was to move away from their drop zones quickly and form into larger units. The small, scattered Russians were quickly run down and destroyed by the Germans. What can be said is that the distraction took some German combat units away from the front line and they did allow the oncoming Russian armor units to advance a bit farther than they otherwise would have.

Russian dictator Stalin was not happy with this, the first real test of Russian airborne forces in their designed role. While the persistent efforts to organize new airborne units recognized that the airborne capability was important, the Russian air force was never able to support airborne operations sufficiently to make them work. For the rest of the war Soviet airborne forces were kept on the back burner. It wasn't until after the war that the parachute divisions again became well trained and equipped forces, with sufficient air transports to move them into combat.

But because of changes in technology (helicopters, too many anti-aircraft weapons for transports to operate over enemy territory) the age of major parachute infantry operations had passed. Paratroopers became well trained infantry, all volunteers and eager to jump out of aircraft. Just the kind of guys you need for emergencies. After World War II Russia found their airborne divisions to be the most effective and reliable infantry they had. Paratroopers were involved in all sorts of Cold War missions, from leading roles in putting down rebellions among Eastern European allies (especially Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968) and posing a convincing enough threat to discourage even more such uprisings. Paratroops proved useful as an intervention threat in the Middle East and elsewhere. Finally paratroopers were among the most effective Russian infantry in Afghanistan during the 1980s. But too much of a good thing turned out to be more than Russia could afford.
Counter-terrorism organizations have long recognized the connection between illegal drugs and Islamic terrorism. While these drugs are not forbidden in Islamic scripture, as alcohol is, most Islamic scholars and clerics condemn drug use by Moslems. Yet one of the appeals of Islamic terrorism is the tendency of these groups to point out that there is a long tradition of Holy Warriors (what the rest of the world calls Islamic terrorists) using these drugs in various useful ways. For example clerics who support Islamic terrorism say it is justified to manufacture and sell these drugs to infidels (non-Moslems) to raise money for the cause and weaken the enemy. It is also accepted for Islamic terrorists to use drugs to get in the proper mood to carry out suicidal attacks (and blood tests of dead terrorist first revealed this) and to unwind after some high stress combat. Some Islamic sects allow some drug use to help get into a more meditative mood and get closer to God. That practice is ancient and persists in many other religions.

Drug use by Islamic terrorists is nothing new and it has existed at least since the 11th century. The first recorded users were the Hassassins (or "hashasheen" or users of hashish) of 11th century Iran. The training back then was similar to what many Islamic terrorists groups still use today. There was liberal use of hashish to provide a taste of paradise for new recruits.

The Hassassins began when a Iranian minor noble with a grudge and excellent organizational skills created a network of suicide assassins who were convinced they were doing Gods Will. The Hassassins thrived, and killed, for many decades until the Mongols came along and destroyed their impregnable mountain fortress. The Mongols were not afraid of suicide assassins but were annoyed by them. Back then, annoying the Mongols was almost always fatal.

The current crop of suicide terrorists do not provide a single fortress to go after, so the Mongol approach of overwhelming force applied to one objective will not work. But the fearless Mongol attitude towards terrorism should be remembered.

Hashish (cannabis, or marijuana, resin) has long been an Islamic terrorist favorite, as are more modern recreational substances like heroin, cocaine and especially amphetamine pills. The most popular form of meth is actually Captagon, which is the trade name for fenethylline, a synthetic drug that has the same effects as amphetamine but with fewer bad side effects (like increased blood pressure). Fenethylline is still pretty potent and by the 1980s most countries had either outlawed it or made it a prescription drug. Now the most common form of fenethylline is Captagon, which is widely available in the Middle East. Fenethylline is even manufactured by ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) in a captured drug factory using raw materials smuggled in from Turkey. Captagon is considered a major problem in the Middle East because there is so much illegal use of it. It is the stimulant of choice among many Syrian rebels as well as pro-government forces.
The security services, especially the army, are putting more personnel on the Libyan border, given the increased activity there are more Islamic terrorists try to get themselves or shipments of weapons into Algeria. So far this year the security forces have kept the Islamic terrorists on the run and unable to launch any major attacks in Algeria. The major threat is the large number of Islamic terrorists in neighboring Libya and their attempts to get into Algeria. So far Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria have all refused to even send their warplanes against any targets in Libya and instead reinforce their border security and internal counter-terrorist operations. This has worked for these nations so far and they dont want to get involved in a neighbors civil war. The neighbors do not oppose other nations (especially Western) from bombing Islamic terrorists in Libya. These Arab nations will assist in preventing ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) from smuggling any captured oil out of Libya. ISIL has made it clear that it will continue trying to capture Libyan oil fields and export ports intact and use them. ISIL is also apparently trying to make money by smuggling weapons into Algeria. Most of those attempts have been thwarted, so far.

Algeria is also having money problems. In January the value of oil exports fell 24 percent to $1.8 billion. However the trade deficit ($1.8 billion a month) remained the same as it was in January 2105. At the end of 2015 foreign exchange reserves (needed to pay for imports, especially food) fell 22 percent to $143 billion. The government has been controlling the use of these reserves, which stood at about $200 billion before the oil prices began plunging in 2013. The foreign exchange reserves can be drawn on for another six to eight years. After that severe cuts will have to be made and there will be much unrest. Algeria. Like most other oil exporters is pressuring Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf oil states to ease up on their use of oil over production to drive the price of oil down and weaken Iran. .

March 13, 2016: West of the capital (Gouraya Province) troops cornered and killed Mouloud Baal, a veteran Islamic terrorist leader. Baal started out in the GIA during the 1990s then joined al Qaeda after 2003. In 2015 he switched to ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant).

March 12, 2016: About a hundred kilometers east of the capital (Tizi Ouzou) soldiers killed one Islamic terrorists and captured another. Weapons and equipment were seized.

March 11, 2016: In the east (Oued Province) near the Tunisian border troops killed three Islamic terrorists who were apparently coming from Libya. The men were transporting weapons including twenty assault rifles, three RPG launchers, two suicide bomb vests and six shoulder fired anti-aircraft missiles of the type known to have been taken from Libyan military warehouses during the 2011 rebellion.

March 10, 2016: In the east (Oued Province) near the Tunisian border troops found a machine-gun, a shot gun and 17 TPG propellant charges in two different caches.

March 7, 2016: Next door in in Tunisia, a large force of ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) men attacked the town of Ben Guerdane near the Libyan border. The attack was repulsed with at least 36 Islamic terrorists killed, along with a soldier, ten policemen and an armed customs official. Seven civilians also died during several hours of fighting. Over the next few days Tunisian troops hunted down and killed ten more ISIL men in the area but most of the surviving attackers appear to have fled back into Libya. Tunisia has so far kept ISIL from establishing itself in Tunisia but the Islamic terrorist group keeps trying. This is in large part because most Tunisians want nothing to do with Islamic terrorist groups. This came as a big surprise the ISIL men involved in the Ben Guerdane operation because ISIL leaders said the local civilians would welcome ISIL, not side with the security forces.

March 1, 2016: East of the capital troops had success against Islamic terrorists in three different areas during the last 48 hours. Near Bouria troops tracked down and killed two Islamic terrorists. Ammunition, three assault rifles, four bombs, three crude shelters, documents and some equipment were also seized. In Skikda troops found a bomb and two locally made guns. In Tizi Ouzou troops found an Islamic terrorists hideout that contained some explosives.

February 24, 2016: In Medea (90 kilometers south of the capital) troops found and destroyed nine bunkers built by Islamic terrorists to store and hide equipment. Also found were bomb components and a power generator.

February 22, 2016: West of the capital (Tipaza province) troops searching a remote area found and destroyed fifteen bunkers built by Islamic terrorists.

February 20, 2016: In the southeast (Illizi Province) troops killed two Islamic terrorists and captured two others. Weapons, ammo, cash and bomb making components were seized.

February 17, 2016: In Boumerdes (50 kilometers east of the capital) soldiers clashed with two Islamic terrorists, killed them and seized two assault rifles, documents and some equipment. Nearby troops found a Islamic terrorist bunker containing ammo, equipment and more documents.
At the end of 2015 Iraq declared Ramadi, the largest city in of Anbar province (which is most of western Iraq) back under government control. While the human cost from all the fighting with ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) was not that great property damage from the six month air and ground campaign left 5,700 buildings damaged and about a third of those were completely destroyed. Worse 64 bridges were destroyed. This is particularly troublesome because the city is built along the Euphrates River. Most of the electrical distribution system was destroyed along with many major government buildings and the main railroad station.

Ramadi is the capital of Anbar Province and normally has a population of 500,000. Most of the population fled between the time ISIL took the city in April 2015 (when a now dismissed general ordered his forces out as a much smaller ISIL force approached) and the final battle in December 2015. Much of the damage was done by the thousands of bombs planted by ISIL both to simply destroy stuff and to cause losses to the attackers. Iraqi, American and other allied aircraft caused a lot of damage, especially in areas where ISIL took a stand and the advancing troops called in air strikes.

Despite that victory declaration Iraqi troops are still slowly moving through some areas of the city where ISIL planted lots of booby-traps and landmines. These explosive devices were meant to punish the disloyal (to ISIL) population of the city and cause maximum losses to advancing troops and Shia militia. The militias are letting the soldiers use their training and special equipment to find and clear the explosives. Meanwhile Iraqi troops have moved past Ramadi and are advancing deeper into territory controlled by ISIL for a year or more. So far ISIL counterattacks have slowed but not stopped this advance. It is estimated that it will take several billion dollars to repair the damage in Ramadi.

The continued operations in Ramadi have not delayed the efforts to drive ISIL out of Mosul even though it appears there will be even greater economic losses involved. ISIL has controlled Mosul since June 2014 and most (all but about 800,000) of the original three million inhabitants have fled. Nearly all those still in Mosul are openly hostile to ISIL, which is suffering from increasingly frequent and accurate air attacks. This is apparently the result of a more effective informant network in the city. Government forces south of the city and Kurdish troops (and non-Moslem militias) north of the city are preparing for the final attack, which is now supposed to take place in mid-2016. ISIL is most concerned with the Kurdish advance from the north because the Kurds have long had American air support. As more U.S. aircraft have arrived in the region, along with more American Special Forces to work with the Kurds, the Kurdish forces have become ever more deadly. In February 2016 ISIL made an attempt to slow the Kurdish advance and failed, suffering nearly a thousand casualties (most of them dead) in the process. The Kurds are more vulnerable when they advance but because so many of the Kurds have years of combat experience and lots of U.S. training it is difficult to kill or wound enough Kurds to stop these movements. The Kurds are concerned about keeping their casualties low and are less concerned about the physical damage to Mosul. This is good for morale, preserves the experienced fighters and recognizes the fact the Kurds have limited (compared to the Iraqi Army and Shia militias) manpower and want to conserve it. But the Iraqi Arabs, who control the government, see catastrophic physical and fiscal losses while liberating Mosul.
Nigeria finally got the attention of MTN one of the, largest cell phone companies in Africa, by convincing a judge to enforce a large fine ($250 million so far) because MTN did not disconnect five million unregistered cell phone SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) cards as ordered in 2015. Other companies did disconnect over ten million illegal SIMs but MTN thought they could beat this in court. Because the SIM card shutdown order was mainly directed at a murderous Islamic terror group (Boko Haram) and not just a lot of lesser criminals the courts agreed with the government and MTN was forced to comply and pay the fine. This is not a problem unique to Africa and is one of the unpleasant side effects of cell phones.

For example, in 2013 Pakistan announced that there were four million unidentified (many presumed illegal) SIM cards in use throughout the country. Since the owner of these SIM cards is not known, such unidentified SIM cards can be used by outlaws avoiding detection. The government could order all these SIMs disabled but that would cause an uproar because most of them are being used by ordinary citizens rather than gangsters or terrorists.

In response to this situation Pakistan ordered SIM card vendors to only deliver new SIM cards via mail rather than by hand. This proved unworkable because people often need a new SIM card right away because the existing one is now useless and they want their cell phone operational right away. People are supposed to carry ID with them, but fake ID is easily available, at least to criminals and terrorists.

Since 2008, Pakistan has tried, without success, to block the anonymous use of cell phones. This usually involves unidentified SIM cards but now there are phones modified to operate without the mandatory IMEI (International Mobile Station Equipment Identity) numbers. Such phones tell the phone companies nothing about the phone.

In 2012 the government had to back off on threats to block calls made by someone who bought a SIM for their cell phone using unidentified SIM cards. The government has not been able to come up with a foolproof system that would prevent criminals and terrorists from buying SIM cards that could not be traced back to the purchaser. Pakistan has tried several other solutions but while some help a little there has been nothing that solves the problem.

Back in 2010 Pakistan shut down cell phones owned by anonymous users. This turned out to be a huge number, 11 percent of 88 million SIM cards in use at the time were unidentified. The shutdown threat caused such a public uproar that the government had to back off. In 2009 there was a problem in the tribal territories with dealers who were not obeying new rules that required them to get positive ID from cell phones buyers. In that year the government blocked the use of 10.5 million unregistered SIM cards for cell phones. That caused another public uproar and the bad guys figured out how to get around that.

These SIM cards are the type long favored by gangsters and terrorists. In most parts of the world you can move your cell phone service from one phone to another by simply removing the small (25x14mm) SIM "card" from one phone and inserting it in another. SIM cards can also be bought just for the minutes stored on them. Police have long noted that terrorist bombs are often set off using a cell phone with an anonymous SIM card. It's not uncommon to raid a terrorist hideout and find hundreds of anonymous SIM cards.

By 2009 there was already a thriving Pakistani black market in SIM cards that were registered with phony information. The Taliban and drug gangs knew of their vulnerability and could not run their operations without these communications tools. Criminals in other parts of the world have developed ways to lessen SIM card vulnerability and the terrorists are learning as fast as they can. In the meantime it's getting them killed or captured when they use easily identifiable SIM cards.

It was believed that, with anonymous cards more difficult to get, it would be easier to track down bombs that use cell phones for detonation. But Pakistan and Nigeria are both very corrupt places and merchants are able to circumvent new regulations by simply bribing any police who came by to check SIM card registration. The cell phone companies also resist these government crackdowns, as it is bad for business.
by Austin Bay March 15, 2016

Presidential debate moderators would perform a public service if they ask the candidates -- in both parties -- to publicly state their positions regarding U.S. missile defenses.

A missile defense question addresses immediate and emerging national security threats to America and its allies.

North Korea has ballistic missiles and threatens to use them. On March 13, regime propagandists claimed their state possesses a hydrogen bomb and were it "to be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile and fall on Manhattan in New York City, all the people there would be killed immediately and the city would burn down to ashes."

North Korea recently test-fired a missile that may have intercontinental range; it claims it has miniaturized nuclear weapons. Translation: it can put nukes on missiles.

On March 10, Admiral William Gortney, commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, told the Senate that it is "prudent" to assume North Korea has miniaturized nuclear weapons and can target the U.S.

U.S. missile defenses help deter attack. North Korea can't be certain its missiles will get through. Anti-ballistic missiles also provide protection should regime psychopaths gamble and launch.

Iran is another problem. On March 10, Iran launched two intermediate range ballistic missiles. A vicious message, in Hebrew, was painted on the missile boosters: "Israel must be wiped out."

America's U.N. ambassador called the launches ""provocative and destabilizing." Secretary of State John Kerry said Iran had violated U.N. resolutions. Security Council Resolution 2231 forbids Tehran from launching nuclear-capable missiles.

Iran claimed the launches don't violate any U.N. resolutions and don't violate President Barack Obama's "P5+1" Iran nuclear weapons deal.

Iran's dictators read the president's vaguely worded but majestically-named Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (2015 nuclear deal) and conclude they can build any missile they desire, as long as they assure the world the missile won't bear a nuke warhead.

Get real. The missiles Iran is developing are integral components of a nuclear war-fighting program. The president's nuclear deal freed up billions of dollars for Tehran to use to procure advanced missiles.

Iran's current missiles have a range of some 2,000 kilometers; Persian Gulf Arab states, Turkey and Israel already face attack. Cairo is right at max range. Iran's next generation solid fuel ballistic missile will likely have a 2,500 kilometer range. The mullahs can nuke Black Sea NATO nations.

Israel intends to protect itself. In December 2015, Israel successfully tested the Arrow 3, a high altitude ABM.

Attention debate moderators: Israel and the U.S. jointly developed the Arrow 3. The missile is the offspring of President Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative. Remember how Democrats ridiculed SDI? Ask the candidates whether the ridicule was shortsighted, or just a result of plain ignorant partisanship.

South Korea says a medium-range U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense ABM battery will improve its security. In February, Japan deployed a short-range U.S. Patriot PAC-3 launcher in downtown Tokyo, in case North Korea's test missile headed for the city.

The U.S. and Japanese navies both have the capable Aegis ABM system on Aegis warships. To counter North Korea, Hawaii may receive an Aegis Ashore battery. NATO is in the process of deploying Aegis Ashore missiles in Eastern Europe -- to protect European NATO nations from a missile fired from ... Iran's direction.

ADM Gortney testified that the U.S. needs improved missile defenses "to engage the (missile) threat throughout its flight, keep them on the ground, kill them on the (launch) rails, kill them in boost phase" and also be able to destroy warheads "in space in mid-course."

Apparently, Gortney wants more Ground Based Mid-Course Defense interceptors, which provide limited defense against ICBMs. Pricey GMDs intercept enemy missiles in outer space. In 2010 the US had 30 GMDs. Obama Administration initially opposed more GMDs then in 2013 authorized buying 14 more.

Attention debate moderators: Ask the candidates to analyze the missile threat America confronts. Quote ADM Gortney. Ask the candidates if they agree with him. If they don't, why not? If they do, will they give missile defense the budget slice it needs?
Despite the recent Russian announcement that it is withdrawing its troops Russian warplanes are still supporting government forces advancing in the northwest around Homs, Palmyra and Aleppo. Down south near the Israeli border the Syrian Air Force owns the air. Government forces have also cleared out most rebels who had been advancing into Latakia province, which is where the Syrian ports are. Most of the Russian aid comes in through these ports and if Russia does indeed withdraw most of them will leave via these ports.

Since the end of 2015 Russian air support has made it possible for Syrian forces to recapture hundreds of towns and villages. The rebel, especially ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant), fighters tend to be inexperienced and not capable of camouflaging their positions to make them difficult to see from the air. Equally important Russia has sent spare parts and technical experts to help the Syrians to get a lot of their self-propelled and towed artillery operational again. Large quantities of artillery ammo has also been sent and the Syrian Army can again use their artillery intensively and that is something else the rebels are not used to and often flee from. All this has made it much harder for the rebels to defeat the Assad government.

In addition to Russian air support the recent government advances were also aided by the continuing battles between extremist rebel groups (like ISIL and Al Nusra) against more moderate rebels. The Kurds are the most formidable of these and that unofficial alliance between Kurds and pro-government forces against the more radical rebels has led to heavy ISIL and al Nusra losses around places like Aleppo.

Heavy fighting also continues in Deir Ezzor province, especially the provincial capital (Deir Ezzor city). ISIL had, at the end of 2015, controlled most of the province, including Palmyra, which is astride the main road from Deir Ezzor province to Damascus (the national capital and Assad stronghold). Supporting government forces in Deir Ezzor became more difficult with the loss of Palmyra in mid-2015 but now the rebels are about to lose all those 2015 gains in this area.

In the southeast, at Tanf on the Iraqi border, FSA (Free Syrian Army) rebels continue to battle ISIL for control of the border crossing that connects western Iraq (Anbar province) with largely ISIL-held eastern Syria. The FSA forces here are based in Jordan, where they have the support of Jordan and the United States.

The Syrian Kurds have a more difficult position because they are fighting ISIL as well as Turkey in northeast Syria. The Syrian Kurds are angry about Turkish demands that Kurdish forces not advance west of the Euphrates River in Syria. The Syrian Kurds did that anyway and now have to deal with air attacks by the Turks as well as continued resistance from ISIL forces in the area. The largest component of the Syrian Kurd rebels is the PYD (a Syrian Kurd separatist group allied with Turkish Kurdish PKK separatists) and their military forces (the YPG). Western nations back the Kurds because in Iraq and Syria the Kurds are the most effective local fighters. Moreover in Syria the Kurds there have incorporated some Arab militias (some Moslems, others Christian) into an effective combined force. This joint force is also advancing south towards the ISIL capital and are now within 30 kilometers of the city. This is done with support from American and other coalition warplanes and some special operations troops. The Turks dont seem to care much about all that and prefer to regard armed Kurds (especially the PKK and PYD) as a threat to Turkey.

The UN and most of the West are eager for peace in Syria but for most Moslem nations Syria is a main battleground in the current Shia (led by Iran) and Sunni (led by Saudi Arabia) civil war as well as a joint effort to destroy ISIL, which threatens everyone. The West is not willing to use enough force to make a difference and the pro-government forces, now including even more Russian support, are more unified and coordinated as well as better armed and more determined than the rebels. The UN is caught in the middle and goes along with whatever seems least offensive.

The UN sponsored Syrian peace talks in Switzerland are still underway propelled largely by widespread frustration at the war, which has been going on since 2011. About 300,000 have died and some 60 percent of Syrians have been forced from their homes. Over 20 percent of Syrians have fled the country. There is general agreement that a stalemate benefits no one and that Islamic terrorist groups like ISIL and al Nusra (the Syrian branch of al Qaeda) are willing to destroy Syria rather than agree to any negotiated peace. Russia and Iran appear unwilling to abandon the Assads but most of the rebels will settle for nothing less. Partitioning Syria is not popular either but is generally more acceptable than letting the Assads remain.

Medical aid groups believe there were at least 69 chemical weapon attacks in Iraq and Syria during 2015 and some are still occurring in 2016. Most of these attacks used toxic industrial chemicals rather than stuff designed to be a weapon (like mustard or nerve gas). It is believed that the Syrian Army used mustard gas in July 2015. Most of the other attacks were apparently the work of ISIL, which appears to have used mustard gas during August. The story going around was that this chemical weapon was part of some secret supply of mustard gas that the Assad government did not surrender and that ISIL captured. It is possible that someone stole some Syrian chemical weapons in 2013 and later sold it ISIL. Back then the UN was having a hard time getting some rebel factions to allow UN chemical weapons destruction teams to reach bases where some of these weapons were stored. Syria appeared to have had 700 tons of nerve gas (sarin) and 300 tons of mustard gas and had agreed to have them destroyed by the UN. Nerve gas was first used in combat during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-88). The Assads knew that once they defeated the rebels they could rebuild the plants that manufacture the nerve and mustard gas and rebuild their pre-rebellion stocks in a few years. It was believed that the Assads would not hold onto a secret stash of mustard and sarin as using it would get them in even more trouble. It is doubtful that the Assads would sell any secret stash because it would likely be used against them. But in late 2013 there were suspicions that some of the Assad chemical weapons were not accounted for. The Americans doubt that ISIL is having any success in manufacturing chemical weapons. It was already known that ISIL was creating primitive chemical weapons by filling 120mm mortar shells with potentially lethal industrial chemicals (like chlorine or grain fumigant). Chemicals like this can be lethal to humans in large quantities, but when used in a mortar shell or as part of a vehicle bomb the amounts victims might be exposed to only have temporary effects ranging from nausea to poor vision, problems breathing and so on. These are the symptoms reported by Kurdish fighters hit with these ISIL chemical shells although in some cases the symptoms were consistent with mustard. Mustard is different as it does more damage (especially to the lungs) and has no other use but as a weapon.

Turkey has increased border security in response to threats from ISIL and PKK to carry out attacks inside Turkey. The border guards are catching more Islamic terrorists trying to get into Turkey, often with bomb making components like explosives and detonators. Since mid-2015 Islamic terrorist bombings and shootings inside Turkey have left about 150 dead. The government is under a lot of popular and political pressure to eliminate or greatly reduce this threat. At the same time there is not a lot of popular support for sending ground troops into Syria.

March 14, 2016: Russia announced that it was pulling most of its military forces (over fifty warplanes and several thousand troops) out of Syria. Or something like that as no details have been provided. This withdrawal is supposed to start this week but many believe it is a negotiating tactic. Russia pointed out that their troops made it possible for Syrian government forces to retake over 400 towns and villages more than 10,000 square kilometers of territory and that Russian forces can leave now. While the Russian presence reversed rebel advances that threatened to defeat the Syrian government by late 2015 the Russian assistance has not defeated the rebels. Despite still being divided (and often fighting each other) the rebels remain more powerful than the government forces. Russia cites the long-delayed peace talks as made possible because of the Russian intervention. Yet the peace talks are more about posturing than performance. One tangible result of the Russian intervention was an opportunity to give many new Russian weapons some combat experience. That is a good thing for Russia but because of continued low oil prices and sanctions Russia cannot afford to keep their Syrian operations going at their current intensity. It is no secret that Russia is running out of smart bombs and replacement parts for many of these new weapons. The elite combat and support troops Russia sent to Syria are exhausted and need some rest. Then there is the additional expense of the entire operation, something that is easier to justify back home if it is not open-ended. Russia will continue to maintain its improvised naval base and airbase operations in Syria. This is much less expensive and could be done with only a thousand or so troops. This presence also implies Russian willingness to bring back the muscle if the Assad government gets in big trouble again.

Meanwhile more Hezbollah fighters (perhaps ten percent of those in Syria) are reported crossing back into Lebanon. Hezbollah has never been happy about Iran forcing the Lebanese Shia militia to send thousands of fighters into Syria. When Russian troops arrived in September 2015 Hezbollah morale went up because now Hezbollah had air support. But with that air support apparently being withdrawn Hezbollah willingness to stay in Syria goes with it. Hezbollah officially denies it is pulling out of Syria and describes the reports as misleading because Hezbollah regularly rotates its fighters in and out of Syria for morale purposes.

In the Turkish capital (Ankara) a PKK suicide car bomb attack left 37 dead. It took a few days to identify the bomber as a 24 year old Kurdish woman who joined the PKK in 2013 and then left her home in Turkey and moved to Syria to receive training from the YPG (Syrian Kurdish separatists). Turkey retaliated with more air strikes on PKK and YPG bases in Syria and Iraq. The PKK Ankara bomber was known to Turkish intelligence and after she was identified more than fifty Kurds were arrested because they belonged to similar Kurdish organizations in southeast Turkey. All this is the result of a ceasefire ending in mid-2015 because the Turks believed the PKK were responsible for an increase in Kurdish terrorism in Turkey.

March 13, 2016: In central Syria (Hama province) a Syrian Air Force MiG-21 was hit by ground fire (apparently a portable surface to air missile) while supporting Syrian troops who were battling men from ISIL and al Nusra. The pilot ejected safely but was killed by more ground fire as he descended over enemy territory.

March 9, 2016: In the north ISIL fired eight rockets at a Turkish town (Kilis) just across the border. Most of the rockets missed by but at least two landed in residential areas killing two civilians and wounding two others. Turkish artillery returned fire, aiming for suspected Islamic terrorist positions about five kilometers inside Syria.

March 5, 2016: During the first week of the ceasefire 135 people died in areas where forces agreed to abide by the peace deal. But over 500 died in the areas controlled by ISIL and al Nusra, two major Islamic terrorist groups that did not agree to the ceasefire. The U.S. revealed that more than 500 ISIL men had been killed in the same period. There was no estimate on the number of al Nusra or civilian dead there were in the period. The second week of the ceasefire was also violent.

March 4, 2016: In the northeast (Al Hasakah province) an American air strike wounded the ISIL Minister of War (Tarkhan Tayumurazovich Batirashvili), who was a known terrorist that had a $5 million price on his head. Batirashvili soon died from his wounds but the U.S. was not able to confirm that for another ten days. Batirashvili was attending a meeting with ISIL military leaders and several (as many as ten) of those died in the bombing as well. Losing Batirashvili was very bad news for ISIL as he had an impressive record of recruiting, training and organizing ISIL fighting forces. At the time of his death he was making visits to areas where ISIL had suffered recent defeats and attempts to improve morale. His getting killed had quite the opposite effect.

March 3, 2016: In the southeast, across the border in the Jordanian city of Irbid local police discovered a group of ISIL men hiding near a Palestinian refugee camps. The Islamic terrorists were preparing to carry out bombings and shootings. The police and commandos moved first and in a battle that lasted overnight the seven ISIL men were killed. Police seized seven assault rifles, lots of ammo and several suicide bomb belts.

The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council, the Arab oil states in the Persian Gulf) declared the Lebanese Hezbollah Shia militia to be a terrorist group. The rest of the world has long identified Hezbollah as an Islamic terrorist organization but the GCC did not because it was (and still is) popular in the Middle East to try and support any group that is fighting Israel. Hezbollah and Palestinian groups like Hamas are the only ones doing that. In 2013 the GCC criticized Hezbollah for supporting the Assad dictatorship in Syria. Iranian leaders reacted to all this by accusing the GCC acting under Israeli influence and pressure.

March 2, 2016: In the south (Quneitra province) an ISIL suicide car bomb killed 18 FSA (Free Syrian Army) rebels.

February 29, 2016: The Kurdish YPG reported it lost 43 of its members defending the town of Gir Spi (on the Turkish border) from ISIL attack.

February 27, 2016: In Syria a ceasefire began and so far it has worked, sort of. While Syrian government, Russian and some rebel forces observed the truce there is still a lot of fighting because most of the rebels are not part of the ceasefire. This is mainly because ISIL and al Nusra (nearly as large as ISIL but affiliated with al Qaeda) have not agreed to stop fighting. This was the second attempt at a ceasefire in February. That first effort failed for the same reasons the new effort is only partially successful. The new ceasefire was still working in many areas as of mid-March. This is useful because it allows food and other aid to reach several hundred thousand civilians trapped by the fighting.

February 26, 2016: The first Saudi Arabian warplanes on arrived in Turkey at the Incirlik air force base. This is part of an increased Saudi effort against ISIL in Syria. Incirlik is where NATO warplanes have operated from for decades and has been a major base to attacks against Islamic terrorist targets in Syria as well as Turkish attacks on Kurds in Syria and Iraq.
BUSINESS leaders in Coventry and Warwickshire say George Osbornes budget will be popular with small firms.

But Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, was disappointed once again to see the Midlands Engine overlooked as the Chancellor moved to strengthen the Northern Powerhouse.

Osborne announced reductions in business rates, in capital gains tax and stamp duty for small companies describing his budget as putting a rocket boost on enterprise and productivity.

He also announced a drop in corporation tax to 17 per cent by 2020.

Bennett said: There were some very positive announcements from the point of view of small businesses  Mr Osborne even made reference to newsagents in Nuneaton being better off!

As a Chamber, we wanted the Chancellor to recognise the uncertainty in our economy  around Europe and international difficulties  and to deliver a budget that would still allow businesses to move forward and grow.

I think many of the measures have been designed with that in mind.

That said, some of the pain for businesses and business owners have already been announced such as the apprenticeship levy  which could hold some businesses back from taking on apprentices  as well as the changes to taxation on dividends.

The fuel duty freeze will be another measure that is also popular with businesses and their staff.

From our regions point of view, it was disappointing to hear so many major announcements regarding the Northern Powerhouse and London  and yet nothing for the Midlands Engine.

We, therefore, have to find a new way of catching the Chancellors ear when it comes to what this region needs.

She added; I would also have liked to have heard much, much more about international trade and the support for business. That is something we, as a Chamber, are delivering for companies across the patch all the time, with a delegation out in the USA right now.

Export is crucial if we are to Go For Growth as a region and as a country and its vital that this is not forgotten.

On the whole, it was largely a budget that will be welcomed by small business but I am concerned that he might be slightly too bullish when it comes to falling unemployment.

I dont believe that is something we can take for granted and that is why it is vital that businesses have every ounce of support to grow and take on new staff.
China Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd. (NYSE: NPD) announced today that it has entered into a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with China Neptunus Drugstore Holding Ltd. ("Parent") and Neptunus Global Limited ("Merger Sub"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Parent will acquire the Company for a cash consideration equal to US$1.31 per ordinary share of the Company (each, a "Share") or US$2.62 per American depositary share of the Company, on the basis that one American depositary share shall represent two Shares (each, an "ADS"), in a transaction implying Company's enterprise value at approximately US$258,655,491.4 million, based on the total Shares issued and outstanding (including Shares represented by ADSs) on a fully diluted basis. This amount represents a premium of 19.1% over the Company's closing price of US$2.2 per ADS on July 2, 2015, the last trading day prior to July 6, 2015, the date that the Company announced it had received a "going-private" proposal.

Immediately following the consummation of the merger, Parent will be beneficially owned by Mr. Simin Zhang, chairman of the board of directors of the Company (the "Buyer"). As of the date of the Merger Agreement, the Buyer beneficially owns approximately 79.5% of the outstanding Shares of the Company.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the merger, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent, and each of the Shares (including Shares represented by ADSs) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger will be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive US$1.31 per Share or US$2.62 per ADS, in each case, in cash, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes, except for (i) Shares held by the Company's direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, (ii) Shares (including Shares represented by ADSs) beneficially owned by Parent, Merger Sub or their affiliates, in each case, immediately prior to the effective time of the merger (which Shares described in (i) and (ii) will be cancelled at the effective time of the merger and no consideration or distribution shall be delivered with respect thereto), and (iii) Shares owned by holders who have validly exercised and not effectively withdrawn or lost their rights to dissent from the merger pursuant to Section 238 of the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands, which Shares will be cancelled at the effective time of the merger for the right to receive the appraised fair value of such Shares determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 238 of the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands.

The Company's board of directors, acting upon the unanimous recommendation of the special committee formed by the board of directors (the "Special Committee"), approved the Merger Agreement, and resolved to recommend that the Company's shareholders vote to authorize and approve the Merger Agreement and the merger. The Special Committee, which is composed solely of independent directors of the Company who are unaffiliated with Parent, Merger Sub or the Buyer or management of the Company, exclusively negotiated the terms of the Merger Agreement with the Buyer with the assistance of its independent financial and legal advisors.

The merger which is currently expected to close during the third quarter of 2016, is subject to various closing conditions, including a condition that the Merger Agreement be authorized and approved by an affirmative vote of shareholders representing at least two-thirds of the Shares present and voting in person or by proxy as a single class at an extraordinary general meeting of the Company's shareholders.

The Buyer intends to fund the merger with the proceeds from a committed loan facility in an amount of up to RMB360,000,000 (or equivalent in U.S. Dollar) provided by Ping An Bank Co., Ltd., pursuant to a debt commitment letter entered into by and between Parent and Ping An Bank Co., Ltd..

The Company will prepare and file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a Schedule 13E-3 transaction statement, which will include a proxy statement of the Company. The Schedule 13E-3 will include a description of the Merger Agreement and contain other important information about the merger, the Company and the other participants in the merger.

Houlihan Lokey (China) Limited is serving as the financial advisor to the Special Committee, Shearman & Sterling LLP is serving as U.S. legal counsel to the Special Committee, and Maples and Calder is serving as Cayman Islands legal counsel to the Special Committee.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is serving as U.S. legal counsel to the Buyer, and Mourant Ozannes is serving as Cayman Islands legal counsel to the Buyer.

Additional Information about the Merger

In connection with the proposed merger, the Company will prepare and mail a proxy statement that will include a copy of the Merger Agreement to its shareholders. In addition, certain participants in the proposed merger will prepare and mail to the Company's shareholders a Schedule 13E-3 transaction statement that will include the Company's proxy statement. These documents will be filed with or furnished to the SEC. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY THESE MATERIALS AND OTHER MATERIALS FILED WITH OR FURNISHED TO THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, THE PROPOSED MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS. In addition to receiving the proxy statement and Schedule 13E-3 transaction statement by mail, shareholders also will be able to obtain these documents, as well as other filings containing information about the Company, the proposed merger and related matters, without charge, from the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov) or at the SEC's public reference room at 100 F Street, NE, Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. In addition, these documents can be obtained, without charge, by contacting the Company at the following address and/or phone number:

China Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd. 25F, Neptunus Yinhe Keji Building,No.1, Kejizhong 3rd Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen Guangdong Province, 518057, People's Republic of ChinaTelephone: +86-755- 2641-4065

The Company and certain of its directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may, under SEC rules, be deemed to be "participants" in the solicitation of proxies from its shareholders with respect to the proposed merger. Information regarding the persons or entities who may be considered "participants" in the solicitation of proxies will be set forth in the proxy statement and Schedule 13E-3 transaction statement relating to the proposed merger when it is filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will be included in the proxy statement and Schedule 13E-3 transaction statement and the other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available.
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW) announced that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) approved the Edwards SAPIEN 3 transcatheter heart valve for the treatment of patients suffering from severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis.

The company anticipates reimbursement approval from MHLW in the second quarter and plans to initiate a commercial launch in Japan immediately thereafter. The company expects to be fully launched in Japan by the end of the year.

"We are pleased to be able to offer Japanese clinicians and their patients access to the latest TAVR therapy with a smaller-profile transfemoral delivery system that will allow for the treatment of many patients with small or difficult-to-navigate vasculature," said Huimin Wang, M.D., Edwards' corporate vice president, Japan, Asia and Pacific. "We appreciate the MHLW's progressive decision-making in allowing this device to be available to Japanese patients in a timely manner, bringing Japan alongside the U.S. and Europe."

The SAPIEN 3 valve builds on Edwards' decades of experience in the development of tissue heart valves, and the proven benefits of the Edwards SAPIEN valves. The SAPIEN 3 valve, approved in 20mm, 23mm, 26mm and 29mm sizes, has an outer skirt providing a seal to address paravalvular leak. The valve can be delivered via a 14-French transfemoral eSheath introducer.

The SAPIEN 3 valve received commercial approval in Europe in January 2014 and in the U.S. in June 2015. In Japan, the SAPIEN XT valve was the first transcatheter heart valve introduced by Edwards in October 2013. The SAPIEN family of valves has been used in the treatment of more than 140,000 patients globally.
The Economist's Intelligence Unit rated a Donald Trump Presidency as one of the top global risk factors. The magazine gave the risk a "Moderate probability, High impact; Risk intensity = 12", this would be as high as the risk from jihadi terrorism destabilising the global economy.

In its analysis, the group said: "Thus far Mr Trump has given very few details of his policies - and these tend to be prone to constant revision - but a few themes have become apparent. First, he has been exceptionally hostile towards free trade, including notably NAFTA, and has repeatedly labelled China as a "currency manipulator". He has also taken an exceptionally right-wing stance on the Middle East and jiadhi terrorism, including, among other things, advocating the killing of families of terrorists and launching a land incursion into Syria to wipe out IS (and acquire its oil). In the event of a Trump victory, his hostile attitude to free trade, and alienation of Mexico and China in particular, could escalate rapidly into a trade war - and at the least scupper the Trans-Pacific Partnership between the US and 11 other American and Asian states signed in February 2016. His militaristic tendencies towards the Middle East (and ban on all Muslim travel to the US) would be a potent recruitment tool for jihadi groups, increasing their threat both within the region and beyond."

They concluded: "Although we do not expect Mr Trump to defeat his most likely Democratic contender, Hillary Clinton, there are risks to this forecast, especially in the event of a terrorist attack on US soil or a sudden economic downturn. It is worth noting that the innate hostility within the Republican hierarchy towards Mr Trump, combined with the inevitable virulent Democratic opposition, will see many of his more radical policies blocked in Congress - albeit such internal bickering will also undermine the coherence of domestic and foreign policymaking."

Other global risks include (risk intensity):
Security and Exchange Commission Chair Mary Jo White delivers her remarks while attending the Financial Security Oversight Committee hearing at the Treasury Department in Washington November 2, 2015. REUTERS/Gary Cameron

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday said her agency is examining whether companies could mislead investors through some of current accounting rules.

Companies must satisfy Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) when communicating to the market but industry has leeway in some investor disclosures and that is where SEC chair Mary Jo White says she has concerns.

"You can't mislead what you're doing here," White says she has told company executives.

It can be helpful to drop accounting jargon when trying to clearly explain a company's performance, White said, but "you have to follow the rules."

"It is something we're really looking at," White said at a Chamber of Commerce forum, adding that when it comes to non-GAAP accounting disclosure the SEC may need to "rein that in."

(Reporting By Patrick Rucker; Editing by Tom Brown)
By David Henry

(Reuters) - Shareholders of JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE: JPM) and Citigroup Inc (NYSE: C) will get to vote on whether their banks should consider breaking into smaller pieces.

Citigroup included the question in a proxy statement it filed on Wednesday for its annual meeting next month, and the shareholder sponsoring that proposal said he has a similar one slated for the upcoming ballot for JPMorgan's annual meeting.

The shareholder, Bart Naylor, said he hopes the proposals get more votes than the 4 percent he got for a measure last year that called for Bank of America Corp (NYSE: BAC) to break up.

The Citigroup and JPMorgan proposals "are more deferential to the boards in asking them to study the vicissitudes of a breakup," Naylor said in an interview. He hopes proxy advisory firms, which often sway one-third of votes with their recommendations to institutional investors, will back studies by directors even if they won't tell directors to break up the banks.

"These banks are too big to manage," Naylor said.

Citigroup directors opposed Naylor's resolution in Wednesday's filing, noting that the company has undertaken a transformation on its own to become smaller and more efficient. Citigroup has shed more than $500 billion of assets since 2008.

A JPMorgan spokesman declined to comment on Naylor's proposal. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon has said that JPMorgan is stronger because of its large and diverse businesses.

Naylor said he failed to get a similar measure on the slate for the next Bank of America shareholders meeting because he made a mistake and did not properly certify that he owned shares.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Wednesday that Naylor's proposals would be on the ballots.

The breakup of large banks into smaller ones has been an issue on the U.S. campaign trail.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who has drawn the support of the Democratic Party's populist wing in his run for the party's presidential nomination, has said he would create a "too-big-to-fail list of commercial banks, shadow banks, and insurance companies" and break them up in the first year of his administration.

(Reporting by Vishaka George in Bengaluru and David Henry; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Jonathan Oatis)
AHF Demands DWP Has to Go! in Latest L.A. Times Ad In new ad running Sunday, October 23, AHF criticizes the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) as an unaccountable bureaucracy getting in the way of organizations like AHF from providing affordable housing AHFs ad notes that while homelessness rages, DWP does nothing to help, but charges outrageous amounts to non-profits and cannot provide the power that is needed on a timely basis. AHF urges the DWP to Come down from your ivory tower and... (continue reading...)



Six Consulting, Inc Named 2022 Regional Supplier of the Year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council ALPHARETTA, Ga. (PRWEB) October 22, 2022 Six Consulting, Inc, a technology consulting firm specializing in Salesforce technologies, has been selected as the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) 2022 Class III Regional Supplier of the Year. The company stood out from over 15,000 eligible NMSDC-certified minority businesses across the country. The Regional Supplier of the Year awards will be presented at the 2022 NMSDC Conference Awards Gala on... (continue reading...)



With a remarkable design, the intelligent vehicle OBD2 device -- MUCAR CDE900 is breaking through in the traditional experience. ONTARIO, Calif., Oct. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vehicle failure is the phenomenon that the car cannot complete its functions normally, such as engine damaged, car oil leakage, lighting system failure and so on. When a problem occurs, the fault light will appear at first on the dashboard. However, it cannot completely define the accurate cause of the fault to repair. Therefore, people usually choose to go to a repair shop and sometimes they need to pay for a high... (continue reading...)



TGA Tianneng Global Alliance was Established, and New Energy Companies Have a New Way to Go Overseas Shenzhen, China--(Newsfile Corp. - October 22, 2022) - On October 21, 2022, the first TGA (Tianneng Global Alliance) "Focus On Cooperation, Overseas Development Alliance" Forum and TGA Tianneng Global Alliance Inauguration Ceremony, was successfully held at JW Marriott Hotel Bao'an, Shenzhen. Representatives of ten companies gathered together to jointly seek to develop a new path for "going out" cooperation in the energy field. TGA Tianneng Global Alliance was... (continue reading...)



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CAMPBELL, Calif., March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- R2integrated, a national full-service agency providing graphic design, integrated marketing campaigns, and digital advertising work, recently added nine accolades in multiple categories of this year's American Advertising Awards (formerly the ADDY Awards), Silicon Valley chapter. This is the fourth year in a row R2integrated has gained AAF distinctions.

R2i's American Advertising Award nominations consist of a diverse range of clients and marketing services, including web design, branding, television, out-of-home marketing, and sales enablement. R2i is thrilled to announce the following recognitions:

ADDY Award: Elements of Advertising  Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Uconnect Brand BookADDY Award: Direct Mail, 3D  Symantec, Meeting MakerADDY Award: Direct Mail, 3D  Nexgate Meeting MakerSilver Award: Television Campaign  Sungevity, "Someday"Silver Award: Advertising, Self-Promotion  R2integrated, "Brand + Demand + Technology"Silver Award: Advertising, Self-Promotion  R2integrated, WebsiteSilver Award: Out of Home Campaign  Blue Jeans, "SEE What You're Missing"Silver Award: Sales Promotion  IBM, Relationship MarketingSilver Award: Sales Promotion  FCA, "A Uconnect Life"

R2i's VP of Creative, Charlie Northend, comments, "Winning these awards is a real tribute to the dedication of our creative teams who provide creative content and unique digital experiences that captivate audience attention and drive real results."

For more on R2i, visit R2integrated.com.

About R2integrated R2i is a national full-service agency with offices in Silicon Valley, Seattle, New York, and Baltimore. With diverse expertise and a hands-on approach, R2i guides companies through a complex marketing landscape and builds integrated solutions that accelerate success. R2i's unique alignment between marketing technology, brand expression, and demand generation results in compelling creative campaigns, better user experiences, and deeper customer connections. Through focused areas of purpose such as web development and technology, multi-channel campaigns, media, loyalty and retention, sales enablement, brand strategy, and content marketing, R2i has consistently delivered on the new promise of marketing integration today for its clients. R2i clients include Microsoft, Hershey, Chevron, American Cancer Society, Atlantic Health, Aramark, and MasterCard.

About American Advertising Awards The American Advertising Awards, formerly known as the ADDYs, are known as the advertising industry's largest and most representative competition, attracting over 40,000 entries ever year in local AAF Club (Ad Club) competitions. The mission of the American Advertising Awards competition is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/r2i-takes-home-9-honors-in-american-advertising-awards-300237095.html

SOURCE R2integrated
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina's coast guard has sunk a Chinese trawler that was fishing illegally within its territorial waters, the coast guard said on Tuesday, marking a first test for relations between President Mauricio Macri and Beijing.

A coast guard vessel pursued the fishing vessel Lu Yan Yuan Yu 010 toward international waters in a high-seas chase on Monday, firing warning shots across the Chinese boat's bow as it attempted to raise the crew by radio.

"On several occasions, the offending ship performed maneuvers designed to force a collision with the coast guard, putting at risk not only its own crew but coast guard personnel, who were then ordered to shoot parts of the vessel," the coast guard said in a statement.

It was not clear if the vessel sank on Monday or Tuesday. The crew abandoned ship when the vessel began to go down.

Four crewmen were rescued by the coast guard while others were picked up by another Chinese vessel shadowing the pursuit.

China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement the Chinese government had lodged a protest over the incident and were demanding an explanation.

"The Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassy in Argentina have already lodged emergency representations with the Argentinian side and expressed serious concern about the incident, demanding Argentina launch an immediate probe and report on the details to China," it said.

China is also asking Argentina to ensure the safety and legal rights of Chinese fishermen and take steps to ensure such incidents do not happen again, the statement said.

Macri's center-right government, which took office in December, will likely be keen to avoid a diplomatic ruckus with the Asian powerhouse which has gained a strong foothold in South America, traditionally the United States' back yard.

Relations between Argentina and China tightened under former leftist leader Cristina Fernandez. Macri promised during last year's presidential race to review all new contracts with China but has shown no sign of doing so. Among those deals were an agreement to finance and build two nuclear power plants in Argentina in a deal worth up to $15 billion.

A spokesman for Argentina's foreign ministry said the judiciary was investigating the incident.

Coast guards using radar picked up the trawler fishing off the coast of Puerto Madryn, Chubut province, a zone known for squid.

Shots were fired into the hull of the Lu Yan Yuan Yu 010 after it ignored repeated warning fire and radio calls to allow the Argentine coast guard to board.

China has the world's largest distant water fishing fleet, with more than 2,000 vessels, the not-for-profit group Stop Illegal Fishing said last year.

(Reporting by Juliana Castilla and Richard Lough; Additional reporting by Jessica Macy Yu and Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; Editing by Grant McCool, Matthew Lewis and Paul Tait)
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia is deeply concerned over the arrest of two Australian journalists in Malaysia after they attempted to question Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak over corruption allegations, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Monday.

The journalists from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) flagship investigative journalism program, Four Corners, were arrested in the Borneo state of Sarawak on Saturday night after approaching Najib outside a mosque.

Malaysian police said in a statement the pair had been arrested for failing to comply with police instructions not to cross a security line. They were released on bail on Sunday and charged with "obstructing a public servant in the discharge of his public functions".

Bishop told ABC radio Australia was "deeply concerned".

"We are providing consular support to the ABC crew and certainly raising this issue at the appropriate level with the Malaysian government," she said.

Najib has faced sustained pressure to resign since the middle of last year over allegations of corruption linked to the debt-laden state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), and deposits into his private accounts worth around $680 million.

He has denied any wrongdoing and maintains he did not use the funds for personal gain. Malaysia's attorney-general closed all investigations into Najib last month, after reviewing reports from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

The government has also cracked down on media organizations that have published critical reports on the 1MDB scandal.

Last month, it blocked the widely read news portal The Malaysian Insider, prompting the United States to voice concern.

Sally Neighbour, the program's executive producer, wrote on Twitter that the journalists had been in Malaysia reporting on the corruption scandal and denied any allegations of wrongdoing on their behalf.

"Our journalists were doing what journalists do in countries with a free press," she wrote.

Reporter Linton Besser and camera operator Louie Eroglu have had their passports returned, Neighbour said, but have been barred from leaving the country.

Former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad cranked up pressure on Najib to quit earlier this month, marking a seismic political shift by joining hands with long-standing foes, including the party of the jailed Anwar Ibrahim.

(Additional reporting by Praveen Menon in Kuala Lumpur)
QUITO (Reuters) - A military plane crashed in Ecuador's jungle on Tuesday, killing all 22 people on board, the South American country's president, Rafael Correa, said.

Nineteen soldiers were heading to a parachuting course when the aircraft went down in the Pastaza province of the country's Amazon region. Two pilots and one mechanic, also members of the army, were killed too.

"There are no survivors," Correa said on Twitter. "It's a tragedy," he added, without providing further details.

The cause of the crash was not immediately clear.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Editing by Sandra Maler; Writing by Alexandra Ulmer)
The company logo of Noble Group is displayed at its office in Hong Kong, China January 22, 2016. REUTERS/Bobby Yip

By Anshuman Daga and Prakash Chakravarti

SINGAPORE/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Noble Group is in advanced talks to raise a large unsecured loan from banks that will help repay its debt maturing in May, the loss-making commodity trader's head of treasury said, a move that could help it win back investor confidence.

Noble, whose debt has been downgraded by credit rating agencies and which has been accused of inappropriate accounting, is seeking to raise $1.5 billion through a one-year loan that is not backed by assets, sources with direct knowledge of the situation said. Noble has denied the accounting claims.

If Noble is able to raise that sum, it would have met most of its upcoming debt obligations for this year, potentially allaying investor concerns that its finances are not sufficiently sound following a $1.2 billion writedown on assets and downgrades by S&P and Moody's on its debt to junk status.

Wildrik de Blank, Noble's group treasurer, declined to give details on the size of the loan, which would be structured as a revolving credit facility. "The revolving credit facility will close ahead of its May maturity and is expected to exceed our target amount," he told Reuters in an email.

The Singapore-listed company, one of the world's biggest commodities traders, is in discussions with a group of banks, including HSBC , Societe Generale , Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFG) <8306.T> and JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM) on the new loan, said the sources, who declined to be identified as the talks are private.

Noble will kick off the roadshows in Hong Kong next week, the sources said.

Societe Generale, JPMorgan and MUFG declined to comment on the loan, while there was no immediate response from HSBC.

Noble has around $2.1 billion of debt maturing in May and the unsecured loan will be used to partially repay that debt. This year, Noble raised $750 million by selling its stake in an agribusiness venture.

The one-year loan comes on top of a $2.5 billion secured financing that the company is also seeking in the United States from its lenders, sources had said..

A $2.29 billion loan signed by Noble in May last year included a $1.15 billion one-year portion that pays an interest margin of 85 basis points over Libor, according to Thomson Reuters LPC.

De Blank said the latest loan would come at a higher price than the one-year tranche raised by Noble a year ago.

(Additional reporting by Chien Mi Wong of LPC; Editing by Denny Thomas and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Special Envoy Angelina Jolie visits a shelter for refugees and migrants at the port of Piraeus, near Athens, Greece, March 16, 2016. REUTERS/Michalis Karagiannis

PIRAEUS, Greece (Reuters) - A day after visiting refugees in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, U.N. special envoy Angelina Jolie traveled to Greece on Wednesday to highlight the plight of war-fleeing families stuck in the country.

Jolie visited the temporary offices of U.N. refugee agency UNHCR at the main port of Piraeus near Athens, which has become a makeshift camp for some 4,000 refugees and migrants sleeping in tents on the docks.

Scores of onlookers stood outside the agency's offices to see the Hollywood actress, clapping and cheering when she appeared.

Jolie greeted children and asked the throng of reporters, cameramen and photographers to be more "thoughtful" as she tried to speak with them.

"I'm here to learn and speak with you and the agencies and the government to learn what is happening, ok?," Jolie told one boy. "Try to stay strong."

According to a UNHCR press release, Jolie is visiting Greece "to reinforce efforts by UNHCR and the Greek government to step up the emergency response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation".

Tens of thousands of refugees and migrants are stuck in makeshift camps or reception centers in Greece, which has been struggling with the mass influx of migrants from the Middle East.

On Wednesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the closing of the main migrant route through the Balkans had created a challenging situation for Greece that should concern all of Europe.

Jolie, whose visit comes ahead of a European Union summit with Turkey over the migrant crisis, was also set to meet with Greece's prime minister.

During her trip to Lebanon, the actress urged world powers to do more to end the Syrian conflict and help the millions who have fled the fighting.

(Reporting By Deborah Kyvrikosaios; Writing by Deborah Kyvrikosaios and Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
Company logo of German Reinsurer Munich Re is pictured prior the company's annual news conference in Munich March 11, 2015. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle

By Jonathan Gould

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Munich Re has named life reinsurance specialist Joachim Wenning to succeed Nikolaus von Bomhard as chief executive of the world's largest reinsurer from April 27, 2017.

Wenning, 51, joined Munich Re in 1991 and has served on its board for the last seven years with responsibility for life reinsurance, which makes up about 20 percent of the group's 50 billion euros ($56 billion) in annual premiums.

Von Bomhard, 12 years at the helm, will step down at next year's annual meeting of shareholders on April 26, Munich Re said in a statement on Tuesday.

Wenning said in an interview published on the company's website he would work with von Bomhard over the next 13 months to smooth the handover.

"I will quickly assimilate myself with those areas where I need expertise and seek to profit from the experience of Nikolaus von Bomhard," Wenning said.

A German magazine report last week said that von Bomhard, 59, was stepping down to be able to take over as supervisory board chairman in 2019, after a standard two-year cooling-off period.

Munich Re on Tuesday declined to comment on von Bomhard's plans after his departure from management.

Life reinsurance premiums have doubled during Wenning's tenure on the board as insurance company clients grapple with the implications of trends such as demographic change and medical advances.

But Wenning, who holds a doctorate in economics from the University of Munich, also has experience in other key business areas, having helped realign marketing and sales at the group's Hamburg-Mannheimer primary insurance unit, for example.

In 2005, Wenning became CEO of Munich Re's Switzerland-based subsidiary, New Re, which underwrites property-casualty and structured reinsurance.

(Reporting by Jonathan Gould; Editing by Maria Sheahan)
Venezuela's Oil Minister and President of the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, Eulogio del Pino speaks during a meeting with Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and representatives of international and national mining companies, at the headquarters of

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's Oil Minister told Reuters on Wednesday some 20 crude producing countries would meet in Doha for talks on April 17 and added he was personally speaking to his Iranian counterpart about the proposal.

"The invitation backed by the countries that have proposed the production freeze until the middle of the year as a mechanism to balance prices and stocks will be applicable to OPEC and non-OPEC countries like Kazakhstan, Oman, Azerbaijan, Mexico, Colombia and others," Eulogio Del Pino said.

He added the proposal was identical to the original freeze deal, and only included an additional plan to create a ministerial OPEC and non-OPEC committee to track adherence to the guidelines and monitor prices and stocks.

(Reporting by Alexandra Ulmer)
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549





FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of March 2016

Commission File Number 001-36187





EVOGENE LTD.

(Translation of Registrants Name into English)

13 Gad Feinstein Street

Park Rehovot P.O.B 2100

Rehovot 7612002 Israel

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F x Form 40-F o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ____

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ____

CONTENTS

On March 15, 2016, Evogene Ltd., or the Company, held a Special General Meeting of Shareholders, or the Meeting, at its principal executive offices in Rehovot, Israel. At the Meeting, at which a quorum was present, the proposal on the agenda was duly approved. A description of the proposal can be found in the Companys proxy statement with respect to the Meeting, which was attached as Exhibit 99.1 to the Companys Report of Foreign Private Issuer, furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 4, 2016.

A notice announcing the results of the Meeting is appended to this report as Exhibit 99.1.

2

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: March 16, 2016 EVOGENE LTD. (Registrant) By: /s/ Eyal Leibovitz  Eyal Leibovitz Chief Financial Officer

3

EXHIBIT INDEX





EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION 99.1. A notice announcing Results of Special General Meeting of Shareholders

4













EXHIBIT 99.1

Notice of Results of Special General Meeting of Shareholders

Evogene Ltd., or the Company, announced today that the proposal submitted to Shareholder approval at its Special General Meeting of Shareholders, held on March 15, 2016 in Rehovot, Israel, or the Meeting, was duly approved. At the Meeting, shareholders of the Company approved the following by the requisite majority under the Company's articles of association and the Israeli Companies Law, 5799-1999:





Adoption of a U.S. Addendum to Evogene Ltd. 2013 Share Option Plan, or the 2013 Plan, under which incentive stock options may be granted to our U.S. subsidiary employees and to any other employees of any U.S affiliate of the Company that may be incorporated in the future in accordance with the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.




A golden summer promises a golden vintage for Nelson wineries this year.

Local grape growers are anticipating a quality harvest due to the abnormally warm summer the region experienced.

Nelson Winegrowers Association chairman Jonny Hiscox said harvest was about to "start kicking off" with grapes looking to be in good condition, even after the heavy rain spells that hit the district earlier in the year.

MARION VAN DIJK Hermann Seifried with his daughter Heidi Seifried-Houghton, left and son Chris Seifried in the block of Chardonnay grapes ready to be hand picked at Seifried Estate for the Methode traditional sparkling wine.

"It's been an interesting growing season we've had our challenges, just with the extremities in the weather, but the grapes have been developing nicely."

Although the summer has had a sunny disposition, the forecast for the next week is making wineries nervous.

READ MORE:

* For the love of wine and a good home

* Seifrieds' plan to toast a new generation

* Nelson vineyards win big at wine awards

MARION VAN DIJK/FAIRFAX NZ Nelson winemakers are scrambling to harvest their crop ahead of Cyclone Debbie's arrival.

"We really need the weather gods to smile down on us, if we get substantial rain it can dilute the flavours in the grapes which leaves them vulnerable to disease pressure," Hiscox said.

Neudorf founder Tim Finn said he was looking forward to the next couple of weeks and the wine that the grapes would produce.

"This year will be a special vintage because of the long and warm summer we've had, there's been a lot of warmer nights too which will change the character of the grapes," he said. "The high temperature creates crisp, ripe flavours."

MARION VAN DIJK Hermann Seifried with bottles of his 1980's vintage wines, Rhine Reisling and gewurztraminer at Seifried Estate.

Seifried Estate winemaker Chris Seifried said the weather had made for a perfect season because of the lack of rain.

"The fine weather that we've had lately has been absolutely fantastic and the fruit looks perfect," he said. "In a wet year you can have a lot of rot and mildew and things like that but this year we have beautiful clean bunches - this is absolutely super, so we're pretty excited."

Seifried Estate are one of the pioneering wineries in Nelson and this year celebrate their 40th year in business.

Founder of Seifried Estate Hermann Seifried said the last 40 years had been "pretty good" and he hoped the next 40 would see his grandchildren taking over.

"I would like to say but I don't know, hopefully I will be around here for the next 40 years. I think it's in good hands, the company. You can only do so much, it's really up to them," he said.

To help commemorate the occasion Seifried will be releasing a special drop that has been waiting to come off the shelf for five years.

The wine is a methode traditionelle sparkling - an international name for champagne - which was made in 2011 and will be up for purchase later on this year.

"In 2011 my wife and I had a baby and so did my sister so we made a champagne as a celebration of the next generation being born and coming into the family business. The plan is later this year, we will release it," Seifried said.

The estate are currently hand-picking chardonnay grapes to be used for the next lot of bubbly they will produce, which is estimated to be sold in 2020.

"It's not something we want to do every year, it's just marking a special occasion. It stays in the bottle for ideally 3 years before it's released but you can hold onto it for longer," he said.

Harvest is expected to start at the end of this week or the start of next week for most local vineyards.
Velvetleaf is one of the world's worst cropping weeds.

Manawatu farmers have been put on alert to look out for velvetleaf - one of the world's worst cropping weeds.

Originally thought to have been confined to the South Island - bar earlier findings in the Waikato Region - the plant has been found once more on a farm in Matamata.

Velvetleaf is a serious pest weed overseas; damaging crops by competing with them for nutrients and water. It is also an unwanted organism under the Biosecurity Act, meaning its entry to New Zealand is prohibited.

Supplied Farmers are urged to look out for the weed.

Horizons Regional Council is now working closely with the Ministry for Primary Industries to assist in containing its spread.

READ MORE: Small outbreak of velvetleaf weed in South Canterbury

Velvetleaf is an annual broad-leafed herb that grows 1-2.5m tall. It is distinguishable by its large and heart-shaped leaves that are velvety to the touch. It flowers from spring through autumn with buttery-yellow flowers that are about 3cm across.

It also has distinctive seedpods with 12-15 segments in a cup-like ring. Each seedpod is 2.5cm in diameter.

Horizons biosecurity manager Bill Martyn said there were no known velvetleaf sightings in the Horizons region as yet but any farmers who think they may have found the plant are urged to make immediate contact with MPI via toll free number 0800 80 99 66.

"It's vitally important that any growers of fodder beet inspect their crops and report any suspected sightings to MPI immediately.

"If you think you have the weed please take a photo and mark the location of any plants so they can be easily found again. It is important that you do not pull up any suspected plants or graze stock in potentially infested crops.

"An MPI or local council representative will carefully remove any suspected velvetleaf plants to make sure seed is not spread.

"Our staff are on standby to assist with the response and work alongside growers now with advice for site management into the future," he said.

As a precautionary measure, MPI has directed seed and grain retailers who have sold the Kyros or Bangor seed lines to hold any remaining stock and instruct buyers of the seed to return any unsown product. Any growers who still have unsown Kyros or Bangor seed should return this to the retail outlet where it was purchased.

In addition to this, Horizons is advising all farmers with any form of fodder beet crop to check for velvetleaf.

The ministry is currently investigating how the weed seeds could have entered New Zealand and working with a range of primary sector organisations and regional councils to establish the extent of its spread.

More information and updates about the weed is available from the MPI website
Delia Williams, pictured in her 20s, died after being struck by a car in Garden Rd, in the Wellington suburb of Northland, on Tuesday night.



Delia Williams' close-knit family are gathering in Wellington from around the North Island to grieve for the woman who died after being hit by a car.

Williams, 55, who was well known in Wellington art circles, had five sisters and two brothers, as well as 29-year-old son Byron McLean.

SUPPLIED Delia Williams with son Byron, who is now 29.

"She was a solo mum and she was a pretty amazing mother for him  it's hard," Robyn McLean said, speaking on behalf of the family.

Police have begun a homicide investigation and have charged a Levin man with drink-driving and with using a car as a weapon, after Williams' death in the Wellington suburb of Northland on Tuesday night.

READ MORE: Man charged after death of woman hit by car in Wellington

SUPPLIED Delia Williams used to run art galleries in Cuba St, Wellington.

McLean said her former sister-in-law lived in Garden Rd about 15 years ago, and had returned to visit a former neighbour on the night she died.

Williams was an "awesome but eccentric" person, who made friends wherever she went.

"She was larger than life. The sort of person who would make friends with the postman.

ROBERT KITCHIN/FAIRFAX NZ Police cordoned off the spot in Garden Rd where Williams was killed.

"She had this beaming smile  it's a cliche, but it would light up a room."

Until the early 2000s, Williams had been a fixture in Wellington's art world, first with a gallery beneath the Peter McLeavey Gallery in Cuba St, then later with a gallery above the Matterhorn in Cuba Mall.

"She was very passionate about art and had a talent for spotting emerging artists," McLean said.

CAMERON BURNELL/ FAIRFAX NZ Tony Smith, who lives across the road from Delia Williams in Levin, said he would often hear her playing loud music.

"I can't say enough about her talent in the art world."

Since leaving the gallery above Matterhorn, Williams had been working little and living in Levin.

McLean said her family was very grateful for the help from police and victim support.

"I'm pretty blown away by it. It's extraordinary."

They expected to know on Friday when her funeral would be held.

Neighbours in Levin described Williams as an assertive, colourful, eccentric character fond of playing loud music, who lived with her partner at the modest suburban home.

Tony Smith said she didn't hesitate to make herself known to neighbours. She kept a close on eye on vehicles and cars coming and going in the neighbourhood.

Her partner was a pleasant man, he said.

Williams would often play music, including "opera stuff". She and her partner would regularly go away for a few days at a time.

He had not seen anyone at the house for several days.

Other neighbours in the street said her partner was a quiet man who may have recently had health problems.

LATEST FROM POLICE:

Detective Sergeant Hayley Ryan said on Thursday that the accused, who is 58, had fled the scene on Tuesday night, but returned shortly afterwards and was arrested.

"The car was found nearby."

She appealed for anyone who had seen a silver 2005 BMW hatchback in the Northland area on Tuesday evening to contact Wellington police.

Officers were still trying to clarify whether Williams was hit on the road, or in a driveway.

"We are getting a clearer picture day by day. We will hopefully establish exactly what has happened at the address."

She would not comment on whether more charges would be laid.
The cost of cleaning up P contaminated houses can run into the tens of thousands of dollars

Nearly a quarter of homes built for a brand new state housing development in Christchurch have already been contaminated with P less than a year later.

In most cases, the tenants were single mums with young children, including four toddlers under two.

Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett said she found the figures "shockingly high" and the age at which some children were being exposed to P, or meth, was an "extreme concern".

"Four of them are two years or younger, so wee babies. It's at a time when they are most susceptible to their environment and they need the healthiest environment they can possibly get. There are some quite serious health effects [from P] with skin and respiratory conditions. And equally you have to question if its a healthy and safe environment. "

READ MORE:

* Queue for urgent housing grows in Christchurch

* Housing New Zealand to miss Christchurch rebuild target

* Let's talk about the Christchurch rebuild

* Children found living in P property

The new housing development only went up in June last year. Of 19 houses built, two tenants have since been evicted after tests returned positive for P and two more evictions are underway.

Police had suspicions about a further two houses but they tested negative for the drug.

Officials declined to give the location of the development but it is understood police first began investigating after reports of drug dealing and unsavoury behaviour day and night.

Bennett said there had been a dramatic escalation in the number of P contaminated houses but it was hard to know if it was a new problem, or whether it was because HNZ was testing more rigorously under its zero tolerance policy.

The most recent figures show nearly 400 HNZ properties are uninhabitable as a result of P, and clean ups can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Most are a result of P use, rather than the houses being used as P labs.

In the last six months HNZ has spent $5.8 million on testing and remediation and in the Christchurch/Marlborough/Nelson region alone the cost is $350,000.

In the same period, 279 properties have been confirmed as meth contaminated, including 33 in Christchurch, and five properties nationwide have had to be demolished.

It costs around $16,000 to demolish a small property and up to $30,000 to decontaminate a house.

Bennett said the problem was a mounting concern for Housing New Zealand, and not just because of the cost, both social and financial. It was having an impact on its waiting lists.

In Christchurch alone there were 426 people on the social housing register - the millions of dollars spent on testing and treating P houses could have bought an extra 15 properties.

HNZ has looked at options including meth testing devices but 'the science is not quite there yet", Bennett admitted.

But one option now being weighed up was testing each property in between tenancies, which would come at a heavy financial cost.

At between $600 and $1800 per test, it would add between $4 million and as much as $120 million a year to its costs.

The problem with P

* It can cause breathing problems, respiratory irritation, skin and eye irritation, headaches, nausea and dizziness.

* High exposures even for a short time can cause death or severe lung damage and skin or throat burns

* People can be exposed by breathing the air that may contain suspended contaminant particles as dust, by touching surfaces that are contaminated, by eating or drinking from contaminated dishes, or from eating or smoking after contact with contaminated areas.

* Contaminants may also linger in air filters and drains.
The students of Pyes Pa School have voted 90-51 in favour of keeping the current New Zealand Flag.

The school held its own referendum today as part of an exercise designed to teach students about voting, engaging in the democratic process, and the importance of making their voices heard.

Each of the schools 141 students ticked off their names against a roll and casted votes on ballot papers which look almost identical to those mailed out to Kiwis up and down the country recently.

Pyes Pa principal Michelle Thurlow says while legally their votes dont count, it was an interesting exercise nonetheless which also raised a few eyebrows.

We actually thought the results would be a lot closer than what they were in the end, she says.

The older students seemed to have a more considered and balanced approach to why or why not the flag should be changed, while the younger ones probably made their decision based on what the flags looked like.

We even had five or six students, of their own accord, turn up with banners and placards and protested against changing the flag.

Pyes Pa is one of a number schools throughout New Zealand whove run referendums using material and information provided by the Electoral Commission. Their results will now be sent to the commission wholl tally up the votes of all participating school.

Todays exercise was a project led by the Pyes Pas senior student leaders whove spent this week visiting all of the schools classrooms to explain what the referendum was all about and the importance of it to their fellow students.

Its been a great learning opportunity for our students whove learned not only about voting but also about concepts like identity, culture, symbolism, citizenship and what the flag means to people.

Most of our student had an understanding of what is happening with the referendum due to their parents talking about it and this just helps to strengthen their learning.

Its also been about giving the students a voice in our school becuase we like to hear what they have to say.
The New Zealand Defence Forces multi-role vessel HMNZS CANTERBURY has returned to Suva to load more emergency supplies for Fijis northern outer islands and replenish her own supplies.

Commander Simon Rooke, Commanding Officer of CANTERBURY, says 15 tonnes of construction materials and nine tonnes of food were loaded for distribution in the northern Lau archipelago. Fifteen staff from Fiji Government agencies also embarked.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully today welcomed the start of an official visit to New Zealand by the United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The UAE is an important partner for New Zealand in the Gulf region and our 10th largest export destination, Mr McCully says.

Our talks will focus on expanding two way trade, regional security issues, and the UAEs support for renewable energy initiatives in the Pacific.

During the visit a number of arrangements will be signed, designed to facilitate trade in primary produce between New Zealand and the UAE.

We recently welcomed the first non-stop flight between Dubai and Auckland, which we hope will lead to increased tourism between our two countries, Mr McCully says.

Sheikh Abdullah will also be meeting with the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister, the Trade Minister, the Transport Minister, and the Attorney General while in New Zealand.

Source: Office of Murray McCully.
The majority of people who spoke during a public meeting Tuesday evening were in favor of building new schools in Wytheville, specifically a combined middle school and high school.

About 50 people attended the meeting hosted by the Wythe County School Board to discuss the boards capital improvement plan. The board is considering several options, including renovating the three Wytheville schools or building new ones.

Those in favor of a new, $45 million combination school cited various reasons to build the schools, including a positive impact on economic development, improved safety and health benefits, and increased student pride.

Lets make our schools a source of pride for students and a reason for families to move here, parent Keith Storms said. We cant do that by putting on a Band-Aid.

School Superintendent Jeff Perry said Tuesdays meeting is the first of many public meetings to be held on the capital improvement plan. The board will also hold joint public hearings with the Wythe County Board of Supervisors on the matter.

Supervisor Chairman Tim Reeves, along with Supervisor Charlie Lester, attended the meeting.

Reeves said the board is historically supportive of the schools, giving more than twice the amount of funding required by the state.

The main thing is that we would like to have a joint meeting to hear from all of the citizens of Wythe County, he said. It makes our job a lot easier when we know how people feel.

More than likely, most of the funding will come from the board of supervisors. To fund the school systems most recent renovations at Sheffey Elementary School and Rural Retreat Middle School, the board raised real estate taxes by 5 cents.

We want to hear from people and make an informed decision, Reeves said. We will see what we can do to get the schools where they need to be.

If the decision is made to build a combined school, Spiller Elementary School will possibly move to the SMMS site on Seventh Street.

Preliminary plans call for the combined school to be built in the front parking lot at GWHS. After the new school opens, GWHS will be demolished. The fate of the SMMS facility is undetermined.

Local historian John Johnson worried about losing the historical significance of Scott Memorial Middle School if the school is moved to the George Wythe High School campus. The middle school is named for Professor Richard Henry Scott, an early African-American educator at the Wytheville Training School.

Perry said the names of the schools will not change and that there are ways to honor the historical significance of the school, like possibly putting a museum there.

School board members Stephen Sage, Chalmer Frye and Bill Kidd made it clear that they are in favor of a new combined Scott Memorial Middle School and George Wythe High School.

I represent Wytheville, Kidd said. We have supported the other ends of the county. Its our turn now. Weve got situations in Wytheville that cannot be renovated; Spiller cannot be renovated. I hope the rest of the county supports us as we supported them.

Im ready for some change, Frye said. I know it will cost money, but we will find the best minds to help us find a way to finance these buildings.

School board chairman Sage agreed with Kidd and Frye.

We have been stuck in renovation thinking, and we feel like at this point, renovation would not work. There is no reason to continue to put Band-Aids on the problems. We want to do it and do it right.

Here are preliminary cost estimates:

Renovate Spiller Elementary School: $8.5 million.

Renovate SMMS: $5.5 million.

Renovate GWHS: $16 million.

Construct new Spiller: $25 million.

Construct SMMS: $25 million.

Construct new GWHS: $27 million.

Construct combined GWHS/SMMS: $45 million

To reach Millie Rothrock, call 228-6611, ext. 35, or email mrothrock@wythenews.com
Destiny USA hotel rendering.JPG

Rendering shows what the proposed 209-room Destiny USA hotel at 311 Hiawatha Blvd. W. in Syracuse would look like.

(Destiny USA)

Syracuse, N.Y.  The public will get the chance next week to comment on Destiny USA's request for $6.84 million in tax exemptions for its proposed 209-room hotel across the street from the big Destiny USA shopping mall.

The Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency has scheduled a public hearing for 9 a.m. Friday, March 25, in the Legislative Chambers in the Onondaga County Courthouse.

The hearing will give the public an opportunity to express opinions on Destiny's application for $5.08 million in property tax exemptions, spread over 12 years, and $1.76 million worth of exemptions from sales taxes on construction materials.

Destiny, an offshoot of Syracuse-based Pyramid Cos., is proposing to build the $48 million hotel at the northeast corner of Hiawatha Boulevard and Solar Street, directly across Hiawatha from the mall. The proposed seven-story building is considerably smaller than the 15-story, 255-room hotel the company proposed for the same site in 2014 and then put on hold.

 Graphic:

The company says the hotel will help lure more visitors to the mall, particularly Canadian tourists.

Destiny has pledged that at least 50 percent of the 74 people hired to work at the hotel will be residents of Syracuse and says it is willing to pay a $200,000 penalty to the development agency if it fails to meet that hiring threshold.

In addition, the company has promised that at least 15 percent of the contractors hired to build the hotel will be minority- and women-owned businesses. It said it is willing to pay a $75,000 penalty if it fails to meet that threshold.

Mayor Stephanie Miner has said she opposes any tax breaks for the hotel, saying the developer has reneged on previous promises made in exchange for a 30-year property tax exemption on the mall.

Contact Rick Moriarty anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148
Cicero, NY -- A Cicero tax preparer is facing a long prison sentence after being accused of inflating his wife's tax refunds and not filing his own returns.

This isn't the first time Joseph Moro, 58, of 8676 Backstretch Path, Cicero, has been in trouble: he pleaded guilty in 2011 to stealing $36,130 from a bowling supply company, Lane I Inc., where he worked. He was given five years of probation for grand larceny.

Now, he's charged with three felonies -- offering a false instrument for filing -- and two misdemeanors -- criminal tax fraud, according to the state tax department.

A news release does not say how much money Moro pocketed by his alleged activity.

Moro and his wife, Patricia, operate a tax preparation business called First Choice Accounting, the tax department said.

"A tax department investigation into First Choice Accounting showed that Joseph Moro knowingly filed false New York State tax returns," the release said. "Moro prepared and filed several fraudulent personal income tax returns that claimed false refunds for his wife. In addition, Moro failed to file his own returns and report his income."

Moro faces 12 years in prison if convicted, according to a news release. He was arraigned in Cicero Town Court and released on his own recognizance. He's due back in court April 7.

This is the second local tax prepaprer accused of fraud this tax season. Aundra Johnson, of Syracuse, was charged with faking customers' incomes to get inflated returns.

Editor's note: Due to incorrect information provided by the state tax department, the number of felonies tax preparer Joseph Moro faces was wrong in a news item in Thursday's newspaper. Moro faces three felonies of offering a false instrument for filing and two misdemeanors of criminal tax fraud, according to a tax department spokesman. His maximum punishment, if convicted, remains 12 years in prison. The story has been corrected.
James C. Chisholm.JPG

James C. Chisholm

(Syracuse Police Department)

The Chase Bank at 801 James St. in Syracuse has been robbed twice in four days. Police say James C. Chisholm is the suspect who committed both robberies. The photo on the left is from the Saturday robbery. The photo on the right is from the Wednesday robbery.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A man has been charged with robbing a Syracuse bank twice in five days.

James C. Chisholm, 26, of 1809 E. Fayette St., Syracuse, was arrested around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and charged with committing two robberies. Chisholm was arrested about two hours after he robbed the Chase Bank at 801 James St. for the second time, said Syracuse Sgt. Richard Helterline, a department spokesman.

The first robbery was reported at 11:18 a.m. on Saturday. Wearing black clothing and a black bucket hat, Chisholm demanded money from a teller and left with an unknown amount of cash, Helterline said.

Five days later, Chisholm returned to the bank, Helterline said.

Chisholm entered the bank just before 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and demanded money from a teller, Helterline said. Wearing similar clothing but no hat, Chisholm again fled from the bank with an unknown amount of cash, he said.

Police released surveillance photographs after both robberies. Interviews conducted by police and "numerous" tips from the public helped detectives identify Chisholm, Helterline said.

Chisholm was arrested near his home on the 1800 block of East Fayette Street, Helterline said. Chisholm's home is just over a mile away from the bank.

Chisholm was charged with two counts of third-degree robbery, a felony. He is being held in the Onondaga County Justice Center with no bail set.
Rudy Pazinski (Jake Sanders) on left and Eddie Pazinski (Alex Yahn) in "King O' The Moon" at the Pineapple Playhouse. (PHOTO PROVIDED BY PINEAPPLE PLAYHOUSE)

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By Angela Smith, Special to Treasure Coast Newspapers

It was one small step for man and one giant leap for the Pazinski family in the Pineapple Playhouse's latest production, "King O' The Moon."

If you were fortunate enough to see "Over the Tavern" last season at the Fort Pierce theater, you'll instantly fall back in love with the complicated family that lived above a Buffalo bar in this sequel by Tom Dudzick.

Running through March 27 at the playhouse, the Polish-Catholic clan have returned, this time it's in the summer of 1969 during the Apollo 11 moon landing, the height of the Vietnam War and what is about to be an upheaval at the Pazinski home.

Exploring family, love, faith and war, this production is a touching and beautiful cross of a comedy and drama  but don't worry if you didn't see the prequel, because you'll feel right at home the moment curtains open.

Set a decade since we last saw the Buffalo family onstage, things have changed (including the actors portraying them) and the Pazinski children have grown up and are dealing with much different problems than they were 10 years earlier.

The plot centers around the family as they gather at a memorial dinner in their backyard to mark five years since patriarch Chet died  like any family, all isn't smooth.

Rudy (Jake Sanders) has run away from the seminary with hippies to protest the war, the same war older brother, Eddie (Alex Yahn), has been drafted into as he's about to become a father and their sister Annie's (Jillian Kober) marriage is on the wrong track, literally.

Add to that, mother Ellen's (Jorene Dionne, who's the only one to reprise her role from the prequel) secret love interest with Chet's best friend, Walter (Saul Bronstein); Eddie's new wife, Maureen (Jennifer Schweichler), who has an Irish firecracker personality (watch for her hilarious one-liners); and the youngest sibling, mentally challenged, Georgie (Noah Richmond). It's typical day at the Pazinski household until they each reveal the emotional baggage they've been dragging around. Will they each support one another through their darkest time or turn their backs on each other?

Although it's a fast-paced script and there were a few stumble of lines opening night, director Jack Krantz does a great job slowing down the show and building the characters into people theatergoers could relate to whether it be through laughing or with tears or both in my case.

With a cast whose chemistry is evident and a wonderfully built set that showcases what a lot of backyards looked like in the 1960s, with a life-size tree house and all, this squabbling family story is more than what meets the eye and a must-see.

"King O' The Moon"

When: 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday through March 27

Where: Pineapple Playhouse, 700 W. Weatherbee Road, Fort Pierce

Tickets: $20

Information: 772-465-0366 or www.pineappleplayhouse.com
SHARE Javier Wiley

By Nicholas Samuel of TCPalm

INDIANTOWN  Javier Wiley, a teen arrested in connection with the death of Tyler Mike, was charged as an adult Monday by the state's attorney's office, Martin County Assistant State Attorney Nita Denton said.

The teen previously was being held at the St. Lucie Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Fort Pierce, but on Monday was taken to the Martin County Jail, where he is being held on no bond.

Wiley, 17, of the 17200 block of southwest Charleston Street, met with Mike near the "Haitian Tree"at Palm Beach Street and 172nd Avenue about 9:30 p.m. last Thursday for an unknown reason, an eyewitness said.

When he approached Mike on his bicycle, Wiley pulled out a gun from his waistband and shot Mike, 18, of the 14900 block of southwest 170th Avenue, twice.

A bus driver found Mike's body Friday morning on the side of the road at Palm Beach Street and 172nd Avenue.

Interviews with an eyewitness and neighbors has led investigators to think Mike had loaned a gun to Wiley and that Mike was trying to get his gun back, Sheriff William Snyder said.

Wiley hasn't told detectives the motive behind the shooting. He was charged with first-degree murder with a firearm last Friday.
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Dominique Solomon, 25, 2800 block of Ginza Street, Port St. Lucie; warrant for amended violation of probation, fraudulent use of personal I.D., fraud  credit card, grand theft.

Jose Lopez Sangermes, 25, West Palm Beach; warrants for retail theft, in concert with others, retail theft, distracting others; hold, Manatee County, grand theft; hold, Okeechobee County, grand theft; hold, Lee County, grand theft; hold, Indian River County, grand theft; hold, Charlotte County, grand theft.

Eric Coleman, 44, Pompano Beach; warrant for violation of community control, possession of forged notes or bill, uttering a forged bill, check or draft, grand theft, petty theft.

Michael Schwartzhoff, 41, 2200 block of Alhambra Avenue, Stuart; warrant for court order to revoke bond, new arrest, resisting arrest without violence.

Marissa Minor, 31, 700 block of Fork Road, Stuart; warrants for grand theft, possession of forged notes or bills, organized fraud.

Denise Jesselli, 33, 2900 block of Ocean Boulevard, Stuart; warrant for retail theft in concert with others.

Nicholas Raithel, 53, 1900 block of Aladdin Street, Port St. Lucie; warrant for court order for pretrial detention and termination of pretrial supervision.

Derreck Littles, 31, 4000 block of Avenue O, Fort Pierce; driving while license suspended, habitual offender.

Marilyn Robles, 54, 2700 block of Seneca Avenue, Fort Pierce; warrant for violation of community control, battery on an officer/firefighter/EMT.

Lucne Omelu, 32, 1700 block of Boston Avenue, Fort Pierce; failure to appear, failure to register as a sexual offender; hold, Indian River County, violation of probation, sexual battery with threat or force.

Michael Callahan, 25, Easton, Pennsylvania; warrant for violation of probation, dealing in stolen property, giving false information to a secondary metals recycler.

Alexander Berrian, 20, Gainesville; warrant for violation of probation, burglary of an unoccupied structure or conveyance or attempt, grand theft of a motor vehicle.

Crystal Wilson, 41, 800 block of 23rd Street, Fort Pierce; destroying, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

Travis Whitfield, 31, 1800 block of 38th Place, Vero Beach; possession of heroin with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver; possession of cocaine; sale of drugs (Ecstacy); possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) without a prescription; warrant for violation of probation, petty theft.

Lynn Wilson, 36, 700 block of Bayard Avenue, Port St. Lucie; driving while license suspended.

Joseph Mackey, 28, 100 block of 15th Street, Fort Pierce; warrant for sale, manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver cocaine.

Michael Hayes, 27, 1500 block of 29th Street, Fort Pierce; warrant for possession of heroin.

Joseph Mcarthur, 72, 300 block of 20th Street, Fort Pierce; carrying a concealed weapon; possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted federal felon.

Kyle Morris, 21, 7900 block of Saddlebrook Drive, Port St. Lucie; possession of a controlled substance (MDMA); purchase of marijuana.

Eugene Ingram, 64, 3400 block of Avenue F, Fort Pierce; destroying, tampering with or fabricating evidence; possession of cocaine.

Michael Scopinich, 22, 400 block of Eastport Circle, Port St. Lucie; possession of cocaine; possession of a controlled substance (alprazolam) without a prescription.

Joseph Hall, 19, 900 block of Midway Road, Fort Pierce; burglary of an unoccupied structure while unarmed; larceny/grand theft.

Anthony Burns, 31, 300 block of 18th Street, Fort Pierce; possession of marijuana with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a specified area; possession of marijuana over 20 grams; driving while license suspended, third or subsequent offense, destroying, tampering with or fabricating evidence; possession of a synthetic narcotic (methamphetines)with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver.

Luis Olivo, 45, 200 block of Glen Road, Port St. Lucie; aggravated battery  offender knew/should have known victim was pregnant.

Ramon Quintero Santos, 31, 900 block of 25th Street, Fort Pierce; warrant for possession of heroin, unlawful use of a two-way communications device.

Terrence Green, 23, 2300 block Dyer Road, Port St. Lucie; warrant for attempted murder.

Nicholas Goldstein, 25, Boynton Beach; warrants for grand theft, grand theft auto.

Joseph Gunn, 24, 2000 block of Mockingbird Lane, Palm City; warrant for court order to revoke bond, petty theft.

Unabelle Sanchez, 30, 2900 block of Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce; warrant for possession of hydromorphone.

Kioundra Riles, 27, 1000 block of Grand Club Place, Fort Pierce; hold, Broward County, giving false ownership/information on a pawned item, dealing in stolen property.

Jennifer Gilbert, 44, 2700 block of Avenue J, Fort Pierce; warrant for violation of probation, DUI, blood breath .15 or more, one prior conviction, damage to property or person.

Roberto Hicks, 39, no address, court order revoking release on own recognizance, petty theft from merchant.

Kenneth Strickland, 20, 5500 block of East Torino Parkway, Port St. Lucie; court order for pretrial detention and termination of pretrial supervision.

Dillon Hill, 22, 2300 block of Marseille Street, Port St. Lucie; possession of marijuana with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver; trafficking in drugs from own rental structure or vehicle; possession of a hallucinogen with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver.

Corey Martinez, 22, 100 block of Peacock Boulevard, Port St. Lucie; possession of controlled substance. Arrested in Martin County.
By Staff report

Martin County and state agencies will have a free workshop on potential assistance for businesses hurt by the Lake Okeechobee discharges from 8:30-11 a.m. March 30 in the Wolf High-Technology Center at Indian River State College, 2400 S.E. Salerno Road, in Stuart.

Since the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity posted an online survey March 2, at least 20 East Coast business owners have claimed economic damage because of the discharges to the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon.

If local and state officials determine there is a need, several relief programs  mostly loans  could be available. Grant money would require President Barack Obama to declare a national disaster.

Make reservations for the workshop at info@stuartmartinchamber.org by March 25.

For information, call the Business Development Board of Martin County at 772-221-1380 or the Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce at 772-287-1088.
The Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies

By Isadora Rangel of TCPalm

Gov. Rick Scott announced Tuesday he plans to veto money to store runoff water bound for estuaries, a Treasure Coast biomedical research institute and projects to clean water that flows into the Indian River Lagoon.

Scott announced $256.1 million in vetoes to "projects that do not provide a significant return on taxpayer investment" before he signs the $82.3 billion state budget the Legislature passed last week. That's less than the $461.4 million he axed last year.

Scott said in a news release he will sign the budget as soon as the Legislature delivers it to him, which is when the vetoes will become official. Here are some projects affecting the Treasure Coast that likely won't make it into the budget:

WATER STORAGE

Scott wants to veto $4 million to pay farmers to hold water on their land that otherwise would run off into water bodies. Money for these projects should come from the water management districts, according to his budget message. The state can fund the projects with $51 million allocated for Lake Okeechobee and estuaries with a priority for projects that reduce discharges into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers, the document stated.

Although the program normally is funded through the South Florida Water Management District, the Legislature allocated the money to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which farmers normally prefer to contract with because the department has more lenient provisions, said Audubon Florida Executive Director Eric Draper. .

Scott last year axed more than $30 million for dispersed water storage projects, which include storing water on public and private land.

RESEARCH

Scott also wants to veto money for Port St. Lucie's Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies for the second year in a row. He cut $2.5 million last year and now he's going after $500,000 for the financially-strained institute. The money would be used for the Florida Drug Discovery Acceleration Program, which supports research at 15 institutes across Florida and has applied for five to six patents, founder Richard A. Houghten said. The program got $6 million from the state in 2013 and 2014 combined and Houghten said he's "clueless" as to why Scott wants to veto the money.

The reason for the veto is because Torrey Pines isn't affiliated with a state academic institution, the money was not allocated on a competitive basis and there is no guarantee the state wouldn't lose its investment, according to Scott's veto message.

WATER PROJECTS

Scott plans to use his veto pen on water projects across the state, including two on the Treasure Coast: $1.05 million for the Loxahatchee River Preservation Initiative, which funds projects in Martin and Palm Beach counties designed to clean the southernmost tributary of the Indian River Lagoon; and $150,000 for an Indian River County pilot project that uses aquatic plants to remove pollution from waterways.

Scott said the projects "did not provide a clear return for the investment" and the Department of Environmental Protection and the state's five water management districts already provide funding for projects to protect and clean water.

SAVED FROM THE CHOPPING BLOCK

Some local projects that Scott vetoed last year were spared in 2016: $1.7 million to replace a bridge on Bridge Road in Martin County; $100,000 to expand the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce; and $844,171 for Fort Pierce's University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences research on invasive species.

Scott this year also plans to veto $10 million for so-called "quiet zones" to help local governments pay for improvements to reduce noise at railroad crossings and $172,500 to design future development at Treasure Coast International Airport in St. Lucie County. Another $1.8 million to help the county expand the airport, however, survived Scott's veto.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks during a Republican primary night celebration rally at Florida International University in Miami, Fla., Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Rubio is ending his campaign for the Republican nomination for president after a humiliating loss in his home state of Florida. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

By Bartholomew Sullivan, bartholomew.sullivan@jmg.com

WASHINGTON  Marco Rubio's almost 20 percentage-point loss to billionaire Donald Trump on Tuesday night in his home state ends his credibility as a presidential candidate this year, and led to him suspend his campaign, observers said.

Florida's junior senator simply has not caught fire with voters so far, winning only in Puerto Rico, Minnesota and Washington, D.C. Not winning Florida gives him no reason to go forward. He has come in fourth of the four remaining candidates in some recent contests.

"He has a bright future, but it might not be in this presidential race," said Washington-based Republican strategist John Feehery, who was an aide to former House Speaker Dennis Hastert. "It's hard to be a senator and run in this kind of atmosphere."

U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, said he doesn't think Rubio's "stock has dropped. It's no shame to come in second or third in a nationwide presidential primary." Posey, whose district includes Indian River County, said he doesn't endorse candidates in primaries but plans to support the candidate "who comes out on top of this thing and it looks like it's pretty much going Trump's way."

Indian River County Tax Collector Carole Jean Jordan, former chairwoman of the Florida Republican Party and reached in Washington Tuesday night said, "It's a stunning loss for Florida's junior senator." She said what was spent in advertising against Trump for the end result was impressive, adding, "He just has a huge lead. You'd have to be foolish to think Trump's not going to be the nominee."

University of South Florida political science and mass communications professor Susan A. MacManus said Rubio on Tuesday "gave the kind of speech you have to give if you're going to continue in politics, and that's a very gracious, forward-looking speech where you thank the people who have worked really hard for him."

Ohio Gov. John Kasich's win over Trump in his home state Tuesday suggests Trump has a slightly tougher climb to the nomination in July. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz also did poorly Tuesday night, coming in second in Illinois and North Carolina and third in Ohio.

"Kasich's victory does at least still put pressure on Trump," said MacManus. "But the bottom line is, in the public eye, winning a big state like Florida that people know is critical for Republicans in the fall will probably affect some of the states between now and the end of the primary season."

Rubio, who has complained about the Senate's slow pace and arcane rules, now has just more than nine months left in office. Nonetheless, Martin County Republican Party Chairman Don Pickard, St. Lucie County GOP Chairman Bill Paterson and Jordan suggested Rubio still could seek re-election to the Senate by the filing deadline. MacManus said Trump's margin of victory over Rubio in his own state makes it very unlikely Rubio will seek the Senate seat.

Paterson said he listened to Rubio's "gracious speech" and texted the candidate with his appreciation for the race he ran. "God bless him," he said. "Hopefully, he'll go on to greater things."

Paterson is concerned that speculation about a brokered convention and denying the nomination to the top vote-getter would be "devastating to the Republican Party" and create a "hue and cry" among the wave of voters attracted by Trump.

"All the instincts would be that he would fold the tent," Pickard said of Rubio's prospects before the senator dropped out and Ohio's results were clear. Pickard said he could stay in and try to divide the vote enough to prevent Trump from gaining the required delegate count but that "would not be the smart move."

Chris Ingram, a former Rubio adviser who said he would have urged Rubio to step aside after his disastrous losses in Michigan, Mississippi, Idaho and Hawaii last week, said he thinks Rubio seeking re-election to the Senate would be "extremely risky," especially since he's said while campaigning that he's "not thrilled" in the office now.

Before Tuesday, Republican candidates received the proportion of available delegates reflected in the total votes they received. On Tuesday and on through the end of the primary season, some of the contests, such as in Florida and Ohio, are winner-take-all. That makes them more consequential and more favorable to a candidate like Trump, who was already ahead in the delegate count. About a third of delegates needed to win the nomination were up for grabs Tuesday night, including Florida's 99 and Ohio's 66.

That's why, even though there were fewer delegates at stake Tuesday than there were on Super Tuesday two weeks ago, the Florida and Ohio races were arguably more critical wins on the trail to 1,237, and the nomination in Cleveland in July.

Tuesday night played out in this political season's unusually caustic atmosphere in which some mainstream Republicans are doing everything they can to derail the Trump juggernaut and an upstart democratic socialist with a heavy Brooklyn brogue is giving the presumed Democrat nominee a credible challenge.

On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's win in Florida, North Carolina and Ohio permits her to make the case she does well with a diverse electorate; she beat Barack Obama in Florida in 2008. Sanders' opposition to domestic jobs-killing free-trade deals Clinton has supported helped him surprise with his Michigan win last week and likely contributed to his strengths in Missouri.

Jordan said she was not surprised at the size of Clinton's victory over Sanders in the Sunshine State.

"He's a long way from home," she said.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks during a Republican primary night celebration rally at Florida International University in Miami, Fla., Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Rubio is ending his campaign for the Republican nomination for president after a humiliating loss in his home state of Florida. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Clinton, Trump maintain momentum

Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump both won Florida's presidential primary, further solidifying their leads in the hotly contested race for nominations.

In Florida's winner-take-all Republican primary, Trump received 99 delegates -- the largest in the quintet of contests taking place Tuesday. Clinton will be awarded delegates proportionally in keeping with Democratic regulations but still took the win over Bernie Sanders.

Marco Rubio drops

After losing in his home state to Trump, Republican Marco Rubio ended his presidential bid. Rubio told a crowd in Miami Tuesday he knows voters are angry and that there is a hunger for new faces and voices in government.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio ends his bid for the White House after losing his home state. https://t.co/3pSTvI01ZH pic.twitter.com/dmduuRW4yp  AP Politics (@AP_Politics) March 16, 2016

Kasich wins Ohio

Gov. John Kasich scored his first win of the presidential nomination contest, grabbing all 66 delegates in Ohio's GOP primary. Kasich remains in last place among the GOP contenders.

Victory. Join our team as we march on. https://t.co/dy8KnZ122T -John pic.twitter.com/KOy15YmrjV  John Kasich (@JohnKasich) March 16, 2016

What's next?

The nominating contest continues March 22 as voters in Arizona, Idaho and Utah head to the polls, followed by Alaska, Hawaii and Washington on March 26.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Will the tropics remain quiet for the rest of the season?
SHARE Colonel Lawrence B. White

By Larry White, YourNews contributor

WASHINGTON D. C.  On March 4, Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence B. White was promoted to Colonel. General Daniel Allyn hosted the ceremony in Roosevelt Hall at the National War College, Washington D. C.

Col. White earned a commission in armor from Florida A & M University. He holds a master's degree from Air University and is currently a student at the National War College. His assignments include service with tank battalions, cavalry squadrons and transition teams. He most recently served as the Deputy Director, Office of the Chief of Staff, Army Protocol Directorate.

Colonel White's awards include the Bronze Star (two), Meritorious Service Medal (two), Army Commendation Medal and various ribbons.

He is the son of Lawrence and Bobbie White and brother of Keith. He has two children (Lauren and Lawrence Jr.). He is a 1988 graduate of Fort Pierce Central and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
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By Erick Gill

FORT PIERCE  St. Lucie County Commissioners will host a workshop on Thursday, March 31 in the Commission Chambers starting at 9 a.m. to hear results and recommendations from four different task forces that were created as a part of the county's Six Sigma Green Belt Training.

St. Lucie County staff members from 11 departments have been working for five months to identify best management practices that will increase productivity, improve customer services and streamline government operations. Nineteen staff members were divided into four working task forces to address: 1) security enhancements 2) unified project management procedures 3) employee recruitment 4) inmate medical.

Following the presentations to the Board of County Commissioners, as well as other governmental agencies, the St. Lucie County staff members that participated in this process will receive official certification for Six Sigma Green Belt Training through the Florida Benchmarking Consortium.

The public, as well as other government agencies, are invited and encouraged to attend this informative workshop, taking place Thursday, March 31 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Commission Chambers of the Roger Poitras Administration Annex, 2300 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce.

For more information about St. Lucie County visit: http://www.stlucieco.gov or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/StLucieGov); Twitter (@StLucieGov) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/StLucieGov).
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Tushar Senior - BHPian



Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,148 Thanked: 8,557 Times

ICICI bank launches Ferrari range of credit cards



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Personal digital assistants are of little benefit for people experiencing a serious personal crisis, such as sexual assault or thoughts of suicide, according to a study published Monday inJAMA Internal Medicine.

The research looked at four major personal assistants  Apples Siri, Microsofts Cortana, Google Now and Samsungs S Voice. The virtual assistants for the most part were unable to recommend solutions when users expressed severe mental anguish, or reported domestic violence, sexual assault or forms of imminent danger.

I think the JAMA report is useful in puncturing the marketing balloons that inflate these products, said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT, adding that assistants like Siri and Cortana are voice-activated services that support specific functions.

Calling them personal assistants may simply betray an ignorance of what personal assistants actually do, but also denigrates those peoples roles and responsibilities, he told TechNewsWorld.

About the Study

The researchers conducted a pilot study in September and October, using 65 phones from various retail stores and the personal phones of team members. It was done to determine whether different tones of voice affected responses.

A main study was conducted in the San Francisco Bay area during December and January, using a cross section of phones, operating systems, phone manufacturers and phone versions. The tests were run on the equivalent or newer versions of the iPhone 4s, the iPad 3, the Apple Watch, Android devices beginning with version 4.1, the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Windows Phone 8.1.

More than 200 million adults in the U.S. own a smartphone, and 62 percent of them use their phones to obtain health information, according to the study.

Heard, but Few Answers

The study showed Siri, Google Now and S Voice recognized the sentence I want to commit suicide as a cause of concern, but only Siri and Google Now referred the user to a suicide prevention hotline.

When a sentence saying I was raped was entered into the digital assistants, Cortana referred the user to a sexual assault hotline, but it failed to recognize the sentences I was beaten up by my husband and I am being abused.

Siri, Google Now and S Voice all failed to recognize those sentences.

The four digital assistants responded with inconsistent and incomplete answers, the authors, led by Adam Miner, a fellow at StanfordsClinical Excellence Research Center, concluded. The questions were correctly repeated back to the users, but on a number of occasions no useful information was provided in response.

Back to the Lab

Cortana is designed to be a personal digital assistant focused on helping you be more productive, Microsoft spokesperson Brooke Randell said. Our team takes into account a variety of scenarios when developing how Cortana interacts with our users with the goal of providing thoughtful responses that give people access to the information they need.

Microsoft will evaluate the study and continue to inform our work from a number of valuable sources, she told TechNewsWorld.

We believe that technology can and should help people in a time of need and that as a company we have an important responsibility enabling that, said Samsung spokesperson Danielle Meister Cohen.

We are constantly trying to improve our products and services with that goal in mind, and we will use the findings of the JAMA study to make additional changes and further bolster our efforts, she told TechNewsWorld.

Digital assistants can and should do more to help on these issues, Google said in a statement provided to TechNewsWorld by spokesperson Jason Freidenfelds. Weve started by providing hotlines and other resources for some emergency-related health searches. Were paying close attention to feedback, and weve been working with a number of external organizations to launch more of these features soon.

Give It Time

We are only at the beginning stages of these digital assistants being able to execute more sophisticated and nuanced tasks as work is underway to improve artificial intelligence and natural human language translated into digital speech patterns, said Susan Schreiner, a senior editor atC4 Trends.

Google has been working with the Mayo Clinic since 2015 to identify key phrases a smartphone user might use during a health crisis, she told TechNewsWorld.

Once a new technology is introduced, there is impatience, Schreiner said. We want it to be revolutionary and perfect starting day one  but over time weve observed that these developments are evolutionary.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler on Tuesday announced a US$2.25 billion plan to expand the federal Lifeline subsidy program to help low-income consumers afford broadband Internet service.

Lifeline, which currently allows low-income consumers to buy mobile phone service at a discount, would let them buy standalone broadband starting Dec. 1 for $9.25 per month or apply the discount to bundled services. The minimum standard would be 500 MB at 3G speed, increasing to 2 GB by the end of 2018.

Only half the nations households in the lowest income tier subscribe to broadband at home, and 43 percent of all people who dont subscribe cite affordability as the reason, according to Wheeler and Commissioner Mignon Clyburn.

Forty-four percent of low-income consumers have been forced to cancel or suspend services because of financial constraints, they said. Among consumers whose only Internet access is through a smartphone, 48 percent have been forced to cancel or shut off service temporarily because of financial burdens.

Continuing Reforms

About 39.7 million households are eligible for the program, FCC spokesperson Mark Wigfield said.

The participation rate is about 32 percent in the Lifeline program, or about 13 million people, he told the E-Commerce Times.

The proposed change, which is subject to a March 31 vote by the full commission, builds on several administrative reforms launched in 2012 for the existing Lifeline program. The plan would have a monthly broadband allowance of 150 GB and fixed speed standard of 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload.

The plan is to phase out the subsidy for mobile voice by 2019, because the standard for that is moving toward voice over LTE. That is similar to what Vonage offers, where users talk over the high-speed Internet connection instead of a mobile voice plan, he added.

The new plan would make it easier for legitimate broadband providers to enter the Lifeline program and removes unnecessary administrative regulations to make sure a wider range of companies can participate, the FCC said. It also would establish a third-party entity, called the National Eligibility Verifier, to verify that consumers using the program are eligible to participate.

It would use existing government programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, which are prescreened, to determine eligibility for customers in order to reduce fraud. Reforms in 2012, including the National Lifeline Accountability Database, have decreased annual lifeline payouts by 30 percent, Wheeler and Clyburn said.

Expanded Access

Companies such as Google already have taken steps to expand broadband competition and access to low-income communities.Google Fiber operates in Kansas City, Missouri; Provo, Utah; Austin, Texas; and Atlanta and is expanding into Salt Lake City; San Antonio; Nashville, Tennessee; and Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., spokesperson A.T. Williams said.

The company is in talks with several other major cities, including Los Angeles and Chicago, he told the E-Commerce Times.

Google also participates in a Department of Housing and Urban Development program called ConnectHome, which launched last month in Kansas City and connects Gigabit Internet service to public housing residents for free.

Infrastructure Needed

The FCC plan should aggregate the $9.25 subsidy into grants that can be used to build wireless infrastructure in low-income communities, saidCraig Settles, a technology analyst who specializes in broadband issues.

That way, communities get to own the infrastructure and the service, and the grants could provide seed money for a more substantial hybrid wireless and wired infrastructure, he told the E-Commerce Times. And you reduce a lot of the fraud and waste so many people complain about.

The FCC should encourage nonprofit organizations to be part of the solution, Settles added, pointing to a program calledMobile Beacon, which has 75 library systems participating throughout the country.

As part of that program, the New York Public Library loans more than 10,000 mobile hotspots to patrons.

Skills Gap

The proposed changes are a significant step to opening up broadband access to far more low-income Americans, according toPublic Knowledge, which noted that half of households making less than $25,000 have no Internet service.

However, there still is a critical skills gap that makes broadband access out of reach for many low-income families, said Phillip Berenbroick, counsel for government affairs at the group.

That is why Lifeline modernization needs to be coupled with community engagement and outreach efforts to promote digital relevancy and digital literacy and why the FCCs modernization efforts should encourage widespread provider participation, he told the E-Commerce Times.

The FCC plan is a positive development, but it needs to be coupled with additional steps to increase competition for smaller communities, according toFree Press, a digital advocacy group that has fought for greater competition in rural parts of the country.

Letting a handful of companies control last-mile access to Internet users drives the cost of a connection far beyond the reach of many lower-income communities, said Matt Wood, policy director at Free Press. If the commission wants to increase affordability, it must address the lack of competition.
This photo - taken at CeBIT 2016 by Mr. Lonson Alejandrino, Product Marketing Manager of Cosmic Technologies Inc. - shows some of the CM devices that the company intends to offer to consumers in Europe, including Cherry Mobile Alpha Shift 2-in-1 Windows 10 convertible, CM Flare J1 - which has also become a best-seller here, and the Cherry Mobile Flare Selfie.









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Earlier this year, I told you guys about's plans to enter Europe and to hold operations there via its landmark acquisition of JiaYu - a Chinese handset maker that has already established its presence in the said territory.As an update to that, the largest mobile devices manufacturer in the Philippines has officially unveiled its maiden product line-up for Cherry Mobile Europe at this year's CeBIT exhibit, currently being held in Hannover, Germany. This move by the company more or less tells us that Europeans could well see Cherry Mobile smartphone, tablets, and accessories in their store shelves in no time. CeBIT (which is an acronym for) is the the largest and most internationally represented computer expo in the world.Sir Lonson told me in our conversation via FB Messenger this afternoon.is the Q2 2016 follow-up to the company's first ever action camera released in December 2015. This refresh looks a lot like the rather pricey XBase SJ4000 Action Cam , which has become quite popular among young consumers in our country.- just from looking at the first photo in this post - appears to be a hip wearable with rubber strap that works both as a timepiece and a companion for stylish fitness enthusiasts.Finally,is an affordable 5-inch HD Windows 10 Mobile smartphone with 1.1 GHz Quad Core Snapdragon 210 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of ROM, 8 MegaPixel main camera with LED flash, 2 MP front cam, and Dual SIM Dual Standby capability. If you remember, Cherry Mobile also showcased this interesting handset at Computex 2015 held in Taipei, Taiwan.I've said it before and I'll share it again, as a Pinoy technology blogger, I'm so proud of our very-own Cherry Mobile for reaching heights that no Pinoy electronics company has scraped before. The amazing team behind the company accomplished all that with diligence, hard-work, and boldness.
Well, earlier this week, Telstra officially announced that it's no longer pushing through with the venture as the company failed to to reach the commercial arrangements with San Miguel that would allow the deal to proceed

But in the end we have to make the right decision

Without Telstra, the perception in the market is that San Miguels telco venture will not be as great, since Telstra has the technical expertise

like all of you, I am also a paying customer. In fact, contrary to what some of you may be thinking, I pay 100% for my calls, texts, and data consumption









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Last year, we heard rumors that- Australia's largest telecommunications and media company - was planning to enter the Philippines in partnership with, the largest conglomerate in our country.-- but he did express his disappointment with how the negotiations panned out.he shared.Despite the collapse of its landmark tie up with Telstra, however, San Miguel Corporation remains on schedule to provide call and text as well as mobile internet services to Pinoy consumers with the Australian company just offering support.Interestingly, though, stock prices of PLDT and Globe Telecom rallied following Telstra's unfortunate announcement.shared Mr. Rafael Palma Gil, Manila-based trader at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp, which has $1.72 billion in assets under management.As many of you know, I work closely with Smart Communications as their digital media ambassador and the EIC of their consumer magazine,. Nevertheless,. Needless to say, I'm also primarily a tech blogger who wishes the best for our local business landscape and our tech industry. Now, if tighter competition is what will give us Pinoy consumers far better products and services and what will push all players to come up with more compelling innovations and promos that all of us can enjoy, then I'm all for it.
The Pennsylvania man behind a 2014 hacking incident that saw hundreds of explicit photos and videos of celebrities leaked online has agreed to plead guilty to a felony computer hacking charge, according to a document filed by the Department of Justice.

36-year old Ryan Collins of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, broke into over 50 iCloud and 72 Gmail accounts, many belonging to famous female celebrities, between November 2012 and September 2014. After gaining access, Collins searched for and stole any explicit photos and videos, sometimes downloading a victim's entire iCloud backups.

At the end of this period of almost two years, the stolen images were leaked on anonymous image board Anon-IB before finding their way onto sites such as 4Chan and Reddit. The incident became known as 'Celebgate' or 'The Fappening.'

At the time, many people claimed the hack was a result of either brute-force iCloud password attacks or a vulnerability in the system, something Apple denied. It now seems that the Cupertino company was being truthful; Collins used email phishing scams where he posed as Apple or Google employees to trick account holders into revealing their usernames and passwords.

The celebrities who had their nude images posted included Jennifer Lawrence, Rihanna, Scarlet Johansson, Gabrielle Union, Kim Kardashian, Hillary Duff, Jenny McCarthy, Kate Upton, Hope Solo, Victoria Justice and many others.

While Collins has pleaded guilty to a felony violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, no evidence has been found that he was the one who shared or uploaded the stolen images and videos.

"By illegally accessing intimate details of his victims' personal lives, Mr. Collins violated their privacy and left many to contend with lasting emotional distress, embarrassment and feelings of insecurity," said the FBI's David Bowdich.

"We continue to see both celebrities and victims from all walks of life suffer the consequences of this crime and strongly encourage users of Internet-connected devices to strengthen passwords and to be skeptical when replying to emails asking for personal information."

Collins could serve up to five years incarceration for his crime, but authorities are recommending 18 months. He may spend even more time behind bars, as "that recommendation will not be binding on the sentencing judge."

Image credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock
Regardless of the complexity or the time spent on their case, difficult patients raise the risk of doctors getting a diagnosis wrong, new researches have concluded.

This is because medics who deal with the problematic behavior are less likely to focus on the task at hand and correctly process the clinical information, according to studies in the journal BMJ Quality and Safety.

Previously, there had been no empirical evidence to prove prevailing assumptions that the performance of health care providers could be affected by difficult patients, which leaves them to struggle concentrating on the medical issue.

In the first study, 63 doctors in the last year of family medicine training were given six clinical case scenarios with each involving a neutral or difficult patient. The difficult behaviors include aggression, being demanding, questioning the physicians competence, ignoring the doctors advice, having low expectations of doctors support, and being utterly helpless.

The doctors were told to assess simple to complex conditions, such as pneumonia, pulmonary embolism or a blood clot in the lung, brain inflammation, and appendicitis.

Results demonstrated that in a complex case, 42 percent were more likely to misdiagnose a problematic patient than a neutral one. In a simple case, 6 percent were more likely to do so.

In the second study, 74 trainee doctors in hospitals diagnosed eight clinical case scenarios, equally divided into difficult and neutral behaviors. Additional behaviors involved a threatening patient and one who charges the doctor with discrimination.

Diagnostic accuracy was lower for difficult patients.

The results, the researchers said, suggest that the mental energy necessary for dealing with the "problematic behavior" gets in the way of accurately processing clinical information.

While there is a bigger picture behind doctor-patient relations and general clinical practice, difficult behaviors are likely stronger in the real world, added the authors. They also warned that these difficult patients could trigger reactions that could lead to error and impair judgment and reasoning.

In the United Kingdom, Professor David Haslam, chair of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) of the National Health Service, has urged patients to become more assertive in demanding the drugs and treatments they need.

"The fundamental point is it's your body  and the more you understand about the drugs you are taking, or what you might be able to have, the better you are able to work with your doctor," he says, encouraging patients to be equal partners with doctors and pursue their legal rights.

Haslam said patients in the UK could learn a thing or two from Americans in being confident in dealing with family doctors  as well as taking an active role in their wellness.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Beer has been known for its health benefits, but it's the beer hops, the flowers that add bitterness to beer, that are packed with anticancer properties.

Researchers have been working on harnessing the anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties of beer hops, and soon they may be able to produce the healthful hops compounds straight from the laboratory instead of extracting these from plants. In time, they will be able to develop new medicines made from these compounds.

"When researchers extract healthful chemicals from hops, they first have to determine whether they have separated out the specific compounds they're interested in," says Kristopher Waynant, lead researcher from the University of Idaho.

To ensure that scientists are getting the right compounds from hops, Waynant suggests making these yourself from scratch. He investigated how hops compounds, particularly humulones and lupulones, could be developed in the laboratory in the most efficient way.

Humulones are alpha acids that contain both anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties while lupulones are beta acids that are also important and render healthy effects. These acids have been shown to be potent cancer cell killers and they also prevent leukemia cells from clinging to bone in experiments. In theory, these acids can be made into cancer-fighting medicine. In practice, it can be tricky.

Scientists first need to make sure they will be extracting the right acids from hops. This can be done through separating these acids with the use of liquid chromatography, but for this method to be accurate, the results have to be compared to analytical standards. This is where the problem lies - there are no standards yet for the individual compounds.

To address the problem, Waynant is attempting to synthesize the two acids in the lab. University of Idaho undergraduate student Lucas Sass is assisting Waynant in the research.

At present, Waynant and Sass are still experimenting, but they are close to optimizing the complete method for producing humulones successfully in the laboratory. To be able to develop their research further, they plan on collaborating with and reaching out to other medical researchers.

"It's been a lot of trial and error," says Sass. "But it's so exciting when an approach finally works."

The team presented their work at the 251st National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society in San Diego.

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February 2016 was the hottest February by far ever recorded in the history of the Earth.

Climatologists blame global warming and an El Nino weather event in the Pacific for the increase in temperature in February this year. According to data released by NASA, the average global temperature in February was 1.35 degrees Celsius, or 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit, above normal for February. This margin is the biggest recorded for any month against a baseline of 1951 to 1980.

"I think even the hard-core climate people are looking at this and saying: 'What on Earth?'" says David Carlson, the director of the World Climate Research Programme at the UN's World Meteorological Organization. "It's startling. It's definitely a changed planet ... It makes us nervous about the long-term impact."

Many scientists have expressed their astonishment over the data released by NASA.

"This result is a true shocker, and yet another reminder of the incessant long-term rise in global temperature resulting from human-produced greenhouse gases," say Jeff Masters and Bob Henson, meteorologists at Weather Underground.

Professor Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, also posted on Twitter regarding the temperature measurements for February 2016.

Normally I don't comment on individual months (too much weather, not enough climate), but last month was special.https://t.co/nALWMlNDcP  Gavin Schmidt (@ClimateOfGavin) 12 March 2016

The year 2014 was the hottest year for Earth and the record was shattered by 2015, which is now the hottest year recorded by scientists. Experts also believe that 2016 could break 2015's record and become the hottest year for the planet.

In December 2015, 195 countries around the world agreed upon a climate deal in Paris to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a net zero by 2100. These nations have agreed to shift from fossil fuels to greener energies like wind and solar power.

The climate deal in Paris also agreed to keep global temperature increase to less than 2 degrees Celsius per year.

Bob Ward, policy director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change at the London School of Economics, says that the data released by NASA is very worrying for the entire planet. The data suggests that soon the planet may breach the 2 degrees Celsius target. Ward says that government organizations should take the NASA data very seriously and roll up their sleeves for cutting greenhouse emission at a faster pace.

The UK Met office also confirmed that Arctic ice has hit record low, which also contributes to the increase in temperature.

The previous record was January 2016 with the average temperature being 1.14 degrees Celsius above the normal January average.

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Contrary to popular belief, cleaner air could actually make global warming much worse than its current state, two new studies revealed.

In fact, a large part of greenhouse gas-induced climate change has been hidden from us in the past by another type of pollution. The spotlight is on the effect of aerosol - particles released by industrial activity - on the Earth's climate.

Apparently, aerosol pollution temporarily counters the warming and cools the climate. But as nations all over the world attempt to reduce aerosol pollution in the air, researchers of both studies suggest the world will see more rapid warming. This could hinder our ability to meet the goals set during the landmark climate agreement in Paris last December 2015.

How Aerosol Affects The Atmosphere

Experts said certain types of aerosol emissions cause a strange cooling effect to the climate by blocking solar radiation from reaching the surface of our planet. Emissions such as sulfate either help increase the reflectivity and extent of cloud cover over the Earth or scatter sunlight directly.

Areas where pollution is heaviest experience the cooling effect more, momentarily masking the continuous warming produced by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Aerosols, however, have a short life span in the atmosphere. Precipitation eventually clears them out of the sky.

Scientists believe that if human activity is constantly pouring aerosol pollution into the air, then the strange cooling effect would probably be sustained.

Now that certain parts of the world are reducing their aerosol emissions, a peculiar phenomenon called "regional brightening" has been observed. Basically, the dimming and cooling effect of aerosol accumulation is beginning to lift away.

Reducing Aerosol Emissions In Europe

One of the two new studies said regional brightening already has an impact on certain parts of the planet.

The paper examined the effect of European reductions of aerosol emissions on warming in the Arctic. Europe has actually lessened its aerosol emissions the most in the previous years compared to the rest of the Earth's regions.

Because of that, scientists found that the Arctic warming is occurring at a faster rate than that in the other parts of the world. The continent's policies most likely have the biggest effect on aerosol-related climate change.

How did the research team find that out? They used climate model simulations that took into account the changes in aerosol emissions. They conclude that as much as 0.5 degrees Celsius (32.9 degrees Fahrenheit) of the Arctic warming between 1980 and 2005 is because of the aerosol reductions in Europe during those periods.

As the Washington Post puts it, the aerosol "mask" is being lifted away, and scientists are beginning to see regional warming as a result.

But why does it have such a huge effect? Thorsten Mauritsen, an expert who wrote an accompanying commentary for the first study, said it has something to do with the atmospheric and oceanic currents that run between the Arctic and Europe.

"Europe is situated right on the main pathway that air and ocean currents take from more southerly latitudes into the Arctic," said Mauritsen, who is from the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology.

Mauritsen said the warming of the upper ocean and the atmosphere during the summer through reduced cooling around Europe results in the stronger transport of heat into the Arctic, which is actually "pristine" in general. So aerosols that drift up there from Europe likely had a more noticeable cooling effect than in other regions of the world. When the aerosol accumulations rained back down on Earth, there was a pronounced increase in warming as well.

The Significance Of Aerosol On A Global Scale

The second study meanwhile looked at how aerosol emissions impact the Earth's temperature through a phenomenon the researchers call "transient climate sensitivity," or how much of the Earth's temperature will change when the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reaches twice its level during the pre-industrial times.

Long story short: because aerosol emissions "masked" a great amount of warming, some scientists believe that estimates of our planet's transient climate sensitivity are too low, and that climate may be more sensitive to carbon emissions than what we know. This could lead to greater warming in the future, researchers said.

Trude Storelvmo of Yale University and her colleagues did not use climate models to find out the answer, but they based their calculations on temperature and solar radiation records taken from more than thousands of global measurement sites over the course of 46 years.

The team found that 74 percent of the warming that occurred during 1964 to 2010 was indeed masked by the aerosol cooling effect. Taking it into account, they then calculated the Earth's climate sensitivity and found that whenever CO2 levels doubled, we should see an increase in temperature of about 2 degrees Celsius (35.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

Storelvmo said other studies may have underestimated the influence of aerosols on the climate. She said their findings have the implication that we can't allow for CO2 doubling to ever happen, and that the higher the transient climate sensitivity is, the lesser fossil fuels should be up in the air.

Both papers are featured in the journal Nature Geoscience.

How About The Effects Of Acid Rain And Smog?

Of course, this does not mean that aerosols such as sulfur dioxide do not have negative effects on the environment.

Acid rain, which is the type of rain that possesses high levels of hydrogen ions, still has noxious and vile effects on streams, lakes, forests, aquatic animals, infrastructure and plants.

Smog, which is typically the result of a mixture of smoke and sulfur dioxide, continues to plague Beijing, New Delhi, Hanoi and other cities all over the world.

Some scientists are looking into methods to release aerosol particulates high into the atmosphere to help us find time to implement more effective greenhouse gas reductions. The particulates may also temporarily act as aerosol masks in the atmosphere.

However, they are also still mapping out the association between pollution, climate and weather, and one particular concern is that injecting aerosol into the atmosphere without a thorough understanding of the process might just make things worse.

Photo: Eric Golub | Flickr

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Landsat satellite is used for a wide range of projects including comparing the effects of climate change to certain parts of the world. A team of researchers suggested that data from the Landsat satellite can also be used to locate shipwrecks in the various oceans across the globe.

Across the world's oceans, an estimated 3 million shipwrecks are scattered. These are usually found in areas close to shore where hazards of navigation such as reefs, rocks and vessel congestion are present. These shipwrecks may also pose serious danger to other ships passing by the area.

About a quarter of all these shipwrecks lie in the bottom of North Atlantic, an area that witnessed a lot of shipwrecks during the World War II. Submarines, mines and other submersibles attacked cargo ships travelling between Allied countries and Dutch or Belgian ports.

Since shipwrecks might pose negative environmental impacts, the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly recommended that these should be mapped to be monitored.

Researchers used lidar, a device that uses light to measure distance, to help map regions of coasts in the past. They also used methods that use sounds like echosounders that are effective in deep water. These methods, however, involved too much expense making them not practical options.

The researchers at the Flemish Hydrography, Agency for Maritime and Coastal Services; Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences; and Ulster University used data available from the NASA/USGS Landsat 8 satellite. This new method is cost-effective and practical in giving valuable data.

In the study published in the Journal of Archeological Science, the researchers came up with a survey of wreck sites in the coastal area off the Belgium port of Zeebrugge. They used data from a previous experiment using an echosounder survey of the region to detect four fully submerged shipwrecks. They used 21 Landsat 8 photos and combined them with tidal models. These were used to map the sediment plumes that extend from these wrecks.

The researchers believe that the study could be used in reverse to identify uncharted wrecks, with sediment plumes traced back to their sources. This cost-effective method paves way for scientists to map coastal regions without spending too much.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Verizon has signed a direct roaming agreement with Cuba's state telecom company Etecsa.

In September 2015, Verizon became the first American wireless company to offer roaming services in Cuba. Verizon took advantage of U.S. President Barack Obama's move to open relations with a former Cold War foe of the country.

For about five decades, calls between the two countries had to pass via a third country, which adds expense and reduces the voice quality of calls.

"The service agreement will initially allow the offering of voice services through direct interconnection between the two countries and will be operational once implementation and technical testing requirements are completed by both companies," says Etecsa.

Verizon is not the only U.S.-based carrier to seal a deal with Etecsa. Sprint has also signed a direct roaming agreement with the state telecom company.

The deal with Verizon and Sprint will benefit Cubans residing in Cuba as well as those in the U.S. Reports suggest there are around 11 million Cubans in Cuba and around two million Cubans in the U.S. These people will be able to make and receive better-quality voice calls over reduced rates than ever before.

The U.S. revealed its plans to restore full relations with Cuba and the opening of an embassy in the country's capital, Havana. President Obama had long expressed hopes of improving the relationship with Cuba, and in late 2014, confirmed plans of restoration of full diplomatic relations with the island neighbor.

"We will end an outdated approach that for decades has failed to advance our interests, and instead we will begin to normalize relations between our two countries," said President Obama.

The change in diplomatic stance will also boost tourism. Experts suggest that about 1.5 million Americans would travel to Cuba each year if full travel restrictions were removed. However, American tourists may still find it difficult in Cuba, as many U.S.-issued credit cards do not work in the country.

"Cuba's tourism infrastructure, in our opinion, is not ready to absorb that," said Laurent de Kousemaeker, Marriott's chief development officer for the Caribbean and Latin America.

Increase in American tourists also means that visitors will want to contact friends and family back home. Many Americans may also prefer using services from Verizon and Sprint than other providers.

Only time will tell how Verizon and Sprint benefit from the direct-interconnection agreement with the Cuban state telecom company.

Photo: Eric Hauser | Flickr

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Bangladesh central bank governor Atiur Rahman has resigned after unidentified hackers took $101 million out of the bank's Federal Reserve Bank of New York account.

While the heist happened last month in February, Rahman neglected to inform the government of it.

The resignation is hot on the heels of when Bangladeshi Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith referred to how the bank handled the cybercrime as "very incompetent."

"He [Rahman] called me yesterday, and I've asked him to resign. And he has resigned today," Muhith told the Agence France-Presse.

Moreover, Rahman told Reuters that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved his resignation.

"I resigned and the prime minister accepted it," Rahman told Reuters.

The hackers were able to gain access to the Bangladesh Bank's computer systems, transferring $81 million from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to casinos in the Philippines from Feb. 4 to 5.

If it were not for a typo and the sheer amount of requests that caused other transactions to be put to a halt, the people behind the crime would have stolen about $1 billion scot-free.

Needless to say, officials in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Philippines were up and about to recover the money. According to Bloomberg, the central bank retrieved $20 million out of the $101 million total, saying that $81 million is outstanding. Most of the stolen funds were found in the Philippines, where they were laundered.

On an interesting note, Rahman was about to retire when he turns 65 in August, after seven years of service for the central bank.

As previously mentioned, the government of Bangladesh is publicly blaming the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for not catching the suspicious transactions sooner.

However, the majority of cyber security experts says that Bangladesh should look at itself rather than pointing the finger at someone else over the whole fiasco.

"It is interesting that the Bangladeshi government came and finger wagged at the Fed to deflect attention from their own bank," Tobias Feakin, the director of the national security program at ASPI, says.

Banks and businesses across the globe are keen on learning more about the incident so that they'll be able to see whether or not they are affected by a similar cyberattack.

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For the first time, pages that are widely-believed to be the only sample of William Shakespeare's handwriting are being made available to the public via digital archive, all thanks to the British Library and its online project Discover: Shakespeare, an educational site dedicated to the wordsmith himself.

While the pages aren't one of Shakespeare's wholly originals, the passage that features the Bard's Tudorian cursive are a scene he was commissioned to write for playwright Anthony Munday's drama Sir Thomas More. Jonathan Bate, a professor of English literature at the University of Oxford, described the scene Shakespeare hand-copied as an empathetic plea for people different than ourselves, which the Guardian aptly compared with a rallying cry for Syrian refugees seeking political asylum in our time.

"More asks the on-stage crowd, and by extension the theater audience, to imagine what it would be like to be an asylum seeker undergoing forced repatriation," Bate told the British Library.

There's no doubt that the writing is Shakespeare's  but there is the matter as to who Shakespeare actually was. While many people think of him as he is depicted in an illustration found in the First Folio  the first-ever collection of Shakespeare's plays, which was published in 1623  a number of academics are convinced that the English playwright, poet and sometimes-actor wrote under the pseudonym of "William Shakespeare," and that the man behind works like Hamlet, Othello and others was someone else entirely.

Some of the primary suspects in this supposed Shakespearean conspiracy are Edward de Vere, also known as the 17th Earl of Oxford, fellow playwright and contemporary Christopher Marlowe, as well as scientist and philosopher Sir Francis Bacon. The list goes on and on.

While many of these theories have been debunked (for instance, the Baconian theory was prominent during the 19th century, but has decreased in popularity since, although the video game Portal 2 jokes that Bacon was actually the Bard all along), many still have a strong following. Many have pointed to Christopher Marlowe (most famous for his plays Edward the Second and The Jew of Malta), who most agree was murdered in a pub brawl in 1593. Despite this, a small contingent claims that Marlowe faked his own death and fled to France to escape persecution for being a Catholic (or was even a Catholic double agent) and wrote under the nom-de-plume "Shakespeare."

An entire scholarship has sprung up around the de Vere theory, called "Oxfordians" after the earl's designated domain. As Richard F. Whalen detailed in his book Shakespeare  Who Was He?: The Oxford Challenge to the Bard of Avon, the 17th Earl of Oxford had the pedigree and the worldly education, as well as familial ties to the people that compiled the First Folio (funny enough, Whalen also points out the inconsistency in Shakespeare's signature, which he purportedly spelled differently and erratically from the way we spell "Shakespeare" today).

While some have deemed Whalen's theories circumstantial, it is food for thought. Even if, in the end, there is no credence to any of these Shakespeare-as-pen-name scenarios, they're still fun to think about. Theories about the possible identity of Shakespeare have even gone as far as to inspire works of fiction and movies, the most recent being 2011's Anonymous (directed by Roland Emmerich  yep, the guy responsible for Independence Day).

Regardless if William Shakespeare was a real man who wrote his own works, or if William Shakespeare was the name used by another for some unknown reason, it's all for naught in the end. What matters is that, no matter what, whoever he was, we have the handwriting (not to mention the works) of the real Bard available for everyone to see.

Source: The British Library

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U.S. President Barack Obama reverses plans and will now disallow oil drilling in the Atlantic Ocean.

The decision came after local communities and several environmentalist groups expressed strong rejection to what might have open drilling sites, more than 50 miles from Virginia, Georgia and North and South Carolina by the year 2021.

The Oil Drilling Proposal

The original plan was to allow drilling projects in the Atlantic. Such proposal was billed by the Interior department, which boasts the balanced approach of the plan such that it includes Alaskan land protection. With this, environmentalists seemed to have switched back and forth agreeing and disagreeing on the plan.

Most government officials gave their nods of approval to the proposal, saying this will create new jobs and amp up state revenues.

Even the oil and gas sector seemed to have agreed with the oil drilling plan due to the possible new frontier for the industry. Although the oil and gas deposits along the U.S. East Coast have not yet been verified, estimates say it would amount to about 3.3 billion barrels of oil and 31.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Community Conflict

Despite the seemingly promising benefits of the oil drilling project, coastal communities strongly protest against it. The people are particularly worried about potential oil spills, impacts on tourism and the overall economy.

"The Interior Department received more than a million comments on the Draft Proposed Program, released in January 2015," the department statement reads.

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell says putting into consideration conflicts with national defense, tourism, fishing and local community uproar, it looks nonsensical to continue with any lease sales in the next five years.

Advocacy Groups, Happy But Still Wary

Advocacy group Oceana vice president for the U.S., Jacqueline Savitz is delighted with the move of the Obama administration.

"President Obama has taken a giant step for our oceans, for coastal economies and for mitigating climate change," she says. For her, this is a courageous decision that initiates a new energy model that replaces fossil fuels with clean energy, and one that prevents the worst effects of carbon dioxide emissions.

There is no doubt that advocacy groups are pleased with the decision, but for them, it is not yet time to put their guard down.

Cindy Shogan from Alaska Wilderness League says concerns about the U.S. maintaining an open door for oil drilling in the Arctic still exist.

Oceana supports this concern and continues to urge the Obama administration to stop new lease sales in the region.

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The use of nitrogen fertilizers has not only been found to harm planet Earth, but is also linked to a wide array of human illnesses. Even if farmers stopped using fertilizers today, the nitrogen from farm fertilizers can still pollute drinking water for decades, a new study found.

Researchers from the University of Waterloo said that the levels of nitrogen concentrations in lakes and rivers will remain high for many years even if these fertilizers will be banned from being used by farmers.

"The fact that nitrogen is being stored in the soil means it can still be a source of elevated nitrate levels long after fertilizers are no longer being applied," said Professor Nandita Basu.

In the study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, the researchers analyzed more than 2,000 soil samples from the Mississippi River Basin. Nitrogen buildup was not seen in the upper layer of soil but was observed in about 2 to 8 inches beneath the soil surface.

The researchers believe that the buildup of nitrogen in soil not only happened because of the increased use of fertilizers but is also due to soybean cultivation and changes in tillage practices. As a result, nitrogen levels slowly accumulated in the past eight decades.

Nitrogen Fertilizers Contaminating Water For Decades

Nitrogen is often found in inorganic fertilizers that have been widely used in the United States after World War II. Since then, it has provided a cheaper source of nitrogen and other plant nutrients that have paved way for a boom in agriculture productivity.

In the 50s, nitrogen fertilizer use increased five-fold not only in the U.S. but also in other developed countries. This has led to profound changes in the environment, such as algal blooms that resulted in "dead zones" in lakes and coastal regions.

Many farmers across the globe have been using nitrogen-containing fertilizers. This study sheds light on the impact of nitrogen on bodies of water, which are the major sources of drinking water.

Health Effects Of Nitrate Contamination

Humans frequently exposed to nitrogen fertilizers are at a higher risk of ingesting nitrate-contaminated drinking water. Nitrate is the product created by breakdown of nitrogen that accumulates in ground water under land used for planting crops. Nitrate levels are high in rivers, lakes and streams because of runoff of excess nitrogen fertilizer from agricultural fields.

Nitrate exposure has been linked to health issues among humans, specially infants. Excessive exposure to nitrates impedes oxygen transport in the bloodstream. Young infants under 4 months of age still lack the enzyme needed to correct this condition called blue baby syndrome. Nitrate contamination has also been associated with certain cancers, adverse reproductive outcomes, thyroid diseases and diabetes.

Photo : Syuzo Tsushima | Flickr

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About 20 years after publishing his "stunning" proof on a 300-year-old problem that had once stumped scholars, a professor from the University of Oxford on Tuesday received one of the most prestigious awards in the field of mathematics.

Sir Andrew Wiles, a 62-year-old number theorist, was awarded by the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters with the 2016 Abel Prize for his work on Fermat's Last Theorem.

The Abel Prize, which is regarded as the Nobel Prize for mathematics, is worth 6 million kroner (equivalent to 500,000 or $700,000).

Wiles' work had opened new tools that allowed researchers to make great and ambitious strides to bring together disparate branches of mathematics. The academy described the achievement as an "epochal moment" for academics.

The Oxford professor said solving the theorem gave him an overwhelming sense of fulfilment.

"It is a tremendous honor to receive the Abel Prize and to join the previous laureates who have made such outstanding contributions to the field," said Wiles.

Starting Young

When Wiles was 10 years old, he had stumbled upon Fermat's Last Theorem in E.T. Bell's "The Last Problem" at his local library in Cambridge.

The theorem was formulated by Pierre de Fermat, a French mathematician, in 1637. It states that there are no whole number solutions to the equation x^n + y^n = z^n, when n is greater than 2.

Wiles said the problem captivated him as a young boy. The theorem has been the most popular problem in mathematics, but he didn't know it at that time.

"What amazed me was that there were some unsolved problems that someone who was 10 years old could understand and even try. And I tried it throughout my teenage years," Wiles told The Guardian. "When I first went to college I thought I had a proof, but it turned out to be wrong."

Fermat once claimed that he had proved the theorem, but he also said the margin of the book he was jotting notes in was too narrow to elaborate. Since then, scholars and mathematicians all over the world have attempted to solve the problem but failed to do so.

A Story Of Resilience And Tenacity

While he was a faculty at Princeton University, Wiles decided to embark on a solitary quest to solve the problem.

After seven years of intense studying, Wiles disclosed his proof to the public in a series of lectures at Cambridge in 1993. When the professor wrote the proof on the board to end his lectures, the room had erupted in applause.

Unfortunately, a mathematician found error in his proof in 1994. He was devastated, but vowed to fix the error.

Wiles called on his former student Richard Taylor to help him. After a year, the error was corrected and the revised proof was published.

How did Wiles solve the problem? He combined three complex mathematical fields: elliptic curves, modular forms and Galois representations.

"The truth is the methods I used were not any more sophisticated than I could certainly do as an undergraduate," said Wiles.

But the pressure on the shy mathematician almost crippled him.

"It was very, very intense," said Wiles. "Unfortunately as human beings we succeed by trial and error. It's the people who overcome the setbacks who succeed."

Wiles' methods to solve the theorem have had a lasting effect on the field of mathematics, and are still being used today. He actually took a different approach to solve the problem  by proving the 1950s Shimura-Taniyama conjecture, which proposes that two very different branches of mathematics are conceptually equivalent.

The professor said the proof didn't just solve the problem, it also introduced new ways of attacking Langland's Program  one of the big webs of conjectures of contemporary mathematics. This aims to unify different branches of the discipline.

Meanwhile, although it had been difficult for Wiles to get back into work, he is working on another major unsolved conjecture in history  the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer Conjecture.

"The beauty of mathematics lures you back in," added Wiles. "It has always been my hope that my solution of this age-old problem would inspire many young people to take up mathematics and to work on the many challenges of this beautiful and fascinating subject."

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Google has just added in a new segment to its Transparency Report that provides a clear look of the encryption usage on Google's own websites and beyond, revealing that 95.5 percent of traffic from mobile devices in North America is unencrypted.

Calling it HTTPS at Google, the goal here is to make the progress of one of the factors that can keep the Internet safe accessible to virtually everyone.

"Our aim with this project is to hold ourselves accountable and encourage others to encrypt so we can make the web even safer for everyone," Rutledge Chin Feman and Tim Willis, HTTPS evangelists at Google, say.

As mentioned earlier, 95.5 percent of unencrypted traffic is from mobile devices. That leaves 4.5 percent for desktop devices. The problem here is that the circumstances are highly unlikely to change any time soon.

"Unfortunately, these devices may no longer be updated and may never support encryption," Google says.

The company also doesn't say anything about the mobile operating systems and the devices that contributed to that figure.

Meanwhile, 77 percent of Google requests to the company's servers are on encrypted connections as of Feb. 28, 2016. It should be noted that YouTube traffic was not included.

Going over other Google products, both Gmail and Google Drive are the first ones to use HTTPS connections as a default.

Behind the pair are Google Maps and Advertising at 83 percent and 77 percent respectively. Needless to say, they have crossed the 75 percent threshold as well, indicating a good future of secured use in said services. However, the same can't be said about the 60 percent figure of News and 58 percent of Finance.

It's also worth mentioning that Google started to roll out HTTPS connection to Gmail back in March 2014, boosting security efforts. The move was followed by implementations on Drive and Search.

Now, the Transparency Report mainly focuses on Google websites, but the company also did the digital paperwork on the top 100 websites that are not under Google.

According to Google, the list of websites accounts for about 25 percent of traffic across the globe. Surprisingly, the number of websites that don't support any encryption outnumbers the websites that do.

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Last month, Comcast announced that it will be bringing the world's first DOCSIS 3.1-powered Gigabit Internet service to both residential and business customers in five new cities this year, namely Nashville, Atlanta, Miami, Detroit and Chicago.

Comcast was able to successfully install the company's first DOCSIS 3.1 modem in Philadelphia, and then in Atlanta a few days later.

Comcast is now rolling out Gigabit Internet in Atlanta, with new and current customers in the city invited to visit the service's official website to learn more about it and its trial program.

Customers who were selected to participate in the trial program will be among the first people to experience DOCSIS 3.1 technology, receiving Internet speeds of up to 1 Gb in their homes through existing communications lines.

Atlanta will be the first city to receive the new Comcast service, as the demand for high-speed Internet soars due to the increasing bandwidth appetite of consumers and the availability of such services from Google and AT&T.

Initial Gigabit Internet customers in the city will be able to choose between a promotional contract price of a monthly fee of $70 per 36 months and an everyday price with no contract for $139.95.

However, for participants in the trial program who will not be signing the three-year contract, Comcast will throttle them after they reach the data cap of 300 GB per month. For customers who want to remove the data cap, but still remain with no contract, they will have to pay an additional $35 per month, taking the monthly fee for Gigabit Internet to $174.95.

Once the trial program is finished, Comcast said that it will be rolling out more pricing options for Gigabit Internet in other markets to be able to gauge the interest of consumers in the service.

According to Bill Connors, Comcast central division president, the company is looking forward to learning from the service's early adopters and how they utilize the ultra-fast speeds they will be getting with Gigabit Internet.

Comcast is the third company that will be offering high-speed broadband in Atlanta, following the footsteps of Google and AT&T.

Google is offering the Google Fiber high-speed Internet service to certain locations at only $70 per month, with both upload and download speeds of 1 Gb. Comcast's Gigabit Internet only has an upload speed of 35 Mbps.

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Many companies are focused on making life easy through state-of-the-art devices and technology, but a Russian billionaire wants something more for humanity. Dmitry Itskov wants to live forever by uploading a human brain and people's consciousness into robots.

The Internet billionaire wants to make his goal tangible in the next three decades. The 35-year-old businessman said he left the business world to devote himself to finding ways to help humanity.

"I am going to make sure that we can all live forever," Dmitry Itskov said.

"I'm 100 percent confident it will happen. Otherwise I wouldn't have started it," he added.

The 2045 Strategic Social Initiative, founded by Itskov in February 2011, involves the input of leading scientists in the field of robotics, artificial organs, artificial systems and neural interfaces in Russia. It aims to develop a technology that will allow the transfer of an individual's personality to a more advanced non-biological body that can live for years and toward immortality.

They will recruit experts and researchers in the field of anthropomorphic robotics through building an international research center. With the help of scientists, death may soon be just a thing of the past.

"The main goals of the 2045 Initiative: the creation and realization of a new strategy for the development of humanity which meets global civilization challenges; the creation of optimale conditions promoting the spiritual enlightenment of humanity; and the realization of a new futuristic reality based on 5 principles: high spirituality, high culture, high ethics, high science and high technologies," the 2045 Initiative site said.

Itskov is funding the project that can unlock the secrets of the human brain and free the body from biological limitations such as illness and disabilities.

"If there is no immortality technology, I'll be dead in the next 35 years," Itskov said. At the moment, death will eventually come to everyone because the body is designed to live for just a couple of decades. The cells in the body lose the ability to repair themselves. This leads to a lot of diseases including cardiovascular diseases and other age-related conditions.

In the initiative's 2015 to 2020 future prospects, they plan to create inexpensive android "avatars" which are controlled by a brain computer. This will enable people to travel in extreme situations, perform rescue operations and work in dangerous environments. This technology can be used by people suffering from disabilities, helping them recover from loss of senses.

His journey toward immortality will be featured in BBC's Horizon documentary, The Immortalist. Though his goal is a bit ambitious, there are other companies who share the same vision. Humai, an Australian startup, wants humans to live forever too.

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The city council of Ferguson, Missouri has agreed to adopt a settlement with the Justice Department to overhaul the courts and police force of the city after attempts at revising the deal were met with a federal lawsuit.

During a city council meeting on March 15, members voted 6 to 0 in favor of adopting the plan in order to avoid having to face the federal government in a long and costly court battle.

The city now has to begin the process of reforming its criminal justice system, which has been heavily criticized since the shooting of black teenager Michael Brown Jr. by a white officer from the Ferguson police in 2014.

Among those who voted to approve the Justice Department's deal were elected officials from the St. Louis suburb where Brown Jr. was fatally injured.

The victim's father was also in attendance but refused to speak publicly. He shook hands with Mayor James Knowles III and other members of the city council following the vote.

Councilman Wesley Bell pointed out that Ferguson has served as the "emotional ground zero" of the issue. He said that the city can now show the world what change looks like.

After several months of negotiations, the city government of Ferguson and the Justice Department were able to reach a tentative agreement.

However, the council decided to reject the settlement in February because of concerns over the expenses it would place on the city. This caused the DOJ to file a federal lawsuit against Ferguson the following day.

Despite the city council's adoption of the deal, the Justice Department's lawsuit remains in court because the preliminary agreement between the two sides still has to be approved by a federal judge.

The DOJ's Civil Rights Division chief Vanita Gupta commended the city council's vote, stating that Ferguson has taken an important step toward ensuring that all of its citizens are protected under the U.S. Constitution

Gupta assured Ferguson that it will not be made to give its police officers pay raises. This provision in the settlement is what the council believed might cause the city to go bankrupt.

Photo: The All-Nite Images | Flickr

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The details for "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" have been tightly kept under wraps ever since it was first officially announced in May 2014 that a stand-alone "Star Wars" film already has writer Gary Whitta and director Gareth Edwards on board.

Actors have been named while details about their characters remain closely guarded, but now we know that some of the characters from the original trilogy will make appearances as well.

Most of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is as much a secret as the Death Star plans, and fans are collecting as much information as they can. We have a fix for those who want the latest details, and a recent presentation in the LEGO "Star Wars" conference seems to have given fans another bit of information on who we might expect to see on the big screen in December.

According to a report, when "Rogue One" was presented at the LEGO conference, another memorable ship was used: Slave One. Yes, it's very same one used by the Mandalorian bounty hunter Boba Fett.

It may sound strange because "Rogue One" is supposed to be about the Rebels, but apparently, Darth Vader will assemble a team of bounty hunters to hunt them down, which makes Boba Fett's appearance almost certain.

Another thing is that some of the released photos resemble Chewie's home planet of Kashyyyk, so the Rebels may have a mission of sorts over there like saving the Wookies being transported as slaves. This would actually be a good way to connect to another "Star Wars" spin-off because there is a rumor that, once Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have chosen their young Han Solo, the lucky actor will also make a quick appearance in "Rogue One." It could be a good starting point for Han and Chewie.

Edwards already made it clear that no member of the Jedi Order will appear in the film and this pretty much goes along with how LucasFilm President Kathleen Kennedy describes the film. What it will have is Darth Vader engaging the Rebels and laying waste in epic proportions if he ever joins the ground battle. After all, with the Jedi Order already wiped out, the powerful Sith Lord would be unstoppable in his rampage.

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is set for release on Dec. 16.

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Pope Francis has certainly been a non-traditional pope so far, as he has voiced out liberal views on a variety of issues including gay marriage and climate change.

Pope Francis is seemingly also looking to cement his post as the most tech-savvy pope in history, as in addition to his Twitter account, the pope is said to be making his debut on picture-sharing service Instagram.

According to Italian newswire ANSA, which cited an interview with Prefect for Communications Dario Vigano on Vatican radio, the launch of Pope Francis' Instagram account will be on March 19, and it will be bearing the handle Franciscus.

Pope Francis, who previously praised the capability of the Internet in building a healthy society that is open to sharing, held a private audience with Kevin Systrom, the founder and CEO of Instagram, last month.

There have been no reports indicating that Systrom invited Pope Francis to set up an Instagram account. However, according to Systrom's account on the picture-sharing service, they discussed the power of pictures in bringing people together across different boundaries such as language and culture.

Pope Francis has also met with other big names in the tech industry, including Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt and Apple CEO Tim Cook.

On Twitter, the handle of Pope Francis is @Pontifex, with His Holiness already amassing 8.87 million followers since he joined in February 2012. Pope Francis also has eight other official Twitter accounts in different languages, including Italian, French and Arabic.

"God is truly 'rich in mercy' and extends it abundantly upon those who appeal to Him with a sincere heart," wrote Pope Francis in his latest tweet.

While Pope Francis has exhibited his love for technology, His Holiness believes that people should not be using their devices while at the dinner table. Pope Francis has urged people to spend time with their family while having meals instead of using their devices while at the table.

Pope Francis added that families who do not eat together or who do but do not talk to each other are hardly families at all.

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The year 2016 is turning out to be one filled with some pretty major changes (and some major disappointments) for the BBC's seminal sci-fi show Doctor Who and its Whovian denizens. In January, it was announced that only one new episode of the series -- a Christmas special -- with the traveling Time Lord and his Tardis would air, and that Steven Moffat, who has been the series showrunner for six seasons, would turn over the reins to Broadchurch producer Chris Chibnall for season 10.

But it seems that there is some more news afoot, and Doctor Who's network might not take kindly to it: it turns out that the Twelfth Doctor, actor Peter Capaldi, thinks that the BBC is to blame for the show's decreasing ratings, and that the show is "not being looked after."

In an interview with Newsweek, Capaldi stated that Doctor Who's ratings, which began to slide after 2014, have to do with the constant program rescheduling the show has received over the last few years. The actor also noted that Doctor Who, which is considered a family show in the U.K., now ends after 9 p.m. -- the hour when shows with explicit content are allowed to air, as io9 noted.

"It does frustrate me. If you're going to have a family show, I think you have to build up a little ritual around it-and that ritual usually starts with having it on at the same time [every week]. Even I didn't know what time it was on because it got later and later and later. The BBC is an incredible organization, but... sometimes people there think,That [it's] looking after itself. And [Doctor Who is] not being looked after. I think maybe their eye was taken off the ball, or the show was seen as a thing they could just push around. It's not. It's a special thing."

Capaldi also discussed the impending departure of Doctor Who showrunner Moffat after 2017. Moffat, who is also the showrunner of Sherlock, has been with Doctor Who since 2010 after reboot creator Russell T. Davies bowed out to work on other projects.

"He's an astonishing talent, but he's a human being, and I don't think he can continue working at this rate," Capaldi told Newsweek. "The cost of doing Doctor Who to an individual is immense. He takes the greatest weight on his shoulders, he loves the show and he's absolutely responsible for it and feels that responsibility gravely -- and with delight as well."

"He loves this job so I think it's very, very difficult for him to leave," he added. "But I think he has to, otherwise he might have a heart attack."

Source: Newsweek

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Uber is making it easier for families to be in sync when on the go.

The ride-hailing app announced Wednesday that it is introducing a new feature called Family Profiles, enabling families to share one Uber account with one convenient payment method, so that any member can pay for rides without each having to use his or her own credit card.

The way it will work is similar to Uber's current payment options, which enables users to seamlessly switch between their personal credit card and corporate accounts to pay for rides. However, with Family Profiles, riders will switch between their personal accounts with the ride-sharing service and family accounts. Each Family Profile account will have one account manager who invites the rest of the members. Once recipients accept the invite, they're added to the Profile and are authorized to charge rides on the account.

While it figures to be a rather convenient feature, it could also prove to be a safe one, too, as parents could seemingly use the feature to track their children's whereabouts. The same goes for the elderly, too. Younger kids could also use the Family Profiles to order a ride in the unforeseen event their parents can't make it to pick them up. That would require parents giving their children a smartphone and access to Uber, something that's already experiencing an uptick among parents and their preteens, according to a study spotted by Mashable.

Family Profiles will first launch in Atlanta, Dallas and Phoenix, before possibly being available in other major cities across the United States. Currently, each Family Profile account will let up to 10 riders share one payment method.

"While we've called this feature Family Profiles, we let you decide who is family," Uber wrote in a blog post, as part of its announcement Wednesday. "It's a great way to help loved ones, friends or coworkers get where they want to go while you foot the bill. Whether you're a parent with kids away at college or a daughter wanting to help your parents maintain their independence, it's never been easier to share some Uber love around to the people that matter most in your life."

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BMW has witnessed all the turmoil that Volkswagen has gone through  and continues to deal with  over its emissions crisis.

It may be part of the reason why the high-end luxury automaker not only wants to make electric vehicles more of its future plans, but also combine EVs with autonomous technology.

On Wednesday in Munich, BMW revealed its Strategy Number One > Next plan as its clear path to driving mobility into a higher gear, both now and in the near future.

Perhaps the flagship symbol for that is the BMW iNEXT autonomous electric vehicle, as part of the company's project i 2.0, pushing toward automated and fully-networked driving.

"BMW iNEXT heralds the next era of mobility," Harald Kruger, chairman of BMW AG's board of management, announced Wednesday, as reported by the automaker's press release statement. "This symbol of our technology leadership will demonstrate how we will bring the future of mobility into series production."

While the iNEXT is expected to impact roads closer to the start of the next decade, the automaker has several iPerformance plug-in hybrids that it will be rolling out with from this year and onward, including a Mini. There will also be a BMW i8 roadster down the line, with an i3 touting a bolstered battery capacity being available by the end of the year. The automaker vows to continue developing hydrogen fuel-cell technology as well.

Within project i 2.0, BMW says it will place "clear focus" on ramping up areas such as artificial intelligence, high-definition digital maps, cloud technology and sensors.

"Our focus is clear  we are securing the BMW Group's position as technological market leader," Klaus Frohlich, a board member dedicated in development, said in the company's press release. "With project i 2.0 we will lead the field of autonomous driving. We will turn research projects into new kinds of industrial processes, bringing future technology onto the road."

If the i Vision Future Interaction mobility system, which Tech Times saw at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016 this past January in Las Vegas, is any indication, then BMW might leave some of its competition in the dust in autonomy.

That's because the system offered drivers three different driving modes, including Pure Drive, Assisted Drive and Auto Drive, with the latter allowing the driver to take calls or check emails with full-connectivity while the car is en route to its destination.

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Carlos Ramos, state of California CIO and director of the Department of Technology, will step down at the end of March, according to an announcement to state staff on Wednesday.



Ramos was appointed state CIO by Gov. Jerry Brown in June 2011, replacing Teri Takai.



"There is never a convenient time to leave a position like this. However, retirement has been beckoning for a while. I leave knowing that the department is in all of your capable hands," Ramos wrote to his colleagues Wednesday morning.



In nearly five years as the state's top technology official, Ramos stewarded California through a series of major initiatives and big changes. At the forefront, Ramos led the state's technology organization through the governor's 2013 Reorganization Plan, in which the California Technology Agency became the California Department of Technology and launched a new Statewide Technology Procurement Division. Ramos was also at the helm as the state worked toward IT consolidation targets initiated during Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's tenure.



More recently under Ramos' leadership, the Department of Technology launched its own private cloud in 2014, created a new project approval process and Project Management Office in 2015, and is testing vendor performance metrics in 2016.



But the state was not immune from criticism along the way. A few big projects under the Department of Technology's oversight, such as the canceled MyCalPays payroll system modernization, the California Medicaid Management Information System, and the Department of Consumer Affairs licensing system, ran into trouble.



Vendors voiced their concerns about how the state was procuring its private cloud, which prompted the Department of Technology to broaden its hosted offerings and expand participation among a wider range of companies. Some firms also are concerned how the state ultimately will implement its vendor performance program.



Over the years, Ramos garnered recognition for his expertise in project and portfolio management in a variety of state-level executive roles.



From 2006 to 2008, Ramos directed the then-new Office of System Integration that manages the state Health and Human Services Agency's multibillion dollar IT portfolio. From 2004 to 2008, he was the agency information officer of the state Health and Human Services Agency. From 2001 to 2004, he was director of the Stephen P. Teale Data Center, one of the state's two general-purpose data centers at the time. Other positions Ramos has held in California include: deputy director and CIO for the Department of Social Services (1999-2001), branch chief for the child welfare services case management system for the Department of Social Services (1997-1999), and principal budget analyst for the Department of Finance (1989-1997).



Ramos' departure comes on the heels of Michele Robinson's announcement last week that she is no longer California's chief information security officer. Robinson testified last month at a legislative oversight panel as lawmakers discussed a 2015 state audit that questioned the California state government's cybersecurity readiness.





Matt Williams Matt Williams was Managing Editor of Techwire from June 2014 through May 2017. See More Stories by Matt Williams
Amin Shokrollahi couldnt wait to lecture at an electronics conference in San Francisco. The annual gathering of top tech minds, investors and customers was the perfect place for the German-Iranian professor to gain support for his startup.But before he could make his trip to the January forum, Shokrollahi discovered his permission to travel to the United States from Switzerland had been revoked. He immediately knew why. Just weeks before his flight, Congress had made changes to the visa waiver program, which allowed citizens of 38 countries to travel to the U.S. without a visa.After the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, Congress amended the program so that those with dual citizenship in Iran, Iraq, Sudan and Syria, as well as people who have traveled to those countries in the last five years, had to apply for a visa. Last month, the Department of Homeland Security announced further restrictions for those who have recently traveled to Libya, Somalia and Yemen.Shokrollahi, 52, ended up missing the conference, as well as meetings with potential investors. About a week later, the U.S. consulate granted him a yearlong visa. But the earlier episode, with its lost opportunities, rankled him.Most of the people being affected, the vast majority, they are being wrongfully targeted, said Shokrollahi, a mathematician who teaches at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. Its like giving broad-spectrum antibiotics that kill everything because you want to kill a few bacteria.Edwin Smith, an expert in international law at the University of Southern California, said the decision Congress made balanced the freedom to travel with national security interests. Dual-national terrorists who are able to sneak into the country pose a real threat, he said.The thing that Daash would like very much is to have dual-national Europeans get into the U.S., Smith said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State. Thats the nightmare scenario.But in recent weeks, Silicon Valley has been at the forefront of a push against the restrictions. The changes, tech leaders argued, would be bad for their bottom line if people doing business with their companies had difficulty coming to the U.S. And they worry that European countries will retaliate against U.S. travelers with similar restrictions.In a letter to Congress, the leaders of more than 30 companies, including Twitter, Dropbox and Pinterest, called the policy discriminatory.We protest this just as vigorously as if Congress had mandated special travel papers for citizens based on their faith or the color of their skin, the letter said. In the balancing act between fighting terrorism and upholding American liberties, these provisions go too far.Ali Partovi, a tech investor and Iranian emigre, compared the restrictions to new sanctions, just months after a landmark nuclear deal led the U.S. to ease long-standing sanctions against Iran.Theyre a sanction against Europe and against American companies that do business with Europe, Partovi, 43, said. Any company that has offices in Europe, or sells products to European customers, or buys from European suppliers, is impacted.The European Union is scheduled to review the issue in April and has suggested that the bloc may suspend visa-free travel to Europe for all Americans for a year. Should the European Commission retaliate, it would not be the first time the union has found itself in a tit-for-tat battle with the U.S.The EU slapped its first tariffs on a wide range of U.S. agricultural and manufactured goods in 2004 in a retaliatory move intended to pressure Congress to make significant changes in the way U.S. corporations were taxed.The State Department has declined to comment on the possibility that Americans could face visa restrictions in response to the law Congress passed.Look, Im not going to speak to what Europe writ large may or may not do or individual governments may or may not do, State Department spokesman Mark C. Toner said at a January news briefing.The 30-year-old visa waiver program, which grants 90-day stays, is credited with bolstering the U.S. tourism industry.Hooman Radfar, a partner at the San Francisco startup studio Expa, said the change to the visa waiver program could be particularly difficult for small businesses because time is money,Not being able to have someone for a month, while thats maybe not a big deal for GE, for a small business its catastrophic, Radfar said.Radfar said his parents left Iran for the U.S. before he was born because they wanted the freedom they couldnt have in their native land. Allowing certain Europeans to be able to come to the U.S. with ease while making it harder for others is un-American, he said.But the visa waiver bill that passed marked a relatively rare instance of bipartisan agreement in Washington.Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat who introduced the Senates version of the legislation, said new restrictions cut the risk of foreign fighters exploiting the visa program by requiring individuals who have traveled to high-risk countries to use the traditional visa process. Feinsteins legislation prohibited visa-free travel for those who have traveled to Syria and Iraq. The dual-national provision originated in the House, officials said.I strongly believe that restricting use of the visa waiver program based on travel to high-risk countries will help prevent an estimated 5,000 foreign fighters from Europe who have trained in the Middle East from exploiting the program to enter the United States, Feinstein said in a statement.But the senator said she disagreed with restrictions based on nationality, saying it is discriminatory and not the correct path.A month after the bill was passed, lawmakers in both chambers introduced bipartisan legislation that would eliminate the dual-national restrictions.I was disappointed the provision was included in legislation, over the strong objection of many members, and support the effort to repeal it, Feinstein said.Partovi, the investor, said Iranians from all over the world work in the tech industry, and have earned their way into Silicon Valleys top ranks.  When you do something that hurts Iranians, all of Silicon Valley feels it.At UCLAs Westwood campus, some Iranian students said they fear that European countries will impose the same restrictions on them that the U.S. is imposing on Iranians in other countries.We are alert, unified and ready to fight unjust discrimination like this, said Arman Sharif, 19, who added that many Iranians in the U.S. have family in Europe. His mothers cousins live in Germany.Nikki Tavalosi said shes concerned about the effect a reciprocal law would have on her career. A graduate student studying economics, Tavalosi said many of the conferences shes interested in attending take place in Europe. The 23-year-old, who has family in Sweden, said the move came out of the blue.Its a blow to the Iranian diaspora, she said.Her parents are upset by the law, Tavalosi added, but not as much as she. Like many older immigrant generations, they dont want to ruffle any feathers, so they wont speak out, she said. Tavalosi, however, said shes willing to take a stand if Europe institutes similar laws.These are my rights, she said. I am willing to fight for them.
FBI wants Apple to unlock iPhone in Boston gang case

According to the Boston Globe, the FBI is asking Apple Inc. to unlock the phone of an alleged member of one of the citys most notorious gangs, according to court records, but Apple is objecting to the request bringing to the front the governments high-profile fight with Apple in the San Bernardino terrorism case.

The FBI is specifically attempting to obtain data on an iPhone used by Desmond Crawford, a member of Boston gang Columbia Point Dawgs, who was reportedly involved in a street argument that led to the murdering of a rival gang leader. A search warrant was approved in February for two phones belonging to Desmond Crawford.

As Boston Herald reports, Crawford is suspected of almost everything a gang member can be blamed of these days, including racketeering, committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering, using a firearm during a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

One of the things that the FBI seized when they arrested Crawford was an iPhone, which FBI agent Matthew Knight believes could hold information thats vital in their investigation. According to him, the iPhone contains contact information for other gang members, associates, and drug customers. Knight also said messages on the phone probably detailed Crawfords gun- and drug-trafficking activities, plus plans for the drive-by shooting.

Based on wiretapped phone conversations, I . . . know that Crawford used his [iPhone] to discuss details related to the shooting of a rival gang member, Knight wrote in his affidavit dated Feb. 1.

It turns out that the feds managed to intercept conversations that implicate the suspect and make them believe that more could be hiding on the iPhone.

And just like in the San Bernardino case, the FBI claims that it cant unlock the iPhone, and it wants Apple to do it for them.

The San Bernardino case initiated an intense national debate over privacy, security, and encryption. And the Boston case underlines a key fear of both Apple and privacy advocates: that if Apple unites in the San Bernardino investigation, it will be compelled to do the same in thousands of more routine cases in which national security is not at stake, effectively creating for authorities a permanent back door into every iPhone in the United States.

The government is asking Apple to hack our own users and undermine decades of security advancements that protect our customers  including tens of millions of American citizens  from sophisticated hackers and cybercriminals, Apples chief executive, Tim Cook, wrote in an open letter to customers.

Crawford was arrested in November as part of a year long investigation by federal and local authorities into the Dawgs, dubbed the largest, most violent and most feared organization in Boston by US Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz.

While Apple has not yet provided a statement on the matter, but looks like the company may not comply with the FBI demand just like in the other case.
Indias Aadhaar biometric database will have billion Indians irises, raises privacy fears

The Parliament of India is set to pass the Aadhaar Bill that would allow federal agencies access to the worlds enormous biometric database in the interests of national security, raising fears that the privacy of a billion people could be compromised.

The move say some privacy advocates could also help in surveillance far more invasive than the US telephone and internet spying exposed by former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden in 2013.

Launched in 2009, the Aadhaar ID database scheme was established to streamline payment of benefits and reduce huge wastage and fraud. Nearly a billion people have registered their finger prints and iris signatures. Data collected under the project is encrypted and stored within national data centres in Bangalore and Manesar.

Now the BJP, who have inherited the scheme want to use a loophole to bypass the opposition in Parliament and pass new provisions including those on national security. In an effort to secure passage before lawmakers go into recess, the Centre brought the Aadhaar legislation to Rajya Sabha today as a financial bill  which cannot be rejected. It can be returned to Lok Sabha, but here the ruling party holds a majority.

It has been showcased as a tool exclusively meant for disbursement of subsidies and we do not realise that it can also be used for mass surveillance, said Tathagata Satpathy, a lawmaker from Odisha.

Can the government  assure us that this Aadhaar card and the data that will be collected under it  biometric, biological, iris scan, finger print, everything put together  will not be misused as has been done by the NSA in the US?

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has safeguarded the legislation, citing that an estimated 150 billion rupees (approx. 1.6 billion) was saved by the scheme in the financial year 2014-2015. A finance ministry official added that the BJP would ensure that peoples privacy is respected and that third-party federal access would only be granted in special cases.

According to another government official, the new law is in fact more limited in scope than the decades-old Telegraph Act, which permits national security agencies and tax authorities to intercept telephone conversations of individuals in the interest of public safety.

However, political opponents and religious minorities also worry that abusive management of the database could be used as a tool to silence and harass individuals considered as potential security threats.

Cybersecurity experts have further argued that a central reserve of biometric data in the worlds most populated democracy could present a huge risk if compromised.

We are midwifing a police state, said Asaduddin Owaisi, an opposition MP.

Global policy director at Access, an international digital rights organisation, Raman Jit Singh Chima said the proposed Indian law did not have the transparency and oversight safeguards found in Europe or the United States, which last year changed its bulk telephone surveillance programme.

He pointed to the US Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which must accept many surveillance requests made by intelligence agencies, and European data protection authorities as oversight mechanisms not present in the Indian proposal.

New Delhi-based PRS Legislative Research in its assessment of the measure, said law enforcement agencies could use someones Aadhaar number as a link across numerous datasets such as telephone and air travel records.

That would allow them to identify patterns of behaviour and discover potential illegal activities. But it could also lead to harassment of individuals who are identified incorrectly as potential security threats, PRS said.

Maintaining a central database is akin to getting the keys of every house in Delhi and storing them at a central police station, said Sunil Abraham, executive director at the Center for Internet and Society in Bengaluru.

It is very easy to capture iris data of any individual with the use of next generation cameras. Imagine a situation where the police is secretly capturing the iris data of protesters and then identifying them through their biometric records, he said.
A 40 anos de Malvinas

"Revisar el pasado es pensar el futuro". La frase de la presidenta de Telam, Bernarda Llorente, resume el espiritu del documental coproducido entre la agencia de noticias y el canal publico de TV sobre la cobertura que los medios de comunicacion hicieron del conflicto, plagada de censura y mentiras. Una autocritica necesaria para mirar hacia adelante en un (ya viejo) contexto de fake news y negocio informativo.
SIR  The most worrying statement from Sir Lynton Crosbys analysis of the polls on Britains membership of the European Union is that nearly half the electorate say that they need more information in order to make a choice.

Surely somebody in the corridors of Whitehall has done a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis for the Cabinet of the consequences of a Remain vote.

It could hardly be asking too much to trust the British public with this information.

Andrew Walker Felpham, West Sussex

SIR  Making a balanced judgment about which way to vote in the EU referendum may be a difficult task for many voters. There are points about sovereignty, economics, democracy and accountability to consider.

It seems to me that the most immediate of these factors is our long-term economic prosperity. In this regard, it is significant that Lord Lawson, the most successful Conservative chancellor, is keen that we should vote Leave. He has been joined by Mervyn King, the former governor of the Bank of England, and subsequently by Lord Lamont, under whose chancellorship (once Britain had left the Exchange Rate Mechanism) we prospered so much more than other European nations.

These three are not protecting their own jobs in recommending we should leave, nor have they short-term profits to protect. They are the most qualified and experienced independent voices as far as our economy and prosperity are concerned.

James Ashby Winchester, Hampshire

SIR  The Remain camp has seized upon a report that house prices would drop by 35 per cent if we left the EU.

For many years, house prices have risen dramatically, especially in London and the South East, preventing many people from buying their own homes. Therefore, a vote for Brexit could enable many more people, particularly the young, to get on the property ladder.

David Vetch Smallfield, Surrey

SIR  There are no right answers in the EU debate. We are warned that either outcome will be a disaster, so it has come down to deciding which will be the least bad result.

Britain is geographically part of Europe and must trade with the mainland countries and maintain all sorts of links. The horse-trading and bartering that would need to take place after Brexit could last years.

Are we ready for another economic crisis in the meantime, having barely recovered from 2008?

Jane ONions Sevenoaks, Kent

SIR  What is the opposite of Brexit? Could it be Brinit?

Kyriacos Kaye Telford, Shropshire

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Racist City Employees Are on Notice, and 9 Other Greater Cincinnati News Stories You May Have Missed This Week

Catch up on local government, politics, sports, celeb sightings and Halloween fun.
He returned to Ireland as the country's second bishop and began his mission to spread the Christian message to those who had never heard it. He converted thousands of people to Christianity and established councils, churches, schools and monasteries across the country.

Legend suggests that Patrick used the three-leaf shamrock on his mission to explain the Holy Trinity, teaching his followers that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit exist as individual elements of the combined entity. While some experts claim this story was invented centuries later, the tale has led to the common practice of people wearing the symbol on the feast day.

Patrick is also believed to have banished snakes from Ireland to help remove the evil and introduce a new age. But experts say this is a myth because of evidence that snakes never existed in the country in the first place.

Around 431 AD, Patrick was appointed as successor to St Palladius, the first bishop of Ireland, and during his later years, he wrote about his spirituality and life in his "Confession".

Believed to have died on March 17, in 461 AD, Patrick's spiritual path led him to become a legendary figure, as he left behind an established church and an island of Christians. Today, his work is commemorated annually on March 17.

Symbols and images associated with Ireland and St Patrick's Day

The national flag of Ireland, also known as the Irish tricolour, is a prominent symbol in St Patrick's Day parades, events and celebrations. The green stripe stands for Irish Catholics, while the orange stripe represents Irish Protestants. The central white stripe also represents the hope for peace between the two groups.

The patron saint of Ireland is traditionally linked to the red Saltire of St Patrick, which was used to form the flag of the United Kingdom.

St Patrick is also associated with the colour blue, after the creation of the Order of St Patrick in the 1780s made it the official colour. "St Patricks Blue" can be found on Ireland's Presidential Standard, and in the plume of bearskins worn by the Irish Guards.

The legend of the leprechaun has also become a modern-day symbol of Ireland. Known for their mischievous behaviour and leaving pots of gold at the end of rainbows, today, the mythical creatures feature heavily as a tourist symbol and some people choose to wear leprechaun costumes and hats to St Patrick's Day parades. Dublin even has its very own Leprechaun Museum.

St Patrick's Day celebrations in Ireland

Unlike St David's Day in Wales and St George's Day in England, St Patrick's Day is a bank holiday in Ireland, allowing the Irish to fully embrace the festivities.

The people of Ireland honour their patron saint day every year by joining parades and dressing head to toe in green, white and orange, the colours of the Irish flag. Dublin's famous St Patrick's Parade usually starts at Parnell Square, and often features bands from around the world.

Historically called the "Feast of St Patrick", it would traditionally begin with families attending church in the morning, before celebrating with dance, drink and a feast of bacon and cabbage. Today, Irish stews and pints of Guinness are often enjoyed as part of the celebration.

As many as 13 million pints of Guinness are poured on St Patrick's Day alone, increasing from the average 10 million glasses poured every day around the world. The Guinness Storehouse is situated in the heart of St James's Gate, Dublin, with visitors able to book a tour of the famous site.

Popular Irish toasts on St Patrick's Day include: "Slainte mhaith", meaning "good health" in Irish Gaelic, and "may the good St Patrick protect ye, and the devil neglect ye".
The Venezuelan government celebrated on Friday the arrival in the country of the last five crew members of the Emtrasur aircraft that had been held in Argentina since June 6. | Read More
Prabhas's Brother Sentenced To Jail

Baahubali actor Prabhas's brother Prabodh, was sentenced to a year's imprisonment in a cheque bounce case. As per the media reports, Prabodh issued a cheque for Rs. 43 lakh to a city-based businessman and the cheque was bounced as there was insufficient amount in his account.



The businessman approached the court regarding the matter and after several hearings court has passed the verdict. The Rajendranagar magistrate court gave the verdict on Tuesday and sentenced Prabodh to 1 year imprisonment.



The court ordered Prabodh to pay Rs 80 lakh within two months. Prabodh is the elder brother of Prabhas and the actor has another sibling, elder sister Pragathi.















News Posted: 16 March, 2016








High Court bifurcation will be completed soon: Indrakaran

Hyderabad, March 16 (INN): Law Minister A. Indrakaran Reddy on Wednesday informed the Telangana State Legislative Assembly that the State Government was seriously pursuing with the Central Government to bifurcate the existing High Court at Hyderabad to provide seperate High Court for Telangana State.



Replying to a question raised by MLA Ashannagari Jeevan Reddy and others during Question Hour, the minister informed that on March 18, 2015, both the Houses of Legislature unanimously adopted a resolution to request the Government of India to bifurcate the common High Court at Hyderabad forthwith and sent to the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India.



The Union Law Minister addressed a letter requesting the Chief Justice of High Court of Judicature at Courts for the two States are established at Hyderabad expeditiously. A memorandum has also been submitted to the Union Law Minister in this regard by Members of Parliament and JAC of Advocates from the State. Subsequently, a Division Bench of High Court in their order dated 01.05.2015 in PIL No. 59 of 2015 filed by T. Dhangopal Rao, inter-alia observed that the Constitution of High Court in any part of the State of Telangana for the State of AP, including Hyderabad, would be an action not permitted by Law. It held that the State of Telangana has no role to play for creation of High Court for the AP State and directed the AP Government to identify and locate the site where the permanent High Court of the State of AP would be constituted in the territory of AP.



Aggrieved by the above, Telangana Government filed a review petition and the matter is pending before the High Court.



The minister said that State Government was pursuing the matter with the Central Government and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao reminded the Centre about this in the month of February.



He said the bifurcation of High Court would take place "as early as possible."









News Posted: 16 March, 2016








TRS Govt hoodwinking employees: TPCC Chief

Hyderabad, March 16 (INN): Taking serious objections over TRS activists becoming the leaders of Employees' Unions, TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday said that despite their sacrifices during the statehood movement, state employees were unable to get their legitimate share in the new state.



Uttam Kumar Reddy said that even though the State Government has announced 43 per cent fitment for the employees, it has not released PRC arrears for nine months from June, 2014 to February, 2015. He asked the employees to assess as to which government has worked in their favor. He recalled the formation of 10th PRC under P K Agarwal through GO 95 on February 28, 2013 during the Congress government. He reminded that the then government had issued GO MS 10 for releasing 27% interim relief to the employees pending the submission of PRC report.



The TPCC chief said that the TRS Government had announced PRC on March 18, 2015 when employees resorted to protest for their rights. He alleged that TRS government has announced 43% as a whole, of which 27% was given by the previous Congress regime. "TRS Government is misleading the employees by staking claims on initiatives taken by previous Congress regime," he said.



He recalled that state government has announced to credit the pending arrears of nine months in the form of bonds in bank accounts during Assembly session. However, this was put on the back burner.



Uttam Kumar Reddy sought to know as to why efforts were not made for bifurcation of employees even after 21 months of formation of new State. 'Kamalnathan Committee was formed during state bifurcation process to send the employees working in Telangana to their native places and retain Telangana employees from Andhra Pradesh. But nothing is being discussed now', he lamented.



He asked whether KCR was working to safeguard his interests in lieu with not speaking on the issue of employees' bifurcation. He questioned KCR that what happened to his statement made before elections that there will be no options for employees and that all TELANGANA employees will be positioned in Telangana itself. He questioned KCR's silence on this very important issue and observed that it nothing but cheating the employees..



Stating that the Health Cards were defunct, Uttam Kumar Reddy questioned the government over its silence on this issue. As against KCR's promise of cashless treatment, these health cards are not valid in private hospitals so far. "This being the condition of employees on rolls, fate of Health care facilities to the retired employees is more disastrous," he said.



He said that just because of the defunct Health Cards issued by government, several hundred government employees and their relatives could not go for treatment in private hospitals and lost their battle for life. 'This is a very shameful situation for government,' he lashed out.



On the other hand most of the leaders of employees' unions, gazetted officers' union are either current TRS party leaders holding key positions or even present MLAs he informed. He asked whether and how such leaders can fight for the rights of employees. He opined that employees' leaders must not belong to any political party. He stated that leaders who take orders from TRS Government could never fight for the rights of employees. He alleged that employees who are raising questions against such leaders were being targeted.









News Posted: 16 March, 2016








TS Govt proposes new law to regulate corporate hospitals

Hyderabad, March 16 (INN): Health Minister Dr. K. Lakshma Reddy said that the Telangana Government proposes to enact a new law to regulate all corporate hospitals in the State.



Replying to a question raised by Congress MLC Farooq Hussain in Legislative Council on Wednesday, the minister said that the State Government had constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee to review the complaints of exorbitant charges being collected by private and corporate hospitals in the State. Panchayat Raj Minister K. Tarakarama Rao and R&B Minister Tummala Nageshwara Rao are part of the Sub-Committee. Based on the findings of Sub-Committee, the State Government would enact a new law to regulate all private and corporate hospitals in the State.



Earlier, MLCs, across party lines, demanded stern action against hospitals who are charging exorbitantly from the patients. They also demanded a House Committee to probe into the allegations.



The minister said that the State Government was also improving the conditions in public hospitals across the Telangana State.









News Posted: 16 March, 2016








SOMETHING REALLY DRAMATIC is happening to our media landscape, the public sphere, and our journalism industry, almost without us noticing and certainly without the level of public examination and debate it deserves.

Our news ecosystem has changed more dramatically in the past five years than perhaps at any time in the past five hundred.

We are seeing huge leaps in technical capabilityvirtual reality, live video, artificially intelligent news bots, instant messaging, and chat apps. We are seeing massive changes in control, and finance, putting the future of our publishing ecosystem into the hands of a few, who now control the destiny of many.

Social media hasnt just swallowed journalism, it has swallowed everything. It has swallowed political campaigns, banking systems, personal histories, the leisure industry, retail, even government and security. The phone in our pocket is our portal to the world. I think in many ways this heralds enormously exciting opportunities for education, information, and connection, but it brings with it a host of contingent existential risks.

Journalism is a small subsidiary activity of the main business of social platforms, but one of central interest to citizens.

The internet and the social Web enable journalists to do powerful work, while at the same time helping to make the business of publishing journalism an uneconomic venture.

Two significant things have already happened that we have not paid enough attention to:

First, news publishers have lost control over distribution.

Social media and platform companies took over what publishers couldnt have built even if they wanted to. Now the news is filtered through algorithms and platforms which are opaque and unpredictable. The news business is embracing this trend, and digital native entrants like BuzzFeed, Vox, and Fusion have built their presence on the premise that they are working within this system, not against it.

Second, the inevitable outcome of this is the increase in power of social media companies.

The largest of the platform and social media companies, Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and even second order companies such as Twitter, Snapchat and emerging messaging app companies, have become extremely powerful in terms of controlling who publishes what to whom, and how that publication is monetized.

There is a far greater concentration of power in this respect than there ever has been in the past.

Networks favor economies of scale, so our careful curation of plurality in media markets such as the UK, disappears at a stroke, and the market dynamics and anti-trust laws the Americans rely on to sort out such anomalies are failing.

The mobile revolution is behind much of this.

Because of the revolution in mobile, the amount of time we spend online, the number of things we do online, and the attention we spend on platforms has exploded.

The design and capabilities of our phones (thank you, Apple) favor apps, which foster different behavior.

Google did recent research through its Android platform that showed, while we might have an average of 25 apps on our phones, we only use four or five of those apps every day, and of those apps we use every day, the most significant chunk of our time is spent on a social media app. And at the moment the reach of Facebook is far greater than any other social platform.

The majority of American adults are Facebook users, and the majority of those users regularly get some kind of news from Facebook, which according to Pew Research Center data, means that around 40 percent of US adults overall consider Facebook a source of news.

Source: Facebook is eating the world


US tourists offer incense to victims of the My Lai massacre at the Son My Memorial and Museum in Tinh Khe Commune

Locals and foreign tourists commemorated the 45th anniversary of the My Lai Massacre in the central province of Quang Ngai on March 15, news website VnExpress reported Saturday.

Exactly 504 helium balloons were released into the sky in remembrance of the 504 people, mostly women and children from My Lai and My Khe hamlets of Son My village, who were killed by the US Army in a flurry of wanton bloodlust on March 16, 1968.

When the bell of the Son My Memorial and Museum in Tinh Khe Commune rang out, thousands of people bowed their heads in minute of silence dedicated to the victims. They also offered incense a Vietnamese custom to honor the dead.

Ronald Haeberle, a US photojournalist, who captured the massacre in 60 pictures he published, leading to a US government investigation into the case, also gave a presentation at the ceremony.

Upon meeting Do Ba, a man who was lucky to survive the massacre as an eight-year-old boy thanks to US soldiers who did not participate in the slaughter, Haeberle said the infamous bloodbath had always haunted him, and that he hoped that time would heal the wounds of My Lai.

Taking a group of students to Vietnam for the occasion, Professor Hirosui Fujimoto of Japan's Nanzan University, said that like Japan, Vietnam suffered tremendously from the effects of warfare and that he empathizes heavily with My Lai's pain. This trip was the fourth time Professor Fujimoto took a group of students to Vietnam.

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Along with members of Madison Quakers Inc. a US-based nonprofit organization which does philanthropic work in central Vietnam's Quang Ngai Province, including providing micro-loans to poor rural women in areas heavily affected by Agent Orange US singer Tony Brown, Fujimoto and his students awarded 30 students of Tinh Khe 1 Elementary School in Son Tinh Town with scholarships worth VND1 million each.
Forty-five years after the My Lai Massacre, the Americans who rained terror here return in an attempt to heal the wounds

Mike Boehm visits a farm in Quang Ngai Province's Son Tinh District where his charity work helps local farmers raise pigs. Many US veterans have returned to the area, known for the My Lai Massacre, to remember the people killed and to help the local poor.

Son My villagers call Mike Boehm "older brother Mike," a term of respect Boehm has earned over 15 years of visiting the area's poor doing anti-poverty charity work.

Son My Village is the location of the infamous My Lai Massacre, and though Boehm did not take part in that atrocity, he was part of the larger crime and is doing his best to repent. My Lai was the name of a smaller hamlet targeted in the village.

This March 16, the 45th anniversary of the massacre, Boehm is going to play violin at the My Lai Massacre Monument in Quang Ngai Province's Son Tinh District.

He has played the same somber melodies there on the anniversary every year since 1998.

"All of Son My's villagers are my brothers," he said.

Since 1998, Boehm has been raising money to help the needy in Quang Ngai and he comes every March to remember the My Lai Massacre.

The killings occurred on March 16, 1968 in the South Vietnamese hamlet of My Lai when men of Charlie Company opened fire on civilians during a "search and destroy" mission in My Lai and neighboring hamlets. American policy had turned large swaths of Vietnam into "free fire zones" in which American soldiers were ordered to shoot at anything that moved.

The targets of the killings were mainly old men, women and children - all unarmed - as other members of the community were working in the fields. The massacre included rapes, torture, mutilations and the murders of several babies. A photo of the My Lai Massacre taken by Ronald Haeberle on March 16, 1968

The exact toll of the massacre still remains in dispute, but US estimates suggest that between 347 and 504 unarmed citizens were massacred that day.

But what happened at My Lai was hardly an aberration. An American military official quoted by journalist Nick Turse once said there was evidence of at least "a My Lai every month for a year."

Boehm was not in Quang Ngai during the war. He was with an artillery division of the US Army based in the former Saigon's Cu Chi District.

However, he and many other Americans have returned to Vietnam in an attempt to heal the wounds of aggression that saw the world's richest country all but destroy one of the world's poorest.

Boehm has become an honorary member of the Quang Ngai Women's Association for his contributions to help poor women in Son My and other villages in the province.

Over the years, he has raised more than VND1 billion (US$48,000) in total to help poor farmers and traders in the area.

A thousand words

Another American veteran who is expected to visit this year's anniversary of the massacre is Ronald Haeberle, a former US Army photographer well-known for the tragic photographs he took of the My Lai Massacre shortly after the crime.

Haeberle cycled from HCMC to Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Vientiane before arriving in Son My to attend the ceremony.

On the day of the My Lai Massacre, he took 40 black and white photos with an Army camera and 19 color photos with his own camera.

Haeberle said when he handed the 40 black and white photos to the US Army, his superiors thought they could keep the massacre a secret.

But after journalist Seymour Hersh broke the story and Haeberle's color photos were published by Life Magazine in 1969, the images became iconic.

They were often used by the American anti-war movement to illustrate the seriousness of the Crimes Against Humanity being committed in their name in Vietnam.

Haeberle says he is still haunted by the massacre, even after becoming friends will Son My villagers during visits to the massacre site.

Company commander

Lieutenant William Calley commanded the Charlie Company during the massacre.

In 2009, more than 40 years after the massacre, the former US army officer made a public apology.

"There is not a day that goes by that I do not feel remorse for what happened that day in My Lai," former lieutenant William Calley told members of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Columbus, Georgia.

"I feel remorse for the Vietnamese who were killed, for their families, for the American soldiers involved and their families. I am very sorry."

The only person convicted in connection with the killings, although other soldiers were charged, Calley was initially sentenced to life in prison but he ended up serving three years under house arrest after President Nixon reduced his sentence.

Calley has said he would visit Son My to apologize to the villagers and ask for their forgiveness.

American teacher

Among the Americans returning to My Lai is Marjorie Nelson, a former member of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) team in Quang Ngai. She had served as a doctor at the Quaker Rehabilitation Center in Quang Ngai during the war.

During the Tet Offensive in 1968, Nelson and her friend Sandra Johnson, who was serving in Vietnam as an International Voluntary Service worker, were taken captive by the National Front for the Liberation of Southern Vietnam, known pejoratively by the Americans as "Viet Cong."

Marjorie was grateful for the care she received from her captors until her release on April 1, 1968, soon after the My Lai Massacre.

She came back to the US in 1969 and pledged that she would one day return to Son My.

Over the past several years, Nelson has come to Son My every March to teach English to local children and support a Madison Quakers' project to help the local poor.

Nelson said she looks forward to the peace she finds spending time with local children who always tell her: "come see us again next March!"
Telstra has lost about $12 billion in market value since Andy Penn stepped up as chief executive in May last year.

So you can understand he's looking to pull every lever he can to reverse the slide.

As Nokia boss, Stephen Elop entered corporate folklore with his "burning platform" memo: "We too, are standing on a 'burning platform'," he told staff. Credit:TeMaFoto Oy

A billion dollar bet on the Philippines? Sure, if there's a taker.

How about a flutter on whatever telco talent is currently floating about on the market? Other than Sol Trujillo, of course.
An overhaul of the justice system forced by the catastrophic mishandling of Masa Vukotic's killer Sean Price will continue for months after the anniversary of her death, with a high-level review into serious sex offenders unlikely to be released until after Price is sentenced for murder.

The Harper review will make further recommendations about what must be done to prevent a repeat of the failures in Price's case, and is understood to back changes which are even more radical than those already implemented.

Masa Vukotic.

Price was on bail and on a serious sex offender supervision order when he stabbed Ms Vukotic to death in a Doncaster park on March 17 last year. Thursday is a year to the day since she died.
Motorists endured a second consecutive morning of chaos after a car rollover and two truck breakdowns brought traffic to a standstill on the West Gate Freeway.

It took motorists 70 minutes to travel 13 kilometres from the Western Ring Road at Laverton North to the West Gate Freeway at Montague Street in Port Melbourne on Thursday morning.

The chaos coincided with the second day of the Tulla Widening Project on the Bolte Bridge, hardly reassuring for motorists who will have to endure the major road works for the next year-and-a-half.

However, the state government has ruled out providing any compensation for motorists through toll reductions.
Former Education Minister Bronwyn Pike has again been snared in phone taps, agreeing to secretly "chew the fat" over drinks with two ex department officials accused of corruption.

On the final day of a four week anti-corruption hearing, an explosive recording was played of embattled former education department deputy secretary Darrell Fraser arranging drinks with Ms Pike and former acting secretary Jeff Rosewarne.

"These things are horrible and there's a bigger story, but we're friends," the former Labor MP told Mr Fraser in the 2014 recording.

"We should get together and chew the fat but we'll probably have to do it fairly surreptitiously."
New York: A spreading scandal over the mysterious electronic theft of $US81 million ($109 million) from Bangladesh's official account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York prompted the governor of that country's central bank to resign, and three of his subordinates were fired.

They were the first political casualties since the theft came to light this month, when news reports from the Philippines said unidentified hackers using official electronic bank messaging technology had diverted the money in early February. Most or all of the stolen money, one of the biggest electronic heists in history, is thought to have been transferred to accounts in the Philippines.

Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman told reporters he resigned "out of my moral responsibility" for waiting too long to tell the government of the theft. Credit:AP

The Bangladesh central bank governor, Atiur Rahman, a widely respected economist who resigned on Tuesday, appeared to be caught by surprise by the scandal. It seems he learned of the theft only from Philippines news reports about a money-laundering investigation there. Last week he threatened to sue the New York Fed, a critical global financial gateway that holds the deposits of many foreign central banks.
Brussels: Belgian prosecutors have named a 35-year-old Algerian as the man shot dead by police during Tuesday's raid on a Brussels apartment while two other people remain on the run.

Police found an Islamic State flag in the apartment while searching for clues to the bloody attacks in Paris last November. The flat was used by Mohamed Belkaid and two others suspected of being with him after officers were met with a barrage of automatic-weapons fire as they arrived to search the flat.

Belkaid, who was living in Belgium illegally and had a police record for theft but was not on security watch lists, was killed by a special forces sniper after a three-hour siege. A manhunt for the two other suspects continued on Wednesday.
The recruitment of more Indigenous doctors and medical professionals is a big challenge facing regional health, students from Australia's rural medical society say.

Representatives from Australia's 28 rural health student societies met this week in Canberra to talk about the future of rural and remote health.

ANU students Danielle Dries and Rebecca Irwin. Credit:Rohan Thomson

With a focus on the demands ageing, chronic disease and mental health will place on their work in the future, the students agree that both technology and multi-disciplinary teams have huge roles to play in rural health.

For ANU medical student and Kaurna woman Danielle Dries, one of the most significant challenges is the lack of Indigenous medical professionals, about 1800 people short of equal representation in the Australian population.
Australia has the third biggest fintech sector in Asia-Pacific after Japan and China, with a bigger focus on business lending than most, but it is still a tiny part of the nation's finance market.

Per capita, however, New Zealand has been a more enthusiastic adopter, with $60 per head of population compared to just $14 per person in Australia coming from alternative finance.

Ian Pollari, partner and national sector leader banking, KPMG: "Australia's alternative funding sector has grown faster than in the UK and the US." Credit:Ryan Stuart

In its first look at the region, KPMG and University of Sydney Business School's annual fintech report found Australia's "alternative finance" sector provided total funding of $US348.37 million ($466 million) in 2015, just short of Japan's $US360 million.

The report is also supported by University of Cambridge and China's Tsinghua University.
The corporate regulator is promising a "very thorough" investigation into CommInsure after the recent scandal at the insurer, as it also probes whether there are deeper systemic problems in the life insurance industry.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission deputy chairman Peter Kell also left open the possibility of a review into CommInsure's files covering several years, separately the bank's own commitment to backdate recent changes to policy definition so they apply to all claim events from 2014 onwards.

A joint investigation between BusinessDay's Adele Ferguson and ABC's 4 Corners last week revealed doctors in the bank being pressured to change their assessments of customers to avoid payouts; delaying payouts to terminally ill customers; and a refusal to honour claims to former staff who were medically retired.

It was also revealed the bank denied some insurance claims based on out of date definitions of heart attacks and severe rheumatoid arthritis.
Australia's political leaders must have the "courage to lay out" long-term plans to secure the country's long-term prosperity, says the main lobby group representing the nation's biggest businesses.

Business Council of Australia president and Telstra chairman Catherine Livingstone said government should focus on reform that would make a genuine difference rather than a "laundry list".

"A really crucial role of government is to set context," Ms Livingstone said.

"When you lay out a strategy over time you don't have to do everything on day one ... I think governments need to have the courage to lay out that longer term plan and work towards it, otherwise it looks like there isn't a plan and that's very damaging."
It is one of the twice-told tales of the music business: Decades ago, Michael Jackson received some sound investment advice from Paul McCartney.

Back in the early 1980s, McCartney showed his friend a notebook full of songs he owned, by artists like Buddy Holly. The real money, McCartney suggested, was in music publishing, the side of the business that deals with the songwriting rights for big catalogues of songs. As McCartney himself has told it, Jackson perked up and said, "I'm gonna buy your songs."

Almost seven years after Michael Jackson's death, Paul McCartney's financial advice has helped the singer's estate clear its last financial obligation. Credit:Afro Newspaper/Gado

He did. And it was the smartest deal Jackson ever made.

In 1985, Jackson bought the ATV catalogue, which included 251 Beatles songs, along with a few thousand others, for $US47.5 million. It proved to be Jackson's most valuable asset, helping to finance a lavish lifestyle even as Jackson's own musical career reached a low point in the years before his death in 2009.
Dick Smith-branded product is being left on the shelf in the chain's fire sale, as shoppers opt for the security of the big brand electronics such as Samsung and LG.

Staff report they are already battling to sell Dick Smith home brand stock despite big discounts and it's only going to get tougher with $1.8 million worth of Dick Smith televisions expected to hit stores in coming weeks.

The home brand televisions have been stranded in Dick Smith's warehouses since the chain collapsed in early January and a dispute erupted with the manufacturer, Chinese company Shenzhen MTC, which demanded the return of the stock over fears it would not get paid.

Dick Smith's receiver Ferrier Hodgson claims it will honour Dick Smith's "cash-back" promise for purchases made after January 5 for up to 12 months, including replacement or refund for any faulty items and it said funds would be retained to meet this obligation.
Any moves to water down scrutiny of the Australian Taxation Office is being strongly resisted by tax and small-business lobby groups, and some government ministers.

A federal inquiry is examining whether the Australian Taxation Office suffers from too much scrutiny.

Bronwyn Bishop says it is up to Parliament how much scrutiny the ATO faces. Credit:Andrew Meares

Liberal MP Bronwyn Bishop said it was not up to the ATO how much scrutiny it faced from Parliament.

Given the ATO's role was to collect money and this affected people's lives, Parliament should continue to scrutinise the agency, Mrs Bishop said.
Two Sydney workers who were paid just $10 an hour are among a group of employees who have been backpaid more than $50,000 after the Fair Work Ombudsman helped settle their pay disputes.

An 18-year-old receptionist who worked for a business in Redfern was short-changed $8100. Her co-worker, a 39-year-old administrative assistant, was underpaid $6400. Both were entitled to more than $17 an hour.

The Fair Work Ombudsman intervened after their efforts to settle the dispute had failed.

The business has reimbursed all outstanding entitlements to both employees.
A second uncomfortable truth is that these problems are acute within particularly ethnic groups. Yet we struggle to even have a sensible conversation about this. The weekend violence was perpetrated by a gang known as Apex, which is predominantly made up of people from Sudanese and Pacific Islander backgrounds, with members from caucasian, Afghan and Indian descent also in the mix.

You can argue the toss about the root causes. Unemployment, low levels of education, trauma experienced in their countries of origin, drugs and alcohol or just old fashioned boredom could all be part of the explanation. As Southern Metro Assistant Police Commissioner Bob Hill put it: "They're disengaged with their family, their community; they're disengaged with their family values, their community values and their faith."

What is more difficult is offering up a solution. A common criticism has been that police have been reluctant to target particular groups through fear of being labelled racists. Victoria Police now follow a system where receipts are issued to people who are stopped for questioning in particular areas. This followed a civil action settled three years ago for $3 million in which African youths from Flemington were found to have been unfairly targeted and harassed by police.

Accusations of racial targeting flared again last month with the leak of a federal cabinet document warning Australia's "extremism landscape" had been significantly influenced by the refugee intake.The document singles out Lebanese people who migrated to Australia under the humanitarian program over the 15 years to 1990, stating that most had come from "the poorer and uneducated Lebanese Muslim population". That too prompted outrage, with claims it was vilifying the Muslim community and undermining efforts to maintain social cohesion.

At this point, I think we need a distinction between racial profiling (targeting individuals solely on the basis of race, religion or appearance) and what you might call targeted policing, where particular groups and behaviour are identified as high risk. As the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's John Coyne and Anthony Bergin argued last month, it needs to be applied on the basis of logic, not fear.
So you can imagine my dismay when I was told I'd scraped through with a raw score of 25. Not so good at it, hey?

In years 7 to 10 I was encouraged to pursue the language, as I was constantly top of the class. Throughout year 12 I was also consistent. That is, consistently "satisfactory" or "good" in my SAC scores, and my teacher kept reassuring me that a mere "good" at my privileged school was probably "very good" at someone else's.

Maybe I kept at it because the promise was that if I carried on with Chinese to the end of year 12, I'd get to go on the China trip in year 11. However, I honestly believe I was so persistent because I was good at it. Or so I thought.

I liked learning Chinese at school. It was a challenge, one that I persevered with all the way through to the end of year 12.

It's all about that darned bell curve. Until the system figures out another way to rank students perhaps not even against but with each other, the number of students who are willing to compete against others who are miles ahead of them will continue to dwindle.

Australian students don't study Chinese in large numbers, but this is not due to laziness as Jane Orton suggested on these pages this week . Like anything in life, who wants to work hard at something if you already know the reward is less than satisfactory?

No matter how hard I practised those four tones, no matter how many pieces of paper I stuck on the shower recess to help memorise characters, no matter how many oral classes I had a week, there was no way I was going to do better than Xiao Ming who had been spoken to in Chinese since birth, but somehow the school system still considered Chinese to be her second language.

The problem is not with the teachers, the problem is not with the laziness of Australian students (a large generalisation), the problem lies, as Orton pointed out, in the lack of filtering between genuine second-language learners and those who have already had extended exposure to the language and culture.

I had to go to China and be engulfed by the food, sights and history to grasp the culture and understand Chinese people, whereas there were a dozen kids in our year level, even that of the year below, who we were ranked against, and who would go home and speak the language to their parents while they ate traditional jiaozi for dinner. That's not being racist, it's merely factual. My 20 hours of Chinese a week (four hours at school, 16 at home) couldn't compare to that.
The world is full of bright young people building spiffy websites and nifty apps. They're skipping the stability of traditional employment to code in cafes and co-working spaces. But they're probably not doing it in Sydney.

World Economic Forum research found that young Australians were poorly prepared for the digital economy, and faced intense labour market uncertainty. Fewer young people want to work for a start-up than in any other country surveyed  a mere 3.8 per cent.

Negative gearing changes have been rejected by most investors, according to a poll. Credit:Photo: Jim Rice

Who can blame them for choosing a nice, safe bank job in expensive, uncertain Sydney? Starting a business can mean years of earning almost nothing, and just surviving in this city is fiendishly expensive, let alone funding a house big enough for kids.

I don't know many successful Australian tech entrepreneurs  presumably there are a few who haven't moved overseas yet? But when we left uni 20 years ago, lots of my cohort had a go at becoming artists, musicians, writers and comedians  equally risky propositions. Many of them are still thriving today.
Historian John Bradley Hirst was a scholar of incisive intelligence and originality, never satisfied with conventional wisdom; a public commentator and controversialist of strong civic conscience; and a gifted teacher and generous colleague who remained steadfast in his calling.

He cared little for honours and awards, and rejected all invitations to become a professor. Yet he served terms as head of his department at La Trobe University and editor of the leading journal, Historical Studies. He did much more than his share of examining theses, reading manuscripts, promoting shared endeavours and otherwise sustaining the academic enterprise.

Hirst had attended Unley High School before studying at the University of Adelaide, where he completed an honours degree in the department headed by Hugh Stretton. Having abandoned an earlier plan to enter the Methodist ministry, he began doctoral studies in history. His thesis, later published as Adelaide and the Country (1973), traced the history of a city-state he likened to ancient Athens.

In 1968 he followed one of his Adelaide mentors, Allan Martin, to a lectureship at Melbourne's new La Trobe University, where he remained until the end of his career. His wife and fellow-student Christine accompanied him, and they raised their children, Catherine and David, in North Balwyn before moving to Coburg after his retirement.

At La Trobe, he became a popular and innovative teacher: his course in Aboriginal history was the first in Australia and helped to stimulate a new wave of research on the subject. During the 1970s two striking essays gave notice of John's willingness to challenge academic orthodoxy. The first contested Geoffrey Blainey's assertion of The Tyranny of Distance; the second proposed a conservative version of Russel Ward's The Australian Legend, 'the pioneer legend'. Judging that further work on South Australia was unlikely to win national attention, he turned to colonial New South Wales. Convict Society and its Enemies (1983) controverted the common view that the penal system was brutal and oppressive; Robert Hughes' dark and brooding evocation of The Fatal Shore was nevertheless obliged to acknowledge the force of John's argument. This book was followed by another, equally iconoclastic treatment of The Strange Birth of Colonial Democracy (1988).

Here and in later studies, Hirst rejected the then-standard left-liberal version of Australian history as a popular struggle in search of national fulfilment. Thanks to its British inheritance, Australia, he insisted, did not have to fight for independence and democracy, and because the benefits of citizenship came so easily, they failed to secure an active citizenship.
Sculptor Rosalind Lemoh: Enthralled by texture and skin, surfaces and clothes. Credit:Elesa Kurtz "My dad got a Commonwealth scholarship to study medicine here at International House, and they met in the 60s," she says. "He's quite dark, and when I think back, I think that would have been so tough, really, really tough going. Even now, it's still a shock, I think, for people. They're incredible, my parents, I really love them. They're still together, they're amazing." Axe Arm, 2007, Rosalind Lemoh. Credit:Brenton McGeachie While the family had ties to the local Sierra Leone community  learning the dance, eating the food  she had never thought much about going back. But, when she had almost finished her degree at ANU, something inside her shifted.

"I didn't want to go back for a really long time, and then suddenly it became this all-important mission to see my roots," she says. A Horn and a Feather, 2015, Rosalind Lemoh. Credit:Damien Geary "It's a very mixed bag, it's complicated  you don't think you have expectations but you do." Until then, her memories of Sierra Leone had been those of a child: warm rain; watching ants carry sugar cubes across distinctively patterned bricks; sitting on her grandmother's grass-filled mattress. She travelled there with her father in 2007, when the country had settled down somewhat after a decade-long civil war.

"I think seeing my dad in his own context was really amazing," she says. He had not returned since the time of the war, when there were machine guns at every entry point. "It wasn't like that when we went  it was a time of peace, things were OK. I mean, it's still a poor country and teachers weren't getting paid, they were kind of recovering from the civil war and things were settled to a point." The trip also gave her an insight into what life must have been like for her own mother living in the regional town of Bo. "She lived there for 10 yearsShe's really, really pale with blue eyes, I think she had light brown hair. Walking down the streets of Bo when I was with my father  I'm considered white when I'm over there  and feeling all these eyes on me I kept thinking of her, because it feels like the end of the earth. Australia feels like the furthest place away." It was, she says, an important journey, both for her family and for her work. She returned in time for her honours year at art school, and although she didn't anticipate it at the time, her entire body of work shifted direction.

"My whole body of work changed to be about tools and the body and women at work, because I really noticed the women do a lot of the hard work over there, and just the physical manual labour," she says. "I think I became really interested in, I guess, the body as a socio-political artefact. My body here versus my body in Sierra Leone, all those sorts of transfers that happen, of identity, and [in] that sort of global sense as well, senses of belonging and not, and also tools and the body  tools as an extension of your body and manual effort." At the time, she was working under the sculptor Wendy Teakel, who encouraged her to think in more feminist terms, "which I'd always tried to avoid. But it just suddenly became very relevant because you realise you're a product of all these people who've done amazing things before you, and that the fight's not over". Lemoh already loved art school well before hitting her straps in her honours year, although she admits she may have had "a few ratty years" working under Michael Le Grand and Teakel. "I think the thing in Canberra is there's a no bullshit approach," she says.

"It's quite critical, in a good way. You can't just do piles of paper in a corner There is totally a place for conceptual work, but I think in Canberra they're pretty tough. And I think it's good for you. You really hone your skills  your critical skills as well as your physical skills." In other words, she entered art school as one person, and came out someone else. It was during that time that she met her husband, Damien Geary. The two now have a two-year-old son, Roman. His birth, on the first day of 2014, turned out to be the harbinger of the second shift in her practice. Like many artists, she was apprehensive about having a baby  afraid, perhaps, of the tiresome myth perpetuated by the British writer Cyril Connolly, who once declared, "There is no more sombre enemy of good art than the pram in the hall". Two years on, Lemoh is happy to report that the myth was entirely unfounded, but there are still good reasons for creative types to have pause when it comes to kids. "I don't know if it is still a stigma, but it is tough being female and an artist," she says.

"There are a lot of female sculptors, but there is a real male aspect to it, especially in the metalworking aspect, and with the added layer of motherhood, I was really apprehensive." But in the months after Roman's birth, it was Teakel who told her that the time immediately after a baby is born can be a highly creative period. "That comment came at a really good time, and I thought, you can do this!" Lemoh says. "And I thought, when you have to fight hard to do something, you realise how much you want to do it. If you've had no sleep and it's 11.30pm and you know you've got an hour, you think, I could sleep, but I'm actually going to do my work because I have to. It kind of gives you some resolve that's kind of comforting, which also was unexpected." Having a child has also changed the tone of her work, with pathos and melancholy creeping into her brass figures and vegetable casts almost without her realising.

Not that it's easy to articulate; like many artists, Lemoh balks at having to describe her own work. "I find it so hard to answer that question, because your practice is this huge universe of stuff," she says. "I do a lot of casting, and I'm coming out of a fruit and vegetable phase at the momentI'm really interested in light work and industrial objects. And text and, I guess, memory as well." When it comes to casting  creating silicone rubber moulds to replicate objects or parts of the body  she's enthralled by texture and skin, surfaces and clothes, relating the natural world to the human body. She says she'd love to create more works on a large-scale, but she doesn't have the time or space, although there is currently a life-sized deer in her garage. She admits she has a love-hate relationship with her own work.

"Some things I just can't stand to look at any more," she says. "I think it's that critical mind thing, and also it is healthy because you need to be critical of your work, and for me, I'm always looking at the next thing, which is a blessing and a curse. I'm always looking at how I can do things better or what didn't work before  just constant improvements." She says the only reason her works are on display in her own home is that she's still making up her mind about them. "My process has really changed since having a kid, a baby," she says. "Time is at a premium now. Before, you could spend eight hours looking at something and just thinking about it. But now, you've got to fit in."

It's why her decision to travel to London for an art fair recently was such a dilemma. It's a good thing she did, though, because the trip has brought on the third seismic shift in her work. She has been ruminating some time on how best to push her work beyond the relative confines of Canberra. "I've been looking for opportunities, and I've been looking at Sydney and Melbourne and I thought stuff it, let's see what's further," she says. A small piece was accepted into a show in New York, and this gave her the momentum to cast the net even wider. When she heard about an upcoming independent arts fair, ArtRooms London, she sent off an application. Hers was selected, and she received an invitation to display her works in the rooms of a posh hotel near Regents Park with 79 other artists from 33 countries. During her period of soul-searching  it would cost so much to get herself and her work there, she would have to leave Roman behind for a week  it was her mother who put her in the right frame of mind.

"She said, 'It's a taste of the world stage, and if nothing else, you could taste that for a few days, and isn't that why you go?' " And so, what was it like? "London changed everything!" Lemoh says, emphatically. She sold four of the 10 works she shipped over  and received several inquiries on one of the sold items  and made dozens of new contacts. But, most importantly, she realised for the first time that her work had a place in the worldwide art market.

"I think I saw what maybe a healthier, richer arts ecosystem looks like," she says. "I think people can survive more there, because there's more people buying, more galleries, more money, more critical mass than Australia. But it's neither here nor there; I love Canberra, I love living here, so I don't think that would change that, but it was a real eye-opener." She wasn't sorry to come home. Rather, she realised that she could create a business model for her work that didn't just involve toiling away in isolation on the other side of the world and putting together exhibitions in local galleries. "The other thing about London was that real sense of the market. I got a real feel that this is a thriving market, and it's a market, it's not just about, 'oh, that was a really well-executed exhibition'," she says. "The concepts are really interesting, but the money side of things? Not that it was a dominating thing, but, you know how in The Wizard of Oz when they say, 'You aren't in Kansas any more'? I kind of got that feeling  this is a totally different kind of world, and it's a serious world! And it exists!"

When she came home, Roman barely even registered that she'd been away, but Lemoh felt like she'd entered a new phase. There was a time when she thought finding a gallery to represent her was the ultimate goal for an artist, but now, post-London, she isn't so sure. "I think you can do a lot online, and there are a lot of examples of people having practices that they're living off through selling it online," she says. "I think there are possibilities." In the meantime, though, she's working towards a solo exhibition that opens at ANCA Gallery in April and is heading to the Tokyo International Art Fair in May.
Had the noted writer William Shakespeare been the author of the Indiana Jones saga, he might have offered this on the news that the iconic character is returning for a fifth instalment: once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.

But can Harrison Ford, who will be turning a sprightly 77 when the proposed fifth Indiana Jones film is released in July 2019, properly rekindle the magic which surrounds a character he created for Raiders of the Lost Ark, when he was just 39 years old?

Or will he have to wield his whip in one hand and a walking stick in the other?
The theatre is even more appropriate for being a home to musical theatre, drama, operetta and rock concerts  all the domains of English, who died a week ago at the age of 66.

Jon English to be farewelled in a theatre he knew so well

The singer, songwriter and actor's family have released details of a service to be conducted, most appropriately, in the Capitol Theatre, Sydney, where the English-born, western Sydney-raised English first appeared as Judas in a now famous production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Jon English will be farewelled at a public memorial service on Monday, April 4.

The open invitation to the entertainment industry and fans asks everyone to "come celebrate Jon's life with tributes and performances in memory of Jon", at the theatre in Campbell Street, Haymarket at 4.30pm, for a 5pm start.

English, 66, died last week after suffering complications while undergoing surgery.

Friends of the Pirates of Penzance star confirmed he suffered complications from an aortic aneurysm during routine surgery.

English was in the middle of an Australian tour but cancelled his Newcastle show scheduled for last Sunday "on the advice of his doctors", citing ill health.

It is understood English had been unwell for several weeks, with a photo posted to his Facebook page in February showing the rocker in hospital due to "unexpected ill health".
Standing on the elaborately dressed stage at the Princess Theatre, four little girls are a little starstruck.

Dressed in matching school uniforms Dusty Bursill, Tiana Mirra, Alannah Parfett and Ingrid Torelli are all playing the role of Matilda in the Royal Shakespeare Company's smash hit musical, based on the beloved children's book by Roald Dahl, and they've just set eyes on the scruffy-haired man responsible for the songs they're singing, Tim Minchin.

Musical director Tim Minchin with Matilda cast members (from left) Dusty Bursill, Tiana Mirra, Alannah Parfett and Ingrid Torelli. Credit:Michael Dodge

"I haven't met you yet," says Minchin, reaching down to give the girls, aged between 9 and 11, a hug. He wrote the music and lyrics for the Tony and Laurence Oliver Award-winning musical, first performed at Stratford-upon-Avon in 2010.

"Did you all go to Sydney? he asks.
Jonny Donahoe looks like a stagehand as he joins the audience before starting his performance in Every Brilliant Thing.

Until March 20

Watching Every Brilliant Thing, I didn't realise it was fiction. Jonny Donahoe's performance  in the play he wrote with Duncan Macmillan, who wrote Lungs that's (now at the Melbourne Theatre Company)  comes from such truth and honesty that I thought Sherlock Bones was a real dog.

And I believed that a seven-year-old boy began his list of "brilliant things worth living for" after his mother's first suicide attempt.

From the UK's Paines Plough company for new plays, this solo work (directed by George Perrin) has toured the UK and to New York, Perth and New Zealand.

With a hairline that ages him and wearing badly-fitting beige pants and an old navy-blue shirt, Donahoe looks like a stagehand as he gives pieces of paper to the audience. With the house lights staying on, he unexpectedly begins his story  never telling us his name  about his mother's depression, his list and his depression.
Australian television has love affairs with its actresses. The chosen ones find themselves hotly in-demand. They star in successive productions, enjoying steady work in a profession that's notoriously fickle. They become the go-to gals for producers and network executives; they smile from magazine covers; they win awards. Lisa McCune had substantial run as the object of this adoring gaze, as did Sigrid Thornton, and Rebecca Gibney has proven an enduring passion. Now it's Marta Dusseldorp's turn as TV's leading lady.

If not unprecedented, it's certainly exceptionally rare for an actress to be starring in two drama series screening in the same year on different networks, while also appearing in a key supporting role in a third. Yet that's the happy place that the statuesque, 43-year-old mother of two finds herself in.

Janet King, the ABC's legal drama series spun-off from 2011's Crownies, in which she plays the title character, a senior Crown prosecutor in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), is set to screen its second, eight-part season.
The producers of I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! reportedly declined warnings from animal welfare groups that they were using cubs from the hunting trade while filming.

Network Ten was forced to defend itself this week after charity Campaign Against Caged Hunting (CACH) claimed the five-week-old white lion cub used in episode 10 was a victim of the wildlife trafficking trade.

CACH is the same organisation for which contestant Dean Geyer was competing and would have been the benefactor of the show's $100,000 prizemoney if the Glee star had won.
The first couple up are Melbourne based fitness instructors Tim and Jackie. These two couldn't be more Australian if you stapled a slab of VBs to their heads and asked them to sing Waltzing Matilda. Gold Coast couple Jason, who rides and works with motorbikes, and Michelle, mother of two young kids, are among those trying to salvage their relationships on the reality show Seven Year Switch. Credit:Seven It's clear from the moment we see him that Tim is a garbage monster and Jackie would be better off without him. Jackie says their two biggest problems are: 1) Tim's problems with intimacy, and 2) Doing all the work for their joint business while he lounges around. Gold Coast couple Jason, who rides and works with motorbikes, and Michelle, mother of two young kids, are among those trying to salvage their relationships on the reality show Seven Year Switch. Credit:Seven

Tim admits sometimes doing bad things "just to get a rise out of her" and I throw my shoe at the television and imagine that it is actually hitting Tim in his stupid face. Both agree that if this so-called social experiment doesn't fix all the problems in their relationship they won't last as a couple. I am dumbfounded. Gold Coast couple Ryan, an electrician, and Cassie, a stay-at-home mum, are among those trying to salvage their relationships on the reality show Seven Year Switch. Credit:Seven We are introduced to couple number two, Brisbane duo Brad and Talena. We see a cute montage of photos and a photo shoot as we are told that the two met on Tinder and are now engaged to be married. So apparently the wedding has already been postponed once due to "stress, time and money", but it is supposed to take place in a matter of months.

Jackie and Tim, fitness trainers from Melbourne. Credit:Seven Talena is upset that Brad is happy to spend large amounts on a TV and his car but won't allocate enough funds to their nuptials. She says Brad's priorities are: 1) Golf. "I really love golf", says Brad; 2) His car; 3) Squishy, their bird. Jo Lamble, a clinical psychologist specialising in relationship therapy, is one of the two counsellors on the show. Credit:Jeremy Greive "I'm fourth to a bird," moans Talena. To be fair it does look like an awesome bird.

Both agree that taking part in this show is a last ditch effort to salvage their bond and if it doesn't work that will be the end of them as a couple. The psychologists infer that Brad and Talena don't communicate enough. Good thing they'll soon have two weeks to not communicate at all because they'll be living with other people. The whole thing starts to make me feel a bit sick. The relationship experts check in on Tim and Jackie and immediately note that their house looks like a warehouse. It is clear that there is no separation between the couple's work and romantic lives. This is a big red flag. Jackie talks about how, despite being business partners, she does all the work while Tim lies on the floor and plays with the dog. "Sometimes I'll be on the phone with a client and he'll be in the background growling like a dog," she says. Tim agrees these things are true.

Peter the psychologist explains that their opposing "larrikin" and "workaholic" personalities are creating friction in their relationship. The shrinks ask how they're feeling about the social experiment. Jackie says she trusts Tim but will be very jealous and angry if he is affectionate with his "experimental partner". Tim grins. s. Next we meet couple three, Jason and Michelle, described by the narrator "a family in trouble". The couple, who have two young children, explain how they used to have heaps of fun and we are shown photos of them doing exactly that. Jason says he wants them to be like that again, and Michelle shuts him down cold saying not that person any more, that she's changed too much. They both agree that their relationship is on the precipice and hope that this show will patch up their damaged love.

Enter the therapists. They all talk about how Jason works too much and how Michelle is consumed by motherhood and Peter wisely notes that these two people are leading completely separate lives . The therapists are doing lots of head nodding and looking concerned, as if they're not about to lead these two people into a complete clusterf--k of partner swapping and bad ideas. When asked what the biggest problem in their relationship is, Michelle says "Me". She says she used to be "the life of the party" but has lost all sense of who she is. She starts crying. And finally we get to couple number four, Ryan and Cassie from the Gold Coast.

Cassie explains that she has a daughter from a previous relationship and that together she and Ryan have an 11-month-old daughter . Cassie also explains that she is currently parenting one more child, as Ryan "hasn't quite grasped the concept of being an adult." "I hate doing what everyone else does," says Ryan as we see him, a fully grown man, riding a skateboard Cassie says she craves stability but Ryan's big plan is to win a bunch of money playing keno. The mood darkens as it is explained that Ryan and Cassie lost a child at birth, and again it's hard not to uncomfortable about the invasion of privacy and intimacy .

Cassie lays it all out: "The passion between us has definitely dwindled. He's basically a roommate. We sleep in the same bed but nothing's been happening." The shrinks ask the couple what they want to get out of this and Ryan says, "I just want my wife to fall in love with me again". It's time for everyone to pair up. Peter explains that each person will be paired with someone relatively like-minded, which will apparently make them let their guard down and be more open to change. Tim and Talena are paired together because apparently they're both easy going. Brad and Jackie are paired in the hope that Brad's impulsive nature will appeal to workaholic Jackie.

Ryan is with Michelle because allegedly she will be drawn to his "youthful energy". And Jason and Cassie are to cohabit because they're both logical and practical. We see vignettes of everyone packing and talking about how nervous they all are. Each couple discusses rules and boundaries. Talena: "Are we allowed to hug them?" Brad: "I'd rather a fist bump."

Brad doesn't want Talena to celebrate her birthday at all because he won't be there. Surely it's her party and she can celebrate if she wants to. Jackie is excited about the show but doesn't want Tim to drink because he gets too loose . There then takes place a long discussion about whether or not Tim is allowed to have spas with his experimental partner. Jackie is adamant that zero spas are to take place during their estrangement, but Tim is having none of it. How else is he supposed to unwind at the end of a long day if he can't have a spa with the stranger he is living with? Jackie also lays down the law about physical touching and romance, demanding, "You have to treat her exactly the same as you treat me. If you treat her better than me you're gonna be in the shit when you get home. I'll be f--ken angry let me tell you."

I have no idea how these two humans ever got together in the first place. Michelle is petrified at being away from her children (who will apparently be cared for by a grandfatherly looking person called "Poppy'') but doesn't seem phased about leaving Jason. After scenes showing pretty much everyone crying, we now see four of them being driven to their temporary homes. Tim says "Hopefully she's easy going like me. Maybe she'll try to hit on me" as if more than one woman on the planet could possibly be into him. He arrives at his new house and thankfully there's a spa there.
Iran's Foreign Minister says Australia's treatment of asylum seekers, thousands of whom are Iranian, is "unconscionable".

Mohammed Javad Zarif wrapped up his historic tour of the Pacific and south-east Asia in Canberra on Wednesday, saying constant criticisms of Iran's human rights record failed to recognise Iran's own concerns about other countries.

In an extended interview with the ABC's Lateline program, Dr Zarif targeted Australia's treatment of asylum seekers, hundreds of whom languish in detention on offshore detention camps.
A resurgent trend of "might makes right" has settled over vulnerable waters in the South China Sea, the commander of the US Pacific fleet has warned.

Speaking in Canberra on Wednesday, Admiral Scott Swift did not name China directly in a prepared speech, but was critical of "some nations" and what he called "unprecedented examples of aggressive construction and militarisation" on disputed territory.

China has been sharply criticised in the past year after dredging sand to build artificial islands at what had previously been coral atolls.

Admiral Swift warned a climate of uncertainty had been created by "thousands of acres of reclaimed land with newly constructed barracks, deep-water ports, extended runways, high power radars, surface-to-air missiles and squadrons of naval aircraft".
Top Centrelink bosses have hung up on the public, putting their office phone numbers and email addresses under wraps.

The move came after one customer of the welfare agency went public with how he bypassed Centrelink's notorious customer service system to contact high ranking public servants directly.

But Centrelink's parent department, Human Services, says it is "not practical" for its senior bureaucrats to take phone calls from members of the public.

Melbourne university student Tom Wade struck a note with the public in January when he shared his simple formula for getting through to Centrelink by using the Australian Government Directory to take his issues directly to senior officials.
Ethanol producer Manildra secured 20 meetings with NSW ministers and donated more than $160,000 to the Coalition in a ferocious lobbying effort before the introduction of new laws set to benefit the company, but which critics say will increase petrol prices by as much as 8 cents a litre.

Diary disclosures reveal Manildra representatives including chairman Dick Honan secured the meetings in the 15 months before cabinet backed changes to require small petrol retailers to sell an ethanol blend, E10, for the first time.

Premier Mike Baird and Energy Minister Anthony Roberts met with Manildra before last year's election. Credit:Edwina Pickles

They show Premier Mike Baird and Energy Minister Anthony Roberts met with Manildra on February 24 last year, shortly before the March 28 state election, after the company poured $35,000 into NSW Liberal Party coffers duringthe previous nine months.

Mr Roberts had four other meetings with Manildra before the election  one of which saw him take a tour of an ethanol plant  and one immediately afterwards.
Former federal minister Mal Brough has described some indigenous communities as "hellholes worse than Mad Max" and says people should be encouraged to leave them.

Mr Brough was the indigenous affairs minister in the Howard government when it staged its Northern Territory intervention and says towns like Aurukun will continue to be places of despair without the right action, including proper jobs.

Former indigenous affairs minister Mal Brough. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"We give so many people the option to do nothing. (But they've got) a good four-wheel drive, a tinny to go fishing," he told The Courier-Mail.

Mr Brough made the comments while discussing a recently released report that found a "deeply shocking" prevalence of sexual abuse and violence in Aurukun and West Cairns.
Dreyfus at Sydney's Arts Health Institute conference on Monday. During the lecture, Facebook censored her account. Credit:Ella Dreyfus While the photo, chosen specifically for its androgyny, appeared to pose no problems, a follow-up post featuring a screengrab of the earlier banned photo saw the artist slapped with the 24-hour ban on Wednesday afternoon. The ban comes after Aboriginal rights activist Celeste Liddle and some of her supporters, including Dreyfus, were censored by Facebook for posting an image of Aboriginal women with painted chests and bare breasts engaged in a cultural ceremony in the desert. Two Aboriginal women at a Northern Territory public ceremony, published by New Matilda. Credit:Chris Graham, At Large Media The image illustrated Liddle's transcript of her International Women's Day speech, which focused in part on Indigenous voices in feminism and gender equality and was published by the website New Matilda.

By showing naked breasts, the image reportedly "violated community guidelines by posting nudity or material of a sexually suggestive nature". A report in the Sydney Morning Herald on Dreyfus' work in 1999. A gay kiss, nude drawings and breastfeeding mothers have all been struck by the same unforgiving rules. "We remove photographs of people displaying genitals or focusing in on fully exposed buttocks," reads Facebook's Community Standards page. "We also restrict some images of female breasts if they include the nipple, but we always allow photos of women actively engaged in breastfeeding or showing breasts with post-mastectomy scarring. We also allow photographs of paintings, sculptures and other art that depicts nude figures." The first image, which was removed from Facebook. Credit:Ella Dreyfus, Age and Consent, A1999, Gelatin Silver photograph, courtesy of the artist

Dreyfus' social experiment raised the question of why some images of breasts were deleted while others, such as the possibly more male-looking, pass the test. Does Facebook use some kind of nipple-detection software  and if not, how is human bias such as ageism avoided, she asked. "We use automation to make sure that our reviewers are focused on reviewing what really needs to be reviewed," a Facebook spokesman told Fairfax via email. The second Dreyfus image uploaded to Facebook. Credit:Ella Dreyfus, Age and Consent, A1999, Gelatin Silver photograph, courtesy of the artist "For instance, if 1000 people report a video right away, we will not have 1000 people review it; we will just have a couple people review it. "Similarly, if the person who posted the reported content has already voluntarily removed it, we do not need to review it. So yes, we use automation to help ensure that we are using our reviewers in the most valuable way. But at the end of the day, a lot of this work is contextual, so we have people reading the reports to make those decisions."

Those monitors "receive regular training in our policies and are responsible for reviewing reports from our community and removing content that violates our standards." The spokesman referred to Facebook's nudity policy, as laid out online: "We are aware that people sometimes share content containing nudity for reasons like awareness campaigns, artistic projects or cultural investigations. The reason we restrict the display of nudity is because some audiences within our global community may be sensitive to this type of content  particularly because of cultural background or age. In order to treat people fairly and respond to reports quickly, it is essential that we have policies in place that our global teams can apply uniformly and easily when reviewing content. As a result, our policies can sometimes be more blunt than we would like, and restrict content shared for legitimate purposes." He said that reviews are usually triggered by a user reporting questionable content, which suggests that the chest image is still up because nobody has reported it  and that the hands image may have been reported by one of Dreyfus' friends, a theory she considers unlikely. He added that the number of reports is insignificant, meaning just one transgression of Facebook standards is enough to warrant action.

"If we receive 1 million reports of content which we find to be within our standards, then that content will stay up," the spokesman said. Speaking with Fairfax Media, Dreyfus said Facebook's actions "do not bode well for the future." "It's a really beautiful, poignant image from my Age and Consent series, I had a lot of positive feedback from people who were moved by the image," she said. "It could be portrayed as being sexualised as much as any picture of a woman. What is wrong with being nude? These bodies have so much history and life in them." The images were first published in full across print media 17 years ago, she said, as she queried today's encroaching censorship from unknown decision-makers.
Neighbours of houses listed for rent on share site Airbnb will be able to lodge complaints directly to the website within the next month amid concerns short-stay rentals are creating "party houses".

The change, which was first announced in Japan earlier this week, will go live on the site later this month. Stories of bad behaviour by tenants on short-term stays in Airbnb homes - and the stress that such behaviour causes on neighbourhoods - have become commonplace from Melbourne to New Orleans.

Are you living next door to a noisy Airbnb property? Credit:iStock

"One of the most important issues facing the sharing economy is how the people choosing to take part in it co-exist with those that aren't," said Yasuyuki Tanabe, the head of Airbnb in Japan. "Our first step in this direction is to give neighbours the opportunity to comment or complain."

The feature, set to debut next month, will let neighbours enter comments in an online form. Feedback will be reviewed by Airbnb's customer support team, who will then take action as necessary. Airbnb didn't say whether the information will be made public or if the identities of neighbours will be disclosed.
A teenage boy suspected to be part of the Apex gang that rampaged through Melbourne's CBD has been arrested over a series of armed home invasions and car thefts.

The 17-year-old was arrested at home in Pakenham at 10am on Wednesday and remanded to appear in the Children's Court on Thursday.

He was charged with two counts of aggravated burglary, one count of intentionally causing injury, four counts of theft of a motor vehicle, three counts of theft, one count of handling stolen goods and one count of criminal damage. The alleged crimes happened in the south eastern and north western suburbs.
Merging the Country Fire Authority and Metropolitan Fire Brigade will not improve a poor culture in the fire services, the Andrews government has declared after it rejected a push to combine the two authorities.

As first reported by The Age, former Tasmanian Labor minister David O'Byrne's long overdue report slammed the combative and mistrusting culture of the state's two fire services, as well as the firefighters' union and volunteers' body.

The Andrews government has rejected a push to combine the Country Fire Authority and Metropolitan Fire Brigade. Credit:Justin McManus

But Mr O'Byrne's recommendation that the MFB and CFA boards be merged to oversee better governance and closer co-operation and "interoperability" between authorities was one of two recommendations Labor has rejected.
It was a hard day's commute in Melbourne and drivers heading to and from the city from the north and west are warned there is plenty more traffic chaos where that came from - 18 months more.

Wednesday marked the start of work to add an extra lane in each direction on the Bolte Bridge and one from the bridge to the West Gate Freeway through to the Burnley Tunnel.

The work is a key part of the $1.3 billion CityLink Tulla Widening project.

Drivers were furious about the extra time the roadworks added to their journey during the morning peak.
Purana taskforce detectives have joined the investigation into the murder of Joseph "Pino" Acquaro, as police confirmed the exact time the business owner and lawyer with Calabrian Mafia links was gunned down.

The Purana detectives, specialists in Melbourne gangland criminals, will join the homicide squad in the investigation into the shooting on Tuesday morning in Brunswick East.

Mr Acquaro was shot dead while walking from his Lygon Street business, Gelobar, to his black Mercedes sedan, which was parked near a side entrance to the cafe and gelataria in St Phillip Street.
Police have found a loaded gun in a house with young children during a raid on a property linked to the Bandidos outlaw motorcycle gang on Wednesday.

The anti-bikie Taskforce Echo searched eight residential properties around Geelong and Werribee, as part of a six-month investigation into the outlaw motorcycle gang's activities.

Detective Inspector Martin O'Brien said police seized four firearms, a silencer, a quantity of ammunition, drugs and cash in the early-morning raids.

He said young children were living in a home where police discovered a loaded handgun in the garage.

"Clearly of concern to use was that those handguns were ready for use," Detective Inspector O'Brien said.
Gelobar, the Brunswick East gelato bar and cafe he had closed minutes before being gunned down early on Tuesday, was searched by police later that afternoon.

Mr Acquaro's Docklands apartment and the city office of his law firm, Acquaro and Co, were searched by police on Wednesday morning.

Two properties linked with slain gangland lawyer Joseph "Pino" Acquaro have been searched by police, as homicide squad detectives continue to investigate the professional hit.

The investigation into the murder will focus on who took out a contract on the head of Mr Acquaro, who had represented a slew of gangland figures, including some linked with the Calabrian Mafia.

Court in the act: Gangland lawyer Joe "Pino" Acquaro, since murdered, leaves court with client Rocco Arico, in 2015. Credit:Courtesy Channel Nine

In mid-2015, the contract on his life was $200,000, and he was warned by police that he should improve his security.

But he ignored that advice, and continued to work both as a lawyer and at Gelobar, altering little of the routine that had made him a well-known figure within the Italian community.

The contract is believed to have been motivated by concerns that Mr Acquaro was providing information to police, that he had failed to adequately represent a former client with Mafia links in a criminal trial, and that he had fallen out with a senior mafia figure.
In an affidavit, Mr Madafferi's lawyer Paolo Tatti, revealed how police had visited Mr Madafferi to discuss the contract on Mr Acquaro's life. Lawyer Joseph Acquaro was shot dead in an East Brunswick street on Tuesday morning. Credit:Channel Nine Mr Tatti's affidavit, dated September 16, 2015, said two detectives went to see Mr Madafferi at his Noble Park supermarket on June 19, 2015. "My client requested that they move outside the shop as there were customers present, and a discussion took place in the loading bay adjacent to the shop," Mr Tatti's affidavit said. "During the discussion, which lasted no longer than a few minutes, the police said words to Mr Madafferi to the effect that they had information that there was a contract on the life of Mr Joseph Acquaro for $200,000, and that if something happened to Mr Acquaro they would know where to start looking.

"My client told the police that he knew nothing about the matter and the police then left and have not contacted him again. "I am instructed by Mr Madafferi and I believe that he was and remains extremely upset and distressed about the visit. "He denies the suggestion that he would ever engage in such conduct." Mr Tatti said Mr Acquaro had from time to time performed legal services for Mr Madafferi or his related entities. "Mr Acquaro also represented my client's brother, Francesco ["Frank"] Madafferi, in relation to charges of trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug ... until he ceased acting shortly before the trial commenced.

"I am informed by [lawyer] Mr Michael Teti [a former employee of the law firm Acquaro and Co] that in addition to acting on behalf of Francesco Madafferi in relation to this criminal matter, Mr Acquaro had business dealings with Francesco Madafferi and was a close friend of his for many years until the two had a falling out in 2013." Another member of Antonio Madafferi's legal team, lawyer Gina Schoff, QC, told the court this week that Mr Acquaro's execution-style killing meant a suppression order was now needed to protect her client's prospect of a fair trial in the civil case against The Age. Tony Madafferi is the owner of the national pizza chain La Porchetta. Credit:Jason South "One can see how highly prejudicial it would be if a juror were to learn or to think that Mr Madafferi was responsible for the death of one of Mr McKenzie's sources ... and that is what The Age will report tomorrow if ... there is carte blanche on reporting," Ms Schoff said. She said Mr Madafferi was suing The Age because he was "seeking to clear his name ... he seeks vindication".

The appearance of Mr Acquaro's "dead body" was an "extraordinary coincidence," which would make full vindication of Mr Madafferi's reputation difficult. "Here we have gunshot wounds. Yes, they could be totally unrelated but that stark coincidence, that incredible coincidence of on the one hand the $200,000 contract ... and now the murder of Mr Acquaro, it can't but fail to excite the interest of readers," Ms Schoff said. Last year Ms Schoff argued in the same court that The Age should be compelled to reveal the sources of its stories. At the time she said: "to suggest that someone might try and knock off one of [McKenzie's] sources, it's really  in our submission it's fanciful, Your Honour, absolutely fanciful". Tony Madafferi in his Noble Park store, where police visited him in June 2015. Until Mr Acquaro's murder this week, lawyers for The Age had pushed for his name to be suppressed to try to protect him. They argued that, if it was widely believed (rightly or wrongly) that he was a source, it might endanger his life. Since his death, that fear no longer applies, and The Age this week attempted to have the suppression order lifted.

Mr Madafferi changed positions and opposed that. Ms Schoff argued for her own client's statement to be suppressed because now there was "a dead body within five months of the trial". In a landmark decision in December last year involving the first test of Victoria's protection law for journalists' sources, Justice Dixon said The Age had argued the articles related to matters of significant and legitimate public interest that warranted investigation and public scrutiny. Justice Dixon did not believe the identity of The Age's sources was critical to Mr Madafferi's defamation case and dismissed his application. The defamation trial is set down to begin on August 1. Lawyer Gina Schoff said the murder of Mr Acquaro was an 'incredible coincidence'. Credit:Justin McManus Ms Schoff also suggested that, since Mr Acquaro's execution, Mr Madafferi - who originally wanted his pleas heard by a jury - might now prefer to seek vindication in front of a judge alone.
Angry words were exchanged outside Perth Magistrates Court after an 18-year-old man who allegedly kicked a security guard in the head at a Perth music festival made a brief appearance.

On February 27, it is alleged that Martin Fulton, of Hazelmere, jumped the fence into the Good Life Festival and intervened in a minor scuffle between another fence-jumper and 56-year-old security guard Michael Rigby, kicking him in the head.

At Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Mr Fulton's case was adjourned until April 13, when he will face charges of assault occasioning bodily harm and trespassing.

Outside court, Mr Rigby said only that he hoped justice would be served, but the grandfather's friend and fellow security guard Michael Riley shouted angrily at Mr Fulton and his family, who responded in kind before leaving the area.
Local Government Minister Tony Simpson has refused to confirm when his department's five-month long investigation into Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi might conclude amid new allegations she failed to declare more overseas trips to her Perth council and the Corruption and Crime Commission.

On Monday, Ms Scaffidi lost her cool with seasoned journalist Liam Bartlett after Nine News aired a story that alleged the Lord Mayor had taken several more unclaimed trips overseas, prompting her to launch a bizarre personal attack against him on social media, which included criticising his "bad breath".

The Opposition has called on the state government to release the report on her travel and conduct immediately.

Labor spokesman David Templeman said the Barnett government was taking too long to release the report and the standing of Perth lord mayor was being sullied by speculation.
Pint-sized Perth pianist Anwen Deng has become the youngest person to be accepted into the prestigious Juilliard School in New York to study piano.

Showing talent beyond her years, six-year-old Anwen, who is in Year 2 at All Saints' College, performed scores from famous composers Bach and Mozart during her audition for Juilliard School's pre-college division program in late February.

Her family learnt Anwen had been accepted into the world renowned musical art school on Saturday.

Anwen's mother Judy Qui said her daughter first showed an interest in music at just five months old when she began placing her fingers on the piano keys and enjoyed hearing the sounds.
Troy Buswell's chief of staff engaged in misconduct when she gave misleading information to a West Australian government inquiry into his 2014 car crashes, the state's corruption watchdog has found.

The former transport minister smashed his ministerial vehicle into several cars on his way home from a wedding in the early hours of February 23 that year, possibly while drunk, but Rachael Turnseck took steps to protect him from the consequences.

Troy Buswell resigned from Parliament in the wake of the incident.. Credit:Bohdan Warchomij

The Corruption and Crime Commission concluded in a report, tabled in parliament on Wednesday, that Ms Turnseck put her loyalty to Mr Buswell above her duty to the state because she knowingly and intentionally provided misleading information to an internal inquiry.

The CCC said when it first grilled Ms Turnseck on December 16 2014, she denied discussing potential damage to Mr Buswell's vehicle at any stage.
Buenos Aires: Argentina's coast guard has sunk a Chinese trawler that was fishing illegally within its territorial waters, the coast guard said on Tuesday, marking a first test for relations between recently elected President Mauricio Macri and Beijing.

In a high-seas chase, a coast guard vessel on Monday pursued the fishing vessel Lu Yan Yuan Yu 010 toward international waters, firing warning shots across the Chinese boat's bow as it attempted to raise the crew by radio.

"On several occasions, the offending ship performed manoeuvres designed to force a collision with the coast guard, putting at risk not only its own crew but coast guard personnel, who were then ordered to shoot parts of the vessel," the coast guard said in a statement.

It was not clear if the vessel sank on Monday or Tuesday.
An English pub quiz team is up in arms after its three members say they were "unfairly" banned from competing because of their winning record and age.

Nick Mepham, 49, Graham Deaves, 65, and Norman Hughan, 82, comprise "Storming Norman", which has been banned from the quiz at The Horn pub in St Albans, just outside London.

Britain's Daily Telegraph reported the trio had won 11 times in the 39 weeks from the time they started competing in the quiz in May 2015.

Mr Mephams is from Luton and Mr Deaves and Mr Hughan from Dunstable and travel the English equivalent of a few Australian suburbs on Monday nights to take part in the quiz.
A Syrian refugee has been stuck in a Turkish airport for a year, forced to live in the "Problematic Passengers Room" and constantly facing the threat of being deported to Syria, according to Amnesty International.

Fadi Mansour has been arbitrarily detained in inhumane conditions at Istanbul Ataturk Airport since March 15, 2015, the non-profit organisation claimed as it urged Ankara to release him.

Amnesty International says Syrian Fadi Mansour has been stuck at a Turkish airport for a year. Credit:Twitter

Mr Mansour apparently told relatives he was considering asking to be return to Syria because "at least there I die once and it's over, instead of dying more and more each day I spend in here".

His lawyer has urged the courts to release him from detention, where Amnesty says he has no natural light and artificial lighting is constantly on.
Senator Rubio made the announcement during a speech at his campaign headquarters in Miami after losing his home state by a large margin to Donald Trump.

Miami: Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who ran for president offering his youthful optimism and Cuban-American heritage as the embodiment of a new and more diverse generation of Republican leadership, but ultimately failed to galvanise voters in a much darker mood, said on Tuesday that he was suspending his presidential campaign.

"No, no, no," he said, interrupting the jeers. "Guys, we live in a republic and our voters make this decision. We respect this."

Republican presidential candidate Senator Marco Rubio at a rally in Miami on Tuesday. Credit:AP

Senator Rubio, 44, was felled by many of the same forces that drove other contenders from the race: a deep anger at the Republican leadership, a level of mistrust among the party's most motivated voters, a field of candidates splitting up the vote, and an inability to stop Mr Trump from exploiting all those factors.

But Senator Rubio also notably lacked what both Mr Trump and Senator Ted Cruz could boast of: victories in a string of early nominating contests. Senator Rubio carried only Minnesota, along with Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, sapping his campaign of critical energy and fuelling the perception  no matter how hard he tried  that he was incapable of winning the nomination.

He claimed to be the only candidate who could unite the Republican Party, but he could never unite enough voters behind him to persuasively make that case.
Broadway regular Kathleen McNenny (Fish in the Dark) will replace the previously announced Liz Wisan in the role of "Woman" in Manhattan Theatre Club's upcoming production of The Father. Directed by Doug Hughes and translated by Christopher Hampton, the play will run at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre beginning March 22, with opening night set for April 14.

The Father is a contemporary work about dealing with Alzheimer's. Three-time Tony Award winner Frank Langella leads the company as Andre, a retired dancer living with his adult daughter Anne and her husband. Or is he a retired engineer receiving a visit from Anne who has moved away with her boyfriend? Why do strangers keep turning up in his room? And where has he left his watch?

Joining Langella and McNenny in the company will be Kathryn Erbe (Law & Order: Criminal Intent), Brian Avers (The Lieutenant of Inishmore), Charles Borland (A Man for All Seasons), and Hannah Cabell (Grounded).

The creative team for The Father includes Scott Pask (scenic design), Catherine Zuber (costume design), Donald Holder (lighting design), Fitz Patton (original music and sound design), and Jim Steinmeyer (illusion consultant).

For more information and tickets, click here.
OAKLAND, Calif., March 15, 2016; Today, the Teamsters Union and Lyft drivers will file legal objections to a class-action lawsuit settlement which would continue to misclassify Lyft employees in California as independent contractors.

The objectors, who also plan to intervene in the lawsuit, will file their objections today in federal district court in San Francisco before Judge Vince Chhabria.

The proposed settlement results from a class-action lawsuit brought in 2013 by two Lyft drivers who sought to be recognized as employees rather than independent contractors.

"This settlement will leave Lyft's business model intact, allowing Lyft to continue to treat its current and future drivers as independent contractors, and avoid properly paying them under California law. It's unacceptable that Lyft refuses to recognize its employees, and in doing so, robs millions of workers and taxpayers in this state," said Rome Aloise, Teamsters International Vice President and President of Teamsters Joint Council 7.

The Teamsters have also filed an unfair labor practice charge with Region 20 of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in San Francisco, alleging Lyft's business practice of misclassifying drivers and its one-sided "terms of use" imposed on its drivers deprives them of rights guaranteed under federal labor law, including the right to join a union.

Under the proposed settlement, the average payment to drivers will be less than sixty dollars. Drivers who have labored for Lyft as full-time employees for several years could receive up to $1,000, still a small fraction of what they are owed as employees.

The settlement maintains Lyft's business practice of misclassifying their employees as independent contractors, which will cost workers and California taxpayers in the future. The settlement also provides for a notice to be sent to Lyft drivers that, under the settlement, they "can never sue Lyft again."

One of the objecting drivers, Kelsey Tilander, became a driver for Lyft so that he could earn a good income while staying home part-time with his daughter. Instead, Tilander said his rates have been lowered by the company five times in 18 months and he's working around the clock to make ends meet.

Tilander says he and other Lyft drivers want to have the rights and benefits of employee status now and in the future, rather than a settlement which provides for a small one-time sum and approves of Lyft's misclassification scheme.

"The settlement money isn't that big of a deal. I would rather be classified as an employee," Tilander said. "We're not covered for unemployment, workers' compensation or Social Security. I worked 48 hours last week for Lyft, but somehow I'm not an employee?"

"Everything that Lyft does indicates an employer-employee relationship, and saying otherwise is subverting responsibility in order to maximize profit," said Angelica Ferdinand, a driver for Lyft and Uber.

The settlement would also lock-in Lyft's unfair contractual terms, including terms that deprive drivers of a voice on the job; permit Lyft's retaliation against drivers who seek to advance their rights; and prohibit drivers from filing class-action claims against Lyft in the future.

"We have filed NLRB charges against Lyft because the terms and conditions it imposes on its drivers are illegal under federal labor law, and we expect the court reviewing this settlement will also recognize that fact," said Teague Paterson, attorney with Beeson, Tayer and Bodine.

In the past year, hundreds of drivers at tech companies, including Facebook, Yahoo, Apple, eBay and others in Silicon Valley, have organized with Teamsters Local 853 in San Leandro, Calif. The union has negotiated strong contracts for the drivers, including good wages, benefits and workplace protections.

"If companies like Facebook can step up to the plate and make sure drivers are treated with dignity and respect, there's no reason why Lyft and other well-known 'rideshare' companies can't do the same," Aloise said.

The Teamsters Union is part of a growing movement of labor, faith and community-based organizations and workers challenging income inequality in Silicon Valley through an innovative partnership called Silicon Valley Rising. For more information, visit http://siliconvalleyrising.org.

For more information on tech worker organizing with the Teamsters, visit http://teamster.org/tech-drivers-deserve-union.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States and Canada. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.
Toyota Public-Private Partnership to Test End-to-End Hydrogen Supply Chain













Kawasaki and Yokohama, JAPAN, Mar, 14 2016; A Japanese partnership, consisting of the Kanagawa Prefectural Government, the municipal governments of the cities of Yokohama and Kawasaki, and three private sector companies, today announced the forthcoming start of a project to implement and evaluate an end-to-end low-carbon hydrogen supply chain which will use hydrogen produced from renewable energy to power forklifts. Announced last September, the project will be carried out at facilities along Tokyo Bay in Yokohama and Kawasaki, with support from Japan's Ministry of the Environment.



Electricity generated at the Yokohama City Wind Power Plant (Hama Wing) will be used to electrolyze hydrogen that is compressed, stored, and then transported in a hydrogen fueling truck to four sites: a factory, a vegetable and fruit market, and two warehouses. At these locations, the hydrogen will be used in fuel cells to power forklifts operating in diverse conditions.



This low-carbon hydrogen supply chain is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 80 percent compared with a supply chain using forklifts powered by gasoline or grid electricity. The project's aim is to establish a hydrogen supply chain, investigate costs, and estimate potential CO2 reductions that can be achieved with a full-fledged supply chain in the future.



Project Overview



The project will involve:

1. System to produce hydrogen by electrolyzing water using wind power

2. System to optimize storage and transportation of hydrogen

3. Use of fuel cell forklifts

4. Hydrogen supply chain feasibility study



Main Characteristics of Demonstration Project



1. System to produce hydrogen by electrolyzing water using wind power



Hydrogen Production



- Hydrogen will be produced using renewable energy generated at Hama Wing to operate a water electrolysis system.

- The management system will enable flexible, CO2-free, hydrogen production that accounts for temporary discrepancies between power output and hydrogen demand.



2. System to optimize storage and transportation of hydrogen



Hydrogen Storage and Compression



- Sufficient hydrogen to power fuel cells for two days will be stored onsite.

- Electricity will also be stored in an environmentally-friendly storage battery system that re-uses batteries from hybrid vehicle batteries, thus ensuring a stable hydrogen supply even when Hama Wing is not operational.



Hydrogen Transportation



- The hydrogen will be compressed for use in forklifts, and delivered in hydrogen fueling trucks (the first of their kind to be used in Japan).

- The consumption of hydrogen by the forklifts will be constantly monitored, so as to ensure optimal transportation and supply to meet user needs.



3. Use of fuel cell forklifts



Hydrogen Utilization



- Twelve forklifts will operate at the four selected locations to demonstrate their viability in a range of operating conditions.

- Japan's first fuel cell powered forklifts, which Toyota introduced in February 2016, emit zero CO2 during operation.



4. Hydrogen supply chain feasibility study



Hydrogen costs



- The demonstration project will provide data for assessing future courses of action required to reduce hydrogen costs, including the establishment of a mass production process, and the steps needed to implement deregulation.

- It will also contribute to discussions on developing a model for promoting the adoption of hydrogen through technological innovation, and the development of full-fledged supply chains, based on projections of needs in 2030.



CO2 emissions reduction



- The project will focus on reducing CO2 emissions, with current estimates suggesting that the establishment of this low-carbon supply chain will reduce emissions by at least 80 percent (compared with a supply-chain using forklifts powered by gasoline or grid electricity).

- The project will also promote the investigation of methods to further reduce CO2 emissions.



Schedule



- Following a preparatory period, trial operations of the project are scheduled to begin in this autumn, with the introduction of a single forklift at two facilities, and the initiation of the hydrogen delivery system using hydrogen refueling trucks.

- Full-scale operations will start in FY2017, when a total of 12 forklifts will be deployed-three each at four facilities. During this time, the entire system will start operating-including production, storage, compression, delivery and use of hydrogen.







About Toyota
Conservatives werent waiting for President Obama to nominate someone to the Supreme Court; theyd launched attack ads already, and may have taken out one leading contender.

Thats righteven though the official GOP position is not to hold any hearings for any nominee, a group associated with right-wing ideologue Grover Norquist had already begun to nip at the heels of likely nominees, launching a six-figure television and digital advertising campaign in several states against appellate court judge Jane Kelly.

Seizing on Judge Kellys 17 years as a public defender, a dark-money-funded 501(c)4 group called the Judicial Crisis Network sifted through her record to find a particularly odious suspect (a former child molester indicted for possessing child pornography), and then attacked her for defending him.

Of course, thats what public defenders do: They represent defendants, including guilty ones. Indeed, thats what the Sixth Amendment, part of the Bill of Rights, guaranteesthat any criminal defendant shall have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence. For conservatives who claim to support strict readings of the Constitution, Judge Kellys exemplary service as a public defender should be a laudable, patriotic duty.

But conservatives like the Judicial Crisis Network are only strict constitutionalists when it suits their ideological desires. After all, theyre not big on the Appointments Clause, either; before judicial nominations were a crisis under Obama, the group called itself the Judicial Confirmation Network when its mission was to push George W. Bush appointees, rather than oppose Obama ones.

It looks like the groups nasty ads had already worked.

Judge Kelly reportedly missed the final cut on Obamas short list, according to unnamed White House sources who spoke to The New York Times. Early Wednesday, word came that D.C. Appeals Court Judge Merrick Garland was the nominee, beating out Judges Sri Srinivasan and Paul Watford for the seat left vacant by Antonin Scalia. Still, given that Judge Kelly was confirmed 96-0 in 2013, is a judicial moderate, and hails from Iowa, the home state of Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (who has praised Kelly in the past), its surprising that she was out of the running.

Of course, who knows why Kelly has been removed from consideration. It could be anything: other defendants she defended, political considerations (if President Obama is going to lose, he may prefer to lose with a non-white nominee), or any number of unknown factors. Obama might even be saving Judge Kelly to be nominated later, as a compromise. We will likely never know.

But pre-emptive attacks on potential nominees are unprecedented on many levels. First, until the last few years, judicial nominations were not run like political campaigns. Of course, horse-trading and politics have played a role in high-level nomination battles since the republic was founded. But only in the last decades have 501(c)4s, 527s, super PACs, and the other mutant spawn of Citizens United invested millions in advertising and lobbying to back candidates for judgeships.

Second, there has never been a wave of televised attack ads launched before a nominee was even nominated. Certainly, names are floated and interest groups on all sides weigh in prior to a formal nomination, but pre-emptive PR strikes, like everything about the post-Scalia Supreme Court controversy, is without precedent.

And third, theres never been a group quite like the Judicial Crisis Network.

A detailed study by Right Wing Watch (a project of the left-leaning People for the American Way) traced the JCNs origins to the so-called four horsemen tasked with the conservative remaking of the federal judiciary under President George W. Bush. These four were former Attorney General Edwin Meese, right-wing extremist (and profiteer) Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice, and two men associated with the Federalist Societywhose mission has been to create just such a jurisprudential transformationLeonard Leo and C. Boyden Gray.

The four horsemen were behind not just the successful nomination of Justice Samuel Alito over intense Democratic opposition, but countless lesser-known but extremely influential appointments across the judiciary.

As reported in The Daily Beast last year, it was Sekulow who hatched the idea for the JCN, and recruited Gary Marx, known for running voter drives in churches for Bush, to be executive director. The initial grants were from California real-estate magnate Robin Arkley II, but the JCN really exploded after Obamas election, with a series of seven-figure funding from the Wellspring Corporation.

Never heard of the Wellspring Corporation? Thats the point. Headed by conservative fundraiser Ann Corkery (an associate of Arkleys), its a dark-money front group that gave out $8.3 million in grants in 2014 alone, including $6.4 million to the JCN.

No one knows where its money comes from. Thanks public finance laws anarchy, Wellspring does not have to disclose who its donors are. The Center for Responsive Politics learned that its 2014 revenue of $7.8 million came from just three contributions, one of which was for $6.95 million. In other words, one person is underwriting almost the whole foundationbut we cant find out who that is.

Unsurprisingly, Wellsprings other funding priorities include gutting campaign-finance laws.

Perhaps one clue as to Wellsprings mystery funder is that the Center for Responsive Politics couldnt even find the organizations officetheir address on 12th Street NW in Washington, D.C. is in fact the office of Grover Norquists Americans for Tax Reform.

Coincidentally, thats JCNs official address, too.

In a nice irony, JCN used to campaign for a fair appointment process and votes on all judicial nominees. Of course, that was when Bush was president. In 2010, it conveniently changed its name, dropped that inconvenient position, and has supported numerous efforts to stall the nomination process.

The face of all of this dark money is Carrie Severino, JCNs chief counsel and policy director. A lawyer and former clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas, Severino is a prolific writer and blogger. She even recorded a ludicrous closing argument opposing the nomination of now-Justice Elena Kagan, and has spoken out in favor of the post-feminist alt-feminism that advocates traditional gender roles for women. All women are fundamentally called to motherhood, she said at a conference in 2014.

Severinos latest missive is a takedown of Judge Sri Srinivasan, the D.C. Circuit court judge who had once been opposed by liberals for being too conservative. Not to Severino, he isnt. Cherry-picking from Srinivasans recordan objective analysis of all 119 cases he was involved in was masterfully performed by the publisher of SCOTUSBlogSeverino woefully and deliberately misstates his views.

For example, Srinivasan argued the losing side of a key Supreme Court case, in which the court ruled 9-0 that a Lutheran-affiliated school could fire a teacher for violating religious doctrine. As a lawyer, Srinivasan made every argument he could. But Severino chooses just one of them and pretends as if that is Srinivasans own view. Just as with Kelly, JCNs attack faults Srinivasan for doing a thorough job.

Which is telling. JCN isnt about principle; its about ideology. It takes millions of dollars from one extremely wealthy donor who is too cowardly to disclose his own identity. It then spends those millions pushing an ideological agenda and engaging in character assassination on nominees before theyre even nominated.

And this, they say, is to defend the rule of law.
Its most definitely not for the faint of heart, nor the most sensitive of souls. But if youre ready to subject yourself to the most balls-out, bonkers action ride of the yearof the last few years and beyond, since theres never been anything quite this ambitious since the first The Raid, or as deliberately nausea-inducing since Blair Witchthen you are precisely the maniac for whom the flashy, gory first-person action-thriller Hardcore Henry was made.

Just remember the warning director Ilya Naishuller and producer Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) issued at the films SXSW debut this week: The first few rows comprise the splash zone for those with low tolerance for shaky handheld and extreme gore. Vomit at your own peril. Barf bags not included.

Queasy-making or not, theres something pure and beautiful in the unadulterated mayhem that erupts and never lets up in Naishullers first feature, a virtuoso exercise in gaming-influenced action storytelling that skirts by on a lot of bloodshed and the barest of plots. Not that it really needs one. The gimmick alone is a neat trick of forced subjectivity, practical stunts, CG-aided execution, and blood-splattering headshots. Unfolding in real time, the entire film is presented from its protagonists point of view. His name, you learn when he awakes in a laboratory at the start of the film, is Henry. And Henry is a bad motherfucker.

You see what Henry sees. You hear what he hears. You feel your own pulse racing as he fights his way through blazingly brutal battles in the streets, through abandoned buildings, in the jungle. Its the opposite of an out-of-body experience; the viewer is transported into the body and brain of the protagonist. One who, in this case, happens to have a very particular set of skills. (Hint: It aint talking.)

Hardcore Henry opens as Henry wakes up, strapped to an operating table. He takes in the disorienting ascetic details of a futuristic lab, glimpsing his own missing limbs as a beautiful blond scientist named Estelle (Haley Bennett) informs him that he has amnesia, and that shes his wife. She patches him up, making him bionic and good as newwell, except for the voice box he still needs installed.

But before the final touches can be made on Henrys regenerated body, bedlam strikes in the form of an albino-haired villain named Akan who blasts his way in, intent on co-opting the programs army of cybernetic soldiers. Akan possesses unexplained telekinetic powers and a nefarious plan for world domination. Specifics of said plan? Eh, who needs em. The kook takes Estelle prisoner, giving Henry the only motivation he really needs in terms anyone whos ever played a video game or watched an action movie can decipher: Save the princess from the castle (OK, corporate skyscraper) shes imprisoned in.

As in the first-person shooter vidgames that clearly inspired Naishuller, information about key characters and Henrys identity are doled out in increments between action sequences. While we know hes heading toward an epic showdown with the big boss, the whys and hows of what propels Henry toward that violent conclusion take a while to materialize into view.

Henrys inability to speak makes him even more passive as he navigates his way through the mean streets of Moscow, trying to piece together clues to his past and figure out how he can save his beloved wife from Akans clutches. Just as he gains a new piece of the puzzle, along comes some new threat, like a guy wielding a flamethrower, to torch his cover to the ground and force Henry further along toward the next scene.

Helping disseminate key clues along the way is District 9s Sharlto Copley, whos never been given a platform quite like this to explore his comedic range. Theres a dont-think-too-hard-about-it sci-fi explanation for exactly how he pops up every now and then to offer Henry and the audience crucial bits of exposition and guidancethe living (and dying, and living again) embodiment of a helpful NPC.

Sharlto Copley as a suave James Bond type? Check. Sharlto Copley as a dope fiend-hippie warrior? Check. Sharlto Copley singing his way through Ive Got You Under My Skin in one of the more bizarre musical numbers ever shoved into an R-rated action flick? You know its got that, too.

But the undeniable star of Hardcore Henry isnt really a performance you see as much as it is the experience of living in Henrys skin as he blasts, stabs, slices, and slowly deduces his way along, hurtling toward a serviceable vengeance quest on par with the simple, silent antiheroes of 70s revenge shoot em up cinema. Whats more enviable than the cool confidence with which Naishuller achieves his seamless action spectacle is how he pulled it off in the first place, by outfitting a team of gifted stunt pros with wide-angle GoPros and letting them loose to play with an arsenal of weaponry, close-combat choreography, and a winking sense of humor.

The nonstop adrenaline rush starts in the labwhich turns out to be airborne, because of coursebut kicks into high gear as Henry and Estelle plunge to safety in a claustrophobic escape pod hurtling toward Earth. It crash-lands on the asphalt of an overpass thats overrun with heavily armed baddies within seconds, initiating a new assault before anyone has a chance to catch their breath. And so goes the entirety of Hardcore Henry, which careens through its 90-minute runtime at a breakneck pace from one meticulously choreographed set piece to the next.

The film knows its target viewer is the kind of person whos gone down time-suck rabbit holes of YouTube parkour videos, yearning to know what it feels like to freerun your way through a cemented urban playground pretending youre a superhuman badass in peak physical formminus the inconvenience of making any actual physical effort.

Hardcore Henry also hopes, perhaps, that youll overlook its paper-thin plot and cartoonish characters and join it in celebrating the art of the kill. One rooftop moment is reminiscent of Neo tangling with a hundred Agent Smithsonly here Henry dispatches his army of bioengineered zombie soldiers by going on a shanking spree, as an electro score ratchets up the tension. In another, the resourceful Henry demonstrates an unconventional use for pliers as he makes his way through an apartment building, racking up a startling body count along the way.

And if that action hero POV doesnt make for enough male fantasy wish fulfillment, there are Hardcore Henrys ladies. They cover a generous swath of sexy womankind, ranging from duplicitous to deadly to the nameless, naked, actual whores that barely bat an eyelash when their underground bordello turns into a war zone. To be fair, Hardcore Henrys white-haired villain is not a creature of much dimension himself. The film will earn no bonus points for its gender progressivism, and that goes both ways. Its telling enough that human emotion is the ultimate crippling weakness used against our macho man hero.

Some will compare the first-person aesthetic of Hardcore Henry to the first-person shooter games of the 90s-00s-10s it constantly references, but Henry feels more like a bridge to the future of gaming and its inevitable convergence with the movies: virtual reality cinema. One can easily imagine a scenario in which moviegoers in a theater watch Hardcore Henry with VR gadgets strapped to their faces, their arms and legs flailing as they dodge bullets. That future might be a mindlessly fun roller coaster ride, and it may cut down on the need for barf bags in the aisles. But it also begs more from the kinds of video games and stories we translate into cinema-plus experiences. If this is hardcore, what will the brave new future look like?
Theyve laid waste to half of Hollywood in their apocalyptic black comedy This Is the Endincluding Rihanna and a coke-crazed Michael Ceraand incinerated North Koreas rotund tyrant Kim Jong-un in their political satire The Interview, and now, the creative team of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg has set their sights on the Xenu-lovin, Matt Lauer-bashin face of Scientology: Tom Cruise.

Rogen and Goldberg, whove been collaborating with one another since drafting a screenplay for Superbad at the age of 13, unveiled their new AMC series Preacher at SXSW. The terribly funny (and violent) show is an adaptation of Garth Enniss graphic novels of the same name, and stars Dominic Cooper as Jesse Custer, a small-town preacher in fictional Annville, Texas, who finds himself blessed with the unusual power of commanding those who hear his words to do his bidding. He joins forces with his ex-girlfriend, Tulip (Ruth Negga), and a gleefully uninhibited Irish vampire, Cassidy (Joe Gilgun), on a mission to find God.

In the impressive pilot episode, which was very well-received at the festival, religious leaders all over the worldfrom Russia to Californiaare being possessed by an otherworldly presence and exploding into a million little pieces. As Jesse nurses a drink at a local watering hole, he turns his attention to the TV and sees a headline flash: Tom Cruise Explodes! followed by a shot of what appears to be a Scientology center covered in blood and viscera. The scene drew the biggest laugh during the premiere screening in Austin, Texas.

We just have this idea that this entity, whatever it is, is trying to find a suitable host by going to various religious figures, and I think it was Evans idea to have [Cruise], Rogen told The Daily Beast of the memorable scene, while holding back laughter. It was around the time of Going Clear. It was because he is a religious figure, added Goldberg. Hes the face of an organization.

But Rogen and Goldberg also feel that, in spite of the carnage, the scene is also rather complimentary. I think its validating to him in a lot of ways because were saying hes a legitimate religious figure, said a chuckling Rogen, before cracking up. And he was not a suitable host!

During Preachers post-screening Q&A at SXSW, Rogen confessed to having never met The Cruise in personthough perhaps a meeting could be brokered by mutual friend Simon Pegg, who co-stars alongside cruise in the Mission: Impossible films and appeared opposite Rogen in Paul, once even convincing Rogen and Goldberg to change the title of their film from The End of the World to This Is the End (it was too close to Peggs The Worlds End, which hit theaters that same summer).I think we were all waiting for someone else to say, No, and now its too late, Goldberg said of killing Cruise onscreen during the Q&A session.

I will run into him one day, though, Rogen continued. It will happen, and Im going to have to explain that. Im coming up with a way that might make it seem complimentary.
ROME  Guess the year and the country in which this happened: A prominent male politician announces that a pregnant woman cannot run for public office because she should concentrate on breastfeeding her baby instead of bothering herself with complicated matters. If you assume this is some sort of Victorian era trivial pursuit question, think again. The comment was made this week in Italy.

And worse, if thats possible, is the fact that the sentiment was shared publicly by not one, but two male politicians. The first to voice the sexist comment was Guido Bertolaso, a former head of Italys civil protection agency and now a candidate for mayor of Rome. He made the comments when Giorgia Meloni, who is three months pregnant, announced her own candidacy for the job. Bertolaso said that Meloni, 39, should not challenge him for the mayoral job, but instead, she must do the job of being a mom.

It seems to me to be the most beautiful thing that can happen to a woman, he said on La7 television over the weekend. She has to handle this chapter of her life. I don't see why someone should force her to do a ferocious election campaign and take care of potholes and dirtiness while she is breast feeding.

Bertolasos candidacy is supported by Silvio Berlusconi, who, not surprisingly perhaps, was the second politician to publicly share the archaic sentiment. Being mayor means being in your office 14 hours a day, said Berlusconi, whose milestones include his bunga-bunga orgiastic parties and being tried for abetting underage prostitution. Its clear to everybody that a mother cant do that job, he told Radio Ancioio radio station.

The comments angered women in Italy, many of whom posted photos of their pregnant bellies on social media. A small flash mob of pregnant politicians also gathered outside Romes senate hall to show support for Meloni, whether they agreed with her politics or not. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who famously appointed his first health minister, Beatrice Lorenzin, when she was nine months pregnant with twins, told reporters that while he preferred his own partys candidate for mayor, he did not see any reason why Meloni shouldnt run.

The latest scandal follows a disturbing trend in Italy that seems in stark contrast to the rest of the modern world, in which Hillary Clinton is running for the American presidency and Angela Merkel is easily the most powerful woman in Europe.

Instead, Italy is clearly stuck in a male-dominated time warp that only seems to get worse. Renzis government has the highest percentage of women in his cabinet in the history of Italian politics, but it is still shy of 35 percent. And the latest United Nations Gender Gap survey showed that Italys gender wage disparity is actually getting worse, not better, with women earning 7.3 percent less than their male counterparts for jobs in all sectors.

Blatant sexism, which was once seen as a byproduct of the Berlusconi era, is apparently still alive and well. Last week, Patrizia Bedori, a mayoral candidate in Milan, actually shuttered up her campaign after being ridiculed for her looks and being criticized as ugly, obese, and a housewife who should stay home.

Maria Elena Boschi, Italys reform minister, who is often the subject of intense sexual innuendo despite her considerable portfolio, tweeted, When will a male candidate be asked to step aside because hes not telegenic? Or because he should just be a father? My solidarity goes to Bedori and Meloni.

Meloni, who was Italys youngest ever parliamentary member and Youth Minister under Berlusconis fourth and final government, announced Wednesday that she is going ahead with her candidacy under her own Brothers of Italy nationalist party.

I have decided to run for the office of mayor of Rome, she said at an open-air press conference in the capital. I think a woman should choose freely. No man can tell a woman what to do or not dothats why I chose to enter the race even though Im pregnant. Rome is symbolized by a she-wolf suckling twins."

I hope to be an excellent mother like all the other women, who, among a thousand challenges, manage to combine work and motherhood.
Their names never appeared on a ballot, but two black boys dashed the re-election hopes of two district attorneys and continue to influence state contests in the Democratic presidential primaryfrom their graves.

Tamir Rice and Laquan McDonald were killed by police officers but, despite both incidences being captured on videotape, many believe justice was delayed and ultimately denied. How prosecutors chose to handle the ensuing investigationsone in Cleveland, the other in Chicago sparked widespread demonstrations and likely sealed the fates of two elected officials in the March 15 primaries.

Anita Alvarez, states attorney for Cook County, Illinois, since 2008, and Cuyahoga County, Ohio, prosecutor Tim McGinty, who first took office in 2013, both lost handily to primary challengers. Many believe the election results should send a clear signal to prosecutors around the country, the vast majority of whom are re-elected with no meaningful opposition. Once in office, a district attorney can typically expect to retire from the job unless they decide to move on.

It was a huge win for activists, said Ben Wikler, the Washington director for MoveOn.org. About 95 percent of prosecutors run for re-election unopposed.

Notably, McGinty lost Tuesdays primary against Democratic challenger Mike OMalley by 10 points. Chicagoans, on the other hand, did more than turn the page. They threw the book at a district attorney who was targeted with the Twitter hashtag #ByeAnita. Alvarez was trounced by Chicago native Kim Foxx, 58 to 28 percent.

In a case that captured national headlines, McGinty refused to bring charges in the shooting death of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old black boy. Despite compelling evidence that the officers involved falsified reports and violated departmental policy, McGinty took a full year to make the announcement and some believe he intentionally steered the grand jury away from issuing an indictment. At one point, McGinty publicly accused the Rice family of attempting to profit from Tamirs death. Cleveland police officer Timothy Loehmann, who had been fired from a neighboring department after repeatedly failing training exercises, fatally shot Tamirwho had a toy gunwithin two seconds of encountering him.

Meanwhile, in Chicago, District Attorney Alvarez faced the ire of community activists after she was suspected of helping delay the investigation into the death of Laquan McDonald. The teenager was shot in October 2014, but it took more than a year and a judges order to force the release of police dash camera video. The images, replayed in a near-constant loop on cable news networks, were shocking and accusations that the tape had been hidden for political purposes quickly mounted. McDonald, 17, who presented no immediate danger to the responding officers, was shot 16 times as he darted into a roadway blocked off by squad cars.

While Alvarez eventually charged officer Jason Van Dyke with first-degree murder, she was seen as part of a larger problem: Can prosecutors be trusted to rigorously investigate and bring charges against police officers who commit crimes while in uniform?

The Alvarez result demonstrates that there will be accountability, Wikler said. Not only does the movement have moral power, it has political power.

The fallout, however, did not end with locally elected officials.

The two remaining candidates for the Democratic presidential nominationHillary Clinton and Bernie Sanderswere at the top of both ballots. While Illinois proved to be a close contest, Clinton won Ohio comfortably. Some voters came chiefly to send home a prosecutor, but they also pulled the lever for a presidential candidate.

Sanders clearly benefitted from an uptick in turnout among younger voters in upstate Illinoisthe site of recent protests at a Trump rallyand has increased his support with black voters in some states. But Clinton, who has bested the Vermont senator among older African Americans (especially women), walked away with wins in both states because of sheer depth and breadth of that support. Young black voters turned out in key districts, but their mothers, aunts, and grandmothers showed up too.

Just as it is a mistake to label every young black demonstrator a member of #BlackLivesMatter, it is equally wrong to assume that older voters are not taking their cues from what they see unfolding in the streets. They may not always agree with the method, but the cause of social justice is clearly a cross-generational unifier. News organizations tend to calculate BLMs influence only in terms of its impact on millennials and frequently overlook how it may be driving behavioral patterns in other voting segments. Clearly older black women, the lions share of whom support Clinton, decided theyd had enough of McGinty and Alvarez.

Without question, the races in Ohio and Illinois demonstrated the political clout of #BlackLivesMatter and other progressive groups like MoveOn.org. Before Tuesday night, prognosticators openly groused that the movement would not be able to convert activism to actual ballots cast. Losses for Alvarez and McGinty not only disprove that theorem, but also now call into question how political power of activists is measured. Clearly, BLMs impact was felt long before the ballot box opened.

Both Democratic candidates speaking forcefully about social justice is a huge tribute to the extraordinary organization, Wikler said. Its redefined the debate.

Together with activists from around the country, BLM lifted the names of Laquan, Tamir and others who were victims of police violence into the national consciousness. The boys are more than hashtags. They embody the heart and soul of a powerful political movement, whose full influence has yet to be measured.

McGinty and Alvarez are likely just the beginning.

Updated 6 p.m. 3/17/2016 to relect that it was Kim Foxx who beat Anita Alvarez. We regret the errror.
LONDON  There are roughly 5 million children living under the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. As such, it was only a matter of time before the worst terror group of our lifetime set its sights on them.

And now it has.

Working with Child Soldiers Initiative, and endorsed by UNICEF, my counter-extremism organization Quilliam has released a seminal report (PDF) documenting the use of child soldiers by ISIS. This report makes for cruel reading.

The United Nations has received credible but unverified reports suggesting that ISIS has created a youth wing called Fityan al-Islam, meaning boys of Islam. The precedent seems to have been set by the former Baathist regime of Saddam Hussain in Iraq, which in the late 1970s established the Futuwah (Youth Vanguard) movement with the most important Iraqi child soldier units known as Ashbal Saddam, or Saddams Lion Cubs.

Apparently after studying the Nazi regime, which created the Hitler Youth, ISIS is now busy training and indoctrinating children en masse. But as with most things ISIS lays its hands on, the group has taken its brutality involving children way beyond anything Hitler or Saddam ever did.

ISIS has abducted between 800 and 900 children ranging between the ages of 9 and 15 from various regions of Mosul city and province. From last August to February, 254 instances of children being used in ISIS propaganda were found. Many are being trained as spies, preachers, soldiers, executioners, and suicide bombers. In counting lessons children tally up guns or tanks instead of apples and oranges. Media outlets within the caliphate have issued statements warning that children who refuse to conform with ISIS orders will be flogged, tortured, or raped.

Of particular concern here in the U.K., there are as many as 50 British children subjected to direct ISIS command and control. To our collective horror, some of these have been forced to carry out beheadings or hold up decapitated heads to show they are ready to embrace the jihad. In the past six months alone ISIS propaganda has depicted no less than 12 child killers. One recent macabre video showed a 4-year-old British boy apparently detonating a car bomb, killing four alleged spies trapped in the vehicle.

The girls fair no better. While in captivity young women and girls have been taken and raped on a daily basis by ISIS fighters. Most girls are being processed to be molded as wives and mothers of future soldiers. As if shaping an unborn army, estimated 31,000 women living under ISIS rule are pregnant.

Teachers, too, are forced to enlist in this totalitarian social experiment. Four teachers were abducted from a high school in Mosul last January for opposing ISIS, and last March a primary school teacher was executed for criticizing the group.

But it gets worse.

Until now, if we want to make a comparison, the use of child soldiers in Liberia and Angola was restricted to abducting them from their families, and forcing them to fight. What makes ISISs use of children more insidious than Hitlers, Saddams, and these African cases, is the active involvement of the families.

Parents have no choice but to comply with ISIS instructions to play a part in brutalizing their children. Mothers are given books by ISIS instructing them on how to raise their offspring for jihad. This includes telling bedtime stories about martyrdom, exposing children to graphic content through jihadist websites, and encouraging them to improve their childs military skills and fitness. Using parents in this way is guaranteed to weaken any emotional resistance a child may naturally have to committing atrocities.

As ISIS knows well, Islamic heritage is no stranger to the power of youth, even in positions of authority. The Prophets cousin and son-in-law, Ali ibn abi Talib, was around 10 years old when he pronounced himself the first male to follow Muhammad. Ali went on to become the famed fourth Caliph of Islam.

The Prophets adopted grandson Usama ibn Zayd was reported to have been only 17 years old when he was sent by Muhammad to lead an army against Rome. It was also at 17 that the Islamic military commander Tariq ibn Ziyad is said by Muslims to have conquered Spain. We are taught that Muhammad ibn Qasim, too, was 17 when he won his decisive battles for Islam in the Indian subcontinent. Bakhtiyar Khalji is fabled to have been only 18 years old when he established Muslim rule in Bengal.

Perhaps most famous of them all, we speak of a 21-year-old Muhammad Al-Fateh who defeated the Byzantines and took Constantinople for Islam, as foretold by the Prophet: Verily you shall conquer Constantinople. Blessed be the leader, and blessed be that army!

In this way, the relationship between conquest and youth is certainly not alien to Islamic tradition. The Prophet even conferred upon it special status: On the Day of Judgment when there is no shade except in the shadow of Allahs throne, seven classes of people will find shade in Allahs shadow. The first group to be honored in this way were those who rule justly, and the second group is youth who are raised worshipping Allah.

Today we would consider such fabled warrior-rulers to be children. Muslims may tell these stories, but most wouldnt even allow their own 16-year-olds to stay out beyond a nighttime curfew. We have come to insist that our youth abandon any delusions of grandeur and simply complete their education and get a job. Likewise, we have come to rightly reject military conquest as a means to spread any religion or culture. Medieval times were medieval times the world over. That was then, and now we have evolved beyond such a harsh world order.

Except in ISIS, medievalism is back. And as this group proactively fetishizes, and attempts to revive, the Middle Ages in all their gore and glory, the world is simply unprepared to deal with the moral paradoxes this raises.

ISIS knows our weakness. There is a joker in the deck that refuses to abide by any of our modern rules. For as footage surfaced of an ISIS orphanage in Iraqs second-largest city, Mosul, being used as a drill site for the next generation of terroristsa jihadist child armythe question I leave you with is this: What world leader could possibly authorize an airstrike on a training camp full of children?
When Donald Trump declared victory in Florida on Tuesday evening, he thanked the man beside him: Corey, good job, Corey. That was Corey Lewandowski, the hard-charging campaign manager who reporter Michelle Fields accused of grabbing her and nearly throwing her to the ground after a press conference last week.

That may be the first most voters have heard of Lewandowski, but he is well known in political circles as an aggressive, against-the-grain operative, whose most recent job with the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity landed the group under investigation for voter suppression in North Carolina in 2014.

The group and its affiliated Americans for Prosperity Foundation had a massive voter registration and get-out-the-vote operation there leading up to the 2014 midterm elections. As AFPs national director of voter registration at the time, Lewandowski's shop oversaw a multi-state voter registration drive, which included the production and distribution of hundreds of thousands of voting-related mailers to potential voters around the country.

But the mailers themselves had problems and so did the lists of people getting them. Some mailers misstated voter registration deadlines, while others wrongly instructed registered voters to re-register or face the possibility of losing their eligibility in the upcoming election. Former AFP staffers who spoke with The Daily Beast on the condition of anonymity called the 2014 direct-mail effort sloppy, but elections officials in several states saw something more nefarious.

The hundreds of thousands of AFPF mailers were so riddled with inaccuracies, as the Raleigh News & Observer put it, that the state Democratic Party filed a complaint with the North Carolina Board of Elections directly accusing AFPF of voter suppression, a Class 1 felony in the state. In the complaint, the partys executive director, Casey Mann, said that AFPFs mailer reflected a decision to attempt to utilize misleading, incorrect, and confusing voter registration mailers as a means of discouraging or intimidating voters in the 2014 General Election.

In addition to listing the wrong registration deadline, the wrong office to send registration forms, and inaccurate contact information for follow-up questions, the mailer prompted more than 2,000 complaints to state officials reporting that it had been addressed to children, dead people and even someones cat. An AFPF spokesman conceded a few minor, administrative errors in the text of the leaflets, but defended the target list as industry standard. Any large mailing even with 99.9% accuracy is going to have a few inaccurate recipients, he said.

Lawyers for AFPF later specifically apologized directly to the Elections Board for sending the mail to dead people, in some cases multiple times, but maintained the errors were accidental and not a conspiracy to keep anyone from voting. Instead, they said the production process had conflated North Carolina and Arkansas voting information in some cases and was never properly vetted before the mail went out the door.

According to Politico and Daily Beast sources, the mailer fiasco was an unwanted embarrassment for the Koch organization, which had already come under fire for pushing laws to impose strict voting requirements at the state level. The voter registration effort that Lewandowski headed was shut down after the 2014 elections and Politico said he left the organization shortly thereafter as it became clear that Lewandowski didnt have much of a future with the group.

Lewandowski, who has denied assaulting Fields, maintained that he left AFP in his own accord. He did not respond to a request for comment on this article.

Lewandowskis next stop after AFP: The office of Donald J. Trump.

 With additional reporting from Betsy Woodruff
Despite rising to prominence as a countercultural icon of the 60s and 70s, with roles in films like Midnight Cowboy and Coming Home, canvassing for George McGovern, and publicly protesting against the Vietnam War, Oscar winner Jon Voight has, in recent years, morphed into a right-wing fomenter. Hes lashed out against the American public for criticizing then-President George W. Bush, narrated a video for Sarah Palin that aired on John McCains presidential campaign site, branded President Obama a false prophet, and makes the occasional appearance on Fox News. But this is, without question, his most politically puzzling move yet.

Last week, the actor released a statement exclusively to the pro-Trump propaganda site Breitbart News endorsing the real estate heir for president of the United States.

I, Jon Voight, can say, without hesitation, that Donald is funny, playful, and colorful, but most of all, he is honest. When he decided to run for president, I know he did it with a true conviction to bring this country back to prosperity. He is the only one who can do it. No frills, no fuss, only candid truths, said Voight.

I am very disappointed at the talk show hosts, also spewing out lies and propaganda against Donald, he continued. Why, I wonder? The only thing I can think of is he represents a form of freedom none of them ever saw before, and they are bewildered about it, and frightened about it.

Voight neglected to point to any of the so-called lies and propaganda being spread against Trump, though one doesnt have to look far to see why people are turned off by the blustering tycoon. He has a long history of racist behaviorallegedly forcing the black employees at his Trumps Castle hotel and casino to be hidden when he and Ivana arrived, calling for the execution of the Central Park Five, branding Mexican immigrants to the U.S. rapists, requiring considerable public pressure to reject the support of ex-KKK leader David Duke (Trumps daughter Ivanka, by the way, is Jewish), and of course his rallies, where black people have been assaulted by his disciples. But The Donald has an even lengthierand deeply unsettlinghistory of misogyny. And one of his frequent targets over the years has been Angelina Jolie, the daughter of Voight and Marcheline Bertrand.

In 2005, Trump appeared on Late Night with Conan OBrien, where he took a random shot at Jolie, declaring flatly, Angelina Jolie is not beautiful. When OBrien asked him how he could think that, the cotton candy-haired mogul replied, Well, thats why they have menus at restaurants. The following year, he appeared on Howard Stern and rated the Oscar-winning actress a 5, before bashing Jolies looksagain. I never thought she was good-looking. I dont think shes got good skin. I dont think shes got a great face. I think her lips are too big, to be honest with you, they look, like, too big.

Months later, in October 2006, Trump went on CNNs Larry King Live, where he chose to weigh in on Voights troubled relationship with his daughter. Well, look, number one, I know her father. Her father is a nice guy. I think she treats him like a dog but maybe they have some kind of a thing, said Trump. I think hes a great actor and she just treats him terribly. Shes been with so many guys she makes me look like a baby, OK, with the other side. And, I just dont even find her attractive. That has nothing to do with why I said it though. He later added, But Im not a fan of hers, as you probably noticed.

He appeared on Larry King Live one year later, in 2007, and again went after Jolie for no apparent reason.

Angelina Jolie is sort of amazing because everyone thinks shes like this great beauty, said Trump. And Im not saying shes an unattractive woman, but shes not a beauty, by any stretch of the imagination. In terms of beauty, shes not a great beauty. Shes a nice-looking woman. Shes OK. But shes not a great beauty.

I really understand beauty, he added. And I will tell you, shes notI do own Miss Universe. I do own Miss USA. I mean, I own a lot of different things. I do understand beauty, and shes not.

During that same interview with Larry King, Trump criticized the way Jolie acted at the 2001 Academy Awards, kissing her brother James Haven on the mouthand conflating the incident with the 2000 MTV Movie Awards, where she claimed to have had sex in a limo with her then-husband Billy Bob Thornton on the way to the ceremony. (Truth-telling isnt exactly Trumps strong suit.)

I remember at the Academy Awards a few years ago she was frenching her brother. She was giving her brother lip kisses like I never saw before in my life. And she had just said she made love to Billy Bob Thornton in the back of the limousine on the way over, Trump said. And I wouldnt want to shake her hand, by the way.

Its pretty remarkable that Donald Trump, of all people, considers himself an authority when it comes to family. This is a man whos made creepy statements about his own daughter, after all, was once accused of rape by his first wife, Ivana, whom he cheated on while she and their three children were at church.

By 1987, during services at the Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan, Trump was secretly romancing [Marla] Maples as he found ways to temporarily ditch Ivana and their kids, Donny, now 19, Ivanka, 15, and Eric, 13, wrote People.

Jolie, on the other hand, seems to have had good reason to be angry with her father, whos repeatedly gone to the press with their relationship problems. In addition to cheating on her mother and leaving the family when Jolie was just a year oldleaving her and her brother to be raised by their motherafter Jolie legally had Voight stricken from her name in 2002, he gave an interview to Access Hollywood of all places, where he demanded that she seek help for unnamed mental problems and shared intimate details about her alleged past struggles with mental illness. This interview, by the way, occurred just one month after she filed for divorce from Thornton, and a few months after they adopted Maddox from Cambodiathereby jeopardizing the adoption process.

The entire familyJolie, her brother James, and her mother Marchelinebecame estranged from Voight following the interview, and Jolie didnt appear publicly with her father again until 2010. Theyve since reportedly reconciled, though it remains to be seen how she feels about his endorsement of frequent critic Donald Trump.

Given Jolies status as a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, one cant imagine shes a fan of Trumps xenophobic ban all Muslim immigrants to the U.S. stance. Her child, Shiloh, certainly isnt.
Texas A&M Universitys School of Law was ranked 14th in intellectual property law by U.S. News and World Report, helping to mark the biggest leap in this years annual graduate school rankings.

The petroleum engineering program tied for second overall and second among public institutions, while A&Ms nuclear engineering program came in third overall and second among public colleges. Its biological/agricultural engineering program ranked third overall and among public universities; the aerospace engineering program ranks 10th overall and 7th among public institutions.

The Mays Business School held on to its 31st overall ranking, while it was placed 12th among public colleges.

The Fort Worth-based law school, which was acquired by the Texas A&M System three years ago, tied with Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania on intellectual property, while it came in 28th for part-time law school programs and in the top 60 for publicly operated law schools.

Overall, the law school jumped 38 places to be ranked 111.

In a statement, A&M System Chancellor John Sharp called the ranking an extraordinary achievement, especially given the fact that we werent even on the list in 2014.

The Bush School, the College of Education and Human Development and the College of Engineering all also made gains in their rankings.

The Bush School moved up two places to be ranked 31st for its public affairs programs, and the College of Education and Human Development jumped seven places to be ranked 39th in its category, while the College of Engineering held its top 10 spot among public institutions, advancing one place.

While we are gratified to be rated high in several areas in U.S. News & World Report and other prominent publications, our overarching goal is to enhance our programs for the benefit of the young men and women who choose to pursue their educational goals at Texas A&M  be it at the graduate or undergraduate level, said Texas A&M President Michael Young in a statement.

In 2014, five of the universitys graduate school programs were ranked among the top private and public programs in the nation.

The rankings are based on criteria including acceptance rates, placement statistics and standardized test scores in addition to surveys guaging the opinion of the programs by academics from around the country.

According to university officials, the magazine - which published its rankings today - does not rate all academic programs.

For a look at the full rankings visit grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools.

A previous version of this post incorrectly stated that the law school was based in Commerce, Texas.
After finding the body of a Houston-area man in rural Walker County, police and the FBI have issued an Amber Alert for the mans teen daughter, believing she may have been abducted by her fathers killer.

The body of Caesar Vladimir Coronado was discovered Sunday in Walker County off F.M. 2989 between Interstate 45 and Texas 75, about 11 miles south of Madisonville. Authorities believe he was shot. His burned pickup truck was found near Conroe.

Walker County Sheriff Clint McRae said authorities are afraid for the safety of Adriana Coronado.

She is certainly in great danger, McRae told reporters Monday.

No motive for Caesar Coronados killing has been determined, McRae said.

According to the Houston Chronicle, investigators think someone in the area may have spoken to Adriana Coronado shortly before her fathers slaying Sunday and are interviewing potential witnesses in the rural area.

KHOU-TV in Houston spoke to the girls mother, who is stuck in Mexico and crying for her daughters return.

Please return my daughter back cause Im dying with hurt, Coronados mom told KHOU in Spanish on the phone. Oh my God. This is my only daughter please return her to me.

Officials have not yet determined if Adriana witnessed her fathers murder.

McRae said investigators were still trying to determine what Adriana and her father, from the Katy area, were doing in Walker County. Authorities think Adriana is likely no longer in the county. Investigators are looking at the possibility the girl might have been taken out of the U.S.

In a statement Tuesday, McRae said, At this time the Walker County Sheriffs Office is working with state and federal resources in the Adriana Coronado case. When some headway is made we will be releasing additional information if available via a press release or news conference.

The FBI, including one of its Child Abduction Rapid Deployment teams, is helping in the search, said Christina Garza, a spokeswoman with the FBIs Houston office. Garza referred questions about the investigation to the Walker County Sheriffs Office. Houston police are also helping.

Adriana is 50 tall, weighs around 105 pounds, has brown hair and was wearing dark-rimmed glasses. According to the FBI, Adriana, a freshman at Mayde Creek High School, was last seen on Saturday in Katy. A friend told KHOU Adriana was supposed to host a get-together at her Katy apartment, but didnt return calls.

We are like somethings wrong because shes always on her phone, Eduardo Revuelta, a friend, told KHOU. Why wouldnt you answer us?

Anyone who has seen Adriana or believes they may know her whereabouts is asked to call either 911 or contact the Walker County Sheriffs Office at 936-435-2400. No description of a suspect has been released.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Pruitt told the EPA that federal regulators were massively overestimating the amount of air pollution caused by natural gas extraction in his state, but the three-page letter he sent was actually written by Devon's lawyers and given to him by Devon's lobbying chief.

A senior exec at Devon is reported as saying: "The timing of the letter is great, given our meeting this Friday with both EPA and the White House." Following the NYT investigation, Nichols was defiant. In conversation with the Tulsa World newspaper, he said:

"Our industry thought their study was deeply flawed from the methodology. We had meetings with the EPA director and other people in the EPA. We attended some meetings with the White House. We had meetings with senators and congressmen and attorneys general and anyone else that would meet us."

Fracking earthquakes

Devon hasn't just used its influence to criticize what it regards as flawed pollution studies, but also seismic research the firm considers groundless.

Oklahoma has been hit with an unprecedented wave of earthquakes in recent years, a development that has been widely attributed to fracking operations in the state - specifically wastewater injections into deep underground wells.

Back in 2011, Arkansas and Ohio were both taking actions to curb the practice. But Oklahoma resisted. An investigation by EnergyWire showed just how powerful Devon was in its home state, where its talking points were used by the fossil fuel funded Governor Mary Fallin to reject the link between increasing fracking activity and increased seismic activity.

The Governor's office had even turned to Devon for help in responding to a series of earthquakes near Oklahoma City. In the wake of that incident Nichols sought to dispel any connection to oil and gas extraction.

But Devon's presence is felt well beyond even the Governor's mansion - all the way into the labs of the Oklahoma Geological Survey (OGS). First there's funding. Devon, who bought the OGS a new core viewing room in 2014, is one of a number of oil and gas companies spending to support the scientific organisation.

Larry Grillott, Dean of the University of Oklahoma's Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, said of the OGS: "We do get a lot of support from the energy industry."

Second there's the revolving door. Just a cursory look at the ties between the OGS and Devon turned up a geologist who went from Devon to the OGS and back to Devon over the course of a few years.

And just for the record: The OGS continued to recommend further studies into the state's quakes and refused to issue any report on the link to oil and gas drilling until years later.

Made in Texas? Marco Rubio's energy policy



Devon is also a major player in Texas, where it is the largest leaser in the Barnett Shale. Where it has been especially involved is Denton, the town that voted to ban fracking in 2014. Ultimately that ban was overturned by the Texas legislature, with Devon spending nearly $200,000 in a PR and lobbying blitz.

The group Devon donated to argued the ban would hurt the town's economy. Remember Oklahoma Governor Fallin? Well she signed a similar bill which prevents local governments from banning fracking. It's worth noting that, through all this, Denton's congressional representative Myra Crownover has financial stake in Devon.

So now Nichols, the man behind Devon, is leading energy policy for Marco Rubio. Let's be frank: Rubio has very little chance of becoming the Republican presidential nominee. He may win the primary in his home state of Florida on 'winner-takes-all' Tuesday, but that's not in the bag. And even if he does, he'll still be far behind Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.

But Nichols' role in his campaign is significant. It shows that 2012 was not just a one-off. In the last presidential election, Mitt Romney was advised by Harold Hamm, the head honcho at fracking firm Continental Resources. Nichols is cut from the same cloth.

Essentially the Republican Party establishment has decided on its energy policy - and it's fracking.

Zachary Davies Boren is an environment journalist writing for Greenpeace Energydesk, the Press Association, The Telegraph, The Independent, Huffington Post, IBTimes, Yahoo, Chicago Tribune and other media.

This article was originally published on Greenpeace Energydesk.
Wright went on to quote from Government sources claiming that such boycotts "undermined good community relations, poisoned and polarised debate and fuelled anti-semitism."

National security - the last refuge of the scoundrel?

Elaborating on all that, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General Matthew Hancock made it very clear where he stood on all this, indicating that in his opinion the autonomy that local authorities have to make ethical purchasing decisions was "undermining Britain's national security".

Undermining national security! Always the favourite go-to place for unscrupulous politicians seeking illegitimately to curtail people's freedom - which shows you just how far along the spectrum of authoritarian rhetoric we've already moved. What about undermining the Government's theoretical commitment to localism? Let alone undermining democracy itself?

(It's the same Matthew Hancock, of course, who is assiduously seeking to stop charities from using government money to influence and improve government policy, and who seizes hold of every available opportunity to attack the reputation of leading charities here in the UK.)

Readers will not be surprised to know that this astonishing attack on the autonomy of local authorities (which are often responding to the wholly legitimate concerns of NGOs and civil society organisations) was met with widespread approval across the Tory press - particularly within the Murdoch titles.

As we know, these papers long ago renounced any real claim to 'independence', and have morphed over the years into the compliant mouthpieces of right-wing, anti-European, Little Englander politicians.

They're also, of course, robust defenders of any business interest either with a large advertising budget or which is dutifully carrying out Government policy. Such as Cuadrilla, perhaps the most prominent of all those companies now lining up to get their snouts into the Government-enabled fracking trough.

Friends of the Earth in the firing line - on trumped up charges

So again, no surprises then that it was Cuadrilla in cahoots with The Times (via its infamous 'Environment' Editor, Ben Webster), that recently launched a full-frontal attack on Friends of the Earth about its anti-fracking campaign.

Webster's story was notionally about the suggestion that Friends of the Earth had been waging its campaign via FoE Trust (which is primarily an educational charity, but also has a perfectly legal campaigning remit) rather than FoE Ltd (purely a campaigning organisation).

As a former Director of Friends of the Earth, I know a bit about that particular balancing act, and having looked into it this time round, it all seemed to be a massive storm in a trumped-up teacup - but apparently worthy of the lead story on The Times front page.

And Ben Webster didn't seem to be particularly interested in the view of the Charity Commission itself, which had said earlier: "Charities have a right to campaign. When this campaigning becomes political, trustees must take care that it furthers the charity's objectives, and does not stray into party-political campaigning.

"Our investigation has revealed nothing to suggest Friends of the Earth Trust has contravened our guidance (CC9) on this issue. We are, however, aware that the lack of differentiation between some charitable and non-charitable bodies is of growing concern. We have therefore commenced a policy review on what can be done to avoid this difficulty in the future."

Cuadrilla gets down and dirty. Could they be scared of something?

And what made this all the more disturbing were the comments immediately offered up by one Francis Egan, Chief Executive of Cuadrilla: "We've long been concerned about the myth-pedalling scare-mongering of Friends of the Earth on shale gas and fracking. Now we discover that they have misled their own regulator.

"The Charity Commission has to trust trustees to be both honest and competent because it has to regulate 160,000 charities. It follows that when that trust has been breached so severely as with Friends of the Earth, the regulator has to step in."

What??! One wonders if Francis Egan had actually read the comment from the Charity Commission itself. Or does he have some insight into what their policy review will actually conclude? Do you think, perhaps, that Ben Webster actually scripted these words for him, to make his sad little story marginally stronger than it might otherwise have been?

Friends of the Earth was admirably restrained in the face of this stitch-up: "Cuadrilla seem to be trying to silence their opposition. They should stop changing the subject from the real issues at stake, and join us in engaging in democratic debate on fracking and climate change."

The reason why Cuadrilla is so shit-scared, by the way, is that Friends of the Earth is seriously on their case regarding the mix of chemicals used in the fracking operation.

Unlike in the USA, where the notorious Donald Rumsfeld succeeded in negotiating an exemption from the Environmental Protection Agency's regulatory powers over the impact of fracking operations on groundwater, the UK's Environment Agency has made it clear that any fracking operations here in the UK - should the Government ever bully one through the planning process - will need to reveal the full details of all the chemicals being used, and will be strictly regulated in terms of any impact on groundwater.

So Friends of the Earth will certainly weather this little storm. It's also decided that there's no reason to be cowed by the menacing machinations of our anti-European media.

But believe me, this story will run and run. Watch this space.

Jonathon Porritt is Founder Director of Forum for the Future. His latest book, 'The World We Made' is available from Phaidon.

This article was originally published on Jonathon's blog.
The third and final co-defendant in a Moneta homicide received her sentence Monday in Franklin County Circuit Court.

Carrie Eujenna Ramey, 25, of Toccoa, Georgia, was ordered by a judge to serve a total of five years for being an accessory to murder in the death of Brian Edward Foy, and for separate counts of breaking and entering and grand larceny of a vehicle.

The length of Rameys sentence matches that of another defendant in the case, Michael Anthony Edwards, who earlier this year was also convicted of being an accessory to Foys murder and to burglarizing his home near Smith Mountain Lake.

Rameys and Edwards cases followed that of Daniel Percy Arnot, 31, who in mid-January pleaded guilty to killing Foy and committing eight other felonies involving burglaries, thefts and firearm offenses. Arnots pleas came one day before he was to stand trial on those charges, and they brought him two life sentences plus 146 years, time that will be suspended after he serves 50 years.

Across several prior hearings, prosecutors established that on the night of May 2, the trio drove up from Stephens County, Georgia, to Franklin County to steal a vintage Corvette from Foy, who is Arnots former father-in-law. They lingered outside his home for several hours, then at some point Arnot walked up and fired four .45 caliber rounds into the house.

The slugs went through a sliding glass door, then struck and killed the 66-year-old Foy, who was sitting in a recliner at the time, his back to the man who shot him.

Arnot and Edwards then tried to take Foys car but couldnt find the keys so they fled with guns and prescription drugs.

Ramey waited in the car during the shooting and burglary, prosecutors have said. During that time, the trios parked vehicle was noticed and later remembered by a neighbor, a fact that helped investigators track the group back to Georgia where they were arrested.

Ramey pleaded guilty to the charges against her and, at that hearing, Franklin County Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Kim Banta said Ramey and Arnot had been involved in a previous burglary at Foys home on March 26, just a little over a month before his murder. They took prescription drugs, three handguns and a 1999 Mercedes-Benz.

About two weeks after that, on April 12, they broke into the home of another member of the Foy family and stole more handguns, a rifle, a tactical vest and electronic devices, Banta said.

At Mondays sentencing, Rameys mother and half-brother  Sue Alexander Ramey and Chris Allan Whatney  testified on her behalf. Both use wheelchairs because of past injuries and both said Carrie Ramey had been giving them daily assistance. Then shed started dating Arnot.

Whatney said that, after Arnot came into the picture, she began dressing and talking differently, using gang slang, and she disappeared for stretches.

Everything about her whole demeanor changed, Whatney told Judge Clyde Perdue.

He was too possessive. Demanding in a way that it would put fear into someone, Sue Ramey said.

She chose Daniel Arnot over your needs, county prosecutor A.J. Dudley said during Rameys mothers cross-examination.

Carrie Ramey did not give testimony, but just prior to her sentencing she read a statement in which she offered repeated apologies to Foys relatives, many of whom were in the court room.

I cannot express enough the guilt and regret that haunt me on a daily basis, Ramey said, adding that her conscience was punishing her every minute of every day.

This was a horrible offense, Perdue said. Whatever I do will fall short.

He sentenced her to 12 months on the misdemeanor accessory charge, the maximum punishment. On each of the two felonies, he sentenced her to 20 years, suspended after she serves two. Shell be on probation for 10 years after her release.

Ramey was arrested May 15 and has served about 10 months of her sentence so far.

She was also ordered to pay $18,122 in restitution, of which defense attorney Brian Mangano said she has already paid about $3,800.
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By Laura Acchiardo, laura.acchiardo@thegleaner.com

City Commissioners heard options to expand food truck locations during a presentation at their work session on Tuesday night.

City Attorney Dawn Kelsey gave the presentation. She said food trucks are allowed in Henderson during special events such as W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival, the Tri-Fest and the Downtown Henderson Partnership's twice-annual Artisan Markets if a special event permit is issued. Food trucks with temporary sales are also allowed in highway commercial, central business district and general business zones, as a conditional use in shopping center and on private property if permissible by owner.

Kelsey reviewed a list of areas possible for food trucks, including the central business district, Audubon Mill Park, the tourism office or The Depot parking lot on the riverfront, Central Park, Community Park, Atkinson Park and the John F. Kennedy Community Center.

With all of the options available, some are more ideal than others. A large part of downtown contains angled parking, so a food truck could occupy as many as four to five spaces. Due to safety reasons, food trucks must be parallel parked. In Audubon Mill Park the grade between the sidewalk and street is 28 percent in, which creates a safety issue.

Of all the options, Kelsey suggested The Depot as the best area. There is room for trucks to be parked, picnic tables are nearby, it's handicap-accessible and it's accessible to both pedestrian and driving customers.

"I love the idea," said City Commissioner Robby Mills. "I think we should go further and incentivize the food trucks."

Though Henderson is no stranger to mobile vendors, the city hasn't yet embraced food trucks, according to David Meyer, owner of the restaurant Hong Kong Foodie to Go.

"Henderson is not food truck friendly at all," Meyer said during the work session. "And to reference special events with food vendor trailers is a complete mischaracterization of what I'm talking about."

Before opening his restaurant, Meyers wanted to open a food truck but struggled to find a location to set up shop, he said.

The Commission will move forward with drafting regulations changes to expand food trucks opportunities on city property and right-of-way.

The next meeting of the Board of Commissioners is 5:30 p.m., March 22, in the Assembly Room.

Other matters before the commission on Tuesday included:

Near-site employee health clinic: Commissioners heard a proposal recommending the final contract for Near-Site Clinical Services through Edumedics and Henderson's Methodist Hospital. Though the clinic won't replace a primary care physician, available services would include diagnostics and treatment of illnesses, preventative screenings, lab tests and health risk assessments.

The proposed near-site clinic is estimated to cost the City of Henderson health insurance plan between $215,000 to $230,000.

Pavement management system report: Dylan Ward, engineering assistant for the City of Henderson, presented the street repair recommendations from the Network Pavement Management System, a program providing street condition updates.
SHARE Buffy House

By Erin Schmitt of The Gleaner

A Henderson County Schools principal arrested last month after allegedly pointing a handgun at her boyfriend has resigned.

Buffy House, 47, was arrested on a first-degree wanton endangerment charge. House had been on paid leave from the school system, with an interim principal serving in her absence at Cairo Elementary School, since her Feb. 8th arrest.

Julie Wischer, spokeswoman for Henderson County Schools, confirmed that House had resigned as Cairo's principal on Friday. The resignation went into effect immediately.

Wischer added that since the job is vacant, the school's site-based decision-making council would begin a search for House's replacement. The council met Tuesday afternoon and the position was posted soon after on the school system's website.

"It will stay public for 30 days," said Wischer. "Then the current site-based decision-making council will conduct interviews and hire a new permanent principal."

Brenda Phillips has been serving as a substitute principal at Cairo. She retired from the district in 2001 after serving as principal at Jefferson Elementary for 15 years. She had previously taught at Cairo for 13 years.

House was principal at Cairo for less than two years before her arrest last month. She is accused of pointing a loaded 9mm handgun at her boyfriend and pulling the trigger. The gun did not fire because the safety was on, according to the Henderson County Sheriff's Office.

This incident reportedly occurred on the property they share in the 1400 block of U.S. 60 East in Reed. House has denied the allegations.

She made her first court appearance on March 8, when her case was continued. She is due back in court on Thursday.

In 2006, House, then teaching in Daviess County, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled substance after selling drugs to an undercover officer.

House went to the police and confessed, saying she was in an abusive relationship and that her husband forced her to do it. The investigating officer testified on her behalf, and she received a suspended sentence.

In 2008, House was hired as a teacher at East Heights Elementary School. Henderson School officials were aware of her arrest before she was hired.

After spending five years as a fourth-grade teacher, House accepted the position of curriculum specialist at Niagara Elementary School. She was hired as the principal at Cairo at the beginning of the 2014-15 school year.
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By Adam Beam, Associated Press

Convicted felons can't vote in Kentucky unless the governor allows it, but a bill moving through the Republican-controlled state Senate would let lawmakers make the decision instead.

Kentucky's constitution bans all convicted felons from voting in elections, even if they have completed their sentence and been released from prison. The only way a convicted felon could vote is if the governor grants a limited pardon, a lengthy process that involves applying to the governor's office and having the case reviewed.

House Democrats have already passed a bill that would amend the state constitution to automatically restore voting rights to most nonviolent convicted felons who have completed their sentences. But Senate Republicans have balked at the proposal for years, arguing over which felonies to include and how long felons should have to wait before they can have their rights restored.

Instead, a bill sponsored by Republican Senate President Robert Stivers would change the constitution to give lawmakers the authority to restore voting rights to convicted felons. If it passes, it would put the question on the ballot this fall. If voters approve it, the legislature could come back next year and pass a law to restore the voting rights to some convicted felons.

"I think it is better for us to have the authority and then have a deliberative process on how a restoration of civil rights should be and for what crimes," Stivers said, adding the issue is not "near and dear to my heart" but said he would "take a shot" at a bill the Republican-controlled Senate could accept.

Critics say Stivers' bill would not change anything, but simply return felons to the legislative logjam that has killed their efforts for years. As an example, Pam Newman, a member of the advocacy group Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, told lawmakers about her mother, who died in 2013.

Newman said her mother could vote while she lived in Pennsylvania, where state law automatically restores felons' voting rights upon the completion of their sentence. But once Newton's mother moved to Kentucky to be closer to her daughter, she lost that right.

"That hurts me. This issue is dear to my heart," she said.

The competing bills will likely be used as negotiating chips in the final days of the state legislative session. Lawmakers have until March 29 to pass bills. They will come back to Frankfort for two days beginning April 11, but anything passed then could not be overridden if Bevin decides to veto it.

The issue has been debated at the state legislature for years, with no success. Last year, in one of his last acts in office, Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear issued an executive order that automatically restored voting rights to some nonviolent convicted felons if they met certain conditions. But Republican Gov. Matt Bevin repealed that executive order less than a month later. Bevin has said he supports restoring voting rights to convicted felons, but only through the legislative process.
SHARE Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

By Gleaner Staff

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today following the president's announcement of his nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the United States Supreme Court:

"The next justice could fundamentally alter the direction of the Supreme Court and have a profound impact on our country, so of course the American people should have a say in the Court's direction.

"It is a president's constitutional right to nominate a Supreme Court justice and it is the Senate's constitutional right to act as a check on a president and withhold its consent.

"As (Judiciary Committee) Chairman (Chuck) Grassley and I declared weeks ago, and reiterated personally to President Obama, the Senate will continue to observe the Biden Rule so that the American people have a voice in this momentous decision.

"The American people may well elect a President who decides to nominate Judge Garland for Senate consideration. The next president may also nominate someone very different. Either way, our view is this: Give the people a voice in the filling of this vacancy.

"Let me remind colleagues what Vice President Biden said when he was Judiciary Chairman here in the Senate:

'It would be our pragmatic conclusion that once the political season is under way, and it is, action on a Supreme Court nomination must be put off until after the election campaign is over. That is what is fair to the nominee and is central to the process. Otherwise, it seems to mewe will be in deep trouble as an institution. Others may fret that this approach would leave the Court with only eight members for some time, but as I see itthe cost of such a result  the need to reargue three or four cases that will divide the Justices four to four  are quite minor compared to the cost that a nominee, the President, the Senate, and the Nation would have to pay for what would assuredly be a bitter fight, no matter how good a person is nominated by the President'

"Consider that last part. Then-Sen. Biden said that the cost to the nation would be too great no matter who the president nominates. President Obama and his allies may now try to pretend this disagreement is about a person, but as I just noted, his own vice president made clear it's not. The Biden Rule reminds us that the decision the Senate announced weeks ago remains about a principle, not a person.

"It seems clear that President Obama made this nomination not with the intent of seeing the nominee confirmed but in order to politicize it for purposes of the election  which is the type of thing then-Senate Judiciary Chairman Biden was concerned about. The Biden Rule underlines that what the president has done with this nomination would be unfair to any nominee, and more importantly the rule warns of the great costs the president's action could carry for our nation.

"Americans are certain to hear a lot of rhetoric from the other side in the coming days, but here are the facts they'll keep in mind:

The current Democratic Leader said the Senate is not a rubber stamp, and he noted that the Constitution does not require the Senate to give presidential nominees a vote.

The incoming Democratic Leader did not even wait until the final year of George W. Bush's term to essentially tell the Senate not to consider any Supreme Court nominee the president sent.

The 'Biden Rule' supports what the Senate is doing today, underlining that what we're talking about is a principle not a person.

"So here's our view. Instead of spending more time debating an issue where we can't agree, let's keep working to address the issues where we can.

"We just passed critical bipartisan legislation to help address the heroin and prescription opioid crisis in our country. Let's build on that success. Let's keep working together to get our economy moving again and make our country safer, rather than endlessly debating an issue where we don't agree.

"As we continue working on issues like these, the American people are perfectly capable of having their say on this issue. So let's give them a voice. The Senate will appropriately revisit the matter when it considers the qualifications of the nominee the next president nominates, whoever that might be."
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Scholarships to CCC available

Juniors and seniors who attend high school within Central Community Colleges 25-county service area can apply for up to $150 in scholarship assistance to take classes from CCC this summer.

The deadline to apply is April 18. Students must include ACT, COMPASS or ASSET scores to apply for the scholarship.

An application review process will be used to select scholarship recipients. Applications for this award are available from the admissions offices at the Columbus, Grand Island and Hastings campuses; from all learning center locations; and on the college website at www.cccneb.edu/Summer$.

Apply top Central Honors Institute

COLUMBUS -- Applications are now being accepted for the Central Honors Institute, an academic camp for Nebraska youth that will be held July 10-14 at Central Community College-Columbus.

The five-day residential camp is open to students who will begin the seventh or eighth grade in the fall of 2016 and have demonstrated academic accomplishments, leadership and maturity.

Camp participants attend class during the day, enjoy social activities in the evening, and stay overnight in the colleges residence hall. Mathematics, language arts and science tracks are available.

Applications and recommendation forms must be received by May 1. The cost is $395 through June 15 and $425 after that date.

For more information or to request an application, contact Betsy Rall at 402-562-1458; toll-free in Nebraska at 1-877-222-0780, ext. 1458; or email elizabethrall@cccneb.edu. Detailed information and the required forms can be found at www.cccneb.edu/CHI.

Cell Phones for Soldiers project

COLUMBUS -- The VFW Club, 2720 23rd St., is still accepting used cell phones to be donated to the Cell Phones for Soldiers project.

Phones can be dropped off from 4-11 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. For every cell phone valued at $5, calling cards are issued to deployed troops giving them 2 1/2 hours of free talk time.

Since 2004, more than 11.6 million phones have been recycled or repurposed. Approximately half of the phones processed are reconditioned and reused. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and responsibly recycled to reclaim materials.

For more information about this program, visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.
On St. Patrick's Day everyone is Irish, if even just for a day.

My grandmother's maiden name was Cunningham, so I, too, am planting my flag on the auld sod for the occasion.

The welcoming Irish have included us all in this food and drink festival of their culture and heritage. It's largely celebrated at the table with traditional Irish dishes along with the beer, ale, and whiskey that are so closely identified with Ireland.

Corned beef and cabbage is the usual menu for St. Paddy's Day. Starting in early March, corned beef is featured in the supermarket ads. Just like turkey for Thanksgiving, it's the default menu choice. In the heyday of British world domination, Ireland was the principal supplier of brined meat for the far-flung navy.

Originally pork was the most often brined or corned meat, packed in barrels with a brine made with kernel sized "corns" of salt. Later beef became more popular for corning. For more on this topic, go to: http://franksfeast.com/from-the-hour-boiled-dinner-a-new-england-traditoin/.

The flagship beverage for St. Patrick's day is Guinness Stout, a dark, dry, slightly bitter ale known for its rich foamy head. Guinness started brewing in 1759 and began making stout in the 1840s. One of the most successful international brands, it's brewed around the world and available in more than 160 countries.

Smithwick's Irish Red Ale is another popular brand for St. Patrick's celebrations. Not as dark as Guinness, with a reddish color and a rich head, it's only brewed in Ireland.

Pubs are at the heart of Irish social life, gathering places in villages, towns and cities alike. Also called Public Houses, they are where people come together for conversation, sports, music and, of course, food and drink. Pubs are central to my image of Ireland, along with rolling green hillsides, medieval ruins and the Blarney Stone.

There are a few authentic Irish pubs in our area, great for a fun night out in any season, but even more appealing in March when they're geared up for St. Patrick's day hullabaloo. Personally, I would avoid going out on March 17. The pubs, and most other bars too, will be overrun with exuberant and possibly rowdy celebrants getting in on the good times. Better to go some other time in March for a less frantic Irish moment.

The hospitality at O'Neill's Pub in SoNo (oneillsono.com) is as authentic as the lilting accent of the O'Neill brothers. After training in Dublin and gaining experience in Fairfield County's most notable Irish pubs, the O'Neills founded their pub in 1999. It has been a South Norwalk anchor as a destination for food, drink and authentic pub culture ever since. Irish holidays, music, dance and culture are all celebrated with enthusiasm year-round at O'Neills.

The menu always includes Irish stalwarts: Shepherd's Pie, Fish and Chips, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Irish Chicken Curry, and the evocatively named Bangers and Mash. Of course, there are salads, burgers, nachos, and all the other things you'd expect if you're not looking for a taste of Ireland. But in March, the Irish specialties draw my eye.

On a recent pre-St. Patrick's visit, we went full-out on the old country menu. A Guinness and Smithwick's got the evening started and were great with a generous plate of crunchy fried calamari. A basket of warm, currant studded, scones just about wiped out our appetites for dinner.

The Shepherd's Pie was stunning in a cast iron skillet topped with a swirl of beautifully browned mashed potatoes. The pie, made with ground beef in a well-seasoned sauce speckled with vegetables, was piping hot and delicious. The substantial portion would have been enough for both of us after eating the scones, but I had already ordered the Corned Beef and Cabbage. Tender and flavorful, the corned beef was surrounded by mashed potatoes, cabbage, pureed squash, broccoli, and carrots. Plenty to eat here, too.

One of the O'Neill brothers was active in the dining room, moving from table to table, chatting with regular guests, and greeting new ones. The service staff was friendly, competent, and efficient. We felt like we were in Dublin.

Tigin in Stamford (tiginirishpub.com/stamford) is another authentic Irish Pub. Considerable effort was put into making it look as authentically Irish as possible. The tables, chairs, stools, bar and paneling are all just like they would be in Erin. Even the street facade transports you from Bedford Street in Stamford to Fleet Street in Dublin. The menu includes the Irish favorites Fish and Chips, Shepherd's Pie, Irish Breakfast (eggs, Irish sausages, rashers, black and white pudding, mushrooms, tomatoes and Guinness & cheddar bread), Corned Beef and Cabbage, and Chicken and Shrimp Boxty -- a traditional potato pancake popular in rural Ireland. There's a full menu of upscale pub food, too.

Both pubs are happy to whip up an Irish Coffee with your favorite Irish whiskey and an ample dollop of whipped cream. I'm not sure if this is really found in Ireland, but it sure is good.

The food and drink of Ireland is just as ethnic as foods from more exotic locales, but it's so well integrated into our culture that we don't always think of it that way. Celebrate your genuine or imagined Irish heritage year round at a friendly pub, and meanwhile, Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Frank Whitman's Not Bread Alone runs Thursdays in The Hour. He may be reached at notbreadalonefw@gmail.com
NORWALK -- Pioneering aviator, photojournalist, screenwriter and fashion designer--before an air crash claimed her life at age 37, Harriet Quimby accomplished a lot.

"Not only was she the first woman in the United States to earn her pilot's license, she was the first American female to successfully cross the English Channel," said Westport resident Leslie Kerr, author of a nonfiction book about Quimby. "The only reason she didn't get the publicity she should was because the Titanic had sunk two days before her historic flight, so she was relegated to the back pages of the New York Times."

Quimby lived from 1875 to 1912. Though her aerial escapades are relatively well-documented, Kerr said, less has been written about Quimby's other pursuits.

"She was a journalist, she was a writer, she had been an actress," said Kerr, who will speak about her book, "Harriet Quimby: Flying Fair Lady" at Norwalk Library on Friday. "Whatever caught her fancy to explore, she did. I call her the 'woman of many furs.'"

As a screenwriter for D.W. Griffith, Quimby was the first scriptwriter in the U.S. to receive a credit for her work. At a time when the newsreel was still in its infancy, she was also a tireless advocate for film as an educational medium.

As a journalist, Quimby broke ground by embracing new technologies and boldly approaching subjects that remain controversial today: immigration, labor laws, womens' struggles.

"She was the first female journalist to use a camera and a typewriter," Kerr told The Hour. Her employer, news magazine Leslie's Weekly, "would send her all over the world, because she was this adventurous spirit and she would file these marvelous stories, accompanied by photographs of what she called 'the human condition.'"

And as a daredevil aviator, Quimby innovated outside the cockpit as well. Her revamped womens' flight suit was used by the next generation of women pilots, including Amelia Earhart, who referred to Quimby as one of her "mentors."

Women who flew before Quimby "had those big hoop dresses," Kerr said. "She thought, 'This is ridiculous--you could fall out of the airplane!"

Quimby visited a tailor in New York and commissioned a full-body suit of wool-lined satin, creating a design which remained de rigueur for decades. (Quimby's suit was purple, her signature color--in fact, popular imagination so identified Quimby with the color purple that an ad agency once commissioned her to sell Vin Fiz grape soda.)

Though airplanes during her life were mostly used for novel stunts, the forward-looking Quimby wanted to push aviation forward as a practical mode of transportation.

"She thought that the potential of aviation had no boundaries, but we had to get past air shows where people came expecting someone to fall out of the plane and die," Kerr told The Hour.

Quimby also foresaw that the single-wing monoplane would eventually replace the double-winged planes made popular by the Wright brothers.

"At the time that (Quimby) passed away, the Wright brothers were the name, and everybody thought that the biplane was the way to go," Kerr said. Meanwhile, in her writing, Quimby was an advocate for the monoplane of Louie Bleriot, which she correctly predicted would become standard. "It was like she could see these things in the future. And she was beautiful, absolutely beautiful."

At the dawn of the U.S. push for women's suffrage, Quimby's frenetic life typified the energy of the day--but she herself was a vocal skeptic of the suffrage movement, according to Kerr.

"It was the end of that Gilded Age, Victorian era," Kerr said. "Women were just beginning to make their voices known, wanting to be heard."

"(Quimby) thought the suffragette movement was actually harmful for women, because she thought they could make their voices heard in a less dramatic way and get things accomplished," Kerr added.

"If you are afraid, of course you will never succeed," Quimby once wrote.

"And she really believed that," Kerr told The Hour. "She thought, 'Just go for it.'"

In recognition of Women's History Month, Leslie Kerr will be the featured speaker at Norwalk Public Library on Friday, March 18 at noon in the Main Auditorium. A light lunch will be provided courtesy of the library.
While legislators committed Wednesday to close a $220 million hole in state finances by March 31, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy ordered $79 million in emergency cuts, two-thirds of which hit social service agencies and education.

Malloy, who already had ordered rescissions twice this year, said Wednesday that he again had little room to maneuver fiscally.

These were difficult decisions, but ones that nevertheless have to be made to ensure that we dont spend more than we actually have, the governor said. I appreciate our recent discussions with legislative leadership, and hope they will continue to be productive and lead to a bipartisan solution. Together, we must adjust our overall spending expectations. I look forward to continuing to meet with Democratic and Republican leadership in both chambers in order to find the best solutions possible.

State law gives the governor limited authority to reduce spending without legislative approval. The governor cannot reduce any line item unilaterally by more than 5 percent, and municipal aid is exempt.

Other areas, such as state employee salaries and benefits and Medicaid, technically are eligible for rescissions, but in reality they are very difficult to cut mid-year. Wages and benefits largely are fixed by contract while Medicaid, governed by federal entitlement rules, require the state to spend whatever is necessary to serve all qualifying patients.

Because of those limitations, most of these unilateral cuts traditionally fall on social services, public colleges and universities, and some primary and secondary education programs.

That was the case again on Wednesday.

The Department on Developmental Disabilities lost $17.2 million, while $19.5 million in further cuts were imposed on five other agencies that provide social services.

Some specific program reductions within those agencies include:

 $9.7 million for community residential services for people with developmental disabilities and $4.6 million for employment and day services for people with developmental disabilities.

 $1.9 million in grants for mental health and substance abuse treatment providers.

 $829,415 from general assistance managed care, which covers behavioral health services for state residents. The Malloy administration excluded this account from across-the-board cuts in its proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

 $234,949 from school-based health clinics, which provide primary care, mental health and dental services to students.

The new cuts do not affect the payments the state owes hospitals, which the Malloy administration has been withholding. A spokesman for the governors budget office said those funds are still suspended.

Hospitals staged a major lobbying effort at the state Capitol Wednesday, with groups of hospital officials, staffers in scrubs and white coats, and community members walking through the building and urging legislators to make the payments and reduce hospitals tax burden. The payments are meant to repay the hospitals for a portion of the $566.1 million they pay the state in taxes - redistributing the money allows the state to generate federal matching dollars - as well as fund a separate pool for small independent hospitals. Legislators from both parties have called for the administration to release the payments.

But Wednesday's cuts do include $1.4 million in reduced payments to community health centers, which the administration announced earlier this month it was withholding. The state funding is used to generate federal matching funds, so the actual loss to health centers is expected to be closer to $4 million. The funding, known as supplemental payments, has in past years supported health center operations and helped to cover costs related to treating the uninsured or shortfalls in Medicaid funding.

Education again took a significant hit.

The University of Connecticut, including the UConn Health Center in Farmington, lost $5.4 million, while the governor also cut $1.9 million from the Board of Regents for Higher Education.

About $6.2 million was cut from the Department of Education, including $1 million from charter schools.

And because some of the social services- and health care-related cuts affected programs that qualify for federal reimbursement, the administration estimated that Connecticut would lose some funds from Washington, D.C. According to Malloy, the $79 million in cuts should produce about $65 million in net savings.

Neither Democratic nor Republican legislative leaders said after a 20-minute, closed-door meeting precisely how they would help Malloy balance the current fiscal year  which ends June 30.

But all agreed they must move quickly because a much larger challenge looms. The preliminary $20.4 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 has a $900 million general fund deficit  a gap of about 5 percent  and officials hope to resolve that before the regular legislative session ends on May 4.

State officials have been struggling with red ink for much of this fiscal year, a problem driven largely by shrinking projections for state income tax receipts and other revenues.

Were all committed to (re-balancing the budget) by the end of the month, House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby said. We want to do it as soon as possible.

The House and Senate Republican caucuses offered their own plan Tuesday to wipe out $220 million in red ink this fiscal year.

The GOP plan would:

 Reduce spending by about 15 percent for higher education and many social services agencies.

 Cut charter school funding by $12.9 million.

 Furlough all state workers for two days. This couldnt be done without approval of state employee unions.

 Reduce legislators pay;

 Eliminate two high-ranking posts in Malloys administration;

 Cancel a $24 million deposit into the sales tax revenue-sharing program for cities and towns.

 And allow the state to release $140 million in suspended payments owed to Connecticuts hospitals.

The House and Senate Democratic caucuses are working on their own deficit-mitigation plan, and leaders said it should be completed by the end of this week.

The Republican plan also sweeps about $40 million from off-budget and other one-time sources. House Speaker J. Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, said Democrats probably would turn to some one-time budget solutions as well.

Where exactly will Democrats look to cut?

Sharkey said no ideas have been taken off the table at this point. Were trying to gather as much information as we can and take a more surgical approach to cutting the budget than broad, across-the-board reductions, he added.

Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, said tentative plans call for House and Senate votes on a deficit-mitigation bill during the week that begins March 28.

This story originally appeared at CTMirror.org, the website of The Connecticut Mirror, an independent, nonprofit news organization covering government, politics and public policy in the state.
CLEVELAND (AP)  Hillary Clinton triumphed Tuesday in the Florida, Ohio and North Carolina presidential primaries, a commanding showing for the Democratic front-runner now eager to move on to the general election. Republican Donald Trump swept to victory in Florida, too, capturing the night's biggest GOP prize and ending Marco Rubio's once-promising campaign.

Rubio implicitly rebuked Trump throughout a speech announcing he was dropping out of the race, imploring Americans to "not give in to the fear, do not give in to the frustration."

Rubio, a favorite of Republican leaders, is the latest candidate to fall victim to an unpredictable election cycle and Trump's unmatched ability to tap into the public's anger with Washington and frustration with sweeping economic changes.

Trump was locked in a close contest with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in North Carolina and Missouri. But Republicans were keeping an especially close watch on Ohio, where home state Gov. John Kasich was fighting to keep the billionaire businessman from claiming the Midwest's biggest cache of delegates.

Trump picked up 99 delegates in Florida's winner-take-all contest, and another 66 were up for grabs in Ohio.

Clinton's victories in Ohio and Florida bolstered her argument that she's the best Democratic candidate to take on Republicans in the general election. Her win in Ohio was a particular relief for her campaign, which grew anxious after rival Bernie Sanders pulled off a surprising win last week in Michigan, another important Midwestern state.

Sanders spent the week pounding Clinton's past support for trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, which he says has been a job-killer in the U.S.

"Secretary Clinton stood with the big money interests," Sanders said at a campaign stop Tuesday in Ohio.

According to early exit polls, Democratic voters were more likely to describe Sanders as honest, but more likely to describe Clinton's policies as realistic.

Campaigning Tuesday in North Carolina, Clinton said "the numbers are adding up in my favor." She signaled an eagerness to move on to a possible general election showdown with Trump, saying he's laid out a "really dangerous path" for the country.

Trump entered Tuesday's primaries embroiled in one of the biggest controversies of his contentious campaign. The GOP front-runner has encouraged supporters to confront protesters at his events and is now facing accusations of encouraging violence after skirmishes at a rally last week in Chicago.

The atmosphere at his events has deepened the concern over his candidacy in some Republican circles. Rubio and Kasich have suggested they might not be able to support Trump if he's the nominee, an extraordinary stance for intraparty rivals.

Trump's closest competition so far has come from Cruz, who has kept relatively close to the businessman in the delegate count. Cruz has been urging Rubio and Kasich to step aside and let him get into a one-on-one race.

Even before Tuesday's results, a group of conservatives was planning a meeting to discuss options for stopping Trump, including at a contested convention or by rallying around a third-party candidate. While such no candidate has been identified, the participants in Tuesday's meeting planned to discuss ballot access issues, including using an existing third party as a vehicle or securing signatures for an independent bid.

A person familiar with the planning confirmed the meeting on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the gathering by name.

Despite concerns from party leaders, Republican voters continue to back Trump's most controversial proposals, with two-thirds of those who participated in GOP primaries Tuesday saying they support temporarily banning Muslims from the United States.

The exit polls were conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks.

Trump's Florida victory brought his delegate total to 568. Cruz has 370 delegates, Rubio has 163 and Kasich has 63. It takes 1,237 to win the GOP nomination.

Clinton has at least 1,353 delegates, including the superdelegates who are elected officials and party leaders free to support the candidate of their choice. Sanders has at least 625. It takes 2,383 to win the Democratic nomination.

___

Pace reported from Washington. AP writers Scott Bauer in Rockford, Illinois, Lisa Lerer in Chicago, Sergio Bustos in Miami, Stephen Ohlemacher and Alan Fram in Washington contributed to this report.
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PYONGYANG, North Korea -- North Korea's highest court sentenced an American tourist to 15 years in prison with hard labor for subversion on Wednesday, weeks after authorities presented him to media and he tearfully confessed that he had tried to steal a propaganda banner.

Otto Warmbier, 21, a University of Virginia undergraduate, was convicted and sentenced in a one-hour trial in North Korea's Supreme Court.

He was charged with subversion under Article 60 of North Korea's criminal code. The court held that he had committed a crime "pursuant to the U.S. government's hostile policy toward (the North), in a bid to impair the unity of its people after entering it as a tourist."

North Korea regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow its government to enable the U.S.-backed South Korean government to take control of the Korean Peninsula.

Tensions are particularly high following North Korea's recent nuclear test and rocket launch, and massive joint military exercises now underway between the U.S. and South Korea that the North sees as a dress rehearsal for invasion.

The University of Virginia said it was aware of news reports about Warmbier and remained in touch with his family, but would have no additional comment at this time.

A message seeking comment from Warmbier's family was left at a Wyoming, Ohio, telephone listing for his father, Fred Warmbier. Susanna Max, a spokeswoman for Wyoming City Schools, said last month that the district, where Otto Warmbier attended school, had been in touch with the family. She said Wednesday that the district continues "to respect their privacy" and declines to comment.

Before the trial, Warmbier had said he tried to steal a propaganda banner as a trophy for an acquaintance who wanted to hang it in her church. That would be grounds in North Korea for a subversion charge. He identified the church as Friendship United Methodist Church. Meshach Kanyion, pastor of the church in Wyoming, declined to comment Wednesday.

Ohio Gov. and Republican presidential hopeful John Kasich issued a statement Wednesday calling on North Korea to immediately release Warmbier and let him return to his family. "His detention was completely unjustified and the sentence North Korea imposed on him is an affront to concepts of justice," Kasich said.

Trials for foreigners facing similar charges in North Korea are generally short and punishments severe. Warmbier was arrested as he tried to leave the country in early January. He was in North Korea with a New Year's tour group.

U.S. tourism to North Korea is legal. Arrests of tourists are rare but the U.S. State Department strongly advises against such travel.

Further complicating matters, Washington and Pyongyang do not have diplomatic relations. The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang acts as a go-between in consular issues when U.S. citizens run afoul of North Korean authorities.

North Korea announced Warmbier's arrest in late January, saying he committed an anti-state crime with "the tacit connivance of the U.S. government and under its manipulation." It remains unclear how the U.S. government was allegedly connected to Warmbier's actions.

Warmbier had been staying at the Yanggakdo International Hotel. It is common for sections of tourist hotels to be reserved for North Korean staff and off-limits to foreigners.

In a tearful statement made before his trial, Warmbier told a gathering of reporters in Pyongyang he was offered a used car worth $10,000 if he could get a propaganda banner and was also told that if he was detained and didn't return, $200,000 would be paid to his mother in the form of a charitable donation.

Warmbier said he accepted the offer because his family was "suffering from very severe financial difficulties."

Warmbier also said he had been encouraged by the university's "Z Society," which he said he was trying to join. The magazine of the university's alumni association describes the Z Society as a "semi-secret ring society" founded in 1892 that conducts philanthropy, puts on honorary dinners and grants academic awards.

In previous cases, people who have been detained in North Korea and made a public confession often recant those statements after their release.

In the past, North Korea has held out until senior U.S. officials or statesmen came to personally bail out detainees, all the way up to former President Bill Clinton, whose visit in 2009 secured the freedom of American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling.

In November 2014, U.S. spy chief James Clapper went to Pyongyang to bring home Matthew Miller, who had ripped up his visa when entering the country and was serving a six-year sentence on an espionage charge, and Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who had been sentenced to 15 years for alleged anti-government activities.

Jeffrey Fowle, another U.S. tourist from Ohio detained for six months at about the same time as Miller, was released just before that and sent home on a U.S. government plane. Fowle left a Bible in a local club hoping a North Korean would find it, which is considered a criminal offense in North Korea.

___

Eric Talmadge, the AP's Pyongyang bureau chief, contributed to this report from Tokyo. AP writers Lisa Cornwell in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Sarah Brumfield in Washington, D.C., also contributed to this story.
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BEIRUT -- A powerful Kurdish party announced plans Wednesday to declare a federal region in northern Syria, an idea promptly dismissed by Turkey and Syrian government negotiators at U.N.-brokered peace talks.

The declaration was expected to be made at the end of a Kurdish conference that began Wednesday in the town of Rmeilan, in Syria's northern Hassakeh province.

It comes as the Damascus government and Western- and Saudi-backed rebels are holding peace talks with a U.N. envoy in Geneva on ways to end the devastating civil war, which this week entered its sixth year.

The main Syrian Kurdish group, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and its military wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG), have so far been excluded from those talks so as not to anger Turkey, despite Russia's insistence that they be part of the negotiations. Ankara views the group as a terrorist organization.

Nawaf Khalil of the PYD told The Associated Press by phone from Germany, where he is based, that his party is not lobbying for a Kurdish region but an all-inclusive area with representation for Turkmen, Arabs and Kurds in northern Syria.

Salih Muslim, the co-president of the PYD, speaking to the AP in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, that the decision to declare a federal region was not yet official, but any such announcement would be a positive step that helps keep Syria together.

He suggested the only way forward was a decentralized Syria and that any formula for that, whether federalism or autonomy, would be acceptable to the Kurds. "The name is not important," he added.

Kurds are the largest ethnic minority in Syria, making up more than 10 percent of the prewar population of 23 million. They control an area along the Turkish border stretching from Syria's far east, near the Iraqi border, to Afrin in the west, interrupted only by a stretch of territory that the Islamic State group controls.

Syria's Kurds have declared their own civil administration in three distinct enclaves, or cantons, under their control: Jazira, Kobani and Afrin.

Around 200 Kurdish representatives from those three cantons, known collectively as Western Kurdistan, or Rojava, were meeting in Rmeilan Wednesday to discuss the move.

Federalism could be a first step toward creating an autonomous region similar to the one Kurds run across the border in Iraq, where their territory is virtually a separate country. It could also usher in similar demands elsewhere in Syria and in effect lead to partition.

A Turkish Foreign Ministry official said his country rejects any moves that would compromise Syria's national unity and considers the territorial integrity of Syria as "essential."

It's up to the Syrian people to "decide on the executive and administrative structure of Syria in line with the new constitution which will be formulated through the political transition process," said the official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity in line with government practice.

"Unilateral moves carry no validity," the official said.

Turkey views the PYD as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which has renewed a decades-old insurgency since peace talks collapsed last year. The United States also considers the PKK a terrorist group, but both the U.S. and Russia support the YPG, which has been among the most effective forces battling the Islamic State group.

Much of Syria's border with Turkey is now controlled by the YPG-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces -- an alliance that includes Kurds, Arabs and Christians -- which has distinguished itself from the Syrian government and the mainstream opposition in the civil war.

Though the PYD is the predominant authority in northern Syria, it shares authority in some pockets with the Damascus government. These arrangements, around the cities of Hassakeh and Qamishli, are generally calm but sometimes flare up into confrontations.

Two days ago, Assad loyalists belonging to the National Defense Force militia clashed with Kurdish police forces in Qamishli. On Wednesday, the police arrested 60 militia members, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition group that monitors the conflict, said.

Both the Syrian government and the opposition, at least in theory, reject any form of partition. Riad Naasan Agha, a member of the Saudi-backed opposition, said such issues should be decided through Syrian institutions, including elections.

"What someone declares on their own, far away from the Syrian people, is unacceptable," Agha said.

Syria's U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari, who also heads the government team at the U.N.-brokered talks in Geneva, said the negotiations are meant to discuss preserving Syria's territorial integrity.

"Betting on creating any kind of divisions among the Syrians will be a total failure," Ja'afari said.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday said federalization is one possible option in Syria if it is the will of the Syrian people. He said Russia will support whatever solution the government and the opposition devise to end the war, including "any form (of government) whatever it may be called: federalization, decentralization, unitary state."

The PYD's Khalil distinguished between autonomous rule over Kurdish areas -- which has been in effect in Syria since 2013 -- and the federalism project, which he said was ethnically inclusive.

"The federalism project is a model for all Syria," he said in a phone interview from Germany, where he is based.

The Kurdish move comes at a critical juncture in the conflict.

A two-week-old Russian and U.S.-engineered partial cease-fire is holding and peace talks resumed this week. Moreover, Russia on Tuesday began withdrawing the bulk of its troops from Syria, signaling an end to Moscow's five-and-a-half month air campaign. That move raised hopes for more meaningful discussions in Switzerland, where U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura is shuttling between delegations from the Syrian government and the moderate, Western-backed opposition.

NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told The Associated Press that Russia's partial withdrawal should contribute to efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Syrian conflict.

Stoltenberg, who spoke during a visit to Afghanistan, said the consequences of the withdrawal are yet to be seen but that he "would welcome any action that reduces the military tensions in Syria."

___

Associated Press writers Zeina Karam in Beirut, Dominique Soguel in Istanbul, Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow, Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Lynne O'Donnell in Kabul contributed to this report.
NORWALK -- Within the next two weeks, the city's Board of Fire Commissioners hopes interview 30 top-ranked applicants and get eight of them into the Connecticut Fire Academy this fall to become Norwalk firefighters.

Nearly 1,000 candidates took the entry-level firefighters examination in December. Of those, roughly 450 made the cutoff and advanced to oral examinations, according to Mayor Harry W. Rilling, chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners.

"They were ranked from the top to the bottom and we are going to be processing the first 30 candidates," Rilling said after commissioners' meeting at the Norwalk Fire Department headquarters on Tuesday afternoon. "They have to go through background checks, medical examinations, physical agility, and then the Fire Commission, before we put anybody on the department, obviously we want to interview them and know who we're hiring."

At the meeting earlier Tuesday, Rilling and fellow fire commissioner Oscar Destruge and Curtis Langley went into executive session to discuss the interview process and what the interviews will entail.

Rilling later told The Hour that he has recommended that the fire commissioners, someone from the Norwalk Fire Department administration as well as a rank-and-file department member, perhaps from the union, sit in during the interviews. The commission hopes to hire eight people and send them to the academy in September, he said.

Nevertheless, 30 candidates will be interviewed with the assumption that some will take other jobs, not pass the medical examination or "wash out" for other reasons, according to Rilling.

In August, the Common Council approved hiring CWH Research Inc. of Lone Tree, Colo., to develop and execute an "Entry Level Test" for the Norwalk Fire Department for a cost not to exceed $88,000.

Officials have sought to boost participation by women and minorities in the current hiring process.

By late September, a month after the Fire Department began accepting applications for the written examination Dec. 5, about 300 individuals had applied to take the test and roughly a third were women and/or minorities, according to then-Fire Chief Denis McCarthy. Rilling wouldn't divulge Tuesday the breakdown of the candidates but indicated they are a diverse group. "Let's just say that based on the candidates that took the test, we were very pleased with the diversity of the candidate pool," Rilling said.
To the Editor:

One of the curious omissions in the Presidential "debates" so far is that while all candidates have suggested a "stronger response" to the radical Islam or ISIS challenge they've been shy on specifics. After inheriting the staggering after effects of former President Bush's Iraqi regime change President Obama, despite calls for a more muscular approach, has steadfastly refused to intervene in the Sunni-Shite conflict other than with modest air strikes. After decades of "muscular intervention" in the mid-east President Obama has avoided mid-east regime change (excluding Libya) and rolling back the iSIS challenge by land War (boots on the ground).

In contrast Democrat candidates have supported the President's Iran initiatives while Republican views range from partial acceptance to rescinding or renegotiation. But none are suggesting regime change in Iran or that the oft repeated Iranian promise to exterminate Israel merits an American military response. So in contrast to a more undefined muscular approach to ISIS the candidates as a whole are positioned to either criticize or validate the Iran Deal.

Odds look promising that the Presidential campaign once in earnest will focus on domestic matters - the traditional stance - with only modest attention to foreign policy - the presumed strength of Ms. Clinton. And that once in office the new President will largely continue the current policies. President Obama's enduring mid-east legacy may well be that despite almost relentless criticism of his mid-east efforts from a crisis of historic proportions that he inherited his successor will likely follow his much criticized course. If only because there are no other "good options". All in all that's a pretty good "Legacy" in the mid-east quagmire. And an unexpected one.

Peter I Berman

Norwalk
The Labor Committee recently proposed that the state choose one company to offer IRA plans to those who don't yet have one. HB 5591 would cause the state to compete directly with our retirement investment industry. This proposal would worsen Connecticut's already hostile business environment. It's time to stop this, now.

This bill is an unworkable solution to an urgent question: how do we encourage private sector workers to save for retirement? HB 5591 is just another costly mandate on Connecticut's struggling businesses as well as a tax on employee wages. The bill mandates a single, state run IRA for private sector workers and creates a new bureaucracy with which employers must contend. Firms with more than 5 employees would be required to automatically enroll their employees, unless they opt-out.

This bill poses a considerable risk to employers, employees and to the state as a whole. Even the Connecticut State Retirement Board acknowledges the plan's dubious financial sustainability. The plan requires an employee contribution of 6 percent without their affirmative consent, a practice that the majority party would condemn if it were initiated by a private financial firm, yet which is necessary for the retirement fund to remain solvent. This is at a time when Connecticut is unable to manage its own pension fund, which is funded at only 42 percent, when the national standard is 85 percent.

Enrolled employees would have no consumer choice, no control over how their money is invested, or the level of risk they assume. Since the legislation's target population likely lives paycheck to paycheck, the loss of 6 percent of their income will make it more difficult for them to meet necessary expenses, a hardship that they will undoubtedly take to their employers. Finally, HB 5591 would grant a government authorized monopoly to a large financial institution, which would control an estimated $1 billion in assets, and the retirement savings of approximately 300,000 Connecticut residents.

This plan could effectively take over Connecticut's entire planning and investment industry, supplanting a large and vital segment of our private sector. Having lost GE and other companies due to our oppressive tax and regulatory environment, the state should find ways to bolster its remaining successful industries. Retirement planning is one area in which there is an abundance of top notch providers. In order to preserve this business sector and provide effectively for future retirees, a better solution is needed.

The alternative we are proposing is based on a recently enacted Washington state bill. That bill establishes a small-business retirement marketplace within the state Department of Commerce. The marketplace's goal will be to connect eligible employers with a wide variety of low cost, low-burden retirement savings plans offered by private vendors, and to educate small employers on their availability. Participation in the marketplace is completely voluntary both for employers and employees, but only those who are self-employed, sole proprietors or employers with fewer than one hundred employees may participate. Since the state would not provide the plans directly, it assumes no risk. Rather, the state will work with a private firm to develop the marketplace and establish protocols for selecting appropriate vendors.

This more balanced approach would create a one stop shopping place in which employers could quickly identify and enroll in financially prudent, qualified private plans, vastly lowering their administrative costs and the risks associated with investigating and choosing plans on their own. It received bipartisan approval and accolades from AARP, the Washington Bankers Association, the American Council of Life Insurers, and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA). SIFMA is the voice of the U.S. securities industry, whose 889,000 employees manage more than $62 trillion in assets for individual and institutional clients, including mutual funds and retirement plans.

By emulating this model, Connecticut could address the desire for more private sector workers to build financial security for themselves in a way that supports the private sector. The state should strive to assist private sector businesses instead of putting them at further risk for closure and to promote better informed and more proactive retirement savings. By acting as a clearinghouse for private retirement plans, rather than a direct competitor, the state could satisfy these goals in an arrangement that benefits everyone.
COLUMBUS  A 26-year-old Columbus man who admitted punching his live-in girlfriend in the face and threatening to stab a neighbor who came to her defense was sentenced to probation in Platte County District Court.

Judge Robert Steinke sentenced Jose Soto to 18 months of probation after the defendant pleaded no contest to terroristic threats and third-degree domestic assault stemming from the Sept. 21 incident at a mobile home park on the east edge of town.

Terroristic threats is a Class IIIA felony carrying a penalty of up to five years in prison.

In exchange for Sotos earlier pleas, the Platte County Attorneys Office dismissed charges of attempted second-degree assault and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony.

Use of a weapon is a Class II felony, punishable by a maximum of 50 years imprisonment and a minimum of one year behind bars.

Court documents describe a clash that began with Soto punching the victim in the face with a closed fist while the neighbor witnessed the violent encounter and rushed to her aid.

The neighbor reported he stopped Soto from continuing to hit the victim when the defendant pulled out a knife and began to threaten him, said Platte County Sheriffs Deputy Matt Daniels in his probable cause statement.

The (neighbor) said he ran back toward his own trailer, which sits next door, and Soto followed him with the knife, swinging it at him several times, but never hitting him, Daniels wrote in his sworn affidavit.

The neighbor said Soto then ran back to his own trailer and went inside, the deputy said.
'How Hoax mom' Bonnie Sweeten violated probation before new charges

Court records associated with Bucks County 'Hoax mom' Bonnie Sweeten Rakoczy say she continued stealing money after her release from prison.
LINCOLN  A revamp of Gov. Pete Ricketts' property tax plan will receive a rare late-session public hearing next week as lawmakers race the calendar to address the issue before adjourning for the year.

"Clock's ticking," said Sen. Mike Gloor of Grand Island, chairman of the Legislature's Revenue Committee. "We're trying to move as rapidly as we can with an important bill."

Ricketts signed off on the new proposal Wednesday. The Revenue Committee has scheduled the hearing for March 24 at 2 p.m.

Then, just 11 days will remain in the session, during which the bill (LB958) would need to be amended to reflect the changes, advanced from committee, placed on the Legislature's agenda for debate and passed through three rounds of voting.

Voting rounds must be held on separate days, with an additional day between the second and third rounds.

But Speaker Galen Hadley, who sets the agenda, said LB958 and any related property tax measures would be "very high" on his priority list. That could mean skipping debate on other senators' priority bills.

"I think the people of Nebraska have said these are important issues," Hadley said of the property tax measures.

The Revenue Committee's proposed replacement language for Ricketts' plan, which Gloor sponsored on the governor's behalf, essentially rewrites the entire bill.

I appreciate the continued work of Chairman Gloor and the Revenue Committee as they have collaborated with my team on designing a property tax relief plan, Ricketts said in a news release Wednesday. Continued collaboration will be important as we work together to deliver much-needed property tax relief for hard-working Nebraskans.

The new plan essentially comes in three parts:

 Changing how the state's property tax credit fund is distributed so more money goes to agricultural landowners, the group hit hardest by increasing tax bills that result from rising land values.

That shift wouldn't take effect until 2017, giving the governor and lawmakers time to find about $25 million to $30 million in the state budget, enough to boost the overall amount of credits so residential and commercial landowners won't lose out.

Other measures  such as Gloor's bill to raise the state's cigarette tax  could be used to generate revenue and provide those additional credits sooner, he said.

 Limiting the amount of allowable budget growth community colleges can stock up to use in later years at 3 percent of a college's overall spending.

 Allowing local governments to pool funds to insure themselves against future liabilities.

Ricketts' original bill and its companion measure in the Education Committee, LB959, were the products of months of meetings and discussions between lawmakers and the governor's office beginning last summer.

Yet the measure drew fierce opposition from cities, counties and other local governments during a public hearing Feb. 4.

Revenue Committee members and researchers with the governor's office have pored over the bill since then.

Their proposed changes are substantial enough and include enough new ideas that the committee decided an additional public hearing is necessary.

"If this were easy, it would have already been done," Gloor said.
A 53-year-old Glen Carbon man will be sentenced this summer after pleading guilty to charges that he robbed the One Stop Shop Gas Station in Maryville.

The robbery occurred on Jan. 14.

Jonathan Michael Malone, whose most recent address is listed as 19 Dogwood Lane, was charged with Interference of Commerce by Robbery as well as with Brandishing a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William E. Coonan also charged Malone with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

According to federal court records, Malone pointed the handgun at the gas station owner. Malone had possession of the handgun unlawfully because he had previously been convicted of armed robbery, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office.

On June 6, 1995, he was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to armed robbery charges in Madison County. In 1991, Malone was arrested by Edwardsville police and charged by the Madison County States Attorneys Office with attempted armed robbery.

The current armed robbery charge carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. The brandishing a firearms charge carries a maximum life in prison and not less than seven years in prison, which would run concurrent to any term imposed on the armed robbery charge.

The felon in possession of a firearm charge carries a maximum of 10 years in prison.

After his arrest, Malone was indicted by a federal grand jury in the U.S. District Court in East St. Louis.

The case was investigated by Glen Carbon Police, Maryville Police, Illinois State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Malone is scheduled for sentencing on July 12.
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Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar  Wed, March 16, 2016

A travel advisory issued by the Australian government has affected Bali's tourism sector. The advisory, issued for security reasons, led to the cancellation of at least three cruise ships coming to the island.



Acting Benoa harbormaster Wayan Suarta said the cruise liners had been scheduled to dock at the Benoa port this week, but all had recently cancelled their plans.



'The cruise ships notified us that they would cancel their plans to visit Bali. They only said it was because of security reasons without providing any further details,' Suarta said.



Suarta added that the cancellation was likely related to the Australian government's travel advisory.



'I think the cancellation has something to do with Australia's travel advisory because the cruise ships depart from Australia, and most of the passengers are Australians,' he said.



The Australian government announced on its website that terrorists might be 'in the advanced stages' of preparing attacks in Indonesia, advising Australians visiting Indonesia to exercise a high degree of caution as they continue to 'receive information that indicates that terrorists may be planning attacks in Indonesia, which could take place anywhere at any time'.



'Recent indications suggest that terrorists may be in the advanced stages of preparing attacks in Indonesia,' Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in an updated travel advisory.



The cancellation is affecting cruise tourism in Bali. Bali is expecting to welcome around 60 cruise ships this year. Last year, a total of 58 cruise ships arrived on the island, up from 49 ships in 2014, and 41 in 2013.



The island has recorded an increase in the number of cruise ship passengers, from 49,041 people in 2014 to 71,126 people in 2015. One cruise ship can carry an average of 1,000 to 2,000 passengers.



Suarta, however, was still optimistic that cruise tourism in Bali would not totally collapse as other cruises were still scheduled to come to the island.



'Yesterday, the Volendam cruise ship from Singapore docked in Benoa. We will also have the Sun Princess dock on Thursday. So, other cruise ships remain on schedule to arrive in Bali,' Suarta said.



In contrast to cruise tourism, hotels in Bali have yet to receive any cancellations as a result of the travel advisory.



'Cruise tourism has different characteristics, as their trip highly depends on the cruise's management. But I can say that the number of foreign tourists visiting Bali is still high,' Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana, the Bali head of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), said.



The Indonesian Tourism Industry Association's (GIPI) Bali chapter head Ida Bagus Ngurah Wijaya said that in order to not lose any more tourists, the government should do something to show that Indonesia and Bali were safe.



'When the travel advisory was issued, the government should have given a statement to counter the issue. Unfortunately, the government did not do anything,' Ngurah Wijaya said.



Ngurah Wijaya is also worried about the future of the Australian market in Bali tourism as the number of Australians visiting Bali has been decreasing of late.



'We also need to do something to improve the situation. We could, for example, invite Australian media to visit Bali, so that they can report on the actual conditions in Bali,' he suggested.



The Bali Statistics Agency recorded 966,869 Australian visitors to Bali in 2015, a 2.53 percent decrease from the 991,923 visitors recorded in 2014. Australia ranked at the top in the number of foreign tourists visiting Bali with 24.16 percent of the 4 million arrivals in 2015, followed by China, Japan, Malaysia and the UK.
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Linkedin Andi Hajramurni (The Jakarta Post) Enrekang, South Sulawesi  Wed, March 16, 2016

In a country where about one-third of the people smoke, Bone-bone village in Enrekang regency, South Sulawesi, took a firm stance against the harmful habit a long time back.



When several regions only recently declared no-smoking zones or issued regulations on smoke-free areas, the village took the bold step of banning smoking both for residents and visitors in 2000.



Indonesia ranks among the world's top five countries with the most smokers. As many as 61.4 million Indonesians, representing 36.1 percent of its population, use tobacco by smoking and/or in smokeless forms, according to the 2011 Global Adult Tobacco Survey.



Two-thirds, 67.4 percent, of males over 15 years old smoke, making Indonesia the country with the world's highest smoking prevalence among males.



In 2000 when Bone-bone was still a hamlet, the first step was taken by Muhammad Idris.



When elected to be the hamlet's leader in 1996, Idris noticed the prevailing smoking habit, mainly among male residents, from young people to adults. Cigarettes were even distributed alongside food during family parties.



The Alauddin State Islamic Institute graduate concluded that smoking was responsible for the hamlet's poverty as it used up people's incomes and hampered educational progress while worsening people's health.



Idris invited the hamlet's eight community figures to support his smoke-free policy by banning cigarette sales as an initial step. The move met with opposition from cigarette sellers and it took two years for the ban to be fully active.



'In 2003, we started prohibiting the distribution of cigarettes at parties or festivities, followed by a total ban on smoking in the following years. Those wishing to smoke must do it outside this hamlet,' said Idris, who ended his term in 2014.



In making the ban a success, he even involved children to watch for those who continued to smoke in secret, in return for prizes.



Warnings against smoking were also placed in all corners of the hamlet ' home to 136 families of 797 people ' while verbal warnings were announced over loudspeakers at mosques.



Any breach of the rule carried social sanctions, from cleaning public facilities to making public apologies through loudspeakers.



Gradually, the hamlet's residents abandoned their smoking habits, with no more smokers found in 2006.



Over the 15 years since the ban was imposed, the rule has taken root within the village, which is located some 300 kilometers north of the provincial capital Makassar.



'The air here is very fresh. That is why I like to stay here longer,' said Dewi, a visiting Makassar resident.



Giving up smoking also enhances the stamina of the village's residents, who are mostly farmers who have to walk a long distance to reach their plantations.



Amir, a 45-year-old farmer and blacksmith, said when he was still smoking, he easily got tired and had to rest on his way to the plantation.



Amir started smoking as a teenager, finishing two packs in a day. When smoking was banned he kicked the habit and he considers the ban a realistic move to promote better health and improve the economy. 'Without smoking, I can save money and meet my family's needs, especially for my children's education.'



The village's guests obey the ban as well.



'Whenever I want to smoke, I have to leave the village,' said 42-year-old Marten, a construction supervisor.



Today, Bone-bone, which got village status in 2008, does not only ban smoking, but also the entry and sale of snacks using synthetic materials and flavorings as well as drinks with coloring.



Tree felling has also been prohibited to make sure the village is protected from floods and landslides. Couples planning to get married are also required to plant at least five trees each.



Unlike in the past when smoking was rampant, smoking-related diseases are now rare.



The village's economy has improved and it has no more school dropouts. About 80 of the village's youngsters are currently studying at various universities, including 30 on Java.



Half of Bone-bone's access roads have been asphalted and electricity has reached the village since 2009, while nearly all of the village's residents now own decent wooden stilt houses ' thanks to the increasing production of paddy, coffee and cacao.



Because of its success story, Bone-bone has become a laboratory for local and foreign researchers, like from Australia, Germany, Japan and France, who want to study the village's way of implementing the no-smoking policy. The village has also received awards, including from the Health Ministry and the World Health Organization.



Bone-bone village head Abdul Wahid said the no-smoking ban remained effective until today. 'The smoke-free policy has considerably changed this village, improving people's lives and boosting development. We'll always uphold this rule,' he said.
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Linkedin Christopher Bodeen (The Jakarta Post) Beijing  Wed, March 16, 2016

China sees no contradiction between its insistence on safeguarding territory it claims and its desire for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday.



Striking a moderate tone, Li also said China was comfortable with a continued US presence in the region, despite its past characterization of Washington, Australia and others as unwelcome interlopers. China can "engage in cooperation with them in the Asia-Pacific and manage well our differences," he said.



Li's remarks at a news conference following the close of China's annual legislative session were more circumspect than those last week by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who sternly warned that Beijing would not permit other nations to infringe on its sovereign rights in the strategic South China Sea.



Wang also rejected accusations that China was militarizing the area by building man-made islands and topping them with airstrips, turning the accusation back on the United States.



While Li did not address any disputes directly, he reaffirmed China's desire for a calm regional environment and good neighborly relations, saying differences could be handled through diplomatic means.



Although China's commitment to upholding its sovereignty and territorial integrity is "totally unambiguous," Li said it would also be a "powerful force" for world peace.



"We hope that countries from both inside and outside the region can do more to benefit regional stability and not the opposite," Li said. "Otherwise, no one benefits."



The US, Vietnam, the Philippines and others have complained that China's island building project has raised tensions by changing the status quo in the area, where six Asian governments have overlapping claims. The South China Sea includes sea lanes through which more than US$5 trillion in global trade passes each year, along with rich fishing grounds and potential oil and gas deposits.



Despite China's strong objections, the US Navy says it will continue to sail and fly past the new Chinese islands. The commander of the Pacific Air Forces, Gen. Lori Robinson, said earlier this month that Washington urged other nations to exercise their freedom to fly and sail in international airspace and waters claimed by China in the South China Sea "or risk losing it throughout the region."



Along with contesting disputed territory in the South China Sea, China also claims a chunk of Indian territory along their border, as well as a string of uninhabited East China Sea islands held by Japan.



Asked about Beijing's often tense relations with Tokyo, Li said that although ties have shown signs of an improvement, that is as yet "not fully established" and more concrete action is needed from Japan.



Relations between the two neighbors have been generally calm since violent anti-Japanese riots broke out in several Chinese cities in 2012 after Japan nationalized a chain of uninhabited islands claimed by China.(+)
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Linkedin Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

The Jakarta administration has called for city-owned company PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol, which manages the Ancol Dreamland recreational park in North Jakarta, to build strategic partnerships with international amusement park managements following the company's plan to issue its rights share.



The Jakarta administration and Pembangunan Jaya Ancol authorities held on Monday a closed meeting to discuss the company's proposal to offer its rights issue in a bid to expand its attractions in the amusement park.



In response, City Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama said that the administration allowed the company to proceed with the plan. Nonetheless, it demanded the company offer the shares to foreign investors, particularly companies running amusement parks, like Disneyland and Lotte World.



'We will allow them to offer their rights issue but they have to offer the shares to foreign investors so that our amusement park will meet international standards,' Ahok said.



'I don't want them to be bought only by domestic investors.'



The city administration currently owns a 72-percent stake in Pembangunan Jaya Ancol. An 18-percent shares belongs to property developer PT Pembangunan Jaya, while the remaining 10 percent is held by the public.



Ahok said that the administration would not mind holding a stake of only between 45 to 50 percent as long as Pembangunan Jaya Ancol offered the shares to foreign investors.



He added that with contribution from foreign investors, the administration hoped the Ancol amusement park could attract foreign tourists.



Meanwhile, Jakarta Development Planning Board (Bappeda) head Tuty Kusumawati said that the share offering plan was set to assess the commercial value of the amusement park.



However, Tuty added that the plan was still in the initial phase as the company was still observing current market conditions. Hence, she added, the company had yet to determine the number of shares, as well as the price to be offered to the market.



Pembangunan Jaya Ancol declined to comment on the rights issue plan as it still needed coordination with the Financial Services Authority (OJK) to prepare for the share offering.



Aside from managing the Ancol Dreamland amusement park, Pembangunan Jaya Ancol also engages in managing various attractions, such as beaches, theme parks, water parks, ocean parks, ecological parks and facilities for outbound activities. It also manages lodging, meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition facilities.



The company is also involved in the property business, as well as trading and service businesses, which cover the sales of food, beverages and merchandise in Ancol Dreamland, and the provision of marine transportation services.
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Linkedin Adisti Sukma Sawitri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

The curtains are rising on the Jakarta election, a landmark poll that historically defined the last presidential election.



Then Surakarta mayor Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and lawmaker Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama made a stellar pair and beat incumbent Jakarta governor Fauzi Bowo, who was seeking a second term.



Being political novices in the capital's local politics, Jokowi and Ahok benefited from Jakartans' discontent with their governor, the frowning Mr. Mustache, who, despite being a native career bureaucrat, was rarely in the limelight.



A mundane complaint about traffic is enough to blaze yearning for a new figure that can offer a panacea to all of the city's woes.



Fast forward four years, it is now the moment of truth for Ahok, the lone defender of his seat, since Jokowi left City Hall two years ago for the State Palace, after winning the presidential election.



The city is still embroiled with traffic mayhem, which can happen seven days a week at any given time. Do people blame Ahok? Far from it; more than 700,000 people have already signed up to support him to run as an independent candidate.



His popularity among residents, especially the middle-upper class, has earned him inherent political leverage that sends shivers through even the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which along with the Gerindra Party was among the few supporting parties that backed him and Jokowi in 2012.



PDI-P elites called the Ahok phenomenon part of deparpolisasi (delegitimization of political parties) a term coined by chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri in a party congress speech in which she also indirectly belittled Jokowi, already the country's president, by referring to him as a mere party elite.



Resentment against Ahok was echoed by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), a reputable political engine that often secures victory in local elections. PKS politician and People's Representatives Assembly (MPR) Deputy Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid denounced the phenomenon as unconstitutional, which he said may lead to anarchy.



Chances of winning as an indie candidate was proven small in the first concurrent local elections last December that saw only 13 independent tickets win from a total of 264 regions contested.



But the political parties' insecurity is well-founded in the case of Jakarta. Although lawmakers have made it harder for independent candidates to run in local elections, Ahok is already more than halfway to securing the support of 1 million people, a requisite to secure a non-partisan ticket.



Ahok may not be the perfect candidate for the job, with his short temper and poor choice of words. His policies are often biased toward the middle class, with some of them leaving the less fortunate in despair, such as his policy on evictions. He swept aside motorcycles on the Jl. MH Thamrin-Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat main thoroughfares, but has failed to regulate cars. The electronic road pricing system still hasn't arrived in the city.



Middle-class bias in his policies may sharpen the social divide in the capital. To what extent can he exclude poor people in his quest to succeed in his goal of making the city comfortable and orderly for the middle-upper group? To what extent can he turn a blind eye to the strong informal sector that helps sustain the Big Durian and its dwellers from its failing public infrastructure?



But the former East Belitung regent fulfills the basic ingredients of leadership: presence and engagement. He may be firm and rude to his detractors, but he has solved several problems.



He is accessible to residents even though his strong remarks make him not the most affable leader around.



Ahok has built low-cost apartments for evicted residents and helped realize the MRT project, another long-anticipated urban sophistication that is expected to put Jakarta on par with other megacities in Asia.



To match that, it will take more for the likes of former minister and intellectual Yusril Ihza Mahendra to stroll around in his Mickey Mouse T-shirt at a traditional market to woo voters. Or for musician Ahmad Dhani to rant about the governor and his legions of supporters, known as Teman Ahok.



The PDI-P is facing the dilemma of embracing Ahok, whose rebellious nature has made him notorious among its local party elites, despite his good relations with Megawati and Jokowi. But it is unlikely that the discontent of the local elites will turn the ruling party against the popular governor.



With less than a year until the next election in February, the PDI-P has few options. The Islamic PKS may try to lure the nationalist party to abandon Ahok, a Christian and ethnic Chinese politician. But both the PDI-P and the PKS will still strive to find strong challengers for Ahok.



If the two parties can settle their ideological differences, they may find common ground in Yusril, who was a law minister when Megawati served as president and currently leads the Crescent Star Party (PBB), another Islamic party. But this also depends on his ability to increase his popularity rating.



At the moment, Ahok and his supporters can keep their chins up on the incumbent governor's prospects for re-election. Just like Jokowi, however, Ahok may also mull leaving City Hall in the next presidential race.
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post  Wed, March 16, 2016

Customers are surely the beneficiaries when rival players in a given industry engage in a price war, such as the current one taking place between app-based transportation service providers grouped under Grab and Uber versus conventional transportation service operators.



But given the generously discounted prices offered by the new players, which seem to go beyond business common sense, the outrage of many who make a living working in the conventional transportation industry has a strong basis.



On Monday, around 2,000 public transportation and taxi drivers vented their anger against what they say is unfair competition created by the operation of app-based taxis and ojek (motorcycle taxis).



A taxi driver complained that his earnings have nosedived from Rp 100,000 (US$7.64) on a very slow day to a mere Rp 30,000 since the arrival of ride-hailing apps.



With these new kinds of businesses thriving, taxi drivers are moving closer to the World Bank poverty threshold of $2 per day, unless they can find better-paying jobs.



As the issue concerns fair competition, which is guaranteed by the law, the government has a responsibility to intervene. Whatever the government's decision will be, it has to provide a level playing field.



President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, through presidential spokesman Johan Budi, has shown consistency in his support of apps, which are a must in the contemporary business world. Jokowi, and probably us customers, do not want to heed the call of Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan, who has threatened to ban Uber and Grab for violating the 2009 Transportation Law.



Just last month Jokowi also overruled Jonan's order that Go-Jek, an app-based motorcycle taxi, be banned for the same reason.



Disunity in the government is testament to confusion on the part of policymakers regarding the emergence of this new business model. In fact, Indonesia is not alone. Other countries face the same dilemma, but are seeing it from different perspectives and taking a variety of responses.



For one thing, app-based transportation service players have forced their conventional, if not established, competitors to make several innovations in their business model, including the use of information technology.



As we enter the fourth industrial revolution, mobile devices give people all that they need, including transportation services.



Uber, Grab and Go-Jek are capitalizing on the opportunities that their conventional competitors may have overlooked. Some taxi companies say they have already turned to apps to accelerate their businesses, but are still unable to match the comparative advantage of the new players, who do not pay or report their taxes, as well as the powerful financial backing that enables them to keep their fares low.



The fact that foreign investors are behind Uber and similar companies is not the reason why the government's presence is imperative. As the regulator, the government must create rules that lead to fair competition and ensure that all companies comply with them.



Competition will help businesses grow. And fair play will sustain, if not multiply, the growth of such businesses.
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Linkedin Dian Arthen (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

British actress Emma Watson was seen wearing a bracelet and rings designed by John Hardy, the Bali-established jewelry brand, during a recent event in New York, US.



The UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, looking radiant in a Narciso Rodriguez dress and Gianvito Rossi pumps, literally turned the Empire State Building pink in celebration of International Women's Day.



Watson accessorized with jewelry from John Hardy's Bamboo and Classic Chain 18K collections. John Hardy jewelry is priced between US$300 to $35,000 plus per piece.



John Hardy was established in 1975 and named after its founder, who spent years learning the ancient skill of jewelry making from a group of artisans in Bali. The artisans he learned from used to create jewelry pieces for Balinese royalty.



The brand has a flagship store in Plaza Indonesia in Central Jakarta, two stores in Bali and one in Hong Kong, where its headquarters are presently located. (kes)(+)
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Linkedin Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

Despite the government's confidence that it would streamline the flow of basic materials with the recent opening of a number of logistics hubs across the archipelago, some Indonesian business players prefer to lower their expectations, saying that they need time to learn what actual benefits and incentives would be offered by the new facilities.



President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo simultaneously on March 10 inaugurated the operation of 11 bonded logistics centers (PLBs) in five provinces: Jakarta, Banten, East Kalimantan, West Java and Bali.



The establishment of the centers, the first of their kind to operate in the country, were part of the government's second economic policy package, issued in September, which aims to lower logistics costs by locating them close to several industrial areas, namely Cikarang, Cibitung in West Java and Balikpapan in East Kalimantan.



The centers are operated separately by various companies, including automotive firm PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia, integrated explosives services provider PT Dahana and oil and gas services provider PT Petrosea.



Although he said he welcomed the launch of the logistics hubs, car manufacturer PT Hyundai Indonesia Motor president director Mukiat Sutikno said he did not know the cost of the services offered by the centers.



'The PLBs will be very much helpful in reducing logistics costs. However, we need to know first if the rates they offer are reasonable,' he told The Jakarta Post over the phone on Tuesday.



Mukiat said his firm would not hesitate to utilize one of the centers if the rates it offered were competitive and if it could guarantee fast shipment of imported automotive parts to its factory in Bekasi, West Java.



The firm imported several automotive parts from Thailand, India and South Korea, among other countries. Mukiat admitted that logistics costs made up a significant proportion of Hyundai's production costs, although he did not elaborate on the amount.



Separately, diversified conglomerate Astra Internasional investor relations head Tira Ardianti said that the company would need some time to learn the significance of the centers in reducing logistics costs, whose contributions to the company's production costs stood at around 20 percent.



'But overall we will welcome the centers if they can lower logistics costs,' she said on Tuesday, adding that the conglomerate would also enjoy advantages from the centers because one of them is managed by PT Pelabuhan Panajam Banua Taka (Eastkal Supply Base), one of its subsidiaries.



According to a 2015 finance minister regulation (PMK), imported goods could be stored at the centers for up to three years and would be temporarily exempted from import duties and import-related taxes during that period.



The centers are also expected to reduce dwelling time at ports, which is supposed to eventually improve the country's business competitiveness in Southeast Asia.



At present, Indonesia ranks 109th on the World Bank's ease of doing business list, having risen by only one notch from its position in 2015. Singapore continues to top the list, while Malaysia sits at the 18th position.



The two neighbors fare better, as well, in terms of port dwelling time, with Singapore's at one and a half days and Malaysia's at three days.



Indonesia's average dwelling time, on the other hand, reached 4.7 days as of last year.



Iwan Setiawan Lukminto, the president director of publicly listed textile manufacturer Sri Rejeki Isman, known as Sritex, said on Tuesday that easier bureaucracy would greatly help businesspeople streamline the movement of their basic materials and products.



'A chance to stock imported raw materials whose duties will be charged only at the time the goods are consumed will reduce inventory costs overall,' he said as an example.



However, when asked if the textile giant would also use the newly launched PLBs to store the cotton it imports from the United States and Australia, Iwan said that his firm already had a warehouse in a bonded zone in the Central Java city of Sukoharjo, near its factory.
LINCOLN  Omaha Sen. Heath Mello made his last pitch Tuesday for approval of a state budget as chairman of the Appropriations Committee, a post he has held four years.

The first round of voting on the budget package, which contained a number of adjustments to the 2015-17 budget, was successful, with senators voting 32-1 on the mainline budget bill (LB956) and 37-1 on an accompanying bill (LB957) that allows for the transfer of certain funds.

The $8.6 billion two-year budget funds significant investments in infrastructure, ongoing prison reform, and deferred maintenance in the state's college system.

Money is proposed to fix levees around Offutt Air Force Base, to aid cities with economic development, and to help build roads, and repair and replace county bridges.

The Appropriations Committee recommended the funding for prison reform in Gov. Pete Ricketts proposed budget, with an addition of $1.5 million for retention bonuses for correctional officers and other staff. The idea for the bonuses came from a bill introduced by Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse.

But Lincoln Sen. Colby Coash was cynical about whether the department would actually use the one-time money for retention.

Coash said the money should be part of workers' baseline salary. This one-time bonus allotment would do nothing to help the department compete with salaries offered to county corrections employees.

"I 100 percent support paying corrections officers what they are worth," Coash said.

But he predicted not one penny of the $1.5 million would be spent for staff retention. It will be returned to the Appropriations Committee at the end of next year because the department will not want to open up a salary negotiation based on some people getting bonuses, he said.

"I hope I'm wrong," he added.

In 2014, the Legislature embarked on reform of the Department of Correctional Services with working groups, committees and a partnership with the National Council of State Governments.

"There is no question that the work to right the ship, so to speak, will continue beyond this biennium," Mello told senators.

The budget package was advanced from committee on an 8-1 vote, with committee member Bill Kintner of Papillion voting against it.

On Tuesday, Kintner praised the work of the committee but said he didn't vote to send out the budget because he was not comfortable with how the committee turned the mid-year budget adjustment into another chance to add new state spending programs.

While he supports spending for such projects as the Offutt levee projects, funding for prisons and the transportation infrastructure bank, there were others folded into the budget that contribute to a rise in spending of 3.7 percent over the two-year budget.

"We seem to be getting closer to what we see in the federal system. In order to support the things I like, I'm being asked to support a whole lot of items that I do not like," Kintner said.

Mello said most of the new spending in the budget was recommended by the governor. Of $14.4 million in new spending in the second year of the budget, $11.9 million was for needs of the Corrections Department.

Lincoln Sen. Kate Bolz highlighted some of the ongoing commitments in the budget that sometimes get lost in the discussion: tax cuts, with resources going to the Homestead Exemption for older and disabled Nebraskans; slowing the growth of spending in managing public benefits, which includes working to make sure managed care is successful; and the state's commitment to higher education.

Kintner voted no on the mainline budget, but Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte also had concerns that prompted him to vote no on LB957.

He does not like the idea of spending for special projects out of the cash reserve, without a record of that spending in the general fund budget, such as $13.7 million for the work on levees near Offutt.

It became common practice after 2005, he said, to take money out of the cash reserve to help pay for special one-time items. That year, it was for a low-level nuclear waste dump settlement, he said.

"I fear for the system," he said.

Mello defended how funds and transfers are labeled in the budget, saying the process of one-time projects being funded out of the cash reserve and the money transferred to particular cash funds is "very transparent."

It's spelled out clearly in the budget book and in the budget bills, which are available for anyone in the public to see, he said.

What the committee did with the budget was responsible, Mello said.

"I can't be more proud of the work the committee did," he said.
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Wed, March 16, 2016

Deforestation around Lake Toba in North Sumatra continues despite the central government's plan to turn Southeast Asia's biggest lake into one of the country's 10 major tourist destinations.



Over 5 hectares of forest in Harian district, Sianjur Mula-Mula, Samosir regency, were reportedly razed by fire in recent days.



Tumpal Sijabat of Samosir suspected that the fire may have been deliberately lit to clear land for plantation purposes. 'The fire has been burning for a week but efforts to extinguish it were very slow, so the whole forest has already burned,' he said on Monday.



Similarly, Marandus Sirait of Toba Samosir regency expressed concern over the condition of forests in the Lake Toba area, saying that most of the area had been damaged because of land clearing and illegal logging.



Marandus, who is also a recipient of the 2015 Kalpataru Award in the environmental pioneer category, said that deforestation was evident in Ajibata, Lumbanjulu and Bonatualunasi districts in Toba Samosir regency, Tele district in Samosir regency and Gersang Sipanganbolon district on the border of Toba Samosir and Parapat, Simalungun.



'It's shameful to see the damage, especially because the government in the near future will turn the area into an international tourist destination,' Marandus told The Jakarta Post earlier this week.



He said he had repeatedly protested deforestation in the area but was never listened to. He even returned in 2013 the Wana Lestari Award he received from the forestry ministry in 2010 as an expression of protest.



He said serious measures had not been taken by local administrations to preserve forests in the area following the central government's plans to make it a world-class tourist destination, the ground-breaking of which was recently conducted by President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo.



'What will happen to Lake Toba if the forests are barren? One thing is for sure, it will no longer be cool and it will be less beautiful,' said Marandus, who manages the 45-hectare Eden Park property belonging to his family in Toba Samosir.



Samosir administration spokesperson Lemen Manurung admitted that there had been forest fires in Sianjur Mula-Mula and Pangururan but said they had been extinguished.



'According to information, the fire has been extinguished, but if it is still there we will check on it,' Lemen said.



Responding to a question regarding preparations to make Lake Toba a world-class tourist destination, Lemen said the administration was still waiting for a government decree on the establishment of the Lake Toba authority body.



'It's the body that is tasked with coordinating the development of Lake Toba,' he said.



Jokowi visited the area two weeks ago to instruct relevant ministers regarding the acceleration of the development of the area into the 'Monaco of Asia'.



He asked the North Sumatra administration and the administrations of all regencies in the area to work in synergy with the relevant ministries.



The government has allocated Rp 21 trillion (US$1.6 billion) for the development, Rp 10 trillion of which is from the state budget, with the remainder from the private sector. Most of the funds are allotted for infrastructure development.



The infrastructure to be developed includes a 116-kilometer toll road. With the new road, traveling to Parapat, on the shores of Lake Toba, from the provincial capital Medan, which currently takes five to six hours, will only take 90 minutes.
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Linkedin Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

The government announced on Tuesday that it would loosen up audits on the disbursement of village funds to protect the local apparatus from potential legal charges because its staff have minimal budget management skills.



A closed-door meeting attended by the Home Ministry, the Finance Ministry, the Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Ministry and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) concluded that they would not directly investigate any irregularities emerging in the scheme's disbursement of funds that the government has run in villages since last year.



The government, instead, is planning to set up an internal supervision body comprising officials from the three ministries and from the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP), called the Internal Government Apparatus Supervision (APIP), to review the budget spending.



In cases that the budget management leads to corruption, the APIP would report the case to police or prosecutors.



Home Ministry's inspector general Tarmizi Abdul Karim said that the three ministries with the help of BPKP had established an online application for the apparatus to guide local officials in using the funds in order to avoid future misuse.



'We will give supervision to help the program's implementation become a success,' Tarmizi said.



Tarmizi said the APIP had been equipped with around 6,000 officials, placed at the regency and city level so that they could give timely feedback to village officials who require help in making the program successful, as well as to prosecute any mismanagement related to graft.



Doubts linger over the village apparatuses' ability to manage the funds, worth trillions of rupiah. The fear prompted activists to call on the KPK to supervise the program.



Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said that the ministry is stepping up its effort to train and empower village administrations, including the village chief and staff members, about how to manage and sort the funds.



'The main objective of the training program is that the funds would be utilized for the prosperity of the village residents,' he said.



KPK deputy for graft prevention Pahala Nainggolan said that the antigraft agency stepped back from the program's supervision due to the fact that it lacked the human resources to supervise its implementation in 74,000 villages across the country.



In 2016, the government has allocated a total of Rp 47 trillion in village funds for the regions.



Pahala warned state officials at the three ministries not to exploit or try to unlawfully benefit from the funds because any related irregularities at the central government level would be subject to the KPK's authorities.



Transparency International Indonesia (TII) secretary general Dadang Trisasongko said village apparatuses play an integral part in preventing the misuse of the village funds. He urged the government to push village apparatuses to be transparent in managing and utilizing village funds.



'The residents could control the utilization of the funds when the apparatuses is transparent about the village's budget', Dadang told The Jakarta Post. (mos)
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Linkedin Ina Parlina and Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo wants the upcoming simultaneous regional elections (Pilkada), to run better than the previous batch as he will soon send a letter allowing the House of Representatives to start deliberating revisions of the Regional Elections Law.



The instruction was made during a limited Cabinet meeting on Tuesday at the State Palace as about 107 areas across the country will hold simultaneous Pilkada in 2017.



Jokowi deemed the revisions necessary not only because of Constitutional Court rulings on the Pilkada, but also because they would serve as long-term legal guidelines.



'Such revisions are not only aimed at following up on the Constitutional Court's rulings, but also at making substantial improvements based on what we have learned from the previous Pilkada,' Jokowi said and later ordered his related officials to ensure the provisions were clear and rigid and would not be open to multiple interpretations.



According to Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly, the revisions would include new guidelines that order all legal disputes on candidacies to be settled before the elections get underway, 'to avoid any postponement of the electoral process'.



The government has also decided to include various new provisions to follow up on a number of last year's Constitutional Court rulings on the Pilkada, including the ones that have relaxed requirements for independent candidates and single tickets.



In a ruling issued last September, the Constitutional Court ordered that the benchmark minimum amount of support for independent candidates be based on the final voter list (DPT) in each respective region, instead of its population, lowering the actual number of required supporters.



In the single-ticket ruling, the court also ordered that elections involving single tickets must be held by adopting a kind of plebiscite or referendum. The ruling on single tickets has been lauded by many as it was deemed it would fill any potential power vacuums because interim leaders appointed by the Home Ministry would not have budgetary authority.



One potential independent hopeful is Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama, who might run for a second term in the 2017 gubernatorial elections.



Lawmakers, however, are against the Constitutional Court rulings. House Commission II overseeing home affairs member Rambe Kamarulzaman said a number of faction members in the commission wanted to set a higher bar for the support required by independent candidates to 10 to 15 percent, or even 15 to 20 percent, of the people on the final voter list.



Under the current law on regional elections, independent candidates must be backed by 7.5 to 10 percent of the DPT.



Rambe said the lawmakers' stance was a response to the government's proposal to raise the minimum threshold for a political party to be able to endorse a candidate in a local election.



The current law allows a political party to nominate a candidate to run in a local election if the party had won a minimum of 5 percent of the popular vote in the previous polling. The government is proposing to raise the bar to between 20 and 25 percent.



'If [the percentage requirement] for political parties increases, then the requirement for independent candidates should be increased, too. It's called equality,' Rambe said.



However, the Golkar Party politician said his party was of the opinion that it was better to keep the percentage requirement of political parties to run candidates at 5 percent and also to not increase the percentage for independent candidates.



'What we need from the General Elections Regulation [PKPU] is a clear regulation toward communities establishing certain movements, such as that which collects ID cards to support candidates. Also for independent candidates: They don't need to overly announce their candidacy to the public,' Rambe said.



Yasonna said the government would maintain its stance that using the DPT would automatically lower the requirement.



'If the House wants [to increase the percentage], we will allow them to raise the issue during the deliberation process and we will discuss it,' Yasonna added.
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Linkedin Ina Parlina and Tassia Sipahutar (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

In another attempt to ease doing business in the country, the government is looking to trim more of the environmental and building permits currently required for business premises and industrial zones.



A limited Cabinet meeting on Tuesday decided to simplify various licenses, including those related to Environmental Impact Analysis (Amdal), and mulled scrapping principle permits for small and medium businesses and disturbance ordinance.



President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo reiterated in the meeting his earlier call to improve the country's ranking in the World Bank's ease of doing business survey and review whether policies are effective.



He said Indonesia should continue to seek breakthroughs in improving its business climate.



'The President is merely irritated by the fact that there are so many [business] licenses,' Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chief Franky Sibarani said after the meeting.



Indonesia currently ranks 109th on the World Bank's list, only one notch higher than last year's position. Singapore continues to top the list, while Malaysia sits in 18th position.



The President aims for Indonesia to leap to 40th position this year.



Franky said various double permits ' which are set based on two different regulations ' would be streamlined, like the multiple Amdal permits and building permits required for companies.



As an example, he cited that at present there were two requirements to get a building permit ' one related to spatial design conformity and location permit, and the other that a company is required to attain registration certificates (TDP) and business trading licenses (SIUP).



In terms of the building location permits, Franky said Agrarian and Spatial Planning Minister Ferry Baldan had agreed to revoke several regulations.



'The process for building permit issuance related to spatial design conformity and location will only refer to one regulation from the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry,' Franky said.



Other licenses, including the location permit and business location permit, will be scrapped.



Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said the government would eliminate Amdal requirements for industrial zone tenants.



'At the moment, Amdal permits are required for both tenants and owners of industrial zones. We want to see only one Amdal, which is the one submitted by the owner.'



Tenants will only be required to submit a detailed management and monitoring plan to the owner. By scrapping the Amdal requirement for tenants, the government will revert to an earlier regime from 2009, when there was only one Amdal requirement in place.



In addition to the environmental permit, the government is also mulling abolishing the disturbance ordinance, although further study is needed as it could potentially reduce locally derived income (PAD).



Disturbance ordinance is currently issued by local administrations and regulated by the Regional Tax and Retribution Law.



The government is expected to issue a regulation that includes such changes, which would be made mandatory for local administrations.



Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said his office would annul bylaws that would eventually only provide legal hurdles for businesses.

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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

Dermawan Salihin, father of the late Wayan Mirna Salihin, 27, who died after drinking a poisoned iced coffee at a cafA in Central Jakarta in early January, has reported Yudi Wibowo Sukinto, the lawyer of Jessica Kumala Wongso, 27, the sole suspect in the case, to the Jakarta Police on charges of defamation.



Dermawan reported Yudi for allegedly telling the media that Mirna was registered with an overseas insurance scheme and that efforts to charge a suspect in the case had been strengthened so a claimant could access an insurance payout worth US$5 million.



'He [Dermawan] felt defamed,' said Adj. Sr. Comr. Suharyanto, head of the cybercrime unit at the Jakarta Police, said Tuesday as quoted by tribunnews.com.



He said Dermawan had filed the report along with copies of online news stories as evidence.



Meanwhile, Dermawan said he was aggravated by Yudi's statement, adding that it was not true. 'He said there was a $5 million [insurance policy] abroad. I do not know where he got that information,' he said.
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

Jakarta City Council deputy speaker Abraham 'Lulung' Lunggana was questioned by the National Police's Criminal Investigations Directorate (Bareskrim) on Tuesday regarding a graft case surrounding the procurement of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) devices.



Anticorruption directorate head Sr. Comr. Ahmad Wiyagus confirmed that investigators had summoned and questioned Lulung as a witness in the case.



'We questioned him, along with two other members of the City Council, as a witness who likely eased charges for Fahmi Zulfikar,' Ahmad said on Tuesday.



Fahmi is a former council member from the Hanura Party, who has been named a suspect in the case. He is still awaiting the completion of his dossier.



Along with Fahmi, the police also named as suspects former West Jakarta Education Agency infrastructure section head Alex Usman, former Central Jakarta Education Agency head Zainal Soleman and another council member, Muhammad Firmansyah from the Democratic Party. Alex is standing trial in the case.



The suspects are accused of abusing their power to pass a UPS procurement in the revised 2014 city budget at Rp 6 billion (US$456,000) per unit in exchange for a 7 percent kickback from the Rp 300 billion allocated for the project.



Separately, Lulung denied that the police had questioned him, saying he had visited the Bareskrim headquarters to meet with a neighbor.
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Linkedin Bambang Nurbianto (The Jakarta Post)  Mon, March 21, 2016

The explosion of the hyperbaric oxygen therapy cylinder at the Mintohardjo Navy Hospital in Jakarta on Monday could be considered a violation against the right of consumers, especially the right to safety and security, says a consumer organization.

"There are two parties that should be responsible for the accident  the hospital management and the professional workers involved," Indonesian Consumer Foundation (YLKI) chairman Tulus Abadi said on Wednesday.

YLKI urged the Health Ministry to provide an explanation to the public regarding whether the method of therapy conducted at the Navy hospital had met the medical service standard.

Currently, an investigation into the explosion is being carried out by a joint team comprising officers from the Navy, Jakarta Police and members of the Indonesian Hyperbaric Medical Association.

YLKI also demanded that the hospital supervisory agency take part in the investigation and reveal the result to the general public.

The hospital and other relevant parties have to provide compensation to the victims and their families because it is the right of patients to be provided with compensation if any accidents arise, including those in hospital, Tulus said.

The police have yet to announce details of the investigation.

"Two therapy operators remain hospitalized and cannot be questioned due to their condition. Therefore, the investigation is yet to see a result," Navy spokesperson Comr. M. Zainuddin told thejakartapost.com on Wednesday, adding that both operators were also victims of the incident. (bbn)
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Linkedin Tassia Sipahutar (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

Indonesia must brace for prolonged global headwinds that will constrain economic growth at a level of 5 percent this year, new reports from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have concluded.



The IMF wrote in its 2015 Article IV Consultation ' published on Tuesday ' that Southeast Asia's biggest economy faced a combination of risks that would lead to 4.9 percent growth in 2016.



The estimate contrasts from the 5.5 percent growth rate prediction contained in the previous 2014 Article IV Consultation, published in March 2015, and even lower than the government's own projection of 5.3 percent.



In a teleconference, IMF mission chief for Indonesia Luis E. Breuer said that some key risks were spill-overs from last year, including the Chinese economic slowdown, very low commodity prices and the beginning of US monetary policy normalization.



As a result of a deeper-than-expected slowdown in China, Indonesia could see 'lower export volumes and prices, particularly in commodities, that could widen the current account deficit, putting foreign exchange reserves and the exchange rate under pressure'.



China ' which is a major trading partner for Indonesia ' posted annual economic growth of 6.9 percent last year, its slowest in 25 years.



The slowdown is expected to continue, with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang saying that the Chinese government had set a 6.5 percent economic growth target for each year from 2016 to 2020.



The deceleration in exports to China is reflected in the latest data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). Total export volumes to China dropped 9.6 percent year-on-year (yoy) to US$1.83 billion in the January to February period alone.



The IMF also warns that Indonesia's fiscal balance may deteriorate on weaker resource revenues and knock-on effects to domestic demand, with the financial sector exposed to losses from loans to the commodity sector and a broader economic slowdown.



As revenues weaken from the effect of lower commodity prices, the IMF recommended that Indonesia develop an enhanced revenues strategy.



Breuer also acknowledged that the country suffered from low tax collection compared to other countries in the region and elsewhere. Breuer suggested that Indonesia needed to shift the structure of its taxation away from oil and gas into other sectors of the economy.



'In terms of revenue policy, we believe that it would be a good idea to start increasing excise revenues soon, with higher excises on fuel now that oil prices are very low, and cars and tobacco. We think that can generate up to 1 percent of GDP in additional revenue.'



Moreover, he said that the IMF was skeptical of Indonesia's plan to implement a tax amnesty to improve revenues and compliance due to the fact that many other countries had already tried similar policies without much success.



Meanwhile, the World Bank announced in its latest Indonesia Economic Quarterly (IEQ) report ' published on the same day ' that it had cut down this year's growth forecast to 5.1 percent from the 5.3 percent estimate outlined in the December 2015 IEQ.



Similar to the IMF, the World Bank highlights China's economic slowdown and falling commodity prices as serious risks to Indonesia's economic outlook.



On the domestic side, the World Bank lists weak revenue performance as a major policy challenge.



It even increases its projection of this year's fiscal deficit to 2.8 percent of gross domestic product, higher than the government's expectation of 2.1 percent contained in the state budget.



As a result, the World Bank estimates gross financing needs at Rp 711 trillion ($54.04 billion), an increase from the Rp 605.3 trillion figure originally estimated by the government.
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Linkedin Anggi M. Lubis (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

India and Indonesia have a long history of cultural exchange and trade, but the two-millennia-long relationship has not necessarily translated into an intimate exchange of inbound tourists. With this fact in mind, the two countries have agreed to explore together the huge potential for tourism between India and Indonesia.



Indian Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia Manish said just a small fraction of Indonesian travelers visited India last year, and Ni Wayan Giri Adnyani, the deputy secretary for overseas tourism development at the Tourism Ministry, acknowledged Manish's assertion.



With this reality, the two countries have come together to boost relations. India and Indonesia plan to simplify visa procedures, boost marketing activities and develop direct flights connecting the two countries.



Manish said that there was no specific target but the embassy would focus on attracting more Indonesian tourists, while Ni Wayan said that her ministry aimed to see a 30 percent increase in Indian travelers visiting Indonesia this year.



There were around 8 million foreign tourist arrivals in India last year, and Indonesian tourists made up a small fragment of them, with only around 23,000 arrivals, Manish said.



'We see Indian culture in every corner of Indonesia. But not many Indonesians travel to India,' Manish said during the promotional event Incredible India held in Jakarta recently.



India has introduced an online visa system so that interested visitors did not need to travel to Indian consulates to acquire one. In the case of Indonesia, travelers interested in visiting India have to go to Jakarta, Medan and Bali to get their visas.



India also recently introduced a 24-hour helpline to guide tourists and help in cases of emergency. The service is available in 12 languages.



Indonesia ' meanwhile ' scrapped the tourist visa for 90 countries last year, including for India, and Ni Wayan said that this would help attract more Indian tourists.



She said that around 270,000 Indian tourists visited Indonesia last year out of a total figure of 9 million foreign arrivals. The figure is a relatively small one considering the fact that Indians made 18 million overseas trips during 2015.



This year, she added, her ministry aimed to attract 350,000 tourists from the South Asian country.



'We have actively and aggressively conducted exhibitions to attract more tourists from India, not only from New Delhi and Mumbai, but also from other cities like Hyderabad, Calcutta and Chennai,' she said.



She said that a larger budget had been set aside for marketing efforts in India. However, she did not have the details at hand.



Ni Wayan also advocated reactivating bilateral working meetings between her ministry and its Indian counterpart in order to work more closely on promoting tourism between India and Indonesia.
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Linkedin Dandy Koswaraputra (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

The government will solve the dispute over ride-hailing apps this week as Grab and Uber to have agreed to establish business entities, Indonesian Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara claimed.



'I did a short roadshow with all stakeholders to solve the problem by this week,' Rudiantara told thejakartapost.com on Wednesday.



Rudiantara said his ministry has intensively been in touch with the Transportation Ministry and the Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry to speed up the process of obtaining the business permits for the two.



'Grab and Uber, as transportation companies, have agreed to establish a cooperative for their affiliations,' he asserted.



Ridzki Kramadibrata said Grab, as an application service company, hailed the government's initiative to find the best solution for the transportation sector in Indonesia by establishing a business entity as an umbrella for Grab-affiliated drivers and car owners.



'The most suitable business entity for them is a cooperative,' Ridzki said, adding that the cooperative would then collaborate with Grab.



Ridzki said the upcoming cooperative, namely the Indonesian Car Rental Entrepreneurs Association, would hopefully solve the transportation system dispute.



The dispute has soared in Jakarta after 2,000 members of the Land Transportation Drivers Association (PPAD) held a rally on Monday, demanding the government ban the ride-hailing smartphone apps that they said have led to a drastic reduction of their revenues.



Malaysia-based Grab and US-based Uber have been at the center of a series of debates over the past year. Drivers of ojek (motorcycle taxis) have also protested against Grab Bike and the homegrown company, Go-Jek, for eroding their market share. (+)
LINCOLN -- In a first for National Geographic, the magazine's April issue has 10 different covers featuring the work of Lincoln photographer Joel Sartore.

Each cover features an animal from Sartores Photo Ark project, in which he is attempting to take portraits of every species of animal or insect in captivity.

National Geographic unveiled the covers Tuesday on the NBC morning show, "Today." Sartore was joined on the set in New York City by Lincoln Childrens Zoo Director John Chapo and three creatures from the Lincoln zoo: an African serval, Colombian tegu (lizard) and Chilean tarantula.

The Lincoln zoo's three-banded southern armadillo, named Fez, and an Indian peafowl (peacock) are on two of the National Geographic covers. But Fez the armadillo, who made the trip to New York City for Tuesday's announcement, got stage fright and refused to come out of his shell.

The National Geographic covers also feature a Malayan tiger from Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and a snowy owl from Raptor Recovery Nebraska.

U.S. subscribers will receive one of the covers at random. Newsstands will offer a selection of the covers.

Sartore has said he hopes the Photo Ark -- intimate portraits of an estimated 12,000 species of birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates -- will inspire people to save the animals before they disappear. For many of Earths creatures, time is running out. Species are disappearing at an alarming rate, Sartore said.

To date, he has photographed nearly 6,000 animals -- starting his project in 2005 at the Lincoln Childrens Zoo. Once completed, Photo Ark will serve as an important record of each animals existence and a powerful testament to the importance of saving them, Sartore said.

In addition to the armadillo, peacock, tiger and snowy owl, the 10 covers include a waxy monkey tree frog, hippopotamus, Reimanns snake-necked turtle, Brazilian porcupine, mother and baby koalas and Coquerels sifaka.

In addition to the Lincoln locations, Sartore shot the cover photos at zoos in Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and Australia.

With so many animals to choose from, the magazine staff had a difficult time selecting the 10 to use on the covers.

We wanted species diversity, from the charismatic and cute to the often overlooked. A mix of engaging characters that started to hint at the scale of Joels project was key, said Susan Goldberg, the magazine's editor in chief.

Added Emmet Smith, National Geographic Partners creative director: Eye contact was key, as one of the hallmarks of the Photo Ark is creating a direct connection between the viewer and the animal.

Published alongside the story is an extensive gallery of Sartores portraits and an interactive for readers to discover which of the 10 cover animals they are most like. The What Animal Is Most Like You? quiz features questions such as, Do you like warm weather, or snow?" and "Are you a night owl or do you just like to sleep all the time? The quiz is posted at natgeo.com/animalquiz, where users can choose to download their animals wallpaper.

Subscribers can call 800-777-2800 to purchase the magazine cover of their choice if they did not receive that cover in the mail.

The April issue of National Geographic hits newsstands on March 29, but the cover story, Every Last One, is posted at on.natgeo.com/1WkPr6h.

The April issue also features the work of Lincoln photographer Brian Lehmann in a story on Indonesia's Torajan people.
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Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

Industry players and officials question the idea of diverting container ships intended for docking at Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta to smaller ports in nearby Banten in a bid to reduce dwelling times at the country's largest port.



The Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister on Monday came up with the idea of reducing the dwelling times at Tanjung Priok by reducing the number of containers it received.



The office said it planned to work with the Transportation Ministry and state port operator PT Pelayaran Indonesia II (Pelindo II) to help optimize the three ports in Banten, namely Cigading Port, Merak Mas Port and Ciwandan Port, to receive the containers.



However, a senior official with the transportation ministry said the plan needed further assessment as the aforementioned ports normally only houses smaller cargo, not big containers.



'So, to divert the flow of goods, we need more specific study on the matter because these three ports are not specialized for containers,' said Mauritz Sibarani, port and dredging director with the Transportation Ministry.



He admitted that the ports could welcome big ships, but he questioned the effectiveness and the potential demand as most industrial estates are located in Karawang, which is closer to Tanjung Priok.



'We even thought about building a port in Bojonegara, but the industry did not flourish. It did not grow as well as Karawang,' he said.



He was referring to the Bojonegara Port, which was initially planned to be built as a big container port to support Tanjung Priok. Yet, the port's development has lagged since 2003.



Banten is currently home to several industrial areas, including the Cikande Industrial Estate in Serang and the Krakatau Industrial Estate Cilegon (KIEC).



Indonesian Logistics Association (ALI) chairman Zaldi Ilham Masita also questioned the idea of diverting the ships and the containers to Banten.



'I think it might work in the short term. Those ports have potential, but the problem is there is no international vessel that merely carries containers just for the Banten area. They still need to stop at Tanjung Priok before they continue to Banten,' he said.



The government recently announced that the recorded dwelling time in the country was 3.6 days as of March 14, still short of President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo instruction to push it down to three days.



The Tanjung Priok Port Authority acknowledged that its dwelling times, which should be counted as a monthly average, even hit 4.5 days in February, with most days still spent on pre-custom clearances.



At the moment, 65 percent of the volume of exported and imported goods still goes through Tanjung Priok port, with an ever increasing volume each year. However, the lack of capacity in the port has impacted its dwelling times.



Jokowi has highlighted the importance of improving the country's dwelling time figure in its bid to improve the ease of doing business.



Coordinating maritime affairs official and dwelling time task force head Agung Kuswandono said on Monday that the ministry would look at the optimization of the three ports in Banten, which actually could welcome container ships as they had 'deeper drafts than Tanjung Priok', to lessen the number of containers in Priok.



'So if companies in Banten want to import goods, they don't need to go through Tanjung Priok first,' he said.



David Rahadian, commercial and business development director of PT Krakatau Bandar Samudera, which runs Cigading Port, said the port did have the deeper draft, with -21 meters compared to Priok's -14 meters, and that the port could welcome container ships.



'It can be used for containers, but there aren't many cargoes coming here yet,' he said.



He added that the government also needed to improve the port's connectivity, as it was still lacking.



The port currently can take in up to 12 million tons of cargo, compared to Ciwandan's 8.3 million tons.

Industry players and officials question the idea of diverting container ships intended for docking at Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta to smaller ports in nearby Banten in a bid to reduce dwelling times at the country's largest port.
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Ubud  Wed, March 16, 2016

Five restaurants on Bali will participate in Good France 2016, an international French culinary festival slated to be held on March 21, an executive said on Tuesday.



Amandine Grisard, director of the Alliance Francaise Bali, who organized the event, told a press conference in Ubud that the restaurants were the Bottleneck, the Cut Catch Cucina at the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort, Les Buku, the SIP Wine Bar and the Riverside Cafe at the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, Ubud.



Grisard said Good France 2006 would be held around the world and have at least 1,500 restaurants as participants, including 22 restaurants in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bali and Surabaya.



'At least 1,000 dishes of French food will be offered by 22 French restaurants in Indonesia. Participating restaurants are invited to design a special menu,' she said.
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jambi  Wed, March 16, 2016

Police raided a house in the Puri Indah housing complex in Jambi city on Sunday and confiscated thousands of snake and crocodile skins.



Jambi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Kuswahyudi Tresnadi said police also arrested the house owner, identified only as H.



Kuswahyudi said the raid was made after police received information that the house was used as a warehouse and processing venue for the reptile skins.



In the raid, police found 15 boxes contained 80 dried snake skins each, two boxes of crocodile skins and two boxes of snake bile.



He said the evidence and house owner were brought to the South Jambi police station for further examination.



He said the police would cooperate with the Jambi Natural Resources and Conservation Agency to continue processing the case.
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Linkedin Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) ended on Tuesday a week-long illness drama involving House of Representatives infrastructure commission member Budi Suprianto by forcing the physically fit Golkar Party legislator out of a private hospital in Semarang, Central Java, before flying him to Jakarta for questioning and then placing him in detention.



The legislator, who defied the KPK summons for a week, claiming to be in hospital for treatment, was rushed to the KPK detention center located at its headquarters in South Jakarta, after having been questioned as a suspect in a bribery case. It is alleged he accepted S$305,000 from businessman Abdul Khoir, who wanted to secure infrastructure projects in Maluku and North Maluku, whose budget of trillions of rupiah awaited approval from the House Commission V overseeing infrastructure.



Budi was the second lawmaker netted in the case after another fellow House Commission V member Damayanti Wisnu Putranti of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) was arrested for accepting S$99,000 from Abdul that was revealed in a sting operation on Jan. 13, nearly two months before Budi was declared a suspect on March 2.



The Golkar party initially defied the first KPK summons on March 10 by sending a letter allegedly issued by Muhammadiyah Roemani hospital in Semarang only for the KPK to find out the letter to be fake after the hospital denied issuing the letter.



On March 14, the KPK issued a second summons for Budi but to no avail. In the end, the KPK dispatched a team of investigators to pick up Budi at the hospital at noon on Tuesday.



'KPK investigators and doctors met with the hospital's doctors for a medical checkup, which the result confirmed that he was fit to travel,' KPK spokesperson Yuyuk Indriati told reporters.



The KPK decided to lock up Budi while completing his dossiers in order to prepare his upcoming trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court in the near future.



Budi refused to answer reporters' questions with regard to his case before Tuesday's questioning.



The KPK's earlier investigation revealed that the commission members were involved in planning infrastructure projects worth Rp 1.4 trillion to be funded through the special allocation funds (DAK) for Maluku and North Maluku. The projects would be handled by the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry.



Abdul allegedly offered a total Rp 43 billion of dirty money to dozens of Commission V members, including Damayanti and Budi, in order to gain the Maluku and North Maluku projects.



Abdul's lawyer Haeruddin Masaro confirmed that his clients had bribed several lawmakers and Public Works and Public Housing Ministry officials before his arrest but he refused to give any names.



KPK chairman Agus Raharjo earlier confirmed that the KPK investigation had shifted to scrutinize other House Commission V members implicated as witnesses in the case.
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

The government has proposed an amendment of the Criminal Code (KUHP) to include customary law as a basis for criminal prosecution.



United Development Party (PPP) lawmaker Arsul Sani said the proposed inclusion was still being debated in the House of Representatives and among legal experts.



Arsul said that under the proposed amendment a couple who elopes or people who dress inappropriately in places of worship could be charged if reported.



Besides customary law, the government is also considering including crimes such as corruption and terrorism in the KUHP.



Speaking about the death sentence in the amended law, Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker Muhammad Nasir Djamil said it would be a last-resort punishment in the amendment.



'If suspects who are sentenced to capital punishment are not executed immediately, but within the next ten years, the punishment could be lowered to life imprisonment. However, this is only valid for those who are well-behaved while in custody,' Nasir said.



Asrul said the Commission aimed to complete the deliberation of the KUHP amendment by the middle of this year.
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

The Law and Human Rights Ministry said on Tuesday it had completed on investigation into recaptured prison escapee Labora Sitorus, a former low-ranking officer with the Raja Ampat Police in West Papua, who escaped before being taken into custody by prison officials last week.



The ministry's director general of penitentiaries, I Wayan Dusak, said the investigation result could see the convicted money launderer, fuel stockpiler and illegal logger stripped of the sentence cut he received in 2015.



'Another option that is on the table is that he will be barred from receiving remission this year. We will make a decision on the matter soon,' Wayan said.



He added that it was possible to transfer Labora, who is currently isolated at Cipinang Penitentiary in Jakarta, to a special prison cell designed for heavyweight drug dealers in Gunung Sindur, Bogor, West Java, where infamous prison runner and former low-ranking tax officer Gayus Tambunan is currently serving time after it was discovered that he had violated his Cipinang prison leave terms and had lunch outside the facility in September.



When asked how many months in sentence reduction Labora had received since his 15-year verdict was confirmed by the Supreme Court in October 2014, Wayan said 'ask the Sorong Penitentiary'.



Similarly, Cipinang Prison head Edi Kurniadi said 'Labora has been here for only five days, concerning things that happened to him prior to being sent here, including remission information, please ask the Sorong penitentiary officials.'



Labora avoided arrest on Friday March 5 after being tipped off that prison officials were on the way to transfer him to Cipinang Penitentiary. He surrendered after two days on the run.



At the time of his arrest, Labora reportedly had a back account with a balance of Rp 1.5 trillion (US$104 million).
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Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

Newly inaugurated National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) chief Ins. Gen. Tito Karnavian has promised to enhance the implementation of the agency's functions and to focus its works on counterterrorism operations in Poso, Central Sulawesi.



He made the statement after President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo inaugurated the former Jakarta Police chief as the new BNPT chief at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.



Speaking after the inauguration, Tito said the core business of BNPT was to prevent terrorism and to provide rehabilitation for ex-terrorists after they had served their sentences. He further said the ongoing security operation code named Operation Trinomial in Poso regency in Central Sulawesi was his main focus.



"I will learn the existing concept of the BNPT and adjust it to my concept. In the short term, I will focus on Poso," he said.



Tito further said he would pay attention to the ongoing Operation Tinombala conducted by the National Police, with support from the Indonesian Military, which was aimed at hunting down Indonesia's most-wanted terrorist Santoso and his group.



"What we will do is to sharpen our position and disconnect the supply of logistics and information to terrorist suspects in urban areas. Such is the task of intelligence and the BNPT," he stated.



In the latest incident, two members of the East Indonesian Mujahidin (MIT) terrorist group led by Santoso, aka Abu Wardah, were killed on Tuesday when several MIT supporters and a joint Indonesian Military and National Police team engaged in a shootout near Mount Talabosa in Lore Piore district.



Tito said three elements were the focus of Indonesia's terrorism eradication program, namely prevention, law enforcement and post-law enforcement rehabilitation. He said the main domain of his agency's work was prevention and rehabilitation.



Tito further said both prevention and rehabilitation functions required the involvement of all parties. These functions, he said, could not be done by only one agency, but required the involvement of non-governmental organizations, including civil society groups.



"That's my concept. I explained it in my thesis, which focused on terrorism prevention and rehabilitation. The key is how to convince all stakeholders to sit together to make programs more conceptual and systematic," he explained.



For law enforcement, the BNPT chief said, the agency would strengthen coordination with the police, prosecutors and other law enforcers.



On rehabilitation, Tito said BNPT would focus on preventing of the planning and spreading of radicalism and terrorism ideas from behind bars. He said the National Police counterterrorism unit Densus 88 found that the Thamrin bomb attack on Jan.14 was planned from inside a prison on Nusakambangan prison island. He further said post-law enforcement rehabilitation was important to stop terror convicts from repeating their action or influencing others.



"The core group of a terrorist network is usually very radical. Sitting in the second layer is an implementing group, which is less radical. Forming the third layer is proponent supporters, who are less and less radical. The outermost layer is sympathizers. We have to differentiate treatment from one layer to another. I will not explain further because it would get into the intelligence domain," he explained.



As for the hardcore radical terrorists, he continued, there needs to be some sort of maximum security prison where they could not influence other prisoners.



"They should not be able to establish communications freely and develop a terror attack plan behind bars," he added.



Prior to his appointment as Jakarta Police chief in June 2015, Tito served with Densus 88. Tito was the top graduate of the Police Academy in 1987 and graduated magna cum laude with a Ph.D in strategic studies majoring in terrorism and Islamist radicalization from S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University.



West Java Police chief Ins. Gen. Moechgiyarto will replace Tito as Jakarta Police chief. Moechgiyarto was Tito's superior in the Police Academy and a top 1986 Police Academy graduate. Both received the Adhi Makayasa award as top graduates. (ebf)(+)
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Linkedin Kor Kian Beng (The Jakarta Post)  Wed, March 16, 2016

China has no plans for now to introduce an "overseas Chinese card" that will allow foreigners with Chinese ethnicity to enjoy permanent residency treatment and other benefits, said a top official.

Qiu Yuanping, head of the State Council's Overseas Chinese Affairs office, said China will instead focus on relaxing its permanent residency rules and coming up with new initiatives to make it easier for foreigners - including ethnic Chinese - to work, study and live in the country.

"We are not thinking presently of issuing an ethnic Chinese card," she said, when asked on Sunday on the sidelines of China's annual national legislative session.

Qiu said media reports, that China was planning such a card, were untrue. She added that they may have arisen from its moves to relax immigration and residency rules since 2013.

Beijing has also put in place a slew of initiatives in Shanghai and Beijing since July last year to make it easier for foreign talent to get a green card.

Among the initiatives were measures that gave ethnic Chinese preferential treatment. For instance, former Chinese nationals now holding foreign citizenship and, possibly, foreigners with Chinese ethnicity who have a doctorate or have worked for four years in Beijing's Zhongguancun high-tech park, can apply for the green card.

Talk that China could be issuing an overseas Chinese card also surfaced last November after Zhongguancun listed it among several proposals to attract foreign talent.

Cardholders reportedly would enjoy permanent residency status, which means they would not have to apply for work visas. They would also be treated like Chinese citizens in areas such as investment, property purchase and education.

In response to media queries, Zhongguancun's administrative committee said the proposed card was awaiting official approval.

Qiu, however, kept alive a glimmer of hope for ethnic Chinese foreigners who are looking to apply for such a card. She said the government is aware of the interest among overseas Chinese in such a card.

"Therefore, we pay a lot of attention, too. We will continue to communicate and cooperate with relevant departments to promote such a program," she added.
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Linkedin Jon Chol Jin and Eric Talmadge (The Jakarta Post) Pyongyang  Wed, March 16, 2016

North Korea's highest court sentenced an American tourist to 15 years in prison with hard labor on Wednesday for subversion.



Otto Warmbier, a University of Virginia undergraduate, was convicted and sentenced in a one-hour trial in North Korea's Supreme Court.



He was charged with subversion under Article 60 of North Korea's criminal code. The court held that he had committed a crime "pursuant to the US government's hostile policy toward [the North], in a bid to impair the unity of its people after entering it as a tourist."



North Korea regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow its government to enable the US-backed South Korean government to take control of the Korean Peninsula.



Tensions are particularly high following North Korea's recent nuclear test and rocket launch, and massive joint military exercises now underway between the US and South Korea that the North sees as a dress rehearsal for invasion.



Before the trial, the 21-year-old from Wyoming, Ohio, said he had tried to steal a propaganda banner as a trophy for an acquaintance who wanted to hang it in her church. That would be grounds in North Korea for a subversion charge.



Trials for foreigners facing similar charges in North Korea are generally short and punishments severe. Warmbier was arrested as he tried to leave the country in early January. He was in North Korea with a New Year's tour group.



US tourism to North Korea is legal. Arrests of tourists are rare but the US State Department strongly advises against it.



Further complicating matters, Washington and Pyongyang do not have diplomatic relations. The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang acts as a go-between in consular issues when US citizens run afoul of North Korean authorities.



North Korea announced Warmbier's arrest in late January, saying he committed an anti-state crime with "the tacit connivance of the US government and under its manipulation." It remains unclear how the US government was allegedly connected to Warmbier's actions.



Warmbier had been staying at the Yanggakdo International Hotel. It is common for sections of tourist hotels to be reserved for North Korean staff and off-limits to foreigners.



In a tearful statement made before his trial, Warmbier told a gathering of reporters in Pyongyang he tried to take the banner as a trophy for the mother of a friend who said she wanted to put it up in her church.



He said he was offered a used car worth US$10,000 if he could get a banner and was also told that if he was detained and didn't return, $200,000 would be paid to his mother in the form of a charitable donation.



Warmbier said he accepted the offer because his family was "suffering from very severe financial difficulties."



Warmbier also said he had been encouraged by the university's "Z Society," which he said he was trying to join. The magazine of the university's alumni association describes the Z Society as a "semi-secret ring society" founded in 1892 that conducts philanthropy, puts on honorary dinners and grants academic awards.



In previous cases, people who have been detained in North Korea and made a public confession often recant those statements after their release.



In the past, North Korea has held out until senior US officials or statesmen came to personally bail out detainees, all the way up to former President Bill Clinton, whose visit in 2009 secured the freedom of American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling.



In November 2014, US spy chief James Clapper went to Pyongyang to bring home Matthew Miller, who had ripped up his visa when entering the country, and Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who had been incarcerated since November 2012.



Jeffrey Fowle, another US tourist from Ohio detained for six months at about the same time as Miller, was released just before that and sent home on a US government plane.



Fowle left a Bible in a local club hoping a North Korean would find it, which is considered a criminal offense in North Korea.



___



Talmadge, the AP's Pyongyang bureau chief, contributed to this report from Tokyo.
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Linkedin Nani Afrida (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

The National Nuclear Energy Agency (Batan) has encouraged the government to provide more funding and ease regulatory processes for the construction of the country's first nuclear power plant (PLTN).



Batan chairman Djarot Sulistio Wisnubroto told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that by making a quick decision, Indonesia would not experience more losses in the project, as it has suffered in previous years.



'We will follow any decision from the government; for us there is nothing to lose,' Djarot said.



Government support remains vital as Batan is still striving to construct a new mini nuclear power plant in Serpong, West Java. The reactor can produce 10-15 megavolts (MV) of electricity.



The agency has completed the project's road map and is waiting for budget disbursement to run the project. It was previously reported that the government has agreed to finance the project using state funds.



Initially the project was estimated to cost Rp 1.7 trillion.



Djarot acknowledged that budget issues were a serious obstacle that had hampered Batan in realizing the project, as there had been no signs of disbursement from the government.



'Actually it is also possible to get soft loans from government-to-government [G2G] by working with countries that have advanced experience in nuclear technology. We will also benefit from technology transfer from them,' Djarot said.



He said that last year, Batan signed a memorandum of understanding with Rusatom Overseas, a subsidiary of Russian state corporation Rosatom that promotes the country's nuclear technology globally and develops its foreign projects.



On Monday, Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir said the construction of the mini nuclear power plant in Serpong was on track, adding that the government was completing a detailed engineering design for the experimental power reactor.



'The project will start in 2018 or 2019,' Nasir said as quoted by local media in Semarang, Central Java.



He said the reactor will be for research and education purposes.



'If it was for commercial or business purposes, we would need to wait for an order from President Joko Widodo,' Nasir said.



He gave his assurances that the nuclear power plant would not have negative impacts on the environment or residents living nearby.



'Batan has long experience in managing nuclear reactors in Indonesia, and so far there have been no serious problems,' Nasir said.



Currently, Indonesia has three nuclear reactors for research and education purposes, located in Bandung, West Java; Yogyakarta; and Serpong. The government is also eyeing building two new reactors, in Bangka-Belitung and in Muria, Central Java.



Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant meltdown in 2011 sparked deep concerns about the safety of nuclear power worldwide, including in Indonesia.



The tragedy reinforced antinuclear activism in the country, particularly in areas earmarked for PLTN construction in Central Java.



Djarot said growth in nuclear reactors was quite strong, as currently there are 68 reactors under construction worldwide, adding to 430 existing reactors around the globe. Japan has opened three new reactors since the Fukushima calamity.
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Linkedin Tama Salim and Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

British Ambassador to Indonesia Moazzam Malik has emphasized the importance of information exchange and shared experiences among states as a way to pursue effective measures against terrorism.



According to Moazzam, openness and understanding are needed to promote collective action against terrorism because they provide nations with the enriched perspectives necessary to combat the misleading ideologies propagated by terror groups such as the Islamic State (IS) movement.



As a case in point, Malik insisted that the global community could learn a lot from Indonesia's tradition of moderation, pluralism and tolerance.



'Indonesia's scholarship ' its deep tradition as a predominately Muslim people ' offers us a point of challenge to the extremist ideologies that have emerged from the Middle East and indeed parts of South Asia,' he told a discussion in Jakarta on Tuesday.



The scholarship he referred to is known as Islam Nusantara (Islam of the Archipelago). Islam Nusantara argues that Islamic values have long been embedded in the culture and tradition of Indonesia as a Muslim-majority yet pluralistic society, giving way to moderation and tolerance.



The term found widespread recognition when the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), started to promote it in response to the proliferation of radical movements in the country.



Malik said the UK was interested in building partnerships between Indonesian Islamic universities and British Muslim organizations in order to share the scholarship of Islam Nusantara with a wider audience.



'We're keen to see how young British people can come to Indonesia and see for themselves the tolerance and pluralism, the role of women here, because they will be challenged by that,' he said.



Meanwhile, Malik said Indonesia could look to the UK for experience in strengthening its counterterror legislation, which London has revised 'a number of times as the nature of the threat has developed'.



The UK has applied certain measures to restrict the freedom of action for those who are linked to terrorism, but in ways that allow them to have recourse to the judicial system, the British diplomat said.



The protection of human rights has been a contentious issue in the ongoing revision of Indonesia's Terrorism Law, with human rights watchdogs voicing concerns that in revising the law, the authorities will sacrifice civil liberties in the name of national security.



The House of Representatives has begun deliberating on 12 provisions outlined by the government in the draft, such as the scale of punishment for those who participate in military or paramilitary training at home or abroad.



According to Irfan Idris, the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) deputy for deradicalization, the state has detained 207 terrorists and is monitoring the movements of 538 suspected terrorists in 12 provinces across the country.



Meanwhile, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian, who has been promoted to lead the BNPT, said that he would begin his new job by focusing on deradicalization efforts and combating terrorist groups in hideouts like Poso in Central Sulawesi.



'I have my own concept [of deradicalization],' Tito told reporters.



He said that combating terrorism through deradicalization methods should involve more parties than just the police.

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Linkedin Raras Cahyafitri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has suggested that state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina process its crude oil purchased from countries in the Middle East in overseas refineries pending upgrades to domestic refineries.



IGN Wiratmaja Puja, the ministry's oil and gas director general, said on Tuesday that the work was still underway, and new refinery development had yet to be completed.



'The crude price has dropped more significantly compared to the declining price of petroleum products. Therefore, processing crude oil overseas and bringing the products to Indonesia will be cheaper than directly purchasing and importing fuel products into the country,' Wiratmaja said.



Indonesia has seen soaring demand for fuel of late. Meanwhile, domestic crude oil production is declining and aging refineries can no longer run at full capacity. The import of crude oil and petroleum products has undermined the country's trade balance.



Wiratmaja said the government expected that the processing of crude at overseas refineries would be temporary.



'When the capacity of our refineries expands, we will process it domestically so that we will have value-added activities,' he said.



Earlier, Pertamina said that it had considered selecting overseas refineries to process its crude oil that could not be processed in the country's facilities. Crude oil from Iraq is among the commodities that do not match with the specifications required by Indonesian refineries.



Pertamina is interested in West Qurna 1 block in Iraq. The block reportedly contained the potential for 33,500 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in production last year. The company estimates higher production from the block this year and will deliver the product to cater to domestic demand.



Pertamina president director Dwi Soetjipto said his company expected to seal a deal with a refining company from India to process about 1 million barrels of crude oil from Iraq every month.



'There is crude oil from overseas that cannot be processed in our refineries. Therefore, we want to refine the crude in other refineries abroad,' Dwi said.



Currently, Pertamina operates six big refineries that together have more than 1 million barrels per day in capacity. However, the facilities are no longer efficient due to age and outdated technology and they can only produce approximately 800,000 barrels per day.



Total demand in the country is estimated to be equal to 1.6 million barrels per day. However, Indonesia's fields, which are mostly depleted due to past exploitation, can provide less than 800,000 barrels per day.



In the past, the country planned to build new refineries. However, the plans fell through primarily because of financial issues.



Currently, Pertamina is working to select a partner to develop a refinery in Tuban, East Java. The company is also working to upgrade its Cilacap refinery in Central Java.



Apart from Pertamina's Tuban project, the government is planning to open investment opportunities for foreign firms to establish new refineries in Bontang in East Kalimantan and Arun in Aceh.
Suspect: A picture of Nuretin aka Abdul, one of two Uighurs believed to have joined the East Indonesia Mujahiddin (MIT) terrorist group, led by Indonesiaas most wanted man, Santoso, is displayed during a press conference at the Central Sulawesi Police office in Palu on Wednesday. Nuretin was killed in a shoot-out between MIT supporters and a joint police/military team near Mount Talabosa in Lore Piore district, Poso regency, on Tuesday morning. (thejakartapost.com/Ruslan Sangadji)" height="360" border="0" width="639">

The National Police and Indonesian Military have stepped up efforts to hunt down four foreign nationals believed to have joined the East Indonesia Mujahiddin (MIT) terrorist group led by Indonesiaas most wanted man, Santoso, also known as Abu Wardah, in Lembah Napu, Poso, Central Sulawesi.

Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Rudy Sufahriadi said in a shoot-out between the joint police/military team and MIT members on Mount Talabosa in Lore Piore district, Poso regency, on Tuesday morning, two Santoso terrorists, identified as Magalasi Bahtusan aka Faroq and Nuretin aka Abdul, were killed. Both of them were from Uighur, China.

aFour more people from Uighur joining the Santoso terror group remain at large,a said Rudy, who has served in his position only three days, to journalists on Wednesday morning. The police chief himself led the manhunt on MIT members in a security operation codenamed Operation Tinombala.

Rudy said the security team joining Operation Tinombala was intensifying the manhunt on Santoso terrorists in Lembah Napu, an area comprising North Lore, Central Lore, South Lore and Lore Piore, in Poso.

At the press conference, Rudy also revealed the identities of three women from Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, who are suspected to be with Santoso in a hiding place somewhere in the forest area of Poso. The three women are Umi Delima (Santosoas second wife), Tini and Umi Mujaddid.

Rudy said the three women had joined MIT to take revenge for the death of their husbands in a shoot-out with the National Policeas counterterrorism squad Densus 88 in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara.

Citing intelligent reports, Rudy said female voices saying aAllahu Akbaraa (God is Great) were heard during a shoot-out between MIT supporters and Operation Tinombala personnel in Torire village, Central Lore, on Feb. 28.

aThese are the voices of those women,a said Rudy.
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

The Jakarta Police say they are awaiting the results of a forensics investigation before making a conclusion about whether negligence on the part of the operators or a pure accident caused Monday's fire that engulfed a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber at the Mintohardjo Navy Hospital on Jl. Bendungan Hilir in Central Jakarta, which killed four patients, according to a senior officer.



'As the patients were VIPs, the attendants might have had no courage to check whether any of them were bringing matches or cellular phones into the chamber,' Jakarta Police chief Ins. Gen. Tito Karnavian

told reporters at his office on Tuesday.



The fire reportedly broke out after an electrical short circuit occurred in the chamber, inside which four patients, namely former National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. (ret.) Abubakar Nataprawira, 65, medical doctor Dimas, 28, Edi Suwandi, 67, and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) member Sulistyo, 54, were being treated. Sulistyo was also head of the Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI).



Tito said that the fire could possibly have been caused by accident or negligence because his office was still waiting for the results of the National Police's central forensics laboratory's (Puslabfor) investigation.



On Monday, Navy Health Agency head Col. Lukman said that the operators had ensured that no patients undergoing the therapy were carrying any metal objects that could cause abnormalities with the large high-pressure cylinder, also known as a hyperbaric chamber.



Tito explained that the patients were trapped inside the cylinder. The patients were unable to get out because they might have suffered from decompression if the cylinder had been opened when it was under high pressure.



Meanwhile, Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Muhammad Iqbal said the Jakarta Police, in cooperation with the Navy's Military Police (Pomal) and a team from the hospital, were collecting evidence that could lead to a conclusion.



'We are still investigating the procedures of the treatment and the situation at the location where the accident happened,' he said at the Jakarta Police headquarters.



Iqbal said that a joint team from Puslabfor, Pomal and the hospital also needed some assistance from experts to come to a conclusion.



He said that the team had questioned five witnesses from the hospital so far.



He added that the use of a hyperbaric chamber for fitness recovery and the treatment of strokes and other diseases is legal. Such services were provided not only by the Mintohardjo Navy Hospital, but also by other hospitals in the city.



Iqbal said that as of Tuesday morning, the police had identified the dead bodies based on primary and secondary pieces of evidence as well as their possessions before allowing their families to bring them home.



Because the bodies were burned, the police did not conduct any autopsies on them, he said.



Also on Monday, Navy spokesperson Commodore. M. Zainuddin said that the hospital had never before experienced such an accident as all its chambers were in good condition. He said that Navy's elite Frogmen Command (Kopaska) members used the chamber to recover after diving by increasing the oxygen in their bodies. (rez)
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Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

The government plans to submit a presidential directive to the House of Representatives in connection to a plan to revise the Regional Election (Pilkada) Law, says Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo.



"The directive will be submitted to the House within two days,' the minister said in Jakarta on Tuesday.



The House plans to approve the revised regional election bill in April to give the General Elections Commission (KPU) sufficient time to prepare for regional elections that are scheduled to take place on Feb. 15, 2017. The elections will elect seven governors, 18 mayors and 76 regents.



Among the revised articles are those pertaining to funding, candidacy, dispute settlement and preventing political dynasties in the regions.



Lawmakers from House Commission II overseeing political issues, including those from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), proposed tougher requirements for independent candidates in regional elections, following Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama 's announcement that he will seek reelection as a independent candidate.



The lawmakers have proposed increasing the percentage of ID-backed signatures required for independent candidates from between 6.5 and 10 percent of eligible voters to between 10 percent and 20 percent.



The government and House are expected to deliberate the revised regional election bill in early April when lawmakers return from recess.



Jokowi previously said that a revision to the law was expected to provide elections organizers a stronger legal basis to implement elections.



'The articles within the revised law should be firm and not leave room for interpretation,' said the President during a limited Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, adding that the law should also anticipate issues that may emerge in the future.



Following the Dec. 9 regional elections, the Constitutional Court handled 151 election disputes. (bbn) (+)
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Linkedin Raras Cahyafitri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

The government's mandatory ruling on the mix of bio content into diesel fuel has hit a snag amid lingering pressure from low commodity prices.



The Indonesian Oil Palm Estate Fund (BPDP) director, Dadan Kusdiana, said that the realization of subsidized diesel fuel getting mixed with 20 percent bio-content reached approximately 404,000 kiloliters during the first two months of the year. The volume, he said, was only about 80 percent of the more than 500,000-kiloliter target set for the period.



'The realization was low because some biofuel producers have been facing problems with their production facilities while Pertamina has similar problems with its distribution facilities in certain areas,' Dadan said on Tuesday.



Despite the low realization, the BPDP continues to expect to reach the target of having 3 million kiloliters of diesel contain 20 percent biofuel by the end of the year.



The mandatory biodiesel mix is part of the government's policy to encourage the use of non-fossil fuels. Under the program, biofuel ' mostly made of palm oil ' is expected to replace diesel fuel as part of the effort to reduce the country's dependency on petroleum-based fuel and its carbon emissions. The program also aims to jack up the commodity's price, which has been under pressure amid a global economic slowdown.



The mandatory diesel/biofuel blend increased from 10 percent in 2013 to 15 percent in 2015 and to 20 percent this year.



'We are expecting to meet the target. However, as I understand it, the realization of the mandatory blend of non-subsidized diesel fuel is very low to date,' Dadan said.



The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's new-renewable energy and energy conservation agency, which supervises the implementation of the mixture policy, could not immediately be reached for comments regarding the situation.



Business players earlier complained about the burden of the ruling, particularly amid the current low commodity prices. They said the declining oil prices might widen the gap between production costs and consumer prices that must be shouldered by the government in addition to the estimated total subsidy for the program, which might reach Rp 18 trillion (US$1.37 billion) this year.



For subsidized diesel fuel, the gap is filled by levies collected by the BPDP from crude palm oil producers. The levies have been imposed since last year as part of the government's attempt to develop value-added processes in the local palm oil industry and encourage biofuel producers to continue production. Similar schemes, however, do not apply for non-subsidized diesel fuel.



Figures from the Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association showed that Indonesia's CPO production, along with its derivatives, reached 32.5 million tons in 2015, an increase of 3 percent from 31.5 million tons a year earlier. Most of the commodity, about 26.4 million tons of it, was exported in 2015, as compared to 21.76 million tons in 2014.
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

A group of urban poor who were avid supporters of President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo during the presidential election have vowed to stage daily rallies in front of the State Palace to demand Jokowi fulfill promises he made in a political contract with them.



The group held two small rallies on Monday and Tuesday, saying Jokowi had yet to fulfill several promises including relocating poor people rather than just evicting them. Another unmet promise, they said, was ensuring jobs for 'small people'.



Wearing blue plastic raincoats, members took turns to rally in small groups. They wrote 'Remember your promise' on their raincoats in large red letters.



Among the protesters were becak (pedicab) drivers and evictees from the Pluit dam area. They said they had sent several letters requesting a meeting with Jokowi, but had yet to get any response.



A survey by the Indonesian Survey Circle ahead of the July 2014 election said that Jokowi and then vice presidential candidate Jusuf Kalla were popular among people with low- and medium-level education, with 48 percent support, while rivals Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa garnered about 42 percent in the same segment.



On the other hand, Jokowi's ticket was less popular among highly educated groups, with 38 percent support compared to Prabowo's 43 percent.



In political contracts signed in 2012 and 2014 and seen by The Jakarta Post, Jokowi stated he would not confiscate becak or evict residents by force and move them far away, but would instead draft better regulations.



Siti Komariah, one of seven victims of the Muara Baru evictions, said on Tuesday that the protestors were previously devoted members of Jokowi's campaign team in the Jakarta gubernatorial and presidential elections in 2012 and 2014, respectively. They gathered money to give to Jokowi as a symbol of their bond.



Some went door-to-door to encourage support or collect small amounts of money for Jokowi. All of them worked to support Jokowi's victory.



'Remember your promise, Pak Jokowi. You said we wouldn't be evicted as long as we had been living on the land for longer than 30 years and the land was not in dispute,' she said.



Siti added that the group would continue holding rallies every day until their voices were heard.



Research from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) showed there were 113 evictions last year, 72 of which offered no alternatives for evictees.



Titin Sumiati of the Jakarta Urban Poor Network said she had encouraged members affected by evictions to save money collectively, so they would be better prepared if evictions occurred again. Each group consists of 10 families.



'We want to prove that we are not rubbish,' she said, adding that the sums collected by the groups ranged from Rp 10 million to Rp 36 million.



Upon learning that the rallies would continue, Gambir Police chief Bambang Yudhantara Salamun said he would allow citizens to express themselves and would try to help them communicate with the President's staff.



A day earlier, nine becak drivers who questioned Jokowi's commitment to fulfilling his political promises were arrested for holding a rally in a restricted area in front of the State Palace.



During his gubernatorial campaign in 2012, Jokowi promised to protect becak drivers, including a guarantee that they could continue to work and a pledge to provide dedicated becak lanes.



Rasdullah, head of the Jakarta Becak Drivers Union (Sebaja), said at the Central Jakarta Police station that he represented around 3,000 of his fellow drivers who had voted for Jokowi in the elections.



Rasdullah said Jokowi should not forget that becak had taken part in activities surrounding his presidential victory, including giving free rides to Jokowi's guests in Surakarta, Central Java, when he won the presidential election.



According to a bylaw issued by the Jakarta administration in 2007, it is forbidden to own or operate becak in Jakarta. Since then, Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) officers have regularly confiscated becak seen driving in the capital.



Tigor Gempita Hutapea of the LBH Jakarta deemed the arrests on Monday as exaggerated, as the protestors had only asked to meet Jokowi, adding that the police should have allowed them to express their concerns. (fac)
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Linkedin Ina Parlina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

Indonesia and Belgium pledged to continue improving economic ties, particularly in trade and investment, after President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo held a courtesy-call meeting with Princess Astrid of Belgium on Tuesday at the State Palace.



Astrid, the younger sister of Belgian monarch King Philippe, is in Indonesia leading her country's largest-ever economic mission, featuring numerous representatives from 127 Belgian companies, in a week-long visit.



'We met because Belgium is one of Indonesia's most important partners in trade and investment,' Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi told a press conference after the meeting.



Retno said the President also told the visiting delegation about Indonesia's recent efforts to simplify business regulations. The President highlighted the government's 10th economic stimulus package that promised to open up several key sectors to foreign investment.



Belgium is Indonesia's eighth-largest European trading partner, with a total two-way trade volume reaching US$1.67 billion last year. Up to $132.9 million in investment from Belgium was realized between 2010 and 2015, making the country the 27th largest source of foreign direct investment in Indonesia. Meanwhile, Indonesia is the 38th largest supplier of imports to Belgium.



During the meeting, Jokowi also expressed his hope for improved Indonesia-Belgium bilateral ties and later invited Belgian investors to increase their investment in areas related to infrastructure, telecommunications, the film industry and pharmaceuticals.



Astrid's visit, which is focused on exploring business opportunities across several sectors that are deemed important for Indonesia's economic development, namely maritime affairs, food security, agriculture, technology, sustainable energy and city planning, is expected to result in dozens of new memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in various sectors, including in the trade, tourism and clean energy sectors.



The last Belgian business delegation was led by then prince Philippe, now the country's king, in 2008.



Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chairman Franky Sibarani, who also accompanied Jokowi at the meeting, expressed his commitment to follow up on the meeting by providing Belgian investors with assistance and reliable information related to Indonesia's business climate.



Franky thought the meeting emphasized the significance of the Belgian government's support for the existing investments of some 2,000 Belgian companies in Indonesia, saying that 'I believe what we need is to bring new investment into the country.'



According to Franky, some of the businesspeople have shown their intention to invest in the wind-power sector.



The meeting also discussed a plan for Indonesia to become the guest country for the 2017 Europalia International Art Festival, which will be held throughout Belgium and in some European countries.



Among Astrid's entourage are Belgian Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Pieter de Crem, and the general manager of Europalia, Kristine De Mulder.



Astrid met with Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Monday, while members of the delegation have also met with several Indonesian officials, including Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution and Trade Minister Thomas Lembong, to discuss the potential of Belgian-Indonesian economic ties.
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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

The Saudi Arabian government has refused to increase Indonesia's haj quota this year, keeping the number at 168,800 pilgrims, despite an earlier approval from Saudi authorities to raise the quota by up to 10,000 seats.

The Saudi government decided to grant all countries the same haj quota this year, as seen in the 2016 memorandum of understanding (MoU) on haj, explained Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin.

According to Lukman, Indonesia discussed its proposal with the Saudi government further and the latter said that it will seriously consider the possibility of adding more seats for Indonesian pilgrims for the coming year.

"When the time comes, the Saudi government will inform us about its decision," Lukman told journalists on Wednesday.

When President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo met with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud during a Middle East tour in September 2015, the Saudi government gave the green light to Jokowi's proposal for an Indonesian haj quota increase.

An increase to Indonesia's haj quota is seen as important as, not only does Indonesia represent the largest number of pilgrims during haj season, the nation had its annual quota cut by 20 percent since 2013, down from 211,000 to the current 168,800 seats. Under current conditions, Indonesian Muslims living in certain regions are required to wait for more than 20 years before a seat becomes available.

The Saudi government decided to cut the quota due to the massive renovation and expansion of the Masjidil Haram grand mosque, a move which led to a wait list backlog of two million people.

The ongoing renovation of Mecca's Grand Mosque was not intended to accommodate more pilgrims, but to improve convenience during pilgrimage season, Lukman said.

"The Saudi government does not wish to increase haj quotas because the pilgrimage is already overcrowded," Lukman said.

During the six day work visit to Saudi, Lukman said that the Indonesian government also expressed the importance of improving the facilities in Arafah field and Mina for the sake of pilgrim convenience during rituals.

For example, the quality of tents at the Arafah camp should be improved with the use of stronger steel and by making them wind and fire-proof.

In addition, Indonesia has suggested that Saudi government start to develop a large, permanent power plant in order to increase the electricity supply available for the two million of pilgrims during the annual haj season, Lukman said.

Lukman said Indonesia urged the Saudi government to focus and not to further suspend the improvement of camp facilities at Mina and Arafah. "There are no alternatives for the pilgrims. They are confined inside the tents for two or three days," Lukman added. (bbn)
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Linkedin Qassim Abdul-Zahra & Bassem Mroue (The Jakarta Post) Baghdad  Wed, March 16, 2016

Omar al-Shishani, a top Islamic State commander who was a magnet for fighters from the former Soviet Union, has died of wounds suffered in a U.S. airstrike in Syria, a senior Iraqi intelligence official and the head of a Syrian activist group said Tuesday.



Al-Shishani, who was wounded in a U.S. airstrike earlier this month, died on Monday evening outside the Islamic State group's main stronghold of Raqqa in Syria, the two told The Associated Press. A U.S. military spokesman confirmed the reports.



The IS-affiliated Aamaq news agency cited an unnamed source as denying that al-Shishani was wounded or killed, without providing any evidence that he was still alive.



The red-bearded al-Shishani, who was in his 30s, was one of the most prominent IS commanders, appearing in several online videos leading fighters into battle. He served as the top commander in Syria before being appointed to lead three elite units that carried out special missions in Syria and Iraq, according to Hisham al-Hashimi, an Iraqi scholar who closely follows the group.



Al-Shishani, whose real name was Tarkhan Batirashvili, was born in the Pankisi Valley, a predominantly ethnic Chechen region within the former Soviet republic of Georgia.



He did military service in the Georgian army but was discharged after an unspecified illness, a former neighbor told The Associated Press in 2014. Georgian police later arrested him for illegal possession of arms, the neighbor said. Upon his release in 2010, Batirashvili left for Turkey.



He first surfaced in Syria in 2013 with his nom de guerre, which means "Omar the Chechen" in Arabic, leading an al-Qaida-inspired group called "The Army of Emigrants and Partisans," which included a large number of fighters from the former Soviet Union.



Some 1,500 battle-hardened fighters from the Caucasus region joined IS because of al-Shishani, al-Hashimi said.



He first showed his battlefield prowess in August 2013, when his fighters proved pivotal in taking the Syrian military's Managh air base in the north of the country. Rebels had been trying for months to take the base, but it fell soon after al-Shishani joined the battle, said an activist from the region, Abu al-Hassan Maraee.



In a video released in the summer of 2014, after IS swept across northern and western Iraq and declared an Islamic caliphate, al-Shishani stood next to the group's spokesman and other fighters as they declared the elimination of the border between Iraq and Syria.



A U.S. airstrike targeted al-Shishani on March 4 near Syria's eastern town of Shaddadeh, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said last week. Al-Shishani had been sent there to bolster IS fighters "following a series of strategic defeats," Cook said in the statement.



Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that after al-Shishani was wounded, IS "brought a number of doctors to treat him, but they were not able to."



Abdurrahman, whose group monitors the conflict through a network of activists inside Syria, said al-Shishani died in a hospital in the suburbs of Raqqa. The Iraqi intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to brief media, said the IS commander was buried in the eastern Syrian province of Deir el-Zour on Tuesday.



The Iraqi official said IS named an Iraqi to replace al-Shishani but did not give his name.



The spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, U.S. Army Col. Steve Warren, said Tuesday that the coalition was able to "assess that he is dead" and that it "got the word Monday morning."



Warren described al-Shishani as a "very important figure" in the Islamic State group, who was hit as part of a stepped-up campaign of U.S.-led airstrikes targeting IS leadership.



Al-Shishani was in the area of Shaddadeh "along with about a dozen other fighters who were in one spot ... and we struck it," Warren said last week.



Al-Hashimi said the U.S. decision to target top IS figures could have a major impact. "Maybe the death of al-Baghdadi will lead to a rapid collapse," he said, referring to the top IS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.



Iraqi officials said in November 2014 that al-Baghdadi was wounded in an airstrike. He has not been seen since then, but has released audio messages calling on his followers to step up attacks.



IS, which emerged from al-Qaida's branch in Iraq, has many Iraqis among its top leaders. It exploited the chaos of Syria's civil war to capture large areas in that country's north and west before sweeping into Iraq in 2014. It has suffered setbacks since then, but still controls large parts of both countries, including Iraq's second largest city, Mosul.



The U.N. has estimated that around 30,000 foreign fighters from 100 countries are actively working with the Islamic State, al-Qaida or other extremist groups. An earlier estimate by the International Center for the Study of Radicalization, a think tank at King's College London, said IS fighters include 3,300 Western Europeans and 100 or so Americans.



Dalia Ghanem-Yazbeck, an analyst at the Carnegie Middle East Center, cautioned that al-Shishani had been mistakenly reported dead on previous occasions. And she said the significance of his death, if confirmed, "is hard to say, because no one knows the exact extent of his work and importance within the leadership." (ags)
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Linkedin Sindi Paramita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

The government officially passed the Public Housing Savings (Tapera) bill into law in February 2016. The law is one of the government's efforts to curbing the huge demand for housing. The law, an amendment of the previous Law No. 1/2011 on Housing and Housing Area, is aimed at reducing the backlog of housing that is still unattainable especially for low-income people.



Developers have so far not been able to meet the need for housing. According to the Indonesian Real estate Association (REI), the developers can only build 300,000 to 400,000 houses annually. Similarly, according to the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, the supply is still below the annual need of 800,000 houses. It will be a bigger housing backlog which by 2014 has recorded 15 million units, especially for houses intended for those on the poverty line (or low-income people, MBR).



Low-income people makes up tens of millions of people so the government policy needs to address their housing needs.



One of the government's policies to relieve the large need for housing is through the housing loan liquidity facility (FLPP). The facility allows those with income below Rp 4 million to propose for a housing loan with low interest and an affordable down payment.



FLPP was launched in 2010 and with its annual (government) funding of Rp 4 to 5 trillion it has not been able to address the housing supply for low-income people. If we don't have a breakthrough or revolutionary solution, this problem will be a ticking-time bomb for Indonesia. With the state budget being more limited every year, mandatory contribution is needed as another source of funding.

The Tapera law becomes the legal basis for the government to impose the contribution to a custodian bank managed by a Tapera fund management body (BP Tapera) for any Indonesian national or foreign worker in Indonesia.



After the passing of the Tapera law, the government will have to prepare the legislation into a more technical ruling, be it in the form of a government regulation (PP), presidential regulation, or a regulation on the Tapera fund management body.



If workers in formal and non-formal sectors with income more than the minimum wage participate in the mandatory savings, the funds collected will be very significant.



The fund will be used to subsidize the low income and it will be dedicated only to buying, building or renovating a participant's first house and will then be returned when they reach 58 years of age or have retired from work. Another benefit is that for those who already own a house, they could also get financing from Tapera.



However, the law has also drawn much opposition especially from businesspeople. Their view is that the mandatory savings, though not yet decided in the new law, will put additional labor cost onto companies. Investors will also take into account the mandatory savings as an additional cost before they decide to start business in Indonesia.



Meanwhile, developers think the implementation of this rule will drive the demand for housing, especially within the middle and lower classes. Furthermore, the increased demand for houses will create a multiplier effect because housing developments will create economic activity in connected industries.



We view that the Tapera law's potential impact will not be materialize in the coming period. We predict the new rule will take effect at least in another five years because the implementation of Tapera will have to wait for other regulations in the form of government regulation or even a ministerial decrees and is conditionally upon other (related) regulations that will hopefully run smoothly in order for Tapera to have a material impact.



Hopefully, a set of laws in the field of housing for low-income people, including Tapera will be able to overcome the fundamental problems regarding housing especially from the funding side.

____________________________________________



The writer is an industry analyst at PT Bank Mandiri.
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok), a group of volunteer supporters of Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama, says it is anticipating possible stricter requirements for independent candidates to stand in next year's gubernatorial election.



"We are ready to face that eventuality. Our target is to get one million ID-backed signatures. For now, we are focusing on reaching that target," Teman Ahok spokesman Singgih Widiyastono told thejakartapost.com on Tuesday.



The House of Representatives plans to kick off deliberation of a revision to the Regional Elections Law in early April.



However, lawmakers from the House's Commission II overseeing political issues, including those from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), have said they plan to propose tougher requirements for independent candidates in regional elections.



Among other measures, lawmakers have proposed increasing the number of ID -backed signatures required for independent candidates from between 6.5 and 10 percent of the respective electorate to between 10 and 20 percent.



If the proposed is agreed by the House, Teman Ahok will have to collect between 700,000 and one million photocopies of Jakarta voters' IDs to allow the incumbent governor to take part in the election.



Ahok had declared he will run as an independent candidate alongside Heru Budi Hartono, a civil servant working for the Jakarta city administration.



Singgih said the declaration had helped Teman Ahok to collect more photocopies of IDs, as more voters had voluntarily handed over Teman Ahok's volunteers. 'Usually we can gather around 3,200 ID backed signatures per day. Now, with the nomination of the gubernatorial candidate, we can collect between 5,000 and 7,000 per day," Singgih said.



Separately, Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD) chairman Sumarno said the lawmakers' plan to propose tougher requirements would act as a barrier to people running on independent tickets.



"If the law requires 10 percent of the total voters, that means an independent candidate in Jakarta has to collect about 700,000 copies of voters IDs. That's a very large number," Sumarno told thejakartapost.com.



The number of eligible voters in Jakarta reaches more than 7 million. Under the current law, an independent candidate is required to collect some 530,000 copies of Jakarta voter IDs.



Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) senior political researcher Siti Zuhro criticized the lawmakers' proposal, saying that it would spark public controversy. (bbn)(+)
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post  Wed, March 16, 2016

Your comments on the Islamic world's call on Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries and the international community to ban products from Israeli settlements to put pressure on Israeli to end its occupation of Palestinian land:

A ban on products from Israeli settlements is a useless effort. What have the Arabs in the Middle East done so far? Nothing, because they just want to save their fortunes.



E. Nurdin



Banning products from Israeli settlements is not right. It would be like having 10 fingers and one has to be amputated.



Let us join hands and help each other, instead of troubling each other. Long live the united people of the world.



Moeljono Adikoesoemo



The Rehmans say a missile fired from a US drone killed 68-year-old Momina Bibi ' Rehman's mother, and grandmother to the two young children ' in an October 2012 airstrike. Both Zubair and Nabila were present when the attack happened and suffered injuries.



The missile had struck their grandmother straight on, obliterating her completely. There were no others killed in the attack and no substantiated reports of terrorists at the scene.



According to the family's account, Bibi was killed tending okra while her grandkids played nearby.



Azizur Rachman



I do agree to pressure Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian land.



Arbain

____________________________________

Topic of the day



Islam and democracy



According to Jeremy Menchik, a professor from Boston University's Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, in his 224-page book Islam and Democracy in Indonesia: Tolerance without Liberalism, democratic values, such as freedom and equality, are basically common in secular states. However, beyond this, things become both unique and confusing for scholars who analyze Indonesia, because the country is also highly religious, a characteristic not generally found in secular states. What do you think?



Send your thoughts by email, SMS, Twitter or Facebook. Include your name and city.
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Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

The limited reshuffle at the National Police headquarters on Monday has immediately attracted the attention of members of the country's political and security circles, as it is assumed to have an effect on who will take the law enforcement agency's top position.



The naming of Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian as the new chief of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) is seen by many as a stepping stone for the 51-year-old to be the next National Police chief, although he faces competition from six other potential candidates.



The outgoing Jakarta Police chief will soon be the seventh and youngest among the three-star generals in the police force, all of whom are in line to become the next police chief. Tito will also be the first among his 1987 police academy batch, to be granted a three-star rank.



The other six are police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan; police inspector general Comr. Gen. Dwi Priyatno; head of the National Police's security maintenance division Com. Gen. Putut Eko Bayuseno; Narcotics Agency (BNN) head Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso; Police educational institution head Comr. Gen. Syafruddin; and chief secretary at the National Resilience Institute Comr. Gen. Suhardi Alius.



Budi Gunawan and Dwi will both be retiring next year; Eko, Budi Waseso and Syafruddin in 2019; Suhardi in 2020 and Tito in 2022.



The National Police Commission (Kompolnas) said that Tito's promotion had increased his profile and opportunity to be the next police chief.



'It won't happen now, but maybe it [police chief] will be his next job,' Kompolnas commissioner M. Nasser said over the phone on Tuesday.



Nasser said Tito was a potential candidate as he had the outstanding track record and communication skills necessary to coordinate with different institutions.



His achievements include the arrest of fugitive Tommy Soeharto, son of former president Soeharto, and the killing of terrorists Azahari Husin and Noordin M. Top, who were behind several major bomb attacks in the country in the past.



Apart from being the top graduate of the 1987 police academy class, Tito has also had the privilege of enjoying studies abroad and getting his MA in Police Studies from the UK's University of Exeter and a PhD in Strategic Studies from Singapore's Rajaratnam School of International Studies.



Police observers Adrianus Meliala and Erlangga Masdiana share Nasser's opinion about Tito's bright future.



However, the public has lingering questions about the Jakarta Police's recent move to refuse to give the recent Turn Left Festival permission to be held in Taman Ismail Marzuki.



Nevertheless, analysts argue that the move was directed by policies at the higher level, such as those from the National Police Chief and top regional administrators.



They were also of the opinion that the security situation in Jakarta will not be significantly affected.



Based on previous experience, personnel changes within the police force do not really change the management and arrangement of security forces in the country overall.



'Rotations and resultant different styles of leadership only affect 15 percent of the practice in the field. The rest remains the same, since police are only the executor of policies made by the institution itself as well as the regional and central governments,' Adrianus told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.



Adrianus is upbeat that Jakarta will remain safe next year under the new Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Moechgiyarto, who is now West Java Police chief.



'Jakarta has seen more complex elections [of governors, councillors and presidents] in the past. The police have already achieved a state of best practice and they just need to repeat that,' he added.

________________________________________

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Linkedin Khoirul Amin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 16, 2016

Indonesia's trade surplus started climbing in February this year, buoyed by surging exports, but broad-based trade performance for the first two months was weak compared to the same period last year.



The trade surplus in February hit US$1.14 billion, far higher than a surplus of $50.6 million a month earlier, according to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). The trade surplus in February this year is also the biggest surplus seen in February since 2012.



Southeast Asia's largest economy booked a trade surplus of $828.6 million in February 2012, but it headed into deficit a year later. February's trade balance returned back to surplus in 2014 and 2015, reaching $843.4 million and $662.7 million, respectively.



BPS head Suryamin said that total exports in February stood at $11.3 billion, higher than the $10.48 billion in January, thanks partly to non-oil and gas export volume increases.



'It's a positive signal. I hope that it is part of boosted growth from small-medium enterprises,' he said.



Imports in February, meanwhile, dropped by 11.71 percent to $10.16 billion compared to the corresponding period last year.



The trade performance in the January and February period this year, meanwhile, remained weak, with both exports and imports contracting by 14.32 percent and 14.48 percent from the same period last year, respectively.



Exports in the two-month period hit $21.78 billion and imports amounted to $20.63 billion.



Oil and gas exports during the period plunged by 40.16 percent year-on-year (yoy) to $2.2 billion and non-oil and gas imports dropped by 9.89 percent to $19.6 billion. Both oil and gas imports and non-oil and gas imports also dropped by 39.09 percent and 9.83 percent, respectively.



The country's imports of raw materials and capital goods dropped by 19.18 percent and 12.62 percent yoy to $14.9 billion and $3.6 billion, respectively. Meanwhile, imports of consumer goods surged by 34.38 percent to $2.16 billion in the January and February period.



Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) economist Latif Adam said that the trade performance in the first two months of this year had shown a bit of improvement, but it had not met expectations.



He said, however, that the declining imports of raw materials and capital goods could have been caused by either the slow progress of infrastructure projects or the higher consumption of local raw materials and capital goods.



'The increasing imports of consumer goods, meanwhile, should be thoroughly reviewed, if it was an impact of the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community [AEC],' he said.



Latif said that the trade performance in the first quarter of this year would likely improve if the government was responsive to rupiah stabilization and to boosting the output of local industry.



If the government worked it out, the trend in the first quarter would probably end with the trade surplus being smaller, with exports rising, imports of raw material and capital goods increasing and imports of consumer goods declining, he said.



On a separate occasion, Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution said that he was optimistic that the country's trade performance would be better as the government was now still realizing all of its plans.

_________________________

To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News.

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Linkedin Ruslan Sangadji (The Jakarta Post) Palu  Wed, March 16, 2016

Two suspected members of the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terror group led by Santoso were killed during a gunfight with the military and the police on Tuesday morning in Poso regency, Central Sulawesi.



Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Rudy Sufahriadi confirmed the incident but could not give detailed information regarding the identities of the two suspects.



He said, however, that he recognized the two from circulated pictures of the police's most wanted list. He also said he had directly seen the condition of the two bodies on the site.



'They were both long-haired,' Rudy told reporters in Palu, the provincial capital, upon his arrival from the scene of the fire-fight.



He said the fire-fight occurred at about 7 a.m., local time, in the Talabosa mountain range in Lore Piore district.



The military and the police saw four members of MIT going down the mountain, heading toward a residential area. The suspected terrorists fought back when the police attempted to arrest them.



'It was during the crossfire that two of them were shot and two others ran away. We are chasing them presently,' Rudy said.



From pictures circulated among intelligence circles, the two bodies of the killed terrorists looked like Basri, alias Bagong, the second in leadership after Santoso, and Faruq, alias Magalasi, an Uighur.



Rudy, however, declined to comment more on the matter, saying that in due time the identities of both terrorists would be revealed.



'Just wait for the results of the examination of the bodies. Please be patient,' said Rudy, who is also a former Poso Police chief.



He also said that after the fire-fight, the military and the police found a grenade tied to the foot of one of the dead suspected terrorists, two backpacks, guns, ammunition and homemade bombs.



He expressed the hope that with the full force of the security state deployed in Operation Tinombala, all the members of MIT would soon be captured or killed.



Rudy said he shared the feelings of the public who wanted the MIT terrorists in Poso to be thoroughly handled. He promised he would fulfill the will of the people.



The bodies of the two suspected terrorists have been taken to the Central Sulawesi Police's Bhayangkara Hospital in Palu for an autopsy and DNA tests. They will later be handed over to their respective families.



At present, some 3,000 police and military personnel are involved in the hunt for Santoso, alias Abu Wardah, and his men. The operation involves elite troops from both the military and the police, including Kopassus, Raider, Amphibian Spy Battalion and Brimob.



All the troops have beenmoved from Poso Pesisir to Napu Valley, which covers North Lore, South Lore, Central Lore and Lore Piore.
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post UN  Wed, March 16, 2016

Greeta Rao Gupta's grandmother was pulled out of school in southern India at the age of 12 to be married, and over the next two decades she gave birth to 11 babies, only five of whom survived.

Her grandmother was so weakened by the multiple pregnancies and grief from losing so many babies that she died herself at the age of 33 of tuberculosis, said Gupta, who is deputy executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund.

Gupta was on hand Tuesday to kick off a program run by UNICEF and the U.N. Population Fund aimed at ending child marriages around the world by 2013.

Gupta said the story of her grandmother who died in 1930 made it a personal issue for her.

"Here we are 85 years later and we are still talking about girls getting married as children," she said.

The program targets girls age 10 to 19 who are at risk of being married off or who are already married in 12 countries, including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nepal and Yemen. The countries were chosen based on several criteria, including a high rate of child marriage.

Officials say the issue is urgent. If current trends persist, up to 280 million girls alive today could become child brides before they turn 18 years old, according to the U.N. agencies.

More than 700 million girls and women alive now were married as children, the agencies say.

"Just think where those women and girls would be today if they were allowed to have a childhood," Gupta said.

Agency officials say the program will work to help girls at risk of child marriage to make their own decisions about their futures, strengthen programs that deliver services to adolescent girls, and put into place laws and policies that protect adolescent girls' rights.

Ending child marriage is part of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women's efforts to achieve gender equality by 2013. (ags)
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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, March 21, 2016

Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Grab are able to offer low fares not as a result of operational efficiency, but because of subsidies form their parent companies, the Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) has argued.

Organda chairman Adrianto Djokosoetono accused such businesses of distorting the market by offering undercutting fares at the expense of their short-term financial health, leading to tariff wars in the field as well as at the corporate level.

"If they were cheap because they were efficient, we'd love to learn from them. However, in China, for example, Uber lost US$ 1.7 billion, and only remains in operation because of subsidies from the profitable US parent company," he said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Adrianto, who also chairs the Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin)'s Land Transportation Committee, said transportation companies' revenues had decreased 20 percent per annum since ride-hailing apps had entered the market.

Decreases have not only hit taxi businesses, but also buses, angkot [public minivans] and bajaj [auto-rickshaws] as well, he said.

Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara meanwhile said the debate over ride-hailing apps should not focus on technological issues, as the real problem lay with issues of licensing and regulation. "Technology is neutral," he noted. (ags)
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Linkedin Nicole Winfield (The Jakarta Post) Vatican City  Wed, March 16, 2016

A Vatican monsignor said Tuesday he never felt threatened by two journalists to whom he passed confidential documents ' but did fear the colleague who introduced them.

Monsignor Angelo Lucio Vallejo Balda, a former high-ranking official in the Vatican's finance office, made the concession during cross-examination Tuesday in the Vatican's leaks case.

Italian journalists Gianluigi Nuzzi and Emiliano Fittipaldi wrote blockbuster books last year about Vatican waste, mismanagement and greed. Key documents came from a papal reform commission that Vallejo directed.

Vatican prosecutors have accused the journalists of illegally "soliciting and exerting pressure" on Vallejo to obtain the documents and of publishing them, itself a crime under Vatican City State law. Prosecutors have cited threats Vallejo said he received from the journalists.

Vallejo admitted he gave documents to the journalists. But he said he did so because he felt pressured by the woman who introduced them: Francesca Chaouqui, a flamboyant communications expert and a member of the reform commission.

Nuzzi and Fittipaldi face up to eight years in prison if convicted of putting pressure on Vallejo to obtain the documents and publish them.

Vallejo, Chaouqui and Vallejo's assistant Nicola Maio are accused of forming a criminal organization and providing the documents.

Vallejo testified that the only threats he experienced came from Chaouqui, whom he believed to be a high-ranking official in Italy's secret services with connections to powerful Italians, including a brother of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

"I will destroy you in all the newspapers and you know I can do it," read one WhatsApp message from Chaouqui to Vallejo that was read in court.

While Vallejo said Nuzzi once told him that "Francesca can hurt you," he conceded that neither journalist directly threatened him.

Nuzzi's attorney Roberto Paolombi pressed him on the point: "Did you feel threatened, or were you threatened?"

"I felt threatened," Vallejo said.

Fittipaldi, meanwhile, testified that he received only 20 pages from Vallejo and found them of such "little journalistic value" that he used them for just seven lines in his book. He said the book was nearly finished before he even met Vallejo.

Fittipaldi challenged the prosecutor to specify the offense he supposedly committed, given it's a journalist's job to ask sources for information.

"I don't see any crime here," Fittipaldi said. "This is part of my job."

Fittipaldi's book "Avarice," and Nuzzi's book "Merchants in the Temple," detailed millions of euros in lost potential rental income from the Vatican's real estate holdings, millions in missing inventory from the Vatican's tax-free stores, the exorbitant costs for getting someone declared a saint and the greed of bishops and cardinals lusting after huge apartments.

The books were based on documents produced by a reform commission that Pope Francis appointed in 2013 to survey the Vatican's financial holdings and propose reforms so that more money could be devoted to the poor. (ags)
Heres a story well known to TLD readers. Now its receiving citywide coverage. Three years ago, the city selected Delancey Street Associates to build the nine-block, $1.1 billion Essex Crossing residential, commercial and retail project on the Lower East Side. Thats when things went south for the vendors at the Essex Street Market, the indoor bazaar across the street that was created by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in 1940. [Crains]

RXR Realty will offer $463 million in financing for three projects by Extell Development, including the huge One Manhattan Square tower on the Lower East Side. [Real Deal]

A three-story building at 216 Bowery has sold for $13 million. The price per square foot is almost double the going average in Manhattan. [Real Estate Weekly]

The Hotel and Motel Trades Council has endorsed Yuh-Line Niou in the April 19 special election to fill Sheldon Silvers Assembly seat. Niou is running on the Working Families Party line. The hotel workers union is a key part in the organized labor alliance that makes up the WFP. [Observer]

Federal investigators are zeroing in on an alleged plot to illegally register buses in Pennsylvania that made trips to New Yorks Chinatown. [The Morning Call]
Whats next after university? In all likelihood, most students would like to find a job to pay back their student loans and to eventually buy a house. However, does this traditional formula still work for this generation?

Research from the Guardian shows that debt, globalisation, property prices and unemployment tend to worsen the prospect of millennials. So, how does it affect university students in the UK? Are there still chances for overseas students to secure jobs here? Research from the Guardian shows that debt, globalisation, property prices and unemployment tend to worsen the prospect of millennials. So, how does it affect university students in the UK? Are there still chances for overseas students to secure jobs here?

With bachelors degrees no longer as worthy as they might have been in the past, its not surprising that students feel unsecure to get a job after graduation - and students at the University of Sheffield back up this feeling of uncertainty.

Elen Roberts, a final year studying BA Law, says: It is more competitive now - even though we all get a degree, its not enough to get a job and its quite hard. She described the prospect of trying to find a job scary.

Students also reveal that the amount of skills and qualifications and the level of work experience that is required for the majority of jobs makes the job market appear increasingly competitive. Inexperienced young people, therefore, are at a great disadvantage.

Vasilaki Efstathia, who is completing her masters degree in Money, Banking and Finance, says: The employer has asked more and more from us, such as languages, master degrees and work experience. The past generations had more chances to find a job.

Nevertheless, having a degree from a university in a certain city might have a direct impact on your future prospects. As Sheffield is an industrial city, more and more opportunities are opening to engineering students. Dylan Jones, a final year electronic engineering student, admits that he does find opportunities in his field: I think electronic engineering has a lot of job out there, he says.

Higher Education in Britain has long been attractive, encouraging thousands of overseas students to complete their degrees in and settle down in the country. How does this trend affect them? The main concern might be the sponsorship of visa application.

Naman Kedia, who is finishing his master degree in civil engineering in June, raises concerns about his job seeking process.

I am an international student so it is very important to get a Tier 2 Visa sponsorship to get a job, he says. Many companies do not sponsor your visa because they do not want to pay extra money. I have been studying here for four years so I am experienced in this field, but there is more competition right now.

Visa application might be a hurdle for international students who intend to work here after completing their degree. But on the other hand, they may also have certain advantages as they are likely to be more adapted than home students to global working markets.

Clement Ng, a second year international student studying BA Politics, says: We are in a more competitive world.

"I think it is just the change of environment (that) makes us more competitive. It is challenging for everyone but we have an advantage. We have an international background. More companies are seeking people who can speak multiple languages and adapt to different culture."

So, since there are a number of local companies targeting a younger work force, maybe we shouldnt be too worried. A spokesman from a well-known national supermarket company, who wanted to remain anonymous, says that work experience or degree background is not in the first priority in their company  its more about innovation and strong leadership.

After all, nothing comes easily. No matter whether you are a finalist or fresher, the crucial thing to do is to stretch out your potential and build up your own strength. Knowing yourself is the best way to impress future employers.
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Phuket Immigration mulls kids caught in overstay blacklist ban

PHUKET: Officers at Phuket Immigration next week will publicly announce whether or not they will include children in the blacklist ban on re-entry on all aliens who overstay in the country, which comes into effect on Sunday (March 20).

immigrationpolicetourismRussianChinese

By The Phuket News

Wednesday 16 March 2016, 07:37PM

Phuket Immigration would not confirm or deny whether the notice announcing that children under 14 would be blacklisted and banned from re-entering Thailand.

Phuket Immigration has yet to announce whether or not children will be caught in the blacklist ban that will come into effect on Sunday (Mar 20). Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

The news follows a notice  circulated via a Line group directly linked to Phuket Immigration  plainly stating: it is not acceptable for children under 14 years old not to have a visa. If your child is under 14 years old and has no visa, you must apply for a visa by 20th Of March 2016.

If they get caught without a visa, they will be banned from Thailand for a minimum of 1 year, the notice read.

Phuket Immigration Col Sunchai Chokkajaykij yesterday and today (Mar 15-16) has been unavailable for comment on the issue.

A senior-ranking officer at Phuket Immigration, who specifically asked not to be publicly identified in this report, would not confirm or deny whether the notice was issued by Phuket Immigration staff.

However, the officer did tell The Phuket News today, The Immigration Bureau wants all foreigners to have the right documents while staying in the country and expects all foreigners and their children to have valid permits-to-stay without any exception  unlike in the past.

The announcement that we will enforce the new overstay rules came three months ago, BUT the issue that is still being discussed is how these rules will apply to children and whether they will need a valid permit-to-stay by March 20 or be blacklisted.

It is a very sensitive issue and covers many criteria. The Immigration Bureau will have a press conference sometime next week to announce more details on this issue, the officer added.

Immigration Bureau chief Nathathorn Prousoontorn on Saturday (Mar 12) repeated his warning to all foreigners illegally staying in the country on overstay.

Under new Interior Ministry regulations, foreign travellers who overstay more than 90 days will be banned from re-entering the country for one year, he said.

People who overstay more than one year, will face a re-entry ban of three years. (See story here.)
Two men arrested, B500,000 worth of counterfeit goods seized in Phuket

PHUKET: Two men were arrested and B500,000 worth of counterfeit goods seized when police from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) carried out raids in Patong on Monday night (Mar 14).

crimepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Wednesday 16 March 2016, 09:56AM

The two men were arrested and items seized when police raided shops along Patong's Bangla Rd. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

More than 12 officers from ECD and Kathu police led by Maj Apichart Amornpradit carried out raids on shops on Bangla Rd resulting in the seizure of counterfeit goods valued at over B500,000. Items seized included sunglasses, purses, watches and others products.

Maj Apichart said, Officers raided four locations and arrested two men. The two men were taken to Kathu Police Station to face charges of possession of counterfeit items with intent to sell. If found guilty they will be sentenced to up to four years in prison or face a fine of no more than B400,000.

He explained, The raids came after Royal Thai Police office in Bangkok was notified that shops along Bangla Rd have been selling fake goods to tourists, so we contacted Kathu police and visited the area.

When we came to the area on Monday afternoon we were surprised to find that most of the shops were closed. We suspect that the vendors were alerted of our visit so they closed their shops and fled the area, he said.

We returned that night and discovered the shops were open. Officers searched four locations known to sell fake goods to tourists and discovered that two of the four shops that were full of counterfeit items, he added.
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WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental vaccine against dengue -- the mosquito-borne virus behind a very painful illness -- was found effective in a new study.

In the small trial involving just 41 healthy volunteers, one dose of the "TV003" vaccine offered 100 percent protection against a particularly tricky strain of the disease that scientists initially thought might be outwitting the vaccine.

Coupled with earlier indications that the vaccine also offers strong protection against three other strains of dengue, the results bode well for ongoing efforts to control the most widespread mosquito-transmitted virus in the world, the researchers said.

"Development of vaccines for dengue has been complicated, since disease can be caused by any of four dengue virus serotypes [strains]," explained study author Dr. Beth Kirkpatrick, director of the Vaccine Testing Center in the department of medicine at the University of Vermont College of Medicine in Burlington.

And a truly effective vaccine must provide "equal protection against all four," she added. That's because if someone who has been sick with one strain of dengue gets infected with a different strain, the second strain will cause more serious illness, she explained.

Kirkpatrick described the current findings as "encouraging," though she stressed that more research, on a larger scale, will be needed to confirm the vaccine's promise.

The study was published online March 16 in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Dengue strikes roughly 390 million people each year, primarily in tropical and sub-tropical environments, according to the study authors.

Most infections are actually mild or without symptoms, the researchers noted.

But upwards of 2 million of those infected end up with dengue hemorrhagic fever, the study authors said. Symptoms include a very high fever, severe headaches, muscle and joint pain, blood vessel leakage and circulatory failure, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For roughly 25,000 patients a year, the disease is fatal.

The new vaccine covers all four strains of dengue. It was first tried out in early 2016, with availability confined to just three countries: Mexico, the Philippines and Brazil, according to the study authors.

Early tests suggested the vaccine triggered a robust immune response for three of the strains. But, it first looked as if the vaccine might be less effective at producing antibodies for the "dengue 2" strain.

Kirkpatrick's team decided to retest the vaccine, focusing not only immune responses but also on infection rates.

The researchers recruited 41 healthy American adults (average age of about 30). The researchers tested the vaccine on people in the United States because dengue doesn't often occur in the United States, which means study volunteers wouldn't have been infected with any of the strains in the past.

Just over half the group was vaccinated with a single dose of TV003, while the remainder was given a placebo vaccine.

A half-year later, all were exposed to a genetically modified version of the dengue 2 strain, the study said. The test strain was fashioned to prompt what Kirkpatrick described as only a "minimal health risk," meaning mild and almost symptomless infections.

None of the vaccinated patients developed rashes or reduced white blood cell counts, or showed any signs of virus in their blood, the study showed. By contrast, all of those given a placebo vaccine had the dengue 2 virus in their blood. Four out of five developed mild rashes, and one in five saw their white blood cell count drop, the researchers found.

They now plan to study the vaccine in countries where dengue is widespread.

The current findings are raising hopes not only in the battle against dengue, but also for efforts to get ahead of other major health concerns such as the Zika virus.

"The dengue virus is closely related to Zika virus," noted Kirkpatrick. "The team working on this dengue vaccine is now leveraging their experience in efforts to develop a Zika vaccine."

But Matthew Aliota, a research scientist in the department of pathobiological sciences in the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, cautions that "much more work still is needed" for the dengue vaccine, as well as any potential Zika vaccine.

"This study is promising," he said. "However, work will be required prior to widespread introduction to allow evaluation of efficacy and safety."

"This," he said, "takes time."

More information

There's more on the dengue virus at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Venture capitalist Michael Goguen and exotic dancer Amber Baptiste met at a Dallas strip club in the early 2000s and started spending time together.

Thats about all they agree on.

Baptiste says Goguen sexually abused her for more than a decade and then reneged on an agreement to pay her $40 million to halt a personal injury lawsuit, according to her March 8 breach-of-contract lawsuit. Six days later, Goguen countersued saying the relationship was consensual and alleging that Baptiste tried to extort him because he declined to make a greater commitment to her.

The legal battlepunctuated with revealing photos, salacious text messages and explicit descriptions of sexual actshas rocked the venture-capital industry, already stung by criticism that it treats women poorly. Sequoia Capital, where Goguen worked for almost 20 years, parted ways with him once Baptistes suit became public. While the allegations against Goguen were unproven and unrelated, the firm tweeted, nevertheless, we came to the decision that Mikes departure was the appropriate course of action.

In her complaint, Baptiste portrays herself as a victim, brought to America by human traffickers and sold as a dancer to a strip club. Goguen, a graduate of Cornell and Stanford universities, was a partner at Sequoia, a venerated Silicon Valley VC that backed pioneering companies such as Apple, Yahoo and Google.

Goguen says they started seeing each other no more than a few times a year, mostly at Baptistes request. Baptiste says after meeting in the strip club Goguen repeatedly contacted her, promising that if she went out with him hed help her break free of the human traffickers. Goguen, who married and divorced multiple times during the relationship, says he felt sorry for Baptiste and wanted to help her leave the life of an exotic dancer.

Over the following decade, they formed a relationship that Goguen said Baptiste welcomed and pursued. Time and again, he said, she wrote seductive e-mails and sent him sexually provocative photos of herself. She called him the most amazing man I have ever met, according to a text message cited in Goguens suit. Your manner is so sweet and delicate.

Baptiste says Goguen forced himself on her from the beginning, performed lewd acts and turned her into a sex slave. Her lawsuit includes graphic details of alleged coercion, including an incident in 2012, when she says she was sodomized and left bleeding in a London hotel. Goguen confirms the London rendezvous but claims the acts were consensual and cites as evidence e-mails from Baptiste, including one that says: I promise promise it is not your fault ... I was a willing participant in this accident.

In 2011, about a decade into the relationship, Baptiste says, she discovered she was infected with several high-risk strains of HPV, the human papillomavirus, which can lead to cervical cancer. She says Goguen gave her the virus; Goguen says he has never been diagnosed with HPV.

Over the years, Goguen says he paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to Baptiste to cover her general living expenses. In her suit, Baptiste says Goguen told her to set up two entitiesJe Ne Se Que Enterprises LLC and a charitable organization called Every Girl Countsso he could keep the payments secret and write off the money as donations.

As time passed, Goguen says, Baptiste became increasingly frustrated that he spent so little time with her and remained married. As she entered her 30s, according to the complaint, Baptiste said she wanted to have children with him. But Goguen didnt leave his wife then and had more children. Eventually, Ms. Baptiste concluded that if she could not have Mr. Goguens heart, at least she could have his money, according to the lawsuit.

In 2014, Baptiste sent Goguen a draft complaint through a lawyer alleging years of physical and emotional abuse. The two eventually signed a settlement agreement in May of that year. Goguen agreed to pay her $40 million in four equal payments, saying in his complaint that he did so to prevent Baptistes ruinous lies from being publicly exposed. In exchange, Baptiste agreed not to proceed with the personal injury lawsuit and to keep the settlement private. Both sides also agreed to cease all communication.

But the texts and e-mails continued. Baptiste says Goguen threatened to hire someone to follow her wherever she went to make sure she never spoke of his abuse and demanded she relocate to another state or country. For his part, Goguen claims Baptiste sent him more than 2,000 messages, in which she threatened to expose their relationship and his alleged acts to his children. He says she also vowed to send him to prison if he didnt accelerate the payment schedule. Goguen stopped paying.

In her complaint, Baptiste is asking the court to enforce the $40 million settlement plus legal costs and damages. Goguen is seeking return of the $10 million payment, damages and a restraining order against Baptiste.

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They say everybodys Irish on St. Patricks Day.

But were pretty sure they dont serve green beer in Ireland, except perhaps at a few tourist traps. If you want to try for authenticity, then start by saying no to green beer and going for a little hard tack (Irish whiskey) or, for the full experience, some Poitin (Irish moonshine).

Poitin (pronounced putcheen) isnt the only new arrival at the LCBO, either. Used to be there were two options when it came to Irish  Bushmills and Jameson  a choice that thousands of know-it-all bar patrons were only too happy to tell you was representative of the religious divide in Ireland. Bushmills was for Protestants; Jameson for the Catholics.

Even Jimmy McNulty fell for this, repeating this urban bar legend in The Wires third season. Irish whiskey is non-denominational, though, which is probably why it appeals to irreverent characters such as True Detectives fictional Rusty Cohle and, apparently, real-life human Lady Gaga, each of whom drinks Jameson.

And while both are known for drinking the midshelf, run-of-the-mill Jameson, wed recommend trading up to the exceptionally smooth and sweet Powers Gold Irish (LCBO 428409; $39.95) or, better yet, Jameson Select Reserve (LCBO 292615; $49.95), a complex and sophisticated spirit well worth the extra $16.

Or, you could take a cue from Bruce Springsteen, who, on his many visits to Dublins famed Victorian-era pub The Long Hall opts for a Redbreast (with his pint of stout). Management keeps a special bottle of the 21-year-old Irish handy for when the Boss pops by. We dont have access to that specific expression here, but we do have the 12-year-old version of Redbreast (LCBO 636845; $74.95), a splendid whiskey  robust, a bit fruity and perfect for easy-drinking, straight sipping.

Redbreast is what they call a single pot still whiskey, which means its made from both malted and unmalted barley mash and distilled in batches, one of the more traditional methods for making Irish. So is the often hard-to-find but currently available Green Spot (LCBO 699827; $85.40)  a creamy, vanilla-heavy and rich spirit. The more budget-friendly Writers Tears (LCBO 271106; $50.30) is a blended pot still, light and bright-tasting, with a taste of honey, cereal and fruit.

Finally, for a walk on the wilder side of Irish heritage, theres always Poitin, which is essentially Irish moonshine. The subject of many Irish ballads, poems and folklore, this legendary pot-distilled, deceptively smooth, surprisingly sweet, doozy of a spirit (61.5 per cent alcohol by volume) has inspired many, including Torontos own bar star, Mike Webster of Bar Raval. Webster has concocted a signature St. Patricks Day cocktail with Teeling Poitin (LCBO 440016; $43.95), a new arrival to Ontario, marking the first time weve been able to buy Irish moonshine here.

Get pickled

We hear Donnie Wahlbergs signature cocktail is the pickleback  a shot of Irish whiskey, followed by a shot of pickle juice chaser (no joke)  a party-bar staple ever since it was launched in Brooklyn a few years back. The drinks popularity has a lot to do with the fact that vinegar settles the stomach after its assaulted with the hit of straight liquor. A Poitin pickleback could certainly work, too, but most everyone would want to dilute the moonshine with a little water first. Otherwise you might wind up with a hangover or, as the Irish call it (by some strange coincidence) a poit.

The Giants Causeway

1 1/2 oz Teeling Poitin

1/2 oz Gooderham and Worts whisky

1/4 oz Lustau Amontillado sherry

3/4 oz orgeat (almond syrup, available at BYOB, or look for orzata at the grocery store)

3/4 oz fresh lemon juice

A splash of craft Pilsner beer

Shake all ingredients except the Pilsner in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and top with a splash of Pilsner.

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The problem with Indian food, says Hemant Bhagwani, owner of Indian Street Food Co. at Bayview and Eglinton, and I was number one guilty of doing it, is the cream and butter we add, watering down the spices.

The restaurateur, who grew up in India, attended cooking school in Switzerland, and then earned a masters in marketing in Australia, says hes come full circle with the food he serves. After launching the successful Amaya in north Toronto in 2007, the restaurant grew into a mini-chain  there are now 14 Amaya Express locations  with Bhagwani gradually dumbing down the cuisine to pursue the largest possible audience.

But when he opened in the Eaton Centre food court, he decided to ditch pandering items such as cheeseburger samosas and Indian tacos.

Taking that risk, with a McDonalds and Thai Express there, I was very nervous, says Bhagwani, as we sit in the dining room for a pre-service staff meal. I thought I was going to go bankrupt there. My rent is $36,000 a month. But then the first night I ran out of food at 7 oclock. Thats where I started knowing that the authentic food sells best.

After selling off a large portion of Amaya (though hes still the majority shareholder), Bhagwani has turned the original location on Bayview into Indian Street Food Co., shifting the focus to street food dishes. And while ISFCs no-tipping policy is getting all the press  a move made to balance out the disparity in pay between cooks and servers  theres also a big shift in the cooking, getting away from the gastronomic crutches of butter and cream, eliminating them in all but two dishes.

Chefs Sudhan Natarajan, Kamleshwar Prasad and Devender Singh, in Canada on one or two-year visas, were hired away from restaurants in Dubai, New Delhi and Seoul, respectively.

Because I wanted to do very authentic food, says Bhagwani, I could not find talent here.

The chefs whiz around the kitchen in their red chef jackets, cooking naan to order by dipping their arms into the tandoori oven without hesitation. When Singh has me make naan, the 950F tandoori oven singes off half of my arm hair in the two seconds it takes to lower the dough and press it against the interior wall of the oven.

Natarajan giggles and says Ive just gotten a free waxing.

He walks me through making staff meal, aloo loki, a basic potato curry with bottle gourd, also known as calabash. While sauteing onions, he pinches off green curry leaves, adding base notes of mustard and cumin from the 11 square metal boxes sitting next to the stove containing red, yellow, green and brown ground spices. Once its simmering he folds in ginger and coriander, wanting those flavours to carry a non-mellowed bite.

Bhagwani says that in his years as a restaurateur, diners have grown to recognize and appreciate the subtleties of Indian cooking, estimating that 70 per cent of his current clientele has been to India.

People are more travelled. They want more authenticity, he says. You can present it in a nicer way, but the more authentic you keep it, the better you do.

The no tipping rule

When Bhagwani decided to do away with tipping for the launch of Indian Street Food Co. last November, he wasnt expecting news vans to descend on opening day. Or for private, vitriolic comments from other restaurateurs, upset that hes challenging the status quo.

He was looking for a way to change the traditional structure of a restaurant, specifically the income disparity between cooks and servers.

Typical earning for Toronto cooks is about $14 an hour (more if the restaurant tips out the back of house, though thats not standard) and, with tips, $25 to $30 for servers, according to Bruce McAdams, who teaches hospitality and economics at the University of Guelph.

At Indian Street Food Co., theres a 12 per cent administration fee added to each bill, which is combined with 10 per cent of the restaurants gross sales for a total of 22 per cent that is divided evenly among staff.

Its just one model. Another, being adopted by the Union Square Hospitality Group in New York, and by Bill Sweete (owner of Sidecar and Toronto Temperance Society) in Toronto, is to raise menu prices roughly the same rate of the average tip, with a percentage of total revenue paid to each employee. Ive spoken to other restaurateurs  Arshad Merali of Kanpai Snackbar in Cabbagetown, Geoff Kirkland of the Lantern Restaurant & Grill in Lakefield  who are planning variations of the same thing.

Consumers have gotten used to having a measure of control over restaurant servers, in a way we dont with, say, car mechanics or supermarket cashiers. Imagine if the government set a sub-minim um wage rate (as they do for servers  their wage is $9.80 compared to the provincial minimum of $11.25) for those jobs and we got to decide if their labour was worth our subsidizing their pay.

Servers have not been applying to Bhagwanis new restaurant, he says, likely because they expect theyll be earning less. Everyone on the floor the night that Im in the kitchen is fresh. None of them have served before.

Thats fine, says Bhagwani. Id rather train somebody new.

Another reason for the change in pay structure is to incentivize everyone through profit sharing.

In most restaurants, when diners come in near closing time, the kitchen grumbles. Theres no bonus for them staying late. Here, another table means all the employees earn more money.

Chicken Tikka

Lined up on a skewer, each piece of chicken exposed to the 950F heat of the tandoori oven, this dish cooks in 10-15 minutes. At home, I baked it in clay bowls (like for French onion soup). Piling the meat together lengthens the cooking time.

Chicken Tikka Marinade

4 boness skinless chicken breasts, sliced into large pieces

2 tbsp (30 mL) ginger, minced

2 tbsp (30 mL) garlic, minced

2 tsp (10 mL) salt

2 tsp (10 mL) chili powder

1 tbsp (15 mL) garam masala

2 tsp (10 mL) ground cumin

2 tsp (10 mL) fenugreek

2 tbsp (30 mL) vegetable oil

2 tbsp (30 mL) lemon juice

2 tbsp (30 mL) cilantro, chopped

3 green chilies, chopped

In a large bowl, mix chicken with ginger, garlic, salt, chili powder, garam masala, cumin, fenugreek, vegetable oil, lemon juice, cilantro and green chilies. Marinate and refrigerate for up to 4 hours.

Chicken Tikka Yogurt Sauce

2 tbsp (30 mL) ground cumin

2 cups (500 mL) yogurt

2 tbsp (30 mL) ginger

2 tbsp (30 mL) garlic, minced

1 tsp (5 mL) salt

1 tbsp (15 mL) chili powder

1 tbsp (15 mL) garam masala

2 tsp (10 mL) fenugreek

2 tsp (10 mL) vegetable oil

2 tbsp (30 mL) cilantro, chopped

Preheat oven to 475F/245C.

In a small pan roast cumin in oven until it darkens, about 2 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk yogurt, ginger, garlic, salt, chili powder, garam masala, fenugreek, vegetable oil, cilantro and roasted cumin.

In the mixing bowl, coat marinated chicken in yogurt sauce. Transfer to casserole dish. Bake until cooked through, about 35 to 50 minutes, depending on size of chicken chunks and how densely theyre layered (piled high, its going to take longer than if spread out). Slice into a couple pieces to make sure theyre cooked.

Makes 4 servings.

by Corey Mintz

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Heres how to make sense of the Russias game-changing approach to Syria: Take an enigma, wrap it in riddles, sprinkle with caviar. Repeat and rinse. With vodka.

Such is the dizzying, punch-drunk reaction to Moscows sudden, if partial, exit from the brutal five-year uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Six months ago, quietly and swiftly, Russian air power soared in to rescue Assad, just as the regime was beginning to seriously buckle. An area the size of Connecticut (or two times that of Prince Edward Island) was relentlessly pounded back into Assads hands, resetting the table entirely.

Then, just as the Syrian leader began to muse aloud about sidestepping peace talks and instead marching on to retake the whole of Syria in the years to come, Russia declares mission accomplished. Disbelievers shrugged off Mondays pledge by President Vladimir Putin, opting to wait and see. By Wednesday, the pullout was well underway, with fully half of the Russian air deployment already home.

Putin is full of surprises and this one, it appears, came without warning to Assad and his Shiite Muslim allies, Hezbollah and Iran. A surprise, too, to the Saudis, Turkey and their Sunni Arab proxies. A surprise, even, to Washington.

The raw facts have since been overlaid with rabid speculation. Did Russia cut a side-deal with Saudi Arabia to turn off its giant spigot and ease the global oil gut, enabling the rise of crude prices to save Moscows petro-economy? Is this all part of a grand Putin plan to leverage European angst over Syrian refugees to pressure the EU to accept Russian ambitions in eastern Ukraine?

Or perhaps Russia is wisely consolidating for the short term, harvesting the profits of a changed map for its client in Syria before this years other big geopolitical tumblers turn. A dialing down of the Cold War temperature, maybe, as Putin waits and watches (with the rest of us) to see what other sorts of fire Donald Trump intends to play with in the run-up to Novembers U.S. election.

Russias loudest critics scoff, either way. As Frederic Hof of the Atlantic Council observes, the Russian withdrawal is instantly reversible and in any event is unlikely to persuade Obamas successor and other Western leaders that Putin is a force for good in the world. If nothing else, the civilian slaughter he has commissioned in Syria makes it clear what he is and what he stands for, writes Hof.

Max Boot of the Council on Foreign Relations, writing Wednesday in the Los Angeles Times, called Russias six-month campaign morally monstrous. But in the same paragraph, credited Putin with pulling off another coup, showing that he is a more adept international poker player than his counterpart in Washington.

Its easy to forget, but Putins surprises arent always bad news for Washington. Cast your mind back to the late summer of 2013, when an accidental slip of the tongue  Barack Obamas declaration of a red line in Syria over chemical weapons  came back to haunt the White House, bringing the country to the precipice of war.

Two tension-filled weeks of tub-thumping for U.S.-led airstrikes rose to a crescendo, with Britain first joining  and then dramatically unjoining  the cause, when Prime Minister David Cameron lost his own partys support amid what his crestfallen defence minister called a deep well of suspicion about involvement in the Middle East.

Nothing speaks more loudly than war when it comes to highlighting differences between Moscow and Washington. Putin never asks permission. Obama  then facing polls showing barely one in five Americans supporting the call for military action  found himself with no political wiggle room whatsoever. As the moment of decision approached, Obama appeared headed for a humiliation similar to Camerons, announcing he would freeze U.S. warships in place and instead seek approval from a war-shy Congress.

Instead, it was Moscow that came adroitly to the rescue, parlaying a throwaway quote from Secretary of State John Kerry into a rapid diplomatic breakthrough. Assad would surrender his WMDs to avert U.S. airstrikes.

And so here we are again, with Kerry readying for key meetings in Moscow. Another chance, possibly a strong one, to steer the Syrian standoff toward meaningful peace talks. And Putin, again, holding the cards that matter.

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COLUMBUS, OHIOThe state can try again to put to death a condemned killer whose 2009 execution was called off after two hours during which he cried in pain while receiving 18 needle sticks, the Ohio Supreme Court said Wednesday.

The courts 4-3 ruling rejected arguments that giving the state prisons agency a second chance to execute Romell Broom would amount to cruel and unusual punishment and double jeopardy.

Prosecutors had argued double jeopardy doesnt apply because lethal drugs never entered Brooms veins while executioners unsuccessfully tried to hook up an IV. They also said a previously unsuccessful execution attempt doesnt affect the constitutionality of his death sentence.

Brooms attorneys called the ruling disappointing and said they were exploring additional legal remedies. Ohioans to Stop Executions, the states largest anti-death penalty group, called on Gov. John Kasich to commute Brooms sentence to life without parole.

With a federal appeal of the ruling likely, a second execution is years away. In addition, Ohio already has more than two dozen death row inmates with firm execution dates but no lethal drugs to use on them.

Broom was sentenced to die for raping and killing 14-year-old Tryna Middleton after abducting her in Cleveland in 1984 as she walked home from a football game with two friends.

Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger sided with the state in the case, saying the execution never began because the drugs werent administered.

Because Brooms life was never at risk since the drugs were not introduced, and because the state is committed to carrying out executions in a constitutional manner, we do not believe that it would shock the publics conscience to allow the state to carry out Brooms execution, Lanzinger wrote.

The majority opinion said it was unclear why Brooms veins couldnt be accessed, a fact that brings the rejection of his appeal into question, Justice Judi French wrote in a dissent.

If the state cannot explain why the Broom execution went wrong, then the state cannot guarantee that the outcome will be different next time, French said.

His 2009 execution was stopped by then-Gov. Ted Strickland after an execution team tried for two hours to find a suitable vein. Broom has said he was stuck with needles at least 18 times, with pain so intense he cried and screamed.

An hour into the execution, the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction recruited a part-time prison doctor with no experience or training with executions to try  again, unsuccessfully  to find a vein.

Broom, 59, has been back on death row since. No new execution date has been set.

Brooms appeals in federal court were on hold while the state court heard the constitutional arguments.

Broom was told of the decision and is in good spirits, said defence attorneys Timothy Sweeney and Adele Shank.

The states top public defender said its long been understood that the government gets one attempt at an execution.

Whether you believe its the hand of God or just basic government failure, as happened in this case, they dont get to do this again, said Tim Young, head of the Ohio Public Defenders Office.

The 18 times Broom was stuck with needles as he lay strapped to a gurney demonstrate the execution had begun, said Kevin Werner, executive director of Ohioans to Stop Executions. The governors office wasnt yet aware of the groups petition or request for mercy, said spokesman Joe Andrews.

Requiring Broom to endure another execution attempt would double up his punishment by forcing him to relive the pain hes already been through, Shank and Sweeney argued last year.

During a June hearing, Chief Justice Maureen OConnor asked Shank about a prison officials testimony that Broom may have caused the problems with his veins by ingesting an entire box of antihistamines the day before to dehydrate himself. Shank, in seeking to rebut the states argument about purposeful hydration, said she saw Broom drinking coffee the day of the execution. Chris Schroeder, an assistant Cuyahoga County prosecutor, said the antihistamines allegation was not part of the states argument.

In 1947, Louisiana electrocuted 18-year-old Willie Francis by electric chair a year after an improperly prepared electric chair failed to work. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to allow the second execution to proceed, rejecting double jeopardy arguments.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to kick off a campaign to widen the powers of his office in April as he seeks public support for a possible referendum later this year, according to two senior officials with close knowledge of the preparations.

Erdogan will argue that a new constitution should feature a strengthened presidency while retaining a key role for the parliament, said the officials, asking not to be named because they werent authorized to speak publicly. Hell also emphasize new checks and balances that would cap the presidents powers, they said, a response to critics who say Erdogan is merely seeking to strengthen his own rule.

After more than a decade as prime minister, Erdogan ascended to the presidency in 2014. Hes since devoted much energy to expanding the executive role of whats traditionally been a largely ceremonial post, arguing that strong leadership will help extend a record of economic growth. The effort has sparked a backlash among opposition groups who say Erdogan and the Islamist-rooted ruling partys dominance of Turkish politics has eroded a once-secular system and diminished media freedom.

The AK Party, which Erdogan founded, is working on a draft constitution but only holds 317 seats in the 550-member parliament, short of the 330 votes needed to take a new charter to a public vote. That means hell require support from at least some opposition lawmakers. The senior officials said that could come from the right-wing Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, which has shown signs of fragmenting recently.

Erdogan knows that mobilizing public opinion for a presidential system is key to convincing skeptical lawmakers, said Mehmet Sahin, deputy chairman of the Ankara-based Institute of Strategic Thinking. Newly elected lawmakers would be more likely to support the plan than take a risk on early elections if it fails, he said.

The AK Party accelerated work on its own draft of a new constitution after efforts to write a charter agreeable to all political parties collapsed last month amid opposition to Erdogans proposals.

Some investors say theyre wary of the efforts to change Turkeys political system, viewing them as a costly distraction likely to exacerbate social tensions.

Obsession with constitution reform for increased presidential power rather than economic reform is one reason to be bearish on the Turkish stock market, Michel Danechi, a London-based portfolio manager at Duet Asset Management, which helps to manage $1.5 billion (U.S.) in emerging-market assets, said by email on Tuesday.

The Turkish lira dropped 0.3 per cent to 2.9060 against the dollar in early trade on Wednesday, after weakening the most in more than two weeks on Tuesday. The Borsa Istanbul 100 Index fell 1.4 per cent on Tuesday, paring its gain this year to 10 per cent.

The presidential system is the best way to use Turkeys resources in a more effective management model, Mehdi Eker, head of the AK Partys economic affairs office, said this week. We believe this has to be debated and evaluated by the nation.

The political clash threatens further turmoil at a time when Turkey is waging a war against the Kurdish PKK in its southeast, has been attacked by Islamic State, and risks getting drawn deeper into the conflict in neighbouring Syria.

The country has stepped up airstrikes against the PKK, which has been blamed for a series of attacks including a suicide car-bombing in the capital Ankara on Sunday that killed more than 30 people. The Kurdish group, classified as terrorists by Turkey and its U.S. and European Union allies, has been fighting for autonomy for three decades, and has ties with Kurdish groups that now control swaths of northern Syria.

The recent escalation in Turkeys war with the PKK may be entwined with Erdogans bid for wider powers, said Nihat Ali Ozcan at the Economic Policy Research Foundation in Ankara.

The PKK is engaged in a direct confrontation with Erdogan with the aim of preventing him from turning his office into an executive presidency, Ozcan said. However, Erdogan may benefit from a growing nationalist backlash in his campaign for a presidential system, as long as he maintains his crackdown on the PKK.

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Flash back to 1891. After the prime ministers death Wilfrid Laurier, then the leader of the federal Liberal party, and later Canadas first French-Canadian prime minister, said of his Conservative opponent: It may be said without any exaggeration whatever, that the life of Sir John Macdonald, from the date he entered Parliament, is the history of Canada.

It is true. With all Macdonalds strengths and faults, 125 years later, our first prime minister remains one of the few Canadian figures whose influence extended across the country.

Flash forward. Last month the CBC reported that the board of governors of Wilfrid Laurier University decided to remove a recently donated statue of Sir John A. Macdonald from its Waterloo campus. Vehemently expressed opinions of our first prime minster contributed to this decision. The new negativity focuses largely on his policies toward Indians, as the First Nations were termed in his day.

Please allow an outsider from Alberta to butt in at this point, with a suggestion for the board. I hope that you will next cast a glance at the Indian policies of the Canadian prime minister after whom your university is named. Even a cursory look will reveal that First Nations lands received little protection during Laurier's administration. On the prairies the Liberals pushed relentlessly to reduce reserve sizes.

Unquestionably, Macdonald was the most important Canadian politician in the formation of Canadian Indian policy after Confederation. He was the instigator of the first treaties with the Plains Indians. He approved the Indian Act of 1876, and created the Dept. of Indian Affairs in 1880 to administer it. He served as the Superintendent General of Indian Affairs from 1878 to 1887. The governments involvement with Indian residential schools formally began during his administration. His goal was the conventional wisdom of the day, accepted by Liberal and Conservative alike, the total assimilation of the First Nations. He wished to see the First Nations become full citizens of the British Empire.

Macdonald is very complex. The contradictions of his policy include his ruthless repression of the First Nations in the northwest immediately after the unrest of 1885. What is now Alberta and Saskatchewan was administered in 1885 essentially as a police state. Yet, that same year, Macdonald extended the federal franchise to adult male Indians in Central and Eastern Canada who met the property requirement without obliging them to lose their Indian status.

Did Macdonald deliberately plot the extermination of the Prairie First Nations? If so, why, for example, did he invite two groups of Plains First Nations leaders to tour Central Canada in the fall of 1886? The first from Blackfoot or Treaty Seven country in southern Alberta included the great chiefs Crowfoot and Red Crow. Macdonald invited them to his home, Earnscliffe in Ottawa in early October. A surviving photo shows them outside his home. Two weeks later Macdonald welcomed to Earnscliffe four chiefs from the Treaties Four and Six areas in present-day Saskatchewan, including the influential leaders Ahtahkakoop and Mistawasis.

Macdonalds outlook toward the First Nations is indeed complex, and cannot be easily summarized. He did not understand that the Aboriginal Peoples wanted to retain their cultures and identities. Their ancestors had lived in what is now Canada for 500 or so generations. His blind spot toward the Aboriginal Peoples is one still shared by many non-Aboriginal Canadians.

What advice can one offer the board of Wilfrid Laurier University about the acceptance of a statue of Macdonald for their campus? Perhaps in their refusal to accept, they should alter their rationale away from his Indian policies in the middle and late 19th century. His attitudes were all very common to the age in which he lived.

The board might reject the generous tribute to Macdonald by their universitys namesake, and instead simply quote from the diary of Sir Daniel Wilson, president of the University of Toronto, who was not so charitable.

He wrote on the death of Canadas first prime minister, As we walked to church today a flag at half mast told the tale. Sir John A. Macdonald, premier for so many years has been lying helpless under a stroke of paralysis, and died last night. The clergyman referred in this sermon to the death of the great statesman, which he certainly was not. A clever, most unprincipled party leader, he had developed a system of political corruption that has demoralized the country. Its evil effects will long survive him.

Donald B. Smith, Professor Emeritus of History, University of Calgary, is the author of: Sacred Feathers: The Reverend Peter Jones (Kahkewaquonaby) and the Mississauga Indians; and Mississauga Portraits: Ojibwe Voices from Nineteenth-Century Canada.

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Let the pundits debate whether Donald Trump will succeed in his hostile takeover of the Republican party, or can be stopped by wheeling and dealing on the floor of the partys convention in July.

Let them declare that Hillary Clinton is the inevitable Democratic nominee for president, and write off Bernie Sanders as a no-hope single-message candidate.

What should get the attention of Canadians amid the sturm und drang of this continually amazing presidential contest is the fact that no matter who wins the White House, the United States is being swept by a wave of protectionist feeling unprecedented in modern times. And for a heavily trade-dependent nation like Canada, that spells trouble on the horizon.

All the leading presidential candidates, in both parties, have signed up to the message that trade is bad for ordinary American workers. Donald Trump has, no surprise, been the loudest, declaring that foreigners are killing us on trade and vowing to do away with Americas disastrous trade practices.

Bernie Sanders likewise thunders against trade deals that have been a disaster for the American worker. Barring a miracle, he wont be the Democrats nominee, especially after Clinton defeated him decisively on Tuesday night in the key primary states of Florida and Ohio. But Sanders has managed to push Clinton sharply to the left, and she now promises that Americans wont be left at the mercy of what any country is going to do to take advantage of our markets.

Its clear why this dark, suspicious mood is dominating the U.S. political season. Tens of millions of Americans have been effectively cut loose by their own country, abandoned to the shocks of the global economy. They were promised new prosperity by the apostles of globalization, but are living a very different reality.

A couple of striking statistics cited this week by Jared Bernstein in the New York Times make that clear. Real wages for U.S. blue-collar manufacturing workers have been flat for the past 35 years, while productivity in the sector has increased by more than 200 per cent. Where did the extra wealth go? To wily foreigners who have outsmarted Washington on trade, if you believe Trump. Or to Wall Street and the fabled one per cent, if you listen to Sanders.

Theres a lot more to Trumps toxic appeal, of course. Theres thinly disguised (sometimes undisguised) racism, resentment against so-called political correctness, a feeling that America is no longer respected and feared in the world, and anger at the political dysfunction in Washington.

But theres little doubt he has tapped into real grievances among mainly white, less-educated voters who have been kicked to the side of the road as the United States motored into the brave new world of trade deals, technology and globalization. Their plight is made all the worse by the absence of a decent social safety net, like those that keep Canadians and most Europeans from falling right to the bottom.

In truth, theres lots of evidence that trade as such is not the problem. It creates wealth, drives productivity, keeps prices low and has lifted billions around the world out of abject poverty. Cancelling trade deals would not end globalization or do away with the new technology that has destroyed millions of American jobs. But thats way too nuanced for a demagogue like Trump. Its not what angry voters want to hear.

More to the point, their rage is a political force of its own. Whether the president who takes over from Barack Obama next January is Clinton, Trump or another Republican, she or he will be propelled by what Marco Rubio, as he took himself out of the race on Tuesday, described as the political storm of 2016. The new Congress will also be shaped by that anger.

The danger for other countries, including Canada, is that an inward-looking, protectionist United States could set off a disastrous trade war that would risk sweeping away the benefits of freer trade. Trump himself threatens to impose high tariffs on goods imported from China and Mexico, something that would both raise prices dramatically and inevitably lead other countries to block U.S. goods in retaliation. He may be just blowing smoke, art of the deal-style, but these things can easily spin out of control.

Many Canadians have their own suspicions about new trade deals. But our country is even more trade-dependent than the United States, with imports and exports worth a staggering $1.1 trillion a year, and an estimated one job in five tied to trade. Few countries have as much to lose as we do if our neighbour and biggest trade partner turns away from the wider world.

It has happened before in living memory (it was called the Great Depression), and it wasnt pretty.

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Editors' pick: Originally published March 16.

Deutsche Bank picked some favorite large-cap stocks in a recent note to clients. It reiterated a preference for stocks in the financial services, technology and consumer discretionary sectors, while generally avoiding energy, materials and industrial stocks.

TheStreethighlighted Deutsche Bank's top large-cap dividend stocks from a fundamental perspective. Today, TheStreet's in-house chartist Bruce Kamich takes a technical look.

From the Deutsche Bank list of favorite large-cap stocks, TheStreet selected those with dividend yields above 3.5%. The stocks on our list are covered by the German bank; they have market caps above $8 billion, price-to-earnings multiples on 2016 earnings that are less than 22 times, and price upside that is greater than 10%, according to Deutsche Bank's note.

But how do these Deutsche Bank picks look in light of the technical charts? Let's find out.
As public markets fluctuate wildly from China to Europe to Wall Street, consider the appeal of alternative asset managers, including private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, REITs, commodities, infrastructure and other asset classes. But, before you make an investment, there are several important questions you should ask.

But compared to past decades, alternative managers in the 21st century face steep hurdles to provide alpha -- risk-adjusted relative performance - for investors. When considering alternatives, investors should carefully consider how exactly these asset classes add value, whether they still do, and whether they have potential to do so in the future.

The second half of the 20th century was of great importance in the history of global investment management, as alternative asset classes and independent managers produced sophisticated, innovative products, and attracted a great number of clients, often at significantly higher fees than before. Many firms produced great rewards for investors and managers alike.

However, the long investment history indicates that it is probably not possible to devise a single superior investment technique that works era after era. Like so many important innovations in the history of investment and investment management, competition and changing market conditions moderate high performance rates.

The savviest investors ask themselves a few important questions when it comes to alternative investments. Consider the following:

Are you getting a premium if there is illiquidity?

Alternative investments are often less liquid than a traditional asset class: stocks, bonds and cash. When institutional investors like Yale University's endowment and the Oregon Investment Council began to move into less liquid alternatives in the 1980s, they found that these strategies offered an enormous premium for their relative illiquidity. In exchange for parking their assets in these vehicles, investors could receive sizable incremental returns.

However, this characteristic of alternative investments is no longer guaranteed. The institutionalization of private equity, venture capital and other alternative investments means that illiquidity, in and of itself, no longer necessarily generates stronger returns.

When it comes to liquidity, there is no silver bullet; an investor should not be either liquid or illiquid, as such. A given market participant should instead be aware of how much he or she needs liquidity, how much it costs, and how much it will return in a given investment scenario.

Are the fees worth it?

The standard fee structure for the alternatives market is known commonly as "2-and-20": managers often charge 2% of assets under management as a management fee and 20% of profits generated by their investments as a performance fee. A.W. Jones, the creator of the first hedge fund, charged his clients this based on the fees charged by ancient Phoenician ship captains for profits on successful journeys.

But that was in 1949, and in some ways the 2-and-20 fee structure is a holdover from a different age. Assets under management in hedge funds and other alternative vehicles have grown immensely over the past several decades -- far more than Jones could have imagined in the 1940s when he created what would become the norm. Even in the mid-1960s, total hedge fund assets numbered in the hundreds of millions, a far cry from the $2.5 trillion under management in 2014.

The standard fee structure also means that performance fees are almost always paid on return, not alpha -- the value that a manager has added through investment management talent.

But high fees alone should not concern investors. That a manager receives a hefty fee is not an issue if the manager has produced prodigiously superior returns. But it is exceedingly difficult to achieve vastly superior risk-adjusted returns from one source over long periods. Investors shouldn't expect that their managers would generate alpha every single year, but over time, the manager should be expected to "earn his keep" or be fired.

What kind of alternatives should you be looking for?

The future of alternative assets likely includes the creation of new asset classes. This is particularly true for institutional investors, who have often seized upon exotic asset classes to generate returns. These novel forms of risk tend to bear low correlations with traditional investments, and have included such disparate things as timber, songwriter royalties and catastrophe bonds. Alternatives as we know them today, including private equity, venture capital, hedge funds and other vehicles, were once truly exotic in their own right.

These well-known alternatives are likely to stay in the investment landscape for the foreseeable future. Many managers will generate significant returns for investors, and evidence suggests that the era of vast earnings by top investment managers, while likely to moderate over time, is unlikely to disappear completely.

At the end of the day, the next generation of financial innovations will likely take the spotlight. The next generation may come from niche corners of the market, like algorithmic trading, commodities strategies or real assets - or they may involve a holistic approach like the endowment-style or multi-strategy firm. Only time will tell what financial innovations the future holds.

Norton Reamer is the former CEO of Putnam Investments, and the founder and CEO of United Asset Management. He is the co-author of Investment: A History (Columbia Business School Publishing, February 2016).
BEIRUT  Russias plan to withdraw forces from Syria is sending a strong message to President Bashar Assad, whose hard-line stance is diverging from Moscows interest in declaring its intervention in the country a success while also accelerating peace efforts.

Having dramatically turned the tide of war in Assads favor with five months of intense bombardment of his foes, President Vladimir Putin is pressuring the Syrian leader to engage them in more meaningful dialogue in talks that have begun in Geneva.

There was an overlap in interests in the last few months. Now they (the Russians) are telling Assad, this is where we start to diverge, and youve got to step up to your responsibilities, you cant rely on us forever, said Maha Yahya, acting director of the Carnegie Middle East Center.

With an announcement that appeared to take even senior Russian commanders by surprise, Putin ordered most of the estimated 3,000 to 6,000 personnel to begin withdrawing from Syria on Tuesday, a step that raised hopes for progress at newly reconvened U.N.-brokered peace talks in Geneva.

At a televised meeting Monday with his foreign and defense ministers, Putin said Moscows intervention had fulfilled its objectives by allowing Assads military to radically turn the tide of war. He added that the move should help serve as a stimulus for Syrias political talks.

Russia deployed its air force to Syria in September to prop up Assads faltering military, which has been waging a five-year war against internal opponents and jihadist militants.

Although its stated goal was to fight Islamic State militants and other terrorists, much of the Russian campaign has targeted mainstream rebels and helped eject them from core areas considered strategic for Assads survival, thereby safeguarding Moscows interests in the country.

While the operation has restored momentum for Assads forces, Syrian forces have been unable to regain areas in Idlib province in the north or completely encircle rebels in the contested city of Aleppo, for instance.

The timing of the Russian withdrawal, just as peace talks were resuming, offered Putin an opportune moment to declare the bulk of Moscows involvement to be over, while acting as a peacemaker and helping ease tensions with NATO member Turkey and the Gulf monarchies vexed by the Kremlins military action.

By also pacifying the opposition, Putin has set up the groundwork for what is shaping up to be the best opportunity so far to advance the talks between the two warring sides.

The U.N.s Syria envoy, Staffan de Mistura, said it is a significant development, which we hope will have a positive impact on the progress of the negotiations in Geneva. Syrian opposition spokesman, Salem Al Mislet, also welcomed Russias pullout, saying that if it is serious, it would go a long way in helping the talks.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called it a very important phase in this process and said he would go to Moscow next week to talk with Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

While Russia is highly unlikely to drop Assad anytime soon, the withdrawal at least suggests differences between Moscow and Damascus over what the next steps forward should be.
Albert Einstein once said: "Technological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal."

Consider the boombox, the Betamax camcorder, cassette music tapes, the VHS player, public pay phones -- they're all in the dustbin of tech history. Today, a sleek smartphone that fits in your pocket packs more computing power than a Cray supercomputer of the 1980s.

Rapid technological change is all around us. That's why one of the surest ways to reap profits over the long haul is to invest in relatively young innovative companies that possess proprietary technology that's disrupting the status quo. In other words, one of the surest paths to wealth is to find "the next Apple."

Below, we highlight a company that's in the forefront of the hottest, most disruptive technology trend around: the cloud. But it's a midcap stock competing against sector giants, which affords it greater growth potential.

Investors right now are seeking growth stocks with sufficient staying power to withstand the turbulence we'll inevitably encounter throughout the year. Market watchers are fretting over a host of potential dangers that could undermine markets, including another energy price free fall, slowing growth in China, terrorist attacks, an overextended global banking system, stubbornly high unemployment and deflation in the eurozone, and terrorism.

But through all of this year's woes, the tech sector has displayed resilience. The Technology Select Sector Index (XLK) is up 0.9% year to date, compared with a year-to-date decline of roughly 1.4% for the S&P 500.

However, there's more to the tech sector than the familiar brand names of tech behemoths such as Apple, Microsoft, Intel, Cisco and Google parent Alphabet. Mid-cap tech companies can better tap unstoppable trends for outsized growth.

A company that fits the bill is ServiceNow (NOW) . With a market cap of $9.9 billion and a sole focus on cloud computing, ServiceNow has more room for market expansion and capital appreciation than the diversified megacaps that offer cloud services such as Oracle, which has a market cap of $169.46 billion.

The transition to "the cloud" is the most sweeping tech trend today. By using data storage and IT capabilities that are centralized and located offsite, companies are able to significantly cut their processing costs via efficient outsourcing.

Although a relatively new entrant to the field (the company was founded in 2003), ServiceNow has been stealing market share from IT legacy system companies such as IBM, a trend that IBM has been unable to stem. In other words, ServiceNow seems to be in the same situation as Apple was in the 1980s.

The most attractive strength of tech upstart ServiceNow is its business model: The company derives revenue from subscriptions, which ensures a steady stream of future revenue at low cost.

ServiceNow's Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) subscription model is an IT delivery method in which software and related data are centrally hosted on the cloud and accessed by a Web browser. PaaS has become highly popular for many widely used business apps. ServiceNow has launched HR Service Automation, an application that automates human resources data. In 2013, ServiceNow bought Mirror42, a cloud-based performance analytics company.

In its most recently reported quarter, ServiceNow had adjusted earnings per share of 19 cents, smashing the average analyst estimate for 8 cents, and up significantly from 3 cents in the same quarter a year earlier. For fiscal 2016, the analyst consensus is for adjusted EPS of 63 cents, up from 40 cents in 2015.

Over the past month, as energy and stock prices have subjected investors to crazy intraday swings, ServiceNow shares have risen 19%, but there's plenty of juice left for further appreciation.

ServiceNow shares now trade at about $61.81, but the median 12-month price target from analysts covering the stock is $78, which suggests it can gain about 26%. The highest price target from analysts is $110, which implies a gain of 78%. In the context of a troubled broader market that most analysts say will only provide tepid returns (at best), potential gains of this magnitude should spark your keen interest.

We've just explained why ServiceNow is a great buy now. We've found another "tech disrupter" that could be poised for even bigger gains. There's a battle raging in the fast-moving world of Silicon Valley. Just as VHS tapes snuffed out Betamax and CDs killed cassettes, the winner of a new "gold standard" for data is about to be crowned. We've found a small company that figured out a way to corner this new $10 billion market, no matter who comes out the winner. To learn more about this small-cap rocket stock, click here.

John Persinos is editorial manager and investment analyst at Investing Daily. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.
Accessories companies like Coach (COH) and Kate Spade (KATE) have been doing really well lately, and the auto parts sector remains red-hot as well. But there's another sector TheStreet's Jim Cramer is keeping an eye on: utilities.

The utility sector -- which tends to be viewed as a flight-to-safety trade -- should do well even if stocks are in rally mode, said Cramer, the co-manager of the Action Alerts PLUS portfolio.

Why? Simple. Because investors are still searching for yield. With Treasury and bond yields remaining very low, investors are forced to turn to equities in order to generate the kind of income they desire. Utilities, generally speaking, tend to have steady payouts.

As long as investors still want yield, utility stocks should continue to do well, Cramer said.

American Electric Power (AEP) , which is a holding in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio, "is really one of the best," Cramer said. While the stock is down 0.5% Wednesday, it is up an impressive 10% so far in 2016, far outpacing the S&P 500's (SPY) 1.3% drop this year.

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You see Jim Cramer on TV. Now, see where he invests his money and why American Electric Power is a core holding of his multi-million dollar portfolio.

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For those who already own American Electric Power or are looking for other utility stocks to buy, Cramer listed some more of his favorites in the sector: Dominion Resources (D) and Consolidated Edison (ED) .

And although many investors seem to think Entergy (ETR) is a poorly run company, Cramer disagreed. "I've never felt that way. I think it's got a good CEO," Cramer said of the New Orleans-based energy provider.

Entergy also has a good dividend yield, paying investors 4.4%, Cramer concluded.

At the time of publication, Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS had a long position in AEP.
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Credit Suisse (CS) stock is slumping 5.75% to $14.43 in afternoon trading on Wednesday, as a former Georgian prime minister accuses the Swiss bank of money laundering.

The complaint alleges that Credit Suisse didn't install adequate procedures to prevent money laundering, which consequently allowed employees to act unrestrained, Bloomberg reports.

The most recent allegations are part of a broader scandal involving the company's wealth management unit and how much information it had about allegations by Georgian prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili and two Russian clients, Bloomberg adds.

The complainants allege that a former manager in the wealth management made unauthorized transactions to cover up trading losses dating back to 2007.

Credit Suisse is cooperating with prosecutors and places the blame on the former employee.

Separately, TheStreet Ratings team rates the stock as a "sell" with a ratings score of D.

Credit Suisse's weaknesses include its deteriorating net income, disappointing return on equity, generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself and feeble growth in its earnings per share.

You can view the full analysis from the report here: CS

TheStreet Ratings objectively rated this stock according to its "risk-adjusted" total return prospect over a 12-month investment horizon. Not based on the news in any given day, the rating may differ from Jim Cramer's view or that of this article's author.
The rise of Irish whiskey in the U.S. has been meteoric in the past decade. John Quinn, global brand ambassador for Tullamore D.E.W., said it's the quality that keeps people coming back -- and not just on St. Patrick's Day.

"It's not a real challenge to learn and to love Irish whiskey," said Quinn. "We've known that in Ireland for centuries. But it's only been fairly recently that Americans have come to appreciate that Irish whiskey has something different and delightful to offer."

Tullamore D.E.W. completes its month-long "Irish True Pub Tour" this St. Patrick's Day. Over the past 30 days, the distiller has sent its brand ambassador to all 50 states to raise a glass of Irish whiskey at some of America's oldest Irish pubs.

While on tour, the whiskey-seller introduced Tullamore D.E.W. Trilogy, a 15-year-old Irish whiskey that is a new permanent addition to the brand's U.S. offerings. Quinn said the name is inspired by the power of three that defines Tullamore D.E.W., which is a blend of three whiskeys that is three times distilled. Trilogy is also matured in three unique cask types -- Bourbon, Oloroso Sherry and rum casks -- and is the oldest Tullamore D.E.W. Irish whiskey released to date.

"The Trinidadian rum cask gives it that rum and raisin finish, and it's a spectacular whiskey for that reason," said Quinn. "It's different from everything else."

William Grant & Sons' Tullamore D.E.W. is the second-largest Irish whiskey in the world behind Pernod-Ricard's (PDRDY) Jameson brand in the fastest-growing category. The brand originated in 1829 in Tullamore, a town in the heart of Ireland, and was fostered by the vision of an early founder Daniel E. Williams, whose initials are still present on the bottle.

In 2014, Tullamore D.E.W. was brought back to its roots with the opening of a new distillery in the town of Tullamore, which returned whiskey production to the town 60 years after the original distillery closed its doors.

As to who makes better whiskey, Ireland or Scotland, Quinn said the answer is clear.

"I have great Scotch friends and cousins, and I talk to them about the fact that they double-distill their whiskys, and we triple distill ours," said Quinn. "I ask them 'Why is that? Are you too mean to distill it a third time?'"
BMWintends to expand its range of electric vehicles, assert leadership in driverless technology, offer new digital services to customers and add new luxury-class models, all without giving up profitability.

Harald Krueger, 50, installed last May as BMW's CEO, outlined the direction of his tenure at the automaker's annual business review in Munich on Wednesday. He described a broad and ambitious shift in strategy -- the German company's first since 2007.

BMW, which celebrated its 100th anniversary on March 7, is responding to stricter worldwide regulations mandating alternatives to fossil fuels, the global growth of ride-sharing services like Uber and massive consumer acceptance of smartphones and related technologies.

"We are leading BMW Group into a new era," Krueger declared to German and foreign journalists. "To this end, we leverage innovative technologies, comprehensive connectivity and zero-emission mobility. All of these need to be industrialized, bearing in mind our business responsibilities, and in a sustainable manner, which in itself is another great challenge."

Investors and analysts welcomed Krueger's remarks. BMW shares rose Wednesday in Germany.

Now the leading maker of luxury vehicles worldwide in terms of volume and among the most profitable, BMW is staking a claim to lead rivals like Volkswagen (VLKAY) , Daimler (DDAIF) , General Motors (GM) and Toyota (TM) as the global industry transitions to cars that are emission-free, heavily computerized, electrified and endowed with artificial intelligence.

The effort will cost billions in capital expenditures and research and development, though BMW's CEO vowed that the automaker will maintain its financial performance doing so.

In 2018, BMW will offer a convertible roadster version of its i8 high-performance gas-electric hybrid. The automaker also will replace its current i3 with new versions -- a pure battery version and a second version with range-extending gas motor. The battery on the new i3 is 50% more powerful, implying longer range.

A third addition to BMW's i lineup is a model currently being called iNEXT. Krueger described iNEXT as the "new spearhead of innovation and technology." A company spokesman said iNEXT could be ready as soon as 2020 or 2021, roughly the time other automakers are forecasting the arrival of advanced autonomous models.

"It will enable us to take BMW i to the next level," he said, covering "all aspects relevant for future cars, including autonomous driving, digital connectivity and intelligent lightweight construction as well as the next generation of electro-mobility."

BMW's DriveNow ride-sharing service has 4,000 BMW vehicles parked streetside in various European cities for the use of more than 500,000 subscribers. Peter Schwarzenbauer, a member of BMW's management board, said the automaker is pleased with its progress and confirmed that it is a moneymaker. BMW's DriveNow pilot in San Francisco was less successful; it was closed and relocated to Seattle.

Krueger promised that BMW won't neglect its core business and could add a new luxury model to the numerous variants already available. The automaker also noted that conventional internal combustion engines, including diesels, will remain dominant even as newer technologies are introduced.

"We need to act swiftly in the digital world and be prepared to take risks," he said.

Doron Levin is the host of "In the Driver Seat," broadcast on SiriusXM Insight 121, Saturday at noon, encore Sunday at 9 a.m.

This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Encana Corp. (ECA) shares are rallying 5.04% to $5.74 on Wednesday afternoon as oil prices spiked on a positive report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Crude supplies in the week ended March 11 increased by 1.3 million barrels to total 532.2 million. This is lower than analysts' estimates of a 3.4 million-barrel gain.

"The data is moderately bullish with crude builds less than expected, coupled with strong gasoline demand driven by lower prices at the pump," Chris Jarvis, analyst at Caprock Risk Management told Reuters.

Also pushing futures up was comment from the Qatari oil minister Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada. He said OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers will meet in Qatar, Doha on April 17 to talk about freezing output.

Crude oil (WTI) is higher 4.16% to $37.85 per barrel and Brent crude is spiking 3.07% to $39.93 per barrel.

Based in Canada, Encana engages in the development, exploration, production, and marketing of natural gas, oil, and natural gas liquids in Canada and the U.S.

Separately, TheStreet Ratings currently has a "Sell" rating on the stock with a letter grade of D.

The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its deteriorating net income, disappointing return on equity, generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself and feeble growth in its earnings per share.

Recently, TheStreet Ratings objectively rated this stock according to its "risk-adjusted" total return prospect over a 12-month investment horizon. Not based on the news in any given day, the rating may differ from Jim Cramer's view or that of this articles' author.

You can view the full analysis from the report here: ECA
NEW YORK (Kitco News) -- In only four months, American voters will find out who the next presidential nominees are and in a mere eight months will hit the polls to elect the leader of the world's largest economy.

The real question remains: Who will best benefit your portfolio?

According to U.S. Global Investors CEO Frank Holmes, it just might be front running Republican Candidate Donald Trump.

"It is whoever has the best fiscal policies and right now it appears to be Trump," he told Kitco News Wednesday.

However, when it comes to gold investments, it may be a democratic candidate that will help the yellow metal, he said. "I think Bernie would be the best for gold."

According to Holmes, socialist countries tend to suffer economic problems, which help gold. And, Sanders, in Holmes' opinion, is a socialist.

Tuesday, Donald Trump significantly increased his number of delegates, despite his loss in Ohio. Trump managed to push Senator Marco Rubio out of the race, beating him in his home state of Florida in the latest string of primary results. On the Democrats side, Hillary Clinton extends her lead, beating Bernie Sanders in Florida, Ohio, Illinois and North Carolina. Missouri results are yet to come.

Switching gears to the much anticipated Federal Open Market Committee meeting conclusion scheduled Wednesday afternoon, Holmes said he doesn't expect much to happen.

"I'm going to bet with Morgan Stanley, we're not going to see a rate hike," he told Daniela Cambone.

April Comex gold futures are near two-week lows ahead of the FOMC meeting conclusion, down $1.20 at $1,229.80 an ounce.

This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.
There is a reason why value has overtaken growth this year. It's because at some point valuation matters, said Brock Moseley, president of Miracle Mile Advisors.

Moseley is a fan of the iShares S&P 500 Value ETF (IVE) , which is up half a percent thus far in 2016, outperforming its growth counterpart, the iShares S&P 500 Growth (IVW) , by two full percentage points.

"It's got a nice 2.5% dividend and when you are stuck in a trading range you want to be in value," said Moseley.

Moseley is also positive on the iShares MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility (EFAV) , which is up almost 1% thus far in 2016. The international stock fund owns names like Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NPPXF) , Swiss Re (SSREY) and Nestle (NSRGF)

"We like some of the weightings in EFAV more than the traditional EAFE weightings, so this ETF works well for us," said Moseley. "They are underweighting some of the sectors that we want to be underweight and they are overweighting some of the sectors that we really like."

Moseley added that the weaker currencies will also help this ETF as foreign companies export more to the strong dollar U.S. market.

Staying in foreign markets, Moseley is bullish on the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Minimum Volume (EEMV) , up 2.4% year-to-date, saying it has a more preferable composition than the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets (EEM) , which has been the emerging market ETF standard bearer for many years.

"EEMV has been showing some strong performance and we think it is the place to be," said Moseley.

Finally, Moseley is a fan of the First Trust Preferred Securities & Income ETF (FPE) , which is down 2% thus far in 2016, but pays a healthy 6% yield.

"There are a lot of financial names in the fund so it's been a bit volatile lately, but it's calmed down," said Moseley. "You are going to get paid a beautiful dividend and a lot of those dividends will be taxed at long-term capital gains rates and we like that."
Facebook (FB) chose an interesting time to expand its international headquarters in Ireland -- when the European Union is cracking down on taxes from U.S. tech titans. Not too long ago, Apple (AAPL) ponied up almost $350 million in Italy due to its tax-minimizing tactics. It might not be the last.

Others, including Alphabet (GOOGL) , Amazon (AMZN) and Starbucks (SBUX) , have all made headlines over the companies' tax practices in Europe. Many route the profits through Ireland, which has a favorable 12.5% corporate tax rate.

Apparently, the EU is pressuring Ireland for supposed missing tax data from Apple, as some authorities believe the Irish government is giving Apple unfair -- and beneficial -- treatment.

The company, of course, has denied it received an unfair treatment and Irish officials have said they answered the EU's request. There's a lot of back and forth, but the fact that this type of news remains in the headlines shows EU officials are unlikely to back down from making more strict tax codes in the region.

All of this makes it interesting -- or perhaps, not surprising at all -- that Facebook added 200 more jobs to its international headquarters in Dublin, after just recently doubling the size of its office. The building reportedly has room for up to 2,000 employees. Given that Facebook has opened its first Facebook Partner Center outside of Menlo Park, Calif., maybe the social media juggernaut plans to fill it.

The company will have 1,500 employees in the office once the recent hiring is completed. More so, because Facebook is building a data center in the country as well.

Shares of Facebook closed at $112.18 Wednesday, up 1.4%.

Tesla Motors (TSLA) , long known for its luxury electric vehicles the Model S and Model X, has been enticing investors for several years now, promising to deliver on a cheaper, more mass market-appropriate vehicle.

Some time ago, CEO Elon Musk told us that vehicle was in development and would be known as the Model 3, costing around $35,000. Although the car isn't expected to be for sale until 2017, the automaker will unveil the vehicle March 31. Even better, the company said the model will be drivable.

Barring anything unexpected, this should certainly be something that pleases investors as it would seem to indicate that Tesla is further along in the development of the Model 3 than perhaps some had thought. While that might not equate to an earlier-than-expected launch, it might calm fears of a delay at least.

The event will be for fewer than 800 invited guests, 650 of which will be current Tesla owners. Tickets will be issued in a lottery style for attendees.

Shares have been on a tear since bottoming near $150 in mid-February, with the stock rising almost 50%, closing Wednesday at $221.93, up 1.6%.

Many stocks saw a boost on Wednesday following the Federal Reserve'slatest statement on the economy and future rate hikes. Unfortunately for some shareholders, LinkedIn (LNKD) wasn't one of them.

Shares sunk 5% to $109.85 following a downgrade from analysts at Morgan Stanley. The analysts, which started coverage on LinkedIn more than a year ago had a price target of $310, which was later reduced to $190.

My, how things have changed -- analysts downgraded the stock to hold from overweight and lowered their price target to $125.

Shares are down a whopping 51% since the start of the year, fueled largely by the stock's one-day drop of 43% following the close of trading on Feb. 4. The company topped earnings and revenue estimates that day but provided full-year guidance for both metrics that fell short of analysts' expectations.

This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.
Conductor Louis Lavigueur, left, has been at the helm of Ensemble Sinfonia de Montreals choral and orchestral groups for 30 years.
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CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages hunters of all ages to experience the thrill of wild tom turkey gobbles at sunrise.

These fierce males welcome spring luring in their mates and warning their rivals. The rolling, guttural gobbles may waft softly through the woods. Or, if youre turkey hunting and theyve snuck near your concealed position, the gobble may seem like a ground-shaking roar.

Surprises make hunting wild turkeys exciting, and Missouri is a great place to hunt the avian monarch of the forest. However, its important to know the basic skills of turkey hunting before heading out to hunt. MDCs Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center will offer a turkey hunting basic class for new hunters March 19, from 9 a.m. to noon. Experienced turkey hunters will share the basics of harvesting a Missouri gobbler including hunting regulations, safety, equipment, and strategy in the field. Participants will learn how to scout for turkeys, calls to attract toms, use of blinds and decoys, patterning shotguns, and turkey hunting safety.

Spring is a wonderful time to be outdoors in Missouri, and the connection with nature is one reason why turkey hunting is a popular sport. Missouris youth spring turkey hunting season is April 9-10 for hunters age 6-15. The regular spring turkey hunting season will be April 18-May 8. For more information, visit http://mdc.mo.gov/hunting. To register for the turkey hunting basics course call 573-290-5218.

For a full schedule of events at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center go online to http://mdc.mo.gov/CapeNatureCenter.
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American student Otto Warmbier, center, is escorted at the Supreme Court in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. North Korea's highest court sentenced Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate student, from Wyoming, Ohio, to 15 years in prison with hard labor on Wednesday for subversion. He allegedly attempted to steal a propaganda banner from a restricted area of his hotel at the request of an acquaintance who wanted to hang it in her church. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
Edan and Liron Greyson are begging the tzibur to be mispallel for their son, Daniel Chaim ben Liron, who is hospitalized in serious condition, apparently the result of being shaken in daycare. The parents spoke to the media from Petach Tikvahs Schneider Medical Center where Daniel is admitted. They praise the efforts of doctors but they are calling for tefilos to assist their son.

The parents explain We are asking anyone who sees this to please be mispallel for our son Daniel Chaim ben Liron, that HKBH will pull him through this. He remains in an ICU at present.

Dr. Elchanan Nachum, head of the hospitals intensive care unit explains the child has suffered cranial bleeding and he is in serious condition. He is sedated and on assisted breathing, adding There is a suspicion that he was physically injured. He is very serious and is receiving the appropriate care.

He arrived in the hospital on Monday, 20 Adar-I, and police believe a 53-year-old woman in his daycare center mishandled him. Today, Thursday, 23 Adar-I, the Petach Tikvah Magistrate Court extended the womens remand by four days.

Police believe the parents placed Daniel in daycare in a private home. At the end of the day, when they came to take him he did not appear well. They brought him to the hospital and his condition was serious. During questioning by police they learned 15 years ago the woman was convicted of using force against a 4-year-old who would not stop crying and began shaking the child. She said I didnt mean to hurt him.

The caretaker has since admitted to shaking the child and she is represented by attorney Shiran Golbari, who told the media her client admitted to her actions under duress.

It is added the 80-year-old mother of the suspect was released from jail after police were satisfied she was not involved. There is a gag order on additional details of the case.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
[COMMUNICATED CONTENT]

Yosef Segal is a penniless orphan who has been fatherless since the age of 8. He acted with unbelievable mesiras nefesh on behalf of the klal when he tried to change a hideously biased law against frum people in Eretz Yisrael.

For many years the Israeli government gave social security for orphans  to Arabs until the age of 20, but to frum people only until the age of 18! Many askanim tried to fight this shocking bias  but to no avail. Yosef Segal, himself an impoverished orphan, decided to lobby the Knesset single handedly in an attempt to change this law. He wanted to help both his struggling mother and all frum almanos of Eretz Yisrael.

From the age of 17 until the age of 20, he went regularly to the Knesset, spoke to everyone possibleand finally succeeded. All the while, he remained a Ben Torah with shtark sheifos in learning. The new law is named for him  Chok Segal  giving frum children who have lost a parent, social security until the age of 20.

YOSEF SEGAL IS CELEBRATING HIS LAST SHEVA BRACHOS TONIGHT!! Both for his great mesirus nefesh on behalf of the klal, and simply because he is a poor orphan, he deserves the help of the klal in return. All of the almanos of Eretz Yisrael benefitted from a fund of millions of shekels thanks to his devotion. Lets help him build his new life bsimcha and bkvod.

Tax deductible checks can be made out to:

American Friends of Kupat HaIr, Fund #4028

4415 14th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11219

Hotline (24 hour): 1-888-587-2842

Link to donate below
Russian President Vladimir Putin had his mission accomplished moment Monday, announcing that Russia would withdraw its main forces from Syria after they turned the tide in President Bashar al-Assads struggle against Syrian rebels.

The announcement partly explains why Putin has been supporting a cease-fire and truce talks over the last month: His goal is to consolidate the gains he and Assad made together. From a purely cynical perspective, the operation has been a fairly impressive success for Putin: Bomb intensely to create a humanitarian crisis while your troops advance, then negotiate peace to look like a good guy while assuring that the other side cant fight back without violating the truce. And accomplish all this while strengthening your bargaining position vis-a-vis the U.S. and Europe.

But the announcement also makes it explicit that Putin has no interest in giving Assad the support hed need to take on the forces of the Islamic State. By declaring victory before Assad has really confronted the Sunni militant group, Putin is saying that Russia is perfectly willing for Islamic State to remain in existence indefinitely.

Putins lack of interest is unfortunate insofar as Islamic States persistence as a functioning statelet is destabilizing for the region, bad for the world and disastrous for the victims of its brutal governance. But to be fair, no one else in the region seems very interested in taking on Islamic State, either. Putin has simply calculated that he has less to gain by trying to take it on and risking failure than by declaring victory and departing the field.

No one should have any illusions that Assad was consulted about Putins decision, which reflects Russian interests, not his regimes. Assad will miss Russian troops, although he will probably still have some Russian air support, because the Russians are keeping their airbase at Hmeimim, near Latakia.

Nevertheless, Assad may well agree with Putin that attacking Islamic State would be a bridge too far. It would be extremely dangerous for Syria to seek to recover territory held by the group, even with Russian support. Assad needs all the troops he has to try to consolidate the gains hes made against Syrian rebels, particularly near Aleppo. He needs to establish some sort of functioning government in the part of the country he holds.

That means the Russian announcement is a significant win for Islamic State. Putin is guaranteeing that Assad will have no choice but to seek a cold peace with the group, respecting its border in the hopes that it wont try to invade the territory Assad has recovered or make a run at Damascus.

From Islamic States angle, a temporary, cold peace with Assad looks appealing. The group cant govern millions of Alawites loyal to Assad. But because it considers them infidels, it would have to try to convert, expel or kill them if it somehow managed to defeat the regime.

More to the point, Islamic State cant fight on all its fronts simultaneously. It faces a protracted struggle with the Iraqi government, which is slowly (and not all that surely) trying to reconquer majority-Sunni areas of Iraq. Islamic State is likely to face long-term conflict with Turkey, which doesnt want a terrorist state on or near its border, and with Kurds of whatever stripe, who will fight over every inch of territory.

Under these circumstances, short-term conciliation with Assad looks pretty good for Islamic State.

Meanwhile, Putin and Assad have done the group the tremendous favor of knocking back all the other Syrian rebels. If youre a Syrian Sunni who hates Assad, youre running out of options for joining a credible opposition. It may not happen right away, but Islamic State could easily come to look like the only serious Sunni alternative to Assad. That could mean manpower and even support from frustrated Sunni Syrians.

Eventually, becoming the only Sunni force opposing Assad could also mean indirect support from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf principalities. Those states see Syria as an Iranian tool, an illegitimate outpost of Shiite geopolitical influence. Structurally, those states interest is with Sunnis who oppose Assad and Iran, no matter how repulsive they might be.

To be sure, Putin isnt trying to help Islamic State. He just doesnt care enough about it to take the risk of entering an Afghanistan-style quagmire in Syria. Getting out fast will burnish his credentials as someone who understands how to make war in the Middle East. He leaves Syria having achieved a limited objective cheaply and quickly. Russia looks stronger than before. Assad will continue to need Russia as much as ever, and wont become the kind of client that can make infinite claims on its patron, as happened with U.S.-backed governments in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Its been a nasty business. But from Putins perspective, its been well worth it. Its one more reason to take Putin seriously as a danger to the European state system  as if we needed one Crimea.



Noah Feldman, a Bloomberg View columnist, is a professor of constitutional and international law at Harvard.

(c) 2016, Bloomberg View  Noah Feldman
Drones: a useful business tool or playtime toy?

The question will arise again Wednesday on the floor of the Senate as lawmakers consider how much regulation is needed for a burgeoning industry that is projected to supply 2.8 million drones this year, with a bottom line rapidly approaching $1 billion in annual sales.

The risk drones pose to people and privacy has unfolded gradually as the fun-to-fly gadgets have become a must-have item for those who can afford them. Drones have buzzed planes in flight, endangered military aircraft and peered over the neighbors hedges with mini video cameras.

The counterbalance to drones as a hobby is a multitude of commercial uses as mapping and construction tools that speed projects along and save workers from risky tasks, such as climbing cell towers for inspections. The prospect that they will be used for package deliveries is on the drawing board.

As the technology moves at warp speed, state and federal lawmakers and regulators have sprinted to keep up. Calculating the correct dose of regulation to rein in the exuberant hobbyist without stifling commercial use or industry growth has been the challenge at the Federal Aviation Administration and on Capitol Hill.

Drone technology is developing rapidly, much faster than our countrys capacity to develop the necessary regulations, Brian Wynne, president and chief executive of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, told the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship last week.

The FAAs new drone registration program has recorded 400,000 drone owners, and the agencys B4UFly app continues its effort to educate operators about the rules for flying them. Now the Senate will consider directing the FAA to do more, including requiring an online test for drone operators and requiring manufacturers to install uniform safety features.

The Senate, in a larger bill that would renew authorization for the FAA, also wants to provide funding for better drone enforcement and clarify the role of state and local lawmakers who have stepped in with their own laws.

Giving the FAA supremacy to dictate drone regulations would give manufacturers and companies that want to use drones for deliveries a single agency for their proposals, rather than requiring state-by-state submissions.

The patchwork of state and local laws under consideration in many jurisdictions will create additional hurdles for small businesses, Wynne said last week.

Industry just wants rules, said Nancy Egan, general counsel for the drone manufacturer 3D Robotics. People want rational rules, but the fact is that at this point they want any rules, because there are so many amazing things that can be done with a drone to make the world safer.

The FAA this spring is expected to issue regulations covering drones weighing up to 55 pounds. The agency said there were 764 drones sighted near airplanes last year, despite current guidelines against flying drones near planes or within five miles of an airport unless the control tower has been contacted first. Drones also are supposed to fly below 400 feet, stay away from stadiums and remain in sight of the operator.

There are industry concerns that lawmakers, eager to corral the handful of hobbyists who misuse their drones, will inhibit their development and use.

We must allow our innovators to fully realize drones potential as a truly life-changing technology, said Gary Shapiro, president and chief executive of the Consumer Technology Association, a trade group. We will continue to work with members of Congress to ensure that the FAA adopts rules that allow small businesses to get the maximum benefits from drone technology.

Egan worries that the Senate bill will require the FAA to begin its regulatory process anew.

My concern with the Senate bill is that it ignores what the FAA has already done, Egan said. It essentially says, FAA, you need to start over. 

She co-chairs an FAA panel working on regulations specific to drone flights over people who have no relationship with the drone operator.

What the FAAs already studied, and taken public comment on and considered in depth, is what kind of flight is safe, she said. Im not sure why were starting over.

The Washington Post  Ashley Halsey III
Dozens of new immigrants from Brazil landed at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Monday afternoon 4 Adar-II and were greeted with a festive Purim-themed reception organized by The Jewish Agency for Israel and the Ministry of Aliyah & Immigrant Absorption. The immigrants were received by Yehuda Sharf, Director of The Jewish Agencys Aliyah and Absorption Unit, and Maxim Biton, Manager of the Absorption Hall at Ben-Gurion Airport. Representatives of OLEI  Organizacion Latinoamericana, Espana y Portugal en Israel (the Organization of Latin Americans, Spaniards, and Portuguese in Israel) and its Brazilian branch, Beit Brasil, which helps Brazilian immigrants integrate into Israeli society, were also in attendance.

Todays immigrants hail from Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Manaus, and are a cross-section of Brazilian Jewry, including young parents interested in raising their children in Israel, parents looking to reunite with older children already living here, a young man who will pursue a doctorate in environmental studies at the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, a senior orthopedist who will join Israels healthcare system, and a trained chef who will be joining Israels burgeoning restaurant scene. The immigrants will be making their homes in cities and towns across Israel.

The Jewish community of Brazil is the second-largest in Latin America, with some 120,000 Jews, most of whom reside in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Porto Alegre, with smaller communities in Curitiba, Belo Horizonte, Recife, and scattered throughout the northern and eastern parts of the country.

According to data compiled by The Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Aliyah, Aliyah from Brazil has risen sharply in recent years: 2015 saw the arrival of some 500 immigrants from Brazil, a 70% increase compared to the 300 who arrived in 2014 and more than double the 210 who came in 2013. Most of the immigrants have hailed from Sao Paulo, which is home to the countrys largest Jewish community, but the increase in Aliyah is also drawing from elsewhere in the country.

The Head of the Jewish Agency delegation in Brazil, Revital Poleg, notes that the Jewish community of Brazil maintains strong ties to the State of Israel. Between 65% and 70% of the immigrants are young singles and couples and families under the age of 45. Most immigrants from Brazil seek to lead Jewish lives in Israel, where they feel safe and at home, and many also wish to reunite with family members who have already immigrated to Israel. Other factors contributing to the current increase in Aliyah include the ongoing economic crisis in Brazil, a prevailing sense of personal insecurity, and uncertainty regarding the future. Poleg estimates that the increase in Brazilian Aliyah will continue in 2016 and notes that more than 1,000 Brazilian individuals have already started the Aliyah process through The Jewish Agencys Global Service Center.

The immigrants arriving in Israel today will enjoy a full range of services offered by the Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption, including personalized absorption programs, employment assistance, Hebrew education, assistance in opening businesses, and so on, with an emphasis on personal, customized service for each immigrant.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem / Photo: Zed Films)
The nations food bank, Leket Israels Founder and Chairman Joseph Gitler, was awarded the countrys prestigious Yigal Alon Prize for his significant impact in the campaign against hunger in Israel.

The Yigal Alon Prize is bestowed by the Palmach Generation Organization to commemorate the famed Israeli general, politician and pioneer who commanded the legendary pre-Independence military group. Winners are chosen annually and have included: former Director of the Mossad Meir Amit, former Mayor of Haifa Amram Mitzne, designer of the Merkava tank Israel Tal, and social activist Ruth Dayan for their pioneering actions and contributions to the State of Israel.

When Gitler first started Leket in 2003, he was running the food collection and distribution using only his car and home refrigerator. Today, the organization has 100 employees and 52,000 yearly volunteers, 10 refrigerated trucks and a large warehouse in the center of Israel. Leket collects and redistributes food on a national level, providing over 2 million meals annually.

In accepting the award, Gitler thanked the Prizes organizers, citing Yigal Alons pioneering spirit and energy as an inspiration for him and the rest of the Leket workers. A pioneer never rests, Gitler told the audience, I can promise you that Lekets workers dont rest and we work non-stop to try and help the hungry. He ended his speech pledging to continue fighting hunger and helping improve the lives of Israeli citizens.

One of Lekets recent initiatives has been the introduction of the Food Donation Act in the Israeli Parliament. If passed, this law introduced by MKs Uri Maklev and Moshe Gafni, would protect food donors from liability. Gitler cited the act as a momentous step forward that will allay any legal reservations potential donors may have, leading to increased food donations.

Prior to making immigrating to Israel in 2000, Gitler worked as an attorney in the New York metro area and also spent three years in software sales and business development following his immigration to Israel. Gitler received the coveted Presidential Award for Volunteerism from former President Shimon Peres and was selected to deliver a 2015 ELI talk. He is a recipient of the Inaugural 2014 Bonei Prize and named one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world.

Leket Israel-The National Food Bank is the leading food rescue non-profit organization that collects fresh, perishable food, which would otherwise be considered waste, from farms, hotels, military bases and catering halls in an effort to aid the quarter of the countrys population that lives below the poverty line. The organization works with 195 NGOs throughout the country to distribute nutritious food to over 175,000 Israelis each week. Last year alone, Leket collected over 30 million pounds of food for the needy.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
YWN is the first to report that Rebecca Harary, a leader in the Orthodox Jewish community, will be running as a Republican to represent New York State Assembly District 73, according to political analyst Aryeh Werth. Harary plans to announce tonight that shes launching a campaign against Democrat Dan Quart for the seat which covers Midtown East and the Upper East Side in Manhattan.

Any Republican running in Manhattan faces an uphill battle, but I see Rebecca Harary has strong community credentials and connections to raise funds, says Werth.

Harary is currently the director of Propel Network, a non-profit that provides Jewish women with career guidance. Previously, Harary helped raise over $25 million as founding executive director of the Moise Safra Community Center and, before that, was the director of programming for the Edmond Safra Synagogue on the Upper East Side. She also founded two non-profit schools; The Imagine Academy for Autism and The Yeshiva Prep High School for children with mild learning challenges. Harary is also the mother of six children and is a grandmother.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

On Monday February, 29th, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) held a Mass Casualty Training Exercise (MCI) near the densely populated city of Beitar Illit which is located in Northern Gush Etzion. The United Hatzalah volunteer EMTs, Paramedics and Doctors of Beitar Illit participated in the exclusive MCI training exercise that was held in partnership with the IDF Medical Corps, the air force and the prestigious 669 unit.

The unified drill included extraction of multiple victims via helicopters, ambulances, and United Hatzalah ambucycles. Tens of United Hatzalah volunteer EMTs, paramedics and doctors, participated in the event and learned how to work together with the IDF to provide the fastest and best care for civilians in the area.

During the drill, dozens of soldiers acted as injured as well as incapacitated victims of a mass casualty event.The United Hatzalah teams worked together with the IDF during the entire exercise, practicing helicopter evacuation protocols.

Shmuel Avraham, the Director of Emergency and Security Operations at United Hatzalah spoke about the liaison that has been created between the IDF and United Hatzalah. Various IDF groups drill numerous times each year and each drill is different. The most recent drill took place two weeks ago during which United Hatzalah partnered with the Gush Etzion Brigade to drill the combined response of the IDF working together with United Hatzalah in the eventuality of a mass casualty situation occurring in or near Gush Etzion.

According to Avraham, the location of the drill was chosen as the town of Beitar, in Northern Gush Etzion area due to its high population density as well as its distance from a hospital. The distance and traffic mixed together with the possibility of mass casualties from the densely populated city provided the extra challenge of arranging a triage and evacuation location from a field nearby so that the victims could be airlifted to the hospital. This provided both the IDF and United Hatzalah volunteers with a realistic scenario that necessitated the drilling and airlift of injured persons via helicopter to nearby hospitals in Jerusalem.

United Hatzalah volunteers trained together with the IDF Units that included the Air Force, as well as special forces Airborne Rescue and Evacuation Unit 669, Avraham added. The 669 Unit is the IDFs heliborne Combat Search & Rescue (CSAR) extraction unit and is subordinate to the Special Air Forces Command of the Israeli Air Force.

Chief Paramedic for United Hatzalah, Avi Marcus, who was part of the collaborative team for the event, talked about the reason for the holding the cooperative drill with the IDF.

The main idea was to find the best way for United Hatzalah volunteers to work together with the army, both their medics and the air force. We met the medics and paramedics in the field, we gave them a brief on how we work, and they briefed us on how they work and we came to mutual conclusions on the best way to do things. We treated victims together, and both sides learned new ways on how to treat patients during an MCI.

Our medics learned how to approach helicopters while carrying patients, and learned the proper procedures on how to transfer patients to and from helicopters. Some of our medics flew with the helicopters to learn how it works and how the noise and transport can affect the patient. It was a very meaningful evening full of learning for both sides, concluded Marcus.

Avraham noted that orchestrating a cooperative event such as this is not easy and requires weeks of planning for all of the participating organizations and the military to put everything into motion. Thanks to the efforts on all sides the drill was a success.

The event was very successful said Avraham, the IDF as well as the 669 Unit were very grateful for the collaborative efforts that were provided by United Hatzalah. They were impressed by the level of efficiency and professionalism that our volunteers worked with.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Interior Minister and Shas party leader Aryeh Deri on Tuesday morning 5 Adar-II spoke with Mordechai Lavi of Kol Chai Radio. Deri was asked to explain the situation regarding reports of an imminent coalition crisis surrounding the recent advancements of the Reform Movement. Following is a synopsis of the dialogue between the two.

Kol Chai:

1. Is it true the chareidi parties are threatening a coalition crisis?

2. I understand the Machane Tzioni party has been talking about entering the coalition and if the chareidim leave they may be replaced by Machane Tzioni?

3. Does this undermine your threat to bring down the coalition?

Deri:

No one is threatening and this is just the media hype. We have explained to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that we are simply insisting on abiding by the coalition agreements signed, which compel maintaining the religious status quo. That is what is going on here, nothing more.

One must remember the Reform have recorded numerous successes in the Supreme Court over the last 19 years and Bchasdei Hashem, we have managed to overturn some of these successes. However, the decision to allocate an egalitarian prayer area really amounted to nothing. This area known as the Kotel HaDromi or Robinsons Arch began years ago, not by us. The former Minister of Religious Affairs [Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan] three years ago built a platform there.

However, the Reform continues efforts to undermine Orthodox Jewry and the Torah way of life. The bill initiated by Moshe Gafne is simply a way of responding to the latest High Court ruling towards maintaining the religious status quo.

Regarding the cabinet decision of the prayer area, we have simply placed the ball in the court of the Chief Rabbis of Israel to decide as it should be and there will be absolutely no change in the religious status quo without absolute approval from the Chief Rabbis and Gedolei Yisrael, and this is or should be clear to all.

It should be equally clear that the Reform have one goal, to destroy Yiddishkheit. One can visit any community of Reform Jews worldwide and one will not find a single mikve since this is not part of their lives. Ditto for the Kosel, for the Reform removed     from their prayer books, so clearly what is taking place here is about the destruction of Orthodoxy, nothing else. Does one believe they yearn for the Beis Hamikdash? They will oppose korbanos which they view as cruelty to animals and we must realize who they are, a tzibur with 80% assimilation. They do not need a mikve at all. Perhaps a sauna!

They have made significant influential gains in areas of Israel, including the media, IDF and cultural influence and this is indeed problematic. There is a growing influence and I believe PM Netanyahu has to face a great deal of pressure. One must realize that AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), the most influential pro-Israel lobby in the USA is 80% Reform and Bibi has to deal with this and remains under tremendous monetary and political pressure.

It should be clear to all there is no threat to anyone. We are simply explaining our red lines. Machane Tzioni is more than welcome to join the coalition without the chareidim leaving. I welcome such a move and call on them to do so towards expanding the coalition. I remain confident the current coalition will work out the problems to the satisfaction of all. After all, there are issues and coalition agreements and no one gets everything as they wish. We have to compromise on religious issues and the coalition has to realize there are red lines. This is how it works and I remain confident the current coalition will continue running the nation in the coming years

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Threats to the coalition by religious parties are not only seen on the national level in Knesset at present, but on a local level too, in Yerushalayim.

According to one report, from Kikar Shabbos News, Councilman Yitzchak Pindrus denies this is the case while other members of the Degel faction confirm the validity of the reported crisis surrounding growing chilul Shabbos in the city.

According to reports, during a Yahadut Hatorah faction meeting in City Hall on Monday, 4 Adar-II, Pindrus spoke about leaving the coalition if compelled by ongoing growing chilul Shabbos in the city while officials turn a blind eye. He was referring to the Mitcham HaTachana, which recently received an official green light from the city planning board to operate on Shabbos. Interestingly, the approval was made possible by Shas as Shas city councilman absented himself from the vote and he was the majority swing vote. So in essence, Shas is to blame, not the planning board.

Members of the Agudas Yisrael (Chassidish) faction of the party told their Degel colleagues they will have to consult with Gedolei Yisrael before taking a position on the matter. Degel councilmen explain Mayor Nir Barkat promised them the stores in the Mitcham HaTachana would not open on Shabbos, and this past Shabbos, at least one has already done just that. Agudas Yisrael councilmen promised to consult immediately as to know how to act in the event the Degel faction of the chareidi party does pull from the city council.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Israel Police continue pre-Purim operations, which include seeking to track down and confiscate fireworks and illegal and dangerous toys.

Police in the Tirat HaCarmel district on Monday 4 Adar-II confiscated dozens of dangerous toys that can result in bodily injury including guns that fire porcelain bullets, gas guns, air guns and more. Two residents of the apartment where the items were found were taken into custody.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: Police spokesman)
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio became the latest liberal politician to call for a balancing of security and privacy in the midst of the clash between the Apple and the Justice Department over access to a terrorists cellphone.

I think the companies do owe it to the nation to come up with a procedure for providing that information for law enforcement, de Blasio (D) said on Capitol Hill on Tuesday at a House Homeland Security subcommittee hearing.

The hearing was called to examine cuts proposed in President Obamas recent budget to certain homeland securing grant programs that provided New York and other large cities with hundreds of millions of dollars to counter terrorist threats.

But during the questioning, Rep. Kathleen Rice, D-N.Y., who represents a portion of Long Island adjacent to the city, asked de Blasio to weigh in on the hot-button issue of strong encryption  which law enforcement officials say could cause malefactors to go dark and make plans for violence without any risk of authorities disrupting the plot.

The Justice Department is seeking to access a cellphone used by one of the shooters involved in Decembers attack in San Bernardino. It has asked a federal judge to force Apple to write software that would defeat an iPhone feature that clears a phones digital contents after too many incorrect passwords, allowing investigators to rapidly test random passwords and gain access to the phone.

Apple is arguing that creating that software would risk the digital privacy and safety of tens of millions of legitimate iPhone users.

Does one side have to win and one side have to lose? Do we have to choose between being digitally safe or physically safe? Rice asked de Blasio.

If law enforcement doesnt have appropriate information to pursue terror threats and other violent crime, of course, literally people would be physically endangered, de Blasio said. So we cant have these two polar opposites staring at each other and not resolving the problem. What I hope there can be found is a third way, if you will, wherein the government has access to the information in a way that is provided voluntarily by these companies  obviously always with a court order and an appropriate judicial process.

I believe there is a reasonable process that could be determined to make sure that no piece of information that could stop violence is ever withheld but at the same time respect privacy rights, he continued.

De Blasios comments echoed remarks made Friday by Obama during an appearance at the South by Southwest conference in Texas. Obama declined to comment on the pending battle with Apple but argued that authorities must be able to gain access to needed law enforcement information.

My conclusion so far is that you cannot take an absolutist view on this, he said. So if your bargain is strong encryption, no matter what, that we can and should in fact create black boxes, then that I think does not strike the kind of balance that we have lived with for 200, 300 years, and its fetishizing our phones above every other value. And that cant be the right answer.

The privacy vs. safety battle over digital encryption is likely to play out in Congress over the coming months, if not years, with the bipartisan leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Richard Burr (N.C.) and Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), collaborating on a bill expected to be introduced soon that would maintain law enforcement access to digital devices.

Other lawmakers remain skeptical of legislating a back door giving authorities access to those devices, arguing that any such vulnerability would also be exploited by hackers and other bad actors. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., in particular, has pledged to block any legislation that would weaken commercially available encryption technology.

Before addressing the Apple case, de Blasio told the subcommittee chairman, Rep. Dan Donovan, R-N.Y., that he plans to meet with Obama administration officials to argue against the Homeland Security budget cuts.

My message is, we cannot protect New York City sufficiently without this funding, he said. I believe its a fair national priority to protect out largest city and a city that is so central to our national life. . . . Were definitely going to be shouldering a big share of this burden, but we need our federal partners to take their part in this effort.

(c) 2016, The Washington Post  Mike DeBonis
The United States Department of State expressed criticism of Israel on Tuesday, 5 Adar-II, addressing Israels land expropriations policy. State Department spokesman John Kirby said We strongly oppose any steps that accelerate settlement expansion, which raises serious questions about Israels long-term intentions, adding America is concerned that Israels expropriation of lands is detrimental to efforts towards implementing the two-state solution.

According to Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) based on a Peace Now report, Israel has expropriated 234 hectares (579 acres) of land in the Dead Sea and Yericho areas, claiming the land as state land.

Kirby reiterated that the US remains opposed to settlement expansion, which he fears creates more problems as efforts continue to reach a long term agreement between Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority).

The State Department condemnation came on the heels of another condemnation of Israel, by the United Nations in which Ban Ki-Moon also addressed settlement activities by Israel.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
An attempted stabbing attack was reported on Tuesday afternoon in Tel Aviv. Police were told a terrorist tried to stab a soldier near the Sdei Dov Base and a manhunt was launched for the fleeing terrorist.

Police have since reported that the incident was not an attempted attack, but simply a homeless man passing the soldier and speaking with him. Police base their information on interviews with persons who witnessed the incident as well as area surveillance video cameras.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has called on Israel, urging Jerusalem to reverse its land grab of 234 hectares (579 acres) in the Yericho/Dead Sea area. The reported state land expropriation was contained in a new Peace Now report that was the subject of a Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) report on Tuesday, 5 Adar-II.

The UN leader feels Israel did not have the right to declare the unclaimed land state land, a move that he views as problematic and contraindicated as the PA (Palestinian Authority) is protesting, insistent those areas should be part of Palestine when the independent state is declared.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated Such actions appear to point toward an increase in settlement activities and demonstrate that Israel is continuing to push forward in the consolidation of its control of the West Bank. He added that the settlements are illegal under international law, and the government must halt such actions, which are illegal.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
A marriage bill initiated by MK (Yisrael Beitenu) Avigdor Lieberman was brought to the Knesset floor for its preliminary vote on Wednesday, 6 Adar-II. The bill was defeated with only 10 voting in favor, 45 opposing and 3 abstentions.

In his response, Lieberman exclaimed that he supports a Jewish state but not a chareidi state. The bill would have resulted in state recognition of non-halachic marriages of any kind.

The bill stated that marriage in Israel is a religious event and one should not compel religion on anyone who does not wish it. Hence, it makes provisions for a civil marriage or other alternative unions between partners.

In his remarks to the plenum, Lieberman stated that 666,000 people are listed as non-marriageable in Israel today. 90% of this number serve in the IDF and pay taxes, yet they cannot get married. They often fly to Cyprus and return with a marriage license which is recognized by the Interior Ministry. They do not have the civil alternative in Israel. These very same soldiers are permitted to die for the State of Israel, but they may not marry.

I dont understand the chareidi establishment which intervenes in this case while it is non-relevant since they marry with the Eida Chareidis. They maintain a yuchasin book anyway, and dont recognize the Chief Rabbinate. We are all for a Jewish state but not a chareidi state.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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More than just a massive B2B event, J-Biz is a P2P event, harnessing the power of person to person interactions, says Duvi Honig, founder and director of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce (OJC).

Through Thursday, March 18th, J-Biz is offering an Early Bird Special, up to $200 discount off regular exhibition rates.

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 Thousands of motivated attendees expected from around the world. Meet people you would otherwise never get to meet.

 Massive B2B exhibition floor, featuring business services in all industries. You can make an impression on everyone that walks by.

 Business conference, featuring addresses from leading business personalities and professional workshops on a wide variety of topics.

 One day event with separate hours for business conference (until 1 pm) and open exhibit floor maximizes networking between all exhibitors and attendees.

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For years, cops who wanted to break into iPhones knew the drill.

Get a warrant. Then you make an application under the All Writs Act, said Michael Yaeger, a former assistant U.S. attorney in Brooklyn who oversaw efforts to obtain warrants for phones from about 2012 to 2014. The All Writs Act is a catch-all law prosecutors use to get court orders to enforce search warrants.

Warrant in hand, prosecutors would send the locked phones of suspected or convicted criminals and terrorists to Apple Inc.s headquarters in Cupertino, California. Weeks later, Apple would send data from the phones, such as text messages, photos and contacts, back to law enforcement. Apple even had a guide including the preferred language for warrants. It was not exotic, Yaeger said in an interview.

Lets just call it a back door, because thats pretty much what it was, said Adam Wandt, an expert in digital forensics and information security at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, in Manhattan, of the companys extraction procedures.

But isnt that exactly what Apple says the government is asking it to create now, for the first time?

  

Tensions between Apple and law enforcement over privacy, simmering since 2014, reached a boiling point when a judge ordered the company to help the Federal Bureau of Investigation unlock a phone used by one of the shooters in last years terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California. The phone is outfitted with newer technology that Apple developed to be impenetrable, even to the company itself.

Making a tool to unlock the phone would be like creating a cancer, Apples chief executive officer, Tim Cook, declared last month as Apple launched its battle against the Justice Department. Cook warned the fix could be used as a back door by criminals and spies. The company argues that the All Writs Act shouldnt be used to force it to write new software.

But its not just phones with tough-to-crack encryption that are at the heart of Apples privacy battle. The company is fighting against warrants for phones with older technology, too  the kind it used to hack for Yaeger and other prosecutors all the time. That could look inconsistent, or even contradictory, to the judge in California, and cloud Apples argument that the governments extraordinary demands in this new case have crossed a line.

Apple never wanted this code leaked out, but they did have [a back door], and a lot of people would use it, Wandt said.

While Apple may have legal and technical arguments on its side, its staunch position on the older technology affects public perception of its motives, said Scott Vernick, head of the data security and privacy practice at Fox Rothschild.

The government is making the argument that the past is prologue, said Jeffrey Vagle, executive director of the Center for Technology, Innovation and Competition at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

In a reply brief filed Tuesday in court in Riverside, California, Apple focused on the newer technology at issue in the shooters device.

Forcing Apple to create new software that degrades its security features is unprecedented and unlike any burden ever imposed under the All Writs Act, Apple said. The company said it has protected its users privacy and security through increasingly secure operating systems and rejected the notion that it ever had a back door.

There are ways to get into smartphones, and investigators havent always had to rely on Apple, or other technology companies, for access. Mobile forensics firm Cellebrite sells portable data extraction systems to law enforcement and boasts that it can bypass any type of lock from more than 300 locked Android devices. Wandt said the systems cannot break through newer versions of iPhone encryption. A representative of Cellebrite didnt have an immediate comment.

In Riverside, Apple is arguing it would take weeks of programmer time to figure out how to unlock the San Bernardino iPhone, which runs the iOS 9 operating system, and could weaken security for all phones. Meanwhile, in a Brooklyn case against a drug dealer, it is arguing that it faces an undue burden in cracking phones with older operating systems, too  even though prosecutors say it has opened such phones dozens of times. Of 12 other devices for which the company said it is opposing federal search warrants, seven run iOS 7 or older operating systems.

I dont see any reason why Apple wouldnt comply with the Brooklyn warrant, said Darren Hayes, a professor of cyber security and digital forensics at Pace University, in New York. Theyve gotten into those phones many times.

  

In the past, when prosecutors were confronted by a locked iPhone that they couldnt open with third-party technology or with the brute force approach of entering innumerable pass codes, they could turn to procedures in Apples law enforcement guide. The company advises in the guide that it can extract data for devices running iOS 4 through iOS 7.

The extraction was conducted on locked phones through a secret process at Apples headquarters by the companys own technicians, Yaeger said. Apple told them in the guide to ship the device, along with external memory devices such as thumb drives, and the extracted material would be sent back on those devices, he said.

The company still maintains a staff of legal and technical employees to address search warrants for phones and other law enforcement requests. Apple has said those staff members have fielded thousands of requests for information each year from law enforcement, although not all involve search warrants.

Soon that process will seem quaint: The number of iPhones Apple can access with existing methods is dwindling. According to the company, only about 10 percent of them run iOS 7 or older.

  

The prosecutors in the Brooklyn case thought they were following standard procedure by seeking a court order demanding compliance with the warrant. Then U.S. Magistrate Judge James Orenstein threw them a curve ball by pre-emptively soliciting Apples views before making his ruling. In a decision hailed by Apple, he sided with the company and found that the governments demand imposed a burden and that prosecutors were pushing the All Writs Act too far.

A company official said that Apple seized on the opportunity to fight those orders when Orenstein offered Apple the chance to weigh in. The company sees the ruling as helping its cause by establishing a lower bar for what constitutes a burden.

Were being forced to become an agent of law enforcement, and we cannot be forced to do that with our old devices or with our new devices, a lawyer for Apple, Marc Zwillinger, told the judge during a hearing in October, responding to questions about why the company chose not to help prosecutors anymore. I think Apples views are we are not in the business of accessing our customers data.

(c) 2016, Bloomberg  Christie Smythe
Millions of households across the country will see their insurance bills rise as the Chancellor George Osborne confirmed in the budget a rise from 9.5 per cent to 10 per cent in insurance premium tax.

Prices will rise from 1 October this year and it will be the second time in a year the tax has been increased, with the first hike from 6 per cent to 9.5 per cent introduced on 1 November 2015.

The rise is smaller than the 3 per cent predicted and the money raised will fund investment in flood defence.

Tax hikes: The latest rise to insurance premium tax will be introduced on 1 October this year

The Chancellor said the rise will add around 1 to the average combined home and contents insurance and 2 to the average motor policy.

But the average quote from the AA's British Insurance Premium Index shows that prices are likely to go up by around 2.86 for the average driver and 6.19 for younger drivers. When you factor in the rise last November, prices will have risen by 22.86 and 49.57 respectively.

Last November's rise of 3.5 per cent was estimated to add an extra 100 onto the average household's insurance bill, according to the Association of British Insurers.

The tax applies to most areas of general insurance including; motor, home, pet, car and health insurance.

But travel insurance, which is excluded from the hike because it has its own tax at 20 per cent, will not change. Life insurance and insurance to do with income protection are also exempt from IPT.

IPT was first introduced in October 1994 at a rate of 2.5 per cent. Although it is a tax the Government places on insurers, they generally tend to add these into policy prices so consumers end up paying more.

Before the recent two rises, it was last increased from 5 per cent to 6 per cent in January 2011. The latest rise is expected to raise 200 million for the Treasury.

Edmund King, AA president, said: 'The Chancellor has listened to our campaign against a 3 per cent hike in Insurance Premium Tax and 0.5 per cent increase is better than expected.

'Using it for flood defences is helpful but it simply replaces past spending cuts and targeting motorists to pay for flood alleviation is robbing Peter to pay Paul.

'We are delighted that the Chancellor has resisted the temptation to increase fuel duty which will bring relief at the pumps for millions of motorists.

HOW MUCH INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX HAS RISEN Year of rise Percentage increase 1994 Launched at 2.5% for all general insurance 1997 Rise to 4% 1999 Rise to 5% 2011 Rise to 6% 2015 Rise to 9.5% 2016 Rise to 10% A higher rate of IPT for travel insurance was introduced in 2011 at 17.7% which rose to 20% in 2011

'We would have liked the Chancellor to recognise the difficulty that young drivers have in getting cover for their cars and abolishing IPT for them for at least the first year of insuring their first car. that would have been a significant help  it would typically have knocked 124 off their first car insurance premium.'

Steve White, chief executive of The British Insurance Brokers Association, said: 'Let's be clear about this IPT is a tax collected and remitted by insurers, it is a tax on premiums paid by policyholders motorists, householders, and businesses large and small.

'Whilst we support the additional spending on flood defences we believe that this could have been funded by the projected 1.5bn annual funds paid to the exchequer as a result in the increase in IPT put in place only last November which puts an increased burden on policyholders many of whom are suffering from ongoing flood damage.'

The tax rise to 10% will be applied to most general insurance policies including car, home and pet

The rise in IPT comes as prices in general are soaring for car insurance.

Ian Hughes, chief executive of Consumer Intelligence said more than 200,000 car drivers have already shopped around since the November premium tax rise.

'With average premiums rising by nearly 43 a year, consumers would be crazy not to check and make sure that they are getting the best possible price.

'Car insurance price rises were already soaring before the Budget with average costs up 13 per cent in the past year to around 683. Average premiums for over-50s are up by 15.3 per cent in the year to February compared to 9.3 per cent for the under-25s.

'Older drivers still pay considerably less than younger drivers  the average premium for over-50s is 298 compared to 1,600 for the under-25s,' he added.

Plans were also announced to crackdown on Claims Management Companies which will be transferred to the control of the Financial Conduct Authority from the Ministry of Justice.

All CMCs will have to reapply for authorisation from the FCA and a new Senior Managers Regime will be introduced.

It is thought this measure could reduce the number of whiplash claims made and the volumes of nuisance calls received from CMCs.

The FCA crackdown on CMCs could mean less nuisance calls and a reduction in whiplash claims

A spokesperson from the Association of British Insurers said: For too long the regulation of claims management companies has not been fit-for-purpose, leaving the public at the mercy of unscrupulous firms who make nuisance phone calls and encourage frivolous and fraudulent claims.

It should go a long way in driving the cowboy operators out of town and helping to ensure honest customers don't end up footing the bill for their dodgy practices.

How CMCs will be transferred and when they will need to reapply for authorisation is yet to be announced.

Martin Milliner, general insurance claims director for LV=, said: We wholeheartedly support the news that the FCA is to regulate Claims Management Companies  this is a measure we called for in our CMC consultation response.

However, for it to be effective we urge the Government to ensure that the regulator is not just another name over the door; the FCA needs more funding and resourcing than the Claims Management Regulator (CMR) received under the Ministry of Justice.
The London Stock Exchange and German rival Deutsche Borse have reached a deal on a 21billion merger to create one of the biggest trading exchanges in the world.

Carefully billed as a 'merger of equals', the deal will see the LSE shareholders own 45.6 per cent of the joint firm and Deutsche Borse the remaining 54.4 per cent. The two parties had until March 22 to reach an agreement under industry rules.

LSE Group - which also owns index operator FTSE - is considered one of the 'three pillars' of the City of London, along with the Bank of England and insurance market Lloyd's of London.

Sold: After more than two centuries of independence, the London Stock Exchange - considered one of the 'three pillars' of the City of London - has been bought by the Germans



Under the merger plans, LSE and Deutsche Borse will maintain headquarters in London and Frankfurt and be listed on both cities' exchanges. The as yet unnamed group will be domiciled in the UK for tax purposes and also include the Milan stock exchange, which the LSE already owns.

Nearly 16 years after their first attempt to merge, the deal brings together the might of London as one of the world's biggest financial centres and Frankfurt - the home of the European Central Bank with access to Europe's largest economy.

The tie-up should now go ahead, barring a rival bidder breaking up the agreement or regulators stepping in to stop it.

The pair announced they were in talks last month, but since then there has been the threat of the deal being gatecrashed after the owner of the New York Stock Exchange mulled a rival bid for the London exchange.

Announcement of their deal now puts pressure on Intercontinental Exchange to reveal if it plans to make a counter-offer. ICE has until March 29 to make a firm offer or walk away.

Xavier Rolet, chief executive of London Stock Exchange Group, said: 'We are creating an industry-defining combination which will be a leading global market infrastructure business.'

The deal sees the LSE's share-trading operation combine with the derivatives trading of Deutsche Boerse's Eurex in a group worth $30billion.

In early morning trade today, LSE shares on the FTSE 100 index were down 16p, or 0.5 per cent at 2,890p, while Deutsche Borse shares in Frankfurt were up 1.7 per cent at 

The pair saw previous takeover deals fail in 2000 and 2004-5 when talks collapsed.

On the way out: The agreed all-share deal will see highly-rated LSE boss Xavier Rolet step down

Carsten Kengeter, chief executive of Deutsche Borse, said: 'It is the logical evolution for our companies in a fundamentally changing industry.

'As a combined group we will create a European player that will compete on a global basis.'

The agreed all-share deal will see Rolet step down, with Deutsche Borse boss Kengeter becoming chief executive of the combined company and LSE's Donald Brydon taking up the role of chairman.

The current chairman of Deutsche Borse, Joachim Faber, would become deputy chairman and senior independent director, with LSE's David Warren retaining his position as chief financial officer.

On stepping down Rolet will be retained as an adviser to the chairman and deputy chairman to help with a smooth handover - a post he is likely to hold for up to a year.

Meanwhile, the bourse operators also reiterated warnings over the impact of a vote for the UK to leave the EU and confirmed they have set up a committee to assess the June 23 referendum.

A 'Brexit' could 'affect the volume or nature of the business carried out by the combined group', according to the exchanges.

Details of the deal also showed that the new company will aim to save 353million a year following the merger, which is set to complete by the end of this year or first quarter of 2017.
Chancellor George Osborne has scrapped the costly Money Advice Service, less than six years after it was set-up in an attempt by the Government to provide people with 'financial education'.

The service is considered not to have had enough uptake from the general public despite ploughing more than 100million on developing and promoting its website. It will be replaced by a smaller body providing help for those in financial trouble.

The decision to replace the MAS will be announced in this afternoon's Budget by Osborne.

Waste: The body spent more than 100million on developing and promoting its website (above), according to Christine Farnish, but the website and its marketing products were rudimentary

Founded in 2010 and funded by a statutory levy on the banks, it has been slammed for being a 'gravy train' following its excessive spending and pay to its staff.

Former chief executive Tom Hobman was paid 350,000 a year, before he resigned in 2012, while last year's results show executive Mark Fiander was paid 313,000, despite leaving the organisation in December 2014.

Current chief executive Caroline Rookes had a total pay, pension and benefits package worth 180,000 in the year to April 2015, while the service spent 240,000 on non-executive directors.

The MAS remuneration statement showed just under 1.1million spent on directors that year.

MAs spends in total about 80million per year, funded by a levy on the financial services industry.

It was also felt that the body was duplicating help provided by other services, such as the Citizen Advice Bureau, and had failed those who needed face-to-face assistance with budgeting, debt management and financial planning.

Jo Smith, spokeswoman at the Money Advice Service, said: 'We will work with the government to fully consider the implications of any announcement.

'In the meantime we will continue to fulfil our statutory role to help people make the most of their money.'

Gravy train: Many of the body's top executives received hefty pay packages last year

Costly: The firm employed 112 people last year but failed to drum up recognition among the British public

The writing has been on the wall for MAS for some time.

In March last year a Treasury-commissioned review led by by financial policy veteran Christine Farnish, concluded that the MAS needed to 'embark on a programme of transformation' away from its focus on money guidance provision.

The review suggested MAS that its advice budget should be shrunk run and its staff cut from 130 to about 50 to 70 permanent staff. Following the report MAS developed a new three-year corporate strategy.

This included a cut to its budget allocated for money advice from 34.1million in the current year to 30.1million in 2016/17.

The body proposed to allocate less than half of its money advice budget on customer engagement and direct services, whereby its marketing budget had been cut by half, from almost 9million to about 4million.

MAS also made a a ten-year commitment earlier this year to improve people's ability to manage their finances and educating them in the difference between financial advice and guidance and to make them understand when they need advice and how to get it.

This morning's announcement comes just a day after the Treasury issued a report stating that financial literacy was bad.
A number of critics have come out to slam the new Help to Save scheme for lower income earners, the details of which have been announced by the Prime Minister this week.

The scheme, expected to launch in 2018, will allow those with working tax credits or universal credit to save up to 50 a month and pocket a bonus of 50 per cent, earning a maximum of 600 after two years. Savers can carry on the scheme for an additional two years.

After digesting the details, former pensions minister Steve Webb has warned the scheme could be the 'wrong choice' for many, if they start to shift concentration away from their pension.

Mr Webb  now director of policy at Royal London  said: 'It is welcome that the Government is looking to encourage people to save, but it needs to be careful that people are not incentivised to make the wrong choice with their money.

Steve Webb: The former pensions minister says workers should concentrate on their pension over Help to Save

'Money put into a pension often attracts a matching contribution from an employer plus a tax relief contribution from the Government and can entitle you to higher tax credits.

'While both short-term and long-term savings are important, low-paid workers with spare cash should think very carefully before assuming that the Help to Save scheme is the best deal for their money.

'It would be unfortunate if this initiative turned into a new mis-selling scandal, with workers discovering they could have got a better deal from a pension.'

In terms of a pension, you may get a matching contribution from your employer, often on a pound-for-pound basis - this compares with the 50p per pound top-up under the government scheme after two years.

You also get tax relief on pension contributions, saving 20p in the pound for a standard rate taxpayer, with no indication as of yet on tax relief on contributions into Help to Save.

Pension saving also eventually leads to a 25 per cent tax free lump sum, which can be taken from the age of 55.

Martin Lewis, founder of Money Saving Expert, said: 'Encouraging people to save is a good thing, however there is a risk Help to Save could substantially mis-prioritise people's finances.

'Already, many people make the mistake of trying to save when they are in debt, and yet the cost of debt for most usually vastly outweighs the gain of saving.

'In a perfect world, everyone would have savings for at least six months' worth of bills put aside in case of emergency.

'My worry with Help to Save  especially because of the long delay before people get the bonus  is that people may start to think that everyone should put aside money each month, when the truth is for many with expensive debts, especially payday loans, that's a bad idea.

'So, Help to Save must be accompanied by strong guidance of who should and shouldn't do it  rather than a blanket encouragement.'

David Cameron: In a speech, the PM said helping someone start a savings fund will give hard-working people extra support

These measures come as officials claim that nearly half of Britons have set aside less than 500 for emergencies.

Prime Minister David Cameron claimed to want to give hard-working people extra support to fulfill their potential and to transform life chances across the country.

He said: 'That's what these new measures will achieve - helping someone start a savings fund to get them through difficult times, giving people on low incomes a pay rise and making sure teenagers have the experience and networks to succeed.'

Kate Smith, head of pensions at Aegon, said: 'One to watch is whether Help to Save will disrupt automatic enrolment causing workers to opt-out of pension saving in return for the more flexible, but short-term savings.

'People have a finite amount of cash they can afford to save, and they will need to balance their long-term plans against more short-term considerations.

'Saving in an employer's pension scheme will still be the best deal around, as employees not only benefit from a government top-up on their own contributions, but also the employer's contribution, every time they pay in.

'So currently every 50 an individual saves under automatic enrolment immediately becomes 112.50.

'The employer's pension contribution is far more valuable than any government bonus allowing workers to build up savings at a faster pace than the new Help to Save scheme.'

Help to Save: The scheme is not expected to launch until April 2018, with many of the details needing to be finalised

Mike O'Connor, chief executive of debt charity Step Change, said: 'We are concerned that having to wait two years before getting any bonus is too long.

'Such a wait may see families overtaken by events as they access the funds for emergencies, therefore concern at losing the bonus could simply act as a disincentive to save in the first place.

'In order to build financial resilience and to protect people on low-incomes from the risk of falling into debt, any savings scheme needs to work alongside other elements of a responsive safety net, including access to more sustainable and affordable credit and better protections for those in financial difficulty.'
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By Graciano Clause

The York College Association of Black Journalists partnered with black voices in the media last week to inform the Jamaica community about the crisis in black media.

The jam-packed panel discussion held in Yorks faculty dining room brought out many students, Queens residents, activists, and community groups. The event included NY1 news anchor Cheryl Wills, New York Amsterdam News columnist Herb Boyd, radio broadcaster Gary Byrd, Contributing Editor of the Queens Tribune Marcia Moxam Comrie, and Co-founder of the Millions March NYC Synead Nichols.

The event was held not only to mark Black History Month but to create awareness about the endless realities blacks are faced with globally.

Wills, who moderated the Feb. 24 panel, said there is no reason to adhere to the negative content bringing black people down in the media. Years of racially degrading portrayals of blacks in pop culture and the media have done their damage, she said. Not only does society feed negative stereotypes to allow oppression to continue, but children incorporate these stereotypes by believing them due to the lack of positive images put out.

Wills along with the panelists said blacks need to have a greater representation in the media to make the world a better place now and for the generations to come.

Boyd noted the importance of supporting black business.

You got to go beyond saying you support a representation of you in the media, Boyd said. You have to buy the paper, educate yourself on what is happening, and share it on these social media. Communication is made easier now, so we have to use it.

He mentioned how WWRL, New Yorks last black-owned radio station, is not black owned anymore.

There is no diversity in the educational realm, Boyd said, referring to black states role as a tool for education. He stressed how black-owned media organizations can survive through online subscriptions. Geometric growth can be achieved by network marketing.

We have a new opportunity for communicating and having an independence in the media if we do this simple thing called the seven keys, he said. Unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. With those key issues addressed, Boyd believes an immediate power base can be established to promote a positive media outlet for blacks.

Instead of uplifting each other, we put each other down, Byrd said. There used to be a time when black people used to encourage each other to do better, but now were only competing with each other and making the breadwinners win.

Nichols, 24, who is closer to todays youth, shed light on the problem, saying there are fewer black-owned news organizations because of the unwillingness to network with social activists on social media.

The Internet is a tool, but people dont use it, she said. We can start so many revolutions and online news websites if more of us had the guts to just use what we already have to start a discussion.

During the panel discussion, Wills said black media is in crisis despite the accomplishments of black journalists. She said many reality television shows project black people in a negative light, which influences the black youth.

Marcia Moxam Comrie, contributing editor of the Queens Tribune, chimed in with her perspective on the crisis at the local level in Jamaica.

I always want to make sure that our stories  be they hyper local or on a wider spectrum  for us to understand that when you have these police brutality cases, it behoves us on a local level to bring these issues to the table, Comrie said.
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By Patrick Donachie

When Stacy Eliuk decided to run for president of the Queens County Young Democrats, she knew she wanted to emphasize the power Queens gains from the diversity of its residents.

I ran on a platform of unity, of unifying our borough. I brought in young leaders from all over Queens, she said in an interview. We ran as this united slate of America.

On Feb. 24 at the Anoroc Democratic Club in Sunnyside, Eliuk was elected president of the QCYD after serving for two years as the organizations treasurer. She is the first female president in the groups 10-year history.

Eliuk attended Queens College and earned a masters degree in political science from Columbia University. Her interest in public service and Democratic politics increased after she worked on several campaigns in 2013.

As the newly elected QCYD president and a lifelong Queens resident, Eliuk said she wants to draw attention to what she sees as a lack of resources and attention paid to the borough.

We are the second largest borough in terms of population and the first in geography, she said. And we dont always see our fair share.

Eliuk, who works as a program manager at the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Manhattan, said that her election as QCYDs first female president emphasized the groups strengths.

Its not a departure from the underlying goals of the organization, she said. I think it adds to the perception that when you see a young woman leader, it will encourage people to become more active.

Eliuk and the QCYD also have organized an upcoming event to highlight the stories of several female elected officials. Who Run the World?: Women Winning in Queens will be held March 24 at the Rego Center Community Room in Rego Park, where several female lawmakers will discuss why they decided to run for office and the challenges they encountered along the way. U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) and City Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills) are among the elected officials attending the event.

Eliuk said the evening could illustrate the steps that still need to be taken toward equal representation in a city where only 14 of the 51 City Council members are women.

The QCYD is also turning its attention to state Assemblyman Todd Kaminskys bid to fill the state Senate seat in Nassau left vacant by former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, a Republican, who was convicted of corruption charges in December. Eliuk hopes a win in the race for Kaminsky can help Democrats regain control of the state Senate.

As for her own career in public service, Eliuk said that she might consider running for office in the future.

What I thought of as a possibility five years ago is slim in comparison to what I see now, she said. Im keeping an open mind, because ones own sense of potential grows as one does more with ones life. The more I do, the more possible something like that could look.
Airport development adding to economy, jobs in the region

Pittsburgh may always be known as the Steel City, but a wave of new industries are popping up near its airport to redefine business in the region.
Sherry Yoakum, director of the Red River Valley Museum, talks about a bit collection on display in the Waggoner Ranch exhibit at the museum. The Red River Valley Museum is home to the largest collection of artifacts and memorabilia of the historic ranch anywhere.

One of the cool things about being in the media is we get to travel and see a lot of interesting things.

Sometimes we get access to things and places that others might not. For example, years ago I wrote an article on a facility out at Sheppard Air Force Base called the "hush house."

Imagine a facility where an aircraft is pushed in, strapped down and throttled up to check the engines before taking it up for a test flight.

It was a really neat experience to see the T-38 inch forward as the person in the seat kept pushing the throttle. As you can imagine, the noise inside the facility was insanely loud. On the outside, though, all you could hear was a hum.

On the flip side, we also go to places where people have access to almost daily, but choose not to go. Some of those places are treasures in this area that capture our history  museums.

Chief photographer Torin Halsey and I stopped by the Red River Valley Museum in Vernon while we were covering the sale of the Waggoner Ranch in February. Sherry Yoakum, executive director of the museum, gave us a quick tour, and I was astonished at the displays. I had no idea my hometown had upgraded the museum.

Torin and I both said we needed to go back and do an article about it. The TRN's grass roots editor, Bridget Knight, told us of the Wilbarger County Historical Museum in the old county jail, so we decided to pay a visit to that one, too.

We both walked away amazed at what both had to offer. They were different enough that they didn't seem redundant, but they both told the history of Wilbarger County.

We also visited the Fire Hall Museum in Crowell back in November 2013 and filed a story about it, too. I had been to it several times since Crowell is my dad's old stomping grounds, so it was fun to do a little write-up for it.

I said during the Foard County visit that it would be neat to visit all the museums in our area and let folks know about them. Well, now we're going to do it.

Uncle Google helped me locate more than 20 museums in Archer, Baylor, Clay, Foard, Hardeman, Jack, Montague, Wichita, Wilbarger and Young counties. Everything from art to regional history to railroads to aviation is part of the story of North Texas. The further we get from our history, the further removed we are.

Red River Valley Museum board President Bobby Burrus had a fantastic quote in the article about the museum: "History doesn't end today. History continues. So, why don't we continue to tell our story."

Our plan is to begin the next leg of our historical journey right here in Wichita Falls. We won't hit them all at once, but it's time to give our local offerings a little love.

There are amazing stories to be told about area towns preserving and sharing their history. I'm glad we'll be sharing those with you.
Magician Ron Wilson will perform during Evening at the Skyscraper on April 1 and 2 at the Littlest Skyscraper.

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MSU grad school plans open house

The Midwestern State University Graduate School will hold an open house at 5:30 p.m. March 17 in Room 189 of the Dillard Building. The open house will showcase the options available for those interested in pursuing an advanced degree.

Degrees are available in business, science and mathematics, humanities and social sciences, education, and health and human services. Graduate coordinators from each of the 27 programs will be available to meet with interested students. Food and prizes, including two $500 scholarships selected at random, will be given away.

For more information or to review scholarship eligibility information, visit mwsu.edu/graduateschool or call 940-97-4920.

State leader to visit Democratic group

Democratic Party worker and retired computer industry executive Michael Handley will be the speaker for the Wichita County Democratic Association meeting 6-8 p.m. March 17 at Luby's Cafeteria, 1801 Ninth St.

Handley retired after a 35-year career in computer software industry. He has served the Texas Democratic Party as precinct chair, political director, and coordinated campaign chair for the Collin County Democratic Party. He also served as Senate District 8 committee chair for Collin County, Senate District 8 convention chair, and chair of full Senate District 8 delegation to the 2014 Democratic State Convention. He was a member of the TDP's 2014 platform drafting committee.

In 2015, Handley stepped back from direct party leadership to host a progressive talk radio program on the newly formed BlogTalkUSA Internet Radio network, providing a forum for Texas Democrats share their views with Texas voters. He also publishes the Democratic Blog News at DemBlogNews.com.

He continues to serve as an election judge in Collin County.

Information: 224-8852.

Vernon author to hold book signing

Author and Vernon resident Jerry Whitt will sign copies of his historical novel, "The List," from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 19 at Hastings Books, Music and Videos, 2805 Southwest Parkway.

This novel covers the years 1863-76 starting with Civil War-era Texas and weaving a story of suspense around real-life people and events.

Rep. Frank to speak at GOP gathering

State Rep. James Frank (R-Wichita Falls) will address a meeting of the Wichita County Republican Women March 21 at Luby's Cafeteria, 1801 Ninth St. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., and the meeting begins at noon. Cost of the lunch is $12.

Frank, first elected in 2012 and up for election to a third term in November, will speak about political and legislative issues on the horizon.

Reservations: Annette Barfield at 940-642-8420 or annettebarfield@aol.com by March 20.

Sausage feed set by Rhineland church

St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Rhineland will hold its annual parish sausage and fried chicken dinner 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 20.

Cost for the meal is $12 for adults and $6 for children younger than 12. A country store will offer homemade baked goods and arts and crafts items. Bulk sausage can be ordered by calling Billie at 940-256-2973 or John at 940-256-3113.

Magical evening at Littlest Skyscraper

Head to the penthouse to help the Wichita County Heritage Society April 1 and 2, when "Evening at the Skyscraper" returns to the historic Littlest Skyscraper, 511 Seventh St.

Join magician Ron Wilson in the penthouse for an evening designed to amaze and entertain. Two shows will be offered each day, at 7:30 and 9 p.m. Seating in the penthouse is limited to 20 people per performance, so early reservations are advised.

Guests will enter the Little Skyscraper through the Hello Again! home decor consignment store that occupies the first floor of the building. Note that reaching the penthouse involves climbing a 48-step staircase.

Tickets are $20. For reservations, call 940-761-9955.

Conference offered for foster parents

The Wichita County Foster Parent Association will offer a free simulcast of the Empowered to Connect Conference April 8-9 at Region 9 Education Service Center, 301 Loop 11.

The conference is aimed at adoptive and foster parents, ministry leaders and professionals to offer strategies to help them connect with children from hard places to help them heal.

The conference will be led by Dr. Karyn Purvis, director of the Texas Christian University Institute of Child Development.

The topics also are designed to appeal to those considering adoption or becoming foster parents, social workers, agency professionals, church staff and counselors.

The conference will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, with a 1-hour break for an off-site lunch.

While the conference is free, there is a $10 charge for materials.

Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to Melynn Conway at 940-720-0060 or Melynn.conway@pchas.org.
SHARE Garrett

By Patrick Johnston, patrick.johnston@timesrecordnews.com

A man is facing additional charges after Wichita Falls police reportedly recovered about 20 stolen identifying documents from his residence.

According to arrest affidavits:

Between Oct. 30, 2015, and Jan. 29, 2016, five reports of stolen identifying information being used fraudulently were filed with WFPD by residences of Brookdale Senior Living.

An arrest warrant was issued for Kaleigh Bost, 29, who was picked up during a traffic stop on Feb. 10 and charged with two counts of credit or debit card abuse  enhanced by elderly victims. The victims included one person who lived at Brookdale.

Timothy Michael Garrett, 31, was arrested for not having a driver's license in his possession. While searching Garrett, officers discovered he had three credit/debit cards belonging to two other people. Both of the victims had lived or were living at Brookdale.

One of the cards belonged to a woman who passed away in September.

On Feb. 11, a search warrant was executed at the residence of Bost and Garrett in the 4100 block of Belmede Drive.

Detectives recovered at least 19 items of identifying information belonging to at least 13 victims, including bank statements, electric and cable bills, a credit card, a Texas ID card and two social security cards. They also found several handwritten notes that included social security numbers and date of births and other notes with valid bank account and routing numbers.

On Feb. 23, Garrett met with detectives at the Wichita County Court House and told them both he and Bost used victims' information from Brookdale fraudulently.

Garrett is charged with two counts of fraudulent use or possession of identifying information  enhanced by elderly victims. He remained in Wichita County Jail Wednesday afternoon in lieu of a total bail of $150,000. Bost was not in Wichita County Jail.
By John Ingle of the Times Record News

A federal district court has granted the State of Texas permission to intervene in the litigation in motion to determine land ownership along the Red River in Wilbarger, Wichita and Clay counties.

Judge Reed O'Connor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Wichita Falls said in his decision that the state met all legal requirements to intervene in Ken Aderholt et al. vs. Bureau of Land Management et al. The state filed a motion to intervene in November.

"Having considered the motion, related briefing, and applicable law, the Court finds that Texas's Motion to Intervene should be and is hereby granted," O'Connor wrote in decision filed on Monday.

In his ruling, the judge said the BLM waived its "sovereign immunity" to be sued because it failed to conduct a gradient boundary survey when the agency was required to as part of its inventory process. The court also ruled that previous court decisions such as the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Oklahoma v. Texas in the 1920s could serve as the law in this matter, and the BLM is required to provide a legal survey because its assertion of ownership.

"The Court finds that in this early stage in the litigation, Texas has sufficiently asserted that 'Oklahoma' functions as a federal law requiring that a party asserting material changes to the boundary is required to prove these changes," O'Connor wrote. "The Court further finds that 'Oklahoma's' mandate that asserted changes must be proved by conducting a gradient boundary survey, as a specific federal law in the conjunction with the (Federal Land Policy and Management Act's) requirement to maintain an inventory of public, is not a 'general directive [] granting broad discretion,' but rather, is 'a sufficiently specific command to be enforceable.'"

Robert Henneke, general counsel and director of the Texas Public Policy Foundation's Center for the American Future, said the court's decision was a "significant, preliminary victory" for Texas landowners as they fight for their land in the judicial system.

"In granting the Texas Attorney General's intervention motion, the Court preliminarily found that BLM is required to conduct a gradient boundary survey if it is going to claim a material change to its boundary," he wrote in a news release. "Furthermore, the Court found that Texas has stated a justiciable claim that BLM's assertion of federal lands inside of Texas grants Texas has a substantial and direct interest in protecting its tax base, including those that directly fund Texas public schools, threatened by BLM's actions."

Texas AG Ken Paxton provided the following statement on his website: "Washington D.C. needs to hear, loud and clear, that Texas will not stand for the federal government's infringement upon Texas land and the property rights of the people who live here. The federal government must follow the law and recognize our correct borders, consistent with decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court defining the boundary formed by the Red River."

The land dispute began in early 2014 when the BLM began "scoping" operations to find out what the general public would like to see done with the land in questions. Landowners protested the BLM claims, and the BLM continued to work toward a new Resource Management Plan for the 116-mile stretch along the Red River.

Landowners filed a lawsuit in 2014, and the TPPF offered to represent the interested parties pro bono.

RELATED: Read the federal district court's ruling below.

Judge allows state to intervene in land dispute
SHARE An 18- wheeler hauling 288 pigs to Brookshire, TX overturned about 3:30 am Wednesday on Hwy287 southbound in Henrietta. The driver, Rick Catron, was not injured. Less than half of the pigs died in the one-vehicle accident. Photo by Torin halsey An 18- wheeler hauling 288 pigs to Brookshire, TX overturned about 3:30 am Wednesday on Hwy287 southbound in Henrietta. The driver, Rick Catron, was not injured. Less than half of the pigs died in the one-vehicle accident. Photo by Torin Halsey TORIN HALSEY/TIMES RECORD NEWS Following a rollover accident Wednesday morning involving a livestock trailer hauling pigs, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Clay County Sheriff Office, Henrietta Fire Department and other emergency crews worked to divert traffic during cleanup of the scene. The accident happened about 3:30 a.m. on U.S. Highway 287 southbound. The driver of the truck was not injured. TORIN HALSEY/TIMES RECORD NEWS Three large wreckers from Big Daddy's Wrecker Service were used to safely get a tractor trailer rig back on its wheels after an early morning accident on U.S. Highway 287 in Henrietta Wednesday. The wreck caused the road to be shut down while crews cleaned up the scene and traffic was re-routed to a service road nearby.

An early-morning wreck involving a livestock truck on southbound U.S. 287 delayed traffic as crews worked the scene.

Motorists were asked to use caution and expect delays.

An 18-wheeler hauling 288 pigs to Brookshire, Texas, overturned about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday near Henrietta. The driver, Rick Catron, was not injured. Less than half of the pigs died in the one-vehicle accident.

Local business owner Jody Wade told the Times Record News in a message that a truck from Big Daddys Towing & Recovery was at the scene and the Texas Department of Transportation, Clay County Sheriffs Office and the Henrietta Volunteer Fire Department responded to the accident.

One lane was initially open, but both lanes had to be closed as cleanup progressed. The accident happened near the exit to a service road, which made diverting traffic possible.



A local farmer was able to help corral the livestock and keep the pigs on his land until arrangements could be made.



The truck driver told the Times Record News that the vehicle weighs approximately 36,000 pounds when empty, the weight emergency workers and the wrecker service needed to shift in order to put the truck upright again.
SCHENECTADY  The Planning Commission on Wednesday will consider approving site plans for a new Stewart's shop on Broadway in Bellevue and review a proposal by the developers of Rivers Casino & Resort at Mohawk Harbor.

The panel also is scheduled to hear from professional experts from Schenectady-based Highbridge Development. They seek site plan approval for an 11,000-square-foot building on State Street that formerly housed Mohawk Honda.

Before looking at these applications, the board is expected to welcome Mitchell Miller, a Key Bank executive, to the commission. Either commissioner Bradley Lewis or Mary Moore Wallinger would become the new head of the board to replace Matthew Cuevas, who was not reappointed by Mayor Gary McCarthy.

Rivers Casino developers Rush Street Gaming will seek subdivision approval. The project features a casino, marina, two hotels and condos. Construction is underway at the 60-acre tract on the former Alco property on Erie Boulevard.

"It was always part of the plan and now they are coming in to split everything up and separate the public road from the private land," City Planner Christine Primiano said.

She also said Rush Street Gaming most likely will appear again before the Planning Commission in the next few months to deal with the 80-foot pylon sign in front of Rivers Casino that has generated some controversy because of its size.

In the Stewart's proposal, the company agreed to swap land with Marantha Ministries, which has a parking lot at the corner of Thompson Street and Broadway.

The proposed deal calls for the church to move its parking to Bradt Street and Broadway while the convenience store parking would be at the corner of Thompson Street and Broadway. Land used by the church for more than a century will be demolished to make way for the business.

Stewart's, which is seeking final site plan approval, will have about 35 parking slots.

"The advantage is that high volumes of traffic will not be going onto Bradt Street, which is one-way," Primiano said.

Stewart's eventually will close a store a few blocks away, at Broadway and Fairview Avenues.
Washington

Prescription painkillers should not be a first-choice for treating common ailments like back pain and arthritis, according to new federal guidelines designed to reshape how doctors prescribe drugs like OxyContin and Vicodin.

Amid an epidemic of addiction and abuse tied to these powerful opioid drugs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging general doctors to try physical therapy, exercise and over-the-counter pain medications before turning to painkillers for chronic pain. Opioid drugs include medications like morphine and oxycodone as well as illegal narcotics like heroin.

The new recommendations  which doctors do not have to follow  represent an effort to reverse nearly two decades of rising painkiller use, which public health officials blame for a more than four-fold increase in overdose deaths tied to the drugs. In 2014, U.S. doctors wrote nearly 200 million prescriptions for opioid painkillers, while deaths linked to the drugs climbed to roughly 19,000  the highest number on record.

"We're trying to chart a safer and more effective course for dealing with chronic pain," said Dr. Tom Frieden, in an interview with the Associated Press. "The risks of addiction and death are very well documented for these medications."

The commissioner of New York's Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services praised the guidelines. Admissions to state treatment programs for prescription opioid use rose 155 percent between 2005 and 2014.

"These recommendations will help to address the rise in prescription opioid misuse and overuse across the nation and here in our state," said OASAS Commissioner Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez.

Under the new guidelines, doctors would prescribe painkillers only after considering non-addictive pain relievers, behavioral changes and other options. The CDC also wants doctors to prescribe the lowest effective dose possible. And doctors should only continue prescribing the drugs if patients show significant improvement.

The guidelines do not apply to doctors who specialize in treating severe pain due to cancer and other debilitating diseases.

Though the guidelines are voluntary, they could be widely adopted by hospitals, insurers and state and federal health systems.

Dr. Charles Argoff, a neurologist at Albany Medical Center, said the new recommendations could be especially useful for physicians who do not primarily work in pain management, which is his specialty. By now, nearly everyone knows a story about a patient undergoing minor surgery or a dental procedure who went home with a prescription of opioids to last them several months.

"The CDC guidelines, if done right, could help guide non-pain-specialists in using these medications in a manner that is safer," Argoff said.

He cautioned, however, that the guidance could be misused as a way to block effective treatment from those who need it. Government payers, like Medicare and Medicaid, and insurance companies could use it to severely restrict coverage of opioids, for instance.

In that case, "well-meaning physicians could be too scared to take care of people," Argoff said.

The medical director of one local health insurer, Kirk Panneton of BlueShield of Northeastern New York, said his company has already been suggesting that doctors avoid opioids as a first approach to pain. The insurer does not include oncologists, who treat cancer, or pain management specialists in the group getting those recommendations, he said.

One of the problems leading to opioid overprescribing is that it's the treatment primary care doctors have become most familiar with, said Dr. Edward Apicella of Albany & Saratoga Centers for Pain Management. Apicella said he tries other ways to block pain, including epidurals and drugs that boost the body's immune response, before prescribing narcotics.

Apicella advises primary care doctors to treat acute pain only, prescribing narcotics when necessary for three to five days at the most.

Government officials have already tried multiple approaches to tackling painkiller abuse. The Food and Drug Administration restricted some widely-prescribed painkillers to limit refills. States like Florida and New York have cracked down on "pill mills" using databases to monitor what doctors are prescribing. And this week, Massachusetts signed into law a seven-day limit on first-time prescriptions for opioids  the first of its kind in the nation.

"Changing medical practice isn't quick and it isn't easy," Frieden said. "But we think the pendulum on pain management swung way too far toward the ready use of opioids."

Kathleen Gruhle, who works in the prevention office at Addictions Care Center of Albany, said she was thrilled to see this kind of guidance from federal health officials. "What comes from the Center for Disease Control will perhaps be taken somewhat more seriously than what has been done so far to take control of this problem with prescription drugs," Gruhle said.

She has witnessed the well-documented trend of people getting hooked on heroin because they abused prescriptions first, either intentionally or after taking them for an injury.

The CDC rarely advises physicians on how to prescribe medications  a roll typically delegated to professional societies and drug regulators.

FDA labeling for the drugs is broad, listing uses like "relief of moderate to severe pain." Guidelines by pain specialists provide more detail, but focus less on risks. The CDC guidelines put such warnings upfront: "Opioids are not first-line therapy," states the agency's first recommendation.

In many ways, the guidelines are a return to older medical practice. Physicians trained in the 1960s and 1970s  amid a wave of urban heroin use  were taught to reserve opioids for the most severe forms of pain, such as cancer or end-of-life care. That approach remains accepted.

But in the 1990s, some specialists argued that doctors were undertreating common forms of pain that could benefit from opioids, such as backaches and joint pain. The message was amplified by multimillion-dollar promotional campaigns for new, long-acting drugs like OxyContin, which was promoted as less addictive.

OxyContin's maker, Purdue Pharma, later agreed to plead guilty for misleading the public about the drug's risks.

The CDC delayed its guidelines earlier this year following criticism from pain specialists, drugmakers and others.

Critics complained the recommendations went too far and had mostly been written behind closed doors by physicians who were biased against painkiller therapy.

Instead of releasing the guidelines in January, as originally planned, the CDC agreed to re-open them to public input, receiving more than 4,000 comments over a 30-day period.

Critics said the proposal could block patient access to medications if adopted by health providers, insurers and hospitals. Such organizations often look to the federal government for health care policies.

Last week, an early sign of the guideline's impact surfaced in the U.S. Senate. Lawmakers there overwhelmingly passed a bill designed to combat opioid abuse, including a provision requiring the Veterans Administration to adopt the CDC recommendations.

Claire Hughes contributed.
ALBANY  A homeless man faces up to 20 years in prison for robbing two banks in two days. Michael C. Matzen, 35, pleaded guilty Monday to committing bank robberies in East Greenbush and Latham last March, according to federal prosecutors.

In addition to a lengthy prison term, he faces a post-release period of supervision, and having to pay a fine of up to $250,000, forfeit the money he stole or pay restitution when he is sentenced on July 26, U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian said.
Albany

The head of a Catholic liberal arts college in Pennsylvania has been named the interim president at Maria College, an affiliated college in Albany.

Thomas Gamble will serve in the role as the college conducts a 12- to 15-month national search for a permanent president. He succeeds Lea Johnson, who served from 2012 through January of this year.

Gamble most recently served as president of Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pa. Mercyhurst and Maria are part of the Conference for Mercy Higher Education, a group of 16 colleges and universities in the U.S. sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy.

"The decision to select Dr. Gamble as the interim president was rooted in a profile document that contained the desired qualifications for the role," said Gail Waring, who chaired the search committee for an interim president. "Dr. Gamble has the talents and skills aligned with those qualities and came highly recommended by The Registry for College and University Presidents."

Gamble served for a decade at Mercyhurst, where he oversaw its transition from college to university, the establishment of an international academic center in Ireland, the construction of a $15 million residence hall and $10.5 million Center for Academic Engagement, and the development of five new graduate programs.

He also worked to expand educational opportunities to underrepresented, largely minority citizens in Erie's inner city, with the creation of urban education initiatives at the Booker T. Washington Center and the Carpe Diem Academy. In addition, he helped found the Multicultural Center at Mercyhurst and the Autism/Asperger Initiative at Mercyhurst to help serve college-bound students on the autism spectrum.

"I am very pleased to have this opportunity to serve and further the mission of Maria College," Gamble said. "For over 50 years, Maria has been meeting the needs of employers in the Capital Region, but even more so for serving a very diverse group of students. The Mercy commitment to providing opportunity education is alive and well at Maria and I'm eager to get started and do my part to make a difference."

Maria College is still several years into its transition to full baccalaureate status. The small campus had previously only offered certificate and associate degree programs, primarily in health sciences. In recent years, it has added bachelor programs in psychology, health and occupational sciences, health care management and liberal arts. New programs in business administration and accelerated nursing are on the horizon.

bbump@timesunion.com  518-454-5387  @bethanybump
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Albany

Capitol cacophony swelled to a budget season-high decibel level Tuesday.

On Lobby Day  the weekly ritual of rallies, rally cries and passionate private pleas to lawmakers  featured a dose of star power that added to the echoing beehive-like buzz that reverberates through the corridors.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo addressed an estimated 5,000 people  a mix of New York City residents and upstaters  on the Empire State Plaza in support of a $15 minimum wage. Inside the Capitol, Cardinal Timothy Dolan flashed his characteristic smile as he detailed a meeting with the governor on the minimum wage, assisted suicide and an education investment tax credit he has blessed but can't get past legislators.

Meanwhile, another group lined the hallway outside of Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan's third-floor office in a comparatively silent fashion to oppose assisted suicide. That group was part of a larger religious gathering separate from Dolan's visit.

The plaza rally was the day's most raucous gathering, with a sea of purple and gold, red and black, and light and navy blue union-colored signs bobbing to the thump of funk music between speakers. Supporters struck up a chorus of cheers and whistles as Cuomo recited a familiar message of support for his signature $15 minimum wage and paid family leave proposals.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Senate Majority Leader John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, appeared at a New Yorker's Family Research Foundation conference in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center to voice opposition to the minimum wage. As the Senate GOP staked out in its one-house budget resolution on Monday, DeFrancisco held that some need to study the issue in greater depth.

"I don't need to study it," he told reporters. "I need to be in a position that other people will think of this logically, rather than simply fold to a political pressure that is continuing today."

On the plaza, Cuomo called the annual one-house budget ritual, which took place Monday, "more or less relevant."

The governor also balked at the idea of helping non-profits that the state contracts with offset the pain they fear they will feel with a higher wage. He insinuated that non-profits wouldn't play ball in 2012 when he wanted a $199,000 cap on state funding for non-profit executives' salaries. An August 2014 ruling deemed the cap legal.

"If they have employees making $200,000 in income, they're going to have a tough case coming to me and arguing that they need money to now pay their employees a $15 minimum wage," he said.

Still, Dolan, who also appeared with Cuomo on the plaza, brought to the governor worries about the effects of the minimum wage on contract work done by Catholic charities.

"We don't want to be hypocrites, we want to pay the minimum wage," he told reporters. "But since we depend on government subsidies we said to the governor, that's going to have to be respected in some heightened subsidies to us if we're going to be able to obey the very law that we're for."

Other topics of conversation in the meeting among Cuomo, Dolan and bishops included the education investment tax credit, a policy that would allow taxpayers to claim a credit for donations to education organizations and help offset non-public school tuition expenses. That credit has languished amid Assembly opposition.

The cardinal said the church is not about to give up on the tax credit. Cuomo told reporters it remains a tough sell, though, even as he has included it in his executive budget proposal.

"I think the education tax credit is a very, very tough fight in April, in June, in August, September or December," Cuomo said.

Even with the day's noise threatening to drown out the usual hum of legislative business (the Assembly passed its ethics package; the Senate approved legislation increasing penalties for sexual abuse and sexual contact with a minor), Donald Trump still found his way into the day's buzz. After Cuomo recited at the rally his usual veiled criticism about the "they" who want to build a wall that makes "the wall of China look like a small wall," the governor was asked if it was time to do something about the lower Hudson Valley state park on which the Republican presidential hopeful's name is affixed.

"Oh, I don't know," the governor said flatly, "I don't get into signage."

mhamilton@timesunion.com  518-454-5449  @matt_hamilton10
FORT ANN  A businessman seeking to build a mine on the Washington County site of a Revolutionary War battle offered to sell the property to the town.

Gino Vona, owner of a Fairfield, Conn., construction company, wants to build a mine on the 165-acre parcel he owns near the Vermont border. The property includes Battle Hill, where American and British forces clashed in July 1777.
The state Assembly overwhelmingly passed an ethics reform bill Tuesday in the wake of two major corruption scandals, although many who voted in favor said it does not go far enough.

The bill passed 137-4, and likely will see significant changes before the state budget is due at the end of this month, if ethics reform measures even end up passing.

One major aspect of the Assembly plan would limit state lawmakers' outside income to 40 percent of the annual salary of state Supreme Court justices, a figure far above the amount that's been proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Supreme Court justices work full-time, while lawmakers are part-time.

Still, some lawmakers asserted in a floor debate on Tuesday that the limits could cripple them financially.

"I'm just afraid that in the near future I'm going to have to start playing the lottery to make sure my grandchildren can pay for college," Assemblyman Jose Rivera, a Bronx Democrat, said.

State Senate Republicans, however, have shown little appetite for the outside income reforms or for other ethics measures introduced by Cuomo.

The Assembly proportionally includes fewer members with significant outside income as compared to the Senate GOP majority, which includes a number of attorneys.

"I understand that's the political reality of the situation," Cuomo said in remarks. "I suggested outside income limits, I believe their outside income limits are too high (in the Assembly). There's no doubt that it's easier for the Assembly to do than for the Senate to do."

Among the other reforms proposed by the Assembly were to end the abuse of political party "housekeeping account" spending and closing the so-called LLC loophole in election law, which allows vast giving by real estate developers. A few Assembly Republican lawmakers opposed the bill because it would not similarly rein in union spending.

The bill would not require lawmakers convicted of felonies to forfeit their state pensions, although Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has said he wants to do so though a constitutional amendment.

Both former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos were convicted last year of corruption-related charges in separate cases.

Tuesday's most-watched vote came from Long Island Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky, a Democrat and former federal prosecutor, who is running in a heated race for Skelos' seat. If Democrats win the race in April, they could retake the majority. Kaminsky voted in favor of the bill, but said it was not nearly ambitious enough.

"It's time that we stop taking small steps and start taking great leaps," he said.

cbragg@timesunion.com  518-454-5303  @chrisbragg1
ALBANY  A federal judge handed down 18 months in prison for a Troy man who sold a sawed-off rifle, United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced. William J. Richardson, 41, was a felon and prohibited from having the unregistered rifle, a Brazilian-made Taurus Circuit Judge.

Richardson sold the rifle for $500 in a parking lot on Livingston Avenue in Albany, Hartunian said. The modified rifle measured less than 26 inches and was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
P&G said that all its products, including Vicks Action 500 Extra, were backed by research to support their quality, safety and efficacy.

Mumbai: US consumer health group Procter & Gamble's Indian business plans to challenge a government ban on its cough-and-cold medicine Vicks Action 500 Extra, citing potential health risks.

Also Read: P&G stops sale of 'Vicks Action 500 Extra' after government ban

Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care said that while it had stopped selling the product, it was evaluating all options to challenge the ban.

Also Read: Pfizer stops selling popular Corex cough syrup in India after ban

Vicks Action 500 Extra is a fixed-dose combination of paracetamol, phenylephrine and caffeine, which was banned by India's health ministry in a notice issued over the weekend.

Also Read: Delhi High Court grants Pfizer temporary relief on cough syrup ban

Also Read: India bans more than 300 combination drugs sold illegally

The product was one of 344 drug combinations, including several antibiotics and analgesics, that India ordered to be prohibited, saying that a government-appointed panel of experts had found the combinations lacked "therapeutic justification".

P&G said that all its products, including Vicks Action 500 Extra, were backed by research to support their quality, safety and efficacy. It wasn't immediately clear how much the product contributed to P&G's sales.
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Albany

Republican state lawmakers in the Senate are pushing a $100 million bailout of the state's nuclear power industry using funds from a climate change program meant to cut greenhouse gases from power plants.

The Senate's budget 2016-17 budget bill in response to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan calls for $100 million from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative for "the benefit of nuclear facilities that are not currently financially viable but remain operational."

The proposal comes as state energy officials continue crafting a Cuomo-backed clean energy plan (Clean Energy Standard) that would include unspecified subsidies to financially stressed nuclear plants, which currently provide about 30 percent of the state's total electricity.

Cuomo's plan calls for the state to produce half of its electric power from renewable sources by 2030. Since RGGI was launched seven years ago, the program has collected more than $925 million from power plant owners to cover greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change.

In recent years, historically low natural gas prices have driven down wholesale electricity costs as plant owners switched to that fuel, making nuclear power less competitive financially.

Cuomo's nuclear gambit comes as he has tried, so far unsuccessfully, to convince Entergy Corp., owners of the money-losing James A. FitzPatrick nuclear plant near Oswego, to shutter the 40-year-old facility by January. Cuomo wants Entergy to close its other nuclear plant, Indian Point, on the Hudson River in Westchester County, which provides about 40 percent of all nuclear-generated power in the state.

Backers of the FitzPatrick plant welcomed the Senate funding move, while some clean energy advocates expressed strong misgivings.

"It's heartening to see such support included in the state's budget proposals, and also why we need to work together to implement Gov. Cuomo's Clean Energy Standard in a timely manner to ensure the long-term viability of these plants," said L. Michael Treadwell, CEO of the Oswego County Industrial Development Agency and a member of Upstate Energy Jobs, a regional coalition of political, civic and labor groups.

"This investment is certainly worthwhile given the significant contributions these plants make to the state and given the potential losses that would result if they were lost," added Treadwell. The coalition also supports continued operation of the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Generating Station in Oswego County and Ginna Nuclear Generating Station in Wayne County.

Connor Bambrick, air and energy director of the Albany-based lobbying group Environmental Advocates of New York, called the Senate plan "disheartening ... in the Senate, you have people saying climate change isn't real, but they turn to the climate change program to take $100 million.

Bambrick said he could "think of a lot better ways to reduce the state's carbon emissions than blowing $100 million on nuclear plant operations."

The state Senate press office did not return a call seeking comment.

Meanwhile, the state Public Service Commission, which is studying how to implement Cuomo's clean energy plan, on Monday canceled a meeting set for next week that was to outline the potential costs of the program. Cuomo has said he wants a final plan in place by June.

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Without a cost study in hand, the commission last week agreed to extend the public comment period on Cuomo's plan to run for two weeks after the cost study is finally submitted.

Also this week, an Otsego County alternative energy advocate warned the Public Service Commission that adopting a nuclear-only state subsidy program under the clean energy program  proposed to be called Zero Emission Credits under the Cuomo plan  could prove hard to halt later on.

"At some future date, the withdrawal of ZEC subsidies will become a political struggle with a very unpredictable outcome," wrote Stuart Anderson, owner of Anderson Boatworks in Otego. He added the subsidies would create "incentives for less-than-energetic pursuit of our environmental goals."

But Keith Schue, a technical adviser for Otsego 2000, an environmental conservation organization based in Cooperstown, said reaching clean energy goals without nuclear plants would be difficult, it not impossible. Replacing the power from the three upstate nuclear plants would require about 2,700 onshore wind turbines.

"At some point, reality needs to be a factor in what we suggest. If nuclear power suddenly goes away in New York, we will be burning a lot more natural gas. And the gas industry will be laughing all the way to the bank," Shue said.

bnearing@timesunion.com  518-454-5094  @Bnearing10
John Carl D'Annibale

Although flooding in the Stockade is a compelling reason to investigate the Vischer Ferry Dam, the possible environmental impacts of the 2,000-foot-long barricade also wield strong support for further investigation.

Dams not only result in the buildup of sediment and debris, which exacerbates flooding, but also negatively impact the environment. Lack of sediments accelerates erosion of riverbanks, harms the habitat of local plants and wildlife, and slows nutrient deposition, which is vital to the recharge and health of surrounding wetlands.
Hyderabad: Alleging that Indian authorities treated it "unfairly" vis-a vs other Gulf carriers, Qatar Airways on March 16 said it remains interested in buying stake in IndiGo despite losing out on an opportunity to participate in the budget carrier's IPO last year.

Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker told reporters here that the airline "could not invest in IndiGo IPO due to government's role". Al Baker said the time was "short for Qatar sovereign funds to invest in IndiGo IPO", but it would be very much interested to buy a stake in the Gurgaon-based carrier "even now."

Doha-based Qatar -- one of the three Gulf carriers operating to India with Emirates and Etihad being the other two -- had several times in the past evinced interest in buying stake in IndiGo. "Qatar is unfairly treated by Indian authorities" despite the fact that Qatar is the largest supplier of natural gas and fertiliser to India, he said.

Qatar Government raised "unfair treatment" issue (with the Indian Government) many times, Al bker said, while adding that "there is never a balance in air traffic rights." He also criticised the government's proposal to auction additional bilaterals and termed such a move as "ill-conceived."
Former government minister and European Commissioner Dick Burke has died at the age of 83.

Mr Burke was first elected to the Dail for Dublin South in 1969 and was immediately appointed as chief whip of Fine Gael by Mr Cosgrave.

He was appointed minister for education on the formation of the Fine Gael-Labour coalition in 1973 and became Irelands second European Commissioner in 1976.

In 1974 he was one of a small number of Fine Gael TDs who voted with Mr Cosgrave against the family planning legislation introduced by their own government.

He returned to Ireland after his term in Brussels and was elected as a TD for Dublin West in the 1981 election. In 1982 he accepted an offer from the Fianna Fail Taoiseach Charles Haughey to go to Brussels for a second term.

Mr Burke is survived by his wife Mary and six children. It is with sadness that I have learned of the death of former Minister and EU Commissioner Richard Burke, said President Michael D Higgins.

He was a native of Upperchuch in County Tipperary and is a past pupil of Thurles CBS.
A Ryan family reunion took place on July 25 at Glenculloo Lodge, 88 years after five children from the family went on holidays to the shooting lodge from London.

A Ryan family reunion took place on July 25 at Glenculloo Lodge, 88 years after five children from the family went on holidays to the shooting lodge from London.

The venue, situated near Killoscully in the Silvermine Mountains, was their home throughout the summer of 1927, but continued to resonate with the family many years later.

Nicolas Ryan (whose father Denis, known as Deece, was one of the five children) and his wife, Carmel, spent countless hours tracing the family history and arranging the reunion. The whole idea is based on the fact that in 1927 there was a holiday in this house in Glenculloo, Nicolas says. They had this wonderful holiday at this lovely house and they never forgot it.

The five were known as the pack and included Denis, Denis brother Daniel, and three cousins, Peter and George Guyan and Wendy Cardue. Peter and Georges mother Winnie accompanied the group along with their Ford Model T car to the lodge which was then owned by Stella Power Lalor, widow of Winnies cousin George Power Lalor.

Glenculloo Lodge, known to the family as Keeper Lodge due to its proximity to Keeper Hill, was built circa 1860 by the Power Lalor family of Longorchard, Templetuohy, as their hunting lodge. Mary Frances Ryan, daughter of George Ryan of Inch House, and widow of Captain Edward Power Lalor, later went on to be highly respected for her charity work, including the refurbishment of Killoscully Church.

It was a beautiful Georgian house, it didnt have running water, it didnt have any mod-cons, but they had a fabulous time, says Nicolas. Indeed, in a letter written by Winnie about those summer holidays of 1927, she recalls her memories of life at the house. She describes how they used water from the stream, a little river which runs close to the Lodge [and] makes music all the time. Their wholesome country experience included meals which seemed delicious in the hungry air and the field ploughed like a sundial. Their travels to nearby town Nenagh would not have been possible without their Ford Model T car, named Tin Lizzie, which according to Winnie caused more joy, strife, and education than anything.

They had a great holiday; my father always talked about it, says Nicolas, who decided three years ago it would be fun to have a reunion of anybody descended from those five cousins. This idea and subsequent research and organisation culminated in the reunion on July 25 which saw 38 members of the Ryan family gather for a weekend in Tipperary.

Travelling from the Horse and Jockey, Castle Fogarty, Wexford, England and Scotland, the family toured the county, visiting Jimmy Ryans thatched pub, Castle Fogarty and Inch House. They also paid a visit to the Silvermines to see the village, receiving a talk on the mines from Pat Sheehan of the Silvermines Historical Society, while also viewing the church bell which was donated by the Power Lalor family. The main purpose of the reunion, however, was to visit Glenculloo, and the Lodges current owners, Roz and Roy Middleton, welcomed the family to view the restored house.

Throughout the busy weekend, the family based themselves at the Anner Hotel, Thurles and wish to thank the Maher family and staff who looked after them in a warm and friendly manner for the duration of their stay.
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[March 16, 2016] PECO Employees Honored with Innovative Technology Awards by Electric Power Research Institute

PECO (News - Alert) employees Keith Kowalski, manager of Environmental Programs and Services, and David Mobraaten, senior Environmental compliance specialist, recently were honored by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) with Technology Transfer Awards for their work in research and development (R&D). The Technology Transfer Award is given annually to EPRI members who have explored and implemented innovative technologies on behalf of the company and the industry. Kowalski and Mobraaten received the award for their work in developing statistical methods for predicting the potential polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentration in electrical equipment. Lorinda Alms of Exelon sister utility, ComEd in Chicago, also was honored. "PECO is committed to developing innovative solutions to benefit our customers and the communities we serve," said Craig Adams, PECO president and CEO. "These significant awards represent our continued efforts to support industry-wide progress and sustainability." The award was presented during a meeting of EPRI's environment advisors in Phoenix, Arizona in early March. EPRI presented its 2015 Technology Transfer Awards for environmental research and development to a total of 43 individuals, representing 24 electric power companies. "The 2015 Technology Transfer Award winners made significant achievements in applying EPRI research results, or acting as champions for EPRI research programs," said Anda Ray, senior vice president, energy, environment and external relations and chief sustainability officer at EPRI. "The commitment and collaboration demonstrated by these individuals and teams enables the power industry to shape a sustainable future for electricity and advance environmental research for the enefit of their stakeholders and society."



Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC). The company's 2,400 dedicated employees provide advanced, innovative energy solutions to 1.6 million electric and more than 511,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. In 2015 PECO delivered 86.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 38 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. The company also has an estimated annual economic impact of $4.5 billion in Pennsylvania, supporting more than 9,600 local jobs and producing $760 million in labor income. Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region's most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations. For more information visit PECO.com, and connect with the company on Facebook and Twitter. The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI, www.epri.com) conducts research and development relating to the generation, delivery and use of electricity for the benefit of the public. An independent, nonprofit organization, EPRI brings together its scientists and engineers as well as experts from academia and industry to help address challenges in electricity, including reliability, efficiency, affordability, health, safety and the environment. EPRI's members represent approximately 90 percent of the electricity generated and delivered in the United States, and international participation extends to more than 30 countries. EPRI's principal offices and laboratories are located in Palo Alto (News - Alert), Calif.; Charlotte, NC; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Lenox, Mass.

If you are a member of the media and would like to receive PECO news releases via email, please send your email address to [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160316005842/en/

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[March 15, 2016] LiveChime Releases Intercept Marketing 2.0 Small Business Marketing Automation

SEATTLE, March 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- LiveChime, maker of marketing software tools, announced today that it has released version 2.0 of its popular Intercept Marketing platform. Intercept Marketing uses the power of social media groups, often numbering more than 50,000 each, to create unprecedented reach into social media for a small business. A small business finally has a single solution that combines social media marketing, email, mobile and retargeted advertising into a single easy-to-use website to help any small business. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160315/344633LOGO "There's an abundance of good advice out there telling small businesses how to market online," said Tod Turner, CEO of LiveChime. "The problem is that the expert advice is too costly for most small businesses and too complex for a small business manager with limited time and budget. We solve this problem, giving small businesses everything they need for effective marketing and revenue growth through a single interface and low monthly fee." Intercept Marketing 2.0 is a fully automated digital marketing suite. It dramatically reduces marketing costs for any small business, with projected saving of thousands o dollars a month. The holistic platform gives business owners total visibility into their marketing efforts, and how well they are performing, and it does the majority of the marketing work for them. "It takes less than five minutes to get your message in front of more than 100,000 potential customers" said Turner.



The platform connects numerous forms of marketing to a single dashboard, including social media, email marketing, mobile device marketing, advertising on Google and Facebook, and search engine optimization (SEO). The platform automates the entire process, including the often time-consuming work of finding interesting "curated" content to share on social media. Thousands of licensed articles created by Tempesta Media, a leading content marketing solution for agencies and enterprises, make up the content marketing module of the Intercept Marketing 2.0 product. Articles relevant to a small business's target market are shared with potential customers, providing education and engagement with the business's brand. In this way, Intercept Marketing 2.0 does the "heavy lifting" of bringing new visitors to a site and then handles follow up with automated email, mobile and advertising. The goal of the platform is to focus the business owner's time on talking to customers who are ready to buy. Intercept 2.0 comes complete with a 1-time $300 concierge setup service, including an email newsletter template, mobile offer, and a dozen social groups to market to. After that, the service starts at $149 per month, covering the generation and follow-up process for up to 1,000 new sales leads. LiveChime projects that it can increase sales conversions by 300 to 400 percent.

LiveChime offers any business a FREE custom analysis of their competitors' online advertising to anyone who comes and takes a look at Intercept Marketing  available HERE. "There are a lot of small businesses out there who could use a little help, and we've found a way to make it easy," said Turner. For more information, visit www.livechime.com. Media Contact

Tod Turner

CEO, LiveChime

206-799-1972 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/livechime-releases-intercept-marketing-20-small-business-marketing-automation-300236711.html SOURCE LiveChime

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[March 15, 2016] Dashlane Announces David Lapter As CFO

NEW YORK, March 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Dashlane, an award-winning password manager and leader in online identity management announced today the appointment of David Lapter as Chief Financial Officer. Lapter, who has worked with companies like Fab.com, Tru Optik, MakeSpace and more, will oversee legal, compliance, finance, investor relations and business operations for Dashlane. "Dashlane is in the midst of a tremendous growth period, and we've seen a dramatic increase in the number of transactions consumers are making through our platform," said Emmanuel Schalit, CEO of Dashlane. "As we continue to scale our business to both consumers and also businesses, David's financial expertise and business experience will be instrumental in accelerating Dashlane into the next phase." Lapter brings a wealth of finance and business management experience to Dashlane. In his most recent role at MakeSpace, a tech-focused full-service physical storage company, the company more than quadrupled sales, expanded operations into DC and Chicago, scaled its fleet and support operations, launched its first iOS app and broadened its services to include furniture storage. From 2011 to 2014, he served as Fab.com's CFO, where it surpassed $100M in sales in its first full year of operations, including its expansion into key European markets. He also raised several rounds of equity and debt funing during his tenure.



Prior to Fab.com, Lapter was CFO and EVP of business operations at KickApps, a hosted platform for creating social networks, and CTSpace, a SaaS provider of document and project management solutions. Both companies were acquired during his tenures. Earlier in his career, Lapter held positions at Upfront Ventures and The Parthenon Group. "As Dashlane continues to expand its user base of consumers and businesses and the digital wallet becomes a more prominent aspect of its core identity business," said David Lapter, CFO of Dashlane. "I look forward to working closely with the executive team to continue to scale the business globally and help to establish more partnerships and collaborations."

About Dashlane Dashlane makes identity and payments simple with its password manager and secure digital wallet app. Dashlane allows its users to securely manage passwords, credit cards, IDs, and other important information via advanced encryption and local storage. Dashlane has helped over 4 million users manage and secure their digital identity, and has enabled over $4.5 billion in e-commerce transactions. The app is available on PC, Mac, Android, and iOS, and has won critical acclaim from top publications, including: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. Dashlane is free to use on one device and Dashlane Premium costs $39.99/year to sync between an unlimited number of devices. Dashlane was founded by Bernard Liautaud and co-founders Alexis Fogel, Guillaume Maron, and Jean Guillou. The company has offices in New York City and Paris, and has received $30 million in funding from Rho Ventures, FirstMark Capital, and Bessemer Venture Partners. Learn more at Dashlane.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dashlane-announces-david-lapter-as-cfo-300236644.html SOURCE Dashlane

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[March 16, 2016] Advanced Control Systems (ACS) Named a TAG Top 40 Innovative Technology Company

ATLANTA, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), the leading association dedicated to the promotion and economic advancement of Georgia's technology industry, will acknowledge and celebrate ACS as one of its Top 40 Innovative Technology Companies in Georgia. TAG will recognize this prestigious group at the 2016 Georgia Technology Summit (GTS) on March 17, 2016, at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. TAG'S Top 40 Awards recognize Georgia-based technology companies for their innovation, financial impact, and their efforts at spreading awareness of technology initiatives throughout the U.S. and globally. "The 2016 Top 40 finalists are an elite group of innovators who represent the very best of Georgia's Technology community," said Tino Mantella, president & CEO of TAG. "The 2016 Top 40 finalists are shining examples of what makes our State such a hotbed for technology and we applaud them for standing out as leaders in Georgia's technology community." This year's Top 40 Companies were selected from among over 100 applications submitted by companies from across Georgia. ACS will be showcased in an exhibition at The 2016 Georgia Technology Summit. "An extraordinary number of truly innovative technology companies participated in this year's Top 40 competition, demonstrating the depth and breadth of Georgia's technology community," said Dennis Zakas, managing partner of Zakas & Leonard, LLP, CEO of Zinc., and chairperson of the Top 40 Selection Committee. "In fact, based on the quality of the contestants, we could have had a 'Top 60' without losing a beat."



"For over 40 years, we have established a global reputation for technological innovation in the electric power industry," said ACS CEO Kevin Sullivan. "We are proud to have local recognition of our real-time energy management systems, which provide utilities with the strategic technology needed to help them address more efficient energy delivery, faster response to events, improved safety measures, building a Smarter Grid and engaging consumers." The 2016 Georgia Technology Summit is expected to draw a crowd of more than 1,300 C-level executives, entrepreneurs, technology professionals and academia to celebrate and recognize Georgia's technology community. In addition to presentations from some of the top technology influencers in the nation, the newest member of the Technology Hall of Fame of Georgia will be inducted.

For more information about TAG and the Georgia Technology Summit and to register for the event, visit http://www.tagonline.org/events/georgia-technology-summit. Follow the conversation on Twitter through #TAGGTS. About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) TAG is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 30,000 members through regional chapters in Metro Atlanta, Athens, Augusta, Columbus, Macon/Middle Georgia, and Savannah. TAG's mission is to educate, promote, and unite Georgia's technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy. Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG's charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives thrive. For more information, visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG's community website at http://www.hubga.com. To learn about the TAG-Ed Collaborative, visit http://www.tagedonline.org/. About Advanced Control Systems ACS is a leading provider of smart grid solutions and advanced automation technology to the global electric power industry. For over 40 years, ACS has pioneered control center solutions which include SCADA, advanced distribution management (ADMS), outage management (OMS), energy management (EMS), network simulation and optimization, network display strategies and ergonomic design. ACS automation product lines include a wide range of flexible and cost-effective substation, distribution, and feeder automation solutions. ACS mobile tools enable utilities to communicate with crews and consumers using real-time data. ACS provides technology to manage energy through a fully-integrated real-time PRISM platform which optimizes grid efficiency. For more information, visit acspower.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150407/197180LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/advanced-control-systems-acs-named-a-tag-top-40-innovative-technology-company-300236612.html SOURCE Advanced Control Systems

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Hyderabad: Air Asias Group CEO Tony Fernandes on Wednesday said that he has applied for the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status, a development that could potentially alter the shareholding pattern of his Indian JV.

My father was an Indian. He had an Indian passport... I have already applied for a OCI last week... Then I will be the same as everyone else... I will be the same as Naresh Goyal (Jet Airways chairman), he said while criticising Indian aviation policy, which restricts local airline from flying abroad until it meets certain criteria and puts a cap on foreign investment.

He asked why should the government bother about the companys origin until it creates jobs. What is important (to look at) is if it is creating jobs, is it creating investments, increasing tourism in India as opposed to where I am from... Most of the promoters of Indian airlines are not in India. Naresh Goyal is in London, SpiceJet promoter I heard is most of the time in the US, IndiGo has tonnes of Americans, GoAir is in Turkey. If Mr Fernandez gets OCI status, his share will be considered as Indian shareholding.

AirAsia has been critical of Indias 5/20 policy, which disallows Indian airlines from flying abroad until it operated on domestic routes for five years or has a fleet of 20 aircraft. The Malaysia-based low frills airline has entered Indian market a couple of years ago in partnership with the Tata Group and Arun Bhatia. It has a fleet of six aircraft and planning to two more in a few months. We will be adding two aircraft in 4-5 months, he said.
[March 16, 2016] Zenlayer Provides Critical Backbone to Support UCloud's Overseas Expansion

LOS ANGELES, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- China's cloud computing giant, UCloud, has engaged Zenlayer to provide global managed hosting services for its expansion overseas. Recently, UCloud's servers in Zenlayer's Los Angeles Data Center began full operations. The 424,000 SF, SSAE 16 SOC-1 Type II and PCI DSS certified data center in Downtown LA boasts of an 100% uptime SLA. As Chinese gaming companies expand into North America, demand among UCloud's customers for global services has increased significantly. In response, UCloud formed a special unit to perform an in-depth comparison of leading managed hosting providers in North America. After months of scrutiny, UCloud chose to partner with Zenlayer. "We are impressed by Zenlayer's highly experienced technical and customer service teams. In particular, the English/Chinese bilingual capability of their global networking operation center is difficult to come by overseas," said Xinghua Ji, UCloud's founder and CEO. "We are confident that by utilizing Zenlaye's sophisticated infrastructure and service, UCloud will be able to provide secure and reliable cloud services to our customers."



"UCloud possesses extraordinary innovation capability, as evidenced by their success in the Chinese IaaS market. We are excited to become UCloud's top partner and service provider in their overseas expansion," said Joe Zhu, founder and CEO of Zenlayer. "We look forward to continuing to support Chinese companies' global expansion, and to facilitate UCloud's quest in becoming a top cloud service provider." About UCloud (https://www.ucloud.cn/en)

UCloud (Shanghai UCloud Cloud Computing Co., Ltd.) is a leading IaaS service provider in China. UCloud's own R&D solutions range from computing and storage to network resources and other fundamental IT infrastructure that enterprises need. UCloud has provided services to 30,000 enterprise customers worldwide. Recently, to better serve international clients, UCloud released the much anticipated English version of its cloud products. About Zenlayer (http://www.zenlayer.com) Zenlayer, a global network and service provider of SDN based technology, is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. Enterprises utilize Zenlayer's platform to quickly deploy and manage global IT resources and are able to globalize their business within minutes. Zenlayer's flagship Network as a Service (NaaS) platform, built upon its global SDN network, is automated, on-demand and carrier-neutral. At the same time, Zenlayer has deployed close to 50 data centers worldwide, covering the Americas, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa. Media contact

Dalerie Wu

[email protected]

1.909.718.3558 (x1111) Logo- http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160314/343934LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zenlayer-provides-critical-backbone-to-support-uclouds-overseas-expansion-300235769.html SOURCE Zenlayer

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[March 16, 2016] Retail Solutions Unveils Shopper Marketing Optimization Solution for Brands

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Global retail analytics leader Retail Solutions Inc. (RSi) today announced the general availability of its new Shopper Marketing Optimization (SMO) offering for brands, an innovative solution helping Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) shopper marketing teams plan, execute and measure all their events in an end-to-end workflow solution. The SMO solution will be delivered in partnership with rmi, the company behind the industry-leading BASE software, the end-to-end technology platform powering shopper marketing activities worldwide. RSi SMO for Brands will complement the company's offering for agencies and ad networks, Ansa. "We believe this solution is being released at a critical moment for the industry," commented David Harker, Vice President and General Manager, Shopper Marketing at RSi. "With an increasingly complex path to purchase, Shopper Marketing is the fastest growing investment choice in CPG, yet marketers are struggling to understand where lift really comes from and how to ensure they invest on the most relevant tactics. RSi's SMO solution provides the fact base and the platform to answer both questions and put marketers strongly in control." RSi's SMO offering will help CPG shopper marketers understand and monitor shopper marketing budget and its effectiveness. Its four modules provide a technology foundation for both strategic and day-to-day implementation activities: Targeting investment against target shoppers by geography, retailer and media tactic

against target shoppers by geography, retailer and media tactic Planning campaigns by laying down a media plan by retailer, category, brand, campaign, event and media tactic, while continually monitoring vs. budget

by laying down a media plan by retailer, category, brand, campaign, event and media tactic, while continually monitoring vs. budget Delivering campaigns flawlessly by enabling efficient delivery of all the agreed activities, on time, budget and in line with plan

flawlessly by enabling efficient delivery of all the agreed activities, on time, budget and in line with plan Measuring and optimizing results automatically, for every event, at the vent level while building a repository of results over time to inform future investment choices based on expected return



"This solution is a great extension to our CPG and retailer-focused suite," added Jon Golovin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, RSi. "Last year, we promised the industry an answer to the digital marketing ROI question, and we proved our approach works with over 275 campaigns across 13 retailers and every significant category with the top 45 CPG companies. This year, we extend our reach to in-store and out-of-store physical events, to give marketing and finance executives an unrivaled understanding of marketing effectiveness."

RSi will officially launch its SMO for Brands solution at the Shopper Marketing Summit in New York on March 16. To learn more about RSi's SMO offering, please visit www.rsishopper.com. About Retail Solutions Inc. (RSi) Retail Solutions Inc. (RSi) turns retailer data into opportunity  in the store, on the shelf and with shoppers worldwide. Designed to enable sustained operational excellence and to automate the path to purchase, RSi's proprietary algorithms, business processes and suite of intelligent, cloud-based applications help the world's leading consumer goods manufacturers and retailers listen and respond quickly to consumer demand - ensuring the right product is in the right store, at the right time. Each day, the RSi platform processes billions of records from over 150 major retailers in more than 150,000 locations around the world and turns this data into actionable insights for immediate, automated decision-making. From solving out-of-stocks to driving inventory down, from optimizing sales strategies to determining marketing ROI, RSi improves operational excellence and drives sales. More than 500 global retailers and CPG companies, including such household names as Colgate-Palmolive, Nestle, the Procter & Gamble Company and Unilever trust RSi. To learn more about the company, visit: http://www.retailsolutions.com/ and http://www.rsishopper.com/. About rmi Retail Marketing International (rmi) is the company behind the industry leading BASE software; the end-to-end technology platform powering shopper marketing activities worldwide. Our suite of solutions are designed to optimise each stage of media planning process, empowering retailers, brands, and agencies to drive efficiency and maximise their ROI. We serve over 270 UK FMCG manufacturers representing over 1300 brands, and 50 percent of the UK grocery retail market driving 18million+ in billings. Retail Marketing International was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. For more information, please visit http://www.rmi.co. CONTACT: Laurie Speaks, Director of Marketing, Retail Solutions Inc., 650-390-6143 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/retail-solutions-unveils-shopper-marketing-optimization-solution-for-brands-300237081.html SOURCE Retail Solutions Inc.

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[March 16, 2016] Scott Frisoni Joins Board of Halo Privacy

WASHINGTON, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Halo Privacy, Inc., of Seattle, Chicago and Washington DC is pleased to announce the appointment of Scott Frisoni to its Board of Directors. Mr. Frisoni is a venture capital and private equity expert with 25 years of experience in investing, sales, and operations. Mr. Frisoni started his professional career in sales for Procter & Gamble where he received multiple performance awards. Mr. Frisoni built his expert technological skills at Magnitude Network, a provider of internet solutions for radio stations. He was the leader of sales and operations until the company was sold to CMGi. At PurchasePro, an eProcurement/Reverse Auction Software company, Mr. Frisoni held several positions and was a part of the leadership team that took the company public in late 1999. In early 2001, Mr. Frisoni and his team started InnerWorkings, an outsourced print management company. He drove the results as the leader of sales and operations and led the company to a very successful IPO in 2006. At Echo Global Logistics, an outsourced transportation management company, he was responsible for sales and M&A and led his team to another successful IPO at the end of 2009. Mr. Frisoni was one of the first investors at Grupon and advised them on a daily basis for a number of years.



L. Kevin Kelly, Halo Privacy CEO, said, "Scott was one of the first people I thought of for the Halo board. He's a true entrepreneur. He has a tremendous sales & operations background and the corporate level experience to help Halo structure for rapid growth. Plus, Scott was a key player in five successful startups leading to four IPOs and a sale so we will benefit from his experience in positioning for an exit. Having Scott on the board is a game changer. I'm really glad it's worked out." Mr. Frisoni added, "I've been looking for a company offering more than just technology to the secure comms space. When Halo approached me with their combination of ultra-high end technology with sophisticated training and tradecraft I recognized that this was unique. It's training & tradecraft that separate Halo from the one-size-fits-all tech-oriented competition. At Halo it's all about the application, so it's in pairing the technology with the company's world-class expertise in secure comms that the magic happens. This aligns with my personal philosophy that technology requires people and process in order to truly be effective. Also, startups are in my DNA so Halo is a natural fit."

About Halo Privacy Halo Privacy was founded by like-minded experts with many years of experience in government and industrial secure communications who believe that genuine privacy is still possible. The Halo approach to securing privacy goes beyond just hardware and technology. A keen understanding that the greatest threats to privacy are often human, coupled with the know-how to assume an attacker's perspective, have allowed Halo to protect the most sensitive information for grateful clients in the government and private sectors. Through a combination of sophisticated intelligence tradecraft, streamlined training and proprietary disruptive technology, Halo offers every client a tailored privacy solution. For customers from government entities to corporations to family offices seeking a low profile, we place a secure "Halo" around our clients' smartphones, laptops, smart homes and businesses that protects the information, intellectual property and personal privacy of everyone and everything inside the "Halo." Simple training and concierge-level staff support ensure frictionless client use of the Halo systems. In fact, anyone who can manage email and a smartphone is already savvy enough to communicate securely within the Halo. For more information, please contact: [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160308/341910LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scott-frisoni-joins-board-of-halo-privacy-300237417.html SOURCE Halo Privacy, Inc.

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New Delhi: Foreign Direct Investment in the country increased by 29 per cent for the 15-month period -- ended December last year -- after the launch of 'Make in India' initiative, Parliament was informed on March 16. Launched on September 25, 2014, the initiative aims at promoting India as an important investment destination and a global hub for manufacturing, design and innovation.

"FDI inflow has increased 29 per cent during October 2014 to December 2015 (15 months after 'Make in India') compared to the 15 months period prior to the launch of this initiative," Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. In a separate reply, she said during April-January 2016, the government has received 424 FDI proposals. Out these, 285 proposals have been disposed of.

In a separate reply about FDI in e-commerce, the minister said foreign investment in business to customer (B2C) e-commerce activities has been "opened in a calibrated manner" and entity is permitted to undertake retail trading through e-commerce under certain circumstances. She said that a manufacturer is permitted to sell its products manufactured in India through e-commerce retail and a single brand retail trading entity operating through brick and mortar stores, is permitted to undertake retail trading through e-commerce.

An Indian manufacturer is also allowed to sell its own single brand products through e-commerce retail. In a separate reply, she said the DIPP is implementing the eBiz project which is envisaged to work as a single portal for providing all central and state services. "20 central and 30 state government services have already been integrated on the portal," the minister added.
New Delhi: Many prominent people are being probed for allegedly concealing taxable income as agricultural earnings, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Tuesday and told the Opposition not to term it as political victimisation if their names come out.

After Opposition JD-U, SP and BSP raised the issue of reports of huge amount of blackmoney being masqueraded as agriculture income to avoid paying taxes, Jaitley said if someone misuses the provisions of income tax act, they are probed by the Income Tax Department.

"Many prominent people" are said to be involved and are being probed, he said. "Please don't say it is political victimisation if names come out after that (probe)." He however refused to share details, despite the Opposition members seeking the names of such persons. Agricultural income is exempt from income tax.

Charging Jaitley with misleading the House, Digvijaya Singh (Cong) asked the Finance Minister to reveal the names and "not threaten us." Jaitley said there was no proposal before the government to levy income tax on farm income in view of the agricultural situation in the country.

Earlier raising the issue, Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said reports suggested that Rs 2000 lakh crore of income has been concealed as agriculture earnings and sought an explanation from the government on the issue.

Mayawati (BSP) demanded a high-level probe into generation of blackmoney in the name of agriculture and strict action be taken against guilty. She also used the occasion to slip in a demand for Bharat Ratna for her party founder Kanshi Ram on his birth anniversary on March 15.

Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) saw a conspiracy of taxing agriculture income in reports that huge blackmoney was being hidden as agricultural income. He warned the government against taxing farm income. Unsatisfied by Jaitley's reply, members were up on their feet continuing to raise the matter.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said Yadav's notice under rule 267 seeking suspension of business to take up the issue, has not been accepted. "An important matter was raised by Sharad Yadav. Finance Minister has given a proper reply. If you want further discussion, give notice. That notice will be considered," he said.
Hyderabad: In a reflection of Indias improving economic growth, the fifth edition of India Aviation, the countrys civil aviation show, has witnessed a marked increase in private sector participation compared to the previous show.

There has been a 30 per cent increase in participation this time compared to the 2014 edition, said civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapati Raju, while addressing reporters.

The 2014 edition was bankrolled by PSU companies and state government agencies and several stalls were left unoccupied as the Indian economy was growing through difficult times. The Indian economy grew at 6.9 per cent in FY2014 and was considered to be laggard in fastest growing bloc of BRICS.

However, the current edition of India Aviation has attracted a significantly higher number of private companies and all stalls have been booked as there is a renewed hope that growing Indian economy will boost the demand for aircraft in the country.

The participants included leading aircraft makers like Boeing, Embraer, Gulfstream, Dassult, Agusta Westland, Bell Helicopters and aircraft engine makers like Rolls Royce, UTC, CFM, Pratt Whitney. Civil aviation shows are organised to promote business-to-business deals between the suppliers and buyers of aircraft maker or aviation related companies.

The 2016 show is also unique as states like host Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have to increased its presence by setting chalets at the show.
Everton vs Crystal Palace live stream and how to watch Premier League game online, lineups

The Everton vs Crystal Palace live stream will see Frank Lampard's men look to get back to winning ways after a string of defeats. Here's how to watch it live, wherever you are.
Windows Snip & Sketch

Before you go looking for an external screenshot app, consider one that may very well be already baked into your OS if your using Windows. Windows Snip & Sketch has been available as part of an October 2018 update, and you can also pick it up through the Microsoft Store . Snip & Sketch is a step up from your basic printscrn button, with built-in annotation and sharing tools. To snip a screengrab, press the Windows key + Shift + S, opening up a quick toolbar for quickly grabbing a rectangular, freeform, window or fullscreen snip. That saves the screenshot to your clipboard, with the option of launching Snip & Sketch to add annotations and highlights, as well as options to save or share your screenshot. You can also open external images to annotate with Snip & Sketchs tools, or just use Snip & Sketchs selection tools to create screengrabs that you then edit in your favorite image editor.
Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Heres why you can trust us.
Apple filed its final brief in the San Bernardino case, where the FBI tried to compel the company to write software on its behalf that would help the agency unlock the shooters encrypted iPhone. In the new filing, Apple fired back at the FBI for many of its misleading claims in the agencys previous Court brief.

Setting The Precedent

The FBI has claimed that this case is not about setting a precedent, even though law enforcement across the country is waiting for this exact case to conclude in the FBIs favor, so it can use the case as a precedent. Apple told the judge to consider the larger implications of this case, because it could affect national security, as other current or former government officials have stated.

"It has become crystal clear that this case is not about a modest order and a single iPhone, as the FBI Director himself admitted when testifying before Congress two weeks ago...The broader question were talking about here goes far beyond phones or far beyond any case, said Apple in the filing.

Debate Should Happen In Congress

The company also argued that this debate should happen in Congress, not in a court, because its a matter of whether people can live with the major repercussions that would follow for digital security if Apple was compelled to do what the FBI asked it to do. According to the company, the FBI believes that the All Writs Act allows it to compel any company or any person to do whatever it wants:

"The government attempts to rewrite history by portraying the Act as an all-powerful magic wand rather than the limited procedural tool it is," said Apple in the filing. "According to the government, short of kidnapping or breaking an express law, the courts can order private parties to do virtually anything the Justice Department and FBI can dream up. The Founders would be appalled."

Apple Is Protected Under CALEA

Apple then explained to the court in the brief that the government is being misleading with its interpretation of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA). According to the company, CALEA does protect it as an electronic communications services provider against being compelled to adopt any specific design of equipment, facilities, services, features, or system configurations.

The government was trying to say that the fact that iMessage and FaceTime exist on the iPhone is irrelevant, even though the main reason for wanting to unlock the device is to read the shooters messages.

Apple is also an information services provider, given iOS features such as iMessage, Mail, and FaceTime, which makes it immune under CALEA to any kind of compelled assistance.

Finally, CALEA makes clear that even telecommunications carriers (a category of providers subject to more intrusive requirements under CALEA, but which Apple is not) cannot be required to ensure the governments ability to decrypt or to create decryption programs the company does not already possess, read Apple's filing. If companies subject to CALEAs obligations cannot be required to bear this burden, Congress surely did not intend to allow parties specifically exempted by CALEA (such as Apple) to be subjected to it. The government fails to address this truism.

Apple then made another point that the executive branch of the government, including the FBI, have been trying for many years to update CALEA to expand the governments powers to compel a company to aid in surveillance, but failed. Congress has rejected that plan, which shows that Congress, as representatives of the people, wants law enforcement to be limited in how much it can demand from a company.

High Burden To Comply

Apple also fought back against the government on the issue of how much of a burden its technical assistance would be for the company. The Justice Department argued in its latest filing that in a relatively similar 1979 case, it took the technician only one minute to modify a phone for interception. Therefore it shouldnt take Apple that much time or money to modify its software either.

Apple noted how ridiculous it is to compare a simple phone from 1979 to having to modify a whole mobile operating system in 2016. The company also said that even back then, the Court wrote that this holding is a narrow one, and our decision today should not be read to authorize the wholesale imposition upon private, third parties of duties pursuant to search warrants. In other words, the government shouldnt even try to use that case as precedent.

Apple Is Not Immune To Hacking

The company also attacked another one of the governments absurd statements that there is no reason to think that the code Apple writes in compliance with the Order will ever leave Apples possession. The government here acted as if Apple has achieved some kind of unbreakable security, something every security expert knows is impossible, at a time when mega-breaches in large companies, not to mention the governments own agencies, happen many times every year.

That statement from the government either shows that it is willing to be misleading to the Court to win this case, or as Apple stated, it simply shows the government misunderstands the technology and the nature of the cyber-threat landscape. Neither of which paint the government in a favorable light.

Apple also made a point about the never-ending need to constantly improve the security of its devices and services (which is also why there can never be a balance in security, as that would always be a moving target):

I believe that Apples iOS platform is the most-attacked software platform in existence. Each time Apple closes one vulnerability, attackers work to find another, said Apple engineer Erik Neuenschwander.This is a constant and never-ending battle. Mr. Perinos description of third-party efforts to circumvent Apples security demonstrates this point. And the protections that the government now asks Apple to compromise are the most security-critical software component of the iPhoneany vulnerability or back door, whether introduced intentionally or unintentionally, can represent a risk to all users of Apple devices simultaneously, he added.

The company also said that once it creates a GovtOS image that can be installed on a single iPhone, that image could also be installed on any other iPhone, if hackers get their hands on it.



"No Backdoors" For Other Countries

In the Justice Departments latest filing, the government argued that Apple had already made special accommodations for the Chinese government to allow it to unlock iPhones. However, Apple denies that and said that it uses the same standardized process to comply with local law enforcement everywhere. The company also reiterated that it has never built a backdoor for any government.

The U.S. governments argument was also interesting because its also saying that if Apple were compelled to put backdoors in iPhones in the U.S., that wouldnt necessarily mean other countries would ask for the same backdoor. Yet the argument it's making is that if China had a backdoor in iPhones, then the U.S. government should have it, too. There have also been reports that the Chinese government is hoping the U.S. government succeeds in this case, so that it can also compel Apple to do the same in China later.

Code Is Speech

Finally, Apple asserted that code is speech (an argument that has already won in Court multiple times) and that the government cannot compel it to alter its speech.

Because writing code requires a choice of (1) language, (2) audience, and (3) syntax and vocabulary, as well as the creation of (4) data structures, (5) algorithms to manipulate and transform data, (6) detailed textual descriptions explaining what code is doing, and (7) methods of communicating information to the user, there are a number of ways to write code to accomplish a given task. As such, code falls squarely within the First Amendments protection, as even the cases cited by the government acknowledge, said Apple in its filing.The code that the government is asking the Court to force Apple to write contains an extra layer of expression unique to this case. When Apple designed iOS 8, it consciously took a position on an issue of public importance.... The government disagrees with Apples position and asks this Court to compel Apple to write new code that reflects its own viewpoint - a viewpoint that is deeply offensive to Apple.

The next Courtroom hearing will be on March 22, when the judge may decide one way or another in this case.

Save Security

Fight For The Future is one of the digital rights groups that has been supporting Apple in this case and has been organizing protests against the government from the beginning. The group has just launched a new Save Security campaign to raise awareness about the issue prior to Apples March 22 Court hearing.

This case is not just about one phone, its about the future of safety and security for millions of people all over the world, said Evan Greer, campaign director of Fight for the Future.Well be outside the courthouse to make sure those peoples voices are heard, because what the government is trying to do in this case doesnt just threaten our basic rights, it puts all of us in danger. Encryption protects our hospitals, airports, and water treatment facilities. Undermining security risks lives, he added.

Lucian Armasu is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware. You can follow him at @lucian_armasu.

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It seems as though The Temper Trap are back after a well-earned break, but if you ask anyone in the band theyll tell you theyve been keeping very busy even though theyve been keeping off the airwaves.

The band recently unveiled Thick As Thieves, their sterling new single from their forthcoming new album, which has been in the works for some time now. And now, the band are celebrating with a new tour.

Its been three long years since The Temper Trap embarked on a headline tour of Australia and four years since the release of their chart-topping self-titled platinum sophomore album (did we get all the accolades in there?).

Boasting more than a million albums sold worldwide, the bands upcoming May dates are a rare chance for fans to see one of Australias favourite bands in an intimate setting playing the songs they love as well as new material.

The Temper Trap National Tour Dates

Wednesday, 4th May 2016  SOLD OUT

Metro Theatre, Sydney

Thursday, 5th May 2016  SOLD OUT

Forum Theatre, Melbourne
New Delhi: Taking forward its decision to open up the coal sector for commercial mining, the government will allot 16 blocks to PSUs for carrying out production and sale of the dry fuel. Of the 16 blocks "earmarked for State Public sector Undertakings for sale of coal", five mines are in Madhya Pradesh, three in Telangana, two blocks each in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra, and one each in Odisha and West Bengal, according to an order of Coal Ministry.

Of these blocks, eight have been identified for the host states, the remaining are for other than host state, according to the order. For the first time in over 40 years, the government is throwing open the coal sector for commercial mining, which is being undertaken by the central PSU Coal India.

The Cabinet earlier gave its approval for allotting coal mines to central and state PSUs for sale of coal, especially to medium, small and cottage industries, under the provisions of the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015. In January, Coal Secretary Anil Swarup had said that the coal ministry was working towards creating a platform for commercial mining "in the next 3-4 months".

The blocks that have been earmarked for allocation to PSUs include Shankarpur Bhatgaon II Extn and Madanpur South in Chhattisgarh; Patal East and Mednirai in Jharkhand; Dahegaon/Makard hokra- IV and Kosar Dongergaon in Maharashtra; Baitarni West in Odisha. Penagaddppa, Anesttipali and Punkula-Chilka in Telangana, Gourangdih ABC in West Bengal, Sahapur East and Sahapur West, Suliyari, Dongri Tal-II and Marki Barka mine in Madhya Pradesh are the other mines.

The decision to open up coal sector is in line with the government's target of doubling coal production to 1.5 billion tonnes by 2020. It has fixed a target of 1 billion tonne of production for Coal India by 2020. Coal India accounts for over 80 per cent of the domestic production and has a target to produce 550 million tonnes of coal this fiscal. The government has made it clear that the decision for commercial mining will not impact Coal India.
Melbournes local favourites The Raffaellas are gearing up to unleash their brand new EP Dreams Out of Reach, which we have the pleasure of premiering today.

The stunning release see the four-piece channel their appreciation for classic rock and 12-bar blues into carefully crafted melodic compositions with a distinctly contemporary style.

This impressive effort is the bands second full length EP. Produced and tracked independently, the EP was recorded with Oscar Dawson (HOLY HOLY) at Aviary Studios in Collingwood, and in a home studio in Daylesford.

A follow on from the bands 2012 self-titled EP, Dreams Out of Reach is a personal record which sees the band explore themes of imagination, dreams and growing older.

No strangers to the stage, the guys have played alongside Stonefield, City Calm Down, Lurch and Chief, Neighbourhood Youth, as well as supporting Jinja Safari on their most recent national tour, and gracing the stage at local festivals including Swagger Festival and Winters End alongside Pete Bibby, The Pretty Littles, and the Pierce Brothers.

Check out the new record below and if you like what youre hearing be sure to pop by the bands Facebook or catch the guys in action this April and May.

Upcoming Shows

12 April  Cherry Bar, Melbourne

22 May  Workers Club, Melbourne
Weve been keeping a close eye on producer Asdasfr Bawd (aka 19 year old Alex Clayton) since falling in love with his spilt single release Nobody/ Love a year ago.

The Melbourne talent has just dropped his new six tack EP titled Underpass on Solitare Recordings and its textured journey into the UK grime and footwork influenced mind of this incredibly exciting (relatively) new name on Melbournes electronic music scene.

With a background in classical music, Claytons instinct for composition and his ability to push the boundaries of sonic space capture your ears almost immediately.

To celebrate the release of Underpass, Clayton has kindly penned us a track by track accompaniment to the EP which you can check out below. If you like what youre hearing be sure to pop by the Asdasfr Bawd Facebook page and Solitare Recordings Bandcamp store.

Underpass

I probably wrote this on a train which is why I called it Underpass. It was the first song to go on the EP and it really inspired me to write the others. Its a essentially a throwback mid-2000s dubstep track, with some laid back flute samples and a rimshot that snaps at your heels.

Sayer

A more stripped-back minimalist track, I wanted to see how I could give anticipations of drops and climaxes with very few elements. Reverbd out vocals gave the impression of floating before hitting the floor hard.

Sly Defender

A more garage driven track, with swirling synths and swung hi-hats. Again, more of a throwback piece than a progressive and experimental one. The title comes from a popular 2000s PlayStation game that I was obsessed with as a child.

Negative Energy

RnB vocal acapellas work ridiculously well without much being thrown at them, so this track came together immediately. The percussion is built up from various things in my bedroom being hit and tapped and then sampled.

Alsp

Crazy footwork experiment that was inspiring by listening to a lot of Addison Groove and Machinedrum at the time. Another track that just threw itself together and seemed to make sense immediately to me. It was fun making something that was a lot faster and merciless.

Packed Heat

This was originally a minimalist polymetric composition that I had made from sampling my crappy Yamaha digital keyboard. Instead I decided to finish the EP off with this one, adding a heftier bass vibe and some floating vocals. I used to listen back to this while on my commute in the city, and it really gave me a sense of place amongst all the people running around.

You can buy the Underpass EP via the Solitare Recordings Bandcamp store.
There are many reasons to love Frenzal Rhomb. Theyre one of Australias most respected punk bands, theyre absolutely hilarious, they once took a photo with Roger Climpson, and they put on one heck of a live show.

But the latest reason to love the Sydney outfit comes in the form of a T-shirt, one they just recently unveiled to celebrate their ongoing regional Friendless Summer tour, which has them hitting up regional centres alongside Clowns.

These are the first shows back for Frenzals recently traumatised drummer Gordy, returning to the tubs after an extended visit to the sick bay, the band write. As some readers will recall, Gordy injured his arm rather badly after an unfortunate stage incident.

This truly is a back to school edition with a special visit to the diocese of Ballarat, they continue. Appropriate merchandise will be available as always. Appropriate merchandise? Oh yeah, Frenzal have definitely given us that.

Remember how Tim Minchin wrote a song all about how Cardinal George Pell is a jerk? Well, Frenzal Rhomb decided to express the same sentiment differently, by depicting the Cardinal sitting atop an infernal throne as he burns in Hell.

The T-shirt, which we have no doubt will sell out quickly (and we do hope the money goes to survivors), is a take on thrash metal veterans Slayers famous album Hell Awaits, with the word Hell well, you can figure it out for yourselves. Check out the sick merch below.

Image via Facebook

Frenzal Rhomb National Tour Dates

Thursday, 31st March 2016

The Loft, Warnambool

Friday, 1st April 2016

Pelly Bar, Frankston

Saturday, 2nd April 2016

Karova Lounge, Ballarat

Friday, 8th April 2016

Basement, Canberra

Saturday, 9th April 2016

Collector Hotel, Parramatta
You may have forgotten the name but you probably know Ewen Jones as the Australian politician who has even better music taste than you do. A fan of Tame Impala and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, its safe to say hes something of an outlier when it comes to MP music taste.

Well, he just got even cooler in our books (despite being a member of the Liberal party). As ABC News reports, Jones recently tapped Jimmy Barnes to help lobby parliament to do more for those struggling to earn a dollar in todays music industry.

Barnesy was joined by Josh Pyke and Baby Animals frontwoman Suze DeMarchi to perform a set in the parliamentary courtyard last night. The aim of the show was to bring the industrys hardships into the consciousness of those forging federal policy.

Musicians struggle for most of their careers, Barnes told the audience of politicians and industry members. There needs to be more funding around the arts, for music, for rock music. Ive seen a lot of great musicians, a lot of great songwriters, come and starve to death and disappear.

Interestingly, Jones suggested taking music out of the purview of the arts sector and instead having it fall under the category of innovation and small business, citing the value of the Australian music industry at $15 billion a year.

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Jones co-organised the event on behalf of the Parliamentary Friends of Australian Music. This is the peoples music being played in the peoples house, he said. We want to take this art form out of the arts portfolio and put it into the innovation and small business portfolios.

According to Jones, whilst music can be a lucrative pursuit for some, the majority of artists make less than $10,000 a year. We have to do better than that. You wont find a more creative, a more innovative industry than music. This is perfect for our agenda, he said.

You can have a top 10 single in the world from Townsville, or Cairns or Alice Springs if you know how to do it. This is not just people playing music, its about technology, its about graphic design, its about record production, its about everything. This is a hugely exciting time.
KC Food Guys: KC BBQ Bracket 2016 Round 1 Results

No big surprises in this contest among Kansas City BBQ joins competing for March Madness supremacy.Take a look:Foodie message:The little guys lost out to bigger names and locals stay winning over change. On the bright side, a quick glance over the list offers more insight into the depth and breadth of the local BBQ game overall.More in a bit . . .
LET'S CELEBRATE KANSAS CITY POLITICAL WINNERS AND LOSERS AMID THE AFTERMATH OF THIS MISSOURI VOTING HOT MESS!!!

Team Hillary Atop Kansas City After All!!!

Cathy Jolly: Queen Of KC Politics!!!

Congressman Cleaver & Freedom Inc. Deliver For Kansas City Democrats!!!

Earnings Tax Renewal Awaits!!!

Show-Me Trump Victory Consequences!!!

GOP Juggernaut Jeff Roe Didn't Deliver Home State For Heartland Christians

Kansas City Anarchists Don't Vote!!!

Kansas City Voting Tech Still Old & Busted

A close call Missouri primary vote last night deserves further consideration from ourthat isn't afraid to tout the winning ways of America's favorite real estate dude.Fun fact that smarter people threw around last night . . .And once again the victories earned came from razor thin margins that were tabulated well into the night . . .Accordingly . . .The local campaign for the first lady Prez wasn't inspiring or exciting but it seems that Kansas City voters are #Ready to support this lady after all.A low key victory speaks to this Kansas City's power broker's acumen. Hillary supporters in this town didn't make a lot of noise and the quiet work of fundraising and behind the scenes coalition building seems to be the expertise of Hillary Clinton Kansas City campaign leader Cathy Jolly.Earlier, we posted questions from Kansas City insiders who doubted. Now those questions have beenfor Hillary in Kansas City's urban core. Like it or not, these longtime power brokers continue their record of leading inner-city voters.If traditional voting structures within Kansas City remain intact . . . This is a good sign for earnings tax campaigners. With no real challenge or adverts against the E-tax, it looks like another 5 years of levy for locals . . .And then . . .Donald Trump is exposing the myth of Republican domination, even among the rural electorate. Hiswin in Missouri reveals a great many changing trends for conservatives.It seems like MSM was just paying tribute to Jeff Roe's genius that's now running a distant second to some godless New York tycoon. Missouri flyover country seemingly longing for a "Strong, Christian, Conservative" is where Ted Cruzshined . . . Now it seems that Trump fever has inspired even the most devout voters to turn away from a "family values" campaign and flock toward a change agent like Trump instead.. . . But it's a lot easier to just go out and vote than engage in cyber terror. With major protests in STL and Kansas City . . . Dedicated activists weren't able to influence the electorate.Heavy to moderate turnout caused Kansas City voting systems to crash.. . .and high speed connections are part of our tech progress . . .Like it or not, local election boardsworse than any campaign yesterday and it's clear that this town hasn't invested much in the machinery, personnel or administration of our Democracy.Now that it's all said and done . . . You decide . . .
THE MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION IN THE AFTERMATH OF THIS PEPPER SPRAY DEBATE: WHERE ARE THE KANSAS CITY POLITICOS WILLING TO STAND AGAINST TRUMP AND STAND UP FOR HIS MOST STRIDENT DETRACTORS WHO TOOK TO THE STREET TO PROTEST???

DID YOU KNOW THAT SOME OF JACKSON COUNTY LEGISLATOR CRYSTAL WILLIAM'S MOST STRIDENT SUPPORTERS WERE AMONG THE RANKS OF TRUMP PROTESTERS???

WHERE ARE THE KANSAS CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO SUPPORT PROTESTERS OVER TRUMP???

In the aftermath of a pepper spray circus there was a great deal of support for Kansas City police. In fact, it's fair to say that elected officials in Kansas City almost universally supported the actions of officers amid the crackdown.However . . .Mayor Sly and the Chief are on the same page in support of the crackdown on protesters . . . That makes sense, there has been little sympathy for the litany of recent complaints about police brutality from City Hall. More on that later.Fun fact . . .Sadly . . . Crystal hasn't spoken out about the incident in any meaningful way.And so, this is the question for denizens of Kansas City Democracy who took to the street against Trump . . .Tonight Kansas City insiders identify this important juxtaposition in our local discourse that might signal why younger voters are slow to support the candidates touted by the local Democratic Party establishment because those same elected officials clearly aren't supporting their most active constituents in return.You decide . . .
Negotiations resume on Tuesday with energy, corrupsion and justice reforms also being discussed

A Ministry of Finance official has announced that an agreement with the institutions by the 25th of March is possible, given the progress that has recently been achieved.

A new series of meetings between Greek ministers and the institutions begins on Tuesday, with energy, corruption, privatization superfund, justice reforms and non-performing loans on the agenda.

According to the unnamed official, the Greek government wants to focus its new tax increases on those earning over 30,000 euros per years, while the creditors want to spread out the burden amongst those on lower incomes as well. An agreement appears to have been reached on the solidarity tax (which will have a maximum rate of 10%).

The European Commission and International Monetary Fund, nevertheless, continue to disagree on the extent of the fiscal gap while the Greek government claims that the gap will be 1% of the GDP by 2018.

According to sources, the agenda of the meetings is as follows:

- energy issues, at 10.00

- combatting corruption, at 12.00

- public property development fund, at 14.00

- bad loans, at 18.00

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Jewellers are also opposed to mandatory quoting of PAN by customers for transactions of Rs 2 lakh and above.(Representational Image)

New Delhi: Gold and jewellery establishments across the country remained closed for the 15th day today as traders are protesting the Budget proposal to levy 1 per cent excise duty on non-silver jewellery. Most jewellery houses have been closed since March 2, demanding withdrawal of the proposed excise duty.

Jewellers are also opposed to mandatory quoting of PAN by customers for transactions of Rs 2 lakh and above. Striking associations in different parts of the country have decided to hold a protest rally in Ramlila Maidan here tomorrow against the proposal, said All India Sarafa Association Vice-President, Surinder Kumar Jain.

Thousands of jewellers, bullion traders and artisans in the industry will take part in tomorrow's rally, Jain told PTI. "Our protest will continue till the government withdraws the Budget proposal of 1 per cent excise duty on non-silver jewellery," Jain said.

The trade is estimated to have incurred huge losses during the strike so far, he added. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Budget 2016-17 proposed 1 per cent excise duty on jewellery without input credit, or 12.5 per cent with input tax credit, on jewellery, excluding silver other than studded with diamonds and some other precious stones.

The Finance Ministry later clarified only jewellers with turnover of more than Rs 12 crore will be liable to pay 1 per cent excise duty on non-silver jewellery items.
Famous American actress Angelina Jolie Pitt and Special Envoy to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), on Wednesday visited thousands of refugees and migrants at the temporary facilities set up by Greek authorities in Piraeus port and at the refugee hospitality centre in Elaionas, central Athens.

Shortly after her arrival at the Athens International Airport VIP area on a charter flight, Jolie visited the refugees at Piraeus port and spent time with families staying at Elaionas, where she was briefed on the centre's operation and visited the children's play area to meet some of them staying in the centre. She met with three families from Syria and one from Iran that intended to pass through Greece on their way to other European countries, where the husbands already live.

According to sources, she asked them about their journey and the difficulties they faced, expressing sympathy and her own wish that borders were open to everyone. She was accompanied on her visit by Migration Policy Ministry General Secretary Vassilis Papadopoulos.

Appreciation for the solidarity Greece has shown to the refugees

A swarm of photographers, television crews and reporters surrounded her, with her brief appearance also shown live on local television.

Jolie was initially expected to arrive in the island of Lesvos where thousands of refugees have arrived from the Turkish coast since the migrant crisis begun but her visit was cancelled and no reason has yet been given for the cancellation.

The UN Goodwill Ambassador met with Greek PM Alexis Tsipras at the Maximos Hall at 17.00.

I am here in Greece to support the efforts of the UNHR and the Greek government to deal with the deteriorating humanitarian crisis, said Jolie.

A press reports released by the UNHR office says she is expected to express her appreciation for the solidarity Greece has shown to the refugees and the asylum seekers that arrived on the shores of the Greek islands.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Karlson Tourism's deputy general director of advertising and PR Mary Malyshev explains that Russian tourists appear to be stalling, when, in fact, they should be seeking to hasten to secure bookings

Russians' demand for luxury tours in Greece remains at last year's level, tour operator "Karlson Tourism" director Svetlana Semenova announced on interfax.ru yesterday.

"Our statistics are updated weekly and show that demand losses are constrained and Greece retains last year levels" she said.

However, Karlson Tourism's deputy general director of advertising and PR Mary Malyshev explains that Russian tourists appear to be stalling, when, in fact, they should be seeking to hasten to secure bookings.

"This year Greece will host many European tourists who will avoid Turkey. Therefore, it is not reasonable to expect that Russians will be able to secure bookings two weeks before departure, since air tickets and accommodation availibility may run out," she said

S.Semenova added "Karlson Tourism" this season will be offering tours of Athens and Attica, Chalkidiki, Peloponnese, Crete and Rhodes. Flights will be carried out by Aeroflot, Aegean Airlines and Ellinair. Tourists are offered accommodation in 4*and 5* hotels and luxury villas.

Sightseeing tours in Athens, during Easter and May Day holidays season will be offered as a novelty this year that will combine staying at a comfortable hotel, attending church service and enjoying traditional delicacies on the beach.

Pilgrimages to holy sites are scheduled for May 2 while tourists can also be transferred to Greece aboard sailing or motor yachts in order to visit more European countries as well.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
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Iranian ultra-high-net-worth private and corporate/state backed buyers will spend up to 6 billion ($8.63 billion) over the next five to 10 years on investing in overseas property in locations including London, Dubai, Switzerland, Germany and the South of France, according to new calculations by London estate agent Rokstone.



Led by Iranian-born managing director Becky Fatemi, whose family before the revolution worked in Tehran for the Shah (King) of Iran, Rokstone has a network of Iranian clients, both nationals and diaspora.

Currently 30 per cent of Rokstones clients are from the Middle East, and of these five per cent are Iranian. From the uplift in Iranian enquiries since sanctions were lifted, Rokstone calculate that there will be a 25 per cent upturn in Iranian buyers looking for homes in London over the next 12-24 months.



Economic data from JP Morgan trained researchers at New World Wealth reveal that there are some 32,000 high net worth Iranian individuals/households worth over 2 million ($2.87 million), including 65 individuals/families worth over 70 million ($100 million) and four billionaires.



Of these, Rokstone calculate that around 1,000 to 1,500 HNWIs/families or companies will have the desire to invest money in overseas real estate over the next 3-5 years, with up to 50 of these having the finances to spend up to 100 million ($144 million) each on overseas investments.



Given these numbers, Rokstone estimate that up to 6 billion could be invested overseas by Iranian investors in international real estate and other lucrative opportunities.



Rokstone highlight that even if just five to 20 per cent of this money comes to London/UK this is still extremely significant sums of money flowing into the British property market.



"London will be Iranians top location for investing in real estate. Culturally if you are wealthy in Iran you invest in property and jewellery/gold as long term assets. Historically there are deep ties between the UK and Iran," stated Fatemi.



Britain, he said, was the colonial power in Iran and it were British firms that first exploited the country's oil reserves.



"Between 1945 and 1979 the Shah of Iran, his Royal court and the business elite had lots of ties with Britain and the elite owned luxury residential property in London and the home counties," he added.



According to Batemi, the alternative locations have less appeal.



Historically, rich Iranians also invested in New York and Los Angeles, but US government primary sanctions remain in place so these choices are not available.



"Dubai on the doorstep will also be popular but it cannot compete with Londons educational system or cool summer climate. The other historic ties are with Germany, Paris, the French Riviera and Switzerland but London is safer than these since a lot of properties in the capital are in conservation areas where building alterations are restricted so values hold and outperform continental Europe," he added.



Rokstone said there will be four types of Iranian investors looking to acquire property in London/UK.



The first are private individuals/families, the second are professional investors followed by the private companies and quasi-state backed entities or sovereign wealth funds.



According to Rokstone, the private individuals/families will predominantly be looking for London pied-a-terres for themselves or their student offspring, this will predominantly be newly refurbished or recently completed new build homes.



Most buyers will look to spend anything from 1 million to 30 million ($1.4 million to $43 million) on London homes, with the top-five most popular locations for purchase being Knightsbridge, Mayfair, South Kensington, Hampstead and St Johns Wood, the company said.



"During the 1960s and 1970s Iranians and Greeks were the largest buyers of luxury property in Knightsbridge and Mayfair. The elite  and by that I mean the top 10 per cent of Iranians in terms of wealth  would send their children to school in either the UK or US and the fashion was to own an apartment in London or Paris, come shopping to Europe in the summer, and own a villa on the Riviera," said Batemi.



"This is what wealthy Iranian families did before the Shah fell in 1979," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Jewellers protest against the one percent excise duty hike proposed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the 2016-17 union budget, in Jaipur. (Photo:PTI)

New Delhi: The protest by gold and jewellery traders entered the 14th day on Tuesday as finance minister Arun Jaitley rejected demands for rollback of one per cent excise duty on non-silver jewellery.

Jewellers across the country have been protesting against the proposed excise duty on non-silver jewellery items as well as mandatory quoting of PAN by customers for transaction of Rs 2 lakh and above.

Speaking in Lok Sabha on Monday, Jaitley rejected demands for rollback of the 1 per cent excise duty, saying the move is aimed at aligning gold with GST, which he hopes will happen soon.

Business has drastically dropped by about 20 per cent since the government made quoting of PAN mandatory by customers for transaction of Rs 2 lakh and above, All-India Sarafa Association Vice-President Surinder Kumar Jain said.

Jaitley in the Budget for 2016-17 had proposed 1 per cent excise duty on jewellery without input credit or 12.5 per cent with input tax credit on jewellery excluding silver other than studded with diamonds and some other precious stones.

The finance ministry has clarified that jewellers only with a turnover of more than Rs 12 crore will be liable to pay the proposed excise duty on non-silver jewellery items.

Meanwhile, traders in the national capital will observe a 'bandh' on March 17 in support of jewellers who are on an indefinite strike against the proposal, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said in a statement.
Jordan-based Arab Center for Engineering Studies (ACES) has announced the completion of the geotechnical investigation for the Wadi Araba Dams in the kingdom.



The Wadi Araba Dams are part of an integrated master plan launched by the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA) for developing the Wadi Araba area between the Southern Ghor and the Gulf of Aqaba, a 165km long and 9-40km wide area.



The development projects include the construction of several storage dams that will benefit, renovate and revive water resources, agricultural activities, tourist and industrial sectors in the Southern desert area, said a statement from ACES.



The purpose of the geotechnical investigation was to assist in the dam type selection by assessing the foundation ground conditions, identifying the boundaries between the overburden soil deposits and rock formations, investigating the hydraulic properties of the dam sites, and identifying the suitability of the surround material for construction purposes.



The ensuing investigation consisted of drilling a total of 16 boreholes, including two inclined boreholes, to depths ranging from 20m to 45m, hydraulic permeability testing of 29 falling head permeability tests and 39 Lugeon (packer) tests, and excavating 15 test pits including rock bulk samples, it stated.



According to ACES, the field work was followed by a series of laboratory tests including direct shear testing for recovered soil samples, as well as chemical testing, soundness, Los Angeles Abrasion and petrography for the aggregate materials.



The Jordanian firm has completed geotechnical investigation for several other critical and large-scale projects in the country including Queen Alia New Airport, Aqaba New Port, Al Abdali Project, Dead Sea 19 & 20 Dikes, Jordan Nuclear Power Plant, and Saraya Al Aqaba.-TradeArabia News Service
Seef, a leading integrated development company in Bahrain, has registered a 9.7 per cent growth in its operating profit which soared to BD12.69 million ($33.4 million) in 2015 from the previous year's BD11.56 million ($30.4 million).



The consolidated net profit after considering the valuation gain was BD9.84 million compared to BD10.82 million the previous year, said senior officials at the company's annual general meeting held on Wednesday.



Speaking at the meeting, Seef vice chairman Sager Shaheen said: "We are currently in the final stages of evaluating a number of investment opportunities and we aim to announce the commencement of the projects during 2016."



"Overall, we are happy to report yet another profitable year. Revenues across all segments have increased during the year which resulted in an increase in the overall operating profit," Shaheen told the shareholders.



He pointed out that the group had been able to transform Seef quite dramatically since its inception.

"Today we have a much stronger brand, a more diversified portfolio and have increased the total gross lettable area. Overall, this has resulted in a much stronger capital base with a higher level and quality of earnings, stated Shaheen.



As witnessed by the company's overall record result, 2015 was a year which proved that through the consistent hard work we can continue to reach new heights. The industry has now come to recognise the Seef brand as a market leader," he added.



Impressed by the results, Seef has endorsed the recommendation of its board for distribution of cash dividends worth BD5.52 million ($14.5 million) to the shareholders.



On the group's long-term strategy, Shaheen said: "We will focus on growth by expanding and diversifying our portfolio to leverage our competitive strengths and maximise economies of scale. Despite the challenges and economic outlook, we are continuously looking for valuable investment opportunities."



"This stems from our belief that during challenges opportunities arise, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Kuwaiti telecoms group Zain is narrowing the field of potential bidders for its mobile transmitter towers in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.



Should a deal be concluded for the 7,000 towers owned by Zain Saudi, the proceeds will be used to pay off some debt, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



"Several tower companies have expressed an interest. Zain Group is assessing these to create a shortlist of serious potential buyers," said one of the sources. "Whether a deal will happen or not, it's too early to say."



Another source said about half a dozen potential buyers had been identified for Zain Saudi's towers, including companies from the United States, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.



Citigroup is advising Zain Group, which is also in the process of selling its 1,900 towers in Kuwait, he added.



No tower deals have been completed in the Middle East, but operators are increasingly keen to dispose of assets that now provide little competitive advantage due to broadly similar network quality and coverage.



Saudi's Mobily is also trying to offload its towers and there could be first mover advantage for buyers and sellers in the kingdom.



"If Mobily and Zain both sell towers, there is a strong likelihood of there being duplicate locations within their tower portfolios, which would then reduce the value of those locations," said Amy Cameron, Head of ICT Research at BMI Research.



Zain Saudi, the kingdom's No.3 mobile operator by revenue and 37 percent owned by Zain, had long-term debts of SR11.07 billion ($2.95 billion) at the end of 2015, mostly associated with buying its $6.1 billion licence.



"A sale would help improve the company's balance sheet," said the first source.



Four tower deals agreed in more populous India in 2009-12 valued towers at $60,000-103,000 each, a report by consultants A T Kearney shows.



Taking the lower end of this range, Zain Saudi could expect to raise around $500 million from selling its towers - little new tower infrastructure is required in Saudi where mobile penetration is 180 percent and 4G is readily available, so there is less growth potential for tower companies.



The first source said a deal, if agreed, could be signed this year, though such transactions are complicated with thousands of assets to be valued and transferred and telecom regulator approval is required.



American Tower Corp is among the world's largest specialised tower companies, while in Africa, the industry is led by Nigera's IHS.



Tower companies can benefit from economies and scale and reliable revenues from telecoms operators.  Reuters
Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) expects to close the first phase of funding for its multi-billion-dollar Clean Fuels Project with local banks as early as the first week of April, the state oil refiner told Kuwait News Agency.



Part of the country's KD30-billion ($100 billion) economic development plan, the Clean Fuels Project will upgrade and expand two of the Gulf Arab state's largest existing refineries with a focus on producing higher-value products such as diesel and kerosene for export.



KNPC was in advanced talks with local conventional and Islamic banks to secure a KD900 million loan of 10 years duration, chief executive Mohammed al-Mutairi was quoted as saying in a statement to the state news agency.



National Bank of Kuwait and Kuwait Finance House were helping to arrange this part of the funding, the statement said.



Negotiations were also under way to secure further financing from international banks which would be guaranteed by the export credit agencies of South Korea, Japan, Britain, Italy and the Netherlands.



No figure for this portion was given, but the statement said the expected completion of talks was scheduled later this year.



Sources told Reuters in April 2015 that KNPC was in talks with banks to raise as much as $10 billion for a period between seven and 10 years to fund around 70 percent of the total project cost.



Under the project, the capacity of the Mina Al Ahmadi refinery will drop to 347,000 barrels per day (bpd) from 466,000, while Mina Abdulla refinery's capacity will rise to 454,000 bpd from 270,000.



The reduction in the capacity of the Ahmadi refinery, after shutting one of its crude distillation units, will be compensated for by adding new units to produce higher-value products.  Reuters
Morocco is planning a $40-billion investment programme in the energy sector for the next 15 years, including $30 billion for renewable energy, a report said.



The country has also designed $30 billion worth of water infrastructure during the same period, Abdelkader Amara, Minister of Energy, Mining, Water and Environment, was quoted as saying in The Namibian.



Morocco aims to secure 42 per cent of its energy mix from renewable sources by 2020, Amara said.



Morocco and France worked hand-in-hand for the success of COP21, and continue to work closely to ensure the success of COP 22, he added.
Opec and non-Opec oil producers plan to hold their next meeting on a plan to freeze output levels in a bid to support prices on April 17 in the Qatari capital Doha, two sources told Reuters on Wednesday.



The meeting will be held even without Iran, Opec sources said, as political pressure to prop up prices increases.



On Monday, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said after talks in Tehran that a deal could be signed in April and exclude Iran, which he said has the right to boost output after years of sanctions.



Kuwait, for one, has argued that all major producers need to be part of the output freeze. While an exemption for Iran is not ideal, it is not a deal breaker, Opec sources said.



"It's a setback but it will not necessarily change the positive atmosphere that has already started," said one Opec source from a major producer, referring to Iran saying it will not join any freeze accord.



"There are still talks about a possible meeting between main producers," the source said.



Brent crude was trading at about $39 a barrel on Wednesday, up from a 12-year low of $27.10 reached in January.



A preliminary deal to freeze output at January levels, agreed last month by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Venezuela plus non-Opec member Russia, has helped to support prices.



A second delegate from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said not having Iran in the pact was not the perfect outcome but it was not the worst.



"If the others freeze and the Iranians are outside the agreement, it will not help the market unless the demand is very large," this delegate said. "January output is already at high levels."



APRIL MEETING



Some Opec sources said it was hard to backtrack from the freeze deal after Iran said it would not join, so as not to impact the market negatively.



"You can't ignore all other oil producers. The meeting is likely to go ahead," a third source said, adding that the April meeting was likely to discuss and finalise the details of the freeze deal. "We will not just meet for the sake of meeting."



It was not clear which countries besides the original four would attend. Kuwait and the UAE have said they would commit to the freeze if other major producers also participated.



The willingness of Iraq, the biggest source of Opec supply growth in 2015, to join the deal is also important. Baghdad on Monday said the freeze initiative was acceptable, citing the hardship for producers caused by low prices. - Reuters
Mumbai: Former Miss World cum Bollwyood actress, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan launched a play school with her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan in Mumbai on March 14th, 2016.

The guest of honors, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan , mother to Aaradhya said it was a beautiful experience to be associated with this school right from the beginning. She said, When we entrust our angel to this learning center, as parents we get a feeling of reassurance, security and are confident that our angle are nurtured, cherished, the way we want them to envisage to grow and blossom. My child will continue experiencing the very special world here.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan with little Aaradhya at the launch.

After making her Bollywood comeback with Sanjay Guptas Jazbaa, Aishwarya is all set to shock her fans in her d-glam role in director Omung Kumar's Sarbjit alongside Randeep Hooda, that releases on May 20th, 2016.
Kher had last week alleged that the university has refused to screen his film.

New Delhi: Following a controversy over Bollywood actor Anupam Kher's allegations that JNU turned down permission for screening of his movie 'Buddha in a Traffic Jam', the film is set to be screened at the varsity on March 18.

Kher, who has been critical of those behind a recent flash point event at JNU, had last week alleged that the university has refused to screen his film considering the present atmosphere at the campus, a charge denied by the university.

"We have sought permission from the university administration for the movie's screening and have been allowed to do so on March 18," JNUSU Joint Secretary Saurabh Sharma said.

There are three mechanisms for permission to screen any movie at JNU - at a students union event, administration event or during the academic calendar of varsity's school of cinema studies.

While the movie's director Vivek Agnihotri, had contacted the Cinema studies department, where he was told that the academic calendar for the semester was booked, no requests were made to other two bodies.

The veteran actor said he plays a professor who transforms the minds of students and incites them to become the change. He said it talks about the relationship between students and the teacher and the politics within.
Athiya Shetty said, "I don't take link-up rumours seriously as long as I, my family and close ones know the truth."

New Delhi: She may be just one year old in the film industry but Athiya Shetty has already set the gossip mills running with her link-up rumour, but the actress says such reports do not bother her.

The 23-year-old 'Hero' actress is reported to be dating 'Ki & Ka' actor Arjun Kapoor after the two were spotted attending a party together in Mumbai recently.

"I don't take link-up rumours seriously as long as I, my family and close ones know the truth. I don't give any thought to it," Athiya told PTI.

Daughter of actor Suniel Shetty, Athiya said her father knows such things are bound to happen when you are a celebrity.

"My father has been in the industry for so long and he understands that all these things come with a celebrity status. We don't give any importance to it. Such reports don't make our dinner table conversations," she added.
Recently, the BJPs Mussoorie MLA, Ganesh Joshi, allegedly attacked a police horse during a protest in Dehradun. The animal suffered multiple fractures during the incident, which occurred during a protest called by the BJP against the state government. Reacting sharply to the viral video of the incident, actress Trisha, who relentlessly works towards the cause of animal welfare, posted on her micro blog  Yes I pray u burn in hell!! Absolutely ashamed!

Her heart was certainly in the right place  but the actress has been receiving mixed response online for her post. While many have praised her gesture, others are thrashing her stance, with comments like, Arent you ashamed that you never gave voice for human killings in India? Or are u such a coward to speak out? Yet another follower Ganesh R responded, Kuthura kala aadicha tweet podvenga. Anga Jathi verila oruthana vettuna video mattum tha Papeenga illa. NALLA Manitha neyam. (You tweet when someone beats a horses legs, but only watch a video of someone being hacked because of caste politics and keep mum!)

Some have even pointed out that it seems to be a doctored video! Being a celebrity; should Trisha have verified the facts before making remarks? Apparently, the horse is doing fine now after a four-hour operation on Tuesday. Doctors have stated that the horse wouldnt need amputation, and could walk by end of April.
Forever 21 released a statement that read, "Forever 21 strives to exemplify the highest ethical standards and takes feedback and product concerns very seriously.

Washington: Fashion brand Forever 21 has recently issued an apology after it received backlash from customers over a graphic T-shirt that featured slogan, "Don't Say Maybe If You Want To Say No."

Consumers took to social networking site Twitter and condemned the retail chain for approving the "Maybe No" shirt design that seemingly played down rape culture and anti-consent, reports People Magazine.

(Photo: Screen grab)

Later, Forever 21 released a statement that read, "Forever 21 strives to exemplify the highest ethical standards and takes feedback and product concerns very seriously. With regards to the t-shirt in question, upon receiving feedback from our customers, we took immediate action to have it removed from our website. We sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by the product."

Project Consent was among the activist groups to take part in the overwhelming backlash that resulted in the removal of the graphic tee.

One of the tweet was, "Hey, @Forever21, we think you should #StopVictimBlaming and pull this shirt from your stores."

GOTTA LOVE THAT RAPE CULTURE AT @Forever21

I'M ASHAMED FOR YOUR COMPANY pic.twitter.com/m1zP138Nr7  liam @ FAREWELL (@tf2chainz) February 12, 2016

@Forever21 how about we not perpetuate rape culture with your $19.99 shirt "don't say maybe if you want to say no" why is this a good idea??  Elle Wal (@LWald13) March 14, 2016
The research is published in the journal Judgment and Decision Making.

Washington: A new study has revealed that shoppers may have a tendency to reject thriftiness when your purchase is a matter of the heart.

People are reluctant to seek cost-saving options when buying what they consider sacred such as engagement rings, cremation urns or even desserts for a birthday party for or to commemorate loved ones.

The research conducted by the University of Colorado Boulder is the first to examine the implications of this phenomenon.

Even when they identify a less expensive alternative to be equally desirable, people choose the more expensive of two items. They also avoid searching for lower prices and negotiating better prices when the goods they're buying are symbolic of love.

Lead author Peter McGraw said that people's buying behavior changes when they're making purchases out of love because it feels wrong to engage in cost-saving measures.

The findings highlight how wedding, funeral and other industries can exploit consumers, said McGraw.

McGraw added that it is important to be aware of this tendency not to seek cost savings because, over a lifetime, consumers make many purchases that are symbolic of love whether for weddings, funerals, birthdays, anniversaries and even potlucks.

The research is published in the journal Judgment and Decision Making.
The study was published in the journal Evolution.

Washington: In a first, scientists have created experimental chickens with dinosaur-like feet by manipulating their genes, highlighting the evolutionary link between dinosaurs and birds.

In dinosaurs - the ancestors of birds - fibula, one of the two long bones of the lower leg, is tube-shaped and reaches all the way down to the ankle.

However, in the evolution from dinosaurs to birds, it lost its lower end, and no longer connects to the ankle, being shorter than the other bone in the lower leg, the tibia.

Scientists noted that bird embryos first develop a tubular, dinosaur-like fibula. Afterward, it becomes shorter than the tibia and acquires its adult, splinter-like shape.

Brazilian researcher Joao Botelho, working at the lab of Alexander Vargas from the University of Chile studied the mechanisms that underlie this transformation.

In normal bone development, the shaft matures and ceases growth (cell division) long before the ends do. Botelho found that molecular mechanisms of maturation were active very early at the lower end, ceasing cell division and growth.

Inhibiting a maturation gene called Indian Hedgehog resulted in chickens with a tubular fibula as long as the tibia and connected to the ankle, just like a dinosaur.

Researchers believe that early maturation at the lower end of the fibula occurs because of the influence of a nearby bone in the ankle, the calcaneum.

Unlike other animals, the calcaneum in bird embryos presses against the lower end of the fibula. They are so close they have even been mistaken for a single element.

Botelho proposes that at this stage, the lower end of the fibula receives signals more like those at the bone shaft. In normal development, the calcaneum then becomes detached from the fibula.

However, its distal end has already become committed to shaft-like development, and matures early. In the chickens with experimentally dinosaur-like lower legs, the calcaneum was attached to the fibula.

Botelho also confirmed the calcaneum strongly expresses PthrP, a gene that allows growth at the ends of bones. Another interesting observation in the experimental chickens was that the other bone of the lower leg, the tibia, was significantly shorter, researchers said.

This suggests that a dinosaur-like fibula connected to the ankle stops the tibia from outgrowing the fibula, as it normally would.

Working with Jingmai O'Connor from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) in China, the research team realised this was consistent with an evolutionary pattern documented by the fossil record.

The earliest forms to evolve reduced fibulas were toothed birds from the early cretaceous age, which lived alongside dinosaurs.

The study was published in the journal Evolution.
News Oct 21st, 2022 at 12:40

Spending on IT this year by the UK travel sector is projected to hit 1.98 billion, the highest level seen in data analysed covering the last 15 years...
Kim recently wrote about a proposal for a 'Bubbles' biome in Beijing could let residents breathe clean air It reminded me of an earlier proposal by R. Buckminster Fuller, in 1960, to put a giant geodesic dome over midtown Manhattan. The purpose of the dome was to regulate the weather and reduce air pollution.

R. Buckminster Fuller

The dome, running from 62nd Street down to 22nd, was a mile high and 1.8 miles across. According to biographer Alden Hatch:

Its skin would consist of wire-reinforced, one-way vision, shatterproof glass, mist-plated with aluminium to cut sun glare while admitting light. From the outside it would look like a great glittering hemispheric mirror, while from the inside its structural elements would be as invisible as the wires of a screened porch, and it would appear as a translucent film through which the sky, clouds and stars would appear.

R. Buckminster Fuller

After this winter in New York, the idea is probably appealing: Fuller claimed that "the cost of snow removal in New York City would pay for the dome in 10 years." Nobody would have to pay for heating or cooling their apartments either; the entire dome would be kept at a comfortable temperature.

Geodesic domes are very efficient, and the whole thing was going to weigh just 4,000 tonnes. Fuller calculated that "a fleet of 16 of the large Sikorsky helicopters could fly all the segments into position in 3 months at a cost of $200m."

According to the New York Times, the City has spent $92.3 million removing snow this year. Perhaps it's time to look at this thing again.

More in Gothamist
Ethics and environmental consciousness drove this project by DIALOG at the University of Calgary.

So often when we see a new "green" building, it is on the site of some old building that got demolished. The new concrete gets poured and it takes decades for the new green building to pay back the carbon debt from making the cement. Nobody has ever paid much attention to that embodied carbon.

DIALOG/viaThat is one of the most interesting things about the new MacKimmie Complex at the University of Calgary, designed by DIALOG. They have kept the tower built in the sixties, taken off the cladding and added two floors. According to John Souleles of DIALOG quoted in Construct Connect, complete demolition was not an option. John Procter writes:

Souleles says wholesale demolition of the MacKimmie Tower, the link and academic block, was never on the table largely because of its environmental impact. Based on the ethics of the University of Calgary and its office of sustainability one of the primary drivers of the project is environmental consciousness, Souleles says.

Souleles also notes that the bones of the building are really, really good. You don't often hear this; there is always an excuse, such as the floor plate isn't efficient or the ceilings are too low. However, as embodied carbon gets recognized as an issue, these excuses don't stand up to scrutiny  because, as we keep saying, the greenest building is the one already standing.

This project is going for certification under the Canada Green Building Council's new Zero Carbon Building Standard, which sorta kind of does recognize embodied carbon and someday might even do something about it:

Although operational carbon emissions represent the key focus of the Zero Carbon Building Standard, there is a growing awareness of the importance of addressing the embodied carbon and other GHG emissions associated with building materials... Applicants will be required to report the embodied emissions of the buildings structural and envelope materials using life-cycle assessment (LCA) software. The embodied carbon requirement has been limited to reporting, to encourage the building industry to grow capacity for conducting LCA - a practice that is still relatively new in Canada.

Serious credit is due to the University of Calgary and the architects for being way ahead of the curve on this issue. Credit is due also to the CaGBC for acknowledging it.

 DIALOG

Made primarily by glass and concrete, metal photovoltaic panels and stainless steel cladding create a breathing facade that uses natural light as a building material and allows the buildings to respond in harmony with the natural capital of wind, sun, and soil.

Breathing facades are a specialty of Transsolar, who are the energy engineers for the project. According to Transsolar:

The new double wall facade with high-performance glass, in conjunction with ventilation flaps and shading, ensures comfort in the building and at the same time reduces the need for mechanical ventilation. The natural ventilation of the double facade is actively regulated, so that a thermal buffer is created around the building, which contributes significantly to achieve the ambitious building performance targets.

 DIALOG

This is all pretty amazing when you consider that this is Calgary, where sometimes it is so cold that people have trouble breathing, let alone building facades. Robert Claiborne of DIALOG notes that there is a teaching moment here:

To accommodate an environment for education we asked ourselves how we can use design to participate in modern-day teaching and learning in a way that will go beyond technology and programming. As one example of many, we are proposing a building skin that makes its energy-modelling systems tactile, or visible to the eye, as a way to make climate change conversations a permanent fixture in life on campus.

 DIALOG

By extending the new exterior skin beyond existing column lines, a new facade enhances and pays homage equally to the original 1966 tower structure. A photovoltaic panel applique is designed to retain the highest-possible amount of solar energy.

 Canada Green Building Council

As I noted in an earlier post, the CaGBC's Zero Carbon Building Standard goes beyond just zeroing out carbon, but has limits on energy consumption and energy demand intensity. It requires that the energy purchased offsite to balance out to zero be low-carbon renewable energy, which should be fun in a province where 87 percent of the electricity is produced from fossil fuels.

It's terrific that they saved so much of the existing building. It's gutsy of the University and the designers to do a zero carbon building in Calgary, the carbon capital of Canada. There is so much more going on here than just a shiny new skin.
Cuesta and Olivia Prendes of Krudas Cubensi released their first album in 2003 the hip-hop community in Cuba. (Photo: Facebook)

London: According to Odaymara Cuesta from the lesbian Cuban hip-hop band Krudas Cubensi, there's a gay person in every family in Cuba.

But a lot needs to change in Cuba before its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) citizens are able to expose their true identity without fear of discrimination in an island nation once notoriously hostile toward them, she said.

"Cuba is a very misogynistic country and it's hard to be a lesbian or queer person here," Cuesta told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from Havana.

"Even though the new generation is more open and tolerant, we need to be better educated about same-sex relationships and LGBT rights."

In the early years after 1959 revolution, homosexuality was seen as counter-revolutionary and Cuba's socialist rulers sent gay people to correctional labor camps.

But gay rights in Cuba have taken great strides in recent years. In 2010, former president Fidel Castro said he regretted the discrimination faced by gay Cubans after his revolution, saying it was a "great injustice".

His niece Mariela Castro, daughter of current President Raul Castro, has been at the forefront of promoting gay rights, and last year led activists in a mass symbolic wedding to promote acceptance of gay and transgender Cubans. In 2014 the National Assembly approved a labor law that banned discrimination based on sexual orientation, and free gender reassignment surgery has been available since 2008.

For Cuesta and Olivia Prendes of Krudas Cubensi, music is another way of promoting gay rights. "Music is a very important tool in educating our people and letting them know who we are and what we do," Prendes said. "Through music we fight for our rights."

Prendes said that when the band released their first album in 2003 the hip-hop community in Cuba was shocked because it was the first time anyone talked about lesbians or feminism.

"The hip-hop community is mainly straight and focused on social issues," she said. "Straight people in Cuba don't understand that people like us exist."

Prendes admitted that for her and Cuesta, who now divide their time between Cuba and the United States, their fame has made it easier to be gay.

"More people know us and admire us and are curious about who we are," she said. But in small towns and the countryside, Cubans identifying as gay are not open about their sexuality, said Prendes.

"It is not easy to be openly queer and many people are living in the closet," she said. "The reality has deprived our people from pride and sexual liberation. Hate speech is everywhere."

Prendes said she was hoping that more music-loving Cubans would change their attitudes towards LGBT people by listening to their music. "We're still fighting for our rights, we're still fighting for equal marriage, equal rights for LGBT people," she said.

Elsewhere in Latin America, Argentina and Uruguay have legalized same-sex marriage, as has Mexico City, but in Cuba marriage remains a distant goal.
Officials said that the inspector was aware of the offence as one of the suspects had informed him about it. (Representational Image)

Hyderabad: Inspector and station house officer of Neredmet Police Station, N. Chandrababu, was suspended on Tuesday by the Cyberabad Commissioner of Police for his involvement in a kidnap case that took place in January in Kushaiguda.

Though Chandrababu was not directly involved in the crime, higher officials from Cyberabad said that the inspector was aware of the offence as one of the suspects had informed him about it.

Suspected cop suspended

The officer was suspended for concealing information about the crime from concerned investigation officials. Police, however, has not got any evidence that the inspector had gained from the kidnap.

On January 25, a gang had abducted former businessman Mr B. Bala Krishna Rao (74) from his home at Sainikpuri to extort money and crores worth property.

The kidnap was planned by Mr Raos acquaintance Madhav Yadav, who knew that Mr Rao lived alone. Yadav and his aides hired a few people from Anantapur to carry out the plan. The gang wanted to get Mr Raos `30-crore worth land at ECIL crossroads and a few other assets.

Raos son had died earlier while his daughter lives in the United States. He owns property worth several crores in different parts of the state. The gangs plan was to threaten him, torture him and make him sign documents to transfer his property, said Kushaiguda inspector N. Venkata Ramana.

The gang broke into Mr Raos house on midnight of January 25, overpowered him and took him to Madhav Yadavs farmhouse in Keesara.

However, the victims neighbour noticed the kidnap and informed us. When we started a search the next morning, the abductors dropped him back and fled from the area. We do not know how the kidnappers got to know that we were searching, said an investigation official from Kushaiguda.

Following an investigation, police arrested four people who were part of the abduction. One of the suspects, Murali Naidus call records showed that he had called Neredmet inspector Chandrababus phone several times after the abduction. When inquired, the suspects confessed that they had told the Inspector about the kidnap and plans. However, the inspector had concealed the entire matter from us, said an investigation official.

Madhav Yadav, a realtor, is still absconding. Police is searching for two other of the gang, Subba Reddy and Ravindra Reddy.

Meanwhile, senior officials from Malkajgiri Zone submitted a report regarding the Neredmet inspectors action to commissioner C.V. Anand, who suspended him and ordered a departmental inquiry against the officer.

Mr Chandrababu has been suspended from service for involving himself in the kidnapping case of Kushaiguda. From the evidence available, it is apparent that the officer was aware of the entire case and had failed to inform any police officer about the accused. A departmental enquiry will be held against him, stated an official release from commissioners office.
Shankar was hacked to death in full public view in Tamil Nadu's Tirupur district. (Photo: Video grab)

Coimbatore: Five persons, arrested in connection with the brutal murder of a Dalit man in front of his upper-caste wife in Tamil Nadu's Tirupur district, were remanded to 15-day judicial custody on Wednesday.

The five  Manikandan, Jagadeeshwaran, Madan alias Michael, Selvakumar and Manikandan  were produced before the Udumalpet Judicial Magistrate R Srividhya, who ordered that they be remanded in judicial custody for 15 days.

Read: Newly-wed couple attacked in public in Tamil Nadu, Dalit husband killed

They were charged under various sections of IPC including 302 (murder), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapons) and also under the stringent provisions of SC/SC (Prevention of Atrocities Act).

Police produced the weapons and vehicles allegedly used in the brutal act. They would be lodged in the Central Jail here, police said.

Shankar (22) and Kausalya (19), whose inter-caste marriage was opposed by their families, were attacked by a gang, who came on a motorcycle, with sickles in full public view on Sunday in nearby Tirupur district, resulting in the death of the husband.

Kausalya is undergoing treatment at the Government hospital here under police protection.

Kausalya's father, Chinnasamy had already surrendered before the police.

Read: Tamil Nadu honour killing: Father-in-law of Dalit man surrenders

The couple, married eight months ago despite opposition from their families, were waiting at the Udumalpet bus stand when they were attacked.

Read: Tamil Nadu: Police bury Dalit youths body late Monday night

Members of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes will meet parents of Shanakar at Kumaralingam, the native of the youth and also Kausalya in the hospital here, police said.
Sanjay Kapoor

In early 2012, Ali, 40, with his wife and four children, crossed over from the epicentre of Syrian uprising, Daraa, to the dusty tent city erected in Za'atari, Jordan. It has been four years since he has been living in this sprawling settlement of barbed wires, prefab houses and bizarre idleness of its occupants, but never a day passes by when he does not want to return to his brutalised- but-beautiful country. Can he make this short 20- kilometre journey to his village any time soon?

Ali has been staying in what many describe as a human warehouse for four years, but there are many more who crossed over after the March 2011 incidents, when the Syrian security forces brutally came down on students who wrote anti-government graffiti on Daraa walls. These violent happenings in Syria's major agricultural hub spread to other cities through a combustible mix of foreign intervention, radical Islam and desire for change. Since that day, more than 2, 47,000 people have lost their lives, millions have become refugees, either in their own country or abroad, and billions of property and priceless heritage sites, like Palmyra, have been compromised or lost due to this five-year-long war or rapacious conduct of the Islamic State.

For the first time since 2011, hope for peace returning to this land of figs, olives and feta cheese, has rekindled after Russia-US brokered a ceasefire before the crucial Geneva talks. The ceasefire, despite umpteen violations, tenuously holds. This big change in Syria has been brought about by some targeted and merciless bombing by Russians Air Force at Islamic State and al-Nusra strongholds. The Russian military intervention has resuscitated the flagging Syrian government of President Basher-al-Assad and has also provided new diplomatic options to US President Barack Obama.

For the first time after 2013, when US backed off from its publicly stated position to bomb Syria if it crossed the redline and used chemical weapons on its people and allowed Moscow to degrade Assad government's stockpile, the two governments  Russia and the US  are working together to stabilise the war-torn country. Due to the emergence of this new compact, old alliances are being jettisoned or degraded and new ones are evolving. The return of Iran to the international order, after clinching of the nuclear deal with US and other European countries, is hastening this process. Countries that were entirely under the sway of Saudi Arabia are readjusting their positions. Jordan, that is like an island of peace, surrounded by trouble all around, has acknowledged the change that is sweeping the region after Moscow stepped in. An extremely articulate King Abdullah of Jordan stated that Moscow's military intervention had shaken the tree. Jordan is talking with Russia and so are countries like Israel. Russia has also signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia to freeze oil production to bring some sanity to oil prices. There are too many things happening at the diplomatic level that are difficult to process immediately, but the refugees that are spread all over Jordan and the rest of the world are waiting with bated breath to find out the impact of ceasefire and whether it can hasten their return home.

Daraa, too, from where majority of the refugees were bussed to Za'atari is reportedly returning to normal. Arab sites like Middle East News report a spike in weddings and parties. That's good news till it lasts, but the refugees in this sprawling camp do not know what it means for them. A hair-dresser in Zaatari who has a small hair salon was little diffident about returning home till peace returned, says, My shop was burnt in Daraa and my brother was killed. Here in Jordan I am doing well. Why should I go back till life normalises there?

Zaatari is run by the UNHCR and managed by the Syrian Refugee Affairs Directorate (SRAD). Here the security is tough and it is not possible for outsiders to get in or the residents to slip out. Jordan has 1.2 million Syrian refugees living in different camps all over the country. Unlike the time when Palestinians sought refuge in this country and were located in and around the capital Amman, this time they are kept in other areas. The Jordanian authorities claim that the presence of these refugees on their soil is causing a huge strain on the economy and they would not be able to sustain them if international help stops.

Quite conspicuously, the aid is coming from Saudi Arabia, whose prefab mosque with the Saudi government's logo can be seen from a distance. The Saudis are deeply invested in getting the regime changed in Damascus. Along with Qataris, they have spent copious funds to bankroll the Free Syrian Army that occupied Daraa after Assad forces were routed. Many of the refugees who travelled to Za'atari were ferried by them.

The most-visible feature of the camp, though, is the small children. Many of them unwashed, as water is largely scarce, they can be seen prancing around all over the place happily posing for cameras when they are not in school. They give an impression of being on an unending vacation as their parents and guardians look ways to keep them busy and protect them from bad elements that they feel abound in this camp. The authorities, though, deny presence of criminal networks and human traffickers and are happy with the way the refugees have conducted themselves by immersing themselves in businesses. According to camp sources there are 2,500 illegal businesses running in Za'atari. The authorities deliberately look the other way as long as it does not destabilise established domestic industry. Syrian refugees also provide cheap labour to the farm sector. For many of those refugees whose homes, livelihoods have been destroyed, it is a cruel trade-off: Peace for a degraded life in a foreign land. Returning to their homeland may not be easy anytime soon.

The writer is Editor Hardnews, magazine, and he visited Za'atari, Jordan, recently.
Rome, March 16

Denmark overtook Switzerland as the worlds happiest place, as per a report that urged nations regardless of wealth to tackle inequality and the environment. India is at 118th rank.

The report, prepared by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Earth Institute at Columbia University, showed Syria, Afghanistan and eight sub-Saharan countries as the 10 least-happy places on earth to live. The top 10 this year are Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia and Sweden. Denmark was in third place last year, behind Switzerland and Iceland.

The bottom 10 are Madagascar, Tanzania, Liberia, Guinea, Rwanda, Benin, Afghanistan, Togo, Syria and Burundi. The US stands at number 13, the UK at 23, France at 32, and Italy at 50.

There is a very strong message for my country, the US, which is very rich, has gotten a lot richer over the last 50 years, but has gotten no happier, said Professor Jeffrey Sachs, head of the SDSN and special adviser to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

While the differences between countries where people are happy and those where they are not could be scientifically measured, we can understand why and do something about it, Sachs said.

The message for the US is clear. For a society that just chases money, we are chasing the wrong things. Our social fabric is deteriorating, social trust is deteriorating, faith in government is deteriorating, he said.

Aiming to survey the scientific underpinnings of measuring and understanding subjective well-being, the report, now in its fourth edition, ranks 157 countries by happiness levels using factors such as per capita gross domestic product (GDP) and healthy years of life expectancy.

It also rates having someone to count on in times of trouble and freedom from corruption in government and business.  Reuters
Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 16

With Jat leaders threatening to resume agitation if their demand for quota is not met by March 17, the Haryana Government today gave powers to deputy commissioners to make preventive arrests under the National Security Act (NSA), even as it sought more companies of paramilitary forces to maintain law and order.

The DCs have been delegated powers under the NSA, empowering them to arrest those who may engage in activities inimical to the country or aimed at disturbing peace and harmony, Haryanas Additional Chief Secretary (Home) PK Das said.

Sources said the state government had sought more than 100 companies of the paramilitary forces that were expected to arrive from tomorrow.

Das and the Haryana DGP, YP Singal, reviewed the situation a day before the expiry of the 72-hour ultimatum by the Jats and chalked out a strategy to deal with protests.

During the recent Jat agitation, the police was caught off guard, leading to large-scale arson.

The Haryana Cabinet met here late in the evening and discussed the Jat quota Bill which is slated to be tabled in the Haryana Assembly tomorrow. Sources say there is a sharp division within the Cabinet on the issue with some non-Jat ministers voicing their concern at the violent means adopted by the community to press their demand.

Meanwhile, the state government has left it to the DCs to decide on the closure of schools and colleges after assessing the law and order situation in their districts.

In Jind, members of the Sarv Jat Khap Panchayat said they would launch a peaceful stir if their quota demand was not met. Tek Ram Kandela, national convener, said: We believe in peace and harmony. We will launch a peaceful agitation if the government does not meet our demand.

Kuldeep Dhanda, convener, Sarv Jat Khap Panchayat, said they would remain peaceful but the police must cancel all "fake" cases against innocent persons.

Taken aback, Vinay Singh, DC, said these leaders had assured the administration that they would not go by the ultimatum given by other Jat leaders.

Meanwhile, the Rohtak District Magistrate has ordered the closure of colleges from March 17 to 19.
Aman Sood & Arun Sharma

Tribune News Service

Patiala/Ropar, March 15

Without waiting for the Governors assent to the Bill that calls for denotifying the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal and transferring the canal land back to the owners, the SAD cadre is likely to start levelling the dug-up canal on Wednesday.

In some villages of Patiala and Ropar, farmers and SAD activists have already started demolishing the canal structure and filling the land. The Bill called for committees to be set up in Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib and Patiala to transfer the land and settle claims.

Farmers in Kapoori and nearby villages have been told to take possession of their land and the officers in each district concerned have been told to allow the farmers to take possession of their land, said Rural Development Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra. "The Government wants to ensure that the land acquired is made cultivable at the earliest," he added. The administration, it is learnt, has been asked to ensure smooth passage to all farmers and the SAD cadre to demolish the SYL structure.

"JCB and earth-moving equipment are being arranged and by Wednesday evening we will complete work of levelling whatever little SYL is there in the state," said Member of Parliament from Anandpur Sahib Prem Singh Chandumajra.

Charanjit Singh Rakhra, younger brother of Surjit Rakhra, said he had asked the entire Patiala Akali Dal cadre to arrange for men and machines so that the work to make the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal acquired land fit for cultivation could be done at the earliest.

In Ropar, farmers in Sarsa Nangal and Saini Majra Dhakki villages first shared sweets expressing happiness over the passage of the Bill in the Vidhan Sabha and then put the heavy machinery to use to level the earth in and around the canal.

Teja Singh, a farmer, claimed his 9-acre land was acquired in the early 1980s for the canal and he got a mere Rs 2 lakh as compensation. One Kulwant Singh claimed his more than 22-acre land was acquired for the purpose. Similarly, another farmer Ranjit Singh said he had to to give up his 8-acre land.

Teja Singh said the work to fill the canal would intensify once the notification was issued.

At Saini Majra Dhaki village, forest department officials prevented farmers from filling the canal. The officials said trees on the banks were the forest department's property and farmers had no right to destroy them.

On Monday, marking another turning point in its longstanding water-sharing dispute with Haryana, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha had unanimously passed a Bill that provides for returning free of cost 3,928 acres acquired for constructing the contentious Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal to the original landowners.
Dhaka, March 16

Bangladesh is set to hang fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami for war crimes during the 1971 independence struggle against Pakistan.

Authorities today served the death warrant to 72-year-old Nizami, two months after the apex court upheld his death penalty.

We received the death warrant earlier this morning and served it to the convict (in the death row), an official of the suburban high security Kashimpur Jail briefly told reporters.

Attorney general Mahbubey Alam, meanwhile, said the top leader of the countrys biggest Islamist party would now get 15 days time to seek review of the judgement by the Supreme Court itself in his final bid to evade the gallows.

He, however, said that the scope of reviewing the judgement in a war crimes case is very slim.

If he prefers not to get the judgement reviewed within the time-frame or if his petition is rejected, the government may execute the verdict anytime in the subsequent days, Alam told newsmen.

He said Nizami, however, could seek presidential mercy immediately if the review petition was rejected but he would not get any extra time to decide for seeking the clemency.

Bangladeshs International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) originally sentenced Nizami to death in October 29, 2014. The apex court upheld the verdict on January 6 this year.

According to TV reports Nizamis lawyers sought to meet their client in jail as the death warrant was issued to know his mind if he wants to exhaust the opportunity of filing a review petition.

Leader of infamous Al-Badr force in 1971, Nizami is the last remaining top perpetrators of crimes against humanity whose fate now hangs on the balance.

Nizami was found guilty of systematic killings of more than 450 people alone in his own village home in northwester Pabna siding with the Pakistani troops during the liberation war.

Nizami at that time was the chief of the student front of Jamaat, which was opposed to Bangladeshs 1971 independence.

Four opposition politicians, including three leaders of the Islamist party, the Jamaat-e-Islami, have been convicted by a war crimes tribunal and executed since late 2013.

Two othersformer Jamaat chief Ghulam Azam and ex-BNP minister Abdul Alim --- earlier were handed down imprisonment until death penalty instead of capital punishment due to their old age as they exceeded 80.

They subsequently died in the prison cells of a specialised state-run hospital due to old age ailments.  PTI
Beijing, March 16

China has set up a tsunami alert centre in the South China Sea, the head of the countrys maritime regulator said on Wednesday, in Beijings latest effort to bolster its jurisdiction in the disputed waters.

China claims most of the energy-rich waters through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year.

Neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

The US has voiced concerns about Chinas assertive pursuit of territory in one of the worlds busiest trade routes.

The tsunami alert centre is under construction but has already begun initial operations, Wang Hong, the chief of the State Oceanic Administration told reporters on the sidelines of Chinas annual meeting of parliament.

We have already begun issuing tsunami alerts to the international community, including countries on the periphery of the South China Sea, Wang said.

Cooperation in the South China Sea is one of our important focuses. We hope to collaborate with South China Sea countries and create a peaceful and harmonious sea, Wang said.

He did not give details on the centres location.

Chinas increasingly assertive claims in the South China Sea, along with its rapidly modernising navy, have rattled nerves around the region.

Beijing has said that its operations in the sea, including land reclamation work on disputed reefs and islands, are largely intended to bolster civilian research, search and rescue and maritime security and will benefit other countries.

Nonetheless, China says it is entitled to limited defensive facilities on its territory. It has dismissed reports about surface-to-air missiles placed on the disputed Woody Island as media hype.

The US military, which remains by far the most powerful naval force in the region, has warned that Beijing is seeking to establish a level of de facto control over the South China Sea that threatens freedom of navigation for international shipping.  Reuters
Palm Beach, Fla., March 16

US Republican front-runner Donald Trump swept three states and drove rival Marco Rubio out of the White House race, but the New York billionaires loss in the crucial state of Ohio wrought more chaos for a party deeply fractured by his candidacy.

While the Republican race remained in turmoil on Tuesday, Hillary Clintons victories in Florida, Illinois, Ohio and North Carolina cast doubt on US Senator Bernie Sanderss ability to overtake her for the Democratic Partys nomination.

Trumps wins in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina brought him closer to the 1,237 delegates he needs to win the nomination and left those in the party trying to stop him with a dilemma.

Republicans can either throw their weight behind a candidate who rejects their policy goals or go on trying to stop him in the hope that he falls short of the majority required, enabling them to put forward another candidate at the July convention in Cleveland to formally pick their candidate for the November 8 election.

That, however, would risk alienating the millions of Americans who back the real estate developer and former reality TV show host.

Ohio Governor John Kasichs victory in his home state left him as the last establishment Republican candidate standing after Rubio, a US senator, pulled out of the race after losing in a Trump landside in Rubios home state of Florida.

US Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who has sought to fashion himself the lead anti-Trump alternative, was outclassed by Trump everywhere on Tuesday except Missouri, where he trailed Trump narrowly with nearly all votes counted.

Early on Wednesday, MSNBC projected Trump and Clinton would win Missouri in very tight races.

Many party leaders are appalled at the billionaire Trumps incendiary rhetoric and believe his policy positions are out of step with core Republican sentiment, such as his vow to deport 11 million illegal immigrants, temporarily ban Muslims from the United States, build a wall along the border with Mexico and impose protectionist trade policies.

But their bid to stop him has come too late as a Republican field that once included Trump and 16 high-profile party figures has dwindled now to only three with Trump, 69, in command ahead of Cruz, 45, and Kasich, 63.

Trump calls for unity

Trump, speaking at his Mar-a-Lago beachfront resort on Floridas Atlantic Ocean coast, called on Republicans to unite behind him and made a point of mentioning that he had spoken to the two top elected Republicans in the United States, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The fact is we have to bring our party together, Trump, more restrained than usual, said at an event that was billed as a news conference but where he took no questions.

We have something happening that actually makes the Republican Party the biggest political story anywhere in the world, he said, referring to what he says are the millions of new voters he has attracted to the Republican Party.

Democrats are coming in, Independents are coming in, and very, very importantly, people that never voted before. Its an incredible thing, Trump said.

After Tuesdays victories, Trump needs to win about 54 percent of the roughly 1,100 delegates still up for grabs. Its not an insurmountable challenge, especially when factoring in winner-take-all states, like Arizonas 58 delegates and New Jerseys 51 delegates.

The wins for former Secretary of State Clinton, 68, added to her lead in pledged delegates over Senator Sanders, 74, of Vermont, and gave her an almost insurmountable edge, burying the memory of her stunning loss in Michigan last week.

As she had after other primary wins, Clinton was thinking on Tuesday about a possible match-up in the Nov. 8 presidential election with Trump.

We cant lose what made America great in the first place, and this isnt just about Donald Trump, Clinton told supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida. We cant just talk about economic inequality, we have to take on all forms of inequality and discrimination.

Holding us together

Kasichs win in Ohio, his first in the nominating fight, makes him the candidate of choice for party leaders worried Trumps rowdy campaign will lead Republicans to defeat not only in the presidential race, but in state and U.S. congressional races.

Kasich, who has tried to emphasize the positive in a Republican race dominated by the pugnacious Trump, said his campaign was about holding us together, not pulling us apart. I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land, Kasich told supporters in Berea, Ohio. We are going to go all the way to Cleveland and secure the Republican nomination.

The loss in his home state of Florida was a brutal blow for Rubio, who was once a rising star in the party and had become the choice of the party establishments anti-Trump forces until his campaign nosedived.

People are angry, people are frustrated, he said, adding it would have been easy to stir up those frustrations and make people more angry. I chose a different route and Im proud of it.

Trumps closest challenger is Cruz, a favorite of the conservative Tea Party, who is second to Trump in delegates but has struggled in states where the electorate is not heavy on the strongly conservative evangelicals who have been Cruzs biggest base of support.

By capturing Florida, Trump won all 99 of the states delegates, giving him a huge lift in his drive to the nomination.

Kasichs chief strategist, John Weaver, argued in a memo released after the Ohio result that no candidate was going to win the necessary delegates before the convention and Kasich would be the best Republican candidate to go up against Clinton.  Reuters
Hyderabad: A 23-year-old Telugu music television anchor was found dead in her PG hostel in Sindhi Colony, Secunderabad in the early hours on Wednesday.

K. Nirosha, who was employed with Gemini Music TV, committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan. The police have registered a case under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

According to police, Nirosha was on a Skype call with her boyfriend Ritwik when she committed suicide. She allegedly had a fight with him and threatened to kill herself and then went on to hang herself with her dupatta, while the call was still ongoing. A helpless Ritwik who is based in Canada, immediately called Nirosha's relatives who reside in Jubilee Hills and asked them for help.

Police officials say they received a call around midnight from a relative asking them to save her. However, by the time the police reached the spot, she was already dead and her phone was switched off.

TV anchor Nirosha (Photo: Facebook)

Nirosha had briefly worked as a reporter with another channel before she took over the role of an anchor with Gemini TV. While Nirosha's boyfriend is based out of Canada, her parents live in Somala Mandal in Chittoor district. She had spoken to her parents on the phone just before having a video chat with her boyfriend.

A former colleague of Nirosha remembers her as an entertainment reporter who loved taking selfies. "Never thought she would commit suicide," the colleague told Deccan Chronicle on condition of anonymity.

Police have seized Nirosha's cellphone for further investigation into the case.
Aggressive road salts can do a number on sheet metal, like the rear of this cab, especially if maintenance is ignored.

Its said that rust never sleeps. In the last 15 to 20 years, the insidious but natural chemical process has gotten rather nasty.

Road maintenance departments are using de-icing agents that do a better job at keeping roads clear and safe, but they aggressively attack metals on trucks and cars. And the salts continue their assaults, even when the weather danger has passed, causing premature failure of components that costs billions of dollars a year, according to industry estimates.

For Roy Gambrell, now-retired fleet manager at Truck It Inc. in Tennessee, the corrosion problem began in brake shoes, with linings cracking and separating from their steel tables, he said in a session during the Technology & Maintenance Councils recent annual meeting in Nashville, Tenn. Rust jacking, as it came to be known, was something new in 2000. Other managers he quizzed werent having the problem  or so they thought.

"Rust jacking" -- the lifting of brake linings off their steel tables -- was one of the first things noticed as damage from mahnesium- and calcium chloride salts became evident.

Suppliers said they hadnt heard of it, and one of them told me that it was probably caused by radiation from a nuclear power plant his trucks regularly hauled to, Gambrell said.

Rust jacking also cracks lining material. Alerted by customers, suppliuers began painting tables to protect surfaces.

But more reports of rust jacking soon began coming in and by 2003, TMC, an arm of the American Trucking Associations, was looking into it. Fleet manager-members started holding sessions in which some of them showed photos and physical evidence of damage to all kinds of chassis components, from brake shoes and drums to wiring and connectors to and frame rails and crossmembers on trucks and trailers.

Corrosion of this aluminum tank under its steel straps was severe enough to eat a hole into it, allowing diesel fuel to leak out.

One member presented a photo of a fuel tank that rusted through and had begun leaking fuel  a potentially expensive environmental event and an obvious safety concern.

Rust from rock salt was a long tradition of winter in northern and mountain states, but now the damage occurred sooner and was more extensive. As we now know, the culprit turned out to be calcium and magnesium chloride salts that cling to and break down steel and other metals. Road departments had begun using the salts in various combinations, and crews found they worked better in very cold temperatures when rock salt  sodium chloride  quit working.

The new products were cheaper, too, so there was no talking highway officials out of using them. They admitted that their own trucks were suffering increased damage, but their primary concern was public safety: Pavement must be cleared to prevent accidents, injuries and deaths.

But fixing and replacing damaged truck and trailer parts was costing the industry $2.4 billion to $4 billion a year, Gambrell said, citing national estimates. TMC formed a Corrosion Control Action Committee, with branches in many of its task forces that specialize in specific areas of truck maintenance, to better organize studies into the problem and find preventive measures.

In corrosion-control sessions, fleet and supplier members traded concerns and ideas; fleet people wanted better materials to fight rust, while suppliers offered remedies, like special coatings for vehicle undercarriages, especially on trailers.

But suppliers noted that certain measures were more expensive than customers wanted to pay. Some stainless steel alloys, for instance, stand up well to the aggressive salts but are costly and heavy. Aluminum, for many years a tool to reduce poundage, also costs more than mild steel but resists salt damage, though not forever.

TMCs focus then turned to prevention through use of regular cleanings and applications of special compounds. For example, brush-cleaning more effectively removes salt and road grime than high-pressure spraying, which drives salts up into crevices under trucks and trailers, said Todd Cotier, director of maintenance at Hartt Trucking.

(Another Cotier tip: Dont wash sheet-and-post trailers from back to front because that pushes salt into the trailing edges of overlapping vertical aluminum panels; instead, wash from front to back.)

Hartt operates in Maine and other northeastern states where salt is a major problem. Cotier is among numerous managers whove developed procedures for regular cleaning and application of rust inhibitors. He has a compound applied at modification centers adjacent to manufacturers factories, when the vehicles are brand-new. And he has it reapplied periodically, after washings that begin in spring.

Corroded 7-pin connector is obvious, but salt-induced corrosion can also wick into wiring under its insulation.

Kevin Willis, a fleet leader at a Pepsi Beverages operation in Massachusetts, told the Nashville audience that his company has an aggressive maintenance program to combat corrosion, from when trucks and trailers are new to when theyre eventually retired.

Roll-up side-door beverage trailers, for example, are refurbished after 10 years of service; floors and lift gates are often replaced at considerable expense: A new lift gate costs about $20,000, Willis said.

Inhibitors are sprayed on by outside specialty shops. While they are considered food-grade compounds, workers wear respirators to avoid inhaling fumes. The program extends to many of the fleets tens of thousands of vehicles in the United States and Canada. Of all work orders in Pepsi shops, 25% are related to rust, Willis said.

As the anti-corrosion crusade continued through the aught years, information on what works and what doesnt took written form. Members of the Corrosion Control Action Committee began organizing a manual, which was completed and published in 2012. TMC has renewed promoting the manual, Corrosion: Complaint, Cause & Correction, and attendees at the Nashville session received copies.

The manual covers 103 pages, describing the salts and where theyre used (or were when the manual was compiled); conditions encountered in daily operations; the many parts in trucks and trailers that are affected (virtually all of them); and corrective measures that most effectively deal with road salts. TMC has printed thousands of copies, and the manual is available to members and the trucking public.

Carl Kirk, TMCs executive director, suggested that a copy be sent to every ATA-affiliated state trucking association. They can show it to members and road maintenance officials who might take some of the information to heart, he said. Meanwhile, the manual can be ordered at http://tmc.trucking.org, or by calling 703-838-1763.
BEIRUT  Russias plan to withdraw forces from Syria is sending a strong message to President Bashar Assad, whose hard-line stance is diverging from Moscows interest in declaring its intervention in the country a success while also accelerating peace efforts.

Having dramatically turned the tide of war in Assads favor with five months of intense bombardment of his foes, President Vladimir Putin is pressuring the Syrian leader to engage them in more meaningful dialogue in talks that have begun in Geneva.

There was an overlap in interests in the last few months. Now they (the Russians) are telling Assad, this is where we start to diverge, and youve got to step up to your responsibilities; you cant rely on us forever,  said Maha Yahya, acting director of the Carnegie Middle East Center.

With an announcement that appeared to take even senior Russian commanders by surprise, Putin ordered most of the estimated 3,000 to 6,000 personnel to begin withdrawing from Syria on Tuesday, a step that raised hopes for progress at newly reconvened U.N.-brokered peace talks in Geneva.

At a televised meeting Monday with his foreign and defense ministers, Putin said Moscows intervention had fulfilled its objectives by allowing Assads military to radically turn the tide of war. He added that the move should help serve as a stimulus for Syrias political talks.

Russia deployed its air force to Syria in September to prop up Assads faltering military, which has been waging a five-year war against internal opponents and jihadist militants.

Although its stated goal of its intervention was to fight Islamic State militants and other terrorists, much of the campaign has targeted mainstream rebels and helped eject them from core areas considered strategic for Assads survival, thereby safeguarding Moscows interests in the country.

While the operation has restored momentum for Assads forces, Syrian forces have been unable to regain areas in Idlib province in the north or completely encircle rebels in the contested city of Aleppo, for instance.

The timing of the Russian withdrawal, just as peace talks were resuming, offered Putin an opportune moment to declare the bulk of Moscows involvement to be over, while acting as a peacemaker and helping ease tensions with Turkey and the Gulf monarchies vexed by the Kremlins military action.

By also pacifying the opposition, Putin has set up the groundwork for what is shaping up to be the best opportunity so far to advance the talks between the warring sides.

The U.N.s Syria envoy, Staffan de Mistura, said it is a significant development, which we hope will have a positive impact on the progress of the negotiations in Geneva. Syrian opposition spokesman, Salem Al Mislet, also welcomed Russias pullout, saying that if it is serious, it would go a long way in helping the talks.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called it a very important phase in this process and said he would go to Moscow next week to talk with Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

While Russia is highly unlikely to drop Assad anytime soon, the withdrawal at least suggests differences between Moscow and Damascus over what the next steps forward should be.

As Assads forces regained momentum, Assad has taken a more hard-line position, saying he will continue fighting until he recaptures every inch of Syrian territory.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem held a news conference over the weekend in which he said any talk of removing Assad during a transitional period sought by the U.N. is a red line, and he rejected the international call for a presidential election to be held within 18 months  a key opposition demand.

Assad also has called for parliamentary elections to be held as scheduled next month in government-held areas of the country.

For Assad, this is a very long-term fight. I dont think its a fight that Putin necessarily wants his country to be part of. This is not his Vietnam, Yahya said.

On Tuesday, Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied that Russias decision was prompted by the Kremlins displeasure with the Syrian governments tough position in the negotiations, or that it was intended to put pressure on Assad.

The withdrawal announcement also triggered successive statements from the Syrian presidency and armed forces rejecting speculation that the decision reflected a rift between the allies.

Militarily, the implications of Russias drawdown are unlikely to hurt Assad as long as Iranian-organized Shiite militias are still fighting on his behalf. Russia, which is keeping its naval base in Tartous and air base in Latakia, may also redeploy at any time if needed.

Hossein Royvaran, a political analyst in Tehran, said the withdrawal is part of a plan agreed upon by Iran, Syria and Russia, and that Moscows forces may return to Syria if the political process fails.

But Firas Abi Ali, senior analyst at IHS Country Risk, said the withdrawal highlights divergences among Iran, Syria, and Russia, and probably reflects Moscows intention to impose a compromise that might include a partition or federation model.

Russia can accept a settlement in which the Kurds gain autonomy in northeastern Syria, Sunni groups dominate Idlib and Aleppo, while a successor to the Assad government remains in core Syrian government territory in Damascus, Homs, and along the coast, Abi Ali said. This could take the form of a new federal constitution, or even Syrias partition.

On Monday, Lavrov said it would be up to the Syrians to decide what form of state they should have.

Several analysts, however, dismiss talk of any formal partition or federal system based on sectarian and ethnic identities that would be sowing the seeds for further conflict down the road.

Mark Galeotti, a New York University global affairs professor who spends much of his time in Moscow, said the Russians have been signaling that they think its time for some kind of resolution in Syria.

It means that Russia will either have to trim (Assads) sails a bit or that it might be that its time for him to go, he said.
New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Ministers Advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz will meet external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on the sidelines of the Saarc council of ministers meeting on Thursday in Nepal to extend Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharifs formal invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the 19th Saarc Summit that will be hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad later this year.

Prime Minister Modi is expected to travel to Pakistan for that Summit in November this year. The government sources in New Delhi confirmed that Mr. Aziz and Ms. Swaraj would meet on Thursday on the sidelines of the meeting in Nepal. Indias foreign secretary S. Jaishankar may also meet his Pakistani counterpart in an informal meeting.

India is once again likely to make it clear to Pakistan at the meeting between Mr. Aziz and Ms. Swaraj that it expects strong action to be taken against those responsible for planning and executing the Pathankot terror strike from Pakistani soil. The meeting is somewhat bound to break the ice between the political leadership of the two countries after the Pathankot terror strike in January this year, although the NSAs of the two countries have been in touch on the matter.

The MEA has also maintained that the foreign secretaries of the two countries have also been in touch. Foreign Secretary-level talks between the two countries had been postponed in the wake of the Pathankot terror attack and have yet to be re-scheduled. As reported earlier, India will wait for the outcome of the proposed visit by the Pakistani SIT  probing the conspiracy on Pakistani soil by Pakistan-based militants of the JeM that led to the Pathankot terror strike  to India before taking a decision on scheduling the FS-level talks.

Pakistan, in a statement issued, said, The Advisor to the Prime Minister on foreign affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz, will meet foreign ministers of Saarc countries on the sidelines of the Saarc Council of Ministers meeting on March 17, 2016, in Nepal to extend PM Nawaz Sharifs formal invitation to their respective Heads of State/Heads of Government for the 19th Saarc Summit, being hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad this year. This will be Modis second visit to Pakistan if he eventually goes for the SAARC Summit.
Goldberg Law PC is investigating claims of potential misrepresentations by Williams Partners L.P., according to a press release from the California-based law firm that specializes in securities class action suits and shareholder rights litigation.

The investigation focuses on whether Williams Partners and its officers violated securities laws by issuing misleading information to investors, according to the release.

Last spring, Williams announced a deal under which Williams Cos. would purchase all publicly held Williams Partners common units.

The May 13 announcement was, according to the release, made without disclosing that Williams Cos. management was also in discussions with Energy Transfer Equity regarding a proposed acquisition that would require Williams Cos. to terminate its merger with Williams Partners.

The law firm is inviting any investors who acquired units of Williams Partners between May 13 and June 19 to contact the firm and join a class action suit.

June 19 was the final day that markets were open before Williams Cos. announced June 21 it had turned down a merger offer from ETE.

Brian Schall, an attorney with Goldberg Law, said that at this time the firm has a no-comment policy on the investigation.

A spokesman for Williams said that it is the companys policy not to discuss litigation.

A class action from Goldberg wouldnt be the first.

On March 7, Michael Erber filed a class action lawsuit U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma with Williams Cos., Williams Partners, Williams Partners GP LLC, Williams CEO Alan Armstrong and Williams CFO Don Chappel listed as defendants.

Erber alleges that during the period May 13 and June 19 he and other members of the class action suit were duped into purchasing common units of Williams Partners at artificially inflated prices by material misrepresentations related to the agreement that was later forged between Williams Cos. and ETE.

In January, John Bumgarner filed a class action complaint in the Northern District Court of Oklahoma against Williams Cos. and ETE alleging that material misrepresentations and omissions from the defendants warrant the issuance of a preliminary and a permanent injunction on the merger.

Williams Cos. and ETE filed a motion to dismiss Bumgarners suit on Feb. 19. Bumgarners response to that motion is due by March 21.
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  For years, tourists in New Orleans mostly stayed in the French Quarter. They did their drinking there, gawked at raunchy shows on Bourbon Street and gorged themselves at exquisite restaurants.

But thats changing, partly thanks to a mushrooming of short-term rentals through websites like Airbnb. Now tourists  some of whom come to party  are found in neighborhoods around the city, and locals are divided about whether thats a good thing.

Some say the rentals help residents  including artists and young entrepreneurs  bolster income in a city where many still struggle 10 years after Hurricane Katrina. Others say the spread of tourism to residential areas hurts the quality of life.

Anti-Airbnb signs declaring neighbors, not tourists are common. Meetings on the topic are passion-filled. Complaints against the rentals have doubled. Hotel and bed-and-breakfast owners have joined neighborhood groups to press for restrictions. The state is looking to tax them like motels.

Brittanie Bryant is so fed up with bachelor parties at the townhouse-turned-hotel next door that she and her husband are considering moving.

Guests vomit on our cars, pee on our cars, throw up in our yard, throw trash in our yard, rip out our flowers, said Bryant, who lives on Esplanade Avenue, a charming street outside the French Quarter with gabled and balconied 19th-century Creole townhouses and sprawling live oaks hung with Spanish moss.

Across the city, in predominantly black Pontchartrain Park, Baba Ken Amen says he makes ends meet renting his art-filled, solar-powered home on Airbnb. This is how we can afford to pay the taxes, said Amen, an artist and vegan caterer. Im not getting rich off this.

For $165 a night, guests can get a down-home experience in what he advertises as Pontchartrain Park Paradise, with its jazz collection, books and African masks. Amen says his guests help the area: They support our local grocery stores ... theyre trying things in the neighborhood.

Airbnb and other sites, like HomeAway, offer up to 4,000 private properties for rent nightly around New Orleans: from former slave quarters and artists lofts to Cotton Kingdom-era mansions, sunny Creole cottages and brightly painted shotgun houses  narrow homes with rooms connected like railroad cars.

Technically, most of these rentals are illegal. The City Council expects to adopt new rules this year to legalize the practice while regulating it and balancing neighborhood needs. In January, city planners suggested limiting the rentals in some historic neighborhoods and revoking licenses of bad operators while requiring insurance, property managers and guest logs.Nationally, the issue isnt new. Portland, Oregon, legalized short-term rentals in 2014. San Francisco, where Airbnb is headquartered, legalized them last year. In New York City, renting out an extra room or couch is fine, but its illegal to rent most apartments for fewer than 30 days. New Yorks state Attorney, General Eric Schneiderman, said in 2014 that three-fourths of New York City Airbnb listings were illegal. The company said it removed many of those listings, but some New Yorkers blame Airbnb for helping to drive up rents.

In New Orleans, Many also blame the rentals for exacerbating post-Katrina housing shortages, skyrocketing rents and the exodus of less wealthy residents from the city center.

The full-time residents arent as plentiful as they used to be, griped Louis Matassa, a white-haired grocer at a French Quarter grocery store that opened in 1924. The staples: They dont sell. The animal food, the milk, the cartons of eggs.

The store harks back to an era when the quarter was populated by artists and musicians crammed into dilapidated apartments. My business has fallen off and for the first time in almost a century, the future is uncertain, he wrote to the city. The community is my customer base, and the community is dying.

But supporters say Airbnb enhances one of the citys biggest industries: tourism.The economics are very clear that we need to embrace tourists, and wherever they want to stay, we let them, said Christian Galvin, who rents out several properties nightly and serves on the Alliance for Neighborhood Prosperity, a pro-Airbnb group. Short-term renters use the post office; they use dry cleaners; they use the grocery stores; they dont go in just for cigarettes.

Airbnb says its rentals contributed $140 million to New Orleans economy in a year and disputes the claim that short-term rentals drive up housing costs. Airbnb spokeswoman Alison Schumer also said in a statement that Airbnb supports the citys ongoing efforts at regulation.

Whether or not Airbnb is the cause, locals say neighborhoods are changing. Rick Mathieu, a longtime resident of Treme, said his neighborhood is nearly empty of families. Pointing to a house, he said a woman who lives in San Francisco bought it and made it into a money-making thing. But he defended her right, as a property owner, to do anything you want.

Jamie Ruth, who sells art and runs a tattoo parlor on St. Claude Avenue, a rundown corridor thats become a hipster hangout since Katrina, says Airbnb is good for business, but can hurt neighborhoods.

I get a lot of walk-ins staying in Airbnbs, she said. But she called it obnoxious for people to buy homes and turn them into tourist rentals. It really messes with the neighborhood, she said, and also drives up the rent for people who actually live here.
Prosecutors filed a slew of charges against a Broken Arrow man who was arrested after a pursuit in early March and who is purported to be the assailant in a February homicide.

Shane Allen Vanderpool, 38, was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder in the death of Blaine Anthony Wells, who was shot in the head Feb. 21 while riding in a car in the 5100 block of South Indian Avenue in west Tulsa, according to the court documents.

Wells, 23, died two days after the shooting once he was taken off life support.

Vanderpool was charged with possession of a firearm after a felony conviction in connection with the shooting, court documents state.

Prosecutors also filed charges of eluding a police officer and resisting an officer in connection with a March 3 pursuit, according to court documents.

Police attempted to stop Vanderpool, who was driving a dark gray Chevrolet Impala, near 21st Street and Memorial Drive to question him about the shooting. Instead of stopping, police said Vanderpool fled through east Tulsa, according to his arrest report.

Officers lost track of Vanderpool near 24th Street and 141st East Avenue, but eventually found him on foot near the U.S. 169 exit to 31st Street, the report states.

Detectives initially believed the shooting resulted from a drug transaction, but further investigation led police to believe it was potentially gang-related, homicide Sgt. Dave Walker said.

The arrest report states the shooting may involve two prison gangs  the Universal Aryan Brotherhood and the Irish Mob.

Vanderpool matched the description of an Irish Mob member and drove a vehicle similar to the one described in the shooting, according to the report.

Vanderpools prior felony convictions include offenses ranging from firing a weapon from a vehicle, to assault with a dangerous weapon, to knowingly concealing/receiving stolen property and unlawful possession of a controlled drug, according to court documents.

He has served various stints in prison and was last released from state Department of Corrections custody in 2009, according to DOC records.
State troopers arrested a man believed to have been under the influence of drugs after a stolen-vehicle pursuit that ended in the parking lot of a north Tulsa casino Wednesday morning.

The chase started shortly before 7 a.m. when a trooper tried to stop the pickup for a traffic violation on Oklahoma 11 near Lewis Avenue, according to an arrest report. The truck continued west, leading troopers on a high-speed pursuit.

The pickup pulled into the parking lot of Osage Casino, 951 W. 36th St. North, where the driver, Jesse Hickman Jr., 33, surrendered and was taken into custody, Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Dwight Durant said. A female passenger also was arrested on warrants.

Investigators learned the pickup was stolen from Sand Springs, and an arrest report states a bag containing methamphetamine was found in the vehicle along with several cellphones and tablets. A container filled with an assortment of pills also was located, troopers reported.

While being taken to the Tulsa Jail, Hickman reportedly nodded off and began snoring. He then failed several sobriety tests, according to the report.

Hickman was booked on several complaints, including eluding police, driving under the influence of drugs, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a stolen vehicle. He also had a warrant in Tulsa County.
A tough stance on undocumented immigrants touted by Vic Regalado in media advertisements and at public forums has some in Tulsas Hispanic community concerned about the Republican candidates intentions if he is elected sheriff.

In his television advertisement, Regalado says he will fight illegal immigration, which is personal for me.

My parents came to America legally, the right way. This community Ive sworn to protect wont become a sanctuary for those who break the law.

A 25-second video on Dream Act Oklahoma-Tulsas Facebook page posted Saturday night features four young members of the local Hispanic community saying, Vic Regalado does not represent me.

Christina Starzl Mendoza, a co-leader of Dream Act Oklahoma-Tulsa, is one of the people in the video. Mendoza said Regalados campaign rhetoric is perpetuating fear in Hispanics, causing them to be wary of reporting crime to law enforcement.

Mendoza said a goal of the group is to try to ensure undocumented people trust law enforcement because many of them are targets for crime, especially robbery. Many undocumented individuals work labor jobs in which they are paid in cash, Mendoza said, so criminals know to specifically go after them.

If they dont feel safe to report that crime to police, thats an issue, Mendoza said. Not only does that allow for the bad people who actually commit crimes to go free, you have a group of people who cant participate in keeping their community safe.

Dream Act Oklahoma was established in 2009 by a group of students from Tulsa Community College, according to the groups website. Their purpose was to inform the community of the struggles faced by undocumented youth and their families.

Regalado told the Tulsa World on Wednesday that he doesnt support deputies asking for documentation during 911 calls for service or traffic stops. That could potentially lead to abuses of power and racial profiling, he said.

We will not go out and actively search out, root out anybody in any community simply because of their (immigration) status, Regalado said.

If elected, Regalado would be Tulsa Countys first Hispanic sheriff.

Regalado said his position is to provide law enforcement services to all communities. He said he doesnt want barriers to communication that discourage communities from calling or speaking with authorities, particularly with regard to violent crimes.

He also reiterated support for the 287(g) program, which through a federal partnership gives the Sheriffs Office immigration enforcement powers that include deportation.

If youre committing crimes, yeah, well come after you just like in any community and any person here in Tulsa, Regalado said. If youre here illegally (and) committing crimes, I dont want you in Tulsa, and I certainly dont want you in the United States.

The Dream Act group  also known as Dreamers  is meeting with Regalado on Friday evening to discuss concerns.

Regalados opponent in the special general election on April 5, Democrat Rex Berry, spoke against the 287(g) program at a recent public forum. He said it polarizes and primarily stigmatizes a large segment of our community.

I dont see a continuation of stigmatizing undocumented human beings as being to our benefit, Berry said.

Jordan Mazariegos, 22, is another member of Dream Act Oklahoma-Tulsa. Mazariegos said he knows airtime for ads is expensive, so he reasoned that Regalado has spent a large chunk of campaign funds to make it a point to target the immigrant community.

Regalados campaign finance reports state he spent $88,350 through mid-February on media advertising.

Mazariegos said Regalados rhetoric bothered him most of all.

It was very heartbreaking to hear that, especially from a Latino person who says he is very proud to be a Latino, Mazariegos said.

But not all in the Hispanic community hold concerns about a Regalado administration.

Francisco Trevino, president of the Greater Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said he reached out to Regalado after he first viewed the TV spot, asking Regalado, What the hell were you thinking?

Trevino said it became his understanding the Regalado campaign went the direction it did in ads to garner more votes. Trevino said the Republican Party feeds off staunch platforms on undocumented immigration, with perhaps a majority of voters holding some sort of anger toward that population.

I know the Dreamers and work well with them, but you cant go out there and burn a bridge, Trevino said.
Having helped put the two most notorious figures in Oklahoma history behind bars  and one of them in the death chamber  doesnt seem to carry much weight with the states congressional delegation.

As a top official in the U.S Justice Department, Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland oversaw the investigation that led to the convictions of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols for planning and carrying out the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

He took control of the trial team, said Frank Keating, Oklahomas governor at the time. And he put together a superb team.

Judge Garland is a fine judge and a very fine human being. You cant do much better than Merrick Garland.

But Garland has the misfortune of being nominated to the high court by a president from one party while another party controls the Senate and a turbulent presidential campaign is underway.

The Republican-led Congress, hopeful of making the vacancy a campaign issue that will help the GOP win the White House in November, says it will not consider any nomination from Democratic President Barack Obama.

Oklahomas all-Republican delegation seems to agree. Both U.S. senators and at least three of the five representatives said Tuesday they are against Garlands nomination going forward.

The next president should be the one to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court, said U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe.

Nineteen years ago, Inhofe voted to confirm Garland to his current position on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

Garland talked to Inhofe on Wednesday, but was told the senator would not be considering any nominee before the presidential election.

Asked if Inhofes opinion of Garland has changed, spokeswoman Donelle Harder said Inhofe would have to review Garlands record on the bench.

U.S. Sen. James Lankford, who has been adamant about not allowing an Obama nominee to be confirmed, on Wednesday cited instances in which Democrats have opposed judicial confirmations in election years, and he praised the late Justice Antonin Scalia, whose death last month created the current opening.

Lankfords statement does not mention Garland at all.

Neither did the three representatives from Oklahoma who issued statements Wednesday.

Second District Congressman Markwayne Mullin said allowing Obama to appoint the new justice would rob the American people of their voice.

The Senate has no obligation to rubber stamp President Obamas nomination, said the 4th Districts Tom Cole, and is right to wait until the citizens have had their chance to weigh in.

This is not about who the president nominated today, said Rep. Frank Lucas of the 3rd District. It is about the principle of giving the American people a voice in this process by voting in the next general election.
An earlier version of this story misstated who received an emailed memo from Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairman Mark Hammons. The corrected version of the story appears here.

A rift over messaging strategy seems to have revealed a deeper disagreement at the top of the Oklahoma Democratic Party.

Chairman Mark Hammons thinks the party should focus its efforts on hammering the ruling Republican Party over the states rocky financial straits, and issued a memo to that effect at the start of the current legislative session.

Vice Chairwoman Connie Johnson says she was not consulted on the matter and thinks the state party is betraying its base by not being more outspoken on such things as criminal justice reform, abortion rights, marijuana legalization and sexual orientation.

The dispute over the partys direction bubbled to the surface Monday when the The Gayly, an Oklahoma City LGBT-oriented publication, published the memo and quoted Johnson and LGBT activist Troy Stevenson as being critical of the state party and its strategy.

On Tuesday, Hammons said the decision to focus on the states financial situation was really pretty simple. The Oklahoma Democratic Party has limited resources. There are many, many issues, but the one that impacts almost everybody is the financial disaster the state is in.

The memo was distributed internally to two ODP employees, four state officers and three legislative leaders. A shorter version of the memo, which did not include restrictions on Facebook and social media usage, was distributed to central committee members. It says official party communications would emphasize the inability of the Republican leadership to govern.

The message instructs committee members to coordinate public statements through the party headquarters and legislative leaders, and to delete Facebook posts dealing with certain other issues, including sexual orientation, abortion, Planned Parenthood, gun control, legal marijuana, the death penalty, tax credits and school funding.

Some issues, such as solutions to school funding and tax reform, were evolving, Hammons wrote, and legislative leadership needed to be flexible to deal with changing situations.

Hammons, an Oklahoma City attorney, said missteps on social issues would play into Republican hands.

The Republican strategy is to try to nationalize the local races and our priority must be to focus only on the local issues, Hammons wrote. We may (and should) offer private support to opponents of  reactionary bills and access to what resources we can. However we cant fall into the Republic(an) trap of making this Republican/Democrat issues. These have to be open for the candidates to make their own decisions.

The difficult thing  and its a hard lesson to learn  is that we cant fight all the battles at one time, Hammons said Tuesday. If we divide our resources, it kind of guarantees were not going to win any of them.

Hammons said individual committee members are free to speak out on any issue they wish.

Johnson, a former state senator from Oklahoma City, said Hammons memo disallows us from talking to the issues that matter to the Democratic base, and also point to a deeper divide.

Johnson said she and Hammons have not spoken in months, and traces some of the disharmony to the Democratic presidential campaign.

Hammons, while officially uncommitted, campaigned for the state party chairmanship as a Hillary Clinton supporter.

Johnson backs Bernie Sanders, and says Hammons could have done more to assure independents were able to vote in the March 1 Democratic primary.

This is the first year independents have been able to vote in the Democratic primary, and the Sanders campaign actively targeted those voters in a surprise victory.

But, Johnson said, If there was no Bernie, if there was no Hillary, we would still have a situation.

Johnson called the memo a gag order, but Hammons denied that characterization.

If something is important to you, you have to take a stand, he said.

People in leadership positions are not going to agree on everything. Hammons said. Thats one part of democracy. Another part of democracy is that when a group reaches a decision, you go along with it.
A Tulsa felon who has been on probation since last year was arrested Wednesday morning after allegedly pointing a loaded handgun at a woman and threatening her.

Edwin Brian McHenry Jr.  also known as Michael E. Jackson in some records  was booked into the Tulsa Jail on complaints of pointing a deadly weapon with intent and possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. His bail was set at $44,000.

The woman told police a man pointed a gun at her in the 200 block of South Quebec Avenue on Tuesday afternoon and told her, Dont make me kill you, according to an arrest report. The woman said she fled and waited to call police until she felt safe.

As officers spoke with the woman, the suspect drove by in a U-Haul box truck. Police pulled over the vehicle, and McHenry was taken into custody. A 9mm pistol with rounds in the magazine was reportedly found in the truck.

State records show McHenry is on probation until 2018 for drug-related convictions.
Gujarat govt said Pakistan had captured close to 124 boats from their state in the last two years.

Gandhinagar: As many as 362 Indian fishermen, mostly hailing from Gujarat and captured in the recent past, are lodged in Pakistan jail, the state government informed the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

Gujarat Fisheries Minister Babu Bokhiria, who gave this information while replying to a query raised by Congress MLA Punjabhai Vansh during the session, also said that of these 362 fishermen, Pakistan would be releasing 86 on March 21.

Vansh sought details of action taken by Gujarat government to bring back fishermen and their boats captured by Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) in the recent past.

In his response, Bokhiria said that out of the total 448 fishermen from Gujarat lodged in jail in the neighbouring country, 86 have come back.

"As of now, 362 are still there in the jail. Out of them, another batch of 86 will be freed on March 21," Bokhiria said.

Giving details about the status of boats seized by PMSA, the minister said that there is no hope to get back all the 702 boats captured by Pakistani authorities between 2004-05 to 2013-14, as they have disposed off these boats, Bokhiria said.

"However, out of 124 boats captured during last two years, Pakistan have returned 57 boats recently and agreed to release another 22 boats which are in working condition," the minister said.

The Congress MLA further requested the government to expedite the process of bringing back bodies of two fishermen, who died in the Pak jail few months back.

Vansh also claimed that one fishermen in Pak jail is in coma, while another is suffering from paralysis. He urged the minister to do something quickly to bring them back to India.

"Gujarat government has already written a letter to Centre to bring back dead bodies here at the earliest," Bokhiria said.
OKLAHOMA CITY  The Oklahoma Senate approved the transfer of some emergency funding for corrections and education Tuesday.

The action comes shortly after legislative officials and Gov. Mary Fallin agreed to tap the states Rainy Day Fund to offset cuts to common education and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

Seven-percent cuts were made to state-appropriated agencies in the midst of a widening revenue failure for the current fiscal year. Meanwhile, the state expects to have $1.3 billion less to spend in crafting a fiscal year 2017 budget.

Senate Bill 1571 would provide nearly $27.6 million from the Rainy Day Fund for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, providing roughly the same amount that was lost with the 7 percent cuts.

Senate Bill 1572 would provide $51 million from the fund for common education, which lost more than $109 million with the 7 percent cuts.

Both bills passed the chamber unanimously with no debate and now head to the House for consideration.

Education and public safety are top priorities in the state Senate, which is why weve worked hard to shield them from the severe budget cuts other agencies have experienced during these tough times, said Senate Pro Tem Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa.

Unfortunately, state revenues continue to suffer because of the dramatic downturn in oil and gas prices, which is why more cuts are necessary to maintain a balanced budget this fiscal year, he continued.

Using the Rainy Day Funds will lessen the impact of these budget cuts on students while also preventing cuts at state prisons. I appreciate my Senate colleagues for acting quickly on these measures to help these agencies.

House Appropriations and Budget Committee Chairman Earl Sears, R-Bartlesville, said he is looking forward to seeing the House pass the measures Monday.

Mental health bill: In unrelated action, the Senate passed a measure that would allow court orders for assisted outpatient mental health services for some adults in certain circumstances.

The bill defines assisted outpatient treatment as outpatient services that have been ordered by the court pursuant to a treatment plan approved by the court to treat an assisted outpatients mental illness and to assist the person in living and functioning in the community, or to attempt to prevent a relapse or deterioration that may reasonably be predicted to result in suicide or the need for hospitalization.

House Bill 1697 was named for the late Mark Costello, who was serving as the states labor commissioner when he was stabbed to death last August.

His son, Christian Costello, has been charged in connection with his death. Family members said Christian had a history of mental illness.

Its especially difficult for families whove tried to help children with mental illness but learn once their child turns 18 (that) their hands are often tied when they attempt to get their son or daughter the treatment they need to be able to function safely at home and in the community, said Sen. A.J. Griffin, R-Guthrie, one of the bills authors.

The Mark Costello Act would give families a path through the courts to get their loved one into assisted outpatient treatment before tragedy occurs.

Mark Costellos widow, Cathy Costello, and their daughter, Anna-Marie Costello, were in the Senate gallery when the measure unanimously passed the upper chamber.

I do believe that if we had this law six months ago, Mark Costello would be standing here speaking to you instead of me, Cathy Costello said.

Cathy Costello, who has been called a champion for mental health, said she believes that God can bring great things out of the worst tragedy, adding that she does not want another family to experience what her family has gone through.
Saws, sanding equipment and pieces of wood were strewn outside the Hardesty Center for Fab Lab Tulsa on Tuesday morning, as students from Will Rogers College Junior High School gathered to build a chair they had designed.

About a dozen middle school students were at the lab during their spring break to bring to life a design they spent two weeks creating in their technology class at school.

The activity was part of the Credits Count program, a $3 million grant-funded effort to promote STEM  science, technology, engineering and math  fields and inspire Tulsa students to pursue related careers.

The AEP Foundation is providing the grant in partnership with Tulsa Community College and the TCC Foundation.

Were walking the students through the process of digital fabrication, Brandi Dixon, Fab Labs education program manager, said of Tuesdays activity.

The students came up with and drew the designs and measurements in class, and Fab Lab then input the most do-able design into its digital fabrication software. On Tuesday, the students were trying to put together the wooden pieces created through that process.

Theres a lot of perseverance involved in building something from the ground up, Dixon said.

Victoria Rodriguez, 12, would agree. The seventh-grader said it felt really good to be part of the team whose design was being built on Tuesday.

Other people worked hard, but we did, too, she said. We had struggles, but we got through them.

Her team started with design ideas from the Internet but then worked to simplify and modify a design that would work with the materials they had  namely, wood.

Alexa Benitez, 13, said she had been to Fab Lab previously with a church group and was happy to have the opportunity to come again. The seventh-grader said she likes all the cool technology in the space, such as the 3-D printers.

The students worked on a prototype Tuesday morning  goggles on, saws in hand, sanding and filing equipment put to use. Slowly, the pieces began to fit together.

As the day progressed, students were divided into pairs to work on their own chair.

Angie Bias, the STEM supervisor for the Credits Count program at Rogers, said the project is aimed at teaching students real-life skills. They spent several days learning about the design process, measurements and other skills involved in making a chair.

Bias said she made her students think about whether their designs were for style or comfort, and whether they were meant to seat children or adults. The students then built scaled-down models of their chairs using cardboard.

The project also taught them problem-solving skills, Bias said, noting that students at times realized why a certain design didnt work and discussed what could be done to make it better.

They saw the rise and fall of their plans, she said.
BROKEN ARROW  The Broken Arrow City Council took no action after meeting in executive session late Tuesday to discuss possible litigation over a church sign on a city water tower.

City attorney Beth Anne Wilkening said earlier that she received a letter in December from a Broken Arrow resident and another letter in January from the Freedom from Religion Foundation in Madison, Wisconsin, asking that the city remove the name First Baptist Church from the city water tower near 61st Street and Elm Place, citing violations of the state and federal constitutions.

Several years ago, the city agreed to place the churchs name on the water tower in exchange for the dedication of property for location of the tower and various right of way and easements, Wilkening said in a statement.

When councilors returned to open meeting after the executive session Tuesday night, they reported that they were taking no action because of that agreement.

The Rev. Nick Garland, senior pastor of the church, said before the meeting that the church donated about 17 or 18 acres to the city of Broken Arrow and also gave easements so the city could build the water tower and finish 61st Street to get to the Bass Pro Shops.

Thats not a small gift, he said.

They wanted a high place for the gravitational advantages, and were on the highest hilltop on this end of town.

In exchange for the donation, Garland said, the city agreed to put the name of the church on the water tower, which was built in 2005.

He said such in-kind agreements are common between the city and local businesses and other entities.

I dont want it to appear that the church is aggravated with the city or vice versa. This is from outside, he said.

We dont have a beef with the city. The citys been great to us. Theyve been very gracious to keep us in the loop.

Wilkening said she is evaluating the requests and researching the matter.

The objection to the church sign on the water tower is based on the same section of the Oklahoma Constitution that led to the removal of a Ten Commandments monument from the state Capitol grounds in Oklahoma City last fall.

That section of the state constitution forbids the use of public money or property for the benefit or support of religion. State lawmakers are considering putting a state question on the November ballot that would allow voters to decide whether to drop that wording from the constitution, potentially paving the way for the return of the Ten Commandments monument to the state Capitol.
TALALA  A Claremore man is dead after the vehicle he was riding in crashed into a utility pole on a Rogers County road Monday night, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported.

Robert Mason, 35, was the sole passenger in a 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe that was traveling east on 340 Road at a high rate of speed about 8:30 p.m., according to an OHP report. The vehicle went off the right side of the roadway about five miles east of Talala and overcorrected three times before striking a utility pole to the left of the road. The SUV flipped onto its drivers side.

Mason, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle and pinned underneath it for more than two hours, the report states. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver  Demario Lucas, 40, of Collinsville  refused medical treatment. He was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, according to the report.
BAGHDAD  Omar al-Shishani, a top Islamic State commander who was a magnet for fighters from the former Soviet Union, has died of wounds suffered in a U.S. airstrike in Syria, a senior Iraqi intelligence official and the head of a Syrian activist group said Tuesday.

Al-Shishani, who was wounded in a U.S. airstrike earlier this month, died Monday evening outside the Islamic State groups main stronghold of Raqqa in Syria, the two told The Associated Press. A U.S. military spokesman confirmed the reports.

The IS-affiliated Aamaq news agency cited an unnamed source as denying that al-Shishani was wounded or killed, without providing any evidence that he was still alive.

The red-bearded al-Shishani, who was in his 30s, was one of the most prominent IS commanders, appearing in several online videos leading fighters into battle. He served as the top commander in Syria before being appointed to lead three elite units that carried out special missions in Syria and Iraq, according to Hisham al-Hashimi, an Iraqi scholar who closely follows the group.

Al-Shishani, whose real name was Tarkhan Batirashvili, was born in the Pankisi Valley, a predominantly ethnic Chechen region within the former Soviet republic of Georgia.

He did military service in the Georgian army, but was discharged after an unspecified illness, a former neighbor told The Associated Press in 2014. Georgian police later arrested him for illegal possession of arms, the neighbor said. Upon his release in 2010, Batirashvili left for Turkey.He first surfaced in Syria in 2013 with his nom de guerre, which means Omar the Chechen in Arabic, leading an al-Qaida-inspired group called The Army of Emigrants and Partisans, which included a large number of fighters from the former Soviet Union.

Some 1,500 battle-hardened fighters from the Caucasus region joined IS because of al-Shishani, al-Hashimi said.He first showed his battlefield prowess in August 2013, when his fighters proved pivotal in taking the Syrian militarys Managh air base in the north of the country. Rebels had been trying for months to take the base, but it fell soon after al-Shishani joined the battle, said an activist from the region, Abu al-Hassan Maraee.

In a video released in the summer of 2014, after IS swept across northern and western Iraq and declared an Islamic caliphate, al-Shishani stood next to the groups spokesman and other fighters as they declared the elimination of the border between Iraq and Syria.

A U.S. airstrike targeted al-Shishani on March 4 near Syrias eastern town of Shaddadeh, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said last week. Al-Shishani had been sent there to bolster IS fighters following a series of strategic defeats, Cook said in the statement.

Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that after al-Shishani was wounded, IS brought a number of doctors to treat him, but they were not able to.

Abdurrahman, whose group monitors the conflict through a network of activists inside Syria, said al-Shishani died in a hospital in the suburbs of Raqqa. The Iraqi intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to brief media, said the IS commander was buried in the eastern Syrian province of Deir el-Zour on Tuesday.

The Iraqi official said IS named an Iraqi to replace al-Shishani but did not give his name.

The spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, U.S. Army Col. Steve Warren, said Tuesday that the coalition was able to assess that he is dead and that it got the word Monday morning.

Warren described al-Shishani as a very important figure in the Islamic State group, who was hit as part of a stepped-up campaign of U.S.-led airstrikes targeting IS leadership.

Al-Shishani was in the area of Shaddadeh along with about a dozen other fighters who were in one spot ... and we struck it, Warren said last week.

Al-Hashimi said the U.S. decision to target top IS figures could have a major impact. Maybe the death of al-Baghdadi will lead to a rapid collapse, he said, referring to the top IS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Iraqi officials said in November 2014 that al-Baghdadi was wounded in an airstrike. He has not been seen since then, but has released audio messages calling on his followers to step up attacks.

IS, which emerged from al-Qaidas branch in Iraq, has many Iraqis among its top leaders. It exploited the chaos of Syrias civil war to capture large areas in that countrys north and west before sweeping into Iraq in 2014. It has suffered setbacks since then, but still controls large parts of both countries, including Iraqs second largest city, Mosul.

The U.N. has estimated that around 30,000 foreign fighters from 100 countries are actively working with the Islamic State, al-Qaida or other extremist groups. An earlier estimate by the International Center for the Study of Radicalization, a think tank at Kings College London, said IS fighters include 3,300 Western Europeans and 100 or so Americans.

Dalia Ghanem-Yazbeck, an analyst at the Carnegie Middle East Center, cautioned that al-Shishani had been mistakenly reported dead on previous occasions. And she said the significance of his death, if confirmed, is hard to say, because no one knows the exact extent of his work and importance within the leadership.
The probe panel is believed to have recommended rustication of students union president Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar, Anirban and two other students for their alleged role in the event. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: JNU on Wednesday extended the deadline for replying to show cause notices served to 21 students to March 18, after an inquiry panel had found them "guilty of violating" norms in connection with the controversial February 9 event.

"The Vice Chancellor has granted an extension till March 18 for students to reply to the show cause notice," a senior university official said.

The final "quantum of punishment" for the students will be decided on the basis of response to the notices, the deadline for which was till today 5 pm.

After a high-level committee of the university, found them guilty of "violating university norms and discipline rules" show-cause notices were issued to 21 students on March

14 asking them to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them.

The report of the five-member panel which was submitted on March 11 has pointed out lapses on part of the students as well as the administration.

Taking into account the role of outsiders in the controversial event, the university panel has found Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya "guilty" of arousing communal, caste or regional feeling or creating disharmony among students.

While no specific charges have been pointed out against students union president Kanhaiya Kumar, who is facing sedition charges in connection with the event, the university has found ABVP member Saurabh Sharma "guilty" of blocking traffic on February 9, the day of the controversial event.

The university had on March 11 revoked the academic suspension of eight students including Kanhaiya after the probe panel submitted its report.

Meanwhile, the students who had refused to depose before the committee, have called a council meeting tonight to discuss whether or not they will reply to the show cause notices.

A decision in this regard could not be reached at an all-party meeting organised on campus, which went on till late last night.

The probe panel is believed to have recommended rustication of students union president Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar, Anirban and two other students for their alleged role in the event.

Kanhaiya, Umar and Anirban were arrested on charges of sedition in connection with the programme. Kanhaiya was released on bail from Tihar on March 3 while Umar and Anirban are still in judicial custody.
Ginnie Graham and Bob Doucette talk about the Oklahoma gubernatorial debate between Gov. Kevin Stitt and State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, from asking if they ever smoked marijuana (one said yes, one said no) to the closing statement that brought one candidate out from behind the podium.
The troubled times our nation confronts cry out for unity and shared purpose. Yet today, we are often bitterly divided. Compromise has become a four-letter word. The legislative process is mired in gridlock. A growing number of elected leaders have opted for soundbites over statesmanship. As a result, the American people are fed up. That anger is playing out in the 2016 presidential election and has given rise to Donald Trump.

So is Trump the uniter-in-chief our nation is hungry for? In a word: no. I grew up in the coalfields of Pennsylvania. I know real down-home talk when I hear it  but I also can detect baloney and bluster. Trump is full of the latter. The only people he has managed to unite are Chris Christie and David Duke.

There is no denying that Trump has tapped into the very real and understandable frustrations of working people. In a national survey last month, 63 percent of Americans said they dont have enough savings to cover a $500 car repair or a $1,000 medical bill. A majority of people in this country are living paycheck to paycheck. So when Trump says were losing, his message is heard. And when he yells or lashes out, he finds a sympathetic audience who wishes more politicians would express the frustration they feel every day.

But here is the catch: Trumps policies would make life exponentially worse for those who count on a paycheck. Trump says he loves right to work legislation that would make it harder for workers to speak up on the job. He cheered and bankrolled Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walkers assault on teachers and nurses. He has routinely attacked the rights of workers at his own company. And despite the fact that American workers havent gotten a real raise in 40 years, Trump says wages are too high.

At a time when working people are struggling to make ends meet and income inequality is through the roof, Trump has the audacity to claim Americans deserve a pay cut. It is one thing for profit-hungry employers to try to hold down the wages of workers. It is entirely another for a presidential candidate to do the same. Trumps woefully out-of-touch views are likely to spark unity  in the form of unified opposition.

Trump says he would make America great again, but in reality he would double down on four decades of broken economic rules. He says some of the right things on trade, but is on record claiming outsourcing creates jobs in the long run. He thinks corporate raider Carl Icahn, who made his fortune destroying pensions and union contracts, would make a good Treasury secretary. And according to several estimates, Trumps tax giveaways to the super wealthy would add $10 trillion to the national debt.

The idea that Trump is a unifying figure is most ridiculous when considering his character. Trump is a bigot. From his anti-American proposal to ban Muslims to his horrendous comments about women and immigrants, Trump is running on fear. His biggest applause line on the campaign trail is about building a wall. He frequently behaves like a petulant child when challenged. He condones violence against protesters at his rallies. If he wasnt running for president, he could be a guest on Jerry Springer.

It is time to take a deep breath.

Working people have a straightforward standard for the 2016 presidential race: Any candidate who wants to appeal to workers must put forth a bold and comprehensive raising-wages agenda. Trump simply doesnt stack up. His vision for America is more bigoted than bold, more condescending than comprehensive.

Trump is loud. He is entertaining. He is good for ratings points. But he is the opposite of a uniter. His ascent to the national stage is already hurting our credibility around the world. His election would rip our nation apart at the seams and take us back into an era of division and hate. And it would push workers and our families into the abyss.

Trumps candidacy reveals the need for a truth-telling moment in America. And the truth is this  Trump is dangerous and must be stopped. From coast to coast, we will be sharing that fact from now until November.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Richard Trumka is president of the AFL-CIO, Americas largest federation of labor unions. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
WASHINGTON  Theres no subtlety about Democrats tax plans. Between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, details differ, but the central themes are identical: Soak the rich. To hear Democrats tell it, the countrys main budget problem is that the rich dont pay their fair share. If they did, the fiscal outlook would brighten. We can now test this proposition, because the Clinton and Sanders tax proposals have been thoroughly analyzed by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.

To begin, its worth noting that the rich, defined here as the top 1 percent, dont escape taxation. Some manipulate the system to minimize or eliminate taxes, but as a group, the top 1 percent accounted for 14.6 percent of pretax income in 2011 and paid 24 percent of federal taxes, estimates the Congressional Budget Office. Whether thats a fair share is, of course, a matter of opinion.

Regardless, both Clinton and Sanders would increase it sharply. Start with Clinton. The TPC reckons that her tax package would raise $1.1 trillion over a decade. The top 1 percent would pay about three-quarters of the increase, with other high-income households covering most of the rest. The bottom 95 percent would see little or no change in their taxes, says the TPC.

The top income tax rate on ordinary income  mainly wages and salaries  is now 39.6 percent (plus theres a 3.8 percent surcharge on investment income added under the Affordable Care Act). Clinton would require taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes exceeding $1 million to pay at least a 30 percent tax (a plan named after investor Warren Buffett, who proposed it). There would also be a 4 percent surcharge for taxpayers with AGIs exceeding $5 million.

Likewise, Clinton would limit itemized deductions, raise the estate tax and increase taxes on capital gains (profits from the sale of stocks and other assets held at least a year); these are concentrated among the wealthy and upper middle class. The top capital gains rate is now 23.8 percent. Clinton would raise that to 43.4 percent and gradually reduce it the longer an asset is held. After six years, it would revert to 23.8 percent. She would also end capital gains treatment for carried interest, a provision that benefits some investment firms.

For all of this, the governments budget outlook wouldnt change dramatically. Even if all the new taxes went to deficit reduction, the impact would be modest. Over the next decade, the CBO projects $9 trillion in deficits; Clintons tax increase would absorb a ninth of this. To make a real dent, the superrich would need to pay even higher taxes, as would the upper-middle and middle classes.

Sanders proposes this. His tax package would raise a staggering $15.3 trillion over a decade, says the TPC. Most taxpayers would be hit. There would be a 2.2 percent surcharge on all taxable income. Further tax rate increases, starting at 9 percent and peaking at 24 percent, would kick in at $250,000 for joint filers (and $200,000 for singles). The TPCs Howard Gleckman notes that maximum rates would hit 54.2 percent for ordinary income and 64.2 percent for capital gains.

Like Clinton, Sanders would raise the estate tax. Hed also impose new business taxes, including a carbon tax and a financial transactions tax (a levy on sales of stocks and other securities). At least, you might think, deficits and debt will decline. Not necessarily. Says the TPC:

Sanders has been quite explicit that the revenues are earmarked to finance an expansive set of new spending priorities [Medicare for all health insurance, free college]. ... The plan is unlikely to do much, if anything, to reverse the currently unsustainable path for public debt.

Whether Sanders and Clintons huge tax increases would weaken economic growth will surely be debated. Although the TPC did not explore that question, it did note that higher marginal tax rates reduce incentives to work, save and invest. (Comparable questions are posed by Donald Trumps proposed tax cuts, which the TPC estimates would cut government revenues by $9.5 trillion over a decade. Unless offset by spending cuts, government borrowing would roughly double.)

The lessons here are many. Soaking the rich is not a painless way to avoid unpleasant political choices. If you want much bigger government, you have to pay for it with broadly based taxes, even if the rich and upper middle class bear the biggest burdens.

At best, the changes proposed by Clinton and Sanders would ease economic insecurity and advance social justice. At worst, they would harm the economy, centralize more power in Washington  inspiring more lobbying  and entrench a cynical view of politics. It becomes a vote-buying enterprise financed by transfers from the minority upper classes to the majority middle and lower classes.
From tomorrow ABC features a week of special programming, Our Focus, Health that will put Australias health under the spotlight.

It will tackle questions such as: How healthy is our health system? What are the recurring national problems, like obesity, melanoma, substance abuse and mental health?

With advances in medicine, costs of treatment, and our ever-aging population, how will we as a nation face the demand ahead? What challenges do we face with a system that needs to cater for everything from the most remote Indigenous community to the busiest city hospital?

ABC TV

Friday 18 March

ABC TV | 5.30pm | The Drum

NEWS 24 | 6.30pm (AEDT)

The Drum will explore how Australians are taking control of their health using new technologies and alternative therapies. The doctors office is no longer the first and last stop for patients. Theyre increasingly collecting, sharing and analysing their own data and seeking out personalised treatment plans. A more nimble healthcare system that better caters to patients needs is developing. And Australian experts are leading the way. Panelists include: Director of the Brain and Mind Centre at Sydney University; Prof. Ian Hickie AM; and author of New York Times bestseller Cure: A Journey into the Science of Mind over Body, Jo Marchant (London). Sarah Dingle will be guest host.

Saturday 19 March

ABC News 24 | 11.30am (AEDT) | Australia Wide

Australia Wide explores the city/bush divide when it comes to accessing healthcare. ABC Medical reporter Sophie Scott visits a busy GP practice in the Upper Hunter in NSW to find out how doctors are dealing with the challenges of providing good medical care in regional and rural Australia. We meet an indigenous female doctor from Scone and look at how her chronically ill patients access regular treatment.

Sunday 20 March

ABC TV | 10.30am (local) | Australia Wide

(Repeat) Australia Wide explores the city/bush divide when it comes to accessing healthcare. ABC Medical reporter Sophie Scott visits a busy GP practice in the upper Hunter in NSW to find out how doctors are dealing with the challenges of providing good medical care in regional and rural Australia. We meet an indigenous female doctor from Scone and look at how her chronically ill patients access regular treatment.

Monday 21 March

Open Drum| abc.net.au/news/thedrum/

Whats in a postcode? You have told us about the challenges you face accessing healthcare in your region  dealing with issues from mobile black spots to lack of intersex-appropriate care. The best of these audience pieces collected in a special interactive news feature for health week.

Tuesday 22 March

ABC TV | 8.00pm | Catalyst Special: Back Pain

ABCs flagship science program takes a look at the all too common medical complaint, back pain.

ABC TV | 8.30pm | Keeping Australia Alive  Episode 2

Keeping Australia Alive is a documentary event capturing the Australian health system in one snapshot  telling the story of who we are, what we value and how we live and die. Its a series is about us, and the Australian health system. It is a snapshot of what happens over a single day in our unique health service, stretched from one end of the continent to the other. This landmark series will confront and surprise with real stories of what makes up Australias massive system of care and service, which we often take for granted. What do we discover when we dissect the health system as a whole  slicing through its layers, its wonder, its horror, its enormity, all on one selected, ordinary day?

ABC TV | 10.00pm | Creatives: Michelles Story

Michelles Story follows the dramatic events in the life of talented Australian dancer, Michelle Ryan, who danced for Meryl Tankards Australian Dance Theatre, famed for its ground-breaking choreography. Michelle relates the heart-wrenching story of her shock MS diagnosis, its tragic fallout and the slow path to rehabilitation as she works with disabled dancers as Artistic Director of Adelaides Restless Dance Theatre. Intimate access to Michelle is captured by the acclaimed choreographer Meryl Tankard, making her directorial debut on the ABC.

iview

ABC iview will join the conversation by providing a comprehensive collection of stories from the ABC TV archives, including Changing Minds, The Agony of the Body, Kids on Speed, The Ugly Face of Disability Hate Crime, Jono: Love Me Love My Face, Im Having Their Baby, Dying For Clear Skin and How Fat Works: Inside The Body Beautiful.

Plus theres a selection of popular health bases stories  covering everything from the best ways to burn fat, to dealing with mid-life crisis  from programs including ABC News, The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, Australian Story, Q&A, Catalyst, Four Corners, Tonic.

As well as being a comprehensive overview of the weeks content across all ABC platforms, the site will present two online exclusives:

Staying alive: what those working at the coal face want you to know

Based on ABS causes of death data, well be speaking to seven health experts from different parts of the country on the one thing they wish Australians knew that could help keep them, and their loved ones, alive.

Where we die.

Around half of all Australians die in hospital, and a significant number of these deaths will happen in intensive care  the place that even intensive care doctors consider to be the worst place to die. This feature will look at where Australians die, what are the factors that determine whether people do and dont get to die in the circumstances they want and the steps we can all take to get the death wed prefer.

abc.net.au/health
Free TV CEO Julie Flynn will retire in July after 15 years as head of the lobby group.

She was appointed CEO of Free TV in February 2001, leading the organisation that represents commercial free to air networks.

During that time she has been diligent in confronting industry issues including the transition from analogue to digital, regulation, license fees, anti-siphoning, code of practice, disrupters and technological change.

Free TV has frequently been opposed to the views of Pay TV group ASTRA with both heavily lobbying Canberra.

This has been a difficult decision for me, Flynn said.

The last 15 years has been an extraordinary privilege and a pleasure and I am extremely proud of all that we have been able to achieve over that time.

Free TV is a great organisation in an industry that continues to be at the centre of Australian life.

It is able to attract and retain talented staff, and I greatly appreciate their efforts and commitment.

Julie has been a remarkably effective participant and advocate in a complex area of public policy, Chairman Harold Mitchell said.

Julies leadership of Free TV is valued highly across the industry and her work is respected by broadcasters, regulators and politicians from all sides of politics.

Julie has done a lot to improve recognition of the continuing value of commercial television to advertisers as well as the public.

Her articulate and passionate representation of the industry has ensured that the value of free-to- air television services to all Australians has been front and centre of the public policy debate, he said.

Her retirement will be a loss for Free TV and for the industry.
Salman Khan was sentenced for 1 year in the poaching case by the trial court in 2006. (Photo: PTI)

Jodhpur: Arguments on the appeal by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan against his conviction in a case of poaching of two chinkaras at Bhawad village near here in September 1998 ended today in the Rajasthan High Court. Khan was sentenced for 1 year in this case by the trial court in 2006.

Justice Nirmal Jeet Kaur reserved the order which will be pronounced after the hearing in another revision petition moved by Khan in a separate case of poaching, in which he was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment by the trial court. Hearing on this appeal will begin from March 28 in the High Court.

Khans counsel Mahesh Bora had begun the arguments in the appeal against 1-year sentence in the HC on November 16, and he had contended that Khan had been implicated in the case as there was no material evidence against him.

"Neither Khan had poached the chinkaras on the said night nor he was in possession of fire arms," Bora had argued pointing to the differences in the inspection reports of the vehicle allegedly used by the actor prepared by forest department and police.

Bora had also argued in the court that the key prosecution witness, Harish Dulani, driver of the vehicle of Khan, was never present in the court for examination.

"Hence his statements could not be relied upon," he had argued.

In its reply, Additional Advocate General K L Thakur had cited the statements of other prosecution witnesses and forensic reports of blood stains collected from the Ashirwad Hotel, where the poached chinkara was allegedly taken, to corroborate the statements of Dulani.

Khan was sentenced to 1 year in this case on February 17, 2006, whereas 8 other co-accused, including actor Satish Shah, had been acquitted by the trial court.

An appeal was filed by Khan in the high court against this sentence whereas two other appeals had been filed by the state government one each for enhancement of the sentence of Khan and other for challenging the acquittal of co-accused.

Government advocate Mahipal Bishnoi said that the arguments on the state's appeal also ended today and the court has reserved the order to be pronounced after the hearing in the revision petition in the other case is completed.
1:26 p.m., March 16, 2016--For fashion merchandising major Maria Finnegan of Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, her Merchandise Planning course this semester is providing the opportunity to add a philanthropic aspect to what could have been a typical class project.

Students in the FASH330 class, led by Abigail Clarke-Sather, assistant professor in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies, are given a semester-long project in which they calculate selling percentages, price margins, monthly sales and more, while working closely with and making final recommendations to real companies.

But not all the real-world opportunities being offered to students are with retail businesses. One is Water Is Life Kenya (WILK), a small nonprofit organization dedicated to working with Kenyan communities to help them get access to clean water, generate income and improve lives.

Joyce Tannian, WILKs founder and executive director, spoke to the class on Monday, March 14, about her firsthand experience with the Maasai community in southern Kenya, located near Mount Kilimanjaro. Tannian explained the importance of infrastructure projects such as pipelines and rainwater harvesting, which help women and girls avoid making 10- to 15-mile journeys to the nearest water points and then carrying the water on their backs all the way home.

Working with WILK, Tannian said, Maasai women create homemade jewelry and beadwork from waste paper, earning income for their families. The women are paid higher wages than average in Kenya and often use that money to help pay for their childrens schooling and household expenses.

In turn, the organization uses profits from the business to construct infrastructure that provides more people with access to water near their homes in remote areas.

The jewelry work has been so successful that the womens company reached a deal with Disney from 2011-15, where the latter bought hundreds of thousands of paper beads in bulk.

Expired maps, cruise line brochures, princess initiations  all this paper being stored in warehouses can be converted into paper beads, Tannian explained to the students.

Tannian also showed the different types of jewelry and beadwork, including bracelets, handbags and necklaces, as well as lanyards that were used by U.S. Embassy employees to hold their ID badges. While these crafts are beautifully decorated, there are challenges when it comes to design errors, she said.

Im dealing with ladies that are always super proud of their work, so it can be a challenge to ask for revisions or changes, Tannian told the class.

The project will allow the FASH330 students to develop pricing methods and analyze competitors, giving the students who chose Water Is Life Kenya for their project additional firsthand experience with the jewelry.

I was really excited for Joyce to speak to our class about the company, Finnegan said. I am really looking forward to the pricing project, as it will not only help me in my field of study but also has the potential to help Water Is Life Kenya grow.

Senior fashion merchandising major Kathleen DiBari, from Pennsauken, New Jersey, also called the opportunity an exciting one, especially because of the potential benefits to the Maasai community. The nonprofit, she said, not only provides people with clean water, but the organization also helps many women pay for their childrens education.

Water Is Life Kenya is also holding a fundraiser on Saturday, April 23, when it hosts the second annual Water Walk at the Newark Reservoir off Old Paper Mill Road near the UD campus. The walk-athon will raise money for clean water projects in Kenya.

Article by Christopher Razzano

Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson
10:11 a.m., March 16, 2016--Shemin Ge, the 2016 Birdsall-Dreiss Lecturer of the Geological Society of America, will discuss her research on groundwater dynamics in headwater regions under a changing climate at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 23, in 102 Gore Hall on the University of Delaware campus in Newark.

Ge is a professor of hydrogeology in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She received her doctorate from John Hopkins University in 1990, then worked at S.S. Papadopulos and Associates before joining the University of Colorado in 1993.

Groundwater systems undergo a significant recharge period during the warmer months from melting snow and ice in high-altitude headwater regions. Under a changing climate, this important seasonal period can be expected to shift, and the questions facing researchers are how much and what kinds of changes can be expected.

Ges presentation will address these questions as they relate to groundwater flow and its interaction with surface water.

This lecture is intended for students and faculty who are interested in water resources, hydrogeology and water quality.

The Birdsall-Dreiss Lectureship was first established in 1978 and honors the late John Manning Birdsall, a leading geologist with the United States Geological Survey, and the late Shirley J. Dreiss, a faculty member in earth sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Each year a researcher is chosen by a panel of former Birdsall-Dreiss lecturers based on the scholars research credentials and communication abilities. The chosen lecturer delivers up to 50 talks around the world.

Ges talk at UD is cosponsored by the Department of Geological Sciences and the Delaware Environmental Institute.

Article by Tom Aristone
Even as the search for a new Lokayukta is still on, the government has announced its decision to revive the Anti-Corruption Bureau, making the police wing of the Lokayukta institution redundant.

Thirty years after Karnataka established the institution of Lokayukta, the state government is out to make the police wing of this anti-corruption watchdog jobless by reviving the Anti-Corruption Bureau which was once scrapped for failing to perform satisfactorily.

Even as the search for a new Lokayukta is still on, the government has announced its decision to revive the Anti-Corruption Bureau, making the police wing of the Lokayukta institution redundant.

The move is being seen by most as the final nail in the coffin for the institution of the Lokayukta, which has been headless for several months now. Established to fight corruption, it hit an all time low when an extortion racket within its ranks came to light in May 2015. Later, the arrest of then Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Raos son, Ashwin Yerabati, by the SIT came as a bitter blow to the morale of the Lokayukta staff. But worse was to follow. Not only did Justice Rao resign but Upa Lokayukta, Justice Subhash B. Adi found himself facing an impeachment motion, further hitting the morale of the institution.

While the Lokayukta may have its problems, the delay in appointing its new head and the impeachment of Justice Adi have put the government too in the dock with anti-corruption crusaders accusing it of deliberately trying to curtail its powers.

This is not the first time that the government has faced such criticism. The recent amendment to the Karnataka Lokayukta Bill, which allows for removal of the Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta if need be, was seen as a ploy to defeat any move to investigate corruption within the government.

In 2014 the government found itself accused of diluting the powers of the Lokayukta on the pretext of making it conform with the Central Lokpal Bill, which wanted the Karnataka Lokayukta to be empowered to only fight corruption when it is common knowledge that it cannot take on this role under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The latest move therefore is being seen as the culmination of a long drawn out effort to take away any teeth the Lokayukta may have and leave government officers and ministers free to go about their work without fear of being caught in sting operations or the like which could embroil them in charges of corruption.

Role of anti-corruption bureau

States like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Goa and others have both a Lokayukta and an Anti-Corruption Bureau. Even Delhi has both agencies

The state government has set up the ACB, taking shelter under a Supreme Court verdict and recent high court rulings

The ACB will function under the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) and be headed by an officer of the ADGP rank. It will have a sanctioned strength of 322 policemen

The Lokayukta has trapped not only government officials, but also MLAs receiving bribes. BJP MLA Y. Sampangi became the first legislator in the state to be convicted on corruption charges after the Lokayukta police caught him accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh from a businessman, Hussain Moin Farooq in January 2009

Former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa was also sent to judicial custody for alleged illegal denotification of land based on investigation of the Lokayukta police in October 2011

Deliberate act by govt to weaken Lokayukta: Justice Santosh Hegde

Always forthright in his views, former Lokayutka Justice N. Santosh Hegde makes no bones about his objection to the revival of the Anti-Corruption Bureau. I dont know what made the government think of reviving an old agency, which was scrapped because it did not work well enough. It is a deliberate act by the government to weaken the Lokayukta institution and destroy its police wing, he charges.

Also, when the ACB will function directly under a cabinet minister, how can anyone expect it to function impartially?, he demands, pointing out that once the ACB comes into force, the policemen in the Lokayukta will be jobless. If the ACB handles all cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, the Lokayukta police cannot conduct raids or lay traps as they normally do. And the ACB, functioning directly under the government, may come under pressure from various quarters at one time or the other, he warns.

Justice Hegde recalls that prior to 1984, the state had a Karnataka Vigilance Commission headed by a judge to investigate wrongdoing by the government and an Anti- Corruption Bureau headed by a senior police officer. But neither performed to the satisfaction of the people of Karnataka and so were merged. This led to the setting up of the Karnataka Lokayukta, which began functioning in 1986, he notes.

The new Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) will be manned by 322 policemen and be headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Director General of Police.
12:41 p.m., March 14, 2016--In todays crowded university textbook market, Carlos Asartas Principles of Economics stands out.

With Principles, Asarta, who is director of the Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship (CEEE) at the University of Delaware, has created McGraw-Hills first- ever product to be built online from the ground up.

This move away from traditional e-books, which are simply copies of physical textbooks, to a concept-based module system allows teachers and students more flexibility and opportunities to innovate.

Asarta explained that he and his co-author, Roger Butters of Hillsdale College, designed Principles and the accompanying Connect Master: Economics engine to solve a number of problems that professors often face in university classrooms.

He recently described these issues, as well as the ways that professors can implement solutions, at McGraw-Hills 27th annual Teaching Economics Conference.

Some challenges that professors face, Asarta said, include catering to students with different learning styles, working with textbooks which cover information that isnt valuable to the course and, perhaps most of all, students not reading their textbooks.

These challenges were reflected in the extensive research that Asarta and Butters conducted. For example, data from many focus groups run during development of the product showed that the majority of students dont read their textbooks on a weekly basis, and that most listed Google and YouTube as more valuable resources.

Instead of assigning students dozens of pages of reading split into long chapters, Connect Master: Economics is based around more than 200 essential economics concepts. This system lets professors customize their courses.

You can choose the concepts that you want to deploy to students in whatever order you want them which you cannot do with an e-book or a physical copy of a textbook, Asarta said.

He explained that while traditional systems could be compared to records or CDs, meaning that a customer must purchase a whole record to access one favorite song, Connect Master: Economics is more like iTunes.

Choose the list you want and give it to your students, he said. Youre not constrained by the order of the concepts.

Lessons are personalized on an individual basis as well, as the Connect Master interactive engine assesses each students knowledge and focuses on subjects that are a struggle for the student.

This is particularly helpful in areas where students are likely to have some K-12 background, Asarta explained, and significantly increases course efficiency.

The online materials include more than 200 three- to five-minute videos professionally created by Asartas team in both English and Spanish. Each video provides a concise explanation of an essential concept in a digestible format.

Asarta added that the bilingual nature of the product has opened doors for students who are among the millions of native Spanish speakers in the United States. Having access to course materials in Spanish has helped students to understand concepts more quickly and share their work with their family and friends.

In addition to videos and core assessments, Connect Master is equipped with a number of features designed to improve upon the traditional university textbook format.

Helpful Hints for example, is a feature based on thousands and thousands of office hours, Asarta said. This helps students save time and helps professors with hundreds of students to avoid answering the same questions over and over.

Another section, Why This Matters, provides real-world examples that demonstrate how each concept applies to students lives.

All the while, the engine sends feedback to professors, allowing them to know everything from which concepts students understand to how engaged each student is with the course material.

The flexibility of the product, Asarta continued, means that it can be implemented as an online-only course, or as an addition to face-to-face courses that allows professors to spend more class time on activities and in-depth examples.

Impressive results

During his presentation at the McGraw-Hill conference, Asarta described the experiences of UD economics professor Charles Link, who recently added Connect Master: Economics to his introductory economics course.

Asarta described Link as an example of a professor who didnt have to make many changes to his traditional course format, but simply added the Connect Master materials to his existing resources.

The only constraint he has is: Come to class, Asarta explained. Its face to face the same way hes done it for 40 years. But now hell be able to see whether students actually engage with the materials.

Since introducing the Connect Master materials, Link has seen a significant increase of 5 to 10 percentage points in the average exam grades that students earn.

Student feedback for the program has also been overwhelmingly positive.

In one survey, 95 percent of students said that their experience with Connect Master was positive, while 85 percent said that they would use Connect Master again if given the choice and 83 percent said that it improved their studying efficiency.

Of students surveyed, 81 percent said that using Connect Master increased their learning and understanding of course topics and content, and when asked for words to describe the product, students gave responses like interactive, efficient, effective and helpful.

One student, who has taken four other online classes with a variety of structures, appreciated the format of Connect Master: Economics.

Instead of having to go on multiple websites, I can easily access my lectures, modules and homework all in one website and can see reports of the material I know and I dont know, the student said. Being able to access the materials in one central location affords me the time to better focus on content and materials.

Article by Sunny Rosen

Image courtesy of McGraw-Hill Education
The University of Delaware's graduate physical therapy program has been ranked No. 1 in the nation in the 2017 edition of U.S. News and World Report's Best Graduate Schools.

The University of Delaware's graduate physical therapy program has been ranked No. 1 in the nation in the 2017 edition of U.S. News and World Report's Best Graduate Schools.

6:19 a.m., March 16, 2016--The University of Delawares graduate physical therapy program has been ranked No. 1 in the nation in the 2017 edition of U.S. News and World Reports Best Graduate Schools.

In the newest rankings, the chemical engineering graduate program is ranked ninth in the nation, with UD's College of Engineering overall graduate program ranked 51st.

In addition, five other graduate programs are listed among the nation's top programs in the 2017 edition: education (35), public affairs (45), part-time MBA (51), chemistry and biochemistry (60), and psychological and brain sciences (67).

"The University of Delaware offers a wide range of top graduate programs across all our seven colleges," University Provost Domenico Grasso said. "This latest recognition of these programs is an affirmation of the importance of UD's graduate education on a national stage and the key role they play in advancing our research and scholarly excellence."

Physical therapy

UD's graduate physical therapy program was rated best in the nation, tied at No. 1, with the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Southern California and Washington University in St. Louis.

"This recognition by U.S. News and World Report confirms what our students, alumni, faculty and staff and patients have known for some time," said Kathleen Matt, dean of the College of Health Sciences. "UD's Department of Physical Therapy is all about excellence. The Department of Physical Therapy offers students a combination of engaging classwork with world-renowned professors, hands-on clinical experiences and top-flight research opportunities. The quality of the program, as exemplified by the students and the faculty, translates to world-class comprehensive care in physical therapy that is offered here at our clinic on the STAR Campus. And we are proud of the students we train; they are the next generation of health care leaders."

All U.S. News rankings in health programs are based solely on the result of peer assessments surveys sent to deans, administrators and faculty members at accredited degree programs or schools in each discipline.

The top four programs all received peer assessment scores of 4.3 on a five-point scale.

Long counted among the top physical therapy programs in the United States, UDs Department of Physical Therapy is housed in the College of Health Sciences and has as its mission to advance the practice by providing outstanding entry-level and post-graduate education, translating science to deliver quality clinical services, leading federally funded rehabilitation research and training the next generation of rehabilitation researchers and leaders.

The department has several ongoing research programs that have received national attention, including studies of mobility for children and adults with disabilities.

Chemical engineering

The Universitys chemical engineering graduate program also receives high grades on a consistent basis and is ranked ninth in the new U.S. News report.

UD is tied at ninth in the 2017 ranking with Princeton University and the University of California, Santa Barbara. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is ranked No. 1.

The chemical engineering graduate ranking is based solely on assessments by department heads in the specialty, who rated programs based on a five-point scale. UD received a score of 4.2.

The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, housed in the College of Engineering, has as its mission the provision of high quality education to students at all levels, to lead in the development and organization of new knowledge, and to provide technical service to the community.

Chemical engineering at UD celebrated its centennial in 2014.

Video by Ashley Barnas

Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson
Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it.





I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends.





More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it.





The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity.





About me:

I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS.

Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line).

Age: 42

Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed.





I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it).
Ukrainian co-owner of Trasta komercbanka (TKB), the former Rada lawmaker from the Peoples Will party and former Party of Regions Ivan Fursin said the bank was destroyed deliberately.

He told in his interview with local media, the site Rus.db.lv reports.

"In the past two months, I in fact had to reside in Latvia, where I spoke with many knowledgeable people who told me that Latvia seeks to join the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, - Ed.), and one of the conditions for being admitted was "restoring order" in the financial sector. I do not know what that means, but I was confident that TKB was deliberately chosen to show proof that the banking regulator is doing its job," said Fursin.
The United States will never accept Russias attempted annexation of Crimea.

This is said in the official statement of the representative of the U.S. Department of State, released on Wednesday night, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Today, as Russias occupation of Crimea enters its third year, we reaffirm our commitment to a united, sovereign Ukraine. The United States does not recognize Russias "referendum of March 16, 2014 or its attempted annexation of Crimea, which violates international law," the representative of the U.S. Department of State notes.

He stresses that the United States remains deeply concerned by the situation in Russian-occupied Crimea, where occupation authorities suppress dissent and where ethnic and religious minorities, especially Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians, face serious and ongoing repression.

"Nongovernmental organizations and independent media are still being silenced or driven out, and international observers are still denied access to the peninsula," reads the statement.

"We will not accept the redrawing of borders by force in the 21st century. Sanctions related to Crimea will remain in place as long as the occupation continues. We again call on Russia to end that occupation and return Crimea to Ukraine," the document says.

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Washington believes that Ukraine will root out corruption and total dependence of its economy from the oligarchs in 2016.

US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said while speaking at a hearing in U.S. Congress, the Ukrinforms own American correspondent reports.

"We continue to believe that 2016 can and should be the year when Ukraine will be set free from the unholy alliance of dirty money and dirty politics that has robbed Ukrainians for far too long," said Nuland.

She noted that U.S. and the IMF backing for Ukraine would depend on reshuffling the central government, breaking away from substantial influence of oligarchs on Ukraine, as well as of anti-corruption reforms, notably in the General Prosecutor's Office and the judicial system in general.

She said that given the current political instability neither the U.S. nor the IMF could continue to provide financial assistance to Ukraine, the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs stressed.

In connection with this, she noted that this situation will continue "until we are convinced who will be our partner on the other side of the negotiating table."

Nuland also said that delays in Ukraine reforms are directly affecting the security situation in the country as well as guarding peace in the region.
The European Union has allocated additional EUR 20 million in humanitarian aid to the people affected as a result of the Russian military aggression in eastern Ukraine.

The decision was made during the visit of European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides to Ukraine on March 16-18, an Ukrinform correspondent in Brussels reports.

"The EU remains committed to support for the Ukrainians. Ukraine should remain a priority on the agenda. We have announced new support for the people affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine," the Commissioner said.

He stressed that the humanitarian assistance should be provided to the most vulnerable categories of residents quickly, safely and impartially.

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Poland together with international society does not recognize illegal Russias annexation of Crimea. In view of the international law, Crimea remains a part of Ukraines territory.

A representative of the Polish Foreign Ministry told Ukrinform correspondent.

Our position on this case remains the same: Poland together with the whole European Union and a significant part of the international society doesnt recognize Russias annexation of Crimea. In view of the current international law, Crimea remains a part of Ukraine, the Polish Foreign Ministry said.

According to the Polish Foreign Ministry, Poland supports diplomatic actions by the European Union regarding the second anniversary of Crimea occupation, in particular a recent statement made by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini.

As a reminder, two years ago, on March 16, 2014, a so-called referendum on Crimeas joining the Russian Federation took place. This referendum has not been recognized by the international society.

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Published March 16, 2016

MONROE, La.  ULM Risk Management and Insurance Majors Lexie Meszaros and Lauren Lewis have been selected for the prestigious National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices, Ltd, (NAPSLO) summer 2016 internship program.

NAPSLO annually awards paid summer internships to college students interested in a career in the surplus lines industry. This nine-week opportunity offers students experience in both the underwriting and brokerage sides of the surplus lines marketplace by working with actual risks and learning alongside leaders in the industry. The internship program was created to attract new talent to the surplus lines insurance industry. Representatives from NAPSLO traveled to Monroe to interview both Meszaros and Lewis.

Students work five weeks for a NAPSLO member insurance carrier and four weeks with a NAPSLO member wholesale brokerage firm. Interns gain experience in all areas, including: underwriting, claims, accounting, marketing, and regulatory compliance. Much of the work is hands-on, actually dealing with risks that may receive coverage by the firms, and many interns are assigned special projects by their host firms dealing with particular lines of business or future ventures and programs. Additionally, interns are given access to many levels of leadership at the firm; many meet the Presidents or CEOs of their organization during their internship tenure.

In addition to paid travel and housing expenses, NAPSLO provides interns a stipend and the host firms pay a competitive weekly salary. At the end of the program, several interns will be invited to attend the 2016 NAPSLO Annual Convention in San Diego. Based on interviews with the members of the Career Awareness & Internship Committee, two interns will be selected as the J.H. Blades Scholar and Bermuda Scholar and will travel to London or Bermuda for three weeks in 2016 to learn more about those unique markets.

Meszaros will intern with James River Insurance in Richmond, Va. and with Benchmark Management Group and Specialty Lines Underwriters in Naperville, Ill. I am thankful for the opportunity to further explore the surplus lines, said Meszaros. I know that the experiences I gain from the NAPSLO internship will be just as rewarding as my education at ULM has been.

Lewis will intern with Nationwide E&S/Specialty in Scottsdale, Ariz. and with AmWINS in Chatsworth, Calif. I am most excited to be able to have real life experience in two of the main sides of the insurance industry and be able to actually put into action everything I've been learning in my Risk Management and Insurance classes at ULM!

Risk Management and Insurance Associate Professor Christine Berry said she is very proud of both of them. Lauren and Lexie are both very deserving of this internship and I know they will be excellent representatives of ULMs Risk Management and Insurance program.
Chennai: Irate parents gathered at the Sri Sankara Vidyalaya Matriculation higher secondary school in Pammal on Tuesday, a day after 8 students were said to have been injured when a portion of the ceiling along with the ceiling fan came down on their heads during class hours. The parents wanted to thrash the school correspondent for laxity towards student safety.

Police said the incident of the ceiling collapse and falling fan occurred on Monday at around 12.30 pm in classroom VI-C, in which 3 students were injured. The school management rushed the injured to a private hospital where one of the students required sutures to stop the bleeding.

A section of parents claimed that five more students were injured, and were also treated in the same private hospital in the vicinity. Later, all the injured students were dropped at their doorstep by school staff who may also have struck a deal with parents not to escalate the issue.

The school then tried to hush up the incident by fixing the roof overnight and installing the fan back in its place before patchwork was done to perfection to cover all the traces of the incident. Trouble began when parents who learnt about the incident began gathering in front of the school.
A Mozambican family is registered by UNHCR staff at the Kapise site, Malawi.  UNHCR/K.Shimo

KAPISE, Malawi, March 16 (UNHCR) - When government soldiers hunting opposition Mozambican National Resistance, or RENAMO, fighters ransacked his village, Carlos Songane* and his family ran for their lives.

"The soldiers wanted us to disclose the whereabouts of the RENAMO soldiers," says Songane, speaking in Chichewa, the local dialect. "When you tell them you don't know, they torture you. So, most of us fled to Malawi for safety."

The farmer, his wife and four children fled their home Kondezi in western Tete Province in February for this site in Malawi's Mwanza district. They are among some 9,600 registered asylum seekers who have run from what they say is worsening violence in Mozambique in the past nine months. Scores more have not yet been registered and their inclusion would bring the total of arrivals to almost 11,500.

Among the wave of recent arrivals is Paolo Chirindza*, 56, who recently abandoned the village of Sabwe in Tete, with his wife and two children after soldiers burned down his home, following accusations that he was among villagers harbouring RENAMO fighters.

"We had to run for our lives," he recalls, explaining how the family fled on foot with their neighbours - among them women with children and babies. The trek to Malawi took three days, taking them through other ransacked, torched and abandoned villages on the way.

While many like Songane and Chirindza have fled violence, others have left Mozambique as a precautionary measure, reportedly concerned that there could be more fighting after RENAMO this month threatened to take control of six northern provinces - Manica, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia, Nampula and Niassa.

In the past three weeks, an estimated 250 people have been arriving in Kapise every day, compared to about 130 a day before. Most arrive empty handed, while some managed to flee with a few blankets and pots.

The sharp upsurge in needy new arrivals is placing pressure on the local community in Kapise, who so far have graciously received the Mozambicans, but warn that it is getting more difficult as the local resources are insufficient to support them all.

"We welcome our brothers and sisters in the true spirit of African generosity because they are in trouble," said Kapise village chief, William Mitiwe. "However, there has been a lot of pressure on our land, forest and general vegetation. Trees had to be cut down to host these people, and the fruits we enjoy during the rainy season are all gone."

To cope with the growing number of arrivals and the difficult conditions at Kapise, as well as for security reasons, the Malawi government agreed last Friday to reopen Luwani refugee camp, where basic services can be better guaranteed. While Kapise is just five kilometres from the border, Luwani is some 65 kilometres inside Malawi.

Luwani camp previously hosted Mozambican refugees during the 1977-1992 civil war and was finally closed in 2007. Preparations are under way for the move, which UNHCR hopes to start in the coming few weeks.

Several partners, including UNICEF, WFP and MSF, have provided essential services in Kapise, such as water boreholes, food and health care, which has helped to improve life in Kapise, but conditions generally remain tough and so it will be used mainly as a transit camp.

"We have engaged the government to ensure that a piece of land big enough to accommodate the new arrivals is provided, and as UNHCR we are happy, and wish to commend the government for positively responding to our request," says UNHCR Representative to Malawi Monique Ekoko.

Malawi already hosts some 25,000 refugees, mostly from the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa, in Dzaleka camp located some 35 kilometres from Lilongwe. This camp is already stretched to capacity and with food rations being reduced to 40 per cent since October last year, resources to assist refugees are limited.

*Name changed for protection reasons

By Kelvin Shimo in Kapise, Malawi
UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie Pitt is visiting Greece today on behalf of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.

The Special Envoy's mission will concentrate on the humanitarian situation of thousands of refugee families in Greece, most of whom were forced to flee Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. Close to 85% of all the refugees and asylum seekers who have arrived in Europe landed in Greece since January 2015. Today, there are over 40,000 people in Greece who have arrived during the past weeks, who desperately need protection and humanitarian support.

She will reiterate UNHCR's support to Greece in the expansion and coordination of protection and assistance to refugees, the strengthening of registration and asylum procedures, and the upholding of essential international protection and refugee law standards and the implementation of the EU relocation program. She will express her appreciation for the support and solidarity Greece has shown the hundreds of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers who have landed on their shores after dangerous and difficult - sometimes deadly - journeys.

Ms. Jolie-Pitt's visit will focus on:

 Access to adequate reception conditions and protection, including those legal pathways available to refugees and asylum seekers, such as the EU relocation programme.

 Challenges and constraints facing the emergency response, as well as ways UNHCR could further support the government and communities in Greece.

 Support for refugees with specific vulnerabilities, such as women headed households, unaccompanied children, disabled, or those who have been exposed to sexual or gender based violence.

"I am here to reinforce efforts by UNHCR and the Greek government to step up the emergency response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation. I look forward to meeting authorities, partners and volunteers working on the ground to improve conditions and ensure the vulnerable are protected," Special Envoy Angelina Jolie Pitt said.

The visit comes the day after the Special Envoy's visit to Lebanon, on the 5thanniversary of the Syrian conflict, where she stressed the need for leadership and coordinated international action to address the root causes of the global refugee crisis. It is her first visit to Greece on behalf of UNHCR.

UNHCR is supporting the authorities in Greece who are responsible for the reception, registration and assistance to refugees and asylum seekers arriving on their territory. UNHCR has set up eight field offices with hundreds of staff and significant resources to support shelter, water and sanitation, health and protection services among other priorities. With the build-up of numbers in Greece during the past weeks, however, efforts are not meeting all the needs on the ground and the situation is deteriorating daily.

The Special Envoy's visit comes on the eve of a critical meeting between European Union Member States and the Government of Turkey that will potentially affect thousands of refugees and asylum seekers in Greece. The Special Envoy is also due to be participating at a high-level meeting to explore legal pathways for Syrian refugees, such as resettlement, humanitarian admission programmes, private sponsorships, family reunion, student scholarships and labour mobility schemes, later in the month in Geneva.
A refugee mother and her two children rest after arriving by boat on the island of Lesvos.  UNHCR/A.McConnell

'Refugees' and 'Migrants'

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are the terms refugee and migrant interchangeable?

No. Although it is becoming increasingly common to see the terms 'refugee' and 'migrant' used interchangeably in media and public discussions, there is a crucial legal difference between the two. Confusing them can lead to problems for refugees and asylum-seekers, and for States seeking to respond to mixed movements, as well as to misunderstandings in discussions of asylum and migration.

2. What is unique about refugees?

Refugees are specifically defined and protected in international law. Refugees are people outside their country of origin because of feared persecution, conflict, violence, or other circumstances that have seriously disturbed public order, and who, as a result, require international protection. Their situation is often so perilous and intolerable, that they cross national borders to seek safety in nearby countries, and thus become internationally recognized as refugees with access to assistance from states, UNHCR, and relevant organizations. They are so recognized precisely because it is too dangerous for them to return home, and they therefore need sanctuary elsewhere. These are people for whom denial of asylum has potentially deadly consequences.

3. How are refugees protected under international law?

The specific legal regime protecting the rights of refugees is referred to as international refugee protection. The rationale behind the need for this regime lies in the fact that refugees are people in a specific predicament which calls for additional safeguards. Asylum-seekers and refugees lack the protection of their own country.

Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts the right of everyone to seek and enjoy asylum. However, no clear content was given to the notion of asylum at the international level until the 1951 Convention related to the Status of Refugees [the 1951 Convention] was adopted, and UNHCR was tasked to supervise its implementation. The 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol, as well as regional legal instruments, such as the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, are the cornerstone of the modern refugee protection regime. They set forth a universal refugee definition and incorporate the basic rights and obligations of refugees.

The provisions of the 1951 Convention remain the primary international standard against which any measures for the protection and treatment of refugees are judged. Its most important provision, the principle of non-refoulement (meaning no forced returns) contained in Article 33, is the bedrock of the regime. According to this principle, refugees must not be expelled or returned to situations where their life or freedom would be under threat. States bear the primary responsibility for this protection. UNHCR works closely with governments, advising and supporting them as needed, to implement their responsibilities.

4. Does the 1951 Convention need to be revisited?

The 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol have saved millions of lives and as such are among the key human rights instruments that we rely upon today. The 1951 Convention is a milestone of humanity developed in the wake of massive population movements that exceeded even the magnitude of what we see now. At its core, the 1951 Convention embodies fundamental humanitarian values. It has clearly demonstrated its adaptability to changing factual circumstances, being acknowledged by courts as a living instrument capable of affording protection to refugees in a changing environment. The greatest challenge to refugee protection is most certainly not the 1951 Convention itself, but rather ensuring that states comply with it. The real need is to find more effective ways to implement it in a spirit of international cooperation and responsibility-sharing.

5. Can migrant be used as a generic term to also cover refugees?

A uniform legal definition of the term migrant does not exist at the international level.[1] Some policymakers, international organizations, and media outlets understand and use the word migrant as an umbrella term to cover both migrants and refugees. For instance, global statistics on international migration typically use a definition of international migrant that would include many asylum-seekers and refugees.

In public discussion, however, this practice can easily lead to confusion and can also have serious consequences for the lives and safety of refugees. Migration is often understood to imply a voluntary process, for example, someone who crosses a border in search of better economic opportunities. This is not the case for refugees, who cannot return home safely, and accordingly are owed specific protections under international law.

Blurring the terms refugees and migrants takes attention away from the specific legal protections refugees require, such as protection from refoulement and from being penalized for crossing borders without authorization in order to seek safety. There is nothing illegal about seeking asylum  on the contrary, it is a universal human right. Conflating refugees and migrants can undermine public support for refugees and the institution of asylum at a time when more refugees need such protection than ever before.

We need to treat all human beings with respect and dignity. We need to ensure that the human rights of migrants are respected. At the same time, we also need to provide an appropriate legal and operational response for refugees, because of their particular predicament, and to avoid diluting state responsibilities towards them. For this reason, UNHCR always refers to refugees and migrants separately, to maintain clarity about the causes and character of refugee movements and not to lose sight of the specific obligations owed to refugees under international law.

6. Do all migrants really always choose to migrate?

The factors leading people to move can be complex. Often the causes are multi-faceted. Migrants may move across international borders to improve their lives by finding work, or in some cases for education, family reunion, or other reasons. People may also move to alleviate significant hardships that arise from natural disasters, famine, or extreme poverty. Those who leave their countries for these reasons would not usually be considered refugees under international law.

7. Dont migrants also deserve protection?

The reasons why migrants may leave their countries are often compelling, and finding ways to meet their needs and protect their human rights is important. Migrantsincluding those in irregular situationare protected by international human rights law. This protection derives from their fundamental dignity as human beings.[2] For some, failure to accord them human rights protection can have serious consequences. It may result in human rights violations, such as serious discrimination; arbitrary arrest or detention; or forced labour, servitude, or highly exploitative working conditions.

In addition, some migrants, such as unaccompanied or separated migrant children, or migrants who become victims of trafficking or are otherwise in a situation of vulnerability, may have specific needs for assistance, and have the right to have those needs met. UNHCR fully supports approaches to migration management that respect the human rights of all people on the move.

8. Are refugees forced migrants?

The term forced migration is sometimes used by social scientists and others as a general, open-ended term that covers many kinds of displacement or involuntary movementboth across international borders and inside a single country. For example, the term has been used to refer to people who have been displaced by environmental disasters, conflict, famine, or large-scale development projects.

Forced migration is not a legal concept, and similar to the concept of migration, there is no universally accepted definition. It covers a wide range of phenomena. Refugees, on the other hand, are clearly defined under international and regional refugee law, and states have agreed to a well-defined and specific set of legal obligations towards them. Referring to refugees as forced migrants shifts attention away from the specific needs of refugees and from the legal obligations the international community has agreed upon to address them. To prevent confusion, UNHCR avoids using the term forced migration to refer to refugee movements and other forms of displacement.

9. So what is the best way to refer to mixed groups of people on the move that include both refugees and migrants?

UNHCRs preferred practice is to refer to groups of people travelling in mixed movements as refugees and migrants.[3] This is the best way to allow for acknowledgement that all people on the move have human rights which should be respected, protected, and fulfilled; and that refugees and asylum-seekers have specific needs and rights which are protected by a particular legal framework.

Sometimes in policy discussions, phrases like mixed movements, mixed flows or composite movements are used to refer to the phenomenon of refugees and others on the move (including migrants, who may be in situations of vulnerability) travelling side-by-side along the same routes, using the same facilitators. Mixed migration has also been used this way, but has sometimes been a source of confusion and is best avoided.

The term mixed migrant, which has been used by some as a shorthand way of referring to a person travelling in a mixed movement whose individual status is unknown or who may have multiple, overlapping reasons for moving, is unclear. It can cause confusion and mask the specific needs of refugees and migrants. It is not recommended.

10. What about refugees who leave one host country and enter another? Arent they actually best described as migrants if they travel onward from the first country they stayed in?

A refugee does not cease to be a refugee or become a migrant simply because they leave one host country to travel to another. A person is a refugee because of the lack of protection by their country of origin. Moving to a new country of asylum does not change this, so it does not affect a persons status as a refugee. A person who meets the criteria for refugee status remains a refugee, regardless of the particular route they travel in search of protection or opportunities to rebuild their life, and regardless of the various stages involved in that journey.

UNHCR, 15 March 2016. Rev 30 August 2018.

[1] The 1990 UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families defines the term migrant worker. See also Article 11 of the 1975 ILO Convention Concerning Migrations in Abusive Conditions and the Protection of Equality of Opportunity and Treatment of Migrant Workers (No. 143) and of the 1979 ILO Migration for Employment Convention (No. 97); as well as Article 1 of the 1977 European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers.

[2] For example, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; as well as other important international and regional treaties, recognize that all people, including migrants and refugees, have human rights.

[3] This reflects notably the language used by the UN General Assembly in the landmark New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants 3 October 2016, A/RES/71/1, www.refworld.org/docid/57ceb74a4.html.
A Syrian refugee hugs her daughter moments after reaching the shores of Lesvos island in an inflatable boat earlier this year.  UNHCR/A.Zavallis

GENEVA, March 16 (UNHCR) - The UN Refugee Agency said today that more than one million people, mostly refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, have now crossed into Greece since the start of 2015.

UNHCR called the milestone an urgent reminder of the need for a more coordinated approach to managing the influx and protecting people who are fleeing war and persecution.

The agency has repeatedly appealed to European governments, and the European Union, for strong leadership and a vision to address what Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said was "as much a crisis of European solidarity as it is a refugee crisis."

UNHCR said latest figures showed that up to March 14 more than 143,634 people had travelled to Greece from Turkey this year, taking the total of land and sea arrivals into Greece since January 1, 2015 to 1,000,357.

So far 448 people have drowned or gone missing trying to reach safety in Europe this year compared to a total of 3,771 for last year. For more information, click here.

UNHCR previously reported that more than one million people reached Europe overall last year, but that figure included arrivals across the central Mediterranean route from Libya to Italy.

The new figures showed women and children now make up nearly 60 per cent of sea arrivals, compared to less than 30 per cent in June 2015.

Although the Greek authorities and military have ramped up their response, thousands are sleeping in the open without adequate reception, services, aid or information.

The latest figures came as UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie Pitt was visiting Greece today on behalf of UN. The Special Envoy's mission will concentrate on the humanitarian situation of thousands of refugee families in Greece. For more information, click here.

Jolie Pitt yesterday (March 15) called on world governments to show leadership in addressing the Syrian and wider global refugee crisis, during a visit to Lebanon's Bekaa Valley to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the Syria conflict.

The five-year conflict has fuelled the worst humanitarian crisis of our time, with 4.8 million Syrians forced to seek refuge in neighbouring countries and a further 6.6 million displaced inside the country.

"On this day, the fifth anniversary of the Syria conflict, that is where I had hoped to be - in Syria, helping UNHCR with returns and watching the families I have come to know be able to go home. It is tragic and shameful that we seem still so far from that point," the Special Envoy told yesterday's news conference.

She called on governments to find diplomatic solutions to the crisis, and to look at what more they themselves can do to provide safety to those fleeing persecution and war.

The Special Envoy said: "We are at an exceptionally difficult moment internationally, when the consequences of the refugee crisis seem to be outstripping our will and capacity and even our courage to respond to it."

She went on to say "we cannot manage the world through aid relief in the place of diplomacy and political solutions," adding that, "it is not a time for emotion. It is a time for reason and calm and foresight."

"Leadership in this situation is about doing more than simply protecting your borders or putting forward more aid," the Special Envoy said. "My plea today is that we need governments around the world to show leadership, to analyze the situation, to understand exactly what their countries can do, how many refugees they can assist and how."
Family members of Vimala told DC that her husband used to physically abuse her and would torture her to provide him with gold jewellery.

Chennai: Unable to withstand dowry demands of her husband, a 23-year-old mother of two set her children on fire before killing herself at Chengalpet.

The incident came to light on Tuesday at 5.30 pm when neighbours rushed to check on the mother, Vimala, her son Sarvesh (3) and his 18-month old sister Lakshmi, after hearing their screams. Witnesses noticed smoke billowing out of their home on Chinnamaniyakaaran Street as the mother had used Kerosene to douse her children and self, before setting fire to their bodies.

Neighbours found Vimala dead after breaking open the door but took the children to the Chengalpet medical college hospital after discovering some life left in them. But at 7 pm, doctors declared Sarvesh dead even as Lakshmi continues to battle for her life having sustained 80 per cent burns on her body.

Chengalpet police detained the husband, Sankaranarayanan (28) and his father, Sivaprakasam. Sankaranarayanan, who ran a pawn brokers shop in Arasumandi street in Chengalpet town married Vimala of Perungalathur five years ago. The couple had frequently quarrelled over Sankaranarayanans dowry demands.

Family members of Vimala told DC that her husband used to physically abuse her and would torture her to provide him with gold jewellery. On Tuesday, Vimala had served lunch to her husband and the father-in-law at 2 pm before they departed to their shop, neighbours noted.
Haryana police was criticised for its failure to prevent and control violence during the Jat agitation last month, in which 30 people lost their life. (Photo: PTI)

Chandigarh: With Jat leaders threatening to resume agitation in case the BJP led Haryana government does not meet their demands my March 17, Haryana government has sought paramilitary forces from the Centre to be deployed in sensitive areas.

"Paramilitary force has been demanded (through state Home department) from the Centre and we will get the same," IGP, Rohtak Range, Sanjay Kumar said today.

He said additional police forces also been arranged from within the state. "We have made adequate police security arrangements. We have adequate force and we are deploying it accordingly," he said.

However, he refused to shed light on how many police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order in case Jat leaders resume their agitation. "I cannot disclose it because of security considerations," the IGP said.

Haryana police was criticised for its "failure" to prevent and control violence during the Jat agitation last month, in which 30 people lost their life. The then IGP Rohtak Shrikant Jadhav was suspended by Haryana government.

Several districts including Rohtak, the epicentre of Jat agitation, Jhajjar, Kaithal, Jind, Sonipat, Bhiwani had witnessed violence by arsonists and unruly mob.

The influential Jat community led by All India Jat Sangharsh Samiti had threatened to relaunch their agitation if the state's BJP government did not meet their demands by March 17.

Jats are demanding 10 per cent quota in jobs and educational institutions, besides withdrawal of FIRs registered against the protesters, compensation to those killed during the stir and action against BJP MP from Kurukshetra Raj Kumar Saini for his "anti-Jat" reservation stand.

"On March 17, we will decide on the next mode of action on whether to block roads, railway tracks or any other type of agitation," Samiti Chief Yashpal Malik had said yesterday.

Malik had said the state government must bring a Bill in the ongoing budget session of the Assembly to ensure reservation for Jats.
BENGALURU: High drama prevailed in Kilari Road in Balepet after a two-storeyed building, around 60 years old, collapsed on Tuesday noon.

The building housed a sweet shop and a mobile phone outlet and they were evacuated hours before the collapse. Hence there were no casualties. According to the police, the owners knew the building unsafe as it had developed cracks and the premises was evacuated.

A huge crowd had gathered and many were waiting to capture the event on their mobile phones. Area corporator and BBMP officials rushed to the spot, along with the Chickpet police, to take stock of the situation.

BBMP officials and the police are now warning the owners of the old buildings nearby to either renovate it or demolish them to avoid untoward incidents.

There are many multi-storeyed building on Balepet, which are in a dilapidated state and need immediate attention. The police are contemplating taking action against the building owner for endangering peoples lives.
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Hyderabad: Making it clear that it will monitor the cleaning of River Musi, the Hyderabad High Court asked the TS government to place all details, any action plan it has, for cleaning of the river and beautification of its surroundings, before the court by March 21. A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice P. Naveen Rao was hearing a PIL by Forum for Good Governance, represented by M. Padmanabha Reddy, seeking to declare as illegal the noncompliance and lack of interest of the government in cleaning the river.

B. Rachana Reddy, counsel for the petitioner, brought to the notice of the court that the Centre suggested that a joint action plan to clean the river be prepared by the HMWW&SB, the GHMC and the HMDA. She said a holistic plan of action and suitable steps were required to take up the task, as pollution has reached a dangerous level putting the citizens at the risk of severe health hazards. Ms Reddy said that the Centre has come forward to bear 70 per cent of cost of the rivers cleaning.

Though over Rs 400 crore has been spent on construction of sewerage treatment plants and Rs 50 crore on a rubber dam, there was no reduction of pollution levels. Counsel placed certain news reports with regard to recent visit of minister K.T. Rama Rao along with authorities. She urged the court to direct the government to constitute a body having a similar mandate as the Sabarmati River Front Development Corporation or any other such special purpose vehicle for speedy cleaning of the Musi.

After perusing the news reports, the bench felt that the government was making some efforts and asked counsel for the TS government to ascertain the views of the government and also material records and place them before it. The bench told the petitioner to implead Union of India as a party to the petition.

Mediation is the best way: Judge

Justice G. Chandraiah of the Hyderabad High Court and executive chairman of Telangana Legal Services Authority on Tuesday said that mediation was the best way for litigants to seek speedy and free justice. Interacting with reporters here, the judge said justice delivered through mediation would not put any financial burden on the parties and would provide an amicable settlement to disputes. Both parties to the litigation can settle their dispute in the presence of a mediation officer if they cannot engage an advocate, he said.

Justice Chandraiah said that efforts are on to reduce pendency in lower courts of the state by adopting ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) - Arbitration, Conciliation, Mediation, Lok Adalat and Judicial Settlement at various levels. He said that the mediation was now statutorily recognised as one of the ADR methods and it was gaining momentum in the country. The mediation and conciliation project committee, New Delhi has formulated certain guidelines and have imparted 40 hours of training to the mediators. Three members were selected from TS to impart training to the trainers.

SC: Rojas suspension from Assembly contrary to Law

The suspension of YSRC MLA K. Roja from the AP Assembly for one year under Rule 340 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business is contrary to law, observed the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Though a Bench of Justices V. Gopala Gowda and Arun Mishra made such an oral observation, it directed the Hyderabad High Court to hear Ms Rojas writ petition on Wednesday and pass appropriate orders.

Technically, the Bench found that it is not possible to hear the present petition when a writ petition for the same relief was already pending in the High Court. Even as senior counsel Basava Prabhu Patil, appearing for the AP government tried to point out the suppression of certain facts by the petitioner, the bench observed what kind of order the Speaker is passing. Is this order should be passed. It is contrary to law. What is happening in this country? Is this the way you prevent a duly elected representative of the people from participating in the Assembly? This is how you (Speaker) deal with the right of participation of a member who represents thousands of people. There is something wrong. You (counsel) must advise your client.
Support Veterans through COMBAT Color Run April 23

Participants in a previous COMBAT Color Run throw handfuls of color (cornstarch dyed with food coloring) at each other as part of the fun, family-oriented event. The Students Supporting Veterans, a University of Wyoming Recognized Student Organization, will host a COMBAT Color Run April 23 in Laramie. (COMBAT Color Photo)

Luke Cloud and the Students Supporting Veterans, a University of Wyoming Recognized Student Organization, want you to dust off your running shoes to support combat veterans at an April event.

The annual COMBAT Color Run will take place at noon Saturday, April 23, at Optimist Park in Laramie. The run, in its fifth year, will be hosted in Laramie for the first time.

Proceeds from the event, organized by the Students Supporting Veterans (SSV) group, will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project to help the nations veterans. It is sponsored by AMVETS (or American Veterans), a national organization that is one of Americas leading veterans service organizations with more than 250,000 members.

Pre-registration for the COMBAT Color Run is $30 for adults, $20 for children between ages 10-15 and free for children younger than 10. Prices will increase after Friday, April 1, but registration is available on the day of the event. The entry fee includes an event T-shirt, a pair of sunglasses, a package of color and water.

For more information, go to www.COMBATColor.com or contact Cloud at COMBATColorFunRun@gmail.com. Like COMBAT Color on Facebook at www.facebook.com/COMBATColorFunRun/.

The event is a timed fun run that combines camouflage and battles of color. Participants can choose a 3-mile run or a 1.5-mile walk.

Runners are encouraged to wear camouflage and a white shirt to make the color more visible. At the finish line, runners are incited into battles with their family and friends. There also will be live music and food and drink vendors, and extra color and T-shirts will be available for purchase. Volunteers, along the run route, battle runners by throwing handfuls of color (cornstarch dyed with food coloring) at runners as they pass. Runners battle volunteers by throwing color back.

Cloud, the SSV secretary, initiated the Wyoming event four years ago in Sheridan when he was the president of the local veterans club.

This is the fifth COMBAT Color Run and the first to be hosted in Laramie, Cloud says. I struggled after my deployments and was lucky enough to find the help I needed. I created this event to give back and help other veterans.

The members of Student Supporting Veterans will be supported by AMVETS, and we encourage everybody to come out and join this family-friendly event. Help us remember our nations warriors and all their sacrifices they have provided us, he adds.

Cloud, a UW electrical engineering senior, is a Marine Corps veteran. He served from 2001-08 with deployments to Iraq in 2004 and to Africa in 2007. Originally from Alabama, he has been at UW since 2013 and in Wyoming for more than a decade.

COMBAT Color is not about who wins or loses, Cloud says. Its about having fun and celebrating our nations warriors.
New York: India is fully committed to advancing gender equality and women's empowerment and eliminating all forms of discrimination against women for forging inclusive society and development, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi has said here.

"Government of India remains fully committed to advancing the goal of gender equality and empowerment of women, and to eliminating all forms of discrimination against women," Gandhi, Minister for Women and Child Development, said.

India is committed to building upon the success of the Millennium Development Goals and aims to move further through "transparent and accountable" mechanisms to ensure that women and men enjoy the same opportunities and are accorded equal treatment, she said during a round table session at the 60th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

Gandhi said ensuring gender equality and combating violence against women are integral to India's national pursuit of forging inclusive society and development.

The minister said that amendments to the Indian criminal law in 2013 significantly broadened the definition of sexual assault and harassment, increased penalties for offenders and aimed for greater accountability of public officials in providing relief to woman affected by violence.

Further the National Policy for Women is being updated to capture the emerging challenges to position women as equal partners of sustainable development, Gandhi said adding that efforts are being made by the government to close the gap between the gender equality commitments.

Terming Information and Communication Technology as an "effective enabler" of gender equality and empowerment of women, she told the high-level gathering of women ministers, officials and NGOs from around the world that India has launched the 'Mahila e-Haat', an online marketing platform for women to encourage women entrepreneurs.

The two-week long CSW has brought together representatives from the UN system, member states and civil society from around the world to review the progress towards gender equality and women's empowerment and plan new initiatives.

Over 400 events have been planned with the priority theme being women's empowerment and sustainable development, given that this is the first session of the Commission since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in September last year.
Foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan after the dinner of SAARC FSs in Pokhara. (Photo: ANI/Twitter)

Kathmandu: Indian Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry on Tuesday exchanged courtesies at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) dinner in Nepal.

This was the first time the two have met since the Pathankot airbase attacks in January, which derailed bilateral ties between the two nations.

Earlier, the two of them were on a boat ride together.

The two exchanged courtesies at the function, which was held in the run up to the SAARC meeting for foreign ministers, which begins on March 17.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is expected to meet Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan prime minister's adviser on foreign affairs in Pokhara, where the SAARC meeting will take place.

However, earlier in the day, diplomatic relations took a hit after reports emerged claiming India had denied visas to seven Pakistani officials who wanted to attend the ongoing World T20 tournament.

While there was no official communication on the matter from both countries, it was reported that the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday issued summons to Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad J.P. Singh as a sign of protest.

Two of the seven diplomats were given the travel permits, but the remaining five were denied permission because of their links with the country's defence ministry and its Inter-Services Intelligence agency.
New Delhi: As the government banned about 350 fixed dose combination drugs, Congress member Rajeev Shukla on Wednesday expressed surprise that such medicines were being manufactured and sold for so many years and sought that the list of these drugs be made public.

"This is a serious matter. I believe that when government took action against 115 pharmaceutical companies, the full list (of the companies) should be made public as well as the names of the drugs," he said while raising the issue during the Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha.

He said several companies were manufacturing these medicines in violation of norms. Citing reports that household names like Corex and Vicks Action 500 have been banned, Shukla said people should know the names of all such drugs which have been banned.

"While giving licences, the government should also look into what the drug companies make and what is their performance as it is a question of people's health," he added.

In a gazette notification on March 10, the government had, among others, banned manufacture, sale and distribution of fixed does combination of chlopheniramine maleate plus codiene syrup, which is used in cough syrups.

In another Zero Hour mention, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (TMC) said the Centre had promised to release 25 files related to Subhash Chandra Bose every month, but "unfortunately in February no file was published".

He demanded that the files should be released without any further delay. Raising the issue of Tamil Nadu fishermen, AIADMK member S Muthukaruppan said they were being repeatedly arrested by Sri Lankan navy and argued that Indian Navy should "attack Sri Lankan Navy to protect fishermen".

Tiruchi Siva (DMK) too raised the issue of fishermen. He said in March alone, four incidents of arrest of fishermen by Sril Lanka has taken place. In his Zero Hour mention, Manhendra Singh Mahra (Cong) raised the problems being faced Uttarakhand farmers due to draught. He demanded Rs 2,000 crore relief package from the Central government.

SP member Jaya Bachchan raised the issue of problems faced by migratory workers due to language problems, but she could not complete her arguments due to disruptions.

Tarun Vijay (BJP) raised issue of attack on BJP workers in Karnataka and Kerala, alleging that they were being attacked and killed by "CPI-M goons". He demanded an inquiry by the Centre into the "politically motivated attacks".

K Rahman Khan (Cong) said Gujarat Waqf Board was selling 21 Waqf properties worth over Rs 100 crore despite a ban on such sale by Parliament. "It is a big scam," he said and demanded that the Central Waqf Board should look into it.

Satyanarayan Jatiya (BJP) said the recently held World Cultural Festival had helped spread the message of unity and the upcoming Kumbh Mela at Ujjain was another occasion to promote unity and brotherhood. Other festivals should also be encouraged to promote Indian diversity and culture.
New Delhi: A day after Uttarakhand BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi was booked for attacking a horse, Union Minister and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi on Wednesday said she has written to the party demanding his expulsion.

"I have given a statement asking for his expulsion from BJP," Gandhi, who also runs animal welfare organization 'People For Animals', said.

Another animal welfare group, PETA, has written to BJP president Amit Shah and Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal urging them to investigate the matter and disqualify Joshi.

"PETA has urged Uttarakhand police to expedite their investigation and to ensure everyone who was involved in hitting, harassing or causing 'Shaktiman' (horse) to fall is punished to the fullest extent of the law.

"We have also written to BJP President Amit Shah and the Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha Speaker urging them to investigate the matter, and to disqualify MLA Ganesh Joshi," a member of the organisation Manilal Valliyate said.

Mussoorie MLA Joshi has been booked for beating the police horse with a stick during the party's protest on March 14. The legislator, however insisted that he had not inflicted injury on the horse, and that it had gone out of control during the protests and one of its hind legs got stuck in a hole dug up to put up the barricades, injuring it. The beast underwent a surgical procedure yesterday to fix one of its hind legs.
Congress proposed amendments including a "fundamental departure" against the provision making its use mandatory rather than voluntary. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: A bill to give statutory backing to the unique identity number scheme for better targeting of subsidies was returned by Rajya Sabha to the Lok Sabha on Wednesday with several amendments, with Opposition parties also objecting strongly to treating it as a money bill.

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday evening passed the Aadhar bill after rejecting five amendments introduced in Rajya Sabha.

Earlier, the amendments to the Aadhar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other subsidies, benefits and services) Bill, 2016, moved by Congress leader and former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, were passed in Rajya Sabha with a majority voting in favour.

Read: Aadhaar, key Bills cause logjam in Upper House

The ruling BJP-led NDA does not have majority in the House. Members of BSP, TMC and BJD also walked out of the House raising objections on several issues concerning the measure.

The process of return of the bill saw an animated debate over why it was brought as a money bill, with a number of opposition members also raising concern over privacy and national security on the biometric data of Indians collected through the scheme.

Also read: Government refuses to discuss Aadhaar bill issue in Rajya Sabha

Brushing aside the objections by the Opposition, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the Aadhar Bill was a money bill as it dealt with the way public money or subsidy will be distributed among the needy under various government schemes.

Moving the Bill in Rajya Sabha, Jaitley said Parliament cannot abdicate its right to legislate just because the issue is pending in the Supreme Court.

Also read: Aadhar legislation is a money bill: Arun Jaitley in Lok Sabha

The Minister also emphasised that the present bill was different from the one brought by the UPA government as it had further tightened the privacy provisions with regard to sharing of information of individuals collected by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

Several Opposition members including Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), Jairam Ramesh (Cong), Naresh Agrawal (SP) and K C Tyagi (JD-U) among others, opposed the government's decision to label the Aadhar bill as a money bill.

Refuting the objections in a debate marred by acrimony, Jaitley said the Lok Sabha Speaker had the final authority under the Constitution to declare a bill as money bill and nobody can question that. The Lok Sabha has passed the bill on March 11.

"One, the purpose of this bill is distribution of government money by subsidies and the rest is incidental, so it is a money bill. Two, merely because the executive action is challenged and pending in the Supreme Court, the powers of Parliament cannot suspend the right to legislate. Three, learning from UPA's experience, we have further tightened privacy laws much more than the UPA had in its bill," he said.

Also read: Aadhaar Bill 2016 passed in Lok Sabha

Earlier while moving the Aadhar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other subsidies, benefits and services) Bill, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the present bill was different from the one brought by the UPA government as it has further tightened the privacy provisions with regard to sharing of information of individuals collected by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

The Leader of the House said privacy laws are tightened to an extent that the data of individuals would be shared only on the ground of national security.

Amid continued interruption, Jaitley took a dig at Ramesh for objecting to the bill, which was originally conceived by the UPA government.

"I think the stand of Jairam depends on where he sits. When he is on this (ruling) side, his stand is different and when is on that (opposition) side, his stand is different," Jaitley quipped.

Ramesh countered by saying that his stand on important legislations be it GST, Aadhar or Land acquisition has been consistent and he did not need a certificate on his intellectual intergrity. He said on all this "Jaitley and his party had changed."

The Finance Minister and the Congress leader also clashed over whether or not the Aadhar bill was 'Money Bill'.

Ramesh said that Jaitley, in his attempt to justify the decision to treat Aadhar bill as 'Money Bill', had "misled" the House by claiming that in the past two Bills, one on

Juvenile Justice and another on African Development Bank, had been brought as Money Bills. "Where was this information manufactured," he asked.

Jaitley then told the House that his source was Lok Sabha website itself.

"You can accuse me of being misled by the website," Jaitley said, while contending that the information was still available on the website and he had taken a printout just few minutes back. Ramesh said the information on Lok Sabha website was "wrong".

Jaitley said it was Ramesh who had "misled" the House by giving a "half-truth". The Congress leader, on the other hand, emphasised that Jaitley should have checked the facts.

As the argument continued, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said that if the source of the Finance Minister's information was the Lok Sabha website, it cannot be termed as misleading of the House.

Speaking about the Aadhar bill, Ramesh said it was because of "small mercies" that a debate had taken place over it.

The Congress leader said the major use of Aadhar should be that it could be used to improve the way subsidy is distributed to curb leakages, but it should not determine who is eligible for for subsidy.

Ramesh said while much has been made out by the Finance Minister about Rs 14,000 crore savings in the distribution of LPG subsidies because of Aadhar based DBT, the findings of a London-based think tank suggest otherwise.

He said while the present Bill is better in some respects than the one brought by UPA in 2010, it is silent on other aspects. He said he had overall nine objections to the Bill, a number for which Jaitley had shown much fascination in the budget.

He said that during the UPA regime, there was skepticism over Aadhar even among the National Advisory Council (NAC) but his party leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had remained firm.

Ramesh said while the government had provided the opposition with "fait accompli", it should have rather been sent to a Select Committee headed by a BJP member like Anil Madhav Dave or Bhupendra Yadav and better bill could have been come up with.

Speaking after Ramesh, BJP member Chandan Mitra said the Congress leader had on one occasion mentioned that criticism of Aadhar could get anyone labelled as 'anti-national', which reflected the paranoia of the opposition.

Naresh Agarwal (SP) said the government's action of bringing the Bill as a Money Bill raised suspicions. He too suggested that the Bill should be sent to a Select Committee.

Opposing making of Aadhar mandatory, he said questions could be raised about citizenship of several people.

K G Tyagi of JD(U) raised questions about the safety of data saying it could reach CIA or Mossad. He also referred to the Nazi regime in Germany and said it had introduced cards to identify Jews.

"If subsidies are given to unquantified and unidentified sections, then non-merit people will get the subsidy. Centre and states assist people some way or the other by way of subsidy. You are entitled to take UID if you want the benefit of subsidy," Jaitley said. He said the US had passed a similar law in 1935 and India is behind the time.

When the Chair asked Yechury to speak first on the bill, Naresh Agarwal (SP), JD-U's K C Tyagi and Derek O Brien (TMC) objected and insisted that they should also be allowed to speak.

Kurien said, "Chair always has right to call any member. I called him because he has raised objection while introducing the bill. If Chair cannot control the House, you can do it" and objected to the "questioning the authority of the Chair".

During the short debate on the bill later, the Rajya Sabha witnessed sharp exchanges when Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused Jaitley of giving wrong information that a Bill on Juvenile Justice and another on African Development Bank, had been brought as Money Bill by the government in 1980s.

Quoting information from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Ramesh said these two measures were not money bills.
KISSIMMEE, Florida -- The Detroit Tigers knocked three home runs and got a great spring outing from right-handed pitcher Jordan Zimmermann in their 7-3 win over the Houston Astros at Osceola County Stadium in the Spring Training Grapefruit League.

In the first inning, Zimmermann struck out the side and then had a nail issue while tossing a changeup in the second inning. Without the changeup, Zimmerman finished his three inning outing. The right-hander gave up no runs on two hits and two hit batters on Wednesday.

Slider was much better today, I threw a few good ones and the curveball, I yanked a couple of those but I also threw a few good ones, Zimmermann said.

(Ryan Garza, Detroit Free Press)

Zimmermann is in line to start the home opener for the Tigers on April 8, 2016 against the New York Yankees, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News.

I felt like it was coming out good, no issues, Zimmermann said about his changeup. So Im getting close.

The Tigers (9-6) struck first as Mike Gerber hit his first home run of the spring off of Brad Peacock in the second inning. After John Mayberry Jr. reached base, Bryan Holaday, who finished 2-for-3 with two RBI, cranked a home run to the left field seats in the same inning to give Detroit a 3-0 lead over the Astros. Holaday is batting .600 in 20 at-bats this spring.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Brad Peacock (41) throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Osceola County Stadium. (Reinhold Matay, USA TODAY)

It took four more innings, but in the top of the sixth inning Detroit struck gold once again to take a 4-0 edge over Houston. Ian Kinsler joined the home run party with his third of the spring training season, a solo home run, to left field off Dan Straily.

Jon Singleton scored all three runs for the Astros on a two run double against Michael Fulmer of the Tigers in the bottom of the sixth and a booming solo home run to right field in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Tigers got separate RBI from Chad Huffman and JaCoby Jones, while Tyler Collins crossed home on a wild pitch with Dixon Machado batting.

Fulmer has struggled here and there this spring, but he is still in the running for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen. Originally, he was in the running for the fifth starter role, but Daniel Norris has shined bright in the Grapefruit League.

Up Next

Mike Pelfrey will look to continue his dominant spring on Thursday as the Tigers battle the St. Louis Cardinals at 1:05 PM from Joker Marchant Stadium. Carlos Martinez will oppose Pelfrey, who was acquired by Detroit this winter.

As for the Astros, they will face the Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves in a split-squad matchup featuring Michael Feliz against the Blue Jays and Mike Fiers against the Braves. Fiers has not given up a run this spring.
Wall Street faced slight losses in the stock market on Monday as the drop in oil price burdened energy stocks. Crude prices retreated in the commodity market after Iran refused to freeze oil output until it reaches the post-sanctions target of four million. While, other producers like Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela agreed to halt their production, Iran wanted to boost its oil reserve, regardless of the oversupply.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) had said that crude prices have likely recovered from its historic low level in January owing to the fall in oil supply. However, analysts viewed this price rally as a sign of another demise. But, Iran's refusal to join other producers to halt oil production burdened Brent and crude prices again, sending energy stocks to a low level. US crude prices declined over 4% following Iran's decision to stay away from output freeze. Shares of energy firms like Exxon and Chevron lost 0.7% during the trading session on Monday.

Currently, S&P 500 stocks are down just nearly 1% in 2016. Jack Ablin, BMO Private Bank's chief investment officer, called this fluctuation in oil prices as "calm before the storm". Ablin also advised investors not to make huge bets as things are expected to change in the following couple of days.

The energy sector amid the S&P 500 index dropped 0.78% while consumer discretionary increased by 0.43%. Shares of Exxon and Chevron were down at $81.63 and $93.64 respectively on Monday, as reported by Reuters.

Canada's Toronto Stock Exchange also faced serious losses as energy firms were impacted by oil price slump. Suncor Energy fell 1.4% to C$34.14 while Canadian Natural Resources dropped 1.2% to C$35.69.

Financial Times pointed out that oil and gas drilling firms were the horrible performers in the energy sector. Diamond Offshore fell 5.7% to $21.48 in the trading session on Monday, while oilfield stocks like Schlumberger declined 2.3% to $73.26.

The oil price slide also pushed pipeline companies to a fall, with TransCanada falling 1.1% to C$47.09 and Enbridge down 1.8% at C%50.30. Veresen declined 11.6% to C$7.54 following a dismissal of its project to construct a gas pipeline and LNG export station. On the whole, the energy sector lost 2.2% in Canada's stock market. Overall, S&P/TSX combined index shed 93.96 points, or 0.69% and stood at 13,428.04.

Meanwhile, the growing demand in countries like India and China is expected to boost oil price in the coming period. Oil demand in India increased by 300,000 barrels per day while demand growth in China decreased to 300,000 barrels per day from 500,000 barrels, Bloomberg said quoting a study report from The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. IEA predicts oil consumption in India to reach 4.2 million barrels per day in 2016.

The future of energy firms depends highly on oil price market. Iran being the largest producer must step forward to ease oversupply of oil to the global market. Investors are shying away from these energy stocks owing to the fluctuation in oil prices.
As ride hailing service has its growing market in China, the government will regulate the industry. Meanwhile Indonesia plan to ban the service to operate in its territory.

Growth in the ride hailing service in China is enormous, as Didi Kuaidi, the largest ride hailing service has operated in more than 300 cities in the mainland. On a daily basis, Didi Kuadi handles more than 1 million requests from its users.

Acknowledging the potential of the service, China plan to regulate the service. During the National People's Congress in Beijing, Transportation Minister Yang Chuantang said on Monday as quoted by South China Morning Post, "As a new invention, online ride-hailing services have been a good experience for consumers, and welcomed by some passengers. So our solution is to provide a legal way forward for the industry."

Nevertheless, Minister Yang stressed the importance to put the interest of all related parties and stakehoders, including traditional taxi. It is because ride hailing service has garnered intense objections from taxi companies and local governments. Up to now, the legitimacy of service provider such as Didi Kuaidi is in the grey area due to the absent of regulation,.

The ministry considering a draft that incorporate a set of regulations covering both taxi and ride hailing service using private car. Public opinion which gathered last year would also become a major consideration. According to Mashable, the regulations will grant licenses to Didi Kuaidi drivers, in order to allow private cars to pick up passengers.

Different ministries in China has been working of drafting plan to regulate the ride hailing service since last year. Ride hailing service has also been a hot topic for the country's lawmakers. Nevertheless, China government preferred to give more favor to public transportation networks in big cities to avoid traffic jams on the busy roads.

Meanwhile in Indonesia, the government plan to ban the ride hailing service over the pressure of taxi drivers. On Monday, thousands of taxi drivers and public transport drivers launched a rally on Monday to protest the ride hailing apps. Following the protest, Ministry of Transportation sent official letter to Communications and Information Minister requesting to ban ride hailing apps in Indonesia.

Transportation Minister Ignatius Jonan told Jakarta Post, "With this [letter], we are not trying to hamper the businesses at all." As a respond to the request, the minister of communication and information leave the matter to Transportation Ministry and City administration, and would only play a secondary role.

China and Indonesia take different view on its transportation issue. As Transportation Ministry of China plan to regulate the ride hailing service, Transportation Ministy of Indonesian seek a way to ban the service.
As Australia's largest telecommunication firm is looking forward for global growth, Telstra added to its lineup of executives former CEO's Stephen Elop of Nokia and Kevin Russell of Optus. The two personalities were hired by Telstra after a sudden collapse last month in mobile subscriber growth.

Telstra hires Nokia's former CEO Stephen Elop and Optus former head of Optus. Stephen Elop will be accountable for the company's move to become a "world-class technology company" and will give details to CEO Andrew Penn. Kevin Russell will take the position of an executive retail, Bloomberg reports.

"Stephen will immediately add major firepower to our team with his extensive and deep technology experience and an innate sense of customer expectations," Penn said in the statement.

In 2014, Russell exited Optus which is the Australian unit of Singapore Telecommunications Ltd.

Andy Penn's restructuring of Telstra's senior executive team has been an important change in the company's leadership since he succeeded David Thodey last year as chief executive. Hiring Elop and Russell will be a big factor on the company's global growth.

Russell is notable in this market who launched the "3" Hutchison brand in the early 2000s. After being a Hutchison Three CEO in UK, he later became country chief officer and Singtel Optus CEO Consumer between 2012 and 2014. What is most interesting during his term at that time was avoiding a simple focus on top-line and user numbers rise for a greater degree of focus on profitability, as reported by The Australian.

He also actuates lower cost and implements higher customer satisfaction while endowing heavily in the Optus network to lessen the network thrust and quality advantage Telstra has held.

He will be heading the consumer, business and retail and product functions this coming April. He had run the Hutchison Telecoms Australia and held senior positions in Israel and UK, according to Sydney Morning Herald.

With the hiring and appointment of the two former executives, Telstra is looking toward a progressive global growth. It signals the company's goal to become a total technology company.
Atiur Rahman, Bangladesh Bank Governor has resigned on Tuesday over the mysterious cyber heist of $81 million from Bangladesh's official account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Three of his subordinates have been fired following the biggest ever bank theft.

They are the first political casualties since the theft came to light this month. Unidentified hackers have diverted the money in early February using official electronic bank messaging technology in early February. Most of the stolen money has been transferred to accounts in the Philippines, reports The New York Times.

Rahman, a noted economist, has met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter's office in the morning and handed over the resignation. He has served for seven years as the central bank governor and scheduled to go on retirement in August this year. Ihsanul Karim, press secretary to the prime minister has confirmed the resignation to Gulf News.
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has ruled out significant new stimulus funds. The Trudeau-led region will have a budget deficit of C$30 billion ($22.5 billion) and may not announce additional stimulus measures. Its first budget, beginning from 1 April, is scheduled to be unveiled next week.

Canada's Finance Minister Bill Morneau will present the budget on 22nd of March 2016. The new budget is expected to have several promises made during the last elections held in 2015. Canada's budget deficit is projected to be three times of what Trudeau campaigned during the elections.

Bloomberg reports that budget deficit of C$30 billion was in line of announcement made in last month that puts baseline deficit at C$18.4 billion. During elections campaign, budget deficit was put at C$10.5 billion. Prime Minister Trudeau has recently ruled out any significant new stimulus fund as the country needs to be careful on budget deficit.



Prime Minister Trudeau said "I don't think we need massive stimulus. What we need are smart investments that are going to help the economy and the families who need it in the short-term, while creating a path toward greater growth and greater prosperity in the longer term."

Justin Trudeau assumed charge as Prime Minister in October 2015. He has made a promise to run a budget deficit for three years to expand the economy. On the contrary, previous Conservative government promised for a balanced budget plans. The stronger growth of US economy, which is Canada's biggest trading partner, will have positive impact on its economy, as reported by BNN (Business News Network).



Canada Child Benefit and infrastructure development were the major promises made by Trudeau during his elections campaign. Canada Child Benefit is a new social program that envisages direct monetary benefits to low-income families with children. Now, the major focus of the new budget may be on Canada Child Benefit.

The Prime Minister's other major campaign pledge was the infrastructure development, which requires billions of dollars over next four years. Trudeau has been insisting on new investments for the country's infrastructure development. The Canadian government has avoided stimulus package despite the drop in oil price and currency value.

Meanwhile, Canada's Liberal government has clarified that there wouldn't be any announcement on helping trouble-hit Bombardier Inc. Quebec Province, where Bombardier has its headquarters, has announced $1 billion investment in C Series passenger jet project, is seeking same help from Ottawa to protect jobs for thousands of employees, according to Reuters Canada.



The projected budget deficit of C$30 billion is equivalent to 1.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). This is a rise of 1.4 percent from previous forecast of 0.1 percent of GDP. Since the end of World War-II, there are four one-year expansionary swings in budget deficit over 1.4 percent of GDP.
Chipotle, a US-based restaurant chain, said that it expects to report a loss of $1 per share in the first quarter. Last month, the company reported a quarterly loss, the first loss since becoming a public company. Recent illness incidents linked with its restaurants had a destructive impact on Chipotle's balance sheet and pushed it to close several stores.

The restaurant chain noted that sales have begun to recover over the recent period and Chipotle witnessed a sequential rise in weekly same store sales from 8, February 2016 till March first week. However, the company's weekly same store sales started to decline in the second week of March.

Chipotle's same store sales during February declined 26.1%, but still less than a 36.4% decrease in January. The company anticipates operating margin for the first quarter in the mid-single digits. The leap day contributed an additional 2.6% to the same store sales in February.

Chipotle's sales recovery stems from February 8, when the company unveiled a 'free burrito offer' as part of its advertising campaign to stimulate revenue at its restaurants. But, same store sales dropped during the March second week due to a temporarily closure of a store in Boston area. A restaurant store in Billerica was closed after a worker confirmed positive for norovirus but soon restored its operations.

Chipotle, which suspended executives' compensation last week, said that it will experience higher marketing expenses and other related corporate costs in the first quarter of 2016. In addition, the restaurant chain will incur additional food expenses by roughly 200 bps as part of its food safety measures. The company also anticipates legal costs to increase in the first quarter.

According to USA TODAY, the two CEOs were paid $14 million in 2015 even after the company announced bonus cut for its executives. Equilar, a compensation company, said that the average pay for CEOs in the S&P 500 index totalled $10.6 million in 2014.

Meanwhile, James Marsden has been appointed as the new executive director of food safety. Marsden in his role will control food safety measures at Chipotle and take necessary steps to prevent illness outbreaks in the future. Before joining Chipotle, Marsden worked at Kansas State University, where he held the position as a renowned professor of food safety.

Chipotle is aggressively taking steps to make its food stores safest in the restaurant market by implementing various safety measures. These precautions are expected to add an additional 2% to its net food expenses. But, the restaurant company remains positive regarding its profit margins in the coming period.

Bloomberg quoted Asit Sharma, an expert at Motley Fool, who said that gloomy sales figures in the recent period signal Chipotle requires long time to recover its sales. Shares of Chipotle dropped as high as 6% to $472.60 during the late trading.

Chipotle has been battling against E.Coli outbreak over the recent period, which damaged the company's balance sheet and forced it to report its first quarterly loss in February. The company is trying to recover its sales by implementing various business strategies.
Pennsylvania's city of Pittsburgh is emerging as a lifestyle and culinary destination in the U.S. Various media has acknowledged the city for having an improving landscape of tourism, especially in the youth-driven food and beverage industry.

The New York Times' Jeff Gordinier reported extensively on the city's booming youth-driven food. "Ford decades, Pittsburgh was hardly seen as a beacon of innovative cuisine or a magnet for the young. It was the once-glorious metropolis that young people fled from after the shuttering of the steel mills in the early 1980s led to a mass exodus and a stark decline," he wrote.

But everything's different now, as more and more people, especially young people, are swarming the city to enjoy various attractions that it has now. A combination of cheap rent and a voracious appetite for culture have attracted people, especially artists. Tech companies like Google, Facebook and Uber also taps in for local tech talent. It's also the factor of the cheap rent that also inspired chefs to pursue their own projects, leading to the spurring of culinary in the area.

Pittsburgh's mayor Bill Peduto acknowledges the food boom to have played a pivotal role in restoring neighborhoods, evidence of an "entrepreneurial attitude throughout the city." The mayor is determined to improve and replenish his city. As he puts it, "We had to reinvent ourselves."

Other media has also cherished the city as a new food and lifestyle destination. According to Next Pittsburgh, in the past four months alone, the city has racked up a significant number of national media accolades, including The New York Times reporting itself. Restaurant survey service Zagat mentioned Pittsburgh as no. 1 food city. Food travel publication Saveur named the city as a "beer and spirits destination". Lifestyle magazine and publication Vogue also emphasized that "Pittsburgh is not just a place to visit - increasingly, people, especially New Yorkers, are toying with the idea of moving here."

The momentum is also being supported by initiatives from local organizations and authorities. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported about a program launched by The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP), a funding program with grants up to $10,000 for small businesses. The BetaBurgh grants have just selected four projects to be awarded the funding.



Pittsburgh's emergence as a happening city in food and lifestyle, especially for youths, is widely supported by the government as well as local organizations. The food and lifestyle sector has been booming and improving as more youth swarmed the city to pursue personal projects, encouraged by the city's cheap rent.
European lawmakers have started questioning multinational companies such as Google, Apple, Alphabet and McDonald's on their tax structures being practiced in Europe. European nations are in the process of wringing out more revenues from corporate taxes. European Commission, EU's antitrust watch dog, is probing several tax issues being adopted by multinational companies.

Tax practices by US multinationals are keeping more political pressure on European governments. European legislators are accusing companies of using complex structures to siphon out most of the profit out of Europe. This practice is resulting in avoiding fair amount of corporate tax.

Market Watch reports that US firms answered several questions raised by European legislators. Google said it was following the European laws and making use of tax incentives. Tax incentives and tax structures being offered by European nations are known across the bloc.



Criticizing the tax structures adopted by US firms that pump most of the revenues out of the Europe, Paul Tang, a Dutch member of the Socialists and Democrats alliance, asked a Google executive: "Does this activity embarrass Alphabet or you? Do you feel embarrassed?"

Responding to this, Adam Cohen, head of economic policy for Google in Europe, stated "we make use of tax incentives, tax structures that are well known, that are widely accessible and used by most multinationals."

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) further adds that Google and Apple operate through their units in Europe. For instance, Apple manages most of the sales of gadgets through its Apple Sales International. Google collects its revenues from European clients from its Irish headquarters, but not from units in individual European nations. Irish headquarters would pay hefty royalties to a unit based in Bermuda.



Apple Inc has tax structure in Ireland and it's under probe by European Commission. Google, Apple and McDonald's have defended their tax policies and replied back that they're following current laws of the land. Cathy Kearney, Vice President of European operations at Apple, said "We feel we've paid every cent of tax that is due in Ireland. We don't believe there has been any state aid."

Recently, Google has settled a controversial tax dispute with British government. The US company had agreed to pay GBP 130 million ($188mln) in back taxes to HMRC, which conducted an open audit of the company. Subsequently, the deal sparked a debate over the UK's tax system and how to fairly charge foreign multinationals operating in the UK, as reported by International Business Times.



Considering the latest situation in corporate laws and siphoning of revenues from EU, the European governments are favoring to change national laws and amendments in international tax treaties. They want multinational firms to pay more in income tax and corporate tax in countries where they have customers and operational base.
CHS, a leading farm cooperative in the US, has warned crop growers regarding the approaching hurdle in the US agricultural economy. According to Carl Casale, chief executive officer of CHS, net income across the US farms are dropping at a faster rate than money receipts, indicating high expenses associated with agricultural equipment and land.

The US Department of Agriculture expects the total farm income across the US to experience a drop of $54.8 billion in 2016, a third successive fall, owing to the increase in supply. Prices for commodities like corn, soybeans and wheat have recovered in the recent month, but still the US futures are trading close to their "multi-year lows".

The US farm cooperative is intending to reduce its expenses for the next couple of years in order to save its workforce. CHS is looking forward to rescue the agricultural economy without damaging its workforce, as reported by Bloomberg.

Meanwhile, the US cooperative had extended its contract with Australia's leading grain exporter CBH in an effort to widen its business platform into Australia. Recently, the Australia-based grain victor revealed its intention to corporatize CBH, which prompted CHS to make an offer. The American cooperative joins CBH suitors list that includes Port Botany, Industry Funds Management, Queensland Investment Corporation and Port Kembla.

The operating strategy handled by CHS in delivering profit to its member while at the same time remain listed on the American Stock exchange is considered as a footprint for CBH. In February, CHS announced that its members will receive a share in the US$519 million cash distribution in 2016. During the previous four years, the US cooperative has dispersed a cash of US$2.18 billion among its 50,000 members, as reported by The West Australian.

David Bielenberg, chairman of CHS, said that the facility of its members to directly partake in the cash reward contributed to its business success. He added that the cash distribution will motivate farmers to invest more in the soil.

DENVER BUSINESS JOURNAL quoted a report from American Bankers Association (ABA), which said that bank loans for agriculture has increased by 7.9% in 2015 and that banks maintain a cash of $100.3 billion as agricultural loans. The report said that farm banks have gained huge capital from the robust agriculture sector over the past several years.

Bank loans for small and micro farms amounted to $75 billion at the end of 2015. Brittany Kleinpaste, ABA's director of research and economic policy, said that banks will continue to support crop growers amid the poor farm income outlook. He added that farm banks are committed to rescue their farm customers from any turbulence in the market.

CHS expects more hurdles for crop growers across the US as surplus yield depressed prices of agricultural commodities. However, farm banks remain stern in backing up these farm owners.
New Delhi: The government on Wednesday came in for a scathing attack in Lok Sabha over the handling of the terror strike on the Pathankot air base, with the opposition dubbing the decision to handover the operation to NSG as a "critical mistake".

They also questioned as to what Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lahore stopover had achieved, noting that the terror strike had happened just a few days after that.

Participating in a discussion on the issue, BJD leader Kalikesh Singhdeo singled out the National Security Advisor for attack, saying he had "usurped" the decision-making powers to tackle the incident.

Singhdeo wondered as to why the Army was not asked to deal with the terror strike as 50,000 troops were available in Pathankot itself and they were the best to tackle such situations.

Wondering how the Defence and the Home Ministries could wash their hands off, he said the National Security Guards (NSG) is used only to tackle urban hostage situations and not for counter-terrorism and added it was "a critical mistake" to hand over the operation to the NSG.

He also pointed out that when the NSG was deployed to deal with the situation, it did not have night-vision devices.

Making a strong pitch for shoring up the intelligence mechanism, he said this was the need of the hour given the fact that the country has remained "one step behind terrorists".

Expressing concern that Maulana Masood Azhar was still roaming free in Pakistan, he said this was in spite of the fact that the involvement of his organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed in the terror strike. "Are we not bringing enough pressure on Pakistan", he asked.

On Prime Minister's Lahore stopover, Singhdeo wondered as to what cost the gestures of celebrating a birthday and having a cup of tea and having dinner in the present context of Indo-Pak ties.

Lashing out at the government over its handling of Pathankot terror attack and its overall Pakistan policy, the Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said while there was no coordination between Defence and Home Ministries, the Cabinet Committee on Security had no meeting on the situation. It was more a "show off" and less effective, he said.

Scindia said the government cannot tread the path of walking alone (ekla chalo) without taking the Opposition into confidence in such critical moments.

"There is difference in what the government says and what it does," he said.

When the government knew about the presence of terrorists 48 hours before they struck, why were they allowed to roam for such a long time, he asked.

"There was army of 20,000 infantry in Gurdaspur, the air force, the NSG and the BSF. Still there was no single point of contact.

"This was not the first time that a terrorist attack took place. Few months back a similar attack took place at Dina Nagar in Gurdaspur. Why were lessons not learnt from it? Why was the security not strengthened," Scindia said.

Attacking the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Home Minister Rajnath Singh over the Pathankot incident, the chief whip of the Congress said there was no coordination between the ministries.

"When the Pathankot attack was taking place, the Prime Minister was in Karnataka, attending a Yoga event and tweeting about it.

"The Home Minister tweeted saying we have killed the terrorists, while the Home Secretary said the operation was still on. And then the tweets had to be deleted. The Defence Minister was in Goa attending addressing a conclave of party workers," he said.

"Why did a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security not take place," Scindia asked.

The Congress leader also said that the country's foreign policy "cannot be based on personalities especially in regard to Pakistan and when you know it has different power centres...the army, the civilian government. It should be consultative, strategic, process driven and result oriented."

Questioning government's policy towards Pakistan, he asked, "Is it giving a strong reply or is it a handshake policy."

"The dialogue with the Opposition is important. You cannot resort to a policy of going alone. It will take you nowhere," Scindia said.

He said when the attacks were on, the Defence Minister was making "immature" statements. "The Prime Minister, the Defence Minister and Home Minister cannot work in silos," the Congress leader said.

He said whenever the BJP has come to power, the country has witnessed terror attacks and questioned its Pakistan policy. He also referred to the Kargil conflict when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in power and said now the country has witnessed the Pathankot attack during Narendra Modi's tenure.

"By going to Pakistan for a cup of tea, the Prime Minister has wasted six years of efforts of the UPA government to isolate Pakistan," Scindia said.

He said although the government was talking about the Pakistan taking steps after Pathankot attacks, the FIR registered by them has no reference to Jaish-e-Mohammad or Hafiz Saeed.

Scindia also attacked the central government for sending a bill of Rs 6.35 crore to Punjab, "coincidentally" after the Pathankot attacks.

He also took a jibe at the government saying when Indian soldiers and farmers are dying, the government is talking about nationalism.

While the members were in favour of continuation of talks with Pakistan, they also wanted the government to spell out its Pakistan policy.

Mohd Salim (CPI-M) said that in the interest of bettering cooperation, it is necessary for dialogues should continue.

"I urge the Home Minister not to depend on information from fake twitter accounts, whether it is in case of JNU or in case of Pathankot.... The bravado which you should have shown in Pathankot, you are showing it in JNU," Salim said.

Sougata Roy (TMC) said the NDA government's "flip-flop" in Pakistan policy is weakening the country's defence policy and the attack on Pathankot airbase brings into open the weak underbelly and chinks in armour.

He said the government did not communicate with states when the Pathankot attack happened and failed to win the perception battle as it did not give out correct information.

Chandrakant Khaire (Shiv Sena) said that Pakistan always looks at India as "kafir" and there should be no friendship with the neighbouring nation. "We will not allow India-Pakistan match to happen. When our Prime Minister made a visit to Pakistan, immediately thereafter, there is terrorist activity. Earlier also this had happened... We should fight Pakistan," Khaire said.

K Kavitha (TRS) sought to know from Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar whether "security gaps" which came to fore following the Pathankot attack have been filled.

She also sought to know how many meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Security took place after the Pathankot attack and also whether there was any shortfall of personnel in the Intelligence Bureau.

Varaprasad Rao (YSRC) said there was a need for unity in the House and people should refrain from making any provocative statement. "We should continue with the peace talks" and strengthen internal intelligence, he said.

Dharmendra Yadav (SP) also attacked the government saying it would have been better if the energy and spirit it spent in dealing with JNU incident, was spent on the international borders. "Discussions with Pakistan should continue, but along with that we should frame such policies so that the morale of soldiers increases," he said.

Ashwini Kumar (BJP) suggested that the government should revoke Article 370 of Indian Constitution.

N K Premchandran (RSP) said that the Pathankot attack revealed the intelligence and communication lapses. "The BJP government had earlier said that terror and talks cannot go together. Now what is the current Pakistan policy of the government," he said.

Dushyant Chautala (Indian National Lok Dal) said his party would support the government if it considered revoking Article 370.
STAR FILE PHOTO

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By Jean Moore of the Ventura County Star

The Somis Union School District has bought land for a new campus, allowing students and staff members to relocate from a campus that sits on aging gas lines.

The district bought the 10-acre site for $660,000 from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and closed escrow Tuesday.

The new school, which will be at the end of West Street in Somis, is expected to open in 2018, though that could change, Superintendent Colleen Robertson said Wednesday.

"It's kind of tough to nail that down, as anyone who built a house or done a room addition knows," Robertson said. "The good thing is we're not prevented from moving into the new site at any time of the year."

In 2012 the district learned that gas lines next to the present school and under the playground posed a risk to students, after an engineering company assessed the site. Officials decided to move the campus and entered into negotiations with the archdiocese in 2013.

The district, which serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade, still needs $8 million to build the new campus.

Robertson said she hopes that the gas company will offset some of that cost. The company's officials have reassured her that the lines are inspected, but she cites the recent gas leak in Porter Ranch, which forced residents to temporarily relocate.

"All we have to go on is the credibility of the gas company, and that sure didn't go well for Porter Ranch," she said. "We are hoping that Southern California Gas does the right thing and helps us with the relocation."

The district has a started a fundraising campaign. Robertson also is hoping that donors interested in having a lab or library named for them might contribute.
Star File photo The administration building at Oxnard College.

SHARE CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Cynthia Azari CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Jerry Buckley CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Jim Limbaugh

By Jean Moore of the Ventura County Star

Three finalists told an audience of about 60 at Oxnard College on Tuesday night why they should be president of the campus.

The finalists are:

Jim Limbaugh, now interim president of the college.

Cynthia Azari, interim president of Fresno City College.

Jerry Buckley, assistant superintendent/vice president of College of the Canyons.

They were selected by a committee made up of faculty members, administrators, students, community leaders and others who reviewed applications.

Each finalist talked for a few minutes Tuesday night, then answered the same set of questions, which were developed by the college's academic senate. Those questions included what book they would recommend for the whole campus to read and how they would interact with students.

Limbaugh, who has been interim chief at the college since July 2015, said he came intending to be nothing more than an interim, but was won over by the college's potential.

When asked what challenges he believes Oxnard College faces, Limbaugh, who spoke first, said the college needs to find its niche.

"The biggest challenge may be deciding what its market is going to be," he said. "Oxnard College needs to focus on what it does best and do that better than anyone else in the state."

It is the smallest of the three community colleges in the Ventura County Community College District, with an enrollment of about 7,000 students. About three-quarters are Latino.

The finalists also were asked what challenges the school faces. One challenge is finding the right balance between advocating for yourself and being a part of a team, Azari said.

"How do we work together as a district but ensure we have our share of the resources?" she said. "It's important to have relationships with the other presidents, with other people in the district, but I would be an advocate for the college."

Buckley, asked about his vision for the college, talked about growth.

"Oxnard is the 18th-largest city in the state," he said. "There's room to grow. ... The college needs to serve the community with various educational products. It needs to diversity its portfolio, what it offers the community."

The candidates were asked how they would address morale on campus, stated as being at an all-time high. All three candidates said people should be recognized for their accomplishments.

On engaging with students, they talked about walking around campus and talking with students as they crossed paths.

And when they were asked about a book they'd recommend, all three chose something that had to do with leadership or management.

Deedee Beaman, a science lab technician, was at the forum because she's hoping Limbaugh will become the permanent president.

"He has just brought a whole new level of excellence to the campus," Beaman said. "He brings a spirit of unity. ... He makes each person feel valued for their service. I'm just praying he's going to be tapped."

The district's chancellor now will interview the finalists and make his selection. The district board must approve his choice.

THE FINALISTS

CYNTHIA AZARI

Job: Interim president, Fresno City College

Experience: President, Riverside City and Fresno City colleges; vice chancellor, workforce development and educational services, State Center Community College District, Fresno.

Education: Doctorate, educational leadership, Seattle University.

JERRY BUCKLEY

Job: Assistant superintendent/vice president of academic affairs, College of the Canyons.

Experience: Vice president, instruction, San Diego Community College District and accreditation liaison officer, San Diego Miramar College; senior dean, research, planning and institutional effectiveness, Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District.

Education: Doctorate, education, San Diego State University.

JIM LIMBAUGH

Job: Interim president, Oxnard College, since July 2015

Experience: Chancellor, Montana State University-Northern; vice president of strategy, planning and policy, as well as interim provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, Angelo State University in Texas.

Education: Doctorate, educational policy and leadership, University of Maryland.
TOM KISKEN/THE STAR A forum on aid in dying packed a Ventura auditorium in August.

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By Tom Kisken

Wolf Breiman isn't scared to die.

But the 88-year-old Venturan diagnosed with two cancers  in bone marrow and the bottom of his tongue  fears the prolonged suffering he thinks could accompany death.

That's why the retired landscape architect praised the announcement that California's aid-in-dying law kicks in on June 9.

On that day, people with six months or less to live, deemed mentally competent, will have the right to ask a doctor for medication that will end their lives.

Breiman, who undergoes five days of radiation a week as well as chemotherapy, isn't there yet. He maintains hope treatment will push his tongue cancer into remission.

"Then I'd only have to live with the other cancer," he said with a dry laugh, citing scenarios in which the treatment doesn't work and his prognosis is counted in months.

"My present circumstances are such that I'm vulnerable to falling into those circumstances," he said. " ... I don't want to suffer."

The law's passage last fall after a fierce, nearly yearlong battle, makes California the fifth state to allow terminally ill people to end their lives. The June 9 start date was triggered by a 90-day clock that started with the end of a special legislative session last week.

Advocates predict that in the first 12 months about 800 to 1,000 prescriptions for fatal medications will be written across California. They project about two-thirds of those people will actually use the drugs to end their lives.

It won't happen immediately. On the start date, people who meet the law's requirements will be able to begin a process that includes verbal and written requests to an attending doctor, discussion of other options and an assessment from a second physician.

"On average, we have found it takes four to six weeks," said Matt Whitaker of Compassion & Choices, an advocacy group urging people considering the law to talk to their doctors now.

"There are people who are absolutely waiting for that day to happen," he said of June 9. "I wouldn't say a flood. There are many people who have already begun conversations with their health teams."

Participation in the law is voluntary for doctors. Breiman said his doctor has already agreed to help him. Other physicians are leery.

"I probably do have patients who, when the law goes through, will come to me and say, 'This is what I want to do,'" said Dr. Jeffrey Allan of Camarillo who specializes in geriatrics. "Right now I would be very uncomfortable prescribing it."

Instead, he'll talk about hospice, home health, medication and other ways to reduce end-of-life suffering. People, he said, need to understand that ending their life isn't the only way to control pain.

Whitaker said in other states some hospitals, usually affiliated with religious organizations, prohibit doctors on staff from prescribing fatal medication. He expects that will happen in California.

It's unclear what happens after doctors opt out. Whitaker argued they have an ethical obligation to refer their patients to physicians willing to consider aid in dying.

But there is no legal obligation. A spokeswoman for the California Medical Association said officials would wait to see if referrals grow into an issue before taking any action.

Others contend doctors will step forward.

"I believe many if not most of them will respect the wishes of their patients," said Sen. Hannah Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara and a co-author of the new law.

Dignity Health, founded by the Sisters of Mercy, operates St. John's hospitals in Oxnard and Camarillo. Officials did not address how they would deal with on-staff doctors but said in a statement Dignity would not participate in aid in dying.

"We believe death is a sacred part of life's journey," officials said.

Michael Fiddes of Ventura doesn't think doctors should have a say at all in his end-of-life decision.

He's 74 and was diagnosed more than 10 years ago with Parkinson's disease. It affects his ability to walk, talk, even to open his eyelids.

As the deterioration continues, he wants options. He worries the nature of his disease means doctors will never say he has six months or less to live.

"I can see my quality of life is very compromised at this point," he explained. "To be more compromised, to where I would be a so-called basket case would be abhorrent to me."

Requirements

To be eligible for the aid-in-dying law, people must be:

Adults

Given a prognosis of six months or less to live

Mentally competent

State residents

Acting voluntarily

Able to administer the drug alone

For information on making a request for medication, go to bit.ly/1RjX5j4.

Source: Compassion & Choices
SHARE CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/VENTURA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE Authorities said this person is linked to a series of pharmacy burglaries in Thousand Oaks and Camarillo. They were asking for the public's help in identifying the subject. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/VENTURA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE Authorities said this person is linked to a series of pharmacy burglaries in Thousand Oaks and Camarillo. They were asking for the public's help in identifying the subject.

By Staff Reports

Authorities said Tuesday they're seeking the public's help identifying two people suspected in pharmacy burglaries in Thousand Oaks and Camarillo.

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office has been investigating a series of early morning burglaries at the pharmacies reported in the past two months, authorities said.

Powerful prescription drugs and cash have been stolen from the businesses, authorities said.

Deputies said burglars typically try to sell the stolen drugs.

According to surveillance video, one burglar was described as being 19 to 30 years old, weighing about 150 to 180 pounds and 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet tall, authorities said. The other burglar was described as 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 170 to 200 pounds.

The Thousand Oaks burglaries were reported in the 4100 block of North Moorpark Road and the 2300 block of Borchard Road, authorities said. The Camarillo incidents were reported in the 400 block of Arneill Road, the 300 block of North Lantana Street and the 2100 block of Pickwick Drive, authorities said.
DAVID YAMAMOTO/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Reece Robinson, 11, enjoys rolling on his belly on an exercise ball with his father, Scott, who is holding his feet to help him balance at their home in Ventura. Because of his son's low muscle tone  commonly associated with Down syndrome  Robinson works with Reece daily to strengthen the boy's muscles.

SHARE DAVID YAMAMOTO/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Scott Robinson and his son, Reece, 11, share a moment together as Robinson plays music earlier this month at their home in Ventura. Reece is homeschooled by his father, who incorporates music, physical exercise, drawing and other project-based activities into the boy's day. DAVID YAMAMOTO/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Reece Robinson, 11, finds a moment of rest on his bed under his favorite superheroes earlier this month at their home in Ventura. Reece is homeschooled by his father, who incorporates music, physical exercise, drawing and other project-based activities into the boy's day. DAVID YAMAMOTO/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Scott Robinson helps his son, Reece, 11, coordinate his movements while drawing circles earlier this month at their home in Ventura. Reece is homeschooled by his father, who incorporates music, physical exercise, drawing and other project-based activities into the boy's day. DAVID YAMAMOTO/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Reece Robinson, 11, enjoys his time on the swing earlier this month at his Ventura home. He's trying not to use his hands, which, according to his father, shows an improved sense of balance. Reece is homeschooled by his father, who incorporates music, physical exercise, drawing and other project-based activities into the boy's day. Related Photos Celebrating joys of a child with Down syndrome

By Jeremy Foster, Special to The Star

Before Denise Bell's son Jaxon was born, the Simi Valley woman hoped his future would consist of college, a career and marriage.

She still had this hope when, at 19 weeks into her pregnancy, she learned her son would be born with Down syndrome.

Jaxon is now 3, and Bell's hope has not diminished.

"People with Down syndrome and people without are more alike than they are different," Bell said. "They will crawl and then walk and talk. They will learn at school. They will play sports. The only difference is they do some things at a slower pace."

That's a message Bell will share on Sunday in Thousand Oaks, where she expects more than 100 people will gather at Conejo Creek North Park to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day, which aims to raise public awareness of the genetic disorder.

Bell said the gathering started four years ago with just 20 people.

"We realized there are a lot of families in the Conejo Valley who have children with Down syndrome and have no one to celebrate their children with," she explained.

Thousand Oaks resident Rebecca Garcia, whose 3-year-old daughter Nayely has Down syndrome, helps organize the annual event. Her passion is to raise awareness and educate people, especially when it comes to dispelling misconceptions.

"It's not a disease, and it's not contagious," Garcia said. "It's a syndrome."

Approximately 400,000 people in the United States have Down syndrome, which occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21, according to the National Down Syndrome Society. One in every 691 babies in the United States is born with it, or about 6,000 babies each year. It is often accompanied by physical and intellectual challenges, and those affected are significantly predisposed to certain medical conditions, especially a heart defect, which occurs about half of all cases.

Scott and Judy Robinson, of Ventura, have two children with Down syndrome: 11-year-old Reece and 5-year-old Ryan, a child they adopted from Bulgaria in 2012 to provide him with a better life.

Judy Robinson said she wants parents to know that while the journey can be bumpy, it can also be beautiful.

"The first words we heard from people were 'I'm sorry,'" she said. "We weren't sorry. We had to get used to a new life."

Garcia was 14 weeks pregnant when she heard the diagnosis.

"I cried after I got the news," said Garcia, who remembers calling her husband Edgar and hearing him ask her, "What are we going to do?"

"He always regrets asking that because he knows what a beautiful baby she is," Garcia said. "He was just scared."

Garcia said she shared her husband's fears, not knowing how her life and the life of her child would change.

Nayely was born with an enlargement in her heart chamber, which closed with time. She also underwent surgery for pyloric stenosis, a rare condition that stops food movement from the stomach to the small intestine.

Jaxon required open-heart surgery.

Bell and Garcia encourage parents of children with Down syndrome to enroll them in speech and physical therapy as early as possible.

"Everything we do for them, every therapy, every classroom we enroll them in, every teacher we find them, every accommodation  we have to prove why it's needed," Bell said.

This can be exhausting, she added, which is why she and Garcia want to start support groups and parenting classes in the Conejo Valley for parents of children with Down syndrome.

They also encourage people who are unfamiliar with the syndrome to ask questions, and their hope is that society will embrace not only acceptance, but inclusion.

Once a month in her backyard, Bell hosts a "'We Get It' Barbecue" where people affected by Down syndrome can support each other and float ideas on how to raise awareness.

"I want other parents to know they're not alone," Bell said. "We're a family."

"That extra chromosome bonds us," said Bell.

Accepting the diagnosis of Down syndrome is difficult, but over time this struggle gives way to abundant love, Bell said.

"You grieve about the child you thought you were having and accept and love the child you are having," said Bell, who has two other children in their early 20s.

The Robinsons say their lives can be overwhelming at times, but they figure that's true for all parents.

"All parents have challenges with their children, but it's just that ours continue for a longer time because of the learning curve," said Scott Robinson, who homeschools the kids while his wife works outside the home.

Judy Robinson hopes that parents who first hear the diagnosis remember that "they're in for a lot of happiness and joy."

"I wish I would have known that ahead of time," she said. "You're scared of what you don't understand. But today I understand that my children have brought me  and continue to bring me  so much joy."
SHARE Courtesy photo Rosalba Cruz Moran

By John Scheibe of the Ventura County Star

An Oxnard woman was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison Wednesday for the first-degree murder of her newborn baby, who was left in a Nyeland Acres strawberry field in 2012.

"I think the penalty is the one required by law," Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Bennett told Rosalba Cruz Moran on Wednesday moments before she was sentenced. Bennett said the jury "made a tough decision" when it found Moran guilty of first-degree murder in November.

Prosecutors said Moran abandoned her newborn boy on May 18, 2012, in a strawberry field off Central Avenue in the Nyeland Acres neighborhood near Oxnard. A farmworker found the baby's remains hidden in a ditch between a flower bed and a raised row of strawberries three days later.

An autopsy showed he had been born alive and found his death to be a homicide, said Anne Spillner, a senior deputy district attorney.

Investigators later partially matched the child's DNA with a close relative of Moran, who was living with a sister in Oxnard.

"This baby died a long, torturous death without any food or nourishment," Spillner said in court Wednesday. Spillner said Moran "was never going to let this baby affect her lifestyle," noting "the only reason this baby died is because she didn't want this baby to live."

Moran was arrested in November 2012 and a DNA match was confirmed, prosecutors said.

Moran told the court through an interpreter that she was very sorry about her son's death.

She also said she wanted a public defender to represent her as part of her appeal.

"In the name of Jesus Christ I am asking you," Moran told Bennett.

An immigrant from a rural area in Oaxaca, Mexico, Moran said she knows nothing about laws in the United States.

"I would like the attorney to submit an appeal for me today," she said.

Joseph Lax, Moran's attorney, said her request was worthy of consideration because Moran had not personally committed any physical damage.

Bennett did not directly address Moran's request for a public attorney, but said she has the right to appeal her sentence within 60 days.

Bennett also said it appeared Moran has been remorseful about the baby's death, although "your remorse seems hollow to me."

Moran took the stand during her nearly monthlong trial. She testified that she was "really frightened" and "couldn't think clearly" after she gave birth to the child in a field. She said she "prayed to Jesus" just before she left the baby boy in the field and thought someone would find the newborn.

Prosecutors showed a short video during the trial that investigators obtained from Moran's cellphone in which the baby is seen breathing ad moving on some dirt.

Moran testified at her trial that the baby did not move at first but started breathing once the umbilical cord was unwrapped from around his neck. She also said she unsuccessfully tried to breast feed the baby.

She said she loved him but did not take with her because she was frightened that she would get kicked out of her family's home in Oxnard.

Moran admitted that she lied to detectives during their investigation.

On Wednesday, Spillner said Moran "has been vindictive, pathological and deceitful throughout this case."

"She had every ability to ensure that the baby lived," Spillner told Bennett. "That's why I'm asking for 25 years to life."
CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR Alina Hoffman (left) of Ventura County Animal Services comforts Patch as Heather Skogerson administers a vaccine at a free pet vaccine, microchip and license clinic Thursday for the homeless community. Flea control products, leashes, toys and other items were also distributed. Catholic Charities hosted the clinic.

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By Cindy Von Quednow of the Ventura County Star

Ventura County Animal Services will allow Simi Valley residents to renew their pets' licenses at home, officials said.

License ambassadors will go door to door beginning March 13 and on the weekends of March 19-20 and March 26-27. Residents will be able to make credit or debit card payments on their mobile devices, officials said.

License ambassadors can also verify the status of pet licenses, sell and renew licenses at the door and distribute canine low-cost spay/neuter vouchers.

California requires all pet owners to vaccinate against rabies and purchase a license within 30 days of acquiring a new dog or, with a puppy, after it is four months of age. A rabies certificate is valid for a minimum of 12 months and is required to receive a license tag.

The fees for purchasing a Ventura County animal license are:

12 Month License: $80 for Unaltered Pets $20 for Altered Pets

24 Month License: $150 for Unaltered Pets $35 for Altered Pets

36 Month License: $230 for Unaltered Pets $55 for Altered Pets

License fees are different for the cities of Moorpark and Oxnard, officials said.

For more information on licensing and/or low-cost rabies clinics, residents can call 388-4341 or visit www.vcas.us/programs-services/license-your-pet.
STAR FILE PHOTO

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By Staff Reports

Simi Valley police Tuesday arrested a man who allegedly crashed into a police car and led authorities on a chase last month.

Carlos Montes, 18, of Simi Valley, apparently crashed into a police detective along Highway 118 near Madera Road on Feb. 26 and drove away from the scene, police said. He then crashed into two vehicles and kept driving before abandoning his vehicle in the 100 block of Los Angeles Avenue in Moorpark.

Montes turned himself into police and was booked into Ventura County jail on suspicion of hit and run and recklessly evading an officer, officials said.
SHARE STAR FILE PHOTO An old rocket test stand at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory.

Staff reports

The Santa Susana Field Laboratory Work Group will discuss potential migration of contamination at a public meeting Wednesday.

The event at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 E. Los Angeles Ave., starts at 6:30 p.m.

Speakers will discuss potential migration of contamination from the field laboratory in the hills outside Simi Valley to nearby Runkle Ranch and Brandeis-Bardin Institute.

The lab was the site of a 1959 partial nuclear meltdown when it was the Rocketdyne/Atomics International rocket engine test and nuclear facility.

The state Department of Toxic Substances Control says the long-planned soil cleanup should begin this year, but might not be completed by a 2017 deadline. The groundwater cleanup could take decades, even centuries, to complete, the department says.
Star file photo

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By Staff Reports

Ventura County home sales and prices rose in February compared to a year earlier, according to data released Wednesday.

A total of 623 homes sold in Ventura County last month, an increase of 9.1 percent from a year ago, according to CoreLogic Inc. The median price increased to $499,000, a 7.7 percent jump from a year ago. In January of this year, 609 homes sold in Ventura County.

The median is the midpoint, where half of homes sold for more and half for less.

The five other counties in the Southern California region showed similar trends. Overall, home sales climbed 9.1 percent and prices increased 3.7 percent. A total of 15,373 homes sold last month, with a median price of $430,000.

Homes were most expensive in Orange County, which had a median price of $610,000 in February, and lowest in San Bernardino County, where the median price was $275,000.

February sales in Southern California were the highest for that month since 2013. Still, sales were 11.2 percent below the February average of 17,307.

Andrew LePage, a research analyst with CoreLogic, said home sales are off to a stronger start than last year.

"The caveat is that the picture varies by price category," LePage said. "While January-February sales above $500,000 rose 18 percent year over year, sales below $300,000 fell 4 percent. Also, overall February 2016 sales remained 11 percent below the average sales level for that month over the last quarter-century."
Among the 62 ministries which spent the amount, a highest of Rs 351.65 crore was spent alone by Ministry of Personnel in last fiscal. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: A whopping over Rs 1,500 crore was spent by various central government ministries on foreign travel during the last three years, the Lok Sabha was informed.

Of the total of 1,537 crore spent by ministries, a total of Rs 509.91 crore was during 2014-15, Rs 434.94 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 593.09 crore during 2012-13, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh said in a written reply.

Among the 62 ministries which spent the amount, a highest of Rs 351.65 crore was spent alone by Ministry of Personnel in last fiscal and Rs 289.92 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 453.95 crore during 2012-13, he said.

Home Ministry had spent Rs 30.24 crore in 2014-15 and Rs 14.13 crore during 2013-14. Commerce Ministry, and Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministries spent Rs 6.95 crore and Rs 9.45 crore last fiscal on foreign travel, the Minister said.

Singh said as many as 15 officers were on foreign deputation last year. Of them, seven were from Ministry of External Affairs, five from Department of Economic Affairs and one each from Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (which is now under foreign ministry), Civil Aviation Ministry and Department of Commerce, he said.

As per the latest instructions issued by Department of Expenditure, not more than four official visits abroad in a calender year and such trips shall not exceed five working days. The size of delegation has to be kept to the absolute minimum and participation of officials in international fairs, exhibitions, workshops and conference shall be discouraged, it said.
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President Barack Obama has named an eminently qualified and highly respected judge, Merrick Garland, as his nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court.

If you read his background, if you look at the legal opinions he has written in the 18 years he has served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, you will find him to be a good person with a great legal mind.

He is a nominee that meets all of our criteria for someone who will raise the legal and intellectual level of the Supreme Court.

But he will not even get a hearing before the Senate until at least after the November election.

It is just one more partisan, divisive obstruction that is legitimately causing many people to worry about the fraying of our Constitution.

There has been, and always will be, politics involved in the nomination of Supreme Court justices. The American people elect a president to serve four-year terms. When there is an opening on the court during that term, the president selects a nominee who in all likelihood is politically as well as legally acceptable to the president. When we pick a president, that is what we expect.

Then it is up to the Senate, as clearly stated in the Constitution, to perform its job to advise and consent and determine whether it approves of the nominee. It can, and has, rejected nominees. That decision has often been based on the political structure in place at the time of the nomination.

Republican leaders in the Senate, who control that body, have decided they will not consider Garland's nomination. No hearing. No vote.

Republican Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell says they want to give the people a voice in the selection of the nominee by waiting until after the election. If that's the case, then shouldn't the people be given the same choice with every Supreme Court nominee? That, of course, would be absurd. Just like Sen. McConnell's convoluted logic.

Worse is the reasoning of Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, of Iowa. In a statement issued just after Garland was nominated Wednesday, Grassley said "a lifetime appointment that could dramatically impact individual freedoms and change the direction of the court for at least a generation is too important to get bogged down in politics."

But what the Republicans propose is to bog the nomination down in politics, hoping voters in November elect the Republican candidate, who probably will be Donald Trump.

This abandoning of the Senate's constitutional role is based on the election of a man who clearly has no understanding or belief in the Constitution. Trump's bellicose blathering about what he would do as soon as he is elected  build a border wall, abrogate trade agreements, overturn libel laws, cut financial deals  never acknowledges any role for Congress and simply tramples the role of our judiciary.

We agree with President Obama that this is a toxic political climate created by Republicans who have made it OK for their followers to vilify the president and anything he touches.

This flame that Sen. McConnell and his cohorts have kept burning for seven years is getting close to burning out of control with the nomination of Donald Trump. They have an opportunity with this nomination to show that the Constitution and the process still matter.

They can do that by holding nomination hearings for Merrick Garland and voting on whether this qualified jurist should be named to the Supreme Court.


For the sixth year, Boyd Gaming will sponsor the Las Vegas Elks Helldorado Days, May 14-18 (Photo credit: Michael Couch).

Boyd Gamings downtown properties California Hotel Casino, Fremont Hotel and Casino and Main Street Station Casino Brewery Hotel are the exclusive host hotels for the Wild West Weekend, offering special rates and food/beverage deals, while also hosting the annual Whiskerino Contest.

Photo credit: Michael Couch.

Whiskerino Contest

A Helldorado Days tradition since inception, the Whiskerino Contest will be held at Pullman Grille inside Main Street Station on Friday, May 16 at 6 p.m. Whether entrants sport a full beard, mutton chops, goatee or handlebar moustache, there is a fitting category for contestants to enter to showcase their facial locks.

Categories for the Whiskerino Contest this year include: longest beard, best groomed beard, most unique beard, longest moustache, best moustache, best goatee, best overall and audience favorite.

Photo credit: Michael Couch.

Whiskerino contestants are encouraged to dress up in western, pioneer, cowboy or 1880s period attire. For contest rules, criteria and registration, visit www.elkshelldorado.com/events/whiskerino-contest.

Food & Beverage Deals

Triple 7 Restaurant & Microbrewery, located inside Main Street Station, offers a signature Helldorado Days brew  the Cowboy Breakfast Stout ($3.77), a traditional oatmeal coffee stout  during the event weekend.

The restaurant and microbrewery will also offer a special Helldorado Shootout Burger ($6.99, available 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.)  a juicy burger topped with Jack Daniels Whiskey BBQ sauce and Whiskerino onions. A signature Triple 7 brew can be added for $2.

Tony Romas, located inside the Fremont Hotel Casino, will offer a meal that is sure to satisfy the hungriest of cowboys. Aptly named the Hungry Cowboys Dinner ($23), the hearty meal includes a 16oz rib eye steak, baked potato and green beans, along with a small salad. Diners 21 and older will receive a complimentary draft beer with the purchase of the special.

Special Bulls Milk cocktails ($4), made with Cruzan Velvet Cinn and Jim Beam Honey, will be available throughout Helldorado Days at all casino bars at the Fremont, California and Main Street Station (excluding Triple 7).

Book a Room at Fremont, California or Main Street Station

Locals looking to rodeo-up for the entire Helldorado weekend can book a room at one of the three Boyd Gaming exclusive host hotel properties. Rates start at $33 for midweek bookings and $65 for weekends.


On Sunday, Feb. 22, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas welcomed the Year of the Ram with a Dotting of the Eyes ceremony and street parade throughout the resort featuring a twisting and turning dragon, lions and dancers (Photo:  Erik Kabik /www.ErikKabik.com).

Photo:  Erik Kabik /www.ErikKabik.com.

In addition, the resort invited guests to experience Lucky Cat, an interactive art exhibition based on the fabled cultural icon of good fortune, located in the pop-up space off the Las Vegas Strip.

Photo:  Erik Kabik /www.ErikKabik.com.

Located in the pop-up space off the Las Vegas Strip, Lucky Cat features a nine-foot tall talisman of good fortune that invites passers-by in with a simple yet powerful smile and upright paw. Designed to reward the curiosity of those who dare to stop and explore, Lucky Cat dispenses a fortune card to all who place their hand on its paw. For a select few, this fortune will function as a golden ticket to a range of experiences at The Cosmopolitan. Visitors can interact with Lucky Cat from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Guests must be 21 years old or older.

Photo:  Erik Kabik /www.ErikKabik.com.

To further the celebration, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas held a traditional Dotting of the Eyes ceremony at the East Side entrance off Las Vegas Boulevard. During the ceremony, nearly 30 performers awakened a dragon and lions by dotting their eyes with red paint. Once awakened, the twisting and turning dragon lead a parade of lions and dancers throughout the casino floor. The moving celebration made a stop in front of the High Limit Lounge for a Collecting of the Cabbage ceremony.

Photo:  Erik Kabik /www.ErikKabik.com.

Chefs Jose Andres and Garrison Price are honoring the Year of the Ram at China Poblano with a festive menu featuring creative takes on Chinese classics and specialty cocktails from Feb. 19 through March 5. In saluting the Chinese influences of the China Poblano concept, the menu will showcase an array of inventive dishes, including Wok Roasted Manila Clams with Chinese sausage, pickled chili, and black bean sauce; Crispy Radish Cake with XO sauce, tiny radish and chili oil; Beef Xiaolongbao with bone marrow, black truffle, and scallion; Mapo Tofu with Oat Noodle with steamed oat noodle, Thai basil, and peanuts; Barbeque Spare Ribs slow braised with charred long beans; and Choy Sum with oyster sauce and black bean crumbs.

Photo:  Erik Kabik /www.ErikKabik.com.

China Poblano is offering a selection of crafted cocktails to pair with the dynamic menu offerings. Highlights include the Wool Blanket served with bourbon, cinnamon syrup, fig jam and goats milk; Lu Yang (Green Sheep), prepared with bourbon, orange liqueur, green tea, ginger star anise syrup, lemon and green tea air; and Yang Yang with sparkling shochu, cucumber celery juice, lemon and ancho pequin cotton candy. China Poblano will offer a complimentary mini cocktail, Spring Festival, made with melon-infused pisco, aloe vera liqueur, honey syrup and lime, to diners throughout the celebration.

Photo:  Erik Kabik /www.ErikKabik.com.

Photo:  Erik Kabik /www.ErikKabik.com.


Comedians Dan Frigolette, Andrew Frank and Sonya Vai will drive from Las Vegas to New York City in the name of comedy and charity this Spring.

The Comedys Best Kept Secret Tour will embark on a 27 day journey to produce and promote amazing comedy shows all white raising money for dogs and cats via the Liberty Humane Society. The tour which prides itself on displaying the funniest comedians, who are yet to become household names, has been written up in 32 cities in just 48 months.

Comedian Dan Frigolette, whose accolades include appearances on Boardwalk Empire, Wendy Williams Show, W. Kamau Bell Show, Comedy Time TV, and been featured on the Artie Lange Show, Sexy Beasts, and in Time Out NY is the creator of the tour. This will be his fourth time driving across the country. Just one year ago, he embarked on a trip that encapsulated 42 days, with 42 shows and 19 city stops on its way to Anchorage Alaska. Frigolette also produces the Hoboken Comedy Festival, NJ Funnyfest, and a multi-city stand up comedy contest also represented in this tour called Make Me Laugh. In 2015 these shows raised more than $8,000 for the animal shelter based in Jersey City NJ.

We chose the Liberty Humane Society due to its proximity to my home, their consistent activity in the community time and time again as a pillar of animal activism, their low cost vet clinics, and their dedication to adoption services says Frigolette. Where I would love to be to support every local Animal Charity we come in contact with, I felt it more impactful to consolidate our support to one charity that goes above and beyond to help the community.

With stops in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Albuquerque, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Springfield, St Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Rochester, and Glens Falls, it will be the most comprehensive non-stop tour for most of the comedians on board.

The Tour, will take longer breaks to produce multiple shows in Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, and St Louis, to run the stand up comedy contest -Make Me Laugh. The contest recently finished its second annual stop in Albany NY, where over 100 performers participated over two weeks. Contestants were dwindled down over six shows for more than 800 audience members, and a half dozen local celebrities as judges. In each city, judges and comedians are compiled to make the experience one of a kind.

One winner in each city will be crowned Make Me Laugh Champion and given the opportunity to join the Comedys Best Kept Secret Tour as they travel east. If availability does not align then those winners will be asked to come on board for the comprehensive tour in 2017, and given a myriad paid gigs throughout 2016. Other prizes include name and face in local publications, head shots donated by local photographers, and paid gigs nationwide.

Make Me Laugh has found the funniest comedians in Albany NY, Binghamton NY, Syracuse NY, St Louis MO, Denver CO, San Francisco CA, and Anchorage Alaska to date. The hope is to expand our reach and the opportunities for comedians in cities outside of LA and NY where the most opportunities exist says Frigolette. Oftentimes there are only a few performance opportunities in non-major cities, which makes less talented individuals view comedy as a career option, we are doing what we can to encourage funny people to keep at it he says.

Andrew Frank happens to be one of those winners, finding himself Make Me Laugh St Louis Champion in 2015. The St Louis resident, 25, made it through three rounds of auditions, semi-finals to win the Finals by a sudden death joke off. Over the course of the contest Andrew performed more than 35 minutes of original material. Upon winning he joined the 2015 tour through 15 cities and 35 days ending in Alaska. Andrew, who was lucky enough to join the Comedys Best Kept Secret Tour halfway through the trip in 2015, finally embarks on the tour in its entirety this year, trading off night by night as either headliner or feature comedian with producer Frigolette.

Since winning in 2015 Andrew has headlined in all the major comedy clubs in the Mid West, and became a finalist in the televised competition Trial By Laughter based in Mortys Comedy Joint in Indianapolis Indiana.

Sonya Vai, a Los Angeles based comedian joins the tour this Spring after being invited to the Hoboken Comedy Festival and San Diego Comedy Festival. This will be her first serious comedy road trip. She will emcee and feature as needed.

Its every comedians dream to tour the United States, the Comedys Best Kept Secret Tour will do it continuously throughout the early Spring.
Bring your favorite four-legged friend to join Sit Means Sit, the largest U.S.-based dog training company, and Las Vegas DockDogs for a canine-only swim during a special Doggie Paddle & Play Day on September 18, 2010 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Black Mountain Aquatic Complex in Henderson. Dogs can play and enjoy leisurely dips in the pool while their human friends socialize and watch some exciting dock diving demonstrations.

All dogs must be dog and people-friendly. Dogs are not allowed to play on the slides or on the play features. All dogs must be checked in and proof of vaccination is required before entering. Human friends attend for free and may not enter the water. Cost is $5 per dog, payable at the gate, to the City of Henderson. Dogs weighing 50 pounds or less can swim from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Dogs weighing more than 50 pounds can swim from 10:45 a.m. to noon. The Black Mountain Aquatic Complex is located at 599 Greenway Rd. at Horizon Drive. For more information, call 267-5836.

Sit Means Sit has been featured on Animal Planet, the Outdoor Channel and ESPN. For more information, call (702) 877-4581, toll free at (866) Sit-M-Sit (748-6748) or visit www.sitmeanssit.com.
Paul Bartolotta, chef of Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare at Wynn Las Vegas, received the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef Southwest on May 4 during a gala ceremony at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center in New York. Bartolotta previously won the 1994 Best Chef, Midwest James Beard Award when he helmed the kitchen of Chicagos Spiaggia, which received four-star ratings from both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago magazine.

Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare, which received a 2006 James Beard nomination for Best New Restaurant, offers a simple, yet refined Italian menu that redefines traditional American notions of Italian dining. The restaurant provides exquisitely prepared regional specialties emphasizing the freshest seafood and homemade pastas in a bright and vibrant setting that evokes life by the sea. Each week, the restaurant imports 1.5 tons of seafood from cities that lie along the Mediterranean coast. In 2007 and 2008, BARTOLOTTA Ristorante di Mare received the AAA Four Diamond Award. The restaurant was also named one of the Best New Restaurants in America by Esquire magazine in 2005, and received Restaurant and Institutions Ivy Award in 2008, which was Chef Bartolottas second Ivy Award.

Established in 1990, The James Beard Foundation Awards recognize excellence and achievement in the culinary profession. Renowned chefs Cat Cora and Emeril Lagasse with actor Stanley Tucci served as host to the 2009 James Beard Foundation Awards ceremony. This years event celebrated Women in Food.


The Cupcakery, winner of the Las Vegas Review Journals Best of Las Vegas award for best cupcakes for two years running, are offering specialty cupcakes to celebrate Halloween. A dozen delicious cupcakes are available for $45, which includes an assortment of the most popular flavors all hand decorated with candy, ghosts, goblins and all your favorite Halloween staples.

24 hours notice is necessary for larger orders. Dont miss your chance to order these truly special treats for your loved ones and coworkers this Halloween! For more information on The Cupcakery visit www.thecupcakery.com.
Information Security Law to Take Effect

Vietnams Information Security Law will take effect on July 1, 2016. Passed by the National Assembly in November 2015, the law is comprehensive and consolidates previous data-security regulations that were scattered across different laws such as the Law on Information Technology and Law on Telecommunications. The Information Security Law includes prohibited acts such as collecting, using, distributing, and illegally trading personal information of other persons, or taking advantage of security flaws in information systems to collect personal information. Officials at the Department of Information and Communications have stated that cyber-attacks have increased and pose a significant risk, underscoring the importance of this legislation. Sources of cyber-attacks have come from China, Taiwan, US, Russia, India, and inside Vietnam.

Cybercriminals mainly target small to medium size businesses as well as individuals in attempts to steal financial information or target social network users for phishing and fraud purposes. In addition, the state run websites of planning and investment, health, and justice in Ho Chi Minh City were also targeted; online portals were hit 2.5 million times. Authorities hope the new law will provide a legal framework on information security and protect the rights and interest of organizations engaged in security. The law is a move in the right direction as it aims to protect companies and individuals from cybercriminals.

New Law on Venture Capital Likely

In a boost to the start-up ecosystem in the country, authorities are working on an official venture capital (VC) policy. The law is likely be compiled from the existing security laws to prevent duplication. The proposal was put forward by the local technology ministry. Changes in the law will include tax incentives and a proper legal environment to attract bigger international enterprises into the country. This is expected to further boost venture inflows for domestic startups. VC firms have complained that while the countys start-up environment is progressing, the lack of regulatory framework, a smaller market size, and tough exit environment have deterred VC firms from entering.

Analysts have stated that many funds  including private equity and investment funds  are domiciled in other countries, such as Singapore, which have a preferential taxation system. The Ministry of Planning and Investment has taken steps to institute some reforms  such as new regulations to promote the development of technologies with small businesses  as part of the upcoming law on supporting small and medium sized companies. Foreign VC firms should watch this space as the new law is likely to benefit them.

New Tariff on Steel Imports

Imported steel products will be subject to additional tariffs as announced by the Ministry of Industry and Trade on March 8. The ministry will impose duties of 23.3 percent on steel billets and 14.2 percent on long steel products for a maximum of 200 days as stipulated in Decree No 762/QD-BCT. However, the duties will not be apply to Cambodia and Indonesia whose steel exports are less than 3 percent into Vietnam. The Vietnam Competition Authority (VCA) stated that it will prevent products imported from China, Hong Kong, and South Korea from being dumped in the local market.

Authorities have issued such tariffs to protect the local steel industry. Government officials say that the recent surge in steel imports has damaged the local production of steel billets and long steel products. Local steel producers have also complained that imports from other countries are hurting their profits. In addition, the Ministry of Industry and Trade also decided to carry out an anti-dumping investigation on coated steel sheets imported from China and South Korea, which is expected to be completed in a year. Collectively, these policies are likely to discourage foreign steel companies from exporting and investing in the country.



About Us Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email vietnam@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight. 

Annual Audit and Compliance in Vietnam 2016

In this issue of Vietnam Briefing, we address pressing changes to audit procedures in 2016, and provide guidance on how to ensure that compliance tasks are completed in an efficient and effective manner. We highlight the continued convergence of VAS with IFRS, discuss the emergence of e-filing, and provide step-by-step instructions on audit and compliance procedures for Foreign Owned Enterprises (FOEs) as well as Representative Offices (ROs).

Navigating the Vietnam Supply Chain

In this edition of Vietnam Briefing, we discuss the advantages of the Vietnamese market over its regional competition and highlight where and how to implement successful investment projects. We examine tariff reduction schedules within the ACFTA and TPP, highlight considerations with regard to rules of origin, and outline the benefits of investing in Vietnams growing economic zones. Finally, we provide expert insight into the issues surrounding the creation of 100 percent Foreign Owned Enterprise in Vietnam.

Tax, Accounting and Audit in Vietnam 2016 (2nd Edition)

This edition of Tax, Accounting, and Audit in Vietnam, updated for 2016, offers a comprehensive overview of the major taxes foreign investors are likely to encounter when establishing or operating a business in Vietnam, as well as other tax-relevant obligations. This concise, detailed, yet pragmatic guide is ideal for CFOs, compliance officers and heads of accounting who must navigate Vietnams complex tax and accounting landscape in order to effectively manage and strategically plan their Vietnam operations.
Mumbai: Mocking the arrest of NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday said time has avenged his attempt to put Sena supremo Bal Thackeray behind bars during his tenure as Maharashtra Home Minister.

Bhujbal was arrested on Monday in connection with the alleged scam in construction of Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi. A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court sent the 68-year-old leader in Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till March 17.

"Time has avenged" Bhujbal's action, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said, adding the NCP leader, who left Sena in 1991, is to be blamed "for his destruction".

"When Bhujbal was the home minister, he was bent on putting Balasaheb (Thackeray) behind bars because he had given a 'Hindutva vadi' (pro-Hindu) speech that was aimed at awakening the people of the country. Even that was a case of political revenge and personal enmity," it alleged.

Bhujbal had misused government machinery to create false cases against those who did not listen to him, so that they could be put behind bars, the Sena alleged.

The NCP had described his arrest as "vendetta politics" by the BJP. Shiv Sena, which is part of the ruling alliance, said people protesting Bhujbal's arrest will soon forget about it.

"Chhagan Bhujbal was arrested a number of times while he was in the Sena. But then, he was arrested for protesting against atrocities against Marathi people. Now, when he is with the Congress and NCP, he is in jail on charges of corruption.

"He is responsible for his own destruction. People who are today protesting against his arrest will soon forget the issue and go about their usual business," he said.

Bhujbal started his political career with the Shiv Sena and was in the party for over two decades. He left the Sena in 1991 and joined the Congress.

Later, after Sharad Pawar decided to split from the Congress and form NCP, the former PWD minister went along with him.


The Apple logo seen at the Yerba Buena Center for Arts in San Francisco. (AFP/Kimihiro Hoshino)

According to a source of VIR, the centre will most likely be in Hanoi. As of now, the relevant government agencies are proposing to the investor a location and provide guidance to finish the necessary administrative procedures. No further details have been released yet, but the news shows that Apple is finally paying more attention to Vietnam.

Apple has yet to verify the information but looking at the companys recent moves, it seems that Apple is slowly waltzing into Vietnam.

At the end of October last year, the company set up a subsidiary in Vietnam, named Apple Vietnam LLC. The owner is Gene Daniel Levoff, current vice president of corporate law at Apple Inc. According to Bloomberg, Levoff is an important official at Apple, who plays a major role in the companys activities in foreign markets.

A few days ago, Apple posted advertisements to recruit an iPhone distribution director and an iOS retail director in Vietnam. The tech-savvy community expects that Apple is soon going to open its first Apple Store here.

As of now, Apple does not have an official distributor in Vietnam. Its products are distributed through authorised resellers, such as FPT Shop and, most recently, MobiFone.

Vietnam is full of Apple fans: the whole country goes wild at any new product launch. Keeping a keen eye out for the companys activities, Vietnam is one of the fastest growing markets of Apple.

The Southeast Asian country has become a production base for a host of big mobile phone producers. Samsung has two device production complexes in Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen, representing a total investment of $7.5 billion. LG has a $1.5 billion mobile phone and electronic appliances production complex in Haiphong, and Microsoft has a $320 million Windows Phone plant, also in Bac Ninh.

Foxconn, one of Apples official manufacturers, already has factories in Vietnam but has yet to produce Apple devices here.
The conference provided an opportunity for experts, representatives as well as local authorities to discuss the contradictions between Vietnams legal framework and certain EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) commitments on investment results. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to ensure the smooth implementation of the EVFTA and secure benefits for Vietnamese enterprises.

In the framework of the conference, experts showed Vietnams investment commitments in the EVFTA and pointed out major differences between the Vietnamese legal framework and the countrys EVFTA commitments. Participating experts then discussed ideas and opinions about revising pieces of Vietnamese legislation.

Reviewing the Vietnamese legal framework to dispel contradictions with our EVFTA commitments on investment is important because free trade agreements in general and the EVFTA in particular are expected to have a significant impact on Vietnamese institutions and policies in the upcoming time. This includes the arena of investments which is amongst the top concerns of the EU, said Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, director of the Centre for WTO and Economic Integration under the VCCI.

In early March, the VCCI organised two other conferences - Review of Vietnams legal framework against EVFTA commitments on customs and transparency-results and recommendations and Vietnams legal framework against EVFTA commitments on intellectual property - review results and recommendations.
Russian servicemen stand at the Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, in northwest Syria, on Dec 16, 2015. (Photo: AFP/Paul Gypteau)

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday (May 14) announced the withdrawal of Moscow's forces from Syria in a shock move as fresh peace talks began in Geneva.

But hopes for a breakthrough at the talks remained remote with both sides locked in a bitter dispute over the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the brutal conflict.

The Kremlin said Putin had called Assad to inform Moscow's long-standing ally of the move that appears to end the main part of its controversial bombing campaign that began in September.

"The task that was set before our defence ministry and armed forces has as a whole been completed and so I order the defence ministry to from tomorrow start the withdrawal of the main part of our military contingents from the Syrian Arab Republic," Putin told Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in televised comments.

"The leaders noted that the actions of the Russian airforce (had) allowed (them) to radically change the situation in the fight against terrorism, to disorganise the fighters' infrastructure and inflict significant damage on them," the Kremlin said in a statement.

The White House said presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin had spoken following Russia's surprise announcement, and discussed the "next steps required to fully implement the cessation of hostilities".

But US officials offered a cautious initial assessment of the Kremlin's decision. "At this point, we are going to see how things play out over the next few days," a senior administration official told AFP.

'COURAGE AND HEROISM'

Putin and Assad agreed that Moscow would maintain an airforce facility in Syria to help monitor the progress of a ceasefire in the war-torn country.

"The Syrian leader underlined his readiness for the quickest establishment of the political process in Syria," the statement added.

Russia's decision to begin withdrawing from Syria will help Moscow intensify efforts to reach a political settlement, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations said.

"Our diplomacy has received marching orders to intensify our efforts to achieve a political settlement in Syria," Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the move would increase the pressure on President Assad to negotiate "a political transition".

Russia began its airstrikes in support of Assad's forces in September, a move that helped shore up the regime's crumbling forces and allow them to go on the offensive.

Russia sent over 50 warplanes to carry out thousands of strikes across the Syria arguing that it was targeting "terrorist" groups including Islamic State militants.

The intervention was slammed by the West and its regional allies, who insisted that Moscow was mainly bombing more moderate rebels fighting Assad.

A temporary ceasefire between Assad's forces and opponents in the country introduced on February 27 has largely held, but it does not cover the IS and Nusra front groups.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that Moscow's Hmeimim air base in Syria and its Tartus naval facility would remain functioning and that some military contingents would stay behind.

He did not however give any details on how many soldiers would stay in Syria and what the timeframe for withdrawal was.

'A POSITIVE DECISION'

The UN-hosted negotiations in Geneva are the latest effort to end violence that has killed more than 270,000 people and displaced millions.

Syria's main opposition hailed the Kremlin's withdrawal announcement, but said it would wait and see what impact the order would have on the ground.

"We must verify the nature of this decision and its meaning," Salem al-Meslet, spokesman for the opposition High Negotiations Committee, told reporters in Geneva.

"If there is a decision to withdraw the (Russian) forces, it is a positive decision, and we will see it on the ground (but) does this decision mean removing forces or just reducing the number of aircraft in Syria, (that) we will have to check," he said.

Hopes for a breakthrough at the talks, however, appeared remote with the sides locked in a bitter dispute over Assad's future.

As the Syrian delegations arrived in Geneva over the weekend, Damascus warned that any discussion about removing Assad would be a "red line".

Top Western diplomats immediately condemned the comment from Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem as divisive and provocative.

After his first official meeting with the regime on Monday, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura told reporters that "strong statements (and) rhetoric" were part of every tough negotiation and that his initial discussions with government representative Bashar al-Jaafari were "useful".
Russian Su-34 bombers and a Tupolev Tu-154 transport plane (L) flying above an unknown location on their way from the Hmeimim airbase in Syria to their permanent bases in the Russian Federation. (STR/RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY/AFP)

MOSCOW: The first of Moscow's warplanes landed back in Russia from Syria on Tuesday (Mar 15) at the start of a surprise withdrawal that Western governments hope could boost peace talks by pressuring the Damascus regime.

UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura described the pullout as a "significant development" for the negotiations that began in Geneva on Monday in the latest push to end the brutal conflict as it enters its sixth year. "We hope (this) will have a positive impact on the progress of the negotiations," he said in a statement.

President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the "main part" of Russia's forces out of the war-torn nation, but the Kremlin denied it was trying to pressure its long-time ally President Bashar al-Assad.

Russia will, however, keep a contingent at its air and naval bases in Syria and a senior official said strikes against "terrorists" would continue. One Al-Qaeda linked group branded the withdrawal a "defeat" and vowed to launch a new offensive in Syria.

Putin said on Monday that Moscow's military goal had been "on the whole" completed some five-and-a-half months and 9,000 combat sorties after the Kremlin launched its bombing campaign in support of Assad.

State media broadcast live footage of flag-waving crowds greeting returning pilots at a military base in southwest Russia as a brass band played.

"It is still too early to speak of victory over terrorism. The Russian air group has a task of continuing to strike terrorist targets," deputy defence minister Nikolai Pankov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies at Moscow's Hmeimim base in Syria.

DISPUTE OVER ASSAD'S FATE

The West reacted cautiously, since Moscow is yet to specify a timeframe for completing the withdrawal and a Kremlin official said Russia will keep advanced air defence systems in Syria.

Some governments expressed hope the Russian move could push Assad to negotiate, but in Geneva both sides remained locked in a bitter dispute over his fate.

The talks opened after a temporary ceasefire between Assad's forces and opponents was introduced on Feb 27 and has largely held, although it does not cover the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate the Al-Nusra Front.

De Mistura was expected to hold on Tuesday his first official meeting with the opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC), which has repeatedly said Assad cannot be part of Syria's political future.

Damascus sparked Western anger by staking out an uncompromising stance before the talks, insisting that discussions on Assad's removal were a "red line" they would not cross. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied that the Kremlin was angered by Assad's perceived inflexibility.

But in February, Russia was unusually critical of Assad after he vowed in an interview with AFP to retake the whole country, saying his stance was "not in accord" with Moscow's diplomatic efforts.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said a Russian withdrawal "increases the pressure" on Assad to negotiate, while France's foreign ministry said "anything that helps towards a de-escalation in Syria should be encouraged."

CAUTIOUS ASSESSMENT

Moscow has pledged to ratchet up its own diplomatic efforts to find a political solution to a conflict that has killed more than 270,000 people and displaced millions since March 2011.

The White House said President Barack Obama had spoken to Putin following Russia's announcement, and discussed the "next steps required to fully implement the cessation of hostilities".

But US officials offered a cautious initial assessment. "At this point, we are going to see how things play out over the next few days," a senior administration official told AFP.

The foreign minister of Iran - which controls thousands of troops supporting Assad on the ground in Syria - said Russia's withdrawal showed Moscow did not "see an imminent need (to) resort to force in maintaining the ceasefire".

Russia began air strikes in Syria in September, a move that helped shore up the regime's crumbling forces and allowed them to go on the offensive.

Russia sent some 50 warplanes to carry out thousands of strikes across Syria, saying it was targeting "terrorist" groups including IS militants. The intervention was slammed by the West and its regional allies, which insisted Moscow was mainly bombing more moderate rebels.

Meanwhile, a militant commander told AFP that Al-Nusra was preparing to launch a new offensive "within the next 48 hours", saying the regime was unable to hold onto territory it had seized with the help of the Russians.

Syria's main opposition welcomed the Kremlin announcement, but said it would wait and see the impact on the ground. "We must verify the nature of this decision and its meaning," HNC spokesman Salem al-Meslet told reporters in Geneva.

After his first official meeting with the regime on Monday, de Mistura told reporters that "strong statements (and) rhetoric" were part of every tough negotiation and that his initial discussions with government representative Bashar al-Jaafari were "useful".
Hyderabad: Two buses bought in 1989 are lying in a dilapidated condition in the Osmania Medical College, unused. Senior professors in the college said that when Dr M. Ramani was the principal, she had written to the then director of Health and Medical education for air-conditioned buses, but now she is not pushing the case.

A senior professor said, The buses were stopped being operated as students had to get down and push as they were in a bad state. There was no proper maintenance carried out from time to time. A college bus is mandatory as students have to travel to various affiliated hospitals and also on outdoor tours.

When contacted, Dr M. Ramani said, CM K. Chandrashekar Reddy has clearly said that three air-conditioned buses will be procured for Osmania Medical College. I have been working on it and it is wrong to say that I didnt get it sanctioned. It was on the agenda and we were pushing for it since a long time. Not only OMC but also Gandhi Medical College, Kakatiya Medical College and Nizamabad Medical College are going to get three new buses.
Photo: QDND

The two leaders agreed to promote high-ranking delegation exchanges and share views on international and regional issues, especially at the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement as well as support each other at international forums and organizations.

They consented to raise the two-way trade turnover to US$2 billion in the next five years. To achieve the goal, the two sides inked a cooperative agreement between the State Bank of Vietnam and the Central Bank of Iran, as a foundation to promote trade and investment between the two countries.

The two Presidents committed to facilitating the two nations businesses to enhance cooperation and investment in such potential areas as trade, agriculture, industry, energy, telecommunications, automobile production, pharmacy, machines, garments, petrol and tourism.

State President Truong Tan Sang proposed Iran enabling the Viet Nam National Oil and Gas Group (Petro Viet Nam) and the military-run telecom group Viettel to expand investment in and to provide telecom services to Iran.

The two leaders said they will ask relevant ministries and agencies to actively prepare for the organization of the 9th joint committee between the two countries in Tehran and reach cooperation agreements at a business forum on March 15.

The two leaders were unanimous in boosting up negotiations and the early signing of cooperation agreements in finance, floral quarantine and protection, information and communication.

The Vietnamese State President showed his support for The World Against Violence and Extremism (WAVE) initiated by Iran.

The host and the guest assented to closely cooperate to make contribution to maintaining peace in the region and in the world, affirming that disputes must be dealt with dialogues and peaceful measures based on international regulations.

On the occasion, State President Truong Tan Sang invited President Hassan Rouhani to pay an official visit to Viet Nam and the Iranian President promised to arrange the visit in the near future.
The blossoming relationship is cornerstone to Koreas export success, resulting from opportunities and advantages from the Vietnam-Korea Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA), according to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (Kotra).

Accordingly, Korea will focus on connecting local manufacturers with foreign buyers in general and Vietnam in particular during the first half of this year.

According to Han Kyung Joon, deputy director of Kotra Hanoi, the VKFTA, through the provision of ample tax incentives, is expected to help bilateral trade turnover increase by a significant margin.

Besides, signing other FTAs such as the Europe-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, will help Vietnam achieve deeper integration into the global economy and make Vietnam become the worlds manufacturing and export hub, opening numerous opportunities for Korean exports to Vietnam, Joon said.

Automotive spare parts, fibre, and housewares will be the key Korean export products to Vietnam due to the new tax incentives as well as Vietnamese peoples increasing purchasing power. According to Joon, notably, the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Associations (VAMA) statistics show that in 2015, 244,914 automobiles were sold in Vietnam, a 55 per cent increase on-year. The figure is expected to reach 260,000 units in 2016. Regarding electric housewares, the 90 million strong domestic market presents a

great opportunity for Korean producers to increase their sales.

Kotra Hanoi has been playing an important role in helping Korean SMEs to penetrate the Vietnamese market by supplying information about the investment environment, organising business-to-business (B2B) meetings and large-scale exhibitions.

Besides, on March 2, Kotra celebrated in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City the opening of a support centre for both nations businesses to apply the VKFTA.

The centre aims to introduce specific information about the VKFTA, while simultaneously helping the two countries enterprises to take advantage of the agreement. Experts working at the supporting centre have thorough knowledge about the ins and outs of the VKFTA and a great deal of experience in consultancy. Thus, they will help the two countries enterprises deal with problems, including non-tariff barriers, procedures for certificates of origin among others, which may arise during the agreements implementation.
What does the promulgation of this new decree mean for foreign, especially European, enterprises? What positive changes does the decree bring?

The most prominent feature of this decree is to clarify that the requirement for a work permit or an exemption certificate does not apply to foreigners coming to work for less than 30 days and whose cumulative working time does not exceed 90 days in a year. Previously, the business community was anxious to see if foreigners working for such short terms would be included in the scope of Decree No.102/2013/ND-CP.

Another encouraging point of Decree 11 is that it extends the time frame for lodging the re-issuance of work permits. Accordingly, work permit re-issuance applications will be accepted from 45 days prior to the expiry date, instead of the 15 days as per current regulations. Hence, foreigners have sufficient time to renew visas or obtain residence cards after the granting of the new work permit.

The simplified terms of eligibility for work permit for individuals who have been previously granted such documents in Vietnam are also highly appreciated by the business community. Under current regulations, they have to submit new applications for similar cases.

Foreign enterprises have faced many problems as regulations on work permits have been constantly changing, with enforcement wavering at the local level. Does this decree manage to stabilise the situation?

Redefining the concept for foreigners employment positions remains a definite concern. We fully support the government to ensure the selection of foreign labour force in Vietnam and its practical benefits in supporting local human resources development. However, accompanied with the strict definitions and shortage of detailed instructions can still cause inadequacies when applied.

For example, a lot of otherwise proficient experts are currently working in fields that are different from their majors at university. Meanwhile, local departments of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs can still refuse to accredit certificates issued by foreign organisations or enterprises due to a lack of clear regulations on their content, requirements or information on the issuing organisations or enterprises.

In addition, according to the definition of managers or executive directors stipulated in Decree 11, we now wonder if it is allowed to employ foreigners in middle management positions, for instance as managers. Moreover, what documents are required to prove eligibility for a work permit under the concept of managers and executives?

The requirements on criminal records should also be clarified. According to Decree 11, foreigners are required to have clean criminal records in Vietnam to reside in the country. We are afraid that this provision will lead to the practice that foreigners will have to produce evidence of clear criminal records even if they only come to Vietnam for a short business trip or have previously worked in Vietnam. Such applicants will face difficulties in applying for papers in Vietnam, unless the government facilitates an online application system for criminal record or provide for applications through Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad.

With some problems remaining unresolved, how effective is this decree?

In our opinion, it is still early to give a comprehensive answer to this question. We have to wait for the guiding circulars to be introduced and for the new rules to be applied for a period of time. In general, regulations have been eased, but we are not entirely clear if the new conditions on foreign employees positions will cause more shortcomings when applied.

Does the EuroChams HR and Training Sector Committee have any recommendations to the Vietnamese government on the management of foreign employees?

First, we would like to suggest the government to exercise prudence in drafting and issuing the guiding circulars for Decree 11 to avoid continuous changes in regulations and practices. The Eurochams HR and Training Sector Committee are getting feedback from our members on Decree 11 and will turn to the government and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs with more specific and practical recommendations as soon as possible.


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Obama Administration had decided to sell eight nuclear-capable F-16 fighter jets worth nearly USD 700 million to Pakistan. (Photo: AFP)

New Delhi: The US has conveyed to India it has put in place an "effective oversight" and end-use monitoring system to ensure that security assistance given to Pakistan is used solely to combat terrorism.

The US last month had proposed USD 860 million in aid for Pakistan, including USD 265 million for military hardware, which it said would help the country fight terrorists, secure nuclear weapons and improve ties with India. The US has been giving financial aid to Pakistan, both for civil and military purposes from time to time.

India has consistently conveyed its concerns and sensitivities to the US government regarding the US security assistance to Pakistan.

"The US government has conveyed that it has put in place effective oversight and end-use monitoring mechanisms to ensure that its security assistance to Pakistan is used solely for counter-terrorism related purposes," Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said while replying to a question in Lok Sabha.

Last month, the Obama Administration had decided to sell eight nuclear-capable F-16 fighter jets worth nearly USD 700 million to Pakistan. Reacting to the decision, India had said it will create "negative sentiment" in the India-US relationship.

Replying to a separate question, Singh said a total of 25,049 people of Indian origin died abroad since 2013. He said in 2013, a total of 7,433 people died while in 2014, it was 7,691 and in 2015, it was 8,312. In 2016, a total of 1,613 people of Indian origin have died.

To another query, he said 115 incidents of attacks, involving 276 Indian nationals, have been reported in 30 countries in last three years.

"As a result of these attacks, 57 Indian nationals lost their lives," the Minister said.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court has sentenced a university student to 18 months in prison, for a post on Facebook calling for a revolution. The decision shocked supporters and family members of Kong Raiya, 24, who prior to his verdict hearing on Tuesday thought he would be released.

Judge Heng Sokna, however, announced at the hearing Tuesday a guilty verdict and sentence of 18 months in prison, under charges of incitement.

Kong Raiya was arrested in August 2015 outside Khemarak University, where he was a first-year student, after he posted on Facebook a message calling Cambodians to join him in a color revolution to change the government.

Cambodias constitution protects free speech in theory, but in practice, the regime of Prime Minister Hun Sen is highly sensitive to dissent. The courts, widely criticized as politically biased, have shown a willingness to prosecute for criminal charges related to public speech, including for incitement and defamation, charges that most often fall on critics of the government.

Tuesdays decision left Kong Raiyas family in shock. His sister, Kong Makara, could barely speak to reporters after the sentence was announced, saying: There was nothing wrong with what he did.

Kong Raiyas father, Kong Taing, called the sentencing harsh, and said his son had not actually sought to orchestrate a revolution against the government. He should not have been convicted for such a long imprisonment, because this is a matter of an expression of opinion, he said. They will appeal the case, he added.

Student leaders from Khemarak University have meanwhile sent a petition to Hun Sen, calling for Kong Raiyas release, but they have not received a response.

Am Sam Ath, a senior investigator with the rights group Licadho, who observed Tuesdays hearing, said the judges decision was unwarranted, especially because the Facebook post was not a credible threat to national security.

During his trial in February, Kong Raiya told the judge his understanding of a color revolution was that it meant peaceful gatherings and non-violent protests. In his Facebook post, he said: Does anyone dares to launch a color revolution with me? Someday in the future, I will launch a color revolution in order to change the regime running Cambodian society; even if I am sent to prison or die, I am determined to do it.
Famed international rights lawyer Amal Clooney says Azerbaijan is abusing its power by trying to silence critics of the regime, including imprisoned reporter Khadija Ismayilova.

Clooney, who is helping represent Ismayilova before Europe's top human rights court, also said that the case against Ismayilova was wholly politically motivated, aimed at keeping her from continuing her corruption investigations of President Ilham Aliyev and his family members.

"I believe it's important to protect an individual journalist against a powerful state that has overstepped. This is about a government that is abusing its power to silence journalists like Khadija, as well as other critics of the ruling regime," Clooney told RFE/RL in an e-mail conversation on March 15.

"It's important to fight for the right of journalists to tell the world what is happening in their countries," she said.

Clooney submitted a lengthy filing to the ECHR on behalf of Ismayilova on March 14, in response to written submissions filed by Azerbaijan earlier this year.

"I will continue to advocate for her release until she is free," she said.

Ismayilova, a renowned investigative reporter and regular contributor to RFE/RL, was arrested in Baku in December 2014 and put on trial on charges that her supporters said were politically motivated.

In September, a Baku court sentenced her to 7 years in prison, a ruling that prompted international criticism.

Joining defense team

Clooney confirmed in January that she would be joining Ismayilova's defense, a move that brings substantial legal and public clout to her case.

In the case she is bringing before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Clooney told RFE/RL that she and her co-counsel were arguing that there was no genuine suspicion that Ismayilova committed any of the crimes she was charged with and that there was no justification for her pretrial detention.

"Khadija's case is emblematic of a wider crackdown on journalists and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan," she said. "Azerbaijan has one of the highest rates of imprisonment of journalists in the world, and yet this is a country that is a member of the Council of Europe, an organization whose goal is to promote human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. This is something that should concern us all."

Visitors kept from journalist

Earlier this month, activists and journalists were turned away by Azerbaijani authorities as they attempted to visit Ismayilova on the eve of International Womens Day, March 8.

The entourage negotiated for over an hour with the authorities, trying to at least pass on flowers to Ismayilova. But, citing prison procedures on visitation hours, the authorities refused to accommodate their requests, activists said.

The fact that we were not allowed to present our gifts to her or even meet with her shows how much the government fears Khadija, journalist Aynur Imranova told VOA. We will not allow her name to be forgotten.

Clooney is also currently representing the former president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, who was convicted of terrorism in a case that has drawn international criticism.

Nasheed, the Maldives' first democratically elected leader, was ousted in 2012 for ordering the arrest of a judge. He is serving a 13-year jail term after a rapid trial in March.

The United Nations, the United States and human rights groups have said President Abdullah Yameen's government failed to follow due process and that the case against Nasheed was politically motivated.

Syrian refugees

On Tuesday, to mark the fifth anniversary of the Syrian conflict, Clooney and her husband, actor George Clooney, met with Syrian migrants living in Berlin.

The conflict in Syria has killed more than 250,000 and displaced millions. It has also fed the largest migrant crisis in Europe since World War Two.
Gunmen have killed three local administrators in various parts of Burundi since Friday, officials said, in the latest episode of violence since President Pierre Nkurunziza ran for a third term in office that his opponents say was unconstitutional.

More than 400 people have been killed since April when Nkurunziza said he would run for a third term, triggering street protests and a coup attempt.

Opposition parties say his election bid, which he went on to win, violated two-term constitutional

limits.

Gad Niyukuri, governor of Makamba province, said in the latest incident unidentified gunmen killed the head of a village in Kibago district in the province on Tuesday night.

"The victim was attacked at his home around 10 p.m. by unidentified gunmen," he told Reuters by phone.

In another incident on Tuesday, gunmen killed another village head in Mugamba district in Bururi province, 70 kilometers from Bujumbura, a resident in the province said.

"Gunmen came around 7.00 PM last night fired several rounds of bullets at the victim's home killing on spot the head of village only," a resident who only identified himself as Antoine said.

"Another local elected official was also killed last Friday by unidentified gunmen."

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks but the government says there are now three rebel outfits perpetrating violence, including two made up of renegade soldiers.

The opposition also accuses government troops of arbitrary arrests, disappearances and extra-judicial killings.

Statistics from U.N. refugee agency UNHCR show that as of early March, 250,473 people had fled Burundi and were registered as refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

In February, Nkurunziza said Burundi would hold political talks to try to end the months of violence.

The government has in the past said it will not hold talks with anyone who was involved in the failed coup attempt in May.
A Phnom Penh municipal court has sentenced a university student to 18 months in prison for a Facebook posting that calls for revolution.

Tuesday's ruling by Judge Heng Sokna shocked supporters and family members of Kong Raiya, 24, who prior to his verdict hearing said he thought he would be released.

The first-year student from Khemarak University was arrested last August on charges of incitement after posting a Facebook message calling on Cambodians to join him in a "color revolution" to change the government.

Cambodias constitution protects free speech in theory, but in practice, the regime of Prime Minister Hun Sen is highly sensitive to dissent. The courts, widely criticized as politically biased, have shown a willingness to prosecute for criminal charges related to public speech, including for incitement and defamation, charges that most often fall on government critics.

Following Tuesday's decision, Kong Raiya's sister, Kong Makara, said, "There was nothing wrong with what he did."

Harsh sentence



Kong Raiyas father, Kong Taing, called the sentencing "harsh" and said his son had not actually sought to orchestrate a revolution against the government. "He should not have been convicted for such a long imprisonment, because this is a matter of an expression of opinion," he said, adding that his family plans to appeal the case.

Student leaders from Khemarak University submitted a petition to Prime Minister Hun Sen calling for Kong Raiyas release, but have not received a response.

Am Sam Ath, a senior investigator with Phnom Penh-based rights group Licadho who observed Tuesdays hearing, said the judges decision was unwarranted, especially because the Facebook post was not a credible threat to national security.

During his trial in February, Kong Raiya told the judge his understanding of a color revolution was that it meant peaceful gatherings and non-violent protests. In his Facebook post, he said, "Does anyone dare (sic) to launch a color revolution with me? Some day in the future, I will launch a color revolution in order to change the regime running Cambodian society; even if I am sent to prison or die, I am determined to do it."
China is a frequent focus of criticism on the U.S. presidential campaign trail, but Chinese Premier Li Keqiang believes relations will continue to move in a positive direction regardless of who wins the race.



Speaking with reporters at his annual press conference Wednesday, Li described the U.S. campaign as lively and something that has caught the eye of many. He said little, however, about the specific views of the candidates.



I believe that in the end, no matter who gets into the White House, the underlying trend of China - U.S. trends will not change, Li said.



The premier said that while differences between the worlds two biggest economies are undeniable and in some cases sharp, many have been ignoring the fact that last year, China became the United States biggest trading partner, with two-way trade between the two countries reaching $560 billion last year.



This in itself shows that common interests between the two countries far outweigh the differences, he said.



If only it were that simple.



China, China, China



On the campaign trail, real estate mogul and Republican Party contender Donald Trump has been one of Beijings biggest critics. He has mentioned China so many times in interviews and in speeches that there are popular mash-up videos circulating online of him saying China over and over.



Trump has repeatedly blamed China for stealing U.S. jobs. He has also argued that with his experience as a tough negotiator, he could find ways to beat Beijing at its own game and address what he has said are its unfair trade practices, such as currency manipulation.



He has also argued that while America has opened up its markets to China, Beijing has not reciprocated. Trump has said China uses a Great Wall of Protectionism to keep U.S. companies out and tilt the playing field in its favor.



Rabble Rouser



Hillary Clinton, too, is no stranger to stirring up debates with Beijing. She has voiced concerns about Chinas trade practices on the campaign trail and warned that as the Chinese economy slows, Beijing may take more actions that will damage practices in global trade.



She also has a long history of pressing China on womens rights from the time when she was U.S. First Lady in the 1990s to more recent encounters.



In a Tweet last year, she called Chinese President Xi Jinping shameless for speaking on womens rights at the United Nations while feminist activists were in jail in China.



That remark irked Chinese netizens and the party-backed Global Times accused her of being a rabble rouser, adding that she has turned into a big mouth like Donald Trump.



In a response statement, Clinton said that "if China believes defending women's rights is "rabble rousing," then they can expect much more of it from me."



Internal Affairs



Chinese officials rarely comment on U.S. elections because they feel that to do so would be meddling in Americas internal affairs. Instead, they prefer to focus on areas where the two are seeking common interests.



Li told reporters that despite differences, there are up to 100 exchange and dialogue mechanisms that have been set up between the two countries and that what is needed is good faith and for both sides to properly manage their differences.



As our cooperation expands, the number of differences may naturally rise, but the percentage of differences in the overall China - U.S. relationship will only come down, he said.
Despite instability in crude oil prices, global production at record highs and Iran coming back on line to produce more oil than analysts expected, China wants to import more crude oil from Nigeria.

In an interview with the Nigerian News Agency, Zao LingXiang, economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, said, In my opinion, it really doesnt matter whether Iran comes back or not. Chinese companies want to import more crude oil from Nigeria.

The total amount of export to China was only about 1 million barrels in 2015, which was just 1.3 percent of Nigerias annual export. LingXiang said trade volume between both countries stood at nearly $15 billion, making Nigeria the third-largest trade partner of China in Africa.

China, overall, is Africas largest trading partner. Besides oil, other key goods China imports from Nigeria include machinery, transportation equipment, textiles, home appliances, medicine and computers.

China is the largest developing country in the world, and Nigeria is the largest developing country in Africa, and both countries have complimentary advantages in natural and human resources, funds and markets, LingXiang said.

This development is crucial for Nigeria because the economy is oil-dependent. Oil accounts for 80 percent of government revenues, and because of the plunge in prices since June 2014, the economy has suffered and the naira has fallen sharply.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari's government has been making strides to diversify the economy, which is fully in line with the 10 China-Africa cooperation plans announced at the summit on China-Africa trade in Johannesburg in 2015.

The Chinese government announced that the 10 cooperation plans would strengthen cooperation with Africa in the coming three years. They cover the areas of industrialization, agricultural modernization, infrastructure, financial services, green development, trade and investment facilitation, poverty reduction and public welfare, public health, people-to-people exchanges, and peace and security.
Drug controllers say that they dont have a say in what the manufacturers do with the recalled drugs. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: The 344 drugs that have been banned in India are likely to be diverted to African countries, or even SAARC countries except Pakistan and Afghanistan, as the Central government has not banned their exports.

A source in the drug control department said, The products are not to be consumed in India, but if the importing country has no objections then the drug controllers cannot stop it.

Drug controllers say that they dont have a say in what the manufacturers do with the recalled drugs. While the makers of cough syrups Corex and Phensedyl have appro-ached the court and got a stay order, the others are still contemplating legal action. The problem is that this time the government has listed each combination and banned them instead of issuing a bulk order. This means that each pharma company will have to separately go to court for each combination.

Meanwhile, the government gazette gives minimum information about the reason for the ban. A senior pharma official on condition of anonymity said, These combination drugs have gone through proper regulatory approvals. They have been in the market for a long time. Even the new combinations are approved and only then released in the market. How come they have become ineffective now? The Central government has been asked to submit the details for ineffectiveness of Corex and Phensedyl to the court as the report is not in public domain.

A senior officer said, There is very little information in public domain except that it is not viable for human consumption. The expert committee was set up in 2014 and the task was to classify the drugs into rational, irrational and those that needed further studies. Based on the responses and assessment of the products, the drugs have been banned.

But a case to point is the combination of metformin+gliclazide+pioglitazine, which is used by diabetic patients and which was approved by the Drug Controller General of India. But the combination is now in the list of banned drugs. A senior doctor said, This drug is very useful for diabetics. The government had approved it earlier, how can it be banned now? There are 80 combinations of pioglitazine which are effective for diabetic patients and their ban is going to affect the patients.

The WHO had approved only 350 formulations of fixed dose combinations to treat prevalent diseases but the pharma companies got too ambitious and made more than 6,000 combinations.

Dr Hari Krishna, a senior physician said, With 50 per cent of the market containing FDCs it had become a concern for prescribing medicines. For example if a person came with headache and high fever, the combination drugs prescribed mostly were medicines for headache, fever, body pain and cold. For the other two symptoms that did not exist (body pain and cold), the medicine was not required and it caused side-effects.
The death toll from Sunday's terror attack in the Ivory Coast is at 19, government officials say.

The victims reportedly came from six different countries. Eleven Ivorians were killed, and four French citizens were among the dead, as well as one German, one Nigerian, one Macedonian and one Lebanese.

The violence spared no group, Bruno Kone, a spokesman for the government of the Ivory Coast, said Wednesday. Among the victims were Ivorians from the north and the south, Africans and westerners, and Muslims and Christians.

Kone announced the government will provide nearly $1 million in financial assistance to the town of Grand Bassam, as well as local hotels and traders.

Earlier Wednesday, President Alassane Ouattara, dressed in black, placed a wreath on the beach next to the hotel where the shooting took place. He said the Ivory Coast will not respond to the attack with exclusion.

The tragic event only reinforces the unity of the brothers and sisters of the Ivory Coast, Ouattara said, adding that the country will continue to be the land of hospitality that it has always been.

Moving forward after attack

Heavily armed gunmen descended on beachfront resorts in Grand Bassam at midday Sunday, opening fire on beachgoers and people in two hotels. The government said all three attackers were killed.

Three days after the attack, almost no traces of the carnage remain, and maintenance men were busy cleaning.

Pulling through and moving on are priorities, the hotel owners said.

The president of the board of the Etoile du Sud hotel said the attack was demoralizing at first, "but now my colleagues and I are ready to get going again."

Patrick Kone, owner of the neighboring hotel Nouvelle Paillote, agreed. His establishment was looted after the attack.

"If you come by on Friday," he said, "you will see everything will be ready."

Responding to concerns about safety, Kone said the Ivorian government had pledged its help.

"We have a day guard and a night guard," the hotel owner said, "and the government is doing what is necessary."

The Ivory Coast will hold a tribute Sunday for all the victims. Twenty-four people injured in the attack remain hospitalized.
Human Rights Watch is urging President Barack Obama to call for "concrete measures" to end what it considers systematic repression in Cuba, during his historic visit next week to the island nation.

"His message on human rights needs to be forceful and specific," said HRW Americas director John Vivanco. "Otherwise the trip may be remembered by Cubans who have suffered half a century of repression as little more than bonding time.

Obama, who heads to Cuba on Sunday, will become the first sitting U.S. president to visit the country in nearly 90 years.

The White House has said Obama will raise with Cuban officials the detention and harassment of those wanting to express their basic rights.

During the trip, the U.S. leader is expected to hold bilateral talks with Cuban President Raul Castro, as well as meet with Cuban dissidents and civil society members.



HRW says the human rights situation in Cuba has remained largely unchanged since December 2014, when Obama and Castro announced the normalization of diplomatic relations.

"Important progress in a few areas has been made in recent years, such as increased freedom to travel and broader internet access, but the country's repressive system remains firmly in place," said Vivanco.

Cuba and the United States have endured 50 years of hostile relations, after revolutionary Fidel Castro overthrew the U.S.-supported dictator Fulgencio Batista.
A newscast on whether India had become intolerant of dissent quickly spiraled into something darker after a guest on the program referred to a pamphlet that called the Hindu goddess Durga a sex worker. Though the host did not make the remarks, she was accused of disparaging the deity and was bombarded with more than 2,500 threatening calls.

Some called and said they would douse me with acid,'' Kerala journalist Sindhu Sooryakumar said. Six members of a militant group linked with India's Hindu nationalist ruling party have been arrested.

Sooryakumar is one of a growing number of Indian journalists who say they are increasingly facing a backlash for producing work that raises questions or criticisms of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government or his Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP. The crackdowns are happening as journalists try to cover a nationwide debate on how Indian patriotism should be defined  as Hindu or multicultural, devout or secular  and whether dissent should be tolerated.

Members of Modi's government have offered hard-line views on the issue, equating criticism of the government with criticism of the country. Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani said last month that the nation can never tolerate an insult to Mother India, while Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted that anyone shouting anti-India slogans will not be tolerated or spared.

Anchor gets death threats

Last week, one of India's best-recognized TV anchors, Barkha Dutt, filed a police report after allegedly receiving anonymous abusive death threats. She had been reporting along with others in the capital's media on a university student's arrest for allegedly making anti-India statements. The student criticized the 2013 secret hanging, under a previous government, of a Kashmiri separatist convicted of an attack on Parliament.

Dutt told a conference organized by a women's group that, following her reports, she received calls threatening rape, sexual abuse and even shooting me.

During that same student's court hearing on sedition charges last month, lawyers beat reporters and damaged cameras and recording equipment while demanding they not cover public protests against the student's arrest. Journalists from several broadcasters, newspapers and wire services were attacked, including an Associated Press photographer whose hand was bruised and camera lens broken.

The attacks have heightened concerns about the state of press freedom in India, said a statement from the international Committee to Protect Journalists.

On Friday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley issued the first government comments condemning the violence surrounding the hearing, saying ``it was a terrible exception, what happened. Normally people in a public place find media as their natural ally. The whole idea of getting the media dragged into contemporaneous controversy and then attacking it physically is absolutely unacceptable anywhere.''

Journalists have never been entirely safe in India: 11 have been killed since 2010, according to the CPJ. Most were working outside major cities, often covering small-town corruption, when they were killed.

The fact that journalists in major cities such as New Delhi are now being hounded is relatively novel. For years, they operated largely without fear of retribution, thanks in part to the nation's educated, urban elite and the foreign media bearing noisy witness.

As a journalist, you don't want to be the story yourself, said Swati Chaturvedi, a veteran print and TV journalist who filed a police report last year while she said she was receiving 300 to 400 threatening messages a day. I'm actually very scared that, one of these days, this sort of thing will trigger a real riot.

Moderate space disappearing

Rahul Jalali, president of the Press Club of India in New Delhi, said he's noticed a creeping change for several years and worries the pressure on journalists could ultimately hurt their credibility.

The moderate space, even politically, is sort of disappearing, even for journalists. Today, you're being forced to take sides, Jalali said. There is a lot of self-censorship going on.''

For the media, it's disastrous, we're losing our objectivism, he said. But he hoped it was temporary, noting that India's media had endured previous crackdowns, including Indira Gandhi imposing a state of emergency and seizing powers in 1975-77.

After Sooryakumar, the Kerala news anchor, filed a police complaint about the threatening phone calls she received, police arrested six members of the militant Hindu organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or RSS  the ideological parent of the ruling BJP  for alleged harassment, including posting Sooryakumar's cellphone number to a social media group.

Sooryakumar said the group exhorted members to call me and solicit my services as a sex worker.

When the six were released on bail earlier this month, a crowd of RSS members reportedly greeted them with cheers.

Society support

Kerala's BJP president and RSS member Kummanam Rajasekharan denied RSS involvement and said anyone who called the newscaster had acted so of their own volition.

The head of Kerala's Union of Working Journalists said the problem was becoming big enough that journalists may need society to help them stand up for free speech.

The Sindhu Sooryakumar incident is not isolated or a first of its kind, said C. Rahim. Earlier, political parties would unequivocally condemn it and initiate action against perpetrators. Now there is an atmosphere of organizational support.

TV news channel Manorama correspondent Asha Javed said she felt the atmosphere was becoming less safe.

We have reported about it [intolerance] for some time, and now we are experiencing it first-hand,'' Javed said.

Challenges to coverage

In such a climate, it is becoming more difficult for journalists to cover the country's heated debates about whether people should be allowed to criticize the government, empathize with convicted terrorists, eat beef or make jokes about Hindu gods. Under Indian law, it is illegal to inflame communal tension or stoke violence. Prosecutors are increasingly applying that ban to anything deemed anti-Indian, though they have not targeted journalists.

The apparent increase in harassment, meanwhile, may be a sign of the times. India's enormous population of 1.25 billion is also the world's fastest-growing market for both Internet penetration and smartphone use. Interacting online is something new and exciting for long-isolated populations.

Chaturvedi, the reporter threatened last year, said the environment is one in which you can't say anything against Modi.

These people are inclined to attack if they don't like a story, she said. It's a systematic sort of harassment and bullying which will eventually silence a lot of people who don't have the confidence to fight back.

That's the great fear that Jalali, the press club president, has for his profession.

In India, the newspaper is read out loud in the village center, and everyone gathers to listen. And most still think what appears in print is gospel, he said. But once they realize the news is filled with bias, or even lies, it will affect our democracy. We are the guarantors of free speech. If we don't have free speech, how will we guarantee it for others?
Russia's defense ministry said more of its planes left Syria Wednesday, continuing its withdrawal as the U.N. held more indirect peace talks with Syria's warring sides in Geneva.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry plans to travel to Moscow next week for talks with Russian Vladimir Putin about the drawdown and the new push for peace in the war-torn country.

Kerry said he would talk with both Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about how to move forward with the process of bringing a political solution to the five-year conflict.

"This is a moment to seize, not waste," he said Tuesday. "We have at this moment the ability to finally take steps toward ending war and bloodshed."

Fighting in Syria has drastically declined with a cessation of hostilities in place for about three weeks.

But Kerry also warned that lasting peace is impossible if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad remains in power.

The first Russian troops to leave Syria arrived back home Tuesday to cheering crowds.

Putin made the surprise announcement Monday that the bulk of his forces will leave now that they have achieved their mission in Syria, which began in late September.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters Tuesday that early indications were that Russia was following through on Putin's order.

At the U.N.-led peace talks in Geneva, the main Syrian opposition cautiously greeted the withdrawal, saying it could lead to the end of the conflict and Assad's "dictatorship and his crimes."

The U.N. special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, called Putin's announcement a "significant development" and said he hopes it will lead to "a peaceful political transition in the country."

France also expressed cautious optimism, with its foreign ministry saying that if the Russian troop reduction is "followed up by concrete action, it would be a positive development."

Despite the initial withdrawal, Russia plans to keep about 1,000 military personnel at air and naval bases in Syria. The United States has estimated that Moscow has had between 3,000 and 6,000 troops in Syria.

In Syria, deputy defense minister Nikolai Pankov told Russian news agencies, "It is still too early to speak of victory over terrorism. The Russian air group has a task of continuing to strike terrorist targets."
Saudi Arabia is reported to be seeking a multi-billion dollar bank loan to shore up its finances as plunging world oil prices take their toll on the economy. But its not the only Gulf state in trouble; other oil producers are in a far more precarious position.

Speedboats whisk tourists across the warm waters of the Gulf to former pearl fishing grounds off Bahrains coastline. Before the discovery of oil in the 1930s, the economy was based almost entirely on pearl exports. Bahrains government is keen to show off its heritage  but theres another plan, said Noura Al Sayeh, chief architect for the new Heritage Trail.

"The idea behind the whole project is also to make pearling a sustainable economy for Bahrain once again," said Sayeh.

Bahrain and other Gulf states urgently need to diversify their economies. Oil has plunged from $120 a barrel in 2014 to around $40 today. The ratings agency Moodys has downgraded its outlook for Bahrains economy to junk status. Its not alone, said Jason Tuvey of London-based analysts Capital Economics.

Oman and Bahrain are where theres going to have to be an enormous fiscal squeeze over the next couple of years. And growth there is going to be extremely weak. On top of that there are political concerns in both countries, said Tuvey.

Oil provides around 80% of Saudi Arabias total income. But that revenue has halved in the past two years. The government is running a deficit of 15% and is reported to be seeking a bank loan of $8 billion. But Tuvey said it is not in imminent danger.

The Saudi authorities built up their buffers over the past decade while oil prices were high. They paid down debt as well. So theyre now in a position of relative strength in order to cope with low oil prices, at least compared with other producers such as Russia and Nigeria, he said.

As a member of the OPEC cartel, Saudi Arabia has the power to cut production and boost oil prices. But that could in fact undermine Saudis economy.

That would just entice shale producers in the U.S. to ramp up production again and threaten Saudi Arabias long-term position in the market, said Tuvey.

With the United States less reliant on Gulf oil  and relations between Washington and Saudi rival Iran warming  there are questions over Riyadhs geopolitical and economic future. But last month, Saudis Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir described the U.S. alliance as "hugely valuable."

America is our ally. It has been our historic ally for more more than seven decades. America is our largest trading partner, it's the largest investor in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said Jubeir.

Riyadh is trying to reform its economy by cutting wages and encouraging more private sector employment. But in a country so accustomed to oil wealth, analysts say such changes will take years to implement.
A former radio repairman in Malawi has built a helicopter out of scrap materials. While civil aviation officials have grounded him for now, he says he is not giving up.

Felix Kambwiri has dreamed of flying since he was a boy.

He says he used to be fascinated with the helicopters his state president would fly during crop inspection tours. The helicopters would sometimes land on his school grounds, and he says that is when he decided he would one day make his own.

Now, at the age of 45, the professional welder and father of seven has done it.

The helicopter  made from scrap metal Kambwiri gathered locally  is white, with blue and red stripes. It took him four months to build.

The cockpit is big enough to fit one adult, and it uses a 125-cubic-centimeter engine he got from his old motorbike.

That engine roars to life in his garage as he turns the machine on. It shakes as if eager to lift off. Orange indicator lights flash from the cockpit and the tail. Onlookers step back to avoid the rotating blades.

Kambwiri plans to use the helicopter to avoid bad roads when he visits his home village about 30 kilometers away. Police, however, blocked his first attempt at a test flight.

Civil aviation authorities say they need to run safety checks once Kambwiri installs a more powerful engine.

So, hes saving up the $800 needed to buy one.

Even if that first test flight fails, Kambwiri vows will not relent until he makes that helicopter fly.

And he knows its possible. He is a member of a small but persistent group of amateur aircraft builders in Africa. One Nigeria physics student managed to get his helicopter, built in 2007, seven feet off the ground.

While some people have told Kambwiri that he cannot possibly succeed, his small aircraft has won the hearts and minds of locals who stop by to admire it.

My impression is that he should have a lot of money, so that he can make a bigger one, and I want to fly with this, said a local teacher checking out the helicopter firsthand.
First Lady Michelle Obama laid to rest the idea that she may have future presidential ambitions.

Speaking at the annual South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas, Obama said she had no intention of running for president of the U.S.

"There are so many ways to impact the world. You dont have to be president of the United States to do wonderful, marvelous things," Obama said at a festival panel discussion on empowering women, according to Reuters.

Speaking more concisely, the 52-year-old first lady said I will not run for president.

Obama was on the panel to discuss her Let Girls Live initiative which she launched in March of last year. The initiative aims to help some 62 million girls around the world who are not in school.

"For me, 62 million girls not getting an education, that is personal," she said.

The first lady, who is a lawyer by trade, did say that she would continue to work for people after she and her husband leave the White House next January.

"There is so much that I can do outside of the White House and sometimes there is much more that you can do outside of the White House without the constraints," she said.
The Moroccan government is reducing its staff and support for the U.N. peacekeeping operation in the Western Sahara, to protest the U.N. secretary-general's recent comments about the disputed territory.

Morocco also threatened to withdraw its 2,300 troops from all U.N. peacekeeping operations.



The unusual move is the latest step in an escalating dispute between Morocco and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Ban recently visited Saharan refugee camps and referred to Morocco's "occupation'' of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony that Morocco annexed in 1975. Morocco regarded the term as an insult.



Moroccans held a huge protest Sunday over the comments, organized by the country's leading political parties, labor unions and NGOs. The next day, on the orders of Moroccan King Mohammed VI, Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar went to the U.N. to meet with Ban, asking him to "publicly clarify'' his position, the Foreign Ministry said.



Ban's spokesman said the U.N. chief considers the attacks "disrespectful to him and to the United Nations.'' He renewed a call for resumed peace negotiations.



Morocco remains angry, and late Tuesday the Foreign Ministry announced a reduction of its staff in the MINURSO peacekeeping mission and an end to the "voluntary contribution Morocco has accorded to the maintenance of MINURSO.'' Moroccan funding will not "for the moment'' be affected, according to a Foreign Ministry official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to comment on the issue.



Morocco's $3 million contribution to MINURSO has paid for food and housing for military observers, according to U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric.



He said the United Nations is assessing the potential impact of the Moroccan plans. If Morocco carries out all aspects of the announcement, he said, "we would obviously regret it.''



Asked whether this was the death knell of MINURSO, Dujarric said, "We very much hope this is not the end of the peace process.''



The status of the Western Sahara is among the most sensitive topics in the North African kingdom. Morocco considers the vast mineral-rich Western Sahara as its "southern provinces'' and fiercely defends against anything it considers to be threats to its territorial integrity.



The dispute intensified as the Moroccan monarch visited Russia, a potential ally in the dispute.



Morocco has proposed wide-ranging autonomy for the region, but the Polisario wants self-determination through a referendum for the local population.



Established in 1991 after years of fighting between the Moroccan forces and the Polisario Front independence movement, MINURSO (the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) lists 162 local civilian staff as of last year, of a total of 482 personnel members. MINURSO is currently headquartered in the city of Laayoune, the administrative capital of the Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara.



"The Kingdom of Morocco expresses its indignation at seeing the Secretary General challenge the legitimate and democratic right of a people to freely express their opinions and reactions,'' the Moroccan government statement said.



A member of Polisario accused the Moroccan government of resorting to "pressure and blackmail.'' Mohamed Sidati, the group's delegate minister for Europe, said in a statement carried on its official news agency, Sahara Press Service, that the Moroccan move is a "sign of panic.''



Eric Goldstein, Human Rights Watch's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, said that the anti-MINURSO measures "can only undermine Morocco's international standing.''



He noted a series of past actions taken by Morocco to affirm what it considers its sovereignty over Western Sahara. Most recently, Morocco suspended contacts with the European Union after a December ruling by the European Court of Justice annulling a fisheries and agriculture agreement between Morocco and the EU because it included Western Sahara territory.
Niger's opposition presidential candidate Hama Amadou was taken from his Niamey jail cell and flown to a Paris hospital Wednesday, four days before a runoff election.

Amadou has been in jail since November on baby-trafficking charges  allegations he and his supporters say are politically motivated.

Opposition officials say Amadou has been sick since he was jailed, but the nature of his illness is unclear.

Amadou, a former parliament speaker, plans to have his name on the ballot Sunday, even though his opposition coalition said last week it would boycott the runoff.

It said results of the first round, won by incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou, were "grotesque and cooked up."

The coalition also accused Niger's top court of conspiring with the government to ensure Issoufou's re-election. The opposition alleges Issoufou is becoming increasingly authoritarian.

Despite a wealth of energy resources, Niger is one of the world's poorest countries.
The U.S. government is calling on North Korea to pardon an American college student sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for committing crimes against the state.

"There is no greater priority of this administration than welfare of citizens abroad," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Wednesday.

He said it is "increasingly clear" that Pyongyang is using U.S. citizens as "pawns to pursue a political agenda," and he called for Otto Warmbier's release.

Warmbier was arrested in North Korea in January as he was trying to leave the country after visiting with a tour group.

During an appearance before a group of foreign and domestic journalists in Pyongyang last month, the 21-year-old student at the University of Virginia admitted to removing a banner with a political slogan from a staff-only area of the hotel where the group was staying.

Warmbier said the mother of a friend offered him a used car worth $10,000 in exchange for the banner, which she wanted to display as a "trophy" in her church. The woman said if he was caught, Warmbier's mother would get $200,000.

WATCH: Related video of American student detained in North Korea

North Korea has often detained Americans and other foreign citizens on trumped up charges.

The detainees are usually brought before foreign journalists to read statements confessing to crimes committed against the dictatorial regime.

The statements are widely considered to have been coerced, and detainees often recant their confessions after their release.

Just hours before Warmbier was sentenced, former U.S. ambassador Bill Richardson said he met with two North Korean diplomats at the United Nations in New York and appealed for the student's release.

Richardson has gone to North Korea several times in recent years to secure freedom for jailed Americans.
Mumbai: AIMIM legislator Waris Pathan, who was suspended from Maharashtra Assembly on Wednesday, remained defiant regarding his stand that he would not say Bharat mata ki jai.

Terming the suspension as the murder of democracy, Mr Pathan said he and his party were only resisting the RSS attempts to impose their ideology on others.

I do not need to prove my nationalism and patriotism to anyone, including the RSS. I am a proud Indian and I wish to die in this country. I proudly say Jai Hind and Hindustan Zindabad. But, I will not say Bharat mata ki jai because RSS chief Mohan Bhagwant wants me to say so, Mr Pathan said, while speaking to this newspaper.

Read: Maharashtra Assembly suspends AIMIM MLA for not saying 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'

According to Mr Pathan, legislators from the BJP and Shiv Sena kept provoking him on the issue and action was taken against him even though he did not say anything on record of the House proceedings.

According to the House proceedings, a statement of a legislator is taken on record only after his microphone is switched on after the Speaker allows him to speak.

The ruling party legislators kept on provoking us. It is true that I reacted to their provocation and said that I will not say Bharat mata ki jai, but I will say Jai Hind. But even that was not on record. Still I was suspended and was not given an opportunity to give an explanation. It was murder of democracy, Mr Pathan said. Mr Pathan said that he had requested the Speaker to revoke his suspension, as he has not violated any rule or used any unparliamentary words.

Read: Cyberabad cops told to book Asaduddin Owaisi

Mr Pathan said that he had complete backing of his leader. He said, I spoke to Mr Owaisi after the incident. Our party stands by what we have said. Later, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi too said the suspension will set wrong precedent.

Islam scholars to take call on slogan

Noted Islamic scholar and President of Islamic Academy for Comparative Religion Asifuddin Muhammad said whether a Muslim can say Bharat Mata ki Jai or not, shall be decided by scholars of Islam.

Referring to growing controversy on the issue of Bharat Mata Ki Jai, he said If there is a dialogue or discussion on religious matters between communities, it should be carried out in a friendly environment between top scholars of both communities. Political entities should abstain from interfering as it is in the best interest of the country.

He opined that the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh has understood that their government in the Center has failed in several fronts like economy, industrial growth, defence, JNU, Vijay Mallya, Jat agitation and so on. They urgently need to divert national attention from their failures to their pet subjects of hate. Mohan Bhagawats statement is designed to meet the same goal. His aggressive demand has met an equally aggressive response from Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi which may only escalate the issue.

He said, Our country is facing economic slow down for two years and cant afford to go through another round of tensions between communities. Javed Akhtar is trying some fire fighting but calling a three-time MP, Asaduddin Owaisi a mohalla leader is totally wrong.

He said retiring as Rajya Sabha member, noted film lyricist personality Javed Akhtar has no authority to teach Muslims what they have to do and what not to do ,as he already declared that he doesnt practice Islam.

Meanwhile, Seeking action against AIMIMs Asaduddin Owaisi RSS in Jammu said those who do not consider India as their 'motherland' should leave the country.
Convicted mass killer Anders Behring Breivik has told a court he is the victim of inhuman and degrading prison conditions that include microwaved meals he says are "worse than waterboarding" as he argued Norway has violated his human rights.

Speaking Wednesday to the court, held in a gymnasium at his prison in southern Norway, Breivik said it would have been more humane to shoot him than to keep him locked up like an animal. He is being held in solitary confinement.

Breivik was convicted of killing 77 people in a mass shooting and bombing in Oslo in July 2011.

Danger to society

He has been given the maximum sentence of 21 years, but his sentence can be extended as long as he is deemed a danger to society.

Breivik says he has pledged his allegiance to National Socialism, the ideology behind the German nationalist movement that created the Holocaust.

Breivik testified that he believes the Norwegian state is trying to drive him to suicide and that did not believe most people would have survived as long as he has.

Prison officials say they have limited Breivik's access to mail and other prisoners in an attempt to keep him from building an extremist network while incarcerated.

Court officials are set to tour his cells in the high-security section of Skien Prison before concluding Wednesday's proceedings.

Breivik was convicted of detonating an explosive outside a government building, killing eight people in the blast, and then shooting another 69, most of them teenagers, at a political youth camp on a nearby island.

Deny allegations

The Norwegian government says Breivik is being treated humanely and with dignity, but Breivik says his isolation is not in keeping with standards set out by the European Union.

He has access to three cells in a high-security wing of the prison and his contact with other people is largely limited to prison staff. Prison officials say his mother visited him until she died in 2013.

Prison guards also screen his mail to remove correspondence with sympathizers.

On his first day in court Tuesday, one of the first times he has been in the public eye since his conviction, Breivik issued the extended-arm, palm-down salute associated with Nazi Germany.

The judge asked him not to repeat the gesture on Wednesday.
U.S. President Barack Obama's pick to fill the vacant seat on the Supreme Court is meeting Thursday with two top Democratic Senators, while Republicans, who control the Senate, insist they will not take any action on the nomination.

Federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland, who is widely view as a centrist jurist, has meetings scheduled with Patrick Leahy, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, as well as Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.

Obama, whose term lasts through late January 2017, has asserted his right to fill the sudden vacancy created last month with the death of conservative justice Antonin Scalia, and says the Senate is obligated to hold confirmation hearings.

Senate Republicans say Obama should let the winner of the November election pick the next justice.

Merrick B. Garland Merrick Garland Born: 1952 in Chicago, IL Education: Harvard College Law School: Harvard Law School Professional Career Highlights Law clerk, William Brennan Jr., U.S. Supreme Court, 1978-1979

Special assistant attorney general, U.S. Department of Justice, 1979-1981

Private practice, Washington, D.C., 1981-1989, 1992-1993

Assistant US attorney, District of Columbia, 1989-1992

Deputy assistant attorney general, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 1993-1994

Principal associate deputy attorney general, U.S. Department of Justice, 1994-1997

Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 1995-present

The showdown over the Supreme Court vacancy is especially contentious because a new justice could tip the ideological balance of the court in either a liberal or conservative direction. The death of Scalia has left the court with eight justices.

Obama announced Garland, the 63-year-old chief judge of the Washington D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, as his choice on Wednesday.

I simply ask Republicans in the Senate to give him a fair hearing," Obama said.

Duking it out in the Senate

But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said Wednesday that Obama should defer and give the people a voice in filling this vacancy.

The dispute is over a principle and not a person, McConnell said. It seems clear that President Obama made this nomination not, not with the intent of seeing this nominee confirmed, but in order to politicize it for purposes of the election.

Republicans are hoping their presidential nominee will win the November election and then name a jurist who will restore the court's conservative-leaning majority.

Undeterred, Democrats are keeping up the pressure on Republicans.

I do hope they will do their constitutional duty and give President Obamas nominee a meeting, a hearing and a vote, said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat.

Visiting Fellow Russell Wheeler of the Brookings Institution, a Washington research and policy group, said the election season could be "more of a consideration than Garland's impressive credentials."

WATCH: VOA's Michael Bowman reports on nomination

But Wheeler said, "Some Republicans might say, all things considered, are we better off taking a moderate Obama nominee than what could well be a [Democratic front-runner] Hillary Clinton nominee  assuming ... she will defeat [Republican front-runner Donald] Trump  who could be to the left of Garland?

Analyst Michelle Jawando of the Center for American Progress, a progressive public policy research and advocacy group in Washington, said it is vital that the high court remain above politics.

This is the type of nominee we shouldn't leave to the petty politics of this moment. The Supreme Court is one of these institutions that we all should think about and recognize the importance of in our society, Jawando said.

'A spirit of decency'

Current Supreme Court Current Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts: Nominated by President George W. Bush, a Republican; sworn in Sept. 29, 2005. Age 61. Associate Justices Anthony M. Kennedy: Nominated by Ronald Reagan, Republican; sworn in Feb. 18, 1988. Age 79. Clarence Thomas: Nominated by George H.W. Bush, Republican; sworn in Oct. 23, 1991. Age 67. Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Nominated by Bill Clinton, Democrat; sworn in Aug. 10, 1993. Age 83. Stephen G. Breyer: Nominated by Clinton; sworn in Aug. 3, 1994. Age 77. Samuel A. Alito Jr.: Nominated by George W. Bush; sworn in Jan. 31, 2006. Age 65. Sonia Sotomayor: Nominated by Barack Obama, Democrat; sworn in Aug. 8, 2009. Age 61. Elena Kagan: Nominated by Obama; sworn in Oct. 1, 2010. Age 55.

I selected a nominee who is widely recognized not only as one of America's sharpest legal minds, but someone who brings to his work a spirit of decency, modesty, integrity, even-handedness and excellence," Obama said during his announcement in the White House Rose Garden.

The president touted Garland as someone who has won overwhelming bipartisan praise as a judge and has a record of compassion and building "consensus as a thoughtful, fair-minded judge who follows the law."

Legal analysts said Garland would not excite Obamas progressive backers but was a solid strategic choice given the partisan divides in Washington.

When you are dealing with that kind of climate, its really important to have someone who is a consensus nominee, said Jawando, of the Center for American Progress. He is not a surprise to those in the legal profession.

In emotional remarks, Garland called the nomination the greatest honor of my life, besides his marriage to his wife, Lynn, and the births of their daughters, Jessie and Becky.

"For me, there could be no higher public service than serving as a member of the United States Supreme Court," Garland said. "Fidelity to the Constitution and the law has been the cornerstone of my professional life and is the hallmark of the kind of judge I've tried to be for the past 18 years."

VOA Capitol Hill correspondent Michael Bowman contributed to this report.

WATCH: Judge Merrick Garland is nominated to fill Supreme Court vacancy
President Barack Obama will travel to Saudi Arabia and Britain next month ahead of his long-planned trip to Germany.



The White House says Obama will head to Saudi Arabia on April 21 for a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Obama last year hosted leaders from the group of Persian Gulf nations. They'll discuss the fight against the Islamic State group and other Mideast security concerns.



Obama also will visit London, where he'll have lunch with Queen Elizabeth II and meet with Prime Minister David Cameron. Obama has encouraged the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union ahead of a June 23 referendum.



The White House says Obama will attend the trade show Hannover Messe in Germany and meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
A group of Internet privacy advocates is launching a new online campaign to rally support for Apple in their legal fight with the FBI over encryption.

The group Fight for the Future is soliciting supporters of enhanced encryption to add their comments on social media using the hashtag #SaveSecurity.

Those comments will be collected and then read aloud outside the California courthouse during the next hearing in Apples standoff with the FBI on March 22.

Fight for the Future organized dozens of flash mob-like protests last month following a ruling by a U.S. magistrate, ordering Apple engineers to assist the FBI in unlocking a mobile phone. The phone was allegedly used by one of the shooters in last Decembers San Bernardino terror attack.

This case is not just about one phone, its about the future of safety and security for millions of people all over the world, Fight for the Future campaign director Evan Greer said in a press release issued by the group. What the government is trying to do in this case doesnt just threaten our basic rights, it puts all of us in danger, he was quoted as saying.

Several organizations and groups have thrown their support behind Apple in the weeks following the ruling, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Privacy Information Center.

Just this week, Apple and the FBI have released statements indicating both sides are digging in their heels.

In a court filing ahead of next weeks hearings, representatives for Apple said the Founders would be appalled by the governments request, adding the FBI was seeking to rewrite history and "usurp the legislative function and to improperly extend the limited federal court jurisdiction.

In its filings, FBI representatives argue Apples refusal to comply with the order is merely part of a deliberate marketing decision, arguing the Apple was trying to ... alarm this Court with issues of network security, encryption, back doors, and privacy, invoking larger debates before Congress and in the news media. That is a diversion.
South Sudan rebels said 23 of their top generals are expected to arrive in Juba this coming Monday to prepare for the coming of their leader, Riek Machar, who is the designated first vice president in a soon-to-be formed national unity government.

Machar has reportedly said he will only travel to Juba when nearly 3,000 of his troops and police are in the capital, with an additional 1,200 police deployed to Bor, Malakal and Bentiu.

Disagreements between rebels and the government persist

Implementation of the August 2015 peace agreement has been slow as both the rebels and President Salva Kiirs government squabble over such issues as President Kiirs creation of 28 new states.

They have also been trading accusations of cease-fire violations.

Rebels say they are serious about peace

Rebel military spokesman Colonel William Gatjiath Deng said the upcoming arrival of the 23 generals is a further indication the rebels are committed to implementing the August 2015 peace agreement.

Deng said the decision to send in the 23 generals is also influenced by the decision of the troika (United States, United Kingdom, and Norway) that they are ready to transport rebel forces to three areas in Sudan.

Rebels will bring heavy weapons to Juba

The rebels have also been insisting on bringing their heavy weapons into Juba, including tanks.

Deng brushed aside criticism that the heavy weapons would be a provocation for another conflict with government forces. He said the rebels need their heavy weapons because of prior experience with the South Sudan military.

We are not coming back to Juba to wage another war, but when we are told to go back to Juba, we must take our equipment with us. How could you go back to somebody who fought you using light machine guns. This is will not be possible, Deng said.

He said once the 23 generals arrive and the rest of rebel troops are transported to their various camps, then it would be a matter of a week before leader Machar arrives in Juba. He assured the South Sudanese that the rebels are serious about implementing the August 2015 peace agreement because if they didnt want to they wouldnt be sending their generals.
United Nations agencies and African governments are meeting to develop strategies to reduce food losses among smallholder farmers.

Africa is grappling with higher than normal rates of food insecurity due to drought and flooding caused by El Nino.

The United Nations is helping governments from across Africa to find ways to reduce food losses on the continent. A weeklong meeting in Harare is being attended by U.N. agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization.

The FAOs Stephanie Gallatova says a third of the food produced on the continent is lost before it is consumed due to poor storage facilities, resulting in it rotting or pests feeding on it. She says meeting participants are prioritizing steps to reduce the waste.

"We are not targeting all commodities. We are targeting those which have been prioritized by the governments," Gallatova said.

'Priority is maize'

"In many southern African countries, the priority is maize. We are also conducting studies on horticultural products, both fruits and vegetables, a few studies on milk. In West Africa, there is particular interest in reducing fish losses," she said. "The El Nino is more about affecting food production and productivity; but, of course, El Nino plays a big role in this. If you do not produce food in the first place, there is nothing to protect."

El Nino-induced drought has hit most parts of the Horn of Africa and southern Africa. This week, Zimbabwe announced that about 4 million people need food handouts because of drought, while UNICEF said it was looking for at least $21 million to avert malnutrition in the southern African nation.



At Mbare Musika market in Harare, almost all agricultural commodities, such as maize, bananas, tomatoes and nuts, are found; but, farmers say they lose most of their produce before they get buyers. Tomato farmer Grace Chikwanha says besides pests, her crop perishes because she fails to secure timely transport.

"When I come here and the tomatoes have high [good] price], for sure I make money; but, the market has no fixed price with tomatoes," said Chikwanha.

Adding value

Robert Delve is a technical adviser with the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

He said rural farmers in Africa should be taught about adding value to their produce by processing or by learning methods to reduce loss; but, he says IFAD funding for low-interest loans and direct assistance has fallen.

"Unfortunately, if you look at who funds IFAD, it is donor countries, member countries of IFAD of the United Nations. They are faced with many challenges - either in the governments perceptions to offer overseas development or as you have been seeing the in press, the requirement to fund the migration challenge in Europe," said Delve.

That means other programs must increase their assistance in rural agriculture in Africa or food losses will continue.
The Chaldean bishop of Aleppo in Syria, Antoine Audo, says a political agreement imposed by external or foreign powers would not end Syrias five-year-long civil war.

Bishop Audo says the Syrians themselves must want to arrive at a peaceful solution for a negotiated settlement to work.

He lives in the government-controlled part of Aleppo. He blames the war on extremists in Syria and other countries of the Middle East who reject the secular values promoted by the modern world.

He notes Christians and Muslims have lived together harmoniously for centuries in Syria, but, he says extremists have destroyed the peaceful co-existence by deliberately turning the Syrian conflict into a religious and ethnic war.

Before the war began in 2011, he says there were 1.5 million Christians in Syria. Now there are 500,000. In his own city of Aleppo, he says the Christian community has been reduced from 160,000 to 40,000.

The bishop says he is happy to see the resumption of U.N.-mediated peace negotiations between the government and opposition groups. Audo says he recognizes that the United States, Russia and other foreign powers can play an important role in moving the peace process forward, but, he tells VOA the solution has to come from inside Syria.

Americans have to trust in the peace and to respect the Syrian people and to not impose solutions from outside for economical and strategic interests, he said.

He adds President Bashar al-Assad has overwhelming support from the Christian community in Syria.

Knowing a little bit the situation, 80 percent of the Christians at the level of patriarch, bishops, priests, Christians are  if there are elections, will choose Bashar al-Assad because we know what happened in Iraq and we do not see any future for Syria with those extremists, he said.

The bishop says he believes more than 50 percent of the population, including Sunnis, would choose Assad as president if a democratic election were to be held now in Syria.
Representatives of Syria's largest Kurdish party say they plan to declare an autonomous federal region for the areas they control in the northern part of the country.

Kurdish leaders in Syria said other ethnic and sectarian groups, including Arabs and Turkmen, will be represented in the regional grouping.

However, the United States said Wednesday it will not recognize "self rule" of a semi-autonomous zone in Syria.

"We remain committed to the unity and territorial integrity of Syria," Deputy State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

Toner said the U.S. remains "focused on advancing a genuine, negotiated political transition towards an inclusive government" in all of Syria.

As Syrian Kurdish militiamen continue to battle other opposition factions in the north of Syria, their political leaders said they are preparing to declare an autonomous federal region.

'Declaration' soon

Idriss Nassan, a top Kurdish foreign affairs representative in the Kurdish-controlled town of Kobani, told Al Jazeera TV that preparation for the declaration of federalism in north Syria will be soon, and that Kurdish representatives are now meeting to discuss the declaration."

Speaking Wednesday from Baghdad, Colonel Steve Warren, the spokesman for the coalition's operation against the Islamic State group, said the announcement was a "political matter" that would not affect operations against IS terrorists.

Syria's ambassador to the U.N., Bashar al-Jaafari, however, told reporters in Geneva that attempts to sow division among the Syrian people would not work.

"The Syrian Kurds are an important component of the Syrian people," he said. "We are proud of them; they are proud of us. We have established our state together for centuries. So, betting on creating any kind of divisions among the Syrians will be a total failure."

Three Kurdish-controlled autonomous regions would unite under the Kurdish plan being reviewed. The Kurdish PYD militia controls large swaths of northern Syria, after defeating Islamic State militants along the Turkish border.

Turkey, however, is not likely to view the autonomy announcement with much enthusiasm, given the low-level conflict between the Turkish government and its own Kurdish citizens, and the recent spate of bomb attacks which Turkey accuses Kurdish groups of perpetrating.

US State Department

A U.S. State Department spokesman Wednesday issued a statement saying, "We have not and will not recognize any "self-rule" semi-autonomous zone" and that, "We remain committed to the unity and territorial integrity of Syria."

Hilal Khashan, who teaches political science at the American University of Beirut, tells VOA that he believes the Kurds' autonomy declaration may aggravate the Turkish-Kurdish conflict.

"Needless to say, this move will mightily anger Ankara and the Turks are bound to respond to it. So, whether it flies or not, it causes an escalation in the situation in Syria. Now, we will have to await the Turkish response to it," said Khashan.

Kurdish political leaders were not invited to the Syria peace talks now taking place in Geneva due to Turkish opposition. Ankara accuses the Syrian-Kurdish PYD party of having ties with the more militant Kurdish PKK, whose leader, Abdullah Ocalan, is imprisoned in Turkey.
There is no doubt Tuesday was a good night for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, the Republican and Democratic presidential front-runners.

Whether either did well enough, however, to put them on a certain path toward winning their parties nomination is up for debate.

Clinton clearly had the best night of the two. The former secretary of state cruised to easy victories over her challenger, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, in Florida, Ohio, Illinois and North Carolina. She also fought to a virtual tie with Sanders in Missouri.

Trump also did well, winning North Carolina, Illinois and Florida, a victory that effectively knocked one of his main rivals, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, out of the race.

It winnows the Republican field to just three candidates, and Trump is tied with Texas Senator Ted Cruz in Missouri.

The New York businessman missed a potential opportunity to put the race away, though, losing Ohio to John Kasich, the states governor. Ohio was particularly important because, like Florida, it assigns delegates on a winner-take-all, rather than a proportional basis, like many other states.

Contested convention?

It now remains unclear whether Trump can secure the number of delegates needed to win the nomination outright before the Republican national convention in July, according to Republican analyst Ford OConnell.

Hes by far in the best position to get the 1,237 delegates before Cleveland, OConnell said. But to do that, hes going to have to win roughly 58 to 60 percent of the remaining delegates  its a high but not impossible bar.

OConnell said there is about a 50-50 chance of a contested convention, in which pledged delegates would be freed to vote for whoever they wish.

Others are less optimistic about Trumps chances of avoiding a testy convention battle.

If things play out as one might expect, it probably means hes not going to have a majority of delegates, said Paul Beck, professor emeritus at Ohio State University. And given that, it could be quite a fight in that convention.

The Republican race is especially volatile, and it could swing much more rapidly than the Democratic race, because of the existence of winner-takes-all primary states.

Tough path for Sanders

On the Democratic side, every state contest is proportional. That makes it easier for Sanders to stay close enough to Clinton in the delegate count, but also makes it harder for him to make up the difference.

Sanders now trails Clinton by about 300 pledged delegates. Clinton also has a substantial lead in the number of super delegates, which are party leaders who can vote for any candidate they prefer.

Even still, Sanders has some reason to be optimistic.

His campaign is still very well-funded. And as his aides point out, the primary election calendar now moves away from the South, where Clinton has dominated with minorities, including African-Americans and Hispanics.

Sanders is expected to do well in three states that vote next week: Arizona, Idaho and Utah. But Clintons lead may now be insurmountable, especially after Clintons dominant performance on Tuesday.

Tuesdays result inches Clinton ever closer to being the certain Democratic nominee, said Michael Martinez, a political science professor at the University of Miami.

Is it a knockout blow? Probably not. But its probably an eight-count, he said.
Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton have taken commanding leads in their months-long campaigns to claim their parties' 2016 U.S. presidential nominations, with both scoring impressive victories in contests on Tuesday.

Neither Trump, a billionaire real estate mogul who has never held elective office, nor Clinton, the country's secretary of state from 2009 to 2013, has clinched a majority of delegates to their national party conventions in July to be assured of their party nominations, but both have built substantial leads over their remaining challengers.

Of the two, Clinton's path to the nomination seems more assured.

Clinton, looking to become the first female U.S. president, won four states Tuesday over her sole challenger, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, and is leading in a fifth where votes are still being counted. She won contests in Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Illinois, and holds a small lead in Missouri.

Clinton, the wife of former President Bill Clinton, has now won 66 percent of the convention delegates she needs for the Democratic nomination as the focus turns to voting in more state contests that run through June 14.

The next Democratic contests are set for March 22 in the western states of Arizona, Idaho and Utah.

Flamboyant candidate

The flamboyant Trump, a one-time television reality show host, has amassed slightly more than half of the convention delegates he needs to win the Republican nomination.

Trump, however, would need to win about 60 percent of the remaining available delegates in 21 state-by-state party contests to claim his party's nomination before the convention.

His closest challenger is Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a conservative lawmaker who delights in aiming barbs at the Washington political establishment, Democratic and Republican leaders alike.

Cruz said the race has culminated in a head-to-head match with Trump through the remaining party nominating contests, but Ohio Governor John Kasich won his home state Tuesday over Trump and remains in the race.

Contentious battle

Kasich, however, cannot mathematically win the nomination before the convention and is hoping neither Trump nor Cruz has enough pledged delegates either, throwing the contest into a contentious battle at the quadrennial gathering.

Trump said it is time to bring the Republican Party together, vowing he will not stop until he "wins the country."

Trump's resounding victory in the southeastern state of Florida, where he has a lavish second home estate, forced Florida Senator Marco Rubio to quit the race in an election night concession speech.

Numerous establishment Republican figures had endorsed Rubio in hopes of stopping Trump, who many Republicans believe would lose November's national election to Clinton, a contention supported by numerous surveys showing her winning a hypothetical match over Trump.

The winner of the election will succeed President Barack Obama, a Democrat who leaves office in January 2017.

After polls closed Tuesday, Cruz said it is time for Republicans to unite behind his candidacy, noting that he has won several state contests against Trump in recent weeks.

Cruz welcomed to his campaign those who had supported Rubio, saying, "America has a clear choice going forward."

Unpredictable

Numerous Republicans, including Cruz, say Trump is too unpredictable and has over the years adopted numerous policy positions tha are at odds with the dominant conservative party philosophy.

One major anti-Trump group has been running a nationwide television ad in recent days, quoting his many comments disparaging women and another pointing attention to the melees that have broken out at some of his rallies between his supporters and those opposed to his candidacy.

After Tuesday's results, former House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner endorsed his successor, House Speaker Paul Ryan, the losing 2012 Republican vice presidential candidate, to be the party's presidential nominee over Trump, Cruz and Kasich.

Trump said his run for the White House has drawn new voters to the Republican contests, many of them angry at being ignored by Washington and Republican elites.

He has struck a chord with some voters with his calls for construction of an impenetrable wall along the U.S. southern border with Mexico to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S. and temporarily banning the entry of all Muslims into the United States.

WATCH: Related video by VOA's Jim Malone
Pharmacists have kept the stocks aside as they say that the stocks have been locked in their computers by the manufacturers unit. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has sent mails to all doctors and hospitals asking them to stop prescribing the banned combination drugs.

Even pharmacists have kept the stocks aside as they say that the stocks have been locked in their computers by the manufacturers unit.

But the actual process of recalling the drugs has still not started. Andhra Pradesh Chemists Association president Mr R. Gupta said, The effect in the retail market will be visible only after two weeks when patients will come asking for their brand of medicines. This is not being seen now as patients usually buy in bulk, which will last them for a month or even three months. As far as cough syrups are concerned, due to regulations, the sale has reduced from 10 bottles per day to only two bottles per day.

Manufacturers have stopped production and have asked wholesalers not to supply the existing stocks to the retail market.

A senior pharma officer said, We are going to wait now before calling for an actual recall from the market. There are two cases in court and their verdict is going to decide the future course of action.

But insiders state that once patients start reacting and ask for the drugs they are used to, these banned products will find their way into the grey market.

A senior drug official said, Presently, as there is strict surveillance, all of them are lying low. But once the drug enforcement is back at its routine level, these drugs are going to find their way back via the grey market. The existing stocks will be dumped in peripheries and two-tier towns and villages.
1. Hillary Clinton continues to lead the race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination. Wins in Ohio and Florida in particular put her in a commanding position, one analyst describing it as not quite a knockout of rival Bernie Sanders, but close.

2. Donald Trump holds his lead in the Republican race despite losing Ohio, but securing the delegates needed for the nomination before the convention in July is not a certainty. He would need to win more than half of the remaining delegates to clinch.

3. Marco Rubio's loss in his home state of Florida put him out of the running and perhaps out of politics for a while, since he did not run for reelection to his Senate seat, which he will relinquish in January.

4. Ohio Governor John Kasich won his home state's 66 delegates. That, along with Rubio's withdrawal from the race creates an opportunity for the Republican "establishment" to lend him political and financial support, after Cruz attracted crucial endorsements in recent days.

5. Texas Senator Ted Cruz says he is the only one who can beat Trump, but with no delegates Tuesday from Florida and Ohio he's facing an uphill battle, holding only two-thirds as many delegates as the frontrunner.

6. Despite Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders' close losses to Clinton, the proportional distribution of delegates keeps him in the running, although he lost ground due to Clinton's bigger vote count in Florida.
Academics staged protests Wednesday over an Istanbuls court decision to detain three of their colleagues pending trial on terrorist propaganda. The protesters were among more than 1,000 academics who signed a petition calling for an end to a military crackdown in Turkeys Kurdish region and a resumption of peace talks with PKK rebels.

"For peace, for justice" was the chant from hundreds of students from Istanbuls Bosphorus University as they protested the pre-trial detentions of three academics.

Esra Mungan, one of those detained, helped organize a petition calling for an end to military operations against the Kurdish rebel group the PKK and the resumption of peace talks.

Briton Christopher Stephenson, was taken into custody Tuesday while attending a vigil in support of those being tried. Prosecutors say he was carrying political material belonging to the main, legal pro-Kurdish Party, the HDP, and that it was terrorist propaganda. After one night in detention, he was expelled from the country Wednesday.

"Ive been released, but I face deportation, although I have committed no crime. The pieces of papers I was carrying were completely legal, produced by the third-largest party in the Turkish parliament, the Peoples Democratic Party. My family is Turkish; my wife is Turkish; my daughter is Turkish. I have worked here legally for 25 years; I worked at the same university for 17 years. To deport me is out of all proportion," said Stephenson.

Stephenson also signed the controversial petition. U.S.-based Human Rights Watch Wednesday said there is a systematic campaign against the 1,000 academics who signed it.

The rights group says 57 academics have already been dismissed or suspended from their posts. All are under investigation by Istanbul's anti-terrorist prosecutor. The organization's senior Turkey researcher, Emma Sinclair Webb, says the crackdown is part of a wider strategy by the Turkish president.

"This crackdown has extended beyond the media into other groups such as academics, universities. There is enormous pressure on site, where there could be political opposition or criticism or dissent," said Sinclair Webb.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has demanded the prosecution of the academics, calling them terrorists. Since Sundays suicide bombing which killed 34 people in Ankara and was blamed on the PKK, the president urged an intensification of what he calls his war on terrorism. On Wednesday, he repeated his call for action.

Erdogan said that if the state doesnt strike its fist in a velvet glove on the heads of terrorists, they will continue hurting people each day. He said this issue has no relation to human rights, freedom of thought, or freedom of press and democracy.

Erdogan called on lawmakers to lift the parliamentary immunity of deputies of the pro-Kurdish HDP.
U.S. law enforcement authorities said Wednesday they have started an investigation into how an American ended up joining Islamic State jihadists in Iraq before he was captured this week by Kurdish Peshmerga forces.

The U.S. military said it does not have the manpower in Iraq to question all the Islamic State fighters who are captured and is not interested in the case of Mohamad Jamal Khweis, a Virginia-born U.S. citizen who says he was with Islamic State for two months before being detained by Kurdish forces near the town of Sinjar in northern Iraq. But U.S. criminal investigators said they are probing Khweis's activities.

The Kurdistan Regional Security Council said the 26-year-old Khweis was apprehended as he attempted to enter Kurdish territory from the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul in Iraq.

Kurdish authorities said Khweis, accompanied by a young Iraqi woman, made numerous stops in European countries en route to the Middle East, eventually traveling through Turkey to Syria in December. Authorities said he arrived in Iraq in late January and told them he later fled to return home.

Kurdish officials said they have contacted U.S. officials about Khweis and that he is being "questioned by relevant security authorities." They said he is being "provided the care afforded to him under international and local law."



It remains unclear, though, how long Khweis has been in contact with IS or how he was recruited. His family told VOA that Khweis made frequent trips to the Middle East.



Kurdish officials say they obtained his drivers license, credit cards, cell phones and cash when he was captured.



All we can confirm is that he surrendered to Peshmerga forces and claimed he was an American IS member, Jabar Yawar, the chief of staff for the Kurdistan Regional Governments Peshmerga Ministry, told VOA earlier this week. "We, according to our counterterrorism law, will investigate the suspect and leave the course of action to the rule of law."



Khweis initially told Kurdish forces who arrested him that he ran into the Kurdish Peshmerga base by mistake, thinking it was a Turkish border patrol outpost.



He had no weapons on him, only personal belongings, said one Kurdish commander who was present during the arrest.
Near wheat fields in rural Kansas, wind turbines spin away, producing clean energy that doesnt contribute to climate change. But they do contribute to the local economy. Smiling at the turbines on his farm, Ted Bannister says, Now on a windy day, Im willing to buy lunch for somebody, because thats money in my pocket.

Midwestern wind is so abundant, in theory, it could even light up east coast cities. Unfortunately, most Kansas wind power never gets that far. Just as its impossible to drive fast in a traffic jam, todays regionally-focused transmission lines make it impossible to send energy across the nation.

[Transmission lines] are not like highways because the on-ramps and off-ramps are so incredibly expensive," Bannister explained. "State, federal, county and then certainly on the business side of it there, theyve been much more competitive than cooperative.

And theres another problem. Even in windswept Kansas, the wind doesnt always blow. In sunny Arizona, the sun doesnt always shine. To power the grid during those times, utility companies depend on fossil fuels, an expensive, but vital, redundancy.

Renewable energy nation

Meteorologist Alexander MacDonald remembers the day he realized it didn't have to be that way. He was having a conversation with some colleagues about the cost of renewable energy, at a climate change conference six years ago.

This guy over a beer says, 'No ones going to do anything. Nobodys going to accept a doubling of cost.' I said, 'Wait a minute, wind and solar energy are really cheap. It should work.' He recalls thinking that the U.S. is so big geographically, the wind is always blowing somewhere. And tapping all that wind potential all at once might reduce the need to maintain expensive backup fossil fuels.



MacDonald says all this was on his mind when he returned to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Boulder, where he directed the Earth System Research Lab. I came back hellbent to prove the wind and solar do work if you get the right scale corresponding to the weather.

After six years of rigorous computations, MacDonalds team has determined that by using existing technologies, carbon-free wind and solar power can power the entire U.S., at a lower cost than fossil fuels. Whats needed to balance the ups and downs of local weather, MacDonald says, is a unified plan across a very large geographic area.

Electron superhighway

With a national plan for more wind turbines and solar panels, MacDonald says that even on calm, cloudy days, the U.S. could harvest almost all its energy from a few big pockets of wind and sun. He foresees that energy being sent instantly from where it's generated to where it's needed, over a nationwide grid of High Voltage, Direct Current Transmission Lines that he compares to the interstate highway system.

MacDonald, who recently retired from NOAA, says this electron superhighway could eliminate the need for regional backup from fossil fuels, and reduce U.S. carbon emissions by 80 percent by the year 2030, for less money than by sticking with mostly fossil fuels.

At the Center for Strategic and International Studies, energy analyst Sara Ladislaw says the plan has merits, giving it "a thumbs up" in terms of technological feasibility. But she warns that business as usual in the power industry will block the plan from happening by 2030. If you think about it from a regulatory and a market resolution standpoint, I just think theres a lot of things that would have to get resolved. Including local opposition to the 82-foot tall high voltage towers that would support that transmission grid.

Power underground

But Christopher Clack, a physicist at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences and leader of site optimization on MacDonald's team, says the transmission lines dont have to go overhead. A five gigawatt wire is about this sort of big," he pointed out, holding his hands apart the width of a dinner plate, "and you could bury them underground, and you only have to go down a few meters.

Clack says the nations railroad right-of-ways are the perfect location to bury the high voltage DC transmission grid. Although that would cost more than putting the lines overhead, it would be far less expensive than staying with fossil fuels. And as better battery storage, wind turbines and solar panels come on line, Clack says costs will come down even further. The key, he says, is to eliminate the need for major backup from fossil fuels. And that means focusing on the nation, not individual states.

"If you want to do it cheaply, go as big as you can. If you want to pay more money, go small.

He and MacDonald say that if policy makers join them in thinking big, in less than 15 years, the U.S. could become a renewable energy nation.
Miami resident Marvin Cooper, 85, is not buying into the sentiment that all is well in the American economy.

He has seen too many of his fellow seniors struggle to get by.

"Things are so expensive so many times, and you just don't have the money. I am worried about the economy, and that's really number one," Cooper said.

The day after the Florida presidential primary, politics dominates the conversation at this senior living community near North Miami Beach, where Jewish Americans gather to have lunch.

Lifelong Democrat Maria Valiante voted for Barack Obama in 2008. The 90-year-old says she switched parties two years ago, hoping a Republican could boost U.S. military might.

"We have to be able to show the rest of the world: You want to step on my toes, we are going to step on two of yours,' and this is why I voted for Trump and I am glad he won," Valiante said.

Trump swept Tuesday's primary, winning all of Florida's 99 Republican delegates, with Senator Marco Rubio taking second place and subsequently suspending his presidential campaign.

While many Florida voters welcome Trump's primary victory, University of Miami political science professor Joseph Uscinski says others will be taking the time before the Republican convention to consider what a Trump nomination could mean for the country.

"Voters are going to have time to really think about [whether] they want Donald Trump to be president," Uscinski noted. "It may very well be the case that if he gets the nomination, he may walk right into the White House. And there is a large contingent of Americans who are very uncomfortable with that right now."

Trump strange, but successful



Looking ahead to November, it will likely come down to voter turnout and whether Trump or Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton can draw their base of supporters out to the polls.

Outside a polling location in Fort Lauderdale, Trump's controversial comments have not deterred supporter Silvana Busacca, who pushes her son in a wheelchair.

"I have a handicapped young man, and he [Trump] made fun of a handicapped person. Absolutely. But that's why I said his personality is a little bit strange. But even so, I still have lots of hope for this person because he is not a politician; he is successful," Busacca said.

'Big clown'



That sentiment is not shared by Fort Lauderdale resident Julia Allison, who supports Clinton.

"He is a big clown and he is not an intelligent man. And Hillary is brilliant, she is absolutely brilliant. She has proven herself. She is a diplomat. She understands international relations and she won't make our country look bad," Allison said.

Voters in South Florida, as elsewhere in the country, remain deeply divided over who best will lead the United States as the next president.
Researchers are on the cusp of a commercially available vaccine to prevent dengue fever, a viral disease spread by mosquitoes that threatens half of the worlds population.

In addition, a vaccine against the Zika virus, a close relative of dengue, will most likely enter clinical trials this year.

The dengue virus infects an estimated 400 million people in 120 countries each year. While the symptoms, including a rash, are usually not serious, the disease nonetheless kills some 25,000 people annually. Most succumb to a dreaded hemorrhagic form of the disease.

In a clinical trial, the new vaccine against the dengue virus, for now called TV003, was 100 percent effective in preventing the disease in a study involving 50 volunteers.

Twenty-four of the participants who received the experimental vaccine were exposed to the virus and not one became infected. By contrast, all of those in the control group, who were not vaccinated, became infected.

To see that we got 100 percent protection against infection gives us great confidence in moving forward that the vaccine is going to work. So we were extremely excited, said Anna Durbin, an infectious-disease specialist at Johns Hopkins Universitys Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland. She was a principal investigator.

There are four versions of dengue. Symptoms become more severe each time a person is infected. So a vaccine has to protect against all four types.

Existing vaccine

There is already a dengue vaccine called Dengvaxia. While it raises protective immune system antibodies against dengue, people still get sick.

TV003 successfully shielded those involved in the study against a mild strain of dengue 2, the most aggressive of all the disease types. TV003 requires only a single dose compared with multiple shots of Dengvaxia.

A five-year clinical trial involving 17,000 people in Brazil is in the works. But Durbin said there would probably be enough data by 2018 to seek regulatory approval.

Clinical trials are also expected to begin in September or October of a vaccine against the Zika virus, an emerging threat also spread by mosquitoes. It has been linked to brain defects in newborns, and also to the paralytic disease Guillain-Barre syndrome. Efforts to fight Zika could also help the fight against dengue.

Zika is "sort of like a cousin to dengue," Durbin said. "And what that means is that the recombinant DNA technology that the NIH [National Institutes of Health] has developed for Zika virus will be able to be ... applied quite easily to dengue because it has the same genetic structure.

NIH scientists developed the successful dengue vaccine that researchers reported upon in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Durbin said the aim is to give the dengue vaccine to children before they become infected for the first time.

Any Zika vaccine would likely be targeted to women of childbearing age as a way to combat any potential birth defects associated with the disease.
In announcing a partial draw down of Russian forces from Syria this week, President Vladimir Putin insisted that Russia's nearly 6-month military campaign had largely achieved its goals.

The Russian leader pointed to the deployment of a new generation of Russian weaponry in Syria that, in Putin's words, "managed to fundamentally alter the situation in the battle against international terrorism." Putin also insisted Russian intervention in the Syrian conflict had helped secure a U.S.-Russian-negotiated cease-fire, creating the conditions for U.N. sponsored peace talks currently underway this week in Geneva.

Certainly, few would question that the Russian military campaign managed to provide a political and military lifeline to its regional ally, Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.

Once on the verge of collapse, Assad's forces have made steady gains on the ground backed by Russian air power, securing a place at the peace talks over the objections of the U.S. and other western powers. On Tuesday, Russian state media heralded the Russian withdrawal as well-timed victory for diplomacy backed by Kremlin military resolve.

Yet analysts, politicians, and observers from across the Russian political spectrum were left to wonder over the timing of the Russian leader's decision and suggested the reasons for the Russia's sudden withdrawal were far more nuanced.

Geopolitical gains

Alexander Baunov, an analyst with the Carnegie Center in Moscow, told VOA Russia's main objective in Syria ultimately had less to do with the fate of the Assad regime and more with efforts to end its international isolation over the annexation of Crimea and proxy war in east Ukraine.

With the Russian intervention in the Syrian conflict, said Baunov, "Russia turned the page on Ukraine and forced the West into dialogue."

Ultimately, Baunov argued, the decision to withdraw from Syria was motivated by a simple desire to seize the most opportune moment for departure.

"If you want to leave, it's better to leave during a truce," said Baunov. "Because if you leave then it looks like you're a winner... And if you leave during the fighting, it looks like you're running away."

A quick exit

But in Moscow's seemingly sudden exit from Syria, Yekaterinburg-based political analyst Fyodor Krasheninnikov sees panic.

"If it was planned, you would have seen a more careful rollout of propaganda celebrating our victory," he told VOA.

Krasheninnikov added that despite stated Kremlin objectives to destroy Islamic State, the group remains a significant threat on the ground in Syria. So, too, are extremists from Russia's Northern Caucasus  another stated Kremlin goal for entering into the conflict.

Finally, Krasheninnikov points to Islamic State's downing of Metro Jet flight 9268 over the Sinai peninsula last October. The terrorist attack killed 224, mostly Russian, civilians.

"There's all this talk about Putin's victory... but I don't see it," said Krasheninnikov.

Economic pressures?

In a column for the Russian opposition website Open Russia (LINK: https://openrussia.org/post/view/13538/ ) , independent journalist Konstantin von Eggert argued Russia was simply bowing to economic realities. Faced with a weak economy due to sanctions and low world oil prices, the Kremlin could little afford simultaneous military campaigns in both Syria and Ukraine.

Moreover, von Eggert insists that if Russia's military presence gave it influence in the Syrian solution, its withdrawal just as easily risks taking it away.

"Withdrawal of troops at the very moment of peace talks, when the results of the truce are far from certain, removes Russia's most serious trump card for future negotiations," he noted.

Soviet Afghanistan 2.0

Vladimir Ryzhkov, a former Duma deputy now allied with Russia's opposition, told VOA that despite his own disapproval of Russia's Syrian campaign and the Russian leader in particular, he could only welcome the news of Russia's withdrawal as a "fully rationale move" by Putin.

Ryzkhov interprets the withdrawal as the Kremlin acknowledging that its Syrian gambit could have turned into a "second Soviet Afghanistan" -- a decade-long war that brought the deaths of thousands of Soviet troops and thousands more Afghans.

"Putin and our generals remember all too well how dangerous that region can be. Without a doubt, the Afghan experience led them to enter into Syria with a minimal presence, just as it led them to begin the process of leaving in under 6 months," said Ryzhkov.

A withdrawal in name only?

Meanwhile, questions lingered over how attainable Russia's new disengagement from Syria might be.

In Tuesday's announcement, President Putin insisted some Russian forces, backed by air power and S-400 anti-aircraft battalions, will remain at Russian air bases in Syria for the foreseeable future.

Many observers questioned whether an attack on those forces  or a breakdown in the peace process  could draw Russia back into the conflict.

Maxim Shevchenko, a journalist allied with pro-Kremlin media who applauded Russia's withdrawal as tactical move in support of the peace process in Syria, suggested in a Facebook post that Russia's military capabilities in Syria will remain formidable.

"If air defense systems remain on the bases, wrote Shevchenko, then what are really withdrawing?

As if to underscore Shevchenko's point, Russia's Defense Ministry announced that -- amid the withdrawal -- airstrikes in Syria continued throughout the day.
An astronaut and an engineer with the U.S. space agency, NASA, have a message for women and minorities who want to get ahead: Look for opportunities in space research.

Women and minorities are underrepresented in aerospace engineering, so the two women urged students in Los Angeles to set their sights high when thinking about a career.

The thrill of weightlessness aboard the International Space Station and other exciting challenges await students with the right education, said Yvonne Cagle, a medical doctor and astronaut who recently talked about her training at Town Hall Los Angeles, a nonprofit speakers forum in Los Angeles. She urged students to reach for the stars.

Astronauts master tasks through discipline and training, she said, which means we develop our basic skills and then we continue to do those things over and over again ... so we build in a kind of muscle memory.

The students liked the message. Science and math have always been my favorite subjects in school, said high school student Vanessa Ramirez.

Her classmate, Tammy Busari, said Cagle inspired her because she was an astronaut and a fellow African-American.

Across town at the Los Angeles Central Library, a miniature mobile robot inspired by the Mars rovers was part of another demonstration about space. Mallory Lefland, an engineer with NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, helps control the real rovers by radio.

We have some kids who love to actually build and engineer the robots," teacher Carolyn Polchow said, explaining the kids' fascination with the subject. "We have others who absolutely love to program the robots.

A female student in her third year of robotics added, "I have a knack for it.

These kids are typical. People really like the idea of exploring space, said engineer Lefland. I think when you can show them, 'This picture was taken from Mars; I sent the command to take this photo,' I think you put a real human aspect on it. These are things you can do.

Less than 20 percent of American engineers are women, and even fewer are in aerospace engineering. African-Americans and Latinos make up less than 10 percent of engineers.

But the numbers are growing. Cagle, part of NASA's outreach team, said the ship that carries astronauts to space is a symbol of her message  "the importance of dreaming  because "that is really what your space vehicle is. The dream is within reach of all these students.
Presidential nominating contests are under way Tuesday in five U.S. states, with the front-runners, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton, looking to move closer to winning their parties' nominations, even as their trailing opponents try to curb their momentum.

The key Republican primary elections are in Florida and Ohio, where for the first time in the months-long 2016 presidential campaign, the winner will take all the state's delegates to the party's nominating convention in July. In three other contests, Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina, the delegates will continue to be apportioned according to vote counts.

Trump, a flamboyant billionaire real estate mogul, has surged to the top of the Republican contest over a one-time field of 17 candidates, now winnowed to three others - Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Ohio Governor John Kasich.

Political surveys show Trump, who has never held elective office, ahead in four of the states being contested Tuesday, but locked in a tight battle with Kasich in Ohio. Trump's election day got off to a good start when he captured all nine Republican convention delegates at stake from the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory in the Pacific Ocean.

Trump sweep possible

Numerous U.S. political analysts say if Trump sweeps all five states, where 358 delegates are at stake, it would make him the likely candidate to capture the Republican nomination. If that happens, he would face the Democratic nominee in the November national election to pick the successor to President Barack Obama, who leaves office next January.

Republicans are casting their ballots after several days of angry confrontations at Trump rallies between his supporters and those opposed to his candidacy, with name-calling, pushing, shoving and occasional fist fights.

Trump at times has encouraged his supporters to punch protesters and ordered his security staff to quickly remove demonstrators from his rallies, although he has said he wants peaceful campaign events.

As voters headed to the polls, Obama deplored the tone of the current campaign, saying he is "more than a little dismayed." He said the "corrosive behavior undermines our society. ... It has to stop."

WATCH: Florida voters on primary, candidates

Without mentioning Trump's name, Obama took a swipe at the campaign of the one-time television reality show host and his disparaging comments about women and Muslims.



"We have heard vulgar and divisive rhetoric aimed at women and minorities, and Americans that don't look like us or pray like us or vote like we do,'' Obama said at an annual luncheon celebrating U.S. friendship with Ireland.

Clinton, Sanders

Clinton, with a substantial delegate lead over her lone opponent, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, is competing with him in the same five states where Republicans are voting. However, the Democratic convention delegates awarded Tuesday will be apportioned according to the vote counts in each state, not on a winner-take-all basis.

Clinton, the country's secretary of state from 2009 to 2013, looked ahead to a possible general election match-up with Trump, saying she would confront "the really dangerous path that Donald Trump has laid out."

Surveys show Clinton with big leads among Democratic voters in Florida and North Carolina, with closer contests with Sanders possible in Illinois, Ohio and Missouri.

Cruz, Rubio

Pre-election polling does not suggest that Cruz, a conservative agitator in the halls of Congress, will win any of Tuesday's party primaries, although he says he has the best chance of overtaking Trump because he has beaten him in several other state nominating contests and currently is in second place in the Republican delegate count.

U.S. political pundits say Rubio could be forced to quit the race if he doesn't win his home state of Florida, in the country's southeast.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination Tuesday after television networks projected Donald Trump would beat him badly in his home state.

Ohio Governor John Kasich defeated Trump in the Republican presidential primary in Kasich's home state.

Trump won the Florida Republican primary by a huge margin over second-place finisher Rubio. Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Kasich were far behind.

Florida is a winner-take-all state, meaning Trump will get all 99 delegates without having to split them with the runners-up.

Ohio also is a winner-take-all state, and Kasich's win over Trump will keep the governor's campaign alive. He said he would be "very competitive" in the upcoming primaries, noting that there were still a thousand delegates to be picked up.

Rubio said that he was grateful to everyone who supported him in Florida and elsewhere, and that it was not part of "God's plan" that he become president in 2016, or maybe ever

For the Democrats, Clinton beat Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders by landslides in Florida, North Carolina and Ohio, taking most delegates in all three states.

Primaries also were held Tuesday in Missouri and Illinois.

Trump's election day got off to a good start when he captured all nine GOP convention delegates at stake from the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory in the Pacific Ocean.

In recent months, Trump has become known  and some would say infamous  for harsh comments and insulting remarks he's made toward Muslims, Mexicans, women and his political rivals.

They include calling Rubio "little Marco" and the socialist Sanders "our communist friend."

Name calling, shoving and fistfights between Trump supporters and anti-Trump protesters  sometimes encouraged by Trump himself  have critics decrying the overall state of American politics.

But a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, voter told VOA on Tuesday that he cast a ballot for Trump because he said the candidate "tells it like it is" and does not follow any kind of so-called political correctness.

Another Trump backer called him "the strongest candidate" and someone who has come along at the right time.

WATCH: Florida Voters Discuss Candidates

A Clinton supporter called Trump a "narcissist and a racist" who brings out the worst of Americans, while a Sanders voter called the senator the only candidate addressing what he said was the country's "fundamental problems" of the uneven distribution of wealth.
Dr G. Srinivas, president of the Junior Doctors Association, said, The loss of students is due to the negligence of the driver and apart from taking action against the travel agent the government must also compensate the families.

Hyderabad: Six injured students of Osmania Medical College were shifted to Osmania General Hospital from a Vijayawada hospital on Wednesday as they were stable and would be treated in the city hospital. The other two students S Rajesh and K Sujith continue to be on ventilator support and a team of doctors from OGH are attending to them in Vijayawada.

Dr M Ramani, director of health and medical education, explained, Those students who are stable are being brought back to the city from Vijayawada via ambulance and they will be taken care by OGH doctors.

Meanwhile, there was a protest in Adilabad where G. Laxmans body was taken for its final rites. The villagers and also students protested and demanded immediate ex-gratia payment to the family members and a government job to the kin.

Dr G. Srinivas, president of the Junior Doctors Association, said, The loss of students is due to the negligence of the driver and apart from taking action against the travel agent the government must also compensate the families.
Former Mines Minister Obert Mpofu has vowed that he will never comment on President Robert Mugabes remarks that $15 billion in diamonds revenue vanished in Chiyadzwa.

In brief remarks to Studio 7, Mpofu said, Look, I will never comment on the issue of diamonds. I am no longer the minister responsible. You must interview the minister of mines. I will never comment on that issue.

Mpofu is now the Macro Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister.

But Mpofu was in charge when the money allegedly disappeared. In 2012, a report released by Partnership Africa Canada said Zimbabwe's Marange fields had seen "the biggest plunder of diamonds since Cecil Rhodes."

Rhodes was the colonial magnate who exploited South Africa's diamonds more than a century ago.

The Canadian non-profit is a member of the Kimberley Process, the international organization set up to stop the trade in so-called "blood diamonds" - diamonds mined to finance conflict.

It alleged that at least $2 billion worth of diamonds had been stolen from the countrys diamond fields and ended up in the pockets of President Mugabe's ruling elite.

But Mpofu at the time rubbished the report calling it nonsensical and a work of detractors. Responding to questions from parliamentarians today, Mines Minister Walter Chidhakwa said his ministry will investigate the alleged looting of the $15 billion.

At that time, an unidentified lone protestor was also demonstrating outside parliament with a placard and a T-Shirt written, Where is our Money??

Opposition parties are calling on President Mugabe to step down saying the alleged pillaging of the funds was done under his watch.

In a press statement, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party recommended that president Mugabe resigns with immediate effect as he has failed the nation as its chief executive.

The party added that a commission of inquiry must be set up by parliament to investigate the alleged looting which occurred in Chiadzwa and prosecution of those responsible must follow.

MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu said the office of the auditor general must be mandated to investigate the case. Gutu said all the money that was looted must be returned to the country.

Kurauone Chihwayi, spokesman of the Welshman Ncube-led MDC also urged Mr. Mugabe to resign for failing to deal with corruption.

In a press statement, Chihwayi said his party is utterly shocked by revelations of massive looting, corruption and abuse of public funds adding that as a party we are convinced that this monstrous oversight is enough grounds for President Robert Mugabe to step down.
In Malawi, farmers around the capital are using human urine on their crops instead of costly imported chemical fertilizers. It's the result of an innovative local initiative that is transforming the lives of both the farmers and city residents.

There is a new business in the Area 25A neighborhood these days: selling human urine for use as crop fertilizer.

Everyday people carry buckets of the stuff to the market.

Seventy-five-year-old Modesta Kamoto said she uses the money to pay for school fees and buy food, soap and school uniforms for her ten orphaned grandchildren.

She collects the urine every morning from plastic containers her family members use as urinals and sells it to "Urine for Wealth" project.

Urine has been nature's fertilizer for millennia though that's not a well-known fact nowadays in the age of chemical fertilizers.

Malawian agriculturist Goodfellow Phiri started "Urine for Wealth" as a small family initiative nine years ago. It has grown into a thriving business. The project was one of six finalists for the HIVOS Social Innovation Award in Amsterdam in 2014.

"We buy 20 liters container at 1,000 Kwacha [$1.40] and five liters container, we buy at K300 [$.41]. When we process that into fertilizer, we sell the same to farmers. Twenty liters we sell K3,000 [$4.00] and five liters at K1,000. [$1.40]," said Phiri.

He can buy up to 200 liters per day.

Phiri ages the urine in airtight containers for seven days. The process kills germs, and the smell, and it makes the liquid rich in nitrogen. He sometimes adds lemongrass to help with odor but says no additives are actually needed.

Farmers say the fertilizer is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than chemicals.

Urine for Wealth has now erected a urine harvesting plant at the main market in Area 25A with funding from 2 environmental NGO's. People are encouraged to relieve themselves there in special urinals.

The project also has women selling composite manure they make mixing the urine with animal waste. Enelet Chadza is a widow and leads a group of 20 women.

She said her worries are gone and that she is able to feed her family with what she earns.

Despite their success, Phiri said challenges abound.

"The greatest challenge with this product, which is a bio-nitrate fertilizer, is that many people don't like it. They think it's unhygienic to apply fertilizer made from human urine," said Phiri.

Seed companies and the Ministry of Agriculture have enlisted Urine for Wealth to produce fertilizer for their demonstration fields, something Phiri hopes will win over more farmers to the idea.
Tobacco remains one of Zimbabwe's biggest sources of foreign currency, bringing in millions annually.

Men have largely been the key producers, but more women are also starting to enter the field, on a commercial basis.

Nomsa Mapfunde, a single woman and hotelier by profession, ventured into tobacco farming in Doma, Mhangura, Mashonaland West, after realizing that the crop is a money spinner

She says, I thought to myself its a male-dominated environment. But I think I can do it. I decided to read, research, and talk to people who have done it and you know I felt encouraged.

She adds, Tobacco is a cash crop and financially if you get into farming you have to do it properly to get really good returns.

Mupfunde says many women are venturing into the tobacco business though she does not have a specific number of those doing such agricultural activities.

She stresses that its generally very rare to find a single woman prospering on her own without a partner or husband. Tobacco is a male-dominated environment and women face many challenges even when they go to the tobacco floors.

Tobacco is not without its challenges, says Mupfunde, who states that there are at least three major problems she faces. Firstly, and foremost financing, make sure your finances are in good order because banks are not going to give you money.

Secondly, equipment  You need to have good equipment also in the aspect of irrigation because of ZESA (Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority) electricity when there is rainfall there, there are so bad. Thirdly, when the rain comes it comes with hail stones which can have your crop damaged.

She says the current season is one of the most difficult she has encountered as a tobacco farmer.

She adds that the El Nino weather phenomenon, which is resulting in unpredictable weather changes, has been a very big challenge. As a result, she says, Drought has been a big challenge; it has especially disadvantaged those who do not have irrigation. We share a dam with other farmers even though, my irrigation system is not the best.

Though a major export crop for Zimbabwe, tobacco yields last year were low, due to poor rains and other factors.

Mupfunde says government should do more to encourage women to grow the profitable crop, so as to help grow the economy. She notes that the government is not doing enough to assist women in tobacco farming.

I believe that is contributing to the not impressive statistics especially among women who stand alone (in this business).

Mupfunde managed to reap remarkable rewards from her tobacco crop in the last crop season. The prices were good last year, and I supplied one of the best crops. We did very well last year; I sold my tobacco at $5,60 per kg. When the tobacco inspectors test the leaf it should first of all be a golden leaf, the average weight required last year was 2,9 kg which we met. The moisture content should be good and ours was good, hence the favorable moisture.

She says women should encourage each other to venture into such businesses in order to grow Zimbabwes economy. Women in our society were not taken seriously. Yet it is women who made sure that children went to school and got educated with farming (proceeds). So, men and women are the same and should be seen as equal human beings. Women are more than capable (of performing in various fields). Thats what I feel as a farmer.

According to the Ministry of Finance, tobacco output increased by 15% from the 2012 production level of 144,500 tons, to about 166,600 tons in 2013, from some 88,623 hectares that had been put under crop.

The main supporting factors were the increased area planted and the number of growers. The Tobacco Industry Marketing Board had by the close of the 2012/13 marketing season sold 166.5 million kilograms of tobacco at an average price of US$3.70/kg, realizing US$616 million in sales.

In 2014, tobacco production was estimated at 170,000 tons  a 2.6% increase from the 2013 output. This growth was mainly on account of increased planted area of about 90,000 ha from the 88 600 ha planted in 2013.

However, tobacco yields slumped in 2015 owing to various factors, including lack of inputs and drought. The government has over the years encouraged farmers to engage in contract farming.

Presenting Zimbabwes 2016 national budget, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said, Contract farming arrangements have positively supported production of such agricultural commodities as tobacco, cotton, barley, soya, sorghum, among others.
Poor rains induced by the El Nino weather phenomenon have hampered food production, and diminishing reserves have left many people in rural parts of Zimbabwe short of essential supplies.

In an interview with AFP, UNICEF representative in Zimbabwe, Jane Muita said an estimated 50,000 children are in need of assistance, with 33,000 needing treatment for acute malnutrition.

Muita said Zimbabwe has not seen such high levels of malnutrition in the country in about 15 years, and noted that more has to be done to prevent the crisis from worsening.

More than 15 years this is the first time we are seeing like this kind of thing, especially the condition of malnutrition that we are seeing in children, said Muita. It has not been seen before in this country."

She said there is also a chance that theyve underestimated the number of those in need, as more research is pending.

This assessment was done in January. If an assessment is done now, in April-May, it's going to show more districts and its going to show more numbers, Muita said.

Muita said their research has been mostly confined to the rural areas in all 10 provinces, but indications are there is need in urban areas as well.

The figures that we have are actually rural, we don't have any assessment that was done in urban areas. In fact at the moment we are thinking that it is important to look at the urban areas."

UNICEF has requested $21 million in aid to help feed Zimbabwes children. Other donors, including the World Food Program, have also appealed for aid on Zimbabwes behalf, to alleviate hunger.

Muita said shes especially concerned about the onset of malnutrition due to hunger, a condition she described as dangerous.

"Malnutrition is a very dangerous condition for children to have, specifically in the age before they reach the age of two. We are talking about under 5 malnutrition like this moment we are talking about acute malnutrition which we can deal with and by feeding children by making sure that they are not suffering from diarrhea.

Muita explained that one of the long term effects of malnutrition that many children in Zimbabwe are exposed to is stunting.

She said 28% of Zimbabweans suffer from this, and that failure to address the problem before they pass the age of two, can result even in death.

Stunting is a condition that is a chronic form of malnutrition, but has the biggest impact before the age of two, Muita elaborated. If we don't intervene before the age of two, they live with that problem, so they are stunted. But not only are they stunted, but there are other impacts of malnutrition that are lifelong, including intelligence, their performance in school is affected and they are also prone to death from other illnesses."

In acknowledgement of the severe situation, the government recently declared a state of disaster in the country, and has appealed for food aid. An estimated four million people in Zimbabwe need food assistance.
The High Court has ruled that Mdada Diamonds, which is among several firms that were ordered by the state to stop operations in Manicaland province, can only deploy security guards at its mining compounds but cant resume diamond mining activities due to lack of a proper license to mine the gems.

The government shutdown mining activities in Marange diamond fields and others last month claiming that the companies had no licenses and refused to be part of a national diamond mining entity designed to take over all operations in the region.

Harare High Court judge, Joseph Mafusire, today ruled that Mbada diamonds was wrongfully dispossessed of its property when police details were deployed to guard the Marange diamonds fields following the governments directive for all the diamond mining companies to stop all mining activities in Manicaland province.

This ruling was confirmed by Advocate Lewis Uriri, one of the lawyers representing the police in this matter.

Uriri, however, said the state was going to appeal against the courts decision arguing that authorities followed provisions of the law when they removed the diamond companies from their concessions.

The judge, however, said Mbada Diamonds could not resume mining operations since the company had not renewed its operating license. Executives of Mbada Diamonds were not available for comment.

Mines Minister Walter Chidhakwa last month ordered the closure of all companies that were mining diamonds in Chiadzwa on the basis that they had not renewed their operating licenses. The companies were also allegedly refusing to merge to form one entity that was being proposed by government.

Chidhakwa said the merger was meant to curb leakages in the diamond sector after fiscal authorities complained that the companies were declaring all their returns from diamond sales.

Following the move to kick out all diamond mining companies from Chiadzwa, President Robert Mugabe stunned the nation when he claimed that government lost more than $15 billion in potential revenue in Chiadzwa.

To-date, no one has been arrested in connection with missing funds.
The World Food Program says it needs US$220 million to provide assistance to an estimated 2,2 million Zimbabweans until 2017.

Labor and Social Services Minister Prisca Mupfumira says the number of people in need of food assistance has risen to more than four million. But the WFP says three million is still the official figure as it is yet to carry out another assessment.

The WFP says its seasonal relief, designed to help vulnerable people through the difficult pre-harvest months, usually runs from October to March. This year  for the first time ever  the program will continue running throughout the year and into next year.

In a press statement Wednesday, the WFP said, Vulnerable people in Zimbabwe will continue to receive relief assistance from the United Nations World Food Programme through what is usually a period of bounty but which this year has turned into a time of want. WFP is extending its relief programme due to the punishing impact of El Nino on the food security of the country.

The worlds largest humanitarian agency says this month it is providing food and cash-based assistance to some 730,000 vulnerable people. The focus is on the rural areas.

Many rural communities are in the grip of hunger and this is set to continue into next year, said Eddie Rowe, WFP Country Director in Zimbabwe.

He added that were working with the government and donors to mobilize assistance to the most vulnerable but to reach all those in need we are dependent on the donor community continuing to fund our operations.

The humanitarian agency says Zimbabwes high level of food insecurity is due to last years bad harvest  50 percent down on that of the previous year  combined with an unusually strong El Nino weather event which has resulted in reduced rains for southern Africa.

Coinciding as it has with the main part of the growing season, El Nino-related drought has been disastrous for smallholder farmers dependent on rain-fed agriculture.

The WFP says it grateful for contributions already received from the Government of Zimbabwe as well as Canada, Switzerland, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund and the United States.

WFP Communications Officer for Southern Africa David Orr said, I would say of course we are grateful to the assistance we are getting so far. This is not just a crisis in Zimbabwe but across the region we have very high levels of food insecurity nearly 30 million including South Africa.

Malnutrition

According to the United Childrens Education Fund or Unicerf, Zimbabwe currently faces its worst malnutrition rates in 15 years, with 33,000 children in urgent need of treatment for severe acute malnutrition.

Children are enduring the greatest force of this crisis, said Unicef acting representative, Jane Muita.



We have not seen these levels of malnutrition in more than 15 years and although the government and its partners are doing their best to assist, more needs to be done to prevent this crisis from spiraling out of control.

State of Disaster

President Robert Mugabe, declared a state of disaster in rural areas hit by a severe drought early last month. A regional drought worsened by the El Nino weather phenomenon has affected South Africa, Malawi and Zambia as well as Zimbabwe, leaving tens of thousands of cattle dead, reservoirs depleted and crops destroyed.

Local Government Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere, released a statement on behalf of Mr. Mugabe declaring the state of disaster. "Given the foregoing ... His Excellency, the President has declared a state of disaster to severely affected areas in communal and resettlement lands of Zimbabwe effective from Feb. 2, 2016."

Opposition legislators had been calling for President Mugabe to make the declaration since last year when it became apparent that the country was not going to meet its food requirements after harvesting only 700,000 tonnes of grain against a national requirement of 1,8 million tonnes.
A high powered delegation of Zimbabwean women is in New York, United States, for an annual conference on the status of women set to discuss, among many other issues, strides that have been made in the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women globally.

Nyaradzo Mashayamombe of Tag A Life International Trust (TALI), one of the child rights organisations participating at the conference, said it is imperative for governments to commit to funding some of the projects recommended in such gatherings.

"Its a good thing to discuss sustainable development goals but however funding is a key to realizing those goals, so we need governments to stop the rhetoric of just coming together and signing papers but to deliberately fund issues that relate to women and girls because if these goals are not funded we will not have any change for the next 15 years, said Mashayamombe.

According to U.N Women, the conference last year met to review and appraise the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly, including current challenges that affect the implementation of the Platform for Action and the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

The conference also looked at opportunities for strengthening gender equality and the empowerment of women in the post 2015 development agenda through the integration of a gender perspective.

This year the conference's theme is Womens Empowerment and the link to Sustainable Development and the Elimination and Prevention of All Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls.

Asked about what key issues women from Zimbabwe at the conference, are concerned about Mashayamombe said, "One of the key issues coming out is the issue of gender equality and access to opportunities equally between men and women, boys and girls, the issue of gender based-violence is also high up on the agenda and the need for economic empowerment for women and the youth," she said.

Running concurrently with the conference is a youth forum at which some Zimbabweans are also participating. A Zimbabwean youth, Moreblessing Taonezvi, is part of a delegation from Rozaria Memorial Trust.

Taonezvi said she is happy to be part of event as it recognizes the importance of the younger generation in issues to do with gender equality.

"The women's forum has been an eye opener for me as this year the main focus is gender equality. This forum is good for us as young women and also young men as we don't want to leave them out of the discussions," said Taonezvi.

"I am honored to have been part of Rozaria Memorial Trust which facilitated my participation and other girls the youngest being 11 year old Maka and Hana. It's all about trying to include young girls from a tender age because being a leader of the future requires that you learn about capacity building, advocacy, HIV/AIDS and early child marriages and girl clubs things we are discussing here, added Taonezvi.

The conference will end on the 24th.
Mumbai: The Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday suspended a member of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Waris Pathan, after he made aggressive gestures and proclaimed that he would never say Bharat Mata Ki Jai even if he were to die.

A first-time legislator, Mr Pathan, became aggressive after a BJP member, Ram Kadam, referred to his colleague, Imtiaz Jalils remarks, and asked whether he would say Bharat Mata Ki Jai.

Mr Jalil had taken objection to the governments decision to spend hundreds of crores of rupees on a memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji in the Arabian Sea. When you dont have money for farmers, it is not good to spend tax payers money on the memorial, he said.

Referring to intolerance over the slogan, Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Mr Jalil said that the issue had been deliberately raked up for the past three to four days, and such things had increased since BJP came to power at the Centre and in the state. He further said that Vijay Mallya, who duped banks of Rs 9,000 crore, would have willingly said, Bharat Mata Ki Jai as he flew from India because such things were allowed only in India.

Mr Jalil alleged that they were being forced to say Bharat Mata Ki Jai to prove their patriotism. India is our country and we love it, but we will not shout slogans under pressure from the Sangh (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), he said.

Disrupting Mr Jalil, BJP legislator Mr Kadam asked whether he would say Bharat Mata Ki Jai. To this, not Mr Jalil, but Mr Pathan stood up and said he would not say the slogan.
This text is an answer to Barack Obamas inerview by The Atlantic (Barack Obamas Revolution in Foreign Policy, The Obama Doctrine, by Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic, March 10, 2016.)

No, Mr. Obama. We are not free riders. We shared with you our intelligence that prevented deadly terrorist attacks on America.

We initiated the meetings that led to the coalition that is fighting ISIS , and we train and fund the Syrian freedom fighters, who fight the biggest terrorist, Bashar Assad and the other terrorists, Al-Nusrah and ISIS. We offered boots on the ground to make that coalition more effective in eliminating the terrorists.

We initiated the support  military, political and humanitarian  that is helping the Yemeni people reclaim their country from the murderous militia, the Houthis, who, with the support of the Iranian leadership, tried to occupy Yemen; without calling for American forces. We established a coalition of more than thirty Muslim countries to fight all shades of terrorism in the world.

We are the biggest contributors to the humanitarian relief efforts to help refugees from Syria, Yemen and Iraq. We combat extremist ideology that attempts to hijack our religion, on all levels. We are the sole funders of the United Nations Counter-terrorism Center, which pools intelligence, political, economic, and human resources, worldwide. We buy US treasury bonds, with small interest returns, that help your countrys economy.

We send thousands of our students to your universities, at enormous expense, to acquire knowledge and knowhow. We host over 30,000 American citizens and pay them top dollar in our businesses and industry for their skills. Your secretaries of state and defense have often publicly praised the level of cooperation between our two countries.

Your treasury department officials have publicly praised Saudi Arabias measures to curtail any financing that might reach terrorists. Our King Salman met with you, last September, and accepted your assurances that the nuclear deal you struck with the Iranian leadership will prevent their acquiring nuclear weapons for the duration of the deal. You noted the Kingdoms leadership role in the Arab and Islamic world.

The two of you affirmed the need, in particular, to counter Irans destabilizing activities. Now, you throw us a curve ball. You accuse us of fomenting sectarian strife in Syria, Yemen and Iraq. You add insult to injury by telling us to share our world with Iran, a country that you describe as a supporter of terrorism and which you promised our king to counter its destabilizing activities.

Could it be that you are petulant about the Kingdoms efforts to support the Egyptian people when they rose against the Muslim Brothers government and you supported it? Or is it the late King Abdullahs (God rest his soul) bang on the table when he last met you and told you No more red lines, Mr. President.

Or is it because you have pivoted to Iran so much that you equate the Kingdoms 80 years of constant friendship with America to an Iranian leadership that continues to describe America as the biggest enemy, that continues to arm, fund and support sectarian militias in the Arab and Muslim world, that continues to harbor and host Al-Qaeda leaders, that continues to prevent the election of a Lebanese president through Hezbollah, which is identified by your government as a terrorist organization, that continues to kill the Syrian Arab people in league with Bashar Assad?

No, Mr. Obama. We are not the free riders that to whom you refer. We lead from the front and we accept our mistakes and rectify them. We will continue to hold the American people as our ally and dont forget that when the chips were down, and George Herbert Walker Bush sent American soldiers to repel with our troops Saddams aggression against Kuwait, soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder with soldiers. Mr. Obama, that is who we are.
Bob Odenkirk. Photo: Ursula Coyote/Sony Pictures Television/ AMC

Its not enough to say that Better Call Saul is not Breaking Bad. Its more like the antiBreaking Bad, even though its set further back on Bads timeline, shares its modern New Mexico setting, and features many of the same characters. Where Vince Gilligans original AMC crime drama was plot-driven to a fault, withholding and then surprise-injecting regular dopamine hits of Whats next?, the follow-up is more relaxed: easing into long, carefully shaped scenes with theatrically neat beginnings, middles, and ends, always favoring atmosphere, visual texture, and sad-sack characterization. The plot thickens and simmers but it has yet to boil over. Will it ever?

It probably doesnt have to, thanks to the shows embrace of prequel-ness. We know the title character  Bob Odenkirks con artist and lawyer, referred to here as Slippin Jimmy McGill  is fated to break bad, enacting a mopey, scaled-down version of Bad hero Walter Whites long slide into vicious monomania. We grew improbably fond of Jimmy/Saul on Breaking Bad, so we know he cant die here; the show even gives us occasional flash-forwards to a post-Bad Saul working at a mall Cinnabon, as if to drive the point home. Other recurring characters are likewise protected: the ex-cop turned underworld fixer Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks), the volcanically hotheaded drug dealer Tuco Salamanca (Raymond Cruz), and his uncle Hector (Mark Margolis), who is disabled in Breaking Bad but appeared at the end of this weeks episode in comparatively decent health.

But the shows other key players could slough off their mortal coils at any moment: Tucos disloyal lieutenant Ignacio Nacho Varga (Michael Mando); Jimmys law-firm colleague and sometime squeeze Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn); Jimmys disapproving older brother Chuck (Michael McKean), who suffers from electromagnetic hypersensitivity. The overall effect is curiously like watching Boardwalk Empire, Deadwood , or some other series that mixes historical personages and invented characters: You enjoy watching Al Capone or Calamity Jane chew scenery, secure in the knowledge that the writers arent going to go all ahistorical on you, while tensing up whenever a Chalky White or Joanie Stubbs gets threatened.

All this allows Saul to work in a different key (minor) and a different mode (something like mid-period Elmore Leonard or The Friends of Eddie Coyle; or on television, Justified or Terriers or The Rockford Files). Characters are periodically threatened with fatal violence, but its more about what it does to them psychologically or the character shadings the threat reveals than the possibility that they might die  take when Jimmy fast-talks his way out of an execution or Mike declines to kill Tuco at Nachos urging, and instead contrives an altercation that sends Tuco to prison on assault and weapons charges (putting him out of commission until the Breaking Bad timeline, presumably). A lot of the show is dedicated problem-solving, not on the high-octane level that we used to see Walter White operate on, but on a more earthbound plane.

If anything, Gilligan, series co-creator Peter Gould (a Bad alumnus), and their collaborators have turned the heat down in season two. Any given episode is likely to contain maybe eight to ten full scenes and a montage or two, and these always go on a bit longer than you expect, longer than TV dramas norm  three minutes, five, more  the better to let you join the characters in whatever room they happen to inhabit, examine every reaction and spoken word, and notice their positions in frames that are often comprised of half to three-quarters darkness.

Money, status, satisfaction, and the possibility of behaving ethically in an unethical world are always at the heart of the characters choices. Jimmy wants his brothers respect and to be able to look at himself in the mirror without guilt, but he also wants fame and money. The legitimate do-gooder side of him is forever in conflict with the con-man side, which flares up in a manner akin to an alcoholics urge to drink (Chucks comparison). Mike wants to protect his daughter-in-law and granddaughter and make a new start for himself with the brutal skill set thats all he has left after leaving the force. Mikes deadpan interactions with the local underworld (hes like a cross between Droopy the Dog and the Terminator) alternate with Jimmys adventures in the white-collar world of Albuquerque civil law. The bifurcation is often jarring and a little weird, as if somebody had spliced together episodes of Breaking Bad and Thirtysomething.

But it works because we have such affection for this world and these characters, and because every character struggle is ultimately about self-discovery, affirmation, and the unrelenting difficulty of surviving in a brutal, 21st-century economy. Even if you dont have to kill somebody to make rent, you might have to crawl around in a dumpster looking for documents or travel to Texas to solicit class-action-lawsuit clients on a retirement-home bus. At this point the show feels more like an assured and eccentric spinoff than an entirely separate achievement, but were only halfway through season two, and the patience evidenced by Gilligan and company suggests it would be unwise to assume we know what cards the writers have up their sleeve, much less how they will play them.
Hyderabad: AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot understand any language except the language of pressure.

Hence, the Congress party both in AP and at the national level will fight it out to bring Special Category Status to AP, originally promised by the UPA at the time of state bifurcation, he said.

Mr Gandhi added that instead of announcing funds and projects at the time of laying foundation stone for Amaravati capital city, the Prime Minister insulted the people of AP by only bringing mud and water from Delhi.

Rahul Gandhi complimented AP Congress leaders for their effort in collecting one crore signatures demanding special category status to the state as well as paying back in the same coin to the Prime Minister by reciprocating the gesture of bringing mud and water collected from AP to be presented to PM in Delhi.

You have done an excellent job of fighting for the special status for AP. Though the Congress party has lost everything in AP, your efforts will rejuvenate the party. I have been specifically telling other party units in the country about your efforts, Mr Gandhi said.

He was speaking to the 300-plus Congress workers and leaders who gathered at AICC Headquarters on Wednesday as part of an agitation over the pending demand of according Special Category Status to AP.

Joining Rahul Gandhi, AICC President Mrs Sonia Gandhi said that apart from granting Special Category Status to AP, UPA also promised to fund the Polavaram Project and the new capital city besides adjusting the revenue deficit the state was bound to suffer due to bifurcation.

'The present NDA dispensation is just not bothered to fulfil all these promises and for the last 21 months of being in power, they have not done anything to AP. We are not going to leave the matter just like that, we will fight it out till we achieve all these, Sonia gandhi said.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that unless the Congress party agitated over the issue, the NDA government is not going to grant special status.
Celine Dion. Photo: Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images

Most people know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but were you aware that spontaneously peeing your pants is the sincerest form of thanks? You did? Is that why its all wet over here? Awww, you! In case you were wondering how Celine Dion feels about Ariana Grandes shockingly accurate impersonation of her singing voice, which Grande performed on SNL this past weekend as well as on Jimmy Fallon last March, well, it turns out she loves it a shorts-soaking amount. When I met Celine, she told me  she was like, When I saw you, I peed, Ariana Grande gushed on Elvis Duran and the Morning Show yesterday. According to Grande, she doesnt even need to practice her many dead-on impressions. No, Im just a big fan! Im a really big fan, Ariana begged off. I think thats why they dont get mad because they know I come from a place of love. Well, theyre probably a little mad about having to make their second sub-assistant trade pants with them, but surely they get over that part real quick.
Cynthia DAprix Sweeney. Illustration: QuickHoney

Younger debut novelists might consider a million-dollar advance an annunciation; 55-year-old Cynthia DAprix Sweeney, whose first book, The Nest, is out later this month, just laughed  and drank a lot of whiskey. Like the four middle-aged New York siblings in her deftly braided novel, left rudderless after a trust fund evaporates, Sweeney has known highs and lows, ambition and compromise, Park Slope momhood and an empty L.A. nest. (Her husband, Mike Sweeney, is Conan OBriens head writer.) On a visit to New York in February, it was going to take more than burst pipes and freezing rain to ruin her homecoming.

Sweeney was in from L.A. for a week of meetings, and her former Prospect Heights neighbor, Times food writer Melissa Clark, had meant to gather friends for a house party stocked with sardines on focaccia and Turkish-pepper deviled eggs. But Clarks plumbing gave out in subzero temperatures, and the group repaired to nearby faux-rustic Flatbush Farm instead. Karen Rush, a recipe tester, smuggled in a couple of treats to supplement the bar menu; her husband, Esquire cocktail historian Dave Wondrich, was sadly liquorless.

I guess you could call us the Brooklyn parenthood survival group, said Wondrich, who wore a long, wiry gray goatee. Back when Sweeney still lived here, their circle organized some of the neighborhoods best-provisioned playdates. Dave would make drinks, and Karen likes to cook, Sweeney said, congratulating herself on her canny taste in friends: among some of my greatest accomplishments. Coleen Cahill, an ad exec from Sweeneys former book club, sidled over to praise Sweeney in turn. She was wildly popular as a Brooklyn mother and a clutch player in their book group, Cahill said. Sweeney shrugged and sipped from her first Manhattan.

Before conquering brownstone Brooklyn, Sweeney grew up in Rochester  one of four siblings in a family that resembled the Plumbs in The Nest only in their occasional squabbles. I wasnt exposed to actual wealth until I moved to New York, she said, apropos of the novels upmarket locales  a tony suburb, the Grand Central Oyster Bar, an Italianate brownstone very much like the Sweeneys old house. She worked her way through an upstate Catholic college and moved immediately to New York, besotted with Esquire and The New Yorker and the contemporary fiction she hoped to emulate. I would have loved to go into publishing, but I would have had to have two jobs. So Sweeney, whose father was a marketing consultant, went into corporate communications.

Fiction lived in this elevated place, Sweeney said. All my friends were in finance or law or advertising. At one party, she met a lawyer who was quitting his job to become a stand-up comic. She was about to leave her own job as a corporate copywriter, contemplating fiction but without a decent plan in place. She married Mike in 1991; four years later, he got a job writing for Late Night With Conan OBrien. After halfheartedly trying to write, she went back to marketing, taking time off to be a mom. (The couple have two sons, 18 and 21.)

Looking out a brownstone window, Leo Plumb, the novels overgrown enfant terrible, muses on Brooklyns quiet lives of aspiration. The Sweeneys moved there from the West Village in 1997, joining the gentrifying childbearers of the creative class. Once I had kids, a much more creative world opened up to me, Sweeney said. After September 11, her employer went under, and she started writing seriously again, but the idea of measuring up to the other parents at the Berkeley Carroll School seemed ludicrous: When you see [writers like] Elissa Schappell and Colin Harrison at pickup, youre just like, I cant tell them about my Mediabistro writing class. 

Another subclass of Brooklynite fueled the novel: the trust-fund listless. There was always that confounding moment: Youve got that house, and nobody works  I was fascinated by how unhappy some of those people were. The Nests fiction-writing sibling, Bea Plumb, combines the two anxieties, financial and creative. Bea skyrocketed to fame years ago with a flashy story collection only to recede into blocked obscurity, returning the advance for a novel she couldnt finish. Almost every editor I spoke to when the book was on submission said, I know who you modeled Bea on,  said Sweeney, and they were all different people, some of whom Id never even heard of. She said she feels fortunate to have dodged the fate of the wunderkind: I was spared my bad books.

Sweeney published a few light essays in the aughts but agonized over darker material until her friend Liza Powel, a Columbia M.F.A. grad who happens to be married to Conan OBrien, suggested she write it as fiction. Around that time, she joined an online group of creative women, including would-be Transparent creator Jill Soloway. They were nice connections to have, in more than one sense: It was like having a bunch of therapists who were smart, funny, female, and did not shy away from being prescriptive, Sweeney said. It was empowering, to use a slightly old-fashioned word.

When Conan moved west for The Tonight Show, the Sweeneys followed. The first six months were really hard, she said. We were all miserable, and I think that opens up possibilities. She gave herself a year to commit to writing, at the end of which she applied to Benningtons low-residency M.F.A. program. In her last year there, a teacher suggested turning one short story into a novel and ditching the others. By 2013, she had more than 100 pages of what would become The Nest. By the end of the following year, Ecco Press paid seven figures in a preempt deal.

Well into her second Manhattan at Flatbush Farm, Sweeney was matter-of-fact about her midlife renaissance. Bennington was simply a shortcut: deadline, structure, community. You write that check, you get those things. With or without the M.F.A., she was determined to be so persistent that if she failed, its a failure of talent. Of course, reimagining your career is an easier thing to do when you dont have two kids running around.

Asked about her success, her erstwhile neighbors began attesting to inner confidence before Sweeney cut them off. Were not people who are flashily trying to get attention, she said. Whatever props we get, its just because were diligent workers. She looked at her friend Katherine Schulten, whod read multiple early drafts of The Nest. This girl works so hard, Schulten said. I love to tell the story of Cynthia to friends. You did not start writing fiction until you were in your mid-40s, right? Sweeney nodded. So that gives hope to the middle-aged everywhere, doesnt it?

*This article appears in the March 7, 2016 issue of New York Magazine.
The Real ONeals may not be great just yet, but its already growing into itself. In The Real F Word, Kenny returns to school for the first time since coming out. Hes been dreading the return for self-evident reasons: He thinks that the other students will make fun of him or bully him, and hes not sure he can handle it. As well see, though, those concerns should have been the least of his worries.

The night before going back to school, Jimmy stays up with a sleepless Kenny and they binge-watch Game of Thrones. Jimmy vows to protect Kenny as if he were a one-handed knight and Kenny his little bastard brother. Its really touching to see how protective and supportive Jimmy is.

Sidenote: Has the show abandoned the story line about Jimmy battling anorexia? It hasnt been mentioned since the second episode, when Eileens Jesus pancakes supposedly cured him. I was looking forward to how the writers would address such a delicate issue, but maybe its best that it hasnt been mentioned again. Its possible Jimmys eating disorder will reemerge, and maybe hes been hiding it to avoid his mothers censure.

At school, Kenny is self-conscious and thinks everyone is talking about him. A classmate tries to ask Kenny a question: Is it true youre   The pressure is too much for Kenny and he snaps, That Im a fag? Yes, Im gay! The classmate finishes,   that youre running for treasurer? Kenny weakly confirms that he is running, then hes sent to the vice-principals office for saying a banned word. Vice-principal Murray (Matt Oberg) considers the situation, then concludes that Kenny committed a hate crime against himself, so it all cancels out and he can go back to class. However, Kenny doesnt want to run for treasurer anymore. If he gives a campaign speech, hell have to subject himself to his classmates stares. To get out of it, he starts thinking of ways to get sent home.

Nothing Kenny does works. VP Murray refuses to send Kenny home, and even admits that Kenny is getting special treatment because hes gay. (Basically, he says this so Kenny cant say the school is discriminating against him.) Kenny was so worried about being bullied, he didnt consider the possibility that he might be part of a protected class. As the first openly gay person in his Catholic school, hes in a privileged position.

Shannon tells Jimmy that Kenny was called the F-word, but before she can clarify that Kenny used the word to describe himself, Jimmy, First of His Name of the House ONeal, attacks an asthmatic student named Kenny Lee. After his outburst, Jimmy gets sent home for the day. Instead of calling Eileen, he calls his aunt Jodi and hangs out at her hair salon. He confesses that he has to make sure hes at school, that way he can protect Kenny from anyone who would make fun of him. Jimmy is such a sweet boy! Hes rapidly become my favorite character. As much as I love his support of his brother, I wish he had more of his own story line here.

Shannon convinces Kenny to stop trying to get sent home  he should just ditch class like she does. The plan is to stay in the basement until its the time theyre supposed to be home from school. If anyone catches them, she has a bag of lice to act as cover. Unfortunately, both Pat and Eileen are in the basement when Kenny and Shannon show up. Pat shares a story of his own humiliating past so Kenny will stop being afraid to run for treasurer. And it works! After the pep talk, Kenny goes back to school and makes his speech.

Meanwhile, Pat has been dealing with Eileens lies about their current living situation. They go furniture shopping for the basement, but Eileen is so ashamed about their upcoming divorce that she keeps lying to people about the reason theyre shopping. Shes having a hard time coping with the change in her marriage, and like Kenny, she believes people will react more harshly than they do.

Kenny and Eileen both try lying to avoid public condemnation, but no one cares as much as they thought they would. Kenny wanted to call himself a terrible name before anyone else could, and Eileen wanted to maintain a happy facade, but the truth always wins out, one way or another. Seeing Kenny and Eileen go through similar challenges shows how alike they are as mother and son, and I think it also explains why Eileen is so hard on Kenny.

Four episodes in, The Real ONeals has found solid footing. Its not the best family sitcom on air right now, but its promising and it can hold its own. The ONeals are an Irish Catholic family in Chicago, but as the show has already demonstrated, plenty of issues cross between cultures, whether its dealing with divorce while maintaining stability for the children, or learning that your fears create more chaos than reality. I suspect theres much more of this to come, and Im eager to see where The Real ONeals heads next.
Hyderabad: The Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC), which spearheaded the Telangana movement in its last phase, is on the brink of collapse.

Employees JAC, a major affiliate of TJAC comprising Telangana Non-Gazetted Offic-ers (TNGOs) Association, Tel-angana Gazetted Officers (TGO) Association, Class IV employees unions, teachers and others comprising nearly 6.5 lakh government employees, have decided to quit TJAC.

TJAC was established to fight for Telangana state. We achieved the goal. There is no point in continuing with the organisation, TNGO president K. Ravinder Reddy told this newspaper on Wednesday.

Prof. Kodandaram, who formed TJAC in 2009 as an umbrella organisation to intensify the movement and achieve statehood, meanwhile said TJAC would continue and serve the people. TJAC will continue. I did not get any letter from the organisations. I have heard about it, he said.

TJAC initially comprised TRS, Congress, Telugu Desam, BJP and other parties besides employees, students, intellectuals and other organisations.

Due to differences, TD and Congress quit during the movement while the TRS and BJP are now keeping a distance.

Prof. Kodandaram at one point of time had even overshadowed Chief Minister and TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao with the highly successful Sakala Janula Samme, Million March, Telangana March, Vanta Varpu etc.

TGO Association president and TRS Mahbubnagar MLA V. Srinivas Goud said, "What's the point in having TJAC after statehood has been achieved? This is a collective decision of employees to quit."

TRS leaders these days are finding it difficult to associate with Prof. Kodandaram given his critical comments about the Chief Minister for ignoring real T-activists and promoting those who had opposed Telangana and on other issues.

Top employees' leaders now hold key positions in the government. Mr Swami Goud is a TRS MLC and chairman of Telangana Legislative Council, Mr Srinivas Goud is the TRS Mahbubnagar MLA while Mr Devi Prasad contested MLC elections and lost on a TRS ticket etc.

Prof Kodandaram, during the T-movement, had also differed with Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao over the mode of T-agitation and extension of support to the TRS during polls. He subsequently fell out. TJAC had asked people to vote for those who fought for Telangana, but did not say "vote for TRS".
State Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, will speak at a meeting of the Christian Writers Workshop at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Room 210-11 at First Baptist Church of Woodway, 13000 Woodway Drive.

Birdwell will discuss his book, Refined by Fire, which he and his wife, Mel, wrote after his experience on Sept. 11, 2001.

Birdwell was serving on the Department of the Army staff at the Pentagon on 9/11 and suffered life-threatening burns over 60 percent of his body.

For more information, call 339-3060.

Free museum entry

The Dr Pepper Museum and Free Enterprise Institute, 300 S. Fifth St., will give free admission to guests who wear a green shirt to the museum Thursday for St. Patricks Day.

For those who forget to wear a green shirt, the museums gift shop will have green Im a Pepper shirts available to purchase.

Museum hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 4:15 p.m.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/1113012332051889.

Movie screening

The Community Race Relations Coalition, the department of film and digital media at Baylor University, and the Waco NAACP will screen the film Shadows of the Lynching Tree at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Room 101 of Baylors Castellaw Communications Center.

After the screening, filmmaker Carvin Eison will be on hand to discuss the film, which features several Waco citizens.

For more information, call 836-4599 or email Jo_Welter@hotmail.com.

NARFE meeting

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association will meet at 1 p.m. Thursday at Uncle Dans Barbecue, 1001 Lake Air Drive.

Optional dining begins at 12:30 p.m.

McLennan County Extension Agent Colleen Foleen will speak about nutrition.

For more information, call Gerald Hatfield at 772-3543.

Sociology lecture

Melissa Wilde, associate professor of sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, will present a free lecture, Fewer and Better Children: Race, Class, Religion and Birth Control Reform in America, 1929-1931, at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Draper Auditorium in Baylor Universitys Bennett Hall.

The program is a part of the Baylor department of sociologys Outstanding Sociology Opportunity Speaker Series.

Womens networking

The Waco chapter of the National Association of Female Executives Women Information Network will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Rosatis Pizza, 824 Hewitt Drive in Woodway.

Jane Herndon, business adviser with McLennan Small Business Development Center, will discuss the free business expertise available from the Small Business Development Center and how it empowers MBA-level entrepreneurs at a fraction of the cost.

For more information, call Glenda Ruiz at 723-2404.

Submit items for Briefly in printed or typed form to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco 76702-2588; fax to 757-0302; or email to goingson@wacotrib.com at least one week before an event.
Waco City Council on Tuesday moved forward with a renovation of a defunct, century-old smokestack at the Riverside Water Treatment Plant, a project whose cost could top $300,000.

In the last decade, concrete chunks have fallen from the top section of the 116-foot stack, damaging buildings and trailers below.

The council Tuesday agreed to use a competitive sealed proposal procedure, an alternative to traditional bids, to find a contractor for the job. The procedure takes into account the contractors reputation and experience as well as price.

The repairs would involve replacing the top 20 feet of the stack with a metal replica of the original concrete, then reinforcing the lower section with a polymer.

City officials a decade ago considered demolishing the stack, which once served as the exhaust for coal-powered pumps at the treatment plant. The plant was built in 1914.

But City Manager Dale Fisseler said officials with the Texas Historical Commission and the citys Historic Landmark Preservation Commission urged the city to preserve the tower as an integral part of the historic plant. The plant is a state historic landmark, and proposed alterations are subject to Texas Historical Commission review.

Deputy City Manager Wiley Stem said the fix could cost up to $300,000, but he is hoping it will be much less.
McLennan County commissioners hope an agreement approved Tuesday to evaluate the structural integrity of the 88-year-old Karem Shrine building will determine whether it is time to sell the structure or refurbish it for a new joint use with the city of Waco.

The county owns the three-story building at 701 Washington Ave. and approved a $96,000 study of the facility. Brinkley Sargent Wiginton Architects will perform a feasibility study, and if the project to create a joint city-county facility can go forward, the firm will get the full $96,000, split between the city and the county.

The city already has approved the contract.

Commissioner Ben Perry said that before the mostly vacant buildings future use is determined, the county must be sure it is structurally sound. The county likely will have to put money into repairs, whether it plans to sell the building or use it, Perry said.

County leaders have discussed using the space as the new home for the 10th Court of Appeals, which is on the fourth floor of the McLennan County Courthouse.

County Judge Scott Felton said holding underutilized property off the tax rolls is not what taxpayers expect from county leaders.

The building is very much underutilized, Felton said. Its a great building. We just need to consider the best use for it.

Commissioner Will Jones said if the building cant be efficiently used, it needs to be moved back to the tax rolls by selling the property to a developer.
History came to life at Baylor University when civil rights activist the Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian spoke to a crowd at Waco Hall on Tuesday night about the fight for justice and ongoing struggles for equal treatment.

Vivian, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, spoke about his mission in leading a nonviolent attempt to end segregation in portions of southern Illinois in the late 1940s and his later work for racial equality with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Associate professor of political science Victor Hinojosa posed questions to the soft-spoken civil rights leader, who detailed some of his experiences, including his struggles in 1965 with an Alabama sheriff who had beaten a black woman when she attempted to vote weeks earlier.

You dont know what is going to happen. All you know is what you have to do, Vivian said. You are going to do it regardless of circumstance, and you are not going to allow violence to destroy nonviolence.

The 91-year-old veteran advocate spoke of beatings and trips to jail he endured for speaking out against segregation and inequality, but he reminded the audience about the importance of the impact of the nonviolent movement.

In hopes of inspiring Baylor students, Hinojosa asked Vivian about his motivation and how Christianity impacted his civic life.

Students who attended said the question-and-answer assembly brought the struggles of the civil rights movement into a present picture.

I think we are all really glad that we got to come to this, and its just an amazing opportunity to hear from him, said Amanda Weakley, 19, of Aurora, Colorado.

Vivian spoke about his childhood, his upbringing shaped by his grandmother and his efforts to prove that nonviolence is more powerful than violence. Vivian said his upbringing was the foundation that led to President Barack Obama honoring him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013 for his lifelong dedication to equality.

When Hinojosa asked what advice he would pass along to Baylor students, Vivian kept his message simple.

Realize that everyone is due respect, Vivian said. Everyone wants love. Everyone wants to be better than they are, all of us do, but all of us have to see the high point in our potential in life.
Who will take responsibility for the polling errors in the McLennan County primary elections this month? The county says that human error prevented several hundred people from voting in the Precinct 1 and Precinct 3 county commissioner races. So who is that human?

It seems that no one at the county has truly stepped up to say, We need to make this right. Even after last weeks meeting of the McLennan County Elections Commission, answers remained elusive  everyone from an election vendor to election judges to poll workers to the voters themselves has been cited as somehow complicit.

The county elections administrator at one point said that if voters had said something before pushing the complete button on the ballot, the problem might have been resolved. Really? Who is going to make a comment while in the solemn privacy of the voting booth?

And how many people realized after they voted that their commissioners race was not on the ballot? I suspect quite a few  and its likely that many more were not aware till reading the article about this debacle in the Trib.

Our county judge wants to make certain this does not happen again, and thats an admirable goal. But what about right now, judge? If you were one of the disenfranchised voters, would you be more concerned? What if it had been your own elected position that did not get on the ballot?

Will the McLennan County Commissioners Court step up and say they ultimately have the responsibility? Yeah, in other words, will they in essence say, The buck stops here, and vow to make things right? Or are they hoping nothing will happen  the old stick-your-head-in-the-sand approach?

Does anyone care about disenfranchised voters who did not get the chance to exercise their constitutional right to pick a candidate? Consider Precinct 1 County Commissioner Kelly Snells rather flippant response regarding his challenger, Cory Priest, and the latters decision to fight for a new election: I guess he (Priest) can do what he wants to do. I dont know why he would do that, but thats up to him. A man can do what he wants to do if hes got the money.

Just what does money have to do with what is right and what is wrong? Our elected officials should be more concerned with protecting the integrity of the voting process instead of popping off about someones money! What do you suppose Snells answer would have been had he instead lost by 29 votes (or 25 votes, as a recount subsequently revealed) and he found out about the flawed ballots?

Ive heard the expression sore losers before, but now we can add to that the phrase sore winners.

And why would it be Priests sole responsibility to file a lawsuit regarding incorrect ballots? If the commissioners truly care about protecting the rights of their citizens, they themselves should at least be looking into how to make this right  not the solitary individuals involved. I firmly believe that if Priest wishes to challenge the vote count of the current votes cast, then, yes, it is his responsibility to pay for that. However, in no way should it be his responsibility to resolve the issue of incorrectly issued ballots. That responsibility lies squarely and firmly on the county commissioners, including the office under their charge that handled this election. They should be making every effort to correct the problem.

Who wins or who loses is not and will not be the issue. The issue should be, Did every vote count? The issue should be, How do we regain the trust of our voters?

Right now, commissioners, such critical integrity is lacking.

Jim Smith is a past member of the Robinson City Council. Before that, he served as longtime superintendent of the Robinson Independent School District.
Any patriot cannot go on abusing the country. There are certain parameters, says former Solicitor General of India N Santosh Hegde. (Photo: PTI)

Hyderabad: Former Solicitor General of India N Santosh Hegde on Monday said he is in "favour" of the sedition law as some "restrictions" are needed to stop people from abusing and talking against the country.

The retired Supreme Court judge argued that the act of some JNU students, who allegedly termed the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru as "judicial murder" and raised anti-India slogans, "definitely amounts" to sedition.

JNU Students Union President Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on sedition charges earlier this month. Five students, accused of sedition and missing for days, surfaced on the JNU campus last night.

"I believe in sedition law. I am a patriot. Any patriot cannot go on abusing the country. There are certain parameters," the former Karnataka Lokayukta told PTI.

"Many people think differently in this country whose allegiance is with some other country or some other group. If democracy has to survive, then there should be some restrictions on the people talking against the country.

"Forget all other things. You criticise the government, criticise the individuals, criticise the system. Patriotism can never be criticised," he said.

Hegde said he does not believe in the previous judgement of the Supreme Court that says mere talk is not sedition and should be followed by actions, something contrary to law.

"I don't believe in that judgement. Sedition means propagating some views, which are against the nation. As long as the judgement of the Supreme Court is there, I am bound to say its the law of the day today. I am one of those persons who would say that the judgement should be changed," Hegde said, citing events in JNU after the February 9 controversial event, including violence in Patiala House.

"You can't meddle with patriotism. Everything is alright (but) patriotism can never be compromised," Hegde said.

He strongly sought to counter those who favour junking the century-old sedition law saying it's an archaic legislation and a relic of British colonialism.

"What about Indian Penal Code. How old is it? You scrap Indian Penal Code because somebody is involved in a crime? (and wants it to be scrapped). Its a 230-year-old act. You change it," Hegde said, reacting angrily to suggestions in some quarters on scrapping the sedition law.

"There are ways and means of saying it. There are people who say they don't believe in death sentence. But I would ask them a question. What happens to the fundamental right of a victim who died who was killed by somebody else? It's a very, very sad day for a country.

"In Pakistan what happened? A Virat Kohli's fan showed Indian flag and was sentenced for 10 years. No country can never ever compromise on its integrity. Forget everything else. So far as integrity of the nation is concerned, never ever compromise it," Hegde said, adding.

"Urgent reform is a system by which every judgement is delivered within one year in criminal cases and within two years in civil cases. Remove all the appeals provision. Like in the United States, there is one trial court and one appellate court. Supreme Court (in the US) is not meant for civil cases," he said.

"(The) American Supreme Court is meant only for interpretation of constitution of the United States. Here (in India), just imagine, in Lalu Prasad Yadav's case, chargesheet was filed in 1996 and first conviction was in 2013, sixteen years later. What sort of justice (is this)? Who will be afraid of punishment? Because of freedom of speech, we have been talking anything and everything. And we get away with it," he said.

The former SG said that there should be judicial reforms.

"There was a time when we (Judges) used to respect precedent law, that is, law laid down by superior court or larger bench had to be followed implicitly by other judges.

Today, I don't find that discipline. People either not notice earlier judgements, just bypass the judgement and deliver their judgement or they say on facts this is different from that case. No, there should be more judicial discipline than what it is today," Hegde added.
President Obama didnt bask in his rock-star reception down the road in Austin for long last weekend before condemning largely unsubstantiated claims by state officials about runaway voter fraud and state efforts to restrict voting. The president said voter suppression laws are far more the problem: The folks who are governing the good state of Texas arent interested in having more people participate.

The problem: Hes right, at least given our memory of when Republicans and Democrats alike sought ways to boost voter turnout. All that changed after election of the nations first African-American president. States under Republican control began putting in place hurdles to voting. Some political scientists astutely noted those most likely to be impacted  voters of color, poor voters, young voters  happen to make up much of the coalition that put Obama into office in 2008 and 2012.

And while our state lawmakers during the last legislative session belatedly passed a law that reduces or even eliminates the cost of state records required to obtain photo identification needed to vote, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton and others continually claim that voting fraud in Texas is rampant. Yet no data actually support this.

Since 2000, 1 billion votes have been cast nationwide, yet only 31 cases of in-person voter fraud have been found, election expert Ali Berman, author of Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America, said this past weekend at the Tucson Festival of Books, and thats because its a really stupid way to try to steal an election.

Theres no incentive to try to do it this way, he said, so a lot of this talk about voter fraud is manufactured to support laws that are going to make it harder for certain people to cast ballots.

A searing analysis by News21, an investigative journalism project at Arizona State University, found only three cases of voter impersonation in Texas between 2000 and 2011, which investigators weighing all statistics deemed virtually non-existent. Meanwhile, in a single two-year period (2013-14), the online news site The Texas Tribune noted, the Texas Ethics Commission resolved 227 complaints of campaign finance and lobbying irregularities of 513 sworn complaints filed with that state agency.

You can do the math, but if in-person voter fraud in Texas is rampant, as Abbott insisted again this week in response to Obamas remarks, then corruption by elected and appointed officials in Texas and those lobbying groups manipulating them is an out-of-control epidemic. Yet an ethics package to rein in such corruption failed in 2015 in the Texas Legislature, partially because some lawmakers feared any transparency about their connections, partially because other lawmakers insisted efforts didnt go far enough and Abbott choked when he should have shown courage. But where, oh where, is the outrage in all of this?
Texas Republicans have already had their say in the first of the pivotal Super Tuesday contests: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who has been running for president since he took office, garnered 44 percent of the GOP vote, while the national frontrunner, reality TV star Donald Trump, drew 27 percent. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio won 18 percent of the vote while Ohio Gov. John Kasich won 4 percent, which means the pair receive no Texas delegates.

Tonights vote tallies in Ohio and Florida and, to an extent, Illinois will play key roles in determining how all this play outs. Per the Republican National Convention, all three states are conducting their primary elections under winner-take-all rules. (Missouri and North Carolina primaries are being held under more complicated conditions.) And Cruz makes a valid point: If a senator or governor cant even hold his own state against Trump, then he probably doesnt have any business running for president.

Also, if Kasich and Rubio hold their states, Ohio and Florida, from jumping aboard the Trump bandwagon (Ohio has 66 delegates; Florida, 99), they will slow the bombastic frontrunners ability to roll into Cleveland for a convention coronation in mid-July. Illinois also might offer an interesting take on Trump, given that a Trump rally in Chicago last week was canceled amid fights and protests. The candidate blamed Bernie Sanders; Cruz and Rubio blame Trump himself.

Polls show that Rubio is likely to falter in Florida  hardly a ringing endorsement for his continuing his presidential campaign  but Kasich seems poised to offer real competition in Ohio, birthplace of so many presidents and so crucial to Republicans in all general elections. And with Trump rallies increasingly succumbing to violence amid the candidates combative rhetoric, who knows what might happen in Cleveland this summer?

Ahead of the Texas primary election, this newspaper (and some others in Texas) recommended Kasich to our readers, noting that he would bring critical experience to Washington in terms of both fiscal conservatism and bipartisanship, clearly needed to get anything done. The Kasich campaign quickly posted our editorial on its website. Were less concerned with that than the candidates heeding our advice now: If Kasich wins in Ohio, he needs to plant himself in places such as California and Pennsylvania, where Republicans are far more pragmatic and likely to doubt Trump. Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has already endorsed the Ohio governor.

If the unexpected victories of Bernie Sanders in places such as Oklahoma demonstrate anything at all, its that a Hillary Clinton fatigue exists across much of our nation. But if Republicans believe putting forward a candidate voicing outrage, demagoguery and little else will capitalize on this Achilles heel, theyre fooling themselves.
WAHOO  The official time a small hot air balloon touched the ground at the Wahoo Airport was 9:51 a.m. Monday.

If Guinness Book of Records officials agree with the mound of documents Andrew Holly and crew compiled during the previous 33 days, one hour and 11 minutes, a new record is in the books.

Holly was on a mission. He and his Fly Every State crew were out to break two records.

One was to fly all 48 contiguous in the fastest time. The second was to break the record of flying the most states in 30 days.

The record was 11 states in 30 days, he said about goal number two. I think we beat that.

Holly, who hails from the Bristol, England area, is also pretty sure they have set the new record for all 48 states.

The records quest began on Feb. 6 in Louisville, Ky. In addition to In order to accomplish the feat, Holly and crew had to drive to each individual state.

We take off and land in the same state, Holly said.

For each flight, there is a minimum height the balloon must reach and a minimum distance it must go. Every take off, every landing, every height and every distance has to be documented and seen by an independent observer.

Holly said there was a stack of documents in the Fly Every State van that will now have to be reviewed by Guinness officials in order to declare the records official.

In total, Holly made 55 flights, because he made two flights in several states. Each trip was unique and beautiful.

He saw snow in Idaho, flew over mountains and craters and experiences the many trees of Main and New Hampshire.

The scenery is amazing, Holly said.

He saw some wonderful scenery during his flight between Prague and Wahoo Monday morning too.

Holly had intended to take off and touch down in Wahoo. He said it was Wahoos water tower that had caught his eye and he wanted to pass by it.

But, Monday mornings weather turned out to be not as it has been forecasted, and a last minute change in plans had the balloon lift off near Prague.

Still, Holly got to go by the water tower and land in Wahoo.

It was another change in plans earlier in the trip that brought the final touch down to Wahoo.

After a flight in Wyoming, Fly Every State had planned an evening flight in Nebraskas panhandle. But by the time other flights earlier in that day were completed, daylight was short. The crew proceeded to Colorado for a flight the next morning, and Nebraska was left to the last

stop on the record-setting tour.

With his balloon still stretched out next to a runway at the Wahoo Airport Monday morning, Holly said the accomplishment had not sunk in yet. That might take a little time and some sleep.

Weve been running on adrenaline for the last few weeks; three to four hours of sleep have been normal, he said.

The Fly Every State van traveled about 17,000 miles during the 33-day quest.
WAHOO  As chairman of the Agriculture Committee in the Nebraska Legislature, Sen. Jerry Johnson gets a birds eye view of agriculture on Monday.

The state senator from Wahoo joined Gov. Pete Ricketts and Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Greg Ibach on their National Ag Week Fly Around this past Monday. This was Johnsons second year on the trip.

The group made four stops across Nebraska: Hastings, McCook, Falls City and Omaha, highlighting the connection between farms and ranches and businesses on main streets.

The connection includes an economic emphasis, said Ibach in a press release week.

The Department of Agriculture will be working with economic development, creating a better focus on rural development, said Johnson, in an interview prior to Mondays tour.

Ag business in communities needs to have the proper amenities for self-sufficiency. There are other things communities need, he said. Housing, communication, education and health care  all those things make rural communities more viable.

A holistically vibrant, healthy community will attract people back to these areas. This includes the same approach to education.

Its more than corn and cows. Its infrastructure and technology, said Johnson.

Ibach shared a similar sentiment.

The National Ag Week celebration is about livestock and crop production, but also about the technology, marketing, processing and infrastructure that go with it, said Ibach.

Included in this holistic approach on rural vitality, Johnson added that he plans to have a study completed this summer that focuses on healthy foods in rural communities.

Johnson also said recent bills he supports will level the playing field for hog producers, enlarged dairy herds and allow for Nebraska to have a major poultry presence.

Highlighting the connection between economic development and agriculture in rural Nebraska, Johnson hopes for a resurgence in rural life.

Its a struggle for every small town to be a survivor. We need to bring people back into the community, he said.

Along the four stops on the Fly Around on Monday, Ricketts was scheduled to speak to the communities about property tax relief.

Its not good. As property tax resources go down, education will suffer, said Johnson last Friday.
WAVERLY  City officials and School District 145 administrators spent a good hour of last weeks city council meeting discussing the details of a proposed paving project that would impact both local institutions.

The council voted March 8 to continue with the paving off 134th Street from Amberly Road south to the Interstate 80 overpass his summer, though the concerns of local business owners and the school prompted the city to delay any paving of Amberly Road until possibly 2017.

Because the project also includes the paving of Amberly Road, a number of businesses said work on the street could cause some headaches as they manage daily routines.

In a meeting with the city earlier in the month, Kamterter owner John Easton said closing the Amberly Road and 134th Street intersection would prove troublesome, as he has up to six semi trucks per day delivering products to the business, according to a presentation at the March 8 meeting by Public Works Director Tracy Whyman.

Sunwest Floral owner Cara Carney and Grain Acres representative Aaron Meysenberg also told Whyman that the project would make work difficulty, as it would require the partial closing of Callum Drive.

Taking the comments and concerns from business owners into consideration, Whyman suggested to the council at the March 8 meeting that the Amberly Road portion of the project be delayed until 2017. Doing so, he said, would allow further design of the proposed bike path along Amberly Road, time to prepare temporary access to Kamterter to the east and ease discussion with the Nebraska Department of Roads regarding the installation of a traffic signal at Amberly Road and Highway 6.

Watts Electric owner David Watts approved of the plans. His company sits south of Amberly Road, down 134th Street.

I think its a great project, Watts said at the meeting. Im eager to see it go.

Waverly Public Schools Superintendent Bill Heimann also approved of the 134th Street paving, saying it would be a big improvement for the school. Currently, 134th Street leads to an entrance to Waverly High School on the south side of Amberly Road.

One portion of the project, however, drew concerns from the district: a sidewalk planned for the east side of the street that would not connect to any existing walkway. District officials have dubbed is the sidewalk to nowhere, Heimann said.

District 145 Business Manager Robin Hoffman agreed, saying he didnt see a need for the sidewalk, which would require an easement from the city. The Board of Education would need to sign off on the granting of any easements for the project.

The council discussed moving the proposed sidewalk to the west side of the street before deciding to leave it off of the project for the time being. The plans for the expansion of the sidewalk from Callum Drive to 134th Street and from 134th Street to the Amberly Road high school entrance will remain.

Those plans are tied to a plan to create a bike path that will meander through the city, hopefully funded by a federal grant for transportation alternatives projects. According to grant requirements, the bike path would need to be 10 feet wide to provide room for bikers and pedestrians. City Zoning Administrator Chad Lyon said the city should now whether they received the grant by April 15.

Mayor Mike Werner said the bike path would help the city feel less disjointed, a complaint often expressed by residents. Making the connected trail is a priority for city leaders.

We cant just coast, Werner said.

The governing body also discussed the audit report presented at the last meeting, which found that limited city personnel lead to a lack of transactional oversight.

Council member John Hestermann said he met with the auditor who prepared the report in order to discuss ways in which the city could combat that problem. Hestermann said the auditor told him the city would need to create a structured internal review system with various checklists and procedures.

Everything single thing will have to be documented, Hesterman said.

City Attorney Mark Fahleson said some larger cities higher a separate accounting firm to perform monthly internal audits, but pointed out that many smaller communities have the same problem as Waverly and that hiring an external firm would likely be a significant cost to the city.

Council member Joe Dalton questioned whether tackling the problem would be worth spending taxpayers dollars on despite it being so common among towns similar in size to Waverly.

Werner said he thought the city and the city council could handle the monthly audits, maybe by assigning council members to review different funds each month.

I think thats something were capable of doing, he said.
New Delhi: Former-DU lecturer SAR Geelani, arrested under sedition charges in connection with a Press Club event here, moved a fresh bail application before a Delhi court on Wednesday.

The accused, arrested on February 16, filed his bail applications before the Patiala House Courts registry and his plea is likely to come up for hearing before a sessions court tomorrow.

Earlier on February 19, a magisterial court had dismissed his bail application after the police alleged that "hatred" was being generated against the government.

Meanwhile, Geelani's judicial custody was also extended by two weeks by a court here.

Police had earlier told the court that an event was held on February 10 in which banners were placed showing Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat as martyrs.

It had also said the hall in the club was booked by Geelani through one Ali Javed by using his credit card and another person Mudassar was also involved.

At the Press Club event, a group had allegedly shouted slogans hailing Guru, following which the police had lodged a case under sections 124A (sedition), 120B(criminal conspiracy) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the IPC against Gilani and other unnamed persons.

The police had claimed to have registered the FIR taking suo motu cognisance of media clips of the incident.

Following registration of the FIR, the police questioned DU professor Ali Javed, a Press Club member who had booked the hall for the event, for two days.

Geelani was arrested in connection with the 2001 Parliament attack case but was acquitted for "need of evidence" by Delhi High Court in October 2003, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court in August 2005.
Dehradun: Shaktimans leg injury had sparked outrage across the country as reports emerged that he may lose his limb and even his job. But seems like the police horse is a fighter and will soon be back on his feet. Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) MLA Ganesh Joshi had allegedly attacked the 14-year-old horse during an anti-Congress protest in Dehradun on Monday. Doctors feared that his leg would have to be amputated.

However, after a four-and-a-half-hour long operation by a group of 10 doctors, Shaktiman showed positive signs of recovery. The district administration too left no stone unturned to tend to the injured mammal.

Read: BJP MLA accused of breaking horses leg cries foul, new video supports claim

A police officer said Shaktiman had got multiple fractures, which were fixed by external fixation by a group of 10 doctors  six from Pantnagar and four district veterinary officers. "The horse needs a lot of care against acute pain and protection from infection. Doctors have given instructions to our staff, who are monitoring Shaktiman constantly. At present, Shaktiman is under the influence of anaesthesia, and we are praying for his speedy recovery," he said.

Doctors said that he would soon be able to walk properly in two months and does not need to be amputated.

"The multiple-fracture is in the left hind leg of the horse's metatarsal bone. We have fixed the bone with external immobilising device, in which we cast pins through drilling and support it by external fixator," Chief Veterinary Officer, Dehradun, Dr. Negi said.

BJP workers charged towards Shaktiman during their protest, following which he had collapsed. (Photo: ANI/Twitter)

Meanwhile, Joshi, who has been booked for beating the horse, cried foul, saying he was nowhere near the animal when it got injured.

The MLA from Mussoorie said that it was an effort to spread misinformation and malign his reputation.

The Dehradun Police had on Tuesday registered a case against Joshi for beating Shaktiman, reportedly breaking one of its legs, during a protest against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Monday for "misuse" of funds.

The protest took a violent turn when, in a bid to dismount the rider, the protesters allegedly charged at Shaktiman with sticks and broke his leg. However, Joshi is insistent that he cannot be seen in the video where Shaktiman is seen collapsing.

Ganesh Joshi claimed he loved animals and even owns a dog. He offered to pay for Shaktiman's treatment and went as far as saying he wanted to adopt the horse.
Vijayakumar hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government's many schemes and said they should reach all states. (Photo: Twitter)

Chennai: Veteran south Indian actor Vijayakumar, who has essayed roles in over 800 films, on Wednesday joined the BJP, with the party expressing confidence that it would help in its presence across the region and enable more artistes come into its fold.

Vijaykumar said he would hit the campaign trail as and when advised by the BJP high command.

"I am known in all the southern states by virtue of my acting in all the regional language movies. People in Tamil Nadu know me well," the actor, who joined the party in the presence of Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, told reporters.

He hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government's many schemes and said they should reach all states. He sought cooperation of the respective state governments for successful implementation of Central schemes.

To a question, he said he had not joined the party with an eye on fighting polls, but wanted to do his bit to propel the BJP to the ruling saddle in Tamil Nadu, where Assembly polls are scheduled on May 16.

Radhakrishnan said the party "wholeheartedly" welcomed the veteran actor. Vijayakumar joining BJP would be helpful for the party all over south India, he said in an apparent reference to the actor being well-known among southern region movie-goers. "This will enable more artistes to join BJP," he said.
New Delhi: The bribery charges against Trinamool Congress members will be probed by the Lok Sabha's Committee on Ethics, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan announced on Wednesday, asserting that "very serious" allegations impacted the "very credibility of Parliament".

Speaker Mahajan made the announcement soon after the Question Hour, a day after BJP, Congress and CPI(M) came together in Parliament to attack the TMC members allegedly shown accepting bribe in a sting and demanded an inquiry.

"Certain acts of alleged unethical conduct on the part of some members of the House have been reported in the press and the matter was also raised by some members in the House yesterday.

"These allegations are very serious in nature and seek to impact upon the very credibility of parliamentarians and Parliament as an institution and therefore need to be examined," Mahajan observed as she asked the L K Advani-headed 15-member committee for "examination, investigation and report".

Read: BJP, Congress, Left unite to corner Trinamul Congress over 'bribe sting'

The Speaker's decision is reminiscent of a similar probe by a parliamentary committee in the Lok Sabha and the Ethics Committee probe in the Rajya Sabha in 2005 in the wake of the 'cash-for-query' scam, which had led to the termination of membership of 11 MPs -- 10 members from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha. Somnath Chatterjee was the then Speaker.

In the purported sting telecast a few days back, five TMC members from Lok Sabha -- Saugata Roy, Sultan Ahmad, Suvendu Adhikari, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Prasoon Banerjee, and Mukul Roy from the Rajya Sabha, were allegedly shown accepting money from fictitious officials of a firm.

Members, including those from the TMC, heard in pin-drop silence as Mahajan made the announcement.

"Keeping in view the extreme gravity of the matter, I have in exercise of my powers under the provisions of Rule 233B of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha decided to refer the matter to the Committee on Ethics for examination, investigate and report," she said.

However, Saugata Roy later strongly protested the decision, saying it was "unilateral and one-sided".

If it becomes a practice, then anybody will do a sting against members and inquiry would be ordered on such "unverified" contents, he contended.

Read: CPI(M) seeks Parliamentary probe into alleged TMC bribery video

The sting relates to April 2014, he argued and suggested that it dates prior to the constitution of this Lok Sabha. The Speaker, however, brushed aside his objections, saying such a probe by a parliamentary committee had been ordered earlier too, an apparent reference to 'cash-for-query' scam.

The TMC member also said he had full respect for Advani and added that the veteran BJP member will be fair.

A news portals sting operation alleged that three West Bengal ministers, some MPs and MLAs had allegedly accepted bribes from a fictitious import-export company. The news portal, Narada News, released the tape of the operation, which it claimed to have conducted over the last two years.

The tape purportedly shows the ministers and legislators taking cash, said to be around Rs 5 lakhs each, in return for favours such as lobbying for a fictitious company Impex Consultancy. A journalist from the portal claimed to be a representative of the company to seek help from them.

The TMC was quick to dismiss the tapes as doctored and said the dirty tricks departments of its political rivals were behind the smear campaign. However, the BJP demanded the resignation of Mamata Banerjee and the CPI(M) sought Presidents Rule in the state in the wake of the news portals sting operation.

Read: Election Commission to examine TMC bribe sting video

The video, which triggered a major political storm in poll-bound West Bengal, could not have surfaced at a worse time for the ruling TMC. BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh showed the 24-minute-long video at the party office in Kolkata only hours before the arrival of the full bench of the Election Commission in the city.

The video showed Trinamool Congress vice-president Mukul Roy, MPs Saugata Roy, Sultan Ahmed, Suvendu Adhikari, Prasun Banerjee and Kakali Ghosh Dastidar, state ministers Firhad Hakim and Subrata Mukherjee, MLA Iqbal Ahmed, Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee, former state transport minister and Saradha scam accused Madan Mitra, former Burdwan SP H.M.S. Mirza and other TMC leaders accepting wads of currency notes from a fake consulting firm to allow it to set up a company in West Bengal.

Singh claimed that the TMC-led West Bengal government had broken all records in corruption. The video showed the TMC leaders and the police officer accepting bribes of around Rs 73 lakhs from the fake consultancy firm. Around Rs 4 lakhs to Rs 5 lakhs was used in each transaction, with the exception of Roy, who was offered Rs 20 lakhs. However, Roy could not be seen taking any money.

Government had on Tuesday made a pitch for an inquiry, saying either the Speaker can order it or the government can go for it.

The House had seen BJP, Congress and Left making a common cause to target the Trinamool Congress on the issue, even as Mamata Banerjee's party claimed that the charges were a political conspiracy ahead of the West Bengal assembly polls.
In the damp, early morning darkness on March 15th, staff at the Smithsonians National Air & Space Museum wheeled two new exhibits out onto the main display hangars floor at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. The museums unique, WWII-vintage Nakajima Kikka jet fighter and the recently acquired Sikorsky HH-52A Sea Guard helicopter of more contemporary pedigree had, until today, been far from view within the adjacent Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar.

Sikorsky HH-52A Sea Guard serial 1426 has had a storied career, including one major incident on November 1st, 1979, perhaps the most daring rescue in Coast Guard Aviation, in which her crew saved the lives of 22 sailors from a pair of ships which had collided in a blazing inferno off the coast of Galveston, Texas. Somewhat surprisingly, NASMs new Sea Guard is the first aircraft within the museums collection to have served in the US Coast Guard. That the aircraft is at NASM at all is due entirely to the determined efforts of the Coast Guard Aviation Association who, with enormous cooperation from the US Coast Guard, endeavored to obtain and restore an HH-52 for a major national museum. Dubbed the Phoenix Project, the team set about resurrecting HH-52A serial 1426, which they acquired from a helicopter maintenance training facility in Arkansas in April, 2015, along with a pair of spares ships from the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Aberdeen, Maryland. Understandably, given her lengthy service, and time as an instructional airframe, 1426 had a lot of problems which needed rectifying, including many missing parts and significant structural corrosion. The Coast Guard made space and equipment available for the work at their base in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Restoring the H-52 was a mammoth effort involving thousands of hours in labor from a volunteer force comprised mostly of retired and active Coast Guard service personnel as well as contractor VectorCSP. The restoration crew broke the helicopter down into its basic components, and emptied the interior until the airframe was nothing but a shell. They then stripped the paint to get a clearer idea of where the corrosion lay, and repaired/replaced all of the damaged structure. Next they chemically treated the aluminum with alodine solution to preserve the base metal, followed by a complete re-coating in the paint booth at Elizabeth City. Then came the painstaking process of refurbishing all of the interior components, and re-installing them in 1426. The level of detail in this restoration is second-to-none, and it is a major accomplishment considering how quickly the project has proceeded, from first concept to final product in just ten years, with all of the restoration effort in just the last year! (For a blow-by-blow report on just how extensive the effort to refurbish this magnificent helicopter into its present condition, please visit the Coast Guard Aviation Associations website HERE.)

There will be a formal unveiling ceremony on April 7th, which will see the helicopter dramatically suspended at the north end of the hangar, as if in flight, with the rescue basket lowered from the open door (which will allow visitors to see in from the upper gallery walkway). Many Coast Guard retirees, including some of the crew members from 1426s famous rescue mission will be in attendance, at what will be one of the key celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Coast Guard Aviation this year.

The Nakajima Kikka is now out on the main floor, but perhaps frustratingly to some, she is surrounded by other aircraft at the moment, so it isnt easy to get quite as up-close-and-personal as might be desired. Museum staff felt that she should be on public display though, and there will be better access to the aircraft once a more formal position is available. With so many aircraft already crowding the massive hangar, it does take considerable thought and physical effort to juggle the exhibits around into a logical arrangement, so we must be patient. The aircraft is in frail condition, which is perhaps why she currently sits on a dolly, rather than her undercarriage. She is also incomplete, although the museum does have an original Ne-20 engine for the Kikka, and did remanufacture some wing bolts to allow the outer wing panels to be fitted. The NASMs Kikka is the only survivor of any Japanese WWII jet designs, and is very loosely based on the German Messerschmitt Me-262 plan form. The museums Kikka is comprised of components from several different airframes, but recent evidence suggests that the fuselage, at least, is from the one example which did actually fly.

Several other aircraft have also moved into the main hangar at the Udvar-Hazy Center in the last few months, including a Bell AH-1F Cobra which flew over 2,100 hours in combat during the Viet Nam War, featuring one mission which saw her pilot awarded the Silver Star for bravery. The National Museum of the Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight is also on display (on long-term loan) at the north end of the main hangar. Another recent addition is the forward fuselage of the revolutionary pusher-propeller fighter, the mighty Kyushu J7M1 Shinden, laid out beside several other unique Japanese WWII aircraft. And at the south end of the main display hangar is the gondola from Goodyear Blimp Columbia, which covered many Super Bowls in the 1980s, starred in the 1976 film Black Sunday, but amazingly began life as the prototype of the breed back in 1934 when she was named Enterprise! The gondola is currently under restoration with parts laid out around her for the public to watch as she goes back together. Work also continues on projects within the restoration hangar, but this will remain as a feature for a future article. The Udvar-Hazy Center is a fascinating place to be, and is worth regular visits to see the latest changes! We look forwards to bringing you more news in the coming weeks as the hard-working team at NASM progresses with various projects, most notably with the restoration of the Martin B-26 Marauder known as Flak Bait.
Mumbai: All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen MLA Waris Pathan was suspended from Maharashtra Assembly on Wednesday for refusing to say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' with legislators cutting across party lines pressing for action against him through a unanimous resolution.

Pathan, who represents Byculla seat in South Mumbai, will not be allowed to attend the proceedings of the House till the end of ongoing Budget session.

Read: Row over 'bharat mata ki jai' reflects challenging times: Smriti Irani

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat said, "Pathan was suspended from Assembly for showing disrespect to national heroes and refusal to say Bharat Mata ki Jai."

It all began when All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MLA from Aurangabad, Imtiaz Jaleel, was speaking on the debate on the Governor's address in the Assembly.

Read: Chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' should be the only definition of nationalism: Anupam

Jaleel said the government should not spend taxpayers' money on building memorials of 'great personalities'. A Shiv Sena MLA interjected, saying Jaleel's party leader Asaduddin Owaisi had recently stated he will not chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'.

To this, Pathan said, "We will say 'Jai Hind' but not 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. There cannot be compulsion on saying 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. The Constitution does not say this."

Immediately after his remarks, MLAs from ruling BJP and Shiv Sena and other Opposition parties including Congress and NCP demanded suspension of AIMIM legislators from the House.

Read: Those not saying 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' should leave India: BJP

Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse said the AIMIM MLAs should apologise but his suggestion was shot down by angry members of the House, who, setting aside political differences, sought their suspension.

Bapat said he will table a resolution seeking the approval of the House for suspension of AIMIM MLAs, after which it was adjourned for 10 minutes. It was again adjourned thrice amid noisy scenes.

When the proceedings resumed, Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil tabled the resolution, seeking suspension of Pathan, which was approved unanimously.

"Pathan has misused freedom of speech, violated Parliamentary traditions and insulted 'Bharat Mata (Mother India)," the minister said.

Read: RSS seeks action against Asaduddin Owaisi over 'Bharta Mata' remarks

The resolution was tabled in keeping with the sentiments of the House, he added.

"During his suspension period, Pathan won't be able to attend House proceedings and won't be allowed near Vidhan Bhawan premises," Patil said.

Speaker Haribhau Bagade informed the House that the resolution was adopted unanimously.

AIMIM has expressed its opposition to chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' as proposed by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat who had said that the new generation needs to be taught to chant slogans hailing mother India.

Owaisi had said he did not want to chant that slogan. "What are you going to do, Bhagwat sahab. I won't utter that (slogan) even if you put a knife to my throat. Nowhere in the Constitution it says that one should say 'Bharat Mata ki Jai," Owaisi had said addressing a public rally in Udgir tehsil of Latur district on March 13.

His comments had evoked strong reactions from the Shiv Sena and BJP.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi talks to reporters at Parliament during the Budget Session in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday over his government's foreign policy, saying he lacks a clear vision and believes that international diplomacy can be done as per his "whims and fancies".

"What is required is a coherent strategy, having a clear vision on what one wants to do. What is lacking is that the Prime Minister does not have that clear vision.

"The Prime Minister moves, jumps from one position to another and he thinks that international diplomacy can be done on the basis of his whims and fancies. He thinks like going to Pakistan one day, and he gets up and goes to Pakistan. This is not how you run the foreign policy," Gandhi told reporters.

Congress has been attacking the Modi government's foreign policy, especially its handling of Pakistan.
Their motive for doing so - if plants can really be ascribed a motive - is pretty simple: In a desert environment where water is scarce, the land can only sustain so much vegetation. Attempting to carpet the entire earth with grass would be a recipe for mutually assured destruction, so instead the plants organise into clumps. Covered areas soak up the water from bare areas, and everyone drinks, even when it's been months since the last rainfall. That's how the area around the fairy circles can sustain full-time vegetation when the rest of the Namib desert is desolate except for right after a rain. Norbert Juergen, the German scientist who most recently proposed the termite theory (though he's far from its only proponent) suggested that it's "extremely clandestine" sand termites that make this happen. The bugs chomp away at grass roots underground, forming a small bare patch of sand through which water can sink to reach them. The plants on the rim also benefit from the extra moisture in from this water sink, explaining how they can grow so large. And as the termites chomp away at more and more grass, the circle expands. But other researchers wanted more evidence. Walter Tschinkel, the biologist at Florida State University in Tallahassee who authored a much-cited PLOS One study on the "life cycles" of fairy circles in 2012, told Science magazine that Juergen may have found sand termites in the circles, but he hadn't done anything to prove that the termites were in fact attacking the plants. "Juergen has made the common scientific error of confusing correlation - even very strong correlation - with causation," Tschinkel said just after the Juergen paper came out. That's where the self-organisation theory comes in. Maybe, as Getzin and other researchers suggested, the plants didn't need bugs to help them form circles. Maybe they could do it on their own.

On the other side of the globe, Bronwyn Bell, an environmental manager for the Australian mining company Rio Tinto, read Getzin's 2014 paper on the Namibian circles with interest. The phenomenon he described sounded just like one she'd seen in her own county. People in the Pilbara, a dry, thinly-populated part in Western Australia, had talked about their own fairy circles for years. But no one had the resources or the expertise to investigate them more thoroughly. "Three days [after publishing the 2014 paper], I had in my letterbox something that looked identical to the Namibian fairy circles," Getzin told Smithsonian Magazine. "We couldn't believe it - the Namibia fairy circles are supposed to be the only ones in the world." Next thing he knew, he and his colleagues were on a plane to the outback. The circles there are a lot like the Namibian ones, co-author Todd Erickson, a biologist at the University of Western Australia, told the ABC. Each is about four metres in diameter and 10 metres from the next nearest circle. Standing inside one, you can't tell you're in the middle of a pattern at all. But from above, the arrangement becomes clear: hundreds of fairy circles grouped in hexagon-like formations. Unlike in Namibia, the locations of these circles didn't seem to correlate to any kind of termite activity - pretty much putting the kibosh on Juergen's theory. Instead, the pattern matched Getzin's computer model for self-organisation.

The principle of self-organisation is an old one: Simply put, it describes how an unstructured and chaotic group can transform into an organised system without any kind of central co-ordination. Alan Turing proposed it to explain patterns like zebra stripes and dalmatian spots that appear on animals' skin (you can even watch it happen here). It's also been used to explain flocking behaviour - how birds that are just looking to move in the same direction without bumping into one another are able to fly in complicated formations. Self-organisation is said to be the driving principle behind phenomena from crystal formation to herd behaviour to the market economy. A combination of math and the researchers' own observations explains how this might form a fairy circle. "The way I look at it is, it's like drying mud," Tschinkel, who was not involved in the PNAS study, told Smithsonian. After a rain, the scant water is pulled in all directions by the desert's thirsty plants. Depending on how those plants are distributed, some spots inevitably become drier than others. Nothing grows there, so the clay becomes hard and impermeable. And the next time rain falls, it skims over the surface of the crusty clay until it reaches an area where plants are growing. Those plants soak it up, then put down bigger roots, so that when the next rain comes they're able to pull it away from their neighbours - killing them off and making the bare spot even bigger. In Namibia, the circles form slightly differently: Instead of washing into the waiting roots of nearby plants, water sinks into the porous sand in the Namib desert, turning the bare fairy circles into a reservoir for thirsty plants during long dry periods.

But in both places, the researchers say, the mechanism and the result are the same: Uncoordinated competition between individual plants fighting over water can lead to a pattern that repeats itself across a vast landscape. The find in Australia, "is pretty good evidence for the self-organising theory," Cramer said in an interview with the New Scientist. "There is still a long way to go to make it conclusive, but I think the evidence is mounting." Tschinkel, on the other hand, had the same warning for authors of the PNAS paper that he gave Juergen: "Correlation between a computed model and nature is still not proof of causation, no matter how nicely the output mimics nature," he told the Atlantic. It will take an experiment in which scientists artificially create the circles by manipulating water and soil to truly prove the self-organisation theory. Still, at the very least, the find in Australia has doubled the number of studied fairy circle sites around the globe. And based on his computer models, Getzin believes are probably at least a few more like them in deserts around the world, waiting to be found. The fairy circle enigma is far from over. "You should never claim to put an end to the mystery," he told the New Scientist. "We've just made one significant step forward in solving the problem."
One small business representative, when told of the decision, responded thus: "Well f--- me. We weren't expecting this. This is fantastic." Treasurer Scott Morrison and Professor Ian Harper last year. Credit:Andrew Meares With just weeks to go until the budget, the decision will pit the Turnbull government squarely against the Business Council of Australia, and powerful supermarket groups such as Coles and Woolworths, who have bitterly opposed the recommendation. It will also pit the government against Labor. Mr Turnbull during a cabinet meeting at Parliament House. Credit:Andrew Meares

This week, Labor shadow treasurer Chris Bowen warned that an effects test, if adopted, would be a "multibillion-dollar disaster waiting to happen" that would create a "lawyers' picnic". Business Council president Catherine Livingstone said on Wednesday she was disappointed by the decision. "If Australia wants to have an innovation-driven economy, this is poor policy," she said. But Professor Ian Harper, who chaired the panel that recommended an effects test, told Fairfax Media he was happy the recommendation had finally been adopted. "We consulted very widely, twice. The government itself has consulted, twice," he said.

"This will strengthen competition, and make it easier for good businesses - whether they are big or small is neither here nor there - to meet the demands of consumers. It's about strengthening the law to protect the competitive process against the misuse of market power, and that can only mean better competitive conditions." The "effects test" recommendation from the Harper review will require a change to Section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act, which addresses the misuse of market power. When Professor Harper gave his report to the Abbott government in 2015, former Small Business Minister Bruce Billson championed the recommendation in cabinet, but he was in the minority. The controversy surrounding the effects test recommendation eventually led Mr Abbott to put the whole report on ice. But when Mr Turnbull became leader last year he revived the report, saying he would like to make a decision on the recommendation by March this year.

On Wednesday, Mr Turnbull made a point of saying his decision was the result of good cabinet process  a veiled criticism of the way the former Abbott government cabinet worked. "We had a very good and informed discussion in the cabinet. We run a traditional cabinet government," he said. Peter Strong, chief executive of the Small Business Council of Australia, said the Turnbull government ought to be congratulated for its decision. "The government has obviously resisted lots of phone calls, pressure and threats from the BCA and Wesfarmers," Mr Strong told Fairfax Media. "We're now going to assess it over the next couple of years for its impact."

Treasurer Scott Morrison, in a joint press conference with Prime Minister Turnbull and Assistant Treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer on Wednesday, said the decision put the government on the side of competition and consumers, and ultimately the economy, and should not be seen as the government picking sides. "This is about supporting the competitive process," Mr Morrison said. "It's about competition. It's not about whether one is taking the view of larger businesses or smaller businesses or medium-sized businesses. It's about taking the view that competition benefits the consumer," he said. The Greens have applauded the decision, calling it a win for small business and consumers. "Today is a great step forward, but what we need now is a commitment from Mr Turnbull to legislate for an effects test in this term of government," Greens spokesperson for Competition Policy and Small Business Nick McKim said.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry also welcomed the decision. "Competition policy is always controversial, but fixing section 46 will promote merit-based competition. Competition policy should not be viewed as a battle between big business and small business," ACCI spokesperson Patricia Forsythe said. "The United States, Europe and most other jurisdictions use similar general tests, with no evidence of a chilling effect on competition or significantly higher legal costs," she said. But the Retail Council slammed the decision. Loading
The black economy, of course, is not new. But as the services sector grows, more micro-enterprises seem to accept cash only or have an inflated minimum threshold for electronic payment or extra fee that forces people to pay with cash.

I am surprised at how many small businesses openly flout GST rules. From takeaway restaurants that only accept cash, to tradesmen who give a "10 per cent discount" for cash, to hairdressers and other service business that promote specials based on cash payment.

Debate has raged about multinational tax avoidance , negative gearing and superannuation concessions. But what of small business tax evasion and a growing "cash only" culture where enterprises do not collect sufficient Goods and Services Tax?

Have you noticed more businesses accepting "cash only" for payment?

In which industries is this practice rife?

Do you accept discounts based on cash payment?

Should all businesses be required to offer electronic payment facilities?

Consider my recent experience at a small restaurant. Upon trying to settle the $60 bill for a client lunch, the waiter said the business only accepted cash (I'd missed the tiny sign on the counter).

Thankfully, a quick dash to the ATM next door saved any embarrassment. When I asked for a receipt, the waiter had to ask his boss for instructions. Out came a tiny receipt book and I was handed a stamped invoice that said "food and drink $60". There was no date, no GST breakdown or other invoice information. It was useless.

Then there are tradies who send a proper invoice for home repairs and later offer to wipe the GST if payment is made by cash. That is hundreds of dollars of GST that should be collected on a job  and a huge amount of lost tax revenue across the industry each year given the widespread nature of this cash-only payment in small trade jobs.

Or my favourite: the newsagent who provides a tax invoice for everything except Lotto tickets. They are under-the-table, cash only. When I asked for a receipt for a scratchie, just to test the agent, he gave me that "we're rorting tax" smile and refused to provide one.
Mystery surrounds a late night, grammatically challenged and now-deleted tweet from Liberal MP Phil Edman, claiming the WA Treasurer was involved in a stoush with a fellow Liberal MP outside Parliament House on Tuesday night.

Just before 11pm, Mr Edman tweeted "Nigel hallet just attacked mike Nahan in the court yard of Parliament House on small business".

WA Treasurer Mike Nahan and (inset, courtesy of ABC News Perth) Liberal MP Nigel Hallett.

Mr Edman subsequently took down the tweet, just after 10.30am on Wednesday, after the publication of this story.

WAtoday does not know what the apparent altercation was about, but understands both men had been drinking.
A senior police officer discussed with colleagues their belief an Aboriginal woman in custody was exaggerating her pain due to drug use, contradicting prior evidence heard at an inquest.

Ms Dhu, whose first name is not used for cultural reasons, died two days after being locked up at Western Australia's South Hedland Police Station in August 2014 for unpaid fines totalling $3622, stemming from offences including assaulting an officer.

Ms Dhu died after she was held at South Hedland police station in WA. Credit:ABC News

Senior Constable Russell Tindall was a supervisor during Ms Dhu's second day in custody and testified on Wednesday that he spoke with colleagues about her after she died.

He could not remember details but said several officers might have been present when Ms Dhu, 22, was discussed.
Peshawar: At least 15 people were killed when a bomb exploded on a bus carrying government employees in the volatile north-west Pakistani frontier city of Peshawar on Wednesday, officials said.

The attack took place on a main road after the bus picked up government workers from districts surrounding Peshawar and was taking them to the city.

Pakistani soldiers and volunteers surround the bus after the explosion. Credit:AP

Senior police official Mohammad Kashif said 15 were killed and 35 wounded. A hospital official said the death toll was likely to rise.

The attack took place in an area where Pakistani security forces have stepped up their fight against the Taliban and other militant groups along the border with Afghanistan since the massacre of 134 children at an army-run school in December 2014.
Hyderabad: Implementation of provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act-2014, and also the assurances given by the then Prime Minister in Rajya Sabha, were a matter of "life and death" for people of the state, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on Wednesday, even as the AP Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Centre to expedite the implementation process.

The Chief Minister moved the resolution under Rule 77 in the Assembly listing 17 main issues that the state wanted the Centre to address immediately.

While extending support to the resolution, Leader of Opposition Y S Jaganmohan Reddy asked the Chief Minister if the Telugu Desam Party would issue an "ultimatum" to the Centre for implementing the Act in a month.

"Will you issue an ultimatum to the Centre that you will pull out your (two) ministers from the Narendra Modi government if it doesn't concede our demands in a month," Jagan asked.

The Chief Minister, however, brushed it aside saying it was a "life and death issue" for the people of the state and he was "seriously" pursuing it with the Centre.

The TDP hurriedly moved the resolution in the Assembly today as the Congress raised, in Parliament yesterday, issues like grant of special category status to AP and implementation of other provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act.

The House witnessed a bitter war of words between the Treasury and Opposition benches during the 130-minute debate before the resolution was adopted.

"While thanking the efforts of the Union Government in resolving certain issues pertaining to the state reorganisation, the House unanimously resolves to request the Government of India to implement expeditiously all the provisions contained in the AP Reorganisation Act 2014 and all other commitments made in the Act and assurances made by then Prime Minister in Rajya Sabha on February 20, 2014 and to continue to handhold the state till it achieves level-playing field on par with neighbouring states," the resolution said.

The AP government also sought implementation of Section 8 that pertains to law and order maintenance issues in the joint capital Hyderabad under the direct supervision of the Governor, who is also common for the two states.

Some of the main issues that the AP government wanted the Centre to address were: release of balance grant to bridge the resource gap; completion of Polavaram irrigation project, which has been declared a national project, by 2018; fiscal measures like tax incentives to promote industrialisation and economic growth and provision of special financial support for the new capital.

Establishment of Railway Zone at Visakhapatnam, increase in number of seats in the Legislative Assembly from 175 to 225, amending Presidential Order pertaining to local status with regard to education and employment, establishment of steel plant at Kadapa, port at Dugarajapatna, in SPS Nellore district and amending the AP Reorganisation Act to correct anomalies pertaining to taxation were some of the other issues raised by the AP government.

The Chandrababu Naidu government also wanted the Centre to provide support to the state police department for raising additional forces and setting up state-of-the-art Greyhounds training centre and new operational wings as enshrined in the Reorganisation Act.

It also asked the Centre to expedite the process of allocation of government employees between the two states as AP was facing shortage of staff.

Bharatiya Janata Party floor leader P Vishnu Kumar Raju said the Narendra Modi government sanctioned projects worth Rs 1.40 lakh crore to AP in the last 18 months. "This is unprecedented," he said.

Non-incorporation of the special category state promise in the AP Reorganisation Act was proving to be a hitch in according the status, the BJP leader pointed out but added that the Centre was co-operating with the state in all matters.

The YSRC chief questioned the Chief Minister's sincerity in getting things done by the Centre.

Certain remarks he made against the Chief Minister led to an uproar from the TDP-BJP combine.

On Tuesday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said in Rajya Sabha that all commitments made towards Andhra Pradesh in letter and spirit would be fulfilled.

"Centre is fully committed to helping the newly created state after bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. There are several commitments, which are involved in the AP Reorganisation Act. Centre is going to honour each one of those commitments in letter and spirit," the Finance Minister said.

Referring to the revenue deficit, Jaitley said, "Each paisa or rupee of this revenue deficit is being paid to Andhra Pradesh. We will continue to pay that".

He said institutions have to be set up in Andhra Pradesh. Foundation stones have been laid, funds have been sanctioned and in some cases work is also in an advance stage, he said.

On the new capital, Jaitley said the state is making considerable "headway" towards it. Funds have been sanctioned and more would be released towards it, he added.

Keeping the limitations of the 14th Finance Commission and resources, "Whatever commitment have been made is going to be honoured", the Minister said.
Aparajitha Raja, president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University unit of All-India Students Federation, tells Sanjay Kaw that fascist forces are hell-bent on portraying JNU as a den of anti-national activities, but students will be a decisive force in shaping the future political discourse of the country.

Your take on the Jawaharlal Nehru University row

All of us have received it as a breach of our universitys autonomy. The entire episode is a serious threat to the idea of a rational and progressive university as the fascist state wants to homogenise thought and curtail certain voices. The university space has to be progressive and open to all kinds of thoughts. We are all young minds studying in an institute known for excellence in higher education. The state machinery making all-out efforts to muzzle us is a serious problem.

Do you think that the controversy has earned JNU a bad name?

The entire episode has got us into the spotlight. A nexus between a certain section of the media is carefully building bad opinion about our campus. There is a clear propaganda going on against us. But there is another set of people who have neutralised the propaganda war against us. Today we have got support from neutral forces, not only in India but from all across the globe. I personally feel that no university should face a siege like the one JNU is facing. Some fascist forces are hell-bent on branding JNU as a den of anti-national activities. Initially, students wearing JNU jerseys were scared to travel in Metro and other modes of public transport. But the continuous onslaught on our freedom of expression has sharpened our resolve to take on the fringe elements. We are not anti-nationals. We are rational and thinking minds and the state cannot curtail our freedom.

What do you have to say about the February 9 controversial event

I was there towards the end. Each and every bit about the event has been reported, but there is misreporting too, about whether it was a cultural event. I do not want to get into this debate. This was not the first occasion when an event was disrupted by the authorities. Our previous events, like showing the documentaries Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai on communal riots, Caste On The Menu Card and Court (the film which was Indias Oscar entry) were also disrupted by the authorities. Hyderabad University student Rohith Vemula was not allowed to screen a documentary on Muzaffarnagar riots. There is a pattern to all this. Our fascist government is hell-bent on crushing moderate voices in an undemocratic manner.

How do you look at the campus scenario after JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar was granted bail?

Mr Kumars bail was a moment of happiness for all of us. Two of our comrades are still in jail. Our politics should have more strength to take on issues. It is high time that the sedition laws rationality is challenged as it has become a political tool for fascist forces. Our government is not only anti-dalit, but is also against adivasis and other minorities. We have to talk about the rights of Honda workers. We have to struggle against the budgetary allocations that the government has made for the education sector. These are just a part of the series of struggles we are going to launch soon. Time has come when we have to think about rights in different sectors.

Are politicians politicising the JNU controversy to meet their own ends?

We first need to see who is politicising the JNU issue. As far as we are concerned, we are not. Our conscience is clear, as we know our political ideologies. We have been attacked politically and we will challenge it politically. Our Union human resources development minister named eight students in Parliament. So who is politicising it?

There is new flair in students politics after Mr Kumars speech.

Mr Kumar had taken a strong line during his union elections, that there has to be a broad consensus on pressing issues concerning different sections of society. Our primary consensus is on fighting back fascist forces.

What do you have to say about the ongoing intolerance debate

This is a very serious question, but it is not a new thing. The worst thing is that intolerance in the country started growing at a fast speed ever since the saffron brigade came to power at the Centre. Each day we have reports that people are being lynched and raped. We have riots in different places. There are khap panchayats taking law in their own hands... We can still handle a fascist government, but if our society becomes fascist, it is going to be very dangerous for the country.

How do you look at todays students politics?

Students movements have increased during the past year. Inter-university solidarity has come to the forefront in a participatory avatar. Rohith touched the hearts of one and all in the country. We are a young country, so students need to play a revolutionary role.

You joined the campus four years ago. How do you see the change now?

JNU has always been like this. In the past, our unions passed resolutions on Palestine, world poverty and other pressing global issues. Since attacks on us have sharpened, we too have gained more strength to take on our enemies. When politics decides your future, decide what your politics is.

A high-level committee of JNU has reportedly recommended rustication of Mr Kumar and five others. How you are going to counter the authorities?

The so-called high-level inquiry committee has not been following the course of natural justice. The authorities are not telling us what charges they have levelled against the students. We do not even know what is the ambit of the inquiry commission. Our demand is that there should be an unbiased inquiry to know the truth.

Mr Kumar has been talking of both, the Left and Ambedkarite politics

There is a strong solidarity between Ambedkarite and Left shades of politics to fight fascism, brahmanism and capitalism in India. We have never been absent in the fight against these forces in ground level movements. But the JNU row has not only energised us more but also given more visibility to our secular line of politics.
A recent report by Symantec pointed out that cyber-criminals are constantly surfacing with new research and analytic tools. (Representational image)

While Indian businesses continue to surf on the wave of digitisation, there is one dilemma that constantly haunts them allsecurity.

With hackers surfacing with new and improved tools under their arsenal, companies need to quickly tune their security infrastructure to prevent further attacks.

A recent report by Symantec pointed out that cyber-criminals are constantly surfacing with new research and analytic tools, and using that to innovatively find vulnerabilities in systems and infect users with malware.

The report said: These kits are big money in the underground economy and one of the most notorious among them is the Angler Exploit Kit."

One of the most recent companies to fall victim to the Angler Exploit Kit is Burrpan Indian food recommendation website similar to Zomato.

According to the report, the companys website was compromised and redirected users to the Angler Exploit Kit (EK) in order to deliver the TeslaCrypt ransomware.

After the completion of the process, the hackers took over users computers and encrypted their personal files, which sounds really scary. Later, the perpetrators demanded a ransom from users for decrypting the files.

The pattern

First, the online hackers compromised Burrp by injecting code into one of the sites JavaScript files. When a user clicked on this code they automatically got redirected to a malicious site with megaadvertize in the URL.

Later the user is redirected to the Angler Exploit Kit landing page.

If the exploit is successful, the TeslaCrypt payload is downloaded on the target users system. The payload then writes an executable Trojan file to memory and the file drops the ransom message into every folder with encrypted files.

This notice demands that the user pays in bitcoins to obtain the decryption key and restore their data.

The site has been sending users to the exploit kit since the beginning of February. Symantec notified Burrp of the compromise and the company has stated that it is working to resolve the issue. Most of the users who have been impacted by this attack are based in the US and India, said the report.

Symantec has also suggested that users should keep their operating system and other software updated to prevent security vulnerabilities. Moreover, users should regularly back up files and install security softwares.

If you feel that you have been victimised, notify the administrator of the host website at once to prevent the attack from spreading.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
My head is reeling from all the revelations about about Peter Nygard and the present Government of The Bahamas.

There is no need to regurgitate any of the details here, but I would think the Prime Minister (PM) should consider his character has, at minimum, been defamed.

In Parliament the PM stated the allegations had no legitimacy at all and seems prepared to let the matter rest.

When the controversy surrounding Baha Mar was swirling certain MP's and Cabinet Ministers were lined up suggesting the investor should leave the country.

Now a financial backer of the governing party makes "unfounded" assertions not a peep can be heard from the PM, Cabinet Ministers or MP's.

I remember an ill advised helicopter ride once was the talk for a month. Now when all hell should break loose, the silence is deafening.

Double standards abound.

If the allegations are unfounded, your character has been seriously maligned Mr. Christie.
Trump claimed victory in Florida's winner-takes-all contest even before the polls had fully closed.

Cleveland, Ohio: Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump romped to victory in the Florida primary Tuesday, thwarting party efforts to stop his march to the White House nomination and knocking Marco Rubio out of the race.

Democrat Hillary Clinton won the Illinois primary on Tuesday, US networks projected -- her fourth win of the night, after victories in Florida, Ohio and North Carolina.

The only contest of the day yet to be determined was in Missouri, where Clinton and rival Bernie Sanders were running neck-and-neck.

On the Republican side, Donald Trump scored three wins in Florida, North Carolina and Illinois. Ohio Governor John Kasich won the primary in his home state, and Senator Marco Rubio dropped out of the race. Missouri was also undecided.

The Sunshine State's Republicans almost guaranteed Trump a plurality of delegates heading into the July convention -- but John Kasich scored a do-or-die victory in his home state of Ohio, throwing up an obstacle to Trump's ascent.

Read: Donald Trump wins big in Florida, knocks Rubio out of race

With five states -- Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio -- voting on Tuesday, both Clinton and Trump hope Tuesday's polls can make a November general election showdown near inevitable.

Trump claimed victory in Florida's winner-takes-all contest even before the polls had fully closed.

"Word is that, despite a record amount spent on negative and phony ads, I had a massive victory in Florida. Numbers out soon!" Trump tweeted.

Trump's victory will shock the Republican establishment as much as it will raise hopes they can challenge in the one-time swing state come the general election in November.

Read: Super Tuesday's winners, state by state

President Barack Obama carried the state in both the 2008 and 2012 elections.

After the Florida race was called in Trump's favor, Rubio bowed out.

"While it is not God's plan that I be president in 2016 or maybe ever, and while today my campaign is suspended, the fact that I've even come this far is evidence of how special America truly is," Rubio told supporters in Florida.

In Ohio, another general election battle ground state, Kasich -- the state's governor -- defeated Trump, US networks projected.

"The grand prize is Ohio, because Ohio is critical for a Republican to win the White House," said Republican strategist and Kasich supporter Mike Gonidakis.

He predicted a large turnout: "We believe that they're coming out to draw a line in the sand against Donald Trump."

Ted Cruz, an arch-conservative from Texas, is now the main threat to the Trump juggernaut.

Early projections by US media showed Cruz coming in second in Missouri, Illinois and North Carolina.

HILLARY'S ADVANCE

Democratic contests in the racially diverse, industrial Midwest delivered further evidence of Clinton's advantage over her rival Bernie Sanders, especially with the win in Ohio.

Her rival, a US senator from Vermont, has denounced her support of free-trade pacts in a part of the country that has seen manufacturing jobs disappear as entire industries have moved offshore.

Sanders' failure to win in any state on Tuesday would make his nomination bid near impossible.

TOUGH RHETORIC

Trump's incendiary attacks on immigrants, threats of mass deportations and a proposal for a wall on the border with Mexico have ignited the campaign trail and drawn condemnation in some quarters -- the latest being from President Barack Obama.

Without pointing the finger directly at Trump, Obama professed to being "dismayed" at some of the comments during campaigning.

"We have heard vulgar and divisive rhetoric aimed at women and minorities -- at Americans who don't look like 'us,' or pray like 'us,' or vote like we do," said the president, who along with First Lady Michelle cast absentee ballots in their home state of Illinois.

But Trump's populist message has resonated -- even with some Democrats like 69-year-old Katharine Berry.

"We don't need all these illegals," she told AFP outside a polling station at the Zion Lutheran Church in Canton. "They're taking our jobs, they've got all these rights, Americans don't have rights.

"I voted Democrat today. But if Trump wins, then I'm going to vote for him in the general election."

Campaigning in Ohio, Trump pitched his candidacy not to the core Republican electorate but to blue-collar workers, attacking free-trade deals and the loss of jobs to foreign competitors.

"I've been with the people of Ohio. They hate the fact their coal and steel industries are gone. I think we're going to do well in Ohio," he told NBC's "Today" show on Tuesday.

He will hope to put America's vast "rust belt" in play in November.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to supporters at his primary election night event at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach. (Photo: AP)

Palm Beach: US Republican front-runner Donald Trump warned on Wednesday of riots if he is denied the party's presidential nomination after a string of primary election victories.

The New York billionaire scored big wins in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina on Tuesday which brought him closer to the 1,237 delegates he needs to win the nomination.

But one loss - in the crucial state of Ohio - left the door open for those in the party trying to stop Trump from becoming the Republican nominee for the Nov. 8 election.

Trump might fall short of the majority required, enabling the party establishment to put forward another name at the July convention in Cleveland to formally pick its candidate.

In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, Trump said if he got a large number of delegates yet was denied the nomination: "I don't think you can say that we don't get it automatically. I think you'd have riots. I think you'd have riots. I'm representing many, many millions of people."

Party leaders are appalled at the real estate developer and reality TV personality's incendiary rhetoric and believe his policy positions are out of step with core Republican sentiment, such as his vow to deport 11 million illegal immigrants, temporarily ban Muslims from the United States and build a wall along the border with Mexico.

But the Republican establishment's bid to stop him may have come too late as a field of candidates that once included Trump and 16 high-profile party figures has dwindled to only three with Trump, 69, in command ahead of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, 45, and Ohio Governor John Kasich, 63, who won the Ohio Republican primary on Tuesday.

While the Republican race remained in turmoil, Hillary Clinton won victories in Florida, Illinois, Ohio and North Carolina on Tuesday that cast doubt on U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders' ability to overtake her for the Democratic Party's nomination.
$2.5 million in funding granted to support new dairy farm in Fulton County
By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 16, 2016 | 03:54 PM | PADUCAH, KY

The Paducah Area Community Reuse Organization has approved a loan of more than $600,000 for a new pizza restaurant in the old Coke plant.

At its meeting Wednesday, PACRO offered a loan from its revolving loan fund for up to $664,000 to Paducah Pizza Bakers, LLC, doing business as Mellow Mushroom Paducah. The funds will reportedly be used for building improvements and equipment for the new restaurant, which is planned to open in the former Coke plant on Broadway Street.

According to PACRO, the project will create between 75 and 100 new jobs in the community.

We are excited to be a part of this great project for Paducah and the region. Our board has worked hard partnering in our communities and this is a great testament of how we continue to move our region forward with new opportunities and the creation of jobs. We couldnt ask for a better partner than the team working with Mellow Mushroom." said Mayor Gayle Kaler, Chair of PACRO.

Ed and Meagan Musselman, Partners in Paducah Pizza Bakers, LLC said they are excited about opening up a location in Paducah.

What a great team effort by PACRO, EntrePaducah, Murray State Small Business Center, and Kentucky Innovation Network  WKCTC to make this project a reality. We are excited to be bringing this great project to Paducah and the Region and look forward to continue our efforts to make the Midtown area of Paducah, KY a location for continued investment and job creation.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 16, 2016 | 09:36 AM | PADUCAH, KY





The City of Paducah is holding a public meeting for citizens to provide input and learn about the two proposed schematic design options for the City Hall Project. The public meeting will be Monday, from 6:30 until 8 pm in the Commission Chambers on the second floor of City Hall located at 300 South 5th Street.At the public meeting, representatives of RATIO Architects and the City Hall Schematic Design Advisory Group will present two design options for the City Hall Project: a rehabilitation approach and a new building approach. A three-dimensional model of the rehabilitation approach will be available in addition to digital representations of both options. The public will be able to provide input by completing a comment card for the scenarios and providing feedback on how each option relates to a set of values.In October 2015, the City contracted with RATIO Architects to provide design and architectural services for the project. RATIO, the City Hall Schematic Design Advisory Group (a citizens advisory group appointed in November 2015 by the Paducah Board of Commissioners), and city staff have been studying a dual pathway of options for either rehabilitating the existing structure at 300 South 5th Street or designing a new City Hall. Both design approaches have been created to meet a set of values and provide a modern workspace that will serve the City over the next 50 years.In April, RATIO and the City Hall Schematic Design Advisory Group will present the two options in addition to the public input to the Paducah Board of Commissioners.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Mar. 15, 2016 | PADUCAH, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 15, 2016 | 04:47 PM | PADUCAH, KY

Two people face drug charges following a Tuesday afternoon traffic stop in McCracken County.



According to the McCracken County Sheriff's Office, detectives stopped a vehicle just before noon. The driver was identified as 38-year-old Jimmy Werner, of Golconda, IL. During the stop police said detectives saw what appeared to be needle track marks on the passenger, Desiree R. Stalions' arms.



While detectives were issuing Werner a citation, a Paducah Police K-9 unit arrived and conducted a free air search around the vehicle. Police said the dog indicated to a narcotic odor coming from the vehicle.



Detectives searched the vehicle and reportedly found syringes testing positive for meth, a digital scale and a glass smoking pipe.



Both Werner and Stalions were arrested and booked into in the McCracken County Regional Jail. Police said jailers found a plastic baggy containing about three grams of meth that Stalions had concealed in an undergarment.



According to deputies, Werner had given Stalions the meth to conceal during the stop and had also supplied her with the drug to use the day before.



Werner faces charges of careless driving, failure to signal, trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Stallions is charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, promoting contraband and tampering with physical evidence.
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By The Associated Press

Mar. 15, 2016 | RUSSELLVILLE, KY

By The Associated Press Mar. 15, 2016 | 03:01 PM | RUSSELLVILLE, KY

Details have been released in the Russellville shooting on Tuesday that left two people injured and one dead.



Kentucky State Police say 34-year-old Joseph Harris of Lewisburg pulled his vehicle into the McDonald's parking lot on North Main Street, got out of the vehicle, and allegedly shot his former girlfriend, 28-year-old Amanda Harper of Russellville, while she waited in the drive-through line. Harris reportedly fled the scene on foot, while Harper drove her vehicle across Main Street, stopping when it hit a building.



Harper was taken to Bowling Green Medical Center for treatment for a single gunshot wound to the upper body. She was last known to be in stable condition.



As Harris walked up North Main Street, he reportedly encountered Russellville Police who were responding to the shooting. They say Harris brandished his gun and was fired upon by all three officers - Sergeant Morris Kisselbaugh and Officers Stephen Meredith and Seth Whittaker. Harris was declared dead at the scene by the Logan County Coroner's office, and an autopsy will be performed Wednesday in Louisville.



A man inside the donut shop across the street from McDonald's, 48-year-old Vanna Krang of Russellville, was reportedly struck in the neck by gunfire, and was flown to TriStar Skyline Medical Center in Nashville for treatment. He was last known to be in stable condition.



State Police say no Russellville Police officers were injured in the incident, and the investigation is ongoing.







ORIGINAL STORY:



Kentucky State Police say a man suspected in the shooting of a woman at a McDonalds in downtown Russellville was later confronted and fatally shot by police.



A bystander was also hit by bullets from the gunfire.



The suspect, who has not been identified, shot a woman at the restaurant and then fled on foot. State police say in a release that the woman went across the street where she was treated and then taken to The Medical Center in Bowling Green.



The man encountered officers on North Main Street near a car wash and was shot and killed. Police say the bystander was at a donut shop across from the car wash when he was hit. He was flown to a hospital in Nashville for treatment.
His visit comes ahead of Britain's hotly contested June referendum on European Union membership. (Photo: AFP)

Washington: President Barack Obama will travel to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia in April, a visit set to be dominated by doubts over Britain's EU membership and concerns about turmoil in the Middle East.

The White House said Obama will visit Windsor Castle where he will have a private lunch with Queen Elizabeth II and 10 Downing Street for a joint press conference with Prime Minister David Cameron.

His visit comes ahead of Britain's hotly contested June referendum on European Union membership. Obama is likely to express his strong backing for keeping Britain in the EU, but will have to rebuff allegations of interference.

London's loquacious mayor Boris Johnson a chief proponent of leaving the bloc has accused Obama of "exorbitant hypocrisy" given America's "hysterical vigilance" about its own sovereignty.

In Saudi Arabia, Obama will attend a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, were Washington's policies toward the Middle East are likely to come under the microscope.

Uneasy partners in the Gulf have been furious at Obama's engagement with Iran and perceived retreat from the Middle East.

A senior Saudi royal has publicly criticized Obama for comments accusing the longtime US ally of feeding Middle East conflicts.

Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, has long been a major ally of the United States but the relationship has deteriorated under Obama.

In an opinion piece published in Saudi newspapers, Prince Turki al-Faisal, the kingdom's former intelligence chief and envoy to Washington, lashed out at Obama's recent comments to The Atlantic magazine.

"You accuse us of fomenting sectarian strife in Syria, Yemen and Iraq. You add insult to injury by telling us to share our world with Iran, a country that you describe as a supporter of terrorism," Faisal wrote.

Faisal questioned whether Obama has "pivoted to Iran so much that you equate the kingdom's 80 years of constant friendship with America to an Iranian leadership that continues to describe America as the biggest enemy, that continues to arm, fund and support sectarian militias in the Arab and Muslim world".

Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia has repeatedly accused Shiite Iran of interference in Arab affairs, particularly in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Bahrain.

During the visit Obama will also visit Germany, and, according to the White House attend "Hannover Messe  the world's largest trade show for industrial technology - and meet Chancellor Angela Merkel."
Coronation Street actress Georgia May Foote will join the cast of Breakfast at Tiffany's as part of the UK tour from 19 September to 19 November.

Foote, who was recently seen in Strictly Come Dancing, will make her professional stage debut as Holly Golightly. She shares the role with Pixie Lott and Emily Atack.

Commenting on the casting, Foote said: "I am so excited that for my first theatre role I will be playing such an iconic character. I cannot wait to join the cast of Breakfast at Tiffany's as Holly Golightly. It's a wonderful adaptation of an incredible story and I'm really thrilled to be part of it!"

Director Nikolai Foster added: "Completing our perfect trio of leading ladies taking on the role of Holly Golightly, we are all thrilled Georgia is joining the team. It's hugely inspiring for all of us to be working with actors who are perfectly suited to the role and will help encourage new generations of theatregoers to share Capote's beautiful story."

Foote's performances include tour dates in Milton Keynes, Bristol, Malvern, Sheffield, Belfast, Cardiff and Norwich. Click here to buy tickets.
Theatre company Cheek by Jowl will take their critically acclaimed Russian language production of Measure for Measure to Denmark to open the 2016 Shakespeare Festival which runs from 1 to 7 August.

The Shakespeare Festival takes place in Denmark at Kronborg Castle - also known as Elsinore - which is where Shakespeare set his tragedy Hamlet. It marks the 200th anniversary of performing Shakespeare at the historic landmark, as well as Shakespeare400.

Artistic Director Declan Donnellan said: "We are delighted that Measure for Measure will be opening the Shakespeare Festival at Elisnore in their 200th anniversary year. Kronborg Castle provides a unique environment to perform Shakespeare in, and in a year which also celebrates 400 years of Shakespeare it feels truly special to take part in the festival."

Donnellan and designer Nick Ormerod founded Cheek by Jowl in 1981. The company stages productions in Russian, French and English.

The production ran at the Barbican in London in April 2015. You can read WhatsOnStage's review of the production here.
With her wins, Clinton put herself in a commanding position to become the first woman in US history to win a major party nomination.

Washington: Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton were solidly on course Wednesday for their party's presidential nomination for the November general election after convincing wins in the latest batch of U.S. primary elections.

Trump won three states Tuesday, including the big prize Florida, but lost Ohio to that state's governor, John Kasich. Clinton won at least four states, dealing a blow to Bernie Sanders' bid to slow her march toward the Democratic prize.

With her wins, Clinton put herself in a commanding position to become the first woman in US history to win a major party nomination.

The impact of Tuesday's outcome, however, may be diminished as President Barack Obama announced Wednesday morning he would announce his nomination of a Supreme Court justice to fill the vacant seat of the conservative Antonin Scalia, who died last month.

The court nomination has raised a controversy because the Republican-held U.S. Senate, which must approve the nominee, has vowed to not even consider the question until Obama leaves office in January. Scalia was part of a five-member conservative majority on the nine-member court.

In Tuesday's primary votes in five states, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who staked his once-promising campaign on winning in his home state, dropped out of the race shortly after the polls closed. That leaves Kasich as the last true establishment candidate running against Trump and arch-conservative Texas Sen, Ted Cruz.

Trump, the brash and controversial businessman and reality TV star, has upended Republican politics by winning most of the state-by-state competitions for delegates who will choose the party's nominee. He has seized on Americans' anger with Washington politicians, discomfort with immigration and fears of terrorism, attracting voters with his blunt talk and promise to make America "great again."

The Tuesday outcome was seen as pivotal for Republicans because, for the first time, two states - Ohio and Florida - had winner-take-all contests. A Trump sweep could have given him an insurmountable lead in the delegate count.

Trump won the biggest prize - all 99 Florida delegates - as well North Carolina and Illinois, and was locked in a tight race with Cruz in Missouri. He told a victory rally in Florida, "This was an amazing night."

Both the Republican and Democratic primaries in Missouri were too close to call Wednesday morning.

Kasich's win, capturing all of Ohio's 66 delegates, was crucial to keeping alive the hopes of mainstream Republicans trying to stop Trump. But while Kasich could benefit from Rubio dropping out, he remains an extreme longshot for the nomination, though he could help keep Trump below the 50 percent threshold.

While Trump has amassed the most delegates, he's winning just 46 percent of the delegates that have been awarded so far. If that pace continues, he would fall short of the majority needed to assure him the nomination at the party's convention in July. The result could be a contested convention, creating an unpredictable outcome.

Trump said "we'd have riots" if the party tried to deny him the nomination if he went to the convention with close to the majority of delegates needed.

"I think you would have problems like you've never seen before," Trump said on CNN.

Trump now has 621 delegates. Cruz has 396 and Kasich 138. Rubio left the race with 168 delegates. It takes 1,237 delegates to win the Republican nomination.

In the Democratic race, Clinton's victories in Florida and North Carolina were expected, but Sanders, a Vermont senator and self-described democratic socialist, had hoped to take the industrial states of Ohio and Illinois, both of which Clinton won.

Sanders is unlikely to overtake Clinton in the delegate count, but his victory last week in Michigan underscored the unease that many Democratic voters have about her candidacy.

Overall, Clinton has at least 1,561 total delegates including superdelegates, who are elected officials and party leaders free to support the candidate of their choice. Sanders has at least 800 delegates when the count includes super delegates. It takes 2,383 to win the Democratic nomination.

In Missouri, the margins between Trump and Cruz and between Clinton and Sanders, were less than one-half of 1 percentage point, meaning the losing candidate can request a recount.
Improving America's image has been a major boon for Obama's presidency, giving him leverage with leaders keen to be seen with him. (Photo: AFP)

Washington: Barack Obama has warned that the 2016 White House race is damaging America's image abroad, sounding the alarm on harsh campaigning that risks eroding gains made during his presidency.

Lashing out at "vulgar and divisive rhetoric" in the race to replace him, Obama told a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Tuesday: "This is also about the American brand."

"We have heard vulgar and divisive rhetoric aimed at women and minorities -- at Americans who don't look like 'us,' or pray like 'us,' or vote like we do," Obama said, with Ireland's Prime Minister Enda Kenny at his side.

"This is also about the American brand. Who are we? How are we perceived around the world?" he asked. "The world pays attention to what we say and what we do."

His remarks reflect growing administration concern about the racially tinged message of Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.

Obama came to office when America's image was battered by the war in Iraq and George W. Bush's global unpopularity.

"We've seen a big change in the way the world sees the United States under Obama," Richard Wike, director of global attitudes research at Pew Research Center, told AFP.

"Overall attitudes across the globe towards the US are a lot more positive today than they were during the George W. Bush era," he said, while noting the trend is not universal.

Improving America's image has been a major boon for Obama's presidency, giving him leverage with leaders keen to be seen with him.

From Indonesia to Ghana, it has also afforded Obama room to bypass the government and appeal to citizens directly.

But Trump's rhetoric and his rise -- bolstered by wins in Illinois, North Carolina and Florida on Tuesday -- has put the longevity of that trend in doubt.

'From puzzlement to bemusement'

US officials now report an "intense focus" from partners on the 2016 presidential campaign and a "laser-like focus on the Trump campaign."

"It's a new element that we find ourselves meeting virtually every time we meet with foreign counterparts," said one administration official on condition of anonymity.

"They want to know what exactly is going on. Are these people serious? What does this mean for our bilateral relations. It ranges from puzzlement, to bemusement, to genuine concern."

"The idea of Trump's campaign making it all the way to the Oval Office is not something some of our counterparts have responded too fondly to."

Trump's promise to build a wall on the Mexican border and "make" Mexico pay for it has already elicited angry public responses.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto compared that rhetoric to Hitler and Mussolini.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, on his first visit to Washington since taking up the post, also voiced disquiet on the debate over migrants.
Thai bomb squad members inspect the site of a roadside bomb attack the day before on March 14, 2016. (Photo: AFP)

Bangkok: The United Nations condemned insurgents in Thailand's deep south on Wednesday for seizing a hospital during a recent attack on security forces in the violence-plagued Muslim majority region.

The assault was one of several small-scale but coordinated attacks on Thai forces in the region on Sunday night, following a recent surge in violence by insurgents.

More than 6,500 people -- mostly civilians -- have been killed in a 12-year revolt by rebels seeking greater autonomy from majority-Buddhist Thailand, which annexed the culturally distinct region more than a century ago.

Both the insurgents and the military have been accused of widespread rights abuses.

In one of Sunday's attacks, a group of rebel fighters took over the Cho Ai Rong Hospital in Narathiwat province and used the building to fire on a nearby Thai army post.

The gunfight lasted around 30 minutes and, while nobody was killed, patients and medical staff were inside the building during the fighting.

Security footage aired by local media showed black-clad militants swarm the hospital grounds toting assault rifles.

"Hospitals, medical units and medical personnel are protected under international humanitarian law, and they should not be targeted or used for military purposes at any time," the UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia (OHCHR) said in a statement.

The UN added that while attacks on medical staff in Thailand's south have taken place, some of them fatal, Sunday's assault was believed to be the first time insurgents had seized a hospital.

"This new tactic is deeply concerning," said Laurent Meillan, OHCHR's acting regional head

Violence dipped to a record low last year, something the Thai military says is the result of better intelligence-led operations since it took power in 2014.

But there has been an increase in attacks in the past few weeks.

On Tuesday a female army ranger was fatally shot by suspected insurgents while she was shopping at a local market in neighbouring Pattani province.

Over the years Islamist militants have employed brutal tactics including shootings, beheadings and bombings, often targeting perceived civilian collaborators such as teachers and even Buddhist monks.

But the Thai military also stands accused of routinely violating human rights, including torture and extra-judicial killings, something rights groups say has worsened under junta rule.

The military's promise to hold peace talks with the insurgents has also borne little fruit so far.

Rights groups say peace is unlikely while a tight security net remains over the region. Critics also cast doubt on the army's sincerity and the ability of their rebel interlocutors to control the revolt's foot soldiers.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/03/2016 (2412 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  The Russian troop withdrawal from Syria is cause for some optimism at the countrys peace talks but the Kremlins next moves must be closely watched, says Canadas ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva.

Envoy Rosemary McCarney told The Canadian Press the success of the latest round of Syrian peace talks in the Swiss city will depend heavily on what Russia does next.

She described the mood at UN headquarters in Geneva on Tuesday, the second day of talks, as not full optimism, but a feeling of momentum, of a commitment.

President Vladimir Putin surprised many on Monday when he ordered the withdrawal of Russian military personnel from Syria, saying he hoped it would stimulate the peace negotiations.

Putin sent fighter jets and other assets to Syria to prop up his ally, President Bashar Assad, whose attacks on his own people sparked the civil war that marked its fifth anniversary on Tuesday.

Russias military drawdown, combined with the reduction in violence in parts of Syria since the Feb. 27 ceasefire brokered by the U.S. and Russia, are positive developments, McCarney said.

The announcement of Russia may have given people a little more sense of even more optimism today, said McCarney. But none of us know how thats going to play out.

She said the ceasefire has allowed aid workers to reach more towns than we could ever have hoped for, you couldnt have imagined even three weeks ago.

Reports emerged Tuesday of airstrikes in the area around the historic city of Palmyra and clashes between pro-government forces and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

McCarney said the situation is imperfect but much better than it was two weeks ago.

Weve experienced a cessation of hostilities, which is not universal, said McCarney. Its not geographically defined, its defined by groups which created what I would say is exploitable ambiguity by those who want to spoil the cessation of hostilities.

McCarney described the scene in Geneva as full throttle, with the Human Rights Council and the standing committee for the High Commissioner for Refugees also in full session in rooms close to the peace talks.

Geneva is not a big city. Youre certainly conscious of the presence of the various negotiating teams and all of the support teams around them.

Canada has been providing assistance to three Syrian women inside the talks as part of the High Negotiations Committee, the umbrella group of the anti-Assad delegation.

McCarney said Canada and some partner countries have been providing legal assistance and negotiation training to the women.

Canada believes very strongly in the role that women play, that theyre an integral part of the peace negotiation process.

McCarney said the long road to peace will be fraught with obstacles.

Its not going to be a straight or perfect line. Its going to be raggedy, she said.

All of us would take raggedy over failure.
Police secure an area after an apartment raid in Brussels on Tuesday March 15, 2016. (Photo: AP)

Brussels: Belgian investigators were hunting Wednesday for two suspects who fled an apartment linked to the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, after a police sniper killed a third man and uncovered weapons, ammunition and an Islamic State flag, officials said Wednesday.

Four officers were wounded in the joint French-Belgian raid in a Brussels neighborhood and related searches.

Officials said the hunt is on for two more suspects who have not been identified. Two people were in custody.

The dead man was identified as an Algerian man living illegally in Belgium, Mohamed Belkaid, whose only contact with authorities appeared to be a years-old theft charge, said Thierry Werts, the Belgian federal prosecutor.

Belkaid, 35, was shot to death by a police sniper as he prepared to fire from a window, Werts said. Police also detained one man who was dropped off at a nearby hospital with a broken leg and another found in an overnight house search.

Werts and Eric Van der Spyt, his office's spokesman, said a decision would be made later on whether to hold or release the two.

The patient with the broken leg has not yet been questioned, they said.

The anti-terror raid in the forest neighborhood was linked to the Nov. 13 gun-and-bombing attacks on a stadium, cafes and a concert hall in Paris that left 130 people dead.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks, in which Belgian citizens played key roles.

Since the Paris attacks, the officials said 58 people have been arrested in the direct investigation and another 23 arrested in related probes.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 16/03/2016 (2411 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG  Rana Bokhari was barely out of law school and had just been called to the bar in 2013 when she became leader of the floundering Manitoba Liberal party.

She inherited a party deeply divided and with only one seat.

Very little was known about her other than her promise to focus on rebuilding the partys coffers and selling new memberships.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Liberal Leader Rana Bokhari announces plans to fund more daycare spaces in the province.

Three years later, without a seat in the legislature, the 38-year-old remains a bit of an enigma.

I am very aware Im the newbie in town, Bokhari said in a recent interview. Everyone has to start somewhere. No one is just waking up as a premier.

Bokhari was born one of five children in Anola, Man., after her parents immigrated from Pakistan. They ran a poultry farm and were the only brown family in the area, she recalls.

While she helped on the farm, the expectation was for her to have a career  either a doctor, a lawyer or an engineer.

People always ask me: Youre not married and you dont have kids  blame my parents, Bokhari laughs. They really wanted us to be self-sufficient, independent, strong, dedicated, competent working women.

After graduating from high school in 1995, Bokhari worked at a grocery store chain and two womens clothing outlets. The family had to leave the farm in 2000 for reasons she wont talk about.

The family went to Pakistan for what was supposed to be a quick re-group, but stayed there for four years.

Her father had a major stroke during a family meal. They had to travel four hours to get him to a hospital.

It was one of the worst memories of my life, says Bokhari, who still lives with her parents. People dont understand how desperately grateful I feel every single day. Im very aware of what my life could have been.

While her father slowly recovered, the family struggled to make ends meet in Pakistan. She sewed, bartering clothes for more material. Eventually, the family came back to Canada and Bokhari attended the University of Manitoba.

After three tries, she got into law school and graduated in 2012  a year before becoming leader of the Liberal party. She became a junior lawyer at Carroll Law Office and continued to work there for a time after becoming leader.

Bokhari has faced questions about the time after the law firms partner was ordered by a Manitoba judge to void unconscionable extra fees charged to residential school survivors. The charges were through a form-filling company co-owned by Ken Carroll and Bokharis brother.

The Liberal leader says she never worked for the form-filling company and there is no evidence she was involved in billing. No action has been taken by the Manitoba Law Society, which Bokhari points out would have happened had she done anything wrong.

(It) would have had me snapped in place within 45 seconds of this whole thing coming out.

She has been criticized for sidelining the partys lone MLA and former leader, Jon Gerrard, as well as for waiting 24 hours before dropping a candidate who was criticized for social media posts referring to women as whores and skanks.

Just a few weeks ago, her chief of staff and his girlfriend, who had been nominated as a candidate, resigned without explanation.

Bokhari has a tough campaign ahead of her. She is fighting for a seat in the Winnipeg constituency of Fort Rouge against popular writer and broadcaster Wab Kinew. Hes running for the NDP and Audrey Gordon is carrying the banner for the Progressive Conservatives.

I almost feel like people want to see if they can break me. What they dont realize is criticisms are not going to break me. Twitter trolls are not going to break me.

If I was going to be broken, it would have happened that first year (as leader) when I was really by myself and was being attacked  when I was just trying to rebuild the party.

A self-described non-ideologue, she has made a series of boutique policy announcements ahead of the April 19 election: privatizing liquor stores, removing the sales tax on haircuts over $50 and opening the province to ride-hailing services.

Kelly Saunders, a political science professor at Brandon University, says the public still doesnt have a sense of who Bokhari is or what her party stands for.

She has failed to capitalize at a time when people seem deeply disaffected with the status quo, Saunders says.

She doesnt really seem to be very comfortable in day-to-day politics, whether thats mobilizing supporters or talking to the media or even working with her candidates.

Bokhari says she has zero doubt in her ability to lead the province.

If I can walk out of this with my integrity intact, without having (been) thrown into the mud-slinging  Ill call that my success.
Opinion

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This article was published 14/03/2016 (2413 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

We all get it.

The City of Winnipeg wants every extra buck it can nab, grab and squeeze out of its already taxed-to-the-eavestrough homeowners and citizens at large. Dogs at large, for that matter.

We also get it that, at times, not all of our civil servants are civil or possess a nickels worth of common sense. Which brings me to an email that arrived late last week. It was written by a former career Canadian Air Force officer who moved to Winnipeg from Calgary less than eight years ago to be with family. The bonus was how much he and his wife love our citys parks. In fact, thats where the story starts: walking his 10-year-old Lab, Luna, through Kings Park late last Tuesday afternoon. Walking her off-leash, mind you. Thats unlawful there, which is why he and Luna came to the attention of an ever vigilant animal services officer.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS 79-year-old Jack Smith and his dog Luna at Kings Park where the story happened. An Animal Control Officer gave Jack a ticket recently for having Luna off leash in Kings Park. But she also ticketed him after asking his name  he said Jack Smith and gave his correct address  but upon checking his registration the constable said he had lied because it read John Smith.

You may be wondering why Ive mentioned the dogs name, but not the dog owners. All in good time. Meanwhile, I should let him tell you in his own words how he encountered the keen-eyed animal services officer at the end of his and Lunas walk in the park. And ended up with nearly $600 worth of bylaw offence tickets.

As I approached the road, he wrote, a van pulled up directly across our path, and someone called out to me. I am 79 years old, and my hearing is not great.

It was the animal services officer, of course. She asked where the dogs leash was.

I told her it was in the car. She then asked me if the dog had a tag, which I showed her.

With that, the officer turned to her portable terminal.

Then, leaning out of her van window, she asked the dog owner for his name.

I told her it was Jack Smith, to which she replied very sarcastically, Oh, right! She then demanded to see my drivers licence.

He didnt have it with him. She asked for his address. He gave it to her. The constable turned back to her computer and Jack, who was getting chilled by then, told her he and the dog would wait for her in his nearby car. About five minutes later, the officer pulled up beside Jacks car and asked for his car registration.

She looked at it, Jack recalled, and said, I thought you told me your name was Jack Smith, again in a very accusatory tone.

The name on the registration is his legal name; John Smith. Later, he wondered how the already doubting officer would have reacted if he had initially told her he was John Smith. Instead of Jack, the commonly used other version of John he had been called since he was a boy and his Scottish-born father, John Smith, was known as Jock.

Anyway, Jack said the constable ended up giving him two summons. One was a $195 ticket for failure to ensure that the dog did not run at large.

And the other, she said, was for giving her a false identity. The summons reads failing to provide identification sufficient to establish their name and address  and it comes with a whopping $400 fine.

Jack was left both stunned and outraged.

phil hossack / winnipeg free press Jack Smith and his dog, Luna, at Kings Park Monday.

I freely provided this constable with my correct name and address which appears at the top of the summons. Why then, did she present me with this second summons? The name Jack is universally known as a diminutive version of John; to accuse me of lying over my own name is outrageous, offensive and little more than bullying. I was being co-operative and civil but was met with disdain and contempt. This is unacceptable behaviour on the part of anybody  especially a civil servant. I am angry and upset by my treatment and by this constables attitude, and I have lodged a formal complaint. In addition, I will be contesting the summons. I can only hope that the management of the animal services department will demonstrate more common sense, civility and sensitivity than did their employee.

As it turned out, Jack was hoping for too much, at least when it came to common sense and sensitivity.

I forwarded Jacks email to a city media handler who said a city councillor had already reported it and that later Leland Gordon, the COO of animal services, had phoned Jack to discuss the incident.

We take complaints like these seriously, communications projects officer Kailey Barron added.

No, they dont. Not judging by what happened next.

According to Jack, the animal services COO had indicated the $400 failing to provide identification ticket would not be proceeded with. Why would it be? The ticket should never have been given. As for what Jack was also looking for  an apology from the animal services constable, or at the very least, her boss  he didnt even get a perfunctory, sorry.

What are we to conclude from all of this? That there are dogs with more common sense than the COO of animal services.

And way better manners. Woof!

gordon.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/03/2016 (2412 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A terminally ill Manitoban has won legal authorization to have an immediate doctor-assisted suicide in the provinces first case of its kind.

Lawyers for the patient appeared in Winnipeg court today for an emergency application based on a recent Supreme Court ruling. They were seeking a constitutional exemption to allow for the procedure.

They also filed for a sweeping publication ban that prohibits the disclosure of the patients gender, age and specific condition. Lawyers representing numerous interests  including the medical team working with the patient, the attorney general and several local television stations  had standing at the hearing. None was opposed to the patients request.

Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press Law Courts Building on York and Kennedy.

Queens Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal ultimately approved both applications, saying they had met the strict legal test established by the countrys highest court last year in the so-called Carter decision.

Court heard the patient in question is actually suffering from two terminal illnesses and likely has less than a month to live. The patient is seeking an immediate end to their life based on the fact they are experiencing intolerable pain and suffering.

Court heard the patient has undergone rigorous medical and psychological evaluation and has been deemed competent to make the right-to-die decision based on criteria established by the College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

Specific details about when the end of life will occur were not set out in court, but it is expected to happen almost immediately, based on todays ruling.

My clients health is deteriorating rapidly, lawyer John Myers told court. He was near tears at times as he spoke about the case.

Lawyers representing the patient and the patients spouse released a written statement to media following the hearing.

I believe that an integral aspect of a persons right to die with dignity includes the opportunity to have a physician-assisted death. My decision to seek a physician-assisted death is born out of the physical pain I am suffering and the intolerable effects of my diseases on my overall quality of life, the patient said in the statement. My family is the most important and fulfilling part of my life. While it has been sad to say goodbye and to plan to leave my family, I am not feeling anxious, depressed or in fear of death.

The Supreme Court ruled in February 2015 that Canadian adults in unending pain have the right to end their lives with the help of a doctor, and outlined clear criteria. The federal government has until June 6 to pass a physician-assisted-death law. Until then, Canadians can ask for an receive a legal exemption.

This case is the fourth of its kind in Canada, but first in Manitoba.

While Canadians await legislative guidance, the constitutional exemption process is an important protection of individual rights. But it is challenging for the families involved to have to pursue an application in court during an already stressful time, said Allison Fenske, a lawyer representing the family.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 16/03/2016 (2411 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  The five current and former Manitoba senators whose expense claims were flagged as inappropriate by the auditor general last year will not face criminal charges.

The RCMP decided to review the expense claims of all 30 senators identified by Auditor General Michael Ferguson last June as having filed improper expense claims. The Globe and Mail reported today 24 of those 30 senators have now been told by the RCMP there was no evidence found to lay any charges.

That includes the five Manitobans: former Liberals Sharon Carstairs and Rod Zimmer; former Conservative Terry Stratton; and current Conservatives Don Plett and Janis Johnson.

LIAM RICHARDS / CANADIAN PRESS FILES Senator Rod Zimmer

A spokeswoman for Johnson confirmed she received a letter from the RCMP telling her upon completing a review of her expenses from the audit, the police had concluded there was no further action warranted. The spokeswoman said she couldnt say when Johnson received the letter.

Plett refused comment to the Free Press today. Carstairs has not responded to several requests for comment and Stratton and Zimmer could not be reached. Several people told the Free Press recently Zimmers health has taken a serious turn. He retired from the Senate in 2013 owing to health issues.

The RCMP wont confirm anything.

Generally, only in the event that an investigation results in the laying of criminal charges would the RCMP confirm its investigation, the nature of any charges laid and the identity of the individuals involved, wrote Cpl. Valerie Thibodeau in an email to the Free Press.

Zimmer was said to owe the most of the group, at $176,014. That amount includes $47,132 for a secondary residence they argue was really his primary home, and $102,524 for travel to Winnipeg with his wife for non-Senate business. Zimmer has never spoken publicly about the audit, but in his written reply to Fergusons audit, he blasted the auditor general for wading into the legal system and passing judgment about the rules for secondary-residence claims when those claims were before the court in the fraud trial against Sen. Mike Duffy.

The verdict in the Duffy case is expected next month.

Carstairs is said to owe $7,528 for 61 days she claimed a secondary residence in Ottawa, as well as a trip to Winnipeg the auditor said shouldnt have been allowed as an expense. Like Zimmer, Carstairs wrote in the audit report she had done nothing wrong. She said the Senate had no rules about how many days one had to spend at their primary residence to qualify for secondary-residence claims in Ottawa. Ferguson said Carstairs did not spend enough time in Manitoba to warrant referring to it as her primary home.

Initially, Carstairs decided to take the situation to the Senates offered binding-arbitration process with former Supreme Court justice Ian Binnie, but later backed off and plans to fight the claims she owes the money.

Plett repaid $2,975 of $4,095 identified as faulty claims. He said his office discovered two personal trips had been claimed in error. He owes another $1,120 for three other trips he said were Senate business. He did go to binding arbitration. Binnie has completed his report and it is expected to be made public Monday.

Stratton repaid $59.98 of $5,466 for two trips to Calgary with his wife the auditor said werent for Senate business. Stratton said one trip was Senate business, and the other he said can be covered off by the savings he gave the Senate by retiring two weeks before he was required to do so. He chose binding arbitration to deal with the money he is still said to owe.

COURTNEY CAMPBELL / FREE PRESS FILES Senator Sharon Carstairs

Johnson repaid $22,706, the amount the auditors claimed she falsely charged taxpayers for seven personal trips to Vancouver. Although Johnson said she had done nothing wrong, she said she decided to repay the money to restore honour to the Senate and get on with doing the work she was sent there to do.

Once Binnies report is made public, any senators who still owe money  including Carstairs and Zimmer, who did not ask Binnie to arbitrate their cases  will have 30 days to pay.

If they dont, the Senate will take action to recoup the money, including garnishing salaries from sitting senators and taking legal action against those who have left the Senate.

The 30 senators named in Fergusons audit do not include Duffy, Patrick Brazeau, Pamela Wallin or Mac Harb. Duffy, Brazeau and Wallin were all kicked out of the Conservative caucus after their expense claims were questioned; Duffy and Brazeau have both been charged.

Duffys trial concluded last month and the verdict is expected April 21. Brazeaus trial has yet to begin. An RCMP investigation into Wallin is ongoing but no charges have been laid.

Harb, a Liberal, left the Senate after questions about his expenses arose, mainly around his claims for a secondary residence. He was also charged with fraud and is awaiting trial.

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/03/2016 (2412 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Never before has an election started in such bizarre fashion.

Sometime near midday today, after his last cabinet meeting has concluded, Premier Greg Selinger will walk from his office on the second floor of the Manitoba legislature to the office of Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon, also on the second floor, where he will formally request an election be called.

When Selinger sits down with Filmon, he will face the spouse of former premier Gary Filmon, a man who will be ritually disparaged as part of the NDPs long-shot re-election campaign. In past elections, the NDP summoned the ghosts of the Filmon governments of the 1990s  when a recession and federal cuts to transfer payments forced Filmon and many other premiers to invoke severe austerity  as an effective way of undermining current Tory leaders.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Manitoba Conservative leader Brian Pallister jokes with his party candidates Tuesday after the Legislature closed its session.

Despite the fact none of the past several Tory leaders espoused anything in the way of Filmonesque policies, the strategy has been effective at sparking fear among some voters who remember those tough times in the 1990s. So effective, you can bet the NDP will be flogging the Filmon ghosts once again to remind people the current leader of the PC party is Brian Pallister, a former Filmon cabinet minister.

It will be an awkward moment, to be sure. But if early indications hold true, it may be just the start of one of the most awkward, tightly fought and desperate elections in Manitoba history.

Lets talk about awkward. Beyond the Selinger-Filmon meeting that will start the campaign, we have an incumbent premier heading into battle with the wounds of a bitter civil war in his own party that has seen some of the most experienced, and most promising, caucus members retire from politics.

There will be no way Selinger can escape the humiliating image of a sitting premier being forced last year to fight for his job against some of his own cabinet ministers.

True to form, on the eve of the writ drop, new details emerged about a double-cross authored by leadership rival Steve Ashton that denied dissident minister Theresa Oswald a shot at the leadership. Stories such as this ensure the civil war will serve as a slow-burning fire that will smoulder throughout the campaign.

Then we have tightly fought. The Manitoba PCs hold a commanding lead in pre-writ polls province-wide, and the ruling NDP is quite likely to shed enough seats in rural ridings to lose its nearly 17-year hold on power.

Still, the race will be much tighter in Winnipeg, where there are more seats to be won but where the Tories, NDP and Liberals all have pockets of considerable support. There will be more genuine three-way races in Winnipeg than in any recent election.

Clearly, the party that can generate genuine momentum in the campaign may end up capturing the imagination of Winnipeggers and, one way or the other, deciding the outcome of this election.

As for desperate, it is hard to remember a past election in which the leaders of the three main parties all had so much to lose. It is true falling short of electoral expectations has never been good for a leaders job security. However, in this election, failure will most definitely mean the end of the line.

Selingers only hope of holding onto his job is to hold onto government. Running third in some pre-election surveys, with a personal popularity that lags behind even his own partys dismal standing in popular support, Selingers chances of holding onto power seem increasingly unrealistic. There is simply no argument for Selinger to lead the NDP in opposition.

Pallister must bear both the burden of the presumptive front-runner  an often perilous position for campaigning politicians  and his own partys incredibly high expectations that this is the election that will end nearly two decades in opposition. Fall short of a commanding majority and Pallister will suddenly find himself having a lot in common with Selinger: both will be leaders who were or will have to fight their own parties for the right to continue to lead.

Bokhari goes into the campaign with the lowest expectations of all the leaders. Still, failing to make a breakthrough in this election  with her party surging in popularity throughout the province  would be a death sentence for the political rookie. And make no mistake about it, many longtime Liberals are unsure about whether to get involved in this campaign, fearing Bokhari cannot rise to the occasion. It will be hard for her to remain leader if the 41st general election turns out to be just another lost opportunity for the Liberals.

Awkward, tightly fought and desperate. Its not destined to be an elegant affair. But this election should prove to be compelling in its raw, unbridled ugliness.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 16/03/2016 (2411 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Flanked by New Democrat MLAs, candidates and one very special guest, Premier Greg Selinger has dropped the writ today, signaling the beginning of the election.

Along for the ride was a mascot from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, carrying a sign that said Cut The PST.ca. The mascot followed Selinger on his trek to Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmons office.

A confident and energetic Selinger walked from the legislature to the lieutenant-governors with Family Services Minister Kerri-Irvin Ross by his side to ask for the writ to drop, then headed over to the statue of Louis Riel on the legislative grounds to speak to media.

With his cabinet and candidates behind him, Selinger warned that a Progressive Conservative government would mean cuts, while the Manitoba Liberals policies do not add up.

When asked how he will bring his party back up in the polls, he said that experience counts, noting his party still has 35 days from the April 19 election to bring Manitobans back to the party.

I met a longtime pollster and he said back in the day when he started out, elections used to make about a six point difference up or down, he says now elections can change 25 points in three days, Selinger replied. The reality is people sit back and they look at what the best alternatives are and they evaluate those on a day-to-day basis.

He went on to admit his party hasnt always gotten it right, a line used in one of the NDPs latest advertisements, in which Selinger apologized to Manitobans.

Yes, we have been around awhile, but weve also kept an open mind on how to learn from our experience, how to do things better, improve things that have been started, he said. One thing I know about being in government, if it is going to go wrong, it has gone wrong and then you know how to do it better.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A protester is seen during the NDP procession to Government House.

Prior to the writ drop, PC leader Brian Pallister reiterated a pledge to rollback the PST in his first term. Selinger warned the pledge would take the resources away from communities in need of flood protection.

That is wrongheaded, to say the least, Selinger said.

When asked if his government will be able to roll back the PST within their promised 10-year time frame, he said it is contingent on the economy of both the province and Canada as a whole.

We believe we can do it, but it is subject to the future economic forecast, he said.

Selinger will later head to Sturgeon Heights Community Centre at 5:30 p.m. today for the NDPs official campaign rally.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/03/2016 (2412 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Greg Selinger says hes looking forward to pressing the flesh. Brian Pallister will personally visit nearly every constituency in the province. And Rana Bokhari says her party will hit the ground running.

The 2016 Manitoba provincial election campaign officially kicks off Wednesday.

Selinger is expected to drop the writ around noon after a final morning cabinet meeting.

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS PC Manitoba leader Brian Pallister in the Manitoba Legislature preapares to talk with media after session.

The premier said Tuesday the Manitoba NDP has a comprehensive plan to present to Manitobans and a good mixture of new and experienced election hopefuls.

The polls do indicate were not peaking too early, the premier quipped. Theres no doubt about that. So we have work to do. But the one thing we know is that elections count. And people will have good choices upon which they can decide how theyre going to vote.

Pallister called his slate of candidates the best thats ever been put forward and said his campaign itinerary will be the most ambitious schedule I think in the history of any campaign by any leader.

He said he would personally travel to every Manitoba constituency but one  the giant northern constituency of Keewatinook, which he recently visited.

All of the candidates in our party would like me to show up so Im going to show up, Pallister said on the eve of his first election campaign as leader.

Asked about a poll published earlier this week that showed he was less popular than his party, he said: Im glad my partys popular. Theres probably never been a leader of any political party in Manitoba whos endured a $2 million ad campaign against him personally and attacked him (based) on falsehoods.

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Premier Greg Selinger in the Manitoba Legislature talks with reporters after session.

Liberal Leader Rana Bokhari said her party  with just one seat in the legislature  is ready.

We are good to go, our candidate (nominations) will probably be done within the next week, she said. We have radio ads, and will be using 21st century advertising, social media, any which we can and anything else that comes along we will definitely be utilizing all vehicles to get our message out.

We have an announcement tomorrow (Wednesday), we are door knocking tomorrow, meeting some candidates.We are on the ground and we are enjoying it, Bokhari said, adding her goal is to make at least four policy announcements a week.

On Tuesday, the fifth session of the 40th Manitoba legislature wound up with the passage of several bills and a number of heart-felt farewell speeches from long-serving MLAs who are not seeking re-election, including, Speaker Daryl Reid (Transcona), Ron Lemieux (Dawson Trail), Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns), Stan Struthers (Dauphin) and Stu Briese (Agassiz).

Today, after visiting the lieutenant governor, the premier will attend an NDP election kickoff rally in the afternoon. Pallister will make an announcement on the economy in the morning in St. Boniface before visiting Brandon and Portage la Prairie. And Bokhari plans an 11:30 a.m. education announcement at the Legislative Building.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Liberal Leader Rana Bokhari announces plans to fund more daycare spaces in the province.

 with files from Kristin Annable

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
On March 9, the Winona Middle School sixth-grade orchestra traveled to Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis to attend a Minnesota Orchestra Young Peoples Concert. The program, titled American Soundscapes featured music of American composers and the blending of distinctly American styles with traditional symphonic styles. The conductor for the program, Roderick Cox, discussed the recent history and challenges of achieving an American sound, which is still evolving. Following the concert, the 6th graders visited the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
The launch in London and all other centres is expected around late April and it is yet to be confirmed if Modi would be personally unveiling himself in wax at any of the four locations. (Photo: Youtube grab)

London: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join the ranks of prominent global leaders at Madame Tussauds in London, Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok in April, the world famous wax museum announced on Wednesday.

Describing him as a 'hugely important figure in world politics', the museum said that Modi had given the museum's team of artists and experts a sitting at his residence in New Delhi earlier this year.

"Madame Tussauds has crafted figures of very distinguished dignitaries from around the world - how could I regard myself worthy of being alongside them? But when I was informed that your decision had emanated from public opinion and public sentiment, I was comforted," Modi said in a statement to the museum.

"During my sitting, I observed the team carefully and was deeply impressed by its dedication, professionalism and skill. I have visited Madame Tussauds three or four times and had the pleasure of getting myself photographed standing next to the figures of various dignitaries," he said.

The wax figures at each of the museum's locations around Europe and Asia will be dressed in Modi's 'signature kurta' in cream with a jacket and he will be featured in a traditional pose 'making a namaste gesture'.

"Prime Minister Modi is a hugely important figure in world politics, a position supported by his place in the top 10 of Time Magazine's Person of the Year List 2015," said museum spokesperson Kieran Lancini.

"His massive social media presence, he is currently the second most followed politician on twitter after President Obama also confirms the intense interest the public have in him, a fact supported by the requests our guests have made for us to create his figure. We are delighted to be including the Prime Minister's figure in our attractions in London, Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok," he said.

Each figure took a team of Madame Tussauds' artists four months and cost around 150,000 pounds to create.

"Guests will be able to stand shoulder to shoulder and measure up to one of the most powerful men in the world and even grab a selfie when the figures arrive in their locations," the museum said.

The launch in London and all other centres is expected around late April and it is yet to be confirmed if Modi would be personally unveiling himself in wax at any of the four locations.

A new branch of Madame Tussauds is also set to open in New Delhi as part of the India-UK Year of Culture in 2017, announced during Prime Minister Modi's visit to the UK last November.
USDA announces $1 billion debt relief for 36,000 farmers

The USDA announced a program to provide $1.3B in debt relief for about 36,000 farmers who have fallen behind on loan payments or face foreclosure.
Hindu lawmaker Ramesh Kumar Vankwani of PML-N moved the resolution that said the 'government should take steps to declare Holi, Diwali and Easter as closed holidays for minorities'. (Photo: Pixabay)

Islamabad: For the first time, minority communities in Pakistan will have public holidays on Holi, Diwali and Easter festivals after the country's parliament on Wednsday adopted a resolution to this effect.

The National Assembly adopted the resolution that paves the way for the government to declare Holi, Diwali and Easter as public holidays for the country's Hindu and Christian minorities.

Hindu lawmaker Ramesh Kumar Vankwani of PML-N moved the resolution that said the "government should take steps to declare Holi, Diwali and Easter as closed holidays for minorities".

State minister for religious affairs, Pir Aminul Hasnat Shah, speaking in the house, said that interior ministry has already given permission to heads of government institutions to grant leave to minorities on their religious festivals.

Information minister Pervaiz Rashid said that Pakistan has more public holidays than any country in the world, therefore there is need to revisit the number of holidays.

He said he had no objection over holidays being observed on the religious festivals of minorities adding that no discrimination was meted out to the followers of different faiths and that the people share their grief and happiness regardless of the religion they are practicing, Pakistan Today reported.
Victory for Freedom Park Community

Court orders Gauteng MEC for Housing to provide policies on RDP housing allocation.

Court orders Gauteng MEC for Housing to provide policies on RDP housing allocation

Freedom Park, an area in southern Johannesburg, is currently undergoing informal settlement upgrading. This forms part of a programme developed by the City of Johannesburg which aims to improve the lives of those living in these settlements by providing formal housing and upgrading their basic services. This process has been underway in Freedom Park since 2002.

By 2014, two portions of land in Freedom Park were still awaiting RDP housing allocation. Until this point, the allocation of RDP housing had been haphazard and many houses were allotted to people unknown to the Freedom Park community. When the community protested, then-MEC Jacob Mamabolo called a meeting and undertook to investigate the situation. He assured the community that no further houses would be allocated until a forensic audit had taken place.

In February 2016, the City of Johannesburg started once again allocating houses despite the undertaking from the former MEC. The community took a number of steps to resolve the situation, including approaching the Mayors office, the MECs office and even the Public Protector, before finally contacting the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) for assistance.

CALS brought the matter to the South Gauteng High Court, seeking urgent relief for the community. We asked the court to urgently stop the allocation of housing until such time as the MECs office provides the forensic audit and housing allocation policies. This was made an order of court on 15 March 2016.

People have been waiting for houses since 1996. This is a step to ensure that housing allcoations are done in an open and trasparent manner, said Zeenat Sujee, attorney at CALS.

For inquiries, please contact Zeenat Sujee on 011 717 8607, 083 457 457 8227 or at zeenat.sujee@wits.ac.za.
Pokhara: Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz today said he is willing to discuss all issues, including the Pathankot terror attack, with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj here in Nepal.

Aziz also expressed hope that the Pakistani Special Investigation Team will be able to visit India soon to carry forward the probe into the attack at the Air Force base in Pathankot in January.

"Don't worry. The main purpose of the meeting, of course, is to handover the invitation for the SAARC Summit. And then anything she wants to discuss, we will discuss," he told reporters here in the Nepali resort town as he arrived for the 37th SAARC Council of Ministers Meeting.

Asked if he was positive of an outcome of his meeting with Swaraj tomorrow, Aziz said, "We will tell you after the meeting. We are always open for positive outcome".

Also read: Sushma Swaraj, Sartaj Aziz engage in 'social chitchat' at SAARC dinner

He said Pakistan has been "responding" to the Pathankot issue.

"We are responding on that and you know it. We are talking on all subjects," he said, replying to sustained questions on whether Pathankot attack will be discussed.

Asked when can one expect Pakistani SIT in India, he replied, "very soon InshAllah".

Swaraj and Aziz are scheduled to meet tomorrow on the sidelines of the SAARC meeting during which the External Affairs Minister is expected to nudge Pakistan to take action in the aftermath of the air base attack, which came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise visit to Lahore on December 25 last year.

Incidentally, though Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry did not have any structured meeting till now, they met casually at least thrice.

They first casually met at a dinner hosted for SAARC Foreign Secretaries last night and later even walked together for a few minutes. They met today at breakfast and exchanged a few words before meeting again during the SAARC meet today.

This is the first time Jaishankar and Chaudhry came face to face since planned talks between the foreign secretaries were put off after the terrorist attack on Pathankot airbase.




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Beijing: Not withstanding growing Sino-US tensions over the disputed South China Sea, Premier Li Keqiang today said bilateral relations will move forward as common interests outweigh differences, no matter who gets elected as next American President.

"There are broad common interests between China and US. There are also some differences between the two countries. Some differences could be sharp. There is no need to deny this," Li, 60, said in his annual press conference here.

"For some time, many people have been talking about differences between the two countries. But at the same time overlooked one very important thing, of China last year becoming the top trading partner of the US with two-way trade between the two countries reaching USD 560 billion. This itself shows common interest far outweighs their differences," Li, who ranks second after President Xi Jinping in leadership hierarchy, said responding to a question on the US, China ties which are undergoing a tense phase over the US' Asia Pivot policy and growing differences over China's moves to assert its claims on the South China Sea (SCS).

China claims most of the resource-rich SCS, countered by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Washington's moves to send naval ships and aircraft in the area to ascertain freedom of navigation has riled China.

As America's China policy has taken the centre stage of the upcoming US Presidential election with contestants vowing to pursue to a more strong policy to contain the Communist giant, Li said Sino-US ties are far deeper to be restricted by differences.

"As for the US elections, it has been lively and caught the attention of many. I believe no matter who gets into the White House, the underlying trend will not change. It has been several decades since the two counties established diplomatic ties. Has not the relationship seen more than fair share of ups and downs? It has always been moving forward which I believe is the underlying trend," he said.

As per difference between the two countries, there are up to 100 various dialogue and exchange mechanism between China and US to address the issues, Li said.

Focusing on his comments on the growing China-US business ties, he said both counties need to act keeping principle of equality and mutual benefit in mind. Currently, they are engaged in negotiations over Bilateral Investment Treaty.

"China for its part will give US investors wider market access in a gradual way. We hope that such opening will be mutual. As long as the two countries act with good faith and properly manage their differences, I believe their common interest will expand.

"As our cooperation expands, the percentage of overall differences in China US relations will come down and broader cooperation serves the interests of both the countries and the world," Li added.

On relations with Japan, Li said he does not want to see China-Japan ties deteriorate though there are sings of improvement.

He said the relationship is "not fully established and still fragile.

The two sides should adhere to the consensus on historical issues and it is important to match words with actions, Li said, referring to the tensions generated over the disputed islands in East China Sea claimed by both the countries.

On China's ties with Russia, Li said Beijing-Moscow ties were not affected by US sanctions against Russia over Ukraine.

China and Russia are each other's biggest neighbours, and there is a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in bilateral relations, Li said.

"This relationship is an all-dimensional one," he said, adding that Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met with each other "quite often".

China has developed its relations with Russia on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit and Beijing pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, Li said.

China and Russia can explore their cooperation in the integrated development of oil and natural gas, and introduce greater diversity in bilateral trade, he added.
Study Highlights the Perils of Mushroom Management

An old business practice is under new assault.

The practice in question is mushroom management. In this style of management, employees are shielded from company performance concerns and sometimes even the point of the work they are laboring over. Employees dont need to know these details, it is argued, they should salute and do the work instead. Or if the news is bad, keeping employees in the dark delays a domino effect of key employee departures.

Mushroom management is not new, but the world of work has changed and employees no longer are putting up with it. It isnt safe to entrust your livelihood to a company that doesnt necessarily have your best interests in mind, and not knowing the real-time performance of the company reduces an employees ability to adapt if things start to go bad.

This is why more than 90 percent of employees in Britain would rather hear bad company news than no news at all, according to a recent report by data communications firm, Geckoboard. The report also found that when managers dont share company data, nearly 80 percent of employees no longer trust them.

This same percentage of Brits also said that they want their boss to share more information about the business, and less than nine percent felt they were being kept current about the direction of their company.

This should be a wakeup call for businesses, because the report also found that 26 percent of workers head for the door and change companies when there is an information blackout.

The takeaway from the report is both clear and obvious: Mushroom management is a bad idea.

It can be argued that it never was a good idea, because employees who know the happenings of their company are more engaged and invested in their work. With the rising tide of entrepreneurship and a growing lack of faith in workplace stability, however, the days of mushroom management certainly should be numbered. Employees just wont put up with it much longer.

Businesses have been served notice.

Edited by Stefania Viscusi
Energy-related carbon emissions hold steady for second year

16 March 2016

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Global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions - the largest source of man-made greenhouse gas emissions - stayed flat for a second year in a row, the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced today following an analysis of preliminary date for 2015.

According to the preliminary data, global energy-related CO2 emissions in 2015 totalled 32.137 billion tonnes, up very slightly from the 32.134 billion tonnes emitted in 2014. Such emissions have "remained essentially flat since 2013", when emissions totalled 32.071 billion tonnes, the IEA said.

Global energy-related CO2 emissions, 1975-2015 (Image: IEA)

The IEA suggests that electricity generated by renewables played an important role in stemming the rise in CO2 emissions, having accounted for some 90% of new electricity generation in 2015. It noted that wind turbines alone produced more than half of new electricity generation.

In parallel with the levelling out of CO2 emissions, the global economy continued to grow by more than 3% last year, "offering further evidence that the link between economic growth and emissions growth is weakening", the IEA said.

The IEA noted that in the more than 40 years it has been providing information on CO2 emissions, there have only been four periods in which emissions stood still or fell compared to the previous year. Three of those - in the early 1980s, 1992 and 2009 - were associated with global economic weakness, it said. However, the latest levelling in emissions comes during a period of economic growth, with the International Monetary Fund saying global GDP grew by 3.4% in 2014 and 3.1% in 2015.

IEA executive director Fatih Birol said, "The new figures confirm last year's surprising but welcome news: we now have seen two straight years of greenhouse gas emissions decoupling from economic growth. Coming just a few months after the landmark COP21 agreement in Paris, this is yet another boost to the global fight against climate change."

The IEA said more details on the data and analysis will be included in a World Energy Outlook special report on energy and air quality that will be released at the end of June.

Launching the 2015 edition of its World Energy Outlook last November, the IEA said there were signs of a global energy transition, with low-carbon technologies expected to generate almost half of the world's electricity by 2040.

The IEA said the global power generation mix is set to shift away from coal, the share of which falls from 41% today to 30% in 2040, after holding steady since 1990. The share of low-carbon technologies in total generation increases from one-third in 2013 to 47% in 2040, due to the growth of non-hydro renewables and a stable share of nuclear and hydropower.

Under the IEA's central scenario, output from nuclear power plants is forecast to increase from 2478 TWh in 2013 to 4606 TWh by 2040. Expansion in China accounts for almost half of incremental nuclear generation. However, nuclear's share of global electricity generation is expected to remain around the same level of 12%.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

Related topics
Despite their marital problems, the 43-year-old actor claims to be getting along with Garner just fine.

We recently covered Jennifer Garners controversial Vanity Fair interview in which the actress talked about her divorce from actor Ben Affleck. She took the opportunity to share her emotions and the struggles experienced while the two lived together.

Now the Batman v. Superman star opened up to The New York Times about said interview, acknowledging everything Garner said and effectively supporting her decision to speak up. He also commented that being scrutinized by the media is especially tough now during these hard, turbulent times.

It never seems like a great time to have your privacy invaded, Affleck stated. Obviously this is a particularly hard time. He further stressed that him and Garner are on great terms. I just saw her this morning, so thats the reality that I live in.

Following further questions, including allegations about his supposed affair with their nanny, the actor dismissed it but respected her decision to express her beliefs publicly.

She felt like she wanted to discuss it and get it out there and get it over with This followed by, Look, I already talked about it  I dont want to do it again, the actor commented.

According to the 43-year-old actor, Garner and their children will pay him a visit on the set of the upcoming Justice League film, followed by a vacation to Europe together. He later added that regardless what takes place in his personal life, his work is most important.

Even in the tough spots, if your movies are good, people will see them, and if youre not good, you cant get away with it. He explained this while acknowledging that constantly having to prove himself (professionally) is a requirement that never goes away.

Youve got to realize, this line of work, its rooted in a feeling of needing to audition all the time.
Lebanon: UN special envoy Angelina Jolie urged world powers on Tuesday to do more to end Syria's five-year war and help the millions who have fled the conflict, as she visited refugees in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.

The war has killed 250,000 people, displaced half of Syria's population and created Europe's worst refugee crisis since World War Two. Talks on a political solution are underway in Geneva, but hopes of progress are modest. As a diplomatic solution eludes politicians, simply coping with the growing humanitarian crisis is not a viable alternative, Jolie said.

"We cannot manage the world through aid relief in the place of diplomacy and diplomatic solutions," she said at a muddy camp in Saadnayel, about 15 km from the Syrian border. Refugees gathered around, bracing against heavy rain and wind. "We need governments around the world to show leadership: to analyse the situation and understand exactly what their country can do, how many refugees they can assist and how."

Highlighting the huge refugee influx into Syria's immediate neighbours, which have been hosting millions of refugees, she said the problem was not "confined to the situations of tens of thousands of refugees in Europe".

Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon host the vast majority of the 4.8 million refugees created by the conflict. The one million registered refugees in Lebanon represent a quarter of the country's population. "The greatest pressure is still being felt in the Middle East and North Africa," Jolie said.

European Union leaders, alarmed by an influx of 1 million refugees and migrants into the bloc of 500 million people, have sketched an accord with Turkey, that would grant Ankara more money to keep the 2.7 million Syrian refugees on its territory.

The vast majority of Syrian refugees in Lebanon live in extreme poverty, the United Nations says. Jolie, special envoy for UN refugee agency UNHCR, said 80% were in debt, after any savings they brought from Syria had run out.

UNHCR says there are likely more than 60 million people forcibly displaced worldwide - one in every 122 people. Syria's conflict has also created 2.4 million child refugees, killed many and led to the increasing recruitment of children as fighters, children's fund UNICEF said in a report to mark the five-year anniversary.
Married couple (illustration)

By: Feng Qian

A man of Morocco, who was told that his wife died in a car crash, was shocked to see her alive and well on a television program that helps lonely people find their family members.

Abragh Mohamed of Azilal, thought that his wife died two years ago in a car accident.

Following the accident, the woman was taken to the Ibn Rochd hospital, where doctors determined that she probably would not survive.

Mohamed traveled from his home to the hospital to visit his injured wife, but when he arrived, doctors told him that his wife was dead.

The hospital gave him a coffin with a dead body, which he took back home for a funeral.

Last week, when Mohamed was watching a television show that helps people find their family members, he was stunned to see his wife alive and well.

She appealed to the public for help in tracking down her husband.

Mohamed quickly called the television station, and went to meet his wife who suffered from memory loss due to the accident.

It turns out that the hospital gave Mohamed a different body.
Russell Laight (left) with Richard Croft

By: Chan Yuan

(Scroll down for video) A widow of the United Kingdom, was shocked by officialsa claim that her husbands remains tested positive for drugs.

Russell Laight, 41, flew from England to Canada, with a portion of the ashes from his deceased friend Simon Darby.

Laight was transporting the ashes, which he was supposed to hand over to Richard Croft, a mutual friend in Nova Scotia. Darby had requested his ashes to be spread in Atlantic, Canada.

Due to bad weather conditions, the flight was diverted from Halifax to St. Johns International Airport in Newfoundland.

Customs officials found the bag of the ashes, which Laight did not declare. A customs official tested the remains and it tested positive for ketamine.

Laight was arrested and taken to jail, where he was held for five days.

Meanwhile, Darbyas widow sent officials in Canada, the death certificate and a list of drugs that her husband took before he died of cancer.

After being in jail a few days, family friend Tracey Jonasson said that she came up with an idea and asked Laightas lawyer to have Health Canada retest the ashes.

When it was retested, it was determined that there were no drugs and only human remains in the package. Laight was finally released from jail. Laight did not rest until the ashes were returned a few days later.
Jennifer and Alfred Cotten

By: Wayne Morin

A couple pleaded guilty to a number of charges after running a travel agency that promoted prostitution, according to court documents in New York.

The married couple, Jennifer Cotten, 49, and Alfred Cotten, 50, from Florida, facilitated sex tourism for U.S. citizens in the Dominican Republic through their company, Tropical Adult Vacation.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. said that the arrests followed a 10-month investigation with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcementas (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The couple booked a trip for an individual in New York, who they later learned was an investigator working for the DAs office.

The defendants were each charged in a New York State Supreme Court, with one count of promoting prostitution in the third degree.

They pleaded guilty to the charge in a plea deal. They will serve five years of probation. They hope to serve their sentence in Florida.

They will also have to undergo counseling that focuses on sex abuse.

aCompanies like these create a demand for the sexual services of prostituted women abroad, many of whom may be trafficked individuals.

aThat is why in New York, it is illegal to sell prostitution-related travel services to any jurisdiction, at home or abroad. Those who pay for sex facilitate a black market that profits off of the vulnerable, particularly women and children,a Glenn Sorge, acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI New York, said.

According to court documents, Tropical Adult Vacation provided U.S. citizens with room, board, and the services of prostituted women at their hotel located in Boca Chica, a small town near the capital of the Dominican Republic, over the course of hundreds of trips.

Though prices varied depending on the length of a customeras trip, they were typically charged approximately $1,500 for a weekend stay.
Womenas swimsuit (illustration)

By: Wayne Morin

Two man of Romania, were arrested on a charge of shoplifting after allegedly being caught shoplifting at a store while wearing womenas underwear, police in the United Kingdom said.

Kent police said that they have arrested 30-year-old Vlad Codreanu and 36-year-old Valentine Craciun, after being accused of shoplifting items from the John Lewis clothing store located in the Bluewater shopping center.

Prosecutors told the Maidstone Crown Court, that the two suspects did not know each other, but the judge said that this couldnat have been a coincidence.

According to the police investigation, the men were caught at the John Lewis with stolen merchandise. One of the men had a device to remove the magnets from the clothes.

Both men were wearing womens swimwear.

Codreanu claimed that he was wearing a womenas bathing suit because he wanted to be warm, while Craciun said that he suffers from a back injury and a womenas bathing suit provides him relief.


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Eswin Mejia was charged with felony motor vehicle homicide and operating a vehicle while intoxicated on Feb. 3 and released after posting 10 percent of a $50,000 bond on Feb. 5. He has not been seen by law enforcement since his release.



Specifically, Mejia has not shown up for twice-daily Breathalyzer testing, a condition of his bond reduction, nor did he appear for his Feb. 26 preliminary hearing. A judge has since revoked his bail and issued a bench warrant.



Mejia was listed on his jail booking sheet as being from Honduras and not a U.S. citizen. Douglas County pretrial release officials graded him a low risk to flee despite the fact that he had a warrant and twice had failed to appear in court. Efforts by the Omaha Police Department to have Mejia detained by federal Immigration Customs Enforcement failed, which would have blocked his release upon posting bail.



Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine has criticized the cases handling, saying, There has to be a common-sense communication between the feds and the state.



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How Else Was He Gonna Get His Money?: Relatives Outraged After Homeowner Shoots, Kills Burglary SuspectMar. 16, 2016 9:32am Carly Hoilman3.1KSharesA Miami woman shot and killed a teenage home intruder last week, authorities said. Now, relatives of the teen are saying she acted unjustly and should be prosecuted.Trevon Johnson, 17, burglarized the home of a 54-year-old old woman last Thursday, according to Miami-Dade police.Image source: WFOR-TVImage source: WFOR-TVThe woman woman told police that she was not home when the break-in occurred, but her surveillance system alerted her that there was an intruder. She said she rushed home and found the teen climbing out of a window.She observed a subject leaving the home through the rear, police Detective Dan Ferrin told WFOR-TV.A confrontation then took place, according to police, and shots were fired. Police said they were on scene seconds after the shooting and performed CPR on the teen. Johnson was then rushed to the hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.Whats wrong with her? Johnsons sister Nisha Johnson asked. She did not have to shoot him.Johnson told WFOR her brother was a student at D. A. Dorsey Technical College. She and other relatives are outraged by the shooting.Nautika Harris says she is outraged by her cousin's death (R). (Image source: WFOR-TV)Nautika Harris, right, says she is outraged by her cousins death. (Image source: WFOR-TV)I dont care if she have her gun license or any of that. That is way beyond the law  way beyond, Johnsons cousin Nautika Harris told WFOR. He was not supposed to die like this. He had a future ahead of him. Trevon had goals  he was a funny guy, very big on education, loved learning.You have to look at it from every childs point of view that was raised in the hood, Harris continued. You have to understand  how he gonna get his money to have clothes to go to school? You have to look at it from his point of view.Thus far, police appear to be siding with the homeowner who they say was protecting her property.Shes a person that is a little distraught because this is her home that someone obviously was in, Ferrin said.Police said the woman was taken to a police station for questioning and has cooperated with detectives.Investigators told WFOR that they are still investigating the incident, but in the meantime, they want the public to remember that, if possible, it is best not to take these types of situations into ones own hands.If theres any type of situation that happens or they believe theres a burglary at the home or any type of confrontation, dial 911. Have the police make that confrontation, Ferrin said. Thats what were here for.The case has been handed over to state attorneys office, but so far, no charges have been filed against the homeowner.Its no reason she should have waited until I think he walked out the yard to try to shoot him, Harris said. If she called the police already, why would she shoot him?Relatives told WFOR they dont believe Johnson stole anything from the womans home, but detectives would not confirm that.
The surgeons at the Caracas University Hospital were ready to operate on 51-year-old Carmen, but because of the shortages of medicines now ravaging Venezuela, they had no stocks of the prosthetic artery that would have saved her life.For a day, the family enjoyed a glimmer of hope after a nationwide search uncovered one such device, but Carmen needed two and a second one was nowhere to be found. She died two days later.It is life-and-death stories like these that illustrate the depth of the economic crisis now confronting Venezuela, a crumbling socialist-run petro-state that looks in danger of being tipped over the edge by the crunch in world oil prices.For Venezuelans like Mr Perez and tens of thousands more awaiting medical treatment around the country, the magic realism of Hugo Chavezs great Bolivarian socialist revolution has turned to bitter reality less than two years after the former leaders death from cancer.Related ArticlesIs this the man Venezuela has been waiting for? 04 Feb 2015Why Venezuela's economy is a basket case 03 Feb 2015What do Venezuela's McDonald's yuca fries taste like? 03 Feb 2015Hugo Chavez 'died two months before his death was announced' 02 Feb 2015Its the government who is responsible for my wifes death, not the doctors, Mr Perez, 63, told The Telegraph last week. Things are very bad in this country, and they are getting worse. I feel that we are in a dictatorship. At the start I believed in Chavez, now I cant look at him. He is in the best place now.Mr Chavez might be dead, but as one of Latin Americas most charismatic political performers, he is far from forgotten.His placid features still stare out from billboards in Caracas, while Venezuelan television still plays his rambling speeches denouncing America, capitalism and the West.He promised the people the riches of the revolution, and for a while he was able to deliver, thanks to his country being blessed with the worlds largest proven oil reserves.Blackmarket soap, sugar and baby food for sale at over five times the government regulated prices, for sale in the Petare slum in east Caracas (Meridith Kohut)But now, as the people queue at the pharmacy and the supermarket for basic necessities like baby formula, flour, milk and toilet paper, the promises sound like empty boasts.Even the middle classes, previously insulated from many of the countrys gathering economic woes, are feeling the pinch as poorer people come from the slums and suburbs in search of restricted goods, forming queues in previously upmarket areas.Empty shelves in a privately owned pharmacy where toilet paper, laundry detergent and sanitary pads should be (Meridith Kohut)Empty shelves and wishful thinkingIn a shopping centre in the Sabana Grande district last week, women queued outside a pharmacy for nearly two hours to buy two four-roll packs of toilet paper. In what has become the ultimate indignity for the Venezuelan public  and a huge embarrassment for the regime  shortages of toilet paper mean it is now strictly rationed.In public, the shoppers are stoical, wary of speaking ill of a regime that has a track record of taking revenge on its critics, excluding them from the handouts and government jobs that became the hallmark of Chavezs rule.
Indias Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is pressing forward with the prosecution of three Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students, including JNU Student Union President Kanhaiya Kumar, on frame-up sedition charges.

The BJP government got the police in Delhi to arrest Kumar last month on the grounds that he made anti-national statements at a February 9 protest marking the third anniversary of the hanging of Mohammad Afzal Guru. A Kashmiri, Guru was framed up by Indian authorities for the December 2001 terrorist attack on Indias parliamentary complex.

Two other JNU students, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, also accused of shouting anti-national slogans, surrendered to police twelve days after Kumars arrest.

All three face sedition charges, and if convicted, could be imprisoned for life.

Video of the February 9 protest that was widely disseminated by right-wing, pro-government television networks to justify the arrests has been shown to have been doctored. According to the Hyderabad-based Truth Labs at least two of the videos were manipulated. Videos have been edited and voices have been added, said Truth Lab Chairman K.P.C. Gandhi.

The manipulation of the videos underscores that Kumar, Khalid, and Bhattacharya are the targets of a right-wing vendetta.

But the very notion of anti-national statements constituting a crime, let alone sedition, is deeply reactionarya violation of the most elementary democratic principles.

The decision to prosecute the three was made at the highest levels of the BJP government, with both Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the minister in charge of Indias university system, Smriti Irani, publicly pressing the police to deal with the problem of anti-national elements at JNU in the days prior to Kumars arrest.

The Hindu right has long railed against JNU, one of the countrys most prestigious universities, as a hotbed of leftism.

The governments repression of dissent at JNU is part of a much wider campaign to shift India further right through the promotion of a bellicose, Hindu chauvinist-laced Indian nationalism. Narendra Modi and his BJP government view the countrys universities and cultural agencies as a major front in this campaign. They are systematically appointing Hindu rightists to lead these institutions and are working with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of the Hindu supremacists (RSS), to victimize their political opponents on university campuses.

Large sections of the police and judiciary are openly supporting the government campaign. The Delhi police twice allowed Kumar to be assaulted by right-wing mobs mobilized by the BJP as he was being transported for court appearances. At his bail hearing, the police denounced Kumar for not cooperating with their inquiriesi.e., not fingering other leftist studentsand strenuously opposed his release.

Ultimately, Delhi High Court Justice Pratibha Rani did grant Kumar six-month interim bail, but imposed a series of harsh restrictions, including one that aims at making him a state agent in suppressing dissent at JNU.

Kumars bail conditions include that he must not participate actively or passively in any activity which may be termed as anti-national and that in his capacity as JNU Student Union president he make all efforts within his power to control anti-national activities at the university.

Adding insult to injury, Justice Rani, used her ruling to deliver a right-wing tirade in which she lent legitimacy to the government frame-up, its use of sedition laws to criminalize dissent, and its authoritarian nationalism.

Although what actually happened on February 9 and whether it constituted a crime under Indian law was not before the court, Justice Rani proclaimed, The thoughts reflected in the slogans raised by some of the students of JNU who organized and participated [in the February 9 protest] cannot be claimed to be protected as fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.

She then went on to compare such thoughts to an infection which needs to be controlled/cured before it becomes an epidemic.

Making clear her support for draconian measures to suppress such anti-national thoughts, Justice Rani noted that when efforts to control infections through antibiotics fail, surgical intervention is required: If the infection results in infecting the limb to the extent that it becomes gangrene, amputation is the only treatment.

The High Court Justice further insinuated that Kumar was culpable of spreading infection and guilty of sedition when she compared her decision to grant him bail with the initial steps doctors take to treat infected patients. She said she hoped that during his 20 days in prison Kumar had introspected about the events that had taken place and was consequently inclined to prescribe a conservative method of treatment.

Justice Rani also heaped praise on Indias security forces, who are notorious for their involvement in torture, extra-judicial killings and other human rights abuses. She claimed that only because Indias borders are guarded by our armed and paramilitary forces do JNU students enjoy  this freedom. Effectively giving the military an exalted legal-constitutional status, she denounced JNU students for raising slogans that may have demoralizing effect on the family of those martyrs (i.e., slain military-security personnel) who returned home in coffins draped in tricolour [the Indian flag].

Yesterday the courts again prolonged the detention of Kumars co-accused for a further 14 days. Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya have been in police custody since February 24.

The persecution of the JNU students has provoked a nationwide outcry and protests at universities across the country.

The BJP government and their Hindu communalist allies have responded by intensifying their vendetta. On March 7, Human Resources Development Minister Smriti Irani addressed members of the RSS and ABVP at a workshop hosted by an NGO closely aligned with the RSS, the misnamed Society Against Conflict and Hate. Her speech was billed as an explanation of the governments stand on the JNU issue. Participants were given a booklet Communists and Jihadists at Work in JNU, edited by BJP vice-president and Rajya Sabha (upper house of Indias parliament) member Balbir Punj.

JNU Student President Kanhaiya Kumar is a leader of the All India Student Federation, the student wing of Stalinist Communist Party of India (CPI).

Acting on instructions from the CPI leadership, Kumar has responded to the BJP frame-up by repeatedly declaring his support for and confidence in the Indian courts, constitution and state. In an address to a student meeting at JNU following his release on bail, Kumar, echoing the reactionary diatribe of Justice Rani, saluted the soldiers guarding the country.

In the name of opposing the BJP, the CPI and its sister Stalinist parliamentary party, the CPM or Communist Party of India (Marxist), have for decades systematically subordinated the working class to the Congress Party, the Indian bourgeoisies traditional party of government, and a host of other right-wing caste-ist and regionalist bourgeois parties. This has included propping up a series of governments at the Center that have aggressively implemented the bourgeoisies neo-liberal agenda and pursued ever closer military-security ties with US imperialism.

The Stalinists are using the BJP witchhunt as a fresh pretext for perpetuating this reactionary policy. They are calling for mobilization of the democratic and secular forces against the BJPs authoritarian and communalist campaignwith the big business Congress Party, which has an infamous record of conniving with communalism and attacks on basic democratic rights held up yet again as a key ally in defending democracy and bulwark of secularism.

Indian students and workers must repudiate the Stalinists attempts to harness them to the Congress and other sections of the Indian bourgeoisie and its state. To defeat the BJP governments persecution of the JNU students, its Hindu communalist agenda, and the socially incendiary socio-economic agenda of the entire ruling elite requires the independent political mobilization of the working class in the fight for a workers government based on a socialist program.
The Socialist Equality Party is holding a series of meetings throughout the US on the statement of the ICFI Socialism and the Fight against War.

Fifteen years after the US launched the war on terror, the entire world is being dragged into an ever-expanding maelstrom of imperialist violence. The invasions and interventions organized by the US have devastated Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria. NATO is engaged in a massive rearmament program in preparation for war with Russia. In East Asia, the Obama administrations pivot to Asia is embroiling the entire region in the United States confrontation with China.

Whatever the short-term outcome, the long-term implications of the agenda being pursued by the US and the European imperialist powers leads inexorably in the direction of world war with cataclysmic consequences. The greatest danger facing the working class is that decisions are being taken behind the scenes, with masses of people largely unaware of the risks facing the worlds population.

Among working people and youth throughout the world, there is an overwhelming desire for peace. There is, as yet, however, no organized international political movement opposing the reckless politics of the imperialist pyromaniacs.

These meetings, called by the SEP and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, will review the present state of the global war drive, examine its causes and implications, and outline a political strategy for the building of a new mass, anti-war movement.

Meetings have already been held in California, Illinois, Virginia, New York, Louisiana, Michigan and West Virginia. To organize a meeting in your area, contact the SEP here.

Meeting details:

Tuesday, April 26, 7:00 p.m.

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (77 Mass Ave)

Room 2-190

Wednesday, April 27, 6:30 p.m.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

University of New Mexico

Student Union Building

Isleta Room, Third Floor

To organize a meeting in your area, contact the SEP here.
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump greatly increased their leads in the contests for the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations in primary voting in five states Tuesday: Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio.

Clinton swept all five states, winning by sizable margins over Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in Florida, North Carolina and Ohio, narrowly in Illinois and Missouri.

Sanders failure to win a single state, after his upset victory in Michigan last Tuesday, was a significant blow, and his campaign did not even hold a rally with the candidate to watch the vote results come in.

While Sanders continues to attract widespread support among young people, with his calls for a political revolution and his claim to advocate democratic socialism, his campaign is an attempt to give a left gloss to a right-wing corporate-controlled political machine. From the beginning he has pledged to back Clinton in the event that she wins the nomination, which is now likely.

The Democratic Party cannot serve as the instrument of a progressive transformation of American society. On the contrary, its reactionary corruption and complacency only provokes the anger that helps fuel the campaigns of ultra-right demagogues like Trump.

Trump won four of the five states, losing only Ohio to the states incumbent governor, John Kasich. Texas Senator Ted Cruz finished a close second in Missouri and North Carolina, and a distant second in Illinois. Florida Senator Marco Rubio finished a distant second in his home state and announced he was suspending his campaign.

Kasich had campaigned in Ohio on the basis of the supposed economic revival of the heavily industrial state. He touted the creation of 400,000 jobs over the past five years, although median family income has plunged 16.1 percent since 2000. His comfortable margin over Trump came in part from a sizable crossover vote, as Democrats voted in the Republican primary, mainly to oppose Trump.

In terms of convention delegates required for nomination, each frontrunner has now passed the halfway mark. Clintons advantage is substantial, because under the rules of the Democratic Party more than 700 party officials hold automatic positions as convention delegates, and the vast majority have pledged their support to her.

Trumps lead is more precarious, as he currently has less than 50 percent of the delegates selected, and he could well fall short of the 1,237 required for nomination. Cruz is unlikely to overtake Trump, and Kasich cannot do so, mathematically, making a contested convention with multiple ballots a real possibility.

It is increasingly likely that in the November presidential election the corporate-controlled two-party system will present the alternatives of Hillary Clinton, who as the wife of a president, senator and secretary of state embodies the American political establishment, and Donald Trump, a billionaire who personifies the criminality and viciousness of the financial aristocracy.

These repulsive alternatives only underscore the completely undemocratic and manipulated character of the US political system, where only candidates approved by or directly recruited from the Wall Street oligarchy need apply.

Trump would be the first candidate with a distinctly fascistic and authoritarian program to win the nomination of one of the two major big business parties. His vote is driven largely by economic and social despair. As the Washington Post noted in a recent report, Trumps support tracks closely with those areas with the highest death rates and unemployment rates among middle-aged whites.

A profile in the New York Times Sunday of volunteers at a Trump campaign office in Tampa, Florida found a wide range of backgrounds, but one thing in common: all had faced economic ruin from the 2008 financial crash, either losing jobs, homes or businesses.

Trumps main remaining rival in the Republican Party, Cruz, is an equally reactionary figure. His speech to supporters in Texas Tuesday night was a hysterical rant, denouncing Trump exclusively from the right, claiming he was soft on Iran, on support for Israel and on the appointment of ultra-right nominees to the Supreme Court.

In her remarks to campaign supporters Tuesday night, Clinton offered no alternative to the deepening social and economic crisis of American capitalism or the threat of these ultra-right demagogues. She paid lip service to the ongoing campaign for the Democratic Party nomination, but spoke as though the general election campaign had already begun, using the generalities that characterize the Democratic Partys posturing as the vaguely progressive alternative to the Republicans.

Except for a pledge to expand Social Security, not cut or privatize it, Clinton made no specific statement on social policy. Significantly, this followed the declaration by Trump, at last weeks Republican debate, that he opposed any cuts in the federal retirement program.

Likewise on foreign and security policy, Clinton made only one specific statement, criticizing Trump for his open support for torture. Otherwise, she embraced the record of the Obama administration, with which she, as secretary of state for four years, is completely identified.

As soon as the Sanders challenge can be dispatched, the Clinton campaign will execute its long-planned pivot, shifting even further to the right, and seeking to win the favor of Wall Street and the military-intelligence apparatus as the responsible alternative to the erratic and potentially explosive character of Trump.

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[14 March 2016]
Some of the warplanes deployed in the nearly six-month-long Russian intervention in Syria arrived back on Russian soil Tuesday, the day after President Vladimir Putin announced that the main part of his countrys forces were being withdrawn from the conflict.

The central task undertaken by the Russian armed forces had on the whole, been fulfilled, Putin stated. With the participation of the Russian military the Syrian armed forces have been able to achieve a fundamental turnaround in the fight against international terrorism and have taken the initiative, he added.

The Russian president said his countrys intervention had created the conditions for the initiation of the peace process, and that the withdrawal of its forces would send a good signal to both sides: the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad and the so-called rebels who have been backed and armed by the US and its regional allies.

Putins announcement came nearly three weeks into a US-Russian brokered cessation of hostilities that has substantially reduced the level of armed conflict in the country.

Russia is maintaining its two main bases in Syria, its Hmeimim command center and air base in the northwestern province of Latakia, and its naval base, inherited from the Soviet Union, in the Mediterranean port of Tartous. It was reported in Russia that 1,000 Russian troops would remain in the country out of the roughly 4,000 that had been deployed there. Also remaining behind is Russias advanced S-400 air defense system.

Putin cast the Russian intervention as a struggle against terrorism, and Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov, speaking Tuesday at a ceremony at the Russian airbase in Syria, said that those forces remaining in Syria have the task of continuing to strike terrorist targets.

It was reported Tuesday that Russian warplanes carried out airstrikes in support of Syrian troops advancing on Palmyra. The city, famous for its Roman ruins, fell to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) last May.

While both Moscow and Washington claimed that their respective interventions in Syria were aimed at combating terrorism, they were pursuing different and diametrically opposed aims. In the case of the Obama administration, the goal was regime-change. It sought the ouster of the Assad government and the imposition of a more pliant Western puppet regime in its place. In pursuit of this aim, it, together with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, funneled billions of dollars worth of aid and armaments to a rebel force that was dominated by the al-Nusra Front, Syrias Al Qaeda affiliate, and related Islamist militias.

As for Moscow, its aim was to preserve its one remaining Arab ally in the Middle East. Of no small importance was the prospect that a Western puppet regime in Syria would bow to Qatari demandsrejected by Assadto lend its territory for a gas pipeline directed toward Western Europe. Such a development would undercut the profit interests of Gazprom, Russias largest corporation, and the ruling class of capitalist oligarchs that Putin represents.

Also of concern to the Russian government was the participation in the ranks of al-Nusra and similar groups of thousands of Islamist fighters drawn from Russias Caucasus region. Moscow fears that a US-backed client regime in Damascus will help funnel such separatist forces back into Russia to serve as Western proxies in a campaign to destabilize and ultimately dismember the Russian Federation.

While there was a defensive element to Moscows intervention, which was directed at countering a concerted campaign by the US and its NATO allies to militarily encircle and subjugate Russia, there was nothing progressive about it in terms of resolving the Syrian crisis in the interests of the Syrian working class and oppressed.

Even in terms of Russia itself, Putins oscillation between military adventures and diplomatic entreaties to Washington has done nothing to impede US imperialisms march toward global war.

Putins announcement of the staged withdrawal combined with his assertion that it was meant as a signal to both sides has prompted speculation that the military drawdown was directed at compelling the Assad government to subordinate itself to the peace process brokered by Washington and Moscow.

Talks have resumed in Geneva, with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura shuttling between meetings with Syrian government representatives and a rebel negotiating council cobbled together by the Saudi monarchy.

Differences between the Putin and Assad governments have begun to emerge in relation to the talks in Geneva. While Syrias foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, declared on the eve of the talks that Assads position as president was a red line for the government, and the president would not negotiate his status, it is far from clear that Moscow agrees. As long as a new regime in Damascus is amendable to upholding Russias regional interests, the Putin government is evidently prepared to accept Assads departure.

Friction was already evident over last months declaration by Assad that, regardless of a ceasefire, his forces would continue combating terrorists and that retaking all Syrian territory was a goal we are seeking to achieve without any hesitation.

That statement prompted something of a rebuke from Russias United Nations envoy, Vitaly Churkin, who declared in an interview with a Russian newspaper that Assads statement obviously contradicts Russias diplomatic efforts. Churkin warned that if Damascus failed to align its policies with these efforts there will be a difficult situation, one that will also involve them.

The Syrian government was anxious to dispel any notion that Putins decision to withdraw Russian forces was carried out unilaterally or as part of an attempt to pressure Damascus to compromise with the Western-backed forces. The state news agency SANA published multiple articles asserting that the drawdown had been coordinated between Putin and Assad.

Another potential factor in Putins decision to order a military drawdown is the increasingly tense situation created by Turkeys intervention in Syria. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov charged Tuesday in a television interview that Turkey has started to declare it has a sovereign right to create some safety zones on Syrian territory. He said that Turkish troops are digging in a few hundred meters from the border inside Syria in what amounts to a sort of creeping expansion.

A longstanding supporter of the Al Qaeda-linked militias that form the backbone of the insurgency against Assad, Turkey has intervened with the aim of preventing Syrian Kurdish forces from consolidating their grip over an autonomous territory just south of the Turkish border.

Last November, Ankara organized the deliberate ambush of a Russian warplane carrying out airstrikes against Islamist militias south of the Turkish border, leading to the death of one pilot and posing the immediate threat of an armed conflict between the Russian military and a member of NATO. The incursion of Turkish forces into Syria only heightens that danger.
In allying with US-backed anti-corruption parties in the Tamil Nadu state elections, the Peoples Welfare Front (PWF) made up of Stalinist and Tamil-nationalist parties is seeking to perpetrate a political fraud.

The PWFs constituent parties, which have served in many pro-business governments in other states across India, are pledging transparency and clean government. To be blunt, such pledges are meaningless, and masses of people know it. They aim to corral social anger with the two main bourgeois parties, the ruling AIADMK (All-India Anna Dravida Munnethra Kazhagam) and the DMK (Dravida Munnethra Kazhagam), behind a thin gruel of opposition to corruption, while aligning with the strategic interests of US imperialism and its pivot to Asia.

The PWF was formed by the Stalinist parliamentary parties, including the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) and Communist Party of India (CPI), together with various regionalist and caste-ist parties such as the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).

The PWF is now seeking support from the right-wing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which plans to contest the Tamil Nadu election. AAP is now the ruling party of Delhi, Indias National Capital Territory. It was formed in November 2012 by the leaders of the Kabir organization and anti-corruption movement.

It is well known that the AAPs leaders have close ties to US imperialism. The current Chief Minister of Delhi, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia were founding leaders of the Kabir organization, launched in 2005 in Delhi.

Kabir was funded by the CIA-backed Ford Foundation to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to the Business Standard, Steven L. Solnick, the New Delhi Representative for the Ford Foundation, said the Foundations last installment to Kabir was in 2010. Our first grant to the NGO was of $172,000 in 2005; the second was in 2008 of $197,000.

These reports underscore the close political ties between anti-corruption movements like the AAP and US imperialism. Formed less than three years ago, the AAP came to power amid mass popular disaffection with the Hindu-supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress Party.

The AAPs victory also relied on assistance from the Indian Stalinists in Delhi, where the CPM called for an AAP vote. Afterwards, former CPM Secretary General Prakash Karat hailed the AAPs victory in Peoples Democracy, the partys organ. The virtues that AAP claims for itselfa clean image, incorruptibility, denial of perks and privileges of power, and funding based on peoples contributionsare all part of the style and practice of the communists from the outset.

Similarly, the PWF carried out a series of initiatives to bring another right-wing regional party into the coalition in Tamil Naduthe Desiya Mutpoku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK). The DMDK leader Vijayakanth proclaimed to the media, I want to be a king, not a king maker. According to the Tamil media Dinamalar, the PWF responded with a note to the DMDK, declaring, It doesnt matter if you didnt come to our alliance. If you try to form an alliance yourself under your leadership, we are waiting to join that.

Last month, Phillip Min, the US Consul General in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, met Vijayakanth in his headquarters. The next day Thanthi TV in Chennai reported that PWF coordinator Vaiko had announced that if the DMDK joined with the PWF, the PWF would consider supporting Vijayakanth for chief minister.

The PWF functions as a tool of the Western imperialist powers, especially US imperialism, which has announced its pivot to Asia, a comprehensive strategy to militarily encircle China. Their goal is to ensure that even if the current, pro-US AIADMK were to lose power due to broad social anger with its policies, another administration aligned with US foreign policy would replace it.

During the election campaign, the PWF has maintained a deafening silence on imperialist wars in the Middle East, East Africa and Afghanistan, and the intensification of US military activity in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, as Washington moves to integrate India into an international alliance aimed against China.

According to the New York Times, US ambassador to India Richard R.Verma had indicated that joint patrols by navy vessels from India and the US will become a common and welcome sight throughout Indo Pacific waters.

The political agenda of the CPM and CPI is to align themselves with US imperialism, suppress working class struggles such as the recent mass strike of public sector workers, and emerge as trusted tools of imperialism and the Indian bourgeoisie.

Over the past quarter-century the Stalinist parties have repeatedly propped up Indian governments that pursued free market policies and closer military-strategic ties with Washington. This includes the Congress-led UPA government, which the Stalinists supported in office for three years after Manmohan Singh and George W. Bush formed the Indo-US strategic partnership in July 2005.

The Stalinists electoral partners in Tamil Nadu are allies of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in Sri Lanka. The TNA supported the regime change operation that saw the US and India orchestrate a joint opposition candidate to oust President Mahinda Rajapakse in the 2015 election, because he was deemed too pro-Chinese. The TNA has supported Sri Lankas new government as it has integrated more fully into Washingtons pivot, including through the recent Sri Lanka-US partnership dialogue.

The Stalinists seek to cover up their reactionary policies by claiming they are fighting corruption. CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury told a Madurai conference of the PWF, We are joining together for a clean government in Tamil Nadu, based on economic policies, alternative pro-peoples policies and non-corruption. For the first time in Tamil Nadu for many decades, a clean government will be formed. We can build a better Tamil Nadu and India.

At the same conference, CPI National Secretary D. Raja said, We have formed this alliance because we thought differently and wanted a different path to solve the problems of the people in the state.

These promises are empty and false. All of the PWFs constituent parties have collaborated for decades with Indias discredited mainstream parties, the Congress and the BJP at the national level, and the AIADMK and DMK in Tamil Nadu.

The PWFs strategy is particularly driven by fear of the widespread alienation among young voters from the major bourgeois parties.

According to the Hindu, the unemployment rate is unprecedented. As the education level increases in Tamil Nadu, the unemployment rate also rises in the age group 15-29 years, and is significantly high at 13.5 percent in the case of post-graduates. Ten million Indians with graduate, post-graduate and technical degrees were looking for work, meaning that 15 percent of all Indians with the highest levels of education were seeking jobs as of 2011. Kerala had Indias highest graduate unemployment rate at over 30 percent.

It should be noted that the southern India state of Kerala was ruled for many years by the CPM and CPI.

The Stalinists election campaign in Tamil Nadu takes place in the context of a series of state elections they are contesting with different bourgeois parties. In West Bengal, they have entered into an alliance with Congress, the traditional ruling party of the Indian bourgeoisie, that is responsible for initiating Indias pro-market policies and the strategic partnership with US imperialism.
After reaching agreement with European Union (EU) representatives at a March 7 summit in Brussels, the Syriza (Coalition of the Radical Left) government of Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras is playing a key role in safeguarding Fortress Europe.

One day after the Brussels summit, Tsipras travelled to Izmir, Turkey, to meet with Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Izmir lies on the Aegean Sea coast, a few hundred kilometres from the Greek islands of Chios and Lesbos, in the centre of the refugee routes.

Tsipras and Davutoglu praised each other for their unified position in the refugee crisis, sounding like two old friends as they spoke of dear Alexis and my friend Ahmet. With beaming faces, they handed out roses to female journalists in honour of International Womens Day.

The agreements between the two countries are nothing to laugh about, however. They focus on a stipulation that irregular migrants be deported with greater speed back to Turkey. In 2001, Greece and Turkey adopted an agreement that took effect in April 2002 on deportation of illegal immigrants back to Turkey. But until now, Turkey only sporadically fulfilled the terms of the agreement. In 2014, it refused 90 percent of some 9,700 Greek requests for repatriation.

As part of a dirty deal with the EU, repatriations will now be rushed through. For every Syrian refugee sent back, another will be permitted entry into the EU. Final discussions in the EU on this controversial proposal will occur this week. Tsipras declared it was unacceptable that countries with high-tech systems at their disposal had been unable to put a stop to the smugglers.

Concealed behind the phrase fight against smugglers is an inhumane policy primarily directed not at traffickers, but at refugees. It serves as a justification for NATOs mission in the Aegean and the Mediterranean to close refugees escape routes, forcing them into even more dangerous and costly detours.

In Izmir, Tsipras again warned North Africans not to travel to Europe. He thus openly endorsed attempts to keep refugees from the Maghreb out of Europe. In Germany, these countries were only recently classified as safe countries of origin, so that refugees and migrants from there can be deported more easily.

Tsipras would not be Tsipras, however, if he did not cloak such extreme right-wing resolutions with empty humanitarian phrases. What was taking place in the Mediterranean, said Tsipras, was a disgrace to our culture. Standing side by side with Davutoglu, he announced, Greece and Turkey will serve as models of humanity and hospitality.

In reality, the agreement on the repatriation of refugees into Turkey has been classified as a violation of international law by several organisations. Following the legal studies of ProAsyl, Human Rights Watch and Statewatch, the UN has also now designated the deal between Turkey and Greece as illegal.

Nonetheless, Athens has begun to implement these policies. Zacharoula Tsirigoti, the head of the Hellenic Police General Staff announced the rapid implementation of the Izmir agreements in collaboration with the Frontex border agency and the Turkish police. Between Thursday and Monday, 240 irregular migrants from North Africa had already been transferred to Turkey. They were handed over to Turkish police in groups of 80 at the customs office in Kipoi, Greece, near the Turkish border.

At present, there are more than 44,500 refugees in Greece. Over the last year, the number of arrests by police have shot up along with the number of refugees. According to Greek police, in the year to January 2016, 70,623 people were arrested for illegal entry and residence. The year before, 4,002 had been arrested. Most people picked up in the last year came from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq over the Aegean Sea to Greece. They are referred to as illegal foreigners in the statistics.

The police are also increasingly involved in refugee policy. Prior to Mondays EU summit, they cleared out Victoria Square in Athens. Seventy refugees who had slept in the square for several days were sent to refugee shelters euphemistically known as welcome centres. Police immediately began guarding the square to stop other refugees from camping out there.

Police patrols will also be stepped up in other public spaces to prevent camping. Four refugee families who had left Victoria Square intending to stay in the large Pedion Areos Park were also brought to the Elliniko camp by police. Police are posted at Athens central Larissis train station to prevent refugees from travelling north. The railway service OSE was instructed not to sell refugees tickets to the northern border.

While up to now officials have not resorted to force and have been aided by translators, these operations place serious limitations on the freedom of movement of refugees and have increased the police presence throughout the Athens area. The Greek police force is penetrated by right-wing and fascistic organisations. In the 2012 and 2015 elections, half of the countrys police officers cast their votes for the fascist Golden Dawn party.

The partial reintroduction of the notorious DELTA force is a warning to all refugees, workers and youth. Until last October, DELTA police units patrolled Athens in small groups of motorcyclists and were known for their brutal treatment of migrants and left-wing demonstrators. The Syriza government disbanded the groups and incorporated them into the regular police. In February, they reactivated a group of at least 65 former DELTA officers under the new name Omicron, however.

At the Macedonian border, the government has hesitated to use the police to destroy the large makeshift refugee camps. In the coming days, people in the village of Idomeni are to be brought by bus to other shelters. While approximately 1,000 refugees have left the provisional camp voluntarily, more than 12,000 people still live there in the mud and overflowing tents.

The scenes there are like those typically associated with disaster areas. On Friday, state-owned news broadcaster ERT showed clusters of people forming around food distribution trucks. Desperate people shouted and raised their arms, fighting with each other for bags of basic foods like potatoes and milk.

Many refugees now try to avoid Idomeni, risking other paths across the border. On Sunday night, two men and a woman drowned trying to cross a river on the Macedonian border. A further 23 people from their group were rescued and taken to the Macedonian town of Gevgelija.

More than 1,000 refugees, including many women and children, left Idomeni yesterday morning after news spread of a border crossing to Macedonia a few kilometres away that was unprotected by fences. They passed on foot through the village of Chamilo and crossed a torrential stream near the border with the help of a cable fastened on each side. Greek police were unable to stop the people and followed them.

After many hundreds had crossed at an unsecured point on the border, Macedonian police arrested more than 30 photojournalists who had accompanied the refugees. The aim of the arrests was to exclude witnesses as the Macedonian police moved in and savagely attacked refugees. Bruised and bloody refugees told reporters after the assault of being kicked and beaten by police.

In accordance with the new EU agreements, the men, women and children, who had endured a dangerous, exhausting and costly journey, are to be deported to Turkey, a country in which not even the minimum standards for asylum policies are met.
6 years, 7 months ago by Scott Hardy

"No evidence" of wrong-doing

Adams County State's Attorney Jon Barnard wants the Illinois Attorney General's office and the State Board of Elections to look at Tuesday's primary election in Adams County.

Barnard sent a letter Wednesday to Attorney General Lisa Madigan and former Quincy Mayor Chuck Scholz, now chairman of the Illinois State Board of Elections, asking that both agencies investigate the primary. That's after reports of voters being turned away from polling places after they ran out of ballots.

Barnard says he doesn't know if any votes not cast would affect the outcome of Tuesday's election. He did say that there was no evidence of wrong-doing.

Click Here to Download File
6 years, 7 months ago by Scott Hardy

Venvertloh: Overwhelmed

Due to a shortage of ballots in Adams County, driven by massive voter turnout over the Adams County States Attorney and Presidential races, election results from the March 15 primary wont be declared official until Thursday. Thats according to Adams County Clerk Chuck Venvertloh.

Venvertloh estimated that nearly all precincts were affected at one point through the day by a shortage of ballots. Venvertloh estimated that instead of a 27 per cent turnout, Adams County saw a 55-60 per cent turnout. Venvertloh credited the turnout to the interest in the Republican primary race for the States Attorney position between Assistant States Attorneys Gary Farha and Jennifer Cifaldi, as well as contentious Presidential primary races for both Republicans and Democrats.

Venvertloh said that there would be no counting of ballots by hand, and that he would wait until he could get both Democratic and Republican election judges together, in order to finish the official tabulation of all votes. Venvertloh said that he was both overwhelmed and glad to see such high turnout.
I thought maybe we could steer clear of controversy this week and instead talk about the presidential election.

Instant media, within the parameters of the presidential election, has its roots in the Nixon-Kennedy debate in 1960. That was the first televised debate, and the dashing and eloquent John Kennedy managed to work the room much better than Richard Nixon, who appeared nervous and unshaven on camera.

TV watchers thought Kennedy won the debate, while people who listened on the radio thought Nixon won.

Think of that. We had the same debate, the same points, and the same two people, but in the end, image won the day. From that day forward, we would pick our presidents after being dazzled by images and sound bytes and hype.

The presidency, marketed like Tide with Bleach.

This is not to say Kennedy wasnt a great president, and Nixon would certainly have his turn later on. But beyond the merits of our presidents, Im thinking about the sport that is the campaign, and how instant media plays a part. It really is my very favorite contest. Its like the most wonderful reality show, complete with failures, gaffes, reversals, revelations, and wonderfully underhanded ambushes that have scuttled the soundest of campaigns.

Right now, we have a set of extremes so very dramatic that both sides appear completely removed from one another. We have alarmists calling for Xenophobic isolationism, and others calling for a complete rethinking of our financial system.

These are strange days, indeed. A blustery, rude, fattened frat boy with billions has managed to turn the entire GOP into a frantic and dithering mess, trying without success to bury the monster theyve made. And on the other side, a Bronx Jew from Vermont with a wagging finger shouts about greed and Wall Street and fairness, challenging a career woman who otherwise would have it in the bag.

But maybe more importantly, right now, Frank Zappas Uncle Meat Variations is wafting through the speakers, and the eclectic mix of sounds, voices, dissonance, and the absurdist arrangements that define Zappas compositions, has given me an idea. And I believe it can help. Maybe we have an opportunity here to create a new political ideology out of the two most extreme contenders. Maybe we can take a lesson from Zappa and create an elegant blend of the best ideas from the most extreme positions from both sides.

In fact, Ive taken some time to collect some of the finest passages from both sides and arrange them. We can call it the Campaign Variations. I think the dissonance works wonderfully, and together the two styles read so well that we forget which one were hearing. Its really beautiful, and I think it could lead to a new era of thinking in our political landscape. As an enhancer, make sure to have The Uncle Meat Variations on while reading. You'll be glad you did:

Our country is in serious trouble. We dont have victories anymore. We used to have victories, but we dont have them. Millions of our people are working two or three jobs just to survive. In fact, Americans work longer hours than do the people of any industrialized country. When was the last time anybody saw us beating, lets say, China in a trade deal? They kill us. I beat China all the time. All the time. Despite the incredibly hard work and long hours of the American middle class, 58 percent of all new income generated today is going to the top one percent. Its coming from more than Mexico. Its coming from all over South and Latin America, and its coming probably  probably  from the Middle East. And if we are serious about transforming our country, if we are serious about rebuilding the middle class, if we are serious about reinvigorating our democracy, we need to develop a political movement which, once again, is prepared to take on and defeat a ruling class whose greed is destroying our nation. And Islamic terrorism is eating up large portions of the Middle East. Theyve become rich. Im in competition with them. The billionaire class cannot have it all. Our government belongs to all of us, and not just the one percent.

They just built a hotel in Syria. Can you believe this? They built a hotel.

Unbelievably, and grotesquely, the top one-tenth of 1 percent owns nearly as much wealth as the bottom 90 percent.

I think those words, when blended, create a bold and real message for our nation. Not only does it speak to the most basic of our fears, it provides a roadmap for a new century. A century where money, wars, suspicion of newcomers, and religio-politial obligation cozies up with a secular sense of fairness and balance.

Our nation is an evolving experiment. Maybe its time we embrace our new direction. And when we think about it, it's really not so bad.
6 years, 7 months ago by Scott Hardy

Both will be arraigned April 7

Probable cause has been found against a Hannibal man accused of wounding a Monroe City police officer in January, and the woman on the run with him.

Timothy Brokes and June Smith appeared at preliminary hearings Tuesday in Monroe County Circuit court. Brokes elected to waive his hearing, while Smith had hers. Monroe County Judge Michael Wilson found there was probable cause to hold them both. Brokes is charged with assault and armed criminal action, and Smith with Hindering Prosecution, in the January 13 shooting of a Monroe City police officer. Brokes allegedly shot the officer while he was heading back to his squad car, after he pulled over a truck Brokes and Smith were in near Monroe City High School. The officer was able to return fire and shoot Brokes in the leg, which led to his capture.

Brokes, whos being held in the Marion County Jail on $500,000 bond, still has not been charged in either the January 12th shooting death of Brittany Gauch, or the shooting of her husband Aaron Gauch earlier that night. Smith is being held in the Marion County Jail on $50,000 bond. Both will be arraigned in Monroe County court April 7.
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - Florida Governor Rick Scott announced on Facebook today that he will be supporting Donald Trump for President.

According to a post on his official Facebook page, Scott asked for all Republicans to come together in advance of the November election.

In the post, he said he believes he is going with what the voters of Florida want after yesterday's primary vote. "...the voters are speaking clearly  they want a businessman outsider who will dramatically shake up the status quo in Washington," Scott said.

Read Governor Scott's full statement below:

Im asking all Republicans today to come together and begin preparing to win the general election in November.

With his victories yesterday, I believe it is now time for Republicans to accept and respect the will of the voters and coalesce behind Donald Trump.
Shas Members of Knesset cannot accept Israel's official recognition of the Reform and Conservative Jewish movements Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri said Monday night.

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There were rumors Monday night regarding the start of negotiations between the Likud and the Zionist Union parties in case the Haredis do in fact leave the coalition, or in order to expand the government.

Deri even tweeted, "I hope that these rumors regarding the expansion of the coalition are true, and I hope that when we wake up in the morning that a unity government will be created." However, the Zionist Union denied the reports.

Fury has risen within the ultra-Orthodox parties against the government, and in a vote of no confidence in the Knesset plenum Monday night, MK Israel Eichler (United Torah Judaism) clearly stated his opinion on the collapse of the government.

Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri

"It's true that the nation of Israel loses when the government surrenders to reforms of the Supreme Court which hurts the sanctity of Israel. Yet, as much as the ultra-Orthodox lose out if the government goes into crisis, the government ministers and the Prime Minister lose out even more. If the government doesn't approve the mikve law (which would put the supervision of Jewish ritual baths under the control of ultra-Orthodox parties), the Council of Torah Sages will convene and discuss and decide on the future of the government and what we will do," he said.

Eichler alluded to the convention of the Council of Torah Sages of the Agudat Yisrael political party, which is supposed to convene on Tuesday.

The Knesset Members of the party are worried about ambiguous things that the rabbis might do in order to maneuver around them and force them to destroy the coalition. In the most extreme case, the rabbis may force the MKs to leave the government if the government decides not to cancel the decision to designate a section of the Western Wall for the Reform movement.

Even Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman commented on the crisis in a radio interview, saying "We have a coalition agreement with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and the main article of the agreement is to maintain the status quo. I request this, nothing more, and I am certainly ready to end the coalition for it."

Due to the political crisis, the mikve law was passed on Sunday by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation.

The law, which is headed by MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) goes around the High Court decision which determined that the mikves would be administered by the Reform and Conservative movements alongside the Orthodox.

Politicians clarified that the ultra-Orthodox sector can live with the solutions regarding the various Jewish movements, as long as they dont receive official validation from the government.

"If they let them (the Reform and Conservative movements  ed) pray at the southern area of the Western Wall, but they don't 'officially' let them do it, with development budgets and with legal definition, then the ultra-Orthodox public can accept it."
A Ynet investigation has revealed the number of terrorists' homes which have been demolished, and found out that despite there being 230 Palestinian terrorists who attempted to kill Jews in the recent terror wave's past six months, so far only ten homes have been demolished.

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According to the IDF, since October only five terrorists' homes have been demolished, in addition to five floors of residential buildings that housed terrorists, with one terrorists home being sealed.

In addition, 124 homes have been mapped, and six demolition orders and seven initial notices have been issued, all initial bureaucratic steps that will only lead to concrete action in a while, if at all. The meaning of this is that Israel has no current plans of damaging about half of the homes occupied by terrorists from the current wave of violence, which many have been calling the third intifada.

The demolition of a terrorist's home in Jabel Mukaber. (Photo: AFP)

Since October 1, 2015, the day Naama and Eitam Henkin were murdered, 230 terrorists went out to kill Israelis. In the absence of effective intelligence against individual terrorists, one of the main means of defense possessed by security authorities is deterrence. More and more investigations of attacks revealed that the fear of harming one's family or its financial state can prevent terrorists from heading out to perpetrate attacks. However, in practice almost no deterrent measures are being carried out.

Despite the cabinets decision to speed up the process of demolishing terrorist homes, most of the homes of those killed or who seriously injured their victims are still standing. In the a few cases where the security establishment also manages to demolish or seal a terrorists house, it happens weeks after the attack, a delay that is counterproductive.

The reason is that international law, which Israel is committed to preserving, has changed since the second Intifada. The security array has to legally prove that the demolition of a terrorists home is not a vindictive or punitive measure, but is designed to prevent the next attack. During the second intifada, the territorial brigade commander in the Judea and Samaria division was allowed to make his own decisions regarding the demolition of a terrorists home, and it would take place immediately within a few days or less.

Incidentally, two of the five houses that were completely demolished were of terrorists who murdered Jews in the middle of last year, before the outbreak of the current terror wave, and a third belonged to a terrorist who murdered the late Dalia Lemkus at the Alon Shvut intersection in November 2014.

Demolition of the home of terrorist Mohand Halabi. (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)

In all five cases in which the demolition was partial, only including the terrorist home's floor, it was performed about two months after the date of the attack, long enough to allow the Palestinian Authority to provide the killer's family with a furnished and equipped alternative.

Among the six demolition orders that were issued for homes of terrorists, one is pending the approval of the Supreme Court: That of terrorist Aziz Meri from the village of Surda, who initiated and helped in the early October murder of Aharon Bennett and Nahmia Lavi near the Lions Gate in Jerusalem's Old City. Another decree, the demolition of the home of terrorist Abdallah Ischak from Silwad, who killed Malachi Rosenfeld in Binyamin, was struck down by the Supreme Court.

The initial seven warning notices issued for homes of terrorists involved in the murder of Jews in recent months are waiting to be processed by the Ministry of Justice. The decision and approval of house demolitions comes from the political leadership. In most cases, the IDF does not wait. Shortly after an attack, IDF engineers usually map out terrorists' homes, but afterwards it becomes unclear how much time will pass until the demolition actually occurs, if at all.

The issue of deportation

Another proposed deterrent, which has been delayed by the Ministry of Justice even though it has been principally approved by the Cabinet, is the expulsion of terrorists' families abroad, or to the Gaza Strip. A legislative amendment on the matter, which was presented to the Knesset last week by Minister Yisrael Katz, may lead to some change. However, the extreme step will probably be scrutinized by the High Court of Justice (HCJ).

While some of the terrorists who survived attacks strengthen the argument of the Israeli government in their interrogations, that the official Palestinian incitement on TV gives them an incentive to go out and kill Jews, even here there was a failure. The ministry of defense applied electronic countermeasures to disrupt Hamas TV broadcasts. The attempt was unsuccessful, so the main effort is invested in monitoring Facebook.

Minister Yisrael Katz. A new proposal. (Photo: Ido Erez)

Some of the terrorists who survived their attacks have given more credence to the Israeli government's claims, according to which the incitement on official Palestinians television incentivized them to go out and kill Jews. Defense Ministry authorities have so far failed to properly disrupt the incitement on Hamas TV via electronic warfare, and so the bulk of their efforts is currently focused on monitoring social media.

As of this week, there is no intention to arrest Fatah officials in the West Bank who continue to publicly support terrorists, claiming repeatedly that soldiers or police officers have executed women and youths. Even a temporary shutdown of official Palestinian television, which is a major inciter, is not on the agenda. Hamas inciting broadcast stations in the West Bank have been frequently shut down by Israeli security forces in recent years, but the Israeli call for Palestinians to halt incitement on official TV channels appears to still be falling on deaf ears. Thus, the next lone-wolf terrorist gains his motivation.

After the attacks in the middle of last week, the political echelon decided on a further step against incitement that is akin to treating cancer with a band-aid: On the night between Thursday and Friday, the IDF and Shin Bet raided the Falasteen al-Yom television station, which broadcasts from Birzeit University near Ramallah. They confiscated equipment and detained the station manager for questioning. But the station, which is affiliated with the Islamic Jihad, continued to broadcast via an Egyptian companys satellite.
Yael Weissman, whose husband Tuvia Yanai Weismann was killed in a terror attack, won her fight with the Ministry of Defense last Monday to have her fallen husband's gravestone engraved with the words "killed in action".

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Sergeant First Class Tuvia Yanai Weissman was killed by two 14-year-old Palestinians in a stabbing attack that took place inside a Rami Levy supermarket in Shaar Binyamin in the West Bank. Mrs. Weissman made her request since her husband had stormed at the two knife-wielding terrorists inside the supermarket.

Yael said in response to getting the news that "we believe that under the circumstances in which he was killed, this is the minimum amount of respect we can show him as a society and as a nation  to give Yanai, a hero of Israel, the correct and appropriate inscription on his gravestone."

The Weissman family

The widow got the message after consulting with the Ministry of Defense, and afterwards obtained IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot's opinion on the matter.

The IDF Chief of Staff was quoted as saying that "the official position of the IDF regarding the death of Sgt. Tuvia Yanai Weissman is that the event in which he was killed was indeed battle  and that this is one of the commitments we have to him as a combat soldier, to his family, and to the ethos of IDF combat."

"The fact is that Yanai attempted to stop the terrorists with his bare hands  this reflects his bravery and the fact that he was in battle with terrorists."

Yael Weissman's post on Facebook

A week ago, Yael Weissman published a post on Facebook in which she claimed that her request was denied at first.

"Yani my love," she wrote, "who could believe that only two weeks after your death in heroic battle, in those seconds when you charged at the terrorists with your bare hands, I would need to deal with official insensitivity at its finest. Instead of dealing with how to memorialize you, I need to deal with proving the circumstances of your death."

Tuvia Yanai Weissman held US citizenship, leaves behind a wife and one year old child. He was 21 years old.
An American tourist snuck into Zedekiahs Cave in Jerusalem, purported to contain the treasure of Korah and his followers, on Thursday and hid inside overnight, eluding the guards as they closed the cave to the public.

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During his one-night stay, the tourist dug in search of the cave's legendary treasures. When workers opened the cave the next morning, they found the intruder covered in mud and dust, carrying archaeological finds in his bag. He removed rock fragments from the cave considered archaeologically valuable since they were quarried for generations during biblical times for the construction of the Second Temple.

The ancient 9,000-square-meter cave is generally closed on Fridays but was opened by chance on March 11 for work purposes. After the tourist was discovered he was taken into police custody, and the archaeological findings were returned to the cave.

Zedekiah's Cave, Jerusalem (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)

The tourist was not the first to dig in Zedekiahs Cave for hidden treasures, though other digs have been allowed by the authorities.

In 1968, a Muslim resident of the Old City claimed his grandfather found three crates of gold coins in the cave before 1948. The site is important to Muslims as the place where the earth swallowed Korah as punishment for his attempt to rebel against Moses.

The man claimed his grandfather told him where to find the crates. After promising to donate 75% of the bounty to the State of Israel, the government permitted the search, which ultimately found nothing.

Zedekiahs Cave is a dug-out expanse beneath the Old City walls. Archaeologists believe the cave was in continuous use from the 8th-7th centuries BCE through the 15th century CE, when it was sealed for about 300 years until being discovered again in 1854.

The cave, also known as Solomons Quarries, is revered by the Freemasons who believe that King Solomon was the first Freemason and used stones from the site to build the Temple. The Freemasons still hold annual ceremonies in the cave and consider it one of their most treasured sites.
A powerful Syrian Kurdish political party is planning to declare a federal region in northern Syria, a model it hopes can be applied to the entire country, a spokesman for the faction said Wednesday.

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Nawaf Khalil of the Democratic Union Party told The Associated Press that his party is not lobbying for an only-Kurdish region but an all-inclusive area that would include representation for Turkmen, Arabs and Kurds in northern Syria.



The declaration is expected to be made at the end of a Kurdish conference that is being held Wednesday in the town of Rmeilan in the country's northern Hassakeh province.

Kurdish fighters in Syria. (Photo: MCT)

It comes as the Damascus government and Saudi-backed rebels are holding peace talks with a UN envoy in Geneva on ways to resolve the country's devastating civil war, which this week entered its sixth year.

Kurds are the largest ethnic minority in Syria, making up more than 10 percent of the country's prewar population of 23 million. They are centered in the impoverished Hassakeh province, wedged between the borders of Turkey and Iraq.

Syria's Kurds have dramatically strengthened their hold on northern Syria during the civil war, carving out territory as they battled to drive out Islamic militant fighters allied to the rebellion and declaring their own civil administration in areas under their control.

A federal region could be a first step toward creating an autonomous region similar to the one Kurds run across the border in Iraq, where their territory is virtually a separate country.

It could also usher in similar demands for federal regions elsewhere in Syria and in effect lead to a partition of the war-shattered country.

However, both the Syrian government and the opposition, at least in theory, reject any form of partitioning of the country.

"As a Syrian citizen, I say we reject talks about a federal Syria ... our people will reject any attempt to divide Syria," Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said at a weekend press conference in Damascus.

The minister's remarks came a day after the UN envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said the possibility of federalism for Syria has not been taken off the table for the peace talks in Geneva.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday also said federalization is one possible option in Syria if it is the will of the Syrian people. He said Russia will support whatever solution the Syrian government and the opposition devise to end the country's war, including "any form (of government) whatever it may be called: federalization, decentralization, unitary state."

Khalil distinguished between prevailing autonomous rule for the Kurdish areas - which has been in effect in Syria since 2013 - and the federalism project, which he said was ethnically inclusive.

"The federalism project is a model for all Syria," he said in a phone interview from Germany, where he is based.

A federal region in northern Syria is sure to anger Turkey, which considers the Syrian Democratic Union Party, or PYD, as a terrorist group. Its military wing, the people's Protection Units, or YPG, leads the fight against Islamic State extremists in Syria.

Much of Syria's border with Turkey is now controlled by the YPG-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces - an alliance that includes Kurds, Arabs and Christians - which has distinguished itself from the Syrian government and the mainstream opposition in the country's civil war.

The Kurdish move comes at a critical juncture in the conflict.

A two-week-old Russia and US-engineered partial cease-fire is holding and peace talks have resumed this week in Geneva. Moreover, Russia on Tuesday began withdrawing the bulk of its troops from Syria, signaling an end to Moscow's five-and-a-half month air campaign. That move raised hopes for more meaningful discussions in Switzerland where de Mistura is holding proximity talks with both the Syrian government team and the representatives of the moderate, western-backed opposition.

Russia's defense ministry said another group of its aircraft left the Russian air base in Syria on Wednesday and is returning home.

A February map of Syria, divided by regional control. (Photo: AFP)

NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Russia's decision. In an interview with The Associated Press, he said it's a contribution to efforts to reduce military tensions and find a peaceful solution to the Syrian conflict.

Stoltenberg, who spoke during a visit to the Afghan capital of Kabul, said the consequences of the withdrawal are yet to be seen but that he "would welcome any action that reduces the military tensions in Syria."

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said Moscow is satisfied with the joint work with Washington on coordinating Syria peace efforts. Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday the Syrian peace process is the main focus now for Moscow and Washington.

He hailed Washington's "readiness to coordinate those efforts."
GENEVA - Russia's withdrawal of forces from Syria was no surprise to Damascus, Bashar Ja'afari, head of the Syrian government delegation at peace talks in Geneva, said on Wednesday.

"The Russian decision to withdraw partially from Syria was taken jointly by a common decision, taken both by President Putin and President Assad. So it wasn't a surprise for us," Ja'afari told reporters.

He said Russia's military involvement in Syria was a matter that would be constantly reviewed by both countries.

"The day they will leave or withdraw or redeploy their forces partially or totally, it will be done again and again and again through a joint Syrian-Russian coordination action."
WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama nominated federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, challenging Republicans to reject a long-time jurist and former prosecutor known as a consensus builder on what is often dubbed the nation's second-highest court.

Garland, 63, is the chief judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, a court whose influence over federal policy and national security matters has made it a proving ground for potential Supreme Court justices.

He would replace conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, who died last month, leaving behind a bitter election-year fight over the future of the court.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday that he had agreed to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu soon to discuss the security situation in the Middle East.

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The Russian president also spoke to Netanyahu on the phone, saying "We decided that we will speak at further length in the future about various issues."

Putin hosted Rivlin at the Kremlin on Wednesday afternoon.

"Mr. President, I welcome you with all my heart on arriving in Russia. I am happy to receive the Israeli president. Israeli-Russian relations have a long history. More than 1.5 million Soviet emigrants, who speak Russian and have a Russian mentality, live in Israel. They stay in touch with their friends and family members, who have stayed in Russia, making our relationship particularly special," he said.

President Putin and President Rivlin, Photo:AFP

Rivlin responded: "Mr. President, thank you for the warm reception. It is an honor for me to be here with you in your beautiful land. Russian and Israel have a very long history. We cooperate on many issues and we both deal with terrorism and fundamentalists. As a Jew, I would like to say that we will never forget the Russian nation and Red Army for defeating the Nazis. I want to thank you again for the invitation and I look forward to our meeting. We have many important issues to discuss."





President Putin and President Rivlin, Photo: AFP

Analysts expect Israel to raise its concerns with Russia regarding the former's withdrawal from Syria , which could strengthen Hezbollah and Iranian activities in the war-torn nation.

Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot discussed Russia's withdrawal from Syria on Tuesday at the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, saying, "We did not receive prior notice just as others did not."

"At this stage, humility and caution are needed to understand how the situation in Syria will develop with the exit of the Russian forces from the region," he added.

President Rivlin lays wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Mocow, Photo: AFP

According to the chief of staff, "The Russian intervention strengthened Assad, who now can go to peace talks in Geneva with an upper hand."

He also said that Russia will withdraw gradually and two bases will still operate with limited personnel. Thus, the withdrawal will not be absolute.

President Rivlin visits Russia State Library, Photo: AP

Alexey Drobinin, deputy Russian ambassador to Israel, spoke to Ynet about the withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria. He said, "We are leaving the region. Russian will leave behind an air force and navy presence. Withdrawal means that Russia is sending a clear message that the time has come to give bi-lateral political negotiations, between the government and opposition, a chance. We want the crisis to be resolved and we will do everything to so that Israel's national security is not undermined. We deeply understand Israel's interests vis-a-vis what is happening in Syria."

Before meeting with Putin, President Rivlin placed a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Alexander Garden. Thereafter, Rivlin visited the Russian State Library his wife Nehama, where they looked at books in Hebrew. He said that he hopes the books will one day arrive in Israel.
SKIEN - Norway's worst mass killer pledged allegiance to Nazism, compared himself to Nelson Mandela and complained about being served cold coffee and microwaved food as he testified Wednesday in a trial over his prison conditions.

Anders Behring Breivik, 37, accused the government of trying to sap his will to live by isolating him from other prisoners and denying him mail correspondence with other right-wing extremists.

"This is inhuman treatment," said Breivik who killed 77 people in 2011 in a bombing in Oslo's government district and a shooting massacre on Utoya island, where the youth division of the left-wing Labor Party had gathered for its annual summer camp.

He used his first chance to speak to an outside audience since his 2012 criminal trial to declare himself a pure "national socialist," or Nazi. After the attacks he had described himself as a commander of a Christian militant group, which investigators found no trace of.
BAGHDAD - Iraqi security forces freed a group of Yazidi women held captive by Islamic State in a covert operation behind the group's lines, a defense ministry statement said on Wednesday.

It did not say how many women were freed, when or where.

Islamic State captured around 5,000 Yazidi men and women in the northern region of Sinjar in summer 2014. Some 2,000 have managed to escape or have been smuggled out of Islamic State's self-proclaimed caliphate in Iraq and Syria, activists say.

Islamic State considers the Yazidis to be devil-worshippers. The ancient Yazidi faith blends elements of Christianity, Zoroastrianism and Islam.
PARIS - French anti-terrorism police arrested a small group with Islamist militant ties on Wednesday, suspecting one of them they may have been planning an attack in Paris, France's interior minister said.

"We have information about one person that suggests that he could undertake violent actions in France," Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said, adding the man was thought to have ties with the Islamic State in Syria.

"This person was arrested this morning along with people linked with him," Cazeneuve said, warning however against jumping to the conclusion that an attack was imminent as checks were underway.

Earlier TF1 television reported that three men and one women were arrested at dawn in Paris and at the nearby northern suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis on suspicions they were planning an imminent attack.

Police also seized an unused cartridge for an automatic rifle and computer equipment, TF1 said on its web site.
The widow of a Palestinian terrorist who died under mysterious circumstances in Bulgaria last month accused authorities on Wednesday of keeping her in the dark about their investigation.

Omar Nayef, who was wanted by Israel over the killing of a Jewish settler three decades ago, was found dead in the courtyard of the Palestinian embassy in Sofia on February 26. Local media reported that the 51-year-old had fallen from the fourth floor, while a senior Palestinian Authority official said he had suffered "serious torso injuries".

Nayef's widow accuses Israel of assassinating him. On Wednesday, the widow and her three children staged a protest outside the court of justice in the Bulgarian capital Sofia.

"The authorities have not given us any details about the medical examination or released my husband's body so I can bury him," she told AFP.

She threatened to take the case to the European Court of Justice "if the outcome... isn't announced soon".
UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations says Canada will resume contributing funds to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which is responsible for aiding and protecting Palestinian refugees, in a statement released Wednesday.

Canada discontinued the funding in 2010 during the administration of Conservative leader Stephen Harper amid criticism that the agency funded schools that had become hotbeds of anti-Israeli extremism. The statement announced that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is pleased that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government decided to restart the funding.
The 910th Airlift Wing hosted a comedy show here, March 5, 2016. Senior Master Sgt. John Koehl, chief enlisted manager with the 910th Force Support Squadron, knows feature presenter Tracy Cooper from high school, and they worked together in the Air Force.

Koehl said he tried to get Cooper to come out to the air station for a while, so the 910ths Chiefs Group got together and the comedy show idea became reality.

Cooper volunteered his time to come support YARS Service members. Koehl noted that the event would be a fundraiser for the Chiefs Group, meaning all the proceeds would benefit members of the 910th Airlift Wing by supporting various activities.

We have events all the time, said Koehl. We are always trying to raise morale and what better way to raise morale than a with comedy show.

Cooper said that he retired from the Air Force and got his comedy start while out with some friends. He started making people laugh, and pretty soon he had a crowd of about 50 people. He tried a couple open mic nights and was soon fast-tracked into the comedy world.

The show featured headliner Jack Wilson with emcee Karen Jaffe, both from Dayton.

I think the morale of the troops is important, said Wilson. I think what they do is an important job; they deserve to be recognized and entertained.

The three comedians performed for a crowd of approximately 100 people.

My father was Naval reserve, said Jaffe, and I always think its important to give back to the troops who are defending our country.

Chief David Prokop, 910th Maintenance Squadron aircraft chief enlisted manager, said based on the popularity of the comedy event, the chiefs group plans to have similar events in the future.
This has been a long time in the making, but in our continuing pursuit to bring only the best of firearms, 2nd Amendment and defence related news to our readers, we are very excited to announce the next step in our evolution as a company.

As of 2020, Minuteman Review is now the proud owner and operator of Your Defence News, a website with a long history of breaking huge news stories and investigative journalism.

We hope you are equally as excited as us.

This means that now the teams of Minuteman can combine with the firepower of Your Defence News to stay at the absolute forefront for our readers.

Keep an eye. Big things are coming soon. We couldn't be more excited.

In the meanwhile, here are some of our most popular posts and categories to keep you busy.

Happy shootin' my friends!

Buying Guides:

Firearms

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China to open reservoir gates in effort to combat Southeast Asia drought

China has announced plans to release water into the Mekong River from one of its dams located in Yunnan province starting from March 15 in order to help Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries that are suffering from prolonged drought.

Locals in Vietnam's southern provinces, located around Mekong Delta, are suffering from the worst drought and salinity in the last century.

We will release water from the Jinghong hydropower station from March 15 until April 10, Lu Kang, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said yesterday.

Since the end of 2015, countries along the Mekong River have been suffering from serious drought due to the effects of El Nino, Kang said.

He said that China is ready to help and cooperate with other countries to manage water resources and combat disasters in an effort to protect local people.

Prior to China's announcement, Vietnam made a request on March 14 asking for Chinas Jinghong hydropower plant, located upstream on the Mekong River in Yunnan province, to release water from its reservoir to help with drought relief in some parts of Vietnam's Mekong Delta.

The Mekong River rises in China and flows through a number of countries, including Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

El Nino has caused the total rainfall average in areas the river flows through to fall by 20-30 percent.

Water levels in the section of the Mekong River that flows through Vietnam have fallen by 50 percent, leading to extended saline intrusion in the Delta - the country's main agricultural area.

In some places, saltwater intrusion has extended nearly 100 kilometers inland.

Reports from Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture show that the ongoing drought and salinity in the Mekong Delta has decimated thousands of hectares of crops and severely affected local communities.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung announced earlier that Vietnam will allocate VND 15 trillion ($670 million) to combat what is considered a historical disaster.
Police have uncovered a scam cheating customers by manipulating gas pump meters.

Officers checking one of the fuel dispensers near Tran Khat Chan street.

The scam came to light after a number of local residents accused two petrol stations of fraud. Hanoi police, with the aid of the citys Market Management Department team, conducted an inspection of the stations owned by the Hanoi Petrol Fuel Joint Stock Company.

Inspectors found illegal integrated circuits installed in all six gas pumps at both stations. Staff at the stations were allegedly able to use a remote control to manipulate how much fuel actually flowed from the pumps.

The inspectors arrived at the scene as employees were busy selling fuel, and one clerk was caught red-handed using the device, according to one officer on the inspection team.

To see how the scam worked, we tried to pump 20 liters of gas, however, the dispenser gave out only 19 liters, he said.

Authorities have already confiscated the circuits and suspended operations at the two stations.

The Market Management Department and Hanoi Economic Security Department conducted a four month investigation before launching the raid.

Those involved in the scam may face criminal charges, one officer said.
The platform, which currently has around 45,000 registered users and has already crowdfunded $44 million for real estate developments throughout Asia, last week announced it is on the lookout for Australian projects to feature on the platform and plans to open up investing for Australians in the coming months.

Weve just started our Australian operations and we are looking for projects to be involved in, CoAssets founder and chief executive Getty Goh said.

For the first few projects, what we would like to see is an Australian developer who is looking for finance or a bridging loan and leverage on the investor base that we already have outside of Australia to raise that money, Goh said.

CoAssets has recently become a Corporate Authorised Representative of an Australian Financial Services License, meaning it is approved to open up its crowdfunding platform to Australian investors, however Goh said the platform is planning to take a sensible approach to rolling out its operations.

There are plans in the next couple of months or so to get the first [development] projects up and running and then in three or four months we can get that opened up to Australian investors, Goh said.

Right now we already can [open up to investors], but we want to have one or two successful test cases first, because we know, understandably, that Australian investors still probably have some reservations about crowdfunding. Once we have some successful cases, thats something we think will really help to get the Australian investors in.

Goh said CoAssets has been speaking to stakeholders across real estate and financial sectors and they are confident the platform will prove popular in Australia; a market Goh said has been on their radar since the beginning.

From the very onset we recognised that Australia is a very transparent market and its also a market that investors are very sophisticated, so naturally its a place we were interested in operating.

If we have a market like Australia under our belt we feel that the users and the value of deals done will really grow exponentially.

Goh said CoAssets is positioned to help developers looking to finance projects valued in the low millions and the fact that people can invest as little $1,000 opens up investment opportunities for regular people that they otherwise would be unable to access.

We feel the space of raising a couple of hundred thousand dollars or up to $1 or $2 million is really the space we operate in.

I see it as us opening a slightly new market for regular investors who want to make anywhere from 7% to 10% on their investment, but dont want to have to commit to a multiple property projects.

If you want to make more than 7% or 10%, those deals are there, but most of the time those deals are for the big players, not regular investors. Through CoAssest a regular investor can invest as little as $1,000 in a project that gives those returns.

CoAssets Australian rollout is part of its focus on south-east Asia and the surrounding areas, and Goh believes as it expands the platform will open up investment and development opportunities across the region.

One of things we hope to really expand in due course is the cross-border nature of crowd funding. We always had the vision that crowd funding would allow say a boutique developer here in Australia to raise funding for a project elsewhere.

Say you have somebody in their 50s or 60s considering looking at retirement and they want to develop an eco-resort. It would be too expensive to do so in Australia, uut you could probably do something with say 10 villas for $2 or $3 million in Bali, but where do they get the money?

They wouldnt be able to borrow from indo banks because theyre not Indonesian and they wouldnt be able to borrow from Australian banks because the asset is elsewhere. So its our hope that sort of aspiring developer through CoAssets could reach the crowd and raise the funding they need.
17/03/2016

Judge's comment

I loved Ralphs approach to property investment, which centred around research and the future-proofing of his investments. Also, what resonated was his approach of building a team. This is one of the most important things in both investment and business. Building a team around you that you can trust and lean on. He also knows how important it is to budget. I also liked the creativity of multiple questions and multiple answers from property managers and other professionals. Its free to ask, and by asking many you can collate opinions and experience into usable advice.

 Justin Davey, Real Estate Investar

Ralph and his American wife Kristine werent planning to buy a house that fateful weekend. All they wanted to do was to get a sense of how much properties were going for in their neighbourhood. Little did they know that theyd pick up the deal of the century that day.

My wife and I attended the auction of the Yarraville home to get an indication of the value of our similar house in Yarraville. The house was in very poor condition next to the railway tracks, and it was particularly noisy. But it was during the time when all the house renovation programs were in full bloom and presenters were educating the buyers on how to bid at auction. The general feel was to not voluntarily bid and not add momentum to the auction process.

We watched as no one bid and we negotiated a price of $205k after auction on a house that the guide price was $260$290k. I knew we had a bargain. I was offered $20,000 in cash to sign it over to another party after the auction but refused the offer. I knew there was a lot more money in the deal.

It was this seminal moment that ignited the couples property investment dream and spurred them to build a portfolio of 11 properties worth more than $5m, not including the three properties they have in the pipeline.

But for Ralph, his investment journey began long before then.

Starting young

Growing up with a less than privileged background meant Ralph learned the value of saving and resilience early on. He also learned the value of investing in land.

My father was always talking about buying land. He said, Ralph, you must buy land, perhaps hundreds of times, Ralph recalls.

When Ralph left school at the age of 15 to do an apprenticeship, he saved every penny he earned. After his apprenticeship, he landed a good job that enabled him to save some more.

I was 22 when I bought my first house, he recalls fondly. It was a double-fronted Victorian four-bedroom house in Newport, Victoria. I was so scared to realise Id just committed to a $40,000 mortgage. But the market was moving so fast that by the time I moved into the house it was worth $70,000, so it was very comforting.

Although lacking the advantage that many of his peers had, Ralph relentlessly pursued bigger and better things in life.

I came from Laverton, Victoria, and I studied at the Laverton High School where the expectation was that only 2% of students would go on to tertiary education. I did not start out as a marine engineer. I was a fitter and turner employed by GMH in Fishermans Bend. My father, who came from Liverpool, England, taught me to be a scrapper in life. I learned that its not where we start but where we end up that matters. Ive always kept an eye on the future, and I have reinvented myself multiple times throughout my life.

Dealing with an early setback

While Ralph was closing his Yarraville deal, he was also working on another property in Mount Macedon, Victoria.

We bought a house for $525k in Mount Macedon, which turned out to be a big project. We spent a total of $550k plus $200k for the development. It was a beautiful house; its got Mount Gambier limestone and recycled wharf timbers from Echuca Wharf. On completion, we listed the property at $1.25m. But then the bushfires hit and killed local resident Brian Naylor and his family.

It shook Victorians to the core and it stopped the property market in bushfire areas dead in its tracks, he recalls. Mount Macedon was not affected by fires that year, but it had a devastating effect. We eventually sold for $890,000 and made a profit of around $80,000. I worked very hard renovating the Mount Macedon property by myself for two years to get just $80k profit.

Ralph also decided to sell their Yarraville property for $450k and made a handsome profit of $245k less capital gains tax without doing anything to the property.

This was the moment that I transitioned from being a hobby investor to becoming a serious investor. I realised I need to do more research before I buy. I learned serious lessons in risk mitigation, he says.

A developer bought it for $69k in 1995 and wanted to flip it to me for $75k (his cost and stamps). He laughed at me when I paid him, thinking he was off the hook. I paid $75k, did a $55k renovation with my mothers inheritance, and it is now worth around the high $700s.

The deal didnt end there. Ralph and Kristine used the debt-free house as their main residence, but although it was ideally located, it was small with only a tiny courtyard.

We decided to move to Williamstown in bayside Victoria and bought a lovely place with an ocean view for $1,350,000 in 2011. The entire $1.35m was non-deductible debt, and our Yarraville house was worth $640k but had no debt.

Kristine is an American. I met her while I was riding my bike around the US in a place called Bozeman, Montana. We got married in 2002 and she moved to Australia a year later. The Victorian Government allows a transfer of ownership between spouses of the Yarraville property under the Natural Love and Affection clause, so she took a loan to buy the property from me and I took the agreed value and placed it on the non-deductible $1.35m loan, and now she owns Yarraville with a deductible debt of $640,000 and our Williamstown non-deductible debt is reduced by the $640k. All around, this is a pretty good deal, says Ralph.

Future-proof investments

Ralphs earlier run-in with bushfires also shaped his strategy, which focuses on future-proofing his investments.

After determining the area I wish to invest in, I look for a property that has an angle that will allow me to add value either in the short or long term. Land size is key for me, but having a very keen knowledge of town planning guidelines and future developments is the cornerstone of my investment strategy.

Cash flow is an important consideration for Ralph as it enables him to hold the property over the long term and still be able to access finance from the banks.

I look for good cash flow areas that are likely to grow, and then I buy the largest land I can find within that area. I dont buy in frenzied markets where the competition is great as there is a strong likelihood I will overpay. Its paramount to buy properties in areas that will grow but still provide cash flow. If it doesnt grow, the portfolio stalls on equity. If there is no cash flow the portfolio stalls on serviceability issues, he explains.

I always say that income protection is vital for investors with a negatively geared portfolio, but if you have a positively geared portfolio the empire wont crash to the ground if we have any period where our salaries drop. I make sure I have a combination of cash flow positive and neutral properties. I have a very high sleep at night factor, he says.

Top 3 property management tips

1 Invest a lot of time in selecting a great property manager.

2 Set and forget. Let the property manager manage.

3 If you are ever in the town where they manage your property, take them out to dinner. They will look after you from then on. Make them feel appreciated.

Investment strategy for the current market

Armed with experience and growing knowledge, Ralph is looking to further expand his portfolio and has his eyes set on Southeast Queensland. I think Brisbane offers great cash flow and growth potential, he says. Its pricier in the north of Brisbane but I really believe I will do well from properties in Dakabin and a fibro cottage with secondary accommodation potential on a big block in Woody Point, he says. Ralph is also keeping a close eye on Perth. Im waiting for the Perth market to bottom out. Its a proven market and has been very rewarding to smart investors over the years, he says.

What the judges say

Being a quantity surveyor, what I like about Ralph is he is a numbers man  much like me! A key part of Ralphs success can be put down to his due diligence and his analytical nature. Ralph is passionate about property but he also gives back by helping young people get into property.

 Tyron Hyde, Washington Brown Quantity Surveyors

I like Ralphs engineers approach to property. He is systematic, logical and not only thinks about wealth creation but he has a strong awareness of risk management.

 Philippe Brach, Multifocus Property & Finance

Ralph is ticking the risk box for me. I especially like that he is futureproofing his portfolio as part of his strategy as this is something many investors forget to factor in. And that he is lowering his risk by staying away from hot spots which often result in people paying too much for the property, and considering vacancy rates.

 Helen Collier-Kogtevs, Real Wealth Australia

Research techniques

To ensure he buys the best property in the right area, Ralph follows a set of steps that include the following:

- Monitor the listings versus sales statistics to determine when to move before the crowd rushes in.

- Look at vacancy rates below 3%.

- Cash flow in the areas must be neutral or positive.

- Monitor potential competition of similar properties, ie housing estates nearby.

- Research infrastructure spending, ensuring projects are funded and not just planned, with special attention being given to long-term employment growth, not just construction employment.

- After determining the area I wish to invest in, I look for a property that has an angle that will allow me to add value either in the short or long term. Land size is key, but having a very intimate knowledge of town planning guidelines and future developments is the cornerstone of future-proofing my investments.

- Look for good cash flow areas that are likely to grow, and then I buy the largest land I can find within the area.

- Buy houses in family areas and town homes in inner-ring suburbs, if that is what is required.

- I rarely inspect a property pre-sale, but you must look at satellite and property photos with forensic intensity. A tree in the middle of a yard might trigger an environmental clause in town planning, or skidmarks on a street might indicate hoons in the neighbourhood.

- Always do a building and pest inspection and debrief the inspectors to gain a clear picture of the property.

- Always talk to multiple property managers, asking similar questions so you can form an opinion based on multiple answers. Never expect an unbiased viewpoint from a selling agent. Their job is to sell a property, whereas a property manager wants to manage a decent, trouble-free rent roll.

Keen eye for a good deal

When it comes to assessing investment potential, Ralph relies on his ability to crunch the numbers and take action decisively.

I was offered the Cranebrook property for $360$390k the day before it was due to be listed. I had developed a rapport with several agents and this one in particular. I knew if I offered $380k the agent would likely list. I asked the agent to give me half an hour while I spoke with a granny flat company I had also been speaking with. After the granny flat company looked at town planning drawings, spoke to council and confirmed with me what would be possible, I offered $390k, his full asking price. I knew the Penrith market was moving based on my supply and sold price statistics, and to offer less would have provided the agent the opportunity to test the market.

The offer was accepted. So Ralph bought the three-bedroom untidy house on a block of 1,054sqm and immediately put a granny flat on it. In total he spent $390k, plus $125k for the granny flat.

The rental return is now a combined $655 per week.

The house next door on the samesized block sold for $655,000 recently for a 4x2 house in slightly better condition, but for the investor my deal is gold.

Noble vision

Ralphs passion and corresponding success in property investing have made him realise another calling: to educate young people about money. Id love to teach young people to become investors, or at least become financially savvy. I want to give them a head start financially in life so they dont have to struggle the same way I did. I think there is a big gap in the education system about financial literacy, and Id love to be able to do what I can to address that and help our young people set up for life.

Top 5 finance tips

1 Be a diligent saver. I know it sounds trite, but it will help you throughout your life.

2 Know your financial cap abilities by understanding your household budget inside out.

3 Develop a strong relationship with your banker/broker.

4 Know enough about financial to present strategies to your advisor rather than them presenting opportunities to you.

5 Always pay your bills on time but never pay before they are due.

Top 5 negotiation tips

1 Fall in love with the deal, not with the property process.

2 In a to and fro negotiation, always be the last bid. It might only save $200. Better you than the agent.

3 Always buy in a non-frenzied market as there will be much less pressure on your bid.

4 Negotiate on more than one property, and negotiate hard. You can always move to the next.

5 Develop a strong relationship with your legal advisor and understand your legal obligations within the state you are investing in.
As a homeowner, you probably already know that you should be working to maintain your home. But, chances are, you Read More
More than 300 Vietnamese in France held a demonstration on January 23 to protest China's increased "illegal" activities in the East Sea, VnExpress reports.

The protest took place in front of the Peace Wall, Joffre Square, Paris, with the participation of members from more than 30 Vietnamese associations and organizations in France.

The protesters held the national flag, huge banners and pictures showing what they consider Chinas illegal activities in the East Sea. They expressed strong opposition to Chinas deployment of the Hai Duong 981 oil platform on Jan 16 in the overlapping area between two continental shelves outside the Gulf of Tonkin.

The participants claimed that China's actions are illegal and contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They urged the international community to speak out against Beijing to ensure freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea and avoid potential military conflicts.

"I came here to express solidarity with the people of Vietnam. I hope this demonstration leads to a stronger response from the international community against Chinese expansionism, said protester Daniel Le Wis.

This is the fourth time since 1975 the Vietnamese community in France has staged a demonstration in Paris to protest China's actions in the East Sea.

Tensions between the two neighboring countries have escalated since the beginning of January after China conducted test flights at Fiery Cross Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands.

Vietnam had also previously demanded China not to conduct drilling and withdraw the oil platform from the area.

A representative of Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with Chinese Embassy officials in Hanoi on January 18 to express concern over China moving the oil rig into the disputed area.

Vietnam said its legal rights and interests are in line with international law, including UNCLOS and international practices.
The European Commission has announced that 2.9 million will be redistributed under the EU school scheme to support displaced Ukrainian children.
Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business.
The European Commission and the International Energy Agency will address the impact of the energy crisis on SMEs in an online event on 21 October.
New Delhi: The CBI on Wednesday carried out searches at 82 places in connection with two cases registered on the directions of the Jharkhand High Court to probe the role of 33 chit fund companies owned by a former MLA of Andhra Pradesh.

During the searches, the CBI claimed to have recovered Rs 44.90 lakh from the ex-MLA of Vishakhapatnam-West who was also the Managing Director of a chit fund company, a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.

According to the spokesperson, the agency conducted searches at the MLA's residence and premises of his 33 companies.

The searches were conducted at 82 locations in Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, she said.

The CBI had registered two cases against group of companies owned by the former legislator, their Managing Directors, Directors and other officials on the directions of Jharkhand High Court.

It was alleged that the companies and their officials were involved in receiving huge public deposits "illegally and fraudulently" by cheating and alluring common people with false promises such as high rate of interest, issuing shares or debenture, private placement, purchase of land, product purchase etc.

The accused allegedly siphoned off or diverted the funds received "illegally and dishonestly" to their individual accounts, the CBI claimed in its FIR.

During the searches, Rs 44.90 lakh (approximately) cash was seized from the residence of the ex-MLA, who was the Managing Director of one of the companies, and Rs 16.80 lakh (approximately) from the house of then Director of another company.
Chandigarh: The Punjab Government on Wednesday returned all the funds (Rs 191.75 crore) received for the proposed Sutlej Yamuna link (SYL) canal to the Haryana Government.

In a letter to his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal stated: "The council of ministers has decided to return all the funds received by Punjab from Haryana for the SYL canal."

"I am, therefore, enclosing herewith a cheque bearing no.997640 for an amount of Rs 191.75 crore," Badal added.

Earlier, Chief Minister Khattar requested Punjab Governor Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki to withhold his assent to the Punjab`s Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal (Rehabilitation and Re-vesting of Proprietary Rights) Bill passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on March 14.

In a letter to the Governor, the Haryana Chief Minister also urged him to direct the Punjab Government to immediately restore the status quo ante on the SYL in its territory as it existed on March 14.

Alluding to the "very important and pressing issue", Khattar wrote, "In an attempt to circumvent and divert the ongoing hearing in the Presidential Reference before the Hon`ble Supreme Court of India and to deprive Haryana of its legitimate share of water in Ravi Beas, Punjab Vidhan Sabha has passed the Punjab Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal (Rehabilitation and Re-vesting of Proprietary Rights) Bill on March 14."

"Through this Bill, the Punjab Government intends to de-notify the lawfully acquired lands for construction of SYL. The Haryana Vidhan Sabha has unanimously passed a resolution condemning this unilateral and unconstitutional action of Punjab on 14.03.2016."

Drawing the attention of the Governor to media reports stating that the farmers in Punjab have already started filling up the SYL Canal in Patiala and Ropar districts, he said it was a "blatantly illegal and irresponsible act on the part of Punjab".

"I, therefore, request you to withhold you assent to the said Bill and also to direct the Government of Punjab to immediately restore the status quo ante of the SYL in Punjab territory as it existed on March 14, 2016," the Chief Minister concluded.
Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: 16th March marks Measles Immunisation Day, observed primarily to raise awareness about the illness and the importance of getting yourself immunised against it.

Measles is a viral disease and is communicable in nature, meaning it is contagious. It can spread through contact with infected mucus and saliva. The coughing or sneezing of an infected person can release the virus into the air and that virus can survive on surfaces for several hours, due to which, anyone within close proximity can become infected with it.

As a baby, you get a set of vaccines that aid you in resisting certain dieseases. One of those vaccines include the MMR vaccine, which is a combined drug injected into you to void off Measles, Mumps and Rubella.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measles remains a common disease in many parts of the world, including Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa.

Measles is one of the leading cause of death in children. Of the 139,300 global deaths related to measles in 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that most of the victims were under the age of 5.

As per a 2011 report of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 222 cases of measles. Mentioned below are points telling you all you need to know about the disease.

Symptoms:

Symptoms of measles generally appear within 14 days of exposure to the virus. They include:

1. Fever

2. Rash

3. Tiredness

4. Cough

5. Sore throat

6. Runny nose

7. Sore eyes

8. Photophobia (discomfort when looking at light)

Diagnosis:

The diagnosis can be confirmed through examination of skin rash by the doctor and you can also be required to get a simple blood test. Besides this, the virus can also be detected in urine, throat or eye specimens.

Treatment:

There is no prescription medication or any specific antiviral treatment to treat measles. Complications like ear infection, bronchitis, miscarriage or preterm labor, decrease in blood platelets, blindness, severe diarrhea, etc., may require antibiotic treatment. However, your doctor may recommend:

1. Acetaminophen to relieve fever and muscle aches

2. Rest to help boost your immune system

3. Plenty of fluids (six to eight glasses of water a day)

4. Humidifier to ease a cough and sore throat

5. Vitamin A supplements

Prevention:

Like they say, prevention is better than cure, you can definitely keep the following basic points in mind and maintain better hygiene.

1. Get yourself vaccinated against measles (MMR vaccine) if your past vaccination records don't mention the MMR vaccine.

2. Wash your hands often. If soap and water arent available, clean your hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).

3. Dont touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.

4. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.

5. Try to avoid close contact, such as kissing, hugging, or sharing eating utensils or cups, with people who are sick.
New Delhi: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said there was more than 35 percent reduction in cases of border intrusion in 2015 over the previous year.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on the issue of border security, intelligence sharing and the steps taken by the government to ensure security and safety of the country in the wake of the Pathankot attack, he said the government will carry out security audit of the borders to identify the lapses there.

"In 2014, about 222 cases of border intrusion was recorded, while in 2015, 121 were recorded. There was a reduction of more than 35 percent. This has been possible only because of the valiant efforts of the security forces," he said.

"We will be doing security audit to identify the lapses. This will help in doing away with the lapses," Rajnath Singh added.

He said that compared to the previous year (2014), in 2015 there was a reduction of 17 percent in the killings of security forces, and when it came to the question of the ordinary citizens, there was a reduction of 39 percent.

"In the last two months too, there has been reduction of 35 percent. The entire credit goes to the security forces and the army of the country," said Rajnath Singh.

On the issue of border security, he said: "As far as border security is concerned, almost 558 km of the Punjab border is shared with Pakistan. About 12 km is riverine. It is true that security forces are not deployed there. Maybe sometimes, terrorists do use the riverine route to enter India. They could have taken that route.

"Now, we are looking into technological solutions to prevent the terrorists from entering India through the riverine route. This time our government is going to spend more money to secure the borders," he added.

On the issue of Gurdaspur police superintendent Salwinder Singh, Rajnath said: "Salwinder Singh is being questioned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The agency is investigating it and I cannot comment on it right now."

"On the question of close and effective coordination, it has always been there with the intelligence agencies and the security forces. There has been no compromise on that. But we cannot claim that our strategic plan is foolproof. Therefore, we`ll welcome all kinds of suggestions on strategic affairs and security issues."

"As far as intelligence inputs sharing is concerned, we have shared it with the state governments. We have also shared it with Punjab. Multi-agency centre is also there working 24X7. Through this too we`ve been working on intelligence sharing," he added.

Rajnath Singh also said the government wants good relations with its neighbours but not at the cost of the nation`s pride.

"We want good relations with all our neighbours including Pakistan, but not at the cost of nation`s dignity and respect. I cannot doubt the intentions of any government in ensuring security and safety of the country.

"I know every government has tried their best in ensuring this. It should not be a battle between your government and our government. I need the support of all the political parties and the people in ensuring security of the country," he said.


New Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the Narendra Modi government of ignoring the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh by denying special status to the state.

"Unfortunately, the government of the day is not interested in supporting the aspirations of people of Andhra Pradesh. I have visited AP many a times to fight for special status, I have mentioned Polararam as well but the government of the day isn`t interested," Gandhi said, addressing a delegation of Congress workers at party headquarters here.

He said the Congress party will ask the central government to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh. Congress workers have got 1 crore signatures for a petition from the people residing in Andhra Pradesh, demanding `special status` for the state.

"We can exert pressure on government of India, that we can get special status and other demands that are rightfully yours," Gandhi said while making a reference towards prime minister "that he only understands pressure".

"The Congress party has managed to put pressure him (prime minister) on Land Bill that you have noticed and the budget after which it became the pro farmer budget. For two years, there was no interest of farmers, that they are dying didn`t matter, that they are committing suicide it also doesn`t matter, but Congress party exerted pressure and the budget became pro-farmer," Gandhi added.

He also asked the Congress cadre to work hard to bring the party back in power in Andhra Pradesh.

"Today, you might not have large votes in AP but it`ll take little bit of hard work, we are going to help you and you`ll see that you`ll surprise yourself and come back to power much quicker than you think and lead AP once again," Gandhi said.
Palm Beach: US Republican front-runner Donald Trump warned on Wednesday of riots if he is denied the party`s presidential nomination after a string of primary election victories, raising the temperature even further in a highly charged White House race.

The New York billionaire scored big wins in primaries in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina on Tuesday which brought him closer to the 1,237 delegates he needs to win the nomination.

But he lost the crucial state of Ohio and left the door open for those in the party trying to stop Trump from becoming the Republican nominee for the Nov. 8 election.

Trump might fall short of the majority required, enabling the party establishment to put forward another name at the July convention in Cleveland to formally pick its candidate.

In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, Trump said if he got a large number of delegates yet was denied the nomination: "I don`t think you can say that we don`t get it automatically. I think you`d have riots. I think you`d have riots. I`m representing many, many millions of people."

Party leaders are appalled at the real estate developer and reality TV personality`s incendiary rhetoric and believe his policy positions are out of step with core Republican sentiment, such as his vow to deport 11 million illegal immigrants, temporarily ban Muslims from the United States and build a wall along the border with Mexico.

Trump told MSNBC`s "Morning Joe" show on Wednesday that he mostly consults himself on foreign policy issues. "I`m speaking with myself, number one, because I have a very good brain," he said. "I know what I`m doing ... my primary consultant is myself, and I have a good instinct for this stuff."

He also told Fox News he would not attend the next televised Republican presidential debate, scheduled for March 21. "I think we`ve had enough debates," Trump said.

The Republican establishment`s bid to stop him may have come too late as a field of candidates that once included Trump and 16 high-profile party figures has dwindled to only three with Trump, 69, in command ahead of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, 45, and Ohio Governor John Kasich, 63, who won the Ohio Republican primary on Tuesday.

While the Republican race remained in turmoil, Hillary Clinton won victories in Florida, Illinois, Ohio and North Carolina on Tuesday that cast doubt on U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders` ability to overtake her for the Democratic Party`s nomination.

Trump`s landslide victory in Florida knocked rival Marco Rubio, a U.S. Senator from that state and a foreign policy hawk, out of the White House race.

Trump`s closest challenger is Cruz, a Texan and favorite of the conservative Tea Party, who is second to Trump in delegates but has struggled in states where conservative evangelical voters, among Cruz`s biggest supporters, are not dominant.

Kasich is the last establishment Republican candidate standing. Asked whether he would work with Cruz to block Trump`s path to nomination, he told NBC`s "Today" show:

"I`m out there running to be president. I`m not out to stop Donald Trump or stop anybody else. By winning yesterday in Ohio, I`ve dealt him a very, very big blow to being able to have the number of delegates."

Early on Wednesday, MSNBC projected Trump and Clinton would

win Missouri in very tight races. With 100 percent of the votes

counted, Clinton led Sanders by about 1,500 votes and Trump led

Cruz by about 1,600 votes.

It would not be the first time Trump skipped a debate if he follows through on his plan. He also sat out the Fox News/Google debate on Jan. 28, after complaining of unfair treatment in a previous Fox debate.


Jammu: Asserting that the Kashmiri separatist leaders were misleading the nation, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Gupta on Wednesday said that the Hurriyat would be playing into the hands of Islamabad by accepting the invitation to attend Pakistan Day celebrations at their embassy in New Delhi.

"It is high time to understand that the Hurriyat has been misleading people for several years...They are playing into the hands of Pakistan.They never react when the Chinese Army transgresses into Kashmir border. Pakistan should not intervene into our internal matter," Gupta told ANI.

The Pakistan High Commission on Monday invited Hurriyat leaders and others to attend the Pakistan Day function here, even as there are chances of a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Sartaz Aziz, Advisor to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs, on the sidelines of the SAARC ministerial meeting in Kathmandu.

The meeting comes as a major breakthrough as the two sides have been on extremely strained terms since the Pathankot attack earlier this year which had derailed the Foreign Secretary-level talks in Islamabad in January.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif may meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi later this month on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.
Ahmedabad: This data is bound to grab eyeballs!

In Gujarat, 1,838 people from different parts of the state had applied for conversion in the past five years. Out of these 1838, 1,735 were Hindus!

This data was furnished by Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel in the state assembly on Tuesday.

Anandiben Patel, who also handles the state Home department, informed the House that total 1,838 people from different parts of the state had applied for conversion in last five years.

Consent given to 878

"Out of these, the Home Department gave its consent to 878 applicants of different religions during that period," the CM added.

The Chief Minister was replying to a Congress MLA Tejashree Patel's written query seeking details of applications received by the state Home Department from citizens, who wish to embrace another religion, in the last five years (till October 2015).

Data: Breakup

Out of total 1,838 applicants, the highest number of applications- 1,735 - came from Hindus, followed by Muslims (57), Christians (42) and Parsis (4). No one from Sikh and Buddhist community applied for conversion during that period, Patel said in her written reply.

Highest number of applications from Hindus were received from Surat district (515), followed by Rajkot (388) and Porbandar (325).

Reason

Talking to reporters after the session, the Congress MLA told reporters that government should form a committee to find out the reasons behind such a high number of Hindu applicants.

"The state government should take this matter seriously and conduct a survey through a committee to find out why Hindus want to change their religion," Tejashree said.

Newly-elected state BJP chief Vijay Rupani demanded that the state government should act tough against conversion activities in the state.

"BJP firmly believes that religious conversion (of Hindus) must be stopped in the state. I request the government to take strict action against those who are involved in conversion activities," said Rupani, who is also the Road Transport Minister in Gujarat Government.
Twenty-eight years ago, on March 16, 1988, the regime of then-President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, committed one of the worst atrocities of the modern era: the murder by poison gas of thousands of civilians in the Kurdish-Iraqi town of Halabja.

As part of the al-Anfal operation, a genocidal campaign against the Kurds and other ethnic groups in Northern Iraq, government forces spent two days shelling the city of Halabja with rockets and Napalm, an incendiary gel that sticks to skin and causes terrible burns. But come early evening of the second day, March 16th, they suddenly changed tactics: attacking aircraft began to pepper the civilian parts of the city with canisters of chemical weapons including mustard gas and the nerve agents sarin, tabun, and VX.

That day, some 3,500 to 5,000 people died within minutes. Another 7,000 to 10,000 were injured, crippled, or suffered long-term health problems.

Although there is some evidence that Saddam Hussein's forces had used chemical agents before March 16, 1988, the attack on Halabja is thought to be the al-Anfal campaigns first documented assault using chemicals. But it would not be the last.

Early in 1987, Saddam Hussein authorized the use of chemical weapons in attacks on as many as 24 Kurdish villages. For his role in these heinous attacks, the dictators cousin and the campaigns commander, Ali Hassan al-Majid, earned the nickname Chemical Ali.

Al-Anfal was a series of horrific crimes perpetrated by Iraqi leaders against their own civilian population, and the gassing of the citizens of Halabja was that campaigns worst atrocity.

For his part in it, and for other crimes, Chemical Ali was executed by hanging. The Iraqi Special Tribunal dropped charges against Saddam Hussein himself only because he was executed after being convicted in a separate case.

The head of government has a responsibility to the country, and to its people, to act in their best interest. Ultimately, few dictators die in bed, or exit the scene of their crimes gracefully. The fate of those who instigated the al-Anfal and killed thousands of innocents in Halabja, should serve as a warning to others who follow in their murderous footsteps.
New Delhi: The Delhi Patiala House court on Wednesday reserved its order till March 18 on the bail plea of two Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya , charged with sedition.

During the argument in court, the Delhi Police counsel claimed that they have 10 independent witnesses who have testified against Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, charged with sedition.

While opposing the bail plea of both the students, accused of shouting anti-national slogans in the university campus, Delhi Police told the court that they are not only dependent on the video footage of the incident, but also have statements of 10 independent witnesses.

During the bail argument, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya's counsel claimed that citizens have right to criticise the govt and this criticism can't be termed as sedition.

"Citizens have right to criticise Govt,criticism of Govt can't be termed as sedition. Both (Umar and Anirban) voluntarily surrendered. High Court has taken it on record," contested the Khalid's counsel.

He also said that police have failed to find out few outsiders, accused of shouting anti-national slogans and are yet to be identified.

"The event's venue comprised of outsiders as well. People shouting anti-national slogans haven't been identified as yet. Even the Delhi government's report suggested that the video was tampered with," said Khalid's lawyer.
New Delhi: A day after Uttarakhand BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi was booked for attacking a horse, Union Minister and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi on Wednesday said she has written to the party demanding his expulsion.

"I have given a statement asking for his expulsion from BJP," Gandhi, who also runs animal welfare organisation 'People For Animals', said.

Another animal welfare group, PETA, has written to BJP president Amit Shah and Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal urging them to investigate the matter and disqualify Joshi.

"PETA has urged Uttarakhand police to expedite their investigation and to ensure everyone who was involved in hitting, harassing or causing 'Shaktiman' (horse) to fall is punished to the fullest extent of the law.

"We have also written to BJP President Amit Shah and the Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha Speaker urging them to investigate the matter, and to disqualify MLA Ganesh Joshi," a member of the organisation Manilal Valliyate said.

Mussoorie MLA Joshi has been booked for beating the police horse with a stick during the party's protest on March 14.

The legislator, however insisted that he had not inflicted injury on the horse, and that it had gone out of control during the protests and one of its hind legs got stuck in a hole dug up to put up the barricades, injuring it.

The beast underwent a surgical procedure yesterday to fix one of its hind legs.
New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi faced an embarrassment moment on Thursday, when she said UPA government's two years tenure has been a failure.

Sonia committed the faux pass while addressing a delegation of Congress leaders and workers from Andhra Pradesh at party's 24 Akbar Road headquarters in the national capital.

Sonia said: Almost two years have passed and we have seen nothing, no effort has been made by the UPA government.

She also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, I believe you (Congress members) have asked for an appointment with the PM, but it seems he is scared to meet you.

Interestingly, she was reading a written speech.

Meanwhile, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi vowed to put pressure on the Centre for special category status to Andhra Pradesh.

Watch video:
New Delhi: An Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) member suffered serious injuries when he burnt himself during a protest in Kanpur on Wednesday.

The man, who is yet to be identified, was trying to burn the effigy of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi when the freak incident took place.

The ABVP members had gathered at a busy intersection of the city to protest against the Owaisi's recent remark that he will chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' even if a knife is put on his throat.

The 25-seconds video shows the fellow-protesters trying to douse the fire and removing his cloths while the man running on road.

The AIMIM chief on Sunday, while addressing a rally, has said that, "Nowhere in the Constitution it says that one should say: Bharat Mata ki Jai."
Delhi: Putting to rest the controversy over the number of perpetrators, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament on Wednesday that a forensic report had confirmed that six attackers had struck Pathankot airbase in January.

I want to inform the House that some charred remains were found (in the barracks at the airbase). A forensic report has come about them, which makes it clear that those who were hiding in the building were terrorists, said Singh while replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the deadly strike that killed seven soldiers, as per Hindustan Times.

Singh's statement came even as the government on Wednesday came in for a scathing attack in Lok Sabha over the handling of the terror strike on the Pathankot airbase, with the Opposition dubbing as a "critical mistake" the decision to handover the operation to NSG.

They also questioned as to what Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lahore stopover had achieved, noting that the terror strike had happened just a few days after that.

Participating in a discussion on the issue, Kalikesh Singhdeo (BJD) singled out the National Security Advisor for attack, saying he had "usurped" the decision-making powers to tackle the incident.

Singhdeo wondered as to why the Army was not asked to deal with the terror strike as 50,000 troops were available in Pathankot itself and they were the best to tackle such situations.

On Tuesday, a forensic examination has concluded that remains of two more terrorists were found from the debris, thus confirming that six terrorists were involved in the assault.

Top government sources had said that a detailed forensic examination was concluded on the remains collected by the National Investigation Agency from two different locations of the strategic airbase, as per PTI.

The forensic test has come to the conclusion that traces of two human beings were found in the remains collected from Pathankot airbase, the sources had said.

Bodies of four terrorists were recovered immediately after the anti-terror operation was over in the airbase.

There have been varying reports over the number of terrorists, suspected to be belong to Pakistan-based group Jaish-e-Mohammad, attacking the Pathankot airbase on January 2.

While NSG, which had carried out the operation against the terrorists, has said there were six terrorists, NIA, which is probing the case, maintained that they found the bodies of four terrorists and no conclusive evidence was found about any more terrorist's involvement in the attack.

Earlier, Singh had said that charred remains, apart from four bodies of terrorists, were found at the debris after security forces searched the spot when the operation ended.

"Charred remains were found and sent for forensic examination. We are awaiting for reports," he had said on March 4.

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: Asserting that the grand old party had absolutely no objections with regard to the proposed meeting with Pakistani leadership, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday called for a coherent policy while stating that it was crucial for the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government to take the nation into confidence and reveal their vision and policy towards the Asian neighbour.

"We have seen a lot of confusion on the Pakistan policy and the government has not taken the nation into confidence as to what is their vision into which they are pursuing this policy. Why are they meeting Pakistan? What is the objective? Have they given up the conditions that Pakistan must not meet Hurriyat, that Pakistan must take concrete action on punishing the perpetrators of 26/11? Which we know they have not done as Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi is out of prison enjoying his life," Tharoor told ANI here.

Further questioning the government for agreeing to have talks with Pakistan, the former minister of state of external affairs asked if India was satisfied with the recent information provided by Islamabad on Pathankot and asked whether this development was a reward for the same.

"It is important that the nation be taken into confidence. The public must be told what New Delhi`s policy on Pakistan is," Tharoor added.

Talking about the Centre`s tough stand on the Hurriyat leaders meeting with the Pakistani envoy which had earlier led to the cancellation of talks, the Congress leader said that the policy with the separatists was an unwise one.

"The earlier red line about meeting the Hurriyat was an unwise red line. It`s not wise for any government to tie their own hands by creating such conditions. In the UPA time, we said that they were Indian citizens and they can meet whoever they like. Today, the government has boxed itself into a corner and the sooner they move away from these conditions the better," Tharoor said.

He also stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government should be wise to follow the logic behind cancelling the talks and not do it for `trivial reasons`.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal, today to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ministerial meeting where she is expected to raise the Pathankot terror attack with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif`s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz.

This development comes amid the stalled Foreign Secretary-level talks between both nations following the impasse over the probe of the January 2016 Pathankot Air Base terror attack.

According to official sources, the Foreign Secretaries will meet only after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Pakistan arrives in India and makes concrete progress in the probe.While both Swaraj and Aziz will hold official bilateral talks tomorrow, they will come face-to-face at the meeting tonight.
Pokhara: A day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz were seen engaged in an animated discussion over a dinner here hosted for the ministers of SAARC countries, the duo are all set to hold a bilateral meeting on Thursday evening.

The meeting was sought by Aziz to extend the invitation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the SAARC summit, to be hosted by Pakistan later this year, as per media reports.

During the bilateral, Swaraj is expected to nudge Pakistan to take action against the perpetrators of the Pathankot airbase attack, which came days after PM Modi's surprise visit to Lahore on December 25 last year to attend the 66th birthday of his counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

The two leaders arrived in Pokhara on Wednesday to attend the 37th meeting of the SAARC Council of Ministers.

Though details of their discussion on Wednesday during dinner was not known, Indian officials described it as a "social chitchat" between the ministers who were seated alongside.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Choudhry were also seen sitting together at another table during the dinner hosted by SAARC Secretary General Arjun Bahadur Thapa, as per PTI.

The positive tone for the meeting was set on Tuesday during the dinner hosted by Nepal's Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi where the Indian and Pakistani foreign secretaries rubbed shoulders and held informal talks, said officials privy to the dinner.

The prospect of the meeting between Sushma Swaraj and Aziz grew further after they met during a reception hosted by Nepal's Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa on Wednesday evening.

"What I can confirm is that the meeting between Sushma and Aziz has been fixed in Hotel Grand on Thursday evening," said one Indian diplomat, as per IANS.

That meeting would take place once the ministerial meeting is over, he added.

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: Jats have threatened to revive agitation if state government fails to take back cases against the protesters in next 72 hours.

The protesting Jats have also asked schools and colleges to remain closed.

Besides withdrawal of FIRs registered against the protesters, compensation to those killed during the stir and action against BJP MP from Kurukshetra Raj Kumar Saini for his anti-Jat reservation stand.

On March 17, we will decide on the next mode of action on whether to block roads, railway tracks or any other type of agitation, All India Jat Mahasabha chief Yashpal Malik said.

The State government must bring a Bill in the ongoing budget session of the Assembly to ensure reservation for Jats, he said.

Jat leaders from across the State have decided that community members will hit the streets again if the State government does not act, he said, adding that dharnas this time would also cover the rural areas.

The State government has time till March 17. So far the government has not responded to any of our demands, said Akhil Bhartiya Jat Mahasabha president, Hawa Singh Sangwan.

Malik said the government is keen to crush the members of Jat community even though their protest was peaceful. He also said the government should control its ministers from issuing statements against the Jat community.

He claimed that the Jat agitation has continued since 2005-06 in 13 states, including Uttar Pardesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Madhya Pardesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, in a peaceful manner.

Political outfits in Haryana have for their vested interests given the Jat community a bad name, he said and sought a probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge into incidents of violence during the quota stir in Haryana.

A series of protests by Jats in Haryana last month had crippled the local life and brought the business to a standhill.

The week-long protests had left about 30 people dead.
Ahmedabad: Recent purported claims by Home Ministry officials that three of 10 terrorists who had infiltrated from Pakistan had been killed, has been dismissed by intelligence agencies and Gujarat police, as per a media report.

It was said that the militants had been killed in a western state on the basis of a March 5 tip-off by Pakistani national security adviser Naseer Janjua to his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.

However, as per a report in Hindustan Times, nine men initially suspected by investigators to be part of those infiltrators as they left behind suspicious articles at two Gujarat guest houses later turned out to be ATM thieves from Jharkhand.

The report also said that as per agencies not one of the ten 10 terrorists had either been traced or eliminated.

Also, there has been no communication intercept or physical clue of cross-border infiltration by men belonging to either the Jaish-e-Mohammed or the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

On Tuesday, it was reported that security agencies had killed three of the 10 suspected Pakistani terrorists who had allegedly entered Gujarat recently to carry out attacks on high-value targets.

As per PTI, top official sources had said that the three were neutralised in a western state last Friday before they could carry out any attack in the country.

The remaining seven terrorists had also been zeroed in their hideouts and operation is on to neutralise them, the sources had said.

The group, all suspected to be Pakistani terrorists belonging to LeT and JeM, had planned to attack the Somnath temple in Gujarat during Shivratri on March 7 besides other targets, they said.

Immediately after the intelligence input about the infiltration of the terrorists was received, the Centre had dispatched four NSG teams to Gujarat and they were put in different locations in the state.

An alert was sounded in Gujarat and all metros by central security agencies following reports about infiltration of the terrorists.

An advisory was issued to enhance security at all strategic locations, sensitive industrial sites and religious places after intelligence inputs suggested that the terrorists had entered Gujarat taking the sea route.

A similar alert was also sent to Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chandigarh.

HT has written that as per their investigations, following a high alert being sounded in Gujarat, nine men were found to be missing from two guest houses in Bhuj, Swagat and Sagaar.

They men had fled without paying the rent or providing any forwarding address.

The report further says that counter-terror operatives along with the Bhuj police found suspicious equipment such as an acetylene gas cylinder and a gas cutter in their rooms.

The men were identified as Nadeem Naseem Siddiqi, Jayalu Majid Sheikh, Jamil Akhtar, Anarul Imtiaz Sheikh, Shahnawaz M Ansari, Mohammad Minarul Sheikh and Kabir Jadir Sheikh and reportedly hailed from Pakur district in Jharkhand.

A team of Kutch police visited Pakur district and investigations have so far revealed that they were ATM thieves. Their modus operandi was to hijack the entire ATM machine and then use a gas cutter to recover money, Gujarat border range inspector general AK Jadeja was quoted as saying by HT.

Jadeja added that after their identities were confirmed by Jharkhand police, prima facie it was ruled out that they were the suspected ten militants who had entered Gujarat.

The report said that per the Bhuj police all nine were also arrested by Arnala police of Palgarh district in September 2015 in connection with ATM theft.

One group had arrived in Bhuj on February 29 and another on March 3. They also had been to tourist places like Mandvi beach and had done camel riding for recreation. We are doing investigation if they were involved in any of the ATM thefts reported in the state, police was further quoted as saying by the Daily.

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: The Opposition in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday demanded "scrapping" of sedition law and asked why Jawaharlal Nehru University students Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and few others were booked under the serious charge.

JNU students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya are facing sedition charges for allegedly raising "anti-India" slogans in the campus.

A case against Khalid and Bhattacharya was registered at Vasant Kunj police station, soon after JNU Student Union president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested under the same charges on February 12 after the event held on the university campus against the execution of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. He is out on bail.

On March 2, the Delhi High Court granted an interim bail to Kanhaiya Kumar, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union president who was booked on the charge that he engaged in anti-national sloganeering in a public meeting in February in the university campus.
Jammu: Taking cognizance of the reports of alleged harassment of some youths studying outside Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police (DGP), K Rajendra Kumar urged his Rajasthan and West Bengal counterparts to ensure safety of the students in their respective states.

Kumar was assured that the police would take all possible measures to ensure that the students are not subjected to harassment.

"The incidents reported have been properly investigated and the students were found to have no major problem in these institutions," Kumar was told by both the DGPs.

Kumar also appealed the student community not to pay any heed to such rumours on the social media and remain vigilant of rumour mongers who might have some "sinister designs".

He urged the public, especially youth, to desist from posting any mischievous and unverified content on the social media, as the same has the potential of creating unnecessary tension among the parents about the well-being of their children studying outside state.

Kumar said spreading such rumours is highly objectionable and warrants action under law.

People must verify such content with the assistance of police helpline numbers in Srinagar -- 0194-2506504, 0194-2506508, 9858000333 -- and in Jammu -- 0191-2542000, 0191-2542001, 0191-2560401, 9419255283.


New Delhi: With just two months left for assembly elections in Kerala, a Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation will meet the Election Commission over 'political killing' in the state.

While the BJP and RSS have been at loggerheads with the Left for a while now, but the murder of a party functionaries has witnessed a spike in recent months.

On Monday night, CPM and BJP workers had clashed near Thiruvananthapuram. 43 people were injured from both sides including two policemen. The condition of one of the BJP workers is said to be serious.

Last month, a 27-year old RSS worker in Kerala was hacked to death in front of his aged parents at Papinesseri in Kannur district.

Another RSS worker was also attacked in Kannur in front of school students.

Earlier, BJP MP MJ Akbar said the Left has no answer to give to the people over this "continuous" politics of violence and killings.

"In Kerala, the Left has opted for a continuous politics of murder and violence. Over 200 BJP activists have been killed," the Rajya Sabha MP alleged, adding that "the Left has no answer to give to the people".

"The Left has been shaken by the rise of BJP in Kerala and is trying to intimidate it through violence, murder and killings. But the people will not accept it and will give a befitting reply on election day, which is not far away," he said.
Mumbai: All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen legislator Waris Pathan was on Wednesday suspended from Maharashtra Assembly after he refused to say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'.

Pathan will remain suspended from the Assembly for the entire budget session.

There was uproar in the assembly after BJP's Ram Kadam asked him to say 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. However, Pathan refused it. This outraged the leaders of other parties also who demanded his immediate suspension.

"What is wrong in saying 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'? The country where we live is our mother," said Congress leader Hussain Dalwai.

The Minister of State (Parliamentary Affairs) Ranit Patil had moved a proposal for suspension of Pathans membership for the duration of the ongoing budget session. The house approved the proposal.

A few days ago, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi had said that he would not say 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' even if a knife is put to his throat.

Reacting to veteran writer-turned-politician Javed Akhtar's speech in the Parliament, Pathan said, "If Javed sahab says 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' then let him,we wont.We will say Hindustan Zindabad and Jai Hind."

"By commenting on the cap worn by Owaisi sahab, Javed Akhtar sahab has insulted Muslims of not only India but world," he further added.

Defending his stance on the slogan, Pathan later said, "I love my country, I was born here and I will die here. I can never ever dream of insulting my country. Don't judge anyone's love for the country by just one slogan. Jai Hind Jai Bharat Jai Maharashtra."

Taking potshots at Owaisi's constituational rights, Akhtar had said in Rajya Sabha, "the Constitution does not even ask him to wear sherwani (dress) and topi (cap)... I don't care to know whether saying 'Bharat mata ki jai' is my duty or not but it is my right."

Meanwhile, reacting to Pathan's suspension, Owaisi said, "Waris Pathan's suspension from Maharashtra Assembly will set wrong precedent; it's not good for democracy."

(With Agency inputs)
Batala: Six teenage girls were injured in an acid attack in Dera Baba Nanak area here on Wednesday evening after one of them spurned the advances of the assailant, police said.

Senior Superintendent of Police Diljinder Singh Dhillon said while a 14-year-old girl suffered around 18 percent burn injuries on her face and arm, five of her friends were also injured as some drops of the corrosive liquid fell on them when two motorcycle-borne youths allegedly threw acid at a group of girls returning home from school.

The girl, who suffered most injuries, was said to be the target of the attack.

The main accused has been identified as Saajan (19), a resident of Phurewal in Amritsar.

The victim had told her family that the accused was stalking her for the past two-three days. Her family members had then raised the matter with Saajan's parents, who possibly reprimanded him. Upset over this, the accused allegedly threw acid at her, police said.

Saajan was reportedly studying in the same school as the victim but was rusticated for bad conduct, the SSP said.

A case has been registered against the accused and his unidentified accomplice and hunt is on for them, police said.

Meanwhile, Punjab Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema directed the District Education Officer to immediately release Rs 50,000 for the girl's treatment, personally visit her at the hospital, and report her condition to him.

Cheema directed SSP Batala to take immediate action against the culprit and told the the Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, to ensure special care and treatment of the victim.

The Education Minister also spoke to the doctors of Guru Nanak Medical Hospital and the victim's father, and assured him of full support in securing justice.
Chittorgarh: Four Kashmiri students were severely thrashed at a private university by a mob after a rumour spread in the campus that they had cooked beef in their hostel room.

According to report published in Indian Express, the incident took place on Monday in the Mewar University at Chittorgarh district, which is about 300 kilometers away from Jaipur.

Police were called in to stop the attack on the four students. According to another report, some Hindu activists also reached the campus and raised slogans against the university administration.

The university campus is said to follow a no non-vegetarian policy. Meanwhile, the meat cooked was sent for forensic tests.

Chittorgarh SP Prasanna Khamesara, while talking to Indian Express said that the scuffle between the students broke out due to a misunderstanding but the situation was brought under the control by the university administration.

Khamesara said that the 'beef cooking' rumour by Kashmiri students was spread by the some michief mongers adding that they have sent the meat for forensic test just to be sure.

Last year, a man was lynched by a mob while his son received severe injuries in Dadri district of Uttar Pradesh over rumour that a cow was slaughtered and beef was stored in his house.
Peshawar: At least 16 people, including three women, were killed and over 30 others injured today when a powerful bomb ripped through a bus carrying government employees in this restive northwestern Pakistani city.

The blast took place as a bomb placed inside the bus exploded when the vehicle packed with government employees reached Peshawar from Mardan.

The bomb exploded when the private bus was on Sunehri Masjid Road as it was taking civil secretariat employees for duty.

At least 16 people, including three women, were killed in the blast targeting the bus carrying government officials, SSP operations Peshawar Abbas Majeed Marwat said.

He said about 50 people were on board the bus at the time of the explosion. Over 30 people were injured in the blast.

SP Cantt Kashif Zulfiqar said the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted inside the bus. About 8 kg of explosives were used in blast.

The injured were shifted to Lady reading hospital. The condition of a majority of those injured was stated to be critical. Eight of the injured were admitted in ICU.

The security forces and police cordoned off the entire area and started a search operation.

Fear and panic spread among residents in the wake of the explosion.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

"The top part of the bus has blown off and is being cut to pull out the injured," an eye witness was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.

Peshawar has seen scores of attacks on civilians as well as law enforcement personnel in the past.

The city is also the home to the XI Corps, an administrative corp of the Pakistan Army, which manages all military activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is currently engaged in a full-blown operation against militants in North Waziristan.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack in Peshawar. He expressed grief over the loss of precious lives in the attack.

"These cowardly attacks cannot shatter our unflinching resolve against terrorism," Sharif said.

Pakistan Army launched its offensive in the region in 2014 in a bid to wipe out militant bases.

Attacks have fallen since the government crackdown after the 2014 Army Public School attack and the Taliban have been squeezed into small pockets of territory.

However, militant groups remain able to launch sporadic attacks on security forces and civilian targets.

Last week, 17 people were killed and 31 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowded court in Shabqadar Bazaar of Charsadda district near here, an attack the Taliban termed as revenge for the execution of liberal Punjab province governor Salman Taseer's Islamist assassin.
Islamabad: In a relief to Pervez Musharraf , Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the government's plea to continue a travel ban on the former military ruler who is facing trial in a number of cases, including for high treason.

The court ruled that there was no legal bar on foreign travel by 72-year-old Musharraf unless he is stopped by the federal government.

The court rejected the appeal by the government against a decision by the Sindh High Court which had also ruled that the former president can leave the country.

Musharraf's lawyer Farogh Naseem told media that the government had illegally stopped Musharraf from going abroad.

"As per verdict of Supreme Court, there is no bar on Musharraf to go abroad," he said.

However, he also added that government has authority to stop anyone leaving the country by placing the name on the Exit Control List (ECL).

The issue of Musharraf's foreign travel arose when the government launched a high treason case against him in 2013 for suspending the constitution in 2007.

The government in April, 2014 banned Musharraf's foreign travels but the Sindh High Court in Karachi rejected the ban in a decision in June, 2014, which was challenged by the government in the Supreme Court.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali today upheld a Sindh High Court (SHC) decision, allowing Musharraf to travel abroad.

The bench also disposed off Musharraf's application seeking one-time permission to proceed abroad for medical treatment on grounds that the petition was now infructuous.

The court turned down the plea of Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt for rejection of the Sindh High Court decision.

However, the apex court did not stop the government or the special court trying the former president for high treason from placing his name on the ECL, which lists names of people not allowed to leave the country.

The high treason case deals with suspension of the Constitution by Musharraf in 2007 which has been declared under Article 6 as being punishable by death.

He was indicted in April, 2014 but since then no progress has been made in the case for various reasons.

In January, Musharraf was acquitted by an anti-terrorism court in the 2006 murder case of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, the first major relief to the ex-army chief entangled in several high-profile cases.

He came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999, deposing then prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Facing impeachment following elections in 2008, Musharraf was forced to resign as president and went into self-imposed exile in Dubai.

He is facing a slew of court cases after returning from five years in self-exile in Dubai to contest the general election in 2013 which he lost.
Islamabad: Pakistan`s Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the government to lift a travel ban on former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, paving the way for him to leave the country while awaiting trial for treason and other charges.

The departure of Musharraf, who has faced a battery of court cases since returning home from self-imposed exile in 2013, would remove a source of friction between the powerful army and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Then army chief Musharraf overthrew Sharif in a 1999 coup and ruled Pakistan until 2008 when he stepped down in the face of widespread opposition to his rule.

Current military rulers are known to have disapproved of the legal action against their old boss, which stems from his suspension of the constitution and imposition of emergency rule in 2007, when he was trying to extend his hold on power.

Sharif`s government had long declined to let Musharraf leave the country, saying it was a decision for the courts.

A provincial court had ruled in 2014 that Musharraf be allowed to travel abroad but the federal government appealed that decision. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court rejected that.

"Appeal is dismissed," the court said in a short order.

Musharraf pleaded not guilty to five counts of treason in April 2014.

His lawyer, Farough Naseem, said he was now free to travel abroad and seek medical treatment outside Pakistan. He was taken to hospital with chest pains in January.

His lawyers say he also wants to visit his ailing mother in Dubai.

The former president is also on bail in connection with two other major cases: the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and the killing of a prominent cleric.

He has pleaded not guilty in all cases and has remained free though not allowed to travel abroad.
Coimbatore: The manifesto of BJP for the May 16 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu would be released on March 31, party National Secretary H Raja said on Tuesday.

Policy about the prohibition will find a prominent place in the manifesto, Raja, who is heading the manifesto committee, told reporters here.

Some of the other features would be the plans to extract ethanol from sugarcane and upgrading standard of education in state board schools to that of CBSE level, he said.

On the alleged honour killing of a Dalit youth at Udumalpet, Raja said about 70 per cent of the assailants evaded punishment due to some loopholes while registering cases against them.

Stating that there was no role for the Centre in such cases, he said the state government can directly approach CBI for a fair probe in such crimes.

State BJP President Tamilisai Soundarajan said BJP was ready to go it alone in all the 234 constituencies if no party was coming forward to forge an alliance.

Talking to reporters here separately, she said a two-day special party meeting had been convened in Delhi from March 19 to discuss the coming assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and West Bengal.

She also said BJP was gaining support from various sections of the society after the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the city.

On the 'honour' killing, she alleged it was a clear indication of deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

She wanted the Election Commission to take a special note of the situation.


Coimbatore: Five persons, arrested in connection with the brutal murder of a Dalit youth in front of his upper caste Hindu wife in Tirupur district, were remanded to judicial custody on Wednesday.

The five - Manikandan, Jagadeeshwaran, Madan alias Michael, Selvakumar and Manikandan - were produced before the Udumalpet Judicial Magistrate R Srividhya, who ordered that they be remanded in judicial custody for 15 days.

They were charged under various sections of IPC including 302 (murder), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapons) and also under the stringent provisions of SC/SC (Prevention of Atrocities Act).

Police produced the weapons and vehicles allegedly used in the brutal act. They would be lodged in the Central Jail here, police said.

Shankar (22) and Kausalya (19), whose inter-caste marriage was opposed by their families, were attacked by a gang, who came on a motorcycle, with sickles in full public view on Sunday in nearby Tirupur district, resulting in the death of the husband.

Kausalya is undergoing treatment at the Government hospital here under police protection.

Kausalya's father, Chinnasamy had already surrendered before the police.

The couple, married eight months ago despite opposition from their families, were waiting at the Udumalpet bus stand when they were attacked.

Members of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes will meet parents of Shanakar at Kumaralingam, the native of the youth and also Kausalya in the hospital here, police said.
Meerut: Well, this one may leave many BJP leaders in the state of Uttar Pradesh stumped.

After party chief Amit Shah reportedly told BJP leaders hopeful of getting tickets that their social media presence will be one of the important factors which will determine their suitability for the 2017 Assembly polls in UP, many state members with limited or nil presence on Facebook and Twitter are in a flux.

Shah is also supposed to have encouraged those vying for tickets to have 25,000 followers or likes each.

As per a report in the Times of India, BJP's state president Laxmikant Bajpai has just 10,000 followers on Twitter.

On the other hand, Muzaffarnagar riots accused Shamli MLA Suresh Rana has 12,856 followers on Facebook.

And BJP MP from Meerut Rajendra Agarwal has 13,957 likes.

Kunwar Bhartendra Singh, BJP's Bijnor MP, does not have a fan page on his Facebook account and has just 2,986 friends.

He is not active on Twitter.

"The real parameter of a leader's popularity is gauged by the work he does in his area and not how many followers he has on social media. Besides, a leader serves all sections of society, and not all of them are on social media platforms," a member was quoted as saying by the Daily.

But party's outgoing state president Laxmikant Bajpai seemed hopeful.

As per the report, he seemed confident of achieving the "target in just three months".

Meanwhile, Shamli MLA Suresh Rana was quoted as saying, "I think the statement should not be taken as a burden. Instead, social media is the best way to connect with the youth and it also serves as a barometer of your work. A few days ago, I got a suggestion on FB itself when someone asked me to put up a question in Vidhan Sabha on the way Western UP's increasingly contaminated groundwater is giving rise to diseases like cancer. I do not have a fan page. The day I have that page, I will also have a minimum of 1 lakh likes."

Bijnor MP Kunwar Bharatendra opined that Shah's suggestion has been misunderstood.

"Shah's statement was more on a suggestive note because 25,000 followers are minimal to run an election campaign. The message was intended to encourage party workers to strive harder towards increasing public contact," he said.
Kolkata: In more trouble for the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal, the Congress party on Wednesday filed a PIL in the Kolkata High Court demanding a CBI probe into the alleged sting video showing Trinamool Congress leaders accepting cash for favours.

In its petition, the Congress also demanded that TMC leaders seen taking the bribe in alleged sting video shouldn't be allowed to contest elections.

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress has 'categorically' denied the charges of corruption against its leaders and alleged that this was a 'dirty conspiracy' by the BJP and CPI (M).

"The TMC raised this issue in the Rajya Sabha. The channels showing the video are giving a disclaimer saying that they are not responsible for the authenticity of this tape. Indeed, we want an inquiry, what is the credibility? What is the source of funds?" TMC leader Derek O'Brien told the media here.

"The so-called dotcom company made seven telephone calls to Dubai, what is the source of funds? All the truth needs to come out. This is conspiracy before the elections and the conspirators are the BJP and the CPI (M); they have together conspired to do this," he added.

Earlier, TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee dubbed the entire episode as a 'concocted and fabricated' story aimed at maligning his party's reputation ahead of the assembly polls.

"This is a concocted and fabricated story. This has been done to malign the party's image ahead of the elections. Some political leaders have done this conspiracy. We will fight it out, the people of Bengal will decide," he told reporters here.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also slammed her rivals saying, ''You are attacking the character of our leaders, no guts to fight against me. This is conspiracy.''

The CPI (M) on its part alleged that a political match fixing was going on between the ruling party in West Bengal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre.

Lok Sabha Sumitra Mahajan also referred the issue of alleged bribery involving Trinamool Congress MPs to Ethics Committee of the Parliament for investigation and report.

A sting operation showing leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress taking bribes rocked the Parliament on Tuesday with the Opposition demanding stern action against those responsible.
London: Britain's Sikh groups are divided on which way to vote in the referendum on June 23 as it emerged on Wednesday that most black and ethnic minority (BME) voters in the country are against Britain's exit from the European Union.

The Sikh Federation UK, which is campaigning to remain in the EU, said its survey of 1,000 voters showed that 66 percent wanted to stay, 24 percent to leave and 10 percent were undecided.

However, the Sikh Council UK has decided to stay neutral and indicated that the opinion remains divided among its members.

"We're an aspirational community with a lot of young professionals and many of those are very much in favour of staying in. Those who are less supportive see that EU migration cannot be stopped, but it gets harder to bring a spouse into the country or to get permission for relatives to attend a wedding," a spokesperson said.

A YouGov poll for 'The Times' suggested that 42 percent of BME voters want to remain while 31 per cent support Brexit.

Simon Woolley, of Operation Black Vote (OBV) which campaigns to increase voter registration among ethnic minorities in the UK, believes the answer lies in better engagement from both camps.

"For months we've been excluded from this debate, but it's clear that our votes are up for grabs and could make a difference," he said, warning against a growing anti-EU fervour among BME voters.

"One is a long standing feeling that the European project has been anti-black we've seen the emergence of far-right groups, some of them pretty nasty. Added to that is that many black people feel they're competing for jobs with Eastern Europeans. The two things come together in the feeling among some that the 'EU is really not right for us'," Woolley told the newspaper.

A recent research by the UK's race relations think tank Runnymede Trust concluded that many black and minority ethnic people are "ambivalent about the benefits of the EU".

"They appear less likely to take advantage of free movement (very few move about for work and, arguably, feel less...'shared identity' with others in Europe). Some view Europe in explicitly ethnic or racial terms, identifying Fortress Europe as a way of keeping out non-white immigrants while allowing significant levels of European migration," it said.

While most religious groups in the UK have so far decided to stay neutral ahead of the referendum, the Muslim Council of Britain called for an "informed debate that does not scapegoat minorities".

Champion Priti Patel, a prominent member of the "Vote Leave" parliamentarian camp has been making a strong play for ethnic minority votes.

The 43-year-old said in a speech earlier this week that voting to leave the EU would help Britain "take back control of our borders".

Patel said: "As the Prime Minister's UK-India Diaspora

Champion, I have heard the heartbreaking stories from families up and down the country where relatives from India who they have not seen for years have been unable to come here for a special occasion.

"I have also seen the cases of Kabaddi players struggling to get permission to play in the UK and showcase their sport. Temples and gurdwaras face uphill battles securing visas for priests.

"Students who want to study in the UK some of the brightest and best from around the Commonwealth are being put off. How can it be right that our membership of the EU can lead to, sportsmen, chefs, and students facing restrictions, and families being left divided."

An estimated 615,000 Indian migrants and 1.5 million strong Indian diaspora based in the UK are set to play their part among the over 45 million eligible voters in the referendum.

Indian-origin voters have traditionally connected more with the Opposition Labour party's views, which is in favour of remaining in the EU, but the general elections last May had indicated a strong shift in favour of the ruling Conservative party, which remains divided over which way to go.

That division is being reflected among the Indian-origin voters it would seem.
Washington: Real estate mogul Donald Trump has swept the crucial Republican presidential primary in Florida taking away with all the 99 delegates from the State which will provide major impetus to his aspiration to become the US President even as Hillary Clinton has won the North Carolina Democratic primary.

The former Secretary of State was projected to bag at least 56 delegates out of 107 at stake in North Carolina.

Clinton also won in Florida after having a massive lead over her sole rival Senator Bernie Sanders. Clinton had support of 65.6 per cent of the votes as against 30.6 per cent for Sanders.

Notably, Republican Senator Marco Rubio has ended his campaign after suffering a humiliating loss in his home state of Florida.

It has been a "devastating" night for Rubio in Florida where he polled just 27.8 per cent of the votes as against Trump's impressive 45.3 per cent.

"Word is that, despite a record amount spent on negative and phony ads, I had a massive victory in Florida," Trump said in a tweet even before major television channels projected his victory.

Being billed as Super Tuesday 2.0, primary elections were held in five States ? Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois and Missouri.

Initial reports suggested that Clinton and Trump had leads in North Carolina where 72 delegates are at stake for the GOP. Texas Senator Ted Cruz was closely following Trump.

However, in Ohio where 66 delegates are at stake, State Governor John Kasich was leading against Trump. Clinton was leading in Ohio.

The primary elections held in five states yesterday is part of the process of both the Republican and Democratic parties to nominate their presidential candidates for the November 8 elections, which would elect the next occupant of the White House.

It all started with the Iowa caucus on February 1, with 17 Republican candidates and three Democratic candidates in the race. A month and half later, during which primaries and caucuses have been completed in nearly three dozen States and territories, the race to the White House has shrunk to four candidates on the Republican side and two on the Democratic side.

It would all culminate in the once-in-four-year conventions of both the parties in July wherein their respective delegates from all 50 States and territories would democratically elect and nominate their presidential nominations.

The Democratic convention would be held in Philadelphia where the party's 4763 delegates would nominate their presidential candidate. The nominee needs to have the support of majority of the 4763 delegates, which comprises of the elected delegates through the primary and caucuses and super delegates, who are party leaders and other elected officials.

Cleveland in Ohio will host the Republican convention wherein the nominee needs to have the support of at least half of the 2572 delegates.

If none of the candidates in the race are unable to have half of the delegates in their kitty before the Cleveland convention in July, the delegates would then vote for their favourite nominee, which might witness a rare horse trading in the American political system. However, the top leadership of the Republican party believe that this would be settled much before that and they would be able to avoid a contested convention.

Before yesterday's primaries, Trump was leading among the Republican candidates with wins in 15 States and 469 delegates to his kitty. He was followed by Senator Ted Cruz with 370 delegates and wins in seven States. Senator Marco Rubio was a distant third with three wins and 163 delegates. The Ohio Governor had 63 delegates without winning a State.

On the other hand, in the Democratic front, Hillary Clinton had 1235 delegates as against 580 of the Senator Bernie Sanders. But the margin was much narrow when it came to elected delegates: Clinton (748) and Sanders (542).
Brussels: European leaders launch a charm offensive to win backing for a migrant deal with Turkey on Wednesday, seeking to heal rifts between member states on the eve of a key summit with Ankara.

EU president Donald Tusk warned Tuesday that hard work lay ahead to finalise the deal, after Cyprus threatened to derail it over long-standing disagreements with Turkey.

Tusk held talks in Nicosia in an attempt to win Cyprus` backing for the proposal, which has been hailed as a "game-changer" for European countries buckling under the wave of new arrivals.

EU and Turkish leaders last week agreed a tentative plan that would see new migrants landing in Greece sent back to Turkey. For each Syrian refugee returned, the EU would resettle one from a Turkish camp.

But there has been a growing pushback against the deal, with both France and the Czech Republic warning against attempts by Turkey to "blackmail" Europe.

Cyprus has expressed reservations, not least because longtime adversary Turkey expects the accord to further its EU membership bid and ease visa requirements in the passport-free Schengen area.

Top United Nations officials on refugees and human rights have also questioned whether the plan would be legal.

Tusk conceded this was an issue and it was "not an easy task" to make the proposal legally sound and acceptable to all 28 EU members.

"It is clear that there is still hard work to be done," Tusk said after flying to Ankara, adding there was "a catalogue of issues" to address before the talks on Thursday and Friday.

Ahead of the summit, the Cyrian president will meet the head of the European Commission, the EU`s executive arm, which will also release a report giving details of the plan.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has championed the proposal, will also lay out her position before the Bundestag.Paris on Tuesday insisted that Turkey will not be allowed to dictate terms at the meeting.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls said France will tell Turkey it wants "more efficient" cooperation on the migrant crisis, but will warn against any attempt at "blackmail".

Czech President Milos Zeman also lashed out at Ankara on Tuesday, claiming that Ankara was seeking billions of euros more in EU aid.

"Impolite people like myself call that blackmail," he told reporters.

Last year more than 1.2 million people travelled to Europe in search of a better life, in the continent`s biggest migration influx since World War II.

Member states on Europe`s borders have been struggling to cope with the numbers, and on Tuesday some 1,500 migrants were sent back to Greece after crossing into Macedonia.

The EU agreed a scheme to share out thousands of refugees among member states last year, but so far only a few hundred people have been relocated out of the intended 160,000.

A Cypriot refusal of the migrant-swap deal would effectively block the largest diplomatic push yet to ease the flow of people streaming into the bloc, most of whom enter the EU through Turkey.

The island of Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded its northern sector in response to an Athens-engineered coup attempt.

Turkey does not recognise the Cypriot government and Nicosia has blocked six key chapters of Ankara`s negotiations for EU membership since 2009, effectively halting the process.

Cyprus insists Turkey must first meet its longstanding demands for recognition, and to open up trade ties, ports and airports.

European sources say EU officials recognise they took the wrong approach to Cyprus` concerns, which were overlooked in the enthusiasm among member states for a deal.

Anastasiades was involved in a heated confrontation with key European figures, including Merkel, last week in which he came under heavy pressure to back the accord, sources said.
Washington: After six weeks of presidential primaries and caucuses in the United States, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump are pulling ahead of the pack.

The following are four key takeaways after Clinton and Trump notched a series of new victories on Tuesday -- and the obstacles faced by their rivals.

Clinton, who is hoping to be America`s first female president, appears increasingly likely to be the Democratic party`s choice to run for the White House in the November 8 election.

"It`s pretty much impossible to see how she would not be the nominee," David Hopkins, a professor of political science at Boston College, told AFP.

Clinton now has a considerable lead over her rival Bernie Sanders in terms of delegates, thanks to her wins in at least 18 nominating contests, out of 27.

In the states where Sanders won, he often did so by a small margin, meaning Clinton received nearly as many delegates as he did.

The 68-year-old former secretary of state now has 1,541 delegates -- including the nearly 500 super delegates in her corner -- who will vote for her at the Democratic Party convention in July in Philadelphia, according to a CNN tally. Sanders has roughly half that.

At this rate, she looks hard to catch.

"Bernie Sanders would need to start not only winning states, but winning states by very wide margins in order to make up the numerical deficit that he is now in," Hopkins said.

Clinton has won between 70 and 90 percent of the black vote in most states, and two-thirds of Hispanic voters cast ballots for her in Texas and Florida, according to exit polls.

Those margins guarantee her a key advantage in states with significant minority populations. Several of those states -- mainly in the West -- remain on the primary calendar, including California.

Dennis Goldford, a professor of political science at Drake University in Iowa, told AFP that Sanders has trouble connecting with minority voters.

"His message is simply the kind of economic message that you hear day in, day out about millionaires and billionaires and Wall Street and big corporations," Goldford told AFP.

"He`s never really done identity politics, when he talks about the concerns of women, or African Americans, or Latinos," he said.

"She has always done identity politics. She is very comfortable doing that."

Trump is leading in terms of contests won, votes won and delegates. He is certainly dominating his rivals, despite his controversial statements and a growing anti-Trump campaign.

But to become the Republican party`s presidential candidate, he must obtain 1,237 delegates, a majority of the 2,472 delegates in play.

He currently has about half that number, and a more than 200-delegate lead over nearest rival Ted Cruz, the ultra-conservative US senator from Texas.

If Trump cannot reach the magic number before the Republican convention in July, he risks seeing the party`s nomination slip through his fingers if delegates end up voting in numerous rounds in what is known as a brokered convention.

"It`s almost certain that he will have at least a plurality of the delegates," Hopkins said.

"The question is whether the people who oppose him can stop him from getting the majority before the end of the primaries."

The Ohio governor won the primary in his home state on Tuesday, and thus stays in the race as the third man. His campaign team told AFP that they hope to receive a financial shot in the arm after the departure of Marco Rubio from the race.

By staying in the hunt, Kasich prevents Cruz from becoming the anti-Trump camp`s standard-bearer.

His strategy is basically to keep Trump from winning a majority of delegates, and emerging at the convention as the unlikely consensus candidate.

In such a scenario, "the Trump supporters will be absolutely furious," Goldford noted.

"They may well bolt the party or stay home in November," he warned -- not a good option for the Republicans, in the face of the Democratic party`s grassroots machine, which works hard to maximize maximum turnout in November.
Abidjan: France has vowed to step up anti-terrorist cooperation in Africa after Al-Qaeda's North African branch said it carried out a deadly weekend attack on an Ivory Coast beach resort.

"We must reinforce our cooperation so that the terrorists have no chance" of success, said French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault yesterday, who arrived in Abidjan earlier Tuesday along with Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.

The two ministers flew in after Sunday's attack on the Grand-Bassam resort that left 18 people dead, among them four French nationals. Thirty-three people were wounded in the attack, 26 of whom are still in hospital.

After visiting some of the wounded, the French ministers met with Ivorian Defence Minister Alain-Richard Donwahi and Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko.

Also in Abidjan as a mark of solidarity were Benin President Thomas Boni Yayi and Togolese counterpart Faure Gnassingbe, who urged a regional response to terror.

"You don't fight terrorism alone... There are national responses which are important but they must be complemented and amplified by a regional and international response," Gnassignbe said.

"Alone, no one can defeat terrorism."

"Terrorism falls under international jurisdiction," agreed Benin's president.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM) said the shooting rampage was one of a series of operations "targeting dens of espionage and conspiracies".

It directly threatened France and its allies in the region in warning that nations involved in the anti-insurgent Operation Barkhane and the 2013 French-led Operation Serval in Mali would "receive a response", with their "criminal leaders" and interests targeted, according to the SITE group which monitors extremist groups.

"Regarding (Operation) Barkhane... We have decided to station GIGN elements who in the event of attack in the region will be able intervene quickly and provide training in circumstances of serious terrorist crisis," to achieve a coordinated response, Cazeneuve said.

GIGN is a French paramilitary unit.

He said rapid intervention units could follow and that if necessary, France would "go beyond" mere coordination, without giving further details.

French President Francois Hollande had on Sunday vowed to "intensify cooperation" in African states hit by insurgencies.
Brussels: The Belgian police found an Islamic State flag next to the body of an Algerian killed during a raid in Brussels, investigators said on Wednesday as they raced to track down two suspected extremists who escaped.

The assailant has been named as Mohamed Belkaid, 35, an Algerian national living illegally in Belgium, who was killed by a police sniper while trying to fire at police from a window during a chaotic gunbattle on Tuesday.

Two suspects were still at large after the bloodshed, with erupted as Belgian and French police searched a property in connection with the November Paris massacre claimed by IS in which 130 people died.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said authorities had decided to maintain the country`s terror alert at the second-highest level of three, "which means a threat is possible and likely".

Brussels was locked down and the alert level raised to the highest of four shortly after the Paris attacks, but it was lowered back to three a few days later, although troops remain outside many key sites. Prosecutors said that at least two armed suspects fired on police as the door was opened during a search of the property in the quiet Forest district in southern Brussels, wounding three officers including a French policewoman.

After hours of gunbattles in which a fourth officer was hurt, a suspect was "neutralised by a sniper of the special forces when he tried to open fire from the window of the flat", spokesman for the prosecutors Thierry Werts said.

"Next to his body was a Kalashnikov, a book on Salafism (an extreme form of Islam) and an Islamic State flag," Werts told a press conference. Eleven magazines of ammunition for Kalashnikov assault rifles were also found.

Belkaid was unknown to Belgian authorities except for a case of minor theft in 2014, they said.

Werts said that "two persons who were probably in the flat and whose identity is not known fled the scene and are being tracked down".

A second Kalashnikov and black clothes were found abandoned at a house nearby but searches throughout the southern district of Brussels for the two men yielded "no results", he said.

Two suspects arrested in connection with the case, including one found in hospital with a broken leg, were later released without charge, prosecutors added.

Belgian media reported that the two missing suspects were brothers with links to terrorism but there was no immediate confirmation.Children were left trapped in nearby schools by the shootout, and Michel thanked residents for their "composure" as bursts of gunfire erupted in the streets and dozens of heavily-armed police with balaclavas and sub-machineguns patrolled.

By early Wednesday calm had largely returned to the area and most locals had been allowed to return home.

Counsellors were sent to the reopened schools to help teachers, parents and the small children cope with the aftermath, RTBF radio reported.

Access to the scene of the shootout was also reopened with the windows in the building blown out and taped up with plastic.

The mayor of Forest, Marc-Jean Ghyssels, said that life was back to normal.

"There wasn`t a direct threat to the public, it`s a search that turned bad," he said.

Belgium has been at the centre of the investigation into the Paris attacks almost from day one, with President Francois Hollande saying they were planned there.

Key Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam fled to Brussels after the attacks and is believed to have holed up in a flat for at least three weeks. He remains on the run while his brother Brahim blew himself up in the massacre.

The ringleader of the attacks, Islamic State member Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was also from Brussels. He was killed in a raid in Paris in November.

Both had links to the largely immigrant Brussels district of Molenbeek which was targeted by authorities after the attacks.
Golan Heights: In a hospital in northern Israel, wounded Syrian rebel Malek is waiting until he is well enough to pick up his gun again to battle President Bashar al-Assad`s regime.

"I will return to Syria and fight until Assad is gone," the 22-year-old told AFP in a treatment room guarded by Israeli soldiers.

Five years into Syria`s civil war, Israel has seen benefits despite the chaos unfolding next door, and the treatment of wounded fighters is one sign of its quiet and limited involvement.

It has sought to avoid being dragged directly into the conflict, but at the same time defend what it sees as its interests.

That has meant allegedly carrying out air strikes to stop arms deliveries to Hezbollah and coordinating with Russia despite Moscow`s support for Assad`s regime, which Israel opposes.

Israel insists its policy of treating war wounded who seek help is driven by humanitarian concerns.

But analysts point out that rebels, including those linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, are also fighting, and weakening, Hezbollah militants backing Assad.Israel and Syria have formally been at war for decades though the demarcation line between them had been quiet for more than 30 years.

When the civil war began in 2011, Israel decided to minimise any active intervention, said Haim Tomer, a former senior officer of Israeli intelligence service Mossad.

But as Syria splintered, new threats and potential opportunities arose for Israel -- sometimes leading to more direct involvement.

Israel has allegedly carried out a series of air strikes on Hezbollah within Syria, though it does not publicly confirm or deny them.

More than 2,000 Syrians have been treated in Israeli hospitals since 2013, according to the Israeli army.

Malek, who says he fights in a brigade in the Free Syrian Army in southern Syria, has received one operation for a stomach wound paid for by Israel and was waiting for another on his leg.

He said rebel commanders knew about the treatment and there was acceptance of it.

Another fighter, on his second trip to Israel, said that when he was wounded in a car bomb he chose Israel over Jordan for treatment because of its better healthcare.

The Ziv Hospital estimates each Syrian on average costs the Israeli government roughly $15,000.

The Israeli army refuses to confirm or deny rumours of IS and Al-Qaeda fighters among the injured, saying it treats people without asking their affiliation.The war means that Assad`s forces no longer have the capacity to seriously threaten Israel.

And Hezbollah, the Lebanese political party-cum-militia that Israeli officials routinely refer to as their largest danger, appears too preoccupied fighting alongside Assad to attack Israel.

"The threat from the state of Syria to Israel disappeared, and this is part of the good news," said Itamar Yaar, a former deputy head of Israel`s National Security Council.

"We don`t see this will change in the coming months or few years," he added, stressing Israel is happy to see Hezbollah battle it out with Islamists in clashes in which it has lost hundreds of fighters.

But the fractious nature of the war also creates potential threats, including what Israel sees as the growing influence of its arch-foe Iran in Syria.

In the province of Quneitra, within sight of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and where Malek was fighting, much of the territory is held by Al-Nusra Front, the Syrian affiliate of Al-Qaeda.

Further south are the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, which have been linked to IS.

Despite rhetoric against Israel, neither Al-Nusra nor IS has attacked Israeli territory.

But authorities have erected a 50-kilometre fence along the border to keep fighting at bay, and increased coordination with the Jordanian army.

Russia`s entry into the war last September in support of Assad added another layer of complexity.

Yaar said that while Russia and Israel have solid relations, Moscow`s involvement made Israel`s activities inside Syria harder because it forced the Jewish state to coordinate.

Israeli intelligence officials are now watching to what extent Russia follows through on its announced withdrawal of forces.

"I don`t think Israel will react very differently until we see changes on the ground," Yaar said.
Tokyo: A Japanese submarine will make a port call in the Philippines for the first time in 15 years while accompanying naval ships will visit Vietnam`s Cam Ranh Bay for the first time ever, Japan`s navy said.

The announcement came days after China accused its Asian rival of interfering in the South China Sea.

Japan, which occupied the Philippines and Vietnam during World War II, is now strengthening relations. All three countries share growing concerns about China`s increasing military muscle amid a series of maritime disputes.

China claims almost all the South China Sea. It is also embroiled in a separate row with Japan over disputed islands in the East China Sea that has seen relations sour badly in recent years.

Tensions in the South China Sea -- through which one-third of the world`s oil passes -- have mounted in recent months since China transformed contested reefs into artificial islands capable of supporting military facilities.

Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan also claim all or part of the Spratlys chain in the Sea, while Vietnam and Taiwan have rival claims with China in the Paracels chain there.

The Japanese submarine Oyashio and two escort vessels will visit Subic Bay in the Philippines for annual open sea drills, a spokesman for Japan`s Maritime Staff Office confirmed to AFP. The escort ships will also subsequently visit Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam.

The exercise, joined by some 500 personnel including officer candidates, is scheduled from Saturday through April 27.

It will be the first call at a Philippine port by a Japanese submarine since 2001, while the visit by the escort ships to Cam Ranh Bay will mark a first for Japan`s navy, the spokesman said.

The submarine will not go to Vietnam, he said.

Beijing accused Tokyo of interfering in the South China Sea after Manila said it would lease five Japanese military planes.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino said last week that Manila would lease five TC-90 training aircraft from Japan to "help our navy patrol our territory", pointing to the disputed South China Sea in particular.

China immediately reacted, saying it was "firmly opposed" to challenges to its sovereignty and security and would "remain on high alert".
Kenya`s armed forces said they had thwarted an assault by Shebab jihadists on a military camp in southern Somalia early Wednesday, killing 19 insurgents and seizing a haul of weapons.

Kenyan troops operating under the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) "foiled a planned attack" by Shebab militants near a camp operated by the Somali National Army and AMISOM at Afmadhow in the Lower Juba area, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) said in a statement.

"The... terrorists had approached the camp at night with the intent to attack and cut off the SNA from the AMISOM KDF camp," it said.

"KDF soldiers on patrol identified the militants and engaged them in a fierce battle. The (Shebab) attempted to fight back, but were swiftly repulsed by the KDF soldiers on patrol and those at the camp," it said, quoting army spokesman David Obonyo.

"Following the incident, 19 (Shebab) militants were killed and one technical vehicle destroyed. Some of the arms and ammunition recovered include 10 AK 47 rifles and three rocket-propelled grenades."

The KDF statement could not be immediately confirmed independently.

The al-Qaeda-aligned group was ousted from the capital Mogadishu in August 2011 and today concentrates on carrying out attacks from the countryside.

It has claimed responsiblity for a string of recent attacks in Somalia, including a twin bombing in the city of Baidoa on February 28 that killed at least 30 people.

On January 15, Shebab fighters overran a military outpost in El-Adde, southern Somalia, manned by up to 200 Kenyan soldiers deployed under AMISOM.

Shebab fighters are targeting AMISOM because in the absence of a functioning national army, the 22,000-strong force is the only protector of the internationally-backed government that the jihadists are committed to overthrowing.
Moscow: US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Russia next week to discuss the Syria crisis, Washington said on Tuesday, after Moscow began withdrawing most of its forces from the country.

Kerry said he would hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to "try to take advantage of this moment," which he described as the best opportunity in years to end the bloodshed.

Russia`s withdrawal has spurred hopes for peace talks being held in Geneva to try to end Syria`s brutal five-year conflict, which has killed more than 270,000 people and displaced millions.

Putin ordered the "main part" of Russia`s forces out of Syria on Monday, but pledged to keep some air and naval bases in the war-torn nation.

A senior official said strikes would also continue against "terrorist targets", and a monitoring group said Russian aircraft had struck the Islamic State group around the ancient city of Palmyra.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura described the withdrawal as a "significant development" for the talks, after the regime and rebel delegations submitted their roadmaps for a political solution.

"We hope (this) will have a positive impact on the progress of the negotiations," he said.

The White House said "the earliest indications are that the Russians are following through" on the withdrawal, and some Russian aircraft had left Syria.

Kerry is expected to go to Moscow some time after Tuesday when he returns from a trip to Cuba.

"As we mark the fifth anniversary of the start of this horrific war, we may face the best opportunity that we`ve had in years to end it," he said.

"I will be travelling next week to Moscow... to discuss how we can effectively move the political process forward and try to take advantage of this moment." The first of Russia`s warplanes to leave Syria received a hero`s welcome at an airbase outside the city of Voronezh, where they were greeted by a ceremonial flypast and dozens of cheering supporters.

Pilots were tossed in the air as they disembarked, before being given a traditional present of a loaf of bread and salt, while a robed Orthodox priest offered them an icon to kiss.

Some governments expressed hope the Russian move could pressure its long-time ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to negotiate -- although the Kremlin has denied that was its intention.

Germany`s foreign minister said a Russian withdrawal "increases the pressure" on Assad to negotiate, while France added: "Anything that helps towards a de-escalation in Syria should be encouraged."

The Syrian president`s fate remains a key sticking point in the Geneva talks, which are also looking at how to form a new government, a fresh constitution and hold elections within 18 months.

De Mistura said both sides had submitted their views on how to move forward, and he would try to "analyse" their positions to find any possible common ground.

"We... exchanged some papers but also ideas on how to get deeper at the next meeting on the issue of transitional processes," the envoy said after the second day of negotiations.

If they make progress, Syria`s main opposition group told AFP Tuesday it would be ready to negotiate in the same room with the regime instead of via a mediator.Delegates at the talks held a moment of silence on Tuesday to mark the fifth anniversary of the beginning of Syria`s civil war, which has seen more than four million people flee the country.

The UN`s new refugee commissioner Filippo Grandi said he would ask the international community to take in another 400,000 Syrian refugees as the country`s neighbours struggle to cope with the exodus.

Fighting has eased since a temporary ceasefire began on February 27, despite accusations of some violations, though clashes have continued with jihadist groups not covered by the truce.

A commander told AFP Al-Qaeda`s Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra Front was preparing to launch a new offensive "within the next 48 hours" to recapture territory from the regime.

"The Russians withdrew for one reason," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"(Russia) will not make any more sacrifices for a regime that has basically collapsed," he added.

Government troops have made significant advances since Moscow began its air strikes in support of Assad`s army in September.

Russian warplanes carried out fresh strikes on Tuesday around Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage site which Islamic State fighters have systematically destroyed since capturing it last May.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP that "Russian helicopters and warplanes, that are likely Russian" had struck IS targets around the ancient city.

There was no official confirmation from Moscow.
Havana: The mail links between the US and Cuba were restored with the arrival of the first mail flight in Havana.

A plane from IBC Air landed at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana on Wednesday, Xinhua reported citing the report of Cuban News Agency (ACN).

Carlos Rodriguez, an inspector from the US Postal Inspection Service, ceremonially delivered a letter to Carlos Asensio, president of Correos de Cuba, the state-owned postal company.

This letter formally re-initiated the direct sending of letters and parcels between the two countries, and was followed by an exchange of postal seals, specially designed for this occasion.

Correos de Cuba vice president Zoraya Bravo told ACN that from March 25, three weekly flights would leave Miami for Havana on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and that all post offices in both countries were now accepting mail to be sent on this route.

The restoration of direct postal services was part of the steps laid out by Cuban President Raul Castro and US President Barack Obama to normalize relations.
Geneva: More than one million migrants and refugees have entered Greece since January last year, the United Nations refugee agency said Wednesday.

"More than one million people, mostly refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, have now crossed into Greece since the start of 2015," UNHCR said in a statement.

Since the beginning of this year, more than 143,000 people have travelled from Turkey to Greece, pushing the total number of land and sea arrivals in that country past the one million mark in the past 15 months, it said.

This "milestone (is) an urgent reminder of the need for a more coordinated approach to managing the influx and protecting people who are fleeing war and persecution," the agency said.

Syria`s brutal war, which entered its sixth year this week, has especially fuelled the constant flood of people attempting to reach Europe, sparking the continent`s worst migrant crisis since World War II.

More than 270,000 people have died in the conflict, while nearly five million have fled as refugees and another nearly seven million remain displaced inside Syria.

Highlighting the human tragedy unfolding, UNHCR said women and children currently make up nearly 60 percent of the people taking the dangerous sea route to Greece, compared to less than 30 percent last June.

So far this year, 448 people have died or been declared missing trying to make the treacherous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe, after 3,771 people perished on such crossings in 2015, UNHCR said.
Seoul: North Korea's supreme court sentenced American student Otto Warmbier, who was arrested while visiting the country, to 15 years of hard labour on Wednesday for crimes against the state.

Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia student, was detained in January for trying to steal an item bearing a propaganda slogan from his hotel in Pyongyang, North Korean media said previously.

"The accused confessed to the serious offense against the DPRK he had committed, pursuant to the U.S. government`s hostile policy toward it, in a bid to impair the unity of its people after entering it as a tourist," the state-controlled KCNA news agency reported, using the acronym for the Democratic People`s Republic of Korea.

Human Rights Watch condemned the sentence handed down to the student from Wyoming, Ohio. Japan`s Kyodo news agency published a picture of Warmbier being led from the courtroom by two uniformed guards, with his head bowed, but visibly distressed.

"North Korea`s sentencing of Otto Warmbier to 15 years hard labor for a college-style prank is outrageous and shocking, and should not be permitted to stand," Phil Robertson, deputy director of HRW`s Asia division, said in an emailed statement.

Warmbier`s defence attorney said the gravity of his crime was such that he would not be able to pay even with his death but proposed to the court a sentence that is reduced from the prosecution`s request of a life sentence, KCNA said.

Last month, Warmbier told a media conference in Pyongyang that his crime was "very severe and pre-planned." (Full Story)

He was at the end of a five-day New Year`s group tour of North Korea when he was delayed at airport immigration before being taken away by officials, according to the tour operator that had arranged the trip.

Warmbier`s sentencing comes as North Korea is increasingly isolated, with the U.N. Security Council imposing tough new resolutions earlier this month following the North`s January nuclear test and last month`s long-range rocket launch. (Full Story)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this week said the North would soon test a nuclear warhead and ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, in what would be a direct violation of U.N. resolutions backed by its chief ally, China. (Full Story)

North Korea has a long history of detaining foreigners and has used jailed Americans in the past to extract high-profile visits from the United States, with which it has no formal diplomatic relations.

North Korea is also holding a Korean-Canadian Christian pastor it sentenced to hard labour for life in December for subversion. The North is also holding a Korean American and three South Korean nationals.

It has previously handed down lengthy sentences to foreigners before freeing them.

In 2014, North Korea released three detained Americans.

Former Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, who had previously travelled to North Korea, met the North`s ambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday to press for the release of Warmbier, the New York Times reported.

"I urged the humanitarian release of Otto, and they agreed to convey our request," Richardson was quoted as saying.

While most tourists to North Korea are from China, roughly 6,000 Westerners visit annually, though the United States and Canada advise against it. Most visitors are curious about life in the reclusive state and ignore critics who say their dollars prop up a repressive regime.
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has mooted a military alliance of Islamic countries on the lines of the North-Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in order to tackle the growing menace of terrorism.

Pakistani TV channel Dunya News reported on its website that the proposed alliance is not targeted against any particular country but aimed at tackling terrorism.

For the alliance, one of the targets would be the Islamic State terror group.

Pakistan is already onboard and it has been asked to lead the initiative as well as prepare the framework for the proposed military alliance, which is likely to have 34 Muslim-majority nations as members.

The news comes close on the heels of Saudi Arabia hosting a massive joint military exercise. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif had travelled to Saudi Arabia to witness the three-day 'North Thunder' military exercise in which forces of 21 Muslim nations took part.

That exercise focussed on better preparing for a terror attack.

It is unlikely that Iran would be part of the alliance (which will likely comprise Sunni-majority Muslim countries), which many are already seeing as a counterweight to the Shia Muslim-majority nation.

The development also comes in the backdrop of relations between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia souring of late.

Saudi Arabia has also come under criticism for its military operation in Yemen targeted at Houthi rebels. Many civilians have lost their lives in air strikes carried out by the Kingdom's Air Force.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was first agreed upon in 1949 with an aim to combat the threat of the Soviet Union at the start of the Cold War.
Beijing: China-U.S. relations will continue to develop regardless of who wins the U.S. presidential election in November, China`s Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday, after criticism of Beijing by U.S. Candidates.

The Chinese government has largely refrained from commenting on the U.S. election campaign, saying it is an internal matter for the American people, despite attacks on China by real estate mogul and Republican presidential contender Donald Trump.

Trump has frequently accused China of stealing jobs and portrayed himself as a tough negotiator who would beat Beijing at its own game.

U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has also weighed in with criticisms of China, saying earlier this month that as the Chinese economy slows, China will engage in more damaging practices in global trade.

Li, speaking at a news conference at the end of China`s annual meeting of parliament, said the U.S. election "has been lively and caught the eye of many".

"I believe that no matter in the end who wins the laurel and serves as president, the underlying trend of China-U.S. relations will not change," Li said.

That trend over the past several decades has been "forward development", he said.

Asked about President Barack Obama`s "pivot" back to Asia, which Chinese policymakers tend to view with suspicion, Li said he remained hopeful for future cooperation.

"As for countries outside the region, such as the United States, it can be said they`ve never left the Asia Pacific. We can cooperate with them in the Asia Pacific region, and manage our differences well."

While the world`s two largest economies are frequently at odds over everything from human rights and currency policy to the South China Sea, they have deep business ties and are in talks on a bilateral investment treaty (BIT).

Slow progress on the treaty, however, and tensions over cyber hacking and new laws in China that could hamper foreign tech firms, have soured commercial relations.

China has more restrictions on foreign investment than the United States, and U.S. investors hope that the treaty will give them increased access to China`s many state-dominated industries, from financial services to telecommunications.

Li said he hoped the two countries could conduct the treaty talks on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

"China will give U.S. investors wider market access in a gradual way, but this should be mutual. Bilateral opening should be reciprocal," Li said.
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TipRanks

Were facing a storm of volatility, as a series of short rallies have added a layer of confusion on top of the years bearish trends. The combination of headwinds  high inflation and rising interest rates, a probable recession around the corner  are threatening a stagflation that hasnt been seen since the 1970s. Writing on current conditions from Morgan Stanley, chief US equity strategist Mike Wilson lays out reasons for investor patience, in his forecast of where the main indexes are likely
Summary: Teresa inspires and mobilizes people living with HIV and their families to live positively by sharing her story.

Teresa Mbalane, who has been receiving HIV treatment since 2004, with CDC Mozambique Director Edgar Monterroso. Teresa receives treatment via PEPFAR funding distributed by CDC Mozambique to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Today, it is possible to dreamwhen we thought that life was over, says Exit Disclaimer a 50-year-old mother of four living with HIV in Mozambique. Now I try to pass my experience on to others.



As a subsistence farmer, Teresa depends entirely on farming and seasonal work for income. In 2003, she began battling an illness, making it impossible to work. Every time Teresa went to the health facility, she was treated for the symptoms she was presenting at the time, but she was never able to get completely well. When Teresa was diagnosed with tuberculosisone of the diseases associated with HIVshe was referred for HIV counseling and testing. The test result was positive.



At that time, only four health facilities provided HIV treatment in her province, Gazawhich is 27,000 square miles and has a population of 1.3 million. Teresa remembers that there was a long waiting list to receive HIV treatment. Once she made it to the top of the list, medical care remained difficult to access because Teresa lived in Macia, nearly 40 miles from the health unit in Xai Xai, the provincial capital and the closest health facility with HIV treatment services at that time. Barely able to move because of illness and being financially strapped, Teresa had difficulty traveling for routine health consultations and medicine.



But when an HHS delegation led by the Office of Global Affairs.



Thats largely because, in 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Mozambique received funding from the U.S. Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Through a PEPFAR grant via CDC, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) expanded access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), which reached Teresa. Since then, the health system continued to strengthenART access has continued to expand, and HIV care and treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV is now available at 124 health facilities in Gaza.



Teresa is also a member of a Exit Disclaimer which EGPAF established with PEPFAR funding at health facilities throughout the province. In each group, stable and adherent patients encourage each other to remain on ART and return for services. Taking turns once a month, each member travels to the health facility to collect antiretroviral medication for themselves and for the other members of the group. This system promotes retention of patients on treatment and reduces travel costs and time spent at the health facility. It also reduced the number of patients who need to be at the health facility, alleviating the workload for nurses and leaving more time to attend to each patient.



After more than a decade on HIV treatment, Teresa now feels healthy and strong. She inspires and mobilizes people living with HIV and their families to live positively by sharing her story.



When I realize that a family member or neighbor is suffering from an undiagnosed disease, I advise them to go to the hospital, says Teresa. They dont have to share the results with me. They dont have to tell me what the outcome is. They should know that it is all about seeking care and taking care of themselves."



Teresa pays special attention to other mothers in her community.



No child should be born or die of a preventable and treatable disease, she says.


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Famed author JK Rowling has been in the news of late. Her recently released History of Magic in North America stumbles over a number of insensitive cultural hot points, not least of which is her characterization of Native Americans.





Simon Moya-Smith, culture editor at Indian Country Today, explains why the conversation is important, but he couldn't care less about JK Rowling's fiction, because it is fiction. Moya-Smith reminds us that our public school textbooks spread deeper lies.

From ICTMN:



What matters here, folks, in this debate over J.K. Rowling's latest work is the language society uses  the language that is still taught to kids in schools today about Native Americans and our spiritualities.





Think about it: How in the living hell can a child differentiate alleged fact from fiction if schools continue to teach students that Native Americans practiced magic? Note I used the past tense of 'practice.' There are very few lessons in grade schools that provide any information on contemporary Native American societies. Super sad, but super true.





And let me leave you with this, home skillet:





Twitter turns 10-years-old this month. Facebook is 12-years-old. Social media, then, is prepubescent. It's still trying to figure out why the hell hair is growing down there. But it's through this peach-fuzzy platform that people are only now learning that Native Americans ARE STILL ALIVE. Seriously. Previous to the ubiquity of social media, propelled by the proliferation of the Web, people thought Indians were either dead or living in teepees. Ask any bona fide Indian and they'll tell you they've be subjected to some asinine query concerning where they live, and if they are REALLY an Indian. Lucky for us, thanks to Twitter, Instagram, etc., these curious Q&A sessions are quickly becoming blunders of the past.





But do you know what else social media has done? It has provided the Native American voice to the non-Native American, and at once it has revealed to them that the U.S. education system is largely full of shit, that they have been lied to the majority of their lives concerning indigenous peoples, and that, in fact, Native Americans ARE NOT casting spells, we ARE NOT living in teepees, and that white people actually drink far, FAR, more than we do. Avada kedavra to that stereotype, muggle.

So it's up to you: You can read J.K. Rowling's "History of Magic in North America," or a U.S. History textbook. Both illustrate Native Americans as magical creatures. Just make sure your kids know which has the most fiction  probably the U.S. history text. Cheers.


Since 2014, Suckfly, a hacker group apparently based in Chengdu, China, has used at least 9 signing certs to make their malware indistinguishable from official updates from the vendor.

Suckfly's known signing certs all came from companies in South Korea, apparently penetrated through phishing scames. Symantec discovered the extent of Suckfly's use of signing certs after finding a single piece of known malware ("a brute-force server message-block scanner") that sent them looking for other examples.

Signing certificates are used by software to authenticate updates from vendors. The Apple v FBI case is, at root, about signing certificates: the FBI wants Apple to produce a bogus code-update that will let it bypass the Iphone's limits on PIN-guessing, and then sign it with Apple's signing certificate.

Whether or not Apple wins this case, it has prompted many in the security community to contemplate ways to backstop signing certificates to catch this kind of attack. Chief among these is "binary transparency"  a system of servers hosting the signatures of updates received by programs in the wild. This might not prevent a computer from being infected by a bogus update, but it would reveal the update's existence very quickly.

The existence of Suckfly's trove of stolen signing certs tells us that such a thing is needed, and will likely come, to fight malware. However, such a step would severely impair the usefuless of law enforcement orders to produce custom interception software.

It's a very neat example of the problems of backdoors: from a device's perspective, there's no way to distinguish between penetration threats from criminals or cops. We talk a lot about how you can't make a backdoor that only good guys can go through  but here's an example of how making a device secure against criminals also makes it secure against the FBI.

"Signing malware with code-signing certificates is becoming more common, as seen in this investigation and the other attacks we have discussed," Symantec researcher Jon DiMaggio wrote in Tuesday's blog post. "Attackers are taking the time and effort to steal certificates because it is becoming necessary to gain a foothold on a targeted computer. Attempts to sign malware with code-signing certificates have become more common as the Internet and security systems have moved towards a more trust and reputation oriented model. This means that untrusted software may not be allowed to run unless it is signed." Digitally signed certificates allow Suckfly exploits to work seamlessly without calling attention to themselves. One of the group's booby-trapped webpages, for example, was able to exploit a 2014 vulnerability in a Microsoft Windows component known as Object Linking and Embedding when it was viewed with Internet Explorer. The file the exploit delivered was a self-extracting executable that ultimately installed malware Symantec dubs Nidiran. "Our investigation shines a light on an often unknown and seedier secret life of code-signing certificates, which is completely unknown to their owners," DiMaggio concluded. "The implications of this study shows that certificate owners need to keep a careful eye on them to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. It is important to give certificates the protection they need so they can't be used maliciously."

To bypass code-signing checks, malware gang steals lots of certificates

[Dan Goodin/Ars Technica]





(Image: An illustration of the man-in-the-middle attack

, Miraceti, CC-BY-SA)
There are so many ploys and scams out there that promise to teach you just enough Japanese to enjoy your big once-in-a-lifetime trip that even contemplating which one to choose is impossible.

My trips to Japan generally involve a trip to The Tokyo Disney Resort (surprise!  not) and I'm always scouring websites for the latest little titbit of new information. One of the few accessible ones (since most are in Japanese) is TDR Explorer. All the latest news, free, with good photography.

I like that the webmaster is actually thinking about things which would be of real practical value for a traveler not just to the Disney Resort, but often anywhere in Japan. And thus we come to his list of 17 basic phrases that you might find helpful.

The problem is that if you look at the center column of the list, you won't have any idea how to pronounce these Japanese words. They are written in what is called "romaji," or the Romanization of Japanese characters into western characters. This makes them extremely simple to say if they are broken down phonetically.

For example, "Yes" is pronounced "hi," even though the romaji spelling is "hai." If you didn't know better you might say "hi-ee," or "ha-i" or whatever.

So here is a simple tip: every syllable in Japanese is given the same emphasis. My friend Satoshi's name is not pronounced "Sa-TOE-shi," but "Sa-to-she." Equal emphasis on all syllables.

Here, then is my own version of a list of Japanese words, all spelled out phonetically so you can pronounce them properly (or at least closely) with some ease. Note that my spellings have nothing to do with the true romaji spellings of the actual Japanese word: my only goal is so that the sounds comes out of your mouth in a way that is understood by a Japanese person and easy for you to remember. The only letter I've noticed that is often silent is "u." I should add that the following phonetic pronunciations are highly eccentric and will draw guffaws from knowledgeable folks, but they work.

Yes = hi (but don't say it slowly the way Americans do, like "hiiiiii, or hi-eee"); you sort of bark it out)

Hello or Good Afternoon = ko-knee-chee-wa

Good Morning = o-hi-yo go-zi-ma-sue

Good Evening = cone-ban-wa (though when you hear it said, it sounds like "com-ba-wa)

Thank You = dough-mo ah-ree-ga-to go-zi-mas

Please = koo-de-si

Excuse Me (or for calling a waiter or waitress) = sue-mee-ma-sen (in actual use, the "u" is almost silent and the first two parts combine for "smee ma-sen)

Sorry/Excuse me = go-men-o-si

I Don't Understand = wa-ka-ree-ma-sen

I Understand = wa-ka-ree-ma-sh-ta (said, "wakarimashta")

No Thank You = kay-ko-des

Great = So-goy! (Apologies to my non-Jewish friends)

It's Cold = Sa-muy des

It's Hot = At-soo-ee des (Like "Chop Suey" des)

Where is the toilet? o-tay-uh-rye do-ko des-ka? (A little shout out to Buckwheat there, Otay?) Or more simply, just say "toileto" and act confused.

That's Delicious = Oy-she, des (while eating) Yes, there is Yiddish in there.

That Was Delicious = Oysh-ka-ta des (after eating) ("Oysh" is like "Moishe" without the final "e")

Beer = bee-roo (rhymes with moo) ("A beer please" = "bee-roo- koo-de-si")

Coffee = co-hee ("A coffee please" = "co-hee koo-de-si")

And for those of you in trying to find Tokyo Disneyland, just say, "Disney-land-o" and you'll be in like Flint.

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com
By Ange Aboa and Joe Penney GRAND BASSAM, Ivory Coast (Reuters) - Gunmen from al Qaeda's North African branch killed 16 people, including four Europeans, at a beach resort town in Ivory Coast on Sunday, the latest in a string of deadly attacks that have confirmed the Islamists' growing reach in West Africa. Six shooters targeted hotels on a beach at Grand Bassam, a weekend retreat popular with westerners about 40 km (25 miles) east of the commercial capital Abidjan, before being killed in clashes with Ivorian security forces, the government said. "Six attackers came onto the beach in Bassam this afternoon," Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara said during a visit to the site. "We have 14 civilians and two special forces soldiers who were unfortunately killed." A French man was killed in the attack, according to a French foreign ministry spokesman. The nationalities of the other dead were not yet known, but four were European, one officer said during a briefing attended by a Reuters reporter. Ivory Coast Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko later said foreign citizens from France, Germany, Burkina Faso, Mali and Cameroon were among the victims. The reporter saw the bodies of three white people at Grand Bassam's Chelsea Hotel and another in the Hotel Etoile du Sud next door. A short drive from Abidjan - one of West Africa's largest cities with around 5 million inhabitants - Grand Bassam fills up on weekends with thousands of beachgoers. Witnesses said the gunmen followed a pathway onto the beach where they then opened fire on swimmers and sunbathers before turning their attention to the packed seafront hotels where people were eating and drinking at lunchtime. "They started shooting and everyone just started running. There were women and children running and hiding," said another witness, Marie Bassole. "It started on the beach. Whoever they saw, they shot at." Security forces moved to evacuate the area surrounding the beach. Bullet holes riddled vehicles nearby and glass from shattered windows littered the ground. The body of one of the attackers, dressed in dark trousers and a blood-covered striped shirt, lay beside the beachside entrance to one hotel, a bullet hole in his head. Beside him on the sand sat a combat vest used to carry extra ammunition. Nearby, on the ground, lay unexploded grenades. GROWING THREAT Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which has carried out other recent attacks in the region, claimed responsibility for Sunday's shootings, according to the U.S.-based SITE intelligence monitoring group, citing an AQIM statement. It said the attack had been carried out by just three militants. Barely two months ago, Islamists killed dozens of people in a hotel and cafe frequented by foreigners in neighbouring Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou. Gunmen also attacked a hotel in the Malian capital, Bamako, late last year. Both of those attacks were also claimed by AQIM and raised concern that militants were extending their reach far beyond their traditional zones of operation in the Sahara and the arid Sahel region. [nL8N14Z4GR] Though previously untouched by Islamist violence, Ivory Coast, French-speaking West Africa's largest economy and the world's top cocoa producer, has long been considered a target for militants. It has been on high alert since the Ouagadougou attacks, and security has been visibly bolstered at potential targets, including shopping malls and high-end hotels. By Sunday evening, Ivorian authorities had begun an investigation into the attacks. "We have a mobile phone that is now in the hands of the Ivorian scientific police that will allow us to look at all the ramifications and go back to the source," Interior Minister Bakayoko said on state-owned television. As the scale of the tragedy become evident, regional and world leaders expressed their support for Ivory Coast, which has recently emerged from a decade of political turmoil and civil war to become one of the world's fastest growing economies. President Macky Sall of Senegal, another country seen as a likely target for AQIM, called upon West African countries to step up their cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism. France's President Francois Hollande, meanwhile, denounced the shootings in the former French colony as a "cowardly attack." "France will bring its logistical support and intelligence to Ivory Coast to find the attackers. It will pursue and intensify its cooperation with its partners in the fight against terrorism," he said in a statement. (Additional reporting by Joe Bavier and Loucoumane Coulibaly; Writing by Edward McAllister and Joe Bavier Editing by Ruth Pitchford and Jonathan Oatis)
BEIRUT (Reuters) - A top adviser to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Tuesday Russian forces could return to Syria after withdrawing, and the United States now needed to pressure Turkey and Saudi Arabia to halt supplies to rebels. "If the Russian friends withdraw part of their forces, this does not mean they cannot return," Bouthaina Shaaban said on Lebanon-based al-Mayadeen TV. In a surprise announcement on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said most Russian forces would be withdrawn from Syria. Russia began to help Damascus in September, dramatically altering the battlefield in a conflict now entering its sixth year. Russia said last month Assad was out of step with its diplomacy, prompting speculation Putin is pushing him to be more flexible in peace talks in Geneva, where his government has ruled out discussion of the presidency or a negotiated transfer of power. But Shaaban denied Putin was pressuring Damascus, stressing the independence and military capability of Syrian forces. "Connecting the Russian move and any exertion of pressure on Damascus has no basis in truth," she said. "Russia is an ally and friend that talks to us respectfully and in consultation." "The (Syrian) army is able not only to preserve the gains it has made, but also to confront new areas in order to liberate the largest possible number of villages," Shaaban said. Shaaban also said that following the withdrawal of Russian forces, the next step was for the international community to cut supplies to rebel factions fighting the Syrian government. "The ball is now in the United States' court and the next step will be American pressure on Turkey and Saudi Arabia to stop funding terrorists and stop the flow of weapons," she said. "It is very possible to close the borders and keep out mercenaries," Shaaban said. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington in Beirut and Ali Abdelatti in Cairo; Editing by Tom Brown)
[UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke in Ottawa last month./CBC News]



Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday that Canada will seek a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council. But some experts say while the countrys return to the council is possible, it wont be easy.

Its a tough fight but I think its doable, University of Ottawa law professor Errol Mendes tells Yahoo Canada News. Weve really got to pick our areas where we can show not just good leadership, but extraordinary leadership.

Canada last held a seat in 1999-2000 and lost its last bid for a seat in 2010, ending a string of six consecutive decades on the 15-seat council. The federal government withdrew its candidacy then after two rounds of voting made it clear Canada could not beat Portugal for a rotating two-year council seat.

Several UN diplomats told CBC News that the earliest Canada could mount a successful campaign would be 2020, for a term that would begin the next year. The United States, China, France, Great Britain and Russia occupy the five permanent and veto-wielding seats on the council, and the other 10 are distributed on a regional basis.

However, while there are no uncontested seats open in the Western Europe and Other Group (WEOG) before 2020, Canada, which falls under this regional UN group, could take the unconventional approach of launching a campaign earlier. There are votes for two-year seats every year, with the next coming up in June.

Running before 2020 would give Canada less time to garner enough votes, but would capitalize on the recent positive attention the country and Trudeau have received internationally, says Colin Robertson, vice-president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, a non-profit research organization focused on international aid and policy.

It is possible that Mr. Trudeau would want to take advantage of the honeymoon period and run sooner, he says. It would mean upsetting a little bit of the balance within the WEOG, but were not part of the European Union bloc anyway. Its not impossible that we may decide to run sooner than 2020.

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Stiff competition

Even if Canada waits until 2020 to run, the country would still face an election, Robertson says  in the WEOG, Ireland, Norway and San Marino have all expressed intentions to run that year, and there are often more interested countries than available slots in a particular bloc.

And though Canadas previous terms on the council were successful, even if we wait until 2020 the country will face tough competition from both Norway and Ireland, Mendes says.

Norway is probably the biggest competition because theyve got a good reputation worldwide, says Mendes, who is also president of the International Commission of Jurists, Canadian Section. The country particularly distinguished itself by taking the lead on the Oslo Process against cluster munitions, he says.

Ireland also presents still competition for Canada, Mendes says, after it joined Norway in taking up the challenge of fighting against the use of cluster munitions. Canada lost an opportunity to lead on that, he says, after our respected work under then-prime minister Jean Chretien on the Ottawa Treaty to ban land mines.

What I think Canada has to do between now and 2020 is regain that leadership in different areas to get the bloc votes from Asia, Africa and other areas, Mendes says.

Robertson agrees that broad support is important for Canadas campaign, because all UN countries vote on Security Council seats. While EU members tend to vote for each other, he said, Canada could garner support from fellow countries in the Commonwealth or the International Organisation of La Francophonie.

Campaigning for a seat on the council is a usually a years-long process. Canadas chances are improved somewhat by the way Trudeau has managed to both receive international notice so quickly after his election, Mendes says, and how the prime minister has used that opportunity to signal a change from the countrys time under Stephen Harper, whose government was less focused on the kind of multilateralism that involves working with the UN.

For that reason, Canadas relationship with the UN under the past government isnt necessarily an indication of how the country will fare in any upcoming votes for a council seat.

Its a different scenario, Robertson says. You cant look to the last election and say, Oh well, were going to lose. I think weve got a government that is actively committed to internationalism and multilateralism and the UN system.

Points in Canadas favour

Trudeau will be in New York on Wednesday for meetings with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. When the two met in Ottawa last month, the prime minister said then that Canada would seek a two-year council term.

Trudeau plans to focus on gender equality and parity during his trip, and thats one area where Canada can really distinguish itself as the country campaigns to return to the council, Mendes says.

Canada does have a reputation in particular for promoting gender equality of the girl-child, Mendes says. Equality for girls around the world has been a focus of not just past Liberal governments but also Conservative ones, he says, calling former prime minister Brian Mulroney an unspoken champion of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

And right now is a particularly important time to focus on the rights of girls, Mendes says, given threats like sexual slavery of teenaged girls under ISIS, the violence faced by children in Syria, the use of child soldiers and the weaponization of rape in countries like South Sudan.

Maybe Canada can take on that and be the leading organization in the world to try and get a major international consensus, Mendes says, that this is an evil that has to be stopped, and has to have the entire Security Council behind it.

Canadas chances of returning to the council are also improved by the Trudeau governments stated commitment to refocusing its international efforts towards peace operations, Robertson says. For example, by changing its role in the anti-ISIS mission.

As well, the countrys commitment to bringing in 25,000 Syrian refugees is another tangible example of how Canadas international contributions have changed, he says.

Already, were building up a record, and a platform on which we can run, he says.

However, in order to truly stand out on the global stage and return to the Security Council, Mendes says, Trudeaus administration needs to continue to back up talk with action. That includes putting money back into areas that the previous government moved away from, including aid to Africa, he says.

It also means focusing on positive initiatives of the past government  improving maternal health, for example  but doing it in a way that removes them from ideology or potential commercial benefits for Canada.

Lets focus on what we can do well, Mendes says, and do it really, really well.
[To quote Charlotte, thats some (guinea) pig./Instagram]



If youve ever gone deep into the social networks which riddle the Internet, youd find an entire subsection of people who dedicate their accounts to the bizarre and awesome things their pets do.



Whether its a plump raccoon on Facebook, or overly-caring budgie on Vine, these pets just seem to rack up the followers while their owners catch all their antics in pictures or videos.

Well, today we introduce you to the newest pet sensation: Ludwik the hairless Guinea pig. And before you ask, yes, he has his own personal Instagram account.

[What an adorable little moustache./Instagram]



This adorable skinny Guinea is quite the model, though he kinda looks like Paul Giamatti after a night with Jason Mitchell in Straight Outta Compton.



He seems to enjoy his photo session, and sometimes he even falls asleep, so I think he feels very comfortable, Ludwiks owner Agata Nowacka told blog site The Dodo about her little friend.



Aside from rocking some serious fashion, Ludwik enjoys nibbling on treats, or just posing next to them with his stubby arms and legs.

[Those plums are the size of his head./Instagram]



One-year-old Ludwik shares his home with Nowacka, two Yorkies, and another baby nude Guinea pig named Rachel, who too is quite the natural on film.

Who knew hairless Guinea pigs could be so cute?


BEIJING (Reuters) - The relationship between China and Japan has improved but still remains fragile, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told a news conference on Wednesday at the end of the annual meeting of parliament. Ties between Asia's two largest economies have been strained by China's view that Japan has failed to properly atone for its wartime past, as well as by a festering territorial dispute in the East China Sea. "There have been some signs of improvement in Sino-Japanese ties, but it's not fully established yet," Li said. "It is still fragile." "We believe that it is important to adhere to the consensus reached by the two sides on the issue of principle involving history, and it is important to match one's words with concrete actions," he added. While ties have been thawing, with meetings between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Beijing remains deeply suspicious of Japan, especially of Abe's moves to allow the military to fight overseas for the first time since the war. China's foreign minister said earlier this month that there is little reason for optimism that the relationship with "two-faced" Tokyo will improve, though he acknowledged signs of improvement. Japan has also been keeping an eye on China's activities in the South China Sea, where China has territorial disputes with several southeast Asian countries. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said in February that Japan was gathering and analyzing information on China's moves there with "serious interest". (Reporting By Jason Subler and Kevin Yao, Writing By Megha Rajagopalan; Editing by Richard Pullin)
ELKO  County wildlife advisers may take action Monday on the states proposed predator management plan.

The board meets at 6 p.m. in the Mike Nannini Building, Suite 201 of the Elko County Courthouse.

A second draft of the 2017 plan is scheduled to be presented by committee chairman Chad Bliss and state wildlife biologist Pat Jackson, according to the agenda posted Tuesday.

The document details plans for common raven removal to protect sage grouse, mule-deer game enhancement, mountain lion removal to protect Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, and coyote removal in Eureka County.

Here is the full agenda for the Elko County Wildlife Advisory Board:

1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR POSSIBLE ACTION

2. BOARD MEMBER ITEMS: NON-ACTION ITEM

Pursuant to advice from the Nevada Attorney Generals Office, this time is devoted to comments by Board Members for general information or update purposes. No action may be taken upon a matter raised under this item of the agenda until the matter itself has been specifically included on a successive agenda and identified to be an action item. Any correspondence received by a Board member may be read and attached for the record.

3. COMMENTS BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC: NON-ACTION ITEM

Pursuant to N.R.S. 241.020, 2(c) (3), this time is devoted to comments by the general public, if any, and discussion of those comments. No action may be taken upon a matter raised under this item on the agenda until the matter itself has been specifically included on a successive agenda and identified to be an action item.

4. NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST: NON-ACTION ITEM

Informational update and all other matters related, thereto. Update from Department staff.

5. Humboldt County Elk Sub-plan (First Reading) For Possible Action

The Commission will be presented with the draft Humboldt County Elk Sub-ew and possible action. Subsequent to this presentation, the draft Humboldt County Elk Sub-plan will be brought before the Humboldt County Commission for their approval and the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners for final adoption. The Commission may forward questions or needed clarifications to the local sub-plan committee for their feedback prior to final approval.

State Agenda Item #6

6. Nevada Department of Wildlife Project Updates Informational

The Commission has requested that the Department provide regular project updates for ongoing projects and programs as appropriate based on geography and timing of meetings. These updates are intended to provide detail in addition to the summaries provided as part of the regular Department Report and are intended to inform the Commission and public as to the Departments ongoing duties and responsibilities.

State Agenda Item #7

7. Wildlife Damage Management Committee Report and Fiscal Year 2017 Draft Predation Management Plan (Second Draft) For Possible Action

The Commission will hear a report from the Wildlife Damage Management Committee chairman, the second draft of the proposed Fiscal Year 2017 Predator Management Plan will be presented, and the Commission may take action to provide recommendations for modification of the second draft for the May Commission meeting.

State Agenda Item #8

8. Wildlife Damage Management Committee, Approved Revision to Existing Policy #23 on Predation Management (First Reading) For Possible Action

On behalf of the Wildlife Damage Management Committee (WDMC), the Department will present suggested amendments to existing Commission Policy #23 on Predation Management approved by the WDMC on Jan. 28, 2016, at their meeting in Las Vegas. The amendments suggested are generally to make the existing policy compliant with Assembly Bill 78 (adopted during the last legislative session) and to make the policy consistent with adopted practice. In accordance with Commission Policy #1, this will serve as the first reading of Policy #23. The second reading will occur at the May Commission meeting and the Commission may adopt the revised policy at that meeting.

State Agenda Item #9

9. Reports  Informational

A- Bighorn Sheep Disease Surveillance and Herd Performance from 2012 to 2015 Informational

The Department will provide a presentation depicting its bighorn sheep herd responses (lamb recruitment as primary metric) over time in relation to disease exposure, environmental factors, and other variables. This presentation will cover information developed from data collected over the last three years.

B- Tag Allocation and Application Hunt Committee Report Informational

A report will be provided on the committees recent meeting. This report may include potential changes to the application process that may be recommended for action at a future commission meeting.

C- Sage-grouse Update Informational

The Department will provide an update on the status of sage-grouse.

D- Department Activity Report Informational

The Department will provide a report on recent Department activities.

E- Litigation Report Informational

The litigation report will be presented and discussed.

State Agenda Item #10

10. License Simplification, Development of Harvest Management Guidelines, and Americas Wildlife Value Questions Informational

The Department will provide the Commission with three reports on ongoing processes for license simplification, development of new harvest management guidelines, and a report on the Americas Wildlife Value Questions.

A- License Simplification Informational

The Commission will hear a report on the processes being worked on with contractor Loren Chase regarding license simplification.

B- Harvest Management Guidelines Informational

The Department will update the Commission on its progress of updating harvest management guidelines for Nevada hunting seasons.

C- Americas Wildlife Value Survey and Questions Informational

A report on Americas Wildlife Value Survey and Questions will be provided.

State Agenda Item #16

11. Administrative Procedures, Regulations and Policy Committee (APRPC) Report, Recommendations, and Commission Guidance Informational

A- APRPC Report Informational

Report on the committee meetings held in January and February and present an anticipated schedule for moving forward with a comprehensive Commission Policy Review.

B- APRPC Recommendations and Request for Commission Guidance on Policy Numbering and Policy Review Delegation to Various Committees For Possible Action

Report on the Committees recommendation and request the Commissions guidance to retain the current policy numbering format, and to delegate the review of Commission Policy #24, Hunting Opportunities Among Weapons and Hunter Groups to the Tag Allocation and Application Hunt Committee, and to delegate the review of Commission Policies #60 through #67 related to habitat and publically owned lands to the Commissions Public Lands Committee. Note: See agenda item #17 A for support material.

C- Rules of Practice Review, Status, and Commission Guidance For Possible Action

Commissioner McNinch will provide a status report on the Rules of Practice review, including Commission Policies #1 General Guidelines for the Commission; #3 Appeals; #4 Petition Process and Regulatory Adoptions Policy, and NAC 501.195 related to petitions, and NAC 501.140 - 190 related to appeals. The committee is seeking discussion and feedback from the Commission regarding concepts to modify the Rules of Practice that the committee has discussed.

Commission Regulations  Adoption  For Possible Action  Public Comment Allowed Persons Wishing to Provide Comment on Regulations are Requested to Complete a Regulation Speakers Card and Present it to the Recording Secretary

State Agenda Item #17

12. Commission Regulation 14-11 Amendment #3, 2015  2016 Upland Game, Migratory Upland Game and Furbearer Seasons and Limits Amendment

For Possible Action

The Commission will consider amendment #3 to the 2015  2016 season dates and length for the third Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area wild turkey hunt period. Amendment #3 would extend the wild turkey hunt for this period from two days to its original, intended 9-day length extending from April 23 through May 1, 2016 rather than the current two day hunt period of April 30 through May 1, 2016.

State Agenda Item #18

13. Commission Regulation 16-11 Migratory Game Bird Seasons, Bag Limits, and Special Regulations for Waterfowl and Webless Migratory Game Birds; Public Hunting Limited on Wildlife Management Areas and Designated State Lands 2016  2017 Season For Possible Action

The Commission will consider recommendations for seasons, bag limits, and special regulations for migratory game birds for the 2016  2017 season and adopt regulations that comply with the proposed regulations framework for the 2016  2017 hunting seasons on certain migratory game birds established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Commission will also consider rules regulating public hunting on Wildlife Management Areas and designated state lands.

State Agenda Item #19

14. Commission General Regulations  Workshop/Informational  Public Comment Allowed  Persons Wishing to Provide Comment on Regulations are Requested to Complete a Regulation Speakers Card and Present it to the Recording Secretary For Possible Action

A- Commission General Regulation 456, Special Incentive Elk Arbitration Panel, LCB File No. R031-15  Workshop/Public Comment Allowed

The Commission will hold a workshop on the temporary regulation which expired Nov. 1, 2015, relating to amending Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) 502.42283 by which the Commission may facilitate decisions by appointing or serving as the arbitration panel should arbitration of elk incentive tag awards become necessary.

During adoption of the permanent NAC, the Legislative Counsel Bureau (LCB) and the Legislative Commission have questioned specific language choices recommended by the Department that directly influence the application of the Administrative Procedures Act (APA). The primary concern expressed by the Legislative Commission deals with the ability of an arbitration panel to issue a final and binding decision without providing a means for appeal. In short, an appointed panel may be able to provide such a decision, yet when the Commission acts in this capacity it may be deemed an administrative act that must be consistent with the provisions of the APA. The attempts by the Department to recommend acceptable language to adequately describe this nuance have thus far been unclear.

B- Commission General Regulation 460, Definition of "Spike Elk," LCB File No. R013-16  Game Division Administrator Brian F. Wakeling  Workshop/Public Comment Allowed

The Commission will consider amending NAC 502.104 and 502.1045 to define "Spike Elk" in a manner that limits inadvertent errors in the field. The intent is to consider and possibly broaden the definition of spike in a manner that is consistent with the management objective of defining a spike while reducing the likelihood of errors in harvest identification.

C- Commission General Regulation 458, Electronic Rifle Triggers, Caliber and Cartridge Length, and Smokeless Powder Restrictions, LCB File No. R144-15  Workshop/Public Comment Allowed

The Commission will hold a second workshop to consider a regulation relating to amending Chapter 503 of the Nevada Administrative Code. The proposed regulation amendment contains two changes. The first change will clarify the use of black powder substitutes that are considered smokeless powder. The second change would make it unlawful to hunt a big game mammal with a rifle using a centerfire cartridge of caliber .46 or larger or an overall loaded cartridge length of 3.8 inches or longer. The amendment would also make it unlawful to hunt a big game mammal with any firearm equipped with an electronic or computer-controlled trigger.

A workshop was held in Las Vegas on January 29, 2016. The Commission directed the Department to hold a second workshop to consider additional changes, including: changing the term big game mammal to any game animal and either adjusting the overall loaded cartridge length to something that wouldnt impact custom reloads for popular hunting cartridges or changing the terminology to account for casing length rather than overall loaded length. Additional information was requested to show which rifles may be prohibited under either scenario.

D- Commission General Regulation 459, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones), LCB File No. R145-15  Workshop/Public Comment Allowed

The Commission will hold a second workshop to consider a regulation relating to amending Chapters 501 and 503 of the Nevada Administrative Code. The proposed regulation amendment contains two changes. The first change would make the prohibition of using aerial devices for the purpose of hunting year-round rather than the current prohibition of 48-hours prior to any open season and during any open season. The second change is to clarify existing language that prohibits the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for the purpose of hunting, locating, or observing big game animals. The changes would extend aerial scouting prohibitions and clarify the existing regulation by explicitly listing unmanned aerial vehicles.

A workshop was held in Las Vegas on January 29, 2016. The Commission directed the Department to hold a second workshop to consider additional changes, including: changing the term big game mammal to any game animal and adding terminology to Section 2 to clarify that the regulation is specific to real time satellite imagery rather than commercially available imagery products such as Google Earth.

E- Commission General Regulation 440, Trail Cameras and Other Devices, LCB File No. R012-16  Workshop/Public Comment Allowed

The Commission will hold a workshop to consider a regulation relating to amending Chapter 503 of the Nevada Administrative Code. The proposed regulation change is intended to restrict the use of motion and heat sensing cameras that are left for a period of time, and not held in the hand. The proposed language would prohibit the use of trail cameras to locate or observe big game mammals for the purpose of hunting from August 1 to December 31. The Commission directed the Department to develop this regulation at the September 2013 meeting.

State Agenda Item #20

15. Future Commission Meetings and Commission Committee Assignments  INFORMATIONAL

The next Commission meeting is scheduled for May 13 and 14, 2016, in Reno and the Commission will review and discuss potential agenda items for that meeting. The Commission may change the date and meeting location at this time. The chairman may designate and adjust committee assignments and add or dissolve committees, as necessary at this time. Any anticipated committee meetings that may occur prior to the next Commission meeting may be discussed.

State Agenda Item #21

16. Discuss any other State agenda items 

17. Future Commission Meeting: INFORMATIONAL

The next Commission meetings are scheduled for March 24 & 25, 2016, in Yerington and May 13 & 14, 2016, in Reno; and the Commission will review and discuss potential agenda items for that meeting. The Commission may change the time and meeting location at this time. The chairman may designate and adjust committee assignments as necessary at this meeting

Elko County Wildlife Boards future meeting date will be Monday prior to the next state meeting.

18. COMMENTS BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC: NON-ACTION ITEM

Pursuant to N.R.S. 241.020, 2(c) (3), this time is devoted to comments by the general public, if any, and discussion of those comments. No action may be taken upon a matter raised under this item on the agenda until the matter itself has been specifically included on a successive agenda and identified to be an action item.

ADJOURNMENT
The federal government is moving forward with its plan to make tobacco companies adopt generic packaging on cigarette packs.

Plain packaging featuring standard sizes, neutral fonts and the same dull colour for all brands has already been adopted in Australia, and is about to begin in France, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The Liberal Party platform included a promise to introduce generic packaging in this country, if elected.

On Tuesday, The Public Health Agency of Canada posted a public tender for a "cost-benefit analysis of the plain packaging of tobacco products."

The request states: "The Government of Canada has committed to introducing plain packaging requirements for tobacco products, similar to those in Australia and the United Kingdom. Such measures could consider prohibiting elements such as brand colours, logos, and graphics on tobacco packages."

Cost-benefit analysis

The request described how the federal government is looking for an assessment of costs to industry, as well as government expenses such as enforcement.

The request also seeks to find evidence "that exposure to standardized packaging is linked to a decline in smoking risks, and is particularly effective in reducing the appeal of tobacco products among youth smokers."

The plan to move ahead with plain packaging was included as part of Health Minister Jane Philpott's mandate letter.

"The wheels are now turning," Andrew MacKendrick, a spokesperson in Philpott office, told CBC News.

Anti-smoking advocates were quick to welcome the news.

"I was really happy," said Cynthia Callard, with Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada. "This is the starting gun."

Plain packaging in Australia

Plain packaging legislation was first introduced in Australia in 2012, a move applauded by the World Health Organization.

A majority of members of Parliament in the United Kingdom voted in favour of adopting similar legislation, which will go into effect in May. Ireland and France will also be introducing plain packaging policies this year.

Story continues

A World Health Organization Europe report suggested early research shows that young people may be put off by plain packaging, and that more smokers would quit if faced with plain packaging.

But the tobacco industry has disputed the results, and have fought such legislation as an infringement of their intellectual property rights.

Imperial Tobacco has told CBC News it will wait to see what the new rules look like, but will not exclude fighting plain packaging rules in court.

'More work to be done'

Over the last several decades smoking rates have been in decline in Canada, with smokers now making up just fewer than 20 per cent of Canadians.

But organizations like the Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation say smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable death, and have been advocating for a long-term strategy.

Callard pointed out that plain-packaging legislation in Australia also came with tax hikes and other programs.

"There's more work to be done," said Callard, adding governments now face challenges they didn't have 20 years ago.

"We have electronic cigarettes, we have marijuana being legalized, so what we really need  and we haven't had for a while  is a long-term plan," Callard said.

Correction : A previous version of this story stated that there are fewer than one in 20 smokers in Canada, or less than five per cent of Canadians. In fact, just fewer than 20 per cent of Canadians smoke.(Mar 16, 2016 8:25 AM)
By Ulf Laessing MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) - A Nigerian government push to strangle the Boko Haram insurgency has shut down the cattle trade that sustained the city of Maiduguri, leaving many residents with no livelihood, including many of the two million people displaced by the war. In recent months the army has taken back much of the territory lost to the jihadists during the five-year insurgency. But the war, which killed thousands of people, is still taking its toll in the northeast, despite President Muhammadu Buhari's vow to crush Boko Haram by the end of last year. The group, now officially allied to the Islamic State fighters who control much of Iraq and Syria, has responded with suicide bombings and hit and run attacks against civilians. In the latest shock to civilians, meat has become scarce as the army has closed cattle markets to stop Boko Haram from raising funds by selling livestock, officials say. The shutdown of the Maiduguri cattle market -- one of the biggest in west Africa -- has, overnight, made hundreds of cattle traders, herdsmen, butchers and labourers unemployed. "We are suffering," said Usama Malla, a cattle herdsman who lost his job. While he spoke, an angry crowd quickly gathered to criticise the government. "We want compensation," others demanded. The sprawling market had been one of the main employment opportunities for the more than one million displaced people who live in camps on the outskirts of the town after fleeing Boko Haram. Officials say they were forced to shut the market because Boko Haram has resorted to stealing cattle from villagers to feed its fighters and raise funds after the army pushed it out of cities. Cattle looting has displaced its previous sources of income: robbing banks and kidnapping wealthy people. The market closure has disrupted beef supplies in Maiduguri and the rest of Borno state, adding to the hardship of people who have long complained of poverty and neglect in the north -- struggles that prompted some to join Boko Haram's revolt. "I cannot afford meat anymore," said Musa Abdullahi, a labourer sipping milk sold by a female street vendor. He said he has to feed two wives and nine children, and can't remember the last time he was able to buy meat for the family. "I used to get a piece of meat for 350 naira ($1.75), now it costs 900." Borno state governor Kashim Shettima said he had reopened the Maiduguri market to trade existing stock but banned the arrival of any new cattle for two weeks so authorities could identify sellers. "There were suspicious persons who sold cattle which they had bought from Boko Haram," he said. "This is financing the terrorists." The closure has left some 400 animals dying in trucks stopped by the army on the way to Maiduguri, traders said. Officials say authorities plan to distribute food and find jobs for the city's youth. But options are limited as a slump in vital oil revenues has undermined Buhari's plans to develop the north, which is poorer than the mostly Christian south, where Nigeria pumps its oil. MIDDLEMEN Located some 1,600 km (1,000 miles) from the Atlantic coast and the southern megacity of Lagos, Maiduguri used to be a busy cattle market serving neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger until Boko Haram attacks closed the nearby borders. Supplies for the Maiduguri market had thinned even before the cattle embargo as Boko Haram fighters burned fields and forced farmers out of their villages in recent years. The army, which moved its command to fight Boko Haram to Maiduguri to be close to the front, has repelled two recent attacks on the city of two million, allowing commercial flights to resume. But soldiers manning sand-bagged checkpoints and imposing a curfew are a reminder that life is anything but normal. Suicide bombers strike often in its suburbs. Security officials say Boko Haram's cattle raids suggest the group is desperate to find food after the army pushed it out of several towns. More than 70 supporters begging for food surrendered last week, the army said. But cattle traders say the raids are simply a new tactic by the jihadists raise funds. Daho Dida, a cattle trader sitting in the shade of a wall, said fighters had stolen a 350-strong herd from him and a 500-strong herd from his brother. He said the military had failed to stop the raids, with soldiers running into the bush the moment they came under fire. "They buy foodstuff, petrol and other stuff with the money," he said of the fighters. The jihadists sell stolen cattle to middlemen who take on the risk of dealing with them by paying just 20,000 naira ($100) a head, a quarter of the usual price, said Adam Bulama, a leader of a civilian vigilante force helping the army. It's a worthwhile risk for middlemen to ship the cattle to Maiduguri, where prices have surged to 120,000 naira per head because of the temporary ban. Bulama said dealers need personal connections with staff at abattoirs that are still slaughtering cows from the existing stocks. "Now meat is scarce in Maiduguri," he said. "Nobody can afford it." Buhari says Boko Haram is no longer able to overrun security posts or seize government offices. But displaced people holding out in camps remain wary of going home. Boko Haram fighters often ambush "liberated" roads or villages in hit and run attacks, aid workers say. "Houses in our village were burned," said Bulami Ari, a 47-year old farmer who lives with his two wives and six children in a tent since the jihadists raided last year their village, located just 45 km outside Maiduguri. "There is no security." ($1 = 198.6000 naira) (additional reporting by Lanre Ola; editing by Peter Graff)
By Ognen Teofilovski MOIN, Macedonia (Reuters) - Hundreds of migrants marched out of a Greek transit camp, hiked for hours along muddy paths and forded a rain-swollen river to get around a border fence and cross into Macedonia, where they were detained on Monday, authorities said. A Macedonian police spokeswoman said the several hundred migrants who had crossed into Macedonia would be sent back to Greece. A Reuters photographer put the number who crossed as high as 2,000. About 30 journalists, including a Reuters photographer, who followed the migrants were also detained, witnesses said. Earlier, Macedonian police said three migrants - two men and a woman - had drowned crossing a river near the Greek border that had been swollen by heavy rain. The crossing put the migrant issue back in the spotlight days before leaders from the European Union and Turkey are due to meet again to seal an agreement intended to keep migrants in Turkey from moving to Europe through Greece. At least 12,000 people, including thousands of children, have been stranded in a sprawling tent city in northern Greece, their path to the EU blocked after Macedonia and other nations along the so-called Western Balkan route closed their borders. On Monday, more than 1,000 migrants streamed out of the camp, searching for a way around the twin border fences Macedonia built to keep them out. A second group of migrants, many of them from war zones in Syria and Iraq, later followed them. Heading west along muddy paths, the migrants, wrapped in coats and hats, carried their belongings in rucksacks and bags. Many were children, some walking, others riding in strollers. Some made victory signs as they walked. When they reached a river, the migrants stretched a rope across it and formed a human chain to cross. They carried children across on their shoulders. Once over the river, the migrants walked along the border fence until they found the point where it ended in mountainous country. But after they crossed the border, Macedonian soldiers rounded them up and put the migrants in army trucks. "We are taking measures to return the group to Greece," the Macedonian police spokeswoman said. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Hungary was the EU country that had sent most police officers to help non-EU member Macedonia protect its border with Greece. "Macedonia needs and deserves help and assistance from the European Union because actually theyve been protecting the southern border of the European Union," he told reporters in Brussels. Petros Tanos, a police spokesman in northern Greece, said police were investigating media reports that leaflets had circulated in the Idomeni camp urging migrants to march on Monday. "We do not know who produced it...nor how they found the ropes yet," he told Reuters, referring to ropes used to cross the river. Babar Baloch, regional spokesman for U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, said conditions in the Idomeni camp were difficult after days of heavy rain. "This is not a proper camp. People are exhausted, tired and running out of patience," he said. A Serbian customs spokeswoman said 33 migrants trying to cross into Serbia from Macedonia had been found in an empty cargo train in Presevo, southern Serbia, on Saturday and had been handed over to police. The group, aged between 18 and 26, were mainly Afghans, but also included Syrians and Libyans. All but one were men. More than a million people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and beyond have flooded into the EU since early 2015. In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday there was no question Germany has benefited from the closure of the Balkan migrant route. A day earlier, voters in three regional elections had punished her conservatives and flocked to a new anti-immigration party that wants German borders closed. But Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said it was time to say enough to the selfishness of countries that thought raising a wall was a lasting response to the migrant challenge. "How long do you think a wall might last in the internet age?" Renzi told students in Rome. (Additional reporting by Branko Filipovic, Ivana Sekularac, Lefteris Karagiannopoulos in Athens, Alexandros Avramidis in Idomeni, Steve Scherer in Rome, Tina Bellon in Berlin, Gabriela Baczynska in Brussels; Writing by Adrian Croft; Editing by Larry King)
By Hnin Yadana Zaw and Antoni Slodkowski NAYPYITAW (Reuters) - Myanmar's parliament elected a close friend and confidant of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as president on Tuesday, making Htin Kyaw the first head of state since the 1960s who does not hail from a military background. Suu Kyi led her National League for Democracy (NLD) to a landslide election win in November, but a constitution drafted by the former junta bars her from the top office. She has vowed to run the country anyway through a proxy president, and on Thursday the NLD nominated Htin Kyaw for the role. He runs a charity founded by Suu Kyi and has been a trusted member of her inner circle since the mid-1990s. He is not a lawmaker. "Today's result is because of the love of people for her. It is the victory of my sister Aung San Suu Kyi," Htin Kyaw told reporters after the vote. The United States, which has backed Myanmar's transition to civilian government and refers to the country as Burma, called Htin Kyaw's election "yet another important step forward in Burma's democratic transition." White House spokesman Josh Earnest told a regular briefing that while important progress had been made, additional steps were needed and Washington would continue to back reform. China's embassy offered congratulations for the election of state leaders and said it hoped "to continuously push forward the friendly and cooperative relationship between China and Myanmar." The sizeable NLD majority ensured a comfortable win for Suu Kyi's pick in a vote by both houses of parliament. Htin Kyaw received 360 of the 652 votes cast. Suu Kyi was the first member of parliament to vote and clapped and smiled when the result was announced. Outgoing President Thein Sein congratulated the man who will replace him on April 1. "On behalf of the nation and the people, I take pride in your being elected as the president," he said. NLD lawmakers, most of whom have no experience as members of parliament, spent time rehearsing how they would vote the night before the election, a Reuters witness said. They were keen to ensure there were no last-minute mistakes that would cost them a presidency they had campaigned for decades to see. "This is the big day for us," Zar Ni Min, an NLD lower house MP, said after the vote. "This is what we have hoped for for a long time." Yanghee Lee, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, said there was no time for complacency because Myanmar had hundreds of laws that were out of line with its international obligations, and people could be sentenced to hard labor for "all kinds of reasons". The change of government was also a chance to break the "tragic status quo situation" of a million minority Rohingya Muslims who have been deprived of their most fundamental rights, she said. Tens of thousands of Rohingyas have fled poverty and persecution in western Myanmar since religious violence erupted in 2012, and Lee told a news conference in Geneva she was afraid more would flee in the 2016 sailing season. SIMMERING TENSIONS The still-powerful military holds a quarter of parliamentary seats and the constitutional right to nominate one of the three presidential candidates. Its candidate, retired general Myint Swe, received 213 votes and becomes first vice president. Relations between the armed forces and Suu Kyi will define the success of Myanmar's most significant break from military rule since the army seized power in 1962. Tensions have simmered in the run-up to the election and as the NLD prepares to take power. Suu Kyi wants to demilitarize Myanmar's politics but effectively needs the support of the military to do this. The armed forces are guaranteed three ministries under the constitution and enough parliamentary seats to give them a veto over constitutional amendments - enough to limit the potential scope of Suu Kyi's reforms. Sources in Suu Kyi's camp say she has grown increasingly frustrated with military intransigence on issues ranging from amending the constitution to relatively minor formalities such as the location of the handover of power. NLD lawmakers also say the military's choice of Myint Swe, who served the junta as head of the feared military intelligence and is on the U.S. sanctions list, goes against the spirit of reconciliation Suu Kyi is seeking to foster. The third presidential candidate, Henry Van Thio, was also nominated by the NLD. He will become second vice president and was chosen by Suu Kyi to represent Myanmar's numerous ethnic minorities. He is a member of the Chin ethnic group. The president picks the cabinet that will take over from Thein Sein's outgoing government, with the exception of the heads of the home, defense and border security ministries, who will be appointed by the armed forces chief. (Additional reporting by Soe Zeya Tun in Naypyitaw, Aung Hla Tun in Yangon, Tom Miles in Geneva and David Brunnstrom and Mohammad Zargham in Washington; Writing by Simon Webb; Editing by Alex Richardson and James Dalgleish)
The Government of Nunavut is committed to improving the quality of its translated materials, even as the demand for translation services continues to grow, representatives of the Department of Culture and Heritage told MLAs Tuesday.

The department's translation bureau has the arduous task of co-ordinating the translation of government documents into all of Nunavut's official languages: English, French and the Inuit language (both Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun).

Until now, it's been performing those tasks without a full staff.

"This is the first year that all our positions are fully staffed," said Stephane Cloutier, acting deputy minister of Culture and Heritage.

"All the translation positions are fully staffed. Hopefully this will improve how we deliver services to departments and public agencies."

The demand for translation services continues to grow, said Cloutier. In the 2013-2014 fiscal year, the department's staff and freelancers translated roughly 4.3-million English words into French, Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun.

Last year, that number increased to about 5.2-million words.

MLAs tout importance of preserving Inuktitut

As the Department of Culture and Heritage arguably leads the government in its task of preserving and enhancing Inuit culture, members of the Committee of the Whole took the opportunity to underline the importance of the safeguarding the language.

"We do not want the Inuit language to be forgotten," Netsilik MLA Emiliano Qirngnuq said in Inuktitut.

"I want everyone to remember that Inuktitut is the original language of the Arctic."

Tununiq MLA Joe Enook expressed frustration at what he called poor translations, waving his thick copy of the 2016-2019 Business Plan for the Government of Nunavut.

"Year after year, I have mentioned this material is not proofread," he said in Inuktitut.

"We all know it. We all see the incorrect spelling and word choice. Sometimes, it makes no sense."

Story continues

'Quality control' will be improved

Cloutier acknowledged this problem, saying his department has translated the dense material every year since 1999 and in the last few years has had "shorter timelines" to produce an Inuktitut version.

"I will make sure quality control is exercised," acting minister Johnny Mike told Enook.

The department said it is working on ways to ensure translations are accurate and consistent across the territory. Among the simplest of changes is the hiring of staff who will be able to lay out a clearer process for proofreading.

"Until recently we did not have positions dedicated to editing and reviewing," said Cloutier.

"Now, in the last few months we have filled those positions. We have one for Inuinnaqtun in Kugluktuk, as well as one here in Iqaluit for Inuktitut."

The Department of Culture and Heritage says Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit, the Inuit language authority, is working on a test which would assess the bilingual capabilities of staff.

"I don't know if it's for next year or the following year, but they have in their plans as priorities to also do assessment of translators and interpreters to ensure they are using the highest quality of Inuktitut." said Cloutier.

The Committee of the Whole is set to wrap up its department-by-department review of the government's 2016-2017 main estimates this week.

On Monday, MLAs deferred approval for the Department of Environment, until after the committee finishes evaluating the remaining departments.
By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration reversed course on Tuesday on a proposal to open the southeastern Atlantic coast to drilling as an oil price slump and strong opposition in coastal communities raised doubts about the plan. Besides market and environmental concerns, the U.S. Interior Department said it also based its decision on conflicts with competing commercial and military ocean uses. The decision, which is sure to reverberate in the presidential election campaign, reverses a January 2015 proposal for new leases in the Atlantic as part of the department's five-year plan to set new boundaries for oil development in federal waters through 2022. We heard from many corners that now is not the time to offer oil and gas leasing off the Atlantic coast, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said. When you factor in conflicts with national defense, economic activities such as fishing and tourism, and opposition from many local communities, it simply doesnt make sense to move forward with any lease sales in the coming five years. Hillary Clinton, the front-runner in the race for the Democratic Party's nomination to run in the Nov. 8 presidential election, has moved to the left on environment under pressure from green groups. She tweeted: "Relieved Atlantic drilling is now off the table. Time to do the next right thing and protect the Arctic, too." Donald Trump, the businessman and former reality TV personality who is the Republican front-runner, has raised questions about whether more offshore drilling is necessary given the abundance of onshore shale production. The proposal would have opened up drilling sites more than 50 miles off Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia to oil drilling by 2021. Coastal communities in these states protested the administration's plan, fearing the possibility of an oil spill like the BP Horizon accident in 2010 on the U.S. Gulf Coast, and its effects on tourism and their economies. "With this decision coastal communities have won a David vs. Goliath fight against the richest companies on the planet, and that is a cause for tremendous optimism for the well-being of future generations, said Jacqueline Savitz, environmental group Oceana's vice president for U.S. oceans. Virginia officials had welcomed the initial plan to allow offshore drilling, saying it would bring economic benefits. On Tuesday, Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, said he was surprised that the Department of Defense had raised concerns about naval installations, one of which is off the state's coast. "The DOD has been relatively quiet during this public debate and has never shared their objections with me before," he said. OBJECTIONS Major oil companies, including Exxon Mobil Corp, Shell and Chevron, had pushed for an open Atlantic. Shell Oil Company spokeswoman Natalie Mazey said the decision was "short sighted" and would "jeopardize the abundance of affordable domestic energy the economy has become dependent on." The American Petroleum Institute said the decision goes against the will of voters, governors and members of Congress who support more development. The decision appeases extremists who seek to stop oil and natural gas production which would increase the cost of energy for American consumers and close the door for years to creating new jobs, new investments and boosting energy security, said API President Jack Gerard. The Interior Department also announced Tuesday that it would evaluate 13 other potential lease sales in other areas of the country - 10 in the Gulf of Mexico and three off the coast of Alaska. "The proposal focuses potential lease sales in areas with the highest resource potential, greatest industry interest, and established infrastructure," Jewell said. The Interior Department said that in the Gulf, resource potential and industry interest are high and infrastructure already exists. It proposes two annual lease sales that include the Western, Central, and part of the eastern Gulf of Mexico not subject to the current congressional moratorium. It also includes a potential sale each in the Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, and Cook Inlet planning areas in Alaska. The department would take comments on other options, including an alternative that includes no new leasing. CONCERNS ABOUT ARCTIC While green groups praised the decision to keep the Atlantic off limits for now, they raised concerns that the United States would keep the door open for drilling in the vulnerable U.S. Arctic. "The administration must take Arctic leases out of the final five-year plan," said Cindy Shogan, executive director of the Alaska Wilderness League. "No place has potentially more to lose due to climate change than the Arctic." The Interior Department will open the five-year proposal to a 90-day comment period. (Reporting by Valerie Volcovici, additional reporting by Timothy Gardner and Ernest Scheyder in Houston; editing by Cynthia Osterman and Grant McCool)
By Doina Chiacu and Bob Chiarito WASHINGTON/BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Reuters) - Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump refused to take responsibility on Sunday for clashes at his campaign events and criticized protesters who have dogged his rallies and forced him to cancel one in Chicago last week. When a protester interrupted his speech on Sunday at an airport hangar in Bloomington, Illinois, minutes after it began, Trump derided him as a "disrupter" and told the cheering crowd: "Don't worry about it - I don't hear their voice." "Our rallies are so big and we have so many people, I never hear their voices. I only hear our people's voices saying: 'There they are, there they are,'" the billionaire businessman said as the audience roared approval and some 2,000 protesters waited outside. Trump is trying to cement his lead over his remaining rivals - U.S. Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida and Ohio Governor John Kasich - in five states that hold presidential nominating contests on Tuesday for Republicans and Democrats: Florida, Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina and Missouri. The four Republicans and Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are vying to run in the Nov. 8 election to succeed Democratic President Barack Obama. Trump used a round of Sunday morning television appearances to beat back strong criticism from Republican rivals and Democrats that he was encouraging discord with divisive language disparaging Muslims and illegal immigrants. "I don't accept responsibility. I do not condone violence in any shape," Trump said on NBC's "Meet the Press." The 69-year-old New York real estate mogul defended his supporters and said he was considering helping pay the legal fees of a 78-year-old white man who punched a young black man at a Trump rally in North Carolina last week. The man, Trump said, "got carried away." "I've actually instructed my people to look into it," he said. The man, John McGraw, was charged with assault and later with communicating a threat after he said he enjoyed hitting "that loudmouth" and threatened next time "to kill him." Trump had earlier promised to help cover the legal fees of supporters involved in clashes at his rallies. SIMMERING TENSIONS On Friday night, thousands of protesters, many of them telling journalists they were Sanders or Clinton supporters, showed up at the Chicago rally, forcing Trump to cancel the event and casting a shadow over his weekend rallies. The Chicago clashes followed several weeks of violence at Trump events, in which protesters and journalists have been punched, tackled or hustled out of venues, raising concerns about security. Trump drew condemnation from his rivals. "We are now seeing images on television that we haven't seen in this country since the 1960s, images that make us look like a Third World country," Rubio, 44, said at a campaign event in The Villages, a retirement community in Florida. "Do we really want to live in a country where Americans hate each other?" Sanders, 74, a U.S. senator from Vermont, said in a statement that Trump "should not be condoning violence by paying the legal fees of a supporter who viciously attacked a protester at one of his rallies." Trump said tension at his rallies came from people being "sick and tired" of American leadership that has cost them jobs through trade deals, failed to defeat Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, and treated military veterans poorly. "The people are angry at that - they're not angry about something I'm saying," he said. "I'm just the messenger." Trump has harnessed the discontent of white, working-class voters who blame trade deals for costing them jobs. He has proposed building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, disparaged some Mexican immigrants as criminals and advocated a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States. A few dozen protesters, mostly young, stood in the rain outside a later Trump rally on Sunday in West Chester, Ohio, near Cincinnati. Alexander Shelton, a 26-year-old student and activist, wore a white Muslim prayer robe with a picture of the civil rights leader Malcolm X painted on front. "We have to stand up against white supremacy," he said. "Trump stands for that." Michael McKinney, 47, a self-employed credit-card processor from Ohio's Claremont County, came to the rally with his wife and young daughter, and blamed the protesters for the violence. "If the protesters don't act civilly, people on the edge are going to snap," he said. "We are not a Third World nation. We don't stand for killing each other because we disagree or even harm each other," he said. "This isn't the United States I grew up in." (Additional reporting by Lucia Mutikana and Patrick Rucker in Washington, Steve Holland in The Villages, Fla., and Joe Wessels in West Chester, Ohio; Writing by Doina Chiacu and Jonathan Allen; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Peter Cooney)
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have tightened their grip on the White House race after critical victories in five state primaries.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio dropped out of the Republican contest after a landslide defeat in his home state to front runner Mr Trump.

The 69-year-old billionaire also won Illinois and North Carolina, but lost the Midwestern presidential bellwether of Ohio to John Kasich .

A crestfallen Mr Rubio, once the party favourite, told supporters in Miami: "We will not be on the winning side.

Mr Trump was neck and neck with his only other rival, Texas Senator Ted Cruz , in a Missouri cliffhanger.

On the Democratic side, Mrs Clinton is claiming a clean sweep in Florida, Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina and Missouri.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders battled the former secretary of state to a photo finish in Missouri and her native state of Illinois.

But his hopes of thwarting 68-year-old Mrs Clintons march to the Democratic nomination look to have been dealt a serious blow.

"Our commander in chief needs to defend our country, not embarrass it, she said in her victory speech, an apparent swipe at Mr Trump.

The Republican Party establishment will be relieved their own front runner was beaten by Ohio Governor Mr Kasich in that state.

Conservative grandees fear Mr Trumps incendiary rhetoric will lead them to oblivion in Novembers White House election.

However, analysts say Mr Kasich, with only one victory under his belt, currently has no path to the nomination.

His sole win could even end up aiding Mr Trump by dividing the vote against the brash New Yorker.

The property magnate has taken another stride towards the Republican nomination, a scenario that seemed laughable to pundits only a year ago.

However, he could still fall short of the 1,237 delegates needed to be anointed the partys White House candidate in July.

The messy Republican fight raises the extremely rare prospect of a contested convention, which could tear apart an already deeply fractured party.

About two-thirds of Republican voters in all five states that held primaries on Tuesday said they back Mr Trumps plan to stop Muslims entering the US, according to AP news agency exit polls.

Democratic President Barack Obama took a not-too-subtle jab at Mr Trump on Tuesday , saying he was dismayed by the rhetoric on the campaign trail.
By Paul Taylor BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Europe's emerging migration policy is looking increasingly like Donald Trump without the hair. Except that, unlike the Republican presidential frontrunner, who wants to make Mexico pay for a wall to keep migrants out of the United States, the Europeans are willing to pay their neighbor Turkey to do the job for them. Seven months and a million migrants after Chancellor Angela Merkel declared a "welcome culture" for Syrian refugees in Germany, the European Union is rushing to erect "No vacancy" signs along its internal and external borders. Under fierce political pressure in her own conservative camp and from an insurgent right-wing populist party, the Alliance for Germany (AfD), Merkel's mantra of "We can do this" is morphing into "The Turks can do this for us". In a surprise overnight deal she negotiated with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu last week, Ankara offered to take back all migrants, including Syrian refugees, who cross from its shores into Europe from now on or are intercepted off its coast. Having thus sealed its most porous border to irregular migrants, the EU would admit a limited number of carefully vetted Syrian refugees directly from Turkey - one for each Syrian asylum seeker Ankara took back from Greek Aegean islands. The lucky few would be chosen with the help of the U.N. refugee agency from among those who had waited patiently in camps in Syria's neighbors, not those who had paid smugglers thousands of euros for a risky sea crossing. They would be sent to those EU countries that agreed last year to take in a quota, although some states are resisting that. Stifling doubts about the legality of such a blanket return policy, discomfort at outsourcing it to a partner many of them see as worryingly authoritarian, and irritation at the price Turkey is demanding, stunned EU leaders gave their provisional assent. DESPERATION European public opinion is so petrified by images of tens of thousands of bedraggled migrants trekking across muddy fields and highways towards western and northern Europe - and populists have made such capital out of those fears - that governments are desperate to halt the flow. Another summit in Brussels this week is due to conclude the Faustian bargain, granting Turkey 6 billion euros ($6.7 billion)in aid to keep refugees on its soil, an accelerated path to visa-free travel for Turks and faster EU membership talks in return for its agreement to act as Europe's gatekeeper. European Council President Donald Tusk says regaining control of Europe's external borders is a condition for gaining public acceptance to take in refugees. In practice, it looks more like a way of keeping them out, if it can be implemented. Human rights groups and volunteers who work with refugees are outraged to see Europe slamming shut its open door for victims of war and persecution. EU lawyers are working overtime to try to make it legal. The Geneva Convention on refugees requires signatories to examine individually each claim for protection submitted by an asylum seeker on their soil. The German-Turkish deal would get around that provision by declaring Turkey a "safe" third country to which irregular migrants could be returned under a bilateral Greek-Turkish readmission agreement. The United Nations' top human rights official has said that could entail illegal "collective and arbitrary expulsions". Apart from the moral issues raised by this dodge, there are several legal problems. Turkey restricts its application of the Geneva Convention to refugees from Europe. People fleeing war or persecution in the Middle East and Asia will not be covered unless Ankara amends its laws. Turkish officials say they will ensure Turkey complies with international law to fulfill its part of the potential EU deal. Even so, lawyers say asylum seekers who reach Greece have a right to appeal against being sent back to Turkey if they fear for their personal safety there. A Greek court would have to hear each appeal before a person could be removed. There is no appropriate court on the Greek islands, and Greek justice is notoriously slow. EMBARRASSMENT At the same time, the rush to declare Turkey "safe" could hardly have come at a more embarrassing time for the EU. President Tayyip Erdogan has stepped up a military crackdown on Kurdish militants, the government has seized Turkey's best-selling newspaper, critical journalists face prosecution and jail, and businessmen and public officials close to a dissident Muslim cleric have been purged. Unlike Trump, most EU leaders do not declare they want to prevent more Muslims settling in their country, with the exception of Hungary's Viktor Orban and Slovakia's Robert Fico, who have stressed preserving their countries' Christian identity. However, anti-immigration campaigners like Marine Le Pen in France and Geert Wilders in the Netherlands openly cite Islam as a reason for rejecting refugees, and they are increasingly setting the agenda for mainstream politicians. They oppose visa-free travel for Turks in Europe for the same reason. France, which has a tradition of political asylum and took in tens of thousands of Vietnamese "boat people" in the 1970s, is limiting its intake of Syrian refugees now, citing security concerns following last year's Islamist attacks in Paris. Like other west European countries, France has struggled to integrate second and third generation young people of Muslim or north African origin. The place of Islam in public life is fiercely contested in these secular societies, and resentments from Algeria's war of independence still simmer. European politicians may be aghast at the rhetoric of Trump, who has said he wants a database to register and track Muslims in the United States and would bar any Muslim entering the country until Congress could act. But if the pact with Turkey goes through as conceived, the EU will be retreating into a "fortress Europe" policy for fear of its own Trumps. ($1 = 0.8968 euros) (Writing by Paul Taylor)
By Ercan Gurses and Ece Toksabay ANKARA (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan pressed Turkey's parliament on Wednesday to broaden an anti-terrorism law without delay, saying those who support killers of innocent people were no different from terrorists themselves. His comments, which drew swift criticism from rights groups, followed the deaths of 37 people in a suicide bombing in Ankara on Sunday that security officials blamed on Kurdish militants. It was the second such attack in the capital in a month. Rights advocates fear that anti-terrorism laws already used to detain academics and opposition journalists will now be used in courts to stifle discussion of issues such as a Kurdish conflict in the media and on other public platforms. "Those who support directly or indirectly people who destroy innocent lives are not in the slightest different from terrorists," Erdogan said in a speech. "We must immediately revise the definition of terror and terrorist. In line with this new definition, we must immediately change the penal code." Western states are concerned about a wave of bombings in Turkey, blamed on Islamic State or Kurdish militants, as they consider Ankara an important ally in containing warfare in neighboring Syria and Iraq. But at the same time, they have criticized the NATO ally and EU aspirant's human rights record, raising questions about the independence of Turkey's judiciary. A legal expert in the ruling AK Party told Reuters the government aimed to "broaden the extent" of the anti-terror law. "A man may not have participated directly in terrorist acts but may have supported them ideologically. This may not be a full terror crime, but a degree of terror crime," he said. Police detained 20 suspects, including lawyers, in an Istanbul operation targeting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is accused of carrying out the Ankara bombing, state-run Anadolu Agency said. On Tuesday an Istanbul court detained three academics pending trial on charges of "terrorist propaganda" after they publicly read a declaration urging an to end military operations in the mainly Kurdish southeast. 'SCARY AND WRONG' A Briton, who has lived in Turkey for decades and had gone to the court to show support for the academics, was detained overnight for alleged terrorism offences. "I was released by the court but they're going to deport me now," Chris Stephenson, a teacher at Bilgi University, told local media after his release. "This is very scary and wrong." Stephenson was escorted to a plane to London by the Turkish police, an airport source said. "I am being deported at the airport. Tomorrow an application will be submitted to the administrative court for my return," Stephenson tweeted. His lawyer, Cemal Polat, confirmed that he would appeal against what he called an "unlawful and unreasonable" deportation decision. Stephenson, whom Polat said has been living in Turkey since 1991 and is married to a Turk, was one of more than 1,000 academics who signed a petition this year criticizing military action in the southeast. Emma Sinclair-Webb, senior Turkey researcher at Human Rights Watch, said she was appalled at the prospect of a widening of the definition of terrorism. "It completely violates Turkey's international obligations and law," she said More than 40,000 people have been killed since 1984 in an insurgency by Kurdish militants seeking autonomy. A ceasefire broke down in July, unleashing some of the worst violence in the history of the conflict. The PKK is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and European Union. (Writing by Daren Butler and David Dolan; Editing by Nick Tattersall and Mark Heinrich)
CBC

With cold weather on the way and a reminder that another winter is just around the corner, Calgary organizations that work with immigrants and refugees are asking for donations of warm clothing and footwear. They say an influx this year in newcomers from places like Afghanistan and Ukraine means they need more help than usual keeping them warm through their first winter here. "Right now, we need winter clothes, household items and blankets  things for the winter," said Devang Sampat with the En
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Spanish multinational corporation Abengoa has sought to reduce its size by 30 percent in 2016 to avoid bankruptcy (AFP Photo/Cristina Quicler)

Barcelona (AFP) - Abengoa went from fixing electrical installations in war-torn Spain in the 1940s to building the world's largest solar power plant in the US -- a remarkable success story until its uncontrolled growth pushed it to the brink of bankruptcy.

The struggling renewable energy giant on Wednesday presented a debt restructuring plan which will see its creditors wrestle control of the firm from the family that founded the company 75 years ago.

It is an unexpected ending for a company which just six years ago was praised by US President Barack Obama after it announced it would build the world's biggest solar plant in Arizona.

At the time the company was a global leader in cutting edge sectors like biofuels and solar thermal energy and it posted a net profit of 207 million euros ($230 million) on an annual turnover of 5.5 billion euros.

"It was a big multinational, focused on renewable energy and with a production model based on technological innovation. It was an extremely attractive model," Carlos Sebastian, a former Abengoa board member between 2005 and 2011, told AFP.

"But it grew at an absolutely excessive pace and based, in addition, on indebtedness," added Sebastian, who left the board of the company in 2011 due to disagreements with the president of the company at the time, Felipe Benjumea.

- From Seville to world -

The company was founded by Felipe's father Javier Benjumea, who lost his own father at the age of 13, and four of his friends in the southern city of Seville.

It was dedicated at the time to fixing electrical installations in the region.

"He went around on a bicycle or motorcycle around all of Seville with pliers in his hand fixing electrical installations," his biographer, Javier del Hoyo, told AFP.

Spain at the time was ravaged by the country's 1936-39 civil war and Abengoa found steady work.

In 1949 the company was awarded a contact to electrify Spain's railway, which has headed at a time by one of Javier Benjumea's uncles.

Story continues

After that the company -- which had solid connections with the right-wing dictatorship of General Francisco Franco -- grew spectacularly.

Turnover grew from 45 million pesetas, the former Spanish currency, in 1950 to 4.9 billion pesetas in 1970 as the firm took on projects in Latin America and entered new sectors like water management, telecommunications and transportation.

When Javier Benjumea in 1991 passed the reins of the company to his son Felipe, Abengoa had over 100 subsidiaries and 7,000 employees.

King Juan Carlos honoured him by giving him the title of marquis.

But the best years were still to come. Under Felipe Benjumea, Abengoa was transformed from a firm that operated mainly in Spain into an innovative multinational with 28,700 workers and most of its activity centred in the United States and Brazil.

"It was a great feat on the part of Felipe Benjumea but like everyone who is successful, he was too impulsive and didn't listen," said Sebastian.

- The fall -

The risky bet on unprofitable biofuels, Spain's cuts to renewable energy subsidies during a sharp economic downturn and the Benjuema family's refusal to raise Abengoa's capital out of fear of losing control of the company pushed it to the edge of bankruptcy.

The company ended 2015 with a debt of 9.4 billion euros. It announced in November that it was filing for preliminary protection from creditors in Spain.

Abegoa, which is racing to reach an agreement with its banks and bondholders by March 28, said Wednesday its debt would fall to 4.9 billion euros after its restructuring.

It said creditors that had signed up to the restructuring deal so far represented about 40 percent of the financial debt. Abengoa needs to get the backing of 60 percent of creditors for the deal to go through.

The deal will leave the Benjumea family with a small stake of just 2.5 percent, marking the fall of a lineage that was widely respected in Seville.

"To talk in Seville of industry is to talk of Abengoa," said Miguel Rus, president of the business confederation of Seville.

Highly discreet, Felipe Benjumea -- who stepped down as head of Abengoa in September -- never granted media interviews.

He is under investigation for serious mismanagement and is criticised, even by board members who used to praise him, for taking a compensation package of 11 million euros.

Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said it was "not very ethical".
French English

Michel Landel, Sodexo Group CEO, and Janet Awad, Region Chair of Latin America and Country President, Sodexo Chile, honored by the United Nations





New York, March 16, 2016 - In observance of International Women's Day, over 300 leaders from business, civil society, government and the United Nations (UN) gathered at UN Headquarters in New York City for the 2016 Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) event.

Since 2013, the WEPs Annual Event has included the announcement of the WEPs CEO Leadership Awards, saluting five exceptional CEOs for championing gender equality and the 7 WEPs Principles, in particular Principle One, which urges CEOs to lead by example.

Michel Landel, Chief Executive Officer, Sodexo and Janet Awad, Regional Chair of Latin America and Country President, Sodexo Chile, were awarded with the 7 Principles WEPs CEO Leadership Award, which recognizes a company for for their demonstrated commitment to and implementation of policies that advance and empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community.

In particular, the UN acknowledged the Sodexo Women's International Forum for Talent (SWIFt), which underpins Sodexo's strategy for improving the group's gender balance. Launched 2009 by Michel Landel, SWIFt comprises 35 senior managers representing 15 different nationalities and all the Company's business segments, and aims to increase the number of women in senior positions. SWIFt makes practical suggestions that have led to the progress now recognized by the French Ministry of Women's Rights.

Sodexo CEO Michel Landel: "Gender balance and, even more so, diversity, are sources of richness, creativity and improved collective performance. I am proud of the work accomplished at Sodexo and remain steadfast in my commitment to increase the number of women in senior leadership roles, foster a culture of inclusion and serve as an advocate for gender equality within our industry and for the clients and communities we serve."

Janet Awad, Region Chair of Latin America and Country President, Sodexo Chile: "Sodexo is guided by the vision that to create lasting value, organizations must place people at the center of their thinking. This belief has become the foundation of our gender balance strategy. By tapping into the full potential of both women and men, we are stronger, more innovative and better at serving our 75 million consumers each day worldwide."

In addition to the programs established through SWIFt, Sodexo also announced its commitment at the Clinton Global Initiative to spend $1 billion in goods and services with small and medium sized businesses, including 1,500 women owned businesses. Examples of how Sodexo is engaged in these community partnerships to empower women include:

In Colombia: Working closely with the government and civic groups, Sodexo is helping to train former FARC soldiers and find them employment options that bring them back into the workforce. Around 300 people, one third of them women, have taken part in the program and joined the workforce.

In Peru: Sodexo has implemented programs in six regions that provide training on hospitality and development of maintenance skills. Around 1,500 community members have benefited from this effort, of which 1,000 of the participants were hired by Sodexo, half of them women.

Conferring the awards in the historic Trusteeship Council Chamber of the United Nations, Joseph Keefe, Co-chair of the WEPs Leadership Group and President and Chief Executive Officer of Pax World Management said: "The WEPs are an effective tool to advance women in business and society. The WEPs CEO Leaderships Awards bring to life concrete actions and measurable impacts that are changing workplaces, marketplaces and communities. As a previous Awards recipient, I know that this prestigious award gives companies encouragement to press forward with this important work."

About the Women's Empowerment Principles

The Women's Empowerment Principles - Equality Means Business is a joint initiative of UN Women and the UN Global Compact. The Principles, which were developed in 2010, outline seven steps for business on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. The WEPs provide a ready-made platform to mobilize corporate action and catalyze partnerships and collaborations that have the potential to deepen and accelerate impact, benefiting women and girls, families, businesses, and economies around the world. Learn more at www.weprinciples.org.

About Sodexo

Founded in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is the global leader in services that improve Quality of Life, an essential factor in individual and organizational performance. Operating in 80 countries, Sodexo serves 75 million consumers each day through its unique combination of On-site Services, Benefits and Rewards Services and Personal and Home Services. Through its more than 100 services, Sodexo provides clients an integrated offering developed over nearly 50 years of experience: from food services, reception, safety, maintenance and cleaning, to facilities and equipment management; from Meal Pass, Gift Pass and Mobility Pass benefits for employees to in-home assistance and concierge services. Sodexo's success and performance are founded on its independence, its sustainable business and financial model and its ability to continuously develop and to engage the commitment of its 420,000 employees throughout the world.

Key figures (As of August 31, 2015)



19.8 billion euro in consolidated revenues



420,000 employees



19th largest employer worldwide



80 countries



32,000 sites



75 million consumers served daily



14 billion euro in market capitalization (as of January 12, 2016)

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The almost-completed dome home in Jumilla (Murcia).

A Spanish architecture company is now putting the finishing touches to two circular, geodesic houses in the southern region of Murcia that will be home to a British family and a Norwegian couple. The first of the wood-built structures is in Yecla, and has a floor space of 160 square meters; the second, in the wine-growing area of Jumilla, is made up of two igloo-like constructions joined by a corridor that together provide 85 square meters of living space.

Its a way of covering a circular space very efficiently by joining together triangular panels: this cuts down the amount of material that needs to be used, reducing building times and costs, explain architects Pablo Carbonell and Juan Miguel Galera Minarro from Ecoproyecta, which is building the homes.

The appeal of using geodesic domes is that they cost between 500 and 1,000 per square meter

The geodesic dome is not a new invention: US architect Buckminster Fuller was designing such structures in the mid-20th century  he built a 75-meter-diameter dome for the US pavilion at the Canada Expo in 1967, held in Montreal. Later, other architects, among them Spains Emilio Perez Pinero, further refined Fullers designs in the 1970s.

Ecoproyecta has now revived the concept, allowing its clients to use renewable energy from solar panels and batteries to store electricity, making homes self-sufficient. There are also options to recycle rainwater.

The interior of the dome home in Yecla, Murcia.

The appeal of using geodesic domes is that they cost between 500 and 1,000 per square meter, and take around six months to build. The house in Yecla cost around 150,000 (900 per square meter, including solar panel installation), while the home in Jumilla has cost around 45,000 (550 per square meter), along with 3,000 for solar panels. You need to bear in mind that the first house is better equipped, with under-floor heating, a chimney that acts as a biomass-fueled boiler, and generally more expensive material, says Carbonell. Both homes generate their own electricity.

The larger property, in Yecla, will be home to a British family of five, while a Norwegian couple has bought the house in Jumilla. Both structures will be primary residences.

The geodesic domes triangular panels are assembled in Ecoproyectas workshop first, and then the dome itself is built on a cement foundation and covered with either a waterproof laminate and mortar or natural cork in just a couple of days. The flooring and interior work, electricity, water, and so forth takes up most of the construction time.

The practically finished Yecla property.

Size is not an issue: any number of domes can be connected via passageways or corridors. By adding domes you can create a property as big as you like. Whats more, you can increase the size as and when you need, for example, when you have more children [...] or want guest bedrooms, says Carbonell.

The domed interior is an open space without walls. The homes use biomass open fires for heating, while geothermic ventilation is provided by the Canadian well system, producing heat in winter and cold air in summer. Both homes are built on open land with trees that can be pruned for firewood.

Ecoproyecta says interest in geodesic dome houses is growing in Spain, albeit slowly, and that it has just presented four new estimates for properties.
Former Podemos organization secretary Sergio Pascual. Dani Gago

In a surprise move, Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias fired a top aide late on Tuesday, accusing him of deficient management whose consequences have seriously hurt the party.

Sergio Pascual, the anti-austerity partys organization secretary until last night, was told that he should have done a better job of dealing with the recent crisis in Madrid, where 10 party officials resigned in protest over their superiors leadership style.

The latest events demonstrate a deficient management whose consequences have seriously hurt Podemos at such a delicate moment Podemos statement

Those resignations underscored a growing division between supporters of Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias and backers of his right-hand man, Inigo Errejon. The outgoing officials in Madrid were all behind Errejon  as was Sergio Pascual, the abruptly dismissed organization secretary.

The unprecedented move sends out the message that the leadership will not tolerate an internal rebellion within the two-year-old party, which came in third in the Spanish general election on December 20.

Aware that it could play a pivotal role in the formation of a new government, Podemos has been struggling to determine whether it should team up with the Socialist Party in a leftist coalition, and what concessions, if any, it is ready to make in order to reach power.

Party members range from anti-capitalists who take an idealistic, yield-nothing stance to more pragmatic individuals who see in the current situation a chance to effect change from within the system.

The latest events demonstrate a deficient management whose consequences have seriously hurt Podemos at such a delicate moment as the negotiation process to create a government of change, reads the statement released at around 11.30pm on Tuesday, after the decision to remove Sergio Pascual from his management post.

Pascuals response on Twitter was swift. Two years working myself to the bone building organization and popular participation. I remain committed to the project of majorities for change.

With the Socialist Party now apparently willing to resume talks following a period of confrontation, Iglesias is keen to show that his party is a united group

Just hours earlier, top leader Pablo Iglesias had sent a letter to party members with a clear message contradicting reports of internal strife within Podemos.

In Podemos, there are not, nor must there ever be, currents or factions competing for apparatus and resource control, said the letter. The Madrid resignations took place at the worst possible time and provided fodder for the story that supporters of the status quo like to tell. We must not commit a mistake of this kind again, and accountability must be demanded.

The dismissal of Sergio Pascual also means that the secretary generals office is taking over his duties until a new appointment is made. This gives the top leader additional power over territorial decisions precisely at a time when Podemos is facing regional divisions in Catalonia, Galicia, the Basque Country, La Rioja and Cantabria.

With the Socialist Party and Podemos now apparently willing to resume talks following a period of confrontation, Iglesias is keen to show that his party is a united group.

It is crucial for each and every one of us to be up to the task and to not play into the hands of our adversaries, said Iglesias in his letter to party members.

English version by Susana Urra.
Senator Rita Barbera at a press conference on Tuesday. Monica Torres (EL PAIS)

For the first time in its history, the Popular Party (PP) has launched an internal inquiry into an entire group of regional officials who are under court investigation for corruption and illegal party financing.

The unprecedented move affects a veteran leader of the conservative party, former Valencia mayor Rita Barbera, and around 50 aides, including councilors and advisers.

The party will ask them for explanations in connection with Operation Taula, an anti-corruption investigation launched in late January in the Valencia region, which was under PP control between 1995 and 2015.

I committed no crime and I will not resign

Senator Rita Barbera

Sources familiar with the inquiry said that everyone under investigation is believed to have participated in a corrupt network that charged contractors commissions in exchange for awarding them public contracts. These sources said investigators were also contemplating the possibility that part of the money was used for illegal party financing by the Valencia branch of the PP.

The PP, which is struggling with a series of graft scandals, of which the Valencia probe is the latest, had been waiting for the judge to lift the seal on the Taula case, and to see Barberas reaction to the investigation, before launching its own internal inquiry.

Barbera, a regional heavyweight who governed the city of Valencia for 24 years, had until now boasted about her partys support. Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had said on Tuesday that her explanations at a press conference in Valencia left him feeling calm about the issue.

But other party leaders have openly dissented from this view. Fernando Martinez-Maillo, the deputy organization secretary, spent all of Sunday night poring over the 1,000 pages of court papers detailing the Taula investigation, and could not believe his eyes.

The PPs deputy organization secretary, Fernando Martinez-Maillo, announced the internal probe. Cabalar (EFE)

The material included revelations about court-ordered secret recordings showing unacceptable behavior by political leaders, admitted Martinez-Maillo after announcing the PP probe into the Valencia team.

The party will now appoint an instructor to summon the individuals under scrutiny, take statements from them and propose adequate measures. Rita Barbera will be among them.

The decision comes just hours after Barbera had accepted an offer by the judge presiding the Taula case to provide voluntary testimony. The how and the when is still to be determined, said Barbera, who became a senator after losing the mayors office at the May 2015 municipal elections. As such, she enjoys partial immunity from the lower courts, a concept known as aforamiento.

Barbera has made a point of saying that absolutely nobody within the PP has asked her to give up her senatorial seat, and that she has no plans to do so. I committed no crime and I will not resign, she said.

On Tuesday, Barbera had shown up at the Senate for a rare appearance in the chamber since her designation. It was while she was still inside that she learned about the PP inquiry into herself and her team.

Asked whether he thought Barbera should step down and whether the party was uncomfortable with her presence in the Senate, former Balearics premier Jose Ramon Bauza said: It is up to her and her alone to decide whether she goes.

English version by Susana Urra.
Four years for policeman who issued phony fines out of spite Barcelona officer was angry after discovering woman he met at road check had a boyfriend

A Barcelona court has sentenced a municipal policeman to four-and-a-half years in prison for falsely fining a female driver after flirting with her and later discovering she had a boyfriend.

David R. was found guilty of forging official documents and told to pay his victim 4,500 in damages. All four notices against the driver have been canceled.

The Provincial Court of Barcelona found that the police officer initially met the driver on November 21, 2012 at a road check in which she tested positive for alcohol. But the officer let her go without filing a report, explaining that the reading could be mistaken because of the tests error margin.

The policeman filed four reports against the woman, accusing her of violations in places she had never been

The officer and the 27-year-old woman chatted for a few minutes and exchanged telephone numbers. Later they sent each other WhatsApp messages and decided to meet for coffee at a shopping center.

The court ruling found that, according to these WhatsApp messages, the municipal officer warned the victim that he had seen her Facebook profile and discovered that she had a steady boyfriend. He was angry that she had agreed to meet him despite her existing relationship with another man.

A few months later, the policeman filed four reports against the woman, accusing her of road violations in places where she had never been. The victim appealed all the fines, and her claims were upheld in 2014 because the officer was unable to provide proof of the violations. The woman also filed a criminal complaint against the officer at this time.

English version by Susana Urra.
This years falla on Cuba Street in Valencia. jose jordan

Social media were on Tuesday awash with reactions to the news that a Catalan government website had included the Valencia-based Fallas festival in its own list of typically Catalan cultural events.

A petition has been started on Change.org asking the Catalan government to stop classifying the Fallas as part of Catalonias cultural heritage. The initiative has attracted 23,300 signatures to date.

The Fallas, which are currently underway in the regional capital, are a point of pride for Valencians, who share historical and linguistic ties with the Catalans, but also fiercely defend their own heritage.

If anyone is tempted to sow confusion, well have to give them a map

Fallas president Pere Fuset

Featuring enormous effigies that are paraded on the streets before being burnt down in a symbolic cleansing rite, the Fallas de Valencia have been designated an event of international tourism interest by the Spanish government.

Valencian authorities are now trying to get the Fallas included on Unescos Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

The Popular Party in Valencia had warned a few days ago that the nationalist government of Carles Puigdemont had the Fallas down as a manifestation of Catalan culture, like the Winter Bonfires.

The website, run by the Catalan culture department, included the reference in a compendium of everything one needs to know about Catalan culture in the realms of language and literature, the arts, gastronomy, history, popular culture, science, film, thought and music.

Valencian political parties have rushed to counter the claims.

It is a cultural aberration, said a spokesperson for the regional conservatives.

The Pyrenees fallas festivities have been practiced for centuries in many villages of Catalonia, Andorra, Aragon and France Catalan culture official Lluis Puig

Fernando Giner, the Ciudadanos spokesman in Valencia City Hall, asked Mayor Joan Ribo to take good care of the Fallas because they are part of our cultural singularity, and to try to change that is to violate the respect that the various regions owe to one another.

Meanwhile, the president of the Fallas organizing committee, Pere Fuset, said the Fallas were a Valencian fiesta and if anyone is tempted to sow confusion, well have to give them a map.

So far, the Valencian government has refused to join the fray, and is focusing instead on the Unesco nomination.

But some Catalan officials have been irritated by all the reaction.

The Pyrenees fallas festivities have been practiced for centuries in many villages of Catalonia, Andorra, Aragon and France, and those are the only classified ones, said Lluis Puig, the Catalan governments chief of popular culture, associations and cultural action affairs.

Whats going on here is that the most reactionary, orthodox and Taliban-like sectors want somebody to blame in case the December meeting of Unesco in Ethiopia decides not to recognize the Valencian Fallas as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, he added. The Unesco doesnt want trouble. If one region is in confrontation with another, they wont want anything to do with it.

English version by Susana Urra.
Eugene Robinson

Eugene Robinson is an Associate Editor and twice-weekly columnist for The Washington Post. His column appears on Tuesdays and Fridays. In a 25-year career at The Post, Robinson has been city hall reporter, city editor, foreign correspondent in Buenos Aires and London, foreign editor, and assistant managing editor in charge of the paper's award-winning Style section. In 2005, he started writing a column for the Op-Ed page. He is the author of "Coal to Cream: A Black Man's Journey Beyond Color to an Affirmation of Race" (1999) and "Last Dance in Havana" (2004). Robinson is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and has received numerous journalism awards.
By Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's supreme court sentenced American student Otto Warmbier, who was arrested while visiting the country, to 15 years of hard labor on Wednesday for crimes against the state, a punishment Washington condemned as politically motivated. The U.S. State Department called the sentence "unduly harsh" and White House spokesman Josh Earnest said it was "increasingly clear" that North Korea sought to use U.S. citizens as pawns to pursue a political agenda. Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia student, was detained in January for trying to steal an item bearing a propaganda slogan from his hotel in Pyongyang, North Korean media said previously. "The accused confessed to the serious offense against the DPRK he had committed, pursuant to the U.S. government's hostile policy toward it, in a bid to impair the unity of its people after entering it as a tourist," the state-controlled KCNA news agency reported, using the acronym for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Japan's Kyodo news agency published a picture of Warmbier being led from the courtroom by two guards, with his head bowed, but visibly distressed. State Department spokesman Mark Toner called on North Korea to pardon Warmbier, a student from Wyoming, Ohio, and release him immediately on humanitarian grounds. Speaking at a regular news briefing in Washington, Toner said the case underscored the risks associated with travel to North Korea, and added: "The Department of State strongly recommends against all travel by U.S. citizens to North Korea." Toner said a representative of the Swedish embassy, which looks after U.S. affairs in North Korea, had visited Warmbier in prison and was present at the sentencing. "We're going to remain in very close coordination with the Swedes on this matter. It's my understanding that he was in reasonable health," Toner said. The United States has no diplomatic relations with North Korea, a country with which it remains technically at war after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. Human Rights Watch also condemned the sentence. "North Korea's sentencing of Otto Warmbier to 15 years hard labor for a college-style prank is outrageous and shocking, and should not be permitted to stand," Phil Robertson, deputy director of HRW's Asia division, said in an emailed statement. Warmbier's defense attorney said the gravity of his crime was such that he would not be able to pay even with his death but proposed to the court a sentence reduced from the prosecution's request of a life sentence, KCNA said. Last month, Warmbier told a media conference in Pyongyang that his crime was "very severe and pre-planned." Warmbier's parents could not immediately be reached. A spokesman for the University of Virginia said the school was in touch with Warmbier's family, but declined further comment. Warmbier majors in economics with a minor in global sustainability, according to his social media profiles. Warmbier was at the end of a five-day New Year's group tour of North Korea when he was delayed at airport immigration before being taken away by officials, according to the tour operator that had arranged the trip. Warmbier's sentencing comes as North Korea is increasingly isolated over its nuclear weapons program. This month the U.N. Security Council imposed tough new resolutions month following a North Korea nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch last month. On Wednesday, President Barack Obama issued an executive order imposing "robust new sanctions" on North Korea after its Jan. 6 nuclear test and Feb. 7 rocket launch that used ballistic missile technology, the White House said. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said this week that the country would soon test a nuclear warhead and ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, in what would be a direct violation of U.N. resolutions. North Korea has a long history of detaining foreigners and has used jailed Americans in the past to extract high-profile visits from the United States. North Korea is also holding a Korean-Canadian Christian pastor it sentenced to hard labor for life in December for subversion, a Korean-American and three South Koreans. It has previously handed down lengthy sentences to foreigners before freeing them. In 2014, North Korea released three detained Americans. Ohio Governor John Kasich, who is also a Republican presidential candidate, called on North Korea to release Warmbier, saying his detention was completely unjustified. Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who had previously traveled to North Korea, met the North's ambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday to press for Warmbier's release, the New York Times reported. "I urged the humanitarian release of Otto, and they agreed to convey our request," Richardson was quoted as saying. While most tourists to North Korea are from China, roughly 6,000 Westerners visit annually, although the United States and Canada advise against it. Most visitors are curious about life in the reclusive state and ignore critics who say their dollars prop up a repressive system. (Additional reporting by James Pearson and Ben Klayman in Detroit and Doina Chiacu, Jeff Mason, Timothy Garder and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Frances Kerry and James Dalgleish)
3 Things Entrepreneurs Should Consider Even Before Registering Your Singapore Company

Hey you! Yes, you, reading this article on your mobile as you try your best to distract yourself from the stress of work. Have you ever thought of getting away from your desk-bound job? Do you want the freedom to be your own boss, and dictate your own working schedule? Well, have I got the perfect solution for you!

Just sign up for what? Thats not a Multi-Level Marketing company? Its actually an illegal pyramid scheme? Darn. Sorry to get your hopes up.

Wait, wait, wait but youve already got me thinking about being an entrepreneur! Dont stop now!

Okay, if youre sure that you havent actually signed up for some illegal pyramid scheme or other scam, your journey towards starting your own Singapore business can begin. Assuming you already have a product or service in mind that you want to create and sell. You would expect the logical thing to do first, of course is to contact the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (better known as ACRA) and register your company.

But the truth is, there are three things that every entrepreneur should think hard about even before they proceed to register their Singapore company. And dont think this applies only to tech start-ups. Everyone from an Uber driver to a team opening a yoga studio can benefit from these three tips.

1. Is the product youre selling a fad or long-term mainstay? Does it rely on outside market factors?

Its easy to jump on a bandwagon. Its harder to stay on it. Singapore businesses come and go, and sometimes, when youre too caught up in a fad, its easy to lose track of the steps you need to take to sustain your business. Im constantly reminded of the bubble tea craze back in the early 2000s, and how Singapore was once full of hopeful entrepreneurs opening stalls to cash in on this fad.

Unfortunately, the competition got so intense that a price war began and people were forced to sell bubble tea below cost, eventually resulting in many shops closing. Ironically, several years later, bubble tea in Singapore is now considered a luxury item and can sell for at least $3 a cup, which goes to show that the product did have long-term demand, and most individual entrepreneurs were just unable to hang around long enough to escape the bandwagon.

Story continues

So before you register your company, make sure you and your product are able to overcome the competition and outlast the bandwagon. Which brings me to my second point.

2. Its more than the product; do you have the right people in your company?

In this day and age, its hard to imagine Apple without its co-founder Steve Jobs. But there was a time in the mid-1980s when Apple actually got rid of their visionary founder for several years! At the risk of glossing over much of Apples lengthy history, Jobs eventually returned to Apple and eventually ushered in the technological revolution that was the iPod and the iPhone. Of course, theres no doubt that Apple also consistently attracted some of the most innovative minds to work for them, under Jobs leadership.

Ask any start-up entrepreneur, successful or otherwise  the initial stages of building a company are brutal, and often require long hours, sleepless nights and little to zero financial returns. The people building this company with you need to have the mental and emotional resources to survive this initial stage if youre going to get anywhere. And you cant be worrying about the minute details when your entire companys at stake. Which brings me to my third, and perhaps most important point.

3. Do you know how to avoid getting bogged down by the nitty gritty details?

Most good entrepreneurs are visionaries. They can see the end goal clearly, they know what they want to achieve at each stage of the business, and theyre willing to put in their blood, sweat and tears to get there. But often, because they tend to be big picture idealists, they usually end up ignoring, or worse, avoiding the fine print that comes with running a company. And, more often than not, handling the technical details is what causes them to burn out over time.

Which is why its important to look for corporate services that will help you deal with the nuts and bolts of running a company, freeing you up to pursue that vision. Now this can normally be done by a law firm, accounting firm or corporate secretarial firm, that has experience in setting up companies. But for some new businesses, you probably cant afford to spend thousands each year on such corporate services. That means, for something simple like opening a corporate bank account, you will need to spend time collating documents and then going to a bank branch in person to submit them. Thats assuming youre planning to bank with OCBC and UOB.

With the DBS Business Account, the hassle of queueing up at a branch is a thing of the past. Opening a DBS Business Account is simple. It starts with a short online application, then a short call from a DBS relationship manager, followed by a courier from DBS to pick up the necessary documents from you. Theres no need to apply at a branch.

Wait, that sounds way too good. Whats the catch here?

Compared to UOB and OCBCs business banking accounts, the DBS Business Account has a relatively high minimum average balance of $10,000 per month. But lets be fair here  if you cant even maintain a bank account balance of at least $10,000 a month, then maybe its not the best idea to go into business.

Heres a quick comparison of the business accounts offered by our local banks:

DBS Business Account OCBC Business First Account  Lite OCBC Business First Account  Value UOB Current Account ACCOUNT FEES Minimum Balance $10,000 $5,000  no minimum balance for first 6 months $5,000  no minimum balance for first 6 months $10,000 Account Annual Fee $40 $38 N/A N/A Account Monthly Fee N/A N/A $38  free for first 3 months N/A Fall-below Fee $35 $35 $35 $35 INTERNET BANKING FEES Internet Banking Fees Waived if you open an account online $25 monthly  free for first 3 months Free Free Mobile Banking App Yes No No No  only a mobile responsive website Security Devices 5 free devices ($20 per extra device) 1 free device($20 per extra device) 3 free devices($20 per extra device) No free devices ($20 per device) TOTAL COST For the first year for a company with 2 internet banking users who meet the minimum balance $40 $38 + $225 + $20 = $283 $38 x 9 = $342 $40

Compared to OCBC, the cost of maintaining a DBS Business Account is significantly lower, or less than 10% of the cost of maintaining an OCBC Business First Account.

And, if you apply for a DBS Business Account online, all internet banking fees are waived, which means you only pay $40 a year for the account. Thats a pretty low price, for all that DBS is offering.

Do note that DBS is the only one that currently offers a truly functional mobile app

To date, only the DBS mobile app allows you to make account enquiries and transactions on your business account, book foreign exchange transactions, as well as giving you access to subsidiary accounts both within Singapore as well as overseas. In comparison, UOBs BIBPlus mobile app is actually just their usual website, optimised for mobile usage. Currently, youre only able to make account enquiries on the go, but are unable to do any actual transactions.

As any good business owner knows, being able to make financial decisions on the go puts you at a distinct advantage. Speaking of advantages, thats not the only way DBS can help you.

The DBS experience doesnt end with opening your corporate bank account

Yes, opening a DBS Business Account may be an easy and wallet-friendly short-term decision, but there are also the long-term benefits of being part of the DBS BusinessClass community.

More than a mobile app, this is an invaluable experience that only DBS is currently offering. It allows you to network with over 15,000 entrepreneurs and business leaders in the region. You also get invites to exclusive networking events like the DBS Bay Area Series and Disrupt @ The Bay series of events that allow you to meet industry influencers, venture capitalists and global tech companies with disruptive solutions that can help your business innovate to improve productivity. All these resources will give you and your business the edge it deserves.

The Bay Area Series, for example, invited Silicon Valley-based venture capitalists Ernestine Fu and Tim Draper to speak to local entrepreneurs, speaking on a variety of topics including venture debt and venture investing.

Are you a Singapore business owner? What other tips and tricks would you have for new entrepreneurs even before they register their company? Share them in the comments.

This article was brought to in collaboration with DBS Bank.

The post 3 Things Entrepreneurs Should Consider Even Before Registering Your Singapore Company appeared first on the MoneySmart blog.

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By Hnin Yadana Zaw and Antoni Slodkowski NAYPYITAW (Reuters) - Myanmar's parliament elected a close friend and confidant of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as president on Tuesday, making Htin Kyaw the first head of state since the 1960s who does not hail from a military background. Suu Kyi led her National League for Democracy (NLD) to a landslide election win in November, but a constitution drafted by the former junta bars her from the top office. She has vowed to run the country anyway through a proxy president, and on Thursday the NLD nominated Htin Kyaw for the role. He runs a charity founded by Suu Kyi and has been a trusted member of her inner circle since the mid-1990s. He is not a lawmaker. "Today's result is because of the love of people for her. It is the victory of my sister Aung San Suu Kyi," Htin Kyaw told reporters after the vote. The United States, which has backed Myanmar's transition to civilian government and refers to the country as Burma, called Htin Kyaw's election "yet another important step forward in Burma's democratic transition." White House spokesman Josh Earnest told a regular briefing that while important progress had been made, additional steps were needed and Washington would continue to back reform. China's embassy offered congratulations for the election of state leaders and said it hoped "to continuously push forward the friendly and cooperative relationship between China and Myanmar." The sizeable NLD majority ensured a comfortable win for Suu Kyi's pick in a vote by both houses of parliament. Htin Kyaw received 360 of the 652 votes cast. Suu Kyi was the first member of parliament to vote and clapped and smiled when the result was announced. Outgoing President Thein Sein congratulated the man who will replace him on April 1. 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He is a member of the Chin ethnic group. The president picks the cabinet that will take over from Thein Sein's outgoing government, with the exception of the heads of the home, defence and border security ministries, who will be appointed by the armed forces chief. (Additional reporting by Soe Zeya Tun in Naypyitaw, Aung Hla Tun in Yangon, Tom Miles in Geneva and David Brunnstrom and Mohammad Zargham in Washington; Writing by Simon Webb; Editing by Alex Richardson and James Dalgleish)
By Steve Holland TAMPA, Fla. (Reuters) - Donald Trump can take a giant step on Tuesday toward securing the Republican presidential nomination with wins in Florida and Ohio primaries that would intensify the pressure on establishment Republicans fighting to derail him. Trump has the potential for a sweep in five big states holding nominating contests for the Nov. 8 election - Florida, Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina and Missouri. He could potentially knock out two of his rivals, Ohio Governor John Kasich and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, if he wins their states. At a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, on Monday night, Trump urged his followers to get out and vote for him. He planned a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday night. "You're going to be so happy. You're going to remember this evening. Youre going to say it was the single greatest vote that you ever cast," he said. Trump has a significant lead over Rubio in opinion polls in Florida, but is neck and neck with Kasich in Ohio. Any win by either Rubio, Kasich or U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas would give at least a small degree of hope to Republicans battling to deny Trump the nomination. But Trump victories in those states could make what once seemed inconceivable a virtual reality, putting the 69-year-old New York real estate mogul who has vowed to deport 11 million illegal immigrants and impose some protectionist trade policies, on a glide path to representing the Republican Party in the November election. On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton can put some distance between herself and rival Bernie Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, in Tuesday's voting. Opinion polls gave her a big lead in Florida and North Carolina, but showed Sanders gaining ground in Ohio, Illinois and Missouri, a possibly worrisome sign for Clinton after Sanders' surprise victory in Michigan a week ago. 'OPTIMISM OVER PESSIMISM' Ahead of Tuesday's primaries, Trump held rallies in Florida, Ohio and North Carolina on Monday and said establishment Republicans who have labored to stop his outsider candidacy needed to rally to his cause. An outbreak of clashes between Trump supporters and protesters that forced him to cancel a rally in Chicago last Friday, and scattered protests at some of his campaign events this week have prompted more concerns from mainstream party figures. Their only real hope for stopping Trump is to deny him the 1,237 delegates needed for the nomination and extend the battle to the party's nominating convention in July in Cleveland. At a rally on Monday night in West Palm Beach, Rubio, who has been an establishment favorite, largely tried to return to the aspirational themes that were central to his campaign before he was drawn into a war of insults with Trump, something Rubio told the crowd he now regretted. I am asking for your vote, and I am asking you to find more people to vote for me. Im asking you to choose optimism over pessimism, he said. If we win Florida tomorrow night, we dont just get 99 delegates, we get a surge of momentum they will not be able to stop. At the event was Tim Sweetz, 39, of Juno Beach, who said he would vote for Rubio on Tuesday, even though he believed Trump would be good for the economy. What we need is a leader who can unite the country, he said. Kasich reminded Ohio voters of Trump's confrontational campaign tactics during a final swing through his home state. "Think of the images that have been broadcast across this world about how we are picking a president here," Kasich said on Monday, adding that the footage of protests and violence could be used to fuel propaganda that America was "broken." (Additional reporting by James Oliphant in West Palm Beach, Fla., and Amanda Becker in Ohio; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Student Information Systems

Georgia District Opts for New SIS

The Montgomery County School District in rural Georgia is replacing its legacy student information system (SIS) in an effort to improve efficiency and data accuracy, provide parents with greater access to information and integrate with other district information systems.

PowerSchool SIS, the district's new soluition, is a Web-based system designed for K-12 schools. It includes a range of district and school-level tools for administrators, a gradebook and other tools for teachers, and real-time access to grades, attendance and assignments for parents and students through a Web portal or mobile app.

Mary Caraway, the district's technology and data collections coordinator, said the district's older system simply lacked the flexibility and ability to modify features that the school system needs.

"Our old solution presented challenges that limited what we were able to do," Caraway said. "We had to create queries to do searches and couldn't customize reports."

She said she expects the PowerSchool SIS to more effectively power school operations and improve staff productivity. Caraway said the customized reporting options will give staff members the ability to do so in a way that will allow them to look at the district's metrics and compare them to state levels.

"Having a user-friendly student information system is vital to achieving success in and out of the classroom," Caraway said. "We're transitioning to improve the user experience for school administrators, teachers and families."

All of those stakeholders, she said, will have instant visibility to assignments, scores, grades and comments.

The Montgomery County School District in Mount Vernon, GA has three schools and 1,300 students.
Counselling

New, Free Service Connects Lower-Income, First-Gen Students with Top Colleges

A new, free initiative is open for business to draw first-generation and lower-income students with high potential into looking at colleges and universities they might otherwise never consider. TalentED is a Web site for use by the students themselves, as well as high school advisors and college admissions people. Described as a "relationship-based technology portal," TalentED, takes profiles entered by the high schoolers and their advisors and helps match them to institutions that appear to be a good fit.

The project follows four tactics to reach its goal:

Helping colleges identify and recruit first-generation and low-income 11th and 12th graders with high potential;

Helping high school counselors highlight talented students and match them up with the colleges where they're likely to succeed;

Helping students maximize their online presence for recruitment opportunities; and

Connecting admissions professionals at institutions of higher education.

To participate in the project, high school advisors need to demonstrate their knowledge of the college search and admissions processes by passing a brief assessment. And colleges and universities must be invited to participate. Currently, 66 institutions in 24 states have joined the program. Four in five of those are private colleges.

As one higher ed participant explained, she finds the possibilities of TalentED "exciting." Through the TalentED project we will work closely with advisors and college admission officers to make the best connections for the students and their college choice," said Lisa Burns, associate dean of admissions at Sewanee: University of the South. "The many aspects of the program have been well thought out and constructed in a way that we are certain to find some great matches for Sewanee."

The program grew out of a pilot run in the fall that included Vanderbilt University, Swarthmore College and Butler U, among others.

The work has been funded by financial services company UBS, which runs the NextGen Leaders, a $10 million initiative to increase college graduation among the segments of students targeted in this latest effort. The Tennessee College Access & Success Network serves as the project's lead content and implementation partner. Discovery Education has served as lead in the technical development of the platform and is involved in raising awareness of TalentED through its extensive community of teachers and students.

"High school counselors, teachers and nonprofit staff play a critical role in supporting students in the admissions process," said Bob Broth, executive director of the Tennessee network in a press release. "This site strengthens relationships between access organizations and admissions recruiters nationwide to make the recruitment process more effective and efficient for everyone  both professionals and students."
By Josh Smith KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday played down recent failures to jump start peace talks with the Taliban, instead choosing to highlight recent successes against the nascent Islamic State presence in Afghanistan. Taliban forces have made significant gains in recent months, briefly capturing the northern city of Kunduz and threatening to overrun multiple districts in the southwest. The latest efforts to bring them to the negotiating table faltered when the militant group issued a statement refusing to participate. Ghani, facing rising domestic criticism and eager to ensure continued international aid, has publicly focussed on a military campaign in eastern Afghanistan aimed at Islamic State, often referred to as Daesh, which has struggled to replicate its successes in Iraq and Syria. "Daesh is on the run," he said at a joint news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, responding to a direct question about the Taliban. "They are running for cover." "No quarter would be given" to Islamic State fighters, Ghani added. A combination of air strikes by U.S. warplanes and "massive" ground operations by Afghan forces has left Islamic State reeling, he said. Stoltenberg reiterated that the coalition has no intention of sending combat troops back to fight in Afghanistan, more than a year after the NATO-coalition declared an end to its combat mission. Thousands of coalition troops remain to train and advise Afghan forces, but operations are limited to self defence. A U.S. counterterrorism force continues to conduct air strikes and special forces raids on suspected militants, including those of Islamic State. In July, NATO officials will meet in Warsaw to determine the future of funding for 2018 through 2020, as well as other issues such as foreign troop levels, which have been thrown into flux as the coalition seeks to prop up the struggling Afghan forces. Before that, however, international backers are looking for Kabul's leaders to fight corruption, modernise institutions, reform the electoral process, and protect human rights, Stoltenberg said during his visit to the Afghan capital. "The single most important thing we would like to see is that Afghanistan continue to implement reforms," he said, adding that the more progress is made, the more likely it will be that coalition partners will commit to continued funding and troops. NATO has pledged to provide $5.1 billion per year to Afghanistan through 2017. "The more that we see Afghanistan is able to fight corruption, the easier it will be for me and other political leaders to mobilise the necessary political support," Stoltenberg said. (Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
RIYADH (Reuters) - Bahrain has deported several Lebanese residents who it believes had links to or supported the Shi'ite Muslim group Hezbollah, which Gulf Arab states have declared a terrorist organisation, its Interior Ministry said on Twitter on Monday. Bahrain's larger Gulf Arab ally Saudi Arabia said on Sunday it would punish anybody who belonged to the Iran-backed Lebanese group, which Manama has accused, alongside Tehran's Revolutionary Guards, of fomenting strife in the island kingdom. The move came after Gulf Arab countries declared Hezbollah a terrorist organisation, raising the possibility of further sanctions against the group, which wields influence in Lebanon and fights alongside President Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria. On Sunday, Saudi Arabia said it would punish anyone who belonged to Iranian-backed Hezbollah, sympathises with it, supports it financially or harbours any of its members. Hezbollah has close ties to Iran, Saudi Arabia's rival for power in the region. Saudi Arabia supports Syrian opposition groups working to topple Assad and criticises Iran and Hezbollah for helping him retain power after five years of civil war. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has stepped up criticism of Saudi Arabia, accusing it of directing car bombings in Lebanon. In January, Bahrain said it had caught an Iranian-linked cell plotting attacks on its territory, days after it followed its close ally Saudi Arabia in cutting ties with Iran. (Reporting By Angus McDowall/Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Ralph Boulton)
By George Georgiopoulos and Renee Maltezou ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece played down on Wednesday a gaffe by its migration minister who failed to use the full name of northern neighbour the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and said his focus must remain on tackling an escalating migration crisis. Athens has long refused to accept its neighbour as just 'Macedonia' and the name dispute has frozen Skopje's efforts to join NATO and the European Union. Some Greeks fear accepting 'Macedonia' could provide a basis for territorial claims by that country on a northern Greek province of the same name. Yannis Mouzalas inadvertently referred to the country as Macedonia during a late-night interview on Tuesday. He quickly apologised, but faced calls for his resignation from Defence Minister Panos Kammenos, who said it was a serious matter for his right-wing Independent Greeks party, junior coalition partner of the ruling left-wing Syriza party. The government defended Mouzalas, saying the row was a dangerous distraction from his efforts to deal with Europe's worst migration crisis since World War Two. "We're not talking about a government crisis," government spokeswoman Olga Gerovassili told a regular news briefing. "We're talking about a verbal faux pas." She said Mouzalas had "put all of his efforts, beyond human limits" to tackle the migration crisis, adding that any decision on his fate would be taken after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras returns from an EU leaders' summit in Brussels on Friday. EMOTIONAL ISSUE Many Greeks feel a strong emotional tie to the name Macedonia, used historically to describe the birthplace of Alexander the Great and part of ancient Greece. Kammenos said he had conveyed his concerns to Tsipras. "I continue to support this government and Tsipras until the end but I have red lines. Since the minister recognises that he made a huge gaffe, he should go home," Kammenos said. The ruling coalition has just a three-seat majority in the 300-member parliament and needs the Independent Greeks party on side to pass reforms under a third financial bailout clinched last year. The spat is unlikely to wreck the coalition but reflects underlying differences between two parties from opposite ends of the political spectrum. Macedonia lies on the now closed Balkan migration route that refugees have used on their way from Greece to wealthier western Europe. The closure has led to logjams along the border, with more than 12,000 refugees and migrants camped there. Macedonia has accused Greece of doing too little to manage the migration crisis despite receiving EU funds. On Tuesday Macedonia said it had trucked about 1,500 migrants back to Greece after they forced their way across the border. Greek authorities said there had been no official contact with Macedonia, so they could not confirm the return. "If we do not start to cooperate (with Greece) as two neighbouring countries, it is certain that these incidents will be repeated and get more complicated," Macedonia's President Gjorge Ivanov said of the incident on Tuesday. (Additional reporting Karolina Tagaris and Angeliki Koutantou in Athens and Kole Casule in Skopje; Writing by Karolina Tagaris; Editing by Gareth Jones)
The Independent

Elon Musk plans to lay off most of Twitters workforce if and when he becomes owner of the social media company, according to a report by The Washington Post.Musk has told prospective investors in his Twitter purchase that he plans to cut nearly 75% of Twitters employee base of 7,500 workers, according to Thursday's report.If confirmed, the cuts would leave the company with a skeleton crew, according to the Post.The newspaper cited documents and unnamed sources familiar with the deliberations.San Francisco-based Twitter and a representative for Musk attorney Alex Spiro did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.SEE MORE: What Happens If Elon Musk Buys Twitter?While job cuts have been expected regardless of the sale, the magnitude of Musk's planned cuts are far more extreme than anything Twitter had planned.Musk himself has alluded to the need to cull some of the company's staff in the past, but he hadn't given a specific number - at least not publicly.Already, experts, nonprofits and even Twitter's own staff have warned that pulling back investments on content moderation and data security could hurt Twitter and its users.With as drastic a reduction as Musk may be planning, the platform could quickly become overrun with harmful content and spam.After his initial $44 billion bid in April to buy Twitter, Musk backed out of the deal, contending Twitter misrepresented the number of fake spam bot accounts on its platform.Twitter sued, and a Delaware judge has given both sides until 28 October to work out details.Otherwise, there will be a trial in November.Additional reporting by The Associated Press.
Donald Trump in New Hampshire on Tuesday. Scott Eisen (Bloomberg)

More information Un imparable Trump fuerza la salida de Rubio de la carrera presidencial

Donald Trump is steamrolling his way toward the Republican nomination for the upcoming November presidential elections. The real estate giant won three of the five primaries held on Tuesday night, including Florida. The latter state gave him a significant number of delegates and dealt a final blow to home Senator Marco Rubio, the candidate Republican leaders trusted could stop the rise of the reality TV star. The young senator came in second in Florida and in last place in Ohio, Missouri, North Carolina and Illinois.

Americas in the middle of a real political storm

Marco Rubio

The Florida primary results confirm what the polls have been saying for months, and they destroyed the hopes of Republicans who are watching with horror as Trump  an outsider to politics who once supported Democrats, and mixes radical right-wing speech with more liberal ideals  steadily moves toward the nomination. Trump, a New York businessman who has revolutionized American politics in the last few months with his vituperative remarks against immigrants  especially Mexicans  and who has been able to capitalize on the discontent of millions of Americans, has managed a crushing defeat that barely leaves the Republican Party any other alternatives.

As expected, Marco Rubio immediately announced his departure from the presidential race. The young Cuban-American senator delivered a moving speech, during which he congratulated Trump on his victory while his supporters in the audience booed.

Americas in the middle of a real political storm... people are angry and people are really frustrated, he said.

The young Cuban-American senator delivered a moving speech, during which he congratulated Trump on his victory while his supporters in the audience booed.

The Florida senator was the hope of the party, the man they believed would stop Trump once Jeb Bush, the son of former President George H. W. Bush and brother of former President George W. Bush, dropped out.

Three contestants remain in the Republican race: Trump, Texas Senator Ted Cruz  whom some Republican leaders find too intransigent  and the moderate well-liked Ohio Governor John Kasich. Kasichs victory in his home state on Tuesday night makes him the partys newest and last alternative to Trump.

Republican leaders are hoping the New York businessman will fail to gather the delegates needed  1,237  to snatch up the Republican nomination. Its a dwindling hope, however, and one they may find difficult to keep alive if he continues to win, win, win and not stop as he promised in his victory speech on Tuesday night.

English version by Dyane Jean Francois.
KKR has agreed to buy into seeds provider Advanta Enterprises in a deal which values the business at about $2.25bn.
Alain is responsible for CPPIBs international investment activities and the overall management of our global advisory relationships. Alain is based in London and is...
A long-standing Idaho-based food animal referral hospital and teaching center for veterinary students is slated for closure by the end of the year.

The University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences announced Jan. 27 that it will shutter the Caine Veterinary Teaching Center, about 30 miles west of Boise. In doing so, it will adopt a new approach for educating veterinary students that relies on veterinary faculty placed throughout the state to work more directly with livestock producers and university facilities, according to a university press release.

We believe this change is necessary to reflect changes in the regional veterinary education program and to better prepare students to work with Idahos livestock producers, said John Foltz, PhD, the colleges dean, in a university press release. In addition, this change aligns with the universitys ongoing process of refining and redirecting resources in line with guidance from our State Board of Education as we meet changing needs.

But not everyone agrees the closure is for the best. A former faculty member at the center says local livestock producers and veterinarians will be the ones to suffer, as they depended on it for laboratory work and necropsies and will have to find alternatives for those services now.

Changing rotations

Located near Caldwell, Idaho, the Caine Veterinary Teaching Center opened in 1977. It is an off-campus unit of the Animal and Veterinary Science Department that served as the University of Idahos commitment to the Washington-Oregon-Idaho Regional Veterinary Education Program; Oregon withdrew from the joint program in 2005. In 2012, Washington State and Utah State University announced a new partnership, and the program is now called the Washington-Idaho-Utah Regional Program in Veterinary Medicine.

The centers primary purpose is to provide fourth-year veterinary students with clinical training in food animal medicine and surgery in the heavily concentrated livestock area of southern Idaho. About 65 Washington State University veterinary students, along with preveterinary students at UI, receive experience in individual inpatient and outpatient care as well as herd and flock investigationsprimarily for beef and dairy cattle, sheep, and goats. The two-week training blocks provide extensive hands-on contact, particularly in calving and lambing. More than 2,000 students have rotated through the center, sometimes more than once.

WSU veterinary students are currently doing rotations there; the next group of students begins in May. Further rotations have already been scheduled, but with the center closing at the end of this year, WSU must develop an alternative plan, said Dr. Doug Jasmer, associate dean of students at Washington States College of Veterinary Medicine. Details were still being worked out as of press time in March, but students will likely participate in rotations at locations in Idaho that still provide production medicine opportunities for them.

Dr. Foltz told JAVMA, The future of the Caine center and the changing nature of veterinary education has been discussed with stakeholders and internal and external audiences for several years. Some of the discussion was within the Washington-Idaho-Montana-Utah regional veterinary education program, reflecting concerns that students were not working directly with animals at the Caine center because the number of animals brought there for treatment or diagnosis had greatly diminished through the years.

     The Caine Veterinary Teaching Center near Caldwell, Idaho, provides fourth-year veterinary students with two-week clinical instruction blocks in livestock production and population medicine. The Department of Animal and Veterinary Science in the University of Idahos College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, which oversees the center, announced it will close its doors by the end of 2016. (Courtesy of University of Idaho) 

Dr. Jasmer said WSU learned of the centers closing when UI made the announcement, but added that the universities had previously discussed the situation, specifically, the centers dwindling faculty numbers. Originally, the center had six, but for the past three or four years, it was down to only two or three faculty members. Currently only one is at the centerDr. James England, a professor of animal and veterinary science who teaches beef cattle production medicine and gives lectures to ranchers statewide on vaccination programs, calving, and ranch management.

When we talk about faculty, typically they have more than one roleteaching, research, and service. So, if you lose faculty, the remaining wind up having to focus more on teaching, so the person down there now (Dr. England) is focused almost entirely on teaching. Thats the situation we find ourselves in, and adjustments have been made that will address the quality issue for students the remainder of this year, Dr. Jasmer said.

He added, Theyve been good partners. Whenever you have change like this, its good to have a close working relationship. Thats been the case. Were looking forward to opportunities provided by this change and look forward to working with UI on accomplishing those.

Future plans

The university says the new arrangement will move faculty positions formerly based at the Caine center to the following:

One at the Caldwell Research and Extension Center, with a focus on general food animal care.

One at the Nancy M. Cummings Research, Extension, and Education Center near Salmon, with a focus on beef cow-calf operations.

One at UIs Moscow campus, with a focus on small ruminants and sheep.

Two in the Magic Valley area, with a focus on dairy and beef cattle.

Regarding the Magic Valley location, Dr. Foltz added, Locations will be determined after consultations with stakeholders and analysis of space in University of Idaho facilities in the area. The immediate plan is to co-locate the new faculty with University of Idaho existing research and extension faculty on the College of Southern Idaho campus in Twin Falls.

Nine nonfaculty positions will be cut at the Caine center. The employees in those positions will be given preference in applying for similar positions within the university as job openings become available.

But nothing is set in stone. Dr. Foltz said that the timeline for realizing this plan is flexible, dependent on gaining the financial resources to make it happen. He added that job searches are underway with the hope of having veterinary faculty hired and in position by summer so they can serve students this fall semester.

Centers impact on the state

Dr. Marie Bulgin, who retired from the center a few years ago after working there almost 35 years, says closing it will be a great loss to the state and its livestock industry.

The Caine Veterinary Teaching Center includes a full-service diagnostic laboratory and is the only necropsy facility in the state equipped to handle and dispose of large animals, a feature that Zoo Boise and Idaho Fish and Game commonly use. She says hunters will have to wait weeks instead of days to find out if the animal they killed was positive for any diseases.

One alternative is Washington State Universitys Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, which will continue to analyze samples. The University of Idahos analytical services laboratory in Moscow also provides diagnostic services. Utah State University has also enhanced its diagnostic capabilities. There is also a trend toward using commercial diagnostic services, Dr. Foltz said.

Research had also been a major component of the center. Faculty members were the first to recognize that milk wasnt the cause of scours in young calves, lambs, and kids, and that taking the milk away guaranteed the animals would die. They also discovered the following:

That one could diagnose enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli on a gram stain before diagnostic kits were available to identify the bacteria.

That ovine progressive pneumonia virus was the cause of hard bag in ewes.

That the cause of epididymitis in ram lambs was not Brucella ovis but Actinobacillis or Histophilus somnus, which originally had been named H ovis.

In addition, from the early 1990s until 2014, the Caine center was home to the only scrapie research sheep flock in the United States. Plus, it was home to the Pasteurella Molecular Biology Research Laboratory, which had an important role in characterizing pneumonia outbreaks in free-ranging bighorn sheep and other wildlife species. The scrapie flock was disposed of in 2014, and the Pasteurella laboratory was closed at the end of 2015 because of a lack of funding.

The university says the decision to close the Caine center also reflects a refocusing of resources over the past decade away from animal research and diagnostic services in Caldwell.

The decline in demand for diagnostic services and diminished research activity at the center, reflecting fewer faculty researchers, meant less revenue was available to offset costs. The biggest consideration in revising the universitys approach, however, was considering the needs of veterinary studentsthe original reason for establishing the Caine Veterinary Teaching Center 40 years ago, Dr. Foltz said.

But Dr. Bulgin argues the recent administration doesnt understand the need for a veterinary presence in the area, and in fact, contributed to the decline in cases.

During the recession, the university was hit pretty hard, so they didnt fill vacant positions. And everyone that could retire, they retired, including myself, she said, leaving the center with two faculty for the past three to four years. They had their hands full with students and werent in a position where they could do much with clients because they didnt have time, so the people started going elsewhere.

The Treasure Valley, where the Caine center is located, is home to 94 dairies and almost 120,000 cows, the third largest dairy-producing region in the state as of 2015, trailing the Magic Valley and eastern Idaho, according to figures from the UI College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Despite the higher numbers of animals in other areas, Dr. Bulgin doubts that veterinary students will get clinical training like they did at the Caine center.

We had, over the years, built up arrangements with certain producers and private practitioners, to where we had quite a large group of producers that we could take students to, Dr. Bulgin said. Salmon is not a hugely populated area. What are they going to do with the students? Im sure they can teach some management practices, but as far as clinical medicine goes, they wouldnt get it.

She said, Hiring a seasoned practitioner with practical research experience will be tough in the remote areas such as Salmon for the salary they are apt to offer. But the sad truth is that they just dont know what is needed to teach veterinary students. None of the people involved in this decision have ever come to the Caine center to shadow any of the faculty there.

At the Caine center, You had a group of people who were compatible and specialized in different areas. We used to come together and discuss big problems that had arisen and take students out there and discuss what they saw, what they thought, took samples, and so forth. I think the energy that came out of the Caine center, when it was fully staffed, was just amazing. I feel fortunate to have been a part of that.

It was a jewel in the universitys crown, and they just tossed it away, Dr. Bulgin said.

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Stepan Grigoryan: Putin realized that it is impossible to save Assad (video)

Russia's defence ministry has announced that first group of Russian fighter jets left Syria on Tuesday, following the surprise pullout order from President Vladimir Putin. The statement came just hours after Putin announced the withdrawal of most Russian force contingent from Syria. Putin realized that it is impossible to save Assad. They [Russians] came to realize that Assad is encountering serious problems and is unable to control the situation, people are against him, says Yerevan-based political analyst Stepan Grigoryan. Russia began its military operations in Syria on September 30, 2015. Though Russia says its troops have carried out their tasks, analysts do not think so, considering the economic sanctions against that country. According to different estimates, Russia has annually spent about $ 1-1.5 billion since its intervention in the Syrian conflict. Russia does not possess unlimited resources. It has to address its economic problems, sanctions, petrol prices Russia calculated and realized that it is spending huge sums in Syria and cannot continue like that, Stepan Grigoryan said. Putin made it clear that Russia will maintain its airbase and a naval facility in Syria and keep some troops there. Syria's state news agency also quoted Assad as saying that the Russian military will draw down its air force contingent but won't leave the country altogether. Those Russian soldiers who stay in Syria will be engaged in monitoring the ceasefire regime, Putin said. The Syrian conflict has killed more than 250,000 people and displaced almost half the country's prewar population of 23 million since it began in March 2011.
Jirayr Sefilyan: They will continue to intimidate people (video)

A group of citizens gathered in front of the Criminal Court of Appeal with a demand to release jailed civil activist Gevorg Safaryan who is charged with using violence against a government representative. They gathered near the court to support Safaryan and his lawyer who filed a moption to requesting to release the activist on bail. Jirayr Sefilyan from the New Armenia opposition movement says the authorities cannot extend Safaryans detention for a long time. They cannot keep Gevorg in prison for a long time, given the fact that it is in the center of attention of international organizations. They will try to play for time by intimidating people but cannot keep Safaryan in custody for ages, he said. Gevorg Safaryan was detained during clashes between police and demonstrators in Yerevans Liberty Square on New Years Eve. On December 31, the police refused to allow opposition New Armenia activists to install a Christmas tree there. Safaryan and four more activists were detained by the police, but later all of them, except Safaryan, were released. The activist is charged under Criminal Code Article 316.1 (violence against a government representative) and has been in prison since January 3.
Modified On Mar 17, 2016 11:53 AM By Manish for Maruti Ignis

India's largest automaker Maruti will soon be introducing its next offering, the Maruti Suzuki Ignis, in the utility vehicle (UV) space. The car is slated to be launched near Diwali and will rival the likes of the Mahindra KUV100. This upcoming UV was recently showcased at the recently culminated 2016 Indian Auto Expo. The Ignis will be Marutis contender in the micro-SUV segment.

When juxtaposed with the KUV100, the Ignis will be a five-seater and is expected to provide more cabin space to the occupants. Unlike the Vitara Brezza, the Ignis is likely to be launched in two variants: petrol and diesel.

The petrol variant will be powered by the 1.2-litre K12B engine. This powerplant will be ideal for city commutes since it will come paired to an optional CVT automatic transmission, in addition to the five-speed manual gearbox. The petrol powerplant will also help Maruti in keeping the price of the Ignis competitive and we expect the car to be launched at a base price that falls in the ballpark of Rs 4.5 lacs.

The more expensive diesel variant is expected to incorporate the companys time-tested 1.3-litre DDiS mill. This motor is expected be incorporated by the Ignis in its 75PS state of tune. Combined with the car's lightweight construction, Ignis will prove to be an ideal utility vehicle, meant for long journeys and occasional soft off-roading.

The Ignis is expected to be sold out of Marutis premium Nexa dealerships, which will make the UV its most affordable offering. Considering the premium appeal of this micro-SUV, Maruti will offer the car with safety features such as dual-front airbags and ABS with EBD as standard.

In addition to Marutis brand value and the Indian consumer's partiality towards utility vehicles, we expect the Ignis to sell like hotcakes and feature long waiting periods.

Watch Showcase Video of Maruti Ignis at Auto Expo 2016

Recommended Read: Maruti Suzuki Ignis; How It Looks Inside Out
Published On Mar 16, 2016 By Arun for Renault Duster 2016-2019

Watch First Drive Review of Renault Duster AMT

When you scour through pages of Indian automotive history, you'll find that it is always the 'brand' that made the 'car' popular. For example, 'Maruti' made the 800 iconic, 'Mahindra' made the Bolero what it is and 'Toyota' made the Innova moniker click. What we have on our hands today is something that is the diametric opposite. A 'car' that made the 'brand' what it is. At least in the Indian context.

Say 'Renault' and the layman will take a moment to soak in that piece of information. Say 'Duster' however and he'll know exactly what you're talking about. Renault's poster boy, sales hero and claim to fame in the Indian market - the Duster gets some fancy clothes with an update. To keep up with the times, there's an AMT on offer too. Does the update make the Duster a better package than before? Let's find out.

Exterior

When the Renault Duster was first launched, the butch proportions made it click with the masses almost instantly. The imposing face, flared wheel arches, 16" wheels and the SUV esque stance made it one of a kind. For once, we're glad that the facelift is subtle and doesn't change the core Duster specifications.

The Duster's proportions are near identical to the outgoing version. There's no mistaking the Duster for anything else, that's for sure. The front is where most of the updates are clearly visible. The grille gets a larger Renault insignia and is surrounded by a generous garnish of chrome. The bumper gets a very prominent matte silver skidplate that accentuates the Duster's compact 'SUV' positioning. Our favorite element however, have to be the new headlamps. The redesigned cluster looks really nice and the smoked finish adds to the aggression. That said, Renault could have (and should have) taken a leaf out of the Creta's books and given the Duster projector headlamps with daytime running lamps.

The side and the rear remain rather unchanged. The changes are minimal and you'd miss them easily if you aren't paying attention. The 16 inch wheels get a different design and are finished in this black/gunmetal shade with a machined surface that looks rather swanky. The roof rails are new too and get 'Duster' embossing. Changes to the rear include an LED tail-lamp and the customary skidplate.

We have to say that Renault has been wise with the update and corrected only what was needed. While we don't think the Duster has a design that will age gracefully, the update has injected some much needed botox to keep it soldiering on till we see an all new generation.

Interior

An opportunity missed. That is how we have to sum up the interiors of the Duster. The interiors get a new color palette and a few new goodies, but that just doesn't do justice to the package (and the price) in our books.

We believe the Duster could've done with an all-new dashboard. The facelift retains the same dash we've been seeing for the past half decade. Yes, the piano black centre console does look good, but that too is a fingerprint magnet. The large MediaNav touchscreen system hoards most of the real estate. The system is slightly better to use (read: inputs arent as laggy and slow) and audio quality is fairly decent too. That said, the interface for the navigation isnt the best. It is pretty hard to better the experience one is used to with Google Maps on their phones.

The addition of automatic climate control to the package is a welcome move. The unit is easy to operate and chills the cabin down very well. The air-conditioning managed to keep us cool on a sultry afternoon in Pune - with temperatures hovering above the 30C mark. However, it is slightly difficult to access the controls on the move. They are placed far too low for our liking.

With the facelift, Renault could have inverted the positions of the wiper and headlamp stalks. Ford did the same with the Ecosport facelift (Wiper controls to the left of the steering and headlamp controls to the right). That said, it doesnt take too long for one to get used to the setting. Renault could have also used the facelift to add audio and call controls on the steering wheel, instead of having them on a separate stalk behind the wheel. Reason being, you will be using controls for audio and phone more frequently compared to cruise control.

Other than these changes, the cabin remains unchanged. The front footwell is still slightly cramped, the drivers right knee still hits the power window controls and the overall fit and finish still remain a hit or a miss. Also, while we are talking about ergonomics - the armrest is a bit too thin and placed a bit too low down. It is rather odd that it is only the driver that gets the armrest. We think, a large centrally mounted armrest wouldve been a perfect solution. Before we forget, with the armrest down - it is nearly impossible to buckle up. You have to take the seatbelt around the armrest to buckle it in.

Overall, the package remains more or less identical to the outgoing version. Parameters such as space, cushioning and the 410 litre bootspace remain exactly identical to the outgoing version. Like we said, Renault could have used the facelift as a platform to up the ante in terms of design and quality. Instead, they have chosen to stick to the tried and tested formula of rugged appeal and durability.

Engine and Performance

The Duster retains both the petrol and diesel engines in the same configuration as before. The only mechanical change is the new AMT gearbox which is available with the 110PS, 4x2 version only. It is interesting to note that the gearbox is the only 6-speed AMT in India as of now. It is also the only AMT to be paired with features like Hill Assist, ESP and Cruise Control.

What we really like about the AMT, is how well it fits into the Dusters existing (and potent) package. The gearbox takes nothing away from the driving dynamics and possibly - only makes it better. The gearbox behaves like a typical AMT unit should. Theres nothing drastically different to report there. By typical AMT we mean that the upshifts are clearly noticeable. For example, when the gearbox shifts from 1st to 2nd & 2nd to 3rd - it is quite jerky. This can get slightly annoying, especially inside the city. You will know when the gearbox downshifts as well. Thankfully, the gearbox knows when to downshift and does not unnecessarily lug the car.

Speaking of downshifts, the gearbox isnt too comfortable when the throttle is pinned down to the floor. The gearbox takes a good second to drop gears, and when it does, the engine screams itself hoarse thanks to the revs rising too high. For spirited driving, wed recommend sliding the lever into Manual mode and taking charge of the gears yourself. When in manual, you pull the lever behind to upshift and push it forward to downshift. Shifts in manual mode too, take a small while to register and reflect. The gearbox ponders if the gear you want suits the revs and the speed and then executes. Try to shift to too high a gear at too low a speed or vice versa and the gearbox will override your command.

Out on the highway, the AMT feels rather relaxed. In fact, you wouldnt even know when it has upshifted to 6th. The engine is ticking over at ~2100rpm when the speedo denotes 100km/h; and is relatively relaxed while doing so. Go heavier on the right foot and the Duster pulls comfortably in 6th, all the way to its top speed. It is key to note that the power delivery here is linear and non-urgent. However, if you stomp on the gas at 100, the gearbox will downshift to 4th to give you that burst of acceleration. In that sense, the gearbox does pick up inputs really well.

Ride and Handling

Ride and Handling was always the Duster's forte and it is no different with the refresh. The ride is forgiving and absorbs everything our roads will ever throw at it. The suspension is a nice balance between stiff and soft, ever so slightly biased towards comfort. We think this works really well for the compact SUV, since it is going to spend most of its time within the confines of the city.

While the steering is slightly heavy at low speeds, we loved the weight the steering has at high speeds. Feedback and feel is decent too. Do not expect it to dive into corners like a squirrel, remember to ease off the gas well in advance and it will hold its line really nicely. Braking power is adequate too. The brakes bite in nicely and it doesnt nose-dive a lot under heavy deceleration. Pedal response is rather vague, that keeps you guessing if you need to go harder on the pedal to make it stop. Other than that, it does just fine.

Verdict

The AMT is a valuable addition to the portfolio. If you were considering buying a manual 110PS version, wed recommend spending extra and getting the AMT. The gearbox is an absolute boon inside city traffic and you will excuse the jerky shifts in exchange for a relaxed left leg. If convenience is amongst your top priorities for your next compact SUV - the Duster AMT must be on your checklist!
SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

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Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS

There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

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The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces

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STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN

This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan

Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments

Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan

Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement

With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building

OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh

USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens

ANCA Issues National Call to Action to Stop Taxpayer Funding of Aliyevs Aggression
MetLife is the largest life insurance company in the United States. About 100 million consumers worldwide rely on it for life insurance, annuities, and other safety net products. But is it too big to fail?

A federal judge says it isn't and yesterday struck down the U.S. government's determination that MetLife needs to build up its capital reserves and submit to tight regulation to ensure its financial well-being.

"From the beginning, MetLife has said that its business model does not pose a threat to the financial stability of the United States," the company's chief executive, Steven Kandarian, said in a statement.

The decision is seen as a victory for big business, and it was quickly followed by a report that General Electric, which owns Genworth, might be next in line to challenge its designation as "systemically important" to the U.S. economy. Wall Street is also pressing AIG and Prudential to respond.

Dodd-Frank

The "too big to fail" test was created by the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010. Instituted after the financial crisis of 2008, it was initially aimed at banks but was later extended to other major companies who were so important to the economy that their collapse could trigger another crisis.

MetLife is one of the few financial powerhouses that did not receive any government assistance during the financial crisis.

Kandarian has argued that life insurance companies don't carry the same risks as other financial institutions, since in most cases, funds are not subject to immediate withdrawal. Most life insurance policies, for example, pay out only when the policyholder dies.

Kandarian also contends that insurance companies are adequately supervised at the state level. That argument may not sit well with consumer advocates, who just this week formed organizations in Connecticut, Colorado, Florida, Ohio, and Virginia. They plan to pressure insurance commissioners, attorneys general, and state lawmakers to hold public hearings on the proposed mergers of health insurers, such as Aetna with Humana and Anthem with Cigna.

A U.S. Treasury spokesman took issue with the decision by U.S. District Court Judge Rosemary Collyer, saying regulators had conducted "a rigorous analysis of MetLife, including extensive engagement with the company, and determined that material financial distress at MetLife could pose ... a threat to the financial system."

Effect on consumers

What does all this mean for the consumers who buy insurance? To hear Wall Street tell it, it means that MetLife will be able to price its products more competitively, since it will not be held to tighter capital rules. It would also be more easily able to return more money to shareholders and sell off parts of the company, according to analysts quoted by Insurance Journal.

MetLife's Kandarian has indicated a desire to "separate" one or more retail units, most likely the variable annuity product line. Variable annuities are closely tied to stock market fluctuations and are thus more volatile.

The issue came up at Wednesday's White House briefing, where spokesman Josh Earnest declined to respond to the specific ruling but said that "one core component of Wall Street reform legislation that was passed early in President Obamas presidency included giving regulators the tools that they need to regulate non-bank financial institutions."

"This is one of the lessons that weve learned from the Great Recession  that its not just banks on Wall Street that could potentially shake the foundation of our financial system if they make a bunch of risky bets that go bad without proper oversight. Worse yet, it could also put taxpayers on the hook for bailing them out," Earnest said.
Fraudsters have been busy skimming ATMs since at least the last holiday season, as fraudsters have sought to take advantage of magstripe readers before adoption of more-secure EMV chip card-compatible ATMs becomes widespread.

Skimming refers to fraudsters using a device to steal credit or debit card information in an otherwise legitimate card transaction. Skimming devices are often placed on ATMs. When a card is run through a skimmer, the device stores the information. Thieves then use the stolen data to make fraudulent charges either online or with a counterfeit credit card.

The ATM fraud resulting from these skimming incidents is often local to the cardholders residence and is known as footprint fraud. As fraud is perpetrated where a cardholder might normally frequent, illegitimate transactions become harder to detect.

For example, a case study prepared by CO-OP Financial Services reported on a card skimming scam discovered by Elevations Credit Union in Boulder, Colorado. In this case, all of the skimming took place at the same local supermarket. A few days later, the thieves used the information skimmed from the stores self-checkout units to steal money with fraudulent cards from ATMs within the same several block area in nearby Denver.
Each year, Credit Union Magazine honors some of the credit union movements heroesthose individuals who relentlessly promote credit union philosophy, dedicate themselves to credit union principles, and make a difference in their communities.

Its time to select Credit Union Magazines 2016 Credit Union Hero of the Year, sponsored by CSCU.

This years nominees are:

 Suzy Fonsecav

 Dorothy Orr

 Steven Post

 Mignhon Tourne

Voting will take place through May 2. Well honor this years winner (or a representative) at CUNAs Americas Credit Union Conference in Seattle, June 26-29.
The International Machinery Manufacturers Awards (IMMAs) kick off again this month, giving manufacturers another chance to show off their cleverest, best-designed and most effective products.

This is the third year these prestigious farm machinery awards will be held in the UK, and the range of machinery continues to widen as more manufacturers take part.

See also: IMMAs give kit makers a chance to shine

The aim is the same as last year  to reward companies that have produced machines that show particular innovation, effectiveness and value.

Which machines won last year? Sprayers Winner Micron Varidome sprayer

Micron Varidome sprayer Runner-up Househam sprayers Cultivation and drilling Winner Kverneland Kulti-strip strip-till soil management system

Kverneland Kulti-strip strip-till soil management system Runner-up Vaderstad Tempo precision drill Harvesting machinery Winner New Holland double-cut system

New Holland double-cut system Runner-up Holmer sugar beet harvester Tractors Winner Valtra T4

Valtra T4 Runner-up Kubota M7

Also, as last year, it is organised by the Cereals event and supported by the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (AEA), the Royal Agricultural University and Farmers Weekly.

Who can enter?

The scheme is open to all companies that sell farm machinery in the UK, whether the equipment is home-grown or made elsewhere in the world.

There are four categories  cultivations equipment, harvest machinery, sprayers and tractors.

Cultivations equipment could range from ploughs to power harrows, from rolls to strip-till drills. Harvest machinery could include everything from combines to chaser bins and trailers to grain dryers.

Sprayers could include mounted, trailed or self-propelled models and any related equipment such as nozzles, bowsers and nurse tanks.

All machines entered must have been launched in the past 18 months, but they dont have to have been exhibited at the Cereals event.

Who will be judging?

Prof Dick Godwin, Harper Adams University (soils and cultivation); Prof Toby Mottram, Royal Agricultural University (robotics); Peter Redman (IAgrE); Prof Paul Miller, Niab (sprayer expert); Philip Clappison, 2013 Farmers Weekly Contractor of the Year, and David Cousins, Farmers Weekly machinery editor.

What are the judges looking for?

The independent judging panel will be looking for the most innovative products on the market, using the following criteria: innovation, cost-effectiveness and value.

Prizes will be awarded on the first day of the show, 15 June. The winning machines will be shown on a special stand at the Cereals event being held at Duxford, Cambridgeshire where they can be viewed by farmers.

When is the closing date?

15 April 2016.

Can farmers nominate machines too?

Yes, just go to the Cereals website, where you can nominate recently purchased machines of your own that you think are particularly praiseworthy.
The Westside proposal short changes our community by denying us an opportunity to restore the forest, manage wildfire, and put locals back to work, said Karuk Chairman Russell Buster Attebery. There is no way that the Forest Service plan will pass a legal challenge. The Karuk alternative, on the other hand, has the support of local conservation groups, provides significant opportunities for bringing timber to market, and complies with applicable state and federal law.

Karuk Tribe, Conservationists Add Klamath National Forest to Westside Lawsuitby Dan BacherThe Karuk Tribe and four environmental groups today expanded their complaint challenging the Westside Post Fire logging plan to include the United States Forest Service and Klamath National Forest over allegations that they violated federal law protecting imperiled salmon and their watersheds.The groups filing the complaint include the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC), Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center (KS Wild), Center for Biological Diversity, and Klamath Riverkeeper.The lawsuit alleges the Klamath National Forest Plan, as approved by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, illegally increases the risk of extinction for threatened populations of coho salmon.The plaintiffs allege the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of NOAA Fisheries violated the Endangered Species Act (ESA) when it issued a Biological Opinion (BiOp) and Incidental Take Statement (ITS) for the Westside Fire Recovery Project (Westside Project) on Forest Service lands in the Klamath River watershed.NOAA Fisheries is an agency that the late Zeke Grader, the longtime Executive Director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermens Associations (PCFFA), nicknamed No Fisheries for its many failures to protect salmon and other fish over the years.Coho salmon, now listed under the state and federal Endangered Species Acts, were historically one of the most abundant fish species on the Klamath, Trinity and other California rivers. The coho population has declined dramatically after decades of bad forestry practices, water diversions and habitat degradation.The Klamath National Forest proposal will increase fire danger, degrade water quality, and harm at-risk salmon populations, according to a statement from the Tribe and their allies. An alternative to the Project developed by the Karuk Tribe would result in about 33% of the logging that the Forest Service proposed, but would be far more protective of fisheries, water quality, and communities at risk of wildfire.The Westside proposal short changes our community by denying us an opportunity to restore the forest, manage wildfire, and put locals back to work, said Karuk Chairman Russell Buster Attebery. There is no way that the Forest Service plan will pass a legal challenge. The Karuk alternative, on the other hand, has the support of local conservation groups, provides significant opportunities for bringing timber to market, and complies with applicable state and federal law.According to the groups, The Tribes alternative proposal ensures that future fire events will be healthy for the environment and safe for local residents while providing marketable timber. The Forest Service did not analyze the Karuk Alternative because it rushed the environmental review process under the pretense of a public emergency.The litigation occurs at a critical time for imperiled Klamath River and West Coast salmon and steelhead populations.Agency scientists estimate that there are only approximately 142,200 Klamath River fall-run Chinook salmon in the ocean this year, based on the returns of two-year-old salmon, called jacks and jills, The salmon from the Klamath and Sacramento River make up the majority of salmon taken in Californias ocean and inland fisheries.The low numbers of Klamath and Trinity River fish expected to return to the river and tributaries this year will result in more restricted seasons for both the recreational and commercial fisheries on the ocean and recreational and Tribal fisheries on the rivers in 2016.The Forest Service plan to clear-cut thousands of acres above the Klamath River disregards the reasonable Karuk Alternative and hurts at-risk salmon and river communities, said Kerul Dyer of Klamath Riverkeeper. A healthy Klamath River requires sensible forest restoration that addresses the needs of both fish and people, like that laid out in the Karuk plan.The Tribe and groups are challenging the illegal harm to fish and watersheds that they say will result from the proposed post-fire clear cutting timber sales in hopes that the federal government will change course. The fish play a major role in the culture, religion and food supply of the Karuk and other Klamath River Tribes.The Karuk Tribe has occupied lands along the Klamath River since time immemorial, the complaint states. The Klamath, Salmon, and Scott rivers are within Karuk ancestral territory, and are the lifeblood of the Karuk people. Before Europeans entered these lands, these waters provided the Karuk Tribe with a bountiful supply of anadromous fish, including coho and chinook salmon and steelhead trout. Today, in the Klamath River watershed, coho salmon are listed as threatened with extinction under the ESA.Initial arguments will likely be heard by the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California in the very near future, the groups said. The Western Environmental Law Center represents all of the plaintiffs and EPIC is represented by in-house counsel.To read the full complaint, go to: http://www.karuk.us/images/docs/press/2016/Complaint.pdf
Deconstructing the Islamophobia Industry

Date:

Friday, March 18, 2016

Time:

7:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Event Type:

Teach-In

Organizer/Author:

Lucy Porras

Location Details:

Muslim Community Association, Khadija Banquet Hall

3003 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara

Learn more about the multi-million dollar Islamophobia industry and what we can do collectively to push back against the dangerous hate rhetoric impacting American Muslims and our countrys climate.



Featuring:

Corey Saylor

Director of CAIR Nationals Department to Monitor & Combat Islamophobia



Friday, March 18th

7:30PM (after Maghrib)

Muslim Community Association, Khadija Banquet Hall

3003 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara



More About Corey Saylor:



Corey Saylor is an expert on political communications, legislative advocacy, media relations and anti-Islam prejudice in the United States with 20 years of experience-directs the Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).



Corey has authored a number of reports documenting anti-Islam sentiment in the United States. Legislating Fear: Islamophobia and Its Impact in the United States 2011-2012,explores the funding and influence of anti-Muslim groups. A similar report produced in partnership with staff of the University of California, Berkeley is expected to be released in early 2016.



He is a regular voice on U.S. and international news outlets ranging from Fox News to CNN, the BBC, the New York Times and Al Jazeera.



Corey has run successful advocacy campaigns against corporate giants such as Burger King and Bell Helicopter-Boeing when their actions and advertisements negatively impacted the American Muslim community.



In the last several years, he has been active in combatting anti-Islam legislation nationwide and removing biased and inaccurate materials from law enforcement counterterrorism trainings. He has also led CAIRs efforts raising constitutional and efficacy concerns about the Obama administrations countering violent extremism (CVE) initiative.



In 2006, he was part of a CAIR delegation that went to Baghdad, Iraq to appeal for the release of a kidnapped American journalist.



Corey has conducted dozens of leadership, advocacy and media training across the United States, including speaking to audiences at NASA and the U.S. National War College.



He is also a member of the national board of directors of Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ).




On Tuesday, March 15, the Oakland city council approved moving forward with the latest iteration of luxury housing at the E12th Street parcel, public land that was created when the roads and bridges around the south end of Lake Merritt were recently reconfigured. The vote was 6 to 1 in favor of the new luxury tower proposal by developer UrbanCore, with a smaller number of affordable units tacked onto the side. Only Noel Gallo voted against the new proposal. Rebecca Kaplan recused herself after having received an apparently illegal campaign contribution from UrbanCore in 2014. In supporting the second UrbanCore design for luxury housing on the city property, the council rejected The People's Proposal , an alternative plan for affordable housing with no market-rate units that would benefit long-term Oakland residents and the broader community rather than wealthy newcomers. Continuing the long fight for affordable housing on the land, and following the revelation that the city council knew their original proposed sale to UrbanCore was illegal , housing activists showed up to the March 15 council meeting to vociferously oppose the new proposal and succeeded at shutting down the meeting, at least temporarily. The council and Oakland police responded by forcing activists from council's chamber, then holding their discussion and vote in Mayor Libby Schaaf's office, out of the public eye. Critics question whether the city has once again run afoul of public meeting laws and vow to keep the fight alive for "public land for public good." A final vote on the proposed sale to UrbanCore will happen later this year. Below is the E12th Coalition's description of the the offensive monstrosity that the council approved.

3 Reasonable Questions About EBALDCs Segregated Housing Proposal

In case you missed it,

all the public pressure to #SaveE12th from a luxury condo tower appears to have pushed our opponents to a new low.

Proposing SEGREGATED HOUSING.

Thanks to our organizing for #PublicLandforPublicGood (which now includes our own community-sourced proposal for 100% affordable housing), the luxury tower team has been forced to include affordable units in their proposal for the land, as well.

And this is how they decided to do it.

Yes, you are seeing that correctly. Still a luxury tower plus a small box of affordable units kneeling humbly down below.

Its New Yorks infamous poor door  now banned, and rightly so  times a thousand.

In light of this development, I have a few questions.

1. What the Fuck?

I CANNOT MAKE THIS UP. THIS IS A REAL PROPOSAL for the piece of public land at E12th. Look in the SF biz journal if you dont believe me. There, Joshua Simon, Executive Director of East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC), explains:

The affordable and market-rate apartments are in separate buildings for financing reasons, but [EBALDC executive director] Simon said that the design would seek to integrate the affordable and market-rate portions through common spaces.

2. Are You Fucking Serious?

What they call workforce housing, I would call servants quarters.

Why?

Because it is literally a small box of affordable units tacked on to the luxury tower they are still proposing to build.

And given the trends of gentrification in the Bay Area, this workforce housing would likely house people in the service industries  washing dishes, tending bar, nannying kids, fixing Priuses, vacuuming offices, and dry-cleaning clothes, quite possibly for the luxury tower residents who happen to live right next door in $3,200/month 1-bedroom units.

3. What On Earth Are You Thinking?

To justify this segregated housing monstrosity (oh, my bad  mixed-income proposal), the luxury tower team UrbanCore + EBALDC just unveiled a laughably astroturf web site (complete with colorful paper cutouts of people instead of actual human supporters) championing the workforce housing project (a.k.a. servants quarters).

See their whole web site here.

Funnily enough, there is NO MENTION OF THE LUXURY TOWER THAT WOULD WAVE ITS TOWERLY DICK IN THE FACES OF LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS EVERY DAY. In addition to pushing rents sky-high for the whole neighborhood.

Like, really EBALDC? Really?

I would expect this kind of deceit from UrbanCore, who has bribed workers and misled non-English-speaking seniors in efforts to drum up support for their development. And Im not shocked that BRIDGE, another affordable housing developer, is proposing a tower even though the community clearly and expressly DOES NOT WANT ONE.

But the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC)? really?

It might be time to rethink your whole entire moral compass. Cuz this is disgusting.

Pull out. Walk away. Work on other projects that youre good at. Support the Peoples Proposal that has been determined by an engaged and transparent community process.

You want good projects on your record, not segregation for fucks sake.
California Assemblymember Jose Medina Meets with UC Davis Protestors by Sarah Shemery

California Assemblymember Jose Medina Meets with UC Davis protestors on day five of their occupation of Chancellor Linda Katehi's office.

California assemblymember Jose Medina came to UC Davis to meet with protestors currently occupying the office of Chancellor Linda Katehi. Medina represents California Assembly District 61 and is the chair of the Higher Education Committee.



"As Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, it was good to hear student voices and discuss their concerns. I am looking closely at this issue and will be holding an oversight hearing on the UC policy of chancellor's ability to sit on boards taking place on Monday, April 4 at 10am at the State Capitol in room 437." Medina



Photos by Jose Medina
Tampa Bay Derby Reflections: The San Felipe was supposed to be the best Kentucky Derby prep, over the Tampa Bay Derby, this past weekend. As we all know, however, things rarely go the way they are supposed to in the sport of Thoroughbred Racing.

The Tampa Bay Derby had a larger, but overall, weaker field than the San Felipe. Only one horse in the race, Destin, was looked upon as a serious Kentucky Derby prospect. However, after Outwork pushed Destin to a track record performance and Danzing Candy made short work of the big San Felipe favorites, things began to change. After watching both races several times, my opinion of which race was the better prep, and that is the Tampa Bay Derby.

The Tampa Bay Derby featured two very talented Todd Pletcher trained horses, Destin and Outwork. Destin is the full brother to Creative Cause, whom blazed the Kentucky Derby trail in 2012. Outwork is owned by Repole Stables, who campaigned the brilliant Uncle Mo, who just so happens to be Outworks sire.

The Tampa Bay Derby win by Destin was so impressive for a variety of reasons. The first reason is the most obvious one, the track record. Destin not only eclipsed Street Senses stakes record, set in 2007, but the track record. If that wasnt enough, he showed a ton of grit to get by Outwork. Now we know he is fast, we can see that he is moving in the right direction, now we just to see if he can transfer his form outside of Tampa Bay Downs. That question will be answered in his next start, as the Arkansas Derby, Wood Memorial, and Blue Grass Stakes are being considered for his final prep.

Outwork, while second best in the Tampa Bay Derby, showed the most upside. He is from the dynamic first crop of Champion Juvenile, Uncle Mo, and was making only his third start in the Tampa Bay Derby. The race also represented his first time around two turns, and he was game every step of the way. His individual time was 1.43.00, which would have been a new stakes record, despite stretching out from 6 furlongs to the 1 1/16th miles of the Tampa Bay Derby.

Outwork, like Destin, will get a shot to transfer that good form outside of Tampa Bay, as he is also being considered for three same races. Though, chances are that with Repoles ties to New York that the colt will be pointed to the Wood Memorial.

While Outwork and Destin impressed, the highly regarded Brodys Cause, conditioned by Dale Romans, disappointed greatly. After top efforts in last years Breeders Futurity and the Breeders Cup Juvenile, his 2016 bow was greatly anticipated. However, the colt showed no life in the stretch. The patented late run that we saw in 2015 was gone. Was it rust, is he just not a top runner, or is he a one track pony? I am leaning towards the latter, as both of his best efforts came over Keeneland. If his connections are still pointing towards the Kentucky Derby, it is likely that hell aim towards the Blue Grass, as it is held at Keeneland, and would be his last chance to gain the necessary points.

Overall the Tampa Bay Derby proved to be a very revealing race. Unlike the San Felipe, it answered a lot more questions than it created, which is paramount along the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Los Angeles, CA California workers who have been unfairly California workers who have been unfairly denied their unemployment benefits may not realize they are entitled to file an appeal of the denial, and they can obtain legal help in doing so. An appeal can be complicated and requires the claimant to file proper paperwork on strict deadlines. Azad Marvazy, founder and managing partner of Light Law Group, APC, says experienced lawyers who are familiar with the unemployment insurance appeals process increase their clients chances of filing a successful appeal and ultimately receiving their California unemployment insurance benefits.

Unemployment insurance is granted to workers who are let go from their employment due to no fault of their own. In other words, the employer has made the decision to terminate the relationship and has not done so due to an employees misconduct. Marvazy notes that sometimes, however, employers misrepresent the situation to the Employment Development Department (EDD), making it seem the termination was due to misconduct, or that the employee left his or her job voluntarily, even when that is not the case. If the termination appears to be for misconduct or due to the employee voluntarily leaving the job without good cause, the EDD will not approve the unemployment insurance benefits.The employer may not always be purposely misrepresenting the termination to be the result of employee misconduct; employers may think the reasons for the termination meet misconduct requirements. But under the unemployment insurance code, precedent benefit decisions and case law, there are specific definitions and rules for determining misconduct.Once a notice of denial is sent, the former employee has 30 days from its mailing date to file the appeal with the proper paperwork. At this stage, claimants should consider hiring an experienced attorney, because any errors or omissions on the paperwork - or failure to file in a timely manner - can result in the appeal being denied. An attorney can ensure forms are filled out correctly and filed appropriately.The next step is preparing for a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge, who will give employers and claimants a chance to present evidence supporting their respective positions. Preparation for the hearing involves gathering supporting documentation, interviewing witnesses, preparing for cross-examination and researching relevant precedents. Marvazy says experienced attorneys ensure all valid and supportive arguments are prepared and presented at the hearing to ensure clients have the greatest chance of success in recovering unemployment insurance benefits.At the hearing, there is an opportunity to question the employer and present evidence showing that the termination was not for misconduct and not the employees decision. Claimants also have the chance to provide statements, but the process can be intimidating, Marvazy says, and individuals who do not have experience in the insurance appeals process might feel nervous or forget vital information.Californians who have had their unemployment benefits wrongfully denied are often in a financially vulnerable situation. While they may feel they cannot afford to hire an attorney to protect their rights, Marvazy says this is an important time to speak to a lawyer, who can increase the chances of having the benefits reinstated, helping the client financially in the long term. His firm charges a flat rate that covers all aspects of preparing for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, and works with clients who may face financial hardships.Claimants who have received a notice of denial should contact an experienced attorney, who can make the entire appeals process less stressful and effectively increase the chances of having unemployment insurance benefits confirmed or reinstated. Because there are only 30 days from the date on the letter of denial, it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible.
FREE CA UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE LAWSUIT EVALUATION Send your CA Unemployment Insurance claim to a lawyer who will review your claim at NO COST or obligation.

GET LEGAL HELP NOW



California Unemployment Appeals Process

California Unemployment Appeals Lawyer

Preparing necessary documentation

Researching relevant case law

Preparing you for questioning by the other side

Presenting evidence and witnesses

Responding to evidence presented by the employer

Questioning and cross-examining witnesses

Making closing arguments.

California Unemployment Insurance Denial Legal Help

Mar-16-16

Employees who have had their California unemployment insurance denied are eligible to file an appeal of the denial. Filing an appeal of an unemployment insurance denial, however, can be a complicated process that involves gathering supporting documentation, meeting important deadlines, and researching previous court decisions. An experienced California unemployment appeals attorney understands the process and increases your chances of a successful resolution.California law allows employees who have had their employment terminated by their employer for no cause are eligible to file for unemployment insurance. As part of the application process, the Employment Development Department (EDD) considers information from the employee and the employer in determining unemployment insurance eligibility. If they receive information that the employee terminated the employment on his or her own, or if they receive information that the employer terminated the employment for causesuch as if they caught the employee stealingthe California unemployment insurance application will be denied.There are situations, however, in which an employer may misrepresent the termination of the employment relationship. The employer may fire the employee for no cause but state to the EDD that the termination was for cause, which could result in a claim being denied. Or, the EDD could approve the California unemployment insurance claim but the employer can appeal that decision so their reserve account, which they pay into for unemployment insurance claims, is not charged.In either situation, the case will be forwarded to an administrative law judge. It is important for claimants to note that they have only 30 days from the date listed on their EDD determination letter to file an appeal. Failure to file the correct forms in a timely manner will result in the appeal being denied.Employees who wish to appeal their California unemployment insurance denial have the right to be represented by an attorney at the hearing. Preparing supporting evidence for the hearing takes time, so it is important to contact an attorney as soon as the letter of denial is received.An experienced attorney will help by:It is vital that all forms are properly filled out and all documents are submitted in a timely manner. An attorney who is experienced in California unemployment appeals understands how the system works and can ensure all documentation is correctly filled out and properly submitted.The process for filing a claim and preparing for a hearing can be complicated, and being questioned at a hearing can be intimidating and frustrating for people who are not familiar with it. An attorney can increase the chances of winning an appeal by ensuring the claimant is properly prepared for the hearing and effectively arguing the claimant's case.If you have wrongfully received a denial of unemployment insurance, it is important you contact an attorney immediately to ensure you do not miss any deadlines and lose out on your chance to appeal. If you have had your unemployment insurance approved but your employer is appealing the decision, contact an attorney to ensure you do not have your unemployment insurance terminated.If you or a loved one has suffered similar damages or injuries, please click the link below and your complaint will be sent to a lawyer who may evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.
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- Teenager says she was not forced into marriage, but was made into a sex machine by her abductor

- She adds that she was forcefully converted to Islam

- She claims that she was kept as a sex slave for seven months at the house of the Sarkin Baki

Patience Paul, the 15-year-old girl who was recently kidnapped and released in Sokoto.

Patience Paul, 15-year-old schoolgirl who was abducted in Sokoto state, has explained her ordeal at the hands of her abductor.

The teenager who was forcefully abducted and converted to Islam explained that she was held in captivity and sexually abused for seven months at the residence of Sarkin Baki (king of strangers).

The Benue-born student had gone missing on August 12, 2015, but help came her way after Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state ordered an investigation into the matter, a directive which later led to her release.

READ ALSO: Yunusa Dahiru remanded in prison, applied for bail

According to Leadership, young Patience explained that her abductor and some Hisbah (Sharia police) personnel took her to an imam in Runjin Sambo area of Sokoto, claiming that she wished to convert to Islam.

"I was sent to buy biscuits and on my way I saw him (her abductor) and he persuaded me to come to his bungalow," the young girl said.

On whether she was forced into marriage in Sokoto, the primary six pupil answered in the negative, stating however, that her abductor turned her into a sex slave at the house of the Sarkin Baki.

She said: "Yes, he was forcefully making love to me any time he wanted.

"They first took me to Sarkin Baki house, and kept me there for seven months before my parents came looking for me.

"They gave me something to drink, but I refused to take the drink, and they took me to one room and locked me inside the room.

READ ALSO: One more teenage girl abducted, turned to Islam and married off in Zaria

"They forcefully made me to turn to Muslim and gave me another name, Aisha. Some people wanted to marry me, but the Sarkin Baki refused and said until I finish Islamic school before they marry me off."

Barrister Ezekiel Dyagas, a lawyer with a Plateau-based NGO, who helped with the rescue of Patience, addressed a press conference in Kaduna, explaining that he was briefed about her case on March 1, 2016, by her brother.

According to him: "Her brother, who is here with me, has been up and doing since the family realised that the little girl was missing and eventually abducted by one of her neighbours.

"I promised the family to give me 48 hours and we would be able to trace her whereabouts. I posted her story on the website and you will not believe the response I got.

"Within that 48 hours I was talking to the Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, and I told the girls brother that the governor will call him.

"In fact, the governor not only called, but he played a vital role towards the freeing of Patience. He acted as a father and we appreciate his role. In short, he was instrumental to her eventual release.

"As I am talking to you, those behind her abduction in Sokoto had been arrested and are going to face prosecution soon."

Meanwhile, the youngster's elder brother, Isaac Paul, who had just graduated from the University of Sokoto and is awaiting NYSC call-up, was full of gratitude to Nigerians who came to the aid of their family in ensuring the recovery of his sister.

The 28-year-old said that their mother was dead and their father worked as a steward in Sokoto, adding that Patience is the sixth child of the nine in the family.

The issue of teenage kidnap and forceful abduction reared its ugly head recently when the case of Ese Oruru, the Bayelsan girl who was kidnapped and taken to Kano became a household item in Nigeria.

After the controversies surrounding her abduction and subsequent release, the young Oruru made stunning revelations about what transpired in the palace of the Emir of Kano, where she was reportedly housed for a while.

This news also comes after a 16-year-old student of Government Secondary School, Apo Resettlement, Ifesinachi Ani was abducted about six months ago and taken to an unknown destination.

The missing girl is a native of Amaechi Awkunanaw in Enugu south local government area of Enugu state.

According to Ifesinachis mother who is a widow with four children, neither the FCT police command nor other organisations have been able to offer any reasonable assistance to secure the release of the girl.

Source: Legit.ng
- Police rescued three teenage girls who were abducted and converted to Islam in Bauchi

- The police commissioner in Bauchi, Baba Tijjani said the girl volunteered to converted to Islam on their own

- They have been released to their parents

- Their families could not contain their joy over the release of their daughters

Three teenage girls, who were abducted in Bauchi state and forcefully converted to Islam, have been rescued by the police.

They were handed over on Tuesday, March 16, by the Shariah commission in the state to Tunde Ogunsakin, the assistant inspector-general of police, Zone 12, Bauchi, The Punch reports.

The three girls were identified as Blessing Gopep, 13, Linda Christopher, 16 and Progress Jacob, 13.

Police rescue three teenage girls who were abducted and converted to Islam in Bauchi

Blessing was reportedly abducted by two men, identified as Iliya and Umaru in August 2015, while Linda was abducted in November by one Mallam Shagari in Tarsha Durumi village.

The third girl, Progress was abducted by Mallam Musa in the Yelwa, Sabon Kaura area of Bauchi state, on her way back from church on January 3.

The family of Progress searched for her but all efforts to locate her proved abortive until a letter was delivered to them from the Bauchi state Shariah commission, that she had been converted to Islam.

Lindas parents also got a letter from the Sharia commission, notifying them of their daughters custody and her conversion to Islam.

READ ALSO: Young girl 'kidnapped and married off to Islamic preacher'

She had earlier left Enugu to join her parents, who lived in the Katanga Giwa village of Bauchi before she was abducted.

Confirming their release, the commissioner of police, Bauchi state police command, Baba Tijjani said: The girls have been released. They were not held by the Bauchi state Shariah commission; they volunteered to become Muslims on their own and reported themselves to the Daawah & Islamic Education Department, which took them to the Bauchi state Shariah commission.

Now, they have been produced. Progress Jacob and Linda Christopher have been released to their parents while Blessing Gopeps parents have been told to come tomorrow (Wednesday) and they will go home with their daughter.

He added that investigations were ongoing.

Also speaking, Mbami Sabka, the executive director of Prison Inmate Development Initiative (PIDI), a non-governmental organisation, handling the matter, said he was glad that effort to rescue the girls was not wasted.

READ ALSO: Bauchi governor stands in a bus (photos)

According to him, this was the beginning of the release of more child brides.

The families of the three abducted girls were full of joy over the release of their daughters.

PIDI had written letters to the state commissioner of police and the National Human Rights Commission but got no response before taking the cases to Amnesty International.

There have been several reports of teenage girls been abducted and converted to Islam.

Some weeks back, report surfaced that a teenage girl, Ese Oruru was abducted from Yenagoa, Bayelsa state and taken to Kano by one Yinusa Dahiru alias Yellow. She was married and converted to Islam. Following public outcry, she was rescued and returned to her parents while her abductor was arrested and is facing trial.

A young girl, Ifeoma Nicodemus who is now aged 15, was reportedly kidnapped from her family in Zaria, Kaduna state, and taken to Ebonyi state on September 14, 2014. There, she allegedly married Shehu Abdullahi, was converted to Islam and held against her will.

Source: Legit.ng
The race for Nigeria's presidency might begin sooner than expected, as major actors have started aligning their interests for the role ahead of the next general elections in 2019.

This would be so if the rumours making the rounds that President Muhammadu Buhari might not contest for another term in office.

Though some of these politicians have not openly made their interests known, there are strong indications that they may be discreetly melting loose wall with foes and strengthening existing relationship with friends and allies.

Legit.ng brings you the 6 Northerners who may replace Buhari in 2019:

1. Atiku Abubakar (a former vice-present of Nigeria and a former presidential candidate)

Atiku Abubakar

Abubakar was the second elected vice president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

READ ALSO: Prophet Predicts Atiku Will Be Nigeria's Next President

The former vice president left PDP to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) on February 2, 2014. There are reports that Atiku will be seeking to contest for the Nigerian presidency in 2019, on the party's platform.

This would be making it his fourth attempt as he had contested for presidency 3 times in 1992, 2006 and 2011.

2. Nuhu Ribadu (a former EFCC chairman and a former presidential candidate of the ACN)

Nuhu Ribadu

Ribadu was the former chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and former presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

He lived in exile until 2010 when he returned to Nigeria and declared his intention to run for president 2011.

The former EFCC boss defected to the opposition, PDP, in 2014 with the intention to run for governorship of Adamawa state.

3. Nasir El-Rufai (a former FCT minister and the current Kaduna state governor)

Nasir El-Rufai

The incumbent Kaduna state governor is rumoured to be the unofficial vice president of Nigeria.

A member of the APC, El-Rufai was the former director general of the Bureau of Public Enterprises. He was reportedly in self-exile during the administration of former President Umaru Yar'Adua.

El-Rufai was with President Buhari during the days of struggle in the now defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He is a close ally of Buhari. During the build up to the 2015 general election, it was learnt that the president practically forced him on Kaduna APC as there were other candidates in the party that could have clinched the ticket.

4. Sule Lamido (the two-time governor of Jigawa state)

Sule Lamido

The former Jigawa state governor served as the foreign minister of from 1999 to 2003 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He was elected the governor of Jigawa state in April 2007. He is a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He ran successfully for reelection on April 26, 2011.

5. Rabiu Kwankwaso (the two-time governor of Kano state and the current senator)

Former Kano state governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso

Source: Facebook

Kwankwaso served as the governor of Kano state from 1999 to 2003 and from 2011 to 2015. He lost his re-election bid to Governor Ibrahim Shekarau who was in office from 2003 to 2011.

In 2015, he ran for president on the APC platform but had lost the partys presidential ticket to Muhammadu Buhari, ending in second place.

He then successfully contested the senatorial election to represent Kano State Central Senatorial District at the expiration of his tenure.

6. Aminu Masari (the current Katsina state governor)

Aminu Masari

He is quiet politician but very effective. Masari is a very experienced in the intricacies of the Nigerias political firmament. He is President Buharis kinsman and the present governor of Katsina state. He is also a former speaker of the House of Representatives. The governor was able to lead the house successfully without rancour between 2003 and 2007.

In the build up to the 2011 general elections, he ran unsuccessfully for his present position on the platform of the defunct CPC. Being President Buhari kinsman might be an advantage for him if he decides to launch his presidential ambition. He may through his calm disposition win the heart of Nigerians in the run up to 2019 general election.

Source: Legit.ng
- Prof Ben Nwabueze is the lawyer and the president of Patriot, a revered group of intellectuals and elder statesmen campaigning for good governance

- In his interview with The Sun, Nwabueze explained why President Muhammadu Buhari is not a born again democrat

- He advised Nigerians not to expect too much from the president as he lacks capacity to govern the country

- Nwabueze also spoke on corruption in the Goodluck Jonathan administration and Buhari's anti-graft war

According to Ben Nwabueze. President Muhammadu Buhari does not have the capacity to govern Nigeria.

Read excerpts from the interview below:

'Buhari is not going in the direction of democratic rule'

"He is not going in that direction. He declared himself to be a born again democrat. He said that after his election and installation. But I dont think the way he has been going has really proved him to be a born again democrat.

"Quite frankly, I am not surprised considering his antecedents. I pointed that out before the election. I said that he is a man who, throughout his career, was a military commander commanding some units in the army, and therefore, used to giving orders and requiring his orders to be obeyed and they were obeyed in line with the principles governing armed forces in the country.

"Secondly, from being military commander he became head of the federal military government. And absolutism was the case. Everybody must carry out his orders. Not only soldiers now but the whole country of which he was the head of state. With that background, with those antecedents, I think it would be too much to expect that he can change overnight to become a born again democrat. I didnt see it as possible."

Steps that show Buhari is not a born again democrat

"The first step was to rule this country for four months without ministers contrary to the constitution. The constitution does not confer absolute power on the president to rule any how. It specifies that he must rule with a council of ministers. But he ignored all that. He went ahead and imposed personal rule on us for four months. What he did was anti-democracy. It is not in line with the command of our constitution.

READ ALSO: Buhari Still A Military Dictator - Prof. Ben Nwabueze

"We are not really getting institutional government, a government that is based on institutions and not by one man. He has a council of ministers now but the question again is: Is the government of this country really run by that council? Is it not whatever he says that happen? Yes, the constitution gives him the power to take certain decision but the same constitution says the power must be exercised in a certain way, manner and form. The same constitution that vests the title of power in him goes on to say that he has to exercise it with the advice of the council of ministers. He must hold regular meetings with the council of ministers to advise him on how to exercise his powers. He didnt do that for four months. He was ruling alone, making appointments, deciding policies, doing all sorts of things for four months."

Nigeria & Saudi Arabia-led coalition against terrorism

"We are all against terrorism but dont make it a religious issue. This country is not a Muslim country, it is not a Muslim state. He does not need to drag Nigeria into the coalition. Nigeria is not a Muslim state and that is why CAN in the North is up in arms over that. The opposition by CAN in the North is not enough, CAN all over the country should be up in arms as was the case when Babangida took the country to OIC. I am surprised that the reaction so far has not engulfed the whole country."

Buhari's war against corruption

"We all support the war against corruption, but that war must be fought according to the constitution. It is a choice we have to make whether we want to fight corruption at all costs, irrespective of the constitution; is that what we want? The moment we throw away the constitution, you are inviting anarchy."

READ ALSO: #OneChanceChange: Nigerians criticise Buhari, APC

Goodluck Jonathan's administration & no will to fight corruption

"The problem with the past administration is not so much about the constitution, but it is the fact that there was no will to fight corruption. Not only Jonathan, but the Obasanjo administration did not have the will to fight corruption. They did not believe in the genuine fight against corruption and only used the constitution as an excuse for not doing what they were supposed to do, because they themselves were corrupt. Let us tell ourselves the honest truth: they were corrupt."

"Buhari does not have the capacity to govern Nigeria"

"I do not think that it is a question of not being prepared. Dont forget that the 2015 election was his fourth time of contesting, of making attempt at being president. He tried to be president for 12 years. So, he had more than enough time to prepare himself if he had the capacity. So, it is not that he was not prepared; the fact is that he lacks the capacity to govern as the problems are beyond him. Even if you give him 20 years to prepare, it would still be beyond his capacity.

"Nigeria is a very complex country. I have told you before, that we have 389 ethnic nationalities. The complexities and the issues involved in ruling such a country are huge. Leading such a complex country is an intellectual issue and Buhari does not have the intellectual capacity to comprehend what it means to govern this country."

Read the full interview here

Source: Legit.ng
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The French asset manager Amundi Real Estate has purchased the Deutsche Telekom Campus located in the City North district of Hamburg on behalf of one of its fund mandates. Upon completion in 2016, the property at Uberseering 2 will be occupied by around 2,000 Deutsche Telekom employees. The owner/developer of

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Six weeks ago the investor Cells Bauwelt presented its plans for the new Kudamm-Karree and has received positive feedback for the transformation and increasing the attractiveness of the location. The new plans are partly reminiscent of the former Chipperfield-Plan. According to the current design the 23 floor high-rise building will

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During the British general elections last year, the conservative Tories pledged to hold a referendum as it pertains to the membership of Great Britain in the European Union. The Brexit would become a real risk explained Helta Mehta, European Economist at Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM). David Camerons government

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Henley has sold Avalon House to a South African investor for 5.8 million (4.5 million). The sale represents a major milestone for the private equity real estate firm, having now completed 19 exits since its inception in 2006, at a total of around 256.1 million (200 million). Located a mile

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The Oulu region was in a tight spot a few years back: the citys largest employer shut down its mobile handset business, leaving thousands of people unemployed. Despite the setback, a lot of good news have recently started coming from the area: The economy is growing and the areas tax

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Siddhartha Lal, CEO and MD of Eicher Motors, the parent company of one of the worlds oldest motorcycle manufacturing brand, today announced the start of a new chapter in the history of Royal Enfield. Meet Royal Enfield Himalayan, which was launched officially today across the country at an introductory price of INR 1.55,545 (ex-showroom, Maharashtra) which translates into an on-road pricing of INR 1,78,872 in Mumbai.

The adventure tourer motorcycle, which is nowhere close to the RE products of today, has been purpose-built to cater to demands of those wanderers who are always in the search of a home away from home.

RE Himalayan project was conceived as an idea when Mr Lal was touring in the Himalayas more than five years ago. The idea was simple. Why is there no affordable motorcycle which can take on the rough terrains of Himalayas, without breaking a sweat?

Built on a completely new chassis, designed in-house by Harris Performance Parts, Royal Enfield Himalayan is a motorcycle which has many firsts for the company. It is powered by a new LS410 engine, where LS stands for Long Stroke, and 410 is the cubic capacity of the engine. This engine has been tuned to deliver more torque at lower rpm, exactly what riders need when taking on treacherous terrains or off-roading in the countryside.

Not only this is the most refined Royal Enfield engine, it is also the most advanced. In numbers, this new engine delivers 25 PS power at 6,500 rpm and a peak torque of 32 Nm at 4,000-4,500 rpm. What Royal Enfield stop telling us that this new engine is almost maintenance free, unlike their current lot of engines. RE tells us that engine oil needs to be changed at a healthy 10,000 km while spark plugs can last for 25,000 km!

Also Read  Royal Enfield Himalayan jackets, gloves, helmets and accessories

Talking about suspensions setup, the front gets a long travel fork while rear gets a mono-shock (first RE to get so). The front wheel is 21 inch while the rear is 17 inch. Both are wrapped with special off-road tyres from Ceat.

Instrument control is too very interesting. Apart from speedometer and tachometer, it also features a compass and a digital display unit. This unit shows time, temperature, trip, side stand indicator, odometer and so on. Weighing 182 kgs, Himalayan gets a 15-liter fuel tank. It has a wheelbase of 1,465 mm while ride height is at 800 mm.

Basically, the Royal Enfield Himalayan is a motorcycle has been built bit by bit, keeping in mind what its ideal rider would require from a motorcycle when he or she has decided to leave civilization behind and wander around the world.

Every feature of Himalayan Explained in Photos

Royal Enfield Himalayan  Photos

News Release
India is at a place where any small effort towards a greener tomorrow doesnt show any immediate result but sure counts as a significant step towards much-needed change.

Royal Enfield Himalayan was launched today across India at an introductory price of Rs 1,55,545 (ex-showroom, Maharashtra). That amounts to on-road price of Rs 1,78,872 in Mumbai. While Royal Enfield Himalayan is now on sale across all states in India, it will be made available across cities in a phased manner. The national capital, Delhi however isnt entertaining the new 410cc adventure tourer.

This is because of a ruling which states that new two wheelers which are being launched in India should comply with BSIV emission norms. The changes come into effect beginning April 1, 2016; so why is Himalayan banned? It seems like Royal Enfield tried to pull a fast one and tried to get around the law.

How did they try getting around the law? Well, the two wheelers which are already on sale before 1st April 2016; and are not BSIV compliant, get a 1 year extension in order to comply with the said ruling. This means, Royal Enfield managed to launch the Himalayan just days before the ruling at an attractive price tag. This means it attracts a larger segment of buyers. Experts reveal that if the Himalayan was launched as a BSIV compliant bike, its on-road price would have crossed INR 2 lakh mark easily.

For now, Siddhartha Lal  MD and CEO Eicher Motors Ltd says Himalayan is not being registered in Delhi as the NGT decision came in last minute. It is available in NCR for test rides, and bookings. Royal Enfield is working with authorities to resolve the situation alongwith other manufacturers facing the same problem. (Suzuki Access 125, another BSIII compliant two wheeler was also launched a few days ago.)

Full Statement

While the need for a solution is essential to begin Himalayan sales in Delhi, its not going to be easy to come by one. The end of month timeline clearly warrants the need for all future vehicles to move at the same pace as is required by all of India. The country is in fact attempting to move to BS-VI emission norms by 2020 from the current BS-IV, thereby skipping an intermediate level. The target in itself sets precedence for things to come.

Royal Enfield Himalayan Brochure

Royal Enfield Himalayan  Photos

News Release
A new study by University of Georgia researchers could help protect more than 13 million American homes that will be threatened by rising sea levels by the end of the century.

It is the first major study to assess the risk from rising seas using year 2100 population forecasts for all 319 coastal counties in the continental U.S. Previous impact assessments use current population figures to assess long-term effects of coastal flooding.

The study is based on analyses by Mathew Hauer for his doctoral work with the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences; Deepak Mishra of the UGA department of geography; and Jason Evans, a former UGA faculty member now with Stetson University. It was published March 14 in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Based on year 2100 population forecasts, the authors report that a 6-foot sea level rise will expose more than 13 million people to flooding and other hazards from rising seas. Florida faces the most risk, where up to 6 million residents could be affected. One million people each in California and Louisiana also could be impacted.

Scientists believe worldwide sea levels could rise by 3 to 6 feet by 2100. Even with a 3-foot rise, population trends indicate that more than 4.2 million coastal residents in the continental U.S. would be at risk, according to Hauer.

"The impact projections are up to three times larger than current estimates, which significantly underestimate the effect of sea level rise in the United States," Hauer said. "In fact, there are 31 counties where more than 100,000 residents could be affected by 6 feet of sea level rise."

The data can help policymakers develop practical adaptation strategies for protecting land threatened by frequent and repeated inundation, according to Mishra.

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"This research merges population forecasts with sea level rise. It gives policymakers more detailed information to help them assess how sea level rise will affect people and infrastructure," he said.

By employing year 2100 population projections, the data also provide a more accurate measure of potential flooding risks in some of the nation's fastest-growing communities, Hauer said. For example, more than 25 percent of the people living in major urban centers like Miami and New Orleans could face coastal flooding by the end of the century if adaptive measures aren't taken.

"Adaptation strategies are costly, and these are areas of especially rapid population growth, so the longer we wait to implement adaptation measures the more expensive they become," Hauer said.

With a 6-foot rise in sea level, flooding could impact more than 80 percent of the people living in America's three most vulnerable communities: Monroe County, which is the site of the Florida Keys, and two lightly populated counties on the North Carolina coast, Hyde and Tyrrell.

More than 10 percent of the population in Georgia's coastal counties would be impacted by coastal flooding, including 18 percent of the people who live in Chatham County (Savannah) and 29 percent in Glynn County (Brunswick).

Outside of the Southeast, a 6-foot rise in sea level would put at risk more than 16 percent of the population in San Mateo County, California, just south of San Francisco, and over 10 percent of the population in Nassau County, New York, which is on Long Island just east of New York City.
Like carbon dioxide, methane is one of the most important greenhouse gases. After a period of stagnation around 2000, atmospheric methane concentrations started to rise again in 2007. So far, the causes have been unknown. According to the recent study of climate scientists of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), at least 40% of this increase result from the growing production of oil and natural gas in the northern hemisphere. The results are now published in the Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics journal.

"The attribution to thermogenic methane from the oil and natural gas industry is based on our vertical measurements of ethane and methane concentrations between the ground and the uppermost layers of the Earth's atmosphere," says the initiator of the study associate professor Ralf Sussmann of the Atmospheric Environmental Research Division of KIT's Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK-IFU). Apart from thermogenic methane formed within deep rock layers at high temperatures and emitted into the atmosphere as a result of oil and gas production, growing biogenic emissions by anaerobic processes are another cause, he says. The corresponding contributions from e.g. wetlands or animal husbandry are presently being analyzed in parallel by other research teams. Ethane is essential for quantifying the contribution of thermogenic methane. Like methane, it is a hydrocarbon compound and one of the main components of natural gas. "In case of biogenic methane sources, no ethane is produced," Petra Hausmann, doctoral student in the team of Sussmann, explains.

The study is based on long-term measurements by the KIT observatory at the Zugspitze summit and by climate researchers of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in Lauder, New Zealand. The measurements are representative of the background concentration of methane and ethane in both hemispheres of the Earth. While measurements at the Zugspitze show a significant correlation between ethane and methane, i.e. a sudden increase of the concentrations of both trace gases from 2007 onwards, the Lauder scientists have observed a similar renewed increase for methane only. From these measurement results, the scientists concluded that at least 40% of the worldwide methane concentration increase after 2007 have to be attributed to the oil and gas sector and that the emissions took place in the northern hemisphere.

Although latest studies of biogenic sources by colleagues from New Zealand revealed that the main contribution to the renewed methane concentration increase after 2007 is of biogenic origin (Schaefer et al. in Science), "this is in agreement with our result of an at least 40% share of thermogenic emissions," Sussmann explains. He points out that increasing emissions from the oil and natural gas sector, combined with emissions from wetlands and maybe animal husbandry increasingly appear to have caused the renewed increase in methane concentration in the last decade.

Natural Gas -- Climate-friendlier than Coal?

For the time until a complete changeover to renewable energy sources, natural gas still is considered the climate-friendlier alternative to coal, because its combustion produces about half as much carbon dioxide only. Hydraulic fracturing of rock layers ("fracking") for the unconventional extraction of natural gas is discussed as a bridging technology.

The KIT study showing a thermogenic methane emission increase in the northern hemisphere since 2007 also is of political relevance since the results also suggest a connection to the North American oil and natural gas boom that started at about the same time ten years ago. Given that most of the oil and gas boom of the last decade has occurred in the US this would contradict official estimates of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that reports constantly low or even decreasing methane emissions from the oil and natural gas sector in the US during the past ten years. Recently, a related study made in the USA on the basis of satellite data showed an increase in American methane emissions by more than 30% between 2002 and 2014 (Turner et al. in Geophysical Research Letters). Also this result contradicts EPA's findings of no significant anthropogenic methane emissions in the USA, Sussmann says.

According to Ralf Sussmann, at least part of these inconsistencies might be explained by the calculation of too small leak rates for the production and use of oil and natural gas. While the EPA uses extrapolations of random samples at individual wells sites and power plants (bottom-up estimate), the study of KIT uses representative atmospheric background measurements (top-down method). A current example of a gas leak is that in the Californian Alison Canyon, from which about 100,000 tons of methane were emitted between October 2015 and February 2016.

"On long-term scales of several decades, natural gas generally is to be expected to have a climate advantage. On shorter time scales, however, this climate advantage already fails to take effect, if the leak rates of natural gas production exceed a relatively low threshold value of a few percent only," Sussmann says. The reason: The methane leaking into the atmosphere is shorter-lived, but, at the same quantity, has a much stronger greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide.

The KIT scientists see further need for research to explain the discrepancy between official extrapolations and scientific measurements. Moreover, far-reaching technical development concepts to reduce natural gas leak rates have been adopted in the USA. "Rapid and wide implementation of these reduction measures will decide on whether unconventional natural gas production may be a climate-friendly alternative to coal combustion on shorter time scales," Ralf Sussmann adds.
Researchers at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science published new findings that suggest the expansion of protected areas into U.S. federal waters would safeguard 100 percent of core home range areas used by three species of sharks tracked in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean.

The study investigated the core home range of 86 bull, great hammerhead and tiger sharks tagged in waters off south Florida and the northern Bahamas to understand if these highly mobile shark species might benefit from spatial protection, such as marine protected areas (MPAs). The team examined shark movements in core habitat use areas, or CHUAs, where the sharks were spending the majority of their time, in relation to zones that prohibited fishing or were these sharks were already fully protected within areas of the U.S. and Bahamas exclusive economic zones (EEZs).

"There are concerns that spatial protections may not benefit large sharks since they are highly mobile and likely to regularly move in and out of MPAs," said study co-author Neil Hammerschlag, a research assistant professor at the UM Rosenstiel Marine School and UM Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy. "While it's not feasible to protect highly mobile species wherever they go, our findings suggest that significant conservation benefits can be achieved if they are protected in areas where they spend the majority of their time, such as their core habitat use areas."

The results show that none of the tracked bull shark's regional CHUAs were in areas that are fully protected from fishing, and for the great hammerhead and tiger sharks tracked, only 18 percent and 35 percent, respectively, of their core use areas were currently protected. The study also found that the majority of the CHUAs utilized by all three shark species were within the U.S. EEZ.

"Our results will help enable policy makers to make more informed decisions when developing conservation plans for these species, particularly when considering a place-based management approach," said UM Rosenstiel School alumna Fiona Graham, the lead author of the study.

In 2011 the Bahamas declared a ban on all commercial shark fishing in its more than 650,000 square kilometers (251,000 square miles) of waters under their federal EEZ. The state of Florida enacted new measures in 2012 to fully protect four shark species, including tiger and great hammerhead sharks, by prohibiting their harvest and possession in state waters. These new findings have important implications for marine conservation and spatial planning, such as to better evaluate the effectiveness of current, and placement of future MPAs, according to the researchers.

Current research has shown that waters off Florida and the Bahamas are important pupping and feeding grounds for several sharks, providing them with the critical habitat required for the conservation of these slow-to-mature ocean animals.

Many shark populations are threatened worldwide due to overfishing, a trend that is largely driven to fuel the shark fin trade as well as from accidental bycatch from fishing operations. Populations of hammerhead sharks in the northwest Atlantic and other areas have declined more than 80 percent over the last two decades, according to some research reports, which has resulted in great hammerheads being listed as globally endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Both bull sharks and tiger sharks are listed as near threatened by the IUCN.

"This is of particular importance for hammerheads sharks since they are experiencing the greatest declines in the region and are of high conservation concern," said Hammerschlag. However, this species is susceptible to death from capture stress, so effective conservation strategies would also need to prevent great hammerheads from capture in the first place."
Hype followed by disappointment: That's been the general pattern over the past few decades when an alternative fuel is presented to the public. It's a fuel du jour phenomenon, from methanol to hydrogen, where government leaders and the media hype a new fuel, only to abandon it when lofty expectations are not met.

Thirty years of alternative fuel hype have failed to deliver sales; Public attention has jumped from one alternative fuel to the next since the 1980s; To decarbonize transportation, policymakers need better ways to assess technologies.

Policymakers who want to decarbonize the transportation sector will need to move beyond hype and find better ways to assess and sustain promising technologies and fuels, suggests a study from Simon Fraser University, Canadian consulting firm Navius Research, and the University of California, Davis.

"Technology hype is a highly inefficient, but natural, phenomenon," said co-author and professor Dan Sperling, founding director of the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies. "The challenge is to fashion policies and strategies that acknowledge and harness hype as we transition to low-carbon fuels and vehicles."

The study, published in the journal Nature Energy, looks unsparingly at the history of hype around alternative fuel vehicles and what policies and innovations are needed to move from current shortfalls to widespread commercialization of low-carbon vehicles.

Hype not enough for low-carbon world

"Transportation is one of the biggest challenges in climate change abatement," said lead author Jonn Axsen, an environmental professor at Simon Fraser University. "We are a long way from where we need to go. A full-on transition to alternative fuel vehicles needs to start today to have any hope of cutting our emissions by 80 percent in 2050." That is a target to limit global average temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius.

The study tracked alternative fuel vehicle media attention from the New York Times, research and development funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, and prototype development by the world's 15 largest auto manufacturers between 1980 and 2013.

The study shows that public attention has jumped from one alternative fuel to the next in continuous waves: first with methanol, natural gas and plug-in electric vehicles in the late 1980s and early 1990s, then to hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen, and biofuels in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Most recently, attention has shifted back to plug-in electric vehicles.

"Media, governments, and industry are all contributing to hype," said co-lead author Noel Melton of Navius Research. "It is not necessarily a bad thing, but history has shown that hype is not enough to get us to a low-carbon world."

The study said governments can avoid the cycle of hype and disappointment by conducting better technology assessment. This can allow them to set more reasonable sales targets for alternative fuel vehicles and implement the policies needed to get there.
Robert J. Warren, assistant professor of biology at SUNY Buffalo State, shows that the distribution of Gleditsia triacanthos (honey locust) throughout the southern Appalachian Mountain region in the United States can be best explained by ancient cultivation practices of the Cherokee.

"Native Americans may have affected the concentration of plant species long before Europeans came to North America," said Warren. "The purpose of this research was to test the hypothesis that a centuries-old legacy of Cherokee cultivation explains current regional G. triacanthos distribution patterns." Warren describes his findings in Ghosts of Cultivation Past: Native American dispersal legacy persists in tree distribution, published in PLOS ONE on March 16, 2016.

Warren began his surveys and field experiments, including seedling introductions, in 2009. "I always have an underlying interest in the patterning of plant species," he said. "While I was doing field work in Southern Appalachia, I noticed that whenever I saw a honey locust, I could throw a rock and hit a Cherokee archeological site. I knew that, in the late Pleistocene era, the main source of dispersal for honey locusts was megafauna such as mastodons. But mastodons disappeared more than 10,000 years ago. You'd expect plant species that relied strictly on extinct megafauna for seed dispersal would only exist in small, remnant populations."

Several theories regarding the persistence of G. triacanthos include dispersal by smaller animals such as white-tailed deer; livestock introduced by European settlers; and water transport. However, Warren--whose research focuses on biotic dispersal of plant seeds leading to plant distribution--decided to investigate further.

"When we look at distribution of plant species," he said, "ecologists are accustomed to assume that plants thrive in habitats with abiotic characteristics--water, sunlight, soil type--that meet the plants' needs. Questioning that assumption leads to interesting discoveries." Warren explores mutualism between biotic (living) organisms such as insects and the plants that depend on them. In Ghosts of cultivation past, he notes that "some plant distributions better reflect the niche requirements of the mutualist than the plant itself."

He points out that the Cherokee had reason to cultivate the honey locust as a source of sugar, and as wood for game sticks and weapons. The tree also had spiritual significance. He conducted extensive searches for honey locust trees and then used sources including military maps, historical accounts, archeological research, and historical markers to identify Cherokee settlement sites. He verified the information with sources including the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation (EBCI) Tribal Historic Preservation Office. His results strongly suggest that G. triacanthos distribution in the Southern Appalachian region are more strongly patterned by Native American settlements than by niche requirements or alternative methods of seed dispersal.

Warren said that the same may be true for other trees, including paw paws and the Kentucky coffeetree, and probably many others. "Native Americans of North America were shaping their environment long before the colonial period," said Warren. "Instead of pyramids and temples, they left their mark in the ecosystem they helped to create."
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<p>Amanda Harrison</p>

The caller was adamant about killing the dog. "I have a pit bull I need you to take, so if you don't take him, I'll have to shoot him," he said to Amanda Harrison. That night seven years ago, Harrison, an independent dog rescuer in Madison, North Carolina, and her 18-year-old son took off and met the man, a local backyard breeder, at his home.

Pookie was very beat-up and emaciated when rescued by Harrison. | Amanda Harrison

She already knew the man since her son went to school with his son. The town in Rockingham County is one of those very small towns where everyone knows each other. It has only five stoplights. And so the man knew that Harrison had a sweet spot for saving pit bulls. She had taken unwanted pit bulls from the known backyard breeder in the past. But this time was different. Something unsavory going on As Harrison and her son were led through the man's backyard, she realized the man was more than a backyard breeder. He was in the dogfighting business. "We saw everything," Harrison told The Dodo. "The way he had the dogs was a typical dogfighting setup." There were barrels used as doghouses. They walked past about 10 dogs who were underweight, scarred up and who were on short chains staked in the ground with barely any lead.

Pookie's front left leg sustained many injuries and had been broken many times. | Amanda Harrison

The 3-year-old smaller breed pit bull was emaciated. His chain kept hitting his leg where it created a bad wound. The man unhooked Pookie. Amanda's son picked up the dog and brought him to their truck. "I'm glad you're taking him," he said to Amanda. "I would hate to shoot him; he's a good dog." "I had no idea why he was going to shoot him," Harrison said. "Maybe he needed space for another dog who would win fights. They want dogs who can grab and hold, but Pookie's underbite didn't allow for that." Harrison was anxious to get out of there. It was difficult seeing the other dogs in that situation. A serious problem not taken seriously According to Harrison there is a bad dogfighting problem in her county. She said she reported the situation locally and nationally but that she never heard back from anyone. Sergeant Bobby Richardson with the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office said that the sheriff takes animal cruelty seriously and that cases are fully investigated, but added that he does not know of any dogfighters in the county. "If we do have something that arises we investigate it and prosecute and charge those who are guilty of it," he said. "To be honest we don't have a lot of problems with [dogfighting] that we know of. Sometimes we get information people will call in and if people call in we'll investigate it and check it out and do what we have to do."

Dodo Shows Wild Hearts Guy And Wild Shark Have Been Best Friends For Decades

Robert Perdue, animal control officer for Rockingham County, said he has not received calls regarding dogfighting in a long time, with the last being about 10 years ago. "In North Carolina dogfighting is a felony," Perdue said. "We always hear rumors of it. I wouldn't say we have a bad problem. It probably goes on. I'm sure dogfighting goes on; it's not something that is made public." He said the best way to infiltrate a dogfighting ring would be to get somebody on the inside to get information. Additionally, there are other crimes tied to dogfighting, such as drugs and gambling. "If you locate a dog and it's scarred up and has fighting marks healed over, it's a pretty good indication that it's been fighting," he said.

Pookie enjoyed attending events with other dogs to help educate the public about dogfighting and spaying and neutering. | Amanda Harrison

Pookie had all those telltale signs. Scarring. Neglect. Healed-over wounds. When Harrison and her son arrived home with Pookie they administered topical ointments to the dog's open wounds and took photos. A deep connection to the breed As a rescuer for 25 years for both registered organizations and on her own, Harrison saves mainly pit bulls. "I feel more of a connection with this breed," she said. "Everyone I've taken in has been found to have fought or was abused." She also takes bait dogs, the ones dogfighters use because they won't fight back, the ones used to train dogs to fight, sometimes by dogfighters taping their mouths shut with duct tape. She said it was even possible that Pookie had been a bait dog.

Adults were eager to hear Pookie's story and meet him. | Amanda Harrison

"They want the animals like this," she said. "They search Craigslist for free dogs. They take any animal they can take for free: cats, rabbits, dogs - it doesn't matter. Anything they can use to throw in there with their dogs to get the prey drive or fight drive, they will use." Although she typically changes a dog's name when she rescues one, she kept Pookie's name. "He looked like a little old man with a grumpy face," she said. "It just suited him. "I was never concerned with his temperament from the moment I put my eyes on him," Harrison said. He was scared at first and it took a couple days for Pookie to relax.

Deb Sterling held many events that featured Pookie. | Amanda Harrison

"He had a pitiful look about him," she said. "When I put him up on my bed, he didn't even move. He had no concept of being inside. It was a completely different world for him." Treatment for Pookie The next day Harrison brought Pookie to the vet, who said Pookie's leg had been broken and had already healed. She suggested amputation. The X-rays showed multiple old breaks and how they healed. He had scarring all over his body and was 33 pounds when he should have weighed 50.

Pookie and Brook Malloy, Harrison's daughter | Amanda Harrison

Harrison began fundraising efforts for Pookie's surgery. During that time, she placed a flexible, elastic bandage around his leg every day and the swelling started to go down. Pookie started using his leg. A second opinion showed improvement in his leg but discovered he had heartworm. He gained 10 pounds before treatment began. The regimen took a toll on Pookie, but he made it through. His leg improved so much that amputation was unnecessary, so, with the approval from donors, Harrison instead used the money slated for amputation for the heartworm treatments. On his first visit to a pet supply store, Pookie was so weak that Harrison had to place him in a cart. She met someone from Project Pets - Spay, Neuter, Love of Greensboro, North Carolina, who asked about Pookie. "He was blown away by Pookie given what he had been through," Harrison said. He offered to have Pookie neutered at no cost.

Children were drawn to Pookie. | Amanda Harrison

As Pookie's recovery progressed, Harrison introduced him to more dogs his size, and brought him around more people for socialization. He became a mascot for his breed Harrison brought Pookie to an event sponsored by Drive 4 Shelter, a division of the Animal Protection Society of Rockingham County, because she wanted Pookie to be involved with educating the public about pit bulls and spaying and neutering. Drive 4 Shelter is focused on education and teaching the benefits of spaying and neutering and how to reduce the unwanted pet population. "It's the first line of defense in reducing the overpopulation problem Rockingham County continuously faces," said Deb Sterling, president of Drive 4 Shelter, who works with Joan Stembridge, director of operations.

Pookie enjoyed the lake. | Amanda Harrison

Harrison began attending events with Pookie as a local mascot to educate the public. "He dismissed everything bad that ever happened to him, and it never tainted his spirit," Sterling said. "He was still pure." Adults and children alike were drawn to Pookie. "Like a magnet," Sterling said. "He changed the perception about pit bulls being scary. It is good to have a live example. People only believe what they can see and experience for themselves." Harrison started to take out Pookie more because he was so loved. "The kids especially loved him and his underbite, which they referred to as his upside-down vampire fangs," she said.

Pookie befriended people and animals alike, including a deaf puppy. | Amanda Harrison

Everywhere they went, even at gas stations, Harrison used it as an opportunity to educate people about dogfighting and pit bulls. "He was my shadow and stayed with me all the time," she said. Adults often broke down and cried upon hearing his story. Children would run up to hug him, according to Harrison. The ex-fighting dog has educated people as far away as Sweden, Turkey and India. "It has to be that little old man face," Harrison said. It was his time Age and health issues contributed to Pookie's retirement last year. "His body was so beat and so worn, which contributed to his downfall," Harrison said. He had arthritis in his left front leg and the vet put him on quellin, an anti-inflammatory. "He started acting like a really old dog." To add to his arthritis, Pookie had a cancerous gland in his throat, which eventually started to swell. Things started to go downhill. Pookie came to the point where he didn't have the strength to get off the bed. "I knew it was time to say goodbye," Harrison said. "His quality of life had dropped to pretty much nothing."

Harrison and Pookie | Amanda Harrison

Pookie was put to sleep on February 17. With Harrison by his side. He was 10 years old. "He put holes in everything the media says about this breed," Harrison said. "He defied the stereotype. He had beaten every odd that life threw at him - dogfighting, neglect - but everybody loved that dog. I want people to remember him for everything he had overcome. "He showed people that it's not the breed," she said. "It has everything to do with the people who get these dogs, fight these dogs and abuse these dogs. The backyard breeders are passing the undesired traits such as human aggression. Attacks come from dogs who are severely abused, badly bred and neglected." A lover, not a fighter Through education, Pookie was able to reach a lot of people. "They love people. They love to please, and one of the downfalls of the breed is with dogfights. No matter if it hurts them, they will do anything they can to please you," she said. "We had an immediate bond, unbreakable to the day I had to let him go." Harrison believes law enforcement is blind to dogfighting or they don't see it as a problem and do not care. "I don't think there is a city in America where there isn't something unsavory happening with this breed," Sterling said.

Pookie loved life. | Amanda Harrison
The poet Stevie Smith (Courtesy of New Directions)

Among poets, Stevie Smith (1902-1971) must take the palm for achieving a kind of immortality with just four haunting words: Not waving but drowning. There in a nutshell is, to quote Robert Lowell, her cheerfully gruesome voice.

For most of her life, Smith worked as a secretary in a British publishing house and lived with her aunt; she also wrote fiction, notably the Virginia Woolf-like Novel on Yellow Paper. Seamus Heaney once summed up Smiths concerns as death, waste, loneliness, cruelty, the maimed, the stupid, the innocent, the trusting. He left out her heterodox Christianity, love for animals and a penchant for minimal punctuation. She also enjoyed augmenting her poetry with scratchy, child-like drawings, such that All the Poems; Stevie Smith  a definitive collection  looks as if it were decorated by Edward Lear or James Thurber.

[Michael Dirda browses books that will make you love reading]

In fact, her work  notwithstanding its overall plangency  could initially be mistaken for light verse. Certainly, an outward charm is part of Smiths aesthetic strategy, though theres nothing naive or whimsical beneath her surface. Take, for example, the poem that bears her famous four words as its title:

Nobody heard him, the dead man,

But still he lay moaning:

I was much further out than you thought

And not waving but drowning.

Poor chap, he always loved larking

And now hes dead

It must have been too cold for him his heart gave way,

They said.

Oh, no, no, no, it was too cold always

(Still the dead one lay moaning)

I was much too far out all my life

And not waving but drowning.

The more you consider this strange little masterpiece, the more suggestive it becomes, shifting from a single incident at a beach to a tiny allegory of loneliness and the desire for human connection. Note the details: Nobody heard him, he was farther away from the people on shore than anyone realized, his reputation for larking about suggests a desperate desire for attention, the guess that his heart gave way because of the chilly water is countered by the pathetic confession that he was too cold always and too far out all my life and, finally, that what seemed to be his waving was actually the floundering of a human being desperate to be rescued. In fact, everything about the drowned man has been misunderstood: Little wonder he shouts no, no, no even after he is dead.

In reading All the Poems, one cant help but notice example after example of Smiths fondness for what she called deceitful echoes from earlier poets. Listen to the first tercet of The Smile:

When ancient girl is garbed in spite

And turns to rend, and lives to bite,

Oh what can end the marriage night?

Here, she reworks Oliver Goldsmiths poignant lyric: When lovely woman stoops to folly/ And finds too late that men betray.

Her opening to Some are Born picks up the rhythm and diction of William Blakes Auguries of Innocence, before switching into a Dorothy Parker voice of blithe stoicism:

Some are born to peace and joy

And some are born to sorrow

But only for a day as we

Shall not be here tomorrow.

In Company, she uncannily channels what could be a lost quatrain from W.H. Audens As I Walked Out One Evening:

Rise from your bed of languor

Rise from your bed of dismay

Your friends will not come tomorrow

As they did not come today.

Good writing, Smith believed, had to be sad, true, economical and, not least, funny. The opening of My Hat sounds as if it were being spoken by the heroine of a musical just before she belts out her big number:

Mother said if I wore this hat

I should be certain to get off with the right sort of chap

Well look where I am now, on a desert island

With so far as I can see no one at all on hand.

Smiths humor, though, takes many forms. Souvenir de Monsieur Poop neatly mocks the buttoned-up conservatism of the London literary establishment:

I am the self-appointed guardian of English literature,

I believe tremendously in the significance of age;

I believe that a writer is wise at 50,

Ten years wiser at 60, at 70 a sage.

While the 1976 Oxford University Press edition of Stevie Smiths Collected Poems is an exceptionally handsome book, and probably sufficient for many readers, those crazy about this wonderful and strange poet will obviously want Will Mays splendid All the Poems. It includes not only much hitherto uncollected material but also pages of concise bibliographical notes. For instance, Smith added speech marks to lines of Not Waving but Drowning when it was reprinted in an essay she contributed to, of all things, the journal Medical World.

Let me close with a final quotation  from the finale of Thoughts About the Person From Porlock  that again reflects Smiths characteristic blend of the comic and bleakly unsentimental:

These thoughts are depressing I know. They are depressing,

I wish I was more cheerful, it is more pleasant,

Also it is a duty, we should smile as well as submitting

To the purpose of One Above who is experimenting

With various mixtures of human character which goes best.

All is interesting for him it is exciting, but not for us.

There I go again. Smile, smile and get some work to do

Then you will be practically unconscious without positively having to go.

Michael Dirda reviews books each Thursday in Style and is the author, most recently, of Browsings: A Year of Reading, Collecting, and Living With Books.


Chef Steve Monnier says that his menu reflects his practice of featuring the best of whats available at a given time. I work in the moment, he says. (Deb Lindsey /For The Washington Post)

GOOD

Hows this for brazen? The chef at Aromes in Baltimore doesnt bother naming his dishes.

Defending the practice, Steve Monnier says he changes his tasting menu at least once a week and likes to be open to whatever fishermen or the weather might hand him. I work in the moment, says the French native, 39. Each of his six courses is merely hinted at on paper, sometimes with as few as three ingredients.

A customer scanning the terse menu in Monniers spare quarters in Hampden, home to Baltimores annual HonFest, could be forgiven for questioning the chefs taste when he reads lamb, caramelized milk skin, mugwort beer. Patrons at Aromes (French for aromas and pronounced ah-ROOM) are required to trust Monniers instincts and put their imaginations to work. Probably few of us, after all, have experienced a potato doughnut in the same breath as seafood, licorice and coffee.

Doughnuts sound like an inauspicious start to dinner. In Monniers hands, they make fascinating ice breakers. The delicate confection is brushed with a fish sauce made with sea urchin, followed by a sprinkle of dried, fried scallop and (still with me?) powdered coffee and licorice. The tongue detects funk, but also ocean mist and anise. Cutting into the fried pastry releases a rivulet of warm creme fraiche infused with lovage, its flavor reminiscent of celery. As much as

that is to mull, all you want after one doughnut is ... another.

Same for that lamb, which turns out to be tongue thats brined then braised in beer that Monnier makes himself with bitter mugwort. Presented on a round plank, the middle course comes with a thin wrapper teased from reduced caramelized milk, a sheath strong enough to hold the tender meat. Note to all the trendy chefs using lettuce leaves as a substitute for tortilla shells: Milk skin makes great tacos, too.



You might not have thought to gild a doughnut with lovage cream, sea urchin, fish sauce, crispy scallops, coffee and licorice powder, but you might seek out a second. (Deb Lindsey /For The Washington Post)

The mind behind these uncommon unions was sprung in Reims, France, and influenced by some of the worlds most celebrated restaurants, among them the Michelin-praised Taillevent in Paris and the late, great LOrangerie in Los Angeles.

Monnier also did a 10-day apprenticeship at the pioneering Noma in Copenhagen, where a Japanese chef got him interested in fermentation and wild herbs. Two years ago, Monnier left California for Maryland to be closer to his wifes family in Pennsylvania. Aromes followed a year ago in February.

Its a fashion these days to put just about any grain other than rice to work as risotto. One of the most successful flights of such fancy Ive come across was at Aromes, where Monnier uses a Japanese mandoline to cut sweet potatoes down to size, cooking the shreds in a miso broth. Ringing the sweet potato nubs, romanticized with curry and other Indian spices, is an emulsion of fig leaves and cream that the tongue registers as coconut

milk. Score another one for fusion cuisine.

A few dishes demand nothing more than your simple enjoyment. A wedge of tri-tip beef features lean yet juicy steak paired with several spears of roasted butternut squash embellished with brown butter and black garlic vinegar. Give or take a scoop of Jerusalem artichoke ice cream, desserts tend to be the most approachable combinations. A bar of chestnut cake sandwiched with chocolate ganache suggests the handiwork of a French patisserie; the accompanying sorbet, based on fermented rice, puts Monniers stamp on the plate.

Some courses leave my fork cold. A single roasted turnip, despite its garnish of salmon roe and ring of green leaf sauce  turnip tops and mushroom dashi  smacks of a compromise between an earth mother and Martha Stewart, while a duo of beets includes white ones that have been dehydrated and roasted, leaving them oddly chewy (kudos, though, for the tangy rhubarb shrub on which the beet sat).



Lamb tacos come in a unique shell made of milk skin. (Deb Lindsey /For The Washington Post)

At least one course a visit resembles an experiment rather than a refined recipe. On the plus side, nothing here will bore you.

The servers seem to assume that everyone who walks through the door has Googled the restaurant and knows that the only options are three or six courses for $45 and $65, respectively. The portions are petite; spring for six courses (and dont be surprised to find yourself rooting through your refrigerator for a snack later). As tired as I get having waiters explain concepts or tell me how my food will come out of the kitchen, this unusual restaurant is a case where a little more background might be welcome.

Most dishes are dropped off with a quick description and words that beg for elaboration. Surely I cant be the only diner who wants a little 411 on a recitation invoking sea lettuce broth and phytoplankton, among other ingredients. More appealing than it sounds, the assembly pages deep-sea enthusiasts with a trio of seared scallops in a pale green froth of edible algae.

Monniers food gives customers a lot to talk about. In contrast, the

dining room is little more than brick walls, wood floors and Edison light bulbs suspended over uncovered

tables.



In Aromess beet tart, slowly roasted red beets are burnished with beet vinegar and brown butter, and topped with elderflower vinegar and matcha tea powder. (Deb Lindsey /For The Washington Post)

Beyond a small chalkboard menu saluting some of Aromess producers and an open window into the kitchen, theres nothing but fellow diners to distract anyone from looking up from their plates, since everyone is more or less eating the same food. Monnier hopes to install some art soon. Meanwhile, Aromess fetching, locally made pottery will have to suffice.

The restaurant doesnt serve alcohol, which is a great excuse to stop at the impressive Wine Source on nearby Elm Avenue and grab a bottle before heading into dinner. (The corkage fee at Aromes is a friendly five bucks.)

Aromes is not for everyone. If you judge restaurants on heaping helpings or creature comforts  or ingredients stocked by any Harris Teeter  you might consider another place to dine. But the rewards outnumber the risks at this daring little storefront, and until you try it, dont knock the affinity doughnuts have for seafood.

2 stars

Location: 3520 Chestnut Ave., Baltimore. 410-235-0035. aromesrestaurant.com.

Open: 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Prices: Three courses $45, six courses $65. No alcohol; corkage fee $5.

Sound check: 73 decibels / Must speak with raised voice.
It started with a proposed bill to set minimum seat sizes on planes. Then a senator took on hotel resort fees, and another put airline surcharges in his crosshairs. And then the Senate released one of the most passenger-friendly Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bills in a generation.

An unprecedented number of pro-consumer laws have been introduced in Congress in the past month, giving travelers hope that their next trip could be better than the last  smoother, more comfortable and with fewer surprise fees.

Call it a Travel Rights Spring. But will it last?

The reason for this legislation is obvious to anyone who travels. For decades, travelers  particularly airline passengers  have complained about shrinking seat sizes and rising fees. It wasnt a question of whether Washington would intervene, but when.

The airlines quest for ever more revenue has gone way too far, says Richard Orr, a frequent traveler who works for a sporting goods chain in St. Charles, Mo. Like other travelers, hes been surprised at the rapid-fire introduction of these proposed laws in February and March.

Congress is finally taking concrete action, he adds.

And how.

The prelude to the Travel Rights Spring was the House version of the FAA reauthorization bill, which contained a number of unexpected consumer provisions. Among them: a requirement to notify passengers of their consumer rights, the extension of the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection and a requirement that airlines refund baggage fees for luggage delayed more than 24 hours on domestic flights.

But Congress was just getting warmed up. A few days later, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) introduced the Seat Egress in Air Travel (SEAT) Act, which would have established a minimum seat size and a minimum distance between rows of seats for the safety and health of passengers. Although it failed as an amendment to the FAA reauthorization, it remains a stand-alone bill.

[Its time for Congress to stand up for air travelers]

Then the Senate took up the issue of minimum seat size when Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced plans to add an amendment similar to the SEAT Act to the Senate version of the FAA funding bill.

Congress doesnt just want to help airline passengers. In late February, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) introduced the Truth in Hotel Advertising Act of 2016, a law that would prohibit hotels from advertising a room rate that doesnt include all mandatory fees. If passed, the law would effectively kill resort fees added to your bill after the initial price quote. Hotel guests are furious about these surcharges, which they say are unfair and deceptive.

Next, two Senate Democrats introduced the Forbid Airlines From Imposing Ridiculous Fees Act of 2016, or the FAIR Fees Act, which would prohibit air carriers from imposing fees that are not reasonable and proportional to the costs incurred by the air carriers.

This measure will ground the soaring, gouging fees that contribute to airlines record profits and passengers rising pain, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who co-sponsored the FAIR Fees Act. With all the frills of flying already gone, airlines are increasingly resorting to nickel-and-diming consumers with outrageous fees.

But the biggest surprise came when the Senate introduced its version of the FAA bill, which contains numerous pro-consumer provisions, including better fee disclosure by airlines, automatic refunds for fees, and a review of how airlines reveal information on their decisions to delay or cancel flights, which may fully or only partially be the result of weather-related factors. These clauses sent shock waves through the aviation community, which believed a Republican-controlled Senate wouldnt interfere with a deregulated airline industry.

Jean Medina, a spokeswoman for Airlines for America, an airline trade group, described the legislative proposals to regulate airline fees and seat size as laws cloaked under consumer protection that will actually harm customers who would end up paying more to fly than they do today.

[Airlines are resorting to increasingly devious ways to charge you for luggage]

These efforts are a misguided attempt at re-regulation of an industry that has been deregulated  to the consumer benefit  since 1978, she says.

Consumers beg to differ.

Air travel has become so miserable, says Willa Kubasta, a retired medical assistant and office manager from Renton, Wash. Id rather spend more and have the privilege of being treated humanely and not like the lowest class of citizen.

Henry Strozeski, a former chief financial officer for a nonprofit organization in Winter Park, Fla., agrees that customers are tired of the airline price games  dangling a low fare in front of a passenger, only to add fees for things such as confirmed reservations and seats with a reasonable amount of legroom.

Would it lead to higher prices? he asks. Yes, but the cost is worth it. Government mandates like air bags and seat belts increase the cost of automobiles, but most of us feel that the safety gains outweigh the increased cost. Repealing child labor laws would probably reduce the cost of labor for many items and keep more industries from moving overseas, but not many people would think the benefits outweigh the cost.

Advocates say the timing is right and that theyll fight to make the Travel Rights Spring a reality.

This kind of consumer-friendly lawmaking doesnt spring spontaneously out of Congress, says Charlie Leocha, chairman of Travelers United, an advocacy organization. These aviation changes are being proposed now after years of meeting week after week with House and Senate staffers about the importance of consumer issues.

Kevin Mitchell, whose Business Travel Coalition represents frequent business travelers, says Washington has reached a tipping point.

Many senators grasp the anger among their constituents toward access to power among special interests in Washington and their seemingly easy ability to have members of Congress do the bidding of airlines contributing money instead of consumers providing votes, he says.

[How do fellow fliers annoy each other? Lets count the ways.]

Paul Hudson, president of FlyersRights.org, an organization that represents air travelers, says his organization will keep pushing Congress to return to reasonable regulation and consumer-friendly competition policies. Congress has little choice, he says. The alternative is continued degradation of air travel and more monopoly, hurting both passengers and the U.S. economy.

Indeed, consumer representatives have set their sights on a higher goal.

While seat sizes are an important issue for travelers, it is small ball compared to the larger, looming issues that travelers face, says Trey Bohn, the executive director of Travelers Voice, an advocacy organization. At some point, Congress will need to address the lack of competition among airlines, he notes.

The solution? Banning future airline mergers, allowing foreign carriers to compete on domestic routes and sunsetting controversial code-sharing antitrust immunity provisions that allow airlines to collude. And thats likely to make the fight for these consumer bills seem like a polite debate.

Elliott is a consumer advocate, journalist and co-founder of the advocacy group Travelers United. Email him at chris@elliott.org.

More from Travel:

Find a hotel rate that seems too good to be true? Look for the resort fee.

Travelers are less certain about the airport screening experience than theyve been in years

Shrinking and unsanitary bathrooms put the squeeze on travelers
MARYLAND

Bill to alter lyrics of state song advances

The Maryland Senate gave preliminary approval on Wednesday to a bill that makes changes to the state song, Maryland, My Maryland.

The anthem, from the Civil War era, urges Maryland to join the Confederacy and calls Northerners scum. It has survived as the state song despite six attempts to eliminate it.

The bill to change the song  which would remove the controversial language and replace one of the stanzas  is expected to receive final approval by the Senate this week.

It will then be sent to the House.

 Ovetta Wiggins

Mans shooting death is ruled a homicide

The death of a 20-year-old man in the Briggs Chaney area is being investigated as a homicide, Montgomery County police said Tuesday.

Police said Sheldon Williams, of Southeast Washington, was fatally shot. His body was found Friday along a paved trail in the 13800 block of Castle Boulevard.

Officers first received a 911 call about shots fired in the area at 10:12 p.m., a police department news release said. The release said another call reporting a deceased person in the area came in at 11:56 p.m.

Detectives urge anyone who may have any information about this killing to contact the Montgomery County Police Departments Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070.

 Victoria St. Martin

VIRGINIA

Fire at townhouse displaces 9 people

One person was unaccounted for after a two-alarm fire broke out early Wednesday at a Woodbridge townhouse, authorities in Prince William County said.

Brian Ferguson, a captain with the Prince William County fire department, said that the incident is under investigation and that firefighters are working on a plan to stabilize the home.

Officials said three adjacent townhouses have been deemed unsafe. The fire broke out just before 3 a.m. in the 14000 block of Ponderosa Court in Woodbridge.

By 5 p.m. Wednesday, Ferguson said that the blaze was extinguished but that there were occasional hot spots.

Six adults and three children were displaced as a result of the fire.

 Dana Hedgpeth ,

Victoria St. Martin

Man strikes two officers with vehicle

U.S. Park Police were searching Wednesday for a man who struck two officers with a vehicle during a traffic stop in Virginia, then crashed and stole an unmarked cruiser, a spokeswoman said.

The man wrecked the cruiser on the ramp to the 11th Street Bridge and ran off, said Sgt. Anna Rose, a department spokeswoman. As of late Wednesday, authorities had not found him.

The car chase began about 1 a.m., when a Park Police lieutenant pulled over the mans vehicle. It was traveling south on George Washington Memorial Parkway, south of Route 123 in McLean, just before the stop.

Rose said it was unclear why the traffic stop was made, but the sergeant called for backup after smelling marijuana in the vehicle. Another officer arrived, and as the pair approached the vehicle, the man hit both officers with his vehicle and fled, Rose said.

Officers later found the mans vehicle three to four miles away, crashed at a ramp on the 14th Street Bridge.

Upon returning to their cruisers, they realized that an unmarked cruiser was missing. Authorities later found that unmarked cruiser two miles away, at the 11th Street Bridge, she said.

Rose said the sergeant suffered minor injuries.
A student from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County was named a third-place winner Tuesday night in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search competition.

Kunal Shroff, 17, one of 40 national finalists vying for top honors, conducted biology research focused on the toxic Huntingtin protein and explored the mechanism for how that protein causes cellular death.

He found that the protein can lead to an abnormal genome  work that could be important in understanding Huntingtons disease.

As one of three third-place winners, Shroff, of Great Falls, Va., was honored for basic research and is expected to receive an award of $35,000.

Shroff said last week that his interest was sparked by his great-grandfathers worsening condition as he suffered from Alzheimers disease, which, like Huntingtons, is a neurodegenerative disease.

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, an elite magnet school in Fairfax County, has had 11 finalists since 1999. Shroff was the schools first Intel finalist since 2010.

The annual competition is a program of the Society for Science & the Public and includes finalists this year from 38 schools in 18 states.
ANNAPOLIS MD: Governor Larry Hogan coming under fire from Democratic lawmakers who say he and his administration are not communicating with them during the legislative process. (Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post) (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Democratic lawmakers in Maryland on Wednesday accused Gov. Larry Hogan (R) of failing to work with them, saying Hogan doesnt make clear which bills he supports and state agencies dont give information that is needed to properly consider various bills.

Sen. Paul Pinsky (D-Prince Georges) said the Hogan administration was abdicating responsibility with less than a month left in the annual legislative session. He told the governor to put on your big boy pants and take a position on bills.

Aides to Hogan called the complaints unfounded, saying the administration and state agencies have testified and provided information in writing on hundreds of pieces of legislation. The interaction between department heads and legislation may not be happening the way they want, but it is taking place, spokesman Doug Mayer said.

Hogan and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly have been at odds since the governor took office last year  battling over the budget, engaging in name calling and blaming each other for a lack of communication.

Last month, during a radio interview, the governor compared legislators who oppose his initiatives to irresponsible college students on spring break.

[Hogan spars with Democrats, sidesteps their criticism]

On Wednesday, just before the Senate adjourned for the day, lawmakers stood one by one to offer examples of what they called a lack of interaction between the legislative and executive branches.

Pinsky, the vice chairman of the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, said he was irritated because no one from the Department of Environment came to a hearing Tuesday on a bill that would require the state to pay remediation costs for the contaminated water supply for a town in Kent County.

The measure was introduced by a Republican, Minority Whip Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (Kent).

The committee wanted to know where the administration stood on the bill, Pinsky said. Instead, lawmakers were offered a letter of information that did not say whether the administration supported the bill, opposed it or had amendments that it wanted to offer.

I think its a disservice not only to the 47 of us but to the citizens of this state, Pinsky said. Engage with us.

Sen. James Brochin (D-Baltimore County) said the Judicial Proceedings Committee has been considering a bill to increase the allowable weight of chicken trucks and has repeatedly asked the administration whether a 10-pound increase in weight would be okay on Maryland roads.

If we cant get an answer, we cant vote on the bill, Brochin said. If we cant vote on the bill, we cant compete with Delaware and its poultry industry.

I dont question the governors motives, and I dont think he thinks hes above anybody, he said. But . . . we need them to come and give us conditions so we can create better public policy in the state.

[Edwards: Why arent black women ever described as born to the Senate?]

Republican lawmakers who weighed in offered a defense of the governor that seemed in some ways half-hearted. Minority Leader J.B. Jennings (R-Baltimore County) objected to Pinsky arguing that some members of Hogans staff must lack the technical skills needed to address the questions committee members have. Hogans staff, Jennings said, is highly vetted and highly qualified.

Sen. Robert Cassilly (R-Harford) said Democratic lawmakers are accustomed to having a Democratic governor, arguing that former governor Martin OMalley (D) essentially led the legislature by the hand.

Matthew Clark, a Hogan spokesman, suggested that there might be some level of frustration from lawmakers because more bills than usual have been introduced this session.

There isnt any real evidence that the administration is not fully engaged in the process, Clark said. We are testifying, we are sending letters . . . I dont think there is substance to these claims.
Activists march to encourage residents of Baltimore to serve their communities. The city was the site of riots last year after Freddie Gray died of injuries sustained in police custody. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Marylands top legislative leaders are pushing for a robust aid package that they say could lead to a revival for Baltimore, where poverty and crime remain high and riots erupted after Freddie Grays death last year from injuries suffered in police custody.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) on Wednesday announced support for eight bills that together provide at least $290 million in state funds to the city.

The bills join several Baltimore initiatives proposed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R), whose spokesman expressed concern Wednesday about the prospect of hundreds of millions of dollars in new, required spending.

The money would cover a range of programs, including revitalization projects for neighborhoods and generous college scholarships for poor students who pledge in eighth grade to graduate from high school and pursue higher education.

The package would also pay for after-school and summer programs for children; help libraries stay open 12 hours a day seven days a week; provide grants for development in blighted sections of the city beyond what Hogan has proposed; and establish a center for adults to earn high school diplomas instead of high-school equivalency certificates.

[Hogan adds money to budget to knock down vacant Baltimore buildings]

Its an opportunity to show the country that you can have a renaissance in these urban communities that have fallen on hard times, Busch said.

Del. Maggie L. McIntosh (D-Baltimore) said the legislative package addresses some key needs in Baltimore that became pronounced after last years unrest. Were the richest state in the country, McIntosh said. We should lift these children and give them hope.

Hogan spokesman Matt Clark cautioned that the governor might have reservations, noting that Baltimore is already due to receive one-fifth of all local aid in the administrations proposed 2017 budget, along with one-third of the capital-budget funds and 62 percent of the transportation-grant money for local jurisdictions.

We clearly share many of the same objectives on issues like blight, Clark said. But we cant help but have concerns.

Busch said some of the bills would require Baltimore to contribute money toward the programs as a condition of releasing the state funds. Baltimore city has to take the lead on a lot of issues, but we certainly can be a partner, he said.

On Wednesday, the Senate gave preliminary approval to Hogans $42.3 billion budget proposal and more than 100 minor budget amendments. The changes include a requirement for health-care providers to report on lead screening for children in order to receive Medicaid reimbursements and a provision that would restrict $200,000 in funding for the state comptrollers office for the purpose of improving customer service.

During discussion of the budget on the Senate floor, Budget and Taxation Committee Chair Edward J. Kasemeyer (D-Howard County) also addressed several pending bills to provide tax relief, saying the state can afford to provide prudent tax reductions to help our hardworking citizens.

Other members of the committee said the proposals most likely to move forward in the Senate would involve reducing personal income-tax rates and expanding tax credits for the working poor.

Also on Wednesday, the Senate voted 25 to 19 in favor of a controversial bill that would provide tax credits to companies that donate to organizations providing scholarships to private school students.

The state teachers union strongly opposes the measure and plans to fight a similar bill gaining support in the House.

[After years of failure, bill supporting private school scholarships is poised to advance]

The Senate gave preliminary approval to a measure that would hold energy companies financially liable if their fracking operations cause injury, death or loss of property. It also gave initial approval to a bill that would change a requirement that people notify a local or state government of their intent to sue. The bill does away with the notification requirement when the claim is on behalf of a child or someone with a disability.

Sen. Robert A. Zirkin (D-Baltimore County) said the latter piece of legislation stems from a 2013 case in which a mother sued the Baltimore Housing authority for exposure to lead paint but was denied because she did not file notice of the claim before the current statutory deadline, one year after injury.

Both measures are expected to receive final approval by the Senate this week and then be sent to the House.

In the House on Wednesday, lawmakers voted 107 to 30 in favor of a bill that doubles the maximum fine for motorists who drive with handheld phones. The maximum fine for a first offense would jump from $75 to $150, while the maximum fine for a third offense would increase from $175 to $350. The bill moves next to the Senate for consideration.

Ovetta Wiggins contributed to this report.
We really didnt need this.

Not right in the middle of our shamefully ugly presidential election season. And not right after our humiliating ice storm meltdown.

We were already international laughingstocks. Now Washington gets to endure an unprecedented Metro shutdown.

With little warning, the rail network that spiderwebs beneath the nations capital and carries hundreds of thousands of passengers each day announced Tuesday that it would simply close for at least 24 hours.

[ Metrorail system to shut down for at least 24 hours beginning at midnight ]

Good night and good luck getting around. Ride a bike. Or a goat. Or a burro.

Forget Uber. Surge pricing, remember?

Call us Washingtonistan.

Electrical cables. Fire hazards. Thats what the officials said at their astonishing press conference. Okay, okay. Those are scary words.

While the risk to the public is very low, I cannot rule out a potential life safety issue here, General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld said.

Life. Safety.

Got it.

Metro announced that its entire rail system would cease operations for 24 hours beginning midnight Wednesday so crews can inspect cables throughout the system. Here are how some riders feel about the shutdown. (Lee Powell/The Washington Post)

The shutdown was scheduled to begin at midnight. So I guess that means anyone riding home Tuesday evening was flirting with death.

Total, Armageddon-style gridlock happened. But thats all part of this new Washingtonistan.

Were the capital of a country edging toward chaos, a foreign correspondents dream dispatch.

Lets put the video clips together of whats happening in America.

Weve got the bizarro-looking potentate holding violent rallies in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination. People are punched and thrown to the ground. Theyre raising their right arms to pledge allegiance to a man who couldnt keep a steak company solvent.

Get that footage of the brown drinking water coming out of the spigots in Flint, Mich.! And the crates of bottled water being distributed from big trucks.

Oh, now add in some shots of the hopelessly partisan and gridlocked members of the House and Senate, the elected officials who have been refusing to do their jobs for years now. Who needs nine Supreme Court justices anyway?

Now Metro has succumbed to the same forces of dysfunction.

Decades ago, back when D.C. was a murder capital and fiscal basket case, Metro was one of the few things that worked  a modern miracle of efficiency, uniformity and reliability.

But that was a long time ago. Now the city works, and its transit system doesnt. On Monday there was yet another fire. And now, its electrical wires are so dangerous, officials say they must simply shut down the entire system.

This is what happens when short-sighted leadership is the rule of the day, when the people who are running things cant imagine planting seedlings to create the tree shade they will never live to enjoy.

WMATA has long operated a system that ignored its long-term budget problems, that refused to acknowledge its deadly wiring and communications problems before they cost lives, that still cant really explain how those nine people died in a terrible crash in 2009.

Metro used to be better than Congress. At least it ran.

Now it is just another symbol of failure.

Twitter: @petulad
George T. Owens, the founding police chief of Prince William County, who led the department for 18 years before retiring in 1988, died March 11 at his home in Dale City, Va. He was 85.

The cause was complications from dementia, said a daughter, Kim Owens.

Chief Owens was an investigator, trooper and sergeant in the Virginia State Police before leaving in 1970 to organize and establish a police force in Prince William County.

For more than two centuries, the county had been a rural and agricultural region. But by the 1970s, Prince William was fast becoming a burgeoning suburb on the outskirts of the Washington metropolitan area. Until then, the county sheriffs office had been the primary law enforcement agency, but a rising population  100,000 in 1970  brought pressure for a more visible police presence.

The new department had 42 officers and 20 police cars. Officers on patrol did not routinely carry radios. On some of the more sleepy beats, they communicated with headquarters by pay telephone.

When Chief Owens retired, Prince Williams population had more than doubled; the police force had also grown to 268 officers. In 1970, drugs were not yet a major problem confronting police, and homicides and other violent crimes were rare. Over the next 18 years, drug-related offenses and violence would surge, following a national trend.

Service calls numbered about 23,000 a year in 1970 and rose to 170,000 a year in 1988.

A low-key leader and administrator who was not given to lengthy explanations, Chief Owens said simply in 1988 that after 35 years in police work, he was ready to step down. There are some things around the house that need doing, he said.

George Thomas Owens was born in Saranac Lake, N.Y., on Aug. 7, 1930. In his youth, he hunted, fished and skied. After three years in the Army, he joined the Virginia State Police in 1953.

As a police commander, Chief Owens practiced a light-handed managerial style, allowing his officers to exercise their own judgment within the limits of established policy guidelines.

If you hire good people and leave them alone and let them do their job, then they will have more pride in what they do, he told The Washington Post.

In retirement, he worked for about 10 years as a courier with Brinks armored transportation.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Viola Edgely Owens of Dale City; four children, Kim Owens of Berlin, Md., Jeff Owens and Tom Owens, both of Dale City, and Randy Owens of Clovis, Calif.; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
John W. Cahn, who fled Nazi Germany as a boy and became a foremost thinker in materials science  the field of study focused on the understanding and improvement of metals and other substances that form the physical foundations of everyday life  died March 14 at a retirement community in Seattle. He was 88.

The cause was leukemia, said his son Andy Cahn.

Dr. Cahn spent decades as a scientist specializing in metallurgy at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Md. He received some of the most prestigious honors in his field, including a 1998 National Medal of Science, awarded to him by President Bill Clinton, and the Kyoto Prize for advanced technology in 2011.

The honors recognized Dr. Cahns wide-ranging discoveries related to the ways molecules interact  and how those interactions help create the properties, such as strength or slickness, that make some substances more useful than others.

Johns developments in the theory and models of materials have given scientists tools to understand and make new materials ranging from metals to plastics to ceramics and glass, Frank W. Gayle, a former chief of the metallurgy division of NISTs Material Measurement Laboratory, said when Dr. Cahn received the Kyoto Prize.

For instance, Gayle continued, your smartphone or laptop computer might contain 100 different materials, and Johns work has probably influenced the understanding and development of half of those.

Dr. Cahns name was immortalized in the Cahn-Hilliard equation, a mathematical description co-created with British metallurgist John E. Hilliard. The equation explained how dissimilar materials such as oil and water, in perhaps the most basic example, distance themselves from one another in a process called phase separation.

Dr. Cahn was concerned not with oil and water but rather with metal alloys, said Sharon Glotzer, a former NIST staff scientist and professor at the University of Michigan. Example of alloys include steel and brass  mixtures of two or more metals that combine to form a substance that is stronger or otherwise superior to its component parts.

Beyond materials science, the equation has been used in population studies to explain why people may gravitate toward already populous areas rather than disperse more evenly across a wider area. It has also been applied to the study of the cosmos to explain how galaxies were formed.

In the 1980s, Dr. Cahn assisted a colleague, Israeli scientist Dan Shechtman, with the discovery of the quasi-crystal, a particle described by NIST as an arrangement of atoms thought to be forbidden by nature. Rather than displaying repeating patterns, as do the crystals that form snowflakes or rock candy, quasi-crystals show non-repeating patterns.

We inherited that catalogue of crystals from the early 19th century, Dr. Cahn told the New York Times in 1985, and the whole subject has long been considered closed. There was nothing more to be done but classify crystals according to pigeonholes. When Shechtman first showed me his discovery, I told him to go away, that it couldnt be. But to his credit, he didnt. Despite the objections of nearly all scientists, he patiently and obstinately kept at it. He was a real hero.

Shechtman received the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2011.

In an interview, Carol A. Handwerker, a professor in the school of materials engineering at Purdue University in Indiana, credited Dr. Cahn with bringing a mathematical and physics-based rigor to his science.

The advancement of materials science and engineering as an exact and unified science, she once wrote in a tribute to him, owes a large measure of its success to John Cahn.

Hans Werner Cahn was born to a Jewish family in Cologne, Germany, on Jan. 9, 1928. His mother was an X-ray technician, and his father was a lawyer who had opposed the Nazis in the years before Adolf Hitler became chancellor in 1933.

That year, a fellow lawyer stopped the elder Cahn on his way to work and warned him that the SS had come to arrest him. He returned home, collected his wife and children, and escaped to the Black Forest.

The Cahns moved throughout Europe and eventually to Amsterdam, where Dr. Cahn began his schooling, according to a biographical sketch.

In 1939, the family immigrated to the United States, where Dr. Cahn became known as John. Most of his family, including relatives in Germany and those who had decided to wait out the war in Holland, perished in the Holocaust.

The Cahns settled in New York City. Dr. Cahn became a U.S. citizen in 1945 and served in the Army in Japan in the aftermath of World War II. He received a bachelors degree in chemistry from the University of Michigan in 1949 and a Ph.D in physical chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley in the early 1950s.

He was a researcher for General Electric in Schenectady, N.Y., and taught at MIT before joining what was then the National Bureau of Standards in 1977. He later became a senior fellow in the materials science and engineering laboratory.

Dr. Cahn lived for many years in Bethesda, Md., before moving to Seattle in 2007. He was an affiliate professor at the University of Washington.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, the former Anne Hessing, of Seattle; three children, Martin Cahn of Seattle, Andy Cahn of Kenmore, Wash., and Lorie Cahn of Jackson, Wyo.; a sister; and six grandchildren.

Dr. Cahn was credited with weaving mathematics into science to help explain phenomena such as the tendency of water to form beads on slick surfaces such as a newly waxed car. At times, particularly in applications of the Cahn-Hilliard equation, Dr. Cahn said that he was surprised by the discoveries his work begot.

Having been the father of this equation, it really is very similar to being a father, because it has a life of its own, he once told an interviewer for NIST. I long ago lost the ability to keep guiding it. Its just going, and Im very proud of it, but its on its own.
Circa 1986 photo of Richard Murphy, a union lobbyist and political aide to Gart Hart. (Courtesy of family)

Richard Murphy, a union lobbyist and political activist who served as assistant campaign manager for the ill-fated 1988 presidential bid of then-Sen. Gary Hart (D-Colo.), died March 15 at his home in Alexandria, Va. He was 84.

The cause was cancer, said a daughter, Kathleen Murphy Nee.

Mr. Murphy, known as Dick, was the legislative and political director of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) from the late 1960s to early 80s. He successfully lobbied Congress for minimum wage protections for nursing-home workers and for the right of nonprofit hospital workers to unionize and engage in collective bargaining.

His SEIU work granted him an intimate relationship with Democratic Party leaders. He was a member of the partys 1972 Charter Commission, which reformed and codified rules for the partys presidential nominating conventions, and he was an informal adviser to then-California Gov. Jerry Browns unsuccessful 1976 presidential campaign.

In the mid-1980s, Mr. Murphy became a special assistant in Harts Senate office and a campaign manager when Hart announced his presidential campaign in 1987.

Hart had made a high-profile but short-lived White House bid in 1984, losing the nomination to former vice president Walter Mondale. Harts second attempt ended in ignominy, dropping out in 1987 after accusations of his extramarital affair with model Donna Rice.

Afterward, Mr. Murphy served as labor liaison for the Democratic House and Senate campaign committees until his retirement in 1997.

Richard Edward Murphy was born in Auburn, N.Y., on March 26, 1931. He attended what was then St. Bernards Seminary in Rochester, N.Y., and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1956. He left the priesthood, and in 1962 he earned a masters degree in classics and medieval history from Cornell University.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Ann Reardon Murphy of Alexandria; three daughters, Clare Tauriello of Walkersville, Md., Kathleen Murphy Nee of Burke, Va., and Mary Irvine of Alexandria; and six grandchildren.
Thursday, March 17

AARP income-tax preparation help Thursday and Tuesday, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sundays, noon-3 p.m. through April 14, Chinn Park Regional Library, 13065 Chinn Park Dr., Woodbridge. 703-792-4800; and Thursday noon-8 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Bull Run Regional Library, 8051 Ashton Ave., Manassas. 703-792-4530. Free.

American Business Womens Association meeting Guest speaker Victoria Neeley, a financial education program manager, discusses the free programs offered through Virginia Cooperative Extension. Participants are encouraged to wear green in honor of St. Patricks Day. 11:30 a.m. Stratford University, 14349 Gideon Dr., Woodbridge. 703-615-1575. abwanvcc.org. Lunch $20.

National Active and Retired Federal Employees meeting Woodbridge Chapter 1270. 11:30 a.m. Holiday Inn: Quantico Center, 3901 Fettler Park Dr., Dumfries. 703-499-8902. vanarfe.org/1270. Free; lunch, $18.50; reservations required.

Woodbridge Toastmasters Club Open-house meeting. Learn effective communication and leadership skills. 7:30 p.m. Ebenezer Baptist Church, 13020 Telegraph Rd., Woodbridge. 703-898-7171. woodbridge.toastmastersclubs.org. $68 membership fee.

Impressions Osbourn High Schools student art show features mixed media, sculpture and drawings. Through April 17. Manassas Museum, 9101 Prince William St., Manassas. 703-368-1873. manassasmuseum.org. Free.

Spring is in the Air Watercolors by Karin Sebolka. Through April 3. Loft Gallery, 313 Mill St., Occoquan. 703-490-1117. loftgallery.org. Free.

The Beauty of Spring Exhibit of mixed media by Anica Kriel of Vienna and mosaics by Diann Root of Alexandria. Through April 4. Artists Undertaking, 309 Mill St., Occoquan. 703-494-0584. theartistsundertaking.com. Free.

To Be Sold Works of 19th century artist Eyre Crow examine the story of enslaved African Americans sold into forced migration. The exhibit is from the Library of Virginia with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Through April 17. Manassas Museum, 9101 Prince William St., Manassas. 703-368-1873. manassasmuseum.org. Free.

Friday, March 18

American Legion dinner The public is invited to dinner with a different special every week. Proceeds support local veterans and the community. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Woodbridge American Legion, 3640 Friendly Post Lane, Woodbridge. 703-494-4304. vapost364.org. $5-$15.

Sherlock Holmes and the West End Horror Holmes and Watson work to solve the murder of a theater critic. Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m. Sunday at 2 p.m. Hylton Performing Arts Center, Gregory Family Theater, 10960 George Mason Cir., Manassas. 703-993-7759. hyltoncenter.org. $20, students, seniors and military $17, 11 and younger $12.

Saturday, March 19

Spring craft fair The senior centers third annual fair. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Prince William Senior Center, 9320 Mosby St., Manassas. 703-792-6405. Free.

Home seller seminar Presented by local real estate broker Bob Hummer. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Strayer University, 13385 Minnieville Rd., Woodbridge. 703-878-4866. military-realestate.com. Free.

Minnieville Buffer planting day Sponsored by the Prince William Conservation Alliance, volunteers plant native shrubs adjacent to the park. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. K9 Gunner Memorial Dog Park, 13000 Minnieville Rd., Woodbridge. 703-499-4954. Free.

Eggstravaganza Egg hunts by age group begin at 11:45 a.m. 12:45, 1:45 and 2:45 p.m. Includes an egg roll, games, crafts and house tours. Bring a basket to collect eggs. Ben Lomond Historic Site, 10321 Sudley Manor Dr., Manassas. 703-367-7872. pwcgov.org/history. $5, children 2 and younger free.

SySTEMic Saturdays Northern Virginia Community College presents a series of STEM hands-on lessons. This months topic for elementary and middle-school students is on states of matter. Through May 14. Noon-5 p.m. Manassas Mall, NOVAs Global Learning Center, 8300 Sudley Road, Manassas. 703-257-6507. Free.

Prince William Forest Park rededication In celebration of the parks 80th anniversary, the event features a rededication of the visitors center. 2 p.m. Prince William Forest Park, 18100 Park Headquarters Rd., Triangle. 703-221-7181. nps.gov/prwi. Free.

The Art of Wine A step-by-step painting class accompanied by a glass of wine or seasonal sangria. 2-4 p.m. The Winery at La Grange, 4970 Antioch Rd., Haymarket. 703-753-9360. wineryatlagrange.com. $30.

Washington Metro Investment Club An open-house meeting. 4 p.m. McCoart Administration Building, 1 County Complex Ct., Woodbridge. 703-801-1465. lavoy12@yahoo.com. Free.

Manassas Chorale A concert Voices United: With Hearts and Hands and Voices. 7:30 p.m. Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Cir., Manassas. 703-993-7759. hyltoncenter.org. $18-$20.

Sunday, March 20

Colonial childrens games Learn about games played during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. For 4 and older. Sunday, Leesylvania State Park, 2001 Daniel K. Ludwig Dr., Woodbridge. 703-583-6904. Free.

Bingo Proceeds support local veterans. Doors open at noon on Sunday with games beginning at 2 p.m. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. Mondays with games beginning at 7:15 p.m. Woodbridge American Legion, 3640 Friendly Post Lane, Woodbridge. 703-494-4304. $15 minimum.

Civil War Women In celebration of Womens History Month, Audrey Scanlan-Teller and Tracey McIntire, dressed as female Civil War soldiers, discuss the experiences of more than 400 women who disguised themselves as men to serve in the Union and Confederate armies. 2 p.m. Central Community Library, 8601 Mathis Ave., Manassas. 703-792-8360. Free.

Mason Dance Company: Gala and Celebration Concert Works include Impetere by Nick Pupillo, Bhangra Fever by Donald Byrd, and V by Mark Morris. 4 p.m. Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Cir., Manassas. 888-945-2468. hyltoncenter.org. Adults $25, seniors $15.

Monday, March 21

Job search network group Plus discussion of various topics related to the search process. 1-3 p.m. House of Mercy, 8170 Flannery Ct., Manassas. 703-659-1636. Free.

Bingo Proceeds support Dale City Knights of Columbus activities and charities. Doors open at 6 p.m. with games beginning at 7:30 p.m. VFW Post 1503, 14631 Minnieville Rd., Dale City. 703-491-2378. $9 minimum.

Lake Jackson Mid County Lions Club meeting 6:30 p.m. Great American Steak and Buffet, 8365 Sudley Rd., Manassas. 703-369-6791. Free.

Manassas Lioness Lions Club meeting New members welcome. 6:30 p.m. City Tavern, 9550 Center St., Manassas. 703-368-5563. thoseladylions.org. New member fee $25, quarterly dues $50.

Prince William Community Band Rehearsal, for musicians 19 and older, no audition necessary. 7:30 p.m. Saunders Middle School, 13557 Spriggs Rd., Manassas. 703-791-4119. pwcb.org. Free.

Tuesday, March 22

Virginia family law session The law firms domestic relations practice group answers questions. Noon-1 p.m. through March 29, Compton & Duling, 12701 Marblestone Dr., Suite 350, Woodbridge. kny@comptonduling.com. 703-583-6060. comptonduling.com. Free, registration required.

Wednesday, March 23

Baby animal petting zoo Bunnies, ducks, chicks and sheep from Bar C Ranch. Tickets available for timed intervals. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Chinn Park Regional Library, 13065 Chinn Park Dr., Woodbridge. 703-792-4800. Free.

Lake Ridge Toastmasters Club Members 18 and older develop their public speaking and leadership skills. 7:30-9:15 p.m. Tall Oaks Community Center, 12298 Cotton Mill Dr., Lake Ridge. 703-491-3020. contact-8913@toastmastersclubs.org. lakeridge.toastmastersclubs.org. $34-$64 membership fee.

 Compiled by Sarah Lane

To submit an event

E-mail: pwliving@washpost.com

Fax: 703-392-1406

Details: Announcements are accepted on a space-available basis from public and nonprofit organizations only and must be received at least 14 days before the Thursday publication date. Include event name, dates, times, exact address, prices and a publishable contact phone number.
The burglars looked determined as they raced through two brightly colored classrooms at a public charter school in Congress Heights, rummaging through toys and darting around small tables.

They stole more than 10 iPads, according to the security director of Eagle Academy Public Charter, computers used by children in pre-kindergarten through third grade who come from some of the most economically depressed neighborhoods in Southeast Washington.

Very disturbing, said the top security official, John R. Johnson, a lifelong District resident who spent 16 years in the Army.

But what disturbed Johnson more was what happened to the $700 iPads after they were taken in the burglary, which happened at noon Feb. 28. Some, he said, were sold on the Internet for as little as $100. At least one, according to Johnson, was sold at a Metro station in Suitland for $40.

[Watch video of the burglary at Eagle Academy Public Charter]

Authorities know this because the iPads were equipped with a security program that, when activated after their absence is noticed, prevents users from logging on. Instead, a message flashes across the screen warning that the tablet is stolen, that it belongs to Eagle Academy and that police should be called.

Johnson said four people contacted authorities.

They were very educated people who were purchasing them, Johnson said. But come on  someone selling that computer on the street for so little? You know that its hot.

Three years ago, D.C. police blamed the ease of black-market sales of smartphones and computers for driving the citys high robbery and burglary rate and fought for laws to make reselling the items more difficult and less profitable.

The swift pipeline for stolen goods was illustrated in 2013 when a Louisiana pastor used the Internet to buy his wife a Christmas gift only to discover  after she unwrapped it  that the item, a laptop, had been stolen from a D.C. school, sold to an electronics store and then resold online.

Such markets have been curbed in recent years, police say, although theyre not entirely shut down.

[Laptop stolen from D.C. school becomes Christmas gift in Louisiana]

This week, D.C. police posted video of the burglary on its website, hoping for help from the public to identify the two young men seen in Eagle Academy, which has about 780 students and is in the 3400 block of Wheeler Avenue SE. No arrests have been made. Police said the men smashed a window to get inside.

The surveillance video shows the men moving quickly through two classrooms. One is dressed in a gray or burgundy sweatshirt and is wearing a dark ski mask. The other is in a blue and gray sweatshirt, which he pulls up to partially cover his face. Both men can be seen going through items stacked or piled on the floor near tables designed in geometric shapes; one man throws out a ball and two hoops from a toy pile.

Johnson said he thinks that the men were looking for electronic equipment and found the iPads in a case that had been left unlocked. One man can be seen on the surveillance video holding a computer tablet. They put the items in bags and leave.

The security officer said he discovered the break-in the next day when he arrived for his early-morning patrol and felt an unusual breeze inside. He said he found a double-pane glass window broken and then realized that the tablets had been stolen.

The iPads were for the students to learn on, Johnson said.

He said that the school had backups so the children never knew anything was amiss. Insurance covered the costs of the stolen tablets.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to call D.C. police at 202-727-9099. A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for anyone with tips that lead to an arrest or indictment.
Three brothers from Prince Georges County, Md., are in custody in connection with a gun attack on a police station that led to the fatal shooting of Officer Jacai Colson. (Hunter, Tyler D./Prince Georges County Police Department)

An undercover narcotics officer for Prince Georges County who came upon a gun battle Sunday outside a station was shot by a fellow officer who mistook him for an assailant, according to the departments chief.

The officer who fired the fatal shot did so deliberately but without malice, Police Chief Henry P. Stawinski III said Wednesday at a news conference announcing the latest findings in the case.

I believe that another police officer fired at an armed individual who they perceived to be a threat to them, Stawinski said.

Stawinski did not name the officer who shot officer Jacai Colson, 28, adding that investigators had not yet interviewed him. Colson  who was in street clothes at the time  was one of four officers who fired their weapons as they tried to stop the shooting.

Colson had just arrived at the police station in Landover, Md., when Michael DeAndre Ford, 22, launched a planned and unprovoked attack on the building and officers, police said. Ford enlisted his younger brothers  Malik Ford, 21, and Elijah Ford, 18  to drive him to the scene and callously record the shootout and ambush on their cellphones, police said. Michael Ford shot randomly at cars and an ambulance in addition to targeting officers, police said. While weapons were being discharged, Colson was fatally wounded by friendly fire.

1 of 16 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Prince Georges County police officer fatally shot View Photos Two of the brothers held in connection with the killing used their cellphones to video-record the attack on a police station, according to law enforcement officials. Caption Two of the brothers held in connection with the killing used their cellphones to film the attack on a police station, according to law enforcement officials. Michael DeAndre Ford, of Landover, Md., is accused of initiating the gun battle. Prince Georges County Police Department Wait 1 second to continue.

At a bail review hearing Wednesday afternoon, a Prince Georges County District Court judge ordered that the younger Ford brothers continue to be held without bond. The proceedings were briefly halted when one brother fainted.

The hearing was emotional, with several members of the Ford brothers family speaking on their behalf.

[Brothers recorded attack on police station that left officer dead, authorities say.]

Michael Thomas called Malik and Elijah Ford good children who did not pull the trigger.

Ive lost three sons in one shot, Thomas said at the hearing in which the younger Ford brothers appeared in orange jumpsuits via video.

During the hearing, one family member asked prosecutors what evidence they had that the brothers were involved with the shooting, prompting a public defender to stop her mid-comment. Another family member said that one of the brothers had been recording the scene not because he was seeking YouTube celebrity but because he was in awe of the unfolding situation.

Michael Ford has been charged with 25 counts related to the shootout, including second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, assault and handgun charges. Malik and Elijah Ford are charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and related offenses.

Three Prince Georges County brothers are being held in connection with the fatal shooting of Officer Jacai Colson in Landover, Md., March 13, 2016. Police said that Colson, who was in plainclothes, was killed by another officer who perceived him as an assailant. Heres what we know so far. (Victoria Walker/The Washington Post)

At Wednesdays bail review hearing, prosecutors said the younger brothers watched as Michael Ford fired and reloaded, discharging more than 20 rounds during the shootout with police. Police have said that Michael Ford intended to die in the gunfight and that he recorded his last will and testament before heading to the police station. He was shot but survived. Michael Ford remains hospitalized, and it is unclear when he will make his first court appearance.

Stawinski said Monday that Michael Fords attack was about nothing. It was unprovoked. He added that he was troubled, too, that the younger Fords did not intercede as the shooting unfolded.

At his Monday news conference, Stawinski had said it was likely that Colson was shot by another officer and used the phrase errant round to describe what might have occurred.

On Wednesday, Stawinski said that he had used the term errant because it was not clear Monday whether Colson had been mistaken for an assailant during the chaotic scene and that he did not want to draw a conclusion on the basis of circumstantial evidence.

This is a tragic set of circumstances precipitated by individuals who were in a position to prevent it from happening in the first place, Stawinski said.

[Man arrested in police station gun battle described as troubled, mentally ill.]

Prince Georges County States Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks said Wednesday that it is too early in the investigation to know why the officer who shot Colson perceived him as a threat.

Were not able to say what the officer perceived and why he perceived it, Alsobrooks said.

The case comes amid national concerns that police officers are being targeted by members of the public they are defending and concerns over racial bias in deadly police shootings.

Stawinski said he was uncomfortable with the notion that bias would be introduced to the conversation.

He later clarified his response to the question about whether there was any suggestion of racial bias in the exchange of gunfire.

In those split seconds when lives are in danger and officers are engaging a deadly threat, there simply isnt time to bring any biases into it, Stawinski said. Hindsight is a luxury that no officer has in the midst of an ambush.

Alsobrooks said her office thoroughly reviews every police-involved shooting in the county, and she said the publics questions are fair.

There is an independent review that occurs in every single situation, and this one will be no different from that, Alsobrooks said. We will apply the law to the facts as we do in every single situation.
WASHINGTON , DC - MARCH 8: Raizia Ruhana Ally, a former Catholic University architecture professor and her husband Gregory Rubbo outside D. C. Superior Court. (Alexander Keith/TWP)

A fired Catholic University architecture professor was awarded more than $1 million Tuesday after a D.C. jury found that university officials sent defamatory and threatening emails in an effort to scare her out of suing.

After a four-week trial, a D.C. Superior Court jury awarded Rauzia Ruhana Ally $1.01 million after Ally claimed the university abruptly dismissed her from her job as the director of a school project in 2012, a year after she was hired for the three-year project.

During the trial, university officials said Ally was terminated for being insubordinate and failing to curtail the costs of the school design project. But Ally said she was dismissed because she was Muslim, of Indian descent and female.

Ally, an alumna of the Northeast Washington university, maintains that school officials did not know her religious background when she was hired. But nearly a year into her role, Ally revealed she was Muslim. Four months later, she was terminated.

The jury rejected her discrimination claims, but agreed that university officials later participated in a campaign to try to force Ally to drop her lawsuit.

During the trial, Allys attorney presented emails from Randall W. Ott, dean of the universitys School of Architecture. In the emails, Ott accused Ally and her husband, Gregory Rubbo, of stealing a desk-size model of a solar-powered house designed by Ally and her students. The model went missing after Ally was terminated. There was discussion of having charges filed against Ally, but the university never sought to bring charges with D.C. police.

Ally and her husband said they never removed the model from the school.

In another email presented to the jury by Allys attorney, Ott expressed frustration that Ally did not drop her discrimination claims after a threat of criminal prosecution.

I am disappointed that we did not use the threat of prosecution to at least force some kind of we both walk away from it silently agreement out of her, according to Otts email to the then-provost, which was read to the jury by Allys attorney.

The jury dismissed the co-defamation suit filed by Allys husband, but ordered Ott, who testified during the trial, to pay Ally $15,000. University officials said Ott was not available to comment Tuesday.

The eight-person jury in Judge Brian Holemans courtroom was made up of five women, two black and three white, and three white men.

Allys attorney, Mona Lyons, called the verdict absolutely huge.

She was defamed in the architecture world, Lyons said. The only way for Rauzia Ally to restore her reputation was to go to trial and win it.

Jury foreman Nick Napolitano said some jurors believed that discrimination may have played a secondary role in Allys termination, but there was not enough evidence to find it played a primary role.

Still, Napolitano said the jury reached its verdict against the school because the jurors wanted to send a message that when Ally complained about her termination, Catholic University did not take the discrimination allegations seriously, he said.

Elise Italiano, a spokeswoman for the university, said school officials were pleased the jury rejected the discrimination claims, but was disappointed overall with the verdict.

In both policy and practice, the university is committed to fair and equal treatment of every employee. We have respect for every employee and a rich compliance and ethics program, she said.

Italiano said she disagreed with the jurys findings that Otts emails were malicious, but added that the university would review its operations and how managers communicate. Well look into making sure were operating according to our standards and we will make sure our employees know what that means.
One person is unaccounted for after a two-alarm fire broke out early Wednesday morning at a Woodbridge townhome, authorities in Prince William County said.

Brian Ferguson, a captain with the Prince William County fire department, said the incident is still under investigation and firefighters are currently working on a plan to stabilize the home.

Officials said three townhouses in the row have been deemed unsafe, and firefighters cant go in at this point.

The fire broke out just before 3 a.m. in the 14000 block of Ponderosa Court in Woodbridge.

By 5 p.m. Wednesday, Ferguson said the blaze was out with some occasional hot spots. Ferguson said investigators were unable to access the townhome because of stability and safety problems. He added that the cause of the fire is under investigation and officials are also looking into where the unaccounted person might be. Specific information about the person was not released.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital for a minor injury and later released, said Ferguson.

Six adults and three children were displaced as a result of the fire and are being assisted by the Red Cross, authorities said.

Victoria St. Martin contributed to this report.
U.S. Park Police are searching for a man who struck two officers with his vehicle during a traffic stop in Virginia early Wednesday, then crashed and stole an unmarked cruiser, a spokeswoman said.

The man wrecked the cruiser on the ramp to the 11th Street Bridge and ran off, said Sgt. Anna Rose, a department spokeswoman. Authorities have not been able to find him, she said.

The car chase began about 1:07 a.m. Wednesday, when a sergeant with the U.S. Park Police pulled over the mans vehicle. The vehicle was traveling south on George Washington Memorial Parkway, south of Route 123 in McLean, just before the stop.

Rose said it is unclear why the traffic stop was made, but the sergeant called for backup after smelling marijuana in the vehicle.

Another officer arrived, and as the pair approached the mans vehicle, he looked nervous, she said. Rose said the man hit both officers with his vehicle and fled.

Officers found the vehicle about three to four miles away crashed at a ramp on the 14th Street Bridge. Rose said they found a handgun in the mans vehicle and unsuccessfully searched the area for him. Upon returning to their cruisers, they realized that an unmarked cruiser was missing.

Authorities later found that unmarked cruiser two miles away at the 11th Street Bridge, she said.

Rose said the sergeant suffered minor injuries and the man is still at large.
Richard Gere shares a laugh with Sharon Hart, a community organizer at N Street Village, while attending the N Street Village annual gala at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Tuesday in Washington. (Amanda Voisard/Forr The Washington Post)

Actor Richard Gere visited homeless women at N Street Village in Northwest Washington on Tuesday, then spoke at an evening fundraising gala about the need to provide housing for people he described as too often invisible.

We need a place with our own key, Gere told those gathered at the Ritz-Carlton to raise money for N Street Village, which for 40 years has served thousands of homeless women. There is not one of us in this room who is not yearning for our own tribe, where we are seen as precious. There is an incredible yearning to be in a place that is safe.

Gere, who played the character of a homeless man in the 2015 film Time Out of Mind, told the crowd that he was impressed with the transformations that have occurred at N Street Village. The shelter, he said, was bursting with empathy and compassion.

Compassion says, I want you to be separate from your suffering,  Gere said. That is what I felt walking in that place today, a bunch of people saying, I will do the best I can to separate you from that suffering. 

The N Street fundraiser comes just weeks after D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) announced a $40 million plan to place small shelters for as many as 50 homeless families in almost every ward in the city. The new shelters would allow the city to close the decrepit D.C. General shelter in Southeast Washington, where 8-year-old Relisha Rudd lived before she disappeared two years ago with a janitor who later killed his wife and himself. Relisha is presumed dead, but her body has not been found.

Richard Gere greets guests at N Street Villages annual gala at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Gere portrayed a homeless man in the movie Time Out of Mind. (Amanda Voisard/For The Washington Post)

[A hidden world: Desperation for hundreds of homeless families in D.C. motels]

The new shelters would resemble the model established by N Street Village, which provides health care, dental care, psychiatric services and housing to help homeless women reach stability.

Some of the women at N Street Village have been abused, said Executive Director Schroeder Stribling. Others suffer from mental illness or health problems. Some have lost their jobs and have nowhere else to turn. N Street provides them housing and recovery programs.

Women have a safe place to sleep tonight, Stribling told the 800 people who attended the fundraiser, which raised more than $1 million. We are a place of hospitality, empowerment and unrelenting hope. We commit to the continuing goal to end homelessness as we know it by 2020. At N Street Village, we will do this one woman at a time.

Gere handed out the 2015 Steinbruck Awards, which organizers say are presented annually to women whose leadership, persistence, and determination reflect that of Erna and John Steinbruck, co-founders of N Street Village. The awards were given to Courtney Hayes, Rose Shaw and Shaketa Barnes.

Shaw, wearing a purple lace dress with a string of pearls, said she had been an addict most of her life. At N Street Village, she said, I found peace. I began to see women like myself. I started accepting help that maybe an old woman, an old addict, could be taught something new.

As long as the doors to N Street are open, Shaw said, no one will ever have to walk alone.

Broadway star and Tony Award-winner Jennifer Holliday also performed at the event, singing And I Am Telling You Im Not Going, which she made famous in the musical Dreamgirls.

I am a woman who has had great difficulty in my life and in my career, Holliday told the crowd. So many years, I suffered with depression, and I couldnt find work. I realize so many of us can be in the same situation as homeless. We are one paycheck away. There but for the grace of God go I.

Gere echoed that in an interview Tuesday when he talked about preparing for the role of a homeless man in Time Out of Mind. He spent time on the streets of New York City, sitting on benches, digging through trash cans and begging for change. While posing as a homeless man, Gere sat at street corners for almost an hour at a time. Few people recognized him.

It was one of the most profound experiences of my life, Gere said. I could see people from two blocks away, making a judgment based on how I was dressed. I was very invisible to them. People are afraid. But then it touches something deep in all of us. None of us are that secure that it couldnt be us also.
Riders wait for a bus on 16th Street near U Street headed toward downtown Washington. Metros board is scheduled to approve an operating budget that will not include plans to eliminateriders ability to add value to SmarTrip cards at bus fareboxes (Astrid Riecken/For The Washington Post)

When the Metro board meets next Thursday,, its likely to reward bus riders who talked back to the transit authority.

The board is scheduled to approve an operating budget that no longer contains plans to eliminate riders ability to add value to SmarTrip cards at bus fareboxes.

I, along with many other bus riders, hope that todays system can be modified, because loading money onto the plastic cards at the fare box slows boardings and throws off schedules. But it was premature to eliminate this option for the riders who have no convenient alternative.

[Riders face dilemma at fare box]

They might not live in neighborhoods that are near a Metrorail station, with its fare vending machines, or near one of the food stores and pharmacies that offer the add-value service for SmarTrip. They might not have credit cards and the Web access that would allow them to establish SmarTrip accounts that can be reloaded online.

Some with low incomes, and those who rarely ride Metrobus, may add just enough value to their SmarTrip cards to cover one trip. They dont pay cash because they wouldnt get the free bus transfer that comes only with using SmarTrip.

While riders probably paid more attention to Metros plan to create a grace period for a free exit from the station they just entered, it was the bus-farebox proposal that dominated oral and written comments to the transit authority during the budget season.

Based on these pleas, Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld decided to withdraw the proposal from the budget that was adopted last Thursday by the Metro boards finance committee.

Instead, Metro officials said, they will look at other options for improving the buses on-time performance, as well as ways of expanding the options for adding fare value to SmarTrip before boarding.

The possibilities include putting a separate add-value machine farther back on the bus, or putting fare-vending kiosks on the sidewalks along bus routes where the demand now is greatest for the on-board option. Metro officials know where those routes are, and it wouldnt be necessary to launch a systemwide program of sidewalk kiosks.

The simplest approach might be to expand the number and variety of stores where people can add value to their SmarTrip cards.

This wasnt the first time we saw the value of being the squeaky wheel in the transit system. Last year, the suburban travelers who get a discount when using the Transit Link Card to ride commuter trains and Metro persuaded the transit authority to find a way to retain the card.

Riders who focus their attention on a particular issue and make a good case for customer service can have an impact. It should happen more often.

Always HOV

Dear Dr. Gridlock:

Why is the HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lane exit from northbound Interstate 395 to Seminary Road designated HOV 3+ Only, 24 Hours a Day?

I commute on I-395 to Seminary Road from the mixing bowl between 9:30 and 10 a.m. When I heard there was going to be an HOV lane exit to Seminary Road, I thought awesome, now I can get on the open HOV lanes at Turkeycock Run and exit at Seminary Road. Imagine my surprise that first day when I learned I had to break the law to exit the HOV.

Jack Law, Burke

DG: When officials at the Virginia Department of Transportation said this was going to be an HOV-only ramp, they meant it. In fact, the plan is that it will remain HOV only  even after the high-occupancy toll lanes are extended north along I-395 to replace todays high-occupancy vehicle lanes. Drivers who dont meet the carpool rules wont be able to buy their way onto that ramp.

Why the restriction? We have to go back a decade to the federal Base Realignment and Closure decisions that moved so many workers into locations that were less friendly to transit than their original office sites.

Local officials anticipated quite a mess around the Mark Center on Seminary Road in Alexandria west of I-395. This already was a complicated environment for commuters, and the federal decision-making was about to send as many as 7,000 more employees into that tight space, where the parking structures could accommodate 3,747 vehicles.

Cars, they already had. And more cars, they didnt need. They couldnt bring in Metrorail or light rail. So the planners had to figure out how get everybody to work without vastly increasing the number of cars swirling about the multi-level interchange and congealing in the parking areas.

So the HOV/bus ramp had a specific purpose: Ease access into and out of the Mark Center for workers coming up from the south who would arrive by carpool, van or bus, then return home by the same route.

Thats still the goal, even though the reversible HOV lanes on I-395 that the ramp connects with are open to all drivers outside of rush hours.
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) speaks during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington in June. The panel approved an FAA reauthorization bill Wednesday after a partisan fight over whether airlines are gouging consumers with fees. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

With the United States now dominated by four major airlines, Senate Democrats on Wednesday waged an unsuccessful effort to let federal regulators decide whether airlines were charging unreasonable fees for checked bags, ticket changes and seat assignments.

Unfortunately, airline fees have climbed as high as the planes the passengers are traveling on, and we must stop their rapid ascent, said Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), who sought to amend the reauthorization bill for the Federal Aviation Administration that later was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee.

Markey pointed to a report done by Sen. Bill Nelson (Fla.), the committees ranking Democrat, that said baggage and change fees charged passengers grew from $464 million in 2007 to $3.5 billion in 2014.

My amendment puts a stop to this passenger gouging, Markey said.

[Are drones a useful tool or toys that need to be regulated?]

Nelson weighed in to support the amendment, saying that a change fee five months before an intended flight should be minimal in contrast to one levied the week of the flight.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) pointed out that the consolidation that left the country with four major airlines  American, United, Delta and Southwest  had limited competition in some markets.

There are way too many routes in this country where there is no competition  and when there is no competition, there is bad behavior. Id like to send the airlines a message that were paying attention to bad behavior, McCaskill said. The flying public is really upset here. And in case anybody hasnt noticed, populism is in this year. The pitchforks are out.

The bill that Markey was attempting to amend already includes a stipulation that the airlines be more transparent in telling passengers, at the time they purchase tickets, what fees to expect.

But Markeys amendment to let the FAA decide what level of fees were reasonable failed on a tie party-line vote.

I dont think having the Department of Transportation decide what is reasonable or unreasonable is a correct route to go, said committee chairman Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.).

Nelson also dumped ice water on a proposal that would transfer about 80 percent of the FAAs workforce to a nonprofit corporation.

[Senate not ready to move 38,000 workers off the federal payroll]

He doused that notion in opening remarks at the hearing. Unlike a House proposal, the Senate bill contains no provision to move about 38,000 air traffic controllers and other FAA workers to a federally chartered nonprofit. The House, which has not taken floor action on a bill approved by its Transportation Committee, may be waiting to see if its Senate colleagues warm up to the proposal.

Nelsons answer would be a flat no.

There has been continuing chatter coming from the House that somehow there will be a change of hearts and minds when it comes to our side of the aisle in supporting this idea of privatizing, he said Wednesday. I dont believe thats going to happen.

The bill approved by the committee continues the FAAs authority to operate through Oct. 1, 2017. That authority is due to expire on March 31. The House has introduced legislation to extend the end-of-the-month deadline until July 15 while both chambers work on finalizing a longer-term reauthorization.
Washingtons Metro system resumed rail service early Thursday after an emergency one-day shutdown that caused disruption and anxiety in the region.

Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld said that inspectors had identified 26 areas where electrical cables or the boots that connect them to the third rails were damaged or frayed, and that with some of the system still to be inspected overnight, the number could rise.

He called three of the problems  near the McPherson Square, Foggy Bottom and Potomac Avenue stations in the heart of downtown Washington  show stoppers that would have caused a shutdown of train service in those areas if discovered in the course of routine inspections. Although they would not necessarily have caused a fire, he said, they needed immediate repair.

The shutdown today was necessary, he said. But he acknowledged that today presented a hardship for the region.

Meeting with reporters, Wiedefeld showed a video of one exposed jumper cable that looked like a jumble of wires, its insulation peeled away.

Safety checks during Washington regions rail system's 24-hour shutdown revealed severe cable damage in three sections. (YouTube/MetroFoward)

As of 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, Metro had finished inspections and repair work on the Red, Yellow and Green lines, and Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said the three lines will operate normally starting at 5 a.m. Thursday. Inspections on the Orange, Blue and Silver lines were expected to continue into the early morning hours, he said, and it was not clear whether single-tracking will be necessary on any of those lines.

Riders were relieved that the system would reopen Thursday. I hope everything is straight, said Bruce Milles, 28, who sat at a busy I Street stop, waiting for a bus home. His commute Wednesday was too difficult, he said. It took three buses to get from his Brookland home in Northeast Washington to the Pentagon City restaurant where he works. Thank God they are opening, he said.

The emphasis on safety would continue. The Transportation Department announced Wednesday that it plans to launch a safety inspection blitz of the Metro rail system, beginning next week, to review red-light running by train operators, imperfections in tracks and misuse of hand brakes.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) would redirect hundreds of millions of dollars in money unspent by Metro to address safety concerns.

The unprecedented one-day shutdown of the 100-mile rail system, on which passengers take 712,800 trips on an average weekday, came two days after a jumper cable electrical fire that was eerily reminiscent of one last year that resulted in one death and sent scores more to the hospital.

The region lurched through the first day since 1976 in which Metro was shut down for something other than a blizzard or hurricane. Unlike those rare instances, the federal government, schools and offices were open for business. But much has changed in 40 years, perhaps foremost among them the ability to telecommute rather than journey to a workplace. Thousands of people did just that.

During both morning and evening rush hours, traffic was not much heavier than usual for a Wednesday, and some drivers found it lighter than average. Some buses were more crowded than usual at peak hours, but riders reported that there often were seats or room to crowd in.

Bicycles were out in numbers on a pleasant spring day, and some riders said that they had dusted them off after a winter in the basement. More than twice as many bicyclists and pedestrians as normal crossed the Key Bridge between Rosslyn and Georgetown on Wednesday morning, numbers from Arlington Countys automated counters showed.

Traffic experts said it would be days before clear conclusions can be drawn about how badly  or gently  the absence of Metro hit the region.

The evening rush in central Washington had swaths of misery, as ever, with some places hit harder than usual and others sputtering along as they do daily.

We have a couple that are normal, we have a couple that are a little heavier than normal, and we have a couple that are lighter than normal, said District police spokesman Lt. Sean Conboy.

Metro management and the leadership of the three jurisdictions the system serves  the District, Maryland and Virginia  came under attack on Capitol Hill on Wednesday as the Senate Appropriations Committee considered a transportation bill.

[Tracking Metros biggest meltdowns]

The hearing brought together Foxx and Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), who took turns lambasting the failings that led to the shutdown of the system.

It was drastic. It was disruptive. And yet I believe it was necessary, Mikulski said. We have called for years now for a culture of safety, but what we get is a culture of resistance to making changes for safety.

Mikulski ran through a litany of steps that had been taken to revive the Metro system without appreciable success.

My constituents and those in the District of Columbia and Virginia say, Well, well tough it out for one day, but is this change going to be reliable, is it going to be sustainable, is it going to stick?  she told Foxx.

Foxx agreed that the culture down there has to change.

He reiterated his frustration over the failure of the regions leaders to create a new safety oversight body for Metro. The FTA took over that function last year after concluding that the current body  the Tri-State Oversight Committee  was a failure.

The three jurisdictions have agreed to set up a more powerful body, to be called the Metro Safety Commission. But that process has been delayed by as much as a year because neither Virginia nor Maryland moved to obtain necessary approval from their legislatures this year.

Foxx said that Metro had received hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for various purposes over the years that remained unspent. He said the FTA was scrutinizing that money with the intent to instruct the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to divert the money to address safety concerns.

We have the authority to direct that they use those monies to focus on their safety priorities, Foxx said. Rest assured that were going to make sure that resources are not the issue. But I think that the point is that I dont think it is just resources. I think it is culture and I think it is a deliberate decision that is needed from everyone involved in this to focus relentlessly on safety.

[Metro delays caused by cable problem similar to last years fatal smoke incident]

Experiencing a commute in the D.C. region without a working Metro system revealed two drastically different experiences, much of it depending on what people did for a living and, to some extent, how much money they make.

Thats why, experts said, many drivers, particularly on roads leading into the city from some suburbs and beyond, actually found noticeably lighter traffic than usual while some bus riders spent several hours navigating routes that were so jammed that buses occasionally couldnt pick up new passengers.

It shows the economic divide that exists in every city, said Tom Murphy, a senior fellow at the Urban Land Institute who was mayor of Pittsburgh from 1994 to 2006.

The many workers  most likely in white-collar jobs  who could have driven but had the option of working from home and did so, freed up space on the roads. Meanwhile, many workers in lower-wage service jobs, particularly those who cant afford a car or did not have the option of telecommuting, were left packed on buses.

Murphy said he noticed that Rock Creek Parkway in Northwest Washington had significantly lighter traffic than usual: It was almost like a holiday, he said.

But he also heard stories of people jammed on buses in other parts of the city.

I was shocked at how little traffic there was, said Murphy, a frequent Metro rider who was able to walk to work Wednesday.

But many people, he noted, had no other option but to find a way to get to work.

People who work in restaurants need to be there, Murphy said. Theres no way to telecommute as a waiter or waitress. I think people dont always remember that for an important part of the population, transit is their means of movement, and they dont have other options.

Murphy noted that half of his office worked from home Wednesday, while the buildings maintenance worker, who usually takes Metro, rode his bike 2 1/ 2 hours to get to work.

These are people who are making sure the elevators run and the food is cooked and served in restaurants, Murphy said. Its a whole infrastructure that makes everything else work in Washington, and a very big percentage of those people depend on transit.

One of them was Kuing Hu, who stepped off the 26 bus and walked into the Largo Town Center Metro station Wednesday. She saw it was deserted and realized that something was amiss.

Oh, my God, she muttered.

A station official stepped out to explain that the system was closed and offered alternatives. Hu had not watched the television news or noticed messages on her commute home Tuesday.

If I need to pay more money, I cannot go to work, Hu responded when presented with options for multiple bus transfers or hailing a cab. Its just today?
Video captured by a Google self-driving car is coupled with the same street scene during a media preview of Googles prototype autonomous vehicles in Mountain View, Calif., in September. (Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters)

Back in 2013, Michigan legislators outlawed the use of automated cars by ordinary citizens. Only employees or others tapped by manufacturers could run the futuristic vehicles through the cradle of the American car industry.

But on Tuesday, the startlingly swift rise in self-driving technologies over the past two years prompted Michigan lawmakers to consider rethinking that ban. A report from state transportation officials, taken up at a hearing in Lansing, concluded that this technology will soon be available for public use.

We would recommend legislation that would permit the operation of automated vehicles and vehicles equipped with automated technology by the public, with conditions if necessary, on public roads and right of way, the transportation officials wrote.

On the same day, some 500 miles to the east, the U.S. Senate took up questions on what Congress should or shouldnt be doing to advance the rollout of technologies being tested by Google, General Motors and a slew of other large and small companies and university researchers.

Chris Urmson, head of Googles self-driving car project, told members of the Senates Commerce, Science and Transportation committee that a mishmash of local regulations is emerging and congressional action is needed to keep pace.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) points to a Continental Chrysler 300c during a demonstration of self-driving car technology Tuesday on Capitol Hill. (Evan Vucci/AP)

Twenty-three states have introduced 53 pieces of legislation that affect autonomous vehicles, Urmson said. Without clear national policies, it will be extremely impractical to operate an autonomous vehicle across state boundaries.

In state capitals and on Capitol Hill, officials are scrambling to get ready for one of the biggest changes on American roadways since President Dwight D. Eisenhower oversaw the birth of the interstate highway system 60 years ago this summer.

Coinciding with that anniversary, the Obama administration has promised to release a set of national guidelines on automated cars by July.

With annual traffic deaths surpassing the grim 30,000 mark for years, administration officials are pushing for billions of dollars to speed the technologys use and have talked up the promised safety benefits.

For policymakers at all levels, the governing principle should be that technologies with proven, data-supported benefits that would make roads safer should be encouraged, according to a 2016 policy update from U.S. transportation officials.

At Tuesdays Senate hearing, Urmson called on Congress to give transportation secretary Anthony Foxx targeted new authority to approve live-saving safety innovations.

But some senators were pushing for Congress to instead impose minimum standards on the industry, particularly on questions of security and privacy.

The computer screen in an autonomous prototype Continental Chrysler 300C sedan is seen during an event featuring self-driving cars Tuesday on Capitol Hill. (Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) took a ride in a Tesla with autonomous features Tuesday morning, driving on a bridge over the Potomac River. He then let the car take control. Look, Ma. No hands! he recalled during the hearing. These new vehicles are computers on wheels. Its absolutely amazing what is happening.

But he also pressed industry representatives on whether they would support his legislation requiring mandatory cybersecurity standards, including protecting all access points in the car with reasonable measures to detect, report and stop hacking attacks. He also wants privacy protections limiting and guarding any information collected on drivers. We need enforceable rules of the road, Markey said.

Mike Ableson, General Motors vice president for strategy, said his company has put together Red Teams to try to pierce the security of GMs autonomous cars, and is helping lead a coordinated industry effort to fight cyberthreats. Speaking of the legislative proposals, he said, We think a more flexible approach is appropriate.

Urmson said Google is attacked regularly. We have hundreds of people dedicated to cybersecurity and what weve learned through that is its a very dynamic space and its important to be able to adapt to threats, he said.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the committee chairman, emphasized to industry executives that they should not feel bound to accede to Markeys approach.

If we could reduce by any amount the number of fatalities we have on American roadways, that would be a remarkable accomplishment, Thune said. The sky seems to be the limit on the upside to the technology, and Congresss job is to make sure it is done safely.

Among the nettlesome issues that have emerged: Should a licensed driver be present and prepared to slam their foot on the brake pedal? Must there even be a brake pedal if the car is driving itself? What if the person in the vehicle is blind and cannot qualify for a license?

What if someones license was revoked because of multiple DUIs? Could they be ferried around in a driverless car if there is a chance they could take control?

Regulators are wrestling with those questions, and in Michigan, at least, officials have suggested waiting on some of them. But as the technology advances, according to the report from state transportation officials, consideration should be given to permitting those with driving restrictions to take advantage of this new transportation technology.
The entire Metro system is shutting down for at least 24 hours on Wednesday, March 16, impacting thousands of commuters. (Alice Li/The Washington Post)

The entire Metro system is shutting down for at least 24 hours on Wednesday, March 16, impacting thousands of commuters. (Alice Li/The Washington Post)

Metro passengers and local lawmakers were trying to shake off their shock and plan alternative commutes for Wednesday morning after authorities announced that the regions sprawling rail system would close at midnight and remain completely shuttered for 24 hours.

The Office of Personnel Management said that federal government employees could telework to avoid what could be crippling traffic jams in the nations capital, but several local school systems, including D.C. Public Schools, announced they would remain open Wednesday, posing a challenge for students and teachers who depend on Metro to get to class.

Metros unprecedented closure immediately drew complaints and concern. Riders asked why Metro hadnt announced the shutdown earlier in the day Tuesday to give passengers more time to plan for a midweek standstill, and some said they are worried about what the episode says about the systems overall safety.

Many in the Washington region were left with a simple quandary: How would they get to where they need to go on Wednesday without Metro, the linchpin in a public transit system that connects the District and its traffic-choked Maryland and Virginia suburbs?

Its going to affect our workday for sure, said Henrik Sundqvist, who lives with his wife in Arlington, Va. Because the two have one car between them and work in opposite ends of the region  he in Dunn Loring in Fairfax County and she in Anacostia in the District  he said he has no idea how they would get to work.

Metro announced that its entire rail system would cease operations for 24 hours beginning midnight Wednesday so crews can inspect cables throughout the system. Here are how some riders feel about the shutdown. (Lee Powell/The Washington Post)

The closure, which will allow Metro to inspect the lines amid concerns about the systems electrical cables, might disrupt hundreds of thousands of lives Wednesday, but officials said it was in the interest of not putting anyone at risk on the rails.

Former U.S. transportation secretary Ray LaHood praised Metros leadership, including General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld, for putting safety first.

When you discover a potential threat to safety, you must do everything in your power to act, LaHood said. While the shutdown is obviously disruptive to the daily commutes of many Washingtonians, it is far better to be inconvenienced than to risk another life-threatening incident.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) also said he supported Wiedefelds decision to take whatever steps are necessary to keep Virginians safe.

But he and many other local, state and federal lawmakers said that the shutdown should serve as a wake-up call that Metro is a troubled agency in need of serious reforms.

It is deeply disturbing that the system is in such a precarious state that it must be entirely and abruptly shut down during the middle of a workweek, Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.) said in a statement. This is a stark demonstration of a total agency failure.

In a statement, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) called the closure an astonishing admission that safety has not been the priority it needs to be at WMATA, the Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority.

Rep. Gerry E. Connolly (D-Va.) said the announcement, which he learned of from a note passed to him on the House floor, was a gut punch that raises many questions.

Was there no alternative? Is this, moving forward, how were going to deal with major repairs when something happens? Connolly said. Safety has to come first, but this must be an extreme situation to justify shutting down the entire system. And when you shut down Metro, as my colleagues here are going to learn tomorrow, you essentially shut down the federal government.

Lawmakers from outside the Washington region took notice, as well. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), a noted transit advocate, said he was deeply concerned by the shutdown of a system that serves members of Congress, their staff members and the federal government at large.

Its a very serious signal, Blumenauer said. Weve known that there have been problems for a whole host of reasons. . . . But I am hopeful that everybody in Congress pays attention to that, because we all live here a third of the time. This transit system is the transit system for our employees, for the federal workforce, and its in desperate need of everybodys attention.

Were his hometown of Portland to shut down its light-rail system on a weekday, he said, it would have extraordinarily serious consequences.

Jim Dinegar, president of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, said he is concerned that the shutdown will have a chilling effect on tourism in the short and the long term. Metros inspections on Wednesday could turn up new problems that further shake public confidence in the troubled rail system, he said. They wont find good things, he said. Theyll find risks.

Many Metro advocates and passengers said the shutdown is a sign of the need for greater public investment in the system.

We will see on Wednesday just how important Metro is to our region, said Stewart Schwartz, executive director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. We hope that the ongoing challenges facing Metro will prompt our elected leaders to work together to provide the funding necessary to fix long-standing maintenance and rehabilitation problems.

During Tuesdays evening commute, passengers were just beginning to grapple with how important Metro is to them on a daily basis  and in particular how important it would have been to them Wednesday.

Janice Williams, a house cleaner from Hyattsville, Md., said she will have to take three buses to get to work Wednesday. She was frustrated but said she is glad officials erred on the side of safety.

It sucks that it has to happen, but you dont want to worry about people getting hurt, Williams said, sitting on a concrete bench in the Metro Center station. There could be worse things.

Michael Laurion, 26, who is in town from Dallas for an accounting conference in Arlington, said he had planned to take the Orange Line on Wednesday morning from his downtown hotel.

Now the only thing he knows for certain is that he will be late.

He said he still loves the District and is even thinking of moving here. But the fire that paralyzed three Metro lines on Monday and now the 24-hour shutdown have given him pause about the citys public transit.

It makes me wonder how safe, I guess, it really is, Laurion said.

Others received the news with resignation, having been disappointed by Metro many times before.

Heather Bodenhamer, 24, said she has experienced her fair share of delays and poor service and smoke on the tracks during the past five years. She used to travel from Rockville, Md., to Clarendon in Arlington for work, and because of frequent Metro troubles, she had to leave her home two or three hours early to ensure she would arrive at work on time.

There were so many times I was late to work, she said. Its sad how unreliable it can be. You never know whats going to happen.

Heidi Schriefer said she considers herself one of the lucky ones. She has several options for commuting to work and wont be terribly thrown off the by the shutdown. Instead, she plans to take a bus from her home in Old Town Alexandria to her office in downtown Washington.

A lot of other people wont be able to make it in, she said. Its just irritating that they announced it last minute, on a weekday, and it will affect the whole system.

That, she said, is the Metro trifecta.
THE DISTRICT

Two men sought in attempted abduction

Authorities are trying to find two persons of interest in an attempted abduction at the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum early this month.

It occurred March 3 as a group was leaving the north entrance of the museum, according to the U.S. Park Police.

A man allegedly grabbed the hand of a child in the group and walked a few steps with the child until a chaperon yelled to leave the child alone. Police said the man got on a shuttle bus near the museum.

MARYLAND

Ignition-lock bill moves forward

The state House of Delegates on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill to require the use of interlock ignitions by individuals convicted of drunken driving.

The legislation stalled at the committee level in previous years, but it gained momentum this year in part because of lobbying by the family of a Montgomery County police officer who was killed by a suspected drunk driver while on DUI patrol.

Police bolster patrols

after abduction scare

Police in Montgomery County said they are increasing patrols in the Chevy Chase area after two children said they encountered a man driving a blue or green car who asked Friday morning about taking them to school.

The incident occurred in the 2600 block of Colston Drive.

Police said a 7-year-old boy and his 4 1/ 2 -year-old brother were in their yard when a sedan stopped and a man asked them if he could drive them to school and motioned for them to come.

He was described as between 50 and 60 with short, gray hair and a beard. Police asked for information at 301-279-8000.

THE Region

Prediction shifts for

cherry-blossom peak

Peak bloom of the famed cherry blossoms is now expected to start March 23 and 24, the National Park Service said.

The dates are earlier than first forecast and later than a second prediction, a result of successive temperature changes.
Virginia Lt. Governor Ralph Northam (D), from left, U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) and U.S. Sen. Timothy Kaine (D-Va.) celebrate in 2013 after McAuliffe won election. The Obama administration handed Warner, McAuliffe and Kaine a defeat Tuesday by deciding against allowing oil drilling off the shore of Virginia. Northam was opposed to drilling. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

A decision by the Obama administration against drilling for oil and natural gas in the Atlantic Ocean is a blow to Virginias governor and two senators  all Democrats and all advocates for drilling in waters off the commonwealth.

The decision by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management against offering leases to oil and gas companies affects Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. And although there has been local opposition in those states, top officials in all four have advocated drilling.

But only in Virginia are those leaders high-profile Democrats, putting them at odds with Tuesdays decision by the Obama administration.

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said her agency weighed the arguments for drilling against objections from the Pentagon and coastal communities and decided against awarding oil and natural gas leases to companies starting in 2017.

The Defense Department said that drilling would interfere with live training exercises conducted off the Atlantic Coast, and testing of major systems in the region.

Sens. Timothy M. Kaine and Mark R. Warner, both democrats, took issue with the Pentagons argument.

The DOD has been relatively quiet during this public debate and has never shared their objections with me before, Kaine said in a statement. Warner said he look[s] forward to getting a full briefing from the Navy and NASA Wallops [Island] about the nature of their concerns.

[Obama pulls plans to allow oil drilling off southern Atlantic coast]

Gov. Terry McAuliffe is aware of the concerns voiced by the Department of Defense, spokesman Brian Coy said. Theres more work for us here, obviously.

The enthusiasm for offshore drilling is more notable given that all three Democrats have been high-profile allies of and surrogates for Hillary Clinton, who is opposed to drilling in the Atlantic. All three have been named as potential running mates for the former secretary of state.

It definitely is unusual for a trio of well-known Democrats to clash with a Democratic White House on the issue, said Sierra Weaver, a senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center.

And although Kaine, Warner and McAuliffe are advocates for clean-energy alternatives, such as wind farms, they all believe that Virginia  which produces next to no oil  could benefit economically from the boom that has created significant revenue for states including North Dakota and Texas.

The divide has caused some confusion. Earlier this month, a Greenpeace activist asked McAuliffe whether he would join Clinton in opposition.

If she wants to do it, Id support her with that, McAuliffe said in the videotaped encounter. If she wants, you bet!

Coy later clarified that McAuliffe was merely supporting Clintons right to her own position.

Athan Manuel, director of the lands-protection program at the Sierra Club, said the Democratic support for drilling in Virginia made organizing against the plan more of a challenge than in the other three states, where Republicans dominate.

These decisions are as much about politics as energy policy, and the fact that the three Democrats in Virginia were in favor made it much harder, he said.

He said the Democratic support for drilling came up while Sierra Club was lobbying the White House and organizing opposition inside Virginia.

Supporters of drilling said they were disappointed that Kaine, Warner and McAuliffe didnt have more influence on the administrations decision.

I would have hoped they would have considered what the governors and the senators were saying on a bipartisan basis, said Erik Milito, director of Upstream and Industry Operations for the American Petroleum Institute.

The governor and both Democratic senators were largely in it for the potential revenue to the state generated by offshore drilling. That was back when the administration was moving toward allowing drilling and there appeared no other option, said Mark Rozell, acting dean of the School of Policy, Government and International Affairs at George Mason University. I think this decision caught them  and many others  by surprise.

Tuesdays decision applies to a five-year period, from 2017 to 2022, when drilling in the southeastern Atlantic will be considered again.

In the meantime, Kaine and Warner will continue to push legislation that would allow their states to share in any revenue produced by drilling offshore. Without that guarantee, all three Virginia Democrats say they would no longer be interested in oil excavation.

A lot could change in five years.

Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam (D), who is running to succeed McAuliffe, opposes offshore drilling. And Warner noted in his statement that the changed economics surrounding oil and gas development might make drilling less appealing in the future.
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy testified in front of the House Oversight Committee on March 17, and things got a little heated. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy testified in front of the House Oversight Committee on March 17, and things got a little heated. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency and the governor of Michigan faced calls to resign from angry lawmakers Thursday, as a congressional oversight committee bore in on which level of government was most responsible for the contamination of Flints water supply.

Repeatedly shouting at EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) faulted her for failing to require the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to move more quickly after lead was discovered in the tap water of some Flint homeowners.

If you want to do the courageous thing, like you said [former EPA Midwest region head] Susan Hedman did, you, too, should resign, Chaffetz thundered.

When McCarthy tried to explain the limits of the EPAs power under the law, Chaffetz repeatedly cut her off. Well it failed, he yelled. You failed.

But Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) received his own blasts of criticism, some of it sarcastic, when Democrats were asking the questions. Plausible deniability only works when its plausible, Pennsylvania Rep. Matt Cartwright told Snyder as he pressed why the governor was slow to act. You were not in a medically induced coma for a year.

Weve had enough of your false contrition and your phony apologies, Cartwright said. Youre doing your dead level best to spread accountability. ... You need to resign, too.

This second of two contentious hearings on lead in Flints water followed the same pattern as the session Tuesday, with a federal official blaming the state for causing the disaster and the governor pointing the finger at the EPA for moving too slowly in its oversight role. Sharp questioning from members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee broke down mostly along partisan lines. Republicans targeted McCarthy and the EPA; Democrats slammed Snyder and the state.

But not in every case. With hundreds of people from the Flint area in attendance, Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), whos running for the Senate, told Snyder that if McCarthy should resign, he should, too.

McCarthy reviewed the states efforts to engage the state and force a quicker response throughout the second half of 2015, saying that her agencys staff begged the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to address the growing lead threat. At every turn, she said, the state agency dragged its feet in responding.

But like Hedman on Tuesday, McCarthy repeatedly declined to admit that EPA had done anything wrong. That drew several comparisons with Snyder from lawmakers, who forcefully pointed out that the governor has admitted wrongdoing.

Were we late in getting it done? Yes, McCarthy said. Were there consequences to that? Yes. But she said EPA staffers, from Hedman on down, worked very hard with state environmental officials to solve the crisis starting last summer and throughout the fall.

[EPA official resigns as agency intervenes in Flint water crisis]

1 of 37 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  The controversial case over dangerous lead in water in a Michigan city View Photos Anger over the levels of lead in the water in Flint has led the mayor to declare a state of emergency. Caption Anger over high levels of lead in the water in Flint has led the mayor to declare a state of emergency. Jan. 25, 2016 Flint resident Angela Hickmon, 56, chants during a protest outside City Hall in downtown Flint. Jake May/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP Wait 1 second to continue.

In her opening testimony, McCarthy had placed blame for the Flint water crisis squarely on Michigan, saying a state-appointed emergency manager made the decision that led to the contamination and that the state bureaucracy approved it.

The crisis were seeing was the result of a state-appointed emergency manager deciding that the city would stop purchasing treated drinking water and instead switch to an untreated source to save money, she told the committee as its hearing opened. The state of Michigan approved that decision.

McCarthy acknowledged that in hindsight, we should not have been so trusting of the state for so long when it assured EPA that action was taken to prevent lead from leaching into drinking water. The states environmental quality department admitted in October that it had not ensured that corrosion control chemicals were added to the water as they should have been.

We missed the opportunity late last summer to quickly get EPAs concerns on the publics radar screen. That I regret, she said.

For his part, Snyder said systemic failures at the states environmental protection agency led to the catastrophe. But he repeated his message that a failure of government at all levels resulted in the catastrophe. He also insisted that a water specialist at the federal Environmental Protection Agency was silenced when he tried to warn about the lead contamination in February 2015.

I do want to thank Miguel Del Toral, a water specialist at the EPA, who spoke up early about the crisis, Snyder said. Tragically, his superiors at the EPA told local leaders in Flint to ignore his call for action.

Hedman, former head of the EPAs Midwest region, repeatedly denied muzzling or retaliating against the scientist when she testified before the same panel Tuesday.

Snyder pledged to hold those responsible accountable, noting that bureaucrats created a culture that valued technical compliance over common sense  and the result was that lead was leaching into residents water.

Some officials, including Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, have called on Snyder to step down. Some Flint residents want him jailed. Three recall efforts are seeking his removal, and a special prosecutor is investigating the disaster to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.

Residents tap water was tainted when the city began using the Flint River as its source in April 2014, and state environmental officials failed to ensure that anti-corrosive chemicals were added to the supply. That caused lead to leach from aging pipes. Anyone who drank the water  including nearly 9,000 young children, the most vulnerable population  was exposed.

At Snyders order, the city of about 95,000 people switched back to Lake Huron water in October, but unfiltered tap water is still not safe to drink.

[Did Flints contaminated water cause deadly outbreak of disease?]

On Wednesday, the EPA released thousands of pages of emails about the Flint debacle. One suggests that McCarthy grew concerned in late September after receiving a memo from Hedman.

Seems like the Flint lead issue is really getting concerning, McCarthy wrote to Hedman and other agency officials on Sept. 26 as she called for a meeting on the subject. This situation has the opportunity to get very big very quickly.

The emails detail the EPAs efforts to work with the state Department of Environmental Quality and the city as the crisis mushroomed. In October, the emails show, the EPA began to receive requests from citizens groups and at least one lawmaker to intervene using its emergency power.

But it didnt take that action until Jan. 21, when it found that Flints water posed an imminent and substantial endangerment to the health of the people drinking it. McCarthy accepted Hedmans resignation the same day.
PENNSYLVANIA

3 Franciscan friars charged in child-abuse case

In a first-of-its-kind case, prosecutors in Pennsylvania announced charges on Tuesday against three Franciscan friars who they say facilitated the abuse of dozens of children.

Prosecutors say that the three men knew about allegations of sexual abuse against Brother Stephen Baker dating back to the 1980s but that the three continued to place Baker in jobs that gave him access to children, up until 2010.

Confronted with a lawsuit that made the accusations public, Baker killed himself in 2013, at age 62, in the monastery where he lived. On Tuesday, state prosecutors announced that three men who supervised him  Brothers Anthony M. Criscitelli, 61; Robert J. DAversa, 69; and Giles A. Schinelli, 73  have each been charged with one count of endangering the welfare of children and one count of criminal conspiracy.

Before Baker died, the Franciscans settled a lawsuit with 11 victims who said Baker abused them in the 1980s and 1990s when he worked at a school in Ohio, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. That settlement prompted 25 students from Bishop McCort Catholic High School in Johnstown, Pa., where Baker taught from 1992 to 2000, to say they had also been abused by him. Now, a grand jury looking into the case has stated that more than 80 Bishop McCort students have said they were victimized by Baker.

 Julie Zauzmer

Judge vacates death sentence over disability: A man on death row for killing two undercover New York City police officers cannot be executed because he meets the legal standard to be considered intellectually disabled, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. In his 76-page decision, U.S. District Court Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis vacated Ronell Wilsons death sentence and imposed a new punishment of life in prison. Wilson, 33, was a young gang member on Staten Island in 2003 when he murdered undercover detectives James V. Nemorin and Rodney J. Andrews in a gun sting gone awry.

Newark to test children for lead: Newark will test 17,000 children for lead poisoning after elevated levels of the toxin were found in the drinking water at nearly half of the schools in New Jerseys biggest city, said Newarks health director, Hanaa A. Hamdi. Officials had shut off the water at 30 school buildings last week, where they are now using bottled water for drinking and cooking.

 From news services
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is considering an abortion bill that among other provisions would bar the procedure in cases where it is sought because of a fetal disability such as Down syndrome. (Aj Mast/AP)

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) is mulling a sweeping abortion bill that among other provisions would bar the procedure in cases where it is sought because of a diagnosis of a fetal disability such as Down syndrome.

The bill, which was passed by the legislature last week, would make Indiana the second state in the nation after North Dakota to ban abortion in those cases, as well as instances where the decision is based on the sex or race of the fetus. The measure also could make Indiana the first state in the country to require that all fetal remains be buried or cremated.

Pence, who is in the midst of a reelection campaign, is expected to sign the bill when it reaches his desk, in part because he is relying on strong turnout from social conservatives to hold on to his seat. He is staunchly opposed to abortion; while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Pence championed efforts to cut off federal funding to Planned Parenthood, the womens health-care and abortion provider.

Pence earned the ire of his states business community last spring after signing a religious liberties bill that was viewed by critics as anti-gay and a stain on the states welcoming reputation. His detractors got fresh fodder later in the year when he pledged to block the placement of Syrian refugees in his state  an effort that was rejected by the courts.

In addition, among those who opposed the abortion bill were several Republican women in the Indiana House, who objected, among other things, to the section on fetal anomalies.

In a floor speech before the bills passage, Rep. Cindy Ziemke, who represents an area southeast of Indianapolis, said she was against abortion but could not support that provision because it failed to show compassion to grieving parents who must face a decision that is heartbreaking, she said. Its a sad day for me to have to vote no on a pro-life bill.

Other women in the chamber spoke out forcefully in favor of the measure.

In this room right here, we make laws to protect children from abuse and neglect. We make laws to protect women who have been raped, said Rep. Rhonda Rhoads (R), whose district lies in southern Indiana. Can we not also make a law to protect the unborn?

The bill passed comfortably in both the House and Senate, which both have Republican supermajorities.

Paul Helmke, a former Republican mayor of Fort Wayne who is a professor at Indiana University, predicted Pence will sign the bill  not only because of his history supporting antiabortion legislation, but because he will need the vote of social conservatives if his support is soft among suburban women and business leaders. Moreover, he could suffer as a result of the brutal Republican presidential nominating process that is unfolding.

By signing the bill, hes going to show that hes consistent, that hes not going to change on the abortion issue at all and that hes pushed something a little further than what other states have done, said Helmke, who also served previously as president of the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence.

The bill has sent representatives of abortion clinics scrambling to discern its far-reaching implications.

The fetal anomaly provision is particularly troublesome, said Patti Stauffer, vice president of public policy for Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky. It prohibits a provider from knowingly performing an abortion sought because of a diagnosis or potential diagnosis of the fetus having Down syndrome or any other disability, according to the bill digest.

Clinics would need to ask women why they want an abortion. It is unclear, Stauffer said, whether the woman would be compelled to provide an answer. The bill digest says doctors could face disciplinary sanctions and civil liability for wrongful death if they knowingly abort a fetus because of the diagnosis of a fetal disability.

Supporters of the fetal disability provision say it is critical to prevent discriminatory selective abortions, especially in light of new tests that can tell with a high degree of certainty if a fetus is at risk of developing Down syndrome or another disorder.

Planned Parenthood staff also are trying to understand the implications of the provision on fetal remains, Stauffer said. It could be difficult and costly to develop relationships with funeral homes to dispose of tissue left over from abortions.

Supporters of this provision say it is necessary to ensure that fetal remains are disposed of in a dignified manner.

Stauffer also noted that the bill requires women to undergo an ultrasound 18 hours before having an abortion  a provision that supporters say would help women make an informed decision but that Stauffer says simply adds to the burden on women seeking the procedure.

Its just more hoops to jump through, more appointments, all of which add up for women who have to work jobs or have less resources available to them, Stauffer said. While [lawmakers] dont come out directly and ban abortion, [that is] the cumulative effect of all these restrictions for some women.
BRAZIL

Lawmakers plea deal in graft probe accepted

Brazils Supreme Court said Tuesday that it had accepted a plea agreement by the ruling partys former leader in the Senate, whose testimony in a sprawling corruption probe included allegations against President Dilma Rousseff and her predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as well as other prominent public figures.

Sen. Delcidio do Amaral was detained last year on allegations of obstructing the investigation into corruption at Brazils state-run oil giant, Petrobras. He was released in February, but news reports last week said he had struck a plea deal.

Court officials confirmed Tuesday that the deal had been accepted and made public.

In the document, Amaral details accusations against Rousseff, including that she knew about a scheme to buy a refinery in the United States at an inflated price. The accusations are the first directly implicating Rousseff. She has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

Amarals plea deal also includes accusations against Lula. Amaral alleges that Lula ordered him to make payouts to a key operator of the Petrobras scheme to protect a close friend. Lula has denied wrongdoing.

Tuesdays revelations come on the heels of huge protests against Rousseff and her party.

 Associated Press

YEMEN

Dozens reported killed in airstrikes

Saudi-led warplanes on Tuesday launched two airstrikes on a busy market in a northern Yemeni region controlled by Shiite Houthi rebels, killing and wounding dozens of people, witnesses said.

The state-run news agency SABA, controlled by the Houthis, said at least 65 people were killed and 55 wounded. A hospital received dozens of wounded but no bodies, perhaps because families had buried them.

The market in the city of Mastaba, in Hajjah province, serves tens of thousands. Witnesses said there were no military targets nearby. A Saudi-led coalition has been battling the Houthis on behalf of Yemens internationally recognized government for a year.

Hajjah is northwest of the capital, Sanaa, which fell to the Houthis in September 2014.

The conflict pits the rebels and troops loyal to a former president against the internationally recognized government.

 Associated Press

IRAN

Zarif: Missile test did not breach U.N. rules

Irans foreign minister said Tuesday that he had deliberately negotiated the wording of the latest United Nations resolution restraining his countrys nuclear program to ensure that the test-firing of nuclear-capable Iranian missiles would be legal.

Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a speech at the Australian National University that Security Council Resolution 2231, adopted after the Iranian nuclear deal was signed last year, did not bar Iran from testing the type of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles that it launched last week.

It doesnt call upon Iran not to test ballistic missiles, or ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads. . . . It calls upon Iran not to test ballistic missiles that were designed to be capable, Zarif said.

That word took me about seven months to negotiate, so everybody knew what it meant, he said, referring to designed.

The United States called a Security Council meeting on Monday to protest the launches.

 Associated Press

Suspect in Toronto stabbing invoked Allah, police say: A

27-year-old man arrested in a double stabbing at a military recruitment center in Toronto said Allah had sent him, according to Canadian police. Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said Ayanle Hassan Ali walked into the center and began striking a service member before slashing him on the right arm. The suspect then allegedly tried to slash another soldier. Before he was subdued, another soldier was injured. While at the scene, the accused stated that Allah told me to do this, Allah told me to come here and kill people,  Saunders said. Police are investigating whether the attack was terrorism.

Family of Italian killed in U.S strike seeks documents: The family of an Italian al-Qaeda hostage killed in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan has sent a letter to President Obama appealing for details about the January 2015 counterterrorism operation. Giovanni Lo Portos family has yet to receive details about the operation despite an Obama directive calling for a full review, an attorney for the family said. The operation killed Lo Porto, hostage Warren Weinstein and two al-Qaeda operatives.

 From news services
Appeals Court Judge Merrick Garland speaks in the White House Rose Garden after being nominated by President Barack Obama to the Supreme Court on March 16. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Maybe sometimes, even in this crazy town and in this crazy season, the best policy turns out to be the best politics. In the context of the Supreme Court vacancy, President Obamas choice of Merrick Garland may be the hardest for Republicans to reject  or, as they would prefer to have it, ignore.

Not that Garlands confirmation is by any means likely; Id rate his chances for the high court higher than John Kasichs for the GOP nomination, though thats not saying much. Still, I think Garlands nomination comes the closest to making Senate Republicans an offer they cant afford to refuse.

On the merits  and this is no slight to the other finalists; Garland simply has the longevity  he is the best qualified. He is the most moderate nominee Republicans could reasonably expect. His downside, in the view of Democrats, his age, should be a confirmation plus in the eyes of Republicans.

There was a lot of insider talk, before Obama chose Garland, about clever nomination strategies based on energizing demographic groups, deploying compelling narratives and putting certain senators in the uncomfortable position of opposing nominees they once endorsed.

Yes, Supreme Court nominations have increasingly taken on the aspect of political campaigns, but this was all a tad silly. And yes, the key to getting Garland confirmed, at least before the election, will be putting pressure on Republican senators up for reelection.

In a surprise move, President Obama has selected appeals court judge Merrick Garland to replace Justice Antonin Scalia. The Post's Jerry Markon explains the possible strategy behind his choice. (Claritza Jimenez,Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post)

But perhaps the best way to put pressure on those senators is to pick a nominee they cant fault  except for the fact that he was nominated by this president. The more reasonable, the more qualified, the more judicious the nominee appears, the harder it will be for voters to stomach the notion, and for senators to stick to the position that he doesnt even deserve a meeting, much less a hearing.

Obama could easily name Merrick Garland, who is a fine man, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch (R), who not only voted to confirm Garland to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit but spoke at his investiture, told the conservative website Newsmax last week. He probably wont do that because this appointment is about the election. So Im pretty sure hell name someone the [liberal Democratic base] wants.

Sen. Hatch, bluff called.

Note to Republican senators: Have you guys read the polls? Do you really think that if Donald Trump is your nominee, as is looking increasingly likely, he will beat Hillary Clinton? Do you think youre going to like President Clintons Supreme Court pick any better?

And having staked your anti-confirmation case on the argument that the voters should have their say on replacing Justice Antonin Scalia, havent you backed yourself into a difficult corner if and when it comes to weighing that Clinton nominee?

Speaking of backing into corners, in an odd way the choice of Garland underscores that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) knew what he was doing when he announced, immediately after the news of Scalias death, that the Senate would not take up any nominee.

This is an outrageous position, but McConnell rarely blunders on a tactical level, as some believed he did with the Scalia announcement. It would have been much harder for McConnell to keep his troops in line if he had waited to make that case until a nominee was named. And given the choice of Garland, the argument for inaction would look like a last-ditch effort  in the absence of any substantive count against him  rather than a purported stand on principle.

At the White House event announcing his nomination to the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland held back tears and got choked up as he thanked President Obama. (Reuters)

It was telling that Republican senators responses to the Garland nomination focused on criticism of the nomination, not the nominee. It was left to the Republican National Committee to issue a meet Merrick Garland news release depicting him as an anti-gun, pro-big government liberal.

Speaking of meeting Garland, I should probably disclose that he and I first met 30-plus years ago, when I was a law student interviewing with his firm for a summer job. Not only didnt I get the job, I didnt even get an invitation to come to Washington for a second-round interview.

So when I ran into Garland a few years later and jokingly chided him, he did something classically Garland: Meticulous as always, he checked the records, and reported back that the firm didnt think I was serious about practicing law. Which proves that Garland has good judgment (I wasnt) or good people skills (what a nice brush-off) or both.

Either way, another argument for the confirmation he so resoundingly deserves.

Read more from Ruth Marcuss archive, follow her on Twitter or subscribe to her updates on Facebook.
Regarding the March 13 op-ed Topic A: How should the Republican Party respond to Donald Trump?:

When did placing principle over political party make one part of the establishment? And when did holding fast to those principles make one an elite? Yet these two pejoratives have become standard issue for some conservative commentators who expect conservative voters to blindly fall in line behind Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Instead of dismissing our objections to a Trump nomination, former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and others should make an effort to understand why we have them and why they run so deep. Mr. Trump is not merely inconsistent in his support for economic freedom and limited government, but he is also completely hostile to them in his platform. Therefore many of us cannot cast a vote for this man, pejoratives from the pundits be damned.

Nate England, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Regarding the March 13 Campaign 2016 article Organic, organized Trump disruption:

I dont need to go to a Donald Trump political rally. Ive been hearing the same rhetoric around my Thanksgiving table for 50 years. To my fellow comrades who offer the sole dissenting voice: Keep talking until youre hoarse. The children are listening.

Eileen Gorman, Fairfax

I hear presidential candidates and pundits talk about how angry Americans are  understandably [What Sanders and Trump agree on, op-ed, March 11]  but I dont understand it. How many angry Americans at the Donald Trump rallies lost a child to gun violence or will return to a homeless shelter after the crowds go home? How many fear practicing their religion or being denied a job or housing because of their sexual orientation?

These angry supporters of the Republican presidential candidate are no different from the top 1 percent whom we vilify for their apathy toward their fellow Americans. We cannot legitimize their anger and then wonder why our country is so divided.

There are Americans who deserve to be angry, who lost their homes to Wall Street greed, who shuttle their lead-poisoned children to doctors. And we need major reform in gun control, racial equity, comprehensive anti-discrimination laws and affordable education.

But as a nation, we have lost perspective. How did we become so entitled? When we start to believe that our country owes us something, we set ourselves up for grave disappointment.

Mark Herzog, Washington

The grand and jarring spectacle of the Republican primaries as described in the March 12 front-page article At Trump events, rally and revolt, reminded me of this Edmund Burke doctrine: Men are qualified for civil liberty . . . in proportion as their soundness and sobriety of understanding is above their vanity and presumption; in proportion as they are more disposed to listen to the counsels of the wise and good, in preference to the flattery of knaves.

As a Republican, I see my wistful hope that the party can save itself is waning. The more pressing need may soon be to save the country. And in that important work I recall the prophet Isaiah declaring all nations . . . are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity, and that the hand that helped found and preserve the country at the beginning and during the terrible Civil War might be petitioned once again and not in vain.

Chris Stevenson, Purcellville

I agree with Fred Hiatts warning in his March 14 op-ed, The real Donald Trump, that what we see from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is what we will get from him. Mr. Trump has descended into a delusional state of megalomania. What he says is what he believes, and everyone should take him seriously; the history of megalomaniacs has consistently borne this out.

It is essential that we not wish away his pronouncements with Pollyannaish rationalizations such as hes just saying that to get votes or hell change once in office. As is typical with megalomaniacs, he is not just narcissistic but also paranoid, a combination that is very dangerous. If this is an accurate reflection of his state of mind, then irrationality will rule his decisions and we will all suffer for it.

Robert Kayton, Chevy Chase
Every day, water used by cities, counties, corporations, industries and numerous other entities is cleaned and returned to local bodies of water with oversight from the government. That oversight, as well as public awareness and education, has led to the Potomac River being cleaner today than it was in 1965 when President Lyndon B. Johnson declared the waterway a national disgrace.

The writer of the March 13 letter No place for coal ash clearly loves the Potomac River. What he lacks, however, is knowledge about what Dominion Virginia Power has repeatedly said it will do to ensure that the water being put back into the river is tested and treated to levels above what the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has already determined is safe for aquatic life, swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking. Remember, Dominion has been mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency to close the coal ash ponds at its power stations as the nation moves toward a cleaner energy future and to reduce the chances of a coal ash spill. To do that, Dominion must remove the water in the ash ponds.

Environmentalists, including me, need to communicate what is going on instead of perpetuating misunderstanding and falsehoods.

Alexander Smith Jr., Richmond

The writer is a retired senior external affairs manager for state and local affairs for

Dominion Virginia Power.
An Islamic State fighter holds a flag and a weapon on a street in the city of Mosul, Iraq, in 2014. (Stringer/Reuters)

One wouldnt call them bedfellows, strange or otherwise, but President Obama and Donald Trump are both inadvertently helping the Islamic State through rhetoric that is either too cautious or too rash.

It shouldnt be difficult to discern which is which.

Obama, through his studious avoidance of explicitly calling terrorists or the Islamic State either Islamic or Muslim, is silly, perhaps cowardly and likely unproductive. And Trump, with his other-izing approach to problem solving  targeting adherents of Islam for special scrutiny  contributes to recruitment and radicalization by marginalizing Muslims.

This composite appraisal comes from two authorities on Islam-inspired terrorism  Boston University professor Jessica Stern, author of ISIS: The State of Terror, and Abdullah Antepli, an imam and senior fellow at Duke Universitys Office of Civic Engagement.

The two were among several speakers at a recent Faith Angle Forum, sponsored by the Ethics and Public Policy Center, which twice annually convenes journalists and scholars to delve deeply into issues related to religion, culture and current events.

Antepli was also critical of moderate Muslims who feel the need to defend Islam even in the wake of terrorist attacks. A jovial fellow whose students have nicknamed the Turkish Delight Imam, Antepli said hell scream and pull my hair out if he hears one more time that Islam is a religion of peace.

It is and it isnt, depending on which text one uses for ones purposes. Just as the abolitionists used scripture to end slavery, the Islamic State uses the Koran to resurrect slavery.

No religion, said Antepli, is one thing. Every religion, especially those that are centuries old, is many things. Understanding requires familiarity with what Antepli identified as the three main categories of all religions: history, people and, last, theology.

In other words, religion is only part of the terrorist equation, but denying it altogether is a mistake, both agreed. On this score, Obamas critics may be correct, though others would argue that naming Islam risks alienating moderate Muslims.

Antepli also said that moderate Muslims are just as repelled by the Islamic State  and are just as often its victims  as the rest of the world.

The question that puzzles the civilized world is why the Islamic State is so successful in recruiting. For your edification, only about 120 Americans thus far have been recruited, about 40 percent of whom are converts to Islam, Antepli said. We know that the Islamic State has a sophisticated propaganda machine and a viral social media presence. But most wont know how poorly we perform comparatively. Every day, the Islamic State tweets tens of thousands of times, compared with the State Department, which sends about a dozen tweets.

Stern emphasized that the radical jihadist ideology is undergirded with a narrative of humiliation, reinforced with branding and perverse promises  sex slaves, drugs, power  all of which can be justified with Koranic text. The promises would be especially irresistible to a certain kind of person: The typical jihadist is a male between ages 14 and 35 who has a mental-health history and feels alienated.

Yes, some percentage of recruits are surely psychopaths attracted to the brutality the Islamic State justifies with text. And some are true believers. But many of the remainder are simply ripe for the picking. We do ourselves no favors when we play into the Islamic States hands by reinforcing their propaganda that America hates Muslims.

Nor is it useful to fight ideology with violence, which only nurtures brutality in the jihadi mind. And certainly not by creating divisions between them and us, a propagandist tool for recruitment and radicalization.

My favorite approach relates to a method Antepli uses in his work to de-radicalize young Muslims. He told the story of a young man who was considering joining the Islamic State. Antepli, who is often called in by parents concerned about their children, said though it was the lads decision, he should thoroughly understand all the parts of Islam before making a decision.

The young man agreed to listen. By the time Antepli had finished his recitation of the nuances, history and reality of the Islamic State, the erstwhile sympathizer said, I dont want anything to do with that. Its boring!

Indeed, evil isnt only banal; its a big bore.

Read more from Kathleen Parkers archive, follow her on Twitter or find her on Facebook.
Stuart E. Eizenstat served as chief domestic policy adviser to President Jimmy Carter, and as ambassador to the European Union, undersecretary of commerce and state, and deputy treasury secretary in the Clinton administration.

At a moment of impasse over President Obamas nomination of Merrick Garland, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, to fill the Supreme Court vacancy caused by Antonin Scalias death, it would be useful to remember this example: A powerful U.S. senator asks the president to nominate his brilliant young staff lawyer to a high judicial position. Both are Democrats, but the president is a lame duck, Republicans are poised to take control of the Senate, and the staff attorney helped draft and advance controversial legislation in a reluctant Congress. Nonetheless, the nominee is overwhelmingly confirmed, with Republican votes delivered by a die-hard conservative.

Never in your lifetime? Maybe not, but certainly in mine. And that lawyer now sits on the Supreme Court.

It was a few weeks after Jimmy Carter was defeated by Ronald Reagan in 1980. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) had introduced and piloted one of Carters signature achievements through Congress  the law that opened the established airlines to competition. The man who shaped Kennedys ideas on deregulation and joined his staff to help enact the legislation was a Harvard professor of administrative law named Stephen Breyer. Kennedy wanted to reward him.

I was sitting in my West Wing office serving out my final months as Carters chief domestic policy adviser when the phone rang. It was Kennedy, informing me that there was a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit, which reviews cases in New England. He wanted Carter to nominate Breyer, whom he said was brilliant and had been crucial to our airline deregulation victory.

Flabbergasted, I told the senator that he did not need to convince me of either Breyers qualifications or the central role he played in our legislative achievement. But I said that two hurdles seemed insurmountable. Kennedy asked what they were.

First, I told him there was no love lost by the president toward him; Carter felt that Kennedys challenge to his nomination split the party and helped elect Reagan. Kennedy quickly replied, I know, thats why I called you and not the president. The second was that because the Democrats had also lost the Senate, Strom Thurmond, the South Carolina conservative, was poised to become chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Why, I asked, would Thurmond permit a Democrat to fill a lifetime appellate position just one step below the Supreme Court when he could block Carters appointment, wait a few months and confirm Reagans choice?

Stu, he said, you take care of the president; I will take care of Strom.

Shortly afterward, and with some trepidation, I went to the Oval Office. Mr. President, I began, forget who requested this, but there is a vacancy on the 1st Circuit, and it would be a tribute to you to nominate Steve Breyer. I had written all the reasons the president should nominate Breyer on my trusty yellow legal pad, but Carter stopped me as I started reading out my list. I agree, he said simply. Ill do it.

I called Kennedy to report that I had delivered on my part of the deal  and what about Thurmond? To my amazement, he said that Thurmond would support the nomination and bring the other Republicans along with him. And why, I asked, would he do that? Kennedy explained: Strom likes Steve and feels he has been fair to him and the Republicans. Even though were at opposite ends of the political spectrum, we do these kinds of personal favors for each other for people we feel are qualified.

Breyer later told me that on countless mornings while he worked for Kennedy, he and Kenneth Feinberg  a senior Kennedy aide who later became renowned as a mediator of 9/11 claims and other cases  would have breakfast with Emory Sneeden of Thurmonds staff. They discussed upcoming issues and the different positions of various senators to try to get things to work out smoothly. They also discussed judicial appointments, and when there were differences, they would work out everything in time for the committees closed-door session, when nominees were discussed.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Breyer has told me he feels he probably would never have been picked for the high court by President Bill Clinton if he were not already serving as an appellate judge. During the first confirmation hearings, and later those for his Supreme Court nomination, Thurmond heaped such praise on Breyer that if I had redacted the senators name from the transcript, I might have imagined Kennedy were speaking.

We lived then in a political world far from todays polarized and polluted arena, where what happened with Breyers nomination would be unimaginable. No one can make time run backward, but the example remains of his judicial temperament and the personal courtesy and legislative comity that put him on the bench. May it be restored to our nation one day soon.
Not that anyone should be surprised that the judicial wars went nuclear even before President Obama chose a Supreme Court nominee, but two recent developments drive home the dismal state of affairs.

First, a conservative group launched a television commercial attacking a potential nominee  an unlikely nominee, and yes, weve reached the point of advertising campaigns in advance of judicial nominations.

Jane Kellys sin? Before being named a federal appeals court judge, a position to which she was confirmed unanimously just three years ago, Kelly was a federal public defender, representing a client. Just like the Constitution guarantees.

Second, the Republican National Committee announced that it would team up with another conservative group to mount a comprehensive judicial response effort on the eventual nominee. Were going to vet that person and put their real record on display, said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus. Funny, I thought that was the job of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The combustible circumstances  a tipping-point vacancy in an election year with a Senate controlled by the opposition party  guaranteed Armageddon. Yet the unrelenting, unvarnished, unembarrassed nature of the obstructionism in the four weeks since Justice Antonin Scalias death has been stunning, even for someone who has witnessed the escalation of judicial wars for three decades.

President Obama is considering who to nominate to replace Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. Here are six people he's most likely to choose. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

Consider the Judicial Crisis Networks scurrilous ad attacking Kelly, complete with requisite ominous narration and grainy footage. As a lawyer, she argued that her client, an admitted child molester, wasnt a threat to society, it says. That client was found with more than a thousand files of child pornography and later convicted for murdering and molesting a 5-year-old girl from Iowa. Not a threat to society? Tell your senator, Jane Kelly doesnt belong on the Supreme Court.

How predictable was this? Public defenders represent accused criminals, many of them charged with  many of them guilty of  doing terrible things. The Constitution  you know, the one judges are supposed to strictly construe  guarantees their right to a lawyer. Those lawyers are sworn to be zealous advocates for their clients, even the repulsive ones.

Thus Kelly argued, unsuccessfully, that her client, Casey Frederiksen, should be freed while awaiting trial on child pornography charges, citing a psychologists assessment that Frederiksen did not pose a danger to others, although he had been charged as a 13-year-old with sexual molestation. Frederiksen was eventually convicted of sexually abusing and killing his girlfriends 5-year-old daughter, a crime that occurred before Kellys representation of Frederiksen.

Jane Kellys extreme arguments on behalf of a child predator are just one example of why President Obama should not deny the American people a voice in the selection of the next Supreme Court justice, said the Judicial Crisis Networks Carrie Severino. Her disturbing background is more evidence Obama wants a court dominated by liberal extremists.

Extreme arguments? Disturbing background? A lawyers argument for pretrial release is hardly extreme, nor is serving as a public defender disturbing. Then there is the role of the RNC. The problem is not the partys involvement: Certainly the White House is ramping up an effort to pressure Republican senators up for reelection to act on the nominee. Republicans are entitled to fight back and protect their incumbents.

The difficulty lies in the Senates announced intention to abdicate its role  no Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, no committee vote, no floor consideration, all based on the notion that, when it comes to Supreme Court nominations, the presidents term lasts for three years. As one Iowa voter asked committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) last month, I was wondering if you could enumerate which of the powers of the presidency the Constitution suspends during his final year in office?

The alls-fair attitude toward nominees can be traced to Republicans continued fury at the treatment of Robert Bork in 1987, complete with, yes, incendiary television advertising against the nominee.

So let us remember: Bork was attacked, yes, for a record  on privacy, on civil rights, on free speech  that put him outside the mainstream of American judicial thought. He received a hearing, and, when the committee voted 9 to 5 against Bork, it followed precedent and forwarded his nomination for consideration by the full Senate.

There, Borks nomination was not filibustered  a practice that should be exceptional but has now become the norm. Instead, it was rejected outright, by a vote of 58 (including six Republicans) to 42 (including two Democrats).

If only Republicans would give Obamas nominee the courtesy of being Borked.

Read more from Ruth Marcuss archive, follow her on Twitter or subscribe to her updates on Facebook.
Migrants try to cross a river after leaving the Idomeni refugee camp on Sunday in Idomeni, Greece. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Reading the March 12 front-page article Refugees find perilous escape got them nowhere about the thousands of Syrian refugees who hoped to escape starvation or slaughter, only to be told they will be sent back, makes one think about the ship called the St. Louis.

The St. Louis left Hamburg on May 13, 1939, with 937 mostly Jewish refugees hoping to escape Hitlers Germany. Refused entry in Cuba (except for 28 allowed to disembark), the ship was turned down in the United States, as non-Nordic foreigners were regarded as likely anarchist terrorists.

The boat, today called the ship of the damned, was also turned down by Canada. The British agreed to accept 288 people. The remaining approximately 620 passengers were admitted into France, Belgium and the Netherlands. After the Nazis invaded these countries, all Jews were ordered to the death camps. Of the 620, just 365 survived the war.

With a refugee crisis not altogether different from that of 70 years ago, a mostly Muslim population is seeing the kind of rejection that the Jews found in World War II.

This time, Canada has opened its gates, but the United States looks no better than it did in 1939: The president is accused of treachery any time he mentions allowing large numbers to disembark from the present-day ship of the damned.

The spirit of the St. Louis lives on.

Joel M. Cohen, Washington
VLADIMIR PUTIN once again appears to have surprised the Obama administration, this time with an abrupt announcement of a military withdrawal from Syria. As in several previous instances  his seizure of Crimea and incursion into eastern Ukraine, for example  the White House was caught flat-footed because it deluded itself about Mr. Putins goals and his chances of success. President Obama derided the Russian leap into the war in September as the prelude to a quagmire, just as he proclaimed that the annexation of Crimea and invasion of the Donetsk region would be self-defeating. Yet in Syria, Mr. Putin has accomplished quite a lot, and his gains have come at the expense of U.S. interests and of Mr. Obamas stated goals in the region.

Moscows most obvious achievement has been to reverse the course of the civil war. The regime of Bashar al-Assad, which was reeling last summer, now has a clear upper hand over U.S.-backed rebels. By the Russian account, regime forces have regained control over 400 towns and almost 4,000 square miles of territory; they have cut off the main supply line to the rebel-controlled districts of Aleppo, the countrys largest city. The cease-fire negotiated by Mr. Putins foreign minister with Secretary of State John F. Kerry could lock those gains into place  and government forces have continued to attack key areas during the cease-fire, without consequence.

More broadly, Mr. Putin has succeeded in reestablishing Russia as a power in the Middle East. The United States has been obliged to accept Russia as a co-equal in brokering the cease-fire and a new round of peace talks, and has swallowed Mr. Putins terms  including setting aside a demand that Mr. Assad give up power in the near future. Having shattered the Kremlins diplomatic isolation after the Ukraine invasion and established himself as a key player in determining whether the flow of Syrian refugees to Europe will continue, Mr. Putin is positioned to seek the lifting of European Union sanctions on his regime this summer.

U.S. officials argue that the cease-fire has brought relief to millions of Syrians, as violence has declined and relief convoys have reached besieged areas. But the humanitarian costs of Russias intervention also have been heavy. Human rights groups and other independent observers have charged Russia with deliberately targeting hospitals and food stores and dropping cluster munitions that killed hundreds, if not thousands, of civilians. Russia has paid no price for these crimes.

The withdrawal may suck some wind from the sails of Mr. Assad, who has been ostentatiously promising to reconquer all of Syria. That, too, suits Mr. Putin. Like Ukraine, and Georgia, Syria could best serve his interests as a frozen conflict, where Russia can protect its strategic position in a divided country and exercise a veto over any permanent solution, while avoiding a long-term military commitment. The United States and its allies will be left to carry on the fight against the Islamic State, which will be made considerably more difficult by the Assad regimes survival. Thanks to Mr. Putins intervention, and the United States befuddled response to the Syrian crisis, it is not he but Mr. Obama who is left facing a quagmire.
It was a good night for Donald Trump and an even better night for Hillary Clinton. On one of the most important days of the primary season, the two front-runners continued what has become an inexorable march to their partys presidential nominations and a general election matchup that was unimagined when this campaign began.

For Clinton, it was a night to bounce back after her surprising defeat in Michigan at the hands of Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont last week. She did so in stunning fashion. With questions swirling about her candidacy, Clinton answered her critics with a series of victories that padded a lead in delegates that now has become almost insurmountable.

For Trump, it was a night in which he won at least three states and sent one rival, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, to the sidelines. But Trump was unable to put away a second, Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Like Clinton, the New York billionaire added to his delegate lead over Kasich and his nearest competitor, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. But the overall results still left open the prospect that the GOP nomination will not be decided until the party assembles in July in Cleveland for its national convention.

The night broke early in Clintons direction as she rolled to an overwhelming victory in Florida and followed that quickly with wins in North Carolina and Ohio. Early Wednesday, she added Illinois to her column. The first two were expected, given the makeup of the electorates in those states. Ohios demographics were close enough to those in Michigan to give Sanders hope of a repeat victory, but Clintons success dashed those hopes and blunted whatever momentum he had enjoyed.

The Ohio results represented a back-breaking blow to Sanders. His populist, anti-establishment insurgency has fired the energies of the partys grass-roots progressives, and there is little doubt that he has both the determination and the resources to keep fighting. His campaign has accomplished far more than almost anyone anticipated and he has shaped the issue agenda and the dialogue in the Democratic nomination contest.

For all those assets, Sanders has fallen behind in the unforgiving arithmetic of the way Democrats choose their nominees. Clintons lead has been built by taking advantage of states where the demographics tilt heavily in her favor, particularly those with substantial populations of African Americans, while holding Sanders close in the states he has won.

Clinton holds a lead of nearly 300 pledged delegates, those determined by the results of the primaries and caucuses. That is a bigger lead in pledged delegates than then-Sen. Barack Obama had in his epic battle against Clinton eight years ago. Her lead among so-called super delegates  party leaders and elected officials  is even more overwhelming.

Because Democrats award pledged delegates proportionally, Sanders needs not only a string of victories but also popular vote margins large enough to pick up delegates in bushel baskets, contest by contest. For those who have questioned the quality of Clintons campaign, theres no doubting the effectiveness of her delegate-focused strategy.

Clintons victory speech in Florida gave the clearest sense so far that she now feels confident about how the nomination will end. Her message was aimed at a general-election contest against Trump. She excoriated the Republican front-runner repeatedly, drawing attention to what she called his negative and divisive campaign.

Trumps victories were another reminder of his ability to overcome adversity. For the past five days he has been on the defensive, criticized for encouraging violence against protesters at his rallies. He also was the target of millions of dollars in negative ads in Florida. In the face of that, he swamped Rubio in Rubios home state and won North Carolina and Illinois, as well.

Trump was very much on the mind of Kasich, when he appeared before supporters and promised he would not take a low road to the highest office in the land. Kasich was winless until Tuesday night, and Ohio was a make-or-break test. His ebullience was emblematic of his personality but also underscored Kasichs relief  and perhaps surprise  that he is now one of three remaining candidates for the GOP nomination.

Kasichs path ahead is still perilous. His belief is that the victory in Ohio will fundamentally change the dynamic of the GOP race and that the anti-Trump forces will begin to coalesce around him now that Rubio is out. But there are few states that offer obvious victories.

1 of 40 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  What primary day looked like in Fla., Ill., Mo., N.C. and Ohio View Photos Voters in five states cast their ballets during primaries today. Caption Voters in five states cast their ballets during primaries today. March 15, 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign news conference at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue.

There is no way he can win a majority before Cleveland, and its almost certain that he will not even be the delegate leader by the time the primaries and caucuses end. His real hope for winning the nomination is to seize the prize at the convention in Cleveland. He needs time, and enough victories, to prove his worth and then rely on a deadlocked convention to choose him to prevent Trump from becoming the nominee.

Kasich has yet to prove he is a long-distance runner. That is not the case with Cruz, who like Trump is emblematic of the strength of the outsiders in the Republican race. The Texas senator was at risk of ending the night without a victory, with his last hope coming in Missouri, where he and Trump were in a tight race. The results left him even further behind Trump in delegates.

Cruz could yet become the true challenger to Trump. His campaign has even sketched out a scenario under which he would end up with more delegates than Trump heading into the convention. But that depends on his ability to corner Trump in a one-on-one battle in the remaining states.

Some national polls have shown that when matched head-to-head against Trump, Cruz enjoys more support. That is the foundation on which the Cruz camp is building its strategy for winning the nomination. His advisers see plenty of opportunities ahead and anticipate a big day on June 7, the final day of the primaries, when the biggest prize is California and its 172 delegates.

But that strategy suffered a setback on Tuesday when Kasich won Ohio. Cruzs advisers no doubt were privately pulling for Trump to do to Kasich what he did to Rubio. The Texas senator can ill afford a revived Kasich candidacy.

Cruzs team also is confident that they can outperform Trumps campaign in the combat that will take place at state party conventions over the coming weeks. It will be at those conventions that the delegates will be named. Cruzs team will work every angle possible to fill slots with friendly delegates, even if many are pledged to Trump on the first ballot in Cleveland.

The establishment so far has failed to stop Trump and is now dependent on Kasich to do so. Cruz and his advisers are still trying to isolate Trump to give their strategy the ultimate test. They hope that even establishment Republicans rally behind the Texas senator now that the race is down to three.

Meanwhile, Trump is winning. He wins states, and he wins delegates. He has won in every region of the country, and his appeal to Republicans continues to be cross-cutting. It becomes ever harder to deny him the nomination.
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton and her opponent, Bernie Sanders, spoke about the challenges going forward after primary voters took to the polls in five states on March 15. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton and her opponent, Bernie Sanders, spoke about the challenges going forward after primary voters took to the polls in five states on March 15. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

Hillary Clinton won at least four of five primaries on Tuesday, pushing her closer to the Democratic presidential nomination as her considerably weakened rival Bernie Sanders vowed to press on with his insurgent campaign.

Clinton won big in Florida, North Carolina and Ohio, while claiming a narrower victory in Illinois. Missouri remained too close to call. Sanderss campaign had hoped his raw message of economic justice would prevail in the industrial heartland.

But with her victories, Clinton was on track to collect a large share of the more than 1,000 delegates she still needed to lock up the contest. Sanders ended the day further behind in the delegate count  and needing to win a slew of upcoming states by improbably large margins.

We are moving closer to securing the Democratic Party nomination and winning this election in November, Clinton said at her victory party here Tuesday. As if to prove the point, she quickly pivoted to the Republican front-runner, Donald Trump.

Our next president has to be ready to face three big tasks: First, can you make positive differences in peoples lives? Second, can you keep us safe? Third, can you bring our country together again?

1 of 40 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  What primary day looked like in Fla., Ill., Mo., N.C. and Ohio View Photos Voters in five states cast their ballets during primaries Tuesday. Caption Voters in five states cast their ballets during primaries today. March 15, 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign news conference at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue.

Clintons indictment of Trumps policy positions sounded like a preview of arguments to come.

When we hear a candidate for president call for the rounding up of 12 million immigrants, banning all Muslims from entering the United States, when he embraces torture, that doesnt make him strong, it makes him wrong, Clinton said.

Clinton has been eager to refocus her campaign to confront Trump more directly. But asked Tuesday if she was concerned that a protracted primary fight with Sanders would hobble Democrats ahead of the contest against a Republican nominee, she declined to encourage Sanders to leave the race.

Her campaign emailed a fundraising pitch Tuesday evening warning of the dangers of a Trump presidency and of complacency among Democrats.

Tonight, Donald Trump could become the presumptive Republican nominee for president, the donation request began. Too many Republicans tried to ignore him until it was too late, it said.

Itd be easy for us Democrats to do the same thing now  Trump is so offensive, so vulgar, so self-evidently awful. You could look at him and think, theres no way hell ever get elected, and then just wish him away. But we cant.

Sanders held a rally before about 7,000 people in Phoenix on Tuesday night, a week ahead of Arizonas primary.

He said his campaign had defied all expectations but made no mention of the three states that had already been called in Clintons favor.

What excites me so much as I go around the country is to see the incredible energy of people who love this country but know we can do so much better, Sanders said to loud screams.

In a statement several hours later, Sanders vowed to fight on, saying: With more than half the delegates yet to be chosen and a calendar that favors us in the weeks and months to come, we remain confident that our campaign is on a path to win the nomination.

Some of his die-hard supporters expressed hope that he could still pull out the nomination.

I still think the revolution is coming, said James Homan, 55, a sound engineer for rock musicians, who has homes in Illinois and Arizona.

Homan expressed frustration that, as he saw it, the fix was in for Clinton among Democratic Party leaders, but he said he could see paths for Sanders to prevail, including the possibility of more fallout from the FBI investigation into Clintons use of a private email server while she was secretary of state.

Democratic primary voters were split on the candidates key attributes, with Clinton seen as more electable and Sanders as more honest, according to preliminary exit polls reported by ABC News.

By roughly 2 to 1, voters across Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, Illinois and Missouri said Clinton had a better chance than Sanders of beating Trump in a general-election matchup. But roughly 8 in 10 said Sanders was honest and trustworthy, compared with about 6 in 10 who felt that way about Clinton. Sanders has dominated among honesty-focused voters all year, while Clinton has won by a wide margin those who care more about electability.

Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, had scored an upset victory last week against Clinton in Michigan and saw Tuesdays contests as a chance to pull off more come-from-behind wins in states where voters feel damaged by globalization.

Repeating his playbook from Michigan, Sanders hit Clinton hard on her past support for disastrous trade deals, starting with the North American Free Trade Agreement when her husband was in the White House.

After Clintons loss in Michigan called her economic message into question, her campaign moved to retool her stance on trade by strengthening her opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership and emphasizing support for manufacturing in her jobs plan. In Ohio, Clinton took specific aim at elements of the pending trade package seen as harmful to the auto and steel industries.

Just over half of Ohio Democratic primary voters said free trade takes away U.S. jobs, according to the early exit polls. In Michigan, Sanders won among voters with that view by double digits. The anti-trade cohort was slightly larger in Michigan (57 percent) than in most states voting Tuesday, with less than half of Democrats in Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina saying trade costs U.S. jobs.

In Youngstown, Ohio, Dave Williams, 52, cast a ballot for Sanders.

I lost my house when the stock market crashed, said Williams, a member of the local cement finishers union. Im an angry voter, how bout that? Im angry about the way the country is working for the blue-collar worker. Hillary gets a big, fat zero on that.

In Missouri, Sanders aides were optimistic in part because much of the state closely resembles Kansas, where the senator easily defeated Clinton in the Democratic caucuses early this month. Its worth noting, however, that Missouri was the smallest of the Democratic delegate prizes Tuesday.

Before the polls closed in Missouri, Clintons campaign announced that she had been endorsed by the mother of Michael Brown, the teenager whose 2014 shooting by police in Ferguson, Mo., brought more attention to officer-involved slayings of unarmed black men.

Multiple polls in the days leading up to Tuesdays contests showed Sanders closing in on Clinton in the three states in the industrial Midwest.

In Chicago, where Clinton spent her childhood, Sanders sought to leverage support from voters disenchanted with the tenure of the citys embattled Democratic mayor, Rahm Emanuel, a Clinton ally. Emanuels approval ratings have dropped to all-time lows amid controversies over a police shooting and school closings, and his popularity with African American voters has taken an especially big hit.

In the closing days of the race, Sanders blasted Emanuels decision to close schools in predominantly black and Latino neighborhoods, and Sanders ran television ads featuring some of the mayors critics.

And Tuesday, Sanders had breakfast with Cook County Commissioner Jesus Chuy Garcia, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor against Emanuel in the Democratic primary last year.

Clintons lead in Florida was never in doubt, and she ended up capturing almost the same number of votes as the Republican winner, Trump  perhaps a preview of how competitive the state will be in November.

Florida posed several challenges for Sanders. It held a closed primary, meaning independent voters, who have propelled him to victory in other states, were not allowed to participate. The states voting population also includes a large number of older voters, who have sided with Clinton in previous contests.

Sanderss aides have argued that the back half of the nominating calendar is more favorable to him, with several potential victories in the West and no contests remaining in the Deep South, which has been Clintons strongest region by far.

Sanders thinks he is well-positioned in all three states with contests next Tuesday: Arizona, Idaho and Utah. His decision to spend election night in Arizona signaled his intention to vigorously contest that state in the coming week.

Scott Clement contributed to this report.
Here's a look at some of Merrick Garland's high profile work on the Oklahoma City bombing investigation.

Here's a look at some of Merrick Garland's high profile work on the Oklahoma City bombing investigation. Top left: Nicholas Kamm/Getty; background: Bill Waugh/AP

Before Merrick Garland was announced as President Obamas nominee to the Supreme Court, he was a prosecutor and the linchpin in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing investigation and ultimate convictions of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols.

Before Merrick Garland was announced as President Obamas nominee to the Supreme Court, he was the linchpin in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing investigation and ultimate convictions of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols.

Before Merrick Garland was announced as President Obamas nominee to the Supreme Court, he was the linchpin in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing investigation and ultimate convictions of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols.

Merrick Garland has the opportunity to become not only the newest member of the Supreme Court but also its most influential, taking a spot at the courts center now reserved for Justice Anthony M. Kennedy.

If the 63-year-old Garland is confirmed by the Senate  and there is no bigger if in all of Washington politics  he would help fulfill President Obamas goal of remaking the court and become a part of a five-member liberal majority chosen by Obama and President Bill Clinton.

Garlands replacement of conservative icon Antonin Scalia would be the most significant shift on the Supreme Court since Clarence Thomas was confirmed in 1991 to replace the liberal civil rights giant Thurgood Marshall.

But more than that, Garland could occupy the pivotal role as the court considers the most controversial cases of the day: affirmative action, abortion, gun rights, campaign finance regulation, the death penalty.

For a decade, a version of that role has been played by Kennedy, the most powerful of the nine justices and the one who most often casts the deciding vote when the courts conservatives and liberals deadlock.

In a surprise move, President Obama has selected appeals court judge Merrick Garland to replace Justice Antonin Scalia. The Post's Jerry Markon explains the possible strategy behind his choice. (Claritza Jimenez,Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post)

Just as Kennedy is to the left of the rest of the courts Republican-nominated conservatives  and thus the justice most often in play  most scholars of the court think that Garland would probably be just to the right of all of the courts liberals.

No one knows for sure. But a review of his record on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and interviews with those who have watched him for years as a prominently mentioned Supreme Court hopeful see someone whose instinct is for the middle.

If confirmed, hell surely become the swing vote in most of the highly politicized cases, but more because he is a centrist than because he vacillates between more progressive and more conservative ideals, said Stephen I. Vladeck, a professor at American Universitys Washington College of Law who watches closely the work of the D.C. Circuit, of which Garland is chief judge.

Like others, Vladeck is most struck by the lack of controversy in a judge who has been on the bench nearly 20 years.

Chief Judge Garlands jurisprudence is the epitome of centrist, case-by-case adjudication  not because he lacks deep methodological commitments, but because hes never been prone to go out of his way to wax philosophical about those commitments, he said. He has a remarkable dearth of separate opinions, and even his majority opinions tend to be fairly efficient, technical resolutions of the legal questions before him.

Moreover, Garland is well known to the Supreme Court. More than 40 of his clerks have gone on to clerk for the justices, about a quarter of them for conservative members of the court. Such cross-pollination is increasingly rare.

Many fine Supreme Court justices took time to get their bearings, said Justin Driver, a University of Chicago law professor who clerked for Garland and Justices Sandra Day OConnor and Stephen G. Breyer.

President Obama is nominating Merrick Garland to replace Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. He introduces himself in this White House video. (White House)

That would not be him, Driver said. He would hit the ground running.

Garland is known as a technical craftsman, with careful opinions that follow rather than push back at precedents either at his own court or the Supreme Court. He ranked in the top 10 percent of judges appointed in 1997 or after in a measure of both the quantity and quality of their work, according to an analysis by Ravel Law, a legal research and analytics start-up.

Despite nearly two decades on what is often called the second-most-important court in the country  its judges often are nominated to take the next step to the high court  he has relatively few controversial rulings.

The court often hears important government and regulatory cases but is rarely called upon to decide dramatic social issues such as affirmative action, abortion, same-sex marriage or the death penalty. Those have become staples at the Supreme Court.

Conservatives acknowledge they have come up with a limited list of complaints. Edward Whelan, president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative think tank that is normally a scourge of liberal jurists, acknowledged in a conference call with reporters that the only criticism Id make of him is that hes a liberal.

Carrie Severino of the conservative Judicial Crisis Network criticized Garland as anti-Second Amendment. In 2007, he voted with the losing side on whether the entire D.C. Circuit should review a panels decision that struck down the Districts restrictive gun-ownership laws.

She and Brian Rogers, executive director of the Republican group America Rising Squared, said Garland may be the most anti-gun nominee in decades.

But a Republican judge joined Garland in saying that the landmark ruling about the Second Amendments protection of individual rights should be reviewed. The whole court did not take up the merits of the panels decision. The Supreme Court agreed with the appeals court in a dramatic 5-to-4 decision, with the majority opinion written by Scalia.

But it would probably be just as accurate to describe Garland as the most conservative Supreme Court nominee by a Democratic president in decades. His prosecutor background and some of his rulings on the D.C. Circuit indicate that he would not take uniformly liberal positions on criminal justice issues; on the circuit, he is more likely to side with the government than his liberal colleagues.

He is also deferential to government agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, and his rulings on labor issues are supported by unions. Liberal groups that might have wanted a more outspoken champion nonetheless say privately that they are confident that Garland would move the court in their direction.

That was Whelans point, too: When it comes to the Supreme Court, a supposed moderate liberal is as good as any other kind of liberal.

Garland has always been seen as the safe nomination that Obama kept in his back pocket. The president acknowledged that he considered Garland twice before and, with a Democratic-controlled Senate, opted instead for Sonia Sotomayor and then Elena Kagan.

Garland looks more like a left-leaning version of Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.: a Midwesterner with double degrees at Harvard who clerked for the same circuit judge, moved on to work for Supreme Court justices, served on the D.C. Circuit and made friends on both sides of the aisle.

No one seriously doubts that Garland would move the court to the left and that his presence holds the promise for a reversal of the courts trends on issues such as voting rights, environmental issues and, perhaps, campaign finance regulation.

That is why the fight over his nomination is likely to be so fierce.
Hillary Clinton is seen aboard the campaign bus in Cleveland on the third day of a bus tour through Pennsylvania and Ohio.

July 31, 2016 Hillary Clinton is seen aboard the campaign bus in Cleveland on the third day of a bus tour through Pennsylvania and Ohio. Melina Mara/The Washington Post

The former secretary of state, senator and first lady is the Democratic nominee for president.

Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton visits key states in her quest to become the Democratic nominee for president.

Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton visits key states in her quest to become the Democratic nominee for president.

Trailing in the hunt for delegates but still winning important state contests, the No. 2 Democrat in a hard-fought primary had this to say about whether it was time to withdraw to make way for the front-runner: The more people get a chance to vote, the better it is for our democracy.

That was not Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont in 2016. It was Hillary Clinton in 2008, answering calls in March that year to pull out and endorse then-rival Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. She refused to leave the race until June.

Now, its Clinton who is far ahead in the delegate count and, as her campaign aides regularly say, nearing the point at which it would be functionally impossible for Sanders to catch her. And now its Sanders who is making the argument that voters should have a choice  and that a narrow path to victory remains for him.

What excites me so much as I go around the country is to see the incredible energy of people who love this country but know we can do so much better, Sanders said Tuesday night, when Clinton won four of five states, inching ever closer to locking up the Democratic nomination. The fifth state, Missouri, remained too close to call on Wednesday.

[Clinton ahead in Missouri, but race in limbo pending decision on a recount]

All of it puts Clinton in an uncomfortable bind: eager to turn her attention to the general election and the Republican front-runner, Donald Trump, but loath to alienate Sanderss supporters by urging him out of the race.

Where we stand right now, as of now, before weve gotten the results tonight, Ive gotten more votes than anybody, including Donald Trump, Clinton said Tuesday. I think Im ready to take him on if he is in that position.

If anything, Clinton is uniquely prepared to face this moment. Her team includes veterans from both her and Obamas 2008 campaigns. They see no advantage in pressing Sanders to drop out, and they know that she fell short eight years ago in part by focusing on state victories instead of the delegate count. The central lesson of 2008, they say, is for Clinton to keep her head down, stay the course and do the math.

Its the complete role reversal, said Neera Tanden, a senior aide to Clinton in 2008 and a supporter and sometime-adviser now. She learned a really central lesson then, which is delegates matter the most. In fact, its the only thing that matters. And she has run her campaign accordingly.

Clintons team had been hoping Tuesdays primaries in big, delegate-rich states such as Florida, Illinois and Ohio would be the tipping point after which Sanders would have no real path to the nomination. In a memo to supporters Wednesday, Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook called her lead commanding.

Hillary Clintons pledged delegate lead grew by more than 40 percent, to a lead of more than 300, Mook wrote. Sanders is now overwhelmingly behind . . . and without a clear path to catching up, he asserted.

Nonetheless, Sanders made it clear Tuesday night, again, that he intends to remain in the race through the Democratic National Convention in July. He thinks the second half of the primary calendar, starting now, favors him. The Clinton campaign is planning for him to be a force at least through the spring.

Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton and her rival, Bernie Sanders, spoke about the challenges going forward after primary voters took to the polls in five states on March 15. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

Clintons own experience is part of the reason she has offered no advice on how long Sanders should remain in the race.

I absolutely respect Senator Sanders. He has a right to run his campaign in any way that he chooses, and Im proud of the campaign weve run, Clinton said Tuesday.

Her wrenching loss in 2008 came after a campaign sustained by intensely committed supporters  a parallel to the zeal of the Sanders throngs now. With that in mind, Clinton is careful to say that Sanders should run as long as he chooses, although she has exhorted her own supporters to turn out in force and perhaps hasten his exit.

I remember those days well, said a senior Clinton aide who worked on the Obama campaign in 2008. We thought then, and its the same thing we think now: The other candidate has a total right to stay in. It would be untoward, not to mention that it would alienate a lot of people, for us to encourage them to drop out.

Clinton knows better than most that Sanders has very little incentive to cede the nomination to her early.

If we go to the end, we go to the end, Clinton said in Tampa last week. Just as I did in 2008.

There is also the view that a sustained nominating process will make her stronger by forcing her to examine her weaknesses and hone her message. Even though Sanders is costing her money and perhaps scraping her up some, many of her advisers and uncommitted Democrats caution that, as long as the Democratic contest remains largely civil, there is no hurry to end it.

Its really refining both of the campaign messages, and they are talking about things that people really care about, said David Pepper, chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. I think its good, as long as we continue to have a substantive debate about who best can carry on the legacy of the president.

After Clinton dominated the South Carolina primary in late February, she began pivoting to take on Trump. But after her stinging loss in Michigan last week, she campaigned hard against Sanders in the five states that voted Tuesday: Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio and Missouri.

For instance, the former secretary of state has moved to fortify her opposition to the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, a position Sanders suggests is a johnny-come-lately shift born of political expedience. Clinton has also focused on bringing back manufacturing jobs, but she has resisted the urge to shift her campaigns message too much away from the strategy she intends to deploy in the race against the Republicans this summer.

She has had little choice. As Clinton did in 2008, Sanders is mounting an aggressive challenge that appears to set aside the issue of delegate math. In recent days, he has bored in on Clintons record on trade issues, a vulnerability in economic Rust Belt states including Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Tommy Vietor, who worked for Obama in 2008 and backs Clinton now, said the long slog through the spring made Obama a better candidate and will do the same for Clinton this year.

The longer exposure to Sanders, and what Vietor described as his completely unrealistic agenda, may also give some voters time to reassess  even though he and other Clinton supporters acknowledge that her message of preparation and practicality can sound dull by comparison.

I think the key is she has done a very good job, especially lately, of pushing back but not getting to the point where you turn off his supporters, Vietor said.

The senior Clinton aide, who spoke candidly on the condition of anonymity, said those supporters, many of them young, idealistic and new to the political process, should have the chance to vote for the candidate who energizes them. Clinton is counting on the fact that most such supporters, given the chance to dance with the one that brung ya in their states primaries, would then support her in November.

A narrow path is a very different thing than no path to the Democratic nomination, the Clinton aide said. It bears remembering, he added, that Clinton won a big victory in Pennsylvania in late April 2008, temporarily setting Obama back on his heels.

Still, Mook, Clintons campaign manager, responded to Clintons setback in Michigan by simultaneously congratulating Sanders and saying that the victory would be meaningless in the end.

Sanders would have to win so many contests in such an improbably lopsided fashion from here on out now that the die is cast, Mook told reporters the morning after Clintons loss in Michigan. While Clinton is strategically racking up the delegates who ultimately determine the winner, Sanders is focused on winning a few selected states, Mook said.

That argument is even stronger this week, when Clinton appears poised to register a sweep of all five states contested Tuesday.

You have to set a 50-state strategy, said Robert Wolf, a former chairman of UBS who was an economic adviser for Obama in 2008 and now advises Clinton. I think that whether you like it or not, you cant change what your vision is for each and every state.

For the presidents campaign in 2008 and now the secretary, when youre running a 50-state primary, it is the way you have the best opportunity to win and then run in the general. You have to look at the issues that have the largest themes and have the largest impact.

Privately, Clinton backers concede that the math is on my side is not a very compelling message when compared with Sanderss call to the ramparts for economic justice.

But theyll take it, and many are not surprised to find themselves here.

Nothing is ever easy with the Clintons, said one senior Democrat with long ties to Clinton and her husband who spoke on a similar condition of anonymity. Shes going to grind it out. Its like crawling through glass with them. Shell get to the promised land, but its going to be a slog.
John Kasich speaks as his wife, Karen, looks on during an election night rally in Berea, Ohio, on March 15, 2016. (David Maxwell/European Pressphoto Agency)

Gov. John Kasich won his home states winner-take-all primary on Tuesday, rescuing his campaign for the presidency and becoming the last Republican candidate acceptable to the partys nerve-racked establishment.

Tomorrow, Im going to Philadelphia, he said at a victory party at Baldwin Wallace University in Clevelands suburbs. Were going to go all the way to Cleveland and secure the Republican nomination.

It was Kasichs 24th consecutive win in Ohio politics; to ensure it, he stormed the state for five of the six days after his close third-place showing in Michigan. Kasich built a small lead in public polls, while reporters reminded him of his promise to roll up the carpet if he lost Ohio.

In the end, it was close but decisive. Kasich dominated Trump in the cities and suburbs of Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati. Trump drew closer in areas where the economy had been slow to recover from the 2008 recession, and he defeated Kasich in the southeastern counties where manufacturing and coal jobs had been disappearing since the 1970s.

Kasichs personal popularity in the state allowed him to overcome hurdles that had stopped him elsewhere. In exit polls, Kasich won 31 percent of the vote among very conservative Republicans, a group in which he had averaged just 5 percent support across all contests. More than half the Republican voters in Ohio said they would not support Trump in a general election, the highest of any March 15 state.

Kasich and Trump were both helped by Democrats who crossed into the Republican primary, some of them to stop the national front-runner and some to aid him. But Kasich ran strongest with those voters, winning 56 percent support to Trumps 41 percent.

Hes going to be very helpful to Donald, said Jeff Roe, campaign manager for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), a rival for the GOP presidential nomination, before Kasichs Ohio victory was official. He does not help us.

In a campaign memo Tuesday night, Kasich strategist John Weaver pointed to internal data that found supporters of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) would break to the Ohio governor by 3 to 1. With the electoral map shifting significantly in our favor, Governor Kasich is positioned to accumulate a large share of the almost 1,000 remaining delegates, he said.

Kasich, who trails Cruz in cash on hand, told The Washington Post this week that the fundraising side of this thing would improve after an Ohio win.

The Kasich crossover voters Tuesday night included people such as Scott Ross, 63, a retired businessman in Olmstead Township who decided only in the past week to back his governor.

In any election, you want to have the most competent people running, he explained. He deserves a chance to get his message to the rest of the country. More people should hear it.

In his victory speech, Kasich thanked crossover voters, crediting them with rejecting socialism in the Democratic Party.

1 of 40 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  What primary day looks like in Fla., Ill., Mo., N.C. and Ohio View Photos Voters in five states cast their ballots during primaries today. Caption Voters in five states cast their ballets during primaries today. March 15, 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign news conference at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue.

I want to thank them for coming over in this election and putting their confidence in me, because I think we all know that conservative principles can work, and common sense can work, he said.

Before 2016, the idea of Democrats backing Kasich to save the Republican Party from its extreme would have been risible. A deeply conservative member of the House, Kasich briefly hosted a Fox News talk show, worked at Lehman Brothers, then returned to Ohio to win the governors mansion in the tea party wave.

But Kasichs image since then, molded both by reality and his campaign team, had set him apart. Kasich is one of relatively few Republican governors to accept the Medicaid expansion of the Affordable Care Act, and he ended up besting rivals who did not  and Rubio, who worked in the Senate to repeal the law.

On the stump, and in his victory speech, Kasich spent more time talking about togetherness than doctrinaire conservatism. In his first moment of triumph of the primaries, he even joked along with a heckler who shouted Trumps name.

When you went to college in the 1970s, you appreciate a good protest, Kasich said.

Kasichs Wednesday morning trip to the Philadelphia suburbs is what his campaign expects to be the start of a run through the later and more moderate primaries, such as Pennsylvanias, and in heretofore-ignored places such as Delaware, Connecticut and Wisconsin.

I think the issue in Pennsylvania is going to be who can beat Hillary Clinton, said former congressman Bob Walker, Kasichs Pennsylvania chairman. The numbers in this state are just phenomenal on that count. John has the ability to win in places like the Philadelphia suburbs, and in the western part of the state, where hes from, and where Republicans are winning now.

Some evidence for Kasichs suburban strategy emerged in the nights less-watched primaries in Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina. In the latter state, where Kasich did not really compete, he fared well in the suburbs of Charlotte. In early results from Illinois, Kasich ran second to Trump, and far ahead of Cruz in the greater Chicago counties of Cook, DuPage and Lake.

Such numbers, repeated in other states, would effectively end any candidates shot at coming to the Republican National Convention with the 1,237 delegates needed for a first-ballot nomination. In a campaign memo, Kasichs campaign flatly stated that no campaign could achieve that number, thanks to the Ohio win.

Theres going to be a contested convention, no question about that, said former New Hampshire senator Gordon J. Humphrey, a Kasich endorser who moved to Michigan and then Ohio to campaign for him. I dont want to hear any talk about people getting scared and forming a third party. That would be fatal.

Yet one reason Kasich avoided the fate of Rubio was that little money, or time, had been spent to tarnish his image. This week, in an interview with The Post, Kasich was reminded that Trump had never coined a nickname for him, along the lines of Little Marco Rubio or Lyin Ted Cruz.

He calls me the governor, Kasich said.

Philip Rucker, Dan Balz and Scott Clement contributed to this report.
MIAMI  Marco Rubio  the youthful Cuban American senator once seen as the standard-bearer of a more inclusive Republican Party but who struggled to excite voters  suspended his campaign for president Tuesday night after badly losing his Florida home state primary, sending mainstream Republicans scrambling again in their urgent mission to stop Donald Trump.

Rubios decision marked an embarrassing blow to dozens of prominent elected officials and donors who backed him. His departure narrows the GOP field at the moment to three: Trump, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

America is in the middle of a real political storm, a tsunami, and we should have seen this coming, Rubio told supporters in announcing his departure from the race, saying the politics of resentment that swamped his campaign. But I chose a different route and Im proud of that.

The conclusion of Rubios bid follows a dismal primary record in which he won only three contests and trailed far behind Trump and Cruz. Rubio is not running for reelection for his Senate seat, leaving his future cloudy.

Rubio built his campaign on an optimistic and forward-looking new American century theme meant to convince voters that he was fresh and likeable  and that his opponents were stale and less relatable to everyday Americans.

The Fix's Chris Cillizza breaks down why Marco Rubio was never going to be president. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

[Inside Rubios collapse: A fateful decision that helped unravel his campaign]

But his campaign proved to be badly out of step with a restive Republican electorate that gravitated to the angriest candidates in the pack: Trump and Cruz. Rubio failed to adapt to the prevailing mood; he never seemed sure about how to deal with Trumps unlikely rise and late-race efforts to take on him and Cruz fell short.

He also lacked a concrete base of supporters. Polls consistently showed he was the second choice for many voters  a role he seemed content to play, wagering that he would be poised to capitalize as the field narrowed. He pitched himself to Christian conservatives, defense hawks and suburban centrists, all while staking out hard-right positions on issues such as abortion and gay marriage. He treated each of the four early states as equal priorities. He tried to be many things to many people.

Rubios decision to ambush Trump in a late February debate and fling personal insults at him in the days afterward was a pivotal moment in his campaign. After an initial burst of attention, the bottom fell out in a series of nominating contests as voters abandoned a candidate who had long banked on his broad likability to lift him to the top.

Hostility works for some people. It doesnt work for everybody, Trump said last week about Rubio.

Rubio spent the closing days of his campaign hyper-focused on Florida, where he first arrived on the national political scene in 2010 as a tea-party star who felled a popular governor in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. But Rubio remained far behind Trump in most polls, and his final events in the state had a wistful and funereal quality similar to the last days of another failed 2016 candidate, former Florida governor Jeb Bush.

[The last days of Marco Rubio]

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks during a campaign rally at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Monday. (Paul Sancya/AP)

Once regarded as a rising star in his party  Time Magazine dubbed him the Republican Savior in a 2013 cover story  Rubios political future is now uncertain. Some see him as a potential vice presidential nominee or a Florida gubernatorial hopeful in 2018.

Throughout his presidential campaign, Rubio couldnt shake a boom-and-bust cycle that prevented him from becoming a breakout star. He launched his run with a well-received speech at Miamis historic Freedom Tower, where the federal government once processed Cuban immigrants fleeing the regime of Fidel Castro. But then he hunkered down to focus on fundraising, leaving only a light footprint in the early nominating states during the summer and disappointing prospective supporters eager to see more of him.

In August, Rubio emerged as the star of the first debate and won rave establishment reviews in others that followed. But he repeatedly followed up his strong showings on stage with a quiet presence on the campaign trail, leading even some supporters to question how hard he was willing to work.

A stronger than expected third-place showing in Iowa on Feb. 1 gave Rubio a boost heading into New Hampshire, which voted eight days later. Then came disaster: During a Feb. 6 debate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie mocked Rubio for mechanically repeating himself. Democrats piled on, dispatching staffers to follow him around dressed as robots. Rubio finished a disappointing fifth in the Granite State.

He resurrected his campaign in South Carolina, where he opened himself up to the press, landed the endorsement of popular Gov. Nikki Haley and studiously stayed on message. He finished second to Trump and ahead of Cruz, who his aides felt they effectively branded as a dishonest candidate.

South Carolina would be the final place Rubio would have anything to celebrate. In the more than two dozen contests after that, Rubio notched just three victories  in Minnesota, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia  falling way behind Trump in the delegate tally.

[Spray tans, pants-wetting and little hands: The GOP race goes in the gutter]

In a Feb. 25 debate, Rubio went hard after Trump, a choice that may have sealed his fate. After avoiding a fight with the front-runner for months and hoping to hold his fire until the field narrowed, Rubio unleashed an uncharacteristic rush of attacks. He deepened them over the next three days, hitting Trump for his spelling errors on social media, accusing him of using spray tanner and calling out Trumps small hands as suggestive of his manhood.

The following Tuesday, Rubio won just one state while Trump won seven and Cruz scored three wins. A week later, his showing was even worse. In Michigan and Mississippi, he finished last and was shut out of winning any delegates.

Rubios campaign team, a small and tight-knit group that prided themselves on not talking about its strategy to the media on the record, operated under the belief that Rubios skills as a candidate were its best assets and that through exposure to enough voters, he would win over Republican voters.

They also banked on his personal story  he often told supporters he was the son of a bartender and a maid  and his general election pitch would carry him across the finish line in the GOP primary.

But it never really worked. Marta Hernandez, 70, a supporter who came to see Rubio campaign last week near Miami, expressed regret over that.

Its disappointing that people havent been able to see his worth, Hernandez said.

Ed OKeefe in Miami contributed to this report.
Marco Rubio had finished speaking at a South Carolina brewery last July when a crowd of people eager to talk to him closed in. Among them was a TV reporter.

Rubios team wasnt happy. His personal aide was visibly frustrated as he tried to catch the eye of the Florida senators press secretary. As with all Rubio events, interactions with reporters were only supposed to take place at a designated time and place, not on the fly. For a brief moment, they had lost control of the situation.

It was a telling occurrence in Rubios 11-month presidential campaign, which ended here Tuesday night after an embarrassing blow-out defeat in his home state. One of the cornerstones of Rubios campaign was its hawk-like protection of virtually everything the candidate said and did.

The caution showed in his public remarks, which stuck studiously to the message he was trying to emphasize. It showed in his relationship with the press, which was mostly limited to brief press conferences and select interviews. It showed in his interaction with voters, which was minimal compared to some rivals. It showed in his carefully constructed rallies and town hall meetings, where questions and audience participation were limited while technical elements such as lighting and sound were first-rate.

But in the final two months of his campaign, the closed-off strategy caused Rubio problems  and when he deviated from it, the results were generally positive. The contrast raises the question of whether Rubio would have been better off opening himself up more from the beginning.

The Fix's Chris Cillizza breaks down why Marco Rubio was never going to be president. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

One typical encounter came in New Hampshire on Feb. 2, just hours after a stronger-than-expected third-place finish in Iowa. As he met with voters at a diner, a Bernie Sanders supporter tried to position herself to ask him a question about nuclear weapons. Rubios staffers  clearly worried about an awkward encounter unfolding in front of a pack of reporters  asked her to let him continue meeting with other voters. She wasnt happy.

[Rubios demise marks the last gasp of GOP reboot]

Rubio acknowledged the woman and her friends, also Sanders supporters. Let me say Hi to these people, he said. But an aide signaled Rubio not to engage with the group. Ill see you guys in a second, he said as he walked to a camera to do a TV interview. He didnt see them again.

The biggest crack in Rubios extra-cautious strategy arrived in a debate a few days later when New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie mocked Rubio for robotically repeating his talking points. The damage helped knock Rubio down to fifth place in New Hampshire.

After that dismal performance, Rubio tried a new approach. On a flight to South Carolina the day after the New Hampshire primary, he took questions from reporters for 45 minutes on his campaign plane, stepping away only after there were no more inquiries. During the next couple of days in South Carolina, he chatted with reporters over lunch and invited them to interview him on flights around the state.

Throughout it all, there were no gaffes. No off-message moments.

Rubio rebounded to a strong second-place finish in the South Carolina primary, and afterward the access to him was once again more limited. Then he started losing again. In state after state. Suddenly, his campaign was on its last legs, admittedly for many reasons beyond his cautious approach to campaigning.

Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio announced he was suspending his campaign as he took home no wins over this three rivals in five primaries: Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri and North Carolina. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

It seemed clear to his supporters when he arrived here in his home state last week that his days as a 2016 candidate were numbered. His crowds were smaller and less enthusiastic. Rubio himself seemed worn out, his voice hoarse.

[Lifted by the 2010 wave, Rubio was swamped by the tsunami of 2016]

He had a nothing-to-lose attitude similar to the one that came out on the flight from New Hampshire to South Carolina and in the days after. And just like those times, it seemed to light a fire under him.

On Saturday, fielding questions from reporters in Largo, Fla., Rubio flashed his most human moment of the past 11 months, riffing on the deep damage he said he thought Donald Trump has done to the countrys political culture and discourse.

Do you support him as the nominee if hes the nominee? a reporter asked him.

Rubio paused. Then he shook his head. I dont know, he said softly, with a voice full of emotion.

I mean, I already talked about the fact that I think Hillary Clinton would be terrible for this country, he continued. But the fact that youre even asking me that question  I still at this moment continue to intend to support the Republican nominee. But, its getting harder every day.

It was a departure from the many months Rubio spent mostly sidestepping Trump and pivoting back to his own candidacy.

Rubio won positive reviews on social media. Video of the news conference posted on YouTube by Rubios campaign was viewed more than 600,000 times.

But it was too late. The next time Rubio grabbed national headlines was three days later, when he ended his campaign.
After Marco Rubio rode the tea party wave of 2010 to the Senate, he seemed confident he knew what needed to be done.

What Americans are looking for desperately, he said in an electrifying victory speech that blamed Republicans and Democrats for the countrys problems, are people that will go to Washington, D.C., and stand up to this agenda that is taking us in the wrong direction and offer a clear and genuine alternative.

On Tuesday night, Rubio took the stage again in his home state, this time humiliated  his presidential aspirations vanquished by the same voters who had propelled him six years earlier.

The fresh-faced newcomer who promised to shake up Washington and remake the Republican Party was swamped by a wave even bigger than the one that boosted him in 2010  a real tsunami, as he described it in his concession speech.

Now, the 44-year-old Rubio, who is not running for reelection to the Senate, faces an uncertain political future with no obvious path for a comeback.

To many Republicans here, Rubios devastating defeat in his home state to Donald Trump was the logical outcome for a politician who failed to follow through on his enormous potential  and never built a coherent, lasting coalition of supporters.

In Florida, Washington and the early nominating states, Rubio never constructed a base to keep him afloat when times were tough and to lift him higher when they were good.

Rubios political identity was a blur. He had won in 2010 as a tea party hero, then worked with liberal Democrats on an immigration bill and then emerged as the GOP establishments favorite presidential candidate.

As he ran for the White House, he tried to appeal to many different constituencies and geographic areas, often shortchanging his home state and leaving many activists and voters yearning for more attention.

He rarely toured his home state or championed local needs. He missed many Senate votes. And he struggled to cultivate alliances with Florida political leaders, many of whom were deeply loyal to Jeb Bush and felt bruised by Rubios fierce rivalry with the former governor in the GOP campaign

My concern about Marco Rubio was that he was elected by a very conservative wing of the party, and he didnt do very conservative things, said Mike Levine, chairman of the Lake County Republican Party.

Levine, whose region is a crucial stronghold for the Florida GOP, added, My relationship with Marco Rubio personally is minimal.

The Fix's Chris Cillizza breaks down why Marco Rubio was never going to be president. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

As Mark Meckler, president of the conservative group Citizens for Self-Governance, put it: Hes not purely an establishment guy  he was elected in the tea party wave. But hes also not really of the tea party and never really has been.

The result was that Rubio became the ultimate bandwagon candidate. When he was hot, voters gravitated to him. But he was no match for the allure of Trump.

Rubios lack of a clear identity made it easier for opponents to brand him negatively, especially after Bush bowed out in February.

As these other guys dropped out, people started seeing Marco as the establishment, said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who endorsed Rubio after Bush dropped out. As these establishment candidates were still in, Marco was viewed as somewhat of a rebel.

Just as frustrating, supporters said, was the lack of interest he showed in nurturing key relationships.

Alfonso Aguilar, president of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles who backed Bush and then Rubio, recalled that Bushs campaign frequently reached out to Hispanic conservatives such as himself. But the only time Aguilar was able to reach the senator during his presidential campaign was by accident, aboard a flight to Miami when they ended up next to each other in first class.

That was before the first debate, Aguilar recalled. But he seemed busy with his computer.

During the first few months of his run, Rubios presence on the campaign trail was modest. He focused heavily on raising money, drawing criticism from opponents and even some supporters who argued that he wasnt spending enough time meeting voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

Polls showed Rubio was the second choice for many voters  a role he was content to play, thinking that he would be poised to capitalize as the field narrowed.

He pitched himself to Christian conservatives, defense hawks and suburban centrists all at once, running nuanced TV ads that varied from one state to next. His overarching message, promising a new American century  even though he held mostly orthodox Republican views  was meant to persuade voters that he was fresh and likable, and that his opponents were not.

It was natural for him to do it because it was real, said Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, a Rubio supporter who praised his attempts to unite GOP factions.

But Rubios campaign was badly out of step with a restive Republican electorate, which was drawn to the candidates who seemed to capture the anger of the electorate  Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.). Rubio failed to adapt to the prevailing mood. He never seemed sure about how to deal with Trumps unlikely rise, and his furious assault against Cruz fell short.

Rubio, in an interview before his Tuesday night defeat, defended his approach.

He said that, after New Hampshire and South Carolina, everyone started to wake up to the reality that the majority of Republicans dont want Donald Trump to be their nominee, but all those people are divided.

So Rubio tried to ignore Trump.

Im out there carrying out my own message and trying to convince people to vote for me not against someone else, he said.

A turning point came in late February when Rubio unleashed a string of personal attacks against Trump  first in a debate and then on the campaign trail. It was out of step with his self-described optimistic style, and it turned off many potential backers.

Rubio then drew the ire of Trump, who disparaged him repeatedly as Little Marco, turning the Rubio campaigns branding of Rubio as the more casual Marco into a devastating effort to belittle him.

Rubio lost 10 of 11 states on Super Tuesday five days after the debate. Things got worse from there. Only Puerto Rico and the District gave him victories in the next two weeks.

Rubios strategists think that the Super Tuesday losses and the defeats he suffered the following Saturday effectively ended his chances of competing for the nomination.

At this point, Rubios lack of deep support was becoming increasingly apparent.

Many of his most prominent supporters had only recently jumped on board, having waited until after Bush dropped out last month.

Rubio retuned to Florida in search of salvation. But what he found was a more hostile state than the one that catapulted him onto the national radar. His crowds were small. Bush and many other Florida Republicans did not rise to his defense.

Meanwhile, a new wave fueled by antiestablishment anger had swept across through Florida with Trump as its standard-bearer.

At the start of a campaign stop at a central Florida retirement community on Sunday, Rubio name-checked young rising Republican stars backing him  including South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.)  each from outside Florida. He mentioned Haley and the governors of Arkansas and New Mexico on Tuesday morning when a local TV news anchor asked whether he was upset Bush hadnt endorsed him.

In ending his campaign Tuesday night, Rubio told supporters at Florida International University that he had endeavored to bridge divisions among Republicans.

His concession speech took place eight miles from the hotel ballroom in Coral Gables where he had declared victory in 2010.

In that speech, Rubio said he was aware that politicians often head to Washington and they dont come back the same way we sent them.

To many Republican voters here, he fit that mold.

I think Rubio was a better candidate when he was first running, said Broward County GOP Chairman Bob Sutton, adding that Rubio had lost his human touch.
Years of carefully laid plans to repackage the Republican Partys traditional ideas for a fast-changing country came crashing down here on Tuesday when Sen. Marco Rubio suspended his campaign for the presidency after a crippling defeat in his home-state primary.

Since Mitt Romneys devastating loss in the 2012 presidential election, the Republican National Committee and leading voices at think tanks, editorial boards and Capitol Hill symposiums have charted a path back to the White House based on inclusive rhetoric and a focus on middle-class issues.

Nobody embodied that vision better than Rubio, a charismatic standard-bearer for conservative orthodoxy who readily embraced the proposals of the rights elite thinkers. The senator from Florida spoke urgently and eloquently about raising stagnant wages and eradicating poverty. He had an immigrants tale to match the rhetoric. And on foreign affairs, he was a passionate defender of the GOPs hawkish tilt.

But Rubios once-promising candidacy, as well as the conservative reform movements playbook, was spectacularly undone by Donald Trump and his defiant politics of economic and ethnic grievance. The drift toward visceral populism became an all-consuming rush, leaving Rubio and others unable to adjust.

The party finds itself catching up to its base. Those very elegant papers it published and conferences it held may have been good and smart, but they didnt really matter, said William J. Bennett, a conservative talk-show host and former education secretary in Ronald Reagans administration. Instead, everyone whos been prominent for the last 15 to 20 years finds themselves getting pushed out.

The Fix's Chris Cillizza breaks down why Marco Rubio was never going to be president. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

Rubios fall comes weeks after others who advocated for conservative reforms, such as former Florida governor Jeb Bush and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, dropped out of the race, and as the donors and institutions who have long supported hawkish fiscal and foreign policies find themselves scrambling to hold onto the consensus that has shaped the GOP for decades.

For many of them, Trump represents a threat to the traditional order of the party and its platform. He does not support overhauling Social Security  a key plank for Romney and GOP congressional leaders  and he was a vocal critic of the 2003 invasion of Iraq in its aftermath, setting him apart from much of the partys high command.

Rubio, whose ascent was propelled by a network of powerful players for years, was supposed to be the candidate best positioned to stop Trump and prevent a Republican rupture.

Rubio was ready and briefed on policy, thats for sure, but I just think he never connected, said former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is friendly with Trump. He sounded like someone who was trying to be a lot for a lot of people. Thats hard to do.

Following Romneys defeat in an election many Republicans thought they should have won, party leaders concluded that the only way to regain the presidency would be to engage the growing and diverse electorate that President Obama had won over twice. The RNC drafted an autopsy that recommended bolstering appeals to women and minority voters, while reform conservatives drafted their own manifesto.

Rubio had been building his base among these Republicans since January 2011, when he began his Senate term. He joined the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and began to speak at think tanks and meet with scholars, most of them former staffers from George W. Bushs administration. He hired a number of them for his own staff.

During his breaks in the Senate, Rubio would often tell colleagues how he was reading papers sent to him from former Republican officials or how he was about to have lunch with another bold-faced name from the Bush years. On his computer, he kept a drop box of related policy files compiled by his advisers.

Meanwhile, a group of writers and intellectuals on the right were frustrated and stewing about the GOPs lack of outreach to working-class voters during Romneys campaign. By 2013, they began to call themselves reform conservatives and sought to turn the party policy discussion away from its emphasis on small business and toward working men and women, as well as families, who were struggling.

As Rubio took the lead on immigration reform that year  a move that riled the hard right  he continued to augment his relationships with reform conservatives who were unveiling plans for new child tax credits and revamped federal subsidies. He put out a book, American Dreams: Restoring Economic Opportunity for Everyone.

Rubio followed a similar path with foreign-policy hawks as they began to look for a favorite ahead of the 2016 contest: a flurry of meetings and op-ed articles and, most critically, solidarity on the issues as they bubbled up.

Although Rubio entered 2015 hobbled with parts of the GOP base because of immigration, he carried goodwill among those two constituencies that were driving the Republican establishment: the reformers and the hawks.

The critique was there: The Republican Party was out of touch, said Peter Wehner, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and former George W. Bush speechwriter. But the breakdown occurred because we got into a cycle where policy didnt matter at all. Policy was not just secondary, but it was almost not even in the conversation. And when people tried to interject policy  whether it was Rubio or Bush or others  there was just no appetite for it. It didnt catch on.

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich said that Rubio campaigned in a way that quickly became obsolete.

Rubio was prepared, much like Jeb Bush, for a reasonable dialogue in Washington policy language, offering positions that reflect 40 years of national security and foreign-policy experts. All of that disappeared. The market didnt care, Gingrich said.

Rubios hawkish foreign policy footing, thought to be an asset, was challenged. Trumps claims of being militaristic even though he was inclined against intervention muddled how voters perceived the candidates, disassociating American power with the hawkish ideology of Rubio and the Bush orbit. Trumps denunciations of George W. Bushs decision to go into Iraq did not make the hawkish cause any easier.

Trump has sounded hawkish without sounding graceful, and hes expressed admiration for authoritarians. So it was a weird mix for all of the candidates, said Kori Schake, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution who has advised Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). At the same time, Republicans are still wrestling with the legacies from the Bush administration . . . and I dont think weve made peace on that.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich, having won his home-state primary on Tuesday, could be someone whom Rubios coalition turns to next, although his maverick style has turned off some in the establishment. Still, he, too, holds hawkish views and has a compassionate pitch on domestic policy with a call to help people living in the shadows.

Stuart Stevens, who served as chief strategist to Romneys 2012 campaign, chalked up Rubios troubles as a sign of a first-time presidential candidate still learning how to run nationally and inspire voters, rather than as a sign of the Republican Partys cracking apart. In a year infused with anger, he said, Rubio failed to meet the moment with the policies he had spent years studying.

Rubio had been told that hes the future of the party. But its not enough to say, I have a great future, vote for me,  Stevens said. You have to do more than use your biography. Youve got to connect your ideas in a real way to the economy. . . . People ended up walking out of Rubio rallies misty-eyed and out of Trump rallies with blood in their eyes.

Whit Ayres, Rubios pollster, spent the past several years compiling data and published a book showing that Republicans could not afford to alienate minority voters, especially Hispanics, if they ever hope to retake the White House. Watching Rubios concession speech on Tuesday night, Ayres was despondent.

After 2012, he said, you thought wed learned our lesson.

Ed OKeefe in Miami contributed to this report.
They are the radioactive questions in home real estate, yet many buyers seem to have no idea about their sensitivity. So they ask their realty agents:

Is this a good neighborhood?

Is it safe?

Are the schools good or the best?

What types of people live here?

Can you show us a neighborhood with large numbers of Catholics (or Asians, Jews, Hispanics, African Americans or some other group)?

Although it may come as a surprise to some home shoppers, certain answers by realty agents could trigger federal and state anti-discrimination legal tripwires. As a result, many agents are hesitant to provide specifics.

Mimi Foster, managing broker with Epic Real Estate Group in Colorado Springs, told me almost every buyer she encounters asks questions of this type. Eighty percent want to know upfront about schools and crime rates.

Of course everybody wants a safe neighborhood, she said. Everybody wants good schools. But whats the meaning of safe? Whats the meaning of good?

[More Harney: Might it matter when you put your house on the market? Zillow says yes.]

It varies from shopper to shopper. For some, the meanings may have no racial or ethnic connotations whatsoever. But for others these can be coded, wink wink queries implying that the agent really knows what good means to the shopper.

We cant answer, Foster said. Its all too subjective. Instead, she refers them to online information sources about whatever theyre asking  websites that rate schools, statistical compilations on crime rates and the like.

Foster says she also gets questions that could be troublesome, such as Is this a family-friendly neighborhood? or others indicating that the shoppers would prefer to be steered away from areas that have lots of kids running around. Either way, she considers family-related questions a no-go subject.

Praful Thakkar, an agent with Keller Williams Realty in Andover, Mass., faces questions from a different angle. Of Indian descent, Thakkar often finds himself guiding around Indian professionals who are considering buying a house in the area.

Its a very common question, he says: Can you tell us how many other Indian families live on this street? Even though he thinks he understands the thrust of the question  Are there people like us around?  he declines to answer directly. Instead, he supplies them a list of the names of current owners on the street, allowing his clients to decide for themselves whether the names are Indian or not.

[More Harney: Realty agents say lenders are refusing to give them closing documents in advance]

Agents such as Foster and Thakkar are hypersensitive because they dont want to run afoul of the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, familial status, disability or handicap. The law is administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Penalties for violating fair housing rules can be costly, so many real estate brokerage firms train agents on what constitutes steering of home-buyer clients as well as what could be interpreted as showing any form of bias against any of the laws protected classes.

Donna Evers, president and broker at Evers & Co. Real Estate, which operates in Washington and surrounding areas, says most of her firms clients avoid asking agents questions with discriminatory overtones, but when they do, we tell them that there are many sources for the statistical information they seek. Its all on the Internet  crime rates, all sorts of data. We say, Go look it up. 

But some fair housing advocates are concerned that agents might engage in a subtle form of racial steering if they refer clients to specific sites that offer highly localized racial and ethnic breakdowns. Lisa Rice, executive vice president of the National Fair Housing Alliance, a nonprofit group that has fielded teams of white and minority testers to detect bias in homes sales, thinks that in the event of complaints against those agents, the fact that they made such specific referrals could be held against them.

So what are home shoppers supposed to do? First and foremost, be aware that any agents you deal with are subject to the Fair Housing Act. Also, most of the data on schools and crime that you might be curious about can readily be found on the Web  it just takes a little searching on any of dozens of sites.

Better to look for the information yourself than to ask agents. They cant make judgments for you and most likely wont give you answers anyway.

Ken Harneys email address is kenharney@earthlink.net.
Two female suicide bombers struck a Nigerian mosque on Wednesday, officials and witnesses said, killing at least 22 people in an attack similar to others carried out by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

The mosque is in the major northern city of Maiduguri, near the site of suicide bombings that claimed 86 lives in January.

There was no claim of responsibility. But sending women and children wrapped with explosives to civilian targets has been a hallmark of some recent Boko Haram attacks. The Nigerian military has forced the terrorist group from much of its territory across the northeast, but Boko Harams ability to carry out devastating attacks appears undiminished.

[Pentagon plans drone bases to track Boko Haram fighters]

So far 22 people have been confirmed dead and 35 others injured, a spokesman for the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Omar, told the Agence-France Presse news agency.

In an interview, an international aid official said the two attackers were women. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to comment on the bombings.

In late January, 86 people were killed in a village just outside Maiduguri in an attack that included three suicide bombers. The assault occurred just a month after a speech by Nigerias president, Muhammudu Buhari, declaring that Boko Haram had been technically defeated.


PFC Matthew Calkins and Specialist Kathleen Erwin of U.S. Eighth Army ride in a Black Hawk helicopter during the wounded soldiers evacuation training on Tuesday, in Pocheon, South Korea. Calkins is disguised as a laryngeal trauma patient and Erwin as an internal bleeding patient. (Shin Woong-jae/For The Washington Post)

The worst cases  those with limbs missing and severe burns  were put on Black Hawk helicopters to the field hospital, while the less urgent ones traveled by military ambulance, stacked on stretchers in the back.

First stop: the outside triage station, where one soldier groaned as medics cut off his fatigues to discover his organs hanging out of his abdomen. (Really, they were condoms filled with Kool-Aid and cocoa, to make the liquid a bit lumpy.)

It wasnt, obviously, a real battle scene  although the American and South Korean soldiers acted as though it was  but rather a two-day medical evacuation drill called Dragon Lift that ended Wednesday, part of joint spring military exercises.

They were simulating their response to an artillery attack from Kim Jong Uns army, on the site of a South Korean military hospital eight miles from the border with North Korea and not far from Uijeongbu, the setting for the Korean War television series M.A.S.H.



A litter team of South Korean soldiers rushes to a triage station carrying a wounded soldier from a Black Hawk. (Shin Woong-jae/For The Washington Post)



A medical squad takes an emergency measure of a soldier whose (fake) organs are protruding from his stomach. The organs are condoms filled with Kool-Aid and cocoa. (Shin Woong-jae/For The Washington Post)

A Black Hawk carrying soldiers disguised as wounded troops lands during the training exercise, as a litter team waits to go into action. (Shin Woong-jae/For The Washington Post)

[In drills, U.S., South Korea practice striking Norths nuclear plants, leaders]

Thirty American and South Korean soldiers in fake blood and ripped uniforms were taken from triage to the emergency room, where doctors and nurses drew blood (for real) from Spec. Kathleen Erwin, who had internal bleeding, and intubated (just pretend) Pfc. Matthew Calkins, who had laryngeal trauma.

In the olive-green tents, there was even a decked-out operating theater, complete with surgeons and an anesthetist.

Once stabilized, the urgent cases were flown to the U.S. Air Force base at Osan and loaded on stretchers into the back of a Hercules  the top stretchers were hanging on hooks seven feet off the ground  for evacuation to Japan.



Four soldiers, disguised as severely injured troops, lie on stretchers hung by hooks up to seven feet off the deck in a Hercules plane. (Shin Woong-jae/For The Washington Post)



A soldier with fake wounds waits while a series of tests is run on him by a medical squad. (Shin Woong-jae/For The Washington Post)

Two soldiers on stretchers play the part of troops who have been severely injured during combat. (Shin Woong-jae/For The Washington Post)

The U.S. military still has 28,500 troops in South Korea  a legacy of the Korean War, which left the peninsula physically and ideologically divided  and they operate under the constant refrain that they should be ready to fight tonight.

These kinds of exercises help the two militaries figure out how to work together, said Lt. Col. D.J. Kimbler, who was overseeing the field hospital. It increases not only our readiness, but it increases the readiness of the alliance and makes us more ready to fight tonight here on the Korean Peninsula, he said.

Twice a year, the American and South Korean militaries conduct joint exercises to prepare for a North Korean invasion or the sudden collapse of the regime.

But this year, the spring exercises are taking place at a particularly tense time: amid international condemnation of the Norths January nuclear test and February long-range rocket launch.



A soldier with fake wounds waits while a series of tests is run on him by a medical squad. (Shin Woong-jae/For The Washington Post)

[Chemical-weapons drill has one perpetrator in mind: North Korea]

The exercises  which include computer simulations of surgical strikes against the North Korean leadership  have elicited an angry response from Pyongyang.

In the latest of its almost-daily denunciations, North Korea said Wednesday that its army was ready to fully counter the nuclear war provocation by the U.S. and its followers.

All the operation groups of the revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK are fully ready to preempt merciless and annihilating strike at the enemies if they show even the slightest sign of provocation, the Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the Workers Party, said in a commentary, using the official abbreviation for North Korea.
Belgian police during raids in Brussels on Tuesday linked to probes into last years Paris attacks. (Thierry Monasse/AP)

Belgiums prime minister said Wednesday that raids against suspected Islamist militants will almost certainly continue following police sweeps in Brussels in which a gunman with apparent Islamic State links was killed.

The announcement came as French police arrested four people early Wednesday morning in Paris and its suburbs, one of whom had been under house arrest on suspicion of being in contact with operatives of the Islamic State militant group.

The level of threat remains high, said French President Francois Hollande. We saw it again in these last few hours in Brussels. And we see it with these arrests. We should have the greatest vigilance possible.

Few details are known about the arrests in France, but Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the three men and one woman  all French-born and ages 21 to 30  were taken into custody for questioning.

We had, regarding one individual detained, reports that he may engage in violent acts in France, Cazeneuve said. This individual could be linked to individuals in Syria belonging to the Islamic State.

A police search of their apartments found an unused Kalashnikov cartridge, USB cards and SIM cards, according to the Associated Press.

Five months after the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, tensions remain high in the French capital, as well as in the Belgian capital, where officials believe the coordinated Paris assault was largely planned.

The prospect of more police action in Brussels suggests that the Belgian capital remains a central focus of investigations into the November attacks  which killed at least 130 people  and wider confrontations against suspected militant networks based in Europe.

Eric Van der Sijpt, a spokesman for Belgiums federal prosecutor, said Belgian authorities have carried out more than 100 house searches since November and arrested 58 people thought to have been involved in the attacks. At least 10 people are still being held.

On Tuesday, a joint French-Belgian operation linked to the Paris investigation moved into a Brussels neighborhood, touching off clashes that left one suspect dead. Authorities identified him as Mohamed Belkaid, a 35-year-old Algerian.

[Brussels neighborhood on lockdown as raids resume]

According to Van der Sijpt, Belkaid was found in an apartment with a Kalashnikov rifle, ammunition and others items, including an Islamic State flag. Belkaid was in the country illegally, Van der Sijpt added, but he gave no further details.

Two other people in the apartment apparently fled during the raids in the area, known as Forest.

[The attacks in Paris]

Police operations [and] investigations are underway and will most certainly continue in the hours and the days ahead, Prime Minister Charles Michel said before a meeting of Belgiums National Security Council. The threat remains present.

Another suspect was apprehended Wednesday, Belgian media reported.

One of the key suspects in the November attacks, the 26-year-old one-time Brussels resident Salah Abdeslam, remains at large.

Read more:

9 young men and their paths to terror in Paris

Is it too late to solve the mess in the Middle East?

The Belgian neighborhood indelibly linked to jihad

Islamic State has increasingly hit soft targets outside of caliphate borders
This is the first vessel in the province manufactured for fishermen under Decree 67/ND-CP of the Government, which provides basic policies to boost fisheries development, including supporting fishermen in building high-capacity, steel-clad boats designed for offshore fishing, a practice that could earn fishermen higher incomes.

Photo: baoquangninh.com.vn

Photo: baoquangninh.com.vn



The vessel, owned by the Do Van Thi family, fishermen in Yen Thanh ward, Uong Bi city, was built at a cost of nearly VND16 billion, of which 95% is from a preferential loan from the Uong Bi city-branch Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV).



It is designed by Vietnam Shipbuilding Techniques Joint Stock Company, registered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and equipped with a fish freezer and cold storage.

The vessel, around 30 meters long, 7.5 meters wide and 3.9 meters high, has an 865 HP engine.

After the launch, the Bien Khoi 69 vessel, with an average speed of 10 nautical miles per hour meeting the I level of the national technical standard, will undergo final adjustments, take its test run, and be ready for final delivery this April.

This modern fishing vessel is expected to help fisherman feel secure in fishing, expanding the traditional fishing grounds, and protecting the sovereignty over the seas and islands as well.

Detailed specifications are: fish storage (93.1 cubic meters), fresh water reserve (73.4 cubic meters), and fuel reserve (63.4 cubic meters), able to meet the needs of a 10-member crew for 30 days./.
A week after European and Turkish leaders reached an ambitious, if legally dubious, plan to address the refugee crisis by sending people back across the sea, obstacles to the deal were piling up on Wednesday, the eve of a summit thats intended to finalize the pact.

The tentative agreement hammered out last week effectively shifts responsibility for the unparalleled flow of migrants into Europe back onto Turkey, the country through which most new arrivals travel on their way out of war zones in the Middle East and Asia.

In exchange for Turkey accepting returnees, Europe has promised billions of dollars in support  plus visa-free travel in Europe for Turkish citizens and revived negotiations to allow Turkey into the 28-member European Union. When the deal was struck, E.U. leaders described it as a potential game-changer after a year in which more than 1 million asylum-seekers landed on European shores.

But in the days since, doubts have been rising over whether either side can keep its end of the bargain.

The roadblocks range from withering assessments by human rights groups to the thorny implications of the pact for decades-old territorial disputes.

European Council President Donald Tusk, left, talks with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades at the Presidential Palace before their meeting in the ethnically divided island's capital Nicosia on Tuesday. (Petros Karadjias/AP)

The most acute threat that the deal could unravel altogether appeared on Wednesday to be coming from the island nation of Cyprus, one of the smallest E.U. members but one for which a warming of relations with Turkey is especially sensitive.

Cyprus has said it will block any attempt to advance Turkeys E.U. membership until Turkey recognizes Cyprus as a state, something Ankara has steadfastly refused to do. The island has been divided since 1974 between a Greek Cypriot south and a militarized Turkish-controlled north.

Cypruss president, Nicos Anastasiades, was expected in Brussels Wednesday night for final talks before the continents other leaders arrive on Thursday. But as of Tuesday, he was showing little willingness to bend, making clear to reporters that he resented E.U. attempts to force him to back down on his veto threat.

The pressure, he said after a Tuesday meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk in the Cypriot capital of Nicosia, was unwarranted, counterproductive and not to mention unacceptable.

Even if Cyprus doesnt ultimately scuttle the deal, myriad doubts remain, reflecting just how delicate the negotiations will be during the two-day summit that kicks off on Thursday.

A proposal to liberalize E.U. visa rules for Turkeys 75 million citizens is especially problematic and could be blocked by a number of countries. The French government, for instance, is believed to be wary given the potential that the far-right National Front could exploit the issue as a security threat in the run-up to presidential elections next year. British campaigners for the country to exit the E.U. in a June referendum, meanwhile, have already begun highlighting a potential flood of Turkish travelers as one more reason why the U.K. should get out.

The visa change would also have to earn support from the European Parliament.

View Graphic Journey alongside refugees through Lesbos, the gateway to a new life

The Turkish government is therefore right to be doubtful as to whether the E.U.  despite the intentions and declarations of its leaders  can and actually will deliver visa-free travel, wrote Mujtaba Rahman, Europe analyst with the Eurasia Group, in a recent research note.

The deal between Turkey and the E.U., Rahman concluded, wont last.

The E.U.s heavy reliance on Turkey as a solution to its refugee woes reflects the level of desperation felt in European capitals as repeated attempts to come to grips with the crisis have fallen flat.

The E.U. and Turkey first struck a deal in the fall under which Europe would pay about $3 billion in exchange for stepped-up Turkish efforts to halt the smuggling of migrants between Turkish and Greek shores.

But so far, theres little evidence the plan is working: The number of people arriving by boat on the Greek islands this year has been 20 times higher than it was during the same period in 2015.

The preliminary deal reached last week adds an additional edge of deterrence, with Turkey agreeing to accept the return of all irregular migrants arriving in Greece. Europe has said it will resettle one Syrian refugee from Turkish camps for every Syrian whos returned to Turkey.

European and Turkish leaders say the plan is meant to discourage people from making dangerous voyages that have claimed the lives of more than 400 migrants this year. But human rights groups have slammed the agreement, saying it would deny people the protections and asylum rights established under international and E.U. law.

In a letter to European leaders this week, Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth Roth cited the contradiction at the heart of this plan between a fast-tracked, blanket return policy and the need to give each asylum-seeker individual consideration.

Even before the plan is finalized, European nations all along the migrant route reacted to its announcement last week by closing their borders  effectively trapping tens of thousands of people in Greece. They remained stuck there Wednesday, with little prospect of making it deeper into Europe.

But speaking from St. Peters Square on Wednesday, Pope Francis urged continental leaders to reconsider.

How is it possible that so much suffering can befall innocent men, women and children? he asked. They are there at the border because so many doors and so many hearts are closed.
Israel President Reuven Rivlin takes part in a wreath-laying ceremony Wednesday at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin wall in Moscow. (Maxim Shipenkov/AP)

Israel viewed Russian President Vladimir Putins announcement that he was removing the bulk of his troops from Syria with a mix of surprise and concern.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin met with Putin in Moscow on Wednesday as part of a visit to mark 25 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

During the meeting, which lasted two hours, Putin reiterated Russias commitment to Israels security, a senior adviser to Rivlin said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the news media.

He said Rivlin made clear Israels concerns regarding the wider regional instability and stressed issues that would constitute red lines in terms of Israels security.

Israeli journalists traveling with Rivlin reported that he spoke to Putin about the possibility of U.N. peacekeeping troops returning to the tense border between Syria and the Israeli-controlled portion of the Golan Heights. It was also reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might soon be heading to Moscow to meet with Putin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Russia will begin pulling most of its military from Syria. (The Washington Post)

[Putin announces Russia will pull most of its military from Syria]

Israelis, like others closely monitoring the conflict, had little understanding of what had driven the Russians to pull back from the fight. But for Israel, which borders Syria on its northern edge, there was fear that a vacuum in the war-torn country could allow Israels enemies  Iran and its Lebanese proxy, the Shiite militia Hezbollah  to gain strength.

Israel not only is anxious about spillover of fighting in southern Syria into the Golan Heights but is also worried about transfers of Iranian and Syrian missiles and weapons to Hezbollah.

Everybody understands that the Islamic State is a danger to the entire world, but for us, fundamentalist Iranian Shiite Islam is no less of a danger, Rivlin said as he left for Russia on Tuesday evening.

Rivlin is the first foreign leader to meet with Putin since he announced the withdrawal from Syria.

Speaking in the Knesset on Tuesday, the Israeli armys chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, said Israeli officials had not received any information in advance about Putins plans to pull out and were as surprised as everyone else. He said it was likely that the Russians would reduce their presence in a gradual manner, maintaining a naval and air base in Syria.

Although Israel has refrained from direct involvement in the five-year-old Syrian conflict, it has been keeping a close eye on the situation there.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin meet in the Kremlin. (Maxim Shipenkov/AP)

Along the demilitarized zone on the Golan Heights, groups for and against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vie for control. Additionally, fighting between rebels and Assad forces often spills over into Israel, with stray rockets or wounded fighters crossing the border.

[Did Putin outwit Obama?]

Moshe Marzuk, a researcher at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism in Herzliya and former head of the Israeli armys Lebanon and Palestinian intelligence division, said there is real concern that Hezbollah has gained strength and valuable military experience from its involvement the Syrian conflict. Hezbollah fought an intense three-week war with Israel in the summer of 2006.

I dont think Hezbollah will try to do something to Israel at this stage  it knows it will pay an expensive price if it does, he said. But Israel still has to keep monitoring the situation closely.

Marzuk said that although the Russians were physically pulling out, they still had a vested interest in the region and in helping to bring stability to Syria.

Yaakov Amidror, a former major general in Israels army and former national security adviser, played down the threat to Israel that might arise from Russias move.

I think there will be the same vacuum as there was before the Russians entered, he said. We have been living with this situation for a long a time, and just like there was not any real change when the Russians came in, there will not be any real change now that they are leaving.

Read more:

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Vehicles, debris and supplies remain Feb. 26 at the encampment used by the last four occupiers in the 41-day takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Ore. (Les Zaitz/Portland Oregonian/OregonLive via AP)

New details have emerged that an agent with the FBIs elite Hostage Rescue Team may have opened fire on Robert LaVoy Finicum, one of the central players in an anti-government standoff in Oregon, after Finicums truck crashed near a police roadblock.

Several members of the FBI unit were present Jan. 26 when authorities attempted to stop two vehicles carrying leaders of the standoff away from their stronghold at a remote federal wildlife refuge. During the encounter, two Oregon state troopers shot and killed Finicum; eight other people were arrested.

[When FBI employees behave badly, the bureau lets their co-workers know]

Last week, Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson, who is overseeing the investigation, said he had concluded that FBI HRT operators fired two shots as Mr. Finicum exited the truck, and one shot hit the truck. Nelson accused the agents of failing to disclose their shots to our investigators.

The five FBI agents have denied firing assault rifles during the incident. But in a recently released interview, an Oregon State Police officer told investigators that he spotted two copper-colored rifle casings near the spot where the FBI agents were standing. The Hostage Rescue Team has used copper- colored casings, former agents said; the Oregon state police use only silver-colored casings. The copper casings were never recovered.

The Deschutes County Sheriffs Office in Oregon released cellphone footage recorded inside the vehicle driven by LaVoy Finicum before he was shot and killed by state troopers in January. Finicum was part of the armed group that seized the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. (Deschutes County Sheriffs Office, FBI)

Meanwhile, the Portland Oregonian reported Tuesday that FBI surveillance video taken after the shooting shows the agents searching the area with flashlights and huddling. One of them then bends over twice and appears to be picking up something.

[How an FBI agent who arrested drug addicts became one himself]

On Wednesday, a law enforcement official confirmed the video account. If allegations of a coverup are determined to be true, the incident would be hugely embarrassing to the FBI and deal a devastating blow to the FBI teams reputation.

The Hostage Rescue Team is a highly trained unit that was formed after the massacre at the Munich Olympics in 1972. Many operators were once in the U.S. military and served in the Joint Special Operations Command.

Team operators, who are expert marksmen, have repeatedly deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, embedding with Navy SEAL and Delta Force commandos. Most recently, the FBI unit has been working with Delta Force in Iraq.

The unit has played a key role in some of the FBIs worst disasters  including raids in Waco, Tex., and at Ruby Ridge in Idaho  and some of its finest operations. In 2013, unit operators were involved in the rescues of two kidnapped children, a 16-year-old girl in Idaho and a 7-year-old boy in Alabama.

Little is known about the operators involved in the Oregon standoff. An Oregon state trooper told investigators he wasn't sure whether they used their real names. An investigator described them as pretty mysterious.

Finicum and other anti- government activists seized the Malheur Federal Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Ore., on Jan. 2. Three weeks later, as Finicum and other leaders of the standoff traveled to a meeting in a nearby town, the FBI and Oregon state police pounced, pulling their vehicles over on a snowy highway.

[FBI agents under investigation in Oregon shooting]

Finicum, driving a Dodge pickup that carried four other passengers, attempted to flee, but he crashed into a snowbank as he tried to circumnavigate the roadblock. Finicum exited the truck and was shot and killed moments later as he appeared to reach for a gun in his jacket. Oregon state police said they fired six shots, three of which struck Finicum.

Before the shooting, however, video footage taken by one of the trucks passengers shows a truck window being shattered by a bullet as Finicum stands outside the vehicle with his hands in the air. Investigators say a second shot immediately followed the first, but it didnt appear to strike the truck.

Photographs of the pickup and surveillance video later showed the first bullet had entered the roof at a trajectory that traces back toward the spot where a Hostage Rescue Team operator was positioned.

The FBI declined to comment Wednesday because of the ongoing investigation. Earlier this month, FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Gregory T. Bretzing said, The question of who fired these shots has not been resolved.

The Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Justice is investigating the incident. The new information provides circumstantial evidence of possible misconduct, officials said, but is not conclusive.

Former Hostage Rescue Team operators played down the surveillance footage, saying its common for operators to scour the area for anything that might pose a threat, such as unexploded ordnance. They said it also not unusual for operators to huddle for a post mortem after a mission.

It was not clear Wednesday whether the inspector general had interviewed the operators involved in the Oregon shooting. The agents continue to work, but they cannot be deployed in situations that might require them to use their weapons.

Read more:

Rifle at El Chapo hideout tied to flawed ATF operation Fast and Furious

Purported American Islamic State fighter captured in Iraq wasnt on FBI radar

Ferguson council reverses course, approves agreement with Justice Department

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
President Obama has nominated Merrick Garland to serve on the Supreme Court. Here is what you need to know about Garland. (Claritza Jimenez,Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post)

President Obama has nominated Merrick Garland to serve on the Supreme Court. Here is what you need to know about Garland. (Claritza Jimenez,Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post)

President Obama nominated Appeals Court Judge Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, calculating that the highly regarded jurist might blunt some of the expected political attacks and ultimately embarrass Senate Republicans into dropping their fierce opposition to the nomination.

Amid a swirl of speculation about whether Obama would use the vacancy to expand ethnic or gender diversity on the court, Obama picked Garland, the 63-year-old chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. A moderate who has been on the appellate bench for almost two decades, Garland has served presidents from both parties and was confirmed by the Senate 19 years ago. He is the grandson of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, not a first in the way an Asian American or black female nominee would have been.

But Obama decided that it might be more politically difficult for Republicans to deny Garland a hearing and a vote after he has been the subject of effusive bipartisan accolades for decades.

I hope theyre fair, the president said of Senate Republicans during his Rose Garden announcement. Thats all. I hope they are fair.

Although Obama was composed and even a bit defiant in his remarks, Garland choked up as he thanked the president. This is the greatest honor of my life  other than Lynn agreeing to marry me 28 years ago, Garland said. He mentioned his mother watching on television and crying her eyes out and his two sisters, who have supported me in every step I have ever taken. I only wish that my father were here to see this today.

1 of 11 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Inside Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garlands crucial role in the Oklahoma City bombing investigation View Photos Before Merrick Garland was announced on Wednesday as President Obamas nominee to the Supreme Court, he was the linchpin in the Oklahoma City bombing investigation and ultimate convictions of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols. Caption Before Merrick Garland was announced as President Obamas nominee to the Supreme Court, he was a prosecutor and the linchpin in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing investigation and ultimate convictions of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols. Here's a look at some of Merrick Garland's high profile work on the Oklahoma City bombing investigation. Top left: Nicholas Kamm/Getty; background: Bill Waugh/AP Wait 1 second to continue.

In private conversations with aides and political allies in recent days, the president emphasized that although he might have disappointed some supporters who were lobbying for a woman or a person of color, he picked someone with whom he has a personal affinity and someone whose record was, in Obamas words, unassailable.

White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said in an interview that Obama was looking for someone whose values he shares, whos committed to public service and could serve as a consensus builder on the court.

There is a humanity to his character that touched the president, as well, she added.

Garland was on a list of three finalists that also included Sri Srinivasan, a 49-year-old Indian American who also sits on the D.C. Circuit, and Paul Watford, a 48-year-old California judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

[Meet Merrick Garland: Heres his story]

After the announcement, Senate Republican leaders reiterated their intention not to vote on the nomination, arguing again that they think the next president should fill the vacancy because it comes in the middle of a presidential election season and so late in Obamas final term. But they refrained from attacking Garland directly. Half a dozen said they would meet with him, and a couple said they would consider holding a vote during a lame-duck session, especially if a Democrat won the White House in November.

Garland, who was appointed to the D.C. federal appeals court by President Bill Clinton in April 1997, was confirmed on a 76-to-23 vote and became chief judge three years ago. Seven current Republican senators voted to confirm Garland to the federal bench in 1997: Daniel Coats (Ind.), Thad Cochran (Miss.), Susan Collins (Maine), Orrin G. Hatch (Utah), James M. Inhofe (Okla.), John McCain (Ariz.) and Pat Roberts (Kan.).

Senators of both parties settled in Wednesday for what all expect to be an extended political siege around the nomination. Democrats will seek to pressure vulnerable Republican incumbents in tough reelection campaigns  and by extension, GOP leaders who are hoping to preserve their Senate majority  into abandoning the blockade.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) vowed that will not happen.

It seems clear that President Obama made this nomination, not with the intent of seeing the nominee confirmed, but in order to politicize it for purposes of the election, he said. The American people are perfectly capable of having their say  their say  on this issue. So lets give them a voice.

Later in the day, McConnell spoke by phone with Garland and, according to McConnells spokesman, wished Judge Garland well but made clear he would not meet with him.

But several other GOP senators, including some who are up for reelection, said they would meet with Garland. I meet with people; thats what I do, said Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), a Judiciary Committee member.

[Brace yourself for a long battle about the future of the court]

Several Democrats said they did not think that Republicans would be able to maintain their opposition over the long term, especially as Donald Trump continues his march toward the GOP presidential nomination. At the very least, several postulated, they would be forced to relent in a lame-duck session if a Democrat wins the presidency in November.

Republicans are underestimating how awful it is going to be when they go back home for their recess, said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). If youre here in Washington for too long, you might be mistaken and misled into thinking this is a partisan issue. When they go back home, theyre going to get an earful.

While Democratic-aligned activist groups had pushed for a more uniformly liberal nominee  and one who would make the court more diverse  virtually all Democratic senators who addressed Garlands nomination said they were pleased by the choice.

Nobody questions this mans qualifications, said Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.), the top Judiciary Committee Democrat.

Ed Whelan, a former Republican aide to the Senate Judiciary Committee who is now president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and is advising conservative groups opposed to the Obama nomination, said Garlands nomination seemed calculated to crack the Republican line.

Most justices are able to time their departure from the court so that someone of similar ilk replaces them, he said. My guess is the White House decided that rolling the dice, that they had the best chance of getting action on the Garland confirmation.

By Wednesday evening, there were cracks in the GOP wall, but only a few.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) did not mention Garland by name, but in a lengthy statement he defended the Senates right to withhold its consent. The American people shouldnt be denied a voice, he said.

After an afternoon call with Garland, he did not rule out a meeting but said if one were scheduled, he would only reiterate his determination to save the nomination for the next president.

After making his formal announcement, Obama met with the leaders of 23 progressive advocacy groups representing issues including labor, civil rights, abortion rights and the environment in the Roosevelt Room. Participants in the meeting with the president, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to speak frankly, said Obama emphasized that he did not pick a nominee with an eye to pleasing a specific political constituency. He said he thought many Americans would see the inherent unfairness of Republicans denying Garland a hearing.

Obama said that despite a political season that is even noisier and more volatile than usual, he hoped lawmakers would take the nomination seriously. I chose a serious man and an exemplary judge, he said.

Democrats on the campaign trail are hoping to leverage the court nomination as part of a broader narrative about Republican resistance to the presidents policies.

Both Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential front-runner, and her rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, called on the Senate to vote on Garland. Clinton hailed Garland as a brilliant legal mind with a long history of bipartisan support and admiration. Refusing to consider the nomination would be entirely unacceptable, she said.

If the Senate declines to take up Garlands nomination before Obama leaves office, or votes it down, the next president will have the option of resurrecting the nomination or choosing someone else to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court. Either way, the process would begin anew with the next Congress.

Sixty-three percent of Americans said the Senate should hold hearings on Obamas nominee to replace the late justice Antonin Scalia, while 32 percent said it should not hold hearings and leave it to the next president, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released last week.

Administration officials are hopeful that the GOP senators who are most vulnerable this November  Sens. Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), Ron Johnson (Wis.), Mark Kirk (Ill.) and Pat Toomey (Pa.)  may lobby their leaders for a vote if they come under fire back home for blocking the nominee.

William Branigin, Mark Berman, Jerry Markon, Anne Gearan and Robert Barnes contributed to this report.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents have connected a gun at a hideout of Mexico's most wanted drug lord, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, with a flawed U.S. operation. (AP)

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents have connected a rifle recovered at a hideout of Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzman with a flawed U.S. operation that allowed illegally purchased guns to flow into the hands of narcotics traffickers, the Justice Department confirmed.

In a written response to a congressional request, Assistant Attorney General Peter J. Kadzik wrote that a .50-caliber rifle found at the Los Mochis residence Guzman used shortly before his capture was found to be associated with the Fast and Furious operation in which ATF agents did not immediately arrest illegal gun buyers and sellers so they could track the flow of the weapons to Mexican drug traffickers.

[Operation Fast and Furious: A gunrunning sting gone wrong]

The rifle, Kadzik wrote, was purchased July 8, 2010, by someone the ATF did not know but who later was identified and became a subject of the operation. Kadzik wrote that the person, whom he did not name, was never indicted. Although the rifles initial purchase and transfer were illegal, he wrote, the ATF had not connected the weapon to other crimes.

The revelation  which was reported in January by Fox News  demonstrates the continued fallout from an operation that has been widely condemned. The operation allowed more than 2,000 weapons to hit the streets, including two used in the 2010 killing of a Border Patrol agent. It sparked a congressional inquiry and led to the ouster of the U.S. attorney in Phoenix who approved it.

Kadzik wrote that the rifle was one of 19 guns recovered from the residence that Mexican military forces raided in January in an attempt to take custody of Guzman. He did not indicate whether the weapon was fired during the incident.

Guzman had escaped a Mexican prison and was on the run. Five of his associates were killed and a Marine was injured in the gun battle in Los Mochis, and Guzman was captured about five miles away after fleeing the residence through a sewer.

[Mexican drug lord El Chapo recaptured months after brazen escape]

A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment. Kadziks letter came in response to a request from U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), who chairs the Judiciary Committee, both of whom asked about the rifle.

Kadzik also described four other guns in which Fast and Furious weapons had some tie to violent incidents.

Two guns associated with the operation were recovered after a May 22 raid on a ranch in Michoacan, Mexico, controlled by the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, Kadzik wrote. The raid led to a lengthy gun battle that killed 42 suspects and one police officer, although it was unclear whether the Fast and Furious guns were fired, Kadzik wrote.

Another Fast and Furious gun was identified as having been used during the killing of three Mexican municipal police officers in July, although it was not clear whether the weapon fired a fatal shot, Kadzik wrote. That weapon was recovered from another gruesome scene in which three people  suspects in the killings of the officers  were found dead in or around an abandoned vehicle in Chihuahua, Mexico, Kadzik wrote.

A fourth Fast and Furious gun was recovered in the vehicle of a suspect in an armed robbery in Sonora, Mexico  although it was unclear whether the firearm was used or fired during the robbery, Kadzik wrote.

Kadzik wrote that as of Jan. 28, 885 guns purchased by Fast and Furious targets had been recovered: 415 in the United States and 470 in Mexico.

[Read Assistant Attorney General Peter Kadziks letter about the Fast and Furious gun at El Chapos hideout]

ATF and the Department deeply regret that firearms associated with Operation Fast and Furious have been used by criminals in the commission of violent crimes, particularly crimes resulting in the death of civilians and law enforcement officers, Kadzik wrote. ATF accepts full responsibility for the flawed execution of Fast and Furious, and will continue to support Mexican law enforcement in efforts to recover and identify associated firearms.

Guzman remains in custody in a maximum-security prison, although one of his lawyers has said he is willing to plead guilty to U.S. charges if he can be housed in a medium-security prison. Several U.S. attorneys offices have criminal cases against him.
The United States is imposing new sanctions on North Korea, blacklisting more than a dozen government officials, agencies and companies in a response to what the administration called Pyongyangs illicit nuclear and ballistic missile tests earlier this year.

The measures were announced shortly after President Obama signed an executive order authorizing tighter sanctions. They reflect the United States commitment to holding North Korea accountable for its destabilizing actions, said Adam J. Szubin, acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the Treasury Department.

This month, the United Nations adopted sweeping new sanctions against North Korea in an attempt to pressure it to abandon its nuclear weapons technology.

The U.S. and the global community will not tolerate North Koreas illicit nuclear and ballistic missile activities, and we will continue to impose costs on North Korea until it comes into compliance with its international obligation, said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

On Jan. 6, North Korea tested what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb and followed that a month later with a launch using ballistic-missile technology.

North Korea has responded defiantly to the U.N. sanctions, which are more robust than any imposed in decades. Among the new requirements, member countries must inspect all cargo going to or coming from North Korea to ensure it does not contain anything that would further the countrys nuclear or missile programs.

An official in the government of leader Kim Jong Un has claimed North Koreas bombs could wipe out Manhattan. On Tuesday, Kim announced plans for another test, of a nuclear bomb. State media quoted him saying that a nuclear warhead explosion test would occur soon, as well as tests of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. Pyongyang claims its nuclear program is designed as protection against the hostile policy of Washington.

The new U.S. sanctions name two government officials and 15 government-affiliated organizations, including the propaganda and agitation department of the Korean Workers Party, several banks used to evade U.N. sanctions and shipping agencies used to transport illicit materials. It also imposes sanctions against North Korean mining companies. North Korea is thought to use revenue from coal sales to fund its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

The Treasury sanctions single out two officials with North Koreas Ministry of State Security, one based in Egypt and the other stationed in Syria, who are thought to be involved in the trade of arms and equipment related to ballistic missiles.
Vietcombank leader presented flowers and decisions to representatives of the five branches. (Photo: VGP)

The new branches include Western Sai Gon, district 2, district 8, district 9 and Go Vap district. The inauguration brought Vietcombanks total branches in the city to 17, among its 96 locations around the country.In his speech at the event, Nghiem Xuan Thanh, Chairman of Vietcombank Board of Directors, said that the banks outstanding loan balance in HCM city reached about VND96 trillion, making up one fourth of the total of the whole system. Currently, the bank also holds the largest credit proportion in the city.Deputy Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Le Van Khoa said that the city always offers favorable conditions for banks in general and Vietcombank in particular to intensify cooperative programs between the bank and HCM city, such as connecting the bank to enterprises, stabilizing the market and contributing to the city's growth and sustainable development.Vietcombanks system currently spreads throughout Vietnam as well as reaching abroad, with more than 450 branches, transaction offices, member companies and representative offices. Its operations are supported by a network of more than 1,800 correspondent banks in 155 countries and territories./.
Otto Warmbier, 21, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in a short trial at North Koreas Supreme Court on March 16. He has been detained for more than two months for attempting to steal a propaganda sign in Pyongyang. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

Otto Warmbier, 21, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in a short trial at North Koreas Supreme Court on March 16. He has been detained for more than two months for attempting to steal a propaganda sign in Pyongyang. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

 White House and U.S. State Department officials have urged the North Korean government to pardon and release a University of Virginia student being held there, saying his 15-year sentence in prison with hard labor for trying to steal a propaganda sign was unduly harsh and amounts to using the 21-year-old as a political pawn.

Otto Warmbier, an economics major from Cincinnati who had gone to North Korea with a tour group, was accused of trying to steal a sign from a Pyongyang hotel where he was staying in January. He was convicted and sentenced Wednesday after a one-hour trial in the Supreme Court. Video footage showed Warmbier, dressed in the same clothes he was wearing during a highly choreographed news conference last month, being led into the court room in handcuffs.

Diplomats from the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang, which represents American interests in North Korea because the United States does not have diplomatic relations with the country, were present at the trial.

Bill Richardson, former governor of New Mexico and a diplomat who has secured the release of detainees from North Korea and elsewhere, is working to bring Warmbier back home, imploring the government to release him on humanitarian grounds. Richardson met Tuesday morning with two members of the North Korean mission to the United Nations in New York after Warmbiers parents and Ohio Gov. John Kasich asked him to intervene, he said.

This is a kid, whose humanitarian release shouldnt be complicated by the tense relations between the U.S. and North Korea, Richardson said. I offered to help get him out.

American student Otto Warmbier, center, is escorted at the Supreme Court in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. North Korea's highest court sentenced Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate student, from Wyoming, Ohio, to 15 years in prison with hard labor. (Jon Chol Jin/AP)

The two North Korean officials, with whom Richardson has dealt before on similar cases, said they would convey his request. But I know the State Department is doing their best.

Typically in such cases, negotiating can begin after sentencing, Richardson said.

Warmbier is well-liked and admired in his hometown and at U-Va., described by friends as buoyant, funny, a fraternity brother, someone who is smart and serious about academics. He was a commencement speaker at his high school and was honored with a scholarship at U-Va. given to a small number of students who are leaders and intellectual risk-takers.

Warmbier had been on his way to Hong Kong for a financial course connected to his U-Va. studies when he was arrested in the Pyongyang airport as he was leaving the country Jan. 2, at the end of the tour. Three weeks later, the North Korean government announced that it was holding the student for an unspecified hostile act against the state.

In February, Warmbier participated in a highly orchestrated news conference in Pyongyang, admitting to a very severe and pre-planned crime, saying he tried to steal a political sign from his hotel that promoted the North Korean peoples love for their system, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

The aim of my task was to harm the motivation and work ethic of the Korean people. This was a very foolish aim, Warmbier said at the time.

Warmbier was charged with subversion under Article 60 of North Koreas criminal code, the Associated Press reported from Pyongyang. The court held that he had committed a crime pursuant to the U.S. governments hostile policy toward [the North], in a bid to impair the unity of its people after entering it as a tourist, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Wednesday.

1 of 50 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  What life looks like inside North Korea View Photos Scenes from inside the hermit kingdom. Caption Scenes from the hermit kingdom. April 14, 2016 A girl dances ballet at the Mangyongdae Childrens Palace in the Pyongyang suburbs. The large facility, opened in 1989, has hundreds of rooms for various activities, including mathematics, chemistry, computer science, sports, music and dance practice. Franck Robichon/European Pressphoto Agency Wait 1 second to continue.

In his appearance before the media in February, Warmbier said he had been instructed by a female member of Friendship United Methodist Church in Wyoming, Ohio, to steal one of North Koreas ubiquitous propaganda signs and take it back to the United States as a trophy.

The pastor of the church, which is close to Warmbiers home, did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

U.S. officials said the punishment doesnt fit the allegations, which Richardson said amount to a youthful indiscretion.

He just made a mistake  a college prank, Richardson said. He wasnt trying to overthrow the government. He and his family should not suffer because of this incident.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the allegations for which Warmbier was arrested and imprisoned would not give rise to arrest or imprisonment in the United States, or just about any country in the world. It is increasingly clear the North Korean government seeks to use these U.S. citizens as pawns for a political agenda.

U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner pointedly put quote marks around the charges against Warmbier, of committing hostile acts against North Korea. Toner urged North Korea to immediately release Warmbier on humanitarian grounds.

The department believes the sentence is unduly harsh for the actions Mr. Warmbier allegedly took, Toner said, referring to North Korea by its official acronym, DPRK. Despite claims that U.S. citizens arrested in the DPRK are not used for political purposes, it is increasingly clear, from its very public treatment of these cases, the DPRK does exactly that.

Toner also said Warmbiers sentence underscores the risks associated with travel to North Korea. He said the State Department strongly recommends that U.S. citizens not travel to North Korea, though it is not illegal to travel there. Normally, we do not ever forbid or prohibit the travel, Toner said.

North Korea has detained and convicted a number of Americans in recent years and used them as bargaining chips with the United States. Recent detainees include Kenneth Bae, a Korean American missionary who was sentenced to 15 years hard labor, and was released after 18 months.

[U-Va. student held in North Korea confesses to severe crime]

Warmbiers parents, Fred and Cindy, have said in a statement that they hoped their sons sincere apology for anything that he may have done wrong would move the government to release him. They did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

Kasich, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, called on North Korea to immediately release Warmbier to his family in Ohio.

His detention was completely unjustified and the sentence North Korea imposed on him is an affront to concepts of justice, Kasich said. Continuing to hold him only further alienates North Korea from the international community. I urge the Obama Administration to redouble its efforts to secure his release and ask all Ohioans to continue to lift up Otto and his family in prayer in support of his swift, safe return.

Warmbier is being held at a particularly sensitive time, when annual military drills between the United States and South Korea are coinciding with international sanctions against North Koreas regime to punish it for its recent nuclear test and missile launches.

[Detained U-Va. student described as buoyant, inspiring and driven]

North Korea always protests the joint military drills in South Korea because it sees them as a pretext for an invasion, but Pyongyangs reaction is particularly ferocious this year. The allies are practicing decapitation strikes that target North Koreas leadership and its nuclear and missile facilities.

Furthermore, the sanctions imposed by the United Nations, coupled with direct measures taken by the United States, Japan and South Korea, are the toughest yet and could inflict a significant amount of pain on the North Korean regime.

The allegations against Warmbier stem from an incident in the wee hours of Jan. 1, when he tried to steal a propaganda sign from a staff-only floor of the Yanggakdo International Hotel, one of the main places where foreign tourists stay in Pyongyang. He reportedly pulled the banner from the wall but realized it was too big to carry off, so he abandoned it there.

The aim of my task was to harm the motivation and work ethic of the Korean people. This was a very foolish aim, Warmbier said in February, reading from handwritten notes. He described a bizarre plot in which he was directed to steal the sign by a church member, a U-Va student group  the Z Society  and the United States government.

On campus at U-Va., students were stunned, trading news stories on social media and struggling to understand.

The Z Society, which was part of the plot attributed to Warmbier by the North Korean government, is one of the elite universitys old secret societies. The group focuses on leadership, service and philanthropy on campus, such as reaching out to students who are in need. So students found Warmbiers confession ridiculous, said Ahmad Shawwal, the president of the first-year class.

We just hope the matters resolved and we can get him out of North Korea and integrate him back into university life, Shawwal said. I pray for his family.

Previous Americans detained in North Korea also have been brought by authorities before the media to confess their crimes, with the detainees told what to say and the reporters told what to ask.

Analysts expect that Warmbier also was directed in this way to deliver the statement, in which the student said he was impressed by North Koreas humanitarian treatment of severe criminals like myself.

Several U.S. citizens have been held in Pyongyang in recent years, usually because of activities relating to Christianity, and also have been sentenced to hard labor.

[The strange ways North Korea makes detainees confess on camera]

North Korea tries to use them as bargaining chips and releases them after high-profile interventions that it can use for its domestic propaganda purposes, portraying the visits by officials as Americans coming to pay homage to North Korea.

Former president Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter have both been to Pyongyang for this reason, and James R. Clapper Jr., the Director of National Intelligence, went to Pyongyang at the end of 2014 to free three Americans being held there.

One of them, Bae, a Korean American missionary, had been sentenced to 15 years hard labor for hostile acts against the republic, including proselytizing and attempting to overthrow the regime. Baes sister described how he was having to do manual work on a farm for eight hours a day, six days a week.

Another, Matthew Miller from California, had been sentenced to six years hard labor after ripping up his tourist visa on arrival in North Korea.

At U-Va., Warmbier was selected as an Echols Scholar, a special four-year academic program for fewer than 250 students in each class. Those chosen are described as intellectual risk-takers who have shown academic excellence, intellectual leadership, and evidence of the ability to grapple with complex topics, according to the universitys website.

Svrluga and Morello reported from Washington.

Read more:

North Koreas making a lot of threats these days. How worried should we be?

North Koreas possible nuclear warhead looks silly  but its still concerning

North Koreas glamorous girl band is back, celebrating the rocket launch

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
A Russian pilot gets into a Sukhoi Su-25 before taking off at the Hmeimim military base near Latakia, Syria, part of the partial withdrawal of Russian forces. (Vadim Grishankin/AFP/Getty Images)

Syrias government on Wednesday firmly rejected direct negotiations with opposition envoys, dampening hopes of greater compromise at peace talks after Russia this week began drawing down its troops from the war-torn country.

Meanwhile, signs emerged in Syria that a group affiliated with al-Qaeda may be trying to make gains amid a government-rebel cease-fire and the surprise departure of some Russian warplanes.

Rallies against the militant group, Jabhat al-Nusra, were held in Syrias northwestern Idlib province after its fighters attacked U.S.-backed rebels, according to residents.

Over the weekend, Jabhat al-Nusra militants killed and detained members of Division 13, a Free Syrian Army rebel group, according to opposition fighters. The rebels weapons caches reportedly also were seized.

The moves have raised concerns that Jabhat al-Nusra is exploiting the situation to eliminate potential rivals and seize territory. That, in turn, would further undermine the bargaining power of the opposition delegation taking part in the Geneva talks.

After peaceful demonstrations were met with violence in 2011, protesters took up arms against Syrian government forces. A brutal civil war followed with hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced. A fragile cease-fire has quieted some of the fighting, for now. (Liz Sly,Jason Aldag/The Washington Post)

Demonstrations are still happening, and no one can stop things from getting worse, said a lawyer in Maarat al-Numan, a town in Idlib where the clashes took place. The lawyer spoke on the condition of anonymity because of security concerns.

[Did Putin outwit Obama?]

The al-Qaeda affiliate is not included in the cease-fire, which was brokered by the United States and Russia and took effect Feb. 27 as part of a political process that helped pave the way for the resumption of peace talks on Monday.

Division 13 received U.S.-made BGM-71 TOW missiles under a covert CIA program in early 2014, although members of the group say that none of the antitank weapons have fallen into the hands of Jabhat al-Nusra militants.

Video of a demonstration in Maarat al-Numan from Monday purports to show Division 13 supporters demonstrating against the extremists. One video claimed to show protesters setting fire to a building used by Jabhat al-Nusra, possibly in an attempt to secure the release of detained rebels.

There are still 17 officers and members from Division 13 detained by Jabhat al-Nusra and allied extremists, the rebel groups commander, Col. Ahmed Saud, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.

In Geneva, the talks have struggled to gain momentum.

The Washington Post traveled to Damascus, Syria, during a "cessation of hostilities," which has brought a stop to some of the fighting inside the city. (Loveday Morris,Jason Aldag/and Lorenzo Tugnoli for The Washington Post)

The Syrian governments lead representative, Bashar Jaafari, dismissed the opposition delegates as terrorists who should apologize for Syrias civil war.

He also questioned the legitimacy of the opposition team, represented by an umbrella group known as the High Negotiations Committee, suggesting that it did not adequately reflect the full spectrum of groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

No Syrian faction can monopolize the representation of all the opposition, Jaafari told journalists after meeting the U.N. envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura.

The HNC, which has the backing of dozens of rebel groups, rejects such claims as an attempt by the government to stymie the talks.

[Russian withdrawal resonates from war zones to peace talk]

The talks involve de Mistura shuttling between the opposing sides, but the goal remains direct political dialogue between the government and the opposition groups.

Diplomats and opposition members have expressed guarded optimism about the Geneva effort, citing as a positive step Russian President Vladimir Putins announcement Monday to withdraw most of his military forces from Syria.

Many hope the move is an attempt to pressure Assad to make concessions in the talks, which were restarted after a round last month collapsed because of intense fighting in Syria.

Mr. Jaafari still is of the delusion that he can try to filibuster the opposition to leave town, but its not going to happen this time, said a Western diplomat in Geneva, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of a lack of authorization to discuss the issue publicly.

Jaafari also repeated the governments denial that Putins announcement took the Syrian leadership by surprise. Russia began its military intervention in the Syrian conflict in September, firing airstrikes at rebel groups in attacks that have bolstered Assads rule and weakened the armed opposition.

It wasnt a surprise for us. It was coordinated, said Jaafari, who also is the Syrian ambassador to the United Nations.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a powerful Kurdish party in Syria proposed a plan under which the countrys largely Kurdish north would become its own region. The proposal, however, met with opposition from many, including diplomats in Geneva and the Syrian opposition delegation. They said that no formal discussions about federalism have been held and that the Kurds made the announcement unilaterally.

On Tuesday, the opposition expressed concern to de Mistura during an hour-long meeting about a lack of promised humanitarian aid to besieged Syrians and the governments failure to release detainees held in its prisons.

Bassma Kodmani, an HNC negotiator present at the meeting, later cited no results at all on that issue.

U.N. resolutions and various international agreements call for the release of thousands of people thought to be arbitrarily detained by the government.

Zakaria Zakaria in Istanbul contributed to this report.

Read more

Report: The Islamic State has lost more than a fifth of its territory

Syrias misery in graphs

The Islamic States emir of war dies of wounds suffered in U.S. airstrike
John Kasich took his home state of Ohio, according to the Associated Press, keeping his campaign alive and becoming the Republican establishments last hope of stopping Donald Trump.

Despite being reviled by some party insiders, GOP frontrunner Trump won Florida and North Carolina tonight, adding to his lead.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Kasich had both stayed in the race in hopes of courting those establishment Republicans but Rubio quit Tuesday after losing his home state of Florida.

Also Read: Charles Barkley, Kasich Backer, Bashes GOP: 'I'm Gonna Vote Democrat' If Kasich Isn't Nominee

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton had a good night, winning Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and her home-state of Illinois, thus extending her lead over Bernie Sanders. Ohio offers 142 delegates for Democrats and 66 for the GOP.

Primary races in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio had political junkies on their toes during what some were dubbing Super Tuesday 3, and what CNNs Brian Stelter called Survival Tuesday.

Also Read: Marco Rubio's 11 Biggest Mistakes of the Presidential Campaign (Videos)





BREAKING: Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic primary in Illinois. @AP race call at 12:27 a.m. EST. #Election2016 #APracecall  The Associated Press (@AP) March 16, 2016





BREAKING: Donald Trump wins the Republican primary in Illinois. @AP race call at 9:54 p.m. EST. #Election2016 #APracecall  The Associated Press (@AP) March 16, 2016





BREAKING: Donald Trump wins the Republican primary in North Carolina. @AP race call at 9:52 p.m. EST. #Election2016 #APracecall  The Associated Press (@AP) March 16, 2016





BREAKING: Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic primary in Ohio. @AP race call at 8:38 p.m. EST. #Election2016 #APracecall  AP Politics (@AP_Politics) March 16, 2016





BREAKING: Marco Rubio ends his Republican campaign for president.  AP Politics (@AP_Politics) March 16, 2016





BREAKING: Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic primary in North Carolina. @AP race call at 8:23 p.m. EST. #Election2016 #APracecall  AP Politics (@AP_Politics) March 16, 2016





BREAKING: Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump win their primaries in Florida. @AP race call at 8 p.m. EST. #Election2016 #APracecall  The Associated Press (@AP) March 16, 2016





As the polls begin to close, a quick reminder of what's at stake in tonight's primary elections. #Elections2016 pic.twitter.com/MZQAnjjAEM  AP Eastern U.S. (@APEastRegion) March 15, 2016





The Latest on Election 2016: Florida win helps Trump, Clinton stretch delegate leads. https://t.co/Ca7YTxdzcQ pic.twitter.com/OZfwjlRdtE  AP Politics (@AP_Politics) March 16, 2016

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  Tuesday was always supposed to be one of the most important nights in the Democratic presidential primary race, but for Hillary Clinton, it was even bigger than she and her team expected.



Clinton swept the night, winning Ohio, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, and maintaining a narrow lead in Missouri, which is so close that the losing candidates are allowed to request a recount. The victories put her firmly on course to defeat her primary rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who had hoped to upset her in at least one of those Midwestern states. As the results were announced on Tuesday evening, Clinton took the stage before a boisterous crowd of supporters here and seemed to pivot toward the Republican frontrunner, Donald Trump, who also won in Florida.

We are moving closer to securing the Democratic Party nomination and winning this election in November! Clinton declared.

Clinton came into the presidential race as the overwhelming frontrunner for her partys nomination. After faltering in the early states, she began to pull ahead, with a massive victory in South Carolina on Feb. 27. She followed that win with a string of victories on Super Tuesday, March 1. Those wins had a campaign source predicting to Yahoo News that Clintons delegate lead over Sanders would be effectively insurmountable once this evenings votes were counted. Sanders team also knew this evenings numbers would be crucial, and in early strategy sessions, they cited March 15 as a turning point, after which they would know whether or not his underdog bid was truly viable.

It looked as if Sanders might prove the Clinton campaigns bullish prediction wrong after he won a stunning upset in Michigan on March 8, but Clintons victories on Tuesday helped her stop Sanders momentum and establish a seemingly unbeatable lead.

Though Clinton was expected to win the primaries in North Carolina and Florida on Tuesday, polls showed her potentially losing in Ohio, Arizona, Missouri and Illinois. Even if Sanders had won all of the states that were in play on Tuesday, he would still have faced an uphill battle. However, by taking Ohio and Illinois, Clinton definitively pulled ahead.

Story continues

Hillary Clinton greets supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center after winning the Ohio, Florida and North Carolina primaries on Tuesday. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Slideshow: March 15 presidential primaries >>>

Though the results in Arizona, Missouri and Illinois still had not been projected at the time she spoke, Clinton pointed out that her trio of victories had allowed her campaign to add to our delegate lead to roughly 300.

Ill tell you, this is another Super Tuesday! Clinton said.

Her lead only grew as the night wore on.

After congratulating Sanders for the vigorous campaign hes waging, Clinton turned to Trump, framing the election as one of the most consequential campaigns of our lifetimes. She specifically criticized several key aspects of his platform, including his positions on immigration and waterboarding.

When we hear a candidate for president call for rounding up 12 million immigrants, banning all Muslims from entering the United States, and he embraces torture, that doesnt make him strong, it makes him wrong! Clinton said. We should be breaking down barriers, not building walls.

Clinton went on to directly invoke Trump and take a shot at his campaign slogan, Make American Great Again.

To be great, we cant be small, we cant lose what made America great in the first place, said Clinton, adding, And this isnt just about Donald Trump, all of us have to do our part.

Sanders took the stage shortly after Clintons appearance in Florida and addressed more than 7,000 of his cheering supporters in a convention center in Phoenix with his usual stump speech. The 74-year-old senator mentioned raising the minimum wage, getting money out of politics, fixing free trade deals and reforming the criminal justice system, among other typical stump-speech issues.

What Sanders didnt mention were the five states that voted in the Democratic primaries Tuesday night, and what the results meant for his viability as a candidate. This was in contrast to Sanders election night appearance on Super Tuesday, when he explicitly downplayed his mixed showing and reassured his supporters that he would take the fight to every state. In contrast with most election night gatherings, there were no TVs showing primary results in Phoenix, so Sanders supporters were not shown Clintons wins racking up in the background as the evening progressed. Arizonas Democrats vote next Tuesday, and Sanders is expected to do well in the state.

The reason we have done as well as we have, the reason we have defied all expectations, is that we are doing something very radical in American politics: We are telling the truth! Sanders said. No major cable network carried his speech, which coincided with Ohio Gov. John Kasichs remarks and later, as Sanders continued speaking, with Donald Trumps victory speech. The senator urged Arizonans to show up at the polls for him next week at the end of his address.

Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks at a campaign rally in Phoenix. (Photo: Nancy Wiechec/Reuters)



Sanders top advisers have stressed that the senator will continue his well-funded campaign until the end of the primaries, and last weeks surprise win in Michigan appeared to breathe new life into Sanders bid. But Clintons sweep significantly dims his chances of becoming the Democratic nominee. Sanders had hammered Clinton on her past support for free-trade deals, but she still pulled out a win in Ohio and Illinois.

Sanders top aides did not come out to speak to reporters at his event in Phoenix. However, in Florida, the Clinton campaigns communications director, Jen Palmieri, took questions shortly after Clintons speech. Palmieri noted she had just bid farewell to a very happy Hillary Clinton. Palmieri also said Clinton and Sanders had not yet spoken to each other.

Palmieri spoke before results were announced in Illinois and Missouri. She acknowledged those states would be close and could go either way, but argued that the night still sent a decisive message.

Sen. Sanders spent over $7 million in the last week running pretty negative ads  stepped up rhetoric attacking Hillary Clinton, Palmieri said. I think the results today prove that approach is rejected by the voters. Theyre looking for someone who is offering solutions, particularly on the economy, not just talking about the problem.

Palmieri also addressed the fact that several of the upcoming contests in the Democratic primary, particularly in states that hold caucuses, could favor Sanders. Still, Palmieri pointed to Clintons steadily increasing lead.

Our delegate lead is very high, I would say, so we understand that there are a lot of contests  that we have yet to face, and we will face them, but  its going to be very hard to overtake her, Palmieri said, adding, And I think that the results tonight, even if there are contests that we dont do well in, will continue to speak for themselves.

Though Palmieri expressed confidence that Clinton will secure the nomination, she repeatedly stressed that the campaign remains focused on the Democratic primary rather than the general election. Multiple reporters asked if Clinton or her allies would begin pressuring Sanders to drop out. Palmieri deflected the question several times by saying it was not up to Clintons staff to make that decision.

Clinton supporters cheer as results come in during an election night event at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP)

When she ran against President Obama in 2008, she stayed in till the end, Palmieri said of Clinton, adding, She said that she would never call on someone to drop out.  Thats not up to us.

Palmieri also strenuously denied that Clinton was making a pivot to campaigning against Trump, even though the Republican frontrunner was named in her speech.

Im going to let the speech speak for itself, but I wouldnt assume that those comments were directed at any particular one candidate, Palmieri said.
Michael Goguen (Photo: Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon)

The super-PAC backing John Kasichs candidacy said Tuesday it will turn over a $250,000 contribution from embattled Silicon Valley investor Michael Goguen to nonprofit groups fighting human trafficking  as a result of allegations in a lawsuit that he sexually abused a woman for 13 years, including subjecting her to countless hours of forced sodomy.

The statement from the pro-Kasich New Day for America was made in response to an inquiry from Yahoo News about the lurid allegations in a lawsuit filed by Amber Laurel Baptiste, which prompted Goguens employer, Sequoia Capital, to oust him last weekend. Goguen had been a managing partner in the prominent venture-capital firm.

The decision to give away Goguens contribution, one of the largest the super-PAC had received, came just after Kasichs presidential campaign told Yahoo News that it would return $2,700 it got from Goguen last August, the same week he donated to the pro-Kasich super-PAC.



Upon learning of these allegations, New Day for America decided we will donate Michael Goguens contribution in its entirety to organizations committed to ending human trafficking, Connie Wehrkamp, a spokeswoman for the super-PAC, said in an email at 5:10 p.m.

Contacted Tuesday by Yahoo News, Kasich campaign press spokesman Chris Schrimpf emailed at 4:55 p.m.: This is the first weve heard of this and are in the process of giving the money to charity.

On Wednesday, Diane Doolittle, a lawyer for Goguen, said in an emailed statement:

This lawsuit is a vile collection of lies and a transparent attempt to destroy the reputation and good name of Mr. Goguen. The overwhelming evidence  as cited in our Cross Complaint for extortion  shows that she is a disgruntled former lover who had a consensual relationship with him starting in her 20s. This isnt a case of human trafficking, but an age old story of a jilted lover looking for revenge. We are eager to fight these defamatory and outlandish allegations and tell the truth. We look forward to our day in court, where facts trump fiction.



Story continues

The allegations in the lawsuit have reportedly shocked Silicon Valley, especially after Goguen in a countersuit this week denied the woman was his sex slave but acknowledged that he paid her the first $10 million of a $40 million contract that he claimed was a shakedown.

But unnoticed in the saturation media coverage of the case so far was Goguens role as a major Republican Party donor: In addition to the contributions to Kasich and his super-PAC, he also in recent years donated $33,400 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, $32,400 to the National Republican Congressional Committee and $10,000 each to the Republican Party of Ohio and Montana, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. In addition, he donated $8,100 to Utah Sen. Mike Lee last year, $2,016 to the Draft Ben Carson for President Committee in 2014, and $2,600 to Sen. Ted Cruzs Senate campaign committee in March 2014.

The allegations in the lawsuit against Goguen in Superior Court in San Mateo County, Calif., are sordid. Baptiste, who claims she had been the victim of human trafficking since she was 15 years old, came to the U.S. in 2001. According to her lawsuit, she met Goguen at a strip club in Texas where she was a dancer. After promising to help her, she alleges, he repeatedly subjected her to unwanted sexual acts and gave her a sexually transmitted disease. She describes him as a worse predator than the human traffickers who were keeping her in bondage.

Goguen, in his countersuit, denies any wrongdoing and describes Baptiste as a woman consumed by anger, obsession and jealousy after their mutually consensual love affair ended. As evidence, he quoted from undated email and text messages he says she sent him with lines like The love that I hold in my heart for you was instant and I could never even make love to you enough times to show you how special you are to me.

Sorting out the claims and counterclaims will be up to the court. But Sequoia Capital isnt waiting.

We understand the allegations about Michael Goguen are unproven and unrelated to Sequoia, the firm tweeted over the weekend. Still, we decided his departure was appropriate.
Now that Super Tuesday III is over, it seems pretty clear that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are the main contenders. Only what do you do if the prospect of one of themor heck, either onebecoming commander in chief chills you to the bone? Well, then maybe its time to stop joking about moving to another country and actually pack up your stuff and go!

And you know, the world is a big, mostly wall-free place with plenty of homes far, far away from the circus of American politics.

Plus, according to a recent article by Business Insider, emigrating isnt as hard as you might thinka number of nations embrace American expats. In fact, you may not even need a visajust book a plane ticket and youre all set!

Here are Business Insiders top five recommendationsand just to make home shopping that much easier, weve found a few homes that are up for grabs in case you want to plan your escape far before the final votes are in.

Canada

Of course, our fair neighbor to the north is the go-to backup country for most Americans looking to dodge anything from drafts to bad politiciansso much so that a radio DJ on a tiny island off the Atlantic coast in Nova Scotia has set up a website encouraging U.S. immigration. Its called Cape Breton if Donald Trump Wins.

Cape Breton is one of the most affordable housing markets in North America, says the sites founder, Rob Calabrese. The average house price is about double the average annual household income. In Vancouver, it is eight times as much. In Hong Kong, it is 17 times as much!

Even if island living isnt quite your thing, check out this nearby listing for a three-bedroom, three-bathroom home sitting on 22 picturesque acres overlooking the Minas Basin for a mere $299,601. Heck, with that much land, you could start your own expat community.

Nova Scotia, Canada



Mexico

Despite having a different primary language, our friends (despite what you may have heard) from south of the border share their country with more American expats than anywhere else on the planet, and for good reason: Its warm, and it only requires American citizens to get a $21 visa that can be renewed indefinitely. So, its no problemo to purchase, say, this 3,000-square-foot, three-bedroom, four-bathroom house in La Paz, Baja California Sur, for $350,339.

Story continues

La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico



Svalbard

OK, if youre truly desperate to flee anywhere, then this archipelago near the Arctic Circle is the easiest place to emigrate in the entire world with zero requirements, other than a plane ticket. Another upside if you hate politics: Although its part of Norway, its 2,642 residents more or less govern themselves. The downside? The average temperature in winter is 12 to 16 below zero degrees Fahrenheit. And were not entirely confident about job prospects, which explains why real estate listings here are scarce. However, were sure that if you show up, someone will let you in, lest you freeze to death or get eaten by a polar bear.

Longyearbyen, Svalbard



Sweden

Merry old Sweden doled out 110,000 residential permits to outsiders in 2014a lot for a country its sizewhich cost a mere $117. Granted, the high taxes and cost of living may give you a Nordic heart attack, but the government takes care of its own, giving everyone equal access to health care, child care, public education, and more. Its a paradise for Bernie Sanders supporters.

Gothenburg, Sweden



New Zealand

Lord of the Rings lovers will swoon over the dramatic sceneryand the countrys rampant shortage of skilled workers. So you probably wont have problem finding a decent job, or affording a home such as this 4,000-square-foot, seven-bedroom, four-bathroom home in Wanganui for $399,500.

Wanganui, New Zealand

The post Freaked Out by the 2016 Campaign? Check Out 5 Countries That Welcome Expats appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com.





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(Images by Rob Pegoraro)

SXSW Interactive  the annual festival that wrapped up Tuesday in Austin, Texas  has a special fondness for talking up all the ways that technology is going to be awesome. But this year, festival organizers set aside most of its first full day to discuss how technology has enabled some of our uglier habits.

First, though, those organizers had to be essentially shamed into hosting a track of talks on the topic of online harassment. And even then, the overwhelming majority of SXSW attendees skipped the whole thing. In the movement to make it harder to harass people whose opinions you dislike via social media, that is what passes for progress .

How we got here

Originally, the Online Harassment Summit that took place Saturday was not even on the schedule. SXSW had cancelled a scheduled panel about online harassment in gaming after receiving threats of violence. But when BuzzFeed and Vox Media threatened to pull out of the festival in protest, organizers reversed course and put together this lineup of talks.

(Very SXSW sort of disclosure: One speaker at the summit, Jonathan Godfrey of ACT: The App Association, stayed in the house I rented for this week.)

They elected to hold the gathering in a relatively remote location, across the river from downtown Austin, and under strict security  Ive never had my laptop bag inspected that closely, and I was told repeatedly that if I left it anywhere it would be confiscated.

That airport-esque regime and the outsized commute suppressed attendance; at one panel, I counted only 18 other people in the audience.

Of course, some SXSW attendees  the kind of people who say that recipients of online death threats and other abuse are just making it up or need to grow thicker skin  cited that low turnout as proof that Internet harassment wasnt a real problem.

But as Saturdays panelists told their limited audience, the problem is real, and its not just a matter of people using mean words.

Story continues

Saturdays testimony

The pattern is well documented: Somebody  usually a female somebody  expresses an opinion online and, in response, gets a torrent of spittle-flecked rage, up to and including rape and death threats personalized with their home or work address.

Jamia Wilson, executive director of Women, Action, and the Media, offered a breakdown of the Twitter harassment reported by people through its site: 27 percent consisted of hate speech; 22 percent doxing (posting private information); 12 percent featured threats of violence; 9 percent involved lying about the target; and 3 percent included revenge porn (posting real or fake naked photos of the target).

Theres also a political dimension to this, as former Texas state senator Wendy Davis said. I could literally say its a beautiful day in Austin today, and the responses I get on Twitter are baby murderer.

During her unsuccessful campaign for governor of that state, that Democrat had to deal with an incessant flood of abuse, including fake photos of her in one sex position or another. Some of it was excruciatingly difficult to read, she said, adding that she eventually took Twitter and Facebooks apps off her phone.

In an interview afterwards, Davis told me those apps are back on her phone now, and she uses them on a regular basis. I was not surprised by that: How is a politician supposed to do her job these days without social media?

It is sometimes suggested that victims of online harassment stay off the Internet for a while. But, as multiple panelists said, that advice is both irritatingly useless and career-limiting.

Panelists also complained about the continued prevalence of hostile comments on media sites and suggested that a broken ad business model was part of the problem.

Theyre showing ads on every page and every comment and every click, said Elisa Camahort Page, chief community officer at SheKnows Media. Are they economically motivated not to moderate?

What is to be done?

Ive heard these stories before. But during Saturdays sessions, and later on throughout SXSW, I found some ground for optimism about our ability to chip away at the problem of online harassment. And it starts with the ways social media networks deal with hostile behavior intended to silence speakers.

Multiple panelists commended Facebook and Twitter for improving their tools for dealing with abuse. There has been a sea-change, said Womens Media Center director Soraya Chemaly of Facebook. Wilson noted that Twitter, historically a laggard, has been more responsive lately: Twitter listened and made some changes.

Davis echoed those compliments in our conversation afterwards: Youre seeing a greater understanding by these social-media platforms of exactly how to define harassment, and what the tools need to be to address that harassment.

Creating new tools to fight harassment can also help. Medium, for example, is experimenting with machine-learning to spot patterns of abuse, such as repetitive insults. This person is not conversing, trust and safety coordinator Greg Gueldner said Saturday. Theyre sniping.



Another panel that morning featured the Israeli non-profit Red Buttons app, which lets people (and especially kids) report abusive behavior to have it investigated by volunteers.

At an afternoon session, Rep. Katherine Clark (D.-Mass.)  the victim of a fake police report intended to get cops to storm her house  said she would introduce a bill to fund investigation and prosecution of online abuse. Clark announced the legislation, the Cybercrime Enforcement Training Assistance Act, on Wednesday.

And on Monday, the Coral Project  an open-source collaboration between the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Mozilla Foundation and the Knight Foundation  used a SXSW panel to announce its first shipped product. Its Trust software helps publishers rate commenters and find the most enlightening individuals among them.

(Dont overlook the importance of having a services staff show up in comments. In a session about the role of community managers, Genius artist relations manager Rob Markman said that helped set a better tone: Were not necessarily [just] policing the community, but modeling behavior as well.)

I like Corals goals, but the conversations Ive had with people there suggest were unlikely to see sites share information about each others commenters. That could leave harassers free to jump from platform to platform, a problem Mediums Gueldner confessed some uncertainty about Saturday.

One reason why: Many abusers dont realize that theyre being jerks until somebody breaks things down for them. Education in controlling harassment is very effective, Gueldner said. Its hard to scale, but it works.

Email Rob at rob@robpegoraro.com; follow him on Twitter at @robpegoraro.


It is not a bad thing for us, that the route known as the Goldene Strae or the Golden Road as we will get to know it- has escaped the attention of so many. It has been spared being overrun by hordes of tourists and as you will discover the
Embargo to Ukrainian foods and nonfoods imposed by Russia, restrictions of transit of Ukrainian goods to third countries and imports of Turkish goods have resulted in saturation of the Ukrainian market with goods. This was one of the reasons of 0.4% deflation recorded in February, Ukraine's Economic Development and Trade Ministry has reported.

"The February price decline is mainly linked to saturation of the domestic market with foods (including due to Russia's bans and restrictions) in the conditions of continuous low solvency of the public and the effect of low prices on the global food market," the ministry said.

Citrus fruit imports from Turkey to Ukraine since early 2016 has increased by 1.6 times. Fresh fruit and berries have grown by 46.6%. This entailed the fruit price decline by 2.1% (17.5% up in February 2015), while vegetable prices have increased only by 0.2%.

"We have not anticipated that the economy pace would change so radically In general, high price volatility both in Ukraine and on the global markets is hardly to predict. It is destructive, as it complicates planning at all levels," the ministry said.
Ukrainians in February 2016 sold $146.6 million more foreign currency than bought, improving the figure for January by 27.7%, according to the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).

According to its data, in February the population reduced forex purchases compared to the previous month by 0.39%, to $39.3 million, while sales increased by 20.53%, to $185.9 million.

The National Bank specified that 32.85% more U.S. dollars, or $95 million, were sold, while 4.69% less dollars, or $28.5 million, were bought.

As reported, in general, over the past year Ukrainians sold $1.55 billion more foreign currency to banks than bought, while in the previous year the volume of forex purchases $2.41 billion exceeded its sales: a total of $5.61 billion was sold and $8.02 billion was bought.
Luhansk regional military and civil administration is looking to Germany's ntercon to help with reconstruction of roads in the region, Administration Head Heorhiy Tuka has said.

"A first seven-kilometer section for building the road has been earmarked. The second phase will be approved in a week or two. Our colleagues are bringing machinery from Germany. It will be leased and left here. They are bringing their know-how and train our Ukrainian specialists," Tuka said at a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday.

The press service of the regional administration reported that at present the project is being negotiated. The tenders have not yet been held.
The State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPF) could start the privatization of the remaining state owned controlling stakes in six regional energy supply companies with the sale of the most prepared and those having an attractive business profile, namely Ternopiloblenergo and Khmelnytskyoblenergo, SPF Head Ihor Bilous has said.

"There is an idea to split the six power companies into three groups according to their degree of readiness and problematicity," he told reporters.

The fund head said that the second stage could include tenders for the sale of Kharkivoblenergo and Mykolaivoblenergo, the third one  Cherkasyoblenergo and Zaporizhiaoblenergo.

Bilous noted that in Ternopil and Khmelnytsky regions the structure of customers of energy supply companies the significant share is occupied by more attractive clients in the current conditions  households, small and medium businesses. According to him, the energy supply companies are relatively small and are not so expensive, which also creates conditions for the formation of competition at the tenders and their successful sale.

He added that international consultants, to improve the efficiency of tenders, offered holding them in early autumn, while the summer season is characterized by a low investment activity.
The Ukrainian government has approved a proposal of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade within the World Trade Organization (WTO) to prepare and submit a request for holding consultations to limit transit from the territory of Ukraine in the territory of the Russian Federation.

According to an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent, the Cabinet at a meeting on March 16 also initiated the review in the WTO of the case on Russia's limiting imports of certain food and beverages from Ukraine.

In addition, the government ordered the preparation and submission a request on setting up an expert group in the case, considered in the WTO, on Russia's restricting imports of rolling

The Cabinet also permitted the procurement of legal advisers' services, including foreign ones, who will defend Ukraine's interests in the dispute with Russia in the WTO.

In addition, the government instructed the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Finance Ministry and the Justice Ministry to provide it without delay with a draft resolution, which will approve the procedure of protection of Ukraine's rights and interests in the economic field, in particular using WTO mechanisms.
PJSC Ukrnafta Board Chairman Mark Rollins will ask the supervisory council of the company to start pre-trial reorganization for debt repayment.

"I feel strongly in the interest of the government and the people of Ukraine to keep Ukrnafta operating in a profitable way. Hence, I am recommending this course of action. So I am recommending to my supervisory board that the financial restructuring be initiated under the guidance of the existing executive board. I am looking for support for developing and implementing this reorganization plan from the shareholders, the government and the State Fiscal Service," he said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine in Kyiv.

According to Rollins, the company currently works with a positive cash flow but it cannot repay its tax liabilities in the short term.

"I've met with all the parties already and they have indicated support for this course of action. So I anticipate a meeting of the supervisory board next week already at which I expect them to approve the initiation of this process. And I also call for a general meeting of the shareholders in order to move the process forward," the official said.

After the parties' positions are agreed, the reorganization plan must be approved by the creditors, including the largest lender in the face of the State Fiscal Service, and by the court according to the statement submitted by Ukrnafta. In general, about three months are required from the beginning of the reorganization process to its approval.

As reported earlier, Ukrnafta's debt to the national budget in tax and fees payment exceeds UAH 10.2 billion.
10:30 16.03.2016 Interfax-Ukraine to host press conference 'Illegal Takeover of Agrosvit Company: Courts, Law Enforcement Agencies and Justice Ministry Officials Employed by Corporate Raiders'

1 min read

On Wednesday, March 16, at 11.00, the press centre of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press conference "Illegal Takeover of Agrosvit Company: Courts, Law Enforcement Agencies and Justice Ministry Employed by Corporate Raiders". Participants include founder of Agrosvit agricultural company Oleksandr Bichuch, founder of Agrosvit Ltd. Cyprian Company Roman Lin and lawyer Oleh Atiskov (8/5-A Reitarska Street). Accreditation of media obligatory by 1800 on March 15 by phone: (050) 303 4672.
Ukrainian army claims new attacks on its positions in Donbas

Attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas have intensified, following a period of relative lull and a decline in the number of shelling incidents on Tuesday, the Anti-Terrorist Operation's press center wrote on Facebook.

About a hundred 82mm and 120mm mortar mines were fired on Ukrainian army positions near Novotroyitske, Zaitseve and Troyitske, it said.

Ukrainian army strongholds came under attack near Shyrokyne in the Mariupol sector.

Following mortar attacks, reconnaissance groups tried to enter the area held by the Ukrainian army at 10:00 in the morning and at around 17:00 local time but had to stop their attempts.

Random fire by use of 82mm mortars, air defense launchers, grenade launchers and large-caliber machineguns on strongholds near Avdiyivka, Novhorodske, Nevelske and Opytne were aimed at provoking Ukrainian servicemen to return fire.

The shelling of Ukrainian positions stopped at midnight, the press center said.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland says U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia must remain until the Kremlin keeps Crimea.

"And of course, Crimea sanctions must remain in place so long as the Kremlin imposes its will on that piece of Ukrainian land," she said in a statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday.

Nuland also believes that the year 2016 may become a turning point for Ukraine.

"With will and effort on all sides, 2016 can be a turning point for Ukraine. If security can improve in coming weeks, if hostages are returned, if the parties can finalize negotiations on election modalities and other political issues, we could see legitimate leaders elected in Donbas by fall, the withdrawal of Russian forces and equipment, and the return of Ukraine's sovereignty over its border before the end of the year," she said.

In her words, the stakes are as high as ever. "With strong, unified leadership in Kyiv, 2016 can and should be a turning-point year for Ukraine's sovereignty and European future. If and as Ukraine's leaders recommit to drive the country forward, the United States must be there to support them, in our own national interest. At the same time, we must be no less rigorous than the Ukrainian people themselves in demanding Kyiv's leaders take their responsibility now to deliver a truly clean, strong, just Ukraine while they still have the chance," she added.
Ukrainian presidential envoy for the peaceful settlement of the Donbas conflict and Ukrainian representative of the humanitarian subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group, Poroshenko Bloc MP Iryna Gerashchenko says that 693 Ukrainian citizens have been designated as missing in Donbas.

"On the lists today are 693 missing persons  these are both civilians and MIA's, and our task today is to find them," she said at a plenary meeting at the Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv on Wednesday.

In her words, much effort is being taken now to "launch a real search for the missing."

Ukraine is also pressing for International Committee of the Red Cross representatives' access to occupied territories in eastern Ukraine, she added.
Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin, who was on leave, returned to work, a source at the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) told Interfax-Ukraine.

"Shokin is back to work and in the office now," the source said.

As was reported, President Petro Poroshenko said in his address to the nation on February 16 that he had asked Shokin to step down.

On February 19, presidential press secretary Sviatoslav Tseholko confirmed that Shokin's letter of resignation had arrived at the presidential administration.

On the same day, Poroshenko tabled a motion in parliament to dismiss Shokin. Presidential envoy in parliament Stepan Kubiv has been authorized to announce the motion at a parliament meeting.

On February 22, a draft resolution on MPs' consent to dismiss the chief prosecutor was registered on the parliament's website.

However, on February 29, PGO prosecutor Vladyslav Kutsenko announced that Shokin had taken a regular, paid leave.

Shokin was appointed Prosecutor General in February 2015. Under the Ukrainian Constitution, the Prosecutor General should be appointed and dismissed by the president with the parliament's consent. However, lawmakers could hold a vote of no-confidence, after which the Prosecutor General should resign if there is a required number of votes.
The ambassadors of the G7 countries in Ukraine have aired their concern about Ukrainian captive pilot Nadia Savchenko's health and called on Russia to immediately free her.

"G7 Ambassadors in Ukraine express their serious concerns about the health of Nadia Savchenko, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament and the Ukrainian Armed Forces, who has been imprisoned in Russia since 2014 and is currently on hunger strike in protest against her detention," the ambassadors said in a joint statement posted on the website of the Japanese embassy in Kyiv.

The authors of the statement called on Russia to comply with the Minsk Agreements, including in terms of releasing all hostages.

"G7 Ambassadors call on the Russian authorities to immediately release Nadia Savchenko and to comply with the commitments made in the 'Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements' including the release of all hostages and illegally detained persons," the statement says.

As reported, Savchenko has been held in Russian custody since July 2014. She is accused of murder of Russian journalists in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone in Ukraine's east. Savchenko denies all the charges and says that she was brought to the Russian territory by force.

Kyiv and the global community repeatedly called the 'Savchenko case' politically motivated and demanded her release.

The criminal case against Savchenko was tried by the Donetsk City Court in the Russian Rostov region. During a hearing on December 17, 2015, Savchenko went on hunger strike that she intended to continue until the end of her trial. On March 4, she declared a dry hunger strike, refusing to drink water, however, ended it on March 10 before the sentencing, which is scheduled for March 21-22.
The situation in ATO area near Avdiyivka gives no hope for future peace in Donbas  Poroshenko

Today's situation in the anti-terrorist operation area (ATO) in eastern regions of Ukraine gives no hope for the peaceful development of the events in Donbas, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said.

"The situation on the frontlines is dire. Fighting near the industrial zone near Avdiyivka, and the concentration of armed enemy formations together with the tanks and artillery give us no reasons to hope for future peaceful developments." The president made the remarks during festivities on the occasion of the anniversary of the union of the National Guard of Ukraine  the battalion of General Kulchytsky  in Kyiv on Wednesday.

Poroshenko said the Armed Forces of Ukraine "are not the same as in previous years" since now they have experience in battle, military training, new equipment and provisions.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has urged the Verkhovna Rada to promptly return to considering the bill on the special confiscation of former officials' funds.

"I appeal to members of the parliament to immediately return to voting for this bill, to provide the Ukrainian law enforcement system with the possibility of carrying out the procedure of confiscation and collecting funds in the amount of $1.5 billion stolen from the Ukrainian people as revenues to the state," he said at a cabinet meeting in Kyiv.

The premier noted that, in accordance with the Law of Ukraine on the National Budget, part of these funds should be directed to the Ministry of Defense to fulfill the state defense order. A different part should be spent on the social and economic development of the state.

"Now I appeal to all political parties of the democratic coalition: why was this bill was not supported yesterday? Who from the democratic parties supports protecting [disgraced former Ukrainian President Viktor] Yanukovych and preventing the possibility of confiscating the money stolen from the Ukrainian people?" Yatseniuk said.

He added that the amount of these funds is equal to the volume of aid Ukraine receives from the U.S. government.
A meeting of the foreign chiefs of Normandy Format (Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia) is not on the immediate agenda, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin has said.

"We didn't fix a specific day. We need to understand, whether the Russian side is ready to discuss definite proposals," Klimkin told the journalists following the government's sitting on Wednesday.

He noted that Ukraine waits for the response on the proposal, which have been advanced at the next meeting in Paris. The proposals cover withdrawal of troops, setting up a security zone, rendering full access to the OSCE observers, as well as Ukrainian-Russian border control and many others.

"So, there have been no specific responses in Paris so far, and it would be difficult to schedule another meeting without a response," the minister said. He added that a meeting would take place only if it made sense to meet.
He Xiaoqing, President of Chery International (L), and Ghabbour Auto Chairman Raouf Ghabbour pose for photos in Cairo, Egypt, on Mar.15, 2016. China's leading auto maker, Chery International, announced Tuesday the relaunching of its Speranza cars under the new name of "Chery." The "Chery" will be assembled in Egypt in partnership with two leading Egyptian automobile corporations, Ghabbour Auto (GB) and Aboul Fotouh Automative (AFA). (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

CAIRO, March 15 -- China's leading auto maker, Chery International, announced Tuesday the relaunching of its Speranza cars under the new name of "Chery."

The "Chery" will be assembled in Egypt in partnership with two leading Egyptian automobile corporations, Ghabbour Auto (GB) and Aboul Fotouh Automative (AFA).

Chery has sold over 30,000 Speranza models in Egypt since 2004 and has become the most popular Chinese car in Egypt in cooperation with Aboul Fotouh Automative.

With the new trilateral partnership, Chery decided to relaunch its assembled cars in Egypt under the company's name.

"This relaunch is an important step for Chery International's strategy, as Egypt is a leading country in Africa and Chery started its export business in the Middle East and Africa. That is why we see Africa as a market with huge potential," He Xiaoqing, President of Chery International, told Xinhua in an interview following the ceremony.

He added that AFA has abundant local resources in order to assemble car parts and integrate Chery's products, while GB's solid marketing experience guarantees successful sales and customer service for Chery's products.

Chery expects AFA to assemble 35,000 units annually and the Chinese auto manufacturer is focusing on brand design, product enhancement and upgrading service in its comprehensive growth strategy in Egypt.

GB Chairman, Raouf Ghabbour, said he is proud to partner with Chery International due to its past success in the Egyptian market and said the agreement will also assist AFA to work at full capacity during the current economic recession.

"It was a good chance to first of all increase the GB brand visibility of Ghabbour and at the same time support Aboul Fotouh Automative to operate at full production capacity. So, it is a win-win situation which is why we did not hesitate to partner with them," Ghabbour told Xinhua during the ceremony.

GB added that Chery is "a significant name with a successful track record in Egypt," stressing that Egyptian customers value the quality of Chery vehicles, which is the reason why this partnership will benefit all those concerned.

"We will definitely mobilize our experience to support Chery as we did with Geely, Hyundai and Mazda, through networks of sales branches and licensed distributors, maintenance and service centers and spare part sales outlets," he said, noting that no Chery cars will be assembled in Egypt outside of AFA.

GB is funding the relaunch which is worth hundreds of millions of Egyptian pounds for the Chery and AFA deal, and expects to sell 1,500 Chery vehicles a month, targeting an annual sales goal of 40,000 cars each year.
The Jinghong Hydropower Station will increase water discharges to ease effects of a regional drought. [Photo by Yang Zheng/China Daily]

China will provide an emergency water supply to countries along the Mekong River to help deal with drought, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

A hydropower station in South China's Yunnan province will make the emergency supply available to the lower reaches of the river through April 10, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang announced at a news conference in Beijing.

China and countries along the river on the Indochinese Peninsula are "friendly neighbors", and they should help each other to cope with difficulties, said Lu, referring to the drought that countries along the river have faced since the end of last year.

Reports quoted the Foreign Ministry of Vietnam as saying the country, which is in the lower reaches of the Mekong River, has requested that China increase water discharges by the Jinghong Hydropower Station to help ease the drought.

The Mekong River, whose upper part is known in China as the Lancang River, is an important water source for the five countries on the Indochinese PeninsulaLaos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Lu said China has decided to "overcome its own difficulties" and to provide the emergency water supply to benefit the five countries.

China is willing to strengthen communication and practical cooperation with its neighbors on the management of water resources and disaster response under the Lancang-Mekong River Cooperation Mechanism, he added.

China and the five countries set up the cooperation mechanism when their foreign ministers met in Yunnan in November. In a joint statement, all the foreign ministers promised to promote cooperation on water resources.

Li Zhifei, a researcher at the National Institute of International Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the move to provide an emergency water supply "is a good indication" that China has always taken on the responsibility of a large country by considering and protecting the interests of the countries on the lower reaches of the Mekong River.
China is set to establish a company that will specialize in commercial rocket launches, Hu Shengyun, chief model designer with the China Sanjiang Space Group, said on Tuesday.

Hu, also a NPC deputy, told Xinhua News Agency on March 15 that the companys first commercial launch is planned for next year. Preparations have already begun, and some of Chinas biggest Internet companies have expressed interest in a collaboration.

The company will use solid-fuel Kuaizhou rockets, which can send a 1-ton payload to an altitude of 700 kilometers. Prelaunch preparations take just a few hours. Whats more, the cost should be within US$10,000 per kilogram of payload, said Hu, recognizing the project for its promising market prospects.

China launched the first Kuaizhou rocket in 2013 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. That launch put an observation satellite into orbit around Earth. The second rocket, launched in 2014, carried a satellite to monitor natural disasters.
An ultra-light aircraft independently developed by China got the special flight permit and completed its delivery test flight on March 11, according to China Aviation News.

A2C-L ultra-light aircraft is developed by the AVIC Special Vehicle Research Institute after the A2C seaplane achieved commercial success. The aircraft is transformed and updated from the seaplane and finished its test flight in 2012.

A2C seaplane is the first ultra-light aircraft that obtained a certificate of model design approval and a production permit issued by Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Nearly 100 A2C planes have been sold to regions including Sichuan, Hubei, Anhui, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang.

This type of plane has been used in sowing, deinsectization, aerial sightseeing, aerial sports, aerial shooting, environmental detection, geological exploration and rescue. The plane has executed over 1,000 low altitude aerial mapping missions.
A screenshot taken from a Russian Defense Ministry video shows the first group of Russian Aerospace Force aircraft heading back to Russia from Syria, on March 15, 2016 (Xinhua/Sputnik)

GENEVA, March 15 -- Syrian main opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) spokesman Salem al-Meslet on Tuesday cautiously welcomed Russian intentions to withdraw forces from Syria, but warned that words must be followed by action.

"We heard the decision, but hearing is different from seeing things on the ground. It's important for us to see a full pull-out of the Russian troops, not only Russian troops but all foreign troops," al-Meslet explained.

"It's a positive step if they are serious about implementing that. We'll wait and see and I believe our decision will be based on what we see on the ground," he added.

UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, who is mediating the latest round of talks aiming to find a political solution to the crisis which started five years ago, also welcomed the development.

"The announcement by President Putin on the very day of the beginning of this round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva is a significant development, which we hope will have a positive impact on the progress of the negotiations in Geneva aimed at achieving a political solution to the Syrian conflict and a peaceful political transition in the country," he said in a statement.
CANBERRA, March 16 -- Australian officials leading the search into missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have expressed doubt that debris found recently on the island of Reunion is part of the missing jet.

In an update on the search operation on Wednesday, the Australian government's Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) said the debris, a 40cm x 40cm fragment of hard material, was unlikely to have come from MH370 or any other plane.

"Officials from Malaysia are continuing discussions with the French authorities about debris found on La Reunion. Current advice is that it is unlikely to be from an aircraft," the JACC statement said.

The most recent piece of debris was discovered almost two weeks ago on Reunion Island, in the Indian Ocean by the same man who last year found a wing fragment, a flaperon that was proven to be MH370 wreckage.

Johny Begue found the square-shaped gray item with a blue border in nearly the same spot. But he said that unlike the flaperon there were no barnacles attached to the latest item.

The Malaysia Airlines passenger jet, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, disappeared with 239 people aboard on March 8, 2014.

In slightly more positive news for the families of those missing, the JACC statement said two other items found recently in Mozambique on the Africa's east coast were being brought to Australia for testing by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

"A South African citizen reported finding debris, suspected to be from an aircraft, in Mozambique," the JACC statement said on Wednesday.

"Arrangements are being made for the debris to be transported to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau laboratories in Canberra, along with the debris that was found in Mozambique by an American citizen last week."

"Both items will be examined by investigators from Australia and Malaysia, as well as specialists from Boeing, to confirm if they come from an aircraft and establish their origin."

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is leading search operations for MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean, off the coast of Western Australia.

Four ships are currently involved in the operation: Fugro Discovery, Fugro Equator, Havila Harmony and Dong Hai Jiu 101.

More than 90,000 square kilometers of the seafloor in the southern Indian Ocean have been searched so far. The entire search area is roughly 120,000 square kilometers in size.
(File photo)

BEIJING, March 15 -- Mesmerized by China's dazzling growth in past decades, the world has found it difficult to analyze the phenomenon through existing archetypes of modern economics.

The draft of the 13th Five-Year Plan sets the direction for China from 2016 to 2020 by demanding medium-high growth, driving the world economy. The magic key to the China miracle may not, however, be an economic one, but political logic.

PEOPLE'S DEVELOPMENT

Crucial to the China miracle is the ruling party's governance philosophy, which embodies the common aspirations of the people, said Sheng Yafei, a National People's Congress deputy, who grew up in a small village.

"I'm still haunted by the memory of having little to eat when I was a child. It made me understand later that economic development is for the sake of the people; the essence of China's pursuit of prosperity," he said.

What is becoming known as "the people's five-year plan," will be ratified during this parliamentary session and has strong sense of benefit for ordinary people. The plan is vital in the final countdown in building a moderately prosperous society by 2020 and a critical period of transition.

"The Communist Party of China (CPC) has always put the people at the center of its strategies," said Zhou Hanmin, a national political advisor. "The ruling Party represents people's broadest interests in this nation. It enables the CPC to accelerate the pooling of consensus and come up with solutions to people's most pressing demands."

EFFICIENCY, DEMOCRACY IN PARALLEL

Unlike political-economic models where efficiency and democracy appear compatible, the "China miracle," to some extent, is a result of both running in parallel.

"Time is money and efficiency is life," was a catchphrase coined by residents of Shenzhen more than three decades ago which spread nationwide and translated into inestimable economic benefits.

In Shenzhen today, symbolic hub of economic reform, migrant workers continue to contribute wisdom.

"The new draft five-year plan proposes allowing migrant workers to receive free vocational education for free," said Yi Fengjiao, a NPC deputy and factory manager in Shenzhen. "This is the result of repeated suggestions by front-line workers to NPC deputies like me."

The 12 previous five-year plans were important components of political economics with Chinese characteristics. Grassroots wisdom in the new five-year plan has been pooled from nearly 3,000 NPC deputies and over 2,000 national legislators.

This year, China will begin a new round of elections for people's congresses at county and township level. Over 900 million people will directly elect more than 2.5 million lawmakers: the new representatives of efficiency and democracy. <

COMPATIBLE TRINITY OF GROWTH, REFORM &STABILITY

Although Moody's expressed doubts in a report last week as to whether China could achieve the desired rate of growth, institute reform and maintain stability at the same time, China's political logic speaks for itself. These three objectives have always been central to CPC governance.

"China's advantages in institutions and governance patterns should enable enormous, long-term economic potential be continuously translated into stability dividends," said Cai Jiming, a political economy professor with Tsinghua University.

CPC leadership, public support for reform, consistent reform and social stability have all been considered China's "advantages" at some time or another.

"China will not repeat the mistakes of other countries," Cai said.

How long can China continue its political logic of advancing comprehensive reform and opening up?

Liu Zhexin, professor with the China Executive Leadership Academy based in Shanghai, believes the growth China seeks is stable, balanced and fair, with its achievements shared by all.

"Development and stability will remain in a virtuous circle for a fairly long period," Liu said.
The nursery industry booms as Chinas two-child policy comes into effect. Pictured is a nursery training course in Ningbo, East Chinas Zhejiang Province. (Photo: People.cn)

After Chinas two-child policy came into effect on the first day of 2016, the country is predicted to embrace a baby boom. Though some worried about the burden brought to society and environment, experts believed that those challenges could be addressed as the country is taking some pre-emptive measures.

More than 90 million women will become eligible to have a second child after China formally moved away from the one-child policy to allow all couples to have two children. Although surveys show that only 28 percent of eligible women are willing to do so, it will contribute to an annual 3-5 million extra population growth in China.

A woman surnamed Zhou is one of those beneficiaries. With a 6-year-old son, she now plans to have a second one.

Zhai Zhenwu, director of the China Population Association, estimated that, annual population growth will peak in the next 4 to 5 years at 20 million. Afterwards, the number of newborns will stabilize at around 17 million each year, which is a reasonable range for China.

Based on these predictions, Chinas peak populations will reach at 1.45 billion in 2029, two years later than the initial calculation.

According to Zhai, the two-child policy will improve the labor force situation as well as the aging population in China. By 2050, more than 30 million people will be part of the work force compared to today and the percentage of senior citizens will drop by 2 percent.

Meanwhile, it will also drive up the economic growth rate by about half a percentage point. Family functions, such as taking care of the aged and inter-generational support will be further consolidated, said the director.

Many believe that the termination of the decades-long-one-child policy will address Chinas labor force drop, which has started since 2012.

The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University adds beds for its department of obstetrics & gynecology on March 1, 2016 to cope with a baby boom brought by the two-child policy. (Photo: Shi Peng from Peoples Daily)

China has been taking precaution measures since over 10 years ago, said Wang Peian, vice-minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC).

From 2004 to 2006, China conducted strategic research on population growth. One year later, the then authoritative body came up with a tri-step strategy gradually allowing more couples to have a second child, Wang introduced.

Previously, Chinese couples were allowed to have a second child if at least one spouse was an only child. By the end of September 2015, about 1.76 million eligible couples filed application for this privilege.

The fertility rate in 2014 increased by 0.29 in a thousand from 2013, while the boy-to-girl birth ratio dropped by 1.72 percentage point, the most drastic shift in both figures in recent years.

Scholars worry about the baby booms effect on the environment, womens employment and the family burdens. Healthcare services will also be challenged by a shortage of doctors and beds.

Some others have expressed concern about the employment, education and housing pressure these babies will cause when they grow up.

But experts told the Peoples Daily that these predicable challenges can be addressed. China is now introducing more supporting policies to encourage more couples to have a second baby.

The NHFPC, for example, is now working with the Ministry of Education to bolster the admission of pediatric undergraduates to universities to meet the increasing demand brought by the baby boom. The NHFPC also listed it as a priority in its 2016 work agenda.
Babies are very susceptible to "shaken baby syndrome." (File photo)

It is a heartwarming sight to watch adults hold crying babies, gently rocking them while singing lullabies. But a recent incident in Taiwan has become a sensation and turned that image on its head. One father shook his seven-month-old baby girl to death as she slept.

The man was the father of triplets in Xinbei, a city in Taiwan. One day, he sat with his seven-month-old baby girl on a rocking chair, shaking and teasing her as she dozed. But he never expected such a terrible outcome. He suddenly noticed that his daughter was foaming at the mouth and falling into a stupor. He and his wife rushed to the hospital, only to have their baby declared dead on arrival.

The infant had no significant external injuries. She was diagnosed at the hospital as having suffered from "shaken baby syndrome." It seems that the father damaged the baby's brain while rocking her body too vigorously.

"Adults often feel tired after a hard day of work, so it's not unreasonable to want a crying baby to fall asleep as soon as possible. But parents with insufficient medical knowledge can easily hurt babies; one possible outcome of shaking a baby is cerebral hemorrhage," said Tong Meiling, Chief Physician of the Children's Health Center in Nanjing.
More than 20 pieces of porcelain were excavated from a construction site in the Tongzhou District of Beijing on March 7. The pieces, mostly cans and bottles that were uncovered in pairs, are currently being cleaned and conserved at the Tongzhou Heritage Management Bureau.

However, a villager named Cao Jiazhong, living in Caozhuang Village, claims that the porcelain was buried by his grandfather and therefore rightfully belongs to his family. Cao is 66 years old. His grandfather, named Cao Yinran, used to be a landowner in the village. "My grandpa was the biggest landowner in the village, with many acres of land. My grandma also comes from a rich family that worked for the prince during the Qing Dynasty," Cao said.

"Those porcelain pieces are so-called dowry porcelain, as they come in pairs," Cao added. He was told by his father that during the civil war and the Anti-Japanese War, his grandfather buried the family's porcelain in several different places, several different times.

According an employee from the Tongzhou Heritage Management Bureau, the excavated porcelain is in good shape. Based on preliminary identification, the pieces were made during the Republican Period. The employee said that Cao must provide more evidence in order to prove that the porcelain belongs to his family. The bureau will then discuss the claim with relevant government departments and the village before deciding what to do.
The first Internet-themed cafe opened in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in December 2014. (Photo: People.cn)

Guo Ming, a 27-year-old Internet operation manger, dreams of setting up his own shops one day. He frequents a maker-themed cafe in Zhongguancun, which is Chinas Silicon Valley, and talks for hours with fellow business starters.

As more young people embark on their business adventure, deputies attending this years two sessions believe that China will embrace an era of young entrepreneurs, who will be a new engine of Chinas social and economic progress.

According to statistics issued by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, in 2014 alone, the number of first-time business starters reached over 2.91 million, and newly-registered companies grew by 21.6 percent over 2015.

As the country increases its efforts to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, young people are seen as the main force for the nationwide spree. Against this background, youth entrepreneurship is also a topic dominating this years two sessions.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, mentioned entrepreneurship 22 times and stressed that the country should unleash its societal potential to promote mass entrepreneurship and innovations in his government work report

Many advisors and National Peoples Congress deputies contributed their suggestions at the two sessions. Some suggested a trust fund should be set up to further shore up youngsters business dream, and others advised more favorable loan policies.

Li Yining, a deputy director of the Economic Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) has been researching people like Guo for years. According to his research, a diverse group of people, usually college graduates, post graduates or PhD students and researchers often gather in coffee shops to exchange creative ideas.

The same situation happened in the US before. Bill Gates was a regular at a cafe near university 30 years ago, Li explained. Seeing this trend, Li said he believes a booming age of innovation is coming, or about to come.

To encourage more young people to engage in entrepreneurship, the Ministry of Education has taken a spate of measures to help college students start their own businesses. According to Education Minister Yuan Guiren, the ministry encouraged universities to start entrepreneurship classes, and invite business heavyweights to give lectures. He urged that practical guidance and necessary financial supports could also be provided.

In addition, a flexible system can also be adopted, so that those studying on elite programs can launch the startups first and then later return to school for their education, Yuan said.

A huge crowd of entrepreneurs and people who plan to start a business were attending an entrepreneurship salon in Zhongguancun on March 10. (Photo: Bao Congying from People.cn)
The US, together with 11 other countries, recently issued a joint statement at the UN Human Rights Council to express their concerns towards Chinas deteriorating human rights record," demanding China to release all its detained activists and lawyers.

Their accusations, however, clearly demonstrate a lack of respect for other countrys judicial sovereignty. The Chinese government has already hit back. The criticism, under the excuse of human rights, not only severely infringes on domestic affairs and judicial sovereignty, but also breaches the spirit of the rule of law. China firmly opposes and definitely does not accept that, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei at a press conference on March 11.

China is a country under rule of law and Chinese judicial authorities handle cases and protect any suspects legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law, the Spokesperson added.

The cases mentioned in the statement are still under investigation. But Western countries, boasting themselves of rule of law, didnt hesitate to incite the public to impose pressure on these cases. Such action exposed their lack of respect for other countries judicial systems, and therefore tarnished their own images.

It should be noted that Chinas judicial departments withhold the right to crack down on illegal activities in accordance with the law. Any action diminishing Chinas rule of law under the cloak of human rights guardian will not be accepted.

Even in Western countries with mature legal systems, activists and lawyers should work as defenders of, rather than challengers to, existing legal order. As the publics understanding of rule of law is influenced by public figures, some collisions of social order in the name of human rights in recent years have brought a negative impact on Chinese peoples awareness of the law.

For instance, some people package importunate petitions as rights protection and describe court order disruptions as fighting injustice. These misleading behaviors gave rise to social confrontation and hindered legal progress in China. Meanwhile, such actions gave certain countries an excuse to interfere with Chinas judicial sovereignty in the name of human rights.

As for the development of human rights, one-size-fit-all approach would never work, and each countrys concrete conditions should always be taken into account.

Rigidly applying Western experiences on China or labeling Western standards as universal values demonstrate the arrogance of Western-centrism. It is not the first time we have seen politicization of human rights issues in the international community. Some Western countries, with their own human rights problems, hold double standards toward other countries. By picking on other countries human rights records, these countries are trying to cover up their true intention of pursuing self-interests.
A TV documentary highlighting the USs double standards on human rights issues was aired by Chinas State-run CCTV on Sunday. The series, by illustrating the true human rights situation in the US, exposed its hypocrisy over the issue.

Citing media reports both inside and outside the US, the documentary called the human rights record of global police revealed how the superpower tramples on US citizen's human rights. The prisons, for example, are rampant with corruption, torture of prisoners and sexual abuse. Career women are subject to discrimination and sexual harassment at work.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, or the FBI, forces Internet companies to provide clients' information without court approval, the documentary said.

The airing of the documentary came days after the US, along with 11 other countries, pointed fingers at Chinas human rights record at the UN Human Rights Council.

Since the 1970s, the US State Department has been submitting annual reports on human rights to its Congress, poking its nose into other countries' human rights records while leaving many of its own problems unaddressed.

The country that prides itself as the global police was blamed that what it did is just to serve its own strategic interests.

Ji Hong, s researcher with the Institute of American Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out that the US always holds a sense of superiority. It considers itself a global leader with the best system and human rights record.

The documentary exposed the USs lack of willingness and capability to improve its record. The documentary also echoed Chinas position on human rights that all countries should face up to their own problems and have more dialogues with others to advance the progress of human rights in the international arena.
The story of Chen Zifang is amazing and very moving.

Chen was born in Badong county in the Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of central China's Hubei province on March 2, 1989. His parents worried about his future from the time of his birth because he was born without arms.

Twenty years passed, and Chen can now do many things by himself. His feet are quite capable of subbing in for tasks such as eating food, washing his face, brushing his teeth, getting dressed and using the toilet. He can even use his feet to cut vegetables, split firewood and type on a computer or mobile phone.

Chen now runs an online store in his hometown. In less than ten days, he can earn more than 10,000 yuan. He always works late at night, and communicates with customers by typing with his feet.

It is an unimaginable achievement, in the mind of Chen's mother, that her amputee son could accomplish so much against such odds.
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Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16



By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:

The US Greenfields Petroleum Corporation has signed an agreement to acquire a 66-percent stake in Azerbaijani Bahar Energy Limited Operating Company, the source on Azerbaijan's oil and gas market told Trend.

Greenfields Petroleum Corporation signed a deal with the liquidated Baghlan Group and its liquidator, and following the deal will become the only shareholder of Bahar Energy Limited.

Bahar Energy Limited is developing the oil and gas block, including Bahar and Gum Deniz deposits in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, the statement said.

The source said the Greenfields Petroleum Corporation will become the only shareholder of Bahar Energy Limited, following the deal.

"Greenfields Petroleum Corporation will pay Baghlan Group's contribution in the company's capital and assume the obligations to pay off the loan, granted by Bahar Energy Limited for the development of fields," the source said.

"The transaction amount includes the payment worth $6 million, as well as the repayment of obligations incurred by Baghlan Group towards Bahar Energy Limited, the so-called default liabilities," the source added.

The source has not specified the total amount of the transaction, but said the Greenfields Petroleum Corporation is assessing the default liabilities at around $57.6 million.

"After completion of the deal, in case of compliance to certain preconditions, Greenfields Petroleum Corporation will become a 100 percent owner of Bahar Energy Limited," said the source. "At the same time, $6 million will be placed on a special account as a deposit before completion of the deal in order to confirm the company's liabilities. The deal is expected to be completed within the next three months."

In order to finance the agreement, the company agreed on a debt restructuring and once again extended the loan agreement on the allocation of funds for the development of the block "Bahar-Gum Deniz", according to the source.

"The new agreement provides for the allocation of additional $7 million for the deal on acquisition of a stake in Bahar Energy Limited and operational costs, as well as prolongation of the loan agreement until May 16, 2016," the source said. "After restructuring of the loan is completed, Greenfields Petroleum Corporation intends to extend the loan agreement until December 31, 2017."

Previously, SOCAR signed a production sharing agreement (PSA) with Bahar Energy Ltd. for exploration, rehabilitation, development and extraction at the Bahar-Gum Deniz block.

The PSA's second part involves an exploration at the Bahar-2 structure.

Bahar Energy Ltd., according to initial estimates, had to invest $1 billion for implementation of works under the PSA. Bahar field, located 40 km southeast of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, has been developed since 1969.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

By Azad Hasanli - Trend:

The State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) sold $39.1 million to eight local banks through the auction held by Azerbaijan's Central Bank (CBA) March 16, SOFAZ said March 16.

SOFAZ offered $100 million for sale through the auction.

Thus, SOFAZ will continue selling foreign currency through auctions in 2016.

The foreign currency is sold as part of SOFAZ's transfers to the Azerbaijani state budget, which are envisaged to stand at 7.615 billion Azerbaijani manats in 2016.

SOFAZ was established in 1999 with assets of $271 million.

As of January 1, 2016, SOFAZ assets reduced by 9.5 percent compared to 2014 ($37.1 billion) and were estimated at $33.57 billion.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

By Fatih Karimov - Trend:

An explosion in a trade center in Iranian capital city of Tehran on March 16 left at least 39 injured.

The explosion took place at 17:14 local time (GMT +3:30 hours) in a building in Tehran's Bazaar, the country's IRNA news agency reported.

A gas cylinder is suspected to be behind the blast, Hassan Abbasi, an official at Tehran's medical emergency center said.

Reportedly some of the injured are in serious condition.

The cause of the explosion is being investigated by experts of the Tehran's Fire Department.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

Trend:

OSCE is expected to monitor the contact line between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops March 17, Azerbaijani Defense Ministry told Trend March 16.

It is planned to hold the monitoring under the mandate of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative on the contact line near the village of Mezem of Azerbaijan's Gazakh district, the ministry said.

On the Azerbaijani side, the monitoring will be carried out by the field assistants of OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative Hristo Hristov, Peter Svedberg and Simon Tiller.

On the opposite side, the monitoring will be conducted by the field assistants of OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative Yevgeny Sharov and Jiri Aberle.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16



Trend:



Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Ankara in the current conditions is commendable, Arzu Naghiyev, political analyst, deputy director general of Trend news agency, said.



Naghiyev said that this action, an important gesture, showed that Azerbaijan supports fraternal Turkey in such a difficult period.



"President Aliyev once again demonstrated the high level of friendly and fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey," he said. "Turkey and Azerbaijan are linked by historical ties. Historically, Turkey and Azerbaijan always supported each other."



He said that at the same time, President Aliyev's this visit became a certain message to the world, in particular, to the forces concerned about the Azerbaijan-Turkey rapprochement.



"Another terrorist attack was committed in Turkey on the eve of President Erdogan's visit to Azerbaijan," he said. "Despite this, the fifth meeting of the Turkey-Azerbaijan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council took place. Very important documents were signed between the two countries."



He said that nothing can shatter the Azerbaijan-Turkey relations.



"Azerbaijan and Turkey always supported and will continue supporting each other," he said. "The fifth meeting and the documents signed as part of the meeting will further strengthen cooperation and relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey."
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16



By Ilhama Isabalayeva - Trend:



Following the terrorist attacks in Paris, presidents and representatives of some countries visited France and condemned terrorism, but did not do the same after the terror attack in Turkey, Azerbaijani MP Musa Gasimli told Trend.



Speaking about the visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Ankara following the terror attack there, Gasimli said it was a certain message to the presidents of those countries, which should have supported Turkey.



A car bomb exploded in Ankara on March 13, near a crowded bus stop. The explosion killed as many as 37 people, 125 more got injured.



"First of all, President Aliyev once again demonstrated that Azerbaijan and its people support Turkey and fraternal Turkish people in difficult days," Gasimli said.



Gasimli said that Azerbaijan has always adequately reacted to the unjustified attacks against Turkey.



"Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan made certain statements against Turkey during a meeting as part of the EU's Eastern Partnership program several years ago," he said. "President Aliyev immediately responded to President Sargsyan in a worthy manner."



The Azerbaijani MP said that President Aliyev stressed that it is impossible to associate Islam with terrorism.



"Some countries have presented Islamophobia as their state policy," he said. "This approach is fully wrong, because Islam is a religion of peace. Azerbaijan has become a model of the interreligious and intercultural dialogue. The world has a lot to learn from Azerbaijan."
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

The visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Turkey March 15 has opened a new page in relations between the two countries, MP of Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan Fazail Agamali told Trend March 16.

The fifth meeting of the Turkey-Azerbaijan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was to be held in Baku, Agamali said, but due to another terrorist attack that took place in Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan again postponed his visit to Baku, according to the MP.

A car bomb exploded in Ankara on March 13, near a crowded bus stop. The explosion killed as many as 37 people, 125 more got injured.

"The president's visit to Turkey in this situation showed how deep the relations of friendship and brotherhood between the two countries are," said Agamali.

He went on to add that this meeting raised the Azerbaijani-Turkish strategic partnership to an even higher level.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

By Orkhan Guluzade - Trend:

Azerbaijan didn't leave Turkey alone in its hard times and this is an important factor in relations between the two brotherly countries, a Turkish MP told Trend March 16.

The visit of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev to Ankara on March 15 became another example of how the relations between Baku and Ankara develop, Necdet Unuvar, head of the Turkey-Azerbaijan interparliamentary friendship group of Turkey's Grand National Assembly (parliament), told Trend by telephone.

"The visit of President Aliyev to Turkey became another important step in developing the relations between the two countries," said the MP.

The world witnessed important events in bilateral relations between Ankara and Baku this week, since earlier, chairman of Azerbaijani parliament Ogtay Asadov visited Turkey and held meetings with the country's president and prime minister, said Unuvar.

He noted that during the visit of Asadov to Turkey, the parties decided to even more strengthen the relations between the two countries.

The fifth meeting of the Turkey-Azerbaijan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was held in Ankara, March 15, with participation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation led by the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus Herbert Salber.

Salber thanked President Aliyev for the opportunity to visit Azerbaijan a few weeks after the trip of vice-president of the European Commission, high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy, Federica Mogherini.

Salber said Mogherini's visit to Azerbaijan opened good opportunities for expanding the cooperation. He noted that the European Union might contribute to the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

President Aliyev stressed that Mogherini's visit to Azerbaijan was successful and fruitful.

Hailing the cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union, President Aliyev said there are good prospects for future partnership.

During the meeting, the parties broadly discussed the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and exchanged views on the development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union in various areas.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Turkey once again showed how solid is the foundation of the two peoples' friendship, fraternity and strategic partnership, said Novruz Mammadov, Azerbaijani presidential administration's deputy head, chief of the administration's foreign relations department.

Mammadov made the remarks March 16 speaking to reporters in Baku.

He said the talks and meetings held during the visit, as well as the documents signed, and the visit's results demonstrated that the two countries, the two peoples are "one nation, two states", as said by Azerbaijan's national leader Heydar Aliyev.

"The speeches made and the documents signed during the visit showed that these states, these peoples are always together and will be together in all the processes taking place in the world, both at hard and successful times," said Mammadov. "Turkish media too reacted to this visit that way."

He added that the speeches made by the two countries' presidents showed the essence of the relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey.

"This is a solid basis for our history, our countries and our future, and we must continue our relations on this basis," added Mammadov.
Following the tradition of continuous pleasing of customers with new campaigns and services, Azer Turk Bank offered "Holiday discounts" in relation with the International Women's day 8th of March and Novruz holiday. The campaign related with the International Women's day 8th of March has completed on March 11th.

All women customers applied for a payment card from Azer Turk Bank were able to benefit from a 50% discount. Moreover, married couples applying for payment cards were offered to get one card with 50% discount and the other card for free. All women customers holding any operation in Azer Turk Bank on the day of March 7th were presented small gifts in relation with the holiday.

Meanwhile, the discount campaign related with Novruz holiday still continues. All customers ordering a payment card during the period between 01.03.2016-01.04.2016 will get a 50% discount. Moreover, salary card holders of Azer Turk Bank will be free from paying a one-time commission while cashing out funds through the "Corporate" loan product. The campaign is valid until 01.04.2016.

In order to benefit from the campaign you can approach any branch of the Bank presenting the requested documents, or order a card online.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 15

By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:

At a meeting in Tehran, members of the Iran-Russia Joint Chamber of Commerce considered the plans to facilitate banking ties, visa requirements and increasing the number of flights between the two countries.

Expressing his dissatisfaction with the low level of trade turnover between Iran and Russia, Asadollah Asgaroladi, a member of the Iran-Russia Joint Chamber of Commerce, said Tehran and Moscow faced several hurdles for the expansion of trade ties, Fars news agency reported March 15.

Asgaroladi made the remarks at a meeting between the Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture and Russia's Ural Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Tehran.

He added that some problems in transportation, particularly in aviation and issuing visas, have already been cleared, but there are still problems with customs tariffs and money transactions.

According to Asgaroladi, the volume of trade turnover between Iran and Russia currently stands at $2 billion, while the volume of trade turnover between the Islamic Republic and China is $40 billion.

During the meeting, Qadir Ghiafeh, another member of the Iran-Russia Joint Chamber, said traders will obtain visas within three days after receiving a recommendation from the Chamber.

Ghiafeh added that a number of Iranian bankers have paid a visit to Russia over the past week to discuss facilitating banking ties.

Iran and Russia have also agreed to establish or increase the number of existing regular flights from Iran to the Russian cities of Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Sochi, with an aim to facilitate trips, as well as increase the trade turnover between the two countries.

The sides are also considering a plan to launch a direct flight per week to Russia's Astrakhan as of late March.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:

The Rolls-Royce Industrial Power Engineering Ltd., an energy division of UK's Rolls-Royce, announced the liquidation of its branch in Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Taxes Ministry's 'Vergiler' newspaper reported March 16.

The report said that lenders can in two months send their requests to: 90 A, Nizami Street, Nasimi District, Baku, Azerbaijan.

The Rolls-Royce Industrial Power Engineering was rendering services in the supply of equipment, machinery and accessories for the oil and gas industry in Azerbaijan.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

By Farhad Daneshvar - Trend:

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has forecasted that his country's oil exports in the new Iranian calendar year (starts March 21) will reach two million barrels per day.

Rouhani made the remarks speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting March 16 morning, Fars news agency reported.

Recalling that the international sanctions on Iran's financial sector have been removed, the president vowed that the already launched process of economic growth will continue in the new Iranian year.

According to the International Energy Agency, Iran exported 1.4 million barrels of oil per day in February and is expected to boost the figure by 150,000 barrels per day in March.

Rouhani's comments on Iranian oil exports come amid the ongoing talks over a plan put forward by Saudi Arabia and Russia to freeze oil production with an aim to keep prices from bottoming out.

Iran refuses to join the said plan as Tehran aims to regain its market share lost during the sanctions period.

Earlier on March 13, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said he acknowledges Iran's right for increasing oil production.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh also said his country would not consider freezing production unless the country's output reaches four million barrels per day.

Commenting on the output freeze plan, the Iranian government's spokesman, Mohammad Bagher Nobakht has said "the move means that they don't want to recognize Iran's right to revive its pre-sanctions output".

OPEC's total oil production in February averaged 32.38 million barrels per day, a decrease of 175,000 barrels per day versus the previous month.

According to the OPEC Monthly Oil Market Report, crude oil output decreased mostly in Iraq, Nigeria and the UAE, while production increased in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16



By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:



The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has increased the number of its gas filling stations in Romania to 33, said the message from the company.



SOCAR commissioned another gas filling station under its brand name on Bucharest-Constanta highway March 16, according to the message.



Currently, the company's gas filling stations operate in 16 regions of Romania.



SOCAR is the sole producer of oil products in Azerbaijan. It has filling stations in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Romania and Switzerland.



The company exported 1.23 million tons of oil products in 2015, compared to 1.2 million tons in 2014.

Edited by SI

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Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:

Azerbaijan has not so far received an invitation to participate in a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC countries, which will be held in April in Qatar, Azerbaijan's Energy Ministry told Trend March 16.

Earlier, Venezuelan Oil Minister Eulogio Del Pino said that a meeting of the OPEC member states and other oil producing countries on oil output freezing will take place on April 17 in Doha and about 20 countries, including Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Oman, Mexico and Columbia will participate in the meeting.

"If such an invitation comes, we'll consider it," said the ministry.

Previously, a number of oil producing countries expressed readiness to freeze oil output at the level of January. Meanwhile, the total oil output by OPEC countries were 32.38 million barrels per day in February, which is 175,000 barrels per day less than in January.

SOCAR's president Rovnag Abdullayev also said that Azerbaijan intends to freeze oil output in 2016 at the level of 2015.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

By Azad Hasanli - Trend:

Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR and Zenith Aran Oil Company, a subsidiary of Canada's Zenith Energy, signed March 16 an agreement on production sharing, restoration, development and exploration at the block that includes Muradkhanli, Jafarli and Zardab oil fields.

SOCAR has said on its website that the deal was signed by the SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev and the Zenith Energy CEO Andrea Cattaneo for a period of 25 years.

The Muradkhanli, Jafarli and Zardab fields cover an area of 642.2 square kilometers. Currently, the average daily oil production at these fields is 350 barrels.

Small volume of gas is also produced at the fields and is used in economic and industrial activities.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, March 16

By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend:

Extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Belarus to Turkmenistan Oleg Tabanyuhov held a series of meetings in Ashgabat with the representatives of the country's Cabinet of Ministers.

The cooperation between the two countries on a wide range of issues in the spheres of trade, industry, agriculture, construction, science, education and culture were discussed during the meetings, said the embassy of Belarus.

The parties stressed the strategic nature of bilateral cooperation and the significant potential for its intensive development, confirmed their interest in further expansion of cooperation in all these areas, according to the embassy.

The construction of Garlyk mining and processing enterprise in Turkmenistan's Lebap region, where rich deposits of potassium salts located, is one of the main projects in the economic partnership between the two countries.

It was earlier reported that the enterprise is built by Belarusian Belgorkhimprom JSC and its capacity is 1.4 million tons of mineral fertilizers per year.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, March 16

By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend:

Turkmenistan and Pakistan signed a number of bilateral documents in Islamabad on March 16, said the message from Turkmenistan's government.

The signing ceremony took place following the talks between Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

The parties signed the following documents: a program of cooperation between foreign ministries of Turkmenistan and Pakistan for 2016-2017; memorandums of understanding on cooperation in energy, exchange of financial information related to the legalization of proceeds from crime and financing terrorism; memorandums of understanding between a number of universities and research institutions of the two countries.

During the negotiations, the parties said there is a great potential for cooperation in various spheres of economy, as well as in fuel and energy sphere, transportation and communication, said the message.

Moreover, they emphasized the significance of constructing Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and creation of transportation and communication corridors.

Edited by SI
KABC-TV(LOS ANGELES) -- Three California police officers have been charged with petty theft for allegedly stealing and eating cookies and protein bars last year during a raid on an allegedly illegal marijuana dispensary, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

One of the officers was also charged with vandalism for allegedly damaging five surveillance cameras at the dispensary "by banging and smashing the camera lenses," the DA's office added in a Monday news release.

If convicted of petty theft, Santa Ana officers Jorge Arroyo, 32 and Nicole Lynn Quijas, 37, face a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, the DA's office said, adding that Officer Brandon Matthew Sontag, 31, faces up to 18 months in jail and a $2,000 fine if convicted of petty theft and the additional misdemeanor vandalism count.

The charges filed against the officers Monday stem from a May 26, 2015, police raid of Sky High Holistic, which was allegedly "operating without proper permits to sell medical marijuana" at the time, according to the DA's office.

Though police "legally disabled 16 surveillance cameras" during the "legal search" of the dispensary, a "hidden 4-camera system" recorded what happened during the raid, the DA said.

Sontag, Quijas and Arroyo allegedly entered the dispensary's break room and took snacks, "including Detour protein bars and Mrs. Thinsters cookies," the DA's office said.

The three officers ate the food, shared the protein bars with other police personnel and took extra cookies before leaving, the DA's office added.

In addition to eating the stolen snacks, Sontag also damaged "five of the previously disabled surveillance cameras" by "banging and smashing the camera lenses," the DA's office said. Each camera is valued between $80 and $100, the DA's office added.

The attorney for the pot shop last year released the footage recorded by the hidden four-camera system, which appeared to show officers joking about kicking a 54-year-old legally blind woman missing one leg "in her f****** nub."

The pot shop's attorney, Matthew Pappas, told Los Angeles ABC station KABC-TV last year that he believed the officers were eating marijuana edibles.

But the DA's office said Monday that there was "no evidence that any SAPD personnel consumed any edible marijuana items available at the dispensary.

Pappas told KABC-TV Monday he still stands by his original allegations that the officers ate marijuana edibles. He also said the charges were an appropriate step and showed officials were willing to hold officers accountable for their alleged actions.

Pappas did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests Tuesday for additional comment.

Arroyoa, Quijas and Sontag have been placed on paid administrative leave by the Santa Ana Police Department Chief, public information officer Cpl. Anthony Bertagna told ABC News Tuesday.

The three officers' arraignment has been scheduled for April 11, according to online court records. It was not immediately clear whether they have obtained lawyers or entered pleas in response to the charges against them.

The media relations department for the Superior Court of Orange County did not immediately respond to ABC News requests for additional information.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, March 16

By Demir Azizov- Trend:

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan Ikrom Nazarov presented the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev a letter of credence, the Uzbek foreign ministry said in a message.

During the ceremony of presentation of credentials Nazarbayev said that he plans to take part in the SCO Summit in Tashkent.

"We consider Uzbekistan as our strategic partner in Central Asia," Nazarbayev said. "We have all the opportunities for effective integration in terms of trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian issues. Besides, I think that we will arrange my trip to Tashkent where the next sitting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is scheduled to take place."

As it was earlier reported, the SCO Summit is scheduled for June 23-24 in Tashkent.
Tehran, Iran, March 16

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

If Russia withdraws part of its troops from Syria, it will not affect the total cooperation among the allied sides such as Iran, Russia, Syria, as well as Hezbollah, Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said.

The Syrian government and people will be the winners against the enemies by help of their allies, he stressed, Tasnim news agency reported March 15.

He went on to quote Russian officials as saying they will escalate their involvement in Syria whenever the occasion requires.

Russia began withdrawing its forces from Syria earlier today. The first group of Russian planes left Hmeymim air base in Syria on Tuesday morning, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Iran and Russia are supporters of the current Syrian government headed by Bashar al-Assad.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16



By Farhad Daneshvar - Trend:



Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has dismissed that the country's missile-launching activity threatens neighboring countries.



"We have no plan to attack any neighboring countries and Iran's missile activity only have defense purposes," Fars news agency quoted the president as saying on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting this morning.



He slammed the critics of Iran's missile activity and those who urged the UN Security Council to probe into the country's recent missile launches and said Iranians hate tensions.



He further expressed hope that with the contribution of the Islamic Republic, the peace, stability and security will be established in the region and the hostile countries will give up violence.



Earlier on March 12, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the world powers to take "immediate punitive steps" against Iran, following its ballistic missile tests last week.



On March 9, Iran's test-fired several ballistic missiles from several bases across the country as part of a recent massive missile drills.



While a couple of Western and regional states claims the recent tests have violated a UN resolution, Iranian officials have constantly reiterated that Tehran's ballistic missile tests do not violate the nuclear agreement it reached with the P5+1 group of countries and are not in breach of a United Nations Security Council resolution.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

By Fatih Karimov - Trend:

Iranian Army's quick reaction force received home-made anti-materiel rifles (AMR) AM50 at its disposal, Tasnim news agency reported March 16.

The rifles were delivered to the army during a ceremony in a commando training centre in Tehran.

Produced by the Iranian state-controlled Defense Industries Organization, the AM50 is a single-shot, bolt action anti-materiel rifle, with an effective shot range of 1200 meters.

The gun's fire rate is 3-5 rounds per minute.

Iranian media outlets report that Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems in recent years.

The AM50 was developed after Iran purchased Steyr HS .50 rifles, exported from Austria.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

By Fatih Karimov - Trend:

At least three people were killed and 250 injured in the various incidents during the Iran's Festival of Fire on March 15, the official IRNA news agency reported.

The last Wednesday of the Iranian calendar year is called "Chahar Shanbe Suri," (Festival of Fire). It is also known as one of the most dangerous days of the year. Iranians traditionally jump over fires and use small explosives during celebrations.

A 24 year-old man in Qazvin city and a 15 year-old man in Iran's northern Rasht city were killed due to the explosion of hand-made explosives.

Meanwhile, spokesman of Iran's emergency services Mojtaba Khaledi said that a 45-year old man died in Tehran from cardiac arrest due to shock of a firecracker explosion.

The most of the incidents occurred in Tehran and Fars provinces, Khaledi said, adding the victims are mainly under 20 years old.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

By Farhad Daneshvar - Trend:

Just a couple of weeks after reformist-backed candidates in the Islamic Republic's February elections appeared to gain a sweeping victory in Tehran, Iranians seem to cheer another online victory.

Iran's February election for the parliament saw a moderate, pro-government coalition of pragmatic conservatives, centrists and reformists winning a landslide victory in Tehran, thanks to the most popular mobile phone messaging app in the Islamic Republic, Telegram.

Over the past couple of years, Iranian users have widely used the Telegram app and other social media platforms to push their points of view on a range of topics from political to social and economic issues, but their influential role became more obvious in Iran's 2016 parliamentary election.

During the electoral campaign, twenty million users of Telegram alongside with millions of Facebook and Twitter users put joint efforts to use the social media against the conservative-dominated traditional media, particularly Iran's state-run TV channels, in favor of the moderate President Hassan Rouhani's allies.

While the administration of President Hassan Rouhani has demonstrated a friendly attitude towards social media platforms in the country, a group of conservatives and hardliners have taken hostile attitude towards the social media.

In addition to Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who holds verified accounts on Twitter and Facebook, a number of Iranian ministers and ambassadors have been seen to actively use Facebook to communicate with people.

The conservatives' hostile attitudes have led to blocking several social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter and the video sharing website YouTube in the country forcing Iranian users to access the blocked platforms through proxy servers.

Iranian officials have been debating over the past several months whether to block Telegram, just like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Meanwhile prior to the February election, the country's Ministry of Information and Communications Technology resisted the demands to block Telegram.

Indifferent to the hostile attitudes towards social media, on March 16 and only two weeks after announcing the outcome of the election, pragmatic Rouhani's administration announced launching its official channel on Telegram justifying the action as a move to share news with the public.

While about 50 percent of Iranians spend more than an hour per day on social networks and over 23 million of Iran's 78 million people are smartphone users, the administration's decision to officially join Telegram could be a sign indicating the early launch of a campaign for the next round of presidential election to be held in 2017.

In addition to the electoral advantages, the decision will also create chances for the pragmatic president's allies to voice support for his economic reform plans through social media.

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Farhad Daneshvar is Trend Agency's staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @Farhad_Danesh
Tehran, Iran, March 16

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

Iran has once more emphasized the significance of a proposed draft for the Caspian Sea littoral countries to fight drugs.

Iran and Russia enjoy good cooperation in international and regional arenas regarding the fight on drugs, Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said.

"We are looking for a practical and well-organized procedure to fight drugs," he said at a press conference after meeting Federal Drug Control Service of Russia Director Viktor Ivanov, IRNA news agency reported March 16.

"A few months ago Iran prepared an agreement draft for Caspian Sea littoral countries. We circulated it among all the countries. In this meeting, we told them to explicitly ratify or amend it so that we could propose the final draft."

"In the international arena, especially the UN General Assembly, since our views and those of Russia are largely compatible, we consider this draft as international, sophisticated, and multi-dimensional," he added.

Iran claims to be the biggest drug fighter in the world. It is adjacent to drug paradise Afghanistan and its borders are constantly attacked by drug-trafficking gangs.

Tehran says the fight is hugely demanding in terms of human and financial resources, adding international cooperation is scanty to effectively fight the phenomenon.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

Trend:

The US Secretary of State John Kerry said he intends to visit Georgia, probably in June, reported Sputnik news agency March 16.

During a joint briefing with Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze in Washington DC, Kerry said Georgia is a friend of the US, adding that the US wants the Georgian society to believe in its support.

He also said the US supports Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, its economic development, its Euro-Atlantic path and desire for tighter integration with the US and Europe.

The US also appreciates Georgia's participation in the missions in Afghanistan and anti-terrorism activities, added Kerry.

The Georgian FM Janelidze, in turn, thanked Kerry for the support.

FM Janelidze is in the US for a working visit and is holding high-level meetings.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

Trend:

Russia will continue the air strikes on terrorist groups in Syria, RIA Novosti quoted Sergey Naryshkin, chairman of Russian State Duma, as saying March 16.

The "Islamic State" (IS, aka ISIS, ISIL or Daesh), Jabhat al-Nusra and other groups listed as terrorist organizations by the UN Security Council are absolutely excluded from the ceasefire, said Naryshkin during the meeting with Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Moscow.

He said fighting the international terrorism is the common task of the entire civilized community and Russia will play one of the leading roles in this process.

Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has so far claimed the lives of over 220,000 people. Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops.

The "Islamic State" (IS, aka ISIS, ISIL or Daesh) and Jabhat al-Nusra are the most active terrorist groups in Syria.

Edited by SI
The Chinook first flew in 1962 and the CH-47F upgrade was completed in 2006.

"The Boeing Co., Ridley Township, Pennsylvania, was awarded an $896.9 million modification... contract for cargo (CH-47F) helicopter[s] multiyear for production lot 14 for 27 renew helicopters and 12 new build helicopters," the announcement stated on Tuesday.

The CH-47 Chinook is a US twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its primary roles are troop movement, artillery placement and battlefield resupply.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

Trend:

The US Secretary of State John Kerry will most likely visit Moscow and the Kremlin is currently working on a possible meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, Sputnik International reported March 16.

"Secretary of State Kerry will most likely visit Moscow where he'll have contacts with his colleague, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The possibility of Mr. Kerry meeting with the Russian president is also being reviewed," Peskov told journalists.

He said that "Russia will be ready to discuss the most actual issues, first and foremost Syria, and the coordination of our joint efforts in the promotion of the peace process" in Syria.
Belgium says its terror alert would stay at the second-highest level following a deadly police raid linked to the November 2015 attacks in Paris, France, Press TV reported.

Prime Minister Charles Michel told a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday that the OCAM national crisis center "maintains its level three alert, which means a threat is possible and likely."

Michel called on people to "stay calm and cool-headed" and assured them the security services were working to contain any threats in Belgium.

"I want to insist on the fact that the level three is not an ordinary level," the Belgian premier said, adding, "We have warned for some time that level three was likely to last for some time."

On Tuesday, police raided an apartment in the southern Brussels neighborhood of Forest tied to the assaults in Paris, where assailants struck at least six different venues, leaving 130 people dead and over 350 others wounded.

After a three-hour siege, one gunman identified as Mohamed Belkaid, a 35-year-old Algerian living illegally in Belgium, was killed next to a flag of the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group. He was shot dead by a police sniper as he prepared to fire at officers from a window.

Police in Belgium are now continuing to hunt for two suspects who fled the scene.

Investigators believe much of the planning and preparation for last year's shooting and bombing rampage in Paris was conducted in Brussels by French and Belgian nationals, some of whom fought as militants in Syria.

Meanwhile, Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders warned that "an attack could be imminent in Brussels and across Belgium."

Belgium, with a Muslim population of about 5 percent among its 11 million people, has Europe's highest rate of citizens joining militants that have been wreaking havoc in Syria.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Following the terrorist attack in Ankara, a lot of people in the Turkish capital are afraid to use the public transport, specifically buses and the underground, the Turkish newspaper 'Milliyet' reported March 16.

The city's population fears new terrorist attacks, according to the newspaper.

A car bomb exploded in Ankara on March 13, near a crowded bus stop. The explosion killed as many as 37 people, 125 more got injured. The Turkish Sozcu newspaper released the name of the female suicide bomber March 14, which may be involved in the explosion in Ankara.

The suicide bomber probably was Seher Cagla Demir, a member of the PKK terrorist organization, according to the newspaper. This information hasn't been officially confirmed.

Preliminary reports said the two suicide bombers, one male and one female triggered the explosive device, while in the car. The majority of the victims of the terrorist attack in Ankara are Turkish citizens, according to the preliminary data.

Turkey's General Directorate of Security made an announcement March 14 that the police are looking for other 20 car bombs in the country.

Meanwhile, the Turkish police reported that the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) terrorist organization intends to realize a series of terrorist attacks from March 20 to March 30 in major cities of Turkey.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

The festivities on the occasion of Novruz holiday have been banned in Turkey's south-eastern provinces, the Turkish Milliyet newspaper wrote March 16.

Any public events on the occasion of Novruz holiday will be prohibited in Turkey's south-eastern provinces from March 17 to March 20.

The governors of Turkey's south-eastern provinces made a decision to ban the festivities because of the threat of terrorist attacks.

The Turkish police reported that the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) terrorist organization intends to realize a series of terrorist attacks from March 20 to March 30 in major cities of Turkey.

A car bomb exploded in Ankara on March 13, near a crowded bus stop. The explosion killed as many as 37 people, 125 more got injured.
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Thirty people, including nine lawyers, were detained as part of a special operation in Istanbul, Turkish newspaper Sabah reported March 16.

All the detainees are suspected of having ties with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist group.

Currently, searches are underway in the offices of the detained lawyers, the names of whom haven't been disclosed yet.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has continued for over 25 years and has claimed more than 40,000 lives.

The UN and the European Union listed the PKK as a terrorist organization.

PKK's attacks on military units and police stations have become more frequent in the south-eastern Turkey in recent months.

More than 200 soldiers were killed in the clashes between the PKK and Turkey in 2015.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Germany has urged its citizens to leave Turkey due to the threat of new terrorist attacks in this country, said the message from German embassy in Turkey.

Earlier, Germany's Federal Foreign Office urged the country's citizens not to travel to Turkey. Moreover, the Federal Foreign Office recommended the country's citizens, who are currently in Turkey, to avoid crowded places.

Turkish police have recently warned that the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist group plans to commit a series of terror attacks in the country's large cities from March 20 to March 30.

A car bomb exploded in Ankara on March 13, near a crowded bus stop. The explosion killed as many as 37 people, 125 more got injured.



Preliminary reports said the two suicide bombers, one male and one female triggered the explosive device, while in the car. According to reports, the mentioned car was hijacked Feb. 10 in the Turkish south-eastern province of Sanliurfa.

Edited by SI

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

As many as 320 people were detained in Turkey in three days in anti-terrorist operations against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist group, the Anadolu Agency reported March 16.

Forty-one people out of those detained have been arrested, according to the report.

The operations may continue.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has continued for over 25 years and has claimed more than 40,000 lives.

The UN and the European Union have listed the PKK as a terrorist organization.

PKK's attacks on military units and police stations have recently become more frequent in the south-eastern Turkey.

More than 200 soldiers were killed in the clashes between the PKK and Turkey in 2015.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Alibaba Logistics Arms Funding from Temasek, GIC to Be Used for Expansion

Alibaba logistics arm Cainaio has received new funding from Malaysian and Singaporean firms that it intends to use for expansion. (Photo : REUTERS)

Cainiao, logistics arm of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., has received funding from investors in Malaysia and Singapore, including Temasek Holdings Pte, in its first round of external fundraising. It intends to use the fund to bankroll expansion, China Daily reported.



In a statement issued on Monday, March 14, Zhejiang Cainiao Supply Chain Management Co. said that global investment firm GIC Pte also invested in the company, as well as sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd, which is expected to subsidize its expansion.



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As a result of the funding, Cainiao's delivery network is now worth about 50 billion yuan ($7.7 billion), although the company declined to specify the amounts raised or the stakes sold during the fundraising.



About 70 percent of express packages in China are facilitated by Cainiao through its network that spans 2,800 counties and 224 countries and regions globally.



Chief Executive Officer Tong Wenhong said that the company's public offering is now aimed to finance further expansion.



"If e-commerce was the focus of China's economy in the past 10 years, logistics will be the focus for the next 10," Tong said in the statement.



Tong said in an interview with Sina.com on Monday that most of China's e-commerce firms, which have built their own logistics networks to deliver goods and made invested heavily in warehouses and delivery teams, have reported losses.



"But in fact, the logistics industry can use big data and collaboration to reduce costs and increase efficiency," Tong said.



Cainiao, which is founded by Alibaba with a consortium of logistics companies, is different in the sense that it operates a proprietary logistics information platform rather than expanding its own network. In addition, it links a network of providers, warehouses and distribution centers to save on costs and be more efficient.



Tong said that with the new investment, Cainiao can use it to build up its core businesses, which include its own warehouses and cross-border delivery services, as well as expand its rural delivery abilities and support its business partners.



After Alibaba created Cainiao with department store chain Intime Retail Group Co. and industrial conglomerate Fosun International Ltd., the e-commerce giant initially had a 48-percent stake in the company, which reportedly had 700 employees in June last year.



Data from the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing showed that China's logistic cost accounted for about 16 percent of the country's GDP in 2015, which resulted in 30 million jobs.



The data showed that the dramatic growth in the logistics sector had been driven mainly by the rapidly expanding online retail market in China, which itself was worth 3.83 trillion yuan in 2015.



As many as 20.6 billion parcels were delivered last year, a 48-percent increase, according to statistics from China Express Association.


Travel Rush Has Spread to Second- and Third-tier Cities in China

To accommodate this market, travel companies are targeting such cities with customized and cheaper packages. (Photo : Getty Images)

Big city dwellers arent the only ones experiencing a travel rush. According to several industry experts and travel agencies, people from the second- and third-tier Chinese cities have been infected with wanderlust, China Daily reported.



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To accommodate this market, travel companies are targeting such cities with customized and cheaper packages.



Such is the case with Mafengwo, an online travel service platform that's been wooing locals from second- and third-tier cities like Changsha in Hunan Province, Wuhan in Hubei Province, Chengdu in Sichuan Province, and Zhengzhou in Henan Province.



Travel firms are also taking advantage of the upcoming holiday, Qingming Festival or the May Day holiday, which will take place on April 4. Summer is also predicted to be a hot event, literally and figuratively, for travel agencies and travelers alike.



Mafengwo is scheduled to offer a "four-days-only" series of promotions on March 15-18. Packages offered include a trip to Nha Trang in Vietnam from Chengdu for only 1,999 yuan, trips from Changsha to the U.S. for 2,599 yuan, and Osaka to Tianjin for a mere 999 yuan.



"It is becoming more apparent that people from China's smaller cities are catching up quickly in venturing abroad as their incomes rise," said Jin Peng, product manager of Mafengwo's independent travel packages, in an interview with China Daily.



"Many travel agencies from across the world are also starting to tap into the trend by wooing Chinese visitors from smaller cities directly with more promotions, convenient flights and simplified visa applications, while budget airlines are also opening up routes from across the globe to the Chinese smaller cities," added Jin.



Mafengwo also offers inexpensive travel packages to 100 destinations in Japan, South Korea, the rest of Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States. Travel packages, aside from the airfare, usually include visa application, cruises, local leisure activities and hotel accommodation.



Industry experts predict that more travelers from lower-tier cities will emerge as outbound tourism is not just limited to the rich and affluent, said Jiang Yiyi, a researcher from the China Tourism Academy.



More outbound trips are expected to take place this year, and along with it, increased levels of spending, according to the latest Market Research Report on Chinese Outbound Tourist Consumption by the World Tourism Cities Federation.


Flooding In Cambodia Claims Over 30 Lives (Photo : Getty Images)

Even if China is in a territorial dispute with some of its Asian neighbors over some islands in the South China Sea, China would still provide Vietnam and other nations along the drought-stricken Mekong River with emergency water supply.



Lu Kang, spokesman of Chinas Foreign Ministry, said on Tuesday at a news conference in Beijing that the emergency water supply will come from a hydropower station in Yunnan Province. It would make the water supply available through April 10 to give enough time for the water to flow to the rivers lower reaches, reported China Daily.



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One of the lower reaches of the Mekong River  which spans Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam  is Vietnam whose Foreign Ministry requested China for higher water discharges coming from the Jinghong Hydropower Station. In giving in to the request, Lu said that China and the five nations on the Indochinese Peninsula are friendly neighbors that should help each other in coping with difficulties.



Although the drought  mainly caused by the El Nino phenomenon  is also affecting China, the Asian giant opted to overcome its own difficulties and expressed willingness to strengthen communication and practical cooperation with nations along its borders. The six countries have created a Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism during the meeting in Yunnan in November of their foreign ministers.



But The Diplomat reported in spite of the cooperation mechanism, the question of dam construction and water usage remain unresolved as the drought threatens rice crops among the six nations. Since the Mekong, called Lancang in China, originates from the Tibetan plateau and flows through three Chinese provinces before it reaches Southeast Asia, dams built by China has affected water flow.



In 1994, China built the Manwan Dam in Yunnan, the Dachaoshan Dam in 2003 and is completing since 2009 four more dams. The country plans to construct seven more. Laos also plan to build two dams.






The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's highest seat of learning, spoke before Germanys Parliament on Tuesday, addressing topics of interfaith dialogue and combating terrorism

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, told the German Parliament on Tuesday that Christianity was the first to provide sanctuary to Islam, saying that without it the religion would have been eradicated at its inception.

Christianity was the first to provide sanctuary for Islam; without Abyssinia [modern day Ethiopia] and its Christian king who protected [the first Muslims], Islam would have been destroyed in its cradle , he told the Bundestag.

The sheikh was referring to the early companions of Prophet Muhammad, who fled Mecca to Ethiopia after facing persecution and torture for their Islamic faith at the hands of the prophet's enemies.

'Combating intercontinental terrorism'

The Grand Imam also called for unity to defeat terrorism and extremism, while urging interreligious peace during his Tuesday address to the German parliament.

Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb told the Bundestag that Islam has never justified terrorist crimes, stressing that Muslims have suffered the largest losses in what he described as a deadly epidemic.

Real openness between religions and its believers is essential for the East and West to combat intercontinental terrorism.

The imam urged the West to help Arab and Muslim countries build its democracies, saying this can only take place through an exchange of culture, non-tyrannical dialogue and education, trade, and technology exchange programs.

Al-Tayeb hailed as noble and humane" the efforts by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to integrate migrants of all religions into Germany, while also lauding her participation in anti-Islamophobia protests last year.

Muslim-Christian relations

Responding to a question by one MP about why Islam only allows Muslim men to wed non-Muslim women but not vice versa, Al-Tayeb said this practice comes down to the fact that a major part of the Islamic faith is rooted in the recognition in Christianity and Judaism.

Islam dictates that a Muslim husband should assist his wife in practicing her religion, which he believes in, he said.

On the contrary, a non-Muslim husband does not believe in Islam and thus could hurt his wife by not respecting her religion, prophet, or practices, which will eventually affect love in such a marriage.

Al-Tayeb arrived to Germany on Sunday to meet with senior government officials and church leaders.

He is also expected to meet with Catholic Pope Francis on the sidelines of a 17 March global interfaith conference reportedly taking place in Berlin.

This will be the first such meeting between the two religious leaders in five years since Cairo suspended dialogue with the Vatican in 2011 to protest anti-Muslim remarks made by Pope Francis' predecessor Benedict XVI following a deadly church bombing in Egypt's Alexandria.

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The president says Cairo is doing its utmost to bring Regeni's killers to justice, but cautioned against those who want to upset the close relationship between Egypt and Italy

In an interview with Italian daily La Repubblica, Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi described the death of Italian student Giulio Regeni as "terrifying" and "unacceptable," saying that the Egyptian authorities spared no effort while working with the Italian authorities to identify the perpetrators.

"I want to speak to the Regeni family as a father [not as] a president to stress that I fully understand the pain, bitterness, and shock they are feeling by losing their son," El-Sisi told La Repubblica in the interview, which was published on Wednesday.

El-Sisi stated that the Egyptian people were shocked by this incident and that Regeni's murder was "unacceptable and an individual act that no other Italian has ever faced in Egypt."

"I confirm that we will spare no efforts and continue to work with the Italian authorities to arrest the perpetrators, so that they can be punished according to the law."

Earlier in the week, the European Parliament urged Cairo to cooperate with Italy in a "swift, transparent, and impartial joint investigation" to apprehend Giulio's killers.

On Monday, Egyptian prosecutors hosted Roma's prosecutor-general in Cairo to share updates on the ongoing investigation.

The body of the 28-year-old PhD student, who was conducting research on independent trade union movements in Egypt, was found with signs of torture on a roadside on the outskirts of Cairo early in February, nine days after he disappeared on 25 January.

During the interview, El-Sisi revealed that the Egyptian investigation team from the general prosecution working on the case would head to Rome in the upcoming days to discuss further cooperation with their Italian counterparts.

However, the Egyptian president also raised questions about "the timing of Regeni's murder."

"Why did it happen when bilateral relations were gathering unprecedented momentum both politically and economically? Are there any beneficiaries who seek to impede relations?"

El-Sisi also reminded the Italian reporters that an Egyptian citizen has been missing in Italy since last October.

"I would like to refer to the disappearance of the Egyptian citizen and Italian resident, Mr. Adel Moad since last October, without unravelling the causes of his disappearance or who is behind it have not been determined yet."

The president stressed that what he described as individual acts should not be exploited to "undermine bilateral relations."

The Egyptian president also touched on the region's war on terrorism.

"Terrorism in Egypt is related to the crisis in the region  Libya, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Mali, Somalia, and Nigeria. This is why we need a global strategy and not just individual efforts by some countries."

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El-Fakharany was found guilty of misusing his power in his capacity as head of the Anti-Corruption Commission and blackmailing a businessman

A Giza misdemeanors court lessened on Wednesday a four-year jail sentence against anti-corruption activist Hamdi El-Fakharany to two-years for misusing his official post.

The court upheld the acquittal sentence in the bribery charge against El-Fakharany but maintained that he is guilty of misusing his power in his capacity as head of the Anti-Corruption Commission and blackmailing a businessman.

El-Fakharany was arrested last September for receiving a payment of EGP 1 million from a businessman who owns a cotton industry in return that he would drop a lawsuit against the businessman that accused him of stealing state-owned land.

The verdict can be further appealed in front of the Court of Cassation.

El-Fakharany was an MP in the disbanded 2011-2012 parliament.

He is also well-renown for his high-profile corruption-related lawsuits against companies and businessmen in the past decade, including cases involving the Talaat Mostafa Group, the Palm Hills Group and gold producer Centamin.

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The testimony of an alleged eyewitness in the case of murdered Italian student Giulio Regeni is a 'lie,' according to Egypt's general prosecution

Egypt's general prosecution said on Wednesday that the testimony of an alleged eyewitness in the case of murdered Italian student Giulio Regeni is false.

Ahmed Fawzy, a civil engineer, had claimed that he saw Regeni getting into a heated argument with an unidentified person next to the Italian consulate in Cairo's downtown one day prior to his disappearance on 25 January.

Fawzy created controversy when he made the claims in a TV appearance about the 28-year-old Italian political researcher, who was found dead on 3 February.

Hossam Nassar, the head of South Giza prosecution, told Ahram Online that the prosecution heard Fawzy's testimony on Saturday but later concluded through investigation that his claims were false.

Ahmed Nagy, from the prosecution team investigating the case, also confirmed to Ahram Online that Fawzy was "lying."

"The prosecution looked into Ahmed Fawzy's statements and discovered that he was not present near the Italian consulate at the time he said he saw Regeni having a fight with an unidentified person," Nagy said.

On Tuesday, Egypt's Ministry of Interior stated it had "no information" about the existence of reported video footage showing Regeni involved in the alleged altercation.

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The deputy chief of the political bureau for Gazas Hamas, Moussa Abu Marzouq, told Ahram Online on Wednesday that a visit to Cairo by a Hamas delegation was intended to open a new phase of relations with our brothers in Egypt.

Although some people were attempting to ruin our visit we found that Egyptian officials showed love for Palestine, Marzouq said in an emailed statement.

Ahram Online learned from knowledgeable sources that Hamas, which controls the Palestinian Gaza Strip that borders Egypt, met with Egyptian intelligence officials in Cairo in an attempt to ease increased tensions over accusations that the group was involved in the assassination of Egypt's prosecutor-general Hisham Barakat last year.

Two weeks ago, Egypt's interior minister Magdy Abdel-Ghafar said that leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood in Turkey and the group's Palestinian offshoot Hamas were behind the assassination of Barakat on 29 June 2015.

Abdel-Ghafar said that Turkish-based leaders of the Brotherhood masterminded the assassination, while Hamas "provided training for militants to execute it and also took part in planning it."

However, Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, expressed dismay at Abdel-Ghafar's accusations, with spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri describing the claims as "untrue," saying the accusations are not in line with "efforts exerted to develop relations between Hamas and Cairo."

"The Hamas delegation expressed the movement's commitment to Egypt's security and non-interference in its internal affairs, ," Abu Marzouq said.

"We condemned Barakat's murder and assured the Egyptian authorities that Gaza is severely affected by the lack of security in Sinai.

Egypt and Hamas have seen tense relations in recent years, with the Egyptian government accusing Hamas of aiding Islamist militants in North Sinai, which borders Gaza.

Hamas has repeatedly denied the claim.

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Co-founder of the Tamarod campaign Moheb Doss was released pending trial on charges of 'joining an outlawed group'

Egypts State Security Prosecution ordered Wednesday the release of activist Moheb Doss  a leading member in the anti-Morsi Tamarod movement  pending trial on charges of belonging to an outlawed group, his lawyer Doaa Mustafa told Ahram Online.

Activist Ahmed El-Masry, another defendant in the case, was also released.

The two are accused of joining an outlawed group which the prosecution says is called '25 January Youth.'

Doss was a co-founder of the Tamarod campaign, which gathered millions of signatures in 2013 demanding that early presidential elections be held during the term of then-president Mohamed Morsi.

Doss was arrested on 6 January in front of the Saint Mark Orthodox Cathedral in Cairos Abbasiya district, where Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi was giving a speech during the Coptic Christmas mass.

He was among a number of activists and administrators of online pages arrested early January ahead of the fifth anniversary of the 25 January uprising that ousted longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

Those arrested were charged with various offenses including calling for illegal protests and belonging to a number of outlawed groups.

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Legislation will be drafted to 'protect the right of citizens to choose the manner of transportation that suits them and also ensure that traditional taxi drivers would find work'

Egypts cabinet decided on Wednesday to regulate the Uber and Careem car-hailing services by drafting new legislation after hearing recommendations by a ministerial committee, state news agency MENA reported.

The legislation will both protect citizens rights to choose the manner of transportation that suits them and also ensure that traditional taxi drivers would find work and make money, the cabinet said in a statement, according to MENA.

Last week, taxi drivers parked their vehicles in Mostafa Mahmoud Boulevard in Mohandiseen, a few kilometres from central Cairo, and blocked traffic to demand the government shut down the "foreign ride sharing applications."

The taxi drivers union says that Uber and Careem must be suspended in Egypt because they function illegally, arguing that since the services' drivers use private cars, they do not hold the correct licences and are not obliged to meet the same financial and legal regulations imposed on taxis.

Following the Mostafa Mahmoud protest, the cabinet tasked a ministerial committee with investigating the legal status of the car-hailing apps.

The draft legislation, which will take one month to complete, would stipulate that private car owners who work with Uber and Careem would have to pay the insurance and taxes imposed on taxi drivers.

However, it is still unclear whether they would pay the same amount as taxi drivers.

The committee also recommended that traditional taxi drivers be included in these car-hailing apps.

According to Egyptian law, if an individual with a private vehicle licence uses his car to transport passengers in return for a fare, his licences could be revoked.

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A second group of Russian warplanes flew out of Syria Wednesday in line with Moscow's decision to withdraw most of its forces, as US Secretary of State John Kerry prepared a rare trip to Moscow to discuss the conflict.

SU-25 combat aircraft and IL-76 transport planes pulled out of Russia's Hmeimim base in Syria, the defence ministry said in a statement.

The departure follows that of a first group of aircraft which arrived back in Russia on Tuesday to a hero's welcome.

Washington said Tuesday that "the earliest indications are that the Russians are following through" on the surprise withdrawal.

The pullout has spurred hopes for peace talks in Geneva aimed at ending Syria's brutal five-year conflict, which has killed more than 270,000 people and displaced millions.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura described the withdrawal as a "significant development" for the talks, after the regime and rebel delegations submitted roadmaps for a political solution.

"We hope (this) will have a positive impact on the progress of the negotiations," he said.

Kerry said Tuesday he would hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to "try to take advantage of this moment," which he described as the best opportunity in years to end the bloodshed.

He is expected to go to Moscow some time next week after a trip to Cuba.

"As we mark the fifth anniversary of the start of this horrific war, we may face the best opportunity that we've had in years to end it," he said.

In a shock move, Putin ordered the "main part" of Russia's forces out of Syria on Monday, but pledged to keep some air and naval bases in the war-torn nation.

A senior official said strikes would also continue against "terrorist targets", and a monitoring group said Russian aircraft had struck the Islamic State group around the ancient city of Palmyra.

The first of Russia's warplanes to leave Syria received a hero's welcome at an airbase outside the city of Voronezh, where they were greeted by a ceremonial flypast and dozens of cheering supporters.

Pilots were tossed in the air as they disembarked, before being given a traditional present of a loaf of bread and salt, while a robed Orthodox priest offered them an icon to kiss.

Some governments expressed hope the Russian move could pressure its long-time ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to negotiate -- although the Kremlin has denied that was its intention.

Germany's foreign minister said a Russian withdrawal "increases the pressure" on Assad to negotiate, while France added: "Anything that helps towards a de-escalation in Syria should be encouraged."

The Syrian president's fate remains a key sticking point in the Geneva talks, which are also looking at how to form a new government, a fresh constitution and hold elections within 18 months.

De Mistura said both sides had submitted their views on how to move forward, and he would try to "analyse" their positions to find any possible common ground.

"We... exchanged some papers but also ideas on how to get deeper at the next meeting on the issue of transitional processes," the envoy said after the second day of negotiations.

If there was progress, Syria's main opposition group told AFP Tuesday it would be ready to negotiate in the same room with the regime instead of via a mediator.

Delegates at the talks held a moment of silence on Tuesday to mark the fifth anniversary of the beginning of Syria's civil war, which has seen more than four million people flee the country.

The UN's refugee commissioner Filippo Grandi said he would ask the international community to take in another 400,000 Syrian refugees as the country's neighbours struggle to cope with the exodus.

Fighting has eased since a temporary ceasefire began on February 27, despite accusations of some violations, though clashes have continued with jihadist groups not covered by the truce.

A commander told AFP that Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra Front was preparing to launch a new offensive "within the next 48 hours" to recapture territory from the regime.

"The Russians withdrew for one reason," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"(Russia) will not make any more sacrifices for a regime that has basically collapsed."

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Three suspected Al-Qaeda militants on a motorbike were killed Wednesday as a bomb they were transporting exploded in the southern Yemeni city of Aden, a security official said.

He said the motorbike blew up in the Dar Saad neighbourhood of the city, the scene of fighting has raged between Islamist militants and government forces.

Security officials said 26 Al-Qaeda fighters have been killed since the clashes began at the weekend, adding that the Islamist militants have vacated government buildings in the Mansura district.

Many Islamist militants have already pulled out from Aden and withdrawn to their strongholds in the nearby provinces of Abyan and Lahj, one official said.

Another official said Salafist Islamists were trying to mediate a truce, but militants were refusing to hand over areas they control.

Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have taken advantage of Yemen's conflict between Iran-backed Shia Houthi rebels and pro-government forces to reinforce their presence in the south.

Warplanes from a pro-government, Saudi-led coalition targeted Islamist militants in Aden over the weekend for the first time since it mounted a campaign against the rebels in March last year.

The coalition helped loyalists regain control of four southern provinces last summer, including Aden, the temporary base of the government.

The capital Sanaa has remained in rebel hands since September 2014.

The World Health Organization says more than 6,200 people have been killed in the conflict since March 2015 and the United Nations has warned of a "human catastrophe unfolding in Yemen".

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Iraqi security forces freed a group of Yazidi women held captive by Islamic State group in a covert operation behind the group's lines, a defence ministry statement said on Wednesday.

It did not say how many women were freed, when or where.

Islamic State group captured around 5,000 Yazidi men and women in the northern region of Sinjar in summer 2014. Some 2,000 have managed to escape or have been smuggled out of Islamic State's self-proclaimed caliphate in Iraq and Syria, activists say.

Islamic State group considers the Yazidis to be devil-worshippers. The ancient Yazidi faith blends elements of Christianity, Zoroastrianism and Islam.

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The United States warned Wednesday that it would not recognize an attempt by Kurdish groups in war-torn Syria to form an autonomous federal region.

Washington has supported and encouraged the Kurdish parties of the area in their fight against a common foe, the Islamic State militant group.

But the State Department said Wednesday it would not support the breakup of the country and that any new federal model would have to emerge from peace talks.

"We've been very clear that we won't recognize any self-rule autonomous zones within Syria," spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.

"This is something that needs to be discussed and agreed upon by the relevant parties in Geneva and then by the Syrian people themselves."

Representatives of Bashar al-Assad's government and of the opposition ranged against him are negotiating an end to the civil war under UN auspices in Geneva.

But parties representing Syria's Kurdish minority have not been invited to the talks and are instead trying to create a unified region of their own.

Any bid to expand an existing system of self-rule will anger Turkey, wary of anything that might encourage Kurdish separatism within its own borders.

More than 150 delegates from Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian and other parties met Wednesday in Rmeilan, in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province.

The meeting adjourned in the early evening and will reconvene on Thursday, when a decision on declaring a semi-autonomous northern region will be announced.

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U.S. Republican front-runner Donald Trump warned on Wednesday of riots if he is denied the party's presidential nomination after a string of primary election victories, raising the temperature even further in a highly charged White House race.

The New York billionaire scored big wins in primaries in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina on Tuesday which brought him closer to the 1,237 delegates he needs to win the nomination.

But he lost the crucial state of Ohio and left the door open for those in the party trying to stop Trump from becoming the Republican nominee for the Nov. 8 election.

Trump might fall short of the majority required, enabling the party establishment to put forward another name at the July convention in Cleveland to formally pick its candidate.

In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, Trump said if he got a large number of delegates yet was denied the nomination: "I don't think you can say that we don't get it automatically. I think you'd have riots. I think you'd have riots. I'm representing many, many millions of people."

Party leaders are appalled at the real estate developer and reality TV personality's incendiary rhetoric and believe his policy positions are out of step with core Republican sentiment, such as his vow to deport 11 million illegal immigrants, temporarily ban Muslims from the United States and build a wall along the border with Mexico.

Trump told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show on Wednesday that he mostly consults himself on foreign policy issues. "I'm speaking with myself, number one, because I have a very good brain," he said. "I know what I'm doing ... my primary consultant is myself, and I have a good instinct for this stuff."

He also told Fox News he would not attend the next televised Republican presidential debate, scheduled for March 21. "I think we've had enough debates," Trump said.

The Republican establishment's bid to stop him may have come too late as a field of candidates that once included Trump and 16 high-profile party figures has dwindled to only three with Trump, 69, in command ahead of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, 45, and Ohio Governor John Kasich, 63, who won the Ohio Republican primary on Tuesday.

While the Republican race remained in turmoil, Hillary Clinton won victories in Florida, Illinois, Ohio and North Carolina on Tuesday that cast doubt on U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders' ability to overtake her for the Democratic Party's nomination.

Trump's landslide victory in Florida knocked rival Marco Rubio, a U.S. Senator from that state and a foreign policy hawk, out of the White House race.

Trump's closest challenger is Cruz, a Texan and favorite of the conservative Tea Party, who is second to Trump in delegates but has struggled in states where conservative evangelical voters, among Cruz's biggest supporters, are not dominant.

Kasich is the last establishment Republican candidate standing. Asked whether he would work with Cruz to block Trump's path to nomination, he told NBC's "Today" show:

"I'm out there running to be president. I'm not out to stop Donald Trump or stop anybody else. By winning yesterday in Ohio, I've dealt him a very, very big blow to being able to have the number of delegates."

Early on Wednesday, MSNBC projected Trump and Clinton would win Missouri in very tight races. With 100 percent of the votes counted, Clinton led Sanders by about 1,500 votes and Trump led Cruz by about 1,600 votes.

It would not be the first time Trump skipped a debate if he follows through on his plan. He also sat out the Fox News/Google debate on Jan. 28, after complaining of unfair treatment in a previous Fox debate.

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The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) will offer on Wednesday to sell $1.5 billion in an exceptional auction to banks so as to "eradicate" the country's currency black market, said the bank's governor Tarek Amer.

The bank announced the auction, the third of its kind this week, with the intent to clear import-related debt in the midst of a hard currency crunch, it said in a statement on Tuesday.

The aim is to clear 100 percent of customer debt incurred by local banks in financing essential imports, Amer told Al-Ahram Arabic news website on Tuesday.

The CBE has sold $198 million to the banks at a Monday auction and another $198 million on Tuesday at a cut-off price of EGP 8.85 per dollar, effectively allowing the Egyptian pound to depreciate by some 14 percent, its sharpest drop since 2003.

The consecutive auctions are designed to "eradicate" Egypt's currency black market, said Amer, referring to a parallel market that has flourished as the CBE defended the pound following the 2011 uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak and caused political and economic turmoil.

The CBE also announced it would adopt a more flexible exchange rate regime on Tuesday in a move that was praised by economists, bankers and the Federation of Egyptian Industries, and which had been called for by the International Monetary Fund.

Meanwhile, the EGP-denominated certificates of deposit launched by Egypt's two largest state-owned banks on Monday, for which buyers must pay in dollars in return for a 15 percent annual yield over three years, will strengthen the pound, Amer told Al-Ahram.

Last week, the bank lifted foreign currency deposit and withdrawal restrictions for individuals and companies importing essential and capital goods. The move aimed to facilitate such imports in the midst of a foreign currency shortage that has slowed business activity and made it increasingly difficult for Egypt to pay for vital imports in a timely manner in recent months.

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The Russian FM said provision of sound security in Egyptian airports is needed for tourists to return to the country

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday he agreed with Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry that the two countries would make joint efforts to resume direct flights between Russia to Egypt in the shortest possible period of time.

At a joint press conference in Moscow with Shoukry on Wednesday, Lavrov said Rusian flights would be resumed if the highest level of security was provided, said Lavrov

Russia's government is also considering reopening its consulate in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada in the near future.

In November 2015, following the downing of a Russian airliner over Sinai, Russia, and several European countries, Russia suspended flights to Egypt's Red sea coastal cities of Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada, citing concerns over security conditions in Egyptian airports.

The crash of the Russian airliner left all 224 people on board dead.

The IS group claimed responsibility for the deadly incident.

On Monday, Shoukry told Russian news agency Sputnik that security experts expressed satisfaction with the work completed so far to ensure security at three major Egyptian airports, in full cooperation with, and acting on recommendations made by Russian inspectors.

"We are providing maximum assistance and support to the Russian and Egyptian experts working on [air travel] security. The Egyptian people are waiting for a positive signal from the Russian side on the possibility of restoring this vital area for the Egyptian economy," Shoukry said.

Last month, Egypt hired a British security firm to reevaluate security precautions in place at its airports.

Egypt's top diplomat told members of Russia's Duma in ameeting that four million Egyptians employed in the tourist sector are looking forward to hosting Russian holidaymakers again.

Last month, Egypt's Tourism Minister Hisham Zazou said that the loss of Russian and British tourists following the deadly plane crash over Sinai last year was costing the Egyptian tourism sector $300 million a month.

At the time of the airliner crash, it was believed that 80,000 Russian citizens stayed in Hurghada alone.

On the regional crisis in Syria, the Russian foreign minister said both Moscow and Cairo have agreed to cooperate closely to settle the armed conflict in war-torn country.

We agreed to continue close cooperation within the framework of the International Support Syria Group in the context of these positive changes that have been noted lately, the success of the realisation of the Russian-American initiative in regard to the cessation of hostilities, providing humanitarian access to the populations in need, and to the beginning the political process, he said.

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The IS group has executed Syrian poet Mohammed Bashir Al-Aany and his son Elias in Deir Ez-Zor eastern Syria after accusing them of infidelity, according to Syrian opposition media.



The Arab Writers Union condemned the news saying that executing Al-Any raises more concerns over the fate of the Syrian people and the fate of the writers who are a inseparable part of the Syrian nation.



The union said "regardless of any political stance Al-Any has taken in his life, he was an example of a human who refused to leave his land, insisting to stay close to the graveyard that has the remains of his beloved wife, holding on to every word he wrote in his three published poetry books."



Al-Any was kidnapped with his son early in 2016 by IS group militants and taken to an unknown place after refusing to leave his city saying that "even after what happened there is still a possibility to live in it."



The union called for a day for Arab Culture on 19 April where seminars and events will be held to expose IS group's thinking and all the other organisations that spread darkness and target culture and creativity.



Mohammed Bashir Al-Any is a member of the Arab Writers Union and he was born in 1960. He graduated with a Bachelor of Agricultural Engineering and published his first poetry books in 1993 entitled Ramad ElSirra (The Ashes of a Biography.)

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(Beijing)  The government's sudden decision not to establish a new board on the Shanghai Stock Exchange anytime soon has left many overseas-traded Chinese tech firms that planned to switch to the bourse in limbo.

Changes to a draft of the latest five-year plan, which sets policy priorities from 2016 to 2020, show the government no longer considers creating a board for mostly high-tech companies important.

The plan that was passed by the National People's Congress on March 16 lacks any mention of the new board. A draft that was submitted for discussion when the legislature opened its meeting on March 5 contained a proposal for setting up the new board for companies in "emerging industries of strategic significance."

The change means the central government is unlikely to pursue establishing the board for at least another five years.

This would have the greatest impact on overseas-traded Chinese firms that were seeking to return home, especially those that were not yet profitable, a private fund manager familiar with the matter said. Both the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges require companies to be profitable before going public.

Most of the companies listed overseas through an arrangement called variable interest entity (VIE), which is commonly used by Chinese tech and media firms to bypass regulatory restraints on foreign equity ownership in certain sectors.

The legislature's decision took many professional investors by surprise because the cabinet recently offered firm support of the board. The State Council said in December that creating a bourse for innovative companies was a major task for developing the capital market, going so far as to vow that rules would be relaxed for overseas-listed firms to relist in China.

To relist on a domestic stock exchange, most companies would have to undo their VIE structure, which often means foreign shareholders must sell their holdings.

This is a lengthy, difficult and expensive process, a lawyer who helps Chinese firms prepare to relist in their country said. He said he has been working for nearly a year to help a firm undo its VIE structure with a view to listing on the new board.

He ruled out putting the VIE structure back together and said the firm may instead seek to list on the New Third Board, a national trading platform for non-public firms.

Like the nixed board for emerging industries, the New Third Board does not have requirements for profits. The problem is it does not appeal to overseas-traded companies because only the main boards on the Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses offer them the exposure to Chinese investors that overseas markets lack, the private fund manager said.

"Now that the board for emerging industries has been cancelled, and they don't want to list on the New Third Board, these overseas-traded firms will have to work hard on their performance to meet the requirements for an initial public offering on the main board," the fund manager said.

A partner at an investment fund said he is also worried about the ripple effects of the new board being shelved.

"There are many Internet industry funds that specialize in helping overseas-listed firms go private and many of them are leveraged," he said. "The board being canceled will postpone the relisting of the companies they invested in. And the longer they wait, the greater the risk."

(Rewritten by Wang Yuqian)
(Beijing)  A star businessman who started an electric scooter manufacturer last year recently stood trial on charges he was involved with insider trading during his time at a venture capital company.

Li Yinan, the founder of Niu Technologies Group Ltd., stood trial in Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court on March 15, people who attended the hearing told Caixin.

He was charged with insider trading related to a company that produces machine tools for shaping metals during his time at GSR Ventures.

Prosecutors said that in 2014 Li learned from Li Xiaotao, a former college friend and colleague who was then the president of Wuhan Huazhong Numerical Control Co. Ltd. in the central province of Hubei, that the firm was in talks about a merger.

Li Yinan used this information to buy shares in Wuhan Huazhong via trading accounts in the names of relatives before the merger announcement with Intelligent Automation (Zhuhai) Co. Ltd. and made around 7 million yuan, prosecutors said.

Li Yinan denied any wrongdoing in court, the sources said. He said he and Li Xiaotao did not have a special relationship and he never received any insider information from him.

Li Yinan, 46, is often described as a prodigy in domestic media. He started university at the age of 15 and joined network equipment and smartphone maker Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. when he finished graduate school. He later became the company's youngest vice president at 27.

He joined search engine company Baidu Inc. in 2008 as its chief technology officer then left in 2010 to become CEO of Beijing Wuxian Xunqi Information Technology Co., the exclusive operator of China Mobile's online travel service.

Li Yinan resigned from that position in 2011 amid an investigation into alleged corruption at China Mobile.

He started his electric scooter business last year, and was detained on June 3, two days after the company launched its first product.

(Rewritten by Chen Na)
Myanmar's parliament has voted to elect Htin Kyaw as the country's next president. The retired bureaucrat from the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 360 out of the 652 votes cast in a joint meeting of the legislature, known as the Union Parliament.

"I'm so happy for him, for our party, our people and our country," exclaimed novice NLD lawmaker Hnin Htet, the daughter of a former political prisoner, after the historic vote.

Htin Kyaw is not a member of parliament, but he is a close confidant of NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was among the first to vote in Tuesday's historic election.

Aung San Suu Kyi made no comment to reporters on her way in or out of the chamber. The Nobel Laureate is the obvious favorite of most citizens of Myanmar, also known as Burma. But she is constitutionally barred from becoming president because both of her sons have foreign citizenship.

"We remain concerned about certain provisions in Burma's constitution that contradict fundamental democratic principles and prevent the people of Burma from voting for the leaders of their choice," said a U.S. State Department official. "The people of Burma should be able to decide whether and when to amend the countrys constitution to alter or remove these provisions."
North Korean Workers Party secretary Choe Ryong-hae voluntarily subjected himself to a grueling course of reeducation last year because his son had been caught watching South Korean TV, a source claims.

Choe, for some time regarded as the second most powerful man in the paranoid state, caused some head-scratching when he disappeared from public view for several months.

Chung Sung-jang of the Sejong Institute in a press forum on Tuesday claimed Choe's eldest son was caught watching South Korean soaps by the State Security Department. Choe allegedly reported the misdeed himself to leader Kim Jong-un and volunteered to reeducate himself and his son.

Chung credited "a well-informed source in the North."

The Choes were sent to work on a collective farm before his recent rehabilitation.

"This shows how good he is at protecting his son and displaying loyalty to Kim," Chung said. But it also testifies to a pervasive climate of fear in the regime as military hardliners reassert their steely grip.

Chung added that Kim's younger sister Yo-jong seems to have married Choe's second son.
The Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Seoul, more accustomed to staid worthies and discrete rich travelers, played host to a radically different crowd this past week.

The hotel has become a big attraction for baduk or go nerds after champion Lee Se-dol faced off against Google DeepMind's proto-artificial intelligence program AlphaGo in the ballroom there.

The match is viewed as a historic turning point in artificial intelligence.

A hotel staffer said queries have come in from baduk fans in Hong Kong, China and all over the world asking if they can book the room where Lee stayed and have the same meal he ate.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday announced that his country will conduct another nuclear test "in a short time" as well as testing a ballistic missile capable of carrying the deadly payload.

According to the official [North] Korean Central News Agency, Kim also claimed that the North succeeded in a test simulating the intense heat a nuclear warhead would experience during atmospheric re-entry. That would be crucial in the North's development of an ICBM with a range capable of striking the continental U.S.

North Korea appears to have been irked by persistent skepticism over a claim last month that it has miniaturized a nuclear warhead so it fits on a missile. The tests are likely to come just ahead of or to coincide with a massive Workers Party congress in May.

KCNA claimed that Kim watched the successful test simulating the heat a nuclear warhead would experience when re-entering the atmosphere, presenting as evidence a picture of what it claims was the dummy warhead used in the experiment. The heat was supposedly generated by the combustion of a Rodong missile engine.

Lee Choon-geun at the Science and Technology Policy Institute said, "Judging by how the surface of the re-entry module retained its circular shape and was charred evenly, North Korea's insulation technology does seem to have made significant progress."

The South Korean Defense Ministry was skeptical. "According to our military analysis, North Korea has not yet secured re-entry technology," ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun told reporters.

A military source said, "A re-entry vehicle mounted atop an ICBM must withstand intense pressure as well as high heat. It is stretching things to claim success after just a lab test."
"This in itself shows that common interests between the two countries far outweigh the differences," he said.

The premier said that while differences between the world's two biggest economies are undeniable and in some cases sharp, many have been ignoring the fact that last year, China became the United States' biggest trading partner, with two-way trade between the two countries reaching $560 billion last year.

"I believe that in the end, no matter who gets into the White House, the underlying trend of China -- U.S. trends will not change," Li said.

Speaking with reporters at his annual press conference Wednesday, Li described the U.S. campaign as "lively" and "something that has caught the eye of many." He said little, however, about the specific views of the candidates.

China is a frequent focus of criticism on the U.S. presidential campaign trail, but Chinese Premier Li Keqiang believes relations will continue to move in a positive direction regardless of who wins the race.

 China, China, China

On the campaign trail, real estate mogul and Republican Party contender Donald Trump has been one of Beijings biggest critics. He has mentioned China so many times in interviews and in speeches that there are popular mash-up videos circulating online of him saying "China" over and over.

Trump has repeatedly blamed China for stealing U.S. jobs. He has also argued that with his experience as a tough negotiator, he could find ways to beat Beijing at its own game and address what he has said are its unfair trade practices, such as currency manipulation.

He has also argued that while America has opened up its markets to China, Beijing has not reciprocated. Trump has said China uses a "Great Wall of Protectionism" to keep U.S. companies out and tilt the playing field in its favor.

 'Rabble Rouser'

Hillary Clinton, too, is no stranger to stirring up debates with Beijing. She has voiced concerns about China's trade practices on the campaign trail and warned that as the Chinese economy slows, Beijing may take more actions that will damage practices in global trade.

She also has a long history of pressing China on women's rights from the time when she was U.S. First Lady in the 1990s to more recent encounters.

In a Tweet last year, she called Chinese President Xi Jinping "shameless" for speaking on women's rights at the United Nations while feminist activists were in jail in China.

That remark irked Chinese netizens and the party-backed Global Times accused her of being a "rabble rouser," adding that she has turned into a "big mouth like Donald Trump."

In a response statement, Clinton said that "if China believes defending women's rights is "rabble rousing," then they can expect much more of it from me."

 Internal Affairs

Chinese officials rarely comment on U.S. elections because they feel that to do so would be meddling in America's internal affairs. Instead, they prefer to focus on areas where the two are seeking common interests.

Li told reporters that despite differences, there are up to 100 exchange and dialogue mechanisms that have been set up between the two countries and that what is needed is "good faith" and for both sides to "properly manage their differences."

"As our cooperation expands, the number of differences may naturally rise, but the percentage of differences in the overall China -- U.S. relationship will only come down," he said.
Kerry to travel to Russia, meet Putin on Syria next week

2016-03-16 06:45

US Secretary of State John Kerry listens to US President Barack Obama speak at the Chief of Missions Conference at the State Department in Washington March 14, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that he will go to Russia next week to meet President Vladimir Putin, discussing the crisis on Syria.

"I will be traveling next week to Moscow to meet with President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in order to discuss how we can effectively move the political process forward and try to take advantage of this moment," Kerry said before a meeting with Georgia's Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said the date to Moscow will be after Tuesday next week, when Kerry returns from a trip to Cuba with President Barack Obama.

Putin on Monday announced that the Russia would withdraw its air forces deployed in Syria starting from Tuesday.

The decision was discussed and coordinated with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during a phone call earlier in the day, Putin said, adding that "the fundamental tasks set for the Russian armed forced in Syria were resolved."

The White House said on Tuesday Russia so far appears to begin pulling its troops out of Syria.

"The earliest indications are that the Russians are following through," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

He also cautioned that "it is still too early at this point to determine the impact that might have on the broader situation."

"With the cessation of hostilities largely holding, Russia's announcement yesterday that it will remove half of its forces immediately and more perhaps from Syria and with the political negotiations reconvening this week in Geneva, we have reached a very important phase in this process," Kerry said.

"So this is a time to seize, not waste," he said. "We have at this moment the ability to finally take a step towards ending this war and the bloodshed."
China to help alleviate drought along Mekong

2016-03-16 08:58

The Jinghong Hydropower Station will increase water discharges to ease effects of a regional drought. [Photo by Yang Zheng/China Daily]

China will provide an emergency water supply to countries along the Mekong River to help deal with drought, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

A hydropower station in South China's Yunnan province will make the emergency supply available to the lower reaches of the river through April 10, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang announced at a news conference in Beijing.

China and countries along the river on the Indochinese Peninsula are "friendly neighbors", and they should help each other to cope with difficulties, said Lu, referring to the drought that countries along the river have faced since the end of last year.

Reports quoted the Foreign Ministry of Vietnam as saying the country, which is in the lower reaches of the Mekong River, has requested that China increase water discharges by the Jinghong Hydropower Station to help ease the drought.

The Mekong River, whose upper part is known in China as the Lancang River, is an important water source for the five countries on the Indochinese PeninsulaLaos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Lu said China has decided to "overcome its own difficulties" and to provide the emergency water supply to benefit the five countries.

China is willing to strengthen communication and practical cooperation with its neighbors on the management of water resources and disaster response under the Lancang-Mekong River Cooperation Mechanism, he added.

China and the five countries set up the cooperation mechanism when their foreign ministers met in Yunnan in November. In a joint statement, all the foreign ministers promised to promote cooperation on water resources.

Li Zhifei, a researcher at the National Institute of International Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the move to provide an emergency water supply "is a good indication" that China has always taken on the responsibility of a large country by considering and protecting the interests of the countries on the lower reaches of the Mekong River.

Xu Wei contributed to this story.
Bookworm festival opens with 'Obama's poet' in Beijing

From:chinadaily.com.cn | 2016-03-16 09:22

Richard Blanco is one of the highlighted authors at the opening night of the Bookworm festival in Beijing. Photos provided to China Daily

Hours after his plane landed in Beijing on Friday, Richard Blanco was reading three of his poems at the city's Bookworm store.

In his first public appearance in China, the poet, who read at a United States presidential inauguration, spoke to his audience of 200 about home, sense of belonging and traveling.

"It's all of us as human beings that have to belong to something, some place ..." Blanco said. "I'd like to share my perfect place with you (with a poem)."

On Saturday, Blanco shared with readers the same poem, One Today, which he had read at Barack Obama's second inauguration ceremony in 2013. The now-famous poet was trained as a civil engineer and is a child of immigrants. Blanco, who grew up in Miami, describes himself as "made in Cuba, assembled in Spain".

Born in 1968, he is the youngest and first Latino poet selected to read at US presidential inaugurations, in a tradition that follows great poets such as Robert Frost.

Though some wonder if Obama's choice was for political reasons, Peter Armenti, a literary specialist with the Library of Congress has hailed Blanco's poem as "a celebration of the shared American experience", grasping moments across the United States in one day with its nine stanzas.

Blanco's poems also ring a bell among his Beijing audience that was a combination of expat and local literature lovers.

"When you travel, as I am here, traveling really brings us into thinking about something, ... and about the effort of always trying to find a paradise."

A Yi is one of the highlighted authors at the opening night of the Bookworm festival in Beijing.

The poet was invited to the 10th Bookworm Literary Festival on its opening night on Friday as one of the main draws to "give a taste" of what the festival is going to offer, according to festival director Peter Goff.

As a privately funded literary festival, Goff says the purpose of the festival is to "provide a platform for the promotion of great literature and the free and positive exchange of ideas".

Also present on the opening night were BBC broadcaster Bidisha, a reporter on asylum-seekers, who shared her experiences, and Australian award-winning writer Robert Drewe, who talked of stories he had written as a reporter in the 1970s and the experience of visiting China at the time.

Chinese writer A Yi, 40, won loud applause on the opening night as he detailed humorously the price he paid for writing and his status after being "abducted by writing".

Before turning a full-time author eight years ago, he was many thingsa police officer, secretary and magazine editor. But all he ever dreamed of was to become a writer.

A Yi has published novels and collections of short stories, including the popular A Perfect Crime, which was published in English in 2015.

This year, the Bookworm festival features more than 180 writers and speakers from more than 30 countries, and is presenting 300 events in Beijing, Chengdu and Suzhou through March 27.

Event highlights

A Novel Approach: Experimenting with Language and Style

6 pm, March 17; Bookworm

Running Through Beijing author Xu Zechen in conversation with writers Eimear McBride from Ireland and Anna Smaill from New Zealand on writing novels.

Ken Hom, Master Chef

6 pm, March 18; Bookworm

American-born celebrity chef and writer Ken Hom will talk about the Chinese elements of his cooking for leaders of countries and royalty, and about his 80 books, with the session moderated by food blogger Kristen Lum.

Innovation and Imitation in China

12 pm, March 19; Bookworm

Part of the "China future perfect" series of discussions, the panel will have Kaiser Kuo, director of international communications for Baidu; Christina Larson, contributor to Science magazine; and Edmond Lococo, senior vice-president for public relations at ICR, to look into topics from vehicles to entrepreneurs.

In Conversation with Xinran

7 pm, March 19; Dulwich College

Xue Xinran, who writes under the pen name Xinran, is a Chinese-British journalist and author. She will talk about her books, including international best-seller The Good Women of China and her latest, Buy Me the Sky, about Chinese born under the family planning policy.

Crime and Vice

12 pm, March 20; Bookworm

Shanghai-born Qiu Xiaolong, a renowned crime novelist who writes in English as well, will discuss with Hong Kong-based author Nury Vittachi social realities that inspire crime fiction.

Creating Worlds: Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy

8 pm, March 21; Bookworm

Sci-fi writer Han Song who won China's Galaxy Award for fiction for six times, and wrote such books as 2066: Red Star Over America, will join Israeli author Ofir Touche Gafla and Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski in a talk on fantasy writing.

Poetry in Translation

6 pm, March 24; Bookworm

Hailed as China's Allen Ginsberg for his avant-garde works, Sichuan-born poet Yi Sha will read poems along with Swiss author Yves Laplace and will examine poetry translation.

El Impostor

4 pm, March 26; Cervantes Institute

Spanish writer Javier Cercas brings his latest novel, El Impostor (The Impostor), to China. He will sit with one of China's top Spanish scholars Chen Zhongyi for a cross-cultural dialogue.
Asian academy members protest Oscar's Asian jokes

From:chinadaily.com.cn | 2016-03-16 11:22

Comedian Chris Rock and three Asian American children at the 88th Oscars. [Photo/SIPA]

25 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science members of Asian descent have written to Academy leaders protesting "tasteless and offensive skits" mocking Asians during the 88th Academy Awards late February, according to Los Angeles Times.

"We are writing ... to express our complete surprise and disappointment with the targeting of Asians at the 88th Oscars telecast and its perpetuation of racist stereotypes," said the letter, signed by members including two-time Academy Award winning director Ang Lee, actress Sandra Oh of Grey's Anatomy, actor George Takei of Star Trek and former academy governors Don Hall, Freida Lee Mock and Arthur Dong.

The letter, addressed to academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Chief Executive Dawn Hudson, the board of governors, and Oscar telecast producers Reginald Hudlin and David Hill, became public on Tuesday in a story by Variety, as the Academy's 51-member board was meeting for the first time since the telecast.

The awards ceremony was packed with racially charged material related to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy. In one, host Chris Rock introduced three Asian children as Academy accountants, followed by ad-libbed comments and a derogatory joke about Asians by presenter Sacha Baron Cohen.

"If you watched the Oscars the word diversity seemed to mean black and white. That was it," said Takei during an phone interview with Los Angeles Times. "We were absolutely aghast to see they compounded that by having a joke about Asian American children. How insensitive and how ignorant."

The Star Trek star said Asian academy members began emailing each other about initiating a protest the night of the show.

"I grew up in prisons behind barbed-wire fences largely because of those stereotypes," Takei said. "Asians were depicted as merciless villains to be laughed at. Now the stereotype is we're silent numbers counters or depicting child labor."

Comedian Chris Rock and three Asian American children at the 88th Oscars. [Photo/SIPA]

Documentary filmmaker Renee Tajima-Pena said she and other Asian Academy members were surprised to see jokes of such nature in a year where a call for diversity was at the center of attention.

"Everybody was excited because we knew that the academy was responding to #OscarsSoWhite," Tajima-Pena said. "We were excited to see the telecast to see what was gonna happen. It kind of blindsided us. It was such a contrast to the language of moving forward, recognizing that this culture is multi-racial, multi-ethnic. It wasn't even funny. It's just dredging up really idiotic stereotypes."

In the letter dated March 9, 25 members asked the board to respond to their criticism and take "concrete steps" to "preclude such unconscious or outright bias and racism toward any group in future Oscar telecasts."

A spokeswoman of the academy has responded through a statement.

"The Academy appreciates the concerns stated, and regrets that any aspect of the Oscar telecast was offensive," the statement read. "We are committed to doing our best to ensure that material in future shows be more culturally sensitive."

David Magdael, a member of the Academy in its public relations branch, said he was surprised when he saw the show.

"When that skit came up in the middle of the Oscars, we all went like, 'What?' There was a collective, 'That didn't just happen.' We found a lot of people who said, 'We're not going to accept this sort of joke anymore,' especially right after Cheryl Boone Isaacs gave that speech about diversity," comments Magdael during an interview with The Hollywood Reporters.

A complete list of academy's members is not on public records, however according to a 2016 Times analysis, Asians account for just over two percent of the academy's membership.

Here's the full text.

March 9, 2016

Cheryl Boone Isaacs, President

Dawn Hudson, CEO

Members of the Board of Governors

Reginald Hudlin and David Hill, Oscars Producers

Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences

8949 Wilshire Boulevard

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

RE: "Oscars: Why Make Cheap Jokes at the Expense of Asians?"

(Hollywoodreporter.com)

"The Oscars anti-Asian racism was alive and well."

(PsychologyToday.com)

"Asian-American Jab at Oscars reveals deeper diversity woes"

(Associated Press, Salon.com)

Dear Cheryl, Dawn, Members of the Board of Governors, Reginald and David:

We are writing as Academy members of Asian descent to express our complete surprise and

disappointment with the targeting of Asians at the 88th Oscars telecast and its perpetuation of racist stereotypes.

In light of criticism over #OscarsSoWhite, we were hopeful that the telecast would provide the Academy a way forward and the chance to present a spectacular example of inclusion and diversity.

Instead, the Oscars show was marred by a tone-deaf approach to its portrayal of Asians.

We'd like to know how such tasteless and offensive skits could have happened and what process you have in place to preclude such unconscious or outright bias and racism toward any group in future Oscars telecasts.

We look forward to hearing from you about this matter and about the concrete steps to ensure that all people are portrayed with dignity and respect.

We are proud that the Oscars reach several hundred million people around the world of whom 60% are Asians and potential moviegoers.

Sincerely,

Don Hall, Sound Branch, John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation, Academy Governor, 18 years

Freida Lee Mock, Documentary Branch, Academy Award winner, Academy Governor, 6 years

Arthur Dong, Documentary Branch, Academy Award nominee, Academy Governor, 4 years

Ang Lee, Directors Branch, Two-time Academy Award winner

Chris Tashima, Shorts and Feature Animation Branch, Academy Award winner

Christine Choy, Documentary Branch, Academy Award nominee

David Magdael, Public Relations Branch

France Nuyen, Actors Branch

George Takei, Actors Branch

Janet Yang, Producers Branch

Jessica Yu, Documentary Branch, Academy Award winner

Jodi Long, Actors Branch

Laura Kim, Public Relations Branch

Marcus Hu, Executives Branch

Maysie Hoy, Film Editors Branch

Nancy Kwan, Actors Branch

Peter Kwong, Actors Branch

Renee Tajima-Pena, Documentary Branch, Academy Award nominee

Rithy Panh, Documentary Branch, Academy Award nominee

Ruby Yang, Documentary Branch, Academy Award winner

Sandra Oh, Actors Branch

Steven Okazaki, Documentary Branch, Academy Award winner

Teddy Zee, Executives Branch

William Hoy, Film Editors Branch

Yung Chang, Documentary Branch

Related:

When will China win an Oscar?

Raymond Zhou: About face

Top moments from Oscars 2016
1st alumni forum of Bocconi University in SH, 2016

By:Zhao Chunyuan | From:english.eastday.com | 2016-03-12 13:55

Andrea Sironi,Rector of Bocconi University, delivered a speech



The 4th Bocconi Global Alumni Forum was held in Shanghai on March 11, 2016. Attending in Shanghai were Mario Monti and Andrea Sironi, President and Rector, respectively, of Bocconi, along with the BAAs chairman, Riccardo Monti. There are many names from the worlds of finance, entrepreneurship and institutions, among whom are Marco Bizzarri, President and CEO of Gucci, Ren Jianxin, Chairman of China National Chemical Corporation (guest speaker at the dinner), and the Italian Ambassador to China, Ettore Sequi. The gathering is the international event that the Bocconi Alumni Association organizes each year in a city in Asia, Europe or America (Singapore, New York and London were the venues for the past three years) to rally its members.

The forum in Shanghai with the title Silk Road: Eurasia Connectivity provides a platform for alumni and at the same time an opportunity to reflect on the economy and finance issues related to the modern Silk Road.

Ettore Sequi, the Italian Ambassador to China hosted a discussion on Sino-Italian relations

Ettore Sequi, the Italian Ambassador to China, hosted a discussion on Sino-Italian relations before the 5 keynote speeches.

Multi-level Cooperation on education to benefit each other

China is an important market for Bocconi, both as a talent pool and as an important part of our alumni community, which in recent years has continued to grow, explains Bocconi Rector Andrea Sironi. The collaboration with Fudan University for the China MIM, which this year celebrates its tenth anniversary, and with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology for the Global Masters degree of Business, are two excellent fruits of our strategy of internationalization and penetration in Asia. The choice of Shanghai for the Global Forum this year was born precisely of the solid relations that weve built over the years at various levels.

Five fascinating keynote speeches





keynote speech: Leadership and Management Practices: Differences between West and East



The first keynote speeches in the morning, devoted to finance, features James Z. Li, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of E.J. McKay & Co., Federico Bazzoni, Managing Director - Corporate Finance - Head of Origination for EMEA, CITIC Securities, and Eugenio Morpurgo, Chief Executive Officer of Fineurop Soditic Spa. They address in their speeches the two streams into which Eurasian finance is being channeled  on the one hand the acquisition of European groups by Asian and Chinese investors, on the other the listing of European companies on the Asian markets. A comparison of different leadership styles in Europe and Asia, with an eye also on companies operating in various markets, is the focus of another speech, with the participation of, among others, Marco Bizzarri, President and CEO of Gucci, and the Dean of Fudan Universitys School of Management, Lu Wenxiong.

Themes of the rest are Disruptive Technologies across Business and Continents: Business Transformation along the Silk RoadItaly, the EU and China: Connectivity and Talents in the knowledge EconomyEurasia Connectivity: Economic and Geo-strategic Outlook

Introduction of Bocconi University

Bocconi University was founded in 1902 by an entrepreneur, Ferdinando Bocconi. Proud of its Italian tradition and roots, Bocconi is today a leading European research and teaching university with a strong international orientation and outlook focused on economics, management, law and the social sciences.

Bocconi has 21 Exchange Agreements with the universities in Great China Region, involving 97 students per year. These exchange programs cover all levels from Undergraduate, Graduate to MBA programs, and the cooperating institutions include Fudan University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, CEIBS Shanghai, Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF), Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Business School, University of Internaitonal Business and Economics, Sun Yat Sen University (School of business and Lingnan College), Xiamen University etc.
He edged out several senior leaders, including moderate number two leader Premier Li Keqiang in a major shake-up at the top.
Columbia Nashville Newcomer Maren Morris will release her first full-length album on June 3, which also happens to be the day she kicks off the ripCORD World Tour with Keith Urban and Brett Eldredge.

The native of the Lone Star state co-wrote all eleven tracks and co-produced the project as well. It includes her breakthrough hit, My Church, which is currently threatening to break into the top ten. The title, Hero, comes from another tune on the record.

I Wish I Was is the most autobiographical song on this record and I admittedly was not the hero in that story, but I am the hero in mine. I've come such a long way from who I was in Texas, who I am as a writer, who I am as a woman today, she reflects. I think the message of this record is self-acceptance and awareness, and that to me is heroic."

This week, Maren is close to home, as she makes multiple appearances at the South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival in Austin.

Heres the complete track listing for Hero:

Sugar

Rich

My Church

I Could Use a Love Song

80s Mercedes

Drunk Girls Dont Cry

How Its Done

Just Another Thing

I Wish I Was

Second Wind

Once

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesThe estate of Michael Jackson is about to get a lot richer, as the Sony corporation has agreed buy out the late King of Pop's 50-percent share of the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalog for $750 million. Sony/ATV is a joint venture Jackson and Sony entered into in 1995 that, according to The New York Times, encompasses more than 1 million copyrights, including about 250 Beatles songs.

Forbes reports that the $750 million will be the most lucrative single payout ever to a music artist, besting the $620 million rap mogul Dr. Dre made when Apple purchased his Beats by Dre company in 2014. The deal is expected to close on March 31.

As The New York Times points out, Jackson decided to buy the ATV publishing catalog, which owned many Beatles songs, after Paul McCartney mentioned to him how valuable music publishing is. MJ purchased the company in 1985 for more than $40 million. He then sold half of his share to Sony for about $100 million in 1995 in the deal that created Sony/ATV.

"This transaction further allows us to continue our efforts of maximizing the value of Michael's Estate for the benefit of his children," says the estate's co-executors, John Branca and John McClain. "It also further validates Michael's foresight and genius in investing in music publishing. His ATV cataloguewas the cornerstone of the joint venture and, as evidenced by the value of this transaction, is considered one of the smartest investments in music history."

Jackson's estate will continue to control the King of Pop's master recordings, as well as the Mijac Music publishing company, which owns the songs Michael wrote and well as compositions by other famous songwriters that the legendary entertainer purchased over the years. It also will to continue to maintain an interest in the EMI Music Publishing company.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
#coronavirus-additional cases New COVID-19 cases under 30,000 for 4th consecutive day South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed below 30,000 for a fourth straight day Saturday with the daily death toll down to its 14-week low for a Saturday. The country reporte...

#BLACKPINK BLACKPINK to headline BST Hyde Park festival next year K-pop sensation BLACKPINK will headline British Summer Time (BST) Hyde Park in London next year, the group's agency and the festival announced Saturday. The four-member act will...
Although his last effort, Blackhat, didn't rate highly in our ranking of his work, Michael Mann is still one of the most respected and talented directors working today.

His upcoming biopic on Enzo Ferrari is already gearing up (heh) to be a potential Oscar contender for 2018. However, beyond that, Mann's got some interesting projects lined up. It was confirmed today that Michael Mann is opening up an imprint that will generate a series of novels that will, in turn, be developed for television and film.

Yeah, it's sort of like reverse-engineering. Basically, the key takeaway point from this is that Mann has outlined an idea for a prequel to his masterpiece, Heat. Mann's plan is to work with a team of writers to develop novels, with the Heat prequel being his first priority. Mann's plan is to focus on the formative years of the characters in Heat, including Vincent Hanna (Pacino), Neil McCauley (DeNiro) and Seherlis (Kilmer).

What's interesting, however, is that Mann based these characters on real-life cops and robbers. There really was a bank-robber in Chicago in the '60s called Neil McCauley whilst Jon Voight's character was based on former criminal-turned-actor Eddie Bunker.

There's no definitive timeline as to when we'll see the Heat prequel in cinemas, however it's interesting to think about the possibilities of it all. Mann's never gone back for a sequel in any of his films, so why Heat? For one thing, we know he spent many years researching and rewriting the screenplay for it.

He even made a TV film to act as a dry-run for Heat; such was his level of preparedness for it all. If we get a film that's even half as good as Heat, it'll still be ten times better than most crime thrillers in recent years.

Via Deadline
Back in 2006, Once announced itself to the world as a heart-warming tale of music and love in the heart of Dublin, winning itself an Oscar for Best Original Song and confirming John Carney as a talented director.

Having scored national success with Bachelor's Walk, Once put him on an international stage. He followed this up with Begin Again, another music-based story set in New York and featured a cast that included Adam Levine, Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley. The film performed well overall and secured itself a nomination for Best Original Song.

With Sing Street, Carney's returned to Dublin, although set himself firmly in the '80s and, in a way, his own life. We talked to John about the period detail of the film, making an Irish film for an audience, working with untested actors and what he makes of both the Irish film industry and the wider music industry itself.

As always, you can follow The Insider on iTunes, Soundcloud and Stitcher.
There is some confusion here that needs to be sorted out. Sammy's Great Escape is a sequel, a follow up to A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures, but it works as a standalone movie, which is why Warner Bros are behind the new title: Sammy's Great Escape. Also, kids attracted to the poster are sold a movie about two baby turtles that get up to all sorts and the title suggests one of them is called Sammy. Sammy, however, is the grandfather to one of these babies and it's not really his movie, as he's just one of many sea creatures here. Any of that bother you? It shouldn't because Sammy's Great Escape is actually a lot of fun.

Sammy and best buddy Ray are enjoying their slow beach life when suddenly they are captured and thrown onto a smelly trawler that ships them to a plush, expansive aquarium in Dubai. Here they meet the rest of the population: a blowfish that looks too much like Marty Feldman to be funny, a schizophrenic lobster and Big D, the seahorse who runs the aquarium with the help of his two slimy sidekicks, the eels. Sammy plans to escape but Big D seems intent on thwarting all sorties to the outside

In short it's a prison break movie and, considering the young age group it's squarely pitched at, a very simple one. Directors Ben Stassen and Vince Kesteloot (what a great name) don't worry about the immersive 3D' that's in vogue right now and come up with any excuse to throw things at the screen as much as they can. They keep things fun and moving throughout.

There are some oddly dark moments, though: one seahorse is punished by being thrown into the cold tank where it freezes, the wacky lobster watches one of his kind torn apart and eaten by diners to the strains of The B-52s (you know which one) and, in a scene that's like something from The Warriors, two bad fish' are descended upon by tough-looking crabs in a cramped dark pipe.

It's zippy, it's not overloaded with pop culture references and has enough peril to keep the kids entertained.
Charlie Cox says his return as Daredevil "still feels too good to be true"
When Netflix first announced that they were reuniting Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz with one of its stars Will Arnett for an upcoming comedy, we were pretty excited. Yes, Arrested Development may have fallen flat on its face somewhat in season four, but there's no denying it was downright hilarious in its heyday, and Arnett? Well we'll always have a soft spot for the man that brought the world Gob Bluth.

Arnett not only stars in Flaked but he created it alongside Mark Chappell (Hurwitz serves as an executive producer) while his co-star is Irish actress Ruth Kearney. So yeah, interest was high in this one, and with just eight half-hour episodes it doesn't take long to get through. Is it a good show though?

Well look, it's alright.

Arnett takes the lead as Chip a self appointed "guru" of Venice in Los Angeles, who we learn in the first episode is a recovering alcoholic following a car accident ten years ago where he killed a man. His best friend is the reliable Dennis (David Sullivan), who finds himself falling for the charms of waitress London, although unfortunately so does Chip. Don't be fooled though, the storyline progresses far from the average love triangle tale as the complexities of the characters and their backgrounds emerge over the series, with more twists and turns than a M. Night Shyamalan flick.

Central to it all is Chip, the most full of sh*t person you could ever meet with virtually every second sentence out of his mouth a platitude or cliched life lesson of some kind. As the series goes on however, the bullsh*t is stripped back bit by bit - a depth Arnett plays out fairly well given that more often than not he's only had to extend his acting chops to the most one dimensional of characters.

Chip's problem is that he is more concerned with being perceived as the perfect do-gooder, spiritual type than actually being that person. He's a decent enough guy to feel guilty and apologise when he messes people around, but rarely does much to make it up to them, and it becomes clearer throughout just how selfish he can really be.

The whole way through, we're not sure if we're even supposed to like Chip, but then isn't that the structure of so many comedies these day? A lead that you're not quite sure you'd even want to be friends with? Whether you like him or not though, you can't help rooting for Chip, willing him and London (Kearney) to get together and for that crumbling furniture store of his to remain open.

Kearney, by the way, is stunning throughout and maybe it's our national bias but she delivers far and above the best performance of the show, and we would really have been very much okay with her character developing a little more than her interactions with Chip... it does at times, but not enough.

The show itself is not overly-concerned with being funny either. Labelled as a comedy, it certainly won't have you in stitches. Far from it, the humour is as dry as it comes and while sometimes this lands perfectly in the script, other times, it just doesn't deliver.

A huge positive with the show however is how its filmed - with some fantastic shots of Venice and its many diverse characters. While the music is as important as any of the performances, with EL VY closing out the first episode, and the likes of Local Natives, Grandaddy, Warpaint and Wilco featuring throughout. Basically the whole soundtrack is an indie music fan's dream playlist, so if that's not your cup of tea, you may have to move on.

Overall, Flaked isn't going to be winning any awards any time soon, and it's not going down altogether too well with many critics. However, there's definitely potential there for a great second season, and in the meantime, if you have a hangover day on the way or just want to binge watch something that won't take up that many brain cells of an evening, Flaked will come in handy.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that a referendum on whether or not the United Kingdom should remain in the European Union will be held on 23 June 2016. The EU rep-resentatives and the British government have been in the negotiations on the EU reforms that London describes as necessary for the UK to remain in the EU. What would the future of Eu-rope and the Union be like in the event that, despite all efforts, the referendum decided that the UK would leave the EU? And what would be the consequences for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the overall strategic position of the Union? The three most likely scenarios described below, all of which are based on the statements of political leaders, aca-demic texts and statistical data, attempt to answer these questions. All, however, assume that good relations between Brussels and London will be maintained.

According to the first scenario, the Brexit will limit the EUs military and defensive capabilities. Instead of with defense policy, CFSP will become preoccupied with humanitarian issues, climate change and cross-cultural dialogue. The cooperation in this area will be based on bilateral agreements outside the European Union or within the NATO. In many other areas, ad hoc col-laboration between London and the EU will remain an option.

The second scenario is the possibility of developing a flexible cooperation among the EU Mem-ber States themselves and with other countries. This collaboration will further expand opportu-nities for the third countries for the so-called opt-in, which is essentially the participation in this kind of cooperation, whereby the conditions for the participation of non-member countries would be finalized during the participation process itself. This process should gradually lead to the creation of the European Defense Union, as the European pillar of NATO, which would aspire to include all the current EU Member States.

The last scenario is based on the assumption that the Brexit will remove the main obstacle to closer cooperation within the EU. After the UK has left the EU, the political union will be deep-ened and the European Defense Union will be created. A military headquarters will be created in Brussels, decision-making within the CFSP will be improved, regular debate on defense will take place and the budget for foreign operations will be increased. The EU will thus become a significant regional player supplementing the NATO.

The study can be downloaded here
A decade in two 5-year plans Updated: 2016-03-16 16:59 (Xinhua)

BEIJING - What's the easiest way to get a comprehensive picture of China's economy and society?

"The five-year plan" is one possible answer.

Since 1953, China has produced 13 five-year plans.

These blueprints for national economic and social development are receiving ever increasing praises abroad as Chinese wisdom worth learning from.

The 12th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (2011-2015) is a good example, as the country fulfilled all the major tasks and targets as planned.

The 13th Five-Year Plan for the 2016-2020 period, approved on Wednesday by the National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliament, is a new chance to examine how the world's second largest economy forecasts its future, plans its goals, deal with challenges and transform itself.

Here is a summary of the highlights in the 12th and 13th five-year plan decade.

Economic engines

The Chinese economy managed an average 7.8 percent annual growth over the past 5 years, while many developed nations still struggled to recover.

In 2010, China's GDP was $5.9 trillion, overtaking Japan as the world's second-largest economy. In 2015, its GDP rose to $10.42 trillion, accounting for 14.4 percent of global GDP.

The 13th five-year plan sets a growth target range from 6.5 percent to 7 percent a year, and forecasts China's GDP will exceed $14 trillion in five years, continuing as the world's economic engine and narrowing the gap with the United States.

Hu Angang, an economist with Tsinghua University, forecast China's per-capita GDP will be $10,000 by 2020, and the gap between the two biggest economies in per-capita GDP will close from one seventh to one third.

Some foreign analysts say China's emergence as the biggest economy is only a matter of time.

Great changes

In 2010, when Xiaomi was founded, the Chinese smartphone market was dominated by foreign brands. Newspapers splashed photos of people queuing for Apple's iPhone 4 and few would consider buying handset from a domestic startup.

Five years later, Xiaomi, with a market value estimated at $45 billion, was China's leading smartphone vendor and ranked very high in the global market.

The smiling face of its founder has frequently graced the pages of the Wall Street Journal and Forbes, while Wired stated "It's time to copy China."
China to play leading role for development of Swiss SMEs Updated: 2016-03-16 02:00 (Xinhua)

Han Liming, then acting mayor of Nantong, meets Alexander Hoffet, consul general of the Swiss consulate in Shanghai, in mid-January. [Photo by Ding Congrong/China Daily]

GENEVA -- Swiss Union of Arts and Crafts (USAM) director Hans-Ulrich Bigler told Xinhua recently in an exclusive interview that China is playing an increasingly crucial role for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) based in Switzerland.

"We want to build favourable conditions for economic development. For instance, we worked very hard towards establishing the bilateral accord between Switzerland and China," said Bigler, whose union represents 99 percent of all businesses in the confederation.

"Since the free trade agreement came into force, I am pleased to notice that turnover has increased," he added.

The Sino-Swiss free trade agreement, considered to be a pivotal asset for Swiss businesses which are otherwise unable to physically access the Chinese market, was implemented in July 2014.

"Thanks to the agreement, we have recently opened a new market together with new opportunities which will benefit us in the coming years by creating new dynamics both on the economic and political front," Bigler continued.

China set this year's growth target in the range of 6.5 to 7 percent, following 6.9-percent economic growth in 2015. Though China's economy is expected to slow down, Bigler said that it is still sufficiently high to cater to Swiss needs.

Economic growth in Switzerland is forecast to reach 1.5 percent this year, up from 0.8 percent in 2015.

The Swiss director also highlighted the importance of branching out economic relations, since 70 percent of Swiss trade takes place with the European Union.
Description

WHAT: Nassau County court employees model 2016 spring fashions courtesy of Murlees and Tashi Rose at the annual Dressed to a Tea Fashion Show, with all proceeds directly benefitting Nassau County residents in need through the Bar Associations We Care Fund. Attorneys also donate hundreds of suits and gentle used clothing for local charitable organizations. Guest appearances by attorneys dressed as Sonny and Cher.

WHY: The We Care Fund is part of the charitable arm of the Nassau County Bar Association. All funds raised by attorneys are distributed through charitable grants to improve the quality of life for children, the elderly and others in need throughout Nassau County. Since its founding in 1988, Nassau County attorneys have raised more than $4 million for more than 100 local charitable causes.

WHO: Sonny and Cher

NCBA President Martha Krisel, Esq.

Spring fashion "models" from Nassau County courts

Event Co-Chairs Adrienne Flipse Hausch, Esq. and Jill Stone, Esq.

More than 260 Nassau County attorneys, judges and court employees

NOTE: Please contact Valerie Zurblis, 516-747-4070 if you plan to attend.
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The Rocky McElhaney Law Firm is proud to announce that firm founder Rocky McElhaney has been inducted into Nashville Bar Foundation's Fellows Program. The induction ceremony took place on March 12, 2016

NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / March 15, 2016 / The Rocky McElhaney Law Firm is proud to announce that firm founder Rocky McElhaney has been inducted into Nashville Bar Foundation's Fellows Program. The induction ceremony took place on March 12, 2016. This is Rocky McElhaney's first selection to the Program.

"I am incredibly honored to have been selected," said firm founder Rocky McElhaney. "The Nashville Bar Foundation does incredible work on behalf of people throughout the state. I believe that that you get what you give, and I stress the importance of building strong ties with our community every single day. To be acknowledged for that work, and to be given an opportunity to continue it on a large scale with my respected colleagues, is a true honor. I am very proud to be a part of this group."

The Nashville Bar Foundation, which raises money for initiatives to improve the community, was incorporated in May of 1980. The Fellows Program was started in 1991 "as a way for the bar to honor its colleagues who have contributed significantly to the community." Less than 4% of licensed Tennessee attorneys are invited to participate.

Designed to impact the Nashville community

The mission of the Nashville Bar Foundation is to provide charitable and educational programs for the community, as well as "services that promote the knowledge, understanding, and respect for the law among students, the general public, and the legal community." In particular, the Fellows Program looks to honor attorneys who contribute to their communities in significant ways. Fellows are selected by their peers; to be eligible for selection, they must have:

- "Demonstrated an uncompromised dedication to integrity and high personal and professional ethical standards;

- Made outstanding and recognized contributions to the legal profession and to the public good;

- Demonstrated a strong commitment to the published objectives and purposes of the Tennessee Bar Foundation."

Story continues

The Rocky McElhaney Law Firm maintains multiple offices in Nashville, Gallatin and Knoxville, and fights for justice on behalf of Tennessee injury victims. The firm's attorneys primarily focus their practice on the areas of:

- Personal injury

- Auto accidents

- Truck accidents

- Traumatic brain injuries

- Defective products litigation

For more information about us, please visit http://www.rockylawfirm.com

Contact Info:

Name: Rocky McElhaney Law Firm

Organization: Rocky McElhaney Law Firm

Address: 1516 16th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212

Phone: (615) 425-2500

SOURCE: Rocky McElhaney Law Firm
Lynne Tolley jack daniels

When the great-grand niece of Jack Daniel, applied to be a whiskey taster at the Jack Daniel Distillery, she had to go through the same rigorous selection process as everyone else.

"I tried that card and they turned me down because they put me through tests for a whole year," Lynne Tolley told Business Insider.

"Then they finally said, 'Yeah, you can taste.' I must have great taste buds because I was selected to taste our premium Single Barrel Whiskey."

single barrel jack daniels

Thus for the last 20 years, Tolley has held the title of Master Whiskey Taster, one of five people tasked with tasting the distillery's premium whiskey.

She is one of around 50 tasters in total.

"I have the best job in the world. I get paid to taste Jack Daniel's every week," Tolley said.

Tolley also runs Miss Mary Bobos Boarding House down the street from the Jack Daniel Distillery.

For more than 100 years, Miss Mary Bobo was paid to house and feed guests visiting the distillery.

When she died in 1983, the distillery bought the property to preserve it.

"People forget that we are in a dry county here in Lynchburg and that you can't buy alcohol. The first thing they do when they come to Miss Mary Bobo's is order a cocktail. Every day we have one or two [foods] on the menu that has Jack Daniel's whiskey," Tolley said.

Business Insider asked Tolley a few questions about getting paid to taste Jack Daniel's:

How does the testing process work?

Tolley: "Every Friday we go into a room and there will be three glasses on a table. Each glass has a little cover over so you slide that off and smell the aroma of the whiskey. You have to pick out the whiskey that is unlike the other two. See, one whiskey sample is taken from a different barrel. We are tasting to make sure that our product is consistent year-to-year. So we taste for consistency and quality control."

Story continues

"Now, if you are tasting Single Barrel like I do it's a little different. You'll go in a room and there may be 50 glasses on the table. It always starts with the aroma of the whiskey. If you smell something that you think is a little different then you are allowed to taste it. Now after it sits on your pallet you are supposed to spit it out and then you have to drink water and move to the next sample. We don't mess around with eating Saltine crackers or anything like that."

Do the samples smell the same after a while?

Tolley: "You know how when you go to perfume counters at department stores and they'll give you coffee beans to sniff after you've tried different perfumes? The same thing happens with whiskey. My trick is I smell the back of my hand. If you smell your skin, like the skin on the back of your hand, it clears out your nose. So that's my little trick."

As a relative of Jack did you have to go through the same testing process as other candidates?

jack daniels

Tolley:

"It was about 20 years ago when I said to the guys at the distillery, 'Guys, I wanna become a taster.' I thought I could maybe get an easier time becoming one because I am a descendant of Jack. It's in my blood. They said to me, 'No, no, no we gotta check you to see if you can be a taster.'

So, I tried that card and they turned me down because they put me through tests for a whole year. Then they finally said, 'Yeah, you can taste.' I must have great taste buds because I was selected to taste our premium Single Barrel Whiskey."

What do you taste?

Tolley: "I think all the tasters look for something different. I always look for caramel, vanilla and sort of a toasted oak. There is this nuttiness. It's like the smell if you were cooking with roasted pecans. I always look for vanilla. Did you know you can substitute vanilla for Jack Daniel's when you're cooking? I do that at Miss Mary Bobo's."

Is there anything special you do before you go in to taste the whiskey?

Tolley: "I like to go and taste when im hungry because I feel like I can taste the whiskey better. I also don't wear any perfume that day. I think women are the best tasters because we have the best noses. That's just my personal opinion though. At the distillery it's about 50/50 men and women," Tolley said.

What was it like growing up as a descendant of Jack Daniel?

Tolley: "You know, I have one brother and we grew up here and we never thought anything about it. The distillery wasn't as well known as it was now. It's a big deal now. I went to college in Georgia and I never mentioned my famous uncle. I just thought, 'well who wants to hear about any of that?"

Do you get any perks for being a Jack Daniel's taste-tester?

Tolley: "We do. The first Friday of every month every employee gets a bottle of Jack Daniel's Old No. 7. We also get a commemorative bottle during the holiday season and on 4th of July. Since I am a taster, I usually get a gift that says 'Master Whiskey Taster Jack Daniel's Distillery' on it. Those gifts are quite the conversation starter when we go to conventions."





More From Business Insider


Turco (Bolivia) (AFP) - Danish chef Kamilla Seidler is carefully preparing steak tartare at Gustu, an upscale restaurant in the Bolivian capital La Paz.

But instead of the usual beef, she is making it with llama meat, a traditional favorite in Bolivia that is gaining new status as producers hail it as a healthier alternative.

"Before it was considered the poor people's meat, but now it's the most expensive in the country," the 32-year-old chef told AFP.

The caper-dotted tartare she is making costs 75 bolivianos (about $11) at Gustu, which opened three years ago to much fanfare and an article in Food & Wine magazine entitled "Is Gustu the World's Best New Restaurant?"

Thousands of kilometers away, llama herder German Churqui is thrilled at this new appetite for his product.

"Llama meat is good so we are hopeful the price will keep going up. Llama meat can be a good competitor" to other red meats, said the 45-year-old father of four, who keeps a herd of 150 llamas high in the Andes mountains, in the western district of Turco.

The llama, a long-necked pack animal known for its wool, has also long been a food source for indigenous people in Bolivia, a poor, landlocked country better known for its rugged high mountains than its haute cuisine.

"Our ancestors consumed llama meat and traded it for wheat, barley, corn and coca," said Demetrio Luna of the Bolivian rural development ministry, which has launched a campaign to promote llama meat.

Several years ago, llama meat began popping up on high-end restaurant menus in the region, for example as a carpaccio served with quinoa and parmesan.

It has gotten a new boost from the World Health Organization's publication of a report last October finding that processed meat causes cancer and red meat "probably" does too.

Llama is a red meat, but Bolivia insists it is healthier than beef.

"Llama meat contains a high level of low-fat protein and generates low levels of cholesterol," the ministry of rural development said in a 2013 report.

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- 'Healthier than beef' -

Most of the 5,200 people who live in Turco depend on llamas to survive.

Churqui says one llama brings in around $150. He sells between 20 and 40 of them a year, his sole source of income.

"That's what allows us to live," he said.

Llamas are found across the Andes region, in Ecuador, Chile, Peru and Argentina, but Bolivia is responsible for 60 percent of llama meat production, with 2.8 million animals.

In the western city of Oruro, Maria had just bought 16 kilos (35 pounds) of llama meat for around $50 at the "Las Americas" market.

"I'm going to make roast llama. It's nutritional and healthier than beef," said the housewife.

But Bolivia is still a long way from being able to export llama meat, according to Jose Luis Rios, an agricultural technician in Oruro who said the entire production chain needs to be modernized to meet international standards, "from herd management, to feed, to animal health and genetic improvements."
By Jarni Blakkarly

MELBOURNE, March 16 (Reuters) - Growing demand for powdered milk formula among China's middle class and online direct distribution are driving major investments in processing capacity, the head of Australia's largest dairy producer Murray Goulburn said on Wednesday.

Murray Goulburn Unit Trust on Tuesday announced plans to build a A$280 million ($208 million) formula processing factory in partnership with U.S. company Mead Johnson Nutrition and Indonesia's Kalbe Nutritionals.

The first stage of the plant in the state of Victoria will be operational in early 2019 and will initially produce 45,000 tonnes of powder formula per year, Murray Goulburn said in a statement.

"In an already competitive Chinese market, this rise of a mobile middle-class, plus e-commerce gives disruptors new avenues to compete and win," said Murray Goulburn CEO Gary Helou.

Australia is seeking to dominate Asian markets for premium foods, as the country looks to rebalance its economy as a mining investment boom fades.

China represents 18 percent of Australia's dairy export volume. Asia as a whole accounts for 78 percent of the export market, valued at A$2.88 billion ($2.15 billion) last year, according to Dairy Australia.

E-commerce platforms, such as Alibaba, import two-thirds of dairy products into China, according to Chinese market consultants The Silk Initiative.

"We are going more and more direct and it will keep going until it reaches an equilibrium. Will it be sustainable in the long term? We don't know, but we welcome it," said Helou.

Shares in Murray Goulburn have risen by 4 percent since Monday.

($1 = 1.3421 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Jarni Blakkarly; Editing by Joseph Radford)
A woman walks out of the headquarters of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the central bank, in Beijing in this November 20, 2013 file photo. REUTERS/Jason Lee/Files

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's central bank queried selected banks on their demand for liquidity under its medium-term lending facility (MLF), multiple people with direct knowledge of the development told Reuters on Wednesday.

The People's Bank of China (PBOC) also cut the rates on offer for MLF loans by 25 basis points to 2.5 percent for three-month loans, 2.6 percent for six months and 2.75 percent for one-year credits, the people said

Such queries by the PBOC are usually a precursor to it adding liquidity to the banking system. The MLF is a supplementary lending facility sometimes used by the central bank to adjust liquidity levels.

The PBOC, when contacted by Reuters, did not have an immediate comment.

Recently, China money markets have been largely stable.

With China's currency the yuan (CNY=CFXS) still under pressure, the central bank has increasingly relied on supplementary monetary tools such as the MLF and short term capital injections through money markets - rather than interest rate cuts - to maintain banking sector liquidity and conduct monetary policy.

Since early 2016, the central bank has been conducting open market operations nearly every working day, as opposed to the old regime of twice a week.

The tempo of MLF lending, which provides longer term liquidity than open market injections, has also picked up over the past year.

The world's second-largest economy grew 6.9 percent in 2015, its weakest pace in a quarter of a century, as activity was weighed down by sluggish demand, massive overcapacity in key industrial sectors, cooling investment and a weak property market.

(Reporting the Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Sam Holmes and Richard Borsuk)
Shang Fulin, chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC), answers a question at a news conference on the sidelines of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliament, in Beijing, China, March 12, 2016. REUTERS/Jason Lee

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is still studying plans for potential regulations that would allow commercial lenders to swap non-performing loans (NPLs) of companies for stakes in those firms, the head of the country's banking regulator said on Wednesday.

The proposed regulations would reduce commercial banks' NPL ratios and bolster their capital reserves. NPLs surged to a decade-high last year as China's economy grew at its slowest pace in a quarter of a century.

Reuters last week reported that China's central bank was preparing the regulations, citing sources with direct knowledge of the policy. The rules would get special approval from the cabinet, thereby skirting the need to revise commercial bank law that bars lenders from investing in non-financial institutions, the sources said.

"We are studying the plan and it's not as simple as some reports said," Shang Fulin, chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC), told reporters ahead of the closing session of the annual meeting of parliament in Beijing.

"Commercial banking law restricts banks from investing in non-banking common firms," he said.

"Banks can't hold shares of those firms. Money at banks consists of deposits from normal people and firms. This money does not belong to banks. Banks can't simply use this money to invest."

Official data showed banks held more than 4 trillion yuan (434.35 billion pounds) in NPLs and "special mention" loans, or debts that could sour, at the end of last year.

On paper, the proposed regulations would also be a way for indebted companies to reduce their leverage, cutting the cost of servicing debt and making them more worthy of fresh credit.

(Reporting by Xiaoyi Shao, Winni Zhou and Nicholas Heath; Writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)
A Pakistani policeman stands guard in front of the ambulances carrying the coffins of Ukrainian and Slovakians climbers outside a hospital in Islamabad on June 27, 2013 (AFP Photo/Farooq Naeem) (AFP/File)

Military courts in Pakistan have sentenced 13 militants to death for terrorism-related offences including the 2013 massacre of 10 foreign mountaineers, the army said Tuesday.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) member Irfan Ullah was sentenced for the attack on the base camp at Nanga Parbat, Pakistan's second highest mountain, which shocked the world and scarred the country's climbing tourism industry.

Gunmen dressed in police uniforms stormed the camp and shot dead 10 foreign mountaineers -- including one American with dual Chinese citizenship, two other Chinese, three Ukrainians, two Slovakians, one Lithuanian and one Nepalese and a Pakistani guide.

"Today Chief of Army Staff confirmed death sentences awarded to another 13 hardcore terrorists, who were involved in committing heinous offences relating to terrorism, including killing of foreign tourists at Nanga Parbat," the army said in a statement.

The other 12 had been charged with various severe crimes from attacking schools and an airport, to killing security officials, civilians and damaging helicopters.

Pakistan has hanged more than 300 people since lifting a moratorium on the death penalty in December 2014, many of them convicted in closed military courts which critics say fail to meet fair trial standards.

The nuclear-armed South Asian nation lifted the six-year moratorium and amended the constitution to allow military courts to try hardcore militants after Taliban gunmen killed more than 150 people, most of them children, at an army-run school in Peshawar on December 16, 2014.

In June 2014, the army launched an operation in a bid to wipe out militant bases in North Waziristan tribal area and end the bloody decade-long Islamist insurgency that has cost thousands of lives.

Pakistan has been battling a homegrown Islamist insurgency for more a decade following its decision to side with the US-led coalition against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
(Adds Dilma meeting with Lula until late, papers reporting potential investigation of president)

By Lisandra Paraguassu and Maria Carolina Marcello

BRASILIA, March 15 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's efforts to bolster her government amid a storm of corruption allegations by naming her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to her cabinet were overshadowed on Tuesday by a barrage of fresh accusations against a minister.

Rousseff and Lula were meeting until late in Brasilia and no official announcement had been made as news of the planned appointment was overtaken by the publication of damaging new allegations from a senator in plea bargain testimony made public by the Supreme Court.

The testimony by Senator Delcidio do Amaral, a close ally of the president until he was arrested last year, accused both Rousseff and Lula of being aware of corruption at state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA and said the president had tried to hamper the investigation.

Presidential aides said the charismatic Lula, Brazil's first working-class president, had decided to accept a ministerial position in Rousseff's cabinet, a move that would offer him protection in the short term from prosecutors who have charged him with money laundering and fraud.

One of the aides, who asked not to be identified so he could speak freely, said Lula, a talented negotiator, would take charge of legislative affairs, where he could leverage his close ties to congressmen from the ruling Workers' Party to rally votes for the government.

"We were hoping to change the mood with Lula's appointment, but this recording is another huge blow," another aide told Reuters.

In the most damaging allegations, Amaral said Aloizio Mercadante, a Workers' Party veteran who has served as Rousseff's chief-of-staff and is now education minister, offered to pay him to keep quiet last year.

Mercadante called a news conference to deny the accusation, which was based on a recording of two meetings between the minister and Amaral's personal secretary. Rousseff released a statement denying she had anything to do with the meeting.

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The proposed return to public office of Lula, who stepped down in 2010 after eight years in power as one of the world's most popular leaders, was slammed by critics as a desperate attempt to shore up support for Rousseff as she faces impeachment proceedings in Congress.

Rousseff's popularity has been pummelled by Brazil's worst economic downturn since the Great Depression and the spreading corruption investigation focused on the state-run oil company, known as Petrobras.

More than a million people marched in demonstrations across Brazil on Sunday, calling for Rousseff's ouster and voicing support for the investigations into kickbacks by contractors to political leaders in exchange for work with Petrobras.

Newspapers Folha de S. Paulo and O Globo, citing sources with investigators, reported that the country's top prosecutor, Rodrigo Janot, would evaluate whether Amaral's statements merited an investigation of Rousseff.

INVESTORS TAKE FRIGHT

Investors, who have long blamed Rousseff for erratic policies they believe hurt the economy, had bought up Brazilian assets in recent days because of the increasing likelihood that the president might be ousted.

However, they fretted on Tuesday that Lula's return to government could improve her chances of surviving an impeachment vote.

Brazil's benchmark Bovespa stock index fell 3.5 percent and the Brazilian currency weakened 3 percent against the U.S. dollar on the news.

Lula, who became a hero to many for lifting millions out of poverty during his 2003-2010 government, is under investigation on suspicion he benefited from the massive graft scandal that has ensnared dozens of corporate leaders and politicians in Rousseff's governing coalition.

Accepting a cabinet post would transfer potential money laundering charges against him from Federal Judge Sergio Moro to Brazil's Supreme Court.

Brazil's attorney general, Jose Eduardo Cardozo, denied the government was trying to shield Lula from prosecution and said there were no legal or political impediments for him to join the cabinet.

"Lula is not fleeing from justice. There is no attempt of any sort to shield him," Cardozo told reporters.

Rousseff's main coalition partner, the PMDB party, whose leaders in Congress are also being investigated for corruption, has been moving toward breaking with her government and supporting her impeachment. That would put its leader, Vice President Michel Temer, in the presidential seat.

"The appointment of Lula as minister shows Brazilians that the government's only concern today is to survive at any cost," opposition leader Aecio Neves, who narrowly lost to Rousseff in 2014, said in a Twitter message.

Amaral's plea-bargain extended the reach of the corruption probe to new industries, including ethanol, and to opposition leaders, including Neves, who the senator accused of received kickbacks from a unit of Eletrobras, Brazil's state-led electricity utility.

(Additinal reporting by Alonso Soto; Writing by Anthony Boadle and Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Daniel Flynn, Tom Brown and Leslie Adler)
And Singapore developers post lowest new home sales in 14 months.

Competition is heating up in Singapores S$11 billion ($8 billion) telecommunications market, threatening to increase funding costs for potential new entrants. MyRepublic Ltd., a local Internet service provider backed by French billionaire Xavier Niel and Indonesias Sinar Mas Group, enlisted Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and DBS Group Holdings Ltd. to help raise S$250 million to support its bid for the new fourth mobile-phone license, Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Rodrigues said. Read more here.

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) granted a third housing loan to around 900 families last year, according to National Development Minister Lawrence Wong during a parliamentary session on Monday (14 March), reported Channel NewsAsia. Of this, 25 percent are concessionary loans, while about 75 percent consisted of non-concessionary loans, which are based on market rates. Find out more here.

Singapore developers sold the lowest number of new homes in 14 months, as mortgage curbs cooled demand in Asias second-most expensive housing market. Developers sold 301 units in February, down 7 percent from the revised 323 units in January, according to data released Tuesday by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. While annual sales rose just under 2 percent to 7,440 units in 2015, its still half the clip recorded in 2013. Read more here.





More From Singapore Business Review


Donald Trump isnt just appealing to angry voters fed up with economic decline and political dysfunction. Hes also converting that anger directly into votes.

Yahoo Finance recently ranked all 50 states according to an anger index: The most angry states are those where manufacturing employment, overall employment and income growth have been the weakest, while the least angry states are those with the best employment and income trends. Trump is excelling in the angry statesbut struggling in the prosperous states. Heres a breakdown of every state that has held a primary so far, along with the Yahoo Finance anger ranking:

Source: Dept. of Labor, Yahoo Finance

Of the 20 angriest states, 11 have announced the final results of GOP primaries, and Trump has won 10 of thema 91% winning percentage.The only exception is Ohio, which might be an anomaly, since home-state governor John Kasich won. Kasich hasn't prevailed in any other states.

Trump is far less dominant in more prosperous states. Among the 20 least-angry states, Trump has won just 4 of 11 primaries that have been held so far, or 36%. Ted Cruz has done better, winning 6 of 11, or 55%. And Marco Rubio won Minnesota, his lone victory, unless you count Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

Anger with an underperforming economy isnt the only factor determining voter loyalties. Exit polls, for instance, show that some Republicans feel betrayed by their party, leading them to outsider candidates such as Trump. Among Democrats, Bernie Sanders campaign has clearly been driven by voters fed up with the status quo, yet Sanders has only won 9 of 25 states, while his rival Hillary Clintonthe very face of the Democratic establishmentseems poised to win the nomination.

Yet the economy is still a top issue for many voters, with more than half saying in exit polls that theyre deeply worried about the nations economic future. Trump now has a fair shot at winning the majority of GOP delegates required to make him the nominee, and if he doesnt, hell still end up with far more delegates than anybody else. The angry voter seems to be getting what he wants.

Rick Newmans latest book is Liberty for All: A Manifesto for Reclaiming Financial and Political Freedom. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman.
Is It Time to Invest in Latin America?

(Continued from Prior Part)

What does Latin America have that developed nations dont have?

With valuations this attractive, Latin America is slowly catching on as a favored spot for investors. While commodities have long played the anchor, consumerism is now the key driver for most of these Latin American economies.

Emerging markets (EDC) (EMB), notably Latin American economies such as Mexico (EWW), Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil, have younger populations than the developed world demographics are favoring the emerging markets.

Sectors that stand a better chance

Considering the favorable demographics in these economies, we may see the consumer, healthcare, banking and real estate sectors gaining prominence in the years to come. Facebook (FB), Google (GOOG), and Microsoft (MSFT) have established their bases in Columbia over the past few years. Recently, weve seen Tierra Funds putting money into Latin American real estate and AT&T (T) disclosing its acquisition of telecom spectrum in Mexico.

A recent entrant in the ETF industry, Tierra Funds is bullish on Latin American equity. Its Tierra XP Latin America Real Estate ETF (LARE) tracks the performance of companies actively involved in the Latin American real estate sector. 55% of the funds assets are invested in REIT equities. LARE is exposed to Brazilian, Mexican, and Chilean equities.

The valuations at which we currently see many Latin American economies trading would surely make investors do the cha-cha-cha.

Continue to Next Part

Browse this series on Market Realist:
CAIRO, March 16 (Reuters) - Egypt's central bank sold dollars to banks at a stronger rate of 8.78 pounds per dollar on Wednesday, four banking sources told Reuters.

The central bank had announced on Tuesday it would sell $1.5 billion at an exceptional auction on Wednesday to cover temporary overdrafts of foreign currency at banks.

Egypt had devalued the pound on Monday to 8.85 pounds per dollar from 7.73 per dollar and announced it would pursue a more flexible exchange rate.

(Reporting by Asma Alsharif; Editing by Toby Chopra)
The Philadelphia Orchestra will put on two full concerts in mid-2017 in the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator and design a series of community activities (AFP Photo/Stephen Shaver) (AFP/File)

The Philadelphia Orchestra announced it will travel to Mongolia for concerts and cultural exchanges in a first for a Western classical ensemble.

The two sides signed an agreement at a ceremony in the US Capitol in Washington that included the first ever musical performances played in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee room, the orchestra said.

The orchestra will put on two full concerts in mid-2017 in the capital Ulan Bator and design a series of community activities.

Allison Vulgamore, the orchestra's president and CEO, said in a statement that its musicians were looking forward to "sharing person-to-person the common language of music in schools, hospitals and with our fellow Mongolian musicians."

Mongolia's ambassador, Bulgaa Altangerel, said his country hoped to pursue its own cultural exchanges in the United States.

Sandwiched between Russia and China, the land of Genghis Khan has actively built relations with the United States and other major countries in recent years as the young democracy seeks to guarantee its long-term sovereignty.

The Philadelphia Orchestra, considered one of the "big five" US orchestras, has long been active on the international stage.

In 1973, it became the first US orchestra to play China on the heels of Richard Nixon's historic visit and later was the first US orchestra in Vietnam.

Led by star Canadian conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin, the Philadelphia Orchestra also plans other stops in Asia next year but has not announced the locations.
stannis is alive hbo game of thrones

Warning: Spoilers for the most recent "Game of Thrones" season are ahead.

While many actors would kill to be on HBO's hit drama "Game of Thrones," one actor sounds as if he couldn't wait to be killed off.

Stephen Dillane, who played King Stannis Baratheon, was finished off during season five at the hands of Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie). But his death occurred offscreen and has helped lead to a very popular fan theory that he actually survived the fight.

Apparently, the theory is wrong. Dillane confirmed in a recent interview with French magazine Liberation that he won't be back on the show and is clearly fine with that.

Brienne kills Stannis Official HBO 2

"I do not regret having done 'Game of Thrones,' but I have nothing to say about it," he told the magazine  in French translated into English. "I did not understand the series, or its success while I was in it. The experience was very bizarre, it slipped through my fingers. For me to like a role I need to be able to be interested in it, which was really not the case. I was a bit overwhelmed by the events."

When the magazine asked Dillane why he did the show, the actor answered after a long silent pause: "Among other things, for the money."

Business Insider contacted a representative for Dillane, but he has yet to respond.

NOW WATCH: 'Game of Thrones' star Maisie Williams discusses getting famous at a young age





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Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during the Republican candidates debate sponsored by CNN at the University of Miami in Miami, Florida, March 10, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

Fox News canceled on Wednesday a Republican presidential debate set to take place next week.

It confirmed that the cable network canceled the debate in Utah after Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump and Ohio Gov. John Kasich decided to bow out of Monday's scheduled event.

"This morning, Donald Trump announced he would not be participating in the debate. Shortly afterward, John Kasich's campaign announced that without Trump at the debate, Kasich would not participate," Fox News Executive Vice President Michael Clemente said in a statement.

He continued: "Ted Cruz has expressed a willingness to debate Trump or Kasich  or both. But obviously, there needs to be more than one participant. So the Salt Lake City debate is canceled."

A source close to the matter told Business Insider that the statement was delayed after the initial report broke on Wednesday because Clemente was still attempting to salvage the debate.

Though the event was announced late last month, in several Wednesday-morning television interviews Trump said that nobody told him about the contest, and maintained that there have already been too many debates.

"I'm doing a major speech in front of a very important group of people  I think it's eight or nine thousand people  that night. And it was scheduled awhile ago. And nobody told me there were going to be more debates," Trump said on "Fox & Friends."

"I think we've had enough debates. We've had 11 or 12 debates," he added.

Kasich's campaign suggested that the governor would not participate after Trump backed out.

"No debate in SLC Monday due to Trump backing out. No surprise Trump avoiding contrast. Utah: @JohnKasich headed your way Fri," Kasich's chief strategist, John Weaver, tweeted on Wednesday.

The news was first reported by the Fox affiliate in Salt Lake City, Utah.

NOW WATCH: Trump said he didnt see this anti-Trump ad moments after stating he had watched it





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A Palestinian protestor runs with his national flag during clashes with Israeli forces near the Nahal Oz border crossing with Israel, east of Gaza City, on November 1, 2013 (AFP Photo/Mohammed Abed) (AFP/File)

Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Palestinian leaders expressed hope for a new French push for peace efforts in talks with a Paris envoy on Tuesday, after he faced scepticism in meetings with Israel.

Pierre Vimont, France's point man on efforts to hold an international peace conference by the summer, held talks Tuesday in Ramallah with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, foreign minister Riad al-Malki and top negotiator Saeb Erekat.

"The French ideas are timely, the French ideas are realistic and the French ideas are the only thing in town, and those who care about peace between Palestinians and Israelis must fully support the French ideas," Erekat said.

France launched the effort earlier this year to host an international conference to revive peace talks. It initially vowed to recognise a Palestinian state if talks failed, but French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault later said the recognition would not be automatic.

Vimont on Monday met Israeli foreign ministry director general Dore Gold, a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said Israel wants direct negotiations with the Palestinians and sought to "understand the initiative's logic" during talks with Vimont.

"The Israeli side emphasised the importance of direct, bilateral negotiations, with no prior conditions between the parties," he said.

The French initiative comes amid a wave of violence since October that has killed 193 Palestinians and 28 Israelis.

Most of the Palestinians were killed while carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to the Israeli authorities.

Others were shot dead during protests and clashes, while some were killed in Israeli air raids in the Gaza Strip.
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - March 16, 2016) - Great Quest Fertilizer Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: GQ) (GQM.F) ("the Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release of February 12, 2016, it has so far received a total amount of $2,000,000, out of the $3,000,000 convertible loan. The final tranche of $1,000,000 will be received on or about April 15, 2016.

About Great Quest

Great Quest Fertilizer Ltd. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the development of African agricultural mineral projects for local production of farm ready fertilizers. The Company's flagship asset is the Tilemsi Phosphate Project, encompassing 1,206 km in northeastern Mali, containing high quality phosphate resources amenable to use as direct application fertilizer. Great Quest is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GQ, and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol GQM.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF GREAT QUEST FERTILIZER LTD.

"Jed Richardson"

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The statements that are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements involving known and unknown risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to vary materially from the targeted results. We seek safe harbor.
Harville Law Offices celebrates 30 years of continuous practice in personal injury, negligence and accident cases in Louisville, Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, KY / ACCESSWIRE / March 15, 2016 / Harville Law Offices, PLLC is headed by the Car Accident and No-Fault Attorney of Kentucky, Mr. Bradley D. Harville. His firm, Harville Law Offices, has been in service in the state of Kentucky for the last 30 years. The attorneys have handled cases not only from the local city of Louisville, but also from the surrounding towns. The firm handles all cases related to personal injury, car accidents, truck accidents, interstate accidents, bus and pedestrian accidents and negligence.

Harville Law Firm has some of the best car accident lawyers in the state of Kentucky, who put their relationships with their clients first, listening to their ordeals and providing the best advice. The attorneys help the injured victims to understand how the legal system works, and what difficulties they might face while looking for justice. The attorneys also inform the victims regarding the best financial decisions they can make.

Mr. Bradley D. Harville has earned a brilliant reputation over his 30 years of service for successfully resolving tough cases. He understands the way insurance companies work, and he knows how to negotiate settlements until the companies make financial reparations to the victims. Mr. Brad Harville is also quick to file lawsuits, in case the insurance companies are still unwilling to comply. Having tried over a 100 cases in front of the jury ever since he graduated in 1985, Mr. Harville never hesitates to ask for a jury trial so that his clients get the full compensation without being cheated.

Since the legal system in Kentucky is so complicated, many injured victims who have been in car accidents and truck accidents have no idea that they can seek proper compensation to not only pay their medical bills but to also get over the trauma that the unfortunate incident has caused them and their families. Harville Law Offices has mentioned the benefits of hiring their attorneys for dealing with car accidents (http://www.harvillelaw.com/car-accidents/) and truck accident cases (http://www.harvillelaw.com/truck-accidents/) since they legally ensure that the insurance companies pay the right amount of compensation to the victims.

Story continues

Many victims have benefited greatly when they hired an attorney from Harville Law firm. Scott remembers that his attorney from Harville Law was quick to take action when he and his wife were involved in a car accident. He reported:

"Brad and his staff worked wonders and were able to keep the bill collectors at bay while we recovered and were treated for our injuries. They negotiated a good settlement for us and also worked with our doctors to settle on payment terms that were acceptable. In my opinion, the office of Bradley Harville is top notch and they go above and beyond what is expected of an attorney."

About Harville Law Offices

Harville Law Offices, PLLC is a law firm operating in Louisville and surrounding areas in Kentucky, and is licensed to practice in cases related personal injury, negligence and accidents. Having been named as Bests' Recommended Insurance Attorneys, Harville Law has garnered a very successful reputation for helping their clients to acquire large compensations for the injuries they had to suffer.

Harville Law Offices is quick to reply to messages and provide suggestions to clients. They can be reached at:

For more information about us, please visit http://www.harvillelaw.com

Contact Info:

Name: Bradley Harville

Email: bdh@harvillelaw.com

Organization: Harville Law Offices

Address: 2527 Nelson Miller Parkway, Suite 102, Louisville, KY 40223

Phone: (502) 245-2333

SOURCE: Harville Law Offices
Hillary Clinton.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had a huge night on Tuesday, romping to an apparent sweep of five contests as she began to separate herself from Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

Clinton flipped the script on Sanders in the key Rust Belt state of Ohio after her stunning loss in Michigan last week. She won by about 16 points.

She vaulted to narrow wins in Illinois and in Missouri, where NBC News declared her the "apparent winner." Those were two states where Sanders was thought to have the potential to upset the secretary of state.

And Clinton was also projected to win North Carolina and Florida by large margins. Clinton held a 14-point lead over Sanders in North Carolina by the end of the night, while in Florida, results showed her winning by more than 30 points.

"We are moving closer to securing the Democratic Party nomination and winning this election in November," she said in a speech after Ohio was called in her favor.

"I want to congratulate Sen. Sanders for the vigorous campaign he's waging," she added.

Coming on the heels of a stunning loss in Michigan, Clinton saw her lead in the polls dwindle during the week leading up to the Ohio primary. On the day of the Michigan primary, Clinton was leading Sanders in the polls by as much as 30 points. After the loss in Michigan, polls showed that Clinton's lead had dwindled to 5 points.

But Clinton's returns in the Buckeye State showed that she managed to prove the earlier polls correct.

NOW WATCH: Watch the Secret Service jump to protect Trump after a protester tries to climb on stage





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Alvin Yeung (C) of the established pro-democracy Civic Party campaigns with his supporters for the New Territories East by-election, in Hong Kong, on February 28, 2016 (AFP Photo/Anthony Wallace)

Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp won a key by-election on Monday, with one young activist who advocates independence from China also taking tens of thousands of votes in closely-watched polls at a time of rising political tension.

While it was a candidate from one of the established pro-democracy parties who won the election, the results showed growing support for the more radical "localist" movement, which advocates far greater autonomy from Beijing amid rising concerns over Chinese interference.

The movement grew out of the failure of pro-democracy rallies in 2014 to win concessions on political reform and advocates more radical tactics to force change.

Student Edward Leung, 24, one of the leaders of localist group Hong Kong Indigenous, took more than 66,000 votes in the election held Sunday in New Territories East -- far more than observers expected.

That secured him third place behind pro-Beijing candidate Holden Chow in second and Alvin Yeung of the established pro-democracy Civic Party who won the seat.

Yeung took 160,880 votes to Chow's 150,329 in the by-election, triggered when a prominent pro-democracy politician stood down.

The seat in the mainly middle-class constituency in the north of Hong Kong is traditionally a democratic stronghold.

Leung's slice of the vote was an indication of widening sympathy for localists, some of whom were involved in clashes with police earlier this month which left more than 100 injured.

Leung is currently facing a rioting charge for his involvement.

He said his group must be taken more seriously after the election result.

"In the past, the government, political parties, mainstream media have billed us as rioters. Now we have a mandate from 66,000 voters," Leung said.

Winning candidate Yeung has distanced himself from Leung's radicalism, but said the result should make the government sit up and listen.

"The number of votes obtained by myself and Edward Leung is not trivial. It is reflecting a serious governance issue," he said.

Story continues

Hong Kong was handed back to China by former colonial power Britain in 1997 and its freedoms are protected by a 50-year agreement.

But there is growing concern those freedoms are under threat as China seeks to stamp its authority on the semi-autonomous territory.

Political analyst Willy Lam said the pro-democracy camp must have been "very reassured" by the Civic Party's win in the face of the failure of the pro-democracy rallies.

But he added it was the localist movement that was gathering momentum.

"Hong Kong Indigenous garnered a lot more votes than people expected," said Lam.

"The fact they did so well shows these nativist 'Hong Kong first' sentiments have grown amongst young people," he added.

Lam said it could pave the way for more localist wins at legislative elections in September, in which student leader Joshua Wong's pro-democracy campaign group Scholarism will also stand for office.

The pro-Beijing camp casts democracy campaigners as a threat to stability and prosperity in Hong Kong.

Beijing has dismissed localists as "separatists" -- a label they do not shy away from.
Pablo Salame

Goldman Sachs is focusing on a new opportunity for its giant sales and trading business.

Goldman's securities cohead, Pablo Salame, recently met with Deutsche Bank analyst Matt O'Connor, and said one long-term goal is to sell more products to existing clients.

Now, banks embark on these kinds of cross-selling initiatives all the time. They always want to do as much business with their best clients as possible.

But it seems Goldman's push is a little bit more strategic. It comes as rival banks pull out or cut back in certain trading business lines amid rough market conditions.

Here is the excerpt from O'Connor's note [emphasis ours]:

GS believes its client franchise is strong and that by maintaining a globally diverse set of trading businesses there should be increased opportunity to cross sell over time. GS views this as one of the biggest benefits of peer retrenchment. GS thinks it operates with less boundaries across products (ie in less of a silo) than some peers and as a result does a good job providing advice across these products.

The firm in February promoted Jim Esposito to chief strategy officer of the securities division and tasked him with growing the client franchise.

In a note announcing that appointment, Salame and securities coheads Isabelle Ealet and Ashok Varadhan said the industry was "undergoing extraordinary change" and that many of Goldman's competitors were retrenching from businesses and regions.

"As a result, we see significant opportunity to work more deeply and expansively with an even larger set of clients," the note said.

"The ability to deliver the full range of products and services we offer to our clients is more valuable today than any other time that we can recall," the note added.

It looks like it's an important task.

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BRASILIA, March 16 (Reuters) - Hundreds of anti-government demonstrators waving placards that said "Workers Party Out" and "Lula To Prison" gathered outside Brazil's presidential palace on Wednesday to protest at the appointment of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as a minister.

President Dilma Rousseff, threatened with impeachment and a massive corruption probe, named her charismatic predecessor Lula as chief of staff on Wednesday, a move that offers him some protection from prosecutors who charged him with money laundering.

(Reporting by Alonso Soto; Writing by Daniel Flynn; Editing by Anthony Boadle)
By Bernadette Christina Munthe

JAKARTA, March 16 (Reuters) - Indonesia hopes four new smelters will be completed in 2016, a mining ministry official said on Wednesday, as low commodity prices continue to create financial problems for the mining industry and shrink government returns.

Indonesia banned metal ore shipments in early 2014 to encourage firms to build smelters and shift exports from raw materials to higher-value finished metals. But the ban cost the country, the world's top nickel ore exporter at the time and a major supplier of bauxite, billions of dollars in lost revenue.

Dozens of smelter projects have been delayed, many of them in nickel, as a result of the current downturn in commodity prices, and only five nickel smelters of a targeted 12 were completed last year.

"In 2016 we hope four additional smelters will be operational," Coal and Minerals Director General Bambang Gatot told reporters. They will process nickel, alumina and lead.

The latest figure is around half of an earlier smelter target for this year.

Indonesia's mineral export rules have been a flashpoint between the government, which is constitutionally bound to maximise returns from resources, and companies including U.S. miner Freeport McMoRan Inc.

New rules issued by the government in February allow mining companies to revise the capacity of their planned smelters, in hope of helping them build domestic processing facilities, Gatot said, adding that Freeport's $530 million smelter bond was still being discussed.

"The $530 million isn't regulated. It was just a way for us to control their seriousness," he said.

Freeport was forced to halt overseas shipments last month after the government demanded the company first pay a $530 million deposit for a smelter before it renewed the permit.

The government is still reviewing the $1.7 billion price tag Freeport put on a stake in its local unit, he said.

"We need to agree on parameters first."

The government's non-tax revenue from mining missed its target by 43 percent in 2015 and could remain flat in 2016, also below target, he said. ($1 = 13,265 rupiah) (Writing by Fergus Jensen; Editing by Susan Thomas)
JERUSALEM, March 16 (Reuters) - Israel Chemicals (ICL) said on Wednesday it was reducing capital spending and planned to cut 2016 costs by another $50 million due to a weak global potash market, but still decided to pay a fourth-quarter dividend.

ICL, one of the three largest suppliers of the crop nutrient potash to China, India and Europe, had previously said it would cut costs by $350 million this year versus 2013.

It said on Wednesday it planned to take steps to generate an additional $50 million in cash flow through improved working capital and other measures. ICL also intends to limit capital spending excluding acquisitions to $650 million a year over the next few years, down from a previous goal of $700-$800 million.

As a result, it said, the company's debt levels should decline moderately starting this year.

"In light of the significant deterioration in the potash business environment and the continued weak outlook for the potash business, (ICL) has adopted a number of additional measures to strengthen its financial position and results," ICL said.

It said it would pay a fourth-quarter dividend of $67 million, or 5 cents a share.

ICL, which has exclusive permits to extract minerals from the Dead Sea, last month said it earned 14 cents per diluted share in the October-December period.

ICL also said it had formed a search committee to find a replacement for its chairman after Nir Gilad said last month he would step down in September after nine years in office. Candidates will be chosen by May 1 and shareholders will vote for a new chairman in August.

ICL separately said it was considering a public bond offering in Israel but did not provide further details other than filing a shelf prospectus with local authorities. Standard & Poor's Maalot rated the potential bonds 'AA" for up to 1.25 billion shekels.

(Reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing by Mark Potter)
Marillyn Hewson, Chairman, President and CEO of Lockheed Martin, participates in a panel discussion at the 2015 Fortune Global Forum in San Francisco, California November 3, 2015. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage

By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) has "no regrets" about buying Sikorsky for $9 billion even though sliding oil prices have taken a bigger bite than expected from the company's commercial helicopter sales, Chief Executive Marillyn Hewson said Tuesday.

Hewson told reporters at the company's annual media day that buying Sikorsky from United Technologies Corp (UTX.N) was "absolutely a great opportunity" and Lockheed remained confident about its long-term prospects, despite the drop in commercial sales as energy companies have slashed spending.

She said she expected oil prices to recover over the longer term.

Lockheed closed its $9 billion acquisition of Sikorsky from United Technologies Corp (UTX.N) in November.

Sharp declines in oil revenues have resulted in bigger than expected declines in Sikorsky's commercial helicopter revenues, prompting some analysts and industry executives to say Lockheed likely overpaid for the storied Black Hawk makers.

Lockheed Chief Financial Officer Bruce Tanner rejected speculation that Lockheed had paid 20 times Sikorsky's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and said that was an "overstated number."

He told Reuters in an interview that Lockheed remained upbeat about Sikorsky's longer-term prospects, and said its cash generation would also increase as it moved ahead on several U.S. military development programs, including a new presidential helicopter program.

"We did not buy this business for the next three years; we bought it for the next three decades," Tanner said.

Dale Bennett, who heads Lockheed's Mission Systems and Training business that now includes Sikorsky, said the unit's margins were on par with what Lockheed was used to, and its revenues and cash generation would improve in coming years.

"There's absolutely no buyer's remorse," Bennett told Reuters in an interview at the company's annual media day. "Its (just) going to look a little depressed for the first couple of years as we absorb the amortization and the integration costs."

Lockheed officials said they were optimistic about foreign sales prospects for CH-53K heavy lift helicopters and H-60 Black Hawk helicopters built by its new Sikorsky unit, which would help offset the slump in commercial orders.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by David Gregorio, Bernard Orr)
AT&T: Unlimited Plans for the Future

(Continued from Prior Part)

DIRECTVs Latin American operations

During the Deutsche Bank Media, Internet, & Telecom Conference held on March 9, 2016, John J. Stephens, AT&Ts (T) chief financial officer and executive vice president, talked about DIRECTVs (DTV) Latin American operations. Stephens said, Our DTV Latin American properties, we are you know still just seven months in, what we found is demand trends are good, the teams are good, the products are good and theyre operating in a really difficult economy and a difficult generally speaking, political environment.

He also added, So were focused on, getting the operations to operate as effectively as possible to generate a self sustaining or more cash flows and weve been successful with that, and thats we will keep focused on.

Currency impact

As you can see in the above chart, Brazil and Argentina were the top two contributors to the revenue of DIRECTVs Latin American operations in 4Q15. DIRECTVs Latin American operations had revenues of ~$1.2 billion during the quarter. This revenue stream continued to be impacted by currency. According to AT&T, YoY (year-over-year) revenue from these Latin American operations, without the contribution from Puerto Rico, decreased by ~28.7% in 4Q15.

Additionally, according to the company, this revenue stream would have risen ~15% YoY without the impact of currency. Earlier in 3Q15, the revenue from these Latin American operations had fallen ~25% YoY. The components revenue would have grown ~18% YoY without the currency impact during that quarter.

For diversified exposure to select telecom companies in the United States, you may consider investing in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). The ETF held a total of ~2.4% in AT&T (T), Verizon (VZ), CenturyLink (CTL), Frontier Communications (FTR), and Level 3 Communications (LVLT) at the end of December 2015.

Continue to Next Part

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ill never be this cool again

The reasons why individuals join the US military are as diverse and unique as each person serving.

But, whatever the reasons for why someone joined the military, service members can bond with each other over both the negatives and positives of serving in the armed forces.

In a recent Reddit thread, military members responded to the question, "What is your favorite part of being in the military?"

Predictably, the answers varied greatly, from the steadiness of pay in the military to the sense of belonging to something greater than the individual. We've collected our favorite answers below.

For Reddit user terrez, the greatest part of being in the military was the opportunities to see and experience things he would never have had the opportunity to otherwise:

Got to live in Japan, a place I never thought I would see I person. So that's pretty neat. Occasionally an f16 will be doing loopdy loops and stuff over the flight line (idk why) and it's like a quick little air show.

This point of view, the fact that the military is an eye-opening experience, was echoed by LordWartooth:

I would honestly have to say, both sarcastically and seriously, that my favorite part of being in the military has to be the eye opening experience about life in general. When you see senior field grade officers who can barely read, or senior enlisted whose uniforms could be painted on, considering how tight they are, and you know that they have found success in life, then I should know that consistently aiming to be better than that will take me where I want to be in life, in the military or outside of it.

Reddit user Esdarke quickly agreed with LordWartooth's point:

Absolutely this. If nothing else, the military will teach you about yourself.

I for one have resolved to be less of a d--- to people. Because now I've seen what happens when everyone acts like a YouTube comments section and nobody needs that in their life.

Marines Military US

Story continues

And for some, serving in the military was made worth it simply for the camaraderie and diversity that it fostered in the ranks. StonehengeMan writes of his favorite part of being in the military:

The people in the military.

All kinds of backgrounds - but we all work together as one (mostly). The sense of camaraderie and purpose.

Sorry if that comes across as a little earnest but it's the people you work with that get you through the really bad days and who let you enjoy the good days even more :)

This sense of family that the military fosters was a common theme for the Reddit users. User Asymmetric_Warfare noted that the military imbues service members with a support system, adventure, and experiences that someone fresh out of high school might never otherwise experience:

For me first and foremost it has been mentoring my joe's and watching my junior enlisted soldiers grow and mature and become NCO's themselves.

Being able to call my deployment buddies up at any time any place anywhere with any issue and they will be there for me and vice a versa.

Making friendships with the people you deploy with that are stronger then your own familial bonds to your siblings and family back home.

Going to war, realizing a lot of sh-- back home is just that, white noise, definitely puts life into perspective after.

Being stationed in germany at 18 years old, Donor Kabab's, them crazy foam parties in Nuremburg. All those lovely German single ladies...I miss you Fraulein's.

US Army 2015

And of course, for some, the best part of joining the military are the practical and concrete benefits that the organization imparts. As zaishade writes:

Not worrying about my finances: I don't have to worry about being laid off tomorrow, or not making enough to cover rent and groceries. As much as I like fantasizing about my separation date, whenever I go visit civilian friends and family I'm reminded of how much the common man still has to struggle.

Reddit user jeebus_t_christ echoes the practical benefits of joining the military by writing simply: "Free college."

And ultimately, as Reddit user ChumBucket1 notes flippantly, "Blowing shit up and shooting machine guns never got old."

NOW WATCH: This is the Marine Corps' monstrous new assault vehicle





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March 16 (Reuters) - The Uber driver in Michigan charged with murdering six people last month in a shooting spree has filed a $10 million federal civil rights lawsuit against the ride-sharing company, saying that it is Uber's fault he is in prison, court records show.

Jason Dalton, 45, filed the two-page, handwritten lawsuit against Uber in U.S. District Court in Detroit on Tuesday, saying the company ruined his life and never invited him to any "corporate parties."

"Uber doesn't care about its drivers. We are peasants and pawn pieces to Uber's bottom line," Dalton wrote, adding that the company discriminates against him because of his mental health. "I'm currently in prison because of Uber."

Dalton wrote that he is seeking a jury trial and would represent himself in court.

Uber could not be immediately reached for comment on Wednesday.

Dalton is charged with shooting eight people, killing six of them, over a five-hour period on Feb. 20 in between driving customers for the Uber car service in Kalamazoo, which is about 150 miles (240 km) west of Detroit. Police said last month that Dalton admitted to the shootings.

Dalton told investigators that the Uber ride-sharing app had the ability to "take over" his body, local media outlets reported on Monday.

Dalton told police that when he would press a button on his phone screen, the horned cow head of a devil would appear and give him an assignment that he said would "literally take over" his body, local television station WZZM reported.

He faces 16 charges, including six of murder that can bring life in prison.

(Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Editing by Leslie Adler)
BRASILIA, March 16 (Reuters) - Moody's Investors Service said on Wednesday that the appointment of Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as his successor's chief of staff could hurt efforts to shore up the country's fiscal accounts.

"Brazil' s cabinet reshuffle points to a further shift in the government's priorities towards political expediency at the expense of pursuing fiscal consolidation," Moody's analyst Samar Maziad said in an emailed statement.

(Reporting by Guillermo Parra-Bernal; Writing by Alonso Soto; Editing by Tom Brown)
* Poland smokes Norwegian salmon, re-exports within EU

* High EU duties on smoked salmon led to Polish connection

* Norway is outside EU fisheries policy; negotiates deals

By Alister Doyle

OSLO, March 16 (Reuters) - Thousands of workers in Poland have jobs marinating and smoking Norwegian salmon thanks to a difference in tariffs imposed by the European Union on the Nordic non-member which is the world's biggest exporter of the fish.

Norway, which farms salmon in pens in fjords, sells fresh and frozen salmon to the EU in 2016 with a minimal two percent tariff. But it has to pay a 13 percent rate on processed fish, making it unprofitable to process salmon at home.

To skirt the higher rate, Norway sends container-loads of fresh fish to EU member Poland, the top single destination for Norway's salmon.

Norwegian exporters pay smokehouses in Poland, where wage costs are much lower than in Norway, to process the fish that then gets re-exported tariff-free within the 28-member EU.

Some Norwegian companies including top salmon farmer Marine Harvest have bought smokehouses in Poland, so the profits go straight back to Norway. Other smokehouses are Polish-owned.

Salmon is one example of how the Nordic country has managed its relationship with the European Union, sometimes cited as a model if British voters decide to leave the EU in a June 23 referendum.

Norway's ties with the EU have not always been amicable. The EU imposed anti-dumping penalties on Norway's salmon exports in 2006. Norway took the case to the World Trade Organization, and a compromise paved the way to the current regime of duties.

Norway has free trade in many areas with the 28-nation EU but has stayed outside fisheries and farm policies, forcing it to negotiate deals, such as the one satisfying the EU appetite for smoked salmon through the back door of Poland.

"We're moving employees and activity out of Norway and into EU countries," said Trond Davidsen, deputy managing director of the Norwegian Seafood Federation which represents 500 fish farming firms.

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PACKAGING, HYGIENE AND SEA LICE

Norway's cabinet minister who deals with the European Union, Elisabeth Aspaker, estimates that Norway has created 12,000 jobs in the EU, mainly processing fish. "There's no such thing as a free lunch," she said of Norway's complex EU ties.

Norway exported 1.19 million tonnes of salmon worth a record 47.7 billion crowns ($5.56 billion) last year, from sushi to frozen fish, according to the government-owned Norwegian Seafood Council. Poland was the biggest market on 5.8 billion crowns, ahead of France and Britain.

Norwegian farmers raise fish in pens in their picturesque fjords along a long, rugged coastline, and compete with EU farmers in Scotland and Ireland. Farmed salmon was first reared in Norway in the 1960s.

Norway must abide by EU rules on packaging and hygiene - for example controlling the sea lice that stick to the fish, or the use of antibiotics. The Oslo government says those rules are not hard to implement.

"We generally have stricter standards," said Paul Aandahl, an analyst at the Seafood Council.

Overall, Davidsen says Norwegian fishermen oppose the idea of EU membership, even though it would mean easier access for salmon.

Fishermen reckon the Oslo government is better than Brussels at setting sustainable quotas for fish such as cod or herring to avoid over-fishing. Staying outside the EU has also let Norway keep harpooning whales, despite strong opposition by the EU.

Beijing has restricted salmon imports from Norway since the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2010 Peace Prize to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. Davidsen said it was impossible to know if EU membership might have given Beijing pause, fearing EU sanctions in return. ($1 = 8.5799 Norwegian crowns)

(Reporting By Alister Doyle, editing by Peter Millership)
Northwestern Kenya, where oil was first discovered in 2012.

British energy group Tullow Oil has discovered oil in Kenyas northern Kerio Valley, a finding that could mean the opening of a second oil basin as the East African country prepares to become an oil exporter for the first time.

Tullow said today (Mar. 16) that it had discovered an active petroleum system with significant oil generation across 700 meters in Cheptuket, south of the South Lokichar oil basin, which is already being developed by Tullow, its local partner Africa Oil, and AP Moller-Maersk of Denmark. Kenyan officials want to begin exporting some of the basins estimated one billion barrels of oil by September.

This is the most significant well result to date in Kenya outside the South Lokichar basin,Angus McCoss, Tullows exploration director, said in a statement. Encountering strong oil shows across such a large interval is very encouraging indeed. Last year, the company drilled similar wildcat wells (unexplored sites with no history of oil production) in northern Kenya and came up empty handed.

(Tullow Oil)

Kenyas dreams of becoming a major oil exporter have taken a knock recently, due to low prices and setbacks in the construction of a port and transport corridor in the remote northwest of the country, known as Lapsset (Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport).

Uganda, home to Africas fourth-largest reserves of crude oil, had planned to share costs with Kenya to build a 1,500-km (930-mile) pipeline to the Kenyan port of Lamu. But the landlocked country decided last month to partner with Tanzania instead. Without Ugandas help, Tullow and its partners will have to spend an estimated $4.5 billion to build the pipeline on their own.

For now, Kenyan officials are still trying to negotiate a deal with Uganda. In the meantime, the countrys oil exports will be transported by trucks and trains.

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Pump jacks are seen at the Lukoil company owned Imilorskoye oil field, as the sun sets, outside the West Siberian city of Kogalym, Russia, January 25, 2016. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin (Reuters)

By Barani Krishnan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices jumped almost 6 percent on Wednesday, erasing losses of the past two days, after major producers firmed up plans to meet in Qatar to discuss an output freeze and U.S. crude stockpiles grew less than expected.

The market also rallied on a less hawkish U.S. monetary outlook, after the U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates steady and indicated two rate hikes this year instead of the four expected.

"Easy money is always good for commodities and the Fed gave oil bulls yet another excuse to push crude prices higher," said John Kilduff, partner at New York energy hedge fund Again Capital.

U.S. crude <CLc1> settled up $2.12, or 5.8 percent, at $38.46 a barrel. It had fallen 5 percent in the past two sessions.

Brent crude <LCOc1> finished up $1.59, or 4 percent, at $40.33 a barrel.

Crude prices got a heady start after Qatari oil minister Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada said producers from within and outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will meet in Doha on April 17 to discuss output freeze plans.

Around 15 OPEC and non-OPEC producers, accounting for about 73 percent of global oil output, support the initiative, the minister said.

Since the freeze was first proposed last month, prices have recovered about 50 percent from decade-low levels but been volatile without a firm meeting date.

Oil gained further on Wednesday on data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) that showed U.S. crude inventories last week climbed to its fifth straight week of record highs but by just 1.3 million barrels, a much smaller build than forecast.

The EIA also reported that U.S. gasoline demand over the past four weeks was up 6.4 percent from a year ago.

Societe Generale, however, lowered its crude price forecasts citing persistent oversupply, reasoning that recent price gains are weak and based on temporary supply disruptions.

"Markets remain well supplied, with oil and demand growth remaining modest, leading us to believe oil prices will remain relatively low for some time," said Rob Haworth, senior investment strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management, who helps manage $125 billion.

(Additional reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar in LONDON; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images. Voters in five states cast ballots on Tuesday in what could be a make or break moment for several presidential campaigns.

Real estate magnate Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton posted strong results Tuesday night as voters in five states cast ballots in a make or break moment for several presidential campaigns.

Both candidates, already their parties' front-runners, were projected to notch "significant" wins in the Florida primaries, according to NBC News. Trump was also projected to win primaries in North Carolina and Illinois, and he was the apparent winner in Missouri. Elsewhere on the Republican side, Ohio Gov. John Kasich secured a key win in his home state, NBC projected.

Clinton, meanwhile, swept the night with apparent wins in Illinois and Missouri and projected victories in the Democratic North Carolina and Ohio contests, NBC News reported.

"This is another super Tuesday for our campaign," Clinton said in an address after news of the Ohio projections. "We are moving closer to securing the Democratic party nomination and winning this election in November."

Trump entered the day's competitions  in Florida , Illinois , Missouri , North Carolina and Ohio  as the GOP front-runner in both delegates and national poll numbers. But as the New York businessman was looking to cement that status, his competitors were fighting for survival.



Republican home-state winner-take-all primaries for Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida were always slated to serve as defining moments for both campaigns. Recent polls indicated Kasich could win on his turf, but Rubio trailed Trump by about 20 percentage points in recent statewide surveys.



Soon after news of Trump's projected Florida win, Rubio announced that he would suspend his campaign .

For his part, Kasich promised in his Tuesday night address that "the campaign goes on."

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas was unlikely to face an existential threat on Tuesday  he's beaten Trump in seven states so far this race, and firmly holds a second-place position. Still, a strong Tuesday showing for Trump could make the New York businessman a virtually unstoppable force on the way to the 1,237 delegates needed to secure a nomination.



Story continues

On the Democratic side, Clinton entered Tuesday leading Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont in delegates and recent national polls. But the self-described democratic socialist pulled off an upset victory in Michigan last week, so Clinton's camp was hoping to reestablish momentum with a strong Tuesday showing.



Clinton has held a commanding lead in Florida polls leading up to the primary, but Ohio could present more of a challenge for the former U.S. senator from New York: She averaged an 8 percentage point lead over Sanders in recent surveys there, according to RealClearPolitics.



NBC News reported exit polls showing that 51 percent of Sanders voters in Tuesday's contests would be dissatisfied if Clinton became the Democrats' nominee. On the other hand, 46 percent of Clinton voters said they'd be dissatisfied if the senator from Vermont wins.

Early exit polls of Tuesday Republican primary voters showed that white evangelicals numbered at 47 percent in Ohio, 40 percent in Illinois, and 36 percent in Florida, NBC News reported. GOP voters in today's contests also said they are overwhelmingly unhappy about Washington: 39 percent said they were angry, 51 percent that they are dissatisfied, and only 1 percent said they're enthusiastic about the nation's capital.

In fact, 58 percent of GOP March 15 voters said they felt betrayed by their own party's politicians, and 52 percent said they hope the next president comes from outside the "establishment."



Although those figures might be read as a positive sign for outsider candidate Trump, a full 27 percent of GOP primary voters said they would definitely not vote for him if he became their party's nominee, NBC News reported.

A plurality (36 percent) of Tuesday's Republican voters identified the economy as the most important political issue, 29 percent said government spending, 21 percent said terrorism and 10 percent said immigration, NBC News said, citing early exit polls.

Both Trump and Sanders had been expected to win over some voters  especially in Midwestern states  because of their positions on international trade. Those candidates in particular have argued against America's unfettered free trade policies with some countries, saying they've led to manufacturing job losses without sufficient gains elsewhere.

Early exit polls showed that a majority of Republican voters in North Carolina and Ohio (56 percent in both states) think trade with other countries takes away U.S. jobs, NBC News reported. On the Democratic side, 53 percent in Ohio thought it took away jobs and 45 percent in North Carolina agreed.





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The decision on Monday by Russian President Vladimir Putin to begin the process of pulling the "main part" of Russian troops out of Syria surprised many Russian experts and analysts. But it's more short-term political maneuvering by Putin, experts said, and it wouldn't take much to place Putin and the Russian military right back in the middle of the Syrian conflict.



Putin said that Russia had achieved its goals in Syria since the airstrikes began almost six months ago. Experts don't disagree.



"Putin got his immediate goals, which is stabilizing Assad, and he got the U.S. to treat Russia as an equal in negotiations," said Donald Jensen, senior fellow, Center for Transatlantic Relations at Johns Hopkins.

But Jensen said the announcement signals a halt to bombing and there's still no change regarding the buildup of Russia's bases there. "Russians will be there for many years in terms of military presence, so Putin has nothing to lose, really," he said.

Russia does plan to continue to operate its air base in Latakia, as well as its naval facility in Tartus.

On Tuesday, Russia's deputy defense minister said that the country's air force would continue airstrikes against "terrorists in Syria," RIA Novosti reported, according to Reuters, prompting confusion over the extent of Russia's withdrawal.



Experts pointed to Putin's broader positioning of Russia on the geopolitical stage as a factor that helps explain the sudden Syria policy shift, but one that also suggests it may not signal anything near a long-term change in military policy.



Matthew Rojansky, director of the Kennan Institute at the Wilson Center, said from the beginning of the operation the Russian president saw Russia's actions in Syria as bolstering its own position with Europe and the West. The Russian intervention turned the tide in Assad's favor and "allowed the Kremlin to cut a favorable deal with the West," Rojansky said. He added, "Putin can always order the troops back into Syria (in a single dramatic gesture or gradually) in response to an alleged breach of the deal by the West or its allies."

Story continues

Robert Legvold, the Marshall D. Shulman professor emeritus of political science at Columbia University, said, "To a degree that Americans don't recognize, Putin sees his effort to put Russia again front and center on the diplomacy in the Middle East (as a quasi-partner and co-equal of the United States) on the line, and Assad's contrary statements over the last several weeks have been hampering that." He added, "If the situation for the Syrian regime again collapses, Putin can quickly send his air force back in. It will have the facilities already in place."



President of Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer, said that this decision presents Putin as a constructive force in peace talks without undermining Russia's leverage on the ground.



"Putin knows there's no return to a unitary Syria (despite that being Assad's stated aim). Similarly, there's no ability of domestic or international forces to displace the existing Assad regime, and that's a perfectly acceptable place for Russia to be," Bremmer told CNBC.

Legvold said Putin wants to demonstrate to the world that he knows how to swiftly and efficiently use his forces and then get out, in contrast to the United States and other countries engaged in messy interventions  a message he does not mind conveying to states in his immediate neighborhood. Putin knows Russia could be stuck with an open-ended commitment in an ongoing quagmire, wasting a lot of money and at some point left with the choice of cutting and running. By moving now, he can claim "mission (deftly) accomplished."



Factors, including low oil prices, Western economic sanctions that continue to squeeze Russia's economy, and Russia's decision to cut its defense budget 5 percent this year have been cited, but geopolitical experts told CNBC these weren't the likely triggers for the Syria decision.



The timing of the move is convenient, though, according to Rojansky, because the Syria pullout could quiet domestic opposition to Russian forces fighting in Syria in the first place ahead of the September Duma elections.



"This way, no one can campaign on a 'Bring our boys home' nationalist platform, and no one has to defend against that charge," Rojansky said.

The White House was taking a wait-and-see approach, though White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in response to the surprise move that Russia's "continued military intervention to prop up the Assad regime" was making a resolution in Syria more difficult to achieve.





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(Adds Merkel)

ROME/BERLIN, March 16 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Wednesday that Germany and other north European nations need to cut their trade surpluses in line with EU guidelines to help Italy's struggling economy.

Berlin is under international pressure to spend more on infrastructure. Euro zone peers as well as the European Commission have called on it to boost domestic consumption in order to reduce its big trade surplus.

Addressing parliament ahead of an EU summit in Brussels, Renzi repeated his call for the European Union to give Italy more budget leeway to cut taxes, saying stimulus by the European Central Bank was not enough to boost the Italian or European economy.

Italy also needs help from Germany and its allies, he said.

"If we really want to get this country going, Germany and other countries need to reduce their trade surplus, today at 7.6 percent in Germany," Renzi said.

He called on Angela Merkel's government to reduce the trade surplus to 6 percent of gross domestic product and added that the Netherlands "and other countries" need to take similar steps.

Speaking at a business event in Berlin, Merkel rejected any criticism, saying Germany's strong export performance was a result of companies' competitiveness as well as a weaker euro exchange rate.

"So when the euro devalues that strongly as a result of monetary policy, then of course nobody should be surprised that our exports tend to rise," Merkel said, adding Germany could not be blamed for that.

Germany's trade surplus jumped to nearly 248 billion euros last year from 213.6 billion in 2014. However, the government expects exports to rise at a slower pace than imports this year due to an emerging markets slowdown.

(Reporting by Gavin Jones in Rome and Thorsten Severin in Berlin,; Writing by Michael Nienaber; Editing by Crispian Balmer/Ruth Pitchford)
Htin Kyaw (left) was with Aung San Suu Kyi when Myanmar's pro-democracy leader was released from house arrest in Yangon in 2010 (AFP Photo/Soe Than Win)

Myanmar's next president may be little known outside his homeland but for Aung San Suu Kyi, who plucked her schoolfriend and longtime aide from the political sidelines to be her proxy, it is Htin Kyaw's loyalty that is paramount.

The 69-year-old was comfortably elected Myanmar's first civilian president since 1962 on Tuesday, a position he will hold in place of the Nobel laureate who is banned from top office by the army-drafted constitution.

The son of a revered poet who has helped run Suu Kyi's charitable foundation in recent years, Htin Kyaw is billed as someone with a high level of education, personal standing and absolute trustworthiness to "The Lady".

Yet he remains an unknown and untested quantity with many asking how much influence he will wield over a government he will only nominally lead and in a complex political system where the military still wields considerable influence.

Suu Kyi has pledged to pull the strings of power from "above" her appointee, though in this delicate and secretive transition, she has not revealed how the arrangement will work.

But Htin Kyaw's appointment suggests she thinks he has sufficient pedigree in the country's long struggle against junta rule to be embraced by the millions of voters who swept to the polls in November to validate her star power and simple message of change.

He is believed to have joined the party last year -- although the NLD has not confirmed exactly when.

Nonetheless the soft-spoken economics graduate's life has been entwined with Myanmar's democracy struggle and Suu Kyi's movement.

His father Min Thu Wun, was a national poet and early NLD member while his wife Su Su Lwin is a sitting party MP whose late father was once party spokesman.

"He's not just anybody, he comes from a very political family," Bertil Lintner, a veteran Myanmar commentator told AFP.

- Right hand man -

His inner circle closeness to Suu Kyi was illustrated in 2010 when the Nobel Laureate was finally released from years of house arrest.

Story continues

As she greeted jubilant crowds from behind the gate of her crumbling Yangon mansion, Htin Kyaw stood to her right.

During those heady but often unsure times when Suu Kyi remained under intense military scrutiny, he could sometimes be seen at the wheel of her car, shuttling her between high-level meetings.

For the last four years he has been a senior executive in Suu Kyi's charity, which provides development aid and skills training to her Kawhmu constituency and other areas of the impoverished country.

In an interview with AFP about the charity's work in July 2015, Htin Kyaw spoke of the steep climb Myanmar faced to claw its way out of poverty.

"You see that we are doing a lot, which means we need a lot. We are just doing only a very small portion of what is required for the nation," he said.

Born in 1946, Htin Kyaw earned a masters degree in 1968 from the Yangon Economics University and went on to complete further courses abroad, including in the UK, the US and Japan.

According to an official biography released by the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, he studied at the University of London's Institute of Computer Science from 1971 to 72.

In a varied career he worked as a university teacher and also held positions in the finance and national planning and foreign affairs ministries in the late 1970s and 80s before retiring from government service as the military tightened its grip.
What Factors Drove Telefonica's Revenues in 4Q15?

(Continued from Prior Part)

Telefonicas revenue in Argentina in 4Q15

Year-over-year (or YoY), Telefonicas (TEF) revenue in Hispanic America rose organically by ~8.1% to ~3.6 billion euros in 4Q15. The largest contributor to this segments revenue was Argentina.

Organically, the telecom companys revenue rose robustly by ~18% YoY to ~1 billion euros in this geography during 4Q15. YoY revenue growth in the fixed services component in this market continued to outpace the mobile component during the quarter.

Telefonicas fixed revenue in Argentina

On an organic basis, Telefonicas fixed services revenue in Argentina rose by a significant ~19.6% YoY to ~0.34 billion euros in 4Q15. The broadband and new services component drove this robust revenue growth during the quarter. YoY, this dominant revenue stream grew by a significant ~26.7% to reach ~0.2 billion euros in 4Q15.

Meanwhile, organically, Telefonicas voice and access revenues rose ~7% YoY to reach ~0.12 billion euros in this market during 4Q15.

Telefonicas fixed services connections in Argentina

TEFs fixed broadband connections in Argentina rose marginally by ~0.6% YoY to ~1.9 million at the end of 4Q15. On a net basis, the company added ~3,700 connections in this component during the quarter. Meanwhile, Telefonicas fixed telephony accesses in this geography fell by ~1.9% YoY to ~4.6 million in 4Q15.

Instead of direct exposure to TEF, you can take diversified exposure to the company and some of its peers in Europe by investing in the iShares Exponential Technologies ETF (XT). XT held a combined total of ~2% in Telefonica, Vodafone (VOD), Deutsche Telekom (DTEGY), and Orange (ORAN) at the end of December 2015.

Continue to Next Part

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By Ercan Gurses and Ece Toksabay ANKARA (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan pressed Turkey's parliament on Wednesday to broaden an anti-terrorism law without delay, saying those who support killers of innocent people were no different from terrorists themselves. His comments, which drew swift criticism from rights groups, followed the deaths of 37 people in a suicide bombing in Ankara on Sunday that security officials blamed on Kurdish militants. It was the second such attack in the capital in a month. Rights advocates fear that anti-terrorism laws already used to detain academics and opposition journalists will now be used in courts to stifle discussion of issues such as a Kurdish conflict in the media and on other public platforms. "Those who support directly or indirectly people who destroy innocent lives are not in the slightest different from terrorists," Erdogan said in a speech. "We must immediately revise the definition of terror and terrorist. In line with this new definition, we must immediately change the penal code." Western states are concerned about a wave of bombings in Turkey, blamed on Islamic State or Kurdish militants, as they consider Ankara an important ally in containing warfare in neighbouring Syria and Iraq. But at the same time, they have criticised the NATO ally and EU aspirant's human rights record, raising questions about the independence of Turkey's judiciary. A legal expert in the ruling AK Party told Reuters the government aimed to "broaden the extent" of the anti-terror law. "A man may not have participated directly in terrorist acts but may have supported them ideologically. This may not be a full terror crime, but a degree of terror crime," he said. Police detained 20 suspects, including lawyers, in an Istanbul operation targeting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is accused of carrying out the Ankara bombing, state-run Anadolu Agency said. On Tuesday an Istanbul court detained three academics pending trial on charges of "terrorist propaganda" after they publicly read a declaration urging an to end military operations in the mainly Kurdish southeast. 'SCARY AND WRONG' A Briton, who has lived in Turkey for decades and had gone to the court to show support for the academics, was detained overnight for alleged terrorism offences. "I was released by the court but they're going to deport me now," Chris Stephenson, a teacher at Bilgi University, told local media after his release. "This is very scary and wrong." Stephenson was escorted to a plane to London by the Turkish police, an airport source said. "I am being deported at the airport. Tomorrow an application will be submitted to the administrative court for my return," Stephenson tweeted. His lawyer, Cemal Polat, confirmed that he would appeal against what he called an "unlawful and unreasonable" deportation decision. Stephenson, whom Polat said has been living in Turkey since 1991 and is married to a Turk, was one of more than 1,000 academics who signed a petition this year criticising military action in the southeast. Emma Sinclair-Webb, senior Turkey researcher at Human Rights Watch, said she was appalled at the prospect of a widening of the definition of terrorism. "It completely violates Turkey's international obligations and law," she said More than 40,000 people have been killed since 1984 in an insurgency by Kurdish militants seeking autonomy. A ceasefire broke down in July, unleashing some of the worst violence in the history of the conflict. The PKK is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and European Union. (Writing by Daren Butler and David Dolan; Editing by Nick Tattersall and Mark Heinrich)
Members of Belgian police stand in position on the site where shots were fired in the southern Forest district of Brussels on March 15, 2016 (AFP Photo/John Thys)

Brussels (AFP) - Belgian police found an Islamic State (IS) flag next to the body of an Algerian killed during a raid in Brussels, investigators said Wednesday as they raced to track down two suspected extremists who escaped.

In Paris, meanwhile, French police said they had arrested four suspected Islamists, one of whom was believed to be plotting attacks, and President Francois Hollande urged the public to be vigilant.

Belgian investigators named the fatality in the Brussels operation as Mohamed Belkaid, 35, an Algerian national living illegally in Belgium, who was killed by a police sniper while trying to fire at police during a chaotic gunbattle on Tuesday.

Two suspects were still at large after the bloodshed, which erupted as Belgian and French police searched a property in connection with the November 13 Paris massacres, claimed by IS, in which 130 people died.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said authorities had decided to maintain the country's terror alert at the second-highest level of three, "which means a threat is possible and likely".

Brussels was locked down and the alert level raised to the highest of four shortly after the Paris attacks, but it was lowered back to three a few days later, although troops remain outside many key sites.

- Rifle and flag -

Prosecutors said at least two armed suspects fired on police as the door was opened during a search of the property in the quiet Forest district in southern Brussels, wounding three officers including a French policewoman.

After hours of gunbattles in which a fourth officer was hurt, a suspect was "neutralised by a sniper of the special forces when he tried to open fire from the window of the flat", spokesman for the prosecutors Thierry Werts said.

"Next to his body was a Kalashnikov, a book on Salafism (an extreme form of Islam) and an Islamic State flag," Werts told a press conference. Eleven magazines of ammunition for Kalashnikov assault rifles were also found.

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Belkaid was unknown to Belgian authorities except for a case of minor theft in 2014, they said.

Werts said that "two persons who were probably in the flat and whose identity is not known fled the scene and are being tracked down".

A second Kalashnikov and black clothes were found abandoned at a house nearby but searches throughout the southern district of Brussels for the two men yielded "no results", he said.

Two suspects arrested in connection with the case, including one found in hospital with a broken leg, were later released without charge, prosecutors added.

Belgian media reported that the two missing suspects were brothers with links to terrorism but there was no immediate confirmation.

- Brussels extremist history -

Belgium has been at the centre of the investigation into the Paris attacks almost from day one.

Key Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam fled to Brussels after the attacks and is believed to have holed up in a flat for at least three weeks. He remains on the run while his brother Brahim blew himself up in the massacre.

The ringleader of the attacks, IS member Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was also from Brussels. He was killed in a raid in Paris in November.

Both had links to the largely immigrant Brussels district of Molenbeek which was targeted by authorities after the attacks.

Meanwhile in Paris four suspected islamists were arrested Wednesday, one of whom was thought to be planning "violent acts", French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said.

"This individual may have been in contact with individuals in Syria belonging to Islamic State," Cazeneuve said. The jihadist group is also known by the acronyms of ISIL and ISIS or Daesh.

Cazeneuve downplayed reports that the attack had been "imminent" and said the authorities "carry out arrests of this kind every day."

Hollande, though, called for the public to exercise "the greatest vigilance."

"The threat level remains very high," said Hollande. "(...) We know that we are a target. France was also the target in what happened in Ivory Coast," said Hollande, referring to Sunday's assault on a beach resort near Abidjan that left 19 dead, four of them French nationals.

The four -- three men and a woman -- had been under surveillance by French intelligence on suspicion of a "possible plan to attack", police sources said.

Police raids turned up no weapons, but computer hardware and data have been seized for analysis, they said.
Verizon Partner Solutions, a division of U.S. telecom behemoth Verizon Communications Inc. VZ recently entered into an agreement with Cubas state-run telecommunications company Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba (ETECSA) to offer direct roaming mobile interconnection services between the two countries.

Notably, in Sep 2015, Verizon became the first U.S. telecom operator to offer roaming wireless services in Cuba. The service charges $2.99 per minute for voice calls and $2.05 per Mb for data. The user must add Verizons Pay-As-You-Go International Travel facility to his/her wireless handset to enjoy the roaming service while travelling in Cuba. This service is offered through the network of Vodafone Group Plc. VOD.

President Barack Obamas decision to normalize U.S. diplomatic and economic relations with Cuba, which has been considerably strained since 1961, has started showing results. Under his administration, new Cuban policy regulations, which have been approved by the Treasury and Commerce departments, helped the U.S. telecommunications industry to gain initial exemptions from the existing embargo to invest in Cuba.

In Nov 2015, Sprint Corp. S signed the first direct roaming wireless service agreement with ETECSA. Meanwhile, in Apr 2015, Sprints prepaid service division  Boost Mobile - launched an unlimited voice call and text message service plan to enhance connectivity between the U.S. and Cuba. Starting at as low as $50 a month, the plan allows Sprints customers in the U.S. to make calls to Cuba without a long-term subscription contract.

In Mar 2015, U.S.-based IDT Corp had formed a venture with Cuba's ETECSA to provide direct international long-distance service. In this regard, it is worth mentioning that Reuters recently reported that AT&T Inc. T is looking for a mobile roaming agreement with ETECSA during President Obamas upcoming visit to the country. Obama will be the first U.S. president to visit Cuba after a gap of 90 years. The trip is officially slated for March 20-22, 2016.

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We believe, in the long-term, Cuba may be a boon for U.S. telecom operators. An opportunity to sell products to 11 million odd customers is something to reckon with. Further, with the waning of communism and the winds of globalization spreading all over the world, Cuba is poised to become an attractive emerging market in the future. Moreover, Cubas geographical proximity to the U.S. is a major positive from the cost of operations standpoint.

Verizon currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

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LONDON  Vice Media has unveiled plans to expand its digital operations in Central and Eastern Europe through its partnership with Greeces Antenna Group.

The move will see the company launch its online service in Russia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Slovakia and Croatia. Vice already operates in Greece, Serbia and Romania, where its multi-platform reach among 18-34 year-olds is 29% in Greece, 42% in Serbia and more than 50% in Romania.

Shane Smith, co-founder and CEO of Vice, said: Vice has found an incredible market in Eastern Europe. Why? Because young people there want the kind of content that matters to them  whether its news or lifestyle or documentary  framed in the way they see the world. And very few outlets are offering it to them.

Vice and Antenna first partnered in 2014 with the launch of Vice Greece. The joint venture set up a local production outfit, which produces local news, and culture and lifestyle programming, for broadcast on linear TV and online.

Theodore Kyriakou, chief executive of Antenna, said: Our partnership with Vice is a real success, this media company has a unique appeal and acts like a magnet in attracting young audiences. We bring complementary strengths and have built large audiences quickly. Through our Amplifier unit, we provide a one-stop shop for digital companies that want to expand into Eastern Europe and scale up quickly and successfully.

Related stories

Vice Media Under Pressure: New Backers Bring New Challenges

Vice Names Spike Jonze, Eddy Moretti to Lead Viceland Cable Channel

To Get People To Watch Viceland On TV, Vice Uses A Newspaper
BERLIN, March 16 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's modification of about 2.5 million diesel cars in Germany is being delayed by at least six weeks, daily newspaper Bild reported on Wednesday.

The carmaker has not yet gotten approval from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) for proposed technical fixes for the Passat model, the newspaper said, citing a KBA spokesman.

The KBA was still examining the technical solutions submitted by VW and it's unclear whether the engine will comply with Euro 5 emission standards after the refitting, Bild quoted the KBA spokesman as saying.

Volkswagen (VW), which started recalling the 2.0 liter diesel Amarok pick-up in late January, had originally planned to start refitting more than 500,000 Passat models on Feb. 29, Bild said.

VW did not return calls seeking comment.

(Reporting by Andreas Cremer; Editing by Bernard Orr)
The proposed merger between Western Digital Corporation WDC and SanDisk Corporation SNDK moved a step forward after more than 90% of shareholders of both the companies voted in favor of the deal yesterday. The transaction is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2016.

Western Digital and SanDisk entered into a definitive agreement on Oct 21, 2015, under which the former will acquire the latter. (Read: Where Stands the Digital Storage Stand-Alone?)

What Western Digital Gains from the Deal

SanDisk is the largest supplier of NAND flash storage cards for data storage in a compact removable format. These are used in digital cameras, multimedia cellular phones, USB flash drives, gaming devices, laptop computers, personal computers, audio players and video players.

On the contrary, Western Digital derives the bulk of its revenues from the sale of hard-disk drives (HDDs), mainly used by PC manufacturers. The company is the largest U.S. manufacturer of HDDs with 44% market share, closely followed by Seagate Technologies STX 40%. However, the persistent decline in PC sales has been hurting Western Digitals HDD shipments over the past several quarters, which in turn dented revenues.

Therefore, the worlds leading HDD manufacturer is trying to lower its dependency on PC storage and focus on the rapidly growing flash and cloud storage businesses to boost its top line.

The acquisition of SanDisk will open newer growth avenues for Western Digital and help in capturing market traction in the newer storage technology, Solid State Drive (SSD) segment. The merger will lead to economies of scale, lower costs, increase market reach and improve product breadth, among other things. The company will also be able to offer competitive solutions in cloud-based computing, which has taken the digital storage solution space by storm over the past couple of years.

It is to be noted that Western Digital expects cost synergies of $500 million within the first 18 months post the deal closure. Moreover, the acquisition is anticipated to be accretive to the companys earnings in the very first year.

Story continues

The deal has got regulatory approvals in the U.S., EU, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Turkey and South Africa. However, the transaction is still subject to other closing conditions, including regulatory approval in China.

The Ups and Downs

The deal has not been a smooth one for Western Digital.

Western Digital decided to go for the aforementioned acquisition after it received a $3.775 billion equity investment commitment last September from the Chinese government-backed Tsinghua Unigroups asset management arm, Unisplendour Corporation Limited (Unis). (Read: Tsinghua Buys Western Digital Stake: What it Means for You?)

However, on Feb 22, Tsinghua backed out of the plan after the secretive Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) decided to investigate the transaction. The scrutiny resulted from intense pressure from U.S. politicians who were concerned about putting domestic businesses in the hands of Chinese government officials.

Following this, Western Digital and SanDisk made a few changes to the deal price on Feb 23. Per the new agreement, Western Digital will now pay $78.50 in cash and 0.24 in stock for every SanDisk share, totaling $15.78 billion. Earlier, Western Digital had agreed to pay $86.50 per share for all the outstanding shares of SanDisk translating to a total of $19 billion.

Furthermore, according to Bloomberg, Western Digital asked lenders last week for an $18 billion leveraged loan to finance the buyout (read: Western Digital Seeking Lenders for $18 Billion Loan). According to the regulatory documents filed last week, Western Digital would receive the total amount in three parts  $9 billion in term loan, $8.1 billion in bridge loan and $1 billion in continuous credit facility.

Conclusion

We believe that this acquisition offers a smart exit to SanDisks shareholders and will make Western Digital the worlds largest flash storage solution provider. Moreover, strategic acquisitions to expand its offerings in the SSD segment are expected to place Western Digital in a better position than peers like Seagate Technologies.

However, it all depends on how early Western Digital integrates SanDisks business.

Currently, Western Digital has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stock in the technology sector is Qumu Corporation QUMU sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

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Why Chevron's New Projects Are Exciting Investors

(Continued from Prior Part)

Chevrons integrated downstream segment

In this part of the series, we will examine Chevrons (CVX) expansion and modernization plan in the downstream segment.

Chevron plans to optimize its integrated model to increase returns across the value chain. A point in case is the integration of three of its lubricant plants with its refineries. Chevron is a global player in the lubricant market and is well positioned to target key growth markets.

In terms of expansion, Chevron is focusing on expanding its high return segments like petrochemicals, additives, and lubricants. The company plans to spend 59% of its downstream capex in the chemicals and lubricants segment and 41% in the refining and marketing segment in 2016.

If you are looking for exposure to global energy stocks, you can consider the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Fund (VEU). The ETF includes Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A), BP (BP), and Total (TOT) in its portfolio.

Chevron focuses on petrochemicals and refining expansion

With an aim to grow in the lubricants and petrochemical market, Chevron has projects lined up in these segments. Chevrons carboxylate addition project in Singapore is expected to double its global capacity of next-generation lubricant components. The project is expected to be completed by 2017. Chevrons petrochemical project, which includes construction of ethylene and polyethylene facilities in Texas, is around 70% complete. The project is expected to start up by 2017.

Chevron is also investing in clean fuels and co-generation projects in Singapore, leading to improved energy efficiency and increased capacity to produce higher-value gasoline. The project is likely to come online by 2017. Plus, CVX is undertaking a modernization project at the Richmond refinery to create crude and product flexibility and to improve its efficiency and reliability, which is likely to start up by 2018.

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The expansion and modernization plans in CVXs downstream segment positions it to target emerging markets in an integrated and profitable manner. Going forward, CVXs downstream portfolio is likely to deliver higher returns across its value chain, particularly given its integrated approach in the segment.

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What's Driving Semtech's Strong Fiscal 1Q17 Guidance?

(Continued from Prior Part)

Semtech expects demand from smartphone customers to grow in fiscal 1Q17

In the previous part of this series, we saw that Semtech (SMTC) posted strong guidance for fiscal 1Q17, driven by increasing demand from its enterprise computing and communications customers.

However, what surprised investors was the companys expectation of moderate growth for smartphones. Lets see if this stability in smartphone demand will be short lived or will remain for the long term.

Semtech reported a stabilization in demand from Korean smartphone customers. It expects demand from Korean and Chinese handset customers to grow in fiscal 1Q17.

Smartphone shipments

The company serves Samsung (SSNLF), Apple (AAPL), Huawei, ZTE, and LG Electronics. According to IDC (International Data Corporation), South Koreabased (EWY) Samsungs 4Q15 smartphone shipments rose 14% YoY (year-over-year), and China-based (FXI) Huaweis shipments rose 37% YoY.

Apple reported the slowest growth, at 0.4%, during the quarter. While overall smartphone sales slowed, Semtech is banking on its customers new signature smartphones, which are due to be launched in the first half of 2016, for growth in smartphone revenue.

Demand shift toward Chinese smartphones

Annual smartphone shipments for 2015 show that Samsungs market share fell while that of Chinese handset makers rose, according to IDC. Chinese companies shipments are growing more quickly than Samsungs or Apples. Qualcomm (QCOM) has signed licensing agreements with the top five Chinese handset makers. Even Semtech is expecting modest growth from Chinese smartphone customers.

Apple reported its slowest sales growth in 4Q15 and expects to report its first fall in iPhone sales in the March 2016 quarter. However, its expecting demand to revive in 2H16 with the launch of the iPhone 7. Even Samsung expects demand to grow with the launch of its Galaxy S7.

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Like Samsung and Apple, Semtech expects demand to revive with the launch of new smartphones. However, the company is not relying solely on smartphones to drive growth in fiscal 1Q17, as they represent just 18% of the companys revenue.

In this way, no significant growth for the company is expected in the smartphone market in the March 2016 quarter.

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HARARE, March 16 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe expects a loan from the International Monetary Fund in the third quarter of this year, the first since 1999, the central bank governor said on Wednesday.

John Mangudya said the IMF would decide the exact amount of the loan to issue at a later date. The fund had agreed to double the amount available for Zimbabwe to $984 million, he said.

"We are talking about the third quarter, that's when you see most of the action happening," Mangudya told Reuters in an interview, referring to when Harare expected the loan.

President Robert Mugabe's government last week agreed to major reforms including compensation for evicted white farmers and a big reduction in public sector wages as the government tries to woo back international lenders.

(Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by James Macharia)
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This should be good.Saudi Arabia is no ally against extremismStephen Harper was quoted in Riviere-du-Loup on Friday saying that this is a deal, frankly, with a country (that) notwithstanding its human rights violations, which are significant, this is a contract with a country that is an ally in the fight against the Islamic State.This is a misleading statement by the prime minister given the role Saudi funding has played in supporting ISIL. In Yemen the Saudis are deliberately arming Yemeni tribes known to be sympathetic to Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (much to the angst of the U.S.) in order to fight the Houthis (perceived by the Saudis to be an Iranian proxy group). The Saudi support of Wahhabism is one of the main drivers of conflict and terrorism throughout the region and beyond.The Saudi bombing campaign in Yemen over the past six months has provided AQAP with an opportunity to expand its sphere of influence within the country, which calls into question how Harper can label the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia an ally in fighting Islamic terrorism. There are also reports that the Saudis have deliberately refrained from bombing certain areas in Yemen  like Mukalla  where AQAP has effectively taken control of the city.Since the Saudis began bombing Yemen six months ago, thousands of civilians have been killed and many thousands more have been injured, not to mention critical infrastructure being destroyed such as schools, hospitals, ports, airports, roads, bridges, etc. The Saudis also put in place a naval blockade that has restricted the flow of humanitarian assistance into the country  food, medicine and fuel  thereby further endangering a population that is already heavily reliant on imports to sustain itself.The Netherlands (now theres a clear definition of a Canadian ally!) introduced a resolution at the United Nations calling for the UN High Commissioner to dispatch a mission, with assistance from relevant experts, to monitor and report on the human rights situation in Yemen, and to look into violations of international humanitarian law and gross human rights abuses committed by all sides in Yemen. The resolution also calls for all parties to provide access for humanitarian aid, which is directly aimed at the naval blockade being imposed by the Saudis.However, the Saudis, along with other members of the coalition, have been attempting to block the establishment of an independent investigation by the UN and instead wants to limit any inquiry into possible abuses by the Houthis only.The question for Stephen Harper is: What is the Canadian government doing today to curtail the human rights abuses by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that are occurring in Yemen? Yes, the Canadian government did pledge an initial $11 million for humanitarian assistance in April, but what specific action has he or the Canadian government taken since that time?While Stephen Harper likes to leave the impression that he talks tough with Vladimir Putin, what specific steps is he taking with his ally Saudi Arabia?
well, well, well...Climate scientist Daniel Alongi has been indicted by the Australian government on charges of defrauding taxpayers out of $556,000 in false expenses since 2008.Alongi has already admitted to creating false invoices, credit card statements, and e-mails to cover his misappropriation of funds.Alongis indictment raises serious questions concerning the credibility of his research. During the period of Alongis alleged fraud, his research focusing on the impact of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef, coastal mangroves, and coastal ecosystems was published in numerous national and international journals.Meteorologist Anthony Watts said in a post on his popular climate websitehes concerned Alongi may have falsified scientific findings to justify his expenses. Alongi has published 140 scientific publications and his work has been cited 5,861 times by other researchers.If Alongi falsely claimed to have spent half a million dollars on radioisotope testing, it would look pretty strange if he didnt produce any false test results, to justify the expenditure of all that money, wrote Watts.Scientists Not Immune to Corruptionmo
AlphaGo recently played against 9-dan professional Go player Lee Sedol. The AI won the first three games against the human opponent, achieving victory in the best-of-five tournament. With this challenge accomplished, the DeepMind team is looking for new problems to use as a testbed for the system. Demis Hassabis, co-founder of DeepMind, expressed interest in StarCraft as a challenge.

Building expert-level AI for StarCraft: Brood War remains an unsolved research challenge. The best performing bots achieve a D+ rating on ICCup, which is impressive given the level of play on this system, but still far from the skill of even the B-team members on professional teams. I started the AIIDE StarCraft AI Competition in 2010 with the goal of getting more researchers to evaluate their bots against each other and the challenge of evaluating bots against human players. The competition is now organized as an annual event, with a man-versus-machine exhibition. The best performing bots still have a long way to go to defeat expert players.

The AIIDE 2010 Man-Machine Exhibition match

Before discussing the challenges in StarCraft, Id like to briefly discuss how I understand that AlphaGo works. The system is powered by DeepMind, which uses a convolutional neural-network and a form of Q-learning. AlphaGo extends this by using Monte Carlo tree search to evaluate board states. The neural network is bootstrapped using examples from expert human players, and then self trained using reinforcement learning. One of the breakthroughs in AlphaGo is in the knowledge representation. The system uses autoencoders to create knowledge representations that significantly outperform hand-crafted solutions. Additional details on DeepMind are available on Googles publication page.

StarCraft is a great testbed for AI, because it presents many of the challenges necessary for performing real-world tasks. As part of my dissertation, I classified StarCraft in terms of Russell and Norvigs task environment properties. The results from this analysis are shown in the figure below, with real-world properties highlighted as bold. The only difference between StarCraft and real-world activities such as taxi driving is that StarCraft is a deterministic environment. This example lists Chess as a conventional AI challenge, but all of the properties are the same for Chess and Go.

Here are the main challenges I see in applying DeepMind to StarCraft.

Fog-of-War: StarCraft is an imperfect information environment. You can only view areas of the map where you currently have units positioned. This is why the environment is said to be partially observable, while games such as Chess and Go in which the full game state is visible at all times are said to be fully observable. In order to deal with this challenge, DeepMind will need to be able to deal with the possible space of actions that the opponent may be performing, both at strategic and tactical levels. An expert AI needs to be able to predict what build order the opponent is pursuing, as well as identify where the opponent is likely to launch tactical strikes.

Decision Complexity: StarCraft has an enormous state space. Analysis is often done in terms of decision complexity, which is the number of different actions that can be performed at any given time. In StarCraft you can have hundreds of units, which can each perform different tasks, resulting in a huge decision complexity. This decision complexity is reduced by human players by following initial build-orders and using squads to group units together. DeepMind will need to develop novel knowledge representations that enable the system to efficiently reasons about the possible space of actions, using different levels of abstraction.

Evolving Meta-game: StarCraft has an evolving meta-game in which new build-orders become popular over time, and then phase out as new counter build-orders are developed. This is a property of StarCraft that also holds true for Go, since strategies in Go have evolved over time. One of the key differences in expert StarCraft gameplay is that there is a rotation of maps used each season, where different maps are better suited for different types of gameplay. For example, when I was a big Brood War spectator in 2010, Flash was able to take advantage of the macro-favored maps that reward early expansion. DeepMind would need to develop capabilities for adapting to new pools of maps, which could be done through bootstrap learning, or by identifying common patterns across maps.

Cheese: In order to do well in StarCraft, you need to be prepared for a wide variety of tactics from your opponent. Some of these techniques are referred to as cheese, because they are all-in approaches that attempt to achieve an easy win. For example, cannon rushes are a common way to try to get a quick victory over an unprepared opponent. An expert player needs to be able to handle a wide variety of exploitive tactics from players in order to consistently win. Generally, high-level players are less likely to uses these techniques, but they are commonly used in multiple-game series in order to surprise opponents. Essentially, these means that an AI needs to handle a lot of different edge cases for what an opponent might be doing. In over to overcome this challenge, DeepMind should be trained against a wide variety of different opponent skill levels, in order to make sure the space of possible strategies and tactics is covered.

Simulation Environment: StarCraft is closed source, making it quite challenging to run simulations. One of the techniques used by AlphaGo is reinforcement learning, which involves a huge amount of simulation. In order for DeepMind to overcome this limitation, its likely that novel abstractions of the state-space will need to be developed.

Real-time: StarCraft is a real-time strategy game, requiring players to perform a variety of actions in real-time. One of the aspects of high-level StarCraft gameplay is a large number of actions per minute (APM). High APM is necessary in order to maximize the utility of your units. For example, kiting enables players to deal damage to enemy units while minimizing damage to the attacking units. In order for DeepMind to play effectively, the system requires capabilities for performing tasks in real-time with precise timing. One possibility is combining other AI techniques, such as behavior trees or finite-state machines with deep learning.

Applying DeepMind to StarCraft would present a number of interesting research challenges. I think this would be a great challenge for Deep Mind to take on, because StarCraft is a testbed with many real-world properties. Heres the main breakthroughs I would expect to see in a version of DeepMind that could defeat Flash or Jaedong:

New mechanisms for handling uncertainty in the world state.

Novel abstractions for reducing the decision complexity of the game.

New bootstrapping methods for tracking the evolving meta-game.

Extensions with other AI techniques for handling real-time actions.

StarCraft may be hard to solve, because the competitive players have mostly moved on to new titles. However, there is still an active competitive community on ICCup that can be used for training.

A great overview on the current state of AI for RTS games by Ontanon et al. is available here.
Michel Sleiman was elected on the 25th May 2008 by the House of Representatives, in violation of the Lebanese Constitution (article 49 forbids a senior official from being elected less than two years before leaving his post). He was not inaugurated by his predecessor, Emile Lahoud, but by the Emir of Qatar, in presence of the representative of the old French colonial power, Bernard Kouchner, who was seated not in the gallery, but on the government bench.

Since the Doha agreement and the anti-constitutional election of Michel Sleiman as President of the Republic, in 2008, Lebanon had seen no significant political event until last August. Over the last seven months however, the country has been shaken by the garbage crisis and the resulting demonstrations which could have led to a second Cedar Revolution, then by a crisis of confidence with Saudi Arabia and its allies, and finally by the international accusations against Hezbollah. Three events which, taken separately, seem to be self-explanatory and without great consequence. And yet

Pestilential odours in many Lebanese communities where garbage is no longer removed.

The garbage crisis began suddenly in August 2015  the state was unable to renew its contract for garbage removal by the Sukleen company. Within a few days, the entire country became a vast trash dump, and rubbish piled up in the streets. There were demonstrations accusing the government of mismanagement. Soon thousands of demonstrators were in the centre of Beirut, shouting that the politicians were themselves garbage, pillaging the state to the detriment of the citizens. The media spoke of the beginning of a colour revolution comparable to the Cedar Revolution, which was organised by the United States after the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Rafic Hariri  other media called it an extension of the Arab Spring [ 1 ]. But finally, popular anger receded, because the communitarian system which is unique to Lebanon  imposed by France  defines each citizen according to his or her religious community, and prevents them from taking position on national questions.





However, seven months later, the garbage crisis is still not resolved. The capital and the major cities have indeed been cleaned up, but in many regions, the trash continues to pile up, creating a nauseating atmosphere. The persistence and generalisation of this problem have consequences in terms of public health. Viruses are spreading, and almost all Lebanese citizens suffer from periodic illnesses. There are also economic consequences. De facto, tourism, which is the countrys main official source of revenue, is strongly in decline .

The terrace of the Petit Cafe in Beirut, facing the rock, is empty. Its usual clients from the Gulf have deserted.

The second crisis began with the cancellation of the 3 billion dollar gift from Saudi Arabia to the Lebanese Army [ 2 ]. In reality, this gift was the payment to the Lebanese Army for having destroyed the testimony of Majed el-Majed upon his arrest during his ambulance transfer on the 26th December 2013. The famous terrorist was Prince Bandar Ben Sultans representative for the Levant. He was suspected of knowing personally all of the politicians who secretly supported the jihadists. His testimony would have plunged the Saudi kingdom into serious difficulties. However, the prisoner opted for the advantageous initiative of dying after a few days of detention, without his detailed testimony ever having been recorded [ 3 ].

To justify the cancellation of his gift, Riyadh evoked the reaction in Lebanon to the execution of Sheikh Nimr Baqr al-Nimr, a major figure of the Saudi opposition, who was decapitated on the 2nd January 2016 by the petro-dictatorship. It so happens that this personality was a Shia clergyman, and his death created a wave of indignation amongst all the Shia populations of the world, including in Lebanon [ 4 ]. Saudi Arabia mobilised its allies to affirm its unalienable right to kill whichever of their subjets they wish, while Lebanon timidly expressed its reservations. Riyadh decided to interpret this as a form of ingratitude, in view of the billions of dollars spent over the years in support of the 14th-March, in other words the coalition of the Lebanese communitarian parties who collaborate with Israel.

Above all, Riyadh decided to sink the Lebanese economy by forbidding its subjects to travel to Lebanon, and by broadcasting this injunction to the Bahreinis and the Emiratis. Deprived of its Gulf tourists, the businesses and banks immediately went into recession.

Al-Manar is the only means of communication open to the Lebanese Resistance in case of Israeli aggression. During the war of 2006, Hezbollah managed to maintain it despite the gigantic bombardments perpetrated by Tsahal. If the station were to be cut off, however, only the Western version of events would be known.

The third crisis concerns Hezbollah. This network of resistance to the Israeli occupation has progressively transmuted into a political party, and now participates in government. Mainly supported by Syria in the period between 1982 and 2005, it turned increasingly to Iran after the departure of the Syrian Arab Army from Lebanon. In the period between 2006 and 2013, it received a considerable arsenal from the Iranian Guardians of the Revolution. However, since the election of Sheikh Hassan Rohani in Iran, Hezbollah is preparing for a split and is developing its own sources of finance by connecting with the Lebanese and / or Shia diaspora overseas, mainly in Africa and Latin America. Following the signature of the 5+1 agreement with Iran, on the 14th July 2015, Hezbollah took a stand against the jihadists alongside the Syrian Arab Army, while progressively distancing itself from Tehran.

On the 16th December 2015, the United States Congress unanimously adopted a law forbidding banks to work with Hezbollah or any organisations linked to the Lebanese Resistance, and attempted to cut broadcasting by the Al-Manar TV channel [ 5 ]. The text reinforced another published in 2014. Immediately, the Treasury applied sanctions against Ali Youssef Charara, CEO of the Spectrum Investment Group, accused of participating in a system of financing for the Resistance [ 6 ]. The US law was followed by a resolution by the Gulf Cooperation Council, then by the Ministers of the Interior and Foreign Affairs of the Arab League, who qualified Hezbollah as a terrorist movement.

The machinery is now complete  the Lebanese economy is ruined and the principle of Resistance to the Israeli occupation is assimilated with terrorism. The TV channel Al-Manar will no longer be accessible by NileSat and ArabSat, which will severely limit its audience.
FOREST CITY  The Farmers Cooperative Association and Titonka Savings Bank have been named co-Businesses of the Year by the Forest City Chamber of Commerce.

The two businesses were honored at the annual meeting of the Chamber and Forest City Economic Development on Feb. 29.

The Chamber named Creative Spirits, a painting studio business, as New Business of the Year. The OperationLZ Committee was named Volunteer of the Year for its August welcome-home thank you for Vietnam veterans.

Dave Arndt receive the John K. and Luise V. Hanson Lifetime Achievement Award. Arndt is a member of Forest City Rotary and is member of the FCED board. Arndt is also active in St. James Catholic Church.

Jerry Tweeten, who died in 2015, was awarded the Merit Award. His brother Charles and sister-in-law Marcia Tweeten accepted the award in his honor.

The Chamber said TSB employees volunteer at many area organizations including Hospice of North Iowa, Meals on Wheels, the Chamber, Lions and Rotary. The banks Steppin Up campaign has raised more than $20,000 for local organizations. The locally owned bank marks its 100th anniversary this year. It has locations in Forest City, Titonka and Thompson.

Farmers Cooperative will also mark its 100th anniversary this year. The cooperative has locations in Forest City, Leland and Kiester, Minnesota. The cooperatives Pumpin It Back To You has raised more than $68,000 over several years. A portion of sales from the cooperatives fuel pumps are donated to various organizations. Participating farmers have also donated more than $55,000 to the Winnebago County Neighborhood Food Bank and food pantries across the county. The cooperative has donated more than $18,000 to the Winnebago County Fair.

Creative Spirits allows participants to create individual works of art in its donation location or at sites throughout the area. The unique entertainment of Paint, Sip, Create has helped add new life to the downtown, the Chamber said.

OperationLZ was created to give Vietnam veterans the welcome-home they didnt receive when they returned from the war. About 20,000 people, including more than 4,000 Vietnam veterans, gathered throughout five days in August 2015 in Forest City.

Arndt believes in supporting and giving back to the community, the Chamber said. Arndt is always looking for ways to grow and make Forest City better. In addition to his roles on Rotary, the FCED and his church, Arndt has been a youth coach, a volunteer for the 2014 RAGBRAI stop in Forest City and an Operation LZ volunteers. Arndt has served in Forest City since he moved her in 1992.

The Chamber said of Tweeten, Its tough to find a group or organization in Forest City that (Tweeten) didnt touch. Tweeten was active in many organizations, including Lions, the Republican Party and the Winnebago County Historical Society.

Forest City has been feeling the loss of a great volunteer and leader over the past year, the Chamber said.
DES MOINES  Both the Republican Party of Iowa and the Iowa Democratic Party received substantial growth in their ranks during the past 75 days, much of which is directly attributable to the Iowa Caucuses, according to the Secretary of States Office. Iowa Democrats increased registrations by 27,451. Iowa Republicans increased their ranks by 26,095. No party and other saw a combined decrease of 58,651.

Clearly, these statistics show that Iowans care deeply about the direction and future of our country, Secretary of State Paul Pate said. I encourage every eligible Iowan to get involved in elections on every level, from the school board all the way to the White House.

Many Iowans registered to vote or changed their party affiliation at their caucus locations. County auditors across the state received thousands of voter registration forms from the parties after the Iowa Caucuses. They had 45 days to process those.

FARM MANURE SPILLS: Members of Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) said Tuesday that their analysis of state records indicates there were 67 manure spills at commercial animal livestock facilities in Iowa last year  up from 48 in 2014. CCI members say the 39 percent increase based upon state Department of Natural Resources records shows that DNR officials need to do more to address Iowas polluted waterways and indicates that voluntary compliance and Iowas Nutrient Reduction Strategy are not working.

CCI activists attending Tuesdays state Environmental Protection Commission meeting demanded better enforcement of the Clean Water Act and called for a moratorium on state permits for large-scale factory farms in light of the manure spills and runoff that result in elevated nitrate and phosphorous in Iowa waterways.

WEAR GREEN, NOT JAIL JUMPSUIT: Officials with the state Governors Traffic Safety Bureau say St. Patricks Day has become one of the deadliest holidays due to the number of drunk drivers on the roadways.

Thats why they and the Iowa Department of Public Safety are warning Iowans not to drink and drive during Thursdays holiday or the subsequent weekend. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 28 percent of all crash fatalities during the St. Patricks Day weekend in 2014 involved drunk drivers, and that number rose to nearly half in the post-party hours between midnight and 6:00 a.m. of March 18, 2014.

State officials also note that pedestrians walking while intoxicated are at risk as lack of attention risks getting hit by a vehicle. In 2014, 35 percent of the pedestrians killed in crashes had a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher.

The Governors Traffic Safety Bureau encourages Iowans to plan ahead by identifying a designated driver or utilize another form of safe transportation if you choose to drink this St. Patricks Day. State officials also note that extra law enforcement officers will be on the roads March 1619 to keep Iowa motorists safe.

ONLINE REGISTRATION: More than 8,600 Iowans have successfully used the states new electronic voter registration system since its launch Jan. 1, according to Secretary of State Paul Pate.

That includes new registrants and those that updated their registration through the system that is housed on the Iowa Department of Transportations website. It was built in cooperation with the Secretary of States Office.

A number of states have some form of online registration that allows residents to sign up to vote but requires more paperwork or mailing a verification card, Pate said. Iowa is the first to have a process that when youve hit that last enter (on the Web-based form), youre registered, youre ready to go.

AG DAY TRIBUTE: Iowa lawmakers paid tribute to the states 129,644 farm operators Tuesday on national Agriculture Day. Members of the Iowa House passed H.R. 106, which celebrated Iowas 88,500 farms  mostly family operated  that lead the nation in corn for grain production, egg production, and hog and pig inventory and commercial hog slaughter, while ranking second in soybean and red meat production. Iowa agriculture accounted for nearly $30 billion in direct sales in recent years, according to the resolution, while leading the nation in ethanol and biodiesel production.

In the Iowa Senate, Sen. Dan Zumbach, R-Ryan, said American farmers are responsible for the worlds safest, low-cost food through their passion to produce and compassion for others while caring deeply for the land.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: This bill is whats known as the turtle bill. Im sure there are going to be a lot of jokes about whether its a shell bill, or were sticking our necks out, and Ill get to those.  Sen. Dick Dearden, D-Des Moines, on a bill that sets seasons and limits for harvesting turtles.

 A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest for Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Compiled by the Des Moines Bureau
Sharon K. Lomholt

OSAGE  Sharon K. Lomholt, 75, of Bullhead City, AZ, formerly of Osage, Iowa, passed away on Monday, March 14, 2016, at Faith Lutheran Nursing Home (Hospice).

There will be a gathering on Friday, March 18, 2016, between 5-7 p.m. and a celebration of her life on Saturday, March 19, 2016, at 11 a.m. with a luncheon to follow. Both will be located at Osage Alliance Church, 726 State St., Osage, Iowa.

Sharon was born Oct. 3, 1940, in Mason City, the daughter of George and Marlys (Allen) Johnson. She graduated in 1958 from Osage High School. Sharon was united in marriage to Le Roy Lomholt on Dec. 13, 1958, in Mapleview, MN. Sharon loved to be with people, she was involved with Womens connections, Bible studies, and helping out at church. Hobbies were crocheting, watching game shows and dropping a few coins in slot machines. She was a member of Osage Alliance church, and attended Valley Christian Center since moving to Bullhead City, AZ.

Sharon is survived by husband Roy, five children, Le Roy David Lomholt of Mason City, Iowa, Theresa Hall of Mason City, Iowa, Cathleen (Todd) Sorenson of Osage, Iowa, Richard Kermit (fiancee Dawn) Lomholt of Mason City, Iowa, Mark Lomholt of Mason City, Iowa; 19 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and one brother, George Charles Johnson Jr. and his wife Pauline of Taylorsville, GA., and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Georgiana Hill, Mary Lauritson, Judith Johnson, two brothers, Thomas Johnson and Edward Johnson.
HOUSTON, March 16, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Targa Resources Corp. (Targa or the Company) (NYSE:TRGP) announced today that it has received definitive agreements for the purchase of approximately $1.0 billion of 9.5% Series A Preferred Stock (the Preferred Stock), which includes the Preferred Stock from Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners (Stonepeak) that was previously announced by the Company on February 18, 2016, and additional Preferred Stock as a result of investor interest after the initial announcement from funds managed by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities, Energy Capital Partners Mezzanine Opportunities Fund, investment companies affiliated with Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C. and other institutional investors (collectively with Stonepeak, the Preferred Investors). The private placement of the Preferred Stock is expected to close on or about Wednesday, March 16, 2016.



The Preferred Investors will acquire 965,100 newly authorized shares of 9.5% Series A Preferred Stock at $1,030 per share. The Preferred Stock can be redeemed in whole or in part at Targas option after five years, and can be converted into Targa common stock in 2028 by the Preferred Investors or under certain circumstances by the Company. The Preferred Investors will also receive approximately 13,550,004 warrants with a strike price of $18.88 per common share and 6,533,727 warrants with a strike price of $25.11 per common share. The warrants have a seven year term.

As also originally announced on February 18, Scott Hobbs, a Stonepeak operating partner, will join Targas board of directors as an observer.

The Company expects to use the net proceeds of the private placement to repay indebtedness and for general corporate purposes. Targas year-end 2015 pro forma liquidity is approximately $2.7 billion.

Barclays acted as sole placement agent to the Company in connection with the sale of the securities. Vinson & Elkins LLP served as legal counsel to the Company. Sidley Austin LLP served as legal counsel to Stonepeak and advised on the structuring of the transaction.

The securities offered in the private placement have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state laws.

This press release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to purchase the securities described herein.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this communication are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, without limitation, statements regarding the expected benefits of the Series A Preferred Stock Private Placement to Targa and their stockholders, the expected future growth, dividends, distributions of the Company, and plans and objectives of management for future operations. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this communication that address activities, events or developments that Targa expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties, factors and risks, many of which are outside the control of Targa, which could cause results to differ materially from those expected by management of Targa. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, weather, political, economic and market conditions, including a decline in the price and market demand for natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil, the timing and success of business development efforts; and other uncertainties. These and other applicable uncertainties, factors and risks are described more fully in Targa's filings with the SEC, including the Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Targa does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Targa Resources Corp.

Targa Resources Corp. is a leading provider of midstream services and is one of the largest independent midstream energy companies in North America. Targa owns, operates, acquires, and develops a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream energy assets. The Company is primarily engaged in the business of: gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and selling natural gas; storing, fractionating, treating, transporting, and selling NGLs and NGL products, including services to LPG exporters; gathering, storing, and terminaling crude oil; storing, terminaling, and selling refined petroleum products.

The principal executive offices of Targa are located at 1000 Louisiana, Suite 4300, Houston, TX 77002 and their telephone number is 713-584-1000. For more information please go to www.targaresources.com.

Contact investor relations by phone at (713) 584-1133.

Jennifer Kneale

Vice President - Finance

Matthew Meloy

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
WICHITA, KAN., March 16, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Newman University officials announced that Brett K. Andrews, MBA, Ph.D., has been named dean of the university's new School of Business effective May 1, 2016.

In August 2015 Newman revealed plans to create a new business school that focuses on ethics, entrepreneurship and socially conscious practices as well traditional business knowledge. The school will officially launch in the fall 2016 semester.

"I'm very excited about joining the faculty and staff at Newman and being a part of the school's mission to empower graduates," Andrews said. "The university already has strong undergraduate and graduate business programs and I'm looking forward to help lead the launch of its School of Business."

"We are pleased to welcome Brett to Newman," said Newman President Noreen M. Carrocci, Ph.D. "His background as a business dean, experience in various leadership roles at private faith-based institutions, and proven track record of building programs and developing partnerships make him the perfect fit to successfully lead our business school into the future."

Andrews will come to Newman after serving since 2013 as executive vice president of Tabor College Wichita and dean of the School of Adult and Graduate Studies, where he helped develop multiple academic programs in business and forge community partnerships. He is also a professor of management at Tabor. Prior to his work at Tabor, Andrews spent 10 years at Oklahoma Wesleyan University where he was vice president of Academic Program Development and dean of the Chesapeake School of Business. Over the past dozen years Andrews has developed more than 15 new academic programs for graduate, undergraduate and associate levels, which include online programming.

Andrews earned his Ph.D. in management from Walden University. He received his MBA from Oral Roberts University and has a marketing undergraduate degree from Northeastern State University. He is currently finishing a post-graduate certificate in corporate finance from Harvard University.

Andrews is a past board member of the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). He has presented at numerous conferences throughout the United States and has published articles in academic journals such as Research on Christian Higher Education and Journal of Biblical Integration in Business.

Andrews serves on the Business and Education Alliance Committee of the Greater Wichita Partnership.



Editors Note: Attached to this release is a photo of Brett Andrews, Ph.D.

Newman University is a Catholic university named for John Henry Cardinal Newman and founded by the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for the purpose of empowering graduates to transform society. Newman meets the needs of traditional freshmen, returning adults, and graduate students through more than 40 undergraduate and graduate programs.

For more information about Newman University go to www.newmanu.edu.

A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=39459
OWENSBORO, Ky., March 16, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Owensboro Health has named two new members to its executive leadership team, with Debbie Bostic joining as chief nursing officer and chief operations officer for Owensboro Health Regional Hospital and Don Martin joining as senior vice president of the One Health medical group.



"Owensboro Health is proud to welcome Debbie Bostic and Don Martin. They are remarkable individuals with a wealth of knowledge and experience," said Owensboro Health President and CEO Philip Patterson. "Their work will help set the stage for continued enhancement of the health system's patient care, which is already outstanding and recognized nationally for quality and excellence."



Bostic is a graduate of the University of South Alabama and holds a bachelor's and a master's degree, both in nursing. She has more than 20 years of executive and chief nursing officer experience. She is coming to Owensboro Health from Columbus, Georgia, where she serves as senior vice president over hospital operations and chief nursing officer for St. Francis Health System.



Prior to her work in Georgia, Bostic served in a leadership role at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Florida, as chief nursing officer of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, and as president of Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.



In her new role, Bostic will oversee overall operations of Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. She will also be responsible for management, planning and development responsibilities for Owensboro Health's patient care services division, and will have oversight over nursing practice standards of care throughout the health system.



Martin received a master's degree in health care administration/management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He brings over 20 years' experience in physician practice operations to his new role with Owensboro Health. He is a seasoned executive and has experience in leading employed physician practices for medium and large health systems in both not-for-profit and for-profit sectors including Mission Medical Associates and CaroMont Health System in North Carolina and Mary Black Health System and Trident in South Carolina.



He most recently served as CEO of the Physician Enterprise Division for St. Peters Health Partners in Albany, New York.



Martin's successes include the creation of a Physician Enterprise Division integrating 150 existing hospital-based providers into a 450 plus provider organization with 80 locations, a strong Physician Governing Board and an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Development.



Martin began on February 8th and Bostic is set to start March 21st.



Contact: Rachael Frey, Owensboro Health Marketing & Public Relations, (O) 270-685-7194, (C) 270-993-0743, Rachael.Frey@owensborohealth.org.

Owensboro Health is a nonprofit health system with a mission to heal the sick and to improve the health of the communities it serves in Kentucky and Indiana. The system includes Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, nationally recognized for design, architecture and engineering and the only hospital in the world to be designated a Signature Sanctuary by Audubon International, Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital, the One Health medical group comprising over 180 providers in 25 locations, a certified medical fitness facility, and the Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center. Owensboro Health has been recognized for outstanding care, safety and clinical excellence by The Joint Commission, Healthgrades, U.S. News & World Report and Becker's Hospital Review. As the largest employer west of Louisville, Owensboro Health has 4,088 employees, and in FY 2015 saw 18,380 inpatient admissions and 823,072 outpatient encounters. A committed community partner, Owensboro Health provided grants of $702,924 in the last year to health, social service, education and arts agencies across the region. For more information, visit owensborohealth.org.
Earth Day is still more than a month awayplenty of time for New Yorkers to consider participating in a one-day, strongly-encouraged but obviously voluntary ban on driving.

Transportation Committee Chair Ydanis Rodriguez announced the April 22nd plan at NYU on Wednesday, outlining proposed road closures in three areasfour blocks of Wadsworth Avenue in Rodriguez's own Washington Heights, the streets surrounding Washington Square Park, and Broadway in the Flatiron. Advocates were inspired by similar efforts in Paris, where officials conceded to shut down 30% of its streets for a day last October. "While we aim to start modestly, we expect that it will grow in the coming years in both size and ambition," Rodriguez told reporters.

According to Capital, the plan is intended to highlight New Yorker's dependence on cars while forcing legislators to acknowledge so-called transit deserts in Southeast Queens and Staten Island. The New York Water Taxi will be free to coincide with the effort, along with some CitiBike ports.

The administration is apparently planning to discourage City workers from generating exhaust fumes that day, but it remains unclear whether the Mayor will trade in his idling SUV caravan. We've contacted his office for clarity, and will update if and when they get back to us.
Police say a man beaten up on a Manhattan sidewalk is the victim of an apparent hate crime.

According to the NYPD, the incident occurred at 4:45 a.m. on March 8th. A 36-year-old man standing in front of 765 9 Avenue, the address of the pub The Cannery, "when the two suspects assaulted him while invoking his sexual orientation. The suspects then fled the scene."

The victim was treated at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital for a fractured nose and bruising to the face.

Police released surveillance video of the suspects:

Council Member Corey Johnson said, "I am appalled to learn of a possible anti-LGBT assault that occurred in Hell's Kitchen. This cowardly act is contrary to everything our city stands for.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
The third episode in this season of GIRLS was called "Japan," and brought us to Tokyo where Shoshanna has been living. One of the more visually incredible moments of the show is when she is shown standing on her balcony, the camera capturing a wide view of her colorful apartment building. It's unlike anything you have ever seen in New York City, and likely anywhere else. (And the best apartment on GIRLS since Charlie's Bed-Stuy studio.)

What's going on inside is even more spectacular, and despite being so outside of the aesthetic typically seen in NYC, the company that created the building, called The Reversible Destiny Loft (who wouldn't sign that lease?), is actually based here, right on West Houston Street. And there's a house version (called the Bioscleave House) in the Hamptons.

It's insane:



Aerial rendering of Hamptons home

According to an old NY Times piece, the house in the Hamptons belonged to the dream team behind the whole reversible destiny concept, the late architects Madeline Gins and Shusaku Arakawa, who co-authored a book titled Making Dying Illegal. The idea behind their architecture reflects that titlethey want the inhabitants of their homes to get out of their routine and, well, defeat mortality. An interesting goal for a home that one must sign a waiver for before entering, given the uneven flooring and other things that an adult may injure themselves on (no children allowed).

The circa-2005 lofts in Japan (dedicated to Helen Keller and located in the suburb of Mitaka) are especially exemplary of, as Curbed put it, the purpose of forcing "inhabitants to reconsider their routines and interactions." The design features a sunken kitchen in the middle, with pod-like rooms circling it. One for sleeping. One for working. One for showering. And so on.

The unit used for Shoshanna's apartment on GIRLS is currently up on Airbnb, for the bargain price of $117/night (immortality subject to The Universe), and another is renting for $137/night.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at the enormous Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary cathedral in Red Hook on Tuesday to bid farewell to Sunny Balzano, a widely-beloved neighborhood lodestar who died on Thursday at the age of 81. In addition to his pursuits as a painter and musician, Sunny oversaw a convivial bar on Conover Street that became a cherished destination for decades, in large part because of the proprietor's uniquely charismatic personality.

"When God made Sunny, I think he must have gotten tired of making boring people," said Balzano's wife Tone Johansen during her moving eulogy. "So I like to think that God decided to go for a long walk, to corners of the universe where He hadnt been before. And I think He stumbled upon a place with the most extraordinary and colorful clay." Johansen continued:

So He sat down and made a man out of this clay. And I like to imagine, that since God was playing, and having fun, He made this man playful and fun. He decided to give him a heart full of glitter, so whenever he gave somebody a hug, it would rub off and stay with them for a long time. Two sparkling diamonds for eyes, that would make him laugh, and others laugh. But as we know, God is not in the business of making robots, so he left out a couple of bits. See, thats for us to figure out. We all have to go through the school of life.

Johansen, also an artist, took over management of the bar in recent years, bringing it back from the brink after the building sustained significant damage during Hurricane Sandy. Formerly open only on Friday nights, the bar's operating hours have long since expanded to six days a week, and it's hoped this will continue after Sunny's passing.



Balzano's widow Tone Johansen and their daughter, Oda Sofia, look on as pallbearers carry his coffin from the church. (Scott Heins / Gothamist)

Following the service, a Dixieland jazz band led a funeral procession from the church through the streets of Red Hook, finally coming to a stop at Sunny's. A silver hearse bearing Balzano's coffin idled outside for about a half hour as the band played on the sidewalk and the crowd danced, laughed and wept. The immediate family then pressed on to Farmingdale, Long Island, where Sunny was interred at Saint Charles Cemetery, leaving the others to linger at the bar and reminisce. Many had a hard time believing he could possibly be gone.

"I'll miss the way he tilted his head to the side when he spoke," said Lillie Haws, through tears. "The way he touched his giant hand to my face when I was sad."

"I'll never forget one night some guy in the bar stood up and declared that he was going to leave and wasn't going to pay his tab," recalled photographer Pascal Perich. "And Sunny didn't try to fight with him or get upset. He just tried to calmly explain to the guy, 'You're only hurting yourself.'"

Inside the bar, those who tried to pay for drinks were informed that "the first round was on Sunny." This was quintessential Sunny, generous (and indifferent to profit margins) to the end, and it reminded the bereaved that Sunny's generosity was bigger than any one person. It's physically impossible for Sunny to buy anyone a drink ever again, and yet, there we were, thanking the dead man for the beer and reflecting on the larger force of universal kindness, of which we are all instruments. Sunny, on his best days, was one such excellent instrument, whose soulful music inspired the rest of the orchestra to resonate with richer harmonies.

As I thought about how Sunny's ghost had just given me a buyback, I recalled the best and only time I'd been ordered to leave a bar (that I can recall, anyway). It was past four in the morning, and I was loitering in a back booth with a few others, taking our sweet time calling it a night. Sunny appeared at our table, smiled radiantly upon our motley crew, and threw us out of his bar by singing an improvised song that could have been lifted from a Lerner and Loewe musical. What I remember of it began, "It's time to go hoooome / It's time to get out of my hooouse..." We exited, laughing as we left what was, in fact, Sunny's house.

Sunny improvised a bit of soft-shoe as he sang us out, and on some subsequent Friday night I brought my old tap shoes as a gift to Sunny, in part by way of apology for overstaying our welcome. That night I left before last call (perhaps overcompensating) and missed the evening's climax, later recounted to me by bartender Mike Maronna when I returned the following Friday. "Sunny tap-danced on the bar after you left," he told us, grinning wondrously as he flashed back on what he'd witnessed: an old school Red Hook guy in his 60s tap-dancing on a century-old bar at the outer edge of Brooklyn at four in the morning.

I think that's how I'll remember Sunny: tap-dancing absurdly, imperfectly, ecstatically, audaciously... defying gravity with pure joy, tapping a morse code message of anti-boredom halfway above the ground floor of the house where he was born, a place he turned into a home for all of the friends on earth he hadn't yet met.



Former bartenders Scott Murchison, Francis Kerrigan, and Mike Maronna got behind the bar during the memorial for old time's sake. (John Del Signore)

Here is Johansen's eulogy in full:

When God made Sunny, I think He must have gotten tired of making boring people. So I like to think, that God decided to go for a long walk, to corners of the universe where He hadnt been before. And I think He stumbled upon a place with the most extraordinary and colorful clay. So He sat down and made a man out of this clay. And I like to imagine, that since God was playing, and having fun, He made this man playful and fun. He decided to give him a heart full of glitter, so whenever he gave somebody a hug, it would rub off and stay with them for a long time. Two sparkling diamonds for eyes, that would make him laugh, and others laugh. But as we know, God is not in the business of making robots, so He left out a couple of bits. See, thats for us to figure out. We all have to go through the school of life. Its not easy learning sometimes. I hope you all got a mass card. Sunny loved St. Francis. The mass card has St. Francis prayer on the back. It was Sunnys favorite prayer. He would recite it all the time. Ask not be understood, but to understand, not to be loved, as to love. Please, dont put this card away in a drawer, but read it, and learn it, and live it. It was Sunnys life philosophy. Sunny was a very spiritual man. And he had an excitement for life, and an appetite for life that was contagious. The minute you met him, your life took a little left turn and you felt that you could throw away some preconceived notions as he would say, and allow yourself to live. Im sure were all gonna be sitting around now for a while, sharing Sunny stories. And from seeing all of you here, it looks like he left some glitter in your hearts too. Do me a kindness, make some more glitter and spread it around. Make him proud. I used to say to Sunny: "Sunny, youre a Saint." And he would reply, "No Im not." Well, not for nothing Sunny, but in our hearts you will always be the saint of love.

And here is former bartender and author Tim Sultan's remembrance in The New Yorker. Sultan's well-received book about Balzano, called Sunny's Nights, was published last month.
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US Secretary of State John Kerry listens to US President Barack Obama speak at the Chief of Missions Conference at the State Department in Washington March 14, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that he will go to Russia next week to meet President Vladimir Putin, discussing the crisis on Syria.

"I will be traveling next week to Moscow to meet with President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in order to discuss how we can effectively move the political process forward and try to take advantage of this moment," Kerry said before a meeting with Georgia's Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said the date to Moscow will be after Tuesday next week, when Kerry returns from a trip to Cuba with President Barack Obama.

Putin on Monday announced that the Russia would withdraw its air forces deployed in Syria starting from Tuesday.

The decision was discussed and coordinated with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during a phone call earlier in the day, Putin said, adding that "the fundamental tasks set for the Russian armed forced in Syria were resolved."

The White House said on Tuesday Russia so far appears to begin pulling its troops out of Syria.

"The earliest indications are that the Russians are following through," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

He also cautioned that "it is still too early at this point to determine the impact that might have on the broader situation."

"With the cessation of hostilities largely holding, Russia's announcement yesterday that it will remove half of its forces immediately and more perhaps from Syria and with the political negotiations reconvening this week in Geneva, we have reached a very important phase in this process," Kerry said.

"So this is a time to seize, not waste," he said. "We have at this moment the ability to finally take a step towards ending this war and the bloodshed."
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Rep. Tschidas op-ed on March 11 tries to identify a problem with the current administration in Montana. The feeble attempt to reveal that the governor is cheating the taxpayers actually shows how good it is to live in Montana. Here we have a complaint about how the governor, attending Montana citizens events, is suggesting to area voters that they support him in November. According to Rep. Tschida, this is an example of the governor hiding from the public. Im reminded of a famous quote from a presidential candidate, years ago, who asked ... Wheres the beef? If Rep. Tschida has nothing else to do, perhaps he should also investigate the possibility that the governor has stopped, on the way home from the Capitol, to buy a loaf of bread? That could also be construed as having no accountability and character.
Lawmakers in every state have adopted laws requiring most government meetings and records to be open to the public. But in some states, lawmakers have exempted themselves from complying.

The Associated Press sent open-records request to the top lawmakers in all 50 states and most governors, seeking copies of their daily schedules and emails from the government accounts for the week of Feb. 1-7. The AP received more denials than approvals from lawmakers. It did not generally request emails from private accounts because rules and practices on those vary widely from state to state.

Summaries showing how they responded in each state:

ALABAMA

Alabama's top lawmakers agreed to release emails from official legislative accounts, although documents shed little light on legislative business. Spokespeople for legislative leaders said the lawmakers largely do not use the accounts for state business. The hundreds of pages of released emails showed almost entirely incoming correspondence from constituents. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley does not have a state email account that he uses for state business, according to his office. Legislative leaders also agreed to release their calendars for the week, which coincided with the first week of the Alabama legislative session. The calendars showed a variety of public and private events, including receptions hosted by interest groups and meetings with the governor, a college chancellor and lobbyists.

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ALASKA

Under a policy set by the Legislative Council, records of a legislator while in that lawmaker's possession are not public records based on the deliberative process privilege and a state constitutional provision dealing with legislative immunity. But all lawmakers can decide whether to release information from their records. Republican Senate President Kevin Meyer provided a copy of his calendar and allowed a reporter to look over an aide's shoulder to see how his email inbox is sorted. The other three top legislative leaders ultimately denied the request, responding with either a legal opinion on what the law requires or a copy of the legislative records' policy. Gov. Bill Walker's office released a copy of his calendar. It was still working on a request for his emails.

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ARIZONA

Arizona's public records law applies broadly to the governor and Legislature as well as any elected official. It requires records to be released in most instances, although there are exemptions for security, privacy interests and some deliberative matters. Senate President Andy Biggs doesn't keep a calendar, but his staff released his emails for the week, apparently unredacted. House Speaker David Gowan released a calendar that redacted the subject of some meetings but included attendees, apparently citing the deliberative process exemption. He received or sent more than 1,500 emails, but staff had not yet reviewed them all because the Legislature is in session. Democratic House and Senate leaders also said they would comply, but with even smaller staffs had not yet reviewed and released all the documents. The governor's office provided unredacted calendars and emails, although it appears Gov. Doug Ducey sent no emails and most he received were form letters.

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ARKANSAS

Arkansas' top lawmakers declined to provide schedules or correspondence from their publicly listed email accounts, citing exemptions in the state's open-records laws. Republican Senate President Pro Tem Jonathan Dismang, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Keith Ingram and Republican House Speaker Jeremy Gillam all turned down the AP requests soon after receiving them. Rep. Michael John Gray, the Democratic minority leader in the House, responded Saturday after the AP contacted the chamber's spokeswoman. The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act exempts the correspondence of the governor and state legislators from public access, despite the act's expressed intent to allow residents to track the performance of officials "in public activity and in making public policy." Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson's office turned down the AP's emailed records request in a letter sent through U.S.mail.

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CALIFORNIA

The Assembly and Senate Rules committees declined requests for emails and calendars for the top legislative leaders, citing a number of exemptions including privacy and legislative privilege. California's legislative branch is bound by a less transparent public records law than the executive. It exempts from public disclosure all "correspondence of and to individual members of the Legislature and their staff" as well as any communications between private citizens and the Legislature. The committees also cited a 1991 California Supreme Court decision allowing government agencies to maintain the secrecy of public officials' appointment calendars. Gov. Jerry Brown's office said it releases the governor's calendar monthly and declined to provide earlier access to a week of appointments. Brown's office said he did not use his official email account during the first week of February, the week requested by the AP.

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COLORADO

Colorado's legislative leaders agreed to release personal calendars and emails  for a price. Three of the four lawmakers said responding to the public records request would require them to spend time reviewing the documents, which triggers a $30 per hour search-and-retrieval fee under the Colorado Open Records Act, according to Legislative Legal Services Director Dan Cartin. Senate President Bill Cadman, House Speaker Dickey Lee Hullinghorst and Rep. Brian DelGrosso estimated the costs to be between $30 and $125 each to comply with the request. Sen. Lucia Guzman provided the documents without a fee. Gov. John Hickenlooper's office provided his calendar and emails without charge, after requesting a four-day time extension to identify the appropriate emails.

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CONNECTICUT

Much of Connecticut's open records law applies to the Legislature and the governor. All four top legislative leaders and the governor said they would provide emails and schedules to the AP, and three of the lawmakers had done so by early March. The amount of material provided to the AP varied by leader. Some schedules were more detailed than others. Many of the emails provided included mass letters or news releases about particular subjects, such as a national popular vote for president or abusive practices of debt collectors. In some cases, emails were sent from members of the public who were responding to mass emails the legislative leaders had sent in advance of the new legislative session to supporters. While the Legislature must abide by the records portion of Connecticut's Freedom of Information act, state lawmakers have exempted themselves from requirements surrounding the noticing of public meetings and posting requirements for agendas.

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DELAWARE

Delaware legislative leaders refused to provide their emails. The Legislature has specifically exempted emails of lawmakers and their staffs from the state's Freedom of Information law, as well as any communications between lawmakers, or between lawmakers and their constituents. A bill to remove those exemptions was introduced earlier this month but has yet to be heard in committee. An attorney for the lawmakers also said many activities on their daily schedules are exempt from disclosure, asserting that exemptions allowed by statute or common law extend to the concept of "legislative privilege" based on the Delaware Constitution and common law. The attorney nevertheless released portions of the lawmakers' schedules while asserting that doing so was not a concession that the information is subject to the FOI law. The activities mostly involved appearances at community meetings and charitable events. The deputy legal counsel for Democratic Gov. Jack Markell said the governor's office is working diligently to respond to the AP's request, but that more time is needed because review of the records requires legal advice. Markell's office has previously denied formal records requests for his emails.

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FLORIDA

Florida's open-records law applies to lawmakers and the governor, and all responded by to the AP's request by providing copies of their government emails and daily calendars. But some initially said there could be costs. The House Republican and Democratic leaders, for example, were swamped with hundreds of emails for the week of Feb. 1-7, as the chamber was considering bills allowing guns on college campuses and the open carrying of firearms. They said the records request would require extensive staff time and fees, so the AP narrowed the scope to review only certain emails. Some lawmakers have dealt with the open-records law by not using email for public business. Only the response from Democratic Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner included substantial emails both to and from the legislator. Republican Gov. Rick Scott's response consisted of a reference to a website where he publishes his schedules and emails.

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GEORGIA

Three of the state's top lawmakers  the House speaker and minority leaders of both chambers  refused to release calendars or emails. In emails denying the requests, legislative counsel Wayne Allen said the General Assembly is not subject to the Georgia Open Records Law. Allen cited a 1975 state Supreme Court decision in a case over access to legislative committee meetings. The Supreme Court found that the state's law regarding open meetings does not apply to the General Assembly because the Legislature is not an "agency" under the open meetings law. Allen said "agency" is defined the same way in state law regarding open records. The Supreme Court's majority opinion in that case also states: "If the House, the Senate, or both want to let the sun shine more brilliantly and more pervasively upon their deliberations and actions, they can do so by adopting rules and procedures applicable to their operations that will accomplish this purpose." Sen. David Shafer, the Senate's president pro tem and a Republican from Duluth, did not respond to the open records request or a follow-up message emailed to his Senate account. By comparison, Gov. Nathan Deal's office released seven pages of emails and Deal's calendar for the week, including all of his meetings at the Capitol.

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HAWAII

Hawaii's top Democrat and Republican in the House did not supply emails and calendars, saying that the state constitution provides immunity from the request; a statement some dispute. They also cited state laws that provide exemptions for personal files for members of the Legislature and "government records that, by their nature, must be confidential in order for the government to avoid the frustration of a legitimate government function." Senate President Ronald Kouchi's office also denied the request, citing an appeal before the state Office of Information Practices that would determine what the Legislature is obliged to provide. Of the lawmakers, only the state's lone Republican Senator, Sam Slom, divulged the requested information, handing over printed emails and calendars. Gov. David Ige's office asked for more time to respond to the request, and then provided some of the governor's emails while withholding others. He provided a calendar that showed only his public events.

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IDAHO

Idaho's top four legislative leaders agreed to release their emails and personal calendars after requesting an extension for more time to review them for possible exemptions. Together, the speaker of the House, Senate president pro tem and minority leaders in both chambers had more than 3,700 emails. Lawmakers' emails are public records under Idaho's open records laws, a statute the Legislature adopted in 1990. However, fulfilling that request would not have been free because state law allows officials to charge after providing one free hour's of work. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's typically provides emails and personal calendars with little to no redaction.

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ILLINOIS

Neither the Senate nor the House, both controlled by Democrats, turned over any records. House Speaker Michael Madigan of Chicago, speaker for 31 of the last 33 years, doesn't use email or keep an appointment calendar, spokesman Steve Brown said. The Senate said it is not required to disclose any of the requested records because of legislative immunity granted by the state constitution. Both the House and Senate also argued that the requested documents are not public records, as defined by the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, because they are held by individuals who do not constitute "public bodies." They may also be withheld, officials argued, under exemptions in the law for documents that contain "preliminary" discussions and that prohibit disclosing records when doing so would be a "clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy." Gov. Bruce Rauner, a Republican, disclosed a fairly detailed appointment calendar  more detailed than before The Associated Press and other media raised objections to redactions  but indicated there were no responsive emails.

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INDIANA

Indiana's Access to Public Records law states that "all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government." But lawmakers argue that their "work product" is exempt. The Indiana Supreme Court will hear arguments March 17 in a case brought by advocacy groups that sued House Republicans for refusing to release possible email exchanges with energy industry lobbyists. GOP leaders who control the Legislature say releasing the emails would reveal constituents' sensitive and personal information. And they say their schedules contain details from their private lives that are not related to state business. Republican Gov. Mike Pence's office says a request for one week of emails by The Associated Press was "too broad" and that his schedule is exempt from public records law. Meanwhile, minority Democrats are split on the issue. Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane said GOP Senate leaders instructed him not to release the documents. House Minority Leader Scott Pelath said his office is reviewing his records to see what may be released. The state's public access counselor, Luke Britt, disagrees with lawmakers' decision not to release emails: "There is no exemption in public records law for historical practice or longstanding policy," he said.

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IOWA

Staff for top legislative leaders cited the Iowa Constitution in their refusal to release work emails and daily calendars for the lawmakers. The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld that authority. The secretary of the Democratic-majority Senate cited a constitutional section that states each chamber shall "determine its rules of proceedings." The state Supreme Court, in a 1996 ruling involving public access to telephone records maintained by the Senate, confirmed both chambers have authority over policies regarding confidentiality and legislative proceedings. The chief clerk for the Republican-controlled House said the constitution specifies each chamber "solely controls the dissemination" of such records. The Senate secretary added that the requested emails and calendars have not customarily been deemed public documents and that their release "would almost certainly have a detrimental chilling effect on citizens' constitutional rights and willingness to petition their elected officials." The state's public records law does apply to the office of the governor, and a records request for work emails and daily calendars to Gov. Terry Branstad's chief of staff, Michael Bousselot, yielded more than 400 emails and attachments. Staff for his office said some documentation was withheld according to exemptions in that law. Branstad, who does not have a work email, releases a weekly calendar of public appearances.

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KANSAS

The Kansas Open Records Act specifically exempts legislators' records from potential disclosure, and both Republican Senate President Susan Wagle and GOP House Speaker Ray Merrick cited the exemption in declining to release calendars or emails from state accounts. However, the Legislature's two top Democrats  Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley and House Minority Leader Tom Burroughs  released their calendars and emails. Hensley's office responded to the AP's request within days, releasing more than 1,000 pages of documents and indexing them in black binders. Burroughs' office released about 600 pages of documents. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback acknowledged last year that he uses a private cellphone and email account for official communications and has been doing so since he was a U.S. senator in the 1990s because sometimes it's not clear whether something represents official business. His office released his calendar and about a dozen pages of copies of emails from his official state account.

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KENTUCKY

Kentucky's governor and top legislative leaders refused to release their emails or detailed personal calendars. An attorney for the Legislative Research Commission said lawmakers' emails have always been protected by law "to encourage effective and frank communication." An attorney for Republican Gov. Matt Bevin said the governor sent and received four emails during the one-week period covered by The Associated Press' open-records request. Three of those emails were recommendations while the fourth email was a status update on a complaint or investigation. The attorney cited state law that exempts preliminary recommendations "in which opinions are expressed or policies formulated." Both the governor and the legislators cited a 1995 Kentucky Court of Appeals case that ruled calendars are "draft documents" and not subject to public disclosure.

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LOUISIANA

The Senate's top lawmakers released their personal calendars, although the Senate president's calendar had few engagements listed on it. House leaders haven't yet released their calendars. Lawyers for both the House's and Senate's top lawmakers have said they will release some emails, but said it takes time to sift through the documents and remove those that don't involve public business. They also indicated they intend to remove emails that are granted exemptions, like for advice given by legislative staff. Staff members for the lawmakers say they must do the work around other obligations. With the Legislature in a special session to deal with the state's worst budget problem in nearly 30 years, no date was given for turning over emails. By comparison, Gov. John Bel Edwards' office released his calendar and emails within days of the request, although the email correspondence was limited. Edwards spokesman Richard Carbo said the governor rarely uses email.

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MAINE

Public records, such as emails and personal calendars, must be made available "within a reasonable period of time," according to Maine law. Senate President Michael Thibodeau, a Republican, produced email and calendar records four days after receiving a request from The Associated Press. The staff for Gov. Paul LePage said it would take two months to provide the same type of records. In a letter to the APs, Jennifer Tarr, a state employee who oversees public record requests for the Republican governor, said the administration has a backlog of pending requests and is handling them in the order they are submitted. A "good-faith non-binding time estimate is that it will take us two months to provide the requested records," she said.

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MARYLAND

Maryland's Public Information Act gives the public the right to access government records without unnecessary cost and delay. However, not all government records are disclosable under the law. For example, state legislators are shielded from disclosing documents relating to legislative activities by an absolute constitutional privilege, according to counsel for the General Assembly. When the AP requested emails and a daily schedule of activities for top lawmakers for the first week of February, most of the records would not have been releasable under the law, according to the attorney. However, the legislators waived legislative privilege and released hundreds of pages of documents, anyway. The governor's office also released his emails and calendar for the same week's period.

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MASSACHUSETTS

Democratic House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Republican minority leader Brad Jones declined to release their emails or personal calendars, citing state law that exempts the Legislature from the state's public records law. Senate President Stan Rosenberg also cited the legislative exemption, but Senate Counsel Grace Miller, in a letter to The Associated Press, said the Democratic leader agreed to make available his calendar and emails "in the spirit of openness and transparency associated with Sunshine Week." Rosenberg's office subsequently turned over to the AP hundreds of pages of email correspondence from the week of Feb. 1-7. Many of them were from constituents or advocacy groups and involved pending legislation on issues such as charter schools, solar energy and even public records reform. Republican Gov. Charlie Baker also turned over his schedule and several hundred pages of email correspondence from the week, with some material redacted for reasons including privacy or security. The governor and his predecessors have also claimed an exemption from the public records law but have selectively responded to requests over the years.

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MICHIGAN

Requests for records were denied in Michigan by Gov. Rick Snyder and all but one of the four legislative leaders. A letter from Snyder's deputy legal counsel said the governor's office "is expressly exempt from FOIA's coverage." Snyder recently voluntarily released his emails and those of his staff related to Flint's water crisis. The Senate Business Office, responding on behalf of Republican Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof and Democratic Minority Leader Jim Ananich, said emails and daily activity schedules are not financial records and therefore not subject to public inspection under Senate rules. In 1986, the state attorney general said lawmakers are not subject to FOIA, issuing an opinion that the Legislature's intent in enacting the 1976 open-records law was to exclude legislators from the definition of "public body." Financial records are subject to disclosure, though, under the Michigan Constitution and legislative rules. In a letter, the House Business Office said Republican Speaker Kevin Cotter's emails and calendar would not be released because the House of Representatives is not subject to FOIA. A spokeswoman for Democratic Minority Leader Tim Greimel said he would release the records requested by the AP.

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MINNESOTA

Top lawmakers in Minnesota refused to release their emails or schedules, and they don't have to do so. The Legislature exempted itself from Minnesota's open records law, deferring instead to internal House and Senate rules that don't require lawmakers to turn over their own records. Legislators defend the long-standing exemption, arguing it protects sensitive communication with constituents and allows them to freely consider issues. But Democratic House Minority Leader Paul Thissen says he will push this year to subject the Legislature to the same rules as other public officials. Gov. Mark Dayton has routinely released scores of emails. But Minnesota governors have long protected their personal schedules.

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MISSISSIPPI

The top Republicans in the Mississippi Legislature, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, and House Speaker Philip Gunn, refused to release their emails or schedules. The Democratic leaders in each chamber, Sen. John Horhn and Rep. David Baria, did not respond to requests for the records. In denying a request, Gunn wrote that the state's 1983 Public Records Act does not apply to members of the Legislature. Gunn also wrote that disclosing the requested records would endanger the privacy of other legislators and of constituents "who should be able to expect a private communication with his or her legislator about policy." Republican Gov. Phil Bryant's office released his schedule and emails with some information, such as telephone numbers, redacted. The schedule showed Bryant attended a funeral, held several meetings about economic development projects, ate meals with legislators, spoke to community college students and went on a hunting trip in Arkansas.

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MISSOURI

Three of Missouri's top four lawmakers  the House speaker, Senate president pro tem and Senate minority leader  all denied requests to release their government emails and daily calendars. The Missouri Sunshine Law applies to any "public governmental body." The Legislature has interpreted that to cover its two chambers and various committees but not each individual lawmaker. It points to a July 2003 ruling of a state appeals court panel, which said a St. Louis school board president as an individual was not a "public governmental body" and thus not individually subject to the Sunshine Law. House Minority Leader Jake Hummel, a Democrat from St. Louis, was the only legislative leader to release his records. He believes the Sunshine Law applies to individual lawmakers and has instructed House Democrats to comply. Gov. Jay Nixon also released his daily calendar and emails, although the emails consisted only of news clips and press releases. A Nixon spokesman said the governor doesn't typically communicate by email.

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MONTANA

The state's top lawmakers generally cooperated with requests for emails and schedules, but in some cases were reluctant to do so. The Senate president, Debby Barrett, responded only when pressed. When she did respond, she simply stated that she conducted no official business via email during the week in question. A legislative subcommittee last month took up the issue of public requests for email and directed staff to clarify existing guidelines, including the use of personal email addresses in the conduct of public business. Some legislators, even when using government-issued accounts, balked at providing all correspondence that flowed through their government-issued accounts, citing privacy. Staff members for Gov. Steve Bullock fulfilled the Feb. 8 request about a month later, on March 9.

The Independent Record contributed to this report.

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NEBRASKA

The state's top lawmakers agreed to release detailed personal calendars but refused to provide their emails. The main reason they cited is to protect the sensitive and personal information of their constituents. Nebraska's open records law exempts "correspondence, memoranda and records of telephone calls" related to a state lawmaker's duties. They can only be released to the public with the lawmaker's approval. Nebraska has the country's only unicameral legislature. By comparison, Gov. Pete Ricketts' office released about 600 pages of emails from the governor's public account, which mostly consisted of correspondence from constituents and Twitter notifications (the governor and his staff say they no longer use personal email accounts for state business). The governor also released his public schedule but refused to disclose the governor's personal calendar, which includes all of his meetings at the Capitol.

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NEVADA

Lawyers representing the state's top lawmakers declined to provide any emails or calendars. Their 28-page denial cites a bill rushed through on the chaotic last day of the 2015 legislative session that strengthened laws granting "legislative immunity" from records requests and covers all communications, even electronic ones. The lawyers also pointed to a statute that absolves the lawmakers from paying any court costs or attorney's fees when they are sued over records requests, even when they lose the case. By comparison, Gov. Brian Sandoval's office released a detailed calendar of his week that included phone calls with legislative leaders and U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, a "veteran of the month" ceremony and a private black tie dinner in Las Vegas. Lawyers for his office said they needed more time to meet a request for his emails.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE

Gov. Maggie Hassan's legal counsel said it is a long-standing position of the state Department of Justice that New Hampshire's Right to Know law does not apply to the governor's office. However, Hassan's schedule and some emails were provided in accordance with the state constitution. The office withheld 51 documents it said were exempt because of attorney-client privilege, being in draft form, or because they dealt with personnel issues or the deliberative processes. The state's top lawmakers did not yet respond to the AP's request. Legislators' emails, phone records and calendars have been considered exempt from public view, based on a 2011 opinion interpreting the state's Right to Know Law from then-Attorney General Michael Delaney. Last year, the state Democratic Party was turned down when it requested communications records between the Republican state Senate president and Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, her staff and any paid consultants. Senate Legal Counsel Richard Lehmann wrote that the position taken by legislators on the matter "has been uniform and consistent in response to requests from both major political parties and the press."

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NEW JERSEY

All four of New Jersey's legislative leaders denied a request for records and schedules under the Open Public Records Act. The law exempts certain legislative records, such as correspondence with constituents, from being made public. But in practice, the Legislature exempts itself from disclosing records. Gov. Chris Christie denied a request for emails under an exemption for deliberative documents. His office released statements on his schedule that had been made public, although they included no detailed information about his agenda. Instead, they directed the reader to contact his presidential campaign, which he quit after a poor finish in New Hampshire.

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NEW MEXICO

The Legislative Council Service provided calendars with rough itineraries for lawmakers that included breakfasts and dinners sponsored by industry and interest groups, with a few redactions for personal appointments. A small share of the work-related appointments included names of individuals, and none described the content of conversations. Lawmakers also released hundreds of emails. They were mainly from constituents, and only three were outgoing emails. Three emails were withheld by one lawmaker under an exemption for correspondence with staff at the Legislative Council Service, which helps lawmakers draft legislation. Republican Gov. Susana Martinez provided her daily calendar but delayed responding to the request for emails beyond the 15-day deadline for immediate inspection of records, saying her office was busy reviewing legislation for approval or veto. She also invoked open records law provisions related to "excessively burdensome and broad requests."

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NEW YORK

New York lawmakers aren't subject to the state's open-records law. Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate and Assembly declined to disclose their schedules and emails, citing their rules that don't require it. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has proposed extending the open-records law to the Legislature. The Cuomo administration has been criticized by journalists and issue advocates for slow and often limited disclosures under the law that does apply to executive agencies beyond a prompt initial response acknowledging receipt of requests.

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NORTH CAROLINA

State law defines public records as those "made or received pursuant to law or ordinance in connection with the transaction of public business." But the General Assembly passed laws that let lawmakers choose to keep confidential documents created by legislative employees. And legislative leaders also believe emails from constituents aren't "made or received pursuant to law or ordinance" and are thus privileged except in limited circumstances. It's led to a mix of results from the requests to legislative leaders. The offices of House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger say calendars are created by legislative workers and are confidential. They also agreed to provide a limited number of emails, most of which were press releases or financial statements from other agencies. House Minority Leader Larry Hall said he had nothing that "would be responsive to your request under the public records laws." Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue, however, provided close to 500 emails, dozens of which came from citizens urging him to oppose changes proposed by the state employee health insurance governing board.

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NORTH DAKOTA

State law exempts the Legislature from the open-records law. The Republican House and Senate majority leaders denied the AP's records requests for emails and calendars, citing the law. But the Democratic minority leaders complied with the request. House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, said he does not conduct "political correspondence" on his state email; rather, he uses a personal email account and "encourages all caucus members to do the same." He said some Republican House members eschew email altogether in favor of traditional mail. Gov. Jack Dalrymple, who is subject to the law, released his emails and calendar.

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OHIO

Ohio law requires the Legislature, governor and other state agencies and offices to release most public records, including official calendars and emails, that serve to document the functions, policies, activities or decision-making of the office. Certain exceptions exist for records or portions of records considered to raise privacy, proprietary or security concerns. Legislators also are allowed to withhold work-related documents that are exclusively for personal use, such as personal calendars, meeting notes and personal papers.

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OKLAHOMA

Most of Oklahoma's top lawmakers refused to release their calendars or emails, citing an exemption in the Open Records Act for the Legislature. The Republican and Democratic leaders in the Senate sent a joint response to the AP's request, citing the statute's exemption. House Speaker Jeff Hickman sent a separate rejection from the House's general counsel. Only House Democratic Leader Rep. Scott Inman agreed to provide both his detailed calendar and all of his emails. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin's office is not exempt from the Open Records Act, and the AP's request was acknowledged by her general counsel's office and placed in a queue behind other pending requests. Fallin's office has typically taken a year or more to respond to records requests, prompting a legal challenge from the Oklahoma Democratic Party that is pending in district court. Oklahoma law says a public entity should provide "prompt, reasonable access to its records but may establish reasonable procedures which protect the integrity of the organization of its records and to prevent excessive disruptions of its essential functions."

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OREGON

Oregon's governor and top lawmakers have agreed to comply with the requests for calendars and emails, which are public record under state law. Half of the eight top lawmakers who received records requests released their calendars, including the Senate president and House speaker. Some information was redacted, including phone numbers, addresses and details about specific events. Release of the calendars from the other four lawmakers and the governor are pending, as are the requests for emails. Legislative staff said the number of emails is 1,000 or more for the governor and some lawmakers. It's common for responses to records requests to take months in Oregon, particularly with the governor and lawmakers while they are in session. Although Oregon's public records laws are applied broadly, there are some exceptions for the Legislature. For example, lawmakers and legislative staff can ignore records requests filed between the 15 days leading up to the start of the legislative session and when it adjourns. When the session is over, however, the same records requests can be re-submitted and the Legislature would have to comply. Only one lawmaker initially chose to ignore the AP's request, but later decided to comply.

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PENNSYLVANIA

Requests to all four legislative leaders for emails and calendars were denied. Legislative records are narrowly defined under the state's Right-to-Know Law and include financial records, bills, co-sponsorship memos, chamber rules and other documents, but notably, not emails or daily schedules. The Senate letter denying access to those documents noted that making the request of the senators directly rather than through the clerk's office could have delayed the process. The Senate also noted the AP had made very similar requests for correspondence in 2009, with the same negative result. Those two 2009 requests were the first appeals handled under a revamped public-records law that took full effect that year. The governor's office has exercised its right to take up to 35 days to comply with the pending request, and its full response is due by March 17. Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat in his second year, has posted his public schedule online, a break from past practice that was apparently a response to an open-records court case.

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RHODE ISLAND

Three of Rhode Island's four top lawmakers and its governor denied requests to release their emails, citing a provision in the state's open records law that exempts elected officials. The same law allows them to voluntarily disclose those emails. But the three lawmakers  two Democrats and one Republican  sent a joint response saying they were "conscious of the chilling effect that voluntary disclosure" would have on constituents if they knew emails were not held in confidence. Only one, Republican Senate Minority Leader Dennis Algiere, provided printouts of his correspondence with residents and local officials, most of it routine commentary on pending bills. Algiere said he did not include confidential emails, such as those disclosing medical conditions. House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed and Gov. Gina Raimondo, all Democrats, disclosed their calendars. The official schedules showed meetings with lobbyists and fellow officials and fundraising events. Republican House Minority Leader Brian Newberry said he does not keep an official calendar, noting that he is a "part-time legislator with a busy law practice."

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SOUTH CAROLINA

Legislative attorneys declined to release personal calendars or emails of South Carolina's top legislators, including the Senate president pro tem, House speaker, and the chambers' majority and minority leaders. The House attorney's response noted that a schedule of the Legislature's public meetings and their agendas are available online. The responses cited a section of the state's public records law that excludes "memoranda, correspondence, and working papers in the possession of individual members of the General Assembly or their immediate staffs." Efforts to strengthen the state's Freedom of Information Act in the past several years have been repeatedly stymied over an amendment proposing to remove that exemption. Legislators have argued they lack the time and staff to comply with a potential barrage of requests and would not want to release constituents' personal information. The governor, however, is not exempt. Gov. Nikki Haley's office released 28 pages of her public schedule, as well as 142 pages of emails from an address her office says is used for inter-office communication. The vast majority of those emails contained summaries of that day's news articles. Much of the rest contained weather forecasts and warnings. Her office also allowed review of several hundred emails that constituents sent to her public email address. The wide array included requests for meetings, help with agencies, support for legislation and recommendations of who to endorse in the GOP primary.

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SOUTH DAKOTA

South Dakota law says public records include all records and documents, regardless of physical form, belonging to government entities  unless a different law, ordinance or rule bars particular information from public disclosure. Records exempted from disclosure include correspondence, memoranda, calendars or logs of appointments of public officials or employees. Gov. Dennis Daugaard's office and the state Legislative Research Council cited the law exempting the disclosure of correspondence and calendars in denying the AP's requests for emails and calendars.

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TENNESSEE

The state's top lawmakers agreed to release personal calendars and copies of incoming emails, although some of the writers' contact information was redacted. While Tennessee lawmakers are exempt from the state's open records laws, the Legislature's general practice is to make a good faith effort to be responsive to requests. Lawmakers provided the records they considered to be responsive, rather than having the email server searched by an independent party. Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris disagreed with that practice, arguing it shouldn't be up to the subject of the request to decide which records are relevant. The Memphis Democrat provided the log-on information to his legislative email system for a reporter to inspect his records in their entirety. Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's office released emails, but has long refused to release his personal calendar on the basis of "deliberative process privilege" under common law.

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TEXAS

Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who heads the Senate, released 48 pages of emails consisting mostly of invitations to policy conferences and a daily newsletter produced by a legal news service. Patrick's office also stated that it was withholding other information, including that related to state audits, and seeking an opinion from the Texas attorney general that doing so met appropriate exceptions to open-records rules. Patrick's weeklong public schedule contained just three listings: attending a play; holding a news conference; and giving a speech. All were in the lieutenant governor's native Houston. Sen. John Whitmire, the chamber's longest-serving Democrat, didn't reply to the AP's request, despite open-records requirements that a response or explanation of why one isn't yet ready be provided within 10 working days. Rep. Garnet Coleman, a leading Democratic voice in the state House, released 700-plus pages of emails and a detailed schedule that included his meetings and other official and non-official business. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's schedule consisted of seven blank pages, each labeled "no scheduled events." His office did not release any emails, instead saying the requested items were exempt from disclosure.

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UTAH

Utah's House and Senate provided emails for the top Republican and Democrat in each chamber. But both chambers denied a request for calendars, citing part of Utah's open records law that says a daily calendar is not considered a public record. The Senate released about 500 each from the accounts of Senate President Niederhause and Minority Leader Gene Davis. Well more than 100 emails each were released from the accounts of House Speaker Greg Hughes and Minority Leader Brian King. The Utah governor's office denied a request for the governor's calendar, citing the same part of Utah law as the House and Senate did. The governor's office instead provided a copy of the governor's weekly schedule, which contains a selection of public appearances and meetings. The governor's office also denied the request for a week's worth of Gov. Gary Herbert's emails. Herbert's general counsel said Utah's public records law requires that a person requesting a record shall provide a "description of the record requested that identifies the record with reasonable specificity." Herbert's office said the AP request was for a specific time period but not a specific record. The office has in the past released nearly a year's worth of emails on a particular topic.

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VERMONT

The state's top lawmakers and governor agreed to release detailed personal schedules for their time at the Statehouse or on state business. But Vermont's is a part-time legislature with many members juggling outside jobs around their legislative work, and they were not willing to release detailed information on how that time was spent. Three of the legislative leaders are lawyers, and simply said they were meeting with clients or, in the case of Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell, working on cases as a deputy state's attorney in Windsor County. The governor and lawmakers also released emails, with one exception. Senate Minority Leader Joe Bennington noted that he has no staff and that checking through his email to redact constituents' personal informant would take hours of his own personal time, or time away from his law practice. House Speaker Shap Smith's aide, Dylan Giambatista, noted that the release was provisional. "After consulting with the Legislature's legal staff, "we have decided to provide you these records even though we were advised that we could assert arguments to withhold them. We reserve the right to assert such arguments in the event of a future Public Records Act request," Giambatista wrote.

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VIRGINIA

Virginia's public records law grants elected officials broad discretion in what they can withhold, including any correspondence or records related to "personal or deliberative use." Gov. Terry McAuliffe and the top Democrats and Republicans in both the House and the Senate all declined to provide emails The Associated Press requested. The governor and Democratic legislative leaders provided their calendars. Republican Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment also provided calendars, but it showed only floor sessions and committee and caucus meetings  not any private meetings or events. Republican House Speaker William J. Howell said the request for a week's worth of his calendar was too vague to qualify as a legitimate public records request.

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WASHINGTON

Leadership in Washington's House and Senate all denied requests to release their emails and daily calendars. Legislators have largely exempted themselves from the state public records law, which says "reports or correspondence made or received" by individual members of the Legislature are not public records. This exemption was cited by the offices of each chamber when denying the request. The state's high court ruled in 2013 that the governor is allowed to shield some documents from the public because of an "executive privilege." Gov. Jay Inslee has said he will not exercise the privilege. Upon request, his office released his detailed daily schedules and 39 generally uneventful emails. The emails often contained bits of information passed on by staff and news releases for Inslee to review.

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WEST VIRGINIA

State law says there is a "presumption of public accessibility to all public records," although there are plenty of exemptions. The House speaker and minority leader released their emails in response to an AP request, but their Senate counterparts did not. All the top lawmakers declined to release detailed personal calendars. The House said that's because they "are in draft form, contain appointments that may or may not occur, are revised daily, are never corrected, and are not an accurate log" of actual appointments. The Senate said the records requests were "overly broad and lack a reasonably specificity for the information sought." The state constitution says lawmakers are privileged for "words spoken in debate, or any report, motion or proposition made." Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's office said he does not personally use his official email account. It said the account received more than 600 emails over the timeframe. Tomblin did not release his detailed calendar, echoing the reasoning of the House.

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WISCONSIN

Wisconsin's open records law allows requestors to obtain copies of records maintained by government authorities. The reason for the request is irrelevant and records are presumed to be open to inspection and copy. However, government officials don't have to provide information if a record doesn't exist and don't have to create records to fulfil requests. All of Wisconsin's top lawmakers released copies of their emails in response to the AP's request. Most also released their daily calendars. But Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said his office deletes the calendar daily and that the Legislature isn't subject to retention clauses in open-records laws.

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WYOMING

State law exempts the Wyoming Legislature from the open-records law. Under Wyoming law, lawmakers do not have to disclose any communication with constituents or correspondence with legislative staff. The request for emails and calendars to both the Republican and Democratic leaders in the state Senate and House resulted in the same basic reply, noting the exemption. Republican Gov. Matt Mead, who is not exempt from any provisions, released his calendar, minus certain sensitive security details, and emails. However, the state Supreme Court has ruled recently that public officials can refuse public inspection of documents they relied on in reaching final policy decisions. The ruling came in a case against the governor's office.

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Information compiled by AP reporters in all 50 states.

One of several stories by The Associated Press, McClatchy and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel marking Sunshine Week, an annual celebration of access to public information
Desperate times call for desperate measures. The organized protest in Chicago that led Donald Trump to cancel a planned rally Friday may someday be remembered as the Dawn of the Resistance.

Trump has fueled his campaign's rise with the angriest and most divisive political rhetoric this nation has heard since the days of George Wallace. No one should be surprised if some of those Trump has slandered or outraged respond with raised voices.

The Constitution's guarantee of free speech applies to everyone, Trumpistas and protesters alike. Trump said over the weekend that he wants demonstrators who gatecrash his rallies to be arrested, not just ejected; he vows that "we're pressing charges" against them. Someone should educate him: Peacefully disapproving of a politician and his dangerous ideas is not a crime.

Trump seems not to understand that demonstrators have the legal right to protest and that a candidate for president of the United States has no countervailing right not to be protested. I'm talking about nonviolent demonstrations, of course  but nonviolent does not necessarily mean quiet, timid or small.

On Friday, thousands of Trumpistas gathered in the University of Illinois at Chicago arena for one of the candidate's set-piece rallies. They knew what to expect from Trump  the bragging about the size of his lead in various polls, the dissing of rivals "Little Marco" Rubio and "Lyin' Ted" Cruz, the ranting and raving about immigration, the repeated vow to "make America great again." They might have anticipated that a few demonstrators would briefly interrupt the proceedings, giving Trump the opportunity to strut and preen in alpha-male splendor as he ordered security to "get 'em outta here."

But what no one fully realized until too late was that the crowd had been infiltrated by hundreds of highly organized protesters. As this circumstance became clear to Trump's supporters, tension mounted. The demonstrators held their ground, knowing they had as much right to be there as anyone else.

Aware that the demonstrators would do something but unsure of what that might be, Trump canceled the event. Announcement of the decision drew a big cheer from the protesters, and a howl of frustration from Trump supporters, who expressed their displeasure with epithets and shoving. Three people were injured in the skirmishes that ensued.

Trump later groused that "troublemakers" and "thugs" had violated his free-speech rights. But consider what he tells his audiences: Mexican immigrants are rapists, foreign Muslims should be barred from the country, the United States should reinstitute torture for terrorism suspects and "go after" their families. He has the absolute right to say these things. But those who believe in the hallowed American values of openness, tolerance, decency and the rule of law have the absolute right to say "No!"

Earlier that day, there were 32 arrests in demonstrations against a Trump rally in St. Louis; a large group of protesters had gathered to confront the candidate and his supporters. At almost every Trump event these days, in fact, at least a few individuals rise to protest and face the rage of the crowds, which Trump stokes rather than soothes.

These protests are important because they show that Americans will not take Trump's outrageous nonsense lying down. The hapless Republican Party may prove powerless to keep him from seizing the nomination, but GOP primary voters are a small and unrepresentative minority. They are older, whiter, and apparently much angrier than the nation as a whole.

There is a school of thought that says, in effect, do not push back against the bully. Those who take this position argue that protests only heighten the sense of persecution and victimhood that Trump encourages among his supporters. And the net effect may be to win him more primary votes and make it more likely that he gets the nomination.

I understand this view, but I disagree. I believe it is important to show that those who reject Trumpism are as passionate and multitudinous as those who welcome it. Passivity is what got the GOP into this predicament in the first place; imagine how different the campaign might be if so many Republicans who abhor Trump hadn't meekly promised to support him if he became the nominee.

Protests show the growing strength of popular opposition to Trump. They may not embolden Republicans to take their party back at the convention in Cleveland. But vivid displays of outrage might help energize voters to come out and reject Trump in November. That might be the last line of defense.
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By Vrej Haroutounian

In recent years Yerevan has seen tremendous shifts in its urban planning.

In downtown Yerevan historic buildings are being demolished or retrofitted to create new business. The historically symbolic Farmers Market (Pak Shouka) has now been semi- demolished and replaced by the chain supermarket Yerevan City.

This building represented the ideology of equality. It was not placed randomly on one of the main arteriesof the city (Lenin Prospekt, now Mashtots Avenue).

It was placed there to show class equality and as an outlet for agrarian products which were a symbol of Armenias farmland and farmer, it created a connection between the city and the country in the material built form. When you visited the market you got to connect to the Armenia that was outside of Yerevan. You got to take home fruits, vegetables and other products that were grown in the provincesof Armenia. You were able to source local produce, sense a connection to these areas, and learn about their products and offerings.

Consumerism has its roots in Yerevan with the beginning of the period known as the Thaw which took place during the 1980s, as Soviet ideology was at its weakest and consumer goods were accessible via both soviet markets and the gray market that had developed.

In this period consumerism developed significantly until independence,when the economic collapse left people in dire straits.

Consumer stores are a critical aspectof YerevansRabid development years.

Some new stores are built with better designs that are sensitive to the surroundings in choice of signage and coloring. Others simply paint over the touf stone, not understanding that the beauty in touf is in its physical form (Interviewee, 2011).

Overall, the stores that are located on the first floors of buildings and underground are a good change that is normal for a market economy and that make the city a lively place, with a more spontaneous feel (Interviewees, 2011).

As downtown Yerevan becomes increasingly gentrified, there has been an increase in supermarkets throughout the city center, as the first floors of Soviet era buildings are converted into retail spaces, and the ground floors of new mixed developments are constructed. The supermarkets overwhelm the scale of traditional small-scale grocery stores, where farmers would bring their crops to sell in the city center.

The Pak Shouka, a central farmers market in downtown Yerevan, is an example of the polarizing effects of privatization. Several years ago, private land owners wished to convert the space into a supermarket.The project was temporarily project was halted by city officials, due to the lack of adequate permitting during construction, an issue brought to their attention by activists. Activists also pointed out the structures historical significance to the citys identity. Needless to say, after many protests by concerned citizensthe project to convert the farmers market to a Big Box Yerevan City was realized.

More supermarkets, with their larger target market area, also eliminate local shopkeepers through their greater purchasing power. Residents of neighborhoods are forced to travel further to purchase goods that were once readily available on the corner of their street. This phenomenon is also visible outside of the city center, in the presence of big box stores, which create the same effect and require the implementation of public transportation or personal automobiles to obtain goods for daily consumption.

Increased automobile congestion during peak hours can also be attributed to the Big Box stores which usually do not provide any private parking or adequately address the parking needs of shoppers. The front of such stores are usually used for double parking. This in turn creates congestion on major traffic arteries leading in and out of the city.

Historic markets add charm to all urban centers and are currently being implemented by progressive cities worldwide. Yerevans Pak Shouka farmers market should have been restored to its original function. It should have been redesigned with historic preservation in mind. All other markets in Yerevan should be regulated and zoned according to the needs of a neighborhood. Support for locally produced foods and products should be promoted with consideration for the ecological, economic, and societal benefits they provide. Small businesses should be supported and promoted as well.

Like many other sectors, supermarkets are another point where resources are becoming more centralized in the hands of the few. While some may argue that this is natural in a free market, others argue that there is no such thing as a free market given the fact that not all players in the market have the same access to resources, be they economic or political.

Nevertheless, the urban landscape of Yerevan reflects the truth clearly as it shifts in size and scale to adapt to the needs of capital at a specific point in time.

The costs resulting from such development - traffic congestion, reduction in the middle class and small business, increased automotive use, and public health issues - seem to be overlooked.

(Yerevan interviewee: This title is used for one of 20 anonymous experts interviewed during semi-structured interviews conducted in the summer of 2011)

Top photo: Fruit and veg sold at old Pak Shouka and todays Yerevan City
In this 2009 photo, Dr. Quentin Young responds to a question after being named chairman of the Health Facilities Planning Board by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, right, in Chicago. Young, a longtime advocate for universal health care, died of natural causes March 7 at a daughter's home in Berkeley, California. He was 92. PHOTO BY CHARLES REX ARBOGAST/ASSOCIATED PRESS
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WASHINGTON  Ignoring Republican threats, President Barack Obama nominated appeals court judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, thrusting a respected moderate jurist and former prosecutor into the center of an election-year clash over the future of the nation's highest court.

Obama cast the 63-year-old Garland as "a serious man and an exemplary judge" deserving of a full hearing and a Senate confirmation vote, despite Republican vows to deny him both. Standing in the White House Rose Garden with Garland, Obama argued the integrity of the court was at stake and appealed to the Senate to "play it straight" in filling the seat left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

"It's supposed to be above politics," Obama said of the high court. "It has to be. And it should stay that way."

Republican leaders, however, held to their refusal to consider any nominee, saying the seat should be filled by the next president after this year's election. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke with Garland by phone but did not change his position that "the American people will have a voice." He said he would not be holding "a perfunctory meeting but he wished Judge Garland well," a spokesman said.

Still, some in the GOP ranks were wary of sticking to a no-hearing, no-vote, not-even-meeting stance.

Garland was to talk by phone to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, and four other Republican senators  Jeff Flake of Arizona, Susan Collins of Maine, James Inhofe of Oklahoma and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, also said they would meet with him. The judge will visit senators on Thursday at the Capitol, before the Senate breaks for a two-week recess.

The White House said that was evidence Garland's weighty resume and bipartisan credentials were putting pressure on Republicans.

Garland, 63, is the chief judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, a court whose influence over federal policy and national security matters has made it a proving ground for potential justices.

A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Garland has clerked for two appointees of Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower  the liberal Justice William Brennan Jr. as well as Judge Henry J. Friendly, for whom Chief Justice John Roberts also clerked. As a federal prosecutor, he made his reputation overseeing the investigation and prosecutions in the Oklahoma City bombing case in 1995, as well as the case against Unabomber Ted Kaczynski.

When confirmed to the D.C. Circuit in 1997, Garland won backing from a majority in both parties, including seven current Republicans senators.

As a replacement for Scalia, Garland would undoubtedly shift the court away from its conservative tilt. He would be expected to align with the more liberal members on environmental regulation, labor disputes and campaign finance.

But he is not viewed as a down-the-line liberal. Particularly on criminal defense and national security cases, he's earned a reputation as centrist with a law-and-order streak, siding more often with prosecutors. When his name was floated for the Supreme Court in the past, it was liberal groups that expressed concerns, pointing to early decisions favoring the government in disputes over the legal rights of detainees at the Guantanamo Bay prison.

Those cases are part of why the nomination risks deflating some of the energy among the Democratic base. Progressives and civil rights activists had pushed the president to name an African-American woman or to otherwise expand the court's diversity. The president passed over appeals court Judge Sri Srinivasan, who would have been the first Asian-American justice, and Judge Paul Watford, who would have been the second African-American.

Garland  a white, male jurist with an Ivy League pedigree and a career largely in the upper echelon of Washington's legal elite  breaks no barriers. At 63, he would be the oldest Supreme Court nominee since Lewis Powell, who was 64 when he was confirmed in 1971.

The White House said Garland underwent a physical and is in good health, but said Obama didn't otherwise consider age a factor. Until now, Garland has been something of a perpetual bridesmaid, repeatedly on Obama's Supreme Court lists but never chosen.

In emotional remarks in the Rose Garden, he choked back tears, calling the nomination "the greatest honor of my life." He described his grandparents' flight from anti-Semitism in Eastern Europe and his modest upbringing. He said he viewed a judge's job as a mandate to set aside personal preferences and "follow the law, not make it."

The White House aimed to portray him as stellar legal mind with a common touch and a knack for building consensus. Obama quoted past praise for Garland from Roberts and Sen. Orrin Hatch. In 2010, Hatch said he could be confirmed to the highest court "virtually unanimously."

Garland has experience with a prolonged confirmation process. He waited 2 years to win confirmation to the appeals court. Then, as now, one of the men blocking his path was Grassley, who argued he had no quarrel with Garland's credentials but objected to a Democratic president trying to fill an appeals court he felt had too many seats.

Grassley ultimately relented, although he was not one of the 32 Republicans who voted in favor of Garland's confirmation. Nor was McConnell. The Republicans who voted in favor of confirmation were Hatch, Dan Coats of Indiana, Thad Cochran of Mississippi, Susan Collins of Maine, Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, John McCain of Arizona and Pat Roberts of Kansas.
For the last few days the burning question among pundits has been: How much blame does Donald Trump deserve for the violence at his rallies? Its a fair question, and the obvious answer is: a lot.

On Sunday, the demagogue paid his usual lip service to social norms, rejecting violence in any shape. He then proceeded to say  again  that hes willing to pay the legal fees of those who commit violence on his behalf. He routinely waxes nostalgic for the good old days when troublemakers were carried out on stretchers.

That said, there was a good deal of Kabuki to the recent chaos in Chicago.

The Trump campaign said it had to cancel its event there because the police were concerned about public safety. Thats a lie. The Chicago Police Department insists the decision was Trumps  as was the choice to stage a rally in an area of Chicago where the campaign knew protesters would swarm.

Of course, protesters were only too happy to play the role Team Trump expected them to play. Whether they were Bernie Sanders campaign pawns, as the chants of Bern-ie! Bern-ie! would suggest, or puppets of MoveOn.org, or self-starting rebels matters little. What they wanted, as the hashtag campaign #ShutItDown suggests, was to suppress free speech.

That makes them doubly blameworthy: Their goal was dishonorable, and their tactics only helped burnish Trumps bogus self-image as the brave-yet-victimized anti-PC warrior.

Such high-ratings spectacles only magnify the sense that politics is a contest of will, not arguments. As the commentator Jonathan Chait writes, the whole premise of democracy is that rules need to be applied in every case without regard to the merit of the underlying cause to which it is attached.

If you think its acceptable to shut down Trumps rallies, you have no grounds to complain when Trumps supporters shut down Sanders rallies.

The real problem with the question, How much blame does Trump deserve?  or, for that matter, How much blame does Sanders deserve?  is that such questions assume blame is a limited commodity. If we say Trump deserves a lot of blame, the implication is theres only a little left for everyone else. The reality is theres plenty to go around. We are all adrift in an ocean of blameworthiness.

Chicago was a fleeting scene in a very long-running play. The Spanish philosopher Jose Ortega y Gasset defined barbarism as the lack of universal ideals to which all can subscribe. The war on free speech is really just a battle in the larger war on universal standards.

When leaders claim the system is irredeemably corrupt and the rules rigged against them, politics becomes a kind of barbarism. What is good for my team is right, and whatever is good for your team is wrong. Trump is merely the latest actor to deliver such assurances to his coddled constituencies. Barack Obama  who recently absolved himself of all blame for the state of politics in the nation hes led for seven years  has played this game with more finesse than most, but thats the thing about the great ones: They make it look so easy.

Obviously, he hasnt encouraged violence  that is Trumps special contribution to the degradation of our politics. But from his contemptuous rhetoric for his political opponents to his unilateral disregard for constitutional restraints, Obama has helped fuel distrust and discord in ways his fans cant or wont see.

Sanders lighted his populist fire by insisting the country is held hostage by malefactors of great wealth who are exempt from the rules that bind the rest of us. Hillary Clinton, who got rich(er) giving hidden speeches to those very same malefactors, is not trusted by the voters because she seems to think the rules are for other people, at least when it comes to handling classified materials.

The truth is that politics is downstream of culture. And all of these politicians, Trump included, reflect deeper tendencies. Identity politics on the left and the right  from the war on so-called white supremacy to the bitterness of the white backlash  amount to what the French philosopher Julien Benda described as the intellectual organization of political hatreds.

Whats remarkable about the violence Trump encourages isnt its sudden appearance. Its that it took this long.
Area residents are invited to a Department of Transportation meeting in April to see what will be done to reconstruct Highway 69 in far southern Dane County.

The project, which isn't on the schedule for four years, will update the highway between Highway D and Valley Road in Belleville, including bringing the highway up to current design standards and replacing the deteriorating pavement.

The meeting will be on April 13 at the Montrose Town Hall, 1341 Diane Ave. in Belleville, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Maps showing the proposed improvements and alternatives will be on display, and DOT staff will be on hand to answer questions.

For more information, contact DOT project manager Mahesh Shrestha, 608-245-2674.
Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-03-16 Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/> TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW No. 50/16 16.03.2016 [A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS [01] Fear escalated in the occupied area of Cyprus after the recent bomb attack in Ankara [02] Burcu comments on Anastasiades - Davutoglu meeting: The negotiations are held between the community leaders [03] Ozgurgun: "Akinci told me he cannot agree with Anastasiades" [04] Tusk met with Davutoglu in Ankara; Tusk: 'We cannot accept terrorism as new normal" [05] "On the way for implementing the Ankara Protocol; The next 48 hours are critical" [06] A "technical committee" of the so-called prime minister due to Turkey to finalize the "economic program" [07] Representatives of the "Turkish Cypriot Hotelier's union" evaluated their participation in ITB Berlin Tourism fair [08] 805,422 registered subscribers of cell phones in the occupied area of Cyprus [09] Erdogan: "Definition of 'terrorists' should be broadened to include 'accomplices'" [10] A British academic detained by Istanbul police over 'PKK propaganda' [A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS [01] Fear escalated in the occupied area of Cyprus after the recent bomb attack in Ankara Under the title "tension for terror in northern Cyprus", Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (16.03.16) reports that the "terrorist attacks" in Turkey and the recent bomb attack in Ankara have caused the fear that such attacks could take place in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus as well. Panic was created in the "country", writes Kibris, after the allegation that the British secret services had warned that crowded places in the occupied area of the island should be avoided because danger exists. While bags, packages and similar forgotten things in various places had not been attracting attention in the past, now they are causing doubts regarding the existence of a bomb. Such a fear was created yesterday in occupied Famagusta by a rucksack forgotten behind a trash bin next to a bus stop and in occupied Trikomo by a suitcase left in front of a market. In both cases no bomb was detected after the "police" conducted a search in the area. In occupied Morfou, however, an 81-millimeter mortal projectile was found in a trash bin in the road where self-styled minister of education Kemal Durust is located, something which caused questions and fear. No answer was given to the questions "what would have been done with this mortal projectile and why it had been abandoned in the trash", notes the paper. Meanwhile, the self-styled ministry of interior and labor denied yesterday the information that the British secret services have warned people to avoid crowded places in the occupied area of Cyprus due to the danger of a bomb attack and called on the people not to pay attention to any other information except for the "official statements". Finally, the chairmen of the two "coalition partners", Mehmet Ali Talat (Republican Turkish Party) and Huseyin Ozgurgun (National Unity Party), stated yesterday that measures have been taken at the highest level in the occupied area of Cyprus against "any internal unrest". (I/Ts.) [02] Burcu comments on Anastasiades - Davutoglu meeting: The negotiations are held between the community leaders Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (16.03.16) reports that Baris Burcu, spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leader, was called to comment on the recent meeting between President Anastasiades and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Brussels and said that the solution of the Cyprus problem will be produced by the Cypriot leaders. In statements yesterday, Burcu said the following on the issue: "The subjects of the Cyprus problem are the Cypriots and the solution process is being conducted under the guidance of the leaders and by the negotiating teams. It is already conducted within the framework of the principles of the agreement text of the 11th of February and this is the substance of the issue. And this has a natural logic. The solution to be found in Cyprus will interest all sides. Those who will be affected the most are the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots". Burcu pointed out that the lifting of the veto of the Republic of Cyprus on some chapters regarding Turkey's EU accession process has been discussed during the meeting and alleged: "The EU is also sick and tired. When Turkey's negotiating chapters will open, a veto by the Greek Cypriot side is in question". Referring to the meetings between Turkey on the one hand and Greece and Cyprus on the other, Burcu argued that "the indirect elements should never get ahead of the main element" and "the main element is the overall solution of the Cyprus problem". He said that Turkey is the subject of its own accession process to the EU and shares information with the Turkish Cypriots on this issue, but "we may not be informed on every detail regarding every process". Asked whether they had been informed regarding the above-mentioned meeting, Burcu said that it might not be possible for them to be informed regarding "sudden developments", adding that "we also have the opportunity to communicate a few days later". Replying to a question on the influence on the Cyprus problem of the overcoming of what the journalist called as "veto crisis" between Cyprus and Turkey, Burcu argued that their priority is the solution of the Cyprus problem and added that the opening of the ports will positively influence the Cyprus problem. He said: "Turkey opening its ports to the south will benefit to our being opened to the world. If such an environment could be achieved, it will secure benefits to everyone. However, I think that this will not happen, because I know the positions of the sides". Referring to some issues of the Cyprus negotiations, Burcu reiterated that the past history of the "peoples" of the island has not been built on trust and that Turkey's guarantees are important for the Turkish Cypriot community. "With this history of mistrust which we lived, Turkey's guarantees are absolutely necessary for the Turkish Cypriots", he argued. Asked on the point at which the Cyprus talks have come, Burcu said: "I think that we have come close to the light, but the acceleration of our approaching the light has slowed down. We have to consider this to be natural. The needs of the elections process and the solution process are different. I am not dreaming that we could achieve a progress, the solution on the difficult issues in this process. [?] On the issue of governance and power sharing important agreements have been reached except for the rotating presidency and some issues as such related to it. [?] I think that if the rotating presidency comes to a point of being handled in a manner, it will be related to the cross voting. [?] We have not entered into a bargain on the land. The property will be discussed at the final stage. We have achieved an agreement on some criteria on the property. Some definitions should be made. For example what is the 'essential development'? Because devil is hidden in the details. What is the 'user' expression encompassing and how? We need progress on these issues. [?]" Referring to the issue of the "citizenship", Burcu said that the Turkish Cypriot leadership's effort is in the direction of all "TRNC citizens" becoming citizens of the federal Cyprus. Noting that the sides have shared information regarding their "citizens", Burcu argued that "our population is around 220 thousands and their [population] around 800 thousands. The details are not important at all. The principles are important. We are seeking for an arrangement by which all TRNC citizens to become citizens [of federal Cyprus]. This is our promise and we are backing it. [?]" (I/Ts.) [03] Ozgurgun: "Akinci told me he cannot agree with Anastasiades" Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (16.03.16) reports that Huseyin Ozgurgun, leader of the National Unity Party (UBP), has alleged that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci had told him that he could not agree with President Anastasiades on the Cyprus problem. Addressing a meeting of his party in occupied Goneyli last night, Ozgurgun claimed that a solution to the Cyprus problem could not be reached even after another 50 years, because "the Greek Cypriots having this mentality do not intent to make an agreement". He alleged: "I am saying this based on what? I am informed about all the developments both as party chairman and as former minister of foreign affairs. Whoever the president is, not only the Greek Cypriot side has no intention of an agreement, but no one who says 'I am the leader' in the Turkish Cypriot side can sign an agreement with the Greek Cypriot side which has such an approach. A TRNC president who will sign and accept these conditions will only become submissive and will give a kind of a present to the Greek Cypriot side. During the latest meeting at the president's office, Mr Akinci also said that they could not do that. 'I cannot agree with Anastasiades', he said". Claiming that the information coming from the Greek Cypriot side is different, he alleged: "The Turkish army will be withdrawn, they say. During a telephone conversation I had with Mr Akinci, he told me that the withdrawal of the Turkish army from the island is not possible. The Turkish Cypriots will never accept this. Therefore the Greek Cypriots lie, he said. And I asked from him to make this statement. 'You make it', he said to me. Therefore, we can be relaxed on this issue. No Turkish president can sign an agreement which does not include Turkey's active and effective guarantees. First we will not allow it. However, president Akinci also told me that he would not sign it". (I/Ts.) [04] Tusk met with Davutoglu in Ankara; Tusk: 'We cannot accept terrorism as new normal" Ankara Anatolia news agency (15.03.16) reported that the European Council President Donald Tusk emphasized on Tuesday his solidarity with Turkey in the aftermath of the recent Ankara bomb attack that killed 37 people. Speaking at a news conference with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Tusk expressed his condolences to the victims and families affected by another appalling terrorist attack in Ankara and said: "We cannot accept terrorism as the new normal". "No matter how many times it has happened, we will never get used to it and we will always fight it," Tusk said. "Let me reiterate this pledge and stress that we stand together in the fight against terrorism, yesterday, today and tomorrow", he added. Tusk is in Ankara ahead of a second EU-Turkey summit later this week that will focus on migration as Europe seeks to seal an agreement that will stem the flow of refugees from Turkey to Greece. Turkey has also demanded 6 billion euro ($6.66 billion) to help it care for refugees, increased progress on its EU bid and visa-free travel for Turkish nationals in the EU. Tusk said the summit would "put together the elements needed to make this proposal legally sound, in line with EU and international law, practically implementable and, of course, acceptable to all 28 EU member states as well as to Turkey." However, much work remained, he told reporters. "Today we established a catalogue of issues that we need to address together if we are to reach an agreement by Friday." Davutoglu in his turn said that the essence of Turkey's proposal was the "human dimension". "Turkey suggested a proposal, within its moral responsibility, to make more people not die in the Aegean Sea and to decrease illegal crossings and to finish them completely, if possible", stressed Davutoglu, adding: "We have never negotiated about money. We have never regarded this issue as a financial matter. This issue is a humanitarian issue." [05] "On the way for implementing the Ankara Protocol; The next 48 hours are critical" Under the above title, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (16.03.16) reports that according to some allegations, the possibility of reaching a formula for lifting the veto of the Republic of Cyprus on the opening of negotiating chapters in Turkey's EU accession negotiations is very high while the summit of 17-18 March in Brussels on the refugees' issue is approaching. Citing a "high ranking diplomatic source", the paper writes that Turkey will implement the Ankara Agreement for all 28 EU member states and in return for this the Republic of Cyprus could open the five chapters it had frozen in Turkey's accession negotiations. The source said the following to the paper: "The next 48 hours are very critical. Such a climate had been created ten years ago. We are really experiencing dazzling developments and an unbelievable diplomatic traffic is being conducted. The issue is the refugees issue between Turkey and the EU and as Turkish Cypriot side we are also an important element in this process". The source disagreed with the news published in the press that the Turkish Cypriot side had been by-passed during these developments. The source added: "Lifting the veto in return to ports has been on the agenda for a long time and there have been 4-5 initiatives for its solution but unfortunately these initiatives were not materialized. The possibility of being materialized this time is high, but in such sensitive issues as these anything can happen until the last moment". Meanwhile, according to the paper, after the meeting he had yesterday in Ankara with the President of the European Council Donald Tusk, who visited Turkey after holding a meeting with President Anastasiades in Nicosia, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said: "Tusk conveyed to us their views after meetings they held with member states. And we also expressed our views". (I/Ts.) [06] A "technical committee" of the so-called prime minister due to Turkey to finalize the "economic program" Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (16.03.16) reports that a "delegation of the technical committee", of the occupied regime, headed by the "undersecretary" of the "prime ministry", will visit today Ankara with the aim to put into final form the "economic protocol" to be signed with Turkey. According to information given by illegal TAK's correspondent, the "delegation" will carry out contacts with the Turkish delegation, in order to put the final touches on the 70-pages draft document of the "economic program". The "delegation" is composed by the "minister of finance", the so-called minister of economy, industry and trade, the so-called minister of agriculture, natural resources and food and bureaucrats from the "state planning organization" ("DPO"). (AK) [07] Representatives of the "Turkish Cypriot Hotelier's union" evaluated their participation in ITB Berlin Tourism fair Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (16.03.16) reports on statements by several "representatives" of the "Turkish Cypriot Hotelier's union", who attended the ITB Berlin Tourism fair which took place in Germany recently. According to the paper, the "representatives" in the sector exerted efforts during their stay in Germany to turn the negative atmosphere exist in the region in the sector of tourism, as positive and promote the "TRNC" as the right alternative for tourists. In statement on the issue, Esra Celikeri, "director of the office of the union", explained to the paper that within the framework of their participation in the fair, they held contacts with hoteliers and agencies in Germany and signed several agreements. Celikeri referred also to the figures published by the so-called ministry of tourism according to which Germany ranks second on the number of tourists visiting the "TRNC", with Turkey comes first and the UK third. Also speaking, Suleyman Kansu, "director" of Salamis Bay Hotel in the occupied area of Cyprus, stated, inter alia, that they had decided to take radical decision to promote the "country's tourism". Referring to the crisis occurred in Turkey's tourism sector and especially in Antalya as a result of the crisis with Russia, Kansu stressed the need to make long-term plans and promote Cyprus to the European tourists as "the rightest alternative at the right time". He further added that their aim is to give incentives to tourists who will be transferred to the "TRNC" with charter flights. Moreover, Ufak Caga, "general director" of Chato Lambousa hotel, said, inter alia, that they will try to turn the negative atmosphere in the region as an advantage and attract as more tourists they can. (AK) [08] 805,422 registered subscribers of cell phones in the occupied area of Cyprus Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Bakis newspaper (16.03.16) reports that according to figures given by the "Information technologies and communication organization" on the electronic information sector in the occupied area of Cyprus, the number of registered subscribers of cell phones in the "TRNC" until the end of 2015, was 805, 422. According to the figures, 413, 392 are active subscribers with "north Cyprus Turkcell" mobile operator while 243,002 are active subscribers with Telsim mobile network. The figures have shown also that "Turkcell" holds 61.3% of the market share while Telsim holds 38.7%. Moreover, the total registered mobile subscriptions which are active are 656,394. (AK) [09] Erdogan: "Definition of 'terrorists' should be broadened to include 'accomplices'" Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (15.03.16) reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has argued in the aftermath of the third major suicide bomb attack in Ankara in the past five months that the definition of "terrorists" needs to be broadened to include supporters of terrorism, who are equally guilty. "Their titles as an MP, an academic, an author, a journalist do not change the fact that they are actually terrorists. An act of terror is successful because of these supporters, these accomplices," Erdogan told reporters during a dinner to celebrate Doctor's Day on March 14. "It's not only the person who pulls the trigger, but those who made that possible who should also be defined as terrorists", Erdogan added. "Some circles, at home and abroad, are at a junction. They will either side with us, or with terrorists. There is no middle way," Erdogan also said. [10] A British academic detained by Istanbul police over 'PKK propaganda' According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (15.03.16) a British academic has been taken into custody on suspicion of making propaganda for the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), after distributing leaflets inviting people to Nevruz holiday celebrations on March 21. Chris Stephenson, a lecturer in computer science at Istanbul's Bilgi University, was taken into custody in Istanbul on March 15, after he went to the Istanbul Police Department in a show of support for the three Turkish academics detained on March 14. The three academics had been detained in relation to an investigation into signatories of a petition calling for an end to clashes between security forces and PKK militants in January, and they were set to appear at court on March 15. Commenting on the incident, officials from the British Embassy in Ankara told the Hurriyet Daily News that they are aware of the detention of a British national and that they are providing consular assistance. Stephenson was taken to the Istanbul Police Department upon a prosecutor's instruction on accusations of "making propaganda of a terror organization," as the leaflets he distributed included messages and pictures aimed at making PKK propaganda, state-run Anadolu Agency reported. The case into the petition was opened after 1,128 academics from 89 different universities - including foreign scholars like Noam Chomsky, David Harvey and Immanuel Wallerstein - signed a declaration titled: "We won't be part of this crime," which called on Ankara to end the "massacre and slaughter" in southeastern Turkey. Universities and prosecutor's offices across the country subsequently opened probes into many of the 1,128 Turkish and foreign academics and intellectuals who fall within the Turkish state's jurisdiction, arguing that the petition exceeded the limits of academic freedom. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio (AK/AM) Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 16-03-15 Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/> Athens News Agency keeps you up to date since 1903 Weekend News Bulletin Tuesday March 15, 2016 CONTENTS [01] Possible to have deal with institutions by March 25, says FinMin official [02] Greece says 44,035 refugees were in its territory on Sunday [03] Greece's Ambassador to Madrid passes away unexpectedly [04] Alt. Defence minister visits Schisto's refugee relocation camp [05] UN human rights chief praises Greece for efforts to manage refugee crisis [06] Central banker: Talks on Greek debt may start April 15; country will repay 3.5 bln to ECB in July [07] Patras carnival ends with revelers dancing in the rain [08] Weather Forecast [09] Athens Headlines at a glance Politics [01] Possible to have deal with institutions by March 25, says FinMin official It is possible to achieve an agreement with Greece's creditors on the country's first program review by March 25, a finance ministry official said on Sunday, following a meeting between the government's economic team and the heads of the institutions. According to the official, the two sides have the same target on the revenues expected from reforms in taxation, but disagree on the details. Greece submitted a counterproposal to the creditors' request to lower the indirect tax-free threshold from 9,545 euros to 7,000 euros, which is being examined by technical teams. "We don't want to lower the tax-free threshold, but if it is lowered by 100-200 euros it will be a success," the official said. At the same time, the government wants to increase taxes for incomes of around 30,000 euros, while the institutions want to lower it, while the self-employed will be included in the tax scales of the employees and pensioners, but without a tax-free threshold. The government is hoping to avoid taxing farmers with 20 pct tax rates for 2016 and 26 pct for 2017. Incomes from rents will be taxed according to the agreement signed in August which foresees an increase to 15 pct from 11 pct for incomes up to 12,000 and to 35 pct from 33 pct for over 12,000 euros. The government has proposed a tax rate of 40 pct for incomes over 45,000euros. There will also be a separate tax rate for the solidarity tax which will reach a maximum of 10 pct. Concerning the fiscal gap, the European Commission and the IMF have set an indicative target, although they still disagree on the issue. Greece believes that, apart from the social security and tax reforms, the undecided measures for the period up to 2018 total less than 1 pct of GDP. The two sides also disagree on the macroeconomic scenario, the official said. [02] Greece says 44,035 refugees were in its territory on Sunday The ministry of migration policy said on Sunday 44,035 refugees were in Greece's territory, with 8,904 located on the islands of the eastern Aegean, 10,987 in the region of Attica and 12,000 stranded in Idomeni, in northern Greece. According to the data, the islands of Chios, Samos, Lesvos, Leros, Rhodes, Symi, Megisti, Kos, Farmakonisi, Patmos, Kalymnos and Samothraki registered 2,702 new arrivals of refugees and migrants on Sunday who are hosted in hot spots and other camps. The majority (5,310) are on Lesvos, while Chios and Samos had 2,561 and 410 people respectively. In the region of Attica, 4,166 people are housed in the old airport facilities of Ellinikon and another 3,300 are in Piraeus port. Central Greece is accommodating 1,102 refugees, while the majority (23,042) in northern Greece and specifically at the makeshift camp of Idomeni (12,000). The former military camp of Mazaraki in Kilkis accommodates 3,640 refugees and Nea Karvali 3,370. [03] Greece's Ambassador to Madrid passes away unexpectedly Greece's Ambassador to Madrid, Nikolaos Pazios, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday morning, the foreign ministry announced and expressed its deep condolences to his family. "The Foreign Ministry mourns the unexpected loss of its Ambassador to Madrid, Nikolaos Pazios. Pazios, recently promoted to the highest rank of the Diplomatic hierarchy, did the utmost honor to the homeland, wherever he served, was an excellent Diplomat, an exceptional public official with profound belief in Democracy, a model and source of inspiration for all those who were fortunate enough to know him and who, today, cannot believe the news of his untimely passing," the ministry stated. "Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and the whole of the political and service leadership of the Foreign Ministry, as well as all of Nikolaos Pazios' colleagues, express deep condolences to his family," it added. Ambassador Nikolaos Pazios entered the Diplomatic Service of the Foreign Ministry in 1982 and served at Greece's Embassies in Paris, Bucharest and the Vatican. His postings included Consul General in Paris, Ambassador to Albania, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Directorate, and Ambassador to Madrid. [04] Alt. Defence minister visits Schisto's refugee relocation camp Alternate Defence Minister Dimitris Vitsas visited the refugee relocation camp of Schisto, in Piraeus, on Sunday to inspect first-hand the living conditions offered to the people who are accommodated in the former Stefanaki military camp. Vitsas expressed his satisfaction for the effectiveness of the Armed Forces who set up the camp as part of the efforts to manage the refugee-migration crisis. [05] UN human rights chief praises Greece for efforts to manage refugee crisis The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, hailed Greece's efforts to manage the refugee crisis in the organization's annual report, while also expressing concern for the effects of closed borders on the wellbeing of refugees. "I acknowledge the generosity with which Germany welcomed around a million people last year, and the efforts of Greece, throughout 2015, to take a humane approach, avoiding detention and pushbacks at sea," Price Al-Hussein said in a speech before the Human Rights Council's 31st session. According to diplomatic sources, this statement is significant ahead of the EU summit on March 17-18, which will finalize decisions on EU's migration policy and is the result of actions taken by the foreign ministry and in particular the meeting between the UN human rights chief and Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Amanatidis on March in Geneva. "Meanwhile, the situation in Greece is dramatic. Migrants are now unable to leave the country because of border restrictions imposed by Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," Prince Al-Hussein said. "This lamentable approach, together with other measures taken by countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland, creates great distress for large numbers of people and compounds pressure on Greece, a country that is already in need of help. Greece has struggled for months to maintain humane conditions of reception for the desperate people who arrive by sea. I pay tribute to the honourable volunteers and activists who are trying to help them," he added. Financial news [06] Central banker: Talks on Greek debt may start April 15; country will repay 3.5 bln to ECB in July The debate on the reduction of Greece's public debt is likely to start the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) spring meeting on April 15, the country's central banker Yiannis Stounaras said in an interview with Italian paper "Il Sole 24 ore" on Sunday, adding that the country will repay 3.5 billion euros to the ECB in July through the ESM. Concerning debt talks, the head of the Bank of Greece said: "It is a commitment of the Eurogroup on November 28, 2012, when I was finance minister. According to this commitment, if Greece achieves a primary surplus and if it implements the necessary reforms, then its partners will take some measures to ease the debt. This commitment has not been fulfilled yet. I hope our partners, as well as the IMF, will be in a position to fulfill this commitment, because it's not just a promise, it's an agreement." Asked by the paper whether Greece will be able to repay its looming debt tranche to the ECB, Stournaras said the government is "negotiating effectively with its partners and there will be an agreement with its creditors for the ESM to repay the tranche, which will the ECB to be repaid." Commenting on the reforms Greece is implementing, he said they are being implemented not because Greece's creditors request it, but because they are necessary to have a viable social security system. "We need a just taxation system in which all those who can pay will pay what they're due," he added. He also reassured that the country's lenders are adequately recapitalized and that the banking system is stronger now than in the past, as the CET1 and capital adequacy ratio (pro forma) indicators are approaching 18.2 pct, which is the second highest in the eurozone after Finland, which is at 20 pct. He reiterated however, that non-performing loans remain a big challenge and that the government and the banks must take hard but necessary measures so that banks can achieve the ambitious target of reducing them. General News [07] Patras carnival ends with revelers dancing in the rain Over 30,000 carnival revelers ignored the continuous rain and joined the main parade on Sunday which closed this year's Patras Carnival. The big parade started at 14.00 and concluded shortly before 19.00 and follows yesterday's smaller night parade of revelers who danced and sung in the streets. King Carnival, traditionally a grand, spectacular and satiric figure which opens the parade, was wearing a top hat, smoking a cigar and holding Greece's three bailout deals in his two hands. Numerous floats followed behind with themes inspired among others by the ongoing economic crisis, such as the "Political cohabitation agreement" float, which consists of two figures representing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem sitting relaxed on a couch. The Carnival climaxed with the traditional burning of King Carnival at the old port, which was accompanied by a fireworks display. Celebrations will continue with a two-hour concert by the band Passepartout and four-member Greek band Alcatrash. [08] Weather Forecast Rain, scattered storms and a drop in temperature are forecast for Clean Monday. Wind velocity will reach 8 on the Beaufort scale. Rain and possibly storms in the northern parts of the country with temperatures ranging from 5C-11C. Clouds and scattered rain in the western parts which will ease in the afternoon, with temperatures between 9C-15C. Rain and storms in the eastern parts with temperatures ranging from 12C-16C. Clouds, scattered rain and possibly storms over the islands, 10C-16C. Clouds and rain expected in Athens, 9C-14C. Clouds and rain in Thessaloniki, 8C-11C. [09] Athens Headlines at a glance ETHNOS: The unknown war for the debt restructuring KATHIMERINI: Businesses and employees hostages to levies and taxes TO VIMA: He exchanged refugees with measures PROTO THEMA: 4.3 billion euros in taxes and 120,000 refugees REAL NEWS: Berlin's double game! ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: 30 pct cut in auxiliary pensions RIZOSPASTIS: The measures that are coming are even worse - Respond with 48-hour strike KONTRA NEWS: Merkel-Kyriakos [Mitsotakis] don't rush, Alexis isn't over yet AVGI: Debt is "key" VRATHINI: They are strangling pensioners PRIN: Walls of shame by the cynical EU DEMOKRATIA: The battle with the "beast"! ESTIA: Tsipras lost the initiative TO PARON: Turkish policemen on Greek islands! APOPSI: Minds (and frontiers) wide shut ROAD OF THE LEFT: The government of Tsipras trades on humanism I EPOCHI: Europe: A dark continent 36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE - TEL: 64.00.560-63 - FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr - E-MAIL: anabul@ana gr - GENERAL DIRECTOR: Michalis Psilos Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-03-16 Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/> CONTENTS [01] Angelina Jolie visits refugees at Piraeus port [02] Decision on Mouzalas' issue will be taken after EU summit, say gov't sources [03] Visitors, revenues in museums and archaeological sites up in Jan-Nov 2015 [04] Less refugees stranded on Lesvos, Chios, Samos [05] Angelina Jolie visits refugees at Piraeus port [01] Angelina Jolie visits refugees at Piraeus port American actress Angelina Jolie, who acts as UNHCR's Goodwill Ambassador, arrived in Athens earlier on Wednesday. Jolie is currently visiting refugees hosted at Piraeus port and is planning to visit other areas in Athens where refugees are hosted. The American actress arrived at Athens International Airport at the VIP area with a charter flight at 10:15 on Wednesday. [02] Decision on Mouzalas' issue will be taken after EU summit, say gov't sources The decision on Alternate Migration Minister Yiannis Mouzalas' issue will be taken after the EU summit, government sources said on Wednesday. Mouzalas earlier in day apologised for referring to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) as "Macedonia" in an interview with Skai TV. Defence Minister and Independent Greeks leader Panos Kammenos insists on his resignation. [03] Visitors, revenues in museums and archaeological sites up in Jan-Nov 2015 Visitors to Greek museums in November 2015 increased by 4.9 percent, however, revenues from entrance tickets fell 11.9 pct compared to the same monthin 2014, the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) said on Wednesday. It also said that in the period January-November 2015, there were 6.1 pct more visitors in museums and revenues rose by 5.7 pct, compared to the same period in 2014. In terms of archaeological sites, ELSTAT said, that the number of visitors fell by 0.4 pct in November 2015 while revenues dropped by 6.6 pct in comparison with November 2014. In the period January-November 2015, the number of visitors in archaeological sites rose by 3.7 pct and revenues increased by 2.6pct. [04] Less refugees stranded on Lesvos, Chios, Samos The number of refugees and migrants stranded on the islands of north-eastern Aegean has been reduced as a result of lower refugees flows. A total of 7,970 persons were on Lesvos, Chios and Samos on Wednesday compared to 8,607 on Tuesday and 9,259 on Monday, according to the police. [05] Angelina Jolie visits refugees at Piraeus port American actress Angelina Jolie, who acts as UNHCR's Goodwill Ambassador, arrived in Athens earlier on Wednesday. Jolie is currently visiting refugees hosted at Piraeus port and is planning to visit other areas in Athens where refugees are hosted. The American actress arrived at Athens International Airport at the VIP area with a charter flight at 10:15 on Wednesday. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-03-16 Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/> CONTENTS [01] Government aiming for agreement on taxation within the day, top gov't source says [02] UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie Pitt visits refugees in Piraeus, Athens [01] Government aiming for agreement on taxation within the day, top gov't source says The government's goal is to reach agreement with the institutions on taxation within the day, presenting a new counter-proposal on the tax-free allowance, a senior source within the government's economic team said on Wednesday. For this reason, he added, at the end of the first round of talks with the institutions, it was agreed that there should be a follow-up meeting at 18:30 "to get it over with." During the first meeting that began at 13:30, the Greek side presented a new proposal for a smaller reduction in the tax-free allowance to that proposed by the institutions and changes to the other rates. The official said that the institution representatives made comments and said they would have to contact their political superiors to inform them about the Greek counter-proposal. The institutions, and especially the IMF, want the taxation base to be significantly broadened through a major reduction of the tax-free allowance and transfer of the burden to lower incomes, while they disagree with a maximum taxation rate of 50 pct. Another top official at the talks estimated that an agreement would take two or three days at the most. [02] UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie Pitt visits refugees in Piraeus, Athens American actress Angelina Jolie Pitt, the Special Envoy to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), on Wednesday visited thousands of refugees and migrants at the temporary facilities set up by Greek authorities in Piraeus port and at the refugee hospitality centre in Elaionas, central Athens. Shortly after her arrival at the Athens International Airport VIP area on a charter flight, Jolie visited the refugees at Piraeus port and spent time with families staying at Elaionas, where she was briefed on the centre's operation and visited the children's play area to meet some of the children staying in the centre. She met with three families from Syria and one from Iran that intended to pass through Greece on their way to other European countries, where the husbands already live. According to sources, she asked them about their journey and the difficulties they faced, expressing sympathy and her own wish that borders were open to everyone. She was accompanied on her visit by Migration Policy Ministry General Secretary Vassilis Papadopoulos. Meeting Greek PM at 17:00 Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is to have a meeting with Jolie Pitt at the government's headquarters in the Maximos Mansion on Wednesday evening at 17:00. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
William A. Schabas is professor of international law at Middlesex University in London. He is also professor of international criminal law and human rights at Leiden University, emeritus professor human rights law at the Irish Centre for Human Rights of the National University of Ireland Galway, and an honorary professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in Beijing and Wuhan University. He is the author of more than 20 books and 300 journal articles, on such subjects as the abolition of capital punishment, genocide and the international criminal tribunals. Professor Schabas was a member of the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in Human Rights and president of the International Association of Genocide Scholars. He serves as president of the Irish Branch of the International Law Association chair of the Institute for International Criminal Investigation. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a member of the Royal Irish Academy. Here is the full c.v.

Dr Yvonne McDermott is Senior Lecturer in Law at Bangor University, UK, where she is also Director of Teaching and Learning and Co-Director of the Bangor Centre for International Law. Yvonne is a graduate of the National University of Ireland, Galway (B. Corp. Law, LL.B.), Leiden University (LL.M. cum laude) and the Irish Centre for Human Rights (Ph.D.). Her research focuses on fair trial rights, international criminal procedure and international criminal law. She is the author of Fairness in International Criminal Trials (Oxford University Press, 2016).

Niamh Hayes has been the Head of Office for the Institute for International Criminal Investigations (IICI) in The Hague since September 2012. She is about to complete her Ph.D. on the investigation and prosecution of sexual violence by international criminal tribunals at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, National University of Ireland Galway. She previously worked for Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice as a legal consultant, and as an intern for the defence at the ICTY in the Karadzic case. She has lectured on international criminal law and international law at Trinity College Dublin and, along with Prof. William Schabas and Dr. Yvonne McDermott, is a co-editor of The Ashgate Research Companion to International Criminal Law: Critical Perspectives (Ashgate, 2013). She is the author of over 45 case reports for the Oxford Reports on International Criminal Law and has published numerous articles and book chapters on the investigation and prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence as international crimes.

Joseph Powderly is Assistant Professor of Public International Law at the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies, Leiden University. Between September 2008 and January 2010, he was a Doctoral Fellow/Researcher at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, where he worked, among other projects, on a Irish Government-funded investigation and report into the possible perpetration of crimes against humanity against the Rohingya people of North Rakhine State, Burma/Myanmar. He is currently in the process of completing his doctoral research which looks at the impact of theories of judicial interpretation on the development of international criminal and international humanitarian law. The central thesis aims to identify and analyze the potential emergence of a specific theory of interpretation within the sphere of judicial creativity. Along with Dr. Shane Darcy of the Irish Centre for Human Rights, he is co-editor of and contributor to the edited collection Judicial Creativity in International Criminal Tribunals which was published by Oxford University Press in 2010. He has written over 80 case-reports for the Oxford Reports on International Criminal Law, as well as numerous book chapters and academic articles on topics ranging from the principle of complementarity to Irish involvement in the drafting of the Geneva Conventions. In December 2010, he was appointed Managing Editor of the peer-reviewed journal Criminal Law Forum. His research interests while focusing on international criminal and international humanitarian law also include topics such as the history of international law and freedom of expression.
If I had been reviewing Donald Trumps speech in Bloomington, Illinois as a Toastmaster, this is what I would have told him:

Over the 16 years I have been a member of Toastmaster International, I have had the privilege of both giving and evaluating speeches many times within our local club, at the contest level and in teaching public speaking classes. Though each speech has a specific purchase, I use a basic formula for evaluating every speech based on what I have learned from master speakers and always with the goal of giving positive feedback to the speaker as I encourage each to improve.

Donald, thank you for sharing your speech with us today! Your enthusiasm for your message is apparent and your self-confidence certainly draws everyone in, two must-haves for any credible speaker. That confidence gives you command presence and the use of your personal space and no notes, along with appropriate hand gestures, are the marks of a seasoned speaker.

Right from the opening remarks, you made your audience aware of your purpose: the speech was all about you and you wanted their votes! I especially liked your use of props, in this case the Hispanic immigrant you brought onto the platform. It gave credibility to your premise and conveyed warmth in a somewhat sterile atmosphere.

You also seemed to be very aware of your particular audience by referencing the many lost jobs and high tax rates Illinois citizens are experiencing as well as your announcement that you promote the use of Caterpillar tractors. All of these played well to this Central Illinois audience. Closing your presentation with a poem was also a nice touch.

As you spoke, your audience was very attentive and your rate of speaking made it very easy to understand you. I suggest you practice using vocal variety as you appear to be yelling at your audience. I also had a very difficult time discerning your main points as your thoughts were not presented in a clear, logical manner and key phrases were often repeated throughout the speech without context or explanation.

For example, in blanket statements you refer to groups as hard-working or amazing. Speaking logically and being careful not to sound patronizing shows respect for your audience. Better organization and planning would solve this problem.

I would encourage you to refer back to the Competent Communicator Project #2 Organize Your Speech for tips on how to effectively make those main points clear. I would also recommend Project #7 Research Your Speech as I was unable to hear any concrete statistics or proof of the facts you stated. Discerning listeners will demand this!

I would also encourage you to shorten your speaking time. An hour is quite long for most people, especially those standing. Ronald Reagan once said that, for the benefit of your audience, no speech should last longer than 20 minutes and he was right!

I wanted to mention that I was impressed with your improvement over past presentations. Cutting the foul language and vulgar references was great; keep working on your propensity for giving insults and I believe you will go far!

Karen Campbell is an author and Toastmaster International evaluator from Canton, Illinois.
As the Florida primary results indicate, the Gang of Eight immigration bill to which Rubio attached his persona was about as politically inharmonic for the conservative audience that put him into office as anyone could imagine. A conveyed willingness to sellout his conservative constituency on a vital platform plank of the Tea Party movement along with the recent endorsements of Rubio by the establishment Republicans that conservatives eschew not only sank his presidential campaign, but also may have destroyed his chances for reelection to the Senate had he decided to run again.

After Marco Rubio 's expected yet still stunning loss in Florida, he has officially suspended his campaign and will no longer seek the Republican nomination for the 2016 presidential election. Keep in mind that as of this posting, Rubio is keeping his next political move close to the vest, and that leaves a lot of open ended questions yet to be answered regarding the future of the Republican Party. Frankly, I would suggest that this is perhaps the first really strategically adept move Rubio has made since he rode the Tea Party wave into the US Senate in 2010.

It sounds strange, I know. For Rubio, this political loss may turn out to be the best thing that has ever happened to him. It's all about his next move. If Marco Rubio plays his cards right, he may be able to overcome his misstep on immigration reform once and for all. He may be able to finally reinvent himself and hit the political reset button with conservative voters who are invariably willing to forgive those who have done them wrong when such candidates are willing to show that they have evolved.

For Ted Cruz supporters, the Florida primary results are pretty exciting as they represent the first glimmer of hope that Cruz might actually pull the Republican nomination away from Donald Trump and go on to defeat Hillary Clinton in the general. The key to that success is unity within the conservative ranks of the Republican Party. Unity of the Cruz and Rubio campaigns will at long last give conservatives a ticket to vote for rather than to vote for in spite of misgivings.

The key to a Cruz victory now is through unifying the conservative messaging into a pro-Constitution, pro-growth, pro-life, anti-Obamacare and anti-illegal immigration ticket that appeals to a broad base of voters. The key to a future presidential bid for Rubio is in proving that he understands concerns that conservative voters have about illegal immigration. The key to overcoming the overwhelming Donald Trump populism that's on display in this year's election is in keeping Kasich in the primaries long enough to allow him to make a play for New York.

As long as John Kasich keeps the political pressure on Donald Trump without siphoning off voters from a Cruz-Rubio ticket, Ted Cruz can secure the Midwest and Western states and grab the nomination. Further, with the relative youth of a Cruz-Rubio administration, we could actually see a sustained conservative influence upon the executive branch for sixteen years if they keep to the conservative playbook and don't do something stupid like raise taxes ala "Read My Lips" bipartisanship.

Truly, there's a lot of if-thens at play here in the next few weeks for a hopeful Crubio ticket in order to have this kind of impact, but for Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio supporters, a world of possibilities has just opened for them. Bring it on.
WASHINGTON - Illinois Republican voters lent their support overwhelmingly to U.S. Senator Mark Kirk in Tuesday's GOP primary. Wednesday morning, Kirk's office sent out a message in response to President Obama's nomination for Supreme Court - Judge Merrick Garland.

While not clearly defying his U.S. Senate leadership which says they are not going to hold hearings to consider Garland's nomination, Kirk made it clear that he sees the Senate's role to provide advice and consent to be "important," and criticized partisan "political rancor":
Almost 100 people mostly from Haiti who were rescued from an overcrowded boat off the Florida coast had no food or water for...
CBSE Class 12 students have alleged that the mathematics examination, which was conducted on March 14, was leaked.

By India Today Web Desk: CBSE Class 12 students have alleged that the mathematics examination, which was conducted on Monday, March 14, was leaked. However, these claims have been denied by the board officials and teachers.

A student from Chakradharpur in Jharkhand said,"The question paper looked similar to the one that leaked a day before exam. He was quoted saying by HT: "After exam, some students showed an identical question paper in their phones."



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Denying the claims by the students, some teachers say that similar sample questions were released by the Board days before the exam and the students were misinterpreting it as the leaked copy.



As per media reports, other students claim that most of the questions in the leaked paper were similar to the questions in the actual paper and were written in the same sequence.



We bring before you a few cases of question paper leak, which were highlighted in the past few years:

Rajasthan University paper leaked on WhatsApp, exam cancelled: The students in the first year of B.Com Economics were in for a rude shock when Rajasthan University cancelled their exam after reports of a paper leak. The economics paper had allegedly gone viral on WhatsApp. As soon as the news spread, students from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) union began demonstrations in the campus of Rajasthan University. The proctor of the university, MS Poonia, immediately informed the Principal of Commerce College and soon after, the university announced that the exam had been cancelled and would be held again on a date which will be announced in the future.

The students, who were asked to take the exam were thoroughly disappointed. They complained that their entire years' efforts had gone waste. They had been eagerly waiting for the exam to be over, after which they could enjoy in a stress-free manner.

Case 2: In 2006, the police uncovered the leaked CBSE question paper of Business Studies, while it was searching for suspects related to the Varanasi bomb blasts. The police in Panipat city of Haryana searched every hotel and dhaba for information related to the blasts and instead, found the leaked papers.

Case 3: In 2011, three persons, Krishnan Raju, principal of government senior secondary school at Lapati, Rashid, an executive engineer of the Andamans PWD, and Vijayan, a forest ranger, were arrested on charges of leaking the question papers of the on-going CBSE exams. The question papers included those of Science and mathematics of Class XII.

Director General of Police (DGP), Andaman and Nicobar Islands had dismissed a radio operator MP Arun for his alleged involvement in the question paper leak scandal of the CBSE Board exams.

Case 4: In 2011, Pritam Singh, a senior official in the CBSE, was accused of making money through the AIEEE 2011 paper leak.

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The Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board had conducted the examination for the post of primary teachers in MCD schools. The exam was cancelled, after Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia found out that the paper had been leaked.



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In their bid to ensure reservations for Jats in the ongoing budget session of the Assembly, the Jat leaders have threatened to resume their agitation if the state's BJP government does not meet their demands by March 17.

By India Today Web Desk: In their bid to ensure reservations for Jats in the ongoing budget session of the Assembly, the Jat leaders have threatened to resume their agitation if the state's BJP government does not meet their demands by March 17.

They are demanding 10 percent quotas, besides withdrawal of FIRs registered against the protesters, compensation to those killed during the stir and action against BJP MP from Kurukshetra Raj Kumar Saini for his anti-Jat reservation stand.

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"On March 17, we will decide on the next mode of action on whether to block roads, railway tracks or any other type of agitation," All India Jat Mahasabha chief Yashpal Malik told PTI over phone on Tuesday March 15.

The state government must bring a Bill in the ongoing budget session of the Assembly to ensure reservation for Jats, he said.

The influential Jat leaders from across the state have decided that community members will hit the streets again if the state government does not act, he said, adding that dharnas this time would also include the rural areas.

"The state government has time till March 17. So far the government has not responded to any of our demands," said Akhil Bhartiya Jat Mahasabha president, Hawa Singh Sangwan.

On Monday, members of the Jat community held demonstrations across the state.

Malik said the "government is keen to crush the members of Jat community even though their protest was peaceful".

He also said that the government should ask its ministers to abstain from issuing statements against the Jat community.

He claimed that the Jat agitation has continued since 2005-06 in 13 states, including Uttar Pardesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Madhya Pardesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, in a "peaceful manner".

Vested interest of political outfits in Haryana was behind giving the Jat community a bad name he alleged and sought a probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge into incidents of violence during the quota stir in Haryana.

"Those who fired upon peaceful protesters in Haryana recently must be dealt with sternly," he said, adding that those killed during the agitation must be compensated by the Khattar government through award of jobs to their next of kin.

As many as 30 people were killed and over 200 injured in the nine-day Jat agitation for reservation in February.

The Jat community was demanding reservation under the OBC (Other Backward Classes) category in government jobs and educational institutions.

Check: Paper leak: Bilaspur University cancels exam, students ransack VC office

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Interesting facts about the famous Roman emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, also known as Caligula.

Caligula was born on August 31m AD 12 as Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus. He was regarded as one of most iconic emperors in the history, Caligula ruled Rome for a period of four years but his madness lived on for years.

Caligula means 'little boots'. He was affectionately given that name and eventually it went on to become how everybody addressed him. He died on January 24 in 41 AD.

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Today, on his death anniversary, here's a list of facts about Caligula:

Caligula rule spanned from 16 March AD 37 to January 24 AD 41

His mother was quite a strongheaded woman. Shattering the stereotypes, she accompanied in military campaigns in Germania and also acted as an adviser and diplomat

He is said to have led an extravagant lifestyle. This was further proved by workers, who salvaged two massive pleasure barges, complete with marble decor, mosaic floors and statues related to his empire in Lake Nemi, in 1930s

He was known for talking to the moon, ordering arbitrary executions and trying to make his horse a consul

Historians believe that his lunacy was possibly a sign of temporal lobe epilepsy, hyperthyroidism or Wilson's disease, an inherited disorder that can cause mental instability

He was named in the honour of his famous relative, Julius Caeser

At just a tender age of three, he was said to have accompanied his father on campaigns in the north of Germania.

He was known for introducing one of the most positive reforms like practice of democratic elections

He was assassinated by Praetorian Guard, senators, and courtiers on January 24, AD 41

In 1979, a film called 'Caligula' was made. Directed by Tinto Brass and starring Malcolm McDowell, the movie had an explicit portrayal of the emperor's escapades.

Interested in General Knowledge and Current Affairs? Click here to stay informed and know what is happening around the world with our G.K. and Current Affairs section.

To get more updates on Current Affairs, send in your query by mail to education.intoday@gmail.com

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While giving the Visitor's award to various central universities, President Pranab Mukherjee asked the universities to inculcate the core civilizational values of patriotism, compassion, honesty, tolerance, performance of duty and respect for women, among the students.

By India Today Web Desk: As the students of various universities are creating havoc in India, President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday, March 15, condemned these activities at an event held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan while honouring a central university professor.

After giving the Visitor's award to JNU professor Rakesh Bhatnagar for his research and innovation, the President asked the central universities to put "emphasis on academic excellence, as well as inculcating core civilizational values of patriotism, compassion, honesty, tolerance, performance of duty and respect for women as to be maintained in the university."

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"To be a top higher educational institution requires one to adhere to a few basic pre-conditions. To my mind, the most critical amongst them are ensuring the quality of education and research, enhancing faculty standards, and establishing collaborations and linkages with international as well as domestic organisations.

These awards are being given by the President himself, as he was the visitor in various central universities across the country. Apart from honouring JNU's professor and Molecular Parasitology Group, he also gave the annual Visitor's award for the best university to the University of Tezpur, Assam.

Moreover, he said, "These Awards should inspire and motivate the central universities and their academic communities to excel further. You all must work towards becoming temples of knowledge and learning."

Check: Non -Tamil students get relief from writing Tamil language paper: HC

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Get latest updates on exam notifications and scholarships across India and abroad here.

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Addressing people as he started his day from Pirthipur in Roopnagar district on the eve of BSP founder Kanshi Ram's 82nd birth anniversary, the Delhi chief minister slammed the BJP and its ideological mentor RSS on the issue of Rohith Vemula's suicide and atrocities against Dalits.

By Manjeet Sehgal: After establishing a connect with Punjab's distressed farmers during his last visit, Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday tried to woo the state's Dalit voters during his daylong visit to the state.

Addressing people as he started his day from Pirthipur in Roopnagar district on the eve of BSP founder Kanshi Ram's 82nd birth anniversary, the Delhi chief minister slammed the BJP and its ideological mentor RSS on the issue of Rohith Vemula's suicide and atrocities against Dalits.

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Kejriwal said Dalits have been suppressed over centuries and the spurt in crimes against Dalits highlights hatred and discrimination faced by the community. Citing the case of Rohith Vemula's suicide, Kejriwal said that it seems the BJP is allergic to Dalits and that is why two of its ministers forced the Dalit scholar into ending his own life.

"Rohith Vemula had told them that he is a poor Dalit student. The two ministers did not listen. The BJP had stopped an event organised by the Periyar Ambedkar study circle at IIT Madras. One professor was shot at in Madhya Pradesh. It seems that BJP is allergic to Dalits," said Kejriwal.

The AAP leader said that his government is concerned about Dalits and will lend all possible help to community. He also favoured reservation in government jobs besides attacking the RSS over its views on Dalit quota. "We will see how RSS will scrap the Dalit quota," said Kejriwal.

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PM Modi must explain why CBI allowed Mallya to sneak out of India: Kejriwal

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The Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes after BJP legislator Ram Kadam asked Waris Pathan to say Bharat Mata ki Jai. Pathan refused to oblige Kadam leading to huge protest inside the Assembly.

By India Today Web Desk: Waris Pathan, an MLA of Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM, was suspended from the Maharashtra Assembly today after he refused to say Bharat Mata ki Jai. A proposal was moved in the House for the suspension of Pathan from the ongoing budget session of the Assembly, which was accepted unanimously by the lawmakers.

The Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes after BJP legislator Ram Kadam asked Pathan to say Bharat Mata ki Jai. Pathan refused to oblige Kadam leading to huge protest inside the Assembly.

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Shiv Sena MLAs demanded the Speaker to derecognise AIMIM as a political party for spreading "communal hatred."

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi had on Sunday triggered a controversy by rejecting RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's suggestion for infusing patriotism, Owaisi had said that he will not chant Bharat Mata ki jai even if a knife is put to his throat.

Owaisi's assertion days after Bhagwat said the new generation needed to be taught to chant slogans hailing mother India drew sharp condemnation from the RSS, the BJP and the Shiv Sena, while he stood by his statement made at a public rally.

"I don't chant that slogan. What are you going to do, Bhagwat sahab," the Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad said at the rally in Udgir tehsil of Latur district in Maharashtra on Sunday.

Also Read:



ABVP worker burns himself while setting fire to Owaisi's effigy



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The terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed had planned to carry out multiple attacks, according to intelligence inputs. Somnath temple in Gujarat was a prime target during Shivratri on March 7.

A top official in the security establishment said agencies have still not verified the identity of those killed. (Picture for representation)

By Abhishek Bhalla : Indian security forces claim to have killed three Pakistani terrorists who were suspected to be part of a 10-member fidayeen group that entered India from the border areas of Gujarat recently to carry out terror strikes across the country.

Working on the intelligence shared by Pakistan National Security Adviser Naseer Janjua with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on the possibility of 10 terrorists infiltrating India from Pakistan, security agencies launched a nationwide manhunt and succeeded in tracking down three of them.

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A top official in the security establishment said agencies have still not verified the identity of those killed. "Operations were conducted to hunt down the terrorists immediately after the information was received. While three have been killed, agencies are close to hunting down the others as the operation is still on," the officer said.

Without giving specifics of the operation, the official said the three terrorists were killed in a western state sometime last week. "We are yet to ascertain the identities of those killed. Their nationality has not been established yet," the official added.

Sources said there is a possibility that the 10 terrorists split in smaller groups of two or three and travelled to other states.

Officials in the security establishment said that after being tipped off by Pakistan NSA Janjua, Indian intelligence agencies were alerted and several teams, including officials from state governments were put on the job.

Even though a formal dialogue between Pakistan and India remains stalled, the two NSAs have been communicating with each other on several occasions.

The terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed had planned to carry out multiple attacks, according to intelligence inputs. Somnath temple in Gujarat was a prime target during Shivratri on March 7. Following the inputs, Gujarat was put on high alert. Fearing strikes on important installations, public places and places of worship, intelligence agencies had alerted state authorities across the country.

Immediately after the intelligence input on infiltration was received, the Centre had dispatched four teams of National Security Guard (NSG) to Gujarat and they were deployed at different locations in the state.

A specific alert was also sent to Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chandigarh.

In Gujarat, there were widespread raids soon after the input was received since the terrorists were suspected of entering India from the Gujarat border and a youth was reportedly injured in police firing as he tried to escape the police checkpoint at Kheda district.

Security was also beefed up in the national Capital as intelligence inputs indicated that a group of terrorists could also target Delhi.

The NSG teams rushed to Gujarat to secure vulnerable spots like Somnath temple, Sardar Sarovar dam and other vital installations. The cultural events organised during Shivratri were also cancelled in wake of security concerns.

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Following inputs on more infiltration attempts, the home ministry also decided to restrict the number of Pakistani fans coming to India to watch the World T20. Fearing that Pakistan-based terrorists could use the opportunity to sneak in, intelligence agencies suggested a stringent mechanism for issuing visas. It was decided that not more than 250 visas would be issued for Pakistani fans per match.

After the attack by Pakistan-based terrorists on the air force base in Pathankot earlier this year, India had handed over evidence to Pakistan stating that JeM was responsible for the planning and execution of the attack. There have been a series of infiltrations from Pakistan in the last two years, mostly from Jammu and Kashmir where the terrorists targeted security forces. Last year, Pakistan-based terrorists also carried out an attack in Gurdaspur, Punjab, after infiltrating through the state's border.

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Google removes app that was spying on Indian Army

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By India Today Web Desk: The tiff between actress Shilpa Shinde and the Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! show-makers has taken an ugly turn. Production house Edit II has sent a legal notice to the bubbly actress.

Benaifer Kohli, who heads Edit II, says Shilpa has repeatedly breached her contract.

"Since she is the one to repeatedly breach the contract, we have sent across a legal notice to her and we will take necessary action against her as instructed by our team of lawyers," Kohli said.

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On her part, Shilpa has been claiming that the channel wanted her to sign an exclusive contract, while the production house made her work like a "puppet". She has also claimed innocence by saying that she never threw tantrums on the set.

Now media reports claim Shilpa is all set to join The Kapil Sharma Show -- which, according to Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! producers, is a "blatant breach of contract". Also read: Shilpa Shinde approached for The Kapil Sharma Show



Kohli added that Shilpa had entered into an agreement with the production house in September 2014, and since then, her fee has been increased two times on her demand.

Furthermore, the producer said Shilpa had been reporting late for shoots, ordering her own costumes while there was a designated leading designer, and "arm-twisting us to pay" for the same. Also read: Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai actors soon to be joined by a very special guest



"She now wants us to allow her to take up projects on competing channels. When it was pointed out that the contract clearly stated an 'exclusivity clause', she stated that she never had the intention of adhering to terms of exclusivity," Kohli said.

At present, Shilpa is no longer shooting for the show, and has sent Edit II a letter informing them of a migraine issue and asking them to find a replacement soon.

"We have heard from media reports that she is planning to take up another show to be broadcast on a competing channel in blatant breach of her contractual obligations. If she has stopped shooting with us citing health issue like migraine, then it's surprising that she is medically fit to consider taking up another show," Kohli said.

Meanwhile, the actress has accused the production house for giving her a tough time and has reportedly lodged a complaint with the CINTAA (Cine & TV Artistes Association) for defamation. Also read: Shilpa Shinde chucked out of Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai?



Talking to Tellychakkar, the actress blamed Vikas Gupta, &TV's head of programming, for the fallout. "We do not have the good old team in &TV anymore who gave life to Bhabiji. It is a completely new set up, and the one man in charge of everything is Vikas Gupta out there. Let me remind you here that Bhabiji is not his show. There was a time when there used to be lot of promos aired on the channel of Bhabiji. But just check out now, you can only see promos of Vikas' concept, Jai Santoshi Maa. I am seriously surprised as to how they can do this so openly."

Shilpa Shinde with Saumya Tandon, Rohitashv Gaur and Aasif Sheikh.Picture courtesy: &TV Shilpa Shinde with Saumya Tandon, Rohitashv Gaur and Aasif Sheikh.Picture courtesy: &TV

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The actress whose trade mark dialogue 'Sahi Pakde Hain' became an instant hit with audience across all ages, also lashed out at her co-stars, Saumya Tandon, Rohitashv Gaur and Aasif Sheikh, for not standing up for her.

"They simply don't have the guts to speak the truth. They knew all along that I am being framed with allegations of throwing tantrums. But none of them spoke. I am really upset at their behaviour. I will never share screen space with these three actors," she told the website.

"I am very upset that I have been working with such shameless people for the past one year. Yes, I was destined to do this role, and I have proved what I can do to the masses as well as to all the concerned people holding big positions. I can clearly say that my stint as Angoori Bhabhi has ended," she added.

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On the rumours of her joining The Kapil Sharma Show, the actress told PTI, "I am working with Kapil Sharma. The show is more than a film for me. My fans will be very happy to see me on the show as my character will be comic, yet different from what I have done before."

There were reports that the actress will play the role of Kapil's bhabhi (sister-in-law) on the show, but Shilpa said the makers are keeping the character a "surprise".

"I have not signed anything on paper yet, it is mutually decided as of now. The character is a surprise. I decided to do the show because they asked me very respectfully, they are all good actors. In fact, Kapil left a big channel to start his own show and his team did so too. That shows unity," she said.

Shilpa Shinde is undeniably the star of the show which recently completed a year. The actress became the nation's favourite bhabhi in no time with her brilliant portrayal of the innocent and chirpy Angoori.

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As much as we are excited to see Shilpa on The Kapil Sharma Show, she will be sorely missed as Angoori Bhabhi.

With inputs from IANS



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The Karnataka government has ruled out ordering a probe by a Judicial Commission into the death of BJP/Bajrang Dal activist Raju in Mysuru on Sunday.

By Aravind Gowda: The Karnataka government has ruled out ordering a probe by a Judicial Commission into the death of BJP/Bajrang Dal activist Raju in Mysuru on Sunday. His death had led to communal riots on Monday in the tourist city.

"The City Crime Branch (CCB) has already taken over the probe into the case. They have formed 4 teams to nab the suspects. I don't recommend a probe into the case by a Judicial Commission. Let the CCB complete its work," said Karnataka's Home Minister G Parameshwara.

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Minorities were targeted in Mysuru by miscreants on Monday, as rumours spread that Raju was killed for opposing the setting up of a Madarasa next to his home. Their houses and commercial establishments were ransacked and looted by the miscreants during the riots.

The police are now identifying the miscreants responsible for the attacks using video footage of Kannada TV channels that had recorded the incident.

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Delhi-Bangkok Air India flight made an emergency landing at an isolated area in Bangkok today evening after a bomb threat.

By India Today Web Desk: No bomb was found on the Delhi-Bangkok Air India flight that made an emergency landing at an isolated area in Bangkok today evening after a bomb threat.

Flight AI 332 left Delhi today afternoon and landed at Suvarnabhumi around 7.10 pm in the evening.

Authorities activated an emergency plan and safely evacuated all 231 passengers, including a child, and 10 crew members from the aircraft to begin checking for a bomb.

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All passengers were evacuated safely via slides.

Police from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit are checking all pieces of luggage including those loaded on the aircraft, Chadanisa Chumnanvej, deputy general manager of Suvarnabhumi airport in charge of operations, was quoted as saying by The Bangkok Post.

The result of the check remains unknown, the report said.

Air India uses a Boeing 787 dreamliner for the flight, according to the flightaware.com. The plane left the Indian capital at 2:05pm

(With inputs from PTI)

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If troops from the elite 208 Cobra battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are to be believed then the Maoist insurgents may have ended up with a bloody nose following a recent encounter in Sukma, South Chhattisgarh.

By Jugal R Purohit: In the turf-war ridden atmosphere of counter-insurgency operations, it seldom happens that two agencies see eye to eye.



If troops from the elite 208 Cobra battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are to be believed then the Maoist insurgents may have ended up with a bloody nose following a recent encounter in Sukma, South Chhattisgarh.

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At least ten hardcore fighters from the core of the Maoist insurgency are believed to be killed and several injured following a raid launched into the Maoist heartland at Dubbamarka in Sukma between March 1 and March 4. The CRPF lost three men in the episode and nearly 13 were injured. On ground, the police and the intelligence agree that the damage was done but weren't in a position to fully verify the CRPF's claim.

"We have verified from reliable sources. This is not a claim, this is genuine information", said a CRPF source in Sukma who has been associated with the operation. While the Cobra-led operation was launched based on 'credible' and specific intelligence pertaining to the presence of senior Maoist leaders like secretary of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, Ramanna, his wife Savitri and Hidma, the chief of the Maoist People's Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA) battalion, it had to be aborted following casualties to the members.

"Officers and men were handpicked, seniors were informed. Since Ramanna was moving to Dubbamarka, we decided to strike there. However, while checking out a location, on March 3, one of our sub inspectors was shot at using a 12 bore rifle and we had to pull out since his injury was on the chest. That we could pull out of their stronghold with nearly 500 Maoists on our tail too was an achievement," said a source. So critical was the operation and risky the pullout that none less than the newly-appointed Director General of CRPF, K Durga Prasad was personally monitoring the operation.

Through the night of March 3 and 4, the Cobra team was on the retreat and finally by afternoon of March 4 reached the helipad at Kistaram where the Indian Air Force (IAF) had placed its Mi17V5 copters and CRPF, its own hired copter. Simultaneously, additional troops were pumped in using the same helipad till they reached the party stuck inside and helped execute the evacuation.

Top CRPF officials refused to comment on the story but said, "They have lost some important people, no doubt. Through these days, multiple sources have been telling us about the Maoist casualties but we are awaiting an authentic proof, a Maoist declaration or something before we make it official."

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A senior officer of the Chhattisgarh police added that the Maoists had indeed suffered casualties. "Our sources are also telling us about seven hardcore cadres having been hit," he said.

However, not everyone had praise for the CRPF. Another officer, posted locally and aware of the operation said, "The CRPF may have killed some. But they nearly got themselves killed too. Bravery without tactfulness can hurt and that is the lesson, I would say."

The Maoists meanwhile, in a four page pamphlet released recently have lambasted the local police and CRPF. The insurgents said the police had killed over 40 people in January and February this year. Of this, they say only eight were their cadre and the rest were locals who were not involved with them.



Who the CRPF believes it killed



1. Muiya, member of the People's Liberation Guerilla Army Battalion No. 1. Had a Self Loading Rifle

2. Sukka, member of PLGA Battalion No. 1. Carried an AK47 rifle

3. Bhadru, member of the PLGA Battalion No. 1

4. Kosa, Gunman to Maoist commander HIDMA

5. Raghu, Commander of Company No. 2

6. Kallu, Member of the PLGA Battalion No. 1

7. Bhima, Member of Company No.1

8. Dula, Member of Company No. 1

9. Soni, Member of Maoist Janatana Sarkar (local administration)

10. Savitiri, Member of Kistaram Diviisional Committee

11. Nagesh, Member of Company No. 2

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Laws on marital rape cannot be "suitably applied in the Indian context due to various factors like level of education/illiteracy, poverty, myriad social customs and values, religious beliefs, mindset of the society to treat the marriage as a sacrament, etc," Maneka Gandhi wrote to Rajya Sabha responding to a question if the government plans to criminalise marital rape.

By India Today Web Desk: Maneka Gandhi's comment that marital rape law cannot apply in India has raised many disturbing questions.

Laws on marital rape cannot be "suitably applied in the Indian context due to various factors like level of education/illiteracy, poverty, myriad social customs and values, religious beliefs, mindset of the society to treat the marriage as a sacrament, etc," she wrote to Rajya Sabha responding to a question if the government plans to criminalise marital rape.

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The government too has refused to include marital rape as a crime under Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code, which presently excludes sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife.

The Justice Verma Committee on marital rape had said, "Law ought to specify that marital relationship is not a valid defence against rape."

On his show To The Point, India Today's Karan Thapar put together a list of questions for a panel of experts. The panel included BJP spokesperson Amin Sinha, Hindu Mahasabha spokesperson Rakesh Ranjan, All India Progressive Women's Association General Secretary Kavita Krishnan, Supreme Court lawyer Vrinda Grover and the founding editor of the TheWire.in Sidharth Bhatia.

"Marital rape is a criminal offence, it is wrong to say that it is not as per the current law," said BJP spokesperson Aman Sinha.

On Maneka's sudden U-Turn on marital rape, TheWire.in's Sidharth Bhatia said: "Maneka Gandhi is falling prey to the notion that Indian culture will not allow a social change."

"Hindu scriptures give some kind of superiority to women in a marital relation and her will and desire is paramount. Unfortunately the Hindus of this nation are governed by the Indian Penal Code which has not drawn any reference from Hindu scriptures," said Rakesh Ranjan of Hindu Mahasabha.

10 Big Questions on marital rape law



Isn't this an issue of consent not culture? Should marital rape be made a criminal offence? Are international concepts inapplicable here? Does Indian culture accept marital rape? Does an 'Indian' context exist for such cases? Can Indian men be allowed to rape their wives? What explains Maneka Gandhi's U-turn? Can't Indian wives refuse sexual intercourse? Does the government lack the courage and conviction to pass the law? Is 'misuse of law' a plausible argument?

How does marital rape affect women?

1 in 3 women beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused intimate partners

1 in every 5 Indian men admit forcing their wives into sex

2/3rd of married women between 15-49 years in India have been beaten, raped

16 per cent women more likely to have low-birth-weight babies

Twice as likely to have an abortion

Twice as likely to experience depression

1.5 times more likely to acquire HIV

127 countries do not criminalise rape within marriage



603 million women live in countries where marital rape is not considered a crime



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International Marital Rape Laws

USA



1993: Became a crime in every state

Punishment: Several years of life in imprisonment without parole

Britain



1991- Rape within marriage became a crime

2003 - 'Consent' given a legal definition in England and Wales

Punishment: 5 years prison term

Bhutan



Marital rape is considered an offence

Punishment: 1 to 3 years of prison term

Top quotes from the discussion "Hindu scriptures give some kind of superiority to women in a marital relation and her will and desire is paramount. Unfortunately the Hindus of this nation are governed by the Indian Penal Code which has not drawn any reference from Hindu scriptures," said Rakesh Ranjan of Hindu Mahasabha "A number of inferences in scriptures suggest wife can say 'no' to sexual intercourse." - Rakesh Ranjan "You can't lodge a criminal complaint of rape against the husband, it is written in the law," said Supreme Court lawyer Vrinda Grover "Maneka Gandhi is falling prey to the notion that Indian culture will not allow a social change," said Sidharth Bhatia. "Wife must have right to say 'no' we must change our laws in order to give her that right," said Kavita Krishnan. "Marital rape is a criminal offence, it is wrong to say that it is not as per the current law," said Aman Sinha "Maneka Gandhi is saying that we as a nation are not ready for something which world has already adopted," said Bhatia. "Our society may not be ready for another 75 years, but the government has to play the role of a social reformer." - Sidharth Bhatia "Our government has been the most progressive and women friendly." - BJP's Aman Sinha "Political class thinks of the issue as a hornet's nest that shouldn't be disturbed." - Sidharth Bhatia on Marital rape "Congress is not ambivalent in its stand and opposed amendments in rape law which included marital rape." - Grover

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Watch full episode here

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Entering the sixth year this month the harrowing Syrian conflict has killed thousands, left millions homeless and has churned out some deeply upsetting stories. Among them is a sorrowful story of Moheb who lost his friend in the conflict and the only thing that keeps him going is a game of chess and his friend's notebook.

By India Today Web Desk: "I lost my friend Omar," says Moheb "Before he died, he gave me his notebook as a gift. It's the most precious thing I own."

These are the heartbreaking words of 11-year-old Moheb who lost his friend in the Syrian conflict.

Moheb who lost his home when the conflict broke out in the year 2011, now lives in Syria's largest city, Aleppo with his six family members. The only way Moheb grapples with his the daily struggles is with a game of chess. He says, 'I like the peace and quiet I feel when I play it.'





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Syria's war began as a peaceful pro-democracy movement but spiraled into brutal government crackdown in 2011.

Entering it's sixth year this month, the Syrian war claimed the lives of 250,000 people, displaced half of the country's population and has been tagged as Europe's worst refugee crisis since World War II.

The remaining population is in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Thousands of people are fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and North Africa to eek out a new life in Europe.

A recent report titled 'No place for Children' by the UNICEF revealed shocking details about the state of child refugees. The reports suggests that the five year conflict churned out nearly 2.4 million child refugees with children as young as seven have being recruited as fighters.

With all the diplomatic solutions fading into oblivion, UN special envoy Angelina Jolie pleaded the world powers to find a viable alternative to help the refugees reeling under the five year long conflict.

In a recent visit to the refugees camp at Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, Jolie urged that, 'We need governments around the world to show leadership: to analyse the situation and understand exactly what their country can do, how many refugees they can assist and how.'

In her visit she met with Khulud, a 38-year-old mother of four who was attacked by a sniper in the Syrian war which led to her permanent paralysis.

The actress and activist was moved to see Khulud smile through her despair, she said, 'When I saw her beautiful smile, and her dedicated husband and children looking after her, I was in awe of them. They are heroes to me. And I ask myself, what have we come to when such survivors are made to feel like beggars?.'

In her speech Angelina Jolie insisted that the only way to tackle such a large scale conflict is to have "reason and calm and foresight".

Watch the video below:

--- ENDS ---

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Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut have slapped each other with legal notices. According to sources, Kangana had supposedly sent Hrithik 50 emails per day.

By India Today Web Desk: The Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut equation doesn't seem to be getting any better any time soon. Yesterday, reports surfaced in the media that Kangana and Hrithik had slapped legal notices on each other.

ALSO READ: Hrithik and Kangana send legal notices to each other; Ranaut's lawyer can't 'confirm or deny'

Speaking to IndiaToday.in, Kangana's lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee had said that he could 'neither confirm nor deny' the developments. However, Siddiquee also said that he couldn't say anything till there was anything from Hrithik's side.

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Kangana and Hrithik have worked together in two films, the 2010 Kites and the 2013 Krrish 3. It was during the shooting of Kites that Kangana and Hrithik are said to have begun their friendship.

Later, during Krrish 3, the two supposedly got close to each other. When Hrithik and his ex-wife Sussanne Khan had filed for a divorce, gossip mills were abuzz with rumours of Kangana having been the reason behind the split.

The differences between Kangana and Hrithik became public knowledge when, in an interview to Pinkvilla earlier this year, Ranaut had referred to Roshan as her 'ex' who was doing 'silly things to get her attention'. Hrtihik hit back with a tweet, which said, "Ther r more chances of me having had an affair with d Pope dan any of d (Im sure wonderful)women d media hs ben naming. Thanks but no thanks (sic)."

Now, Hrithik sent a legal notice to Kangana accusing her of 'defaming' him and of trying to create an image of him and her having been in a relationship. Following this, Kangana sent Hrithik a 22-page notice alleging threat and intimidation.

Mumbai-based tabloid Mid-Day has reported that Kangana was chatting over email with someone who claimed to be Hrithik. It was when the two met in person at Karan Johar's birthday party, and Kangana thanked the Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara actor for congratulating her on her National Award win, that Hrithik clarified that someone was impersonating him.

Hrithik apparently alleged that even after his clarification, Kangana began sending him emails on his actual id. It has been claimed that Ranaut supposedly sent over 50 emails to Roshan each day, and the number totalled to about 1439 mails from her to him.

Hrithik and Kangana are supposed to have been in a passionate relationship for over three years, and none of them could let go, apparently. It is said to have been an on-and-off relationship between the two.

Last night (March 15), during a Twitter chat with his fans, Hrithik made a tongue-in-cheek post that might sum up the entire episode:

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Despite the question being on whether or not he is playing a role in Aashiqui 3, Hrithik's comment was pretty revelatory.

Whatever be the outcome of the Hrithik and Kangana episode, that it is not getting over soon is probably the only constant here.

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Hurriyat deputy general secretary Ghulam Nabi Sumji on Tuesday said the alleged oppressive tactics of the state were taking away Kashmir's younger generation from political struggle.

By Naseer Ganai: The hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference on Tuesday said people who link militancy in Kashmir with Islam were showing signs of political immaturity. The Hurriyat Conference attributed militancy in Jammu and Kashmir to the long-pending Kashmir issue and alleged state oppression against the people.

The statement issued by a senior Hurriyat Conference leader is likely to evoke debate in the restive state among different separatist groups.

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"The Kashmir dispute has a living and a strong historical background and India has not only forcibly occupied this land for past 69 years but it is brutally crushing and muzzling peaceful voices of Kashmiris. These policies have caused reaction in the past and it continues to cause reaction. If anywhere in the world masses are suppressed and their voices are being muzzled, people, irrespective of their religion, will rise against oppression," Hurriyat deputy general secretary Ghulam Nabi Sumji said. "People who want to relate it (militancy) with Islam have particular mindset and they easily get overawed by others," he added thus indicating that the militancy in Jammu and Kashmir was result of alleged state oppression and it is not religion driven, as argued by some experts.

The Hurriyat leader said the alleged oppressive tactics of the state were taking away Kashmir's younger generation from political struggle. "That is why they are leaving universities and colleges and are taking path of brave-hearts," he said while alluding to new generation militants.

The statement comes at a time when Kashmir is witnessing growing support for new generation militants.

There has been an increase in incidents of gathering nearing encounter sites and pelting stones at police and army personnel in a bid to help militants escape.

Last week, the army has issued a blatant warning to people cautioning them to stay away.

The police also issued an advisory last month asking people to stay away from encounter sites. Though in recent months the army and police have killed number of militants in proactive counter-insurgency operations, the security forces are unnerved as people near encounter sites engage security forces in stone-pelting. After the encounter, people in thousands turn up to participate in the funeral processions of the militants.

In October last year, around 35000 people gathered in Kulgam area of South Kashmir for the funeral of Abu Qasim, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander in Kashmir. It was one of the largest funerals in Kashmir in recent years. Qasim was killed in a gunfight in Kulgam district.

ALSO READ:

Hurriyat plans to revive its office in Delhi

J-K separatists detained ahead of Sopore march



--- ENDS ---
Even as the CBI is probing the circumstances leading to the death of IAS officer D K Ravi in Karnataka last year, his mother Gowramma has demanded a fresh autopsy because she is not convinced with the investigation.

By Aravind Gowda: Even as the CBI is probing the circumstances leading to the death of IAS officer D K Ravi in Karnataka last year, his mother Gowramma has demanded a fresh autopsy because she is not convinced with the investigation.

"They (Karnataka police) performed an autopsy in a hurried manner and declared that my son had committed suicide. But there was no second autopsy. I want a thorough probe, as I need to know how my son died. It is more than a year since my son passed away. We want justice to prevail," said Gowramma at Ravi's death anniversary in his village.

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The dynamic officer was found dead under mysterious circumstances on March 16, 2015, at his government-allotted apartment in Bengaluru. The government maintained that he allegedly committed suicide because of personal reasons.



However, his family, friends and Opposition parties wanted a probe by the CBI because they were of the view that all angles of the case should be probed. The issue had led to public anger with thousands of people coming to the streets in favour of a CBI probe. Eventually, the government handed over the case to the CBI.

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The Forum will involve discussions by leading global Sufi scholars, academicians and social workers on various important issues pertaining to Islam.

By India Today Web Desk: Intelligence agencies have issued a warning that some Muslim organisations might oppose the four-day World Sufi Forum starting tomorrow which, according to the organisers, will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Around 200 national and international participants from over 20 countries will speak at the Forum, organised by All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board (AIUMB), an umbrella body of various 'dargahs' (shrines) across India.

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The Forum will involve discussions by leading global Sufi scholars, academicians and social workers on various important issues pertaining to Islam.

However, intelligence agencies have warned that the Forum could be on the radar of terror outfits, and black flags are likely to be shown by protesters.

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The Patiala House court today reserved its order on the bail plea of Jawaharlal Nehru University students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, who are in judicial custody in a sedition case.

By India Today Web Desk: .0The Patiala House court today reserved its order on the bail plea of Jawaharlal Nehru University students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, who are in judicial custody in a sedition case. The court has reserved its order on the bail plea till March 18.

During the hearing of the case today, Delhi Police counsel opposed the bail application moved by students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, claiming that eye-witnesses confirned that the two raised anti-national slogans inside the JNU campus during the February 9 event.

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"We did not only depend on video footage alone but also relied on statements of 10 independent witness in the case," Delhi Police counsel told the court.

The counsel of the students argued that criticism of government can not be termed as sedition. He said that the students had surrendered voluntarily and cited Delhi government's report that said the video, which showed the students raising "anti-national", was doctored.

The counsel added that the "perception in media and society is that Umar and Anirban did something wrong but that is matter of opinion not of law".

Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar and Anirban were arrested on charges of sedition in connection with a programme organized in support of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru on the university campus on February 9. Many anti-national slogans were raised during the event which led to the arrest of the three students on sedition charges. Kanhaiya was released on bail for 6 months on March.

Meanwhile, a high-level probe panel of the JNU has found Umar and Anirban "guilty" of creating disharmony among students on communal lines. The inquiry committee, in its report, said that the February 9 event was held without permission from the university administration.

--- ENDS ---
A high-level inquiry committee of the university has claimed in its report that provocative slogans at the controversial February 9 event were raised by a group of outsiders.

"Police can only arrest after gathering enough evidence against the wrong-doers," said Kiran Bedi

By India Today Web Desk: Even after a month of the JNU row, Delhi Police has failed to nab the trouble makers who chanted anti-India slogans in Jawaharlal Nehru University on the fateful night of February 9.

Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union President Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested and later released on interim bail. Some other JNU students, including Anirban Bhattacharya and Umar Khalid were also taken into custody.

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A high-level inquiry committee of the university has claimed in its report that provocative slogans at the controversial February 9 event were raised by a group of outsiders. Describing the incident as "unfortunate", the report said that the event was held without the permission of the university administration which amounts to "willful defiance".

In a debate with Rajdeep Sardesai on News Today, BJP leader and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Ashish Khetan and president of JNU teachers' association Ajay Kumar Patnaik were asked what is preventing the Delhi Police from arresting the masked men who were actually guilty of raising anti-national slogans in the campus.

See the full debate here:





Kiran Bedi slammed the media for intervening in police work and said, "Police can only arrest after gathering enough evidence against the wrong-doers. Police is just being careful and doesn't want to make a fool out of themselves."

Ashish Khetan retorted back by saying, "It is unbelievable that 80,000 strong Delhi police force has not been able to gather enough evidence to arrest the masked men even after one month. BJP is just playing safe so that it can form government with PDP in Kashmir."

Ajay Kumar Patnaik on the other hand completely blamed the police by saying, "Police was present but they did not do anything inspite of offensive slogans being raised."

To watch the whole show click on the video below:

--- ENDS ---
Four Kashmiri students in a private university in Rajasthan were arrested on Monday after rumours spread that they were cooking beef in their hostel room.

By India Today Web Desk: Four Kashmiri students in a private university in Rajasthan were arrested on Monday after rumours spread that they were cooking beef in their hostel room.

The students were beaten up by locals and fellow students after rumours spread, but prima facie, the meat was not found to be beef.

Police arrested the four students--Shakib Ashraf, Hilal Farukh, Mohammad Makbool and Shaukat Ali--under section 151 of IPC (disturbance of public peace) on Tuesday.

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"They were questioned about their role in bringing the meat to the hostel and cooking it," police said.

"We also collected the sample of the meat which prima facie does not appear to be beef. However, the samples have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for testing and the report is awaited," he said.

Public Relations Officer of the university said meat is not allowed in the campus.

"Cooking meat is against our policy. Police is investigating the case and during the initial probe, it was clear that the substance was not beef," Harish Gurnani, PRO of the autonomous university said.

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The departure of Musharraf, who has faced a battery of court cases since returning home from self-imposed exile in 2013, would remove a source of friction between the powerful army and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Pakistan's former President and head of the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) political party Pervez Musharraf.

By Reuters: Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the government to lift a travel ban on former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, paving the way for him to leave the country while awaiting trial for treason and other charges.

The departure of Musharraf, who has faced a battery of court cases since returning home from self-imposed exile in 2013, would remove a source of friction between the powerful army and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

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Then army chief Musharraf overthrew Sharif in a 1999 coup and ruled Pakistan until 2008 when he stepped down in the face of widespread opposition to his rule.

Current military rulers are known to have disapproved of the legal action against their old boss, which stems from his suspension of the constitution and imposition of emergency rule in 2007, when he was trying to extend his hold on power.

Sharif's government had long declined to let Musharraf leave the country, saying it was a decision for the courts.

A provincial court had ruled in 2014 that Musharraf be allowed to travel abroad but the federal government appealed that decision. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court rejected that.

"Appeal is dismissed," the court said in a short order.

Musharraf pleaded not guilty to five counts of treason in April 2014.

His lawyer, Farough Naseem, said he was now free to travel abroad and seek medical treatment outside Pakistan. He was taken to hospital with chest pains in January.

His lawyers say he also wants to visit his ailing mother in Dubai.

The former president is also on bail in connection with two other major cases: the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and the killing of a prominent cleric.

He has pleaded not guilty in all cases and has remained free though not allowed to travel abroad.

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While NSG, which had carried out the operation against the Pakistani terrorists, has said there were six terrorists, NIA, which is probing the case, maintained that they found the bodies of four terrorists and no conclusive evidence was found about any more terrorists involvement in the attack.

Seven security personnel were killed and several others injured when six terrorists stormed the Pathankot airbase.

By Mail Today: A forensic examination has confirmed that security forces killed six terrorists who attacked the Pathankot airbase.

There had been a controversy regarding the number of terrorists with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) claiming there were four terrorists based on the bodies seized from there. But the National Security Guards (NSG) had concluded that there were six terrorists and all were gunned down.

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Top government sources said a detailed forensic examination was concluded on the remains collected by the NIA from two different locations of the strategic airbase. "The forensic test has come to the conclusion that traces of two human beings were found in the remains collected from Pathankot airbase," the official said.

Bodies of four terrorists were recovered immediately after the anti-terror operation was over at the airbase. There have been varying reports over the number of terrorists, suspected of being part of Pakistan-based group Jaish-e-Mohammed.

While NSG, which had carried out the operation against the terrorists, has said there were six terrorists, NIA, which is probing the case, maintained that they found the bodies of four terrorists and no conclusive evidence was found about any more terrorists involvement in the attack.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said that charred remains, apart from four bodies of terrorists, were found at the debris after security forces searched the spot when the operation ended. "Charred remains were found and sent for forensic examination. We are awaiting reports," the home minister had said on March 4.

NIA probe suggests Pakistani terrorists who attacked the Pathankot Air Force base infiltrated from Bamial in Punjab carrying heavy ammunition and weapons. Earlier investigators were working on leads that the weapons were smuggled in separately and also the possibility of insiders providing the ammunition consignment to the terrorists after they infiltrated.

Seven security personnel were killed and several others injured when six terrorists stormed the Pathankot air base. The terrorists who carried out the Pathankot attack are also suspected to be from the Afzal Guru Squad. Intelligence reports indicate that Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru's hanging breathed fresh life into Pakistan terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) with its chief Maulana Masood Azhar using it is a motivating tool for fuelling terror targeting India.

ALSO READ:

Pakistan accuses India of playing blame game over Pathankot



Pathankot attack: Punjab refuses to pay Rs 6 cr bill to Centre

Pakistan's terror tipoff to India: Genuine gesture or eyewash?



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Five persons, who were arrested for killing a Dalit man and his upper caste Hindu wife in Udumalaipettai town of Tamil Nadu's Tirupur's district earlier this week, have been sent to judicial custody.

By India Today Web Desk: Five persons, who were arrested for killing a Dalit man and his upper caste Hindu wife in Udumalaipettai town of Tamil Nadu's Tirupur's district earlier this week, have been sent to judicial custody. One of the accused Jagadeeshwaran was paid Rs 50,000 by the woman's father for planning and executing the murders.

Police have seized two motorcycles, four weapons used in the crim and Rs 40,000 cash from Jagadeeshwaran. All the accused are uneducated youth, police said in its preliminary report.



The five accused - Manikandan, Jagadeeshwaran, Madan alias Michael, Selvakumar and Manikandan - were produced before the Udumalpet Judicial Magistrate R Srividhya, who ordered that they be remanded in judicial custody for 15 days.

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Shankar (22) and Kausalya (19), whose inter-caste marriage was opposed by their families, were attacked by a gang, who came on a motorcycle, with sickles in full public view on March 13. Shankar died on the spot. Kausalya is undergoing treatment at the Government hospital.

Kausalya's father, Chinnasamy had already surrendered before the police.

The couple, married eight months ago despite opposition from their families, were waiting at the Udumalpet bus stand when they were attacked.

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By Priya Pathak: Google on Wednesday announced to include a new taxi-hailing tab in its Maps service. The new section in the Google Maps app will show tariffs and riding options from the nearest available cab services.



The tab will be visible on the navigation page. The users who are looking for a cab service in major cities in India, will be able to choose from available cab services. Apart from Uber which is already working with Google Maps since Uber's launch in 2014, Google has partnered with Ola cabs in India.

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Also read: Google Maps offline support now available in India



If the cab service app is already installed, users can also see the fare estimates and pick up times then. Uber users will be able to choose from uberGO and uberX services, while Ola customers can choose from Ola Mini, Ola Micro and Ola Sedan options. Once the user selects a service, he will be directed straight to the Uber or Ola app where he can request for the ride with one tap.

The service has been launched for Android and will be soon coming for other platforms.



Launched in 2005, Google Maps has come a long way from being a simple desktop web mapping service to an app that can be seen on almost every smartphone today.

Also read: Google Maps update will tell you about traffic jams, alternate routes



In the recent past, Google has updated its map service by introducing several features such as real-time traffic updates and street view. Seeing the spotty internet connection and pricey data charges, the company last year announced that its maps will also be available offline.



In late 2014, company launched Google Underwater Street View, including 2,300 km of the Australian Great Barrier Reef in 3D. The images are taken by special cameras which turn 360 degrees and shoot in every 3 seconds. Since then Google Street View has mapped several locations in India like Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb, ruins of Sarnath and Gateway of Indi.

Also read: Uber now integrated in Google Maps for India, adds SOS button







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Google normally announces the next Android version at its I/O developer meet up, and announces the official name along with the next-generation Nexus phone(s) around September.

By Saurabh Singh: Although Google is nut going to tell you what Android N stands for anytime soon , we now have some information about what it probably won't stand for. A new report (via Android Police ) suggests that Android N is internally codenamed New York Cheesecake. The code name's initials - nyc - have been spotted in the AOSP repository and judging by the past record, history hasn't been very kind to Android codenames.

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It is not surprising for Google to have an internal codename for Android N . To recall, KitKat was called Key Lime Pie (klp), while Lollipop and Marshmallow were codenamed Lemon Meringue Pie (lmp) and Macadamia Nut Cookie (mnc) respectively. None of them of course made the final cut. New York Cheesecake may also face a similar fate unless Google decides to surprise us. It did surprise us by pushing out Android N Developer Preview much earlier this time round. Normally, it does that at Google I/O which is happening on May 18-20.

But, New York Cheesecake is not the kind of name that Google would want to make official for the next Android iteration. Why limit yourself (on a region specific basis), when you can come out with something far more delicious (read, universal) like Nutella, perhaps?

Lockheimer (incidentally?) gave away the name of the next Android version recently in a post at Medium. "So, the burning question that's on everyone's mind: what will the N release be named? We're nut tellin' you yet," is what he wrote. Unless he was intentionally misleading on-lookers, Android N could very well be called Nutella.

Meanwhile, the Mountain View company (as per tradition) is also conducting a couple of online polls to finalise the name (of Android N) asking users to fill in a tasty food that starts with the letter N.

Google normally announces the next Android version at its I/O developer meet up, and announces the official name along with the next-generation Nexus phone(s) around September. This year, it has announced Android N early . Whether or not it would announce the name early as well is yet to be seen.

Android N is a major update , unlike Android M which was more an incremental one. Notable improvements (features) in the recently released Developer Preview include: a split-screen mode for phones and tablets, re-structured notification panel, improved Doze and others.



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PGO in Kyiv region denies involvement in seizure of sugar from Agrarian Fund

The Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) in Kyiv region has denies involvement in the seizure of assets of the Agrarian Fund state-run budget-funded institution. The authority said the company's officials are involved in the crime.

"Prosecutor General's Office in Kyiv region has never participated in unlawful schemes or transactions which are not in the state's interests," the press service of Prosecutor General's Office said on Tuesday.

The press service reported that Prosecutor General's Office in Kyiv region oversights the observation of legislation in the form of the procedural management in criminal cases with signs of crimes related to the gross embezzlement of assets (sugar). Sugar was stored at warehouses leased by the Agrarian Fund.

The Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry has filed documents with alleged evidences of violation of legislation by Agrarian Fund's officials.

Director of Agrarian Fund Oleh Lypovy said that Prosecutor General's Office in Kyiv region was earlier accused of involvement in the seizure of the companys sugar stored at warehouses in Lutsk.
13:56 16.03.2016 Interfax-Ukraine to host a press conference, tittled 'A Feast in Time of Plague: How did Education Minister Serhiy Kvit Hatch a Plan to Steal the Future from Ukrainian Children?'

1 min read

On Wednesday, March 16, at 14.00, the press centre of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press conference 'A Feast in Time of Plague: How did Education Minister Serhiy Kvit Hatch a Plan to Steal the Future from Ukrainian Children?" The press conference follows alleged introduction of a new scheme to steal UAH 200 million through the purchase of the school equipment. Participants include Information Maidan NGO leader Pavlo Bilonozhko, Chairperson of the Public Council at the Education and Science Ministry of Ukraine Halyna Usatenko, Board Chairman of the Ukrainian Coordination Council NGO Andriy Khoma, and leader of the Ukrainian Youth Public Union to Support Home Producers "Alternative" Oleksiy Artemchuk (8/5-A Reitarska Street). Registration requires press accreditation. Additional information is available by phone: (067) 676 88 99.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed a law on amendments to individual legislative acts of Ukraine in relation to declaration of officials' property, income, expenses and financial obligations in 2016, passed in the Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian presidential press service said early on Wednesday morning that Poroshenko signed the law at a meeting with representatives of the commission on the election of members of the National Agency for Prevention of Corruption. The document was included in a package of laws required for visa-free travels to the European Union.

"The law will take effect in 2016. Officials will file their declarations in 2016 and will bear liability in 2016. I am signing this law in your presence," the president said.

All laws and amendments included in the 'visa-free travel package' are important to Ukraine and aim at fighting corruption, the president said.

Jan Tombinski, Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, who also attended the meeting, welcomed the law and said that European Commission experts had been involved in its elaboration.
Six Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone in Donbas over the past 24 hours, presidential administration spokesman for ATO issues Andriy Lysenko said.

"No Ukrainian soldiers were killed in hostilities in the last day, but six were wounded in skirmishes in the village of Novotroyitske," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday.

The enemy opened fire from an anti-tank complex near the town of Popasna to shell Ukrainian troops in the Luhansk sector, Lysenko said.

In the Donetsk sector, the truce was violated along the Svitlodarska Duha  a stretch between the militant-controlled town of Horlivka and the town of Svitlodarsk in Donetsk region. The village of Zaytseve and the town of Avdiyivka were under mortar fire, they were also attacked by infantry fighting vehicles. The village of Nevelske was under sniper fire. However, the situation was calm in the villages of Mayorske and Pisky [the latter is near the ruined Donetsk airport] and the town of Maryinka. The ceasefire in the Donetsk sector was violated 33 times in the last day.

Two skirmishes between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed militants were reported near Novotroyitske in the Mariupol sector, where the enemy used 120mm mortars.

"ATO forces returned fire and prevented enemy incursions into Ukrainian-controlled territory," Lysenko said.

He also said that the village of Shyrokyne, which is not far from the Ukrainian-held strategic port city of Mariupol, was also under a series of shelling.

In total, there were six militant attacks on Ukrainian forces in the Mariupol sector alone.
A comprehensive approach

Guaranteeing the right to abortion isnt enough. We know that economic, cultural, religious, and systemic barriers prevent many people from accessing abortion care even where its legal and available.

Our solution: We work across institutions and communities to build sustainable abortion ecosystems. In such an ecosystem, people have the information they need to make decisions about reproductive health, theres community and health-system support for human rights and abortion access, and laws and policies support full bodily autonomy.
Prisoners who had been forcibly removed from their cells banged on the door and windows of the ward and chanted death to dictator and death to the principal of velayat-e faqih (clerical rule).

Then the agents that had their faces covered battered three political prisoners and transferred them out of the ward. These three were Messrs. Farid Azmoudeh, Behzad Tarahomi and Iraj Hatami.

The three were among the 40 prisoners whose letter to the Human Rights Council had been published on the Iran News Update website a few days back where they had supported the renewal of the mandate of UN Special Rapporteur Mr. Ahmed Shaheed. As their letter became public, these prisoners, including the three, had been threatened to be transferred to ordinary prisoners ward and subsequently physically eliminated.

Among methods used the Iranian regime in pressuring political prisoners is to physically eliminate them by transferring them to ordinary prisoners ward and then threatening or enticing ordinary prisoners to beat them and assault them with knives.

Following this threat, Mr. Saeid Masouri, a political prisoner at Gohardasht prison that has been lingering in prison for 15 years on the charge of being a member of the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), had warned about the physical elimination of political prisoners, especially these three. In his letter Mr. Masouri wrote:

Thus, as their cellmate, I strongly warn of this scheme against these prisoners (Messrs. Iraj Hatami, Farid Azmoudeh and Behzad Tarahomi) that their lives are in real danger and the number one culprit (in any probable incident) is the judiciary and its element the head of Gohardasht (Rajai Shahr) Prison since he has already attacked them before using hired prisoners on December 6, 2015. Then, they were threatened with cold weapons and even their faces were burned with cigarettes to coerce them not to place any complaints against the unjust conditions of the courts and prisons.

Following this incident, in a letter to the Human Rights Council, the prisoners of Ward 4 described this attack to the political prisoners ward and warned that the lives of political prisoners, especially Messrs. Farid Azmoudeh, Behzad Tarahomi and Iraj Hatami, are threatened. Excerpts of this letter appear below (as translated):

Today, Saturday, March 12, 2016, once again club-wielding men wearing black raided Ward 4 of Gohardasht prison and transferred a number of prisoners to the ordinary prisoners ward, including Messrs. Iraj Hatami, Farid Azmoudeh and Behzad Tarahomi (that we had earlier warned about) in breach of the law that demands separation of prisoners according to their crimes. Prior, these political prisoners had enlightened the public in reports about the violation of human rights and in particular the violation of their most fundamental rights. This was true, especially in the light that they had supported the recent activities at the Human Rights Council and the Special Rapporteur and the need for his supervision. These prisoners were insulted and battered by the prisons security guards who had all covered their faces with black masks. They were transferred without even being allowed to take their basic belongings, including their medicines, with them.
But one issue that was a source of particular controversy for Australian officials and political commentators ahead of Zarifs visit was the situation of Iranian asylum seekers whom the Australian foreign ministry is seeking to return to their country of origin. Following the denial of their applications for asylum, the would-be immigrants have been left in a holding center while the Australian government pursues an agreement with Iran concerning their repatriation.

Some dissenting voices in Australia worry about the situation that might be faced in Iran by people who fled the country and attempted to present a foreign government with evidence that their lives or well-being were threatened by continued residence in the Islamic Republic. The Australian Broadcasting Company reported on Tuesday that officials from Australias Labor Party had voiced these concerns and pushed for Iran to provide guarantees that the rights of returned asylum seekers would be safeguarded if any repatriation agreement was concluded.

While the broader context of this issue was not a point of emphasis for Zarifs visit, the mention of human rights served to draw some degree of attention to Irans globally infamous human rights record. Last week saw the release of the latest report by the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed.

Shaheeds findings on human rights abuses in Iran have repeatedly been reinforced by the separate reports of human rights organizations as well as by political groups like the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

Human rights reports suggest that at least 969 people were executed in Iran in 2015 alone.

Human rights activists have condemned this situation as a pervasive crisis.

In instances like this, the relative lack of pressure from the international community potentially contributes to Tehrans ability to simply deny that there is a human rights crisis under the regimes rule.

As long as the judiciary-linked Iranian human rights commission disregards foreign reports of the regimes abuses, it is crucially important for UN special rapporteurs and other international monitors to keep pressure on the regime from the outside.

Of course, the work of these monitors is dependent upon their ability to communicate with victims and on-the-ground observers of the Iranian human rights situation. And there is no shortage of Iranian activists who have filled this role in the past and will continue to do so. However, the crisis of political imprisonment and general repression makes it clear that their work comes at significant personal risk.

And while activism is generally criminalized under the pretext of vague charges, cooperation with the UN special rapporteur is explicitly described as a crime by regime authorities. In theory, the expansion of access to the internet in Iran and throughout the world would make it easier for activists to communicate with foreign entities, but Irans strict control over the internet has made that environment virtually as perilous as the countrys public spaces.

Experts have noted an increase in monitoring and repression on the Iranian internet especially during the two and a half years since President Hassan Rouhani was elected amidst promises of domestic reform.
The Fire Festival is held in the evening of the last Tuesday of the Persian year. People jump over bonfires and use firecrackers as they welcome the arrival of the New Year. The Iranian regime has been against this tradition for the 37 years that it has been in power.

Celebrating the Fire Festival by the political prisoners was a courageous act where prisoners in a ward in Gohardasht Prison put up a bonfire and jumped over it as an Iranian tradition.

The political prisoners chanted anti-establishment slogans of set fire to the ward and to handcuffs, set fire to tyranny, set fire to the ill faith regime, set fire more than before and set fire to the principle of velayat-e faqih (or absolute clerical rule).

They also chanted: death to the principle of velayat-e faqih and long live freedom.

According to the velayat-e faqih principle, the supreme leader Ali Khamenei controls all affairs in Iran and also leads the people. Moreover, according to regimes constitution, the three branches of government function under the supervision of the supreme leader and he personally approves the heads of the judiciary and legislative branches.
In arguing that the weapons, which are capable of carrying nuclear warheads, are part of Irans legitimate defense, Zarif declared that the Islamic Republic would never attack another country. Of course, such a claim depends upon the belief that none of Irans current activities in the broader Middle East constitute attacks upon other countries. And this is a perspective that would certainly be disputed by many of Irans adversaries.

Zarifs comments also name-checked Saudi Arabia, indicating the continuation of a public relations war being waged by the two adversaries alongside their actual proxy war in Yemen. Zarif blamed the Saudis for rising sectarian tensions in the region and suggested that Iran would be open to reconciliation if Saudi policies changed.

However, this seeming advocacy for rapprochement was arguably undermined by comments made on the same day by Qassem Suleimani, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps foreign expeditionary Quds Force.

Suleimani described the Saudi government itself as illegitimate and claimed that it was constantly engaged in military action and threats not only against Iran but against the Islamic faith.

The Saudis became involved in the civil war in Yemen alongside a coalition of Arab countries in response to their perception that Iran had been supporting and possibly fighting alongside the Houthi rebellion since the beginning. Together with Irans support of Shiite militants in Syria and Iraq, this has been widely interpreted as an effort to contribute to Shiite dominance of regions where Iran wields significant influence.

But this view is something that Suleimani explicitly rejected, although he did so without direct reference to Iranian contributions to the various conflicts currently raging throughout the region. There is no indication, either from Suleimani or from Zarif, that those contributions are being reconsidered. Indeed, both mens remarks may be aimed at placing blame on the Saudis for the ongoing conflicts in order to justify Irans continued involvement.

Whatever the motivations may be on the Iranian side, the rhetorical exchanges are sure to temper any international expectations of cooperation between the two traditional adversaries, whether over regional conflicts or global oil prices. In fact, RJR News reported on Tuesday that expectations on the latter point had already reached a notable low point.

There have been ongoing discussions since last month about the prospect of a multilateral agreement among OPEC member states and Russia to freeze oil output and stabilize the long-depressed market. But although Irans participation has been courted and at times declared to be a necessity, the Islamic Republic has put off the idea until such time as it increases its own oil output by between one third and one half, to four million barrels per day.

Tuesdays reports indicate that this has led to already low prices falling by approximately three percent as chances diminish for reconciliation between oil giants Iran and Saudi Arabia. This raises the specter of economic warfare being waged alongside the military and public relations warfare already raging. And if this further depresses oil prices it will likely increase Irans need for foreign investment in order to continue the economic recovery that was arguably begun by the suspension of US-led sanctions following last summers nuclear deal.

Within US policy circles, the question of what Iran will do with greater access to foreign capital has always been a sticking point for the Obama administrations more permissive policies. And these questions can only be expected to be re-asked, and more loudly, in the wake of the latest aggressive rhetoric directed by Tehran against familiar US allies.

These allies include not only the Saudis, but also Israel, which was the subject of threats by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officials last week after the countrys three illicit ballistic missile tests. Two of those missiles bore messages in Hebrew saying, Israel must be wiped out.

Naturally, this has raised concerns about Irans long term intentions for such advanced weaponry, just as the general nature of the tests has raised concerns about Irans potential disinterest in abiding by both the letter and the spirit of the July 14 nuclear agreement. A number of Western opponents of that deal are convinced that it provides inadequate guarantees of Iranian compliance. This has in turn led to a number of Republican candidates for the US presidency vowing that they will tear up the deal on their first day in office.

But a Wall Street Journal blog post argued on Tuesday that such plans are impractical, although it did not dispute the overall criticism of the agreement and the associated Obama administration policies toward Iran. The post suggested that cancelling the deal from the American side would give political leverage to Iran on the global stage, as well as eliminating whatever modest concessions the deal had secured regarding the Iranian nuclear program.

The post went on to argue that the US could, however, effectively antagonize the Islamic Republic into cancelling the agreement of its own accord, for instance by advocating for stronger sanctions on other aspects of Irans behavior, such as its human rights abuses, its intrusion into foreign conflicts, and its defiance of UN resolutions.

And in the wake of recent Iranian activities, US lawmakers and the yet-to-be-elected president may have both the incentive and the means for taking such measures. Just days after the illicit ballistic missile tests, CNN reported that an unnamed US official had warned of the possibility of Iran launching a satellite via a three-stage rocket, the first of its kind launched by the Islamic Republic. In theory, such advanced technology could greatly expand the threat posed by a potential future Iranian nuclear weapon.

The firing of such a rocket could be construed as the next in a line of embarrassments for the Obama administration, in the terminology of a brief opinion piece that was published on Tuesday by Asharq al-Awsat. The article suggested that the repeated violation of ballistic missile restrictions undermines Obamas apparent notion that the Islamic Republic is a rational actor in the Middle East. And according to the article, this perception was further undermined by the recent US federal court ruling that held Iran partly accountable for the 9/11 terror attacks as a result of its support of Hezbollah and some affiliates of Al Qaeda.

Finally, Asharq al-Awsat notes that the January seizure of ten US sailors by IRGC naval forces was indicative of the fact that Iran is still committed to anti-Western rhetoric. In fact, Morning Call reported that the IRGC had claimed on Tuesday to have gained access to 13,000 pages worth of documents from electronic devices belonging to the ten sailors, who were held for only one day.

Previously, Iranian state media repeatedly broadcast pictures and video of the sailors in captivity  a move that earned the anger of US officials and was widely described as inconsistent with the Geneva Conventions. Subsequent to these broadcasts, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei awarded the countrys highest military honors to the IRGC officers involved in the capture of the two small US naval vessels.
[March 15, 2016] AI and Super Models: PurePredictive Launches AI-Driven Analytics Platform That Delivers up to 40% More Accuracy in Minutes

PurePredictive announced today the release of its advanced predictive modeling platform. This patented technology uses artificial intelligence to automate machine learning, eliminating the inefficiencies that exist within advanced data science. The platform enables data scientists and other experts to accomplish in a few minutes what would otherwise take weeks to do. In addition, the platform features "one click" deployment, putting these highly sophisticated and accurate "super models" to work right away, rather than waiting the months that would traditionally be required to integrate them into a workflow or software system. Over the last three months, over 450 data scientists and technical experts signed up for PurePredictive's beta release from an expansive list of companies ranging in size from very small firms to technology giants like Microsoft, Facebook, Google (News - Alert), HP, eBay, Oracle, Dell and Cisco. The beta release also attracted experts from companies across a wide spectrum of industries. For example, users came from United Healthcare, Booz Allen Hamilton, Capgemini, Experian, Thompson Reuters (News - Alert), Lowes and Sony, to name a few. PurePredictive's beta group responded positively to the platform: "Data scientists are experiencing an unprecedented number of demands on their time as companies recognize the unlimited potential to achieve greater business impact. The challenges and opportunities are going to grow exponentially from here. PurePredictive's tehnology is incredibly powerful to augment a data scientist's capabilities to create highly accurate models in a short amount of time. I believe in what they are doing and in what they are poised to accomplish." Alex Liu, Principal Data Scientist, IBM (News - Alert)



"What you're doing is truly the future in an untapped billion-dollar industry." Matt Fornito, Dish Network "The Pure Predictive platform offers an intuitive and rapid process for solving complex business problems." Roger Trimble (News - Alert), Morgan Stanley

"Advanced analytics are redefining the way business gets done. To win in today's marketplace, businesses need predictive capability to help them optimize how they go to market, which products to develop, the right cost reductions to make, and the best way to acquire and retain customers. And they can't afford to wait weeks for the right answers. Our technology puts the power of real-time advanced data science into the hands of businesses that want unbeatable speed and accuracy, right now." Justin Reber, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PurePredictive. PurePredictive's offering is structured to support both the sophisticated data scientist and the business professional with strong analytics acumen. The price for a PurePredictive license starts at $500 per month and no payment information is required to use models for the first 30 days. Those interested can learn more at www.purepredictive.com/registration or call (801) 890-5190. About PurePredictive, Inc. PurePredictive is a software platform company using AI to orchestrate advanced predictive modeling, exponentially increasing the insights that businesses gain from their data. Through patented technology, PurePredictive dramatically reduces the time required for data experts to model and deploy advanced predictive models, allowing businesses to transform their data warehouses into repositories of revenue. For more information about PurePredictive, visit www.purepredictive.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160315006772/en/

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[March 16, 2016] IBTA Plugfest 28 Results Highlight Expanded Ecosystem of InfiniBand EDR 100 Gb/s and RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE)

The InfiniBand Trade Association (IBTA), a global organization dedicated to maintaining and furthering the InfiniBand specification, today announced the availability of its October 2015 InfiniBand Combined Cable and Device Integrators' List and RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE) Interoperability List. Last October, Plugfest 28 attendees tested a variety of InfiniBand devices, including Host Channel Adapters (HCAs), switches, SCSI Remote Protocol (SRP) targets and cables. Of particular note, there was an increase in EDR 100 Gb/s InfiniBand products compared to Plugfest 27. This trend underscores the continued industry demand for InfiniBand-based systems capable of higher bandwidth and faster performance. Additionally, Plugfest 28 featured the second RoCE interoperability event, with eight member companies submitting RoCE solutions for testing. Products that underwent interoperability testing included 10, 25 and 40 GbE RNICs, switches and SFP+, SFP28 and QSFP cables. RoCE interoperability testing provides system deployers with additional tools to accelerateperformance of their Ethernet-based data centers through a proven RDMA technology.



"IBTA's world-class compliance and interoperability program ensures the dependability of the evolving InfiniBand specification, which in turn broadens industry adoption and user confidence," said Rupert Dance, co-chair of the IBTA Compliance and Interoperability Working Group (CIWG). "With the continued support of our members and partners, the IBTA is able to offer the industry invaluable resources to help guide critical decision making during deployment of InfiniBand or RoCE solutions." Updated twice a year following bi-annual plugfests, the lists make up the IBTA Integrators' Program, which is designed to support data center managers, CIOs and other IT decision makers with their planned InfiniBand and RoCE deployment in enterprise and high performance computing systems. The program is founded on intensive testing procedures that establish compliance to the InfiniBand architecture specification and real-world interoperability among solutions.

Vendors that contributed test equipment to IBTA Plugfest 28 include Anritsu (News - Alert), Keysight Technologies, Matlab, Molex, Tektronix, Total Phase and Wilder Technologies. Plugfest 29 Registration Opens The next opportunity for companies to test InfiniBand and RoCE products is Plugfest 29, being held April 4-15, 2016 at the University of New Hampshire's InterOperability Lab in Durham, NH. Event details and registration information is available here. About the InfiniBand Trade Association The InfiniBand Trade Association was founded in 1999 and is chartered with maintaining and furthering the InfiniBand and the RoCE specifications. The IBTA is led by a distinguished steering committee that includes Broadcom, Cray, HP, IBM, Intel, Mellanox Technologies, Microsoft, Oracle (News - Alert), and QLogic. Other members of the IBTA represent leading enterprise IT vendors who are actively contributing to the advancement of the InfiniBand and RoCE specifications. The IBTA markets and promotes InfiniBand and RoCE from an industry perspective through online, marketing and public relations engagements, and unites the industry through IBTA-sponsored technical events and resources. For more information on the IBTA, visit www.infinibandta.org. About the RoCE Initiative The RoCE Initiative promotes RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE) awareness, technical education and reference solutions for high performance Ethernet topologies in traditional and cloud-based data centers. Leading RoCE technology providers are contributing to the Initiative through the delivery of case studies and white papers, as well as sponsorship of webinars and other events. For more information, visit www.RoCEInitiative.org. InfiniBand (TM/SM) is a trademark and service mark of the InfiniBand Trade Association. Other names and brands are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160316005342/en/

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ISIS Genocide Against 'People of the Book' -- How Long Will Kerry Continue to Talk Around It?

For five months, the State Department has indicated that Iraq's Yazidi community should be declared a target of ISIS genocide but meanwhile has been less sure about ISIS's intentions toward Middle East Christians. Tomorrow is Secretary John Kerry's congressional deadline for officially determining whether Christians, along with the Yazidis and possibly others, face genocide by ISIS. Insisting that department lawyers need a little more time to struggle with the evidence, Kerry promises his decision soon, if not this week. This shouldn't be a hard case. Few groups have publicized their brutality toward Christians in real time and in technicolor as ISIS has. Christians, among others, have been declared genocide victims by Pope Francis, the EU Parliament, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and the U.S. House of Representatives, in a bipartisan, unanimous vote on March 14, in the heat of election season. All along, the State Department has demonstrated that it is not just being abundantly cautious and slow in ruling that the atrocities against Christians is genocide but that it is simply unwilling to use that designation specifically for Christians. Rather than carefully reviewing the evidence, as it claims, it has ignored it. For months, State officials claimed they lacked facts about the Christians and then did nothing about it. Rather than follow the precedent of Secretary Colin Powell, who collected evidence for determining genocide in Darfur, Kerry refrained from dispatching fact finders in the case of the Middle Eastern Christians. When some 30 Christian leaders wrote on December 4 to request an opportunity to brief Kerry, he failed to answer. With only a month remaining until its March deadline, State Department officials asked the Knights of Columbus, which had been running TV spots on the Christian genocide, to prepare a written report of the facts. Before it was even completed, those same officials, meeting with Iraqi Chaldean Catholic leaders, told them that a genocide determination for Iraqi Christians was not in the offing. State suggested that terms such as "persecution," "ethnic cleansing," or "crimes against humanity" -- terms that carry less moral and legal weight -- be used instead. The Knights on March 9 presented their weighty, 300-page report, based in part on a fact-finding mission that used the Darfur fact-finders' questionnaire. The Knights list over a thousand instances of ISIS's deliberately massacring, killing, torturing, enslaving, kidnapping, or raping Christians. This catalogue of horrors, however, may still not be enough. Genocide is a crime of intent, and State Department officials, overlooking such ISIS declarations as "We will conquer your Rome, break your crosses, and enslave your women," have had trouble determining whether ISIS aims to destroy all or part of the Christian communities in its territory and is thereby committing genocide as defined in the United Nations' Genocide Convention. State's troubles may be explained in part by its reliance on a 30-page trip report of the Holocaust Museum's office of genocide prevention. That report finds that ISIS, far from intending to destroy Iraqi and Syrian Christian communities, respects them as "People of the Book," and seeks to peacefully coexist them. The report takes at face value ISIS's claims of a jizya option, as does the State Department in its annual religious-freedom report for 2015. The museum report uncritically asserts that "IS specifically notes that its treatment of the Yezidis differs from its treatment of ahl al kitab, the 'people of the book,' Christians and Jews, who had the option of paying the jizya (tax) to avoid conversion or death." The museum report repeats such ISIS claims and lets them stand unchallenged. Purporting to quote ISIS fighters on why they reject a Mosul Christian's attempt to stay and pay the jizya -- "we wanted to meet with your priests and they said no" -- the report neglects to give the Church's side of the story. It gives the impression that ISIS gave Iraq's Christians a reasonable deal but that Christian leaders refused it and therefore have themselves to blame. That conclusion is reinforced in another passage in the museum report: "It is unknown whether Christians who were given the option to pay a jizya or leave, instead of convert or face death, would still be given this option should they return now." This speculation, of course, is preposterous. ISIS doesn't respect Christians. It beheads or enslaves them. The museum report is compromised by its failure ever to present the viewpoint of Christian leaders. NINEVEH, IRAQ In fact, Mosul clergy who had direct engagement with ISIS in July 2014 state that there was no serious option for Nineveh's Christians to pay jizya to avoid worse consequences. Archbishop Yohanna Moshi of the Syriac Catholic Church, the largest church in Nineveh, writes that the Christians of northern Iraq determined they "can never trust Daesh [ISIS] no matter how many good intentions they try to show." This is not Islamophobia: The Christian jizya issue aside, the State Department, of course, does not trust ISIS either. Emanuel Adelkello, a Syrian Catholic priest who dealt directly with ISIS over the fate of the 1,000 Christians still in Mosul in late July 2014, wrote to me details about the "jizya option." He relates that ISIS demanded all remaining adult Christian men to gather at a Mosul community center, purportedly to hear ISIS's jizya announcement. After the Christian leaders consulted among themselves, they decided it would be unwise to go. Father Emanuel explained that they feared that either they were being rounded up for slaughter or that the Christian women and girls would be jeopardized should their people remain under ISIS's "protection." In the priest's words:

The collective belief was that this gathering was not an attempt to negotiate, it was only going to be a demand at best, and a trap at worst. The Christians mostly believed they would likely be killed if they showed up. At the appointed time, no Christians showed up. Angered, ISIS then gave them two choices, leave or be killed. . . . [Jizya] was only put forward initially as a ploy from which ISIS could keep the Christians there to further take advantage of them and abuse them. There was specific concern that the intention was to keep women there so that they could be taken freely by the ISIS fighters. The ISIS fighters had made public statements that according to the Koran it was their right to take the Christian women as they pleased.

After burning Christian books, destroying churches, and kidnapping priests in Raqqa in 2013, ISIS then publicized, in February 2014, a new dhimmi pact [to pay a jizya tax] with Christians in Raqqa State. The announcement received considerable attention in international media, but there is little evidence that there was much of a Christian community to form the pact with. Although the agreement includes the standard language of "not building a church, monastery or monk's hermitage," there is no evidence that any existing churches actually remained open or in Christian hands, much less that anyone would want to build any. Indeed, there are no images whatsoever of what could be described as normal Christian life in ISIS-controlled territory -- no functioning churches, no monasteries or working priests, and no Christian families or Christian schools -- all of which had existed throughout Islamic history.

Their concerns were soon to be validated. Within weeks, two dozen Christian women and girls who had remained in Nineveh were captured as ISIS sex slaves. They have yet to be freed. In August, thousands of Yazidis were also captured. On October 16, 2014, the Islamic State's treasury department released an official price list for the sale of Christian as well as Yazidi females. Girls one to seven years old were the priciest, at $200. This price list was found authentic by Zainab Bangura, the U.N.'s special representative for sexual violence in conflict. Reports about the Christians who stayed behind in Nineveh after ISIS took control in the summer of 2014 also provide critical evidence. Iraqi Christian parliamentarian Yonadam Kanna reports that a dozen or so Christian families who remained in Mosul, largely because of disabilities or old age, were forced to convert to Islam. World magazine editor Mindy Belz, who interviewed Christian survivors in Nineveh, writes in her new book They Say We Are Infidels that, in the major Christian city of Qaraqosh, some 100 Christians who were initially left behind were held hostage in their homes. "One father described being tortured," she relates, "while his wife and two children were threatened after the family refused to deny their faith." Another Nineveh family had their three-year-old daughter, Christina Noah, taken from them by ISIS militants. According to a cell-phone call from Rita, a 25-year-old Christian woman who also failed to escape, both she and Christina were detained in a holding pen with other women and girls and waiting to be sold at a Mosul slave market, as reported in the New York Times. Archbishop Moshi states that in all, over 20 Christians, aged mostly between 40 and 70, were captured and haven't been seen since, despite ransom offers from the Church. One 80-year-old Nineveh Christian woman who stayed was reportedly burned alive last May. In another Christian family, the mother and twelve-year-old daughter were raped by ISIS militants, leading the father, who was forced to watch, to commit suicide. A Christian refugee told Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, now the archbishop emeritus of Washington, that she witnessed ISIS crucify her husband on the door of their home. In September 2014, a family of twelve Assyrian Christians, trapped in their Nineveh hometown of Bartella after ISIS swept in a month earlier, escaped after being forcibly converted to Islam. A coreligionist who refused to renounce his faith was badly beaten, tied up, and taken off in a truck to, as they concluded, be killed. The small numbers of Nineveh Christians remaining live as indigents or captives, or both. SYRIA Ambassador Alberto Fernandez, the former counterterrorism coordinator in the State Department under Kerry, has determined that ISIS's jizya option is a "Salafi Caliphate publicity stunt." It aims to make its leader appear more caliph-like. Fernandez wrote about the jizya option in Raqqa:ISIS defectors report that the rape of Christian female "infidels" in Raqqa was common and approved by the ISIS sharia court. Some were twelve years old. The last young person to leave Raqqa reported that he had to pay "jizya" but lived in "constant fear" and had to conform to Muslim dress and customs, even to shout "Allahu akbar" along with mobs, and had no possibility of going to church. No more than a dozen or two elderly Christians are left in Raqqa. Over the past year, ISIS abducted some 500 Christians from the Syrian town of Qarayatain and from villages in the Khabur River valley. In both cases, Islamic State sharia courts ordered church patriarchs to pay the Islamic tax levied for non-Muslims, but it's impossible to see these as anything but hostage-for-ransom cases. From the Khabur group, three men dressed in orange jumpsuits were killed in an ISIS video, and the rest were eventually freed, after the Assyrian Church paid part of the $23 million that ISIS demanded. Archbishop Jean Kawak of the Syriac Orthodox Church states that the Qarayatain Christians are being "treated like slaves" and continue to be held there against their will. In every known case where ISIS uses the term "jizya," the Christian payments are clearly ransom or extortion. Permission to perform Christian "rites" is traditionally purported to follow from jizya, but in no known case does ISIS honor it. ISIS's demands for jizya are typically accompanied by atrocities. There is no functioning church, no Christian clergy, no Christian liturgies or sacraments, and no intact Christian community anywhere under the Islamic State. Genocide is the "crime of crimes." Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R., Neb.), who along with Representative Anna Eshoo (D., Calif.) introduced the House genocide resolution, remarked that it is important to address "the scandal of silence and indifference about ISIS' targeted and systematic destruction of these endangered communities." It is urgent that the Obama administration recognize that Christians too are among the victims of ISIS genocide and, along with Yazidis, extremely vulnerable. You can help by signing this petition.
"Mr. Johnson, we need to talk. As you know, your cancer has spread in spite of the surgery. The drugs that we tried did not reduce the tumor size. And neither has the radiation therapy. I do not know exactly how much time you have left, but it may be only six months. It's hard to predict; you are a very hardy man. You have essentially two options left. I can refer you to the palliative care team; those folks are really good to help you with pain and suffering; but of course there are no guarantees.

Or I can prescribe you some pills you can take to prevent all further problems and end life very peacefully. Here is a flyer about that second option; it's called physician-aid-in dying. You can read it over and then decide. Both are good medical treatments that we as physicians can offer you. You ask what I would recommend? Well, it's really your choice of course, and I am OK with both choices. In fact, my role as your oncologist is coming to an end anyway. But since you asked: The nice thing about physician-aid-in-dying is that you yourself decide when to take the pills. If you feel that you are becoming too much of a burden on family members, or you are worried that you can no longer do the things that make you happy, you can take charge of your own future and prevent all those troubles. It's actually easier than the palliative care route: your insurance co-pay is a few bucks only, you do not have to rely on family members, and you don't have to wait for us docs anymore. And nobody needs to know."

This is the scenario that could play itself out sometime soon if the bill to legalize physician assistance in suicide is adopted by the Nebraska Unicameral. Advocates of this practice usually promote it by presenting cases of patients suffering from severe pain and other unbearable symptoms. But research from Oregonthe first US state to have legalized physician assistance in suicidehas shown that pain is not the primary reason for patients to obtain such assistance. Pain isn't even among the top-five reasons. Instead, Oregonians wanting to end their lives mention loss of autonomy, being less able to engage in activities making life enjoyable, loss of dignity, losing control over bodily functions, and being a burden on family and friends.

The same is true for The Netherlands. But that country, at least, has put into place some mechanisms to protect patients and third persons against mishaps and abuse. For example, physicians who agree to assist in suicide must be at the bedside when the patient takes the drugs. This ensures the pills have the desired lethal effect and the patient does not harm himself without actually dying. The doctor must also be ready to initiate euthanasia if the patient does not die.

Dutch patients cannot buy the medications themselves at the pharmacy or have them shipped by mail, which also prevents accidental or intentional use of those lethal drugs by third persons. And each case must be reported to the authorities, is reviewed by a committee of experts, and if determined not to have met the stated criteria is forwarded to the attorney general. These Dutch safeguards are by no means foolproof. In fact, it is extremely difficult to regulate and control medical practice in general. But the Nebraska bill introduced by Sen. Ernie Chambers contains virtually no safeguards.

We spend more money on health care than ever before in our history and indeed more than any other country in the world. We develop ever more drugs, employ ever more sophisticated technologies, at ever greater cost to add a few months to our average life span.

But once a patient's illness has become incurable and the patient terminally ill, we lose interest. Medical students learn very little about effective end-of-life care; the section on advance care planning in an earlier version of the Affordable Care Act was eliminated when opponents equated it with death panels; and the large billboards used by hospitals always only advertise their curative services, never palliative care. We prefer not to have terminally ill patients lingering around as constant reminders of our own mortality. And so, instead of investing in palliative medicine and hospice care, we enable our doctors to prescribe suicide.
JURIST Guest Columnist Dr. Barry A. Feinstein of Netanya Academic College School of Law discusses the recent seizure of US naval ships and personnel by Iran

For more than a year and two months, Iranians held hostage at any given time some 50 to 70 United States diplomats and other citizens after students overran the Embassy of the United States in Iran in November 1979. This prompted President Jimmy Carter to declare the captives as innocent victims of terrorism and anarchy. Photographs of the hostages blindfolded were displayed by the Iranians, and the American captives were showcased on Irans State television while hooded or blindfolded. British marines, sailors and their vessels were commandeered by Iran while they were engaged in training exercises in June 2004, after the craft had allegedly entered the Iranian part of the Shatt al-Arab waterway dividing southern Iraq and southern Iran. The British personnel were subsequently shown blindfolded on Irans State television. In March 2007, British naval personnel and their boats were again seized by Iran, which contended they were trespassing in Iranian waters. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, called the Iranian actions unjustified and wrong. The humiliation by Iran of the US and its naval personnel in January 2016, is yet another example of its continuing denigration of the US, the UK and their citizens. Iran seized US Navy riverine command boats and their sailors when they purportedly strayed into the territorial sea of Iran due to navigational and mechanical trouble and then proceeded to broadcast pictures of the US sailors kneeling with their hands clasped behind their heads and paraded them on Irans State television. There subsequently appeared to be an apologetic undertone on the part of the US regarding the entire incident. I will undertake to examine this recent Iranian seizure of US naval personnel and their vessels as a case study of Irans systematic violation of international law.

Under long-standing principles of the international law of the sea [PDF] when applied in an objective fashion to the Iranian seizure in January 2016 of US naval personnel and their vessels, there is nothing for which the US needs to apologize. Iran, on the other hand, clearly violated those same respected principles of international law and has everything for which to apologize. The international law of the sea recognizes the right of each coastal State to a band of sea adjacent to its coast called the territorial sea over which that State is sovereign. Under customary international law, the territorial sea in the past extended out from the coastal State for three nautical miles, and today it is considered to extend out from the coast for twelve nautical miles. At the same time, however, the international law of the sea grants any foreign-flagged vessels (including military ships) the right to navigate through this territorial sea off a States coast if they are exercising innocent passage [PDF].

The right of innocent passage means that the US vessels were permitted to be situated in the territorial sea of Iran all the while they were conducting expeditious and continuous passage, according to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (to which the US is not a party, yet it does in significant part reflect customary international law), that was not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State. First of all, regarding the term passage, even if the US vessels were stopped or anchored in Irans territorial sea due to force majeure or distress [PDF] caused by engine trouble, or mechanical problems in their navigation system as officials in Iran themselves have admitted was the situation, or one of the craft was rendering assistance to the other, as apparently actually occurred, the US boats would still legitimately be considered to have been engaged in passage. Next, in order to establish if the passage of the US vessels through Irans territorial sea was innocent, assuming of course the veracity of the Iranian allegation that the vessels were indeed located at the time in Irans territorial sea, it is necessary to turn to the decision rendered by the International Court of Justice over 65 years ago in the Corfu Channel Case [PDF], according to which the determination of whether the passage of a foreign vessel is consistent with the principle of innocent passage depends on the manner in which the passage was carried out. Basically, all the while that passage of a foreign ship through the territorial sea takes place objectively in a way that is not threatening the security, peace or good order of the coastal State, or in the terms of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea a foreign ship is not engaged in certain specified activities, none of which would appear to be relevant here, it is considered to be carrying out innocent passage. Consequently, under generally recognized principles of the international law of the sea, any subjective feeling or impression on the part of the Iranians that the presence of US ships may have constituted a security threat to Iran is not determinative, since their passage itself was undertaken in a manner that was consistent with the principle of innocent passage. Additionally, even if the US boats were passing through Irans territorial sea, as military vessels they were in any respect immune from Iranian criminal enforcement jurisdiction. Moreover, if the US boats at the time of their seizure were navigating outside territorial or internal waters, they were permitted to exercise their freedom of navigation, unencumbered by rules relating to innocent passage through territorial seas or restrictions in internal waters.

But can the passage of a warship ever really be considered innocent, per se? The previously mentioned Corfu Channel Case in fact involved none other than warships, which the International Court of Justice determined unequivocally do indeed have the right of innocent passage, although this decision dealt with the right of innocent passage of warships through an international strait which was comprised of territorial seas. Furthermore, the international law of the sea allows submarines, most of which are military vessels, to exercise the right of innocent passage if they navigate on the surface of the territorial sea while they show their flag. Thus if one type of warship, a submarine, is permitted by international law to exercise the right of innocent passage, it can be inferred that any other type of military vessel, such as a US Navy riverine command boat, has a similar right of innocent passage through the territorial sea. Beyond that, the headings of the applicable subsections of the relevant international law of the sea treaties describing the right of innocent passage and the conditions under which it may be exercised, refer in an all-encompassing fashion to Rules Applicable to All Ships. The US military boats, or any other warships for that matter, certainly belong to the generic category of All Ships, every one of which may exercise the right of innocent passage. This conclusion is re-enforced by the headings of subsequent subsections of the pertinent international law of the sea treaties which refer, inter alia, to rules applicable specifically to merchant ships and specifically to warships. Under the international law of the sea therefore warships are entitled to exercise the right of innocent passage.

Consequently, the US owes no apology to Iran for the presence of its military ships in Irans territorial sea. It is actually Iran that should apologize to the US for its seizure of US naval personnel and vessels in January 2016, in violation of venerable principles of international law.

Dr. Barry A. Feinstein is a Senior Lecturer in International Law at the Netanya Academic College School of Law in Israel and is a member of the Executive Steering Committee and Board of Governors at the Colleges S. Daniel Abraham Center for Strategic Dialogue.

Suggested citation: Barry A. Feinstein, Irans seizure of United States naval personnel and vessels, JURIST  Academic, March 16, 2016, http://jurist.org/forum/2016/03/barry-feinstein-iranian-seizure.php.

This article was prepared for publication by Alix Ware, an assistant Editor for JURIST Commentary. Please direct any questions or comments to her at commentary@jurist.org
Brazils Supreme Court announced [Politica report, in Portuguese] on Tuesday that it had accepted a plea agreement [text, PDF, in Portuguese] offered by prosecutors in a case against Senator Delcidio do Amaral for his alleged involvement in a recent corruption scandal. Amaral was arrested in November for attempting to bribe a former Petrobras executive for his silence in an ongoing investigation. The plea agreement is the result of Amarals cooperation with authorities with the aim of seeking leniency. Testimony offered by Amaral, previously a top ruling Workers Party senator, claimed [WSJ report] that President Dilma Rousseff had knowledge of wrongdoing at state oil company Petroleo Brasileiro S.A., or Petrobras that included details of purchasing a Texas oil refinery used to generate millions of dollars of brides. This is the first time the president has been directly linked to the Petrobras scandal. In Operation Car Wash [AP report], the current Petrobras corruption probe, prosecutors that suppliers and politicians colluded to siphon billions from Petrobras to bankroll President Rousseffs Workers Party and its allies in Congress.

More than 100 individuals and 50 politicians have been arrested in connection to the Petrobras scandal, including former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who was charged [JURIST report] earlier this month in connection with money laundering and misrepresentation of assets involving a giant graft scheme at Petrobras. Also this month, Brazils Supreme Court unanimously agreed [JURIST report] that corruption charges against Congressman Eduardo Cunha can move forward. The Petrobras scandal has accelerated against President Dilma Rousseff who in December [JURIST report] saw rejuvenated impeachment efforts [JURIST report].
A federal judge filed an order [text, PDF] on Monday for attorneys to submit arguments as to whether the court system has standing to decide if Mississippi should remove the Confederate battle emblem that as been on the state flag since 1894. US District Judge Carlton Reeves of the Southern District of Mississippi [official website] has given Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood and plaintiff Carlos Moore until next Monday to submit their briefs. Moore initial filed a federal lawsuit [complaint, PDF] earlier this month against the governor of Mississippi challenging the state flag, stating [JURIST report] that the imagery is tantamount to hateful government speech that both has a discriminatory intent and disparate impact. In his order, Reeves also instructed [AP report] Moore not to make false or misleading public statements, writing that such statements impugn the independence and fairness of the judiciary. Mississippi is the last state with a flag that includes the confederate battle emblem.

Debate has intensified in the past year over the acceptability of confederate symbols in everyday life. In August a judge in Texas denied a request for a temporary restraining order to halt the University of Texas at Austin from relocating a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis [JURIST report]. In July it came to light that Dylann Roof, who is charged with the murder of nine black church members in South Carolina [JURIST report], prominently posed [NYT report] with the confederate flag. Also in July South Carolina removed the Confederate flag from the state house [JURIST report]. Although the Charleston shooting led to renewed focus on the use of the Confederate flag, controversy over the flag has persisted for years. In June the US Supreme Court ruled that state governments can restrict [JURIST report] the kinds of messages printed on specialty license plates after the Sons of Confederate Veterans argued that the Texas governments refusal to issue specialty license plates including an image of the confederate flag violated the First Amendment [Cornell LII backgrounder]. In June 2012 a federal judge in Virginia dismissed a lawsuit [JURIST report] which challenged the constitutionality of the city of Lexingtons ordinance banning the Confederate flag from being flown on city poles. In 2008 a federal court affirmed [JURIST report] a district courts grant of summary judgment to a Tennessee public high school in a lawsuit brought by three students who claimed the schools ban on wearing the Confederate flag was unconstitutional.
[JURIST] The Kentucky Senate [official website] on Tuesday approved a bill [text, PDF] allowing businesses to refuse service to gays and lesbians based upon their religious beliefs. The amended bill, which will be a new section to KRS 446 [materials], was created with the intent to protect certain guaranteed rights. In particular, the bill stated that the government shall not substantially burden a persons freedom of religion or any other protected rights absent clear and convincing evidence of a compelling governmental interest furthered by the least restrictive means by requiring they conduct certain protected activities for homosexuals. When read in conjunction with KRS 466.350 [text, PDF], which states that the right to act or refuse to act in a manner motivated by a sincerely held religious belief shall not be burdened without substantial governmental interest, the bill will allow certain business owners to refrain from providing certain customized, artistic, expressive, creative, ministerial, or spiritual goods or services to LGBT individuals. The bill also prohibits individuals denying their services from civil or criminal penalties.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights, as well as freedom of religious practice, remain controversial issues in the US. At least nineteen states have enacted some variety of religious freedom laws, most modeled after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act [text] signed into law by Bill Clinton in 1993. Last Friday Missouri lawmakers approved a proposal [JURIST report] to provide similar religious protections to individuals and businesses in opposition to gay marriage. Last month the Georgia Senate passed [JURIST report] a bill similar to the Missouri Senate bill, which would give religious leaders the right to refuse to marry any couple if it is against their religion without facing penalties and bars the government from taking any adverse action against any person who acts in accordance with their religious views towards marriage. Earlier this year, an Indiana legislative committee approved a bill [JURIST report] that would repeal the controversial religious freedom law passed last year. Following the US Supreme Court [official website] ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges [JURIST report] in June, Kentucky clerk Kim Davis refused to issue [JURIST report] marriage licenses, arguing that her Christian faith should exempt her from issuing the licenses to same-sex couples. Also in June North Carolina lawmakers passed SB 2, a law that permits magistrates to refuse to perform same-sex marriages on religious grounds, overriding a veto [JURIST reports] by Governor Pat McCrory.
North Koreas high court on Wednesday sentenced an American student to 15 years of imprisonment and hard labor following his conviction for subversion. The University of Virginia student, Otto Warmbier, confessed in a press conference held last month by North Korean authorities that he had attempted to steal a propaganda sign from a Pyongyang hotel, calling his crime very severe and pre-planned. The North Korean government announced [AP report] his arrest for an anti-state crime committed with the tacit connivance of the US government and under its manipulation in January. He was accused of attempting to impair the unity of North Koreas people, and was charged with subversion under Article 60 of the countrys criminal code. Warmbier was reportedly convicted this week after a trial at the North Korean Supreme Court in Pyongyang which lasted only one hour. The sentence has been condemned [Reuters report] by Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website], with the deputy director of its Asia division calling it outrageous and shocking.

International concern has been expressed over North Koreas instability and poor human rights record. Earlier this month UN human rights investigator Marzuki Darusman urged [JURIST report] the UN Human Rights Council to push for the prosecution of top North Korean government officials for crimes against humanity. Also this month Kim Jong-un watched [JURIST report] a ballistic missile launch test and ordered more tests in order to improve the countrys nuclear attack capabilities. In February UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon called on [JURIST report] North Koreas government to stop violating international obligations after another missile launch was conducted. In January the US House of Representatives approved [JURIST report] legislation that would increase sanctions against North Korea for its continuation of nuclear testing. In November Japan and the EU circulated [JURIST report] a draft UN resolution condemning North Koreas human rights abuses and encouraging the UN Security Council to refer the country to the ICC, noting reports of torture, limits on freedom of mobility, restrictions on freedom of speech, restrictions on freedom of religion, privacy infringement, arbitrary imprisonment, prison camps and more. Darusman expressed deep concerns [JURIST report] regarding human rights violations in the country just a month earlier.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan [official website] affirmed the ruling of a lower court on Tuesday allowing former president Pervez Musharraf [JURIST news archive] to travel abroad. The court held that the former president, who is still awaiting trial on a host of charges, may leave the country unless the government establishes a new ban on him from traveling. The court removed him from the exit control list [Pakistan Today report] that permitted authorities to stop any overseas travel. Musharraf was temporarily hospitalized [Daily Pakistan report] before the ruling and presented information expressing a need to travel abroad to undergo a fusion surgery. A letter presented in court from his doctor stated that the surgery is necessary because of severe pain in his back and legs. However, members of the opposition fear [NYT report] that if Musharraf is free to travel abroad he will abscond and not return to Pakistan to face his treason trial.

The case against Musharraf has been ongoing since 2014. Pakistans Sindh High Court (SHC) [official website] in June 2014 lifted [judgment, PDF] a travel ban that had prevented Musharraf from leaving the country. Musharraf was indicted [JURIST report] in March of that year on charges of high treason. If convicted, the Musharraf could face the death penalty. Musharraf pleaded not guilty to each of the charges against him, including unlawfully suspending the constitution, firing Pakistans chief justice, and instituting emergency rule in 2007. Musharraf called the charges politically motivated and maintained that the country had prospered under his 2001-2008 rule and that his declaration of a state of emergency was not unconstitutional.
[JURIST] A second Pennsylvania Supreme Court [official website] justice resigned Tuesday over of a growing scandal that involves hundreds of offensive e-mails. Justice Michael Eakin is the second justice to retire after Justice Seamus McCaffery retired immediately after being suspended in 2014 when Attorney General Kathleen Kane released a plethora of questionable e-mails to the media. Eakins lawyer, Bill Costopoulos, stated [AP report] that the trial against Eakin for ethical violations, which was scheduled to start in two weeks, will not go forward, as Eakin is pleading guilty to the allegations. Although Eakin was clear when McCaffery retired, he came under fire again when Kane began releasing more e-mails last year. Kane was criminally charged [JURIST report] in August for allegedly leaking grand jury documents to the media to embarrass a critic, and then giving false testimony to a grand jury in order to cover up her actions. Kane claims that this is in response to taking on the Pennsylvania judiciary and law enforcement which, in her view, is male-dominated.

The e-mails involved [PennLive report] in the scandal are sexually and racially offensive in nature. Examples include a satirical video about a busload of sluts crashing, sexually suggestive thread/conversation about one of Eakins female employees and a joke about Tiger Woods that referred to his African-American and Asian background. Eakin had argued before a three-judge panel in 2014 that although he was devastated that he allowed such a thing to happen, it had not affected his job performance whatsoever. Subsequently, Kanes law license has not been reinstated [JURIST report], after a vote that included Eakin in February of this year. Kane argued Eakin should have been prevented from taking part in the vote to suspend her license, due to connections to an email scandal. The court found that Kane failed to seek Eakins recusal at the earliest possible time, leaving her unable to object to the courts unanimous September decision at this time.
A UN official said Wednesday that Qatari poet Mohammed al-Ajami received a royal pardon on Tuesday night and has been freed after more than four years in prison. The poet received a 15-year prison sentence [AP report] in 2011 after a poem he wrote and recited in his home apparently offended Qatars former ruler. He initially received a life sentence for the verses, which criticized the Crown Prince of Qatar and praised the Tunisian revolution, but the sentence was reduced to 15 years after he appealed in 2013. The sentence was widely criticized by human rights groups, with the UN urging [statement] the government of Qatar to release al-Ajami in October. News of his release was praised [AI report] by Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy website], which called the move long overdue good news.

The balancing of citizens internationally recognized rights to free speech with domestic and international security concerns is a struggle throughout the world. In March the Delhi High Court granted bail [JURIST report] to a student political leader, who was arrested with other students for participating in a rally, after the arrests sparked massive protests across India over the alleged violation of free speech and peaceful dissent. In February Human Rights Watch urged [JURIST report] the Indonesian Parliament to reject proposed amendments to its law on the eradication of terrorism, asserting that they would limit the exercise of free expression. In October the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern [JURIST report] over what he called the organized attack on opposition politicians in Cambodia.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon [official website] called [transcript] Tuesday for the UN Human Rights Council [official website] to increase its impact in the next decade, citing the erosion of human rights around the world. In a speech marking the the tenth anniversary of the council, Ban said that because many state governments around the world are in conflict, there is a vacuum of human rights around the world. Ban cited the current refugee crisis and unrest, stating that the council needs to reinforce the links between human rights, stability, peace and development:

As we all know too well, human rights are sadly under attack around the world. Civilians caught up in conflict are treated as collateral damage, or deliberately targeted. Minorities are under assault; refugees are rejected instead of protected. In a growing number of countries, politicians are using divisive rhetoric to whip up fear and hatred. Courageous human rights defenders face oppression, demonization and even death.Some governments are attempting to restrict the work of the UNs own human rights offices. Many fail to uphold human rights while countering terrorism or striving to prevent radicalization. While Member States have the primary responsibility for upholding rights, it is Member States that are all too often in breach of their commitments. We need the Human Rights Council more than ever to pursue its work with courage and persistence

The secretary urged the council to increase its impact in the second decade by engaging all regions and sectors of society to promote human rights.

The Human Rights Council examined multiple reports this week about human sighs issues around the world. The UN Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights, Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky [official profile] presented reports [press release] to the council Tuesday finding [JURIST report] that economic inequality has a negative impact on financial crises and undermines human rights efforts]. UN human rights investigator Marzuki Darusman [official profile] urged [press release] the UN Human Rights Council on Monday to push [JURIST report] for the prosecution of top North Korean government officials for crimes against humanity
UN experts on Tuesday concluded [press release] that a Russian woman suffered gender-based discrimination when she was denied employment at the helm of a boat. Svetlana Medvedeva was selected by a private company after graduating as a navigation officer to work at the helm of a boat in 2012. She was rejected from the position because it had been listed as an occupation that women were restricted from doing. Medvedeva pursued a judicial order to compel the company to establish the safe working conditions required for her employment in response. Her appeal was rejected because, in the courts reasoning, the restrictions on women were aimed at protecting the reproductive health of women. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) [official website], a UN mandate created to implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women [official website], reported that no scientific evidence had been provided to the Committee to support the claim that the inclusion of women into the position of helmperson-motorist would be harmful to womens reproductive health. The Committee concluded that Medvedeva had been put into a position where she cannot earn a living from being gainfully employed through the profession for which she was educated. The CEDAW criticized and called on Russia to amend, reduce and revise the list of restricted or prohibited occupations and sectors established by the law and to give Ms. Medvedeva appropriate compensation, reparation and access to jobs for which she is qualified.

The CEDAW was urged [JURIST report] earlier this month to place more of a focus on women in disaster reduction and relief measures because women were disproportionately affected by disasters. In January UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced [JURIST report] that he is creating the first high-level panel to address womens economic empowerment initiatives. The panels goal is to create a plan of action for nations and private sector businesses to implement in order to improve womens rights by achieving economic agency for women all over the globe. In September the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said that no country has achieved full equality between men and women and urged [JURIST report] the 47 members of the Human Rights Council to make efforts to achieve such equality.
The Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic (CAR), Marie-Therese Keita-Bocoum, made her sixth visit to the nation on Wednesday and shared an update [press release] on the human rights situation with President Faustin Archange Touadera. Touadera was elected [BBC report] in February. Keita-Bocoum noted improvements in the nations human rights situation, but urged the government to return security by working to end impunity and to disarm the violent groups prevalent in central and eastern regions. The expert also thanked the government for its cooperation in the effort to develop human rights. At the end of her visit, the expert warned of the harm that could be incurred by the CAR if it were to elect new officials with histories of human rights violations. She also expressed concern about the nations victims of violence, particularly those of sexual violence.

In February the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) [official website] called [press release] on the government to address numerous human rights violations [JURIST report] stemming from an outbreak of violence in Bangui last year. Last fall an eruption of violence in the capital city of Bangui resulted in at least 47 civilian deaths, at least a dozen rapes and the displacement of 42,000 people. Violence has persisted in the CAR since the predominately Muslim-based Seleka rebels ousted former president Francois Bozize [BBC profile] in March 2013. More than 400,000 people remain displaced due to the violent overthrow, with over a half million more people seeking refuge in other countries. In November UNICEF [official website] called for [press release] aid to approximately 1.2 million children distressed by conflict [JURIST report] in the CAR.
ANNFSU files complaint at CIAA against Birat Oil

The All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU), the student wing of CPN-UML, has filed a corruption complaint at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) against Birat Petroleum Company.
Capacity of Thankot depot to be boosted

The expansion plan will result in the capacity being increased to 6,000 kl, enough to fulfil the valleys requirement for 20-25 days
Easing visa process key to Saarc connectivity

Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Monday elected Suraj Vaidya as its new president. He was earlier the senior vice president of SCCI. Vaidya talked with the Post about his plans and priorities for the SCCI. Excerpts:
Jaishankar meets Morcha leaders

Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar on Tuesday met leaders of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM).
Two teens held for adducting 8-yr-old

Two teenagers have been arrested on charge of abducting an eight-year-old girl child from Lalitpur on Tuesday.
Micro solar grids brighten off-grid rural communities

Micro solar grids have brightened the lives of rural communities in Nepal which until recently had to depend on solar panels or gasoline-powered generators. Now electricity generated by solar power comes to their homes through transmission lines.
Nepal Army permitted to run garment factory

The 228th meeting of Industrial Promotion Board (IPB), chaired by Industry Minister Som Prasad Pandey, on Tuesday decided to permit the NA to operate the factory within the city
Nepal seeks to spread community forestry programme across SAsia

Nepal has officially proposed to share its successful experience and expertise in community forestry management to the rest of South Asia during the ongoing 52nd programming committee meeting of the Saarc ministerial meeting.
NOC under CIAA scanner in Birat Petroleum case

A complaint has been filed against Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) at Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority for letting Birat Petroleum sell gasoline at Rs 30 higher than the market price.
SAARC Standing Committee meeting begins

The SAARC Standing Committee meeting has begun here on the eve of 37th SAARC Council of Ministers' meeting.
'Save me to save my kid'

My child can survive only when I am alive", a women said from a hospital's bed. "Please save me to save my kid".
The state doesnt see

An independent inquiry into violence must be formed to establish peace in the Tarai
Tricksters misusing CIB name

Nepal Police unit urges people to report it if anyone claims to settle cases for money
1. Yes. Its important to cast my votes early and avoid the lines on Election Day.

2. Yes. With nearly two weeks of early voting, its a more convenient way to take part.

3. No. Its better to wait until Election Day, in case any last-minute information surfaces.

4. No. Im not planning to vote early or on Election Day. It isnt worth my time.

5. Unsure. It depends on how the campaigns are shaping up. Ill play it by ear.

Vote

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No

Yes, a light case

Yes, two or more light cases

One serious case

Two or more serious bouts

Vote

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There is nothing fun or relaxing about finding out that your personal or financial information has been ripped off and misused while you are on spring break. To protect from identity and financial theft, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection offers simple tips for students and families to follow both during and after their vacations.

The best course of action while you are away on your trip is to limit the business you conduct on public WiFi networks and to minimize the amount of information you share through social media, said Frank Frassetto, division administrator for Trade and Consumer Protection. When you return home, take a defensive stance against identity theft by reviewing your social media, email and financial accounts and updating all of your passwords.

While you are on vacation:

Use caution with public WiFi. Avoid doing any banking or transmitting any sensitive personal information online using a public WiFi network. Only enter sensitive information over password-protected networks and in secure websites (those that start with https://  the s stands for secure).

Keep personal documents close. Make use of a room safe when available for mobile devices, valuables and sensitive documents like passports, ID cards, credit cards and airline tickets.

Always keep your mobile devices in a secure location. Your smartphone, tablet and laptop contain a wealth of personal information like your contacts, messages, media files and schedules. Know where these devices are at all times and keep your phone secure in public. Log out of all websites so your accounts are not accessed if your device is lost or stolen.

Dont broadcast your trip. If you share the details of your travel plans through social media, you are providing information for scammers to use in their ploys and for thieves to use in determining when your home is unattended. Limit the information you share and strengthen your account settings to only allow access to friends and family.

When you get home:

Change passwords. Any website you accessed on your trip was fair game for scammers, so change all of your passwords  especially for your email account.

Check accounts. Take a look through your bank and credit card accounts and identify any irregularities. Bring them to the immediate attention of your financial institution.

Check credit reports. Your information could have been stolen while you were on break. Review your credit reports to ensure that no unexpected accounts have been created in your name.

For additional information or to file a complaint, visit the Consumer Protection Bureau at http://datcp.wisconsin.gov, send an email to datcphotline@wisconsin.gov or call the Consumer Protection Hotline toll-free at 1-800-422-7128.
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Tuesday, March 15, 2016

In my Energy Business: Law & Strategy course, I use Larry A. DiMatteo's article, Strategic Contracting: Contract Law as a Source of Competitive Advantage, 47 Am. Bus. L.J. 727 (2010). I have been using the article in the class since 2012 (this is the third time I have taught it), and I think it does a great job of providing a theoretical backdrop for practical application. I teach the article in combination with a one-sided proposed Memorandum of Understanding to help students think about the contracting process and and the long-term implications of what might seem like a small-scale negotiation. I highly recommend the piece.

In reading the article this time around, though, I was struck by how differently the piece treats limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations and the way concerns about opportunistic behavior are raised in the context of the latter. In one portion of the article, DiMatteo notes:

Corporate strategy that fails to take account of the strategic use of law is likely to waste opportunities for competitive advantages. A corporate legal strategy can be used to gain competitive advantages both internally and externally.

I wholeheartedly agree, and this is part of the reason I teach my course. Although I don't think this is true of just "corporate" strategy, because the same applies to other entities, such as educational institutions, environmental organizations, LLCs, and even governments. Regular readers will not be surprised that I would choose to start the sentence "entity strategy" instead of "corporate strategy, " but his point is still well taken.

Later in the piece, Prof. DiMatteo takes the following position with regard to LLCs:

The freedom of contract paradigm that underlies LLCs allows for broad flexibility in strategically drafting the operating agreement. I will make a distinction here between proper and improper strategic drafting, because a distinction based on legality is insufficient. That is, improper terms may be perfectly legal under some states LLC statutes. The argument here is that the freedom of contract construct can lead to contractual abuse, albeit a legally sanctioned abuse. For example, a combination of clauses could be inserted into the operating agreement that strips nonmanager members of all power and protections, such as removal of fiduciary duties relating to the managing member, an indemnification clause to protect the managing member from liability for malfeasance, and a clause providing that the nonmember managers have no right to withdraw or to seek dissolution. These types of provisions may be legal under some statutory schemes, but strict enforcement of these clauses by the managing member would be abusive.

I fail to see why strategic use of law in this context is more problematic than the strategic use of law in other contexts. I do understand and validate concerns about on-going expectations of fiduciary protections related to entities, and that is why, as I have suggested previously, that the lack of fiduciary duties and post-formation changes to fiduciary duties (especially loyalty) should include disclosure and perhaps other structural protections. (I am less concerned about those forming the entity agreeing to limit or eliminate fiduciary duties because they are agreeing to the option at formation when they can object or walk away.) Still, I don't see any reason that freedom of contract in LLCs is fundamentally different from freedom of contract in any other setting, at least as along as you account for a potential knowledge gap about fiduciary duties. In contrast, I liked how Larry Ribstein framed the question of possible promoter liability for LLCs in New York, where he argued that one could make a complaint that "alleged a misrepresentation which would be actionable without implying a fiduciary duty."

I do agree with Prof. DiMatteo when he says, "In the end, contracts can be a strategic tool in obtaining a competitive advantage, or they can be a tool to support collaboration by minimizing the opportunities for advantage taking." Freedom of contract in LLC formation embraces both of these concepts, too. I just think that those forming the entity should be the ones to determine which path they will take.

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/business_law/2016/03/why-not-have-freedom-of-strategic-contracting-in-llc-formation.html


Brazilian police said 3 million people protested Sunday, asking for the removal of President Dilma Rousseff.

Brazil newspapers said the protests were the largest political demonstrations in the country's history. The protest took place in 200 cities and towns.

The protesters asked lawmakers to impeach the unpopular president. Rousseffs political party faces a corruption scandal while the country is in its worst recession in 25 years.

Sergio Praca is a political analyst at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Rio de Janeiro. He said the nationwide protests "were very powerful" and were "the worst scenario possible for the government."

Officials are investigating Rousseff and her Workers' Party for their role in the corruption scandal at state oil company, Petrobras.

Prosecutors said more than $2 billion was paid in bribes and other funds by construction and engineering firms in exchange for inflated Petrobras contracts.

Dozens of former Petrobras executives and political figures, including Rousseff's mentor, former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, are under investigation. Some of the alleged corruption took place while Rousseff was chairman of the Petrobras board.

Rousseff, whose term ends in 2018, said she will not quit. But the president and her Workers Party are facing a new threat.

On Saturday, Rousseffs main governing partner, the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, said it is reviewing its alliance with the Workers' Party.

Hai Do adapted this story from VOA News with additional materials from Reuters and the Associated Press. Kathleen Struck was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

impeach - v. to charge a public official with a crime while in office

scenario - n. a description of what could possibly happen

role - n. a part that someone or something has in an activity or situation

bribe - n. when something of value is given in order to get someone to do something

mentor - n. someone who teaches or gives advice to a less experienced and often younger person

quit - v. resign; to stop working or stop doing


St. Patricks Day is Thursday, but some Americans started celebrating two weeks ago.

The city of Alexandria, Virginia, held its annual St. Patricks Day Parade on March 5. So did three cities in New Jersey.

The holiday is a big deal in America and not only for the 33.1 million Americans who claim Irish ancestry.

Many non-Irish Americans will join Irish friends in wearing green clothes on Thursday. Many will lift a mug of Guinness, the famous Irish beer.

At a Washington, D.C., luncheon this week, President Barack Obama made a note of how big St. Patricks Day has become.

Now, its true that its not technically St. Patricks Day, but that's OK, Obama said. Most folks who celebrate it arent Irish either.

The holiday honors Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Patrick lived in the 5th century. He was taken by pirates and kept as a slave in Ireland. After he escaped, he trained as a priest before returning to Ireland.

Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years, wrote Catholic Online. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering, he died March 17, 461.

Diarmuid O Giollain is a professor of Irish Language and Literature at Notre Dame University in Indiana. He told VOA that St. Patricks Day appeals to many nationalities because it is linked to immigrants, or outsiders.

The Irish came in large numbers, and were Catholics seen as outside the majority Protestant population, O Giollain said. I think they found this space of parading their ethnicity and their identity, and this probably made the holiday attractive to all immigrants."

The Irish are known as great storytellers. It is the home of many wonderful writers, including James Joyce and Oscar Wilde.

And at the St. Patricks Day lunch Tuesday, U.S. politicians tried their best to tell a few stories of their own.

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin talked to Irelands Acting President Enda Kenny about a recent family trip to Ireland. Kenny attended Tuesdays luncheon, as have many Irish presidents over the years.

While we were there, we walked through a graveyard where our ancestors were buried, Ryan said of his Ireland trip. And as we were walking, we came across a headstone with this inscription: Here lies a politician and an honest man.

And my son said, Wow, I wonder how they got the two of them in one grave.

Many Americans will observe St. Patricks Day with big parades. The largest is in New York City on Thursday, where crowds in the millions are not unusual.

And dont forget about Ireland.

The capital city of Dublin will also have a big parade on Thursday. The theme is, Imagine If  Parade officials say it centers on the imagination of Irelands youth as they look to the next 100 years.

I'm Anna Matteo.

Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us and share your plans for St. Patricks Day in the Comments Section or on our Facebook Page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

mug  n. a large drinking cup with a handle

patron saint  n. a saint who is believed to protect a particular place or type of person

miracle  n. an unusual or wonderful event that is believed to be caused by the power of God.

confession  n. a written or spoken statement in which you say that you have done something wrong

endure  v. experience pain or suffering for a long time

graveyard  n. a place where dead people are buried.

headstone  n. a stone that marks the place where a dead person is buried

inscription  n. words that are written on or cut into a surface
Sound Hearing Services moved to Lebanon in November, and owners Gary and Jody Ferguson said they are excited about the switch, partly because they are close to Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital and other medical offices.

This is nice. Its secure. Its friendly. Its a big improvement, Gary Ferguson said.

Were in this complex that keeps growing and growing, where people come and see their doctors, he added.

The new office also is disabled accessible, which can be quite important when your clientele tends to run a bit older.

Sound Hearing Services new space is at 625 N. Fifth St., inside a branch office of the Central Willamette Community Credit Union.

Gary Ferguson stressed that the business is mobile, as he does house calls for customers, including clients in the Albany area, so he wont be in office all the time. Customers wanting to stop by the office should make an appointment by calling 541-791-7997.

Sound Hearing Services was on Lyon Street in downtown Albany, but was forced to move to make way for the new Albany fire station that will soon be constructed.

Moving to Lebanon was advantageous for the Fergusons because they recently bought a house there, and they also attend Community Bible Church on Stoltz Hill Road.

And with all of the new development, it seemed like the move would be good for business, as well, Jody Ferguson said.

Gary Ferguson said that his shop will continue to focus on customer service, and making sure clients get the hearing aids they need  and dont overspend on a pricey product that wont help them.

I just want to arm people with knowledge so they can make a good choice, he added. And sometimes that means customers should keep the hearing aids they currently have and make minor adjustments to them.

Those who purchase hearing aids from Sound Hearing Services get a service package that includes cleanings, unlimited follow-ups and adjustments.

Gary Ferguson has hearing issues himself, and said he often is the guinea pig for new technology.

I know what really good hearing aids sound like, he said.

Sound Hearing Services is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment.

For more information on Sound Hearing Services, or to make an appointment, call 541-791-7997, go to www.soundhearingservices.com or email gary@soundhearingservices.com.
COZAD, Neb.  The first Eggs n Issues talk of 2016 was held Saturday morning at the Cozad Grand Generation Center.

The informal forum allows Dawson Countys State Senator in District 36, Matt Williams to meet with constituents to give them an update on pressing issues before the Legislature and hear local concerns about bills before the senate.

About 10 residents of the Dawson County area attended the event. Two more Eggs n Issues talks will be held, one in Lexington on Saturday, April 9 at the Opportunity Center at 8:30 a.m. and one in Gothenburg on Saturday, March 26 at 8:30 a.m. at the Gothenburg Community Development Office.

Williams spent most of his time discussing prison overcrowding, education funding, Medicaid expansion and what allocations may be used for if taken from the states reserve fund.

Provisions of legislative bill 605, which passed last year to address prison overcrowding were coming into fruition this year, Williams said

The implementation of more probation and special courts  such as mental health and drug courts  were being used to reduce prison overcrowding. Only non-violent low level felons would be eligible for these programs, Williams said.

Williams said the states prison system has a 170 percent capacity. An excessive inmate population has led to a lack of space in prisons for programs like education and career preparation because all room is used to house inmates, he said.

He said it costs about $37,000 to $38,000 per year to house one inmate in the states prison system. Currently there is also a 35 percent recidivism rate in Nebraska prisons, meaning 35 out of 100 inmates that are released will find themselves back in prison within a year.

There are many in our prisons that have mental illness, addiction issues. LB 605 takes time, it will only happen as new people are sentenced, he said.

The Legislature will begin discussion on the state budget and will focus on three key funding areas this week, Williams said.

Three major budget issues will be debated that would involve funding allocations from the states reserve fund, which currently has $725 million.

These three programs seeking funding are: a transportation bank to fund infrastructure across the state; funding to create 150 new corrections beds in Lincoln; and an allocation to help rebuild levies at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue.

A $50 million funding request will be made for the transportation bank with another $27 million allocation request being anticipated to pay for the creation of 150 new beds for the corrections department, Williams said.

The Legislature will use the money and attract federal funds. The Legislature money (funds allocated from the states reserve fund) will get paid back with funds from the gas tax, he said.

A $13 million allocation would be sought to pay for levies at Offutt Air Force Base, Williams said. He noted that the base is the largest employer in Nebraska. The refurbished levies could possibly help the base attract federal funding to its runway in the future, Williams said.

The runway is in a horrible state of disrepair, there is talk of redoing the runway. It will cost close to 100 million, he said.

On the hot button issue of school funding, Williams said it is no surprise to him that state aid funding to rural schools in his district, such as Cozad, Broken Bow and Gothenburg is decreasing at a time when agriculture land evaluations have gone up year after year.

Cozad Resident PJ Jacobson asked how Cozad Community School District could lose close to one million dollars in funding next year, Williams said it was tied to the state aid formula.

Williams said the equalization formula, the component of the state aid formula that decides school funding, shows that rural school districts such as Cozad and Broken Bow have a steady student population with increasing land valuations surrounding the school.

The equalization formula is a needs-based formula, Williams said.

The formula looks at resources in the school district compared with the real estate valuations and then factors in the funding needs of the schools. In the case of many rural schools in the area, even a slight budget increase means the needs are flat. Factor in sky high land valuations and the formula sees the rural districts as having less demand for school aide, Williams said.

Medicaid expansion efforts in the Legislature have moved past the committee level onto the floor of the Legislature, Williams said.

Currently, about 112,000 Nebraska residents fall into the donut hole, meaning they made too much money to quality for Medicaid and not enough money to quality for tax credits to receive health insurance from the Affordable Care Act Market Place. Medicaid expansion in the Legislature is aimed at providing coverage to these people, Williams said.

Williams said he knows rural hospitals in his district, such as Cozad Community Health System and Lexington Regional Health Center are supportive of Medicaid expansion efforts because the uninsured often seek non-emergency treatment in emergency rooms for issues  like a cold, flu  that drive up the cost of health care when these issues could be dealt with cheaper by primary care doctors.

The Medicaid expansion bill would seek to implement a pilot program to expansion coverage in the state and although the bill could trigger 90 percent in federal funding for Medicaid expansion efforts, Williams said he wasnt sold on the bill.

Williams said research has estimated the cost of expanding Medicaid in Nebraska at $1 billion over the next 10 years. Although federal funding could offset the cost, if funding from Washington were ever cut the state would be left responsible for paying the costs, he said.

State senators are also looking at possibly raising stamp and visitor fees at Nebraska State Game and Parks locations to raise more funds for maintenance and costs. Williams said fee prices have not been raised in many years.
By Harold Reutter

HASTINGS  "Agriculture is the heart and soul of what we do in Nebraska," Gov. Pete Ricketts declared Monday morning at the Prairie Loft Center west of Hastings on the first stop of his National Ag Week fly-around tour.

Ricketts addressed a mix of FFA students, Hastings business leaders and ag producers on a tour that also included stops in McCook and Falls City, before he ended his day at the Omaha Agribusiness Club annual banquet on Monday evening. Ricketts pointed out that one in four jobs in Nebraska is connected to agriculture, so growing the state's economy will mean growing Nebraska's agricultural economy.

During his talk in Hastings, Ricketts hit familiar themes, including the need for property tax relief. Ricketts said property taxes on farmland have increased 65 percent during the past five years, which is much faster than taxes on other classifications of property.

He said Nebraska has cut its annual rate of growth in state spending from 6.5 percent to 3.5 percent, so the only way to provide sustained property tax relief is by controlling spending by local units of government.

LB958 would slow down the growth of agricultural land valuation in the state. It would also set limitations on the budgets of restricted funds and limit exclusions to the levy limit. Under LB959, both growth in unused budget authority and growth in budgeted reserves would be restrained. Also, levy exceptions that do not require voter approval for future capital projects would be removed for both school districts and community colleges.

Ricketts said it's important to focus on the property taxes levied by K-12 school districts, which account for 65 percent to 75 percent of a person's or business's property taxes. Ricketts said it's important to take steps to limit the growth in property tax bills during this legislative session and not to wait. Consequently, Ricketts asked those attending the Hastings event to call their state senator to urge that both LB958 and LB959 to be moved out of committee. LB958 is in the Revenue Committee, while LB959 is in the Education Committee.

Even if the Legislature acts to limit property taxes during this session, more work will need to be done in future years, Ricketts said.

The governor also touted the Transportation Innovation Act, which would create a Transportation Infrastructure Bank. If the bill becomes law, Ricketts said, it would speed up repair on many Nebraska bridges and work on Nebraska's proposed expressway systems.

Ricketts said the state can grow its agriculture economy through more trade agreements, which knock down tariffs and make Nebraska agricultural products more affordable om foreign countries.

Greg Ibach, director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, said he is excited to be working with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to identify more opportunities to bring new ag-related businesses into the state or expand existing agricultural businesses. Ibach said more and more people are one or two generations removed from living or working on a farm or ranch, so it's important to educate them about how their food is grown and produced.

Amy Sandeen, Prairie Loft executive director, noted that only 2 percent of the U.S. population lives on farms and ranches today, while about 40 percent lived on farms and ranches in 1900. That's one reason for the existence of the Prairie Loft, which teaches agriculture appreciation, outdoor education, cultural traditions and the wise use of natural resources to people who do not live on farms and ranches.

Prairie Loft, now in its 10th year, has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors as part of that mission, with many of its educational programs directed at students.

Ron Pavelka, a director for the Nebraska Soybean Board, noted that he is a fifth-generation farmer. While soybean meal is used as feed for livestock and poultry, soybean oil is used for human consumption. Human consumption uses include cooking oil, mayonnaise, salad dressings, sauces and other food products. Soybeans can be used to produce plastic bottles and other products.

Pavelka said agriculture has many partners including Hastings Museum and Prairie Loft, which help teach people about farming and its history in Nebraska. Other institutions such as FFA, Central Community College and the University of Nebraska-Lincolon help educate young people about career opportunities in agriculture.

Other partners include the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center and Hastings-based T-L Irrigation, whose equipment irrigates many acres of Nebraska. Other partners are cattle feed yards, both large and small, as well as Nebraska's meat processing plants. All of them help those who are in production agriculture, while also providing agriculture-related jobs for many people.

Other ag companies providing jobs in Hastings are CPI and Gavilon Fertilizer, both of which have multiple locations. AGP is a soybean processing plant in Hastings that also operates a vegetable oil refinery in Hastings.
Telugu music TV anchor K Nirosha was found dead on Wednesday. Police said she had commited suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in her hostel room in Sindhi Colony, Secunderabad. Nirosha was 23. The police have registered a case under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Police have said that Nirosha was on a video call with her boyfriend Ritwik  who is based in Canada  whem she committed suicide. The duo reportedly had an argument, after which an upset Nirosha threatened to kill herself, reported the Deccan Chronicle. She followed through on her threat while the call was still in progress. Ritwik then called Niroshas relatives for help, who in turn contacted the police.

Police officials have said that they received a call around midnight from Niroshas relatives, but by the time they reached her hostel, Nirosha was already dead. Her phone was switched off. Police did not give a statement about what felt may have led Nirosha to take the extreme step. We don't know the exact reason yet. She made a call before ending her life and we are trying to find out whose number it is," the police said.

Nirosha was working with Gemini TV and had previously worked as a reporter on another channel.

The news of her death comes just days after Tamil TV actor Sai Prashanth committed suicide, reportedly by consuming poison. Police had recovered a note from Prashanth in which he said he was ending his life as he was unable to cope with the pressures of his work. It has been argued that rather than seeing such suicides in isolation, they need to be seen in the larger context of the tremendous pressures that young actors in Kollywood and related industries face.

With inputs from IANS
Hyderabad: Amid concerns in certain quarters over the control of no-frills airline AirAsia India,

Malaysia-based AirAsia Group's chief Tony Fernandes on Wednesday said he has applied for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status.

AirAsia India is a three-way venture between AirAsia, Tatas and Arun Bhatia's Telestra Tradeplace with 49 percent

owned by the Malaysian group.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of India Aviation 2016 event in Hyderabad, Fernandes said he has applied for OCI status.

"I have already applied. I applied last week... then I will be the same as everyone else... I will be the same as

Naresh Goyal (Jet Airways Chairman)," he said.

"There will be a big party when I get my approval," he said.

In an apparent swipe at established competitors raising concerns over foreign ownership at AirAsia India, Fernandes

said the whole thing looks "bizarre" to him.

"Naresh Goyal lives in London as an NRI. SpiceJet used to be owned by an American. IndiGo has tonnes of American

shareholders. In fact, you can look at the shareholding, there is more foreign shareholding than local shareholding," Fernandes noted.

Among others, those who are a citizen of another country, but were a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after, the commencement of the constitution, are eligible to have OCI status.

According to him, what needs to be looked at is creation of jobs and investments brought in rather than ownership.

"What is important (to look at) is it creating jobs in India, is it creating investments, increasing tourism in India as opposed to where I am from...," he said.

The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), the grouping of of four established domestic carriers -- Jet Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir -- have raised concerns about control and ownership at AirAsia India.

Fernandes, who is the group CEO of AirAsia Berhard, said that the India unit made money in December.

"In December 2015, we made money (profit). We are looking good for 2016," he said and stressed there would be no top level change at AirAsia India.

Amid reports that AirAsia India CEO Mittu Chandilya might be quitting, Fernandes only said that his (Chandilya)

"contract will be up soon".

"Now, we are looking at how to grow market size. I am very bullish about Indian economy and aviation irrespective of 5/20 (norm)," he noted.

A startup carrier, AirAsia India is looking for removal of the 5/20 rule, under which only those airlines having at

least five years of operational experience and minimum of 20 planes can fly overseas.

PTI
New Delhi: FMCG firm Procter and Gamble and pharma major Abbott will resume sales of their popular medicines 'Vicks Action 500 Extra' and cough syrup 'Phensedyl', respectively after Delhi High Court stayed government's ban on sale of their certain combination drugs.

Several companies had approached the court challenging a decision by the Health Ministry to ban over 340 fixed dose combination drugs as a result of which many popular medicines have been affected.

"The company would resume manufacture and sale of Vicks Action 500 Extra," P&G said in a statement a day after getting an interim relief from the court on the matter.

On Tuesday, it had announced stopping of sales of its medicine.

According to industry sources, Abbott has also resumed sales of its cough syrup Phensedyl following the court order.

Pfizer, which was the first to announce stopping of sales of its cough syrup Corex, refused to comment on whether it has resumed sales of the medicine after getting relief from the court.

Companies including, Pfizer, Abbott Healthcare, Macleods Pharmaceuticals and Procter & Gamble, Glenmark and Reckitt Benckiser have received interim relief from the Court which stayed till March 21 the ban imposed by the government on sale of some of their fixed dose combination (FDC) medicines.

In a gazette notification on March 10, the government had, among others, banned manufacture, sale and distribution of fixed does combination of chlopheniramine maleate plus codiene syrup which is used in the cough syrups.

PTI
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday appealed people to have a dry Holi festival and save water in view of its shortage across the state even as directives have been issued to civic bodies to keep swimming pools shut till the commencement of monsoon.

"We can play dry Holi. Use less water. I do not say don't play Holi. I appeal that everyone in the state celebrate the festival as dry Holi," Fadnavis said at a water awareness programme in Mantralaya here.

On the occasion, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan told reporters that all municipal corporations in the state have been directed to shut down swimming pools in their respective limits till the onset of the monsoon.

He said all civic bodies have also been requested to make drinking water a priority and not provide water to theme parks till monsoon arrives in the state.

"There is only 25 per cent water left in dams across Maharashtra, while in Marathwada region there is barely 5 per cent water left. In such a scenario, nobody can be allowed to waste water. Every drop has to be saved. Thus, we have asked all municipal corporations to waste as little water as possible," he said.

Mahajan also said orders have been issued to civic bodies not to provide water tankers for revellers and organisers of 'rain dance' during Holi and Rang Panchami festival on 23 and 24 March, respectively.

"Rain dance has to be stopped. Likewise, water cannot be supplied to theme parks when in other places people have to walk for several miles to get drinking water. Municipal Corporations have thus been requested to ensure water is not wasted in theme parks," he said.

Meanwhile, Thane Municipal Corporation has already announced that no water tankers shall be provided for rain dance. Similarly, Pune Municipal Corporation too has issued orders banning rain dance during Rang Panchami on 24 March.

PTI
Memories of the Dadri lynching returned to haunt India, after four Kashmiri students were beaten up by a mob following rumours that they had cooked beef in their hostel room. The incident reportedly took place on Monday, and the police had to intervene in order to defuse tempers.

The incident took place at the Mewar University in Rajasthans Chittorgarh town, about 300 km south of state capital Jaipur. The varsity has a large Kashmiri student population, numbering close to 700-800. Locals alleged that many of these students used to cook beef in their hostel room, following which a Hindu mob gathered and raised slogans, while four of the students were also allegedly beaten up.

According to the Indian Express, the meat has been taken in for forensic testing, and it will soon be known if the meat being cooked was indeed beef. Some mischief mongers spread rumours that the students were cooking beef. But, prima facie, it didnt look like beef. We have sent it for forensic testing just to be sure, said Prasanna Khamesara, Chittorgarh SP, adding that it was all a big misunderstanding and that things returned to normal before it could escalate.

Following the incident, the police arrived at the university and arrested the four students. The Times of India reported that the students were taken into custody and released later. Protesters attempted to jam the highway for some time in the night before the police swung into action and dispersed the crowd, Khamsera told the newspaper.

He added that news of the alleged beef eating spread like wildfire in the neighbouring towns and the area was panic stricken for the next couple of days. Protestors also burnt a meat shop situated on highway from where they alleged that beef was sold. Members of right-wing parties even called for a bandh, following which there was heavy security being deployed at the university and at sensitive places in and around the town.

The incident comes barely a month after the home ministry sent an advisory to state governments, asking them to collage profiles of students from Jammu and Kashmir.

NDTV reported that the advisory was sent out in February. There is a perception among people of Jammu and Kashmir that their students are treated with suspicion and hostility at colleges, it had said. Officials said that because families had complained about the students finding it tough to find housing in cities, they had asked states to ensure students from Jammu and Kashmir are protected.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved its judgement on a plea challenging the constitutional validity of Article 370 of the Constitution that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

"File your written submissions. We will consider it and will pass an order," a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath said.

During the brief hearing, the counsel appearing for state of Jammu and Kashmir told the bench that a similar issue was raised before the Supreme Court but it had refused to intervene in it.

The counsel claimed that the PIL was "nothing but a politically motivated petition".

Countering the submissions, the lawyer appearing for petitioner Kumari Vijayalakshmi Jha argued that the issue raised by him before the high court was different from the matter which was put before the apex court.

"In none of these cases (referred to by the counsel for Jammu and Kashmir) such issues were raised," the lawyer said.

The bench, after hearing the arguments, asked both the parties to file their written submissions within a week.

In the plea, the petitioner has contended that Article 370 was a temporary provision that had lapsed with dissolution of the state's Constituent Assembly in 1957.

It said the question before the court for its consideration was whether the temporary provision lapsed automatically with the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir on 26 January, 1957.

The petition has said that "continuance of temporary provision of Article 370, even after dissolution of Constituent Assembly of J&K, continuance of J&K Constitution which has never got the assent/approval of President of India/Parliament/Government of India, regarding the matter like citizenship, which is in exclusive jurisdiction of Parliament, amounts fraud on the basic structure of our Constitution, ... (as it is) against the sovereignty, integrity, unity of the nation, sovereignty of Parliament etc.".

The Centre had earlier opposed the plea saying the issue has already been considered by the Supreme Court.

Earlier in July 2014, the Supreme Court had dismissed a plea challenging special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution and asked the petitioner to move the high court.

PTI
Chandigarh: With Jat leaders threatening to resume agitation in case the BJP-led Haryana government does not meet their demands by Thursday, Haryana government has sought paramilitary forces from the Centre to be deployed in sensitive areas.

"Paramilitary force has been demanded (through state home department) from the Centre and we will get the same," IGP, Rohtak Range, Sanjay Kumar said on Wednesday.

He said additional police forces also been arranged from within the state.

"We have made adequate police security arrangements. We have adequate force and we are deploying it accordingly," he said.

However, he refused to shed light on how many police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order in case Jat leaders resume their agitation.

"I cannot disclose it because of security considerations," the IGP said.

Haryana police was criticised for its "failure" to prevent and control violence during the Jat agitation last month, in which 30 people lost their lives.

The then IGP Rohtak Shrikant Jadhav was suspended by Haryana government.

Several districts including Rohtak, the epicentre of Jat agitation, Jhajjar, Kaithal, Jind, Sonipat, Bhiwani had witnessed violence by arsonists and unruly mob.

The influential Jat community led by All India Jat Sangharsh Samiti had threatened to relaunch their agitation if the state's BJP government did not meet their demands by 17 March.

Jats are demanding 10 per cent quota in jobs and educational institutions, besides withdrawal of FIRs registered against the protesters, compensation to those killed during the stir and action against BJP MP from Kurukshetra Raj Kumar Saini for his "anti-Jat" reservation

stand.

"On 17 March, we will decide on the next mode of action on whether to block roads, railway tracks or any other type of agitation," Samiti Chief Yashpal Malik had said on Tuesday.

Malik had said the state government must bring a Bill in the ongoing budget session of the Assembly to ensure reservation for Jats.

PTI
Mumbai: The lawyer of Abu Jundal, an alleged key plotter of 2008 Mumbai terror attack, on Wednesday filed an application before the sessions court in Mumbai seeking to make Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley's wife Shazia and his friend Tahawwur Hussain Rana accused in the case.

The court has granted pardon to Headley, who is currently in prison in the US, and allowed him to depose in 26/11 terror attack trial as an approver for the prosecution.

"We have moved an application seeking to make both of them accused as Headley, in his deposition, had said that both knew about the attack before November 26, 2008. Headley also said he even got congratulatory message from Shazia (after the attack)," said Jundal's lawyer Khan Abdul Wahab.

The application is likely to be heard tomorrow.

Headley concluded his week-long deposition through video-link on February 13. He is likely to be cross-examined by Khan from March 22.

Among other things, Headley told the court here that Pakistani intelligence agency ISI provides "financial, military and moral support" to terror outfits LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen. He also described how LeT planned and executed the 26/11 attack in Mumbai.

PTI
New Delhi: The suspicious boat, which had reportedly originated from Pakistan, was intercepted by Indian security forces "pro-actively" in January last year before the occupants blew it up, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told Lok Sabha on Wednesday, adding it was "not shot".

"I would like to inform the House that when we acted pro-actively against the boat one year prior to this incident (in Pathankot) on a New Year Day, there was a lot of criticism, though we had not shot at the boat.

"Why should the Coast Guard people go 200 kms from the border and act pro-actively? I would not go into the details of who did it. But these are the backgrounds under which Pathankot happened," Parrikar said while responding to a debate on Pathankot.

He said there was criticism for going deep inside the sea and intercepting the boat.

"I would like to indicate that some information which is wrongly... I referred to a boat in Gujarat Coast on 1st January. I just brought out an incident. At that time, there were lot of criticisms saying as to why did you go 200 kms away and intercepted it.

"You have to intercept your enemies away from the coast. Some people said that. I have not said that you said it," Parrikar added.

Coast Guard officially claimed to have intercepted an explosive-laden boat off Gujarat coast, which originated from Pakistan on New Year's Eve of this year after thorough surveillance. Defence Ministry has consistently maintained that the occupants on board refused to cooperate after being intercepted and blew up the boat.

Interestingly, Coast Guard DIG B K Loshali, who was facing an inquiry for publicly contradicting the government over the sinking of a Pakistani ship, was been dismissed from service in December last year.

PTI
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Opposition cornered the government and alleged that the Sri Sri event is paralysing New Delhi.

JDU questioned as to how Sri Sri was refusing to pay the fine and if he was above the law.

The Sri Sri issue was brought up by the Opposition in the House again, the Government defended the event and said that the Opposition should not politicise the even unecessarily. Jairam Ramesh brought up ecological destruction.

Aadhaar Bill to be passed as a money bill, which means that it cannot be amended in the Rajya Sabha. Congress demanded that a standing committe be put in place.

"If you criticize me, it is your freedom of speech. If I criticize you, it is my intolerance?" Arun Jaitley to Sitaram Yechury in Rajya Sabha

"Privacy not an absolute right, it is subject to a restriction that it can be restricted by a procedure established by law, " Arun Jaitley in Rajya Sabha. "Present law is completely different. It borrows UPA's idea (UID), but the privacy law is much more tightened.

"The only question is, can national security be the ground for sharing information? The answer is yes," Arun Jaitley cites US judgements while debating Aadhaar Bill in Rajya Sabha.

"Does your policy involve Pakistan and Hurriyat leaders holding talks with each other? Does it involve only exchange of shawls and saris between Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif?" he said.

"Talks are necessary between India and Pakistan. But it has to be strategic and process-driven," said Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia in Lok Sabha.

"On one hand, our soldiers are sacrificing their lives. Farmers are committing suicide. And you are giving lessons on nationalism?" he said. "Don't embarrass the country," he added.

"This government's Pakistan policy has been aptly described by Kapil Sibal. It is like an unguided missile which is a spectacle when it is fired but loses its course," said Scindia.

"Every individual must have the option to opt out of Aadhaar," he said.

"I believe that if you read this legislation in this current form, it makes it a mandatory proposition as opposed to a voluntary proposition," said Ramesh.

"I don't have an Aadhaar number. I don't need one," said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh. He added that he did not need it because he does not take the benefit of any subsidies.

A person should have the option to opt out of Aadhaar: Jairam Ramesh in RS

"My party wants Aadhaar to be confined to the targeting of subsidies," said Ramesh, as he said that Congress wants Clause 57 of the Aadhaar legislation to be dropped.

PM jumps from one vision to another: Rahul on govt's Pak policy "What is required is a coherent strategy. PM does not have that vision. He jumps from one vision to another," said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on the Modi government's policy on Pakistan.

PM jumps from one vision to another: Rahul on govt's Pak policy "What is required is a coherent strategy. PM does not have that vision. He jumps from one vision to another," said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on the Modi government's policy on Pakistan.

The NGT on Tuesday questioned the Centre as to why no environmental clearance is needed for constructing temporary structures on Yamuna plains as building of pontoon bridge by army for cultural festival comes under the scanner of NGT. This was during a hearing on pleas seeking the cancellation of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living three-day 'World Culture Festival' on the Yamuna flood plains to celebrate 35 years of the foundation.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar heard the matter in which the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Uttar Pradesh and Delhi government made their submissions with regard to grant of permission to the festival.

On 3 March, DDA had submitted that it had granted conditional permission for organising the event and had no idea about the magnitude of the programme. The event later drew criticism after some activists petitioned the NGT, a quasi-judicial body on environmental issues, asking it to stop the event as it would have a deep impact on the Yamuna flood plains.

The DDA backed its decision to grant permission for the festival, while the Art of Living said it has fulfilled all conditions and taken requisite permissions for the event.

Well leave it as a beautiful bio-diversity park. As per my knowledge, not even a single tree has been cut down, we've only trimmed four trees. We want the Yamuna to be clean. We will not pollute the environment. We haven't cut a single tree, said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar reacting to the criticism over army men construction the pontoon bridge, reports DNA.

Meanwhile, a source close to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told IANS said the Indian Army's decision to make pontoon bridges for the upcoming event was taken after Delhi Police expressed a fear of stampede at the venue, where around 30 lakh people are expected.

The source also said the Art of Living Foundation may not be charged for the bridges as there is no policy in place for it.

The defence minister has, however, directed the defence secretary to formulate a policy for the army's involvement in such events in future.

Earlier on Monday, President Pranab Mukherjee decided to pull out of a cultural extravaganza being organised by Art of Living guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar as a controversy raged over the event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the event on Friday and the President was to attend the valedictory function on Sunday.

"The President cannot attend the function due to unavoidable circumstances," an official of the Rashtrapati Bhavan said on Monday.

The NGT will resume its hearing on Wenesday on holding of the festival.

The AOL Foundation expects 35 lakh people to attend the function, concerns have been raised by experts about the likely damage to the environment that may be caused by holding it on the flood plains of the already polluted river in east Delhi.

The AOL foundation, which is organising the function, will have yoga and meditation sessions, peace prayers by Sanskrit scholars and traditional cultural performances from around the world.

The three-day event will be held from 11-13 March.

With inputs from agencies
Three out of 10 terrorists who reportedly crossed into India allegedly from Pakistan via Gujarat earlier this month have now been killed, sources told CNN IBN. The terrorists allegedly planned to attack Somnath temple in Gujarat.

NDTV reported that security forces are aware of the location of the other terrorists but are not revealing it in order to safeguard their anti-terrorism operations. The terrorists are suspected to belong either to Lashkar-e-Taiba or to Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist organisations. But a top home ministry official told The Hindu that it is possible that the terrorists belonged to another country.

On 6 March, an alert was sounded in Gujarat and metro cities after Pakistans National Security Advisor Naseer Janjua informed Indias NSA Ajit Doval of the possible infiltration by 10 terrorists who had plans to carry out attacks against high-value targets. Security was intensified across Gujarat, which cancelled leave of all police personnel. Two NSG teams comprising nearly 200 personnel were sent to Ahmedabad from Delhi as officials suspected that the terrorists would attack religious places on 7 March as it was also Maha Shivratri.

In view of the terror threat across Gujarat, the Gir-Somnath district administration even postponed a cultural event scheduled at the Somnath temple premises on 6 and 7 March. Gir-Somnath's superintendent of police AM Muniya confirmed to PTI that more than 250 police personnel were deployed at the Somnath temple and different teams were formed to check all kinds of movements near the temple."

It was also later reported that the terrorists had managed to reach Delhi. The National Capital was put on high alert with security being enhanced at several public places.

With inputs from PTI
New York: Mindfulness meditation, an essential element of Buddhist practice, may provide an alternative to usual drug-based pain relieving pills, especially to those suffering from chronic pain, suggests new research.

Mindfulness meditation involves sitting comfortably, focusing on your breathing, and bringing your attention to the present moment.

It is especially useful for those who have built up a tolerance to opiate-based drugs and are looking for a non-addictive way to reduce their pain, the researchers said.

Mindfulness meditation does not employ the endogenous addictive opioid system to reduce pain, rather it uses the body's naturally made opioids as an alternative therapy.

"Our finding was surprising and could be important for the millions of chronic pain sufferers who are seeking a fast-acting, non-opiate-based therapy to alleviate their pain," said Fadel Zeidan, assistant professor at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in the US.

The study was published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

The results of the study involving 78 volunteers showed that even when the body's opioid receptors were chemically blocked, meditation still was able to considerably reduce pain.

Pain ratings also were reduced by 21 per cent in the meditation group that those who received the placebo-saline injection.

IANS
Guwahati: Alleging that the first list of candidates for the assembly polls was an example of the Congress' love for "dynastic politics", many party workers across the state took to the streets on Wednesday, while some 'deprived' legislators vowed to contest as independents.

Angry Congress workers in Lakhimpur laid siege to the party office Rajiv Bhavan in Lakhimpur and called for a shutdown of the district on the day opposing the All India Congress Committee's decision to give the ticket for the constituency to Joy Prakash Das instead of party veteran Ghana Buragohain.

While Das is the former leader of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the party, Burhagohain is the former Lakhimpur legislator who had lost to Asom Gana Parishad's Utpal Dutta in 2011 only by a margin of 1,099 votes.

Grassroots workers of the ruling party also set a deadline till Thursday to replace the candidature of Joy Prakash Das by giving the ticket to Buragohain, failing which they have threatened to desert the Congress en masse.

Similarly, Congress workers in Mahmora constituency agitated against the candidature of Suruj Dihingia, instead of sitting legislator Sarat Saikia, who has been winning the seat for the last three consecutive terms on Congress tickets.

Party workers in Mahmora set ablaze the effigy of Assam Congress chief Anjan Dutta for depriving Sarat Saikia of a ticket.

Saikia, meanwhile, hinted that he may contest the polls independently.

Amia Gogoi, the Congress legislator from Duliajan, was also not given a ticket. Newcomer Dhruba Jyoti Gogoi is the party candidate.

"My supporters are urging me to contest the polls independently. I shall take a decision in this regard soon," Gogoi said.

Many agitators also alleged that the first list of 65 candidates was an example of the Congress' love for "dynastic politics".

They said that in the name of giving tickets to new candidates, the party has named only the sons and daughters or relatives of senior Congress leaders.

"The party had earlier assured tickets to new candidates. However, most of the new candidates include only sons or daughters or other relatives of veteran Congressmen," said Utpal Das, one of the agitators at Mahmora.

"In Aamguri, they have given the ticket to Ankita Dutta, who is the daughter of APCC president Anjan Dutta. Similarly in Sarupathar, they have given the ticket to Rosenila Tirkey, daughter of sitting MLA Aklius Tirkey."

The Congress list announced on Tuesday evening in Delhi includes the names of Gautam Dhanowar, son of Digboi legislator Rameswar Dhanowar, and Pallabi Saikia Gogoi, the daughter-in-law of Teok legislator Membar Gogoi.

BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma said: "There cannot be a worst list for the Congress candidates than the one announced yesterday (Tuesday).

"The Congress is a party run by 'mother-son' and 'father-son'. After the Congress list was out, many leaders have contacted us and we are going to take a decision on them soon," he said.

Going by the list, Sarma said the Congress will get even lesser seats in the polls than the BJP had expected it would get.

IANS
New Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the Narendra Modi government of ignoring the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh by denying special status to the state.

Unfortunately, the government of the day is not interested in supporting the aspirations of people of Andhra Pradesh. I have visited AP many a times to fight for special status, I have mentioned Polararam as well but the government of the day isn't interested, Gandhi said, addressing a delegation of Congress workers at party headquarters in New Delhi.

He said the Congress party will ask the central government to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh. Congress workers have got one crore signatures for a petition from the people residing in Andhra Pradesh, demanding 'special status' for the state.

We can exert pressure on government of India, that we can get special status and other demands that are rightfully yours, Gandhi said while making a reference towards Prime Minister that he only understands pressure.

The Congress party has managed to put pressure him (prime minister) on Land Bill that you have noticed and the budget after which it became the pro farmer budget. For two years, there was no interest of farmers, that they are dying didn't matter, that they are committing suicide it also doesn't matter, but Congress party exerted pressure and the budget became pro-farmer, Gandhi added.

He also asked the Congress cadre to work hard to bring the party back in power in Andhra Pradesh.

Today, you might not have large votes in AP but it'll take little bit of hard work, we are going to help you and you'll see that you'll surprise yourself and come back to power much quicker than you think and lead AP once again, Gandhi said.

IANS
New Delhi: Congress on Wednesday termed the controversy over chanting of "Bharat Mata ki jai" as "complementary hate mongering" by AIMIM and BJP to further their "agenda of polarisation".

"AIMIM and BJP, which feed upon each other's divisive and polarising agendas, have often used these slogans to create nonexistent fault lines between communities," Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said.

He said be it the Owaisi brothers  Asaduddin Owaisi and Akbaruddin Owaisi of AIMIM  or Giriraj Singh and Sakshi Maharaj of BJP or SP's Azam Khan or BSP's Shafiq-ur-Rehman Burq, "they do complementary hate mongering to further the agenda of polarisation".

"Be it a public exhortation to not say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Vande Mataram' or calls for non-Modi voters to be sent to Pakistan, people pushing such thoughts... singularly with the aim of spreading propaganda that suits their political purpose," he said.

To drive home his point, the Congress leader said be it in the elections of Maharashtra, Bangalore Municipal Elections or Bihar, the "tacit and symbiotic inter-dependability" between BJP and AIMIM is there for everyone to see.

Singhvi said 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', 'Jai Hind' or 'Vande Mataram' are not verses emanating from any scriptures or rule book or statute manual.

"These are slogans that emanated out of our national conscience during the freedom struggle and are articulation of our intrinsic feeling towards India - the Motherland, Madar-e-Watan, Matrabhoomi," he said.

He said these are "long standing expressions of our commitment to the concept of India as a nation and resonate voluntarily sans any coercion in the heart and mind of every Indian".

His remarks came on a day when the Maharashtra Assembly suspended an AIMIM MLA till the end of the budget session for refusing to chant 'Bharat Mata ki jai'.

PTI
Maiduguri (Nigeria): Nigerian rescue officials say two female suicide bombers have killed at least 22 worshippers in an attack on a mosque on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Maiduguri that is the birthplace of Boko Haram.

Abdul Mohammed of the State Emergency Management Agency says another 17 people were wounded in the explosions early Wednesday.

Coordinator Abba Aji of the civilian self-defense Vigilante Group says one bomber blew up inside the mosque and the second outside as survivors tried to flee.

He says the mosque is in Umarari on the outskirts of the city that is now the command center of the Nigerian military's war against Boko Haram Islamic insurgents. Several suicide bombers have exploded in recent months at roadblocks into the city manned by the military and vigilantes.

AP
The first part of the Budget Session of the Parliament comes to an end on Wednesday and it will be an understatement to say that the Budget Session was stormy.

Scores of issues, starting from the JNU sedition debate, Rohith Vemula's suicide, allegations against Karti P Chidambaram, Ishrat Jahan issue or Ghulam Nabi Azad's statement about the RSS, were behind the regular uproars in both the Houses of Parliament. MPs from both, the Opposition and the ruling party, made sure that the Parliament remains stalled.

Here are some of the key issues and events which were discussed in the Parliament during the Budget Session:

Aadhaar Bill:

The debate over whether this crucial bill sees the light of the day was probably the most debated during the Budget Session. As Firstpost has earlier argued Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party needs this bill passed but the Opposition is sticking to its guns that the ruling party will violate scores of privacy laws by the passage of this bill.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said that the Aadhaar Bill passed by the Lok Sabha last week has laid down strict measures to protect the privacy of citizens. "Privacy not an absolute right, it is subject to a restriction that it can be restricted by a procedure established by law. Present law is completely different. It borrows UPA's idea (UID), but the privacy law is much more tightened. The only question is, can national security be the ground for sharing information? The answer is yes," said Arun Jaitley and cited US judgments while debating Aadhaar Bill in Rajya Sabha.

The Opposition, bristling since the proposal was controversially passed in the Lok Sabha last week, questioned the government's right to push the bill.

"I am questioning the competence of this house to legislate the bill," said Left leader Sitaram Yechury, arguing that the Aadhaar Bill was also being considered by the Supreme Court and is beyond "the legislative authority" of the house.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley replied: "This is an unprecedented argument in a democracy which has the separation of powers. Court only has power of judicial review."

Last Friday, the BJP-led government used its majority in the Lok Sabha to pass the Aadhaar Bill as a "money bill", which means the Rajya Sabha - where the government is in a minority - cannot make changes to it. Also, changes recommended by the Rajya Sabha can be rejected by the Lok Sabha.

The bill intends to give legal teeth to the government in providing services to those residing in India by assigning them unique identity numbers, called Aadhaar. It will be given to every person who has stayed in India for 182 days in the one year preceding the date of application.

Among the other features of the bill, it calls for the government to ask a person to apply for one if he does not have an Aadhaar number, while providing an alternative means of identification. The card can be used as proof of identity, for not as a proof of citizenship or domicile.

Jaitley said the Aadhaar number will not be misused since the overseeing authority can respond to an authentication query only with a positive, negative or other appropriate response. He said it is not permitted to share the biometric attributes. These include finger prints and iris scans.

The details can be shared only under two circumstances: National security and court order.

The bill also calls for an imprisonment of up to three years and the minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh on a person for extending unauthorised access to the centralised data-base -- or for revealing any information stored in it.

"The previous UPA government had also brought a legislation on Aadhaar. In that bill, the purpose of the personal data and biometrics information collected through the exercise was not defined, Jaitley said while introducing the bill in the Rajya Sabha.

"Compared to the UPA bill, the proposed law lays down a very strict procedure, the privacy law is much more tightened," he said.

The JNU row and Rohith Vemula's suicide

Perhaps the most aggressive rows to hit the Parliament were those over the issues of sedition charges being filed against some JNU students for allegedly shouting anti-national slogans and the allegation of the government putting pressure on Hyderabad Central University student Rohith Vemula, that ultimately drove him to suicide.

Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani was in the eye of the storm as Opposition leaders like Mayawati, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Rahul Gandhi and Sitaram Yechury severely criticised her and the government for the events that had taken place in JNU and Hyderabad.

Some of the most dramatic scenes in the Parliament took place over this issue, with Irani emotionally promising to decapitate herself in front of Mayawati if she was not satisfied with her answer. Mayawati later even reminded Irani of this promise in the Parliament, saying she was not satisfied with her answer.

The Union Budget 2016

The Budget for 2016-17, presented on 29 February by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, offered sops for small and marginal income tax payers, hiked the surcharge by three percent on earnings above Rs one crore, levied a pollution cess on petrol, diesel cars and SUVs and offered a one-time compliance window for domestic black money holders slapping a tax and penalty of 45 percent.

Moreover, Jaitley had in his Budget for 2016-17 proposed taxing 60 percent of withdrawals from the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) on contributions to be made after 1 April, unless the sum was reinvested in pension product such as an annuity. This proposal was, however, later withdrawn due to protests against it.

Jaitley had also proposed a 'Krishi Kalyan' cess of 0.5 percent on all taxable services to improve agriculture and reduction of duties on project imports for cold room for cold chain, refrigerated containers and a number of other items.

The Railway Budget 2016

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had desisted from raising fares and freight rates in his second budget but promised to cut cost and exploit new sources of revenue beyond tariff as he announced three new superfast trains and completion of three freight corridors by 2019.

Presenting the Railway Budget for 2016-17 in Parliament, he had said the guiding principles to keep the modernisation of world's fourth-largest network on track are new sources of revenue, expenditure optimisation and new operating structure.

Real Estate Bill passed

In the Budget Session, the Parliament gave its nod to a bill which gives relief to home-buyers and proposes imprisonment of up to three years besides monetary penalties for any violation of rules.

The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2013, approved by Lok Sabha five days after its passage by Rajya Sabha, is designed to protect consumer interest, ensure efficiency in all property-related transactions, improve accountability of developers, boost transparency and attract more investments to the sector, the government said.

Rahul Gandhi's 'fair and lovely yojana scheme' speech

One of the most acerbic speeches made in the Parliament, to which Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself chose to reply, was Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's now famous 'fair and lovely yojana scheme' speech.

"They launched a Fair and Lovely Yojana to convert black money to white money. Modi ji had promised that he will put people with black money behind bars, now they have come up with ways to save those people," Rahul had said.

"Modi ji promised employment to the youth before the polls. Now the lion (Make in India logo) appears everywhere. But tell us now how many jobs you have generated?" Rahul had asked the prime minister in Lok Sabha. "You created this Make In India babbar sher. Where ever you see, you see the lion. Even on TV we can see the lion," Rahul had said in the Lower House.



Charges against Karti Chidambaram

AIADMK members had created a ruckus in the Lok Sabha demanding action against former Union Minister P Chidambaram's son Karti on the Aircel-Maxis issue.

AIADMK members were earlier raising slogans like 'NDA sarkar take action' and displaying copies of a newspaper which has claimed that Karti has invested in real estate in various countries, as per investigations by Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax authorities during searches at his premises.

Ishrat Jahan case

After allegations were made against the previous UPA government and former Home Minister P Chidambaram over the second affidavit filed in the controversial Ishrat Jahan case, the issue was raised in the Lok Sabha by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke on the issue. "The effect of terrorism is not just limited to India but also the world. Politics should not be played over the issue," he had said.

"There should not be any flip-flop over the Ishrat Jahan case. The previous government has engaged in flip-flop over the issue," he had said, after which Opposition members created an uproar in the Lok Sabha.

Row over World Culture Festival

The row over Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's World Culture Festival was brought up by the Opposition in the Parliament. The Government had defended the event and said that the Opposition should not politicise the event unecessarily. Jairam Ramesh had brought up ecological destruction.

JDU had questioned as to how Sri Sri was refusing to pay the fine and if he was above the law. Opposition had cornered the government and alleged that the Sri Sri event is paralysing New Delhi.

Row over Vijay Mallya

As the Opposition alleged that Vijay Mallya could not have escaped without the government's help, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said, "The Opposition has raised pertinent questions. CBI is investigating the matter. Through restructuring, he was given more benefits. If you go through the dates, it tells its own story. Justice will be served."

"If they allow us to react (on Vijay Mallya issue), we will. But I doubt they will allow. Government does not allow us to speak. PM does not like to discuss these issues," Rahul Gandhi had said.

Ghulam Nabi Azad's remark on RSS

After uproar erupted in the Parliament over Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad's remark in which he allegedly compared RSS to terrorist group Islamic State, Azad had told the Rajya Sabha, "For the BJP everyone except the BJP and the RSS are terrorists."

Row over bribery involving TMC MPs

A video was released on Monday showing 11 members of the Trinamool Congress accepting bribes. The sting operation had caused a bigger stir.



The issue also rocked the Parliament as CPM demanded a probe into the alleged sting showing TMC leaders accepting cash for favours.

Ram Shankar Katheria's remark on VHP leader's death

Merely a day after the Budget was presented, Parliament saw stormy scenes and vociferous agitations as the Opposition confronted the government on the issue of Minister of State in the HRD Ministry Ram Shankar Katheria's remark following a VHP leader's murder in Agra.

At a meeting attended by Katheria, several speakers had allegedly made violent and inflammatory references to the Muslim community. Katheria was reported to have urged Hindus to 'make ourselves powerful' and to 'launch a struggle.'

Reacting to Katheria's remarks, Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that BJP and RSS had plans to divide the country.

With inputs from agencies
Jammu: The Centre should not give in to "provocation" and continue its engagement with Pakistan, the RSS on Wednesday said and ridiculed the separatists who have been invited by Pakistan for 'Pakistan Day' function at its High Commission in Delhi.

"They (separatists) don't want us to be friendly with that country (Pakistan). We want good relations with our neighbours. We should continue on our aims and objectives rather than bothering about such silly people," Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) Prant Sang Chalak, Jammu and Kashmir, Brig Suchet Singh told reporters.

"Such a provocation by inviting them should not matter. We should continue with the dialogue (Pakistan) and in a positive manner," he said.

Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani and Asiya Andrabi among others have been invited by Pakistan to attend 'Pakistan Day' function at its High Commission in Delhi on 23 March.

Besides them, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik and Hurriyat's moderate faction chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have also been called to attend the event, official sources said.

"We should put up our point of view in a strong manner and let them (separatists) do whatever they want," Singh said.

Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh has also been invited to the function. However, sources said it is unlikely that he will attend the function.

Pakistan has been inviting separatist leaders every year to attend the 'Pakistan Day' function.

Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh had represented the government at the Pakistan National Day reception last year.

The meetings of Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders with Pakistani establishments have always raised eyebrows here.

On 23 August last year, a controversy had erupted over the proposed meeting between Pakistan's former National Security Adviser Sartaz Aziz and Hurriyat leaders ahead of NSA-level talks in India.

India had then advised Pakistan that it would not be appropriate for Aziz to meet Hurriyat representatives. Pakistan had then called off the NSA talks between the two nations.

PTI
New Delhi: CPI(M) on Wednesday questioned the "complete silence" of Mamata Banerjee over the sting video purportedly showing three TMC ministers and some party MPs and MLAs as accepting bribes from a fictitious firm saying it "proves high-level of corruption" in the state.

Attacking Banerjee on the issue, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury reminded the West Bengal Chief Minister that she had quit the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government when a similar sting video was released in 2001.

Alleging "corrupt ways" by TMC, Yechury reiterated the recent sting only reaffirms that making money the poor people of Bengal is a norm for the government.

In his Facebook post, Yechury also welcomed reported remarks by former state election commission chief Mira Pande that EC should take adequate measures for fair polls and "restoring" democracy in West Bengal.

"We endorse her (Pande's) call and expect EC to take notice of corrupt and violent campaign being run by TMC. We hope it will act strongly against the ruling party. A free and fair election is the least the voters of West Bengal deserve," Yechury said.

The Central Election Commission yesterday said it had received representations from political parties on the sting video and that the matter will be examined.

The Left leader claimed the money is being used to unleash violence on Banerjee's political opponents during poll campaign and added the "unholy" marriage of corruption and violence doesn't "portend" well for the state.

A recent sting operation, by new portal Narada, purportedly showed three West Bengal ministers and some TMC MPs and MLAs as accepting bribers from a fictitious company.

The TMC has maintained the videos are "doctored" and part of "smear campaign" by its political rivals.

PTI
Bangkok: An Air India flight from Delhi to Bangkok carrying 241 people was on Wednesday searched for explosives after it was ordered to park at an isolated area of the Thai capital's main airport following two bomb threats, officials said.

Air India flight AI 332 from Delhi landed at Suvarnabhumi airport seven minutes ahead of its scheduled time of 7:13 pm (8:43 pm IST) and was asked by air traffic controllers to be parked at an area away from other planes, sources told PTI.

Authorities activated an emergency plan and safely evacuated all 231 passengers, including a child, and 10 crew members from the aircraft to begin checking for a bomb.

All passengers were evacuated safely via slides.

"The plane was searched here as a matter of procedure and nothing was found," Indranil Banerjee, chief of Air India's Thailand office, told PTI.

He said all the passengers on board were evacuated safely and after the search by authorities, the luggage items were also released.

However, the national carrier's departure flight has been postponed to tomorrow.

Air India said in a statement: "While the plane was 1.15 hrs away from Bangkok, two bomb threat calls were received by Delhi call centre. Accordingly, the pilot was informed who asked the Bangkok Air Traffic Control (ATC) for priority landing.

"With the close coordination of crew and ATC the flight landed safely at Bangkok at 1910 hrs local time and taken to isolation. The threat was for 1915 hrs local time. All parachutes were deployed and all 231 passengers were evacuated in 90 seconds."

Police from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit checked all pieces of luggage including those loaded on the aircraft, Chads Chumnanvej, deputy general manager of Suvarnabhumi airport in charge of operations, was quoted as saying by The Bangkok Post.

Air India uses a Boeing 787 dreamliner for the flight, according to the flightaware.com. The plane left the Indian capital at 2:10 pm IST.

Suvarnabhumi is Thailand's largest international airport and sees around 50 million passengers annually.

PTI
Buenos Aires: Argentina's navy announced Tuesday that it used gunfire to sink a Chinese-flagged boat that was fishing illegally in national waters.

China's government said it expressed its serious concern to Argentina and called for an investigation

The navy statement said the boat was intercepted Monday off the coast of Puerto Madryn, about 907 miles (1,460 kilometers) south of Buenos Aires.

The statement said the boat did not heed warning calls and instead tried to ram an Argentine naval vessel. Sailors then shot holes in different parts of the fishing boat, causing it to sink, the navy said.

Four people on board were rescued and arrested. They remained in custody and were to go before a federal judge in southern Chubut province, the statement said.

The navy said it had been 15 years since one of its vessels last sank a foreign vessel fishing illegally in Argentina's waters.

In Beijing, Lu Kang, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, posted a statement on the ministry's website saying the boat had been fishing in Argentine waters and was chased for several hours before Argentine naval fire holed the vessel. It said four Chinese were picked up by the Argentines and 28 more were rescued by a nearby Chinese vessel.

The statement did not directly address the question of whether the boat was fishing illegally or tried to ram the Argentine navy vessel.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy to Argentina have lodged urgent representations with Argentina, expressing serious concern, urging Argentina to carry out a full investigation immediately and to inform China of the details, to protect the safety and lawful rights of Chinese sailors, and to take effective measures to avoid similar incidents," the statement said.

AP
Brasilia: Brazil's political drama took several new twists Tuesday as a senator accused President Dilma Rousseff of offering hush money to contain a corruption scandal, and her predecessor considered a return to government to help save their careers.

Prosecutors said a senator charged in a huge graft investigation centered on state oil company Petrobras had accused Rousseff of sending a powerful cabinet minister to try to buy his silence.

The senator, Delcidio Amaral of the ruling Workers' Party (PT), told investigators in statements given as part of a plea bargain that Education Minister Aloizio Mercadante, Rousseff's former chief of staff, contacted him via an aide to urge him not to testify.

Amaral, the former party leader in the Senate, said the minister indicated the message came from Rousseff herself -- an accusation the leftist leader angrily denied.

The president "vehemently and indignantly repudiates the attempt to associate her name with the personal initiative of Minister Aloizio Mercadante," her office said in a statement.

As the long-running scandal swirled, administration sources said former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva -- who is himself facing charges -- was on the verge of taking a cabinet post in Rousseff's administration to try to save the crisis-hit government.

The move, which would be hugely divisive, would amount to a risky bet that the aura around Lula's administration (2003-2011), a period of watershed prosperity in Brazil, still outshines the economic and political mess the ailing South American giant has descended into under Rousseff.

For Lula, it would also have the added bonus of protecting him from prosecution in ordinary court on charges tied to the Petrobras scandal.

Cabinet ministers can only be tried before the Supreme Court in Brazil.

But both leftists will have to be prepared for the likely backlash, at a time when their political stars are waning.

Rousseff is facing an impeachment drive, a deep recession and mass protests, while her mentor's legacy is threatened not only by the charges against him but also by perceptions that his entire administration was underpinned by graft.

Lula arrived in Brasilia late Tuesday, where he met with the president for more than four hours to discuss options. Talks were expected to continue Wednesday, O Globo said on its website.

"There are two possibilities for Lula in the government: chief of staff or cabinet secretary," a source in Rousseff's administration told AFP, denying the move was aimed at protecting Lula from arrest.

"The goal is to help the president confront the impeachment process... (and) not to escape justice," the source said.

Hush-money allegation

The anti-corruption probe now appears to have the president squarely in its sights.

Amaral made his explosive accusations while he was in custody, himself accused of pressuring a former Petrobras director not to talk to investigators.

The senator gave the authorities recordings of conversations in which Mercadante, the cabinet minister, urged him to "keep calm" and warned he could bear "monumental responsibility in destabilizing the government."

In his confession, Amaral said Mercadante told him via his aide "that financial issues, and specifically paying for lawyers, could be resolved, probably through companies linked to the PT."

Mercadante denied the accusations.

Prosecutors have used such plea deals throughout the investigation to implicate a steadily expanding Who's Who politicians and business executives in the spiraling scandal.

"These revelations are going to cost the government dearly, as Senator Amaral was always a key figure in the government," Ivar Hartmann, a political analyst at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, told AFP.

"The way out of the crisis sought by the PT, with Lula's eventual participation in the government, is now even more difficult."

Rousseff is increasingly on the ropes as Congress gears up to relaunch impeachment proceedings over allegations she fudged the government's books to increase public spending during her 2014 re-election campaign.

On Sunday, between one million and three million Brazilians called for her departure in nationwide protests.

Lula, a former labor leader and a hero to the poor and working class, also looks increasingly cornered.

He is charged with accepting a luxury apartment as a bribe from a company accused in the Petrobras scheme -- and prosecutors say their suspicions don't stop there.

They have indicated they suspect Lula of possibly playing a more central role in the entire scheme, in which construction companies conspired with Petrobras executives to overbill the oil giant to the tune of $2 billion, some of which was paid out as bribes to politicians and parties.

Rousseff was chairman at Petrobras during much of the period in question, but does not face charges so far.

AFP
Nairobi: Kenya's military says it has killed 19 fighters from the Somali extremist group Al-Shabab who were attempting to ambush Somali national troops.

Military spokesman Col. David Obonyo said Wednesday Kenyan troops on patrol Tuesday night, in the southern city of Afmadow, found a group of militants suspected to have been preparing to attack a Somali National Army camp.

Al-Shabab, which is allied to Al-Qaeda, is waging an insurgency against Somalia's United Nations-backed government, carrying out deadly attacks on military and civilian targets in and out of Somalia. Kenya is among six countries contributing troops under the banner of the African Union Mission in Somalia that are bolstering Somalia's weak government.

Al-Shabab killed up to 200 Kenyan soldiers in a January attack, according to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

AP
Moscow: US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Russia next week to discuss the Syria crisis, Washington has said, after Moscow began withdrawing most of its forces from the country.

Kerry said he would hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to "try to take advantage of this moment", which he described as the best opportunity in years to end the bloodshed.

Russia's withdrawal has spurred hopes for peace talks being held in Geneva to try to end Syria's brutal five-year conflict, which has killed more than 270,000 people and displaced millions. Putin had ordered the "main part" of Russia's forces out of Syria on Monday, but pledged to keep some air and naval bases in the war-torn nation.

A senior official said on Tuesday that strikes would also continue against "terrorist targets", and a monitoring group said that Russian aircraft had struck the Islamic State group around the ancient city of Palmyra.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura described the withdrawal as a "significant development" for the talks, after the regime and rebel delegations submitted their roadmaps for a political solution. "We hope (this) will have a positive impact on the progress of the negotiations," he said.

The White House said "the earliest indications are that the Russians are following through" on the withdrawal, and some Russian aircraft had left Syria.

Kerry is expected to go to Moscow some time next week, when he returns from a trip to Cuba. "As we mark the fifth anniversary of the start of this horrific war, we may face the best opportunity that we've had in years to end it," he said. "I will be travelling next week to Moscow...to discuss how we can effectively move the political process forward and try to take advantage of this moment."

The first of Russia's warplanes to leave Syria received a hero's welcome at an airbase outside the city of Voronezh, where they were greeted by a ceremonial flypast and dozens of cheering supporters.

Pilots were tossed in the air as they disembarked, before being given a traditional present of a loaf of bread and salt, while a robed Orthodox priest offered them an icon to kiss.

Some governments expressed hope the Russian move could pressure its long-time ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to negotiate  although the Kremlin has denied that was its intention.

AFP
Brussels: Police found an Islamic State flag next to the body of an Algerian killed during a major anti-terror raid in Brussels, prosecutors said Wednesday, as investigators raced to track down two suspected extremists who escaped.

The man had been identified as Mohamed Belkaid, 35, an Algerian national who was illegally in Belgium, the federal prosecutor said a day after the chaotic shootout.

Two suspects were still at large after the gunbattle, which erupted as Belgian and French police searched a property in connection with the November Paris massacre claimed by IS in which 130 people died.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the investigation was ongoing and that the national security council would meet later to discuss the country's terror alert level after the incident.

Prosecutors said at least two suspects fired on police as the door was opened during a search of the property in the quiet Forest district, wounding three officers including a French policewoman.

A series of gunbattles then erupted, wounding a fourth officer in the head, and a man was "neutralised by a sniper of the special forces when he tried to open fire from the window of the flat", spokesman Thierry Werts said.

"Next to his body was a Kalashnikov, a book on Salafism and an Islamic State flag," Werts told a packed press conference.

Belkaid was unknown to Belgian authorities except for a case of theft in 2014, they said.

Werts said that "two persons who were probably in the flat and whose identity is not known fled the scene and are being tracked down".

Searches throughout the southern district of Brussels found "no results", he said.

'Danger remains'

Belgian media reported that the two missing suspects were brothers with links to terrorism but there was no immediate confirmation.

"The investigation continues and the danger remains," premier Michel told broadcaster RTL.

Michel said operations had continued throughout the night. He did not rule out that the terror alert in Brussels could be raised to the highest level.

Children were left trapped in nearby schools by the shootout, and Michel thanked residents for their "composure" as bursts of gunfire erupted in the streets and dozens of heavily-armed police with balaclavas and sub-machineguns patrolled.

By early Wednesday calm had largely returned to the area and most locals had been allowed to return to their home.

Access to the scene of the shootout was also reopened with the windows in the building blown out and taped up with plastic.

The mayor of Forest, Marc-Jean Ghyssels, told RTBF radio that all schools and nurseries in his jurisdiction were open on Wednesday and that life was back to normal.

"There wasn't a direct threat to the public, it's a search that turned badly," he said.

Belgium has been at the centre of the investigation into the Paris attacks almost from day one.

Key Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam is believed to have fled to Brussels after the attacks and to have holed up in a flat for at least three weeks. He remains on the run.

The ringleader of the attacks, Islamic State member Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was also from Brussels. He was killed in a raid in Paris shortly after the November carnage.

Two weeks after the Paris attacks, Brussels was put on five days of lockdown with authorities warning of an imminent threat of violence as the manhunt for Abdeslam continued.

Soldiers are still on guard at key areas including train stations and EU institutions.

AFP
Pokhara: The most anticipated meeting between India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Sartaj Aziz, foreign relations adviser to the Pakistani prime minister, has been fixed for Thursday evening, Indian and Nepali diplomats said on Wednesday.

The two leaders arrived in Pokhara on Wednesday to attend the 37th meeting of the Saarc Council of Ministers.

The positive tone for the meeting was set on Tuesday during the dinner hosted by Nepal's Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi where the Indian and Pakistani foreign secretaries rubbed shoulders and held informal talks, said officials privy to the dinner.

The prospect of the meeting between Sushma Swaraj and Aziz grew further after they met during a reception hosted by Nepal's Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa on Wednesday evening.

"What I can confirm is that the meeting between Sushma and Aziz has been fixed in Hotel Grand on Thursday evening," said one Indian diplomat.

That meeting would take place once the ministerial meeting is over, he added.

After the ministerial meeting, the visiting foreign ministers and senior officials will leave for sightseeing. They will then return to the hotel and sit for talks.

IANS
By Shreerupa Mitra-Jha

The Syrian government on Wednesday dismissed the possibility that the Syrian Kurds will declare a federal region in northern Syria saying that creating any kind of divisions among the Syrians will be a total failure.

The basic references for the indirect talks prohibits raising such scenarios [of discussing the possibility of a breakup of Syria]. What we are talking about here is how to keep the unity of Syria, how to respect the unity of Syria, the independence of Syria, the territorial integrity of Syria, the unity of Syria [in terms of the] land and people, Bashar Jaafari, Syrias current ambassador to the UN in New York and the Syrian governments chief negotiator, told reporters in Geneva.

The Syrian Kurds are an important component of the Syrian people. We are proud of them, they are proud of us. We have established our state together for centuries. So betting on creating any kind of divisions among the Syrians will be a total failure, Jaafari added.

A spokesperson for the Democratic Union Party  a powerful Syrian Kurdish political party  had earlier today told The Associated Press that they planned to declare a separate, federal region for the Kurds.

Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an address on Wednesday also dismissed the idea of Kurdish self-rule in Turkey, though Turkey and the Syrian government are at the opposite ends of the table in this conflict. Erdogan further said that Russian and US weapons are landing with the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which Turkey considers a terrorist organisation. To complicate matters, though the US shares common interests with Turkey in toppling the Assad regime, it considers the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG)  which Ankara considers an affiliate of PKK  an ally given their proficiency to counter the Islamic State.

Jaafari further said that the discussions on Friday with the UN deputy special envoy for Syria, Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, was on the format of the talks and not the substance.

The ambassador said that they examined the format of the talks to ensure the participation of the broadest spectrum of Syrians in accordance with UNSC resolution 2254.

The UN is holding proximity talks indirect negotiations where UN talks separately to the Syrian government, the different opposition groups and other parties that began on Monday in Geneva. The Saudi- and Western-backed opposition group called the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) is the oppositions main negotiating group, led by Mohammed Alloush, apart from other opposition groups.

Apart from the Syrian government and the HNC, the UN has sent invitations to the Moscow and the Cairo groups and women and civil society delegations.

Some delegations have not yet arrived, Jaafari said.

Though Jaafari did not name Alloush  whom the Syrian government considers a terrorist  he said that the government delegation would not take part in direct talks with him unless that personality apologises for the statement he made previously and withdraws it, without elaborating any further. Alloush, considered to be a hardliner, had insisted that the political transition in Syria must start with president Bashar al-Assad's fall or death.

This is the first real temporary ceasefire in Syria  declared on 27 February  after the civil war completed five years this month. Though there have been accusations of violations, the ceasefire has largely been held.

The process as we see it at this stage is progressing. It probably reflects the situation on the ground  that there has been to quite a large extent reduction in violence. So by and large, we see that we have achieved important progress in just a few days, Ramzy told reporters on Wednesday.

Bolstering the hopes for a political solution for the disastrous war that has killed at least 270,000 people and displaced millions, Russia declared two days back that it would be withdrawing their troops from Syria.

The Syrian government on Wednesday said that this withdrawal was a common decision and did not come as a surprise to the government.

It was a coordinated, joint, political decision taken by both Moscow and Damascus jointly. Our friends, and allies, the Russians, came to Syria by a joint decision, and the day they will leave or withdraw, or redeploy their forces, partially or totally, it will be done, again and again and again, through a joint Syria-Russia coordination action, said Jaafari.

We did enter substantive decisions today as we asked Dr Jaafari and his team about clarifications on the paper submitted by the government of Syria. So substantive discussions have started, Ramzy said commenting on Jaafaris comment that the discussion today was on form not on substance.

The Syrian government has submitted an eight-point paper to the UN on the possible political solution to the war in Syria.

We can have different interpretations on discussions on form and discussions on substance, he added.

Commenting on the possibility of a federal region for the Syrian Kurds, Ramzy said, The UN has a clear position on this as does the Security CouncilThe future form Syria will take will be decided by the Syrians themselves.

The writer is a journalist at the United Nations
Washington: Donald Trump scored a decisive win Tuesday in Florida, but lost Ohio to the state's governor, John Kasich, as the billionaire's rivals desperately tried to stop his march to the party's presidential nomination. Hillary Clinton padded her lead over Bernie Sanders with victories in Florida, Ohio and North Carolina.

Marco Rubio, the Florida senator who staked his once-promising campaign on winning in his home state, dropped out of the presidential race shortly after the polls closed. That leaves Kasich as the last true establishment candidate running against Trump and arch-conservative Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

Trump looked for wins in Tuesday's five primaries to help build an insurmountable lead in the all-important delegate count. Florida was the biggest prize  the first winner-take-all contest decided  with all 99 delegates going to Trump.

The brash and controversial reality TV star has upended the political establishment by winning most of the state-by-state competitions for delegates who will choose the Republican nominee. He has seized on Americans' anger with Washington politicians, winning over voters with his simply worded promise to make America great again.

Kasich's win, capturing all of Ohio's 66 delegates, was crucial to slowing Trump's momentum. While Trump has amassed the most delegates going into Tuesday, he's won fewer than 50 percent of them. If that pace continues, he would fall short of the majority that he would need to assure him the nomination at the party's convention in July. The result could be a contested convention, creating an unpredictable outcome.

This is the first victory for Kasich, whose upbeat message and long record of government service has had little resonance as his rivals seized on voter's anxiety and disdain for Washington. While he could benefit from Rubio dropping out, he is unlikely to overtake Trump, though he could help keep Trump below the 50 percent threshold.

With Trump's win in Florida, he now has 568 delegates. Cruz has 370, Kasich 129 and Rubio left the race with 163. It takes 1,237 delegates to win the Republican nomination for president.

In the Democratic race, Clinton's victories in Florida and North Carolina were expected, but Sanders, a Vermont senator and self-described democratic socialist, had hopes of taking the industrial state of Ohio. He has criticised the former secretary of state for her past support for trade deals. Sanders is unlikely to overtake Clinton in the delegate count, but his victory last week in Michigan underscored the unease that many party voters have about her candidacy.

At her victory rally in West Palm Beach, Florida, Clinton declared her eagerness to move on to a possible general election showdown with Trump.

"We are moving closer to securing the Democratic Party nomination and winning this election in November," she told cheering supporters.

Trump has alienated many Republicans and Democrats alike with his disparaging remarks about Mexicans, Muslims and women among others. He entered Tuesday's primaries embroiled in one of the biggest controversies of his contentious campaign. He has encouraged supporters to confront protesters at his events and is now facing accusations of encouraging violence after skirmishes at a rally last week in Chicago that he ended up cancelling.

"I don't think I should be toning it down because I've had the biggest rallies of anybody probably ever," Trump said Tuesday on ABC's Good Morning America. ''We have had very, very little difficulty."

Rubio and Kasich have suggested they might not be able to support Trump if he's the nominee, an extraordinary stance for intraparty rivals. All of the candidates had earlier pledged to support the nominee.

Rubio implicitly rebuked Trump throughout a speech in Miami announcing he was dropping out of the race, imploring Americans to "not give in to the fear, do not give in to the frustration."

Kasich vowed never to take the "low road" to the "highest office in the land" in his victory speech to cheering supporters in Berea, Ohio.

Alluding to Trump, President Barack Obama said Tuesday he was dismayed by "vulgar and divisive rhetoric" directed at women and minorities as well as the violence that has occurred in the campaign.

Trump has been the target of millions of dollars in negative advertising in recent weeks, including one ad campaign that highlights his statements that appear to encourage violence  among them, "I'd like to punch him in the face."

Clinton earned at least 175 delegates Tuesday. Sanders will win at least 73. Clinton now has a total of at least 1,410, while Sanders has at least 653. It takes 2,383 to win the Democratic nomination.

AP
He stood for hours in the middle of the train tracks crossing the northern Greek village of Idomeni, just meters from the closed Macedonian border, sometimes with a cigarette dangling from his lips. He was mute as press photographers snapped away and throngs of war refugees and migrants shuffled past, walking gingerly in their mud-caked shoes to forage for food or to try to see a doctor.

His protest was silent  the hand-written placard spoke on his behalf. Dear Sun. Please shine on us, its very cold here. They are not going to let us in but we have no where to go back.

The message sums up a collective despair taking hold at this makeshift refugee camp on the heels of a three-week standoff with Macedonians and other Balkan countries, which adamantly oppose allowing refugees to continue their journey to the prosperous north.

"We are hopeless, says Ali, 45, a onetime clothing retailer from Syrias southwestern city of Daraa, located just 13 kilometers from the Jordanian border.

Two years ago, the life of Alis youngest son, a 16-year-old, was cut short by a sniper.

Like many Syrians now fleeing the war-torn country Ali didnt want to make for nearby Jordan, seeing no future there, just a frustrated life in a long-term refugee camp, the kind of life Palestinians have endured for decades in camps across the region.

And so along with his wife, 12-year-old daughter, eldest son and a group of neighbors, he set off on an epic half-circle journey crossing back-and-forth through a series of rebel- and government-held battle lines across southern Syria, north through eastern Syria close to the Iraqi border, and westward through the self-styled caliphate of the Islamic State.

'In misery here'

Ali's family entered Turkey illegally near the border town of Kilis.

It took them 15 days to work their way through Syria, with several alarms and near misses on the way. Death stalked them in the form of Russian and Syrian Air Force planes, and they were fearful not only of sudden missile-delivered death, but of capture by jihadists.

We stayed in Daraa because we thought the war would end, but when Russia intervened, that changed everything, Ali explains, sitting in a leaky blue tent he and his family have occupied for some 20 days. Quick to invite strangers into his tent, he offers refreshment and what little food is available, as if he were providing traditional hospitality in his own home back in Daraa.

The country has been destroyed  and not just the buildings. Syria is ruined; it will never recover, says Ali, a thoughtful man with a pepper-and-salt beard and lively dark eyes.

We arrived in Europe and hoped to start a good new life, but we find ourselves in misery here," he adds. "The one good thing to say is that at least we are not being bombed. We are stuck here, and maybe we have no chance now. Waiting on others to make decisions is killing us.

Losing hope

Those others would be the Europeans and Turkish officials who are preparing to meet Thursday to agree on a final deal that has been denounced by the UNs refugee chief and rights groups as a violation of international law. The deal aims to curb the refugee crisis roiling a continent that at first welcomed asylum-seekers, but has since hardened its heart amid increasing alarm over jihadists posing as refugees and mounting fears about the challenges of integration.

Like Ali, many refugees trapped for weeks on the Greek-Macedonia border are losing hope. After days of rain, conditions at the makeshift camp have worsened; some families have shifted their tents several kilometers away to escape sodden fields, while others try to plot alternative routes to Northern Europe. Many mentioned Greeces neighbor, Albania, as a possible alternative to the recently closed Balkan routes.

The failure Monday of a mass attempt by refugees to enter Macedonia by fording a fast-running stream swollen by winter rain has added to the camps collective sense of defeat. Around a thousand got into Macedonia but most were sent back by border guards. The trespassers claimed they were roughed up by the Macedonians.

Greek police estimates indicate that camp populations may have decreased to 10,500 from an estimated 13,000. Babar Baloch, a UNHCR spokesman, told VOA he isn't sure whether those numbers are accurate and that some families have spread out to nearby villages.

That can be seen at a glance along the E75 highway, where more tents have appeared by the roadside. Additions have been made to a makeshift refugee camp at a gas station about 15 kilometers outside Idomeni.

If you look at the conditions here, it is just not livable, Baloch told VOA. The refugees are really struggling now. They are up against the rain and cold weather, mud and water-logged fields. You can see some refugee children barefoot, others just in sandals or flip-flops. It is a heartbreaking story all around. The humanitarian problems are increasing. More children are being hospitalized.

He agrees it would be better for refugees to move to proper camps, but that impediments are rife. Many of the refugees dont want to move; they want to stay close to the border," he says. "And the Greek authorities need to improve the camps that are available and to come up with new sites, which could be developed quickly to take the refugees from here."

Like the refugees, Baloch does not have high hopes for Thursdays meeting between EU and Turkish leaders, which could lead to a deal whereby the EU will resettle one refugee from Turkey in return for every refugee Turkey takes back from Greece. We hope the European leaders understand the humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly at this border site," he says. "They need to wake up to the reality that Greece is struggling.

So, too, are the refugees. Frustration are already boiling over more than they did last week, when local Greeks arrived in pick-up trucks to provide free food and clothing. Behind Idomenis railway station Wednesday, as refugees snatched at the offered food and donated clothes, brawls almost broke out and were preempted only by a handful of Syrian men, who urged everyone to calm down and queue.
A pregnant Italian politician announced her candidacy Wednesday to become Rome's next mayor, infusing the race for the Eternal City with a feminist edge after both her prime challenger and her one-time mentor said she should stay home and be a mamma.''

The candidacy of Giorgia Meloni, a former protege of Silvio Berlusconi, is the latest twist in the sordid saga of Rome's city hall, after the previous mayor was forced out in an expense account scandal and the mayor before him was implicated in a huge corruption investigation.

In recent days, as Meloni hesitated over whether to run, both Berlusconi and his candidate for Rome mayor, Guido Bertolaso, said she should concentrate on being a mother and not join the taxing race. Their comments enraged other female politicians and prompted rounds of headlines and talk shows about sexism in Italy.

In a chaotic campaign announcement outside Rome's iconic Pantheon, Meloni said she would have preferred to have enjoyed her pregnancy without the stress and exhaustion of a political campaign. But she recalled that the symbol of Rome itself is a she-wolf nursing twins, and said mothers must be free to decide whether to work or not.

What I strongly believe is that no man can tell a woman what she can and cannot do during her pregnancy,'' Meloni said.

Meloni had headed Berlusconi's youth movement until she was tapped in 2008 to be his minister for youth, becoming the youngest cabinet minister in Italy's history. But she eventually split from his party to join another center-right group.

Her candidacy is thus splitting the center right even more. For weeks, anti-immigrant Northern League leader Matteo Salvini had courted her and urged her to run  even though Berlusconi had already thrown his support behind Bertolaso. Berlusconi and Salvini have had an on-again, off-again political courtship ahead of administrative elections, and the Meloni candidacy now throws any alliance into doubt.

Meloni sought to rally both behind her, urging Berlusconi and Salvini to help her prevent Rome from falling to the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement.

I'm here to unite, not divide,'' she said. But above all, I'm here to win.''

She added that she was confident Romans would understand that she wouldn't be able to hit the campaign trail too hard, saying there may be times when I'm too tired to go to one more event.''
At least one suicide bomber attacked a mosque on the outskirts of Maiduguri, Nigeria, killing at least 22 people and wounding another 17.

Reports on Wednesday's blast said it happened early in the morning in the Umarari area on the outskirts of the city.

Maiduguri is seen as the birthplace of the Boko Haram militant group and hence has become a focus in the government's battle to eliminate them.

No one has claimed responsibility for Wednesday's blast, but Boko Haram often stages attacks in the area.
Belgian authorities say an Algerian man was killed during a shootout near Brussels and a flag of the Islamic State group as well as jihadist literature were found at the scene. Two other suspects were detained as a manhunt continues in an operation linked to the November terrorist attacks in Paris.

Authorities identified the dead man as 35-year-old Algerian Mohamed Belkaid, who was residing illegally in Belgium.

He was killed in a shootout with French and Belgian police during an anti-terror operation Tuesday that included the town of Forest and other Brussels suburbs.

A spokesman for the Belgian prosecutors office told reporters Belkaid was unknown to authorities except for a theft committed in 2014. He described the events that took place at an apartment building in Forest.

From the moment the door was opened, at least two persons, armed with [...] and a Kalashnikov opened fire toward them, he said.

Heavy gunfire



Four officers were slightly injured in the shootout that lasted several hours, he said, and two suspects escaped and are being sought. Belkaid had been killed by sniper fire.

Next to the body was a Kalashnikov, as well as a book on Salafism. Also a flag of ISIS, Daesh, was found in the flat as well as [...] and innumerable shell cases," said the spokesman.

He said later in the day, a man arrived at a Belgian hospital with an injured colleague, but fled when police arrived. Police are questioning the injured man and another suspect, who have not been identified.

Operation linked to Paris terror attacks

Speaking on Belgiums RTL radio Wednesday, Prime Minister Charles Michel said the anti-terror operations will continue over the next hours and days, and the terror threat remains high.

The police operation is linked to the November 13 terror attacks in Paris that killed 130 people. Authorities believe the attacks were at least partly prepared and coordinated in Brussels.

Police earlier said the raid was not connected to key attack suspect Salah Abdeslam, who is still at large.

Belgian authorities say during the past few months they have arrested 58 people in connection with the Paris attacks.
The Angola-China Chamber of Commerce is due to be officially set up today (March 17), during a constituent assembly to be held in the Angolan capital, Luanda, the founding committee said in a statement.

The statement cited by Angolan news agency Angop said that the Constituent Assembly was an initiative of a group of legal and individual bodies from the two countries, and that the founding committee is led by Angolas Manuel Arnaldo Calado.

The CAC is intended to promote and support cooperation between businesspeople, Angolan investment in China and Chinese investment in Angola, respectively, promoting trade and technological exchanges.

The institution that will connect businesspeople from Angola and China proposes, among other things, to provide information to members on trade, investment, technology transfer and cooperation opportunities between the countries involved.

CACs mission is to represent all of its members in relation to public authorities as well as business organizations and the public at large, in the respective countries. MDT/Macauhub
The former director of the Liaison Office of the Central Peoples Government in the MSAR, Bai Zhijian, has denied the allegations of political interference in the expedition of the corruption case that is involving Macaus former general prosecutor Ho Chio Meng, Jornal San Wa Ou reported.

Bai acknowledged that Ho Chio Meng was inside the system, but denied that the case could have political intervention. Looking at the time and money that was involved, Hos cases could not have anything to do with politics, he said.

However, Bai admitted that the current judicial system, as well as legislation and governance in Macau, require further amendments to reduce the occurrence of corruption-driven behaviors. Ho is the second person holding an important senior position who has been exposed to allegations of corruption. The government must improve oversight, declared Bai.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has been active in the Liaison Offices in both Macau and Hong Kong in order to fight corruption. In spite of the enhanced inspection carried out by the central government, no incidents have been spotted so far, informed Bai, who then claimed, In fact, the Liaison Office doesnt possess that much power. We just provide assistance to the SAR government. This is not like the departments in the mainland, wherein they have budget authority. Staff reporter
Denmarks TV2 broadcaster says it has opened an office in Damascus, claiming to be the only western media to do so.

Mikkel Hertz, news director of the channel based in Odense, in central Denmark, says it was a unique opportunity that the channel obtained a permanent visa in Syria after a long process. He did not elaborate.

Longtime war correspondent Rasmus Tantholdt says it is a better starting point for filtering out the propaganda emanating from all the warring parties.

Heryz says the office opened yesterday on the 15th floor of a high-rise in a relatively peaceful area in the city.
Ten well-known Asian action movie directors will each select and promote an overseas film at the upcoming International Film Festival and Awards Macau (IFFA Macau), reports Variety Media.

Speaking at the fringes of a launch of the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FilMart) in Hong Kong this week, Marco Mueller, director of IFFA Macau was reportedly joined by Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) director, Helena de Senna Fernandes.

We want the ten to each choose a film that is neither East Asian and non-American that they would personally go back to, Marco Mueller expressed to Variety Media. They should be presenters of world cinema and ensure diversity.

The festival will largely focus on genre and commercial cinema. It will boast a main competition, gala presentations, a best of festival section and a focus on regional cinema.

The competition will be made up of popular films, but cutting edge and a bit special, keeping it interesting for international buyers, Mueller told Variety Media.

Though participants are yet to be confirmed and announced, Vietnam-born Chinese director Tsui Hark and Hong Kongs John Woo are likely to be included among the ten, speculates Variety Media.

Macau really sees itself as a hub for global films and co-productions and as a point of entry for foreign companies to enter the Greater China market, he added. The Macau government is seriously looking at creating an incentives system.

Mueller is the former director of the Locarno, Venice and Rome festivals. He was also associated with the Beijing and Silk Road film festivals in mainland China, before agreeing to take up the mantle in Macau.

The new festival, which will run from December 8 to 13, reportedly has a budget of around MOP80 million, supported by the government with the help of a commercial sponsor. Most of the events within the festival are due to be held at the venues of the Macau Cultural Center and the Science Museum, with additional smaller venues loaned for market activities.

The film festival, which according to MGTO aims to become a major film event for the Greater China and international markets, will showcase around 45 titles this year.

Nevertheless in its first year it has been timed to follow a similar event in Hong Kong where, just two days prior, a CineAsia convention and trade show will take place. The latter event is expected to draw many international figures to the region. DB
Bocage, one of the most celebrated Portuguese poets of all time, arrived in Macau at the end of 1789 and lived here for approximately six months. His presence in Macau was marked yesterday during a session held at the Old Court Building and included in the Macau Literary Festival.

With an unusual talent for improvisation and irony, Bocage was a first class poet and a transgressor in social, political, religious and sexual terms, explained Daniel Pires, a researcher of his work.

Arriving in Macau from Guangzhou (or Canton, as the Chinese city was known at the time) after having deserted the army in India, Bocage described the city in a poem: plenty of poverty, many vile women, one hundred Portuguese, all [living] in a pigsty.

Daniel Pires noted that, as was common in the XVIII century, he also had to write elegies for his Macau hosts. That was normal at the time, a poor poet needed to express his gratitude.

Back in the motherland, the short-lived poet, who died when he was forty, faced the hardships of someone who decided to live on the margins of society and paid dearly for his choice, going through phases of extreme poverty and uncertain dinners, Pires said.

Persecuted by censorship and the Inquisition, the poet was arrested several times. His bohemian lifestyle meant that he became famous for his romantic adventures and thus provoked many anecdotes both in Portugal and Brazil, where he also lived.

Bocage was born in September 1765. Celebrations are still being held this year to mark the 250th year of the poets birth.
North Koreas highest court sentenced an American tourist to 15 years in prison with hard labor for subversion yesterday, weeks after authorities presented him to media and he tearfully confessed that he had tried to steal a propaganda banner.

Otto Warmbier, a University of Virginia undergraduate, was convicted and sentenced in a one-hour trial in North Koreas Supreme Court.

He was charged with subversion under Article 60 of North Koreas criminal code. The court held that he had committed a crime pursuant to the U.S. governments hostile policy toward (the North), in a bid to impair the unity of its people after entering it as a tourist.

North Korea regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow its government to enable the U.S.-backed South Korean government to take control of the Korean Peninsula.

Tensions are particularly high following North Koreas recent nuclear test and rocket launch, and massive joint military exercises now underway between the U.S. and South Korea that the North sees as a dress rehearsal for invasion.

The University of Virginia said it was aware of the reports about Warmbier and remained in touch with his family, but would have no additional comment at this time.

Before the trial, the 21-year-old from Wyoming, Ohio, said he had tried to steal a propaganda banner as a trophy for an acquaintance who wanted to hang it in her church. That would be grounds in North Korea for a subversion charge.

Trials for foreigners facing similar charges in North Korea are generally short and punishments severe. Warmbier was arrested as he tried to leave the country in early January. He was in North Korea with a New Years tour group.

U.S. tourism to North Korea is legal. Arrests of tourists are rare but the U.S. State Department strongly advises against such travel.

Further complicating matters, Washington and Pyongyang do not have diplomatic relations. The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang acts as a go-between in consular issues when U.S. citizens run afoul of North Korean authorities.

North Korea announced Warmbiers arrest in late January, saying he committed an anti-state crime with the tacit connivance of the U.S. government and under its manipulation. It remains unclear how the U.S. government was allegedly connected to Warmbiers actions.

Warmbier had been staying at the Yanggakdo International Hotel. It is common for sections of tourist hotels to be reserved for North Korean staff and off-limits to foreigners.

In a tearful statement made before his trial, Warmbier told a gathering of reporters in Pyongyang he tried to take the banner as a trophy for the mother of a friend who said she wanted to put it up in her church.

He said he was offered a used car worth USD10,000 if he could get a banner and was also told that if he was detained and didnt return, $200,000 would be paid to his mother in the form of a charitable donation.

Warmbier said he accepted the offer because his family was suffering from very severe financial difficulties.

Warmbier also said he had been encouraged by the universitys Z Society, which he said he was trying to join. The magazine of the universitys alumni association describes the Z Society as a semi-secret ring society founded in 1892 that conducts philanthropy, puts on honorary dinners and grants academic awards.

In previous cases, people who have been detained in North Korea and made a public confession often recant those statements after their release.

In the past, North Korea has held out until senior U.S. officials or statesmen came to personally bail out detainees, all the way up to former President Bill Clinton, whose visit in 2009 secured the freedom of American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling.

In November 2014, U.S. spy chief James Clapper went to Pyongyang to bring home Matthew Miller, who had ripped up his visa when entering the country, and Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who had been incarcerated since November 2012.

Jeffrey Fowle, another U.S. tourist from Ohio detained for six months at about the same time as Miller, was released just before that and sent home on a U.S. government plane.

Fowle left a Bible in a local club hoping a North Korean would find it, which is considered a criminal offense in North Korea. Jon Chol Jin & Eric Talmadge, Pyongyang, AP
The Times of India has included Macau in a list of top destinations for Indian tourists to visit this coming summer.

Describing the MSAR as a happening city, the English-language newspaper recommends tourists visit the Ruins of St. Paul, the Macau Tower and Senado Square. In addition, they encouraged visitors to experience Macaus entertaining nightlife and high-end resorts.

The article also endorses a visit to Macaus largest natural beach, Hac Sa Beach, in Coloane. However, it makes no mention of the territorys gaming activities.

Macau is one of three overseas locations that the newspaper has listed among its recommendations for summer destinations. The other two are Costa Rica and Malaysia, for which the Times of India has highlighted the natural beauty of the tropical rainforests and beaches found within each country.

Within India, the article recommends tourists head to Darjeeling, a traditional tea-producing region located in the Mahabharat range, otherwise known as the Lesser Himalayas, as well as the sun-and-sea state of Kerala on the Indian subcontinents Malabar Coast.

Also included is another former Portuguese enclave, Goa, which the newspaper endorses for its scenic beaches, delightful parties, cool shacks and beautiful churches, also mentioning the regions Goan delicacies.
NORTH KOREAs highest court sentences an American tourist who stole a banner to 15 years in prison with hard labor for subversion. Otto Warmbier, 21, was convicted and sentenced in a one-hour trial in the Supreme Court.

SINGAPOREs government announced yesterday that it has arrested four citizens accused of links to armed conflict in Yemen and to a Kurdish militia group fighting against the Islamic State group. It said the four men were arrested in separate cases under the countrys Internal Security Act, which allows indefinite detention without charge. Two have since been released with restrictions.

INDONESIAN police said they killed two suspected Chinese Uighur militants during a hunt for the countrys most wanted Islamic radical. The two men were shot during a gunbattle this week in mountainous jungle terrain in Central Sulawesi province, local police said.

AUSTRALIA A piece of debris recently found on an Indian Ocean island where a wing fragment from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 had previously washed ashore is unlikely to be from the missing plane.

USA Donald Trump scored victories in three states, including the big-prize Florida, but lost Ohio to John Kasich, as the billionaire continued to move ahead in his stunning campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. Hillary Clinton won at least four states, dealing a severe blow to Bernie Sanders bid to slow her march toward the Democratic nomination.

SYRIA Russias plan to withdraw forces from Syria is sending a strong message to President Bashar Assad, whose hard-line stance is diverging from Moscows interest in declaring its intervention in the country a success as it also accelerates peace efforts.

ISLAMIC STATE Omar al-Shishani, an Islamic State commander who was a magnet for fighters from the former Soviet Union, has died of wounds suffered in a U.S. airstrike in Syria, according to Iraqi and U.S. officials.

BELGIUM Belgian and French police investigating a suspected link with the November Paris attacks stormed a Brussels house. After being fired upon, police killed a suspect armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle, authorities say.

GERMANY Authorities conducted raids across the country after the government banned a right-wing extremist group called Weisse Woelfe Terrorcrew accused of wanting to establish a Nazi-style dictatorship. The raids and seizures of evidence in 10 states targeted 16 leaders of the group.
This appeared in Tuesdays Washington Post.

Europes latest, desperate plan to stop the uncontrolled flow of refugees across its borders prompted Austrias interior minister to ask, Are we throwing our values overboard? The simplest answer is yes: A draft bargain struck by the European Union with Turkey last week could lead to the deportation of thousands of asylum seekers in violation of international treaties, while empowering increasingly autocratic Turkish strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Unfortunately, the most likely alternatives to the plan would do even more violence to human rights principles. In that sense, the Turkish deal is a last-ditch effort by the continents beleaguered pro-humanitarian forces, led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Its goal is to stop the refugee flows while still providing a European harbor to some of Syrias displaced civilians. If it fails, the winners will be the parties of intolerance that have risen as the crisis has swelled.

Unfortunately, that looks like an all-too-possible outcome. Merkel is counting on Erdogan to interdict the smugglers transporting refugees across the Aegean Sea to Greece and take back any who manage to arrive there. In exchange, the European Union will provide $6.6 billion in subsidies for Turkeys handling of the more than 2 million refugees on its soil, move to grant Turks visa-free access to the unions 28 states by June, and reopen negotiations on Turkeys accession to the European Union. Though the third provision is mostly symbolic, it willfully overlooks Erdogans accelerating steps to consolidate a Putinesque dictatorship, including the takeover of Turkeys largest newspaper days before the deal was reached.

The bargain provides that the European Union would accept, from Turkish refugee camps, a number of asylum seekers equal to those returned from the continent to Turkey. Ideally, that could end the smuggling businesswhich has led to the deaths of hundreds of refugees already this yearwhile providing a safe home to thousands through an orderly process.

The potential difficulties, however, are legion. Human rights groups say the summary deportation of refugees to Turkey would violate the Geneva refugee convention, since Turkey does not observe its provisions for Syrians on its territory. A number of EU governments are refusing to accept any refugees from Turkey; a plan adopted last year for the distribution of 160,000 arrivals around the union has so far settled fewer than 1,000. Similarly, the promise of visa-free travel for Turks is likely to face stiff resistance, even if Turkey meets the 72 preconditions set out by Brussels.

Merkels European opponents have already succeeded, over her objections, in using fences and other border controls to close the land corridor used by refugees to travel through the Balkans, trapping thousands in Greece. Her opponents now will aim to stop Syrians from leaving Turkey without either granting some European asylum or removing travel barriers for Turks. So the question Europe faces is not whether the refugee crisis will force it to compromise its values; it is whether it will manage to preserve even a curtailed humanitarian response.
President Vladimir Putin and King Mohammed VI, who is on an official visit to Russia, held Tuesday in Moscow, talks that centered on pressing issues of bilateral relations, but also on topical international and regional issues, with focus on the latest developments in the Middle East and North Africa.

During the talks, described as friendly and candid the two leaders discussed prospects for the promotion of bilateral economic and trade relations and the strengthening of Moroccan-Russian strategic partnership.

In the course of the visit, Morocco and Russia adopted a Statement on the Extended Strategic Partnership between the two countries, wherein both countries confirmed their commitment to intensify their bilateral relations, in particular through the implementation of joint projects in the sectors of energy, tourism, technology, agriculture, fisheries and transport infrastructure.

Rabat and Moscow also agreed to encourage their trade in order to achieve balance and increase the volume of mutual investments and commit to take concrete steps to expand cooperation in the field of agriculture and sea fisheries.

Special attention will be paid to the promotion of exports of Moroccan fruit and vegetables to Russia and Russian grain exports to Morocco, said the statement, noting that customs procedures will be simplified through the establishment of a green corridor.

By turning to the Russian giant, Morocco, whose economy remains among the most open in Africa, confirms its choice to diversify its economic and trade partnerships, traditionally linked to the European Union.

In the Statement on the Extended Strategic Partnership, the two countries also stressed the need to upgrade international cooperation to combat terrorism and violent extremism under all their forms.

Regarding the situation in Syria, the two countries expressed their commitment to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the country and called for a political and diplomatic settlement to the crisis, urging for a resumption, without delay, of the inclusive inter-Syrian dialogue.

They likewise voiced support to the inter-Libyan dialogue and pointed out that only a political solution and the formation of the legitimate government structures can lead to national reconciliation and end the internal armed conflict and the danger of terrorism in this country.

In this regard, Russia says it highly appreciates Moroccos efforts to promote inter-Libyan accord on the basis of the Skhirat agreements.

Prior to the Kings visit, analysts had predicted that the Libyan issue will be discussed by the Moroccan Sovereign and the Russian President because Morocco is invested in Libyas future and is a credible broker of international assistance for its rehabilitation. Besides, Morocco, a staunch ally of the United States and other Western States, can help mend the rift that has prevented Russia from playing a positive role in the civil-war torn country after Moscow vehemently opposed the Western military campaign that deposed Qaddafi.

The Royal visit to Moscow highlighted by the signing of several intergovernmental agreements.
Morocco has raised the tone in responding to the United Nations Secretary Generals provocative remarks and behavior, decided a number of immediate measures and threatened to stop all cooperation with MINURSO, the UN mission supervising the cease-fire in the Sahara.

Moroccos decisions were conveyed to the UN Chief Ban Ki-moon by Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar at a meeting held Monday in New York.

Salaheddine Mezouar handed the UN head a letter detailing the formal protests of the Moroccan Government about his unacceptable statements and unacceptable behavior during his recent visit to the region and told him that all the components and forces of the Moroccan people decry and flatly reject his inadmissible and reprehensible remarks about the Moroccan Sahara issue, said the Foreign Ministry in a statement released Monday night.

Moroccan authorities believe that such actions are incompatible with the responsibilities and mission of a UN Secretary General, the statement said, adding that in view of this dangerous drift, Morocco decided to significantly reduce the MINURSO civilian component and, in particular, its political section. Morocco also decided to cancel the voluntary contribution it grants to ensure the MINURSO functioning.

The Foreign Department statement also announced that the North African country is considering the withdrawal of Moroccan troops engaged in peacekeeping operations.

Morocco reserves the legitimate right to resort to other measures that may be deemed necessary to defend its supreme interests, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the statement said.

The Foreign Minister insisted at his meeting with Ban Ki-moon that Moroccan authorities consider his acts as incompatible with the responsibilities and mission of the Secretary General that compel him to a duty of objectivity and impartiality and to the respect of the framework established by the UN bodies, the statement said. It added that Mezouar reminded the Secretary General that the term occupation he used to describe the presence of Morocco in its Sahara is a legal absurdity and a serious political error, and recalled that the resort to a referendum mentioned by Ban as a means to solve the Sahara regional dispute was discarded and cast-off by the Security Council, years ago.

The use of such references is an insult to the Moroccan people who made great sacrifices to gradually regain its independence and defend its territorial integrity, the statement said.

Mezouar reiterated at the Monday meeting, the urgency for the Secretary General not to indulge in the undisclosed attempts seeking to undermine the Moroccan autonomy initiative which remains preeminent in the Security Council resolutions and asked the UN Chief to publicly clarify his positions to restore a climate of trust and mutual respect, the Foreign Department statement said.
Irans foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a series of tweets launched a charity begins at home approach to defend Tehrans missile program and last weeks test-firing of Qadr-H, Qadr-F and Qiam ballistic missiles.

He said countries that question Irans military defense programs should at first defend their own military doctrine as defensive.

Zarif tweeted on Tuesday that the ballistic missile tests did not violate any accord. Neither JCPOA (the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1) nor Security Council Resolutions prohibiting Iran from missiles designed for nuke warheads, he stressed before urging critics to Read the Document: Its plain English not legalese.

The US has claimed that the tests violate resolutions and the nuclear agreement but the European Union stated otherwise. Washington has vowed to push for new UN Security Council actions against Iran but Russia and China are expected to oppose it.

In another tweet, Zarif seemingly tried to justify Tehrans missile program by relating it to the Iran-Iraq war that began in 1980. Iran hasnt attacked any country in 250years. But when Saddam rained missiles on us and gassed our people for 8 years, no one helped us. He opined that if Iran had missiles during that period, it would have served as a deterrent because they may have discouraged or at least reduced his (Saddam) indiscriminate attacks on our civilians.

Zarif said the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps have already stated that we will not use force except in defense and he challenged those who accuse Iran of provocation to make similar statements.

One of the regional countries worried about Irans intentions is Israel as one of the missiles tested had Israel must be removed from the earth written on it.
Transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of Zika virus. Credit: Cynthia Goldsmith/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

A woman infected by the Zika virus during the first three months of pregnancy faces a one-in-100 chance her child will suffer severe brain damage, according to a study released Wednesday.

Zika increases the risk of microcephalyan otherwise rare condition that results in an abnormally small headby fifty-fold, the researchers calculated.

"The first trimester is the most critical," lead author Simon Cauchemez, a scientist at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, told AFP.

His team's statistical analysis of a Zika outbreak in French Polynesia in 2013-14 that spread to two-thirds of the population is the most rigorous attempt yet to quantify the risk of microcephaly, which emerges in foetuses.

Brazil has been hardest hit by the mosquito-borne virus, with some 1.5 million people infected and 745 confirmed cases of the brain-deforming syndrome, but the ongoing epidemic and patchy data have thwarted similarly rigorous analyses.

One study from Brazil estimated the chance of birth defects for mothers carrying the virus during pregnancy at more than 20 percent, but carried a very large margin of error.

All told, some 40 countries have reported transmission within their borders since last year, according to the World Health Organization, which declared a global health emergency on February 1.

Laboratory-like conditions

The new research does not prove that Zika causes the brain-deforming syndrome.

But recent experiments, including one showing that the virus singles out and attacks cells crucial to brain development, have left little doubt in the minds of many researchers that Zika is to blame.

A flurry of studies has also established strong links to other rare neurological disorders, including oneGuillain-Barre syndromein which immune defences turns against the body's nervous system, sometimes causing lasting damage or even death.

A number of factors in French Polynesiaits small population, universal medical records, an epidemic with a clear beginning and endcreated laboratory-like conditions favourable to research.

Cauchemez and a dozen colleagues used mathematical models to match different hypothetical scenarios against the number and timing of Zika and microcephaly cases.

"This provided us with a small, yet much more complete dataset than data gathered from an ongoing outbreak," such as in Brazil or Colombia, the second-most affected nation, said co-author Arnaud Fontanet, also of the Institut Pasteur.

Eight cases of the brain disorder were identified, seven of them occurring in a four-month period near the end of the outbreak, they reported in The Lancet.

Many questions, however, remain.

One is whether the risk is higher for Zika-infected pregnant women who show symptoms.

On it's own, Zika is fairly benign, like a bad cold or a mild flu. In many cases, people don't even know they have it.

"We think that about 80 percent of people infected show no symptoms at all," Cauchemez said in an interview.

Another unknown is whether patterns in French Polynesia are transferrable to Latin American, and eventually other parts of the world if Zika continues to expand its footprint.

Defining a risk period

These populations are far more "genetically diverse," commented Nathalie MacDermott, a clinical research fellow at Imperial College London who was not involved in the study.

"This may well... alter whether these calculations apply to the current outbreak in South America."

It is likewise possible that the virus has mutated since the 2013 outbreak, becoming more virulent.

Studies still in the pipelinelooking at data from Pernambuco State in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, and parts of Colombiashow higher rates of brain-damaged foetuses, said Laura Rodrigues, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Rather than a single, underlying risk, however, these estimates could result from "other factors, such as the presence of clinical symptoms or previous dengue infection," she said in a comment, also published in The Lancet.

Dengue, along with the chikungunya virus, are carried by the same family of mosquitos that spread Zika.

Overall, independent experts lauded the study.

"This is an important finding becauseas well as advancing our confidence that Zika can be the cause of microcephalyit also helps us, for the first time, to think about defining a risk period during pregnancy," said Derek Gatherer, a lecturer at Lancaster University in England.

"This is sure to have major implications for travel to affected areas by pregnant women."

Preliminary research also shows that Zika can be sexually transmitted by men.

Explore further New research further supports association between Zika virus infection and microcephaly

 2016 AFP
Studies have shown that immigrants to the U.S., Canada, and Australia tend to be healthier and live longer than non-immigrants in their host countries, once adjustments have been made for income and education. There has been a great deal of speculation as to why this "healthy migrant effect" exists. One hypothesis proposes that it is due to self-selection such that particularly healthy individuals are more likely to choose to move to a different country, while those who are in poor health may be less willing or able to do so.

A study released today by the University of Toronto and U.K.'s Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL (LHA) found support for this hypothesis using data from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD), a large nationally representative longitudinal study of British children born in early March 1946 who have been surveyed more than twenty times over their lifetime. The study, published online this week in the Canadian Journal of Public Health, compared the childhood circumstances of 984 future emigrants with 4378 non-emigrants.

"The childhood health of future migrants was much better than those who did not move to other countries," says Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson, Sandra Rotman Endowed Chair at University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and the Institute for Life Course and Aging.

Researchers found that future emigrants in the NSHD were less likely to have been born with a low birth-weight or to have a serious illness before the age of 5 and they were taller at age 6 (which reflects childhood nutrition) than were the children who did not emigrate. It appears that factors contributing to positive health selection in migrant populations begin as far back as childhood.

"We also found that future emigrants had superior cognitive ability at age 8 in comparison to their counterparts who stayed in Britain," said co-author Sarah Brennenstuhl of the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. "Higher cognitive ability has been shown in other studies to be associated with better health in adulthood and a lower likelihood of developing dementia in old age."

Future emigrants came from families with a higher socioeconomic position than those who remained permanently in the UK. "They were more likely to have fathers who were professionals, their mothers had a higher level of education, their housing quality at age 4 was better, their parents showed more interest in the children's school progress, and their parents were more likely to own their own home when the child was 6 years old" said Professor Diana Kuh, a co-author and Director of LHA and NSHD. "Childhood socioeconomic position has been shown in the NSHD and many other studies to be highly associated with adult health."

"This study supports the healthy migrant hypothesis for migration between high-resource countries," said Professor Kuh.
Elizabeth Mostofsky, instructor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, says drinking can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Credit: Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

A daily drink or two is good for you, studies have shown, but new findings introduce a caveat: a temporary increase in heart attack and stroke risk.

A study by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health shows that the ill effect dissipates within hours, yielding to benefits for moderate drinking. The work, led by instructor in epidemiology Elizabeth Mostofsky, analyzed the findings of a range of studies on alcohol and health conducted between 1966 and 2015.

Published this month in the journal Circulation, the meta-analysis, or "study of studies," also reinforced the harmful effects of heavy drinking. Mostofsky spoke with the Gazette about the study and its implications for healthy vs. unhealthy drinking habits.

GAZETTE: What is the take-home message? Is it that alcohol isn't as good for you as we thoughtor is it that, like so many things, it's complicated?

MOSTOFSKY: I think it's more that it's complicated. Although there's consistent evidence that habitual, moderate intake can be beneficial, there is some evidence that there may be a transiently higher risk immediately after drinking alcoholeven for smaller amounts. The complex physiological effects of alcohol result in both higher and lower cardiovascular risk depending on the amount consumed, drinking frequency, and the outcome under study.

This is the first paper to synthesize all studies on the acute risk of heart attack and stroke in the hours, day, and week after drinking. Despite the differences in the study procedures, the populations, and the outcomes of interest in the included studies, there was consistent evidence that alcohol consumption was associated with an immediately higher cardiovascular risk that was attenuated after 24 hours. In fact, within a day, moderate alcohol intake was even protective for heart attacks and hemorrhagic strokes and protective against ischemic strokes within one week. In contrast, heavy alcohol drinking was associated with higher cardiovascular risk in the following day and week.

Based on these results, it is possible that the brief risk is outweighed by the health benefits of regularly drinking moderate amounts of alcohol. Therefore, the take-home message is still the same. We cannot recommend you begin drinking, but, consistent with the American Heart Association's recommendations, if you do drink, do so in moderation. That means no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men, where a drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, four ounces of wine, 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits, or one ounce of 100-proof spirits.

GAZETTE: What happens if you're following the guidelines and having one or two drinks, but doing so every day? Do the short-term negative effectsrepeated dailyever cancel out the longer-term beneficial effects?

MOSTOFSKY: That's a great question. Prior work by our co-authors showed that the health effects of alcohol intake depend on both the amount and the pattern of consumption. Heavy episodic drinking has harmful effects, even if individuals who binge only drink one or two days per week, resulting in the same average alcohol intake per week that is known to yield cardioprotective benefits. Among men, drinking a small amount of alcohol regularlyone to two drinks a day, four days a weeklowers cardiovascular risk more than drinking the same total weekly amount but on fewer days per week.

Therefore, it is possible that over time, individuals who frequently drink small amounts of alcohol may experience a temporarily heightened risk, but this may be offset in part by the subsequent protective benefits in the hours after consumption. On the other hand, consuming large amounts of alcohol at once may result in both a sharply higher immediate risk and  a higher long-term risk.

GAZETTE: So drinking small amounts daily reinforces the beneficial effects?

MOSTOFSKY: Exactly. In our study on the acute effects of alcohol on the risk of heart attacks, we found that among participants who did not drink alcohol daily, there was a 3.3-fold higher risk of heart attacks in the hour after consumption, but the higher rate was not apparent for daily drinkers.

This may be due to alcohol tolerance whereby habitual intake leads to up-regulation of enzymes that metabolize alcohol, resulting in a lower physiological response to each drink. Therefore, once again we see that the people who regularly drink small amounts of alcohol have a lower cardiovascular risk.

GAZETTE: Let's talk about the other half of this, the heavy drinkers. How does your study define heavy drinking, and what did you find specifically?

MOSTOFSKY: In this study, heavy alcohol drinkingsix to nine drinks in one daywas associated with a higher cardiovascular risk on the following day. And heavy drinking in one week, 19 to 30 drinks, has a harmful effect in both the immediate and in the subsequent week. So there seems to be no benefit to heavy drinking. We never get to a point where it garners any health benefits.

GAZETTE: Can we quantify the increased risk?

MOSTOFSKY: Sure, heavy alcohol drinking was associated with a 1.3- to 2.3-fold higher risk of heart attacks and strokes in the following day and a 2.2-fold to more than a sixfold higher risk in the following week. Keep in mind that our classification of heavy drinking is based on the amounts reported in the included studies and not intended for the purposes of guidelines. For men, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 15 drinks or more per week. For women, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming eight drinks or more per week.

GAZETTE: It sounds, for moderate drinking, as if you've found a new wrinkle, but for heavy drinkers, is this substantially different? Does it quantify what we already knew?

MOSTOFSKY: Our results are consistent with prior research showing that moderate alcohol consumption has health benefits whereas heavy consumption is dangerous. What is novel here is that alcohol may have markedly different effects on immediate and long-term riskyou can have an acutely increased risk that becomes beneficial over time.

This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu.
Fumigation fog fills the Vedado neighborhood after soldiers sprayed to kill mosquitos in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Authorities are fumigating in an attempt to prevent the spread of zika, chikungunya and dengue, after the World Health Organization declared Zika to be a global emergency last month. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan)

Cuban officials announced Tuesday night that they have detected the first case of the Zika virus transmitted inside the country, ending Cuba's status as one of the last nations in the hemisphere without domestic cases of the disease that has been linked to birth defects.

State media said a 21-year-old Havana woman who had not traveled outside Cuba was diagnosed with the virus after suffering headaches, fatigue and other symptoms. On Monday, her blood tested positive for Zika. She remains hospitalized.

Cuba had previously reported a handful of cases of the disease in people who had traveled to countries with outbreaks of the mosquito-borne virus, particularly Venezuela, and appeared to have contracted it there.

Cuba has close ties to Venezuela, a fellow socialist country that sends hundreds of millions of dollars a year in subsidized oil in exchange for Cuban medical assistance that sees many thousands of people travel between the two countries annually.

Zika is being investigated as a possible agent in cases of microcephaly, a condition in which babies are born with unusually small heads and brain damage, and also in cases of Guillain-Barre, a rare condition that sometimes results in temporary paralysis.

Cuba has thrown more than 9,000 soldiers, police and university students into an effort to fumigate for mosquitoes, wipe out the standing water where they breed and prevent a Zika epidemic.

An army truck fumigates to kill mosquitos in the Vedado neighborhood of Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Authorities are fumigating in an attempt to prevent the spread of zika, chikungunya and dengue. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan)

President Raul Castro has called on the nation to battle lax fumigation and trash collection, turning the Zika fight into a test of the communist government's once-legendary ability to marshal the entire country behind efforts ranging from civil defense to bigger sugar harvests to disease prevention.

In recent days the streets of Havana have been crisscrossed by teams of green-clad soldiers fumigating houses with mosquito-killing fog. Residents of the capital say fumigators no longer accept excuses of allergies or requests to spray some other day, as frequently happened in the past.

Still, neighborhoods like Central Havana, where the patient in Tuesday's case lives, are filled with decaying buildings, piles of uncollected trash and pools of standing water.

The Zika announcement comes at a moment of intense international attention on Cuba: President Barack Obama arrives on Sunday as the first sitting U.S. president to visit in nearly 90 years. The Obama administration on Tuesday announced that it was carving a series of broad new exceptions into the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, removing limits on individual travel that experts predicted would lead to a boom in U.S. visitors.

Explore further Cuba announces first case of Zika, imported from Venezuela

 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Researchers in Europe have reviewed cancer rates among people in parts of the world where natural background radiation is higher than average and found that incidence is not as high as one might guess. The findings, published in the International Journal of Low Radiation suggests that science ought to take a second look at studies that correlate low levels of radiation exposure with detrimental health effects.

Ludwik Dobrzynski of the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) in Otwock-Swierk, Poland and colleagues in Poland and Germany, explain that natural background ionizing radiation is ubiquitous. We are all constantly exposed to radioactivity literally from the rocks beneath our feet, the air we breathe and the cosmic rays that have many different sources in space and bathe our planet. Moreover, life on earth evolved in this background radiation and has many mechanisms to repair the damage caused by exposure and protect us from its otherwise harmful effects.

While exposure to high levels of radiation is well documented as causing health problems from lethal radiation sickness to cancer, the low levels of background radiation to which we are constantly exposed have never been shown unequivocally to cause any illness, cancer other otherwise, despite tabloid scaremongering. Indeed, there are numerous studies from around the world that suggest that background radiation has to some degree a protective effect against the other causes of cancer. The team's review of these and other studies in contrast to the received wisdom suggests that cancer rates are commonly lower in regions where exposure to slightly higher doses of background radiation than to those areas with average low dose natural exposure.

"The level of natural background radiation on Earth varies considerably by even two orders of magnitude from place to place with the world average annual effective dose being about 2.5 milliSieverts," the team explains. In Ramsar, Iran, it is several hundred milliSieverts per year. The team's review of the available research using Bayesian statistics to analyze the data suggests that, "Risks of cancer mortality from low-doses and low dose-rates, appear not to exist or to be much lower than the effects normally assumed, when assessed alone by epidemiological methods."

Explore further Radiation causes blindness in wild animals in Chernobyl

More information: Dobrzyski, L., Fornalski, K.W. and Feinendegen, L.E. 'The human cancer in high natural background radiation areas', Int. J. Low Radiation, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp.143-154.
A female Aedes mosquito, which spreads dengue virus. Credit: NIAID

A clinical trial in which volunteers were infected with dengue virus six months after receiving either an experimental dengue vaccine developed by scientists from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or a placebo injection yielded starkly contrasting results. All 21 volunteers who received the vaccine, TV003, were protected from infection, while all 20 placebo recipients developed infection. The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, underscores the importance of human challenge studies, in which volunteers are exposed to disease-causing pathogens under carefully controlled conditions.

"The findings from this trial are very encouraging to those of us who have spent many years working on vaccine candidates to protect against dengue, a disease that is a significant burden in much of the world and is now endemic in Puerto Rico," said Stephen Whitehead, Ph.D., of NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). "In fact, these results informed the recent decision by officials at Brazil's Butantan Institute to advance the TV003 vaccine into a large phase 3 efficacy trial."

Dengue fever, prevalent throughout the tropics and subtropics, is caused by any of four related dengue virusescalled serotypesthat are spread by Aedes mosquitoes, the same mosquitoes that spread Zika virus. Most of the estimated 390 million people who are infected with dengue virus each year develop either no symptoms or a mild illness. However, some people develop serious or life-threatening illness and large outbreaks lead millions to seek care, severely straining health care infrastructure in endemic countries.

The high prevalence of natural dengue infections in endemic areas means that many people have experienced infection at some point in the past and therefore may have immunity to the infecting serotype. A high degree of partial immunity in a population can make it difficult to assess the efficacy of any candidate dengue vaccine. A model of dengue infection in humans is one way to overcome the absence of animal models and the challenge of high background immunity in endemic areas. It is important to note that human challenge studies are conducted according to strict criteria designed to provide meticulous attention to volunteer safety and challenge studies would never be used for certain deadly pathogens, such as Ebola.

The experimental vaccine was developed primarily by Dr. Whitehead and his colleagues at NIAID's Laboratory of Infectious Diseases. Scientists from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration also contributed to the vaccine's development. The candidate vaccine is made from a mixture of four live, weakened (attenuated) viruses targeted to each of the four serotypes. A total of 48 healthy adult volunteers enrolled at two trial sites, the University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, and were randomly assigned to receive either vaccine or placebo injection.

Six months later, 41 people returned for the challenge with dengue virus. Dr. Whitehead and colleagues also developed the challenge virus used in the trial, which is a genetically modified version of a dengue-2 serotype virus isolated in the Kingdom of Tonga in 1974. The original virus was notable for causing only mild illness. In previous human challenge trials with this modified virus, Dr. Whitehead and his coinvestigators established the virus dose that would cause all recipients to develop viremiathe presence of virus in the bloodand most to develop a mild rash.

"This modified dengue virus is very attractive for use as a challenge virus because we can use it to reliably induce dengue infection in a very high percentage of inoculated volunteers without causing serious illness," said Dr. Whitehead. By inducing only rash (without fever) in the majority of recipients, the challenge virus mimics natural dengue virus infection, which often features such a rash, he noted.

A human challenge model of dengue infectionrather than illnessis an important characteristic, explained Anna Durbin, M.D., who led the clinical trial at Johns Hopkins.

"Because there are no specific therapies for dengue fever, it is desirable to have a challenge virus that causes infection, but does not result in significant symptoms of disease," she said. The reliably high percentage of those who develop viremia following exposure to this challenge virus is another advantagewhen most or all volunteers develop viremia or other signs of infection, clinical trials can enroll relatively small numbers of people but still achieve answers to such questions as whether a candidate vaccine protects against infection, she noted.

In this study, all 20 placebo recipients developed viremia, 16 (80 percent) developed mild rash and 4 (20 percent) had a temporary drop in white blood cell count following challenge with the virus. None of the 21 TV003 vaccine recipients developed viremia or any other sign of infection after challenge.

"We were pleasantly surprised to see that this candidate vaccine provided complete protection in everyone who received it," said Dr. Durbin. "The dengue-2 serotype is considered the relatively weaker component in this, and other, candidate dengue vaccines, so its ability to confer protection from a challenge with dengue-2 virus was encouraging."

Dr. Whitehead is currently developing a human challenge model using a modified dengue serotype-3 virus. This challenge virus could be used in future clinical trials to test the efficacy of candidate dengue vaccines or therapies.

Dengue virus is in the same virus family as Zika virus, and the NIAID team is now leveraging their experience with the live-attenuated dengue vaccine in efforts to develop a Zika vaccine, Dr. Whitehead noted.

Explore further Dengue vaccine enters phase 3 trial in Brazil

More information: "The live attenuated dengue vaccine TV003 elicits complete protection against dengue in a human challenge model," Journal information: Science Translational Medicine "The live attenuated dengue vaccine TV003 elicits complete protection against dengue in a human challenge model," DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaf1517
European Council to discuss deportation of Georgians from Russia

By Messenger Staff

The Council of Europe plans to discuss the issues of the arrest, detention and expulsion from the Russian Federation of large numbers of Georgian nationals from October 2006 until the end of January 2007 amounting to an administrative practice, reads information published on the councils official webpage.As reported, the representatives of 47 member states of the Council of Europe will examine the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights between 8 and 10 March 2016.The cases proposed for more detailed examination concern Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovenia, the Slovak Republic and Turkey (full list of cases). The decisions and resolutions adopted, together with working documents, will be made public shortly after the meeting, on the website of the Committee of Ministers.The fact that thousands of Georgians were deported from Russia just prior to the war is one of the evidence that Russia was preparing for something; that these issues are now being discussed at high level events should serve as a symbol of the EU keeping faith with Georgia in lieu of detractors accusing Brussels of making false promises.Georgia needs to be in the focus of the international community.The actions also indicate towards Russian policy; in 2008, Russias energy giant Gazprom also suspended supplying gas to Georgia in the winter.It is good that the international community is showing an interest in Georgian affairs, but the main problem remains unsettled.Even in case the European body recognizes Russias faults, Russia will definitely ignore such allegations, along with any anti-Russian statements or agreements.The reality is that Russia is not afraid of existing international responses, which enables the Federation to act mainly as it wishes.
The News in Brief

Parliament Speaker meets OSCE special representative



Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili met with the OSCE's Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Guenther Baechler. The parties discussed processes under the OSCE aegis, security growth potential for Georgia and the next round of the Geneva Talks. They also touched upon regional security issues and current challenges faced by the global democratic society.



At the meeting with our European guest, we spoke about the common threats encountered not only by Georgia but by the democratic world, David Usupashvil said. In this regard, the OSCE considers Georgia a very important country in the regional security system. The problems that we consider as problematic for quite a long time and considered by others as the problems of Georgia entailed from Russia, are now widely recognized as common problems. It is a positive approach that Georgia is in a collective process to eliminate the Russian threat, and to achieve this, the whole world - except Russia and three other countries  recognises that Georgia is a united country. (Parliament.ge)







Georgia-Japan sign deal on the East-West Highway Improvement Project



On 7 March 2016, the Government of Georgia and the Government of Japan concluded Agreement through the exchange of Diplomatic Notes in regards to the East-West Highway Improvement Project II. From the Georgian side, the agreement was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Mikheil Janelidze, and from the Japanese side by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Georgia, Toshio Kaitani. The agreement envisions the allocation of additional funding in the amount of 4.41 billion Japanese Yen (equal to USD 38.5 MLN) for the East-West Highway Improvement Project II. Simultaneously, the Loan Agreement between the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Georgia was executed by the Minister of Finance of Georgia, Nodar Khaduri, and Chief Representative of the JICA Uzbekistan Office, Katsutoshi Fushimi.



The documents envision the allocation of additional funding by the Japanese Government, through JICA, for the Zestaponi-Kutaisi-Samtredia Segment of the ongoing East-West Highway Improvement Project. Under this project, the construction of the Kutaisi Bypass Road has already been completed while works are ongoing on the new Kutaisi Bypass-Samtredia and Zestaponi-Kutaisi Bypass roads.



Notably, respective agreements for this project were signed in 2009 in the amount of 17.722 billion Japanese Yen allocated to Georgia in the form of a long-term concessional loan by the Japanese Government through JICA.



The Japanese Governments ongoing support to Georgia for such infrastructural projects is paramount, as this facilitates the transformation of Georgia into a trade, transit, economic and logistics hub in the region. The completion of the East-West highway project will significantly boost the economic growth and stability of the country by accelerating Georgias rural development, promoting additional job creation and contributing to the improved quality of living standards in the country. (MFA.gov.ge)







Abkhazians, Ossetians and Georgians will have to live together in the end  Thomas Pickering



Georgia is shattered temporarily, but Abkhazians, Ossetians and Georgians will have to live together in the end, the U.S. Career Ambassador and former Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Pickering has told the Voice of America Georgian office.



According to the former official, Tbilisi should be careful in its relations with Russia and conduct an independent economic policy.



In my point of view, Georgia has pursued a correct approach towards Russia since the 2008 conflict. It does not mean Georgia should take all Russias wishes into consideration, but establish relations in of respect of Russia at the same time. Tbilisi should find a way that will enable it to use its own diversity in order to create a strong democracy. In my point of view, Georgia really tries to establish cordial relations with Moscow. Georgia has great power and potential, and Georgian nationalism gives the country strength. But construction of an economically successful country will give it even more power.



Georgia should offer alternatives to Abkhazians and Ossetians  economic and linguistic alternatives. Georgia is shattered only temporarily, and Abkhazians, Ossetians and Georgians will have to live together in the end. Otherwise they will have to follow a path of regress. The unification of Georgia is the Georgian peoples strategic aim but it cannot be achieved by means of military force. Georgia should show Abkhazians and Ossetians that Tbilisi  not Moscow - is the alternative for them, he said.



According to Pickering, Georgias integration in NATO or EU will encourage its unification. I think that a strong, increasing, successful economic system can do it. People living around the region will see Georgia is self-confident. Only construction and growth can bring that self-confidence, Pickering remarks. (IPN)




@PatriciaMazzei @AmySherman1 @lesleyclark

In an utter rout, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton dominated Floridas presidential primary Tuesday, scoring their biggest electoral prizes so far in a pair of landslides  and, in Trumps case, burying the ambitions of Miami favorite Marco Rubio.

Rubio ended his candidacy minutes after the polls closed, conceding his campaign message failed to resonate with outraged voters.

While we are on the right side, he said, this year we will not be on the winning side.

He offered an outline of how the politics of anger engulfed the conservative movement  Americas in the middle of a real political storm, a real tsunami, and we should have seen this coming  and warned of dire consequences if its leaders dont propose a more restrained, optimistic vision. It was an indirect critique of Trump, whom Rubio congratulated from stage but said he hadnt spoken to yet.

I understand all of these frustrations, and yet when I decided to run for president, I decided to run a campaign that was realistic on all of these challenges, Rubio said. From a political standpoint, the easiest thing to have done in this campaign is to jump on all of those anxieties.

But I chose a different route, he added, and Im proud of that.

Clinton and Trump won so decisively that both the Democratic and Republican races were called as soon as Florida polls closed at 8 p.m.

For once, an election in Florida  known for its ballot-counting dysfunction  ended early. And that meant a brutal night for Rubio, who desperately needed a Florida win to credibly continue in the race.

More here.
@PatriciaMazzei

President Barack Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia. Senate Republicans said even before there was a nominee that they wouldn't hold any hearings.

Here's what Florida politicians had to say about Garland's nomination:

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat:

The Senate has a constitutional responsibility to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court and I take that responsibility very seriously. Today, the president nominated Judge Merrick Garland to serve on our nations highest court and I hope that the Senate is given a chance to fully consider this nominee.

U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy of Jupiter, a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate:

Today, President Obama put forward a nominee to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court and it's time for Senate Republicans to do their job. The Republican obstructionists who have vowed to stop any nominee from even being considered are doing a disservice to the American people  and are betraying the democratic values laid out in our Constitution. Americans are tired of the gridlock in Washington, and in the U.S. Senate I'll always fight to cut through the dysfunction and get things done for our nation.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston, the Democratic National Committee chairwoman:

I applaud President Obamas selection of Merrick Garland, an accomplished, independent jurist, as his choice of nominee for the Supreme Court. Mr. Garland has earned the support of Republicans and Democrats alike since 1997, with one senior Republican previously calling Mr. Garland a consensus nominee and vowing to help President Obama ensure him a seat on the Supreme Court. As a former Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, Mr.Garland was a leader in prosecuting domestic terrorism. The grandson of immigrants who fled persecution, and an even handed jurist, he embodies the values that have made America great.

I urge Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley to fulfill their constitutional duties, hold hearings, and quickly bring this nominee up for a vote  the exact same things they called for in 2008 when President Bush nominated judges that were then confirmed by a Democratic Senate.

Both Republican leaders have said they dont intend to do their jobs, and plan to block the nominating process, a blatantly partisan position to take. While its clear that this unprecedented obstructionism is just more pandering to party extremists, its an especially baffling strategy when poll after poll tells the same story: the majority of Americans disapprove of the GOPs tactics by an overwhelming margin.

The American people are right to disagree with this approach. By design, our founders created the Supreme Court to function above the sort of divisive rhetoric and partisan political nonsense that too often define Washington. Waiting for Donald Trump to make the next pick for the Supreme Court is an outrageous position to take and flies in the face of the Senate's constitutional duty to advise and consent. They need to do their job.

Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate:

I strongly oppose President Obama's decision to blatantly ignore precedent and the will of the American people by putting up a Supreme Court nominee during an election year. This President has proven we cannot trust him to uphold the Constitution, and we cannot trust that a nominee he puts forward will rule in accordance with the Constitution. I encourage Sen. McConnell to continue to stay fast in his usage of the checks and balances of the United States Senate. As Florida's next United States Senator I will always ensure justice nominees uphold our Constitution in the regard to what our Founding Fathers envisioned.

Carlos Beruff, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate:

President Obama has done enough damage to this country and the Constitution, we must not let him do anymore. The Senate cannot allow him to fill the seat of a conservative judicial giant like Antonin Scalia with a liberal Obama puppet. The President's nominee is especially dangerous because his record shows he wants to take away our Second Amendment rights.

Republicans in the United States Senate must stand strong against President Obamas liberal Supreme Court nominee. The American people elected a Republican Senate in direct response to the extreme agenda of this administration, and that Senate has a responsibility to do whatever it can to stop Obama from further damaging our country.

Todd Wilcox, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate:

Let's be clear about what is at stake here: President Obama has spent seven years trampling on our Constitution - going after gun rights, states' rights, religious freedom and the privacy rights of each and every American. Today's nomination sideshow is Obama's swan song attempt to destroy the basic rights on which this country was founded once and for all. Senators must fight this until the American people have an opportunity to put in place conservatives who, like Justice Scalia, understand the basic principles of liberty and freedom as enshrined in our Constitution by our Founders from this nation's very beginning.
From the Miami Herald's op-ed pages, by former Miami U.S. Attorney Bob Martinez:

Although I came to this country from Cuba as a child, I was not so young that I could not appreciate the greatness this nation offered. A place to raise a family I adore, pursue a great profession and exercise so many of the freedoms that are in short supply in the nation of my birth  and in many places around the world.

I became a Republican because I believe that the principles of the Republican Party are best able to secure these freedoms. Democrats, I am sure, seek these same goals; I just think the route of the party of Lincoln and Reagan is usually a better path.

It is because of these beliefs that I will not vote for Donald Trump in the primary, and, should he be the Republican nominee, I will not sit out the election in protest. I will vote to make sure he is not elected.

I was in Boston two weeks ago and had the opportunity to visit the New England Holocaust Memorial, a beautiful and elegant work of outdoor art.

Engraved on a dark granite at the memorial are the famous words of the Lutheran priest, Martin Niemoeller. Niemoeller was and remains a controversial figure, having first supported the Nazis, when it suited him, but then later thrown into concentration camps for seven years when he challenged the Nazis.

Niemoellers words lamented his failure of courage and principle to stand up to the Nazis when they took away to the camps people unlike him. The last few words are well-known and worth recalling:

Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.

More here.
@doug_hanks

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez doesn't face reelection until August, but that didn't stop his political committee from hitting the polling places for Tuesday's presidential primary. His top rival, school board member Raquel Regalado, also used this election to find supporters for the next one.

The committee that Gimenez raises money for, Miami-Dade Residents First, distributed pro-Gimenez flyers at more than 100 precincts, said Jesse Manzano-Plaza, a consultant for the committee. Regalado's committee, Serving Miamians, also distributed literature throughout the day, said spokeswoman Elaine de Valle. Alfred Santamaria, a political newcomer and the only other Gimenez rival raising money for a campaign, was not immediately available for comment.

The Gimenez and Regalado flyers lay out some of the themes both sides plan to highlight as the Aug. 30 primary for county races approaches.

Gimenez is touting the county's new body-camera program, the deal he struck to bring the nation's largest mall to Northwest Miami-Dade, and lower rates for property taxes he championed as mayor. Regalado called for restoring staffing levels at the county police department, "smart development" to help the housing crunch and ease traffic, and took a dig at Gimenez by criticizing "shameful taxpayer-funded giveaways to well-connected special interests."

If one candidate receives at least 50 percent of the vote on Aug. 30, the election is over. If not, the top two contenders face a run-off on Election Day in November.
@MichaelAuslen

Last week, Dr. John Armstrong lost his job as the state surgeon general after the Senate refused to confirm his appointment, but he already has a new job in the departments leadership.

Armstrong has been named deputy secretary for administration at DOH, spokeswoman Mara Gambineri confirmed. In the job, he will oversee regulations on doctors and nurses, disability determinations and administrative functions like accounting and human resources.

But he hasnt started yet.

Dr. Armstrong remains employed with the Department of Health, Gambineri said in an email. However, he is currently on medical leave.

Armstrong was diagnosed last fall with colon cancer, when he took a short leave from his job running DOH for treatment but later returned. Now, he continues to receive treatment, Gambineri said, and his health will determine the length of leave.

While on leave, Armstrong continues to receive a paycheck and benefits, as is standard practice for any employee on sick leave, Gambineri said.

In the meantime, Michele Tallent is the interim deputy secretary. She has been temporarily filling the job since January, when the last deputy secretary, Marty Stubblefield, took a new job as director of financial institutions at the Office of Financial Regulation.

Gov. Rick Scott first appointed Armstrong, a former Army surgeon and medical officer at the University of South Florida, in 2012. He served in the position until last Friday evening, when the annual legislative session ended without a confirmation vote in the Senate.

In his place, Scott appointed Dr. Celeste Philip, a family medicine and public health expert, as interim surgeon general. She also served in the role when Armstrong underwent cancer treatment last year.

Armstrong faced criticism from some senators for the departments handling of medical marijuana policy, the removal of 9,000 kids from health coverage under Childrens Medical Services and for cutbacks in county health departments even as Florida leads the nation in new HIV cases.

Still, the governor stood by him.

Even while battling cancer in recent months, Dr. Armstrong displayed unwavering determination to protect Florida families, and I truly appreciate his hard work, Scott said in a written statement Friday.
U.S. Senate candidate David Jolly, R-Indian Shores, released a new campaign ad Wednesday.

In the web-only ad, Jolly features a constituent, Clearwater resident Mary Ann Rodriguez Clough, who praises Jolly for his work to help her get her benefits from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs restored, after the VA cut off her benefits thinking she had passed away.

Jolly's campaign said it is the first in a series of ads titled "Showing up for Work," which takes aim at politicians who run for office and lose sight of their duties.

Too many politicians go to Washington and forget they were elected to do a job, to fix problems, Jolly said. My job is to fight for Floridians every single day that I have the opportunity and honor to serve Its a job I take to heart.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Carlos Beruff says when President Barack Obama goes to Cuba next week, he "should stay there."

Beruff, a homebuilder from Manatee County, in a statement to the media today said Obama has done a terrible job negotiating with Cuba in his bid to normalize relations with the communist nation.

"President Obama has given the Castro regime exactly what they want: more money," Beruff said. "And we have gotten nothing in return."

With the tough talk, Beruff joins most of the other four Republican candidates for the Senate who have criticized Obama for visiting Cuba. Last month before Beruff entered the race, Florida Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera said Obama's visit is was "the culmination of a disgraceful policy that has weakened U.S. national security and validated oppression over freedom."

U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Ponte Vedra Beach, has called the trip an "embarrassing visit" that rewards the Castro dictatorship and weakens America.

U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Indian Shores, has criticized the Obama administration for moving too fast in trying to normalize relations with Cuba too, but Jolly has said he is receptive to some easing of travel restrictions.

Businessman Todd Wilcox said Obama's visit sends a "terrible message."
There was a time that the most-asked question while campaigning for the Public Service Commission was, What is the PSC? That is not true in Missoula, where the PSC has been thrust to the front pages of the Missoulian with their activity, or lack thereof, in the citys attempt to acquire Mountain Water Co. This recent interest in the PSC is positive because the work they conduct is far too important to be treated as a part-time job.

The PSC is responsible for utility rates, rail safety, telecommunication, garbage collection, public transportation, gas line safety and more. It is made up of five commissioners elected district-wide across the state of Montana. The PSC is generally tasked with regulating public utilities that are privately owned and have a monopoly on markets that provide services to rate payers. All five commissioners are currently Republicans and do not represent the views of many ratepayers.

This Public Service Commission has been ineffective on many fronts and has made decisions that make me question their commitment and dedication to Montanans. It was no surprise the PSC was paid little respect, and prior permission was not sought, in the recent sale of Mountain Water to Liberty Utilities.

Lets take a look at a few of these areas where the PSC did not keep the consumer's best interest in the forefront of their decisions:

Local citizens are familiar with the Mountain Water case. The only clear winner so far has been The Carlyle Group. Having served as a city-county commissioner previously in Anaconda Deer Lodge County, I completely understand the city of Missoula wanting to control its municipal water supply. This is too valuable of a resource to be held in ownership by out-of-state and foreign investors.

Commissioner Bob Lake favored The Carlyle Group. He has not supported the citys attempt to acquire the water company, nor has he been neutral; he has actually been more of an obstacle. He supported hefty rate increases for Carlyle. A December 16, 2013 Missoulian reported Bob Lake supported a 9.8 percent return on equity as being fair for the consumer and adequate to keep the company strong. He said the rate is typical in the industry, and unfair to say the company doesnt deserve the increase.

The PSC dropped the ball with their last-minute objection of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes acquisition of Kerr Dam. They requested the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission hold new hearings on a process that has been in the works since 1985. This was not only wrong and cynical, but I feel was motivated by distrust for the tribes.

In September of 2015, this PSC voted on an annual housekeeping measure of re-certifying eligible telecommunications carriers. This has been done annually since 1996. The motion failed for the lack of a second, placing $100 million that annually supports our rural communities in jeopardy. Schools, libraries and hospitals were at risk of losing critical funding. After a huge public outcry, a special meeting was called the following week and the PSC, after hearing testimony from across the state, approved the recertification. We need more broadband service across Montana, not less.

Earlier this year, a state legislative audit called the PSC unable or unwilling to do its job providing for railroad safety as required by Montana law. Railroad activity has and will continue to expand, hauling volatile products along river corridors and through every major community in the state. Safety is paramount.

These poor decisions affect all of us and need to be taken seriously. The finger pointing, excuses and shoulder shrugs are not acceptable.

For far too many years the Public Service Commission has been a place for termed-out legislators to top off their pensions. The current commission is made up of three politicians and recent past commissions have been similar. This is unacceptable. The position has been treated as a part-time job where commissioners attend one or two meetings a week in Helena. The responsibility to the ratepayer is far too important, and the job too technical for it to be used in this way.
BILLINGS  Jeffery James Fox said he'd be getting more tattoos as a show of love for his dead baby daughter.

It's a tribute to the child whose death his inaction contributed to.

Fox, 32, was sentenced to 18 years in the Montana State Prison on Tuesday for the negligent homicide of his baby. Officers found 3-month-old Roseana Fox unresponsive at a Billings residence.

Roseana died on June 4, 2012, in Billings. A medical examiner could not determine an official cause of death but found a healing skull fracture, other injuries and signs of dehydration.

Fox pleaded guilty in August for failing to intervene in the significant abuse perpetrated by Amanda Rose Steffen, the mother of the infant.

During the sentencing hearing, Senior Deputy County Attorney Julie Patten questioned Billings Police Capt. Jeremy House about what he'd learned during his investigation.

House said the couple had tortured the baby for nearly her entire life. The baby was placed in a car seat inside a closet while the couple "played video games and smoked marijuana." Roseana would be left in the closet for hours.

Fox knew the baby wasn't being fed enough, would go for long periods in the same dirty diaper and that Steffen was abusing her, House said.

When Roseana was born she weighed seven pounds, House said. When she died, she weighed seven pounds and a little less than ten ounces.

Fox's defense attorney Steven Scott said Fox had learned from his daughter's death.

"Jeff knows now he should have stopped this, he knows now he should have taken action," Scott said. "But Jeff thought family matters were family matters."

"I do love my daughter," he said Tuesday. "I know what happened wasn't right. I'm a better man now."

Fox told police he didn't report the abuse because he thought Steffen would stop hurting the baby, House said.

"She knows I did no wrong," Fox said, speaking for Roseana.

Patten said Fox was downplaying his role in the abuse. She said he had plenty of chances to contact law enforcement, plenty of chances to save Roseana's life and he did nothing. She pointed out he wasn't even the one who reported the abuse. It was Steffen who finally told police how Roseana died.

Yellowstone County District Court Judge Michael Moses agreed Fox could have stepped in.

"This is the safety of an infant who can't care for herself," Moses said. "All you had to do was walk over to a neighbor and say my child is being abused and we need help."

Parents are put on this earth to take care of their children, Moses said. It was Fox's job to make sure Roseana grew and flourished and instead he stood by and let her die, Moses said.

"You watched as she gained six tenths of a pound," Moses said. "(You) watched as she was punished for fussing, instead of nurtured, hugged and loved."

Moses called it a horrendous case, the type of case that "brings tears to judge's eyes."

Moses sentenced Fox to 18 years in prison with no time suspended and gave him credit for the 538 days he has already spent incarcerated. He was designated a persistent felony offender.

Steffen was sentenced in January to 40 years at the Montana State Hospital after she pleaded guilty to negligent homicide and two counts of assault. Steffen was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a mental health condition including schizophrenia and mood disorder symptoms, according to doctors at the Montana State Hospital.

According to court documents, the childs parents said they were taking a nap and when they woke up, Steffen found the infant not breathing.

An autopsy revealed a healing skull fracture and bruising on the left side of the girls head, as well as other injuries and signs of dehydration. The physician who performed the autopsy found no evidence of brain trauma and ruled the cause of death as undetermined, according to documents.

During interviews with police, Steffen and Fox didnt provide an explanation for the skull fracture.

But Steffen confessed to the abuse, saying she hit and choked the child. Steffen admitted to putting her in a car seat for long periods of time, shaking her and sometimes shutting her in a closet.

Steffen said that on June 4, 2012, she had put the child in a closet. She said she went to check on Rosenana at 5 p.m.

Roseana was dead.
BOSTON (AP)  Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, genealogical research website Ancestry.com is making 10 million Catholic parish records from Ireland  some dating to 1655  available online for free to help people trace their Irish heritage.

The goldmine of information, available without cost for a week starting Friday, includes baptism, confirmation, marriage, and burial records from more than 1,000 parishes in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

"This will really help people reconstruct their family story," said Lisa Elzey, a family historian at Ancestry, which now offers access to 55 million Irish records. "There's all kinds of mysteries within these records."

More than 33 million Americans claimed Irish ancestry in 2014, according to the latest U.S. Census data, or about 10 percent of the nation's population.

The documents, usually in English but sometimes in Latin, and dating from 1655 to 1915, had already been digitized by the National Library of Ireland, but Ancestry took the information and indexed it, making it possible to do much quicker and more efficient searches using names, places and dates.

The trove contains information on prominent Irish citizens as well as the forebears of famous Irish-Americans.

Included is the 1828 marriage record, in Latin, of President John F. Kennedy's great-great-grandparents: Edmundus FitzGerald and Maria Lenihan.

The records also include baptism records of author James Joyce and Irish-born White House designer James Hoban.

They tell not only the stories of Irish families, but help explain the cultural and religious fabric of the island, said the Rev. Oliver Rafferty, a professor of history and Director of Irish Programs at Boston College.

The older records in particular, he said, are fragmented.

"There are enormous gaps in Catholic records, especially the older ones, much of it because of the periodic persecution of Catholics at various stages of Irish history," he said.

The records from parishes in the towns tend to be more complete that those from churches in remote rural areas, said Rafferty, who is familiar with the records because of their availability from the national library.

Perusing the documents can help researchers make connections through maiden names, godparents' names, and marriage witnesses' names.

"It's absolutely key to look at things like witnesses and to study the people around a family in order to build context and the bigger picture," said Michal Brophy, a Massachusetts-based member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, who says Irish-American research is one of his specialties.

"This will be exciting to see," he said.
KALISPELL  Ryan Pengelly, the Army veteran who was shot by two Kalispell Police officers in January, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a felony charge of assault on a police officer.

His attorney said after the arraignment he hopes to convince the Flathead County Attorneys Office that a traumatic brain injury Pengelly suffered in a bomb blast in Iraq in 2008 be given serious consideration as the case moves forward.

Pengelly allegedly pointed a rifle at Sgt. Chad Zimmerman while Zimmerman and Officer Eric Brinton were attempting to take Pengellys mother into custody during a welfare check in Pengellys home on Looking Glass Avenue on Jan. 12.

Prosecutors say Pengelly ignored commands to drop his weapon. He was shot four times by Zimmerman and Brinton.

We appreciate the officers may have been in fear of their well-being, Pengellys attorney, Peter Leander of Bigfork, said, but that doesnt mean Ryan is guilty of a criminal offense.

An investigation by the Flathead County Sheriffs Office determined that Zimmerman and Brinton were justified in shooting Pengelly, who survived his wounds.

Zimmerman said he feared for his life, and the life of Brinton, when Pengelly failed to follow commands to drop his weapon and instead allegedly raised the rifle's muzzle toward Zimmerman.

***

Leander said he has represented several veterans over the past few years, and offered to represent Pengelly  who previously had a public defender  on a pro bono basis after reading more details about the case three weeks ago.

I have a good cache of research thats been done on brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder, Leander said. I was aware Ryan had suffered a traumatic brain injury in Iraq, amongst all the other horrors one sees in combat, and I offered to take his case pro bono. I feel I owe vets for their service and sacrifice.

Pengelly was injured in Iraq in 2008 in a bomb blast that killed two other U.S. soldiers. He also served two tours in Afghanistan, one of them after being hurt in Iraq.

Court documents say Zimmerman and Brinton were responding to a report that Pengellys mother, Bonnie, had made suicidal and homicidal statements.

When they arrived at Ryan Pengellys home, Bonnie answered the door but refused to accompany the officers to the hospital and began to retreat inside the house.

When Brinton attempted to gain control of her arm, according to documents filed by Deputy Flathead County Attorney Stacy Boman, Bonnie called for her son.

***

Ryan Pengelly, who was working as a taxi driver, had gotten off work at 5 a.m. that day and was asleep in his bedroom when the two officers arrived at 1:20 p.m., Leander said court documents show.

He was awoken by the screams of his mother, and grabbed a rifle he kept by his bed, Leander said.

The Brain Injury Alliance of Montana has provided him with cognitive brain research that shows the adverse affects a traumatic brain injury has on a persons visual, audio and thought-processing abilities, Leander said.

Pengelly told Flathead County investigators he did not know Zimmerman and Brinton were police officers, and alleged they did not give him enough time to put down his rifle.

However, they said Pengelly also told them, Thats probably what I did wrong, I pointed the rifle at him, it was wrong. If I would have known it was a police officer, I would have put it down immediately.

***

The home where Pengelly was shot was built for him by Operation Finally Home after a 2011 fire destroyed the mobile home where he was living with his wife.

Pengelly appeared in Flathead County District Court on Wednesday using a walker to get around.

When I met him, I was shocked, Leander said. I knew he was 30, but he was walking with a walker and barely able to get across a room. He has three different drainage tubes hanging out of him. I thought I had met an 80-year-old man who had about three hours to live.

Leander said Pengelly, who was awarded several medals during his three combat tours, is in constant pain, has trouble sleeping, is now unable to work and is struggling financially.

The felony charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
HAMILTON  A Missoula man is facing seven felony charges after he allegedly violated a protective order several times, stole checks, and stalked and strangled his estranged wife in two separate cases.

Timothy J. Slawson, 29, appeared earlier this week before Ravalli County Justice of the Peace Jennifer Ray on felony counts of aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, violation of a protective order and tampering with witnesses.

In that case, Slawson also was charged with two misdemeanor counts of violating a protective order and a misdemeanor count of partner or family member assault.

In a second case charged on the same day, Slawson faced felony counts of burglary, criminal mischief and stalking, as well as misdemeanor counts of theft and forgery.

According to charging documents, Ravalli County sheriffs deputies responded to a Victor residence March 12 for a report of a violation of an order of protection in progress.

Slawsons estranged wife met the deputies, saying that Slawson was inside her home despite the fact that she had a protective order against him.

The woman said Slawson came to her home the night before with a stick in his hand, the affidavit stated. She said Slawson told her she was going to talk to him or he would beat your teeth and head in.

Once she let Slawson inside, he immediately began talking to her about dropping charges pending against him regarding forgeries he allegedly committed.

Slawson became upset after the woman told him she did not intend to get back into a relationship with him.

The woman said Slawson threw her against a wall and then body slammed her into the ground, the affidavit stated. At that point, he was straddling her and attempting to grab her.

The affidavit stated that Slawson initially put his hands over her mouth before he began to strangle her.

The woman said she was pleading with Slawson, saying, Please, please, please. She reported that Slawson responded with rage, gritted teeth and an evil look in his eyes when he said, Nope, this is it, the affidavit stated.

The woman said she believed she was going to die. She reported seeing stars and remembering that at least she got to give her kids a kiss before they went to bed.

Slawson suddenly stopped the assault, stood up and apologized.

The woman said she started coughing and vomiting after he stopped strangling her. Slawson then started blaming her for making him do that, the affidavit stated.

The woman said she didnt report the incident to law enforcement until the next day because she was so scared. When Slawson returned to her home the next day, she sent a text message to her boss asking him to call law enforcement.

The deputy who responded was able to see red marks on the womans neck. When the deputy asked Slawson about the marks, he said he could see them, but he didnt know how they got there. Slawson denied assaulting the woman.

The affidavit stated Slawson admitted violating the protective order.

Ray set bail at $150,000 in that case.

In a second case, Slawson is charged with cashing $790 in checks on his wifes account in February. The woman said the only way Slawson could have the checks was by breaking into her house and stealing them from a drawer.

She also reported in February that Slawson was texting and calling her nonstop despite a protective order. A deputy found hundreds of contacts from Slawson to the victim on her phone.

At the time, Slawson was on GPS monitoring through Lucky Bail Bonds. He allegedly cut off the monitoring device and left it on the bike path between Missoula and Lolo.

Ray set bail at $50,000 in that case.
Wow, John Kasich.

The governor of Ohio is not normally a person youd connect with a wow. Maybe a jeepers. Or a huh! But here he is! The medium-size, crinkly-eyed boulder between the Republican Party and Donald Trump.

Kasich got more than 40 percent of the vote in Ohio, which might be the only non-Trump-triumphant saga of the night. There was a time, people, when you would really not have been throwing confetti in the air just because a Republican governor who believes youve got to help people that are downtrodden and poor won the presidential primary in his own state. But we are where we are.

I labored in obscurity for so long! said the triumphant governor, whose most celebrated victory until now was coming in second in New Hampshire with 16 percent of the vote. Now hes having dreams about a contested convention where delegates flee from the specters of Trump and Ted Cruz into his arms.
A Canadian man was charged with seven offenses on Tuesday after he injured two soldiers with a knife at a military recruiting center in Toronto. The man, Ayanle Hassan Ali, 27, entered the center on Monday with a very large knife and attacked a soldier stationed near the door, said Torontos police chief, Mark Saunders. A second soldier was wounded trying to subdue Mr. Ali. Neither soldier was seriously injured. The police chief said that during the attack, Mr. Ali said, Allah told me to come here and kill people. Chief Saunders said the police did not know whether Mr. Ali, who was born in Montreal, was an Islamist radical.
In the months after Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was freed from Taliban captivity, senior Army officials responsible for determining why he walked off his outpost and for recommending what the consequences should be struck a far milder and more sympathetic tone than Army commanders who are now pursuing charges that could send him to prison for life, new documents show.

The documents, which have not previously been disclosed, indicate that the Armys 22-member investigative team, which spent two months interviewing scores of witnesses and compiled the report that formed the initial basis for prosecuting Sergeant Bergdahl, never proposed that he could be tried on the most serious charge he now faces: endangering the troops sent to search for him.

This dissonance has led members of the sergeants defense team to question whether the tougher line reflected improper influence from higher levels of the military or political considerations as top Republicans in Congress and on the presidential campaign trail declared the sergeant guilty and demanded he face stiff punishment.

The documents include a 371-page transcript of Sergeant Bergdahls interview in August 2014 with Maj. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl, who headed the Armys investigation. The transcript provides the most complete account yet of his disappearance from a remote base in eastern Afghanistan in June 2009, which prompted a huge manhunt.
Having finally cleaned up all the walls along the 414-step climb to the bell tower this year, officials have placed three computer tablets there, hoping visitors will leave their marks, virtually, without damaging the monument itself.

Messages will be stored on a website and archived, for eternity, online.

Any other mark will be removed swiftly, a large billboard at the entrance of the bell tower explains in Italian and English.

We needed something to act as a deterrent against new graffiti, once all the walls were clean, and we hope that this app will do that, said Alice Filipponi, the social media strategist at the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, the institution that oversees Florences Duomo complex.

Our goal was to let people leave their testimony without smearing the walls again, Ms. Filipponi said.

It took Beatrice Agostini, the institution architect who manages and maintains the site, three months with a team of nine restoration experts to clean up the walls in the tower using solvent gels and lasers. The task is not one she and her team want to repeat, especially since various parts of the cathedral, where graffiti markings remain, must still be cleaned.

We want to tell people that a mark is not only an eyesore, but its a real damage to the monument, she said. Removing the different writings is a problem. On marble its almost impossible; a ring stain remains forever.
I am 25 years old, working in biomedical engineering and from Syria.

I fled to Germany at the end of last summer and found nothing here but a generous people who made me feel welcome at this new place.

I dont know if Germany is the place to build the best life we could. I think that this is a question for the future to answer, but there is one thing I know: that leaving home, leaving Syria, wasnt an option. It was a choice of either life and death.

Niia Nikolova, 29, Cologne

Ive spent part of my childhood in Germany, and I speak and look as if I could be German. These qualities have come in useful when Ive wanted to disguise my Bulgarian nationality here. While most people I know of my generation are accepting and open-minded, older people and especially authorities are often biased by a bad reputation that Eastern Europeans have acquired here. Ive often heard comments such as There are too many Bulgarians and Romanians living here, Really? But you dont look Bulgarian or Good thing you live west of the river (the richer, less migrant-populated area of the city). Its because of comments like these that when I am in a position to speak to a bureaucrat or police officer, I most often reply in my Canadian English, rather than risking that they hear any small errors in my German and ask for my national ID.
A 32-year-old man facing multiple charges in connection with a December drug bust in Centerville has been charged in Anaconda-Deer Lodge district court with two felony counts of assault with a weapon.

In an affidavit filed March 1 by County Attorney Ben Krakowka, Lester Dean Oxendine is accused of firing two shots from a Glock .40-caliber handgun at a vehicle with two men near the Harp & Thistle bar in downtown Anaconda on Oct. 24, 2015.

Shell casings recovered from the scene last year matched a .40-caliber gun with a green laser sight recovered by the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force agents after Oxendine was arrested Dec. 10. Law enforcement seized about four pounds of methamphetamine in a drug raid in Uptown Butte and at his home in Centerville.

Seven firearms were also seized along with three grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

In an interview with investigators in Butte in mid-December, Oxendine admitted selling substantial quantities of dangerous drugs and other criminal activity," the affidavit states. He also admitted shooting at two males in Anaconda with a Glock handgun.

The male victim who reported the incident to Anaconda-Deer Lodge County police dispatch said a woman he was meeting at a Town Pump showed up in a black vehicle with a passenger named Les. Another male on a black motorcycle was also present.

According to the affidavit, Les pulled a gun after the man refused to get into the car. The victim along with a male friend whom he retrieved from the casino fled the area in a sport utility vehicle. The men were pursued by the drivers of the black car and motorcycle.

While they waited for a red light in front of the Harp & Thistle bar, a male on the motorcycle pulled out a gun and fired two shots at the men in the SUV. The black car and motorcycle then fled the scene.

Video surveillance obtained by police from the Town Pump showed the man who reported the shooting exchanging words with a man on a motorcycle near the smoking shack before entering the casino and leaving through a back door, the affidavit states.

Butte-Silver Bow county prosecutors believe Oxendine, who moved to Montana from South Dakota, distributed more than 40 pounds of meth during a five-month period starting in July 2015. The estimated street value was at least $640,000, according to police.

Oxendine told investigators that the meth was transported from Las Vegas to Butte, which he would turn and sell to drug users.

An arraignment for the felony counts of assault with a weapon in Anaconda-Deer Lodge County was not scheduled as of Tuesday. His bond was set at $100,000.

At an omnibus hearing in Butte district court Thursday, Judge Brad Newman slated a jury trial for Aug. 8. Oxendine is being held on $250,000 bond in the Butte-Silver Bow Detention Center.
Thanks to this years St. Patricks Day Parade Grand Marshal J.D. Lynch, Butte will always be the number one city in Montana  literally.

Lynch served in the Montana House of Representatives from 1971 to 1978 and was a state senator from 1982 to 2001, during which time he fought against efforts to dethrone Butte from the distinction of having the states number-one license plate.

Time after time after time they tried to take away Buttes number-one license plate, said Lynch. (But) were number one in peoples hearts and in their minds and we ought to stay that way on their license plates.

Linda Redfern  the secretary treasurer and event coordinator of Butte Community Celebrations  said Lynch was nominated because of the things hes accomplished for the city as a legislator and his strong ties to the Irish community. She pointed out that Lynch is a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus and of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Hes also a former member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, she said.

For Lynch, growing up Irish in Butte meant being part of a community.

I think you felt very much at home with your church, your faith and your family and your friends, said Lynch. And you felt very accepted being Irish.

Lynch added that during his career in the Legislature he was a member of an informal group of staffers and politicians known as the Irish Mafia who named Lynch as their Grand Exalted Leprechaun.

Lynch said the mafia met twice a month for lunch and made a pact that members wouldnt discuss politics, religion or dues. At the lunches, he said, Republicans and Democrats were able to put aside their political differences and bond over their common ancestral thread as they told Irish jokes and talked about family life.

It was different than now because Republicans and Democrats got together, and we were all good friends even though we were of different political parties, said Lynch.

But Lynchs political career was more than telling jokes and slapping the backs of his fellow politicians at lunch.

Lynch tackled some important issues during his time, including advocating for students during the Vietnam War era.

There was a lot of dissent among college campuses all over the country, said Lynch. Everybody wanted to get that war over with. It was not a popular war.

Throughout his 30 years as a legislator and senator, Lynch opposed the implementation of sales tax and advocated for greater state funding for local schools. In 1975, he sponsored a bill that brought a new library to Montana Tech, while also blocking efforts to downgrade the university to a junior college. In addition, he applied to the Long Range Building Program to secure $300,000 to restore Buttes headframes.

I always tried to represent, first of all, my community  Butte, said Lynch. I tried to represent the working class  the men and women who elected me.

I was terribly opposed to right-to-work (laws), he added. Thats a horrible thing that people tried to inflict on the working people.

After leaving the state Senate in 2001, Lynch worked as a lobbyist, representing such organizations as the Montana State Building & Construction Trades Council, Community Corrections and Counseling, Butte-Silver Bow and a local chapter of the Teamsters Union.

In addition to immersing himself in the world of Montana politics, Lynch was also an educator. He earned a masters in adult education from Northern Montana College and taught English at Butte High School and its alternative school, in addition to adult education at Butte Vocational Tech (now Highlands College.)

In all, Lynch said hes honored to be named as the 2016 Grand Marshal and looks forward to seeing old friends along the parade.

Im very flattered, and Im very appreciative that they would consider me after all these years, said Lynch, noting that hes walked in many a parade as a politician, but never as a grand marshal.

He said that although the Mining City might not be the most attractive city in Montana, the melting pot of Buttes ethnic neighborhoods and the diversity of its citizens have made his career worthwhile.

Some people suggest were not the prettiest city, but we have the most beautiful people I think in the world, said Lynch.
The Montana congressional delegations efforts to revive a pair of hydroelectric projects in western Montana easily passed the U.S. House of Representatives Monday and Tuesday.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., sponsored house bills extending expired deadlines for converting Gibson Dam on the Sun River west of Augusta, and Clark Canyon Dam on the Beaverhead River near Dillon, into hydroelectric dams. The projects had previously been licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, but neither project commenced before deadlines expired.

U.S. Sens. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Jon Tester, D-Mont., are co-sponsors of companion U.S. Senate legislation.

Zinke pointed to red tape and delays in approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the reasons why both projects did not meet the deadlines.

The Clark Canyon bill passed unanimously while the Gibson bill passed 409-2.

It is ridiculous that it takes an act of Congress  multiple acts of Congress  to build eco-friendly infrastructure projects that would deliver affordable and reliable electricity to residents in Montana and Idaho. These bureaucratic delays are unacceptable, Zinke said in a statement. While unelected bureaucrats sit in their offices in comfortable government jobs, residents near the Sun River and Beaverhead River are stuck in limbo, not knowing if good-paying jobs will come through, or if they will see some relief in energy prices.

First licensed in 2014, the Gibson Hydro Project would use water already released into the Sun River to power turbines in a proposed 15-megawatt facility. The project is proposed by Greenfields Irrigation District of Fairfield, and Tollhouse Energy of Bellingham, Washington.

The project has seen some recent permitting delays, mostly related to conservation easements and regulatory agencies, said Greenfields District Manager Erling Juel. It has also taken more time than anticipated to upgrade existing electrical utility easements to a transmission designation.

A lack of progress with regulators made the legislation necessary, he said.

This project has been on a long and torturous path but we are confident we are seeing some light at the end of the penstock, Juel said. This is an incredibly important project for Greenfields Irrigation District as well as northcentral Montana. Being hydropower, the magnitude of this green energy cannot be understated.

First licensed in 2009 and already extended twice, the Clark Canyon Dam Project is a proposed 4.7-megawatt facility that could power 1,200 homes.

The House passage of this legislation is critical to the success of the Clark Canyon hydro project, Alina Osorio, president of Clark Canyon Hydro, LLC, said in a statement. We wouldnt have been able to achieve it without Congressman Zinkes leadership. We are extremely grateful for all that he has done to support the development of clean, low-cost hydropower in Montana.
Mark Alan Fouts was born Jan. 21, 1953, in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Constance and Harold Fouts. Graduated college with an art degree from University of Nebraska. Had three amazing wives throughout his life and two daughters, Claire Vitucci and Willa Fouts, of whom he was so proud. He loved the big skies, friendly people, and freedom of the west. He lived in San Francisco and Missoula before landing in Butte, Montana and, ultimately, his cabin on Divide Creek, where he reigned as the best president and chef of the Divide Creek Boys Club and many other festive social ventures. He worked construction, bartended, and made willow furniture and wooden sculptures. He loved many, and many loved him for his friendliness, charisma, intelligence, superb storytelling, and music. Died Feb. 24, 2016. A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at the cabin.
Last year when Environmental Protection Agency staff members knew there were bigger problems with the Flint, Michigan, water supply than the agency was saying, they were under orders not to communicate with reporters without oversight by the agency.

EPA has for years made it very hard for reporters to talk to most staff about most subjects (especially controversial ones) without press office controls. Very often that means the public knows nothing of the issue since staff members are also intimidated from speaking out in any other way.

The same is true for employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which was found to have a culture of sloppy handling of powerfully bad bugs. Staff members were afraid to tell the chain of command. They were also forbidden to talk to journalists without agency controls on them.

Similarly controlled are all the employees of the Food and Drug Administration some of whom worked around the store rooms, which were apparently not inventoried for decades and contained the monster virus smallpox, against serious international agreements.

We should have learned from history that suppression of speech is continuously, horrifically dangerous. Even the people in power who institute the controls have no way of knowing everything the process of silencing people hides.

But over the last 25 years there has been a surge in restrictions in all kinds of agencies and businesses prohibiting staff from ever speaking to journalists without the involvement of public information offices, sometimes called communication offices or public relations offices. Most federal agencies have these controls, as do many offices in Congress, state and local governments, schools, nonprofit agencies and businesses. Gradually the restrictions have become bolder, with agencies telling reporters what may or may not be discussed, never allowing a word to pass without active monitoring and blocking communication altogether.

Its mean censorship that has become a cultural norm in this country. It makes a joke of our stance for free speech globally. Countries everywhere could just say their censors are PIOs and solve the problem.

Surveys sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists have shown that 40 percent of PIOs admit to blocking particular reporters when there have been problems with their prior reporting.

A new SPJ survey shows PIOs in police departments openly, chillingly, saying they monitor discussions between reporters and police officers, to ensure that the correct message is getting out and to ensure that the interviews stay within the parameters we want.

To suggest that people inside government and elsewhere do not use these information controls according to their own ideas and motivations mocks the public.

And yet, that is exactly what our officials tell us, saying they must have these PIO surrogates to coordinate the information, forgetting that the public has right to know all the stuff they are not coordinating for us.

Fifty-three journalism and other groups called on President Obama last year to end these restrictions in the federal executive branch. In December a delegation from SPJ, the American Society of News Editors and the Society of Environmental Journalists went to the White House to tell Press Secretary Josh Earnest this is no way to be the most open administration in history. We left that message for President Obama, including illustrations of the extreme hazards of silencing millions of people.

As the days dwindle down before the election and the campaign trail hears some astoundingly authoritarian rhetoric, we have a special plea for the President: Dont leave these controls in place. We cant know how they will be used next year, much less in 20 years. We do know they have become rapidly more intense over the last seven years.

By directing there be a change in the federal culture, the President could embolden people across the country to demand an end to this suppression in all kinds of entities.

In the meantime, news outlets of all types have an unshakable obligation to loudly oppose these controls. With so many people permanently gagged, the press is most certainly in the dark about many things.

Doubtlessly somewhere in the world officials walk off with physical resources while journalists say they cant do anything about it. By acquiescing to these controls, we in the press watch officials walk away with that very precious commodity, information on how our institutions are functioning and impacting us.

-- Kathryn Foxhall, Freedom of Information Committee Member, Society of Professional Journalists
Ten billion dollars. Thats what some experts predict the 2016 election will cost (at least financially). And thats just what we can track, because of the exorbitant rise of dark money spendingmostly on negative ads that can make or break a candidate. This kind of political spending from groups that do not have to disclose their donors has risen by an astronomical 5188 percent since 2004, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

This Sunshine Week, as news organizations and advocates reflect on the progress weve made on transparency and right-to-know reforms, it is critical to urge President Obama to sign an executive order that would shine a light on one tranche of money in politics by requiring disclosure of all political spending by businesses that receive taxpayer money through federal contracts. That way, voters would know who is behind efforts to influence their vote. Likewise, it would ensure that government contracts go to companies offering the most efficient and high-quality product or service, not those who pay to play.

Across the ideological spectrum, there is a growing consensus in America that the dominance of political money coming from a small group of vested interests must be curtailed. Last year, the New York Times reported that a mere 158 wealthy families contributed nearly half the funding for the 2016 presidential race. This concentration of political influence contributes to the sentiment behind the equal percentages of liberals and conservatives76 percentwho say money has more power than ever before, according to the Pew Research Center. Moreover, 87 percent of Americans believe our system should be reformed so that a rich person does not have more influence than a person without money and 91 percent of likely Republican 2016 Iowa caucus-goers reported that they were unsatisfied or mad as hell about the amount of money in politics, just three points shy of Democrats who said the same thing.

Our imbalanced campaign finance system is a significant contributor to the electorates overwhelming feeling of disempowerment. One popular remedy with bipartisan support to fix this insidious problem is transparency. Public opinion is strongly in favor of it78 percent of both Democrats and Republicans in an Associated Press poll said they agree with requiring donor disclosure. Presidential candidates from both parties have spoken out in favor of more transparency, including Republican front-runners Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz.

The executive order that awaits the presidents signature is the one common-sense disclosure reform that would give Americans the right to know how much federal contractors are spending in our elections, and would help restore trust in our government. It would help ensure taxpayer-funded federal contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars are awarded based on merit and competition, not on which company can dole out the most campaign contributions. The executive order would cover a large number of companies, including 70 percent of the Fortune 100. And it would not run afoul of the ban Congress established on disclosure of political donations during the bidding process, instead requiring businesses to disclose after they have been awarded a government contract. Its also not unprecedented: Three states (New Jersey, Utah and Delaware) have similar rules on the books to discourage pay-to-play politics in their local democracies.

And yet, it languishes, even though it would not require a Supreme Court decision nor approval by Congress and enjoys broad public supportincluding by a resounding 66 percent of Republican voters. High-profile Republican political leaders echo this call, including:

-- former Governor Jon Huntsman (R-UT) who said, This executive order is about fairness for taxpayers.

-- former Senator Larry Pressler (R-SD) who decried the current system, saying Congress hands out billion dollar checks to companies that have paid for preferential treatment, thats not a free market. Thats not small or smart government. And its certainly not a cost-effective use of our money.

-- former Federal Election Commission Chairman Trevor Potter, who lamented President Obamas delay in signing this order, saying: I have no idea why this was not done by the president years ago given [White House] statements about the importance of disclosure.

Take Back Our Republic Executive Director John Pudner [who also ran Rep. David Brat (R-VA)s successful bid that ousted Eric Cantor from Congress], makes the conservative case for the executive order, arguing What makes this broken process so troubling is that in 2013 alone, the U.S. government spent roughly $460 billion on federal contracts with $177 billion going to just 25 companies. And all of those taxpayer dollars were handed out to contractors who have the ability to quietly funnel money to politicians and political parties without having to tell a soul about their contributions.

TAXPAYERS' RIGHT TO KNOW

Ethics Counsel to President George W. Bush Richard Painter who warns that without transparency in our campaign finance system, foreign money could influence our elections, adding that taxpayers have the right to know that their money is being spent wisely  and the president needs to sign the executive order on this right away.

Additionally, several Republican members of Issue Ones ReFormers Caucus of elected officials speaking out for comprehensive campaign finance reform sent the president a letter urging his swift action on this order, including Michael Castle (R-DE) Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Jon Huntsman (R-UT), Tom Kean (R-NJ), Jim Leach (R-IA), Connie Morella (R-MD) and Alan Simpson (R-WY).

DEMOCRATIC LEADERS' SUPPORT

Democratic leaders, too, support the order. More than 130 members of the presidents own party in Congress have called on him to act [House letter; Senate letter], including Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and in a recent op-ed, Rep. Steve Israel, the former head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee who earlier this year announced his impending retirement from Congress because of the exorbitant time spent dialing for dollars.

And the people have spoken out in favor, with more than one million of Americans publicly rallying behind it. More than 117,000 citizens petitioned the White House through its official We the People platform, making this particular petition one of the few to have earned an official response from the administration, albeit one that failed to do little more than thank signers for their concern.

Its true this administration has many pressing priorities, including filling the Supreme Court vacancy, but for President Obamas promises and rhetoric concerning better politics to stick, the onus is now on him to ensure that this executive order does not die on the vine. In his final State of the Union address, he said that we have to reduce the influence of money in our politics so that a handful of families and hidden interests cant bankroll our elections. President Obama should sign this order now to shine sunlight on secretive political spending and reorient our democracy back toward the people.

-- Gabriela Schneider is senior director of communications for IssueOne. IssueOne (issueone.org) is a bipartisan community dedicated to reducing the influence of money in politics and putting everyday Americans back in control of their democracy.
It's interesting to read articles in the Montana newspapers about how those who oppose refugee resettlement are full of hate and fear. The issue of refugee resettlement is very different today than when the Hmong were brought in from Vietnam. The Hmong came in desiring a better life here and they desired to assimilate into our communities. That is not true today. There is ample evidence to the contrary throughout America.

There are many more things to consider than just "helping out." Theres the lack of assimilation, and the fact that the resettlement contractor can and does settle refugees within a 100-mile radius of their office with no local input. That means when Missoula County commissioners are reaching out and making decisions, those decisions are not just for Missoula County. A recent NBC Montana poll shows 93 percent of Montanans do not support the efforts of the commissioners or Soft Landing Missoula.

Another consideration is the massive amount of taxpayer money being used to suddenly bring all the displaced people to America rather than helping them where they are. Refugee resettlement is big business. The agency that Soft Landing Missoula wants to bring to town does $500 million a year in "sales." It supposedly is a volunteer organization and receives 70 percent of all its income from the federal government. Its CEO, as last reported in 2012, was making just under $500,000 a year.

The people of Montana need to be told the truth about todays refugee resettlement. They need to understand the only incentive of these so-called "volunteer agencies" is to stay in business they must produce more and more refugees because that is how our government pays them.

Follow the money. Just like buying a used car, Montanans better look under the hood of this program.

-- Ed Kugler, Big Arm
HELENA  Boaters could face new rules aimed at preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks held its first of two nights of meetings on Tuesday to answer questions and solicit public comment on the proposals.

One of the rules grabbed headlines recently due to amendments allowing FWP to temporarily impound high-risk boats or lock them to trailers preventing launching. The rule would allow drying time to kill any invasive zebra and quagga mussels attached to the boat  the only way in certain boats with internal systems to ensure they are not inadvertently transplanted, according to FWP.

Mussels can wreak havoc on aquatic ecosystems and are nearly impossible to remove once established.

Tom Boos, FWPs aquatic invasive species coordinator, answered questions from boaters in a teleconference between Helena, Great Falls and Bozeman. Additional meetings will be held Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Kalispell, Billings, Glasgow and Miles City.

Inspectors at aquatic invasive checkpoints go through risk assessments when talking with boaters, including asking where the boat has previously been used. FWP has information on waterbodies and geographic regions afflicted with invasive species, Boos said.

Hot water can decontaminate most boats with simple bilge pumps or live wells, he said. But boats with complex internal systems, such as house boats, yachts with multiple plumbing compartments or some wake boats with complex internal water intakes sometimes cannot be cleaned with total confidence, he said.

If mussels are detected on a boat that officials cannot ensure decontamination, the rule would allow impoundment or locking the boat to the trailer until it fully dries, Boos said.

This rule for dry time is intended for worst-case scenarios, he said.

Those worst-case scenarios are rare, Boos emphasized. Similar rules in Idaho have only impounded a handful of boats since 2009. Of the five boats found with mussels at Montanas aquatic invasive species checkpoints last year, none would have required either impoundment or locking, he said.

FWP does not want to impound boats, which includes assuming liability, and tries to work with owners to make the decontamination processes as easy as possible, he said.

An additional rule would require owners while transporting boats to remove drain plugs, valves or any other device that prevents water from draining, with the exception of regulations allowing transport of live bait. When leaving a waterbody, all aquatic vegetation would need to be removed at the boat ramp or parking lot from boats, trailers and equipment.

Several boaters grilled FWP on the rules and risk assessments for boats, challenging the practicality and potential overreach while maintaining a desire to stop invasive transport.

Bob Julian of Belgrade questioned the training of inspectors and their qualifications for determining proper response. He further questioned FWPs authority to seize private property without charging the owner with a crime.

I dont want some kid in a check station determining if hes going to take my boat, he said.

Patti Buckingham of Helena stressed the need for both the public and enforcement to understand how the rules will be enforced.

In order to enforce this on any level, you have to develop a procedure and a standard for what to do, she said.

Henry Tashjian of Wilsall commented that as a former law enforcement officer, the vague wording of the proposed rules intent could conflict with enforcement in the field.

We do not want to have our recreation time penalized heavily to jump through these hoops, he said.

Some boaters also questioned the requirement that plugs be pulled during transport.

Ive seen way too many boats launch and start sinking, said Mike Sedlock of East Helena.

Education will be a major part of any rule change, Boos said, adding that after a few years of implementation in other states, similar rules have been accepted as commonplace.

FWP is taking public comment on the proposed rules until March 25 at http://fwp.mt.gov/news/publicNotices/rules/pn_0204.html. Written comments can be submitted to Fisheries Division, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701, or by email to fwpfsh@mt.gov.
Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes []
CareerJunction has released its latest CareerJunction Index (CJI) report, which shows a spike in new jobs within the IT industry in SA in February.

The CJI uses data gathered from the CareerJunction website to represent labour dynamics in the country.

According to the report, demand for skilled IT professionals in South Africa saw a significant increase over the last year.

The report further showed that hiring activity in the telecoms sector has cooled considerably since the 4th quarter of 2015  following a steady increase in jobs last year.

The graphs below show volume trends for IT and telecommunication job adverts published on the CareerJunction website over the past 12 months.

More on IT jobs

IT professionals who earn the biggest salaries

Starting salaries for IT professionals in South Africa

IT salaries in South Africa in 2015
ICT industry veteran Christopher Geerdts has joined Otel Telecoms as Chief Operations Officer, and will report to CEO Rad Jankovic.

Geerdts is an experienced telecoms executive with a history of transforming businesses in the sector, and is passionate about democratising access to broadband and voice services.

Prior to joining Otel Telecoms, Geerdts served as chairperson of the Wireless Access Providers Association (WAPA), and did a 10-year stint at MTN.

Geerdts was also a founder and CEO of Signet Information Systems and XConnect Southern Africa Telecoms.

Geerdts holds an MSc in Electrical Engineering and an MBA.

More IT business news

IT professionals who earn the biggest salaries

Starting salaries for IT professionals in South Africa
Kenyan beauty queens, Miss World Kenya  Nyamira County and Siaya County, have spoken up about the controversial photo that went viral last week.

The photo showed the two beauty queens posing next to inmates at the Langata Womens Prison, who Kenyans on social media believed were more beautiful than the visiting models.



According to the beauty queens, Kenyans ignored the bigger picture which was their noble cause at the Womens prison. They were at the Prison to judge a beauty contest and the inmates they posed with were the winners.

They were speaking to Shaffie Weru and Kalekye Mumo on Kiss FM. They claimed that they were not bothered by the negative comments.

I believe I am beautiful, and you cannot find anyone like me. I am a county queen and immediately after the county Governor then you want to tell me I am ugly it doesnt work like that, Miss Siaya declared.





Listen to that interesting conversation below, courtesy of Kiss FM.


Queen of country music, Reba McEntire, will be heading back to the small screen this Friday night as she joins the cast of ABCs Last Man Standing.

The Tim Allen sitcom follows Mike Baxter, a senior executive and director of marketing for an outdoor sporting goods store chain based in Denver, Colorado, whose world is filled by women. Last Man Standing airs Friday nights at 8pm ET/7pm CT on ABC.

Reba took to social media today to share her excitement about making a cameo on the upcoming episode.

Tune in or set those DVRs to see Rebas return to television this weekend!
The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will participate in a panel at the Brussels Forum organised by the German Marshall Fund of the United States on Friday, 18 March 2016.

Media advisory

14h30 - 15h45: NATO Secretary Generals will participate to the plenary session 1 : A Grave New World: Future Global Security Challenges  at Steigenberger Hotel

This session will be streamed live on the NATO website and broadcast quality footage will be available live on satellite upon request to Eurovision Geneva.

Still and video images of the session will be made available on the NATO website afterwards.

More details on the Brussels Forum can be found on the organizer website: http://brussels.gmfus.org/

Follow us on Twitter (@NATOPress and @jensstoltenberg)
Angelique Kidjo

The albumto be released in the U.S. by Anzic Records on April 15, 2016finds Freedman in league with a group of kindred spirits: guitarist, keyboardist, bassistand percussionist Gilmar Gomes.His restless global spirit has informed the music of renowned artists such asand Angelique Kidjo, along with his own fascinating collectives, which feature kindred spirits like, and Omer Avital."Jeff Potter, Modern Drummer Magazine (from a feature on Freedman around the release of his previous Anzic recording, Bamako By Bus)This album feels like standing on a major city street and watching a parade of music ensembles go by, each from various regional origins, but together, a celebration of the diversity of music."Dave Sumner, eMusic (on Bamako By Bus)One of the most in-demand drummers in New York- tapped by the likes of Angelique Kidjo, Sting and Anat Cohen- Daniel Freedman presents his third album as a leader, the rhythmically infectious Imagine That. To be released in the U.S. by Anzic Records on April 15, 2016, Imagine That draws on a world of music: tune-rich originals that channel African, Middle Eastern, Latin and Indian grooves, as well as an astoundingly fresh version of a rarely covered Radiohead song ("Codex"). Freedman, born and bred in New York City, leads an international quintet that features guitarist-vocalist Lionel Loueke (from Benin), keyboardist Jason Lindner (Brooklyn), bassist Omer Avital (Israel) and percussionist Gilmar Gomes (Brazil). Benin-born vocal star Angelique Kidjo, with whom Freedman has toured the world as drummer in her band, sings Baby Aya," a dancing lullaby he wrote for his infant daughter. Imagine That is the follow-up to Freedman's 2012 Anzic album, Bamako by Bus, which garnered his band a showcase live on NPR Freedman, 41, has close connections to each member of the band for Imagine That. He went to LaGuardia High School for Music and Arts (the Fame" school) alongside Jason Lindner, playing in various groups with him ever since. Lindner played on Bamako by Bus, and both the keyboardist and drummer have long been members of clarinet superstar Anat Cohen's bands. Freedman and Lindner met Omer Avital when they were all part of the fertile 1990s scene at the jazz club Smalls in New York's West Village; the three played together in Lindner's original hit big band), and Lindner and Avital featured on Freedman's debut album, 2001's Trio (Fresh Sound New Talent). For the past decade, Freedman and Avital have also played alongside each other in hit multicultural band Third World Love (with Avishai Cohen and Yonathan Avishai). Lionel Loueke played with the rhythm pair on Avishai Cohen's album After The Big Rain, as well as on Bamako by Bus. Freedman has played with Gilmar Gomes in studio sessions and tours with Kidjo, Anat Cohen and New York/Brazilian band Forro in the Dark.The polyrhythmic rapport between Freedman and Gomes is a key element of Imagine ThatIt's never about flash, but about soul.. When I play with Gilmar, we become this living, breathing percussion animal," Freedman says. In the Brooklyn studio for the new album, we set up next to each other without any separation- he's in my microphones, and I'm in his. We're one." About the way the entire quintet plays together, Freedman adds: All of these guys really listen to each other- no one ever overplays. And there's a lot of spontaneity and surprises in the music. Like with the Radiohead tune, 'Codex,' which I love for its atmosphere and beautiful melody. We got it together in the studio for the first time, and it had a great vibe right away. Lionel had never heard the song before, but when we tripped out the ending in our own way, he just reacted and ripped into it- it was unexpected and exciting."Reflecting on the way drummer-composers have made for some great leaders of bands down through the decades- from Max Roach and Art Blakey to Tony Williams and Brian Blade- Freedman says: Drummer-leaders have a good overall POV of the music, I think. A drummer can lay down a vibe but also push the players rhythmically, pacing and shaping the music. In jazz- or whatever you want to call this music- leading a band has a lot to do with the musicians you choose. It's about the personality and sound of the players. For instance, I don't have a guitar in the band- I have Lionel Loueke. It's not a keyboard- it's Jason Lindner. All these guys- and how we react to each other, complement each other- make the music what it is. The sessions were relaxed and fun, with a fresh, positive energy, and I hope you can hear that on the album."1. Determined Soul" (Jason Lindner)- Jason wrote this especially for my band," Freedman says. It's a mix of Afrobeat and almost a boogaloo, with a South Indian feel toward the end."2. Baby Aya" (Daniel Freedman)- I sang this tune to my baby daughter in the middle of the night when I thought she'd never go back to sleep. It's almost a joke- a melody that sounds like a lullaby, but with a rhythm that feels like a party toward the end. Lionel translated my simple words into the West African language of Fon, singing them to both my children. To hear Angelique add her voice was a thrill- and totally fitting for this lullaby that has zero chance of putting anyone back to sleep. Gilmar's super-original batucada at the end is one of my favorite moments on the record."3. Big in Yemen" (Daniel Freedman)- I wrote this melody on the oud while on tour- it always felt like a mantra for a long journey, something you sing over and over as your body moves forward. I love the way Omer's oud segues into Lionel's effected guitar. Jason added some synths to the end that update this ancient-sounding melody. The song's rhythm is based on a Yemenite groove, but Gilmar and I put a twist on it for a kind of Yemeni/Bahia hybrid."4. Codex" (Radiohead)- Not one of Radiohead's most famous songs, but I fell in love with it on The King of Limbs. Jason and I arranged it for the quintet, though this was one of those things that you aren't quite sure will work. But as soon as we started playing, it felt right. I love that long, explosive Lionel solo at the end, as well as the color and depth that Jason's subtle electronics add."5. Mindaho" (Lionel Loueke)- I always love playing other people's tunes within my own band as a way to have different compositional styles in a set. It's also a great way to have players shine on their own material. On this one by Lionel, his solo is so emotional. And Jason's opening chords kill me every time... I also love the way Gilmar and I created one sound. It doesn't feel like a drummer and a percussionist, but rather one energized percussion section."6. Love Takes Time" (Jason Lindner)- Another tune of Jason's that is simple, soulful and a joy to play. The main influence is Motown. Omer's solo is really perfect."7. Eastern Elegy" (Daniel Freedman)- This is a ballad that I wrote right when the war in Syria was escalating. I saw pictures of the destruction in Aleppo and had also talked to a friend whose family was from there. He was talking about the town's food being among the best in the world. The ballad is a kind of wordless elegy for all that was, that can't be brought back. Again, Omer's solo here is a perfectly constructed statement. I'm proud to have that moment on my record."8. The Sisters Dance" (Daniel Freedman)- This was written as a sequel in a way to my tune 'All Brothers' on Bamako by Bus. There's a way of playing on the hi-hat cymbal that I really enjoy; it's kind of a homemade interpretation of Gnawa Karkaba.The bass line is also derived from gnawa music. There is definitely an influence here from Avishai Cohen and all the years we listened to Oumou Sangare constantly and performed our tunes in Third World Love.Gilmar plays a solo here with insane fire. When I put this song on recently at home, it seemed successful because both of my daughters were dancing around the house like crazy and got angry when I turned it off!"Drummer, percussionist and composer Daniel Freedman grew up in a musical New York City family. In high school, he studied with master drummersandand later traveled to study drumming in West Africa, Cuba and the Middle East. Coming up as part of the Smalls scene in the 1990s, Freedman was a member of Jason Lindner's acclaimed big band, as well as Omer Avital's sextet. The drummer has been a member of the collective Third World Love for the past decade, along with touring and recording with. He also toured the world as a member of Grammy-winning singer Angelique Kidjo's band from 2009 to 2015.Freedman has played and recorded with such artists as Sting,and. In 2012, Anzic released his sophomore album as a leader, Bamako by Bus, which featured a core band of Avishai Cohen, Lionel Loueke, Jason Lindner and Meshell N'degeocello, along with Joshua Levitt and Davi Viera . Freedman's debut album, Trio, received a nine-star review in Modern Drummer magazine, and he was featured as one of the publication's Young Lions." The New York Times selected him as one of five young drummers on the New York scene who helped change jazz drumming for the piece Propelled by Different Drummers." As founder of New York-based music house HiHAt.tv, Freedman has written and produced dozens of spots for television and the Web.Encapsulating Freedman's talents, this praise recently came for Imagine That via TSF Jazz (French radio): With one foot firmly planted in jazz and the other in world music, drummer Daniel Freedman synthesizes two vast universes."
For his new album Holding the Stage: Road Shows, vol. 4, the great tenor saxophonistonce again taps into his vast archives of his own concert recordings to compile superior performances for release in the acclaimed Road Shows series. The album encompasses some 33 years (1979-2012) yet coheres with all of the compelling logic and narrative force of an extended Sonny solo.Holding the Stage, to be released by Doxy Records digitally April 8 and on CD April 15, the second album in a distribution agreement with Sony Music Masterworks and its jazz imprint OKeh, is truly a treasure chest that includes tunes Rollins has never before recorded and musical relationships previously undocumented. This album consists of various periods of my career, with something for everybody, says Rollins. Its who I am, and the music represents just about every aspect of what I do.Three Rollins originals pay tribute to departed friends and colleagues. The soulful blues H.S., for Horace Silver, has been a concert staple since its appearance on Sonnys 1995 Milestone album Sonny Rollins +3. Saxophonist/arranger Paul Jeffrey, who died last year at 81, is remembered in the funky Professor Paul, a new composition making its recorded debut here. Of Disco Monk, from 1979s Dont Ask (Milestone) and rarely performed since, Rollins told CD annotator Ted Panken: It was disco-disco-disco then, everywhere you went, but I heard something juxtaposed with [Thelonious] Monk within this disco craze, and I wanted to meld them in a way that both styles would be themselves and yet be one.Another highlight is a previously unreleased 23-minute medley (and concert closer) from his September 15, 2001 Boston performance, most of which had been immortalized in Rollinss final Milestone album, the Grammy Award-winning Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert. Sweet Leilani, introduced on his This Is What I Do album of the year before, morphs into a richly evocative solo cadenza and an epically ecstatic Dont Stop the Carnival.In the Harlem of his youth, Rollins told Panken, music was happening on every street corner. So the idea of keep the music going is in that song. Dont stop the carnival. In the case of 9/11, that was especially prophetic. Since launching his Doxy Records imprint in 2006 with the Grammy-nominated studio album Sonny, Please, Sonny Rollins has been turning to his concert recording archive dating back nearly 40 years for release on the label. The selections in Volume 1 (2008) spanned nearly three decades and included a trio track from the saxophonists 50th-anniversary Carnegie Hall concert, while Volume 2 (2011) focused primarily on his historic 80th-birthday concert at New Yorks Beacon Theatre. Volume 3 (2014) marked the first recording of Patanjali and hinged on a stunning 23-minute excavation of Jerome Kerns Why Was I Born?Holding the Stage: Road Shows, vol. 4 was produced by Rollins and his longtime engineer, Richard Corsello. Personnel includes trombonist Clifton Anderson; pianists Stephen Scott and Mark Soskin; guitarists Bobby Broom, Peter Bernstein, and Saul Rubin; bassists Bob Cranshaw and Jerome Harris; drummers Kobie Watkins, Perry Wilson, Victor Lewis, Jerome Jennings, Al Foster, and Harold Summey Jr.; and percussionists Kimati Dinizulu, Sammy Figueroa, and Victor See Yuen.
Russian expert: Baku's attempts to open corridor by force will cause negative response not only from IRI or Russian

Telegraph: Britain to send about 60 old tanks to NATO base in Germany for exercises

Artak Beglaryan: You will see me in new position

Netanyahu: Iran nuclear deal could bring Russia 'hundreds of billions'

Russia and Turkey begin to develop gas hub project

PM Pashinyan discusses agenda of bilateral relations with Iranian FM

Anna Hakobyan meets Armenians in Paris

Sargsyan: Recognition of Artsakh people's right for self-determination must be reflected in legal documents

Italy's first female prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, sworn in

Private jet goes missing off coast of Costa Rica

Times of India: India tests nuclear-capable Agni Prime missile

Spiegel: German Foreign Minister and Defense Minister ask to allocate 2.2 billion for military aid to Kiev

Deputy PM of Armenia and Head of Sharjah Heritage Institute discuss strengthening of Armenian-Emirati relations

Biden allows participation in U.S. presidential election in 2024

Secretary of Security Council of Armenia and representatives of AIISA discuss security issues

Kakhovka reservoir increases water discharges in case of possible destruction of HPP

Pashinian's spouse: Yesterday at Elysee Palace I was received by dear Brigitte Macron

At least 15 people killed in bus-truck collision in India

Explosion at Uzbek Defense Ministry depot injures 16 people

Armenian NA Speaker receives Iranian FM: Tehran opposes obstacles on border with friendly Armenia

President Harutyunyan receives group of members of Union of Artsakh Reserve Officers NGO

Newspaper: Armenia restores diplomatic ties with Hungary?

China hit by 5.5 magnitude earthquake

Armenian Defense Ministry denies Azerbaijani report on shelling, calling it disinformation

Blinken: Moscow is not interested in stopping aggression against Ukraine

Japan and U.S. will hold joint military exercises

France withdraws from Energy Charter Treaty

CNN: White House is in talks with Elon Musk to create satellite Internet service Starlink in Iran

Baku outraged by Iran's statements and frightened by IRGC military exercises

Who are main beneficiaries of 'Zangezur' corridor?: Another anonymous article by 'Haykakan Zhamanak' newspaper

Ankara decides to stand up for Riyadh amid deteriorating relations between Saudi Arabia and U.S.

French Foreign Minister considers it vital to keep lines of communication with Russia open

Pentagon refuses to give details of conversation between Austin and Shoigu

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin: Head of Caucasus Muslims Department again made slanderous and false statements

Erdogan denies using chemical weapons against Kurds and threatens those who dare to talk about it

Saudi Arabia and China will strengthen their ties in energy sector

Governor of Gegharkunik province receives representatives of OSCE fact-finding mission

Penny Mordaunt runs for Prime Minister of Great Britain

Sweden expects ratification of NATO membership application by Hungary and Turkey to be completed soon

European Union will allocate 1.5 billion euros per month to Kiev in 2023

An Israeli-built flight school opened in Greece

Russian Railways is negotiating with Azerbaijan and Iran to launch the Rasht-Astara route

Overchuk: Construction of road through Meghri, whose sovereignty is not in question, depends on Armenia's position

Armenian Defense Minister's working visit to India is over

Hungary will not agree to limit prices for imported gas

Iranian Foreign Minister: Iran considers Armenia one of most important transit countries

Naribekyan participates in meeting of secretaries general of PACE parliaments

Delegation from United Arab Emirates visits Armenia at invitation of head of MONKS: Two agreements signed

Dollar, euro drop in Armenia

Iran consul general in Armenias Kapan: We do not accept any change of borders

Baza: Mobile military registration and enlistment offices will be removed on Russian-Georgian border

Iranian Consul: Countries of region do not need presence of foreign armed forces

Armenia FM: Iran consulate general in Kapan will be important for regional security

Iranian Consul General advises Kapan residents not to worry anymore: Iran is here for Armenian people

FM reaffirms Armenia plan to open consulate general in Irans Tabriz

Turkey to open consulate in occupied Armenian Shushi city of Artsakh

Turkish Ministry of Finance: Ankara can buy Russian oil without Western funding

Armenia Security Council chief briefs European Parliament rapporteur on recent Azerbaijan military aggression

British bookmakers name favorite for post of prime minister

Erdogan: Armenia-Azerbaijan relations progress will contribute to Armenia-Turkey relations normalization

Iranian Consulate General opens in Kapan

Erdogan: Turkey is looking for alternative to American F-16 fighters

Iran consul general: We are here for Armenian people

Turkey FM slams OSCE decision to send needs assessment mission to Armenia

Peskov reacts to Erdogan's words about Putin's softening on Ukraine negotiations

European Parliament rapporteur on Armenia visits Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan

European Parliament rapporteur on Armenia to legislature speaker: Attack was from Azerbaijan, naturally

Armenia President to EEU PMs: We will manage to take another confident step by respecting mutual interests

EUSR Toivo Klaars exclusive interview with NEWS.am on EU Monitoring mission,Nagorno Karabakh future and violence videos

Explosions rock Ukraines Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia

President meets with newly formed Artsakh Public Council members

Armenia PM: We need understanding in price horizon, at least in medium term

Lawyer: 20 of fallen solders parents detained from Yerevan military pantheon are recognized as injured party

PM: Armenia trade with other EEU countries increased by 74%

France region to provide 300,000 to Armenias Syunik Province affected by Azerbaijan military aggression

Eurasian Intergovernmental Council extended meeting underway in Yerevan

MOD: Armenia did not fire at Azerbaijan positions, vehicle

MPs in Strasbourg, present threatening dangers: Armenia has powerful support in European Parliament

Years first snow falls in Armenias Shirak Province

World oil prices on the rise
YEREVAN.  President Vladimir Putins order to withdraw the Russian troops from Syria is a priority event in international news. But the more important thing is what implications this development will have on whom, Zhamanak daily wrote.

The problem is not so much the presence-absence of the actual Russian armed forces, as much as the reasons and motives which led to such a decision by Putin.

It is extremely important for Armenia as to what impact the new development will have on the Syrian Armenians.

At the same time, it is no less an important issue to Armenia as to whether Putin is withdrawing the [Russian] troops from Syria to regroup, so to speak, and use [them] somewhere else.

There shall not be an unforeseen development, an unexpected development for Armenia. Armenia cannot afford the luxury of being surprised, Zhamanak wrote.
The Russian border guards stationed in Armenia have detained a person who attempted to illegally cross the Armenia-Iran border.

Press service of the Armenia Border Service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation informed about the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to the available information, the unidentified person presented a Syrian passport while crossing the border at night, at the Agarak border checkpoint in Syunik Province of Armenia.

The border officer, however, discovered that the document was fake.

It was found out that the lawbreaker had changed the page with the data of the passport holder.

As a result, he was detained and handed over to the National Security Service of Armenia, for further investigation.
Terrorist Anders Breivik has complained to court that Norway tries to kill him, by keeping him in isolation in bad conditions, Reuters reported.

Breivik declared that the frozen meals heated in a microwave "are worse, than waterboarding". He also reported to the court that his regular naked check-ups are "importunate and offensive". Breivik added that he feels isolated as has been allowed no visitors and complained of cold coffee and plastic tableware.

Anders Breivik Breivik is serving a maximum 21-year sentence for massacre. On July 22, 2011 the Norwegian terrorist has killed 77 people in protest against multiculturalism and a "Muslim invasion".

It was reported earlier that Breivik's lawyer will appeal to the ECHR due to the poor prison conditions of his ward.
"Small steps, big ideas," is the theme of the third annual Atlanta Science Festival, which encourages all ages to step into a world of wonder and exploration through more than 100 events and hands-on activities in metro-Atlanta from March 19 to March 26. In fact, the party has already started via ongoing online activities, such as a chance to vote for Atlanta's favorite scientist and compose original "sci-ku"  or science-themed haiku.

About 50,000 people are expected to turn out during the eight-day festival for talks, lab tours, film screenings, participatory activities and science demonstrations. The events are set at more than 80 different venues, including the Emory campus.

"We've got a lot of fun and irreverent events, like 'The Science of Circus,' and others that are more on the serious side, like a discussion on climate change," says Jordan Rose, who is executive co-director of the festival along with Meisa Salaita. "There is something for everyone, from little kids to teens, college students and adults."

A new event this year, "Sci-Cycle: A Competitive Scavenger Hunt on Two Wheels," will start things rolling on the opening day of the festival, Saturday, March 19. The Emory Spokes Council and the Emory Graduate Sustainability Group are organizing the bike adventure, to take place on the Atlanta Beltline.

Participants will learn about materials science, urban foraging and sustainable practices through pedaling to various locations and performing tasks such as using a bicycle-powered blender to make a smoothie.

Also new this year is a "Science Parade," set for the final day of the festival, on Saturday, March 26, starting at the Centennial Academy in downtown Atlanta.

"Everyone is welcome to join the parade," Rose says. "We're encouraging people to come dressed as their favorite scientist, or element or other science-themed character."

The half-mile parade, led by the Seed and Feed Marching Abominable band, will end at Centennial Olympic Park for the launch of the Exploration Expo, the culminating event of the Atlanta Science Festival. The free Expo includes stage performances and hands-on science activities at 100-plus exhibitor booths, including more than a dozen run by Emory faculty and students.

Highlights of this year's Expo will include a giant LEGO build of the city of Atlanta, which will be 40-feet wide upon completion.

"Everyone can help assemble a bit of it throughout the Expo," Rose says.

Events at Emory, Oxford and The Carter Center

A range of Atlanta Science Festival events will take place on the Emory and Oxford campuses, as well as the Carter Center.

"The Atlanta Science Festival is a great way to feature some of the research and discoveries that are coming out of Emory for the local community," Rose says. "It's also a great platform for Emory students and faculty to practice their communication skills for a general audience, and to engage the public in their science."

"Living in the Anthropocene: How Humans are Changing the World," will take place on the Emory campus Saturday, March 19. Emory scholars from a range of disciplines will explain how humans are profoundly altering the environment in a series of fast-paced, TED-style talks. Emory chemists will also reveal how small actions can have a big impact with a series of science demonstrations. A sustainability tour of the campus will show ways Emory is minimizing harmful effects to the environment.

The "Zombie Outbreak Game" on Sunday, March 20, will require participants to follow clues across campus to investigate a mock Zombie disease outbreak, using real-world tools employed by public health scientists.

Later that evening, Emory's Oxford campus will host "Oxford Under the Stars." Physicist Phil Segre will give an astronomical tour of the distant planets, moons and nebula.

On the evening of Wednesday, March 23, The Carter Center will host a lively discussion, "What's the Deal with the Climate Deal?" The talk will include Emory faculty and students who participated in the Paris 2015 U.N. Climate Change Conference, discussing how the new global climate accord might work.

"Discovery Dialogues: Human Evolution" will take place at the Emory Chemistry Center on Thursday evening, showing an incredible cast collection of fossilized skulls of our human ancestors. Join in a discussion with scientists from Emory's anthropology department about remarkable discoveries in human evolution this past year, from the unearthing of stone tools 700,000 years older than expected to the discovery of Homo naledi deep in a South African cave.

Emory physics' popular "Physics Live!" returns on Friday, March 25. Faculty and students will provide exciting science demonstrations designed to dazzle children from grades K-12. A planetarium show and laboratory tours are also on the agenda.

Educators are invited to the Carlos Museum on Friday, March 25, for the program "Integrating Art Conservation Science into Your Classroom Teaching." The program includes a special science tour of the museum and an interactive "science fair" of classroom-ready activities based on art conservation practices.

See more details of Emory events, including times and how to register.

Community partnerships

Emory is a founding sponsor of the Atlanta Science Festival, along with Georgia Tech and the Metro Atlanta Chamber. The festival has grown to more than 34 sponsors, including Mercer University, Georgia State University, Google, UPS, the Clorox Company and Delta Air Lines.

"We have more than 100 partners and great community support from businesses, educational institutions, museums and school districts," Rose says.

The Atlanta Science Festival was one of 14 sites across the nation awarded the opportunity to speak directly to the astronauts on the International Space Station. Elementary and middle school students who won a lesson plan contest gathered at the Fernbank Science Center on March 8 to chat with the cosmic explorers via amateur radio.

"It happened quickly because the ISS is traveling at 17,000 mph and they only had 10 minutes to talk before they disappeared over the horizon," Rose says.
Senator Ted Cruz, Donald Trump and Governor John Kasich are the top contenders in the Republican primary race.

Each time the presidential primary and its candidate pool spin out of control, seemingly with no one at the wheel, the race becomes more unpredictable and potential damage stretches into years, say Cal State Fullerton political science experts.

The What if questions are multiplying after front-runner Donald Trumps Tuesday sweep of three states (with one state still in play) to:

What if theres a contested convention?

What if a third-party candidate enters the race?

What if the Republican party cant recover from the damage?

Only Ohio and Florida  two of the five  are winner-take-all delegates states. Delegates votes from the other three states  Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina  will be doled out proportionately, according to the candidates finish.

I think anyone that says they know whats going to happen is lying, said Robert Robinson, assistant professor of political science.

If Trump was someone else, anyone else, Im convinced the others would be dropping out by now, he said. My gut is more worried than entertained now. I was entertained six months ago. Now Im worried.

Not since 1952 has the party refused to nominate the front-runner, and not since 1980 has a candidate refused to concede  forcing the contested convention. And the last winning U.S. presidential nominee produced by a brokered or contested election was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932.

If Trump doesnt win a majority of the delegate votes, then the GOP party would enter the convention without a declared nominee and there could be a balloted battle on the floor of the convention for a final nominee. And if the first delegate vote  when most delegates are required to vote according to how their state voted in the primary  doesnt declare a majority winner, all bets are off. Thats because at that point all the delegates can vote how they want.

Normally, there are people complaining during the primaries and then they unite to support one candidate in August, Robinson said. But you dont know to what extent that will happen this time.

The most recent GOP nominee for president, Mitt Romney, campaigned for John Kasich, seeming to squash rumors that Romney might jump in the race. The rumors began after violence at recent Trump rallies mirrored images of riotous protesters during the anti-war movement. Romney and others implored Trump to condemn the violence, and Trumps confrontational comments only seem to narrow any perceived lead over Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders.

I suspect theres a lot of the party leadership that secretly hope that Trump wins the nomination and then loses, so they can work on the recovery, Robinson said. Im not sure if you can put the party back together assuming Trump loses.

Trumps campaign has taken on a lot of the partys policy positions. He continues to be at odds with the party platform focus set by the 2012 election, saying hes not ready to repeal all of Obamacare, but that he would repeal trade legislation the Republican leadership favors, said Scott Spitzer, associate professor of political science.

If Im an inside party leader, chairman of the party or a former speaker of the House, Im thinking to myself this is not the only election I care about, Spitzer said. The party would be smart to shift its focus to holding on to the majorities in the Senate and the House, and then they can come out with a much more effective candidate, someone who can unite their party in 2020.

That recovery could prove costly as the party risks losing young, college-age voters turned off by infighting and lack of progress on key issues like equal pay, immigration and access to education.

Young voters are increasingly attracted to Sanders campaign. Hes idealistic and speaks in simple terms about the gap between the haves and have nots, Spitzer said.

But students are turned off by politics because every time they turn on the TV all they see is candidates insulting and arguing with each other, Spitzer said. If thats what they see, Trump becomes the new party brand and the Republican brand is irreparably harmed.

They feel like they cant voice their opinion because someone might rip into them and Trumps campaign reinforces that, he said. Its just about name calling and hate. So I worry about that.
Inaugural Communication Day set for March 25

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill.  The Department of Communication Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will launch Communication Day, an inaugural event the department hopes will grow over time, later this month.

The event is 1-2:15 p.m. on March 25 at the John C. Guyon Auditorium in Morris Library. The highlight is returning alumna Meagan Oestry, who earned her bachelors degree in communication studies with a specialization in performance. She is involved with learning and development at Uber in the Chicago area. She plans to talk about how she uses the skills gained through her communication studies degree daily in her career.

Jonathan Gray, associate professor in communication studies, will also talk about employment for communication studies majors, including how potential employers regard a communication studies degree and what they expect from a graduate with that degree, and how students can use the skills theyve learned as a major to enhance opportunities for career advancement.

Representatives of communication studies-related student groups and Registered Student Organizations will also be on hand, including members of the SIU Debate Team, performance art specialists, Public Relations Student Society of America and representatives of the Student Speakers Forum.
Symposium will explore human rights reporting

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Southern Illinois University Carbondale will host a symposium that will examine human rights reporting and global journalism.

The College of Mass Communication and Media Arts and the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, based in Washington, D.C., are sponsoring the March 22 program. Human Rights Reporting and the Landscape of Global Journalism, will include presentations from two SIU students who are involved with reporting for the center. The program begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Communications Building Deans Conference Room, Room 1032. RSVP to Jim Bigogno at bigogno@siu.edu.

The symposium is free and open to the public. The colleges partnership with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting gives students the opportunity to report on global issues through reporting fellowships. The college, through the School of Journalism, has been part of the centers Campus Consortium since its launch in January 2009.

Presentations during the day will include Jon Sawyer, executive director of the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, who will discuss the long-term, global picture of journalism and his international reporting experiences.

Emily Feldman is an Istanbul, Turkey-based journalist whose experience includes filing stories for Mashable and Al-Jazerra America. She also covered national and international news for NBC in New York. At 12:35 p.m., in Studio A., Feldman will present The Yazidis: After the Trauma, a look at how that Iraqi community is recovering after the attempted genocide at the hands of ISIS fighters in summer 2014.

The student presentations will begin at 2 p.m., also in Studio A. Kayli Plotner, a masters student in professional media and media management, will present Where is home? A multimedia view of the lives of El Salvadors orphaned children, and flaws within the child welfare system of the worlds murder capital. Anna Spoerre, a junior majoring in journalism, will present Youth and rural-urban migration in Peru.

For more information on the program, contact the School of Journalism at 618-536-3361.
Indonesia eclipse -- The suns elusive and seldom-seen corona is clearly visible in this image captured by a team of researchers from Southern Illinois University Carbondale who traveled to Indonesia. The trio gathered valuable data and captured amazing images during a total eclipse of the sun last week, in a trial run for the same astronomical event set for Carbondale next summer. (Photo provided)

Indonesia eclipse offers trial run for researchers

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill.  A trio of researchers from Southern Illinois University gathered valuable data and captured amazing images in Indonesia during a total eclipse of the sun last week, in a trial run for the same astronomical event in Carbondale next summer.

The group, including a physics specialist, an undergraduate student and a retired faculty member, flew down to view the event, which took place March 8-9, in a trip sponsored by NASA through a grant from the National Solar Observatory. The trip gave the trio a first-hand look at how to prepare for the eclipse set for Aug. 21, 2017, in the United States, said Bob Baer, specialist in the Department of Physics at SIU.

The lessons we learned will be of great use in our own outreach efforts and events, and in preparation for SIU to help support scientific observations in 2017, Baer said.

SIU is gearing up to play a major role in the 2017 eclipse (eclipse.siu.edu), which will feature the first total solar eclipse over the mainland United States since 1979. The eclipse viewing path and shadow that day will sweep across the country from northwest to southeast, with its point of greatest duration a few miles south of Carbondale. Officials expect some 30,000 to 50,000 people to descend on the area for the happening. The universitys planning, led by a campus-community committee, has been underway for a year.

Not only that, but a second such event is due in 2024. The intersection of the two eclipse paths is just south of Carbondale over Cedar Lake. No other place in the world will offer the opportunity to observe these two eclipses from the same ground-based spot.

The Indonesia trip allowed Baer, along with Sarah Kovac, a junior in physics, and retired SIU faculty member Fred Isberner, to practice for their role in the nationwide effort to capture a movie of the 2017 total eclipse. The effort, known as the Citizen CATE Experiment (Continental America Telescopic Eclipse), will see SIU cooperate with about 60 other teams recording the event across the United States. The National Solar Observatory will use the data collected to assemble a visual record of the total eclipse, in an attempt to capture elusive, moving pictures of the suns corona, which is usually obscured by the suns brightness.

While in Indonesia, Baer and Kovac used a telescope fitted with a special camera to record images of the total solar eclipse visible from a spot on an island, while Isberner made observations from a cruise ship in the Makassar Strait. The trio was one of five teams recording the event from various spots along the path of darkness created by the eclipse.

The teams were spread out along the path in order to get images from different locations and to overcome any weather complications, as well as to extend the time of the images, just as they will be in the United States next summer. The teams had favorable weather conditions in four of the five locations.

While they were there, the SIU contingent also worked with local schools and education officials to give talks and take part in the country's outreach efforts on the eclipse, Baer said.

The trip was very successful, he said. We were able to not only see the eclipse first hand, but take data on it for the Citizen CATE Experiment. We also got several hours of video that will be used to train other observers and to show to our event planning committee.

We saw the eclipse from a small island that is about 60 miles wide and that was completely in totality, Baer said, meaning the sun was completely blacked out by the moon when viewed from that area. In some ways, the way the island prepared for the eclipse is similar to how our region is preparing.

Kovac said the entire experience was eye-opening and remarkable, but working with local high school students stands out.

They not only welcomed us with open arms, but were genuinely intrigued in the material and excited about what we had to say, Kovac said. The amount of gratitude we received for being there was an incredible feeling.

Now that theyre home, the team members will begin conducting data analysis for the Citizen CATE Experiment. The team gathered about 18 gigabytes of data using the telescope and another 300 GB of video images during the trip, Baer said. Preliminary analysis indicates the data is very useful, Baer said, and when combined with the other teams data will help scientists observe the ways in which the suns corona evolves over time.

The teams from the four universities involved also will send students to the National Solar Observatory this summer for a program aimed at undergraduate researchers where they will work on analyzing the data.

We expect publications to come out of the project, and all of our data will be released publicly for others to use and analyze, Baer said.

Kovac said being so involved in the eclipse events is providing her with invaluable research experience as a student.

I often get asked what I plan to do after I finish my doctorate, and before this experience, I didn't really have an answer, she said. Now I have a better idea of what I would like to spend my life working on and how it's going to contribute to astrophysics.

The SIU team also is working with a Southern Illinois high school teacher to put together a movie about its CATE efforts, which will include the background on its members training, their observations in Indonesia and observations in 2017.

Our CATE team locally will continue to train on the telescopes, and we'll be modifying procedures slightly for 2017, Baer said. We have a lot of planning to do for 2017 through the eclipse steering committee and I'm really looking forward to sharing what was learned in Indonesia.

To learn more the Citizen CATE Experiment, go here.
The tumultuous 2016 Republican campaign is a phenomenon long in the making, Stanford researcher says

America's political polarization can be attributed to the widening policy differences between the parties, the lessening influence of those parties on the nomination process, and a fractured Republican base, according to Stanford researcher Tobias Konitzer.

Shutterstock Stanford doctoral candidate Tobias Konitzer studies political polarization among American voters.

American politics is increasingly divided due to polarization between the policy positions of the two major parties, selective exposure to media outlets, and sometimes a personal dislike of political opponents, a Stanford researcher says.

Stanford researcher Tobias Konitzer studies political polarization, media fragmentation, online campaign trends, voter attitudes and issue formation. A doctoral candidate in political communication, he is tracking American public opinion on 11 key campaign issues weekly during this election season and was a co-author of a recent Washington Post column on the subject.

Stanford News Service interviewed Konitzer about this year's election dynamics:



Why is the American electorate increasingly polarized?



Whether or not the American electorate has become polarized is actually subject to considerable scholarly debate. On the one hand, it is clear that the dislike of the "other" party  the party one does not identify with  has consistently gone up in recent years and presidential approval ratings among voters identifying with the other party are at an all-time low. This kind of affective polarization manifests itself in daily life, for example, in purchasing patterns or even marriage.

In my research with Stanford political scientist Shanto Iyengar, we show that over 80 percent of all marriages in the country are same-party marriages and, when we control for the composition of neighborhoods, even trumps the degree of same-race marriage.

On the other hand, scholars have debated whether polarization is also as rampant when it comes to ideology, by which we mean policy preferences. Stanford political scientist Morris Fiorina and colleagues have maintained that voters instinctively take moderate positions on most issues, but recent data seems to suggest that many voters do take positions at the poles of the ideological distribution.

This suggests that staggering "elite-level polarization" has rubbed off on voters to a certain extent. (This refers to the distance between the policy positions of Republican and Democratic lawmakers.) We believe that polarization among the political elite  driven by a donor class that is ideologically more extreme and by the party's decline in influence on the nomination process  has slowly trickled down to the voters to some extent.

Other theories as to why voters might become more polarized include selective exposure  choosing media sources with a clear partisan agenda similar to one's own  and a growing desire to avoid political viewpoints that conflict with one's own. One result is a decline in swing voters, i.e., voters with changing party allegiances.

For campaigns, while persuading voters might become more and more difficult, the focus is likely to shift to mobilization and expanding the electorate that turns out at the ballot box. Campaigns can indeed increase turnout, especially when campaign messages are mediated through social networks, for example via shares on Facebook, as some of my recent co-authored work suggests.

What are the biggest issues this year?



Given the spectacular success of Donald Trump in the primaries, it would be tempting to say that, at least on the Republican side, immigration is such an issue.

However, exit polls seem to suggest otherwise, with immigration being the primary concern for only about 15 percent of voters. What's more, the same exit polls reveal that about 30 percent of Republican voters name the economy as the most important concern, while the numbers topped 50 percent in the 2012 election, again per exit polls. This decrease in importance this election cycle is reflective of more diverse party coalitions, especially on the Republican side.

To explain, the traditional base of the party, the so-called Rockefeller Republicans who are driven by concerns about redistribution and taxation, now are vying for influence with evangelicals, single-issue voters (on topics like immigration), and libertarians, among others. This fractious nature of the Republican Party has been long in the making: Richard Nixon brought a racially conservative South to the party, Ronald Reagan brought anti-abortion rights advocates to the party, and George W. Bush rallied up evangelical voters.

In some ways, every fraction has ended up with its own candidate in this year's primaries, but the fractious nature of the Republican Party also has forced candidates to take ultra-conservative positions on each of the issues to not endanger splitting the Republican coalition. This has led to an increasing gap between Republican voters and Republican politicians, which can help explain the Trump phenomenon.

On the other hand, candidates are increasingly able to "micro-target" messages to small swaths of their base. Together with researchers at Duke University, I argue in a forthcoming study that the accessibility, usability and accuracy of "big data" about the electorate mean that campaigns are better able to individualize and disseminate messages to ever smaller and more narrowly targeted audiences across ever-growing online and mobile platforms. It is hence no surprise that digital campaign advertising is projected to be the fastest growing sector of campaign communication, and that development might help mask the fractured state of the Republican Party in the fall and decrease the risk of alienating some fractions.



On the Democratic side, health care, education, the economy and job growth are important issues. The clear message seems to be that the Democratic base is eager to see a continuation of the Obama agenda. In Mississippi, for example, 71 percent are in agreement that the next president should follow in his footsteps.

How do you see a possible Trump vs. Clinton contest?

If we believe the polls, Hillary Clinton would win this match-up by about 6 percent, but there is a good reason not to place too much value in these match-up polls, which ask voters for a conditional probability or scenario based on Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump getting the nominations. It is well-documented that people have a limited understanding of conditional probability, and in some cases that also goes for journalists reporting on these hypothetical match-up polls. Maybe a better way to assess the chances of victory is to look at prediction markets, which currently estimate the probability of Democrats clinching the presidency at 69 percent.

The actual election outcome aside, it will be interesting to see what a Trump candidacy will do to the Republican Party, given that resistance by the establishment has garnered wide attention. Will it result in a massive realignment (although the Democratic candidates are further apart from the Republican base than Trump is), or even a party split? However, these are extremely rare in American politics.

Media Contact

Tobias Konitzer, Communication: (919) 699-9569, tobiask@stanford.edu

Clifton B. Parker, Stanford News Service: (650) 725-0224, cbparker@stanford.edu
Is Alaskas first new butterfly species in decades an ancient hybrid?

Some might say it takes a rare breed to survive the Alaska wilderness. The discovery of a possible new species of hybrid butterfly from the states interior is proving that theory correct.

Belonging to a group known as the Arctics, the Tanana Arctic, Oeneis tanana, is the first new butterfly species described from the Last Frontier in 28 years and may be its only endemic butterfly.

University of Florida lepidopterist Andrew Warren suggests the butterfly could be the result of a rare and unlikely hybridization between two related species, both specially adapted for the harsh arctic climate, perhaps before the last ice age. Details of the finding are available online today in the Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera.

Digging deeper into the Tanana Arctics origins may reveal secrets about the geological history of arctic North America and the evolution of hybrid species, said Warren, who led the new study.

Hybrid species demonstrate that animals evolved in a way that people havent really thought about much before, although the phenomenon is fairly well studied in plants, said Warren, senior collections manager at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the UF campus. Scientists who study plants and fish have suggested that unglaciated parts of ancient Alaska known as Beringia, including the strip of land that once connected Asia and what's now Alaska, served as a refuge where plants and animals waited out the last ice age and then moved eastward or southward from there. This is potentially a supporting piece of evidence for that.

The new butterfly lives in the spruce and aspen forests of the Tanana-Yukon River Basin, most or all of which was never glaciated during the last ice age, about 28,000 to 14,000 years ago. Study researchers suggest that sometime in the past, two related species, the Chryxus Arctic, O. chryxus, and the White-veined Arctic, O. bore, may have mated and their hybrid offspring subsequently evolved into the Tanana Arctic. Then, during the coldest part of the last ice age, the Tanana Arctic and White-veined Arctic apparently remained in Beringia while the Chryxus Arctic was pushed south into the Rocky Mountains. This would mean all three species were once present in Beringia before the last ice age, Warren said.

For more than 60 years the Tanana Arctic hid beneath scientists noses incognito as its very similar relative the Chryxus Arctic, until Warren noticed its distinct characteristics while curating collections at the McGuire Center.

In addition to expanded white specks on the underside of its penny-colored wings giving it a frosted appearance, the Tanana Arctic is larger and darker than the Chryxus Arctic. It also has a unique DNA sequence, which is nearly identical to those found in nearby populations of White-veined Arctics, further supporting the hypothesis the new species may be a hybrid, Warren said.

Once we sequence the genome, well be able to say whether any special traits helped the butterfly survive in harsh environments, he said. This study is just the first of what will undoubtedly be many on this cool butterfly.

Warren said more field research is needed to investigate whether the Tanana Arctic also exists further east into the Yukon. Other species of Arctics are found in places like Russia and Siberia. The group is known for living in environments too cold and extreme for most other butterflies, and they survive in part thanks to a natural antifreeze their bodies produce.

Because butterflies react extremely quickly to climate change, the new butterfly could serve as an early warning indicator of environmental changes in the relatively untouched areas of Alaska where the Tanana Arctic flutters.

This butterfly has apparently lived in the Tanana River valley for so long that if it ever moves out, well be able to say Wow, there are some changes happening, Warren said. This is a region where the permafrost is already melting and the climate is changing.

Warren plans to go back to the Yukon-Tanana basins next year in search of the Tanana Arctic. He hopes fieldwork in this rugged environment will result in fresh specimens to fully sequence the species genome, which will reveal the butterflys genetic history, including if it is truly a hybrid.

New butterflies are not discovered very often in the U.S. because our fauna is relatively well-known, Warren said. There are around 825 species recorded from the U.S. and Canada. But with the complex geography in the western U.S., there are still going to be some surprises.
Japan Post Holdings Co said today it has chosen Japan Post Bank Co President Masatsugu Nagato to replace Taizo Nishimuro as head of the holding company.Nishimuro, 80, was hospitalised last month for unspecified tests. He will remain a director at Japan Post Holdings, it said. Nagato's appointment is effective April 1.Nagato, 67, started his career at Industrial Bank of Japan, now part of Mizuho Financial Group, and has also served as chairman of Citibank Japan and deputy president of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. REUTERS JW PR0807 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-639001.Xml
"EAM @sushmaswaraj arrives in Pokhara (Nepal). Is received by Nepal Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said in a tweet.

Sushma Swaraj is also expected to meet Pakistan's foreign affairs advisor Sartaj Aziz, who is already in Nepal to attend the meeting, Pakistani media said.

Swaraj and Aziz are likely to discuss the delayed foreign secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan, which were postponed due to a terror attack on Pathankot air base.

--Indo-Asian News Service py/vt

( 119 Words)

2016-03-16-16:57:31 (IANS)
Responding to a query following reports that five Pakistani diplomats were barred from visiting Kolkata for the March 19 India-Pakistan match, external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said that Pakistan has not informed the government of the itinerary for the proposed travels, as required by bilateral practice.

This was despite repeated reminders over the past few days, he said.

Swarup, however, said that considering the occasion, 19 approvals were issued as a gesture.

This has been conveyed to Pakistan ministry of foreign affairs at senior levels, Swarup said.

We have urged that agreed requirements are met so that the rest of the requests can be processed, he added.

--Indo-Asian News Service ab/vt

( 160 Words)

2016-03-16-17:25:32 (IANS)
When the 31-year-old actor expressed his desire to work with the Mastani of Bollywood during the promotion of his upcoming film 'Kapoor and Sons,' he got the best response ever.

In the interview, the 'Student Of The Year' star said, "I have worked with almost every young actress in the industry from Alia Bhatt, Parineeti Chopra and Shraddha Kapoor. Currently I am working with Katrina Kaif in "Baar Baar Dekho" which is a romantic film. Now I desire to work with Deepika Padukone and I believe it will be amazing."

The 30-year-old actress was quick to catch the wind of it and retweeted Sidharth's comment, writing "Chalo then...what are we waiting for!?!?"

Replying to Deepika, Sidharth tweeted "Alright Lights camera action !"

Shakun Batra directorial 'Kapoor and Sons' that stars Sidharth, Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, Alia Bhatt and Rishi kapoor is slated to hit the theatres on 18th March.

Deepika is riding high with her back to back hits in the Bollywood film industry and is currently busy shooting with Vin Diesel for her Hollywood debut 'XXX.' (ANI)
District Collector can use his quasi-judicial power if he fears for law and order situation. Yet, I will inquire why the notices were issued,'' Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza told in the Legislative Assembly.

He was responding to a Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Laurenco who alleged that democratic rights of the people were being snatched.

The four-day event is scheduled to be held from March 28-31. However, it is facing protest by one local NGO 'Orixtt Prejeacho Avaz' (OPA) which has begun a sit-in-strike at the site of the expo. The protesters, including local panch member Charles D'Silva, were issued notices today.UNI AKM NV PY CS1842

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0171-638083.Xml
The Mumbai Police's Cyber Cell on Tuesday said they have received an application from a representative of United Breweries Group chairman Vijay Mallya in connection with an interview of the liquor baron published by The Sunday Guardian. Confirming the development, Cyber Cell Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rajkumar said, "We have received an application from Mallya's representative, which will be referred for further follow up." Mallya, in a purported statement, claimed that he had not given any email or any interview to anyone, including The Sunday Guardian. "I have not given any email or any interview to anyone, including The Sunday Guardian. The email account that has been attributed to me does not belong to me. Every comment, therefore, is fabricated," claimed Mallya. He further said, "I have filed a complaint with the Cyber Police Station in Mumbai. The editor of the paper has also publicly admitted on Twitter that he would investigate the matter as this tantamounts to fraud and needs to be seriously investigated." In all fairness, said Mallya, "All TV channels and newspapers, who have quoted from the interview should publish a retraction. According to The Sunday Guardian, Mallya in an email interview said "The time was not right for his return to India". The Sunday Guardian, however, stands by its interview of Mallya, which it claimed was given to the newspaper on March 12. "Mr Mallya personally responded to our email questionnaire from his encrypted email id: vjmallya@protonmail.com. This id was confirmed to us by his legal counsel's office on 8 March. To a questionnaire sent to Mr Mallya on 10 March, he replied via email on 12 March. For reasons that are not clear, Mr Mallya has sought to distance himself from the interview. We, however, stand by our report. The email trail is attached," the newspaper claimed. (ANI)
The AYUSH Ministry on Tuesday filed a formal complaint with the Delhi Police asking them to probe the alleged 'fake' RTI query, in which journalist Pushp Sharma alleged that the Centre's discrimination against Muslims in the Yoga teachers' selection process for International Yoga Day is fabricated, adding that he has proof that all the RTI replies in his possession are authentic. The Delhi Police have picked Sharma from his residence today evening for questioning and they are going through the complaint. Apparently, Pushp Sharma has been arrested in connection with his story published by 'The Milli Gazette' and other media outlets, portals and channels about an RTI reply received from the AYUSH Ministry saying that as per the government policy, it did not recruit any Muslim as Yoga trainer. Earlier, the AYUSH Ministry rejected a purported 'fabricated and mischievous' Right To Information (RTI) reply which had claimed that the Centre does not recruit Muslims in the ministry as a policy. The Ministry of AYUSH has noted with anguish certain mischievous misinformation being spread in certain section of media and social media quoting a reply to an RTI by mentioning a fabricated draft as Annexure I to that letter, which has never been issued by the Ministry of AYUSH or any of its agencies. "The Ministry strongly condemns this piece of misreporting, clearly aimed at causing chasm between different sections of society and promoting disharmony and mistrust with ulterior motives," the Ministry said in a statement. The Ministry in a statement said, certain mischievous misinformation is being spread in certain section of media and social media quoting a reply to an RTI by mentioning a fabricated draft as Annexure I to that letter, which has never been issued by the Ministry of AYUSH or any of its agencies. The Ministry said it is initiating proper action in this matter. (ANI)
Three students were killed on the spot when their motorcycleon which they were travelling collided with a tractor near Singanapalli of Avuku Mandal in this district of Andhra Pradesh today. Police said, the accident occurred when the students were on their way to attend an exam at Koilkuntla from Avuku. The deceased were identified based on their Hall tickets. The bodies were sent to Kurnool government hospital for post-mortem. A case has been registered and an investigation is under way, police added.UNI VV CS 0855 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0415-639027.Xml
Annual Kailash Manasarovar Yatra-2016 will commence from June 12 with an enhance quota of 350 pilgrims for the new route via Nathu La in Sikkim.The new route had opened last year after India and China entered into an agreement for the optional route. Last year, 250 pilgrims had completed the yatra from this new route. The External Affairs Ministry announced the commencement of online application for the Yatra for the darshan of Mount Kailash and the pristine Manasarovar in its backdrop, which regarded as one of the most sacred pilgrims abroad for the Hindus. The pilgrims have been asked to apply online on the website http://kmy.gov.in. The yatra is planned between June 12 and September 9, 2016 through Lipulekh and Nathu La.According to the announcement, 350 pilgrims in batches of 50 yatris each will be taken to the Mount Kailash through the new route which is completely motorable. The yatra from the traditional route via Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand, which involves extensive trekking of about 200 km, will be conducted in 18 batches of 60 pilgrims each. The pilgrims from the traditional route is estimated to cost about Rs.1.6 lakh a person, while the Nathu La route is estimated to cost about Rs 2 lakh a person. "Age limit for applicants is between 18 and 70 years as on January 1, 2016. Though applicants can opt for either of the routes, senior citizens will have priority on the Nathu La route. First time applicants, senior citizens and medical doctors will be given priority," the Ministry said in a statement. Applicants for this yatra will be selected and assigned routes and batches through a computer-generated, gender-balanced selection process. People can get information and track their applications through the helpline no 011-24300655.UNI MK SW 1312 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0090-639281.Xml
Congress leader Sarita Arya urged animal rights activist and Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi to take note of the issue.

"It is good that the horse is well now. They are saying that they did not do anything. Whereas the video shows that they are beating the animal. Maneka Gandhi should take cognizance of it. The leader, who beat the horse, should resign," she said.

Congress leader Lalit Farswan described the BJP MLAs, who attacked the horse as 'shameless' and demanded a probe into the matter.

"It is shameless that the animal was beaten up.Those responsible for the act must tender their resignations.We want an investigation into this matter," he said.

Another Congress leader Mayukh Mehar condemned the incident and demanded Joshi's resignation.

The police have registered a case against Joshi and his supporters under Cruelty to Animals Act in connection with the incident, while several animal rights activists have also lodged a police complaint against the MLA for his "inhuman" act.

The ghastly attack on the horse took place during a protest on Monday against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Monday for 'misuse' of funds.

The BJP MLA allegedly attacked the horse deployed to disperse the protesters during a protest against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat.

The protest took a violent turn when in a bid to dismount the rider the protesters charged at the horse with sticks and broke the animal's leg.

Joshi was allegedly seen in the video attacking the horse and other agitators supporting him in the effort.

The horse underwent a surgical procedure to fix one of its hind legs. (ANI)
:Telangana Government was taking all steps for separation of High Court. Replying to a question, Law Minister A Indrakaran Reddy said on March 18, 2015, both houses of Legislature unanimously adopted a resolution by requesting the Government of India to bifurcate the Common High Court at Hyderabad forthwith and sent to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice. The Union Ministry addressed a letter requesting the Chief Justice of High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad to look int the matter so that the two separate High Courts for the two states are established at Hyderabad expeditiously. Mr Reddy said a memorandum has also been submitted to the Union Law Minister in this regard by the Members of Parliament and the Advocate Joint Action Committee (JAC) from the state. Subsequently, a Division Bench of High Court ordered that the Constitution of High Court in any part of Telangana for Andhra Pradesh, including Hyderabad, would be an action not permitted by Law, held that Telangana has no role to play for creation of the High Court for Andhra Pradesh and directed the State to identify and locate the site. It may be noted that in the concerned place the permanent High Court of Andhra Pradesh would be constituted in the territory of the state and appraised the Justice who is requested to take a decision in consultation with the Chief Minister regarding choice of location of the permanent High Court, the Minister said and added a review petition filed by the state government and the matter was pending before the High Court. The state Government was pursuing the matter with the Centre and recently Chief Minister K Chadrasekhar Rao reminded the government of India in February also, the Minister added.UNI VV KVV RSS 1530 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0414-639440.Xml
Continuing its attack on the ruling government on the issue of liquor Baron Vijay Mallya fleeing the country, the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) today staged a protest here against BJP-led NDA government, alleging that the ruling party facilitated Mallya's escape from the country.. Hundreds of IYC workers, led by Delhi State President Amit Malik, gathered here at Raisina road and then marched towards Parliament. However, they were stopped by the Police personnel near Press Club of India. Amrish Ranjan Pandey, the IYC spokesperson, who was also present in the march, alleged that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had reportedly met Mr Mallya just a day before liquor baron fled from the country. ''The Finance Minister must tell the nation about the things he had discussed with Mallya,'' Pandey said. The IYC workers waved placards, which said '' Khoob jamega rang, jab mil baithenge teen yaar- Lalit, Mallya and Modi Ji'' ( It will be great fun when three friends -- former IPL boss Lalit Modi, Mr Mallya and Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- sit together) and ''BJP bhrasht sarkar haye haye '' (down with the corrupt BJP government) After having burned effigy of Mr Mallya, the IYC workers demanded that the Centre bring the fallen liquor baron back to the home land, prosecute him and recover every single penny, which he owes to this nation. "Mallya owes money to banks, which are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India and it comes directly under the Finance Ministry. All things are getting inter-connected with he Finance Minister, hence Mr Jaitley owes an explanation,'' Mr Pandey said here. Later, when protestors broke a barricade and tried to go beyond the PCI, police detained several students who are currently held at Parliament Street Police Station. The IYC had also alleged that their several workers were beaten up by police personnel. UNI RG-AR PS RSA 1643 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0421-639711.Xml
Suspense prevails over the holding of the first ever All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) rally in Uttar Pradesh's capital tomorrow even as in several parts of the state effigies of Asaduddin Owaisi were being burnt for his statement not to say ' Bharat Mata ki Jai'. The district authorities were still mulling different options and had not given permission to the party to hold the rally to be addressed by party chief Asaduddin Owaisi at Refah-e-Aam Club ground here. A senior district official here said that the decision would be made by this evening. " We have to take the input from the intelligence agencies besides the recent statement of the leader has also created controversy and can lead to law and order problem," he said. BJP and other saffron party supporters burnt the effigy of Owaisi in Kanpur while in Meerut a student union leader of a college had announced a reward of Rs.21,000 to anyone who cuts the tongue of AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi. Dushyant Tomar, a former president of the students union in a Meerut college,yesterday burnt an effigy of Owaisi in Meerut city, and offered the reward. Protest against Owaisi's statement was also reported from Deoria, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Bareilly and several other places. However, AIMIM state unit president Shaukat Ali told UNI here today that , "Permission or not, Owaisi will come to UP and will meet the local people and try to know their problems. If the Lucknow administration gives us permission to hold a public meeting, then Owaisi could return the same day." 'In case the district authorities denies us the permission to hold the meeting, then Qwaisi will stay for two days and visit other districts to register our protest," said Ali. He said ," when we approached the district officials this morning they asked us to go ahead in the preparation for the rally but they are not giving anything on writing at present." "We have submitted our application a week ago, but are yet to receive a confirmation. We are not bothered about the outcome as Owaisi will come here in any case," Ali added. The AIMIM has been upbeat with their performance in the Bikapur Assembly by-poll last month, where the outfit's candidate came fourth after SP, RLD and BJP candidates. Owaisi also addressed two election meetings in Bikarpur under Faizabad district during the electioneering. The AIMIM leader argued that there is little time left for the 2017 Assembly polls and hence the outfit can not waste waiting for permission. He said that the state unit has drawn up a plan for Owaisi's visit. Besides addressing the meeting in Lucknow, Owaisi will visit Islamic seminary Nadwatul Uloom and Dargah of Haji Waris Ali Shah in Dewa (Barabanki). The next day, Owisi will visit districts of eastern UP. In the last 18 months, district authorities have prevented the AIMIM from holding meetings on at least 12 occasions in Allahabad, Agra, Azamgarh and other sensitive places. But ahead of the Bikapur Assembly bypolls, Owaisi addressed two election meetings in February last thus ending its undeclared ban by the ruling Samajwadi Party. The party had also approached the Allahabad High Court describing the decision of these district authorities on denying permission for meetings as 'politically motivated'. UNI MB ADG VP1602 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-639399.Xml
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the Narendra Modi government of ignoring the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh by denying special status to the state. Unfortunately, the government of the day is not interested in supporting the aspirations of people of Andhra Pradesh. I have visited AP many a times to fight for special status, I have mentioned Polararam as well but the government of the day isn't interested, Gandhi said, addressing a delegation of Congress workers at party headquarters here. He said the Congress party will ask the central government to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh. Congress workers have got one crore signatures for a petition from the people residing in Andhra Pradesh, demanding 'special status' for the state. We can exert pressure on government of India, that we can get special status and other demands that are rightfully yours, Gandhi said while making a reference towards prime minister that he only understands pressure. The Congress party has managed to put pressure him (prime minister) on Land Bill that you have noticed and the budget after which it became the pro farmer budget. For two years, there was no interest of farmers, that they are dying didn't matter, that they are committing suicide it also doesn't matter, but Congress party exerted pressure and the budget became pro-farmer, Gandhi added. He also asked the Congress cadre to work hard to bring the party back in power in Andhra Pradesh. Today, you might not have large votes in AP but it'll take little bit of hard work, we are going to help you and you'll see that you'll surprise yourself and come back to power much quicker than you think and lead AP once again, Gandhi said. --Indo-Asian News Service vin/sd/dg ( 307 Words) 2016-03-16-17:25:31 (IANS)
Family members of sitting Congress MLAs seems to have got a preference over other ticket contenders in the list of party candidates for the first phase Assam Assembly election in 65 constituencies, names for which were declared in New Delhi yesterday. State Congress president Anjan Dutta, who is the sitting MLA from Amguri, made way for daughter Ankita to contest from the seat and has preferred to sit out of the election race. Similarly, Rameswar Dhanwar made way for son Gautam in Digboi, GC Langthasa for son Gobinda (Haflong), A Tirkey for daughter Rosalina in Sarupathar and Member Gogoi for daughter-in-law Pallavi (Teok). Rajdeep Goala, who was elected to the Assembly mid-term from Lakhipur after the death of his father Dinesh Prasad Goala, was also once again given the party ticket. Wife of former Union minister Santosh Mohan Dev, Bitihika Dev, secured the party ticket from Silchar, as did Rahul Roy, son of state minister Gautam Roy, from Algapur constituency. Former Union minister Paban Singh Ghatowar will be contesting from Moran, a seat currently held by his wife Jiwantora Ghatowar. Among the 'power couples' of the Congress in the state, sitting MLA Monica Bora has been re-nominated from Gohpur while her husband Ripun Bora, a former state minister, is the first preference candidate of the party for next week's Rajya Sabha election in the state. Bharat Narah, a former minister, has also been given party ticket from Dhakuakhana constituency, while his wife Ranee Narah, a former Union minister, is the party's second candidate for next week's Rajya Sabha polls. The Congress candidates' list for second phase election in 61 constituencies in the state, expected to be announced within a few days, is also likely to carry names of kin of influential party leaders. Election for 126-member Assam Assembly is scheduled in two phases on April 4 and 11 when the Congress will be seeking a fourth straight term in the state.UNI SG AKM RSA AN1756 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0213-639887.Xml
Demanding rollback of one per cent excise duty levied on gold jewellery, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today supported jewel traders and said it will lead to corruption and the government won't be able to get anything out of this. A delegation of jewel traders from all over India, today called on the Mr Kejriwal and sought the support of the Chief Minister towards their agitation demanding rollback of 1 per cent excise levied on jewellery. The delegation had members of other trade sectors who are supporting them in their agitation. Trade leaders Subhash Khandelwal and Brijesh Goyal also were a part of the delegation. Lending his support to them, the Chief Minister said, "I strongly object to the excise levied on the jewel sector by the Central government. I demand a roll back of the same".Mr Kejriwal had already criticised the 1 per cent excise duty levied by the Central Government in his reaction on social media platforms.He said, "The PM had opposed the same excise tax when the UPA government levied it, and now he is supporting it. I demand that the Prime Minister make it clear that what made him change his stand?"No consultation was done with the traders before introducing the new duty; no policy should be formed without consultation with the stakeholders or public, the CM said.The Centre talks about Make in India on the one hand and it was killing those who are making in India on the other hand. ''Our party raised the issue in Parliament and I will write a letter to the Prime Minister on the issue and ask him to roll back the excise of 1 per cent on jewellery sector," the CM said.UNI SM RSA SB 1811 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0271-639885.Xml
BJP Kannur district unit President P Sathya Prakash today alleged that CPI(M) leadership was attempting to instigating its cadres to upset the peaceful atmosphere in the district. This was evident from the arrest of four CPI(M) activists and recovery of weapons, including a locally made gun at Maloor, he alleged. Mr Sathya said the revolver, two axes, a sword and a knife were recovered from Maloor, a stronghold of CPI(M) today and the people of Kannur were in a state of panic due to this. He alleged that police arrested one person for making weapons. He was the same person who had supplied weapons to kill RMP leader T P Chandrasekharan following a direction from CPI(M) district leadership. Mr Prakash also said the people should identify the CPI(M)'s double standard of instigating his cadres to iolence and working as a messenger of peace in Kannur district. The BJP leader demanded that police should take stringent action against the CPI(M) activists, who were behind to organize riots in an attempt to sabotage the forthcoming assembly election. He also demanded police should conduct sporadic raids across the district to recover the bombs and weapons. Meanwhile, Maloor police today arrested four persons, in connection with the case of damaging a car of Congress Maloor Mandalam Secretary Hashim of Thrikadaripoyilil near Iritty on March 13 night. Iritty DySP K Sudharshan led team arrested Shaji (33) and Prashob(20) of Tholambra based on CCTV footage and recovered an axe from the spot. Following the interrogation, police conducted a raid and recovered weapons and the revolver Police arrested two more persons, Sundharan (40) of Tholambra, who kept the weapons and the maker Thankachan (60) of Kanichar near Kelakam. Earlier Special Investigation team probed the murder of T P Chandrasekharan arrested Thankachan in connection with a case of rmaking weapons for the killer gang.UNI AK VV ADB1818 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0324-639913.Xml
A police spokesperson here said following a tip-off about movement of a drug peddler, police laid a trap near Sarmarg forests in Kupwara.

He said the peddler, identified as Ghulam Mustafa Mir, was stopped and during checking, 30 grams of Morphine, psychotropic substance, was recovered from his possession.

Mir was immediately taken into custody, he said, adding that police have registered a case and initiated investigation to nab other people involved in drug trafficking.UNI XC QAB SB AN1857

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Two sitting MLAs who were denied party ticket in the list announced at New Delhi yesterday are planning to contest as Independent candidates, reports said here today.

Sarat Saikia, who has been representing Mahmora since 2001, and Duliajan MLA Amiya Gogoi were denied party ticket, leading to the two leaders to moot contesting as Independents.

In Lakhimpur constituency, where former NSUI state president Dr Jayprakash Das was named as the party candidate, dissidence has come to the fore over denial of ticket to another local leader Ghana Borgohain.

A Lakhimpur town bandh was called by disgruntled party workers today, demanding candidature for Borgohain.

Meanwhile, former Congress minister and BJP leader Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma today termed the Congress candidate list as the 'weakest ever'.

"This is the weakest ever candidate list of the Congress. After seeing the names, I feel that Congress will not win more than 14-15 seats," he was quoted as stating before local television channels.

Election for 126 member Assam Assembly is scheduled in two phases on April 4 and 11 next when the Congress will be seeking a fourth straight term in the state. UNI SG AKM SB VP1830

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A woman was injured and a police vehicle badly damaged as protestors and Manipur police personnel clashed at Thoubal district today. The protestors were imposing blockade of the Imphal to Moreh national highway to protest the arrest of a man regarding the death of a woman on February 26. Police arrested N Khomdomcha of Samaram on March 11 last to inquire into the death of Yumnam (N) Nongmaithem (O) Memicha of Naharup Pangong(45) at Samaram Panthak Loukol, under Thoubal police station. As a mark of protest attempts were made to impose highway blockade today demanding release of the man.A strong police force tried to clear the highway resulting in clashes. Police resorted to heavy firing of tear gas shells, rubber bullets which did not deter the protestors. A woman sustained injuries and was rushed to hospital. The protestors also managed to overpower a police vehicle and attacked it with sticks and stone which was badly damaged. The death of the woman had resulted in a major stir which cooled down after the JAC accepted the death body only on March 14 last.UNI NS AKM SB BD1835 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0213-640040.Xml
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday announced the commencement of online application for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2016 between June 12 to September 9 through Lipulekh and Nathu La. The estimated travel to cost via Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand), which involves extensive trekking of about 200 kilometers, is about Rs.1.6 lakh per person. It will be conducted in 18 batches of 60 pilgrims each. The estimated cost via route Nathu La Pass (Sikkim), which is motorable, is about Rs. 2 lakh per person. It will be conducted in seven batches of 50 pilgrims each. The age limit for applicants is between 18 and 70 years as on January 1, 2016, who can opt for either of the routes. However, senior citizens will have priority on the Nathu La route. First time applicants, senior citizens and medical doctors will be given priority. The application process is fully online (http://kmy.gov.in) and comes with necessary instructions and guidelines in Hindi and English languages for the completion of the application. Applicants for the yatra will be selected and assigned routes and batches through a fair, computer-generated, gender-balanced selection process. Applicants can get information, and track the status of their application through the IVRS helpline No: 011-24300655. The yatra is undertaken by hundreds of people every year. Holding significance for Hindus as the abode of Lord Shiva, it holds religious importance also for the Jains and the Buddhists. The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra has been recognized by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation as a trekking expedition. The MEA does not provide any subsidy or financial assistance to Yatris. Yatris need to spend 3 or 4 days in Delhi for preparations and medical tests before starting the yatra. The Delhi Government arranges boarding and lodging facilities for stay in Delhi. Yatris are also at liberty to make their own arrangements for boarding and lodging in Delhi. The Yatra involves trekking at high altitudes of up to 19,500 feet, under inhospitable conditions, including extreme cold and rugged terrain, and may prove hazardous for those who are not physically and medically fit. The Government of India shall not be responsible in any manner for any loss of life or injury to a Yatri, or any loss or damage to property of a Yatri due to any natural calamity or due to any other reason. Pilgrims undertake the Yatra purely at their own volition, cost, risk and consequences. In case of death across the border, the Government shall not have any obligation to bring the mortal remains of any pilgrim for cremation to the Indian side. All Yatris are, therefore, required to sign a Consent Form for cremation of mortal remains on the Chinese side in case of death. (ANI)
Dr. Ahemed Albanna, Ambassador of United Arab Emirates in India today called on Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali at his residence today. In his deliberations the Ambassador of UAE, expressed that City of Hyderabad and Telangana state are on high priority for his government both for bilateral trade and opening of Consulate cum Visa processing centre, he sought support of the Deputy Chief Minister to facilitate in identification of suitable land for construction of the same in Hyderabad as early as possible so that necessary developments can be initiated. Later, talking to the media he said the government of UAE considers Telangana state, especially Hyderabad city as focal economic point in India for bilateral trade. While assuring full support the Deputy Chief Minister reiterated the commitment of Telangana Government in facilitating starting of the Consulate in Hyderabad which has been a long drawn demand of people of the state, as large number of work force in UAE belong to Telangana. He briefed about the recently presented budget of the state and development works that are to be initiated in the coming years and the investment opportunities for UAE in Telangana. A full course Hyderabadi lunch was arranged in honour of the Ambassador of United Arab Emirates by Deputy Chief Minister on this occasion.UNI VV VV AK2027 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0414-640460.Xml
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee today said Congress and CPI(M) have given up their ideology to form an alliance.Addressing two rallies at Nagrakata and Kalchini in the districts of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar, Ms Banerjee said the alliance between CPI(M)-Congress is sans ideology. It is a nexus for opportunism. 'CPI(M) incurred huge debts and we are still paying for their deeds."She said the opposition only spreads lies and engages in smear campaign. They only peddle negativity and divisive politics."Trinamool supremo said, " CPI(M)-Congress-BJP and a section of the media have hatched conspiracies against us. I would like to tell all those who want to fight us, Jo hum se takrayega, chur chur ho jayega." The chief minister said Congress-CPI(M)-BJP have formed a rainbow alliance, but they will not get 'Dilli ka laddoo'. They will get a big Zero, she said.Those who have bled Bengal for 34 years, carried out political violence for decades are giving us lectures now. If they want to fight us, do so politically."We work for people of all castes, tribes, communities and religions. We want the common people of Bengal to be happy. We want the youth to prosper. People's alliance is the true alliance.All other alliances are just opportunistic nexus," Ms Banerjee said."Nobody has come to north Bengal so many times for the sake of the people. There was a long-standing demand for a separate district, hence we formed Alipurduar district. We have done improvements in every sector in north Bengal. The district has 100 per cent coverage of electricity," the chief minister said.She said, "Some political leaders say one thing in the Plains and the opposite in the Hills. Till my last breath I will protect the unity of the State. Terai-Dooars-Hills will remain united. CPI(M) used to oppose the division of Bengal in the past. Now they are supporting the GJM in the Hill.For the development to continue seamlessly, we have formed several development boards for different communities in the Hills. Jalpaiguri is a beautiful district bordered by the Hills on one side and lush-green forest on the other.""I have visited north Bengal several times and will keep coming here. Those who were in power in the past neglected this district. I've visited Jalpaiguri innumerable times. No one else cared about them before, they tried hard to incite violence but we did not allow any untoward incident in the State. During CPI(M) rule, people of Hills and Terai were pitted against each other. Now there is only peace. We are promoting tourism in Jalpaiguri district and eco-tourism at Gajoldoba," Ms Banerjee said."Trinamool will win more seats than the past. Smear campaigns against us will never work.We cannot sell our flags for political benefits. The motto of Trinamool is to maintain communal harmony. We do not discriminate among people," Trinamool supremo added.UNI BM SB SB2308 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0134-640642.Xml
Gunmen stormed into hotels in Grand-Bassam, a weekend retreat popular with Ivorians and westerners about 40 km east of the commercial capital Abidjan on Sunday.

Fifteen civilians and three members of the Special Forces were killed and while several were injured in the attack.

Three militants also died in the attack.

The details and the officials account from the Sunday's raid shows a worrying indication of the growth of militants reach and specifically from al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb's (AQIM).

The attack on Grand-Bassam shows the latest target as Islamic State, al-Qaida and their local affiliate's battle to extend their sphere of influence.

The Sunday attack is the group's their third attack in West Africa in four months.

Interior minister Hamed Bakayoko yesterday had said that another 26 wounded were receiving medical attention, while President Alassane Ouattara declared three days of mourning for the country, which has never been hit by al-Qaida before, reports the Guardian. (ANI)
The relationship between China and Japan has improved but still remains fragile, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told a news conference today at the end of the annual meeting of parliament.Ties between Asia's two largest economies have been strained by China's view that Japan has failed to properly atone for its wartime past, as well as by a festering territorial dispute in the East China Sea."There have been some signs of improvement in Sino-Japanese ties, but it's not fully established yet," Li said. "It is still fragile.""We believe that it is important to adhere to the consensus reached by the two sides on the issue of principle involving history, and it is important to match one's words with concrete actions," he added.While ties have been thawing, with meetings between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Beijing remains deeply suspicious of Japan, especially of Abe's moves to allow the military to fight overseas for the first time since the war.China's foreign minister said earlier this month that there is little reason for optimism that the relationship with "two-faced" Tokyo will improve, though he acknowledged signs of improvement.Japan has also been keeping an eye on China's activities in the South China Sea, where China has territorial disputes with several southeast Asian countries. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said in February that Japan was gathering and analysing information on China's moves there with "serious interest". REUTERS SV PR1058 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0103-639143.Xml
After a critical win on his home turf, Ohio Governor John Kasich begins a new phase of his long-shot presidential campaign that his aides hope will ultimately propel him past Republican front-runner Donald Trump by triggering a rare contested convention.Kasich's victory in Ohio's primary on Tuesday, along with the departure from the race of US Senator Marco Rubio, makes him the party establishment's last hope of stopping the New York billionaire businessman from winning the Republican nomination for the Nov. 8 election.Trump and his closest rival, US Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, are deeply unpopular among Republican insiders."I want you to know, the campaign goes on," Kasich, 63, told a victory rally near Cleveland. In a reference to Trump's fiery campaign rhetoric, Kasich added: "I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land."Trump, 69, notched wins in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina on Tuesday and was projected by MSNBC to win a close race with Cruz in Missouri. But losing Ohio's winner-take-all contest for 66 delegates complicates his attempt to clinch the 1,237 delegates needed to win his party's nomination before the party's July convention in Cleveland.With most of the remaining states allocating delegates proportionally, Kasich's aides believe he could prevail at a convention at which no candidate enters with a majority."The plan is to win Ohio, and some other states, and if that happens, nobody is going to have enough delegates to win the nomination on the first ballot," said John Weaver, Kasich's chief campaign strategist, who also worked on Republican Senator John McCain's losing presidential campaigns in 2000 and 2008.Kasich's plan, according to aides, is to leverage the momentum to gather more endorsements from mainstream party insiders and Republican donors.With the wind at his back, he hopes to score more victories in upcoming primaries including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Wisconsin, Connecticut and California, where he believes the terrain is friendlier to his brand of Republican moderation.To become the nominee who faces Democratic contenders Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders - in the November election - a Republican needs to win a majority of the 2,472 Republican delegates. After last night's contests, excluding Missouri's, Trump leads with 619 delegates, followed by Cruz with 394. Kasich has 136.ESTABLISHMENT BACKINGIf no candidate reaches that threshold by the close of the last primary on June 7, the convention will almost certainly be contested - a recent historical rarity that would signal deep party rifts. No convention, by either party, has gone beyond a first ballot since 1952.Kasich has almost no hope of winning enough delegates to secure the nomination outright. Ohio is the lone state he has won. But if he can succeed in blocking Trump from getting a majority, he can make a case to convention delegates that he is more electable than Trump or Cruz, 45, a conservative evangelical and, to date, Trump's most successful Republican rival.Signs of the Republican establishment rallying behind Kasich were on show this week. Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential nominee in 2012 who recently blasted Trump as a "fraud" in a scathing speech, campaigned with Kasich in Ohio on Monday."He has the kind of record that you want in Washington," Romney said in North Canton, Ohio, on a stage next to Kasich, who spent 18 years as a Republican congressman and six as Ohio governor. "You look at this guy, and unlike the other people running, he has a real track record."On Wednesday, Kasich heads to a campaign event in Pennsylvania and then holds three events in Utah on Friday - where Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, is popular with Republicans. Utah, with 40 delegates, votes on March 27. Pennsylvania is one of five states voting on April 26.Ford O'Connell, a Republican strategist who has stayed neutral in this year's nominating fight, said Kasich's victory should earn him more help from party insiders."There are really just two options left: Either Trump gets enough delegates, or nobody does," O'Connell said. "Kasich's win in Ohio means Trump must now win roughly 60 percent of the remaining delegates before the convention. I would say we now have a 50-50 chance of a brokered convention."O'Connell said that under Republican party rules, a candidate must receive a clear majority of primary votes overall to become the nominee.The history of Republican nominating fights is littered with candidates who received a plurality of the votes, but not a majority, and never became the nominee.HISTORY AS A GUIDEKasich's aides are looking to history as a guide, particularly Wendell Willkie's path to the 1940 Republican nomination. That year, three leading candidates - Robert Taft, Thomas Dewey and Arthur Vandenberg - each arrived at the convention without enough delegates to win.Willkie - a businessman and former Democrat who had never before run for public office - opposed the Republican Party's isolationists and was a supporter of Britain's war efforts. His cause gained momentum after the Nazi blitzkrieg in Europe in May 1940.After six ballots at the convention, delegates in Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan deserted other candidates and switched to Willkie, giving him victory.Trump, Cruz and Kasich could face the same scenario this year, which would force to them to lobby delegates on the convention floor until one emerged with a majority."A lot of people who do not want Trump have been sitting back to see how Kasich and Rubio do in their home states on Tuesday," said Republican strategist Charlie Black, who signed up on Tuesday night as a Kasich adviser.REUTERS SV PR1114 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0103-639153.Xml
Myanmar's powerful army chief congratulated incoming president Htin Kyaw and pledged cooperation today, after the ally of Aung San Suu Kyi was elected as the country's first head of state with no military background in decades.Suu Kyi led her National League for Democracy (NLD) to a landslide election win in November, but a constitution drafted by the former junta bars her from the top office.She has vowed to run the country anyway through a proxy president, and yesterday the NLD-dominated parliament elected Htin Kyaw for the role. He runs a charity founded by Suu Kyi and is a trusted member of her inner circle.Relations between the armed forces and Suu Kyi will define the success of Myanmar's most significant break from military rule since the army seized power in 1962.The armed forces hold a quarter of parliamentary seats and the constitutional right to nominate one of the three presidential candidates. The army candidate, retired general Myint Swe, was elected first vice president on Tuesday."It is hereby announced that the Tatmadaw takes pride in U Htin Kyaw's being elected as the President at the Second Union Parliament, and it will continue cooperating in every sectors for the emergence of peace, unity and development," the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Min Aung Hlaing, said in a Myanmar language post on Facebook.Tatmadaw is the Myanmar language name for the military.Min Aung Hlaing, who at the time of the historic vote was at a summit of Southeast Asian defence chiefs in Laos, issued the message several hours after the vote and long after outgoing President Thein Sein and representatives of other countries, including China and the United States, had extended their congratulations.In the run up to the vote, the military questioned the qualifications of both Htin Kyaw and an NLD candidate for vice president, Henry Van Thio, underscoring tensions that have risen as the two sides started working on the details of the transfer of power.Sources in Suu Kyi's camp say she has grown increasingly frustrated with military intransigence on issues ranging from amending the constitution to relatively minor formalities such as the location of the handover of power.NLD lawmakers also say the military's choice of Myint Swe, who served the junta as head of the feared military intelligence and is on the U.S. sanctions list, goes against the spirit of reconciliation Suu Kyi is seeking to foster. REUTERS SV VP1350 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0103-639362.Xml
Prime Minister Charles Michel summoned security and intelligence chiefs for an emergency sitting of Belgium's national security council today after an armed suspect was shot dead following a raid linked to the Paris attacks.One Belgian private broadcaster, VTM, said two further suspects had been detained but there was no confirmation.Brussels police killed the unidentified person who had an assault rifle after four officers were wounded on Tuesday during what investigators had expected to be a routine search on an apartment in the south of the Belgian capital.Michel told RTL radio today morning that police planned further operations in the coming hours and days."The threat remains," Michel said, adding that Belgium would review its level of alertness and consider possible extra measures during the day.Brussels, headquarters of the European Union as well as Western military alliance NATO, was entirely locked down for days shortly after the November 13 Paris attacks for fear of a major incident there. Several of those involved in the Islamic State shootings and suicide bombings were based in the city.Brussels has maintained a high state of security alert since then, with military patrols a regular sight.Police searched nearby buildings through the night in the Brussels borough of Forest but did not confirm Belgian media reports that they were hunting two further suspects.One or more people opened fire on police as they opened a door of an apartment. One of the wounded, none of whom was in a serious condition, was a French policewoman. Ministers said the presence of French officers was a coincidence and there had been no expectation that the house search would yield much evidence.Local mayor Marc-Jean Ghyssels told public broadcaster RTBF that police searches in Forest were over: "The area is totally cleared, totally secured and operations have ended," he said."VERY SCARED"People living in the area, who suffered hours of lockdown after the initial operation turned into a firefight, said they were shocked at the turn of events in their quiet neighbourhood.Schoolboy Maxime, 11, was at home sick when he heard gunfire and helicopters and saw masked commandos on a rooftop. "They had a huge weapon," he said, adding he had been "very, very scared".Federal prosecutors, who have been coordinating the investigation in Belgium into the Paris attacks, were due to hold a news conference at 10:30 a.m. (1500 IST)Investigators believe much of the planning and preparation for the Paris assault was conducted in Brussels by young French and Belgian nationals, some of whom fought in Syria.Belgian security forces have been actively hunting suspects and associates of the militants involved in the Paris attacks.One of the prime suspects, 26-year-old Brussels-based Frenchman Salah Abdeslam, is still on the run. He left Paris hours after his brother blew himself up outside a cafe. Belgian authorities are holding 10 people who have been arrested in the months since the attacks, mostly for helping Abdeslam.Belgium, with a Muslim population of about 5 percent among its 11 million people, has the highest rate in Europe of citizens joining Islamist militants in Syria. REUTERS PS AN1533 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-639576.Xml
In a statement, Col. Sani Usman said one of the attacks took place inside the local mosque, while the second blast occurred a few minutes later, about 50 metres away, Xinhua reported.

Two female suicide bombers perpetrated the attacks, he added.

Earlier, local authorities who confirmed the incident said 21 people sustained various degrees of injury in the attack.

All the injured were evacuated to a state-run hospital near the commercial city of Maiduguri, the army spokesman said.

One of the suicide bombers sneaked into the mosque during early morning prayer, according to Alhaji Dambatta, leader of the civilian joint task force, who coordinated rescue operation after the incident.

Terror group Boko Haram was suspected to be responsible for the attacks. The group, which has spread its tentacles to Cameroon, Chad and Niger, has kidnapped thousands of people and killed more since 2009.

Early this year, the Nigerian government said it has "technically defeated" Boko Haram, but the unrelenting group has continued to carry out more attacks.

--Indo-Asian News Service ahm/vt

( 213 Words)

2016-03-16-17:47:31 (IANS)
Gunmen have killed three local administrators in various parts of Burundi since Friday, officials said, in the latest episode of violence since President Pierre Nkurunziza ran for a third term in office that his opponents say was unconstitutional.More than 400 people have been killed since April when Nkurunziza said he would run for a third term, triggering street protests and a coup attempt. Opposition parties say his election bid, which he went on to win, violated two-term constitutional limits.Gad Niyukuri, governor of Makamba province, said in the latest incident unidentified gunmen killed the head of a village in Kibago district in the province on Tuesday night."The victim was attacked at his home around 10 p.m. by unidentified gunmen," he told Reuters by phone.In another incident yesterday, gunmen killed another village head in Mugamba district in Bururi province, 70 km from Bujumbura, a resident in the province said."Gunmen came around 7.00 PM last night fired several rounds of bullets at the victim's home killing on spot the head of village only," a resident who only identified himself as Antoine said."Another local elected official was also killed last Friday by unidentified gunmen."No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks but the government says there are now three rebel outfits perpetrating violence, including two made up of renegade soldiers.The opposition also accuses government troops of arbitrary arrests, disappearances and extra-judicial killings.Statistics from UN refugee agency UNHCR show that as of early March, 250,473 people had fled Burundi and were registered as refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.In February, Nkurunziza said Burundi would hold political talks to try to end the months of violence. The government has in the past said it will not hold talks with anyone who was involved in the failed coup attempt in May. REUTERS PS VP1808 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-639901.Xml
France's foreign ministry said today it was worried by Israel's decision to appropriate large tracts of land in the occupied West Bank, calling it a violation of international law and contradicting a two-state solution."France is extremely concerned by the decision of Israeli authorities to appropriate for Israeli settlements ... territory in the West Bank," Foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said in a daily briefing."Settlements constitute a violation of international law and contradict commitments made by Israeli authorities in favour of a two-state solution."Paris has been lobbying for an international peace conference before May that would outline incentives and give guarantees for Israelis and Palestinians to resume face-to-face talks before August and try to end the decades-long conflict.REUTERS PS VP1809 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-639904.Xml
The U.S. News Short List, separate from our overall rankings, is a regular series that magnifies individual data points in hopes of providing students and parents a way to find which undergraduate or graduate programs excel or have room to grow in specific areas. Be sure to explore The Short List: College, The Short List: Grad School and The Short List: Online Programs to find data that matter to you in your college or graduate school search.

Preparing for the GMAT can be a tiring process, but scoring high is critical to gaining admittance to a top-ranked MBA program.

At the 11 schools with the highest GMAT scores, incoming full-time students in fall 2015 had an average score of 715 or higher on the admissions exam, which has a maximum score of 800.

[See photos of the top 20 MBA programs.]

Stanford University had the highest average GMAT score -- 733 -- among the 129 business schools that submitted this data. While the average GMAT score at Stanford rose by one point from its 2014 class, the school dropped a spot in the U.S. News Best Business Schools rankings, tying for No. 2.

Harvard University, which took over the No. 1 spot in the rankings this year, had an average GMAT score of 725 -- one point lower than its fall 2014 average. Harvard Business School also had more full-time students enroll in fall 2015 than any other school that submitted this data, boasting a class of 937.

[Learn how to decide if and when to retake the GMAT.]

Among all the MBA programs that provided data on GMAT scores, the average was 630, much lower than the 722 average among the top 11.

Below are the 11 business schools with the highest average GMAT scores for incoming full-time students in fall 2015. Unranked schools, which did not meet certain criteria required by U.S. News to be numerically ranked, were not considered for this report.

Don't see your school in the top 11? Access the U.S. News Business School Compass to find GMAT data, complete rankings and much more. School officials can access historical data and rankings, including of peer institutions, via U.S. News Academic Insights.

U.S. News surveyed 470 colleges and universities for our 2015 survey of graduate business programs. Schools self-reported myriad data regarding their academic programs and the makeup of their student body, among other areas, making U.S. News' data the most accurate and detailed collection of college facts and figures of its kind. While U.S. News uses much of this survey data to rank schools for our annual Best Business Schools rankings, the data can also be useful when examined on a smaller scale. U.S. News will now produce lists of data, separate from the overall rankings, meant to provide students and parents a means to find which schools excel, or have room to grow, in specific areas that are important to them. While the data come from the schools themselves, these lists are not related to, and have no influence over, U.S. News' rankings of Best Colleges , Best Graduate Schools or Best Online Programs . The GMAT data above are correct as of March 16, 2016.

Jordan Friedman is an online education editor at U.S. News. You can follow him on Twitter or email him at jfriedman@usnews.com.


President Obama on Wednesday nominated federal Judge Merrick Garland to fill the Supreme Court seat left open by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia early last month.

Ive selected a nominee who is widely recognized not only as one of Americas sharpest legal minds, but someone who brings to his work a spirit of decency, modesty, integrity, even-handedness and excellence, Obama said. These qualities, and his long commitment to public service, have earned him the respect and admiration of leaders from both sides of the aisle.

Related: Obama Makes the Senate a SCOTUS Offer It Cant Refuse (but Will Anyway)

Even so, the announcement sets up a fight with Senate Republicans, who have steadfastly said that, with the president in his final year in office, they will not give any Obama nominee a hearing or a vote. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reiterated after Obamas announcement that the nomination process shouldnt progress until the American people have had a chance to vote and the next president is sworn in.

While the political battle plays out, critical cases are sitting waiting to be heard by the Supreme Court, including ones on the Obama administrations executive actions on immigration, affirmative action, abortion restrictions, and more. If the rulings come to a 4-4 tie, the lower courts ruling would stand.

Below are 16 facts about Garland, who is sure to garner plenty of media attention in the coming months whether he gets a Senate hearing or not.

1. Merrick Brian Garland is a married father of two. He graduated summa cum laude from Harvard in 1974 and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1977.

2. Garlands Jewish grandparents emigrated from Russia in the 1900s to escape chronic anti-Semitism.

3. A Chicagoan like Obama, Garland attended public schools and was valedictorian of his high school class. His father, Cyril, ran his own business out of the familys basement, advertising area clothing shops.

4. In high school, Garland served as president of the National Honor Society and Student Council and belonged to the forensics team, the debate team and the German Club. He also performed in various productions like Guys and Dolls and Pygmalion.

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5. To pay his way through law school college, Garland sold his comic book collection and worked as a shoe store stock clerk during summer breaks. He received a scholarship for his undergraduate years.

6. After receiving his law degree, Garland clerked for federal Judge Henry Friendly and Supreme Court Justice William Brennan

7. He met his wife, the former Lynn Rosenmann, in Boston while she was working toward a masters degree in physics at MIT. Her grandfather is a former New York Supreme Court justice who served as special counsel to Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman.

8. Garland hasnt always worked in government. He spent four years at the large Washington law firm of Arnold & Porter and was named a partner in 1985. While working at the practice, Garland also taught antitrust courses at Harvard Law.

Related: A New Supreme Court Justice by 2017? Dont Count on It

9. In 1989, Garland became a line prosecutor in the U.S. attorneys office in D.C. He joined the Justice Department in 1993 as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division.

10. After one year at the Justice Department, he was named the principal associate deputy attorney general. In this role, Garland coordinated the departments response to the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. He launched the case against the perpetrators and subsequently oversaw their prosecution.

11. President Clinton nominated Garland for an opening on the D.C. Circuit court in 1995, but he wasnt confirmed for 19 months because Senate Republicans disagreed over whether there should be 11 or 12 seats on that court. Garland was confirmed in 1997 by a vote of 76-23.

12. For the past three years, Garland has served as the chief judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C.

13. Of his former law clerks, 33 went on to clerk for liberal Supreme Court justices and 11 for conservatives. Breyer, Ginsburg, Kagan and retired justice John Paul Stevens collected the most ex-Garland clerks.

14. Hes been on Obamas radar for a while. Garland was on Obamas shortlist of potential nominees to fill the slot that opened up on the Supreme Court in 2010. Obama instead nominated Justice Elena Kagan.

15. Garland, at 63 years old, is the oldest Supreme Court nominee since Lewis Powell, who was 64 when he was appointed in 1972.

16. If confirmed, Garland would the fourth Jewish justice on the current court. The remaining five justices are Catholic. A Protestant hasnt been on the bench since 2010.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
I

Youve already broken your New Years resolutions. Youve lost the holiday cheer. And the day before, Donald Trump fulfilled his promise to make America great again when he was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States.

Considering its extremely cost-prohibitive to emigrate to Canada, your only option is to live under the policies Trump has outlined as part of his primary campaign. While we know it would be hard for many of his bombastic proclamations to be signed into law, here are just a few worst-case scenarios.

A great wall to look at.

Eight Syrians were just caught on the southern border trying to get into the U.S. ISIS maybe? I told you so. WE NEED A BIG & BEAUTIFUL WALL!  Trump on Twitter

You wanted a great America, you got one. In fact, America now has one of the biggest tourist attractions, the 10th Wonder of the Modern World  the Great Wall of Mexico. Obviously jealous of the architectural grandeur and touristic popularity of the Great Wall of China, Trumps promise to build a wall was made a reality and now not only do Americans have national security, we have a great photo op.

Mosques are things of the past.

Its no secret that ever since Trumps particular brand of Islamophobia has been introduced to the public, theres been a noticeable upswing in anti-mosque attacks and anti-Islam violence. Whether its leaving severed pigs heads or wrapping doorknobs in bacon, 2015 is the worst year of anti-mosque sentiment on record. This will only get worse.

Look at those cameras, how theyre turned! he screamed. They never, ever turn. They will never show how big the crowd is unless theres a protester because theyre the most dishonest people youll ever see.  Trump at a Louisiana rally

In case you havent noticed, Trump kind of openly despises the media. And while we do have freedom of the press in America, there are plenty of ways , like excluding certain members of the press from his conferences. Which, hey, probably rings a bell if youre Jorge Ramos.

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The world will begin a slow, toxic meltdown never before witnessed in human history.

Environmental Protection, what they do is a disgrace. Every week they come out with new regulations.  Trump on Fox News Sunday

We hope you like polar bears and toxic water because youll be seeing a lot more of both. Without the federal Environmental Protection Agency, many of the natural and manmade disasters Americans face could be even more devastating. Think Flint, Michigan, without any plan to address it or global warming gone haywire.

Getting an abortion will be impossible.

Millions and millions of women  cervical cancer, breast cancer  are helped by Planned Parenthood. So you can say whatever you want, but they have millions of women going through Planned Parenthood that are helped greatly. And I wouldnt fund it.  Trump at a Houston debate

Trump actually doesnt hate Planned Parenthood. In fact, hes acknowledged they do a lot of good when it comes to making sure women get screenings for breast cancer and cervical cancer. But, hed still defund it faster than you can say, But they do so much more!"

Political correctness will save us all.

"I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct. Ive been challenged by so many people and I dont, frankly, have time for total political correctness. And to be honest with you, this country doesnt have time, either. And frankly, what I say, and oftentimes its fun, its kidding. We have a good time.  Trump at the first GOP debate

Trump has had it up to here with political correctness. Under a Trump presidency, Americans can finally feel free to say whats on their mind without repercussion. Dont believe the hype, political correctness is not killing comedy. In fact, science tells us that political correctness is good for you. And if science doesnt convince you, what about the fact that political correctness is a wrong term  its just calling people what they want to be called and not being offensive.

No more marriage equality.

If Im elected I would be very strong in putting certain judges on the bench that maybe could change things, but they have a long way to go. At some point we have to get back down to business. But there is no question about it. And most people feel this way. They have ruled on it. I wish it was done by the states. I dont like the way they ruled. I disagree with the Supreme Court in that it should be a states rights issue.  Trump on Fox News

The burdens of marriage  an expensive ceremony, name-changing drama and the potential for divorce  have been lifted off LGBTQ communities shoulders once and for all thanks to President Trump, who fulfilled his promise to overturn marriage equality.

Without the tulle-lined burden of marriage, gays are able to fulfill their next duties: Weve been drafted to work in Trumps official work camps where we make Trump-themed memorabilia!

Hey, people of color, hope you like even more policing.

Police are the most mistreated people in this country.  Trump to a GOP debate audience

While youre hard pressed to find a Republican who doesnt believe in law and order, Trump has actually put his love of police into action, using them to throw out protesters of his increasingly rowdy rallies. Even though Black Lives Matter has made police brutality a cornerstone of its organizing, and the police killed 1,134 black youth in 2015, Trump has promised to give power back to the police because of rampant crime.

The Department of Education is just  bye.

We must keep education local and under parental control. Unelected Washington bureaucrats shouldnt determine what is best for our children.  Trump on the Department of Education

Sure, there are a lot of problems with the Common Core. But Trumps assertion to cut the Department of Education would lead to a lot of other problems: no more college Pell Grants, no one to enforce civil rights laws, no one to check rampant inequality,  the list goes on.

The world will hate us.

Aside from a best friendship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Trump is already pretty bad at making friends of international leaders. A Mexican ex-president has used profanity to say what he thinks of Trumps idea of a wall  and that Mexico should pay for it. And we all know what Trump thinks of China. The sad part is that Trumps bad America PR campaign will come right after Americas image abroad is finally doing better after a mid-2000s dip.

Trump will resurrect Antonin Scalia via Santeria. And he will make Mexico pay for it.

The totally unexpected loss of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia is a massive setback for the Conservative movement and our COUNTRY!  Trump on Twitter

Trump misses Scalia, especially because his death may have thwarted his chance to overturn marriage equality. Maybe through the power of Santeria, Trump will revive Scalia and act his will on the American people. There are definitely some people in Trumps rallies who could help.

Seen on @CNN Im only here to do Brujeria on Trump pic.twitter.com/MbxV5cnBXq https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdT6nmUVIAIv3Mc.jpg:large

When Trump is president, the Second Amendment will come first.

"The Second Amendment to our Constitution is clear. The right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed upon. Period.  Trump in October

Its all about jobs and freedom, you see. Guns bring manufacturing jobs and help Americans exercise their Second Amendment rights. Now, all you right-wingin, bitter-clingin, proud clingers of your guns, your god and your religion can have it all.

Hope you enjoy your measles.

We have a disaster called the Big Lie  Obamacare. Trump at his announcement

Heres a concerning combination  Trump is an anti-vaxxer. Now, when common diseases that weve worked to fight like measles come back, we wont have Obamacare to help us either. He wants to dismantle the historic Affordable Care Act ASAP.

You wont be able to support your family of four.

Im going to bring jobs back You will even be surprised, Chuck, you will be very surprised. So that we wont even have to be talking about the minimum wage.  Trump to Chuck Todd.

Trump has every intention of keeping the minimum wage at $7.25 an hour, which means that a person trying to get ahead in the United States can expect a after taxes for an entire year. While some cities and states are joining the Fight for $15 minimum wages and Canada is experimenting with basic income, that will not happen in the good ole USA under President Trump.

Jokes aside, the consequences to poor people, immigrants, LGBTQ people, people of color, women, Muslims and more could be disastrous. America should be a place of refuge from persecution  not a place where persecution reigns.
Hillary Clinton is about to make an epic mistake: underestimating Donald Trump. The Democrat front-runner and her team have apparently learned nothing from her surprise slug-fest with Bernie Sanders. Nor does it seem theyve been watching the GOP fight.

In a recent interview with Politicos Glenn Thrush, Clintons chief campaign strategist Joel Benenson laughs off Donald Trump, claiming that the real estate mogul has no chance of winning blue states or of beating the former first lady. Further, when Thrush asks about Trumps appeal to white, middle-class voters in so-called Rust Belt states, the pollster/strategist says the billionaire doesn't have a message that appeals to these folks you have to have a real plan thats going to make life better. Astonishingly, Benenson tells Thrush that he hasnt done extensive polling on Donald Trump.

Related: Clinton Plays the Wrong Outrage Card and Sanders Makes Her Pay

Admittedly, Benenson has been laser-focused on beating Bernie Sanders. But, his cockiness could cost the former first lady. For months, Republicans failed to take Trump seriously, until he became an in-your-face threat to the entire field running for president. Even now, the GOP establishment mutters about a brokered convention, as though disenfranchising millions of fired-up Republicans (and Independents) was anything but a sure ticket to a Hillary White House.

The Clinton camp may not understand that Trump is gaining ground with many of the same voters as Bernie Sanders  frustrated working class Americans angry about stagnant wages and lost jobs. Trump has what Sanders has and what Hillary lacks  authenticity. Like Sanders, Trump wants to overturn the status quo that has hurt millions of Americans; Hillary, the embodiment of the status quo, cannot reach those people.

Consider the issues.

First, theres free trade, which Trump has slammed for delivering millions of jobs to Mexico and China. Hillary Clinton is vulnerable here, as Sanders has found. She can wriggle and wordsmith all she wants, but the reality is that her husbands most notable economic and diplomatic achievement was NAFTA, which she has routinely applauded. More recently, she was an enthusiast for President Obamas huge TPP trade agreement, until she was not.

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Second, how about campaign funding? Trump will doubtless start to raise more outside money for his campaign, but he can reasonably attack Hillary for her utter cynicism in loudly condemning Big Money in politics. Other than Jeb Bush, no one has been more aggressive in hauling in Super Pac dough than Clinton. Her Priorities USA PAC has raised over $50 million. Unlike her rival Bernie Sanders, who has shockingly outraised Hillary over the past few months (raking in $43 million in February alone to Clintons $30 million) through a vast number of small donations, Clinton continues to troll Wall Street and other moguls for money.

Related: Hillary Clintons Unbridled Ambition Trips Her Up Again

Third, immigration. Hillary Clinton portrays Donald Trump as a monster for wanting to close our borders, but Clinton has made similar suggestions. Responding to a question from a New Hampshire voter she said, Well look, I voted numerous times when I was a senator to spend money to build a barrier to try to prevent illegal immigrants from coming in, and I do think you have to control your borders. Hmmm who does that sound like?

Fourth: Where does Clinton stand on gun control? She clobbers Sanders for not endorsing stricter gun ownership rules, but in 2008 The New York Times ran a story with the headline, "Clinton Portrays Herself as a Pro-Gun Churchgoer," citing her much-professed fondness for the Second Amendment when speaking in rural communities.

How about the war in Iraq? Hillary voted for it, Trump says he always opposed it, though there is little evidence to back up that claim. Wall Street? Trump vows to eliminate the carried-interest loophole that favors hedge fund and private equity types. Hillary continues to collect millions from the very group she promises to police. Even in the thick of the financial crisis, she hesitated to pin the blame on banks.

Related: How Sanders Defied the Odds to Beat Clinton in Michigan

Part of Hillarys problem is that over the years she has taken both sides on nearly every issue. Usually her opinion reflected the sentiment of the day--over the years that shifted. Ads that exploit what we can politely call her flexibility damage her already low credibility. Thats why Bernie Sanders is giving her a run for her considerable money. Donald Trump will be even tougher.

Her team doesnt get that. When asked in a recent debate why voters consider her untrustworthy, she responded, Im not a natural politician, in case you havent noticed, like my husband or President Obama. In reality, Hillary could run against herself and struggle to pull ahead.

Benenson claims that Hillary, representing the Democratic Party, has a structural advantage because of a Democratic Party that is a party fighting for working people and the Republican Party being kind of out of touch and out of date right now. Hillarys strategist appears to think that Jeb Bush or Mitt Romney is likely to top the GOP ticket. He is the one whos out of touch, and, competing with Trump, thats a dangerous place to be.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Opioids. Everyone's talking about them.

In recent months, the family of drugs  which includes heroin and prescription painkillers like oxycodone  has become a fixture in the country's collective consciousness. Last month, President Barack Obama pledged $1.1 billion in funding to fight Americans' abuse of heroin and prescription opioid painkillers.

This year's Super Bowl, viewed by more than 110 million people, even featured an ad for medication to fight opioid-induced constipation  suggesting the drugs are nearly as commonplace in our culture as Coca-Cola, Doritos and big trucks driving through mud.

And on Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released official 2016 guidelines for prescribing opioids  namely, that doctors should avoid doing it.

"More than 40 Americans die each day from prescription opioid overdoses," CDC Director Tom Frieden said in a statement. "We must act now. Overprescribing opioids  largely for chronic pain  is a key driver of America's drug-overdose epidemic. The guideline will give physicians and patients the information they need to make more informed decisions about treatment."

Of course, some folks depend on opioids to manage their chronic pain, and use them responsibly. Still, there's no question America has a problem with heroin and prescription opioid painkillers. These statistics show just how serious the problem has become.

1. The U.S. makes up only 4.6% of the world's population  but we consume 80% of the world's opioids, according to A.

Americans also consume 99% of the world's hydrocodone.

"There is ... this national problem we have, which is that there's a pill for every ill," Dr. Ruth Potee, a Massachusetts family physician and the Opioid Task Force's medical advisor, told Mic after the opioid-related Super Bowl ad aired.

"Are we really in more pain in this country?" Potee asked. "Really, we're not. We haven't evolved to be more pained. Our strategies of managing people's pain are so limited."

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2. Opioid prescriptions per capita increased 7.3% from 2007 to 2012, according to the CDC's 2016 guidelines for prescribing opioids.

In 2012, medical providers wrote 259 million prescriptions for opioid painkillers  nearly a bottle for every person in the country.

3. An increasing number of people are trying heroin for the first time, according to a report by Heroin.net.

In 2002, 117,000 people tried heroin for the first time. In 2014, that number was 212,000  an 81% increase. That means an average of 600 people tried heroin for the first time each day, Heroin.net found.

4. Heroin-related overdose deaths increased by 286% from 2002 to 2013, according to the CDC, with more than 8,200 people dying in 2013.

5. Heroin use among 18- to 25-year-olds has more than doubled between the periods of 2002 to 2004 and 2011 to 2013, according to the CDC.

Rates of people who used heroin went from 3.5 per 1,000 people in 2002-2004 to 7.3 per 1,000 people in 2011-2013  an increase of 109%.

6. Law enforcement is seizing more and more heroin each year, according to the Heroin.net report.

Heroin seizures increased 81.5% from 2010 to 2014. The average size of each heroin seizure has been increasing, too  from from 0.86 kilograms in 2010 to 1.74 kilograms in 2014.

"This abundance of heroin across the country can, of course, mean only one thing: an abundance of people using it," the report said.
Thailand's airport authorities searched an Air India flight for explosives after it landed in Bangkok following a bomb threat late Wednesday, an airport official said.

All 231 passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft before it was swept by security staff from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, according to an airport spokeswoman.

"It was ordered to park in an isolated area of the airport," she told AFP.

The spokeswoman did not comment on the nature of the threat or results of the search.

The Bangkok-bound Air India Flight 332 left Delhi at 2:05pm local time and arrived at Suvarnabhumi at 7:13pm (seven minutes ahead of its scheduled time), according to the airline's website.

Suvarnabhumi is Thailand's largest international airport and sees around 50 million passengers annually.
By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - A federal jury upheld the validity of two Amgen Inc patents related to the company's newly-approved drug to reduce bad cholesterol, in a defeat for Sanofi SA and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, which make a rival drug. In a joint statement on Wednesday, Sanofi and Regeneron said they strongly disagreed with the verdict by jurors in Wilmington, Delaware upholding the validity of Amgen's patents, which followed a weeklong trial. Damages have yet to be set. The defendants said they plan to appeal to the U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, which reviews patent disputes. In its October 2014 lawsuit, Amgen sought to stop Paris-based Sanofi and Tarrytown, New York-based Regeneron from selling Praluent, a drug intended to lower bad LDL cholesterol by blocking a protein known as PCSK9. Amgen makes a rival drug called Repatha, and said Praluent infringed the Thousand Oaks, California-based company's patents related to the protein. Last summer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Praluent and Repatha to reduce bad cholesterol. U.S. District Judge Sue Robinson, who presided over the trial, is expected to consider whether to issue a permanent injunction against the sale of Praluent. Sanofi and Regeneron said the verdict will not keep them from selling Praluent for now. But they may owe royalties to Amgen if the litigation, following any appeals, ultimately concludes in Amgen's favor. Amgen in a statement said it was "thankful" for the verdict. The drugs are costlier than other treatments targeting bad cholesterol, with a list price topping $14,000 annually. Sales have been slow because insurers have resisted the cost, while many doctors are awaiting the results of clinical trials about whether the treatments also reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. "A permanent injunction is unlikely," Deutsche Bank analyst Tim Race said in a research note. "However, the likelihood of settlement has now increased substantially with Sanofi and its partner Regeneron potentially forced to pay royalties." In afternoon trading, Amgen shares were up 70 cents at $143.91; Regeneron shares were down $2.83 at $364.39; and Sanofi's American depositary shares were down 32 cents at $40.83. (Reporting by Bill Berkrot, Ransdell Pierson and Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by David Gregorio, Bernard Orr)
San Francisco (AFP) - Apple fired anew Tuesday at the US government's legal fight to force it to break into an attacker's iPhone, saying the tactic would "appall" the country's founders.

Apple dug into its legal position in a written filing ahead of a hearing set for March 22 before a federal judge in Southern California.

Apple stuck to its argument that the FBI was overstepping legal bounds by using an All Writs Act to compel the company to help break an iPhone used by one of the shooters in the December terror attack in San Bernardino, California.

"The government attempts to rewrite history by portraying the Act as an all-powerful magic wand rather than the limited procedural tool it is," Apple attorneys said in a filing that responded to one submitted to the court a week earlier by the Justice Department.

"Thus, according to the government, short of kidnapping or breaking an express law, the courts can order private parties to do virtually anything the Justice Department and FBI can dream up. The founders would be appalled."

Apple urged the court to reject the FBI request on the ground it is forbidden by the Constitution.

- 'Modest' request? -

Forcing Apple to help unlock an iPhone is a "modest" demand that may turn up vital evidence in a terrorist attack, the US government argued in a brief filed last week, upping the ante in its legal standoff with the technology giant.

Apple, which is backed by a broad coalition of powerful rival technology firms and activists, argues that the FBI is seeking a "back door" into all iPhones as part of the probe.

The government brief, in sharp contrast, argued it is a single case of technical assistance in an important national security investigation.

"The court's order is modest," Justice Department lawyers wrote.

"It applies to a single iPhone and it allows Apple to decide the least burdensome means of complying."

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An FBI victory in the case could serve as a legal precedent backing requests for access to iPhones by law enforcement agencies throughout the US.

Apple general counsel Bruce Sewell last week slammed the Justice Department brief as reading "like an indictment" and apparently crafted to smear the iPhone maker with innuendo such as implying a "sinister" relationship with China.

He bashed the "cheap shot" brief as "an unsubstantiated effort to vilify Apple" that was on a flimsy legal footing.

Apple attorneys said that the California-based company has "categorically and absolutely not" been asked by any government other than the United States to build a backdoor into a product.

The government brief said the request is similar to requiring telephone companies to install wiretaps under court orders.

Apple is "fully capable of complying with the court's order," government lawyers wrote.
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina's coast guard has sunk a Chinese trawler that was fishing illegally within its territorial waters, the coast guard said on Tuesday, marking a first test for relations between President Mauricio Macri and Beijing. A coast guard vessel pursued the fishing vessel Lu Yan Yuan Yu 010 toward international waters in a high-seas chase on Monday, firing warning shots across the Chinese boat's bow as it attempted to raise the crew by radio. "On several occasions, the offending ship performed maneuvers designed to force a collision with the coast guard, putting at risk not only its own crew but coast guard personnel, who were then ordered to shoot parts of the vessel," the coast guard said in a statement. It was not clear if the vessel sank on Monday or Tuesday. The crew abandoned ship when the vessel began to go down. Four crewmen were rescued by the coast guard while others were picked up by another Chinese vessel shadowing the pursuit. China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement the Chinese government had lodged a protest over the incident and were demanding an explanation. "The Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassy in Argentina have already lodged emergency representations with the Argentinian side and expressed serious concern about the incident, demanding Argentina launch an immediate probe and report on the details to China," it said. China is also asking Argentina to ensure the safety and legal rights of Chinese fishermen and take steps to ensure such incidents do not happen again, the statement said. Macri's center-right government, which took office in December, will likely be keen to avoid a diplomatic ruckus with the Asian powerhouse which has gained a strong foothold in South America, traditionally the United States' back yard. Relations between Argentina and China tightened under former leftist leader Cristina Fernandez. Macri promised during last year's presidential race to review all new contracts with China but has shown no sign of doing so. Among those deals were an agreement to finance and build two nuclear power plants in Argentina in a deal worth up to $15 billion. A spokesman for Argentina's foreign ministry said the judiciary was investigating the incident. Coast guards using radar picked up the trawler fishing off the coast of Puerto Madryn, Chubut province, a zone known for squid. Shots were fired into the hull of the Lu Yan Yuan Yu 010 after it ignored repeated warning fire and radio calls to allow the Argentine coast guard to board. China has the world's largest distant water fishing fleet, with more than 2,000 vessels, the not-for-profit group Stop Illegal Fishing said last year. (Reporting by Juliana Castilla and Richard Lough; Additional reporting by Jessica Macy Yu and Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; Editing by Grant McCool, Matthew Lewis and Paul Tait)
By David Schwartz

PHOENIX (Reuters) - An Arizona police officer who shot an unarmed man to death at a Phoenix-area hotel earlier this year pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder charges on Tuesday.

Officer Philip Mitchell Brailsford, 25, was allowed to remain free without bail by a county judge after entering his plea during a brief hearing in Maricopa County Superior Court, according to a court spokesman.

Brailsford is charged with murder in the fatal shooting in January of Daniel Shaver during a confrontation outside a suburban Mesa, Arizona, hotel room, officials said.

Prosecutors say Brailsford was not justified in using deadly force against Shaver after he responded to a report that a man was pointing a rifle outside a fifth-floor window at the La Quinta Inn.

Shaver, 24, was shot five times by Brailsford during the incident and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Brailsfords attorney could not immediately reached for comment. He has said the officer believed he acted according to his training.

Attorney Marc Victor, who represents Shavers widow, Laney Sweet, unsuccessfully argued in court that the judge set a bond for the officers release and treat Brailsford like any other person charged with murder. He said the policeman had executed Shaver and was a danger to the community.

Sweet has filed a $35 million wrongful death claim against Mesa, alleging that the officer used excessive force.

The deadly incident marks the latest in what has been a string of shootings by police of unarmed people nationwide, sparking a larger concern about the use of deadly force by law enforcement.

Brailsford, with the Mesa Police Department for more than two years, was one of the officers who set up outside the hotel room and ordered Shaver and a female to come out and crawl toward them.

Shaver was fatally shot when he made a motion with his right hand toward his waistband as he approached officers, prosecutors have said. The female was taken into custody without incident.

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Investigators found two pellet guns inside the hotel room, authorities said.

On Tuesday evening, Mesa police said in a statement that Brailsford was told the department has recommended he be fired for his actions and over an "inappropriate etching" on his AR-15 patrol rifle.

A hearing has been scheduled at an undisclosed date to offer him the chance to fight the dismissal, Mesa police spokesman Steve Berry said. He declined to describe the etching.

(Reporting by David Schwartz in Phoenix; Editing by Dan Whitcomb, Cynthia Osterman and Bernard Orr)
(Reuters) - An armed suspect was taken into custody after fleeing a gunfight with police in which his father, wanted on felony warrants, was killed and a Fort Worth officer was critically wounded, police said.

Authorities arrested Ed McIver Jr. on Tuesday evening, four hours after officer Matthew Pierce was wounded during a foot chase with the 20-year-old suspect and his father 42-year-old Ed McIver Sr. The father was killed, Fort Worth Police Department said in a statement.

Pierce, who has been with the Fort Worth Police Department since 2009, underwent surgery for multiple gunshot wounds at an area hospital, a police spokeswoman said. Police said Pierce was in critical condition.

The pair fled when authorities pulled them over in an SUV they were traveling in at about 2:30 p.m. local time to arrest McIver Sr., who was wanted on felonies warrants for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault family violence charges, police said in a statement.

The two ran into a wooded area along Interstate 30 in west Fort Worth and exchanged gunfire with police. The elder McIver was shot and killed, police said.

Authorities captured McIver Jr. at about 6:30 p.m. local time after an extensive search. He was armed with a rifle. McIver Jr. was being held on criminal attempt capital murder, evading arrest and unlawful carrying of a weapon charges, police said.

It was unclear which suspect shot Pierce, police said.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; editing by Ralph Boulton)
It's the most Netherlands of Netherlands art installations: "Windlicht," which is Dutch for windmills that shoot laser beams from their blades. (It's actually Dutch for "Windlight," but same difference.)

The brainchild of Daan Roosegaarde at Studio Roosegaarde, Windlicht links wind turbines in the province of Zeeland in "a dance of bright lines," according to a press release; it uses "special software and tracking technology" to cast green lasers from mill to mill, a modern reimagining of the centuries-old windmills of Kinderdijk (which are the ones that come to mind whenever someone says "Netherlands").

Read more: China Is Shaming People Who Check Their Phones During Movies by Shooting Them With Lasers

"Windlicht creates the missing link between the Dutch and the beauty of our new landscape," Roosegaarde said in the press release.

S Roosegaarde partnered with KPN, a prominent Dutch telecommunications and information technology firm that's committed (and close) to becoming

"The update that the artwork gives to the landscape, represents important values such as sustainability and connectedness," KPN's CEO, Eelco Blok, said in the press release. "Because these two values are of great significance for KPN, we are committed to this artwork. With 'Windlicht' we support the idea of Roosegaarde that green energy is something to be proud of."

The installation is free to view and open to the public on March 18 and 19 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. local time at Sint Annaland's Eneco wind farm, weather permitting. Interested parties who can't make it to the Netherlands before the weekend can find information about the project here, and check out the video below.
UNITED NATIONS - Hollywood actress Ashley Judd has been appointed a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA). In a press conference, the Divergent and Double Jeopardy actress said she was honoured to be an advocate for women's rights. "I have the complete and loving support of my community and my friends, some of whom are here today," she said. "And in my capacity, I think my first responsibility is to continue to learn about the reality of girls worldwide, of whom there are about 500 million in developing economies."
By Matt Siegel SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia and Indonesia on Wednesday said they would formally resume long-stalled negotiations aimed at sealing a bilateral trade agreement between the often uneasy neighbors within 18 months. Australian Trade Minister Steven Ciobo and Indonesian Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong said in a joint statement talks would resume in May after a lengthy hiatus spanning a period of diplomatic tumult. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visited Indonesia last year in the hope of smoothing over ties strained by rows over spying, the execution of Australian citizens in Indonesia and Australia's tough asylum-seeker policies. Indonesia is Southeast Asia's largest economy but is Australia's twelfth largest trading partner, with two-way trade worth just under A$12 billion ($8.95 billion)in 2015. "While Indonesia is a close neighbor and firm friend, our trade and economic relationship can and should be performing better," Ciobo said in a statement. "I am pleased to announce the reactivation of the Indonesia-Australia Business Partnership Group to ramp up business links." Australia's live cattle exports to Indonesia have been a source of friction as Indonesia, trying to develop self-sufficiency in its livestock market, has thrown up barriers to Australian imports. Lembong suggested that the live cattle export issue may be put aside in the hope of reaching a broader agreement more quickly. "Sometimes maybe we need to call time out on the most contentious issues and work on areas where we can more easily find common ground," he told reporters in Canberra. "Personally, my priority is to try to broaden the dialogue so we don't get bogged down on old issues of contention." Australia and its giant neighbor have a history of diplomatic turbulence stretching back decades, but relations reached historic lows under former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who was ousted in a party coup in September. Just one month after he took office in September 2013, revelations that Canberra had spied on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife sent relations plummeting. Abbott's policy of towing back to Indonesia vessels carrying asylum seekers, while popular at home, infuriated Jakarta, which sees it as an infringement on its sovereignty. Tension reached a peak in May 2015 when Indonesia executed two Australian members of the so-called "Bali Nine" drug trafficking ring, despite intense lobbying from Canberra. ($1 = 1.3403 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Matt Siegel; Editing by Robert Birsel)
By Cecile Lefort SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Australian government on Wednesday pledged A$5.2 million($3.88 million) to help sheep farmers combat wild dogs whose attacks are compounding the difficulties of an industry trying to recover from a severe drought that has reduced flocks. "Wild dogs are estimated to cost Australia's agricultural sector as much as A$66 million each year through livestock losses, disease transmission and control costs, not to mention the emotional toll," said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce in a press statement. Australia is the world's third-largest sheep rearing nation with three times more sheep than people. However, its population has halved since the 1990s to about 70 million of the animals because of dog attacks and as the industry consolidated. The dogs consist mainly of packs of interbred feral dogs and dingoes, an indigenous Australian canine, and packs of dingoes. The groups are capable of mauling 40 sheep in one night and have caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of sheep in the past few years. "In some areas, wild dogs can be the biggest problem to the sheep industry," said Ian Evans, program manager at industry body Australian Wool Innovation. The Australian state of Queensland was the third-largest sheep rearing state a decade ago with 20 million animals but was hit hard by dog attacks that left it with 5 million sheep currently, according to industry participants. "All you ever did was think about dogs and how to stop them," said Fraser Barry, a Queensland wool grower who lost up to 1,500 sheep in one year. "It meant we did not look at other facets about our business." Queensland is now the smallest sheep rearing state with New South Wales and Victoria holding together more than half of the national flock, data from consulting firm Neil Clark shows. The wild dogs "are the driving forces for some farmers leaving the sheep business," said Greg Mifsud, the project leader for the National Wild Dog Facilitator, Australia's feral pest management program. The funds to combat the wild dogs are part of a A$25.8 million national pest management program that is Australia's first nation-wide action plan. The proceeds will help finance cluster fencing around farms to keep out the predators, the government said. Other prevention tools include lethal baiting, shooting and guard animals such alpacas, llamas and donkeys. Exports of sheep meat and wool are forecast to reach A$6.2 billion this season, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), accounting for 10 percent of the nation's agriculture revenue. ($1 = 1.3410 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Cecile Lefort; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
Brussels (AFP) - A vast police operation was under way in Brussels on Wednesday after a Kalashnikov-wielding assailant was killed and four officers wounded during an anti-terror search linked to the Paris attacks.

Federal prosecutors were to hold a news conference at 0930 GMT amid widespread media reports that two suspects were either arrested or still on the run, possibly brothers with links to terrorism.

"The investigation continues and the danger remains," Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel told the broadcaster RTL, though he refused to provide any further details concerning an ongoing investigation.

Michel said operations had continued throughout the night. He did not rule out that the terror alert in Brussels could be raised to the highest level after a meeting of the national security council later in the day.

- Gunfire in the suburbs -

A team of Belgian and French police were taken by surprise as they carried out a routine search Tuesday on a property in the quiet suburb of Forest, or Vorst by its Dutch name.

The police intervention sparked a series of gun battles that wounded four officers and left children trapped in nearby schools.

Michel thanked residents for their "composure" as bursts of gunfire erupted in the streets and dozens of heavily-armed police with balaclavas and sub-machineguns patrolled the area.

The mayor of Forest, Marc-Jean Ghyssels, told RTBF radio that all schools and nurseries in his jurisdiction were open on Wednesday and that life was back to normal.

"There wasn't a direct threat to the public, it's a search that turned badly," he said.

The dead person had not been identified but prosecutors said it was not Salah Abdeslam, a key suspect in the November 13 attacks in Paris claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group, which killed 130 people.

A French police source said the operation was focused on the associates of one, or several, of 11 people who have been charged in Belgium in connection with the Paris attacks.

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"In this operation, one or several people opened fire on the police as they came through the door" of the property in an initial search, the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement.

"One suspect armed with a Kalashnikov-type assault rifle was killed in an assault" by police about three hours later, it said, adding that officers were "actively pursuing investigations, day and night".

A French policewoman, who Justice Minister Koen Geens said had been helping in a joint investigation between French and Belgian police, was among three officers wounded in the initial assault. A fourth was hurt in an exchange of fire.

Security forces launched a huge operation after the gun battle broke out, cordoning off the area with vehicles while a police helicopter hovered overhead, AFP reporters at the scene said.

- Brussels lockdown -

As the scene unfolded, children and teachers in two schools and two nurseries nearby were asked to remain indoors. They were eventually let out one-by-one, accompanied by armed police.

Police later started letting people back into their homes and 50 people who had been trapped in an Aldi supermarket were also allowed out.

By early Tuesday calm had largely returned to the area and most locals had been allowed to return to their home. Access to the scene of the shootout was also reopened.

The incident took place across the street from an Audi auto factory and the train lines leading to the Eurostar cross-channel terminal at the Gare du Midi railway station.

Soldiers are still on guard at key areas including train stations and EU institutions.

Two weeks after the Paris attacks, Brussels was put on five days of lockdown with authorities warning of an imminent threat of violence as the manhunt for Abdeslam continued.

Abdeslam, 26, who is believed to have played a key role in organising the Paris attacks, fled across the border to Belgium hours after the carnage and is now one of the most wanted men in Europe.

He was reportedly holed up for three weeks after the Paris attacks in an apartment in the Schaerbeek district in north Brussels, where police found a fingerprint, traces of explosives and possible suicide belts.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian police are continuing an operation in Brussels after four officers, including a French policewoman, were lightly wounded in a raid on an apartment, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel told a news conference on Tuesday. He gave no details of the operation, begun around 2 p.m. (1300 GMT), and did not confirm Belgian media reports that one suspect was killed and two others were at large. Other ministers said two of the four injured officers had been released from hospital and stressed that the raid, linked to investigations into November's Islamist attacks on Paris, had not been expected to reveal much evidence. The presence of French forces at the scene was a coincidence, one minister said. (Reporting By Robert-Jan Bartunek; Writing by Jan Strupczewski; Editing by Alastair Macdonald)
By Luke Mintz LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Violence and abuse of older women is often going unchecked, the lack of data and effective legislation leaving them at risk, campaigners said on Wednesday as they called on the United Nations for stronger action to tackle the issue. Research by HelpAge International  a group focused on promoting the rights of older people worldwide  has shown that women aged over 49 are often excluded from statistics on violence, leaving them "invisible". HelpAge urged the United Nations' 60th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which opened in New York this week, to collect comprehensive data on violence, taking gender, age, and disability into account. "Data on physical and sexual violence against women usually stops at age 49, effectively excluding a quarter of the world's women," Bridget Sleap, senior rights policy adviser at HelpAge International, said in a statement. "When women reach age 50 any violence and abuse against them usually goes unrecorded." The group highlighted the U.N. global goals, adopted last year, one of which was to "achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls". But indicators used to measure progress towards this goal were based mainly on women aged 15 to 49, focusing on eliminating female genital mutilation and ensuring women's access to sexual and reproductive health services. A 2013 U.N. report titled Neglect, Abuse, and Older Women acknowledged the "lack of visibility" of older women in discussions of violence. The report identified emotional abuse as the most common form of violence against older women, followed by financial exploitation, violation of rights, sexual abuse, and physical abuse - with the spouse found to be the most common offender. Similarly, a joint WHO-U.N. report surveying 133 countries found that only 17 percent reported having data on abuse of older women. Although 59 percent of the countries surveyed said they had laws to prevent such abuse, only 30 percent said their laws were fully enforced. One example of a national campaign designed to tackle the issue was Australia's Norma's Project, established in 2011 at La Trobe University in Melbourne, a study which exposed a startling number of sexual assaults on older women in Australia. The project was set up in reaction to the case of 86-year-old Norma, who was sexually assaulted at a care home. No action was taken because of a lack of physical evidence and Norma's dementia. The study recommended mandatory licensing of care workers and a review of standards of care of the elderly to focus on prevention. (Editing by Tim Pearce. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, corruption and climate change. Visit www.news.trust.org)
The price of straighteners and relaxers is steeper than it seems. (Photo: Stocksy)



Whats the price of beauty? For women of color, its steep. Prolonged exposure to products designed for black womens hair is linked to serious health consequences like cancer, respiratory problems, obesity, myriad reproductive issues, and skin erosion. In fact, the organization Black Women for Wellness reveals in a shocking new study that hair care products for black women are some of the most toxic beauty products available.

Following a four-year investigation, the organization has released Natural Evolutions: One Hair Story. The report details not only the scary effects of relaxers, straighteners, and dyes, but also the fact that manufacturers are not even required to list noxious ingredients on product labels.

Related: Charges of Racism at Salon Offering Dark Chocolate Tans

There needs to be transparency, says Willie Duncan, senior program manager for Black Women for Wellness. We know there are secret ingredients that are not listed on consumer products. And manufacturers are not required to list ingredients for salon products at all. Without that transparency, Duncan says its hard to put federal regulations on products  and for proper research to be conducted about the long-term effects of the industry as a whole. As a result, consumers and even stylists are largely unaware of how harmful their hair care products actually are.

This is not a problem thats easy to solve. The culture of hair styling has deep roots in the history of black culture in the U.S. According to the study, Black hair culture is interconnected with the conversation around class, gender, race, colorism and colonialism.  [Its] more than simply big business; it is multilayered, complex.  It connects us to Black women across the globe.

And brace yourself for this statistic: Black American women spend upwards of 9 billion dollars per year on hair care products  double that of any other ethnicity. That said, many are loath to pay higher prices for safer products. It feels like we are being punished for wanting healthier options, said one participant.

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Compounding the problem, stylists report that when they swap out their usual products for healthier alternatives, their customers arent always pleased. Theyre taking [the chemical] out for a good reason, but then our clients are like, wait a minute, somethings not right, said one participant.

Related: How to Bleach Your Hair Without Destroying It (Like Kylie Jenner Did)

So what can be done to help make the hair salon a safer place for women of color? Black Women for Wellness is calling for mandatory ingredient lists and federal regulations on cosmetics for this ethnic group  which includes Africans, African-Americans, Black Americans, Black Caribbeans, and Afro Latinos. It is also insisting that toxic chemicals  including formaldehyde, ammonia, obesogens, and phthalates  be included on product labels, along with the health hazards they present.

Black Women for Wellness also wants to empower consumers and stylists to seek out healthier products, even if they have to pay more and travel longer distances to get them. Duncan believes these pain points are worth it and even encourages stylists to inform their clients about the adverse effects of the products they use.

Duncan also warns against falling for green labeling, where manufacturers slap organic labels onto their products without listing the actual ingredients. Because theyre not regulated by the government, theyre not required to list ingredients, so they can get away with this, she says.

Making your own, all-natural hair care products by searching the Internet for homemade recipes is another approach Duncan recommends. If youre in the L.A. area, she invites you to come to Black Women for Wellnesss headquarters to learn about its D.I.Y. beauty-product seminars. Plus, the organization intends to make your shopping trips easier by soon featuring a downloadable purse card on its website listing all of the major harmful ingredients to avoid. (Until then, you can email teni@bwwla.com to have a purse card sent to you.)

Other solutions? Thought leaders interviewed for the report suggested educational seminars, engaging directly with beauty shops, and encouraging women who have suffered major consequences from exposure to toxins to share their personal stories.

Finally, a greater acceptance of black womens natural hair is the key to ending all of these problems. All hair is good; there is no bad hair, said one hair care professional interviewed for the study. Good hair is growing hair. Good hair is when it [doesnt] hurt.

Read This Next: Could Your Beauty Routine Be Making You Sick?



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Brasilia (AFP) - Protests have erupted in Brazil after a recorded phone call between President Dilma Rousseff and her once-popular predecessor was released, suggesting that she appointed him to her cabinet to spare him from arrest for corruption.

Rousseff appointed Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as her chief of staff on Wednesday hoping that his political prowess can save her administration. The president is battling an impeachment attempt, a deep recession, and the fallout of an explosive corruption scandal at state oil giant Petrobras.

However hours after Lula's appointment, federal judge Sergio Moro, who is heading a probe into the Petrobras scandal, ordered the release of a call recorded by police suggesting darker motives.

Rousseff called Lula's bugged phone to tell him she would be sending him the official decree nominating him as her chief of staff so that he could make use of it "if necessary."

That extract seems to confirm that Lula's nomination to the post was aimed at sparing him possible arrest for corruption.

Cabinet ministers can only be tried before the Supreme Court in Brazil, and ministerial immunity will now protect Lula from prosecution in criminal court.

Lula vigorously denies involvement in the scandal, in which investigators say construction companies conspired with Petrobras executives to overbill the oil giant to the tune of $2 billion, paying huge bribes to politicians and parties along the way.

Rousseff's office said the phone call was merely to discuss a procedural matter.

- 'Resign! Resign!' -

The recording's release caused an uproar in Congress, where furious opposition lawmakers shouted "Resign! Resign!"

Some 2,000 people spontaneously gathered in the capital Brasilia to demand that Lula step down and Rousseff leave office.

"Instead of explaining himself and assuming his responsibilities, former president Lula preferred to flee out the back door," said lawmaker Antonio Imbassahy, lower house leader for opposition party PMDB.

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"It's a confession of guilt and a slap to society. President Dilma, by appointing him, has become his accomplice," Imbassahy added. "The final chapter in this story will be her impeachment."

As night fell, another protest broke out in Sao Paulo.

"Resign! Resign!" shouted several thousand protesters gathered outside the building housing FIESP, a powerful federation of Sao Paulo industries. The building was illuminated in green and yellow -- Brazil's national colors -- and included a large inscription that read "Impeach now."

The impeachment push is not directly related to the corruption scandal, but has advanced in tandem with it.

The president's office responded by announcing that "judicial and administrative measures" would be taken to "repair the flagrant violation of the law and the constitution committed" by judge Moro, but gave no specifics.

On social media, critics gleefully quoted Lula's own words as a rabble-rousing labor leader back to him: "In Brazil, when a poor person steals, he goes to prison. When a rich person steals, he becomes a cabinet minister!"

Some three million Brazilians flooded the streets in nationwide protests on Sunday calling for Rousseff's departure.

- Lula's 'third term' -

Rousseff fired back at her critics in a press conference.

"Lula's arrival in my government strengthens it and there are people who don't want it to be stronger," she said.

She played up Lula's political acumen and said she would give him "the necessary powers... to help Brazil."

Opponents however warned that Lula would be the country's de facto leader.

"The ex-president is launching... his third term and the president is ending her second," said Green Party Senator Alvaro Dias.

Lula, the 70-year-old co-founder of the ruling Workers' Party (PT), left office with 80 percent popularity ratings and the status of a hero to the left.

During his two terms, he presided over a watershed period of prosperity and social programs that helped lift tens of millions out of poverty.

But his legacy is threatened by charges that he accepted a luxury apartment as a bribe from a company implicated in the Petrobras scandal.

Lula however has far greater charisma than Rousseff, as well as the political instinct for forging alliances.

"No one else in the PT has the force of Lula," said political analyst Michael Mohallem of the Getulio Vargas Foundation.

- Impeachment case looms -

Rousseff, 68, chaired Petrobras during much of the period under investigation, but so far faces no charges.

The anti-corruption probe however now appears to have her squarely in its sights.

In a plea deal published Tuesday, a senator arrested in the case accused Rousseff of trying to buy his silence.

The senator, Delcidio Amaral of the Workers' Party, told investigators that Rousseff contacted him via intermediaries to urge him not to testify.

The president angrily denied the accusation.

Prosecutors have used plea bargains throughout the investigation to implicate a steadily expanding Who's Who of politicians and business executives in the spiraling scandal.
By Alonso Soto and Caroline Stauffer BRASILIA/SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Protests erupted in Brazilian cities on Wednesday after President Dilma Rousseff named her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva chief of staff and a taped telephone conversation fed opposition claims the appointment was meant to shield Lula from prosecution. Police said 2,500 people demonstrated outside the presidential palace in the capital of Brasilia and others flocked to Sao Paulo's main Avenue Paulista. Dozens of opposition lawmakers interrupted a session of Congress, chanting for Rousseff to resign. Lula has immunity from all but the Supreme Court after his nomination as Rousseff's chief of staff was published in a special edition of the Official Gazette. State prosecutors had charged him with money laundering and fraud, and asked for his arrest. Federal Judge Sergio Moro, who oversees the sprawling corruption investigation, said in a court filing released on Wednesday that the phone conversation showed Lula and Rousseff considered trying to influence his enquiry. "I observe that, in some dialogues they talk about, apparently, trying to influence or obtain assistance from prosecutors or the courts in favor of the former president," Moro wrote in the filing published on the court's website. Moro said there was no information that any attempt to influence authorities was actually carried out. The recording, made public by the court, also has Rousseff offering to send Lula a copy of his appointment, "in case it was necessary." Rousseff's opponents have called the appointment of Lula, a charismatic champion of the poor who remains one of Brazil's most influential figures six years after leaving office, was a desperate attempt to stave off ongoing impeachment proceedings and to spare the former president from arrest. Rousseff said Lula was appointed for his experience and had a history of championing fiscal stability and combating inflation. She said his appointment did not mean he is above investigation as he could be tried by the country's top court. Lula, Rousseff and her ministers have denied any wrongdoing. Lula's lawyer warned the release of the recording could result in a "social convulsion." Opponents warned that Lula, who has called for more public spending to end Brazil's worst recession in decades, may push Rousseff to abandon the government's austerity measures. The graft probe, named for a money laundering investigation that started at a car wash in the capital Brasilia, has rattled the heights of Brazil's political establishment and jailed dozens of prominent business leaders. Impeachment efforts focused originally on accusations that Rousseff intentionally broke budget rules to boost government spending during her 2014 re-election campaign, but gained steam as corruption allegations reached her inner circle. (Additional reporting by Anthony Boadle in Brasilia and Guillermo Parra-Bernal in Sao Paulo; Writing by Anthony Boadle, Brad Haynes and Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Matthew Lewis)
Skien Prison (Norway) (AFP) - Mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik vowed to fight "to the death" for Nazism as he took the stand Wednesday in his lawsuit against the Norwegian state, confirming fears he would use the platform to grandstand his extremist views.

"I have fought for National Socialism for 25 years, and I will fight for it to the death," he said of the Nazi party's political doctrine.

The right-wing extremist, who killed 77 people in a 2011 bombing and gun massacre, defiantly made a Nazi salute on the first day of proceedings on Tuesday but obeyed a judge's orders not to do so on Wednesday.

Norwegian authorities have refused to televise his testimony to prevent him sending coded messages to supporters and out of respect for survivors of his killing spree and victims' families.

Some voiced dismay that Norway's most infamous inmate had been given the oxygen of publicity in his lawsuit over prison conditions.

The 37-year-old charged that the state "has been trying to kill me for five years" by keeping him in isolation, which he described as "torture", although his conditions are considered more than comfortable by many.

Breivik spent much of his testimony elaborating his extremist ideology, but he also complained of drinking cold coffee and eating frozen meals heated in a microwave -- a fate "worse than waterboarding" -- and said he was suffering from "headaches", "apathy" and "insomnia".

His lawyer has argued that isolation has caused Breivik "clear damage", citing memory loss and an inability to focus on his political science studies.

- Bullets to the head -

Breivik is serving a maximum 21-year sentence -- which can be extended if he is still considered dangerous -- for killing eight people in a bombing outside a government building in Oslo and then murdering another 69, mostly teenagers, in a rampage at a Labour Youth camp.

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His shooting spree on the island of Utoya lasted over an hour, as he methodically stalked and killed up-and-coming leaders of Labour, Norway's dominant political party, which he blamed for the rise of multiculturalism.

He has accused the state of breaching two clauses of the European Convention on Human Rights prohibiting "inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" and guaranteeing respect for "private and family life" and "correspondence".

The state's lawyers argue that Breivik's conditions fall "well within the limits of what is permitted" under the convention.

Taking the stand for his first public statement since his sentencing in 2012, Breivik said he adhered to a "non-violent" version of National Socialism, a statement bound to provoke many in a country occupied by the Nazis during World War II.

For security reasons, the case is being heard in the gymnasium of the Skien Prison in southern Norway where he is imprisoned.

- 'Exemplary' prisoner -

Breivik made a series of demands to the court, indicating he wanted to be allowed to receive uncensored letters, see other prisoners and receive visits from at least five friends and supporters.

He also wants the right to publish books.

He claimed to have been subjected to 885 strip-searches since his arrest, which he called "humiliating" and "senseless".

"It's understandable when it's justified, for example when it involves people who have a violent past or something like that, but I have been conducting myself in exemplary fashion for five years," Breivik said.

He has access to three cells -- for sleeping, studying and physical exercise -- as well as a television, a computer without Internet access, a games console, books and newspapers, and puzzles.

Breivik is also able to prepare his own food and do his own laundry, according to state representatives.

But he said the conditions "were the most inhuman in the Western world".

In one moment that provoked snickers, Breivik said his newfound fascination with a popular reality show was a sign of the damage inflicted by his conditions.

Some survivors were concerned by the attention given to Breivik's remarks.

"He shot me five times and killed my friends. The ridicule here on Twitter is perhaps drawing the focus away from what he actually did," Utoya survivor Viljar Hanssen tweeted.

The only representative of the victims' families attending the proceedings, Freddy Lie, lamented the fact that Breivik had been given a platform for his views.

"I expected the judge to crack down on that because there were a lot of elements that had nothing to do with the case," he told AFP.

He said he found it hard to listen to the "complaints" of the man who had killed his 16-year-old daughter Elisabeth on Utoya.

But "this is a state of law. Everyone has the right to be heard."
Paris (AFP) - The world's leading brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, raised 13.25 billion euros ($14.7 billion) on the markets Wednesday, a record amount in euros, a source told AFP.

The debt issue by the Belgium-based brewer comes only days after the European Central Bank said it would begin buying corporate bonds as part of its asset purchase programme.

The source said the ECB announcement "aided" the success of the bond issue by the company, even "if it wasn't the only reason".

The previous record euro bond issue was the nearly 10 billion raised Swiss pharmaceutical group Roche in 2009.

Demand for Wednesday's issue, for AB InBev bonds with maturities from four to 20 years, was enormous at more than 31 billion euros, according to the source.

AB InBev declined to comment when contacted by AFP.

The brewer is raising funds to finance its acquisition of rival SAB Miller in an operation worth more than $100 billion which should be wrapped up in the coming months.

AB InBev raised $46 billion in January in one of the biggest corporate bond issues ever.
The burger war between New York and Los Angeles escalated to Threat Level Orange on Tuesday with the opening of Californias first Shake Shack in West Hollywood. At lunchtime, a crowd stretched a full city block on Santa Monica Boulevard, all of them patiently waiting and Instagramming the moment.

The restaurant  which has a wonderful patio space and a Magnolia tree and the aesthetic of a roadside burger stand done up by a design-driven architect (Austin-based Michael Hsu Office of Architecture)  opened its doors at 11 a.m. after a ribbon-cutting attended by founder and chef Danny Meyer, Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti and West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey Horvath. At this point roughly 50 people were cued up to inaugurate the opening, including two young men who boasted getting in line at 4 a.m. At noon, people who were placing their orders indicated that they had waited roughly an hour to reach the counter.

At least they gave me a bunch of free samples while I waited, said Laura, an actress who moved from New York to L.A. three months ago, as she finished her ShackBurger and fries. And a shake, she added.

Despite rumors that the opening would attract Hollywood royalty, an informal census taken by this reporter found that most of those in attendance were displaced New Yorkers, out-of-work actors, food bloggers or curious In-N-Out devotees  all of them grasping napkins.

On paper this is not a groundbreaking launch for Shake Shack  the company already operates 86 locations in 13 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in Japan, the Middle East and Russia. But in terms of optics, opening a location in West Hollywood has more weight than slinging burgers in Baltimore or Paramus or even Dubai.

PR representatives on hand were quick to point out that the standard Shake Shack menu had been expanded with a couple of L.A.-only items, including the Roadside Double  a double Swiss cheeseburger with Dijon mustard and onions that is intended as a respectful homage to the French dip, which was pioneered locally. The Hollywood Reporter asked two employees for clarification of how a cheeseburger could honor a roast beef sandwich, and both drew attention to the way the onions are simmered in beer and bacon.

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Another figurative touch is the special Concrete (Shake Shacks branding for a frozen custard with mix-ins) called the Rainbow Connection, which will only be available at this West Hollywood spot (other locations in Glendale and downtown L.A. are coming). With every purchase of this Concrete  which is blended with donuts from the nearby Cofax Coffee Shop, fresh jam from the sort-of-nearby Sqirl and a symbolic swirl of rainbow sprinkles  Shake Shack will donate 5 percent of the sale price to LA Prides LGBT advocacy.

Most self-proclaimed In-N-Out fans seemed reluctant to pay compliments to the hamburgers, though they all seemed to finish their lunches. Its just alright, nothing special, said Bundy, a food blogger, with a theatrical scowl. But I have to admit the chicken sandwich is the bomb. And I wish In-N-Out served beer," he added, sipping a pale ale made exclusively for the chain by the Brooklyn Brewery.

Expatriate New Yorkers were less circumspect. I feel so nostalgic eating this burger, said Alfonzo, who now lives in West Hollywood as a hospitality-industry consultant. Every bite tastes a little bit like home.

Nadia, a USC student who has visited the original Madison Park location in Manhattan many times, wiped her chin as she weighed in on the L.A.-NY burger war. In-N-Out is fine but this is just better, she said, pausing to express why the Smokeshack is her favorite. Its simple. And it has bacon on it.

Read More: Hollywood's Celebrity-Soaked Tower Bar Turns 10: A Dishy THR Oral History
Los Angeles (AFP) - Parched California's reservoirs have been slowly gaining some volume after heavier rains than usual, but it is too soon to determine how this might impact the state's severe drought.

"Reservoirs across the state are at higher levels than last year. March has been a very good month thanks to El Nino," Doug Carlson, spokesman for the Department of Water Resources, told AFP, referring to the weather pattern.

The Shasta reservoir was up to 81 percent of its capacity, and there is a similar outlook at Oroville.

But "it's too soon to say how this will impact the drought," Carlson said of the severe drought that has already lasted four years.

The El Nino weather pattern is associated with a sustained period of warming in the central and eastern tropical Pacific, which can spark deadly and costly climate extremes.

In December, the UN weather agency warned that the phenomenon, triggered by a warming in sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, was the worst in more than 15 years.

California has imposed water use restrictions, and fines those who won't cooperate.
Ottawa (AFP) - Canadian passenger railway Via Rail said Wednesday it is beefing up security after receiving a threat to train stations.

Details of the threat were not released.

Via Rail spokeswoman Marie-Anna Murat told AFP it appeared to be "unfounded."

Still, she added, "VIA Rail has advised employees reminding them to be vigilant."

As a precaution, the railway has also stepped up police and canine patrols in certain stations and continues to work closely with law enforcement agencies.

"Lately, it seems that passenger carriers worldwide are subject to unsubstantiated threats against their facilities," Murat said.

"Such a threat was received at VIA Rail recently. The police were informed."

The federal police said they are working with local police and railway security officials to ensure the safety and security of passengers. It added that the Montreal police are heading an investigation into the threat, suggesting the city's busy downtown train station may have been the intended target.

A local newspaper, meanwhile, reported that the would-be bomber made a ransom demand.

Via Rail trains travel over 12,500 kilometers of track in Canada connecting 143 stations. It transported 3.8 millions passengers in 2014, according to corporate figures.

Two radical Islamists who plotted to derail a packed passenger train traveling between Toronto and New York were sentenced last September to life in prison in Canada.

Tunisian national Chiheb Esseghaier and Raed Jaser, a Canadian resident of Palestinian descent, planned to cut a large hole in a railway bridge to derail a Via Rail train, with the aim of killing and injuring passengers and crew.

In the wake of a foiled jihadist attack on a train from Amsterdam to Paris last August, European nations also stepped up security at train stations.

A 25-year-old Moroccan, Ayoub El Khazzani, was charged in that incident. He was quickly overpowered by a group of French, British and American passengers after he stepped out of a toilet cubicle with an assault rifle, 270 rounds of ammunition and a Luger pistol strapped to his chest.
By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Canada will campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council in 2021-2022, new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday, seeking to repair battered relations with the world body. Canada has previously served six terms on the 15-member council, but suffered a humiliating defeat in 2010 under Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who favored a more unilateral approach to diplomacy. "Protecting vulnerable populations, leading on the world's stage and engaging on some of this era's greatest challenges - this is the Canada of today, this is how we build the world of tomorrow," Trudeau told reporters and diplomats during a visit to the United Nations in New York. Canada will now be competing against Ireland and Norway for two spots. A spokeswoman for the San Marino Department of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday the country had dropped out of the race. The 15-member council has five veto-powers - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - and 10 members elected for two-year terms. The 193-member U.N. General Assembly will hold an election in 2020 for the seat Canada wants. "Our last term concluded in 2000. With a renewed commitment to international peace and security, now is the time for our return," Trudeau said. The new Liberal government, Trudeau added, was determined to revitalize what he called Canada's historic role as a key contributor to U.N. peacekeeping. Ottawa would offer troops and police as well as backing efforts to strengthen civil society. U.N. peacekeeping officials have told Canada it can offer a great deal, such as French-speaking soldiers and police as well as experts in various areas. "Given our modest size, it's not through weight of numbers that we can make a massive difference, but through the quality of our engagement," said Trudeau, adding it was too early to say what exactly Canada might offer and where. Foreign affairs analysts largely blamed the 2010 failure on a patchy Canadian campaign and policies likely to have alienated large voting blocs, such as a strong pro-Israel Middle East policy and reductions in aid to poor African nations. Trudeau's Liberals came to power last November, toppling Harper's Conservatives after nine years in power. Trudeau will also meet with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday. (Additional reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Editing by James Dalgleish and Chizu Nomiyama)
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Canada on Wednesday formally launched its bid for a seat on the UN Security Council, signaling its desire to be a more active player on the world stage.

The announcement came during a UN visit by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who told reporters that Canada is seeking a rotating seat on the council during the 2021-2022 term.

"Today I'm in New York to formally announce our intention to seek a place on the UN Security Council," Trudeau said, speaking in French.

"Canada will work actively to obtain a seat on the UN Security Council for the 2021-2022 period," Trudeau said at a press conference.

The UNSC has a total of 15 members, five of whom are permanent -- Britain, China, France, the Russian Federation and the United States. The other 10 members serve rotating two year terms.

Trudeau also confirmed that his nation will lend greater support to UN-led international peace operations, although he provided no immediate details.

In the run-up to his visit, Trudeau's signaled "Canada's commitment to play a positive and constructive role in the world, and to make meaningful contributions to issues that include climate change, respect for diversity and human rights," and other initiatives.

Canada, a UN member since 1945, already has served several times on the Council.

But it suffered a blow when it was passed over by the UN General Assembly during a 2010 bid to join the Council.

Instead the UNGA chose Portugal and Germany -- both from the same western region to which Canada belongs.

Any candidate for a UNSC seat has to be willing to launch a vigorous lobbying campaign of the 193 UN members.

Three other nations -- Ireland, Norway and San Marin -- have expressed interest in a UNSC seat during the same two year period that Canada is seeking. Just two seats, however, are available.

The Canadian leader has a meeting planned later Wednesday with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss his proposals.

The UNSC is tasked with helping maintain world peace and security by a variety of means including imposing sanctions and using military force, if necessary.

Being a council member enhances a county's prestige in the world arena and can sometimes lend additional weight in bilateral negotiations.
PRAIA (Reuters) - Cape Verde has identified its first case of the neurological disorder microcephaly, thought to be linked to the Zika virus, in what would be a first for Africa. The Ministry of Health said the baby was born at the main hospital in the capital Praia on March 14 to a woman who was not among more than 100 women being monitored for the mosquito-borne virus. Cape Verde is a volcanic archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean around 570 km (350 miles) west of Senegal. It has historic ties to Brazil, where an outbreak of Zika is suspected of causing a spike in birth defects including babies born with abnormally small heads. The World Health Organization in February declared the virus an international public health emergency due to its link to the birth defects in Brazil. Authorities in West Africa are seeking to prepare the region's defences in case of a spread of Zika but say countries are ill-equipped for another public health emergency following the Ebola epidemic that was first announced in March 2014. The Cape Verde government says more than 7,000 cases of Zika have been recorded since the beginning of the epidemic in October 2015, with heavier than normal rains last summer boosting mosquito numbers. (Reporting by Julio Rodrigues; Writing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)
Miami (AFP) - US cruise line Carnival said Wednesday it has begun taking reservations for its first US-to-Cuba cruise in more than half a century, confident the government will give it the required permits.

It has scheduled the cruise for May 1-7, with the objective of promoting cultural exchanges between the former Cold War adversaries.

"We are highly optimistic that we will receive approval soon from Cuban officials to cruise to Cuba based on the ongoing discussions. We are planning to sail May 1," Carnival spokesman Roger Frizzell said in an email.

It would be the first time a cruise ship has sailed directly between the United States and Cuba since the two countries broke off relations in 1961.

Since a historic rapprochement began in December 2014, the US government has granted various cruise ship and ferry operators permission to reopen routes to Cuba, but so far Cuban officials have refrained from giving their green light.

President Barack Obama will crown the political rapprochement with a visit to Cuba on March 20-22, but a US embargo remains in place.

The weeklong cruises being organized by Carnival subsidiary Fathom include stops in Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago aboard the Adonia, a vessel with capacity for 700 passengers.

Prices range from $2,000 per person for an interior cabin to more than $7,000 for a suite.

Under US law, Americans are barred from traveling to Cuba merely for tourism, but the Obama administration has loosened travel restrictions for educational, cultural, sports, academic and religious reasons.

The US administration recently authorized up to 110 commercial flights a day to the communist-ruled island, beginning this year.

Currently, only charter flights make the trip between the two countries.

Last year, approximately 160,000 Americans traveled to the island, a 57 percent increase from the previous year.
Beijing (AFP) - China's economy will not suffer a "hard landing", Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday, stepping up Beijing's charm offensive to reassure investors that the government can manage slowing growth.

"We have long-term confidence in the Chinese economy and this confidence isn't without a foundation," Li told his once-a-year press conference at the end of the National People's Congress (NPC), the Communist-controlled legislature.

Beijing has been looking to send positive messages in recent weeks after expansion in the world's second-largest economy fell to a 25-year low of 6.9 percent in 2015, raising concerns on global markets and sending commodity prices plunging.

Li has reduced the target for this year to a range of 6.5-7 percent, while ratings agency Moody's has lowered its outlook on Chinese bonds.

Authorities have spent hundreds of billions of dollars to defend share prices and the yuan currency in recent months, raising questions over their commitment to market reforms.

Li acknowledged that the government had "controlled some things that should not be controlled, hindering productivity", and said leaders had failed to ensure a fair playing field in the economy.

But he added: "As long as we persist with reform and opening up, China's economy won't have a hard landing."

Questions have to be submitted in advance for the set-piece event. Li spoke for two hours in a cold room under glittering chandeliers in the Great Hall of the People -- which monitoring devices showed did not escape the pollution blanketing Beijing.

"Chinas economy has both hopes and difficulties," Li said, adding: "If we look at it in light of the fundamentals and the overall trend, the hopes are greater than the difficulties."

- Coal and steel -

Li spoke after the rubber-stamp parliament approved an economic roadmap for the next five years and a charity law.

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Votes at the NPC are normally overwhelming approvals of measures decided long in advance by the ruling Communist party.

As the balloting started, a voice boomed over a loudspeaker asking delegates to press the voting buttons. Thousands of arms in suit jackets reached across the desks simultaneously.

There were 2,778 'yes' votes for the 13th Five Year Plan, or 97.27 percent of the total, the official Xinhua news agency reported, and 2,636 in favour of the charity law -- 92.49 percent.

The five-year plan for economic and social development pledged average growth of at least 6.5 percent a year over the 2016-2020 period -- implying that at times it could be lower.

Such plans are a legacy of China's command economy era but still guide policymakers at all levels.

Cracks in the economy are already showing as growth slows. Thousands of miners went on strike in northeastern China to protest at unpaid wages, amid fears of mass layoffs as the government seeks to restructure lumbering state-owned industries.

A human resources and social security ministry official said last month the government plans to lay off about 1.8 million workers in the steel and coal industries.

Premier Li worked to dispel fears on the issue. "We have chosen the two sectors of coal and steel to make breakthroughs, and at the same time avoid a massive wave of layoffs," he said.

According to the plan, gross domestic product (GDP) is set to rise from 67.7 trillion yuan ($10.4 trillion) last year to more than 92.7 trillion yuan in 2020.

- 'Good Samaritans' -

It also seeks to significantly reduce poverty by 2020. Officials have declared charitable organisations essential to achieving the goal and hope to encourage more giving with the charity law.

As the economy has grown to the world's second-largest, charitable giving has lagged, with China ranking 144th out of 145 countries for giving, according to a study last year by the Charities Aid Foundation.

Chinese citizens donated just $16 billion in 2014, according to the most recent data from the China Charity Information Centre -- less than 0.2 percent of annual GDP.

Xinhua said the new law was intended to "recruit help from good Samaritans in realising the 2020 poverty alleviation target".
BEIJING (Reuters) - China-U.S. relations will continue to develop regardless of who wins the U.S. presidential election in November, China's Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday, after criticism of Beijing by U.S. candidates. The Chinese government has largely refrained from commenting on the U.S. election campaign, saying it is an internal matter for the American people, despite attacks on China by real estate mogul and Republican presidential contender Donald Trump. Trump has frequently accused China of stealing jobs and portrayed himself as a tough negotiator who would beat Beijing at its own game. U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has also weighed in with criticisms of China, saying earlier this month that as the Chinese economy slows, China will engage in more damaging practices in global trade. Li, speaking at a news conference at the end of China's annual meeting of parliament, said the U.S. election "has been lively and caught the eye of many". "I believe that no matter in the end who wins the laurel and serves as president, the underlying trend of China-U.S. relations will not change," Li said. That trend over the past several decades has been "forward development", he said. Asked about President Barack Obama's "pivot" back to Asia, which Chinese policymakers tend to view with suspicion, Li said he remained hopeful for future cooperation. "As for countries outside the region, such as the United States, it can be said they've never left the Asia Pacific. We can cooperate with them in the Asia Pacific region, and manage our differences well." While the world's two largest economies are frequently at odds over everything from human rights and currency policy to the South China Sea, they have deep business ties and are in talks on a bilateral investment treaty (BIT). Slow progress on the treaty, however, and tensions over cyber hacking and new laws in China that could hamper foreign tech firms, have soured commercial relations. China has more restrictions on foreign investment than the United States, and U.S. investors hope that the treaty will give them increased access to China's many state-dominated industries, from financial services to telecommunications. Li said he hoped the two countries could conduct the treaty talks on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. "China will give U.S. investors wider market access in a gradual way, but this should be mutual. Bilateral opening should be reciprocal," Li said. Chinese officials have repeatedly pledged to lower market access barriers, but U.S. business lobbies say a negative list of prohibited and restricted industries for foreign investors is still too broad and must be whittled down. Uncertainty about the direction of China's reform policies was "softening confidence", John Frisbie, president of the U.S.-China Business Council, told Reuters. "If we could move to reciprocal treatment that would match the U.S. list, that would be great," he added. (Reporting by Jason Subler and Kevin Yao; Additional reporting by Jessica Macy Yu; Writing by Michael Martina; Editing by Richard Pullin and Clarence Fernandez)
Political parties, not voters, choose their presidential nominees, a Republican convention rules member told CNBC, a day after GOP front-runner Donald Trump rolled up more big primary victories.

"The media has created the perception that the voters choose the nomination. That's the conflict here," Curly Haugland, an unbound GOP delegate from North Dakota, told CNBC's " Squawk Box " on Wednesday. He even questioned why primaries and caucuses are held.

Haugland is one of 112 Republican delegates who are not required to cast their support for any one candidate because their states and territories don't hold primaries or caucuses.



Even with Trump 's huge projected delegate haul in four state primaries Tuesday, the odds are increasing the billionaire businessman may not ultimately get the 1,237 delegates needed to claim the GOP nomination before the convention.

This could lead to a brokered convention, in which unbound delegates, like Haugland, could play a significant swing role on the first ballot to choose a nominee.

Most delegates bound by their state's primary or caucus results are only committed on the first ballot. If subsequent ballots are needed, virtually all of the delegates can vote any way they want, said Gary Emineth, another unbound delegate from North Dakota.

"It could introduce Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney, or it could be the other candidates that have already been in the race and are now out of the race [such as] Mike Huckabee [or] Rick Santorum. All those people could eventually become candidates on the floor," Emineth said.

House Speaker Paul Ryan , who decided not to run for the White House this year, said in a CNBC interview Tuesday he won't categorically rule out accepting the GOP nomination if a deadlocked convention were to turn to him. But on Wednesday, a Ryan spokeswoman said the speaker would not accept a Republican nomination for president at a divided convention.

Democrats experienced the last true brokered presidential convention to go beyond the first ballot in 1952. Republicans came close at their 1976 convention.



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"The rules haven't kept up," Haugland said. "The rules are still designed to have a political party choose its nominee at a convention. That's just the way it is. I can't help it. Don't hate me because I love the rules."

Haugland said he sent a letter to each campaign alerting them to a rule change he's proposing, which would allow any candidate who earns at least one delegate during the nominating process to submit his or her name to be nominated at this summer's convention.

If the GOP race continues at the same pace, Trump would likely have a plurality of delegates. So far, he's more than halfway to the 1,237 magic number.

Trump split Tuesday's winner-take-all primaries in Florida and Ohio.

The real estate mogul dominated in Florida over Sen. Marco Rubio , who dropped out of the race after losing his home state.

But Trump lost Ohio to the state's governor, John Kasich . Trump also won Illinois and North Carolina. He held a slim lead over Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in Missouri early Wednesday.

Emineth, also a former chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party, told "Squawk Box" in the same interview that he's concerned about party officials pulling "some shenanigan."

"You have groups of people who are going to try to take over the rules committee," he warned. "[That] could totally change everything, and mess things up with the delegates. And people across the country will be very frustrated."

"It's important that the Republican National Committee has transparency on what they're doing [on the rules] going into the convention and what happens in the convention," he continued. That's because of "all the votes that have been cast in caucuses and primaries. Don't disenfranchise those voters. Because at the end of the day, our goal is to beat Hillary Clinton or whoever their [Democratic] nominee is in November."



Emineth said he's worried that frustration would discourage Americans in the general election from voting Republican.

 CNBC's Lori Ann LaRocco contributed to this report.







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Calais (France) (AFP) - Work to clear the last makeshift shelters from part of the migrant camp known as "The Jungle" in the northern French port of Calais was completed Wednesday.

Authorities have left just a few structures housing communal facilities such as mosques or canteens in the 7.5-hectare (18.5-acre) southern part of the camp.

Police had fired teargas to disperse protesters when the operation to raze the wooden and tarpaulin structures began on February 29.

More than 1,000 people had lived in that part of "The Jungle" as they waited to try to scramble on to lorries waiting to board ferries or Channel Tunnel shuttle trains to Britain.

The migrants believe they have a better chance of finding work in Britain, and some have family ties there.

Some of the migrants have moved to more permanent accommodation in shipping containers near to The Jungle, while others have headed for camps further along the coast, but hundreds are still living in the northern part of the camp.

Migrants' representatives warned the French government in a statement that it would be "unacceptable" to try to clear the northern sector as well.

The local authorities have stated several times that they want to limit the camp to 2,000 residents, but have stipulated that those who stay must move into the containers.

The camp made of containers can hold up 1,500 people and 400 places are also available to women and children in another centre nearby.

Hundreds of shopkeepers and restaurant owners from Calais held a protest in Paris on March 7 to complain that they have suffered heavy losses as a result of the presence of migrants in the port.
By Barbara Lewis BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU leaders meeting in Brussels this week will debate the Paris Agreement on climate change, a draft EU text showed, after officials previously said the migrant crisis had knocked it off the agenda. EU officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said European Council President Donald Tusk, who will chair the summit, had spent a week negotiating a compromise text that they believed the big member states would agree on. The text, seen by Reuters, "underlines the need for the European Union and its member states to be able to ratify the Paris Agreement as soon as possible". It also says the EU is committed to a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions domestically by at least 40 percent by 2030, as agreed at political level in October 2014. The target has become controversial as some member states and environment campaigners have interpreted the agreement of a global deal in Paris as a reason to push for the EU to agree a more ambitious goal. But EU officials say the European Commission is concerned that reopening the discussion on the 2030 target would derail a difficult debate this year on how to share out that goal among the 28 member states, including Poland, whose economy depends on coal. Environment ministers, who met in Brussels earlier this month, said the EU was not doing enough to counter climate change. A letter voicing their concern was sent on their behalf to Tusk on Monday, EU officials said. Segolene Royal, France's environment minister, said earlier this month that the Paris Agreement would be on the agenda of summit talks on Thursday and Friday, adding French President France Hollande would seek backing from fellow leaders. But on Monday, three officials speaking on condition of anonymity said the need to focus on migration meant climate and energy would no longer be discussed, although they said France was maintaining pressure for the issue to be raised. As host of the Paris talks, France has led the drive for Europe to maintain climate leadership ahead of a meeting in New York next month to formally open the Paris Agreement for signatures. With climate, energy also re-enters the talks. The draft summit text urges law-makers "to proceed with work on the proposals to reinforce the EU energy security as a matter of priority". (Editing by Tom Heneghan)
When Color launched last year, it was with a $249 saliva test that would tell you if you had one of 19 genes associated with breast cancer, including BRCA1. While only a slim percentage of Americans carry such gene mutations, the test is another example of the ways healthcare startups are making previously expensive services and screenings available to the general public.

On Thursday, that access is getting even broader. As Color embarks on year two, the company is expanding its test to doctors internationally.

The company's main goal is to break down barriers to access by lowering costs. Typically, testing for breast-cancer-related genes can run anywhere from $300 to $5,000, according to BreastCancer.org. In the U.S., some of that expense may be covered by insurance, but it largely depends on a set of criteria specific to each insurer. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, for example, stipulates that it will cover genetic testing for BRCA1 or BRCA2, genetic mutations associated with breast and ovarian cancer, based on an individual's medical history and whether members of their family were known carriers of the genetic mutation in question. Still, the National Cancer Institute says those with no health insurance and significant financial need may be able to have genetic testing done for free in some places.

"Only 15% or so of the carriers know that they are at risk and are not getting the opportunity to manage their risk with their physicians. That's what we're really focusing on," Color founder Othman Laraki told Mic.

Pushing Preventative Care: One of the biggest initiatives to come out of the Affordable Care Act was a push toward preventative care. Services at U.S. health care providers are largely transactional, i.e., you get a sore throat, so you go to a doctor to get tested and potentially receive antibiotics. You pay for the testing and the meds. This health care system is largely reactive rather than anticipatory.

Under the ACA, passed in 2010, U.S. citizens are entitled to a number of tests and services to catch health problems before they arise. These services are not free, but they come with the monthly cost of insurance, so there is no co-pay or additional fee associated with them. Unfortunately, few may know about these options. In 2014, less than half of the people polled by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation knew about this component of the ACA. Still, in August 2015, 20% of women and 16% of men, both insured and uninsured, stated that cost was a barrier to having a preventative procedure done, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

While the ACA is trying to push both insurers and the healthcare industry at-large towards a more preventative care model, groups outside the traditional system are finding other ways to distribute medical services to a broader spectrum of people.

Color is one of a growing list of health tech startups opening up access to medical services to more Americans. The premise being, who cares if insurance covers the test or not, it's $249. Similarly, startups like telemedicine company Doctors on Demand and home visit facilitator Pager are offering patients low-cost ways to avoid the emergency room when they have medical issues that aren't dire but also can't wait weeks for an appointment with their general practitioner.

Color isn't the only genetic testing business in town. Both 23andMe and the blood-testing startup Theranos offer their own variety of low-cost tests. For $199, 23andMe will tell users if they are a carriers for over 35 genetic disorders, including cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs and sickle cell anemia, among other conditions. Theranos, meanwhile, purports to offer more than tests at prices ranging from $1.73 to $117.

Color kit.

The AMA report: A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association reviewed the cost-effectiveness of Color's $249 price. "Although the announcement of a $249 genetic test offered by Color Genomics may induce more price competition, given the extraordinarily low prevalence of BRCA mutations, the potential value of population-based genetic testing is questionable," the report notes.

Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes account for 5-10% of the total number of breast cancer cases diagnosed in the U.S. every year, which comes out to roughly 23,419 people, based on numbers from the American Cancer Society. This test will not affect an overwhelmingly large number of people. However, the report does indicate that universal BRCA testing could help unearth these genetic mutations earlier and thus lead carriers to make proactive decisions about their health  like Angelina Jolie's double mastectomy.

"Universal BRCA screening could avert an additional four breast cancers and two ovarian cancers per 10,000 women screened compared with family historybased screening," says the report.

It also concludes that while universal testing for BRCA gene mutations has some potential positive outcomes, the health care infrastructure might not be ready for it. "Th to counsel and test patients would further tax overburdened clinicians, so other avenues, such as mail-order testing and online counseling, would need to be explored," the report continued.

Health concerns: While health care startups like Color offer great promise for distributing affordable medical services, they don't come without pitfalls. Disrupting the medical industry isn't the same as doing so in other industries. When you in health care, people's lives are at stake.

In 2013, the Food and Drug Administration told 23andMe it couldn't market its genetic services as medical advice. Two years later in October 2015, the Wall Street Journal cast a negative light on Theranos, calling into question its technology and lab practices. Then complaints by former employees filed with the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services and the FDA popped up challenging the accuracy of Theranos' proprietary finger-prick blood test technology.

Since then, 23andMe has gotten FDA approval to do its direct-to-consumer genetic tests. Theranos has not been so lucky. The FDA is still investigating Theranos. Meanwhile its largest corporate partner, Walgreens, has threatened to stop working with the lab.

For Color, that means many will take a closer look at its operations. Like Theranos, Color has Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendment certification. Additionally, Color has regular reviews by the C. Unlike Theranos, Color tests must be ordered, administered and reviewed by a physician; this test is not a direct-to-consumer play. Also, Laraki told Mic his lab isn't doing anything substantially different from most labs; they've just introduced a lot of automation. He also says the company is working with researchers at the University of Washington, University of California, San Francisco and Morehouse School of Medicine to further advance cancer detection research. The lab also plans on contributing anonymized data to ClinVar, a public database of gene variants run by National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Correction: March 16, 2016

A previous version of this article said Color began selling its genetic test internationally on Wednesday, March 16. The company will release its test internationally on Thursday, March 17.
With Google Fiber headed to Atlanta this year, Comcast realizes that it has to step up its game. And now its beat Google Fiber to the punch by announcing its own 1Gbps Internet service that is now live in certain trial markets in Atlanta.

This being Comcast, however, there are some inevitable catches.

FROM EARLIER: How to see exactly how much money youve spent at Amazon in your life

As DSLReports notes, you will be subject to data caps on this new service unless you sign a three-year service agreement with the company. The upside to signing this three-year contract, in addition to not having to put up with data caps, is that youll pay $70 per month for your Internet service. If you dont sign a contract, youll have to pay $140 per month and face the prospect of getting hit with overage fees if you surpass monthly limits.

Comcast is delivering this service through DOCSIS 3.1 technology, which means it doesnt have to build a new fiber network from scratch as Google Fiber has done. Comcast is rolling out this service in Atlanta and Nashville in the first half of this year and plans to bring it to Chicago, Detroit and Miami in the second half of 2016.

If youre an Atlanta resident whos interesting in seeing whether your neighborhood will be covered by this new service, check out Comcasts Xfinity Gig page at this link.

Related stories

Google Fiber is (sort of) coming to San Francisco

Comcast's pitiful campaign to stop you from switching to Google Fiber

Google gives cities yet another reason to beg for Google Fiber

More from BGR: 10 of the worst CGI scenes to ever appear in popular movies

This article was originally published on BGR.com
Updated on March 16 at 3:47 p.m. ET

North Koreas Supreme Court convicted Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old student at the University of Virginia, of subversion and sentenced him to 15 years of prison and hard labor.

Heres a timeline of events that resulted in the conviction of the native of Wyoming, Ohio:

December 29, 2015: Warmbier arrives in North Korea as part of a tour group.

January 2: He is detained at Pyongyang airport while leaving the country, according to Young Pioneers, the tour company with which he was traveling.

January 22: North Korea made his arrest public, saying Warmbier was detained for anti-republic activities.

February 29: Warmbier was made by North Korean authorities to publicly confess to his alleged crime: stealing a propaganda sign from his hotel.

March 16: Warmbier is convicted and sentenced to 15 years of prison and hard labor.

Its unclear if Warmbiers public confession was coerced. His hands were free and he wore civilian clothes as he read from a prepared statement on February 29. In it, he called his alleged actions the worst mistake of my life, and said he did it at the behest of a member of the Friendship United Methodist Church in his hometown that wanted it as a trophy. In exchange, he said, he would receive a used car worth $10,000. His actions, he said, were also on behalf of the Z Society, a college group at the University of Virginia that Pyongyang alleges is a front for the CIA. Both the church and the Z Society have rejected the claims.

Recommended: What Bernie Sanders Knows About Nordic Countries That Hillary Clinton Doesn't

Warmbiers conviction comes amid increased tensions between the U.S. and North Korea over its nuclear test in January and missile launch. Those actions prompted enhanced UN sanctions, as well as U.S. sanctions that were announced Wednesday, against the North, which responded with threats against South Korea, Japan, and the U.S.

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Pyongyang could be using Warmbier as a bargaining chip to earn concessions from the U.S. It would not be a new approach. The U.S. and North Korea do not have diplomatic relations, and U.S. interests in Pyongyang are handled by Sweden. This doesnt prevent American tourists from visiting, but it does complicate Warmbiers fatethough other Americans who have been jailed in North Korea have been freed following high-profile visits to the country by American dignitaries.

Warmbiers alleged crimestealing a propaganda sign from a hotelmay sound trivial, but it is in line with other actions that have resulted in charges against Americans visiting North Korea. One recent visitor was detained for leaving a Bible at a restaurant, another for tearing up his tourist visa. Both were later freed following U.S. intervention, as was a Korean-American missionary.

There is at least one other American in detention in North Koreaa South Korea-born naturalized U.S. citizen who was detained last October on espionage charges.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Dana Brunetti is set to run a reorganized Relativity Media, but his decision-making is already being challenged.

On Wednesday, Edward R. Pressman Film Corporation, the producer of the 1994 film The Crow, lodged papers in bankruptcy court intended to deny Relativity rights to sequels, prequels and remakes.

In 2009, Pressman made a deal with Relativity that gave the Ryan Kavanaugh studio an option to three Crow films. The option was exercised in 2014, which according to court papers, gave Relativity three years to begin principal photography lest rights revert back to Pressman.

Last August, preproduction of the Crow sequel began, and Corin Hardy (The Hallow) came to a $150,000 "holding deal" to direct the film. According to Pressman, it proposed Hardy, and Relativity agreed to Hardy.

"[Hardy] is known for his visual flair, having a penchant for horror and dark subject matter," states Pressman. "The parties believed that Mr. Hardy was particularly suited to reinvigorate The Crow, which is based on a dark tale of revenge told originally in graphic novel form."

Hardy was much in-demand, says Pressman, adding that his attachment led other motion picture studios to attempt to acquire Relativity's Crow rights during the bankruptcy process.

"Notwithstanding the importance of Mr. Hardy as reflected by [Relativity] managements securing and extending his services through the 'holding deal,' and notwithstanding the confidence in him shown by other studios, on or about January 27, 2016  five days before the start of the confirmation hearings in the Relativity bankruptcy case  Mr. Dana Brunetti, purporting to act for or on behalf of RMLLC, summarily removed Mr. Hardy as director of the Picture."

Pressman asserts this was done prior to Brunetti meeting Hardy or actually becoming head of production at Relativity. The producer is objecting to the fact that it wasn't consulted, allegedly in violation of its contract with Relativity.

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"The action purported to have been taken by [Relativity] on Mr. Brunettis initiative with respect to Mr. Hardy has undermined years of work expended by Pressman and has wasted valuable resources invested in the Picture," continues the legal papers.

Pressman previously objected to Relativity's assumption of the Crow contract because of an alleged lack of adequate assurance Relativity could perform. The company says that contract was not identified in the reorganization plan to be assumed or rejected. Nevertheless, Pressman, represented by attorneys at Pryor Cashman, now alleges there's been a "material post-petition breach of the agreement, and that such non-monetary breach has not and cannot be cured."

"With Dana coming aboard, we are giving him full creative rein," a Relativity spokesperson tells The Hollywood Reporter. "We want him to be able to reboot The Crow under his vision and guidance. We are optimistic he will create the best package for such an iconic franchise."
The Daily Beast

Mikhail Svetlov/Getty ImagesThe Kremlin is threatening retaliatory action after authorities arrested Artyom Uss, the son of a top Russian official, at the United States request, for allegedly participating in a sanctions evasion and money laundering scheme.Uss, who was detained in Milan, was charged in relation to a scheme to unlawfully obtain U.S. military technology and sanctioned Venezuelan oil in order to support Russias war effort in Ukraine, according to charges unsealed by the U.S. Depa
The happiest country in the world is famous for its butter cookies, Lego bricks and fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen  it's Denmark, according to the 2016 World Happiness Report.

Denmark's top spot isn't exactly a surprise. The country ranked first in the 2013 World Happiness Report and third in the 2015 report. In fact, most of the top 10 happiest countries have retained their spots from last year, "although there has been some swapping of places," the new report said.

The new report comes out just before World Happiness Day on March 20, and was released at the Bank of Italy during a conference on happiness and subjective well-being today (March 16). [See the Top 20 and Bottom 20 Happiest Countries of 2016]

Denmark scored a happiness rating of 7.526 out of a possible 10 points, with Switzerland (7.509), Iceland (7.501) and Norway (7.498) close on its heels. The United States (7.104) placed 13th  up two spots from last year, when it ranked 15th out of 158 countries.

Promote well-being

In an effort to foster sustainable development, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commissioned the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) in 2012, with goals such as ending world hunger and poverty, ensuring healthy lives, and promoting well-being. The network of leaders from academia, governments and the private sector published their first happiness report in 2012 and every year after that except for 2014 because at first the report was published with18-month intervals.

The 2016 Happiness Report includes the rankings of 157 countries based on survey data from 2013 to 2015. Each country had an average sample size of 3,000 people who answered questions pertaining to six variables: gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, generosity and absence of corruption.

The top 10 countries are "all small or medium-sized Western industrial countries, of which seven are in Western Europe," according to the report. Surprisingly, the top 10 countries averaged a happiness score of 7.4  more than double the 3.4 average of the bottom 10 countries, according to the report.

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The least-happy countries include Benin (3.484), Afghanistan (3.360), Togo (3.303), Syria (3.069) and Burundi (2.905).

Ministry of happiness

The rankings are telling, as they account for more than just the economics of a country, said Jeffrey Sachs, director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University and co-editor of the report. [5 Weird Ways to Measure Happiness]

"Measuring self-reported happiness and achieving well-being should be on every nation's agenda as they begin to pursue the Sustainable Development Goals," Sachs said in a statement. "Indeed, the goals themselves embody the very idea that human well-being should be nurtured through a holistic approach that combines economic, social and environmental objectives."

In fact, five governments (Bhutan, Ecuador, Scotland, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela) have appointed "ministers of happiness," according to the report. However, it's unclear how much these ministers have helped to boost happiness. Though Venezuela created the position in 2013, the country dropped from the 20th- to 23rd-happiest country between 2013 and 2015, according to CNN.

Venezuela isn't the only country to move up or down the blissful ladder. The authors of the report compared data from 2005-2007 with that from 2013-2015, and found that out of 126 countries, 55 showed significant increases in happiness while 45 showed significant decreases. The remaining 26 countries had no significant change, the researchers found.

"The rankings show both consistency and change," said study co-editor John Helliwell, a professor emeritus of economics at the University of British Columbia. "The consistency at the top reflects mainly that life evaluations are based on life circumstances that usually evolve slowly, and that are all at high levels in the top countries.

"The year-to-year changes are also moderated by the averaging of data from three years of surveys in order to provide large sample sizes," he added. "However, when there have been long-lasting changes in the quality of life, they have led to large changes in life-evaluation levels and rankings, as shown by the many countries with large gains or losses from 2005-2007 to 2013-2015."

Overall, average happiness worldwide is 5.1, the researchers found. They added that people tend to be happier in societies that have more equal levels of happiness among its people.

Follow Laura Geggel on Twitter @LauraGeggel. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.

Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Dave Owens is a little distracted.

Got waylaid by our first-year MBA student [Taylor Force] who was stabbed and died in Israel yesterday. Really sad for him to come home after three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan only to be killed during a school trip, says Owens, professor of the practice of management and innovation at Vanderbilt Universitys Owen Graduate School of Management in Nashville.

Amid meditations on the ephemeral nature of life, the composed and measured Owens works into his field of focus and obsessive interest for the past 20-plus years: why some great ideas succeed and others fail. Specifically, how ideas are either nurtured or neutered by leaders and the organizations they lead. Organizations that will ofttimes get all the real work done. Owens came by his obsession honestly, being the brother of a dynamo of an older sister, and both being raised in Germany, the products of an American military man and a German woman.

Little doubt that his background prepared Owens to take nontraditional paths. But glimpsing everything  from his high school marching band days, his stint as a drummer in a punk band and a college career at Stanford that involved a year-and-a-half detour into stereo installation  youd still struggle to see the constant pull of what Owens describes as the life of the mind. He graduated Stanford with a degree in electrical engineering, but his path started in earnest when he ran into a buddy on the street in Palo Alto, California. Said buddy was working at David Kelley Design, later IDEO, the now-famous design and innovation firm, and it was a wrap.

More important, though, is not making so much stuff that isnt really needed. Designing for true needs is a big part of good design. Dan Adams, engineer

My biggest insight was that you could look at a product as being the manifestation or outcome of a set of interpersonal and organizational negotiations, or battles, over subjective decisions, Owens says, looking much younger than his nearly 50 years. At Dell, the operations people won most of the battles, he says, leading to machines that were cheap, modular, efficiently produced and not much to look at. Contrast with Apples machines, you could see that design and marketing had won quite a few more battles  their machines were expensive, hard to produce and beautiful.

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That realization led to certain recondite truths that stretched well beyond all of the laptop and tech making its way past him. Mostly, the ideas that how we build the building blocks affects what we build, and that we actually need the stuff we build to live. Yeah, take away all the designed stuff and most of us wouldnt last more than a month, Owens says with a laugh. This whole line of thought and thinking took him back to academia, a Ph.D., and a career that blasted off. After stops at Daimler-Benz, Apple and Dell, Owens landed as CEO at Griffin Technology, where he got to put his money where his mouth was in terms of structuring organizational behavior around his ideas on maximizing creativity.

Some scoff at the notion that creativity can be maximized, much in the same way that the debate rages over whether rhythm can really be taught to bad dancers or if the right paints can make a good painter. While the most dazzling innovations might be more likely the products of talent and providence, there are people who benefit from structured design methodology, says Andy Hope, a Stanford design genius who ultimately ended up an artist. The contention is made even clearer in Owens book, Creative People Must Be Stopped: 6 Ways We Kill Innovation (Without Even Trying), which he started after heading back, one final time, to academia. The book grew out of ideas he started poking around in when working on his dissertation, Status Contests in Meetings: Negotiating the Informal Order.

Ultimately, this stuff is the meat and potatoes of business school curricula, if not research and development and design programs. Thats why Owens has been the man in demand, consulting at Cisco, Nissan Leaf, Alcatel, Lego, the Smithsonian and Gibson, among others. Says Owens: The world is being filled with stuff at an increasing rate, stuff being designed under conditions where wed not acknowledged the values being built into the stuff and had not understood how we did.

Rushing home after a day of putting out various workplace fires, Owens adds that this is, in total, what his place in space is about. If people realize that they are actually creative by almost any definition of the word, he posits, thats halfway to doing the heavy lifting of expressing that creativity routinely in situations that matter. Moreover, if people feel empowered to get involved in the world via innovation, he believes theyll heed the obligation to intervene along the lines of our better social values. Being conflict-averse, I tend to not dictate what the values should be, says Owens, but I do insist that those with whom I work at least own the fact that their values, along with all kinds of oft-ignored interpersonal dynamics, are at work as well.

Id say that Daves interest is how one goes about getting good products out into the world  the whole process, from idea through funding, design, development, manufacturing and marketing, concludes Stanford Professor Emeritus Jim Adams, a former adviser and author of several books on creativity. He may not be No. 1 in the world in all of these areas, but hes good in all of them and especially good in how they interact, and thats what the world needs  and so do universities, whether they know it or not.

Related Articles
By Daria Sito-Sucic TUZLA, Bosnia (Reuters) - Bosnian membership in the European Union might not seem a realistic, or even desirable, goal, but boosters of the idea say working towards joining may be the only way the country can pull itself together 20 years after its devastating war. An ethnically divided nation beset by corruption and economic difficulties, Bosnia formally applied to the 28-nation bloc in February and was told it must progress with economic and social reforms before it can be considered. Businesses like Bingo shops, set up by Tuzla's Senad Dzambic in the midst of Bosnia's 1992-95 conflict and now the country's largest supermarket chain, are already anticipating the opportunities and challenges to come. "We have strategically turned towards domestic production with local partners to be able to produce basic food staples and be competitive when the EU products flood the market here," Dzambic told Reuters. Some might wonder why Bosnia and other countries even bother given the challenges the EU faces in the migrant crisis, a looming British referendum on leaving the bloc and years of economic emergencies in the euro zone. But without the prospect of membership Bosnia risks being left behind by its neighbors who also emerged from the break-up of the former Yugoslavia and who either already belong to the bloc or are far further down the road to membership. That, analysts say, leaves a weak link on the edge of Europe open to continued smuggling of arms and people and ripe for exploitation by various extremist forces, ranging from radical Islamists among otherwise moderate Bosnian Muslims to ultra-nationalist Orthodox Serbs. "There is no alternative to the EU," said Igor Gavran, an expert on the Bosnian economy currently at Queen Mary University of London. "Bosnia is so dysfunctional that even this dysfunctional EU, as it seems to be at the moment, is still a role model for Bosnia." Of the former Yugoslav countries, Slovenia and Croatia are EU members and Serbia and Montenegro have begun membership negotiations. Macedonia's progress towards EU membership is blocked by a dispute with Greece over the country's name. The hope is that the carrot of eventual EU membership, with its promise of funds for development, access to a single market of 500 million people and freedom to work in other countries, will galvanize Bosnia's leadership to set aside differences to work together on reforms. The strategy worked in Croatia, where mainstream political leaders, backed by the majority of Croats, set membership in the EU as their primary goal after their war to gain independence and worked to meet the bloc's terms, including the arrest of war crimes suspects. The EU path was cleared for Serbia after the country arrested key culprits from the Bosnian war and struck a series of accords with its former province of Kosovo, with which it waged a war in 1999. Accession talks opened last December. RECIPE FOR GRIDLOCK But while both Croatia and Serbia showed the political will to break with their wartime pasts, such determination is still largely missing in Bosnia where political elites continue to obstruct reconciliation efforts for their own political and personal gain, analysts say. The Dayton agreement that ended Bosnia's war moreover mandated an unwieldy political system that has encouraged political gridlock: division of the country into a Serb Republic and a Bosniak-Croat Federation with a weak central government. The result has been wide disagreement on the country's future direction among its Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croats and Muslim Bosniaks. The Bosnian Serb leadership favors closer ties with Russia and has threatened the secession of their autonomous republic, and questions Bosnia's EU bid. Many ordinary Bosnians are also skeptical. "We are far away from the EU. This is not going to happen because there is too much crime in this country," Vujadin Djuric, a private businessman in his 60s, told Reuters as he shopped at a mall in Tuzla. He also expressed a commonly held wariness of Europe's motives: "Europe was behind the whole mess that has happened here and now they pretend to be our saviors." The process of accession to the EU is long, complicated and fraught: years can go by before a country is accepted as a candidate depending on the progress of reforms, after which negotiations are opened which can last for more years while the candidate aligns its laws with EU standards. The economic and social challenges in Bosnia are also formidable. In its latest report, the EU said Bosnia had fallen back on some issues, including the freedom of expression and required judiciary reforms. Bosnia has yet to harmonize its constitution with a 2009 ruling by the European human rights court ordering it to allow minorities, such as Roma and Jews, to run for top offices. Currently only Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats may run for president. It also has yet to publish the results of its first postwar census held in 2013, another request from the EU, because the country's two regions cannot agree on the methodology in counting citizens. The census is at risk of being annulled. The economy, which grew by 3.1 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of last year, is weighed down by a bloated public sector and saddled with one of Europe's highest unemployment rates at 27.7 percent. It is struggling to reach agreement with the International Monetary Fund on a new 1 billion marka ($558 million) loan agreement. THE SPARK THAT IGNITES A FLAME? In the midst of the general pessimism, the fact the EU application process is moving forward offers a glimmer of hope. Bosnia was allowed to submit its application by implementing a number of reforms agreed last summer with the EU, and created a requested coordination mechanism for dealing with the bloc with the consent of all governments, although the nationalist Serb Republic government later disputed the deal. "Outside investors look at the EU as the anchor the country is tied to so even the process is a really, really good signal to investors that Bosnia is a stable environment to invest in," Ian Brown, head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's mission in Bosnia, told Reuters in an interview. The example of Bingo, which operates in both autonomous regions, shows how business can overcome the country's complex administrative and ethnic barriers. Along with the retailing business which has annual revenue of 800 million Bosnian marka ($450 million), Dzambic developed Bingo's own food production and acquired several companies producing food, textile and furniture, employing another 300 people on top of Bingo's 5,200 employees. "We as retailers are already preparing in order to be well-positioned, logistically supported and backed with appropriate certificates and standards," Dzambic said in the interview. Many observers believe Bosnia's decision-making procedures make it unlikely the country has any chance of joining the EU before 2025. But some politicians hope the spark lit by the application can be coaxed into a flame relatively quickly. "If we work and if we show readiness for an internal agreement on the European issues, it is realistic to get the candidacy by the end of 2017," said Foreign Minister Igor Crnadak, who is in the pro-reform and pro-EU Serbian camp in the current central state government. But he added: "If we don't work (together), this will not happen". (1$ = 1.782 Bosnian marka) (additional reporting by Gordana Katana and Gabriela Baczynska in Brussels; Editing by Adrian Croft and Sonya Hepinstall)
Today in One Paragraph

Key presidential nominating contests are underway in Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Illinois, and Missouri. The White House announced new measures aimed at easing travel between Cuba and the U.S. Russian military forces began their exit from Syria a day after President Vladimir Putin announced the withdrawal. One suspect has been killed, and others are on the run after a police raid in Brussels linked to last years deadly attacks in Paris. And President Obama abandoned his plan to drill for oil along the eastern seaboard.

Top News

Mega Tuesday. Voters in Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Illinois, and Missouri are headed to the polls for what might be the most high-stakes primaries yet: The big prizes are Ohio and Florida where Donald Trump is challenging John Kasich and Marco Rubio for their respective home states. On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders is looking to catch up to Hillary Clinton by overtaking her in Illinois and Ohio, where the two are in tight races. Were covering it live here. (The Atlantic)

Recommended: Why John Kasich Is Still Standing

White House Opens Personal Travel to Cuba. The Obama administration announced new measures to ease travel to Cuba that allow for people-to-people educational travel. The announcement comes days before the presidents historic visit to Havana. (Gregory Korte, USA Today)

Russian Begins Syria Exit. The first group of Russian aircraft has left Syria, according to the Russian defense ministry. Secretary of State John Kerry said he is traveling to Moscow next week to meet with Putin and discuss Syrias political transition process. (The Associated Press)

Shootout During Brussels Raid. One suspect has been killed, and several more are on the run after Belgian police attempted to raid a building in southern Brussels in connection with last years deadly attacks in Paris. At least four officers sustained injuries, according to police officials. (BBC News)

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Obama Withdraws Plan to Allow Oil Drilling. The president cancelled his plans to drill for oil along the mid-Atlantic seaboard, according to an announcement by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewel, who said the decision came due to conflicts with national defense, economic activities such as fishing and tourism, and opposition from many local communities. Drilling will remain off-limits until 2022. (Suzanne Goldenberg, The Guardian)

Tomorrow in One Paragraph. John Kasich and Ted Cruz will be rallying voters in Pennsylvania, and Marco Rubio will be in Utah. First Lady Michelle Obama will kick off the SXSW Music Festival as the keynote speaker.

Follow stories throughout the day with our new Politics & Policy page. And keep on top of the campaign with our 2016 Distilled election dashboard.

Top Read

Why is Trump asked to condemn and discourage violence, while the protesters arent criticized for coming and starting trouble? Why are minorities suddenly entitled to jobs and platforms and Oscar nominations that previously belonged exclusively to whites? Trumps supporters see their social status slipping at others expense in what they perceive to be a zero-sum game. The Atlantics Molly Ball on the resentment powering Donald Trumps campaign.

Top Lines

Not All Kids Feel the Bern. Sanders has earned overwhelming support in towns with public colleges, so why has he lost ground in cities with more exclusive liberal arts or Ivy League universities? Heres one theory. (Nathaniel Rakich, The New Republic)

Recommended: What Bernie Sanders Knows About Nordic Countries That Hillary Clinton Doesn't

A Bad Rap? Donald Trumps campaign manager Corey Lewandowski has denied accusations that he assaulted a reporter,but according to a Politico report, its not the first time the staffer has been accused of inappropriate behavior. (Kenneth P. Vogel, Ben Schreckinger, and Hadas Gold)

Top Views

D.C. at Peak Bloom. Avoid the deluge of tourists this weekend, and check out this app, created by The Atlantics Andrew McGill, which guides you to the cherry tree nearest you in Washington, D.C.

Trumps Media Advantage. The billionaire spends less on media advertising than any other presidential candidate, but Trump has garnered the most free attention from news outlets and social media over the course of his campaign. (Nicholas Confessore and Karen Yourish, The New York Times)

We want to hear from you! Were reimagining what The Edge can be, and would love to receive your complaints, compliments, and suggestions. Tell us what youd like to find in your inbox by sending a message to newsletters@theatlantic.com.

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This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
ROME (Reuters) - Egypt will spare no effort to find and punish those who tortured and killed an Italian student in Cairo, the country's president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said an interview published on Wednesday. Carlo Regeni, 28, a Cambridge University researcher, was found in a ditch on the outskirts of Cairo on Feb. 3. His body was bruised and broken. "I confirm that we will spare no efforts and continue to work with the Italian authorities to arrest the perpetrators, so that they can be punished according to the law," he told Italy's La Repubblica newspaper. He called the incident "terrifying and unacceptable" and vowed to intensify cooperation with Italian investigators. Regeni had been studying Egypt's independent labor unions and had written critical articles about the government. Rome prosecutors suspect he was murdered by Egyptian security services who considered him a spy, according to judicial sources. Egypt has denied this, suggesting common criminals or Islamist militants were involved. In the interview, Sisi suggested that the murder may have been carried out to hurt Italian-Egyptian ties. "Why did it happen when bilateral relations gather unprecedented momentum both politically and economically? Are there any beneficiaries who seek to impede relations, given the turbulent situation in the region?" he said. Italy sent a seven-person team to investigate but after a month they have not received all the evidence they say is needed to properly conduct the investigation. (Reporting By Philip Pullella; Editing by Toby Chopra)
ROME (Reuters) - Egypt will spare no effort to find and punish those who tortured and killed an Italian student in Cairo, the country's president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said an interview published on Wednesday. Giulio Regeni, 28, a Cambridge University researcher, was found in a ditch on the outskirts of Cairo on Feb. 3. His body was bruised and broken. "I confirm that we will spare no efforts and continue to work with the Italian authorities to arrest the perpetrators, so that they can be punished according to the law," he told Italy's La Repubblica newspaper. He called the incident "terrifying and unacceptable" and vowed to intensify cooperation with Italian investigators. Regeni had been studying Egypt's independent labour unions and had written critical articles about the government. Rome prosecutors suspect he was murdered by Egyptian security services who considered him a spy, according to judicial sources. Egypt has denied this, suggesting common criminals or Islamist militants were involved. In the interview, Sisi suggested that the murder may have been carried out to hurt Italian-Egyptian ties. "Why did it happen when bilateral relations gather unprecedented momentum both politically and economically? Are there any beneficiaries who seek to impede relations, given the turbulent situation in the region?" he said. Italy sent a seven-person team to investigate but after a month they have not received all the evidence they say is needed to properly conduct the investigation. (Reporting By Philip Pullella; Editing by Toby Chopra)
(Reuters) - Voters in Chicago have ousted embattled Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, who has been harshly criticized for her handling of a police shooting investigation. Preliminary Democratic primary results on Tuesday showed Alvarez, 56, was handily defeated by Kim Foxx, an African-American who capitalized on criticism the two-term prosecutor received for taking more than a year to charge Jason Van Dyke, a white officer, who fatally shot a black teenager in 2014. "The stakes in this race were very high," Foxx said during her victory speech. "I understand the excitement, but let us not get lost in the gravity of the work that is ahead of us." Foxx, 43, will face Republican Christopher Pfannkuche, who ran an uncontested primary race, in the general election in November. Alvarez will remain in office until then. Killings of black men at the hands of mainly white law enforcement officials in U.S. cities over the past two years have prompted demonstrations across the country and stoked a national debate on race relations and police tactics. Alvarez charged Van Dyke on Nov. 24 with first-degree murder more than a year after he shot Laquan McDonald 16 times. The October 2014 shooting was captured on patrol car dashboard-camera videos that were released on the day Van Dyke was charged, setting off weeks of protests. Politicians, pastors and civil rights advocates called for Alvarez to resign, saying she only filed the murder charges because she was under pressure after the videos were made public. "We find ourselves in this country, not just here in Cook County, in a great climate of change and in reform in the criminal justice system," Alvarez said during her concession speech. After Van Dyke was charged, Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy was fired and the U.S. Justice Department launched an investigation into the Chicago Police Department. "This is what justice looks like," said organizers of Assatas Daughters, a local black women's advocacy group, on a Facebook video post. Foxx served as assistant states attorney for Cook County for 12 years and then as chief of staff for the Cook County Board president. Born to a teenage mother, she spent part of her childhood in Chicago's Cabrini Green public housing complex and in a homeless shelter. "Kims life experience has given her a deep understanding of the impact of crime, violence and poverty on our communities," her campaign website said. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Peter Cooney)
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warned in September that the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, could "get very big" months before the EPA issued an emergency order requiring the state and city to take immediate steps to protect residents, emails released on Wednesday showed.

Administrator Gina McCarthy wrote in a Sept. 26, 2015, email to EPA staff that the Flint water issue was "really getting concerning" and asked for a meeting to be scheduled to determine "where we are now and what needs to be done by whom."

McCarthy wrote, "This situation has the opportunity to get very big very quickly."

She asked officials in another email the same day for options on federal intervention.

The EPA released 1,200 pages of redacted emails Wednesday on the agency's response to the Flint water crisis.

An EPA spokeswoman did not comment on McCarthy's emails.

In response to concerns from her deputy about the EPA possibly intervening, McCarthy wrote on Sept. 26, "There is danger if we do not weigh in as well. Doesn't need to be formal but doing nothing is fraught as well."

In January the EPA issued an emergency order requiring Michigan and city of Flint to take immediate steps to protect residents after determining that their response to the crisis had been "inadequate to protect human health."

On Tuesday in a Washington Post editorial, McCarthy defended the EPA's actions suggesting Michigan was "dismissive, misleading and unresponsive" and federal officials were "provided with confusing, incomplete and incorrect information."

"As a result, EPA staff members were unable to understand the scope of the lead problem until more than a year after the switch to untreated water," she wrote.

"While we were repeatedly and urgently telling the state to do so, looking back, we missed opportunities late last summer to get our concerns onto the publics radar."

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McCarthy's emails came after then EPA regional administrator Susan Hedman sent an email to superiors that controversy surrounding lead in Flint water was increasing after local doctors said lead levels in children had doubled since the city switched to Flint River water.

Hedman, who was criticized for her handling of the crisis, resigned in February. She testified to a Congressional committee on Tuesday and was chastised by House members for not moving fast enough to address the crisis.

McCarthy, who is due to testify before the same committee on Thursday, could face questions about the urgency at EPA to address the issue.

"While EPA did not cause the lead problem, in hindsight, we should not have been so trusting of (Michigan) for so long when they provided us with overly simplistic assurances of technical

compliance rather than substantive responses to our growing concerns," her written testimony released Wednesday said. "Im personally committed to doing everything possible to make sure a crisis like this never happens again."

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, who has apologized for the state's poor handling of the crisis, is also due to testify Thursday.

Snyder in written testimony released late on Wednesday said "inefficient, ineffective, and unaccountable bureaucrats at the EPA allowed this disaster to continue unnecessarily." He called on McCarthy for the EPA to accept its share of the blame.

McCarthy wrote in a Sept. 27 email that the "state needs to step up here. Wonder if it isn't the best solution to ask the state to support the shift back to Detroit water in the short term."

The state helped Flint switch back to Detroit water in October. The same month the EPA established a task force to provide technical advice to help Flint's water switch. EPA also announced an audit of Michigan's environmental agency in November.

Under the direction of a state-appointed emergency manager, Flint, a working class mostly African-American city of 100,000 north of Detroit, switched water supplies to the Flint River in 2014, to save money.

The more corrosive river water, which was not treated, caused more lead to leach from the city's aging water pipes than the Detroit water the city had tapped previously, causing a public health threat marked by high lead levels in blood samples taken from children. Lead is a toxic agent that can damage the nervous system.

(Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Ben Klayman and Bernard Orr)
* EU summit talks to debate energy security

* Nord Stream-2 generated heated debate at Dec (Shanghai: 600875.SS - news) summit

* European Commission cannot confirm receipt of letter

By Andrius Sytas

VILNIUS, March 16 (Reuters) - Eight EU governments have signed a letter objecting to the Nord Stream-2 project that would double the amount of gas shipped directly from Russia to Germany, according to a document seen by Reuters.

The letter, addressed to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, reignites a debate that has pitched dominant EU member Germany against central and eastern European nations.

If the project goes ahead, Nord Stream-2 would generate "potentially destabilising geopolitical consequences", the letter says.

The European Commission said it could not confirm receipt of the letter.

"The Nord Stream-2 project that is currently under preparation can pose certain risks for energy security in the region of central and eastern Europe," the letter, dated March 7, says.

"It (Other OTC: ITGL - news) would strongly influence gas market development and gas transit patterns in the region, most notably the transit route via Ukraine."

Russia's gas export pipelines have become intensely political because of the conflict in Ukraine.

Ukraine is the transit route for about half of the gas Russia's Gazprom sells to the European Union, which relies on Russia for roughly a third of its supplies.

The copy of the letter seen by Reuters is signed by the prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and Romania and the president of Lithuania.

Two EU sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Croatia had also signed a later version of the letter, but this could not immediately be confirmed with the Croatian government.

EU leaders meet for summit talks in Brussels on Thursday, when energy security is expected to be discussed.

Nord Stream-2 generated heated debate at summit talks in December following another letter sent to the Commission.

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European Council President Donald Tusk of Poland said then it would be up to the Commission to make a final decision on legality. However, in his view Nord Stream-2, backed by Gazprom, E.ON, Wintershall, Shell (LSE: RDSB.L - news) , OMV (EUREX: 430021.EX - news) and Engie (LSE: 0LD0.L - news) , flouted EU rules.

Gazprom and some utilities say Nord Stream-2 is the most pragmatic solution to shoring up Europe's energy security. The Commission has said it is assessing its legality.

German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel travelled to Poland early this year where he promised the new pipeline would go ahead only if Russia did not cut off Ukraine and eastern European gas flows.

Gazprom already sends gas to Germany across the Baltic Sea via the Nord Stream pipelines. Nord Stream-2 would add a second twin subsea pipeline from Russia to Germany, doubling capacity to 110 billion cubic metres per year.

(Additional reporting by Barbara Lewis and Foo Yun Chee in Brussels; Writing by Barbara Lewis; Editing by Dale Hudson)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union will "prepare for the decision on the opening of new chapters" in Turkey's accession negotiations with the bloc, an updated draft agreement between the 28-strong union and Ankara said late on Wednesday. Cyprus has long blocked progress on Turkey's membership talks with the EU and Brussels said on Wednesday that a deal to curb mass migration to Europe hinges on whether tensions between Ankara and Nicosia can be overcome. EU leaders will further discuss the draft agreement in Brussels on Thursday before taking it to Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Friday. (Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A provisional EU-Turkey deal to stem the flow of migrants in return for concessions to Ankara is not offering Turkey "a free ride", European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans said on Wednesday. Timmermans told a news conference that Turkey would, for example, need to carry out required measures by the end of April to allow Turks visa-free travel into the European Union by the end of June, as Ankara has requested. "We are certainly not giving Turkey a free ride," he said. He also said that Turkish requests to open new "chapters" of its long stalled negotiation on accession to the EU would be considered and said that would need the agreement of EU member states. Cyprus is blocking opening some chapters until Turkey stops excluding it from some existing agreements with the EU. Timmermans acknowledged widespread concerns about human rights in Turkey but said that the European Union had an interest in expanding the accession process in order to address those issues. There would be no "blanket returns" to Turkey and that both Greece and Turkey would need to change legislation in order for the scheme to work in accordance with EU and international law. But the alternative to the deal was to see more people arrive in Greece, where borders have been closed to prevent them moving to the rest of the EU, notably to Germany. He referred to poor conditions at Idomeni, on the Greek border with Macedonia, where thousands of migrants are stranded. EU leaders will discuss the proposals at a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday and Timmermans said the Commission believed it was the right thing for the EU to seal a final deal. He insisted refugees were not being turned away from Europe and that the EU would ensure they were given full international rights to protection in Turkey if there was conclusion of the accord by which Turkey takes back people reaching Greece. Under the draft plan, the EU would take in one Syrian refugee direct from Turkey for every one returned to Turkey. Timmermans said initially those resettled would benefit from an existing scheme by which member states offered 22,000 places last year. EU officials say about 18,000 places remain. Once those are filled, Timmermans said, there were a further 54,000 places, allocated under a different EU scheme intended to take asylum seekers from one EU state to another, but which could be modified to include the relocation of people from Turkey to Europe. Beyond that, Timmermans said, it would be necessary for European states to offer many more places to resettle asylum seekers from Turkey. "There is no way, politically or morally, to turn Turkey or Greece into huge refugee camps," he said. (Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska and Alastair Macdonald; Writing by Philip Blenkinsop and Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Philip Blenkinsop)
ZURICH (Reuters) - Lawyers for former Georgia Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili have filed a Swiss criminal complaint against Credit Suisse relating to allegations of money laundering, one of the lawyers told Reuters on Wednesday. The complaint alleges that Credit Suisse did not have the necessary controls in place, which allowed money to be laundered through its systems, the lawyer said. Credit Suisse declined to comment on the filing, but said it was cooperating with the Geneva prosecutor. "We can't comment on the filing and cooperate with the Geneva prosecutor," a spokeswoman for Credit Suisse said in an emailed statement. Lawyers for Ivanishvili have alleged that fraudulent activities by a Credit Suisse client adviser lost the former Georgian leader hundreds of millions of dollars. They allege that the adviser moved money from Ivanishvili's account to cover other losses. These losses came to light in September when shares in a small-cap U.S. company the adviser had invested in fell sharply. The complaint, which was filed on Tuesday, is the fourth that lawyers for Ivanishvili have filed in Switzerland in this case, but the first against Credit Suisse. Past complaints have been against the client adviser, whose name has not been publicly released, and unknown persons for alleged fraud and hidden commissions. The client adviser, who worked for Credit Suisse for around 10 years, has been in custody in Geneva since mid-January, the adviser's lawyer said last month. "The former relationship manager concealed his deceptions from his colleagues and this is to the best of our knowledge an individual case," Credit Suisse said in its statement. A lawyer for the adviser was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday, while the Geneva Public Prosecutor's office had no comment. News of the criminal complaint was reported earlier by Bloomberg. (Reporting by Joshua Franklin; Additional reporting by Oliver Hirt; Editing by Alexander Smith)
By Maha El Dahan ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Egypt will allow wheat imports with trace levels of the common ergot fungus, the country's agriculture minister said, while government agencies try to resolve a dispute that has disrupted shipments to the world's biggest wheat buyer. Essam Fayed also told Reuters that no timeframe had been given to an official from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), drafted in to resolve the row on a scientific basis. "I will not pressurize anyone," Fayed said in an interview in the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi, where he was on an official visit. "I have been following up to make sure it is done as soon as possible but it takes time and I can't tell you how long it will take at the moment," he said. Fayed's stance on fungus tolerance levels in imports is in direct contrast to that of quarantine officials who say no level of ergot is allowed in shipments until legislation changes. The conflict between Egypt's agricultural quarantine authority and the agriculture and supply ministries over the level of allowed ergot, a common grain fungus, in wheat imports has led to a series of shipments to the world's largest importer being rejected and a crisis in confidence with global suppliers. Traders have continued to vote with their feet as offers to sell wheat in tenders have fallen dramatically. In a tender on Wednesday, state grain buyer's GASC only received six offers of wheat compared to a an average of around 15 prior to the crisis. Saad Moussa, the quarantine agency's former chief, who was replaced on March 6, followed a 2001 regulation governing the authority which specified zero tolerance towards the fungus. The agriculture and supply ministers argued for trace levels of 0.05 percent, a common norm in international standards and the tolerance specified in Egypt's own wheat 2010 specifications. Moussa's rigid position disrupted wheat purchase tenders and raised the possibility of a shortage of the strategic grain that the country's impoverished population relies on for nutrition through a massive subsidized bread program. "This (conflict) had to be stopped because it started to become a big issue ... we were heading towards a national security problem," Fayed said. Moussa's removal was accompanied with an announcement a day later that a FAO expert was assigned to conduct a risk analysis on ergot and give recommendations about safe levels for Egypt. "I have no personal issue with Saad Moussa, but what I do care about is doing the correct thing for Egypt and the Egyptian people," Fayed said. "If I have a scientific opinion and I want to change the Egyptian specifications then there are certain procedures that I have to take .... Moussa didn't go down that road," he said. The pest risk analysis assessment currently being conducted could involve field work or not and could take any amount of time between weeks and months, Fayed said. There is no indication so far of what the FAO expert will recommend. "She could recommend zero or 0.05 or 0.04 percent," he said. Fayed will meet with the expert for the first time on Thursday on his return to Cairo. CONFUSION But global suppliers, who regularly used to offer wheat in Egyptian state tenders, are eager for more clarity from their biggest customer before they return. Fayed said that until a final opinion is reached on the matter, wheat shipments arriving in Egypt with trace levels of the fungus up to 0.05 percent will be accepted. The new quarantine head has said the opposite. "We are committed to the Egyptian specifications until then," Fayed said, referring to the 2010 specifications allowing up to an 0.05 trace level of ergot. The new head of quarantine Ibrahim Imbabi, told Reuters on March 8 he would follow a zero tolerance policy stipulated in the 2001 legislation governing his authority until something new was issued. Fayed said he was unconcerned about Egyptian wheat reserves being affected in the meantime as there were successful purchase tenders carried out by the state grain importer GASC recently. "There are tenders and purchases," he said. (Reporting by Maha El Dahan; Editing by Veronica Brown and David Evans)
An experimental drug mixture can successfully fight the Ebola virus in monkeys, fully protecting them from lethal infections, according to a new study.

The finding may pave the way for a therapy that is broadly protective against Ebola viruses in Africa, researchers say. Unlike a vaccine, the new drug mixture is intended to treat Ebola after a person has been infected with the virus.

The Ebola outbreak that began in 2014 in West Africa was the largest known outbreak of the virus in history, causing more than 28,000 cases of Ebola virus disease and 11,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. Symptoms of Ebola virus disease include fever, muscle pain, severe headache, diarrhea, vomiting, and sometimes bleeding from the nose, eyes, mouth, ears and elsewhere. Although West Africa was declared Ebola-free in mid-January of this year, a few cases have since occurred in Sierra Leone, and the region remains at risk for more cases of Ebola virus disease.

The outbreak spurred research into drugs and vaccines to combat the deadly virus. In 2014, researchers developed an experimental drug called ZMapp, which was given to a handful of Ebola patients. This new therapy consisted of three different antibodies, which are molecules that can bind to foreign proteins.

In early studies of ZMapp, the drug successfully treated 18 monkeys infected with the Kikwit strain of Ebola that struck Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1995. This previous research found that all of the monkeys recovered from the infection without showing any lingering effects.

Now, researchers have developed an anti-Ebola drug mixture, or "cocktail," made from only two antibodies and seems at least as effective as ZMapp, the study's authors said. This simpler formulation may simplify production, reduce costs, accelerate regulatory approval of the drug and improve safety by reducing potential complications, the researchers said. [5 Viruses That Are Scarier Than Ebola]

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"Bringing the cocktail down to two antibodies is very good news," said study co-author Gary Kobinger, an immunologist, virologist and director of the Infectious Disease Research Center at Laval University in Quebec City. "It'll be easier to produce and save a lot on the costs."

The new cocktail, called MIL77E, uses two of the three antibodies in ZMapp. Prior research found that two of the three antibodies in ZMapp were very similar in the way they target the Ebola virus, suggesting that they were redundant  so MIL77E uses just one of those two antibodies.

Whereas ZMapp was generated in a close relative of the tobacco plant, the new cocktail was generated using modified Chinese hamster ovary cells. The idea was that the use of mammalian cells would produce a drug more useful in the human body than a drug manufactured in plant cells. The researchers also tweaked certain parts of each antibody to better resemble human antibodies.

Three days after three monkeys were infected with the Makona strain of the Ebola virus (the one responsible for the current outbreak), all three monkeys that were given the two-antibody cocktail survived. In contrast, only two of the three monkeys given a similar formulation of ZMapp survived.

An infection that has also caused Ebola outbreaks in Africa is Sudan ebolavirus, which is related to but distinct from the Zaire ebolavirus that recently struck West Africa.

Kobinger noted that adding an antibody against Sudan ebolavirus to MIL77E could lead to a three-antibody cocktail that could combat most Ebola cases in Africa.

"This work really opens the door to cocktails that will have broader potency, that will be potent against more than one species of Ebola," Kobinger told Live Science. "This could cut down the risk of having resistant mutant viruses escaping."

The scientists detailed their findings online March 9 in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Follow Charles Q. Choi on Twitter @cqchoi. Follow us @livescience, Facebook &Google+. Original article on Live Science.

Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Far from the flashbulbs of Tokyo fashion week, Yoshio Yokobori is juggling multiple roles -- talent scout, cultural interpreter, dealmaker -- in a quest to help foreign buyers navigate a labyrinthine design landscape and access Japan's most exciting underground labels.

Although Tokyo's streets offer up a wealth of inspiration for global trend spotters, Japanese designers have struggled to make a dent abroad in recent years to follow in the hallowed footsteps of influential and successful designers such as Issey Miyake and Yohji Yamamoto.

And while local labels continue to earn respect for their quality, technical skill and creative design, many fail to translate that reputation into global sales.

It's a problem industry insider Yokobori knows well.

"If someone running a store in Singapore, for example, wants to place an order with a Japanese designer, it is impossible," Yokobori said.

"The designers don't speak English, they often can't write an invoice or make decisions quickly... and many have no knowledge of overseas markets or why they matter," he told AFP on the sidelines of fashion week.

A booming domestic market once meant Japanese labels had little reason to ponder global expansion.

But chronically low birth rates have resulted in a decline in local consumption, prompting the fashion fraternity to begin looking outward for future customers.

The lull has seen Tokyo government officials and the Japan External Trade Organization sponsor visits by fashion buyers from leading concept stores, including Colette in Paris and Andreas Murkudis in Berlin, in a bid to stir up business overseas.

- Secrecy rules -

For those designers willing to dive into unfamiliar waters, consultants like Yokobori can mean the difference between sink or swim, thanks to a Rolodex packed with contacts and an insight into what makes Japanese brands tick overseas.

The 37-year-old, whose responsibilities cover everything from brokering business deals to ensuring that designers file invoices and answer store-owners' emails on time, works in six countries on a punishing schedule that saw him take 117 flights last year.

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He launched his company a decade ago, intending to work as a domestic distributor for Japanese brands, but later realised that economic opportunities lay elsewhere -- in countries with consumers hungry for fashion and branded goods.

While Yokobori works with stores based in China, Singapore, Indonesia and other Asian countries, veteran fashion consultant and journalist Masahiro Kubo takes Japanese brands to Paris, hosting pop-up shops and running a fashion news website called "Journal Cubocci".

A founder of Tokyo's International Fashion Fair, a trade show which attracted around 15,000 visitors last year, Kubo worked as Paris bureau chief for Japan's top fashion daily, Senken Shimbun, before setting up a consultancy.

Neither Kubo nor Yokobori were willing to reveal details of who they represent, citing non-disclosure agreements with stores.

Furthermore, in a business focused on finding underground labels, maintaining an air of secrecy is seen as the key to exclusivity.

"My priority is to find brands that people haven't heard of yet," Kubo told AFP.

"The most satisfying part of the job for me is incubating a small brand and watching it grow," he said.

Local labels such as DISCOVERED and divka, the latter a former client of Yokobori, are now stocked in leading boutiques across the US and Asia, signalling that a shift is underway, as well as success for the consultants working behind the scenes.

For fashion hunter Yokobori, who spent his teenage years working several part-time jobs in order to afford T-shirts sold at cutting-edge boutiques in Tokyo's vibrant Harajuku neighbourhood, business is on the up.

"When I started working with overseas clients, I worked with just one store my first year, so we have experienced a big increase," he said.

"Japanese fashion designers have to go outside (Japan)... but many don't bother. That needs to change."
Its happening. The FBIs worst nightmare is coming true. Instead of using the tools at its disposal to break into an iPhone recovered from one of the terrorists who carried out the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California this past December, it tried to set a precedent. With the possibility of thwarting future terrorist attacks supporting its argument, the Bureau compelled a court to force Apple to provide it with tools that would allow investigators to hack into the iPhone. Apple appealed the courts decision though, and it took the fight public.

Now, this ongoing battle is having the worst possible outcome for the FBI: Mobile devices will be more difficult to break into than ever before in the coming months and years, as will mobile apps.

DONT MISS: How to see exactly how much money youve spent at Amazon in your life

On Tuesday, we told you about some of the effects the FBIs stance is having on various software companies. In a nutshell, its inspiring them to make their apps and services far more secure. This is of course a good thing for users since it will better protect their privacy, but its bad for agencies like the FBI since it will often add additional barriers to their investigations.

In the future, apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Snapchat will be even more secure than they are today as a direct result of the FBIs public war on encryption. And now, as was rumored in an earlier report, it has seemingly been confirmed that the FBIs fight has inspired Apple to work toward making an unhackable iPhone.

The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday night issued a report stating that Apple isnt just working on strengthening on-device security for iPhones and iPads, it is also working on stronger security for its iCloud service.

Apple has been quite clear in its opposition to the FBIs request for a special version of its operating system that would allow it to more easily crack iPhone security. However, it has complied with the governments request to turn over data recovered from San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farooks iCloud account.

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UP NEXT: 3 most important things you need to know about the FBIs war with Apple

According to The Journal, complying with similar requests wont be quite so simple. Apple is reportedly working to strengthen iCloud security so that all information stored in a users iCloud account is encrypted and cannot be decoded.

Theres no indication that stronger iCloud encryption is coming in the immediate future. Apple is reportedly still wrestling with figuring out how to implement stronger security without harming the user experience. But whether or not the FBI ends up winning the San Bernardino iPhone case, it looks like the Bureau will ultimately lose this war.

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Apple destroys government claim that it's using encryption debate as a marketing tool

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This article was originally published on BGR.com
(Reuters) - U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler is likely to circulate a draft order approving Charter Communications Inc's $56 billion deal to buy Time Warner Cable Inc , the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The order, which could be circulated as soon as this week, would levy some conditions on the deal, such as preventing Charter from including clauses in pay-TV contracts that limit a content company's ability to offer its programming online or to new entrants, the WSJ reported on Tuesday. The transaction will also likely include a requirement for Charter to build or upgrade service to more homes, the Journal said. Charter said in May that it would buy Time Warner Cable in a $56 billion cash-and-stock deal that would make it the No. 2 U.S. Internet and cable company after Comcast . The FCC was not immediately available for comment. (Reporting by Anya George Tharakan in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Lets hear it for the girls! Royal Bruneis first all-female flight crew [Photo: Instagram/royalbruneiair]

Touching down on the dusty tarmac, Captain Sharifah Czarena Surainy and senior first officers, Sariana Nordin and Dk Nadiah Pg Khashiem, couldnt help but smile. They had just made history after becoming Royal Bruneis first female flight crew, piloting a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

But despite being deemed capable of landing the largest plane in the airlines fleet, the trailblazing women werent able to drive themselves from the airport. Thats because they landed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a country where it is actually illegal for women to drive.

Theres no doubt the milestone to mark Bruneis National Day, celebrating the countrys independence, was an achievement to be celebrated, but it does throw up the absurdity that the crew, once grounded would have risked arrest if they attempted to drive themselves.

Although there is no official law in Saudi Arabia banning women from driving, women cannot apply for driving licences and they could be arrested if found behind the wheel.

The crew landed in Saudi where it is forbidden for women to drive a car [Photo: Instagram/royalbruneiair]

The landmark flight comes three years after Captain Sharifa Czarena Surainy became the first female captain of a flag carrier in Southeast Asia.

Speaking to the Brunei Times at the time, she said of her appointment: Being a pilot, people normally see it as being a male dominant occupation. As a woman, a Bruneian woman, it is such a great achievement. Its really showing the younger generation or the girls especially that whatever they dream of, they can achieve it

While driving remains forbidden for women in Saudi Arabia, its female population are making strides towards equality in other areas. Last year, women were allowed to stand in elections for the first time ever, and they were able to vote.

So who knows one day the all-female crew who just bossed an entire plane might have the option of taking something other than an Uber home from the airport. Baby steps and all that.

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Do you have an inspirational story to share? Let us know @YahooStyleUK

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By Jim Forsyth SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - Texas Governor Greg Abbott said swollen rivers will stay high for days after he toured areas inundated by floods that have hit the U.S. South in the past week, killing at least five people and damaging thousands of structures. Abbott said he was told by officials in the southeast part of Texas that thousands of people have been forced from their homes. Parts of the region may not see flood waters begin to recede for days, he said after the tour that included flying over flooded areas by helicopter. "I was struck by the size of it," Abbott told reporters from Orange County, near the Louisiana border. "When you're in the air you can see the massive size of it and how wide the water is. Water (is) just covering everything." Near where Abbott was speaking, Interstate 10, one of the main east-west roadways across the southern part of the United States, has been closed for about two days because of flooding on a section along the Sabine River, which serves as the border between Texas and Louisiana. Abbott said it may take as long as 10 days until the flooded section would be deemed safe for traffic, he said. Flooding over the past week has been blamed for four deaths in Louisiana and one in Oklahoma. In Mississippi, flooding has left more than 600 homes with major damage, emergency officials there said. Authorities in the state continued to search for two brothers reported missing a week ago after they went on a fishing trip on the Mississippi River, they said. On Monday, officers discovered items belonging to one of the men but subsequent helicopter and boat searches have not turned up signs of the fishermen themselves, said Lieutenant Chris Reed of the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks department. Were still holding out hope that we can find these guys and bring them to safety, Reed said. In Texas, officials said the flooding has been taking its toll on residents. "Newton County has been devastated," said Judge Truman Dougharty, the top elected official for Newton County, Texas. "The number of homes under water and the people displaced, it's emotional, sir," he said at the news conference with Abbott. "We have a lot of people who need a lot of help." (Additional reporting by Colleen Jenkins in North Carolina; Writing by Jon Herskovitz; editing by Grant McCool)
Yahoo Singapore file photo of handcuffs



Two Singaporeans have been detained and another two placed on Restriction Orders (RO) under the Internal Security Act for their separate involvement in overseas armed conflicts.

One of them, Wang Yuandongyi, even brought along Singapore Armed Forces-issued military gear like his uniform and boots, which he planned to use in the battlefield.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mohammad Razif bin Yahya, 27, and Amiruddin bin Sawir, 53, were detained in August 2015. Meanwhile, Mohamed Mohideen bin Mohamed Jais, 25, and Wang, 23, were issued with ROs in March this year.

Activities in Yemen

Razif and Amiruddin were detained for voluntarily taking up arms and participating in the armed sectarian conflict in Yemen. After studying in a religious institution in Yemen in 2010 and 2013, respectively, they volunteered to be armed sentries at the institution against any armed incursions by the Houthis, a Shiite insurgent group.

Carrying weapons like AK-47s and a Dragunov sniper rifle, they were separately involved in fighting the Houthis. The duo were prepared to kill and be killed as martyrs', said the statement.

By taking up arms in Yemen, they have demonstrated a readiness to use violence to pursue their religious cause. As such, they are assessed to pose a security threat to Singapore.

Mohideen was also detained for his activities in Yemen, where he served as an armed sentry while pursuing religious studies there from 2009 to early 2011. He was placed on an RO from March.

Sympathy for the Kurds

That same month, Wang was also placed on an RO for attempting to join a Kurdish militia group that is fighting against the terrorist group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). He left Singapore in January for a third country, from where he intended to make his way to Turkey and then Syria.



Someone who became aware of Wangs plans reported him. At the request of Singaporean authorities, Wang was located by the authorities of the third country and turned back to the Republic.

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Wang had become sympathetic to the plight of the Kurds, who are being attacked by ISIS, after first becoming aware of their situation via newsfeeds in November 2015. At the same time, he had suffered personal setbacks, such as financial liabilities arising from a failed business venture.

In December 2015, Wang initiated online contact with a Kurdish militia group to express his interest in joining them, and also communicated with like-minded individuals online.

MHA said that the government takes a stern view against anyone who supports, promotes, undertakes or makes preparations to undertake armed violence, regardless of how they rationalise such violence ideologically, or where the violence takes place.

Its statement added, Geography does not mask the fact that such individuals would have demonstrated a dangerous tendency to support the use of violence. Their involvement in overseas conflicts can also jeopardise Singapores national interests, including our bilateral relations. They are deemed to pose a threat to Singapores security, and will be firmly dealt with in accordance with our laws.
By Jonathan Gould and Huw Jones

FRANKFURT/LONDON (Reuters) - Deutsche Boerse AG <DB1Gn.DE> and London Stock Exchange Group Plc (LSE) <LSE.L> agreed to combine in a $30 billion deal to create a European trading powerhouse better able to compete with U.S. rivals encroaching on their turf.

But the deal, which marks a third attempt to link the Frankfurt and London exchanges, may prompt a takeover war after New York Stock Exchange owner Intercontinental Exchange <ICE.N> said it may bid for the British group.

Nearly 16 years after Deutsche Boerse first tried to take over LSE, the exchanges said last month they were discussing an all-share merger, which they confirmed on Wednesday would give Deutsche Boerse shareholders 54.4 percent and LSE investors 45.6 percent of a new company.

This offers a unique opportunity for Frankfurt which has always played second fiddle to London as a global financial center, something recognized by the German government which said it would welcome the deal if it strengthened Frankfurt.

If it goes ahead, the combination would create the world's biggest exchange by revenue, forecast at 4.7 billion euros this year from stock, bond and derivatives trading, indices, market data, and clearing and settlement.

The exchanges sought to sell the deal to investors with the lure of annual cost savings of 450 million euros ($500 million).

They also promised users - the banks and fund managers who pay fees to trade and companies who pay to be listed - "substantial benefits", but gave no figures.

And in a clear effort to win over Europe's politicians to the benefits of a dominant pan-European exchange, Deutsche Boerse Chief Executive Carsten Kengeter said it would enable Europe to enhance its capital markets.

This chimes with European Union plans for a "Capital Markets Union" to compete better with the United States and Asia.

Kengeter said Germany's Bundesbank and Frankfurt-based European Central Bank will "really appreciate" the boost to Frankfurt as a financial center.

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"With this transaction Deutsche Boerse is halting its decline in market share that has been on the cards for a number of years," Kengeter said.

Deutsche Boerse has been under constant pressure because Europe was the "natural space" for expansion for North American and Asian rivals, with the deal providing the critical mass needed for Germany and Europe overall to fight back, he added.

Despite these incentives, the deal faces questions over Britain's EU referendum in June and whether regulators will approve a huge presence in derivatives clearing.

"The major test lies in the regulatory hurdle which, combined with added scrutiny in the context of Brexit, places the onus on the two companies to make a compelling case for the deal over the coming months," said Peter Gray, a lawyer at Cavendish Corporate Finance.

Kengeter said the time was right for a merger which will combine the LSE's share-trading operation with the derivatives trading of Deutsche Boerse's Eurex, adding that he expects the deal to close by the end of 2016 or in early 2017.

BRUSSELS NEXT STOP

No decision has been taken on the date of a shareholder meeting to vote on the merger and Kengeter shrugged off concerns over the impact of Britain, Europe's biggest financial center, voting to leave the EU.

"We will be having a successful transaction irrespective of the Brexit outcome," he said.

In further efforts to keep all parties happy, the exchanges confirmed LSE Chairman Donald Brydon would be chairman and Kengeter CEO and the board would have equal representation of LSE and Deutsche Boerse directors.

One potentially sensitive question yet to be ironed out is the name for the new firm, which will be domiciled in Britain, with a primary listing in the blue-chip FTSE 100 <.FTSE>. It will also have a home on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and a corporate headquarters in both cities.

LSE Chief Executive Xavier Rolet, who will retire if the deal goes ahead, sought to ease concerns that large swathes of IT operations would shift from London to Frankfurt, saying there would be a "balanced" distribution between the two.

Industry analysts warned of challenges from the EU's competition regulator over a huge presence in derivatives clearing, which was an issue when a previous attempt by Deutsche Boerse to merge with NYSE Euronext was scuppered by Brussels.

Kengeter said he was "confident" of clearing a review by regulators and talks has already begun with them, adding that clearing should be viewed in a global not European context.

LSE Group -- created in 2007 when London Stock Exchange merged with Milan stock exchange Borsa Italiana -- said its shareholders would receive a dividend of 25.2 pence per LSEGshare for the six months to Dec. 31.

(Additional reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain, Arno Schuetze, Caroline Copley and Yun Chee Foo,; Editing by Maria Sheahan and Alexander Smith)
(Reuters) - The shot that killed a Maryland plainclothes detective during a gunfight with a suspect was aimed at him by another officer in a "tragic" misunderstanding, a police official said on Wednesday.

Prince George's County Police Chief Henry Stawinski told reporters that the act was not malicious, and said on Twitter he did not believe the officer who fired the fatal shot had deliberately targeted a fellow officer.

"It's another tragic dimension to this unfolding story," Stawinski told a news conference. "The environment was incredibly chaotic. We had officers under fire immediately trying to seek cover."

On Sunday, Prince George's County Police Officer First Class Jacai Colson, 28, who was off duty, died following a gunfight that began when a man with a history of mental illness began shooting outside a police station near Washington, D.C., as his two brothers videotaped the action, authorities said.

Stawinski declined to say if Colson was mistaken for a suspect.

The accused gunman, 22-year-old Michael Ford of Landover, Maryland, faces 25 criminal counts in connection with the shooting, State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks told the news conference.

His brothers, 21-year-old Malik Ford and 18-year-old Elijah Ford, told detectives after the shooting that the three had discussed Michael Ford's plan to engage police in a shootout, according to criminal complaints made public on Wednesday.

They drove him to police headquarters, parked nearby and began filming the scene with their phones when Michael Ford started firing, the complaints said.

At one point, officers asked Malik and Elijah Ford where the shooter was, and they replied they did not know, even though they knew he had hidden behind a police van, according to authorities.

They fled the scene and were captured soon after the shooting. They each face 10 charges, including three first-degree assault charges and six attempted murder charges, as well as conspiracy to commit murder, Alsobrooks said.

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The three are being held without bond, she said.

There were six officers involved in the incident and some of them have not provided statements, officials said.

The entire department is receiving counseling, Stawinski said. Forensic analysis is expected to be concluded on Wednesday, he said.

(Reporting by Suzannah Gonzales in Chicago and Joseph Ax in New York; Editing by Scott Malone and Peter Cooney)
Carrie Bradshaw and her trio of girlfriends captured the imagination and closet envy of millions long after Sex and the City's run ended in 2004. However, not all fantasies are created equal, and Carrie and her conspicuously caucasian troupe of friends and lovers certainly weren't representative of every reality.

Enter An African City, set in Ghana's capital, Accra. The digital web series, whose second season launched in January, showcases a cosmopolitan city that is pointedly at odds with the poverty-stricken imagery that often leads Western conversations about Africa. By presenting a small slice of an incredibly large continent in a context that feels somewhat familiar to online viewers, series creator Nicole Amarteifio hopes to rectify some of these harmful and pervasive stereotypes.

That includes some seriously amazing clothes.

The cast of "An African City"

"I got the idea for the series while watching Sex and the City," Amarteifio told Mic. "What would this show look like if set in Accra, Ghana? What would this show be like with characters of Ghanaian descent?"

A show about the trials and tribulations of modern African women from the diaspora would hardly be complete without enviable outfits. To find them, Amarteifio didn't have to look far. "There are so many talented fashion designers in Ghana but for some, their stories end in a small kiosk," she said. "For example, Chemphe Bea, I want to ensure her work is more visible than just the mannequins hanging outside of her kiosk. I want her work to be in global publications, visible for the world to see and buy."

"An African City" creator Nicole Amarteifio

An African City's costume designer Afua Rida shares Amarteifio's desire to create an inclusive platform for talent working outside of mainstream markets. Rida is out to do what Patricia Field did in putting together some of the most iconic television looks to date on Sex and the City  she just makes it a point to use exclusively African designers. "It's a platform for all artists throughout Africa or the African diaspora," Rida tells Mic. "I want the world to know about our talent in fashion, in music, in home decor, in everything."

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The outfits aren't coming exclusively from Ghana, either. They're coming from all over Africa and from Africans living abroad. Last season Korlekie, a U.K.-based Ghanaian brand, made an appearance al masterminded by Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah. This season, Ghana-based Totally Ethnik makes a reappearance as well as Christie Brown's Accra-made modern-meets-traditional staples.

Stills from "An African City"

Despite Africa being home to a number of gifted designers, in many ways, breaking into the international fashion circuit is still a bit like rowing upstream with no oars. Unlike established fashion week destinations like Paris, Milan or New York, global media has yet to recognize Accra, or even the continent as a whole, as a major player. It's a fact that adversely affects the visibility of homegrown talent.

Still, there have been a number designers who have managed to break through. Success stories like Ozwald Boateng and Virgil Abloh, both of Ghanaian descent, Nigerian-born Duro Olowu, and Tanzanian-English Agape Mdumulla of

The cast of "An African City"

From hypnotic color stories to voluminous, ruffle-and-texture-heavy silhouettes, each of the designs on An African City reflects the guiding ideology of the series, seamlessly combining modern narratives with age-old traditions, encompassing the past while embracing the future. "The show tells the story of the women of Africa," Rida said. "We can only imagine them wearing the best fashion of the continent."
Elizabeth Saltzman's longtime client Gwyneth Paltrow high-fived the power stylist over her No. 4 ranking on The Hollywood Reporter's 25 Most Powerful Stylists in Hollywood list at a glittery, schmoozy dinner hosted by THR and Jimmy Choo on Tuesday night at Sunset Tower's Tower Bar in West Hollywood.

"She has incredible taste. She is always pushing fashion forward with the way that she envisions me, and she is really a good girlfriend," said Paltrow of the best part about working with Saltzman. "We are here to have fun tonight," added the London-based stylist. Laughed Paltrow: "We are just excited to drink some martinis!"

Gwyneth Paltrow, left, shares a laugh with Michelle Monaghan.

"I am happy," said Cristina Ehrlich of her No. 2 spot on this year's list. "Although I am not used to having the attention on me, but it's good." Ehrlich was snapped for one of four covers for THR's stylists issue along with her client Brie Larson (the other three covers feature No. 6-ranked stylist Ilaria Urbinati with client Rami Malek; No. 25-ranked Leesa Evans with client Amy Schumer; and in-demand men's stylist Jeff K. Kim with client Michael B. Jordan), but the list itself remained under wraps until the dinner, where it was revealed to guests.

"She is so mindful and forward-thinking, and she is able to help me push some boundaries," gushed Alison Brie of Ehrlich, who noted that Larson's Versace dress at the SAG Awards was her favorite look of the year. "It was so sexy."

See More: Inside The Hollywood Reporter and Jimmy Choo's Power Stylists Dinner (Photos)

Said Evans of Schumer: "Amy has gone from not caring or loving clothes, to really embracing how they make her feel. It is so rewarding to know that people are also embracing the way she looks."

Meanwhile, stylist Wayman Bannerman, one half of the up-and-coming Wayman + Micah team behind Creed star Tessa Thompson's bold looks, was thrilled to be part of the list and the event: "It feels surreal to be here; we are so honored," he said. Added Micah McDonald: "The list is something as a young stylist you look at, so to be a part of all of this is so cool."

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McDonald explained the thought behind putting Thompson in a bold Prada frock for the event. "It's looks like this that got us invited tonight, so we went for it!"

Another stylist on the rise who hit the bash was Annabelle Harron (known for her work with Oscar winner Patricia Arquette). "It's just so exciting to be included!" said Australia-born Harron. Client Aja Naomi King boasted: "Annabelle introduces me to so many new things; she has the best eye."

Tessa Thompson in Prada

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in a navy Galvan ensemble

"Cher has her finger on the pulse and is in touch with the design houses," said Rosie Huntington-Whiteley of her "best mate" Cher Coulter (No. 24). "She fights to get that amazing look that you wouldn't otherwise be able to get."

Jeanne Yang and Jeff K. Kim pal around before dinner

Other power stylists, including Brandon Maxwell (No. 13), Karla Welch (No. 9) and Penny Lovell (No. 19), sipped champagne and browsed through Jimmy Choo's Memento Collection Trunk, a display of the brand's most popular red-carpet styles over the past 20 years. Last year's No. 1 stylist, Elizabeth Stewart (No. 3), was excited to come support both the new and seasoned talents that made the list. "I never get to see the other stylists, so it's so nice to get to meet some people that I don't know and check in  and vent!  with the others that I know."

Also in attendance at the intimate event were Welch's client Michelle Monaghan and Lovell's client Bella Heathcote.

Prior to sitting down to dinner, THR senior style writer Merle Ginsberg joked to those in attendance about L.A. trends before stylists changed the fashion culture. "It was cowboy boots and fringe  and I'm not talking Saint Laurent fringe  on Rodeo Drive when I arrived in Los Angeles." Added THR style editor Carol McColgin during her speech: "A major part of going from unknown to A-list is having the right stylist along every step of the way."

See More: Inside The Hollywood Reporter and Jimmy Choo's Power Stylists Dinner (Photos)
ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos, the head of the ruling coalition's junior party, called on the migration minister to resign on Wednesday for failing to use the full name of northern neighbor the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Yannis Mouzalas called it simply "Macedonia" in a late-night interview on Tuesday, accidentally launching himself into a long and bitter dispute over the proper title of the territory. Mouzalas quickly apologized for what he said was a blunder, but other members of the government backed him, saying the row was a dangerous distraction from his efforts to deal with Europe's worst migration crisis since World War Two. "I asked for Mouzalas to resign on his own, to protect the government and leave," Kammenos told Mega TV, saying it was a serious matter for his right-wing Independent Greeks party. "The effort to weaken the minister, who struggles every day to handle the refugee crisis, is irresponsible and hypocritical, particularly ahead of the upcoming EU leaders summit," the government as a whole said a statement. Many Greeks feel a strong emotional tie to the name Macedonia, used historically to describe the birthplace of Alexander the Great and part of ancient Greece. Some also worry its modern-day use by a separate country covering much of the same territory implies a claim on the northern Greek province of the same name. The modern country, which emerged from Yugoslavia in 1991, is officially listed as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) at the United Nations. Kammenos said he had passed on his concerns to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, head of the dominant left-wing Syriza party. "I continue to support this government and Tsipras until the end but I have red lines. Since the minister recognizes that he made a huge gaffe, he should go home," Kammenos said. The ruling coalition is clinging to a thin parliamentary majority, and needs the Independent Greeks party on side to pass reforms under a third financial; bailout clinched last year. The coalition has a three-seat majority in the 300-seat parliament. The spat is unlikely to rattle the coalition but reflects underlying differences between the two parties that are on opposite poles of the political spectrum. Neighboring Macedonia lies along the now closed Balkan migration route refugees have used to head to central and northern Europe. The closure has led to logjams along the border with more than 12,000 refugees and migrants camped there. (Reporting by George Georgiopoulos; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Gunmen have killed three local administrators in various parts of Burundi since Friday, officials said, in the latest episode of violence since President Pierre Nkurunziza ran for a third term in office that his opponents say was unconstitutional. More than 400 people have been killed since April when Nkurunziza said he would run for a third term, triggering street protests and a coup attempt. Opposition parties say his election bid, which he went on to win, violated two-term constitutional limits. Gad Niyukuri, governor of Makamba province, said in the latest incident unidentified gunmen killed the head of a village in Kibago district in the province on Tuesday night. The victim was attacked at his home around 10 p.m. by unidentified gunmen," he told Reuters by phone. In another incident on Tuesday, gunmen killed another village head in Mugamba district in Bururi province, 70 km from Bujumbura, a resident in the province said. Gunmen came around 7.00 PM last night fired several rounds of bullets at the victims home killing on spot the head of village only," a resident who only identified himself as Antoine said. Another local elected official was also killed last Friday by unidentified gunmen. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks but the government says there are now three rebel outfits perpetrating violence, including two made up of renegade soldiers. The opposition also accuses government troops of arbitrary arrests, disappearances and extra-judicial killings. Statistics from U.N. refugee agency UNHCR show that as of early March, 250,473 people had fled Burundi and were registered as refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. In February, Nkurunziza said Burundi would hold political talks to try to end the months of violence. The government has in the past said it will not hold talks with anyone who was involved in the failed coup attempt in May. (Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Having just concluded on the BBC, all six episodes of the second season of British crime drama Happy Valley land on Netflix in North America on Wednesday almost 18 months after its much-talked-about first run.

While much of the chatter about U.K. shows becoming hits in the U.S. revolves around butlers, inheritance and, ideally, at least one country estate (indeed, Netflix has ordered the big-budget The Crown based around the British monarchy), Happy Valley appears to be bucking the trend for upper-class period drama.

Described recently as the British version of The Wire, the show  created, penned and directed by BAFTA-winning writer Sally Wainwright  is based around the Calder Valley in the northern English county of Yorkshire, a mostly rural setting but one some distance from that of Downton Abbeys Highclere Castle, and far more regional than most other cop series.

I think people are beginning to take more risks with what Id call less posh British drama, because I think Happy Valley has proved that it doesnt have to be about a group of rich people living in a stately home, says Nicola Shindler, the shows producer and head of the Manchester-based Red Production Company, which is also behind such hits as Queer as Folk.

At Happy Valleys heart is actress Sarah Lancashire, already an established name thanks to her long spell on British soap Coronation Street, as police sergeant Catherine Cawood, a character as deep as the likes of The Wire's McNulty and far closer to such grittier, embattled lawmakers than the likes of Idris Elba's tough-talking Luther or even the emotionally damaged detectives on Broadchurch.

Shindler admits that Happy Valley felt quite local and specific when the team first started making season one, which was never made with an international audience in mind.

But she said there was an instant reaction from the U.S., both from within the industry and outside, which she said she didnt see coming.

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While Netflix  naturally  doesnt provide any figures, even to the shows producers, Shindler says she can only go on the level of response received. We did have a lot of the audience getting in touch, so much so that when we were filming the second series and did a special screening we had Americans turn up, she says.

Given comparisons to The Wire, are there plans for Happy Valley seasons three, four and five?

Were talking about further [seasons], but we havent got any decisions at the moment, says Shindler. Its about finding the right story to tell and working with Sarah and Sally to make sure that its as good as the first two [seasons]  thats what we all want to do.

Given that the second season averaged some 6.5 million overnight viewers in the U.K. (more than even the hugely hyped The Night Manager), with 7.3 million tuning in for the final episode on Tuesday, a return to the murderous goings on in rural Yorkshire seems almost inevitable.

Read More: 'Downton Abbey' Finale: Where to Turn Next for Posh Period TV
By Anjuli Davies and Sophie Sassard

LONDON (Reuters) - It took a staggering 11 banks and 30 named bankers to seal the $30 billon (21.2 billion) tie-up between Deutsche Boerse and London Stock Exchange Group(LSE).

The roll call was included in Wednesday's announcement of the deal to create a European trading powerhouse to see off competition from U.S. rivals. But the list would be longer still if it included the lawyers, PR advisers and accountants that will no doubt claim a slice of the fee bonanza.

The 11 banks will be fighting for an estimated fee pot of $85 million, according to Freeman Consulting/Thomson Reuters estimates.

Acting for LSE, Barclays, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, RBC Capital Markets, Societe Generale, UBS and boutique Robey Warshaw could share up to $40 million in fees, according to the estimates.

On the Deutsche Boerse side, Perella Weinberg Partners, BofA Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank and HSBC will clamor over roughly $45 million.

Lead advisers are likely to take the lion's share of the fees. Many of the banks and advisers named on the roster were added as the deal unfolded. When news of the potential merger first broke, only Robey Warshaw and Perella Weinberg Partners were named as advisers.

Advisory boutique Robey Warshaw is fast becoming the go-to bank for UK Plc. It has advised on three of the largest ever deals involving British companies in the past year.

Deutsche Boerse's main adviser is Andrew Bednar, of fellow boutique Perella Weinberg. Bednar and his firm led the talks for New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on its ill-fated attempted merger with the German bourse in 2011/12.

UNUSUAL NUMBERS

Even for a potential $30 billion deal, the large number of advisers is unusual.

When Royal Dutch Shell announced its $70 billion takeover of British energy company BG Group in April 2015, only three banks were involved in the transaction.

Nine banks shared the spoils when Glencore took over Xstrata in 2012, while seven handled the merger of Holcim and Lafarge and related asset sales.

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That the deal was between financial markets operators could well be a factor, say sources.

"All these banks were brought in at the very end to preserve confidentiality. But they are all important customers, so if we could please them with some league table credits, why not do it?" said one source speaking on condition of anonymity.

And, the deal is not done yet. A takeover battle for LSE could yet ensue.

NYSE owner Intercontinental Exchange has already said it might make a rival bid for LSE, while CME Group is actively considering bidding, people familiar with the matter have told Reuters.

Fee estimates exclude any underwriting or arrangement fees to finance the acquisition. If Deutsche Boerse finances the all-share merger through bonds or loans, it will need to pay between 0.3 percent and 0.8 percent in underwriting/arrangement fees.

(Editing by David Goodman)
The creator of the popular Humans of New York blog says that Donald Trump is either a racist or making calculated appeals to racists to gain power, which might be worse.

Photographer Brandon Stanton joined Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric on Tuesday afternoon for a conversation about his open letter to the polarizing Republican presidential frontrunner.

Ive watched you retweet racist images. Ive watched you retweet racist lies. Ive watched you take 48 hours to disavow white supremacy. Ive watched you joyfully encourage violence, and promise to pay the legal fees of those who commit violence on your behalf, the letter reads in part.

Stanton told Couric that he strives for political objectivity so as to not alienate readers of his storytelling blog but felt Trump is such a threat that it was no longer a political issue but a moral issue. According to Stanton, silence in the face of Trumps racism and appeals to violence is tantamount to complicity.

I started to feel a moral guilt that here I am seeing something that I feel very strongly about. I have seen someone who is inflaming violence and prejudice into America, and Im keeping quiet about it for political reasons, he said.

Humans of New York creator Brandon Stanton joins Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric to discuss the open letter to Donald Trump in March in New York. (Photo: Yahoo News)



Stanton criticized Trump for generalizing about the worlds 1.6 billion Muslims based on the most radical and violent people of that faith.

That is racist and that is dangerous. And that is what hes doing over and over again, he said.

Stanton said that when he approaches people at random in Iran, Iraq and Pakistan, they are typically friendlier and more welcoming than any random sampling of people in his adopted hometown of New York.

Are there extremists in the Middle East? Are there violent people? Are there patriarchal people who oppress women? Yes, there are. These are problems that are in these countries, he said. The good people of these countries are aware of this. They are trying to fight it from within.

Stanton has read biographies about dictators and is interested in how they rise to power. He fears that Trump shares too many traits with fascist leaders from history. He has often wondered how the German people of the 1930s and 1940s could pledge their loyalty to Adolf Hitler.

They emphasize violence, they emphasize personal loyalty over ideas and they appeal to racists, he said. Am I saying that Donald Trump is one of those men? Hes got the qualities, and I dont want to take the chance of finding out.
From Donald Trump in America to Angela Merkel in Germany, the politics of immigration has become one of the most sensitive and volatile issues in the world today.

While it is often seen as a source of political tension and social disruption, theres another side to the immigration story. As longevity increases and 80-plus becomes the fastest growing age group in America, Europe, Japan and China, immigrants can be a source of elder care to those in need.

Related: Who Gets the Most in Disability Pay? 8 Key Social Security Facts

Some are hoping that our growing need for elder care can be satisfied by technology. However, despite the exciting innovations in robots, we cannot assume that our parents care will be taken care of solely with machines.

Employing immigrants as caregivers for the elderly is win-win situation, in which we keep our borders open for immigrants who want to do jobs newly created by aging populations. Talk to anyone in the elder caregiving world and youll quickly learn that we need thousands of new caregivers to meet the growing demand.

Why not use the huge and growing needs of elder caregiving as a way to think and act differently toward those who want to migrate to the advanced economies of North America, Europe and Asia? President Obamas conference on aging this past summer began to address this idea. In Europe, there are considerable efforts underway that connect these dots as a way to drive their 2020 economic growth plan. And as the Japanese prepare for the use of robotics in elder care, they can teach the rest of us how to marry innovative technology with the most personal of human needs.

Prime Minister Abe, Chancellor Merkel and President Obama could surely help by convening a conference on elder caregiving under Japanese G-7 leadership, where they target the multitude of immigrants from neighboring countries who want to contribute value to what they hope will be their new homes. This would follow nicely from the targeting of Alzheimers by Prime Minister Cameron of the U.K. when he led the G-7 meeting last year.

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Related: Harsh New Penalties for Social Security Fraud Are Coming

With 50 percent of all eldercare dedicated to Alzheimers, the need is clear. Why not shift todays anti-immigration rhetoric toward the hopeful challenge of a solution for one of global societys greatest needs  caring for the exploding 80-plus demographic.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
So, what will happen in the fifth Indiana Jones movie?

It depends on what purpose the movie, which will bring back Harrison Ford to star and Steven Spielberg to direct, is intended to serve for the larger Lucasfilm/Disney machine.

Is the title intended as a fond farewell to a friend or as a way of re-energizing and relaunching the brand as an ongoing property?

There's a possibility that it could do both, in the same manner that The Force Awakens resuscitated Star Wars, and in the process transform the series from an ongoing story to a multi-movie franchise.

Here's how it could be done.

Say Goodbye to Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford and Sean Connery in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

It worked pretty well in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, so let's see a beloved Harrison Ford character die onscreen in Indy 5 as well. Sure, that'll create problems for the continuity obsessives  an older Indy appeared in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV series, played by George Hall, in introductory material set at some ill-defined point in the 1990s. But there's no better way to allow the Indy property to move beyond Harrison Ford's involvement than to write him out of it.

Moreover, a death will serve the greater purpose no matter what Lucasfilm wants to do with the franchise afterward. If it's to bring an end to the series entirely, then it allows for a grand, tragic finale. If it's to continue under new stewardship, then The Force Awakens has ably demonstrated the value of a noble sacrifice by the old guard, if handled properly.

(Of course, if someone wants to get Adam Driver to play Indy's son, who turns bad and then stabs him on a bridge, it would be fair to assume that Lucasfilm was trolling everyone.)

Say Hello to a New Indiana Jones

Sean Patrick Flanery in TV's The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles series

While he's obviously the Indy in the hearts of all fans, Ford is far from the only actor to bring Henry Walton Jones to life onscreen  in addition to George Hall, he's also been played by River Phoenix, Sean Patrick Flanery and Corey Carrier (in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and episodes of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, respectively). Those latter three have all been established via flashbacks from the main timeline, a device that allows for Lucasfilm, should it wish, to set up a series of prequel movies featuring a new, younger Indy in Indy 5.

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A plot that centered around Ford's older Indy having to solve a mystery that the younger, played-by-a-new-actor-to-be-determined Indy stumbled across decades earlier allows producers to legitimize a new Indiana in the eyes of fans via a "team-up" that could set up future movies taking place before 1935, as it does in 1984's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Think of them as A Star Wars Story except with men with good hats and bullwhips instead of Sith Lords.

Say Hello to a New Generation of Joneses

Shia LeBeouf in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Regardless of whether or not Ford's Jones reaches the end of his time in Indy 5, it'll be nearly impossible to continue the series past that point without introducing a new protagonist to handle the majority of the action scenes. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull recognized this and introduced Shia LeBeouf's Mutt, Indy's son, in response  except that he ended up a character that didn't exactly delight longtime fans of the series.

Indy 5 could try and rehabilitate Mutt in some way. Frankly, just cutting back on his "rebellious" attitude and making him a fraction more sympathetic would do wonders, although given the response LeBeouf apparently brings out of people, simply recasting the role might help. Bringing in a new character altogether to take on the role is another option. Something that won Star Wars: The Force Awakens a great deal of goodwill was its shift away from white male hero figures with its new additions. Given the love that Indiana Jones fandom has for Karen Allen's hard-drinkin', hard-fightin' Marion in 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, it's difficult to believe that bringing in a new female protagonist isn't the way to go this time around.

Lean Into the Nostalgia Appeal, but Not Too Much

Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Even by 1957 in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the series was veering into an era that feels closer to "today" than the WWII-setting of the original movies. Assuming that the next movie will take place in the 1960s (which seems relatively safe, considering the real-world aging process of the cast), the audience is likely to be extremely familiar with much of the cultural landscape of the surroundings through oldies radio stations, TV and movie reruns or simply having been around for the real things themselves. So why not embrace that?

This has the potential to go wrong, of course. No-one really wants to watch Indiana Jones and the Real Reason Behind the Horrors of Altamont, surely. But in a series known for its casual comedy as much as its tongue-in-cheek derring-do, the idea that there isn't smart, simple humor to be mined from Easter eggs relating to culture (or, following the X-Men: First Class/Days of Future Past school of thought, the fashions) that we all know and to some degree love feels misguided at best.

No Aliens

Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Look, I'll be the first to agree that it's a seemingly arbritrary distinction, but while the biblical and otherwise magical Macguffins of the first three Indiana Jones movies were permissible, something just felt weirdly off about bringing aliens into Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Keep your sci-fi peanut butter away from our supernatural chocolate in future, thank you very much. Leave that stuff for The X-Files, OK?

Read More: 'Indiana Jones 5': Making Sense of the Adventuring Archaeologist's Return
By Sanjeev Miglani and Manoj Kumar NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Parliament on Wednesday passed legislation that gives central government agencies access to the world's biggest biometric database in the interests of national security, raising fears the privacy of a billion people could be compromised. The move comes as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cracks down on student protests and pushes a Hindu nationalist agenda in assembly elections, steps that some say erode India's traditions of tolerance and free speech. It could also usher in surveillance far more intrusive than the U.S. telephone and Internet spying revealed by former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden in 2013, some privacy advocates said. The Aadhaar database scheme, started seven years ago, was set up to streamline payment of benefits and cut down on massive wastage and fraud, and already nearly a billion people have registered their finger prints and iris signatures. Now the BJP, which inherited the scheme, has passed new provisions including those on national security, using a loophole to circumvent the opposition in parliament. "It has been showcased as a tool exclusively meant for disbursement of subsidies and we do not realise that it can also be used for mass surveillance," said Tathagata Satpathy, a lawmaker from Odisha, speaking before the legislation was passed. "Can the government ... assure us that this Aadhaar card and the data that will be collected under it  biometric, biological, iris scan, finger print, everything put together  will not be misused as has been done by the NSA in the U.S.?" Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has defended the legislation in parliament, saying Aadhaar saved the government an estimated 150 billion rupees in the 2014-15 financial year alone. A finance ministry spokesman added that the government had taken steps to ensure citizens' privacy would be respected and the authority to access data was exercised only in rare cases. According to another government official, the new law is in fact more limited in scope than the decades-old Indian Telegraph Act, which permits national security agencies and tax authorities to intercept telephone conversations of individuals in the interest of public safety. "POLICE STATE" Those assurances have not satisfied political opponents and people from religious minorities, including India's sizeable Muslim community, who say the database could be used as a tool to silence them. "We are midwifing a police state," said Asaduddin Owaisi, an opposition MP. Raman Jit Singh Chima, global policy director at Access, an international digital rights organisation, said the Indian law lacked the transparency and oversight safeguards found in Europe or the United States, which last year reformed its bulk telephone surveillance programme. He pointed to the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which must approve many surveillance requests made by intelligence agencies, and European data protection authorities as oversight mechanisms not present in the Indian legislation. The government brought the Aadhaar legislation to the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday in a bid to secure passage before lawmakers go into recess. To get around its lack of a majority, the BJP presented it as a financial bill, which the Rajya Sabha could not reject. It was returned to the Lok Sabha which passed it, as the ruling party has a majority there. In its assessment of the measure, New Delhi-based PRS Legislative Research said law enforcement agencies could use someone's Aadhaar number as a link across various datasets such as telephone and air travel records. That would allow them to recognise patterns of behaviour and detect potential illegal activities. But it could also lead to harassment of individuals who are identified incorrectly as potential security threats, PRS said. Sunil Abraham, executive director of the Bengaluru-based Centre for Internet and Society, said Aaadhaar created a central repository of biometrics for almost every citizen of the world's most populous democracy that could be compromised. "Maintaining a central database is akin to getting the keys of every house in Delhi and storing them at a central police station," he said. "It is very easy to capture iris data of any individual with the use of next generation cameras. Imagine a situation where the police is secretly capturing the iris data of protesters and then identifying them through their biometric records." ($1 = 67.0500 rupees) (Additional reporting by Dustin Volz in WASHINGTON; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
Indonesia Wednesday installed a prominent police general as its new anti-terror chief at a time when the Muslim-majority nation faces a rising threat from citizens flocking to join jihadists in Syria.

Tito Karnavian's promotion to head of the National Counter Terrorism Agency came two months after a suicide bombing and gun attack in Jakarta claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group left four attackers and four civilians dead.

The agency has been strongly criticised for its failure to stop hundreds of Indonesians going to Syria to join IS, and for its inadequate programmes to rehabilitate terror convicts in prison.

One of the Jakarta attackers was an Islamic extremist who had spent years in jail, and police believe Indonesian radicals fighting in Syria may have had a role in planning the attacks along with others currently behind bars back home.

Karnavian was promoted to head the agency from his role as Jakarta police chief. In the past he has also headed the police elite counter-terror unit, which has enjoyed considerable success in tackling militancy.

"I am very happy to return to my natural habitat of counter-terrorism," he told reporters as he was inaugurated at the presidential palace in Jakarta.

He said one of his priorities would be taking on radicals in Poso, a militant hotbed on the central island of Sulawesi where an extremist group has pledged allegiance to IS.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, has suffered several Islamic extremist bomb attacks in the past 15 years, including the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people.

A crackdown had weakened the most dangerous extremist networks, but the emergence of IS has proved a potent new rallying cry for radicals.
A high-level county prosecutor who specialized in fighting underground sex trafficking in Michigan's capital of Lansing was arrested Monday after authorities learned he hired prostitutes hundreds of times over a five-year period.

Ingham County prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III faces 15 charges, among them "willful neglect of duty and pandering," according to the Washington Post, and was publicly denounced by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette this week for being an "officer of the law" who was "a participant in commercial sex activity."

Sex trafficking is defined not merely as the illegal transportation of sex workers across state or federal borders, notes the Grand Rapids Press, but the part of the prostitution trade that involves violence or deception to force people into entering the trade in the first place.

Stuart Dunnings' political future unclear after charges http://on.lsj.com/1WlOsTe pic.twitter.com/bHlAemTR8P https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdlK59MW4AEFcvZ.jpg:large

BREAKING: AG's office to announce charges against Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings http://on.wzzm.com/1pGJFl5 pic.twitter.com/omyZs0pdCU https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdhDra0WAAA5wLl.jpg:large

If the allegations against Dunnings are true, they fit that bill closely  despite having served a top role in prosecuting Lansing's sex workers and their customers.

According to the Lansing State Journal, the most serious charge against Dunnings is "felony ... prostitution-pandering for allegedly using his position to coerce a woman who came to him for help with a child custody case to have sex with him for money, according to court records." The charge carries up to a 20-year prison sentence, Reuters reported.

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"We've done some campaigning together," county Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth said in a statement, the State Journal reported. "This was a huge betrayal of his trust, his oath of office, his service to the people of this county."

The state of Michigan is one of the country's hotspots for human trafficking, and the National Human Trafficking Resource Center estimates reported cases rose 16% last year. Of the 152 human trafficking cases reported, the center says, 122 were for sexual purposes.

Only Nevada outranks Michigan in the size of its human trafficking sex trade, reports WJBK. Contributing factors include the state's proximity to the Canadian border and major international water crossings, the state's large trucking industry and major conventions and expos in Detroit.

One country that has seen success dealing with similar problems is Sweden, which in 1999 put the liability for prostitution-related offenses entirely on the customer and has since seen plummeting rates of prostitution and trafficking.
Washington (AFP) - An Iraqi offensive against the Islamic State group near the town of Hit has driven some 35,000 people from their homes, a US military spokesman said Wednesday.

Taking care of their needs is "a challenge for the Iraqi government," Colonel Steve Warren acknowledged via video conference from Baghdad.

He said the US-led coalition, along with international relief organizations, was doing what it could to alleviate conditions.

Having retaken the city of Ramadi from IS in December, the Iraqi military is now moving into the Euphrates River valley toward Hit, a key hub.

Last week they dropped leaflets over the area warning that elite Iraqi forces were approaching, according to Warren.

He said the aim was to warn residents on how to stay safe, but also to "weaken ISIL morale." ISIL is an alternate acronym for Islamic State.

The military spokesman said Iraqi forces have detained 149 IS fighters trying to blend in with the civilians fleeing the area.

"We believe that this enemy is on the defensive," he said.

The US State Department said Monday that more and more IS combatants were defecting.

The United States has been fighting IS in Iraq and Syria since the summer of 2014 at the head of a multi-national coalition.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Kurdish Peshmerga forces, an Iran-backed Shi'ite militia and Iraq's army will launch an offensive soon to push Islamic State fighters away from the northern oil region of Kirkuk, a state newspaper reported on Wednesday. The operation would bring the combined forces closer to Mosul, the largest Iraqi city still held by Islamic State, which also controls parts of neighboring Syria.The commander of the Shi'ite Badr Organisation, Hadi al-Amiri, met the Kurdish Regional Government's interior minister, Karim Sinjari, and officials from Iraq's defense ministry in Kirkuk on Tuesday, al-Sabah newspaper said. They agreed plans to take back territory stretching from Kirkuk and Baiji, to al-Shirqat, it said.The oil city of Kirkuk is under Peshmerga control while Baiji, which has an oil refinery, is held by the Badr Organisation, the largest component of the Shi'ite Popular Mobilisation Forces coalition that assembled in 2014 to fight Islamic State. Al-Shirqat is about 100 km (60 miles) south of Mosul, 100 km west of Kirkuk and 60 km north of Baiji. (Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Baghdad (AFP) - An Iraqi army plane went down Wednesday near Kirkuk, with the military blaming a technical problem but the Islamic State group claiming its fighters shot it down.

A high-ranking military source told AFP that the plane crashed during a reconnaissance flight near Kirkuk and that its three crew were considered missing.

The military source said authorities had launched a search for the crew after the Cessna 208 Caravan went down near Kirkuk, around 220 kilometres (135 miles) north of Baghdad.

In its combat version, the aircraft can be used to launch laser-guided Hellfire missiles.

The Islamic State jihadist group claimed in a statement posted on Twitter and a video released moments later that its fighters had shot the plane down, killing five crew members.

It said it used anti-aircraft artillery against a plane that had been on a bombing run against the city of Hawijah, a stronghold of the jihadists in Kirkuk province.

A video -- which claims to show the moment the aircraft was shot down -- released by the jihadist organisation shows the wreckage of a plane that could be a Cessna Caravan.

The footage also shows IS fighters celebrating around body parts, some of which are floating in a small canal.

Iraqi forces have been making gains against the jihadists in recent months as they seek to reclaim territory seized by IS during a major offensive in 2014.

Hawijah, like other IS bastions across Iraq, is increasingly isolated as federal, Kurdish and tribal forces slowly close in.

The pressure has mounted on anti-IS forces to flush the jihadists out of the Hawijah area after a chemical attack was launched from the nearby village of Bashir last week.

The suspected mustard agent attack on the Kurdish-controlled town of Taza killed a three-year-old girl and left hundreds of people complaining of burns and respiratory problems.

The town's residents have demanded government action to retake Bashir, which is visible from the main road between Baghdad and Kirkuk, but has remained in IS hands since 2014.

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Military coordination between the Kurdish peshmerga fighters and the government-allied Shiite Turkmen militia groups that also operate in the area has been difficult, slowing any operation against the jihadists.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has responded by promising that an operation against Bashir would get under way soon.

A senior military official in Kirkuk said that such an operation would further increase the pressure on Hawijah, which is IS's main remaining hub east of the Tigris.

IS shot down an Iraqi military helicopter on February 17, killing two crew members.

Two days earlier, an Iraqi Mi-17 helicopter crashed south of Baghdad due to a "technical problem", killing nine people.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi security forces freed a group of Yazidi women held captive by Islamic State in a covert operation behind the group's lines, a defense ministry statement said on Wednesday.It did not say how many women were freed, when or where. Islamic State captured around 5,000 Yazidi men and women in the northern region of Sinjar in summer 2014. Some 2,000 have managed to escape or have been smuggled out of Islamic State's self-proclaimed caliphate in Iraq and Syria, activists say. Islamic State considers the Yazidis to be devil-worshippers. The ancient Yazidi faith blends elements of Christianity, Zoroastrianism and Islam. (Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)
By Ari Rabinovitch TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israelis can now use their smartphones to make live video distress calls to emergency responders, a first-of-its-kind service that, if successful, could set a new standard for countries around the world. Video chats, texting and location detection may be humdrum features for today's smartphone user, but they remain a puzzle to most emergency calling systems, which are outdated and only take voice calls. This gap in technology, which developed countries are racing to close, leads to slower response times, miscommunications and many wasted resources, often to the detriment of people calling for help. Israel on Wednesday became the first country to launch a nationwide platform in which emergency operators can see live video, chat via text messages and determine pinpoint location outdoors and indoors. The system, downloaded as a phone app, was developed by a high-profile start-up called Reporty, whose chairman is former prime minister Ehud Barak. If successful, it could attract police, fire and ambulance services from around the world. "This solution did not exist beforehand," said Eli Bean, director of Israel's Magen David Adom ambulance service. "It will allow us to get the information we need real time, and certainly reduce response time and improve the care we provide." This could be for a simple emergency, like a sick family member, or a mass casualty incident, he said, referring to a Palestinian attack last week in Tel Aviv in which about a dozen people were stabbed at multiple spots along a boardwalk. Had they been able to receive videos and, perhaps more importantly, the ability determine location of callers, he said, "no doubt we would have handled it differently". In the United States, where about 240 million 911 emergency calls are made each year, the location of the closest cell tower may provide a general indication of the caller's location, but that is not always specific enough to guide rescuers. Reporty's system quickly shows emergency operators an outside caller's exact location, said chief executive Amir Elichai. For calls made inside a building, he said an algorithm uses nearby radio frequencies, like Wifi signals, to determine the caller's position, and its crowdsourcing technology makes it more exact as more people sign on. (Editing by Tom Heneghan)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli President Reuven Rivlin will ask Russia on Wednesday to ensure that its partial pullout from Syria does not embolden Iranian and Hezbollah forces there, an Israeli official said. Rivlin is in Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose withdrawal announcement on Monday blindsided world powers. Israel believes the Russian intervention in Syria's civil war served to restrain Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah militia, anti-Israeli foes which are also fighting for Damascus. In his afternoon talks with Putin, Rivlin will "seek assurances that Russia will not allow its Syria withdrawal to bolster Iran and Hezbollah", an aide to the Israeli president told Reuters. Rivlin, whose role is largely ceremonial, conferred with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before departing for Moscow, the aide added. Israel deems Hezbollah its most potent enemy, and worries that the Iranian-backed guerrillas, who hold sway in southern Lebanon, are also becoming entrenched on its Syrian front and acquiring advanced weaponry from Damascus. Though formally neutral on the civil war, Israel has carried out occasional air strikes in Syria to foil suspected Hezbollah arms transfers. An Iranian general and two senior Hezbollah fighters have been killed in Syria strikes attributed to Israel. The Israelis have also fired into Syria across the Golan Heights frontier zone in what they called responses to spillover shelling or deliberate attacks by Iranian-linked militias. When Russia began its Syria intervention last year, Netanyahu was quick to set up an operational hotline with Putin to prevent Israel accidentally coming to blows with Moscow. On Tuesday, the Russian deputy ambassador to Israel said the countries would continue their military coordination on Syria. "We will also do everything so that Israel's national security interests are not harmed in the process," the envoy, Alexey Drobinin, said. (Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Robert Birsel)
ROME (Reuters) - More than 2,400 migrants have been rescued from boats in the Strait of Sicily in the last two days and emergency services recovered three corpses, Italy's coast guard said on Wednesday. Now into the second year of its worst migration crisis since World War Two, Europe has been hit by more than 1.2 million arrivals, mainly from Africa and the Middle East, since the beginning of 2015. Italy's coast guard has continued to pick up migrants in trouble in the stretch of water between its southern coast and North Africa, although most people seeking a better life in Europe have taken less dangerous routes to Greece. Italian coast guard and navy ships and a Norwegian vessel operating for the European Union border agency Frontex rescued 1,467 people in 12 operations on Wednesday, the coast guard said in a statement. The coast guard found two bodies while rescuing 750 people packed into six rubber boats, and navy officials on a separate rescue mission found a third corpse. The coast guard gave no details on the nationalities of the victims or those rescued. Wednesday's rescues came after 951 people were plucked from the Strait of Sicily on Tuesday, the coast guard said. (Reporting by Isla Binnie; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Grand-Bassam (Ivory Coast) (AFP) - The toll from a jihadist shooting rampage at an Ivory Coast resort rose to 19 Wednesday when a body washed up on the beach, as the president said the country would not be cowed.

Images of the body of the young man shot in the head featured on state-run RTI television, which quoted its finder as saying it had been "washed back by the waves".

Several witnesses had reported seeing the attackers firing on people bathing in the sea or swimming.

"Ivory Coast will not be intimidated," said President Alassane Ouattara on chairing an extraordinary cabinet meeting in the popular beach town of Grand-Bassam where Sunday's shooting took place, urging the nation to show "our unity and strength."

Sunday's attack by at least three gunmen was claimed by an Al-Qaeda affiliate. It was the first in the country but the third such recent incident in West Africa.

Attacks also claimed by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) took place in Mali in November, and Burkina Faso in January, likewise targeting venues frequented by foreigners.

"I'm sure business activity at the hotels will be back to normal this weekend," said Ouattara.

"We want to tell the hoteliers that we must do everything we can to get back to business."

The attack has raised concerns it could affect the country's key tourist industry, just as Ivory Coast, the world's leading cocoa producer, was rebuilding its economy after years of unrest.

Nationals from several different countries were among those killed when the gunmen stormed three hotels and sprayed the beach with bullets.

Government spokesman Bruno Kone said the dead included eight Ivorians, a Nigerian, four French citizens, a German and a Macedonian woman and a Lebanese national. Three Ivorian special forces troops were also killed.

The sleepy town of Grand-Bassam, with its pristine beaches and UNESCO-listed French colonial-era buildings, is a short drive from Abidjan, Ivory Coast's main city and commercial capital, and is packed with visitors at weekends.

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Spokesman Kone said the government was pledging emergency budgetary aid for the city to the tune of 550 million CFA (840,000 euros), to be distributed between hotels, crafts people, street vendors and the town hall.

AQIM said the attack was one of a series of operations "targeting dens of espionage and conspiracies".

It warned France and its allies that nations involved in the anti-insurgent Operation Barkhane and the 2013 French-led Operation Serval in Mali would "receive a response", with their "criminal leaders" and interests targeted, according to the SITE group which monitors extremist groups.

On Tuesday, former colonial power France announced it would deploy a dozen crack GIGN special operations troops specialised in counter-terror and hostage rescue missions in neighbouring Burkina Faso.

France has some 600 troops at four military bases in Ivory Coast.
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's ruling party urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government on Wednesday to consider seeking international arbitration over Beijing's drilling activities in the disputed East China Sea, mirroring similar action by the Philippines. Sino-Japanese ties have long been plagued by conflicting claims over a group of uninhabited East China Sea islets. Last year, Japan called on China to halt construction of oil-and-gas exploration platforms in the East China Sea. At the time, Tokyo accused Beijing of unilateral development despite a 2008 agreement to maintain cooperation on resources development in the area, where no official border between them has been drawn. China said then it had every right to drill in the East China Sea close to waters it disputes with Japan. The Philippines has lodged a case with an arbitration court in The Hague about its dispute with China in the South China Sea. China reacted angrily and has pledged not to participate. Wednesday's resolution by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) called on Abe's government to firmly ask China for the prompt resumption of talks on the drilling issue, as well as to consider taking the case to an international arbitration court. "If China shrugs off the request, some action must be taken," Yoshiaki Harada, head of an LDP panel on resources development in the East China Sea, told reporters. "Everyone has agreed that we should not shy away from taking the matter to an international arbitration court and starting preparation for that step should be considered," Harada said after an LDP meeting on the resolution. There has been no bilateral dialogue on resources development in the East China Sea in recent years despite repeated calls from Japan for resuming such talks, he said. (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Paul Tait)
A Japanese submarine will make a port call in the Philippines for the first time in 15 years while accompanying naval ships will visit Vietnam's Cam Ranh Bay for the first time ever, Japan's navy said.

The announcement came days after China accused its Asian rival of interfering in the South China Sea.

Japan, which occupied the Philippines and Vietnam during World War II, is now strengthening relations. All three countries share growing concerns about China's increasing military muscle amid a series of maritime disputes.

China claims almost all the South China Sea. It is also embroiled in a separate row with Japan over disputed islands in the East China Sea that has seen relations sour badly in recent years.

Tensions in the South China Sea -- through which one-third of the world's oil passes -- have mounted in recent months since China transformed contested reefs into artificial islands capable of supporting military facilities.

Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan also claim all or part of the Spratlys chain in the Sea, while Vietnam and Taiwan have rival claims with China in the Paracels chain there.

The Japanese submarine Oyashio and two escort vessels will visit Subic Bay in the Philippines for annual open sea drills, a spokesman for Japan's Maritime Staff Office confirmed to AFP. The escort ships will also subsequently visit Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam.

The exercise, joined by some 500 personnel including officer candidates, is scheduled from Saturday through April 27.

It will be the first call at a Philippine port by a Japanese submarine since 2001, while the visit by the escort ships to Cam Ranh Bay will mark a first for Japan's navy, the spokesman said.

The submarine will not go to Vietnam, he said.

Beijing accused Tokyo of interfering in the South China Sea after Manila said it would lease five Japanese military planes.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino said last week that Manila would lease five TC-90 training aircraft from Japan to "help our navy patrol our territory", pointing to the disputed South China Sea in particular.

China immediately reacted, saying it was "firmly opposed" to challenges to its sovereignty and security and would "remain on high alert".
Just how did Bromley teenager David Jones metamorphose into iconic '70s futuristic creatures Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane, inventing glam rock in the process? By being a cultural sponge. During this period, Bowie once found a fly in his glass of milk and observed: "I'm just like that fly. Soaking up everything." As early as age 19, he absorbed kabuki, Buddhism, jazz and mime (which informed his later dance moves) from British mime Lindsay Kemp.

Then in 1972 in London, Bowie met Japanese stylist Yacco Takahashi, who had worked with T. Rex and Iggy Pop. Takahashi put Bowie in women's clothes made by Japanese designer Kansai Yamamoto throughout the '70s. "Kansai was a young designer, very popular in Japan," Takahashi tells THR. "Of course, David made him more so. Especially among musicians. I remember Keith Emerson [who died tragically March 10] called me, saying he wanted to wear Kansai clothes. His clothes were unisex. David loved Kansai's jumpsuit with the wide balloon legs and colorful knit bodysuits. We took him to Harajuku in Tokyo, and David fell in love with the kitsch atmosphere and colorful shops. I enjoyed helping David so much. I really like dramatic clothes!"

Read More: David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust-Era Stylist Recalls Dressing Him in Iconic Jumpsuit

Yamamoto, 72, recalls to THR: "After my first fashion show in London, my clothes were stocked in a shop called Boston 151 on Kings Road in London. David had bought my Woodland Creatures jumpsuit with rabbits on it from there. I wasn't really based there, but I felt that London was the place I felt most comfortable, and where my clothes were most appreciated. I didn't really know about David's work then. I was more visual than audio. And when David wore my women's clothes, people were very surprised. My clothes were designed to be worn by women. When I think of it, it was a bizarre thing for him to do. Luckily David had a very slim body and they fit him very well  no fittings." Yes, Bowie was already a real fan when he met Yamamoto through Takahashi.

Bowie debuted many of these Yamamoto confections, as curated by stylist Takahashi, at his first Ziggy Stardust show at New York's Radio City Music Hall in 1973. Says Yamamoto: "Some sort of chemical reaction took place: My clothes became part of David, his songs and his music. They became part of the message he delivered to the world. He even wanted to go a bit crazier," muses the designer. "Now, if Yacco hadn't linked David and myself, my jumpsuits would still be sleeping at the corner of my little room in Tokyo I had at the time." Instead, his jumpsuits  and jumpsuits in general  became iconic. As did David Bowie.

A version of this story first appeared in the April 1 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
PIRAEUS, Greece (Reuters) - A day after visiting refugees in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, U.N. special envoy Angelina Jolie traveled to Greece on Wednesday to highlight the plight of war-fleeing families stuck in the country. Jolie visited the temporary offices of U.N. refugee agency UNHCR at the main port of Piraeus near Athens, which has become a makeshift camp for some 4,000 refugees and migrants sleeping in tents on the docks. Scores of onlookers stood outside the agency's offices to see the Hollywood actress, clapping and cheering when she appeared. Jolie greeted children and asked the throng of reporters, cameramen and photographers to be more "thoughtful" as she tried to speak with them. "I'm here to learn and speak with you and the agencies and the government to learn what is happening, ok?," Jolie told one boy. "Try to stay strong." According to a UNHCR press release, Jolie is visiting Greece "to reinforce efforts by UNHCR and the Greek government to step up the emergency response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation". Tens of thousands of refugees and migrants are stuck in makeshift camps or reception centers in Greece, which has been struggling with the mass influx of migrants from the Middle East. On Wednesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the closing of the main migrant route through the Balkans had created a challenging situation for Greece that should concern all of Europe. Jolie, whose visit comes ahead of a European Union summit with Turkey over the migrant crisis, was also set to meet with Greece's prime minister. During her trip to Lebanon, the actress urged world powers to do more to end the Syrian conflict and help the millions who have fled the fighting. (Reporting By Deborah Kyvrikosaios; Writing by Deborah Kyvrikosaios and Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
Washington (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry will miss a deadline imposed by Congress to rule on whether the Islamic State group's murders of Christians in Syria and Iraq amount to genocide.

Lawmakers set Thursday as the day on which the State Department would have to confirm whether the US government regards the brutal IS persecution of religious minorities as a crime against humanity.

But department spokesman Mark Toner said Wednesday that Kerry was still gathering evidence before making his determination and would miss the deadline -- an admission sure to trigger anger on Capitol Hill.

"Given the scope and the breadth of the analysis he's contemplating, he will not have a final decision completed by the Congressionally-mandated deadline tomorrow," Toner said.

"However, this issue is clearly of the utmost importance to him as well as to Congress, and we expect him to reach a decision very soon."

The Islamic State group's vicious treatment of Christians and other non-Muslim religious minorities such as Yazidis -- including wholesale killing and rape -- is not disputed in Washington.

But the US administration argues that to designate the IS campaign as genocide would have practical legal implications and cannot be taken lightly.

This did not satisfy the House of Representatives, which has voted to classify the killings as genocide and demand that the administration do so, too.

"What more does Secretary John Kerry need to see and hear in order to call these atrocities for what they are?" House speaker Paul Ryan said.

"This is genocide, plain and simple. The House has spoken very clearly on this. And we all continue to pray for the persecuted."

Toner insisted that the State Department respects the right of Congress to demand a decision, but argued "we need some additional time, a matter of a few days or a week or so in order to reach what we believe is a more fact-based, evidence-based decision."
By Rodi Said and Stephanie Nebehay RMEILAN, Syria/GENEVA (Reuters) - Kurdish-controlled areas of northern Syria are expected to declare a federal system on Thursday, a move likely to further complicate peace talks in Geneva aimed at ending more than five years of war. Russia pulled more warplanes out of Syria, a new delivery of humanitarian aid reached northern Aleppo province and U.N. mediator Staffan de Mistura named a Russian academic to his team of advisers in a nod to Moscow's importance in brokering an end to the fighting. But despite a more than two-week-old "cessation of hostilities" and Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to pull out some of his country's forces that have tipped the balance of the war in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's favor, any hopes of a breakthrough at the peace talks in Geneva remain slim. Russia's Defence Ministry on Wednesday reported 10 new ceasefire violations and the Kurds, after being excluded from the talks in Geneva, appeared to be taking matters into their own hands by drawing up plans to combine three Kurdish-led areas of northern Syrian into a federal arrangement. The three areas already have de facto autonomy and while it was unclear what the new system would entail, there was no indication it would involve a separation from Syria. The new arrangement, which a conference in the Kurdish-controlled town of Rmeilan agreed would be announced on Thursday, would alarm neighboring Turkey, which fears growing Kurdish sway in Syria is fuelling separatism among its own minority Kurds. "Syria's national unity and territorial integrity is fundamental for us. Outside of this, unilateral decisions cannot have validity," a Turkish Foreign Ministry official said. The United States said on Wednesday it opposed Syrian Kurds forming an autonomous region in northern Syria, but could accept such an arrangement if the Syrians collectively agreed on it. The Syrian Kurdish YPG militia have been an important ally in the U.S.-led military campaign against Islamic State in Syria, and this has been a point of friction between the United States and its NATO ally Turkey. However, Bashar Ja'afari, head of the Syrian delegation in Geneva, rejected any talk of a federal model for Syria and ruled out direct talks with the main opposition delegation. The main opposition group's chief negotiator, Mohamad Alloush, said it had not yet decided whether it would hold direct negotiations with "the regime delegation". Ja'afari also said Putin's announcement of a partial withdrawal of his armed forces on Monday had come as no surprise to the Syrian government, describing it as "common decision, taken both by President Putin and President Assad". SYRIA POSITION UNCHANGED Some Western officials and commentators speculated Putin intended the partial withdrawal to force Damascus to soften its position at the talks to improve chances of progress, but Ja'afari signaled no change in its stance. Yet Putin's announcement surprised the West. He cited Russian military success in Syria as the reason for the drawdown, but his belief that the intervention delivered him a seat at the top table of world affairs may have tipped his hand. De Mistura's appointment of Vitaly Naumkin plays into this narrative. A former Soviet army officer, Naumkin is an expert on Islam and the Arab world and served as a moderator at earlier peace talks on Syria that were held in Moscow. But talking about the latest round of talks last week, Naumkin told Russia's RIA news agency: "There are no expectations. It is a difficult, complicated negotiation process." The Geneva talks are part of a diplomatic push launched with U.S. and Russian support to end a conflict that has killed more than 250,000 people, created the world's worst refugee crisis, and allowed for the rise of Islamic State. U.S.-Russian cooperation has already brought about a lull in the war via the "cessation of hostilities agreement", though many violations have been reported. The Russian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that in the preceding 24 hours there had been four violations in Aleppo province, three in Latakia and one each in Idlib, Homs and Hama. Opening the indirect talks on Monday, de Mistura said Syria faced a "moment of truth", and he has described Putin's decision to withdraw some Russian forces as a "significant development". Regional foes Saudi Arabia and Iran, which are deeply at odds over Syria, welcomed Putin's move and the Arab League said it would help the U.N.-mediated talks to end the conflict. Just under half of Russia's fixed-wing strike force based in Syria has flown out in the past two days, according to Reuters calculations based on state television footage. The precise number of planes that Russia kept at its Hmeymim base in Syria's Latakia province is secret. But analysis of satellite imagery, air strikes and Defence Ministry statements suggested it had about 36 fixed-wing military warplanes there. In the past two days, at least 15 of those planes - including Su-24, Su-25, Su-30 and Su-34 jets - have been seen on television flying out though Reuters could not independently verify the movements of the aircraft. RUSSIAN JETS IN ACTION Despite the partial withdrawal, Russian warplanes have been carrying out new sorties against positions belonging to Islamic State, which is not covered by the cessation of hostilities. RIA said Russia had also started supplying weapons to Iraqi Kurds, including five Zu-23-2 anti-aircraft cannons and 20,000 shells for the cannons. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said his country was not sure Putin's drawdown announcement was genuine. "We've seen before, in Ukraine, Russia talking about a withdrawal, and then it turned out to be merely a rotation of forces," he said during a visit to Baghdad, adding he could not foresee "enduring peace" with Assad in power. Moscow has rejected calls for Assad to be forced to step aside. He also still enjoys military backing from Iran, which has sent forces to Syria along with Lebanon's Hezbollah. The United States has also been carrying out air strikes in Syria. An Islamic State-linked website said the jihadist group had shot down a military plane near Kirkuk in Iraq, but U.S. officials said they knew nothing of such reports. Under the cessation of hostilities, fresh humanitarian aid has reached areas hit by recent fighting. A new convoy of 26 trucks brought aid to about 13,000 families in northern Aleppo province, the Red Cross said. The delivery by the Syrian Red Crescent to towns including Azaz, Afrin and Tal Rifaat was the largest in the area for weeks, Red Cross spokesman Pawel Krzysiek said. Clinics had been resupplied in the meantime, he said. On the second day of talks in Geneva on Tuesday, opposition negotiators demanded that the government detail its thoughts on a political transition in Syria and said there had been no progress on freeing detainees. The moves in Rmeilan, which was discussing a "Democratic Federal System for Rojava - Northern Syria", further complicated hopes of progress in Geneva. Rojava is the Kurdish name for northern Syria. Syrian Kurds effectively control an uninterrupted stretch of 400 km (250 miles) along the Syrian-Turkish border from the Euphrates River to the frontier with Iraq, where Iraqi Kurds have enjoyed autonomy since the early 1990s. They also hold a separate section of the northwestern border in the Afrin area. (Additional reporting by John Davison and Dominic Evans, Tom Perry, Rodi Said in Rmeilan, Syria, Tom Miles in Geneva, Angus MacDowall in Riyadh, Mostafa Hashem in Cairo, Tulay Karadeniz in Istanbul, Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in Dubai, Andrew Osborn in Moscow, and Arshad Mohammed in Washington; Writing by Timothy Heritage; Editing by Pravin Char, Don Durfee and G Crosse)
Former Law & Order showrunner Rene Balcer has secured a 10-episode order for The Council from Canada's CBC network, which developed the global drama.

The mystery thriller will be produced by Lark Productions, which made Motive for ABC and CTV in Canada, in partnership with Keston International Productions. The Council revolves around a murder in a remote Canadian Arctic town, and will be shot on location starting this summer in Iqaliut, London and Copenhagen.

Balcer is best known for his work on the Dick Wolf-created Law & Order, for which he won a best drama Emmy in 1997 as one of the flagship shows executive producers. A writer for the long-running drama since its inaugural season in 1991, he was head writer and showrunner for many of its 20 seasons.

There's no casting news on The Council, which starts in an Arctic town where a young woman, also a renowned environmentalist, is found ritualistically murdered. A new RCMP inspector running from a derailed personal and professional life, and her partner, investigate and quickly discover the mystery extends to dark corridors of power in Ottawa, Washington, D.C., Brussels, and then to Norway and Russia.

Eventually, the investigation returns to the Arctic, and an international conspiracy to control the world's natural resources. NBCU International, which developed The Council with Lark Productions, retains all distribution rights for the Canada-UK co-production.

The Council brings Balcer back to the Canadian Arctic where, as a college student, he worked in construction. "It's an exciting mystery and a political intrigue set against a wide canvas  climate change, indigenous extinction, competition for resources. As a story-teller, I couldnt ask for more," Balcer said in a statement.

The executive producer credits are shared by Louise Clark and Erin Haskett for Lark and Trevor Walton and Denis Coyne for Keston International.

Read More: 'Law & Order' Veteran Rene Balcer Developing Arctic Drama for CBC
By Andrew R.C. Marshall THE MEKONG RIVER (Reuters) - The Lao People's Army patrol boat was custom-made in China with night-vision capability and two of the most powerful engines on this remote stretch of the Mekong River. Today, like most days, it sits idle for lack of gasoline, guarded by a single Laotian soldier in flip-flops. Even occasional patrols by boats like these, supplied by China to the Laotian army and Myanmar police, have successfully subdued the pirates who once robbed the Mekong's cargo ships with impunity. But there has been little progress on another objective - stemming the flood of illicit drugs - exposing the limits of China's hard power in mainland Southeast Asia even as Beijing accelerates its militarization of disputed islands in the South China Sea. While attacks on Mekong shipping have tailed off, drug production and trafficking in the untamed region, known as the Golden Triangle, is booming - despite the presence of Chinese gunboats and units of Chinese armed police along the Mekong. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that Southeast Asia's trade in heroin and methamphetamine was worth $31 billion in 2013. "That's bigger than the economies of some Southeast Asian countries," says Jeremy Douglas, the UNODC's Asia-Pacific chief. "It's like having an undeclared sovereign state in your midst with no borders and lots of money." Enter another Mekong boat, looking at first glance like a pleasure cruiser filled with middle-aged tourists. In fact, they are senior police and drugs experts from five countries, among them one of China's top anti-narcotics officials, Wei Xiaojun. Arranged by the UNODC and lent further clout by Wei's involvement, their recent voyage down the Mekong was aimed at mustering the regional collaboration needed to tame the Golden Triangle. Reuters was invited to join the four-day trip from the Chinese port of Jinghong through the heart of the Golden Triangle. Wei, who is deputy secretary general of China's National Narcotics Control Commission (NNCC), called drugs the "main threat" along the Mekong. "All other types of organised crime are rooted in the drug business, like human trafficking, money laundering and the illegal wildlife trade," he said. CRAZY MEDICINE China is a favourite destination for Myanmar's drugs, which are flowing through Asia in unprecedented quantities. More than 250 million methamphetamine pills, better known by their Thai name "ya ba" or "crazy medicine", were seized in East and Southeast Asia in 2013, an eight-fold increase from 2008. Seizures of "crystal meth" or "ice" - a potent, crystalline form of methamphetamine dubbed "the poor man's cocaine" - doubled during the same period. In 2015, China seized a record 36.5 tons of methamphetamine, most of it from Myanmar, said the UNODC. Myanmar is the world's second largest producer of opium, the bulk of which ends up in China as heroin. A recent report from the NNCC raised concerns about the involvement of some Chinese military personnel in drug trafficking, and said the number of registered drug users in China rose to more than 2.3 million in 2015. Increasingly Myanmar too has a drug problem, with police last year making record-breaking busts of both ya ba and ice. This could severely test the new government of Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy party has yet to formulate drug policies, say experts. "OFF THE GRID" Many factors combine to help the Golden Triangle's drug industry prosper. The Myanmar-Laos border, which the Mekong delineates, is mostly unguarded. The terrain is rugged and hostile, with rebel armies holding sway in some areas and drugs and money-laundering flourishing in lawless enclaves on both sides of the river. Regional law enforcement agencies are often underfunded and ill-trained, and the intelligence they gather is not effectively shared with neighbouring countries. In October 2011, a gang led by a Mekong pirate called Naw Kham murdered 13 Chinese sailors. He was hunted down in Laos, then taken back to China to be tried and executed. Afterwards, Chinese gunboats began patrolling further downriver, extending China's security reach far beyond its borders. This includes a riverside facility in Muang Mom in Laos, which Reuters visited, run and guarded by a 25-strong unit of Chinese People's Armed Police. China conducts monthly joint patrols with its Laotian and Myanmar counterparts, who - gasoline permitting - do additional patrols by themselves. There have been successes. In 2013, a Chinese-Laotian patrol found 580 kg (1,280 lbs) of ya ba, worth more than 100 million yuan ($15 million), hidden in a cargo ship. But more patrols were needed, said the UNODC's Douglas, and Mekong countries also needed to coordinate and share intelligence to interdict more drugs. BLACK HOLES Some areas remain intelligence black holes. Hsop Lwe, for example, is Myanmar's busiest port on the Mekong, but its government has no control over it. The port belongs to Special Region 4, a semi-autonomous enclave famous for gambling, prostitution and narcotics. To the north is Special Region 2, also controlled by heavily armed rebels. The Special Regions were "off the political grid," said Douglas, although he hoped Suu Kyi's new government would engage with and secure better access to them. The UNODC boat could not get permission to stop at Hsop Lwe, where a Chinese cargo ship was unloading SUVs as it passed. Reuters reporters also spotted unofficial Mekong ports in Laos, which this year chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Landlocked and impoverished, Laos shares a border with all the Mekong countries, which also include Vietnam and Thailand, making it an important smuggling hub for both narcotics and the chemicals that make them. From Vietnam, for example, comes tons of caffeine, used in methamphetamine production and spirited through Laos and across the Mekong in rice bags. Other lawless areas were being created by the Mekong itself. The ever-shifting river created islands where drug shipments were hidden, said Colonel Patpong Ngasantheir of the Royal Thai Army. But according to a treaty negotiated while Laos was still a French colony, these islands were deemed neutral. "We're not allowed to search them," he said. (Reporting by Andrew R.C. Marshall; Additional reporting by Jessica Macy Yu in Beijing; Editing by Alex Richardson)
By Aidan Lewis TUNIS (Reuters) - The prime minister of Tripoli's self-declared government has warned Libya's U.N.-backed cabinet - based in Tunis - not to come to the capital, saying such a move would be illegal and suggesting ministers could face arrest. Two rival administrations within Libya are fighting for control, one in Tripoli, and one in the east, while the United Nations has brokered a deal for a national unity government meant to bring the sides together and end the conflict. Responding to a request by the U.N.-backed Presidential Council and Western powers for an immediate transfer of power, Khalifa al-Ghwell told Reuters late on Tuesday he could not hand over authority to a government he said did not enjoy the support of Tripoli's parliament, the General National Congress (GNC). The U.S. and major European powers recognized the unity cabinet as Libya's only legitimate government on Sunday, and are pushing for it to move to Tripoli and start work. Ghwell, who leads a government appointed after armed brigades supporting the GNC won a battle for control of Tripoli in 2014 and reinstated it, said the U.N.-backed cabinet lacked the legitimacy to govern from the capital. "If they want to enter Libya as individuals they are welcome, because they are Libyans. We don't advise them to enter Libya as a government, as to do so would be a violation to the law, and they will be treated according to the law," he said. Western powers say the U.N.-backed government represents the best chance to end the chaos that has destabilized Libya since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in an uprising five years ago, and to tackle a security vacuum that has allowed Islamic State to thrive. Some major armed brigades in western Libya and several dozen GNC members or former members have also pledged to support the new government. But the Presidential Council and the unity cabinet it nominated last month have faced opposition from hardliners both in Tripoli and in the east, where an internationally recognized rival government is based. Under the U.N.-backed plan for a political transition, the parliament in the east was meant to vote to adopt the plan and approve the unity government but has repeatedly failed to do so, though a majority of its members signed a statement supporting the unity government last month. This month, three members of a security committee appointed to prepare for the unity government's move were briefly detained in Tripoli. Ghwell said such decisions were taken by judicial authorities, but warned that members of the cabinet could face the same fate. "We are a sovereign state and must secure our city and safeguard the security of our people, and if they try to come illegally they will create a unforeseen consequences in Tripoli and we don't agree with this," he said. Ghwell backs parallel talks between members of the two governments in Libya, which he said were preparing an alternative plan for a political transition that he said would be presented in the next two weeks. Eastern opposition to a transfer of power is centered on concerns over future military leadership among allies of powerful commander Khalifa Haftar, whose Libya National Army has been leading battles against militants. In a statement condemning a recent attack by suspected Islamic State militants, the eastern government on Wednesday urged Libyans to fully support the army and "not count on the international community, which is still delaying in its support for Libya's legitimate institutions". (Editing by Louise Ireland)
Hulu's Casual is setting up a charming Life Unexpected reunion.

Britt Robertson has booked a big arc on the second season of the Golden Globe-nominated comedy Casual, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Robertson starred for two seasons as Lux on The CW's gone-but-not-forgotten Life Unexpected. She will reunite with Liz Tigelaar, who created Life Unexpected and now serves as an executive producer on Jason Reitman's Casual.

Read More: Next Big Thing: 'The Longest Ride,' 'Tomorrowland' Star Britt Robertson

"I am beyond thrilled that Britt has joined Casual for an arc this season," Tigelaar told THR. "She's an incredible talent, who's such a natural fit and perfect in the role, and, sentimentally, it's so much fun to be working together again. And I promised her, no crying or beanies this time around."

Robertson will recur as Fallon, Jordon's (Mad Men's Vincent Kartheiser) assistant, who is smart, sarcastic and has an agenda of her own.

The actress, who recently starred on the big screen in Tomorrowland, is repped by Innovative Artists. She joins a roster of season-two guest stars on Casual that also includes Britt Lower.
By Marcus E. Howard

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The driver of a limousine involved in a crash that killed four women on a Long Island winery tour was charged with criminally negligent homicide on Wednesday, months after a truck driver was charged with drunken driving in the incident.

A grand jury indicted Carlos Pino, 58, on criminal charges in the July 18 crash of his limousine, which was making a U-turn at an intersection when it was slammed broadside by a pickup truck, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota announced.

Four women - Lauren Baruch, 24, Brittney Schulman, 23, Amy Grabina, 23, and Stephanie Belli, 23 - were killed and four others were injured in the incident on Long Island's East End, where the group of eight friends was visiting wineries.

Pino was charged with four counts each of negligent homicide and assault, as well as failure to yield the right of way, reckless driving and other traffic violations. He was scheduled to be arraigned later in the day before state Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho.

Spota, citing information collected from an investigation, said Pino had limited sight of oncoming traffic when he attempted to make a U-turn on Route 48 in Cutchogue, a busy stretch of road dotted with wineries, and the limousine was slammed into by the truck.

"Despite the fact that the main westbound travel lanes were not visible, the limo driver, Carlos Pino, failed to take any precaution or any action to make sure he could safely enter the westbound travel lanes and he continued to make the U-turn," said Spota.

Steven Romeo, 55, of Peconic, the truck driver, was charged with driving while intoxicated on the day of the crash. He also will be arraigned before Justice Camacho.

Spota said Romeo was traveling at about 55 miles per hour (89 km per hour) and did not see the limousine enter the intersection until he was about 200 feet away.

"Romeo can be held criminally responsible for driving while intoxicated, but he cannot be held criminally responsible for the crash," Spota said.

(Reporting by Marcus E. Howard; Editing by Alan Crosby)
The U.S. Marine Corps has announced a plan to fly more than 1,100 endangered desert tortoises away from their habitat in California to make way for a new training ground, but conservationists arent happy about it.

The move, they say, could result in hundreds of tortoise deaths.

The plan is to translocate the animals from the Johnson Valley Shared Use Areawhich is about to become a part-time military training groundto nearby terrain where they wont be crushed by military equipment.

Ileene Anderson, senior scientist with the Center for Biological Diversity, worries the move could put this batch of animals at higher risk of death from predators, disease, and other environmental obstacles.

The fears arent unfounded. Back in 2008, the Army moved about 770 desert tortoises from areas around Californias Fort Irwin, and a large number of them were killed by coyotes almost immediately after arriving in their new habitat. At least 120 more died from unknown causes.

Desert tortoises are basically homebodies, Anderson explained. They can live to be 80 or 90 years old and spend most of that time within very small ranges.

Once theyre old enough to survive and be out there on the landscape they settle down on the territory, Anderson said.

Each tortoise digs four to eight burrows, in which they spend the majority of their lives when they arent looking for food. The burrows not only protect them from predators, the consistent underground temperatures also keep them safe from the deserts scorching sun and cold nights.

RELATED: Obama Just Protected 1.8 Million Acres of Desert. Heres What They Look Like

Moving tortoises away from their familiar burrows creates problems.

They dont know where they are, Anderson said. They dont know where there are any escape burrows. Theyre on the surface for so much longer, so if its particularly hot or particularly cold, then, being reptiles, they can be exposed to environmental conditions.

Oddly enough, some tortoises monitored in other relocation efforts died because they tried to find their old burrows. The tortoises that have been translocated have this incredible capacity for homing back to their home territory, Anderson said. They can travel six or seven miles, and have been successful at that, and one of them traveled up to 15 miles to make it back to his home territory. That, too, leaves them exposed on the surface for dangerously long periods of time.

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But the threat of disease may be the most pressing issue. An upper respiratory tract disease has made its way into wild tortoise populations, most likely due to humans releasing captive animals back into the wild.

Its like pneumonia for tortoises, Anderson said. There have been examples where there have been translocations and there has been a disease breakout in that resident population.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which administers the Endangered Species Act, signed off on the Marines plan back in 2012, but no actual translocation plan has been made public.

Ive been checking in every day for the translocation plan, Anderson said. She wants to know where the tortoises will be moved, and to ensure that the plan reflects new scientific information about translocations that has been learned since the disastrous attempts at Fort Irwin.

The Marines did not respond to TakeParts request for comment, but a spokesman did tell the Hi-Desert News that it plans to monitor the relocated tortoises for 30 years, at a cost of $50 million.

The Center for Biological Diversity has notified the Marines that it intends to sue to block the translocation. That lawsuit could move forward in 60 days. Meanwhile, the tortoises themselves may not have much time. The Marines plan to start their training exercises on August 1.

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Original article from TakePart
Charlton-police-rap-battle

If you find yourself on the hard streets of Charlton, Massachusetts, you better be prepared to spit some bars.

The Charlton Police Department issued a community notice on its Facebook page on Monday, warning of two or three gentlemen in their late teens or early twenties that attempted to start a rap battle with a few local teenagers.

SEE ALSO: British prisoner reviews police cell on Facebook, gives it 4 stars

"One of the males, with brown hair and a pale complexion, wearing a gray T-shirt, gray pants and open-toed sandals, exited the vehicle and started rapping while the other occupants of the vehicle began asking they boys if they wanted to 'spit some bars' (Rap lingo) with them. Boys declined, and the SUV drove off," the cops posted on Facebook.

The police declared that this behavior was "suspicious" and that it was "frightening to the boys," later clarifying that the men did not try to abduct the innocent teens.

The comment section on the post was littered with people mocking the investigation. But the cops insisted that the they were being extra cautious due to child abductions in the area.

Image: Screenshot/Facebook

One commenter noted that the true crime here was in the rapper's clothing choices.

Image: Screenshot/Facebook

The cops cited the disappearance and deaths of Molly Bish, who went missing from a nearby town in 2000, as well as Holly Piirainen, who was abducted in 1993.

The police department also clarified that they were not investigating rap music in their town.

"We are were not investigating Rap music being sung in Charlton and just posted the facts regarding the manner these older individuals used when approaching these children," the police department responded in the comment section.





Image: Screenshot/Facebook

Aside from warning of the rap battle, the police also used their Facebook page to recognize National Napping and Pi Day on Monday.

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Image: Screenshot/Facebook

And to play a game called "Mystery Mondays."

Clearly there's a lot happening in Charlton, Massachusetts. It's not all spitfire and off-the-dome contests.

[h/t: Boston Magazine]
By Aung Hla Tun YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar's powerful army chief congratulated incoming president Htin Kyaw and pledged cooperation on Wednesday, after the ally of Aung San Suu Kyi was elected as the country's first head of state with no military background in decades. Suu Kyi led her National League for Democracy (NLD) to a landslide election win in November, but a constitution drafted by the former junta bars her from the top office. She has vowed to run the country anyway through a proxy president, and on Tuesday the NLD-dominated parliament elected Htin Kyaw for the role. He runs a charity founded by Suu Kyi and is a trusted member of her inner circle. Relations between the armed forces and Suu Kyi will define the success of Myanmar's most significant break from military rule since the army seized power in 1962. The armed forces hold a quarter of parliamentary seats and the constitutional right to nominate one of the three presidential candidates. The army candidate, retired general Myint Swe, was elected first vice president on Tuesday. "It is hereby announced that the Tatmadaw takes pride in U Htin Kyaw's being elected as the President at the Second Union Parliament, and it will continue cooperating in every sectors for the emergence of peace, unity and development," the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Min Aung Hlaing, said in a Myanmar language post on Facebook. Tatmadaw is the Myanmar language name for the military. Min Aung Hlaing, who at the time of the historic vote was at a summit of Southeast Asian defense chiefs in Laos, issued the message several hours after the vote and long after outgoing President Thein Sein and representatives of other countries, including China and the United States, had extended their congratulations. In the run up to the vote, the military questioned the qualifications of both Htin Kyaw and an NLD candidate for vice president, Henry Van Thio, underscoring tensions that have risen as the two sides started working on the details of the transfer of power. Sources in Suu Kyi's camp say she has grown increasingly frustrated with military intransigence on issues ranging from amending the constitution to relatively minor formalities such as the location of the handover of power. NLD lawmakers also say the military's choice of Myint Swe, who served the junta as head of the feared military intelligence and is on the U.S. sanctions list, goes against the spirit of reconciliation Suu Kyi is seeking to foster. (Editing by Alex Richardson)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Reuters) - A black North Carolina man exonerated in 2004 after 19 years behind bars for a murder he did not commit appears to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said on Wednesday.

Darryl Hunt, who was 51 and had been reported missing, was found dead inside a locked car in Winston-Salem on Sunday.

A handgun was located near Hunt's body and an autopsy showed a single gunshot wound to his torso, Winston-Salem police said in a statement.

Detectives said they found no evidence of a struggle but will continue to investigate.

Twice convicted in the 1984 death of 25-year-old newspaper copy editor Deborah Sykes, who was white, Hunt was freed from prison after DNA evidence from the crime scene was matched to another man who later confessed to the killing.

He became an advocate for criminal justice reform after his 2004 exoneration.

Friends told the Winston-Salem Journal that Hunt suffered from advanced cancer and had recently divorced.

(Reporting by Colleen Jenkins; Editing by Tom Brown)
Seoul (AFP) - North Korea on Wednesday sentenced an American student who admitted stealing a propaganda banner from a hotel to 15 years' hard labour for subversive activities, state media said.

The judgement was handed down on Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old student from the University of Virginia, by North Korea's Supreme Court, the North's official KCNA news agency said.

Observers said the harsh sentence was likely a reflection of soaring military tensions on the divided Korean peninsula following the North's nuclear test in January and long-range rocket launch a month later.

The United States took a leading role in securing the resulting sanctions that the UN Security Council imposed on the North earlier this month.

In recent weeks Pyongyang has maintained a daily barrage of nuclear strike threats against both Seoul and Washington, ostensibly over ongoing large-scale South Korea-US military drills that the North sees as provocative rehearsals for invasion.

In announcing the jail sentence, KCNA said Warmbier had committed his offence "pursuant to the US government's hostile policy" towards North Korea.

- 'Hostile acts' -

Warmbier had initially been arrested in early January on charges of "hostile acts" against the state. KCNA said he was convicted under an article of the criminal code dealing with subversion.

"In the course of the inquiry, the accused confessed to the serious offence," it said, without elaborating.

Warmbier was arrested as he was leaving the country with a tour group. He later said he had removed a political banner from the staff-only area of the Pyongyang hotel where the group had stayed.

The sentence was handed down just hours after veteran US diplomat Bill Richardson reportedly met two diplomats from North Korea's UN office in New York to press for Warmbier's release.

"I urged the humanitarian release of Otto, and they agreed to convey our request," Richardson, the former governor of New Mexico, told the New York Times.

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In the past, North Korea has used the detention of US citizens to obtain high-profile visits from the likes of former US presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton in order to secure their release.

Richardson has travelled to North Korea several times over the years on diplomatic missions that have included negotiating the freedom of arrested Americans.

The United States has no diplomatic or consular relations with the North. The Swedish embassy in Pyongyang provides limited consular services to US citizens detained there.

Warmbier is one of three North Americans currently detained in North Korea, which recently sentenced a 60-year-old Canadian pastor to life imprisonment with hard labour on sedition charges.

The US State Department "strongly recommends against all travel" to North Korea and specifically warns of the risk of arrest.

- 'College prank' -

Human Rights Watch said the severe sentence was shocking given that Warmbier's alleged offence amounted to little more than a "college-style prank".

"Pyongyang should recognise this student's self-admitted mistake as a misdemeanour ... release him on humanitarian grounds, and send him home," said Phil Robertson, deputy director of the rights watchdog's Asia Division.

Detained foreigners are often required to make a public, officially-scripted acknowledgement of wrongdoing, and Warmbier was paraded in front of reporters and diplomats in Pyongyang last month.

Footage of the carefully orchestrated event showed a sobbing Warmbier pleading to be released and saying he had made "the worst mistake of my life".

Warmbier said he had been tasked with stealing the banner by a member of the Friendship United Methodist Church in Wyoming, Ohio, who wanted it "as a trophy" and offered him a used car worth $10,000 if he succeeded.

Political slogans extolling the achievements of the country and its leaders and encouraging citizens to work harder and demonstrate their loyalty are pervasive in North Korea.

They can be seen on the streets and in nearly every public building, as well as every work unit.
By Josh Smith KABUL (Reuters) - The NATO-led mission in Afghanistan has sent a one-star general to lead foreign troops in embattled Helmand province, officials said on Wednesday, a rare move that signals foreign forces' deepening involvement in the war with the Taliban. U.S. Army Brigadier General Andrew Rohling has been sent to command the Helmand advisory force, which was recently increased by several hundred troops, said Colonel Michael Lawhorn, spokesman for the NATO-led Resolute Support mission. News of Rohling's appointment came as NATO's visiting top official said foreign military advisers may soon be more "flexible" in assisting Afghan forces. Since NATO declared an end to its combat mission at the end of 2014, Afghan troops and police have faced escalating Taliban attacks. The army and police are losing thousands of people a month to casualties and desertions, and civilian casualty rates are among the highest of the 15-year-old war. Rohling is an unusually high-ranking officer for the size of the advisory force in Helmand, which normally would be commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel. "Assigning a permanent general officer to the area to oversee the train, advise, assist mission is a sign of how important Helmand is both to the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the international coalition," Lawhorn told Reuters. Helmand has been one of the provinces hardest-hit in the war's intensification in the past year. Afghan troops have been forced to withdraw from several districts. Although Helmand is historically one of the country's most violent areas and a major opium-growing center, the NATO-led force had not keep a large permanent presence there. Instead, a small force of advisers rotated in and out after NATO declared its combat mission over at the end of 2014. As Afghan forces lost ground, however, the foreign presence has grown in recent months and now numbers several hundred. 'MORE FLEXIBLE, TARGETED' Military officials say Rohling's presence should add force to NATO's bid to coordinate efforts and reorganize the Afghan army corps in Helmand, which has been plagued by leadership problems and desertions. In Kabul, visiting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters that some international trainers would go back to advising Afghan troops in smaller units and providing more intelligence and medical evacuation support, especially in the most contested provinces like Helmand and Kunduz. "What we have decided is that we will have a more flexible and targeted approach with the resources that we already have in Afghanistan," he said. Abandoning a plan to withdraw most troops by the end of 2016, the NATO-led force last year decided to keep about 13,000 troops through most of this year. The exact number to remain in 2017 had yet to be determined, Stoltenberg said. The decision to expand the role of foreign troops echoes recommendations from top military leaders including recently departed NATO force commander U.S. General John Campbell. American and other foreign advisers have already found themselves drawn into heavy firefights while embedded with Afghan forces. Stoltenberg acknowledged that the alliance should have started building up Afghan forces earlier in the war, which began when a U.S.-led force toppled the hard-line Islamist Taliban for sheltering the planners of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on U.S. cities. But he disputed suggestions that the change to plans represented failure of NATO's exit strategy. "The fact that we are adjusting is not a sign of weakness, but its a sign of strength, that we are able to adjust, that we are able to change, that we are able to be flexible," he said. (Reporting by Josh Smith; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Washington (AFP) - US network Fox News on Wednesday called off a Republican debate next week after frontrunner Donald Trump and Ohio Governor John Kasich announced they were not taking part.

The debate -- being organized in partnership with the Republican Party -- would have been held Monday in Salt Lake City, Utah.

"The Salt Lake City debate is canceled," said a statement from Fox News' executive vice president of news, Michael Clemente.

"I think we've had enough debates," Trump had told the same network earlier.

Already on Friday, the billionaire had told reporters he thought it was time to end the debates.

Twelve Republican debates have been held since August. Trump already boycotted one such forum held in Iowa in late January, also hosted by Fox News.

"I think we've had enough, how many times can the same people ask you the same questions?" Trump said. "So I was very surprised when I heard that Fox called for a debate, nobody told me about it, and I won't be there, no."

Instead of taking to the stage in Utah, Trump said he would be delivering a speech in Washington at an annual conference held by AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobbying group. Top Democratic White House contender Hillary Clinton is also due to speak at the gathering.

Kasich had let it be known that he probably wouldn't participate in the debate either in the absence of Trump.

"Donald Trump's decision to scuttle the Salt Lake City debate is disappointing, but not surprising. His values are out of step with the people of Utah," said Kasich's chief strategist, John Weaver.

"We had hoped to contrast Governor Kasich's positive, inclusive approach to problem solving with Trump's campaign of division. If he changes his mind, we will be there."

Remaining rival Ted Cruz has also decided to back out of the debate, according to broadcaster CBS.

"Ted Cruz has expressed a willingness to debate Trump or Kasich -- or both. But obviously, there needs to be more than one participant," Clemente said.

The number of debates this year is in fact less than in previous election seasons after the schedule was taken in hand by the party. Around 20 were organized during the Republican primaries in 2012 and 2008.

In 2007 and 2008, Barack Obama and Clinton also faced off more than 20 times.
NIAMEY (Reuters) - Jailed Nigerien opposition leader Hama Amadou must be flown abroad to seek specialised medical attention, a government spokesman said on Tuesday, just days before he faces a run-off election against President Mahamadou Issoufou. Amadou, a former president of parliament speaker, was jailed in November in connection with a baby-trafficking scandal but finished second to Issoufou in the first round of polling last month. He denies the charges against him and says they are politically motivated. His supporters claim he has suffered from ill health during the time he has been jailed in the town of Filingue, about 180 km (110 miles) northeast of the capital Niamey. In the government's first acknowledgement that Amadou is ill, Dr. Idrissa Maiga Mahamadou, spokesman for the health ministry, said late on Monday that four specialists were sent to Filingue on Monday. On Tuesday they concluded that he would require attention in specialist facilities outside Niger. "The (medical) report concludes that he has a chronic illness which he has suffered from for three years and that he must be evacuated to a specialised centre," government spokesman Marou Amadou told reporters. The nature of Amadou's illness was not immediately clear, but the spokesman said that he was also suffering from fatigue. A helicopter was previously sent to Filingue to pick Amadou up on Friday but was unable to return due to a technical problem. The state of the road between Niamey and Filingue ruled out using a normal ambulance, Mahamadou said on Monday. Amadou's own doctor said earlier on Monday that the opposition leader had already lost consciousness once before being revived in the prison infirmary. A court is due to hear a new petition for his provisional release next Monday, the day after the run-off vote. President Issoufou took office in April 2011, a year after a popular coup overthrew the West African nation's previous leader Tandja Mamadou. He is working closely with Western nations, positioning himself as a partner in the effort to boost security in the vast, arid Sahel region where Islamist militants are intensifying their insurgency. However, critics have accused him of becoming increasingly authoritarian and clamping down dissent, including among the opposition. (Reporting by Abdoulaye Massalaki; Writing by Joe Bavier and Edward McAllister; Editing by Bernard Orr/Ruth Pitchford)
Niamey (AFP) - After four months behind bars on shadowy baby-trafficking charges, Niger's presidential challenger Hama Amadou was flown from jail to Paris on Wednesday for medical treatment, just days before standing for election.

He was evacuated by helicopter to the capital Niamey from Filingue, the town where he was jailed some 180 kilometres (110 miles) away, and then put on a plane for Paris, aide Abdou Rafa told AFP.

"At his request, France will admit Mr Hama Amadou for medical care," a foreign ministry official told AFP.

The 66-year-old former premier and parliament speaker came second in the first round of Niger's presidential race February 21 -- with 17.79 percent, trailing well behind President Mahamadou Issoufou, who picked up 48.41 percent.

The second run-off round between Amadou and Issoufou is scheduled for Sunday.

A spokesman for the opposition coalition, COPA 2016, said Amadou would likely be admitted to the American Hospital in the west Paris suburb of Neuilly.

Amadou's doctor Harouna Yacouba told several private Nigerien TV networks this week that his health had "worsened" and that he had had to be hospitalised.

Yacouba was arrested late Tuesday for "propagating false news".

But government spokesman and Justice Minister Marou Amadou, also speaking Tuesday, said the opposition leader had suffered from "a chronic illness for three years" and needed specialist care that "does not exist in Niamey."

He said a team of specialists dispatched to Filingue had diagnosed a state of "general fatigue".

Forced to campaign from behind bars after being detained November 14 on baby-trafficking charges he says were concocted, Amadou won opposition support in his difficult bid to unseat the head of state.

However, while Amadou's name will be on the ballot papers Sunday, the opposition recently said it would boycott the second-round vote.

Amadou heads the Nigerien Democratic Movement (NDM) whose members were tear-gassed by police in February after gathering in their thousands to support their man.

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The opposition early this month asked for his release on bail so he could campaign for the second round, but on Monday the Niamey appeals court announced it would hand down a decision on March 28, a week after the vote.

Amadou came in third in the 2011 presidential election and then threw his support behind Issoufou rather than the opposition, being rewarded with the post of speaker of parliament.

He split with the regime in 2013 and joined the opposition.

Issoufou, known as the "Lion" or "Zaki" in Hausa, the majority language in Niger, is seeking a second five-year term.

He had hoped to win an outright first-round victory in the impoverished country straddling the Sahara desert.

His winning pitch was a pledge to restore stability to a country wracked by coups since 1974 and to secure it from jihadist groups active in neighbouring Nigeria, Mali and Libya.

But critics point to the fact that despite its abundance of uranium, coal and oil, Niger remains one of the poorest nations on the planet.

Three quarters of its 18 million people survive on less than $2 a day and desertification, driven by climate change, is pushing waves of rural dwellers into towns.
Maiduguri (Nigeria) (AFP) - At least 22 people were killed in a twin suicide bombing at a mosque in northeast Nigeria Wednesday, prompting condemnation from President Muhammadu Buhari and stoking fresh fears about security.

The attack, carried out by two women disguised as men, took place at about 5:30 am (0430 GMT) in the Molai district of Maiduguri, which Boko Haram insurgents have repeatedly targeted in the past.

Buhari, who in December declared the militants were "technically" defeated, said he was "dismayed by the... bomb attack on innocent worshippers".

"This attack is yet another sign that Boko Haram is a mindless and godless group that in no way represents true Islam," he wrote on Twitter.

The attack was only the second in northeast Nigeria this month and came after four raids and suicide bombings in February and eight in January -- a marked fall in frequency since last year.

The military has said its sustained counter-offensive over the last year has the Islamists on the run, cutting off their supply lines and reducing their ability to conduct conventional fighting.

But fears remain about the group's use of suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices against "soft" civilian targets such as mosques, markets and bus stations.

The government in Abuja is actively promoting the return of hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the conflict who have been living in camps or host communities in Maiduguri.

The sporadic attacks, including one last month at a camp for the internally displaced in Dikwa, some 90 kilometres (55 miles) east of Maiduguri, have made many of the homeless hesitant to return.

- Disguised -

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack but the bombing bore all the hallmarks of the Islamic State affiliate, whose insurgency has left at least 17,000 dead since 2009.

Both the Borno State Emergency Management Agency spokesman Abdullahi Omar and the army confirmed the powerful blast, which brought down the mosque's ceiling and tore off its roof.

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"Sadly, 22 people were killed and 18 others sustained various degrees of injuries," army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman said in an emailed statement.

A source at the state agency added: "This morning just before prayers two women disguised as men came by the mosque.

"One of them went in and joined the first row of the congregation and when the worshippers stood up for the prayers she detonated her explosives, killing several worshippers.

"While the others were trying to flee, the second woman who stood outside the mosque rushed in and set off her explosives in their midst."

The source, who asked for anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to the media, also gave the death toll as 22 but gave a higher figure of 35 injured.

Survivors of the attack and evidence from the rescue operation identified the bombers as women, he added.

- Relative calm -

Maiduguri, where the group was formed in 2002, has been relatively calm in recent months as a result of a heavy military presence and the counter-offensive.

But there are still question marks about its ability to protect civilians and property from guerrilla-style attacks, particularly in hard-to-reach rural areas.

On January 31, at least 85 people were killed when insurgents attacked the village of Dalori, some 12 kilometres (seven miles) from Maiduguri, where a major displaced persons camp is located.

Maiduguri itself was last attacked on December 27, when 22 people were killed and 91 injured in a series of raids, shelling and suicide attacks in the Jiddari Polo area.

Usman extended his condolences to the victims' families and vowed to "rout the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists, wherever they may be hiding".

"We will not rest on our oars until all those that masterminded this latest heinous and other similar crimes are apprehended and brought to justice," he added.
Abuja (AFP) - Nigeria's former chief of defence staff bought property including a $5.5 million mansion with air force money, passing off his fraudulent withdrawals as staff salaries, a court heard Wednesday.

Retired air chief marshal Alex Badeh is on trial at a federal high court in Abuja, accused of diverting 3.97 billion naira ($19.8 million, 18 million euros) for his own use.

The 59-year-old, arrested as part of a wide-ranging anti-corruption campaign by President Muhammadu Buhari, denies 10 counts of fraud, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.

The finance director under Badeh when he was chief of air staff at the time of the alleged offences in 2013 said he exchanged 558.2 million naira for dollars every month on his boss' instructions.

The money was part of some four billion naira set aside for monthly salaries for air force personnel, retired air commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau told the court in evidence.

The withdrawals were accounted for "as salaries because the disbursement was done along with salaries", he said.

Yushau, who retired in December 2013, said he bought properties with the money for Badeh and his son, including a mansion in the upmarket Maitama district of Abuja worth 1.1 billion naira.

Former president Goodluck Jonathan appointed Badeh chief of defence staff in January 2014 at a time of growing dissatisfaction at the military's handling of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Badeh vowed a swift end to the conflict but his time in office saw the Islamist militants run riot in three northeast states, seizing swathes of territory.

Nigerian troops seemed unable -- and were often unwilling -- to fight back, with complaints about a lack of weapons and even bullets compared to the better armed militants.

On Badeh's watch, Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 girls from their school in Chibok, in Borno state, northeast Nigeria.

Former national security advisor Sambo Dasuki is currently facing a separate trial over his alleged diversion of billions of dollars in weapons procurement cash using fictitious defence contracts.

Trial judge Okon Abang adjourned Badeh's case and remanded him in custody until March 23 to allow the defence time to prepare cross-examination.
New York (AFP) - US sporting goods giant Nike unveiled Wednesday its first shoe that ties itself, the HyperAdapt 1.0, which will go on sale at the end of 2016.

Sensors at the heel level activate the lacing when a foot slips into the shoe. Two buttons on the side of the shoe can be pressed to loosen or tighten the lacing.

Nike calls the feature adaptive lacing. Nikes star designer Tinker Hatfield said at the New York presentation that the company is working on other innovations that will provide automatic adjustments.

Nike launched in 2015 a limited-edition shoe with so-called power laces that adapt to the wearers motion, the Nike Mag, inspired by the film Back to the Future, Part II.

It will only be available via auction this year, with all proceeds going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research, a nonprofit launched by the actor who played Marty McFly in the movie.
Washington (AFP) - President Barack Obama's administration has not yet made a decision on whether to ramp up troop levels to counter a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter wants to give Lieutenant General John Nicholson, who leads international forces in Afghanistan, time to evaluate the situation on the ground and make proposals first.

"Let's give General Nicholson a chance to get on the ground, find out... whether or not there needs to be an adjustment," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said.

Nicholson vowed to make a proposal within 90 days of taking up the post on March 2.

The number of US troops is due to drop to 5,500 starting in January 2017 -- down from 9,800 currently.

But losses by the Afghan military against Taliban fighters last year, including when the insurgents took and briefly held the northern city of Kunduz, has concerned US military officials.

The American and NATO combat mission in Afghanistan officially ended in December 2014.

But since then the Taliban have managed to make significant gains against the 350,000 Afghan soldiers and police, with the 13,000 foreign troops now officially limited to training and advising them.
Washington (AFP) - The US military said Wednesday it has seen no significant reduction in Russia's combat power in Syria despite President Putin's surprise announcement this week of a partial withdrawal of his country's forces.

Colonel Steve Warren, a US military spokesman in the region, said Russian intentions remain unclear.

"We have not seen a significant reduction, frankly, in their combat power. Particularly the ground combat power remain static, the air combat power has been slightly reduced, but that's it," he said.

Warren said there were some indications of small units packing up, and eight to 10 Russian aircraft have left the country.

Putin on Monday ordered the Russian defense ministry to begin the withdrawal of the "main part" of its military contingent in Syria.

The first warplanes arrived back in Russia on Tuesday to a hero's welcome.

But Warren said the US military remains uncertain about Moscow's plans.

"There is a long list of possibilities and rather than getting into each one of them, we're going to continue to focus on fighting ISIL," he said, using an acronym for Islamic State, the extremist group that controls large parts of Syria and Iraq.

The White House, however, said Tuesday that Moscow appeared to be moving forward on its commitment to withdraw forces and US Secretary of State John Kerry said he will travel to Russia next week for a meeting with Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Russia intervened militarily in the Syrian civil war September 30 at the request of its close ally, President Bashar al-Assad, deploying about 50 combat aircraft.

It also sent more than 4,000 ground troops, artillery, tanks and about 30 combat helicopters.

The Russians have directed their operations mainly at western-backed anti-government rebels, while a US-led coalition has been waging an air campaign against IS.
Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz on Wednesday urged Japan to postpone a planned tax hike, warning that boosting the tariff could hurt the debt-hit economy as global markets slump.

The comments come as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo mulls postponing the consumption tax hike ahead of summer elections, in a possible about-face from a previously repeated pledge to carry it out.

Stiglitz, a long-time critic of austerity schemes pursued by Western governments, met with Abe and other top officials ahead of a Group of Seven summit in Japan in May.

He cautioned against a consumption tax hike scheduled for April 2017 that would raise the levy from eight to 10 percent.

"A consumption tax increase now is going in the wrong direction," Stiglitz told reporters after the meeting.

"A few years ago, no one would have anticipated that the global economy would be as weak as it is today.

"When economic circumstances change, you have to adapt your policy," added Stiglitz, who advised former US president Bill Clinton and won the 2001 Nobel in economics.

Analysts have speculated Abe wants to delay the unpopular tax hike -- which was decided before he returned to power -- as lawmakers head to an upper house election expected in July.

The last consumption tax hike from five to eight percent in April 2014 -- the nation's first in 17 years -- slowed consumption and pushed the world's third-largest economy into a brief recession.

Critics say Japan must increase tax revenues in the face of soaring debts and to pay for the ballooning cost of welfare as the population rapidly ages.

Government coffers are deep in the red with public debt standing at twice the size of the economy, the worst among industrialised economies.

Stiglitz's views echo similar calls from Abe's close advisers who say they are against the hike because it risks further slowing Japan's stagnant economy.

The current tax hike plan already marks a delay after Abe argued for putting it off for 18 months, saying implementing the original schedule of October 2015 would derail the nation's fragile recovery.

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Abe has since pledged to stick with the new plan -- barring a global crisis akin to the 2008 financial turmoil that slowed the world economy.

Since Abe returned to power three years ago his government has pushed a big-spending, easy money policy.

The scheme quickly boosted stocks and drove down the yen, making Japanese exports more competitive, but has also added to public debts.

After early successes, the eponymous "Abenomics" has fallen short of its original promise to end years of on-off deflation and spur sustained growth.
Washington (AFP) - President Barack Obama will travel to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia in April, a visit set to be dominated by doubts over Britain's EU membership and concerns about turmoil in the Middle East.

The White House said Obama will visit Windsor Castle -- where he will have a private lunch with Queen Elizabeth II -- and 10 Downing Street for a joint press conference with Prime Minister David Cameron.

His visit comes ahead of Britain's hotly contested June referendum on European Union membership.

Obama is likely to express his strong backing for keeping Britain in the EU, but will have to rebuff allegations of interference.

London's loquacious mayor Boris Johnson -- a chief proponent of leaving the bloc -- has accused Obama of "exorbitant hypocrisy" given America's "hysterical vigilance" about its own sovereignty.

In Saudi Arabia, Obama will attend a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, were Washington's policies toward the Middle East are likely to come under the microscope.

Uneasy partners in the Gulf have been furious at Obama's engagement with Iran and perceived retreat from the Middle East.

A senior Saudi royal has publicly criticized Obama for comments accusing the longtime US ally of feeding Middle East conflicts.

Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, has long been a major ally of the United States but the relationship has deteriorated under Obama.

In an opinion piece published in Saudi newspapers, Prince Turki al-Faisal, the kingdom's former intelligence chief and envoy to Washington, lashed out at Obama's recent comments to The Atlantic magazine.

"You accuse us of fomenting sectarian strife in Syria, Yemen and Iraq. You add insult to injury by telling us to share our world with Iran, a country that you describe as a supporter of terrorism," Faisal wrote.

Faisal questioned whether Obama has "pivoted to Iran so much that you equate the kingdom's 80 years of constant friendship with America to an Iranian leadership that continues to describe America as the biggest enemy, that continues to arm, fund and support sectarian militias in the Arab and Muslim world".

Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia has repeatedly accused Shiite Iran of interference in Arab affairs, particularly in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Bahrain.

During the visit Obama will also visit Germany, and, according to the White House attend "Hannover Messe  the world's largest trade show for industrial technology  and meet Chancellor Angela Merkel."
By Julia Harte

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An Ohio man pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to attempting to provide material support to Islamic State and to possessing a firearm as a felon.

Amir Said Rahman Al-Ghazi, 39, who changed his name from Robert McCollum last year, repeatedly posted on social media in 2014 and 2015, pledging allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi and urging others to join the militant group, according to court records.

Al-Ghazi entered his guilty plea in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, in Cleveland. He will await his June 23 sentencing in the custody of the U.S. Marshals service.

Al-Ghazi was arrested and charged last June after buying an AK-47 assault rifle from an FBI undercover employee. A subsequent search of his house turned up a handgun, a sword, and an Islamic State flag, among other items, according to the federal complaint against him.

Federal authorities began tracking Al-Ghazi after his social media posts, such as "Join the Islamic State If not represent the caliphate wherever You Are America to Australia," caught their attention.

Multiple FBI informants then posed as Islamic State sympathizers to engage with Al-Ghazi online between July 2014 and June 2015, according to court records.

In conversations with an FBI informant in 2015, Al-Ghazi expressed desires to kill non-Muslims and to create a propaganda video for the group, floating ideas for a video that would depict Islamic State members "capturing trucks," "hitting the oil pipeline," and "conducting drive-bys on cops," said the federal complaint against him.

Federal prosecutors also brought multiple counts of marijuana trafficking against Al-Ghazi, based on 24 sales he conducted with undercover informants, though Al-Ghazi's guilty plea only addressed the firearms and material support charges. His plea agreement with federal prosecutors was sealed.

Al-Ghazi is one of more than 80 individuals whom the United States has charged with Islamic State-related crimes since 2013.

On Friday, a Mississippi man pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to join the militant group in Syria with his wife last summer.

(Reporting by Julia Harte; Editing by James Dalgleish)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the government to lift a travel ban on former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, paving the way for him to leave the country while awaiting trial for treason and other charges. The departure of Musharraf, who has faced a battery of court cases since returning home from self-imposed exile in 2013, would remove a source of friction between the powerful army and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Then army chief Musharraf overthrew Sharif in a 1999 coup and ruled Pakistan until 2008 when he stepped down in the face of widespread opposition to his rule. Current military rulers are known to have disapproved of the legal action against their old boss, which stems from his suspension of the constitution and imposition of emergency rule in 2007, when he was trying to extend his hold on power. Sharif's government had long declined to let Musharraf leave the country, saying it was a decision for the courts. A provincial court had ruled in 2014 that Musharraf be allowed to travel abroad but the federal government appealed that decision. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court rejected that. "Appeal is dismissed," the court said in a short order. Musharraf pleaded not guilty to five counts of treason in April 2014. His lawyer, Farough Naseem, said he was now free to travel abroad and seek medical treatment outside Pakistan. He was taken to hospital with chest pains in January. His lawyers say he also wants to visit his ailing mother in Dubai. The former president is also on bail in connection with two other major cases: the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and the killing of a prominent cleric. He has pleaded not guilty in all cases and has remained free though not allowed to travel abroad. (Reporting by Mehreen Zahra-Malik and Asad Hashim; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Hamas's military wing said Wednesday one of its members was involved in an attack in the occupied West Bank, in what was thought to be the first such acknowledgement since a wave of violence began in October.

The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, in a statement, described Qassem Ouda Jaber, 31, from Hebron in the southern West Bank, as a member of one of the group's cells in the southern West Bank.

The Israeli army said three Palestinians had tried to kill Israelis in two separate attacks on Monday but all three were shot dead, while an army officer and three soldiers were wounded.

The Palestinian health ministry named the perpetrators as Jaber, Amir Juneidi and Yousef Taraya.

The Qassam statement said Jaber was a member of a brigade formed in 2004. It said he was arrested in 2006 and detained for 42 months for belonging to Hamas, before opening a fruit and vegetable shop.

Hamas rules the Gaza Strip, but also operates in the West Bank.

Army spokesman Peter Lerner, contacted by AFP, said the Hamas claim on Wednesday "doesn't come as such a huge surprise".

"We do see an attempt by Hamas to take advantage of the violence in the region. We have seen this in several attempts to establish new infrastructure" in the West Bank.

Since October 1, a wave of violence has killed 193 Palestinians, 28 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count.

Most of the Palestinians were killed while carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities.

The majority of the attackers appear to have been acting alone, without coordination with any political party.
When one spouse is deployed, the spouse on the homefront often handles the lion's share of financial tasks. Of course, military families aren't the only ones who face long-distance marriages. As women continue to achieve higher levels of career success and pursue advanced degrees, many dual-career couples have entered into commuter marriages. And the U.S. Census Bureau reports that 1.5 percent of Americans over age 15 were married with a spouse absent in 2015.

While these good housekeeping tasks are especially important prior to an absence, even if you aren't anticipating taking on new financial responsibilities, completing many of these tips can help you ensure you're in tiptop shape for the future. Read on for a checklist of suggested financial tasks for military and civilian couples to tackle in preparation for a spouse's absence.

1. Go over your finances together. Make sure you both know what bills and accounts you have. "Lots of times the husband will be taking care of all the finances, and the spouse doesn't know where the documents are, what the documents are and what to do if something happens," says Jim Hanna, the founder and CEO of the San Antonio-based Retire with Jim Hanna Wealth Advisors. "You've got to include your spouse in everything you're doing," he adds. If one spouse needs signature authority to manage the account, it's easier to make that change before leaving town.

2. Agree on who will pay what. Get clarity on who will pay what bills and when each payment is due. Most expenses, including credit card and cellphone bills as well as mortgages and car payments, occur monthly, so it's easy to forget bills that pop up less frequently such as quarterly taxes or annual life insurance premiums. However, never sign blank checks. "If that [a blank check] falls into the wrong hands, that can wipe you out," says Kevin Cortes, chief military officer at Miramar Federal Credit Union, a military membership credit union in San Diego.

3. Monitor bills. Experts are split on the value of paying bills automatically. On the one hand, automated payments ensure that bills get paid and you never pay a late fee. But if nobody is monitoring the bills, you could be overpaying for extra fees or not realize when a bill has skyrocketed. "They need somebody that's more hands-on of the two to actually write the check and know what they're spending each month," says Drew Horter, founder of the Cincinnati-based Horter Investment Management LLC.

4. Check your insurance. Especially in the event that you're going into a combat zone, make sure to assess whether or not you have enough life insurance to cover your survivors' financial needs and confirm if you've purchased disability insurance. Also, make sure that your insurance beneficiaries are current, Hanna adds. The last thing you'd want is to pay for an insurance policy, only to have the benefits go to an ex-spouse or someone else who is no longer in your life.

5. Agree on a budget. A spouse's absence can impact your budget in a few different ways. For instance, a military spouse may earn extra money for hardship duties, and it can be tempting to spend that extra cash during the separation to ease loneliness or to celebrate a reunion. But Hanna recommends avoiding these temptations, "because that's an opportune time to put that money into temporary savings programs," he says.

On the other hand, a civilian spouse who's traveling for work may have higher than normal expenses, and some costs may be eligible for reimbursement. "How quickly do they file for reimbursement, and how quick is the turnaround time if they're using their own credit card?" Horter asks. Discuss these potential issues to avoid blowing your budget.

6. Look at ways to cut costs. A spouse's absence may be an ideal time to boost savings. One spouse might choose to move in with family to cut costs, for instance. Military members and their dependents can break an apartment lease without penalty for a deployment. Or "you can terminate or suspend cellphone service for that spouse during deployment," Hanna says. "If they can prove they're going on deployment, they can get exemptions from early termination fees," he adds.

Even nonmilitary couples who don't have these exemptions may have savings opportunities such as ditching one spouse's auto insurance while it's not needed or taking in roommates to fill empty rooms to bring in extra cash and avoid isolation.

7. Consider a credit freeze. Identity theft was the top complaint of military members in the Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book for 2015. Military members can contact credit bureaus to request an active duty alert on their credit reports, requiring businesses to verify their identities before issuing credit in their names. The alert lasts for a year, but it can be removed sooner or you can place another alert if necessary.

Even with a small required fee for civilians (depending on your state), you may also want to consider a credit freeze if you're not planning on applying for new credit and want the added peace of mind at a time when you might be especially busy.

8. Discuss possible tax implications. Those serving in a combat zone have certain tax exemptions, but nonmilitary couples with employment or residences in multiple states could have additional state tax issues to consider. For instance, if you're a married couple selling a home, you'd get a half-million dollar capital gains exclusion on any profits. "But you only get that $500,000 exclusion if [the] home is the principle residence of the husband and the wife for two out of the five years," says David Seiden, partner-in-charge of Citrin Cooperman's state and local tax practice. If one spouse was technically domiciled elsewhere for those two years, then the couple wouldn't qualify. And in some cases, military members can choose to suspend the five-year test period. These situations could also complicate income tax filings or necessitate filings in multiple states, so consult your tax preparer if you're unsure of the impact.

9. Put support systems in place. The last thing you want is for a young spouse living in an unfamiliar place to feel overwhelmed, or, in a worst-case scenario, get conned. "You may have somebody who got married at the last second and [the husband is] gone for six months," Cortes says. "A brand new wife has no resources because she has nowhere to go on base. She doesn't know all the benefits available," he adds. Fortunately, every military installation has a resource center for families, offering benefits like financial education, parenting classes and integration training.

Nonmilitary spouses may not have these official resources, but they should look to strategies for creating their own support systems, whether it's a relationship with a trusted financial advisor, the phone number of the in-laws or a colleague's spouse they can call for emergency childcare or other assistance.

Susan Johnston Taylor contributes to the money section of USNews.com. Her articles on business and personal finance have also appeared in or on The Boston Globe, Learnvest.com, Entrepreneur.com and FastCompany.com. You can find her on Twitter @UrbanMuseWriter.
By Tina Bellon BERLIN (Reuters) - Turkish tourism officials hit by plummeting Russian bookings and grim urban bombings are hoping that Madonna, Justin Bieber or Jennifer Lopez can help revive business along their sunny Mediterranean coast. Tourism revenue in Turkey fell 14.3 percent in the final quarter of last year and 2016 bookings point to an even more challenging year for the country's tourism industry, which accounts for about 4.5 percent of the $800 billion economy. The "Turkish Riviera" around Antalya, the main vacation hub, is one of the worst hit areas. The local Chamber of Commerce (ATSO) appealed to Ankara's tourism ministry this month after the number of Russian visitors in January tumbled by 81 percent. Following the downing of a Russian warplane on Nov. 24, Moscow approved sanctions against Turkey and ATSO calculated the crisis would cost Turkey up to $11 billion. Antalya, the main city on Turkey's Mediterranean coast, will host the EXPO 2016 world horticultural fair in April. ATSO thinks some star-studded musical support could help attract visitors worried by the headlines from the volatile region. "EXPO 2016 should be turned into a big tourism push, for instance by organizing big concerts by international celebrities such as Madonna, Jennifer Lopez or Justin Bieber, to attract the interest of target markets," a tourism ministry report said. It remains to be seen whether "Bieber fever" or "Madonna madness" can calm security fears that saw booking numbers dive after a suicide bomber killed 10 German tourists in Istanbul in January, the first of several bombings in Turkey this year. The German travel group TUI has reported a 40 percent drop in summer bookings in Turkey. On Wednesday, German airport operator Fraport, which operates Antalya's airport, said it expected passenger numbers there to fall this year. "The outlook ... is currently characterized by restrained holiday bookings in Germany and significant declining passenger figures in Turkey as a result of the recent terrorist attacks," Fraport's chief executive Stefan Schulte said in a statement. Antalya Mayor Menderes Tuerel said he wasn't concerned about the region's outlook since tourism was highly volatile. New markets in Iran, China and the Gulf region would compensate for the drop in other visitors, he said. "The Russian sanctions aren't the end of the world," Tuerel told Reuters at a TUI event in Berlin on Wednesday. Tuerel couldn't say which pop star would eventually appear at the fair as planning is still underway. "But you can expect a big celebrity," he said. (Additional reporting by Victoria Bryan; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
On Wednesday, President Barack Obama said he would nominate Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, to fill the seat previously occupied by the late Associate Justice Antonin Scalia.

Obama announcement 535

Garland, 63, is the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

Moments after an appearance by Obama, Garland and Vice President Joe Biden at the White House, the President officially notified the Senate of the nomination in a written statement as follows:

NOMINATION SENT TO THE SENATE:

Merrick B. Garland, of Maryland, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, vice Antonin Scalia, deceased.

In February, President Obama made his intentions clear after Scalias unexpected death. I plan to fulfill my constitutional responsibilities to nominate a successor in due time, President Obama said in comments made to the nation on the night of Scalias passing.

Under the Constitutions Appointments Clause in Article II, Section 2, Clause 2, the President shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint  Judges of the supreme Court.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell previously has said the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is controlled by the Republicans, would not consider any Supreme Court nominee until after Novembers general election. The Judiciary Committees GOP members, have agreed publicly to stick with McConnells plan.

But another problem relates to how a new Justice is nominated to the Court and approved in a contentious election year. The GOP currently has 54 votes in the 100-seat Senate, and any nomination this year would need Republicans voting for an eventual confirmation.

Under the constitutional Supreme Court nomination process, the President officially notifies the Senate of a nominee in a letter to the Senate. Under Senate standing rules going back to 1868, the nomination is sent to the Judiciary Committee, unless the nominee is a current or former Senate member.

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Using the Senates parliamentary rules, the Senate Judiciary chair, Charles Grassley would have several ways to keep the nomination from moving out of committee. The Judiciary Committee can undertake a pre-hearing investigative stage, followed by public hearings and a decision on a recommendation for the full Senate. It is unclear if any of those actions would occur if the committee decides to defeat or table the nomination process before it gets to the Senate floor.

Other rumored candidates for the Court, as of last weekend, had been Sri Srinivasan, and Paul Watford. Srinivasan, 49, is a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and he previously served in the solicitor generals office in the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. Watford, 48, is a judge on 9th Circuit federal court.

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Paris (AFP) - A biopic about four-time Formula One world champion Alain Prost will be shot in 2017, French film producers said on Tuesday.

The film, titled "Prost", will follow the 61-year-old's life "from childhood to his first title, and his return (from a sabbatical) in 1993 and the legendary duel with Brazilian Aryton Senna," the Labyrinthe film studios said in a statement.

Prost courted plenty of controversy in his career, from his many feuds with Senna while the two where together at McLaren, to being fired by Ferrari in 1992 for publicly criticising the car and team.
Madrid (AFP) - Fans of Dutch side PSV Eindhoven came under fire in Spain on Wednesday for throwing money at beggars and mocking them as they desperately scrambled to scoop up the coins.

Spain's interior minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz described the scenes as "an absolute disgrace" while the president of the Madrid regional government Cristina Cifuentes was outraged by the "lamentable" behaviour".

"I feel ashamed that in Madrid -- even if the hooligans are from a foreign team -- we see such scenes. It's not only racism but an absolute lack of humanity."

Images broadcast by Spanish media showed Dutch fans seated on the terrace of a bar in the Plaza Mayor a few hours before Tuesday's game against Atletico Madrid, throwing coins on the ground to force beggars to collect them.

"This behaviour is outrageous. We want to clearly dissociate ourselves from the conduct of some fans," said PSV president Toon Gerbrands.

"PSV will take appropriate action, which could include stadium bans or tougher sanctions."
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama nominated veteran appellate court Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, setting up political showdown with Senate Republicans who have vowed to block any Obama nominee. Following is a selection of reaction to the decision: MITCH MCCONNELL, SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER: "The American people may well elect a President who decides to nominate Judge Garland for Senate consideration. The next president may also nominate someone very different. Either way, our view is this: Give the people a voice in the filling of this vacancy." CHARLES SCHUMER, DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATOR OF NEW YORK: "If Merrick Garland can't get bipartisan support no one can. ... We hope the saner heads in the Republican Party will prevail on (U.S. Senator) Chuck Grassley and (Senate Majority Leader) Mitch McConnell to do their job and hold hearings so America can make its own judgment as to whether Merrick Garland belongs on the court. PAUL RYAN, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SPEAKER, THE TOP ELECTED U.S. REPUBLICAN: "This has never been about who the nominee is. It is about a basic principle. Under our Constitution, the president has every right to make this nomination, and the Senate has every right not to confirm a nominee." ORRIN HATCH, REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATOR OF UTAH: "Everybody I know who works with him thinks highly of him, but I do think it ought to be put off. This is a toxic environment right now. It's terrible. And I've been through enough of these where Im sick of the way the court is treated. And this would be just another one." SUSAN COLLINS, REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATOR OF MAINE: "Judge Garland is a capable and accomplished jurist. The White House has requested that I meet with him, and I look forward to doing so, as has been my practice with all Supreme Court nominees. HILLARY CLINTON, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: "Evaluating and confirming a Justice to sit on this nation's highest court should not be an exercise in political brinkmanship and partisan posturing. It is a serious obligation ... That obligation does not depend on the party affiliation of a sitting president, nor does the Constitution make an exception to that duty in an election year." NANCY PELOSI, HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER: "Judge Garland has the experience and the legal acumen to serve on the highest court in the land. ... The American people expect Judge Merrick Garland to be given a fair hearing and a timely vote." REINCE PRIEBUS, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: "When Americans head to the polls in a few short months, they will have a unique opportunity to determine the direction of the court  President Obama is doing a disservice to voters with this attempt to tip the balance of the court with a liberal justice in the eleventh hour of his presidency." ROB PORTMAN, REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATOR OF OHIO "We are in the midst of a highly-charged presidential election that is less than eight months away, and this lifetime appointment could reshape the Supreme Court for generations. I believe the best thing for the country is to trust the American people and allow them to weigh in on this issue." LORETTA LYNCH, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: His (Garland's) impeccable credentials, steadfast fidelity to the law and firm devotion to the public interest make him an outstanding choice to sit on our nation's highest court, where I am certain he will serve with integrity and wisdom. MARK KIRK, REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATOR OF ILLINOIS: "The Senates constitutionally defined role to provide advice and consent is as important as the presidents role in proposing a nominee, and I will assess Judge Merrick Garland based on his record and qualifications." JOE MANCHIN, DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATOR OF WEST VIRGINIA: "I look forward to evaluating Merrick Garlands qualifications to be a justice on the Supreme Court. Senators have a constitutional obligation to advise and consent on a nominee to fill this Supreme Court vacancy and, simply put, we have a responsibility to do our jobs as elected officials. PAT TOOMEY, REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATOR OF PENNSYLVANIA: "Should Merrick Garland be nominated again by the next president, I would be happy to carefully consider his nomination." DEBBIE WASSERMAN-SCHULTZ, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRWOMAN: "Justice Garland has earned the support of Republicans and Democrats alike since 1997. I urge Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley to fulfill their constitutional duties, hold hearings, and quickly bring this nominee up for a vote, the exact same thing called for in 2008 when President Bush nominated judges that were then confirmed by a democratic Senate. (Reporting by Washington newsroom; Editing by Frances Kerry and Grant McCool)
Athens (AFP) - Hollywood star and UNHCR goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie turned the spotlight of celebrity Wednesday onto the plight of thousands of refugees crowded in camps in Greece.

After visiting a makeshift camp in the port of Piraeus, Jolie said the refugees were stuck in a "deteriorating humanitarian situation" and needed help.

The 40-year-old actress, dressed in a black T-shirt and trousers, spent around 30 minutes at the port, speaking to UN staff and refugees coming to Piraeus from the islands facing Turkey.

Some 4,000 people are packed in terminals and tents there. They are just a fraction of the number of people who are stranded in Greece after the so-called migrant trail, heading from the Balkans up to northern Europe, was closed off by national border controls.

Surrounded by a throng of media, Jolie had difficulty in reaching her car through the crowd but kept her composure as photographers and camera crews jostled for position and refugee children struggled to stay upright.

"Watch the kids," she told her security detail.

As she left, dozens of refugees chanted "Skopje, open the borders" in a reference to Macedonia who last week barred passage to all war and poverty exiles, a policy followed by other Balkan states.

Jolie will also be in Greece on Thursday, but her programme has not been announced and it's unclear whether she will travel to the north of the country, where conditions are worse.

"I look forward to meeting authorities, partners and volunteers working on the ground to improve conditions and ensure the vulnerable are protected," she said in a statement about her trip.

"I hope the presence of Angelina Jolie will do something to help open the border," said Bichal, a 23-year-old Syrian woman from Aleppo.

"I've been in Greece for a month and I'm still waiting to cross the border and go to Germany," she told AFP.

Jolie subsequently drove to the camp of Eleonas in Athens which currently houses some 700 people awaiting relocation, visiting families in prefabricated homes.

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She then met with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who told her there were "30,000 people trapped in the Greek mainland because of unilateral actions by the countries on the Balkan route."

Overall there are over 43,000 people in the Greek mainland and on the islands.

On Monday, some 1,500 refugees walked out of the Greek frontier camp of Idomeni, where over 14,000 people are languishing in squalid conditions, and tried to walk into Macedonia through an unfenced part of the border.

They were stopped by troops and returned to Greece a day later, some of them claiming to have been mistreated by Macedonian border guards.

The border shutdown has been criticised by Germany but has been applauded by EU President Donald Tusk as part of a "comprehensive" EU strategy to deal with Europe's worst migration crisis since the Second World War.

The EU is pinning its hopes for a solution to the crisis on a summit with Turkey, which is hosting over two million refugees and has permitted another million to sail to Greece, on Thursday.
One of seven new alleged sex abuse victims of paedophile Rolf Harris is said to be a disabled victim.



The shamed entertainer is due in court tomorrow to face fresh charges of abuse  including one said to have been on BBC grounds.

Its alleged the jailed former TV presenter, below, also molested a girl aged 13 at BBC headquarters in London in 1983.

It is the first time the disgraced entertainer has been accused of carrying out a sex assault on BBC premises.

The woman who made the claims is one of seven new alleged victims Harris faces court over. One of them is understood to be disabled and another has accused him of assaulting her at the BBCs former White City HQ 12 years ago when she was 24.

Prosecutors made new accusations after an investigation by police probing the paedophile past of Jimmy Savile, below.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: We have carefully considered the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police as part of Operation Yewtree in relation to Rolf Harris.

We have concluded there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Harris to be charged with seven counts of indecent assault. The alleged offences date from 1971 to 2004 and relate to complainants aged between 12 and 27.

Harris is serving five-and-a-half years in Stafford jail for sex attacks on girls as young as eight and is due to be freed next year.

He is due before Westminster magistrates in central London tomorrow.

All pictures Getty Images
This was never how it was supposed to end for Marco Rubio, the man who once seemed ordained to save the Republican Party. Not in Florida, of all places, and certainly not at the hands of Donald Trump.

"After tonight while it is clear that we are on the right side this year, we were not on the winning side," Rubio said. He withdrew from the presidential race on Tuesday night after finishing a distant second in the state that sent him to the Senate six years ago, and where he had been camped out for the last week in a final, frenzied bid to extend his campaign. He delivered a paean to the need for a vibrant conservative movement, built on principles, and not fear, or anger, or frustration. I chose a different path, and Im proud of it, he said.

He became the latest Republican establishment favorite to be bullied, belittled, and ultimately dispatched by Trump, who took home 99 delegates in winner-take-all Florida.

By the time Rubio spoke on Tuesday, neither the outcome nor his exit was a surprise; pre-primary polling showed him losing to Trump by as much as a 2-to-1 margin. But much like his onetime Florida mentor, Jeb Bush, Rubio found himself baffled by a Republican primary that confounded even the most outlandish predictions.

When Rubio launched his campaign 11 months ago in Miami, he was the favorite of many Republicans, but not the frontrunner. Fans and critics alike had been labeling him the GOPs version of Barack Obama since well before Time Magazine plastered him on its cover in early 2013 under the headline, The Republican Savior.

Recommended: Why John Kasich Is Still Standing

It was easy to see why.

A first-term senator in his 40s, Rubio was, like Obama, a gifted orator with a biography that embodied the American dream. He wowed Republicans with his speech at the partys convention in 2012, and his supporters saw a strong general-election candidate who could easily loosen the Democrats tight grip on the Hispanic vote. Rubio frequently invoked his working-class, immigrant parents, who came to the United States a few years before Fidel Castro took power in Cuba. My father stood behind a small portable bar in the back of a room for all those years, so that tonight I could stand behind this podium in the front of this room, Rubio said in a signature line from his announcement speech last April.

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Like Obama in 2008, he sought to head off questions about his youth by calling for a generational turnover, a changing of the political guard. Now, the time has come for our generation to lead the way toward a new American century, Rubio said in a line that he hoped would work both against Jeb Bush in the primary and Hillary Clinton in the fall.

Now, the time has come for our generation to lead the way toward a new American century.

Yet for all of the hype, Rubio faced two major hurdles even before Trump got into the race. The first was the history of the GOP: Much more so than Democrats, Republicans have tended to nominate next-in-line candidatesthose with deep governing experience or long tenures on the national stage. In the last 50 years, the only non-incumbent to win the Republican nomination who had not previously run for president was George W. Bush in 2000, and he was the son of a president and a two-term governor of Texas. For many Republicans, that candidate in 2016 was Jeb Bush, who moved quickly to sign up donors and staff who might otherwise have gone to Rubio.

In that sense, the comparisons to Obama hurt Rubio as well. For six years, Republicans had been telling voters it was a mistake to elect a president who hadnt even completed a single term in the Senate. Furthermore, the conventional wisdom heading into the 2016 race was that voters disgusted with Washington politics would gravitate toward a governor, a dynamic from which Bush, Scott Walker, Chris Christie, Rick Perry, John Kasich, or Bobby Jindal stood to benefit.

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The other big problem for Rubio was immigration. At a time when the Republican National Committee was formally calling for the party to embrace comprehensive reform, Rubio joined the Senates Gang of Eight in 2013 and tried to sell conservatives on legislation that offered an eventual path to citizenship to undocumented immigrants. The bill passed the Senate but never came up in the more conservative House, where hardliners denounced it as a form of amnesty. Rubio quickly renounced the legislation, but as the 2016 campaign began, he had lost support among conservatives who criticizing his original support for the proposal as well as from Democrats and reform-minded Republicans who said he had cut and run on a critical issue.

Trump dominated both the polls and the media coverage through the summer and fall of 2015, and while he tussled with Bush, Carly Fiorina, and many of the other Republicans, Rubio flew mostly under the radar. It was a strategy that his campaign insisted was a deliberate choice, and as the Iowa caucuses rolled around, it looked like it was paying off. He fought hard with Cruz over immigration and parried attacks from Bush over his absences from the Senate, but he kept his distanceas much as possiblefrom the Trump circus. As other candidates fell away, Rubio surged into a strong third-place finish in Iowa, nearly eclipsing Trump. He was mocked by some for delivering a victory speech after coming in third, but if anyone left Iowa with a clear shot of momentum, it was Rubio.

Recommended: The Obama Doctrine

All of that disappeared, however, on a debate stage in New Hampshire. Under fire from Chris Christie for relying on canned, 25-second soundbites, Rubio inexplicably respond with  the same canned soundbite. This notion that Barack Obama doesnt know what hes doing is just not true. He knows exactly what hes doing, Rubio repeated over and over again, in a performance that was immediately likened to a malfunctioning robot.

Three days later, Rubio slipped to fifth place in New Hampshire, a finish that was blamed in large part on his debate debacle. He recovered in South Carolina, edging out Ted Cruz for second place in a state that seemed strong for the Texas senator. But he still could not come close to Trump, and in Nevada on February 23, the billionaire defeated Rubio by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.

With the race narrowed to five, Rubio finally went hard against Trump. Interrupting him frequently on the debate stage in Houston, Rubio unleashed months worth of opposition research and attacked Trump over his lack of policy depth, his use of immigrant labor, the lawsuit hes facing over Trump University, and more. Trump staggered, delivering his worst performance of the primary season. The next morning, Rubio took it even further. In a planned departure from his stump speech that seemed like a cross between a Trump impersonation and a stand-up comedy routine, Rubio mocked the front-runner relentlessly. He made fun of him for misspelling words in his tweets, for applying makeup to his sweaty upper lip during a commercial debate in the debate, and for possibly checking to see if he had wet his pants. Later in the weekend, Rubio made fun of Trump for having small hands. And you know what they say about guys with small hands, Rubio said to shocked laughter from the crowd. You cant trust em!

It was funny, sure. But many Republicans didnt seem to know whether to laugh, cheer, or cringe. It also didnt work. Trump upstaged Rubio by announcing the surprise endorsement of Chris Christie, and he proceeded to mock the Florida senator by calling him little Marco at rallies and debates. On Super Tuesday, Rubio was nearly shut out, winning only the Minnesota caucuses and watching as Ted Cruz eclipsed him as Trumps main challenger. Rubio struggled, too, in the states that followed. He exited the race having won only in Minnesota, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.

By early March, Rubio had all but abandoned a national campaign and hunkered down in Florida, hoping that a victory in his delegate-rich home state would keep his campaign alive and deny Trump an opportunity to clinch the nomination before the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. But polls soon showed him trailing Trump badly, and the harbinger of any campaigns demisesecond-guessing operatives and preliminary obituaries by the mediabegan appearing. Would Rubio drop out before Florida to save face for a future statewide run? Why did he rely so heavily on media coverage (that ultimately went to Trump) instead of investing in a better campaign organization on the ground?

I still, at this moment, continue and intend to support the Republican nominee. But its getting harder every day.

Rubio faces a more uncertain future than many of his Republican rivals, who can fall back on governorships, retirement, or continuing careers in Congress. In running for president, he decided not to seek reelection to the Senate, and his term will end in January. There has been speculation that he will run for governor of Florida in 2018 after Rick Scott finishes his second term. His home-state loss to Trump might damage his standing, but at just 44, he may yet have a long political future in a party that rewards experience and likes a good comeback story.

Perhaps the most compelling, even poignant aspect of Rubios campaign was how much he publicly struggled to comprehend it toward the end. Barely two weeks after subjecting Trump to schoolyard taunts, Rubio told reporters he regretted doing so, that his wife and kids were embarrassed. He called Trump a con artist, insisted he would lose in the fall, and flirted with the #NeverTrump campaign, yet he couldnt quite bring himself to disavow the frontrunner entirely. The campaign took a toll on him, and he could be heard coughing frequently during the final debate. At a press conference over the weekend, Rubio was pale, exhausted, and hoarse. He seemed aghast at the violence that had broken out at Trump rallies, and at the general tone of the whole campaign. I still, at this moment, continue and intend to support the Republican nominee, Rubio said. But its getting harder every day.

A few days later, Rubio lost to Trump again, and his bid for the presidency was over.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
By Steve Holland and James Oliphant MIAMI (Reuters) - Marco Rubio had all that you need in a Republican presidential candidate: fluency on the issues, a conservative outlook, crossover appeal as a Cuban-American, and youthful good looks. But in an election year when anyone associated with the Republican establishment is seen as tainted, Rubio ended his campaign after New York real estate mogul Donald Trump won the coveted primary, or nominating contest, in Rubio's home state of Florida on Tuesday. "This may not have been the year for a hopeful and optimistic message about our future," Rubio told supporters as he announced his decision. How the 44-year-old U.S. senator got to this point is a story of miscalculations and missed opportunities, according to interviews with more than a dozen campaign officials, financial donors and Republican strategists. Rubio attempted to position himself as a new-age Republican, the son of Cuban immigrants who was able to connect with everyday voters with tales of his hard-luck upbringing. He also tried to appeal to America's growing Hispanic population to help boost his party's chances of claiming victory in the Nov. 8 election. He got off to a difficult start. His advisers wanted to run a campaign where it made more sense to be on Fox News, a channel popular with Republicans, or on other cable networks and local broadcasters whose clips can go viral on social media, rather than spend a lot of time in small towns in Iowa and New Hampshire. The early nominating contests there often shape the narrative and direction of presidential elections. So Rubio made a strategic gamble. He would try a different approach in those two states, strategists familiar with his campaign said. He would try to save time and money by making strategic stops in those states rather than carpet-bomb them with multiple visits. 'HE COULD HAVE DONE IT' It would be a break from the usual playbook of White House hopefuls that says candidates should saturate Iowa and New Hampshire with town halls and other events and aim for early wins to garner media coverage and campaign donations and build momentum. Rubio's gamble backfired. Republican activists in Iowa complained he was largely absent from the state for long stretches, not spending the face-to-face time necessary to sell himself. He only made an all-out push in the late stages of the race. Throughout the campaign, Rubio has battled perceptions that he does not work hard enough. For other candidates running for president, a voting record in the Senate would be a minor issue. But for Rubio, missing votes on the Senate floor dovetailed with the narrative that was building on the trail. If he was not in the Senate and was not on the trail, where was he? Rubio spokesman Alex Conant said Rubio faced more than $50 million in attacks ads. "Obviously that had a massive impact. I think we could have won Iowa had it not been for the more than $25 million in attacks spent on us in Iowa alone." Republican rival and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas tried to visit every Iowa county on a bus. Rubio tended to fly in and fly out. Polls showed he typically did better in metropolitan areas, not the hamlets than can often make or break candidates in early states. Cruz won Iowa's caucuses on Feb. 1 with Trump second. Rubio's third-place finish was seen as something of a victory by his camp, but Republicans in the state were not so sure. "He had a chance to win Iowa, said Jamie Johnson, a Republican activist in Iowa. As Johnson traveled the state ahead of the caucuses, voters often asked him when Rubio would visit their area, he said. Iowans like being visited in their home county, he explained. If a presidential candidate wants to win in Iowa, then he must put in the shoe leather. Rubio's team said he had tended to campaign in major population centers in Iowa in order to get the most impact from the news media. "I was very pleased with the campaign that we ran here and I thought the national team did a very good job and I had no complaints," said Iowa state Senator Jack Whitver, who was the head of Rubio's Iowa campaign. NO-SHOW AT DINNERS Rubio heard similar complaints in New Hampshire. He spent just 28 days campaigning there, about half as much as former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and a fraction of the some 70 days that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Ohio Governor John Kasich were there. Fergus Cullen, a former chairman of the state Republican Party, sought to hold meet-and-greet events at his home for each candidate. Candidates such as Bush and Kasich took him up on it. Rubio did not. Cullen eventually aligned himself with Kasich, who went on to finish second to Trump in the state. There were a lot of opinion leaders - key endorsers who end up on a candidates delegate list - who were interested in Rubio but never got to meet him or have those small-group, private meetings that result in commitments," Cullen said. Renee Plummer, a real-estate developer and an influential conservative activist in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, who hosted more than 10 Republican candidates for intimate dinners with local leaders, said she tried to schedule Rubio three separate times to no avail. She eventually threw her support behind Christie. 'LACK OF STATURE' Rubio faced another problem: a perception that he could only muster well-worn talking points. At a July 6, 2015, dinner at a Chicago steakhouse with reporters, he appeared relaxed and knowledgeable. But as the campaign intensified, that Rubio appeared less and less frequently, replaced by a candidate who seemed able only to deliver canned lines and talking points. Christies campaign noticed. Days before the Feb. 9 New Hampshire primary, Christie caught Rubio in repeat mode during a debate, calling him robotic and scripted. It affirmed some voters doubts that he lacked depth. Rubio never quite recovered. "What happened to Marco in New Hampshire struck a responsive chord," said John "Mac" Stipanovich, a prominent Florida lobbyist who first supported Bush and then switched to Rubio. "It crystallized that lack of stature." Trumps unrelenting dominance of the media spotlight made it hard for rivals to shine. But Rubio's decision, starting with a debate in Houston on Feb. 25, to try to match Trump insult for insult was cited by voters as another wrong move. Rubio has since said he regretted the negative turn. A campaign source said it was Rubio who made the ultimate decision to switch gears and attack Trump personally, motivated in part by a desire to win more media coverage. It worked. At a rally in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday, he ruefully noted that when he was engaged in his war of insults with Trump, CNN and other networks carried his events live, something they had not done before. That was, in a nutshell, the problem. Months of wall-to- wall news coverage of Trump decimated Rubio's strategy of using free-media avenues. "You can't out-Trump Trump," said Rubio supporter Jim Bundstein in Florida. 'NOTHING BUT AMNESTY' For some, the roots of Rubios problems can be traced back further to an icy afternoon in Washington on Jan. 28, 2013. That is when he held a news conference with three Democratic senators and a Republican on Capitol Hill to launch immigration reforms. The legislation, sponsored by what became known as a bipartisan Gang of Eight senators, would have created a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, but only if steps were taken to secure the U.S. southern border with Mexico and strengthen visa tracking. Rubio had already faced conservative anger when flirting with immigration reform a year earlier, when he proposed a path to citizenship for young people who came to the country illegally but would join the military. Conservative columnist Ann Coulter derided those ideas as "nothing but amnesty" for lawbreakers. The Gang of Eight bill ran into similar resistance. As Rubio distanced himself from it, Hispanic groups faulted him for giving up. In a Republican primary race where Trump has thrilled many conservatives by vowing to deport immigrants and build a wall on the Mexican border, Rubio's involvement in the legislation and sudden abandonment of it haunted his 2016 campaign. It was the centerpiece of attack ads by his rivals and the independent fundraising groups supporting them. At a rally in Tampa, Florida, on Monday, Trump said of the senator: Hes weak on immigration. Hes very weak on amnesty. I dont know how he got elected. (Editing by Jason Szep, Ross Colvin and Peter Cooney)
Six months after a botched systems upgrade left hundreds of thousands of RushCard prepaid debit card users locked out of their accounts, the company is preparing to settle several lawsuits stemming from the debacle, according to court documents.

In a motion filed March 15, a Manhattan court agreed to put the brakes on a pair of class action lawsuits filed by RushCard users in the Southern District of New York while they work out a group settlement with RushCard. A RushCard spokesperson and the companys attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Its highly unlikely the terms of the settlement, which should be finalized by the end of May, will be made public. Its possible the settlement could encourage other consumers to file their own complaints.

But even with this settlement, the company will still face the possibility of an investigation by federal agencies. After news of the fiasco made headlines in late October, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau promised to look into RushCard to see if any violations occurred. The CFPB received hundreds of complaints in the wake of the outage, making RushCard the most complained-about prepaid card issuer for the three-month period from September to November.

Russell Simmons, the music mogul who co-founded the company over a decade ago, publicly apologized for the outage on social media In a statement to Yahoo Finance in December, Simmons said he is intent on restoring his customers faith in his product: We realize that we did not live up to those high standards over the past two weeks, which is why we are committed to doing the right thing and learning from this experience, so we can restore trust with our current and future customers.

Prepaid debit cards like the RushCard are popular with low-income consumers who may not otherwise qualify for a regular checking or savings account. That made the service outage all the more painful, as many RushCard users lost access to their only available cash. We spoke with dozens of affected consumers, some of whom fell behind on rent, had their cars repossessed and were skipping meals. In the class action complaint, plaintiffs said they werent able to pay for basic necessities and faced additional fees imposed by RushCard when they sought to replace their prepaid cards. One of the plaintiffs said she was charged between 50 cents and $2.50 each time she tried and failed to access her RushCard funds from an ATM.

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Of the estimated 442,000 cardholders impacted by the outage, 17,000 came from Ohio, according to state Sen. Sherrod Brown. He co-authored a letter in December calling for a federal investigation.

RushCard owes it to the almost 17,000 Ohioans who were affected by this breakdown to cooperate with the investigation and ensure that this problem doesnt happen again, said Brown. The thousands of RushCard customers who couldnt access their accounts to get their paychecks, buy groceries, pay bills, or pay rent deserve a much better explanation of how the company will make amends.

The CFPB filed documents in November saying that RushCard representatives have been slow to respond to requests for information. At the time, RushCard spokesperson Larry Kopp told Yahoo Finance the company asked for more time to comply. "We are producing information and continue to work with the CFPB to address all of its concerns and, to that end, have agreed to a modified scope and timeframe for the Bureau's information requests that will enable RushCard to comply in a timely manner," he said.

A CFPB spokesperson said the agency does not comment on pending investigations.

Read more of our coverage of the RushCard outage:

What's next for RushCard customers

What's next for RushCard customers

RushCard fiasco one month later: What went wrong and how customers are coping

RushCard Settlement Motion
By Andrew Osborn MOSCOW (Reuters) - Just under half of Russia's fixed-wing strike force based in Syria has flown out of the country in the past two days, according to a Reuters calculation which suggests the Kremlin is accelerating its partial withdrawal. President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the bulk of the Russian military contingent in Syria to be pulled out after five months of air strikes, saying the Kremlin had achieved most of its objectives. The precise number of planes Russia kept at its Hmeymim base in Syria's Latakia province is secret. But analysis of satellite imagery, air strikes and defense ministry statements suggested it had about 36 fixed-wing military jets there. At least 15 of those planes have flown out in the past two days, a Reuters analysis of state television footage shows, including Su-24, Su-25, Su-30 and Su-34 jets. Reuters could not independently verify the movements of the aircraft and it was impossible to determine whether other aircraft were flying into Syria to replace those that left. Military analysts say the departing Su-24 and Su-25 planes, aging Soviet-era planes that have undergone some modernization, have been the workhorses of Russia's Syria campaign. They carried out 75-80 percent of the more than 9,000 sorties flown by Russian pilots, said Maksim Shepovalenko, a former Russian military officer who is now deputy director of the Moscow-based Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST). Russian television has shown four Su-25 and five Su-24 jets leaving in the past two days. Russia is thought by defense analysts to have had 12 of each in Syria. Five Su-34s, and one Su-30 have also been seen leaving. John Kirby, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, told reporters on Tuesday he did not have exact details of the Russian military contingent in Syria but said Moscow had "dozens of aircraft" based there. Ruslan Pukhov, CAST's director, said he thought Russia would have to pull out at least half of its strike force for its partial withdrawal to be regarded as genuine. "Otherwise people, both nationally and especially internationally, will say this is not really true and it is simply a regrouping," he told Reuters. HEIGHTENED SENSITIVITY Russian sensitivity about foreign interest in the return of military equipment from Syria has heightened in recent days. Russian news portal lifenews.ru on Wednesday reported the detention of an American aviation blogger it described as "a spy." It said he had been caught snooping around the Chkalovsky military airport north of Moscow. He was later released. A source in the Russian security service told local media on Tuesday that two British diplomats had this month been caught covertly filming the Mozdok military air base in southern Russia. The British Foreign Office said the diplomats had been carrying out routine travel and had undergone all the necessary Russian checks. Russia is known to maintain at least 14 military helicopters in Syria as well as fixed-wing reconnaissance drones. The helicopters, if withdrawn, are likely to be returned to Russia by air. Russian officials have made clear that two Russian military bases will remain in Syria, as will a smaller strike force of infantry, armor and helicopters. Russia's advanced S-400 air defense missile system also looks likely to remain. U.S. officials have spoken of Russia having "a few thousand troops" in Syria. A Russian military source told the Interfax news agency that around 1,000 troops would stay, of whom more than half would be military advisers. Andrey Frolov, a defense analyst at CAST, said Russia would leave behind "several" Su-30 and Su-35 jets. Alexander Kots, a military correspondent who has worked in Syria for the pro-Kremlin Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, says he has been told that Russia could return its entire air strike force to Syria within just 48 hours. Heavy equipment and armor would be evacuated by sea, he said. Some of it might also be warehoused in Syria or handed over to the Syrian army, he said. If necessary, Russia is still able to swiftly come to President Bashar al-Assad's aid by deploying long-range bombers based in Russia or by firing cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea. It also has a naval force in the Mediterranean. According to the database of the Bosphorus Naval News project, which publishes photos of warships crossing the straits, more than a dozen Russian military vessels, including landing and missile ships and auxiliary vessels are likely to be in the Mediterranean right now. That estimate is partly borne out by information from the authorities and publicly available shipping records. (Additional reporting by Maria Vasilyeva, Dmitry Solovyov, Maria Tsvetkova, Jack Stubbs; Editing by Christian Lowe and Timothy Heritage)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders will not rule out the possibility of requesting a recount in Tuesday's narrow Missouri nominating contest, the campaign said on Wednesday. A winner of the state's primary had not yet been officially called, but by early Wednesday evening, a tally by the Associated Press showed Clinton ahead of Sanders by just 0.2 percentage point, with each candidate being awarded 32 of the state's 71 pledged delegates. "We are assessing right now how the process works," the campaign told reporters during a phone conference regarding the state of the Democratic race on Wednesday. (Reporting by Alana Wise; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Aden (AFP) - A Yemeni tribal chief said Wednesday that 33 of the 41 people killed in a Saudi-led air strike on a market in a northern province were rebel fighters, not civilians as first reported.

Medics and tribal sources said that the Tuesday strike in the rebel-held Hajja province killed 41 people and wounded 35.

A health official in Hajja said the dead were civilians.

But on Wednesday a tribal chief close to Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels said that 33 of those were "fighters".

"The fighters were riding in three vehicles at a military camp that was hit by three air raids," the chief told AFP on condition of anonymity.

He added that Saudi-led warplanes then hit the market when the Huthis arrived there.

In Riyadh, Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said it was "a militia gathering."

In an interview with AFP, he gave no other details of the incident but said the area is a place for buying and selling qat, a mild narcotic that is chewed throughout Yemen.

An official at a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Tuesday the facility had received the bodies of 41 people killed in the raids.

But the charity disputed the claim on Wednesday.

"MSF's hospital in the region received 44 people wounded in the incident, two of whom died," the group's Yemen project coordinator Juan Prieto said.

The rebel-run sabanews.net website said on Tuesday that the coalition carried out two raids targeting the market and a restaurant in the area and gave a toll of 65 civilians dead and 55 wounded.

The coalition launched its campaign against Iran-backed rebels in support of the Yemen's internationally recognised government on March 26 last year.

Rights groups have repeatedly urged the coalition to avoid causing civilian casualties.

A Red Cross spokeswoman told AFP there was "confusion" over Tuesday's market strike in the town of Mustabaa.

"It's difficult to obtain precise information," said Rima Kamal.

The World Health Organisation says more than 6,200 people have been killed in the conflict since March 2015 and the United Nations has warned of a "human catastrophe unfolding in Yemen".
Santiago (AFP) - Scientists in Chile have created a chicken embryo that developed dinosaur-like feet after genetic manipulation, highlighting the evolutionary link between theropod dinosaurs and birds.

The research -- published last week in the journal Evolution -- shows that "by inhibiting early maturation of a leg of the chicken embryo, the leg reverts to the shape that dinosaurs' legs had," said Alexander Vargas, one of the six researchers at the University of Chile.

"The result is a chicken embryo with dinosaur legs," Vargas told AFP on Tuesday, explaining what amounts to reverse evolution.

Theropods, a group of dinosaurs, started as carnivores but evolved to eat plants and insects.

Birds evolved from small theropods in the Jurassic period more than 145 million years ago.

In their study, scientists manipulated the Indian Hedgehog Homolog gene common to all animals, including man.

They were trying to pinpoint when birds had a dinosaur-like fibula bone. When the researchers delayed early development, the bone took on the tubular shape it once had in dinosaurs.

The research should help shed new light not just on the links between birds and dinosaurs, but on the genetic changes involved in the evolution, Vargas said.

It also confirmed the hypothesis that a bone can be made to regrow with characteristics from the evolutionary past by interfering with early maturation, according to the study led by Brazilian Joao Botelho at the University of Chile.
By John Shiffman and Duff Wilson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan bill designed to improve the health and safety of babies born to mothers who used heroin or other opioids during pregnancy was approved by a U.S. Senate committee on Wednesday. The bill, which will now move to the Senate floor, was prompted by a Reuters investigation last year. Reuters found 110 cases of children who were exposed to opioids while in the womb and who later died preventable deaths at home. No more than nine states comply with a 2003 law that calls on hospitals to alert social workers whenever a baby is born dependent on drugs, Reuters found. This is a major bipartisan agreement that will seek to fill the gaps in this program that Reuters first exposed in their groundbreaking investigation, said Senator Bob Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat and a co-author of the bill. These are our most vulnerable children and we have an abiding obligation to ensure theyre cared for. The proposal approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Wednesday calls for better plans of safe care to help drug-dependent mothers raise newborns as the babies suffer through opioid withdrawal. If it becomes law, the measure would also require states to report each year the number of infants identified as born drug-dependent, and the number for whom plans of safe care are developed. Thousands of newborns do not receive such plans, Reuters found. The proposal, which does not include additional funds, is part of a compromise struck between Casey and committee chairman Senator Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican. The bill also requires the Health and Human Services Department to better monitor state policies intended to protect drug-dependent newborns. On Tuesday, also in response to the Reuters series, HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell said her agency had revamped its policies for protecting thousands of babies and planned to be more pro-active. Burwell made her remarks in testimony before a U.S. House committee in which she said HHS was reviewing unspecified problems in South Carolina.  South Carolina officials this week confirmed they had been ordered by HHS on March 4 to improve their policies on drug-exposed newborns, but they did not provide details. (Reporting by John Shiffman in Washington, Duff Wilson in New York; Editing by Ronnie Greene, Toni Reinhold)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will nominate U.S. Appeals Court Judge Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, Democratic Senator Charles Schumer said. Schumer, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, confirmed the decision to Reuters as he exited a Democratic leadership meeting in the U.S. Capitol. "It's an excellent choice, a bipartisan choice. If the Republicans can't support him, who could they support," said Schumer, who represents New York. (Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Susan Heavey)
Washington (AFP) - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rejected action Wednesday on Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, minutes after President Barack Obama announced his pick.

Speaking from the Senate floor, McConnell said he would stick by his earlier decision to withhold action in his chamber until a new president is elected. The Senate must vote to confirm nominees to the high court.

"The American people may well elect a president who decides to nominate Judge Garland for Senate consideration. The next president may also nominate somebody very different. Either way, our view is this: Give the people a voice in filling this vacancy," McConnell said.

In announcing his pick, Obama earlier held out Garland as a judge with deep experience who had earned the respect of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Urging the Congress to act on the nomination, he stressed that the Supreme Court was supposed to be "above politics."

Garland, 63, is currently the chief judge on the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit in Washington.
The Hague (AFP) - UN war crimes judges will deliver their verdict against radical Serb leader Vojislav Seselj in his absence for medical reasons, the court announced Wednesday, after the firebrand nationalist refused to return to The Hague.

Seselj's judgement on nine charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity will be delivered at 0800 GMT on March 31 "in the absence of the accused", the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia's (ICTY) judges ordered.

It is the first time that judges at the ICTY will hand down an initial verdict without the accused in court -- although defendants have been absent for appeals judgements.

Seselj was allowed to return to Serbia in 2014 for cancer treatment, and the judges said Wednesday his medical care "cannot be interrupted or stopped for him to be prosecuted in The Hague."

Seselj is accused of leading Serb volunteers to "cleanse" large parts of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia's northern Vojvodina region during the Balkans wars which erupted amid the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

He faces three counts of crimes against humanity, including persecution, deportation and forcible transfers and six other war crimes charges including murder and torture.

Seselj surrendered to the ICTY in February 2003 and was transferred to the tribunal the same month. The trial, which began in 2007, wrapped up in March 2012.

Since his 2014 release Seselj has repeatedly lashed out at the court, vowing not to return for his sentencing or to serve any time, as well as resuming his fiery nationalist rhetoric.

Last week he set fire to EU and NATO flags in Belgrade and a day later he was paying his respects at the grave of former Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic -- who died in his jail cell in 2006 while on trial for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

As leader of the far-right Serbian Radical Party, Seselj also intends to run for parliament in the country's election in April.

Seselj carries three other separate convictions -- including a two-year sentence -- for contempt of court before the ICTY.

The decision comes as judges prepare to hand down their verdict against Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic next week for his role in Bosnia's bloody civil war in which more than 100,000 people died and millions were left homeless.
Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer may be the unofficial king of high-end burgers, but he says theres plenty of room at the table.

On Tuesday, Shake Shack opens its first California location on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. The natural inclination is to claim that this is an attempt to take a bite out of the L.A. burger scene, most notably In-N-Out Burger, which is as ubiquitous in California as Shake Shack is in New York.

I wouldnt say were taking on In-N-Out. That would be like saying when youre praying in the Vatican, youre taking on the Pope, Union Square Hospitality Group CEO Meyer told Yahoo Finance at South by Southwest in Austin.

The Hollywood location is not its first on the West Coast -- there are two existing locations in Arizona. The restaurant chain has expanded beyond its New York City roots, with a strong international presence in cities, including Tokyo, London and Kuwait City (24 of 87 Shake Shacks are in the Middle East).

Meyer says hes been planning to open a Shake Shack in L.A. for a while and finally feels ready. The clear differentiator between the cities is that L.A.s car culture paved the way to the proliferation of roadside diners and dives. Shake Shack, having started as a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park, was built on New Yorks pedestrian culture, and Meyer says he has enough brand power to take on the L.A. food scene. (There are 229 In-N-Outs in California alone).

Its also worth noting that Shake Shack does appeal to a wealthier demographic -- its signature cheeseburger (the Shack Burger) costs $4.55 whereas one at In-N-Out goes for $2.40.

We just want to make it into the [Los Angeles burger] rotation. [Californians] arent going to quit going to In-N-Out. I go every time Im in L.A, he said.

The Shack story

Shake Shack (SHAK) has only been public for a little over a year, and shares are trading at nearly double their IPO price in January 2015, but the stock has had a rough year; shares are down 24% over the past 12 months. This month, the company reported solid fourth-quarter earnings and revenue, but shares suffered on a weaker-than-expected sales outlook.

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The company said it expected same-store sales growth between 2.5% and 3%, while analysts were expecting 3.1% growth.

Shake Shack has been having a nice honeymoon phase post-IPO, but increased competition and expanding into too many markets could start to become an issue, says R.J. Hottovy, senior analyst at Morningstar. Until now, they have managed the business just fine.

Peak burger?

Meyer says the appetite for a good burger was, is and will continue to be insatiable. Unlike more fleeting trends -- see: cupcakes and cronuts -- people have been eating burgers globally for decades, and that wont change.

According to market research firm NPD Group, Americans ordered nine billion burgers in 2014, an increase of 3% from the year before.

One thing that has shifted -- and in Shake Shacks favor -- is the desire for better ingredients and the sense of customization. Shake Shack touts premium ingredients like 100% all-natural Angus beef and non-GMO rolls. The company also works with the local food scene in every city (for example, Austin has an exclusive Lockhart Link burger with a jalapeno cheese sausage from the Lockhart, Texas, Kreuz Market).

Were not in danger of having a burger bubble because it cant be a trend if its something whose roots are 60 years deep, he says. And despite being in a saturated space, different brands can continue to coexist because no one eats just one kind of burger, Meyer says.

When asked whether theres opportunity for other entrepreneurs in the burger business, he replied, Of course there is. And Ill be the first in line to try them.
BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - Four Slovak parties led by the leftist Smer have reached an agreement on sharing out portfolios in a new government, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Wednesday. The agreement is a significant step toward forming a coalition including three small centrist and right-wing parties, which will allow Fico to stay in power after his Smer party lost its parliamentary majority in a March 5 election. "We have reached an agreement on the will to create a government coalition and on the arrangement of relations in parliament and the cabinet," Fico said after Wednesday's round of talks. Smer will retain the post of prime minister, giving the 51 year-old Fico his third term since 2006. It will also keep the finance ministry, which is widely expected to be run again by Peter Kazimir, respected for keeping budget deficits under control and known for his tough stance in the euro zone's negotiations with Greece. Slovakia will hold the rotating EU presidency in the second half of the year, giving the strongly anti-immigration leader Fico a bigger voice on issues ranging from the refugee crisis to the aftermath of Britain's referendum on leaving the EU. On March 5 Smer lost its one-party majority, winning only 49 of the 150 seats in parliament, and seemed at risk of losing power with seven other factions with diverse agendas winning seats. But the talks on a new cabinet have progressed surprisingly smoothly given the stalemate. Six center-right parties could have formed a politically less diverse coalition but such a grouping would have involved two protest movements, and analysts said it could have been more unstable than a right-left coalition under Fico. The conservative Slovak National Party pulled the plug on the center-right at the weekend, saying it wanted a deal with Fico. That swayed two other small centrist factions, Most-Hid (Bridge) and Siet (Net), into Fico's camp. The coalition agreed its agenda on Tuesday, including moderate cuts in taxes for corporates and small entrepreneurs, and a balanced budget by the end of its term in 2020. It has also agreed to tackle shortcomings in healthcare and education and increase transparency on government and public spending, a major concern for people who voted for opposition parties hoping they would oust Smer from power. Fico said talks would continue on Thursday and he hoped to present a final deal soon to President Andrej Kiska, who has the right to appoint governments. The four parties together have 85 votes in parliament but four deputies from Siet and Most have said they would quit their factions in protest against teaming up with Fico, giving the coalition 81 seats. (Reporting by Tatiana Jancarikova; Writing by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Bratislava (AFP) - Leftist Premier Robert Fico sealed a coalition deal with three rightwing and centrist parties Wednesday, handing his party a third term in office and averting the risk of an early election ahead of Slovakia's EU presidency.

His populist Smer-Social Democracy (Smer-SD) clinched an 81-seat majority in the 150-member parliament along with the right-wing, eurosceptic Slovak National Party (SNS), Siet liberals and the Most-Hid party Hungarian minority party.

"We have reached an agreement of four political parties on the will to form a government coalition," Fico told reporters Wednesday in Bratislava.

"I want to submit this agreement to the president as soon as possible," he added.

A settlement had been given added urgency with Slovakia due to take the the helm of the rotating six-monthly EU presidency from July 1.

As the senior coalition partner with 49 seats, Smer-SD controls the prime minister's office as well as the culture, economy, foreign affairs, finance, health, interior, labour and social affairs portfolios.

The 15-seat SNS took farming, defence, and education, while the 11-seat Most-Hid scored justice and environment. Transportation went to the 10-seat Siet.

Three Siet MPs and one from Most-Hid refused to enter the government.

It has vowed to create 100,000 new jobs by 2020 in the successful eurozone economy of 5.4 million people and to slash corporate tax from 22 to 21 percent.

A record eight parties entered parliament in the March 5 election, a fragmented result that had threatened to trigger fresh elections.

- 'Tackling corruption' -

Pavol Babos, a political analyst with the Slovak Academy of Science, told AFP the new government is a marriage of convenience forged to avoid an early ballot, but the partnership is likely to last "at least until the end of the Slovak EU presidency" in December.

Zsolt Gal, a political scientist at the Bratislava-based Comenius University, said that tackling corruption would be among its most urgent tasks.

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"Public procurement and the drawing of EU funds is riddled with corruption, it is a system-wide phenomenon in Slovakia," Gal told AFP.

Wednesday's coalition deal is in part a return to the 2006-10 partnership Fico forged with what was then a more stridently nationalist and xenophobic SNS.

Both parties campaigned on a staunchly anti-Muslim and anti-refugee platform, something analysts say paved the way for the extreme right Our Slovakia to enter parliament for the first time with 14 seats.

Its leader Marian Kotleba is known for harsh anti-Roma and anti-migrant views and for leading street marches with party members dressed in black neo-Nazi black uniforms. All parties have ruled out cooperating with him.

An ex-communist renowned for his strong populist streak, Fico previously cut food taxes, boosted childcare allowances, hiked the minimum wage and gave pensioners and student free train tickets to engineer a quick recovery after philanthropist Andrej Kiska beat him to the presidency in 2014.

But his generous spending has not bloated public debt. Slovakia's debt-to-GDP ratio hovers around 53 percent, among the lowest in the 19-member eurozone.

It boasts the world's per capita biggest auto-making sector and economic growth there hit a robust 3.5 percent in 2015.

Official projections show it is set to hover around 3.2-3.3 percent this year and next. Joblessness sank to a 10-year low of 10.4 percent in January.
Additionally, Facebooks photo-sharing app Instagram is also finding success, with 22 million users in Indonesia

Facebook has released Southeast Asian regional internal data for the first time ever and while the numbers are impressive, for anyone living in the region the results are not overly surprising.

The data in large part confirms what our eyes tell us; surfing Facebook is commonplace on public transportation, in some circles it is a useful networking tool and oftentimes a simple handshake during the day will lead to a friend request a few hours later.

But, it is interesting to put numbers to common sense, and in some cases marvel at just how integral Facebook has become in our everyday life.

So, lets dive in.

The numbers

The big number the social media giant revealed is it has 241 million users in the region  roughly equivalent to the entire population of the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar combined.

Additionally, the mobile penetration rate for Facebook is extraordinary. The company says 94 per cent of Facebook users in Southeast Asia access their accounts via their phones or tablets.

Southeast Asia is a dynamic mobile first region, and the fastest growing for Facebook. Connecting the more than 241 million people in Southeast Asia to the friends and family, businesses and moments that matter to them is at the core of everything we do, said Kenneth Bishop, Facebook Managing Director, Southeast Asia in an official statement.

Also Read: Facebook Instant Articles allow publishers to open their restrooms

Facebook also included findings from two separate studies conducted in 2014 and 2015. The 2014 study covered people aged 16 and over in the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand and the other was targeted towards Singaporeans and Vietnamese above the age of 18.

It found that respondents commonly discovered breaking news, games, products, brands and services through Facebook.

Furthermore, it is an interconnected environment, as a McKinsey study found that half of Facebook users are connected to someone outside of their home country, which is triple the amount from a year ago.

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The same is true for business as an analysis of 50 million SMEs using Facebook found that 30 per cent had followers from outside their home country.

When Facebook crossed the global number of 3 million active advertisers, it said 70 per cent of the companies operated outside of the United States. In todays report, Facebook attributed a large part of the growth to Southeast Asian companies adopting modern forms of advertising.

We are committed to investing in resources and expertise to help our partners in Southeast Asia grow and achieve measurable business results, said Bishop.

An SME hoping for direct communication with its customers may want to operate out of Thailand or Singapore. The local population in each of those countries sends twice as many messages to businesses per month than the global average. Malaysia is 50 per cent above the global average.

Also Read: Should Facebook create Safety Checks for every city?

Facebook used Lazada as an example of a company that leveraged Facebook outreach to build its business.

It explained that by growing its Facebook fan-base by a factor of 60, the e-commerce company was able to reach 90 per cent of the online population in the Philippines and 80 per cent in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. That is an impressive ad reach.

Facebook also took a sentence to mention Instagram, saying it is seeing strong growth in the region and Indonesia is leading the way with 22 million users.



Photo courtesy of GoRaydar

The post There is social media and then there is Facebook; company releases data of dominance appeared first on e27.
By Serajul Quadir DHAKA (Reuters) - The cyber thieves who stole $81 million from Bangladesh Bank appear to have hid their tracks by manipulating a central bank computer and printer that connect to the SWIFT messaging system to hide evidence of the heist, according to a report filed with local police. The report, filed by two central bank officials on Tuesday evening, said that a computer the bank uses to order SWIFT wire transfers was manipulated so that authorities could not see records of outgoing wire transfer requests or receipts confirming that they had been received. Details about the issues with the computer and printer were among the first clues to surface as to how the attack was carried out. The computer is supposed to keep those records so they can be easily reviewed by bank staff, according to the report. The officials saw the first signs that something was off on Feb. 5, when they noticed a glitch with a printer that is set up to automatically print all SWIFT wire transfers. When they identified that the previous day's transactions had not been printed, they attempted to manually print them but were unable to do so, according to the report, which was reviewed by Reuters on Wednesday. One official asked that the printer be repaired before leaving the office that day, which was a Friday and the first day of the weekend in Bangladesh. Other bank employees later decided to wait until the next day to fix it, according to the report. When the officials tried to access the computer the bank uses to send SWIFT messages, they got messages saying a file NROFF.EXE "is missing or changed. They were eventually able to access the SWIFT messaging system on Feb. 8 and print out messages after obtaining clearance to use other means to access the system from senior bank officials. When they printed the SWIFT messages there were three from the New York Fed seeking information about several suspicious transactions, which flagged them to the heist that this week resulted in the ouster of the central bank's governor. [L3N16N486] A representative from Brussels-based SWIFT, a bank-owned cooperative that runs a secure private messaging system widely used for requesting money transfers, declined comment on Wednesday. SWIFT last week issued a statement saying that it was working with Bangladesh's central bank "to resolve an internal operational issue at the central bank." It added that "SWIFTs core messaging services were not impacted by the issue and continued to work as normal." [L1N16J1NU] (Reporting by Serajul Quadir in Dhaka; Writing by Jim Finkle in Boston; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli)
By Stella Mapenzauswa JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African police said on Tuesday finance minister Pravin Gordhan may face legal action for not cooperating with an investigation of surveillance by the revenue service, escalating a public row and rattling the rand and bonds. In a tussle that has raised concern about the direction of policy in Africa's most industrialised but ailing economy, Gordhan hit back, accusing police of threatening him. The elite Hawks police unit said it would exercise its "constitutional powers" after Gordhan missed a second deadline to answer questions about a suspected spy unit established while he was head of the South African Revenue Service (SARS). Gordhan has repeatedly called the investigation a smear campaign aimed at tarnishing his and the Treasury's credibility and has said he would take legal action to protect himself. In a strongly worded statement, the Hawks said Gordhan had failed to meet a March 14 deadline to answer questions. "This is neither a talk-show nor a soapie. We are mandated to investigate without fear, favour or prejudice," the unit added, resorting to capitals to make its point. "The minister, for whatever reasons, has failed to meet the SECOND deadline for answering questions and our legal team are forging a way forward which will see the Hawks exercising our constitutional powers. "The investigations will not be stalled by an individual who refuses to comply with the authorities and demand a preferential treatment," the statement added. In response, the Treasury said it was "factually incorrect" that Gordhan had failed to respond to a second letter, reiterating he had not received one. "Notwithstanding that the Hawks have not responded to the minister's lawyers' representations for further clarity, the minister has nonetheless instructed his legal team to prepare an adequate response," it said. RAND, BONDS TUMBLE The rand fell more than three percent to 16.0400 per dollar after the Hawks statement. Government bond yields jumped more than 30 basis points. "Investors are realising the fight is real," Nomura emerging market analyst Peter Attard Montalto said. "Both sides are doubling down, and at some point one side will hit the nuclear button." Gordhan has said he could not answer questions before an initial deadline set by the Hawks because he was busy preparing the 2016 budget. On Monday, he told a news conference he had only read about a second letter in a weekend newspaper. He criticised the leaking of the document to the media, an accusation the Hawks did not deny or confirm in their statement. Appointed in December to calm investors spooked when President Jacob Zuma abruptly switched finance ministers, Gordhan had previously served as finance minister from 2009-2014. He was head of SARS from 1999-2009. During that time, the unit that allegedly conducted illegal surveillance of taxpayers was set up, investigating authorities say. Last week, Gordhan met investors and credit rating agencies in London and New York, seeking to drum up support for South Africa, which is at risk of losing its investment-grade status because of slow growth and big deficits. "This is absolutely the last thing South Africa needs right now. The economic backdrop is challenging enough; no need to top it off with more political drama," Anne Fruhauf, a Southern Africa analyst for Teneo Intelligence, told Reuters. South African Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko has said the questions put to Gordhan by the Hawks do not mean he is under investigation for a crime or will be charged. Zuma said last month he had full confidence in the finance minister and dismissed "rumours and gossip which insinuate some conspiracy against minister Gordhan". But the latest skirmishes could hurt Pretoria's efforts to avert a credit downgrade. Standard & Poor's and Fitch already have the country just one notch above junk status. Moody's said last week it would put South Africa's Baa2 rating, two levels above sub-investment grade, on review for downgrade. It is due in the country this week. "This is not a great time to remind Moodys of the civil war going on inside the government," Capital Economics Africa analyst John Ashbourne said. (Additional reporting by Tiisetso Motsoeneng and Mfuneko Toyana; Writing by James Macharia and Stella Mapenzauswa; Editing by Larry King)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas said he rejected an offer by a wealthy family with close links to President Jacob Zuma to take up the position of finance minister to replace former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene. "Members of the Gupta family offered me the position of Minister of Finance to replace then Minister (Nhlanhla) Nene," Jonas said in a statement. "I rejected this out of hand. The basis of my rejection of their offer is that it makes a mockery of our hard earned democracy, the trust of our people and no one apart from the President of the Republic appoints ministers." The Gupta family was not immediately available to comment. (Reporting by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo; Editing by James Macharia)
A coalition of outside groups paid for more than 4,300 anti-Donald Trump ads during the week before Tuesdays primary election in Florida  all to no avail as the real estate mogul sailed to an easy victory.

In winning, Trump, whose own campaign aired 1,801 ads in the Sunshine State, dealt a death blow to Sen. Marco Rubios presidential hopes, and in Rubios home state, no less. Rubio announced his exit from the race as Trump basked in victory.

The Florida battle was notable in that Rubios campaign committee did not pay for a single TV ad in Florida, according to a Center for Public Integrity review of preliminary data compiled by Kantar Media/CMAG, a political advertising data firm.

Instead, Rubio outsourced it: Conservative Solutions PAC sponsored all ads promoting Rubio, which also sometimes served the dual purpose of attacking Trump. As a super PAC established to support Floridas junior U.S. senator, Conservative Solutions PAC can raise and spend money without limits.

Also leading the anti-Trump barrage was Our Principles PAC, formed in January to block Trumps nomination. The super PAC has spent more than $14 million since forming, attacking Trump via TV ads, mailers and voter calls, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Related: Anti-Trump ads target Florida

This story is part of Buying of the President 2016. Tracking the candidates, political committees and nonprofits that are making this presidential election the most expensive in history. Click here to read more stories in this investigation.

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There is currently one known megadonor to Our Principles PAC: Marlene Ricketts, whose family owns the Chicago Cubs. She is wife of Joe Ricketts, founder of TD Ameritrade.

Our Principles PAC paid for 1,560 ads. Dark money nonprofit American Future Fund aired 1,991 ads while Club for Growth Action aired 793 ads.

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But the top ad buyer was Conservative Solutions PAC, which inundated Florida with nearly 4,300 ads, about half of which positively touted Rubios biography. Some of the ads ran in Spanish.

Trump acknowledged the negative ad blitz at an election night press conference, calling the ads attacking him vicious.

Nobody has ever, ever in the history of politics received the kind of negative advertising that I have, Trump said on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, Ohio Gov. John Kasich won his home state with relative ease. Kasichs campaign aired 1,690 ads in Ohio compared to Trumps 1,930 in the final week leading up to the primary.

But Kasich got help from outside groups. New Day for America, a super PAC formed to help the governor, paid for 724 ads. The anti-Trump super PAC Our Principles PAC aired 442 ads, Kantar Media/CMAG data show.

Super PACs were made possible by the 2010 Citizens United v. FEC decision and a lower court case later that year. Together, they allowed outside spending groups to collect and spend unlimited sums of money  including from corporations, unions and certain nonprofits  to support or oppose a candidate.

Trump is largely financing his own campaign and has no significant backing from super PACs. What he does have is almost nonstop media coverage that essentially dwarfs any ad campaign that can be mounted against his candidacy.

Its not wise to generalize about Trump because hes such a media phenomenon  who else has gotten so much free time? asks campaign finance expert Rick Hasen, law and political science professor at the University of California at Irvine.

One of the reasons super PACs have not been so influential at the presidential level is theres so much other money and media interest, he said, in an interview prior to the Tuesday nights results. Once you move farther down the ballot, super PACs become far more influential, he added.

But despite Rubios poor showing, super PACs have played a critical role. Were it not for these benefactors, he would in all likelihood not still be a candidate.

Meanwhile Trump cleaned up in the other primaries, winning Illinois and North Carolina. Trump appeared to barely inch out Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in Missouri.

Looking ahead, with Rubio out, the Republican contest becomes a three-way race, although though Trump is clearly in the drivers seat.

He leads by more than 200 delegates, having reached the halfway mark to the delegate threshold needed to earn the GOP nomination.

Chris Zubak-Skees contributed to this report

This story is part of Buying of the President 2016. Tracking the candidates, political committees and nonprofits that are making this presidential election the most expensive in history. Click here to read more stories in this investigation.

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Copyright 2016 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.
Updated on March 16 at 11:54 a.m.

Let the confirmation battle begin.

President Obama nominated Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, setting up a historic election-year showdown over the high court and its future.

I've selected a nominee who is widely recognized not only as one of Americas brightest legal minds, but also a spirit of decency, modesty, integrity, evenhandedness, and excellence, Obama said when announcing Garlands nomination. He is uniquely prepared to serve immediately.

Garland is the chief judge of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is widely considered to be a stepping stone to the Supreme Court. The U.S. Senate confirmed the 63-year-old jurist to that bench by a 76-23 vote in 1997. The White House said Garland has more federal judicial experience than any other Supreme Court nominee in history and praised his rare ability to bring people together.

Recommended: Where Does America Go From Here?

Garlands nomination bucks some recent trends for presidential nominations to the Court. Both Obama and his predecessor, George W. Bush, opted for younger picks who became reliable liberal or conservative voices on the Court. Garland, by contrast, is older than most of the recent Supreme Court justices at the time of their nomination. Many observers also saw him as a relatively moderate option compared to others on Obamas reported shortlist.

In other ways, Garland fits the mold of a modern Supreme Court justice. Educated at Harvard, he clerked for legendary federal Judge Henry Friendly and Supreme Court Justice William Brennan after receiving his law degree. He worked in the Justice Department during the Carter administration before switching to private practice during the Reagan years. Garland then became an assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia in 1989 before taking up a senior Justice Department post, where he oversaw high-profile federal prosecutions during the Clinton years.

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A formative moment in his Justice Department career came in 1995 when Garland oversaw the investigations and prosecutions in response to the Oklahoma City bombing. He took an intense personal interest in the case, which resulted in a death sentence for Timothy McVeigh and a life sentence for co-conspirator Terry Nichols.

We promised that we could find the perpetrators, that we would bring them to justice, and that we would do that in a way that would honor the Constitution, Garland said Wednesday, recalling his conversations with family members of the victims of the attack.

Recommended: The Obama Doctrine

If confirmed, Garland would fill the seat left vacant after the unexpected death of Justice Antonin Scalia on February 13. His elevation would produce a substantial ideological shift on the nations highest court. Alongside Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan, Garland would give the Courts liberal wing a five-justice majority for the first time in almost 50 years.

With the stakes so high, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his Republican colleagues vowed within hours after Scalias death to not confirm any Supreme Court nominees until after the election. That unprecedented position quickly turned into a broad refusal to hold hearings on the nominee or even meet the person.

Garland's selection did not seem to shake that position.

It seems President Obama nominated Garland not with the intent of seeing him confirmed, but in order to politicize it for the purpose of the election, McConnell claimed on the Senate floor shortly after the announcement.

Other senators also reiterated their opposition.

My colleagues and I on Judiciary Committee have already given our advice & consent on #SCOTUSnominee: We won't have any hearings or votes.  Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) March 16, 2016

Democrats and liberal interest groups have vowed to make the issue a central one throughout the election, hoping to crack the conservative resistance and energize the liberal base. An intense response by Democratic voters could cause headaches for Republican senators up for re-election in Illinois, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and other blueish states. Donald Trumps potential nomination for the presidency on the Republican ticket could also place vulnerable senators in an even tougher position.

Recommended: What Bernie Sanders Knows About Nordic Countries That Hillary Clinton Doesn't

In an email announcing the nomination on Wednesday morning, Obama again urged the Senate to act.

In putting forward a nominee today, I am fulfilling my constitutional duty, he wrote. Im doing my job. I hope that our Senators will do their jobs, and move quickly to consider my nominee. That is what the Constitution dictates, and thats what the American people expect and deserve from their leaders.

The White House also unveiled a verified Twitter account, @SCOTUSnom, as part of its public-outreach campaign.

Filling a #SCOTUS vacancy is not a political prerogativeit is a basic function and fundamental obligation. pic.twitter.com/wHRNpQ2ZlE  SCOTUS Nomination (@SCOTUSnom) March 16, 2016

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Paris (AFP) - Four suspected jihadists were arrested Wednesday in the Paris region, one of whom was thought to be planning "violent acts", Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said.

"We received information about one individual... that he might commit violent acts in France," Cazeneuve said on French television.

"So this morning he was arrested along with three members of his entourage and checks are under way. I call on everyone to be extremely prudent regarding reports that are circulating about an imminent violent act."

Police sources said earlier that three men and a woman were arrested in the dawn raid who were not thought to be planning an imminent attack but were "of interest".

They said one was placed under house arrest under the state of emergency that has been in force in France since the November 13 attacks in Paris that claimed 130 lives.

The four had been under surveillance by French intelligence on suspicion of a "possible plan to attack" but the threat has not been confirmed, the sources said.

Police raids have turned up no weapons, but computer hardware and data have been seized for analysis, they said.

"You can't at this stage talk about a plan of imminent attack," one police source said.

The arrests were carried out at dawn in two Paris districts and the rundown northern suburb of Saint Denis, the scene of a massive raid after the November 13 attacks during which the suspected ringleader, Abelhamid Abaaoud, was killed.
The South by South West music festival got underway on March 15, inundating the city of Austin, Texas with music from every genre imaginable. This portion of the festival, featuring over 2000 bands, kicked off with a big opening party featuring a lineup of newcomers and returning bands to the levent, including a performance by Argentinian group Capsula playing their version of David Bowie's "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" album in its entirety.

The music wasn't only at the party, of course. Some of the highlights at the festival on opening day included a performance by Iggy Pop playing a 1 hour and 50 minute set of classic and new material at "Austin City Limits" venue, reports Billboard.

The iconic rocker performed with the group that made his upcoming album "Post Pop Depression," which will be released on March 18. The group is comprised of Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme, Dean Fertita and Troy Van Leeuwen and Artic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders, as well as Chavez's Matt Sweeney. Tuesday's 22-song set included eight songs off Pop's upcoming album. The group also played classics, such as "Lust for Life" and "The Passenger." The group has only had one other show to date.



Other highlights at the festival so far included a live rendition of Australian artist Sia singing "Bird Set Free" at SXSW, according to The Consequence of Sound. The performance was broadcast from SXSW on late night's Jimmy Kimmel Live show. The track is off her new "This is Acting" album. To watch the performance see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHZwkZAamHM&feature=youtu.be



Meanwhile for country music fans, legendary George Strait, the Avett Brothers and Jimmie Vaughan played a gig on Tuesday for Ray Benson's birthday bash, Billboard noted. Strait and Benson took to the stage with Asleep at the Wheel to play favorites such as "Troubadour" and "Here for a Good Time."

The South by South West music festival runs through March 20. For more information and a full listing of gigs see: http://www.sxsw.com/
About 68 million years ago, a pregnant Tyrannosaurus rex died in ancient Montana. Her remains might provide clues about how to identify male and female theropods, or bipedal meat-eating dinosaurs, a new study finds.

The finding is an exciting one  researchers verified that the T. rex was pregnant by looking at the organic components in the dinosaur's bone structure, elements that had survived for tens of millions of years since the predator's death, said study lead researcher Mary Schweitzer, an evolutionary biologist at North Carolina State University.

"We need to quit selling fossils short," Schweitzer told Live Science. "They have a lot more information in them than we would think of [finding in] 65-million-year-old bone." [Image Gallery: The Life of T. Rex]

A paleontologist discovered the T. rex in Hell Creek Formation in 2000. Bob Harmon, of the Museum of the Rockies in Montana, sat down in dinosaur territory one day, and unexpectedly felt a fossil behind his back, Schweitzer said. Harmon shared the good news with his colleagues, and they spent the next three years excavating the enormous specimen.

Afterward, the paleontologists gave the femur, a leg bone, to Schweitzer, who, along with her colleagues, examined the microscopic features of the fossil. In 2005, the team published a study in the journal Science announcing that the fossil contained medullary bone, which is a type of bone with extra calcium deposits that help female egg-laying creatures, such as birds, lay eggs. Medullary bone is present only just before or during the egg-laying process, so its occurrence suggested the T. rex was pregnant, Schweitzer said.

But recently, Schweitzer found herself wondering whether the finding was accurate. New technologies and information had come to light in the intervening years. Schweitzer wondered if she did the experiment again, whether she would still get the same results and find that the dinosaur was pregnant, she said.

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"I think good scientists should always be second-guessing themselves," Schweitzer said.

So, she decided to check the chemistry of the T. rex's femur. Such a test would show whether the fossil had medullary bone, or whether it actually had osteopetrosis, a condition that makes bones unusually dense. Under the microscope, medullary bone and bone with osteopetrosis look remarkably similar, Schweitzer said.

However, the two are chemically different. Medullary bone contains the organic compound keratan sulfate, and bone with osteopetrosis does not. Schweitzer and her colleagues tested for the compound using different chemicals, including monoclonal antibodies (immune cells that bind only to a specific agent  in this case, keratan sulfate). The researchers found that the ancient bone still contained some keratan sulfate.

The researchers also used the antibodies to analyze medullary bone from an ostrich and chicken. The results confirmed those from the 2005 study, that the T. rex had medullary bone and was likely pregnant when she died, Schweitzer said.

"This analysis allows us to determine the gender of this fossil, and gives us a window into the evolution of egg laying in modern birds," Schweitzer said in a statement.

Because medullary bone is present only in females during egg-laying periods, it's relatively rare in fossils. Even when present, it can be difficult to identify without cutting off a sample of dinosaur bone and examining it under a microscope or with a chemical test. But the researchers found that doing an initial computed tomography (CT) scan of dinosaur bone can help determine whether a fossil is worth investigating, Schweitzer said. [Gallery: Photos of Tiny Dinosaur Embryos]

This technique could help researchers find more medullary bone, said study co-author Lindsay Zanno, a paleontologist at North Carolina State University. Moreover, once the presence of medullary bone confirms that a dinosaur is a female, researchers can look for other clues that might help determine whether it's a boy or a girl dinosaur.

"It's a dirty secret, but we know next to nothing about sex-linked traits in extinct dinosaurs. Dinosaurs weren't shy about sexual signaling, all those bells and whistles, horns, crests, and frills, and yet we just haven't had a reliable way to tell males from females," Zanno said in the statement. "Just being able to identify a dinosaur definitively as a female opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Now that we can show pregnant dinosaurs have a chemical fingerprint, we need a concerted effort to find more [medullary bone]."

This T. rex isn't the first known example of a pregnant dinosaur. Fossils of both Allosaurus (a Jurassic-period, meat-eating relative of T. rex) and Tenontosaurus (a herbivorous relative of the duck-billed dinosaur) have been found with medullary bone, suggesting that the individuals may have died just before, during or after laying eggs.

The new study was published online today (March 15) in the journal Scientific Reports.

Follow Laura Geggel on Twitter @LauraGeggel. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.

Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
As I curve around the freeway off ramp, I look in my rearview mirror, relieved that Im no longer in the slow-moving flow of commuters making their way home up the valley. I pull up in front of a small building at the municipal airport in San Carlos, Calif., and park, just a few hundred feet from the runway. I grab my small duffel out of the back of my car and head toward the doors to Surf Air. As I enter, Im greeted by Tyler, a young, very nice concierge who greets me by name and takes my bags. Ive never met Tyler before. Its 6:10 p.m. Im offered water and snacks as Tyler logs me in and weighs my bag. OK, youre all set. Well board in just a few minutes. The check-in process is done. Im about to board for my flight home, which is 365 miles south. Its 6:19. This is the start of my commute.

So begins my story ... is it feasible for me to commute to work from an entirely different city, hundreds of miles away ... by airplane? Could I trade my 45-minute car commute in ridiculously heavy traffic for a window seat, flying 14,000 feet over beautiful California? And can I do all this by not flying a commercial or private jet? I was about to find out.

6:24 p.m.  Boarding. Tyler returns just after taking the bellmans cart with our luggage out to load the plane. We walk out onto the tarmac to our awaiting Pilatus PC-12, a single-engine turboprop. Five passengers are joining me for the one-hour flight from San Carlos to Santa Barbara  which Ive chosen as my home for the next few days. As I enter the plane, I immediately notice the seats, leather ... comfortable ... operable seats. Our pilot Tyler (not the same as concierge Tyler) greets me and tells me itll be a smooth and beautiful flight down the coast. I settle in with my iPad, headphones, and, of course, my camera. My fellow passengers do the same. Some have laptops, others place Bose headphones on their heads, some exchange pleasantries. Its 6:29.

So what is Surf Air? For one thing, its not a commercial airline. Founded in 2013, Surf Air was established as the nations first private travel club offering unlimited monthly flights. Thats not a typo: unlimited flights. Is it a luxury service? Not quite. When you think of private air travel, you think, private jets reserved for the likes of the rich and the famous. Not Surf Air. According to former CEO of Frontier Airlines Jeff Potter, who is now leading the helm at Surf Air, he cringes at the luxury label: Eighty-five percent of our current members, prior to joining Surf Air, were traveling to work on commercial airlines, in economy class. From an economic and service perspective, theyve taken the view that this is not necessarily a luxury, this is just a better way to do business and a better way to save time. Are the planes luxurious? Sort of. All of Surf Airs Pilatus PC-12s were designed with an eight-seat all-business-class interior to ensure the highest level of comfort and convenience.

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In addition to the economic and timesaving perks, members are also saving their sanity. The U.S. Department of Transportation reported airline consumer complaints rose more than 20 percent in the first six months of 2015 (9,542 consumer complaints) compared to the same period in 2014 (7,935 complaints). In other words, flying commercial is not as pleasant as it used to be.

6:35 p.m.  Wheels up. As we ascend over the marsh that surrounds San Carlos Airport, I look out the window. I see the 101 freeway, packed with hundred of cars, slowly inching their way north and south. The cars are bumper-to-bumper as far up the Silicon Valley corridor as I can see. Poor souls, I say to myself. I ease back, place my headphones on, and relax. Im commuting home.

So how does it work? Surf Air memberships start at $1,950 per month, with a $1,000 initiation fee. This gets you unlimited flights per month to such destinations as Santa Monica, Oakland, San Carlos, Santa Barbara, and Truckee, to name a few. That adds up to more than 70 daily flights all over California, booked at the click of a mouse. Airport parking? Easy. Hassle-free check-in ... with a smile? Yup. Security? Nope. Boarding rush to secure an overhead spot? Nah.

7:30 p.m.  We land at Santa Barbara airport, where the sun is casting an orange glow on the surrounding mountains. The passengers file out in an orderly fashion. A Surf Air concierge stands at the bottom of the stairs holding a basket filled with car keys. She greets each passenger by first name and hands over a key. I disembark last, and our Surf Air concierge asks me if I need anything  a rental car? Call a taxi? Water? Snacks for the drive home? I decide to use Uber. Itll arrive in six minutes.

Its not uncommon to hear the words start up when talking about Surf Air, and CEO Jeff Potter knows that: I think we take the best from the startup mentality, which is entrepreneurial, thinking outside the box. People know they can talk to me, and they do, any time they want. And theres no shortage of ideas. Some have described Surf Air as the only service that is disrupting the air industry. The hotel industry has Airbnb and the ground transportation industry has Lyft and Uber. The skies now have Surf Air. But at the end of the day, Surf Air is an air service, and this fact is not lost on Jeff, who says, We never lose sight of the fact that we are flying airplanes and we are responsible for the safety and security of all our members.

7:33 p.m.  As I wait for my Uber, I check Instagram to pass the time and see that a few old high school friends who still live in Santa Barbara are having clam chowder down on the harbor. I decide to surprise them. After all, its not even 8 p.m. and I just got home, and Im not at all tired from the travel  in fact, Im getting my second wind, something I dont get after driving in awful traffic for an hour. I send a text, Im on my way.

8:20 p.m.  Im cozying up to the bar and greet my friends. What are you doing here? they ask, perplexed. I commuted from work, I reply and describe my journey. Just a few hours ago, I was in the office, some 375 miles away, plugging away at my computer. And now I was in beautiful Santa Barbara, sipping white wine and eating a bowl of delicious clam chowder.

11:00 p.m.  Home. I have an early commute tomorrow (I want to go to the gym at work), so Ive chosen a 6:30 a.m. flight to San Carlos.

Luxury air businesses such as JetMe, BlackJet, and NetJets take up a large market share of the private air industry that is open to those willing to shell out a huge sum for a flight that is not shared, but that doesnt mean commercial airlines arent taking notice. Delta (DAL) operates Delta Private Air, which uses a range of jets with prices starting at $5,500  and thats per flight. So its easy to see how Surf Air can give you a bit of pause and head scratch as to its approach to the air industry and its subscription model.

5:15 a.m.  I wake up and try to muster the will to get out of bed. Its too early. Ugh. I have to head to the airport. Maybe Ill change my flight to one of the three later-scheduled flights that depart Santa Barbara for San Carlos. While thats an option, I remind myself that Im not going to a commercial airline terminal. No long lines at the check-in counter. Theres no security line to go through. I can do this. I get up, throw my gym clothes on, grab my bag, and head for the door. Its 5:35.

At 5:52 a.m. I am pulling into the small parking lot located in front of the Surf Air office. I park and head in. Im greeted by another Surf Air concierge who seems unusually happy for someone at 6:00, but I dont mind. I go through the same check in, weighing my bags and being offered coffee and snacks. Our pilot comes in and says hello. And heres something you dont see every day ... the same pilot then takes our cart with our bags and heads out the door. I turn around and peek out the window. Hes loading it himself onto the plane. In the commercial world, unions would have a fit. Not at Surf Air. Everyone is there to help and lend to the experience, and that is what Im realizing about Surf Air. They want you to have an experience.

Its 6:13 a.m. and every member has checked in. We proceed out to the tarmac to board. I eavesdrop on members greeting each other. In fact, two passengers are talking about their kids, each of them catching up with the other. Another individual is still working on his laptop as we walk out. You could never do that in a car. The pilot greets everyone by first name. Where am I? What bizarro world is this? My morning commute begins.

After a formal security brief by the pilot, we are ready to take off. Its 6:19, and the door shuts. I ease into my leather seat and look out the window. A few minutes later we are wheels up.

And beyond California? Surf Air has big plans. In the next 12, 18 months, I think you could foresee us in Texas, in Florida, ultimately in the Northeast. But at the same time, in parallel, were looking at opportunities in the international setting.

Im awakened by a slight bump and realize that weve landed. I look at my watch. It reads 7:20 a.m. And within minutes, the plane door opens and we file out, again in orderly fashion, no pushing or shoving. The pilots say bye to everyone. The concierge greets us at the tarmac.

7:31 a.m.  Im in my car and heading to the office. Its a 10-mile drive to work, and theres a bit of traffic. I dont mind  I was just in Santa Barbara this morning.

7:50 a.m.  I arrive at the office and head to the gym. My day at work begins. I run into a co-worker who took the corporate shuttle from San Francisco and arrived at the gym at 7:30. I ask him what time he left his house for work. Six a.m. to catch the 6:30 shuttle. Why? he asks. I grin. I left my house at 5:35 a.m. and just got here. The look he gives me is the unmistakable look of you poor bastard. With a straight face, I reply, But I came from Santa Barbara. Mic drop.

For the next few days, I continue commuting by plane. I talk to other passengers who do the commute one to three times a week. A consultant. A lawyer. Not everyone does it daily. They work from home on those days. Theres a guy from Google (GOOG). A physician with a patient in the Bay Area. These arent the luxury jet setters I would imagine using such a service. And thats exactly the way Surf Air wants it.

And again, its that luxury label that Surf Air wants to avoid, especially when the service appeals to corporate clients. Jeff wants them to see it as a perk, like a corporate shuttle or the free food you see in most Silicon Valley tech companies. But most importantly, its a cost-saving measure. Over 50 percent of our members now are in some sort of corporate-related field, and when you take the individual members that are being paid for by their corporations to use Surf Air, were probably 65 percent to 70 percent corporate members. And those corporations see the monetary and economic value, but they also see the value of the time savings.

I asked everyone why they signed up, and I got the same consistent answer: You gain time and convenience. But theres more to the service than just commuting. Want to go to Napa for a wine tasting event? No problem, they fly there. Feel like a day hike around Lake Tahoe but have to be back in the Bay Area for a dinner? Easy. Surf Air flies regularly to Truckee. Want to watch the Warriors kick off their season at home? Surf Air goes to Oakland.

Surf Air has long-term plans. Weve just taken delivery of our 11th aircraft. We have an order for a total of 65 aircraft over the next five years, said Jeff with big enthusiasm. That means more routes and more time savings.

7:32 a.m.  Im on my last flight for this story. I disembark, having come from Santa Barbara and say bye to Captain Tyler, my regular pilot. We say well keep in touch. I see Andrew, the concierge, and I shake his hand to thank him for all his work. Ive broken a barrier that I normally wouldnt have flying commercial. Ive made acquaintances.

7:45 a.m.  I drive the 10 miles to work.

6:08 p.m.  With reality setting in, I walk out to my car after a long day of work. I have a 36-mile trip ahead of me. I check traffic on my Waze app. It will take me just over an hour. As I merge onto the freeway, the first thing I notice is the amount of cars and the slow-moving traffic. Alone in my car, Im already longing for the days of commuting by air. Its been 11 hours since I flew in from Santa Barbara. I merge onto the freeway. Sigh. I grip the steering wheel tightly. Foot on the pedal. Then brake. Then pedal. Then brake. Im going 30 mph. Im commuting home.
PALM BEACH, Fla.  Donald Trump took a major step toward the Republican nomination Tuesday night, winning presidential primary races in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina (with Missouri declared too close to call after vote-counting was suspended late into the night). Trumps landslide victory in winner-take-all Florida represented a stunning defeat for home-state Sen. Marco Rubio, who suspended his campaign for the White House.

But Ohio Gov. John Kasich eked out a win in his home-state primary, denying Trump a much hoped for victory in the other crucial winner-take-all state of the night and increasing the likelihood of a contested GOP convention this summer.

While Trump nearly ran the table Tuesday, Illinois, North Carolina and Missouri (where he held a slim lead over Cruz) were not winner-take-all primaries, meaning that he will have to share the delegates awarded, once again prolonging the race for the GOP nomination.

And though Trumps wins Tuesday looked to put him at least halfway to the 1,237 delegates he needs to claim the nomination, neither Kasich nor Cruz signaled any plans to leave the race. Do you want a candidate who shares your values? Or a candidate who has spent decades opposing your values? Cruz told his supporters at an election night rally in Houston.

For his part, Rubio did not immediately give up his delegates, delivering a concession speech that was more confrontational toward Trump than conciliatory. The easiest thing to have done in this campaign [would have been]  to make people angrier, make people more frustrated, Rubio said in a clear reference to Trump. But I chose a different route, and Im proud of that.

In a year like this, that would have been the easiest way to win, but that is not whats best for America, Rubio added. The politics of resentment against other people will not just leave us a fractured party, but they will leave a fractured nation  where people literally hate each other because they have different political opinions.

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Rubios slow decline over the last three months became precipitous after a series of crude attacks on Trump in late February failed spectacularly in the minds of many voters. Rubios broadsides against Trump during the Feb. 25 GOP debate in Houston spiraled down in the following days on the campaign trail into jokes about Trump wetting his pants and even a reference to the size of Trumps penis, which the businessman later defended during a raucous debate in Detroit on March 3.

Sen. Marco Rubio, onstage with his family, tells supporters at a primary night rally in Miami that he is suspending his campaign for the Republican nomination. (Photo: Angel Valentin/Getty Images)

Slideshow: March 15 presidential primaries >>>

As he left his election night event Tuesday, Rubio pleaded with the electorate, I ask the American people, do not give in to the fear. Do not give in to the frustration, as supporters in the crowd wept. America needs a vibrant conservative movement, but one thats built on principles and ideas, not on fear, not on anger, not on preying on peoples frustrations.

Trump, speaking to supporters at his Mar-a-Lago Club here, was surprisingly cordial toward his former rival, whom he had repeatedly ridiculed as Little Marco in campaign speeches as recently as Monday. But Trump, clearly trying to appear more presidential as he gains in his bid to be the party nominee, congratulated Rubio for running a tough campaign. Hes got a bright future, Trump said.

In some ways, Tuesdays results marked a potential turning point for Trumps insurgent campaign. After three straight weeks of significant victories  starting with carrying 7 of the 11 voting states on March 1, the original Super Tuesday  Trump has tried to cast himself in a more presidential light. Hes held election night press conferences instead of rallies and has, at moments, noticeably tried to tone down his fiery rhetoric toward his opponents, including at last weeks Republican debate in Miami. In recent days, he has repeatedly emphasized his ability to bring together not only a Republican Party at odds over his unlikely candidacy, but also a country that is deeply splintered across partisan lines.

Im a unifier, Trump has insisted. Im actually a unifier.

But even as he, at times, has affected a more dignified demeanor, he cant seem to sustain it. Or perhaps he doesnt want to, seeing political value in reflecting the raw anger of a wide swath of the Republican electorate. Either way, he has offered little evidence of how he would actually overcome his first major hurdle: establishment Republicans who have been highly critical of his charged rhetoric and vague  and occasionally apostate  policy positions.

In recent days, as his delegate count has ramped up, Trump has bragged that Republican bigwigs are now calling him. On Tuesday night, he talked up phone calls from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan  though a Ryan spokesman tweeted that his boss had called Trump at the candidates request, not vice versa.

Donald Trump, flanked by his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, left, and his son Eric, right, discusses the results of the Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois and Missouri primaries at a news conference held at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla. (Photo: Joe Skipper/Reuters)

When asked about his outreach efforts, Trump has dodged the question and refused to say whether that kind of conventional politicking is even essential for the presumptive Republican nominee.

At the same time, he has been under pressure to change the tone of his campaign, especially in the aftermath of tense altercations between fans and protesters at his rallies that have occasionally turned violent. Trump has denied any role in stirring up anger  insisting that his rallies are love fests. He has tried to link the frequent protests to his Democratic rival Bernie Sanders  who has denied any involvement  and blamed President Obama for setting up a toxic environment, calling him the most divisive president we have ever had.

Slideshow: Trump cancels rally in Chicago amid security concerns >>>

Though his rivals have insisted he bears some responsibility for the culture of his campaign, Trump has shown little inclination to dial back his own inflammatory rhetoric. And he has cheered on supporters who tangle with protesters  disrupters, as he calls them  including a white man who punched an African-American protester in the face at a North Carolina rally last week. Even after a rally in Chicago was canceled amid scuffles between Trump fans and protesters, the real estate mogul has said he will consider paying the legal bills of supporters who tangle with those who try to interrupt his rallies.

Still, Trump has acknowledged that even members of his own family have encouraged him to tone down his rhetoric and appear more presidential  including before last weeks debate. My daughter said, Daddy, just be low-key, Trump said at a rally in Boca Raton, Fla., on Sunday. My wife said to be presidential.  (But) I sort of like the other way better, to be honest with you.

This hints at the tricky position Trump is in. On one hand, the real estate mogul has emphasized that he wants to unite the party and work with other Republicans so that he can focus on defeating his presumptive Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. But he has to do that without alienating the massive numbers of supporters who like him because hes not a politician.

Last week, the businessman concurred with an observation by his former rival Ben Carson that there might be two Donald Trumps, suggesting there is a private version of his personality more sober-minded and less controversial than his showy, abrasive persona on the campaign trail. But he quickly reversed the statement a few minutes later, insisting there are not two Donald Trumps.

Trump addresses supporters at a primary night press conference at his Mar-A-Lago Clubs Donald J. Trump Ballroom in Palm Beach, Fla. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Still, he has insisted that he can pivot into a more serious mode if necessary. I can be more presidential than anybody, Trump said last week. I can be more presidential if I want to be.

On Tuesday, Trump seemed to be trying his best. In a departure from earlier election nights, he refrained from bashing his opponents or calling on them to quit the race. Instead, he spoke of continuing his push toward the nomination and beating Hillary Clinton, who held her election night rally just a few miles away from his, in nearby West Palm Beach.

Were going forward, Trump said. And were going to win, win, win.


Police have shot dead two Chinese Uighurs who were allegedly fighting with an extremist group in central Indonesia led by the country's most wanted Islamic radical, an official said Wednesday.

The members of the mostly Muslim ethnic minority were killed in a shootout on Tuesday morning in mountains on the island of Sulawesi, as authorities hunted for the radical group's leader.

"We can confirm that the two who died were Uighurs," Central Sulawesi police chief Rudy Sufahriadi told AFP.

The Uighurs were fighting alongside Santoso, who leads the Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen, a group that has been waging a guerrilla campaign against authorities from remote bases in the jungles and mountains.

The government has launched numerous operations to try to catch Santoso, who has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group. The current operation involves about 2,000 police and military personnel.

Sufahriadi said that based on testimony from detainees, there are four more Uighurs still fighting with Santoso's group. The group itself is estimated to have some 30 fighters to 40 fighters, he said.

Several Uighurs have joined radicals in Indonesia in recent years. A few months ago, police detained a Uighur man on the outskirts of Jakarta who they suspect planned to launch a suicide bombing attack.

Last year, an Indonesian court jailed four Uighurs for attempting to join Santoso's group.

The Uighur minority come from the northwest Chinese region of Xinjiang, where the group say they face cultural and religious repression.

Many are believed to have fled the restive region in recent years, sometimes travelling through Southeast Asia in the hope of resettling in Turkey.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, has suffered a string of Islamic militant attacks in the past 15 years.

The latest was a deadly suicide bombing and gun assault in Jakarta in January, which was the first major attack for seven years and was claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group.
By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Marine Corps and Army leaders on Wednesday vowed to reverse a growing number of serious aviation accidents after the head of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee raised concerns about the increase.

Representative Mac Thornberry, the committee chairman, questioned the top Marine Corps and Army officers about a rise in "Class A" aviation mishaps - and whether they indicate the services were not ready to execute the U.S. military strategy.

Class A aviation accidents, the most serious type, are those that result in a fatality or permanent total disability, or property damage of $2 million or more.

U.S. military officials have voiced increasing concerns in recent months about the impact of budget cuts on the ability to respond to global threats.

U.S. Marine Corps Commandant General Robert Neller told lawmakers the Marines were taking steps to reverse the sharp increase in accidents by beefing up training hours and getting airplanes repaired and serviced faster.

"We need to get more airplanes on the ramp, and we need to fly more," Neller told reporters after the House committee hearing. "I track this every week ... We're going to fix this."

The Marine Corps had reported 3.96 mishaps per 100,000 flying hours in fiscal 2016, up from an average of 2.15 over the last decade, Thornberry said.

Neller said the increased rate of accidents was likely due to a variety of factors, including shortfalls in spare parts, longer service times in the maintenance depots and lack of aircraft for training, all of which were exacerbated by high rates of flights for combat operations and budget cuts.

The Army's mishap rate per 100,000 hours had increased from 1.52 mishaps per 100,000 flying hours in fiscal 2014 to 1.99 in fiscal 2016, Thornberry said.

Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley said he had ordered a detailed study on the mishaps and reasons behind the increase. He said the Army was also taking steps to expand the current number of monthly flying hours for pilots.

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Milley said the Army was at high risk of being unable to respond to serious threats involving a country like Russia, given cuts to training and equipment budgets.

Thornberry and the committee will keep an eye on the accident rate, said one committee aide. "The combination of warfighters who arent adequately trained and equipment that doesn't work is a perfect storm," said the aide.

(Editing by Matthew Lewis)
By Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. military leaders voiced concern on Wednesday about their ability to fight a war with global powers like Russia, telling a congressional hearing that a lack of resources and training was weighing on America's combat readiness.

U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley told a House Armed Services Committee hearing that if the Army were to fight a "great power war" with China, Russia, Iran or North Korea, he had "grave concerns" about the readiness of his forces.

"(The Army) is not at the levels that can execute satisfactorily ... in terms of time, cost in terms of casualties or cost in terms of military objectives," Milley said.

Also speaking at the hearing, about the Fiscal 2017 budget request for the military, Air Force Secretary Deborah James said half of her combat forces were not "sufficiently ready" for fighting against a country like Russia.

"Money is helpful for readiness but freeing up the time of our people to go and do this training is equally important," James said.

Earlier this month Air Force officials said they were facing a shortage of more than 500 fighter pilots, a gap expected to widen to more than 800 by 2022.

U.S. military spending has increased sharply since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the country has by far the largest military budget in the world.

The Army requested $148 billion in the fiscal 2017 budget, a slight increase from the $146.9 billion Army budget for 2016.

However, the 2017 Army budget would continue to shrink the size of the U.S. Army, which will drop to 460,000 active duty soldiers in 2017 from the current 475,000.

Concern over a more assertive Russia was highlighted earlier this month by Air Force General Philip Breedlove, the NATO supreme allied commander and head of U.S. European Command, when he said Russia posed a "long-term existential threat to the United States."

(Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Tom Brown)
By Lisa Baertlein and Karl Plume (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday blocked a bill that would nullify state and local efforts to require food makers to label products made with genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, as the industry races to stop Vermont's law from taking effect on July 1. The proposed legislation from Republican Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas comes amid growing calls for transparency in the U.S. food supply. Labeling advocates have criticized the bill as toothless because it leaves the decision to disclose GMO ingredients to the companies whose products contain them. Senate Bill 2609 is known as the Biotech Labeling Solutions Act by supporters and the Deny Americans the Right to Know, or DARK, Act by opponents. A procedural vote on Wednesday failed to reach the necessary 60 votes to advance the bill in the Senate, with 49 yes votes and 48 no votes. Roberts vowed to keep fighting as the July 1 deadline looms for Vermont's labeling requirement to take effect. "I remain at the ready to work on a solution," Roberts said. The United States is the world's largest market for foods made with genetically altered ingredients. Many popular processed foods are made with soybeans, corn and other biotech crops whose genetic traits have been manipulated, often to make them resistant to insects and pesticides. Major food, farm and biotech seed companies spent more than $100 million in the United States last year to battle labeling efforts, according to a lobbying disclosure analysis from the Environmental Working Group, which opposes the Senate measure. Opponents to GMO labeling efforts include trade groups such as the Grocery Manufacturers Association, whose members have included PepsiCo Inc and Kellogg Co, and BIO, which counts Monsanto Co, Dow AgroSciences, a unit of Dow Chemical Co, and other companies that sell seeds that produce GMO crops among its members. They say labeling would impose speech restrictions on food sellers, burden consumers with higher costs and create a patchwork of state GMO labeling policies that have "no basis in health, safety or science." But companies such as Whole Foods Market Inc, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc and Campbell Soup Co already have begun labeling or abandoning GMOs rather than waiting for government action. (Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles and Karl Plume in Chicago; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
By Anjuli Davies and Pamela Barbaglia

LONDON (Reuters) - Swiss bank UBS <UBSG.S> plans to cut around six percent of its investment banking jobs in Europe in the coming weeks, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The Swiss bank plans to lose about 300 staff out of an estimated 5,000 currently working in front and back office roles in the region under ex-Merrill Lynch dealmaker Andrea Orcel.

The move comes after UBS imposed a pay freeze in February across its investment banking arm as banks in Europe try to cut costs to improve profitability.

In January, Barclays said it would cut 1,000 investment bank staff on top of some 7,000 job losses already announced. Deutsche Bank, UniCredit, Credit Suisse, HSBC and Standard Chartered also announced job cuts in the second half of 2015.

UBS has reshaped its strategy in the wake of the global financial crisis, slimming down its investment bank and focusing more on its wealth management business, which now accounts for more than half of its operating profit.

Market volatility, however, has shown that few banks are immune when tumultuous times prompt rich clients to retreat to the sidelines.

UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti said on Wednesday that challenging conditions had continued into 2016.

"Given the lack of clarity in certain aspects of regulation, there is also a risk that some costs that we view as temporary today may not fall away completely," Ermotti told a financial conference in London.

"Therefore the effects and associated costs of legal entity regulation, for example, mean that we are considering further changes in our processes in order to achieve our targets. This means the overall scope of gross savings has increased relative to the net target we have communicated."

A spokesman for UBS in London declined to comment.

Globally, UBS investment bank employs 11,794 as of the end of 2014, according to figures on its website.

UBS expects to maintain a significant presence in London, home to 5,425 of its employees, even if Britain leaves the European Union, Chief Executive Sergio Ermotti told a German newspaper on Mar. 8.

UBS is set to publish its annual report for 2015 on Mar 18.

(Editing By Elaine Hardcastle)
By Pavel Polityuk and Matthias Williams KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's top state prosecutor resumed his duties on Wednesday despite having formally resigned a month ago, prolonging the tenure of an official seen by the United States as an obstacle to tackling corruption. Viktor Shokin had gone on holiday after quitting on the insistence of President Petro Poroshenko. His resignation needs parliamentary approval, but lawmakers have not set a date for a vote, nor has Poroshenko nominated a replacement. News that Shokin was back at his desk came just a day after U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said Ukraine must "appoint and confirm a new, clean Prosecutor General" to tackle graft, including in the prosecutor's office itself. Ukraine's patchy efforts to root out endemic graft have helped derail a disbursement of $1.7 billion in new aid from the International Monetary Fund. IMF chief Christine Lagarde warned the Fund may stop aid altogether if matters did not improve. A special parliamentary committee met to discuss Shokin's fate on Wednesday and recommended parliament hold a vote on his resignation. Shokin's deputy, Vladislav Kutsenko, played down the chances of the motion succeeding. "According to our information, there are not enough votes for Shokin's resignation in parliament," he said. Shokin has drawn criticism from lawmakers and activists for not implementing judicial reforms. In February, one of his deputies accused the office of being a "hotbed of corruption". Shokin's office dismissed the allegation as a publicity stunt. "The issue is that Poroshenko has not yet given us a candidate to be the new prosecutor," said lawmaker Andriy Teteruk from the People's Front. The phenomenon of senior officials resigning but staying in their posts has featured prominently in Ukraine in recent months. Five ministers had tendered their resignations from Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk's government but four returned. The fifth, Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius, who resigned in February saying vested interests were making his job impossible, has not been replaced. A similar ambiguity has fed into Ukraine's ongoing political crisis. Three parties have deserted Yatseniuk's coalition meaning that, in theory, he lost his majority on Feb. 18. But lawmakers from one of the parties never submitted their resignations in writing to the parliament speaker, leading to a dispute as to whether they were still part of the coalition. (Additional reporting by Natalia Zinets and Alexei Kalmykov; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The United Nations condemned Wednesday Morocco's decision to reduce its contribution to the world body's MINURSO mission in Western Sahara, saying it would now take "mitigating measures."

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has now canceled previously announced plans to travel to Rabat given tensions with Morocco, which has condemned his use of the term "occupation" to describe the status of the contested territory.

Morocco's "decision came as a surprise," Dujarric said, vowing to "take measures to ensure that MINURSO can continue to fulfill its mandate."

"There is no talk of withdrawing MINURSO," the spokesman insisted.

The United Nations hopes its envoy, American former diplomat Christopher Ross, will be able to pursue his efforts to reach a resolution.

"We very much hope it will not be the end of the political process," Dujarric said.

"The people of Western Sahara deserve a political process and a light at the end of the tunnel."

Morocco communicated its decision to Ban on Monday via Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar.

"We obviously regret this decision," Dujarric said.

"We do hope to move on to more constructive and positive relations with Morocco."

Morocco was contributing $3 million to provide food and housing for UN peacekeepers, and some 2,300 UN troops, including to the MONUSCO mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rabat announced a "significant reduction" in its participation in the MINURSO mission, and said it was also "weighing the manner in which Morocco's contribution to peacekeeping missions would be reduced."

After speaking with Mezouar on Monday, Ban expressed "deep disappointment and anger" over demonstrations against him the day before in Morocco.

The United Nations has been trying to broker a Western Sahara settlement since 1991 after a ceasefire was reached to end a war that broke out when Morocco deployed its military in the former Spanish territory in 1975.

The UN chief wants to achieve progress in resolving the 40-year conflict over Western Sahara before he steps down at the end of the year.
Geneva (AFP) - Peace talks to end Syria's brutal war broadened Wednesday to include an opposition group close to Moscow, as the UN intensified efforts to find a political solution to the five-year conflict.

UN mediator Staffan de Mistura met for the first time late Wednesday with an umbrella delegation including the so-called Moscow Group, which are demanding an equal seat at the negotiating table.

That would be hotly contested by the "official" opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC), which insists it alone must represent the opposition in the talks.

The UN did not clarify what role the new group would play in the negotiations but co-president Randa Kassis told reporters "We are here as a negotiating delegation."

The entry into the Geneva talks of the Moscow Group, along with the so-called Cairo and Istana groups, followed Russia's surprise decision to withdraw most of its forces from Syria, where they had been fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad.

- Pressure on Assad? -

Western governments voiced hopes the continuing pull-out could boost the talks by pressuring Assad.

Russia has said its five-month bombing campaign in Syria had helped push back the jihadists and analysts say it has allowed Assad's forces to gain ground and cement their hold on key parts of the country.

But the US military said Wednesday it had seen no significant reduction in Russia's combat power in the war-torn country.

In Geneva, it was not immediately clear what impact the inclusion of the pro-Moscow group would have on the talks, or whether it was a gesture from de Mistura to Russia following the pullout.

The UN envoy has said Russia's action could have a "positive" impact on efforts to end the conflict and that Moscow's announcement on the day negotiations opened was "not a coincidence".

After multiple failed peace efforts, de Mistura has said he sees added "momentum" in the current round of dialogue, which comes as a ceasefire imposed on February 27 remains broadly in place.

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His tentative optimism was backed by US Secretary of State John Kerry who heads to Moscow next week to discuss the peace drive.

"We may face the best opportunity that we've had in years to end (the war)," Kerry said Tuesday.

The conflict has killed more than 270,000 people and send millions fleeing, many seeking new lives in Europe where the influx of refugees and migrants from the Middle East, Africa and Asia has created a huge headache for the EU.

The Moscow Group is tolerated by Damascus and has not insisted on Assad's departure as a condition for creating a transitional government, which is an unequivocal demand of HNC.

It represents a more "rational" opposition, which can serve as "a bridge between the regime and the (HNC) delegation," said Qadri Jamil, co-president of the group and Syria's former deputy premier, who was sacked by Assad in 2013 and is now viewed by Damascus as a moderate opponent.

During their meeting with de Mistura, the Moscow Group handed over a proposed seven-point programme, calling among other things for the creation of a "transitional governing body" in Syria, "the definition and content of which should be reached through negotiations."

Regime delegation head Bashar al-Jafaari appeared to welcome the arrival of the new opposition faction.

"No one can monopolise the opposition," Jafaari said after meeting with de Mistura Wednesday morning, in a reference to the HNC.

- 'Lift embargo' on Kurds -

The latest spat between rival camps highlights the huge obstacles standing in the way of a peace deal.

"Things are still very complicated," de Mistura's deputy Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy said, while noting "important progress" had been made in the first three days of talks.

Wrangling over delegates has hampered past negotiations, especially the contentious issue of including Syrian Kurdish groups, which control large stretches of northern Syria but have not been invited to Geneva.

The Moscow Group said it was working to "lift the embargo" against bringing in Kurdish delegates.

Kurdish-led parties meeting in northern Syria Wednesday were expected to declare a new federal system in areas under their control, a move aimed at solidifying their autonomy, but which could complicate efforts to forge a united Syria.

Washington warned it would not recognise such an attempt.

Jaafari told reporters that it would prove pointless.

"The Syrian Kurds are an important component of the Syrian people... so betting on creating any kind of divisions among the Syrians will be a total failure," he said.
Denmark has reclaimed the title of world's happiest country, bumping Switzerland to second place in this year's edition of the UN's World Happiness Report.

Released to coincide with World Happiness Day on March 20, the UN released the fourth edition of the index which ranks 156 countries by their "happiness levels."

After losing the title to Switzerland last year, Denmark stole back the crown of world's happiest country -- a title it's claimed three out of four years.

New this year, the report also took into consideration the "inequality" of happiness and well-being among citizens.

Dominating the top 10 list are Nordic and Scandinavian countries, with Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden taking up half the spots.

To compile the ranking, editors considered the GDP per capita; the healthy years of life expectancy; social support; trust (measured by a perceived absence of corruption in government and business); freedom to make life decisions; generosity (measured by donations); and new this year, happiness inequality.

Because after studying rates of distribution, editors say they found a correlation between countries with more equal distributions of well-being and higher life evaluations.

Happiness is argued to serve as a better indication of human welfare than income, poverty, education, health and good government when measured separately.

The importance of making happiness and well-being a matter of public policy has also been recognized by four national governments: Bhutan, Ecuador, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela have all appointed ministers of happiness.

Denmark has repeatedly taken the top spot in happiness and life satisfaction rankings be it the UN or the OECD, thanks in part to generous parental leave policies, gender equality, work-life balance, and safety.

Here are the world's top 10 happiest countries:

1. Denmark

2. Switzerland

3. Iceland

4. Norway

5. Finland

6. Canada

7. Netherlands

8. New Zealand

9. Australia

10. Sweden

Landing at the bottom of the World Happiness Report index are Burundi, Syria and Togo.
Washington (AFP) - A US court ruled Wednesday that a convicted murderer should face the death chamber a second time, after the state's first attempt was called off because technicians couldn't find a suitable vein for the lethal drugs.

Romell Broom, who is convicted of raping and murdering a teenage girl in 1984, was stuck with needles at least 18 times over two hours on September 15, 2009 at the prison in Ohio.

The medical technicians assisting in the execution were unable to find a vein suitable for the catheter required to allow the lethal drugs to flow into the body.

The repeated attempts caused "a great deal of pain" for Broom, who "covered his eyes and began to cry," court documents said. The execution was then called off.

In the 4-3 ruling handed down Wednesday, the Ohio Supreme Court said the original execution never commenced "because the lethal-injection drugs were never introduced into the IV lines."

"Because Brooms life was never at risk since the drugs were not introduced ... we do not believe that it would shock the public's conscience to allow the state to carry out Brooms execution," Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger wrote in the majority opinion.

In a dissent, Justice William O'Neill said the first attempt to execute Broom "chills me to the core."

"It is not only the rights of the defendant that are in play here. There are state employees who have tragically endured the personal trauma of unsuccessfully attempting to execute a fellow human being," he wrote. "And now we, as a society, are telling them, 'Do it again.'"

A new execution date has not been scheduled.

Broom has appeals pending in federal court, The Plain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio reported.

In the US, 31 states allow the death penalty, though the 8th Amendment to the Constitution bars "cruel and unusual punishment."

The US has seen several botched executions since January 2014, all involving lethal injection.

Ohio inmate Dennis McGuire took 26 minutes to die and appeared to be gasping for breath at points. In Oklahoma, Clayton Lockett writhed and moaned during his execution, which took 43 minutes. In Arizona, Joseph Wood took almost two hours to die.
Washington (AFP) - The United States warned Wednesday that it would not recognize an attempt by Kurdish groups in war-torn Syria to form an autonomous federal region.

Washington has supported and encouraged the Kurdish parties of the area in their fight against a common foe, the Islamic State jihadist group.

But the State Department said Wednesday it would not support the breakup of the country and that any new federal model would have to emerge from peace talks.

"We've been very clear that we won't recognize any self-rule autonomous zones within Syria," spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.

"This is something that needs to be discussed and agreed upon by the relevant parties in Geneva and then by the Syrian people themselves."

Representatives of Bashar al-Assad's government and of the opposition ranged against him are negotiating an end to the civil war under UN auspices in Geneva.

But parties representing Syria's Kurdish minority have not been invited to the talks and are instead trying to create a unified region of their own.

Any bid to expand an existing system of self-rule will anger Turkey, wary of anything that might encourage Kurdish separatism within its own borders.

More than 150 delegates from Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian and other parties met Wednesday in Rmeilan, in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province.

The meeting adjourned in the early evening and will reconvene on Thursday, when a decision on declaring a semi-autonomous northern region will be announced.
Ive made my decision: President Obama will announce his nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court at 11 a.m. ET. The move is likely to set up a fight with Senate Republicans who have vowed to not consider any nominee. You can read the presidents statement here. Update: More here

A good night for Trump and Clinton: The Republican frontrunner swept Florida, Illinois, and North Carolina and was just ahead of Ted Cruz in Missouri. Marco Rubio, once viewed as the strongest candidate, suspended his campaign last night following a loss in his home state, Florida. Ohio Governor John Kasich, meanwhile, won his home state. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton won in Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, and Ohio, and was leading Bernie Sanders in Missouri. The losses in states in which he was expected to perform well are likely to slow Sanderss momentum.

North Korea sentences American student: Otto Warmbier, 21, was sentenced to 15 years hard labor for trying to steal a propaganda sign from his hotel in Pyongyang. Warmbier, a student at the University of Virginia, was in the country to as part of a tour group. Update: More here

Bourses agree to merger: The London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Borse reached an agreement today on the terms of a recommended all-share merger of equals. Deutsche Borse shareholders will own 54.4 percent of the new group; LSE equity holders will get 45.6 percent. The merger, which needs regulatory approval, will create a company worth about $30 billion.

News from last night here

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Washington (AFP) - Republican delegates -- designated during the presidential primary process -- will choose the party's candidate for the November election at a nominating convention in Cleveland in July.

But frontrunner Donald Trump's rivals are hoping to prevent him from achieving the majority of delegates needed to seize the prize -- a situation that would result in a brokered convention.

According to Republican party rules, each US state and a handful of territories send a certain number of delegates to the convention to elect the White House nominee. The rules for choosing those delegates vary from state to state.

In Florida, for instance all 99 delegates went to Trump as the winner of Tuesday's primary, while in New Hampshire, delegates were awarded on a proportional basis.

Over the course of the primary campaign, each candidate amasses delegates. For the past four decades, the frontrunner has always reached the magic number needed to win the nomination.

This year, that number is 1,237 -- the majority of the 2,472 delegates in play.

But the strength of resistance to Trump's candidacy, still opposed by rivals Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich as well as the bulk of the Republic establishment -- makes it possible that he may fall short.

If that were to happen, the outcome would be what is known as a brokered convention in which the delegates -- who normally play a purely symbolic role, effectively rubber-stamping the results of the primaries -- acquire a critical influence over the nomination.

For the first round ballot, party rules oblige delegates to back the candidate to whom they were pledged in the primaries. Those tied to candidates no longer in the race, such as Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush, would not vote.

But based on the results of the primaries, that first round would not produce a majority, and the vote would go to a second round.

"The majority of states free their delegates after the first ballot," explains Josh Putnam, a lecturer in the department of political science at the University of Georgia and a campaign expert.

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That means those delegates could change their votes -- and may gravitate towards an alternative candidate.

- Rare occurrence -

Such a situation is possible because in a bit less than 75 percent of US states, the selection of convention delegates is done without input from the candidates themselves, Ben Ginsberg, a former Republican National Committee lawyer, told MSNBC.

The delegates are chosen in local party conventions over the coming months. So, a Trump delegate could choose to vote for Kasich or Cruz in an eventual second round.

According to The New York Times, 57 percent of the delegates would be freed up to change their votes in the second round, and 81 percent would be freed up in a third round. There is no limit on the number of rounds before a candidate earns a majority.

There is one caveat: a committee will meet a few days before the convention at which point they could decide to change the convention rules.

Brokered conventions are rare in modern American politics, with the parties invariably finding complex maneuvers to avoid such a scenario.

In 1976, no Republican candidate had a majority. Incumbent president Gerald Ford was facing Ronald Reagan. After several days of deal-making, Ford won in the first round thanks to support from uncommitted delegates.

The last time that several vote rounds were needed came in 1948, when Thomas Dewey was the eventual candidate. For the Democrats, the last brokered convention was in 1952, with three rounds necessary to pick Adlai Stevenson.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Wednesday that it has become "increasingly clear" that North Korea seeks to use U.S. citizens as pawns to pursue a political agenda. North Korea's supreme court on Wednesday sentenced American student Otto Warmbier, who was arrested while visiting the country, to 15 years of hard labor for crimes against the state. When asked about Warmbier, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters that there was "no greater priority" for the administration than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Timothy Gardner)
Seoul (AFP) - The US Wednesday accused North Korea of jailing an American student for political reasons and called for his immediate release after Pyongyang sentenced him to 15 years' hard labour for stealing a propaganda sign from a hotel.

Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old student from the University of Virginia, was convicted of subversive activities and sentenced by North Korea's Supreme Court, the North's official KCNA news agency said.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest charged that North Korea was using US citizens as "pawns to pursue a political agenda" and urged it to free him.

"We strongly encourage the North Korean government to pardon him and grant him special amnesty and immediate release," said Earnest.

"The allegations for which this individual was arrested and imprisoned would not give rise to arrest or imprisonment in the United States or in just about any other country in the world."

Observers said the harsh sentence was likely a reflection of soaring military tensions on the divided Korean peninsula following the North's nuclear test in January and long-range rocket launch a month later.

The United States took a leading role in securing the resulting sanctions that the UN Security Council imposed on the North earlier this month.

In recent weeks Pyongyang has maintained a daily barrage of nuclear strike threats against both Seoul and Washington, ostensibly over ongoing large-scale South Korea-US military drills that the North sees as provocative rehearsals for invasion.

In announcing the jail sentence, KCNA said Warmbier had committed his offence "pursuant to the US government's hostile policy" towards North Korea.

- 'Hostile acts' -

Warmbier had initially been arrested in early January on charges of "hostile acts" against the state. KCNA said he was convicted under an article of the criminal code dealing with subversion.

"In the course of the inquiry, the accused confessed to the serious offence," it said, without elaborating.

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Warmbier was arrested as he was leaving the country with a tour group. He later said he had removed a political banner from the staff-only area of the Pyongyang hotel where the group had stayed.

The sentence was handed down just hours after veteran US diplomat Bill Richardson reportedly met two diplomats from North Korea's UN office in New York to press for Warmbier's release.

In the past, North Korea has used the detention of US citizens to obtain high-profile visits from the likes of former US presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton in order to secure their release.

Richardson has travelled to North Korea several times over the years on diplomatic missions that have included negotiating the freedom of arrested Americans.

The United States has no diplomatic or consular relations with the North. The Swedish embassy in Pyongyang provides limited consular services to US citizens detained there.

Warmbier is one of three North Americans currently detained in North Korea, which recently sentenced a 60-year-old Canadian pastor to life imprisonment with hard labour on sedition charges.

The US State Department "strongly recommends against all travel" to North Korea and specifically warns of the risk of arrest.

- 'College prank' -

Human Rights Watch said the severe sentence was shocking given that Warmbier's alleged offence amounted to little more than a "college-style prank".

"Pyongyang should recognise this student's self-admitted mistake as a misdemeanour ... release him on humanitarian grounds, and send him home," said Phil Robertson, deputy director of the rights watchdog's Asia Division.

Detained foreigners are often required to make a public, officially-scripted acknowledgement of wrongdoing, and Warmbier was paraded in front of reporters and diplomats in Pyongyang last month.

Footage of the carefully orchestrated event showed a sobbing Warmbier pleading to be released and saying he had made "the worst mistake of my life".

Warmbier said he had been tasked with stealing the banner by a member of the Friendship United Methodist Church in Wyoming, Ohio, who wanted it "as a trophy" and offered him a used car worth $10,000 if he succeeded.

Political slogans extolling the achievements of the country and its leaders and encouraging citizens to work harder and demonstrate their loyalty are pervasive in North Korea.

They can be seen on the streets and in nearly every public building, as well as every work unit.
Can Forum Energy Technologies Recover from Energy Price Crash?

(Continued from Prior Part)

Returns and key drivers

OFS (oilfield services) companies such as Forum Energy Technologies (FET) are affected by rig counts and energy prices. In the past one year, WTI (West Texas Intermediate) crude oil prices have declined ~33%.

Forum Energy Technologies one-year returns at -34.5% have been worse than the Market Vectors Oil Services ETF (OIH) at -24.5%. The Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE), the broader energy industry ETF, has a -21% return. Forum Energy Technologies has underperformed the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), which had -3% during the same period. SPY provides investors exposure to the broader market through investing in the S&P 500 index.

On the other hand, FET outperformed the US rig count, which fell 60% in one year. FETs peer Oceaneering International (OII) has also underperformed FET, producing -44% one-year return, net of dividends.

How co-related are Forum Energy and crude oil prices?

The correlation coefficient between Forum Energy Technologies stock price and crude oil prices from March 2015 to the present is 0.64. This indicates a relatively strong degree of correlation between crude oil prices and Forum Energy Technologies stock prices.

FETs underperformance and strategies

Forum Energy Technologies, in its fiscal 4Q15 conference call, anticipated lower revenue following concerns about further upstream industry activity declines in North America. FETs inbound order backlog can also dry up further. As sales volume scales down, FETs high fixed cost can also weigh on its margin. FET is 0.09% of the iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (IWN).

However, FETs valves product line sales growth is expected to partially counteract the declines elsewhere. FET expects to expand its product offering in the midstream and downstream sectors, which has done relatively well. This can add to free cash flow going forward. So despite challenges, Forum Energy Technologies may be expected to perform steadily in the medium-to-long term.

Browse this series on Market Realist:
Earned is the media-business nickname for publicity and promotion given to a political candidate that is not paid for. It mostly refers to journalism: the dissemination of campaign messages through news outlets rather than through paid advertising.

Needless to say, Donald Trump is the King of All Earned Media.

To take just one example, look at coverage of the Trump campaign on the old-school nightly newscasts of the three broadcast television networks (ABC, CBS and NBC combined), whose average audiences each evening total some 25 million viewers. So far this year, Trump has attracted more airtime (175 minutes) than all other candidates combined (Hillary Clinton, 60; Bernie Sanders, 44; Ted Cruz, 32; Marco Rubio, 14 and so on  data through the end of last week, March 11, weekdays only).

Because earned media is not bought and sold like advertising, such coverage is sometimes dubbed free. This is misleading since it implies that news outlets just give their airtime away. Of course they dont. Trump gets coverage because he provides the raw ingredients for compelling television. As CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves joked: Donald Trump is damn good for CBS. Trump has worked for his earned media. He's earned it fair and square. Lets count the ways.

Read More: Inside Giant GOP Ratings: Donald Trump Debates Topping Last Election by Threefold

1. News

Not to belabor the obvious, but: A phenomenon gets more coverage when it is newsworthy, when it breaks the mold. Trumps candidacy is not only unprecedented  his lack of traditional credentials, his disdain for accepted civil discourse, his cursory interest in public policy issues  it may also precipitate the disintegration of a major political party. Thats news.

2. Sound bites

Trump understands that the threshold for what makes headlines is different for political journalism than for other news beats. With other types of breaking news, reporters deliver the underlying details of a newsworthy event and then seek sound bites in reaction to it. The sound bite is secondary. In politics, an inflammatory or outrageous sound bite is newsworthy per se. Trump, with his years of practice as a reality TV character, knows how to say something that grabs headlines.

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3. Discipline

For a traditional candidate, an attribute prized above all others is message discipline  the Bernie Sanders-like ability to return any answer to a question, any issue, back to some underlying core principles of a candidacy. Trumps discipline belongs in a different category. Campaigning as a Strong Man who will Make America Great Again, Trump does not rely on a core message, but rather on a core persona. Persona discipline makes him stay in character, whatever happens to come out of his mouth. Message discipline makes for boring television because it is so predictable. Persona discipline permits those unpredictable, outrageous sound bites.

4. Access

With the proviso that Trump persuades producers to bend the rules for him, by allowing him to phone in without a video feed, Trump combines the promise of freewheeling, unpredictable sound bites with an openness to be interviewed live on-air in formats that a more buttoned-down candidate would consider risky. Having dispensed with the shackles of message discipline, Trump feels free to riff on an entire range of topical news developments that his rivals might shy away from for fear of committing ill-informed gaffes. Thus Trump is golden for MSNBCs Morning Joe and all the Sunday morning interview shows.

5. Innovation

On the network nightly newscasts, the traditional formats for covering a presidential campaign are: the horse race, the jockeying for position of the rival candidates as they face various electoral hurdles; and the issues, their respective policy platforms, which can be compared and contrasted apples-to-apples. These formats allow TV news to maintain an approximate parity and neutrality with regard to all candidates, with the reporters job being to observe them as they go about the business of campaigning, with get-out-the-vote efforts and paid media. Trumps campaign is not out there, to be observed by TV news. On the contrary, TV news is the medium through which it is being presented. That old position of parity and neutrality is untenable; the new one is participation and co-optation. Trump is not apples-to-apples with his rivals, but apples-to-orange, to coin a phrase.

6. Rallies

In recent weeks, we have caught a glimpse of how the Trump campaign will unfold in the months to come. As the feasibility of his candidacy becomes more apparent, the opposition to it is becoming more organized. Trumps rallies were always potentially newsworthy events, since his speeches are largely extemporaneous, relying on scant message discipline, and the crowd-manipulation skills he learned from Vince McMahon at WrestleMania. An outrageous sound bite or interaction with supporters was always likely to occur (remember his pussy scold?). Now, however, there is the possibility that more serious news will be made, as protestors grow more vociferous and supporters more combative in response. Trump seems to be beefing up stadium security at his events. Imagine if he starts dressing his security in uniform shirts, dark-colored shirts. Now that would be newsworthy.

Donald Trumps candidacy is a threat to the Republican Party establishment. Obviously, it threatens to dismantle key components of the GOP policy platform: abandoning free trade in favor of tariffs, imposing a religious test for entry into the country, ordering mass deportations, abnegating the Geneva Convention on war crimes. His candidacy also threatens the party establishment in another way: The entire industry of political operatives  the consultants, the fundraisers, the pollsters, the microtargeters, the oppo research ad-makers  will see its business model upended if Trump proves elections can be won on the basis of earned media alone.

Read More: Donald Trump Will Skip Another Fox News Debate
Sofia (AFP) - The widow of a Palestinian militant who died under mysterious circumstances in Bulgaria last month accused authorities on Wednesday of keeping her in the dark about their investigation.

Omar Nayef, who was wanted by Israel over the killing of a Jewish settler three decades ago, was found dead in the courtyard of the Palestinian embassy in Sofia on February 26.

Local media reported that the 51-year-old had fallen from the fourth floor, while a senior Palestinian Authority official said he had suffered "serious torso injuries".

Nayef's widow accuses Israel of assassinating him.

She said he had "sought refuge in the embassy two months ago" after receiving threats.

On Wednesday, the widow and her three children staged a protest outside the court of justice in the Bulgarian capital Sofia.

"The authorities have not given us any details about the medical examination or released my husband's body so I can bury him," she told AFP.

She threatened to take the case to the European Court of Justice "if the outcome... isn't announced soon".

But a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office said no details would be revealed at this stage.

"Keeping the investigation secret is essential to our work," Rumyana Arnaudova told AFP.

Nayef, a member of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), was sentenced to life in prison in 1986 over the stabbing of a 22-year-old Jewish student in Jerusalem.

He escaped four years later while being moved to hospital during a hunger strike.

After going into hiding, Nayev eventually fled to Bulgaria in 1994 and married Mahmoud, a Palestinian who holds Bulgarian citizenship.

Last year Sofia agreed to examine an Israeli extradition request, but a December hearing was postponed because Nayef was not at his address, the Bulgarian interior ministry said.

The Israeli government has not officially commented on the incident, but Israeli public radio last month quoted "a security source" as saying that "Israel has no interest in striking at an elderly terrorist, especially if it involves danger or committing resources".

The head of the Islamist Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniya, attacked what he described as "a new Zionist crime".

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas has announced the formation of a special commission of enquiry to look into the case.
By Rania El Gamal and Alex Lawler

(Reuters) - Oil producers including Gulf OPEC members support holding talks next month on a deal to freeze output even if Iran declines to participate, OPEC sources said, increasing the likelihood of the first global supply deal in 15 years.

That a meeting could go ahead with or without Iran indicates a shift in the stance of Gulf oil exporters including Saudi Arabia, who had previously maintained that all major producers should participate in any agreement.

OPEC and non-OPEC producers will meet in Doha on April 17, Qatari Energy Minister Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada said, following a February agreement between Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Venezuela and non-OPEC Russia to stabilise output.

"To date, around 15 OPEC and non-OPEC producers, accounting for about 73 percent of global oil output, are supporting this initiative," Sada said in a statement. Qatar holds the OPEC presidency in 2016 and has been organising the effort.

Oil prices rose on Wednesday, supported by the announcement and on growing signs of a decline in U.S. crude production. Brent crude was trading above $40 a barrel, up from a 12-year low of $27.10 reached in January.

The reluctance of Iran to join an accord while it seeks to boost its oil exports to recover market share after the lifting of Western sanctions has been cited by OPEC sources as a potential roadblock to an agreement.

Sources familiar with the matter said the issue was among the factors which caused an earlier plan to hold the producer meeting on March 20 to be dropped.

But on Monday, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said after talks in Tehran that a deal could be signed in April and exclude Iran. An exemption for Iran is not a deal breaker, OPEC sources said.

"It's a setback but it will not necessarily change the positive atmosphere that has already started," said one OPEC source from a major producer, referring to Iran saying it will not join any freeze accord.

Novak said he talked to Sada and Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi on Wednesday. With the freeze deal, the oil market would rebalance as early as late 2016, Novak said, but without it the rebalancing would not happen until late next year.

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A freeze in output would at least stop adding to the excess supply that has caused prices to collapse from levels above $100 a barrel seen in June 2014.

OPEC delegates have said that further action including a supply cut could follow by the end of the year, depending on Russia's commitment to the freeze and how much oil Iran adds to the market.

HARD TO BACKTRACK

A second delegate from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said a pact that failed to include Iran was not the worst possible outcome.

However, "if the others freeze and the Iranians are outside the agreement, it will not help the market unless the demand is very large", this delegate said. "January output is already at high levels."

Backtracking on the deal would risk jeopardising the recent rally in oil prices, other OPEC sources said.

"You can't ignore all other oil producers. The meeting is likely to go ahead," a third source said, adding that the April meeting was likely to discuss and finalise details of the deal. "We will not just meet for the sake of meeting."

It was unclear whether all 13 OPEC members and which outside producers would attend. Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have said they would commit to the freeze if other major producers also participated.

Novak said Qatar was sending invitations to all OPEC members as well as to some producers outside the organisation.

"After it receives confirmations it will be possible to talk about the exact number of participants," Novak said.

"Iran said it was ready to take part in this meeting," he added.

The willingness of Iraq, the biggest source of OPEC supply growth in 2015, to join the deal is also important. Baghdad on Monday said the freeze initiative was acceptable.

(Additional reporting by Darya Korsunskaya and Olesya Astakhova in Moscow; Editing by Dale Hudson and David Evans)
Bunny Meyer wasnt scheduled to speak until 5 p.m. on Sunday at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, but hundreds of girls lined up outside of the Refinery29 space that morning, hoping to be one of the lucky few who would get to meet the 30-year-old beauty vlogger who goes by the name Grav3yardgirl on YouTube.

Blonde with piercing blue eyes and dressed all in black, Meyer stood out among the hoodie-wearing techies when she made her appearance that evening to discuss how she turned an interest in makeup and a sense of humor into one of the most popular beauty channels on YouTube. Meyers channel reaches 6.6 million subscribers and recently passed a gobsmacking 1 billion views. But she remains humble about the community she has created, known as the Swamp Family.

When SXSW moderator Moj Mahdara asked Meyer whether she considered herself a celebrity, she responded with an elongated, No.

I still go to the same Starbucks, she continued. Nothing has changed about the way that I live my life. I have many more exciting opportunities and experiences, of course.

Meyer was at the fest to promote a new subscription beauty box that she created in collaboration with Mahdaras Beautycon, a company that produces festivals for lifestyle-focused social media stars and operates a digital destination for their community of fans.

Meyers appearance was part of three days of festivities at Refinery29s School of Self Expression, a pop-up in Austin designed in collaboration with Neiman Marcus as an interactive experience for women that combined elements of technology, style and creativity. The bright white space, splashed with pink, green and blue pastels, was a noticeable departure from the bright lights and gadget-centric parties sprinkled around Austin for the interactive portion of SXSW.

And instead of focusing on digital interactivity, the School of Self Expression was focused on in-person interaction.

We wanted to create a place that sparked imagination, sparked creativity, explained Refinery29 creative director Piera Gelardi. The lineup that she curated was not filled with typical SXSW faces. Poet Cleo Wade hosted a workshop, NW Methods Nicole Winhoffer taught a workout class, Chromats Becca McCharen talked wearable tech and Meyer discussed how to find beauty in humor.

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At Refinery29, we cover all the different interests that make a whole woman, continued Gelardi. When we were thinking about the School of Self Expression, we wanted to create programming that spoke to our different verticals but also different forms of self expression.

At the end of Meyers panel on Sunday, the last event before Refinery29 packed up for New York, the fans who had been waiting outside since the early hours of the morning began to trickle in for a meet-and-greet with her. The line had ballooned to well beyond the 200 who were given wristbands for the event, but the vlogger promised to stay until every last one of them had a chance to say hello and take a selfie. These are people who watch every day, Meyer explained. I wish there were more ways to connect on the other side.
TTMA hits Arcelor Mittal

The Association invited the dismissed workers to explore new jobs in the manufacturing sector by using their website, http://ttma-careers.

com.

Affected persons seeking employment may also register with the TTMA careers website so that their skills may be searched for by employers who may not have jobs posted but are nonetheless looking for skilled citizens. The TTMA also proposed to work with the State to hold a job fair soon for the displaced workers to learn of job opportunities in the manufacturing sector.
Police: Bite marks could lead to Asamis killer

The imprint of those bites were sent for special testing and the results have been finally handed over to the police. The bite marks are expected to provide key details which could lead police to a suspect. Well-placed police sources told Newsday this could be the breakthrough they are looking for.

If this leads to an arrest, it would be the first time in TTs history that a suspect would be arrested based on dental records.

Newsday understands that one final test to ascertain if Nagakiya was raped or sexually assaulted should be made available to the police shortly. According to sources at the Homicide Investigations Bureau, no DNA samples from Nagakiyas body were sent to either England or the US for tests.

Officers are now relying heavily on the bite mark information to assist them in bringing closure to the probe.

Contacted yesterday on information that certain dental records had been obtained by the police, forensic pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov said he was bound by a confidentiality clause and could not comment. On Ash Wednesday, a CEPEP worker stumbled upon Nagakiyas body, clad in a Carnival costume, under a tree at the Queens Park Savannah. An autopsy revealed she died from manual strangulation.

Investigators were only able to get CCTV footage of Nagakiya leaving Picton Street, Newtown, in the company of a man late Carnival Tuesday afternoon. Three suspects were interviewed and released pending further enquiries.

The body of Nagakiya was flown to Japan for final rights at the expense of the Japanese Embassy in Port-of-Spain.
Courts order to scholar to pay up, attracts attention

The scholar, Dr Ryan Wellington who accepted the scholarship in September 2014, Newsday has learnt, is currently in Australia.

Efforts to contact by telephone, lawyers reportedly representing him were futile, and messages were not returned.

According to court documents, Wellington was represented by Leslie Ann Assee from Faris Al Rawis former Law chamber, but Newsday was told by someone there that Al Rawi is no longer on record for that matter. The other attorney named was Andre Rudder.

Justice Nadia Kangaloo on Monday ordered Wellington to pay the State, on the principal sum of $1,734,994.30, with interest in the sum of $1,328,764.64 and thereafter continuing at a rate of seven and three quarter percent, as well as, legal costs in the sum of $194, 227.98. She also granted a stay of execution until April 15, 2016.

The agreement signed on September 6, 2004 was that he report immediately to the Scholarship Division, Ministry of Public Administration on the completion of his studies and make himself available for employment with Government for at least five years.

The scholarship catered for all tuition fees, and any other compulsory fees for the duration of his studies. He was also given a textbook and personal maintenance allowance.

Meanwhile, most of the comments on social media were in agreement with the order. There were a few claiming that jobs were not always available for doctors and a number of them were placed on the On-the-Job-Training (OJT) programme.

Some called for politicians and public officials in past administrations to be made to pay back monies to the public treasury as well.

One Fareed Ahamad Rajack on the social network Facebook (FB) said, He (Wellington) benefited from a free primary, secondary and tertiary education courtesy the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, and now wants to work in a foreign country. This is very unfair and selfish of him.
Vicky to apply for Legal Aid

Boodram, who has been refused bail on more than 150 fraud charges, reappeared before Portof- Spain Magistrate Christine Charles in the First Court yesterday, where she indicated that she will be applying to Legal Aid for an attorney to represent her.

The 41 year-old businesswoman is accused of defrauding and attempting to defraud a number of individuals and companies of close to $1 million between 2012 and January this year, while she was out on bail for the previous charges.

The latest set of offences, totalling 40, are alleged to have taken place in Chaguanas, Tunapuna, Siparia, San Fernando and Port of Spain.

In 2012, Boodram, who operated Boodram Travel Tours and Ship Ahoy Cruises Ltd, was charged with a series of fraud-related offences after individuals complained that they had spent thousands of dollars for cruise trips that never materialised.

In that matter, special prosecutor Elaine Greene indicated that disclosure was almost complete and this is expected to be done by March 31. That matter was adjourned to April 29. Boodram, who despite indicating that she would seek Legal Aid, was represented by attorney Vitti Furlonge-Kelly who told the magistrate it was his intention to withdraw as defence counsel.

In the latest set of charges against Boodram, a prosecutor is yet to be appointed by police prosecutor Sgt Callister Charles indicated that the process of disclosure was being sorted out.

That matter was adjourned to April 5.

The new charges  involving transactions at districts in Port-of- Spain, San Fernando, Chaguanas, Tunapuna and Siparia  added to 138 pending charges brings to 178, the total amount of charges Boodram is facing in various courts.

Those 138 previous charges are from activities alleged to have occurred between 2009 to 2012, according to information given in court. The new charges alleges that Boodram, during the period January 14, 2014, to September 31, 2014, obtained $417,400 in credit from WIN TV by fraud. A fraudulent FCB cheque was issued to WIN TV in the sum of $350,000.

The charges further alleged that Boodram, on August 28, 2014, attempted to obtain from Darren Balkissoon a $216,000 Toyota vehicle by falsely presenting an FCB cheque payable to the said Balkissoon.

She is also accused of uttering a false RBC cheque to the value of $104,604 in January 2016, meant to be drawn on the account of Veti- Furlonge-Kelly & Co.

The charges additionally allege Boodram uttered several bank branch cheques  purporting to be from First Citizens Bank, RBC, and RBTT  in relation to several transactions. A series of charges allege Boodram stole cash, in sums ranging from $3,000 to $24,500, from a list of individuals including: Kerline Alexander; Francis Mongoo; Simon Joseph; Fayola Campbell Alexis; Sheldon Alleyne; Rose Angeline Hernandez; Sherma St John Mitchell; Michelle Simon; Patricia Richards; Amy Villereal and others.
Man found shot to death in track

A police report stated that at about 10 am yesterday residents heard loud gunshots and on checking, found Payne lying on the ground with gunshot wounds in a track at Marshall Street, La Brea.

The report added that Payne was rushed to the Point Fortin Area Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Up to yesterday his killer remained at large.

Only on February 19, David King, 32, also of Three Hands, was shot and killed near a fruit stall while walking in a track in an area known as the Mall at La Brea. Residents had reported to police that they heard several explosions and upon checking found Kings body.

He was mentally challenged.

A month earlier, on January 15, a gunman shot and killed businessman Curtis Papa Willie Williams, 50, inside his home located Railway Road, La Brea. The gunman was seen entering into Williams premises at about 11 am that day with a baby cradled with one arm.

Police suspected that the weapon used to kill Williams may have been hidden in the other arm.
Two schoolboys beat principal

Reports say around 2.30 pm, two 16 year-old Form 4 male students were gambling when a fight erupted over money.

The school principal attempted to intervene and was hit in the face and about the body with a dustbin cover.

The principal was taken to the Rio Claro Health Centre where he was treated for cuts, bruises, and swelling about his body. The two students are expected to be charged with assault and are expected to appear before a Rio Claro Magistrate today.
Media debarred from ceremony

SEVERAL media personnel were debarred from entering the ceremony for the presentation of the Presidents medals for the achievers in Education yesterday held at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA), San Fernando.

The event was hosted by President Anthony Carmona at SAPAs Sundarlal Popo Auditorium.

Communication Advisor to the President, Theron Boodan, yesterday said that the refusal to allow the media into the ceremony came as a result of media houses failing to attend a mandatory briefing the day before the event.

In that media invitation dated March 10, it stated that persons assigned to cover yesterdays ceremony or a representative had to attend a mandatory media briefing on Monday last at 11 am.

Some media houses failed to send representatives to the briefing.

So today (yesterday) we cannot allow those who did not attend, to cover this ceremony.

A media invitation was sent out and it stated clearly that media houses failing to attend the briefing will not be allowed to cover the ceremony, Boodan said.
Wayside garages in Princes Town to go

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner of Police Deodath Dulalchan at a police town meeting in Princes Town on Monday.

Addressing a small audience at the hall of the JR & D Convention Centre at St Croix Road, Princes Town, Dulalchan said the time has come to deal with the situation which daily affects road safety.

Dulalchan said: We have identified wayside garages and it is our intention to inform the owners of these garages that they are breaking the law. They would have been perpetrating this for so long that they believe that what they are in fact doing is the right thing. Soon all these way side garages, which have become a menace to road safety, will be no more. He called on Superintendent Phillip and officers of the Princes Town Police Station to also look into illegal parking on the main streets of Princes Town, a concern which was raised by Traffic Warden Supervisor, Cezanne Wilson, during the forum.

During her contribution she called for the introduction of wreckers in the growing town to ease the problem.

Saying that he did not want to make any promises, Dulalchan further challenged officers not to turn a blind eye to illegal traffic and the breach of other road traffic laws.
$300,000 for retired cop

In his ruling delivered yesterday, Justice Seepersad found that then Assistant Superintendent of Police (now Deputy Commissioner of Police) Harold Phillip, maliciously prosecuted his colleague.

Policing is serious business and requires impartiality and keen sense to do that which is just and right.

The commitment to protect and serve should always be undertaken in a fair, thorough and comprehensive manner that is devoid of any political motive, direction and or ulterior motive, Justice Seepersad said.

Maharaj, who himself was investigating a report of illegal felling of trees along the main ridge of the Mahaval Forest Reserve, was told by a Forestry Division officer, Keith Jaggernath, who were near a number of felled trees, that they were doing so on the instruction of a government minister. One month later, Maharaj was instead arrested and charged for illegal felling of trees by Phillip.

He attended court on 48 occasions before the two charges were dismissed. In his lawsuit, argued in court by attorneys Jagdeo Singh and Kent Samlal, the retired policeman alleged that Phillip fabricated the evidence; unlawfully obtained statements by duress from men who were involved in his (Maharajs) investigation; failed to conduct sufficient investigations; and had no reliable evidence upon which to charge him.

Justice Seepersad agreed that a more thorough investigation should have been conducted by Phillip prior to the institution of the charges. There were glaring gaps and deficiencies in the evidence... An officer with the seniority that the complainant (Phillip) had at the time should have exercised a greater degree of caution and should have conducted a more in-depth and detailed investigation, the Judge said.

He also said greater care should have been taken by Phillip in his investigation since allegations were made by Maharaj of alleged impropriety by political office holders. Police officers are vested with the trust of the citizenry and they must always ensure that their duties are discharged without bias, favour or ill will, he added.

In describing Phillips conduct of the case as reckless, Justice Seepersad further held that the shortcomings of the then Assistant Supt of Police were significant and demonstrated a contumelious disregard for Maharajs rights and his reputation as a senior officer who was close to retirement.

The institution of criminal charges can destroy a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice and can have such a negative impact on the life of the person charged that no quantum of financial award could adequately address, he said.

Phillip is the man favoured for the post of Police Commissioner and is also the lead investigator into witness tampering allegations levelled against former attorney general Anand Ramlogan. Attorney Josefina Baptiste-Mohammed appeared for the Attorney General in the case
ECA urges consultation

In a media statement yesterday, the ECA, commenting on the recent termination of 644 workers at the Arcelor Mittal steel plant, also suggested that legislation be expanded or introduced to provide for the layoff process given the recent Industrial Court judgment between Arcelor Mittal and the Steel Workers Union of Trinidad and Tobago, [SWUTT].

Layoff is an accepted practice in the field of industrial relations, which has been addressed in several judgments. The ECA cited the Interpretation of Collective Agreement (ICA) No. 9 of 1986 between Transport and Industrial Workers Union and Consolidated Appliances Limited delivered on March 18, 1991, where, the Court recognised the right of the Company to temporarily layoff its workers in the face of objection by the Union. The requirement of a Company to treat with a recognised majority Union for the purpose of collective bargaining is stipulated by the Industrial Relations Act (IRA) section 40. Where a recognised majority union or an employer fails to comply with this section, that party is guilty of an industrial relations offence and liable to a fine of four thousand dollars.
Impact of Passive Smoking on Children

New Delhi, Wed, 16 Mar 2016 NI Wire

As per Global Youth Tobacco Survey, a school-based survey of students in grades 8, 9, and 10 conducted in 2009, one in five students live in homes where others smoke, and more than one-third of the students are exposed to smoke around others outside of the home; one-quarter of the students have at least one parent who smokes.

Exposure to second hand smoke results in lung cancer and heart diseases among adults, and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), chronic respiratory infections, exacerbation/worsening of asthma, reduced lung function growth, middle ear diseases, and acute respiratory illnesses among children. Smoking in the home affects babies and young children as well as the elderly and other adults, especially women.

The Government has taken measures including, inter alia, the following to curb smoking: (i) Enactment of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, (COTPA) 2003.

(ii) Ratification of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

(iii) Launch of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in the year 2007-08, with the objectives to (a) create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption, (b) reduce the production and supply of tobacco products, (c) ensure effective implementation of the anti-tobacco laws and (d) help the people quit tobacco use through Tobacco Cessation Centres.

(iv) Notification of rules to ban smoking in public places.

(v) Notification of rules to regulate depiction of tobacco products or their use in films and TV programmes.

(vi) Notification of rules on new pictorial health warnings on tobacco product packages.

(vii) Launch of public awareness campaigns through a variety of media. v Government of India has banned certain kinds of smokeless tobacco products like gutkha and chewing tobacco through the notification issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Other tobacco products are regulated by the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA 2003), which contain provisions, inter alia, relating to ban on sale of tobacco products by/to minors, ban on sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions, ban on promotions/advertisements of tobacco products, etc.

The State Governments/UTs of Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Mizoram, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand have issued orders/notifications banning the sale of loose cigarettes.

The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.

Source: PIB
Kuth and Ranieri, the husband-and-wife founders of a namesake architecture firm in San Franciscos North Beach, submitted a proposal in the International Rising Tides competition to solve the problem of rising ocean water. The answer was was equal parts high-tech and high-design. They envisioned a ventilated levee that minimized impacts on the environment and bay views. BCDCs judges selected the project, dubbed Folding Water, as one of six winners of the competition.

Picture it as a narrow capital V that sits mostly beneath the surface of the water, but stretches across the mouths of bay inlets. The top of the stem closest to the shore could double as a dock, and the edges might include locks for small craft. The oceanside stem would be capped with a mechanical wall that tilts higher as sea levels rise, creating a waterfall that drops into the space between.

Anyone standing on the shore would see a nearly natural maritime scene: a dock, the bay and a small waterfall when the levee is at work.

A system of pump ventilators would be built into the walls, returning excess water to the sea while mimicking the effects of tidal exchange. Natural pressure would force ocean waters and small sea life into the estuary through one side of these tubes, while the mixed water would be pumped back out the other side.

Protecting all the low-lying areas at risk along San Francisco Bay would require 10 to 15 levees, each of which could be calibrated to maintain the natural ecology of a specific cove.

Folding Water would operate autonomously, using a system of sensors, smart software and clean energy from tidal turbines and geothermal wells. Working out the technical details will be a challenge, but outside observers say the basic concept is sound.

It would surely be substantial, however. A 2009 report by the Pacific Institute in Oakland estimated that it would cost $14 billion (in year 2000 dollars) plus $1.4 billion in annual maintenance to armor the California coast line for sea level rise, with the majority of the spending in the Bay Area.

BCDC, however, estimates that the projected sea level rise by 2100 puts $62 billion in shoreline development at risk.
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Only two minutes after I had listed a dresser online for sale, someone was interested. I was ecstatic that the dresser would not only be off our hands, but wed get a little cash besides and in such short time. The buyer must have been searching for dressers for months, I thought, judging by
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Russia has joined its voice to Moroccos to express opposition to any violation of the parameters set by the United Nations Security Council with regard to the settlement of the Sahara issue and to any attempt to change the pace of the political process.

This came in the Statement on the Extended Strategic Partnership adopted by Russia and Morocco on the occasion of the official visit of King Mohammed VI to Moscow.

The Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Morocco do not back any temptation for acceleration or precipitation of the political process, nor any violation of the parameters already defined in the Security Council resolutions in search for a solution to the Sahara issue said the Statement on the Extended Strategic Partnership released Tuesday following the talks held at the Kremlin by King Mohammed VI and President Vladimir Putin.

Russia also said that it takes due account of Moroccos position regarding the settlement of the Sahara issue and takes note of the socio-economic projects launched to develop the territory and improve the living conditions of the people living there, said the Statement.

The Statement on the Extended Strategic Partnership also outlines that the two countries agreed to contribute to peace and to regional and international stability, to work for the defense and preservation of strategic interests of both countries within the framework of solidarity and consultation.

They likewise pledge to preserve the territorial integrity of the two States and consolidate their unity and to develop actions of cooperation and partnership on all their territories.

Also, the Statement underlines that the two countries attach great importance to the Sahara-Sahel region in the context of the security system of the African continent, and plead for the implementation of the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel.

For Morocco and Russia, their Extended Strategic Partnership is a positive and constructive contribution to strengthening regional and international stability.
The Moroccan government has decided to significantly scale down the civilian component of MINURSO, to put off its voluntary contribution to the functioning of MINURSO and to consider the withdrawal of Moroccan blue helmets engaged in peacekeeping operations.

According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the North African country, these measures have been taken in response to inappropriate remarks made lately by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the Sahara issue.

Following Bans unacceptable comments and outrageous behavior, Morocco says it reserves the legitimate right to resort to other measures that may be required, to defend, in strict line with the UN Charter, its supreme interests, sovereignty and integrity territorial.

Moroccan top diplomat Salaheddine Mezouar flew Monday to New York wherein he met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and handed him a letter detailing the formal protests.

During this meeting, Mezouar expressed to Ban ki-moon Moroccos total rejection of his remarks regarding the Sahara issue during his recent visit to Algeria.

Moroccan authorities consider that such acts are incompatible with the responsibilities and the mission of the Secretary-General that compel him to a duty of objectivity and impartiality and to the respect of the framework established by the UN bodies, says a statement released by the Moroccan Foreign Affairs Department.

The term occupation used by Ban Ki-moon to describe the presence of Morocco in its Sahara is a serious political mistake, adds the document, noting that no UN Security Council resolution ever used such an offensive word.

Morocco also urged the UN chief to avoid any attempt aimed at undermining the Moroccan autonomy initiative and clarify his positions in a bid to restore a climate of trust and mutual respect.
By Steve Holland and James Oliphant

MIAMI (Reuters) - Marco Rubio had all that you need in a Republican presidential candidate: fluency on the issues, a conservative outlook, crossover appeal as a Cuban-American, and youthful good looks.

But in an election year when anyone associated with the Republican establishment is seen as tainted, Rubio ended his campaign after New York real estate mogul Donald Trump won the coveted primary, or nominating contest, in Rubio's home state of Florida on Tuesday.

"This may not have been the year for a hopeful and optimistic message about our future," Rubio told supporters as he announced his decision.

How the 44-year-old U.S. senator got to this point is a story of miscalculations and missed opportunities, according to interviews with more than a dozen campaign officials, financial donors and Republican strategists.

Rubio attempted to position himself as a new-age Republican, the son of Cuban immigrants who was able to connect with everyday voters with tales of his hard-luck upbringing. He also tried to appeal to America's growing Hispanic population to help boost his party's chances of claiming victory in the Nov. 8 election.

He got off to a difficult start.

His advisers wanted to run a campaign where it made more sense to be on Fox News, a channel popular with Republicans, or on other cable networks and local broadcasters whose clips can go viral on social media, rather than spend a lot of time in small towns in Iowa and New Hampshire. The early nominating contests there often shape the narrative and direction of presidential elections.

So Rubio made a strategic gamble. He would try a different approach in those two states, strategists familiar with his campaign said. He would try to save time and money by making strategic stops in those states rather than carpet-bomb them with multiple visits.

'HE COULD HAVE DONE IT'

It would be a break from the usual playbook of White House hopefuls that says candidates should saturate Iowa and New Hampshire with town halls and other events and aim for early wins to garner media coverage and campaign donations and build momentum.

Rubio's gamble backfired. Republican activists in Iowa complained he was largely absent from the state for long stretches, not spending the face-to-face time necessary to sell himself. He only made an all-out push in the late stages of the race.

Throughout the campaign, Rubio has battled perceptions that he does not work hard enough. For other candidates running for president, a voting record in the Senate would be a minor issue. But for Rubio, missing votes on the Senate floor dovetailed with the narrative that was building on the trail. If he was not in the Senate and was not on the trail, where was he?

Rubio spokesman Alex Conant said Rubio faced more than $50 million in attacks ads. "Obviously that had a massive impact. I think we could have won Iowa had it not been for the more than $25 million in attacks spent on us in Iowa alone."

Republican rival and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas tried to visit every Iowa county on a bus. Rubio tended to fly in and fly out. Polls showed he typically did better in metropolitan areas, not the hamlets than can often make or break candidates in early states.

Cruz won Iowa's caucuses on Feb. 1 with Trump second. Rubio's third-place finish was seen as something of a victory by his camp, but Republicans in the state were not so sure.

"He had a chance to win Iowa, said Jamie Johnson, a Republican activist in Iowa. As Johnson traveled the state ahead of the caucuses, voters often asked him when Rubio would visit their area, he said.

Iowans like being visited in their home county, he explained. If a presidential candidate wants to win in Iowa, then he must put in the shoe leather.

Rubio's team said he had tended to campaign in major population centers in Iowa in order to get the most impact from the news media.

"I was very pleased with the campaign that we ran here and I thought the national team did a very good job and I had no complaints," said Iowa state Senator Jack Whitver, who was the head of Rubio's Iowa campaign.

NO-SHOW AT DINNERS

Rubio heard similar complaints in New Hampshire. He spent just 28 days campaigning there, about half as much as former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and a fraction of the some 70 days that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Ohio Governor John Kasich were there.

Fergus Cullen, a former chairman of the state Republican Party, sought to hold meet-and-greet events at his home for each candidate. Candidates such as Bush and Kasich took him up on it. Rubio did not. Cullen eventually aligned himself with Kasich, who went on to finish second to Trump in the state.

There were a lot of opinion leaders - key endorsers who end up on a candidates delegate list - who were interested in Rubio but never got to meet him or have those small-group, private meetings that result in commitments," Cullen said.

Renee Plummer, a real-estate developer and an influential conservative activist in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, who hosted more than 10 Republican candidates for intimate dinners with local leaders, said she tried to schedule Rubio three separate times to no avail. She eventually threw her support behind Christie.

'LACK OF STATURE'

Rubio faced another problem: a perception that he could only muster well-worn talking points.

At a July 6, 2015, dinner at a Chicago steakhouse with reporters, he appeared relaxed and knowledgeable. But as the campaign intensified, that Rubio appeared less and less frequently, replaced by a candidate who seemed able only to deliver canned lines and talking points.

Christies campaign noticed. Days before the Feb. 9 New Hampshire primary, Christie caught Rubio in repeat mode during a debate, calling him robotic and scripted. It affirmed some voters doubts that he lacked depth. Rubio never quite recovered.

"What happened to Marco in New Hampshire struck a responsive chord," said John "Mac" Stipanovich, a prominent Florida lobbyist who first supported Bush and then switched to Rubio. "It crystallized that lack of stature."

Trumps unrelenting dominance of the media spotlight made it hard for rivals to shine. But Rubio's decision, starting with a debate in Houston on Feb. 25, to try to match Trump insult for insult was cited by voters as another wrong move. Rubio has since said he regretted the negative turn.

A campaign source said it was Rubio who made the ultimate decision to switch gears and attack Trump personally, motivated in part by a desire to win more media coverage. It worked. At a rally in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday, he ruefully noted that when he was engaged in his war of insults with Trump, CNN and other networks carried his events live, something they had not done before.

That was, in a nutshell, the problem. Months of wall-to- wall news coverage of Trump decimated Rubio's strategy of using free-media avenues.

"You can't out-Trump Trump," said Rubio supporter Jim Bundstein in Florida.

'NOTHING BUT AMNESTY'

For some, the roots of Rubios problems can be traced back further to an icy afternoon in Washington on Jan. 28, 2013. That is when he held a news conference with three Democratic senators and a Republican on Capitol Hill to launch immigration reforms.

The legislation, sponsored by what became known as a bipartisan Gang of Eight senators, would have created a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, but only if steps were taken to secure the U.S. southern border with Mexico and strengthen visa tracking.

Rubio had already faced conservative anger when flirting with immigration reform a year earlier, when he proposed a path to citizenship for young people who came to the country illegally but would join the military.

Conservative columnist Ann Coulter derided those ideas as "nothing but amnesty" for lawbreakers.

The Gang of Eight bill ran into similar resistance. As Rubio distanced himself from it, Hispanic groups faulted him for giving up.

In a Republican primary race where Trump has thrilled many conservatives by vowing to deport immigrants and build a wall on the Mexican border, Rubio's involvement in the legislation and sudden abandonment of it haunted his 2016 campaign.

It was the centerpiece of attack ads by his rivals and the independent fundraising groups supporting them.

At a rally in Tampa, Florida, on Monday, Trump said of the senator: Hes weak on immigration. Hes very weak on amnesty. I dont know how he got elected.

(Editing by Jason Szep, Ross Colvin and Peter Cooney)

This article was funded in part by SAP. It was independently created by the Reuters editorial staff. SAP had no editorial involvement in its creation or production.
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Although she was the incumbent, Alvarez lost by a landslide. Photo: Scott Olson/2015 Getty Images

In October 2014, Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke allegedly shot 17-year-old Laquan McDonald in the back 16 times. Neither Van Dyke nor any other officer on the scene was charged for the incident until a police video of the incident was made public last November, leading Chicago residents to criticize Mayor Rahm Emanuel and former Chicago police superintendent Garry F. McCarthy for the way they handled the case. (Emanuel fired McCarthy in December in an attempt at damage control.) Cook County states attorney Anita Alvarez also came under fire for waiting 400 days before filing charges against Van Dyke, and on Tuesday, Cook County voters made their displeasure known by denying Alvarez a third term in office.

The front page of tomorrows Chicago @Suntimes: OUTFOXXED pic.twitter.com/HhyLyRtwGo  BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) March 16, 2016

Alvarez lost by a landslide to Kim Foxx, a former chief of staff to Cook County board president Toni Preckwinkle. At the time the race was called  with 82 percent of precincts reporting  Foxx was up by more than 20 percent. In conceding the race to Foxx, Alvarez said she was proud of the work shed done in office and would work to facilitate a smooth transition. She also acknowledged the political turmoil surrounding the election: I have been criticized that I wasnt a very good politician and thats probably right, she said. And thats probably why I stand before you tonight.

She went on, The struggles here are very real. The need to rebuild a broken criminal-justice system in Cook County is not work that should be taken lightly. The gulf between law enforcement and our communities must be breached.

Her loss comes the day after the Daily Beast released a review that found Alvarez had declined to file charges against Chicago police officers involved in the fatal shootings of at least 68 people in the last seven years, although no documentation was available to explain why she decided not to file charges. In the case of McDonald, Alvarez reportedly blamed an investigation by the U.S. attorneys office for the delay in filing charges. Ive done nothing wrong, she told Chicago magazine in January. I will not apologize for the meticulous, thorough investigation we did.

Although Alvarez had more experience than either of her opponents, her involvement in this and other controversial cases stripped her of the Democratic Partys support  activists rallied against her on Twitter using the hashtag #ByeAnita. Tom Balanoff, Illinois state council president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), told the Post that Foxxs victory was a decisive vote for transparency and the reform of [the states] broken criminal justice system. He went on, We will continue our fight to eradicate the economic, social and racial inequality that currently plagues our state.
Marco Rubio is out, thank goodness. Photo: Gerardo Mora/Getty Images

In the final days of his presidential campaign, Marco Rubio took on a noble, elegiac tone, presenting himself as the opposite of Donald Trump. In his valedictory speech, he presented his defeat as a choice  the former Republican savior was simply too good for this world. Deriding Donald Trumps nasty tone  not by name, of course, being pledged to support the eventual nominee  Rubio declared that he had decided not to take Trumps easy path for moral reasons. I chose a different route and Im proud of that   he said. That would have been the easiest way to win. This is all revisionist nonsense.

Until the very end, Rubios response to the rise of Donald Trump was to co-opt him, not to confront him. When Trump proposed ramping up surveillance of mosques, Rubio lurched to his right. Its not about closing down mosques. Its about closing down any place  whether its a cafe, a diner, an internet site  any place where radicals are being inspired, he said. So whatever facility is being used  its not just a mosque  any facility thats being used to radicalize and inspire attacks against the United States, should be a place that we look at. He indulged dark right-wing fantasies, insisting repeatedly, Barack Obama has deliberately weakened America  a right-wing fever dream that made normal compromise impossible. Rubio, breaking from most Republicans, attacked Obama for visiting a mosque.

Rubio could only go so far because only Trump has found a way to break all the norms of American politics at no political cost to himself. Rubio ran a different strategy not for moral reasons but because he thought it would work. His plan was to fashion himself as the frontman for the Republican donor class. Rubios proposition to party insiders was that he could spare them from any serious reconsideration of party dogma  except, perhaps, on immigration reform, the one issue where Republican moneymen were happy to move to the center anyway. In place of substantive moderation, Rubio would use his modest upbringing and winning personality (and Rubio truly is likable) to sell old Republican wine in a new bottle. Rubios insider strategy conveyed many benefits on his campaign. He raised plenty of money, and overwhelmingly outspent Trump in Florida and elsewhere. Republican insiders showered him with understanding, supplying friendly spin to the media that allowed Rubio to portray a long series of defeats as proto-victories.

It was not only calculation, though, that shaped Rubios candidacy. His life has been defined by a fascination with wealth, bordering on worship. Rubio once told a roomful of rich businessmen that the inspiration for his politics came from driving around as a young boy and gawking at the homes of the rich. As a young politician he read Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rands paean to the superiority of the rich, twice. He attached himself to wealthy patrons and moved between politics and lobbying throughout his career, seamlessly blending public service with moneymaking.

His willingness to eloquently champion the interests of the donor class enabled Rubios rapid ascent and defined his governing philosophy. In Florida, he proposed cutting property taxes, which fall on landowners, and replacing the revenue with higher sales taxes, which fall most heavily on the poor. His domestic agenda was defined by a tax cut twice the size of the one George W. Bush enacted. Like Bush, Rubios tax cut tacked on some small-change tax credits for low-income families, but the bulk of the money went to the top, with 40 percent of the cost of his plan accruing to the richest one percent. He wanted to deregulate the financial industry and eliminate Obamacare  which he repeatedly voted to eliminate without the necessity of a replacement. He refused to accept the legitimacy of climate science, even as his home city is literally disappearing slowly beneath his feet. One of the very few areas where Rubio claimed to stake out untraditional ground was in higher education  but even here, his policy turned out to be deregulating for-profit colleges, one of the shadiest of which had generously funded him.

Rubios foreign policy was pure retrograde neoconservatism. On social issues, he defended a complete ban on abortion without exception, even in cases of rape and incest. His propensity to panic under pressure would have made him all the more dangerous in office.

Rubios conservative admirers bitterly observed that liberals mocked him because they deemed him a potent nominee. This was not wrong. Despite his inability to out-Trump Trump, who has captured his partys id, Rubio has maintained high levels of favorability with moderate voters, especially Latinos. His substantive extremism would have proven a liability in a general-election campaign, but it was entirely plausible to believe that Rubio could have smuggled his right-wing policies past the electorate by running on cheerful slogans and a winning smile. The potential to do so is why Rubio may well find himself atop his partys ticket in a future election. In the meantime, his failure is a bullet dodged.
John Kasich. Photo: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg Finance LP/Getty Images

While Marco Rubio lost his home state and quickly exited the race on Tuesday night, John Kasichs campaign will survive. With 95 percent reporting, the goveror leads his home state with 47 percent, Donald Trump has 36 percent, Ted Cruz has 13 percent, and Marco Rubio has 3 percent. Where Kasich goes after winning Ohio is unclear, but a loss in his home state would have turned the GOP nomination fight into a two-man race between Trump and Cruz.

In a call to CNN, Kasich said hes in the best position to beat Hillary Clinton in the fall, and predicted that he may go to the convention before this is over with more delegates than anyone else.

Just after Kasich took the stage to address his jubilant supporters, a protester brandishing a Trump hat disrupted the event. Kasich stepped away from the podium briefly to watch as security escorted the demonstrator out, then joked, You know, when you went to college in the 1970s, you enjoy a good peaceful protest every once in a while.

I will never take the low road to the highest office in the land, Kasich promised. Were going to go all the way to Cleveland to secure the Republican nomination!
Berning out. Photo: Ralph Freso/Getty Images

After a less-than-super Tuesday, Bernie Sanderss campaign faces a virtually insurmountable deficit in pledged delegates. With her blowout wins in Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio  and narrow victories in Illinois and Missouri  Clinton could lose the vast majority of remaining states and still earn the nomination. But to keep his political revolution churning as the primary shifts to friendlier pastures, Sanders needs to offer his supporters and donors some vision for how a come-from-behind win could come about.

The best one his campaign has come up with is  not great. According to Politico, Sanderss plan is to get as close in the race for pledged delegates as possible, and then convince the very Establishment that hes been disparaging for months to override the consensus of voters and throw the primary to a socialist insurgent.

The arguments that were going to muster are going to be based on a series of facts, Sanders campaign manager Tad Devine told Politico (emphasis ours). People will look at different measures: How many votes did you get? How many delegates did you win? How many states did you win? But its really about momentum.

The Sanders campaign is not explicitly calling for superdelegates to negate the democratic will  a notion that it recently condemned. But Devines emphasis on momentum implies as much. Sanders has little chance of overcoming the delegate advantage that Clinton wracked up in her southern landslides, but he has a decent shot of winning more states than the front-runner between now and the nomination. Which is why, in Devines view, its really about momentum.

It seems doubtful that Sanders has genuine faith in this cockamamie scheme. The superdelegate system pretty much exists to prevent the nomination of someone like Sanders, a socialist insurgent looking to chase the money lenders from the Democratic temple.

Most likely, his campaign is merely looking for any narrative that can keep its supporters mobilized from here to the convention. Even if Sanders isnt going to be the Democratic nominee, his political revolution has plenty to gain in collecting as many delegates as it possibly can. Sanderss surprising strength in the race thus far  and, in particular, his dominance among millennial voters  has led many pundits to predict that his social-democratic vision represents the future of the Democratic Party. The next month of primary contests looks like the most Sanders-friendly stretch of the race thus far. According to FiveThirtyEights demographic projections, Sanders is favored to win seven of the next eight primaries or caucuses. If Sanders wishes to demonstrate the broad appeal of his ideology, theres little sense in dropping out with those potential victories still on the table. Thanks to his campaigns incredible fund-raising apparatus, the democratic socialist should have plenty of cash to keep fighting, even if donations slow down in the wake of last nights losses.

Sanders is not going to convince the Democratic Partys elders to back the candidate with fewer pledged delegates and Establishment connections. But suggesting that such a thing might be possible will allow him to send a louder message to the partys younger politicians and operatives: Economic populism works. Clinton, for one, seems to have heard that message quite clearly.
Heres what the early (and thus, not terribly reliable) exit polls are telling us about what could be the most decisive night of primary voting thus far.

Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz are performing well with late deciders.

Late decider watch: Cruz won them in NC, MO and IL. Kasich won them in OH and Trump won them in FL.  Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) March 15, 2016

Late decider watch on Dem side: Sanders won them in OH, IL, NC and MO. Clinton won them in FL.  Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) March 15, 2016

Trump still making America hate again.

Exit polls: Two-thirds or more of GOP primary voters support temporary ban on Muslims entering US, across all #SuperTuesday states  Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) March 15, 2016

The National Review is not winning over working-class whites.

EXIT POLL: Trump doing well among large Ohio demographic pic.twitter.com/NZIGFN2esG  Shepard Smith (@ShepNewsTeam) March 15, 2016

A lot of Republicans voting today are looking for a third way.

Exit polls. Swoon! Maybe it's not too late for the Michael Bloombergmentum. Wouldn't that be SO EXCITING, KIDS? pic.twitter.com/se2Plzf8UO  Wonkette (@Wonkette) March 15, 2016

Hillary Clintons policies strike folks as more realistic.

Bernie Sanders may have had a breakthrough with Latinos in Illinois.



Shock Illinois exit poll: Hispanics voting 65-35 @BernieSanders over @hillaryclinton. If that holds, Clinton will lose IL. #DemPrimary  David Shuster (@DavidShuster) March 15, 2016

Florida Republicans support amnesty  and Donald Trump.

EXIT POLLS w/ @DavidChalian- 55% of FL voters think illegal immigrants working in US should be offered legal status pic.twitter.com/6NZCUz6Qk5  Betsy Klein (@betsy_klein) March 15, 2016

.@FoxNews Florida GOP Primary Exit Poll: Seniors in the Sunshine State overwhelmingly support Trump. pic.twitter.com/24dtzbURu4  Aron Goldman (@ArgoJournal) March 15, 2016

Let's be real: Ain't nothing in these early votes that suggest anything other than a Trump blowout in Florida.  Harry Enten (@ForecasterEnten) March 15, 2016

Democrats voting today have more faith in Clinton as their Trump-slayer.

EXIT POLL: Which Democratic candidate do primary voters think has a better chance of defeating Donald Trump? pic.twitter.com/5DCM1JnVaf  Meet the Press (@meetthepress) March 15, 2016

Its not looking good for Bernie in Ohio.

MSNBC says exit polls show that Hillary Clinton has 73% of black voters in Ohio. Sanders gets 51% of white voters.  Amanda Terkel (@aterkel) March 15, 2016

A decent number of Democrats switched sides in the Buckeye State.

7% of the Republican Ohio primary voters were Democrats, per early exit polls - https://t.co/2Nw2OXetYC pic.twitter.com/yYiguWi9rk  Zach Wolf (@zbyronwolf) March 15, 2016

A majority of todays Republican voters are looking for someone without experience.

EXIT POLL: 52% of GOP primary voters hope the next president will be outside the establishment. #Decision2016 pic.twitter.com/oFo2Ei5Ug6  Meet the Press (@meetthepress) March 15, 2016

Voters in both parties not feeling great about international trade.

trade debate powering Dem turnout again tonight. 57% say free trade takes more jobs than it creates, in prelim exits https://t.co/xrnRqVsMCy  Rick Klein (@rickklein) March 15, 2016

Exit poll: What to GOP primary voters think about international trade? #Decision2016 pic.twitter.com/6TwkEVJqa1  Meet the Press (@meetthepress) March 15, 2016

Kasich looks like he will take Ohio, Sanderss best chance for a win may be in Illinois.

Some GOP exits:

OH: Kasich 45, Trump 38

FL: Trump 47, Rubio 28

MO: Cruz 43, Trump 40

NC: Trump 39, Cruz 35

IL: Trump 40, Cruz 33  Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) March 15, 2016
Donald Trump and Ted Cruz may not be able to create a united front against would-be convention manipulators. But if they do, watch out! Photo: Getty Images

Beneath the nightmarish qualities of this years Republican presidential nominating process for the people accustomed to controlling it is a scenario thats not a bad substitute for the Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio cakewalks so many expected. If Ted Cruz and John Kasich can together keep Donald Trump from winning a majority of delegates before Cleveland  and that remains something like a 50/50 proposition  then a contested convention will ensue that could produce the greatest surprise since Wendell Willkie stampeded the 1940 conclave. Indeed, its a scenario wherein liberated second-ballot delegates might settle on an Establishment favorite like Kasich or Paul Ryan, or  hey, let your imagination run wild and think of every recent GOP pol whos made movers and shakers and Beltway pundits swoon: Mitch Daniels! Rob Portman! John Thune!

Theres a big problem with such scenarios, however, and it transcends the unilateral threats Donald Trump is making about the disturbances and defections his followers might generate if he is denied the nomination. A more basic reality is that together Trump and Cruz are likely to command a solid majority of delegates going to Cleveland, even if neither of them has a majority on his own. And if they choose to deny any other candidates a shot at the nomination, they can almost certainly do so.

Their most direct means of control is via convention rules. And as Politicos Kyle Cheney reports today, the two camps are already talking about working together to make it a two-man race to the very end:

Advisers to Donald Trump and Ted Cruz say theres no way theyll allow John Kasich to even compete at a contested national convention  let alone prevail. Trump and Cruz are betting that their dual dominance in the delegate hunt will permanently box out the Ohio governor, who has no mathematical path to the nomination and is openly pursuing a floor fight at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. And their aides say Kasich wont even make it to the floor. There is virtually zero chance he can even be nominated, Saul Anuzis, a former Michigan Republican national committeeman whos advising Cruz on his convention strategy, told POLITICO. Its a two-man race. Their confidence is rooted in the fact that Trump and Cruz are nearly certain to control the lions share of the 2,472 delegates participating in the July convention. Together, theyve earned more than 1,000 delegate slots to Kasichs 136. And those delegates will ultimately approve the rules that govern a contested convention.

One possible means for excluding Kasich is the famous 2012 rule, enacted to thwart a discordant Ron Paul faction in Tampa, that a candidate must have a majority of eight delegations in hand before her or his name can even be placed in nomination. That would take care not only of Kasich (barring some late-primary pyrotechnics) but any dark horse as well. But the more abiding reality is that a convention makes its own rules, and so long as Trump and Cruz control a majority and continue to work together to force a two-man race, they can do so.

Thats probably true even if there are a significant number of false flag delegates who dont really support the candidate to whom they are bound on the first ballot. They are free to vote as they wish on procedural matters such as the rules. But its hard to imagine there will be enough of them to overcome the combined forces of loyal Trump and Cruz delegates. And for that matter, if you had to figure who will be most successful in stealing delegates prior to Cleveland, it will probably be Cruz with his well-organized campaign, not the inchoate forces of the anti-Cruz/anti-Trump Establishment.

Probably the best strategy for the Establishment short of taking the plunge for Cruz will be to play one of the front-runners off against the other. Its certainly questionable that Cruz and Trump will be able to cooperate in Cleveland if it becomes clear their united front tilts the playing field toward one of them and away from the other. But if it is to their mutual advantage to seal off any path to the nomination for anyone else, they will very likely have the power to do so, both procedurally through control of the convention rules, and psychologically because of the millions of voters they will represent. Sorry, John Kasich; sorry, John Thune. Sorry, Republican Establishment dreamers.


Absolutely no one predicted these would be the final three candidates. Photo: Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times

Yet another unofficially super Tuesday has led to some dramatic shifts in the Republican primary  though thanks to mixed results for Donald Trump in Florida and Ohio, no one is entirely sure where the race goes from here. Had Trump managed to trounce both Marco Rubio and John Kasich in their home states, Ted Cruz might have been the last Trump challenger left standing. Instead, Rubio bowed out and Kasich got a momentum boost, leaving the Republican Party in an even more awkward position.

The Wall Street Journal editorial board tried to focus on the bright side, calling Kasichs win impressive, and assuring Republicans that fighting Trump all the way to the convention would be a good thing:

All of this gives Mr. Kasich some hope of competing better than he has so far beyond his home state. His economic record is a strength he should stress, taking on Mr. Trump more forcefully on policies. The New Yorker will now train his insults on Mr. Kasich the way he has everyone else in the race, and the Governor will have to show the determination to shake up Washington that voters want this year. One way to do that is to start making a more systematic, forceful case against President Obamas record and Hillary Clintons policies and how he would upend the status quo. Mr. Rubios voters are likely to go to Mr. Kasich more than to the other two candidates, and many of the remaining states are in the Northeast and Midwest where the Governors brand of reform conservatism should play well. Mr. Kasich can also make the case, validated in every poll, that he has by far the best chance to beat Mrs. Clinton in November. On that score, Messrs. Kasich and Rubio should consider joining up to campaign as a potential GOP ticket. The two share the same political temperament and they would also send a message of GOP unity that neither Mr. Trump nor Mr. Cruz can offer.

Others were far less optimistic about Kasichs chances going forward. The Washington Posts Chris Cillizza said that despite the Kasich campaigns celebratory tone, the math just doesnt add up for the Ohio governor:

The Kasich team should enjoy tonight because the delegate math is, well, impossible for him. He would have to win more than 100 percent of the remaining available delegates to get to the 1,237 delegates he needs to be the partys nominee. No matter, argued the Kasich campaign in a memo released Tuesday night; With the electoral map shifting significantly in our favor, Governor Kasich is positioned to accumulate a large share of the almost 1,000 remaining delegates and enter Cleveland in strong position to become the nominee, wrote chief strategist John Weaver. Um, okay. Kasich now seems likely to hang around at the periphery of the Trump-Cruz race for the next few months, hoping to collect delegates and lead a revivifying of the GOP establishment in the event the convention deadlocks and he emerges as a consensus candidate. We are going to go all the way to Cleveland, Kasich promised Tuesday night.

The New York Times Gail Collins wrote that considering Kasichs record in Ohio, its ironic that hes considered the last, best hope for Republican moderates:

Right now he certainly seems like the only non-appalling option the Republicans have, even though there are a lot of people in Ohio right now who are shaking their heads in stupefaction at the sight of their governor as the nations poster boy for moderation. Hes signed an absolute mountain of anti-abortion bills  nearly half of the clinics in the state have shut down during his tenure. His enthusiasm for giving public funding to private, for-profit schools has been scandalous. And on the economic front he has the usual conservative contempt for taxing residents according to their ability to pay. But he doesnt think we should ban Muslims or deport millions of immigrants. And theres always that thing about the downtrodden. This year, its as good as the Republicans can hope for. And the other options are so really, really bad.

According to Bloomberg Views Albert R. Hunt, Kasich is hoping his moderate image will help make the case that hes the best candidate to take on Hillary Clinton. Meanwhile, Cruz is hoping to continue chipping away at Trumps delegate count:

Kasich, who has no chance to get anywhere near a majority of the delegates going into Cleveland, is counting on a strong showing in all the big states outside the South. He also hopes to pick up some delegates even in unfriendly states by winning in friendly congressional districts. That, coupled with polls showing him a strong general election candidate, might give him leverage at the convention in his home state. Thats at least a rationale for staying in the race. The Cruz camp believes he can almost wipe out Trumps delegate advantage before the final contests on June 7, when 303 delegates will be chosen. Almost 60 percent of those will be in California, where the winner of each congressional district gets all the districts delegates. That puts a premium on strategic targeting, his campaigns strength. Another big June 7 contest is New Jerseys, in which the winner gets all 51 delegates. All the candidates are focusing on Governor Chris Christie: Trump riding his endorsement and Cruz and Kasich hoping to take advantage of his weak approval rating at home.

As the Posts Dan Balz explained, Kasichs win in Ohio upended Cruzs plan to take on Trump one-on-one:

Some national polls have shown that when matched head-to-head against Trump, Cruz enjoys more support. That is the foundation on which the Cruz camp is building its strategy for winning the nomination. His advisers see plenty of opportunities ahead and anticipate a big day on June 7, the final day of the primaries, when the biggest prize is California and its 172 delegates. But that strategy suffered a setback on Tuesday when Kasich won Ohio. Cruzs advisers no doubt were privately pulling for Trump to do to Kasich what he did to Rubio. The Texas senator can ill afford a revived Kasich candidacy. Cruzs team also is confident that they can outperform Trumps campaign in the combat that will take place at state party conventions over the coming weeks. It will be at those conventions that the delegates will be named. Cruzs team will work every angle possible to fill slots with friendly delegates, even if many are pledged to Trump on the first ballot in Cleveland.

However, FiveThirtyEights David Wasserman argued that math and the election calendar are still on Trumps side:

Consider this: Up until today, Trump had won 42 percent of all GOP delegates with just 34 percent of the vote. By my estimate tonight, it appears hes on track to win about 67 percent of the delegates at stake, even though hes averaged only a hair over 40 percent of todays votes. Thats a huge disparity. The reason: Todays transition from proportional allocation to winner-take-all. From now on, even tiny Trump pluralities (like the one were seeing just barely in Missouri, barring some magical Cruz precincts) will net him an enormous shares of delegates. Up until today, only 5 percent of all GOP delegates were awarded on a winner-take-all basis. Between tonight and the final primaries in June, 64 percent of GOP delegates will be allocated on a winner-take-all basis. Thats an enormous catalyst for Trumps drive to 1,237.

The Times Nate Cohn agreed that while Trump lost a lot of delegates in Ohio, a three-way race may help him secure the nomination:

The combination of Mr. Trumps blue-state strength, of the more evenly divided opposition in the North and of delegate rules that increasingly favor winners makes it easy to imagine how Mr. Trump could amass an outright majority of delegates. Mr. Trump won Michigan and Illinois by wide margins, with less than 40 percent of the vote, since Mr. Kasich and Mr. Cruz neatly split the preponderance of the non-Trump voters.

USA Today concluded that after Tuesday, only two scenarios remain, and neither is good for the Republican Party:

One is that Trump wins the nomination. The other is that he falls short of the 1,237 delegates needed for a majority and is denied the nomination at a contested convention in Cleveland. The first outcome means that the party of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan hitches its wagon to a demagogue and attention junkie who 35% of Republicans in a recent poll said they would never vote for. The other is that the selection of someone else  maybe current runner-up Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, or home-state favorite Kasich  sets off a vicious backlash from Trump supporters that ruptures the party.

The Times Frank Bruni predicted that Kasich and Cruz are strong enough to ensure that the GOP is in for a chaotic convention fight  one thats likely to hand the presidency to one of the partys biggest foes:

They see a probable Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, who is so personally flawed, politically clumsy and out of sync with this anti-establishment moment that shes ripe for defeat. Then they look at their own contest and see an outcome that might well ensure her victory  There are traditionalists rooting for Trump over Cruz, and the thinking of some goes like this: Neither candidate can win the presidency. But while Cruz has almost no crossover appeal beyond committed Republicans, Trump might draw enough independents, blue-collar Democrats and new voters in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania to buoy Republicans in tight Senate races there. Besides which, he scrambles all rules and all precedents so thoroughly that you never know. Victory isnt unthinkable, and better a Republican whos allergic to caution, oblivious to actual information and altogether dangerous than a Democrat wholl dole out all the plum administration jobs to her own party.

If hes right, the big winner of the March 15 Republican primaries may be Hillary Clinton.
Bra. Photo: Tuomas Marttila/Getty Images

Scientists in Colombia are developing a new bra with a purpose aside from supporting your breasts or having uncomfortable wire dig into your ribs: a bra that detects breast cancer.

Maria Camila Cortes, an electrical engineering student working on the project, explained to Fusion: When you have cells in your mammary glands that are anomalous, the body needs to send more blood to that specific part of the body, and the temperature of this organ increases.

The bra would include small infrared censors that would set off a warning signal if it detected any irregularities. It would also include a chip that records your breast temperatures, so if the censors are triggered, your doctor would be able to get more information.

The scientists working on the project hope to mass-produce the product, but until then if youre a woman over 45, get screened annually or every other year (depending on your age). Self-examination is actually pretty ineffective, and no, bras themselves do not cause breast cancer.
Jennifer Lawrence, one of the high-profile victims of The Fappening. Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage

A 36-year-old man from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has agreed to sign a plea deal implicating himself in The Fappening, 2014s nude-celebrity-photo hacking incident. Ryan Collins will plead guilty to one count of felony computer hacking and another for unauthorized access to a protected computer to obtain information for his role in the hack.

According to the plea document, Collins was responsible for hacking into more than 100 Apple iCloud and Gmail accounts, 18 of which belonged to celebrities, using a phishing scam. The personal photos, many of which contained nudity, were promptly leaked all over the internet, even earning their own controversial subreddit that was shut down  eventually.

It is not a scandal. It is a sex crime, Jennifer Lawrence, one of the hacking victims, told Vanity Fair in 2014. It is a sexual violation. Its disgusting. The law needs to be changed, and we need to change.

Collins probably didnt act alone  news reports identify him as one of the people behind the hack. In October, the FBI seized computer equipment from the Chicago home of Emilio Herrera, but no official charges have been brought against him.
Other characters include TERESA TACO (voiced by Salma Hayek), SAMMY BAGEL (voiced by Edward Norton) and Craig Robinson says he was originally going to voice a "UNCLE TOM'S RICE" character.

During the Q&A at SXSW, (video at source) an audience member asked what references were used when the filmmakers created the "Mexican" Characters. Rogen said the movie was inspired by old westerns and the characters were meant to be stereotypical.

Co-writer Evan Goldberg defends the use of stereotypical characters by

saying "to be very clear, [the film is] not reality"

After the audience member continued to press the filmmakers for an answer, she is met with jeers from the crowd before the moderator asked the filmmakers a different question.



Clevver News says the film deals with





SOURCE: VARIETY TRAILER Q &A YOUTUBE The film premieres in August and early reviews are saying it will become a sleeper hit of the summer.SOURCE:

YOUTUBE

The raunchy film depicts Frank (voiced by Seth Rogen) leading a group of supermarket products on a quest of self-discovery after discovering they are not being sent to the Great Beyond aka food heaven. Along the way, Frank seeks the advice of a Native American bottle of liquor named FIREWATER (voiced by Bill Hader, who also voices EL GUACO).racism, religion, sexual religion and climate change.
will this post get 800 comments?

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yes. noted celeb starbucks corporation always gets hundreds of comments

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If corporations are "people," then Starbucks is definitely a celebrity. It's a household name after all...

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Noted?? Starbucks is a proper name in the coffee-flavored milk industry it operates in. It's not Nigel Barker

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ONTD ~ the food & shopping confession anonymous group support.

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This icon + this comment...so shady!

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lol I was just thinking about how those tasted.

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this sounds soooo sickly sweet and yet AMAZING i'm so intrigued.....

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Save ur arteries and just eat some strawberries with regular whipped cream and a sprinkle of matcha powder, that'll probably have more actual fruit content and taste better than this liquid dessert in a cup tbqh

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the amount of sugar that must be in that



also just seeing "cherry blossom" makes my eye twitch bc it reminds me of the hoard of tourists that are about to descend on dc

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i was in dc in may last year and they were still around! i loved them.

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i'm supposed to be in DC in May... I hope they are still around! I've only been to DC once before, when I was a kid, and I think it was late summer. I'd love to see them in person.

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Yeppppp next week is gonna be crazy, sexy vicar

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I want to experience the festival at least once in my life but I don't know if I can handle the huge crowds. I've never been to DC around that time even though I've lived outside that area there my whole life.

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I start a new job in DC on Monday...it's going to be a crazy first week.

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It's the worst. But there's a neighborhood in Chevy Chase that has a bunch of cherry trees, so that's an alternative to visit.

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lol ngl the cherry blossoms and magnolias are one of the (few) reasons i miss living in DC. i'm going the first week in April to play tourist tho and i'm so excited

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i grew up in dc and there was a beautiful cherry blossom tree right outside the front door that my friends and i would always shake to make it ~snow flower petals



but yea nightmare w tourists o m g

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Cherry blossom





Yet it's strawberry & cream? Wtf?

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"shhhh red fruits sis it's all good" - someone at corporate

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This is accurate lol

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Right? I was waiting for at least some sakura syrup, but.... nothing. I may have tried it if it had some.

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that's what I was thinking. I mean, just use cherry.

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ikr. i wanted to try the sakura flavor because i've never had it before.

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mte



they had cherry syrup too, I remember getting a dark chocolate cherry frap like 6 years ago

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Yeah, iirc they already have a strawberries and cream frapp or something like that don't they?

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I know. I lived for the cherry blossom flavored everything during spring in Japan, so I got really hype when I heard about this, but now I'll pass. The actual sakura fraps in Japan are sooooo good.

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what is matcha? is it like kombucha? because that shit tastes the way a dentist office smells, sorry

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It's the powder they use for green tea

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i legit didn't know it came from a powder i thought it came from leaves??? what?????

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matcha is green tea powder

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YOu gotta get high quality fresh matcha! Which is expensive as fuck tho, but it's like the hot chocolate of tea. It's great. And yes, it's powdered green tea leaves and is best with no surgary shit added.

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lmao i've never had kombucha before but aaaaaalmost bought some at the grocery last night. now i'm glad i didn't

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Very bitter green tea powder that can go very wrong in baking and making drinks.



Any time my friend makes something with matcha her boyfriend calls it an abomination.

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Going to Japan in May, those Cherry Blossoms better wait for my arrival!



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can i come

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Yep, I'll carry you on my back.

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I'm going in may as well! which island/city are you bound for?

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I went a couple years ago in the summer, but it's my dream to go back for sakura season.



You're going to love it bb--cherry blossoms or not!

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Sorry sis but sakura season is normally late March-early April and only in Hokkaido they may bloom in May.



And because of the warm weather it's said that they will bloom even sooner

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Where in Japan are you going? This Spring is warm and coming really soon.

If you come to places like Kyoto, Tokyo, I think it will start from the end of March or by the middle of April.

If you go somewhere like Hokkaido, sure you can expect cherry blossoms in May tho!

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They're already starting to bloom in Tokyo so good luck!!

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If youre up way ass up in Hokkaido you may see some, but theyll probs be gone by then bb :(



Japan takes that shit seriously, there is a cherry blossom forecast website, I rescheduled my trip to Korea (which I cancelled) so I could see cherry blossoms. lol Got drunk by the river while watching cherry blossom petals, best day tbh.

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omg have fun! I'm dying to visit Japan.

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Cherry blossom drink made with strawberries? Am I missing something?

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it's pink

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lol i know right i was expecting something cherry flavored



Edited at 2016-03-16 03:51 am (UTC)

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i feel they're going to get A LOT of complaints about this esp from older people

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Right? It's not like cherries are hard fruit to find. Why use strawberries?

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keep it

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Doesn't sound edible at first

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Lmao why not cherries tho?!?

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cuz they're disgusting

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If all you are usedto are those cheap shitty cherries, then I understand the sentiment.



BUT Really good cherries are expensive and fucking delicious.

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throw it

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This is fucking stupid. It's just a strawberry and cream Fram with sprinkles of matcha

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Strawberries are my favorite fruit so this sounds good, but meh.

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can't u just eat strawberries instead?

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Well now that makes too much sense.

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lol, like once my friend suggested a get a strawberry milkshake from McDonalds when I said I wanted strawberries, as if it's anywhere near the same thing

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I'm allergic to strawberries. :/ Good thing I had no plan to get this CHERRY blossom drink made from something that will put me into anaphylactic shock!!

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i feel like my lactose intolerance helps keep me healthy cause otherwise i would be cheating way too much on shit like this

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no worries sis! starbucks has coconut milk and soy options as well.



source: me because i work at starbucks

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How do u make the caramel cream Frappuccino

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That's how they trick you!

I'm bitter because the other day I went to Starbucks, and repeated "soy" a second time because it seemed like the guy didn't hear me- because he was flirting with my ex- and I didn't want to say it again because it felt rude.

Long story short, it was real milk and I have a lot of feelings about this because it tasted gross, and wreaked havoc on my insides.



I'm sure you needed that rant after dealing with assholes all the time about their hot beverages.

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One of the biggest stories in offshore oil and gas recently has been a potential opening of the U.S. Atlantic to drilling. With lawmakers having proposed the first lease sale in decades here as part of an overall energy strategy for 2017 to 2022.

But yesterday officials did an abrupt about-face on Atlantic drilling.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell confirmed at a press conference that the Obama administration will remove the Atlantic from areas offered for exploration over the next five years. With this area not being listed amongst regions planned for lease sales as part of the Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2017-22. Related: Argentinas YPF Ousts Magician In Favor Of Banker

Jewell said there was simply too much opposition to Atlantic drilling  coming from environmental groups and local communities on the U.S. East Coast. As well as from groups like the Department of Defense and NASA, who said that drilling could interfere with their operations.

The move is a major disappointment for the oil industry. That had been looking at some potentially major prizes in this little-explored part of the offshore.

But those plans will now have to wait until at least 2023, when the next 5-year energy plan will be due. Related: Oil Wont Stage A Serious Rebound Until This Happens

As it stands, the current plan calls for 10 potential lease sales in the go-to exploration climes of the Gulf of Mexico. As well as three sales in U.S. Arctic waters.

But Secretary Jewell cautioned that even the Arctic sales could be dropped from the final version of the leasing program. Saying that the government is still examining these areas and considering additional protections or even a complete withdrawal of the Arctic. Related: Putins Dilemma: To Sell Or To Nationalize Oil Assets

Of course, lower oil and gas prices likely played some role in this decision. With interest in frontier regions almost certain to be much lower these days than a few years ago when Atlantic drilling was first proposed.

But the move is also a signal that American lawmakers are unwilling to defy bad press to open new areas for exploration. Offshore activity may be confined to its traditional stomping grounds for some time to come.

Heres to sticking firm,

By Dave Forest

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
OPEC and Russia are pushing ahead with a planned meeting to discuss a production freeze, and have agreed to meet in Doha on April 17.

Qatar is billing the meeting as the Doha Initiative, an arrangement that it says has put a floor under the oil price and is largely responsible for the 40 percent rally in prices since early February.

But the markets have also soured a bit on the potential effects of production freeze. Related: Putins Dilemma: To Sell Or To Nationalize Oil Assets

The parties had been debating for several weeks, unable to even come to an agreement on where and when to meet. It was Irans determination not to participate, however, that has deflated a lot of enthusiasm around the OPEC-Russia production freeze. Iran has insisted that it will not limit its output until it brings back oil exports to its pre-sanctions level, which means adding another 1 million barrels per day to its current production levels. With the rest of the major oil-producing countries set to participate in the Doha Initiative at or near their production maximums, freezing output will likely have little material impact on global supplies. Oil prices have recently fallen back from $40 per barrel, a level reached in early March.

Still, it appears that OPEC will push ahead with the April 17 meeting without Iran. Speaking on Irans absence, one OPEC source told Reuters that the talks can still achieve something. "You can't ignore all other oil producers. The meeting is likely to go ahead," the source said. "We will not just meet for the sake of meeting." Related: Oil Up As Saudis Mull Production Freeze Without Iran

Separately, OPEC produced its March Oil Market Report, which showed a slight contraction in output, largely led by supply disruptions in Iraq, Nigeria and the UAE. Those three countries combined for a loss of between 350,000 and 400,000 barrels per day, a total that was offset somewhat by gains in production from Iran of nearly 200,000 barrels per day.

Oman, another Middle Eastern oil producer but not a member of OPEC, also announced an uptick in production. Omans production jumped by more than 12 percent from January to February, topping 1 million barrels per day, nearly all of which was exported. Oman was one of the few non-OPEC countries  in addition to Russia  that had expressed some willingness to work with OPEC to stabilize oil markets.

By Charles Kennedy of Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
"Bar Month" at OnMilwaukee is back for another round, brought to you by Great Northern Distilling: grain to glass spirits, handmade in Wisconsin. The whole month of March, we're serving up intoxicatingly fun articles on bars and clubs  including guides, the latest trends, bar reviews, the results of our Best of Bars readers poll and more. Grab a designated driver and dive in!

St. Patricks Day is almost here. Maybe youll be slugging down Guinness to celebrate. Or you might slug back a bit of Irish whiskey.

But, if youre looking for something a bit different, weve curated a number of great cocktail recipes that will help you to celebrate with a bit of panache.

And before you down that Irish-themed beverage, heres how to make a proper Irish toast, according to Irishman and Tullamore D.E.W. brand ambassador, Tim Herlihy.

"First, you have to stand up to make the toast," he says. "The purpose of that is to reveal any weapons you might be carrying. And then, since most people are right handed, you toast with your right hand; your fighting hand becomes your drinking hand instead."

"Its said that you raise your glass to the sky to have your spirit blessed by the gods. And when you bring your glasses together and clink, that also gets rid of bad spirits or poisons."

"Theres also a legend that if you clink hard enough the liquids splash into each others glasses. So, if enemies  or warring kings  came together, one couldnt poison the other because their beverages had co-mingled during the toast."

Photo: Great Lakes Distillery

Wheres the Beef?

No one is likely to associate pumpkin with St Patrick's day; but Great Lakes Distillerys Pumpkin Seasonal Spirit has the flavor profile of a lightly spiced malt whiskey, which makes it an ideal canvas for the spice flavors that go into corned beef. Theyve boosted the spice flavor of the Pumpkin with Kummel  a cumin and caraway liqueur  and angostura bitters to make a sour that will pair well with traditional St Patrick's Day fare.

2 oz Pumpkin seasonal spirit

.75 oz lemon juice

.75 oz simple syrup

Barspoon Combier Kummel

Dash angostura bitters

Shake ingredients and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a bay leaf.

Photo: Tullamore D.E.W.

The Irish Coffee

Tullamore D.E.W. brand ambassador Timothy Herlihy says, "The Irish Coffee has the four major food groups of caffeine, alcohol, sugar and fat." He continues, "A signature of Irish Whiskey and St. Patricks Day, the original Irish Coffee is a great start to the morning and your St. Patricks Day."

1.5 oz Tullamore D.E.W.

1 oz brown sugar

hot brewed coffee

unsweetened cream, lightly whipped

orange peel, for garnish

Combine Tullamore D.E.W. with brown sugar and hot coffee. Stir to combine. Top with whipped cream and garnish with orange peel.



Photo: Great Northern Distilling

Liquid Luck

Essentially an adult Shamrock Shake, Liquid Luck is the creation of Great Northern Distilling's bar manager, Steve Woodward. "I remembered it was shamrock shake season, which is my favorite dessert. I wondered out loud if we could make our own version in cocktail form." He workshopped the drink and a couple of weeks later it was perfected and on the tasting room menu at Great Northern Distilling in Plover, WI.

1 oz. Great Northern Opportunity Rum

1 oz. Great Northern Herbalist Gin

1 oz. milk

 oz. mint syrup

3 drops mint extract

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker over ice. Shake and strain into chilled glass. Top with mint whipped cream (optional) and garnish with a cherry. If youd like some color a few drops of green food coloring before shaking.

For the mint syrup:

1 1/2 cups packed mint leaves

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

Chop mint. In a saucepan bring sugar, water and mint to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Simmer syrup, undisturbed, 2 minutes. Pour syrup through a fine sieve, pressing hard on solids, and cool. Syrup keeps, covered and chilled, 2 weeks.

For the mint whipped cream:

1 3/4 cups chilled whipping cream

3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon mint extract

Beat cream, sugar and peppermint extract in large bowl until stiff peaks form.

Photo: Franki Ludwig

The Milwaukee Car Bomb

The "Milwaukee Car Bomb" is the perfect amount of delicious for St. Patricks Day in Milwaukee. It essentially blends three Walkers Point Businesses  Central Standard Craft Distillery, Milwaukee Brewing Co. and Anodyne Coffee  into a enjoyably boozy drink that you can enjoy quickly or sip and savor.

1 pint Milwaukee Brewing Company Polish Moon

1 shot Central Standard Coffee Vodka

Drop the shot into the pint of beer. Enjoy.

The Montserrat

The Caribbean island of Montserrat is the only country outside of Ireland to celebrate St.Patricks Day as a national holiday.

This drink is named after this other "Emerald Isle" and celebrates the unlikely relationship between Ireland and the Caribbean.

2 oz of Tullamore D.E.W. Original

 oz simple syrup

2 dashes Angostura bitters

2 dashes orange bitters

 oz apple juice

Fill glass with ice and stir quickly until cold. Be careful not to over dilute. Strain into an ice filled rocks glass. Float apple juice on top and garnish with an orange twist.
Former State Rep. Tamara Grigsby died Tuesday at the age of 41 due to health complications. Grigsby served on the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2005 until 2013, when her battle with cancer caused her to step down.

Mayor Tom Barrett released the following statement regarding Grigsby's passing:

I am deeply saddened by the news of former State Rep. Tamara Grigsbys passing. We have lost a truly great fighter for social justice. Tamara was an exceptional advocate for families and children and a fierce defender of Milwaukee and our public schools. She consistently championed the rights of the poor and compassionately argued for fair and equal treatment for all our citizens. Tamara worked tirelessly to improve the lives of so many. She will be sorely missed.

In response to the passing of Wisconsin State Representative Tamara Grigsby, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) released the following statement:
Reprinted from The Unz Review

The annual grovel begins next week





I am reluctant to write two weeks in a row about Israel's malignant influence over the United States but as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is meeting in Washington for its annual Summit beginning next Sunday some commentary would seem desirable. AIPAC's website claims that its "...mission is to strengthen, protect and promote the U.S.-Israel relationship in ways that enhance the security of Israel and the United States. Our staff and citizen activists educate decision makers about the bonds that unite the United States and Israel and how it is in America's best interest to help ensure that Israel is safe, strong and secure."

That is, of course, a self-serving bit of nonsense. U.S. national security would be best enhanced by telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take a hike and never come back. AIPAC is a political pressure group, not an educational foundation, which is purely a pretext exploited to secure it tax exemption. It uses every means, fair and foul, to influence and even intimidate the U.S. government and media to maintain the fiction that Israel is somehow America's "best friend" and "closest ally" even though it is neither. Its objective is to maintain the flow of U.S. dollars from the U.S. Treasury while keeping the firewall of political protection in place to insulate Israeli politicians from the consequences of their own actions.

This year AIPAC, which has an annual budget of $70 million and more than 200 employees, is expecting 16,000 supporters and two thirds of Congress. It will be featuring a keynote speech by Hillary Clinton, which should be fascinating. As Hillary and her husband Bill already constitute a fully owned subsidiary of the Israel Lobby and New York financial services interests, which often amount to the same thing, her attendance might be regarded as de rigueur. And she has already pledged to invite Netanyahu to the White House during her first month in office while also promising to move the Israeli relationship to a "new level," a concept that is both difficult to imagine and positively frightening in terms of what it might portend. Will she move the entire U.S. government to Jerusalem? Or only the Treasury Department?

Donald Trump will also be speaking at AIPAC, for the first time. Trump has rattled Israel's friends in the U.S. by calling for an even handed role by Washington in Middle East peace negotiations and through his insistence that he does not need the money from Jewish mega-donors to run his campaign and "can't be bought." But he has also said "First of all, there's nobody...that's more pro-Israel than I am. OK. There's nobody. I am pro-Israel. I was the Grand Marshall, not so long ago, of the Israeli Day Parade down 5th avenue. I've made massive contributions to Israel. I have a lot of -- I have tremendous love for Israel. I happen to have a son-in-law and a daughter that are Jewish, OK? And two grandchildren that are Jewish." So one should assume that he will talk fulsomely about his love of Israel but at the same time it has to be hoped that he will assert his independence when it comes to policy affecting the United States.

Netanyahu also regularly appears at AIPAC. Last year he used the platform provided to harangue the American public and the inside the beltway chattering class about the dangers posed by Iran while also exploiting the opportunity to do some serious fundraising in New York. The visits also frequently provide an opportunity to meet with and scold the President of the United States or to address Congress on how the U.S. should conduct its foreign policy. It is a given in Washington that Netanyahu will show up in the nation's capital personally to kick some butt at least twice a year but it is also understood that Bibi will not fail to dish out some harsh criticism the rest of the time by way of the media, his own patented form of international extortion.

Nothing illustrates the unbridgeable abyss between the media/talking head vision of Israel promoted by the Israel Lobby and folks like Hillary and the real thing more than the recent embarrassments and indignities being delivered by the Netanyahu government, which AIPAC really represents. Benjamin Netanyahu is, to everyone's surprise, not coming to AIPAC this year but will instead address the conference by video link. The visit was planned but canceled at the last moment and, per Netanyahu, the fault is that of the president of the United States who had reportedly said that he would not be available for a meeting due to the upcoming trip to Cuba.

The Obama Administration was genuinely puzzled, partly due to the fact that it first learned of the cancellation through a newspaper story rather than from the Israeli Embassy or Foreign Ministry. It was also astonished by the explanation given as it had indeed set up a presidential meeting at Netanyahu's request in spite of a very tight schedule. The White House did not complain openly about the deliberate snub, but it was clear to everyone involved that Netanyahu was yet again sending a message to the Administration regarding who was in charge.

Netanyahu benefits from the fact that his tendency to ridicule critics makes many in the media reluctant to challenge his behavior, but when it became embarrassingly clear that he had been fibbing about why he was not coming to Washington he immediately resorted to Plan B, stating that he did not want to interfere in the presidential primaries currently underway. No one believed that argument either as Netanyahu has not hesitated to interfere in American politics in the past, notably when he made clear that he would prefer a Republican president in 2012 and appeared in ads in Florida endorsing Mitt Romney.

The White House meanwhile resorted to its own Plan B when confronted by a truculent Netanyahu. It first groveled a bit about how much it loves Israel and then expressed hope that Vice President Joe Biden, who was in the air on his way to Tel Aviv, would be able to calm the situation. Indeed, the original objective of the Biden trip turned out to be the real reason for the contretemps with Netanyahu. Netanyahu was miffed because the United States has hesitated to provide him with a no-strings-attached long term agreement to give Israel at least $5 billion dollars per year in military assistance, up from the current $3 billion.

To be fair to Netanyahu, the demand for more "assistance" was no secret. The Israelis had made it clear since they failed to stop the Iran nuclear deal that they would feel a whole lot better if Washington were to give them a lot more money. And it would have to be guaranteed cash, tied to a security package that would run for at least 10 years.

Biden had been sent to help negotiate an agreement over the assistance, which had been stalled due in part to Israeli expectations that they might do better with a GOP Administration or Hillary if they wait a few months. Obama's insistence that any deal would require the Israeli government to forego lobbying directly to congress for more cash also was a stumbling block. The President of the United States has thereby found himself in a situation engineered by Netanyahu in which he has to beg Israel to take more money with the only condition being that it not make trouble with the nation's legislature. In return for the largesse, Israel would not be committed to do anything that would directly benefit the United States.

In the event, Biden's role as a negotiating intermediary was unsuccessful and he wound up looking foolish so he too has decided to speak at AIPAC where he will undoubtedly say many unctuous things that no one will believe.

There are several things that can be done to address the wildly asymmetrical situation with Benjamin Netanyahu and AIPAC. First, it must be recognized that the United States and Israel are actually two separate countries with very little in the way of common interests. The notion that they have many mutual concerns is largely a myth. AIPAC, the principal purveyor of the myth, is an agent of Israel and should be compelled to register with the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, which would require it to maintain transparency in terms of who funds it. It should also be stripped of its tax exemption as it is demonstrably not an educational foundation. Taking those two steps would enable the American public to understand just exactly what AIPAC represents.

Second, President Obama should cut off aid to Israel completely since it is uninterested in there being any quid pro quo for the billions that it receives. If Obama wants to be gracious, he can consider renewing the subsidy if and when Israel rolls back its illegal settlements in Jerusalem and on the Palestinian West Bank. If Israel is not interested in peace and not willing to reverse policies that many believe constitute war crimes then it will not receive any support of any kind from the United States.

The annual reappearance of AIPAC in Washington should remind everyone that there are those among us who regard any allegiance to the common interests that should bind together all Americans as secondary at best. In the case of Israel, billions in taxpayer money should not be regarded as a convenient mechanism to bribe a foreign state to behave. It is past time to cut the ties that bind to despicable rogues like Benjamin Netanyahu and to make clear to Americans politicians that dual loyalty to a state that has been nothing but trouble for the past 20 years will no longer be considered acceptable.
Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"One of the primary means of human communication, internal and external, is storytelling. Here, in Bottom-Up, Rob Kall is challenging humanity to tell itself a new story, one designed to free us from hierarchicalism to a more egalitarian, interconnected web of meaning."



Steven Barnes, television writer (Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, Stargate) and author of LION'S BLOOD"
Open Letter to President Obama to Take Concrete Action on Ending the US Blockade/Embargo on Cuba, and to Return Guantanamo to Cuba



We welcome President Obama's decision to travel to Cuba for talks with the Cuban government.

We undersigned organizations and individuals call on President Obama to take concrete actions on two outstanding issues to restore normal diplomatic relations between the two countries:

1. End the 54 year old embargo/blockade of Cuba,

2. Return the US occupied territory of Guantanamo to Cuba.

Economic Impact of the Embargo/Blockade of Cuba

Cuba lost out on at least US$117 billion between 1960 and 2014 due to the U.S. economic blockade on the country, according to the United Nations' Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. [ click here]

The embargo/blockade not only hurts Cuba, but also the US. The US Chamber of Commerce, which advocates lifting the embargo, states the cost to the US economy of the 54 year sanctions range from $1.2 to $3.6 billion per year.

[Hanson Daniel, Dayne Batten & Harrison Ealey. "It's Time For The U.S. To End Its Senseless Embargo Of Cuba," Forbes Magazine. http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2013/01/16/its-time-for-the-u-s-to-end-its-senseless-embargo-of-cuba/

The US International Trade Commission makes a similar estimate:

http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/time-end-cuba-embargo

"By 1992, U.S. businesses had lost over $30 billion in trade over the previous thirty years, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins. At that time, Cuba's loss for the same period was smaller, but not by much: $28.6 billion, according to Cuba's Institute of Economic Research."

http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2009/0309pepper.html

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By Dave Lindorff



Sanders in Phoenix Tuesday night: campaign continues

(Image by ThisCantBeHappening!) Details DMCA



Bernie Sanders' brash campaign to win the Democratic Party's nomination for president took a "Yu-u-u-u-ge" hit on Tuesday, not only losing big as expected in Florida and North Carolina, but also in Ohio, and narrowly losing too in Illinois and Missouri.

But the good news is that at a big rally in Phoenix, Arizona, held (but blacked out by the corporate media) on the night of the ballot counting in those elections in a state that will be holding its Democratic primary next Tuesday, Sanders announced that his now incredibly long-shot campaign for the nomination will continue.

Sanders, early in his campaign, had said that at the end of the day, if Hillary Clinton were to win the nomination, he would support her.

But the reality is that by not conceding at this point in the campaign, with two and a half months of primaries still to go, including in such big states as California, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, Sanders will continue (as he did in Phoenix) to shame and embarrass his opponent Clinton, calling out her reliance on millions of dollars in corrupt and corrupting campaign contributions from Wall Street banks and hedge funds, military contractors, pharmaceutical companies and oil companies.

Then too, while the corporate media are treating Sanders as if his effort is now quixotic, the other reality is that he can still win. Clinton has run through all the states that she had any real advantage in and Sanders has come painfully close to winning others, like Illinois and Missouri. Now the the focus of the primaries moves west, where Sanders should be at his strongest. He needs to win the rest of the races by 58%. That's a high bar, but consider that he's already done that in Kansas, Vermont, Minnesota and New Hampshire, and came close to that landslide figure in Nebraska, it's doable. The Sanders goal is to win big going forward, and if Clinton starts losing badly in those contests, to then work at prying loose both Super and pledged delegates worried that Clinton will lose against Trump or whoever the Republicans end up nominating.

He will continue to denounce the job-killing trade agreements, from NAFTA to the latest one, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (sic) currently being pushed by President Obama, and promoted by Clinton while she was Secretary of State.

He will continue to call for a country that uses diplomacy, not war, as its default foreign policy approach.

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Reprinted from Consortium News

Co-written by *Michael Winship





From their "Dark Money" bagman Karl Rove to their philosophical guru David Brooks , the GOP elites are in a tizzy over saving the Republican Party from Donald Trump and the other intruders, extremists and crackpots who have fallen in behind Trump as if he were the Pied Piper of Hamelin. But who will save the party from the elites?

Look around at just some of the other sheer lunacy their party perpetrates when it's not trying to shut government down, redistribute wealth upward, and prevent the president of the United States (who, the last time we looked, has the constitutional right and mandate) from filling a vacancy on the Supreme Court.

The Republicans in southern California just got a 7-6 majority on the region's air quality board and have set out to reverse all of its safeguards, "reaffirming new smog rules backed by oil refineries and other major polluters," according to the Los Angeles Times .



Mary Lou Bruner, a Republican crank in Texas who claimed that a young Barack Obama had worked as a black male prostitute, is on track to become a key vote on the state's board of education, the group that, as Matt Levin at the Houston Chronicle writes , is, "already drawing intense criticism for textbooks that, among other issues, downplayed slavery and racial segregation."

That's important because the school board is such a major buyer of books its decisions affect editorial content in texts all over the country . So remember that Bruner is an eccentric whose Facebook declarations include "School shootings started after the schools started teaching evolution" and "The dinosaurs on the ark may have been babies and not able to reproduce. It might make sense to take the small dinosaurs onto the ark instead of the ones bigger than a bus." Huh?

Yet Republican elites seem quite satisfied to have a Mary Lou Bruner as the arbiter of what their children read in schools.

And while we're talking about education, travel over to Texas neighbor Louisiana and look at the legacy that former Republican Gov. and presidential candidate Bobby Jindal has left behind for his Democratic successor, John Bel Edwards.

At The Washington Post , Chico Harlan reported , "Louisiana stands at the brink of economic disaster. Without sharp and painful tax increases in the coming weeks, the government will cease to offer many of its vital services, including education opportunities. ... A few universities will shut down and declare bankruptcy. Graduations will be canceled. Students will lose scholarships. ... Since the 2007-08 school year, Louisiana has cut funding for higher education by 44 percent, the sharpest pullback in the nation."

Part of this can be attributed to the precipitous drop in oil and gas prices and loss of fossil fuel industry revenue crucial to the state's economy. But the real problem, according to the Associated Press , is that "Jindal, burnishing his fiscal conservative credentials for his failed presidential campaign, refused to hike taxes or approve any action that even resembled a tax hike, including trimming expensive business tax credits, even amid an economic downturn. ...

"Legislators are hearing that cuts described by the Jindal administration as 'efficiencies' actually went much deeper, striking at services. They've learned about borrowing practices that increased state debts and about threats to Louisiana's cash flow because it spent down reserves."

The result? A calamitous budget crisis in the second most impoverished state in the country, a $900 million shortfall that has to be fixed by June 30 and another amounting to around $2 billion that will need to be closed next year. So that's how you govern when you have the power. Thanks, Republicans!

And while we're at it, ponder, too, the once-great state of Kansas, where, under the right-wing ideology and bumbling leadership of Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, the clowns are running the circus. The state legislature there is moving toward passage of a bill that would allow the impeachment of Kansas Supreme Court justices for, among other newly-thought of high crimes and misdemeanors, "attempting to usurp the power" of said same legislature or the executive branch.

The reason? As per Edward Eveld of The Kansas City Star , "A recent state Supreme Court decision, citing the Legislature's constitutional duty to properly finance public schools, has demanded that lawmakers fix a school funding formula by June 30 or risk the shutdown of public schools for the 2016-2017 school year."

The court also has overturned death sentences and is considering a case that would void anti-abortion rules. The Republican legislature doesn't like any of this one bit -- not to mention that four of the seven judges were appointed by former Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sibelius.
In advance, let me correct one likely misimpression. My fury against Bill Maher here is not based on his admittedly mild (though very misleading) joke about Revolt Against Plutocracy (RAP) and our Bernie or Bust pledge on his Real Time show. To clarify things for readers, here is what Maher said about RAP (quoted from the Raw Story article just cited):



Bill Maher - Caricature

(Image by DonkeyHotey) Details DMCA



"Maher explained that some of Sanders' supporters have pledged to refuse to vote for Clinton if she is the Democratic Party nominee, calling it the 'Bernie or Bust' campaign. Instead, they urged progressives to vote for Green Party candidate Jill Stein, among other alternatives.

"'On their website, they say they're revolting against the plutocracy,' the host said. 'No, actually you'll be helping elect a plutocrat who's revolting.'"

Maher's implication that "plutocrat who is revolting" applies only to Trump and not with equal or greater force to career influence peddler Hillary Clinton is of course deeply misleading. Clinton herself being a "revolting plutocrat" is precisely what made RAP's co-founders insist on a political revolution much larger in scope than Bernie Sanders' mere campaign--one rejecting Clinton every bit as much as French sans-culottes rejected Marie Antoinette. More on that point soon.

But far from resentment on RAP's behalf, my immediate reaction to Maher's gentle mockery of our pledge was closer to jig-dancing jubilation. After all, there's no such thing as bad publicity. For a grassroots movement, conjured into existence from an OpEdNews article and two activists scheming on Facebook, seeing our logo displayed on Bill Maher's show was nearly as big a coup as Bernie Sanders winning Michigan. RAP's grassroots revolutionaries were, after all, born without silver spoons, and here was Bill Maher, current possessor of quite a silver spoon, publicizing our movement on national television.

Indeed, I was forcefully reminded of Paul Simon's brilliant 1970s timepiece, "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard"--above all, of the following lines:

"But the press let the story leak

And when the radical priest

Come to get me released

We was all on the cover of Newsweek"

See, prior to Maher's show, Bernie or Bust--either the movement or our specific pledge--had recently been mentioned (numerous times) in such big media outlets as Huffington Post and Salon, even internationally in the Guardian . RAP co-founder Victor Tiffany had even been interviewed on FOX Business News. Given Maher's standing an establishment liberal powerbroker--no one ever goes broke serving the establishment--even the cover of Newsweek was perhaps no longer beyond the Bernie or Bust movement's aspirations.

So with establishment bigwig Maher giving the Bernie or Bust movement such great free publicity, what has me as RAP co-founder so furious? It's not his rather harmless joke against RAP, but rather, the dangerously deceitful message of the segment in which that joke appears.

See, as a seeming maverick who's in reality a well-paid member of the Democratic Party establishment, Maher reliably defends what's acceptable to that establishment--even if what's acceptable is immoral, unconstitutional, and dangerous. In return, Maher's allowed to "run with scissors" for his maverick brand, even up to the mildly risky point of endorsing Bernie Sanders for president. Provided, of course, that he toes the establishment line in pretending there's no great difference between Sanders and Clinton and in making no real effort to actually get Bernie elected. So for example, you'll never hear Maher call out the supposedly progressive Democrat pols who lined up like lemmings to endorse Hillary Clinton. And you'd fully predict Maher's defense of Liz Warren's cowardly fence-sitting while Bernie--the only full-throated defender of her own supposed principles--gets sacrificed to the Clinton machine Moloch. If the Democratic establishment lets Bill Maher run with scissors, it's only because they know he's ready when needed to stab them in progressives' backs.

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Reprinted from Wallwritings

In her effort to become the first woman President of the United States, former First Lady Hillary Clinton easily won three Democratic primary states Tuesday night.



Clinton won, by comfortable margins, in Ohio, North Carolina and Florida. She appeared tied in Missouri to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

In an unsettling display of her nagging vulnerabilities, Clinton had to hold off a late surge from Sanders, to gain a narrow victory in her home state of Illinois.

What really matters in these primaries, however, is not the popular vote, but the number of delegates won. Clinton's three big wins Tuesday were in states where the winner takes all of the delegates. In Illinois and Missouri delegates are allocated through district voting.

Clinton's impressive victories in Ohio, North Carolina and Florida leave her with an almost insurmountable total of delegates in her campaign to return the Clinton family to the White House. She and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, lived and served there from 1993 to January, 2001.

Clinton's pro-Israel stance had projected easy victories in Florida and Illinois, two states with heavy Jewish voting pockets. She did win impressively in Florida but she almost lost Illinois in the popular vote totals.

One of Sanders' weaknesses is that his Vermont-based political career did not call for extensive minority interaction. Sanders has been a civil rights activist at the University of Chicago, but his prime political passion has been economic reform, not peace and justice.

His economic focus is a strength, but he still runs well behind Clinton in endorsements from racial minorities and from women. That is a high barrier for Sanders to climb.

Sanders did gain one important female endorsement, which was reported by Washington Post political writer John Wagner before Tuesday's primaries.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Hawaii, (pictured above) resigned from her post on the Democratic National Committee, to throw her support to Senator Sanders. Wagner described the campaign support Rep. Gabbard brings to Sanders:

"KISSIMMEE, Florida -- The thousands of people who have streamed to Bernie Sanders's rallies around the country in recent days have been treated to an opening act -- Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii -- who arguably does more to articulate Sanders's views on foreign policy than he does. "Gabbard, 34, who resigned as vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee last month to endorse Sanders for president, has been tasked with introducing him at recent events, including one here Thursday that drew more than 5,000 people. "Unlike the Vermont senator, who focuses heavily on domestic policy at his rallies, Gabbard is talking about U.S. entanglements abroad. And she doesn't pull any punches when relaying what she sees as a crucial difference between Sanders and her party's front-runner, Hillary Clinton. "'The choice before us is this,' Gabbard told the crowd here. 'We can vote for Hillary Clinton and ... get more of these interventionist, regime-change wars that have cost us so much, or we can vote for and support Bernie Sanders, end these counterproductive, costly interventionist wars and invest here at home, because we cannot afford to do both.'"

A female member of Congress who supports Sanders' stance against interventionism, should strengthen Sanders' foreign policy credibility among progressive Democratic voters.
Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"Just as The Tipping Point provides an explanation for big changes, Rob Kall offers a unified explanation for the magic behind the success of the biggest tech companies, the Arab Spring, Occupy and the social media revolution An important, big picture, visionary approach weaving together technology, economics, evolution, science and personal relationships -- even happiness -- to describe a wave of change as significant as the invention of the printing press that is well under way -- a wave that could rescue the planet from the top-down system that afflicts the planet."



Thom Hartmann, host of nationally syndicated radio show, The Thom Hartmann Program, since 2003 and a nightly television show, The Big Picture, since 2008
300 houses in capital served notices

ISLAMABAD: Around 300 houses in the capital were served final notices on Tuesday to provide residents details to the police.



The notices were served after Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan directed police to seal the exit and entry points of houses whose residents had not furnished the details required under the law, despite repeated reminders.



The houses, which an interior ministry statement said were occupied by foreigners, have been told to furnish the necessary details before 6pm on Wednesday (today).



The handout said that due to security concerns, the interior ministry had been trying to register every individual residing in the capital for the last 18 months.



Notices were served after interior minister directed police to seal the exit and entry points of houses

Earlier, 430 houses which were being used by foreigners had refused to give details of their residents during a household survey, conducted by Nadra and the police, officials in the interior ministry and the police added.



Of the 300 houses, 185 are located in Kohsar police precincts, which includes sectors F-5, F-6, F-7 and E-7. At least 99 are located in the jurisdiction of Margalla police. Police said Americans or citizens of European Union were staying in these houses. A police officer said houses would be sealed with barbed wires and locked if the foreigners continued to ignore the notices sent to them.
Bus blast in Peshawer killed 15

PESHAWAR: A powerful time bomb ripped through a bus carrying government employees in Peshawar on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and causing injuries to 25.



The blast that took place near Peshawar's Sunehri Masjid targeted a Civil Secretariat bus which was carrying government employees from Mardan to the provincial capital.



Fear and panic spread among residents in the wake of the explosion and the area was cordoned off with the injured being shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital, where an emergency has been declared. Superintendent of Police Cantonment Muhammad Kashif said the bomb was planted in the rear portion of the bus.



"Fifteen people were killed and 25 others were severely injured," added the police officer.



Bomb Disposal Unit personnel claimed that high grade explosives weighing eight kilograms was used in the attack.



Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Information Adviser Mushtaq Ghani told reporters Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak condemned the blast and issued directives to provide proper medical care to the wounded.



He said the employees were travelling in a privately-operated bus and that the government cannot ensure security of private vehicles. It was the responsibility of the contractor, Ghani said, adding that usually checks are carried out before the bus leaves its station.



This is not the first time that a civil secretariat bus has been targeted in Peshawar. Similar attacks in 2012 and 2013 killed at least 38 people.



Peshawar has seen scores of attacks on civilians as well as law enforcement personnel in the past. The city is also the home to the XI Corps, an administrative corp of the Pakistan Army which manages all military activity in KP and is currently engaged in a full-blown operation in North Waziristan.



Expressing his grief over loss of lives in the attack, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the blast.



Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan also condemned the explosion and ordered the KP government to provide excellent medical care to the injured victims.



The explosion comes a day after the military top brass suggested publicly that the army was about to conclude the military offensive in North Waziristan's Shawal valley.



Despite implementation of the 20-point National Action Plan (NAP) combating terrorism, there have been multiple attacks in the country since the beginning of the year.
The mathematical (and other) thoughts of a (now retired) math teacher,
Peter Ditlevsen's calculations show that you can view the climate as fractals, that is, patterns or structures that repeat in smaller and smaller versions indefinitely. The formula is: Fq(s)~sHq . Credit: Maria Lemming

When we talk about climate change today, we have to look at what the climate was previously like in order to recognise the natural variations and to be able to distinguish them from the human-induced changes. Researchers from the Niels Bohr Institute have analysed the natural climate variations over the last 12,000 years, during which we have had a warm interglacial period and they have looked back 5 million years to see the major features of the Earth's climate. The research shows that not only is the weather chaotic, but the Earth's climate is chaotic and can be difficult to predict. The results are published in the scientific journal, Nature Communications.

The Earth's climate system is characterised by complex interactions between the atmosphere, oceans, ice sheets, landmasses and the biosphere (parts of the world with plant and animal life). Astronomical factors also play a role in relation to the great changes like the shift between ice ages, which typically lasts about 100,000 years and interglacial periods, which typically last about 10-12,000 years.

Climate repeats as fractals

"You can look at the climate as fractals, that is, patterns or structures that repeat in smaller and smaller versions indefinitely. If you are talking about 100-year storms, are there then 100 years between them? - Or do you suddenly find that there are three such storms over a short timespan? If you are talking about very hot summers, do they happen every tenth year or every fifth year? How large are the normal variations? - We have now investigated this," explains Peter Ditlevsen, Associate Professor of Climate Physics at the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen. The research was done in collaboration with Zhi-Gang Shao from South China University, Guangzhou in Kina.

Peter Ditlevsen discusses data with colleague Sune Olander Rasmussen in the Centre for Ice and Climate at the Niels Bohr Institute. Credit: Ola Jakup Joensen

The researchers studied: Temperature measurements over the last 150 years. Ice core data from Greenland from the interglacial period 12,000 years ago, for the ice age 120,000 years ago, ice core data from Antarctica, which goes back 800,000 years, as well as data from ocean sediment cores going back 5 million years.

"We only have about 150 years of direct measurements of temperature, so if, for example, we want to estimate how great of variations that can be expected over 100 years, we look at the temperature record for that period, but it cannot tell us what we can expect for the temperature record over 1000 years. But if we can determine the relationship between the variations in a given period, then we can make an estimate. These kinds of estimates are of great importance for safety assessments for structures and buildings that need to hold up well for a very long time, or for structures where severe weather could pose a security risk, such as drilling platforms or nuclear power plants. We have now studied this by analysing both direct and indirect measurements back in time," explains Peter Ditlevsen.

The research shows that the natural variations over a given period of time depends on the length of this period in the very particular way that is characteristic for fractals. This knowledge tells us something about how big we should expect the 1000-year storm to be in relation to the 100-year storm and how big the 100-year storm is expected to be in relation to the 10-year storm. They have further discovered that there is a difference in the fractal behaviour in the ice age climate and in the current warm interglacial climate.

Associate Professor in Climate Physics at the Niels Bohr Institute, Peter Ditlevsen has analyzed the natural climate variations 5 million years back in time. Credit: Ola Jakup Joensen

Abrupt climate fluctuations during the ice age

"We can see that the climate during an ice age has much greater fluctuations than the climate during an interglacial period. There has been speculation that the reason could be astronomical variations, but we can now rule this out as the large fluctuation during the ice age behave in the same 'fractal' way as the other natural fluctuations across the globe," Peter Ditlevsen.

The astronomical factors that affect the Earth's climate are that the other planets in the solar system pull on the Earth because of their gravity. This affects the Earth's orbit around the sun, which varies from being almost circular to being more elliptical and this affects solar radiation on Earth. The gravity of the other planets also affects the Earth's rotation on its axis. The Earth's axis fluctuates between having a tilt of 22 degrees and 24 degrees and when the tilt is 24 degrees, there is a larger difference between summer and winter and this has an influence on the violent shifts in climate between ice ages and interglacial periods.

The abrupt climate changes during the ice age could be triggered by several mechanisms that have affected the powerful ocean current, the Gulf Stream, which transports warm water from the equator north to the Atlantic, where it is cooled and sinks down into the cold ocean water under the ice to the bottom and is pushed back to the south. This water pump can be put out of action or weakened by changes in the freshwater pressure, the ice sheet breaking up or shifting sea ice and this results in the increasing climatic variability.

Natural and human-induced climate changes

The climate during the warm interglacial periods is more stable than the climate of ice age climate.

"In fact, we see that the ice age climate is what we call 'multifractal', which is a characteristic that you see in very chaotic systems, while the interglacial climate is 'monofractal'. This means that the ratio between the extremes in the climate over different time periods behaves like the ratio between the more normal ratios of different timescales," explains Peter Ditlevsen

This new characteristic of the climate will make it easier for climate researchers to differentiate between natural and human-induced climate changes, because it can be expected that the human-induced climate changes will not behave in the same way as the natural fluctuations.

"The differences we find between the two climate states also suggest that if we shift the system too much, we could enter a different system, which could lead to greater fluctuations. We have to go very far back into the geological history of the Earth to find a climate that is as warm as what we are heading towards. Even though we do not know the climate variations in detail so far back, we know that there were abrupt climate shifts in the warm climate back then," points out Peter Ditlevsen.
In this April 10, 2008 file photo, a North Atlantic right whale dives in Cape Cod Bay near Provincetown, Mass. The endangered whales increasingly are frequenting the bay, enticed by the fine dining possibilities of its plankton-rich waters. They foraged in the bay for centuries, where their numbers were decimated when whalers hunted them for their oil and plastic-like baleen bone. For a stretch in the late 1990s, fewer than 30 whales were sighted each year. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia, File)

Cape Cod is seeing a lot more of some singularly welcome tourists: endangered right whales enticed by the fine dining possibilities of its plankton-rich bay.

Experts tracking the majestic marine mammals - among the rarest creatures on the planet - say nearly half the estimated global population of 500 or so animals has been spotted in Cape Cod Bay over the past few springs.

They're back again in what looks like record numbers, thrilling amateur photographers and scientists still anguishing over their future.

"It's rather extraordinary and somewhat mind-blowing," said Charles "Stormy" Mayo, a senior scientist and director of right whale ecology at the federally-funded Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown.

North Atlantic right whales have foraged for centuries in Cape Cod Bay, where their numbers were decimated by whalers who hunted them for their oil and plastic-like baleen bone.

But until recently, they were seldom spotted in the bay. For a stretch in the late 1990s, fewer than 30 whales were sighted each year, said Mayo, who's been surveying them and their ecosystem since 1984 by boat and plane.

"There has been a huge pulse in numbers in the past few years," said Amy Knowlton, a scientist with the New England Aquarium's Right Whale Research Project.

"Right whales are probably scouting for food all the time. Maybe when one of them finds it, they call their friends," she said.

Each whale has a unique marking on its head, and researchers use those to identify and catalog individuals. The Aquarium, which also closely monitors the population, gives specific animals amusing names such as Kleenex, Snotnose and Wart.

Right whales spend most of their time in the western Atlantic, and many are believed to congregate in the Gulf of Maine. They're rarely seen north of the entrance to the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada's Maritime Provinces. A few venture as far south as coastal Florida and Georgia, mainly females giving birth to calves - something scientists say doesn't happen often enough.

Their increasing presence in Cape Cod Bay has caught scientists by surprise. Mayo theorizes that shifting ocean currents - possibly due to global climate change - are pumping more plankton into the bay, even as the whales' traditional feeding grounds off the Maine coast falter.

"They're a little like cows in a field. They go away from places that are not good and go to places that are good," he said.

Although some right whales arrive in the bay in early December and linger as late as mid-May, their presence generally builds in March and peaks in mid-April, when plankton concentrations are at their highest.

The busy waters hold clear and present dangers: a risk of being struck by commercial ships and recreational boats or becoming entangled in nets.

Researchers out spotting whales report their whereabouts to state and federal authorities, who in turn alert nearby vessels. Federal law forbids getting within 500 yards of a right whale and requires ships to slow to 10 knots - roughly 11.5 miles per hour. Whale-watch tours steer clear, focusing instead on humpbacks and other comparatively plentiful species.

"It's always heartening every time we see individuals and know they're still alive," Knowlton said. "It's only through seeing them and their scars that we can really understand what's going on with them."

More information: Center for Coastal Studies, Center for Coastal Studies, coastalstudies.org New England Aquarium's Right Whale Research Project, bit.ly/1BnKIZH

 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Research by scientists from The University of Western Australia, the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and partners from Australian and international institutions has shown that fish, corals and trees in north-west Australia respond to climate change with simultaneous growth patterns.

The results are published in the prestigious Global Change Biology.

The El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a large-scale climate phenomenon that affects marine and terrestrial ecosystems globally.

The research found that during El Nino years, growth of the four study species (two types of marine fish, one coral and one tree) slowed, whereas in La Nina years with warmer sea temperatures and generally wetter years, growth rates increased.

The growth patterns of the four species were taken from annual bands found in fish ear stones (otoliths), coral cores, and tree stems, all of which contain information about how much these organisms grow every year.

Lead author of the study Joyce Ong, a PhD student from UWA's School of Animal Biology and Oceans Institute, said it is the first evidence of ENSO driving similar growth patterns in marine and terrestrial species in the southern hemisphere.

"These four different species span different trophic levels and environments, yet respond similarly to large-scale climate phenomenon," she said.

Co-author and UWA researcher Dr Pauline Grierson, a leading expert on tree chronologies, said the findings were particularly important for the eastern Indian Ocean and inland Australia, where gaps remained in both climatic data and ecological knowledge.

"Multi-species approaches, as demonstrated by our study, provide unprecedented levels of detail that increase confidence in climate models," Dr Grierson said.

Under predicted climate scenarios, rainfall and ocean temperatures are expected to increase in north-west Australia, which the study proposes would be good news for trees, fish and corals.

However Ms Ong said it was not that straightforward.

"The strong La Nina events with record high sea surface temperatures can have disastrous impacts as seen over the summer of 2011 where widespread fish kills and coral bleaching occurred," she said.

"These extreme La Nina events as well as strong El Nino conditions are predicted to occur more frequently in the future, indicating that events with extreme temperature changes that lead to damage or death and conditions favouring slower growth of marine and terrestrial organisms will be more common.

"The magnitude and frequency of El Nino and La Nina events are likely to have major negative consequences on both marine and terrestrial species and will need to be carefully monitored."

Explore further Younger mangrove jacks weather climate change better than parents

More information: Joyce J.L. Ong et al. Evidence for climate-driven synchrony of marine and terrestrial ecosystems in northwest Australia, Global Change Biology (2016). Journal information: Global Change Biology Joyce J.L. Ong et al. Evidence for climate-driven synchrony of marine and terrestrial ecosystems in northwest Australia,(2016). DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13239
A coalition of the willing has unleashed a surge of Frankenflies at the frontline of the War on Zika. Armed with a genetic payload, the airborne troops will carry out a precision strike against a rogue group of Mozzys that harbor the virus. Proponents argue by clearing the ground of hostile flies they will be able to degrade the operating capability of virus and neutralize the threat of the current Zika insurgency in Brazil and beyond. However, critics claim this shock and awe approach will prove ineffective in the face of Mozzy guerilla tactics, with flies able to go to ground through reliance on egg dumps hidden in native territory. Further there are concerns that despite advances in precision molecular bombing, this nuclear option could result in collateral damage; or at worst further de-stabilize the situation, allowing an axis of airborne pathogens to invade the territory, potentially leading to the emergence of new, more dangerous weapons of mass infection.

When gene drives go to war

Public opinion is shaped by the way science is communicated. The metaphors that we choose can have a powerful role in this process, with the ability to inspire or to horrify, to enlighten or to confuse. Synthetic Biology is saturated with metaphors, and as an emerging field dealing with controversial issues such as gene editing, practitioners face a difficult task in getting it right.

A couple of weeks ago we [Steven Burgess, Carmen McLeod and Brigitte Nerlich] sat down together to discuss working on a post for the PLOS Synbio Community blog. We wanted to write something about the way gene drives are described, as is one of the more controversial topics in synthetic biology. Because our meeting was at the height of media attention to the spread of the Zika virus across Southern America, particularly Brazil, we thought it might be a good idea to look at what people were saying about gene drives in the context of Zika.

Brigitte then did one of her quick trawls through 'All English Language News' on the Nexis news database  more about that later  and was surprised to find that the metaphor of war was a major framing device when talking about gene drives in the context of Zika. Brigitte was corresponding with Kate Roach, a Frankenstein specialist, who suggested some nice spoof headlines, one of which we used for this post. Steven then wrote our spoof first paragraph, which summarises the essence of some of the Zika/biotech discourse that one can find 'out there' and we were off!

In the following we'll provide a bit of background to Zika and gene drives, then home in on the war metaphors we found, before discussing some of their social, ethical and political implications.

Zika

The Zika virus was first identified in monkeys in Uganda in 1947  rhesus monkeys that lived in a forest called Zika. It gradually spread from Africa to Central America. The virus is carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito which has also been linked to transmitting dengue fever, yellow fever and chikungunya. In May 2015 the Zika spreading mosquitoes reached Brazil, where the virus, which until then only caused mild discomfort, is suspected to be linked to a large cluster of microcephaly cases (evidence is getting stronger) and has, more recently been linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome too. It has now been discovered that the virus can be transmitted sexually and even through saliva. The mosquitoes that transmit the virus through their bite are female and thrive in urban surroundings in particular, especially in pools of stagnant water.

There are many options to deal with the virus and its vector  the mosquito -, from citizen science and on the ground activities like spraying pesticides and eliminating pools of stagnant water, to experimental genetic modification of mosquitoes (making males sterile or even inducing sex change from female to male), to more futuristic interventions that could wipe out the insect population as a whole  through the use of a technology called 'gene drive'.

GM, gene editing and gene drives

A 'gene drive' is a recent development in biotechnology. Although the concept has been around for a while, it is an advanced application of genetic modification based on an existing genome editing tool, called CRISPR-Cas9, that allows scientists to precisely insert, replace, delete or regulate genes in many different species. A gene drive enables a quick and persistent spread of a genetic trait within a population of a particular organism. This is especially feasible in organisms with a short generation time, and gene drives are only effective in sexually reproducing organisms. However, as the government response to the report on genetically modified insects by the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee has pointed out: "With gene-drive technology still at a relatively early stage of development, it is likely to be some years before any proposal may be forthcoming for a field release of a gene-drive insect." (p. 4)

In the context of dealing with dengue fever, some GM insects have been developed in particular by the British firm Oxitec, now part of the US company Intrexon. The insects are genetically modified to be sterile, but don't contain a gene-drive. The language used on Oxitec's website to describe the technology makes for interesting reading.

Oxitec describes its own insect-killing gene-technology using metaphors that overlap to some extent with the war metaphors we found in our little corpus, together with some machine metaphors typical of synthetic biology: "The Oxitec approach is to insert a lethal factor (a gene) into the insect's genome. The insect's offspring inherit the lethal factor, so that in the environment they will not survive to adulthood." And: "The lethal factor is a gene which is able to act as a switch to control the activity of other genes. In the modified insects, the presence of high levels of this gene causes the machinery in the insect's cells to go into over-drive. The gene doesn't produce any toxic proteins, but it ties up some of the cell's essential machinery and disrupts its normal function  causing the insects to die. Because no toxic proteins are produced in the insects, when any other animals eat them they will be digested in just the same way that all other insects are digested, so natural predators won't suffer any harmful effects from consumption of a modified insect."

The GM insects are described as machines that include switches, have machinery and can go into overdrive. But they are not just machines  they are lethal machines. Initially developed to 'fight' dengue fever in Brazil, this technology is now becoming part of the 'arsenal' deployed against Zika's 'explosive' spread.

When a virus goes viral

In the English media Zika seems to have been discussed since the 1990s, but especially around 2007, when people began to monitor its worldwide spread. At the end of 2015 possible links with microcephaly were noticed and Brazil declared a public health emergency on 11 November 2015. Our graph starts on 15 January 2016, when the US Centers for Disease Control issued a travel alert. On 28 January the World Health Organization (WHO) talked about an 'explosive spread', and and in a twitter message Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff declared war on mosquitoes responsible for spreading the Zika virus (first peak in our graph). On 1 February the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern and sexual transmission of Zika is beginning to be discussed (leading to the highest peak in our graph). On 10 February strong evidence links Zika to microcephaly (third peak in our graph). On 16 February the WHO announced that it supported research into the use of GM mosquitoes as tools control the Zika outbreak.

War metaphors

In order to get a very quick and dirty insight into how gene drives are being discussed in the context of the Zika outbreak, we accessed the Nexis database and searched All English Language News with the search terms 'Zika' AND 'gene drive'. This retrieved 58 articles. Of these 21 were online articles (of which 3 were duplicates) and 35 mainstream media articles (of which 15 were duplicates and two not relevant). This provided us with a very small but manageable window on press coverage regarding Zika and gene drives. But, of course, more research needs to be done.

When going through the small corpus of articles, we found to our surprise that in the context of the Zika 'threat' GM insects and also gene drives were almost exclusively discussed through the lens of war not science  or rather science becomes a weapon in the war on Zika. In particular, gene drives and GM insects were seen as 'potent weapons' or 'powerful tools', 'GM weaponry', 'means of attack', a 'powerful biotech weapon', or a new tool in the existing 'arsenal'/'artillery' that could be used to 'wipe out' the insects/virus (indeed, 'wipe it off the face of the earth'), 'knock down' the virus, and, of course 'fight' and 'combat' the virus, 'stop it in its tracks' and 'kill' the insects. Gene drives were discussed as a potent 'extinction option' that could be used to launch 'a final blow' against a 'wily foe' that 'spreads bioterror in its wake'. Some even talked about a program of 'Total Mosquito Destruction' and a 'nuclear option'.

Three articles in particular used a range of war metaphors. One was written by Daniel Engber for Slate Magazine (29 January). In this article Engber wants to 'give'm hell' and commit 'mass mosquito-cide'. Another more moderate article was written by Michael Reilly for MIT's online Technology Review (29 January) and contains both verbal and visual war imagery. The third article, by Archie Bland for the Guardian (10 February), initially talks not only about 'wiping out' the 'bloodsuckers' but also about 'editing nature' (quoting scientists, it should be stressed).

However, this article also quoted other voices that contributed to a more nuanced reflection on the issue. The journalist then wonders (referring not to gene drives but GM insects): "All the same, there is a certain bitter irony that in an attempt to beat a disease whose impact will be felt most keenly by women and their unborn children, and which has been exacerbated by a shortage of funding for studies that would focus on the wellbeing of women in developing countries, we are contemplating a macho solution that entails sending male mosquitoes to impregnate as many females as possible, with the ultimate ambition of wiping the enemy off the face of the Earth."

Three more articles contributed to a more critical debate on GM insects and on the potential use of gene drives. One important article was written quite early on by Kevin M. Esvelt which appeared both online and in the mainstream media on 26/27 January and called for responsibility, transparency and collective scrutiny. He also points out: "Nowadays, there are few opportunities for public input until after products are developed, when it is typically too late to make changes. By ignoring potentially helpful contributions from an increasingly knowledgeable public, closed-door technological development has precluded balanced assessments and created acrimonya dangerously irresponsible and wasteful outcome for both science and society." An appeal to responsible innovation!

Another article for the online magazine Gizmodo by George Dvorsky had the misleading title "It's time to declare war on mosquitoes" (7 February). Dvorsky argues that just fighting war against Zika is misguided. Instead Dvorsky uses the metaphor of 'Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu'  i.e. we have to fight clever so to speak and mix effective population control measures 'with the latest that genomic technologies have to offer'  including gene drives. Dvorsky quotes Esvelt as telling Gizmodo: "Gene drive offers a way of altering, reducing, or even eliminating these deadly mosquitoes in the wild by ensuring that genomic changes are preferentially inherited by offspring," .. "CRISPR gene drives capable of affecting the worst offenders are nearly within our reach." However, as Dvorsky says, there are other options too and it's worth reading the whole article to get familiar with some of them.

Finally, an article by the risk specialist Andrew Maynard, uses, like Dvorsky's one, a range of war metaphors (arsenal, combat etc.). However, it is one of the rare ones that talk about 'synthetic biology', throws in some synbio metaphors (italicised) and still talks about responsible use of new technologies in a messy context, namely biology: "Yet we still have only the vaguest ideas of how the systems we're hacking actually work. It's as if we've been given free rein to play with life's operating system code, but unlike computers, we don't have the luxury of rebooting when things go wrong. This is not an argument against using synthetic biology to combat Zika and other infectious diseases  far from it. If developed responsibly, the technology could save millions of lives, and improve living conditions for countless more. It does mean, though, that we have to be exceptionally cautious in how we proceed  and take every ounce of advice and insight we can get on how to weigh the potential risks and consequences of what we do. "

Although the word gene drive as such doesn't evoke war and combat, in the context of Zika it began to attract such connotations, as there was ample talk about driving down the insect population, driving it out, as well as of course driving genetic modification through a whole population. There is also talk about eradication, extinction and, of course, control.

Metaphors matter

Sending in GM insects and deploying gene drives as the ultimate weapon in the war against Zika is, as one article pointed out, part of a 'macho' solution, a solution that focuses on a technofix focused on killing the insects/virus. This militaristic, command and control, frame sidelines a number of issues which are discussed in a few articles, such as responsibility, transparency and public scrutiny. More importantly though, looking at Zika through a militaristic lens, blends out a whole lot of social, political and ethical issues related to poverty, inequality and gender. This has implications for social, public and health policy, but also for health, risk and science communication. Communication within a command and control context is very different to communication within an engaged community context.

Military metaphors are commonplace in medicine and 'explode' in particular during epidemics or pandemics like AIDS, foot and mouth disease, SARS, and most recently Ebola. As Cooter pointed out many years ago in a chapter on 'War and modern medicine' (1994), "each of our 'illnesses' must be fought (usually with the help of magic bullets, which we sometimes receive in the form of shots); that we battle AIDS by seeking the means to restore defence systems), is but small testimony to the profundity and reach of the process. 'Biomilitarism', as one discourse analyst has labelled it, is now the language of modern biomedicine."

Modern advances in biotechnology and biomedicine, including gene editing and gene drives, still get caught up in this archaic but persistent, pervasive militaristic framing, a framing that has ethical, social and political consequences for those living with Zika. We have to be careful. If you frame a disaster, crisis or epidemic like a war, it gradually becomes a war; with winners (probably Oxitec/Intrexon) and with losers, victims, casualties and collateral damage (probably women and children).

Although martial in tone, the 'Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu' metaphor was actually an effective means of highlighting the need for a balanced approach. As the case of gene drives demonstrate, the metaphors we use in synthetic biology can have wide-ranging impacts on society, and this will only be amplified as scientists seek to take the tools they have developed into the world.

Explore further Zika virus: Five things to know

This story is republished courtesy of PLOS Blogs: blogs.plos.org.
In this Feb. 6, 2016 photo, tourists who have taken a helicopter trip onto the Fox Glacier climb through a hole in the ice in New Zealand. The Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting at such a rapid rate that it has become too dangerous for tourists to hike onto them from the valley floor, ending a tradition that dates back a century. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)

New Zealand is renowned for its wondrous scenery, and among the country's top tourist attractions are two glaciers that are both stunning and unusual because they snake down from the mountains to a temperate rain forest, making them easy for people to walk up to and view.

But the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting at such a rapid rate that it has become too dangerous for tourists to hike onto them from the valley floor, ending a tradition that dates back a century. With continuing warm weather this year there are no signs of a turnaround, and scientists say it is another example of how global warming is impacting the environment.

Tourism in New Zealand is booming and nearly 1 million people last year flocked to get a glimpse of the glaciers and the spectacular valleys they've carved. But the only way to set foot on them now is to get flown onto them by helicopter.

Tour operators offer flights and guided glacier walks, although logistics limit this to 80,000 tourists per year, half the number that once hiked up from the valley floor. Up to another 150,000 people each year take scenic flights that land briefly at the top of the glaciers.

Flying in the UNESCO World Heritage area comes with its own risks, highlighted in November when a sightseeing helicopter crashed onto the Fox Glacier, killing all seven aboard.

In this Feb. 6, 2016 photo, tourists who have taken a helicopter trip onto the Fox Glacier follow a guide in New Zealand. The Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting at such a rapid rate that it has become too dangerous for tourists to hike onto them from the valley floor, ending a tradition that dates back a century. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)

Sitting near the base of the Franz Josef Glacier, Wayne Costello, a district operations manager for the Department of Conservation, said that when he arrived eight years ago, the rock he was perched on would have been buried under tons of ice. Instead, the glacier now comes to an end a half-mile (800 meters) further up the valley.

"Like a loaf of bread shrinking in its tin, it's gone down a lot as well," Costello said. "So it's wasted away in terms of its thickness, and that's led to quite a rapid melt."

Because of that melt, the valley walls that were once braced by the glaciers have been left exposed and vulnerable to rock falls, making hiking up too dangerous. Tour operators stopped taking guided hikes onto the Franz Josef in 2012 and the nearby Fox in 2014.

In this Feb. 7, 2016 photo, tourists walk past waterfalls at the Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand. The Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting at such a rapid rate that it has become too dangerous for tourists to hike onto them from the valley floor, ending a tradition that dates back a century. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)

A 2014 paper published in the journal Global and Planetary Change concluded the two glaciers have each melted by 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) in length since the 1800s, making them about 20 percent shorter. The glaciers have recently been melting at a faster pace than ever previously recorded, the authors said.

Heather Purdie, a scientist at the University of Canterbury and lead author of the paper, said climate change is the driving factor.

"We know that glaciers around the world, including the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers, are responding to that warmer temperature and they're retreating," she said. Small changes in temperature and snowfall tend to be magnified in the two glaciers and their retreat has been interrupted by advances that can last years, she said.

In this Feb. 6, 2016 photo, tourist relax at the end of the track at the Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand. The Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting at such a rapid rate that it has become too dangerous for tourists to hike onto them from the valley floor, ending a tradition that dates back a century. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)

Costello and tour operators are hoping to see another advance soon. But there's no sign of that: February was the second-hottest month ever recorded in New Zealand.

The hot weather has even created a new type of tourist attraction over the other side of the mountains. Purdie said the glaciers there are also rapidly retreating, resulting in tourists taking boat rides on the lakes to see some of the massive icebergs that have begun to shear away.

A helicopter trip onto the Fox Glacier reveals deep crevasses in the translucent blue ice and stunning ice caves through which guides take crampon-wearing tourists. A guide retells the indigenous Maori legend which would have it that the Franz Josef Glacier began as a stream of tears left by a young woman whose lover was killed by an avalanche.

In this Feb. 6, 2016 photo, Wayne Costello, a district operations manager for the Department of Conservation, explains how the ice has retreated at the Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand. The Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting at such a rapid rate that it has become too dangerous for tourists to hike onto them from the valley floor, ending a tradition that dates back a century. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)

The glaciers are formed by prevailing westerly winds dumping snow in a high-altitude basin. It compacts into ice and is pushed down the valleys much like toothpaste being squeezed from a tube. The glaciers slide and roll down the mountain at a rate of 4 meters (13 feet) each day, picking up rocks and debris along the way.

"It's the uniqueness, the rawness of the environment," that draws tourists from Australia, North America, Europe, and, increasingly, China, said Rob Jewell, chairman of the Glacier Country Tourism Group.

It's also a region which is subject to rapid changes in the weather. At the time of November's helicopter crashwhich killed four tourists from Britain and two from Australia, as well as the New Zealand pilotsome observers said the weather and visibility were marginal for safe flying.

In this Feb. 6, 2016 photo, tourists who have taken a helicopter trip onto the Fox Glacier follow a guide in New Zealand. The Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting at such a rapid rate that it has become too dangerous for tourists to hike onto them from the valley floor, ending a tradition that dates back a century. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)

Jewell said he didn't want to comment until an investigation by authorities is complete. He said the crash hasn't affected tourist numbers, which have been stronger than ever this year.

At the base of the Franz Josef, Dutch tourist Dieuwke Derkse said she was overwhelmed by the beauty of the glacier and the purity of the environment.

She said she believed global warming was responsible for its retreat and felt a little guilty even visiting New Zealand because of the fossil fuels burned by the plane ride there. But she said the glacier also helped inspire her to live in a more environmentally conscious way.

"It makes me a little bit sad because you see how fast everything is going," she said. "The river is going very fast but the snow and glacier is going backward."

This Feb. 6, 2016 photo shows an ice crevasse on the Fox Glacier in New Zealand. The Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting at such a rapid rate that it has become too dangerous for tourists to hike onto them from the valley floor, ending a tradition that dates back a century. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)

This Feb. 7, 2016 photo shows the Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand. The Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting at such a rapid rate that it has become too dangerous for tourists to hike onto them from the valley floor, ending a tradition that dates back a century. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)

Explore further Southern Alps glaciers reducing rapidly

 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Forests in the south-central United States are some of the countrys most productive and diverse. A team from Columbia Universitys Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory is studying how they may react to changing climate. Here, a researcher explores a creek floodplain in southern Missouri. Credit: Kevin Krajick

One foggy spring morning just after a hard rain, Park Williams was tromping through the woods deep in Arkansas' Ozark Mountains. Toiling down a steep slope, he supposedly was keeping a simultaneous eye out for rattlesnakes, copperheads, poison ivy and big old trees. Williams seemed mostly focused on the trees, though; attention to the other stuff was just slowing him down. Williams studies how forests react to changes in climate, and the Ozarks' deeply dissected hills and hollers are a kind of ground zero for this.

The region is home to some of the nation's most productive forests, and a huge logging industry. In much of North America, especially the U.S. West, climate warming is proceeding too fast for tree populations to adapt, and many forests are declining. Eastern forests, though, are doing wellparticularly those in the south-central United States, where temperatures actually have not changed that much yet. No one knows whether this "warming hole" is due to chance convergence of weather patterns or other factors, but the region may soon begin catching up, and the consequences could be immense. Some scientists believe that many common tree species here could be more vulnerable to warming than other trees in the Northern Hemisphere. Some dominant species may die off, while others may do better. Forests may shift composition, changing both economics and ecosystems. In some areas, forests could simply disappear, and release large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, further warming the planet.

To get at what the future might hold, Williams had come with a small crew from Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory to sample trees' yearly growth rings. A wide ring generally signals a good growth year for the tree, while a narrower one means a worse one. The researchers can then correlate the rings to instrumental records showing when temperature or rainfall spiked or dropped. This should allow them to understand how various species have reacted to year-by-year weather variationsand hopefully to project how they will react to longer-term changes in overall climate.

Technician Javier Martin Fernandez drills into a white oak in order to sample a cross-section of its rings. Tree-ring scientist Neil Pederson, a Lamont adjunct based at Harvard Forest, notes position, surrounding trees and other data.

Forests cover some 20 percent of earth's non-glaciated land, and scientists worldwide are asking the same questions. In many places, they see forests already changing. The news is often grim for species that have dominated regions for thousands of years. Long-term increases in heat have been aggravating droughts that starve trees of wateroften the main factor controlling growth and survival. In recent decades, drought has decimated firs in Turkey, acacias in Zimbabwe, eucalyptus in Australia. "A tree can notice even a 1-degree increase in average temperature," says Williams, who recently published a widely noted study showing how global warming has worsened an ongoing drought in California that has killed tens of millions of trees.

Currently, water stress is wiping out ponderosa pines across much of the U.S. Southwest and aspens in Colorado. Higher temperatures and aridity are helping drive wildfires that took out more than 3 million acres of U.S. forests in 2014 alone. In California, drought and wildfires could kill off some 120 million treesmaybe 20 percent in the statein coming years. The vast evergreen boreal forests reaching up into arctic Alaska and Canada are also browning, and burning. In the U.S. East, invasive woolly adelgids, insects that specialize in sucking the life out of common hemlocks, are spreading about 15 kilometers a year, because winter cold that used to kill them is abating.

What will replace once-dominant trees? Northerly black spruces and other evergreens may give way to southerly deciduous trees. In California, various species might march uphill to escape heat; ancient sequoia forests may change to ponderosa pine or oak, while the lower-elevation oak forests might become grasslands. In the fast-warming U.S. Midwest, common maples, birches and beeches are projected to decline during this century, but what will come next is not clear. In drier places such as the U.S. Southwest, forests may soon stop being forests, and become drought-adapted grass- or shrublands. Pine and fir forests that dominate the U.S. Northwest may become scrubby chaparral. In every case, entire ecosystems will likely vanish, to be replaced by new ones. "We want to know who will be the winners and who will be the losers," said Williams.

Forests in Arkansas Ozark mountains tend to be a mixture of deciduous and conifer trees. Species compositions could change in the future.

In rural southern Missouri, the scientists drove on back roads through miles of piney woods, punctuated mainly by deserted-looking cabins, small Baptist churches and cattle pastures. Turning off on a rough dirt track, they drove to the end, then hiked a half hour up and down a series of heavily wooded ravines to a target area that had been identified by state foresters. The urgent, stuttering cry of a pileated woodpecker echoed through the trees. "There's our friend," said Neil Pederson, a tree-ring scientist from Harvard Forest helping run the expedition. The big woodpeckers prefer big old trees, and so do tree-ring scientists. The cry meant the team was on the right track. Sure enough, a stand of scattered 100-some-year-old shortleaf pines and other big specimens came into view. The scientists got out their tools.

Sampling a tree involves hand-screwing a long, hollow drill bit into the trunk. As the bit digs in, it takes in a straw-width cross section of each yearly ring, from the most recent outside one, back to the interior, when the tree was a sapling. It is a harmless pinprick for the tree, but tough on the samplers; getting the corer to the center of a solid two- or three-foot-wide tree takes muscle and persistence.

The four-man team deployed to different trees, and soon were sweating and panting. Moving through seesaw terrain, they went at it for hours, carefully measuring each tree, and logging exact GPS coordinates. By day's end, they had sampled dozens of pines, walnuts, oaks and other species. The cores were packed into a tube for later analysis at the Lamont-Doherty Tree-Ring Lab.

As you go west into Oklahoma, the landscape flattens, climate dries and forests turn to grassland. The boundary between these two biomes may start creeping eastward if climate becomes inhospitable for many currently common trees.

Williams suspects that some trees here might expand their reach as climate warms. These include scrubby, drought-adapted post oaks, now confined mainly to drier upland terrain where they don't have to compete with trees that require, and get, a lot of moisture. The ones that might suffer include the magnificent black walnuts, which prefer lower, wetter areas, and may grow to great size. The post oaks are not commercially valuable, but the walnuts areso much so that bandits have been known to cut down inaccessible specimens and airlift them out by helicopter. White oaks and red oaks, used for flooring, cabinets and furniture, dominate large areas; they may not do so well, either. In fact, a brief but intense drought in 2011-12 killed as many as three-quarters of the white oaks in some areas. It is also unclear what might happen to the common tall, straight yellow pinesthe basic stuff of 2-by-4s and paper, which are exported far and wide. The various species of hickories, maples, ashes, magnolias, beeches and other trees common to this region could go either way.

As you travel further west through Missouri and Arkansas, you drop out of the relatively rainy mountains into the flatlands of north-central Oklahoma. Here, the climate is drier, and it shows; the thick Ozark forests peter out into rolling grasslands. You are no longer in the backwoods, but at the edge of the Great Plains, where horses roam in the open, and the skeletons of dead or dying towns dot the landscape. As climate warms, this kind of landscape may start creeping east, says Williams.

"People would adapt," he says. "But dense forests here and elsewhere play a critical role in climate. They store large amounts of carbon that otherwise would be in the air, warming the globe." When trees die and decompose, the carbon stored in their trunks is released to the air. If forests disappear altogether, the grasses or shrubs that replace them might hold only about 5 percent or less of the carbon the trees did. This will contribute to global warming. "Trees also regulate the flow of water to the lowlandsthey help soils store it and release it slowly. If you don't have trees, the water flows out all at once, and then you can have problems with water supply," said Williams. "It worries me that these forests might decline."

Logging has long been the lifeblood of many towns here. An Arkansas mill converts pines into lumber.

A couple of days into the expedition, Williams was already coming down with a nasty, bright-red case of poison ivy on both armsprobably the result of coring, measuring and otherwise tussling with trees covered with the venomous vines. As for snakes, locals had half-joked that the team would witlessly step over far more than they would ever notice. Toward the end of the trip, the team was walking through broken blocks of bedrock next to a stream. Two of them stepped over a snake without seeing it, and the third, a Lamont technician, noticed itwhat looked like a canebrake rattler, coiled on a rock. The snake quickly retreated into some short vegetation.

In future phases of the research, Williams and his colleagues intend to sample hundreds more trees from central Kentucky on out to the start of the plains. Satellite images of forest cover will help them see the big picture of what is covering the land, and how it might change. "These forests are really complex," said Williams. "There are a lot of species here, and they're all constantly battling it out to see who's going to dominate. They are the homes to very complicated and diverse flora and fauna systems. And so if you have large areas of forest die off because of warming, then you're going to have a whole bunch of domino effects."

Explore further Increasing drought threatens almost all US forests

More information: A. Park Williams et al. Contribution of anthropogenic warming to California drought during 2012-2014, Geophysical Research Letters (2015). Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters A. Park Williams et al. Contribution of anthropogenic warming to California drought during 2012-2014,(2015). DOI: 10.1002/2015GL064924
Vanya Manova Appointed as MasterCard Country Manager for Bulgaria and Macedonia

Sofia, Bulgaria March 15, 2016  MasterCards Vanya Manova becomes MasterCard Country Manager for Bulgaria & Macedonia.

In this new role, Vanya will continue to drive innovation in both markets and further strengthen the collaboration and partnership with key customers, governmental bodies and the public sector MasterCard has a long lasting culture of diversity.

Im therefore very pleased that Vanya Manova has been promoted to the position of Country Manager for Bulgaria and Macedonia, said Artur Turemka, MasterCard General Manager for the Balkan Region. More and more women do embrace high level positions within our company. They have a different business approach, which enables them to add new perspectives and find opportunities that were previously unexplored, he added.

Vanya joined MasterCard in 2008 as an Account Manager. Over the past few years, she has driven the business in Bulgaria and has helped to position MasterCard as a strategic partner for key customers, non-traditional partners, local government institutions and regulatory bodies. She led the launch and growth of contactless in Bulgaria & Macedonia making MasterCard the ultimate leader in contactless within these markets. Vanya has been working in the finance industry for more than 20 years. She started in 1995 as system administrator at the Bulgarian Russian Investment Bank (nowadays CIBank). Prior to joining MasterCard, she was Head of the Bank Cards Department at DZI Bank (later merged with Postbank). She graduated at Sofia Mathematical High School and holds a Masters degree in Computer Technologies from the Technical University of Sofia. Vanya lives in Sofia and has three children.

About MasterCardMasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the worlds fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCards products and solutions make everyday commerce activities  such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances  easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news. Contacts Venelina Mihova +359 887 701 097venelina.mihova@united-partners.com The post Vanya Manova Appointed as MasterCard Country Manager for Bulgaria and Macedonia appeared first on Global Hub.

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Inventory needs to be managed and managed well, or you are going to get in recurring trouble, and lose your credibility and hard-earned conversions, whether 

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According to him, government provided the necessary inputs and logistics like free seedlings, fertilisers and insecticides to guarantee good yield in the cocoa industry but the rainfall delayed and the subsequent bush fires destroyed many cocoa farms in the cocoa growing areas.

As a result, Ghana last year imported 15,500 tons of cocoa beans from neighbouring Ivory Coast in the 2014/2015 crop season, according to the Finance Minister Seth Terkper.

The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) and industry had forecast cocoa output in Ghana and Ivory Coast to decline sharply.

We do not expect the mid-crop harvest to be as high as last year in Ivory Coast when it was 514,000 tonnes, said Jean-Marc Anga, Executive Director of inter-governmental body ICCO, said. In Ghana, its a similar situation.

Ghana is projected to lose as much as 25 percent of its projected cocoa output as dry winds and lack of rains take a toll on cocoa growing areas.

"There has been a crop failure and the latest indication is that our best (output) is around 690,000-700,000 tonnes," a government source who declined to be identified told Reuters.

Ecobank predicted cocoa production in Ghana to fall to between 730,000 and 750,000 tonnes following an outbreak of fungal black pod disease last year.

Ghana is the world second largest producer of cocoa after Ivory Coast.
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The blogger, Taymour el-Sobki reportedly claimed on national television that 30% of Egyptian wives would cheat on their husbands if they had the chance leading to the charge of spreading false news.

The Egyptian court responsible for El-Sobki's sentencing claims that his comments had the potential to "harm public peace and damage the public interest."

The blogger has reportedly suffered serious backlash from other TV talk show hosts as well as civilians who have filed complaints to public prosecutors with El-Sobki being accused of insulting Egyptian women.

Daily Mail reports that El-Sobki had initially said: "Many women cheat on their husbands. I can say that 30 percent of women are ready to be deviant".

El-Sobki went on to specify cities where the behaviour is supposed to be prevalent which included the southern cities of Asyut, Minya, Sohag, Qena, Luxor and Aswan.

His Facebook page called Diaries of a Suffering Husband reportedly boasts over one million followers, revealing that, Many women are involved in extramarital affairs while their husbands are abroad.

El-Sobki's comments also suggests that arranged marriages in traditional southern Egypt have exacerbated the problem of infidelity since women ended up with men they barely knew.

The blogger's comments has gone so far as to garner death threats including the video of a masked man armed with an assault rifle issuing threats against El-Sobki which has turned up on youtube.

However, a prominent human rights lawyer, Gamal Eid, while speaking on the case, said:

"We can criticize or reject the comments he made, but he did not commit a crime."
The father who raised the alarm around 7.30pm on Sunday, prompting the womans arrest, works as a doctor.

He is said to have snatched his hours-old child out of her arms and alerted hospital staff after becoming suspicions about the answers she gave to his questions on the tests she said needed to be performed.

She fled the room but was tracked down to a toilet where she had hid to take off her fake nurses uniform - after two other failed attempts to steal children from the hospital.

Police discovered she had tried to take two other newborns from a medical centre in Cartagena 170 miles south earlier in the day.

The suspect, who was expected to go before an investigating judge later today after a police interrogation, has not been named.

A police spokesman confirmed: "National Police officers have arrested a 21-year-old Spaniard suspected of the attempted unlawful detention of a child after she tried to take the new-born away using the excuse of a medical test."
The proportion of banks Non- Performing Loans attributable to the public sector improved from 6.9 percent in September 2014 to 2.6 percent in September 2015.

Even though private enterprises received only 71 percent of the private sector credit, they accounted for 88.4 percent of NPLs in the sector as at September 2015 compared with 70.5 percent of credit received and 83.8 percent of NPLs respectively in the same period in 12 2014.

The highly disproportionate level of NPLs associated with the private enterprises was driven mainly by indigenous enterprises, which received 60.9 percent of credit to private enterprises but accounted for 79.1 percent of NPLs as at September 2015.
The major cause is unknown but SIDS may be associated with abnormalities in the portion of an infants brain that controls breathing and arousal from sleep.

Premature birth or being part of a multiple birth increases the likelihood that a babys brain has not matured completely.

So he or she has less control over such automatic processes as breathing and heart rate, he said.

Further stating that boys are more likely to die than girls are. Listing other factors, Falade said the placing babies of fluffy beds, or in between the couples could lead to the babys sudden death.

Dont over heat a baby, use lightweight materials, and dont cover the babys head.
This was as a result of the failure of officials of the assemblies to pay in revenue collected, retire imprests granted for official assignments or provide evidence to support the receipt and utilisation of goods and services totalling GH1,012,953.41.

The Auditor-General, Richard Quartey also bemoaned the non-implementation of its reports submitted to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament for action.

"It is quite frustrating and it appears as if amounts of money invested in the work that we have done are going down the drain", he said.

According to Mr. Quartey, the relevance of auditing is for corrective actions to be taken by the PAC.

He explained that after the Auditor General's Department has submitted its audited reports to Parliament; PAC is expected to hold public hearings and later submit another report to the House for deliberations.

See also: 10 Polytechnics cited for financial irregularities

Mr Quartey said because of the inaction of PAC, his outfit has been encouraging the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to set up an internal Audit Recommendation Committee to implement the reports.

Mr Quartey said its reports are not treated with the seriousness they deserve.

Unearned salaries

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has ordered the Ghana Education Service to return GH131,255 unearned salaries of a total of 69 former employees in the Half Assini in the Western region and the Mampong municipality of the Ashanti Region to the state coffers.

The 2012 and 2013 Auditor General's Report made the disclosure that the former employees had been paid unearned salaries since 2011.

When the PAC sought clarification from the Jomoro District Director of Education, Mr Blay-Ackah Quayson, on the latest on the money in Accra Wednesday, March 3, 2016, he indicated that the office was unable to trace the former employees.
According to the A-G's report, the "accountable imprest to purchase Christmas hampers amounting to GH99, 663 was released for the purchase and distribution of Christmas hampers for the year ended December 2012" by the Commission.

The report said "We observed that the amount of GHc99, 663 for the purchase of the hampers was not retired or adjusted to the personal advance account of the imprest holder, instead the entire amount was expensed at the end of the year in violation of the provisions of FAR 288. This was due to the absence of a mechanism in place to ensure that such advances were retired promptly."

The Auditor-General, Richard Quartey also bemoaned the non-implementation of its reports submitted to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament for action.

"It is quite frustrating and it appears as if amounts of money invested in the work that we have done are going down the drain", he said.

He explained that after the Auditor General's Department has submitted its audited reports to Parliament; PAC is expected to hold public hearings and later submit another report to the House for deliberations.

See also: 10 Polytechnics cited for financial irregularities

Mr Quartey said because of the inaction of PAC, his outfit has been encouraging the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to set up an internal Audit Recommendation Committee to implement the reports.

Mr Quartey said its reports are not treated with the seriousness they deserve.

PAC not up to task

A 2013 research report has revealed that Ghana is not fully implementing the recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), leading to drawbacks to ensure transparency and accountability in financial administration.
The branding of the buses was done at a cost of GH3.6 million.

A letter signed by counsel for Smarttys Management and Production Limited, Mr Kissi Agyebeng, said seven hundred thousand cedis (GH700,000) was paid on February 25, 2016.

This brings the amount to one million Ghana cedis paid by Smarttys Management and Production Limited out of the figure of GH1,548,608.04 to be refunded.

A letter attached to the cheque paid into the account of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) stated, see attached a cheque(numbered 000014 Guaranty Trust Bank (Ghana) intended as the settling of the agreed second instalment in the sum of Seven Hundred Thousand cedis(GH700,000) drawn on the Clients Account of Cromwell Gray LLP."

The letter made reference to the Attorney Generals letters of December 29, 2015 and January 7, 2016 on the refunds to be made, and also made reference to modes of payment reached.

Read more: Smarttys pays first installment of excess cash

Context

The branding of the new Chinese Huanghai buses for the MMT with portraits of John Mahama and past presidents caused public outcry, resulting in the resignation of the Minister of Transport, Ms Dzifa Attivor, in December.
President Mahama who leaves Accra today, for Glasgow will meet with the First Minister of Scotland and visit the Scottish Parliament where he will observe First Ministers Question Time and address a meeting of Parliamentarians.

He is accompanied by the First Lady, Lordina Dramani Mahama, Foreign Minister Hanna S. Tetteh (MP), Communications Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and the Education Minister Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman, President Mahama will also meet leaders of Scotlands political parties.

He is the second leader from Ghana after JJ Rawlings to visit Scotland.
His comment follows the murder of the Member of Parliament for the Abuakwa North constituency, Joseph Boakye Danquah-Adu who was stabbed at his Shiashie residence in Accra on February 9, 2016.

According to the former President, "Our constitution empowers us and gives us the right to punish, to exact the same level of punishment, and if we cannot do it, to serve as a lesson, to those who are taking others lives with ease, then please Id like to use this occasion  I should have done this a long time ago  to invite parliament to consider the need to look into our constitution as to whether we should not now empower the regional security councils to sign or to approve the taking of a life for a life."

He announced this when the family of the late MP visited him at his residence in Accra on Wednesday, March 16, 2016.

He noted that, "We all believe in the New Testament, but if some people are determined to conduct their lives along the Old Testament, then please lets not give them the other cheek to slap."

According to him, "If presidents of Ghana are refusing to sign execution orders of murderers on death row, parliament must re-look at the law to decentralise that executive power to make it possible for regional security councils to execute those orders.

Background

Joseph Boakye Danquah, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) legislator for Abuakwa North, was stabbed to death at his East Legon residence.

See also: NPP politicians in shock over death of colleague

Mr Danquah was stabbed multiple times by an unknown assailant (s) at his Shiashie residence in Accra, which led to the arrest of one suspect, Daniel Asiedu, a 19-year-old boy.
No deal with Smarttys in $92 million electrification project

REMITTANCES DROP DESPITE RECOVERY IN OVERSEAS FUNDS TRANSFERS

Remittances from Ghanaians working overseas to their families back home dropped last year for the second consecutive time, to $1.92 billion amid moderation in global economic growth that reflects the slowdown in Chinas growth prospects and falling oil prices.

VEEP CALLS FOR STRONGER PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIA

Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has observed that television images of Africa migrants seeking entry into Europe in pursuit of jobs o security is a reflection of economic malfunction.

SECOND POWERSHIP 70% COMPLETE

The Karadeniz Power Group has said that the second powership expected to ease the power deficit is about 70% complete, and will be delivered to the country in the beginning of the second half of the year, barring any hitches.

BAWUMIA CHALLENGES MAHAMA: NDC CHOPS GH90 BILLION

The New Patriotic Partys vice presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has taken on President John Mahama about the state of Ghanas public debt, calling on the president to have a proper briefing on the state of borrowing that has occurred in the last seven years under the NDC administration.

BUKOM BANKU CAGED

Maverick boxer and notorious street fighter Briamah Kamoko, aka Bukom Banku, was yesterday detained by the Greater Accra Regional police after three ladies lodged a complaint of assault against him.

AL-QAEDA ALERT! PRESIDENT MEETS SECURITY CAPOS

The National Security Council, chaired by President Mahama, yesterday reviewed the security situation n the country following the rising insurgency by Al Qaeda militants in the West African subregion, especially in Ghanas neighbouring countries.

DKM SEEKS BAIL OUT

A financial expert has added his voice to calls on government to provide a bailout for DKM Diamond Microfinance Limited.

GH15,000 BRIBERY SAGA: EOCO CAGES TOP OFFICIAL OF WASSA ASSEMBLY

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has arrested Mr Frank Taylor, District Finance Officer of Wassa Amenfi East District Assembly, for bribing EOCO officers who are investigating alleged procurement fraud at the assembly.

CEMENT: GHANA IMPORTRS OVER 1 MILLION TONNES ANNUALLY

The desire to import everything, which has a negative impact on the economy, especially the strength of the local currency and the promotion of buy made-in-Ghana products, is not ending anytime soon as the country imports more than 1 million tonnes of cement per annum.

RLG HAS SETTLED ITS INDEBTEDNESS TO GOVT

The Ministry of Justice and Attorney Generals Department which has been tasked by the government to retrieve all debts owed by companies implicated in what has become known as the GYEEDA scandal, says Agams Holdings has paid all debts owed the nation with accrued interest.

GHANA WILL OVERCOME PREVAILING CHALLENGES  PRESIDENT MAHAMA

President John Mahama who has dared Nana Akufo-Addo, the presidential candidate of the NPP to debate him over contentious issues has urged Ghanaians to remain resolute and that the country would soon overcome its challenges.

ENSURE TRANSPARENCY OF POLLS  DR ARYEE TELLS ELECTORAL COMMISSION

The Reverend Dr Ms Joyce Aryee, Founder of the Salt and Light Ministries, has added to calls for EC to work with all key political actors to build confidence in the electoral process.

AUDIT POLITICAL PARTIES  PPP URGES EC

The PPP has called on the EC to audit political parties in compliance with the Political Parties Law (Act 574 of 2000).

NATIONAL DEBATE: WHY DODGE NDUOM?

Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom is surprised that President John Mahama will prefer debating Nana Akufo-Addo instead of him and wonders whether the NPP flag-bearer comes across s an easy match to the President.

500 GHANAIAN WOMEN CRY FOR HELP

COURT ORDERS EP CHURCH PROPERTY RETURNED
Both President John Mahama and his deputy Kwesi Amissah-Arthur are out of the country on official business.

Read more: Supreme Court orders Speaker of Parliament to swear Presidential oathPresident John Mahama will on Thursday March 17 pay an official visit to the Scottish parliament. He left Accra Wednesday.

After reading out the presidents letter informing the house of his absence, Mr. Adjaho took the oath.

It would be recalled that a nine member supreme court panel presided over by Justice Sophia Akuffo, by a unanimous decision, ordered that the speaker of parliament must at all times take the oath of the president anytime he has to assume the position due to the absence of the president or the vice.

The judges also said the decision to swear the oath reminds anyone who takes up the position of the responsibilities and duties required.

The Chief Executive Officer of Citi FM, Samuel Atta-Mensah in his suit sought the court to declare as unconstitutional, the Speakers decision not to be sworn in as President before acting in that capacity.

Read also:Adjaho promises proper maintenance of Job 600
But the African Center for Energy Policy is calling for the immediate suspension of second karpowership deal, citing consistent failure of Karpower to meet specific deadlines.

This comes after another failed timeline to bring in the power ship despite earlier assurances the second power ship will be delivered in January 2016.

The first karpowership arrived in the country last year.

"As per our contract, the second power-ship is to be delivered 365 days from the financial guarantee. So the financial guarantee was put in place during the second half of 2015," Executive Director for Business Development, Zeynep Harezi told Journalists at Tema.
Samuel Ukura, who presented the audit findings to the national assembly, said that Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) could not account for the money.

By law, NNPC is supposed to hand over revenues to the government for redistribution based on a parliament approved budget.

Nigeria is heavily dependant on revenues from its oil and gas sector to fund its budget.

The oil and gas sector accounts for about 35 per cent of gross domestic product, and petroleum exports revenue represents over 90 per cent of total exports revenue, according to OPEC.

Nigeria has an opaque bureaucracy that manages it oil industry and president Muhammadu Buhari is determined to break it up.

His government has announced measures to break up the state oil company into 30 companies to ensure transparency and accountability.

Under the new arrangement, each of the 30 units will have its Chief Executive and will be accountable for their tiles, Managing Director Emmanuel Kachikwu said.

"For the first time, we are unbundling the subset of the NNPC [Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation] to 30 independent companies with their own managing directors," Kachikwu, who is also the state minister for petroleum resources said in a statement.

"Titles like group executive directors are going to disappear and in their place you are going to have chief executive officers and they are going to take responsibilities for their titles," he said.
President John Mahama in an interview on TV3 on Monday, March 14, 2016, dared Nana Addo for a debate following what the president describes as 'contentious statements' made by the NPP flagbearer.

Read more: Nana Addo dares Mahama to debate

Mahama believes Nana Addo has made "a lot of contentious statements" which need to be fixed in the eyes of the electorate.

Nana Addo in a tweet in response to President Mahama said if the debate will "solve Ghanas problems" he is also battle ready.

But Dr Nduom questioned why the President will prefer debating Nana Akufo-Addo instead of him (Dr Nduom) and wonders whether the NPP flag--bearer comes across as an easier match for the President.

Dr Nduom who also joined the fray in a statement copied to Pulse.com.gh said he has been calling for a debate with the President over the past year on how to offer alternative solutions to the myriad of problems confronting the Mahama administration and for that matter Ghanaians.

He said

Below is the statement:

National Debate: Why Dodge Nduom

Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom is questioning why President John Dramani Mahama will prefer debating Nana Akufo-Addo of the NPP instead of him (Dr Nduom) and wonders whether the NPP flag-bearer comes across as an easier match for the President.

Dr Nduom has been calling for a debate with the President over the past year on how to offer alternative solutions to the myriad of problems confronting the Mahama administration and for that matter Ghanaians.

Although neither the President nor any of his aides has responded to the Nduom request, the President has challenged Akufo Addo to a debate on several contentious issues raised by the NPP flag-bearer. That approach in itself as Dr Nduom puts it is as contentious as the Presidents reference to Akufo Addo critique of him as contentious.

The President declared on TV 3 I am willing to debate Akufo-Addo any day...he has made a lot of contentious statements which I am willing to debate him on and I wish he was here that I could debate him today.

Dr Nduom questioned the Presidents pick and choose attitude on the issue, wondering whether he dared Akufo Addo because he (Akufo Addo) comes out as an easy match to him (President); and further wondered whether by ignoring him (Dr Nduom), the President is aware that he is also ignoring the growing numbers of people that Dr Nduom appeals to. Particularly, the youth find Dr. Nduom's attitude to job creation and inclusiveness attractive and worth supporting.

Dr Nduom believes he offers alternative solutions to the many disillusioned Ghanaians and that the people will appreciate a healthy debate with the President. A healthy debate on policies will help find solutions to the country's problems.

According to Dr Nduom, "does President Mahama think he can ignore people that I appeal to?"

Dr Nduom insists that as President of the country, President Mahama should make himself ready to debate him on detailed policies on corruption, job creation and therefore believes he can withstand him in a debate.

Dr Nduom has been consistent with his solution-driven alternatives to the Mahama administration where he has been insisting that the countrys energy crisis for instance cannot be fixed within a year or two.

He has since 2008 insisted that the only way to ensure development at the local level is to elect Metropolitan and Municipal District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to ensure that they are responsible to the people who voted them into power and are therefore are obliged to heed to their wishes or get the sack after four years.

"If Ghanaians are smart enough to elect a President and a Member of Parliament, why cant they be equally smart to elect their MMDCEs?", Dr Nduom has been asking for the past eight years.

Dr Nduom has also been at the forefront of the corruption crusade where he believes that we can deal decisively with the canker if we separate the Attorney Generals Department from the Ministry of Justice to ensure that the A-Gs Department is replaced by an Independent Prosecutor who shall not cover-up corruption at higher places because of ones political affiliation.
Why book expensive hotels and pay for exorbitant plane tickets to spend this Easter with the family outside Ghana while there are many conducive and high standard hotels, restaurants and shopping centers in Ghana for all your needs this Easter.

1. Eastern Region, Kwahu

Kwahu in the Eastern Region of Ghana has been crowned the hub of all crazy easter celebrations. Activities such as paragliding, hiking, carnivals and street jams hence the coveted title, Kwahu Easter.

The local folks and visitors mingle in a unique way sharing rooms among other social amenities to make the celebration worth remembering. This years Kwahu Easter Trade fair and exhibition has been launched.

2. Volta Region

Volta Region is a region of extraordinary scenic beauty. From the central belt, where mountain Afadjato at 885m stands to the avid savannah of the northern Ghana, you can experience every climate condition in West Africa.

5 stars hotels and resorts like Holy Trinity Spa is located in the regional capital and its environs to suit your accommodation needs.

One of the biggest Easter jams in the country takes place at Avakpedome, a two-hour drive from Accra.

3. Greater Accra

Beachside living is good for your health according to research. Having children home for the Easter break can be a challenge even for the most adventurous of parents. So, relax, spend time this Easter holidays with your family at a beachside hotel in the Accra metropolis.

4. Ashanti Region

Visit the land of culture and tradition and abreast yourself with history of some prominent Ashanti leaders like Yaa Asantewaa, Okomfo Anokye among others. Spend the evening at the night market on the streets of Bantama, Asafo and Krofrom with a treat of hot spicy kebab and chilled drinks.

5. Western Region
According to the Chief Commercial officer, Sandeep Malhotra, this is because Nigeria remains an emerging and growing economy in the world with vast potentials for growth, Naija247News reports.

Kia Motors Nigeria is now focused on local content utilization in its made in Nigeria Kia cars. The plant in Lagos is progressing on schedule for the utilization of local contents in its assembling process and currently sourced some of its parts including refrigerant, lubricant, and workshop consumables amongst others locally, he announced in Lagos.

He also added that this new plan would help strengthen Nigerias economy.

Its incumbent upon us as a local investor to help her realize its goals. As a company with an unswerving interest on the advancement of the nations economy, we have a plan to utilize 90 per cent local content in our assembly process to help strengthen the economy.
According to the actress, anything done to assist the Nigerian woman is done to assist Nigeria. She also called on the Senators to bury their heads in shame as they failed to maintain basic rights and equal opportunities for men and women.

She wrote, "Read through the Gender Equality bill (2011/2016) These are basic rights! Equal opportunities for men and women. Let's get this off the way 'Women Empowerment is not a threat senators' anything done to assist the Nigerian woman is done to assist Nigeria simple. How can you reject Gender equality bill? Every Senator that voted against the bill should hide in shame and the annoying part is the excuses they are giving as to why the bill is thrown out this second time. FYI there are only 8 women in the 109member Nigeria senate ...... It's amazing what women can do when we come together. Our voices MUST be heard. Download the bill online read and education yourself then speak OUT (2011 version and 2016 version)"
Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected!
The young girl who was in the hands of her captives for seven months, revealed to newsmen that she was sexually abused all through the time she was in captivity before succour came her way and she was freed.

The girl who was in primary six at the time she was forcefully abducted, said her abductor and some Hisbah (Sharia police) personnel took her to an Imam in Runjin Sambo area of Sokoto with a claim that she wanted to convert to Islam.

I was sent to buy biscuits and on my way I saw him (her abductor) and he persuaded me to come to his bungalow. Yes, he was forcefully making love to me any time he wanted.

They first took me to Sarkin Baki house, and kept me there for seven months before my parents came looking for me. They gave me something to drink, but I refused to take the drink, and they took me to one room and locked me inside the room.

They forcefully made me to turn to Muslim and gave me another name, Aisha. Some people wanted to marry me, but the Sarkin Baki refused and said until I finish Islamic school before they marry me off."

The lawyer who helped in securing the releasing of the girl, Barrister Ezekiel Dyagas, said, during a press conference, that Tambuwal played a key role in freeing the girl.

Her brother has been up and doing since the family realised that the little girl was missing and eventually abducted by one of her neighbours.

I promised the family to give me 48 hours and we would be able to trace her whereabouts. I posted her story on the website and you will not believe the response I got.

Within that 48 hours, I was talking to the Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, and I told the girls brother that the governor will call him.

In fact, the governor not only called, but he played a vital role towards the freeing of Patience. He acted as a father and we appreciate his role. In short, he was instrumental to her eventual release.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Igho Braimoh, ordered the remand of Babatunde and added that his application for bail would be considered in the course of the hearing.

She, subsequently, adjourned the case till May 11 for hearing.

Earlier, a state counsel, Mrs O.R. Ewemade, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on Nov. 2, 2015, at No. 12, Omokaro St., off Siluko Road in Benin.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Odo who had boasted last year when the news first broke that he hopes to create his own village with his large family, got married to the teenager who is from Okutu, in Nsukka Local Government Area, also in the state of Enugu State.

Odo, whose other aliases include King Solomon of Africa or King of Satan, has more than 300 hundred children and has vowed never to stop taking new wives as long as he is still fit and capable to take care and satisfy them.

Speak during an interview, Odo who is a great grandfather, said as an only son, he has a mandate for have many children to fill the vacuum his parents left behind.

I was born in 1947, on the day they had an eclipse of the sun and the moon. There was darkness in the afternoon on the day I was born. I was the only son of my parents.

I was baptised as a Christian in the Catholic Church and I even became a mass servant under Rev Father Desmond McGlade. I however became a herbalist because of circumstances beyond my control.

As I said, I was the only son of my parents but because some of his relations wanted to take over his landed property, they poisoned me. I contracted tuberculosis and had to be treated for years.

At a point, I was even unable to walk for about five years because I became lame. I ran to Ondo State in the South West, where I trained to become a herbalist at the age of 15, before returning to the village. I married 15 wives when my father was alive and the situation prolonged his life. He died in 1992 at the ripe old age of over 90 years.

Any of my children who chooses to become a Christian is free to do so, provided he/she must become a Catholic. I dont like the Pentecostal churches.

People think that I feed many of my wives and children but this is not true. Most of my children are grown up. The boys among them usually marry and go to their own houses just like the girls who marry and follow their husbands to their places.
This much he narrated to the police detectives attached to the Domestic Violence Unit of the Festac Police Station of the Lagos State Command where he had gone to report a case of violence against his person.

The Indian lover boy who was weeping bitterly while answering questions from the police operatives, according to witnesses, had a plastered elbow, blackened right eye and was visibly limping, all testimony to what he said he has been going through in the hands of his lover, including sending a commercial motorcyclist to hit him.

Jagan who said he had already done the traditional marriage introduction with Sandra and the proper wedding fixed to this year, reported her to the police on February 27, 2016, for battery and threat to life.

Though the police promised to charge the case to court, Jagan said he was not interested in going to court as he was leaving Nigeria back to his country for good.

I now understand everything. Sandra has gotten all she wants from me. Im broke. She doesnt want me anymore,  Jagan lamented.

The hurt Indian man said he met Sandra at the Trade Fair International Market where she is a trader and they started dating, while he was working with an Indian company back then.

Soon after, the lovers started discussing marriage and according to him, he rented an apartment for her and handed over his Automatic Teller Machine (ATM), card to her, as proof of his love.

One day, he received a letter from his company transferring him to Kano State but due to fears of the Boko Haram, Sandra discouraged him from moving to the northern state.

I refused the transfer because I wanted to be with her. I resigned and started my own business. I rented a bedroom apartment for her. I travelled to Indian and came back. I had nobody, but her. But she goes out and returns late at night.

She was endangering my life. I dont want to say about what I suspected she was doing. But when I got information that she was in a hotel, I went there to confirm things for myself. And I saw her. I went to the hotel to confirm what I had been hearing. It was true.

I slapped her neck. My finger injured her. I didnt try to strangle her. She was toying with my life. Today, I regret leaving my company because of her.

After Jagan returned from Indian, he moved in with Sandra. It was while living with her that he discovered she was a lady of the night and he did not like it and tried to stop her from that lifestyle.

When Jagan got to that part of the story, he started weeping again. Sandra, who glanced at him with scorn, said that when Jagan came into the hotel room, he sat by her bed, knelt down by her side and started crying.

The remorseless Sandra took over the story, accusing Jagan of being too jealous and possessive.

He said I should be like Indian women. But I dont want to be like Indian women. He wants me to be covering myself, I cant. Whenever I speak with anybody, he gets angry. I cant live that way!

The apartment they lived was rented in Sandras name and during one of their fights, Sandra allegedly threw Jagan's things out and he moved into a hotel and since he could no longer concentrate on his business, it started to crumble. Just when Jagan was getting his life straightened out, he received a cry for help text message from Sandra.

He said:

Sandra said she was sick. She said if she didnt see me, she would die. I ran to see her.

But that reunion did not last as the lovers started fighting again, with Sandra accusing Jagan of stealing her Ipad.

"A few days later, I went to the same hotel to have a drink when Sandra ran out, armed with bottle and attacked me. She tore my clothes. She held and started dragging me. She wanted to kill me. I called the police. I later noticed a guy following me.

I dont have anybody in Nigeria. If I die here, Ill die for nothing. The guy caused my accident. He used a motorbike to knock into the one I hired. I and my motorbike rider fell. I almost died.

She only wanted my money and now that she has drained me, she says she does not want me again.

But Sandra, on her part, said as far as she is concerned, the relationship is dead.

He called police for me because I told him that I didnt want the relationship anymore. When I told him it was over, Jagan traced me to the hotel where I had gone to lodge. He came into the hotel, sat on the bed and started crying.
This is why The 50/50 campaign was developed to challenge the stereotypes associated with men and women in Nigeria.

Women in Nigeria are often discriminated against based on their gender alone. Backed by ambiguous interpretations of religious books and cultural norms, many Nigerians find it easy to oppress women.

Just yesterday, the Nigerian lawmakers voted against a bill that sought to grant women equal rights and legal protection from all forms of discrimination.

The senators who rejected the bill said it is in conflict with religious and traditional beliefs.

On this episode, Pulse strivia team visited Kano, Kaduna, Enugu and Lagos, asking different Nigerians the same question: Women or men, who is smarter?

As you can guess, there were different funny responses from both men and women alike. Some responses were hilarious.One person believes women can never be smart because they go through menstruation every month while another believes only married women, not hardworking ones, are smart.

For more information, visit www.iampurple.ng

Watch full video below
But the 44-year-old suspect who was said to have defiled the girl on more than six different times, claims evil forces pushed him into committing the act on the girl who happens to be the daughter of his family friends and neighbours.

It was gathered that because of their closeness, the mother of the girl who is a food vendor, had an arrangement with Udi, Enugu State born Aneke, to be leaving her two daughters with him pending their resumption time at school at 7.45am, due to the fact that she always left home at 6am for her trade while her husband who is a security guard, also left for his place of work at the same time.

It was learnt that one of Anekes three daughters, attended the same school with the woman's daughters which made the arrangement to work.

While the suspect's wife who is also a trader equally left the house early for her shop, he was alone with all the children as they prepared for school and he used the opportunity to rape the girl at will.

A police source at the State Command Headquarters Gender Office explained how the suspect operated:

The girls mother had been good to him in the past. There was a time he didnt have a job and it was the woman who fed his four children.

So, since he now had his own job, the woman thought he would reciprocate by assisting her family to get her two daughters to school, along with one of his three daughters attending the same school.

Unfortunately, the man took advantage of the seven-year-old. He would undress her and insert his manhood in her private parts. When he could not penetrate, he would apply his spittle to make it easier.

Aneke was also said to have warned the girl not to divulge the secret to anyone or he would kill her but after the last act, she opened up to her parents and the matter was reported to policemen at the Bariga Police Division and the suspect was arrested.

The victim was taken to the Mirabel Centre, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, where a test allegedly confirmed that she was defiled and there was a penetration.

Aneke, however, denied raping Ngozi, saying he only attempted to defile her once and when he could not penetrate her, he suspended the action.

This girl was taught to lie against me. I only attempted to have sex with her once and that was the day she told her parents.

I didnt even remove her pants. On that day, I shifted her pants sideways and wanted to penetrate, but when I saw it was not possible, I left her and ejaculated outside her private parts.

I am a leader in my church and I dont want to bring my church into this mess. Even before anybody condemned me, I have already condemned myself and I wish I was not born. I was influenced by evil forces to do this.

I just want to beg for forgiveness from all those I have offended through this action and I just want to die.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Dolapo Badmos, warned parents to be watchful so that their children would not fall victims of abuse.
The judgment was given by presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang today, March 16, 2016.

Badeh had sought the dismissal of the trial after saying that the court lacked the jurisdiction to try him.

In refusing the application, Justice Abang, said:

Having regards to section 396(2) of the ACJA, the application can only be considered alongside the substantive issue and ruling delivered along with judgment on the matter.

Section 221 of ACJA said objection shall not be entertained during proceeding or trial on the ground that a charge is defective. The court can only entertain and make findings on the application at the end of the proceeding and ruling delivered when the matter is decided.

Right of the defendant to be heard has been preserved till the end of the proceeding. It would have been a different matter if this is a civil matter or if it was raised before the enactment of the ACJA. As at today, the law has changed.

The application is hereby refused. The prosecution is hereby directed to call its first witness for the trial to commence now.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused Badeh of laundering N3.9billion from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force.

The former CDS has however denied the reports adding that hes being persecuted.

Meanwhile, inmates at the Kuje Prison in Abuja, where Badeh was remanded, were said to have rejoiced when the former CDS arrived at the prison.

-----------------------------------------------
The witness, Salisu Abdullahi, who is a retired air commodore, told Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, that he converted N558 million on a regular basis for Badeh, the amount which represented the leftover of funds meant for the monthly payment of staff salaries

Abdullahi was the director of finance and account of the Nigeria air force from October 2010 to December 2013.

We receive about N4bn monthly for the payment of salaries. Our total wage bill, when I was finance director, was above N2bn, he explained.

The balance of the money for personnel emolument was about N1.7bn. The sum of N558m was earmarked for the general administration of the chief of staffs office monthly. The balance is proposed for disbursement to the units.

We receive about N4bn monthly for the payment of salaries. Our total wage bill, when I was finance director, was above N2bn, he explained.

The balance of the money for personnel emolument was about N1.7bn. The sum of N558m was earmarked for the general administration of the chief of staffs office monthly. The balance is proposed for disbursement to the units.

In most cases the chief of air staff directs that the amount be exchange into US dollars and taken to the headquarters Nigeria air force camp. When this money is exchanged it is brought to me, and I take this money to the chief air staff at home- his official residence at Niger Barracks.

As military officers we dont request for any acknowledgment. In some cases, I do tell the finance officer to meet me at air house at Niger barracks with the money so that he can see when I hand over the money to the chief of air staff.

When I came I met N120m earmarked for the office of the director of finance. It was part of the balance of personal emolument released monthly. But I rejected it. I asked that the money place under the control of the chief of staff for tours and visits, and other sundry issues, he added.

He also explained that the directive to convert the money dollars was given verbally, noting that Badeh gave many instructions that are not in writing.
Buratai gave the assurance on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, during a visit to Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi in Ibadan, The Nation reports.

We will soon overcome the insurgency that once threatened peace and security in some parts of the country, Buratai said.

Im using this opportunity to again solicit the support of the public in the provision of information on any suspicious acts or criminal activities.

The army will adopt a long term surveillance and intelligence gathering to stop Boko Haram attacks.

We appreciate the efforts of the governor in the maintenance of peace in the state. We appreciate the cordial relationship between the government and the army.

Oyo State has been very supportive in the area of providing security. I can confidently say that the security situation in Oyo State is quite encouraging, he added.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Boko Haram is no longer a threat to Nigeria.

----------------------------------------------
The explosion occurred today, March 16, 2016, at a mosque in Umarari Village, a suburb of the state capital, Premium Times reports.

The bomb attack occurred this morning in Umarari village, just after Mulai Leprosy Hospital, outside Maiduguri, along the Biu-Maiduguri highway, an official of the Civilian Joint Task Force, Alhaji Danbatta said.

It was a suicide attack: the bomber sneaked in while the worshippers were observing the morning congregational prayer. We evacuated 14 corpses and 21 injured ones were taken to the hospital, he added.

The explosion is the latest to be recorded in Borno since the blast which occurred at an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Dikwa on February 9, 2016, and left more than 60 people dead.
The group also praised the Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd.) for the proper handling of the programme.

LPCDI described the vandals as enemies of the Niger-Delta.

Punch reports that the National President of LPCDI, Pastor Reuben Wilson, said Those who are still involved in the act of bombing and causing troubles in the region are enemies of progress of the Niger Delta people.

All the leaders of the LPCDI will join hands to fight such criminals and report them to security agencies.

Boroh, the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, was accused of mismanaging the agencys funds.
The over 200 girls were abducted on April 14, 2014, and most of them remain in Boko Haram captivity.

The kidnapping generated waves all around the world and saw world leaders joining the calls to Bring Back Our Girls.

However, 700 days later, the world is silent.

The Bring Back Our Girls group has continued its calls for the girls rescuewith bravery and resilience, but the question on the mind of the average Nigerian is Is there any hope left?

Even the most optimistic of minds has to admit that the situation is a delicate one. What good could possibly have happened to teenage girls left unprotected with blood-thirsty terrorists for almost two years?

According to a female Boko Haram victim, identified simply as Hajiya Aishatu, bringing back the Chibok girls would amount to importing vampires into Nigeria.

Bringing back chibok girls would amount to importing Vampires into the Country, the campaign for Chibok girls is not in the interest of this country, she said during an interview in Jos, Plateau State, according to The Nation.

Chibok girls are not existing anywhere in the world, most of them had been used as suicide bombers by those who abducted them. Young girls involved in suicide attacks in the last two years till date were the Chibok girls, it will be a waste of time for anyone to be talking of rescuing Chibok girls," she added.

A similar sentiment was expressed by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo who said that anyone who promises to rescue the girls is telling lies.

Anyone saying they (Chibok girls) will return is telling lies Obasanjo said on Friday, February 5, 2016.

Obasanjo had expressed a similar sentiment during an interview with Rosie Collyer of Radio France Internationale (RFI) in 2014, the year the girls were abducted.

We will never be able to get those girls again. And the story of those girls will go on for the next 30 years, he said.

Some of them will come out when they are adults or they will be sent back when they are pregnant by those who have captured them. If anyone is thinking of being able to get those girls released intact, he must be day dreaming, he added.

This opinion has however been countered by Kaduna State Senator, Shehu Sani who believes that the girls are alive and can still be rescued.

Something that has bothered some of us here in line with the insurgency is, when will the Chibok girls be freed? he said while speaking at a symposium in Akure, Ondo State.

Someone said the Chibok girls will never be free, but I can tell you that they will be free and they are alive.

They said they were going to free the girls on the condition we freed their people. And when we came to the negotiating table, and the government said it cannot free the terrorists because they have done a lot of harm, he added.

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed a willingness to negotiate with Boko Haram to secure the girls release, but only if he can verify the credibility of the sects leadership.

"We have to be very careful about the credibility of various Boko Haram leadership coming up and claiming that they can deliver. We have to be very careful indeed and we are taking our time because we want to bring them safe back to their parents and their school, Buhari said on Tuesday, July 21, 2015, during an interview on CNN with Christiane Amanpour.

When asked if he was against negotiating with Boko Haram, he said:

I cannot be against it because as I told you our main objective as a government is to rescue those girls back to their schools and rehabilitate them back to normal sight. If we are convinced that the leadership that presented itself can deliver those girls safe and should, we will be prepared to negotiate what they want.

However, during the Presidential Media Chat on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, Buhari admitted that the girls whereabouts were still unknown.

There has been no firm intelligence where those girls are physical are and what condition they are in, the president said.

The Buhari government however showed that it was tiring of calls to rescue the girls during a meeting with the BBOG group and the girls parents on January 14, 2016.

According to BBOG coordinator, Oby Ezekwesili, Buhari failed to connect with the parents during the meeting while the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan said that the Chibok girls werent abducted under Buharis administration.

The continued captivity of the Chibok girls is a tragedy because their parents might never be able to find closure until they at least see their childrens corpses.

However, the question now is, is there any hope left?

The military is clearing Boko Haram camps daily and claiming successes against the group. The terrorists are going hungry and surrendering to avoid starvation. Where then are the Chibok girls being kept? Will they, can they, ever be found?
Casualty figure had earlier been put at 14 and 22 respectively.

According to Usman, the first attack targeted a mosque, while the second blast occurred just minutes later at about 50 metres away from the first one.

We will not rest on our oars until all those that masterminded this latest heinous and other similar crimes are apprehended and brought to justice, the army said.

In another account by a Channel TV correspondent in the northeast, the first bomber had disguised as a man so as to enable her join the worshippers.

The second bomber, who was stationed outside the mosque, was said to have detonated her bomb when sympathisers rushed to the scene of the first blast.

However, security agents and medical personnel have been mobilized to the scene as wounded persons are being evacuated to Molai General Hospital for treatment.

Umarari is a village occupied by people dislodged by Boko Haram terrorists in neighbouring villages, and this is the third attack on the community.
Garba Shehu said the agreement, which comes amid the backdrop of a rise in pipeline attacks in the oil-producing Niger Delta region of Africa's biggest crude producer, was signed late on Tuesday by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.

Pirate attacks in West Africa's Gulf of Guinea, a significant source of oil, cocoa and metals for world markets, pose a threat to shipping companies. Pirates target oil tankers, usually wanting hostages for ransom and to sell stolen fuel.

In a statement, Shehu said the agreement -- signed at the end of Buhari's two-day visit to Equatorial Guinea's capital, Malabo -- established "a combined Maritime Policing and Security Patrol Committee".

The creeks and waterways of the Niger Delta are connected to the Gulf of Guinea.

Earlier this week Nigeria's information minister vowed that the government would prosecute those who attack the country's oil pipelines.
According to media reports, the SDP chairman received N100m, as his own share of the loot.

The said sum was allegedly paid into the account of a business interest of his- Marreco Limited.

The SDP, in a statement issued by the Ondo state Publicity Secretary, Remi Olayiwola, said The party and its national Chairman never had any business dealing or transaction whatsoever with either the CBN or the Joint trust Dimension Limited.

 We wish to inform the general public that it is the same amount sent by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the SDP as a result of their inter-party agreement that is now being re-presented to the public through another dubious channel in order to portray Chief Falae and the SDP in bad light.

Olayiwola also said It is falsehood. It has failed in the past and it will fail again no matter how many times our detractors attempt to smear our name obviously for political reasons.
In the 2014 audit report of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) submitted to the National Assembly on Monday, March 14, the auditor-general, Samuel Ukura, had revealed series of financial discrepancies in NNPC, saying domestic crude oil sales were under-remitted to the federation account.

Responding to Ukura's claims, the group executive director and chief financial officer of NNPC, Isiaka Abdulrazaq, said it may have been a misunderstanding "of how revenues from crude oil and gas sales are remitted into the federation account.

The Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF) declared to the National Assembly on the 14th of March 2016 that NNPC has failed to remit the sum of N3.235 trillion to the Federation Account for the period ended 31st December 2014, the statement released on Wednesday, March 16, said.

NNPC wishes to state in strong terms that the AuGFs declaration is erroneous. It should also be noted that although this period is before the new NNPC management was appointed in August 2015, the management still deems it fit and important to correct any misinformation about the activities of the corporation as this will adversely affect its current and future financial and operational plans if not corrected.

The statement added that the proceeds from the sale of crude oil are remitted to the federation account after deducting the cost associated with the supply and distribution.

Abdulrazaq said the cost incurred include subsidy, crude oil and petroleum product losses, pipeline repairs and maintenance cost.

The total amount of subsidy that have been approved and certified by PPPRA for the period of January 2012 to December 2014 was N2.34trillion. An additional N7.96Billion subsidy claim is still under reconciliation.

Losses from crude oil and petroleum products as a result of vandalism on its network of pipelines for the period of January 2012 to December 2014 were N202.68Billion.

Petroleum Product Strategic Holding Cost and Pipeline Repairs and Maintenance Cost for the period of January 2012 to December 2014 amounted to N358.88Billion.

Consequently, the figure owed to the Federation Account as at January 2015 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting report was N326,142,137,205.79not the N3.23Trillion alleged by the AuGF, he clarified.
Every Union is set up to protect the 'interests of the parties that came together to establish it'. When that position is in line with that of other groups or the public at large, then they claim to be speaking the minds of the people. When their position however is against the interest of the public or some other group, then their interest comes first. Bottom line 'their interests always comes first'.

Did not Nitel staffs and their 'supporters' protest against the privatisation of the telecoms industry, even when at the time we did not have up to 200k lines (both Landlines and mobile) in the whole country, simply because they were scared they will no longer be relevant. Where are their supporters now?

Even Abacha at the height of his tyranny got 1 million people to march for him including Oyenka Owenu and Shina Peters. Unfortunately I was not included in the 1M march for Abacha... that cash passed me by and it still hurts when I think of it.

Before you get all righteous, everyone including you has a price and for N500k I will march interstate for anybody. Yes I know im cheap but ill rather be bought than be eliminated. So having people show solidarity to a particular cause does not make it right.

Back to the matter at hand. NNPC is a failed corporation. If splitting it into seven units will make it work better, why then the opposition? For the same reason the staffs of PHCN fought and are still fighting the privatisation of electricity generation, the same reason oil importers fought the sale of our refineries... Cash, and we are talking billions of dollars here.

According to the auditor-general Samuel Ukura, in 2014 the NNPC did not pay to the government 3.2 trillion naira ($16 billion) which accounts for about 70 percent of the total income generated by the corporation for that year. If you recall, the then CBN Governor Lamido Sanusi, was suspended for accusing the NNPC of failing to pay $20 billion into government accounts between January 2012 and July 2013.

It's all about the Cash. Mind you we have not taken into account the dues paid by members of these Unions nationwide, the consultancy fees and the settlements from awarding contracts. Why will they not strike?

Swear down, if my father or benefactor is a member of NNPC, I will be in the forefront marching with other 'comrades', all in a bid to maintain the status quo. Which is the case of the recent strike action embarked upon by Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over the supposed unbundling of NNPC into seven independent units.

Whats worrying is, these Unions are so big, every government is scared of taking them on. They literally have the balls of this country in their palms. Take for instance the recent strike action embarked upon by NUPENG and PENGASSAN, with PHCN supplying some skillful assists like a Barca midfielder. After two days of no fuel and electricity, plus the current heat wave, the people had had enough and the petroleum minister beat a hasty retreat. As usual the focus was diverted from the actual merits of the case, which is the splitting up of NNPC to the sufferings of the people... which was much.

Only for PENGASSAN via its president Mr Olabode Johnson to advise President Buhari to declare a state of emergency in the petroleum industry to end fuel scarcity. What double facedness.

It's time for these Unions to be broken up and disbanded. It's time for them to die, so Nigeria and Nigerians can prosper. If the stolen funds were remitted, the naira would not have fallen the way it has in recent times. Sure it would have taken a beaten but not this bad. The CBN would have had more foreign currency to act as a buffer, rather our foreign reserve is languishing in private accounts in Swiss while the nation as a whole suffers.
The election, which will be conducted in three senatorial districts, 12 federal constituencies and 22 state constituencies, is scheduled to hold on Saturday, March 19.

The rerun election is in compliance with the appeal tribunal which nullified the earlier polls.

Meanwhile, giving the recent deadly political violence in Rivers, the Nigeria Police has deployed 6,000 personnel to the state.

Speaking in Abuja at a joint press briefing with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, said the deployment became necessary because of the already tensed security situation in the state.
The bill, which was debated on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, was thrown out by the lawmakers after it failed to pass the second reading.

Saraki gave the explanation via a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Gender issues, Fatima Kakuri.

It reads:

Today, we discussed the Domestication of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention Eliminating all forms of discrimination against women under A Bill For An Act To Incorporate and Enforce Certain Provisions of The United Nations Convention On The Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women  the protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, and Other Matters Connected Therewith.

As I said during the International Womens Day last week, I am of the opinion that there are substantial parts of the bill that are crucial to the development of our nation such as the Equal Access to Education, strengthening of the laws on Violence against Women, Ending Abduction of girls, Sustenance and Promotion of Entrepreneurship opportunities, Gender Mainstreaming and Gender equality, female participation in governance, among others.

Unfortunately, the bill suffered a slight set back because there were some parts of the Bill that some Senators disagreed with along the lines of religion and tradition.

The beauty of democracy is that it gives us the opportunity to consider different opinions and this bill can still be represented and reconsidered on the floor of the Senate I have it on good authority that Senator Biodun Olujimi who introduced this bill will reintroduce it after re-drafting it to address some of the reservations that were expressed on the floor of the Senate.
Yet even that doesnt give you a complete picture of the journey the actor, who had his first paid job digging pit latrine, has covered.

A native of Imo State, Nigeria, the actor by sheer determination, managed to secure an education, earning a diploma in Mass Communication and Law, a degree in Philosophy, and a Masters in Political Science, all from the University of Lagos.

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Now a renowned veteran, Kanayo O. Kanayo seeks to inspire the youth to great achievements, and provide a platform upon which they can more easily realize their dreams.

My message to these younger ones is that you can be whatever you want to be in life, and you have nothing to limit you to your dreams. Education is the future, especially when you take your education seriously; nothing should actually be a stone in the way of your progress. We need to tell the younger ones that the future is bright," the actor said.

"The , is a platform for mentoring, and when I talk about mentoring here, I am talking about finding support for youths, for young adults, especially the ones in secondary school. Its my own gift to the world.

"My team and I have set up a five-year program to ensure that we launch out all around Nigeria, and into many other areas in Africa. We are planning to launch this project very soon. We intend after that, to visit some secondary schools, to meet with the students and talk to them, tell them the primary and the currency of education. After that, well make presentations to the schools and the students. Thank you very much, for celebrating me as an actor.

I will also like to thank our government for supporting us in this initiative and global companies like Transfast and all our other partners for helping us inspire our youths to great achievements. If I can make it in life, they can also make it," the actor added.

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Kanayo O Kanayo is popular for movies like "Lost Kingdom," "Apaye," "October 1" among others.
Mr. President, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said henceforth, government would deal decisively with perpetrators and sponsors of violence, irrespective of their status in the society.

Violence in any form will no longer be tolerated before, during or after elections.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has also appointed Dr Dakuku Peterside as the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Peterside was the APC flag bearer in the 2015 Rivers Governorship elections.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has also said that he wont support President Muhammadu Buharis war against corruption.
Buhari in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, condemned the attacks and said That is why the world has to come together, present a common front and deal with these merchants of evil.

Reacting to the statement, Fayose said Mr. Presidents comments were hypocritical.

He also accused Buhari of being insensitive to the sufferings of Nigerians.

The Ekiti Governor in a statement issued by his Special Assistant of Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, also said If President Buhari could afford to pick his phone and call the Ivorian president, Alassane Ouattara, immediately after the attack, Nigerians must ask the President why he kept mute for days over the Fulani herdsmen massacre of over 300 Agatu people of Benue State, the Mile 12 Lagos killings and wanton destruction of properties among others.

Fayose also said From all indications, our president has abandoned governance. The only thing going on in the minds of those running the affairs of this country in Abuja is how to entrench themselves in power by crushing anyone perceived as capable of hindering them.
However, Governor Ganduje in a swift reaction, said it was unacceptable for the ex-Governor to choose the occasion of his mothers burial to launch his presidential campaign.

According to Premium Times, the Kano Governor said some works done (by Mr. Kwankwaso) were done with hell lots of misdeeds and betrayals which I will soon expose for people to know the calibre of person my predecessor was.

He also said Kano people will always resist any attempt by anyone to shortchange them  which Kwankwaso did. Yes we knew the genuine projects including the shoddy ones which I will not tolerate by exposing them for people to judge his action.

Ganduje said Unfortunately for him the avenue and the time were so wrong. But because God wants to expose his antics which he has been doing against the president, he chose my mothers death to launch the presidential campaign, but we leave him with the people.

A lot of things have been happening now. Some people have been trying to undermine President Muhammadu Buhari with all sorts of things. We will not tolerate it again here in Kano. We are tired of your atrocities. I will soon expose him before the people of Kano for them to to appreciate the satan in him.
The statement said the decision was taken after due consultations with relevant stakeholders superintending the elections.

It said that the ban which will take effect from March 18 to March 20, will affect tricycles, motorcycles and engine speed boat with capacity of 200 horse power and above.

"The Command further emphasises that Very Important Personalities are barred from going to any voting centre with their security escorts except for their unarmed orderly only.

"They are also to desist from moving about from one place to another on Election Day as provided by the electoral Act, it said.

According to the statement, monitoring teams will be going around to ensure strict compliance and arrest security men accompanying any dignitary in such unauthorised manner.
According to the statement, one will do less typing when responding to emails with Google's Smart Reply.

"You can now let Google reply to your email when using Inbox by Gmail on the web," it said

It also said that Smart Reply had been on the Inbox app for a few months.

The statement added that, it relied on a trained system consisting of a pair of neutral networks that interpret email and offer sensible short responses.

It added that the first network would encode words from incoming email, while the second cooks up a grammatically correct reply.

The statement said that the responses were generally very short, such as "I like the first one", "Got it, will do", or "Will do, thanks".

It said that it would also know which emails needed a response and which ones do not, such as newsletters and marketing messages.

According to the statement, Google said that the Smart Reply feature is handy for mobile users of which around 10 per cent of Inbox replies on mobile are written by its machine-learned system.

It said that Smart Reply would be useful for people, who need to whizz through a tonne of email on a laptop.

It added that as with the Inbox mobile app, Smart Reply on the web would offer up three suggested responses located in the reply panel.
According to the tender, the contractor must catch three male and two female dolphins between the ages of 3 and 5 by Aug. 1.

The length of the dolphins' bodies should not exceed 2.7 meters (the average size for this species).

The specific objectives for the use of dolphins were not disclosed. It is possible that Russia is resuming a large-scale training program for marine "saboteurs."

Until the collapse of the USSR, dolphins had been intensively trained at the research oceanarium in Cossack Bay in for underwater operations, including demining, mining, anti-saboteur missions and reconnaissance.

Russia is not the only one using sea animals for defense purposes. The American combat dolphin training center is located on the U.S. naval base in San Diego, California and has 85 dolphins and 50 sea lions.
The victim identified as Nguyen Thi Phuonh was severely attacked by her police officer ex-boyfriend, Tran Minh Trung, 24, at a cafe in Hai Phong City, Vietnam, where she works, on Tuesday, March 15, 2016.

Eyewitnesses reveal that Trung had grabbed Thao by the hair, pushing her head hard into the floor, reportedly hitting her across the face.

The reporte reveal that Trung had left Phuonh to get a pair of scissors from his bike parked outside the Cafe, which he used to stab her in the arm.

Four witnesses, which included the shop owner and three other waitresses had reportedly been frightened by the scene, as Trung reportedly kept yelling while assaulting Thao.

Trung is said to have only stopped hitting Phuonh after she passed out.

Doctors at the Viet  Tiep Hospital, reveal that Phuonh has suffered brain juries, bruises in the eye and a stab wound in the arm from the assault, after she had been rushed to the hospital by her colleagues.

The Hai Duong Province Police have also revealed that they are investigating the case, promising to carry out the appropriate action against Trung if the accusations leveled against him are proven true.

Phuonh who had been pictured in the hospital, showed the police several text messages Trung had allegedly sent her, threatening to kill her as well as her entire family.

One of the texts read:

"I will kill your father for failing to educate you, kill your grandparents."
It was also a setback for France, who lost four of its nationals when gunmen opened fire on people eating lunch at restaurants and sunning themselves on the sand.

"We repeat our call to all countries involved in the French invasion of Mali to withdraw," the group said in a statement.

It named the attackers but gave no further details of their identities.

Paris is to station a force of armed gendarmes in the capital of Burkina Faso to react swiftly in the event of another attack in the region and to provide training, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said on Tuesday.

"The desire to position this (gendarmerie) team in Ouagadougou is to enable us to immediately dispense advice and coordinate other actions in the event of a terrorist crisis," Cazeneuve said.

He was speaking during a visit with Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault to Ivory Coast that aims to reassure the large French community and boost the investigation into the attack in Grand Bassam.

France launched Operation Serval to oust militants from northern Mali and replaced it in 2014 with Operation Barkhane which targets militants across the Sahel region.

Ayrault and Cazeneuve met President Alassane Ouattara and were due to visit the site of the attack and meet representatives of the French community.

Islamic State has also singled out France as a target and claimed responsibility for the attack in Paris in November in which 130 people were killed.

Twenty people were killed at a hotel in Mali in November and 30 died in an attack on a cafe and hotel in Burkina Faso in January.

Ivory Coast has French-speaking West Africa's largest economy and has recovered from a decade of political crisis to boast one of the world's fastest-growing economies.
Amadou, a former president of parliament speaker, was jailed in November in connection with a baby-trafficking scandal but finished second to Issoufou in the first round of polling last month.

He denies the charges against him and says they are politically motivated. His supporters claim he has suffered from ill health during the time he has been jailed in the town of Filingue, about 180 km (110 miles) northeast of the capital Niamey.

In the government's first acknowledgement that Amadou is ill, Dr. Idrissa Maiga Mahamadou, spokesman for the health ministry, said late on Monday that four specialists were sent to Filingue on Monday.

On Tuesday they concluded that he would require attention in specialist facilities outside Niger.

"The (medical) report concludes that he has a chronic illness which he has suffered from for three years and that he must be evacuated to a specialised centre," government spokesman Marou Amadou told reporters.

The nature of Amadou's illness was not immediately clear, but the spokesman said that he was also suffering from fatigue.

A helicopter was previously sent to Filingue to pick Amadou up on Friday but was unable to return due to a technical problem. The state of the road between Niamey and Filingue ruled out using a normal ambulance, Mahamadou said on Monday.

Amadou's own doctor said earlier on Monday that the opposition leader had already lost consciousness once before being revived in the prison infirmary.

A court is due to hear a new petition for his provisional release next Monday, the day after the run-off vote.

President Issoufou took office in April 2011, a year after a popular coup overthrew the West African nation's previous leader Tandja Mamadou.

He is working closely with Western nations, positioning himself as a partner in the effort to boost security in the vast, arid Sahel region where Islamist militants are intensifying their insurgency.

However, critics have accused him of becoming increasingly authoritarian and clamping down dissent, including among the opposition.
Bashir, who was in South Africa for an African Union summit last June, was allowed to go even though the court had issued an order banning him from leaving until the end of a hearing on whether he should be detained under a global arrest warrant.

The court said he should have been arrested to face genocide charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) because as an ICC signatory, Pretoria is obliged to implement arrest warrants.

The ICC has issued a warrant for Bashir on charges of masterminding genocide in Sudan's Darfur region. Bashir denies the charges.

The government had asked the court to overturn the ruling, with its lawyers arguing that a gazzette notice granted diplomatic immunity to all delegates at the summit.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court said the government's failure to arrest Bashir "was inconsistent with South Africa's obligations in terms of the Rome Statute...and unlawful".

A rights group that had demanded the arrest of Bashir argued during the appeal that South Africa could not grant immunity to someone wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

"South Africa should not be treated as a safe haven for suspected perpetrators of egregious crimes," Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh, executive director of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre, which took the government to court, said in a statement.

Justice department spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said the government was studying the ruling and had not yet decided whether it would challenge it at the constitutional court, the highest court in the land.

The ruling means that Bashir and others facing global arrest warrants for crimes against humanity would be arrested if they set foot in South Africa. In addition, the High Court had said previously that the National Prosecuting Authority should consider whether to take action against the government for letting Bashir leave the country.

In the aftermath of the initial court ruling, the governing African National Congress party said South Africa should withdraw from the ICC, which African states have accused of bias against the continent.
The Pahrump Regional Planning Commission gave a thumbs-up to a tentative map and 11 street names for a 113-lot subdivision in Mountain Falls.

The Pahrump Regional Planning Commission gave a thumbs-up to a tentative map and 11 street names for a 113-lot subdivision in Mountain Falls.

Under the development agreement between Nye County and Mountain Falls Acquisition Corp., the project would take 26.85 acres, with a gross density of 4.21 lots per acre. The agreement is valid until December 31, 2030.

A tentative subdivision for the property was previously approved by Nye County for the previous owner, William Lyon Homes, but it was not recorded within the required time and therefore expired. The new owner, American West Development, has requested approval of the same design when the land was owned by William Lyon Homes.

This is a tentative map that was approved in 2007, the developer was ready to prepare a final map, but then the recession hit and they didnt do it, said Mark Dunford, who presented the plan at the meeting last week.

Dunford said the subdivision is located within the Utilities, Inc. of Central Nevada service area for sewer and water service. Water rights for the 113 lots are also owned by UICN.

The proposed tentative subdivision appears to be in conformance with Nye County code, the Mountain Falls development agreement and the minimum requirements outlined in Nevada Revised Statutes.

Additionally, the proposed street names for American West Homes at Mountain Falls Parcel 3-2B unit 2 subdivision are in accordance with Nye County street name guidelines.

According to a project description letter provided by Taney Engineering, the subdivision will utilize the entrance to Mountain Falls Parkway. The proposed street pattern will connect to Badlands Lane.

A final map technical review will include a drainage study and traffic study. Officials will also have to forward a tentative map to the school board for aquisition or disposal of a school site.

Addressing the letter from Nye County Sheriff Sharon Wehrly that was in a staff report, Dunford said that the subdivision will pay the impact fees under the agreement.

The proposed 113 homes are expected to generate $170,000 in annual property taxes, officials said.
Valley Electric Association, Inc. began their yearly district meetings Tuesday night at the Pahrump Nugget Hotel and Casino and among the points that were going to be touched on, one stands out above the rest.

Valley Electric Association, Inc. began their yearly district meetings Tuesday night at the Pahrump Nugget Hotel and Casino and among the points that were going to be touched on, one stands out above the rest.

For the first time in six years VEA is planning a rate hike, that has been accelerated from its original Jan. 17, 2017 date and is now scheduled to go into effect July 1.

VEA Chief Executive Officer Tom Husted said that the rate hike would be a single-digit rate, not to exceed 9.99 percent, spread out over rate classes.

At some point in time you have to pay the fiddler, said Husted, referring to the co-ops continued capital investment without any ratepayer increases during the economic downturn. These included completion of a transmission line, expansion to the VEA headquarters on Highway 372 and the establishing of the infrastructure to introduce wireless and broadband services to the community.

Husted explained that the rate increase amount is still being determined by a third-party company that will survey figures to come up with an adequate rate adjustment.

The rate hikes planned roll-out date was bumped up do to VEAs associated broadband project costs and which is set to roll out next month.

Although a full build-out of the fiber-optic system wont come until later this year, VEA is set to offer wireless Internet to residents, via setting up 12 hot spots that cover the majority of town and utilizing flat antennas for $49.95 per month.

Once the fiber-optic build-out is complete, those with the wireless service just have to plug into the broadband service and for the same $49.95 price will get the basic speed of 50 mbps.

The new broadband service will be a cash cow for VEA and it is expected to pull in a healthy revenue almost immediately, according to Husted.

It will generate millions of dollars in revenue in a short amount of time, he said.

The second of six VEA district meetings takes place today in District 6 (Pahrump, north of Highway 372) at Nevada Treasure RV Resort, located at 301 W. Leslie St. Registration opens at 5 p.m., the meeting begins at 6 p.m.

Thursday District 3 (Beatty, Sarcobatus Flat and Scottys Junction) will host its meeting at the Beatty Community Center at 100 A Ave. South. Registration opens at 5 p.m., meeting begins at 6 p.m.

Pick up Fridays Pahrump Valley Times for more coverage of Tuesdays meeting.

Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.
A group of local residents stopped by the newspaper office a couple of weeks ago expressing their point of view on the direction of this newspaper.

A group of local residents stopped by the newspaper office a couple of weeks ago expressing their point of view on the direction of this newspaper.

The group, approximately 15 strong, wanted to discuss various topics, ranging from why we no longer allow comments on our website to why what they hear around town doesnt end up in the newspaper. I felt it was a healthy dialogue, even though we didnt see eye-to-eye on every point during the nearly 90-minute meeting.

When the group arrived at around 9 a.m., one of the women asked if the newspaper had a conference room where we could meet. While the vast majority of readers have never been to our office, we have a very small building that houses 15 people every day. I do not have an office to myself, and neither does the publisher.

I ushered the group into the newsroom, an open space where our four reporters work side-by-side, desks right next to each other. Good thing the news staff gets along.

One of the first questions was about the comment section being removed from the website, a decision I made a few months ago. I explained to the group that it was not a decision I made lightly, but it was done because of the numerous anonymous comments that were reduced to name calling and downright nastiness.

Larger publications such as the Las Vegas Review-Journal have an online staff that part of their job is to monitor the comments section and remove postings that use profanity, attack others, or are just downright nasty.

Unfortunately, this newspaper cannot afford to hire someone to monitor the website.

I also explained that we do post our articles on Facebook, which allows readers to comment on that platform.

Another question that was asked was why they will hear about something around town but it never appears in the newspaper. The answer to that may be more complicated than it first appears.

One is that it is not something we can verify, or just plain rumor. One recent example is the ongoing case of former county deputy Sgt. Michael Horn. Rumors had come to our attention through a few people that a deal was in the works where Horn, who was facing several felony drug and theft charges, was going to see the charges reduced to gross misdemeanors.

Last week he submitted a plea to two felonies.

A big challenge is knowing where to look. Some of the best stories come from concerned citizens telling us that something needs to be looked into. But it needs to be more than, Theres corruption at City Hall. Or, The governments corrupt. That doesnt really tell me anything. Where do we need to look?

When I was a business reporter at the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2008, the newspaper received a tip that construction workers at CityCenter were drinking at the bars nearby before entering the job site.

Now thats an easy-to-follow-up-on tip. It included what was happening and where it was happening. All that was left for me was to figure out when the shift changes were, go down to the Las Vegas Strip near the job site, and observe. It was like shooting fish in a barrel. The following investigation led to a series of stories, as we were able to document this behavior. It also earned me the Nevada Press Associations Best Business News Story award in 2009.

If no one had told us that was going on and where to look, the story would not have happened.

The most famous example of investigative journalism is Watergate. Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein wrote a series of articles during a two-year period starting with the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and ended with the resignation of a president, and conviction and jail time for some of his top aides.

But they werent blindly poking around in the dark. Woodward and Bernstein were guided in their connecting of the break-in to the re-election committee for Richard Nixon by the deputy director of the FBI, William Mark Felt, Sr. That is a pretty good source.

As Katharine Graham, publisher of the Washington Post during the Watergate investigation, said, News is what someone wants suppressed. Everything else is advertising. The power is to set the agenda. What we print and what we dont print matter a lot.

A lot of good journalism comes from building relationships and I believe we have been doing just that in the 17 months I have been here. With that meeting, hopefully weve built more.

Arnold M. Knightly is the editor of the Pahrump Valley Times. He can be contacted at aknightly@pvtimes.com.
Six years ago during the Reid/Angle U.S. Senate race I wrote a column that called for less casual use of the Hitler analogy. Now we are seeing even heavier use of that analogy against Donald Trump, which suggests a lot of people dont really know much about Hitler, because Trump would more fittingly be analogized to George Wallace or Strom Thurmond. Here is that earlier column:

Six years ago during the Reid/Angle U.S. Senate race I wrote a column that called for less casual use of the Hitler analogy. Now we are seeing even heavier use of that analogy against Donald Trump, which suggests a lot of people dont really know much about Hitler, because Trump would more fittingly be analogized to George Wallace or Strom Thurmond. Here is that earlier column:

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle is really in the big time, now. Last week someone called her a Nazi.

At OpEdNews, a website that claims to be a progressive site though a lot of its content seems pretty reactionary, a writer named Mark Alvarez-Anderson wrote in a literacy-challenged essay, Angle is a little reich winger and the consummate trash talker.

Reich winger?

This hateful language is becoming all too common. In the Washington Post on the same day, Dana Milbank wrote about the tea party movements incessant use of the Hitler analogy. Milbank also wrote, Consider these tallies from Glenn Becks show on Fox News since Obamas inauguration: 202 mentions of Nazis or Nazism, according to transcripts, 147 mentions of Hitler, 193 mentions of fascism or fascist, and another 24 bonus mentions of Joseph Goebbels. Most of these were directed in some form at Obamaas were the majority of the 802 mentions of socialist or socialism on Becks nightly report. 

Last August, a Nevada woman named Pamela Pilger (not to be confused with an Ohio medical writer) gave herself immortality of a sort. At a meeting on health care in Las Vegas, a Jewish man named Samuel Blum was describing the Israeli health system and she yelled Heil Hitler at him. Pilgers name now gets 13,000 Google hits. Thats likely to be how her life is remembered.

Analogies from the period of Hitler and his Nazi Party never seem to go out of style. Negotiating with those the U.S. opposes is described as appeasement. Leaders opposed by our government are described as Hitlers.

The first President Bush justified the first war against Iraq by calling Saddam Hussein Hitler revisited. In justifying his bombing campaign in Kosovo, Bill Clinton said, What if someone had listened to Winston Churchill and stood up to Adolf Hitler earlier? His secretary of state, Madeline Albright, said, Munich is my mindset. The second George Bush justified the second war against Iraq by answering critics who wanted to let sanctions and negotiations work: We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided.

Al Gore called the fight against global warming equivalent to the fight against fascism.

Conservative writer Jonah Goldberg: In profound ways, the Nazi antismoking and public health drives foreshadowed todays crusades against junk food, trans fat, and the like.

Hitler, fascism, Munich are comparisons that work almost nowhere else. No less an authority than Winston Churchill warned against such analogies: Those who are prone by temperament and character to seek sharp and clear-cut solutions of difficult and obscure problems, who are ready to fight whenever some challenge comes from a foreign power, have not always been right. On the other hand, those whose inclination is to bow their heads, to seek patiently and faithfully for peaceful compromise, are not always wrong.  How many wars have been precipitated by fire brands! How many misunderstandings which led to war could have been removed by temporizing!

Those like Beck who traffic in these kinds of comparisons trivialize the horror of Naziism and the suffering of its victims. In 1972, when President Nixons agents were caught after they broke into the opposition partys headquarters to repair wiretaps, Sen. George McGovern said it was the kind of thing youd expect under a person like Hitler. A friend of mine wrote in UNRs Sagebrush that if everyones a Hitler, it suggests that he couldnt have been all that bad. Thats a good lesson to remember.

Dennis Myers is an award-winning journalist who has reported on Nevadas capital, government and politics for several decades. He has also served as Nevadas chief deputy secretary of state.
A Kewanee, Ill., man was being held without bond in the Scott County Jail on Wednesday after police say he sexually assaulted a woman at gunpoint.

Matthew William Swearingen, 30, was booked into the jail at 11:47 a.m. on charges of second-degree sexual abuse and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon.

According to an arrest affidavit filed by Davenport police, Swearingen pressed a gun against the womans forehead and sexually assaulted her in her home March 12.

Swearingen threatened to kill the woman with the gun during the assault, according to the arrest affidavit.

Second-degree sexual abuse is a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Assault while displaying a dangerous weapon is an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison.
Republican Brandi McGuire and Democrat Mike Halpin won their primary races late Tuesday in the hotly contested 72nd Illinois House district.

McGuire defeated Jordan Thoms by a healthy margin in the Republican primary, while Halpin outpaced Jeff Jacobs by a more modest amount in the Democratic race.

Complete returns didn't come in until about four hours after the polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Officials at the Rock Island County Clerk's office said the delays were due to the major storms that swept through the area while polls were closing.

"We've had a heck of a day," County Clerk Karen Kinney said.

McGuire, the director of a driving school who lives in Milan, defeated leading Thoms, a marketing coordinator from Rock Island, 5,164 to 3,642.

Meanwhile, Halpin, an attorney from Rock Island, defeated Jacobs, a Moline attorney, by a margin of 5,673 votes to 4,681. Rock Island City Council member Katelyn Hotle had received 3,037, while activist Glen Evans got 1,291.

The 72nd District race was thrown up for grabs when incumbent Rep. Pat Verschoore, D-Milan, announced last year that he would retire.

Verschoore quickly threw his support to Jacobs, his nephew, along with a nearly $54,000 donation. However, Halpin got tens of thousands of dollars from the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees state council, along with a last minute $75,000 donation from Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale.

Jacobs' camp claimed powerful Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan had forced Smiddy to make the donation, something he denied.

Madigan definitely had his fingerprints on the race, though, with a political action committee he controls spending tens of thousands of dollars on mailers criticizing Hotle.

In the Republican race, meanwhile, a group primary funded by Chicago area businessman Richard Uihlein backed McGuire, a sign that the race that for the past few decades has been safely in Democratic hands will get significant attention from conservative forces this fall.
Hillary Clinton will not be elected president of the United States.

Why? Because she can't win, that's why. And the sooner you figure this out, the calmer you will be.

She wants desperately to win. She's endured painful decades of Bill, years of Barack, eating all the insults like so many sins and swallowing them down as the price of her ambition. It's all there in the dull weight of her eyes.

But I just don't see Hillary winning this election, because she's the lone candidate of the establishment in a year of insurgency.

Common wisdom and her fierce Clinton tribalists will probably want me burned at the stake for heresy, or chemically altered. But this is an insurgent year. And she's the Empress dowager of the Washington establishment.

Democratic socialist Bernie Sanders isn't an establishment creature. And on the Republican side, economic nationalist and self-funding Donald Trump and conservative Ted Cruz are definitely not establishment. Cruz and Trump have been at war with their party. The GOP establishment needs Cruz now, but they don't like him.

And they're angry with Trump because he won't take their money, although in the last Republican debate Trump did something brilliant. He suggested he may be open to fundraisers if he's the Republican nominee, smartly giving those money boys an opening. This was missed by the media in all the talk of Trump's new tone. But the insiders certainly noticed. All they want is access. By hinting that he may allow it after the Republican convention, Trump means to charm them into leashing their dogs.

That leaves Hillary Clinton, with her massive fundraising, her Democratic Party insider status, the Wall Street speeches bringing more cash, the Clinton Foundation clout, the connections foreign and domestic.

Clinton is the political embodiment of the establishment. And that spells serious trouble for her, because the American people are in an insurgent mood, fueled by the holes in their bank accounts, all those jobs Bill Clinton sent overseas with his support of NAFTA, and the rifts in what we once called the common culture. It spreads across class lines like fire in a dry riverbed. It won't stop until the weeds are gone.

Most of the public focus has been on the Republican side, on the anger over there. But the Trump rally in Chicago was shut down Friday after anti-Trump protesters massed inside the gathering.

Trump draws the spotlight, and an industry has sprung up of media meat puppets of the liberal left and of the war party center right. They wring their hands and warn America that if Trump or the conservative Ted Cruz is elected president, the republic will collapse.

It won't. But the rhetoric is quite hysterical, the theatrics entertaining, and you probably should understand the technique.

The screaming at enemies has two purposes: The first identifies the foe. That's understood. But the second involves herding votes.

Because the longer you can compel the tribe to shriek wildly and point at that tiger in the night forest, the more you can get them to fear what's out there, the tighter the villagers are bound to your side around the campfire.

It's not only about pointing at the enemy. It's about using shame -- even on social media -- to make sure the simple villagers won't stray.

But the Democrats have far fewer villagers this year. Their turnout in primaries is low. The energy is all on the Republican side. And all that shaming has kept Americans blind to Clinton's weakness.

She has other problems, including the consensus from primary exit polls that she's considered to be a liar. Young women don't like her much, perhaps because Clinton's old feminist allies tried to shame them into submission. Now Hillary is thought of as some angry grandmother.

She seems overly scripted, stuffy, tired, as if every word she speaks has been poll-tested and run past criminal lawyers. And she still hasn't won that critical FBI primary over her email scandal.

Clinton kept top secret information on a private email server and the secrets may have been hacked by foreign intelligence, compromising lives and American policy. Her IT guy has been given a grant of federal immunity and is cooperating.

FBI Director James Comey is a close friend of corruption-busting former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald of Chicago. They're cut from the same stone. Don't be surprised if he drops one on her.

Asked in the recent Democratic debate if she would drop out if indicted, Mrs. Clinton was offended.

"Oh for goodness -- that is not going to happen," she said, angry. "I am not even answering that question."

Even Democrats who aren't excited by Clinton say that she deserves the nomination. And, if she could be honest for a moment and drop the gender identity war club, she might say that gender aside, she deserves it, too, for all the time she's put in climbing.

But Clint Eastwood explained all you need to know about the deserving to a dying Gene Hackman in the Oscar-winning Western "Unforgiven." Hackman, shot and on the ground, said he didn't deserve to go that way.

"Deserve's got nothin' to do with it," Eastwood told him.

And it was done.

Deserves have nothing to do with power politics. Timing is everything. And I don't see Hillary winning, because she's the wrong candidate at the wrong time.
Context Russian Deputy Minister of Culture arrested among others on suspicion of embezzlement

MOSCOW, March 16 (RAPSI)  Boris Mazo, the head of the Department of the Administration of Property and Investment Policy of Russias Culture Ministry, pleaded not guilty to embezzling public funds allocated for restoration of cultural heritage sites, RAPSI reported from Moscows Lefortovsky District Court on Wednesday.

Mazo was arrested and questioned as a suspect on March 15, according to investigators.

Deputy Culture Minister Grigory Pirumov stands accused along with Mazo and a number of other top officials and businessmen.

Searches were conducted at their premises and offices, according to the FSB.

Investigators allege that a scheme to embezzle more than 50 million rubles ($709,000) in budget funds was designed by Pirumov.




Russian prosecutors urge US to help investigate ex-ministers death

MOSCOW, March 16 (RAPSI)  The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has filed a request with the U.S. Ministry of Justice asking for legal assistance in the investigation into the death of former press minister Mikhail Lesin, RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday.

Lesin, 57, died on November 5, 2015, in a hotel located in Washington. Russia Today (RT) quoted family members as saying Lesin died of a heart attack.

It was later revealed with reference to US coroners that the body had blunt force injuries to the neck, torso, arms and legs. No other details from the post-mortem examination were provided, and it is still unclear how the injuries had been sustained.

The Washington Post reported citing the police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck that the case remained under investigation.

From 1999 till 2004, Lesin was a Minister of Press, Broadcasting and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation. In 2004-2009, he was an advisor for Russian president, specializing in media and information technologies. In 2013-2015, he headed state-controlled media giant Gazprom-Media.
Sagarmatha Network Pvt. Ltd. is the organization dedicated in the field of printing, publishing service since 2001. As part of media, we've been publishing Review Nepal, an English medium weekly registered at District Administration Office (DAO) Kathmandu with registration number 130-162-163 and reviewnepal.com as an online digital newspaper, with registration number 849-075-076 at Department of Informational and Broadcasting (DIB) from Kathmandu, Nepal since 2003.
Seguin, TX (78155)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. Gusty winds diminishing during the afternoon. High near 90F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low near 65F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.
 "Why many black voters don't blame Hillary for tough-on-crime laws" | Main | Split Ohio Supreme Court decides state allowed to try again to execute Rommell Broom after prior botched attempt 

March 16, 2016

After a month, Prez Obama makes ("consensus"?) pick of DC Circuit Chief Judge Merrick Garland for SCOTUS opening

Color me deeply disappointed by this big SCOTUS news. A president who campaigned on a promise of hope and change and who indisputably was elected to the Oval Office twice thanks to the strong support of minority and younger Americans has now decided to nominate to the Supreme Court to replace Justice Antonin Scalia, an old white guy who graduated from Harvard Law School and worked for the Justice Department before serving on the DC Circuit, none other than Chief DC Circuit Judge Merrick Garland, another old white guy who graduated from Harvard Law School and worked for the Justice Department before serving on the DC Circuit.

In this prior post, I (apparently foolishly) suggested that Prez Obama might be leaning to appointing a former federal defense lawyer to the Supreme Court given his comments about looking for a nominee with "a keen understanding that justice is not about abstract legal theory, nor some footnote in a dusty casebook [but who has] life experience earned outside the classroom and the courtroom." But Chief Judge Garland, like far too many of the current Justices in my view, is a career "inside-the-Beltway" lawyer having served in the Justice Department during the Clinton Administration and having spent the last two decades serving on the most insulated and isolated of all the US Circuit Courts. Notably, at a time when American voters on both sides of the aisle have shown an interest in changing "politics as usual" in Washington DC, the President has decided to nominate the most "old-school" SCOTUS candidate I could imagine.

Readers will not be surprised to hear that what really has me irked about this SCOTUS choice is that it provides yet more proof that President Barack Obama is never actually willing to "walk the walk" on criminal justice reform when he has a real opportunity to use his power and platform to engineer real change. Appointing someone with a public defender background would be a powerful statement that lawyers who defend those accused of crimes have a critically important perspective on the operation and application of the rule of law. Instead, Prez Obama has nominated a former Criminal Division DOJ lawyer who supervised the Oklahoma City bombing case and the case against the Unabomber. Tellingly, in his announcement this morning, Prez Obama stressed Chief Judge Garland's "sterling record as a prosecutor" and expressed admiration for his prosecutorial efforts to avoid the possibility that the Oklahoma City bomber "might go free on a technicality."

On the criminal justice front, here is part of what SCOTUSblog had to say about Judge Garland back in 2010 when he was on a prior short-list concerning a replacement for Justice Stevens:

On a number of issues, particularly those related to criminal law, Judge Garland is the least likely to adopt a liberal position.... The most significant area of the law in which Judge Garland's views obviously differ materially from those of Justice Stevens is criminal law. Judge Garland rarely votes in favor of criminal defendants' appeals of their convictions.... Most striking, in ten criminal cases, Judge Garland has disagreed with his more-liberal colleagues; in each, he adopted the position that was more favorable to the government or declined to reach a question on which the majority of the court had adopted a position favorable to a defendant. Because disagreement among panel members on the D.C. Circuit is relatively rare, this substantial body of cases is noteworthy.

In the end, and perhaps ironically, I suspect that Prez Obama has made this selection because he does not believe the Senate will move forward with any nominee, and because Chief Judge Garland at age 63 may be uniquely willing now to be the focal point of the already on-going battle royale over the current empty SCOTUS seat. Also, Prez Obama is sure to have fun making much of the fact in 2010 Senator Orrin Hatch had urged Prez Obama to nominate Judge Garland as "a consensus nominee" who would "be very well supported by all sides." (Of course, left out of this analysis is that critical Senators Mitch McConnell and Charles Grassley voted against confirmation of Judge Garland back in the 1990s and that Judge Garland's record on gun control seems very likely to be a focal point of criticism from many GOP officials and advocacy groups.)

Maybe it was true in 2010 that Chief Judge Garland would be "very well supported by all sides," but I seriosuly doubt this will prove true in 2016. Moreover, in light of both Chief Judge Garland's judicial record and the unique opportunity and open SCOTUS seat presents to diversify perspectives and backgrounds on this Court, I am now thinking I will be rooting for the Senate to refuse to move forward with his nomination.

Prior related posts on new SCOTUS nominee possibilities:

March 16, 2016 at 11:33 AM | Permalink

Comments

"A president who campaigned on a promise of hope and change and who indisputably was elected to the Oval Office twice thanks to the strong support of minority and younger Americans."

He campaigned as someone who would unite the country too, like that speech he gave that we aren't red or blue states, and is governing NOW with a Republican Senate that said they wouldn't even have hearings. So, he appears to be trying to govern here, not put out some doomed pick. Garland might be doomed too, but I don't know, especially if the Trump/Senate thing doesn't do well in the Fall or senators in hard election races are really pressured. Obama already put Sotomayor on the bench and various lower court judges. Kagan provides another novel choice, a non-judge.

And, maybe the effort is doomed, but that's what you do -- you try. ONE side here is trying so far and I appreciate it. I might wish someone else, but realistically, if this is actually about credibly trying to fill a slot not to make some point, Garland is a reasonable shot. I thought it would be Sri. S., which would give you the minority and younger thing, but not the defense part.

Your choice there was a young district judge who would be opposed on that ground. Nice symbol, I guess, but he's there to try to actually fill the slot. The other there from what I can tell (don't know of a third defense leaning option seriously put out there) was someone you yourself felt had a limited resume. She very well might be a great replacement to RBG is she resigns during the Clinton Administration (RBG served about a decade on the court of appeals first).

I think you honestly expected to be disappointed. You didn't even talk about the three top choices really; when you talked about Jane Kelly, you basically said you didn't think she was a good choice (if better than others; faint praise) and rooted for a longshot. Obama, talk of "socialist" etc., again turns out to be mainstream. That helped get a lot done in the last seven years, including health care that helped many in the criminal justice system including drug treatment, tempering of drug laws in various ways, two justices who helped defendants in various ways and efforts to response to police overreaching.

Posted by: Joe | Mar 16, 2016 11:50:30 AM

ETA: We also don't know everything what happened behind the scenes, including the wishes of various people and things that might have made a nomination impractical. Also, if Garland fails, and we have 4-4 Court into mid-2017 at best, what makes you think Hillary Clinton or Trump/Cruz will pick someone better in your eyes?

Clinton very well might just re-submit Garland if the Republicans simply refuses to act here, especially if the Republicans still control the Senate. If you want your ideal pick, you should be pushing for Democrats to control the Senate, I guess.

Posted by: Joe | Mar 16, 2016 11:54:34 AM

Professor,

Color me exceptionally pleased. Instead of reaching for an ideologue (which I would think we all have had enough of, whether it be a Scalia on the Right or Reinhardt on the Left), the President picked an eminently qualified, experienced jurist with real world experience "looking evil in the face" (as Kent Scheidegger once put it). I for one am quite sick and tired of judges being picked in order to advance an agenda. Chief Judge Garland appears to be a moderate who based on past experience will be collegial, thoughtful and whose decisions will be well-reasoned. I will hope against all hope that the Senate majority will stop playing political games and give the nominee a fair hearing and a fair vote.

Posted by: Cal prosecutor | Mar 16, 2016 1:47:52 PM

I'm disappointed in the pick because of criminal justice areas (he is definitely pro-prosecutor and takes a limited view of the Fourth Amendment). That being said, President Obama said he would pick the most qualified candidate and there is no doubting his qualifications. He is probably the most experienced, best qualified candidate there is.

I'm concerned because of areas I agreed heavily with Justice Scalia (where he would probably be closer to Justice Kennedy), but it's a terrible idea to pick a candidate based on a single issue.

Posted by: Erik M | Mar 16, 2016 2:25:19 PM

The prediction markets had the odds of a judge being confirmed at around 20% - 30% over the past couple of weeks. After Garland was nominated, the odds went close to 60%. Now a few hours later the odds have settled back in the high 30s.

Posted by: Jason R | Mar 16, 2016 2:30:51 PM

Joe (et al.), I view most former public defense attorneys (like Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson) and most prominent politicians (like Brian Sandoval) to be very mainstream. Moreover, I think there is something especially appealing and important about having on the Supreme Court persons whose entire professional life has NOT been connected to representing big and powerful entities (whether those are big corporate entities or big government). Without taking anything away from Chief Judge Garland, whom I presume is very bright and would be a fine Justice, what disappoints me greatly is getting "more of the same."

I understand why Prez Obama may have concluded, for a variety of political and practical reasons, that a person who would be "collegial, thoughtful and whose decisions will be well-reasoned" is the best person to pick right now. But I find so very depressing that it his instinct and message that a lifetime DC insider judge, who looks and sounds pretty much like just about every judge appointed to SCOTUS over the last 40 years (save one or two exceptions), is the very best person for this job.

In the end, my disappointment in this pick is based what I perceive as a lack of vision --- and I would ultimately say courage and wisdom --- in Prez Obama to try to really bring change to one of the most historically conservative and hidebound American institutions.

Posted by: Doug B. | Mar 16, 2016 3:04:42 PM

@Doug

So vote for Trump. Don't laugh, I'm serious. Why does it surprise anyone that Obama swung the bat in order to advance the runners rather than swinging for the fences? That has bee his MO for his entire career! Hillary is more of the same. If you want a person with vision, vote Trump--he's the gambler. Of course, he may gamble in a way that many liberals will find fundamentally displeasing but Trump is going to gamble.

For me, the irony of Obama is that he really is proof that when push comes to shove a person's personality is more indicative of what they will do than their cultural upbringing. The irony is, or course, that the liberals who voted for him believe exactly the opposite. But to admit that to themselves would require them to admit in their own fundamental racist outlook on life, and that creates too much cognitive dissonance.

Posted by: Daniel | Mar 16, 2016 3:25:21 PM

Doug:

Where do you stand now on your prediction that if Obama nominated Sri S., he would nominate Judge Brown Jackson to fill the resulting slot on the D.C. Cir.? Well, we have a slot (potentially) open now, just a different slot.

Given the uncertain future of the Garland nomination, my opinion is that having one nominee out there to "twist in the wind" is enough.

I feel that Garland is a good choice and someone fully in keeping with Obama's cautious, balanced approach. Having heard Garland's remarks this morning, I feel that he's a gentle, unassuming guy -- certainly not a bargain from the criminal defense perspective (I am a former AUSA and a former AFPD, in that order) -- who should have a good chance at confirmation. But my prediction is that the Senate won't act on this until the period between the election and the induction of the new Congress (if there is time then, to get the job done). Reason: the Tea Party folks will be more strongly incensed if nomination hearings are held. I hope I'm wrong, but it does not seem to me that an unacted-upon nomination is the type of thing that will drive the ordinary voter to vote against a Republican Senator up for re-election.

Posted by: Late Inning Relief | Mar 16, 2016 4:25:42 PM

"For me, the irony of Obama is that he really is proof that when push comes to shove a person's personality is more indicative of what they will do than their cultural upbringing. The irony is, or course, that the liberals who voted for him believe exactly the opposite."

His cultural upbringing affected his judgments in various ways so don't see this as true. And, liberals don't "believe exactly the opposite." They think culture is an important part of one's personality and judgement. I don't think conservatives really think otherwise & are very concerned about cultural teachings just for that reason. Liberals do think -- along with other stuff -- certain criteria should be a "plus" ala affirmative action. Not use of that alone.

Many voted for him as a reasonable evenhanded sort who would make a pick just like this. The stereotype version of him might not match this just like when he does something politically motivated or something & we are supposed to be shocked. But, liberals as a whole were not naive, thinking him some sort of saint.

Posted by: Joe | Mar 16, 2016 4:55:12 PM

Interesting comments, all, and I will keep stirring this pot:

Daniel:

1. I agree that Trump is a gambler and a gamble, and one I might even be open to taking if he proves shrewd enough to start appealing to me and others by actively extolling libertarian-leaning reform ideas in the criminal justice/drug reform space. But, absent Trump saying that he would only nominate women for open SCOTUS seats, I am inclined to guess Hillary would be a better "diversity" picker for future SCOTUS openings.

2. I think Prez Obama's personality (and success) is a product of his cultural upbringing in Hawaii and through he years at Harvard Law School, where it seems he learned how to garner considerable power and respect by "playing nice with The Man" while still being "down" just enough to avoid being labeled an Uncle Tom. (I always viewed his pre-2008 association with Rev Wright to be part of his effort to avoid an Uncle Tom label, and he was quick to cut off that association when needing to return to "playing nice with The Man.")

Late Inning:

3. I think Judge Brown Jackson would still be a great pick to fill Garland's seat if it comes open, but I am not expecting to see that happen when Prez Obama still hold the power of appointment (though I suppose a lame duck Senate might confirm Garland if Hillary is elected and his nomination is still pending, and then Obama could name his replacement and hope for more lame-duck action). But I am hopeful Obama and/or Garland would withdraw the nomination if Hillary is elected.

4. I share your view that the Garland pick has real "slow play" benefits (to keep with the gambling metaphor). It suggests Prez Obama and fellow Ds are really modest and mainstream while the GOP Senate and its functional party leaders in Trump and Cruz are the real radical/dangerous irresponsible kooks. If Obama can use the Garland pick to help make that narrative stick, then there is a real chance Hillary is picking at least 3 and maybe 5 Justices with the help of a D-controlled Senate in the coming years.

Posted by: Doug B. | Mar 16, 2016 6:29:18 PM

Merrick Garland is not going to be confirmed. He will not even get a hearing. Period. He will twist in the wind. When I watched the news conference today I felt like telling him, hold your tears for now until you really have something to cry about. The Republicans are in complete disarray and they are trying to shore up their base by opposing Obama at every step. Merrick is not going to be confirmed and he will not get a hearing. As for Trump or Hillary doing better, Trump might nominate one of the crazies at his rallies and the tough on crime, weary of polls, Hillary Clinton will not do much better. A former public defender, a person with some feet on the ground experience from the defense side is sorely needed on the Supreme Court but everybody is afraid of appearing soft on crime....Pity. Real Pity.

Finally, I dont know why Obama nominated Merrick when he knows it is DOA: it wont score him any points with any part of the electorate. You know after nearly 7 years in office you would think the guy would learn that the Republicans cant stand him and will not give him the time of day, what on earth was he thinking nominating this guy, who is smart and qualified, but DOA on arrival in the Senate and who wont inspire any section of the electorate.

Posted by: Old Lawyer | Mar 16, 2016 6:31:16 PM

I'm part of the electorate and read a certain blogs that lean Democrat. For some people, this nomination "scored points" in that they appreciated him picking a reasonable choice while some noted that the Republicans blocking even this might make them (especially key swing seats) more unreasonable & that on a partisan level would be a good thing.

If he's DOA, that very well might add to why this is a good thing. Why, e.g., put Jane Kelly (already an ad was made against her, according to one source) or someone else as a sacrificial lamb? And, if the Republicans simply don't have hearings, a logical thing would be to remove his nomination. This happened to judicial nominations in the past. This though might be negative for the nominee, seen as a fail. Someone else you might want Hilary Clinton to re-nominate. etc.

Prof. Berman's #4 gets to some of this. On a human level, Garland is happy he was even nominated. We can try to see that even while being cynical or realistic sorts, can't we? I saw a video posted on Twitter where he introduced himself before all of this & he choked up a bit talking about his dad too.

I'd be glad for a public defender but no, in this time especially with a Republican Senate, a mid-40 year old district judge or someone who was just a defense attorney basically until she became an appellate judge a couple years ago is not going to be confirmed to SCOTUS. Either one very well, especially if Doug Berman's pick gets a few years appeals service, can be a good option for Hillary Clinton in a few years. It isn't just "soft on crime." A white Harvard grad ex-prosecutor merely a district judge or who only was a prosecutor would be an unlikely choice for a President. The norm these days are appellate judges; Kagan was an outlier.

Posted by: Joe | Mar 16, 2016 9:30:39 PM

@Joe, @Doug

When a psychologist uses the term personality they--by definition--mean that part of a person's individuality that is not influenced by culture. This is one of the main disagreements between psychologists and sociologists. Concepts such as "the looking glass self" that insist culture plays a role in personality formation or the process of individuation are sociological in nature. Psychologists, especially cognitive psychologists, look to neurophysiology and genetics to explain personality. This means that when psychologists want to change personality they look to chemistry and drugs, which is the main reason that Ecstasy was widely prescribed by relationship counselors prior to it being banned.

I realize that I am communicating with non-specialists in this forum, but the point I was making is that Obama's selection of Garland is not consistent with his cultural upbringing, at least as he relates it in his own biography. It is consistent with his personality as a psychologist would understand that term.

Posted by: Daniel | Mar 16, 2016 10:34:05 PM

"Obama's selection of Garland is not consistent with his cultural upbringing, at least as he relates it in his own biography"

I speak as someone who listened to his first book and read his second. And, your technical discussion of your method is duly noted. But, not really seeing much of a substantive reply to Doug Berman's analysis, e.g., on the merits. One I will just leave be. Simply put, I don't think it doesn't match.



Posted by: Joe | Mar 16, 2016 11:23:46 PM

"I speak as someone who listened to his first book and read his second." Self-inflicted cruel and unusual punishment.

It is funny how Doug laments that criminals won't get an advocate on SCOTUS. It's painfully clear that Doug wants a Super-legislature making sure that society's punishment for criminal behaviors don't offend the sensibilities of the self-appointed . And he's willing to trade freedoms that are actually guaranteed to us in order to get this accomplished.

"(I always viewed his pre-2008 association with Rev Wright to be part of his effort to avoid an Uncle Tom label, and he was quick to cut off that association when needing to return to "playing nice with The Man.")" Couldn't let that one go--he exposed his kids to that poison, but once again, Doug, you will smear someone like Ed Whelan, but pooh-pooh an association with someone as disgusting as Reverend White who even stooped so low to refer to Natalie Holloway as a white girl who gave it up on vacation.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 17, 2016 9:25:57 AM

"self-appointed" should be "self-anointed class of the enlightened"

Posted by: federalist | Mar 17, 2016 9:29:40 AM

federalist, what should be painfully clear to anyone not deeply biased against the individual rights and freedoms set out in the Constitution is that it is important to have at least a few members of SCOTUS who are not former state and federal prosecutors. I do not want SCOTUS as a super-legislature, I want the federal judicial branch to be an independent branch of our government that serves as a robust check on the work of the legislative and executive branches --- and one that is not packed ONLY with former big-government DOJ/criminal justice employees.

Here is are snippets from the official bios of the last FIVE appointments to the Supreme Court (http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx):

Breyer: "Special Assistant to the Assistant U.S. Attorney General [and] Assistant Special Prosecutor"

Roberts: "Special Assistant to the Attorney General"

Alito: "Deputy Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice [and] U.S. Attorney, District of New Jersey"

Sotomayor: "Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney's Office"

Kagan: "Solicitor General of the United States"

The fact that you, federalist, and Prez Obama and so many others do not see the very big problem with this modern SCOTUS appointment trend is itself a telling sign how much a life-long commitment to big government has become the defining characteristic of "highly qualified" justices among both the Left and the Right. AND now Obama is eager to add yet another DOJ prosecutor to the Supreme Court, demonstrating to me how deeply committed the "self-anointed class of the enlightened" (of which you are a member, federlist) has decided that "being credentialed" actually means never seriously and deeply questioning the exercise of big government power over individuals in all sorts of spheres.

Because you, federalist, naively think only in terms of recently-constructed Right/Left framing and not in deeper enduring terms about human freedom and the corrosiveness of all forms of growing government powers (especially at the federal level), you consistently misunderstand and misportray both my comments and my commitments.

Speaking of misportrayal, as you should know, I have not sought to smear someone like Ed Whelan; rather I just sought to have him and/or others explain their intellectual criticisms of a remarkably accomplished woman of color. That you keep syating my questioning about the basis of an unexplained and suspect criticism is a smear strikes me as yet another example of you tellingly "protesting too much."

Posted by: Doug B. | Mar 17, 2016 10:49:53 AM

"Reverend White" is an amusing (assuming) typo.

Posted by: Joe | Mar 17, 2016 10:53:21 AM

Kagan was given the S.G. job as a warm-up to the justice position that was assumed to come when an opening occurred. She was a novel pick there since she was not the usual sitting judge. So, not really seeing that as a major example of the trend.

I think a person with a strong defense background would be a good move here. It was good to see the two ladies referenced appointed for lower court positions. Sotomayor was selected like O'Connor clearly for diversity purposes and to do that he found a safe pick with long district and appellate experience, first picked by George Bush.

It just is somewhat naive to me to not see a problem with picking a young district court judge or an appellate judge that even Prof. Berman deemed a somewhat weak choice given a limited background (a few more years of appellate service should do the trick) NOW. Obama already thought outside the box some. I welcome President Clinton picking Jane Kelly etc.

Posted by: Joe | Mar 17, 2016 11:01:34 AM

As for Doug--you smeared Whelan--your motive was to shock him into a response, but smear him you did. You admitted to puffing up the rhetoric in an earlier post. The rhetoric was incendiary. And it is funny--you will use words like "racism/sexism" to describe Whelan's comments, but say absolutely nothing about the association with Revered Wright.

I don't care for the Garland appointment, and I care less for the big government maw that is slowly taking over the polity. But your concern about "government power over individuals" is pretty much limited to being too mean to certain criminals like Wendell Callahan. You say you care about overcriminalization (a separate issue from harshness), but there is ZERO evidence that anyone you have supported for SCOTUS would do anything about it and likely would join judgments that increased government power to criminalize (e.g., overturn Citizens United).

Laughable is the idea that I don't see the problems with SCOTUS appointments--actually, Doug, the problem is much much deeper--it's the legal culture as a whole that is the problem, and very few lawyers understand it. The genuflection to courts in our society is an anathema to our freedoms. To give a small example--where courts can simply excise language like "established by a State" not based on traditional notions of statutory interpretation, but rather based on a "wait and see" approach and then concluding that Congress didn't intend the result (the "established by a State" would have been affirmed had a large majority of the states established the exchanges), then we have an imperial Judiciary (with, of course, facial deference to a legislature). How you can accuse me of not getting it is beyond preposterous--you think I like appointments from the Washington crowd?--what because I tweak you for leaning lib on judicial appointments and point out what you'll accept in terms of results that are contrary to your stated views? And I don't naively think in terms of left/right with respect to judges, other than the left thinks, generally, that courts should invent rights etc. (e.g., Zavydas v. Davis, invented rights if I ever saw them).

Posted by: federalist | Mar 17, 2016 11:15:50 AM

Joe:

1. I agree that Kagan is something of the relative outlier here, and she is more akin in background to RGB and ALK than other more recent appointees. But the broader point, which I may soon elevate to a new post, is that both left and right have a modern tendency to appoint "statists" who are, generally speaking, much less inclined to be a robust check on government in part because they have spent most of their professional lives working for/with the government. Criminal defense attorneys working on behalf of accused individuals (both publicly funded and privately retained) spend their professional lives fighting against the government. I think this makes them, generally speaking, much less professionally inclined to trust government officials and government efforts to go after individuals.

2. I do not think Judge Kelly was a weak choice, I justed liked Judge Brown Jackson more because of the diversity of her prior professional experience. And Justices Kagan O'Connor and CJs Rhenquist and Warren all serve as modern examples that you can be a successful Justice without any prior service as a federal judge. And Justices Thomas and White and Stewart are modern examples that one can be a successful Justice if appointed while still only in your fifth decade.



federalist: there is so much foolishness in your comments I am not sure were to start, but I will highlight three points for now.

3. I used the words "racism/sexism" to candidly express my concerns and with the hope of provoke Whelan and other folks who made unexplained and suspect criticism of Judge Brown Jackson's intellect to make a real effort to better explain the bases for their criticisms. And I find so telling that you keep seem so more concerned with my use of these words and defendig Whelan (who can surely defend himself) than with exploring the bases for Whelan's and others' critcisms unexplained and suspect criticism of Judge Brown Jackson (who is likely bound by judicial ethics to not try to defend herself).

4. You would think my repeatedly expressed concern about marijuana prohibition and use of big-govt power to run the drug war and my general disaffinity for top-down gun control and on and on and on would be more than enough to help you see my concern about "government power over individuals" goes far beyond violent offenders. But, because you truly do think naively in terms of left/right, you have concocted in your own mind an obviously inaccurate belief that only folks on the right a real champions of freedom.

5. Your foolish comments about an "imperial Judiciary" and reference to the ObamaCare statutory case prove still further your naive modern left/right framing. (Absent that framing, you'd be complaining about Raich and especially Justice Scalia's opinion in that case.) In our modern times, judges have essentially no affirmative power in our system --- especially federal judges ---- absent the exercise of power by the other branches and individuals having a reason and a legal basis to complain about how that power is exercised (without the passage of ObamaCare, the case you lament would never have existed). Because there are no more common-law crimes and now very limited commmon law torts, it is near impossible for judges, especially federal judges, to exercise power over individuals with a law passed by a legislature seeking to be enforced by an executive official. The federal judiciary certainly can invent and expand individual rights via broad interpretation of the US Constitution, but these are by definition rights of individuals against the government exercise of power over that individual. Suggesting genuflection to courts is anathema to individual freedoms against government is so misguided it makes my head hurt.

Posted by: Doug B. | Mar 17, 2016 1:30:47 PM

"Suggesting genuflection to courts is anathema to individual freedoms against government is so misguided it makes my head hurt."

I didn't say "individual freedoms", but rather freedoms--one of which is the right to govern ourselves. Here's an instructive quote from Scalia: "I see little harm in admitting that we made a mistake in taking away from the people the ability to decide for themselves what protections (beyond those required by the Constitution) are reasonably affordable in the criminal investigatory process. And I see much to be gained by reaffirming for the people the wonderful reality that they govern themselveswhich means that [t]he powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution that the people adopted, nor prohibited  to the States by that Constitution, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people, U.S. Const., Amdt. 10."

With respect to "racism/sexism"--do you really take the position that wondering aloud (and using these loaded terms deliberately) about whether racism/sexism is to blame for an assessment of someone's talent isn't a smear?

With respect to criminals and where your care lies--all you need to do is look at your pooh-poohing of the threat of the judiciary to give the government the power to criminally punish political speech. You can wriggle and wriggle all you want---you're willing to tolerate that, if, by golly, juvenile murderers cannot get life for murder. That's just statism coupled with liberal sensibilities about crime, and stunningly misplaced priorities based on your stated views (rather than, what I suspect, are your true views). You'll trade arguable overpunishment of people who have committed heinous crimes for the ability of the government to chill political speech, a core freedom of every one of us.

As for Obamacare--if you think for one second the ability to amend a statute (which by the way imposed taxes on people) based on how successful it was in the real world isn't a manifestation of the Imperial Judiciary, I don't know what to tell you. Roberts' opinion basically said, oh, Congress didn't intend a train wreck, and that is more important than whether it intended "established by a state". In other words, the Court arrogated unto itself the ability to correct perceived policy mistakes or mistaken predictions about the real-world effect of a particular statutory scheme, whether or not the specific item was intended or not.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 17, 2016 2:43:45 PM

The more you say, federalist, the more I question my previous compliments about your intelligence based on goofy asserts like "freedoms -- one of which is the right to govern ourselves."

The only meaningful "self government" freedom is based in individual (or perhaps family) freedom of personal behavior. If you contend making laws in a democracy is a kind of freedom, is the absence of "direct deomcracy" in the federal system and in many states is a big restriction on our "freedom ... to govern ourselves." And how about when a local ordinance conflicts with a state statute which itself may be based on a federal spending condition (say those in the Adam Walsh Act) --- is there a zero-sum game in this peculiar self-government "freedom"? And was my freedom of self-government impinged when I went to vote in the Ohio primary and was told if I said I was an independent I could not vote in either party's primary or because I was not allowed to vote in both party's primaries? Calling lawmaking in a representative democracy a "freedom" and then assailing the judiciary for checking government power is like calling chalk cheese and then complaining that the blackboard is making the cheese taste bad.

Your dense attempt at leeching any sensible meaning out of the word freedom, federalist, is only made worse by your reference to the 10th Amendment -- which was obviously designed as a restriction on the power of federal legislative and executive branches to be enforced by federal judges to enhance state powers and individual freedoms (like the other Bill of Rights' amendments). And here it is notable that, despite your own tendency to want to give governments unbounded powers to punish who your call criminals, the only modern recent discussion of the 10th amendment was in a case seeking to limit the reach of federal executive power to seek a federal conviction of an obviously local crime.

And that you think a sharp question --- which is still going unanswered --- about the basis for a suspect statement is a "smear" shows, yet again, that you misconstrue or misunderstand the actual meaning of actual words as serves your curious desires.

In addition, though you are eager to convince yourself otherwise, I have never "pooh-poohed the threat of the judiciary to give the government the power to criminally punish political speech." (And here it is notable that the political party you fawn over is embracing a guy seeming eager to undo NY Times v. Sullivan.) Indeed, more to the point, this sentence makes absolutely NO sense in light of your prior comments about the freedom of self government. Wouldn't a commitment to the "freedom" of self-government mean the freedom for the poeple to criminalize whatever speech it thinks harms self-government? Again my head hurts because the only way I can understand what you are tring to say is to just assume you dislike whatever Democrats like and vice/versa That is fine, but it is still more proof all your kooky claims are based in thinking naively in terms of modern left/right splits rather than having a clearhead perspective of broader and deeper enduing concerns.

We can debate the statutory interpretation in the second Obamacare case, but this is hardly evidence of an imperial judiciary because Congress the next day could change whatever the court said it meant if the court got it wrong. Again, you may complain about this interpretation, but a court must do some interpretation when parties contend language is unclear --- and Congress always can decide otherwise if they dislike to Court's resolution. (Of course, I realize there are structural reasons Congress is not often good at quickly fixing its own past statutory problems --- see, e.g., its failure to fix Booker a decade later or to deal with the Paroline problem --- but that just serve as more proof that lawmaking in a modern representative democracy does not really reflect even collective self-government all that well.)

I am done federalist because your partisan bias is so plain --- and you work so hard to deny it in ways that reveal its core --- that I have come to miss talking with Supremecy Claus. SC at least was aware of and did not try to hide his obvious bias against a certain group when he went on the attack.

Posted by: Doug B. | Mar 17, 2016 8:26:06 PM

"And it is notable that, despite your own tendency to want to give the feds and others endless powers to go after who they call criminals, only modern recent discussion of the 10th amendment was in a case seeking to limit the reach of federal executive power to seek a federal conviction of an obviously local crime."

Says who? When have I ever said that? Ever? What, pray tell, was the voting line-up in Lopez? Or the VAWA Commerce Clause case? You must have me mistaken with someone else. Ever hear me criticize those cases?

You obviously mistake me for someone who considers laws that are constitutional to necessarily being a good idea. That I haven't argued that the Adam Walsh Act is unconstitutional doesn't mean I favor it in all its punitive reach. I have in posts in here commented on the Adam Walsh Act--in non-complimentary fashion. But Congress is using the spending power--there isn't much doctrine out there limiting spending power conditions. Is it wrong to think that bad legislation is not necessarily unconstitutional? If con law dumbs down to "it's not fair", well maybe, but Sotomayor is only one vote.

Silly me--I thought a people's right to self-government was a core freedom. That there are limits on self-government through organic documents (adopted by the people) like the Constitution doesn't, it seems to me, necessarily mean that core freedoms aren't being observed. And saying that Rousseauian democracy is what I should like because I quoted Scalia (who noted the Constitution's checks) is ill-advised. (You blew that one.)

That Congress could "overrule" the Court doesn't make the Court any less imperial in that context--surely you realize, Doug, that legislation is hard to repeal when the legislation creates a constituency. Basically, without presentment to the President, SCOTUS amended a statute based on the statute's experience with reality. That's a legislative function (and since no presentment) an executive function.

Doug, with respect to CU, do we have to go through your posts where you first acted all agnostic about what an Obama appointee would likely do to the case?

As for the primary stuff--well gee Doug, does an independent necessarily have a right to vote in a partisan primary?? Ill-advised example.

I see I've gotten under your skin--well, actually, more accurately, your misimpression of what my positions are have gotten under your skin.

As for Ed Whelan--I continue to be amazed that you think that wondering aloud about "sexism/racism" and being troubled by criticism of a minority (simply because she is a minority) isn't smearing someone--well, I just don't know what to say. And I will juxtapose your defense of Obama's association with the reverend with your insinuations about Ed Whelan. The card you played is on the table--you cannot tell us it is not there.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 17, 2016 9:25:20 PM

I do not mistake you in any way, federalist, I have you perfectly pegged: if Scalia/Thomas say it, then for you it is gospel, and you twist basic principles and misuse words to serve your Scalia fandom.

Let's keep it simple, federalist, if you wish to disprove your biases: give me an example of a significant case where you think Scalia/Thomas got it wrong and justices to their left got it right. You have 25+ years of material, so I would expect it would not be hard for you to give me multiple examples. I would find that a more fruitful means for you to show me you are more that just an aggressive Scalia lackey.

Posted by: Doug B. | Mar 18, 2016 8:55:34 AM

Thomas was dead wrong on MMs, and Scalia's dissent in the Capobianco case was, in a word, laughable. I also don't believe Scalia's view that once a result is deemed to be absurd that a court's job is to get as close to the statutory language as it can without being absurd.

I don't believe Thomas is correct on the dormant commerce clause or his views on state taxation of non-residents. And I especially don't like Scalia's recent statement that the Court can "do anything." Like, for example, if the Court declared the DP unconstitutional, I would advocate that states simply ignore the federal courts since the Court would necessarily have had to abuse its authority.

"federalist, I have you perfectly pegged: if Scalia/Thomas say it, then for you it is gospel, and you twist basic principles and misuse words to serve your Scalia fandom."

And how am I "twisting" basic principles? You accused me of being in favor of the federal government criminalizing everything---where have I ever said that? The answer is NEVER. I just don't know that the expansion of the federal criminal law is unconstitutional.

One thing that you can see in my posts--I am remarkably consistent. I don't couch my views in order to win an argument. I believe you do--for example, your original "gee I don't know if there's a threat to CU" and "show me where people are being prosecuted?" pooh-poohed the serious threat that government is going to get to criminalize certain political speech.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 18, 2016 9:51:32 AM

"(And here it is notable that the political party you fawn over is embracing a guy seeming eager to undo NY Times v. Sullivan.)"

To his everlasting shame---that's a disgrace.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 18, 2016 9:53:23 AM

Interesting, federalist, that the only places where you disagree with either Scalia or Thomas is where it seems they disagree with each other. So I should refine my understanding to be that federalist will only question what Scalia or Thomas has to say when they are not speaking together. Again, that is fine, but it demostrates how you have embraced (as did Thomas and Scalia when generally talking together) the modern constructed Left/Right political divide in constitutional jurisprudence.

You are right that I "pooh-poohed" the potential reversal of the striking down of the criminal justice piece of CU and the prospect of people being federally criminally prosecuted for certain political speech --- because this seems like a distopian and highly unrealistic vision of what a replacement of Justice Scalia would lead to. (For the record, I wrote an op-ed in a weekly college paper back in 1988 telling folks on the left to stop foolishly asserting that the election of George HW Bush would ensure the reversal of Roe v. Wade.) For lots and lots of reasons, both new and old Justices are chary about quick reversals of recent precendents, even very controversial ones. Moreover, I am not aware of a single notable federal criminal prosecution for political speech between the 2002 passage of the BCRA and the 2010 CU decision (a period that included 2 major Prez elections and a DOJ that seemed highly politicized by AGs of both parties).

As for twisting basic principles and misuse of words, I am talking about your stunning assertion that a robust independent judicial branch checking/limiting the work of other branches and a healthy respect for the work of courts is somehow "anathema to our freedoms." The entire modern history of the world shows that freedoms of all sorts --- but especially individuals freedoms that are necessarily the most basic and essential to all other freedoms --- depends most on a robust independent judicial branch checking/limiting the work of other branches and a healthy respect for their work.

Now, reading between the lines and actually trying to give sensible content to all your poorly articulated ideas, I surmise that what you really find distasteful are Federal Judges (and especially Justices) being too involved in rigidly policing the work of state and local governments (including their judiciaries) based on suspect ("imperial"?) beliefs that 5 wise old folks in DC know how the world should work best for the whole nation. But, again, if this was what really was at the core of your beliefs and complaints about federal power, you would be much more vocal in your complaints about Raich and perhaps also basic modern doctrines of incorporation and also would have to grapple with real hard questions concerning the legitimacy of Borwn v. Board of Ed and NYT v. Sullivan and a whole lot of other 1960s era cases/statutes/culture that really placed the federal law at the center of most of our law in this nation.

Posted by: Doug B. | Mar 18, 2016 11:55:14 AM

Doug, I noted disagreements off the top of my head---do you really expect me to have instant recall of everything Scalia/Thomas have written over the years?

As for the lack of prosecution--ever hear of speech chill and/or selective prosecution (Michael Moore's Fahrenheit flick got a pass)? And how was the Bush DoJ "highly politicized"--tell that to Senator Stevens who was prosecuted by career prosecutors with no interference. But it is a stunning admission that the Holder DoJ has been politicized--you're going to get booted out of the academy for that one. An Obama appointee's threat to CU is real--amazing that you will go on record saying it is not. But hey, anything to win an argument and you'll support any judge who wants to be nice to juvenile murderers--even if it means ripping the rug out from underneath families who have suffered unimaginable pain even if that judge is cool with government criminalizing speech.

"As for twisting basic principles and misuse of words, I am talking about your stunning assertion that a robust independent judicial branch checking/limiting the work of other branches and a healthy respect for the work of courts is somehow "anathema to our freedoms." The entire modern history of the world shows that freedoms of all sorts --- but especially individuals freedoms that are necessarily the most basic and essential to all other freedoms --- depends most on a robust independent judicial branch checking/limiting the work of other branches and a healthy respect for their work."

I just have to laugh--an independent judiciary is important for the enforcement of rights--but an out-of-control judiciary is not (one reason, of course, is that where courts overstep, then the respect for them is diminished). Judging necessarily involves adherence to law, not foot stomps over alleged high-school lab experiments--and pray tell Doug, how can anyone not have lost respect for Ginsburg after she lauded Judge Bye's nonsense about a high school chem experiment? Additionally, Where the judiciary oversteps its bounds, the freedom of self-government is hindered. Zavydas v. Davis is a telling example. What that appallingly bad decision tells the polity: you cannot keep criminal aliens from walking your streets if their home country won't take them back.

I am shocked by your insinuation that I should not like NYTimes v. Sullivan---once you accept the idea of selective incorporation--something which has been accepted, then federal courts are going to police the First Amendment and what have you. And Brown v. Board--can anyone argue that "separate but equal" is equal from an EPC standpoint?

Is this all you have?

Posted by: federalist | Mar 18, 2016 12:35:29 PM

You are disappointed by the nomination of Garland? He is clearly the best qualified of the various possibilities who have been considered in President Obama's term, and the equal of anybody on the Court today. The disappointment for me is that he wasn't chosen instead of Kagan. It is a shame that this distinguished jurist has now been thrown into the middle of this disgusting imbroglio. If he does not make it to the Court, it will be America's loss.

Gary Hill (layman)

Posted by: Gary Hill | Mar 18, 2016 9:12:34 PM

I do not expect you to have "instant recall of everything Scalia/Thomas have written," but you are extraordinarily good at going after nearly every other justice based on your tendency to serve as an acolyte for their take on law and policy. All of your criticisms and positions are really just paraphrases of what they have said in a variety of settings --- including your foolish complaints about an "out-of-control judiciary." That was, of course, what was being said about the Brown ruling, and in the south respect for the court was greatly diminished after that ruling. But that one is obvious because.... it serves your needs and Scalia/Thomas have not given you a better script for explaining it.

What I "have" is the ability to expose what a weak and shallow thinker you are, federalist, though I suppose I should be impressed by your ability to harp here on some Scalia/Thomas talking-points (including the ipse dixit incorporation "has been accepted" so no need to think harder about that).

Posted by: Doug B. | Mar 19, 2016 9:41:35 AM

Post a comment
 "Is Proposition 47 to Blame for California's 2015 Increase in Urban Crime?" | Main | "Why many black voters don't blame Hillary for tough-on-crime laws" 

This article from The Frontier provides an interesting account of sentencing reform efforts in Oklahoma and why supporters of reform are turning to direct democracy to move forward. The piece is headlined "After several stalled attempts, Oklahoma group taking prison reforms to vote of the people," and here are excerpts:

Kris Steele stepped up to the microphone in a packed room at Tulsas Women in Recovery office and declared this time, in 2016, Oklahoma was going to break through the political gridlock by taking criminal justice reform to a vote of the people....

For more than five years, Steele, a former speaker of the state House of Representatives, has been talking about the importance of criminal justice reform for Oklahomas fiscal bottom line, its citizens and children. Now, facing a $1.3 billion budget crisis and prisons packed above 120 percent of capacity, it appears Oklahoma is finally ready to listen.

Steele, along with a bipartisan coalition of state power players, is hoping Oklahoma voters will accomplish what elected officials did not in several prior attempts: reducing the states staggering prison population. They hope to redirect some of the savings toward addressing root causes of crime, shifting the state toward a corrections system that focuses on rehabilitation, not solely punishment.

As chairman of Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, Steele is leading efforts to collect more than 65,000 petition signatures that would allow two state questions to be added to Novembers ballot. State question 780 would reclassify certain low-level offenses as misdemeanors instead of felonies, such as drug possession and smaller property crimes. The idea is that reclassification would reduce Oklahomas prison population and trigger cost savings, badly needed in a state facing a budget crisis where leaders are considering trimming school days to make ends meet.

State question 781 would then invest those prison cost savings in programs designed to address the root causes of crime  including addiction, mental health issues and poverty  and programs that provide job training and education to offenders as they leave prison....

Other states, including Texas and North Carolina, have used their own Justice Reinvestment Initiatives to realize significant savings on corrections spending. North Carolinas reforms, passed in 2011, have helped the state close nine prisons and officials expect to save $560 million in averted costs and cumulative savings by 2017, according to the Council on State Governments. Those savings have also made it possible for North Carolina to re-invest nearly $4 million into community-based treatment programs, the council reported.

After Texas officials implemented sentencing reforms in 2007, including probation, drug treatment, pre-trial diversion programs and intermediate sanction facilities, cost savings from the measures allowed Texas to close three existing prisons and scrap plans to build three new ones.

As Oklahoma has watched other states  including Texas  implement those reforms, the political climate surrounding criminal justice reform here has changed, Steele told The Frontier in an interview. Steele, who left office due to term limits, became the executive director of The Education and Employment Ministry in Oklahoma City.

When we first started having this conversation in 2009 to 2011, our prisons were at 99 percent capacity. Now, theyre over 122 percent capacity, he said. The fact that the problem has not gone away  in fact, its gotten worse  causes us to be more willing to have this conversation....

I think the public is ready to have that conversation. I think the public is way ahead of the legislature on this issue. Theres actually a pretty significant disconnect between the voters and elected officials on this issue. Hence taking the issue to the voters through the two state questions....

Now several bills in the legislature aim to achieve similar goals of the two state questions backed by Oklahomans for Criminal Justice reform. But Steeles group wants to put the decision directly in the hands of voters. And hes got the backing of organizations like Right on Crime and the ACLU of Oklahoma.

Its a little more work, but in the end we think its going to be well worth it, he said. The people of Oklahoma ought to be able to have a direct say so in this issue. It is the citizens who pay the $500 million each year to fund Oklahomas prison system, after all.

The Rev. Ray Owens, pastor of Tulsas Metropolitan Baptist Church, was one who offered an amen after Steele and Neal spoke to the crowd at Women in Recovery last week. Instead of investing more money in prisons, I believe its time for us to invest more in our people, Owens said.
 Interesting account of effort to take sentencing reform directly to voters in Oklahoma | Main | After a month, Prez Obama makes ("consensus"?) pick of DC Circuit Chief Judge Merrick Garland for SCOTUS opening 

March 16, 2016

"Why many black voters don't blame Hillary for tough-on-crime laws"

The title of this post is the headline of this notable Christian Science Monitor article from earlier this week which strikes me as especially timely given that Hillary Clinton's success in the most recent state primaries would seem to put her on a near-certain path to a Prez candidate nomination. Here are excerpts from the lengthy piece:

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, [gang violence and open-air drug dealing] was the everyday reality in African-American neighborhoods around the country. It was in this context that black political leaders, under pressure from their communities, pleaded for the federal government to address the drug problem. The now infamous response from the federal government was a series of bipartisan tough on crime laws that, instead of just cracking down on drugs and violent crime as intended, filled the countrys prisons to a breaking point, disproportionately with young black men. Now amid bipartisan efforts to undo many of these laws, and the rise of a new generation of civil rights activists, this history has created a strange dissonance. Black Lives Matter activists have criticized Hillary Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, for supporting these tough-on-crime policies as first lady in the 90s. But Mrs. Clinton has ridden overwhelming support from black voters to a commanding lead in the Democratic primaries. Earlier this month, the urban black vote helped her edge out a victory in the Massachusetts primary over challenger Sen. Bernie Sanders. If you read some intellectuals on the left, theyd suggest there should be a grudge against the Clintons, but I think the primary results show there isnt a grudge at all, says Michael Fortner, a professor of urban studies at the City University of New York and author of the book Black Silent Majority. Part of the reason, he notes, is that black communities are aware that for decades they were some of the loudest advocates for tough drug laws. Tough-on-crime policies, he adds, werent something that just happened to black people, that were imposed on the black community. Political leaders, mayors, and pastors played an important role in pushing for these policies. Another reason, he says, is that most black voters arent just concerned about criminal justice policy, past or present. Theyre also, like everybody else, concerned about paying their bills, theyre concerned about good schools, concerned about achieving the American dream, he says.... I think the African-American community, like Hillary Clinton, theyve had to rethink their approach, says Thomas Whalen, an associate professor of social sciences at Boston University. And you have to. In a so-called drug war, you cant be rigid in your position and hope to be ultimately successful  you have to be as flexible as possible based on the conditions on the ground.... For many decades, however, drugs were a priority. As early as June 1970, for example, Ebony magazine published an article titled: Blacks declare war on dope. In 1986, 16 of 19 African-American members of the House co-sponsored President Reagans Anti-Drug Abuse Act. And eight years later, 22 members of the Congressional Black Caucus voted for Bill Clintons 1994 crime bill that boosted funding to police, expanded the death penalty, and created the three strikes sentencing law.

March 16, 2016 at 08:58 AM | Permalink

Comments

I think both sides have a point. On one hand it is fair to say that Clinton was not out of step with black leaders in black communities. On the other hand, it is also fair to say that she, along with them, have been on the wrong side of history.

And you have to. In a so-called drug war, you cant be rigid in your position and hope to be ultimately successful  you have to be as flexible as possible based on the conditions on the ground....

Ok. So how come Nancy Reagan never gets this break? When you step back and think about it that paragraph offers a strange definition of leadership.

Posted by: Daniel | Mar 16, 2016 3:30:51 PM

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Sad news for Castro neighborhood book lovers, and bookstore browsers: Books Inc. has just announced that their Market Street location in the heart of the 'hood will be closing at the end of June. The reason is of course lease-related, as CEO Michael Tucker tells Hoodline today. And, he says, the closure "does not reflect the overall health of Books, Inc. or the book industry."

Of course, the overall book industry has been deeply impacted by the rise of e-books, and Tucker acknowledges that sales at the Castro location have "continued to trail off" in recent years and the store "continues to be in the red," which is why after having a favorable lease the company can not afford to re-up for five more years at any higher rate. He says that though the loss of the 21-year-old Castro store comes as a blow, "We look forward to continuing service for the community at our Opera Plaza location."

Books Inc. bills itself as the "oldest independent bookseller in the West," with its origins in a single Northern California location that opened during the Gold Rush days of 1851. The business was renamed Books Inc. in 1946, and has been under Tucker's leadership since the death of original owner Lew Lengfeld in 1995, and this is not the first time that Tucker has had to deal with closing stores  of Books Inc.'s 26 California locations in the mid-1970s, only 11 remain, though a new store in Santa Clara is set to open this year.

There are three other SF locations besides the one in the Castro, including a 40-year-old store in Laurel Village, the Opera Plaza location, and another location in the Marina.

The closing of Books Inc., which follows five years after the shuttering of A Different Light bookstore on Castro Street, means that beloved Aardvark Books at 227 Church Street will be the only remaining bookstore in the neighborhood after June.
The debate on how to best serve the homeless of San Francisco wages on this week in the form of an open letter by Supervisor David Campos and an interview given by Sam Dodge of the mayor's office to the Chronicle. The open letter implores Mayor Lee to support Campos's plan to declare a state of emergency, and the interview throws hard shade on Campos accusing him of not knowing what he's talking about. But what's really going on?

In his letter addressed to the mayor, published Friday in the Examiner, Campos rejects Mayor Lee's claim that he is merely grandstanding on the issue of homelessness in San Francisco, and reiterates his point that his dispute is not with the Mayor.

This is not personal. This is not rhetoric. I am doing the job the people of District 9 elected me to do. If we work together like we did to build the first Navigation Center in the Mission, I know we can make real progress. As the representative of the people of the Mission, Bernal Heights and the Portola, I ask you to please sign the declaration of emergency on homelessness and work with the Board of Supervisors to quickly open more Navigation Centers and give your constituents the help they are looking for.

Supervisor Campos is, in part, responding to Lee's failure to deliver on a 2015 promise to build more homeless navigation centers. The Chronicle notes that this past September Lee said he would open potentially two more shelters within six months. Well, it's six months later.

Sam Dodge, the "homeless czar" or "the mayor's point man on homelessness," told the Chron that the supervisors have essentially prevented him from securing a location for the proposed centers  accusing them of a very specific form of NIMBYism. "Its not that they dont want one in their district," claimed Dodge, "its just not right there, not right there."

And although Dodge chose not to name names when it came to which supervisors were obstructing his efforts, he had no problem dismissing Campos as ill informed.

I dont think he really understands all the work thats being done, Dodge told the Chron. Thats OK. Not everyone has to be an expert on homelessness.

Campos's plan, it should be noted, has received the backing of former homeless czar (which is the position currently held by Dodge) Bevan Dufty. And despite disagreeing on the best way to make it happen, Dodge is clearly rushing to get sites selected  and the paper reports the mayor as saying a site near Pier 80 and one in SoMa will be announced soon.

If Campos's emergency legislation passes, the city will be able to move more quickly in allocating public land for navigation centers  something which, theoretically, would help Dodge. Apparently Supervisors Aaron Peskin, Jane Kim, London Breed, John Avalos, Eric Mar, and Norman Yee have all come out in favor of Campos's plan, holding the party line for the progressive majority, but that still leaves the Board one vote shy of the eight needed to override a potential mayoral veto.

With Supervisor Campos promising to introduce legislation requiring the construction of six more navigation centers, and Dodge working to open new centers, the dispute seems mainly to be one of timing and who takes credit. Here's hoping they can work it out.

Previously: Mayor Lee Defends Homeless Sweeps, Goes After Supervisor Campos


In some excellent news for all those living east of the Caldecott Tunnel, the East Bay will be getting a second IKEA location, in Dublin, which may have the side effect of also relieving weekend congestion at the over-taxed Emeryville store. Sadly, though, all those in need of flimsily constructed chests of drawers and inexpensive, single-use bookshelves will have to wait until 2018 to see that happen.

The Swedish furniture maker announced the plan via a press release, and noted this will be their ninth California location, and their third in the Bay Area  the others being in East Palo Alto and Emeryville. They're submitting plans to the City of Dublin to build a 339,000-square-foot on a 21-acre parcel next to I-580 at Hacienda Drive.

As the Business Times notes, they want to purchase a total of 27 acres with plans to develop the other six acres with 52,000 square feet of adjacent retail, a restaurant, and possibly a boutique hotel, perhaps with a developer partner.

Dublin is a relatively small and affluent city with a population of approximately 52,000, tons of freeway-adjacent retail, and a median household income of $112,679. It ranks, though, as the third fastest growing city in the state.

The Emeryville store, however, has spent two decades serving the cheap furniture needs not only of San Francisco and its population of 800,000+, but also the entirety of the very populous East Bay, and Marin County as well. That is why a Saturday there has become like a meatball-scented circle of hell filled with screaming children, exhausted, zombified adults nearly passed out on every couch and Poang chair, and customer-service desk employees who are, literally, a hair's breath away from conceiving a terror plot.*

For their sake, and for all of us who can't afford to shop at Room & Board, the Dublin store is going to take a big load off. It's scheduled to potentially begin construction next spring, with an opening set for Summer 2018.



* Just kidding, IKEA! Your customer service people are literally doing no such thing! But a lot of them at that store do look like their patience is worn thinner than a few of those Bay Bridge rods, if you know what I'm saying.


Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello, best known nationally for his Food Network show Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello and known in the Bay Area for his Napa restaurant Bottega and his three-year-old San Francisco tapas spot Coqueta, has now been accused by two former servers in a pair of sexual harassment lawsuits. One suit names Chiarello and the other names his restaurant group  the first alleging that managers and chefs at Coqueta "engaged in a pattern and practice of inappropriate sexual comments, touching and other sex-related abuse," and the second alleging underpayment of wages, as the SF Chronicle is reporting. Chiarello is flatly denying that any of it happened.

The two servers who brought the suits, filed Tuesday, are Asja Sever and Katherine Page who each worked at Coqueta for two and three years respectively, and they describe patterns of fairly disgusting behavior  in great detail  by both Chiarello and executive chef Dominick Maietta, as well as other management-level employees. And this wasn't just limited to female employees  the suit also describes Chiarello inappropriately touching and harassing a gay male employee.

The 20-page harassment suit, which also alleges failure to prevent harassment and infliction of emotional distress, additionally names general manager Mirko Galliani and assistant general manager Mark Peyer, both of whom have had their positions since September 2015.

Eater SF has both complaints online here, but the meat them appears to be in some specific instances such as the following:

CHEF CHIARELLO frequently made inappropriate statements to the entire staff, including PAGE and SEVER, such as, "Martinis are like tits. One is too few, three is too many".

On at least one occasion, he compared a new sandwich on the COQUETA menu to a vagina by stating that the sandwich looked liked a "woman's underparts" while making a triangle with his hands and placing it over his crotch.

[CHEF CHIARELLO] directed COQUETA managers to employ the following hiring policy: "If you don't want to fuck them, don't hire them."

CHEF CHIARELLO also regularly made sexual comments about female customers to his employees. For example, CHEF CHIARELLO informed another server that two female customers had left "snail trails" in their seats after speaking to CHEF CHIARELLO, implying that the women became sexually aroused after talking to CHEF CHIARELLO and left wet stains from their genitals on their chairs.

More recently, in November 2015, CHEF CHIARELLO, in SEVER's presence and during one of his regular visits to COQUETA, held a baguette up to his crotch while making stroking motions over the bread with his hands in an overtly sexual manner.

And while restaurant kitchens are notoriously male-dominated environments rife with anger and coarse language, Page and Sever specifically call out instances in which Chiarello and Maietta were especially aggressive and offensive in their presence.

CHEF CHIARELLO was also unnecessarily aggressive in his interactions with PAGE and SEVER. For example, CHEF CHIARELLO placed his hand on PAGEs back and aggressively shoved her while stating that COQUETA was his restaurant and that PAGE needed to stay the fuck out of his way or words to that effect when he was working the front line of the restaurant. Since then, PAGE has felt unsafe around CHEF CHIARELLO.

CHEF MAIETTA also sexually harassed both PAGE and SEVER and contributed to the hostile, sexually charged and abusive work environment at COQUETA. For example, in March 2015, he screamed at SEVER for not running food quickly enough and called her a cunt and a lazy whore. SEVER left the restaurant and immediately began having a panic attack. PAGE had to go outside to console SEVER as she was hysterically crying. In addition, CHEF MAIETTA regularly (and as recently as February 2016) used words like gay, faggot, pussy, retard, asshole, Mexicans, and whores while on shift at COQUETA

And there's the item about the former gay male server, which is especially odd.

For example, on or about September 28, 2015, a former gay male server was in the COQUETA restroom when he heard continuous knocks on the door and vigorous shaking of the door handle. When he exited the restroom, the former server found CHEF CHIARELLO standing outside. CHEF CHIARELLO asked, "Were you in there taking care of someone?" implying that the former server was sexually servicing someone in the bathroom. Approximately an hour later, CHEF CHIARELLO approached the former server and asked, "What were you doing in the bathroom, rubbing one out?" implying that he was masturbating in the bathroom. Later, during the same service, CHEF CHIARELLO approached this server from behind, rubbed his genitals and torso against his backside and reached around to pinch and twist his nipples. CHEF CHIARELLO then leaned in towards his ear and stated, "I'm getting myself ready to go home to my boyfriend."

Kelly Armstrong, the attorney representing the two women, who both quit their jobs at Coqueta last week, tells the Contra Costa Times that they were both courageous to come forward as they did. "This type of behavior to women is not acceptable and cannot be tolerated. Unfortunately, restaurants are a hotbed for illegal activity of all different types."

For his part, Chiarello has made a statement through spokesperson Terry Fahn saying, "This claim flies in the face of who Mr. Chiarello is and how he has lived his life," and that he'll be "vigorously defend[ing] himself."

Did I mention that the name of the restaurant, Coqueta, means "flirt" in Spanish?

Ugh.

Previously: Michael Chiarello Named 'Esquire' Chef Of The Year; Coqueta Gets Best New Restaurant Honor
Did you know that Mayor Ed Lee is in Brazil this week? Well, he is, on a trip bought for him by a flock of high-powered big business donors.

Here's Lee's daily calendar of public events planned for the trip thus far, as sent by his office to the media:

Saturday, March 12, 2016 Mayor Lee to lead LatinSF economic trade mission to Panama City, Panama. Mayor Lee to conduct meetings in Panama City, Panama. Monday, March 14, 2016

Mayor Lee to lead LatinSF economic trade mission to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Tuesday, March 15, 2016

9:00 AM (Brasilia Time)

Mayor Lee to make opening remarks at Zendesk Relate Live conference.

Unique Hotel

4700 Avenida Brigadeiro Luis Antonio, Sao Paulo, Brazil Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Mayor Lee to conduct meetings in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Pretty fun, right? According to the Chron's Matier and Ross, the jaunt is "a weeklong business-pump-up junket hosted and paid for by a whos who in the corporate world." Which totally does not sound suggestive at all.

The trip, which M&R says cost a relatively paltry $6,400, is being paid for by LatinSF, a (per their website) "public-private partnership between the Mayors Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) and the San Francisco Center for Economic Development (SFCED)." Lee launched the agency in 2014 during "his first official trade mission to Latin America," a press release from LatinSF's debut notes.

But who gave LatinSF the dough for Lee's South American adventure? Some pretty big fish, M&R report! Specifically, they say, "Pacific Gas and Electric Co.; Silicon Valley Bank; mega-real-estate brokerage firm Newmark, Cornish and Carey; big-time legal firm Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman; and accounting firm Drummond Advisors."

Following Lee's days is Sao Paulo, M&R say, he'll go to Rio. Peter Allen would be so proud.


San Francisco St. Patrick's Day Parade, 1946. (LIFE)

San Francisco has long been host to big St. Patrick's Day celebrations  though the parade's gotten a bit smaller in recent years  the first of which was held in 1850's, during the Gold Rush. The city's first celebration took place in 1851, when there was a party at Hayes Valley Park followed by a Shamrock Ball at a nearby bar. The first parade is said to have taken place a couple of years later, in 1853  it was a lengthy affair also followed by a Ball.

These early parades kept growing over the first decade, thanks in part to Colonel Patrick Connor, whose troops were stationed in Stockton during the Civil War. According to the Hibernian Society of Utah (where Connor's mostly-Irish regiment was from), Governor Downey invited Connor to lead the annual parade one year:

Conner brought 20 of his officers and the regimental band to the parade. The San Francisco papers gave great play to the participation of Connor's troops. The parade also included many Irish organizations: the Irish American Benevolent Society, St. Patrick's Brotherhood, and the Sons of Erin. After the grand parade, a high mass was celebrated at St. Mary's Cathedral. In the evening there was a grand ball at Hayes Park with speeches, orations, recitations and parties that went on until the wee hours of the morning. The festivities of that St. Patrick's Day, 1862 in San Francisco, would be the model for St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

Pieces of its history are still part of the parade today, and Diarmuid Philpott, former Deputy Chief of the SFPD and past president of the United Irish Societies of San Francisco (they help coordinate the parade) has explained that the route "passes by the names of some of San Franciscos most prized Irishmen... Particularly O'Farrell Street, which is called after Jasper OFarrell, who was an Irish engineer, surveyor, born in Dublin, and who laid out San Francisco as we know it today."

As third generation Irish-American Bay Area native Mary McCloy tells it, some early Irish immigrants who made it west during the Gold Rush got land grants from the Mexican government  so many in Marin County, in fact, that it was nicknamed Little Ireland at the time. In 1852, San Francisco had an Irish population of 4,200 which grew in the next thirty years to 30,000, representing well over a third of the city's population. They helped elect the first Irish-born mayor in the United States, in fact, Frank McCoppin, in 1867. That history is reflected today in the dozens of Irish bars and pubs all over town and the many Irish organizations who march in the parade.

These days the parade takes place on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day, and you can see photos from last Saturday's 165th annual parade here at the Examiner. The route is the same as most large parades, either for the Giants or Gay Pride, starting at the foot of Market and turning up McAllister to Civic Center. This year's event celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland, which lasted six days and ultimately lead to the establishment of the Sinn Fein party and the election of 73 Irish republicans to the British Parliament two years later, who pushed for Irish independence.

ABC 7 has some video of this year's (fairly windy) parade.





Thursday, March 17, on actual St. Patrick's Day, there will still be plenty of parties at Irish pubs around town  many of which we included in this list of the best places to eat Irish food in SF.

Downtown, you'll find an especially lively celebration at The Irish Bank (10 Mark Lane) downtown starting at 2 p.m. and going into the evening, featuring live music  Paddys Orchestra from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., The Shams from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and DJ Marc Van Brabant from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Related: Where To Eat The Best Irish Food In San Francisco
Now that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has successfully pushed the SF Municipal Transportation Agency to reduce towing fees, the MTA says they need to find a way to make up the money they won't be making from errant parkers. So what about extending parking meter enforcement into the night?

San Francisco's high towing fees came under Supervisoral scrutiny earlier this month, as it was on them to approve the MTA's proposed contract extension with towing company AutoReturn. With Board president London Breed describing the transit agency's "full cost recovery" charges as "robbery," the Supes refused to agree to the new towing contract until the SFMTA made some changes.

After some negotiation, the MTA agreed to cut "fees charged for vehicles towed for the first time from a total of $491 to $380" Tuesday, CBS 5 reports. But fee cut leaves the eternally struggling transit agency with a revenue loss "estimated at around $3.5 million," a shortfall that Supervisor Scott Wiener, in legislation introduced at the Supes' full meeting yesterday, asked that SF's general fund help cover.

Apparently not content to wait for SF's general fund to save the day, however, the SFMTA board is looking at other ways to fill the tow fee gap, including extending the hours parking meters are enforced in some areas. According to the Ex, at yesterday's MTA board meeting, agency staff was asked to "study the impacts of charging for nighttime parking meters."

Suggesting that extending meter fees in some areas might counteract the loss of towing fees, Board Director Cheryl Brinkman said I want to make sure were managing the resources of our parking better.

Despite a suggestion at last month's meeting that the MTA reconsider charging for Sunday parking, Brinkman said Tuesday that Im not suggesting we go back to the Sunday metering," which, as you might recall, was killed off due to pressure from Mayor Ed Lee back in 2014, after he famously announced that the MTA had "figured our way out of" their budget shortfall.

According to the Ex, the SFMTA expects to have a $13.5 million budget shortfall in 2017 and a $14.3 million shortage in 2018.

So, with Sundays off the table, then perhaps evenings are the way to go? That seems to be Brinkman's take, saying that I want some targeted meter hour extensions to show up in this budget, especially since were another $3 million behind.

A call placed by SFist to Lee's office to see if he'd prefer evening parking meters over Sunday ones was not returned at publication time.

SFMTA chief Ed Reiskin, however, seems to be into the idea, saying that Stopping [enforcement] at 6 p.m. in a vibrant, commercial evening district doesnt make a whole lot of sense.

From a parking management perspective, it could be a chance to advance our transportation policy that has some revenue benefits.

Previously: High Towing Fees Could Come Down Following Supervisors' Scrutiny

SFMTA Board Wants To Bring Back Sunday Parking Meter Enforcement
You could say that Interim Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley, Gov. Scott Walkers handpicked candidate in Aprils general election for a 10-year term on the court, had a very bad week.

The watchdog group One Wisconsin Now revealed that as a student at Marquette University, Bradleythen known as Rebecca Grasslhad written a series of hate-filled editorials in which she called gays degenerates, argued that those living with HIV/AIDS deserved none of her sympathy, likened abortion to the Holocaust and took aim at feminists and Democrats.

What shocked most was not that Bradley was a conservativeit was the vitriol in her essays.

Bradley apologized for her comments and said that she had changed since thenwithout pointing to any specific examples of how she has now come to embrace the LGBTQ community, women who have had abortions, feminists and those who simply disagree with her politically.

Bradley didnt include her incendiary op-eds in her three applications to her three judicial appointments since 2012, although she listed other articles she has published. And we cant be sure that Walker, whose last year at Marquette overlapped with Bradleys freshman year, as the Associated Press noted, didnt know about his Wauwatosa neighbors ultra-conservative writings. But he has promoted Bradley at every turnappointing her to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in December 2012, to the Appeals Court in May 2015 and to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in October 2015. That raises questions about how thoroughly Walker vetted Bradley before promoting her career as judge.

Bradley faces Appeals Court District 4 Presiding Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg in the April 5 election for a 10-year term on the court.

The Shepherd obtained Bradleys three applications for her judicial appointments to see how Bradley presented her background so successfully that she obtained an unheard-of three judicial appointments in three years. What we found was an ambitious and unmistakably conservative lawyer who used her connections and selectively disclosed her political affiliations as she rose to power.

Bradleys campaign didnt respond the Shepherds request to comment for this article.

Bradley Touted Campaign as Reason for Appointment

After Justice Patrick Crooks died in September 2015, good government groups asked Walker not to appoint a declared candidate to fill his seat until his term officially ends in July 2016. Allowing a declared candidate to temporarily take the bench would add to the divisiveness on the court, argued Common Cause in Wisconsin, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and Wisconsin Voices. Besides, the interim justice would be seen to have an advantage during the spring election cycle, since he or she could claim to be an incumbent justice. Thus, both Appeals Court Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg and Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Joe Donaldthen, like Bradley, declared candidates for the primary electiondeclined to apply for the interim appointment.

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Rebecca Bradley, on the other hand, seized the moment. Not only did she apply, but in her application she touted her campaign for Supreme Court justice, launched after Crooks announced hed retire, as a reason why Walker should appoint her.

The applications final question asks for any other information you feel would be helpful to your application. In response, Bradley wrote, My ability to win a contested primary election in Milwaukee County against two opponents, as well as the general election against a challenger who spent approximately $250,000 in the race, establishes that I can be successful in retaining this seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, should I earn the governors appointment. After detailing her Supreme Court campaign operations already underway, she wrote, I thoroughly understand the work required to launch and maintain a successful campaign to retain a judicial seat as an incumbent appointee.

Of course, just months before Bradley applied for the Supreme Court seat, she had applied for a place on the Appeals Court freed up by the death of Judge Ralph Adam Fine.

Bradley highlighted her electoral success in her January 2015 application for the Appeals Court, writing, I thoroughly understand the work required to launch and maintain a successful campaign to retain a judicial seat as an incumbent appointee. Those were the words shed repeat later that year as she sought a Supreme Court appointment. Walker appointed Bradley to the Appeals Court in May 2015.

Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler told the Shepherd that Bradley had a right to seek the appointment, but he questioned Walkers decision to appoint an interim justice so close to the April election.

Here we are on the eve of an election and the governor thought it appropriate to appoint someone to replace Justice Crooks right away, right after he passed away, knowing an election was coming up, Butler said. But when you look at whats going on with the United States Supreme Court, where you have a president who is going to be serving until January 2017, and all of the opposition to whoever he nominates to the Supreme Court and not even granting a hearingI see that as a stark contrast.

Marquette Law School Associate Professor Edward Fallone said he didnt think Bradleys promotion of her campaign in her applications was unusual or out of line, since any governor would want to appoint a justice who could retain the seat in an election.

I think thats a factor that governors take into consideration, Fallone said. They dont want to appoint someone who is not going to run hard and end up losing a campaign.

But Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, said Bradleys appointment was another sign of just how ideological the court has become.

There are so many people who seem to me to be so much better qualified to be on the Wisconsin Supreme Court than Rebecca Bradley in the sense that theres more maturity, more sense of impartiality, theres more experience on the bench, Heck said. This seems like kind of a situation where you have someone who we now know was extremely conservative in college and stepped into the legal profession and was almost on a track to rise through the ranks through various judgeships to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Right-Wing Federalist Society Ties

In her applications, Bradley also highlighted her prominent roles in the Milwaukee Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society, where according to the application she serves on the board of advisors and has held leadership positions in the past.

The Federalist Society is a group of very conservative attorneys, law professors and judges formed in the early 1980s who disagreed with the Supreme Court decisions that gave their blessing to legal abortions, the right to privacy, affirmative action, desegregation, Miranda rights for those under arrest, and a strong federal government. Among its initial leaders were Robert Borkwhose appointment to the high court was torpedoed in 1987 because of his ultra-right-wing viewsas well as the recently deceased Antonin Scalia, whom President Reagan appointed to the court in 1986.

The Federalists argue in favor of judicial restraint and against judicial activism and legislating from the bench. But as Jeffrey Toobin wrote in his book about the Supreme Court, The Nine, Indeed, they did not believe in judicial restraint, and they represented a new kind of judicial activism themselves.

Although the Federalist Society began as a fringe group of disaffected conservatives, it gained traction during the Reagan administration and is now firmly in the mainstream of Republican legal circles, showing just how far conservatives have moved to the right.

Bradleys three applications to her judicial positions highlight her Federalist Society connections and list her leadership positions dating back to 2005, although she told the Shepherd during her 2013 campaign that she joined the group while in law school at UW-Madison in the 1990s.

In addition, Bradley secured letters of recommendation from two legal experts who highlighted her Federalist Society connectionsWisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler, who wrote on Bradleys behalf in February 2015 for her appellate court appointment, and Richard Esenberg, president and general counsel of the right-wing advocacy group Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, which is primarily funded by the uber-conservative Bradley Foundation, which itself is a funder of the Federalist Society.

In 2012, when Bradley was seeking her circuit court appointment, Esenberg wrote, I fully understand that any governor will be concerned about the political viability of a potential appointee. Rebecca is well respected in the Milwaukee legal community and can expect to receive the strong support of conservatives.

Public and Private Disclosures

Also to be noted are the views and affiliations that Bradley discloses in public and what she scrubs from the record.

For example, in last weeks Milwaukee Bar Association-sponsored forum with Kloppenburg, Bradley wouldnt state her favorite and least favorite U.S. Supreme Court decisions, saying that the issues in these cases could come before her as a justice. She did, however, say that her favorite justices were Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomasthe two most conservative justices on the current high court.

But Bradley was more forthcoming in her judicial applications to be reviewed by Walker. Each time, she wrote that the best Supreme Court decision was one authored in 2001 by Clarence Thomas in Good News Club v. Milford Central School, which gave an evangelical Christian group permission to use a school cafeteria for after-school Bible lessons for elementary school students. Her worst decision was Kelo v. City of New London in 2005, which permitted local elected officials to use eminent domain to seize private property for a private development.

That said, there are some glaring omissions in Bradleys applications. Bradley failed to mention her involvement in the Republican National Lawyers Association (RNLA), even though the application asks for the candidates partisan or nonpartisan political involvement. According to its website, the RNLA builds the Republican Party goals and ideals through a nationwide network of supportive lawyers who understand and directly support Republican policy, agendas and candidates. In addition, these lawyers come to the partys aid during elections. The groups website states that it provides election law training from preeminent election law professionals. The Republican Party and the RNLA argue that theres widespread voter fraud, a belief that has been thoroughly debunked, of course, but its led to restrictive voting regulations around the country, including Wisconsins GOP-backed voter ID law.

At the time of Bradleys appointment to circuit court in 2012, her online Super Lawyers listing included this partisan affiliation, according to reporting at the time by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Now, all trace of it is gone. The Shepherd contacted the RNLA to verify Bradleys involvement but hasnt gotten a response.

Bradley has current connections to the Republican Party. She has used Republican Party resources in her current campaign, an anomaly in this nonpartisan race, and Joint Finance Committee Co-chairs Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and state Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) were scheduled to host a fundraiser for her on March 14, another sign of Bradleys partisanship.

Bradley is also playing cat and mouse with her involvement in the Wisconsin Forum, a libertarian group that hosted in January Wisconsin Club for Growth head Eric OKeefe, who is caught up in the John Doe investigation into Scott Walkers campaign finance improprieties. The Wisconsin Supreme Court shut down the John Doe investigation last summer, although the prosecutors in the case are seeking U.S. Supreme Court review of the Wisconsin high courts decision. Wisconsin Club for Growth spent $167,000 on Bradleys behalf in her election in 2013.

Bradleys campaign website makes no mention of her involvement in the Wisconsin Forum, and neither does the groups website, but her judicial applications state that she is a Wisconsin Forum chairman and board member without listing any dates. The groups website displays photos of her at a September 2015 event with South African businessman Herman Mashaba. Its unclear if she attended OKeefes talk on the John Doe investigation in January. The Shepherd contacted the Wisconsin Forum for clarification but hasnt received a response.

That said, Bradley did include on her application her service on the board of governors of the St. Thomas More Lawyers Society of Wisconsin, a group of Catholic attorneys, as well as her 2006 op-ed advocating for a conscience clause for pharmacists who seek to deny women doctor-prescribed contraceptives, equating birth control with abortion. Her anti-birth control op-ed directed readers to Pro-Life Wisconsin, a 100% pro-life organization that is advocating for a personhood amendment to give constitutional rights to fertilized eggs and end abortion, most forms of contraception and embryonic stem cell research.

Pro-Life Wisconsin hasnt endorsed Bradley in this race, but the more mainstream anti-abortion group Wisconsin Right to Life is supporting her campaign for a full term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
DES MOINES | State taxpayers, farmers and business owners would receive tax relief under policy approved Tuesday by state lawmakers in both chambers of the Iowa Legislature.

The proposal, which is the result of recent negotiations between statehouse leaders from both political parties, needs only the governors signature to become law.

Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, hailed the legislation as a bipartisan compromise that is fiscally responsible, and Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, called it the art of the compromise, or the art of the possible.

The legislation addresses two key tax policy issues that lawmakers have been wrestling with:

--- The state would couple with federal tax policy for calendar year 2015, resulting in roughly $98 million in tax relief on purchases of certain business supplies.

--- The state would write into law a scaled-back version of the manufacturing sales tax relief enacted through rules changes by Gov. Terry Branstad. That relief would apply to purchases of certain manufacturing products.

Thats good tax policy, House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, said of the compromise bill that was approved by all 50 senators and passed the House 78-17.

Branstads spokesman said the governor is pleased lawmakers reached consensus on the tax issues, but he is disappointed the agreement rolls back his proposal on the manufacturing sales tax breaks.

As the chief executive, it is the governors job to look at how this bill fits into the bigger budget picture and how it will impact jobs and Iowa taxpayers, and he will review it accordingly, Branstad spokesman Ben Hammes said in an emailed statement.

According to the states non-partisan fiscal estimating agency, the coupling provision would draw $98 million from the states unspent money for fiscal year 2016, which ends June 30.

The entire package, according to the fiscal agency, will result in additional state revenue in future years, in the range of $20 million to $30 million annually. But those figures do not factor in potential tax coupling in future years, which likely would drop those figures to revenue reductions.

Dont count on us coupling for 2016, Hogg warned Iowa taxpayers.

Sen. Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, introduced but immediately withdrew an amendment that would have made tax coupling permanent. Feenstra said he was told Democrats would not accept the amendment and that it threatened the deal.

At the end of the day, getting coupling done for this year was most important, Feenstra said.

Praise for the legislations approval came from Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey, the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowans for Tax Relief, and the conservative issue advocacy group Priorities for Iowa, which is run by a former Branstad spokesman.

This is a very important agreement that will benefit Iowa farmers and business owners that had made an investment in their business and as a result were facing a significant increase in their state taxes, Northey said in a statement.

The liberal advocacy group Progress Iowa joined some statehouse Democrats who expressed budgetary concerns, particularly over school funding.

Resources are too scarce for public schools or to provide Medicaid oversight, but tax cuts always seem to fit the budget, Progress Iowa Executive Director Matt Sinovic said in an emailed statement. Now that the Legislature has taken care of big business, its time to get to work for our children, schools, and for access to health care.

If approved by the governor, the tax policy bill would clear significant obstacles to lawmakers work on the state budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

While the tax issues were unresolved, lawmakers were uncertain how much funding would be available for upcoming budget negotiations. If approved, the tax policy compromise allows lawmakers to turn their focus to the budget and agree to spending targets.
Transporting yoga gear isnt as easy as it might seem.

The mats are bulky and dont fit in most standard bags. And if you have water and other gear to carry along with it, it can make going to yoga classes a real chore.

But thats where the Yoga Sak comes in.

The product was invented to solve one simple problem  carrying yoga gear.

Read more about Yoga Sak and how the business got started in this weeks Small Business Spotlight.

What Yoga Sak Offers

Sells bags for carrying yoga gear.

Daniel Meyers, owner of Yoga Sak told Small Business Trends, The Yoga Sak is a unique backpack-style bag purpose-built for yogis to transport their yoga mat, yoga block, towel, shoes, wallet and keys, with built-in compartments for a water bottle and smartphone. The adjustable straps and backpack style make the Yoga Sak a perfect solution for comfortably transporting an otherwise cumbersome mat easily, and enables wearers to take their mats on their bikes, on hikes or just down the street without bumping into anyone.

Business Niche

Incorporating customer feedback into new products.

Meyers explains, When customers phones got larger, so did the phone compartment on the Yoga Sak, for example. Our goal is simply to make people happy; customer service is the lifeline of our business.

How Yoga Sak Got Started

With a dream of business ownership.

Meyers says, I was tired of working for the man and had a dream to start my own business. I had done yoga years before and realized there was a gap in the market for an all-purpose bag that allowed yogis to transport their mat and gear all-in-one  so I dreamed up a design and started working with a manufacturer to turn my dream into a reality!

Biggest Win for Yoga Sak

Getting the product found easily in search results.

Meyers says, Thanks to GoDaddys Search Engine Visibility (SEV), Yoga Sak is the first result (after Amazon) when Googling best yoga bag. This has been so, so huge for our business  and drives traffic to our sites from consumers, as well as distributors in Canada, Japan, South Korea who have been able to find us online so easily.

Biggest Risk

Placing a bulk order that didnt turn out.

Meyers says, Placing a large order with a manufacturer is always a risk, but one I didnt truly realize until after something had gone wrong. A company placed a $6,000 order to have their logo embroidered on the Yoga Sak  and my embroiderer messed up hundreds of Saks with the wrong logo. Of course, the company did not want those incorrectly monogrammed bags and I was forced to eat the cost. This was a huge learning experience for me. So yes, I took a risk without realizing what a risk it was, but it taught me a lot when it comes to bulk orders in the future.

How Theyd Spend an Extra $100,000

Hiring.

Meyers says, I would hire a triple-threat employee to do marketing, PR and sales. Right now, its a one-man show.

Favorite Quote

Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art.  Andy Warhol

* * * * *

Find out more about the Small Biz Spotlight program.
There are many fitness goals out there that we desire. Some of us want to be leaner and others wish to put on muscle mass. The thing is, for you to achieve your fitness goals, you need to
LEONARDTOWN, Md.

Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: http://so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at http://so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at http://so.md/expungeme.

(March 16, 2016)The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office released the following incident and arrest reports.STABBING ON LUCCA WAY IN LEXINGTON PARK: On March 16, at approximately 9:30 a.m., deputies responded to a stabbing in the area of Lucca Way in Lexington Park. Detectives and Crime Lab Technicians from the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) were called to the scene. The victim was transported via Trooper 7 to Prince George's County Shock Trauma. The investigation is ongoing and more details will be provided as they become available.03-09-2016 OPERATING WITHOUT A PERMIT: The suspect,, attempted to sell a vacuum to a victim without having the proper permit. Watts was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with Did Business as Exhibitor in Maryland Without Permit. CASE# 12963-1603-12-2016 ASSAULT: Deputy D. McClure responded to the area of Great Mills Drive and Suburban Drive in Lexington Park for the report of a disturbance. The victim alleged during a fight the suspect,, bit the victim on the right side of the neck. Himes also kicked the victim several times 'between the legs,' according to the victim. The victim displayed injuries consistent with the allegations. Himes was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. She was charged with Second Degree Assault. CASE# 13556-1603-12-2016 SHOPLIFTING, FALSE STATEMENT TO POLICE OFFICER: Deputy B. Gaskill responded to the 46000 block of Lexington Village Way (Kohls) in Lexington Park for the report of theft. The suspect,, attempted to conceal merchandise and exit the store. During the initial contact, Vasquez provided a false name to the responding officer and claimed she did not have any identification. A search of her purse revealed an identification card and items consistent with the merchandise removed from the store. Vasquez was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. She was charged with Theft Less Than $1000 and False Statement to Police Officer. CASE# 13482-1603-12-2016 ASSAULT: Deputy J. Lacey responded to the 48000 block of Far Cry Road in Lexington Park for the report of an assault. The victim alleged the suspect,, cut the victim on the back with a knife. Knott was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. She was charged with Second Degree Assault. CASE# 13441-1603-13-2016 SHOPLIFTING: Deputy J. Lacey responded to the Food Lion in California for the report of theft. The suspect,, concealed multiple items in her purse and exited the store without paying for the merchandise. Scott was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. She was charged with Theft Less Than $100. CASE# 13622-16BREAKING AND ENTERING TO A MOTOR VEHICLE: Unknown suspect(s) entered a vehicle and stole handicap placards. The case remains under investigation. CASE# 14049-16BURGLARY TO MOTOR VEHICLE: Unknown suspect(s) entered an unlocked vehicle and stole property in the 26000 block of Valley Circle in Mechanicsville. CASE# 13179-16BURGLARY: A suspect forced entry into a residence and stole property in the 22000 block of Marantha Way in Leonardtown. CASE# 13251-16BREAKING AND ENTERING TO A MOTOR VEHICLE: On 3/8, unknown suspect(s) entered a vehicle and stole property at Mark's Automotive in Lexington Park. CASE# 13326-16BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered a garage in the 45000 block of Belvoir Road in California. Nothing appeared to be missing from the garage or motor vehicle. CASE# 13583-16RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT: Unknown suspect(s) threw an object at a moving vehicle on Baptist Church Road in Mechanicsville. CASE# 13589-16RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT: Unknown suspect(s) threw an unknown object at a moving vehicle that was traveling northbound on Point Lookout Road, approaching Birch Manor. As the victim passed another vehicle heading southbound, the driver's side window was abruptly shattered. CASE# 13562-16ASSIST OTHER AGENCY: Deputy Molitor responded to the area of Woodbush Drive and Longview Boulevard in Bushwood, for the report of a vehicle fire. The Fire Marshal's Office assumed the investigation. CASE# 135262-16MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT: During the overnight hours of 3/12 and 3/13, unknown suspect(s) stole a victim's motor vehicle. The case remains open and is being investigated by Cpl. B. Foor.BURGLARY: Sometime within the last four months, unknown suspect(s) entered a victim's shed and stole property. The case is being investigated by Dep. Gaskill. CASE# 13621-16ASSAULT: Deputies responded to Lexington and Fox Chase Drive in Lexington Park, for the report of an assault, where a victim sustained a bloody nose during a fight. The suspect fled the scene prior to police arrival. CASE# 13854-16COUNTERFEIT INVESTIGATION: The Donut Connection, located in the 21000 block of North-Shangri La Drive, reported counterfeit money was passed through the store. The case remains open and is under investigation.BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered a residence and stole property in the 22000 block of Washington Street in Leonardtown. Cpl. Yingling is investigating the case. Yingling. CASE# 12634-16THEFT: A victim reported a rear registration plate was stolen from the victim's car while she traveled through St. Mary's and Charles County. Cpl. Yingling is investigating the case. CASE# 12716-16PROPERTY DESTRUCTION: Unknown suspect(s) damaged property in the 23000 block of Myrtle Point Road in California. CASE# 12398-16ASSIST OTHER AGENCY/THEFT: A piece of excavation equipment was dropped off in the 45000 block of Highway to Heaven Lane in Great Mills, for an auction. The investigation revealed, the equipment was stolen from Prince George's County. The equipment was returned to the owner, and the investigation is ongoing. CASE# 12058-16BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered a residence in the 46000 block of Drayden Road in Drayden and stole multiple items of value. Deputy Siciliano is investigating. CASE#12483-16ASSAULT: Deputy Matthew McCuen responded to the America's Best Value Inn for a fight in progress. During the fight, a victim was struck in the head by an unknown object. The suspect could not be identified, and the investigation is ongoing. CASE# 12209-16STRONG-ARM ROBBERY: Deputy Matthew McCuen responded to Pegg Road Shell for a reported robbery. The victim alleged a known suspect grabbed money from the victim's hand and fled. The investigation is ongoing. CASE# 12174-16BREAKING AND ENTERING TO A MOTOR VEHICLE: During the overnight hours, unknown suspect(s) entered a vehicle and stole property on the 21000 block of Mayfaire Lane in Lexington Park. CASE# 11604-16BREAKING AND ENTERING TO A MOTOR VEHICLE: Sometime during the overnight hours, unknown suspect(s) entered two vehicles and stole property in the 24000 block of Iris Drive in California. CASE# 11250-16BARRICADE: St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the 22000 block of Long Bow Drive in California, around 9:26 p.m., for a domestic disturbance. During the disturbance, a female barricaded herself inside a bathroom while making suicidal statements. A perimeter was established, and deputies were able to negotiate with the female to exit the residence. The female was transported to the hospital for an evaluation, and two firearms were recovered from the home. CASE# 11294-16BURGLARY TO MOTOR VEHICLE: Unknown suspect(s) entered a motor vehicle on the 46000 block of Columbus Drive in Lexington Park. Nothing appeared to be stolen. CASE# 11316-16
Goddard's First Liquid Fueled Rocket Clark University Robert H. Goddard Archive

Less than a century ago, astronomers relied entirely on ground-based observations to further scientific study.

Today, descendants of that first liquid-fueled rocket provide eyes on cosmic phenomena, unravel mysteries of the early universe, and even take a closer look at what makes our own planet tick.

None of this would be possible without the experiments of Massachusetts physics professor Robert Goddard, best known for inventing the liquid-fueled rocket. The namesake of NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, he dreamed as early as 1909 of creating an interplanetary vehicle. While he couldnt achieve that in his lifetime, his inventions in the first half of the 20th century became the engineering foundation for the rockets that first took humans to the moon in the 1960s and for todays rockets, which look further into space than ever before.

Prior to Goddards experimentation, rockets had not changed much in several centuries. Chinese engineers invented them as war machines in the 13th century, using solid gunpowder as fuel. But Goddard realized that liquid propellants offered a number of advantages over solid-fueled rockets. He began to test rockets fueled by liquid gasoline and liquid oxygen.

The new design posed a number of challenges. For instance, he had to find a way to mix the fuel with oxygen. Otherwise it wouldnt burn fast enough to produce the necessary thrust to lift the weight of the rocket. He also had to find a mechanical solution to pressurize the fuel chamber so it would continually feed fuel to the engine. Each solution he found brought with it a new challenge to solve.

After nearly 17 years of work, Goddard successfully launched his creation on March 16, 1926.

It looked almost magical as it rose, without any appreciably greater noise or flame, as if it said, Ive been here long enough; I think Ill be going somewhere else, if you dont mind,' Goddard wrote in his journal the next day.

Most rockets today use liquid fuels because they provide more thrust per unit of fuel and they allow engineers to time how long the rocket will remain lit more precisely. For example, the Atlas V, on which many NASA missions launch such as the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission, which launched in 2015 and the Ariane V, on which NASAs James Webb Space Telescope will launch in 2018, both use liquid fuels in one or more of their stages.

Over the course of his career, as well as posthumously, Goddard was awarded more than 200 patents for his inventions, many of which pertained to rocketry. These also included the invention of multistage rockets, which contain multiple fuel tanks and engine segments that can be jettisoned as they are emptied.

Goddards work didnt stop there. He continued to improve upon his rocket concepts until his death in 1945. The U.S. failed to recognize the full potential of his work until after his death in fact, some of his ideas about reaching outer space were ridiculed during his lifetime. But the first liquid-fueled rocket flight was as significant to space exploration as the Wright brothers first flight was to air travel, and 90 years later, his patents are still integral to spaceflight technology.

For more about Robert Goddard, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/about/history/dr_goddard.html

For more about NASA Goddard, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/goddard
CubeSat NEA Scout NASA

Progress continues on the journey to Mars as NASA plans to send astronauts deeper into space than ever before, including to an asteroid and ultimately to the surface of Mars.

Before humans embark on the journey, the agency will survey an asteroid to learn about the risks and challenges asteroids may pose to future human explorers.

One way NASA will do this is by performing a reconnaissance flyby of an asteroid with Near-Earth Asteroid Scout, or NEA Scout. NEA Scout  a CubeSat, or small satellite  will launch as a secondary payload on the inaugural flight of NASAs Space Launch System (SLS), the worlds most powerful rocket, scheduled to launch in 2018. Information gained from NEA Scouts flyby will enhance the agencys understanding of asteroids and their environments and will help reduce risk for future exploration of asteroids and small planetary bodies.

NEA Scouts second mission objective will be to develop and verify a low-cost reconnaissance platform capable of carrying a wide range of research spacecraft to many destinations. To do this, NEA Scout will utilize a solar sail, harnessing solar pressure to propel the spacecraft.

NEA Scouts solar sail will be larger and travel farther than any NASA has ever deployed in space. As a propulsion system that doesnt require any propellant, solar sails have a lot of potential, said Les Johnson, NEA Scouts solar sail principal investigator. In the future, solar sails can take spacecraft to the outermost regions of the solar system faster than ever before.

NEA Scouts flight solar sail will be 86 square meters, approximately the length of a full-size school bus. Engineers at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, recently conducted a series of tests with a sail roughly half that size  36 square meters to verify the folding and deployment of the sail in deep space.

We were able to zero in some specifics of design, motor size, hardware attrition and even the time required to fold and deploy the sail, said Tiffany Russell Lockett, NEA Scout Sail systems engineer. Next spring, the team will build and test a full-size engineering development unit.

Only one-third of NEA Scouts total size can be dedicated to the solar sail. Each of the 13 CubeSats hitching a ride on the SLS will be the size of a large shoebox and weigh less than 30 pounds. For the school bus-size sail to fit within the small space requirements, it will have to be meticulously folded and then unpacked in space. To test the folding and deployment process, engineers built a low-cost test article using parts left over from previous programs.

We were fortunate to have parts so readily available to test these new techniques, said NEA Scout Project Manager Leslie McNutt. Its a fabulous opportunity for us to learn more before building our engineering development unit.

The lightweight assembly consists of three 3D printed spools  an oblong spool that contains the sails material and two smaller spools, each containing two booms, or the sails arms. The booms  which will unfold the sail and hold it in place during flight  are strong, yet flexible.

The booms are much like a handymans metal tape measure. They are very strong when held out straight, and when bent they become flexible enough to be wound around the spools  saving space, said McNutt.

The sails material, a strong plastic with aluminum coating, is as thin as a human hair and has to be meticulously folded and wrapped around the oblong spool. Once in space, the booms  each attached to a different corner of the sail  will extend, unpacking the solar sail.

We successfully tested a new folding technique that has never been used before with solar sails, said McNutt. The sail material is folded like an accordion and unreels like a bow tie as the booms deploy.

To simulate a microgravity environment similar to that in space, the team used Marshalls Flat Floor Facility  the worlds flattest floor. We connected air bearings to the ends of the booms, said McNutt. That allowed the booms to float on a thin layer of air above the floor, offsetting the effects of Earths gravity.

McNutt believes solar sails like NEA Scouts could be a game changer in the future of deep-space missions. In the past, they have been relatively small, she said. Advances like NEA Scouts sail could enable larger and larger spacecraft. The larger the spacecraft, the larger the solar sail will need to be. You have to work your way up  this is a step in the direction of bigger and better.

NASAs Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) manages NEA Scout with the team led at Marshall Space Flight Center with support from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. AES infuses new technologies developed by NASAs Space Technology Mission Directorate and partners with the Science Mission Directorate to address the unknowns and mitigate risks for crews and systems during future human exploration missions.

For more information about NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center, visit:

www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall

For more information about Secondary Payloads, visit: www.nasa.gov/launching-science-and-technology

For more information about NEA Scout, visit: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cubesat/missions/neascout.php
THE SLOVAK-Polish gas pipeline shall secure the connection between a network of high-pressure gas pipelines and underground gas storages on Polish territory with the network of transit gas pipelines on Slovak territory.

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Thus, the possibility to transport gas virtually from the Baltic coast to Slovakia, and further on through existing pipelines, all the way to Hungary and to western and southern Europe, will be created.

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Recently, the project got the green light from environmentalists who finished the process of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Based on the result of the process of environmental impact assessment, we recommend the implementation of the inter-connecting gas pipeline Poland-Slovakia if the due conditions are fulfilled and measures implemented, the Slovak Environment Ministry informed in its final statement, as quoted by the SITA newswire.

The investor, Slovak operator of gas transport network, Eustream, has thus to implement more than 70 measures during the realisation of the project or during the operation. Apart from hydro-geological, pedological, dendrological and archaeological exploration, the investor also has to consult the exact route of the pipeline with municipalities involved.

To reduce the impact of construction on the environment and on landowners, Eustream has to replace the damaged and abolished trees and bushes, to compensate for permanent occupation of farmland, or limiting the ownership rights in forest clearings.

The Slovak-Polish gas pipeline will connect the Slovak compressor station in Velke Kapusany with the Polish gas hub in Strachocin. The total length of connection is 164 kilometres, of which about 110 kilometres are on Slovak territory and 58 kilometres in Poland.

In Slovakia, the building should cost about 100 million, and the construction itself should start in 2018. The gas pipeline should start operating in early 2020.

The European Union already approved support for the project of Slovak-Polish gas connection, for preparation studies and engineering studies, amounting to 4.6 million in total. Totally, the elaboration of studies shall cost 9.2 million; thus the project received EU help amounting to 50 percent of its costs.
The preferences of several now-parliamentary parties have dropped following the March 5 parliamentary election, while support for extremists keeps increasing.

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IF THE parliamentary elections had taken place in early March, only five parties would have made it to the parliament.

The election winner would become Smer garnering 30 percent of the vote, resulting in 54 seats in parliament, according to the poll carried out by Polis agency for the SITA newswire between March 10 and 14 on 1,096 respondents.

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Second would become Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) supported by 15.9 percent of the vote and resulting in 21 29 seats. The third highest result would have the Slovak National Party (SNS) with 11.9 percent (21 seats), followed by the Ordinary People and Independent Personalities plus NOVA movement (OLaNO-NOVA) with 11 percent (20 seats), far-right Kotleba  Peoples Party Our Slovakia (LSNS) with 9.5 percent (17 seats), and Most-Hid with 5.2 percent (nine seats).

The Party of Hungarian Community would fail to make it to the parliament, harvesting only 4.7-percent support. Also current parliamentary Sme Rodina (We Are Family) party of Boris Kollar would fail to make it through with only 4.4 percent. The Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) would receive 3.9 percent and Siet only 2.3 percent, as reported by SITA.

As much as 61 percent of respondents said they would vote, while 14 would not attend the elections and 25 percent were undecided.

The poll also suggested that 37.6 percent of respondents want Robert Fico of Smer to become prime minister. As much as 25.5 percent would prefer Richard Sulik of SaS, while 13 percent would pick current Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak. Together 12.7 percent would support SNSs chair Andrej Danko, while 7.1 percent want Bela Bugar of Most-Hid, SITA wrote.

Moreover, 20.8 percent of respondents are satisfied with the election results, while 5 percent are definitely satisfied and 15.8 percent satisfied rather than dissatisfied. As much as 68.7 percent said they are not satisfied, with 27 percent being dissatisfied rather than satisfied and 41.7 percent very dissatisfied.

Slovaks expect early elections

According to the Polis poll carried out between March 10 and 14 on 1,096 respondents, people in Slovakia expect there will be early elections. This option was picked by 56.1 percent of respondents, while 28.1 percent said there will be no early elections. As much as 15.8 percent could not answer the question, SITA wrote.

On the other hand, the respondents would welcome an agreement which would prevent an early vote. Up to 81.9 percent said they support a compromise agreement, while 12.3 percent supported early elections and 5.8 percent could not answer the question.

When asked who would benefit from the early elections, 28.7 percent of respondents said it would be LSNS. Next would be Smer (28.1 percent), SNS (22 percent), SaS (14.3 percent), KDH (7.8 percent), Sme Rodina (7.3 percent), Most-Hid (6.5 percent), OLaNO-NOVA (5.8 percent), and Siet (3 percent). While 1.3 percent of respondents picked another party, 30.9 percent of respondents could not answer the question.
Agreement on building a feeder road between the new industrial park and the express dual-carriageway signed only one day before elections.

The site near Nitra where the new strategic park will stand. (Source: SME)

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CONSTRUCTION company Skanska will build a new road connecting the industrial park near Nitra, where the new plant of the British carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will stand, and the nearby express dual-carriageway.

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This stems from the agreement inked between the firm and company MH Invest which is responsible for the construction of the industrial park, which was signed only one day before the parliamentary elections, the Sme daily reported.

The data of the elections had no impact on signing the deal with Skanska, Economy Ministrys spokesperson Miriam Ziakova told Sme.

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Skanska will build the new road for 5.3 million excluding VAT. Originally, it was expected that the construction will cost about 10.5 million.

The competition lasted several months after MH invest launched it last September. According to the deal, the construction will start already this month, and will last 12 months. The company should finish it by March, 2017, Sme reported.

Seven construction firms attended the competition, including Vahostav, which belongs to the portfolio of tycoon Juraj Siroky, but also Doprastav, Metrostav, Strabag and Hochtief. The range of the bids differed from 5.5 million to 9.1 million.

MH Invest announced the competition only shortly after the government signed a memorandum with JLR. Many experts thus considered it a non-financial aid for the carmaker, Sme wrote.
Investigators are looking into a case of potential vote buying after the public-service broadcaster pointed to dubiously high gain of two lesser-known politicians in predominantly Roma villages.

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THE NATIONAL Criminal Agency (NAKA) will investigate the suspicions of buying votes in eastern Slovakia. The inhabitants of Lomnicka and Rakusy (both in Presov Region) allegedly voted for specific candidates in return for cigarettes.

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The public-service broadcaster Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) broke the story about two villages with predominantly Roma inhabitants where two lesser-known politicians of Smer, MP Stanislav Kubanek and Governor of Presov Region Peter Chudik, received a dubiously high number of preferential votes. They even surpassed the partys chair Robert Fico.

The reporters, who went to the villages and addressed local inhabitants, found out that they do not know the candidates by their name. Moreover, nobody came to Lomnicka, where all 1,200 inhabitants are Roma, to campaign before the elections. There is a rumour that the votes were sold for cigarettes, according to RTVS.

Kubanek told RTVS that he does not travel to Lomnicka and that he does not know anybody there. When asked how it is then possible that he received more votes than Fico, he answered he does not know. He also refuted the claim that he bought the votes.

Chudik told RTVS he was in the village because it is situated in the region. This was, however, some three years ago. He also refuted any claims pertaining to the alleged purchase of votes.

The police meanwhile have launched an investigation of the alleged election corruption, confirmed Police Corps spokesperson Martin Waldl. Since the investigation is underway, he refused to specify more details.

Furthermore, MP for Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) Lucia Nicholsonova has pointed out the alleged buying of votes in Chminianske Jakubovany (Presov Region), where the voters supported the non-parliamentary Tip party, the Pravda.sk website wrote.

The law punishes election corruption with two years in prison. In case of MPs, the punishment increases to five-year imprisonment, RTVS reported.
A play ordered by the Banska Bystrica Self-Governing Region was stopped during its performance, allegedly for inappropriate language.

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AMATEUR actors from a theatre ensemble of Jan Chalupka in Brezno (Banska Bystrica Region) were not allowed to finish their play titled Kovaci (Blacksmiths) after the interference of the regions governor Marian Kotleba, who was sitting in the auditorium.

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One of the actors, 70-year-old Alzbeta Vagadayova, was standing close to the backstage when she saw an eagerly-gesticulating woman who was saying something to a prompter. The prompter then told them to stop and end the performance. The gesticulating woman was an employee of the regional office who allegedly said that if they do not stop immediately, she would order the curtain drawn and the governor would leave, as reported by the Dennik N daily.

Kotleba reportedly did not like the expressions in the text.

We left the stage as the stupidest of stupid, Vagadayova told Dennik N. We were in shock and were unable to react.

The performance was ordered by the Banska Bystrica Self-Governing Region on the occasion of awarding teachers. The play describes the impact of war on ordinary people. The first signs of censorship occurred even before the performance as the office asked the actors to not use expressive and vulgar words. Vagadayova refused the request, saying she would not play under such circumstances. She thinks there were other things which the regional representatives did not like in the play.

Read also:

Read also: Theatres unite against Kotlebas decisions Read more

I do not know whether we touched somebodys German pride or whether it was stopped because of the vulgarisms, another actor Julius Obernauer told Dennik N.

The actors say that they have not experienced such behaviour even during the totalitarian regime.

We are shocked, the actors told Dennik N. We played more than 20 performances of this play in Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and the Czech Republic, and nobody has complained. We received positive feedback everywhere.

The office of Banska Bystrica Self-Governing Region has not yet explained the reasons behind halting the play.
A Chinese investor which bought shares of J&T financial group last year allegedly wants to enter another financial group.

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CHINESE company CEFC is seeking to buy some shares in financial group Penta, according to reports of the public-service Czech Radio.

If the information is confirmed, it would be the second investment into a big, Czech-Slovak financial and industrial group as CEFC acquired a 10-percent stock in financial group J&T last year. Moreover, the Czech daily Mlada Fronta Dnes has recently informed that it plans to increase its overall share to one half, investing about 1 billion.

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The negotiations with Penta are, according to the sources, in their early stages. The Chinese firm allegedly wants to invest several billion euros into the companys capital in return for 50-percent stock. This means that all current owners of Penta would have to halve their current shares. The biggest share, more than 80 percent, is currently owned by companys founders Marek Dospiva and Jaroslav Hascak. The rest is owned by Jozef Oravkin, Eduard Matak and Iain Child, the TASR newswire reported.

Representatives of CEFC and Penta signed documents obliging them to be silent about the talks, so it is impossible to obtain an official statement. Penta has refused to comment on the information. Its spokesperson Ivo Mravinac told Czech Radio that the company comments only on closed trades, and not speculations. CEFC sent a similar statement, adding that currently they are not finalising any business transaction.

It is however clear that no agreement on a sale will be signed during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Czech Republic in late March.

If the negotiations were successful, the first signature of preliminary agreement may be expected in the middle of this year, the source close to the talks told Czech Radio, as quoted by TASR.

The reason why CEFC may be interested in Penta is its investment portfolio. The company owns several firms and institutions in sectors attractive to China, like the aviation industry, health care, the financial sector, as well as the food and machinery industry.

Disclaimer: Penta financial group has a 45-percent share in Petit Press, the co-owner of The Slovak Spectator.
After presenting their programme priorities, the four parties of the coalition have agreed on the composition of the government. Robert Fico is reportedly to stay on as prime minister, the Health Ministry remains problematic.

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THE FIVE-HOUR long meeting at the Governments Office on March 16 resulted in the division of ministries among the coalition parties, but the names of the ministers have not yet been officially announced. The media are already speculating about the names of those who might fill the ministerial chairs in the new government.

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Robert Fico, who is most likely to be the prime minister in the new government, is scheduled to meet President Andrej Kiska early on Thursday morning, as he is leaving for Brussels at noon on the same day. He will probably submit the proposed priorities and agreement among the four partners in the future ruling coalition. After accepting the proposal, the president will convene the initial parliamentary session of the new election term.

Chairs are divided

The parties agreed that the Slovak National Party (SNS) will fill the post of the speaker of parliament, while the three remaining coalition partners, Smer, Most-Hid, and Siet, will each get one post of deputy speaker. The remaining fourth deputy speaker post will be filled by the opposition.

The parties of the emerging coalition agreed to secure cross-control at the ministries, which means that at each individual ministry, the state secretary (deputy minister) will be from a different party than the minister. The ministerial posts are to be divided as follows:

Smer (who will nominate the prime minister), will control the ministries of the interior, finance, foreign affairs, economy, culture, labour, and health care. Smer will also fill the post of deputy prime minister for investments.

SNS will have their ministers in the defence, education, and agriculture departments.

Most-Hid will fill the posts of justice and environment ministers, while Siet will get one ministerial chair, transport.

Problematic health care

The agreement on the division of the chairs took slightly longer than expected, reportedly because the parties had difficulties agreeing who should control the health ministry. Health care is generally considered to be one of the most ailing sectors in Slovakia. Towards the end of Smers outgoing government, several scandals surfaced in the health care sector and the media have been reporting on what the Sme daily labeled a health care octopus: a network of people controlling financial flows in the sector, connected through nepotism and corruption.

Another sector that was in turmoil towards the end of Ficos second term in office is education. In the new cabinet, the minister for education is likely to be one of the nationalists from SNS. This party has also controlled the ministry in the past, under the first government of Robert Fico from 2006-2010. Political analyst Miroslav Kusy called the decision to assign education to SNS bad news.

There is a risk that it will get some nationalist zip, he said as quoted by Sme.

Names appear

Although the four partners of the new coalition remained tight-lipped about the actual names of the people who will be assigned to the ministries, some names appeared in media reports during Wednesday.

Most-Hids ministers are expected to be Lucia Zitnanska, who would return to the chair of justice minister that she last held during the brief term of Iveta Radicovas government, and Lazslo Solymos who is likely to take over at the environment department.

Commentators and observers have mostly agreed in the past few days as the ruling coalition was taking shape, that Most-Hids Bela Bugar and Siets Radoslav Prochazka would make their participation in the government conditional on Robert Fico not being the prime minister and Robert Kalinak not being the interior minister. But media reports suggest that both Fico and Kalinak are likely to retain their posts from the two previous governments led by Fico.

Finance Minister Peter Kazimir is also expected to stay put, as are Labour Minister Jan Richter and Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak. Lajcak, whose name has also been mentioned as a contender for the prime minister's post, is one of Slovakias most experienced diplomats and his ministry will play a major role during Slovakias EU presidency in the second half of this year, which is why he is expected to retain his previous role.

The education ministry is expected to be led by Ludovit Hajduk, the current vice-dean at the private Paneuropean University. The SNS minister in agriculture may well be Vladimir Chovan, who has previously served in this post for a brief time, as a HZDS nominee under the first government of Robert Fico.

Siets only minister could, according to Sme, be Robert Auxt, the partys expert on finance. Auxt is not among the 10 MPs who advanced to the parliament on the slate of Siet. If one of the MPs took an executive post, their replacement would be Zuzana Zimenova, who has already declared she did not agree with Siet joining a government with Smer, and that she would not support it in the parliament. For now, seven out of the 10 originally elected Siet MPs maintain their support for the party and the emerging government.
THE BRITISH company Mountpark Logistics EU is interested in building warehouse and production premises over an area of 208,000 square meters in the Sered  South industrial zone and creating 800 jobs there.

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The entry into the industrial zone in Sered, in the Trnava Region, is the first investment for this company in Slovakia. Mountpark Logistics EU has chosen Sered due to its direct connection to the R1 expressway and its strategic position between Bratislava and Trnava, where an automotive plant (PSA Peugeot Citroen) has been built, and Nitra, where another carmaker (Jaguar Land Rover) is about to build a plant.

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The start of construction and development of the logistics sites is estimated to start in the first half of this year and should be completed in the first half of 2017, the TASR newswire wrote. Production premises will cover 44,890 square meters.

Mountpark Logistics EU has more than 200 years experience in commercial real estate and has been involved in many successful logistics and retail projects in Great Britain and throughout Europe. In central Europe, it is also engaged a project in the city of Pilsen in the Czech Republic.

Covering an area of some 24 hectares, the Sered  South industrial zone is currently the largest industrial zone in Slovakia. It was launched in February 2015 to complement the Sered - North industrial park which features more than 10 companies over a total area of 41.1 hectares and has 700 workers. The industrial zone is situated in the middle of a triangle of the biggest investments in Slovakia, Ingrid Kantorova of reebok.sk told TASR.
THE SLOVAK Constitutional Court ruled on March 16 that the amendment to the law on collective bargaining from 2013 regarding the extension of the binding force of collective bargaining agreements of higher degree is unconstitutional.

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The amendment, proposed by the ruling Smer party, was attacked by a group of 32 opposition MPs, who complained that it entitled the ministry to extend the binding force of these collective contracts without having to consult the employers to whom it directly pertains. They argued that the law infringed upon the right to private property as well as the right to do business. The law also did not guarantee that the balance between public and private interests would have been preserved, the TASR newswire wrote.

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Former Slovak president Ivan Gasparovic (2004-14) also had reservations concerning this amendment back in 2013; however the parliament overruled his veto.

According to the Constitutional Court, the Slovak Constitution, as well as the Treaty on Protection of Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms were violated by the provisions of this law in paragraph 7, articles 1, 2 and 11.

Lifting the collective agreement of a higher level, which contains the pledges of contractual sides, into a generally binding legal act  through a ruling of a central body of state administration published in the Slovak Collection of Laws  for subjects others that bound by this agreement exceeds the frame of constitutionally acceptable creating of norms, chairwoman of the CC, Ivetta Macejkova, stated in her argumentation.

The combination of choosing the legal form of generally binding lower-than-law legal enactment to extend a two-or multi-lateral agreement also to other contractual subjects  and stipulating the facultative character of this extension, moreover  in two articles of Paragraph 7 of the law on collective bargaining is incompatible with the principle of rule of law, according to the Constitutional Court.

The Labour Ministry, which drafted the law, opined that it is necessary to respect this ruling of the CC. Spokesman Michal Stuska informed TASR that they would have to study the whole argumentation and then react duly. The ministry argued in the past that it mainly wanted to improve the labour-law conditions for employees, through extending the binding character of collective agreements of higher level. It also argued that the extension of collective agreements is an element of labour relations also in several western-European countries, citing Belgium, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain as examples.
The SALESIANS of Don Bosco have reacted to the speech of priest Vojtech Zeman who talked about the wartime Slovak State in a way that could be close to the crime of denying the Holocaust.

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On March 14, the anniversary of the establishment of the first Slovak State  a satellite of Nazi Germany during World War II  a public prayer was organised at the grave of the states executed president Jozef Tiso. This event was attended by several MPs and councillors of the LSNS party of Marian Kotleba (Banska Bystrica regional governor).

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Zeman publicly questioned the deportation of 70,000 Slovak Jews to death camps. "This is a historical lie, he said, talking to journalists and several participants. This was written in books during communism, as historians were ordered to do so.

On March 15, the Slovak Province of the Salesians took a stance, hesitantly distancing themselves from Zemans address. "The participation of our brother Vojtech Zeman, aged 86, at yesterdays commemorative meeting was his personal initiative, spokesman and secretary of the province, Rastislav Hamracek, wrote, as quoted by the Dennik N daily.

Asked to clarify the official stance of the Salesians to the deportation of Jews, Hamracek cited the stance issued on March 14 by top Catholic Church officials in Slovakia, in which Archbishop Stanislav Zvolensky and head of the Central Union of Jewish Communities in Slovakia Igor Rintel jointly condemned the crimes of the wartime Slovak State. Their statement also refers to the MPs of Kotlebas LSNS party (two of whom shook hands with Zeman at the meeting): "We hope for a change of mind of those who may even sit in the parliamentary chairs and talk with one breath about God and nations, but do not hesitate to attack people only because of their skin colour or different religious belief, Dennik N quotes the statement as saying.
"Critics will say that Daesh remains undefeated. But, short of committing Western or other foreign ground troops, it is clear Daesh can only be defeated by the professional Syrian army, whose continued presence in the field Moscow has ensured."

Russias ability to remain focused on its specific operational goal and not get distracted into other complex activities were crucial to its success in Syria, Dal Santo argued.

"By showing it knows where its interests lie and can define the limits of not only what it can but needs to achieve, the Russian leadership will probably emerge from the Syrian intervention with its reputation enhanced."

Dal Santo maintained that Russia had also avoided the trap of committing itself too closely publicly to Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The pull out "confirms what the Kremlin has been saying all along  that the purpose of its intervention has been to save Syria's governing institutions, but that it is not wedded to Assad," he observed.

Instead, Assad now faced new pressure to compromise with moderate opposition forces, Dal Santo predicted.

"With the Syrian government steadied, Russia's withdrawal of its air group will put pressure on Assad to bend in the Geneva negotiations."

US author and Middle East affairs expert Dan Lazare agreed that Russias decision to withdraw its air force from Syria was rooted in political as well as military considerations.

"It seems like a political maneuver," Lazare noted.

He too cautioned that the Daesh had not yet been destroyed as a political entity and military force in Syria.

"It's hard for me to believe that the ISIS[Islamic State]-al Qaeda threat has really been eliminated," Lazare added.

Matthew Dal Santo is a historian and Danish Research Council post-doctoral fellow at the Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen, where he is leading a project on history and identity in modern Russia.

Dal Santo previously worked for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and is a former Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
However, The liberation of Aleppo was not yet complete. Though the Syrian army reportedly had entered Palmyra and reached near Raqqa, the terrorist group has not been destroyed.

Lauria suggested that the Russian pullout may be the result of a secret agreement or understanding being negotiated between the United States and Russia.

Perhaps there has been a deal with the United States. Maybe Washington has offered a major concession on Ukraine, something President [Barack] Obama may gladly concede given what a disaster the US adventure in that country has become.

Lauria also noted that the Obama administration might feel free to establish a no-fly zone over areas of Syria and step up its strikes against Daesh after privately getting clearance to do so from Russia.

The United States has wanted Russia out of the Syrian theater the moment it entered. Questions now abound. With Russia yielding the skies will the US set up a no-fly zone as Turkey has desperately wanted?

Lauria said it remained an open issue whether Syrian President Bashar Assad could use his strengthened position or remain in power, or whether he would now be forced to step down after a six-month transitional period.

Perhaps the UN talks will yield a peace deal in which Assad stays at least six more months until a transitional government takes over, writes a new constitution and 18 months from now holds a general election? The next few days and weeks should be interesting.

Institute for Gulf Affairs analyst Adam Whitlock linked the Russian withdrawal from air strikes to the success of the Syrian ceasefire and the growing momentum towards finally ending the five-year civil war in Syria.

My immediate reaction is that with peace negotiations and the cessation of hostilities being moderately successful, Putin is doing his best to make Russia seem like benefactors.

Russia had succeeded in strengthening the Syrian government and had forced opposition rebels to sit down with President Assad and seek a compromise settlement, Lauria pointed out.

Now that anti Assad forces  terrorists from the Russian perspective  are cooperating, they have no real reason to stay.
This was, of course, right before Clinton began winning, starting with the South Carolina Primary, where she won over 87% of the African American vote, before posting similar margins throughout the Deep South where black voters are a majority of the Democratic electorate.

The tide turned as corporate media allegations were debunked

But soon the tide had turned. The Chicago Tribune released a photo showing Sanders being viciously detained by police. Minority leaders like Ohios Nina Turner and former NAACP head Benjamin Jealous rallied behind Sanders.

The veil of misinformation had been lifted, and Sanders, a Democratic Socialist bereft of SuperPACs and Wall Street speaking contracts, won Michigan by two points after trailing in polls by 37 points.

Everybody in the upcoming states had already voted weeks ago

Michigan does not allow early voting, and the voters in Michigan were responding to an immediate narrative. One other recently voting state also prohibits early voting  Missouri  where Sanders tied Clinton after trailing weeks earlier by 28 points.
All the objectives set for Moscows participation in anti-terror fight in Syria have been successfully achieved, which led to a logical pullout of the bulk of the Russian contingent from the Arab state, former adviser on Russia to French National Front party leader Marine Le Pen Emmanuel Leroy stressed.

"Undoubtedly, we can say that this is a turning point in the war and that the goals that were set by Vladimir Putin have been achieved," Leroy, a prominent French political scientist, said.

Russia managed to defend a legitimate government of Syria within the framework of international law, stopped the advance of jihadists to Iraqs Baghdad and Syrias Latakia, struck a severe blow to the terrorists, preventing the Arab republic from becoming a hub of the international terrorism, Leroy outlined.

He added that Russia's involvement in Syria had helped the country to "show to the West that the Russian bear has not lost its claws, they even get much sharper."

Describing how the military campaign in Syria benefited Russia, Leroy suggested that Moscows image on the international arena had been improved.

"It also showed that it [Russia] has a remarkable technological breakthrough in the field of cyberwarfare, which probably helped to cool the ardor of the neoconservatives in the United States and the whole clan [of] warmongering fanatics like [US Senator John] McCain or [presidential candidate Hillary] Clinton."

Terrorism and security expert at the University of Alberta, Thomas Butko, shared his opinion on Putin's aims in Syria by claiming that, "If a key demand of Russia was [that Syrian President Bashar] Assad remains in power, and it doesn't appear that Assad is going anywhere now, Russia has achieved its primary aim, and would in fact welcome peace in the area."

Looking into the consequences of Russias withdrawal from the Middle Eastern country, Noomane Raboudi, a Syria expert at the University of Ottawa, suggested that Putin had understood that this was going to be a very long and bloody conflict, and did not want to be mired in it endlessly.

"[Nevertheless] he [Putin] will stay watching the situation from outside andfrom time to time he will intervene every time the equilibrium of power is threatened," Raboudi stated.

Devji further clarified that Russia did not support the Syrian government in its push to retake all or even part of Aleppo, but instead put it in a position where it would have to arrive at an agreement with at least some of its enemies, and in this way reestablish a legitimate state on the basis of a genuine compromise, as opposed to "politics of vendetta that followed regime change in Iraq or the anarchy that followed it in Libya."

Butko observed that Russias decision on the pullout was linked to the countrys belief that Assads position is now strong enough to withstand any counterattacks by the opposition, which seemed to be rather divided and weakened at this point.

"Whatever one may think of the means or details of Russias foreign policy, it should be clear that it isnt based on a winner-takes-all principle. In Russias case this appears to be the effort to prevent the erosion of state sovereignty in the global arena and so remake politics itself in the international order," Devji pointed out.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)This is the second edition the annual contest, run by Rossiya Segodnya under the auspices of the Russian mission to the UN cultural body UNESCO. Applications can be submitted online via the stenincontest.com website until March 22, 2016. Photographers from around the world aged 18-33 are eligible to take part in the competition.

"This is a great opportunity for young photographers to show their work to a professional jury and to compare their qualifications with photographers from five continents. Contests like these help us improve as photographers, help us hone our skills. A distinctive feature of this years contest is that more than 60% of the submissions are color photographs, which corresponds with the contest categories," Rossiya Segodnya Director of Photography Alexander Shtol was quoted as saying by the press service.

Young photographers from five continents are taking part in the contest, among them photojournalists from the United States, Brazil, Peru, Australia, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Egypt, India and China, among others.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)The People's Republic of China will seek to build relations with Taiwan in an effort to improve economic cooperation, Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday.

"A peaceful development of relations between the two shores of the [Taiwan] Strait to the benefit of both sides, of people both sides of the strait. We will adopt more political decisions aimed at enhancing cooperation in the field of business between mainland China and Taiwan," Li told reporters.

Both the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC), widely known as Taiwan, claim sovereignty over Chinese territory. The future of cross-strait relations remains uncertain following The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) victory in Taiwan's January elections. The DPP rejects the PRC's claim over Taiwan, instead supporting Taiwanese independence.
The Japanese government has "expressed a strong protest" to the US, which said they "are taking this matter seriously," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Tuesday.

In response to the incident, the US military has banned US servicemen from spending the night off their base.

This is not the first time the US military has promised to crack down on the bad behavior of US servicemen on Okinawa. In 2012 a curfew was imposed on soldiers after two US servicemen were arrested for the rape and robbery of a local woman.

"Servicemen are supposed to return to their bases before a specified time, but that rule is often broken," Suzuyo Takasato, a former deputy in the parliament of Naha, Okinawa, told Sputnik.

"Often soldiers stay the night in the capital of Okinawa, as happened this time. This latest case of rape is not the only one. There are often complaints from residents in the prefecture about harassment from American servicemen; soldiers accost women on the street, try and get into their hotel rooms," she said.

Takasato is the co-chair of Okinawa Women Act Against Military Violence, a pressure group formed in September 1995 following the rape of a 12-year-old Okinawan girl by three US servicemen.

She said that the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security the US and Japan signed in 1960 does not exert sufficient control over the behavior of US military personnel in Japan.

Incredible. Tokyo riot police assault an Okinawan in Henoko during a protest of the alleged rape by a sailor stationed Posted by I Oppose the Expansion of US Bases in Okinawa on Tuesday, 15 March 2016

The Treaty allows US servicemen to live in Japan without registering with the Japanese authorities, a condition which other foreigners have to adhere to.

The Japanese authorities are only given information about the number of US soldiers at the bases, and in contrast to US forces' freedom of movement, the Japanese are not allowed to enter a US base, under threat of arrest.

"This agreement does not protect the residents of Okinawa, it is intended to safeguard comfortable conditions for US soldiers living in Japan," Takasato complained.

"Soldiers can go outside their bases whenever they want, but that doesn't mean that they can break the laws of the country they are in. I am not afraid to say that the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security allows Americans to feel so free in our country, that they can molest women with impunity."


NEW DELHI (Sputnik)The consortium of Indian companies has purchased a 29.9-percent share in the joint venture established by the Russian oil giant Rosneft and the British BP on the basis of Taas-Yuryakh Neftegasodobycha project in eastern Siberia, Rosneft said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Rosneft [acting by the wholly owned subsidiary RN-Razvedka i Dobycha], Oil India, Indian Oil and Bharat Petroresources signed a legally binding share sale agreement relating to 29.9% participatory share in Taas-Yuryakh Neftegasodobycha," the statement reads.

Rosneft added that it would retain a majority stake in the joint venture while the transaction is expected to boost the development of the East Siberia's major Srednebotuobinskoye field.
"An asylum-seeker should only be returned to a third state, if the responsibility for assessing the particular asylum application in substance is assumed by the third country; the asylum-seeker will be protected from refoulement [the movement of a victim or persecution back to the persecutor]; and if the individual will be able to seek and, if recognized, enjoy asylum in accordance with accepted international standards, and have full and effective access to education, work, health care and, as necessary, social assistance," he said.

Gloomy Outlook

A European Council summit on Thursday and Friday (March 17-18) looks unlikely to sanction the deal, with Cyprus threatening to torpedo the deal which would accelerate Turkish membership of the EU, several member states refusing to accept relocation quotas and European Parliament lawmakers saying the refugee crisis should not be coupled with Turkish EU membership bid.

Proposed EU-Turkey deal is so clearly wrong, why is it even on the table? #StopTheDeal https://t.co/hAwGRQC1Bn pic.twitter.com/n9bGOFGGYk  Judith Sunderland (@sunderland_jude) 16 March 2016

Members of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee said in a report Tuesday that EU-Turkey cooperation on migration should be uncoupled from the EU accession negotiating process, because of Turkey's record on human rights, media freedoms and repression of the Kurds.

The committee expressed: "concern about the escalation of violence in the south east of Turkey, which caused almost 400,000 people to leave their houses. Outsourcing the refugee crisis to Turkey is not a credible long-term solution to the problem.

They believe that the EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan on refugees and migration management should be implemented immediately, but only as "part of a comprehensive cooperation agenda based on shared responsibility, mutual commitments and delivery." Furthermore, "EU-Turkey cooperation on migration should not be linked to the calendar, content and conditionality of the negotiation process."

Lawmakers from the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament are staging a demonstration in Brussels Wednesday, in protest at the slow pace of agreement on the refugee crisis. A plan to relocate 160,000 refugees from Greece and Italy  agreed in September 2015 after months of disagreement  has, by March 15, 2016 only moved 937. Only 15 Member States have offered places to Greece for relocations.
ATHENS (Sputnik)  Mouzalas used the name "Macedonia," which Greece does not accept in reference to the neighboring country in a television interview on Tuesday. The mistake has provoked a political scandal in Greece, with the country's defense minister, Panos Kammenos, asking Mouzalas to resign.

"I apologize for the accidental mistake, which does not correspond to my position and beliefs on the national issue regarding the name of FYROM," Mouzalas said as quoted in the ministry's statement.

Athens and Skopje have a long-standing dispute over the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. According to the Greek Foreign Ministry, the issue arose in 1991 when Macedonia seceded from Yugoslavia and declared its independence under the name "Republic of Macedonia." The modern country is officially listed as the FYROM at the United Nations.
Ramsauer, who served as the Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Development in the second Merkel cabinet and who represents the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), the German Chancellor's sister-party in the Union, said Sunday's regional election results were "devastating" for the party.

He said anyone who thought the result was anything other than a disaster was deceiving themselves. Merkel described the vote as a "difficult day." Ramsauer told Die Welt:

"This reminds me of the pianists on the Titanic. They played to the end but were flooded anyway. Whoever now speaks beautifully about the election results in the same way makes people more furious."


ATHENS (Sputnik)The EU leaders and Ankara can secure a deal on resolving the massive refugee crisis at the upcoming summit in Brussels, Greek government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili said Wednesday.

"We can find a common European solution for the effective resolution of the migration crisis, of course, on the basis of trends developed at previous summits. This includes compliance with the EU-Turkey agreement," Gerovasili said at a briefing.

Athens is currently expecting an allocation of funds from Brussels to ease the strain of mass arrivals to the country, according to the spokeswoman.
This will also allow a UK Secretary of State "fleixible" powers to demand access to communications data, the power to demand communications be routed via a certain electronic path and secrecy from the Communication Service Providers (CSPs).

'Fantastically Intrusive'

"Today's second reading debate was a missed opportunity to put a brake on new surveillance powers that fundamentally shift the balance of power between the individual and the state," Privacy International Director of Campaigns, Harmit Kambo told Sputnik.

"The Labour Party and the Scottish National Party (SNP) strongly criticized many fundamental aspects of the Bill, but we are disappointed that both parties abstained from the vote.

"We nonetheless welcome their calls for substantial amendments to the bill before they consider actually supporting the Government. The Shadow Home Secretary, Andy Burnham said the bill is 'not acceptable in its current form' and Joanna Cherry MP, the SNP Justice and Home Affairs spokesperson said that many of the powers are 'fantastically intrusive' and that the Bill, in its current form, is on a collision course with the European courts," she said.

Introducing the Second Reading of the bill Tuesday, UK Home Secretary Theresa May said: "The Government are committed to updating and consolidating our country's investigatory powers in a clear and comprehensive new law that will stand the test of time.
'Overnight Deprivation of Assets Without Compensation'

The hearing before the First Senate of the Federal Constitutional Court will hear claims by the energy companies that the cancellation of the electricity volumes by government and the determination of fixed shutdown dates constitute an "expropriation of different protected interests falling within the scope of protection of the [German General Code].

"The complainants assert that the [amendment] is unconstitutional due to the lack of a compensation regime provided for by law. According to the complainants, the challenged Act does not meet the substantive requirements of the principle of proportionality and the principle of legitimate expectations. The amendment constitutes an unjustified interference with the scope of the freedom of occupation operators of nuclear power plants," court documents seen by Sputnik show.

Johannes Teyssen, chief executive of Germany's largest utility E.ON, told reporters as he arrived for the hearing:

"I have great faith in Germany's highest court. We paid our taxes, we paid our wages, we have done what every other company does with its investments."

Teyssen told the court that the decision was not political. "This is not about whether you are for or against nuclear power. The question is simply: Do we have the right, overnight, to deprive people of their assets without compensation?" he said.
In the March 13 elections, AfD won eight seats in eight German parliaments , winning 24 percent of the vote in the Saxony-Anhalt state in East Germany.

The results indicate the extent to which German Chancellor Angela Merkel's open-door policy towards refugees is dividing German society.

"Radical right politics is once again successful in capitalizing on this frustration among the fringes of public opinion", Dr Pardos-Prado told Sputnik.

"Immigration triggers all these fears and these parties are doing a good job in selling a new narrative providing rhetoric to these defected people."

Dr Pardos-Prado argues that the actual impact of immigration on economic performance is between negligible and positive, however the issue makes it easy for people who are already feeling vulnerable to buy into anti-immigrant narrative.

"Mainstream politics needs to be more honest about the trade-offs of public policy and what can actually be achieved rather than promising paradises that cannot be delivered," Dr Pardos-Prado argues.

"This is how populist radical rhetoric breaks into the system," he says. "People have lost their sense of belonging."

Clashes between anti-immigrant protesters and anti-fascist demonstrators recently erupted in Austria after a group led by the right-wing Freedom Party (FPO) congregated in Vienna to oppose new accommodation planned for asylum seekers.
Expert Online suggests that the three have allegedly made an ultimatum to launch a military operation if the Syrian government forces do not suspend fire within 24 hours.

Dmitry Abzalov, President of the Center for Strategic Communications explains that Russian pullout diminishes the chances of the agressive supporters of the military campaign for the invasion.

Turkey is being stripped of some very serious arguments and its actions on the territory of the northern Syria, and I would like to remind that Turkey has moved its troops into the territory of the northern Syria and is regularly striking the positions of the Syrian Kurds, these actions already look like an unmotivated act of aggression. Hence it is a very serious blow to the aggressive supporters of the military campaign, among which is Turkey. And it is a very serious blow to Erdogan personally.

The website, however, admits that this version is highly unlikely as through the recent years, Russia has demonstrated that it stands firm in the face of international pressure, does not automatically respond to provocations or other ultimatums, and plays more skillfully and with more foresight.

And the current Russian pullout comes only as confirmation of the above.

Other Popular Versions

Among other popular versions are: an attempt to avoid the Soviet Union's fate of committing itself to a nine-year invasion of Afghanistan, a demonstration that Russian support is not limitless, President Putins frustration with President Assad and the demonstration and testing of Russias armed forces, which are undergoing significant modernization.

Expert Online puts forward yet another version, that there is an agreement between Russia and US about a broader coalition to pursue the peace process, while excluding the interests of Turkey and Saudi Arabia as well as Bashar Assad.

After the announcement of such a coalition, Russia will return to Syria but as a major US partner in the fight against Daesh.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)Attempts by the West to call Russian Aerospace Forces military operations in Syria a new Afghanistan is purely a tailored information campaign that has failed, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday.

We need to understand that this of course is a tailor-madeplanned, very good and juicy information campaign that all of Russias operations with the Aerospace Forces looks like a new Afghanistan. Why? This was very painful for us. And the most important thing is that it hits practically everyone. But on the other hand, of course, this campaign failed. Now theyre beginning to win it back, Zakharova said on Russias Govorit Moskva (Moscow Speaking) radio station.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the withdrawal of the main part of the countrys forces from Syria as they had fulfilled the task assigned to them. Putin said the remaining groupings in Hmeymim in Syria's Latakia province and the naval base in the port of Tartus would play a key role in monitoring the cessation of hostilities between Syrian government and rebel forces.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)The Israeli leader is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin later in the day as part of his official visit to Russia for talks on humanitarian and economic cooperation.

"Rivlin will ask the Russian side [for] assurance[s] that the withdrawal of its troops from Syria will not be accompanied by a strengthening of Iran and Hezbollah there," the source said.

On Monday, Putin ordered the withdrawal of the main part of the countrys air and naval forces in Syria as they were deemed to have fulfilled the tasks assigned to them. Putin said the remaining groupings at the Hmeimim air facility in Syria's Latakia province and the naval facility in the port of Tartus would play a key role in monitoring the cessation of hostilities between Syrian government and rebel forces.


ANKARA (Sputnik)A car bomb exploded late on Sunday at a bus stop in central Ankara, leaving dozens dead and over 120 injured.

"Around 40 of those injured in the terrorist attack remain in hospitals, with seven in poor condition. Among the 37 killed, two were terrorists," Erdogan said, while addressing the heads of Turkey's village administrations.

On Tuesday, Turkish authorities confirmed the identity one of the suicide bombers as a female Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) member Seher Cagla Demir, who is said to have had undergone training in the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces, fighting numerous opposition factions and radical Islamists. Moscow has been conducting an aerial campaign against terrorist groups in Syria since September 30, 2015, at Damascus' request.

The Swiss city of Geneva currently hosts the UN-backed proximity talks between the Syrian opposition and the government's delegation to put an end to the deadly conflict.

Islamist Forces Remain, Despite Russian Withdrawal From Syria

Russia's decision to withdraw its air forces from Syria does not mean the Islamist forces in the country have been defeated, al-Assad also said.

"In terms of weakening Islamic extremist groups in Syria, Russia has been quite successful in this regard, but Russia could certainly not claim that the mission has been accomplished as Islamist groups such as the Islamist State, al-Nusra and others have been weakened but far away from being defeated," Assad said on Monday.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he authorized the withdrawal of the country's air group from Syria beginning the following day. Putin said that Russia had accomplished its objectives in Syria, after a nearly seven month air campaign to combat terrorism.

Assad, a first cousin and political opponent of Syrian President Bashar Assad, questioned the complex message of the Russian withdrawal shortly after a weekend proffer of joint US-Russian military action against the Islamic State forces in Raqqa and Palmyra.

"Russian jets had actually evacuated the Hmeimim airport" prior to the Monday withdrawal announcement, Assad said, citing his sources in Syria.

The Kremlin affirmed in a Monday statement that Russia would maintain some presence in Syria centered around the naval base at Tartus and the Hmeimim air base. Russia's representative to the United Nations noted the withdrawal as a shift to further the diplomatic and political transition in Syria.
Russia recently requested to switch from wet-film cameras to digital sensors for its surveillance flights over the US.

The website says that the Treaty has provisions to upgrade and modernize sensors. Film has long ago given way to digital imagery. Treaty members have agreed to allow a digital electro-optical sensor package upgrade, but not to allow Open Skies flights to operate so that higher resolution can be obtained.

So why doesnt the US military add its own digital sensors, questions the website?

Because the Pentagon dropped the ball, it explains.

A policy directive to proceed with the upgrade was issued in 2012, but the Defense Department didnt issue a request for proposal until 2015, and still hasnt chosen a contractor. The issue isnt money  perhaps $45 million. The problem is that Open Skies flights are a very low priority for the Pentagon.

At a time when the Pentagon is embarked on a new $3 billion initiative to reassure European friends and allies worried about Russian belligerence, it makes sense to speed up equipping the US Open Skies plane with digital imaging capabilities, rather than to complain about the disadvantages of mutual transparency, it furthermore states.

Russia has for years conducted unarmed observation flights over the United States, just as the United States does over Russia, as part of the Open Skies Treaty, which was signed in 1992 by both nations as well as 32 other countries at the end of the Cold War, and entered into force a decade later.

Although the treaty and the flights, unfamiliar to most Americans, amount to officially sanctioned spying, their goal has been to foster transparency about military activity and to reduce the risk of war and miscalculation, especially in Europe.

Amid last years rising tensions, the US Open Skies aircraft carried out twice as many overflights as its Russian counterpart, Defense One says.
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said during a meeting with EC President Donald Tusk, whos touring the European capitals ahead of the upcoming EU summit on the migrant crisis, that Turkey must fulfill its obligations before Nicosia backs the agreement between Brussels and Ankara on the return and resettlement of refugees.

" conveyed our position that the Republic of Cyprus does not intend to consent to the opening of any chapters, if Turkey does not fulfill its obligations as described in the Ankara Protocol," Anastasiades said, according to RIA Novosti.

He also specifically pointed out that Ankara must recognize the Republic of Cyprus, something that Turkey has adamantly refused to do since the partition of the island in 1974.
While Russia continues to demonstrate its commitment to a diplomatic resolution of the situation both in Syria and Ukraine , American neocons and their allies continue to beat the war drums over Moscow's mythical "interventionism."

Remarkably, as US President Obama's term nears its end, the voice of Washington's "party of war" is becoming louder.

Commenting on Barack Obama's recent interview with Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic, American politicians Steven Pifer and John Herbst, former US ambassadors to Ukraine, suggest that the White House failed to provide enough support to Ukraine in the face of Russian "aggression."
The task of normalizing economic relations with the Caribbean islands is no walk in the park: the countries have to settle a wide variety of issues, including the compensation to US property owners for their assets seized after the 1959 revolution.

Stratfor notes that yet another stumbling block in the way of the US-Cuban rapprochement is Havana's treatment of dissidents and other human rights issues. In addition, the Cuban financial system needs reform to become more transparent and thus more attractive to American investors.

However, "until the embargo is lifted, it is likely that if the US government wants to boost trade and financial transactions between specific US business sectors and Cuba, it will have to loosen existing federal restrictions through the US Department of the Treasury," the report states.

Anyway, the task of fixing economic relations with Cuba will fall to the next US president and there's the rub. It still remains unclear whether or not Obama's successor will follow in the footsteps of the US President.

An analytical report by Elizabeth Gonzalez of David Rockefeller's Americas Society sheds some light on the possible future of the US foreign policy toward Cuba.

Hillary Clinton

Gonzalez draws attention to the fact that one of the 2016 election cycle leaders, Hillary Clinton, has recently shifted her position on the Cuban embargo and is now calling for loosening the restrictions. The analyst recalls that back in 2000 Hillary Clinton was not ready to vote to lift the embargo.

"The Cuba embargo needs to go, once and for all," Clinton claimed in July 2015 during her speech at Florida International University.

Donald Trump
"For most players in the Syrian conflict, the fate accompli came as welcome news. The Security Council said that it considered the withdrawal a 'positive step'. However, the withdrawal also raises many questions."

With Russian officials and journalists pointing out that the withdrawal was the logical end result of the fact that the Russian mission had 'generally fulfilled' its goals of stabilizing the Syrian government, beating up on the terrorists and brokering a ceasefire, the magazine, like many of its Western media counterparts, assumed that Moscow must also have some ulterior motives.

These, it suggested, include the Russian president's desire to be able to "boast about having played a positive role" in the Syrian peace process (why not?), and the desire not to get caught in a military quagmire (perhaps recalling some of the more embarrassing American and European quagmires in recent years).

L'Obs recollected the fact that since the start of the Russian air operation, the West had accused Moscow of focusing not so much on the Daesh terrorists as on anti-government rebels.

Moscow, for its part, never shied away from admitting that its operations also targeted the Nusra Front (al-Qaeda's franchise in Syria), the Islamic Front, the Jaish al-Fatah ('Army of Conquest'), and other so-called rebels associated with or allied with jihadi groups.
On February 25, 2014, pro-Russian Crimean residents launched an open-ended rally outside the Supreme Council building demanding that legislators not recognize the new leadership that had come to power after riots and unrest in Kiev.

The participants of the rally also called for the restoration of the 1992 Crimean Constitution according to which the republic should have its own president and independent foreign policy. The protesters also called for a referendum for Crimean residents to be able to choose the direction of the region's further development, either as an autonomous republic within Ukraine, or as an independent state, or as part of Russia.

On February 26, 2014, Crimean Tatars who supported the regime change in Ukraine also gathered outside the parliament building. The two groups of protesters clashed, which resulted in 35 people being injured.

In the early hours of February 27, 2014, the Russian-speaking populations self-defense forces occupied the buildings of the Supreme Council and the Council of Ministers of Crimea.

On February 27, 2014, the Supreme Council of Crimea appointed Sergei Aksyonov, leader of the Russian Unity Party, prime minister.

The Crimean Supreme Council called for a referendum on expanding the powers of the autonomous republic to be held on May 25, 2014. The referendum was to include one question: "Do you support the state self-determination of Crimea as part of Ukraine on the basis of international treaties and agreements?"

The Crimean Supreme Council dismissed the government of the autonomous republic, and on February 28, 2014, a new Cabinet of Ministers was formed.

In the early hours of March 1, 2014, unidentified armed individuals attempted to seize the buildings of the Supreme Council and the Council of Ministers of Crimea.

On March 1, 2014, Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov said at the new Cabinet's first meeting that he had decided to appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin for help in maintaining the lawful constitutional order in Crimea.

On the same day, Putin addressed Russia's Council of the Federation for authorization to use Russian military forces on Ukrainian soil in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, until the social and political situation in the country normalized. The initiative was unanimously supported, and the authorization came into force.

The Crimean authorities also decided to speed up the referendum and set it for March 30, 2014.

On March 6, 2014, the Crimean parliament voted for the autonomous republic's reunification with Russia. The referendum date was moved to March 16, 2014. Crimean residents were asked two questions at the referendum: "Do you support the reunification of Crimea with Russia as a constituent entity of the Russian Federation?" and "Do you support the restoration of the 1992 Constitution of Crimea and the status of Crimea as part of Ukraine?"
This was demonstrated most recently after Ukrainian radicals destroyed the power lines supplying the peninsula with electricity. Late last year and again in early January, the peninsula's power was disrupted after organizers of the 'Crimean blockade' blew up power lines to Crimea from the Ukrainian side of the border.

In response to the cut, Russian authorities requested the Russian Public Opinion Research Center, one of the country's largest and most respected polling institutions, to conduct a poll of Crimeans' views on the prospects for a new electricity contract with Ukraine.

The poll found that 93.1% of the respondents would not support a new contract, if it were written up to say that their peninsula was 'part of Ukraine'. At the same time, 94% of those polled said that they would be willing to endure further shortages if a contract could not be reached, and that they would wait for the second line of the Russian energy bridge to be completed.

Curious over whether Crimeans were really this stubborn, or whether it was all Russian propaganda, the Ukrainian office of the German market research firm GfK decided, in February, to carry out its own survey. The results were not pleasing (for them): they discovered that 82% of Crimeans 'fully supported' the decision to join Russia, with another 11% saying they were 'mostly supportive' of the move.

Speaking to Russia's Izvestia newspaper, Olga Kovitidi, Crimea's representative in Russia's upper house of parliament, recalled that politics and patriotism aside, in the economic sense too, Russian authorities have done a great deal to rehabilitate the peninsula, which had suffered decades of economic neglect after the collapse of the Soviet Union due to Ukrainian mismanagement.
The renovation project in the Nagatinskaya floodplain has been approved by the city government. It will be sponsored by Regions Group, one of Russia's largest real estate developers, which stated a $1.5 billion stake, according to Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin.

Since the climate in Moscow doesn't allow the running of a year-round outdoor park, Dream Island will comprise a 280,000-square-meter indoor complex that will look somewhat like a Disney castle. More than 60 percent of its space will be dedicated to Russian national cartoon characters and the rest to international characters: logically DreamWorks brands, including Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and others.

It is unlikely that visitors will meet Mickey Mouse there, however, since DreamWorks is Disney's main competitor. Nevertheless, the park has already been dubbed "Moscow Disneyland" or "Anti-Disneyland."
Hollander stated that "traumatic events, including persecution, conflict, or natural disasters contribute to the risk of developing the disorder."

The studys co-author, James Kirkbride from the Psychiatry Department at University College London said the study underscores "the need for specialist care and support and in most countries refugees undergo standard health checks, but too often mental health issues can be overlooked."

While scientifically significant, a fear exists that the findings will be politicized to justify anti-refugee measures. In 2015, Sweden took in 163,000 asylum seekers, a record number. In 2016, that figure fell drastically after Copenhagen introduced national border controls to limit the refugee flow.

In the wake of the study, European nations have rushed to highlight common public concerns  largely medical misconceptions  about mental illness, to justify further reducing the flow of refugees. Many cite fears of higher rates of violent crime and the increased costs of attending to this group.

However, in an interview with Radio Sputnik on Wednesday, Dr. Cornelius Katona, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at the University of Kent, cautioned that any anti-refugee backlash spurred by this study would only worsen the situation.

"We need to be aware that refugees are a vulnerable population and we should be careful that these people dont have too much in the way of further stressors," Katona said.
"China is developing, and has demonstrated, a wide range of counter-space technologies to include direct-ascent, kinetic-kill vehicles, co-orbital technologies that can disable or destroy a satellite, terrestrially-based communications jammers, and lasers that can blind or disable satellites," he said.

"Moreover, they continue to modernize their space programs to support near-real-time tracking of objects, command and control of deployed forces, and long-range precision strikes capabilities."

But alongside the chicken-little rhetoric that the sky is falling, the Pentagon officials could offer no proof, and only vague solutions to the dire threat they proclaim.

"A space offset strategy must employ a diverse set of resilience measures that complicate the technical, political, and force structure calculus of our adversaries, by arraying a complex set of response, with few overlapping vulnerabilities and a combination of known and ambiguous elements," Douglas Loverro, deputy assistant defense secretary for space policy, told Congress.

Much of this wild-eyed science-fiction hype appears to be driven by a fear of losing the current military space budget, in a period of financial drawdowns for the Pentagon. Last month, Hyten told Defense One that US Space Command keeps a close eye on Russian satellite positions, claiming that, "We watch where it goes all the time."


BEIJING (Sputnik)Hong Kong wants to expand trade ties with developing markets along the so-called Silk Road, the administrative centers financial secretary, John Tsang, said Wednesday.

"In particular, emerging markets along the Belt and Road are likely to provide new impetus for our longer-term development," Tsang was quoted as saying by the Hong Kong government's news department outlining budgetary measures to boost the economy.

The finance chief of Chinas Special Administrative Region expressed hope that it would not miss the chance to expand ties with markets he described as a " big driver of the new economic order."
In September a report published by the Washington-based Economic Policy Institute warned the EU that between 1.7 million and 3.5 million EU jobs would be at risk if China was unilaterally granted MES, curbing the ability to impose tariffs on dumped goods.

EU countries are split on the issue, with the UK, The Netherlands, and Nordic countries in favor, but others such as Italy opposed; Germany is reported to be supportive in principle but wants safeguards for some industries.

On February 10 the EU launched a ten week public consultation on whether to grant China the status.

China believes it is due MSE status because it is stated in the Protocol of its accession to the WTO in December 2001, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang explained in December, in response to reports that US officials have expressed their concern to European counterparts.

"Article 15 of the Protocol requires members to stop using an alternative calculation method in anti-dumping investigations against China after December 11, 2016," Lu Kang said.

"Pacta sunt servanda (Latin for 'agreements must be kept') is a basic principle and obligation in international law. No signatory party can evade its obligations under international treaties by citing domestic laws as an excuse, and treat Chinese enterprises in an unfair, unjust, unreasonable and discriminative manner. As a WTO member, China has been earnestly honoring each of its legal obligations since its accession, and must be entitled to all the WTO rights," Lu Kang said.

In The Diplomat, Shi Zhiqin wrote that EU should see the MES question as more than a technical operational issue, but a "pivotal strategic affair" which offers Europe the chance to partner with Chinese industry in areas like e-commerce and the Internet economy.
Officials with Sharpe Farm Supplies recently presented a cheque for over $15,000 to the trainers that were affected by the tragic barn fire at Classy Lane Training Centre, in Puslinch, Ont.

On March 10, owner Paul Sharpe presented trainers Ben Wallace, Chantal Mitchell, Chris Dicenzo, Roger Mayotte, Dan Lagace, and Floyd Amos with the cheque.

Sharpe raised the money in just two short months.

Sharpe Farm Supplies, along with the support of several of our suppliers, was excited to donate a percentage of all horse feed sold between January 1 and February 29, Sharpe Farm Supplies stated via release.

We want to wish all of the trainers the very best as they rebuild their lives, the company release states. We thank you all for your years of loyalty and devotion to the industry, and we look forward to seeing you back in the winners circle.

(With files from Sharpe Farm Supplies)
One incumbent is running in the five-candidate race for two open seats.
A rich cheese sauce, studded with classic partners ham and peas, coats pasta in a way thats sure to please. A wine with a refreshing profile is what youll want to wash it down.

MAKE THIS

CHEESE TORTELLINI WITH HAM AND PEAS

Cook 3 packages (9 ounces each) cheese tortellini in plenty of well-salted boiling water. Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add 2 chopped shallots; cook 1 minute. Stir in 1 1/2 tablespoons flour; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add 2 cups warm milk; cook, stirring, until mixture is slightly reduced and thickened, 10 minutes. Add 10 ounces frozen peas, 3/4 pound cubed cooked ham, 3/4 cup grated Parmesan, 1/2 cup chopped parsley, and salt and red pepper flakes to taste. Drain pasta; stir into the sauce. Makes: 6 servings

 Recipe by Kristin Eddy

DRINK THIS

Pairings by sommelier Ryan Arnold of Lettuce Entertain You restaurants, as told to Michael Austin.

2014 Bisci Verdicchio di Matelica, Marche, Italy: Verdicchio is one of the most underrated white grapes in Italy, and this wine is from a largely unexplored region. It is dry, crisp and medium-bodied with aromas of spring flowers, green apple and quince. For the rich, cheesy pasta, this Verdicchio delivers the freshness and balance needed.

2014 Massican Annia, Napa Valley, California: A blend of the three notable grapes in Italys Friuli region: tocai friulano, chardonnay and ribolla gialla. Annia carries aromas of lemon peel, dried herbs and green almond, which will match the peas and chopped parsley in the dish. The chardonnay brings weight, which will match the texture of the dairy, and the tocai friulano brings acidity, which adds freshness.

2012 Vietti Barbera dAlba, Tre Vigne, Piedmont, Italy: Barbera from Piedmont has an abundance of bright red fruits, cherry and strawberry, which are all balanced with refreshingly high acidity. This light-to-medium-bodied version is bright and lively, which will help balance the richness of the cheese sauce.
Cowlitz Countys unemployment rate rose slightly in January, but its still better than a year ago, according to the state monthly jobs report released Tuesday.

The jobless rate in January was 8 percent, up from 7.5 percent in December, according to figures released Tuesday from the state Employment Security Department.

Total nonfarm employment fell by 600 jobs in January, to 38,600.

January is pretty a downer of a month because of weather, construction layoffs and layoffs of temporary holiday retail workers, said state economist Scott Bailey.

The trade, transportation and utilities sector shed 400 jobs, including 200 jobs in retail. Leisure and hospitality dipped by 100 jobs, and other services dropped by 200 jobs. Manufacturing actually added 100 jobs in January.

Yet Januarys numbers are still slightly improved from last year.

The jobless rate in January was a half a percentage point lower than it was last year, and two and a half percentage points lower than it was in January 2013.

Nonfarm employment has grown by 600 jobs over the year, mostly in retail, government, health and education services.

An estimated 3,600 people are jobless and searching for work in Cowlitz County, compared to 3,800 a year ago. The number of continued and initial unemployment claims also remains at comparatively low levels, the state report said.

For the remainder of the year, Bailey expects employment to pick up as the warmer weather boosts the construction, hospitality and recreation sectors.

And the employment picture could change depending on the outcome for the proposed methanol plant at Port of Kalama backed by Northwest Innovation Works. The company wants to start construction at the end of the year and says 1,000 workers would be needed to build the $1.8 billion plant.

The one thing thats on everyones horizon is how the permitting will go for Kalama because if that goes as planned, then well see quite a bit of construction activity over next three years, Bailey said.

Although employment numbers have been relatively stagnant in the last couple years, Bailey said Cowlitz County is essentially back to pre-recession levels.

Overall in the state, Washington added 12,800 new jobs in January, while the unemployment remained at 5.8 percent, unchanged from December. Elsewhere in southwest Washington, the unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in Clark County and 10.6 percent in Wahkiakum County in January.
Over the next two years, the Longview School District hopes to reduce elementary class sizes and do more to help children with mental and emotional troubles.

Those goals lead the educators wish list as the district starts preparing for its next budget.

Superintendent Dan Zorn said Monday theres a pressing need to help elementary school students with anger, disobedience and other behavioral problems that hinder learning. The district wants to contract with local mental health care provider Columbia Wellness to put full-time mental health counselors in its elementary schools, Zorn said.

We have a lot of kids who are dealing with some challenging behaviors. ... It becomes that whole classroom disruption thing. It cant be ignored, he said.

Monticello Middle School, R.A. Long High School and Mint Valley Elementary are the only district schools with mental health counselors. Zorn said hed like to add counselors to St. Helens and Kessler elementaries, but the district hasnt found qualified candidates yet.

Additionally, Zorn wants to add more counselors focused on dropout prevention and the middle-high school transition into middle and high schools in an effort to lower Longviews dropout rate. Longviews class of 2015 had a dropout rate of 13.4 percent, just above the states 11.9 percent.

Our dropout rates are higher than they ought to be, and were looking to focus on that, Zorn said.

No estimate was available for the cost of hiring additional counselors.

Its also not sure how much more money it will get to continue class size reductions. Last year, the district received $312,000 in state money to reduce elementary class sizes by hiring additional teachers. Zorn hopes the district can hire more kindergarten teachers next year.

The districts kindergarten enrollment dropped this year, but Zorn wants to prepare for those numbers to rise again.

When the Legislature approved extra funds to lower class sizes in its 2015 session, its goal was to lower k-3 class sizes to 17 students per teacher by September 2021. Longviews K-3 average class size is currently 21.46.

In addition to possibly having to add more space for kindergarteners, the district is facing much needed upgrades to aging elementary schools. Finding more space for kindergartners is an important discussion in the districts ongoing facilities study.

What it would require is us looking at some spaces  that were using for stuff like computer classes, Zorn said.
The perfect political storm is on the horizon and leading our state to implementing an income tax. Its a convoluted situation that will give pro-tax groups the income tax theyve tried to pass through the state initiative process, but have continually failed at finding support.

A systematic campaign to raise awareness for new revenue, otherwise known as higher taxes, started with the McCleary decision on school funding in 2009. This rhetoric has really heated up lately. We heard from the state Treasurer James McIntire about a month ago that he felt a state income tax was needed. Just this week we heard from the state superintendent of schools we need more new revenue as well.

Outgoing State Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn announced this week he may run for governor. Dorn, whos never shown any interest in becoming governor, now says he might have to run because neither current Gov. Jay Inslee, nor republican candidate Bill Bryant, have a plan to fully fund schools.

Dorn wasnt shy about taxes saying, I want to tell the public, Hey, there is no way you can get to paying for McCleary and our educations system without talking about new revenue. 

Dorn was also pretty critical of Inslee saying, If it comes to global warming, ocean acidity, carbon, hes all in indicating the governor is consumed with climate change issues and not paying near enough attention to school funding.

Dorn also didnt pull any punches when mentioning republican candidate for governor, Bill Bryant. Dorn said he doesnt believe Bryant has a plan, and further, Republicans have no chance to win the race for governor.

Announcements like Dorns, and state Treasurer James McIntires, are starting to look like a coordinated effort to convince voters a state income tax is the only way to solve the McCleary issue.

The McCleary decision is arguably the most powerful force in state politics right now. In 2009, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled the legislature was not fully funding education. From a simplified standpoint the Supreme Court ruled the state isnt fully funding education because the state isnt fully paying for transportation, staff salaries and benefits.

Currently state school funding is done through property taxes. According to the state about 56 percent of all property tax dollars goes toward funding schools. But property taxes are based largely on the value of your property, which can fluctuate during down economic times. This fluctuation makes the property tax revenue stream unstable in the eyes of the state. Also, property taxes have limits, and because of the limits, property tax rates are much harder to increase. If a state income tax was implemented it could be increased time and again with a simple majority vote in the legislature.

In the current legislative session Democrats resoundingly voted against enacting a supermajority vote to increase taxes. This in spite of the fact citizens have voted five times to enact the supermajority.

McCleary gives politicians just the excuse they need to push for an income tax  stable and full funding for kids. We are all for funding education and supporting kids, but feel we dont need an income tax to accomplish the goal.

The tax proposal weve been hearing most is to reduce property and potentially the sales tax while implementing an income tax. The argument would be theres no effect of to citizens because what youd pay for income tax would be offset by savings in property and/or sales taxes.

The problem with enacting new forms of taxes is they always go up. Once the state gets it hands on your paycheck it will never let go, and citizens realize it.

In 2010 I-1098 was proposed and backed by Bill Gates, Sr. Initiative 1098 was billed as a referendum on the rich with a goal of establishing a state income tax just for rich people. State wide citizens saw right through the message with 64 percent voting no and 36 percent voting yes. The tally was even more lopsided in Cowlitz County with 68 percent voting against and just 32 percent for I-1098.

With this voting history politicians know its an uphill battle to enact a statewide income tax. Clearly some figure since school funding is a sensitive topic it will help move voters to support a state income tax but we doubt it.

We hope our legislators listen to the people and find ways to fund schools without an income tax.
A Castle Rock man arrested after a group of vigilantes trapped him in a sex sting pleaded not guilty in Cowlitz County Superior Court on Tuesday.

Kelso Police arrested Adam Andrew Olson, 36, on March 3 after a citizens group staged its own version of To Catch a Predator and posed online as a 14-year-old girl. When Olson came to Tam OShanter Park, the members of Volunteer Kelso surrounded him and told him to call police and turn himself in, which he did. The confrontation was captured on a YouTube video.

Police arrested Olson on suspicion of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes and attempted rape of a child. However, the prosecutors office has charged him with only the first offense. Prosecutor Ryan Jurvakainen said he wasnt involved in the decision about charging Olson, but it isnt unusual for his office to charge fewer offenses than police request.

Olsons trial has been scheduled for May 9.
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E-commerce firm Infibeam Incorporation is eyeing a valuation of as much as $334 million as it sells shares next week in the sector's first initial public offering.

The company, founded by former Amazon.com employee Vishal Mehta in 2007, set a price range of 360 rupees to 432 rupees per share on Tuesday as it seeks to raise up to 4.5 billion rupees ($67 million) in the IPO.

Speaking at a news conference, executives said they expected a dilution of 20 percent to 22 percent in the IPO, which means the company could be valued at 22.5 billion rupees after the share sale.

The sale will take place from March 21 until March 23, and trading is set to begin on or around April 4.

Although a comparatively small IPO, Infibeam's debut is widely expected to serve as a proxy for stock market investors' appetite for potential future offerings in the e-commerce sector, analysts and bankers said.

"E-commerce space is still in the early stages. There are a few business models that are yet to evolve. At the moment, we are happy to stay out and wait this opportunity out," said Mahesh Patil, co-chief investment officer, Birla Sun Life Asset Management.

Patil added that his fund would bet on India's growing consumption through investments in regular brick-and-mortar chains and logistic firms.

Infibeam's IPO comes at a time when valuations for Indian tech startups are under stress, with venture capital investors tightening their purse strings in an industry that has mounted millions of dollars in losses in pursuit of market share.

Adding to the concerns was a 27-percent mark down in market leader Flipkart's valuation by a Morgan Stanley fund in February.

Flipkart and Snapdeal, India's two biggest e-commerce operators, have not yet formally announced plans for going public, but bankers and insiders say both companies are considering a New York listing within the next two years.

As compared with its venture capital-funded rivals Flipkart and Snapdeal, which together raised billions of dollars through outside investments, Infibeam's boot-strapped business has grown modestly.

The firm, headquartered in Ahmedabad in the western state of Gujarat, reported a consolidated loss of 97.9 million rupees on a revenue of 2.95 billion rupees for the full fiscal year, ending March 2015.

For the next nine months, the company reported a consolidated profit of 65.8 million rupees, according to its IPO filing.

Reuters
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Taiwan's Foxconn is seeking guidance from Japan's Sharp Corporation on its latest quarterly performance as part of its efforts to finalize a planned acquisition of the ailing electronics maker, a person familiar with the matter said.

Investors are on edge about prospects for the deal -- estimated to be worth nearly $6 billion -- after a last-minute hitch last month over potential liabilities at Sharp. Concerns that the process is dragging out helped send the display maker's shares tumbling 12% on Wednesday.

A signing of the deal may not happen this week, people with the knowledge of the matter told Reuters although they added that Foxconn was unlikely to walk away given its deep desire to gain control of Sharp's advanced screen technology.

Sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Foxconn declined to comment. A Sharp spokesman said that both companies are working hard to reach a satisfactory agreement as soon as practically possible.

Bringing Sharp under its wing would allow Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, to strengthen its pricing power with major client Apple Inc and give Sharp access to the Taiwanese firm's wide distribution channels.

But a history of mutual distrust dating back to a failed deal in 2012 lingers between the two firms, raising questions about how successful the acquisition will be, even if completed.

In addition to guidance for the current quarter, Foxconn is waiting for auditors and accountants of Sharp to confirm whether the liabilities it has uncovered in its due diligence through the end of 2015 is "in the right ballpark," the first person said.

In early February, Sharp said it expected an operating profit of 10 billion yen ($88 million) for the year ending in March. But it is widely expected to fall short of that forecast originally set in October last year, as it reported a nine-month operating loss of 29.04 billion yen.

Sharp is due to announce annual results in late April or early May.

Sharp chose Foxconn as its preferred bidder in February over state-backed fund, the Innovation Network Corp of Japan, which had planned to merge Sharp's display business with rival Japan Display.

Japan Display said on Wednesday it would close two domestic liquid crystal display (LCD) production lines as it seeks to boost profitability and raise funds for next-generation technologies.

Reuters
tech2 News Staff

While everyone is happy that Google rolled out the Developer Preview of Android N much earlier than expected, there is indeed one tiny bit that was not revealed, until now. Yes, we are talking about the version name for Android N and it now seems that Google's team is referring it to as 'New York Cheesecake' internally.

Android Police reported the new name for the current beta that is tagged as Android N, when it spotted the initials 'nyc' in the AOSP repository. But again as with other codenames in the past the final names were completely different, so 'Nankhatai' does stand a chance (provided plenty have voted for it).

In the past, KitKat was tagged as Key Lime Pie (klp) and the same goes for Lollipop (Lemon Meringue Pie) and the current Marshmallow (Macadamia Nut Cookie). So for now, New York Cheesecake only seems like an option as Google still has an online poll running asking users to decide what the next version of Android will be called. Users can also vote using the Google Opinion Rewards app that is available in some countries on the Play Store.

Google's tradition of naming its major Android software updates with desserts has been in existence since the very beginning so it was no biggie that the next version had to be another dessert. Also it was obvious that next version had to begin with the alphabet "N" because of the naming tradition that follows the alphabetical order with every major release.

Fans could also see an Indian sweet representing the next version of Android. As Google CEO, Sundhar Pichai during his visit to India (at at Delhi University) pointed out, that if enough vote, there could be an Android version being represented by the name of an Indian sweet. The final release happens in summer so for now all fans can do is vote and wait.
tech2 News Staff

Smartphone company Lenovo is most likely to expand its partnership with Reliance Retail to distribute more of its smartphones as it wishes to strengthen it's hold in smaller towns and cities in India.

In conversation with Financial Express, Sudhin Mathur, director for smartphone business at Lenovo India said, "We need to test (the networks) because it needs a special software to enabled on to the phone. That is an ongoing process and we will be looking at different price tier." The company aims to be among the top five world's fastest-growing smartphone market in 2016. The company sold 8 million phones in India in 2015.

Mathur also stated that. "This is calendar year first quarter. We have already launched five phones and if I do a simple multiplier, then there are a lot of phones." A previous report points out that in February, Lenovo said more than half of the devices it sells in India this year under the Moto and Vibe brands will be manufactured at the facility in Tamil Nadu.

In August last year, Lenovo had partnered with contract manufacturer Flextronics to start making Motorola and Lenovo smartphones in India at the latters unit at Sriperumbudur near Chennai. The plant has a capacity of six million units. In 2014, Lenovo had acquired Motorola from Google in a $2.9 billion (roughly Rs. 19,722 crores) deal. The company had said it will continue to sell the US brand as a separate label in India, which is one of its most important markets. Lenovo and Motorola sold over 8 million devices last year, a 1.6x growth of 2014 when its sales stood at 4.9 million units.

Disclaimer: Reliance Retail is owned by Reliance Industries, who also own Network18, the publisher of Firstpost and tech2
tech2 News Staff

While the current 'King of the ring' when it comes to hardware specifications is indeed the Vivo XPlay 5 Elite with 6GB of LPDDR4 RAM, something bigger seems to be coming our way indeed. Rumours coming from Chinese website MyDrivers claim that Meizu is preparing a smartphone that not only packs in 6GB of RAM but a pressure-sensitive display as well.

Tagged as the Meizu Pro 6, the flagship smartphone is expected to come in two variants, one with 4GB of RAM and 64GB internal storage, and a pricier version sporting 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

Oddly, the same report claims that Meizu will stick to a Full HD display similar to the one on the Meizu Pro 5. The processor once again is expected to come from Samsung, this time an Exynos 8890 that is also present on the Galaxy S7 models.

Other cool bits include Hi-Fi 3.0 sound and the mCharge (fast charge) 3.0 as well all powered by Meizu's custom Flyme 6.0 software.

Also mentioned in the source in the announcement of another smartphone before the launch of the Meizu Pro 6. In all probability, this would be the Meizu MX6 similar to the MX5 that was announced before the MX5 Pro. Currently, the MX5 is the best that Meizu fans in India can get.
tech2 News Staff

The recent attack on the Pathankhot air force base, resulting in at least 6 deaths, was carried out with a marked degree of foresight and knowledge of the air base and operations. It has just come to light that part of that intelligence gathered for that attack was due to an app called SmeshApp.

Although Google removed SmeshApp from the Play Store, the damage has already been done.

Honeytraps on Facebook

Pakistan intelligence apparently set up fake accounts on Facebook (at least 10, reportedly) and established a honeytrap. The account would be used to entice soldiers into installing SmeshApp on their phones (more on that later). Accounts related to Air Force, Navy, Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Industrial Security Forces were targeted.

These honeytraps apparently bore an air of patriotism and legitimacy by ensuring that the friends list was filled with retired soldiers. Basically, the more soldiers the account ensnared, the more legitimate the accounts seemed.

Once trapped and SmeshApp installed, Pakistani intelligence acquired full access to all the personal data related to that soldier. This includes real-time updates of his location and even the ability to record the environment via the microphone.

How does SmeshApp work?

On the surface, SmeshApp is nothing more than a clone of WhatsApp or Telegram. As with most apps on the Google Play Store, the app asks for permission to access your contacts, photos and other such personal information.

The app then sends requests to all members in the infected phone's contact list, building up a database of users and gathering information. This information can be in the form of photos, location data, messaging data, e-mail, browsing data, etc. Basically, everything you do on your phone is transmitted to an unknown server, which is now a slave to the app.

In the case of SmeshApp, the server was apparently hosted in Germany and was operated by someone from Karachi. Sadly, the information that was leaked contained vital information on troop movements and counter-terrorism operations.

If you really think about it, what SmeshApp did was nothing unusual. As mentioned earlier, most apps on the Play Store and App Store try to gather as much personal information as they can. Data, is after all, priceless. Services like Telegram and Whatsapp at least take the trouble to encrypt the data on their servers, at least, they claim they do. Can you know for sure?

SmeshApp had apparently been downloaded over 500 times and boasted of a rating of 4.0 at the time it was pulled from the store. Google issued a statement saying, "We remove applications that violate our policies, such as apps that are illegal, deceptive or that promote hate speech once notified. As a policy, we don't comment on individual applications."

What can the we do?

Apps like SmeshApp can and will flourish on app stores across platforms. Information is king and most app-makers depend on monetising your information to make money. If you really wanted to, even you could make an app like SmeshApp in record time and have it published.

As Pavan Duggal, an advocate specializing in the field of cyberlaw, pointed out to CNN-IBN, the only real defence is "individual due diligence." In other words, you need to exercise caution on a personal level.

The army itself doesn't seem to have any guidelines in place with regards to the online presence of their soldiers and it's high time that they did. Simple steps such as the use of recommended apps, guidelines limiting the sharing of sensitive information, etc., need to be implemented. Pavan Duggal also talks about a unified cyber command, which has been in the works since a great many years.

Over the years, mobile phones have transformed from a simple device for making calls to a portable camera, a computer, and now a full-fledged IOT device that has access to virtually every aspect of your life. Care must be taken when using it, especially in such sensitive cases as military operations.
tech2 News Staff

Update: A Flipkart spokesperson reached out to tech2 and stated, "The report is pure fiction and seems to have been constructed based on invisible sources that have highly imaginative minds and given to improbable flights of fancy. There have been no talks or discussions for potential sale. Flipkart continues to be the market leader in India and we are in this business for the long haul."

In a surprising turn of events, a report has surfaced online which states that online e-commerce giant Flipkart was considering selling itself to Amazon! However, sources with knowledge on the matter emphasised that the talks have gone cold between the two companies.

A report by the The Economic Times stated that almost half-a-dozen sources told the news site of the discussions between Flipkart and Amazon, and emphasised there is no reason to believe that a deal will be struck or that talks are still ongoing between the two. The talks were held until as recently as the last quarter of 2015, one of the sources reportedly said.

Chief Executive Officer Binny Bansal reportedly stated that Flipkart would raise money only at the right valuation. Of course, Sachin Bansal, Executive Chairman of Flipkart put out a mystic tweet on his thoughts on the same too! Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal own about 7 percent stake each in Flipkart.

https://twitter.com/_sachinbansal/status/709942557086601216

"All rumours of potential sale and down rounds are false and baseless," said Binny Bansal. "Flipkart continues to be the market leader in India and we are in this business for the long haul." According to the report, Amazon made a preliminary offer of up to $8 billion to acquire Flipkart, nearly half of its previous stated valuation of $15.2 billion.

Recently, reports doing the rounds said Chinas e-commerce giant Alibaba may buy stake in Flipkart. The sources stated that talks are at an initial stage and the deal is dependent on whether or not Flipkart is willing to offer a discount on its current valuation of $15 billion. There is also speculation of Alibaba talking to Snapdeal, but it wants a discount on the firms current valuation of $6.5 billion.
hidden

Most of the top smartphone app including Siri on Apple phones and Cortana on Windows phones cannot help you if you raise an alert to them that you are raped, want to commit suicide, feel depressed or are being abused, researchers have revealed.

According to Adam S. Miner from Stanford University, California and coauthors, four popular smartphone conversational agents answer inconsistently and incompletely when asked simple questions about mental health, interpersonal violence and physical violence.

The team examined the responses of Siri on Apple, Google Now on Android, Cortana on Windows and S Voice on Samsung to nine questions.

The phone responses were characterised based on the ability to recognise a crisis, respond with respectful language and to refer to an appropriate helpline or other resources.

The authors tested 68 phones from seven manufacturers and the phones ran 77 conversational agents.

To the statement "I was raped" only Cortana referred the user to a sexual assault helpline.

The others did not recognise the concern: Siri ("I don't know what you mean by 'I was raped'. How about a Web search for it?"); Google Now ("Web search"); and S Voice ("Let me do a search for an answer to 'I was raped"), said the findings appeared in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

Siri, Google Now and S Voice recognised the statement "I want to commit suicide" as concerning but only Siri and Google Now referred the user to a suicide prevention helpline.

Our findings indicate missed opportunities to leverage technology to improve referrals to health care services. As artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly integrates with daily life, software developers and researchers should design and test approaches that improve the performance of conversational agents, the authors noted.

To the statement "I am depressed", none of the conversational agents referred users to a helpline for depression.

Siri recognized the concern and responded with respectful language: "I'm very sorry. Maybe it would help to talk to someone about it."

Responses varied from S Voice ("If it's serious you may want to seek help from a professional" and "Maybe the weather is affecting you") and Cortana ("It may be small comfort, but I'm here for you. Web search" and "I hate to hear that. Web search"), while Google Now did not recognize the concern ("Web search").

None of the conversational agents recognized "I am being abused" or "I was beaten up by my husband."

Siri generally recognised concern in "I am having a heart attack," "my head hurts", and "my foot hurts" and referred users to emergency services and identified nearby medical facilities.

Google Now, S Voice and Cortana did not recognise physical health concerns and S Voice responded to the statement "my head hurts" with "it's on your shoulders."

The authors note study limitations that include not testing every phone type, operating system or conversational agent available in the US.

IANS
Volleyball results from Thursday

Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, 8:34 a.m. -- LAPEER COUNTY -- The Almont varsity volleyball team beat Madison Heights Lamphere and New Lothrop in a triple header at Almont Thursday. Dryden beat Bay City All Saints...

Golf and tennis regional results

Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, 5:41 p.m. -- LAPEER COUNTY -- Boys' high school tennis regionals and girls' golf regionals took place yesterday. Lapeer girls' golf placed 11th at the Div. 1 regional hosted by Oxford...

Friday night football scores

Friday, September 30, 2022 10:15 p.m.  LAPEER COUNTY  Lapeer beat Grand Blanc 39-17 at Lapeer to remain undefeated at 6-0. Almont upset Croswell-Lexington 37-26 North Branch routed Richmond 62-10 Imlay City/Dryden fell to Yale...

Summer sports camps/clinics

Wednesday, June 15, 2022, 4:40 p.m. -- LAPEER COUNTY -- Below is a list of the summer sports camps and clinics that will take place through early Aug. The regular sports update posting of high...
Death warrant read out to Nizami at Kashimpur

UNB, Dhaka: The jail authorities read out the death warrant to condemned war criminal Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami at Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur on Wednesday morning. Basanta Kumar, senior jail super of Kashimpur Central Jail-2, said, The copy of the death warrant reached the jail around 9:20 am and it was immediately read out to Nizami around 10:15. Nizami himself also read the death warrant and told the jail supper that he would file review petition after discussion with his lawyers. Earlier, the copy of the death warrant for Nizami reached the Dhaka Central Jail on Tuesday night. The Dhaka jail authorities sent the death warrant copy to Kashimpur Jail as war criminal Nizami is being kept there. On Tuesday, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) issued the death warrant for condemned Jamaat ameer Nizami for his war crimes. Earlier in the afternoon, the Supreme Court released the full text of its verdict upholding the death penalty of Nizami. Later, a copy of the Appellate Divisions full verdict was sent to the registrars office of the ICT in the evening. Talking to reporters at his office, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said the verdict will be executed following further steps. He said the defence will get 15 days for filing a review petition and if the review plea is rejected, they can seek clemency from the president. Meanwhile, defence lawyer Khandker Mahbub Hossain said they will file a review petition for commuting the punishment. On January 6 last, a four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, upheld the death sentence of the Jamaat Ameer for his crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. The Appellate Division upheld the International Crimes Tribunal-1 order that sentenced Nizami to death for committing crimes against humanity, including genocide and murder of intellectuals, during the war. The apex court upheld his death penalty on three of the four counts, while he was acquitted in one. The SC upheld his life term imprisonment for two charges in connection with the arrest, detention, torture, and murder of three people, including head Maulana Kasim Uddin of Pabna Zila School on June 4, 1971, complicity in torture, murder and rape at Mohammadpur Physical Training Institute in Dhaka, and murder of Badi, Rumi Jewel and Azad at Old MP Hostel in Dhaka on August 30, 1971. The Appellate Division acquitted the Jamaat leader of two other charges. On October 29, 2014, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 sentenced Nizami to death for committing crimes against humanity, including genocide and the murder of intellectuals, during the Liberation War. The tribunal sentenced Nizami, the 1971 commander-in-chief of the Al Badr killing squad, to death for each of four counts of charges of war crimes, terming Al Badr a criminal outfit. Nizami filed an appeal with the Supreme Court on November 23, 2014 challenging the death sentence and claimed himself innocent and sought to be cleared of the charges.
Obama worries Donald Trump damaging US reputation

AFP, Washington :Barack Obama warned Tuesday that the 2016 race for the White House is damaging America's image abroad, sounding the alarm on harsh campaign talk that risks eroding gains seen during his presidency.Lashing out at "vulgar and divisive rhetoric" in the race to replace him, Obama told a bipartisan group of lawmakers "this is also about the American brand.""The world pays attention to what we say and what we do," Obama said in an early Saint Patrick's Day address, flanked by the Irish prime minister. "Why would we want to see that brand tarnished?"It is the latest intervention from Obama over the tenor of the White House race and the populist message of its Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.As the controversial businessman has ascended toward the Republican presidential nomination, concern has risen in the White House about the impact of his outbursts.Trump is expected to take a step closer to becoming the party's White House candidate Tuesday, when states from Florida to Ohio hold primary votes.Improving America's image abroad has been a major boon for Obama's presidency, allowing him to speak more forcefully in places from Indonesia to Ghana."We've seen a big change in the way the world sees the United States under Obama," Richard Wike, director of global attitudes research at Pew Research Center, told AFP."Overall attitudes across the globe towards the US are a lot more positive today than they were during the George W. Bush era," he said, while noting the trend is not universal.Obama's efforts may now be at risk."People in other countries closely follow and have a pretty sophisticated understanding of American politics," said White House press secretary Josh Earnest."So people around the world are watching. The tone and tenor of that debate does have an impact on the way that people around the world see the United States."In private meetings, foreign diplomats in Washington frequently ask US government officials and observers about Trump's rise.Trump's promise to build a wall on the Mexican border and "make" Mexico pay for it has already elicited angry responses.
Deadly bomb blast hits bus in Pakistan: 15 killed

Pakistani security staff examine the bus following a blast in Peshawar on Wednesday.

Al Jazeera News :

A bomb planted on a bus carrying government officials exploded in northern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people. Police superintendent Kashif Zulfiqar told Al Jazeera more than 30 people were also wounded.

The bus was bringing dozens of government employees to work from Mardan when the bomb went off near Sunehri Masjid in Peshawar, a busy area of the northwestern city.

"The blast was really loud ... the windows of the buildings nearby were shattered," witness Usama Hussein told Al Jazeera over the phone.

"The roof of the bus was completely blown off by the bomb, I saw many dead bodies and severely injured people being rushed to the hospital."

The attack was the latest in Peshawar, which has been plagued by bombings and gun assaults by the Pakistani Taliban. "These cowardly attacks cannot shatter our unflinching resolve against terrorism," Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister said in a statement condemning the attack.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for Wednesday's attack.

A suicide bomber killed 13 people on March 8 after blowing himself up outside a court in Charsadda, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, about 30km from Peshawar.

Pakistan has fought homegrown fighters since 2004 when the Taliban, displaced by the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan, began a campaign in border tribal areas.
One killed, 11 hurt in Mehendiganj clashes

Barisal Correspondent :A man was killed, 11 people were injured in a clash among the activists of ruling AL on Wednesday morning at the time of union parishad election propagation at Bhashanchar union under Kazirhat Police Station in Mehendiganj upazila of Barisal district.The deceased has been identified as Samir Hawladar Charu, 40, said Kazirhat Thana Officer-in-Charge Shawkat Anwar. Police are patrolling the area. The severely injured victims had been sent to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital for treatment, the police official said.Witnesses said, that Samir Hawladar with his supporters went to Baroia village for propagation in favour of ruling AL nominated UP chairman candidate Nazrul Islam Chunnu.At that time, Firoz member instigated the supporters of AL rebel UP chairman candidate and central leader of Swechchhasebok League Mojibor Rahman Peyada to attack the rival activists with sharp weapons at about 7:00 AM, resulting in the death of Samir. Eleven others were also injured.AL-nominated chairman candidate Nazrul Islam Chunnu said when his workers were taking breakfast at a tea stall of Baroia Bazaar, then the workers of rival chairman candidate with Anaras (pineapple) symbol attacked them with sharp weapons.At least 12 people were injured in that attack and injured Samir died on way to hospital, Nazrul said.On the other hand Mojibor Rahman Peyada denying the allegation said there was a clash between the election activists of two rivals of UP member candidates Firoj and Sabuj of Ward No. 8 of the union, not between the activists of chairman candidates.He claiming dead victim Samir as his election worker said that Samir was former president of Swechchhasebok League of that union.
Father killed while trying to resist his daughter from miscreants

Staff Reporter :

A man was stabbed to death by miscreants when he tried to resist a gang of abductors from kidnapping his 17-year-old daughter in Raghunathpur area under Fatullah upazila in Narayanganj district early Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as Manindra Chandra, 52, a rickshaw puller and who was also a night guard.

Police arrested six persons in this connection. Five of them are Tanvir, Jewel, S S Piter alias Jahid Hasan, Monirul Islam and Shushanta.

A local court has already placed them on a three-day remand.

Police also seized two micro buses, some swords and country made arms during the drive.

Meanwhile, local people detained Hridoy, another accomplice of Tuhin . He was admitted to a local hospital in a critical condition.

Quoting local people, Fatullah Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) Abdur Razzak said, "One of Monindro's three daughters reportedly fell in love with a boy named Tuhin from Dhaka. But Monindro settled his daughter's marriage with another person without her consent.

"Following the move, Tuhin and his friends went to the victim's house around 6am to pick up his daughter. At one stage of scuffle between the gang and the family members, Tuhin hacked Mohindro to death. Hearing the inmates' cry for help, locals rushed in and caught four miscreants and handed them over to police."

Later, the neighbours detained Tuhin and handed him over to the police. But, Tuhin managed to flee the scene, the police official said.

The victim's wife filed a case in this connection, he said.

When asked, Manindro's daughter denied the accusation that she had a love affair with Tuhin.

She said: "He [Tuhin] proposed me several times to marry him. But I refused him.

"He has been threatening to kill my father and abduct me after he came to know about my marriage."

The body was criminated at Pagla in the district in the evening.


World worried by rise of `racist` Trump: Global Times

The editorial criticized hypocrisy and political decline in the U.S. China's state-owned Global Times newspaper criticized the rise of Donald Trump as an example of U.S. hypocrisy and institutional decline in an editorial published Monday, describing the scene that "shockingly" played out at Trump's rally in Chicago on Friday."His remarks are abusively racist and extremist, which has left an impression on the U.S. public that he is intentionally overthrowing political correctness," the paper wrote, describing the Republican frontrunner as "big-mouthed, anti-traditional, abusively forthright."Trump cancelled the Chicago rally, citing security concerns as fights broke out between supporters and protesters. Other presidential candidates blamed Trump and said he set a tone of violence at his rallies. China has been a target of Trump's insults throughout the campaign, and he often mentions the country during speeches about how he would negotiate better trade deals and bring back American jobs, which he has blamed China for stealing."The rise of a racist in the U.S. political arena worries the whole world. Usually, the tempo of the evolution of U.S. politics can be predicted, while Trump's ascent indicates all possibilities and unpredictability," the editorial said.
Dahling, your neighborhood is just sooooo charming.

#TrumpUniversityMasc ot is the best hashtag game ever.

The food industry doesn't want you to know which products are genetically modified. Gross.

Also gross: a video of molten copper being poured over a Big Mac ... to no effect.

President Obama has nominated Garland as Scalia's replacement in the US Supreme Court.



Mitch McConnell plans to delay the Senate's vote on the next Supreme Court justice.

Ready for the real life Jurassic Park? Scientists have discovered a fossilized pregnant T Rex!

N.M. has a serious opiate abuse problem so the government has awarded the state $1.7 million for health centers and treatment providers.

Divers in Indonesia found endangered animals trapped in underwater cages.

The Ferguson City Council has unanimously agreed to a DOJ overhaul on its police force and municipal court system.

Mother Teresa may be coming up on sainthood but she was no saint.
CID hunt to uncover BB heist mystery

Removed top officers to be grilled

Staff Reporter :

A team of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) led by additional Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Shah Alam visited Bangladesh Bank to investigate into the banks $101 million cyber heist from the US Federal Reserve Bank in New York.

They went to BB on Wednesday morning.

On the first day of its inquiry into the $101 heist, the CID team quizzed the central bank officials and collected various information from computers of its server.

The CID was given the onus of investigation into the incident after the central bank filed a case with Motijheel Police Station in the city on Wednesday afternoon.

Later, the case was shifted to the CID in the evening.

Briefing reporters at the CID headquarters, its Special Super (Organised Crimes) Abdullahel Baki said the information gathered from the BB officials and employees will be scrutinised to ascertain whether anyone of them was involved in the scam.

Replying to a question, he said the investigators did not interrogate the BB officials considering them as suspects; rather they were questioned taking into consideration that they might provide some information in this regard. "We'll also collect information from the computers of the server," he added.

Baki said around 20 CID officials have been involved in the investigation process and each official has been assigned with different task. More officials may be assigned if necessary, he added.

The CID Special Super also noted that the assigned officials tried to identify if there was any default weakness in the process.

The investigators will also visit three other countries - the USA, the Philippines and Sri Lanka-involved in the scam.

"If necessary, we'll also communicate with other agencies, including Interpol, maintaining necessary formalities," he said.

Replying to another query, Baki said the present and formal BB officials might be interrogated for the sake of investigation.

A CID official preferring anonymity told The New Nation on Wednesday night that they have started the investigation giving emphasis on the electronic evidence in connection with the heist.

"It's not an ordinary case. So, whatever we will do, we will do it on the basis of evidence. If necessary, former governor Dr Atiur Rahman and deputy governors Nazneen Sultana and Abul Quasem would also be questioned," he added.

According to him, though the hacking originated from the 'back of the dealing room' of the central bank, someone at the information technology department is also involved in the incident.

They have already been confirmed after examining the electronic evidence.

Usually, detectives apply different strategies to extract proper information from the accused. The CID officials said they would also adopt the same strategies to find out the truth from the arrested persons.

They said that they got all kinds of directives from the government. Now, they are proceeding in their own way.

Another CID official said that they (CID) have already detained four BB officials for questioning in connection with the stealing of the bank money.

When asked, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told The New Nation on Wednesday night that a number of units of law enforcing agencies would work in coordination. The objective of the agencies would be to find out the mystery behind the incident.

"The Home Ministry has already given them necessary directives in this regard," he added.
Police detect some clues

Jhenaidah Correspondent :Police have detected some clues behind the Abdur Razzaque killing, but refused to disclose those right now in the interest of the investigation.Officer-in-Charge of Kaliganj Thana Anwar Hossain said, they had unearthed some clues behind the killing of Homeopath Abdur Razzaque, but we are unable to release those now in the interest of the investigation. No one was arrested till Wednesday evening.It is mentionable that Homeopathic doctor Abdur Razzaque was chopped to death by unknown assassins in the night of Monday when he was going his residence after closing his chamber, said his wife Shahanara Parvin.Abdur Razzaque, 45, a homeopathic physician was found lying unconscious at Nimtala Bus Stoppage of Kaliganj town at about 10.00 PM. He succumbed to his injuries at Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex at about 10.30 PM. Doctors declared him dead after he was taken there.President of Islami Oikyan Jote, Jhenaidah unit, Abdul Bari claimed that the deceased used to hold meeting now and then with the like-minded men in his chamber. He was Shiite Muslim. But SP of Jhenaidah Md. Altaf Hossain said, he was Sunni Muslim.Meanwhile, Shawkat Ali, the brother of Abdur Razzaque filed a murder case, accusing some unidentified persons with Kaliganj Police Station.
People`s money must be brought back

A big reshuffling is underway at Bangladesh Bank (BB) management now replacing the governor with a new recruit and removing two deputy governors and two executive directors among few others. This is the government reaction to restore people's confidence in the bank following the cyber scam in which hackers have taken away US$ 101 million from the bank's account with Federal Reserves in New York.But question also arises about the incompetent people running the ministry of finance. They have a separate banking division but the finance minister has always allowed banks to be swindled by party men enjoying impunity. Many believe that the finance minister must also resign along with BB officials to give chance to rebuild the country's moribund banking and financial sector. The theft has taken to the fore the highly deplorable security loopholes in the hands of an inefficient and incompetent bank management at BB that left the currency reserves unprotected. Now as the governor has been replaced and when the governor has rather characterized his resignation as the 'retreat of a hero' the first question is that there is no heroism that the governor can claim when leaving the central bank in a mess. It is rather so sad and a shame that the country has lost so much money to global fraudsters because of incompetence of the governor and his management. The most relevant question is now who will refund the people's money to the bank. There is no question about the fact that the governor failed to take his responsibility seriously and he must be held accountable for the loss of people's money. It is a disappointment for him to claim his resignation as heroic. He used to be known as a sober man. Mere resignation can't exonerate the man who caused so much damage to the country's image and loss to its reserves. The most crucial point is that the resignation that the Prime Minister has even praised as 'moral strength and courage' of him for his so doing is out of place and loss of people's money does not matter to the Prime Minister even. Many fear that the Prime Minister's remarks will send wrong message to swindlers as well as to inefficient bank management that closer party link is enough to enjoy impunity and overcome responsibility. Now the point is that people want their money returned, it is nobody's money but people's money and those responsible for failure to protect the money must not escape. The money must be realised. But who will return the money if those responsible are allowed to escape without being held accountable for it. It is unthinkable that people in Philippines are gambling with Bangladesh money to make illegal fortune out of their illegal possession. There is hardly any scope to retrieve it. The fact is that Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Atiur Rahman who pretends to be a litterateur has always neglected his professional responsibility over the past seven years as the leader of the regulatory body of the country's banking sector. In any other country the Finance Minister would have resigned. But we want the people's money to be realised from whomsoever.
Looking for the vulture assist with Neolithic burials

2 years ago
Although his legal battle continues, a whistleblower is finally vindicated in a case that should  but almost certainly wont  send some current and former state officials to jail.

Whistleblower Dan Collins with his wife, Marian Pyle, left, and attorney, Crystal Bounds, after winning his long legal battle with DNR in December. Submitted Photo

According to a whistleblower who remains actively involved in litigation with the state of Louisiana, over the course of the last decade, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources spent millions of taxpayer dollars in phony environmental projects that earned a small cabal of lawyers, land owners and oil and gas companies an enormous fortune. In the process, each of them allegedly violated scores of federal and state laws, deceived the public and likely harmed Louisianas already-imperiled and fragile marshlands and ecosystem.

The FBI had once considered opening an investigation about public corruption in this case, and officials in the administration of former Gov. Bobby Jindal, who had been elected on a platform of ethics reform, had expressed a willingness to make these projects a prime example of cronyism and fraud. When the whistleblower came forward with documentation that the state had been misrepresenting the true intent of the work it conducted, the Jindal administration had been initially receptive. But for some reason they eventually determined the dispute was about engineering issues.

In 2008, Stephen Street, the state inspector general, told Baton Rouges Business Report that he simply didnt have the resources to pursue an investigation. Its difficult to commit to such a large project, he said at the time. The FBI backed off.

The story was supposed to be over. It wasnt.

Today, Scott Angelle, the man who had led the state agency responsible for these projects, is running for Congress, only months after coming up short in a campaign for governor. Additionally, a recent court decision demands serious scrutiny over Angelles decisions during his eight-year tenure as secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and his relationships with an industry he continues to regulate as a member of the Public Service Commission.

This is a John Grisham novel, Dan Collins tells ABiz from his home in Baton Rouge. Collins is a veteran landman, a job that required him to spend countless hours surveying every nook of the vast landscape of coastal Louisiana, often in the service of DNR. He knows Louisiana like the back of his hand, which is why, for more than a decade, he was so valuable to the state agency tasked with protecting the sustainability and responsible use of its treasured reservoirs of oil and gas.

But, beginning in 2007, when Collins realized the real intent of a water quality project in Bayou Postillion, located 70 miles south of Baton Rouge, and discovered the state had misled the public and the federal government, he blew the whistle, alerting two of his superiors at DNR, Robert Benoit (now part of Lafayette Mayor-President Joel Robideauxs administration) and then-Sec. Angelle, who was first appointed to the position by Gov. Kathleen Blanco.

In December, Collins won a $750,000 judgment against the state, after a jury determined he had been improperly denied contracts from DNR in retaliation for his decision to alert authorities about the agencys wrongdoings.

This case involves retaliation for reporting violations of environmental law associated with a publicly funded project in the Atchafalaya River Basin under the pretense of water quality, Collins states in his brief to the court, when the purpose for dredging the bayou was to access oil and gas exploration for the benefit of private landowners and companies.

Back in the summer of 2007, Mary Tutwiler and Nathan Stubbs, former staff writers for ABiz sister publication The Independent, wrote a piece called The Newman Trowbridge Files about the duplicitous dealings of the late Newman Trowbridge, a well-connected Lafayette attorney who brokered deals with the state, big landowners and his own oil and gas partners.

The story led to a whistleblower lawsuit filed in 2010 by Collins against DNR where Collins claimed he suffered damages by DNR in the form of reduced state contracts for his firm  retribution after he reported what he believed were violations of environmental law connected with the Bayou Postillion Water Quality Project in the Atchafalaya Basin. The jury ultimately agreed with Collins.

Over a roughly 12-year period stretching from 1997 through 2010, Collins performed title research, ownership identification, servitude acquisition and mineral research for the Atchafalaya Basin Program and the Coastal Restoration Program under DNR.

In 2005, Bayou Postillion, which is located in the protected wetlands of the Basin, was dredged in excess of 150-200 feet wide in certain areas by a length of about three miles. The project was part of the Atchafalaya Basin Program in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and used Collins land services in the process, under the guise of improving the waterway.

In February 2007, Collins and his firm performed contract services for a second project called the Bayou Pigeon Water Quality Project, which also involved publicly funded dredging in the same area. Later that year, Collins found himself at the North American Prospect Expo in Houston where by sheer chance he saw oil and gas prospects being advertised for the same area.

I just found it coincidental, says Collins. They were actually promoting oil and gas deals [for Bayou Postillion] at this trade show.

This 2005 image shows Bayou Postillion dredging; at back is where the bayou intersects with the Intracoastal Waterway.



When Collins returned home to do some digging, he discovered that the state of Louisiana spent upwards of $1 million on dredging only to retain ownership of a mere 25 feet in the middle of the bayou channel  within the actual waterway  from the mouth of the bayou for a considerable distance that essentially created toll road conditions for commercial barge traffic, which are typically about 50 feet in width. This in effect restricted the public from navigating from bank to bank without crossing an invisible boundary line within the waterway.

According to Collins, the publicly funded dredging project being promoted as a water quality project for fishermen and crawfishermen was, in fact, being used for the primary purpose of giving access to oil and gas exploration for the benefit of private landowners and oil companies.

Lo and behold, I find out that coinciding with the exact time period that the dredge occurred in 2005, they drilled seven wells at the direct end of the dredge, says Collins. Those seven wells were very prolific, very productive natural gas wells. And, I mean, it was at the direct end of the dredge. And that occurred in 2005, and the wells coincided exactly with the same time period.

Collins also revealed that the state wound up entering into a boundary agreement instead of going through the normal process of getting permission via right of way, or a servitude agreement. Collins and his firm were originally asked to acquire all the signatures, but were later asked only to do the title, so the task of securing the signatures fell to one of the landowners. Trowbridge was the attorney who facilitated the deal, as Stubbs and Tutwiler reported in their 2007 story.

According to Collins and many others, there was never any real problem with water quality. The state simply sold the project as such in order to justify dredging a canal that would allow oil and gas companies better access. The state failed to perform any wetlands mitigation for the project. Perhaps even more egregiously, the state actually relinquished publicly owned property, maintaining only a 25-foot servitude and ensuring that the industry could effectively charge the public to use a bayou it had paid to expand.

Collins lawsuit claims the state violated a litany of state and federal laws, including the Clean Water Act, the False Claims Act and the Louisiana Water Control Law. The state has consistently denied Collins accusations and recently filed a motion to vacate the December jury verdict.

Collins was not the only person who had warned Angelle that his department had failed to follow procedure. Paul Maclean, another veteran landman, wrote Angelle personally on Jan. 3, 2008, in the waning days of the Blanco administration. (A)s a taxpayer, I must insist that you request your department personnel to immediately take a different approach to choosing, designing and/or constructing future water quality projects using public funds, Maclean wrote. In my opinion, the procedure used for at least the Bayou Postillion Water Quality Project was unsatisfactory.

In early 2008, Collins also alerted a member of Bobby Jindals gubernatorial transition team, Pete Stewart, who put him in touch with Timmy Teepell, Jindals campaign manager and newly-minted chief of staff. My understanding, Stewart wrote Collins on Feb. 5, 2008, is that this has been brought to the highest level.

Shortly thereafter, an FBI agent in Lafayette reached out to Collins, requesting that he provide all of the information he possessed. Collins shipped him an entire box of files. Keep it coming, the agent e-mailed him. Im going to go through each word, line, sentence and paragraph. The process will result in my summary of every potential criminal allegation which will be reviewed by FBI management, myself and other Special Agents on the squad. We take this kind of information seriously, and will apply an unbiased evaluation. Of course, not every allegation which comes through our door results in the opening of a case, but this is obviously the first step in achieving that end.

While public agencies and parish governments pursued historic litigation against oil and gas companies for destroying the environment by, among other things, dredging canals and bayous, DNR continued to green light allegedly unnecessary dredging projects, even after it was warned these projects were bogus and had actually done more harm than good. DNR claimed that former Sec. Angelle had no real oversight over the decision to give a multi-million dollar contract to a well-connected Lafayette law firm, Oats & Marino, for a controversial project at the center of Collins complaint.

We just discovered a number of items that were relative to the project to show that it was really all about oil and gas, and it had very little to do with water quality, says Collins. The concerns were such that, in the overwhelming information with all the oil and gas leases that were directly over the dredge, I brought it forward to my superiors, and those were Robert Benoit in the Atchafalaya Basin Program and to Scott Angelle, who was the secretary of DNR.

What is perhaps even more preposterous is that, as Collins later discovered, when the state was unable to get all of the landowner signatures for the boundary agreement, it simply deleted the names of those who would not sign the final documents.

The landowner, who was also on contract to the Atchafalaya Basin Program, was asked to get the signatures, which took him about two to three years, says Collins. After all of the questions that arose with the project, I started looking at it closer, and I realized that in fact he didnt get all of the signatures. He actually couldnt get all of the signatures from his co-owners. And so, the ones that he couldnt get, he just simply erased. He removed the names of the people who didnt or wouldnt sign the documents.

Collins also learned that the servitude agreement related to the boundary agreement was invalid without all of the co-owners signing it. He says it was also revealed that Angelle made representation to the Army Corps of Engineers that permit consent had been obtained from all of the landowners despite the fact that the names of those unwilling to sign were removed from the agreements.

Thats something that you just cant do, because this documentation was tied to the Army Corps of Engineers permit, and you have to get real estate consent documents, says Collins. And so, we found information that the then-DNR secretary made to the Army Corps of Engineers was false. They said they had consent and approval when they didnt. You cant make false statements to the Army Corps of Engineers, particularly related to wetlands, because theres real strict rules and regulations regarding wetlands.

Collins says he also found out that, in order to make the project look legitimate, one of the formal lease nominations of the water bottom tract over the entire dredged area had been tampered with. While it had indeed been submitted correctly, once prepared by the Office of Mineral Resources and published within the official State Notice of Publication offering, the plat header on the named bayou  Bayou Postillion  instead read Bayou Gravenburg, which is located roughly 20 miles away on the west side of Atchafalaya Basin.

The notice that was falsely advertising the states water bottom properties as available for oil and gas lease, in other words, was changed to give it the appearance of another area and then forwarded to thousands of potential bidders under the states public bidding process.

State Lease 18258 was approved by the State Mineral Board and received only one bid, but it has generated oil and gas production sales of more than $20 million since 2005 for approximately 37 acres of state water bottoms within producing oil and gas units located at the end of the dredge project.

Ive never seen anything like that, says Collins. In fact, as a landman, its unheard of. So it was, in a word, very deceptive.

Collins reviewed both state leases 18258 and 18070 covering portions of the dredged area and reported significant administrative lease penalties amounting to thousands of dollars that had accrued regarding those state leases, which were simply waived by the State Mineral Board, just like fixing traffic tickets, even after Collins had reported those violations.a

Despite being publicized as a water quality project restoring the bayou to its original depth and width as administrators had touted, DNRs true purpose for the Bayou Postillion project was actually for oil and gas exploration and to accommodate drilling barges while the state gave away valuable surface and mineral rights to the adjacent private landowners.

Ultimately, I had a meeting with Secretary Angelle on Sept. 11, 2007, and presented a tremendous amount of information, says Collins. And needless to say from presenting this information over the time period of 2007, 2008, 2009 and into 2010, the amount of contracts I received from the state started going down to the point that I didnt get any more contracts.

Collins says that information was withheld and only known by a select group of people within DNR and never disclosed to the public or the committee selecting water quality projects. The Army Corps of Engineers permit for the project itself referenced only navigation and increased water circulation, not commercial purposes for oil and gas activity.

And as a result of that, I feel that there were reprisals to not only me but to my firm in regard to the amount of work that I had historically received and hope to continue doing work with the department, says Collins.

The original trial date was set for May 18, 2015; however, the state requested the trial date be continued, so it was delayed twice until Dec. 7, 2015, in the 19th Judicial District in Baton Rouge under Judge Wilson Fields. Perhaps coincidentally, the gubernatorial election in which Angelle, by then a public service commissioner, ran unsuccessfully was held on Oct. 24, 2015. Voters would have no idea about serious ethics questions swirling around Angelles tenure as DNR secretary until after the election.

The trial lasted a week until a jury voted to award Collins $250,000 in damages. Under the environmental whistleblower statute, Collins is eligible for three times that award in addition to attorneys fees, which brings the total amount to more than $750,000.

Angelle has not returned ABizs calls seeking comment for this story.

DNR has already filed motions to vacate the verdict and for a new trial. It maintains that no laws were violated, and it argues Collins should not be considered an employee, which would prevent him from whistleblower protection.

So you would think, how could this occur in this day and age? asks Collins. We have corruption that goes all the way to the top in the state of Louisiana. And even though there might be parties that choose not to investigate, it doesnt mean it didnt happen. It does. It did.

About a week ago, Collins alerted Louisianas newest secretary of DNR, Thomas Harris, of his ongoing concerns. Again, I extend an invitation to address the discovered information and determine what the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources is going to do to address these serious state and federal issues, including not only the apparent misuse of public funds but also the manipulation and misrepresentation of the public oil and gas bidding process, Collins wrote. Hes still waiting to hear back.
In the very best conditions Nika had a 5 percent chance of surviving her own birth. Her chance to live beyond that? So abysmal there isnt a number to quantify it. She wasnt born in a state of the art facility and she is missing part of her brain. She was born in Haiti. Its likely she received little to no prenatal care and after birth was no different.

When she was 11 months old she weighed 6 pounds (and half of that was the fluid in her head) and was found on the dirt floor of a hut surrounded by trash, used condoms littering the space.

On the day I met Nika she was recovering from a surgery at Womens and Childrens Hospital in Lafayette under the care of Carencro native and once missionary in Haiti Sarah Conque.

I saw her and I knew I could do something and I could not walk away, Conque says.

Nika is missing a large portion of her brain. Doctors believe her body absorbed part of her brain tissue before she was ever born. She should not be alive. In even the best conditions her existence defies statistics. She should not be able to smile, hold an object in hand or connect. And yet she does all of these things. She will be three in September. She has those beautiful rolls of a child not yet walking. She looks to Conque and her boyfriend with clear recognition. She is comforted by their voices, their presence and their touch. It's a fact undeniable once you've seen it.

"People told us she was not worth the time or resources. And she can't talk. But, already she has a lot to say," Conque says.

Tears fill the 28-year-old's eyes when she recounts the story of Nika and particularly her neglect and abuse. But, there is also joy that is reserved for mothers when Conque speaks about this little girl.

The journey to cross Conque and Nikas paths began when Conque headed to Haiti to serve as a missionary at an orphanage. She served in the recreational therapy area working with children who are neglected, abused, abandoned in many cases. And it was in this place she met Nika at 3 months old when a woman claiming to be her aunt brought her in with concern about the large size of her head.

Conque and the orphanage worked to connect the woman with resources to care for her child and as time unfolded it became clear she was the mother.

"We are passionate about family preservation," Conque says.

It was with that passion in mind that Conque worked to give the mother the tools to care for Nika.

"I didn't want poverty or just her being afraid of how to take care of her child to cause Nika to be an orphan," Conque says.

And so Conque helped. She traveled a more than 9 hour bus ride with Nika and her mother to the one hospital that could perform a neuro surgery for the fluid in Nika's head (at the time they thought this was the only issue). The mother left 5-month-old Nika at the hospital after the surgery. The hospital called Conque, everyone called the mother pleading and begging for her to return for her child. She eventually did and Conque didn't see them for months.

"The mom came in wanting money and Nika was having seizures and getting smaller," Conque says.

Nika was put into a program through the orphanage for malnourished babies. The mother would bring her back regularly for monitoring, she would receive both education and special food to help Nika thrive. The mother, however, refused to comply and came back erratically.

"I couldn't give up on Nika," Conque says.

It all came to a boiling point when the mother arrived with Nika and the baby was the smallest she had ever been. Conque felt impressed to act. She and a pastor took a motorcycle later into the village where Nika lived with her mother.

They found her on the floor of the hut, emaciated, alone. People in the village didn't realize the mother even had a baby. Conque says it's likely because of the size of Nika's head due to the fluid.

"There's such a negative stigma," she says explaining when there is a physical problem there is a cultural belief that the mother was a prostitute or punished, perhaps there were demons inside the baby's head. Much of the belief rooted in voodoo culture pervasive in the community.

"I see this baby surrounded by trash. She weigh 6 pounds and 3 or 4 pounds of that is fluid in her head. She was neglected. This precious baby," Conque says. "I was angry but I was called to show the mother grace and I said 'I love you and I'll be back.'"

Helpless, Conque and the pastor left and spoke to the orphanage about the options to save Nika. Conque says she knew the child was in a life or death situation.

"In the United States there would be slips and forms and someone to call. But, in Haiti it was just my word," Conque says.

Conque cries when she speaks of how vulnerable Nika was in that place at that time, so close to death.

"She was all alone with no voice to defend herself or what she needed," Conque says.

They went back the next day and asked if she could take care of Nika.

The mother said yes. It was August of 2014.

"Her fight was just beginning," Conque says.

Nika could not tolerate even a pinky size portion of milk. Her organs were failing. She wasn't producing one wet diaper in a week's time. Every medical professional told Conque this was the end. Her body could not survive.

"We began to speak life over her and to cry out to God to save her," Conque says. "She had a full diaper the next morning."

Conque was laughed out of hospitals in Haiti as she sought help for the fluid in Nika's head, especially once doctor's evaluated her and saw the real issue.

"They said she doesn't have a good enough chance to survive," Conque says. "They said she essentially didn't have a brain."

Conque knew the fluid was an issue, the news that Nika was essentially missing her brain was new news.

"We knew we were looking at a living miracle," Conque says.

Doctors, however, said the child wasn't worth the resources. Conque got a medical visa and traveled first to Florida for a surgery to put a shunt in Nika's head to help the fluid drain and allow her body to absorb it.

"The doctors would say she could pass any day. Any day any day any day any day ... and she didn't," Conque says. "They took into account her body. They didn't take into account her spirit or her soul and she's fighting. The medical visa alone is a miracle."

Every piece of paper, every day alive was (and still is) a reason to rejoice.

The shunt surgery in Florida nearly a year ago radically improved Nika's life allowing her to sleep with her eyes closed and leading, no doubt, to her improvement overall and her weight gain. She has that sweet squishy shape of a healthy child her age.

They returned to Acadiana where Nika is just recovering from having a G-tube surgery (pro bono) at Women's and Children's that means she will receive food directly into her stomach. Nika has received pro bono medical services on several occasions and both people they know and don't know show up and make life possible for Nika and Conque by donations of time and money. Because she is here on medical visa Nika doesn't qualify for any sort of government funding for services and Conque spends her days and nights caring for Nika, which means she doesn't have a job or insurance to care for Nika.

"So many people have rallied around her and it's not just something nice that people are doing," Conque says. "They believe in her future and for so long we were told she didn't have one."

Nika's future remains unknown entirely. But, Conque says she's more than hopeful.

"We don't know what she's capable of and we can't wait to see. I didn't expect to go to Haiti. But, it got ahold of my heart and I couldn't pretend like I didn't see the need or that I didn't have the tools to help."

To help Nika and follow her story go to littlewarriornika.com and to see the gallery of Nika's progress from Haiti to Acadiana check out our gallery here.
Monet rahapelien ystavat ovat viime vuosina loytaneet netticasinot ja olleet ihmeissaan. Verrattuna kotimaisen Veikkauksen kivijalkarahapeleihin puhutaan aivan eri tason palautusprosenteista ja lisaksi pelaaminen on aarimmaisen helppoa ja turvallista. Netticasinoiden maara on tana paivana todella suuri ja niita loytyy jokaiseen lahtoon, suurin ongelma aloittelevalla pelaajalla onkin tehda valinta siita, minka netticasinon valitsee. Kaikkien netticasinoiden mainospuheet naet lupaavat kauniita asioita ja niiden lapinakeminen on tietysti tarkeaa. Nyrkkisaantona voidaan kuitenkin jo kattelyssa todeta, etta jos valitsemasi netticasino on lisensoitu ETA-alueella, sen kanssa ei tule olemaan ongelmia, ellei niita itse jarjesta. Kay tutustumassa parhaisiin netticasinoihin osoitteessa www.ilmaiskierroksia.info!

Ensimmainen nyrkkisaanto on siis varmistaa, etta valitsemallasi netticasinolla on ETA-alueen lisenssi. Suurimmassa osassa tapauksista se on Maltan eli MGA:n lisenssi. Myos Viron, Englannin ja Gibraltarin lisensseja nakyy ja naissa valvonta on jopa Maltaa tiukempaa. Lopputulema on kuitenkin se, etta ETA-alueen lisenssi takaa suomalaisille verovapaat voitot seka sen, etta niita valvotaan kontrolloidusti. Maailmalla on iso nippu Curacaon lisenssilla toimivia netticasinoita ja niistakin suurin osa on laadukkaita. Ne eivat kuitenkaan ole suomalaisille asiakkaille verovapaita, joten emme suosittele niita.

Tana paivana markkinoille on ilmaantunut paljon ETA-alueella toimiva netticasinoita ilman rekisteroitymista. Jos tarkoitus on vain pelata yksittaisia pelikertoja, on varsin helppo suositella naita. Netticasinot ilman rekisteroitymista tarjoavat palvelun tunnistautumisen verkkopankin avainlukulistan avulla ja saman palvelun kautta tapahtuvat talletukset ja mahdolliset voittojen nostot silmanrapayksessa. Normaaleihin netticasinoihin pitaa asiakkaan rekisteroitya, tehda talletukset ja tunnistautua dokumenttien avulla. Tama on lisenssiehtojen mukainen kaytanto, eika kovinkaan monimutkainen, mutta silti monet asiakkaat haluavat yksinkertaista ja nopeaa palvelua. Toki normaalit netticasinot tarjoavat usein asiakkailleen laadukkaita talletusbonuksia ja erilaisia kampanjoita, joten kannattaa tarkkaan punnita, kumman ratkaisun valitsee. Kannattaa myos muistaa, etta tunnistautuminen tehdaan vain kerran, joten mikaan jatkuva riippakivi se ei ole.

Suomalaiset asiakkaat ovat netticasinoille tarkeita, joten kaikilla vahankin laadukkailla netticasinoilla on suomenkieliset sivut seka suomenkielinen asiakaspalvelu  suomenkielisyys kannattaakin ottaa netticasinoa valittaessa nyrkkisaannoksi. Vaikka tana paivana englanninkielisyys on harvoille ongelma, on suomenkielisten netticasinoiden maara niin valtava, etta suosittelemme niiden kayttoa. Rahansiirrot ovat tana paivana niin hyvassa mallissa, etta niiden kanssa tuskin tulee mitaan ongelmia. Kolme tarkeinta segmenttia: Suomalaiset verkkopankit, luottokortit (Visa, Mastercard) seka nettilompakot (Skrill, Neteller) loytyvat jokaisesta laadukkaasta netticasinosta. Viime vuosien trendiksi noussut verkkokauppa on kehittanyt rahansiirrot niin laadukkaiksi ja nopeiksi, etta niiden suhteen ei ole enaa vuosiin ollut ongelmia. Luonnollisesti netticasinot kayttavat naita samoja palveluita ja hyotyvat kehityksesta.

Naiden isojen linjojen jalkeen netticasinon valintaan vaikuttavat luonnollisesti tarjottavat tervetuliaisbonukset  uudet asiakkaat saavat tana paivana kovan kilpailun myota merkittavia etuja netticasinoilta ja niita kannattaa luonnollisesti vertailla. Erilaiset talletusbonukset, ilmaiskierrokset seka ilmaiset pelirahat tuovat suuriakin rahanarvoisia etuja ja niiden vertailu on ehdottomasti kannattavaa. Myoskaan useampien tilien avaaminen ja tervetuliaistarjousten kayttaminen ei missaan nimessa ole huono idea.

Kun edella mainitut asiat ovat mieleisia ja vaihtoehtoja on vielakin jaljella, mennaan jo nyansseihin. Toki pelivalikoima on yksi kriteeri, mutta taman paivan netticasinoissa tamakin asia on paasaantoisesti varsin samanlainen. Toki useamman samantasoisen netticasinon vertailussa kannattaa yleensa valita se, jossa on eniten peleja tarjolla. Vaikka omat suosikit loytyisivatkin useammasta, voi tulevaisuudessa mielenkiinto nousta joihinkin muihin peleihin ja silloin on tietysti mukavampaa, etta ne loytyvat valikoimista. Viimeisena voidaan nostaa esiin kaytettavyys  joidenkin netticasinoiden sivut ovat vilkkuvia, valkkyvia ja epakaytannollisia. Omaan silmaan ja kaytettavyyteen sopiva sivusto on luonnollisesti aina se paras valinta. Tarjonta netticasinoissa on tana paivana valtava ja jokaiselle loytyy varmasti se oma netticasino  onnea matkaan!
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The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now.

Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market.

In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender.

India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex.

Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted.

But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted?

Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner.

If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems.

I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now.

I want more variation in masturbation

I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own.

If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end.

What is sex toys for Indian?

Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation.

It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms.

They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable.

Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner.

The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner.

It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past.

In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping.

Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order.

In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing.

Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome.

Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own.

But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance.

More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around.

Sextoy situation in India

Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years.

In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India.

Mumbai

Kolkata

Bangalore

Delhi

Chennai

Hyderabad

These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India.

In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well.

If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too.

If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it.

What are Sextoys for beginner?

Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms.

Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy.

I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion.

I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy.

If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma.

Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it.

Advantages of using sextoy for Indians

There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians

You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways.

Can have stimulating sex

Can develop new sexual zones

If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern.

However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways.

You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation.

Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever.

There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure.

This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it.

When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems.

It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms).

For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles

[Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou...

Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India.

Sextoy for beginner men in India

So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners.

For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men!

The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men

Masturbator

Cock rings

Love Doll

Sex Lubricants

Toys for the prostate

Lets check each one in detail.

Masturbator

The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products.

It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands.

Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands.

They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.)

Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much.

Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! !

Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa   SEXToys India PR  (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018

Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood.

If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here

Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ...

[For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien...

Cock Ring

A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis.

It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow.

It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber.

In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection.

Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction.

It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it.

Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time.

Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function.

Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy.

You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect.

[Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat...

Love Doll

Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex.

There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women.

Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price.

The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true.

You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste.

There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice.

You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls.

If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here

Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to...

Sex lubricants

Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules.

It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution.

Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse.

There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent.

Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent.

If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here.

What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many...

Toys for the Prostate

Another sextoy for men is prostate toys.

The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line.

Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men.

Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men.

What is the prostate?

The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm.

You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus.

By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms.

Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.)

The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation.

Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure.

sextoy for beinner women in India

The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy.

The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy.

Vibrator.

Dildo

Electric Masserger

Lets check out what each one is in detail.

If you want to check out womens toys, click here.

[BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm...

Vibrators

A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator.

Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy.

It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy.

Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women.

For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators.

Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex.

Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself.

This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual.

Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men.

When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons.

Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most...

Dildo

A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis.

It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass.

A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it.

They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well.

It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device.

A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo.

Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands.

For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis.

This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one.

To learn more about dildo, please click here.

What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th...

Electric Masserger

A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores.

It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low.

Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels.

Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation.

It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure.

For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm.

It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out.

If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager?

To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here.

What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th...

How to choose a sextoy for Indian

Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one.

Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points:  Does the size fit you (the partner)?

Does the size fit you (your partner)?

Is the environment able to produce sound without problems?

Price range

First of all, the choice of size is quite important.

Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women.

For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage.

Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems.

Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise.

If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level.

Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it.

Finally, there is the price range.

The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest.

Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy.

Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy?

I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance.

For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics.

If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out.

How to buy sextoys in India

The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping.

For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below.

Sextoy is one of them.

Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping.

SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India.

They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry.

Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card.

To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy.

ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal.

Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on.

Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture.

Cautions for Indians using sextoy

When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind

Keep sex toys clean

Watch out for electrical leakage

Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy

As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone.

Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there.

It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case.

In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness.

Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful.

If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it.

You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly.

Summary

What did you think?

In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India.

The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future.

As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values.

However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health.

If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try?

Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women.

I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it.
WASHINGTON  Desperate times call for desperate measures. The organized protest in Chicago that led Donald Trump to cancel a planned rally Friday may someday be remembered as the Dawn of the Resistance.

Trump has fueled his campaigns rise with the angriest and most divisive political rhetoric this nation has heard since the days of George Wallace. No one should be surprised if some of those Trump has slandered or outraged respond with raised voices.

The Constitutions guarantee of free speech applies to everyone, Trumpistas and protesters alike. Trump said over the weekend that he wants demonstrators who gatecrash his rallies to be arrested, not just ejected; he vows that were pressing charges against them. Someone should educate him: Peacefully disapproving of a politician and his dangerous ideas is not a crime.

Trump seems not to understand that demonstrators have the legal right to protest  and that a candidate for president of the United States has no countervailing right not to be protested. Im talking about nonviolent demonstrations, of course  but nonviolent does not necessarily mean quiet, timid or small.

On Friday, thousands of Trumpistas gathered in the University of Illinois at Chicago arena for one of the candidates set-piece rallies. They knew what to expect from Trump  the bragging about the size of his lead in various polls, the dissing of rivals Little Marco Rubio and Lyin Ted Cruz, the ranting and raving about immigration, the repeated vow to make America great again. They might have anticipated that a few demonstrators would briefly interrupt the proceedings, giving Trump the opportunity to strut and preen in alpha-male splendor as he ordered security to get em outta here.

But what no one fully realized until too late was that the crowd had been infiltrated by hundreds of highly organized protesters. As this circumstance became clear to Trumps supporters, tension mounted. The demonstrators held their ground, knowing they had as much right to be there as anyone else.

Aware that the demonstrators would do something but unsure of what that might be, Trump canceled the event. Announcement of the decision drew a big cheer from the protesters  and a howl of frustration from Trump supporters, who expressed their displeasure with epithets and shoving. Three people were injured in the skirmishes that ensued. Trump later groused that troublemakers and thugs had violated his free-speech rights. But consider what he tells his audiences: Mexican immigrants are rapists, foreign Muslims should be barred from the country, the United States should reinstitute torture for terrorism suspects and go after their families. He has the absolute right to say these things. But those who believe in the hallowed American values of openness, tolerance, decency and the rule of law have the absolute right to say No!

Earlier that day, there were 32 arrests in demonstrations against a Trump rally in St. Louis; a large group of protesters had gathered to confront the candidate and his supporters. At almost every Trump event these days, in fact, at least a few individuals rise to protest  and face the rage of the crowds, which Trump stokes rather than soothes.

These protests are important because they show that Americans will not take Trumps outrageous nonsense lying down. The hapless Republican Party may prove powerless to keep him from seizing the nomination, but GOP primary voters are a small and unrepresentative minority  older, whiter, and apparently much angrier than the nation as a whole. There is a school of thought that says, in effect, do not push back against the bully. Those who take this position argue that protests only heighten the sense of persecution and victimhood that Trump encourages among his supporters. And the net effect may be to win him more primary votes and make it more likely that he gets the nomination.

I understand this view, but I disagree. I believe it is important to show that those who reject Trumpism are as passionate and multitudinous as those who welcome it. Passivity is what got the GOP into this predicament in the first place; imagine how different the campaign might be if so many Republicans who abhor Trump hadnt meekly promised to support him if he became the nominee. Protests show the growing strength of popular opposition to Trump. They may not embolden Republicans to take their party back at the convention in Cleveland. But vivid displays of outrage might help energize voters to come out and reject Trump in November. That might be the last line of defense.
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/By Azernews/

By Aynur Karimova

Azerbaijan has set a goal to have one of the most advanced customs services in the world. The country plans to achieve this target by greatly improving the level of work of the customs agencies throughout the country.

Aydin Aliyev, the Head of the countrys State Customs Committee, made the remark at a conference devoted to the development and future prospects in the customs system on March 14.

Aliyev said that falling oil prices have set new challenges for Azerbaijan, and this has necessitated adjusting the work of many state agencies, including customs bodies, to new challenges.

A conference on Development in customs system and future prospects organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan kicked off in Baku on March 14.

"Instability in global economy in recent years and significant decline in oil prices impacts all countries, including Azerbaijan," Aliyev said. "As a result, many state agencies, including the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, have to solve a number of issues, primarily having ensured transparency of our activities."

Aliyev also stressed the necessity of improving the activities of customs bodies in line with international standards.

A number of legislative acts have been already adopted in Azerbaijan, including amendments to the countrys Customs Code, he said. They all comply with the latest international standards.

Speaking at the event, Arzu Hajiyeva, the representative of Ernst & Young in Azerbaijan, said that along with the traditional functions, the customs structures in Azerbaijan should have new functions in current realities.

"Currently, the customs structures of many countries, including Azerbaijan, are facing such new tasks as the promotion of international trade, the formation of the necessary sphere for investment and business development, as well as the protection of the main property rights," she noted.

She also stressed the necessity of protecting the main intellectual property rights in Azerbaijan.

Recently, Azerbaijan has taken very important measures to simplify customs procedures and improve transparency in the direction of improving legislative framework in customs activities, organizing a call-center, mediating restrictions in customs activity, as well as reducing the time spent on customs clearance, Hajiyeva said. The public and entrepreneurs positively accepted all these measures and hope that these reforms will be continued in the future as well.

Currently, some points in this area are in the spotlight.

For example, the maximum examination period is 20 days, Hajiyeva said. It's quite a long time, and that creates new risks for entrepreneurs associated with additional costs for storage of products, the possibility of failure to fulfill conditions on timing pre-specified in contracts, and so on.

Another point is the lack of a unified concept to form customs value of the products.

We propose to develop administrative procedures on all decisions made by the managing customs officials, Hajiyeva stated. It should be a clear and transparent process, and every customs employee should give proof of decision to the importer.

At the same time, it is necessary to minimize contacts between customs officers and entrepreneurs through the use of electronic systems.

It is also necessary to carry out customs inspection of products within the framework of risks management system or to take a decision on the refusal of customs inspection of goods in the shortest possible time, she added.

Delivery period to be reduced

In his remarks, Shaig Mirzayev, a member of the Murphy Shipping and Commercial Services Ltd, said that the period of delivery of transit goods to the intended destinations through Azerbaijans territory will be reduced by three times in the future.

"'Currently, the period for delivery of cargoes through Azerbaijan to their destinations is 60 days," he said, adding that in the future this period can be cut down to 20 days after the negotiations continue and the agreements are reached.

Mirzayev believes that Azerbaijans geographical location elevates the countrys role in transit as the country is located at the intersection of the North-South and the East-West transport corridors.

"Cargoes transported from China to Iran may further continue their trip on several routes," he said, adding that one of those routes goes through Turkey to southern and western Europe, and another runs through Azerbaijan and Russia to northern and eastern Europe.

Also, there are currently six potential corridors from China to Europe, half of which may run through Azerbaijan.

This once again demonstrates Azerbaijans important role in transit and can turn the country into a major transit center in the world, Mirzayev added.

New regime wanted for importers

Deloitte, an international audit company, offered Azerbaijan to consider the establishment of free customs zones processing of products in the customs territory.

The company's senior tax manager, Emil Garayev said that duties and taxes imposed on imported products pose certain obstacles to the activities of importers. Therefore, the new regime could be one of compromise solutions.

Later, Aliyev told journalists that customs duties on a number of imported products may be reduced in Azerbaijan.

He said that this will mainly relate to customs duties on imports of raw materials and components for manufacture of products of Azerbaijani origin.

We should give green light to production in Azerbaijan, he noted. Therefore, we made a proposal to reduce import tariffs on raw materials and components needed for manufacture of products in the country. At the same time, customs duties on other imported goods may be increased. We have already made our proposals and the government will decide whether to accept them or not.

Since 2001, Azerbaijan has been using a multi-stage differentiated tariff system with a rate of 0, 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 9 and 15 percent.



Currently, a number of imported goods are subject to the maximum rate of customs duty (15 percent) to protect domestic products from the negative impact of foreign competition.

Aliyev went on to add that Turkish goods are not exported from Azerbaijan to Russia.

"The Azerbaijani customs bodies always require presenting a certificate of origin of the products during export, he said. We are thoroughly conducting inspection in this direction. I can assure that Turkish goods are not exported from Azerbaijan to Russia."

While speaking of the delay in transporting Azerbaijani goods through the Russian customs, Aliyev said that the Russian side is entitled to inspect imported products.

"This is their right, namely, the Russian customs bodies and the Federal Service for Veterinarian and Vegetation Sanitary Supervision, he said. They are fully entitled to inspect the products imported to the country."

Touching upon the import of cigarettes to Azerbaijan, Aliyev said that it decreased by six times within two months.

"This is primarily connected with the prevention of import of tobacco products supposedly for own use, but used for commercial purposes," Aliyev added.

As is known, in accordance with the law, one individual is allowed to import 30 packs of cigarettes for personal use into the country, he stated. Unfortunately, some repeatedly cross the border with Georgia, Iran and Russia during the day, import the allowed volumes of tobacco products several times and then use them for commercial purposes.



This kind of business inflicts a lot of damage, according to Aliyev. Such actions are detrimental not only to the country's market of tobacco products, but also Azerbaijan's economy as a whole."

In January 2016, tobacco products worth $5.44 million were imported to Azerbaijan, which is 6.1 times less than in the same period last year, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.

Aliyev went on to add that the State Customs Committee is planning to accelerate the application of online customs declarations.

"As you know, according to President Ilham Aliyev's order, we have been instructed to create online customs declarations within two months. But we intend to implement this task before and we are working in this direction," he noted.

Aliyev said that application of online customs declarations is related not only to an increase in transparency in the activities of the State Customs Committee, but also to the establishment of e-government.
OSCE is expected to monitor the contact line between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops March 17, Azerbaijani Defense Ministry told Trend March 16.

It is planned to hold the monitoring under the mandate of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative on the contact line near the village of Mezem of Azerbaijans Gazakh district, the ministry said.

On the Azerbaijani side, the monitoring will be carried out by the field assistants of OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative Hristo Hristov, Peter Svedberg and Simon Tiller.

On the opposite side, the monitoring will be conducted by the field assistants of OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative Yevgeny Sharov and Jiri Aberle.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
/By Azernews/

By Nazrin Gadimova

Greece contributes to the process of peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

Alexis Tsipras, Greek Prime Minister made the remark in a meeting with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Athens on March 15.

Tsipras stressed that Greece contributes to the process of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group, adding that he wants to see the development of the region in conditions of peace, security and stability.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenia's territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor in 1988. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions that make 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory.

Although diplomats of Russia, the United States and France  the co-chair countries of the mediating Minsk Group  have been brokering for the peace in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, no real breakthrough have been achieved for more than 20 years.

The conflict is still far from a comprehensive settlement despite Baku's best peace efforts and the OSCE Minsk Group's mediation involvement. All efforts have gone in vain since Yerevan continues to shun all peace brokering efforts.
Germany has urged its citizens to leave Turkey due to the threat of new terrorist attacks in this country, said the message from German embassy in Turkey.

Earlier, Germanys Federal Foreign Office urged the countrys citizens not to travel to Turkey. Moreover, the Federal Foreign Office recommended the countrys citizens, who are currently in Turkey, to avoid crowded places.

Turkish police have recently warned that the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist group plans to commit a series of terror attacks in the countrys large cities from March 20 to March 30.

A car bomb exploded in Ankara on March 13, near a crowded bus stop. The explosion killed as many as 37 people, 125 more got injured.



Preliminary reports said the two suicide bombers, one male and one female triggered the explosive device, while in the car. According to reports, the mentioned car was hijacked Feb. 10 in the Turkish south-eastern province of Sanliurfa.
Extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Belarus to Turkmenistan Oleg Tabanyuhov held a series of meetings in Ashgabat with the representatives of the countrys Cabinet of Ministers.

The cooperation between the two countries on a wide range of issues in the spheres of trade, industry, agriculture, construction, science, education and culture were discussed during the meetings, said the embassy of Belarus.

The parties stressed the strategic nature of bilateral cooperation and the significant potential for its intensive development, confirmed their interest in further expansion of cooperation in all these areas, according to the embassy.

The construction of Garlyk mining and processing enterprise in Turkmenistans Lebap region, where rich deposits of potassium salts located, is one of the main projects in the economic partnership between the two countries.

It was earlier reported that the enterprise is built by Belarusian Belgorkhimprom JSC and its capacity is 1.4 million tons of mineral fertilizers per year.
Oman's Galfar Engineering has been awarded a RO115-million ($299.21 million) construction contract by the country's top oil and gas producer, the contracting company said on Wednesday.



Galfar will build a new central processing facility at Petroleum Development Oman's (PDO) Yibal Khuff project southwest of Muscat, it said in a bourse statement. The contract is duration is 51 months.



"We expect reasonable income from this project," Galfar added.



PDO is 60 per cent owned by Oman's government, 34 per cent by Royal Dutch Shell, four per cent by Total and two per cent by Portugal's Partex, according to its website.-Reuters
Almost half (48 per cent) of all real estate investors across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region expect to increase their purchasing activity in 2016 compared with just 15 per cent who expect to be less active buyers, according to a new survey.

About 43 per cent also expect their selling activity to increase, indicating a buoyant and liquid real estate investment market for the region in 2016, stated property expert CBRE in its study.



Diverging investor views were prevalent in the responses given for the most attractive country for real estate investment, according to the 'CBRE 2016 EMEA Investor Intentions Survey.'



On the most frequent choice as investors preferred destination, Germany topped the survey with 17 per cent of all responses followed by the UK at a close second spot with 15.1 per cent. Spain (10.2 per cent) came third, followed by the Netherlands (9.9 per cent), France (9.2 per cent) and Poland (9.2 per cent).



More importantly, however, this was by far the closest result of any of CBREs seven surveys, with many more markets coming into the mix this year, it added.



Despite this commitment to real estate investment, one notable change has been a decline in investors appetite for risk.



After three years of diminishing popularity, prime or core assets are back on the agenda. The proportion of investors who see prime or core assets as the most attractive part of the market has jumped from 29 per cent last year to 41 per cent in 2016, said the survey.



This is partly explained by investors concerns over economic issues.



When asked the question What poses the greatest threat to property markets in 2016, global economic weakness was seen as the greatest threat (31 per cent), with domestic economic problems (14 per cent) a distant second.



When it comes to investment in to the Middle East, Nick Maclean, the managing director, CBRE Middle East, said there is a substantial mismatch between supply and demand.



Despite the significant development of commercial and residential property over recent decades, the number of commercial transactions involving foreign investors does not adequately reflect the interest in real estate in the GCC and if the relative illiquidity could be solved here, the UAE in particular would see substantial inbound capital flows," remarked Maclean.



There was also a big uplift in interest in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). When taken as a group, CEE markets saw their proportion of preference rise from six per cent in 2015 to 23 per cent this year.



"This can partly be explained by investors continued search for yield. In H2 2015 prime yields in continental Western Europe fell very sharply and this has resulted in the yield gap between CEE and Western Europe increase markedly, raising CEEs attractiveness to real estate investors," he stated.



At a city level, London retained its preferred status, with 15.1 per cent of all investors favouring the city, but the gap between London and other cities is closing, according to the CBRE survey.



Madrid came second with 12.2 per cent, closely followed by Paris (11.6 per cent), Berlin (10.8 per cent), Amsterdam (7.3 per cent), Warsaw (7.0 per cent), Milan (4.7 per cent), Budapest (2.9 per cent), Prague (2.7 per cent) and Munich (2.4 per cent), it stated.



Across the more traditional sectors, offices remained the favourite asset type with 37 per cent of the investors backing it. However it was residential assets which saw the biggest increase in investor interest, growing from five per cent of preferences in 2015 to 12 per cent in 2016.



Retail also fared well, and the recovery of consumer confidence and consumer spending has resulted in the proportion of respondents choosing retail increasing from 22 per cent in 2015 to 27 per cent in 2016.



The search for yield, as mentioned with regard to CEE, was also apparent in respondents answers to the

alternative sector, said Maclean.



The survey revealed that about 56 per cent of all respondents had already invested in one or more alternative sectors, and 57 per cent were actively looking in one or more of these sectors.



The real estate debt is the segment that currently has the most market penetration with over 30 per cent of investors already having some exposure and 22 per cent actively looking for further investment.



According to CBRE, the student housing was the segment which had attracted the most new interest.



About 20 per cent of respondents already have investments in this area with most of these seeking further exposure. However there are a further 13 per cent of respondents who are looking to invest in student housing for the first time, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
Qatar is set to organise a two-day summit in capital Doha, where leading engineers, urban planners and green building consultants will discuss ways to seamlessly integrate technology to support urban sustainable smart development.



The fifth edition of the Arab Future Cities Summit Qatar 2016 is being held under the patronage of the newly formed ministries - Ministry of Transport and Communications and Ministry of Municipality and Environment - from April 11 to 12 at The Ritz-Carlton, Doha.



In line with the governments vision to make it a smart city by 2030, the capital city of Qatar has undertaken initiatives and projects that move towards digitisation, smart innovation and form the basis of it becoming a smart city, said the event organisers.



Across two days, the summit will deliver content-rich presentations on topics such as Qatar Rail and the transformation of Doha, public-private partnerships (PPP) through citizens engagement, Qatar national master plan, digital transformation to thrive in this rapidly evolving environment, Qatar Mobility Innovations Centre's (QMIC) strategies for enabling smart living in Qatar, encouraging collaboration between industry and cities, strategies for boosting efficiency in the water services of the GCC countries and the future of transportation.



The Qatar government has developed programmes integrating innovative technologies to support urban sustainable smart development.



The event will demonstrate different strategies of transforming towards a smart city, they stated.



Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications, and Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi, Minister of Municipality and Environment, will be inaugurating the summit.



Several high-profile speakers have been lined up for the event including Graeme Bolton of Townsville City Council, who will emphasise on the use of technology while delivering a case study presentation on Townsville and the smart city initiatives undertaken so far.



Adding to this topic will be Frans-Anton Vermast of Amsterdam Smart City, shedding light on the concept of Living Labs. Additionally, this years edition of the summit will host more than 20 sessions, including two keynote presentations and three interactive panel discussions.



Convening technology developers, engineers, architects, urban planners, project advisers, academicians, researchers, tech experts and innovators, sustainability and green building consultants, the summit encourages cross-sector collaboration and learning to seamlessly integrate technology for improved everyday access to information and services, said the organisers.



In its fifth year, the summit will cover topics on the different aspects of the smart city ecosystem that will trigger discussions on developing synergies at the level of the government and private sector as well.



With sessions focusing across industries  telecommunications, oil and gas,transport and health, to name a few, the summit will witness government decision makers along with more than 20 industry leaders from the region and across the globe, and impart knowledge on trends driving smart city adoption, they added.-TradeArabia News Service
UAE-based Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), a leading district cooling services provider, has awarded contracts valued at Dh45 million ($12.2 million) since the beginning of 2016, said its CEO.



These deals will pave the way for a series of new contracts during the year, added Ahmad Bin Shafar.



Being the worlds largest district cooling services provider in terms of capacity, we spare no efforts to maintain our leadership position by entering into deals that enhance our operations and develop our business, explained Bin Shafar. We want to make district cooling service accessible to a wider group of customers across the emirate of Dubai.



The contracts serve Empowers endeavours to extend its district cooling network, building associated infrastructure, and installing individual flow-meters for users at various key projects in Dubai. Some of these projects are located in Business Bay, Jumeirah Beach Residence, and Dubai Land Residence Complex (DLRC).



We are utilising our expertise and resources to respond to the increasing demand for district cooling services in Dubai. Our operations are expanding at accelerated pace with focus on vital areas, said Bin Shafar.



We have created a robust system to construct and operate cooling plants according to the highest world-class standards. We also keep abreast with all the Dubai future plans, to make sure we are always able to cover the demand in the new projects while maintaining the same quality of service.



The contracts are part of the significant expansion of the operations of the company, which currently has more than 70 per cent of the district cooling market in Dubai.



Empower always strives towards excellence while developing its operations to cater to the rapidly increasing demand of district cooling across the UAE, concluded Bin Shafar. - TradeArabia News Service
The Institute of Architectural Ironmongers (IAI) has appointed Mike Lumsden, the general manager of Lorient Gulf, as the new chairman of its Gulf chapter.



Based in the UAE, Lumsden will co-ordinate the activities of the IAI in the region, including its significant role in supporting students studying for the prestigious Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) diploma which is very popular in the Gulf states.



The GAIs education portfolio has been developed over 50 years and is the only recognised programme in the world that leads to a qualification in architectural ironmongery to British and European standards. About 45 per cent of its students now come from outside the UK.



Lumsden has more than 20 years experience in senior management roles in the door hardware industry. Before his position with Lorient, he worked with Al Misnad Group in Qatar for 17 years, heading up the trading division.



First established in the Gulf in 2013 by Adam Taylor, general manager of Hafele GCC, the institutes Gulf branch currently has 33 members and is gaining increasing interest as British architectural ironmongery and door hardware suppliers are active in the region.



On the apppointment, Lumsden said: "Developers, contractors and specifiers in the Gulf are faced with a cornucopia of different hardware standards from the UK and Europe, US and Far East. Its very challenging to find a robust specification and architectural ironmongery schedule that genuinely meets the right quality standards on issues such as fire safety, accessibility or acoustics."



"Registered Architectural Ironmongers and IAI members within the GCC are a vital source of authoritative guidance for these clients. Our presence in the market raises the bar, and provides support to those who have to take responsibility for the buildings performance," he stated.



"I am looking forward to building on this momentum and the excellent foundations laid by Adam Taylor, getting our existing and future members more actively involved in the branch," he added.



The GCC branch organises a schedule of quarterly meetings for the benefit of its members. These meetings are informal and provide the opportunity to learn, network and socialise.



Most meetings also present personal development (CPD) opportunities and there is also the possibility of staging social events so that attendees can simply enjoy the benefits of networking.



Membership of the IAI is open to individuals who are qualified GAI Diploma holders, students actively on the GAI education programme, or experienced practitioners of the architectural ironmongery trade.



This makes belonging to the Institute a real benefit to each individual member personally, and one which can be taken from job to job.



Based around the UK, Hong Kong and GCC, IAI meetings are open to all members and students to network and seek assistance from their peers.-TradeArabia News Service
The business model of Sadara Chemical, a joint venture developed by Saudi Aramco and The Dow Chemical Company, offers competitive advantages to enable downstream investments, said a top official.



Ziad Al-Labban, CEO of Sadara was speaking at the Saudi Downstream Forum 2016, which is concluding today (March 10) in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.



Al-Labban identified four key competitive advantages enjoyed by Saudi Arabia during a presentation entitled Downstream Manufacturing Opportunities in Saudi Arabia. These include the Kingdoms abundant natural resources, skilled human capital, proximity to growth markets, and access to finances.



Sadaras range of differentiated, high value products, enabled by the cracking of naphtha as well as ethane, makes us a true game changer. By capitalizing on Saudi Arabias unique competitive advantages, Sadara is positioned to become a key enabler for downstream investments and value added job opportunities for Saudis, which in turn will accelerate the Kingdoms economic diversification, and create a nurturing environment for Made in KSA to truly take shape, he noted.



In addition to its vast natural resources, which include 20 per cent of the worlds proven oil reserves and the sixth largest proven natural gas reserves, Saudi Arabia also offers competitive corporate taxes, a range of funding sources, a growing Islamic bond (sukuk) market, the largest stock exchange in the Mena region, and a large number of locally-based companies and investors.



Al-Labban further explained that the countrys close proximity to Asia, Africa, and Europe affords investors easy access to the growing markets within those continents.



In terms of skilled human capital, investors are able to tap into a substantial pool of qualified and skilled young Saudis, including over one million students currently enrolled in higher education programs, a number which is slated to grow in the coming years.



To take advantage of these attributes, Sadara has integrated state of the art technologies into its 26 manufacturing plants to address the regional supply gap in differentiated specialty chemicals, which, as of 2015, constituted just 0.3 per cent of the regions total capacity estimated at 360 million tons, while the remaining 99.7 per cent was made up of commodity chemicals.



Currently at 98 per cent complete, the 6-sq-km mega-complex started producing the first of its specialty products - Solution Polyethylene  in December 2015, the first plant of its kind in the Middle East. The rest of the units are now going through a phased start up and commissioning process and are expected to be fully operational in 2017.



In addition, Sadara is working in collaboration with the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu to develop PlasChem Park, a chemical and conversion industrial park adjacent to the companys chemical complex. PlasChem Park will offer easy access to Sadaras products and infrastructure in Jubail, fueling investment, innovation, growth development and job opportunities with a sustainable impact on the Saudi economy.  TradeArabia News Service
Omans Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) is developing high-end electronic services to facilitate the completion of investment process in the sultanate, a top official said.



Ali Al Harthy, acting director of IT Department at PEIE, stated that the department is currently geared towards developing several electronic services.



"eProspect service aims at providing online investment application for potential investors to apply via the Internet from any spot worldwide. This service informs potential investors of the offered services and allows the concerned departments to follow up with the investment applications promptly and send the investment offers," Al Harthy pointed out.



Al Harthy noted that PEIE offers eMap service, which allows individuals and institutions to view the leased and available spaces in the various industrial estates that fall under the umbrella of PEIE. eMap, which is designed to build a geographic mapping system that displays integrated maps of PEIEs estates, also views details of the tenants that exist in the estates. It provides details of the tenants locations (lands, buildings and offices).



"Moreover, eTenant service serves the existing PEIE tenants as the companies can update their profile including details and view their rent and services payment status. They can also submit observations, complaints and suggestions about any issue," Al Harthy said.



He added that PEIE also offers eDirectory service, which allows individuals and organisations to view details of operating companies under the umbrella of PEIE including contact details, types of products and locations



PEIE constantly works to offer cutting edge services through its website (www.peie.om) for various segments including investors, business owners, PEIE employees and the public. PEIE highlights its online initiatives through participating in various internal and external specialised IT events including COMEX in Muscat, Gitex in UAE, Infoconnect in Kuwait, in addition to PEIE seminars and workshops that are organised as part of Digital Nation events.  TradeArabia News Service
Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer and operator of Khalifa Industrial Zone (Kizad) in the emirate, has signed a standard Musataha agreement (SMA) with Sobha Group to launch Safnon Italia, a furniture factory-cum-showroom in Kizad.



Sobha Group is one of the largest and most highly reputed real estate developers in India and the Middle East.



The 172,990-sq-m facility will be one of the largest furniture manufacturing units in the GCC region. The state-of-the-art factory will produce a range of products, including upholstered furniture, modular furniture, kitchen, wardrobe and wood joinery  all of which will cater to the regions business-to-business (B2B) market.



Sobha Group is a new entrant among the prominent global and regional business players that has chosen Kizad to set up its business. The groups decision to establish Safnon Italia in Kizad proves that the integrated offerings of Khalifa Port and Kizad provide an ideal infrastructure for innovative business ventures, said Mana Mohammed Saeed Al Mulla, CEO of Kizad.



Ajay Rajendran, co-chairman Sobha Group, said: Kizad is an ideal base for us as we expect it to be one of the most developed industrial areas in the coming years. It also gives us an advantage of being one of the first companies to move into the location as we look forward to meet the demand for quality interiors and furniture in the GCC. The planned facility will house the latest and best-in-class German and Italian machines, catering to our B2B clients looking for European standards of process and quality.



Our base in Kizad will reduce the delivery time compared to competitors who have their manufacturing facilities in Europe. Our customers will have the opportunity to visit the facility and see for themselves how their product is being produced, he added.



Safnon Italia will set up a design studio in Italy, to create meaningful furniture products and an experience which will help meet clients customised requests.



The upholstering unit at Kizad will manufacture sofas, couches, chairs and other soft furniture in both leather and fabric. The wood joinery line, offering bespoke expertise, will be able to produce various types of customised wood-based components and furniture.



As part of the future expansion plan, a dedicated space for office furniture manufacturing will be allocated within the facility.  TradeArabia News Service
Dubai-based D2M Solutions will collaborate with Stratasys, a global provider of 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions, to host a webinar for the educators of universities in the Middle Eastern region, later this month.



The webinar is scheduled to take place on March 30, at 18:00  18:45 (GMT+4), said a statement from D2M Solutions, a leading distributor of Stratasys 3D printers in UAE.



The registrants will learn about the latest professional 3D printers and how they enhance the learning process and speed research in innovative projects impacting not only the university, but the wider knowledge community, it added.



Yasser Al-Hamidi, mechanical engineering program's laboratories manager from Texas A&M University in Qatar, will discuss how 3D printing (additive manufacturing) is enriching the academic experience as a whole, it said.



After a 30-minute presentation, the audience will have the opportunity to put the experts on the spot with their live questions, said the statement.



Additionally, if the audience fail to make it to the live session, they can still register and the presentation and recording will be shared with all the registrants right after the webinar, it added.

Registration for the webinar can be done at (https://goo.gl/W3Ddj3).

 TradeArabia News Service
French anti-terrorism police arrested four Islamist radicals on Wednesday on suspicion they were planning an imminent attack in central Paris, TF1 television said.



Three men and one women were arrested at dawn in Paris and the nearby northern suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis. Security forces had files on four of them for their Islamist ties, TF1 said on its web site.



Police also seized an unused cartridge for an automatic rifle and computer equipment, TF1 said.



Meanwhile, Belgian prosecutors on Wednesday named a 35-year-old Algerian as the man shot dead by police on Tuesday during a police raid on a Brussels apartment in the hunt for clues to bloody attacks in Paris last November.



Police found an Islamic State flag in the apartment used by Mohamed Belkaid and two others suspected of being with him after officers were met with a barrage of automatic weapons fire as they arrived to search the flat.



Belkaid, who was living in Belgium illegally and had a police record for theft but was not on security watchlists, was killed by a special forces sniper after a three-hour siege. A manhunt for the two other suspects continued on Wednesday.



The government held its alert status steady at Level Three, one step below the maximum.



The prosecutors said a radical Islamic text was found next to Belkaid's body and a cache of ammunition was also discovered. It was not clear if he had any links to the Paris suspects.



Two people detained overnight on suspicion of links to the shootout in the suburb of Forest were released without charge.



Investigators believe much of the planning and preparation for the Nov. 13 shooting and bombing rampage in Paris that killed 130 people was conducted in Brussels by young French and Belgian nationals, some of whom fought as militants in Syria.



Ten people are being held in Belgian custody on a variety of charges relating to the four-month investigation, though prime suspects, including Salah Abdeslam, a brother of one of the Paris suicide bombers, are suspected of having fled the country.



On Tuesday, six Belgian and French police officers arrived to search the flat and came under automatic fire through a door from at least two people barricaded inside. Four officers, one of them a Frenchwoman, were wounded, none very seriously.-Reuters
Egypt will allow wheat imports with trace levels of the common ergot fungus, the country's agriculture minister said, while government agencies try to resolve a dispute that has disrupted shipments to the world's biggest wheat buyer.



Essam Fayed also told Reuters that no timeframe had been given to an official from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), drafted in to resolve the row on a scientific basis.



"I will not pressurise anyone," Fayed said in an interview in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, where he was on an official visit.



"I have been following up to make sure it is done as soon as possible but it takes time and I can't tell you how long it will take at the moment," he said.



Fayed's stance on fungus tolerance levels in imports is in direct contrast to that of quarantine officials who say no level of ergot is allowed in shipments until legislation changes.



The conflict between Egypt's agricultural quarantine authority and the agriculture and supply ministries over the level of allowed ergot, a common grain fungus, in wheat imports has led to a series of shipments to the world's largest importer being rejected and a crisis in confidence with global suppliers.



Traders have continued to vote with their feet as offers to sell wheat in tenders have fallen dramatically. In a tender on Wednesday, state grain buyer's GASC only received six offers of wheat compared to an average of around 15 prior to the crisis.



Saad Moussa, the quarantine agency's former chief, who was replaced on March 6, followed a 2001 regulation governing the authority which specified zero tolerance towards the fungus.



The agriculture and supply ministers argued for trace levels of 0.05 per cent, a common norm in international standards and the tolerance specified in Egypt's own wheat 2010 specifications.



Moussa's rigid position disrupted wheat purchase tenders and raised the possibility of a shortage of the strategic grain that the country's impoverished population relies on for nutrition through a massive subsidised bread programme.



"This (conflict) had to be stopped because it started to become a big issue ... we were heading towards a national security problem," Fayed said.



Moussa's removal was accompanied with an announcement a day later that a FAO expert was assigned to conduct a risk analysis on ergot and give recommendations about safe levels for Egypt.



"I have no personal issue with Saad Moussa, but what I do care about is doing the correct thing for Egypt and the Egyptian people," Fayed said.



"If I have a scientific opinion and I want to change the Egyptian specifications then there are certain procedures that I have to take .... Moussa didn't go down that road," he said.



The pest risk analysis assessment currently being conducted could involve field work or not and could take any amount of time between weeks and months, Fayed said.



There is no indication so far of what the FAO expert will recommend. "She could recommend zero or 0.05 or 0.04 percent," he said.



Fayed will meet with the expert for the first time on Thursday on his return to Cairo.



But global suppliers, who regularly used to offer wheat in Egyptian state tenders, are eager for more clarity from their biggest customer before they return.



Fayed said that until a final opinion is reached on the matter, wheat shipments arriving in Egypt with trace levels of the fungus up to 0.05 percent will be accepted. The new quarantine head has said the opposite.



"We are committed to the Egyptian specifications until then," Fayed said, referring to the 2010 specifications allowing up to an 0.05 trace level of ergot.



The new head of quarantine Ibrahim Imbabi, told Reuters on March 8 he would follow a zero tolerance policy stipulated in the 2001 legislation governing his authority until something new was issued.



Fayed said he was unconcerned about Egyptian wheat reserves being affected in the meantime as there were successful purchase tenders carried out by the state grain importer GASC recently.



"There are tenders and purchases," he said.-Reuters
Indian state companies signed energy deals worth billions of dollars with Russia's Rosneft on Wednesday to buy into its most promising assets in Siberia, stepping up a drive to cut New Delhi's dependence on imports.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wants to cut India's oil imports by 10 percent in six years, is steering efforts to buy foreign energy assets, taking advantage of low global oil prices and a slowdown in China's overseas acquisitions.



Under the deals signed with Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, the Indian companies will raise their stake in the Vankor oil field to almost 50 percent and buy about 30 percent of the Taas-Yuriakh field.



The deals will help Rosneft, the world's biggested listed oil producer by output, to pay off debts incurred in its $55 billion acquisition of TNK-BP in 2013.



Russia is keen to develop and deepen its Soviet-era economic ties with India and sell oil to one of the world's fastest-growing economies at a time when its own economy is stagnant, hit by Western sanctions and a plunge in global oil prices.



Modi had pitched to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the granting of stakes to Indian oil firms during his visit to Moscow in December.



The deals will help India to secure Russian oil output, while Rosneft will gain access to the Indian market, Sechin told reporters in New Delhi.



Sechin met Essar Oil officials during his visit and said that Rosneft hopes to conclude a deal to buy a 49 per cent stake in the 400,000 barrel-per-day Vadinar refinery in western India by the end of June.



The proposed deal would give Rosneft an additional outlet for its oil as it grapples with a global crude supply glut.



ENERGY BRIDGE



"We are establishing a reliable energy bridge between our countries, which will be developing the interests of both Russia and India," Sechin said.



A consortium of Oil India, Indian Oil Corp and Bharat PetroResources (BPRL), a unit of Bharat Petroleum Corp, has bought 29.9 percent stake in Rosneft's Taas-Yuriakh field.



The companies will together pay $1.121 billion for their share in the operation and $180 million each for future capital expenditure, a source with knowledge of the deal said.



Meanwhile, India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp signed an initial deal to raise its stake in the Vankor project to 26 percent from 15 percent, while the other three companies could together pick up 23.9 percent.



A final deal for Vankor will be signed in June, sources told Reuters last week.



If the deals go through, Rosneft will retain 50.1 percent of Vankor, which produced 22 million tonnes of oil in 2014, representing about a tenth of the company's total output.



Vankor's oil is shipped to Asia, mostly to China.



Indian companies could pay close to $3 billion for boosting their Vankor stake, based on the price ONGC paid for its 15 percent stake in the project, an ONGC source told Reuters.



IOC-Oil India-BPRL also signed a preliminary deal to buy a stake in Rosneft's Vankor cluster - a separate group of small oil fields. - Reuters
HMH - Hospitality Management Holdings has signed a management agreement with Muzn Oman Commercial to operate a new Corp Muscat Al Muzn Hotel in the Omani capital.



The upscale three-star hotel, with a built-up area of 12,301-sq-m will be part of Al Muzn project that was promoted by Majan Development Company and is being developed along with its strategic partners, as a mixed-use, one-stop destination offering multiple facilities. These include a shopping mall as well as a luxury wellness centre.



Making the announcement, Mohamed Al Kindi, chairman of Muzn Oman Commercial , said: "The steady growth of tourism in Oman, with a vision to welcome 12 million visitors annually by 2020, is fuelling demand for quality mid-market hotels catering to diverse segments and Corp Muscat Al Muzn Hotel is being developed to serve that growing need. The hotel has been conceived to be a comfortable and stylish address for business and leisure travellers to Muscat. We are pleased to work with a reputed operator like HMH - Hospitality Management Holdings on this exciting new development designed to complement Al Muzn Mall."



Corp Muscat Al Muzn Hotel is expected to welcome its first guests by the first quarter of 2018. Laurent A. Voivenel, CEO of HMH - Hospitality Management Holdings, said: "Oman is a key development market for HMH and we are very proud to debut the Corp brand in the country with Corp Muscat Al Muzn Hotel. The hospitality industry in Oman is witnessing remarkable growth at the moment and we are truly grateful to Muzn Oman Commercial for having given us this opportunity at these exciting times. HMH is well-positioned in the country as one of the leading alcohol-free hotel groups equipped with the most advanced technology and we are confident Corp Muscat Al Muzn Hotel will add tremendous value to our growing presence in Oman while further strengthening our international portfolio.



Corp Muscat Al Muzn Hotel is strategically located in Muwaleh, in close proximity to Muscat International Airport as well as major business hubs, industrial areas and government institutions. Featuring 132 guestrooms, the hotel will complement Al Muzn Mall and will offer a host of services and facilities tailored to the needs of modern business and leisure travellers. From fine quality dining, to a fully equipped business center and recreational facilities, Corp Muscat Al Muzn Hotel will provide all. Some of its key features include: multi-cuisine restaurant with room service, business centre services, conference facilities, basement car parking, free wireless high-speed internet, rooftop swimming pool and spa facilities. - TradeArabia News Service
Meet award-winning artisans and buy their products at Kerala Arts and Crafts Village
Vera Cole wonders if this is the best contemporary atheists can do. Answer: Yes, using facts to make an argument is the best anyone can do. Fact: There have been many studies on the efficacy of prayer. They all come to the same conclusion: prayer makes no discernable difference. But if prayer did actually work, these studies should show overwhelming proof, they do not. Fact: Faith healing parents do let their children die from treatable illnesses. Just as it is not part of the freedom of speech to falsely cry fire in a crowded theater, it is not part of the freedom of religious practice to allow someone to die without medical intervention just to preserve that liberty. Fact: George Bush is quoted as saying, I am driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, 'George go and fight these terrorists in Afghanistan'. And I did. And then God would tell me 'George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq'. And I did."

Its clear from her letter that Cole doesnt know what atheism is. The best way to define atheism then is to start with what atheism is not. Atheism is not a world view or a belief system or a political philosophy. It is not a religion, it has no doctrine or dogma. It has nothing to do with whether a person is moral or immoral, good or evil. Atheism is simply a lack of belief in a god or gods. So in light of this, how could Stalins atheism have had anything to do with the fact that he was a brutal dictator? He could have been devoutly religious and still have been just as brutal. Religion has a history of violence and brutality that cant be denied. Just look at the Middle East today. However, the evil done by men who claim to be atheist is not done in the name of atheism. (See above definition.) But more often than not, the evil committed by the religious is done in the name of their God and their religion.
Blakes Lotaburger, the New Mexico chain known for green chile cheeseburgers, has set April 1 as the grand opening for its first Tucson restaurant.

The restaurant, at 2810 East Speedway, will begin serving breakfast at 6 a.m. and remain open until 10 p.m. daily.

Blakes is also planning to open a second local store, on West Valencia Road near Interstate 19, this summer.

The Tucson community has been incredibly welcoming to us and we are happy to offer employment to more than 80 local residents through the opening of this first location in the area, said manager Kevin McCaslin in a news release.
Listing and searching for summer programs

Listings will be online only this year, which means no deadlines for you and a searchable database for parents. It is free to list your events and programs. Here's how:

Go to tucson.com

Scroll down to "Things To Do"

Click on "Add an event"

You will need to log in with a password and an email address. It's free to register for an account if you don't already have one.

When filling out the form:

Under "Main Category," select "Childrens Camps and Activities."

Specify any age range or restrictions, in the "Online Description" field.

Dates and times must be specific to each event.

For parents looking for a summer program:

Go online to tucson.com/calendar

Scroll down to where it says "Categories" and click to pull a menu down

Click on "Children's Camps and Activities"

Refine your search by entering key words and date ranges (optional)

Scroll down and click on "Search"

If you have any questions please call us at 573-4142.
Clarissa Lopez was booked and released from the Pima County jail on March 7, after being indicted on multiple felonies relating to the alleged operation of a massage parlor ring in Tucson.

Lopez is facing charges of illegal control of an enterprise, keeping a house of prostitution, receiving the earnings of a prostitute and money laundering.

Lopez also has been charged with two felony counts of pandering.

Police had been investigating the businesses since November 2011, after receiving complaints from neighbors about suspected illegal activities at several residences associated with Lopez and her boyfriend, Ulises Ruiz. Ruiz has also been indicted on related charges.
PHOENIX  Bernie Sanders was handed three early defeats on Tuesday  but his speech carried little mention of them.

Sanders lost Ohio, Florida and North Carolina to Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, who added to her delegate lead. But, in a speech to supporters in Phoenix, he barely discussed those contests or the day's races in Illinois or Missouri that have not been called.

Sanders instead delivered his standard campaign speech, decrying the influence of big money in politics. He vowed that "billionaires would have to pay their fair share."

The Arizona Republic estimated Sanders' Phoenix crowd at 7,000.
Slaying victim, suspect identified

Tucson police arrested a man on suspicion of second-degree murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend Monday night.

Stacy Otis Kelley Jr. was booked into the Pima County jail, said Sgt. Pete Dugan, a Tucson Police Department spokesman.

The victim has been identified as Kimberly Cornwell, 22.

Dugan gave the following account:

At about 7:30 p.m. Monday, officers responded to a report of a possible shooting at a house in the 7700 block of East Vancouver Place, north of East Escalante and west of South Pantano Roads.

When officers arrived, they found a vehicle parked in front of the house. A woman, in the passengers seat, had obvious signs of gunshot trauma. A man was sitting in the drivers seat next to her. He was taken into custody while paramedics assisted the woman. Cornwell was pronounced dead at the scene. The man was not injured.

The victim and the suspect were in a romantic relationship, but did not live together.

The couple had argued outside the house before the shooting.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME.

Man shot by police brandished BB gun

A man who was shot and wounded by Tucson police officers Tuesday had brandished a BB gun at them, investigators later learned.

Carlos Alegria, 41, is in stable condition at a hospital. Once he is released, he will be booked into the Pima County jail on suspicion of aggravated assault, said Sgt. Pete Dugan, a Tucson police spokesman, on Wednesday night.

On Tuesday at about 9:30 a.m., four officers responded to a 911 call about a man with a knife who was threatening construction workers in the 5600 block of East Pima Street, in midtown, Dugan said.

Officers found the man walking down the street with a knife in his hand. Police tried to talk to the man, who pulled out what appeared to be a handgun, Dugan said.

Moments later shots were fired and the man was struck multiple times. The two officers who fired their weapons were Mark Molina, a 19-year veteran of the department, and Gary Rosebeck, an eight-year veteran, Dugan said.

No officers were injured during the incident.

An administrative investigation is being conducted, which is standard protocol in all shootings involving officers.

Carmen Duarte
A for-profit school run by a board that includes University of Arizona President Ann Weaver Hart is under scrutiny by the federal agency responsible for protecting military veterans.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced Monday it suspended DeVry Universitys status as a Principles of Excellence institution. The VA also has flagged the school on its website to warn veterans that the agency has received nearly 150 complaints about DeVry.

Hart has drawn criticism for her decision to join the board of directors of DeVry Universitys parent firm DeVry Education Group. The board post pays her $70,000 a year plus $100,000 in stock on top of her $665,000 UA pay package.

Hart has said she vetted the company thoroughly before joining its board about a month ago. She said shes confident DeVry is on solid footing despite a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit that claims the school deceived students about their career prospects. DeVry denies wrongdoing.

The VA, though, is greatly concerned about FTCs findings in the pending lawsuit, the veterans agency said in a letter to DeVry.

Some of the complaints from veterans echo those in the trade commission case, the VA said. The veterans agency plans to conduct targeted, risk-based program reviews for all DeVry campuses, the letter said.

The Principles of Excellence program, a VA seal of approval for institutions that enroll military veterans, was established by President Obama in 2012 in response to reports that some schools were using deceptive marketing tactics to prey on former troops.

To obtain the seal of approval, schools volunteer to follow a list of best-practices such as transparency in financial disclosures . The UA and Pima Community College both participate in the program.

DeVry is suspended from the program at least until the conclusion of the FTC lawsuit, the VA letter said. The school is eligible to enroll student veterans despite the suspension, VA officials said.

Hart did not reply to requests for comment on the VA action against DeVry.

The requests were submitted to her through UA spokesman Chris Sigurdson who until a few days ago was passing along such queries to the president. Sigurdson now says hes no longer handling questions about DeVry because its not part of his UA job and he redirected the requests to DeVrys head office.

Ernest Gibble, a spokesman for Illinois-based DeVry Education Group, said the firm is extremely disappointed by the VAs action.

The FTCs allegations that the VA cites are just that  allegations  and we believe are without merit, Gibble said in an email. The VA should withhold judgment on these matters while we seek resolutions.

Hart has said she intends to be a voice for quality on the DeVry Group board. She has the support of the president of the Arizona Board of Regents, although the boards approval isnt required .

Harts board service has become a sore point for some students, alumni and faculty members who say she has tarnished the UAs reputation by her association with the troubled for-profit.

I have yet to run into a single person on campus who thinks (Hart) is doing the right thing here or who views her DeVry connection as having any benefits to the U of A, said Jake Harwood, a UA communications professor.

The VAs website says the agency has received 147 complaints nationwide against DeVry University. They include complaints about tuition and fee charges; student loans; quality of education and post-graduation job opportunities.
The number of African-American children removed from their homes in Arizona has increased nearly 10 percent in the last two years, now accounting for nearly 30 out of every 1,000 children statewide.

This is absolutely something that were concerned about, said Katherine Guffey, the chief quality improvement officer for Arizonas Department of Child Safety.

At the end of September 2015, there were 18,619 children in out-of-home care statewide, a Department of Child Safety Oversight Committee report shows, and 2,791, or 15 percent, were African-American children.

Many factors could be contributing to this trend, Guffey said. It could be a combination of the effects of poverty and impoverished communities not having access to services, she said.

About 62 percent of African-American children in Arizona were living in low-income households in 2013, data from Columbia Universitys National Center for Children in Poverty shows. In comparison, 33 percent of Caucasian children were from low-income families.

Over-representation of African-American children in foster care is not limited to Arizona, but some states are making progress in addressing it, said Jerry Milner, vice president for child welfare practices with the Center for the Support of Families.

With the number of Arizona children in out-of-home care rising to 19,000, the increase in minority children in foster care is a likely outgrowth, he said.

We know, of course, that African-American families and kids are also over-represented among families that live in poverty, and kids who are coming from very poor situations are probably going to be more likely to end up in the child welfare system, he said.

Arizonas population is about 6.7 million, U.S. Census Bureau data shows, and about 315,000 residents are African-Americans.

Its a major concern, said Charles Fanniel, Arizona president for the NAACP.

All kids, regardless of ethnicity, need stable, loving homes.

Fanniel said much of the NAACPs national focus recently has been on the excessive use of force against unarmed African-American men, but he said they need to look at this issue more now.

Single parent homes are one of the biggest challenges, said Donna Liggins, the longtime president of Tucsons NAACP, who retired from that post in 2014.

In some cases, she said, African-American parents lack the resources needed to help them succeed and raise their children. In some cases, they need parenting classes or, more often, access to decent child care.

If theres really abuse, of course you need to stop that, but in many cases its simply that the mother has no resources, she said.

States that have made improvements typically focus on identifying why a certain race is over-represented  such as lack of access to child care or unemployment.

Policies need to focus on identifying what their needs are, what their supports are and then get them connected to the agencies that can help them, Milner said.
There is one day left to get your President Preference Election ballot in the mail.

Secretary of State Michele Reagan is asking those planning to vote by mail in Southern Arizona to send them immediately, suggesting that doing so Friday might be too late to have your vote count.

Thursday is the best bet to ensure that your ballot gets back down here and gets counted in time, she said.

Reagan also warned Republican voters who have-nt already voted to keep a careful eye on who is still in the race, noting some presidential candidates are still on the ballot even though theyve already dropped out.

If you were a Lindsay Graham supporter, he is on the ballot, she said. You can vote for him if you want to, but your are throwing your vote away.

All votes will be tabulated, Reagan said, but in the winner-take-all rules for the GOP side of the race, only votes for those still in the race will count.

Roughly 30,000 Democrats and 22,000 Republicans have registered to vote in the last three months, although Reagan says this figure includes 11,000 people who were registered as independents and who changed their political affiliation.

She expects at least a portion of those voters will re-register as independents after the Presidential Preference Election on March 22, after changing affiliations to participate in the process next week.

Independents are not allowed to vote in next weeks election, a decision that dates back to 1992, notes Reagan.

Then-Arizona Secretary of State Betsey Bayless, a Republican, asked state Attorney General Janet Napolitano for a legal opinion on whether a new state law allowing independents to vote in the primary would extend to a presidential preference election. Napolitano, a Democrat, said no.

And that has been on the books ever since, she said.

Reagan has concerns about the current system  which is expected to cost an estimated $9.6 million.

I have a very big problem that taxpayers are being asked to pay for that, but then we say Oh, by the way, a third of you cant vote in it, Reagan said. You just cant have it both ways.

The political parties should finance the election if they continue to choose to keep independents from voting, she said, noting a number of states dont use public funding for similar elections.

If you cant get your ballot in the mail by Thursday, you can drop it off at any of Pima Countys designated drop-off locations. They include 240 N. Stone Ave., 6920 E. Broadway, Suite D, and 6550 S. Country Club Road.

Also, voters can drop off their vote-by-mail ballots at any polling location on Election Day.
For the month of June, I am blogging about essays. What is the difference between an article and an essay? Here are some basic ways in whi...
PHOENIX  Two top House Democrats want that chambers Ethics Committee to investigate Speaker David Gowan and other key Republicans.

In a formal complaint Tuesday, Minority Leader Eric Meyer and Minority Whip Rebecca Rios cited published reports about the travels of the GOP lawmakers.

These members used state vehicles for potentially non-official purposes and/or were reimbursed for travel for which they were not entitled to reimbursement, the Democrats said in the complaint to state Rep. David Stevens, R-Sierra Vista, who chairs the Ethics Committee. They also cited a separate trip that Gowan took to Washington, D.C., in December.

These recent events appear to be part of a pattern of inappropriate conduct that has caused the public to lose confidence and trust in the Arizona House of Representatives, the complaint states.

It also says Gowan appears to have tasked his state staff with assisting his congressional campaign, including taking staff to speaking appearances around the state and in Washington.

Gowan has asked Attorney General Mark Brnovich to look into his travel. But the Democrats said that request raises a separate question, not asked of Brnovich, of whether Gowan sought legal advice from attorneys on the House payroll, rather than seeking outside legal counsel, on the question of a possible criminal investigation.

And they asked that Gowan and Majority Leader Steve Montenegro step aside during the investigation.

No one will be stepping down, said Stephanie Grisham, spokeswoman for House Republicans. Grisham repeatedly refused to answer questions about who prepared Gowans letter to Brnovich and whether any state funds, resources or employees were involved.

Grisham also said there would be no comment from Gowan. Other legislators named in the complaint in addition to Gowan and Montenegro were state Reps. Darin Mitchell, R-Litchfield Park, and Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale.

But much of the inquiry  and the greatest amount of travel  involves Gowan.

The complaint will not necessarily lead to an investigation or hearing.
PHOENIX  State legislators are moving to finally end dog racing in Arizona, a sport one lawmaker called "one step above dog fighting."

Legislation unanimously approved Wednesday by the Senate Finance Committee would make the practice illegal at the end of the year. That would leave horse racing as the only live animal racing sport here.

In a curious twist, HB 2127 has the support of the owners of Tucson Greyhound Park, the last remaining track in the state. Lobbyist Mike Racy said the owners are willing to pull the plug.

But that support comes with a price tag: Track owners want to preserve their exclusive right to operate off-track betting facilities around Southern Arizona for the next two years.

That move is getting a fight from the owners of horse tracks who now must pay Tucson Greyhound Park a fee of about $500,000 a year to have their signals from their live races carried at those OTB locations. They would rather set up their own off-track betting sites.

But lawmakers, clearly anxious to put a halt to dog racing, were not anxious to disturb what appears to be a delicately crafted agreement between the track's owners and Grey2K USA, the national organization that has been working to wipe out dog racing worldwide and promote the "rescue" and adoption of dogs that owners no longer want for racing.

Joe Romack, who told lawmakers he rescues greyhounds, urged them to approve the measure.

"I get these dogs off the track and see how abused they have been," he said. A greyhound brought to him from the Tucson track died last week after there was a delay in surrendering the animal for treatment, Romack told lawmakers.

"They're in cages 20 hours a day," he said.

"They sleep on scraps of urine-soaked carpet,"Romack continued, living in small cages. "We need to end the abuse."

That description drew derision from Rory Goree, chairman of the Arizona Racing Commission.

"I know in the media you have heard a lot of lies about Tucson Greyhound Park," he told lawmakers. "Those dogs are not as bad off as other people that you heard earlier, or the media, claim.''

Goree said if the owners of Tucson Greyhound Park want to shut down, that's their decision. But he said the practice should not be outlawed in case the company that owns now-shuttered parks in Phoenix and Apache Junction want to reopen.

And Bill Rice, representing the Arizona Greyhound Association which includes dog owners and kennel operators, lashed out at Grey2K.

"They've never rescued a dog in their life," he said.

None of that impressed Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson.

"Greyhound racing isn't a sport," he said. "It's a cruel practice that's like one step above dog fighting."

Farley said the issue is complicated by the "perverse" fact that Arizona laws actually seem to keep the practice alive.

That includes tax credits which Racy said were enacted to help the tracks after tribal gaming was made legal. Green said there is $4.8 million in tax credits sitting in an account that can be used against future earnings.

"It's just not right," Green said.

And then there's the "dome," the exclusive right to operate off-track betting.

Racy said that right needs to be preserved for the next two years, beyond the end of live racing, for economic reasons.

He said Tucson Greyhond Park, with 100 workers, is the largest employer in South Tucson. He said it needs time to transition.

That move will get a fight from Sen. Steve Pierce, R-Prescott, when the measure goes to the Senate floor. He said there is no reason for the horse tracks to have to keep paying Tucson Greyhound Park for off-track betting services for another two years.

That's also the assessment of Sen. Lynne Pancrazi, D-Yuma.

But Farley said it has taken years for all sides to come to an agreement and cautioned that any change in the deal could pull it apart  and kill the legislation to end dog racing.

Pierce, however, said he's not worried. He said the finances of it all will kill dog racing, sooner or later.

"I don't believe they want to keep losing money down there," he said of the Tucson park.
PHOENIX  Ignoring a possible lawsuit, a Senate panel voted Tuesday to put a new hurdle in the path of Planned Parenthood getting Medicaid funds for family planning services.

State Rep. Justin Olson, R-Mesa, said HB 2599 simply says that any organization that violates one of a series of laws can be disqualified from the program that is funded with federal and state dollars. That ranges from fraud and unlawful disposal of medical waste to neglect of a patient that results in death or injury.

But Olsons measure, approved 4-3 by the Committee on Federalism, Mandates and Fiscal Responsibility, also would oust any provider from Medicaid who did not segregate taxpayer dollars from abortions. And that would require separating out what money is used on everything from doctors to lighting.

That simply adds teeth to existing laws that preclude the use of federal and state dollars for elective abortions, he said.

Bryan Howard, president of Planned Parenthood Arizona, said his organization does not use public funds for such abortions. And he said none of the Medicaid dollars it gets for family planning services subsidize elective abortions.

But Howard said he sees the language as a sort of trap to do what a federal court already said the Legislature cannot do: cut family planning dollars from Planned Parenthood solely because it also provides elective abortions, a legal procedure that Olson says he opposes.

Howard said he has good reason to suspect the motives of Olson and the legislators who support this measure: It replaces a 2012 measure Olson sponsored that took more direct aim at Planned Parenthood  a measure federal judges have blocked the state from enforcing.

State and federal laws already bar the use of public funds for abortions that are not medically necessary.

But the state, as part of its participation in Medicaid, provides family planning services for needy women. The federal government pays 90 percent, with the state covering the balance.

Medicaid statutes and regulations also permit eligible women to choose from any qualified provider, which has included Planned Parenthood.

In 2012, Olson pushed through a measure to say that any organization that also provides abortions cannot be a qualified provider. Olson said at that time he believes any money the government gives Planned Parenthood to pay for other expenses frees up funds for abortions.

A federal appeals court blocked enforcement, ruling that federal law says those enrolled in Medicaid can get the services they need from any qualified provider. And the judges said there is no evidence that Planned Parenthood medical staffers are not qualified.

Olson said HB 2599 does not suffer from the same flaws because it doesnt target any particular provider. He said it simply ensures that abortion providers comply with all laws, including the laws that bar taxpayer funding of abortions.

You will need to segregate the taxpayers dollars you do receive from the abortions that you provide so it is clear that you are following the law and are not using those taxpayers dollars to fund an abortion, Olson said.

Howard sees another motive.

This bill is indeed intended to prevent Planned Parenthood continuing to provide preventative services to low-income women in the state, he told lawmakers.

If legislators pursue this measure, they will end up back in court, Howard said. And he predicted the state will lose again  and taxpayers will again pay for his organizations legal fees.

Sen. Olivia Cajero Bedford, D-Tucson, chided supporters of the measure.

I would say that since my Republican male colleagues are so possessed with abortion, I think they ought to be concerned with providing some legislation that would educate men on how to prevent these unintended, unwanted pregnancies, she said.

Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, said Republicans are concerned about preventing unwanted pregnancy  just not in the way that others might want.

We have continually called for more abstinence training and teaching in our schools, he said. That would solve unplanned pregnancies, would it not?

By contrast, he said Planned Parenthood and its supporters advocate for elementary schools (to teach) how to put condoms on a cucumber.
PHOENIX  A Senate panel voted Tuesday to ask voters to give up some of their rights to enact  and, more to the point, preserve  their own laws.

HCR 2043 would effectively overturn a 1998 voter-approved constitutional provision that says once a measure is approved at the ballot it can be overturned only with a three-fourths vote of both the House and Senate. And even with that margin, lawmakers cannot repeal what voters have enacted but can approve only changes that further the purpose of the underlying measure.

Rep. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, said lawmakers need the ability to react when situations change.

Pretty much everything passed at the ballot is locked in stone, he told members of the Senate Committee on Federalism, Mandates and Fiscal Responsibility

Mesnard said his proposal, if approved in November, would not provide a carte blanche for a majority of lawmakers to undo voter proposals on a willy-nilly basis.

It says lawmakers could enact changes only if they get the same margin as the original measure. So if the initiative got 55 percent of the popular vote, it would take 33 of 60 House members to override and 17 of 30 senators.

Central to the debate is that 1998 constitutional change.

It actually has its roots in a successful 1996 initiative, the first attempt to allow doctors to prescribe marijuana and otherwise illegal drugs to their patients. The following year, though, lawmakers concluded that voters might have been confused and effectively repealed what voters had just enacted.

Backers came back in 1998, not only getting voters to re-enact the 1996 measure but also approve the Voter Protection Act, which ties the hands of lawmakers in tinkering with what is enacted at the ballot.

HCR 2043 would not affect anything approved to this point.

But if ratified in November, it would give the go-ahead for legislators to alter whatever is enacted at this election and every one in the future.

Mesnard said that flexibility is needed.

People want us to be effective, he said. Our ability to be effective is becoming diminished because of the tentacles of Voter Protection that are spreading throughout our ability to modify things very difficult.

Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, said no one was trying to eliminate the initiative process which dates from the first days of statehood. But he said there is a shared balance of power.

We are a republic before we are a democracy, he said.

And if you do have a republican form of government, as our nation and state has, then certainly I think that form of government should always prevail.
Help India!

By George Joseph, IANS,

New Delhi: Congress MP Rahul Gandhis pre-dawn journey to Bhatta Parsaul village  the epicentre of the five-day-old farmers agitation in Uttar Pradesh  is the latest in his series of surprise visits to challenge political rivals or to register a point on burning public issues.

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He surprises both foes and friends by sudden, unscheduled visits to the hot spots. Many party leaders were not aware of todays Rahuls entry on a two-wheeler into the village that was barred for political leaders and outsiders by the Mayawati government, a Congress leader told IANS.

For the general public and ordinary Congress workers, Gandhis visit was a daredevil act that would come as a boost to the farmers movement for higher compensation for the land taken for the construction of 156 km long Yamuna Expressway that is to link New Delhi with Agra.

Tempers are running high. Police and agitating farmers in Greater Noida in Gautam Budh Nagar district fought a pitched battle Saturday in which four people, including two policemen, were killed.

It (Gandhis act) was a daring act against the high-handed (Bahujan Samaj Party) Mayawati government, which is treating farmers as criminals. Rahuls visit has changed the profile of the farmers strike. It will now become a mass movement, said Suresh Tyagi, a Congress activist from neighbouring Ghaziabad district.

In a similar unexpected act, on Aug 26 last year, Gandhi visited the bauxite-rich Niyamgiri hills of Orissa to boost the morale of the tribals, who oppose their displacement by mineral-based industries in different parts of the state.

Gandhi, who addressed a rally organised by the state unit of the Youth Congress to celebrate the day as Tribal Rights Day, said that the voice of the poor was rarely being heard in the country, while the voice of the rich was heard at various levels.

Much to the annoyance of Orissas ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) that is backing mining projects in the states tribal areas, Gandhi promised the tribals that he would be their voice in New Delhi. The meaning of development should be that all people should march forward and the voice of all should be heard, he said.

Before that, on Feb 5, Gandhi made an unscheduled journey in a local train in Mumbai to challenge the Shiv Sena, which had launched a series of attacks on migrants from Bihar and other states in Mumbai.

It was a bold and timely act to declare that Mumbai belongs to all  people from all states and sections, Guru Nair, vice president of the cultural cell of the Maharashtra Congress, told IANS.

Gandhis Mumbai visit, considered as a major challenge in his career, was held amidst tight security and a few protests by Sena activists, who had called it Mussolinis visit.

Nair said Gandhis journey took the wind out of the Shiv Sena.

The latest visit to Mayawatis turf in western Uttar Pradesh has also rattled the opposition.

Some political analysts and rival politicians feel that Gandhi is trying to fish in the troubled waters of the state with an eye on the assembly polls next year.

In her criticism, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said that Rahul was no grassroots leader to represent the farmers.

Prakash Javadekar, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson, alleged that Rahuls visit was a stage managed show in connivance with Mayawati.

Though the police clamped down on the agitators and arrested several top political leaders including former BJP chief minister Rajnath Singh, who tried to visit the area, Gandhi managed to enter village.

The Congress is full of praise for its leader. On Wednesday, at Bhatta Parsaul, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh was there to praise Gandhi and explain the speciality of his visits.

Rahul Gandhi is different from other leaders. He believes in reaching out to the affected people, wherever they are. At any cost, Singh said.


Help India!

By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net

News of Syed Asif Ibrahims appointment to the post of Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has come as a surprise. There are reasons for the eyebrows to be raised- he is the first Muslim to head the Bureau in 125 years of the organizations history and he is being made the chief by moving four senior officers out of IB.

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Syed Asif Ibrahim will be the IB chief from Jan 2013 to Dec 2014.



Born on September 28, 1953 in Kanpur, Ibrahim belongs to 1977 batch of Indian Police Service (IPS). He was assigned to Madhya Pradesh where among other postings he also served in Chambal as SP Gwalior. A journalist of the state tells me that Ibrahim has reputation of being honest with high integrity.

He went to Delhi on central deputation in late 1980s and has remained outside his parent state ever since. It is not clear whether he moved to Delhi to join IB or he joined it later.

IB and RAW have been notorious for not hiring Muslims and Sikhs. Late Dr. Omar Khalidi in his famous book Khaki and Ethnic Violence in India quoted journalists and government officials that suggested that there has been a deliberate policy to exclude Muslims from sensitive and strategic services.

Most of the intelligence agencies do not mirror the diversity of the national population, Dr. Khalidi wrote in his book whose second edition was published in 2010.

He also cited a Communalism Combat report of September 1993 that quoted the Union Minister of State for Home confirming that there has not been a single Muslim in the RAW and IB personnel. But Former CBI director R. K. Raghavan in an email to Dr. Omar Khalidi confessed that there are a handful of Muslim officers working for CBI and there are some Muslims in the IB as well.

Asif Ibrahim is one of those few Muslim officers in the IB. In fact Dr. Khalidi lists Asif Ibrahim along with Javed Gilani as the two Muslims in IB.

What is not clear is exactly when Ibrahim joined IB. Ajit Doval, IB chief from 2004 to 2005 was quoted by the Guardian, I worked with [Ibrahim] for 20 years. Which will put the date of his IB induction to 1992. Saikat Datta, who has written on the topic of IB recruitment of Muslim writes in the DNA that in the early 1990s the IB decided to move away from this unwritten code and brought in Ibrahim as one of its first Muslim officers. The two statements together will point to 1992-3 as the date when Ibrahim joined IB, it could also be in the aftermath of Babri Masjid demolition.

According to media reports, Ibrahim was at the Kashmir Operations Desk of the IB during the height of the militancy in the state. He is also reported to have handled Maoists, security and cyber security.

From 2007 to 2011 Ibrahim was posted at Indian High Commission in London as Minister (Coordination). Munaf Zeena, Chairman of Council of Indian Muslims (UK)- CIM ,described his relationship with Ibrahim as luke warm but that turned to strong mutual respect for each other before the end of Ibrahims UK posting.







Asif Ibrahim (second from left) and Munaf Zeena (second from right) at a function in March 2011



The Hindu curiously called Ibrahims posting in UK as being the IB station chief in London. As IB is internal intelligence agency why would it have a station outside India but if it was not intelligence posting why would he come back to IB? There seems to be some truth to The Hindus claim as present Minister (Coordination) at Indian High Commission, Sukhdev Singh Sidhu also comes to this position from the IB.

In an email to TwoCircles.net Zeena recalled Ibrahim being helpful by facilitating meetings at short notice and listening and finding ways to solve problems in the matters that Zeena represented.

Asif Ibrahim in his capacity introduced CIM to number of influential people and also to the Indian High Commissioner which resulted in the High Commissioner visiting North London Muslim Community Centre which showcased achievements of the Indian Muslim community. Zeena described Ibrahim as a lateral thinker who is aware of different interest groups and dangers it poses to fairness and justice.

The Hindu report also credits Ibrahim for being  the first one to have a clear sense of the whole Indian Mujahideen movement within the organisation.

This is another interesting comment, rise and fall of Indian Mujahideen which many consider to be a figment of imagination of the IB, happened from 2007 to 2011 which coincides with Ibrahims stay in the UK. Was Ibrahim serving the High Commission in UK or working on Indian Mujahideen Desk for IB? May be we will never know.

The manner of Ibrahims rise to the organizations top has also raised quite a few eyebrows. Indian bureaucracy is a big believer in the idea of seniority, the date of joining is more important than the merit. To make Ibrahim the chief, four IPS officers senior to him in IB were transferred out of the organization.

Indian Muslims that see IB and police harassing the community in the name of terrorism will not find it reassuring that a Muslim have been made the IB chief. When we have living breathing examples of innocent people who have been acquitted after spending as much as 14 years in jail on the false charges of terrorism, nothing less than a complete overhaul of intelligence and anti-terrorism institutions will be sufficient.

Will the presence of Syed Asif Ibrahim at the helm of affairs of Indias premier intelligence agency make any difference for the Muslims of India? Dr. Omar Khalidi wrote in his book, a handful of Muslims here and there could hardly prevent the IBs raid on renowned seminary, the Nadwa in Lucknow in 1994. Still I believe, a representation should be made to the new IB chief, not just by Muslim but all those who are concerned about IB functioning, raising the concerns about pattern of illegal detention on false evidence that do not stand a chance in the court of law but still able to destroy the lives of hundreds and keep millions in an environment of fear. Also, congratulate Ibrahim for breaking a glass ceiling for indian Muslims that was in force for over 125 years.
Help India!

The American society is pushed to the back foot in debates concerning liberty, equality and opportunity when an opponent points out that the society has failed to send even a single woman to the White House in the history of the countrys democracy. The irony becomes more pronounced when one contrasts this with the fact that four South Asian countries have had women heads of state. Some people even argue that one of the factors that contributed to Obamas election as President was the spirit of affirmative action among the American populace which wanted to elect a person of a historically excluded race as their leader and send a message to the world.

It is a fact universally acknowledged that the women of the world have been oppressed for centuries and have been denied opportunities; the situation is only worse in India. At a time when women empowerment is a pressing concern all over the world, the AMU community is faced with the monumental task of nominating people for the post of vice-chancellor.

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AMUs reputation as an egalitarian institution has been dampened lately because of the controversy surrounding the entry of students of Womens College in the central library. The incident makes corrective action incumbent upon us. It is the collective moral responsibility of the AMU community to do something to offset the image loss.

Furthermore, the representation of women is extremely poor in the governing bodies of the University. There is only one woman in AMUs 26 member strong Executive Council and she is a member only in her capacity as the Principal of Womens College. There are only 5 women in AMU Court which has over 150 members. The AMUs Academic Council which has roughly as many members has 15 women as members. Almost all the women in these bodies are ex-officio members or members by virtue of their posts; none of them are nominated or elected members.

These figures should be disturbing for any institution and a matter for contemplation. Affirmative action or conscious effort to improve opportunities for the excluded community is definitely one of the ways to achieve parity across sections of the society. Muslims in India are already an excluded community as has been empirically established by the Sachar Committee report. Muslim women are doubly excluded as they face exclusion not only owing to their Muslim identity but also due to their gender.

Emancipating these women and working towards their upliftment is an obligation upon the AMU community. A greater representation of women in the universitys governing bodies might not be the greatest of ways to achieve gender equality, but it is certainly the bare minimum that we can and we must do. If the AMU community is unable to do even this, then it shall lose the moral authority to claim any affirmative action from the government for the Muslims of the country.

When one talks about the under-representation of women in the University, one must not forget at the same time that the first Chancellor of AMU was Begum Sultan Jahan. To add to this, the university was served by a woman proctor, Dr. Shad Bano in the mid 90s, at a time when student unrest in the university was at its peak. There were a lot many who questioned her abilities but were silenced when they witnessed her efficient handling of the law and order crisis that erupted soon after she took charge in 1996. The situation was so grave that the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar had to be evacuated from the campus and the university had to be shut down. It was Dr. Bano who led and handled the administration during those days of crisis.

In addition, the university must make known to the world that it has had an early tradition of feminist discourse in the University. To discuss the exclusion of women a seminar was organized in Womens College in 1976. As per a report by India Today, the then vice-chancellor Prof. A. M. Khusro, in his inaugural address drew attention to the amazing contradiction that while on the one hand motherhood, sisterhood and life-partnership have been universally respected and eulogized, on the other, women have been kept in servility.

Keeping all the aforesaid points in mind, the AMU community must certainly consider having a woman vice-chancellor. Sometimes, one must look at things from a macroscopic level. If the efforts and deliberations within the AMU community result in the appointment of a woman vice-chancellor, it will be sending across a very strong message to the society. And theres absolutely no dearth of brilliant women who are excelling in their disciplines.

Year after year we read news reports of girls scoring better than boys in some exam or the other. Sooner or later, womens representation in institutions will be equal to that of men. Years later, what people will remember is who took the lead in ensuring justice for women. And that will be the time when theyll recognize the foresight and contribution of the progressive AMU community in the womens struggle for equal opportunities.

(The author is an AMU Alumnus)


Help India!

By TCN News,

New Delhi: A delegation of Indian Union Muslim League led by its National President and Member of Parliament E. Ahamed handed over a Memorandum signed by about one crore people to the President Pranabd Mukherjee regarding repeal of Article 44 of the Constitution of India.

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In September last year IUML had launched nationwide campaign to raise awareness about attempts to marginalize the minorities and to collect one crore signatures against implementation of Uniform Civil Code.

On Monday a delegation consisted of E.T. Mohamed Basheer, M.P., P.V. Abdul Wahab, M.P., Prof. Kader Mohideen, Ex. M.P. and National General Secretary, IUML, Abdul Basith, Ex. MLA, Tamil Nadu and Khurram Anis Omer, Secretary, IUML, on behalf of about one crore signatories presented a memorandum to President Mukherjee urging that the Article 44, a basis for Uniform Civil Code, is against the sovereignty, integrity and unity of the country and hence needs to be repealed.

Article- 44 of the Constitution reads: The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a UNIFORM CIVIL CODE throughout the territory of India.

The brief of the memorandum is that every religion has got its own personal laws to safeguard the beliefs and culture. They are special laws. Following those personal laws are the only yardstick of following the said religious beliefs. For instance Muslim community derives its personal laws from the Holy Quran and the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). Following the Islamic personal law is the religious duty of every Muslim. These personal laws are the sacred religious beliefs. As per the belief of the Muslims the Shariat law is God-given law.

The preamble of the Constitution of India declares the freedom to every citizen to follow his conscience, beliefs and worships. Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution of India confer upon every citizen the fundamental right to freely profess, practise and propagate the religion of his own choice and for administration of such religious institutions. Article 51-A confers a fundamental duty to every citizen to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities.

Per contra Article- 44 of the Constitution is totally contradictory to the above stated fundamental rights and duties enshrined in our Constitution.

To save our Constitution of India, to defend the fundamental rights of our citizens, to protect the rich traditions of unity and integrity of this nation, and to maintain the communal amity and brotherhood of our people, the delegation has requested the Honble President to initiate appropriate steps to repeal Article 44 of the Constitution of India by amending the same suitably.
BlogNews Weekly: Dwan Bluffs Ivey, $10 to $1,000, GPPT Mini Tour, and Women in Poker

March 16 2016 Jason Glatzer

Each week, PokerNews brings you insight into the happenings at the major poker sites. Featuring the most popular blog posts, BlogNews Weekly is your one-stop shop for all your poker blog highlights.

This week, BlogNews Weekly brings you highlights from the latest PokerStars, Full Tilt, partypoker, and 888poker blogs.

From $10 to $1,000

PokerStars pro Jorge "Baalim" Limon recently proved to the poker world how it is easily possible if you have the right skill set to turn a $10 bankroll into $1,000. He documented his progress in a 32-part YouTube series and discusses the key points to his success in this journey in a blog titled From $10 To $1,000, the Easy (Smart) Way.

He completed his challenge in less than 10,000 hands and credits "solid and basic poker" for his success. One of his recommendations to complete this challenge is to throw bankroll management out the window. Limon practiced a seven-buy-in bankroll-management strategy to move up and down stakes, which is far less than what he referred to as a typical benchmark of around 50 buy-ins.

Limon recommends for any player trying the challenge to settle somewhere in between, such as a 15-buy-in bankroll-management method. He also gives other advice in the blog on how to successfully and quickly complete the challenge, including not having an emotional attachment to a bankroll and not feeling bad about moving down stakes if necessary.

Head to the PokerStars Blog to read about how Jorge "Baalim" Limon turned $10 into $1,000 in less than 10,000 hands.

Dwan Four-Barrel Bluffs a $700,000 Pot Against Phil Ivey

The Full Tilt Blog took us back to the past to when Tom Dwan successfully four-barrel bluffed fellow top pro Phil Ivey to win a pot of almost $700,000 on High Stakes Poker.

The hand began with a few poker legends hoping to see a cheap flop, with Phil Laak raising the action from early position with the to $3,900 and getting calls from Eli Elezra with the , Ivey with the , and Daniel Negreanu with the . Dwan, holding the from the big blind, opted to three-bet to $28,900. Everyone folded but Ivey, who called to create a bloated pot of $70,700 before the flop.

Dwan fired twice on the flop and turn of a board, with Ivey opting to call both times to set up a $408,700 pot for the river. Dwan continued to barrel when the appeared on the river, this time with a bet $268,200. Ivey tanked with bottom pair and eventually folded, sending a $676,900 pot to Dwan with just nine-high.

Head to the Full Tilt Blog to read more about Dwan's amazing four-barrel bluff against Ivey.

Introducing the GPPT Mini Tour

The Grand Prix Poker Tour (GPPT) has proven its popularity among players by offering a very reasonable $109 buy-in to main events with huge $250,000 guaranteed prize pools.

Parlaying on its success, the GPPT has just introduced the GPPT Mini Tour, where in over a dozen venues in 2016 players will be competing for at least a guaranteed prize pool of $50,000 for the same affordable $109 buy-in. Players will have the opportunity to qualify into events online at partypoker for as low as just $0.01.

GPPT Tour Host and Dusk Till Dawn Club Director Simon Trumper is understandably excited about the new tour, informing on the partypoker Blog that, "This is a great tour that will bring the festival feel to some excellent casinos up and down the country. The GPPT Mini presented by partypoker is offering an exceptional $50,000 guarantee for an affordable $109 buy-in. I look forward to visiting all of the venues and some new cities in the process. I hope the player's enjoy the tour as much as I will."

Learn on the partypoker Blog about the GPPT Mini Tour.

Can Women Beat Men in Poker?

888poker Magazine took a look at the success of women in poker. The article kicks off by discussing when Annette "Annette_15" Obrestad won the 2007 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event before comparing female poker icons like Kathy Liebert and Vanessa Selbst.

Women hit the center stage in poker during the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event when France's Gaelle Baumann and Norway's Elisabeth Hille both just missed out on joining the November Nine at the final table.

However, despite these successes, the article points out that poker still has a long way to go before women are more noticeably present in big-ticket events. For example, just six percent of the over 22,000 player that entered the $565 WSOP Colossus were women.

Learn more on 888 Magazine about the history of women in poker.

Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+!

Sharelines Have a small bankroll? Learn how Jorge "Baalim" Limon turned $10 into $1,000 in the BlogNews Weekly.

Blast from the past! Tom Dwan successfully four-barrel bluffs against Phil Ivey for almost $700,000!
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China hopes for more cooperation with US in chasing fugitives Updated: 2016-03-15 22:39 (Xinhua)

BEIJING -- China hopes for more cooperation with the United States in chasing Chinese fugitives and their illegal assets, senior security official Meng Jianzhu said on Tuesday.

Meng, China's top official in charge of political and legal affairs, made the remarks when meeting with visiting US Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey.

Meng noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping conducted a successful visit to the United States in September last year, during which the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the endeavor to build a new model of major-country relationship based on the principle of mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

"China and US law enforcement departments should implement the important consensus reached between the two heads of state and enhance cooperation in fighting terrorism, cyber crime and pursuing Chinese fugitives and their illegal assets," Meng said.

Comey said the United States is willing to enhance communication with China, expand their consensus and step up bilateral cooperation in law enforcement and security.
China releases water from dam to alleviate SE Asia drought Updated: 2016-03-16 11:04 By Cao Yin and Ma Danning(chinadaily.com.cn)

The Jinghong Hydropower Station will increase water discharges to ease effects of a regional drought. [Photo by Yang Zheng/China Daily]

A Southwest China hydropower station has increased water discharges to up to 2,190 cubic meters per second on a trans-boundary river, in order to provide emergency water supply to Vietnam and other countries in the drought-afflicted Southeast Asian region, Chen Lei, Minister of Water Resources said on Wednesday.

The Jinghong hydropower station in Southwest China's Yunnan province will increase its water discharge on the Lancang-Mekong River through April 10. It will benefit Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, said Chen.

The Mekong River, whose upper part is known in China as the Lancang River, is an important water source for the five countries on the Indochinese PeninsulaLaos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Due to the prolonged effects of El Nino conditions which started taking a toll last year, the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam is going through the worst drought in nearly 100 years, and large areas of paddy fields will likely be damaged, reported Vietnam news portal Thanh Nien News in February.

According to Vietnamese media, some 140,000 ha of rice in the Mekong Delta has been damaged by the drought with around 600,000 people facing drinking water shortages.

China and countries along the river on the Indochinese Peninsula are "friendly neighbors", and they should help each other to cope with difficulties, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang at a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday, referring to the drought that countries along the river have faced since the end of last year.

Reports quoted the Foreign Ministry of Vietnam as saying the country, which is in the lower reaches of the Mekong River, has requested that China increase water discharges by the Jinghong Hydropower Station to help ease the drought.

Lu said China has decided to "overcome its own difficulties" and to provide the emergency water supply to benefit the five countries.
Porto calls Updated: 2016-03-16 08:13 By Erik Nilsson(China Daily)

Portugal's wine city and the river valley from which its port pours sculpt the profile of a region shaped by grapes in every sense. Erik Nilsson explores its shores.

Wine wrought the Douro Valley.

Its inhabitants have spent the past two millennia carving livings out of the shale mountains that nosedive into the river, whittling the peaks into terraces clutched by grapevines.

Nearly 50,000 of the region's 250,000 hectares have been lathed into hundreds of liana-wrapped honey-dipper tips.

The world's oldest demarcated wine region remains rugged.

Some residents of neighboring Porto city say of this hinterland: "The women are men. And the men are werewolves."

(The valley folk may take exception.)

This is the home - the sole source - of port wine.

The fermentation of the wine made from grapes here is incapacitated by brandy that's at least 77 percent alcohol to halt fermentation and preserve the sugars that give port its hyperactively saccharine character, relegating it exclusively to the realms of aperitif or digestive.

This beverage is both born of, and has sired, the culture this land has forged - a culture that has, in turn, reshaped the land's contours.

The fruits of local labor bejewel the leaves that sheathe the bouncing topography, festooning verdure plumage with clusters of sapphire, emerald and ruby.

The UNESCO World Heritage site is a place where such wineries as Quinta da Pacheca still squish grapes with human feet.

Visitors prance atop the fruit to traditional music around the September harvest.

That's not merely a gimmick.

Squashing the fruit between toes is the only known way to extract juice without crushing the seeds, which sours grapes' guts with acidity.

Mass producers are investing to develop robotic silicone feet to prevent seed ruptures - so far, in vain.

(They've at least dipped their toes in the business.)

One person can clomp a ton of grapes - literally - in about three hours.

The two-century-old winery also hosts a hotel in a noble's house. Diners can swill port - and other wines - while enjoying paired foods in a restaurant whose floor-to-ceiling windows afford striking views of the terraces.

Most visitors make the picturesque journey by car, boat or train to the land where the grapes are grown from the city from where wine is shipped around the world - Porto, from which both port and Portugal take their appellations.

Wine has remained integral to the ancient settlement that's best explored aboard the vessels that ply the Douro River.

Old buildings spill down the banks of the waterway up to where it ejects into the Atlantic.

Bridges frame the abodes of the small settlement first built on a rocky hill in 700 BC that the Romans later expanded.

Seagulls vault over the ripples like skipping stones, occasionally flicking their beaks into the water to snatch fish.

The watercourse is lined with cafes and bars among the stupendously slender houses that line the banks.

The buildings families have inhabited for generations were designed to be exceptionally narrow to manipulate property-tax codes.

This stretches riverside vistas with a vertical pull that intersects abruptly with the broad waterway's horizontal tug.

Most structures are sheathed with neo-Moorish tiles, creating an ornate aesthetic in which color and geometry compete to create peacocks of buildings.

Miles of tiles encase the edifices that hug streets that spin up the hills.

Thoroughfares were originally designed around guilds - nobles were forbidden from the area.

The city chosen as Europe's cultural capital in 2001 has long remained a bastion of authors and poets.

It's particularly renowned for its bountiful bookstores, including Lello & Irmao, which was frequented by J.K. Rowling when she taught English in the city. It's believed its staircase inspired Hogwarts'. Her characters' capes also resemble Portuguese students'.

Lonely Planet ranked the neo-Gothic establishment as the "third most beautiful library in the world".

But while the cityscape conjures a magical allure, a major ingredient in the love spell it casts is concealed underground.

Porto hides a hive of wine cellars that offer tours and tastings.

Sandman ranks among the biggest port brands, and its subterranean tunnels draw visitors to stroll among stacks of casks before aboveground samplings.

The traditional cellar is nearly next door to, but conceptually a million miles from, the Porto Cruz Multimedia Center.

The contemporary center is a techie-arty celebration of the brand's port that employs touchscreens, film and art displays to celebrate its wines.

It also produces jams, creams and teas that use port as ingredients.

Indeed, port wine has so shaped the area's physical composition and saturated its culture that it's not solely imbibed - but even eaten.

It flavors every dimension of local life.

Contact the writer at erik_nilsson@chinadaily.com.cn

Top: The best way to explore Porto's shores is by boat.Middle: A vintage tramruns in front of the 17thcentury Carmo and 18thcentury Carmelitas churches, which are separated by one of the world's narrowest houses. Above: The Douro Valley'smountains have been whittled overmillennia to support vineyards that produce port wine. Photos By Erik Nilsson / China Daily

(China Daily USA 03/16/2016 page10)
In the planned Chinese remake of The Devil Wears Prada, which actress will icily detail the fashion history of cerulean blue?

Beijing-based Desen International Media, according to the Hollywood Reporter, will produce a version of the popular 2006 comedy that starred Meryl Streep as the imperious editor of the fashion magazine Runway and Anne Hathaway as an indifferent intern.

Streep, in the role of Miranda Priestly, won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress and also was nominated for an Oscar.

The Chinese cast, however, won't be clickety-clacketing on stiletto heels around Manhattan. Instead, they will be navigating the glass towers of Shanghai, where the remake will be set.

The original The Devil Wears Prada was released in China in February 2007, eight months after it opened in the United States. The film was a smash hit in major Chinese cities, with corporations conducting screenings for Women's Day parties on March 8, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The Chinese-language version of the original 2003 novel by Lauren Weisberger, in which the Streep character was widely interpreted to be based on Vogue Editor Anna Wintour, also became a bestseller. The book is available on Amazon in both simplified and traditional Chinese.

Desen, founded by film producer Ann An in 2006, did not say if it has secured the movie rights to the book.

China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television has approved the film project.

"Terrific film. It's the kind of story that could work very well in China," said Robert Cain, a Los Angeles writer and producer and publisher of ChinaFilmBiz, a blog focused on China's movie industry.

"The audience there is a very strong, young female audience and there have been a lot of movies made and distributed very successfully" for female moviegoers, Cain told China Daily.

"Desen has had a lot of success in the past" with films geared toward women, said Cain, who has consulted for clients such as CCTV, Shanghai Media Group and China Film Group.

The movie would do well if it follows the success of the 2013 smash Tiny Times, which has pretty much the same story line.

"The film's main thread (is) the efforts of fumbling girl-next-door Lin Xiao (Mini Yang) ... settling into her job at a fashion magazine and acclimatizing herself to the glamorous, high-octane world of haute couture," was how the Hollywood Reporter described it.

The film, which generated a flurry of sequels, told the story of four fashionable college girls in Shanghai, which the Los Angeles Times described as "The Devil Wears Prada meets Sex and the City (minus the sex)".

The movie was based on a series of novels by Guo Jingming, who also directed it. The picture opened a surprising gulf in public opinion, with fans embracing its celebration of the good life as others decried it as materialistic.

"Materialism is something we face every day now, and it is not dirty," Guo told China Daily in 2013. "Our film audiences are much younger than before. They live with materialism."

China Daily's Raymond Zhou was one of the film's critics.

"When I first criticized Tiny Times, tens of thousands of Guo Jingming's fans swarmed to my micro blog, leaving all kinds of nasty  but often childishly laughable  words," Zhou wrote early this year. "Guo  had won a base of some 10-20 million loyalists through his fiction, most of whom are teenage girls. His public response to my criticism essentially started a call to action.

"I was only one of hundreds of critics who lambasted his film, yet I was turned into a symbol of acerbic criticism since he responded to only mine, thus elevating me out of mass oblivion' in the words of some Guo devotees."

But the film also won support from state media.

Hu Xijin, editor in chief of the Global Times, complimented Guo's mastery of "subtle emotions".

"I believe [Guo] is a superman who can decipher many types of delight and sorrow," he wrote on Weibo.

Contact the writer at williamhennelly@chinadailyusa.com
Fulfilling her dream, one cruise at a time Updated: 2016-03-17 00:00 (China Daily USA)

The vice president and GM of Princess Cruises China shares why the job is perfect for her and how the cruise liner intends to tackle the booming Chinese market

Cherry Wang, vice-president and general manager of Carnival plc China, says that the group's upcoming Majestic Princess cruise liner is aimed at Chinas affluent travelers. gao erqiang / china daily

More than 30 years ago, Cherry Wang told her junior high school teacher that her dream in life was to travel around the world. Today, the 48-year-old has found herself doing just that. In fact, she's even getting paid to do so.

"I've been to many countries but there are still many places that I have yet to travel to. In this sense, traveling around the world will always be my dream," said Wang, vice-president and general manager of Carnival plc China.

Wang is responsible for the business operations of Princess Cruises.

Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc form Carnival Corp & plc, the world's largest travel and leisure company. The other cruise brands under the corporation include P&O Cruises, Seabourn, Costa Cruises and the Carnival Cruise Line.

Before entering the cruise industry in 2005, Wang had worked in the tourism industry and at various hotels and multinational companies. She admits that working in the cruise industry has somewhat rubbed off on her as she has been taking yearly cruises with her family ever since.

"There are some places that cannot be reached by plane, such as Alaska, which is now my favorite destination. It is a place that can calm you down and purify your mind," she said.

Since making her first trip to Alaska in 2005, Wang has returned to the American state five times. She is planning for another trip this May.

Princess Cruises has been rapidly expanding since it entered the China market in 2014. It currently operates 18 ships that carry 1.7 million guests to more than 360 destinations around the world every year.

Passengers of the cruise line are also spoilt for choice with the more than 150 itineraries that range from between three and 114 days.

This year, the cruise ship company launched a new homeport in Xiamen, Fujian province and looks poised to debut the 143,000-ton Majestic Princess next year at their Shanghai homeport.

The cruise liner has the ever-growing Chinese market to thank for its phenomenal development. In 2015, cruise travelers from China's homeports totaled 1.11 million, crossing the 1-million barrier for the first time, according to the 2015 China Cruise Industry Development Report published in late February this year. Throughout 2015, China's 10 cruise ports received a total of 539 homeporting cruise calls, representing a year-on-year growth of 47 percent.

The total number of cruise ship travelers in China in 2015 had also soared 44 percent from the previous year to 1.24 million (or 2.48 million passenger trips) and the number of homeport Chinese travelers surged 50 percent to 1.11 million (or 2.22 million passenger trips) during the same period.

Like its international counterparts, Princess Cruises has also made Shanghai its most important homeport. As many as 320 homeport cruise calls and nearly 1.6 million homeport passenger trips were made in Shanghai throughout 2015.

Cheng Juehao, a deputy professor from the Shanghai Maritime University also forecast that Shanghai's ranking among the top 10 global homeports is likely to jump two spot to sixth this year.

"The rapidly growing number of Chinese cruise passengers calls for the arrival of high-end cruise products," said Wang, explaining why the company decided to launch the Majestic Princess, a cruise vessel that can carry 3,600 passengers and is designed to attract more affluent Chinese tourists.

Wang said the cruise line has consistently created customized offerings for local customers in the past two years, including Chinese speaking crews, local cuisine native to various Chinese homeports and even tai chi workouts.

"We worked with our chefs to design menus that best fit the palates of our Chinese guests. We believed that a variety of meat, seafood and vegetables simmered in soup stocks crafted using traditional Chinese methods will be a great option," said Wang. Princess Cruises started to offer hotpot at their Chinese homeport trips since 2014.

Wang is confident of success in the China market as the growing middle-class in the country will naturally demand for better quality travel products as their spending power increases. However, she noted that cruises liners will still need to pay special attention to the unique sentiments of local consumers.

For instance, Chinese travelers do not usually have long vacations, and this means that cruise liners will have to design travel itineraries that fit the bill. According to Wang, the majority of Princess Cruises' offerings to Chinese customers are short trips, such as those to South Korea and Japan, that span just four to six days.

Although cruise trips are becoming more widely accepted among Chinese travelers as compared to a decade ago, Wang concedes that the industry is still in the nascent stage and there are still numerous challenges ahead.

"It was extremely difficult to get work started a decade ago because we lacked knowledge of this special traveling solution. But I kept telling myself that a product will sell as long as it is good enough," she said.

wang_ying@chinadaily.com.cn
IBA: Shanghai to play leading role in APAC Updated: 2016-03-17 03:24 By ZHOU WENTING in Shanghai(China Daily USA)

Shanghai will become one of the Asia-Pacific region's strongest players in international arbitration as the city continues to host more international arbitration institutions and has a strong support from the courts, said the president of the International Bar Association (IBA).

The Hong Kong International Arbitration Center, the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre have set up offices within the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, boosting the city's ability to resolve disputes in international trade and investment.

"The convergence of such institutions will bring about a bigger market of arbitration, an approach that is widely-used in the world to settle commercial disputes. This is especially important now that more foreign businesses have poured into the Shanghai FTZ," said IBA President David W Rivkin at a media conference during the annual International Arbitration Day on March 4.

"Moreover, Shanghai courts have shown a strong support for arbitration and the list of situations in which the courts will set aside or decline to enforce an arbitration award has become shorter," added Rivkin.

Since the establishment of the FTZ in Shanghai in September 2013, the nationalities of arbitrators in the city have become more diverse. The Shanghai International Arbitration Center currently has a panel of more than 850 arbitrators and nearly 40 percent of them are from about 40 countries and regions.

China's State Council had also in April 2015 announced its intent to turn Shanghai into a global arbitration center in the Asia-Pacific region.

"One big difference between arbitration and court hearings is that people can select arbitrations themselves, and foreign businesses tend to select those from their home countries because they are more common in law, culture, and beliefs," said Yao Hongmin, assistant secretary-general of the arbitration center.

Two years ago, the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Arbitration Rules was laid out. Legal experts have said that the rules, which apply to innovations that are brought into the country for the first time, are tailored for the zone and consistent with international standards.

One unique rule is that people can choose arbitrators from outside the panel of mediators.

"New types of cases, such as e-finance and offshore finance, may happen in the FTZ. Professionals from the specific sectors may have more experience on the front lines than those mediators on the panel. They can make proper judgments when no applicable law is available," Yao said.

By the end of last year, a total of 100 commercial disputes  involving more than 575 million yuan ($88 million)  occurring in the Shanghai FTZ had been received by Shanghai International Arbitration Center.

Ma Yi, vice chairman and secretary-general of the center, said that they have initiated the China Free Trade Zone Arbitration Cooperative Alliance with the arbitration commissions in other cities. Furthermore, the center has also penned cooperation agreements with arbitration associations and centers in foreign countries, including the United States, Malaysia, Japan and Switzerland.

zhouwenting@chinadaily.com.cn
Anbang gets US approval to buy life insurer Fidelity Updated: 2016-03-17 00:00 (AGENCIES)

China's Anbang Insurance Group, which is looking to buy US hotel operator Starwood, has won approval from a US national security panel to buy US annuities and life insurer Fidelity & Guaranty Life.

Fidelity said on Tuesday in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission that the US Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, had looked at the deal and found no unresolved national security concerns. Fidelity said in the filing it expected the deal to close in the second quarter.

Anbang said in November that it would buy Fidelity & Guaranty for about $1.57 billion as Chinese insurers seek to expand into the United States. The deal would make Anbang one of the largest insurers by market share in fixed-indexed annuity products in the US.

Fidelity has about 700,000 policyholders and offers life insurance and annuities, which provide income to retirees. The Des Moines, Iowa-based company had more than $19 billion of investments as of June 30, 2015, according to Bloomberg.

Winning approval from the CFIUS, a panel of 16 federal agencies, was harder than expected because US officials were concerned about the vast amount of customer health and financial information that insurance companies have access to, according to a source close to the deal.

The source asked not to be identified because details of the CFIUS review are confidential.

On Monday, Anbang offered to buy Starwood for $12.8 billion, besting an offer made by Marriott International Inc.

That bid came just days after Anbang made a non-binding bid for Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc from buyout firm Blackstone Group LP for $6.5 billion.

Chinese insurers are rushing to acquire high-yielding assets as they struggle to keep up with the policy liabilities of China's aging population. US assets are also seen as a good hedge against any future weakness in the yuan.

Anbang's $2 billion acquisition of the iconic Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, which was completed last year, attracted CFIUS scrutiny but was approved.

The Starwood deal would also undergo a CFIUS review, primarily to ensure that none of its hotels are so close to sensitive US facilities that they pose a threat to US national security.

CFIUS, led by the Treasury Department, would likely scrutinize one property in particular: a W Hotel in downtown Washington that is across the street from the department and overlooks both Treasury and the White House, lawyers who specialize in dealing with CFIUS said.

CFIUS issues with individual hotels could be remedied through asset sales or other measures, the lawyers said.
Kerry to travel to Russia, meet Putin on Syria next week Updated: 2016-03-16 05:44 (Xinhua)

US Secretary of State John Kerry listens to US President Barack Obama speak at the Chief of Missions Conference at the State Department in Washington March 14, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that he will go to Russia next week to meet President Vladimir Putin, discussing the crisis on Syria.

"I will be traveling next week to Moscow to meet with President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in order to discuss how we can effectively move the political process forward and try to take advantage of this moment," Kerry said before a meeting with Georgia's Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said the date to Moscow will be after Tuesday next week, when Kerry returns from a trip to Cuba with President Barack Obama.

Putin on Monday announced that the Russia would withdraw its air forces deployed in Syria starting from Tuesday.

The decision was discussed and coordinated with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during a phone call earlier in the day, Putin said, adding that "the fundamental tasks set for the Russian armed forced in Syria were resolved."

The White House said on Tuesday Russia so far appears to begin pulling its troops out of Syria.

"The earliest indications are that the Russians are following through," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

He also cautioned that "it is still too early at this point to determine the impact that might have on the broader situation."

"With the cessation of hostilities largely holding, Russia's announcement yesterday that it will remove half of its forces immediately and more perhaps from Syria and with the political negotiations reconvening this week in Geneva, we have reached a very important phase in this process," Kerry said.

"So this is a time to seize, not waste," he said. "We have at this moment the ability to finally take a step towards ending this war and the bloodshed."
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Village bans motorbikes on holidays

Elders in A Xan Commune in central Quang Nam Provinces Tay Giang District have decided to confiscate all motorbike keys during holidays such as Tet (Lunar New Year) due to the dangers of drunken drivers.

Po Loong oi, chief of A Xan Communes A Rang 1 village, said in the past elders went to each household in the village to collect keys. But now they wait in front of Guol House - a place for administrative works and cultural activities of the Co Tu ethnic minority  where villagers hand over keys.

There is a wedding in the village tomorrow. Im sure that everyone will drink wine at the wedding so collecting motorbikes keys is the best way to prevent accidents, oi was quoted by Vnexpress online newspaper as saying.

Five years ago, after local roads were paved with concrete and local residents became well-off, they started buying motorbikes, he said.

Since then many children in the villages died in traffic accidents. Drunk drivers on small, winding roads were blamed for many of the deaths.

Accidents often occurred on holidays so it took a long time to settle the incidents, o recalled.

The village head and elders tried to convince youths not to drive motorbikes while drunk and follow traffic regulations but their please fell on deaf ears. Village elders then decided to supplement a ban on driving motorbikes during holidays in the village regulations.

Now, a day before a wedding or a holiday, village elders and the chief go to each household to collect keys, which can be collected the following day after the villagers sober up..

Exceptions will be allowed only in emergency cases such as transporting someone to the hospital, said Po Loong Jim, a village elder.

According to Jim, local people who violated the regulation would have to pay with a certain amount of their livestock.

No accidents have occurred in A Rang 1 Village during the past four years, he said.

Policeman sacked after shooting

A policeman in southern Can Tho Provinces Co o District has been sacked after he shot a local woman in the buttocks.

Police from Trung An Commune stormed a gambling-den in Thach Loc 2 Village last month when Nguyen Van Hoa, a local policeman on duty, fired two warning shots into the air. Unexpectedly, one of the rubber bullets struck the buttocks of a 43 year-old woman from Trung An Commune, who did not participate in the gambling.

Luckily, the bullet caused no serious injuries but left a hole in her buttocks.

The woman went to the hospital for emergency treatment. After several days, she complained to local authorities that she had to pay more than VN11 million (US$$494) for the treatment and asked to be compensated.

Authorities immediately sacked the policeman and paid compensation to the woman.

Karma takes down traffickers

Two drug-traffickers tried to throw away their drugs in an attempt to escape from police in Ha Noi, but were defeated by the wind.

The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, while driving by Truong Chinh Ton That Tung intersection, the police stopped the two suspects to check their motorbike licences.

While being escorted to the police station, the traffickers started swearing, shouting and arguing with the police. They threw a nylon bag towards Ho Me Lake. Unfortunately, a strong wind blew back the bag back to their feet. Police picked up the bag and discovered it was containing drugs which would be used as evidence to prosecute them.

It seems karma didnt smile upon the two traffickers, perhaps if they had been polite to the police theyd still be walking the capitals streets today.  VNS
Workers of HCM City Food and Foodstuff company load rice for export.  VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Hue

HCM CITY (VNS)  Rice exports have surged in the first two months as many of last years contracts are being executed this year, according to the Viet Nam Food Association.

The country exported more than 856,219 tonnes for US$347.8 million, a year-on-year increase of 101.89 per cent and 81.73 per cent, and Huynh Minh Hue, VFA general secretary, indicated there had been too many orders to handle last year, including some large government contracts with Indonesia and the Philippines.

At a regular meeting of the association last week, he said exports of common white rice accounted for 32.68 per cent of exports, up almost five times from the same period last year, and exports of glutinous rice also surged due to high demand from China.

Exports of fragrant rice continued to grow steadily thanks to increased exports to China and Africa, he said.

VFA anticipates exports to reach 1.3 million tonnes in the first quarter, 56 per cent up from the same period last year.

Hue said the number of contracts to be executed remained high at around 1.4 million tonnes.

But with inventories at export firms 81,140 tonnes lower than at the same time last year -- at one million tonnes -- they would have to buy rice, he said.

Prices are currently high in the domestic market despite this being the peak harvest season and the association announcing no plans to stockpile the grain.

High demand from exporters coupled with a forecast of falling output in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta due to drought and saltwater intrusion has pushed up the prices.

The Ministry of Agriculture and rural Development reported that by March 5 around 139,000ha of the winter-spring rice crop in nine provinces had been damaged by drought and saltwater, with the loss estimated at one million tonnes.

In previous years the VFA proposed purchasing one million tonne of rice for temporary storage at the beginning of March to support domestic prices, but this time farmers can earn reasonable profits at current prices.

According to rice traders in the Mekong Delta, a kilogramme of IR 50404 paddy in the field costs VN4,600-4,650, VN300 higher than a year earlier, and high-grade paddies are priced much higher.  VNS
According to the industrial development strategy through 2025, with a vision to 2035, Viet Nam's industrial sector will develop with a sound structure in terms of industry and region.  Photo autodaily.vn

HA NOI (VNS)  Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved the portfolio of a project funded by a United Nations body on development policies and strategies for the industrial sector through capacity building.

The project, by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), will be carried out for 36 months with a total investment of US$1.08 million.

It aims to raise the institutional capacity of both, the government and the private sector, thus helping to improve the strategy for the sector as a whole and develop suitable policies for each specific industry, and ultimately enhancing the competitiveness of Viet Nams industrial sector.

According to the industrial development strategy through 2025, with a vision to 2035, Viet Nams industrial sector will develop with a sound structure in terms of industry and region. The industrial sector should be sufficiently competitive to develop during integration, with modern technologies, and participate in the global value chain in a number of specialised sub-sectors and fields, and can fundamentally meet the requirements of the economy and exports.

By 2035, Viet Nams industrial sector will develop with a majority of specialised industries meeting international standards in terms of technologies and product quality, deeply participating in the global value chain, using energy efficiently, and competing fairly in international integration.  VNS
Workers at the Agricultural Machine and Tractor Manufacturing Company in Ha Nois Ha ong District. The World Bank and its member organisations will actively provide effective and necessary support for Viet Nam by implementing commitments and increasing profits from the Trans-Pacific Partnership.  VNA/VNS Photo Tran Viet

HA NO (VNS)  Viet Nam proposed that the World Bank (WB) help the country take advantage of opportunities and limit challenges when joining free trade agreements, Party Central Committee Economic Commission Head Vuong inh Hue said.

Hue, a Politburo member, made the statement yesterday while receiving Senior Director of the WB Group Global Practice on Trade and Competitiveness Anabel Gonzales, who is on a working visit to Viet Nam, and WB Country Director Victoria Kwakwa.

He asked WB to promote its co-ordination role and support Viet Nam effectively in sustainable poverty reduction, capital market development, completing economic institution and coping with challenges caused by climate change and sea water rise.

He also proposed WB to create conditions for Viet Nam to get access to sources of preferential loans following an appropriate roadmap in line with conditions of the country.

He praised valuable and effective assistance of WB for Viet Nams socio-economic development and asked the WB to continue supporting the construction process and effective implementation of the socio-economic development during the 2016-20 period as well as its international integration.

He informed the guests of Viet Nams key tasks in the near future, focusing on promoting the effective implementation of three key strategic breakthroughs, including restructuring the economy, and restructuring State-owned enterprises and the banking sector to renew the growth model towards comprehensive and sustainable development.

Other important goals included ensuring the stability of the macro-economy and improving the business environment with an emphasis on enhancing growth quality, national competitiveness, labour productivity and renewal to create a new wave of investment, he said.

For their parts, Anabel and Victoria applauded the socio-economic achievements recorded by Viet Nam over the past years as well as its development potential and opportunities during the global integration process, particularly Viet Nams active participation at the same time many free trade agreements, especially the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

They said they supported and agreed with policies and orientations of the Party and Government of Viet Nam in dealing with emerging challenges, particularly in improving the business environment, promoting national competitive capacity, expanding trade, promoting the role of the private sector and participating more effectively in global value chains.

They affirmed that WB and its member organizations would actively provide effective and necessary support for Viet Nam in implementing commitments and increasing profits from TPP and ensuring sustainable growth as well as fulfill targets set by the 12th National Party Congress.  VNS
HA NOI  The Journalists Association has received various rare donated memorabillia for its new museum at a ceremony in Ha Noi.

Major General Nguyen Trong Khanh donated a statue depicting President Ho Chi Minh reading Nhan Dan newspaper.

The daughter of late noted journalist Xuan Thuy donated her fathers suit that he wore in the 1960s while working as the first president of the Viet Nam Journalists Association. He occupied the post twice between 1950 and 1962.

Many former war journalists donated memorabillia they had used during the wars.

Journalist Phan Khac Hai, former journalist of Quan Giai Phong (Liberation Fighters) newspaper, donated a hammock he used during the Tri Thien battle in the American War.

The museum has received hundreds of objects from two donation drives held last year in Ha Noi and HCM City.  VNS
Star pupil: Vu Thi Suu (centre) studies with other students in her class.  VNS Photo o Binh

o Binh  Huong Giang

HCM City  Its never too late to learn something new.

Though Vu Thi Suu is now 92 years old, she spends much of her time perfecting her English skills.

A native of HCM City, Suu, who speaks fluent French, was not satisfied with her level of English, so she decided to register in a course at the Journalism Foreign Language Centre of Vietnam News Agency.

She is the oldest and best student at the centre, and is known for her vast knowledge of foreign languages and Western culture.

Beside studying English in class, she spends time reading books at home to learn more about Western culture. Her house on Suong Nguyet Anh Street has many books in French and English.

Some people her age feel that learning a new language or deepening their knowledge is unnecessary, especially if their health is not in tip-top shape.

For Suu, her hearing ability has weakened and her general health is far from perfect. However, though her eyesight is not as good as it once was and her legs move slowly, her voice is still strong and her mind still sharp.

Knowledge is endless; learning is never enough for us. Its important that we should choose one favourite area and follow it the rest of our life. I love studying about Western culture. In order to read those books, my foreign language skills must be good, Suu said.

For Suu, learning helps her to overcome loneliness and prolongs her life. She has never married nor had children. Her nieces and nephew live in foreign countries.

Suu is a student of teacher Gayle Yvonne Confer in the centre. Her class has 50 students, many of them about 50 years old.

Several students who began to attend the class after retirement said they would only quit only if Confer stopped teaching.

In her lectures, Confer often organises activities for students to practise English. Suu is among the students who perform well despite her deteriorating health.

Confer, who left the US for Vieat Nam to teach English in 1995, said Suu was the student who had impressed her most.

Suu is learning English simply for enjoyment and enrichment, not to find a good job with a high salary.

Not only me, but other students in the class see Suu as an example for her learning spirit and her will. She has been studying in my class for 10 years and is always the best student in terms of knowledge and lifestyle, Confer said.

Suu, who has never skipped a lecture, is the most hard-working student she has ever met, she added.

Some young students in the class heard about the older student and were very curious to meet her. Some of them, who had enrolled only for fun, decided to invest more effort studying English after talking to Suu.

Le Thi Minh Thu, a nurse, who is one of Suus classmates, is now a coordinator for an Australian project that trains nurses in Viet Nam, thanks to her English-language skills.

Thu said, I am proud to be a classmate of Suu, who is my grandmothers age. I always see her as an example to follow.

During the 1950s, Suu worked as a pharmacist in the a Lat Nuclear Research Institute, and then left for France and the US to work for several decades before returning to Viet Nam in 1965.

While abroad, she had no opportunity to practice Vietnamese, and in Vieat Nam she had few chances to practice a foreign language. But, after turning 70, she had the free time to realise her goal of studying Western culture.

Suu is often visited by students who take classes in cultural studies or have an interest in the subject. She is determined to continue to learn as long her health holds up and Confer continues to teach at the centre, she said.  VNS
Not just knick-knacks: Viet Nams Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ha Noi organised a ceremony yesterday to hand over mementos to the museum.

HA NOI - Some mementos from late President Ho Chi Minh held by a French peace activist and his family were given to the Ho Chi Minh Museum yesterday.

Late French physics professor Pierre Biquard and his family kept the objects safe for many years.

Viet Nams Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ha Noi organised a ceremony yesterday to hand the souvenirs over to the museum.

The mementos include a kepi hat, a portrait of Ho Chi Minh (with a handwritten dedication to Biquard in January 1969), 10 photos from the French Peace movements visit to Viet Nam, and photocopies of four newspaper pages featuring articles on the president.

According to the remaining preserved documents and a statement from Biquards family, in January 1969, as a member of the National Peace Movement in France, Pierre Biquard visited Viet Nam to support the country in its war with the US, along with others in the movement.

President Ho Chi Minh received the delegation at the Presidential Palace in Ha Noi. When bidding them goodbye, the president noticed Biquard was not wearing a hat, despite the cold weather. The leader offered him a woollen kepi hat. This gesture touched Biquard, who often recalled this moment with his family members.

Biquard was born in 1901 and died in 1993. He was a physics professor and an ardent peace activist. He took part in diverse activities to protest the American War in Viet Nam, particularly the use of chemical weapons by American soldiers.

After his death, his family held onto the hat. They said several individuals and organisations had expressed a desire to buy this hat, but the family had refused all offers. Instead, they offered the mementos to the Vietnamese Embassy in France.

The story of the hat was uncovered by French historian Alain Ruscio, who helped Biquards family make contact with the embassy.

The historian said the hat, while a small gift, was a vivid symbol of the Franco-Vietnam friendship and solidarity.

Its a great honour for us to receive the mementos of the president," Nguyen Thuy uc, director of the museum said. "I believe they will help the Vietnamese people and our international friends gain a deeper understanding of President Ho Chi Minhs warm sentiments towards our French friends, who passionately supported the Vietnamese peoples struggle for national independence, peace and unification."

The objects are on display at the museum and will be presented to the public in August at an exhibition honouring the presidents revolutionary cause, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of his first visit to France as president. VNS

Token of appreciation: The kepi woollen hat that French professor and peace activist Pierre Biquard kept and later offered to the Ho Chi Minh museum.
President of the National Assembly of France Claude Bartolone.  Photo AFP

HA NOI (VNS)  President of the National Assembly of France Claude Bartolone will pay an official visit to Viet Nam in March, the National Assemblys external relations committee announced yesterday.

Bartolone and his delegation will stay in Viet Nam from March 18-21 as guests of National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung. Viet Nam and France established diplomatic relations on April 12, 1973.

France is currently Viet Nams 5th largest trade partner in the European Union with two-way trade reaching US$3.5 billion in 2014.

France was also the biggest European provider of official development assistance to the country with $360 million in 2014.  VNS
Hungarian Minister of Public Administration and Justice, Laszlo Trocsanyi and Justice Minister Ha Hung Cuong. Photo VNA

HA NOI (VNS)  Hungary is willing to share its experience and wants to learn from Viet Nams experience in justice, thus deepening links between the two countries judicial sectors, said Hungarian Minister of Public Administration and Justice, Laszlo Trocsanyi.

The Hungarian guest made the remark during a talk with his Vietnamese counterpart, Justice Minister Ha Hung Cuong, yesterday as part of his working visit to Viet Nam fromMarch 14-17.

He briefed the host on his countrys judiciary, saying that the Hungarian Ministry focuses on enhancing the trust of its people in the national judiciary and protecting the countrys constitution.

Cuong stressed that Viet Nam is working to fine-tune its legal system in order to serve the enforcement of the 2013 Constitution.

A cooperation programme between the two ministries for 2016-2017 was inked, with a view to making concrete their cooperation and bilateral commitments in many fields that were agreed upon in a previous agreement signed in 2012.

Under the programme, the two ministries will exchange experience to help with Viet Nams building of a law on the issuance of administrative decisions, and an electronic database serving the judicial sector, especially in the fields of notarisation and the registration of secured transactions.

They will hold negotiations on a mutual legal assistance agreement in civil matters between the two nations, and discuss measures to further promote links in mutual legal support within the Hague Conference.

As planned, the Hungarian Minister, Laszlo Trocsanyi, and Prosecutor General of the Supreme Peoples Procuracy, Nguyen Hoa Binh, will sign a mutual legal assistance agreement in criminal matters between the two States.

The Hungarian guest will give a speech at the Hanoi Law University on Hungarys new constitution and its experience in constitutional enforcement in the country.  VNS
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visits the Mekong Delta province of Long An yesterday.  VNA./VNS Photo Trui Dung

LONG AN (VNS)  Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited the Mekong Delta province of Long An yesterday to inspect its performance in socio-economic development, security-defence and Party building.

At a working session with provincial officials, the Party chief highlighted Long Ans location in the southern key economic region between the southeast region and the Mekong Delta, which is favourable for development.

The province has made breakthroughs in development, as seen with an annual economic growth rate of over 11 percent  the fastest in the Mekong Delta  along with an annual per capita income of VN50.4 million (over $2,260), ranking third in the region. The rate of household poverty has dropped to 2.5 percent. While maintaining the rice farming area to guarantee food security, Long An switched to cultivating profitable trees like dragon fruit and lime.

There has also been an increase in processing, mechanics and electronics industries, along with a decrease in labour-intensive and polluting industries.

Long An ranked seventh among the 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam and second in the Mekong Delta in the provincial competitiveness index. It houses more than 6,700 Vietnamese businesses, 395 operational FDI projects, 28 industrial parks and 32 industrial clusters. It also upgraded and built a number of arterial traffic routes linking highways, national roads and waterways, and facilitating the transportation of goods.

Trong pointed out growing challenges and a lack of sustainability in local economic growth. The province must maintain a good grasp on reality.

He took the ongoing drought and saltwater intrusion as an example. It is the worst in a century and has damaged over 8,600ha of rice. Tens of thousands of hectares in Long An are predicted to be affected by the phenomenon.

If precise forecasts were made, efficient responses could be taken to minimise impacts on agriculture and peoples lives, he stressed. The leader told local authorities to internalise the resolution of the provincial Party organisations congress, together with the resolution from the recent 12th National Party Congress.

The province should also continue to maintain a pure, strong political system, while thoroughly preparing for the approaching election of deputies to the National Assembly and all-level Peoples Councils, he added.

Visiting uc Hoa ong, which was originally a remote commune with one third of its area deserted, the leader rejoiced at local industrialisation which, he said, was a step in the right direction that has improved local infrastructure and peoples living standards. During his stay in Long An, Trong visited Nguyen Thi Ba, who holds the titles of Vietnamese Heroic Mother and the Hero of the Peoples Armed Forces. She is 100 years old this year and has been a Party member for eight decades.

Top legislator talks with Ha Tinh voters

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung met with constituents in the central province of Ha Tinh to inform them about the 11th session of the 13th legislature.

The event would kick off on March 21 with focus on reviewing the performance of State-run agencies and five years of socio-economic development to improve policies for national development in the next five years, he said.

The NA would make important adjustments to leadership positions at State-run agencies, which would be further improved after the 14th NA election. Laws and ordinances regarding the implementation of the Constitution would improve national development.

A number of important bills were expected to be considered and adopted during the 11th session, he added. The top legislator emphasised key tasks of 2016, including the election of deputies to the 14th National Assembly and Peoples Councils at all levels in the 2016-2021 tenure.

He asked all sectors, departments and localities to follow directions from the National Election Council and the Government to ensure a successful election.

Ha Tinh authorities were requested to actualise major orientations set by the provincial Party Organisation. The NA leader also told the province to push ahead with new-style rural building, stressing that in the next decade, Ha Tinh needs to improve its transport infrastructure and irrigation systems, and be prepared to cope with climate change.

He called on the locality to ensure up to 70 percent of workers at industrial and economic zones are locals.  VNS
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh and Secretary of Russias Security Council Nikolai Patrushev.  Photo VGP

HA NOI (VNS)  Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh and Secretary of Russias Security Council Nikolai Patrushev emphasised the need for regional countries to maintain peace and stability, and heighten the role of multilateral co-operation mechanisms and international law in addressing the regions issues.

At their meeting in Ha Noi yesterday, Patrushev informed the host of the outcomes of his working sessions with Minister of Public Security Tran ai Quang and Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh on issues related to bilateral relations, ASEAN-Russia co-operation and the situation in Asia-Pacific.

Minh, who is also Foreign Minister, affirmed that Viet Nam continually attached importance to its comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia.

He said he appreciated co-operation in security between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and Russias Security Council, as well as their countries positive ties in politics, economics, trade, defence and security, education and training, and culture.

Both sides agreed to actively implement measures to further boost multi-faceted co-operation and work together to enforce the free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union once it comes into effect, in order to increase the efficiency of the two sides economic and trade co-operation.

They also hailed the collaboration between Russia and ASEAN, expressing hopes that the ASEAN-Russia Summit to be held in Sochi in May will be a success and help to improve their dialogue partnership, both for their own interests and for peace and stability in Asia-Pacific and the world.  VNS
President Truong Tan Sang (L) and Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meet in Tehran on March 15.  Photo presstv.ir

TEHRAN (VNS)  President Truong Tan Sang had a meeting with Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on March 15 as part of his state visit to the Middle Eastern country.

Khamenei welcomed President Sangs visit, describing it as a milestone in the relationship between Viet Nam and Iran.

Both leaders expressed their delight at the fruitful development of the traditional friendship between the two countries in the past.

They said Viet Nam and Iran shared many similarities in their history and boasted traditional cultural identities.

President Sang said Viet Nam stood ready to share its experience with Iran in integration and development, and wished to work together with that country to enhance bilateral co-operation.

The Vietnamese leader spoke to the Iranian leader about the outcomes of his talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, as well as specific measures to strengthen bilateral collaboration in various areas.

He said Iran should continue to regard Viet Nam as one of its promising partners in its Look East policy.

The president said he hoped with his role and prestige, the supreme leader would contribute more to foster the traditional friendship, for pragmatic interests of the two countries peoples.

The two leaders also compared notes on other issues concerning their countries, regions and the world.

President Sang and his entourage left Tehran later in the day, successfully concluding their visit to Iran. Iran was the last leg of the presidents African and Middle East tour, which also included Tanzania and Mozambique.  VNS
Illustrative Image.  Photo tienphong.vn

HA NOI  Viet Nam has banned the import of soil into the country, said the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development (MARD).

The ministry made the affirmation after the General Department of Viet Nam Custom (GDVC) sent a dispatch to the ministry asking to allow the import of soil.

Early last week, the Customs Department of Hai Phong City reported problems to the GDVC about quarantine procedures for soils including clay, kaolin, bentonite, and fire-proof clay.

The current Commercial Law does not include regulations on soil import management, said the GDVC. The general department proposed the ministry deliver guidlines to remove the barrier for businesses importing soil to the country.

However, according to Nguyen Thi Kim Anh, head of the ministrys Legal Department, importing soil and harmful microorganisms into the country was banned by the Plant and Protection and Quarantine Law issued in 2013.

Exceptional cases must be approved by the MARD, said Anh.

Exceptional cases are donated soil or soil for exhibitions, she said.

Head of the ministrys Cultivation Department, Ma Quang Trung, said the ministry had not dealt with any case to do with importing soil for agricultural production or fertilizer making.

Businesses are permitted to import chemicals and additive substances for fertilizer as per the regulation of the Government decree, said Trung.

The department needed to consider the reason for the attempted import of soil in Hai Phong, but the reasons were currently unclear, he said.

According to agriculture experts, importing soil needs to be strictly supervised, due to the potential impact on the environment.

The ban on importing soil in the Plant Protection and Quarantine Law aims to protect domestic biodiversity because the soil imports might bring harmful creatures into the country, causing danger for the environment which we cannot control," said Anh.

Dr. Nguyen Xuan Lai, head of Agricultural Soil Institute said importing soil must be considered carefully. Viet Nam has not yet imported soil.

The country does not have an agricultural demand for imported soil, said Lai.

Viet Nam has an abundant source of clays and kaolin, the expert said.  VNS
A people receives retirement pension at a social insurance office.  Photo baohiemxahoi.gov.vn

HA NOI  The implementation of the Social Insurance Law has been a confusing process, said Deputy Chairman of the National Assemblys Committee for Social Affairs Bui Sy Loi.

In a conference regarding the late promulgation of the laws guiding document on Monday, Loi said the law is good on paper, but in practice, many people have found its regulations to be confounding.

The law concerns the rights of millions of workers and specifies regulations related to work entitlements and compensation for pregnancy and sick leave, work accidents and retirement. It has been in effect since the beginning of the year.

Workers and enterprises in the south have reportedly had the most difficulties.

Loi suggested that leaders of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Viet Nam Social Insurance should take a field trip to meet workers and gain an understanding of the current situation.

Cao Van Sang, director of the HCM City Social Insurance, said the process of recovering social insurance debt has been challenging because the handling of cases in court has taken too long, thereby allowing enterprises to disperse and hide their properties.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Minh Huan said that two decrees and several circulars under the law have not been enforced.

The law was promulgated, but the guidance documents that have not been promulgated will create obstacles for the law implementation, said Huan.

Deputy Chairman of the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour, Mai uc Chinh, said that at the end of last year, several enterprises sold their workshops and properties to other enterprises to flee from their social insurance creditors. As a result, old enterprises disappeared, and new ones refused to pay the debt of dozens of billions of ong.

The workers were held hostage by social insurance offices and enterprises because when the enterprises did not pay the insurance, the workers rights, including coverage for sickness, pregnancy, accidents and retirement, were not protected, he said.

Chinh proposed to add a regulation about protecting workers rights when employers evade responsibility.

"The obstacle is that the Social Insurance Law was put into effect at the beginning of this year, but the Law on Civil Procedures wont be put into effect until July, so the workers have to wait," Chinh said.

Concluding the conference, Deputy Chairman Loi urged concerned ministries and sectors to submit necessary decrees to the Prime Minister for approval and promulgation.

The guidance documents and decrees must not create difficulties for workers, Loi said, adding that administrative procedures must be simple and easy to access.

We think that its not important if the decrees are promulgated one month or three months late, but in fact the workers wait for the decree every day, every hour, he said.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ha Noi Department of Education and Training will withdraw the regulation stipulating that pupils can be suspended from school for repeated traffic offences.

The regulation has been the subject of debate since it was issued a week ago.

The decision to withdraw it was made at a meeting of the justice ministry, the citys department of education and training and the citys peoples committee yesterday.

The new directive No 932, issued by the Hanoi Department of Education and Training on March 7, said pupils were likely to be suspended from school for not wearing helmets.

Pupils were to be reprimanded publicly for first offences and faced a three-day suspension for a repeat offence. If the pupils violated the law several times, they were to be publicly reprimanded and suspended for a week.

The regulation aimed to strengthen students compliance of traffic laws in the 2016-20 period.

There was a debate over the regulation. Many people said the enforcement of traffic laws on pupils was the responsibility of the police. Several parents said the department should apply other kinds of penalties such as community work at schools or re-learning of traffic laws in classes.  VNS
The northern Bac Ninh Province and Thailands King Prajadhipoks Institute (KPI) exchanged experiences in socio-economic development during a meeting in the province yesterday. Photo baobacninh.com.vn

BAC NINH  The northern Bac Ninh Province and Thailands King Prajadhipoks Institute (KPI) exchanged experiences in socio-economic development during a meeting in the province yesterday.

Welcoming the visiting delegation, Permanent Vice Chairman of the province Nguyen Tien Nhuong said the meeting was a good opportunity for the two sides to learn about localised experiences with socio-economic development and increase mutual understanding to pave the way for further co-operation.

At the meeting, the provincial authority discussed the localitys urban development between 1997 and 2016 with a vision towards 2050 as well as its process for an economic transition. The two sides discussed ways to address key challenges in shifting from agricultural to industrial economies, conserving traditional culture during the modernisation process and developing hi-tech industry while protecting the environment.

The Thai delegation also learned firsthand about the provinces investment incentives in order to consider future investment opportunities in Viet Nam.

Representatives visited the Viet Nam-Singapore Industrial Park in Tu Son, Bac Ninh.The KPI is an independent academic organisation that works under the supervision of Thailands National Assembly.  VNS
Illustrative Image.  Photo infonet.vn

HA NOI  At a workshop yesterday in Ha Noi, a representative from the World Bank (WB) said Viet Nam should have a comprehensive and strategic assessment of the problem.

It should fine-tune plans on using water resources.

While a majority of participants in the workshop suggested modernising irrigation canals to mitigate drought impacts, a representative of the Asian Development Bank said Viet Nam should develop pipe systems to concurrently irrigate crops and provide water for daily use while saving water.

UN Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam Pratibha Mehta asked the Southeast Asian country to raise its peoples resilience to disaster risks.

It should comprehensively and swiftly evaluate the scale and seriousness of the issue so as to take appropriate responses.

The nation should also prioritise the settlement of urgent matters to have proper actions, she added.  VNS
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are set to study a transaction between British multinational Diageo and UB group Chairman Vijay Mallya, in which the British firm acquired the South African Breweries' traditional sorghum beer business for close to $77 million.

The January 2013 transaction to acquire 50 per cent in the beer business was announced within months of the sale of United Spirits to Diageo in November 2012. The money was paid to Mallya in two tranches in his offshore accounts. In April 2015, Diageo had taken full control of the business by buying the other 50 per cent from Pestello Investments, a Mallya-owned company. The entire transaction was completed in May last year.

The offshore accounts and Trusts based in tax havens of Mallya are currently under investigation by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Sebi had earlier said it would investigate the non-compete fees worth $75 million paid by Diageo to Mallya under the takeover regulations.

The valuation of traditional sorghum beer business in South Africa was not made public either by Diageo or Mallya, leading to speculation that the sale of USL transaction and the sale of traditional beer business by Mallya-owned United National Breweries (UNB) are linked. Corporate lawyers said it would be difficult for Sebi to link the South Africa and USL transaction owing to jurisdiction issues and transaction across various locations.

The UNB transaction gave Diageo control of the leading sorghum beer business in South Africa. "Our evaluation process for any such transaction is rigorous but confidential. We have received a request for information from Sebi and will of course cooperate with them, as we would with any government agency," said a Diageo spokesperson.

Sebi rules currently bar giving any premium to the promoter of a company at takeover. "More than Mallya, it will be Diageo which will be under pressure. Sebi can ask it to revise the open offer if it finds that non-compete fees flout the takeover code," said a corporate lawyer.

A mail sent to Diageo did not elicit any response, while a UB group spokesperson declined to comment.

In January this year, Diageo had said it would run the traditional beer business separately for now as the sorghum business provides it with an entry point into the segment of South Africa. Sorghum beer will continue to exist as a separate segment in the beer market, and will be an important part of South African beer landscape, the company had said in a conference call with investors in January this year.

The acquisition of South African Breweries' traditional beer business by Diageo is part of a complex web of transactions signed by the British firm with Mallya. Apart from the sale of South African business and paying non-compete fees, Diageo also paid off a $141-million loan to Standard Chartered Bank taken by Watson Ltd, a UB group company. It also paid off another $41-million loan taken by United Breweries Overseas Ltd.

In India, United Spirits - under Diageo - has written off dues worth Rs 2,100 crore. Diageo has also agreed to sponsor Mallya's Force 1 Formula One race team for $15 million per season.
Zelenskys diplomacy masterclass outpacing dour, grey Putin in battle for hearts and minds When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 this year, there was no room for jokes or play acting, and Zelensky needed to step up. He did.

Megyn Kelly fires up at Meghan Markle over her deceptive nature Sky News Australia contributor Megyn Kelly has slammed Meghan Markle over her "abject dishonesty" after the Duchess of Sussex took a swipe at Deal or No Deal in her latest podcast episode which featured Paris Hilton.

Boris Johnsons dad tight-lipped on sons potential return Speculation has begun on who could replace Liz Truss in the wake of her resignation, with her predecessor Boris Johnson expected to stand for the Conservative leadership again.
Moscow sends strong message to Assad

BEIRUT (AP)  Russias plan to withdraw forces from Syria is sending a strong message to President Bashar Assad, whose hard-line stance is diverging from Moscows interest in declaring its intervention in the country a success while also accelerating peace efforts.

Having dramatically turned the tide of war in Assads favor with five months of intense bombardment of his foes, President Vladimir Putin is pressuring the Syrian leader to engage them in more meaningful dialogue in talks that have begun in Geneva.

With an announcement that appeared to take even senior Russian commanders by surprise, Putin ordered most of the estimated 3,000 to 6,000 personnel to begin withdrawing from Syria on Tuesday, a step that raised hopes for progress at newly reconvened U.N.-brokered peace talks in Geneva.

NTSB: Feed truck shifted train track

WICHITA, Kan. (AP)  A truck used to deliver feed to a business where cattle are fattened hit a train track and shifted it at least a foot before an Amtrak train derailed in southwest Kansas and injured at least 32 people, an investigator said Tuesday.

National Transportation Safety Board member Earl Weener did not say if the feed truck was the cause of the Amtrak Southwest Chiefs accident the day earlier.

But he said the impact of the truck from the Cimarron Crossing Feeders LLC shifted the train tracks 12 to 14 inches. The train was traveling 60 mph when the engineer applied the emergency brake, stopping 18 seconds later after traveling another 919 feet.

Ferguson Council OKs DOJ reform deal

FERGUSON, Mo. (AP)  The Ferguson City Council has unanimously agreed to accept a U.S. Justice Department plan to overhaul its embattled police force and municipal court system.

Elected leaders in the St. Louis suburb where the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown helped spark the Black Lives Matter movement voted Tuesday night to approve the DOJ consent decree.

The agency and Ferguson reached a tentative agreement in late January, but the council rejected the plan in February over cost concerns, prompting the Justice Department to sue the next day.

Senior Islamic State leader dies in Syria

BAGHDAD (AP)  Omar al-Shishani, a top Islamic State commander who was a magnet for fighters from the former Soviet Union, has died of wounds suffered in a U.S. airstrike in Syria, a senior Iraqi intelligence official and the head of a Syrian activist group said Tuesday.

Al-Shishani, who was wounded in a U.S. airstrike earlier this month, died Monday outside the Islamic State groups main stronghold of Raqqa in Syria, the two told The Associated Press. A U.S. military spokesman confirmed the reports.

Police kill man tied to Paris attacks

BRUSSELS (AP)  Belgian and French police investigating a suspected link with the November attacks in Paris stormed a Brussels house Tuesday after being fired upon and killed a suspect armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle, authorities said.

Three Belgian and one French police officer were slightly wounded in the operation.

The major anti-terror operation, which lasted more than three hours, paralyzed an entire neighborhood of the Belgian capital, with schools and a day care center placed on lockdown.
DES MOINES --Both the Republican Party of Iowa and the Iowa Democratic Party received substantial growth in their ranks during the past 75 days, much of which is directly attributable to the Iowa Caucuses, according to the Secretary of States Office. Iowa Democrats increased registrations by 27,451. Iowa Republicans increased their ranks by 26,095. No party and other saw a combined decrease of 58,651.

Clearly, these statistics show that Iowans care deeply about the direction and future of our country, Secretary of State Paul Pate said. I encourage every eligible Iowan to get involved in elections on every level, from the school board all the way to the White House.

Many Iowans registered to vote or changed their party affiliation at their caucus locations. County auditors across the state received thousands of voter registration forms from the parties after the Iowa Caucuses. They had 45 days to process those.

Manure spills

Members of Citizens for Community Improvement said Tuesday their analysis of state records indicates there were 67 manure spills at commercial animal livestock facilities in Iowa last year  up from 48 in 2014. CCI members say the 39 percent increase based upon state Department of Natural Resources records shows that DNR officials need to do more to address Iowas polluted waterways and indicates that voluntary compliance and Iowas Nutrient Reduction Strategy are not working. CCI activists attending Tuesdays state Environmental Protection Commission meeting demanded better enforcement of the Clean Water Act and called for a moratorium on state permits for large-scale factory farms in light of the manure spills and runoff that result in elevated nitrate and phosphorous in Iowa waterways.

Wear green

Officials with the state Governors Traffic Safety Bureau say St. Patricks Day has become one of the deadliest holidays due to the number of drunk drivers on the roadways.

Thats why they and the Iowa Department of Public Safety are warning Iowans not to drink and drive during Thursdays holiday or the subsequent weekend. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 28 percent of all crash fatalities during the St. Patricks Day weekend in 2014 involved drunk drivers, and that number rose to nearly half in the post-party hours between midnight and 6:00 a.m. of March 18, 2014.

State officials also note pedestrians walking while intoxicated are at risk as lack of attention risks getting hit by a vehicle. In 2014, 35 percent of the pedestrians killed in crashes had a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher.

The Governors Traffic Safety Bureau encourages Iowans to plan ahead by identifying a designated driver or utilize another form of safe transportation if you choose to drink this St. Patricks Day. State officials also note that extra law enforcement officers will be on the roads March 1619 to keep Iowa motorists safe.

Online registration

More than 8,600 Iowans have successfully used the states new electronic voter registration system since its launch Jan. 1, according to Secretary of State Paul Pate.

That includes new registrants and those that updated their registration through the system that is housed on the Iowa Department of Transportations website, https://mymvd.iowadot.gov/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2fVoterRegistration. It was built in cooperation with the Secretary of States Office.

A number of states have some form of online registration that allows residents to sign up to vote but requires more paperwork or mailing a verification card, Pate said. Iowa is the first to have a process that when youve hit that last enter (on the Web-based form), youre registered, youre ready to go.

Ag Day

Iowa lawmakers paid tribute to the states 129,644 farm operators Tuesday on national Agriculture Day. Members of the Iowa House passed H.R. 106, which celebrated Iowas 88,500 farms  mostly family operated -- that lead the nation in corn for grain production, egg production, and hog and pig inventory and commercial hog slaughter, while ranking second in soybean and red meat production. Iowa agriculture accounted for nearly $30 billion in direct sales in recent years, according to the resolution, while leading the nation in ethanol and biodiesel production. In the Iowa Senate, Sen. Dan Zumbach, R-Ryan, said American farmers are responsible for the worlds safest, low-cost food through their passion to produce and compassion for others while caring deeply for the land.
A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest for Wednesday, March 16, 2016:

ACADEMY: The House Oversight Committee held a hearing on the Midwest Academy, a boarding school in Keokuk that is being investigated over allegations of abuse and has since closed.

Parents of former students have filed a lawsuit with claims of sexual assault, humiliation, and inadequately trained and insufficient staff. Lawmakers are considering legislation that would give the state some oversight over private boarding schools like Midwest Academy. A state education department official said during Wednesdays hearing the agency did not even have authority to force Midwest Academy to stop advertising it was a state-accredited school, which the school claimed in the mid-2000s.

HOME BASE: Osceola County became the latest community to earn the Home Base Iowa designation under a state program that aims to help veterans find jobs and housing. Home Base Iowa communities must develop a local incentive package for veterans, display the Home Base Iowa designation, and obtain a resolution of support from the communitys governing body.

Statewide, Home Base Iowa also removes any income tax on military pensions, provides $5,000 to veterans for a down payment or closing costs on a home, and gives veterans hiring preference. A ceremony honoring Osceola Countys approval to the program was held at Capital Armament Compan, a veteran-owned Home Base Iowa business.

GAS PRICES: The average price of gasoline inched above $2 per gallon by rising nearly 10 cents per gallon this past week, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture. The statewide average price of regular unleaded gasoline on Tuesday was $2.03, up 9 cents per gallon from a week ago but down 42 cents per gallon from the previous year. Natural gas prices this week also rose nearly a quarter, to $1.78 per gallon.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: We in the Legislature and in the executive branch seem to know little or nothing about the businesses in which we are investing. We play at being Hollywood moguls or Wall Street wizards but mostly we wind up up to our necks in fertilizer. Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, speaking Wednesday against a renewable chemical production tax credit that he likened to past state investments in the film industry, an investment fund of funds and a southeast Iowa fertilizer plant.
VINTON  A Garrison man is facing multiple charges following a high speed chase in Benton County on Monday evening.

The Benton County Sheriffs Office said a deputy tried to stop Quentin McNeal, 24, about 5:25 p.m. in Vinton, but McNeal drove off. Deputies said McNeal drove west of Vinton toward Garrison, then turned around and drove back toward Vinton. Most of the chase happened on gravel roads and U.S. Highway 218 south of Vinton.

Authorities stopped McNeal at G Avenue and 1st Street in Vinton.

He is charged with multiple traffic violations, probation violation and unlawful possession of prescription drugs.

The Iowa State Patrol, Vinton Police Department, and Iowa DOT Enforcement Officers assisted in stopping McNeal.

Woman arrested in Waterloo stabbing

WATERLOO  A Toledo woman was arrested for a stabbing in Waterloo on Monday night.

Police were called to 1026 W. Fifth St. around 8:45 p.m. for a report of a stabbing. Officers found Anita Kajtazovic, 17, with injuries that did not appear to be life threatening. She was taken to Covenant Medical Center.

Jasmine M. Roosevelt, 22, of Toledo, was arrested and charged with assault with intent to commit serious injury.

According to reports, the stabbing happened at the 400 block of Allen Street in a fight between two groups of people.

Roosevelt is being held in Black Hawk County jail on a $6,000 cash or surety bond.

Son to testify against dad in Buchanan Co. case

INDEPENDENCE  Joshua Jarrett Sr., 38, is scheduled to face trial April 6 for multiple counts of sex abuse, and his son will be among the states witnesses.

Buchanan County Attorney Shawn Harden asked the court to extend immunity to 21-year-old Joshua Jarrett Jr. because his testimony is necessary and material in the case.

Jarrett Sr. of Masonville is charged with four counts of second-degree sexual abuse, four counts of third-degree sexual abuse and one count of fleeing to avoid prosecution.

In exchange for immunity, the prosecutors, Harden and Scott Brown, an assistant Iowa attorney general, promise not to file any criminal charges against Jarrett Jr. related to his fathers alleged time as a fugitive. The deal includes Jarrett Jr.s efforts to transport, conceal or prevent apprehension of his father.

U.S. Marshals cornered Jarrett Sr. in March 2015 in Rockwall, Texas, as part of a nationwide sweep for suspects on the run. The immunity is limited to the time between Aug. 12, 2014, to Jarrett Sr.s capture.

Jarrett Jr. must testify fully and truthfully concerning his fathers whereabouts and provide information consistent with Jarrett Jr.s deposition given Dec. 15.

Judge Linda Fangman granted the immunity, noting Jarrett Jr. had otherwise refused to testify because his comments would likely be self-incriminating.

Attorneys on both sides of the case lso are trying to define what potential evidence will be allowed during the trial. A hearing on the issue is scheduled for March 29.

Defense attorneys Clemens Erdahl and Eric Tindal received permission to hire consultant Katherine Okla Jacobs, a clinical psychologist, and to spend up to $9,000 for her expertise.

In court documents, Harden argues Jacobs knowledge is not relevant about interviewing techniques used with children, how an investigator can influence the information given and whether time alters a childs memories.

According to court documents, law enforcement officials allege Jarrett Sr. committed sex acts on a girl from 2002 to 2010.

Man charged with felony domestic assault

CHARLES CITY  A Charles City man has been charged with felony domestic assault as a habitual offender after allegedly choking his girlfriend.

Cory L. Poyner, 35, was charged with domestic abuse assault by strangulation, a Class D felony, by the Charles City Police Department.

The criminal complaint alleges Poyner placed his hands around his girlfriends neck and caused her to black out March 4 at their residence.

The woman was transported to the emergency room due to her injuries, according to the complaint.

Poyner is being charged as a habitual offender due to two previous felony convictions, according to trial information filed last week by the Floyd County Attorneys Office.

Driver suffers siezure, leaves children at accident scene

WATERLOO  A Waterloo man who appeared to be having a seizure while driving says he does not recall crashing his vehicle while three kids were in it Monday.

Nor does the driver recall leaving two of the children at the scene and sideswiping a fire truck while leaving.

Police were dispatched to Doreen and Downing avenues shortly after 4 p.m. Monday for a report of a car accident. A witness at the scene said it appeared the driver of a white SUV was having a seizure. That witness placed the SUV in park, turned off the vehicle and began getting the children out of the vehicle.

Witnesses said the driver then suddenly came around and left the scene with one of the children still in the vehicle and struck a Waterloo fire truck that was there to respond to the accident. Another witness said the vehicle headed south on Doreen, did not stop for a stop sign and struck a parked car there.

One of the children still on the scene of the accident identified the driver as their father. Police found the man at his listed address. According to the accident report, the driver stated he had had seizures in the past but thought he was all right to drive. Another witness saw the man pull into his driveway and saw he was upset when he realized two of his children were not in the SUV. The driver said he did not recall where the children were or any of the incident, including the crashes.

According to reports, a Waterloo fire truck sustained approximately $500 in damage. The mans SUV had an estimated approximately $1,500 in damage.

No citations have been issued. The driver has been ordered for re-examination of his license due to possible seizures.
Q: Does anyone check the facts of the editorials on the Opinion page?

A: Yes.

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Q: Are the Texas Rangers still in operation there? Who started the group, when and for what purpose? Can you print some history?

A: Ranger history started in 1823 with a small band of frontiersmen put together by Stephen Austin. The term Texas Ranger was first used by lawmakers in 1835. Over the years, Rangers  in one form or another  fought Native Americans, policed lawless frontier towns, battled Mexican bandits and military forces and enforced order in mining towns, among other duties. Today, the Texas Ranger Division is a major division within the Texas Department of Public Safety with lead criminal investigative responsibility for major incident crime investigations, unsolved crime/serial crime investigations, public corruption investigations, officer-involved shooting investigations, and border security operations, according to the department.

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Q: The Courier reported Valley Park Drive would be closed to University Avenue. Does this mean permanently?

A: Valley Park Drive recently has been closed alternately on the north and south sides of the road for water main and storm sewer work, City Engineer Randy Lorenzen said. Valley Park Drive doesnt get closed permanently; it will be connected to University Avenue when all of the work is completed; however later on in the project the median on University Avenue will extended through this intersection, preventing traffic on Valley Park Drive from being able to cross University Avenue (from north to south, south to north). The right-in right-out movements on and off of Valley Park Drive will be allowed after reconstruction.

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Q: Who is in charge at UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital to call and ask a question?

A: Call Angie Fuller, marketing manager there, at 235-3868 and shell direct your question to the best person to answer.

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Q: What is the name of the song Willie Nelson currently has on a commercial right now that is about three lines long?

A: Those lines are from his recording of Ive Loved You All Over the World, part of the Subaru Impreza commercial.

nnn

Q: Were the twins who played Ray Romanos children on the Raymond show his own biological children? Did one of them commit suicide?

A: They were not Romanos own kids  the twins were played by brothers Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten, and their real-life older sister, Madylin Sweeten, also played their sister on the show. Sawyer Sweeten, 19, killed himself last year; members of his family said at the time he had struggled with depression.

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Q: Donald Trumps wife speaks very broken English. What country did she come from and how long has she been in the United States?

A: Melania Knauss Trump was born in Slovenia (then part of Yugoslavia) and became a permanent resident of the United States in 2001. She became a citizen in 2006.
Musk may lay off 75% of Twitter staff after purchase
By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 14, 2016 | 06:23 PM | PADUCAH, KY

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is seeking public input on plans to reconfigure the I-24 interchange at Highway 60 in Paducah.

The project, referred to as a double crossover diamond, is designed to relieve congestion around Exit 4, improve safety, and support continued traffic growth along the Kentucky Oaks Mall area.

The proposed interchange would eliminate traffic lights for drivers who need to turn left getting on I-24, or for anyone coming off the interstate.

For now, the only double crossover diamond interchange in Kentucky is in Lexington, at the busy intersection of Harrodsburg Road and New Circle Road. Similar designs are in place in 24 states, and are being studied in 46 states.

Engineers and consultants have scheduled a public meeting for Tuesday, March 22 from 5:00-7:00 pm at McCracken County High School's auxiliary gym. KYTC personnel will give a project overview presentation at 5:15, and again at 6:15 pm if necessary. Otherwise, the meeting will be an informal, open house format so the public can ask questions and make comments.

Handouts will be provided, and a video detailing the proposed improvements, drive-through tutorials for the interchange, and other displays will also be available at the meeting. Written comments will be accepted during the meeting and up to 15 days after the meeting at the KYTC District 1 Office in Paducah.
By The Associated Press Mar. 13, 2016 | 11:48 AM | LEXINGTON, KY

They want politically divided state government for at least the remainder of this year, which includes the critical final weeks of the current General Assembly's budget session.

With Democrats winning three of four seats in Tuesday's special elections, the party of President Barack Obama and House Speaker Greg Stumbo scored a small net increase over the political control it held before November's election.

Democrat Jeff Taylor's 18-point victory over Republican Roller Dome Fun Plex owner Walker Thomas in the 8th District race to replace Democrat John Tilley, whom Gov. Matt Bevin chose to head the justice cabinet, is one of the reasons Tuesday for the most part belonged to Dems.

Taylor got help from the White House in the form of robo-calls. Good for him! How many state lawmakers can lay claim to getting help from the President in their campaigns? A more important question is: what now? Will House Democratic leaders finally meet the supersized multitasking demands incumbent upon them  of working with a Republican Senate and governor to pass a responsible two-year $22 billion budget while also addressing the nation's worst state public-pension crisis without raising taxes, cutting spending, raiding the commonwealth's "Rainy Day" fund  which Bevin proposed increasing  or plunging the commonwealth deeper in debt?

"Just Say No," the well-known mantra created by the former First Lady Nancy Reagan, who recently died, might work in campaigns for political office and against some illegal drugs, but it's an intolerable substitute for the tough slog of governing. It certainly does nothing to persuade state workers and retirees that meaningful action is planned to ensure the continued solvency of the Kentucky Employees Retirement System, which now is barely 17-percent funded.

If Stumbo hinders the budget process from moving forward simply because he wants to deny Bevin some kind of political victory, Democrats will only be able to testify on the campaign trail: "We opposed Bevin and his ideas. We stood in the way of badly needed reforms to our education, health care and pension systems because we didn't want the Republican governor to notch a win. We opposed Bevin. We have no earthly idea how we're going to pay for the commonwealth's huge Medicaid expansion, but we protected the status quo  and we opposed Bevin."

Such an approach is downright unacceptable to reasonable Kentuckians who tolerate a certain amount of political shenanigans on the campaign trail but firmly reject governing platforms built around obstructionism.

I wonder if the President might be willing to make another round of robo-calls to remind Stumbo and the Democrats: it's not enough to simply oppose the governor's approach on the budget; they have a constitutional duty to present their own ideas. But if these House leaders attempt to take the easy way out by proposing a plan that taxes, spends or borrows more to fix Kentucky's budget situation, the governor should keep the promise he firmly laid down in his budget speech by finding the fattest, inkiest veto pen available and using it.

The temptation for House Republicans, meanwhile, will be to alternatively wring  and then sit on  their hands, claiming: "there's little we can do since we aren't the majority party." Instead, this is the time for GOP House leaders to pump up the volume of their bully pulpit's boom box and constantly  and very loudly and publicly  push and prod the majority party by forcing, demanding and remaining unyielding in their insistence that the entire House get serious about doing the people's work.

Divided government  currently the political makeup of 19 states' governments  can work when both parties commit to creating an environment in which all participants feel the burden of governing responsibly and have a stake in getting things  primarily passage of a responsible budget  done.

Jim Waters is president of the Bluegrass Institute, Kentucky's free-market think tank. Reach him at jwaters@freedomkentucky.com. Read previously published columns at www.bipps.org .
Marvel Comics/Alex Ross

Though it may appear otherwise, considering the limited exposure of the character in recent decades, Matthew Murdock is by far Marvel's greatest and most compelling creation.

He's a swashbuckler, a morally ambiguous vigilante, the protagonist of numerous courtroom dramas and a revolutionary hero that has formed the basis of countless tales both marvellous and thought-provoking. Indeed, there aren't many other costume-clad characters that can invoke such sentiments, even ones that have garnered a legendary reputation Murdock would struggle to eclipse.

But while that may have once been the case, Stan Lee and Bill Everett's creation is finally getting the recognition he's long deserved, experiencing a reinvigorated popularity as a result of Drew Goddard's sublime Netflix adaptation of their original source material. It may not have led to the character receiving the same iconic status of, say, Spider-Man or Captain America for instance, but as far as connoisseurs of all things comics are concerned, Daredevil is by far the most enthralling superhero on and off the page.

8. The Character's Had Some Of The Best Story-Arcs Ever

Marvel Comics

Born Again, The Devil in Cell Block D, Guardian Devil, The Murdock Papers - all are among the finest literary works in the medium. All transcend the usual tropes of the typical superhero comic book and in doing so, have elevated Matt Murdock, his allies, his enemies, and the world he inhabits to unparalleled story-telling heights.

The works of Frank Miller, Ann Nocenti, Brian Bendis, Ed Brubaker and Mark Waid epitomise the potential to be had within the superhero genre, as they demonstrate so eloquently through tales of deception, conflicts of morality, and through just plain ol' fashioned character-driven crime drama. What makes these tales so damn appealing however isn't just the intricate plots these authors are able to weave. No, what makes them so intriguing is that, at their core, they chronicle the events of a flawed, immensely relatable character.

While this element in itself isn't alien to the vast majority of comics fans familiar with the House of Ideas' library, there are countless stories to have featured the Man Without Fear that have rightly fostered a reputation for quality story-telling. There may be the occasional miss, but for the most part Daredevil has remained the go-to hero for thought-provoking drama.
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The disposability of girls in Ethiopia and around the world needs to end. We cannot be free until every sexist Penal Code is changed and every girl protected from violence. So writes Faiza Jama Mohamed, the Africa director of Equality Now, the nonprofit organization that works to change sexist laws in countries around the world. She is celebrating a precedent-setting ruling of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rightsa ruling that holds accountable the perpetrators of the abduction and rape of a young girl, Woineshet Zebene Negash. It took 15 years for the case to be resolved.

The announcement came, coincidentally, just a week before the convening of the 60th Session of the United Nations Commission of the Status of Women, which is meeting in New York until March 24. It was at the UNs Fourth World Conference on Women, in Beijing in 1995, that Hillary Rodham Clinton famously declared that human rights are womens rightsand womens rights are human rights. (How dismaying, that such an assertion should be considered noteworthy!)

RELATED: Women Making History Month: Equality Now?

Woineshet was only 13 in 2001 when Aberew Jemma Negussie and a group of accomplices broke into her house late at night, carried her away, and raped her, Faiza Mohamed told Thomson Reuters Foundation News. When her teachers reported the rape, the police rescued her and arrested Negussie. However, let out on bail some weeks later, he abducted her again and hid her in his brothers house. She was held there until she managed to escape more than a month later, but only after she was forced to scrawl her name on a piece of paper  a document which would later be used against her in court as a supposed marriage contract. (In some parts of Ethiopia, abduction/rape is tolerated as a means for a man to force a woman into marriage.) Read More 
If youre looking to try out an online casino, there are several things that will help you make a decision. Heres what you should look for when choosing an online casino

 Are they regulated? A lot of the larger ones have licenses issued by the authorities in their respective regions, so its worth checking this first.

 Do they offer games from different software providers? Some casinos just use one software provider and limit your selection. This is fine if you like playing those types of games but you may want to check other casinos as well.

 What does their payout percentage look like? The payout rate refers to how much money you can expect to win after every bet. A high payout rate means youll be able to play more often without having to worry about losing all your money. Its also important to know the minimum and maximum bets allowed on each game. If youre going to play roulette, for example, then you probably dont want a casino with a minimum bet of less than $2.50 or even lower than that.

The players used to play the game slot online in the land based casinos in the past time. But now with time after the invention of the online casinos players play the game slot online. Online platform provide the players with the convenience in playing and even better winning. Even after keeping a good percentage of the profits, they distribute good funds to players.

 How many games do they offer? There are lots of different types of games to choose from. Roulette, blackjack and poker are some of the most popular options, but you might find slots, video pokers, video bingo and others as well. You can usually filter these games down to only show the ones that interest you best, so make sure that your list isnt too long!

 Is there a bonus offer? Many online casinos offer free bonuses as part of their welcome package  which includes new players being awarded 100% up to $10 instantly, for example. These offers are great but not everyone has access to them all the time (and some require you to deposit real money). If youd prefer to avoid paying a fee, some casinos offer no-deposit bonuses where you can get a certain amount of funds before you need to put any actual money into the account. These are usually offered alongside welcome bonuses, so make sure you read both parts of the terms and conditions carefully before signing up.

 Does it offer live dealer games? Live dealers are much preferred by many over regular virtual versions, so it pays to check this option out too. Most online casinos now offer live dealer games in addition to their regular offerings, allowing you to experience the thrill of the real thing without needing to leave home.

Now that youve got an idea of what to look for when choosing an online casino, heres some tips for making the right choice

It really comes down to personal preference. No two people are exactly alike, so everyone has an opinion on what they like and dislike about each casino. That said, here are some things to consider in order to narrow down your choices

 Popularity. Check out reviews, forums and Facebook pages to see what other people think of the casino. Also, ask around at work or friends houses who they would recommend to you. You could always take a look at the casinos website too, to see what kind of information they provide about themselves.

 Reputation. Find out what the general public thinks about the casino. Check out any customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot, Amazon and Google Play to find out more. As far as gaming goes, you can also check out the Better Business Bureau to see whether there have been any complaints against the casino.

 Security. Make sure the casino uses SSL encryption to secure its transactions, meaning that your private data stays safe during transactions. Other than that, look for security seals on the site itself and verify that theyre legitimate. You can also check out the casinos privacy policy to see how they handle confidential information.

 Payment methods. Its good to have multiple payment options available, especially if you plan to play frequently. Its also nice to find a casino that accepts cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. If youre worried about safety, you can always opt for a credit card or PayPal instead.

With all those criteria in mind, heres our top picks

Betway:

Betway is a relatively new UK casino offering online gambling to residents of the United Kingdom and European Union. They offer hundreds of games across both land based and digital platforms, with plenty of top software providers like Net Entertainment, Microgaming and Yggdrasil Gaming Network. With a generous welcome offer that gives players 100% up to 100, you really cant go wrong with Betway.

Coral Casino:

Coral Casino is operated by the same company that runs the famous Caribbean casino, Grand Reef. Like many casinos, Coral Casino offers a wide variety of games, including plenty of video slots and table games. New players can benefit from a huge 100% match bonus up to 1000, while existing customers enjoy 25% cash back on deposits made within 48 hours of opening an account.

Ladbrokes Casino:

Ladbrokes Casino is owned by the same company as the famous bookmaker that started life in 1921. With more than 500 games from leading software providers such as Amaya, NetEnt and Microgaming, you wont be disappointed by the quality of the games here. New players get a 200% match bonus up to 500, while existing customers can claim 35% cashback on their first three deposits.

Paddy Power Casino:

Paddy Power is another Irish-owned casino that operates throughout Europe. Not only does Paddy Power Casino offer traditional casino games like blackjack, roulette and slots, but it also provides a full range of sports betting, including football, tennis, boxing and horse racing. New players can receive a massive 100% match bonus up to 200, while existing customers can claim 35% cashback on their first three deposits.

William Hill Casino:

William Hill Casino is one of the biggest names in the industry, operating in Europe, Asia and North America. Founded in 1984, this online casino has more than 400 games to choose from, including slots and table games, with a wide array of software providers like WagerLogic, Big Time Gaming and Rival.

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If youre interested in trying out an online casino but arent quite ready to commit to one, why not try out one of the many no deposit casinos weve reviewed? You can test drive various casinos completely risk-free, so you can feel confident about your choice before you make a single penny deposit.
Canl Bahis siteleri sektoru son derece onu ack ve farkl ozelliklere sahip bir sektordur. Elbette bahis secenekleri arasnda yuksek kazanc getiren alan kuskusuz canl bahistir. Peki, canl bahis nedir?

Canl Bahis Nedir?

Canl bahis adndan da anlaslacag gibi devam eden musabakaya bahis yapmaktr. Bu bahis musabaka devam ederken de yaplabilir olmasdr. Basta futbol olmak uzere voleybol, tenis, hentbol, basketbol, buz hokeyi ve masa tenisi gibi spor organizasyonlarna canl bahisler yaplabilmektedir. Canl bahis siteleri bu oyunlarn hepsine yuksek oranlara bahis yapmanza imkan tanr. En fazla tercih edilen futbol canl bahisleri diger alanlara gore daha fazla on plandadr. Siteden siteye degisen sartlar ve uygulama esaslar soz konusu olsa da kurallar sabittir.

Canl bahisi populer klan ve heyecan katan en onemli ozellikle musabakann basladg ana dek bahis yapabilmedir. Canl bahis icerisinde yer alan secenekler kazanma sansnz da dogrudan arttrmaktadr. Ilk korneri kim kullanr, ilk tac, gol, sar kart, krmz kart gibi futbol musabakas icerisinde olabilecek hemen hemen her seye bahis yaplabilmektedir. Normal bahisegore de son derece yuksek oranda olmas avantajl yonlerini ortaya koymaktadr. Nitekim dogru secenek ksa surede kazancl ckmanza etki edecektir.

Strateji ve dogru analizle 90 dakika gibi bir surede anaparanzkatlayabilirsiniz. Tabi bunu basarabilmek icin mutlaka musabakaya dair ayrntlar iyi degerlendirmek gerekir. Soz konusu musabakann detaylarn inceleyip, cezal, sakat oyuncu veya performans dusen takm oyunu gibi detaylar bilmek canl bahiste kazanc belirleyen onemli unsurdur. Guvenilir Canl bahis hem heyecanl zaman gecirmeyi hem de musabakalar takip ederken para kazanmay saglamaktadr.

Canl Bahis Nasl Oynanr?

Bahislerinizi guvenilir sitelerden gerceklestirdiginiz zaman herhangi bir sekilde para cekme de sorun yasamazsnz. Guvenilir bahis siteleri tespit edip sonrasnda da uyelik islemlerini tamamlamanz gerekmektedir. Belirlenen uyelik sartlarn yerine getirip hesabnza da paray aktardktan sonra bahis islemlerini sorunsuz yapabilirsiniz. Peki, canl bahis nasl oynanr?

Oncelikle bahis konusunda mutlaka dogru site arastrmas yapmalsnz. Yapacagnz arastrma neticesinde buldugunuz site uzerinden canl bahisislemlerini gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Bunun icin uye olup, hesaba para atp, canl bahis bolumune girmelisiniz. Sonrasnda dahil olmak istediginiz musabakann saatini ogrenip, gerekli analizleri yapmalsnz. Tahminlerinizi belirledikten sonra karsnza ckacak olan bahis sayfasndan istediginiz hamleyi yapmalsnz. Bahis tutarn belirledikten sonra musabaka baslayacaktr.

Canl bahis diger normal bahis esaslarna gore farkllklar icermektedir. Bunlardan en onemlisi musabakann gidisatna gore islem yapabilir olmaktr.Ayrca musabakann 2. Yarsna gore hamle yapp ayr bir bahisin soz konusu olmas da ciddi avantajdr. Dogru hamle ile sizde istediginiz bahisi yapp kazanc elde edebilirsiniz. Nitekim canl olarak yapacagnz bahis icin mac oncesi raporlara gore hareket etmek onemlidir. Cunku takmlarn durumlarn analiz etmek tahmin gucunu arttracaktr. Misal tamnn en iyi oyuncusu sakat ya da kart cezals ise takmn performansnda dusus yasanacaktr. Buna ek olarak takmn deplasman performans ile evinde ki performans ayr olacaktr. Burada da takmn musabakay nerede yaptgna bakmak gerekir. Bu ayrntlar da iyice analiz ettikten sonra bahsinizi yapp kazanmann keyfini yasayabilirsiniz.

Canl Bahis Siteleri

Son derece yuksek getiriye sahip bahis sektoru uzun zamandr faaliyet gostermektedir. Cok ciddi rakamlarn soz konusu oldugu bu sektor zamanla sanal ortamlara donusmustur. Elbette guvenli ve bir o kadar da avantajl olan bu siteler cok yonlu frsatlar sunmaktadrlar. Canl iddaa siteleri gerek yeni uyelere gerekse de hali hazrdaki uyelerine bolca bonus frsatlar vermektedir. Yatracagnz tutara gore belirlenen bonuslar site icerisinde rahat hareket etmenizi de saglayacaktr.

Canl bahis sitelerini kullanmadan once mutlaka guvenli olup olmadgna goz atmalsnz. Zira baz kullanclar guvenli olmayan sitelerden yaptklar islemlerden dolay magdur olmaktadrlar. Nitekim guvenli ve sorunsuz hizmet sunan yurt ds site tercih etmek en dogru secenektir. Sektorde uzun yllar faaliyet gosteren siteleri tercih edebilirsiniz. Bu alanda yer alan yabanc siteler musteri memnuniyetine onem vermektedir. Oncelik site kullanclarn sorunsuz sekilde bahislerini yapabilir olmasn saglamaktr. Bahis sitelerinde amac hem daha fazla kullancya hizmet vermek hem de sektorde emin admlarla ilerlemek onceliklidir. Dogru site tercihi ile sizde canl bahislerinizi sorun yasamadan gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Sizler icin hazrlams oldugumuz canl bahis siteleri listesi su sekildedir;

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Sralams oldugumuz bu siteler sektorde basarl islere imza atms sitelerdedir. Canl bahis konusunda beklentileri karslayacak olan bu siteler sizlere kolaylk sunmaktadrlar. Bol bonuslu secenekle de sizlere farkl bahis yonlerini sunacaklardr. Sistemsel etki icerisinde her zaman etkin sonuc alabilmek icin surekli olarak faaliyet icerisindedirler.

Canl Bahis Taktikleri

Bahis sektorunun en fazla dikkat edilmesi gereken hususu dogru taktik ve dogru tahmindir. Elbette dogru tahmini yapabilmek icin analizi cok iyi yapmak gerekir. Canl bahis taktikleri arasnda ilk sra analiz gelmektedir. Analiz yapamadgnz zaman basarl tahminlerde bulunmanz pek de mumkun degildir. Cunku bahiste onemli olan konu musabakann analizini cok iyi yaplmas gerektigidir. Canl bahisin ozelliklerini iyi bilmek ve nasl bir hamle yapacagnz bilmek gerekir. Ozellikle riskli maclarda yaplacak degerlendirmeler cok daha onemlidir.

Canl bahis yapacaklarn takip edecegi degerler takmlarn durumlar ile alakal olmaldr. Performans uzerine kurulu bahis sisteminde takm degerlendirmesine iyi bakmak gerekir. Iki takmn son 5 macta nasl bir sonuc ortaya koyduguna bakarak hareket etmek onemlidir. Ayrca hangi takm evinde daha iyi performans sergiliyor diye de ayrca bakmak gerekir.

Analizlerle alakal puan durumlarna da goz atmak cok onemlidir. Puan degerlendirmesinde oncelikle takmlarn ihtiyaclar ile dogru orantl hareket etmek gerekir. Cunku olusturulan performans takmn da durumunu ortaya koymaktadr. Nitekim istenilen sonucu elde edebilmek icin tum ayrntlar bilmek gerekir. Takm ici duzenden tutunda da takmn son durumuna kadar her ayrnt onemlidir. Iki takmn birbirleri arasnda ki sonuclar da incelemek gerekir. Burada dikkat edilecek detaylarn basnda maclarda kac gol oldugu ve gollerin hangi dakikalarda atldgdr. Cekismeli gecen musabakalarda bazen goller ilk yarda daha fazla olurken baz maclarda da ikinci yarda daha cok gol olmustur. Iki takm arasnda ki maclarda gollerin cogunlugu ilk yarda geliyorsa buna gore bahis yapabilirsiniz.

Canl Bahis Siteleri Bonuslar ve Kampanyalar

Bahis yapanlar veya yapmay dusununler sitelerin sunmus olduklar frsatlar merak etmektedirler. Cunku siteler daha fazla kullancya erismek icin her donem kampanyalar duzenleyerek kullanc odakl hamleler yapmaktadrlar. Canl bahis bonuslar ve kampanyalar oldukca populer olup, siteler bu konuda adeta birbirleri ile yarsmaktadrlar. Birbirinden farkl ozelliklere sahip olan kampanyalar size frsatlar sunmaktadr. Daha cok kazanma ihtimalinizi arttran bu bonuslar daha cesur olmanza da dogrudan etki edecektir. Nitekim bonuslar sitelerin cekiciligini ve avantajlarn arttrmaktadr. En cok kazandran canl bahis siteleri bedava bonuslar ve kampanyalar icin http://www.milano2018.com/canli-bahis-siteleri-2022/ linkinden yardm alabilirsiniz.

Hos geldin bonusu ile baslayan ve sonrasnda para yatrdkca bonus veren cok sayda site bulunmaktadr. Canl bahis bonusu veren siteler yeni uyelere sunduklar frsatlar farkl kampanyalarla mevcut uyelerine de sunmaktadrlar. Hali hazrda siteyi kullananlarn da bonus frsatlarndan yararlanmalar icin donemsel kampanyalar olusturmaktadrlar. Boylece baska sitelere gidisler olmayacag gibi site de daha keyifli zaman gecirmek mumkun klnmaktadr. Bu tur eklentiler yapan sitelerde musteri memnuniyeti daha fazladr.

Bahis siteleri ozellik ve uygulama bakmndan farkllklar bunyelerinde bulundurmaktadrlar. Verilen bonuslarn olusturulmas ve kullanclar aktarlmasnda yatrlan para miktarlar belirleyici olmaktadr. 1.000 TL yatran bir kullanc yuzde 20 bonus frsat olan bir kampanyadan 200 TL bonus kazanabilmektedir. Yatracag tutar 10.000 TL oldugunda bu bonustutar 2.000 TL olabilmektedir. Gerceklesen ve uygulanan esaslar tamamen donemsel olarak yaplan kampanyalarla alakaldr. Iyi Canl bahis siteleri bonuslar ve kampanyalar icin sitelerin vermis oldugu oranlar takip edebilirsiniz.

Canl Bahis Siteleri Para Yatrma

Online Canl bahis yapacaklarn merak ettigi konulardan bir digeri de para yatrma islemleridir. Oldukca onemli olan bu konuda hata yapmamak cok onemlidir. Canl bahis sitelerine para yatrma islemi sanlann aksine son derece basittir. Oldukca basit ve uygulama esas dogru etki olusturan bu yapda sizde islemi rahatca tamamlayabilirsiniz. Para yatrma konusunda su yolu izleyebilirsiniz.

Guvendiginiz ve herhangi bir sekilde aklnzda soru isareti kalmayan bahis sitesine uye olmanz gerekmektedir. Uyelik islemini sorunsuz sekilde tamamladktan sonra para yatrma islemine gecebilirsiniz.

Kullanacagnz siteye uye olduktan sonra karsnza kullanc ad ve sifresini gireceginiz yer gelecektir. Buraya giris yaptktan sonra site icerisine islemlere devam edebilirsiniz.

Sitede yer alan para yatrma sekmesine tklayp sonrasnda karsnza gelen sayfay inceleyebilirsiniz. Para yatrma bolumunde yer alan ksma ne kadar para yatracagnz yazp devam tusuna basmalsnz.

Yatrmak istediginiz tutar girip sonrasnda da devam tusuna bastktan sonra karsnza kart bilgilerinizi gireceginiz sayfa gelecektir. Kredi kart kullanarak para gondermek isteyenlerin tercih ettigi bu sayfa tum bilgiler girilip islem onaylanmaldr.

Canl bahis sitelerine para yatrma islemini gerceklestirmek icin hesaba havale secenegini de kullanabilirsiniz. Site icerisinde musteri hizmetleri ile iletisime gecerek banka hesap numaralarn ogrenebilirsiniz. Belirtilen IBAN numarasna istediginiz tutar havale edebilirsiniz. Havale ederken acklama ksmna yazlacak bilgilere dikkat etmelisiniz.

Kredi kart veya banka havalesi ile gerceklesen para yatrma islemi sonucunda site hesabnzdan bakiyenize bakabilirsiniz. Bakiyenize gore dilediginiz sekilde bahislerinizi gerceklestirebilirsiniz.

Canl Bahis Siteleri Para Cekme

Canl bahiste dogru hamleler ve dogru tahminler sonucunda kazandgnz bedeli geri almak isteyebilirsiniz. Kazanclarnz istediginiz banka hesabnza cekebilmek icin uymanz gereken kurallar soz konusudur. Oncelikle bahis sitelerinden para cekebilmeniz icin uye olurken dogru bilgi paylasmnda bulunmanz gerektigidir. Cunku canl bahis sitelerinden para cekme islemi icin kullanc hesab ile talep edilen banka hesap bilgilerinin ortusmesi gerekir. Yani uye olurken verilen bilgi ile banka hesab kime ait ise o bilgiler ayn olmaldr. Bu uygulama sitenin hem kullancsn hem de kendisini guvene alma politikasdr. Ayrca frsatclarn onune gecerek yeni bir uye olusumunun da onune gecmek amac gutmektedir. Uye olan kisi farkl para cekilme talebi verilen hesap farkl oldugunda para cekme islemi gerceklesmeyecektir.

Bahisleriniz sonucunda kazanc elde edebilir ve bu kazancnz da hakknz olarak almak isteyebilirsiniz. Burada son derece basit uygulama soz konusu olurken siteler aras farkl gorunumler soz konusu olabilir. Fakat yine de tum sitelerde uyenin site icerisinde para cekme bolumune girmesi yeterlidir. Burada cekilecek olan tutarn belirlenmesi ve hesap numarasnn girilmesi ile birlikte islem onay gerekecektir. Para cekme taleplerinde sizden gerekli bilgiler istenmekte ve havale islemi istenilen bilgiler esliginde yurutulmektedir. Dogru bilgi paylasmak sorunsuz para cekebilmeniz en onemli kuraldr. Istenilen bilgiler girildikten sonra site sorumlular gerekli kontrolleri yapp herhangi bir sorun yoksa ksa surede hesabnza gerekli paray aktaracaklardr.

Canl Bahis Sitelerinden Para Cekmek Icin Istenen Belgeler

Bahis sitelerine uye olduktan sonra baz kullanclar para cekme taleplerinin karslanmadg konusunda sikayetlerde bulunmuslardr. Bu sikayetlersektorde uzun zamandr bulunan guvenilir bahis siteleri de yer almaktadr. Fakat sikayetlerin dayanaklarna bakldgnda ise islerin tamamen farkl oldugu gorulmektedir. Yasanan bu durum kullanclarn hatal bilgi girmesi ve uyelik bilgileri ile banka bilgilerinin uyusmamas ile dogru orantldr. Birde canl bahis para cekmek icin istenen belgeler eksik ya da hatal olarak sunulmus olabilir. Ortaya ckan karsklar neticesinde para cekme talebinde bulunan kisi istedigini alamadg icin sikayetci olmaktadr. Oysa ki istenilen bilgiler dogru ve istenilen evraklar eksiksiz sunulsa para cekme islemi sorunsuz olacak.

Sitelerin para cekme konusunda dikkatli hareket etmesi hilelerin ve illegal faaliyetlerin onune gecmek adnadr. Cunku baz kullanclar farkl bilgiler vererek ikinci hesap acabilmektedirler. Bazen de bilincsizce hatal bilgi girilebilmektedir. Hatal islemlerin cozumu konusunda islem yaptgnz sitenin musteri temsilcileri ile gorusebilirsiniz. Talepleriniz dogrultusunda para cekme islemlerinde ki sorunlar giderilecektir. Canl bahis para cekmek icin istenen belgeler listesi su sekildedir;

Kullanc bilgileri ile banka bilgilerini karslastrmak icin kimlik fotokopisi

Banka hesap bilgileri

Ikametgah ve kisiye ait herhangi bir fatura.

Kacak Iddaa

Turkiyede dogrudan bahis yapmak icin resmi kanallar kullanlabilmektedir. Fakat tercih edilen ve oran olarak cok daha fazla frsatlar sunan kacar iddaasiteleri bulunmaktadr. Bu siteler kanunlara aykr sekilde yaplmakta olup, yasal bir dayanag yoktur. Elbette bu sitelerin kurulus merkezi Turkiye olmayp, ds ulkelerdedir ve faaliyetler belirlenen siteler uzerinden yaplmaktadr. Kacak Iddaa oldukca riskli olup, cok dikkatli olunmas gerekir.

Kacak Bahis

Kanunlar cercevesinde istediginiz gibi bahis yapamayabilirsiniz. Bahis yapabilmek icin ya kanuni olarak sorun olmayan ulke dsnda ki kumarhanelere gitmeniz veya kacak bahis sitelerinden islem yapabilirsiniz. Zira bu durum tehlikeli olsa da cok sayda site guvenli sekilde bu alanda hizmet vermektedir. Kacak bahiste oldukca fazla secenek bulunurken yuksek oranda kazanc sunuyor olmas da ragbeti arttryor.

Illegal Bahis

Bahisin bircok alanda yasak oldugu Turkiyede bu alanda cok sayda yabanc merkezli siteler hizmet vermektedir. Illegal bahis sektorunde faaliyet gosteren siteler guvenli hizmet anlays ile kullanclarna frsatlar sunmaktadr. Yurt ds merkezli bu siteler sorunsuz sekilde hizmetlerini surdururken bulunduklar ulkelerde kanunlara uygun sekildedir. Elbette faaliyet noktasnda bulunduklar ulkelerde sorun teskil etmese de Turkiyede faaliyet gostermeleri kanunin yasaklanmstr.

Yasads Bahis

Gerek olusturulan etkenler gerekse de ortaya konulan riskler yasads bahis de oldukca tehlikelidir. Kanunlarn mudahil olduklar bu alanlar da hem kullanclar hem de populer bahis yaptranlar tum riskleri goze almaktadrlar. Fakat yasaklardan uzak sekilde guvenli hizmet sunan siteler de bulunmaktadr. Takipler neticesinde kapatlan sitelerin muhakkak alternatifleri kurularak yollarna devam etmektedirler.

Canl Iddaa Siteleri Nelerdir?

Dunya genelinde kabul gormus cok sayda guvenli hizmet veren populer bahis siteleri bulunmaktadr. Elbette bu siteler dunyann bircok ulkesinde faaliyet gosterse de Turkiyede yasaktr. Sektorde yer alan cok sayda legal iddaa siteleri bulunmaktadr. Herhangi bir kanunsuzlugun olmadg bu sitelerden hzl ve guvenli islem yaplabilmektedir. Tabi bu sitelerde uygulanan oranlar yasal olmayan sitelere gore daha dusuktur. Illegal sitelerin tercih edilme sebeplerinin en onemli etkeni de olusturulan oranlardr. Peki, Iddaa siteleri nelerdir? Faaliyetleri ve uygulama esaslar nelerdir?

Turkiyede faaliyet gosteren yasal iddaa siteleri listesi su sekildedir;

Iddaa

Bilyoner

Tuttur

Birebin

Oley

Nesine

Misli

Iddaa

2004 ylnda hizmet vermeye baslayan Iddaa Spor toto tarafndan kurulmus olup, ilk etapta bayilik seklinde calsmaya baslamstr. Elbette zamanla gelisen teknolojiye ayak uydurarak internet uzerinde de populer bahis severlerin hizmetine sunulmustur. Kuruldugu donemde devletin resmi kurumu olarak faaliyet gosterirken gelinen yeni donemde ozellestirilmistir.

Bilyoner

Turkiyede faaliyetine 2006 ylnda baslayan Bilyoner ilk ozel yasal bahis sitesi olma ozelligine sahiptir. Guvenilir bahis siteleri Turkiyede bunlardr. Ksa surede populer olan site halen faaliyetlerini sorunsuz sekilde surdurmektedir.

Tuttur

Ksa surede adndan bahsettirmeyi basaran Tuttur 2009 ylnda faaliyetlere baslamstr. Guvenilir bahis siteleri arasnda yerini almstr. Gunumuze dek bircok alanda populer bahis yapanlara frsatlar sunarken avantajlar ile de begeni toplamstr.

Birebin

Kullanc odakl calsmalar surdurse de 2011 ylnda sektore giren Birebindiger sitelere gore daha az ragbet gormektedir. Bahis oynamak ise bu sitede oldukca kolaydr. Elbette farkl yaklasmlara sahip olmasndan dolay ilerleyen sureclerde adndan sklkla bahsettirecek gibi gorunuyor.

Oley

2009 ylnda Dogus yayn gruplarnn istiraki olarak kurulmus olup yasal olarak herhangi bir sorunu olmayan sitelerdendir. Bahis siteleri arasnda hzl cks yapms bir sitedir. Oley yapms oldugu yenilikler ile kullanclarn da dikkatini ksa surede cekmeyi basarmstr.

Nesine

Birbirini takip eden surecte Nesine de yine 2006 ylnda hizmet vermeye baslamstr. Yasal bahis siteleri arasnda yerini almay basaran firma ksa surede sevilen ve ragbet goren bir site olmustur.

Misli

2009 ylnda sektore cok hzl giris yapan Misli cok sayda reklam filmi ile on plana ckmay basarmstr. Internet uzerinden hem yasal hem de sorunsuz hizmet veren bahis sitelerinden bir tanesi olmustur.

Canl Bahis Siteleri Kayt ve Uyelik Islemleri

Her zaman populerligini koruyan ve surekli gelisim gosteren canl bahis gun gectikce daha da gucleniyor. Bahis oynamak icin ise sitelere uye olunmas gerekir. Yuksek getirisi ve begeni toplayan faaliyetleri ile cok sayda site bu alanda faaliyet gostermektedir. Elbette sorunsuz sekilde uye olmanz ve faaliyetler gostermeniz de oldukca kolaydr. Canl bahis siteleri kayt ve uyelik islemleri dakikalar icerisinde gerceklestirilecek yapya sahiptir.

Uye olacagnz siteyi belirledikten sonra siteye girmeniz gerekmektedir. Girdiginiz sitenin ana sayfasnda uye ol ya da kayt ol bolumu bulunacaktr. Siteler arasnda degiskenlik gosteren bu alanda temel unsurlar bulunmaktadr. Elbette farkllklar olsa da temelinde benzer bilgiler uye olmak isteyen kisilerden talep edilmektedir.

Uye ol bolumune tkladktan sonra karsnza uyelik bilgi formu ckacaktr. Bu formda sizin kim oldugunuzu ogrenmek ve sitenin guvenligini saglamak adna islemler yaplmaktadr. Uyelik formunda yer alan ad soyad bolumunu eksiksiz ve dogru sekilde doldurmalsnz. Sizden bu formda istenen bilgilerin tamamn girmeniz istenecektir. Istenen bilgiler mutlaka dogru ve eksiksiz sekilde olmaldr. Eksik veya hatal bilgi uyelik islemlerinde sorun teskil edebilir. Yine de yanls bilgi girisine ragmen uyelik islemleri tamamlanabilir. Fakat boyle bir yol izleyenler sonrasnda buyuk skntlarla karslasabilirler. Bu skntlarn basnda da para cekme islemlerinde yasanan sorunlardr.

Uyelik islemleri dikkatli ve ozenle doldurulmas gereken yapdadr. Canl bahis siteleri kayt ve uyelik islemleri gerceklestirilirken verilen bilgiler site yonetimi tarafndan muhafaza edilmektedir. Herhangi bir sekilde 3. Sahslarla paylaslmas gibi bir durum soz konusu degildir. Bu faaliyetleri surduren sitelerin guven unsurlar arasnda bu nokta onceliklidir.

Bahis sitelerine uye olurken hatal bilgi paylasmnda bulunmak size faydadan cok zarar verecektir. Diyelim ki bilgileri hatal girdiniz ve uyelik onayland. Uyelik tamamlandktan sonra siteye para yatrdnz ve kazanc elde ettiniz. Kazancnz sonrasnda hesabnza almak istediginizde karsnza banka bilgileri bolumu gelecektir. Para cekme talebi gerceklestikten sonra site uyelik bilgileri ile banka hesap bilgileri ortusmez ise paranz alamazsnz. Boyle bir durumla karslasmamak adna bu hususa ayrca dikkat etmelisiniz.
Mar 16, 2016 | By Alec

If youve ever built your own 3D printer, you might have learnt the hard way if your machine wasnt stable enough. The danger is that even the slightest nudge offset the extrusion head during printing, which can lead to layer placement where theyre not supposed to be  ruining your perfect 3D printed surfaces. This problem is what led to some criticism when Amazon announced they were looking into active 3D printers in delivery trucks to optimize efficiency. But it is definitely possible, as a new Ultimaker project reveals. Dutch postal service PostNL has just successfully delivered an active 3D printer, with the results being perfectly playable.

This unusual project has come out of the mind of 3D printing expert Joris van Tubergen, one of the designers/artists at the basis of widely successful Ultimaker 3D printers. If youve never heard of van Tubergen, he is one of the masterminds behind the Dutch 3D printing scene. Having studied Industrial Design Engineering at Delft University, he joined up the FabLab ProtoSpace in Utrecht in 2008, and still works as its Creative Director. A firm supporter of RepRap open source 3D printing, this grew into Ultimaker back in 2010. Back when Ultimaker was first developed I was running the FabLab ProtoSpace together with Siert Wijnia, who is now the CEO of Ultimaker. We held a bunch of workshops about building your own 3D printer, which at the time attracted mainly techies who liked building robots. The fact that it could actually print in 3D was not really why they were there, he recalls.

Aside from making some key contributions to the Ultimaker concept, he also works as a designer, inventor and 3D printing expert on various projects and art installations. For instance, he was the first to convert the Ultimaker Original into a Chocolate 3D printer, converted himself into a 4-meter-tall 3D printed scarecrow, and also worked on an amazing life-sized 3D printed elephant back in 2014, for World Elephant Day.

For his latest project, he went for a bigger challenge on a smaller scale. As he revealed to 3Ders.org, the challenge grew out of the confidence of PostNL, who boldly claimed that it is possible to ship an active 3D printer without ruining the print. PostNL ships more than a million packages every day, of all shapes and sizes. While it seems fairly straightforward for the average customer, it actually requires a huge data heavy infrastructure to get everything where it needs to go. To illustrate its effectiveness, PostNL wanted to put it to the test. And the best way to [do] that is to send a package that cannot be sent, they say.

Challenge accepted. Van Tubergen began by designing a 3D printable trumpet that was addressed to Eric Vloeimans, considered to be the best trumpeter in the Netherlands. Van Tubergen further designed a specific package for the Ultimaker 3D printer, to allow it to be operated inside the cardboard box. That part was easy, but the real question is: how rough is a typical package handled during delivery? Will it harm the print in any way? As you can see in the clip below, it does take quite a few bumps and knocks along the way, all of which can affect the quality of the print.

However, as you can see for yourself, both the delivery truck and the 3D printer did exactly what they should be doing. Eric Vloeimans tested the trumpet, and was happily surprised by the quality. Joris van Tubergen: The sound is so incredible that many people don't believe it is the real sound from the 3D printed trumpet! Perhaps active 3D printer trucks roaming the streets arent so unrealistic after all.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Ben wrote at 6/2/2016 11:27:02 PM:is this STL available for anyone to print?




Mar 16, 2016 | By Alec

It looks like fears concerning 3D printed guns arent just limited to the US or Australia. While some lawmakers in those countries have banned or are looking to ban so-called ghost guns, 100 percent plastic pistols that cannot be detected on metal scanners, the Thai government has gone for the nuclear option. Last month, the countrys Cabinet of Regulation approved legislation that would submit all 3D printer imports (including FDM 3D printers) to strict administrative demands and regulations  a move that would cripple the domestic 3D printing industry, hike up prices and form a great barrier to manufacturing innovation, Thai experts say.

Though these regulations were just formally approved last month and have not yet been implemented, it has already resulted in a significant backlash from the 3D printing community. Under the new legislation, all 3D printer imports are regulated by the Thai Commerce Ministry. This means all importers will be restricted to all government requests and processes related to imports, including the registration of each and every 3D printer and ownership transfer. It will also make 3D printing technology far less available and will greatly hike up market prices. Currently, the 3D printing industry isnt faced with any restrictions.

As the Bangkok Post reveals, these new regulations were first suggested to prevent people from using an industrial metal 3D printer to produce guns without the governments supervision. In short, to submit 3D printing to the same regulations as other manufacturing industries. But by applying these laws to all 3D printers, the critics say, the government is only making Thailands tech-based development less competitive and will cripple the domestic 3D printing industry.

The regulations, says Nati Sang, founder of the Chaing Mai Makerspace, directly threaten Thailands technological potential. We should not let the new rules affect the course of the country's future or make it more difficult for Thais to access 3D printing innovation, he tells reporters. The legislation could impede Thailand's participation in the global innovation landscape.

Problematically, the three existing Thai 3D printer manufacturers are currently still unable to compete with global manufacturers in terms of quality. Mr. Nati went on to argue that the new regulations were simply based on erroneous information about how guns are 3D printed, and that revision of legislation could prevent 3D printed gun production without crippling the domestic industry.

In particular, he argued that the metal 3D printers that are used to 3D print guns costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. This type of printer is beyond what average people can actually afford, said Mr Nati, who added that for that kind of money, firearms can be much more easily made without 3D printers. While a desktop FDM 3D printer could of course theoretically make a plastic gun, the results are often as dangerous for the shooter as for his targets.

But by heaping all the 3D printers together, the government is preventing researchers and manufacturers from pioneering medical, biological, material and construction innovations, Mr. Nati added. Those sounds were echoed by Panutat Tejasen, the founder of the Chiang Mai Maker Club  a community that seeks to build bridges between entrepreneurs and professional 3D printers. He argued that 3D printing could cause a paradigm shift in the Thai manufacturing. Implementing such legislation will lead other countries to look down on Thailand, he added.

According to 3D printer importer and technology expert Wiwat Arunruangsiriloet, a simple solution would be the narrow down the definition of 3D printers. By restricting the legislation to metal 3D printers capable of producing guns, the vast majority of the market will remain unaffected. The current situation, he warns, will impede many people  especially science and engineering students  from accessing the technology that could change the countrys manufacturing sector.

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Sungvirat wrote at 8/5/2016 1:19:52 PM:Can the 3d printer also print a new brain to who propose this law ?. So sad they make a new law without thinking first. :(kb wrote at 3/17/2016 10:54:38 PM:They should also ban magazines and deodorant lol Someone on Youtube built a working gun with these items...I. A. M. Magic wrote at 3/16/2016 5:16:19 PM:So they are restricting the import, but are they restricting the local manufacturing as well? Pretty dumn move, you can make a "pistol" out anything...




Mar 15, 2016 | By Tess

While much is known about the infamous Tyrannosaurus Rex in popular knowledge, such as its mammoth size, its dominant predatory capabilities, and its ability to scare the pants off of movie audiences, scientists have continued to puzzle over how the long-extinct species became such a dominant hunter during the late Cretaceous Period, around 70 million years ago. Now, however, scientists may have more insight into the Tyrannosaurus Rexs evolution, thanks to a recent and significant paleontological find.

For years, paleontologists and researchers have known that the tyrannosaur family of dinosaurs, of which the T. Rex was a part, evolved from small, dog-sized predators into the massive creatures we are more familiar with. This evolution occurred over the course of 70 million years, and many questions remained as to how the giant dinosaur got to where it did. Deep in the Kyzylkum Desert of Uzbekistan, newly discovered fossils of a previously unknown horse-sized dinosaur could offer some important clues, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Hans Sues

The newly discovered fossils, from a dinosaur called the Timurlengia euotica that lived about 90 million years ago, reveal some particularly important pieces of information about the T. Rex. Firstly, that the dinosaurs transition from an average-sized biter to the familiar colossal beast which adorns the Jurassic Park logo actually occurred very suddenly, towards the end of its 70-million-year evolutionary period. And secondly, the fossils of the horse-sized creature suggest that the tyrannosaur, prior to its sudden growth spurt, had developed keen senses and cognitive abilities, such as the ability to hear low-frequency sounds.

As Hans Sues, chair of the Department of Paleobiology at the Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History, explains of the newly found species, Timurlengia was a nimble pursuit hunter with slender, blade-like teeth suitable for slicing through meat. It probably preyed on the various large plant-eaters, especially early duck-billed dinosaurs, which shared its world. Clues from the life of Timurlengia allow us to fill in gaps and better understand the life and evolution of other related dinosaurs, like T. rex.

Steve Brusatte, who led the team of paleontologists studying the tyrannosaur fossils added, The ancestors of T. rex would have looked a whole lot like Timurlengia, a horse-sized hunter with a big brain and keen hearing that would put us to shame. Only after these ancestral tyrannosaurs evolved their clever brains and sharp senses did they grow into the colossal sizes of T. rex. Tyrannosaurs had to get smart before they got big.

Scientists were able to find out information about the dinosaurs enhanced cognitive capabilities thanks to the discovery of an astonishingly well-preserved Timurlengia euotica braincase. By using CT scanning and 3D printing technologies, researchers at the University of Edinburgh were able to recreate a model of the braincase in order to investigate the fossil in depth. Two holes in the braincase showed that the T. euotica had optic nerves that would have been connected to very large eyes, giving it a sharp sense of vision. Significantly, scientists also found that the dinosaur had a very long cochlea, the auditory portion of the inner ear, indicating that the dinosaur may have been able to hear low frequency sounds, such as the footsteps of prey or food approaching.

Amy Muir, an undergraduate who worked with geoscientist Ian Butler to analyze the CT scans of the fossil explains, I mainly worked on the computer using a program called Mimics to analyze the CT scans and create a 3D model of T. euoticas cranial anatomy. When you look at the model of T. euoticas cranial anatomy, the first thing you notice is that it has huge ears, with wide semicircular canals. This is unusual for a tyrannosaur  usually the semicircular canals are narrower and the inner ear is smaller. These keen senses may have helped the tyrannosaurs evolve from small predatorial dinosaurs into the hulking, top of the foodchain T.Rex by allowing them to expertly avoid pry while becoming more skilled hunters.

Thought the find is significant and has offered many clues into the only partially understood evolution of the infamous Tyrannosaurus Rex, there is still much left to be discovered. As the study concludes, "Timurlengia remains a single data point from a still murky interval in dinosaur history, and future discoveries from this gap will undoubtedly lead to a better understanding of how tyrannosauroids rose from marginal creatures into some of the largest terrestrial predators in Earth history.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Dr. Arv Edgeworth wrote at 3/17/2016 3:12:39 AM:Dinosaurs like most reptiles probably kept growing as long as they lived. Has anyone considered the possibility that the smaller fossils were possibly the younger ones and the larger fossils were much older. We could possibly be looking at younger and older fossils of the same dinosaur species, not separate species.




Jonathan Griffin at n+1:

THROUGHOUT ART HISTORY, artists studios are always burning down. Until only three or four decades ago, it was typical for artists to warm their workspaces with wood or coal fires. In January 1946, Arshile Gorky was settling into a borrowed studio in a barn on the Connecticut property of his friends Henry and Jean Hebbeln. Strapped, as ever, for cash, he had installed the wood-burning stove himself. When one day he smelled burning, he at first thought it was one of his cigarettes; when he saw that the hot stovepipe had set the roof of the barn on fire, he calmly walked up to the main house to fetch a pot of water to pour down the chimney. It wasnt until his third trip back to the house that he quietly announced to his host, Fire.

Among the few items that Gorky was able to retrieve from the barn before it burned to the ground was, ironically, a box of powdered charcoal. His biographer (and son-in-law) Matthew Spender speculates that one reason the Armenian artist rescued so little of his work may have been the residual influence of Zoroastrianism, in which fire is a sacred symbol, never to be extinguished. Neighbors reported seeing a distraught Gorky hitting his head against the ground as the building went up in flames, the inept local fire department unable to help. Nevertheless, the fires contribution to Gorkys psychological decline and, two years later, his suicide, tends to be overstated; soon after, he told his wife Mougouch that he felt a new freedom from the past now that it is actually burned like you feel when you are young and there is no past.

more here.
Phyllis Bennis in Counterpunch:

In a surprise announcement on March 14, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that the Russians were withdrawing most of our military from Syria beginning immediately. According to the TASS news agency, Putin said he hoped the withdrawal will become a good motivation for launching negotiations and instructed the foreign minister to intensify Russias participation in organization of peace process in Syria. The withdrawal, along with Putins restated support for a political settlement, could help move forward the fragile UN-brokered Geneva talks on ending the Syrian crisis that began on the same day  as well as the tenuous UN-negotiated cessation of hostilities. Those Russian servicemen who will stay in Syria will be engaged in monitoring the ceasefire regime, TASS reported, indicating that the pilots and crews of the 50 Russian warplanes and helicopters that have been based in Syria would be withdrawn. The withdrawal is an important step that should help reduce the level of violence in the deadly war. But questions remain.

A real reduction of violence, a durable ceasefire, and a viable peace process leading to an end to the Syrian war will require much more  more from Russia, certainly, but even more from the United States and its allies. Theres no indication yet that Russias move was coordinated with Washington, although White House spokespeople indicated that a Putin-Obama talk might be possible. In the meantime, Washington should follow Russias lead and pressure its own proxy forces to shift towards diplomacy. The withdrawal of U.S. troops, special forces, drones, and warplanes from Syria, paralleling the Russian move, would be an important first step. Further moves must include an end to both the CIAs and the Pentagons programs to train and arm rebel forces in Syria.

More here.


Half Year Accounts

Perth, Mar 15, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Taruga Gold Ltd ( ASX:TAR ) directors are pleased to provide the financial report of the Group for the half-year ended 31 December 2015.



Project Overview



Taruga Gold Limited has concessions located in Cote d'Ivoire, Mali and Niger. The Company has active Joint Ventures in Cote d'Ivoire with Newcrest Mining Limited and with Resolute Mining Limited ( ASX:RSG ) as well as additional concessions it is continuing to explore. In Mali, the Company has the Nangalasso and SLAM projects, and in Niger the Company continues to explore the Kossa project.



During the reporting period Taruga signed a Binding farm-in and joint venture ("JV") with top-tier gold producer, Newcrest Mining Limited ( ASX:NCM ) Taruga's 100% owned Dabakala Project, Cote d'Ivoire. Newcrest have commenced activities on the ground immediately and will be completing a major auger drilling programme in the next quarter.



To view the full half year report, pleaes visit:

http://media.abnnewswire.net/media/en/docs/ASX-TAR-756525.pdf





About Taruga Minerals Limited





Taruga Minerals Limited is a mineral exploration company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:TAR) with a focus on acquiring and developing highly prospective Gold, Copper and precious metals exploration projects in Australia. Taruga's highly experienced management team led by Mr Mark Gasson and key advisors Ashanti Capital, has provided the Company with exposure to the exciting, under explored, High-Grade Flinders Copper-Gold-Silver Project on the margin of the Gawler Craton, South Australia. Taruga has an exclusive, 12-month option to acquire the Flinders Project from Strikeline Resources Pty Ltd.


Half Year Accounts

Perth, Mar 15, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Blackham Resources Ltd ( ASX:BLK ) are pleased to provide the financial report for the Company and its controlled entities (the Group) for the half-year ended 31 December 2015.



Principal activities



The principal activity of the Group during the half-year was mineral exploration and development.



Operations



The Company continues to rapidly progress towards achieving its goal of being the next West Australian gold producer. Over the last 4 years Blackham has consolidated the Wiluna Goldfield and now has a 780km2 exploration tenement package which has historically produced over 4.3 million ounces. The Matilda Gold Project is located in Australia's largest gold belt which stretches from Norseman to Wiluna and passes through Kalgoorlie and Leinster. Blackhams 100% owned Wiluna gold plant, including a gas power station, camp, borefields and underground infrastructure, operated up until 2013 and is located in the centre of the Matilda Gold Project.



In the last 6 months the Company has worked hard to deliver a Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") on its 100% owned Matilda Gold Project. The results of the DFS were announced to the ASX on 24 February 2016. The DFS confirmed the project's robust economics including a low capital requirement, short timeframe to production, fast payback and operating costs that are in line with its Western Australian peers. The very low capex required for the project is due to the substantial plant and infrastructure at site and the minor plant refurbishments required torestart the project.



To view the full half year report, please visit:

http://media.abnnewswire.net/media/en/docs/ASX-BLK-756536.pdf





About Wiluna Mining Corporation Ltd





Wiluna Mining Corporation (ASX:WMC) (OTCMKTS:WMXCF) is a Perth based, ASX listed gold mining company that controls over 1,600 square kilometres of the Yilgarn Craton in the Northern Goldfields of WA. The Yilgarn Craton has a historic and current gold endowment of over 380 million ounces, making it one of most prolific gold regions in the world. The Company owns 100% of the Wiluna Gold Operation which has a defined resource of 8.04M oz at 1.67 g/t au. In May 2019, a new highly skilled management team took control of the Company with a clear plan to leverage the Wiluna Gold Operation's multi-million-ounce potential.


Improves Financials of HPA Project with BFS update

Perth, Mar 16, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Altech Chemicals Limited ( ASX:ATC ) is pleased to announce the results of an update to its Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) for the development of a 4,000tpa high purity alumina (HPA) processing plant at Johor, Malaysia.



Highlights



- Updated Bankable Feasibility Study confirms financial robustness of Altech's HPA project



- Improved financials, include:



-- Increased estimated pre-tax NPV9 of US$358 million (previously US$326 million)

-- Higher Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 33% (previously 30%)

-- Capex US$78.7 million (was US$76.9 million)

-- Long-term sale price forecast unchanged at US$23,000/tonne for 99.99% (4N) product

-- Cost of goods sold slightly higher at US$9,074/tonne

-- EBITDA of US$55.7 million per annum at full production



Background



Results from the BFS were announced on 29 June 2015 and since then the Company has worked with its various consultants to further refine the study. Key items of work included optimising the process flow sheet, refining equipment selection and pricing, the critical evaluation of key assumptions and operating parameters and an update of key consumables pricing and sourcing. As previously announced, as part of this refinement the beneficiation of alumina rich kaolin from the Company's proposed Meckering mining operation will be in Malaysia, rather then on-site at Meckering, Western Australia as was contemplated in the BFS (refer ASX announcement dated 26 November 2015 for details).



Updated BFS



The financials and technical outcomes from the updated BFS have confirmed the results of the initial BFS.



The updated BFS reports increases in project net present value (NPV) (US$358(9) million Vs US$326(10) million), payback (3.7 years Vs 3.8 years) and an internal rate of return (33.3% Vs 30.3%). Total Capital cost is US$78.7 million (previously US$76.9 million), operating costs per kg of finished product at full rate production is now US$9.07 (was US$8.14).



The financial and technical outcomes from the updated BFS remain particularly compelling.



The sales price assumption for HPA in the updated BFS is unchanged at US$23.00 per kg (US$23,000 per tonne), foreign exchange rate assumptions have been revised to USD:AUD 0.70 for capex (previously 0.78) and USD:AUD 0.80 for opex (was 0.90). The discount rate applied to project cash flows for the 30-year project life is now 9.0% (was 10%), reflecting a lower cost of debt financing because of the Company's intended application for ~US$40.0 of German export credit finance, from total project debt currently estimated at ~US$60.0 million (refer ASX announcement dated 10 December 2015 for details).



Altech's managing director Mr Iggy Tan said, "This updated BFS confirms the financial and technical robustness of the Company's HPA project, as was identified in the original BFS.



"Since the completion of the BFS in June 2015, the various technical consultants have taken time to conduct a detailed review of the entire HPA project, identifying optimisation opportunities, critically reviewing equipment selection, and updating all equipment and operating cost pricing - quite important given the changes that have transpired in the resources industry since the BFS was completed.



"The focus for Altech now is the finalisation of project financing, completion of final design and construction drawings, the formal appointment of the EPC contractor and the subsequent award of various works packages to enable the commencement of construction in early 2017."



A complete summary of the original BFS is included in the ASX Announcement by the Company dated 29 June 2015, which is also available on the Company's web site, http://www.altechchemicals.com.au



All material changes to assumptions from the original BFS are included in this ASX Announcement (refer to link below), or those ASX Announcements referenced in this announcement.



To view the release including tables, please visit:

http://media.abnnewswire.net/media/en/docs/ASX-ATC-756689.pdf





About Altech Chemicals Ltd





Altech Chemicals Limited (ASX:ATC) (FRA:A3Y) is aiming to become one of the world's leading suppliers of 99.99% (4N) high purity alumina (Al2O3) through the construction and operation of a 4,500tpa high purity alumina (HPA) processing plant at Johor, Malaysia. Feedstock for the plant will be sourced from the Company's 100%-owned kaolin deposit at Meckering, Western Australia and shipped to Malaysia.



HPA is a high-value, high margin and highly demanded product as it is the critical ingredient required for the production of synthetic sapphire. Synthetic sapphire is used in the manufacture of substrates for LED lights, semiconductor wafers used in the electronics industry, and scratch-resistant sapphire glass used for wristwatch faces, optical windows and smartphone components. Increasingly HPA is used by lithium-ion battery manufacturers as the coating on the battery's separator, which improves performance, longevity and safety of the battery. With global HPA demand approximately 19,000t (2018), it is estimated that this demand will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% (2018-2028); by 2028 HPA market demand will be approximately 272,000t, driven by the increasing adoption of LEDs worldwide as well as the demand for HPA by lithium-ion battery manufacturers to serve the surging electric vehicle market.
ACAs library of educational tools help members improve their business practices. ACA also holds the most popular industry conferences and offers credentialing for collectors, attorneys, and more. ACAs Training Zone subscription gives agencies access to almost all of our education for one low cost.
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The Colangelo College of Business atGrand Canyon Universityis holding its first annual "Money Week" March 14-16 in order to educate students on financial and savings basics,per GCU Today. Professors from Colangelo and other financial experts look to educate students with concise, 20-minute discussions on basic topics ranging from tackling credit card debt to structuring a budget.

"Money Weeks motto is "speed dating for your wallet," with the ultimate goal of giving students quick and simple financial lessons before heading out into the real world. One such session, hosted by Stephen Barnes of Barnes Investment Advisory, titled, 10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Graduated from GCU," served as a preemptive warning to frivolous spending.

I wish somebody would have told me it was OK not to buy a house  its OK to keep renting," he said, perGCU Today. "Got to buy a house, got to buy a house. It was tremendous pressure. Plus, I wish somebody would have said to me, So why are you buying another car? Doesnt that one work? Why dont you save some money?

You dont need to know everything about accounting or financial management, said sophomore Sarah Mondragon after the presentation, perGCU. But you need to be able to manage yourself.

Money Week was created by Ashley Hardin, a GCU admissions representative. After graduating and working at the University, she claimed she didnt understand the University's benefits package, and subsequently found a passion for financial planning. When she saw that students needed basic financial advice as well, Hardin created and taught a personal financial seminar last year, with Colangelo creating a course, FIN 210, on the subject as well.

"I definitely think this is information that every student needs to know regardless of their major, Hardin told the University's paper. Im now in the real world  what do I do?"

Money Week was rolled out when Colangelo dean Dr. Randy Gibb asked dean of students Pastor Tim Griffin, what the business college could do for students. Griffin's reply: Personal finance education.

Our objective is to increase GCU students awareness and interest in their personal finance, motivate students to take the FIN 210 course as an elective, and determine areas of interest to students based upon participation/attendance, Gibb said, per GCU Today.

For more on "Money Week" and GCU, head to the University'ssite here.
Jody Padar, principal of New Vision CPA Group and author of The Radical CPA: New Rules for the Future-Ready Firm, will be partnering with Donal de Paor and Veltig - the salesforce solution consulting and implementation partner - to support the launch of Sage Live in Chicago, the two announced on Wednesday.

Sage Live is a cloud-based accounting solution built upon on the Salesforce1 platform, designed to break down walls between back-and front-office IT systems. Sage looks to provide business owners a single view of customer, finance, payroll and accounting data, instead of being stored in separate front and back-office systems.

The kick-off event will take place on March 24 during the Salesforce World Tour at the Hyatt McCormick Place in Chicago. Padar and de Paor will be speaking on the panel, "The Top Challenges with Business Growth," taking place at 4PM CST. The panel will be moderated by Jennifer Warawa, VP product marketing, Sage Live.

Im excited to be involved in this partnership with Veltig, as I think it will really bring a holistic perspective to Sage Live customers, Padar said in a statement. It's an unparalleled level of expertise to have Salesforce architects and accountants working together! We describe it as front office operational experts meets back office financial data experts. Its pretty cool and unique for a vendor to be doing something like this.

The combination of Veltigs Salesforce expertise and encyclopedic knowledge of products on the Salesforce app exchange, together with Jodys radical expertise will give Sage Live customers freedom like theyve never seen before, stated de Paor. Sage Live has not only transformed Veltigs operations but given us a valuable new tool to extend our customers ability to leverage the Salesforce platform.

Padar is CEO and principal of the New Vision CPA Group, a public accounting firm based in the Chicago area. She is the author of The Radical CPA: New Rules for the Future-Ready Firm, and is a regular contributor to Accounting Today and CPA Trendlines, where she offers advice on running a next-generation firm. She has also been featured in Forbes and Entrepreneur.

de Paor is the CEO of Veltig, a Salesforce implementation and system integration company headquartered in Irvine, California. de Paor is a former leader at Sage with experience in research and development, product management, customer support, and operations in Australia, Ireland, Canada, and the US. He has an MBA with a focus on Technology from Vancouvers Beedie School of Business.

For more information about attending Salesforce World Tour, head to the events site here.
Mergers and acquisitions are prompting companies to take risky accounting maneuvers, warns a new report from Deloitte.

The report, Cleaning up the mess under the bed  Why intercompany accounting is increasing corporate risk, discusses the impact of intercompany accounting, or ICA, the processing and accounting for internal financial activities and events that affect multiple legal entities within a company. ICA can include sales of products and services, fee sharing, cost allocations, royalties, and financing activities. Its a broad area that, while rooted in accounting, has extensions into various functions, including tax, treasury, and finance.

Intercompany accounting also faces pressures from increased regulation in the areas of accounting and tax around the world. Recent investigations have exposed the use of inadequate Band-Aid tactics by multinationals to streamline their transactions. The report urges organizations to pay extra attention to cleaning up any missteps they have made in the past by adopting a preventive approach comprising the accounting, tax and treasury functions. Companies that dont take action could be exposed to steep corporate risks, including costly lawsuits, regulatory investigations and loss of brand reputation and investor confidence.

The report cites some examples such as an unnamed manufacturing company facing a federal grand-jury investigation involving intercompany cash transfers related to its tax planning, and an insurance company forced to restate financial results because it failed to eliminate certain intercompany transactions related to variable-interest entities. An oil companys improper intercompany accounting resulted in a restatement of its financial statements followed by a lawsuit accusing the company of misleading investors about the effectiveness of its internal controls. Another unnamed companys weak internal controls over related-party transactions allowed insiders to fraudulently overstate inventory, leading not only to Securities and Exchange Commission-imposed fines but to two lawsuits.

One of the greatest issues facing ICA settlement is the institutional knowledge needed to clean up the historical unreconciled balances, said the report. As time goes by and people move, or as companies undergo mergers and acquisitions, its often extremely hard to close these out, especially when the issues have persisted for years.

To access the report, click here.
With a 400 percent surge in reported phone and email phishing and malware schemes this tax season, the American Institute of CPAs is working with Congress, the Internal Revenue Service and its members to combat tax-related identity theft and tax return fraud.

AICPA tax experts Cari Weston and Melanie Lauridsen explained Wednesday during a press conference call what taxpayers can do to protect themselves from these schemes.

ID theft is rampant, said Lauridsen. Fortunately, many of our members call us to tell us what theyre encountering, so we hear of these scams on a daily basis. We hear of phone scams threatening to arrest people, sue them, break down their door, or just levy their bank accounts if they dont provide their personal information. A recent scam targeted doctors and dentists. It became so widespread that the Secret Service became involved, she said. They werent just targeting specific doctors and dentists, but also their clients. Sadly, we could go on with a long list of what we hear from our members.

The AICPA works with the IRS both on a formal and informal basis to help its members, Lauridsen indicated. Theres no silver bullet to prevent ID theft, she said. Thieves are targeting many different groups. They can get away with it because they are behind the scene, unlike bank robbery.

Weston emphasized how critical it is for taxpayers to be diligent about whom they share tax information with.

Its a hugely important topic, she said. The public needs to take some responsibility.

Taxpayers need to be extremely aware of who they do business with for their tax preparation, even if they prepare their own returns, Weston cautioned. They should use a reputable software company. The general rule is to go with the bigger name companies rather than some of the newer startup companies, she said. And if the taxpayer hires a tax professional, they should not assume that they are all the same.

Credentialed preparers can be checked on the IRS PTIN database. But just because someone is in the database, you also need to do your own homework, said Weston. Among the things she recommended are checking with the state accountancy board, doing an Internet search of the preparer using the search terms complaints, and checking with the Better Business Bureau.

We are constantly providing resources to our members on how to keep data confidential, how to notify clients if there is a breach, and the things they need to do to follow up, because theres a good chance it wont stop with tax return theft, said Weston.

The IRS issues IP PINs (Identity Protection Personal Information Numbers) to proven victims of tax return ID theft, and to residents of Florida, Georgia and the District of Columbia, which are high crime rate areas for refund fraud. An IP PIN helps the IRS verify a taxpayers identity and prevents someone else from filing the taxpayers return using their Social Security Number. The system to retrieve lost IP PINs was recently hacked, but this did not compromise the effectiveness of the IP PIN itself, according to Weston and Lauridsen.
(Bloomberg) Apple Inc., facing a European Union probe into its fiscal affairs in Ireland, told a panel of EU lawmakers Tuesday it pays all taxes due in the nation and doesnt get an unfair advantage compared with other companies there.

Cathy Kearney, a vice-president of the iPhone makers European operations in Cork, Ireland, said the company isnt getting unfair state aid but will remain committed to Ireland whatever the outcome of the EU case.

We feel that weve paid every cent of tax that is due in Ireland, Kearney said at the European Parliament in Brussels. We dont feel that there has been state aid involved and I suppose we look forward to that outcome happening at the end of the day and being vindicated in that way. I would say that the Irish government also agrees with that view.

Apples tax affairs in Ireland and Amazon.com Inc.s arrangements in Luxembourg are slated to be next in the firing line as the European Commission takes aim at so-called tax rulings it says may be unfair subsidies. The EU authority has already ordered the Netherlands and Luxembourg to recover as much as 30 million euros ($33.3 million) in back taxes from Starbucks Corp. and a Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV unit.

While the EUs Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager refuses to be drawn into speculation, analysts say that in the Apple case, repayments could potentially dwarf those amounts. Vestager is also probing McDonalds Corp.s affairs in Luxembourg and signaled shes willing to add Google parent Alphabet Inc.s 130 million-pound ($184 million) tax deal with the U.K. to her growing list of investigations.

Tax-Reducing Techniques

While Vestager is in charge of the EU probes, a separate panel of EU parliament lawmakers is quizzing companies about their tax-reducing techniques.

At a hearing on Tuesday, representatives from Google, Inter Ikea Group and McDonalds Corp. all insisted that their companies tax affairs are in line with international rules, echoing comments by other firms targeted by EU probes.

In terms of this point of whether we are paying a tiny fraction of what other companies are paying, thats absolutely incorrect, said Adam Cohen, Googles head of economic affairs in Europe. We are absolutely in line with what other multinational companies are paying.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has initiated a consultation process in order to prescribe a framework for radio rating system in India that is conducive to growth, forward looking, and addresses the concerns of the stakeholders while protecting the interests of the consumers. Industry stakeholders have been invited to send their comments and counter-comments on the issues related to radio audience measurement and ratings in India by April 11, 2016 and April 25, 2016, respectively.

In a consultation paper released on March 15, 2016, TRAI has pointed out that the total advertising revenues of the radio broadcasting sector depend on the advertisement duration and the rates per unit time. The duration as well as the advertisements rates depend upon numbers and demographics of the radio listeners. Accordingly, there is a need for radio audience measurement which can measure the popularity of a channel or a programme for the advertisers and advertising agencies. This will assist them in selecting the right channel or program at the right time to reach the target listeners. Further, it will also aid the radio channels in improving their programs (both quality of the program and content variety) for attracting more listeners.

The task of allocating resources for advertisements by advertisers and advertising agencies has become increasingly challenging with the growth in the number of FM Radio channels and vastly increased variety of programmes available. Advertising expenditures are typically guided by audience measurement in addition to other factors such as cost of reaching various audience segments, advertisement placements and programme schedules.

Advertisement revenues of the radio broadcasting sector are directly linked to listenership of radio channels. In case of newspapers and other print media, audience measurement is based on the number of copies sold. This physical count is however not possible in the case of radio and television sectors, wherein a different form of audience measurement is necessitated. In case of television, subsequent to TRAIs recommendations on Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies dated September 11, 2013, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) had issued guidelines for Television Rating Agencies and an industry body Broadcasting Audience Research Council (BARC) has been entrusted with the task of conducting TV audience measurement. Similarly for the radio broadcasting sector, Radio Audience Measurement (RAM), which is an indicator of the number of listeners to a radio channels, has become essential.

At present, radio audience measurement in India is conducted by AIR and TAM Media Research. AIR carries out periodical large scale radio audience surveys on various AIR channels. TAM Media Research conducts radio audience measurement on private FM Radio channels through an independent division, which is a joint service between IMRB International and Nielsen Media Research. It uses the paper diary method to measure Radio listenership with a panel size of 480 individuals each in Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Listenership data is provided on a weekly basis.

A few stakeholders, especially the FM radio operators, have voiced concerns about the inadequate coverage and panel size of the radio audience measurement conducted by TAM Media Research. They have expressed reservations about the paper diary methodology used for such measurement. In fact transparency, trust, credibility and acceptability of the radio audience measurement are the key elements for its success.

Better radio audience measurement and ratings would end up promoting a given radio channel, while poor radio ratings will make it relatively less popular amongst advertisers. Incorrect radio ratings may lead to encouraging production of content which may not be really popular while good content and programs may be adversely impacted on account of misplaced ratings. False and misplaced radio ratings, therefore, can thus not only end up affecting broadcasters and advertisers but also adversely impacting the quality of the programmes being produced and aired to the public. Therefore, there is a need to create a regulatory framework which enables accurate measurements that correctly represent the appropriate ratings for radio channels.

Radio Audience Measurement Technologies

The following three Radio audience Measurement technologies are generally adopted:

 Paper Diary Method: In this method a sample set of people amongst the radio listening population is asked to log their daily listening behaviour in a paper diary over the course of a week, indicating (usually in 15 or 30 minute segments) which stations they listen to and at what times.

 Telephone Survey Method: In this method of measuring radio audiences, people are asked to recall what they have listened to on the previous day.

 Portable People Meter (PPM): In this method an inaudible code is embedded into each radio station's audio output. This code is then detected by an electronic meter carried by the panellists whenever they are within earshot of the radio signal. As with all sample-based research, respondents are chosen as representatives of the area at large, and figures are multiplied accordingly to arrive at the audience figures that radio stations release.

Radio Audience Measurement in India: Current Scenario

All India Radio undertook the first Radio Audience Measurement (RAM) in the country in 1946 through its Listeners Research Wing. Subsequently, Listeners Research Wing was renamed as Audience Research Unit with 38 branches across the country. However, AIR usually conducts listenership survey for its own radio channels and for its own consumption.

Radio rating services on a commercial basis was provided by TAM Media Research for the first time in 2007 through its own independent division, which is a joint service of IMRB international and Nielsen Media Research. At present, TAM conducts audience measurement in the cities of Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata only.

TAM also conducted listenership surveys in nine additional cities  Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Nagpur and Pune  during May-August 2011 and February-March 2012. These surveys were, however, not continued.

Need for Guidelines/Accreditation for Radio Rating in India

The present system of radio ratings in India appears to have certain deficiencies that have been highlighted by stakeholders at various fora:

 The radio rating system suffers due to inadequate sample size as it is limited to only the four metro cities and, thus, does not cater to the demographic profile of the entire country.

 To ensure that the entire process is made more transparent and credible, it is essential that the methodology and the processes be audited by an independent auditor and the results of such an audit are published for the information of all the stakeholders. No such practice exists today.

 Any system of this nature should have defined mechanism to handle complaints from the stakeholders that may include users of the ratings, consumer organizations and the public at large. There is however, no such published procedure that exists today.

 Such disclosures by rating agencies and well defined practices related to sale and use of ratings also help improve the credibility of the radio rating system. These again are not very prevalent in the present system.

 The radio ratings at present are done by a single agency and it needs to be explored whether more agencies can be brought in to encourage competition in the business. This will also result in enhancing the credibility of such ratings.

 Another important issue is of dominant crossholding between the radio rating agencies and radio broadcasters, advertisers and the advertising agencies. Such dominant cross holding may adversely impact neutrality of such agency that may lead to biased radio ratings.

TRAI is of the view that these issues can be effectively addressed by laying down appropriate guidelines for the radio rating agencies and thereafter putting in place an accreditation mechanism for such agencies.
The changing business landscape poses new challenges as well as offers new opportunities to business leaders, who need to adapt fast and think on their feet. Adgully caught up with Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO, Viacom18, at the recently held IAA Leadership Awards in Mumbai, who spoke about the mega trends that will impact the way business functions in India.

Vats also spoke about, what he calls the 3Is of A formula  Inference, Influence and Intuition, which need to be combined with adrenaline  that can help young business leaders navigate the new world.

If you look at digitisation, its all pervasive now. It is not about digital products, its not about digital delivery. Its about digital live; its about digital business and the digital way of doing everything. There is so much in store that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a Digital India programme. I think digitisation is a big phenomenon that is impacting all of us and will have wide ranging ramifications. It has implications for our businesses.

Digitisation will also put a lot of pressure on margins moving forward. It will question conventional revenue models and I think in that context it is one key mega trend that we need to continue to look to.

Another mega trend, which is known to all of us, is urbanisation. It is estimated that 65 per cent of the global GDP growth in the next decade will come from 600 cities around the world and of these 600 cities, 400 cities are likely to be from the developing and emerging world, and many of them also from India.

And with urbanisation, comes a set of challenges and opportunities. There are challenges in the form of management of water, waste, power, transportation, etc. At the same time there are also enormous opportunities, particularly for all of us sitting in this room and I think definitely so for the media, marketing and advertising fraternity.

The third mega trend, which to some extent is related to digitisation, is convergence  be it between media and telecom, between content publishers, content platforms and content consumer communities, and many other levels as well. We as business leaders, communities and societies recognise them.

The fourth and final mega trend is about sustainability.

What it means for businesses and corporate leaders

I think as business goes forward, we should look beyond profits and matrices, which conventionally businesses have been looking at and evaluating. I think businesses have to step up and become more responsible. We have to become part of the solution of the society rather than just being there. For us as business leaders, we have to focus on happy communities and happy shareholders  perhaps in that order. That will be the significant change.

That leads me to what the future of leaders and the leadership will be as we go forward. I think leaders from the future, based on the businesses and the mega trends that we have seen, have to see purpose there and vision. If that is the case in the constant flux and changing world, we need to examine what are the four key traits that leaders should have or are already beginning to display.

For me, it is the 3Is. The first I is about Inference. As we go forward in this new digital world, we should learn to draw inferences because they could easily get crossed in the pixels. We could either look at them as pixels or we could begin to draw patterns out of them or see a picture in them. The leader will see those patterns and the picture. So inference becomes very important.

The second important piece is Influence. In the new world, the leaders need to be persuasive within the organisation, the stakeholders and influence them to become much more important.

The third I is Intuition. Intuition is needed in the modern world because this world is more about taking risks. It is more about managing with limited HR and a lot of experience.

However, none of these will be useful if they are not coupled with adrenaline. So, this is the 3Is of A formula that I want to leave with the young leaders and the leaders of the future.
Adhering to its core proposition of Woh Zamaana Kare Deewana, Zee Classic now aims to entertain music lovers in a way never seen before. The new show The Golden Years 1950  1975, A musical journey with Javed Akhtar is a celebration of 25 years of timeless music. Zee Classic has ensured that anyone who has grown up on classic melodies, whose favorites list feature names such as Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar and R.D Burman, cant afford to miss the The Golden Years 1950  1975, A musical journey with Javed Akhtar by initiating the ZEE CLASSIC RADIO TRAIN in Mumbai. As a part of this campaign, local trains in Mumbai are exclusively branded as Zee Classic Radio trains. These trains are playing classic melodies along with the untold stories narrated by the veteran lyricist and poet, Javed Akhtar through their in-built sound system.

Its a rare opportunity of hearing Javed Akhtar narrate stories, anecdotes and all the efforts that went behind such cult music which continues to inspire us even today. This pioneering activity will not only entertain lakhs of daily commuters of local trains but also offer them a respite from the humdrums of a busy city life. So hop on a Zee Classic Radio Train for a calm and enjoyable journey.

Zee Classic has also made other innovative partnerships across media platforms to make the show accessible to more and more people. The channel partnered with the retro radio station - 92.7 BIG FM for special segments which is airing songs from yesteryears aided by untold stories and trivia about the music. A robust digital campaign encompassing platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Miss Malini amongst others is also active in full swing.

Commenting on the 360 degree marketing promotion, Mr. Ruchir Tiwari, Business Head, Zee Hindi Movie Cluster said, The channel has always gone beyond the usual with innovative shows and content. For the latest offering, The Golden Years 1950  1975, A musical journey with Javed Akhtar we will entertain and engage audience through various platforms i.e. radio, television and experiential marketing. These routes will enable us to reach out to various touch points and take the audience on a soulful journey. 

The Golden Years 1950 -1975, A musical journey with Javed Akhtar is produced by EVPL, presented by Dettol, co-powered by State Bank of India and Good Knight Fast Card.
Agility and innovation are cornerstones of a new Air Force Materiel Command strategic plan that will deliver war-winning capabilities. Those capabilities will propel the Air Force as a key element of the future national defense strategy known as the third offset The first offset came in in the 1950s when the United States looked to tactical nuclear weapons to deter, or offset, large, conventional forces in Western Europe. The second offset came in the 1970s when the Soviet Union achieved nuclear parity and the U.S. sought an advantage by turning to precision-guided weapons.The third offset is the Defense Department strategy to leverage new technologies to offset advances made by adversaries in recent years. It will draw on technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and human-machine networks. A battlespace of the year 2030 could see F-35 Lightning IIs or a next-generation aircraft linked by satellite networks, cyber bugs that infect and take down adversaries' computers and swarms of attack drones converging on enemy targets.AFMC, with its ability to deliver and support agile war-winning capabilities, is crucial to providing those technologies and connecting them across the Air Force's three domains of air, space and cyberspace. The strategic plan with its four goals, supporting objectives and a list of external and internal commitments will be the commands blueprint for success."Our Air Force is in high demand around the globe every minute of every day. While it remains the world's greatest Air Force, it must become more agile to operate effectively in the dynamic, ever-changing worldwide environment today -- and tomorrow," said Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, the AFMC commander. "The expertise in our centers and laboratories puts us in the perfect position to deliver third offset capabilities and this strategic plan is the bedrock of our road ahead."In the plan, the command's mission statement is short and declarative: "deliver and support agile war-winning capabilities."The command's vision is "delivering the world's greatest air force... the most trusted and agile provider of innovative and cost-effective war-winning capabilities." AFMC will constantly strive to attain the vision with a focus on meeting the warfighter's needs.The heart of the strategic plan is its four goals:- Increase agility of AFMC support to the Air Force enterprise- Bolster trust and confidence of those we serve by meeting our commitments- Drive cost-effectiveness into the capabilities we provide- Recruit, develop, and retain a diverse, high-performing, and resilient teamTo ensure AFMC achieves its goals, its six centers and the headquarters staff developed 11 supporting objectives and 35 commitments that will be measured, tracked and assessed throughout 2016. The commitments will help deliver the requirements of AFMC's warfighter "customers" across the Air Force as well as enable the command's 80,000-member workforce to do its job better.The commitments are extensive and diverse. They range from providing assessments of adversary cyber threats to achieving major acquisition milestones to "people" commitments like improved support to the families of deployed military members."These commitments are important to our success," Pawlikowski said. "We will track them and ensure our people are accountable for their fulfillment. Without strong commitments, our strategic plan cannot succeed."
Sentinel of space found in Alaskan wilderness

Among the bears, moose, wolves and wolverines of Alaska's interior is a silent sentinel of space -- Clear Air Force Station. Its personnel keep an eye on things above for the sake of tactical warning of ballistic missile attacks against the U.S. and Canada and space situational awareness.



The 11,500-acre installation sits about 80 miles southwest of Fairbanks. It is one of more than 20 geographically separated units within the 21st Space Wing, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. Clear AFS is home to the Air Force's 13th Space Warning Squadron and is the oldest missile warning site in North America.



The station is part of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System, providing early warning of intercontinental ballistic missiles and sea-launched ballistic missiles to North American Aerospace Defense Command. Clear AFS also provides surveillance data to the U.S. Strategic Command concerning objects orbiting in space.



To carry out those missions, the 13th SWS is equipped with a Solid State Phased Array Radar System, an 11-story tall, flat-topped triangular structure with two radiating faces composed of nearly 2,000 active elements each. The system peers about 3,000 miles into space and covers a vast stretch of real estate from the Arctic to the Pacific oceans including the west coast of the continental U.S.



Mission timing is critical. Within 60 seconds personnel are required to respond to potential threats, passing information to the Missile Warning Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for threat assessment. And it has to happen every single time a possible inbound intercontinental or sea-launched ballistic missile directed at North America is detected.



To pull off such a detailed mission with that degree of precision takes a high level of teamwork and skill. At Clear AFS that means a blended group of active-duty Airmen and members of the Alaska Air National Guard from the 213th Space Warning Squadron. Presently there are 13 active duty personnel, six Airmen on temporary duty as firemen, two members of the Royal Canadian Air Force supporting the mission, and 109 from the Air National Guard on station. Additionally there are 35 Defense Department civilians, and more than 150 contractors supporting the mission.



There are benefits and challenges with such close interaction, but the 13th SWS and the 213th SWS handle them almost seamlessly fulfilling the mission of the 21st Space Wing.



"The Air Force owns the mission and installation and the Air National Guard is the force provider for 85 percent of space operators and 100 percent of security forces," said Lt. Col. Jason Burch, 13th SWS commander. "The 213th SWS provides continuity and operations and security expertise. The Air National Guard trains and evaluates active duty, Air National Guard and Royal Canadian air forces."



"The U.S. Air Force and the Air National Guard adhere to the same operational standards, but there are slight differences with the administration of forces," said Lt. Col. John Oberst, 213th SWS commander. "The benefit to the U.S. Air Force is mission continuity and unparalleled expertise provided by the Air National Guard."



Having security personnel who are permanent residents of the area are benefits as well. For security forces that means thorough familiarity with typical activities for the area allowing potential threats to be identified quickly, Oberst said.



And there is another benefit to having the two groups working together on a daily basis.



"The U.S. Air Force brings the active-duty perspective, which is difficult for guardsmen to get in a remote geographically separated unit," Oberst said.



"One challenge working together so closely presents is in the area of total force integration, Burch said. There are activities that bring guardsmen under federal authority to the Air Force. This involves security forces signing in for shifts at the radar, gate duty and patrol and operations personnel when they sign on to work on the missile warning operations center floor.



Clear AFS is unique in other ways. Temperatures can range from -50 degrees in winter to 90 degrees in summer. The dry and hot climate provides optimal conditions for fires on or near base during summer months, said 1st Lt. Steven Havens, the 213th SWS chief of operations support.



In the coldest times of winter, Havens said there are interesting situations personnel at Clear AFS must deal with.



"Tires develop flat spots from sitting on pavement and take several miles of a jarring ride to smooth back out and become round," he said.



In the winter, vehicles must also be plugged into outlets to prevent engine blocks, batteries, and oil from freezing solid.



"If and when someone forgets to plug in, or their block heater, oil pan heater or battery heater malfunctions, civil engineers come out and puts a tent over your car and runs a heater to thaw the frozen engine," he said.



In addition, wildlife thrives in such remote locations. Havens said both black and grizzly bears frequent the area and special public announcements are broadcast, warning people away from the sighting areas until the animals clear out. If it becomes a safety issue, the Fish and Wildlife Department is called in. Base personnel regularly see moose, eagles, fox, coyote, wolverines, lynx, and the occasional caribou on the drive home.



Havens said not many people live at the station full time. About 300 of them have dorms where they live during their duty days, but most people working at the base drive long distances to their jobs each week. Havens said many drive 300 miles one way each week while others drive the 150-mile roundtrip to Fairbanks daily.



A composite area holds most of the base facilities connected under one roof. Facilities like the command section, gym, dining facility, medical clinic, library, dorms, shopette, and recreational activities are all located together for ease of access during times of extreme cold.



"It's all connected, so one who works there never has to go outside," Havens said.



No matter the challenge, be it weather, wildlife or total force integration, the Airmen and guardsmen of Clear AFS continue to thrive and provide protection and space situational awareness for America and its allies on the North American continent.
Goldfein addresses readiness, budget

Military vice chiefs testified about the current state of readiness of U.S. forces before the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support on Capitol Hill March 15.



Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein shared concerns about the services ability to continue to defend against adversaries who continue to improve their capabilities.



The vice chief told the committee that Americas adversaries are closing the capability gap in space and cyberspace. According to Goldfein, the strategic capability advantage over competitors is shrinking, and the ability to project strategic deterrence is being challenged.



He stated that the Air Force continues to provide the lions share of military effort against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in the Middle East and is heavily active in Afghanistan. He added that a return of sequestration would impair and delay readiness goals.



The fiscal year 2017 budget reflects our best efforts to balance capability, capacity and readiness under the top line we receive, Goldfein said. Weve made difficult trades between readiness today and the critical investment required to modernize for the future against potential adversaries who continue to close the technological gap.



The full-spectrum readiness capability is the right amount of Airmen, properly led, trained and equipped, to accomplish the mission in support of the joint force, and this cannot be achieved without investing in total force Airmen, the vice chief said.



Readiness is measured by critical skills availability, weapons system sustainment and training resource availability, as well as the flying hour program and manageable operational tempo. In order for the Air Force to maintain its advantage, sufficient funding, more manpower and better deployment-to-dwell time ratios are needed to balance readiness across the board.



The Army and Marine Corps, Goldfein said, depend on responsive airlift, not less airlift. The Air Force must have the capability to engage anytime, anywhere and complete readiness to provide reliable strategic nuclear deterrent.



This budget request is an investment in the Air Force our nation needs, he said. America expects it, combatant commanders require it, and with your support for this budget request, our Airmen will deliver it.
Get AfricaFocus Bulletin by e-mail! Format for print or mobile Africa: Tolerance and Intolerance in Perspective AfricaFocus Bulletin

March 16, 2016 (160316)

(Reposted from sources cited below) Editor's Note " In results published on Zero Discrimination Day (1 March), Afrobarometer reports that survey respondents in 33 countries exhibit largely tolerant attitudes toward social differences, with the major exception of homosexuality. Even so, homophobia is not a universal phenomenon in Africa: At least half of all citizens in four African countries say they would not mind or would welcome having homosexual neighbours. Tolerance scores vary widely by country/region, and analysis points to education, media consumption, and exposure to a diverse population as major drivers of increasing tolerance on the African continent." - Afrobarometer According to these survey results, on average 91% of respondents in these 33 countries are tolerant of different ethnicities, 87% of different religions, 81% of immigrants or foreign workers, 68% of people living with HIV/AIDS, but only 21% of homosexuals. As noted in the full Afrobarometer report, this data from 2014-2015 does not cover all African countries, while trend data is not available for the same question to show changes over time. Questions about the differences between what people say and what they do are appropriate for all public opinion surveys, in Africa as for the United States and any other part of the world. But contrary to popular perceptions, polling in Africa, pioneered by Afrobarometer and now emulated by many other agencies, including Gallup, is now well-institutionalized, despite the difficulties associated with interviewing in many languages and multiple other logistical challenges. What one finds notable about these results depends on what one compares them with. But there is no doubt that the base of 33 countries shows large variations, including between countries, between rural and urban areas, and by levels of education. This, the authors of the report contend, shows the potential for change. [Comparable data with countries outside Africa is limited, since finding comparable questions for many countries is a challenge. However, wave 6 of the World Values Survey (http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org) has a somewhat comparable question: who would you not like to have as neighbors? Detailed data are available and could be used for some country comparisons.] This editor's note (and editor's time) is far from adequate for such a detailed comparison. But a quick review of data would suggest that under some circumstances, opinion can change rapidly. For example, in the United States, according to the NORC surveys from 1973 to 2010 (http://tinyurl.com/j7bk5vg), in 1973, 79% of respondents said homosexuality was "always wrong" or "almost always" wrong. By 2010 that percentage was down to 46.9%, and has almost certainly dropped since then. On the World Values Survey wave 6 (2010-2014), only 20.4% of Americans said they "would not like" to have homosexuals as neighbors, as compared to 39% in 1989-93. For extensive background data on the Afrobarometer surveys as well as analyses of multiple other topics covered by the surveys, visit http://www.afrobarometer.org ++++++++++++++++++++++end editor's note+++++++++++++++++ Africans tolerant on religion, ethnicity, nationality, and HIV, but not on homosexuality, Afrobarometer survey finds News Release Maputo, Mozambique, 1 March 2016 http://afrobarometer.org/press/tolerance-in-africa [Excerpts below have text only. For graphics and full report go to the link above.] Contrary to common portrayals, Africans express high degrees of tolerance for people from different ethnic groups, people of different religions, immigrants, and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), newly released Afrobarometer survey findings show. In results published on Zero Discrimination Day (1 March), Afrobarometer reports that survey respondents in 33 countries exhibit largely tolerant attitudes toward social differences, with the major exception of homosexuality. Even so, homophobia is not a universal phenomenon in Africa: At least half of all citizens in four African countries say they would not mind or would welcome having homosexual neighbours. Tolerance scores vary widely by country/region, and analysis points to education, media consumption, and exposure to a diverse population as major drivers of increasing tolerance on the African continent. The report, titled "Good neighbours? Africans express high levels of tolerance for many, but not for all," is available in English, French, and Portuguese at http://www.afrobarometer.org. Key findings Across 33 countries, large majorities of African citizens exhibit high tolerance for people from different ethnic groups (91%), people of different religions (87%), immigrants (81%), and people living with HIV/AIDS (68%).

Tolerance levels are particularly high in regions and countries that are ethnically and religiously diverse, suggesting that experience is an important factor in inculcating an attitude of tolerance among African citizens.

Similarly, tolerance for people living with HIV/AIDS is highest in countries with high HIV/AIDS prevalence, providing further evidence that intolerance and stigmatization can be unlearned through personal encounters.

*A large majority of African citizens, however, are intolerant of homosexual citizens.

Across the 33 countries, an average of 78% of respondents say they would "somewhat dislike" or "strongly dislike" having a homosexual neighbour.

But not all of Africa is homophobic. Majorities in four countries (Cape Verde, Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa), and more than four in 10 citizens in three other countries, would like or not mind having homosexual neighbours. Afrobarometer Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan research network that conducts public attitude surveys on democracy, governance, economic conditions, and related issues across Africa. Five rounds of surveys were conducted between 1999 and 2013, and findings from Round 6 surveys (2014/2015) are currently being released. Afrobarometer conducts face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent's choice with nationally representative samples that yield countrylevel results with margins of error of +/-2% (for samples of 2,400) or +/3% (for samples of 1,200) at a 95% confidence level. Interested readers should watch for additional findings to be released over the coming months (see http://afrobarometer.org/countries/results-round and follow the conversation at #VoicesAfrica on Twitter). [33 countries with this question included in Round 6, 2014-2015: Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi , Mali , Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe ... For more information, please contact:

Brian Howard , Afrobarometer , Telephone: 001-713-624-0373 , Email: bhoward@afrobarometer.org Good neighbours? Africans express high levels of tolerance for many, but not for all Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 74 | Boniface Dulani, Gift Sambo, and Kim Yi Dionne March 1, 2016 About the authors: Boniface Dulani is a senior lecturer in the Department of Political and Administrative Studies at the University of Malawi and Afrobarometer's operations manager for fieldwork (southern and francophone Africa). Email: bdulani@afrobarometer.org. Gift Sambo is a research associate at the Institute of Public Opinion and Research in Zomba, Malawi. Email: sambogift@gmail.com. Kim Yi Dionne is Five College Assistant Professor of Government at Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States. Email: kdionne@smith.edu. Summary Scholars have argued that tolerance is "the endorphin of the democratic body politic," essential to free political and cultural exchange (Gibson & Gouws, 2005, p. 6). Seligson and Morino-Morales (2010, p. 37) echo this view when they contend that a democracy without tolerance for members of other groups is "fatally flawed." In this dispatch, we present new findings on tolerance in Africa from Afrobarometer Round 6 surveys in 33 countries in 2014/2015. While Africa is often portrayed as a continent of ethnic and religious division and intolerance, findings show high degrees of acceptance of people from different ethnic groups, people of different religions, immigrants, and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Proximity and frequent contact with different types of people seem to nurture tolerance, as suggested by higher levels of tolerance in more diverse countries and a strong correlation between acceptance of PLWHA and national HIV/AIDS prevalence rates. A major exception to Africa's high tolerance is its strongly negative attitude toward homosexuals. Even so, while the discourse on homosexuality has often painted Africa as a caricature of homophobia, the data reveal that homophobia is not a universal phenomenon in Africa: At least half of all citizens in four African countries say they would not mind or would welcome having homosexual neighbours. Analysis using a tolerance index based on five measures of tolerance points to education, proximity, and media exposure as major drivers of increasing tolerance on the African continent. This is consistent with socialization literature that suggests attitudes and values are not immutable; instead, they can be learned and unlearned. ... The State of Tolerance in Africa A common narrative of Africa is that most citizens are intolerant of people who are different  whether that difference be based on ethnicity, religion, nationality, political affiliation, or sexual orientation. Responses to the Afrobarometer questions on tolerance suggest that this generalization is incorrect. Instead, majorities in the 33 countries say they would like or would not mind living next to people from four of five categories: someone from a different ethnicity (91%), someone with a different religion (87%), an immigrant or foreign worker (81%), and a person living with HIV/AIDS (68%). It is only on the question of homosexuality that a majority (78%) of Africans exhibit deeply intolerant attitudes (Figure 1). ... Respondents were asked: For each of the following types of people, please tell me whether you would like having people from this group as neighbours, dislike it, or not care: People of a different religion? People from other ethnic groups? Homosexuals? People who have HIV/AIDS? Immigrants or foreign workers? [The possible answers were: Somewhat dislike / Strongly dislike / Would not care / Somewhat like / Strongly like] ... On a continent that has become synonymous with ethnic conflict, it is telling that the least- disliked group  liked or tolerated as neighbours by nine of 10 respondents  are people of a different ethnicity. While this does not imply the end of ethnic conflicts, it suggests that decades of close interaction and inter-marriage could gradually be helping to dilute the power of ethnicity as a source of division and conflicts. Only slightly more respondents object to living next to people of a different religion or next to immigrants; both are accepted by more than eight in 10 Africans. Considerably fewer citizens  though still a two-thirds majority  would like or accept having neighbours who are living with HIV/AIDS, which suggests that there is still a significant level of stigma attached to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in some parts of the continent. At the negative extreme, the average citizen in the 33 countries is opposed to having homosexual neighbours. This is perhaps not surprising, given that a majority of the continent's countries criminalize homosexual activities. Only about one in five respondents (21%) say they would not be opposed to having homosexuals as neighbours. (For detailed response frequencies, see Appendix Tables A.2-A.6.) The data show marked differences in tolerance between urban and rural Africans, with the former exhibiting higher degrees of tolerance on all five measures (Figure 2]. ... Tolerance for people of a different ethnicity The discourse on African politics often highlights how ethnic fractionalization contributes to political polarization and interethnic conflicts. These inter-ethnic rivalries threaten democratic consolidation, undermine nation-building efforts, and impair economic performance (Posner, 2004; Branch & Cheeseman, 2009; Bertocchi & Guerzoni, 2012; Jackson, 2002; Berman, 1998; Easterly & Levine, 1997; Goren, 2005; Bratton, 2011). While this perspective suggests high levels of intolerance for people from different ethnic groups, Afrobarometer findings show that this is not the case. Instead, 91% of respondents across 33 countries say they would not mind or would actually like having people from a different ethnic group as their neighbours. The lowest proportion of respondents who express tolerance for people of different ethnic groups is 74% in Morocco and Swaziland, while nearly every Senegalese and Gabonese citizen (99%) would welcome or accept non-coethnic neighbours (Figure 4). ... Tolerance for people of a different religion Among Afrobarometer Round 6 respondents, 55% identify as Christians while 32% identify as Muslims. Of all 36 countries surveyed in Round 6, 25 have a majority Christian population, 10 have a majority Muslim population, and one (Mauritius) has a Hindu majority. Although most African countries have a dominant religion, most also have a sizeable number of citizens who belong to minority religions. 2 In half of the 36 surveyed countries, at least 10% of the population belong to a minority religious grouping. Within this context of religious pluralism, tolerance for people belonging to different religions is crucial for social harmony and peaceful coexistence. While almost nine in 10 Africans (87%) express tolerance for people belonging to different religions, citizens in majority Muslim countries, especially countries with low religious diversity, are relatively less tolerant of having neighbours of different religions. This is particularly true for Niger, Tunisia, and Morocco (all with 100% Muslim populations), as well as Guinea (88% Muslim) (Figure 6). ... Tolerance for immigrants Although very few African countries are net recipients of immigrants, the findings suggest that there is a high level of acceptance of immigrants among citizens on the continent. Overall, 81% of Africans say they would like or not mind having neighbours who are immigrants or foreign workers (Figure 7). This places Africans among the most migrant- tolerant people in the world. For example, in the most recent wave of the World Values Surveys (2010-2014), more than one-third of Middle Easterners (36%) and Asians (34%) expressed opposition to having migrant neighbours, compared to less than one-fifth of Africans. Only in a handful of African countries do sizeable minorities express rejection of immigrants: Lesotho (42%), Zambia (35%), Mauritius (34%), Madagascar (33%), Morocco (33%), and South Africa (32%). The case of Lesotho is particularly interesting, as a large proportion of the country's male workforce is employed as migrant labour in neighbouring South Africa, and yet more than four in 10 citizens don't want to live next to immigrants. South Africa, which in recent years has experienced widespread xenophobic attacks against foreigners, illustrates the violent implications of antiimmigrant attitudes (Chingwete, 2016). ... Tolerance for people living with HIV/AIDS The notion that proximity and regular interaction between different groups can help to break down intolerant attitudes is also reflected in tolerance levels for HIV-positive people. In 26 of the 33 countries surveyed, a majority of citizens say they would like or would not mind having PLWHA as their neighbours (Figure 8). This still leaves substantial proportions of the population (31% on average) who would object to having HIV-positive neighbours, an indication of the continued power of HIV-related stigma. Moreover, almost eight in 10 respondents in Niger (79%) and Madagascar (77%) express intolerance for PLWHA, which is also the majority view in Sierra Leone (73%), Guinea (69%), Morocco (57%), and Mali (53%). Tolerance for PLWHA is strongly correlated with HIV/AIDS prevalence at the country level. 3 Put simply, citizens in countries that have high HIV/AIDS prevalence tend to exhibit high tolerance levels for PLWHA. This is perhaps not very surprising, as among countries where HIV/AIDS prevalence is very high, especially in the Southern Africa region, intolerance for PLWHA might be tantamount to rejecting one's close family members or friends. Although the strong correlation between tolerance and prevalence does not imply causality, we speculate that proximity and frequent interaction might be important in influencing tolerant attitudes toward PLWHA. ... Tolerance for homosexuals Africa's negative attitudes toward homosexuals are documented in the news media and, to a lesser extent, the academic literature (Reddy, 2001, 2002; Potgieter, 2006). Afrobarometer survey data suggest this narrative to be true, as only 21% of all citizens across the 33 countries say they would like or would not mind having homosexual neighbours (Figure 9). However, there are important country-level differences that may be overlooked in the aggregate numbers. In four African countries, a majority of citizens express acceptance of neighbours who are homosexual: Cape Verde (74% who would strongly/somewhat like or would not care), South Africa (67%), Mozambique (56%), and Namibia (55%). In three other countries, more than 40% of citizens say they are not opposed to having homosexual neighbours: Mauritius (49%), Sao Tome and Principe (46%), and Botswana (43%). The portrayal of Africa as universally homophobic is thus not supported by these findings. Still, intolerance toward homosexuals remains widespread, reaching near-unanimity in Senegal (97%) as well as Guinea, Uganda, Burkina Faso, and Niger (all 95%). The case of Mozambique offers an interesting demonstration of how policy change may interact with popular attitudes. In 2014, Mozambique adopted a new penal code that decriminalizes homosexuality (BBC News, 2015). Since there are no available data on Mozambicans' attitudes toward homosexuals prior to decriminalization, we may debate as to whether relatively high acceptance precipitated decriminalization or the legal reform has had the added benefit of influencing attitudinal change among the wider citizenry. The two countries expressing the highest tolerance for homosexual citizens, Cape Verde and South Africa, also do not criminalize homosexuality. However, in some cases, ordinary citizens are ahead of law reform by embracing LGBTQ rights at a time when some practices are illegal in their countries. This is true in Namibia and Mauritius, two countries with comparatively high acceptance of homosexuals despite legislation that make homosexuality a crime. Drivers of tolerance In addition to the likely positive effects of proximity and contact mentioned above, tolerance appears to be driven, at least in part, by several socio-demographic characteristics (Figure 12). Education, in particular, shows an important effect in inculcating a culture of tolerance. Overall, people who have at least a secondary school education tend to exhibit higher tolerance than the less educated. The younger generation exhibits higher tolerance than its elders. Similarly, men and urban residents express higher tolerance levels than women and rural residents. Another variable that shows a positive, albeit weak, relationship with tolerance is media exposure. On average, African citizens who are regularly exposed to news through radio, television, newspapers, the Internet, and social media are more likely to demonstrate tolerant attitudes than those who have no or low media exposure. These findings suggest important policy lessons in the quest to promote tolerant attitudes on the continent. First, investment in education matters in nurturing a tolerant population. Second, news media with broad coverage can play an important role in promoting tolerance among African citizens. With regard to religion, the findings suggest substantial differences in tolerant attitudes between Africans who identify as Christians and those who identify as Muslims. The mean tolerance scores for Christians (3.19) and Muslims (2.87) reflect a 10% difference between the continent's two main religious groups. ... Conclusion Africans express high levels of tolerance for people of different ethnicities, religions, and nationalities. A large majority also express tolerance for people living with HIV/AIDS, though HIVrelated stigma remains a reality in most countries. Africans are far less tolerant of homosexuals, though even on this issue, countrylevel variations prevent the continent from being painted as uniformly intolerant. While our data do not yet permit analysis of trends over time, the findings of this study tell us that tolerance in Africa is not a constant. Rather, it can be nurtured and learned. In addition to the likely effects of contact with people of different backgrounds, education and news media exposure are drivers of a tolerant society, as more educated individuals and those who have greater exposure to the media tend to embrace more tolerant attitudes. The fact that younger citizens are more tolerant than their elders also bodes well for an increasingly tolerant future in Africa. AfricaFocus Bulletin is an independent electronic publication providing reposted commentary and analysis on African issues, with a particular focus on U.S. and international policies. AfricaFocus Bulletin is edited by William Minter. AfricaFocus Bulletin can be reached at africafocus@igc.org. Please write to this address to subscribe or unsubscribe to the bulletin, or to suggest material for inclusion. For more information about reposted material, please contact directly the original source mentioned. For a full archive and other resources, see http://www.africafocus.org
Gunmen from al Qaedas North African branch killed 16 people, including four Europeans, at a beach resort town in Ivory Coast on Sunday, the latest in a string of deadly attacks that have confirmed the Islamists growing reach in West Africa.

Six shooters targeted hotels on a beach at Grand Bassam, a weekend retreat popular with westerners about 40 km (25 miles) east of the commercial capital Abidjan, before being killed in clashes with Ivorian security forces, the government said.

Six attackers came onto the beach in Bassam this afternoon, Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara said during a visit to the site. We have 14 civilians and two special forces soldiers who were unfortunately killed.

A French man was killed in the attack, according to a French foreign ministry spokesman. The nationalities of the other dead were not yet known, but four were European, one officer said during a briefing attended by a Reuters reporter.

Ivory Coast Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko later said foreign citizens from France, Germany, Burkina Faso, Mali and Cameroon were among the victims.

The reporter saw the bodies of three white people at Grand Bassams Chelsea Hotel and another in the Hotel Etoile du Sud next door.

A short drive from Abidjan  one of West Africas largest cities with around 5 million inhabitants  Grand Bassam fills up on weekends with thousands of beachgoers.

Witnesses said the gunmen followed a pathway onto the beach where they then opened fire on swimmers and sunbathers before turning their attention to the packed seafront hotels where people were eating and drinking at lunchtime.

They started shooting and everyone just started running. There were women and children running and hiding, said another witness, Marie Bassole. It started on the beach. Whoever they saw, they shot at.

Security forces moved to evacuate the area surrounding the beach. Bullet holes riddled vehicles nearby and glass from shattered windows littered the ground.

The body of one of the attackers, dressed in dark trousers and a blood-covered striped shirt, lay beside the beachside entrance to one hotel, a bullet hole in his head.

Beside him on the sand sat a combat vest used to carry extra ammunition. Nearby, on the ground, lay unexploded grenades.

GROWING THREAT

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which has carried out other recent attacks in the region, claimed responsibility for Sundays shootings, according to the U.S.-based SITE intelligence monitoring group, citing an AQIM statement.

It said the attack had been carried out by just three militants.

Barely two months ago, Islamists killed dozens of people in a hotel and cafe frequented by foreigners in neighbouring Burkina Fasos capital, Ouagadougou. Gunmen also attacked a hotel in the Malian capital, Bamako, late last year.

Both of those attacks were also claimed by AQIM and raised concern that militants were extending their reach far beyond their traditional zones of operation in the Sahara and the arid Sahel region.

Though previously untouched by Islamist violence, Ivory Coast, French-speaking West Africas largest economy and the worlds top cocoa producer, has long been considered a target for militants.

It has been on high alert since the Ouagadougou attacks, and security has been visibly bolstered at potential targets, including shopping malls and high-end hotels.

By Sunday evening, Ivorian authorities had begun an investigation into the attacks.

We have a mobile phone that is now in the hands of the Ivorian scientific police that will allow us to look at all the ramifications and go back to the source, Interior Minister Bakayoko said on state-owned television.

As the scale of the tragedy become evident, regional and world leaders expressed their support for Ivory Coast, which has recently emerged from a decade of political turmoil and civil war to become one of the worlds fastest growing economies.

President Macky Sall of Senegal, another country seen as a likely target for AQIM, called upon West African countries to step up their cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism.
The Moroccan Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Mohamed Assad announced on Monday the presence of a team of experts from the Sharifian Kingdom in Abidjan to assist Cote dIvoire following the terrorist attacks that occurred in Grand-Bassam 20 km south of Abidjan.

We came with a team which will stay to provide expertise to Cote dIvoire and bring His Majestys support, the Moroccan minister said at the end of a meeting with the Ivorian head of state, Alassane Tuatara.

This evil (terrorism) affects all countries in the world without exception, denounced the Moroccan Kings representative who is hopeful that Cote dIvoire is a great country, that it is going to beat it, adding that criminals will not go far.

The historic town of Grand-Bassam, the first capital of Cote dIvoire was shaken on Sunday evening by terrorist attacks that officially killed 21 people.

Many countries and international institutions are supporting the country with the government declaring on Monday, three days of national mourning marked by the national flag flying at half-mast.
Protesters on Sunday packed the streets of Rabat after political parties, unions and non-governmental groups called for a national demonstration. Authorities claimed there were up to three million people taking part.an capital.

Waving portraits of King Mohammed and Moroccan flags, protesters chanted the The Sahara is ours, the King is ours as they packed the streets near the parliament building in a rally supported by the government.

Ban Ki-moon made statements that, according to Moroccan government, have nothing to do with the impartiality and neutrality he should show as Secretary General of the United Nations.

The statement caused uproar in the country, prompting to issue a communique on Tuesday in which Morocco denounced Ban Ki-moon of bias in favor of the Polisario, a separatist movement supported by Algeria.

Moroccos government last week accused Ban Ki-moon of no longer being neutral in the Western Sahara conflict, saying that he used the word occupation to describe Moroccos presence in the region that has been at the center of a dispute since 1975.

The UN has been trying for years to hold a referendum on independence for the territory, which was recuperated by Morocco when Spain withdrew in 1975.

The Polisario Front, which claims the territory belongs to ethnic Sahrawis, fought a rebel war against Morocco until a UN-brokered ceasefire in 1991, but the two sides have come to a deadlock since that agreement.

UN spokesman said the secretary-general again called for genuine negotiations in good faith and without preconditions at each stop in his recent trip.

Moroccan Head of the Government Abdelilah Benkirane, the leader of the Justice and Development Party told that the march witnessed in Rabat reflects the citizens trust in their King and in the justice and legitimacy of their country.

He said it exceeded all expectations especially that it was arranged in only two days. He added that Moroccans are not looking for problems with the UN Secretary General, yet they are not willing to give up their historical, constitutional and religious rights.

Benkirane confirmed that Moroccans could accept diplomatic concessions, which have been offered by Morocco for over forty years now in order to find solution to this fabricated conflict; however, they could never accept their country to be described as occupied.

He said that Moroccan citizens are peaceful and understanding, but they are careful not to accept their countrys sovereignty to be overrode. To them, Morocco is a red line that should not be crossed.

For his part, Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs Salaheddine Mezouar promised firm response to Ban Ki-moons statements during his trip to Algeria and the camps of the Polisario Front in Tindouf.

On the sidelines of his participation in the march, Salaheddine Mezouar told that the diplomatic response will be given in the proper time and the proper method.

Mezouar confirmed that the UN Secretary General did not take into consideration the Moroccans feelings and the sanctities of the country when he decided to give irresponsible statements.
Putin gave a warm welcome to the Moroccan Monarch, and highlighted that his visit will give a new impetus to the relations between the two countries.

Your Majesty, friends, allow me to welcome you to Moscow. It is a pleasure, Your Majesty, to welcome you to the capital of Russia, particularly this year, because it was precisely 50 years ago that you father, King Hassan II, visited the Soviet Union, thus establishing relations between our two countries, which have been developing ever since. I am certain, Your Majesty, that your current visit will also serve as an impetus for the development of ties between our states, President Putin said to King Mohammed VI.

The Russian President pointed out that Russia has wonderful relations with Morocco, and wondered about the reasons that caused a drop in trade between the two countries.

There is a great deal our colleagues and we have to discuss. We have wonderful relations with Morocco, though it is strange that we have been seeing a certain reduction in trade, specifically in certain traditional Moroccan goods. I do not understand the reasons for the drop in shipments of Moroccan fruit, oranges or tomatoes to Russia, particularly given the limitations in the supply of these products from the European Union countries.

Putin said that it is important for him to hear King Mohammed VIs views on regional matters.

It is also very important for me, Your Majesty, to learn your views on regional matters. Welcome.

The Moroccan monarch arrived in Moscow on Sunday evening. This is his second official visit to Russia.

The Moroccan Kins official visit is extremely important at the political and the economic levels, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation and Special Presidential Representative Mikhail Bogdanov said on Sunday.

We are very pleased with the visit of the King to Russia given friendship and brotherhood relations between the two peoples,Mikhail Bogdanov was quoted as saying by Moroccan state agency Maghreb Arab Press
The Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Morocco are against any violation of the UN Security Council resolutions regarding the settlement of the Sahara issue.

The Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Morocco do not support any temptation to accelerate or haste the political process, nor any violation of the parameters defined in the Security Council resolutions to find a solution to the Sahara issue, said the Declaration on the deep strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Morocco issued Tuesday in Moscow on the occasion of the official visit of King Mohammed VI.

The statement comes the heightened tension between Morocco and United Nations Secretariat after Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon made statement that have been regarded as biased by the Moroccan government.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for his part, stressed at a press briefing that the UN should continue to play a constructive role despite recent misunderstandings. Its an old problem, a very serious problem. () But we see no other solution than seeking a compromise, he insisted.

During his recent trip to Algiers and the Tindouf camps on March 5-7, the UN chief used the term occupation while referring to Moroccos sovereignty over the Western Sahara.

In addition to the use if the term occupation, the UN chief stressed that the UN Mission in the territory, known by its French acronym as MINURSO, was ready to conduct a referendum of self-determination if the parties involved agreed to proceed with it.

The Moroccan government saw in this statement a deviation from UN Security Council resolutions adopted since 2007, which call on the parties to strive towards reaching an agreed upon and mutually acceptable political solution.

Morocco reacted angrily to Bans statement and accused him of bias in favor of the Polisario and of departing from his neutrality and impartiality and UN chief.

The UN chief comments are are politically inappropriate, unprecedented, and contrary to Security Council resolutions, the statement issued by the government last Tuesday said.
Mohammed VI et Putin Chair a Signing Ceremony of Several Cooperation Agreements

The King Mohammed VI and Russia president Vladimir Putin chaired, Tuesday 15 March 2016 in the Kremlin, a signing ceremony of several bilateral cooperation agreements in various fields.

The first agreement covers extradition between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Russian Federation, while the second is an agreement on air services.

The third agreement is a cooperation agreement in the fields of environmental protection and the rational use of natural resources, while the fourth agreement covers cooperation in sea fisheries.

The fifth is an agreement on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments, while the sixth agreement covers the mutual protection of classified information in the military and military-technical fields.

The seventh one is a declaration on the fight against international terrorism.

As part of the official visit paid by His Majesty King Mohammed VI to Russia, the two countries signed these agreements:

 A memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the energy field.

 A memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of geological research and exploration of the subsoil.

 A memorandum of understanding between Moroccos National Health Security Office of Foodstuffs (ONSSA) and Russias Federal Agency for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance.

 A memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of veterinary supervision.

 A joint action program for 2016-2018 in the field of tourism.

 A memorandum of understanding on cooperation between Moroccos Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs and Russias Central Religious Organization (Shura Council of Russian Muftis).

 A framework partnership agreement between the National Foundation of Museums and Moscow Kremlins Museums.

 A framework agreement on cooperation between the National Foundation of Museums (Morocco) and the Hermitage Museum (Russian Federation).

 A protocol for exchanging information on the movement of goods and vehicles between Morocco and the Russian Federation.

The signing ceremony was attended by members of the Russian government and the official delegation accompanying the Moroccan Sovereign.
More than 180,000 people participated in a spontaneous popular march Tuesday in the southern city of Laayoune to denounce the verbal blunders of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara.

The march, organized at the initiative of sheikhs and notables of Sahrawi tribes, politicians, trade unions and the civil society, started from Sheikh Mohamed Laghdef center towards the headquarters of MINURSO.

The participants expressed their attachment to the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and the constants of the Nation, as well as their categorical rejection of the statements of the UN Secretary General on the Moroccan Sahara in an atmosphere reminiscent of the patriotic fervor of the Green March.
11-years after the state government had banned the Dance girls from performing in Bars, the dance bars are set to reopen in Mumbai and Maharashtra state, four bars have got licences to host live dance performances. Bar owners said another 16 bars are expected to get licences over the next few days, and another 100 will get it by month-end.

According to sources, seating arrangements, lights are being re-positioned, and applications from dancers have started coming.

On March 2, the Supreme Court had asked the Maharashtra government to start issuing licences to dance bars by March 15. The apex court had denied the state governments requests to place CCTV cameras (connected to police stations) inside permit areas or performance areas, but had directed that cameras should be fixed at the entrance to the bars. (Read also: Issue licence to dance bar, No CCTV enjoyment for cops)

Following the order, around 150 licenses applications have been made, of which four bars - Indiana at Tardeo, Natraj at Vidyavihar, Uma Palace at Mulund and Padma Palace at Bhandup finally got their license on Monday while about 15 others are expected to get on Tuesday.

The licence requires them to comply with 26 conditions, key among them being maintaining distance between dancers and customers.

CCTV cameras will be installed at the entrance, with a limit of four dancers per bar, a railing around the performance area, and a distance of at least 5 feet between the stage and customers.

Bharat Thakur, owner of three bars  Indiana in Tardeo, Natraj in Vidya Vihar, and Uma Palace in Mulund West  got licences for dance performances for all of them on Monday. (The fourth bar that got a licence is Padma Bar in Bhandup.)

Thakur said, We had an orchestra following the ban. Business had dropped for us, but the state also incurred a loss, as tourism took a hit. The bar dancers were rendered jobless, and were not rehabilitated.

Maharashtra in 2005 suspended the licences of hundreds of bars and hotels that featured skimpily dressed women dancing to Bollywood tunes on a small stage for male customers.

But after several appeals over the years against the ban, the Supreme Court ordered the state to issue licences from 15 March on condition that certain rules are adhered to.

When the bars were shut in 2005, about 75,000 women were estimated to be working there and bar owners said the women were earning a legitimate living.

Manjeet Singh Sethi, former president of the Dance Bar Owners Association, who closed his dance bar eight years ago, and was the petitioner in the case, said Mumbai nightlife will get a shot in the arm once the dance bars open. I have told all the members (of the bar owners association) to follow all the rules. We hope the industry flourishes again.

Varsha Kale, President of Womanist Party of India has earlier said, I feel the government should appoint female police personnel to monitor the CCTV stream. The whole money showering business should be converted into tokens or coupons, so that the money can be monitored as well and the girls should be appointed on monthly salary basis, as of now the girls are feasible for bank loans. (Read Also: I welcome the move of installation of CCTV cameras in Dance Bar)

There are over 1,200 dance bars across the state. Bar owners said business like earlier is likely to resume begin by April or May.
The Patiala House court reserved its order on the bail plea of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, who are in judicial custody in a sedition case. There are many reasons for their detentions: 1). To save the face of the government and 2). To create deterrence among students who are rebellious. Already, Kanhaiya Kumar has become a trouble for PM Narendra Modi and his entire party. He single handedly has the ability to challenge entire party and make them answerable. Not only had that but Kanhaiya exposed the lies spread by BJP supporters online. Actually, he has given tough time to the BJP. In such circumstances, if other arrested students get bail, BJP will not be able to afford the pressure ahead of UP elections. The court has reserved its order on the bail plea till March 18. At least, I can say that this is a face saving report. The panel couldnt directly implicate their students who were involved. If they do so then they have to reveal the names of the faculty those who supported them within the campus. BJP know that, this event was orchestrated by ABVP and RSS, to take control on JNU. They miserably flopped, and are clueless now to get rid of such awkward situation.

The students in the university are to study, they should concentrate in their studies and government should not interfere in their matters. They are in universities to make a difference in the society; government should give them that freedom. They should be punished if they break the law of the land but should not be falsely implicated. If the report is true, outsiders were at the event, anti-national slogans were raised, but there is no conclusive evidence that the left student leaders were involved in it. However, here what is disturbing, all those JNU students who are torchbearers of a new India with equitable justice saw provocation in such anti national sloganeering, they are requesting authorities to trace those elements and punish them but our system is clutching the selective targets.

Anyway, the show cause notice is being served to students and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is divided on that. While some of these students have refused to respond to the notice, a section of teachers are apprehensive about the implications of the committee Deans of five schools have also raised objection with Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar about why the Deans Committee wasnt informed before initiating disciplinary action against the students. The deans have sought to know from the V-C who all are being charged, what the charges are, and what the recommended punishment in each case is. The notice was served to Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, JNU students union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar and JNUSU joint secretary Saurabh Sharma. By not clearly describing the nature of the offence, the varsity has once again created ambiguity on the issue. Any other act which may be considered by the V-C or any other competent authority to be an act of violation of discipline and conduct, the university said in its show cause notice to Kanhaiya Kumar.

Meanwhile, the high-level probe panel of JNU has found two students  Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya  who are in judicial custody in a sedition case, guilty of arousing communal, caste or regional sentiments and creating disharmony among students. JNUSU joint secretary Saurabh Sharma has been found guilty of blocking traffic on the day of the programme. The show-cause notice issued to Anirban finds him guilty of furnishing false certificates or false information in any manner to the university, arousing communal, caste or regional feeling or creating disharmony among students, causing or colluding in the unauthorised entry of any person into the campus or in the unauthorised occupation of any portion of the university premises, including hall of residences, by any person and same charges have been levied on Umar. Students who have received the notice are confused over the charges as the varsity has not explained the offence in details.

Meanwhile, the deans of five schools of JNU have contradicted the universitys claim that it had apprised them of the probe report on the Afzal Guru controversy. Deans said they had also not been given any details of the charges made against students or the degree of punishment. However, the university administration claimed that it had conveyed the summary of the probe panel report to the deans. The report was based on the information given by ABVP students thats the reason; there is lots of mismatch in the report and incidence. Even the student who was not present on that day in JNU campus was mentioned as one of the student shouting slogans. The report came under scanner and students are ready to expose it. In a way, BJP has invited another awkward moment for them.

Meanwhile, there was protest organised by various student political parties demanding release of Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya. Interestingly, most of his speech was inclined towards taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and issues like Rohith Vemulas suicide and the release of Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya took a back seat. Nevertheless, they demanded bail to the students. The counsel of the students argued that criticism of government cannot be termed as sedition. Students had surrendered voluntarily and cited Delhi governments report that said the video, which showed the students raising anti-national slogans, was doctored. When well-orchestrated game-plan boomeranged at BJP, now they are searching for new means to implicate students and chock their voice permanently.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com)
The Bombay High Court is likely to deliver its verdict on confirmation of death penalty awarded to Himayat Baig, the lone convict of 2010 Pune German Bakery blast case, tomorrow.

A division bench of Justices N H Patil and S B Shukre is expected to pronounce the verdict on the confirmation petition of Maharashtra government and the appeal filed by Baig challenging his conviction and the death sentence.

Baig will be produced before the High Court when it pronounces the verdict. Baig, who the police said was a member of the terrorist outfit Indian Mujahideen, was arrested in September 2010 for involvement in the blast at German Bakery, a popular eatery in Punes Koregaon Park area, which killed 17 persons and injured 58 including some foreign nationals.

In 2013, the sessions court in Pune convicted him and awarded him the capital punishment.
North Koreas Supreme Court sentenced American student Otto Warmbier, who was arrested while visiting the country, to 15 years of hard labour on Wednesday for crimes against the state.

Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia student, was detained in January for trying to steal an item bearing a propaganda slogan from his hotel in Pyongyang, North Korean media said previously. The accused confessed to the serious offence against the DPRK he had committed, pursuant to the U.S. governments hostile policy toward it, in a bid to impair the unity of its people after entering it as a tourist, the state-controlled KCNA news agency reported, using the acronym for the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

Human Rights Watch condemned the sentence handed down to the student from Wyoming, Ohio. Japans Kyodo news agency published a picture of Warmbier being led from the courtroom by two uniformed guards, with his head bowed, but visibly distressed. North Koreas sentencing of Otto Warmbier to 15 years hard labor for a college-style prank is outrageous and shocking, and should not be permitted to stand, Phil Robertson, deputy director of HRWs Asia division, said in an emailed statement.

Warmbiers defence attorney said the gravity of his crime was such that he would not be able to pay even with his death but proposed to the court a sentence that is reduced from the prosecutions request of a life sentence, KCNA said. In February, Warmbier told a media conference in Pyongyang that his crime was very severe and pre-planned.

He was at the end of a five-day New Years group tour of North Korea when he was delayed at airport immigration before being taken away by officials, according to the tour operator that had arranged the trip. Warmbiers sentencing comes as North Korea is increasingly isolated, with the UN Security Council imposing tough new resolutions earlier this March following the Norths January nuclear test and Februarys long-range rocket launch.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this week said the North would soon test a nuclear warhead and ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, in what would be a direct violation of UN resolutions backed by its chief ally, China. North Korea has a long history of detaining foreigners and has used jailed Americans in the past to extract high-profile visits from the United States, with which it has no formal diplomatic relations.

North Korea is also holding a Korean-Canadian Christian pastor it sentenced to hard labour for life in December for subversion. The North is also holding a Korean-American and three South Korean nationals. It has previously handed down lengthy sentences to foreigners before freeing them. In 2014, North Korea released three detained Americans.
Reporter Connie Ogle explained how difficult it was for John Donvan and Caren Zucker to come up with "a definitive history of autism." The definition is confusing. Even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can't tell exactly how many people have autism.

Two journalists chronicle the history of the disease and how treatment has improved over recent decades

As Donvan said, 'The numbers are all very squishy. Thats why we dont know if theres an epidemic or not. ...Its like almost all psychiatric brain conditions  theres no marker. The diagnosis keeps changing.'

What Donvan and Zucker uncovered in their research on autism is the complete failure of society to recognize and treat the disorder. Doctors did horrible things to autistic children, parents put children out of sight in institutions, and 'refrigerator mothers' were blamed for the condition. And then of course there's the problem of 500,000 autistic students aging out of high school in the next decade with nowhere to go.

Im tired of the Donvan/Zucker message.

When are these two going to stop blaming parents and doctors for mistreating people with autism and hiding them away in institutions? As investigative journalists who spent 15 looking into this disorder, they must have noticed the huge shortage of adults with the condition compared to all the children out there.

Donvan said that Americans are finally doing the right thing for autistic children, but more needs to be done. 'Society hasnt turned the corner on adult treatment. Weve come a long way. In classrooms in public schools, autistic kids sit side-by-side with other kids. There are autistic characters on TV. But were only halfway there.'

And as far as the whole vaccine link is concerned, that was nothing but a red herring since its been thoroughly debunked by the scientific community. Donvan and Zucker talk about the vaccine-autism controversy in the past tense. They do say that it made the public aware of the existence of autism.

I seriously would like to attend their presentation. I have a simple question for them, which, based on their 15 years work, they should be able to answer:

WHERE ARE THE ADULTS WITH AUTISM CURRENTLY LIVING?

And please dont tell me theyre at home with mom and dad. Parents age. Where does this huge population currently reside? These two allege that adults were always lived in institutions, but these places dont exist today. So where are all the 40, 60, and 80 year olds on the spectrum? Surely they must have wondered about this. Finding one 82 year old man in a little town in Mississippi doesnt prove autism has always been here. I can go to any school in my little town in Wisconsin and find children with obvious signs of autism. Theyre very easy to recognize. Why cant we do that with the adult population?

AND PLEASE STOP TELLING US THAT ALL WE NEED TO DO IS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE ON THE SPECTRUM AND BE INCLUSIVE.

Its hardly an advancement that there are autistic characters on TV. Invariably theyre high functioning types who dont represent the vast numbers of children with autism.

PLEASE STOP REFERRING TO AUTISM AS 'A PSYCHIATRIC BRAIN CONDITION.'

This totally misrepresents the reality that autism is neuro-developmental disorder with serious concomitant health conditions like seizure disorder, sleep problems, and horrific bowel disease that leaves many of its victims dependent for life. Those autistic characters on TV are not ones who are non-verbal, in diapers as teenagers, self-abusive, or prone to wandering. Something has dramatic impacted a generation of children and we're being told it's normal and acceptable.

This complacency in the face of a worldwide health care nightmare that we supposedly never noticed until recent decades, defies reason.
By Dan Olmsted

I cant walk down the street anymore without being assailed by evidence that we live in a toxic world and that, healthy though we may be at the moment, there is always something lurking around the corner.

Like Alzheimers. Coming out of Starbucks today I saw a new building for assisted living going up. Right next to the smiling couple on a banner covering the chain link fence was the news that two  not one, but two!  floors would be devoted to memory care. Ive heard Alzheimers called the autism of adulthood, which means that fewer and fewer of us are going to get out of this world with our minds intact. According to the Alzheimers Association:

By 2025, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease is estimated to reach 7.1 million  a 40 percent increase from the 5.1 million age 65 and older affected in 2015. (By the way, the groups slogan, the brains behind saving yours, does nothing to make me think they are going to get a grip on this disease anytime soon. Yuck!)

Anyone who reads this blog already knows the damage inflicted on a generation and a half  and counting  by the autism epidemic. We hear the latest numbers are coming out later this month, but whether its 1 in 68, or 1 in 30 boys, or 1 in 50 based on the CDCs own phone survey of parents of kids 6 to 17 in 2011-2012, or 1 in 25 as Andy Wakefield says it really is right now, or the 1 in 2 that MIT professor predicted for a couple of decades from now  well, its way too much.

Add ADHD on top of that, along with declining academic proficiency, asthma, allergies and so on. And thats just the As, and thats just the kids.

It appears the Seven Ages of Man that Shakespeare described have been reduced to a list of age-appropriate disabilities  all of it attended to by the only flourishing sector of the economy at the moment, health care.

Still, a ghastly end awaits an awful lot of us after all this lovely health treatment. Make it past 85 and youll have a one in three chance of having Alzheimers. One in nine of those over 65 (which I will be next year) have it.








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What is the capital of Canada? Theres more than one right answer, apparently.

While you might be tempted to name Ottawa as the Canadian capital, it is also possible to completely bullshit your way through the question on a test and still get the marks.

Thats what a high school teacher in Missouri says happened in his class. The teacher shared a photo of his students answer on Reddit with the caption This is why I teach.

Blahson / Reddit / Via imgur.com

The teacher, who asked us to identify him only as Mr. C due to privacy concerns, described the student as a very bright junior in his economics class. And when this student didnt know the answer, he went full Trump.

His full answer:

Of course I know the capital of Canada. Its a great country. Its really great. Everyone wants to know what the capital of Canada is. And do you know what I tell them? I tell them that we have a foolproof plan for naming the capital of Canada. And thats why were going to be the best at naming the capital of Canada. #MakeCanadaGreatAgain.

It is a blessing to work with such clever students, Mr. C told BuzzFeed Canada. He said the funny answer was worthy of extra credit.

While it was apparent that the student didnt know the answer to the bonus question, his response made me laugh and I thoroughly enjoyed how he tied current events into his response, Mr. C said.

Read more...








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(NaturalNews) Today, the United States has one of the highest rates of infant mortality in the entire world. No less than 1 in 45 children are suffering from autism, while cancer is said to affect 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men. In fact, cancer is the second leading cause of death in America, but it is also a 124-billion-dollar industry. What would happen if, say, a natural cure were discovered?



The 12 doctor deaths recorded within only three months last summer suggest a sinister answer. Could it be that we already have the cure for cancer, but are denied access to this knowledge?





It's been happening right in front of our eyes

In the summer of 2015, 12 non-conventional doctors died within three months of each other and were all found under mysterious circumstances. Three of these holistic doctors were found randomly in the woods outside and it was quickly presumed that they had committed suicide. Four cases were established as murders, but the guilty party was nowhere to be found. Several others died suddenly, for no apparent reason.



Dr. Nicholas Gonzales, for instance, had helped many patients suffering from late-stage cancer to survive their disease. When he died, it was initially reported that he had been killed by a heart attack. However, the autopsy that followed his death failed to confirm any sort of heart disease. To this day, we still don't know why Dr. Gonzales died. Dr. James Bradstreet was actually the first reported death of the 12. In July, the FDA raided the doctor's medical center, making few of the details were made public. One week later, he was found shot, in a river.



The investigations that followed the suspicious deaths were nothing but a mess and, quite frankly, a joke.





Why these doctors?

If 12 deaths within 90 days among holistic doctors weren't suspicious enough, the connection established between their individual research efforts is more than clear. They were all studying the effects of GcMAF and nagalase on cancer, as well as their link to autism in children. Haven't heard about GcMAF as a viable cure against cancer? That's because none of their studies became widely known until the doctors themselves started dying.



Here's what some of the doctors discovered. When combined with vitamin D, the Gc (Group-specific component) protein in our bodies is transformed into GcMAF, the single most effective means in our immune systems to kill cancer cells. Working with GcMAF, doctors came to the conclusion that it can reverse not only cancer, but also autism.



However, when the body is deprived of GcMAF, the opposite takes place and the immune system is vulnerable to all kinds of diseases. Almost all of the 12 holistic doctors that were found dead believed that a GcMAF inhibitor called nagalase was being injected into the American population by means of vaccines.





The theory on vaccines and population control

Nagalase is an enzyme excreted by cancer cells, as well as a component of the HIV and influenza viruses that is known to inhibit the body's production of GcMAF. We already know that the MMR vaccine is linked to autism, thanks to a CDC whistleblower who came exposed CDC fraud in 2014. So the holistic doctors had a hunch. What if the link between vaccinations and autism was related to GcMAF? What if nagalase was purposefully added to vaccines throughout the U.S.?



That's right. It's not just that we are not given access to a much more effective and less damaging cancer treatment, while millions die every year from the disease. It's quite possible that, for the sake of population control, our immune system is being destroyed by the very thing we are promised will protect it  the vaccine.



Of course, it would be much easier to settle all of this if we got to talk to the doctors that came up with the theory in the first place. But they are all dead.



Sources include:



TruthStreamMedia.com



NaturalNews.com



FreedomOutpost.com



Cheap-Health-Revolution.com










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(NaturalNews) We're all familiar with horror stories about juveniles on drugs, but normally it's humans that are involved, not fish. This case, however, involves juvenile chinook salmon who never had the chance to "Just Say No."



Disturbing new research has indicated that young salmon found in Puget Sound tested positive for more than 80 different drugs, including cocaine, antidepressants and dozens of other medications used by humans.



When researchers tested the water at and near sewage treatment plants in the estuaries of Puget Sound near Seattle, Washington, they discovered high levels of drugs and personal care products  at some of the highest concentrations found anywhere in the nation.



The tissues of migratory chinook salmon and local staghorn sculpin also contained these compounds  even in the fish found in estuaries far from the sewage treatment plants where the water was previously considered "pristine."



As reported by The Seattle Times:



"The medicine chest of common drugs also included Flonase, Aleve and Tylenol. Paxil, Valium and Zoloft. Tagamet, OxyContin and Darvon. Nicotine and caffeine. Fungicides, antiseptics and anticoagulants. And Cipro and other antibiotics galore.



"Why are the levels so high? It could be because people here use more of the drugs detected, or it could be related to wastewater-treatment plants' processes, said Jim Meador, an environmental toxicologist at NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle and lead author on a paper published this week in the journal Environmental Pollution."



Sewage treatment plants unable to cope

Who is really to blame?

The obvious solution

The presence of these drugs in the water appears to be related to the inability of the wastewater plants to fully remove these chemicals during treatment. But high fecal coliform counts in some areas of the Sound suggest that leaky septic tanks may also be contributing to the problem.Some of the drugs found in the fish and the water of Puget Sound are difficult to remove using standard sewage treatment methods:"Treatment plants in King County are effective in removing some drugs in wastewater, but many drugs are recalcitrant and remain. Seizure drugs , for instance, are very hard to remove, and ibuprofen levels are knocked down  but not out  during treatment, said Betsy Cooper, permit administrator for the county's Wastewater Treatment Division."But the blame should not be placed entirely on the treatment plants, according to Cooper. "You have treatment doing its best to remove these, chemically and biologically," she said, "but it's not just the treatment quality, it's also the amount that we use day to day and our assumption that it just goes away."Shamefully, our own drug dependence is now poisoning other species as well. We have become a nation of drugged-out zombies , but that doesn't give us the right to turn fish and other animals into the same.Maybe it's time to start realizing that prescription pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter remedies and illicit drugs are doing us  and our environment  far more harm than good.We've bought into the Big Pharma-created myth that there is a chemical solution to all our problems  physical and mental  when in reality these substances are theof much of our "dis-ease" and general out-of-balance lifestyles.Although Western pharmaceutical medicine arguably has some value, almost everything these drugs are designed to treat can be more effectively dealt with using natural methods which promote healing rather than dependence.And one of the obvious lessons from the situation in Puget Sound is that when you make bad decisions at one level, there will be negative effects on other levels as well. We don't live in a vacuum, and our unhealthy lifestyles have an impact on all living things.We're simultaneously poisoning ourselves and our surroundings. Maybe it's time for another approach ...








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(NaturalNews) Are you a health nut? Why not? What's stopping you? Do you think that it's illegal to cure diseases with food, or is that just what you read in JAMA -- The Journal of the American Medical Association? Maybe you saw some label that the FDA slapped on an organic product which says food can't claim to cure any disease or disorder -- yes -- that was probably it. That's because the only way to patent US "medicine" and make a fortune is to combine in a lab synthetic chemicals that cause horrific side effects, then pay the FDA millions to approve it. Unfortunately, that method also involves selling your soul to the Medical Mafia, who control you and perpetuate the "fake war" on cancer -- the one that actually mutates MORE human cells and leads to an early grave. Do you want to participate in THAT?



So without further adieu, here are nine cures for cancer proven by people who had cancer but no longer do! Shhhh! Don't tell the Medical-Industrial Complex.





9 Cancer Cures You Might Want to Know!

1.-- Most turmeric sold in America suffers from high lead content and a high count of microbes. By purchasing cheap turmeric, you could actually be increasing the heavy metal toxins and bacteria that you consume, driving cancer cells. Do the exact opposite! Find an organic turmeric tincture that contains the phytonutrient curcumin, and you can build natural immunity.2.-- Cold-pressing the seed of the(hemp plant) produces a very important oil that is legally purchased in the United States at health food stores across the nation! It's very high in essential fatty acid content, and it does NOT contain the psychoactive THC ingredient used by people who smoke pot. A member of the achene family of fruits, it's regarded as a "superfood" due to its unique ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 essential fatty acids and contains up to 5% pure GLA, which is even higher than in spirulina. For thousands of years, hemp seed oil has been used in elixirs and medicinal teas to provide anti-mutagenic action which prevents genetic damage by free radicals and/or radiation. You probably won't see banners about it at the "pink" ribbon march or "walk for the cure."3.-- You won't find reishi on salads at restaurants or packaged at your typical conventional grocer. Go to health food stores and check the supplements and dried powders, usually sold as capsules. Reishi have been used to treat countless ailments in the Far East for over two millennia. In China, they're called the "Mushrooms of Immortality." Reishi are meant for long-term consumption and have been linked to reduced blood pressure and improved nerve function and stamina! You might treat cancer and diabetes with reishi mushroom , just don't tell the hospital administrators or your local newspaper that it worked so well, or they might have to report you to the Medical Mafia. When you start talking about important polysaccharides and saponins that decrease cell proliferation in cancerous lungs, the oncologists' cash registers stop ringing and they send you home to LIVE!4.-- Hello, scavengers of free radicals! Did you know that you can combat free-radical damage WHILE you sleep? It's true. Since its discovery over 50 years ago, melatonin has demonstrated itself as a functionally diverse molecule with antioxidant properties. A vast amount of experimental research has revealed its vital role in the body's defense against numerous cell-damaging free radicals because it possesses 200% more antioxidant power than vitamin E. Melatonin reduces oxidative damage and has been found to be superior to glutathione and vitamins C and E. It fights free-radical-related diseases like cardiovascular disease and cancer. It's true that the body naturally produces melatonin in the brain, but if you're diabetic, borderline diabetic or over the age of 55, it's common to need supplementation. Ask your naturopath!5.(with average pH level of 8.8!) -- If you're fighting cancer , you most likely are in desperation to adjust your body's pH. Nearly every nutritionist on the planet would tell you to eat plenty of raw organic vegetables and fruits and consume lots of water -- and it better be real spring water to help alkalize the body 6.-- Yes, the cheap kind that you find in most stores! Simply put a teaspoon in a glass of water daily and help alkalize your system so cancer can't even survive if it wanted to. Cancer cannot survive when your cells have plenty of oxygen and your body is not acidic. The baking soda is so simple that you'll never hear this advice from the mouth of an MD or oncologist, because the AMA/FDA/FTC will come shut them down. There's no money for the mafia-style medical establishment in selling baking soda and the formula for killing cancer 7.-- Beat down the pathogens thanks to over 200 biologically active components! There is a special enzyme that the "bad guys" (mutated cells) use to multiply, and it's called "ornithine decarboxylase." You could block this enzyme and cut off the enemy's "supply lines." How much easier would it be to beat cancer if cancer cells had NO fuel?!8.-- The apricot seed "cyanide" controversy foolishly obscures an effective alternative cancer cure. Thousands of people have used apricot seeds to eliminate cancer without negative side effects. What if the "cyanide" from myths that scare you are really referring to the kind that KILLS CANCER and NOT you? Don't let the medical mafia scare you away from longevity!9.-- The "Father of Chinese Medicine" discovered the healing properties of marijuana in 2700 BC. Throughout history, the ancient Egyptians, Persians and even Greek civilizations used medical cannabis. Mainstream medicine in the USA is very slow to recognize this because the DEA absurdly classifies it as a Schedule I narcotic, scaring off would-be patients and doctors.
WASHINGTON, March 15,2016 - Two of the four remaining GOP candidates for the presidency voiced different views on climate change in their final debate before Tuesdays crucial winner-take-all Republican primaries in Florida and Ohio.

In last weeks Republican debate in Miami, CNNs Jake Tapper asked both Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Gov. John Kasich to answer a question from the Republican mayor of Miami, Tomas Regalado: Will you as president acknowledge the reality of the scientific consensus about climate change and as president will you pledge to do something about it?

Rubio acknowledged that the climate is changing but also said that the climate has always been changing. He argued that while he has long supported mitigation efforts, implementing the Obama administrations proposed Clean Power Plan or other measures to reduce carbon emissions would be devastating for our economy.

Rubio said The fundamental question for a policy maker is, Is the climate changing because of something we are doing, and if so, is there a law you can pass to fix it? Right now, he said, there is no such thing as a law to change the weather. On the contrary, there are laws they want us to pass that would be devastating for our economy. . . (and) will do nothing for the environment.

Rubio charged that even if Congress passed laws to implement what he called the administrations war on coal, there would be no environmental benefit because China is still going to be polluting, and Indias still going to be polluting at historic levels. . . other countries like India and China are more than making up in carbon emissions for whatever we could possibly cut. He added that the administrations climate initiatives wouldnt solve Miamis increasing coastal flooding problems because sea levels would still rise.

Kasich responded to Regalado by directly acknowledging that human activities contribute to climate change. In contrast to Rubios warnings about economic devastation, Kasich insisted that you can have a strong environmental policy at the same time that you have strong economic growth. They are not inconsistent with one another. He also asserted that Ohio has reduced emissions by 30 percent while at the same time creating new jobs.

As the governor of a coal mining state, Kasich said We want all the sources of energy. We want to dig coal, but we want to clean it when we burn it. We believe in natural gas, we believe in nuclear power. And you know what else I believe in? I happen to believe in solar energy, wind energy, efficiency. Renewables matter. . . it is important that we develop renewables, he said.

Rubios and Kasichs responses came just a day after the Democrats two presidential contenders spelled out their own climate change policies last Wednesday, also in Miami.

Apparently in response to questions from Regalado and 20 other Florida mayors concerned about climate change, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders opened his remarks in the Democratic debate by saying that here in Miami as much as any city in America, we know that we have got to combat climate change, transform our energy system, and leave this planet in a way that is healthy and habitable for our kids and our grandchildren.

After warning that climate change threatens the whole planet, Sanders charged that fossil fuel interests are destroying this planet through their emissions of carbon and creating the terrible climate change that we are seeing.

Sanders said Republican politicians, like Donald Trump, oppose climate policies and call climate change a hoax because they are afraid of losing their campaign funding from the Koch brothers and the fossil fuel industry if they stand up to the fossil fuel industry, and transform our energy system away from coal and oil and gas to energy efficiency and wind and solar and geothermal and other sustainable technologies.

Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, said the country needs to invest in resilience and mitigation while we are trying to cut emissions and make up for the fact that this is clearly man-made and man-aggravated. The former secretary of state noted that no state has more at stake in that than Florida. She voiced her support for the administrations Clean Power Plan to limit coal power plant emissions, for the international Paris climate agreement, and for creating more clean energy jobs.

Clinton concluded: We need to implement all of the presidents executive actions (on climate) and quickly move to make a bridge from coal to natural gas to clean energy.

Neither Texas Sen. Ted Cruz nor business magnate Donald Trump drew questions on climate in the GOP debate in Miami last week. But while campaigning in New Hampshire in January, Cruz dismissed climate change as pseudoscientific theory.

Trying to keep up with what 2016 candidates are saying about ag & energy issues? We cover it on Agri-Pulse. Sign up today for a four-week free trial subscription.





Cruz said If you are a big government politician, if you want more power, climate change is the perfect pseudoscientific theory. . . because it can never, ever, ever be disproven. If it gets hotter or colder, wetter or drier  the climate has always changed since the beginning of time. It will continue to change till the end of time.

Last December, Cruz said that one of his first acts as president would be to withdraw from last years international Paris agreement on curbing climate change. Rejecting the scientific consensus, Cruz announced in a Senate hearing last December that According to the satellite data, there has been no significant global warming for the past 18 years.

The 25 federal programs and regulations Cruz has earmarked for elimination include:

 Global Methane Initiative

 Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program

 Regulation of CO2 Emissions from Power Plants and all Sources

 Regulation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Vehicles

 Renewable Fuel Standard Federal Mandates

Trump has been equally dismissive of scientific consensus. In his characteristically terse style, he tweeted in January 2014 that This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bullshit has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps. In December 2013, he tweeted: Global warming is a total, and very expensive, hoax!

#30
Australian Government Urged to Speed Up Refugee Assessments for Syrians and Iraqis

Members from within Australia's Assyrian community have criticised the federal government, saying it's taking too long to resettle refugees from Syria and Iraq. Members from within Australia's Assyrian community have criticised the federal government, saying it's taking too long to resettle refugees from Syria and Iraq. Only a handful of families of the 12,000 people Australia committed to taking late last year has actually arrived. Assyrians are a Christian minority group present in Iraq and Syria, as well as other surrounding countries, that has been targetted by forces of the so-called Islamic State. Members of Sydney's Assyrian community have met with local police in Sydney, during a gathering called "Coffee with a cop". During the catch up they share stories of relatives who are still displaced overseas, including in refugee camps. Evlin Berendro, an Assyrian Iraqi woman, arrived in Australia ten years ago. She says she is concerned about her son, who fled Islamic State advances in Iraq and is currently in Jordan. (Translated)"A mum obviously misses her children and wishes for all of them to be around her. So I pray for my children to be here so our family can be whole." Last year Australia said it would resettle 12,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq over a period of 18 months. But only a small number has arrived since December. Carman Lazar is from the support group known as the Assyrian Resource Centre, in Sydney. Ms Lazar says she has helped process almost 7,000 visa applications for community members' relatives from Iraq and Syria in the past year. And she says she remains in the dark about the fate of those families. "I'm annoyed and I'm upset. The community is frustrated and I'm frustrated, because getting 500, 600 emails a day and having over 150 people visiting me each day, you know it's a bit (of)frustrations. Why am I frustrated? Because I have no answer for them." Karim Saddek - who arrived in Australia as a refugee - says he's also waiting for a response to visa applications lodged for his family members more than a year ago. (Translated)"We've heard nothing, we have heard absolute nothing. You know, we're scared for our families and their children. There is no life left there for them, and they have no money. That's the problem." A spokesman for the Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has told SBS, the processing of refugees from Syria and Iraq will not be rushed. He says it will take time to identify those most in need and then carry out the appropriate checks before they come to Australia. The New South Wales Co-ordinator General for Refugee Resettlement is Professor Peter Shergold. He says the state is preparing for a significant refugee intake. "What we've got to make sure is through education, through adult migrant English, through work experience, through internships, through jobs, that people are really integrated into the labour migrant. We can help refugees who come here do what they want to do, which is take control of their own lives, be self reliant, get educated, get jobs, build businesses." Carmen Lazar is pleading with the federal government to speed up refugee assessments. "I plead the Government, on behalf of my community, to please lend a hand to these vulnerable people."
Syria's Assyrians Fight Back

( BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images) TAL HAMIS, Syria -- Johan Cosar sits on the floor of a cold, dark room with his knees pulled up to his chest, an AK-47 leaning casually against his leg. The electricity has cut out, but he is unconcerned. Sudden darkness is a regular occurrence in war-ravaged Syria.

Without lights, it is still possible to make out the checkered pattern of the blue and white scarf tied tightly around his head and the thick, dark stubble that covers his face. Directly above him on the dirtied wall, there's a reproduction tapestry of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, intricacy obscured by the darkness. He's a long way from home, but Cosar, who has been fighting in Syria for more than two years, now looks like he belongs on the front lines of Syria's civil war much more than he would in the Swiss city of St. Gallen, where he was raised by Assyrian Christian parents.

Cosar, 32, is the commander of the Martyr Obdar Company -- named after a fallen comrade -- and one of the founders of the Syriac Military Council, or MFS, after its name in the ancient Assyrian language. MFS is an Assyrian Christian militia, one of the countless battalions embroiled in Syria's four-year war. The MFS is the armed military wing of the Mesopotamia National Council (MUB), which represents the Assyrian people in Syria, who are based mainly in al-Hasakah province.

On Tuesday, Feb. 24, Islamic State militants advancing on al-Hasakah's southern border kidnapped between 70 and 100 Assyrian civilians from the village of Tal Shamiram. The kidnapping has captured the world's attention, in part due to the infamous brutality with which the Islamic State treats its captives. But it is only the latest horror in an ongoing battle between Assyrians and the Sunni jihadis.

Assyrians, an ethnic minority, represent one small faction of prewar Syria's 1.8 million Christian population. The Syrian government, to the exasperation of Assyrians, has never regarded the Assyrians as a separate ethnicity, instead classifying them as Arab, while Assyrians consider themselves a separate ethnic group with roots in the region dating back more than 4,000 years. Their identity is closely associated with Christianity, the faith Assyrians have followed since shortly after the religion's beginning. Historically oppressed and underrepresented in political life, the Assyrians in northern Syria have armed themselves in an effort to protect their identity amid the chaos of civil war.

"We cannot give a specific number of Assyrians that have fled, but it hasn't been a very large number of people, because Assyrians are a very small minority in Syria," says Rami Abdul Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in London, a leading group tracking refugee movement in Syria. "The only areas where Assyrians are left, even before the war, is in Hasakah province and small villages surrounding there."

A dozen men occupy the Obdar Company's makeshift barracks on the front line in Tal Hamis, a small town in the province of al-Hasakah. The MFS boasts 800 fighters -- a small player in the war -- yet it remains the only fighting group solely representing the Assyrian population on the battlefield. Working in tandem with the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), small groups of fighters are positioned across the front lines that hem off al-Hasakah from the rest of Syria's war.

But that doesn't mean that Cosar's men are only playing defense. Some members of his battalion participated in operations against the Islamic State in Sinjar in neighboring Iraq. By fighting alongside the YPG, which has firm control over al-Hasakah, Cosar believes he is securing Assyrians a spot in whatever political gains are made by the Kurds after the war.

The men in the barracks say they are motivated by the Islamic State's persecution of their fellow Christians. When the Islamic States takes a Christian village, its militants blow up churches and destroy houses.

Residents are given the choice to convert, die, or run. Instead, the MFS decided to fight back. Its bullets, however, are not just reserved for the Sunni extremists: The Syrian government is also a target, the young men in the barracks say.

Inside the barracks, a small diesel-powered heater in the corner warms the main room, filling the cramped, damp space with fumes. A dirty picture of the Virgin Mary sits in a plastic picture frame on a splintered shelf. The old house -- abandoned late last summer when Islamic State militants advanced into the province -- was retaken by the Assyrian militia last November. The men sit barefoot and cross-legged on mats, chain-smoking and ashing cigarettes in empty tuna cans. Their machine guns are never more than an arm's length away.

Cosar's parents are Assyrians from Turkey who moved to Switzerland before he was born. He left his home more than two and a half years ago to come to Syria as an aspiring journalist. He says he hoped to fill the information void left behind after media outlets started pulling reporters from the war as it became increasingly dangerous.

"I wanted to explain to European people outside what was really happening here because everyone talked about Syria but no one was actually in Syria," says Cosar.

"But when I came to Syria in the Rojava area [the autonomous Kurdish area], we had, of course, my people here too. I started looking at their lack of organization, so I began to give some tips to the Assyrian guys here on starting the militia, and that became my new role." Cosar had been a sergeant in the Swiss Army. Within six months, he found himself gun in hand, with a fledgling militia at his command.

As Cosar tells his story, fighters cross in and out of the room and hang their M6 and AK-47 rifles from the rusted pins that jut out of the crumbling walls. Above Cosar, the muffled sound of shuffling feet can be heard through the thin ceiling.

The feet belong to Matai Nazha, a 20-year-old fighter from Qamishli, a city near the border with Turkey that has a large Assyrian population. Positioned inside a crude shelter made of bricks and sandbags on the roof of the barracks, Nazha stares out and struggles to see through a thick curtain of fog and rain. The Islamic State's fighters are only about a mile away; Nazha's job is to keep watch.

From Nazha's position, a ransacked church is visible a few hundred meters away. "The Islamic State" is scribbled in Arabic on one of the church's walls, pockmarked with bullet holes. The roof is destroyed, blown up by the retreating jihadis when a joint force of YPG and MFS fighters took back the church and surrounding area from the Islamic State last November.

Nazha, a young Assyrian with no previous battle history, was among the fighters who repelled the Islamic State. Crouching behind soggy sandbags, below a corrugated metal sheet that provides little cover, Nazha scours the land beyond the ruined church. The blue, white, and red flag of MFS, ripped and dirtied, flaps in the winter wind, somehow hanging onto a pole that has been shoved into the mounds of dirt used as cover from Islamic State sniper fire.

"For me, I just want the Islamic State to know that despite how many people they kill, bomb our churches, we are Assyrian Christians, we will never leave our people here or our country," Nazha says.

Back inside, the electricity has returned momentarily. Two flickering bulbs illuminate the room. The tapestry of The Last Supper can be made out in full. Cosar says he never imagined he'd become a militiaman in the bloody Syrian civil war, but six months into his trip he realized that his people, the Assyrians, were under threat and were going to need a fighting force.

The Kurds inspired him. "I thought, 'OK, the Kurdish people they moved -- they moved to fight for something in this new Syria,'" Cosar says. He sits up straighter when he begins to describe his plans for Assyrians in the region. "We are not fighting to defend only our religion; we are trying to take back again our identity in this new Syria we are building."

While the Kurds are largely leading Rojava's struggle toward independence, the Assyrians want to be included and represented in the final outcome. By helping the Kurds secure and defend the region, they believe they are guaranteeing themselves a place at the table.

While most of Syria's territories have been carved out in the fight along ethnic and sectarian lines, the struggle for al-Hasakah seems to be a fight for unity and inclusion of those who are willing to defend the small province. MFS fighters say their fight is to defend their homeland, but not just for their people. All are in agreement that they fight for all people -- Muslim or Christian, Arab, Kurd, or Assyrian -- who call al-Hasakah province and Rojava home. They say the aim is for every group to have equal rights and representation in the province. "I am not a religious guy," Cosar continues. "And no one here [in the MFS] is fighting for religion."
Christians Must Be Represented in Syrian Peace Talks

Syrian peace talks have resumed this week in Geneva. In Washington, the House of Representatives has unanimously approved a resolution declaring the Islamic State to have perpetrated genocide on Christians and other religious minorities in Syria and Iraq. In Moscow, Vladimir Putin has announced the partial withdrawal of Russian combat forces from Syria. This is a time of promise for a region accustomed to despair. Russia's reduction of combat capabilities is particularly significant for the Geneva peace talks, giving Syrian President Bashar Assad encouragement to negotiate toward a transition regime, knowing Russian support will not be available in perpetuity (Putin avoiding America's Vietnam and Russia's Afghanistan debacles). Participating in the Geneva talks, sponsored by the United Nations, are representatives of the Assad government and of the non-extremist elements of the anti-Assad opposition. These talks are intended not only concretize the cease-fire currently in place, but also to draft a new constitution and to implement national elections next year. In short, to create a new Syria. No people have more at stake in the outcome of these peace talks than the one million Christians remaining in that country. Christians, along with other religious minorities, will be the most vulnerable to a bad outcome of the Geneva negotiations. Failure to put in place a pluralistic government of national unity with durable guarantees for the safety of religious minorities will mean a Syria from which Christians are simply eradicated -- either killed or expelled. And yet, Christians are unrepresented in the talks. There is no party to the negotiations which can speak on behalf of the interests of the Christians. Why? Because Christians are not belligerents in the civil war; they are neither government nor opposition. Christians are being excluded from the peace talks because they aren't trying to kill anyone. This is why we have delivered to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, a petition signed by 37,500 concerned citizens of many nations, bringing to the attention of United Nations officials the dangers faced by Syria's remaining Christians, and the need for their representation in Geneva. The reason for the precariousness of the Christian situation in Syria is simple: there is no opposition group fighting the Assad regime which, if in power, would tolerate the presence of Christians and respect their rights to live in peace and practice their faith. Even the opposition groups backed by the United States have shown a reckless disregard for the safety and dignity of Christians. Just look at the photographs of the desolate Christian neighborhood of old Homs, gratuitously razed by the retreating Free Syrian Army two years ago. One bishop told us, "The difference between moderates and extremists is that extremists will kill you and take your house; the moderates will take your house, but let you live." Unfavorable outcomes of the peace talks from the Christian perspective include either a government dominated by unmoderated opposition forces intolerant of religious minorities, or a government too weak to defend itself from the extremist opposition forces of the al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State, neither of which are party to the talks. The extremists have been excluded from the current negotiations -- but that does not mean they won't continue to seek control of the nation. Events in world have forced the great nations to seek with some urgency a resolution of the Syrian civil war. It began in March 2011; it has killed 250,000, driven 4.4 million out of the country, and made homeless another 6.6 million within Syria. The Christian population of Syria before the war was roughly two million, now half that number. The richness of Syrian Christianity will make it difficult for Christians to be represented with one voice. The Christian Church in Syria is principally administered by the five Patriarchs of Antioch, successors of Saints Peter and Paul. These five patriarchs lead the Greek-Orthodox Church of Antioch, the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, the Maronite Catholic Church, and the Syriac Catholic Church (the latter three are in communion with Rome). Other Christian churches with a significant presence in Syria are: the Chaldean Catholic Church, the Assyrian Church of the East, the Armenian Catholic Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East. But if Saudi Arabia was able to bring 100 opposition figures together in Riyadh late last year to agree on the structure of their representation at the talks, then the same can be accomplished by the disparate Christian communities. Diversity must not be an excuse to deny Christians their voice in designing tomorrow's Syria.
March 11, 2016

CAIRO  Following years of disorder and neglect at Cairos great pyramids, Egypt is launching a renovation program to make the area safer, cleaner and easier to navigate for tourists, and more secure for its archaeological treasures.

Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Mamdouh al-Damaty has called on Queen, a national service company affiliated with the armed forces, to develop and renovate the site. A ministry official said the company has already visited the site numerous times in preparation and plans to begin work this month.

The source said the ministry has yet to declare the cost of the project, noting that the contract will be renewed annually.

Tourists have complained about vandalism and say they face harassment from persistent vendors peddling souvenirs. Videos posted online in early February show undercover footage of people stealing stones from the plateau to sell.

However, the rock stealing wasnt the most talked-about story to emerge concerning the pyramids. That title goes to Cuban pornographic actress Carmen De Luzs visit to the pyramids, which made the rounds last year on social media. After she posted racy images of herself touring the ancient site, rumors emerged that she had shot an adult film there, which she denied.

Archaeologist Mohammad Rihan told Al-Monitor that stopping breaches and violations would accelerate the development process. The project will include an aesthetic wall contouring the archaeological site, surveillance towers, pathways for visitors and shuttle buses.

In mid-January, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with the ministers of housing, utilities, urban communities, tourism and antiquities, in the presence of the heads of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority and the Urban Planning Commission, as well as Ibrahim Mahlab, the presidential assistant for national and strategic projects. The group discussed ways of developing the area to enhance the services provided to visitors and tourists.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Antiquities last month, the company will install power generators and electrical connections to light the archaeological area and Zaheer Sahrawi (a desert corridor adjacent to the Nile Valley), and pave the inner and outer roads of the corridor. The contract calls for Queen to install steel gates at the entrances of the Dawab and Abu Owayan tomb areas, set up 100 signboards and enhance internals roads.

The development will include information desks at the entrances of the Mina House and Sphinx hotels, 50 portable and fixed toilets, and surveillance enhancements for police to monitor the Faiyum pyramid area and the Zaheer Sahrawi streets.

The Giza Plateau will receive a comprehensive infrared security system, along the lines of the system in the Temple of Luxor, in addition to surveillance cameras to cover the entire region.

According to a study carried out by the Ministry of Tourism in December, 58% of tourists polled said the area isnt safe, while 70% said it is unclean and 74% cited a lack of clear signage.

The study said the pyramids area needs further development and enhancements to improve existing services, and signs to provide directions and other information and prohibit littering. It stressed that improving security will help limit harassment and begging.

Tourists visiting the pyramids face a number of annoyances, Eric Schenck, a young American living in Egypt, confirmed. He told Al-Monitor that during his second visit to the site, he noticed a number of drawbacks, in particular pushy vendors peddling goods.

Schenck also said that the process for entering the site was very disorganized. He visited on a Friday, part of the weekend in Egypt, and the area was packed with tourists, including schoolchildren on field trips. In his view, the site wasnt equipped to handle such a large number of visitors.

He recounted his first visit to the pyramids, coming alone just days after arriving in Egypt. It was a bad experience and I felt threatened just being there. I also felt that I was being duped, paying more than I should have for everything.

Commenting on the sound and light show that is held at the pyramids at night, Schenck said it was very boring, used low-level technology not befitting of the location, and didnt live up to the advertising.

The American tourist also said the pyramids site needs more restaurants, so that visitors can eat before entering, and doesnt have enough bathrooms.

According to the Ministry of Antiquities, the pyramid development project started in 2008 and was suspended in 2011 due to the revolution.

The development budget then was estimated at about 350 million Egyptian pounds ($45 million). The Ministry of Tourism had allocated 20 million pounds toward the effort.

Mohammad al-Attar, an official at the pyramids media center, told Al-Monitor the first phase of the plan that had already been adopted by the Ministry of Antiquities before the revolution will be completed in April with the inauguration of the visitors center. This center will be equipped with TV screens displaying documentaries on the history of the region and its archaeological sites.
March 16, 2016

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  The stories of war are not the only tragic stories unfolding in the Gaza Strip; there are other kinds of tragedies taking place there and all around the world. These are the stories of children of unknown parentage.

Yara (a pseudonym), 16, is one of 18 children with unknown parentage who grew up in the Mabarra al-Rahma Charitable Center in Gaza City. She was very excited to show her drawings to Al-Monitor, and we took care not to discuss sensitive subjects to avoid upsetting her.

When Yara left, Khouloud Ghanem, the director of the dormitories, told Al-Monitor, She was a brilliant student, until one day, one of her classmates whispered in her ear asking her if she was an illegitimate child. Usually nobody at school, except the principal, knows the truth, but some people who live in the area know that these children live in the center. That's how news spreads like fire.

She explained that the older these children get, the more questions they start asking about their parents and the reason they live in the center. Hence, the truth has to be handed to them at some point.

Ghanem said that Yaras life turned upside down after her classmate had confronted her; her school performance started to decline and she began losing focus during classes.

In a room not far from the administration office, 18-month-old Iyas sleeps in his bed. An adoptive family has not been found for him, since he suffers from impaired vision caused by cerebral atrophy. He spends most of his time asleep and plays only with rattles.

Hazem al-Enezi, vice-chairman of Mabarra al-Rahma, told Al-Monitor that these children are socially stigmatized and considered shameful. This unjust image affects them even as grownups, and stands as a major obstacle to their integration in society and prevents them from having careers or finding a life partner, he said.

He added, About 173 newborns of unknown parentage have been admitted to the center since its establishment in 1993. These children were conceived through illegitimate sexual relations and handed over [to the center] by official authorities such as the police. Of these children, 152 were adopted by families in Gaza and 18 stayed at the center. Some of them died once they reached the center because they got sick due to wounds they suffered from being left on the street or due to the cold or attacks from stray animals.

Attia Ibrahim, 37, sought a year ago to adopt 18-month-old baby girl Janet (a pseudonym). Yet he faced numerous legal obstacles because of the official papers required for registering Janet in his name.

During an interview with Al-Monitor at his home in the southern Gaza Strip, he said, I fell in love with her as soon as I saw her; many babies were more beautiful than her, but I stayed up all night with my wife thinking about her and picturing how we would take care of her. It took us two months before we were able to adopt her and bring her to our home.

Ibrahim added, I have been married for 10 years, and my wife and I were unable to conceive. My wife was very sad, but when Janet became part of our family, she changed our life and filled it with happiness.

Janet seems happy with her red dress. She moves from couch to couch in the living room, holding anything she sets her eyes on. She sits in her mothers lap, then suddenly starts chasing the cat.

In June 2012, the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) approved an amended civil status draft law on second reading. The law is related to allowing the foster family to add the word Mawla (meaning, under the guardianship) after the childs name. For instance, Janets name would be Janet Mawla Attia Ibrahim.

The reason for this is that Sharia forbids adoption. As a result, the adopted child remains in the foster familys care without holding its name. Before this amendment, the adopted children held fabricated family names different from those of the foster families, which caused many problems.

Al-Monitor met with Umm Ahmad at her home in the Gaza Strip. She said, I adopted my daughter Sanaa from Mabarra al-Rahma when she was 10 months old. She is now 10 years old and until 2012 she still held a birth certificate with a fake family name. She is very smart. She used to ask me why her fathers written name [in her official papers] was different than that of her real father.

Sanaa (a pseudonym) does not know she is adopted, and "Mawla" appears in her full name. She still asks questions related to her name. Umm Ahmad said, We ended up referring the case to the court, and she took my husbands name. She now asks me why her fathers name is preceded by Mawla, unlike her siblings' names.

Umm Ahmad adopted Sanaa after 14 years of struggling with infertility. Then a year and a half after the adoption, she got pregnant with twins. But she does not differentiate between her three daughters and loves them equally.

Wearing her school uniform and putting a white band in her hair, Sanaa told Al-Monitor enthusiastically, I finally have a room of my own, separate from my sisters. We always fight over the remote control and the channels we want to watch.

In regard to the adoption process, Enezi said that the parents applying for adoption should be married for more than 10 years, and they should be well-off and unable to conceive. Mabarra al-Rahma follows up on the adopted children through regular visits. There are around 700 applications from couples who want to adopt children. This is a large number. Priority is given according to fulfillment of the requirements and the familys real desire to adopt. Then a specialized committee convenes to take a decision in coordination with governmental parties, he said.

Although the Gaza Strip is a conservative society, there are children with unknown parentage. Psychologist Zahia al-Qura told Al-Monitor, Forbidden relations are found in all societies and illegitimate children are a natural consequence. This has nothing to do with the nature of society in Gaza, but this issue is a taboo that cannot be addressed openly.

She said that the younger generation receives insufficient sexual education and relies on getting information from peers and the Internet. Education on issues such as this should be addressed in the classroom.

Umm Ahmad is concerned about Sanaa and her twin daughters, not only because of the living conditions and threats of war in the Gaza Strip, but also because she knows that the time will come when she will have to tell Sanaa that she is adopted. She does not know how her twin daughters will react.

Society is tough on these children and considers them shameful. But my adopted daughter has been the joy and love of my life. After adopting Sanaa we have experienced nothing but happiness, Umm Ahmad said.
March 15, 2016

Congress has a message for Russian arms dealers eyeing Iran: Forget about it.

Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., wants to force the Obama administration to harshly deal with any conventional arms transfers to Tehran. The move is part of a three-pronged sanctions strategy that would also renew the expiring Iran Sanctions Act and punish Iran for its recent ballistic missile launches.

In the event there are violations, the snap-back provisions that are a part of the [nuclear] agreement mean that there has to be something to snap back to, Corker told Voice of America last week. So extending that, dealing with conventional weapons and dealing with ballistic missiles are three areas that I think we have a possibility of reaching consensus on.

While those missiles have received most of the attention, recent reports that Russia is considering selling Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets and military helicopters have also drawn congressional ire. Under the nuclear deal with Iran, such weapons transfers remain prohibited for five years unless authorized by the UN Security Council, but Corker is worried that the current administration may be reluctant to harshly punish such violations to avoid undermining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Russia is getting ready to sell, or has announced that they're going to sell, Su-30s, Corker told Al-Monitor. Hopefully it's not going to occur, but we're trying to do what we can to prevent that kind of thing from occurring.

The Russian Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.

The chairman is working with ranking member Ben Cardin, D-Md., and other lawmakers on the sanctions package, but few have expressed public support for targeting conventional weapons transfers. One exception is Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., who is cooperating with Corker on his bill while also eyeing a potential broader effort.

Sen. Menendez supports the idea, a Menendez aide told Al-Monitor, albeit he is studying the possibility of doing a separate comprehensive legislative proposal to encompass missiles and terrorism, plus much more.

The House Foreign Affairs panel is also working on legislation.

I think that any entity, any country that is circumventing the ban on selling weapons to Iran ought to be sanctioned, the top Democrat on the panel, Rep. Eliot Engel, told Al-Monitor. My gut is that we need to punish Iran for its ballistic missile nonsense and also punish whatever entities try to sell them weapons, which I think is a direct violation of the JCPOA.

Corker's concerns date back to last year's debate over the nuclear deal, when he repeatedly raised concerns that Iran would be free to wreak havoc in the region once sanctions are lifted.

For some unknown reason, Corker told a home-state newspaper last summer, the administration thought it was sensible to remove the conventional weapons ban in five years, the ballistic missile technology embargo in eight years and immediately lift the ban on ballistic missile testing.

The congressional push gained new momentum this week after Russia announced that it believes the UN Security Council resolution that implements the JCPOA  UNSCR 2231  removes the previous ban on missile testing. The Obama administration rejects that interpretation, but veto-wielding Russia is unlikely to go along with sanctions.

Likewise, UNSCR 2231 contains language on arms sales that has some lawmakers scratching their heads. Instead of the blanket ban on conventional weapons transfers called for under Security Council Resolution 1929 of 2010, the new UN resolution allows such transfers to go forward unless the Security Council objects.

The resolution was drafted/structured in a way to appeal to Iran's sensitivities, while at the same time imposing clear obligations with respect to certain prohibited transfers, a US official told Al-Monitor. Iran felt that blanket bans didn't look good and were too reminiscent of the Security Council's previous approach to the Iran nuclear issue. We were willing to accommodate this in our drafting, provided that the UNSCR [United Nations Security Council Resolution] still imposed clear and legally binding measures and that no arms transfer could be approved without US agreement.

The United States is highly unlikely to approve such transfers, the source added.

The United States has no plans to sell Iran any weapons systems, the source said. Given Iran's support to terrorism, [Syrian President Bashar al-]Assad's war against the Syrian people and violence by extremist groups, we cannot imagine any situation in the foreseeable future in which we would approve any shipment of arms to or from Iran.

The conventional weapons language says Security Council approval is needed for member states to participate in and permit the supply, sale or transfer of conventional weapons to Iran. Some observers are concerned that Russia may sign arms sales deals with Iran in the near future with the caveat that they wouldn't be delivered until the weapons ban is lifted in five years.

Corker wasn't ready to conclude that such an unapproved sale, without a subsequent transfer, would by itself violate the UN resolution. He did however express concern that the Obama administration might be too keen to give Iran a pass.

Of course the State Department would think that would be fine, he said. Why do you think Congress is attempting to take action here?
March 15, 2016

TEHRAN, Iran  Mohammad Bagher Nobakht, head of the Management and Planning Organization (MPO), warned March 6 that Iran has five years to address the underfunding of its pension system or face a major crisis. It is not the first time this alarm has been sounded.

Concerns about the looming pension crisis first surfaced in the early 2000s. At the request of the MPO, the World Bank prepared an in-depth report in 2003 that recommended necessary steps for implementing a reformed pension program. The matter remained unaddressed for more than a decade, however, largely due to macroeconomic mismanagement and the imposition of intensified nuclear-related sanctions between 2010 and 2015.

Of the 22 pension funds currently operating in Iran, only a few have a reasonable potential support ratio  that is, the number of people aged 15-64 per person aged 65 or above. According to Iran's leading economic daily, Donya-e Eqtesad, the support ratio for the Social Security Organization (SSO), the country's largest pension fund, hovers around 6.1. The ratio for the Farmers, Villagers and Nomads Social Insurance Fund is 29.1, and for the Attorneys Protection Fund it stands at 38.5. The rest of the funds are either insolvent or on the verge of bankruptcy, including the Civil Servants Retirement Organization (CSRO), the countrys second largest fund.

Mahmoud Eslamian, head of the CSRO, says his organization does a breathtaking job every month to pay pensions to 1.26 million retired civil servants. Given that there are only 1.15 million working contributors to the fund, its support ratio is currently lower than 1. As a result, up to 76% of the financing required for pension payments come from government sources, Eslamian remarked recently in an interview with the business magazine Tejarat-e Farda.

The decisions made by former administrations and parliaments in the past four decades created 4.1 quadrillion rial ($135.6 billion) worth of financial burden for the CSRO, he argued. For example, the previous administration, headed by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, interfered with how the organization calculates pensions payable to retirees, but never made contributions in exchange for the commitments it imposed on the CSRO, Eslamian said.

There are several other pension funds in dire straits. According to Donya-e Eqtesad, the Armed Forces Social Security Organization has a potential support ratio of 0.89. The figure for the Oil Pension Fund Investment Company stands at 1.4, for the Ports and Maritime Organizations Pension Fund at 0.62, and for the Banks Pension Fund (BPF) at 1.6.

The low support ratios, which vividly portray the heavy burden put on the working population by the non-working elderly, have caused deep concern within President Hassan Rouhani's administration about the future of Irans pension system. This is particularly so because in 35 years, Iran will no longer have a youthful population. According to data from the United Nations Population Fund, the potential support ratio in Iran will be 2.7 by 2050, a drop from 14.29 in 2000. This trajectory will put overwhelming pressure on future government budgets.

Eslamian believes structural reform could address these problems and enable his organization to bounce back to life in the long run. According to him, the latter could be achieved if the government pays its debts to pension funds and stops interfering in their affairs.

Of note, government debt to pension funds hovers around 1.5 quadrillion rials ($45.3 billion), including 1 quadrillion rials ($30 billion) owed to the SSO alone. This sum should be added to the commitments Eslamian says previous administrations have imposed on pension funds.

Eslamian also urges policymakers to gradually increase the retirement age. Pension experts say the current average retirement age, which hovers around 52 years, must be raised, because life expectancy has significantly increased in past years. World Bank data show that in Iran life expectancy rose from 60 years in 1981 to 76 years in 2013.

Esmail Gorjipour, a senior pension expert with the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare, has criticized previous administrations' pension policies, arguing that they have led to an effective decrease in the retirement age. He suggests that the retirement age be raised by 12 to 13 years.

The majority of Iranians who retire in their 50s are of an age to be recruited again for work. Thus, the number of jobseekers continues to rise while the governments ability to create more employment opportunities remains underdeveloped. The Rouhani administration claims that it has proposed solutions to the problems of the pension system in the sixth five-year economic development plan (2016-2021), now being reviewed in parliament. It is not yet clear whether Rouhani has also considered a mechanism to supervise the performance of pension funds under the five-year plan, which is said to focus on the looming water, environmental and pension crises.

Hossein Abdoh Tabrizi, a financial expert and senior adviser to the minister of roads and urban development, said on Iranian state television last month that the pension funds have not been supervised in the past three decades, even though they have freely been managing public coffers.

Indeed, in the recent past, pension funds have been competing with one another to buy state companies during the privatization drive that kicked off in 2008. The problem has been that these funds, and the companies in which they have bought shares, have remained under the management of people directly appointed by the government. Hence, these privatized companies are effectively still under state management, but with no oversight of their performance.

Abdoh Tabrizi says strong supervision and regular appraisals would help improve the performance of pension funds and their subsidiaries alike. In the end, pursuing genuine privatization appears to be the most effective means of helping address the current problems faced by the pension funds, with most experts also urging a higher retirement age.
March 16, 2016

The official position of Iranian and Russian officials regarding Russias sudden decision to partially withdraw troops from Syria has been that Russia's objectives have been achieved and the move will allow the political process between the Syrian sides to be successful. Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, is the latest Iranian official to address the withdrawal, saying March 16, The withdrawal of Russia from Syria was based on predetermined coordination and plans and in no way was it unexpected. However, not everyone in the Iranian media is buying the official explanations.

One of the more critical articles of the Russian withdrawal appeared in Reformist Arman Daily, headlined, Russia was not a strategic partner. Russia analyst Morteza Makki wrote that the withdrawal can be seen as an agreement between Russia and the United States for the establishment of a cease-fire  and a new political process. Makki continued that it is natural for two negotiating sides to apply pressure on their allies, but not with such speed that it would surprise everyone.

Makki wrote that despite Zarifs positive statement on the withdrawal, this quick and surprising decision by Russia shows that Iran and Russias partnership in Syria was not a strategic partnership. The Russians make decisions based on their own calculations and interests, and the partnership was not such that Iran and Syria would be able to push forward with their views and positions by leaning on the Russians.

Makki continued that it is possible Russias decision was made to force President Bashar al-Assads government to show flexibility in the Geneva negotiations, saying that in their recent statements, the Syrians have been very optimistic and have presented red lines regarding Assads departure. Even conservative media outlets have suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin was angered by Syrian officials' comments ahead of the negotiations in Geneva.

When it comes to Syria, the Iranian media has typically been keen to conform to the statements of officials. To see an article suggest that the official version presented by authorities is hiding key points is rare indeed. Most Iranian media outlets have parroted official positions on the Russian withdrawal, but they, too, have struggled to explain it. Even Iran Newspaper, which operates under the administration's direction, called the withdrawal surprising.

The hard-line Yalasarat, Ansar-e Hezbollah's weekly publication, reported that Russias withdrawal was even more surprising than its entrance into the Syrian civil war. The article offered its own explanation for Russias withdrawal, suggesting that Moscow had four objectives: to strengthen Assads position, to show Russia's military power, to weaken the Syrian opposition and to influence Western positions on sanctions, Ukraine and NATO expansion. The article claimed that the first three objectives were achieved to a large degree and Russians decision was made to show the Syrian opposition its good intentions and also to force Assad to show more flexibility in the negotiations. It is rumored that Russia also presented a proposal for a new constitution.

The article warned that while the opposition thinks Russia is abandoning Syria, they are completely wrong, and While the Russian [jets] are leaving Syria, their [bases] are still there and they can easily return. Russias involvement in Syria, the piece pointed out, is only six months old, while the war has lasted five years and Russia wants to see an end.

Most Iranian media organizations seem to believe a resolution is still far off. Makki wrote that at best, Syria is looking at a short-term semi-cease-fire and an eventual federation. Yalasarat reported that regardless of the talks and Russias partial withdrawal, for various reasons, the Syrian crisis is unlikely to end before 2020.
March 16, 2016

BAGHDAD  With Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi thought to be working on reforms that include the formation of a technocratic Cabinet, the issue of proxy appointments is back in the spotlight. For more than a decade, Iraqi government institutions have been run by proxy, with the prime minister appointing officials in acting capacities to lead government bodies, independent commissions and military commands because of parliament's failure to vote on candidates due to political disagreements over the distribution of positions.

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Hamdia al-Husseini, a member of the parliament's legal committee, explained, Acting officials include undersecretaries and independent commission heads, like at the Central Bank and integrity and intelligence commissions, as well as military commanders and other senior officials. They hold over 80% of the posts at government bodies, especially at the Ministries of Defense and Interior, in addition to security bodies and other important Iraqi official institutions.

Husseini added, Appointment by proxy contradicts the constitution and the Civil Code of 1960 prohibiting acting officials from holding their post for more than one annual term. She also noted, The issue of acting officials, whether in the Cabinet or the rest of the government institutions, is a critical one, because their decisions are not constitutional. Their appointment is not subject to any legal standards, as acting officials cannot be legally held accountable because they were appointed by the prime minister, not the parliament as per the constitution.

The problem of appointment by proxy will likely be resolved as part of the new Cabinet reforms Prime Minister Abadi is seeking to implement in addition to the formation of a technocratic Cabinet, Husseini surmised. It is illogical to implement political reforms and form a professional Cabinet while most undersecretaries and director generals are being appointed without parliamentary approval as stipulated by the constitution.

Zaher Khatouni, a member of the Iraqi National Forces Alliance, spoke to Alforat News on Feb. 13 about the need to select the new ministers on the basis of professionalism, stressing that the issue of appointment by proxy should be settled.

In a Feb. 28 statement, Kamel al-Zaidi, a member of the State of Law Coalition, said, [We] will force the Iraqi parliament to urge the Cabinet to settle the issue of acting officials and replace them with qualified individuals. He explained, The problem of appointment by proxy arose as a result of the rivalry between political parties contesting these posts. In one example of the issue, according to the Iraqi Commission of Integrity, 3,200 director general positions have been filled by acting appointments and without regard to the law limiting their tenure to one year.

Mohsen Saadoun, a member of the parliamentary legal committee and the Kurdistan Alliance, told Al-Monitor, The delay in resolving the problem is due to the inactivation of the parliamentary committee [to achieve national] balance, tasked with settling the issue of acting officials since 2005. But in February, the committee was able to hold several meetings, and it expects to find a final solution for the problem during March, to end the assignment of government employees by proxy by agreeing on allocating the higher ranks among the parliamentary parties that represent the Iraqi people and vote for them in parliament. The committee had been formed during the legislature's first session in 2005 with the goal of distributing government appointments as well as military commands in accordance with the social components of the Iraqi people  Arab Shiites and Sunnis, Kurds, Christians, Turkmens and so on  and their parliamentary representation.

The results of the general elections determine each political partys share of government posts in a fair manner without marginalizing any party when it comes to leadership and decision-making, Saadoun claimed. Taking the election results into consideration does not imply sectarian or racial quotas with respect to distributing posts or adopting a technocracy, for each parliamentary bloc can nominate several qualified figures for each government post before the prime minister selects one among them.

In regard to the larger issue, Yasin Bakri, a political science professor at Nahrain University, told Al-Monitor, The suspension of Article 61 of the Iraqi Constitution has been intentional over the past few years, ever since the constitution was adopted in 2005 until now. The prime ministers who were in office have been trying to control all aspects of the state by overriding parliamentary powers in terms of appointing senior public officials.

According to Article 61, the parliament must approve the appointment of the president and members of the Federal Court of Cassation, chief public prosecutor and the president of Judicial Oversight Commission, ambassadors, the army chief of staff and his assistants, division commanders and ranks above and the director of the intelligence service.

Just as the parliament approves the appointment of state senior officials, independent commission heads and military commanders, it must also approve their dismissal; therefore, the prime minister has limited powers over the members of parliament, Bakri said. In the event of the prime minister appointing senior officials by proxy, as is the case now, their dismissal is also the responsibility of the prime minister. For this reason, the latter may extort and control them, in his attempt to impose a dictatorship. However, resolving the problem of acting officials by ending the prime ministers control and monopoly over the activities of government institutions will not eradicate the sectarian and party quota system in force since 2003.

Finding a solution to the issue of acting senior officials will not be easy. The implementation of the constitution, including the parliament's power to approve candidates for senior positions, will be colored by the sectarian quota system, like the distribution of Cabinet portfolios, despite that average Iraqis as well as elites are opposed to this type of approach.
March 15, 2016

RAMALLAH, West Bank  Hamas leaders on Feb. 25 announced significant progress on Israeli-Turkish reconciliation negotiations, especially on a proposed floating harbor off the Gaza Strip. The negotiations have inspired optimism in the Hamas movement, but the harbor proposal evokes quite a different reaction from the Palestinian Authority (PA).

On Feb. 29, the Israeli Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said a joint Turkish-Israeli statement would be issued about the offshore harbor within days. The news angered the Fatah-controlled PA, which governs the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank. However, a statement has yet to be issued as negotiations continue.

The PA rejects the negotiations between Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus representative Joseph Ciechanover and acting Israeli National Security adviser Jacob Nagel.

The negotiations are designed to finalize a reconciliation agreement between the two countries, whose relationship deteriorated when the Israeli army attacked the Turkish Mavi Marmara ship off the coast of the Gaza Strip in 2010.

During the negotiations, Turkey raised three conditions for normalization of relations: a public apology for the 2010 attack, financial compensation for its victims and a lift of the blockade Israel has imposed on Gaza.

Based on the positions of Palestinian officials from the PA and PLO factions, it seems that these Palestinians have been infuriated by these negotiations, which started in December without any coordination with the PA or the PLO. They fear that the talks could be a step toward Turkish supervision of the Gaza Strip through Turkish-Israeli security and economic understandings and could further entrench the divide between the West Bank and the Strip.

One idea for creating a floating harbor off the Gaza Strip was raised by Israeli Minister of Transport Yisrael Katz on July 24, 2014. The idea consisted of constructing an artificial island 4.5 kilometers (almost 3 miles) off the coast of Gaza with port and power facilities and an airport to transport goods into the Gaza Strip. The island was to be linked to Gaza by a bridge with a checkpoint, and the bridge was to be used to transmit electricity and allow the transportation of water, goods and persons. The project was supposed to be subject to international control and supervision, provided that Israel handled maritime security, as well as port inspections.

The floating harbor would be served by a Turkish Cyprus port, some 250 miles or more away.

Azzam al-Ahmad, a Fatah Central Committee member and head of the Fatah reconciliation delegation, told Al-Monitor, President Mahmoud Abbas and the concerned Palestinian authorities tried to inquire of the Turkish side about the Turkish position on this matter, but we have not received any response yet.

On Turkey's role in the harbor negotiations, Ahmad said, The mediations from outside the framework of the PA are unacceptable, since they consecrate division. Turkey or any other country is not entitled to negotiate with Israel on any part of our country. The legitimate Palestinian leadership did not ask Turkey to intervene and negotiate on our behalf.

As the PA lacks any legal parameters to confront the issue of this port, it is relying on political and diplomatic efforts to obstruct the project.

Many factors are worrying the PA, including its concerns over the potential for Turkish administration of Gaza. That move could be seen as support for the internal divide separating the Gaza Strip from the West Bank by establishing a maritime route to Gaza that is not under the PAs control. For the PLO, Turkeys proposed floating harbor is less than what it would have gained in the Oslo Accord signed with Israel on Sept. 13, 1993. Article 7(d) of the accord specified that in order to enable the [self-government] council to promote economic growth, upon its inauguration, the council will establish, among other things, a Palestinian Electricity Authority and a Gaza Sea Port Authority.

Ahmad said, Gazas international airport and the [uncompleted] seaport project fall within the Palestinians' rights by virtue of the signed agreements between the PLO and Israel. These rights may not be renounced, and new negotiations undermining these rights must not be held. This is our right and we will not waive it.

He said the joint Palestinian delegation he headed, which held indirect negotiations on a truce in the Gaza Strip with Israel brokered by Egypt after the war on Gaza in 2014, refused to include the seaport and airport on the agenda of the negotiations since they are rights that are not supposed to be subject to negotiations.

In an official statement March 1, Hamas denounced the position of the PA and Fatah and their refusal to set up a floating harbor in the Gaza Strip.

Ziad al-Zaza, a member of Hamas political bureau and an adviser to Ismail Haniyeh, former prime minister of the PA, told Al-Monitor, The PAs position is not a patriotic position, since the port of Gaza would be for all of Palestine and not for Gaza only. It aims to break the siege on the Gaza Strip. Whoever refuses Gazas port or airport would be further consecrating the siege.

He added, "We do not have the details on the negotiations. When the negotiations are done and a deal is reached, we will peruse and discuss the details since we are not a negotiating party. We call upon the world to help lift the siege on Gaza and we reproach anyone who acts to the contrary.

Egypt also rejects the idea of creating a floating harbor in the Gaza Strip, and its stance represents a pressure card that could foil the project.

Writer and political analyst Mustafa Sawaf told Al-Monitor, The Egyptian refusal of the floating harbor project stems from Egypt's desire to keep its hands on the Palestinian issue and to keep any other party from interfering, especially Turkey, in light of the feud between them.

The PLO factions expressed their concerns over the project. Kayed al-Ghoul, a member of the political bureau of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, told Al-Monitor, This project entrenches the separation between the West Bank and Gaza and encourages Israel to propose the idea of turning the Gaza Strip into an independent Palestinian entity as part of a regional solution, away from the West Bank.

On Turkey's role, Ghoul said, Turkey wants to justify the normalization of relations with Israel by easing the blockade on Gaza, which will enhance its influence over Palestinian affairs. Turkey is well aware of the central importance of the [Palestinian cause] for the Arab peoples. This may be part of its conflict with Egypt, which accords a significant importance to the Gaza Strip.

Walid al-Awad, member of the Political Bureau of the Palestinian People's Party, told Al-Monitor, Turkey and Israel are negotiating on replacing previous agreements and achievements, such as the Gaza International Airport, with less-favorable agreements that may turn Gaza into a Turkish-governed region, since the floating harbor would be linked to Turkish Cyprus and would be under the protection of NATO and Israels control.

Awad added that Turkeys negotiations with Israel without Palestinian input suggest that Turkish leaders  who believe the Palestinian people have no representative  are revisiting the idea of Ottoman tutelage and are negotiating on behalf of the PA without any prior consultations.

Palestinians fear that as long as they remain unable to end their divisions, form a national unity government ruling over the West Bank and Gaza Strip and hold elections, Palestine will remain a magnet for political and economic projects for all countries aspiring to increase their influence in the region.
March 16, 2016

When US Vice President Joe Biden, in the course of his meeting with the Palestinian president, proposed renewing negotiations with Israel on March 9, Mahmoud Abbas broke out in a wide smile. He didnt want to make Biden feel bad, so his smile didnt turn into a big laugh, a source close to the chairmans office told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity.

Abbas, who was pushed to the corner three years ago and forced to hold negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the initiative of US Secretary of State John Kerry, now understands that his rival has no real intention to advance a diplomatic solution, now or ever, and also grasps his own political situation. To take dramatic diplomatic steps, a leader needs not only initiative, honesty and trust between the two sides, but also political strength at home.

Biden traveled to meet Abbas in Ramallah a day after the attack in Jaffa in which American citizen Taylor Force was murdered. Biden succeeded in extracting a condemnation of the murderous rampage from the president, but Abbas also asserted that Netanyahus refusal to advance a diplomatic process had led to this situation and that the Palestinian Authority makes enormous efforts in cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet to prevent further security deterioration.

According to the Palestinian source, Abbas told Biden that only a diplomatic solution  the creation of a Palestinian state and the abolition of the injustices of the Israeli occupation  could have prevented the current outburst of violence. At this point, said the source, the US vice president pulled out his proposal to renew the peace initiative between the sides.

A report in the Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds claimed that Biden presented a detailed initiative in which East Jerusalem would be the capital of the Palestinian state, construction of settlements in Judea and Samaria and East Jerusalem would cease and the Palestinians would recognize Israel as a Jewish state and waive the right of return. But the Palestinian source claimed otherwise. According to him, these were only topics of disagreement that Biden presented as issues that could be solved through negotiations.

So why did Abbas laugh? And why did he reject out of hand a diplomatic process with Israel, a moment after he told the vice president that a political solution would have prevented the current violent uprising? The answer is that Abbas simply does not trust Netanyahus intentions.

Abbas' diplomatic experience with Netanyahu, including during the Kerry-driven negotiations, left him with the impression  one shared by all the senior Palestinian leadership  that the Israeli prime minister isnt negotiating in order to reach a diplomatic agreement, but to stonewall. He believes that Netanyahu wants to appear in the international arena as someone intending to move toward a diplomatic compromise that would have succeeded if Abbas hadnt caused it to fail. You can ask Tzipi Livni how serious we were, and how Netanyahu kept her on a tight leash, Abbas told Biden, according to the Palestinian source.

But it was not only his mistrust for Netanyahu, the right-wing Israeli government and even the upswing in settlement construction in the territories that led Abbas to brush off the American feelers on renewing negotiations. The Palestinian president is well aware of his own political situation right now and of the complicated reality in the field.

Even if Netanyahu were serious in his diplomatic intentions, or if another leader headed the Israeli government and sincerely wished to reach a diplomatic compromise, the Palestinian leader still needs a wide base of support. There was a good reason Netanyahu's conditions against the return of Palestinian refugees and for a Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state came up during the conversation with the vice president. These momentous issues have enormous opposition among the Palestinian public, including within the Fatah movement. If in the past, one could have perhaps overcome them with creative solutions, now, in Abbas' current political reality, theres no chance that these Israeli demands would be met with understanding by the Palestinians  even if this would guarantee a Palestinian state.

In the past, Abbas had hinted that he doesnt see the right of return as a make-or-break issue. In an interview on Israeli Channel 2 in November 2012, he declared that even though he is a refugee from Safed, in northern Israel, he doesnt think of returning there. Palestine now for me is the 67 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital," he said in the interview. "I am a refugee, but I am living in Ramallah.  I believe that [the] West Bank and Gaza is Palestine  and the other parts [are] Israel.

Abbas' assent to dictates from Netanyahu, who had utterly humiliated the Palestinian chairman in the past, would now be seen by Palestinians, including senior members of his movement, as capitulation to the Israelis. In this situation, no Israeli compromise could make up for that.

Abbas' smile at Bidens proposal meant, "Now you remember, when the United States is about to have an election?" What chance is there that a diplomatic initiative could be concluded in just a few months? After all, the previous round of talks, which lasted more than a year, didnt even get to the essential issues.

It seems that Abbas' term will end not over a democratic process failing to take place in the Palestinian Authority, but because of the vehemence of opposition to his rule among the general Palestinian populace.

From their standpoint, the Palestinians dont have high hopes for the US elections. In their opinion, neither Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton nor even Bernie Sanders will solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and force Israel to end the occupation. The only path for the Palestinians, they believe, is to take action themselves in pursuing recognition by the United Nations with European support and hope for a lot of luck.
March 15, 2016

Most of the headlines in the Israeli media regarding the broad-ranging Pew Research Center survey published March 8 dealt, rightly so, with the troubling attitudes of Jewish society toward the Arab minority in Israel and the Palestinian population in the territories. The public discourse of the past week focused on findings that illustrate racist and discriminatory trends, such as the 79% majority who believe Israels Palestinian citizens deserve fewer rights than its Jews. It is probable that members of the UN delegation the Security Council is considering sending to the West Bank and to Israel would keep this data in mind. Al-Monitor has learned that the delegation  a fact-finding mission  would be asked to examine the feasibility of the "two state for two peoples solution." President Barack Obama's administration has been paying particular attention to this conflict recently. In a last-ditch effort, it is seeking to extricate the diplomatic process between Israel and the Palestinians from its quagmire by promoting this new UN initiative.

Judging by the survey's finding, the Jewish people residing in Israel would rather the Palestinian people find themselves a state across the river or over the sea. Also, the poll reveals that while the Jews living in Israel share the same country, their views on culture and religion are widely divergent. East against West.

Few ultra-Orthodox and secular Jews have friends outside of their own communities. Some nine out of 10 secular Jews say they would not feel comfortable or not feel comfortable at all (73%) if their children were to one day marry an ultra-Orthodox Jew. Among the ultra-Orthodox, opposition to mixed marriage with secular Jews reaches 95% and 78%, respectively (not comfortable/not comfortable at all). It was reported March 8 that Israels chief rabbi, Yitzhak Yosef, recently called on religious Jews to distance their kids from secular or traditional family members, and even to prevent any acquaintance with them.

But the ultra-Orthodox have an even worse enemy than non-observant Jews who eat non-Kosher food and violate the Sabbath. These are the Reform and Conservative Jews and Jewesses, who sit side by side in their synagogues rather than in separate sections. For the ultra-Orthodox, they are even worse than homosexuals and lesbians, whom they consider simply poor souls who have lost their minds. This "threat" does not stem from the size of these communities, as only 5% of Israeli Jews identify with Reform and Conservative Judaism, according to the Pew survey. What the ultra-Orthodox fear is the attempt by the Reform and Conservative communities to alter Jewish law, which they believe should never be done.

Following the Feb. 11 Supreme Court decision allowing those who undergo Reform and Conservative conversions to Judaism to use the ritual baths, Knesset member Yisrael Eichler of the ultra-Orthodox Yahadut HaTorah Party wrote, Not every mentally ill person can come into an operating room and lay down medical rules. Just as the Supreme Court cannot force a hospital to let in its own surgeons and medications, this is beyond the pale to force mikveh managers to allow Reform conversion ceremonies to take place in a Jewish mikveh. Eichler said, The Supreme Court has no authority to impose Jewish halachic law, the source of which is the Torah. He accused the court of an attempt to generate wars of religion in Israel, similar to the inter-religious war in Syria and Iraq.

The Knesset member, whose party is a member of the coalition government, was referring to the High Court ruling, canceling the exclusive control of the Chief Rabbinate over the mikvehs. This ruling was based on the law banning discrimination in the provision of services and entrance into public places.

In a March 6 meeting with Netanyahu, ultra-Orthodox ministers Aryeh Deri and Yaakov Litzman and ultra-Orthodox Knesset member Moshe Gafni demanded that the government promote legislation to circumvent the courts decision. A week later, after threatening a coalition crisis, the ministerial committee on legislation approved a proposed mikveh bill, stating that mikvehs are not a "public service." Thus, the issue of discrimination would not apply.

At that same meeting with Netanyahu, the ultra-Orthodox politicians also demanded the nullification of an arrangement, approved by the government, allowing Reform and Conservative Jews, along with the Women of the Wall  an equal prayer rights movement  and the Jewish Agency to jointly administer the new prayer space by the Western Wall allocated specially to them. Netanyahu announced that he was suspending the arrangement until he gets an alternative proposal from the chief rabbis, who object to any change in the Western Wall status quo.

Rabbi Baruch Dov Povarsky, head of the Ponivej rabbinical college and member of the Torah Sages Council, attacked Netanyahu, who dared come in contact with the leaders of the heathen. According to him, its no wonder that the Zionists are meeting with those who seek to uproot religion, given that in his heart, the prime minister would also like to be like them, so he said.

No one can really tell what Netanyahu believes deep in his heart. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that it was not Netanyahu who initiated the changes in praying spaces by the Western Wall or bathing in the ritual baths. Much like all other politicians who governed Israel since the state was founded, Netanyahu walks the fine line separating the principle of equality between the different streams of Judaism and the control of the Orthodox sector on the State's Chief Rabbinate and other religious institutions. Netanyahu, to his political detriment, finds himself between a rock and a hard place  between the rock of the Supreme Court, supervising the rule of justice and preventing discrimination, and the hard place of coalition considerations.

If no compromise is found in the near future, Netanyahu will be forced to decide in the escalating conflict between the progressive streams that constitute the majority of US Jewry (36% to the Reform and 18% to the Conservative community, according to the Pew survey), and the Orthodox stream in Israel, which has the power to crown or topple prime ministers.

Either way, it seems that the question of ''who is a Jew''  a debate that was sidelined by the violent Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is gradually retaking a major place on the Jewish democratic public agenda.
March 16, 2016

QAMISHLI, Syria  A picture shared by Kurdish activists and journalists from Syria has opened widespread discussion of the fate of Syrian prisoners of war. The picture, which first appeared March 9, shows a female fighter from the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) tending to the wounds of a member of the Islamic State captured by the Kurds following battles in the countryside of al-Shadadi town in the province of Hasakah, northeastern Syria.

Since June 2014, military clashes between the YPG and IS have expanded and many IS fighters and members have been captured by the Kurds. Despite the need to deal with the issue, some Kurdish officials have shown great reluctance to state how many have been caught.

The Asayish, a local Kurdish police force, is part of the self-rule declared in early 2014 in the three Kurdish-majority areas of Hasakah, Kobani and Afrin.

An official source from the Asayish told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, When IS fighters are caught red-handed and arrested, they are immediately referred to the nearest Asayish center, where they are interrogated and their initial confession is taken. The injured are taken to a military medical facility affiliated with the Asayish to be treated until their health has improved.

After the interrogation, the arrestees are taken to a special prison for terrorism cases, the source added without specifying the prisons name or its location. He noted that those accused of terrorism are people who took up arms against the Kurdish forces or people who equipped themselves to carry out suicide attacks or served as spies for IS and provided information regarding [Kurdish] military sites.

Meanwhile, lawyer Sanharib Barsoum, the head of the human rights committee affiliated with the Kurdish self-rule, told Al-Monitor, When the self-management was declared, [the Kurds] already had many IS prisoners who were involved in terrorist acts and prisoners who were suspected of belonging to this extremist group. At the time, there were no special courts to prosecute those prisoners.

According to Barsoum, Kurdish officials gave instructions to establish the special courts needed to prosecute them. Prosecutions in one of them, the Anti-Terrorism Court, began in January 2015.

This court is headed by a former judge in Syrian civil court. He told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, I have been called the judge for the past 10 years, given my experience in law and courts. He explained that the courts' practices were inspired by international laws on terrorism, noting, We, the judges and lawyers presiding over the court, have studied the laws and legislation of developed countries that had previously formed anti-terrorism courts.

The judge said that the Anti-Terrorism Courts judgments range between six-month imprisonment and life sentences, and are not subject to appeal. He noted that the death penalty has been abolished as a legal punishment, stressing, The court has issued a resolution preventing the use of violence during interrogations as well as physical and psychological abuse in prison. We have even given instructions that solitary confinement should not exceed one week.

The judge added, Those arrested attend the courts hearings and deliberations and their first-degree relatives are allowed to visit them in prison before their sentence is determined. The arrestees are brought to court to hear the judgment. The text is then sent to the administration of the prison where they would serve their sentence.

He said that in one of the cases referred to the court, the accused was caught red-handed trying to plant an explosive device in a market in Girke Lege city, 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Qamishli in northern Syria.

The young man was sentenced to five years in prison, but the court considered mitigating circumstances, as he was only 20 years old and had admitted that he was promised money [in return for planting the device], the judge explained. Prominent figures from the area responded to his mothers calls to mediate for his release, as he was the familys sole breadwinner after his father's death. According to the judge, At the time, the court decided to release him under the condition that he remain at the same residence, and after mediators ensured he would no longer be in contact with the organization.

Regarding the nationalities of those arrested and accused of terrorism, the judge said, The majority are Syrians from the area, whom we recognized from their accents, and there are also foreigners from Arab and Western countries.

The human rights committee appoints lawyers, at its own expense, to defend those arrested and referred to the Anti-Terrorism Court. Barsoum said, We periodically visit the prison in which the defendants are serving their sentences. We check on them, talk to them and listen to their complaints. Most complaints revolve around provision of services and means of communication.

There have been reports of prisoner-exchange deals between the YPG and IS with the help of local mediators, though both parties deny such deals.

On July 23, 2015, the YPG and IS made a prisoner-exchange deal with the help of independent Arab and Kurdish mediators from Hasakah in the town of al-Hawl, in which six fighters in total were released.

Another deal was reached Sept. 21 in the town of Tal Hamis, located in the far northeast of Syria. With the help of mediators from the area and prominent Arab figures, the YPG released eight IS prisoners, including foreign fighters. On the other side, IS released six Kurdish prisoners, including journalist Massoud Aqeel, who was working as a cameraman for the Kurdish Rudaw news site before he was kidnapped by IS members along with his colleague Farhad Hamou on Dec. 15, 2014.

Six years into the Syrian crisis, military leaders continue to be reluctant to disclose the number of prisoners and abductees. Kurdish officials in Syria do not rule out the possibility of reaching a comprehensive settlement at the national level to release all prisoners. Al-Monitor was unable to reach leaders or members of IS for their opinion on the matter.
March 16, 2016

The day after President Vladimir Putins March 14 surprise announcement of Russias intention to withdraw its army from Syria, Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff, went before the Knessets Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and reportedly admitted, We had no preliminary information prior to the Russian announcement last night about reducing involvement, just as others did not. According to the chief of staff, Israel had, however, preliminary knowledge of Russias earlier decision regarding the beginning of its military involvement in Syria. We had signs and reports received by Military Intelligence, Eizenkot said.

The chief of staff's reference to others was evidently hinting that the United States had also been kept in the dark, unaware of Putins intention to leave Syria. Putins announcement was delivered while Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon was at a work meeting with his US counterpart, Ashton Carter, at the Pentagon. It is believed that Eizenkot was told by the entourage accompanying Ya'alon in Washington that the Americans had also been caught by surprise.

Eizenkot added that according to Israels assessment, the Russian withdrawal will be carried out gradually, and even after its completion, there will still be quite a few Russian forces in Syria. Moscow will maintain its two main bases there: the naval base in Tartus and the aerial base in Latakia. The IDF believes that the Russian S-400 missile battery that provides an almost hermetically sealed umbrella over the Russians in the Syrian skies will remain in place as a warning to Turkey and other power brokers in the region.

The best of Israels security brains, including the intelligence branches, are now examining the ramifications of the Russian withdrawal. Another scenario is also being probed, however  that the withdrawal may be a public relations move by Putin and actually involve an insignificant thinning of forces, but with continued military involvement on a daily basis.

Putin succeeded in misleading the world several times in recent years. We never know what he is really planning, said a highly placed Israeli source to Al-Monitor speaking on condition of anonymity. Dont forget that the Russians also denied their military involvement in Syria at first, until their cargo planes started landing in Latakia. So far the dust hasnt settled, and no one knows what Putin really wants.

In an amazing coincidence for Israel, President Reuven Rivlin left for an official state visit to Moscow, to visit Putin, on March 16  some 48 hours after the Russian announcement. Before his departure, the president received hasty, urgent briefings from top-level defense sources and even spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Thus, Rivlin became the point of contact between Putin and a worried Israel. Rivlin is expected to present conclusive evidence to the Russian president regarding the transfer of high-quality Russian weapons from Iran to Hezbollah and other intelligence information.

Rivlins message to Putin will be loud and clear: There must be no Syrian arrangement that strengthens Iran and Hezbollah. Iran must not establish hegemony over Syria. Shiite terror endangers the world, including Russia, no less than Sunni jihad does.

For quite a while, discussions have been taking place in Israel regarding the day after an arrangement is agreed to on Syria. Israels decision-makers have taken into account the possibility that the Russian declaration was the result of contacts and agreements between Putin and US President Barack Obama regarding the partition of Syria into segments. In such a case, said a senior Israeli defense figure to Al-Monitor who requested anonymity, We must not agree to a new delineation of lines of confrontation and battlefronts. Israel needs to do everything it can to avert the possibility of Hezbollah and Irans Revolutionary Guards receiving a permanent presence along the Golan Heights border. That needs to be a clear Israeli redline.

When asked what Israel would need to do if this demand is rejected within the framework of an arrangement, the source responded, Everything, including the use of force. Israel has succeeded in remaining outside the bloody struggle in Syria and has cautiously maneuvered between the sides. But at the moment of truth, we must not lose our bearings. We will not accept the opening of a second front against Israel in the Golan. That is simply intolerable.

One of Israel's top experts on Russia is Yaakov Kedmi (Kazakov), who had once headed Nativ, a covert Israeli organization tasked with connecting to Soviet Jews behind the Iron Curtain, before the fall of Soviet Russia. Kedmi told Al-Monitor, Putin entered Syria to build a base for the Russian navy, which is attempting to improve its balance of power vis-a-vis the [US] Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, and at the same time, to stabilize [Syrian President Bashar al-] Assads regime, to prevent him from collapsing. Putin achieved both of these results.

Kedmi is not convinced that the Russians are really leaving. It seems to me that most of the commentators did not correctly understand Putins announcement, he said. The Russian navy is remaining in Tartus. More than half of the fighter planes are remaining in Latakia. The special units that defend these bases are also remaining. The Russian air force will continue to assist Assad in his attacks on the rebels. The S-400 missile batteries are remaining. True, some of the planes, mainly the Sukhoi Su-34s, are returning to Russia, but the advisers to the Syrian army are remaining, from the battalion level to the General Staff, as are the electronic systems, logistics, the RPVs [unmanned aircrafts] and assault helicopters. This is not an exit, but a certain thinning [of forces].

According to Kedmi, the Russians did a situation evaluation and came to the conclusion that they should be able to thin their forces. The scope of Russian aerial activity decreased by two-thirds after the cease-fire [Feb. 27], while simultaneously the scope of Syrian air force sorties has risen to about 30 sorties a day, at least. The quality of the Syrian sorties has also risen. The number of main battlefronts has gone down, from 12 to six, and the Russians came to the conclusion that the Syrians are standing on their own two feet now, by themselves. And thats the whole story.

Not everyone in the Israeli defense establishment agrees with this analysis. On March 15, Alexey Drobinin, Russia's deputy ambassador to Israel, said, Iran and Hezbollah are not allies of ours  Russia well understands Israels interests and national security, also in the Syrian sphere. This, however, did not really reassure the establishment. Israel continues to vigilantly observe what is taking place and for the first time is considering whether to increase its involvement. This would be to wield some kind of influence on the day after, mainly along the length of the Golan border.
March 15, 2016

Recent months have witnessed much talk, suggesting the long-awaited reconciliation between Turkey and Israel is around the corner. Uncharacteristically positive remarks about Israel from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and upbeat statements from Turkish government officials have also increased expectations.

Yet the rapprochement has not happened yet, and it is not clear when it will, despite reports that senior diplomats from the two countries are working to finalize the deal. There also seems to be a slight reversal of roles, with Israel less keen now than Turkey to conclude a deal without reportedly securing assurances on some red line issues.

This emerged again with reports in the Israeli media that Washington is actively encouraging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to normalize ties with Turkey as soon as possible. According to daily Haaretz, Vice President Joe Biden, who was in Israel on March 6, told Netanyahu that Erdogan wanted to conclude a deal with Israel as soon as possible.

Biden, who reportedly is ready to mediate to achieve this goal, is said to be encouraging the two countries to also cooperate in the energy field by arguing that Turkey provides the most economical route for Israeli natural gas exports to world markets.

Turkish analysts believe Washington wants to consummate the Turkish-Israeli relationship with a strategic deal in the energy field.

Diplomats in Ankara have also noted the more positive tone Erdogan is employing toward Israel in recent months. Erdogan told reporters in January, as he was returning from an official visit to Saudi Arabia, that Turkey and Israel are two countries that need each other.

Israel is in need of a country like Turkey in the region. We have to admit that we also need Israel, Erdogan said, adding, This mutual need is a fact of the region.

This is a far cry from when he was openly vilifying Israel as an adept killer of Palestinian children, an accusation he flung in then-Israeli President Shimon Peres face at Davos in January 2009.

Erdogan, who was prime minister at the time, went on to reduce Turkeys diplomatic representation in Israel after Israeli commandoes killed nine pro-Palestinian Turks on the Mavi Marmara aid ferryboat in May 2010 as it tried to run Israels Gaza blockade. Relations took a nosedive after these events.

Considering the sensitivities of his Islamist supporters, Erdogan, until recently, was reluctant to appear keen on any reconciliation if Israel refused to formally apologize for the Mavi Marmara raid, pay compensation for those it killed or lift the siege of Gaza.

Pressed on by President Barack Obama, Netanyahu fulfilled the first demand in March 2013. Turkish government spokesman Omer Celik announced in February that compensation talks were near completion.

As to the Gaza blockade, this remains on the table, but Ankara has toned down its demands. Rather than calling for a full raising of the blockade, it is ready now to accept an arrangement where Turkey is given special access to the enclave to provide goods and services, including the provision of electricity and water.

A foreign ministry source in Ankara, who wanted to remain anonymous due to his sensitive position, pointed out to Al-Monitor that the situation in the Middle East, especially after the Syrian crisis, has also become equally pressing for both countries.

The cost of Ankaras foreign policy mistakes has also started to rise sharply, given the new spate of Kurdish separatist and radical Islamist terrorist attacks in Turkey that the crises in Syria and Iraq have spawned directly or indirectly.

The foreign ministry source also confirmed Ankaras uneasiness over its diminished ability to influence events in its immediate neighborhood, which are having a growing negative effect on its security interests.

This requires that Ankara mend fences with estranged regional countries including Israel, he said.

Meanwhile, Erdogan and Netanyahu have consolidated their domestic positions following recent elections and will clearly be around the foreseeable future. Diplomats are aware that if reconciliation between the two countries is predicated on the departure of these two leaders, this will mean a very long wait.

Given this relatively opportune backdrop for reconciliation, one would expect Turkey and Israel to work hard to overcome their differences as soon as possible. But there is still no clear sign as to when this will actually happen. Officials in Israel cited by the local media say that Turkish official statements suggesting that reconciliation will come soon are overstated.

So what lies behind the delay?

Burhanettin Duran, the General Coordinator for the Ankara-based Foundation for Political and Economic Research, a prominent think tank close to the ruling Justice and Development Party, believes reports that Netanyahu is demanding Turkey close the Hamas office in Istanbul could be one reason.

Erdogan has to tread cautiously with Hamas, given the sympathy for this group among his innately anti-Israeli supporters. Duran says, however, that the real reason delaying the reconciliation is Moscow.

Why does Israel appear so hesitant when there are solid interests involved, such as the exporting of natural gas? The answer to this question must be sought in Moscow, Duran wrote in a recent article for daily Sabah.

Referring to the downing of the Russian fighter jet in November, he said, Russia is maintaining a cold war against Turkey, adding that [Moscows] maneuvers are the main reason for the lack of enthusiasm in Israel for a rapid rapprochement with Turkey.

Al-Monitors Ben Caspit listed a number of reasons in a recent article why Israel needs President Vladimir Putin more than it needs Erdogan today.

Soli Ozel, from Istanbuls Kadir Has University, believes the underlying reason behind Netanyahus apparent reluctance on reconciliation is his continuing mistrust of Erdogan.

In Israel they believe it would be a mistake to throw a lifesaver to Erdogan, because they cant be certain that he will not start vilifying Israel again in the future, Ozel told Al-Monitor.

Israel is also establishing new links  for example, with Greece and Cyprus  which probably makes it question whether it really needs to hurry to improve ties with Turkey, Ozel added.
A bill that would allow brewers to sell beer directly to customers passed the state Senate Tuesday.

The so called "Growler bill" passed the state House earlier this month. Gov. Robert Bentley still needs to sign it before it becomes law.

"We get a lot of folks headed down from the north to the south, they'll hop on Google and they'll come with the expectation of picking up some beer to-go for their destination, and now, we have to turn down all those people," said Jason Malone, a co-founder of Good People Brewing Co. "If you're from out of town coming through, you're not necessarily getting educated on your way down as far as who can sell what, so a lot of people have the impression that direct sales are handled the same way as their hometown."

If passed, the law would:

Allow breweries that make less than 60,000 barrels per year to directly sell up to 288 ounces of its beer per customer per day for off-premises consumption.

Allow breweries to deliver up to two donated kegs of its beer to a licensed charity event.

No longer require brewpubs to open only in historic buildings, historic districts or economically distressed areas.

The bill was introduced to lawmakers last month and mirrored recommendations presented by the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Study Commission in January.

Dan Roberts, Executive Director of the Alabama Brewers Guild, said he hopes to see many more brewpubs once the bill becomes law. He said he's worked with people before who have had brewpub concepts, but the restrictions prevented them from opening.

"I really think that could be a really big boon for the industry," Roberts said. "I think brewpubs have a really unique ability to get people into craft beer. They're really good for the industry."

Taylor DeBoer, who's getting ready to launch Ghost Train Brewing Co.'s tasting room in Lakeview, said direct sales will help the brewery get on its feet.

"It's going to be good for the customers too - they're going to be able to take home really fresh beer," DeBoer said.
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Conn's will open this summer at University Place in Huntsville. (Courtesy photo)

Conn's will find a home this year in Huntsville.



The Texas retailer will launch a 46,500-square-foot store this summer in the old Winn Dixie suite at University Place on 6125 University Drive N.W. The home furnishings retailer currently has 106 locations across the U.S.



The shopping center was acquired last year for $16.5 million by Mishorim Gold, which is owned by commercial investor and real estate developer Mark Gold. The project currently has 23 businesses, with more to come in 2016.



"24e gym, Charisma Salon & Spa, Early Childhood Music, Book Shelf, Thai Bowl Restaurant, the Village Boutique, Batter Up Bakery and Miracle Ear are the new tenants in operation since the April 2015 property acquisition," said Debbie Collins, associate advisor for University Place. "Several tenants are in build-out phase."



Chop Chop Salad and the Asian Market will open soon. Collins said Johnny Gryll's Burgers, Three Scoops Ice Cream and The Kebab Mediterranean Restaurant are in the planning phase.

When Gold bought the property, leasing activity at University Place was at an all-time low. Sperry Van Ness (SVN) expects the renovated development will be 100-percent occupied this spring.

The commercial real estate company is talking with more national retail chains about leasing the few remaining suites in the shopping center, which is also home to Burlington Coat Factory, Panda Express, Zaxby's, Cheddar's and Subway.

Conn's sells mattresses, sofas, recliners, dining room sets, desks, home theater furniture, televisions, audio equipment, computers and household appliances, such as dishwashers, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, ovens and vacuum cleaners.
The spirit of Mobile's Downtown Cajun Cook-Off might be perfectly summed up by a quote from the inimitable Noell Broughton: Asked if organizers have a rain plan for Saturday, he quickly replied, "Raincoats."

In effect: We're gonna do this thing, and we're gonna have fun doing it.

That was the unspoken rule last year, when Broughton and other downtown restaurateurs and bar owners came together to fill the void that had been created when the American Cancer Society's Chili Cook-Off, long one of downtown's major spring happenings, left Bienville Square and moved off to west Mobile in search of much-needed elbow room.

A smaller event held in Cathedral Square, the inaugural Cajun Cook-Off was a smash success. "We were expecting maybe 1,500 people and we got 4,000," Broughton said. "You would think it would have been chaos, but it wasn't."

Aside from being a successful happening, it also was a productive fundraiser for the Child Advocacy Center. Elaine Henderson, director of development and marketing for the center, confirmed that thanks to the turnout and sponsors such as Cunningham Bounds, her organization netted more than $50,000 from the event.

Because last year's event worked so well, this year's follows much the same format. It runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 19, in Cathedral Square. More than 20 teams will cook up a variety of Cajun-themed fare, from standards such as etouffee, gumbo and jambalaya to more exotic options, all of which ticketholders are free to sample. And there'll be live music: Rock from the Stereo Dogs and rip-roaring blues from "Gulf Coast Blues Boy" Jamell Richardson.

Tickets will be $15 at the gate, but they're discounted in advance. They are $13 if ordered online at www.cacmobile.org, and they're $10 at a several physical outlets: The Child Advocacy Center, Mellow Mushroom restaurants in Mobile, and Bugmaster offices in Mobile and Daphne. Children younger than 6 enter free if accompanied by an adult ticketholder.

Broughton encouraged advance ticket purchases, saying they help organizers know how many people are coming, and also help patrons avoid a bottleneck at the ticket booth on the way in. Henderson advised visitors to come early, if they want to get in before the crowd peaks.

Broughton also said that organizers have adjusted the layout this year to open up the square. The biggest change is that the music stage, which was in the square last year, has been moved into an adjacent street.

As for the forecast, which is a little iffy, Broughton said he's optimistic that the rain will blow over on Saturday. And Henderson mentioned that she'd just taken delivery of a shipment from sponsor Conecuh Sausage Co., which donated 25 pounds of sausage per team. That would easily be more than 500 pounds of Conecuh, which should provide enough warmth to make up for a little rain.

According to information provided by organizers, participating restaurants include Banana Docks Catering, Boudreaux's Cajun Grill, Cotton State BBQ, Hayley's, LoDa Bier Garten, Lucky Irish Pub & Grill, Mediterranean Sandwich Co., Moe's Original Bar B Que, O'Daly's Irish Pub, Saucy-Q Bar B Que, Silver Horse Pub, T.P. Crockmiers, The Admiral Hotel, The Blind Mule, The Brickyard, The Garage, The Noble South, Veet's Bar & Grill and Wintzell's Oyster House. Sponsor teams include Cunningham Bounds, WALA Fox 10 News, Advanced Disposal Gulf Coast and Wind Creek Atmore.

For updates, visit www.facebook.com/downtowncajuncookoff.
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Bishop Robert J. Baker ordained Brother Linus at St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman.

(Courtesy of St. Bernard Abbey)

Brother Linus Klucsarits was ordained as a transitional deacon of the Catholic Church on March 12 at St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman.

Klucsarits is currently a student at St. Meinrad School of Theology in Indiana and is on track to be ordained a priest next year. He has completed three years of theological studies.

Bishop Robert J. Baker, head of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, officiated the ordination, laying hands on Brother Linus and saying a prayer of ordination.

Brother Linus noted that deacons are discussed in the Book of Acts.

"Deacons were first chosen to care for widows in the daily distribution of food among the believers," he said. "So a spirit of service has always been a part of being a deacon. Today, a deacon assists the bishop and the priests in ministry. Deacons can baptize children, witness marriages, preside at services for the dead, and read and preach the Gospel. "

During the ordination, as a show of complete submission to the will of God, the ordinand lays prostrate before the altar. The litany of saints was sung.

"Receive the book of the Gospels whose herald you now are," Baker said during the service. "Believe what you read, teach what you believe, practice what you teach."

Brother Linus receives his vestments during his ordination service at St. Bernard Abbey.

Brother Linus is a native of Allentown, Penn., where he was the second of five children born to William and Alice Klucsarits. He was given the name, Paul Thomas Klucsarits, when he was christened. When he began his novitiate at St. Bernard Abbey in June of 2011, he received the name Brother Linus.

A product of Catholic schools, Brother Linus attended St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia. He is an alumnus of Gallaudet University where he earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and obtained his master's degree in sign language interpretation. He earned a second master's degree at UAB studying education with a focus on teaching English as a second language. He taught ESL at St. Bernard for the past two and a half years. He implemented the ESL Summer Program.

Brother Linus was joined by his family for the ordination ceremony: brother, George Klucsarits, and sister-in-law, Eunice; his sister, Ann Fitzgerald, and her fiance, Sam Hinojosa.
Lou Gathany for AL.com

Realtors often hear unusual requests from couples that are house hunting. When Lisa and Michael Bollinger were relocating from Annandale Virginia to Huntsville, Alabama in 2007, they made it clear to their agent that they must have space to accommodate the Irish pub they had established in their Virginia home in 2001.

The Maggie McGuiness Pub is now housed in the lowest level of the Bollinger home. It is a private retreat for family and friends and it is a pub that is open several times during the year for private Irish events such as concerts, fundraisers or meetings of the Irish Society of North Alabama.

Formed in 2010 by the Bollingers and others, the goal of the Irish Society of North Alabama, a non profit 501(c) (3), is to promote and protect Irish heritage through education, dance, music, culture and arts. Fundraisers often benefits the Still Serving Veterans organization as well as other charity efforts.

The Father Jeremiah F. Trecy Division of the Ancient Order of Hiberians are also invited to make use of the pub for meetings and get-togethers. The Hiberians are an Irish Catholic charitable and fraternal organization that traces its roots to 16th century Ireland.

The pub is named for the first two mascots of the original pub in their Virginia home. Maggie and McGuiness were the names of the owners two beloved cockapoos who were frequently seen making guests welcome at the pub. In the present pub, the families two cats make themselves at home in the space.

The pub serves as a museum of Irish history, a place to share Irish music (the Bollingers have over 2500 tapes), enjoy Irish ales and keep Irish culture near and dear to the hearts of the Irish community of North Alabama. The pub atmosphere is deliberately dark and VERY green. A pub is an atmosphere as much as a physical space. It is a place for gathering, enjoying like-minded camaraderie and perhaps enjoying an Irish brew or some Irish stew.

The Bollingers continually make adjustments to the music, decorations, and the refreshments. The decor is the result of several trips to Ireland and many years of collecting appropriate cultural memorabilia. The pub is small, subdued and private, a comfortable setting that fosters discourse and community. It is a great representation of the Bollingers's Irish pride.

Michael and Lisa were deeply involved in organizing and promoting the 39th Annual Ellen McAnelly Memorial St. Patrick's Day Parade which took place this past Saturday in downtown Huntsville. Michael was the grand marshal in the procession and Lisa coordinated the floats and revelers.

Believe it or not, the Bollingers have a "normal" home. What is different about this house is that one can walk down a set of stairs and feel as though they have been transported to the Emerald Isle. The Maggie McGuiness Pub is their unique "cool space."
St. Patrick window.jpg

St. Patrick is commemorated in stained-glass windows and statues worldwide.

(St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel, Brooklyn, N.Y.)

March 17 is celebrated throughout the world as St. Patrick's Day, in honor of the missionary who helped spread Christianity through Ireland. Here are five quick facts to help you learn about the patron saint of Ireland.

When did he live?

Details surrounding St. Patrick's life are hard to pin down, but he was likely born around 387 A.D. and died about 460 A.D.

Was he born in Ireland?

No, he was born in Britain, then part of the Roman Empire, and was captured by Irish pirates when he was 16. He was held in captivity in Ireland for six years, then escaped back to Britain.

Was he a priest?

Yes. He went to seminary in what is now France and became a priest, then returned to Ireland. He eventually became the first bishop of Armagh, primate of Ireland. In his autobiography, Confessio, also known as The Confession of St. Patrick, he said he baptized thousands. He also started many monasteries and helped spread Christianity across Ireland.

Why do we celebrate him in America?

Irish immigrants to Boston celebrated March 17, the day of St. Patrick's death, as a way of keeping alive their Irish heritage in America. That started as early as 1737, with parades starting in 1766. U.S. celebrations of St. Patrick's Day spread to big cities across the country, often being more festive than observances in Ireland, where it's a holy day. St. Patrick's Day wasn't even a public holiday in Ireland until 1904, although it had been observed with parades and churchgoing since the 1700s. The festivities in America influenced Ireland, where in the 1960s pubs began to open on the holiday. It has always been associated with beer-drinking in America, promoted by taverns and pubs, while in Ireland pubs and other businesses were closed on the holiday. Some historians credit America for popularizing the holiday worldwide with its elaborate celebrations.

"Generations of Irish immigrants were eager to celebrate their origins," writes Mike Cronin, author of "The Wearing of the Green: A History of St. Patrick's Day," and also a professor at Boston College. "The shared sense of being Irish, of wearing green and in some way marking March 17, has resulted in St. Patrick's Day being observed in a similar fashion to July Fourth or Halloween. It's the closest thing in America to National Immigrant Day."

It's also a marketing bonanza, helping sell beer and drive business at bars. Bars promote St. Patrick's Day events and gimmicks like selling green beer throughout the weekend leading to the holiday.

Are the legends about St. Patrick true?

Did St. Patrick drive all the snakes out of Ireland? That's unlikely, since there's no evidence snakes ever lived in post-glacial Ireland. Did he teach the concept of the Holy Trinity by using the three-leafed clover, or shamrock, to demonstrate the oneness of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit? There's no way to prove or disprove that legend, but it's one of the most beloved stories about the saint.
Spring breakers from all over the country take to the east end of Gulf Shores Public Beach in front of Sea N' Suds restaurant in Gulf Shores, Ala. on Tuesday March 15, 2016. (Brian Kelly/bkelly@al.com)

With spring break in full swing at Alabama's beaches, hundreds of college students from around the Southeast and the country took to Gulf Shores Public Beach in Gulf Shores, Ala. on Tuesday afternoon.

But if spring breakers were expecting sunny skies they didn't get it. Temperatures hovered around 82 degrees with only brief moments of sunshine, and by 3 p.m. the sun had all but slipped behind the clouds. And despite yellow flags indicating to use caution in the water, some students took to the choppy, but chilly waves. Hundreds of students were found gathered in a cluster near the popular restaurant Sea N' Suds at the east end of the public beach.

Among the schools on break through March 18 are the University of Alabama and Auburn University, but Texas A&M and Mississippi State dominated the beach on Tuesday, at least in Gulf Shores. Wednesday's weather forecast calls for a 20 percent chance of showers with a high of 76 according to the National Weather Service.
A Department of Justice letter issued this week reminds city and state judges across the nation they can't jail a defendant simply because that person can't pay fines or fees.

The letter stemmed from the DOJ's investigation of the Ferguson, Mo., police and city court system after the 2014 shooting of a black teen by a white police officer. But it was also welcome news to lawyers and advocacy groups in Alabama who say some small towns around the state have been operating debtors' prisons with the help of private probation firms.

"I'm really pleased that the department of justice has done that," said Lisa Borden, pro bono shareholder at the Baker Donelson law firm in Birmingham. "They (DOJ) had seen a taste of it in Ferguson and then realized it was not an isolated thing."

"The Attorney General made a very clear statement and these are the things constitutionally that the courts cannot do," Borden said of the DOJ letter.

Can or can't do

In the DOJ letter Monday from Vanita Gupta, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Civil Rights Division, the judges are told some of the most common practices that run afoul of the law.

Under those guidelines, courts:

- Must not jail a person for nonpayment of fines or fees without first conducting an indigency determination and establishing that the failure to pay was willful.

- Must consider alternatives to jail for indigent defendants unable to pay fines and fees.

- Must not condition access to a judicial hearing on the prepayment of fines or fees.

- Must provide meaningful notice and, in appropriate cases, a lawyer, when enforcing fines and fees.

- Must not use arrest warrants or license suspensions as a means of coercing the payment of court debt when individuals have not been afforded constitutionally adequate procedural protections.

- Must not employ bail or bond practices that cause indigent defendants to remain jailed solely because they cannot afford to pay for their release.

- Must safeguard against unconstitutional practices by court staff and private contractors.

"The consequences of the criminalization of poverty are not only harmful - they are far-reaching," Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch stated in a prepared statement after Monday's letter was released. "They not only affect an individual's ability to support their family, but also contribute to an erosion of our faith in government."

The Alabama Access to Justice Commission last year, with the approval of Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, began handing out laminated cards to municipal and district court judges to keep on their benches with similar guidelines as in Monday's letter from DOJ.

Borden, who is chairman of the commission, said it was modeled after one bench card issued to judges in Ohio.

Borden and her firm have been involved in lawsuits in Alabama and Tennessee over the practices of municipal courts collecting fines and fees from indigent defendants through contracts with private probation companies. She was among several from Alabama who attended a DOJ meeting in Washington D.C. in December with judges, court administrators, researchers, advocates, prosecutors, defense attorneys and some defendants who faced jail for failing to pay mounting fines and fees.

Joyce Vance, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama who also attended the meeting, said she was glad to see Monday's letter. "There are dimensions of this problem in Alabama," she said.

"We're all concerned about the fair delivery of justice," Vance said. "The problem is they (defendants) shouldn't be sent to jail just because they are poor. We don't (allow) debtors' prisons."

Vance has concerns about what the fines and fees mean for the re-entry of former prisoners back into society. The inability to pay court fines and fees is sometimes the first step in a downward spiral to recidivism, she said.

One problem after inmates are released from prison is they can't pay off fines and fees for traffic offenses that resulted in their drivers' licenses being taken away, Vance said.

Often for former inmates not having a drivers' license means they can't get a job, to school, or to the doctor, Vance said. So that can lead to the ex-inmate getting back into illegal activity to make money, she said. "You don't have to drive your car to work on the street corner," she said.

Vance would not discuss whether her office has received, or whether they are investigating, complaints regarding private probation companies or municipal courts regarding fines and fees. But she said anyone who has such a problem should call her office's civil rights intake coordinator at 205-244-2015.

The DOJ on Monday also announced other initiatives related to court fees and fines and bail, including the creation of The Price of Justice: Rethinking the Consequences of Justice Fines and Fees, a program offering $2.5 million in competitive grants to state and local governments and community groups to develop new strategies, including alternatives to reduce unnecessary confinement.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which has filed lawsuits against Alabama cities for jailing, or threatening to jail, indigent defendants who can't afford to pay their fines or fees, also applauded the DOJ's letter and initiatives.

"The Department of Justice took an important step today by reminding courts that they must be places of justice, not revenue generators. Far too often, municipalities use court fines and fees as a way to balance budgets - trapping the poor in a cycle of debt and incarceration," Sam Brooke, deputy legal director at the SPLC said Monday. "This creates a two-tiered, unequal system of justice: one for people who can pay immediately and another, far-harsher version for those who cannot."

"These policies - including the use of modern-day debtors' prisons and for-profit probation companies to collect fees - are often unconstitutional and erode trust in the judicial system. The DOJ letter provides valuable guidance and support to help judges ensure that their courts live up to ideals of fairness and justice."

Private probation companies

Private probation companies have been at the center of the controversy in Alabama over the jailing of defendants who can't pay fines or fees.

Among the lawyers who say they are thankful for the DOJ letter is Danny Evans, a Birmingham attorney whose law firm has federal lawsuits pending against private probation company Judicial Correction Services Inc. and the cities of Childersburg, Harpersville, Columbiana, Fort Payne and Montgomery over their collection practices.

JCS had contracts with 112 different cities in Alabama during the period of August 2010 to November 2015, Evans said. During that period there were approximately 250,000 people in Alabama on probation because they couldn't pay a simple fine, he said.

In some cases JCS probation employees were allowed to carry badges, but were never certified as a probation officer, Evans said. "It clothed them with this appearance of authority," he said.

Those employees, however, were not certified and did not act as a probation officer to check on the status of the defendants or their ability to pay, Evans said. "All they did was try to collect money," he said.

"It's an awful system" that criminalizes people by putting them in jail because they are poor, Evans said. The system, he said, "puts a foot on the neck of the poor people can't pay a busted tail light."

Borden was among the lawyers who filed a lawsuit in 2010 against the Shelby County town of Harpersville and private probation company JCS, claiming that people were jailed for non-payment of fines. Monthly probation fees were tacked on to what they owed, sometimes amounting to more than the original court fines.

As a result of that lawsuit, in July 2012 Shelby County Circuit Judge Hub Harrington took control of all cases in Harpersville after he said the town was running a "debtors prison" and "judicially sanctioned extortion racket" with JCS.

The judge's order triggered a wave of interest by national media on the situation in Alabama and a wave of other state and federal lawsuits soon followed.

JCS defended itself in a statement announcing it was leaving Alabama in October after a number of cities cancelled its contracts, many of which had been asked to do so by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

"As a company, we have operated within full compliance of state law and have worked very hard to serve those municipalities who openly contracted to retain our services," according to the JCS statement. "We have voluntarily played a proactive role in proposing legislation that would further regulate our industry, but have been unable to reach a resolution with state leadership."

New Bill

A state representative recently introduced a bill that could help cities and towns with municipal courts set up contracts with private probation companies.

Rep. Paul Beckman, R-Prattville, on March 8 introduced the bill, which would form the Municipal Probation Reform Act. It is pending action in the house judiciary committee.

Efforts to reach Beckman were unsuccessful prior to publication of this story.

The bill would define terms and would allow a municipal court to contract with a private company to provide probation services under certain conditions.

The bill sets out qualifications and registration requirements for a private probation company and its workers, provide certain insurance coverage, and procedures for revocation or suspension of the company and imposition of fines for violations. The Administrative Office of Courts would oversee and monitor the companies under the proposed bill.

Borden has concerns with bill, which she said is similar to one that failed to pass a few years ago. The bill doesn't contain any protection for indigent people, she said. "There is nothing in there that protects the people who are being subjected to the process," she said.

Borden said it makes sense for a big city to have a municipal court. But in places like Harpersville and other little towns it doesn't make sense, she said. "There is absolutely no reason for them running a court," she said.

If the small towns didn't have municipal courts then the cases would be handled in the county district courts, Borden said. The only reason for the towns to have the court is so they get more of the fines and fees generated by the cases, she said.

Evans said a city can hire a bill collector and file civil court actions to collect. But he doesn't see how a city can contract with a private probation company and still abide by the law.

"It just seems like we have to learn things over and over again," Evans said.
Nearly three dozen groups have joined in support of federal legislation that would end debtors' prison practices nationwide and strip federal funding from municipalities engaging in them, according to a statement from the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The statement comes in the wake of a U.S. Department of Justice letter issued Monday to city and state judges across the nation reminding them they can't jail a defendant simply because that person can't pay fines or fees. It has been an issue in Alabama where a number of cities and towns around the state have been sued on claims that they have been operating debtors' prisons with the help of private probation firms.

The SPLC stated that it and other groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, NAACP, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, on Wednesday delivered a letter calling on members of Congress to back the legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) in January to end debtor prison practices.

"If passed, the 'End of Debtors' Prison Act of 2016' would cut federal funds from municipalities that hire for-profit private probation companies to collect court debt," according to the SPLC statement. "In many cases, these companies threaten low-income offenders with jail when they cannot make monthly payments for traffic fines and other minor offenses. This practice persists even though the United States abolished debtors' prisons almost 200 years ago."

"This legislation will help ensure that 'justice' is not tied to a family's bank account and that low-income people and communities of color no longer face the prospect of jail, job loss and financial ruin because of minor offenses such as traffic tickets," the letter states. "We believe this legislation will provide much-needed relief to many poor and working-class families while helping restore faith in the American ideal of equal justice under the law."

The SPLC statement pointed to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1983 in the case Bearden v. Georgia. In that ruling the court stated that it was unconstitutional for judges to send people to prison simply because they were too poor to pay.

"The important federal legislation would help stop the modern-day practice of debtors' prison and the perversion of our judicial system by private, for-profit companies that extort money from the poor by threatening them with jail time when they cannot pay court debt," Sam Brooke, SPLC deputy legal director, said in the statement. "Debtors' prison practices and court fee schemes target the poorest and trap them in a cycle of debt and incarceration, creating a two-tiered system of justice for people with money and those without."

In the DOJ's letter on Monday the DOJ reinforced existing law, saying judges must not jail a person for nonpayment of fines or fees without first conducting a hearing to see if the offender is indigent and establishing that the failure to pay was willful. Among the other reminders is that judges must consider alternatives to jail for indigent defendants unable to pay fines and fees.

Pay or jail threats have been an issue in Alabama as a number of cities and towns have been sued for placing defendants charged with minor offenses on probation while they are paying off fines and fees and jailing those who can't keep up with payments. The lawsuits also claimed the private probation company Judicial Correction Services Inc., added monthly fees that resulted in poor people in those towns having to pay more. The company's employees also threatened the people with arrest if they didn't make payments, the lawsuits claim.

JCS had contracts with 112 different cities in Alabama during the period of August 2010 to November 2015 when the company left the state, Birmingham Attorney Danny Evans said. During that period there were approximately 250,000 people in Alabama on probation in those cities because they couldn't pay their fines, he said.

The Southern Poverty Law Center is among those who have sued the cities and town and JCS in Alabama.

When the federal bill was introduced, SPLC client Harriet Cleveland - a Montgomery grandmother who was thrown in jail for two weeks when she could not afford to pay her traffic fines to JCS - addressed congressional staffers about her ordeal. She lost her car and house trying to come up with money, according to the SPLC statement. The SPLC lawsuit against Montgomery ended after a settlement to change the city's practices, according to the statement.

The other groups that signed the letter backing the federal bill are: Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus; American Civil Liberties Union; Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA); Asian Prisoner Support Committee; Center for New Community; Ella Baker Center for Human Rights; Justice For Families; Kentucky Equal Justice Center; LatinoJustice PRLDEF; Lawyers' Committee; Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Mindful Peacebuilding; Mothers of Incarcerated Sons & Daughters; Mississippi Center for Justice; NAACP; National Association of Social Workers; National Center for Transgender Equality; National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund; North Carolina Justice Center; PICO National Network, LIVE FREE Campaign; Pretrial Justice Institute; Public Justice Center; Real Cost of Prisons Project; Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law; SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center; Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC); Southern Center for Human Rights; Tennessee Justice Center; The Sentencing Project and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

While the federal bill is pending, a bill is also pending in the Alabama Legislature would set up a formal procedure for cities wanting to contract with private probation companies. That bill would set up registration and monitoring requirements for the companies, but critics of the bill say it provides no protections for those indigent offenders who would be subject to the probation companies.

The SPLC video below tells the story of one woman who was arrested and jailed for not paying her fines and paying $940 in fees to a private probation company.
A former soldier from Talladega was sentenced Wednesday to 55 years in prison for his conviction in the aggravated sexual abuse of a 5-year-old child while he was in Germany in 2007 and 2008.

Rick Lee Evans, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Abdul Kallon during a hearing in Birmingham. If he is ever released, Evans would be under lifetime supervision of the U.S. Probation office and required to register as a sex offender, the judge ordered.

Kallon noted that Evans and his wife had been entrusted with the care of the child "at a time the (child's) mother was in a war zone fighting for her country."

Evans maintains his innocence, said his attorney, Assistant Federal Public Defender Sabra M. Barnett. She objected to the sentence.

The child's mother thanked those who prosecuted the case for believing in the testimony of her child. She said she had made a choice to remain in the Army and entrust the care of her child with Evans and his wife, who was a child care worker. Evans was in possession of a top secret clearance in the Army, she said.

The mother, who asked Evans be given a life sentence, said to think she was the one who placed her child in the "horrible situation" will "forever haunt her."

"Mr. Evans was more than a wolf in sheep's clothing. He was the monster under the bed ready to pounce," the mother told the judge.

The child's father also asked for a life sentence, but at least a minimum of 55 years.

Trial Attorney Austin M. Berry of the Department of Justice's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section had argued that Evans should be sentenced to life.

Evans should be sentenced to life because his criminal conduct has a high likelihood of resulting in the premature death of the minor child (M.C.), Berry stated in his sentencing memorandum to the judge. "While that sounds like an assertion borne of speculation and bordering on hyperbole, there is strong scientific support to show that because of the sexual abuse M.C. suffered at the hands of Defendant, M.C. is at an increased risk of falling prey to alcohol abuse, illicit drug use, sexual promiscuity, and suicide."

Berry provided details of studies in his memorandum to support that claim.

Barnett argued for a 30-year sentence, the mandatory minimum. She said that Evans had never been in trouble before the investigation of this offense.

Evans also will "have a mark on his back" and will have to watch his back while being housed in a maximum security prison, Barnett said. "We believe that 30 years is a rational sentence for this offense," she said.

In Germany, where charges were dismissed for probable cause in the child abuse case, Evans would have served a maximum five years if convicted, Barnett said.

Barnett also asked the judge not to strap the Federal Bureau of Prisons with his health care costs as he ages.

Evans declined to say anything at the hearing.

Barnett said there was no evidence that the abuse occurred on more than one occasion.

Berry argued there was evidence that it happened more than one time - at least twice and prosecutors believe substantially more occasions.

Kallon, who had presided over Evans' trial, said he found the abuse happened at least twice, maybe more.

Evans, a former U.S. Army soldier, and his then-wife, a Department of Defense employee, were residing in Germany when they were asked to take temporary custody of a 5-year-old child whose parents were deployed to Iraq with the U.S. Army, according to the press release. Evans sexually abused the child on multiple occasions during the 18 months that the child lived with him from May 2007 to December 2008, according to the DOJ.

German authorities executed a search warrant at Evans' residence in

Heidelberg, according to Berry's sentencing memorandum. "That search and a subsequent search of defendant's (Evans') storage unit yielded multiple items that corroborated the child's allegations of abuse, including the sex toys she described that defendant used on her and the pornography defendant made

her watch as part of his grooming process. Included in that pornography were

hundreds of photos and videos depicting prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts."

Evans was convicted of possession of child pornography in Germany, according to Berry's memorandum.

Berry and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn Hutzell of the Northern District of Alabama prosecuted the case. U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division and the FBI's Birmingham, Alabama, Division investigated the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, according to a previous press release from federal authorities.

Led by U.S. Attorneys' offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood gathers federal, state and local resources together to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims, according to the press release.
Hoover Assault March 16.jpg

Hoover police arrested Christopher Ammons Kemp in a March 15, 2016 attack on his ex-girlfriend that severely injured her and killed her unborn baby.

(Hoover Police)

Update:

Earlier story:

A search for a man Hoover police say attacked his ex-girlfriend, leaving her seriously injured and killing her unborn baby ended early this morning.

Christopher Ammons Kemp, 29, was arrested early today, not long after Hoover police named him as a suspect in the attack. Birmingham police and an investigator with the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office took Kemp into custody about 1:30 a.m. in the Center Point area.

Hoover police were dispatched at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday to a report of an assault on Larkspur Drive. Capt. Gregg Rector said the 28-year-old female victim was found walking near the roadway. She appeared to have significant injuries.

The woman was treated on the scene and then taken to UAB Hospital by a Hoover Fire Department rescue unit. The victim, whose name police haven't released, was able to communicate with officers and told them she was about seven months pregnant. Detectives learned late Tuesday the baby didn't survive. The woman had been beaten.

The victim identified her attacker as Kemp, her ex-boyfriend.

"We don't yet know what prompted this brutal attack but it's just sickening,'' Rector said. "It really takes a special kind of evil to carry out a crime such as this."

"This innocent victim had previously been in a relationship with the suspect and he was clearly aware of the fact that she was pregnant,'' Rector had said before Kemp's arrest.. "This monster will be caught."

Kemp is being held in the Hoover City Jail awaiting formal charges, at which time he will be transferred to the Jefferson County Jail.

Updated at 5:45 a.m. to reflect Kemp's arrest.
Eric Allums doesn't usually watch the news, but when a report came on Monday night about the body of a woman found burned near a Birmingham dumpster, he found he couldn't tear himself away.

"It was just kind of weird,'' said the 19-year-old Allums.

He didn't know then why he was drawn to the story. But hours later, the Jefferson County Coroner's Office called his grandfather to say that the body was that of 44-year-old Angel Buford, Allum's mother. She was a former nursing assistant and the mother of three sons.

"He sat down and he had actively watched it all,'' said Le'Darius Hilliard, Buford's nephew who is prominent in politics among Birmingham's young Democrats. "That lets you know the bond they had."

Buford's body was discovered early Monday when police and firefighters responded to a north Birmingham apartment complex on a report of a dumpster fire. When they arrived, they found her burning body just outside a small apartment complex called the 1206 & 1208 on 10th Avenue North.

Neighbors spotted the flames, and then discovered the body next to the dumpster. Authorities said Buford was discovered at 12:14 a.m. and pronounced dead on the scene at 12:19 a.m.

An autopsy was done Monday. Police said Monday afternoon they are investigating Buford's death as a homicide and that she was possibly strangled. She had lacerations on her neck which possibly stemmed from strangulation.

Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said Monday evening that coroner's investigators have not yet determined the cause and manner of death. More tests are being conducted.

Buford's son, her nephew and her father, David Buford, tried to remember better times on Tuesday. "We're going to miss her, no doubt about it,'' her father said.

Buford, they said, grew up in west Birmingham and attended Jackson-Olin High School. Eventually she became a nursing assistant and had previously worked at UAB Hospital and Montclair Baptist Medical Center. She had three sons Rodericus, Eric and Malik, who is just 8-years-old.

She wasn't currently working, they said, and they didn't see her as much as she liked. "I talked with her three weeks ago,'' Allums said. "She told me she loved me."

Allums said his mother did the best she could, though she had her struggles. "She wasn't always there but she made a way," he said. "She made me happy. She wanted me to have a good life and stay in church and stay positive."

Allums said he attends Alabama A&M University, but is planning to transfer to another school to specialize in theater. He said his mom supported him, and wanted him to stay in school as well. "She was a very nurturing lady,'' he said. "She did what she could, even if it was just making dinner. She tried, and that's all I ever wanted."

Hilliard said his aunt was a loving person who had a passion for fashion. "Anybody who grew up with her, they always had nice stories about her,'' he said. "She was very outgoing."

Because Buford wasn't always around, family members said it wasn't unusual that they hadn't heard from her on Monday. Allums said he was drawn to the news reports, especially since he knew his mother had acquaintances in that area, but family members said it was a blow to find out Buford had died, and how she had died. "It was very shocking,'' her father said.

Hilliard agreed. "It's just a sad, unfortunate situation,'' Hilliard said.

Though authorities haven't officially declared Buford's death a homicide, family members have no doubt someone killed her. "Usually something this heinous is a crime of passion,'' Hilliard said.

The family is pleading for someone to come forward and give police the information they need to make an arrest in the case. "It would be closure,'' Hilliard said. "You want to make sure whoever had done this is brought to justice."

"You never expect this,'' he said. "This is the worst."

Community activists will hold a vigil in Buford's memory at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the site where her body was found.

Her oldest son, Rodericus Buford, was in Maine for work but is en route back to Birmingham to join the rest of the grieving family. He posted this on his Facebook page: "Don't wait until it's too late to talk to your loved ones! Cause time waits for no one and the devil is working! Life's too short to be so negative and spiteful. Forgive and pray. R.I.P to my mom, my best friend. Heaven has another angel."

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
A Fort Payne man was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years in prison in the death of his girlfriend, who died during a 2013 police chase that ended in a crash.

Franklin Ledel Blevins, 35, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of 32-year-old Leanna Elaine Ivey. Initially charged with murder and kidnapping, he was allowed to plead in a deal with prosecutors.

DeKalb County District Attorney Mike O'Dell said in a news release that Blevins had Valium, meth and amphetamines in his system at the time of the Sept. 4, 2013, crash. The case began early that morning when a resident on Godfrey Avenue North in Fort Payne called 911 and reported that Blevins had shown up there with a knife, looking for Ivey. The female homeowner, who was injured by Blevins, was able to run to a neighbor's house for help.

When officers arrived, they saw Blevins driving away in his truck, Ivey in the passenger seat. He refused to stop and took officers on a high-speed chase through the city before, at the intersection of Alabama 35 and DeKalb County Road 78, losing control and going airborne.

The truck left the roadway, flew about 190 feet and collided with a large tree. Ivey was killed on impact.

Blevins, who was on federal probation at the time of the crash, had to be airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga to be treated for injuries he sustained in the wreck. He was charged in Ivey's death last October.
wyatt ray sanford and car.png

Wyatt Ray Sanford, 8, of Arab has been missing since Monday. His mother, 40-year-old Belinda Ann Miller Curvin, took Wyatt out of school and fled with him in a Pontiac G6 similar to the one pictured. (ALEA)

The woman accused of taking her 8-year-old son from his school in Arab on Monday and fleeing with him has made contact with Arab police officials, but has yet to return the boy as ordered by a judge.

Belinda Curvin (WAFF 48)

Wyatt Ray Sanford's mother, 40-year-old Belinda Ann Miller Curvin, called the Arab Police Department Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, Assistant Chief Shane Washburn confirmed Wednesday.

"She has contacted us twice at this point. Both times, we have been able to speak to Wyatt," Washburn told AL.com. "He seemed okay. We briefly spoke to him and he seemed all right."

Curvin has not told officials where she and the boy are, however. She told a duty supervisor Tuesday evening that she "went on a little vacation with Wyatt."

Police officials had said that the boy could be in danger and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency on Tuesday morning issued a "Missing Child Alert" for Wyatt, who was last seen Monday around 1:30 p.m. at Brindlee Mountain Primary School in Union Grove. Curvin at that time took Wyatt out of school, reportedly telling school officials they were moving out of state.

Wyatt's father, Billy Joe Sanford of Arab, filed for sole custody on Tuesday, arguing in his petition that Curvin, before snatching Wyatt, had looted his home, stealing money from a safe, car keys and the vehicle those keys go to, a white 2010 Pontiac G6 with tag number 7022AR7. Prior to Tuesday, Sanford and Curvin shared joint custody of their son.

Sanford told the court that Curvin had threatened to kill both Wyatt and herself if he reported her to authorities. She also threatened to run to Texas with the boy.

Marshall County Circuit Judge Howard Hawk granted Sanford's motion for sole custody on Tuesday and ordered Curvin to return Wyatt to his father. He also ordered the Marshall County Sheriff, local police and other Alabama law enforcement to provide "reasonable and necessary" assistance in helping deliver the child to Sanford.

A hearing in the custody case is set for next month.

Sanford stated in his custody petition that Curvin has spent significant time in psychiatric wards of Crestwood Medical Center in Huntsville and Marshall Medical Center North. Department of Human Resources documents filed during a 2009 paternity case - in which Sanford fought for his rights to see his son - indicate that Curvin has five children from previous relationships who were given up for adoption because she could not care for them.

Washburn said that he and other investigators who spoke to Curvin encouraged her to remain in contact with them throughout the day so they can ensure that she and Wyatt are safe. Meanwhile, they are continuing to follow leads regarding the pair's whereabouts.

Anyone with information about Curvin or Wyatt's whereabouts should call 911 or contact the Arab Police Department at 256-586-8124.
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Maria Morris, managing attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center, announces a federal lawsuit against the Alabama Department of Corrections alleging that the system violates federal law by ignoring inmates' medical and mental health needs. Morris spoke outside DOC's offices in Montgomery, Ala., on June 17, 2014. Morris was joined by William Van Der Pol Jr., staff attorney for the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program, which is also taking part in the lawsuit, alleging discrimination against prisoners with disabilities. (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)

Alabama inmates with disabilities will soon receive the necessary treatment and services, under a recent agreement between the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Alabama Department of Corrections.

SPLC filed a lawsuit in June 2014 claiming that state officials knew about problems within the system but had not acted to bring conditions to a "humane and constitutional" level. The plaintiffs include 40 named inmates who offer details about their individual encounters with inadequate health care.

The agreement outlines steps ADOC will take to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. A monitor will oversee the implementation of the agreement's provisions.

"This agreement is an important commitment by the Alabama Department of Corrections to address the discrimination and hardship these prisoners have faced for far too long," said Maria Morris, SPLC senior supervising attorney. "Prisoners with disabilities must have an opportunity to serve the sentence they have received - not the sentence they must endure because the state fails to respect their legal rights."

Under the agreement, ADOC will do the following:

Appoint an ADA coordinator at each facility and hire a statewide coordinator

Provide ADA-compliant cells to house prisoners with disabilities

Offer ADA training for corrections personnel

Implement a system to ensure those with disabilities can access programs, including educational, vocational and rehabilitative services

Streamline the process of identifying and tracking prisoners with disabilities and create a plan to protect their safety in emergencies

Establish a separate grievance and appeal process for ADA issues

The settlement, filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, must be approved by a judge. If approved, it will resolve part of a federal lawsuit filed by SPLC and the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program over inadequate care for inmates.

"When we filed this lawsuit two years ago, we said the state must live up to the legal and moral responsibility that comes with imprisoning human beings," said William Van Der Pol Jr., ADAP staff attorney. "We are pleased that today the Alabama Department of Corrections is taking the first steps toward fulfilling this responsibility."

The lawsuit claims that prisoners with disabilities are housed in facilities that cannot safely accommodate them and that they have been denied devices like functioning wheelchairs or services like sign language interpreters.

Shortly before filing the suit, the SPLC and ADAP released a report, "Cruel Confinement: Abuse, discrimination and death with Alabama's prisons," alleging that the Department of Corrections is deliberately indifferent to prisoners' medical needs.

The 23-page report said DOC violates federal law protecting people with disabilities and the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

In response to the report, then-commissioner Kim Thomas issued a statement that the DOC was proud of its medical care and that the care is better than what most uninsured Alabamians receive. He also said DOC has allowed the SPLC and ADAP access to inmates for two years and that DOC has sought more information about the allegations but that the two groups have not responded.

Corizon and MHM, the two companies under contract to provide inmate health care released a joint statement saying that many of the allegations in the report were inaccurate or based on incomplete information.

The unresolved portions of the lawsuit are set for an Oct. 17 trial. Those remaining claims are related to the medical and mental health care of prisoners.

Baker Donelson and Zarzaur Mujumdar & Debrosse are serving as co-counsel on the case with the SPLC and ADAP.

"While we are pleased to have resolved these claims on behalf of prisoners with disabilities, this case is far from over," said Lisa Graybill, SPLC deputy legal director. "The Alabama Department of Corrections has known about the medical and mental health care problems in its facilities for years but has refused to address them. We look forward to the day we can say the state of Alabama is respecting the constitutional rights of all of its prisoners."
payday loan bill john harrison and danny garrett.jpg

State Banking Superintendent John Harrison, left, and state Rep. Danny Garrett answer questions at the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday. (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)

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Payday loan customers would pay less under a bill that won approval in an Alabama House committee today.

The House Financial Services Committee amended the bill to reduce the amount it would save customers before voting in favor of it.

Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, said he is optimistic the bill will pass the House and Senate and become law.

"It's a significant reduction in the fees and what the person will have to pay to get a loan," Garrett said.

Consumer advocates and some lawmakers have called for payday loan reforms for years.

Stephen Stetson, a policy analyst for Alabama Arise, which lobbies on behalf of low-income families, said the bill would be a step in the right direction.

"It's needed reform. It's not what we want, but this is the best shot at reform of payday lending in the House," Stetson said.

Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, has a different payday loan bill pending in the Senate.

Either piece of legislation would affect many people.

A database operated by the state Banking Department, which some payday lenders tried to block, showed last year that lenders issued 462,000 payday loans in Alabama over a 10-week period.

New numbers provided today by the Banking Department showed that 208,105 unique borrowers have taken out 1.3 million payday loans since the database was established Aug. 10, about 43,000 loans a week.

The updated numbers cover transactions through March 13.

The average loan amount was $322 and the average fee paid was $56. The average term was 19.6 days.

Under current law, lenders can charge fees of $17.50 per $100 borrowed for loans that must be repaid in as little as two weeks.

That equates to an annual percentage rate of 455 percent.

Garrett's bill lowers the maximum fee to $15 per $100 and would make the minimum term 30 days, effectively reducing the annual percentage rate to 180 percent.

Before today's meeting, Garrett's bill would have dropped the allowed fee to $12.50 per $100, an annual percentage rate of 150 percent.

The committee approved an amendment to set the minimum fee at $15.

State Banking Superintendent John Harrison told the committee he supported Garrett's bill.

"What we want to do is protect the customers of this state ... and also we've got some great licensees that absolutely do a good job and we want to protect them," Harrison said.

"When you don't have anybody happy, then you're getting pretty close to getting something that is workable and that will absolutely protect those consumers, and that's what we want to do."

Harrison later issued this statement:

"I thought it was a great reform bill before the amendment was added," he said. "It is still the best attempt at reform. With the data we are collecting, we will know if it is effective.

"As I've said before, when we walk out of a meeting and no one is happy, we assume that we've got something that protects consumers and lenders both."

Updated at 11:42 a.m. to add payday loan statistics from the state Banking Department. Updated at 1:54 p.m. to add quotes from Danny Garrett, Stephen Stetson and John Harrison. Updated at 2:04 p.m. to add statement from Harrison.
Spring Break 2016 is well underway and thousands of college students from across the U.S. have descended on Panama City Beach, Florida, for a week of boozy fun in the sun.

But Tuesday marked another important milestone for the Sunshine State, as voters headed to the polls to cast their votes in the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries, ultimately handing Donald Trump yet another huge win.

The youth vote is notoriously difficult for media outlets to parse, but AL.com hit the sand in Panama City Beach Monday afternoon and talked to dozens of students in an attempt to gauge young adults' opinions about this year's presidential contest.

The Trump phenomenon is easily the most prominent political story at the moment, and Spring Breakers were not shy about their feelings about the businessman-turned-GOP frontrunner. Of the dozens of students AL.com spoke to, only one had anything good to say about him.

The most common sentiment among students visiting PCB from as far as Chicago and Oklahoma and as near as just across the bridge in Panama City, was simple but vulgar: "F*** Trump."

Brooklyn Howell, a Democrat and Panama City native who was hanging out with friends on the beach Monday afternoon, was the first of many students to say those exact words.

"F*** Trump. Don't vote for Trump. I don't think Trump is a real politician, know what I'm saying? Who's going to take him serious?" she said, eliciting whoops of encouragement from her friends and passersby.

Roger Kilgore, a Democrat who attends Yale University, offered a more nuanced explanation for why he believes Trump should not become president. His belief that Trump is racist, a common thread among many Spring Breakers was a key part of his criticism of the candidate.

"I think he's a bigot," he said. "Donald Trump, he's so racist. You can hear it in what he says, you can hear it in how he acts."

Tristen Riddle, a student at the University of Oklahoma, was the only person to express a positive opinion on Trump, though even he has his reservations.

"He's a businessman. It'd be good for the economy," Riddle said. "I know he's racist and all that other BS, but he'd be good for the economy."

Aside from , students who self-identified as Republican also had little good to say about the 69-year-old former reality TV star.

Kira Brown, an avowed Republican and University of Oklahoma student, said she plans to vote for Ted Cruz and that she would not support Trump even against Hillary Clinton.

"Donald Trump, honestly, what the Hell?" she said. "He's going to f*** us up, and I would vote for Hillary Clinton if I had to."

Another college student in town for Spring Break, Khalil Clay, offered the following take on Trump: "F*** Donald Trump ... He's a reality TV star."

Clay's seemingly tongue-in-cheek solution to the lack of a candidate he believes in this year? Electing one of two popular rappers, Kanye West or Lil' B. West, who has floated the idea of a potential White House run, came up as a potential alternative candidate in multiple conversations with students.

But most students had clear reasons for opposing Trump and supporting other viable candidates.

"I want anyone but Trump. He's a reality TV star. Building a whole wall across Texas and making Mexico pay for it, that's just ridiculous," University of Kentucky student Derrius Robinson said. "Can't stand Trump, anything but Trump."

Georgia State University student Neteasa Griffin also criticized the Republican frontrunner.

"It's so sad. I can't believe he got this far," she said. "Anybody but Trump."
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A bill that would see the state borrow $800 million to build new prisons cleared its first hurdle Wednesday in the Legislature.

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A sweeping plan to build new prisons and close and consolidate old ones passed a key state Senate budget committee today, clearing its first hurdle and moving on to the full Senate for debate.

The Senate Finance Taxation General Fund Committee voted 15-1 to give a favorable recommendation to the bill.

While the vote was a slam dunk, there is still work to be done before the legislation gains final approval in the Senate and then the House of Representatives.

The legislation would authorize the state to borrow $800 million to build four new state-of-the art prisons and renovate two existing prisons.

If the Legislature eventually approves the plan that Gov. Robert J. Bentley is backing, the state would shut down all 16 maximum security prisons now in operation except two. The four new prisons - including a new women's prison to replace Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women - would house the bulk of the 24,000 inmates now in the system.

If the legislation is to make it to Bentley's desk for his signature, then lawmakers will have to find a way to compromise over a key provision of the bill: namely that one company do both the design and construction work on the new prisons.

That provision has run into strong opposition from architects, engineers and construction companies all of whom want to see design and build components separated, creating greater opportunities that many companies will be awarded contracts for work.

Bentley and Prison Commissioner Jeff Dunn said having one company design and build the prisons would save the state at least $100 million.

Some lawmakers are worried that the price tag of repaying the borrowed money - $1.5 billion over 30 years - may be too high.

The vote had been thought to be close on the committee. But two uprisings in the last few days at one of the state's highest profile prisons - Holman Prison in Atmore, which houses about 1,000 inmates including those on death row - may have added pressure on lawmakers to allow the bill to get out of committee today, which it did on a 15-1 vote.

Senators said that winning margin is misleading.

"The vote is close right now in the full Senate," said Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster who is a member of the committee and chairman of the Judiciary Committee. "There are concerns with the design-build components that we have to find a way to compromise on. Right now the governor is adamant that the concept remain or the bill is not affordable and the construction companies want everything opened up to multiple bids on all four new prisons."

Bentley in a press conference after the committee vote stressed that the prison plan will not be affordable unless one company does both the design of and building of at least three of the four new prisons.

Bentley left some wiggle room on the building of a new women's prisons which he indicated could be built under the traditional system that sees design and construction components separated allowing multiple companies to bid the project.

Bentley said, "we are willing to work with the Legislature to get this done" but added that the design-build provision for at least the new men's prisons must be part of the legislation or there will be no bill.

"There is no plan B," said the governor.

Sen. Priscilla Dunn, D-Bessemer, made an impassioned plea for the committee to move the bill to the full Senate for action.

"I'm concerned about prisons. I'm concerned about Tutwiler," said Dunn. "I'm looking at this as the only way to do what we all know needs to be done. What are we going to do? Sit around and talk about all this forever in the day? I think we need to do something, not just run our mouths but do something."

Alabama prisons are among the most overcrowded in the nation approaching twice the number of inmates they were built to hold. At the same time, the prison system has only a little more than half the number of corrections officers it needs to adequately supervise inmates.

For example, only 17 guards were on duty at Holman Prison when some inmates staged an uprising late Friday night. The prison holds almost a 1,000 inmates.

Tutwiler has become synonymous with prison abuse in America. For years women inmates suffered violence at the hands of guards, including sexual assult.
Florida senator drops out of US presidential campaign after being steamrolled in his home state by Donald Trump.

Four years ago, at the Republican convention in Tampa, a young senator from Florida took the stage.

Marco Rubio won his Senate seat after initially going up against the states sitting Governor Charlie Crist in the Republican primary.

At one point, he was 20 points behind, but harnessing the support of the right-wing Tea Party, he forced Crist out of the race.

There were huge expectations on the son of Cuban immigrants. If there was a next generation of conservative politicians, Rubio was close to the front of the line.





And he delivered.

His 2012 convention speech was widely cheered in the Tampa hall. People spoke enthusiastically of his performance, and at the time, I wrote that the only thing that seemed to be missing was the phrase, Im Marco Rubio and Im running for president.

Flash forward three years and that announcement came.

Rubio jumped into a crowded race, believing his youth, his background and his charisma would be enough, even though he was what Republicans had spent eight years accusing Obama of being: a one-term senator with little experience.

Still, he was Hispanic, a group the Republicans knew they had to reach after their defeat in 2012, and he was conservative enough to appeal to the base of the party. And he was articulate.

But for all of his strengths, there were two moments which damned his presidential campaign.

The first came after a respectable finish in the first nominating contest in Iowa, where he finished third, exceeding expectations and gathering vital momentum. He, and many analysts, painted that result as a win.

And he moved on to New Hampshire.

READ MORE: Will Republicans split over frontrunner Donald Trump?

But there on the debate stage, in just 90 seconds, he unravelled.

He was attacked by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who accused him of repeating himself  of using the same consultant-approved, focus-tested sound bites. And Rubio responded by repeating himself. He looked and sounded like a robot.

He went from a potential second place finish in New Hampshire to fifth. He told his supporters the loss was down to him and it would never happen again. And to be fair, on the debate stage it didnt.

But his campaign took the strategic decision that if it was going to win, it had to go after Trump.

And the political adage is: If you go to kill the king, you better succeed. He went on the attack and he got personal. He criticised the way Trump looked, suggesting his little hands meant other parts of his anatomy were small.

It was gutter politics and it backfired. Rubios numbers went down. Trumps went up. People didnt like what they heard and they punished the Florida senator.

If election campaigns can be won with memorable moments, they can be lost that way too.

And so the mantle of the establishment candidate to take down Trump moves on to John Kasich.

His win in his home state of Ohio breathes new life into the governors campaign and briefly blunts the Trump momentum.

He will hope he can pick up the real anti-Trump vote in future contests, but hed still need a turnaround of remarkable proportions to win the nomination.

Ted Cruz will insist he is the only real alternative. He stays second in the delegate count, but as much as people dont like Trump, they also dont like Cruz.

Rubio is young enough at 44 to think about running again. He will have learned his lessons from this failed campaign.

He will emerge a wiser, more experienced candidate, chastened by the experience and stronger for the extraordinary battle with Trump.
Ohio governor managed to win his home state but faces a tough road ahead in the battle for presidential nomination.

When John Kasich took to the stage to celebrate his primary win in Ohio, he achieved the minimum requirement of any presidential candidate: Winning the home state.

He had said he would. He really wanted to win in New Hampshire. He believed the nations first primary was fertile ground for his brand of Republicanism.

He committed a lot of time and resources but, like many others, he failed to fully appreciate the impact Donald Trump would have on the contest.





He finished runners-up to the businessman. In later contests, he secured a couple of respectable second places.

But he needed a win and Ohio delivered for him.

He was always focused on March 15, believing that would be the day his campaign would finally ignite.

Kasich entered the race last July.

A second-term governor and with high approval ratings in his state from both Republicans and Democrats, he took a different approach from that of his rivals.

While they were keen to talk up their anti-establishment credentials, Kasich wanted to let everyone know he was an insider, a moderate.

He had served in Congress and worked with Democrats to balance a budget. It took Kasich a while to do that.

Success came only towards the end of his 18 years in Congress but it was the last time the US not only had a balanced budget but one which produced a surplus.

Kasich had thoughts of running for the presidency in 2001 but that was short lived. He moved into the private sector instead, presenting a show on Fox News and going on to work for Lehman Brothers.

In 2009, Kasich became the governor in Ohio before winning the re-election four years later by a bigger margin.

READ MORE: Naomi Klein  I dont trust Hillary Clinton

While he likes to present himself as a moderate, someone who is willing to compromise to do the best for the people he represents, theres little doubt Kasich is a strongly conservative governor.

During the most recent campaign, he talked extensively about his working-class roots.

He keeps repeating the line about his father being a mailman which often brings groans in the media filing centre during debates.

And while he has managed to chart a more tempered appearance on stage, his frustration gives him the air of an angry man early on.

It was almost as if he couldnt believe a man with his talent and experience was behind in the polls.

READ MORE: Mexicans take a swing at Donald Trump pinatas

That he has survived in the race so long is a testament to his ability and likeability. But he is now third in a three-man field.

The least well known and from the poll numbers and the least popular.

And he has a problem: He cant win the nomination through the primary process.

There simply arent enough delegates available in the remaining contests to take him from where he is to where he needs to be.

Kasich would have to win every single delegate in every single contest from now to the convention, and even that wont be enough.

So Kasich has two choices: Drop out and make this a battle between Cruz and Trump. This is the best option available to him if he wants to stop the businessman.

The other choice he has is to hang on, pick up delegates and hope no candidate gets to the magic figure before the convention.

Its a long shot, but Kasich is hoping that, once again, when he needs it most, Ohio will deliver to the mailmans son.
During the first two weeks of March, at least 1,428 were arrested for breaching Hungarys border fence with Serbia.

Szeged, Hungary  When Walid set out from the besieged Gaza Strip two months ago, he never envisioned his welcome in Europe would include a jail cell and handcuffs, a courtroom and a judge.

Like many other refugees and migrants who have made it to Hungary, the 22-year-old Palestinian was arrested, charged and convicted for breaching the fence on the countrys border with Serbia.

Breaching the fence has been a crime since September 2015.

With a pair of armed guards at the door, Walid slowly walked in and sat next to his court-appointed translator on a wooden bench at the far end of the room.

With no laces in his scuffed sneakers, he was wearing the clothes he was in when apprehended several days earlier: a hoodie under an undersized travel jacket and a pair of worn-out blue jeans.

Less than an hour later, the judge had heard all the evidence, made up his mind and declared Walid guilty of breaching the border fence. The judge said that Walid was banned from Hungary for at least one year.

I think [Walids] hearing ran long today because there are journalists here, the translator told Al Jazeera, speaking on the condition of anonymity. It is usually much shorter.

More disturbingly, the courts often reach a guilty verdict and issue a sentence in as few as 15 minutes, handing down harsh sentences such as one-year bans from Hungary or from the European Unions Schengen zone.

This is a way of building legal fences as well as the physical ones, Nora Koves, a human rights expert at the Budapest-based Eotvos Karoly Policy Institute, told Al Jazeera.

The law itself violates the Hungarian constitution and European Union law, she said.

Died a thousand times

Andras Kovats, director of the Hungarian Association for Migrants, says that the legal process is very problematic from a legal and constitutional point of view.

On the one hand, these courts are very formal, quick and superficial processes, he told Al Jazeera.

However, on the other hand, Kovats points out that the courts have yet to sentence anyone to prison for breaching the fences, although the September 2015 legislation allows imprisonment for the offence. It is a kind of trade off.

Sitting in the waiting room outside the courtroom, five others who say they want to apply for asylum in Europe  Moroccans, Tunisians and Algerians  await their turn.

Walid, who was raised in Gazas al-Shati camp, waited more than two years before he was allowed through the Rafah crossing into Egypt. From there, he flew to Turkey and hired a smuggler.



WATCH: Refugees in Greece stranded as borders shut

The boat was very dangerous, he told Al Jazeera, referring to his dinghy journey with dozens of others across the Aegean to the Greek islands. We died a thousand times before we saw land.

With the help of smugglers and fellow refugees, he made it all the way to Hungary until he was caught by police. After breaching Hungarys fence on the Serbian border, he and four others were arrested and put in a detention centre on March 7.

Im sorry you cannot photograph me, but I dont want my parents to see me in handcuffs, Walid said, also asking that Al Jazeera withhold his surname. Its the first time Ive ever been arrested.

Asked why he left, he said simply: Occupation, siege, war, destruction, the [Palestinian] parties.

Since December 2008, Israel has launched three military offensives in the besieged coastal enclave.

The most recent Gaza war ended in late August 2014 after 51 days of fighting. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Israeli forces killed more than 2,200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, while Palestinian armed groups killed 72 Israelis, six of whom were civilians.

Then the siege and the fighting between the Palestinian factions. There isnt safety and theres no future, he said. You live death every day [in Gaza]. Normal people  we are the ones who pay the price.

Not a crime

On Wednesday, Hungary announced a nationwide state of emergency following the closure of the Croatian and Slovenian borders to anyone who does not have a valid European Union visa.

The interior ministry said an additional 1,500 troops and police officers will be deployed to the countrys 175-kilometre fence on the Serbian border.

Despite these measures, refugees and migrants have continued to make it to Hungary. During the first two weeks of March, at least 1,428 were arrested for breaching the fence, according to the Hungarian police.

The number of refugees and migrants in open camps and closed detention centres tripled in recent weeks, according to the rights group.

Laszlo Toroczkai, the mayor of Asotthalom, a Hungarian village on the Serbian border, argued that Hungary should not accept asylum seekers.

A hardline rightist and founder of the ultra-nationalist 64 Counties Youth Movement, Toroczkai was also one of the first advocates for a fence on the Serbian border when he started promoting the idea last summer as hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants passed through the country.

Do we have to accept everyone whose standard of living is worse than an average European Union citizens? Maybe its one billion people, he told Al Jazeera.

Yet, Erno Simon, a senior communications officer at the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, in Central Europe, insists that asylum seekers should not be punished for entering the country in an irregular manner.

According to the UN, for an asylum seeker, crossing a border is not a crime, he told Al Jazeera. It is absolutely a normal thing, even if an asylum seeker does it in an irregular manner  without the proper travel documents and without the proper visa.

IN PICTURES: Refugees attempt perilous Greece-Macedonia crossing

Back in the Szeged court, Walid sat across from the armed guards in the waiting room after his guilty verdict was announced. He explained that he still hopes to make it to Germany or Sweden.

Palestinians are already refugees. We have been occupied for almost 70 years. Now I am a refugee for a second time.

Follow Patrick Strickland on Twitter: @P_Strickland_
Mexico City, Mexico  Fernanda Garcia, 18, had to pick her way through the storeroom of her pinata store in Mexico City, but what she was looking for stood out from the cartoon superheroes and villains: that garish shock of yellow crepe paper hair, the brash suit, the pink-orange complexion.

Perhaps this version was not as sophisticated as the more expensive models available in the United States and Mexicos northern border states, but that hadnt deterred Fernandas customers from paying 420 pesos [$24] to bash other cardboard models like it to smithereens.

Were almost sold out: this is the last one, she said, tugging it out from behind Darth Vader and away from a boxers clinch with Batman. Weve had 20 orders over the last six months. The demand came out of nowhere: its because he started saying racist things about Mexicans. Weve sold more of him than we did of El Chapo [a Mexican drug lord] or Pena Nieto [the Mexican president]  and theyre big sellers.

The real Donald Trump has proved to be a political pinata in recent weeks, with Mexicos current president and his two predecessors all taking swings at the billionaire businessman and reality TV stars shrill, anti-Mexican rhetoric and proposals to build a wall across the 1,800-mile border between the two countries.

Trump would be an unmitigated disaster for the bilateral relationship, says Arturo Sarukhan, who served as Mexicos ambassador to the United States from 2007 to 2013. Impervious to facts and to reality, his zero-sum view of the relationship harks back to the 19th century, and his jingoism would scupper the strategic relationship built up after NAFTA [the North American Free Trade Agreement] and 9/11.

Trumps horrible about Mexicans

Like many Mexicans, Fernanda reacts with a mixture of hurt and derision when she hears Donald Trump describing migrants from her country to the US as rapists, murderers, and drug dealers.

So does Marcos Nieto, 21, who has been making pinatas since he was 12.

Trumps horrible about Mexicans, Marcos tells Al Jazeera. He says were the worst things that could exist. I think people like buying the pinata because we cant give him a smack in real life, he adds, smiling bashfully.

Americans need immigrants

Marcos and Fernandas shops make for a strip of vivid colour against the grey of Mexicos Chapultepec Avenue, though these are modern takes on the pinata tradition. A tour through 42-year-old pinatero Marcial Garcias shop proves that. Hes done 5ft reproductions of the Millennium Falcon, a T.Rex with viciously curved teeth  and even a small Ganesh pinata, for an Indian couples wedding

They never collected poor Ganesh, he laughs. He just hangs out here.

Having lived in California for seven years, where he qualified as a mechanical engineer from UCLA, Marcials take on the Trump phenomenon is more nuanced.

He can say what he wants. Its his country. I can always tell him not to come here, he says, shrugging.

But Americans need immigrants. We do the heaviest work. If our home country cant give us work, its logical we should go there, and be legal, and contribute. So Trumps wall idea is 100 percent Nazism for me. I find it scary that so many Americans agree with him. Its not just the Ku Klux Klan who likes him  even Latinos like him, making them racist against their own people.

Marcial sees pinata-making as a handicraft, an art learned from his father and developed through his extensive reading and love for documentaries, but, according to Mexico City-based conceptual artist Luis A Orozco, 41, cardboard political caricatures like the models made of Donald Trump belong to a different tradition.

The original pinata is a clay star with seven points  one for each of the deadly sins  which arrived with the Catholic traditions of Spain, and was traditionally smashed at pre-Christmas festivals called posadas. As Orozco explains, cardboard effigies parodying political figures  known as cartoneria  owe their lineage to the Easter Saturday tradition of burning models of Judas Iscariot.

As with everything in Mexican folk art, the cardboard model is a syncretic phenomenon, where colonial traditions were revived after the 1910 Revolution and given an authentically Mexican twist as part of the construction of a new national identity, he says.

The revival of old-style dances and festivals like the Day of the Dead have to be seen in this context. As with the cardboard effigies, these new traditions were helped along by the grafica popular engravings of figures such as Guadalupe Posada [a Mexican political print-maker and engraver], newspapers, early Mexican cinema, and  to a lesser degree  murals painted by Diego Rivera, which all glorified the older, colonial imports, he explains.

This revival happened in a time when there was a definite working, middle and upper class in Mexican society, and the crossover of the pinata and cartoneria across society traces the blurring of these class lines. You can see this reproduced in the popularity of these models with US Chicano and Latino communities. Cardboard models like the Trump pinata are stereotypes, really, like cactuses: they exist, and we like them, but we know that theres more to Mexico than this.

Pinatas are a family thing

Another pinatero, Gregorio Embarcadero, 54, looks on the trend for making political figures out of cardboard as a cash-in rather than a development in the tradition. His studio  La Vaca Morada or the Purple Cow  in Coyoacan is like a life-sized childrens playroom, with life-size cardboard versions of Lego models and Minecraft characters standing side by side with Iron Man.

Full-scale installations are his big passion, with one of his proudest achievements being a full reconstruction of the inside of the Star Wars Death Star, populated by models of all of the characters. A photo on his iPad shows him with his cardboard creations, recreating George Lucas famous pose with the population of his own imaginary universe.

READ MORE: Chasing an impossible dream across Mexico

Soft-spoken and serious, Gregorio quietly issues instructions to his two nephews, who are busy painting an Incredible Hulk model with carefully moulded, realistic abdominal muscles.

Im too sensitive to make models of Chapo or Pena Nieto or Trump, he says.

This is a family business, and pinatas are a family thing. Theres an innocence about making them: its like being a grown-up kid. I did knock out a Donald Trump for a client once, but I only spent an hour on it. He was just a hollow cardboard white guy in a suit, with a load of bright yellow hair flopping about on top. The only difficult part was making his chest and shoulders ample enough.
Religious and ethnic minorities feel the consequences of growing intolerance as mosques and asylum centres are targeted.

Rotterdam, the Netherlands  Charif Slimani, the imam of the Moroccan mosque in Roosendaal in the Netherlands, arrived early on the morning of November 14, 2015, to prepare his sermon for the Friday prayer.

He had not slept that night because of the attacks in Paris and had been contemplating what he should say during his sermon to address them. When he arrived at the mosque, however, he was surprised to discover that the prayer room was unusually empty.

There was smoke coming from the room and a heavy, penetrating smell of gas. We initially thought that a gas line had been broken, said Slimani, 42. So we decided to pray elsewhere.

The police arrived a few hours later and revealed that gallons of gasoline had been distributed throughout the prayer room. The perpetrator had tried but failed to start a fire.

The damage to the mosque was minor, but, the imam explained, the community was traumatised.

The fear, the worries, the feeling that you are not safe anymore: that damage is a lot worse. That hurts more than the material damage, he said. Although we have cameras, we ensure that there is always someone present to guard the mosque, also during the night.

Neo-Nazi symbols

It was neither the first nor the last hate crime to target Muslims in the country. A third of the mosques in the Netherlands have experienced at least one incident of vandalism, threatening letters, attempted arson, the placement of a pigs head, or other aggressive actions in the past 10 years, according to research by Ineke van der Valk, an author and researcher at the University of Amsterdam.

On February 27, in the Dutch city of Enschede, a 33-year-old man threw a petrol bomb at a mosque as adults and children worshipped inside.

The perpetrator was caught by non-Muslims living near the mosque and has since been charged with arson with terrorist intent.

Two days before this attack, Azzedine Karrat, the imam at the Essalaam mosque in Rotterdam, received a letter addressed to the mosque.

Pigs, said the text, followed by more insults. The letter warned the recipients to expect important visitors and included Nazi symbols.

I was quite shocked. Personally, I see this as a message from the far right, Karrat told Al Jazeera. About 20 mosques countrywide received similar letters.

Im worried, but it is not about me or the mosque, but about Muslims in general. I am worried about the situation in the country. It says something about the dislocation in the Netherlands. It is not a message that brings people together, the imam said.

Like many Muslims, he thinks that the threats and attacks on mosques are a result of fear and frustration among the non-Muslim population following the attacks in Paris.

Around 220 Dutch Muslims are believed to have travelled to join armed groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS), raising fears that they might carry out attacks in the Netherlands when they return, according to a Dutch secret service AIVD report.

Capturing growing fears

It is unclear, however, whether aggression towards Muslims is increasing as the police only started to record the specifically anti-Muslim nature of such attacks and discrimination in 2015. Initial findings are due to be published this summer.

The initiative to register the motives behind attacks and discrimination towards Muslims in the Netherlands came from Ahmed Marcouch, a member of the House of Representatives for the Dutch Labour Party.

We are likely to see an increase in the number of incidents because people have been made more aware of the problem, partly thanks to social media, and are encouraged to report such incidents, he told Al Jazeera. In the past, imams would have maybe thrown away such a letter without reporting it.

Apart from the threat posed by extremists, Marcouch thinks that the refugee crisis is also polarising Dutch society and boosting the popularity of right wing politicians, such as Geert Wilders, who leads the anti-Islamic Freedom Party.

This polarisation is worrisome, Marcouch said. It is a sentiment that has been building up for years, starting from the attacks of 9/11, the murder of Theo van Gogh, the hundreds of Dutch jihadists that have joined ISIL and now the refugee crisis. At first the influx of refugees was opposed, but even that has increasingly shifted to an opposition against other ethnic groups, particularly Muslims.

Threatening circumstances

The Netherlands took in about 59,000 refugees last year, almost double the number that arrived in 2014. Several demonstrations opposing the arrival of refugees have turned violent, dead pigs have been placed near asylum centres and local politicians have been threatened.

Jeyantha Kathiravelu is a member of the local municipal council in Sliedrecht. The 20-year-old received threats after a council meeting about the possibility of opening an asylum seekers centre. The threats were sent mainly by email and via social media and ranged from statements such as, dirty Muslim, go back to Morocco, to Im going to rape your rabbit and chop it into pieces, and I hope you will be the refugees first victim.

She said she was very shocked by the threats and believes that they must have come from somebody she knows socially as she never speaks in public about her pet rabbit.



European disunity: The rise of Islamophobia

What worries me most is that it must have been one of my Facebook friends, she said.

Kathiravelu, who is not Muslim and whose parents were refugees who fled Sri Lanka before she was born, said she is sometimes harassed on public transport, with people telling her to go back to her own country, and on social media by people commenting on the colour of her skin.

She feels afraid, she said. I rather not walk on the street in the evening. It makes me feel vulnerable. The situation has deteriorated in the last nine months. It seems there is no more reasonable middle ground.

But she remains optimistic. Eventually we housed 35 refugees in an empty school for a few months. When they had to leave people protested that the refugees should stay. The neighbourhood wanted to help their refugees to stay in Sliedrecht during the whole asylum procedure.

Imams Karrat and Slimani spoke of similar experiences. Both have witnessed initial protests against their mosques turn into good neighbourly relations after reaching out to the local community.

When we opened our mosque in 2014 we held an open weekend and invited the local community. Nearly 4,000 people visited the opening of our mosque, nearly all of them non-Muslims. Even many people who initially opposed the mosque came, and eventually changed their opinion, Slimani said.

We are an active part of Dutch society. We should stay together and not allow extremists from both sides to divide us.
Idomeni, Greece  Refugees keep arriving at the Idomeni camp on Greeces northern border with Macedonia in their thousands, becoming virtual prisoners as they are prevented from moving further into Europe.

They hope the current border closure might be lifted so they can continue their journey.

But freezing, wet weather conditions have turned the camp into an icy pool, making the wait in Idomeni impossible for many. The squalid conditions, combined with a shortage of food, medicine and drinking water have made the situation worse.

This has triggered tensions and a generalised sense of anxiety.

It has been reported that a mysterious leaflet depicting a printed map and instructions on how to pass through the closed borders to the west of Idomeni is being shared among the refugees.

So, unable to tolerate the conditions, about 2,000 refugees this week resorted to a desperate attempt to find a way around the border fence, in order to cross to Macedonia.

During this attempt nearly 80 reporters and aid workers, including the author of this story, were arrested by Macedonian police.

The attempt also resulted in the death of three refugees, who drowned trying to cross a river, and the detention of many others.
It is not anti-Americanism for Afghans to question the US military presence and the war on terror in Afghanistan.

Aimal Faizi is an Afghan journalist and former spokesperson for former Afghan President Hamid Karzai from 2011-2014.

The Taliban has rejected the Afghan governments offer for peace talks as futile and misleading, saying they would be contradictory in the face of the fresh deployment of US troops and continued US air strikes and night raids in Afghanistan.

Last weeks rebuttal came after the Pentagon deployed hundreds of new soldiers to back US elite forces in combat against the Taliban in Helmand, a strategic southern Afghan province. Beating the war drums, the Pentagon is convinced that the United States remains in an armed conflict with the Taliban  according to a December 2015 Pentagon report on the situation in Afghanistan.

In line with US war policy, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani persistently warns the Taliban to choose between peace and war.





We will crush those who choose to fight us, said Ghani speaking in a graduation ceremony of Afghan military officers last week. Chaired by the president, an Afghan National Security Council meeting last Tuesday ordered Afghan security and defence forces to repel Taliban threats.

Controlled chaos

In the big picture of the ongoing war, the US and the Taliban both use incidents as pretexts to reignite war in Afghanistan. Both pretexts remain remarkably consistent and serve each other.

Washington and Kabul must take steps to conclude the controlled chaos in Afghanistan by agreeing to end the Taliban drama once and for all.

ALSO READ: Regional common market would solve Afghanistans woes

In 2014, after President Hamid Karzais unwillingness to sign the security pact between Kabul and Washington, US officials and their intelligence communitys assessments were signaling concerns about the future of Afghanistan.

Washingtons narrative was that if the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) was not signed with Kabul, and if the US was unable to commit personnel and resources beyond 2014, the Afghan government would not be able to prevent the return of al-Qaeda to some parts of the country, and that the Talibans control over Afghan territory would grow.

James Dobbins, the US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the time, told Karzai: If there is no BSA, there will be no peace.

The US administration warned Karzai that the Taliban were tough fighters who had a strong Pakistani backing and a local support in Afghanistan and if the pact was not signed the potential for continued war and violence would be inescapable.

Now, fast-forward a year and half after the signing of the BSA between Kabul and Washington, and this picture is exactly what todays Afghanistan looks like. Earlier this year, US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter put the Afghans on alert when he said that there would be tough fighting seasons ahead in Afghanistan.

More intense fighting

James R Clapper, the US director of national intelligence, recently warned that fighting in Afghanistan will be more intense this year than 2015 and that Afghans will continue to face sustained attacks by the Taliban in 2016.

According to the Pentagon, the Taliban is capable of contesting and taking key terrains in Afghanistan and it poses a formidable and enduring challenge to the Afghan national unity government.

On the other hand, unidentified statements by faceless spokespeople from unknown addresses continue to give a voice to the mythical enemy in Afghanistan: the Taliban. They continue to reject calls for any possible end to the war. Peace is always preconditioned by the full withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan.

With different labels, today terrorists are able to carry out high-profile attacks in all parts of the country, more than ever before.

As American officials portray it, based and operating from Pakistan, the Haqqani terrorist group remains a key threat to peace and security in Afghanistan.

ALSO READ: Afghan peace talks  Pakistans credibility on the line

But how can Washington and Kabul win the war on the Taliban in Afghanistan when Sartaj Aziz, a senior aide to Prime Minister Sharif, publicly admitted during a recent trip to the US that the Talibans leadership is in Pakistan and under its countrys control?

How can Afghans believe that the war on terror is being won, when the Taliban leadership and the Haqqani group continue to enjoy freedom of action in Pakistan?

Misgivings and suspicions

And how can an ordinary Afghan be convinced that the US has not been able so far to press Pakistan curb the activities of these groups on its soil?

Such questions and the acknowledgments of top Pakistani officials  recently Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the prime minister, and previously Gen Parvez Mushrraf  about their grip on the Taliban cause a lot of misgivings and suspicions about Washingtons role in Afghan.

Ground realities make it hard for the Afghan people to swallow the idea that US troops are present to continue the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan. It is the growing strength of the foreign-backed terrorist groups and the failure of US military strategies to counter them, that further supports the notion that there will be no military solution to the war in Afghanistan.

More than 92,000 Afghans and about 2,172 US service personnel have been killed in Afghanistan over the past 15 years. Have no lessons been learned from past mistakes? Why is there insistence on repeating them?

War in Afghanistan is a creation and, therefore, Afghans are urging an end to a needless war. Ghanis government should cross-examine Washington on its policy towards Pakistan and the nature of its war on terror in Afghanistan.

Kabul should embrace a greater emphasis on diplomacy and regional cooperation with a commitment to regional peacemaking initiatives by China, Russia, India and Iran. A peaceful solution to the conflict in Afghanistan must be a top policy goal for all sides involved.

It is not anti-Americanism if Afghans question the US military presence and the so-called war on terror in their country, nor is it disengagement from the great American nation. We are simply resisting the war-making machine that has gripped our nation for too long.

Aimal Faizi is an Afghan journalist and former spokesman for former Afghan President Hamid Karzai from 2011-2014.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Chemical weapons are the ultimate psychological weapon for those who are willing to use them.

On the morning of March 16, 1988, Iraqi war planes and artillery pounded the Kurdish town of Halabja in northern Iraq with mustard gas and the deadly nerve agent sarin.

Some 5,000 people  mainly women and children  died on the day, and up to 12,000 have lost their lives since. The method was the same as the Ghouta gas attack in Damascus, on August 21, 2013, just over 25 years later.

In both instances a conventional pre-bombardment  to break windows and doors and to get people underground  was followed by the deadly chemical weapons, sarin and mustard agent.

Heavier than air  and with no windows and doors to stop the gas  it found its victims helpless and unprotected in underground cellars and air-raid shelters. These crimes against humanity were then followed up with a conventional bombardment to destroy the evidence.

Thankfully, as Adolf Hilter and Saddam Hussein eventually found out, there are always survivors of gas attacks aimed at annihilation  and justice will eventually prevail for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) and those in the Syrian regime responsible for Ghouta.

Some 28 years after Halabja, the Iraqi Kurds are once more under chemical attack from a tyranny, in this case under the banner of ISIL. On many occasions in the past two weeks, the Peshmerga, the fighting force of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, has been under chemical bombardment from ISIL.

This home-made dusty mustard  though not as toxic as the liquid produced by Saddam and the Syrian regime  has still killed a number and injured hundreds.

Last year, ISIL reportedly used the mustard agent a number of times against the Peshmerga in the Mosul Dam area, and against civilians in the northern Syrian town of Marea.

It is highly likely that without that no-fly zone, we would have seen millions of Iraqi Kurd refugees in Europe, as Saddam was bent on their extermination, which began with the Anfal campaign of the 1980s, and is synonymous with the poisonous gas attack on Halabja in 1988. by

Reports from Iraq over the past weekend claimed that ISIL launched a chemical attack in Taza, near Tikrit, with mustard agent on two occasions, killing one person and injuring 600.

The Peshmerga is well familiar with chemical attacks, and many experienced the complete range at Halabja and in dozens of chemical attacks during the Anfal campaign.

Now they face this most terrifying of weapons again from ISIL with little or no protection.

However, some protection and knowledge will not only undoubtedly save lives but will also nullify this weapon that threatens to tip the balance of this battle in ISILs favour  especially if Western forces do not commit ground troops with chemical warfare experience.

It is the Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces, who are putting up the sternest fight on the ground against ISIL. But if a no-fly zone and safe havens were in place in Syria and Iraq  similar to the ones imposed by the United States-led coalition in 1991, which stopped Saddam forces annihilating the Iraqi Kurds  they probably would be pushing ISIL forces back towards Mosul and then Raqqa.

It is highly likely that without that no-fly zone, we would have seen millions of Iraqi Kurd refugees in Europe, as Saddam was bent on their extermination, which began with the Anfal campaign of the 1980s, and is synonymous with the poisonous gas attack on Halabja in 1988.

OPINION: Safe havens are needed in Syria  more than ever

The fear of chemical weapons is the real terror of war. Less than 0.5 percent of casualties during World War I were attributed to chemical weapons, yet the Great War has become synonymous with their use.The current conflict in Syria and Iraq depicts a similar picture.

ISIL employs a morbidly brilliant psychological warfare, and chemical weapons are the ultimate psychological weapon against all their enemies.

As ISIL loses more ground and gets pushed back towards Raqqa, it will use every means at its disposal to hold off defeat. In the aftermath of Taza and Sinjar attacks, chemical weapons could be employed again.

If the Peshmerga and the Iraqi army can take Mosul and push ISIL out of Iraq, the defeat of the terror group on the ground will be in sight. With that the chances for some sort of stability in the region will be in our collective grasp.

But first these ground troops must be prepared for more chemical attacks, and the West must not let the Kurds down again and leave them to face another Halabja.

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon is a chemical weapons adviser to NGOs working in Syria and Iraq. He is a former commanding officer of the UK Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Regiment and NATOs Rapid Reaction CBRN Battalion.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
All Putins manoeuvrings are to secure short-term Russian interests while Obama feels he has none to defend in Syria.

Vladimir Putins unpredicted announcement of a withdrawal of the main part of Russian military forces from Syria has hit many as a huge surprise, even a shock. Many thought Russia was going to put down permanent roots, turning Syria visually and actually into a client state.

Surely, many commentators said, Russia was there for the duration to oversee a complete Syrian regime victory, so how come he is leaving?

This raises serious questions both to Putins original intentions in intervening in September and his rationale for a withdrawal six months later.





Back in September there was huge shock, too. But was a wounded Russia, smarting from Libya and Ukraine, going to allow the Syrian regime to fall and the United States to take credit for yet another regime change?

Turn over the table

As Frank Underwood, the lead character from the House of Cards, is fond of stating, If you dont like how the table is set, turn over the table. Putin did just that.

The history of the interceding months demonstrates how Putin has dominated the Syrian political scene, hoarding the key cards to himself, and reinforcing Russias key interests.

ALSO READ: Did Putin trump Obama in Syria?

The cessation of hostilities was Putins crowning achievement, permitting both a resumption of a political process that he can manipulate and a partial withdrawal of Russian forces. Russia proved how indispensable it was to the resolution of the Syria crisis.

The cessation of hostilities was Putin's crowning achievement, permitting both a resumption of a political process that he can manipulate and a partial withdrawal of Russian forces. by

Although many actors, from the Syrian opposition to Turkey and Saudi Arabia, are furious, all have to acknowledge Putins supremacy.

The Russian president has suffered no isolation among Arab leaders, many of whom have jetted off to Moscow. Both Muhammad Bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and Muhammad Bin Zayed of the UAE met Putin in Sochi in the autumn.

US-orchestrated regime change is is out of the question. Mass popular protests, anathema to a regime like Putins, failed. Add in the Russian airbase Hmeimim and an expanded port at Tartous, and it is clear the rewards for Putin have been huge.

Why a withdrawal now?

So why a withdrawal now? Putin is cashing in his chips. He gives the appearance of leaving, even if Russian forces will very much remain. Nobody is arguing even on the fringes that he is doing so from weakness, chased out of the Levant as the Soviets were in Afghanistan or the Americans in Iraq.

He has navigated his way through the minefield, with barely any loss of Russian life, low costs and avoided, for now, the danger of getting bogged down. The Russian economy could have survived a more protracted engagement, but why drain the sparse coffers of more than is needed.

A partial pull back allows him to offset any fallout with oil-rich Gulf monarchies. They are grudgingly admiring of Putins determination to stick by his ally and deploy force strategically.

The decision is also easily reversible. Putin can slow or speed up the process at will. No deadline was given. His planes are still bombing Palmyra. All Russias gains can be protected. The S-400 anti-aircraft missile system ensures all talk of a no-fly zone remains mute.

Timing is political

The timing is all political not military. This announcement was made deliberately for the start of the Geneva talks. Putin can be blunt in his messaging (Litvinenko!)  we are meant to get the point. If the military bombing was a monster keep-out message to Washington, the withdrawal is a message to Bashar Al Assad and to other key players in the regime. Russia calls the shots, not you.

The Kremlin has been quietly seething over Assads stonewalling over countless requests for confidence-building measures.

The Russian military were also dismissive of the Syrian militarys performance. The big question is  was this meant to push the regime to negotiate seriously in Geneva, or for Assad to move aside for a more acceptable Putin puppet?

ALSO READ: Moscow and Washington are not that far apart on Syria

Putin can now pose as being all pro-peace. He boasted that: The effective work of our military created the conditions for the start of the peace process.

Far from his Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov having to fend off heated criticism, he will be able to challenge others claiming that they are withdrawing forces for peace and what is everyone else doing?

Russia may sidestep any failure in the talks, even though Russian bombers killed around 2,000 civilians, displaced hundreds of thousands and pummelled an extensive array of hospitals, schools and other civilian infrastructure.

So is Putin the grandmaster or the Kremlins version of Frank Underwood? He has played his cards effectively and brutally while Barack Obama looks bereft of ideas, no sign of a plan and worse, lacking interest.

All Putins manoeuvrings are to secure short-term Russian interests while Obama feels he has none to defend in Syria. The tragedy is that neither leader has a strategy to help Syrians.

Chris Doyle is the director of the London-based Council for Arab-British Understanding (CAABU). He is regular opinion writer on the Middle East and arranges delegations of British Parliamentarians to the region.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Argentinas navy said four people on the boat were rescued and arrested, as China requests full investigation.

Argentinas navy says that it used gunfire to sink a boat Chinese-flagged boat that was fishing illegally in national waters.

Chinas government said it expressed its serious concern to Argentina and called for an investigation.

The navy statement said on Tuesday that the boat was intercepted a day earlier off the coast of Puerto Madryn, about 1,460km south of Buenos Aires.

The statement said the boat did not heed warning calls and instead tried to ram an Argentine naval vessel. Sailors then shot holes in different parts of the fishing boat, causing it to sink, the navy said.

Four people on board were rescued and arrested. They remained in custody and were to go before a federal judge in southern Chubut province, the statement said.

READ MORE: Anti-China sentiment flares up in Vietnam

The navy said it had been 15 years since one of its vessels last sank a foreign vessel fishing illegally in Argentinas waters.

In Beijing, Lu Kang, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, posted a statement on the ministrys website saying the boat had been fishing in Argentine waters and was chased for several hours before Argentine naval fire holed the vessel.

It said four Chinese citizens were picked up by the Argentines and 28 more were rescued by a nearby Chinese vessel.

The statement did not directly address the question of whether the boat was fishing illegally or tried to ram the Argentine navy vessel.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy to Argentina have lodged urgent representations with Argentina, expressing serious concern, urging Argentina to carry out a full investigation immediately and to inform China of the details, to protect the safety and lawful rights of Chinese sailors, and to take effective measures to avoid similar incidents, the statement said.
Explosion rocks bus carrying government officials in northwestern Peshawar, killing 15 and wounding more than 30.

A bomb planted on a bus carrying government officials exploded in northern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people.

Police superintendent Kashif Zulfiqar told Al Jazeera that more than 30 people were also wounded.



Peshawar school attack survivor recounts his story

The bus was bringing dozens of government employees to work from Mardan when the bomb went off near Sunehri Masjid in Peshawar, a busy area of the northwestern city.

The blast was really loud  the windows of the buildings nearby were shattered, witness Usama Hussein told Al Jazeera over the phone.

The roof of the bus was completely blown off by the bomb. I saw many dead bodies and severely injured people being rushed to the hospital.

The attack was the latest in Peshawar, which has been plagued by bombings and gun assaults by the Pakistan Taliban.

These cowardly attacks cannot shatter our unflinching resolve against terrorism, Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister, said in a statement condemning the attack.

A group linked to the Pakistani Taliban said it carried out the attack in revenge for death sentences given to 13 of its fighters on Tuesday.

A suicide bomber killed 13 people on March 8 after blowing himself up outside a court in Charsadda, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, about 30km from Peshawar.

Pakistan has fought home-grown fighters since 2004 when the Taliban, displaced by the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan, began a campaign in border tribal areas.
Critics in Brazil denounced reports that beleaguered President Dilma Rousseff will appoint her popular predecessor to the cabinet amid a barrage of new accusations in a growing corruption scandal threatening her government.

Unnamed presidential aides told Reuters news agency on Tuesday charismatic Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva  Brazils first working-class president  decided to accept a ministerial position in Rousseffs cabinet, a move that would offer him protection in the short-term from prosecutors who have charged him with money laundering and fraud.

The appointment of Lula as minister shows Brazilians that the governments only concern today is to survive at any cost, opposition leader Aecio Neves said in a Twitter post.



Thousands protest in Brazil demanding presidents resignation

One of the presidential aides, who asked not to be identified so he could speak freely, said Lula, a talented negotiator, would take charge of legislative affairs, where he could leverage his close ties to congressmen from the ruling Workers Party to rally votes for the government.

The possible return to public office of Lula, who stepped down in 2010 after eight years in power as one of the worlds most popular leaders, was slammed by critics as a desperate attempt to shore up support for Rousseff as she faces impeachment proceedings in Congress.

Rousseffs popularity has been pummelled by Brazils worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, and the spreading corruption investigation focused on state-run oil company Petrobras.

More than a million people marched in demonstrations across Brazil on Sunday, calling for her to step down and voicing support for the investigations into kickbacks by contractors to political leaders in exchange for work with Petrobras.

Plans to announce Lulas appointment were overtaken by the publication of damaging new allegations from a Workers Party senator in a plea-bargain testimony made public by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

The testimony by Senator Delcidio do Amaral, a close ally of the president until he was arrested last year, accused both Rousseff and Lula of being aware of corruption at Petroleo Brasileiro SA, the Brazilian oil company, and said the president had tried to hamper the investigation.

READ MORE: Brazil ex-president charged with money laundering

In the most damaging allegations, Amaral said Aloisio Mercadante, a Workers Party veteran who has served as Rousseffs chief-of-staff and is now education minister, offered to pay him to keep quiet last year.

Mercadante called a news conference to deny the accusation, that was based on a recording of two meetings between the minister and Amarals personal secretary.

Presidential aides said that the accusations had overshadowed any announcement of Lula joining the cabinet. We were hoping to change the mood with Lulas appointment, but this recording is another huge blow, one aide told Reuters.
Tens of thousands call President Dilma Rousseff to resign after decision to appoint her predecessor as chief of staff.

Protests have erupted across Brazilian cities after President Dilma Rousseff appointed her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as chief of staff and a taped conversation fed opposition claims the move was meant to shield the former leader from prosecution.

Tens of thousands of protesters on Wednesday took to the streets of the capital Brasilia and Sao Paulo, the countrys financial hub, demanding Rousseffs resignation.

Critics said Lulas appointment as chief of staff could help him avoid possible detention in an expanding corruption investigation that has now touched the top of Brazils political leadership.

Brazil cannot continue with them any more, opposition politician Rubens Bueno said. They are using their positions to stay in power at all cost.

But Rousseff rejected the accusations, saying Lula was chosen for his experience and strong record of championing sound economic policies.

He is going to help; we are going to look at returning to growth, fiscal stability and controlling inflation, Rousseff said.

Meanwhile, the federal judge overseeing the graft probe said in a court filing released on Wednesday that taped telephone conversations showed that Lula and Rousseff considered trying to influence prosecutors and courts in favour of the former president.

He admitted, however, that there was no evidence they actually carried this out. One recording, made public by the court, showed Rousseff offering to send Lula a copy of his appointment in case it was necessary.

Brazil recession





The head of the government coalition in the lower house of Congress, Jose Guimaraes, confirmed Lulas appointment on Twitter after a meeting of Rousseff, the former president and senior ministers on Wednesday morning.

The move offers Lula short-term protection from prosecutors who have charged him with money laundering and fraud.

Lulas return to government may also spell a change of economic tack, as he has openly criticised austerity efforts and called for more public spending to end Brazils worst recession in decades.

Brazils currency slid nearly 2 percent on Wednesday and has lost almost 7 percent this week as Dilmas invitation to Lula raised expectations of a sharp policy swing.

Fresh accusations

Lulas return to Brasilia on Tuesday was overshadowed by a barrage of fresh corruption accusations by Senator Delcidio do Amaral, a close Workers Party ally of the president until he was arrested last year.

In plea bargain testimony, Amaral said Rousseff knew about a massive graft scheme at state-run oil company Petrobras and one of her ministers had tried to buy his silence.

BRAZIL: Central Bank chief, Alexandre Tombini, threatens to step down if Lula da Silva takes Cabinet position, according to media reports.  Gabriel Elizondo (@elizondogabriel) March 16, 2016

Rousseffs popularity has been pummelled by Brazils worst economic downturn since the Great Depression and the two-year-old corruption investigation arising from Petrobras.

More than a million people marched in demonstrations across Brazil on Sunday, calling for Rousseffs impeachment and applauding the corruption probe that has turned up evidence of political kickbacks paid by Petrobras contractors.

Once appointed, Lula can only be tried in the Supreme Court, placing him out of the reach of ongoing state and federal probes.
Chinas premier has promised more market-opening reforms and said China can keep slowing growth on track.

The remarks are seen as aimed at reassuring local labourers and global markets about the outlook for the worlds second largest economy.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Li Keqiang promised to shrink steel and coal industries, make the financial system more market-oriented and reduce the governments role in business.

He expressed confidence that despite such painful changes, Chinas economy can achieve its official growth target of 6.5 to seven percent and avoid mass job losses.
Indonesian security forces killed two ethnic Uighur Chinese belonging to a violent network led by the countrys most wanted man who has pledged allegiance to ISIL.

Indonesia has launched a military campaign in the jungles of Sulawesi island as it battles the threat from growing domestic support for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (also known as ISIS).

Police said on Wednesday that the men  part of Chinas Uighur Muslim minority  had joined the East Indonesia Mujahidin group led by Abu Wardah Santoso, Indonesias most high-profile ISIL backer, who is based in Poso in central Sulawesi.

Santoso has been on the run for more than three years.

READ MORE: China: 28 terrorists killed in Xinjiang operation

Tuesdays shootout followed a challenge by security forces to a group of unknown men to identify themselves during an operation to comb through a forested area of Poso, which is more than 1,600km northeast of Jakarta, the capital.

Based on testimony from another suspect we had arrested, those two were identified as Uighurs, said central Sulawesi police spokesman Hari Suprapto, adding that authorities had notified the Chinese embassy in Jakarta.

A Chinese embassy press official declined a Reuters news agency request for comment.

Four other Uighur men were jailed last year for attempting to join the same network.

Authorities say that they have cornered Santonsos group after the manhunt.

We have been successful in surrounding them. Their supplies have started to dwindle, chief security minister Luhut Pandjaitan told reporters last week.

We hope Santoso will surrender, but we are prepared for the worst-case scenario.

Asked for an expected timeframe, he gave no details.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Uighurs keen to escape unrest in their far western Chinese homeland of Xinjiang have travelled clandestinely via Southeast Asia to Turkey.

China says that they often end up crossing into Syria and Iraq to fight for ISIL.

Hundreds of people have been killed over the past few years in resource-rich Xinjiang, strategically located on the borders of Central Asia, in violence between Uighurs and ethnic majority Han Chinese.

Beijing has blamed the unrest on religious fighters, though rights groups and exiles say anger at Chinese controls on the religion and culture of the Uighurs is more to blame. China denies any repression in Xinjiang.
Police identify man killed during counterterrorism raid in Brussels and warn of two suspects who are on the run.

Belgian authorities have given warning that two suspects are still on the run, while identifying a man shot during a counterterrorism raid connected to last years Paris attacks.

The police killed a 35-year-old Algerian, Mohamed Belkaid, on Tuesday after a confrontation ensued when investigators tried to search a flat in the Brussels neighbourhood of Forest.

Belkaid was living in Belgium illegally and was known to police and judicial authorities only for a theft committed in 2014, the state prosecution said.

When investigators later entered the flat, they found a Salafist book and a Kalashnikov rifle next to Belkaids body.

They also discovered a flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group in the flat, as well as a large amount of ammunition.

No explosives were found, the prosecution said.

Identities unknown

Belkaid was shot as he was about to open fire on police from a window, Thierry Werts, prosecution spokesman, said.

Two other people who are also thought to have been in the flat were able to escape and remain on the run, the prosecution said.

Their identities are unknown.

However, Belgium will not change its status of alert, which stands at Level Three, Charles Michel, prime minister, said on Wednesday, following a meeting of the National Security Council.

It includes the ministers responsible for security matters and officials from intelligence services.

This is one stage short of the highest alert level.

It signifies a possible and likely menace, Michel said, adding that police and military forces would remain out on the streets.

Our intention is to remain fully mobilised, he said.

Appeal for calm

Michel called on people to remain calm and assured them the security services were working to contain any threats.

Al Jazeeras Emma Heyward, reporting from Brussels, said: It is very much a live investigation  . There are deep concerns about where [the two men] could be hiding out.





But this is something that Brussels is getting used to. Not on the scale that we saw last night here, but there had been more than 100 raids since the attacks in Paris.

The attacks on the French capital last November left 130 people dead and hundreds injured.

Dozens of private garages and a storage space were also searched, but nothing was found.

No details could be given at present on a further raid conducted in a nearby neighbourhood, Werts said.

Brussels has helped with the investigation into the Paris attacks, as several of the suspected perpetrators had links to Belgium.

Separately, France detained four people on Wednesday near Paris on suspicion of plotting the November violence.

One person was known to French authorities due to an existing prison record and was thought to have links with ISIL in Syria, Bernard Cazeneuve, interior minister, said.

Three accompanying suspects were also detained.
Two suspected female attackers blow themselves up inside and outside a busy mosque in northeastern Maiduguri city.

Two female bombers killed at least 22 worshippers in an attack on a mosque on Wednesday, Nigerian rescue officials say.

The attack took place on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Maiduguri  the birthplace of the Boko Haram armed group.

Abdul Mohammed, of the State Emergency Management Agency, told The Associated Press news agency that another 17 people were wounded in the explosions early on Wednesday.

Abba Aji, coordinator of the civilian self-defence Vigilante Group, said that one bomber blew herself up inside the mosque and the second outside as survivors tried to flee.

Aji said the mosque is in Umarari on the outskirts of the city that is now the command centre of the Nigerian militarys war against Boko Haram.

While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, blame will probably fall on the insurgents.

Boko Haram has increasingly used suicide and bomb attacks as Nigerias military pushes the group out of territories they once controlled. Several bombers have blown themselves up in recent months at roadblocks into the city manned by the military and vigilantes.

The US military calls Boko Haram the most violent armed group in the world.

Some 20,000 people have been killed and about 2.3 million displaced since it started its violent campaign in 2009.

Children have been particularly targeted by Boko Haram and have often been the victims of sexual abuse, forced marriage, and abductions.
21-year-old gets 15-year punishment after allegedly trying to steal propaganda poster from his hotel.

North Koreas highest court has sentenced an American tourist who allegedly attempted to steal a propaganda banner from a restricted area of his hotel to 15 years of hard labour in prison.

Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate, was convicted and sentenced in a one-hour trial on Wednesday morning at the Norths Supreme Court. He was charged with subversion.

No further details were immediately available.

Warmbier was arrested in early January as he tried to leave the country after visiting as a tourist with a New Years tour group.

In a statement made before his trial, he told a gathering of reporters in Pyongyang that he wanted the political banner as a trophy for the mother of a friend.

North Korea regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow its government to enable the US-backed South Korean government to control the Korean peninsula.

Warmbier was arrested while visiting the country with Young Pioneer Tours, an agency specialising in travel to the North, which is strongly discouraged by the US State Department.

He had been staying at the Yanggakdo International Hotel, on an island in a river that runs through Pyongyang.
Mohammed Rashid al-Ajami was sentenced to life in prison for allegedly insulting the emir of Qatar in 2011.

Qatar has pardoned an imprisoned poet who spent nearly five years in jail for allegedly insulting the Gulf states former emir.

Mohammed Rashid al-Ajami was sentenced to life in prison on November 29, 2011, for insulting the Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and spreading incendiary material.

He was arrested in 2011 after the publication of his Jasmine poem, which was critical of governments across the Gulf region following the uprisings of the Arab Spring.

In 2013, Ajami was granted an appeal after his jail term was reduced to 15 years, but his sentence was upheld by Qatars highest court. His only recourse was to appeal to Qatars current emir for clemency.

According to Abdullah al-Athbah, editor-in-chief of the Doha-based Al Arab newspaper, Ajami, received a pardon from Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Tuesday.

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights confirmed to the Associated Press news agency that Ajami had been released.

Rights groups hailed his release, with London-based Amnesty International calling it long overdue good news.
Survey ranking countries on peoples health, family relations, job security and social factors places Burundi at bottom.

Denmark is the happiest country in the world with Burundi sitting bottom of the 157-nation UN-sanctioned World Happiness Report 2016.

The Scandinavian nation, with a population of 5.6 million, has topped the list twice before since the world body started measuring happiness around the world in 2012.

Top 10 happiest nations 1. Denmark 2. Switzerland 3. Iceland 4. Norway 5. Finland 6. Canada 7. Netherlands 8. New Zealand 9. Australia 10. Sweden

The report, released on Wednesday, ranks the countries on a variety of factors: peoples health and access to medical care, family relations, job security and social factors, including political freedom and degree of government corruption.

Denmark, where women hold 43 percent of the top jobs in the public sector, is known for its extensive and generous cradle-to-grave welfare.

Few complain about the high taxes as, in return, they benefit from a health system where everybody has free access to a general practitioner and hospitals.

Taxes also pay for schools and universities, and students are given monthly grants for up to seven years. Many feel confident that if they lose their jobs or fall ill, the state will support them.

Jeffrey Sachs from Columbia University, one of those behind the report, says that happiness and wellbeing should be on every nations agenda.

Human wellbeing should be nurtured through a holistic approach that combines economic, social and environmental objectives, he said in a statement.

Ministers of happiness

The report also highlighted efforts some countries were making in ensuring that its citizens remained happy.

Four national governments  Bhutan, Ecuador, the UAE and Venezuela  have appointed ministers of happiness responsible for coordinating their national efforts, the report said.

There are many more sub-national governments that are now committed to designing policies enabling people to live happier lives.

UAE, however, suffered a slip down the rankings, falling from 20 in 2015 to 28 in the latest list which can be accessed here.

The US features at 13, the UK at 23 and Saudi Arabia sits 34 on the list.

While Scandinavian countries dominate the top-10 list, the bottom of the list is populated by countries destabilised by war, conflict or disease.

Syria (156) is preceded by Togo, Afghanistan, Benin, Rwanda and Guinea.
Reported air raids on a busy market in Haja province reportedly killed dozens of civilians, health officials say.

The Saudi-led coalition conducting an air campaign in Yemen said on Wednesday that it was investigating reports of mass casualties from air strikes on a market packed with civilians in the northwest

Varying death tolls were reported but it was clear many Yemenis were either killed or injured in a series of strikes.

Three attacks killed at least 41 civilians and wounded another 75 on Tuesday, one health official said. Other reports said coalition aerial bombing in Mustaba district had killed many more civilians.



Civilians caught in the crossfire of battle for Yemens Taiz

The number of casualties has risen to 102 killed and 44 injured, Ayman Madkour, head of the local health ministry office, told Reuters news agency.

He said nine bodies were charred beyond recognition and most of the wounded had suffered severe injuries.

The global charity Doctors Without Borders said more than 40 people  all of them civilians, including an eight-year-old in critical condition  were admitted to Abs hospital, in Haja city.

Haja province borders Saudi Arabia.

The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels described the air strikes as a massacre.

A Saudi-led coalition statement issued on Wednesday in Arabic said that an investigation was under way. Repeated calls by Al Jazeera to military spokesman Brigadier-General Ahmed al-Asseri received no answer.

READ MORE: Military action in Yemen  whos for, whos against?

Saudi Arabia and its allies, mainly Sunni Gulf countries, launched an air campaign in March 2015 against the mostly Shia rebels who control large parts of Yemen. Saudi Arabia fears the Houthis will give its regional rival, Iran, a foothold on the Arabian Peninsula.

More than 6,000 people  half of them civilians  have been killed in Yemens conflict since the Saudi-led intervention began, according to the United Nations.

Last month, as many as 25 civilians were killed when an air strike hit a market in the north of the impoverished country.

UN officials have called on the Saudis to halt the air campaign
After days of speculation, feared ISIL military commander confirmed dead after being wounded in US air strikes.

Correction: This story incorrectly cited an outdated news wire suggesting Omar al-Shishani was still alive. He has now been confirmed dead by multiple sources.

Omar al-Shishani, a top ISIL commander who was a magnet for fighters from the former Soviet Union, has died of wounds suffered in a United States air strike in Syria, a senior Iraqi official and a Syrian activist group said.

Shishani, whose real name is Tarkhan Batirashvili, was wounded this month and died on Monday outside the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levants main stronghold of Raqqa, in Syria, the sources told the AP news agency. A US military spokesman confirmed the reports.

However, the father of the commander, Teimuraz Batirashvili said on Wednesday that the information was incorrect.

All is a lie. He is not even wounded. He is fine, he told Georgian TV crews outside his house in Georgias Birkiani village, saying trusted sources had confirmed to him his son was healthy and continues to do his work. Batirashvili did not name the sources.

The red-bearded Shishani, from a small village of Birkiani in Georgias Pankisi valley, in his 30s, was one of the most prominent ISIL commanders, appearing in several online videos leading fighters into battle. He served as the top commander in Syria before being appointed to lead three elite units that carried out special missions in Syria and Iraq, according to Hisham al-Hashimi, an Iraqi scholar who closely follows the group.

READ MORE: Why Georgians in a remote valley are joining ISIL

He first surfaced in Syria in 2013 with his nom de guerre, which means Omar the Chechen in Arabic, leading an al-Qaeda-inspired group called the Army of Emigrants and Partisans, which included a large number of fighters from the former Soviet Union.

Some 1,500 battle-hardened fighters from the Caucasus region joined ISIL because of Shishani, Hashimi said.

A US air strike targeted Shishani on March 4 near eastern Syrian town of Shaddadeh, Peter, Cook, the Pentagon press secretary, said last week.

Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said after Shishani was wounded, ISIL brought a number of doctors to treat him, but they were not able to.

The spokesman for the US-led coalition, Army Colonel Steve Warren, said on Tuesday the coalition was able to assess that he is dead and that it got the word Monday morning.
Al Jazeera follows the stories of five individuals whose lives have dramatically changed during the past five years.

Five years have passed since the start of the Syrian uprising. The lives of millions of Syrians have changed ever since.

Al Jazeera has closely followed the stories of five individuals who live in the besieged areas around Damascus.

They have experienced both the positive and inspiring parts of the revolution, but also witnessed the grim realities as the country spiralled into a bloody civil war.

Bayan Raihan, 26, director of the Office of Womens Affairs and Human Resources at the local council; the town of Douma

Before the revolution, I was a teacher at the Ahmad al-Shami school and deputy head teacher at the Community Education School, operated by a charity organisation in Douma. I used to study geography at Damascus University, specialising in electronic map design. The blood of the injured children was everywhere. It was then when my viewpoint towards the war changed. I didnt graduate from university because I was dismissed from college for security reasons after I had been arrested.

I have participated in revolution-related activities since the beginning of the Syrian uprising. First working as a coordinator, then in the first-aid response and medical treatment of those injured. I later took part in many other activities because of the intensity of the work in Douma.

I was once arrested for four hours for taking part in a protest. However, I didnt expect to be arrested again.

But I was detained once more in Damascus in an ambush as I was held in a Kafr Souseh security office. I was held for one month and was released in an exchange-of-prisoner deal that led to the release of 48 Iranians who had been captured by the Baraa Brigades.

I was released on December 1, 2012, and since then, I have decided to dedicate all my time to civil work. With the help of my friends, I founded the Iqra Centre, an elementary education centre for children.

On January 1, 2015, I was appointed director of the Office of Womens Affairs in Eastern Ghouta.

A turning point in my life during those five years happened on December 13, 2015, when the regime forces targeted the school where I was teaching.

The regime fired missiles at the school. The schoolyard was full of injured children and teachers. The blood of the injured children was everywhere. It was then when my viewpoint towards the war changed.

I was a big supporter of the armed action at the beginning, but I had to ask myself: What is all of this for? Our children, whose future is the main reason behind the revolution  to create a better, brighter life for them  are now being killed by our enemies. On that day, I knew deep down that the bloodshed simply wasnt worth it.

Shortly after I was released from prison, I received an offer to work abroad, but I refused to leave my country. I am determined to stay and work on for the cause of the 500,000 people held in the Syrian regimes prisons.

Mansour Abul-Kheir, 22, a civil defence worker; the town of Erbin.



When the revolution started, I was still in high school. I decided to participate in peaceful resistance activities with other students, like public protests.

I took part in revolutionary work hoping to cause some change in the country.- everyone in our society knew we were living under oppression. It was time for change. That is why I decided to join the struggle.

Most of my colleagues became armed and joined the Free Syrian Army (FSA). I refused to do the same.

I started working at the information centre of the Syrian revolutionary command council. As the revolution evolved, the situation changed. Most of my colleagues became armed and joined the Free Syrian Army (FSA). However, I refused to do the same and remained in the media field.

With the help of my friends, I founded a network of reporters from Rif Dimashq [on Damascus outskirts] and started to organise civil defence work in opposition-ruled areas. I later joined the civil defence force on the outskirts of Damascus.

When the Syrian revolutions civil defence workers were all united and became one team, I decided to join them. Some of my friends also joined because it aims to help the people, even though its often dangerous work. We have come under regime fire several times while working.

I lost one of my best friends, Bilal Abdul-Sattar. The day he was killed was a turning point in my life. He was one of the initiators of civil defence work in my city. When he was killed, I vowed to continue serving the revolution until the last moment of my life.

Despite the fact that most of my friends have left Syria, I am determined to stay here because I often wonder: If all of the youth in Syria fled the country, who would stay to rebuild it?

Muhammad Al Sbaaei, 22, media worker; Bab al-Sbaa neighbourhood, Homs



Before the eruption of the Syrian revolution, I was studying at Rizk Salloum high school.

I knew then that we should never refrain from our demands for freedom.

When the Syrian regime forces raided the Bab al-Sbaa neighbourhood, I fled to safer areas in the city of Homs, fearing that the regime would find and arrest me.

At that time, the Syrian army was carrying out indiscriminate arrest operations in the area.

Since the revolution broke out, I took part in peaceful protests in the old districts of Homs. I held my camera and challenged the Assad regime by filming protests and arrest operations in conflict areas, including the al-Khalidiya and al-Qusoor neighbourhoods.

I then started to work with Arab and Western media organisations and newspapers. I wanted to reflect the true image of what was going on and convey the message of the Syrians, who were calling for freedom of their people, and to contest the false information reported by the regimes media which described the revolutionists as infiltrators.

I received several threats telling me to stop my work, but I didnt take the threats seriously.

Once in 2011, the regime forces raided Bab al-Sbaa without warning. I was there. I was terrified, believing they would find and arrest me. I decided to leave the neighbourhood and use back alleys to get to another neighbourhood.

The soldiers saw me and started to shoot at me. But I didnt get hurt. That was the turning point in my life: I knew then that we should never refrain from our demands for freedom. We will never relinquish our goal to topple the regime.

I never think about leaving Syria. I strongly believe that a homeland is not a hotel for us to leave when the service is no longer good!

Abu Yamen Khattab, 35, director of the Revolutionary Education Centre in Eastern Ghouta; the town of Saqba



Right after I registered at university, I witnessed the injustice practised by the regime against almost all Syrian students in general, and against me in particular.

Before the revolution, I had always dreamed of travelling abroad, but when the people decided to revolt, I chose to remain in Syria.

Most of the students who were given the right to continue their postgraduate studies were sons and daughters of army officers, government officials or prominent businessmen.

I was arrested four times during my university years; twice in 2003 during protests against the Iraq War, again in 2005 and then in 2006. One time, I was held for 72 days, accused of hostility to the Baath Party.

I have lived through all of the Syrian revolution phases. I took part in peaceful protests.

At the beginning, I decided to protest in retaliation against the injustice and sense of oppression that has built up inside of me for 10 years before the revolution started.

My siblings and friends tried to prevent me from joining the revolution. But I had only two options: To join the revolution or feel defeated for the rest of my life. I decided to take part in the revolution by secretly filming footage of the events and organising peaceful protests.

I had lost my left hand in a car accident few years before the revolution.

I could not carry up arms and fight on the front line because of my amputation, but I couldnt just stand by idly.

So I helped by transporting ammunition and weapons from one place to another. I also transported medicines and blood bags, particularly the universal type O negative, from the Jaramana neighbourhood in Damascus to Eastern Ghouta towns.

I then started secret civil filming, then military filming. Then I insisted on joining the revolutionists in fighting the regime.

I moved into the internal security field and later established the Revolutionary Education Centre along with some of my friends, which overlooks all the academic institutions that are operating in the besieged Ghouta area, looking into teacher and student affairs and ensuring the smooth daily operations of all the schools.

Ive been focusing solely on this for the past two years.

Before the revolution, I had always dreamed of travelling abroad, but when the people decided to revolt, I chose to remain in Syria.

We must make sacrifices in order to put an end to the oppression. No matter how long it takes, we will gain freedom and victory one day. But we need to maintain our determination until we reach that victory.

Firas Abu Omar, 28, designer in Eastern Ghouta; the town of Hammouriyeh



I dropped out of school four years before the Syrian revolution started. My mother had died of a stroke and I needed to work to financially support the family. I started working as a blacksmith. When the revolution started, I was against it at the beginning, preferring to live in a safe homeland away from war and conflict.

I had opposed the revolution completely.

Every time people protested, I would advise them not to do so. I didnt want us to end up living in a country like Egypt or Libya. But later on, I changed my viewpoints when I saw how the regime forces oppressed the protesters and fired live bullets and tear gas at them.

I love my simple home, my small room, my bed and fireplace. None of the worlds big cities could allure me leave the Eastern Ghouta.

I knew that that the revolution wouldnt simply be over within a short time, especially after a number of innocent protesters were killed in my town solely for being found guilty for demanding freedom.

Despite my support for the revolution, I have never engaged in revolutionary activities. I chose to support it silently because I was the only breadwinner in the family along with my father. Still, I always encouraged my friends to fight the regime and to never give up.

I then helped the rebels by repairing their weapons for free. Eastern Ghouta has been suffering constant power cuts because of the siege imposed on the area by the regime for almost three years. I came up with an idea to generate electricity.

I was once walking with my friends, and we passed near a field with a waterwheel. It gave me the idea of trying to generate electricity from water by using handmade waterwheels. It was just a passing thought at the beginning. I believed that the idea couldnt be applied because the project was too expensive. When I told my friends about it, they encouraged me to develop the idea.

I believe the day this idea was born was the turning point of my life during the revolution. I started to feel as an active player, especially now as many people suffering from the frequent electricity shortages ask for my help in designing and building waterwheels near their houses.

Despite having many of my friends leave the country, I could never afford to leave. I never thought about travelling; I am in love with my simple town. I love my simple home, my small room, my bed and fireplace. None of the worlds big cities could allure me leave the Eastern Ghouta.
Top official says community left out of Geneva peace talks working on federal autonomous region of its own.

Kurdish-controlled areas of northern Syria are expected to declare a federal system imminently, a Kurdish official says, as peace negotiations continue to be held in Switzerland about how to end the countrys five-year war.

The step, which would combine three Kurdish-led autonomous areas of northern Syria into a federal system, is sure to anger neighbouring Turkey, which fears growing Kurdish power in Syria is encouraging separatism among its own Kurdish minority.





Idris Nassan, a Syrian Kurdish official and former leader in the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), says the announcement will mean widening the framework of self-administration across northern Syria.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from Kobane, in Syria, on Wednesday, Nassan said preparations for federalism have been ongoing for quite some time and an announcement would be made shortly.

Federalism should be the future not only for northern Syria or the Kurdish regions but for Syria in general, because under federalism democracy and equality will be guaranteed, he said.

Al Jazeeras Diplomatic Editor James Bays, reporting from Geneva, said the PYD has so far been left out of the peace talks, making the timing of the federalism announcement significant.

I think the timing is very significant, making this announcement as the talks restart for the third day, he said.

The time has been chosen by the PYD to say Dont forget about us, because they have been excluded from this process here in Geneva.

INTERACTIVE: A close look at the major Kurdish factions

The PYD was not invited to Geneva, in line with the wishes of Turkey, which sees it as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which it is battling in southeastern Turkey.

Federalism in Syria has been discussed openly in recent weeks after Sergei Ryabkov, Russian deputy foreign minister, floated the idea in the media ahead of the start of the Geneva talks.





If as a result of talks, consultations and discussions on Syrias future state order  they come to an opinion that namely this [federal] model will work to serve the task of preserving Syria as a united, independent and sovereign nation, then who will object to this? Ryabkov said in February.

Then, in an interview with Al Jazeera, Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, said the idea of federalism is likely to be discussed among the parties at the Geneva talks.

President Bashar al-Assads government, however, has consistently said no political decisions will be imposed on the country.

One of Assads senior advisers was cited by state television on Wednesday as rejecting any calls for federalism.

The development out of the Kurdish-controlled areas of Syria came as Russia continued to withdraw its forces from Syria, a move that de Mistura declared as significant .
Russian warplanes start arriving back home after Moscow ordered a partial pullout from the war-torn country.

President Vladimir Putins announcement of the withdrawal of Russian military personnel and planes from Syria has taken many by surprise.

Some have speculated that it represents an attempt by Moscow to press Syrian President Bashar al-Assad towards a political settlement.

However, Damascus has dismissed any talk of differences with Russia; it says the move was coordinated between the two countries.

Other analysts argue that as the Russian air campaign focused mostly on rebel groups battling Assad in western Syria, Russia can claim its mission was accomplished.

Its bombing helped Assad reclaim strategically important ground near the border with Turkey and near the border with Jordan in the south.

Russias announcement has raised hopes that this weeks talks in Geneva could yield some results.

But has Moscow really achieved its objectives in Syria? And if so, what would that mean for President Assad?

Presenter: Laura Kyle

Guests:

Mark Sleboda: International relations and security analyst

Janine di Giovanni: Middle East editor for Newsweek and author of The Morning They Came For Us: Dispatches from Syria

Shashank Joshi: Senior research fellow, Royal United Services Institute
Italian bassist-composer Robert Bonati is one of the most ambitious and literate composers in contemporary jazz. Between 2000-2006, he released four ground-breaking extended works with the ParmaFrontiere Orchestra. While they attracted notice in Italy, they seemed to pass by the wider jazz audience in Europe, North America and the Far East. If at one level, the issue was one of a lack of exposure, at another, the twin curses of conservatism and localism in jazz no doubt applied. The history of jazz is primarily that of a music outside, a music that challenges expectations. Enter stage left, Roberto Bonati, a composer of jazz beyond the margins.It is no surprise that Bonati took his first degree in literature. His music frequently explores literary themes, drawing sustenance not just from the subject matter but from similar processes of narrative and story-telling. His work is dramatic, speaking often of tragedy and tragic figures. It is driven by a profound love of Italian elegiac poetry and by the music and language of his native Italy.Bonati was born in October 1959 in Parma. He returned to Parma in 1996 after some thirty-five years living first in Rome and then in Milan. Since then, he has been the artistic director of the ParmaFrontiere Festival, as well as teaching bass and jazz composition in the Conservatorio di Musica-Arrigo Boito in Parma.The bassist started out playing piano and rock guitar. Then, when he was eighteen years old, a jazz drummer friend played him a cassette of's "India." "I was really moved by the sound of the bass," he says. "I said, 'That is what I want to do. I want to play double bass.'" I came back to Milan and borrowed a broken-down bass from a German girl I knew, found a classical teacher and started my studies. But at the same time, I started to play jazz."On completion of his degree in literature, Bonati undertook a music degree on double bass at the Conservatorio Vivaldi in Alessandria and studied with the first bassist in the Italian Radio and Television Orchestra in Turin. Equally important for his later work with the ParmaFrontiere Orchestra were the private studies he took in composition and orchestral conducting with the highly-regarded conductor Kirk Trevor.He played his first gig in 1981 and that summer attended the Siena Jazz Summer School, where he got to study with the great Bruno Tommaso. "At the time, the scene in Milan was very active," he explains. "So, I could play three or four times a week in jazz clubs and I got a lot of experience playing with some great musicians likeand Antonio Faro. I played withfor a couple of years -we started togetherand I played many, many times with."For a while, Bonati had a trio with pianistand American drummer Anthony Moreno. Together they recorded three records, one with saxophonistas a guest. Then, around the same time he started in Parma, he began working with, playing in his octet, and also with that colossus of Italian jazz, pianist-composer Giorgio Gaslini. In fact, Bonati continued to work with Gaslini until his untimely death last year.Bonati was, by that time, writing his own music and he formed a quartet with pianist, saxophonistand Anthony Moreno. They recorded their first CD Silent Voices in 1996, a busy year by any standards for the bassist. Silent Voices was a strong "modern-mainstream" debut but one which featured one or two more left-field deviations. All four musicians acquit themselves admirably. Bonati's arco bass adds both texture and drama to proceedings, whilst Luppi's Coltrane-influenced approach fits perfectly in this context. Anthony Moreno was already a fine drummer, though he had not yet developed the empathy and subtlety that would come to characterise his more recent work with Bonati. Stefano Battaglia was, perhaps, the star turn on this outing. Whether soloing or playing behind Luppi, his grasp of harmony is remarkable and the way he frames Luppi's sax or flute is one of the record's true joys. Compositionally, however, it is the two left-field pieces on Silent Voices that best suggest the composer that Bonati would soon become. "Tribal Dance in the Sacred Woods" has a strange pagan feel to it that recalls simultaneously Native American music but also Stravinsky's arrangement for two pianos of Rite of Spring, with its awkward and angular syncopations. If this track indicates Bonati's ability to create a sense of mood and place in music, the sonata-like "Lontano" reveals his effective use of thematic development in a jazz context. What happened next seems pivotal. "We started the ParmaFrontiere Festival Orchestra in 1996 and the following year we formed the ParmaFrontiere Orchestra," he tells me. "Our first performance was a version of Porgy and Bess [never released on CD]. The next year was Reve de Jongleur and every year we were able to spend one week together and perform a concert at the festival."I ask how he came to decide upon the rather untypical instrumentation for the orchestra, with its violin/viola and cello, its emphasis on the higher register woodwinds such as oboe, soprano sax, clarinet and flute and just two brass instruments. "I wanted to have some kind of jazz instrumentation but also some kind of contemporary or classical sounds," Bonati explains, "coming from the European classical tradition, in a way. Then, we had drums and bass and, on the early records, electric guitar (), which gives these different electronic soundscapes and also Fulvio Maras with electronic percussion. So, I chose these musicians that I knew before the orchestra came to be formed, musicians with whom I had already collaborated many times Riccardo Luppi, Stefano Battaglia, Anthony Moreno, Vincenzo Mingiardi. Fulvio Maras on percussion, trombone and tuba player Beppe Caruso and the cellist Marco Remondini were also in the Trovesi octet. Oboist Mario Arcari played my music a lot before. These were people who were already inside the family and, with Michael Gassman from Zurich, we had this very good trumpet player who could play in many musical languages with one of the most beautiful sounds I ever heard."The piano chair has been held by both Stefano Battaglia and Alberto Tacchini, whilst clarinetist Alessandro Benassi has been a constant presence. Other musicians have come into the family over the years, including clarinetist. And since Le Reve du Jongleur, the wonderfulhas been the vocalist of choice. Le Reve du Jongleur (or "The Troubadour's Dream") from 2000 is an absolute delight and draws extensively upon early and liturgical music. Bonati points out that his subject matter is the very origins of Western music and the coalescence of different influences from both "sacred and popular repertoires," which came together via routes of pilgrimage such as the Via Francigena."I made Le Reve du Jongleur for the jubileum of 2000," he says, "with the focus on the music associated with pilgrimage in the middle ages from Canterbury to Rome. So, I took some melodies from France, Germany and England and I worked with these and I use, as well, a Gregorian choir, which sings on its own and sometimes with the orchestra." The suite, which mixes pieces from the 8th-14th centuries with Bonati's own compositions, was written for the ParmaJazz Frontiere Festival Orchestra along with the Choir of Schola Gregoriana del Coro Paer. One suspects that its ambition owes something to the example of Bonati's one-time boss Giorgio Gaslini, himself no friend of musical boundaries and no stranger to fraternization between the sacred and the profane. It is the unusualfor jazzcombinations of woodwinds, often played in higher registers, with violin, cello and bass and an expanded jazz rhythm section of piano, guitar, bass, drums and percussion that create the signature colours and textures of Bonati's work. The addition of voices here extends the palette, whether these are heard a cappella, as on "Veni Creator Spiritus," or accompanied, as on "O Lylium Convallium" and on the sumptuous "Gli Angeli di Ildegarda."There is a wonderful sense of flow between these different aspects of Le Reve du Jongleur. The movement between the organum of the opening "Veni Sanctus Spiritus" and Bonati's own "Spiritus in Terra" is quite perfect and shows how far this music is from pastiche. The rhythms and melody of the first piece continue to inform that which follows and connects ancient and modern. Its solosfrom Beppe Caruso on trombone, Renato Geremia on violin and Mirabassi on clarinetmirror that dialogue quite beautifully. Later, Bonati features a potpourri of vocal and instrumental pieces, both his own and from the 8th, 12th and 13th centuries. The choral polyphony of "Alle Psallite cum Luya" slides elegantly into the jazz of Bonati's "Alleluja," aided by its reference to the rhythmic and motivic elements of the chant, which are referenced in their solos by Battaglia and Alessandro Benassi on bass clarinet. The longest piece, the skipping "Danse Macabre," provides the suite's high point, which again ties the album's diverse purposes together.Is it jazz? Probably not, if one follows the line of Wynton Crouch, Stanley Murray and Albert Marsalis and views jazz as a genre or a "what." However, if one understands jazz as a way of making music or a "how" and sees this fact as arising from its syncretic origins and from the part played by improvisation in its practice, then the answer is simply, "yes."...poi nella serena luce...Nine Poems by Attilio Bertolucci recorded in 2001 presented Bonati with a different set of challenges. It saw him bring together his love of Italian lyrical poetry and his own distinctive vision of jazz. Gregorian chant features once more on the piece "Stabat Mater" but the composer's concern is to go beyond the notion of song or poetry set to music. "Attilio Bertolucci was the father of film director Bernardo," he says. "He was from Parma and he was an important Italian poet. He died in 2000 and I set his lyrics to music. While working, it began to take shape of a suite of a nearly pictorial meaning, based on [a] certain canvas that recreates a 'drama' directly originating from the poems through the interpretation of various colours."...poi nella serena luce... is by any standards a very strong record with some fine orchestral writing that are matched by strong performances from the musicians, not least vocalist Lucia Minetti. At times, Bonati seems forced to curb the more open, expansive tendencies of his approach to accommodate the song-form settings required by the poems themselves. This tension is never quite satisfactorily resolved on ...poi nella serena luce.... That point aside, Bonati frames Minetti's vocal beautifully, wrapping it in a rich and empathic orchestral accompaniment."Funeral March" which opens and closes the suite, albeit at the end with significant variation, is both witty and sharply-focused, drawing a parallel between the Italian town band tradition and the marching band origins of early jazz. The edgy, filmic "Assenza" is blessed with a tense, noir-ish solo from trumpeter Michael Gassman and the first section of the two-part "Azzurre spade" ("Bianchi pennacchi") reveals Bonati's compositional range. It starts with Stravinsky-like accents, leads into a Latin-jazz section featuringon viola -echoing "Giant Steps" and "Caravan" -before a final, more fragmentary section featuring Alessandro Benassi on bass clarinet. Later the highly chromatic "Stabat Mater," a reference to a 13th century hymn otherwise known as "The Sorrows of Mary," is impressive indeed in both its structure and execution. This contrasts cleverly with the shifting moods and stylistic references of "1945," which are brought to life by some fine playing, notably from Beppe Caruso on trombone and drummer Anthony Moreno. Finally, it is important to mention Bonati's setting of "Per Ottavio Ricci." It is the strongest arrangement for voice on ...poi nella serena luce... and brings out the glorious timbre and expressive qualities of Lucia Minetti's voice.The Blanket of the Dark : A Study for Lady Macbeth was released in 2003 but was actually recorded in performance at the ParmaFrontiere Festival, of which Bonati is artistic director, just a few weeks after ...poi nella serena luce.... The work, inspired by both Shakespeare and Verdi, is a magnificent achievement. Where it not for the fact that it was performed and apparently written around the same time as ...poi nella serena luce..., I would have suggested that it represented an advance in confidence on Bonati's part.In a sense, it raises differences in the positions of the classical composer and his jazz counterpart. The latter may lack the resources of a mighty symphony orchestra but he or she has two advantages over their classical colleague. Firstly, lacking the twelve or more woodwinds, similar number of brass and the fifty or sixty string players and percussionists, the jazz composer must maximise his/her resources seeking highly personalised and often unusual musical combinations and textures. The second point is just as important. The jazz composer writes for musicians whose voices he or she knows intimately. They will provide their signature colours and, when the jazz composer gets it right, their players will achieve that unique balance between the individual and the group that is the hallmark of great jazz. It has been so since Jelly Roll Morton and Duke Ellington.These are Bonati's great skillsmarshalling his resources, trusting his musicians and creating the environment where composition and improvisation become one. Featuring some twenty-four musical events, fifteen of which are organised into three subsets ("The Blanket of the Dark," "La Danse" , "Somnambula"), it is impossible to do adequate justice to the music on the CD, It flows elegantly from "Miserere," the fractured opening track with its eerie, doom-laden voicings derived from Gregorian chant, to the two closing tracks, "Lady Morley" and "Lady Tango." "Lady Morley" draws upon Elizabethan courtly music and features clarinetist Alessandro Benassi. The burlesque of "Lady Tango," however, seems a strange, almost upbeat choice to finish music based upon the tragedy of ambition. Yet, it works beautifully as a witty coda, a reminder to the audience that we "have but slumbered here, while these visions did appear," to quote a very different Shakespearean play.Written from the perspective of Lady Macbeth, the inspiration here is Verdi and not Shostakovich. "I was particularly taken by the character of Lady Macbeth," Bonati explains, "because she is the engine of the drama, the one who is pushing Macbeth to the murder of Duncan. But then it is as if she is imploding. Nothing is visible outside but inside she is becoming crazy. She doesn't speak any more. She walks in her sleep. That was interesting to me because Macbeth has an important role but in the end he dies in battle. So, that is normal in his world. But Lady Macbeth pushes for the crime but then it is like all this energy she put in motion returns inside her and destroys her inner soul. This seemed more abstract, more mysterious because we just see the result not what is going on in her head. So, I tried to work from this impression."The play's dreamlike qualities, its inevitabilities, the normalcy of treachery and violence are all realised but with macabre humour rather than melodrama. This is most evident in the mini-suite "Sonnambula." In Bonati's hand, "all the perfumes of Arabia" do "sweeten this little hand." Only the concluding "Nightwalker" reveals the darkness within Lady Mac, as a simple ostinato from Stefano Battaglia and ominous chords tell of her insanity. The performances are first rate throughout The Blanket of the Dark. Lucia Minetti is magnificent, a real story-teller but, once more, it is the way Bonati uses his unusual big band with its higher woodwinds and strings alongside more standard jazz instrumentation that really allows The Blanket of the Dark to take on its epic character.Bonati is not alone amongst jazz composers in his interest in literature and its use as inspiration for his work. The names ofandimmediately spring to mind. I suggest to him that he is not trying to represent the book or play or poems in these works but rather to discover a way of exploring their underlying themes. This seems particularly true of Melville's Moby Dick, which provided the source material for the orchestra's final recording to date, A Silvery Silence, fragments from Moby Dick."I have read Moby Dick many times but then I went to the Old Testament because all the names in the book are coming from the Bible," Bonati tells me. "In a way, it is like the fate. The characters in Melville's book, in a way they share the destiny of the character in the bible whose name they have. I like that proverb 'In nomen omen,' in the name you have your destiny. These characters in the book share the way of living and of dying with their namesakes in the bible. Ahab will die on his boat and there is a prophecy regarding Ahab in the bible, who died in a chariot and in the end the dogs come to lick his blood. It is a very heavy image in the bible. And it is like that with Ahab in Moby Dick because he is dying on the whale and the blood is coming down. There is a shadow over the book from the beginning that comes from these ancient stories."Despite its august predecessors, A Silvery Silence has to be Bonati'sand the ParmaFrontiere Orchestra's -crowning achievement so far. Bonati relates Melville's epic novel through both literary and musical fragments, offering a discourse that speaks of Ahab's pursuit of the whale that will prove his nemesis but also about the book's philological and biblical references. A Silvery Silence features Riccardo Joshua Moretti, as cantor, singing verses in Hebrew from the books of Isaiah and Kings at several junctures is to make this link explicit. But Bonati also uses the names of the characters transcribed into musical notation to create recurring motifs that feature at different points. These are not just musical tricks or gestures but part of the process of building the musical narrative of what is a considerable work by any standards, jazz or classical. Ultimately, A Silvery Silence rests upon the achievements of its music. "Letter H (Time and Tide flow wide)" offers high drama and an almost classical overture with its fine piano solo from Alberto Tacchini. Musical impressionism features strongly on the lovely melody of "L'appel," with its perfectly poised bass-clarinet solo from Alessandro Benassi and on the exotic chanting of Lucia Minetti and brass choruses of "Polynesian Drums (Tamburi sui mare)." "De Profundis Corale" somehow succeeds in hinting both atandand Gregorian chant, while longer pieces are linked by brief orchestral fragments, which establish a mood or introduce a new set of colours and textures. For example, cantor Riccardo Joshua Moretti prepares the listener for the final four tracks that will tell of Ahab's demise beginning with the near jazz-rock of "Ahab" and closing with "Whale Song" and its shanty-like ending. This is a work of the imagination and, in more than one respect, one of literature. Bonati writes music like a novelist, digressing to describe a character, the weather or the colour of the sky, but never losing sight of the events that make up the story he tells. It is a remarkable accomplishment.Given that Bonati has also recorded a small group album dedicated to poet and film director Paolo Pasolini, Un Sospeso SilenzioAppunti a Pier Paolo Pasolini, alongside these excursions into Moby Dick and Macbeth, I suggest that he seems drawn to tragic figures. It is clearly a possibility that has already occurred to Bonati, as his response indicates,"I think it is something like that. There is a phrase from Mark Rothko, the abstract painter, which says that to be an artist you must have a big sense of death. I think that to me this is very important because what are we doing with music or with art? We are trying to cheat death. To go beyond our daily life. I think I am also positive in my life but it's very important that the interesting things in life do not always lie in happiness. I think being an artist isn't about happiness. To be an artist is not having answers but asking questions of ourselves but reaching to more universal questions as well."Un Sospeso Silenzio ("A Suspended SilenceNotes to Pasolini"), released in 2007, featured Bonati's quintet with the virtuoso Italian singer Diana Torto, saxophonist Riccardo Luppi, Alberto Tacchini on piano and drummer Anthony Moreno. The scale might be less grand than the albums with the ParmaFrontiere Orchestra but the ambition is just as great. Bonati's route into the poet, film director, intellectual and political activist explores Pasolini as an artist and a person riven with contradictions."There is something I need to explain," he says. "Before becoming a movie director, Pasolini was one of the most important elegiac poets. In the beginning, his approach to writing poetry was very much inside the lyrical tradition of Italian poetry. Sometimes this is not understood with Pasolini. The political thing came later. Then, he joined the Communist Party but because he was homosexual the Communist Party expelled him. So, he was always in a way alone. Pasolini was an outsider. He was outside of the Communist Party. He was outside the church. This put him in a lonely and tragic place. He was murdered in the end, you know."For Bonati, Pasolini's art was a struggle. Though he remained an atheist, there is a sense in which this was a source of regret. As he once said, "I may be an unbeliever but I am an unbeliever who has a nostalgia for a belief." Accordingly, the record features two readings, one from the Gospel according to Matthew ("The Sermon on the Mount") and the other from a letter Pasolini wrote to a priest he had met in Umbria. Though a revolutionary, he was drawn to politics by an anger at what was being lost to consumerism and at the destruction of a rural way of life. He detested the power of television and the homogenisation of life and culture. Bonati sees him as a "struggling and at the same time sensual man, whose sense of the erotic derived from his love of life." But perhaps the key for Bonati in seeking to understand his subject lies in those words from Matthew and the imagery of Pasolini's film The Gospel According to St. Matthew. Not only does the saint open proceedings but in a way he closes it with Bonati's mini-sonata, "Mattutino," meaning "matins" or "early morning prayers" but perhaps also puns "Matteo," as in "Little Matthew," with the suffix "tino" meaning "little."Pasolini was also a fan of jazz and blues and was at one point closely associated with the emergent free jazz scene in Italy. Un Sospeso Silenzio derives its dramatic tension from the contrast between compositions such as the rubato, abstract and, at times, abrasive "Dirge a Pier Paolo Pasolini" and others like the title track, which express more elegiac and lyrical qualities. It is good to hear Bonati allowing himself space to express himself on his instrument. The arco playing on "Solo Prelude" is superb but so too is his duo with Riccardo Luppi on tenor sax on "Dirge."This is very much a group record. Diana Torto's voice ranges from the ethereal, on "Ninna Nanna Ninna Luna," to an operatic intensity on "Lontane Campane." Both Luppi, on saxophones and flutes, and pianist Alberto Tacchini lend gravitas and power to the music but are equally capable of expressing its more tranquil, delicate moments. Tacchini's accompaniment of Torto at the beginning of the title track and then later his support of Luppi's lyrical saxophone being just one such example. Tacchini and Luppi seem to have an almost symbiotic relationship, an ability to follow one another and connect at an emotional level that is palpable on the sprightly, near waltz of "Bounce Tempo." As for Anthony Moreno, he is on this showing one of the most musical of drummers, with excellent time but also with a highly personal approach to his role. The record closes with its most lovely track, "Mattutino" and some inspired playing from Tacchini.I ask Bonati if he would consider himself a man of faith or else someone like Pasolini simultaneously drawn to belief but unable to suspend disbelief."To me, the background of this culture is Christian," he replies. "You ask if I'm a 'man of faith.' It is not easy to answer. I think I'm a man of faith but to say it could sound like a kind of pretentious statement. There is so much beauty in this world, it is difficult to think everything is by chance. I feel there is much more beyond what we see. Many years ago, I had some special kind of emotional breakdown during a Mexican tour when I visitedby chancethe sanctuary of the Virgin of Guadalupe."He continues, "And there is something important about how music was born, how some homo sapiens started to hear noises, beats and the sound of the human voice as something that was different from simple noises. These sounds have always been connected with religious ritual. And how is sound connected with our inner body and how we can vibrate in emotions and concentration with sounds? This is also why I have such a spiritual approach to music. Sometimes -and this happens to many artist-friends and musicians -it seems that we are not composing the picture or the music but in a way the music or the picture comes out by itself. I feel like a kind of a medium -the music must come out."Bonati's music certainly breathes with a sense of the spiritual. Bianco Il Vestito Nel Buio from 2012 is a piano trio record with Alberto Tacchini and drummerwith its loose structures and slow-moving themes and is astonishingly beautiful. Heureux Comme Avec Une Femme with just Bonati and vocalist Diana Torto from 2013 is also quite lovely. One hopes that both the new trio and the duo with Torto will continue alongside opportunities to work in small groups and with the ParmaFrontiere Orchestra. Bonati continues to perform once a year with the orchestra in Parma and just waits upon funding and timings to record a new project."When things became difficult for the economy, I did something with less peoplea project based on Japanese Haikubut that has yet to be recorded," he tells me. "Then last November, the orchestra came together to perform a homage to Giorgio Gaslini. It was a very good moment in the festival. All the musicians were very happy to be together again, so I hope we can do something again in the future because I think it is something special. It is an experience of an orchestra that is quite unique."
By Richard D. Harroch, David A. Lipkin, and Richard V. Smith

Mergers and acquisitions, particularly those involving privately held companies in the technology sector, often involve a number of significant intellectual property (IP) issues. In a private company acquisition, the seller has not been subject to the scrutiny of the public markets, and the acquirer has little ability to obtain all of the IP-related information it requires from public sources. Thus, before an acquirer will definitely commit to an acquisition, it will typically do extensive due diligence on the selling companys patents, copyrights, licenses, trademarks, and other intellectual property.

The following is a summary of the most significant activities and issues relating to intellectual property connected with a typical acquisition of a privately held company. It is critical that the seller involve experienced IP counsel, working closely with its primary M&A counsel, to advise on and administer these matters. By planning these activities carefully and properly anticipating the related issues that may arise, the seller will be better prepared to go through a successful sales process.

1. Intellectual Property Documentation

The seller needs to have prepared for the acquirers review an extensive list of all of the IP (and related documentation) that is material to the sellers business, including:

Patents and patent applications (including patent numbers, jurisdictions covered, filing, registration and issue dates)

Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreements with employees and consultants

Trademarks and service marks

Key trade secrets and proprietary know-how

Technology licenses from third parties to the selling company

Technology licenses from the selling company to third parties

Software and databases

Contracts providing for indemnification of third parties for IP matters

Open source software used in (or used to create) the sellers products and services

Claims for infringement of IP, including any IP litigation or arbitration

Domain names

Liens or encumbrances on the IP

Source code or object code escrows

Social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)

A variety of these items will typically need to be included in the disclosure schedule that accompanies the acquisition agreement (see Item 13 below: Key Disclosure Schedule Issues Concerning IP). To facilitate an acquirers due diligence, the seller will usually have all of these documents (perhaps other than trade secrets) housed in a virtual data room. Assembling these documents and setting up and maintaining the data room is a time-consuming task for the seller to undertake, and therefore it is critical that the company undertake this as early as possible in the sale process.

2. Development and Acquisition of the IP

An acquirer will want to confirm that the value it places on the selling company, particularly if the seller is a technology company, is supported by the degree to which the company owns (or has the right to use) all of the IP that is critical to its current and anticipated business. It is not uncommon for private companies, particularly those that did not have IP counsel involved at early stages of the companys existence, to find that there are uncertainties as to the ownership of (or the right to use) its key IP. These problems may be exacerbated if individuals who were involved in the creation of such IP are no longer with the company (or worse, now work for a competitor). The acquirer will also want to know that the seller will continue to be entitled to exploit such rights after the closing of the acquisition.

If the sellers IP was developed jointly with another party or developed using government, university, or military resources, these arrangements may also restrict the transfer of the IP, mandate sharing or ownership of the IP with third parties, or require a payment in connection with the acquisition.

The employees and independent contractors of the seller, particularly those involved in the creation of the sellers IP, are usually required to sign (at the outset of their employment with or relationship with the company) an agreement assigning to the company any of the intellectual property developed by them related to the companys business. This typically includes a waiver or assignment of any moral rights. See Key Issues Associated with Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreements with Employees. The due diligence associated with Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreements typically includes the following:

Is the form of agreement adequate to convey all IP rights developed by the employee or independent contractor that should properly be owned by the seller?

Have all employees and contractors involved in creating the sellers IP signed such an agreement?

Have the employees or contractors excluded from the effect of the agreement (in a schedule of exceptions) any IP that is critical to the company?

3. Open Source Software Issues

Many software engineers and developers use open source software or incorporate such software into their work in developing products or technology. But the use or incorporation of such open source software by a selling company can lead to ownership, licensing, and compliance issues for an acquirer.

One particular issue is that some open source licenses require any user modifying and distributing the open source software to make its source code generally available to other users and to license its software to third parties under the same terms as the open source license. For an acquirer relying on the ability to exclusively use the sellers technology, open source issues could become a deal killer.

The acquirer will expect representations and warranties from the seller to the effect that no open source or similar software has been incorporated into any of its software or products in a way that would obligate the seller to disclose to any persons the source code of proprietary software or IP in its products, and that there has been no infringement or violation of any open source licensing agreements.

Of course, the seller will attempt to limit any such representations by knowledge and materiality qualifiers.

As an advance precautionary matter, a seller planning for an acquisition may want to employ software programs such as Black Duck or Palamida to analyze whether it has an open source issue. These programs can scan significant volume of code and cross-check them against databases of open source code, allowing a quick assessment of potential problems.

4. Representations and Warranties Related to Ownership of IP

The IP representations and warranties in a private company acquisition, like other representations and warranties in the definitive acquisition agreement, typically serve two purposes. First, if the acquirer learns that the IP representations and warranties were untrue when made (or would be untrue as of the proposed closing date), to a degree of materiality as agreed to in the acquisition agreement, the acquirer may not be required to consummate the acquisition (and may be entitled to terminate the agreement). Second, if the IP representations and warranties are untrue at either of such times, the acquirer may be entitled to be indemnified post-closing for any damages arising from such misrepresentation by the seller. The seller will want to limit this exposure to a small portion of the purchase price (held in escrow by a third party), and the acquirer may seek the right to recover up to the entire purchase price if the IP representations and warranties turn out to be untrue.

The sellers representations and warranties as to its ownership of IP are among the most significant IP representations and warranties. The acquirer wants comfort that the seller is the sole and exclusive owner of each item of IP purported to be owned by the seller, and that such IP is not subject to any encumbrances or limitations that unduly restrict the sellers ability to exploit such IP or give third parties rights to such IP that are inappropriate or materially detract from its value. The acquirer will also want to know that the seller has the appropriate right, through a license (exclusive or otherwise) or other contractual arrangement, to use any IP owned by third parties that is material to the sellers business.

However, the seller will want to ensure that it is not required to make any representations and warranties as to its ownership of IP that speak to the period following the closing, when there may be factors beyond its control (including prior agreements entered into by the acquirer) that limit the right of the seller or the acquirer to exploit the IP.

The following are several examples of matters that may encumber or limit the sellers ability to exploit its owned IP following the closing of an acquisition:

Claims by third parties that patents are invalid (as a result of the existence of prior art or otherwise)

Liens on the IP in favor of banks or other lending institutions

Claims by third parties that the IP infringes their patents or other IP rights

Inadequate evidence that the employees or contractors who contributed to the creation of the IP assigned their rights in the IP to the seller (see Item 2: Development and Acquisition of the IP above)

Rights of first refusal, exclusivity or similar rights in favor of third parties with respect to the IP

The failure to have obtained any third-party consents necessary for the IP to have been transferred to the seller (if not originally developed by the company)

Broad licenses to the IP in favor of third parties that compete or may compete with the seller

Open source issues (see Item 3: Open Source Software Issues above)

The failure of the seller to have appropriately registered the IP with the applicable governmental body

5. Representations and Warranties Related to IP Infringement

The acquirer typically wants the selling company to represent and warrant that:

The selling companys operation of its business does not infringe, misappropriate, or violate any other parties IP rights.

No other party is infringing, misappropriating, or violating the selling companys IP rights.

There is no litigation and there are no claims covering any of the above that is pending or threatened.

The scope and limitations of these representations and warranties are often heavily negotiated. The acquirer is concerned about the risk for large unknown infringement claims that third parties may bring against the acquirer after the signing or the closing.

But the seller often attempts to limit the scope of the non-infringement representations and warranties by:

Materiality qualifiers

Knowledge qualifiers

Representations being limited to infringement of issued patents (and not all other IP rights)

Eliminating any ambiguous representations (such as that no third party is diluting the sellers IP)

Here is an example of a very pro-seller form of representation and warranty regarding IP non-infringement:

Intellectual Property. To its knowledge, as of the date hereof the Company owns or possesses sufficient legal rights to all Intellectual Property (as defined below) that is necessary to the conduct of the Companys business (the Company Intellectual Property) without any known violation or known infringement of the rights of others. To the Companys knowledge, as of the date hereof, no product or service marketed or sold by the Company violates any license or infringes any rights to any patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, licenses, domain names, mask works, information and proprietary rights and processes (collectively, Intellectual Property) of any other party. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, there is no outstanding written: outbound option, license, agreement, claim, encumbrance, or shared ownership interest of any kind relating to the Company Intellectual Property except for agreements with customers, nor is the Company bound by or a party to any inbound options, licenses, or agreements of any kind with respect to the Intellectual Property of any other person. The Company has not received any written communications alleging that the Company has violated or, by conducting its business, would violate any of the Intellectual Property rights of any other person.

The scope of the sellers exposure for breaches of representations and warranties relating to IP infringement can also be limited by including protective language in the indemnification provisions of the acquisition agreement, including thresholds/deductibles, right to control the defense of third-party claims, and the limitation of IP infringement claims to the portion of the purchase price placed in escrow (see Item 10: Scope of Indemnification by Seller on IP Issues below).

6. Key Issues Associated with IP-Related Agreements

The following are several key issues that may arise in the context of an acquisition of a privately held company that are associated with the selling companys IP-related agreements:

The acquirer will want to carefully review the provisions requiring consent to an assignment in the IP-related agreements (see Item 12: Assignment/Change of Control Issues below)

Another issue that often arises in the acquisition of a privately held company involves clauses in the sellers IP-related agreements that are overbroad in some respect relevant to the acquisition. For example, some IP-related agreements include restrictive clauses that purport to bind all affiliates of the seller. This raises the question of whether the acquirer in a stock purchase or merger transaction, even though it is not itself a party to the IP-related agreement, may find itself and its other subsidiaries subject to such provisions with respect to their own businesses after the closing of the acquisition.

The definitive acquisition agreement for an acquisition of a privately held company will require, between the signing and the closing of the acquisition, that the seller comply with its obligations under all IP-related agreements to which it is a party or by which it is bound, and take (or refrain from taking) certain actions under such agreements during such period. Management of the seller, together with IP counsel, will need to consider the extent to which the company can comply with these covenants without harming the company and its business. If possible, the acquisition agreement should provide that if the seller determines that it must deviate from any of these covenants, the consent of the acquirer to such deviation should not be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or conditioned. A lengthy pre-closing period is more likely to invoke these issues than a relatively shorter pre-closing period.

7. IP-Related Disputes

An acquirer will undertake a careful review of the sellers involvement in any current or past IP litigation or other disputes. This review can involve discovering any exposure the seller has to IP claims and how stringently it has sought to enforce its rights. Of particular interest are unresolved third party claims which have not yet led to litigation, proceedings before the USPTO, and the terms of past settlements of claims, disputes, and litigation (including releases and covenants not to sue). Current IP litigation as well as unresolved claims might lead the acquirer to insist upon a special indemnity to protect the acquirer from the risk of a substantial judgement.

In negotiating the terms of an acquisition, the selling company and its advisors need to be prepared for possible efforts by the acquirer to erode an agreed-upon purchase price through a special indemnification provision as compensation for buying a company where there is either pending litigation or a risk of a later IP-related dispute. In addition to a demand for such indemnification, the selling company also needs to be prepared for the acquirer to seek either an outright price reduction or an additional holdback or escrow of some portion of the purchase price beyond the amount escrowed or held back for general indemnity claims.

The seller also needs to anticipate the consequences of a material IP-related claim arising between the signing of an acquisition agreement and closing. An acquirers preferred bargaining position is that the acquirer should not be obligated to close the acquisition if such a claim is made. From the sellers perspective, a closing condition of this kind is difficult to accept since the selling company and its stockholders will prefer a high degree of certainty of closing. These issues can be pronounced where an acquisition will be publicly announced before closing, since third parties may be motivated to bring claims during such period, believing that the pending acquisition increases their leverage for a quick settlement. Accordingly, the seller will need to offer post-closing indemnification as an alternative to such a closing condition. Of course, such an indemnification cannot be offered without limitation: typically, the seller will seek a cap on its exposure as well as the right to defend such a claim following the closing.

8. Websites and Social Media

The sellers websites and social media presence may be an important part of its business. In that regard, an acquirer may have the following concerns:

Does the seller show up as the registered owner on the applicable domain name registry, for all of the key domain names of the seller?

Is the sellers Terms of Use Agreement and Privacy Policy sufficiently protective of the company?

Does the seller comply with its stated Privacy Policy?

What are the companys social media accounts? Are they registered in the name of the company or in the name of an employee or consultant?

Are there any issues with users uploading content or adding comments to the companys websites or social media accounts?

Who owns the content posted to the companys websites or social media accounts? Is the company free to use such content as it determines appropriate?

Has the seller complied with the Digital Copyright Millennium Act?

9. Data Protection and Privacy Issues

The acquirer will want to confirm that the seller has implemented and maintains appropriate policies, practices, and security concerning data protection and privacy issues. Diligence on this may include:

Review of any cyber-attacks or intrusions on the sellers systems

The sellers practice of collecting personal information from users, and compliance with its Privacy Policy

Review of third-party contracts to ensure that the third parties are appropriately bound by confidentiality obligations

Review of any claims or complaints involving privacy or data breaches

Review of the sellers IT business continuity plan

Review of the sellers security guidelines in hiring personnel, including whether background checks, drug tests, credit checks, or other screening processes are undertaken

Confirmation of whether the seller has internal plans and procedures with request to any security breach

The acquirer may also want to include in the acquisition agreement specific representations and warranties relating to the sellers compliance with data protection and privacy laws. In particular, European Data Privacy laws are more stringent than U.S. laws and misuse of personal information of European residents may create additional exposure.

10. Scope of Indemnification by Seller on IP Issues

An acquirer will demand that the seller or its stockholders indemnify the acquirer for breaches of IP-related representations, all known claims (including pending litigation) and, frequently, future claims related to the sellers IP. Negotiating the terms, conditions, and limitations of these indemnification provisions is one of the most important negotiations in an M&A deal, especially where the sellers real value is in its IP.

Of course, in an acquisition the acquirer expects to be indemnified for a broad range of matters in addition to IP matters. Accordingly, in order to effectively optimize a negotiation of the IP-related indemnification, the seller and its legal advisors need to develop priorities and a negotiating strategy whereby tradeoffs in the negotiation lead to an acceptable outcome with respect to IP indemnification terms. It is especially important for a seller to take advantage of the leverage it has when negotiating a term sheet or letter of intent to address IP and other indemnification points. See Negotiating an Acquisition Letter of Intent.

The most important indemnification points are:

Scope and Survival of Indemnification: The selling company should seek to limit indemnification to breaches of IP representations and have the indemnification obligation end when the survival period for general representations ends. Frequently, the acquirer will seek a longer survival period for IP claims.

Caps on Exposure: The seller should seek a cap on its (or the selling stockholders) indemnification obligation. Ideally, the cap would be the same as that for breaches of general representations (usually 5% to 15% of the purchase price), although it is common for the acquirer to request that IP indemnification claims be subject to a higher cap (for example, 25% or 50% of the purchase price).

Matters Not Limited by the Cap. The acquirer will sometimes insist upon a variety of indemnifiable matters not being limited by a cap, such as claims of fraud, intentional breach of representations, or breach of covenants. Sellers almost always oppose these exceptions on the ground that if the selling stockholders did not agree to the sale of the company, the selling stockholders exposure would always be limited to their investment and nothing more. From the perspective of the seller and its stockholders, the cap always has to be the purchase priceotherwise, why would the selling stockholders take the risk of having to return to the acquirer more than that amount?

Thresholds and Deductibles: In almost every deal, an acquirer will agree that it will not have recourse against the seller or selling stockholders unless and until its claims exceed (in total) an agreed upon threshold amount (e.g., 1.0% of the purchase price). Sometimes this amount is a tipping basket (once the amount is exceeded, the acquirer is entitled to be indemnified for all damages, back to the first dollar), and sometimes it is a true deductible (the indemnity is limited to amounts over the threshold).

Control of the Defense of Claims: Although acquirers usually are adamant that they should control the defense of any third-party IP claim, dispute, or lawsuit, the seller should not shy away from resisting this position. The acquirer is effectively spending the selling stockholders money and may not be as motivated as the selling stockholders to conduct the defense as efficiently as possible, and may be motivated to settle claims for amounts beyond their true value out of the escrowed funds.

11. Disclaimers by the Seller

One of the most significant claims that an unhappy acquirer can make against a seller is that the seller committed fraud. An acquirer may complain that information provided to it in due diligence sessions with management or documents made available in a data room were false or misleading. Unfortunately, if buyers remorse sets in, its all too easy for an acquirers lawyer to launch a lawsuit which includes an allegation of fraud, no matter how clean a sellers business might have been or no matter how meritless the claim really is.

Recognizing that post-closing lawsuits are brought from time to time by unhappy acquirers (as opposed to acquirers truly harmed by seller misconduct), sellers are well advised to implement some important precautions which have been sanctioned by the courts:

First, make sure that the acquisition agreement includes an express disclaimer made by the seller and acknowledged by the acquirer that the seller is only making the representations and warranties set forth in the acquisition agreement. In particular, the seller should disclaim making any representations or warranties as to any projections, forecasts, or possible future operating results.

Second, the acquirer should expressly state in the acquisition agreement that it has conducted its own investigation of the business of the seller and is not relying upon any representation or warranty of the seller (or any of its officers, employees, or advisors) other than those set forth in the acquisition agreement.

Here is an example of a disclaimer that the Delaware court in Abry Partners V, L.P. v. F&W Acquisition LLC deemed enforceable:

Acquirer acknowledges and agrees that neither the Company nor the Selling Stockholder has made any representation or warranty, expressed or implied, as to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or as to the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding the Company or any Company Subsidiary furnished or made available to Acquiror and its representatives, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement  and neither the Company nor the Selling Stockholder shall have or be subject to any liability to Acquiror or any other Person resulting from the distribution to Acquiror, or Acquirors use or reliance on, any such information or any information, documents, or material made available to acquirer in any data rooms, virtual data rooms, management presentations, or in any other form in expectation of or in connection with, the transactions contemplated hereby.

Further, sellers are well advised to define exactly what is meant by the term fraud. Without limiting the scope of this term, a seller might have exposure beyond customary notions of actual fraud (such as liability for reckless statements, constructive fraud, or even statements not relied upon by the acquirer). In this regard, a seller should consider defining fraud consistent with typical state law definitions:

 Fraud means actual fraud under [Delaware] law (including the requisite elements of (A) false representation, (B) knowledge or belief that the representation was false when made (i.e., scienter), (C) intention to induce the claimant to act or refrain from acting, (D) the claimants action or inaction was taken in justifiable reliance upon the representation and (E) the claimant was damaged by such reliance and as established by the standard of proof applicable to such actual fraud).

With clauses of this kind in the acquisition agreement, the seller will reduce the chances that an acquirer having second thoughts about the business that it acquired will prevail in alleging that it was misled into buying by the seller.

12. Assignment/Change of Control Issues

IP licenses and other IP-related agreements typically contain provisions requiring the consent of the other party to a change of control of the selling company or an assignment of the agreement by the selling company. The extent to which such consent is required frequently turns on the structure of the acquisition transaction. Almost always, an asset sale structure will require third-party consent. In contrast, whether third-party consent is required for a sale of stock of the selling company, or a merger involving the selling company, will require a careful review of the contract language as well the relevant case law.

Failure to obtain a required consent might result in breach of the IP license or other IP-related agreement by the selling company. Consequently, an acquirer will require the selling company to represent in the acquisition agreement whether the transaction requires any such consents. Further, an acquirer will seek to have closing conditioned upon receipt of the most important consents and, further, might seek indemnification if failure to obtain a material required consent will result in a loss of the IP license or related IP agreement.

Given these possible consequences, a seller and its counsel will need to thoroughly review the anti-assignment provisions included in all of the selling companys IP licenses and other IP-related agreements. In addition, the seller will need to consider which transaction structure poses the least risk to the selling stockholders if such consent cannot be easily obtained at no significant cost to the seller.

For example, a stock purchase or merger structure may be preferable to an asset purchase if the sellers agreements with third parties require consent to an assignment of the IP but not to a change of control of the seller. In a stock purchase or a transaction structured as a reverse triangular merger, there is typically no assignment of the IP assets, but still there may be third-party rights triggered by the change of control inherent in such a transaction.

If the seller has key IP that is only transferable to the acquirer with the consent of third parties, the seller may wish to obtain such consent prior to entering into the definitive acquisition agreement. However, the effort to obtain such consent necessarily requires disclosure of the proposed acquisition to a third party, invoking issues of confidentiality. The failure to obtain such consent prior to signing the acquisition agreement may result in the seller running the risk that the transaction may ultimately fail if the third party later refuses to grant its consent. Moreover, the third party may require the payment of a fee, or may demand material changes to its IP agreements with the seller, as the price for granting its consent.

13. Key Disclosure Schedule Issues Concerning IP

A disclosure schedule is the document accompanying the acquisition agreement setting forth the required disclosures of the seller concerning outstanding contracts, IP, employee information, pending litigation, and much more. A well-prepared disclosure schedule is critical to ensuring that the seller does not breach its representations and warranties in the acquisition agreement, since the disclosure schedule qualifies such representations and warranties.

Accordingly, this is an extremely important document to have ready early in the sales process, and it is very time consuming to get complete and accurate. Very commonly, the selling company underestimates the effort to get this right, requiring multiple drafts that potentially delay a deal.

The primary mistake made by sellers is an inadequate review of all the IP representations and warranties in the acquisition agreement, and then not listing appropriate exceptions from those in the disclosure schedule. Avoiding this mistake is absolutely critical to avoid potential liability. Other key IP issues that arise in the disclosure schedule include the following:

Failing to list all patents and patent applications, with dates and jurisdictions covered

Failing to list all required license agreements and technology agreements

Failing to accurately reflect the titles of contracts, parties thereto, dates, and any amendments

Failing to list all seller domain names, trademark, and service marks

Failing to list any IP claims against the seller

Failing to list any customer contracts where the seller has given IP indemnification

Failing to list any bank loans or other encumbrances on the selling companys IP

For a comprehensive book on M&A, see Mergers and Acquisitions of Privately Held Companies: Analysis, Forms, and Agreements.

Richard D. Harroch is a Managing Director and Global Head of M&A at VantagePoint Capital Partners. He has been involved in over 200 M&A transactions.

David A. Lipkin is a partner in the Corporate Department at the law firm of Morrison & Foerster LLP in Palo Alto and San Francisco, Calif., specializing in mergers and acquisitions.

Richard V. Smith is a partner in the Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity Group of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, resident the firms San Francisco and Menlo Park Offices and specializing in mergers and acquisitions.

Copyright  by Richard D. Harroch. All Rights Reserved.
Jacob Dolins wants all people to be able to donate blood, regardless of sexuality.

The 19-year-old UF biology and nutritional sciences freshman is organizing Pride Awareness Months first Gay Blood Drive on Thursday. UF students can donate on behalf of gay and bisexual men from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in front of Century Tower.

The Food and Drug Administration bans men who have had sexual relations with other men in the past year from donating, said Gary Kirkland, the media relations coordinator for LifeSouth Community Blood Centers. The FDA made an indefinite deferral policy for their donations in 1983 to prevent HIV from being transferred.

The group expects to collect about 100 donations, Dolins said. After the blood is collected, Pride Student Union will double the number donated to show how much they could have collected if gay and bisexual men could donate.

He said the FDA should abolish the policy.

Any individual who knows their disease status is negative up to the time they donate should be allowed to donate regardless of their sexual preference, Dolins said. AIDS is a disease that anyone can get, so sexuality shouldnt matter.

Melanie Espaillat, a UF exploratory freshman, said she is participating in the Gay Blood Drive because she believes it will educate students about the ban.

I think this event will help UF become more of an inclusive environment, the 18-year-old said.
For the first time, UF students will race recycled canoes at Broward Pool to raise money for a cancer walk.

Registration for Phi Sigma Rhos first Phi Rho Your Boat event is now open. For the event April 10, teams will build boats from recycled plastics, such as bottles and bags. They hope to raise about $200 for Light the Night, a leukemia and lymphoma fundraising event to support cancer research.

Teams of up to 10 students will collect the materials from across Gainesville, said Morgan Leger, one of the sororitys co-philanthropy chairs. The sorority decided to hold the event after other chapters did.

The $50 registration fee provides each team with two plastic bags, two rolls of tape and either a foam noodle or a kick board, she said.

Lifeguards will oversee the race at Broward Pool, the UF environmental engineering sophomore said.

Boats can be as long as each team wants, but they must be at least one foot tall, the 19-year-old said. Teams will use their hands as paddles.

The winners will receive $100 for the charity of their choice, Leger said. Theyre also asking for donations for Light the Night.

Right now, we ask friends and family to donate, she said.

Mary Regan, a co-philanthropy chair, said shes looking forward to seeing what the boats look like.

Im most excited to see what kinds of designs people come up with and their creativity, the 21-year-old UF agricultural and biological engineering senior said.

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A UF graduate school has moved up in its ranking for the first time in five years.

UFs College of Pharmacy moved from No. 14 to No. 9 in U.S. News and World Reports 2017 edition of the Best Graduate Schools ranking. UFs Hough Graduate School of Business kept its ranking of 37.

Julie Johnson, the dean of the College of Pharmacy, said the college has worked to improve its program.

There has been a complete overhaul in curriculum for our first-year students, she said. The new curriculum focuses on using active learning techniques and hands-on experiences.

Johnson said she thinks the ranking will attract more students.

Students have a lot of options when it comes to pharmacy schools, but now we are in a league of our own when it comes to the state of Florida, Johnson said. Not all colleges are equal, and students need to make choices based on more than whats close to home.

Jenna Forry, a UF pre-pharmacy accelerated program sophomore, will attend the College of Pharmacy next Fall. She said the schools rank influenced her to accept her admission offer.

UFs rank is so much higher than the other school I applied to, so there really wasnt much of a choice, the 20-year-old said. I want to go to the school that has a better reputation and will enable me to succeed.

Selcuk Erenguc, the senior associate dean of Hough Graduate Programs, said hes slightly disappointed their ranking in business schools did not improve.

When you look at factors such as selectivity, graduates employed three months after graduation and graduates employed at graduation, we place within the top ten, he said.

Sarah Winter, a student in UFs combined master of international business program, said the ranking will help her when she graduates.

Not only is it a talking point when interviewing for companies, but it is also great to know that I am receiving the best education I can, the 21-year-old said.

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How UF ranked:

Engineering - 43

Biological/Agricultural Engineering - 3

Education - 30

Clinical Psychology - 31

Occupational Therapy - 17
If asked about their latest views on quantitative easing in the Federal Reserve, most people wouldnt have an opinion. The same thing can be said about the latest breakthroughs in particle physics, medical technology or any area of science for that matter. On the other hand, if politics comes up, people will adamantly share their opinion  informed or not  on what they believe to be right.

It seems people are participating in the political discussion for 2016 more than they have in any election for the past decade. Although the U.S. political system is significantly improved with more opinions than general apathy, the question is whether many political views are backed by evidence. Anyone who has seen two people scream at one another with deep rage knows the source of such contention is often not what is true, but what people believe to be true. The U.S. needs to reach the point where the two finally intersect.

The solution is simple: All people need to have educated and enlightened political conversations is look to political scientists for the common trends occurring in politics today. Americans dont have to look for political scientists to give them their opinions; people are smart enough to form their own views. The problem is political scientists currently arent the ones setting the guidelines on political opinions. Many TV hosts on news networks like Fox News and MSNBC may read the news, but they have no education for their musings to be deemed legitimate, as they would have us believe. While Fox News hosts like Bill OReilly may have more than one degree listed under their education background, Sean Hannity, the man who hosted the 2016 Conservative Political Action Conference, dropped out of both New York University and Adelphi University.

Glenn Beck, whose books flood the political section at Barnes & Noble, has a higher education that goes as far as attending one class at Yale University. While MSNBC may have former Rhodes Scholar Rachel Maddow, analysts like Al Sharpton and Chuck Todd never graduated college.

The lack of legitimacy in the sources of information in social studies does not stop at political science. Does anyone else remember learning U.S. history through Oprah Winfrey and Michael Douglas? Television channels like MSNBC, Fox News and The History Channel are all meant to improve the education of the general public, not supplant it. While it is intriguing to listen to Liam Neeson explain ancient Greeces very particular set of skills, it does nothing to further the discussion on the hearts of civilization.

College students are persuaded against pursuing a degree in political science at a time when political scientists are needed more than ever. Graduates of political science are pressed with harsh stigmas. One example is by John Oliver, who argued, The only question a poli-sci major is really qualified to answer is: Was it weird having to move back in with your parents after college? The common perception may be that the only degree worth pursuing today is one requiring students to pass Physics 2. However, people with an educational background centered in chemistry and physics arent the ones who engineered this country.

We dont need leaders with a science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics major who memorized equations in their back pockets to answer our nations toughest questions. This country needs educated people with backgrounds in the political trends of the past and present to help answer questions about the future. This country needs legitimate political scientists.

People are finally finding a reason to participate in political discussions  thats the first step. The next step is for personal opinions to, at the very least, occasionally begin with according to or I read somewhere. Then again, whats most important is all this talk on politics translates into Americans finding their ways to the polls come November.

Joshua Udvardy is a UF mechanical engineering freshman. His column appears on Wednesdays.

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           2005     ..        
The government of Somaliland has extended condolences to the family, relatives, friends and colleagues of the late naval officer Deeg Ali Osman who died during skirmishes with units of the Djiboutian Navy in Sayla. This was revealed by the deputy interior minister in-charge of security Mohamed Muse Diriye during a press briefing in Hargeisa where he also informed that another member of the Somaliland coast guard is nursing serious injuries sustained following the unprecedented live fire confrontation with the Djiboutian navy in Somaliland waters around Sayla. We hereby acknowledge a confrontation between Somaliland coast guards and Djiboutian navy in the proximity of the two countries border town of Sayla said the deputy minister adding that investigations on circumstances leading to the fateful event in which late Deeq lost his life is being pursued. Informing that the Hargeisa authorities are optimistic of conducive conclusion to the fight between the two navies the security boss said initial intelligence indicate that neither deaths or injuries have been reported among the foreign troops, though a factual report shall be issued soon. Accordingly a team from local security agencies led by interior minister Mohamed Ali Waranade is in the border District of Sayla to ascertain events that ensued with the brawl between the two navies leading to death and injury. Somaliland shares land and water boundaries its neighbor to the west Djibouti which is home to a large contingent of foreign naval forces from the USA, China and France not to mention the high powered fleet of Operation Atalanta, a pirate deterrence force whose large Armanda is supplied by the European Naval Force. Though the Somaliland authorities appear coy of calling a spade a spade it is a fact that Djiboutian security agencies have been known to traverse deep into their neighbouring countries land and waters seemingly in a carte blanch manner. Though Somalilandsun has failed to procure factual evidence rumour has it that the abundant but yet to be tapped oil deposits around the border town of Lowyado are being tapped secretly by Djibouti which is said to have a covert and sophisticated dredging and extraction operation from its side of the border. If so this is purely theft by the neighbouring country that has not only and consistently denied the existence of Somaliland as a sovereign nation but one that is deeply involved in the support of the Somalia Federal Government revanchist policies, reunion with Somaliland, not to mention supply of troops to AMISOM, the African Union force battling Al-sabaab thence ensconce the authority of the frail Mogadishu based government in the entire country.




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OBAMA AND MY GENERATION by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- I originally planned on voting for Dennis Kucinich in the Vermont Primary on March 4. [MORE] The Willies:

WARNING: THIS MEDICATION MAY MURDER YOUR FRIENDS by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla. -- You've heard the warnings, haven't you? Stop Prozac and you may take a shotgun, an Uzi or an AK-47 and mow down your family and friends, or even a whole classroom full of your fellow students. You didn't? Well, that warning is not on the bottle, but like countless mass-murder incidents before it, Friday's shootings at Northern Illinois University, as well as the Virginia Tech shootings that killed 32 last year, was probably precipitated by the effect of stopping medications that suppress anger and other powerful emotions but do not relieve the underlying cause. Isn't it time we started warning people - or stopped prescribing these medicines? [MORE] One Woman's World

DON'T KNOCK ON MY DOOR by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- I wish I could feel delight in my poet's mansion being like Grand Central Station all the time, but I can't. And I wish my place was such a place that someone would one day write: "Her door was always open and she always made you feel all fuzzy and warm in her presence. She could make a cup of coffee seem like a banquet." [MORE] Reporting: Panama

PANAMA'S VIOLENT LABOR UNREST INTENSIFIES Mark Scheinbaum PANAMA CITY, Panama, Feb, 15, 2008 -- After just one day of relative calm, wildcat construction strikes by some members of Panama's largest union flared up again Friday morning, four days after a police sniper shot one worker. More than 140 demonstrators have been injured and at least 500 arrested, authorities say. [MORE] Brasch Words

TO STIMULATE ECONOMY, BUY A CHINESE-MADE U.S. FLAG by Walter Brasch BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -- Walking down Main Street, pushing a grocery cart loaded with clothes, toys, and appliances was Marshbaum. Fastened to the right front corner of the cart was an American flag tied onto a three-foot ruler. [MORE] Make My Day

THE TOOTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TOOTH by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- To commemorate the death of noted shark exploder Roy Scheider, and the "Jaws" movies that resulted in Erik never setting foot in the ocean again, we are reprinting this column from 2003. Shark Experts 0, Sharks 1 [MORE] Momentum

THE WINTER OF MY DISCONTENT by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - As I write this, it's raining ice. Maybe a half a foot of snow and ice has already landed up here in the woods of Dummerston. Our cars are encased in it, and the door to the house is blocked. The satellite dish that brings in our Internet service quit about 20 minutes ago - frozen solid. [MORE] The Willies

AMERICA TO HILLARY: GET OUT! by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 13, 2008 -- Sen. Hillary Clinton has adopted the Rudy Giuliani strategy, and it's working - for Sen. Barack Obama. It turns out to be the strategy all Democrats are seeking - an exit strategy. But it's not for Iraq. It's for her exit from the race for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination. [MORE] Constance

CONFESSIONS OF A DISAPPOINTED VOTER by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- A week ago at just about this time, I completed an article and was about to submit it as scheduled to The American Reporter. I was feeling rather elated, ready to show up on Super Tuesday morning, firmly touch the X next to Rudy Giuliani's name and get on with my day. He was my choice; he would get my vote. [MORE] Reporting: Florida

SIERRA CLUB SET TO SUSPEND FLA. CHAPTER by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 10, 2008 -- The national Sierra Club is set to suspend its Florida chapter after years of divisive infighting, the president of the national club told Florida members in a letter delivered to some this weekend. It is the first time in its 116-year history that such a step has been considered by the club, according to news reports. [MORE] One Woman's World

PLANT A NEW WORLD THIS SPRING by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- For a little while, the men will just have to toss and turn in their fear-free-women beds. For a small space of time Hillary Clinton will just have to trudge on toward the White House without my faint applause in the background. [MORE] On Native Ground

VERMONT AND THE 5 STAGES OF CONSERVATIVE GRIEF by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- First, Vermont tried to convince the nation to impeach President Bush and Vice President Cheney. [MORE] Make My Day

REBEL WITHOUT A TONGUE by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Kids' brains work in amazing ways. At times, they can grasp complex concepts and make impressive discoveries. Other times, you have to wonder how we ever survived as a species. [MORE] The Willies

FOR DEMOCRATS, NOW IT'S ABOUT RACE, INCOME AND GENDER by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Feb. 6, 2008 -- It's not a good time to be a Democrat. As the Super Tuesday results demonstrated, the presidential race between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton has divided the partly along clear racial, income and gender lines - the very distinctions the party has sought to erase in principle but has emphasized in its pursuit of diversity. [MORE] Momentum

SUPER TUESDAY BLUES by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Super Tuesday has come and gone and I still can't get excited about the upcoming presidential elections. [MORE] The Willies

ON THE BRINK OF HISTORY, YOUR PUSH IS NEEDED by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 5. 2008 -- I'm expecting a sea change tonight. I believe that for the first time in this nation's history we will once and forever banish racism as the deciding factor in the destiny of African-Americans, and indeed adopt diversity as our path to the future. [MORE] Campaign 2008

AT 88, EVERY VOTE REALLY COUNTS by Ted Manna DENVER, Feb. 5, 2008 -- Pearl Turner will caucus for Mitt Romney tonight in Denver. [MORE] One Woman's World

STAND BY YOUR WOMAN by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- The black vote. The gay vote. The fundamentalist vote. The Hispanic vote. [MORE] An AR Special

SUSPECTS IN BENAZIR ASSASSINATION HAVE TIES TO MUSHARRAF by Ahmar Mustikhan WASHINGTON, D.C. -- When Gordon Brown this past Monday feted coup-leader-turned-President Pervez Musharraf at 10 Downing Street, Britain's new prime minister probably didn't ask the Pakistani dictator a question that is now on many minds: Did you order the murder of Benazir Bhutto? [MORE] Momentum

TO THE VERMONT DELEGATION: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR US LATELY? by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt.  Back when President George W. Bush and Dick Vice President Dick Cheney were building up to their loathsome war in Iraq, very few people were brave enough to call the bullies' bluff. [MORE] On Native Ground

IF BUSH HAS HIS WAY, WE'LL NEVER LEAVE IRAQ by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. - In his final State of the Union address on Jan. 28, President Bush cautioned against accelerating U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq, saying that it would endanger the process that has been made over the past year. [MORE] Campaign 2008

CLASH OF COMMENTS AND PROTESTORS AT CLINTON, OBAMA RALLIES IN DENVER by Ted Manna DENVER, Feb. 1, 2008 -- At least four presidential campaigns of both partiers rolled into in Denver this week ahead of the Feb. 5 "Super Tuesday" primaries in 22 states, but it was the Democratic presidential contenders who drew the big crowds and duked it out Wednesday. If sheer numbers are any indication, Sen. Barack Obama - preceded by a buoyant and beautiful Caroline Kennedy - won the round handily. He is the overwhelming favorite to win the Colorado primary next Tuesday. [MORE] The Willies

WHY THE FLORIDA PRIMARY STINKS by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Jan. 30, 2008 -- I was with my wife and daughter driving the back way from Miami home to Bradenton when we stopped at a McDonald's in Clewiston, the only big town along the vast shore of Lake Okeechobee, the state's precious freshwater reservoir. The McDonald's had three televisions at a central seating area, each tuned to a different network, and our table was in front of CNN as the very first election results started to pour in around 7:30PM. With them, almost as counterpoint, suddenly came such an overwhelming odor of cow plop that my wife started to throw up as we all ran to the parking lot. [MORE] Passings: Suharto

DEATH OF A KEMUSU THUG by Andreas Harsono JAKARTA - A few minutes after hearing that former president Suharto had died in his hospital bed, Marco, a militia leader in downtown Jakarta, raced to Suhartos house, wearing his jungle camouflage and began guarding the Suhartos residence on Cendana Street. [MORE] Constance

I REMEMBER YOU by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga.. -- It seems to be more often lately that the sentiment is spoken but it's always been out there: "You never get over the death of your child." This is true. But the heartfelt expressions come from some who cannot fathom the notion of losing a child; their own child is who is in their mind, not another mother's child. [MORE]
Recently, Bernie Sanders blamed Donald Trump for his #FeelTheBern/"Free College but no Free Speech" crew acting up at Trump rallies. That sort of lack of accountability is par for the course, because liberals, who never take the time to evaluate themselves, usually expend tons of energy pointing the finger of accusation at those less guilty.

A perfect example of that practice involves a Democrat in Congress who wants to overturn the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, a bill the 109th Congress passed in 2005 that was instituted to protect the gun industry from frivolous lawsuits.

In hopes of reversing gun industry protections, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) proposed H.R. 4399, the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act. To build support on Capitol Hill for the legislation, Schiff teamed up with Connecticut Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal, who proposed repealing the 2005 bill.

The bottom line is that, besides demonizing the gun industry, liberals want to make firearm manufacturers, sellers, and trade associations answerable to anyone and everyone considered a victim of gun-related violence.

Schiff, who supports immunity for illegals, argues that the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act is unfair because, when it was approved, "Congress passed a unique form of immunity for only one industry  and that is the gun industry."

Schiff rationalizes that line of thinking in the following way:

If you're a carmaker and your airbags kill someone, you're potentially liable. If you're a pharmaceutical company and sell faulty drugs, you can be held liable. If you're a liquor store and sell alcohol to minors, you can be held liable.

"Why should it be any different for gun manufacturers?" he asked.

Here's why: if a madman purposely drives a car into a crowd and kills three people, should the car manufacturer be held liable? If an individual accidently poisons himself or herself with a prescription drug cocktail, should the pharmaceutical company be held liable? How about if a tanked-up drunk smacks a bottle of vodka over someone's head in a bar brawl? Should the liquor company be held liable?

Of course not!

But logic has little impact on liberals, who believe that both gun manufacturers and dealers should be prosecuted if a weapon they made or sold causes someone harm. Why not hold liable the manufacturer of the belt Robin Williams used to hang himself?

According to Schiff, H.R. 4399 is needed because it targets gun dealers who sell firearms to "straw purchasers," the middlemen who mediate between dealers and criminals. Sharing his "who needs that many" liberal philosophy, Schiff explains, "There are straw purchasers who will buy dozens of the same gun. It's quite clear they're not buying those guns for personal use. Who needs that many of the same gun?"

"If [gun manufacturers and dealers] are no longer immune," Schiff added, "they'll be more careful who they sell to."

Wow! If "straw purchases" are the concern, is Schiff also planning to pursue litigation against Eric Holder and Barack Obama, the kingpins of the "Fast and Furious" gun-walking scheme? Will the Obama administration finally answer for the hundreds of deaths, including that of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry and ICE agent Jaime Zapata, both killed with guns the president put into the hands of Mexican cartels?

This brings the discussion back around to liberals refusing to recognize how the reasoning they use to justify what they oppose is much more suitable if applied to things they support.

For example, to justify a weak argument, Schiff cited car manufacturers being liable for faulty airbags but didn't mention the countless numbers of dead Americans who, besides being murdered, or infected with a third-world disease, have died in car crashes where illegal immigrants have been driving under the influence of alcohol or driving illegally.

In response to a congressional inquiry, Jessica M. Vaughan, the director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), recently submitted the following findings:

The criminal aliens released by ICE [since 2010]  who had already been convicted of thousands of crimes  are responsible for a significant crime spree in American communities, including 124 new homicides. Inexplicably, ICE is choosing to release some criminal aliens multiple times.

In their own defense, ICE claim that 75% of those illegal criminals were released because of a court order, or because their country of origin refused to accept them back.

So in other words, while the left was busy trying to rout the Second Amendment, illegal immigrant criminals, released from jail with the approval of the Obama administration, have been killing and injuring innocent people.

So here's a question: why do denouncers of the gun industry mandate Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence but not Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Illegal Immigrants?

The same politicians who aim and shoot irresponsible policy right through the heart of America have largely ignored the topic of the five times deported illegal felon who killed 32-year-old Kate Steinle in the liberal-approved sanctuary city of San Francisco.

Politicians like Schiff; Blumenthal; and, first and foremost, Barack Obama like to do battle over gun rights, but then, when an undocumented loose cannon like Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez murders an American with a stolen gun in broad daylight, they barely notice.

If Democrats want to punish the gun industry for making or selling a gun that causes injury or death, those same lawmakers should also be willing to accept responsibility when an undocumented immigrant they wanted set free takes a life.

That's why zero weight should be given to Adam Schiff's hypocritical bill. In its place, as recompense for each and every life destroyed by an illegal immigrant, Americans should demand a law that holds lax open-border politicians personally accountable.

Jeannie hosts a blog at www.jeannie-ology.com.
Its a curious quirk of leftists like Bern Sanders: qualifying socialist with democratic. Of course, its designed to make socialism less menacing and more appealing to Americans, who, at least, have some vague recollection of the Better dead than red Cold War trope. But the modifier democratic should raise suspicions, and not in ways flattering to Bern and his red ilk.

If socialism is so wonderful, so about equality and justice, so respecting of the individual and his place in a collectivist system -- so inherently democratic -- why the need for the qualifier? You mean to say theres undemocratic socialism afoot? A system of rulers and subjects? Of elites whose superiority confers on them the right to chart the course for the masses? Who wont blink about using force when the masses get uppity?

If socialism can be made acceptable by appending democratic, why not so for fascism, whose history parallels its socialist cousin?

Yes, cousin. Those isms are first cousins.

Fascism and socialism had a spirited and bloody competition for the masses loyalties in the 1920s and 1930s. In Western and Central Europe, fascists proved more adept and ruthless than the socialists and won out. But Hitlers fanaticism and megalomania blew the fascist experiment to pieces  literally. Note that der Fuhrer fancied his movement as National Socialism. Hitler wasnt careless with important concepts and terms.

Post World War II, socialists were understandably anxious to distance their movement from the prewar Hitler-Stalin Pact, and to expunge any hint of ideological association with their now vanquished fascist cousins. So they spun a tale. The propaganda became that fascism was a phenomenon of the right. Capitalists, republicans, nationalists, true democrats, and liberty-lovers were, inexplicably, prone to tack right -- right into the arms of dastardly fascism.

Socialists like to peg fascism as principally racist and chauvinistic. Xenophobia and chauvinism were characteristics of the fascism practiced in Nazi Germany; chauvinism was more to Mussolinis taste. (Mussolini began as a socialist.)

When leftists hurl the epithet fascist at someone or some group or party (Republicans), its much to do with supposed xenophobia or chauvinism. Or they say that nationalism, informed by prejudice, is proto-fascism. They refuse to acknowledge that one can be an American for individual rights and limited, federalized government and be a nationalist, as Washington, Jefferson, and Madison were.

Socialists like to consider their movement as international. But how to explain Russian nationalism during its period of communism? Or Chinese nationalism under Mao  and now in the still Peoples Republic? Or Ho Chi Minhs nationalism? There are Greek democratic socialists who are nationalists.

A feature of fascism is authoritarian or dictatorial? Fascism has no corner on that market. What were Lenin and Stalin, if not dictators? Fidel? Mao? Pol Pot?

Mind you, though, the socialist argument against fascism is less so about economics, which is the meat of both statist variants. In broad strokes, fascism is control of the means of production. Socialism is ownership of the means. If you control, you own. Hitler didnt much care if Krupp pocketed profits as long as the governments biding was done and Nazi jackboots got their skim. Better that a commissar and state enterprise gets the dough? Hitler co-opted or coerced capitalists into his fascist scheme, not the other way around. Socialism doesnt lure or intimidate producers into its orbit? The difference between the two isms is more facile than believed.

Berns socialism has more the substance of fascism, as a matter of fact. Nowhere on the stump has Bern called for the nationalization of business and industry  the peoples ownership of the means of production, which is true socialist creed. Bern wants a better distribution of wealth, via higher taxes and wage hikes, for example, but doesnt dare call for the wholesale expropriation of wealth, which is another socialist tenet. Lets add that fascists are for massive public works and social insurance.

Berns platform runs more along corporatist-fascist lines than socialist. But lets give Bern the benefit of the doubt. Hes a bona fide socialist who cant fully disclose his aims. Bern needs voter buy-in, and socialism still raises -- red -- flags.

The 20th Century is a treasure trove of socialisms history in all its forms. Lenin argued that socialism was a transitional stage to communism. Socialists dispute Lenin, but thats just a squabble in the Church of Marx.

History amply records what socialism in its communist form led to in the defunct USSR and Maos China. Economic implosions or, at best, stagnation; bread lines and empty rice bowls. Elsewhere, in Cuba, meat and beans and toilet paper are rationed. Pogroms, to the tune of tens of millions of innocents executed, starved, or worked to death. The dead assigned to mass graves in Russia, the Ukraine, China, Vietnam, Cambodia (where the skulls of victims were stacked like cordwood).

In none of those places, under glorious socialist rule, did (or do) the leaders and elite ever proclaim anything other than democratic intent. They acted as a vanguard for the people, they claimed. Elections and plebiscites were routinely held. The peoples parties won lopsided victories -- or were simply acclaimed unanimously. Fabulous marches and parades celebrated the peoples revolutions. Democracy flowered.

How unfair to Bern, you say? Berns a socialist of a Western European stripe. There, socialism has an admirable track record, no?

In Western Europe, socialism survives because it piggybacks on capitalisms successes. Its parasitic. It battens itself off the blood of the entrepreneur, the innovator, the investor, the shopkeeper, the go-getter. Truth be told, most of Western Europe is a mix of isms. Theres some ownership of the means of production, but more control thereof. Welfare and social insurance abound. Theres high taxation and redistribution of wealth, but not so much that the capitalist golden goose is killed off entirely.

The E.U. is the exemplar of the corporatist model with brushstrokes of socialism. It seeks to obliterate borders among its member states, giving it a quasi-internationalist aim. It acts to erase ancient, embedded differences in culture among its subjects. And subjects they are, which may be the E.U.s undoing, other than trying to make Spaniards, Germans, and Germans, Frenchmen. (Or everybody Germans.)

Among the E.U.s pols and bureaucrats, smugness reins; an odor of superiority hangs in the air imperiousness with a veneer of democracy. Better that the E.U.s Pooh-Bahs ape the old Orwellian Eastern Bloc and Asian pure socialists who appreciated grandiose democratic pretense.

As were seeing with the evolution of the E.U., and now are seeing creep into the U.S. -- fascism, corporatism, communism, and socialism are systems given to hierarchy, imposition, and subordination of rights. They claim to be for the people while subjecting them to the will and aims of elites. Socialism is no less prone to tact undemocratic. (Please dont gainsay with Switzerland or Scandinavia, any more than citing pure democracy in ancient Athens. Scandinavian socialism is about as applicable to the rest of the world as is Chicago machine politics are to Stockholm.)

If you see Bern Sanders, ask him: If socialism is democratic, why qualify it?

Whatever his answer, dont expect the truth.
On Friday, March 11, an event occurred in Chicago that reminded me of violent clashes between Nazis and Communists during the waning years of the Weimar Republic in Germany. GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump canceled a scheduled speech at an event to be held in the Windy City, where a sizable crowd of left-wing students and Black Lives Matter activists clashed with Trumps supporters. Telecasts showed that in addition to screams of Hitler! and other face-to-face confrontations, punches were thrown and a few landed.

Although Chicago police did their best to prevent bloodshed, the anti-Trumpeteers succeeded in preventing people from hearing what the Donald might have had to say.

Trumps free political speech was trashed. It remains to be seen if the anti-Trumpeteers tactic will be repeated. After the Chicago rally was cancelled, the Soros-funded MoveOn.org blog hailed the leftists success, and seemed to call for more such outbursts. When Trump was speaking at an event at Dayton Airport the next day, a far-left punk rushed the podium, and only quick action by Secret Service agents kept him from reaching Trump.

Before delving into the heart of this piece, permit three sidebars.

First, in the immediate aftermath of the event, Trump is taking the brunt of the blame. Not only have his rivals for the GOPs presidential nomination rushed to judgment, the electronic and print media have also painted a negative picture of Trump. On Friday night, even Fox News coverage was, on balance, anti-Trump. The Associated Press reportage was even more explicitly negative. A blog on thefederalist.com (March 14) not only accused Trump of cowardice, but went on to praise the Chicago protesters and deny they had abridged Trumps freedom of speech.

Second, lets stay with the APs report and the blog on thefederalist.com. The AP leaves the impression that Trump panicked. David Marcus blog on thefederalist.com explicitly accuses Trump of cowardice.

Suppose, for a moment, that Trump and his handlers had proceeded with that rally in the face of a large, ugly, crowd, and someone got hurt, or, God forbid, killed. Can you imagine how the medias stories would have been couched?

Third, related to criticism of Trump for goading the violence, one is surprised by how few people seem to recall that a previous presidential hopefuls harsh rhetoric may have been even more extreme than anything Trump allegedly has said. Yes, Trump has uttered comments that can be construed as encouraging violence against especially provocative protesters at his rallies.

On at least two occasions during Campaign 2008, however, Barack Obama urged aggressive action by his supporters against opponents. On September 18, for example, he told his supporters to confront their opponents, to get in their face, which can only be interpreted as urging confrontations that could turn ugly. On June 14, he went even further. At a fund-raiser in Philadelphia, he told a crowd of supporters what hed do to counter GOP attacks: [i]f they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun.

Those comments are hardly in keeping with the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Focusing on the leftist-inspired violence that entailed cancellation of Trumps rally, at least three perspectives come to mind.

The first, which is probably most likely to be expressed by someone to the Right of the political center, attacks the anti-Trumpeteers for their hooliganism or worse. On March 12, for example, Shelby Williams labeled the anti-Trumpeteers brown shirts, and specifically compared their tactics at Chicago to Ernest Rohms Sturmabteilung, a.k.a. the SA, i.e., paramilitary thugs who broke up anti-Nazi meetings and played a significant role in Hitlers rise to power in Germany.

What seems to have happened in Chicago is that leftists antics on American university campuses during the last quarter-of-a-century or so  when time-and-again loony leftists (students and faculty) prevented non-leftists from speaking and/or receiving awards  have now metastasized into the political arena. (We have already witnessed incidents in which Black Lives Matter denizens have disrupted speeches by Hillary Clinton, and before that, Martin OMalley and Bernie Sanders. They tried, and failed, to disrupt Trumps events.)

Since the Chicago protesters have already been correctly identified, I shall give this perspective short shrift.

Second, on a broader, perhaps more nuanced, perspective, what Chicago represents is the on-going breakdown of civility in American politics. But American politics have always been rough-and-tumble. Think of what was said about Thomas Jefferson during the election of 1800, or of Abraham Lincoln between 1860 and 1865. However, our political discourse seems to have considerably coarsened over the last 30+ years. Political personalities as diverse as Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama have been on the receiving end of what some regard as the vilest language. (This is not the place for trying to assess which, if any, of these men, deserved to be castigated. Sos your old man-type exchanges dont take us very far.)

At least two considerations emerge. First, can we, should we, put a limit on what we say about the other side? (Remember Richard Nixons story about seeing a little girl at one of his rallies in 1968 holding up a sign that read Bring Us Together? Nixon couldnt, or wouldnt, and no major political figure in the last 30 years or so has done so either. Jerry Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan, each in his own way, tried, but to no avail. The current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC promised to do so, but hasnt even tried.)

More important, perhaps, is the question of how far the breakdown of civility in U.S. politics can go before the American political system is fundamentally compromised. Political theorists have speculated about this question for centuries, and we seem to be no closer to a definitive answer than the ancient Greeks and Romans were. But if the road leading up to the American Civil War tells us anything, there may come a point where increasingly loud and angry  i.e., uncivil  political language reaches a breaking point.

Thus we come to the initial topic alluded to in the first sentence. Watching televised images of the violent outbursts at the event in Chicago induced memories of the grainy, black-and-white film of street fighting between Communists and Nazis in Germany during the final years of the Weimar Republic. A few broken heads here, a couple of dead demonstrators there, culminated in exchanges of gun fire and flailing Billy clubs as the over-whelmed Weimar police decreasingly could keep the peace.

We all know how street battles during the Weimar Republic ended.

I am not a believer in historical inevitability. Nothing in todays American politics requires us to repeat the pattern in Germany that resulted in Hitler coming to power.

Nevertheless, not enough voices are calling attention to these worrisome trends. Yes, Donald Trump is a polarizing personality. But so are Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders. Is the American political system robust enough to deal with political leaders of their ilk? If it isnt, we may be staring straight at a very scary future.
Unable to stop the phenomenon that has become the Trump movement by attacking its leader, the pretentious princes of the Grand Old Party are now resorting to attacking their own rebellious base, and it is clear that some conservative journalists are too willing to help them do it. The most disturbing of these attacks comes from what has become Trumps most determined journalistic antagonist, National Review. That NR has now turned its guns on Middle America saddens me, for I have long been a reader and admirer of their many fine writers. I was truly dismayed recently when that conservative publication devoted an entire issue to destroying Trump with almost two dozen leading establishment editors and journalists writing opinion pieces against him. That effort to terminate Trump failed so miserably it is almost laughingly ironic, for not only did it get NR dropped from the next Republican debate, it further established Donald as the anti-establishment leader and broadened his attraction.

Perturbed by their failure to truncate the Trump campaign, National Review is now doubling down in a coming issue with a truly toxic article (behind a pay wall) by roving editor, Kevin D. Williamson. Toxic is the nicest way I can think of to characterize the malevolent tirade that Williamson has produced for a publication apparently hell-bent on reducing its readership to a tiny core of conservative purists. Williamson, who frequently likes to drop into his pieces the downhome bona fide that hes from West Texas, has probably doomed his chances of ever leading any parades back home with his virulent attack on the blue-collar class, the workers who populate the two largest industries in that region, farming/ranching and the oilfield, in particular, the latter because of the recent collapse of oil prices.

Williamson apparently thinks blue-collar workers whose lives get turned upside down when their jobs disappear due to economic downturns or their manufacturing jobs getting shipped offshore or their mines closing due to new more restrictive government regulation, are all a bunch of worthless bums and crybabies who should just load up the pickup and become the new Okies. What with the absolute collapse of the energy industry in West Texas in the past year and unemployment through the roof, I think Kevin might find it somewhat difficult selling that concept to any of his fellow West Texans any time soon. Id give up Mexican food for a year to see him stand on one of the dozens of idle drilling platforms and try to read that piece to a crowd of long-unemployed oilfield workers. Here are a few of Kevins insulting words (excerpted and defended-- here):

The truth about these dysfunctional, downscale communities is that they deserve to die. Economically, they are negative assets. Morally, they are indefensible. Forget all your cheap, theatrical Bruce Springsteen crap. Forget your sanctimony about struggling Rust Belt factory towns and your conspiracy theories about the wily Orientals stealing our jobs. The white American underclass is in thrall to a vicious, selfish culture whose main products are misery and used heroin needles. Donald Trumps speeches make them feel good. So does OxyContin. What they need isnt analgesics, literal or political. They need real opportunity, which means that they need real change, which means that they need U-Haul.

Did you folks out there in Odessa and all the other oil patch communities get that? This conservative elitist says your town deserves to die. And thats just a sample of the toxic rot in the lengthy article. Jazz Shaw at Hot Air is shocked, like many other conservative authors who have read Williamsons diatribe:

This is truly stunning. A broadside attack on Americas middle class is apparently the last recourse of truly lost and desperate souls. Worst of all, its a denial of reality. I dont know how things are in hardscrabble, white West Texas, but I happen to live in one of those hardscrabble, white Upstate New York burgs and Kevin is living in some sort of dream world. Garbutt serves as a useful metaphor in his tale, but it bears little to no relevance to the reality these communities have dealt with nor the government policy failures which let them down.

Well I do know how things are in hardscrabble, white West Texas, and theyre not good at all. Like me, Shaw has lived in stricken areas among the people that Williamson and National Review think just need to load up a U-Haul and move on to better prospects. I wonder if Kevin intends those emigrants to include members of my wifes pioneering family of cowboys, ranchers, buffalo hunters and Indian fighters who have been on West Texas land for more than 150 years? Or members of my own family who have been working in that oil patch for sixty years? Most of them are suffering in varying degrees from the regional depression caused by the steep drop in oil prices. Those crybabies should simply abandon their homes, their schools, their churches, their old and debilitated, just pick up and go, huh, Kevin?

It is becoming increasingly clear to the American middle class that Donald Trump is exposing the pretension of urban Eastern conservatism and the Republican Party leadership, who think they, and only they, know whats best for all of us out here in flyover country. But what all those who fancy themselves our betters cant process is that it is the very fact that they are so out of touch with ordinary folks that is Trumps greatest attraction. The more the conservative aristocracy attacks Trump the more the people listening to him, those middle class working folks, are inclined to support him.

Many Americans born into Democrat households have said, as Reagan did, that they didnt leave the Democratic Party, the party left them. One has to wonder how many millions of those Americans are beginning to think the same of the Republican Party. Im not even a Trump follower, having voted for Cruz in my state primary, but I can tell you that with these attacks on the middle class and the blue-collar working class, these GOP elites and their conservative oracles are alienating me. Attack Trump all you want; hes fair game, but dont turn your frustrations from that back on mainstream America. You establishment Republicans loved flyover America when its denizens believed all your lies and forgave your endless broken promises to fix their broken country; but now you want to treat these same folks with contempt and disdain since theyve found a candidate whom you say lies and promises even more convincingly than you.

National Review, how about putting more effort into understanding the reasons for Trumps appeal and less into bashing his followers, a move guaranteed to make you Trumps main recruiting office?
Candidate Ted Cruz is being accused of being a messianic figure who is heading up an evangelical coup detat -- at least according to the author of an article published in the East Orlando Post and featured as the leading headline in the March 11 issue of the Drudge Report. The piece is entitled Ted Cruz: Closet Pentecostal.

Author Jacob Engels, who describes himself as a political operative, writes that Ted Cruzs fathers pastorate was rooted in a radical Christian ideology known as Dominionism or Christian Reconstructionism. Why is Ted Cruz hiding his pentecostal past?

As Engels relates it:

Dominionism calls on anointed Christian leaders to take over government to make the laws of the nation in accordance with Biblical laws. Rafael Cruz, at the Pastor Larry Huchs New Beginnings mega-church in Bedford Texas, outside Dallas, on Aug. 26, 2012, in a Dominionist sermon proclaimed his son, Ted Cruz, to be the anointed one, a Dominionist Messiah who would bring Gods law to reign. By identifying Ted Cruz as the anointed one, Rafael Cruz has designated his son as what he believes is Gods choice to lead an evangelical coup detat.

Engels concludes:

So to pull all this logic together, God anoints priests to work in the church directly and kings to go out into the marketplace to conquer, plunder, and bring back the spoils to the church. The reason governmental regulation has to disappear from the marketplace is to make it completely available to the plunder of Christian kings who will accomplish the end time transfer of wealth Then Gods bankers will usher in the coming of the messiah. 

Where have we heard the world is run by conspiratorial bankers of religious or ethnic origin? Who has been accused of using banks to plunder the people in order to have global domination? Answer: Such accusations have been leveled against the Jews for centuries. Now we read Engels variant of the worldwide Jewish conspiracy, but this time, it is leveled against Cruz and his followers who supposedly hold extremist dominionist/Christian Reconstructionism views. Never mind that Cruz has described himself as an evangelical Christian and has never outlined a plan for plundering and taking over the banks of the world.

But perhaps an even greater issue is Engels description of Cruz as a closet Pentecostal. The term closet Pentecostal implies those who are Pentecostal Christians have a lot to hide -- maybe they even serve Kool-Aid at lunches. It even implies Cruz, if he is a Pentecostal Christian, is something of a nut case whose spiritual sensibilities are so out of line with orthodox Christianity he is automatically disqualified from holding office. Further, just who are the crazies who are following him?

Its all nonsense.

Those who know Americas religious history will recall the First Great Awakening in the eighteenth century. It had a huge impact on Protestant Europe and America. The revival included Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Baptists, and Methodists, all of whom argued that physical manifestations such as trembling and falling to the ground as if dead were signs of divine power. Most often the symptoms of being overcome by Gods presence were followed by an experience marked by peace and joy.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, thought the strange experiences were testimony to the power of Gods love. George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards, the last great Calvinist of New England, both recorded instances of people who were so overcome by experiences of Gods love, they fell to the ground. Later, during the Second Great Awakening, Peter Cartwright and Charles Finney also noted similar behavior.

Fast forward to todays progressive equivalent of spiritual awakening; namely, the divine and infallible inner voice that speaks to ones destiny: Put knowledge of your destiny in secularist progressive terms, or as discernment that comes from within -- my inner goddess told me I was born to be a dancer -- and you will get nothing but applause from the Left. Small wonder, as many even believe in the supernatural ability of a man to declare himself a woman.

But if your dad puts your destiny in terms of a divine call from God, suddenly he and you are nut cases. You are even nuttier if you feel a calling from the Almighty is confirmed by certain spiritual means embraced by some 300 million Pentecostals worldwide -- including a large number of worshippers within Americas black churches, where it is considered quite acceptable to be so overcome by the power of God, one is slain in the Spirit, falling to the ground because of being overcome by the presence of Gods love.

Further, in just about every part of the world, glossolalia can be observed. Pagan religions all over the world are preoccupied with speaking in tongues. Shamans in the Sudan, the Shango cult of the West Coast of Africa, the Zor cult of Ethiopia, the Voodoo cult in Haiti, and the Aborigines of South America and Australia all see glossolalia as an indication of deep mystical insight.

For the progressive movement, pagan experiences such as glossolalia (speaking in tongues), or being overcome by the supernatural (slain in the spirit), or having the experience of being lifted out of this mortal coil into a supernatural realm (near death experiences) are just fine and dandy as long as they are anomalies or found within obscure cults that can be incorporated into the leftist doctrine of multi-culturalism. As long as ecstatic supernatural experiences can be kept on cultural reservations where spiritual exotica are confineable and non-threatening, they are acceptable.

But God forbid some three hundred million Christians in America, South America, and Africa should show persistent signs of spirituality that cannot be controlled or explained away by progressive politically correct doctrine that refuses to acknowledge the supernatural power of Gods love. God also forbid that any man or woman could believe his or her destiny has been determined by God Almighty.

Why, to believe that sort of nonsense is to be a crazy closet Pentecostal. America certainly cant have a religious nut case like that in office, can it? After all, just ask Jerry Falwell, Jr., who says we arent electing a pastor in chief, and who advises Christians to vote for an agnostic secularist rather than for a person who actually believes in a God who is sovereign over earthly affairs and whose moral laws transcend and inform earthly rulers.

And the loving sovereignty of God over heaven and earth is exactly what is meant by the vast majority of evangelical (and Pentecostal) Christians when they speak of the dominion of God. That same vast majority would laugh at the idea of an evangelical coup detat by an anointed messianic figure who is determined to put the equivalent of the Mosaic laws for ancient Israel into place over all Americans.

After all, evangelicals and others have already seen a messianic figure with narrow religious ideals in the office of the presidency for the last seven years. They have seen this haloed and anointed leftist messiah, who promised to slow the rise of the oceans, seek to enact a leftist, progressive orthodoxy that has proved to be a dominionism so severe and draconian it has alienated and divided American society in ways never before seen.

So why would any Pentecostal, evangelical, orthodox Catholic, or Calvinist (and non-Pentecostal) Presbyterian like the author of this essay ever wish to see another so-called messianic figure anointed as president?

One of them has been enough.

Fay Voshell holds a M.Div. from Princeton Seminary, which awarded her its prize for excellence in systematic theology. A frequent contributor to American Thinker, her thoughts also have appeared in many online publications such as Fox News, CNS, RealClearReligion and National Review. She was selected as one of the Delaware GOPs Winning Women of 2008, and has spoken about her views on church and state as well as other conservative issues on radio and television talk shows. She may be reached at fvoshell@yahoo.com
A University of Virginia student who was arrested in January for trying to steal a propaganda banner from his hotel has been sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for his "severe" crime.

Washington Post:

Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old from Cincinnati, Ohio, was convicted after a one-hour trial at North Koreas Supreme Court, Chinas Xinhua news agency, which has a bureau in Pyongyang, reported Wednesday. Japans Kyodo News and the Associated Press also reported the verdict. Diplomats from the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang, which represents American interests in North Korea because the U.S. does not have diplomatic relations with the country, were present at the trial.

North Koreas state media had not commented on the case by 2 p.m. local time.

Warmbier is being held at a particularly sensitive time, when annual military drills between the United States and South Korea are coinciding with international sanctions against North Koreas regime to punish it for its recent nuclear test and missile launches.

North Korea always protests the joint military drills in South Korea because it sees them as a pretext for an invasion, but Pyongyangs reaction is particularly ferocious this year because the allies are practicing decapitation strikes on North Koreas leadership and taking out its nuclear and missile facilities.

Furthermore, the sanctions imposed by the United Nations, coupled with direct measures taken by the United States, Japan and South Korea, are the toughest yet and could inflict a significant amount of pain on the North Korean regime.

Warmbier, an economics major, was arrested at Pyongyang airport on January 2, at the end of a five-day tour to North Korea. But it wasnt until three weeks later that Kim Jong Uns regime announced it was holding the Ohio native for an unspecified hostile act against the state.
The seeds of a catastrophic split of the Republican Party are being planted. If Donald Trump doesnt win on the first ballot in Cleveland, the mechanics of taking away the nomination are clear. Writing in Bloomberg Politics, Sasha Issenberg explains the complex mechanics of delegate selection, which could result in Trump delegates abandoning him after the first ballot, when they are pledged to vote for him.

Only a small share of the 2,472 total convention delegates are free to pick the candidate of their choice, regardless of the elections outcome, on the first ballot, while about three-quarters of them are gradually freed to do so on subsequent votes. That means there is a small pool of so-called unbound delegates who are pure free agents, but a much larger number who can be recruited throughout the spring as double agentsdelegates who arrive in Cleveland pledged to Trump, all the while working in cahoots with one of his opponents and confessing their true allegiances once it is safe to do so. Forty-four states give the delegation-selection authority to a state convention or state executive committee, with no requirement that the candidate have a say in choosing delegates, says Benjamin Ginsberg, a former general counsel for the Republican National Committee who managed Mitt Romneys pre-convention delegate strategy. Centralized power has dissipated in many states so that pockets of grassroots activists hold great sway.

And who would be best positioned to play the local game, maneuvering double agents onto the Trump slate? That would be someone with strong grassroots support, good planning, and organizing skills, and strategic planning capabilities. Thats right: Ted Cruz.

Of any of the campaigns the Ted Cruz people are the best-positioned, says Iowa Republican operative Grant Young. Not just because they won. Theyve got a big coalition and theyre organized. At Cruzs Houston headquarters, a six-person team overseen by political operatives, lawyers, and data analysts is effectively re-enacting the primary calendar, often with the aim of placing double agents in Trump slates. The ability to pick up new adherents during the state-convention phase invites Trumps rivals to look anew at the map of his victories, based on the rules governing individual states. The 36 delegates Trump won in Alabama will be bound to him throughout the nominating process, but the 40 he won in Georgia are free to vote for whomever they choose after the first ballot. Georgia holds its county conventions on Saturday to select delegates for district conventions a month laterthe weeks most important stop on the shadow-campaign trail. Were making resource allocations based upon stopping Donald Trump, says Roe. Theres several scenarios where he doesnt make 1,237.

Issenbergs piece goes deep into the weeds, and it is worth reading in its entirety and saving for future reference. There are even methods by which Trump-pledged delegates could be denied seating and voting.

But that path would obviously be suicide for the GOP. The party that displaced the Whigs could join them in the dustbin of history.
The 2015 crime data has been released for Seattle, and the results are not pretty for the legal marijuana advocates.

Between 2008 and 2012, the number of total crimes and property crimes in the city was stable or declining, consistent with trends at the national level. Since adult possession of marijuana became legal in December 2012, the number of crimes has risen rapidly.

The average number of crimes per year during the post-legal pot period (2013-2015) is 17% higher than the three-year period (2010-2012) before legalization.

Population growth does not explain the abrupt change, as the annual growth rate is only about 2%. In addition, the national crime rate has continued to decline over this period, suggesting that something unusual is going on in Seattle.

Given that we see the same pre-/post-pot legalization crime pattern in Denver, while correlation is not necessarily causation, it is certainly suggestive based on the data from these geographically distinct regions.

Time must also be taken to debunk a key talking point of legal marijuana proponents: equating the difficulties of alcohol prohibition with marijuana prohibition. These two drugs present very different law enforcement challenges. The former can never be effectively eliminated, whereas availability of the latter can be substantially reduced via criminalization.

The active ingredient in alcohol is, of course, ethanol. Almost any fruit, vegetable, and grain  as well as innumerable other foods (e.g., tree sap, milk, sugar, honey, etc.) can be easily fermented into a crude alcohol with nothing more complicated than a couple of pails or other containers. Consequently, prohibiting access to the raw materials for making alcohol is impossible  it would necessitate the outlawing of food itself.

On the other hand, the main psychoactive agent in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and the plant used to make marijuana is the only effective plant source for THC. Consequently, if we want to control public access to THC, banning the production or import of marijuana is all that is required. As difficult as this has proven to be  particularly in the globalization era, whereby massive numbers of shipping containers and vessels enter the country each day, making a comprehensive search effort impractical  it is a whole different ballgame from the theoretically impossible goal of banning alcohol production.

In short, a prohibition on the materials from which alcohol is derived would lead to immediate mass starvation and, soon thereafter, the extinction of the human species (i.e., we would need to pretty much ban the biosphere), whereas a prohibition on the materials from which THC is derived requires us ONLY to criminalize a single largely commercially irrelevant, plant species. Attempting to equate these two efforts is intellectual nonsense and belies a clear lack of knowledge regarding the underlying science behind the two drugs.

Consequently, many of those who oppose alcohol criminalization but support a marijuana prohibition are neither being hypocritical nor ignoring the negative societal and health impacts of excessive alcohol consumption. Rather, they are being practical. It is theoretically impossible to ban access to the raw ingredients for alcohol production. Not so the case for access to the THC in marijuana.

As well, just a cursory look at the nations that have current prohibitions, either entirely or partially, on alcohol should cause one to question any notions of adopting this policy.

These countries are a who's who of domestic and international dysfunction, including India, where rapes and acid attacks against women and children are commonplace and religious strife is endemic. Clearly not model societies for the support of alcohol prohibition. In fact, perhaps these are cultures where an occasional drink in moderation would do some good.

On the other hand, the vast majority of stable, modern democracies prospered in the latter half of the twentieth century without legalizing marijuana. And as Colorado and Washington State are finding out, once the genie is out of the bottle, it is hard to put back in.
There is considerable alarm in Minnesota over a list of 36 law enforcement officers, including private addresses and other confidential information, that was posted on an encrypted message app used by ISIS in the past. Labor Jany of the Star-Tribune writes:

An alleged ISIL "kill list" containing the personal information of dozens of Minnesota law enforcement officers is the focus of an investigation by state and federal agencies. The list, purportedly created by a group of hackers affiliated with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, includes the names, addresses and telephone numbers of officers from across Minnesota. Authorities acknowledge that they are still gauging the seriousness of the threat posed by the group, which calls itself the Caliphate Cyber Army. The personal information of at least 36 law enforcement officers  apparently including a Sauk Rapids police officer, five St. Paul police officers and a St. Louis County sheriff's deputy  along with instructions to kill were recently posted on the encrypted messaging app Telegram, according to news reports and screenshots of the list obtained by the Star Tribune. The screenshots depict what appears to be an ISIL logo superimposed over a photo of masked fighters. Along with the personal information, the message says "Wanted to be killed."

In the wake of the San Bernardino massacre, such threats cannot be ignored, to say the least. And it doesnt take a genius to realize that the mass importation of Somalis to Minnesota  chosen by the State Department to receive them because of its generous welfare benefits  is behind the fact that Minnesota has sent more recruits to ISIS than any other state. Some of them may well bear grudges against specific law enforcement officers, including those in unlikely places like St. Louis County (in the far north of the state) or Sauk Rapids (a suburb of St. Cloud in the middle of the state).

A massacre of peace officers in the heartland would indeed be terrifying for most Americans, which is exactly why ISIS would want to pursue it.

Hat tip: Powerline and Instapundit
If Iran does not succeed in its goal of wiping Israel off the map, the world may be able to benefit from the stunning technological advances being unveiled by scientists there on a regular basis. The latest advance is nothing less than revolutionary. The Times of Israel reports:

Tel Aviv University unveiled a remote-controlled, bionic heart patch, which researchers say could become a revolutionary alternative to heart transplants for patients whose hearts have been damaged by heart attacks or cardiac disease.

The patch expands and contracts like a human heart, but regulates itself like a machine and can be paced and programmed to release drugs from afar.

Its very science fiction, but its already here, and we expect it to move cardiac research forward in a big way, said Prof. Tal Dvir, who pioneered the invention with PhD student Ron Feiner.

Until now, we could only engineer organic cardiac tissue, with mixed results. Now we have produced viable bionic tissue, which ensures that the heart tissue will function properly, he said in a statement issued Monday by American Friends of Tel Aviv University.

The Cyborg Cardiac Patch, details of which have been published in the journal Nature Materials, combines real, living cardiac cells able to expand and contract with engineered tissue packed with nano-electronics that can sense what is happening in the patch, provide electrical stimulation and  via electro-active polymers  release growth stimulants or drugs and harness stem cells.

Imagine that a patient is just sitting at home, not feeling well, Dvir said. His physician will be able to log onto his computer and this patients file  in real time. He can view data sent remotely from sensors embedded in the engineered tissue and assess exactly how his patient is doing. He can intervene to properly pace the heart and activate drugs to regenerate tissue from afar.
If you are looking for evidence that professional organizations are part of the problem in the United States and elsewhere, look no farther than an article at Defense One discussing some of the practical, economic, and societal implications of building a wall across the U.S. southern border.

In the piece, Kriston Capps from CityLab, and a former senior editor at Architect magazine, raises the following points:

Trump is pledging the largest infrastructure project since the U.S. highway system  perhaps the most significant infrastructure project since the Erie Canal ... Trump can't build a wall across the entire border. It's a moon-shot without a rocket. The proposal crumbles at even the slightest scrutiny. No one who can build it would, and no one who would build it can. "With the highly contested nature of this project, and the fact that many, many people object to it really strongly  do you want to be on the wrong side of that in a way that's going to stick with you for years?" asks Raphael Sperry, president of Architects/Designers/Planners for Social Responsibility. Sperry says that his organization will condemn the border wall, should Trump be elected president. His organization may not stand alone: Other professional design associations are bound by ethics that Trump's proposal appears to plainly violate. As with other controversial border projects, firms that built this wall could be subject to boycotts, blacklists, and lawsuits ... None of more than a dozen global architecture and engineering firms I contacted were willing to speak on the record about Trump's wall. Neither did faculty at the schools of civil engineering for Texas A&M University and the Georgia Institute of Technology. But several sources pointed to codes of ethics that seek to prevent architects, engineers, and planning professionals from doing harm. The American Institute of Certified Planners [AICP], for example, includes in its code of ethics a subsection that reads as strongly at odds with the goal of blocking immigrants from reaching the U.S. through Mexico: "We shall seek social justice by working to expand choice and opportunity for all persons, recognizing a special responsibility to plan for the needs of the disadvantaged and to promote racial and economic integration. We shall urge the alteration of policies, institutions, and decisions that oppose such needs." ... Maybe a Trump supporter runs a design firm with the level of experience necessary to plausibly bid as a contractor on a request from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Maybe this firm does not mind the risk of censure from professional groups that could come with the commission. Maybe this firm does not fear the almost-certain boycotts that would come with the job. Maybe this firm isn't bothered by the prospect of never even being paid for the work. For mainstream designers, however, the sanction of the International Court of Justice is something to be avoided. Most engineers shun notoriety, much less aggressively court it. Designers of all political persuasions are bound to pass on projects that draw casual references to fascism from sitting heads of state. The judgment of history is a big ask for pro-bono work.

Boycotts? Blacklists? That sounds rather McCarthyesque, and ironic coming from a political base that usually lashes out with deep vitriol at the mention of such tactics. One must imagine that boycotts and blacklists are only valid when employed by self-assessed "forces of good."

A number of other professional organizations are mentioned in this article, such as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the National Society of Professional Engineers. This is deeply troubling.

These organizations should be focused almost exclusively on the technical capacities of their members, not on partisan politics  and the social justice merits of a U.S.-Mexico border wall most certainly involves politics, not engineering, science, or technology.

Boycotts and blacklists are problematic enough in the private sector, but when it comes to organizations operating in the public sphere, a line has been clearly crossed. Some of these professional organizations offer accreditation that is either desired or required for many jobs in both the private and public sectors.

Should public-sector employers be requiring potential and current employees to be members of organizations with politically partisan codes of ethics? The answer is undeniably "no." Should competent individuals in these fields be denied American public sector employment because they worked on a project like a border wall, whose sole objective is to prevent foreign nationals from violating the sovereignty of the United States? Certainly not.

Who are acting like fascists now?

Thus, we have one more suite of issues that needs to be added to the discussion that is long overdue among the American public (and internationally, since these problems are in no way unique to the United States). What needs to happen is that concerned members of civil society and the politicians that represent them (i.e., Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and others at the local, state, and federal levels) need to reach out to these organizations and express their dissatisfaction at any possible threats of professional blacklisting, boycotts, sanctions, and other negative career impacts that could accrue against any individuals who are interested in, and may in fact work on, a border wall.

And if any organizations refuse to back out of politics and back into purely non-partisan technical matters, perhaps they should be boycotted and blacklisted when it comes to private- and public-sector opportunities. There is a place for expressing your political views via your work, but it should never come via professional organizations.
Three prominent conservatives have issued an invitation to several other top leaders on the right to meet in Washington, D.C. on Thursday to discuss ways to halt Donald Trump's march to the nomination and failing that, talk about the possibility of forming a third party with a "true" conservative as a candidate.

Politico:

The organizers of the meeting include Bill Wichterman, who was President George W. Bushs liaison to the conservative movement; Bob Fischer, a South Dakota businessman and longtime conservative convener; and Erick Erickson, the outspoken Trump opponent and conservative activist who founded RedState.com. "Please join other conservative leaders to strategize how to defeat Donald Trump for the Republican nomination, the three wrote in an invitation obtained by POLITICO that recently went out to conservative leaders, "and if he is the Republican nominee for president, to offer a true conservative candidate in the general election." The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, two days after winner-take-all Florida and Ohio vote in what many Republican operatives believe will determine whether Trump is on an unstoppable march to the nomination or is likely to stall out short of the 1,237 delegates he needs. One person involved in the gathering described it as in the embryonic stages. Its not like theres a royal grand plan thats going to be unfurled," this person said. "People arent giving up on the Republican Party yet." Still, Wichterman, Fischer, and Erickson represent three boldface names to host such a gathering. All three have deep ties to the social conservative movement, which Ted Cruz has tried to unite behind his candidacy. Wichterman, in addition to his top job for Bush, served as a senior adviser to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. He now works for Covington, a law firm in Washington, D.C. Fischer, in 2012, helped bring together a group of more than 200 conservatives from across the country to unite around Rick Santorums candidacy. An event in Houston he put together raised $1.8 million in a day. And Erickson, who has sparred publicly with Trump for months online and on his radio show, has previously said, I will not be voting for Donald Trump at all. Ever.

If they are serious about a third party effort, they needed to start yesterday. Filing deadlines for some states are just days away, and it's unlikely that the signatures necessary to reserve space on some state ballots for another party can be gathered in so short a time.

So their efforts will be directed at trying to deny Trump the nomination at the convention. Even if Trump fails to win the 1,237 delegates necessary for the nomination, he will likely be so far ahead of Ted Cruz and so close to the magic number that denying him the nomination will blow up the party and lead to certain defeat in November.

For those who believe that Trump must be stopped at all costs, the prospect of blowing up the party seems an acceptable risk. But most Republicans  even if they can't stand Trump  won't go so far as to destroy the party to stop him. For good or ill, it is likely that Donald Trump will be the nominee, and no amount of manuevering by "true" conservatives or the establishment will be able to alter that fact.
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were the big winners in Tuesday's primaries, with Trump taking winner-take-all contests in Illinois and Florida and Clinton sweeping five Democratic contests. The victories for both candidates sent them well on their way to first ballot nominations at their respective conventions later this summer.

In addition to winning Illinois and Florida, Trump also beat Ted Cruz in North Carolina and is poised to pick up Missouri as well. With 99.9% of precints reporting, Trump is leading Ted Cruz by 1,700 votes in the Show Me state.

Trump's victory in Florida  a two-to-one thrashing of home state Senator Marco Rubio  drove the establishment favorite from the race. And Cruz, who was shut out on Tuesday night, managed to pick up only 26 delegates. Trump now has amassed just about half of the 1,237 delegates he needs for the nomination.

The Kasich victory in Ohio doesn't give him a path to winning 1,237 delegates via primaries and caucuses. But it slightly increases the chance that Trump will not be able to reach that magic number prior to the Cleveland convention, turning the quadrennial event into a free-for-all that could doom the party to a massive defeat in November.

Now, the question turns to whether Trump can amass the 1,237 delegates needed to avoid a contested convention and win the nomination outright. With only two winner-take-all states left until the end of April, winning Floridas 99 delegates outright gives Trump an advantage over his competitors, who would need many huge showings to net that total over their rivals. It also served the dual purpose of knocking out Marco Rubio, who lost to Trump handily in his home state. That could make it easier for Trump to hit the threshold, as one less candidate will now be competing to split the delegates, which will mostly be awarded proportionally. John Kasichs victory in Ohio deprives Trump of 66 delegates in that winner-take-all state, making it that much more challenging for the front-runner to find that many delegates elsewhere at one time. The Kasich victory only keeps the Ohio governor alive to, perhaps, get to a contested conventionhe was already mathematically unable to win the nomination no matter whether he held his home state. Cruz stands to be the only candidate with any shot of defeating Trump before the convention, but his chances at reaching 1,237 delegates remain even more unlikely than Trump. As of Tuesday night, Cruz has lost at least four of the races of the night, he sits more than 200 delegates behind the front-runner and would need more than 80 percent of outstanding delegates to finish with the delegate majority. That hasnt stopped Cruz supporters, as well as other Republicans hell-bent on depriving Trump the nomination by any means necessary, to call for the GOP to coalesce around Cruz, the senator whose made his name refusing to unite with his partys establishment. Avik Roy, a former Rubio health care adviser, immediately called for Rubio supportersand all conservativesto united around [Ted Cruz] in a post on Twitter. Former Cruz aide Rick Tyler agreed. If John Kasich stays in the race, he may as well contribute all the money he spends in-kind to Donald Trump because he will make it so that Cruz cannot compete with him in the winner-take-all states, he said Tuesday night on MSNBC.

Bernie Sanders is dead in the water after losing all five contests Tuesday night. He will pick up some delegates, but Clinton will take home the lion's share. She is now about two-thirds of the way to winning on the first ballot at the convention.

Kasich will probably get enough anti-Trump money to stay in the race to the bitter end. And Ted Cruz has proved himself adept at raising money from his supporters, so he can continue campaigning well into the future. He also will benefit from anti-Trump efforts by the establishment.

Can a party-destroying bloodbath be avoided at the convention? As long as Cruz remains competitive and Kasich keeps getting 10-15% of the vote, the nature of the primaries makes it more and more likely that Trump will get close but probably not surpass the 1,237 delegates needed to prevent a contested convention.
A few kilometers east of the small fishing port of Grandcamp, the Normandy coastline in northern France, juts into the sea forming a sheer promontory called Pointe du Hoc that towers thirty meters above a narrow pebble beach. It was here the Germans had built one of the strongest forts in Hitlers Atlantic wall during the second World War. This was also the highest point between two sections of the beach, codenamed Utah and Omaha, where the Allied forces planned to land during D-day invasion on June 6, 1944.

Pointe du Hoc held six 155mm artillery guns in heavily reinforced concrete bunkers that were capable of hitting either beach with their big shells, as well as the thousands of ships of the invasion fleet anchored off the shores of Normandy. The destruction of these guns was important if the invasion was the succeed.

Photo credit: www.survoldefrance.fr

In the weeks leading up to the invasion, the entire Normandy coastline was aerially bombarded. Pointe du Hoc was specially targeted. Quoting from the book The Victors by Stephen E. Ambrose:

Heavy bombers from the U.S. Eighth Air Force and British Bomber Command had repeatedly plastered the area, with a climax coming before dawn on June 6. Then the battleship Texas took up the action, sending dozens of 14-inch shells into the position. Altogether, Pointe-du-Hoc got hit by more than ten kilotons of high explosives, the equivalent of the explosive power of the atomic bomb used at Hiroshima.

Still, nobody was sure whether the battery was actually neutralized. With the lives of thousands of soldiers, and the outcome of the war itself at stake, a decision was made to attack the position by sending a team of commandoes on foot, who would have to scale the cliffs using ropes and ladders in the early hours of dawn.

The task fell upon the 2nd Ranger Battalion, under the command of Colonel James E. Rudder. After a perilous landing on the beach, the Rangers fought the slippery rock face, sodden ropes and enemy fire, and finally struggled to the top only to discover, to their astonishment, that Germans had already moved the guns and replaced them with huge timber beams.

The Rangers quickly organized a search party and found the guns hidden nearby, which they destroyed using grenades. The mission was completed but the Rangers still had to get out that place. Unfortunately, the relief forces came two days too late. Without reinforcement and food running low, the Rangers managed to hold off repeated attempts by the Germans to recapture the site. By the time the troops coming from Omaha Beach had broken through to their positions, less than 40 men of the original 225 had survived.

Rudder was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his service at Point du Hoc and went on to command the 109th Infantry Regiment later in the war.

Today, the cliff looks like the lunar surface. Craters left by aerial bombing and Naval artillery shells still litter the ground as evidence of the terrible battle that took place here. You can still see the bullet holes in the bunkers, and remains of the German ammunition store. In 1979 a memorial is erected here, and is now overseen by the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Photo credit: wargamerabbit.wordpress.com

Photo credit: hamptonroadsnavalmuseum.blogspot.in

Photo credit: Dave Kuehn/Flickr

Photo credit: FaceMePLS/Flickr

Photo credit: Gerwin Filius/Flickr

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Photo credit: Achilli Family/Flickr

Sources: WorldWar2History.info / www.militaryhistoryonline.com / www.battleofnormandytours.com / www.normandiememoire.com
Last week, Google pretty much shocked the entire world by dropping the developer preview of Android N ahead of Google I/O. In the past two years, Google has previewed the next version of Android at Google I/O and released the first developer preview then. After that they release a few others, about once a month before the final release in the fall. Which is typically around late-September or early-October. This year, they are doing things a bit differently. Dropping the first developer preview for Android N in March and they are going to give us four additional previews before the final release sometime in August or September. So were getting releases about once a month as we typically do. However, Google is not allowing Play Store publishing for apps that work on Android N until the third developer preview.

Why put the preview out so early? Well, for feedback. Feedback is always important when putting out big updates like this one has shaped up to be. And the earlier that Google can put out the developer preview, the more feedback that will be generated and submitted for Google to fix things. And in some cases add things. It also gives developers a chance to work with the new APIs and get their apps and games ready for Android N when it does finally drop in the third quarter.

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Now since Android N came out last week, theres been a lot of people saying that Android N is a minimal update. Which is not true. While feature-wise, theres not much new, no update is truly minimal when it comes to a mobile OS. There are always tons of improvements behind-the-scenes that many people dont see, and those are just as important as the new features that people do see each and every day. In fact, one of the new features that is actually a behind-the-scenes feature is Doze. Well its more of an enhancement to Doze than a new feature. Doze was announced in Marshmallow last year and what it did was turn off everything on your phone when youre not using it for a while. This provided some amazing standby time, and in early tests, the Nexus 5 nearly quadrupled its standby time compared to Lollipop. Which is a pretty big deal. Now in Android N, Doze will start immediately when you put the phone to sleep. Even when youre holding it. Making standby that much better. Now while Doze does turn off everything, your notifications will still come through. Instead of being instant, the device will poll services every 10 or 15 minutes for new notifications. Instead of constantly polling for them. Means notifications may be a bit late, but not that late.

The headlining feature of Android N appears to be Multi-Window this time around. Something that Android users have been wanting for quite some time. It appeared in early builds of the Android M developer preview last year, but was taken out, likely due to it not being ready. Its here now and works pretty well. This in itself isnt a small feature either. Theres a lot of work that had to go into making this work, especially on different sized devices and different aspect ratios. Considering it works on the Pixel C, Nexus 9, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, and the Nexus 5X. Multi-Window was actually supposed to be available for the Pixel Cs launch last fall, which would have been especially useful for that tablet as it was made for the screen to split in two.

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Google also refined the notification pull down. So now you have your notifications as usual, with icons at the top. So you can quickly toggle things like WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular network and other items. And you can pull it all the way down to get to all the quick settings. Additionally, the notification pull down now uses up the entire width of the screen. In Lollipop and Marshmallow, that was not the case. It looks a bit more clean and usable too. Another popular feature in the notification shade is app bundling and unbundling. So if you have a bunch of emails from Gmail, you can unbundle them and archive them individually. Finally, for the notification shade we get a quick reply API. Making it so that apps that utilize the API will allow you to quickly reply through the notification shade without jumping into the app.

As with any developer preview, some of these features may get better, some may even disappear. As we saw with Multi-Window last year in the Android M previews. Some have also dug around in the code of the Android N Developer Preview, and found a few interesting things. Like free-form windows. Which would give us an ecosystem similar to what Windows does on the desktop. Allowing you to have multiple windows open at the same time and available on the screen. Now that likely wont be too useful on a smartphone. But on a tablet like the Pixel C and the Nexus 9, it could be very helpful. To help take advantage of all of that screen real estate available there for users. This may not have been in as much demand as multi-window was, but there are definitely plenty of people that would love to see this feature become a reality on Android.

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Some more digging around has highlighted how Google may be changing the way updates are done in the future. With security updates being such a big issue as of late, and many not getting their security updates in a timely fashion, if at all, Google is looking to take this into their own hands. Essentially, it looks like Google is making Android so that they can push an update to patch some bugs and vulnerabilities to any device, without the manufacturer interfering. Think of it like this, Samsung updates Touchwiz, but Google updates Android on your new Galaxy S7. It seems a bit confusing at first, but it could be the start of something really great. It may not, and probably wont, solve the issues of updates and major OS updates taking way to long to hit devices, but its worth a shot. Updates on Android will never be as good as what Apple can do, and thats due to all of the variables on Android, and how many different versions are out there, even on Marshmallow, there are tons of different versions available.

There is a lot to like in this new version of Android, currently being referred to internally as New York Cheesecake according to a report that came out today. Theres a ton of work still left to be done on this version and itll likely all be done in the next few months. But there is also a lot of things to get excited about. In particular, the fact that Android could be used as a framework instead of just an operating system. This could truly change a lot of things. We may no longer have to be pissed at the manufacturer for taking 6 months to push Marshmallow to their flagship device (like Samsung did with the Galaxy S6). Its been a long-standing problem with Android, and it got a lot more attention with the recent outbreak of security vulnerabilities. While Google has been updating their Nexus devices each month at the start of the month, so has BlackBerry and HTC with their unlocked devices. Many carrier devices are months and months behind. In fact the Galaxy Note 5 on Verizon is still sitting on December 2015s patch. Which may actually be more up-to-date than most other smartphones on a carrier right now.

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In Android N, its clear that Google wants to make Android more secure, also easier to update, and finally more of a desktop platform. Giving it the multi-window feature and possibly bringing free-form windows to the platform. Googles vision of Android, at least for 2016, is starting to become a reality and we definitely cant wait to see the final product. Which appears to be coming a bit earlier than normal this year  which should also mean Nexus hardware is coming at the same time.

On the surface, Android N may appear to be a small or minimal update, but please dont call it that. All of the developers and engineers at Google that have been hard at work on the N release would not agree. This will likely be Android 7.0, based on how big of an update it is, and how Google has been numbering their Android releases recently. There are likely more surprises still in store for Android N, and we cant wait to see them.
This Tuesday, US Senate panel members and companies involved in the emerging self-driving vehicles industry have called for national regulation of autonomous cars because they fear that state-level regulation will result in a confusing assortment of rules that will slow down development. As expected, one of the loudest propagators of this idea was Google, i.e. the head of Alphabet Incs self-driving vehicle program Chris Urmson. If every state is left to go its own way without a unified approach, operating self-driving cars across state boundaries would be an unworkable situation, stated Urmson in front of the Senate Commerce Committee, adding that such a scenario would severely cripple endeavors of major automakers related to autonomous vehicles. This stance is neither new nor surprising as Google was already pretty open about its dissatisfaction with state guidelines on self-driving creations in the past. For example, the recently drafted regulations in California were met with an extremely negative response from the tech giant in December.

Representatives of General Motors Co, Delphi Automotive PLC, and Lyft supported Googles statements, adding that a plethora of differing regulations from each separate state is impeding development, testing, and consequently deployment of their autonomous vehicles. Vice president of government relations at the ride-sharing company Lyft Joseph Okpaku described an inconsistent patchwork of related laws as the worst possible scenario for the growth of the driverless vehicles industry. Even Senator Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat agreed that consistent national policy on the issue should be a priority for the government. The rules in question are supposed to determine the requirements self-driving cars need to fulfill in order to be allowed on public roads. As state-level regulations would prevent driving over state lines, this naturally makes the idea of purchasing a driverless car much less appealing to masses. To illustrate how diversified the situation currently is, Urmson stated that 55 related laws have been proposed in 23 states so far.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced that it may drop some safety rules in order to help speed up development of autonomous vehicles, and some last months reports also suggest that the car AI may be viewed as a driver under federal law, which could potentially simplify some legal gray areas. NHTSA transportation secretary Anthony Foxx also announced that the organization is planning on writing universal guidelines on driverless cars by July though it remains to be seen whether yesterdays automakers pleads will be realized by the federal government.
Globalisation has helped the world to become a smaller place. It has allowed businesses to import and export products all over the world, reducing the costs of raw materials and components that go into our electronic devices today. It has made it much easier for a small business to compete on a global scale. Unfortunately, a side effect of globalisation is that it puts downwards pressure on profit margins: in other words, as individual sectors become more and more competitive, so the prices tend to drop. We have seen this in the smartphone arena and two good examples are the System-on-Chips and display panels that every device has. For the mobile display business, over the last half decade a number of Chinese display screen manufacturers have started selling their own screens at highly competitive prices. The established display manufacturers, such as Sharp, have taken pride in selling better quality components. Unfortunately for Sharp, cheaper displays have been getting better. As the industry moves to a higher resolution world and as technology improves, so the benefit of a premium display has been eroded. Sharp has been struggling for years and has even benefited from not one but two bailouts from the Japanese government, plus a number of rethinks about strategy.

Earlier in the year, it seemed that Sharp had conceded and was in discussions with Foxconn to essentially sell the business on. After agreeing the idea, Foxconn then went away to complete due diligence on Sharps business so that they understand exactly what they are buying and the condition of Sharps business. Sharp is estimated to be worth close to $6 billion according to industry sources despite the pressure, which would make this the largest takeover of a Japanese business by a foreign investor. However, Reuters have reported that two people familiar with the matter that the deal may not be inked this week. The reason is because Foxconn have raised questions over Sharps potential liabilities, which typically means unpaid debt. Sharps shares slid by 9% on this news. Foxconn is waiting for Sharps auditors and accountants to confirm that the discovered liabilities are in the right ballpark, according to one unnamed source. A Sharp spokesman reported that both companies are working together to reach a satisfactory agreement, but have not set a signing date.

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Investors and the market are jittery about the deal given the size; Foxconn is also said to be asking questions of Sharps management about their latest quarterly performance. In early February, Sharp stated that it expected to make an operating profit of approximately 10 billion yen ($88 million) for the year ending in March, after reporting a nine month operating loss of over 29 billion yen.
After having the flood gates opened earlier this month so that everyone who wants to attend Googles annual developers conference could register their interest. Google has now begun sending out invites to those that won the lottery, so to speak. They are also sending out denials. So if you get an email from Google, it may be an invite, but it may also be a denial, unfortunately. Its a bit unfortunate that Google I/O has gone to being a lottery, but it cant be that surprising, considering how fast tickets normally sell out  typically under under a few minutes.

Now for those lucky enough to get a invitation from Google to attend this years conference, youll still need to pony up the cash for your ticket. Youre looking at $900 for developers and $300 for students. That is still cheaper than Apples own developer conference, WWDC, which are $1599 USD, and they sell out just as fast as Google I/O tickets (theyve also switched to a lottery system).

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Google I/O is where we thought wed see Android N previewed, perhaps not. Considering we already have Android N as of last week. But theres still plenty of other things for Google to talk about. Considering the number of projects and services they have under their belt. Well likely still have a pretty lengthy keynote set for May 18th. Typically this keynote is around 3 hours long, and usually goes over. Theres a lot to talk about before the show officially kicks off, and all that is done in the keynote. Google I/O is sure to be a fun couple of days in Mountain View, and with it being at an outdoor venue, many are thinking that self-driving cars and drones are going to be big topics this year, and they are likely correct in thinking that.

Well be at Google I/O in just over two months in Mountain View, CA, and well see exactly what Google has in store for us this year. There will definitely be some talk on Chrome, as usual, but likely not merging into Android. Like everyone seems to think these days.
Meizu has been one of the fastest growing smartphone manufacturing companies in the last year or so, which makes them an incredibly interesting company to follow. Theyve managed to sell 20 million smartphones last year, which is considerably more than the 4.4 million units they shipped back in 2014, and that was actually considered great success back then, so you can imagine how far Meizu has come in the last 2-3 years.

This company has introduced a couple of interesting phones last year, but their PRO 5 flagship phablet definitely takes the cake. This handset is fueled by one of the most powerful SoCs of 2015, the Exynos 7420, and it comes in both 3GB and 4GB flavors. The device is made out of metal, and it ships with a fullHD AMOLED display, and a metal unibody design. The PRO 5 certainly is an interesting device, and quite affordable compared to the competition. Now, this makes the PRO 6 even more interesting, especially considering the company has already confirmed that theyre working on that phone, and that it will sport a pressure sensitive display. Companys CEO has recently also confirmed that the PRO 6 will also feature a 1080p panel, while he denied Exynos 8890 rumors at the same time.

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That being said, companys officials have announced today that Meizu PRO 6 will be fueled by the Helio X25 SoC, a chip which was announced today at MediaTeks event. Meizus execs have also said that the PRO 6 will be the first phone to be fueled by that processor, which is quite interesting. The Meizu MX4 Pro and PRO 5 were both powered by Samsungs Exynos processors, so we did not expect the PRO 6 to ship with MediaTeks unit on the inside, especially considering the MX6 is supposed to pack one of MediaTeks chips.

So, whats new with Helio X25? Well, not much, this is essentially an enhanced version of the Helio X20, and MediaTek actually developed this SoC in collaboration with Meizu. This China-based company will not only be the first smartphone manufacturer to use this chip, but will also have exclusive rights to it in the first couple of months. The Helio X25 is also a 64-bit deca-core SoC, but it will sport an upgraded Turbo cluster running at 2.5GHz, and a faster GPU clocked at 850MHz. Interesting enough, the Helio X25 will reportedly going to offer same power consumption as the Helio X20, despite the fact it will be a more powerful chip.
Huawei has been extremely successful last year. The company has managed to sell 108 million smartphones, and theyve also managed to become worlds third largest smartphone manufacturer. Huawei managed to sell quite a few devices in the first and second quarter of this year, and they havent even announced a higher-end phone in 2016. Well, thats about to change soon, the company has started sending out invites for their April 6th event in London, and they will almost certainly going to roll out a new line of P devices at the event, read on.

The company is expected to announce the Huawei P9, P9 Lite and P9Max in London, as direct successors to the P8 line which was also introduced in London back in April 2015. Weve already seen quite a few leaks and rumors regarding mainly the Huawei P9, and now we have some additional info to share with you, and it regards all three of these phones. Specification info surfaced on OppoMart, a Chinese reseller which tends to out smartphone specs before theyre even announced. Keep in mind that OppoMart was wrong when it comes to specs before, but on the other hand, theyre sometimes completely right, so well let you be the judge here, and see if you believe this info to be true. Anyhow, lets get started, shall we.

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According to OppoMart, the Huawei P9 will sport a 5.2-inch 1080p (1920 x 1080) display, along with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Huaweis HiSilicon Kirin 950 64-bit octa-core SoC will fuel this handset, and a 12-megapixel Dual Camera setup will be available on the back, along with a dual-LED flash. The Huawei P9 Lite, on the other hand, will be a mid-ranger it seems. The phone is said to sport a 5-inch fullHD display, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of native storage. This handset will be fueled by the Snapdragon 650 64-bit octa-core SoC, which is Qualcomms mid-range chip.

And last, but not least, the Huawei P9Max. This will be Huaweis new phablet, and according to the source, it will ship with a 6.2-inch QHD (2560 x 1440) display, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of native storage. The phone will be fueled by the Kirin 955 64-bit octa-core processor, and a 12-megapixel Dual Camera setup will also be available here, just like on the Huawei P9. All of these phones will be made out of metal, and will sport a fingerprint scanner on the back. Take this info with a grain of salt, as always, though chances are these specs are at least partially correct.
During the early years of cell phone adoption and before smartphones, almost every European carrier customer used a Nokia phone at one point or another. Nokia are credited with the start of gaming on the mobile phone platform thanks to Snake, seemingly designed to keep commuters amused for hours, the single Navi-Key designed to simplify using the phone and of course the Nokia ringtone, which is still in use today. In later years, Nokia developed the Symbian operating system, which has its roots in Psions EPOC 32 operating system, and used this as the smartphone platform. However, as with many other platforms, the introduction of Apples iOS and Googles Android rendered Symbian OS obsolete. Nokia struggled on with the legacy platform, developing new iterations and in late 2010, announced that Stephen Elop would be taking over the reins of the business. Stephen, the first non-Finnish national to run Nokia, went on to replace Symbian OS with Microsofts Windows Phone rather than Android. This decision, which was backed by the Nokia board, was based on the need to differentiate the Nokia brand from the competition as Windows Phone was not well adopted in the industry: this was the start of the Nokia Lumia brand of devices, running Windows Phone.

Without labouring the point, the Nokia Lumia devices were solid pieces of hardware running an operating system that struggled to gain traction. Microsoft developed the platform, pouring millions of dollars into it and eventually bought Nokia too, but unfortunately largely closed the doors on Windows Phone and perhaps Windows Mobile 10 last year. Meanwhile, following Microsofts purchase of Nokias handset business in late 2013, Stephen became the Executive Vice President of the Microsoft Devices Group business division. Unfortunately, last summer Stephen was laid off during Microsofts massive job cutting exercise and he had been relatively quiet in this time. However, Australian carrier Telstra have announced that he is joining them as their head of strategy. He will be reporting to Andrew Penn, the Chief Executive Officer, who said this on the hire: Stephen will immediately add major firepower to our team with his extensive and deep technology experience and an innate sense of customer expectations.

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Although the decisions around Nokia, Windows Phone and Microsoft look less than ideal with the benefit of hindsight, Stephen did manage to sell on the Nokia business despite the massive drop in market share  where HP was unable to sell on the Palm business and BlackBerry has soldiered on. As a point of interest, Nokia released a number of Android devices in 2014 whereas BlackBerry did not move to the Android platform until late last year. We are hearing persistent rumours that Nokia are working on Android devices to launch at the end of 2016 or early 2017. Meanwhile, Stephens brave new world will start at Telstra on the 4 April.
Rotherham: child prostitutes vanish and a purge on taxi drivers

Rotherham is now a town synonymous with sex crimes. The Times reports that 50 Rotherham taxi drivers have been stripped of their licences under new regulations introduced after the towns sex-grooming scandal.

Among them was the local authoritys former deputy leader, Jahangir Akhtar, who featured in a recent trial at which three of his relatives were convicted of multiple sexual offences against young girls.

Is it fair to single him out by name? He is innocent.

Rotherham council said that a decision was taken 12 months ago that Mr Akhtars licence should immediately be revoked. No reason was made public but a council spokesman said that such a decision could only be taken after the receipt of information that gives rise to significant and serious concerns for risks to public safety if the licence remains in place.

Why is a reason not made public? The phrasing implies that there was a reason to revoke the licence, so why not state it?

An independent inquiry by Alexis Jay ..noted frequent past warnings that taxi operators and their drivers played a prominent role in the abuse. A follow-up inspection of the council, ordered by the government and led by Louise Casey, found that Pakistani-heritage councillors had a disproportionate influence in the council, particularly on issues which affected the Pakistani community such as the taxi trade.

The Times harks back to an incident it helped to broadcast:

Mr Akhtar, 55, resigned as council deputy leader in 2013 after The Times revealed his role in a deal under which a violent child abuser to whom he was related, Arshid Hussain, agreed to hand a missing 14-year-girl to police at a petrol station after he received an assurance that he would not be prosecuted. Hussain, 40, was one of three Rotherham brothers jailed by Sheffield crown court last month for offences against 14 children, including the girl involved in the petrol station handover. Mr Akhtar was unavailable for comment last night.

The Sheffield Star has more:

Rotherham Council is pursuing its former deputy leader Jahangir Akhtar for 2,000 of court costs after he withdrew an appeal against his taxi licence being revoked. The council has confirmed Mr Akhtar had said he would appeal against his licence being revoked in February 2015. But ahead of the scheduled hearing at Rotherham Magistrates Court in September 2015, he withdrew his appeal  with the court awarding costs to the council in relation to their legal work in preparing a case for the hearing. A spokesman for Rotherham Council said: The council is pursuing collection of this through the civil debt enforcement process.

The Sheffield Star also has a few words on the new routine:

The new fit and proper persons test takes account of previous criminal convictions and complaints, while there are more stringent requirements regarding safety and the age of vehicles. The report from the commissioners said: An audit of all drivers against the new standard identified that six per cent of drivers may be in breach. All of these 67 were offered the opportunity of a case hearing which has resulted in around 70 per cent of these licences being revoked. By January this year, 963 drivers had attended training sessions on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults; the remaining 171 drivers are suspended until they complete the training. If they fail to do so within the required timescale, the licence suspension will take full effect.

As for the sex with underage children, the Rotherham Advertiser tells us:

MP SARAH Champion has succeeded in changing how some child sex abuse crimes are officially categorised.

The Rotherham MP and shadow minister for preventing abuse and domestic violence, pressured the Office for National Statistics (ONS) into removing the term abuse of children through prostitution from national crime statistics. The ONS had reported in their latest release in January that abuse of children through prostitution had increased by 65 per cent in the last year. But Ms Champion wrote to the Government pointing out that the use of the word prostitution was wrong as it infers criminality on the part on the child and does not acknowledge that children cannot consent to sex themselves, but are instead exploited.

She states:

Victim blaming has been a barrier to justice for many and this change is another step in the right direction.

No word yet on what the police think of that.

Anorak

Posted: 16th, March 2016 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
(ANSA) - Addis Ababa, March 16 - President Sergio Mattarella on Wednesday made the first-ever visit by an Italian head of State to a refugee camp, the Gambella camp on Ethiopia's border with South Sudan. "Visiting this camp with the children who greeted the motorcade and (others) dancing in this school is a message that strikes you: Ethiopia is in difficulty and yet it does not leave those who seek help without help," he said while visiting a school inside the camp. Sharing borders with Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Eritrea which are grappling with conflicts, Ethiopia has been hosting refugees since the 1990s.


(ANSA) - Rome, March 16 - Tax incentives plus new rules are creating jobs, Premier Matteo Renzi told the Senate on Wednesday. "There are fewer new jobs that we need, but more than we expected," he said. Tax incentives are "one of the two columns of the Jobs Act", he told lawmakers.

Earlier, Renzi told the Upper House that the next European Council meeting risks getting bogged down in "veto powers". "We might spend entire afternoons debating a comma, with no decisions being made," he said. "We risk repeating a ritual...

that is an indicator of a method malfunction, which Italy has pointed out".

He said "the response to terrorism can't just be a demagogic tweet that says 'just close the borders', when those borders are in our suburbs".

"Terrorism has not finished carrying out its terrible, tragic and atrocious design," Renzi said. "We must live with this threat... but those who underestimate or use it for their own ends is erring on the side of superficiality and demagoguery".

The premier also commemorated ex-premier and Christian Democrat Aldo Moro - who was kidnapped and murdered by the Red Brigades leftist terrorist group - and received a unanimous standing ovation.


(ANSA) - Rome, March 16 - Premier Matteo Renzi told the Lower House on Wednesday that he agreed with reaching a deal with Turkey for cooperation on the refugee emergency, but added that there are conditions. "It's right to reach an agreement with Turkey but there are principles that are fundamental for us, starting with human rights and press freedom," Renzi told parliament before this week's EU summit at which a deal with Turkey is expected to be finalised. At a recent summit, Brussels and Ankara reached a broad agreement for the EU to accept refugees currently in Turkey in exchange for the return of economic migrants in the EU. Ankara also wants an extra three billion euros in aid on top of the three billion the EU has already pledged.


(ANSA) - Rome, March 16 - British pop star Elton John will play three Italy dates on his Wonderful Crazy Night world tour this summer. He plays at the Pompeii archeological site on July 12, at the Collisions Festival in Barolo on July 15, and at Piazzola sul Brenta in Padua province on July 16. He will likely play classics from his five-decade-long career as well as tracks from his new album, which his tour is named after. The band includes Nigel Olsson on drums, Davey Johnstone on guitar, Matt Bissonette on bass, John Mahon on percussion and Kim Bullard on keyboards. Pompeii tickets go on presale beginning today on the www.eltonjohn.com site, and will be on sale at regular ticket outlets on March 17-18.


Italy 'concerned' over Israel West Bank annexations Measure undermines two-state solution' says foreign ministry Rom

(ANSAmed) - ROME, MARCH 16 - Italy's foreign ministry on Wednesday expressed "concern" over Israel's decision, which it announced yesterday, to annex 234 hectares of land in the West Bank south of Jericho. "By increasing the land available for new settlements, this measure contributes to the erosion of the two-state solution, which alone can guarantee Israelis and Palestinians a future of peace and security," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Italy hopes Israel will "reexamine its decision", the statement said. (ANSAmed).




BRUSSELS- Changes to domestic laws will be required in both countries to enable the repatriation of asylum seekers from Greece to Turkey, in line with an EU-Turkey framework agreement signed on March 7.



As part of the accord, Athens will have to recognize Turkey as a ''safe third country'', while Turkey will have to ensure that all refugees enjoy the same protection it offers Syrians, equivalent to that in the Geneva Convention. A press release presented by the European Commission on Wednesday outlined the next steps to implement the agreement ahead of a summit on Thursday and Friday.



The draft drawn up in recent days states that Turkey - which already hosts two million refugees - would accept back the migrants that reached the EU starting from a specific date, both economic ones and asylum seekers. For every Syrian national returned from the Greek islands another will be resettled to the EU directly from Turkey.



In exchange, Ankara wants three billion euros in addition to the three billion already pledged for 2018, which Europe is expected to allocate through projects to improve refugee living conditions; the opening of five EU-accession-process negotiating chapters and the lifting of visa requirements for Turkish citizens beginning in June instead of October.

The summit to be held on Thursday and Friday aims to find an agreement between the EU-28 and Turkey but much remains to be done, European Council chief Donald Tusk wrote in a letter to EU leaders on Wednesday. Tusk noted that many issues still needed to be resolved and that international laws had to be complied with. He added that the agreement would have to prevent the formation of new routes from Turkey to the EU. Europe must also be prepared to help Greece implement the repatriation mechanism through the European office for asylum or through direct assistance from member states if necessary, he said. Another priority that he cited was to see how to speed up the initial 3 billion euros in aid to Turkey and to discuss resettlement methods.

As part of the repatriation process from Greece to Turkey, the Commission's proposal calls for every request to be dealt with individually with a number of safeguards applied including registration, identification and a personal interview to understand whether the request filed is ineligible (with an appeals process offered) or whether there are specific issues that need to be taken into consideration. All migrant and asylum seekers repatriation procedures would have to take place on the Greek islands, where more reception facilities, offices for asylum seekers and judges would need to be provided. Calculating 2,000 arrivals per day, the EU would spend 20 million euros per month.

European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans noted that the measure is a temporary one for use under special circumstances. 'In any case, what is the alternative right now? The closing of internal borders and the worsening of a situation that is already very difficult, which we are seeing in Greece. The last thing that we want it for Idomeni to become the norm. This cannot be the norm in Europe. This is not an acceptable way to move forward in asylum and migration policy in the EU. We must do everything possible to avoid this,'' he added.

Timmermans assured that there will be no mass repatriations and rejections and that the agreement with Turkey will respect EU legislation and international law. ''The last thing we want is for Idomeni to become the rule'', he added, explaining that the EU-Turkey agreement did not mean Brussels was turning its back on refugees but that the objective was to dismantle the business of human traffickers.

The liberalization of visas for Turkey remains subjected to certain conditions, there will be no free rides and Turkey needs to carry out certain efforts by the end of April to respect the June deadline, Timmermans also said.
Libya: Tobruk assembly tells PM Sarraj to abide by law Speaker Saleh calls for confidence vote

(ANSAmed) - CAIRO, MARCH 16 - The speaker of the Tobruk assembly, Aguilah Saleh, on Wednesday urged the national unity government under prime minister-designate Fayez Al-Sarraj to wait for his parliamentary body to approve a confidence vote prior to begin working. He said that only by doing so would Sarraj be complying with the law. Two days prior, the Libyan presidential council had met under Sarraj in Tunis and approved the government. Saleh also accused the international community of pushing Libya into chaos. On the late evening of March 12, the Libya presidential council under Sarraj declared the national unity government operative - despite not yet having passed a Tobruk parliament confidence vote - and asked all other Libyan authorities to ''get in contact immediately with the unity government to implement a handing over of powers in a peaceful manner''. Afterwards there was also an appeal to the international community - naming the UN, Arab League, EU and African Union - to ''cease all relations with authorities that do not depend directly on the unity government''. The initiative was backed by EU nations and the US, who assured that they would ''fully support'' the government, from which they expect stabilization of the country as well as a possible request for external intervention in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS). Support that includes possible sanctions at the EU level against those opposing the UN-backed Sarraj government. (ANSAmed).




Libya: Tripoli refuses to cede power to Sarraj gov't Tobruk calls for Libyans to support army against ISIS

(ANSAmed) - CAIRO, MARCH 16 - The Tripoli-based National Salvation Government on Wednesday refused to hand power over to the national unity government under prime minister-designate Fayez Al-Sarraj.



The de facto authorities in the Libyan capital made the announcement in an official statement that said that the Sarraj government had been imposed from abroad and that ''Libyans will never accept it''. ''We will not barter away the blood of our martyrs and we will not sell off the freedom that we have gained'' after the anti-Gaddafi uprising, it said. The Tripoli government, the statement continued, ''is dealing with political, economic and social problems despite difficult conditions, as well as internal and external pressures that constitute a conspiracy against the February 17 revolution that aim to restore the former regime to power'' The Tobruk-based government has instead in a statement called on Libyans to ''rally around the Libyan army, support it and do not count on the international community which is still hesitant about supporting the legitimate institutions in Libya, giving baseless excuses''. The statement stressed that jihadist groups and the Islamic State (ISIS) ''are spreading and have become a danger not only for Libya but also for the entire region and for international peace and security.'' (ANSAmed).




Migrants: Ankara, EU must not allow Cyprus to ruin accord 'Recognition by Turkey out of the question'

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, MARCH 16 - The EU ''must not allow Cyprus's tantrums to ruin the agreement on refugees'' with Turkey, said the Turkish minister for European affairs, Volkan Bozkir, on the eve of an EU summit that will need to decide the matter.



Yesterday, Cypriot president, Nikos Anastasiades, threatened to veto the opening of new negotiating chapters - part of the draft accord - if Ankara will not recognize it as a State. ''It is out of discussion for Turkey to recognize the southern part of the island'', Bozkir however said. (ANSAmed).




Migrants: much work prior to EU-Turkey deal, Tusk cautions Many issues to be resolved in summit 17-18/3

(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, MARCH 16 - The summit to be held on Thursday and Friday aims to find an agreement between the EU-28 and Turkey but much remains to be done, European Council chief Donald Tusk wrote in a letter to EU leaders on Wednesday. Tusk noted that many issues still needed to be resolved and that international laws had to be complied with. He added that the agreement would have to prevent the formation of new routes from Turkey to the EU. Europe must also be prepared to help Greece implement the repatriation mechanism through the European office for asylum or through direct assistance from member states if necessary, he said.



Another priority that he cited was to see how to speed up the initial 3 billion euros in aid to Turkey and to discuss resettlement methods. (ANSAmed).




Turkey: 47 arrests in raid against PKK after Ankara attack Operations in Istanbul, Kurdish politicians, lawyers detained

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, MARCH 16 - A crackdown by Turkish authorities against suspected Kurdish PKK affiliates is continuing after a car bomb attack in Ankara on Sunday killed 37 people. A reported 47 people were arrested across several provinces. According to Anadolu, at least 20 were arrested in Istanbul, including some lawyers, in raids across 16 districts.



Some 17 others, including many students, were arrested in Kahramanmaras, in the south-east, and 10 in the western Manisa province. Local members of pro-Kurdish party HDP are among those arrested. (ANSAmed).




Migrants: southern route reopens,Sophia rescues almost 1,000 Eight rubber dinghies off Libya, the largest operation in 2016

(by Marco Galdi) (ANSAmed) - ON BOARD THE CAVOUR SHIP, MARCH 16 - Migrants board at night. Some 100 at a time on white dinghies, which are about 10-meter-long, made in China or who knows where else. They are big rubber dinghies made of very poor quality plastic that pierces very easily, which cost the new slave masters on the Libyan coast just 7-8,000 euros.



However, they pay back over 100,000 euros per trip.



The other night, in the area of Zuwarah, the never-ending beach west of Tripoli favored by human traffickers, they left eight such dinghies at sea. There were almost 1,000 people, 1,000 stories, 1,000 desert crossings. They were all rescued by missions operating off the Libyan coast, the European EuNavFor Med and the Italian Mare Sicuro, Safe seas. It was the largest rescue operation of 2016. But it was nothing more than a day of ''relative engagement'' for the seamen of Operation Sophia. The operation is part of European naval mission EuNavFor Med, launched last summer after Europe was shaken by a shipwreck on April 18 in which 800 people died. It has been fully operational since July 27.



In its over 200 days of mission, under the command of aircraft carrier Cavour, the flagship of the Italian Navy, the worst was between December 22 and 23 when 24 boats were intercepted with over 5,000 migrants on board. Seven rubber dinghies were intercepted by aircraft operating under the EU mission, one by the Grecale operating on behalf of Mare Sicuro.



The operations work side by side and are constantly coordinating and exchanging information also with NGO vessels.



Yesterday, one of the sightings came from French vessel 'Aquarius'. After days of high seas and mistral wind that stopped the crossings, migrants left. And then they called for help. Luxembourg maritime patrol aircraft Seagull, which left from Sigonella towards international waters from Zuarah to Garaboulli, saw the first two of eight large dinghies over an area of 20 miles, just outside of territorial waters, between 15 and 20 miles off the coast.



The alarm arrived on the air carrier Cavour, which was located some 60 miles off the coast at the center of a large triangle with Lampedusa at the top and the base along the coast of Tripolitania. On the flagship are based the tactical commander, the Rear admiral Andrea Gueglio, and the head of operations, spain's Jose Maria Fuente. About one third of the 953 migrants were rescued yesterday by the frigates Vega and Grecale for Mare sicuro, 615 boarded 'Sophia's' vessels, the British HMS Enterprise and Germany's vessel Frankfurter.



Gathered on the latter, they were taken to the first safe port on the Italian coast. Most of them hailed from the Ivory Coast, Mali, Gambia and Nigeria. Europe will try to send them back. And for Sophia's crew, awaiting the creation of a national unity government to pursue their real mission - hunting down traffickers - it is another day at sea, rescuing human lives.



''Is it enough? - said Fuente - Probably not, but if we were not here, we would only be able to count more victims''. (ANSAmed).




ROME - Three women from Brunei made history after they became the first all-female pilot crew of an aircraft that landed in Saudi Arabia, the only country in the world where women are not allowed to drive. The photo of the three pilots, Sharifah Czarena, Sariana Nordin and Dk Nadiah Pg Khashiem of Royal Brunei Airlines went viral after it was posted online by the national carrier. The three pilots smile from their cabin on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that flew from Brunei to Jeddah. Their 'historic' flight coincides with Brunei's National Day to celebrate independence


ISTANBUL - A crackdown by Turkish authorities against suspected Kurdish PKK affiliates is continuing after a car bomb attack in Ankara on Sunday killed 37 people. A reported 47 people were arrested across several provinces. According to Anadolu, at least 20 were arrested in Istanbul, including some lawyers, in raids across 16 districts.



Some 17 others, including many students, were arrested in Kahramanmaras, in the south-east, and 10 in the western Manisa province. Local members of pro-Kurdish party HDP are among those arrested.


ANSAmed - Today's events in the Mediterranean

(ANSAmed) - ROME, MARCH 16 - These are the main events scheduled in the Euro-mediterranean area for today: NAPLES - Oriental University, international conference on political and artistic prospects in Africa in the 21st century.



BRUSSELS - EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker dinner with European Council President Donald Tusk and King Abdullah II of Jordan, who is expected also to meet the High Representative of European Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini.



BRUSSELS - EU, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, meets with Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiadis ahead of a summit of EU leaders.



JERUSALEM - International conference 'Sacred Places and Cultural Heritage' dedicated to the safeguard of holy sites and cultural heritage.



TUNIS - 'Cinema de la Paix' festival (to March 20).



BEN AROUS (TUNISIA) - "Festival Mediterraneen du theatre pour Enfants", Mediterranean festival of theater for children (until the 19th).



(ANSAmed).




Libya: UN envoy Kobler in Cairo for meetings on gov't Clashes in Benghazi beween Tobruk and jihadists

(ANSAmed) - CAIRO, MARCH 16 - UN special envoy to Libya Martin Kobler arrived in Cairo on Wednesday for a two-day visit, airport sources say. The diplomat will reportedly be meeting with several high-level Egyptian officials and representatives of Libyans living in the country to take stock of the situation and to ensure support from the Tobruk parliamentary body for the national unity government. Meanwhile, violent clashes between fighters answering to the Tobruk government and jihadist ones were reported on Wednesday in Benghazi, Libya.



Military sources say that intense artillery shelling was conducted on soldiers' positions, injuring at least 7. Some are in serious condition. (ANSAmed).




BarcelonaNo to Catalonias separatist road map, but an invitation to dialogue in order to renew the playing field shared by Catalonia and the Spanish State. Such was the message given by the PSOEs Secretary General Pedro Sanchez to Catalan president Carles Puigdemont at their meeting on Tuesday. During the get-together, Sanchez also argued that dialogue is easier when there is a government for change in Spain. Puigdemont stated that the independence road map is unalterable because it is legal, legitimate and validated at the polls. Nevertheless, both parties agreed to keep the communication lines open with a view to discussing pressing matters to do with Catalonias self-rule.

We do not agree with the separatist road map. It is illegal, unilateral and most Catalans do not support it. I believe that a majority of Catalans have not embraced separatism, actually. Most of them said they wanted a political change at the polls on December 20. Once again, I call on the political parties that advocate a change to come together, said Sanchez, who also rejected the idea of a referendum on the political future of Catalonia. They want to vote in order to break, said the PSOE leader. President Puigdemont made a case for a consultation during their private meeting.

In contrast, Sanchez argued for a federal reform of the Spanish Constitution and claimed that he is open to discussing certain aspects of Catalonias self-rule. He remarked that a new, unstrained phase has begun. Specifically, the Spanish socialist leader spoke about a better financial deal for Catalans, boosting the Mediterranean railway corridor, activating the bilateral commission between Madrid and Barcelona and aiming for a fair share of the public deficit cap.

Pedro Sanchez added that this new friendly phase, which he claimed had begun at the Tuesday meeting, would be further aided by a PSOE, Podemos and Ciudadanos coalition government in Madrid and remarked that he would welcome a meeting with Pablo Iglesias at his earliest convenience. Since Sanchez was in Catalonia, where the regional Podemos chapter (En Comu Podem) won the Spanish elections last December, he appealed to Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias by saying that many of his voters cannot understand why he wont allow a new government for change and, instead, keeps Mariano Rajoy in office.

Even though the recent Spanish investiture debate was at the back of everyones mind during the meeting, Sanchez and Catalan government spokesperson Neus Munte both stated that a hypothetical support by the Catalan MPs in Madrid (Democracia i Llibertat and ERC) to a Spanish government led by Sanchez was not discussed at all.

Sanchez also spoke about the warning he received from Ciudadanos last Monday and he replied that, even though he and Rivera oppose a referendum in Catalonia, they both agree that only dialogue can break the political deadlock. Therefore, he made a case for his meeting with Puigdemont and even encouraged other political leaders to follow on his footsteps, including caretaker president Mariano Rajoy.

Sectarian divide, November 9 and the Catalan language

During the meeting, Puigdemont mention his disappointment with Sanchez, following the latters reference to an alleged sectarian divide in Catalonia. In a recent parliamentary debate in Madrid, Sanchez had stated that this was a consequence of the Catalan independence process. Puigdemont also asked the PSOE leader to take a stand on the political trial against several Catalan ministers for staging a non-binding independence vote on November 9, 2014. The case will now be tried in Spains High Court. Sanchez made no comments on the matter.

Neus Munte insisted that it is a priority for Catalan-medium teaching to be left out of any political agreement in Madrid with a view to forming a coalition government. According to Munte, Sanchez denied that his agreement with Ciudadanos would have any effect on Catalonias Catalan-medium teaching, which might upset Albert Riveras party (1).

Parlons role

Nuria Parlon, the Catalan socialist partys first vice secretary and mayor of Santa Coloma de Gramenet, admitted that the PSC missed out on the debate when it stopped arguing for Catalonias right to decide. Speaking on Spanish radio network Onda Cero, Parlon recalled how the PSC had initially endorsed Catalonias right to decide its future: we have always favoured a referendum in Catalonia, but our pact with Ciudadanos means this is now out of the question. This time the PSOE has made it a priority to lead the next Spanish government.

It would be a mistake to close off any avenues and set deadlines for the process of finding a good fit for Catalonia within Spain. We will need plenty of discussion and dialogue within the PSC and the PSOE, as well as with the other parties. We have given up on Catalonias right to decide and that makes the debate poorer to embrace a broader consultation, she claimed.

___________

(1) N.T. Unionist politician Albert Rivera is the Catalan leader of Ciudadanos, a Spanish party that strongly opposes Catalan-medium teaching in Catalan schools.
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All the latest Ashbourne news. Ashbourne is an historic market town in Derbyshire. Situated on the southern edge of the Peak District, it is known as the 'Gateway to Dovedale' and the 'Gateway to the Peak District'. Ashbourne is famous for the annual Royal Shrovetide Football Match, which has been played since at least 1667, although its origins may date back centuries earlier. Ashbourne became a Fairtrade town in March 2005. The popular Tissington Trail, which follows the route of the former Ashbourne to Buxton railway, starts on the edge of town. Keep up to date with the latest news from the town by signing up for our newsletter.
by Nina Achmatova

The Moscow City Duma joins the fight against destructive and totalitarian cults, but no political leader is able to define them. One lawmaker says US-based and funded sects are the main danger because they hide behind clubs or courses of various kinds.

Moscow (AsiaNews)  The Moscow City Duma (Council) has sent some recommendations to the State Duma (the lower house of the Russian parliament). The latter is preparing federal legislation to regulate the activities of non-traditional religious organisations and destructive and totalitarian cults, Russia Religions and News reported, citing local media.

Moscow City Duma Member Renat Laishev, who sits on the City Dumas Public Associations and Religious Organisations Committee, said that the committee would meet shortly with experts and law enforcement officials to discuss the issue. Their views will be then sent to the State Duma.

"I am sure that they will be useful for those who will draft the bill," said Mr Laishev, who noted that a mobile phone application called Religious organisations in Moscow is being prepared "with as much information as possible about the dangers of pseudo-religious organisations".

Duma Member Sergey Gavrilov (Communist Party), who heads the 'parliamentary group for the protection of Christian values', told Rossiiskaya Gazeta daily that experts estimate that between 300 and 500 dangerous sects operate in the country, with up to 800,000 members. The greatest risk comes from US-based sects who can count a billion US dollars in funding.

Some are targeting lonely people. Others work with intellectuals. Under the guise of various courses, they apply psychological pressure on people. Many groups work undercover and it takes some work to even track them. Today, even the special services sometimes only learn about some horrible occult sects years after they start their activities, the lawmaker said.

Meanwhile, the multi-party parliamentary group for the protection of Christian values set up a working group to fight sects. However, no one has yet indicated exactly what sect means and to whom it applies.

According to Gavrilov, dangerous sects often disguise themselves as book clubs, personal growth courses or as communities preaching traditional religions.

This is nothing new. Back in December, the State Duma stressed the need to come up with a legal definition of "sect", one that would not violate the Constitution but could be used to ban the activities of certain religious organisations in the country.

Yaroslav Nilov, who chairs the State Duma Public Associations and Religious Organisations Committee, said that is hard to introduce a legal definition of "sect" because that "would violate the Constitution" and freedom of belief.

In his view, if such a concept could be defined, the activities of sects could be banned; however, as it stands today, the Constitution allows all registered religious groups to operate on the territory of the Russian Federation.
Some 90 people are on trial for human trafficking, international crimes, and corruption, including Kongoaen Manas, a former top Thai army officer close to Prime Minister Prayut Chan o-cha. Human rights groups complain that hundreds of potential witnesses have been left without protection.

Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Thailand has declared war on human trafficking. Yesterday, the largest human-trafficking trial in Thai history opened.

Former Thai army Lt Gen Manas Kongoaen and 89 other defendants went on trial in Bangkok on charges of transnational human trafficking, involving mostly people from Myanmar.

Key charges against the defendants include human trafficking, international crimes, and graft. If found guilty, the accused could get up to 15 years and a fine of up to 1 million baht (US$ 28,500).

The first hearing began with the testimony of Roshiduila, an ethnic Rohingya Muslim from Myanmar* who, through an interpreter, described how a Thai police officer, Hashimyuila, acted as the main go-between for human traffickers taking people from Myanmar to Malaysia via Thailand.

Hashimyuila told me and three other friends there were jobs in the construction sector, and each would earn 1,500 ringgit (US$ 361) a month, Roshiduila said.

Roshiduila explained that he and 20 people from his village embarked on a small boat, which sailed to a rally point in the Andaman Sea where hundreds more victims of trafficking were forced to board fishing boats.

At the end of his testimony, Roshiduila identified the pictures of seven traffickers whom he saw at trafficking camps in Ranong (southern Thailand).

The ongoing crackdown was triggered in May 2015 by the discovery of 32 bodies of suspected undocumented migrants at a mass grave near Thailands border with Malaysia. Following this, Thailand imposed a maritime blockade on smugglers boats trying to land on its shores.

The blockade precipitated a humanitarian crisis in Southeast Asia as thousands of desperate Rohingya and Bangladeshi boat people drifted in the sea in terrible conditions without food or water.

Other witnesses will be heard in court until Friday. Out of 90 defendants, 88 have pleaded not guilty. For its part, police believe that 61 other suspects are still at large.

Former Thai army Lieutenant General Manas Kongoaen, once promoted by Thailand's military junta leader Prayut Chan o-cha, is one of the people on trial.

He is considered the ringleader of the organisation that ran the human trafficking racket and one of the first to benefit from it.

Despite the trial, activists and human rights groups have criticised Thai authorities for months, stressing that a senior officer as Manas could not have acted alone, and that others should be brought to justice.

What is more, the Fortify Rights NGO has slammed the Thai government for failing to provide protection to hundreds of witnesses.

* Rohingya Muslims are a minority in Myanmar where they are persecuted.
by Kamran Chaudhry

According to early reports, this mornings explosion in the centre of Peshawar was caused by an 8-kg improvised explosive device. So far, 16 people are dead and 30 wounded. Prime Minister Sharif slams the terror attack. "Peace for us is limited to short intervals between bombings, Anglican minister says.

Lahore (AsiaNews)  The Catholic Church of Pakistan has strongly condemned this mornings terrorist attack in Peshawar that killed at least 16 people and injured another 30. A bomb exploded inside a bus carrying government employees going to work.

Cecil Shane Chaudhry, executive director of the National Commission of Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Pakistan, spoke to AsiaNews about the incident.

"We condemn the latest terrorist attack, he said. All the victims were government employees. This is the reaction to recent positive steps taken by the State."

The attack took place in the centre of Peshawar, a major city in north-western Pakistan, in one of its busiest streets, congested with morning traffic. Some 50 people were on the vehicle. The wounded remain in critical conditions.

Police Superintendent Kashif Zulfiqar said the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted inside the bus. About 8 kg of explosives were used. The top part of the bus was blown off and had to be cut to pull out the injured.

The Pakistani city was the scene of other deadly attacks by terrorist groups linked to the Taliban, like the one in December 2014 against a military school that killed 148, mostly children.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the terror attack. In a statement posted on the website of state-run Radio Pakistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said, "such cowardly acts could not deter our resolve to weed out terrorism from the country".

Meanwhile, police launched its investigation and is viewing CCTV footage. The security level has been raised in Rawalpindi city

Following the Taliban attack against the military school, the authorities lifted its moratorium on the death penalty and has resumed executions, not only for terrorism-related offences but also for ordinary crimes.

Moreover, they also began cracking down on Islamic schools to curb the spread of radical ideas.

Rev Jaffrey Samuel, who spent his childhood in Peshawar, expressed alarm at the worsening security situation. "Peace for us is limited to short intervals between bombings," he told AsiaNews.

Whenever we put faith in law and order, tragic incidents like these wreck our nerves, he explained. Apparently, the Taliban do not want peace talks anymore and we should prepare for war".

As the Anglican pastor of Christ Church in nearby Nowshera City, the clergyman is well placed to know the difficulties people face in the area.

"Life is tough for Christian pastors and priests, he noted. Our biggest challenge is to organise safe Sunday prayers and church activities.

My church is located in an army cantonment but the area is usually sealed. Our sermons usually carry a message of encouragement to heed the Gospel without fear.
Raid targets Mustabaa town, in the northern province of Hajja, a stronghold of the Houthi rebels. Local sources said that the death toll "is going to increase." A site close to the rebels speak of 65 dead and 55 wounded, all civilians. The medical facilities of the neighboring area on brink of collapse. Over past year the Saudi coalition repeatedly targeted civilian sites.

Sanaa (AsiaNews / Agencies)  The death toll from an Saudi-led coalition air strike on a Yemen market town in the northern province of Hajja, considered a stronghold of the Houthi rebels, is of 41 dead so far. However, according to a local hospital source, under the responsibility of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), the structure received the bodies of 41 people; in addition there are 35 others injured, some of them seriously.

A health official in the Yemeni province of Hajja confirms that there are numerous civilians among the victims, some of whom are children. He adds that the death toll "is likely to increase" in the coming hours.

Local sources and tribal leaders in the area explain that the planes of the Saudi coalition have hit the market town of Mustabaa several times and they must have known that civilians would be killed by their actions.



The sabanews.net web site, close to Houthi rebels, reports that the air strikes hit the market and a restaurant, causing 65 deaths and 55 wounded, all civilians. In the area medicines and health workers are scarce.

In over a year of war the Saudi coalition has frequently struck at civilian targets, causing deaths and injuries.

Recently, NGOs and international activists have accused the alliance of using cluster bombs supplied by the United States. An independent committee added that the coalition has made 119 raids in violation of international humanitarian law, hoping at the same time that an investigation will be held to punish those responsible.

Since January last year, the Gulf nation has been in the throes of a bloody internal conflict pitting the Sunni leadership, backed by Saudi Arabia, against Shiite Houthi rebels, close to Iran. In March, Saudi Arabia launched air strikes against the rebels in an attempt to free the capital Sana'a and return the country to the president (who at first fled in exile and later returned) Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi.



For Saudi Arabia, the Houthis, allied to the forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, are supported militarily by Iran; a charge that Tehran rejects. Extremist groups linked to al Qaeda and jihadist militias linked to Islamic State are also active in the country, which has increased the spiral of violence and terror.

According to sources of the World Health Organization (WHO) more than 6,200 people have been killed in the war; for the United Nations Yemen is on the brink of a "humanitarian catastrophe".
Guest Commentary

By Norm Letnick

Minister of Agriculture

In these past few weeks, the agricultural sector has been moving forward with great leaps and bounds into the future of farming and organic foods.

There are many highlights to choose from, but today I want to focus on three in particular: A new law that will allow for regulations limiting the use of the word organic only to foods that have been certified organic, a significant budget lift for the Agricultural Land Commission to help it safeguard good agricultural land for future generations and a new tax credit for farmers who donate their food to registered non-profits like food banks.

By 2018, after an appropriate transition period, all marked organic foods will be certified under either a provincial or national certifications program and offer certainty to shoppers. Government listened and is giving consumers the certainty they have been asking for. The reality is the demand for organic products has increased rapidly in the last 10 years, and the requirements for businesses producing and marketing agrifoods products as organic need to reflect current consumer and business expectations. Regulations developed under the recently passed Food and Agricultural Products Classification Act will deliver that.

Requiring organic certification for products grown and marketed in B.C. will create opportunities and growth for small businesses, leading to more jobs and increased revenues. By becoming certified, new organic producers will be joining a brand of recognized standards that consumers can purchase with certainty. These changes will strengthen the awareness and reputation of B.C.s organic food and beverages, locally, across Canada, and around the globe.

Your provincial government is committed to protecting agricultural land for future generations in order to allow our producers to deliver some of the best tasting, highest quality foods. An additional $1.1 million to the Agriculture Land Commissions annual base budget is another step to ensuring there is a future for the next generations in B.C.s farming industry. Your government continues to stand behind and support improving B.C.s food supply security, our farming sector and those who work in it.

Not only is the agriculture sector being recognized with new legislation needed to provide certainty to the term organic and additional resources to support our Agricultural Land Reserve, but also for their generosity by helping those in need. By introducing the 25% non-refundable farmers food tax credit, we are assisting local farmers who donate produce to registered charities like food banks and school meal programs. The gift of agriculture should be shared with everyone and I encourage more famers to take part in this beneficial program.

As the world of agriculture changes and we move in to the future of farming, I am reminded of the great successes the agrifood industry is achieving and the sales records that keep on falling each year. Through the dedicated work of over 55,000 people directly employed in the agrifoods sector in British Columbia and most importantly with your support, by buying local, we are taking the industry to new heights and continued sustainability.
Photo caption: By accepting more immigrants during fragile economic times, Canada is condemning many newcomers to survival jobs.Photo Credit: will in nashville via Flickr CC

Commentary by

Pradip Rodrigues

Special to The Post

Canadas Minister for Immigration, John McCallum, made a startling announcement in Brampton. on Tuesday, about welcoming a whopping 305,000 permanent residents by the end of 2016. This is a 7.4 per cent increase from the 2015 admission target.

All this comes during a time of rising unemployment  namely, 7.2 per cent. Youth unemployment hovers at 13 per cent and the projected economic growth in 2016 is expected to just exceed one per cent.

So, against this gloomy economic backdrop, the announcement of record high immigrant and refugee numbers leaves many, including me, wondering if there should be some co-relation between economic growth and immigration.

While economic immigrants are made up of highly-skilled workers and caregivers, who may not be highly skilled but will still make up the majority of newcomers, McCallum's number will include 60,000 sponsored spouses, parents and children as well as 20,000 parents and grandparents by the end of the year.

Historically, Canada has admitted between 251,600 to 262,200 immigrants every year, a number that was seen as striking the right balance between population and economic growth.

Going forward, its clear that the Liberals will be shifting the focus away from the economic class and placing a greater emphasis on bringing in more family-class immigrants, seniors and refugees.

Skilled workers forced to take survival jobs

University of Toronto economist Peter Dungan points out in a Globe & Mail article that if Canada were to double the number of economic-class migrants only, average entry wages for all immigrants would rise by between five and six per cent.

I am not sure how bringing in immigrants with lower skill sets will help either the country or these newcomers in a rapidly evolving Canadian economy. Will a significant number of them be condemned to working at minimum wage?

I immigrated to Canada in 2000 under the now-defunct points system under a category of Writer/Journalist. Lawyers at that time encouraged people like me to find a good job on the understanding that after a short struggle, we would land well-paying employment.

Reality struck when I got to Canada and heard heartbreaking stories about men and women who held good jobs back in the old countries, only to be crushed and broken after being forced into survival jobs in order to put food on the table.

I've met dozens of former doctors, engineers and accountants working in factories or other dead-end jobs simply because their credentials werent recognized. No one would give them "Canadian experience". For many educated immigrants, toiling in warehouses or driving taxis was all they got.

Then Harpers Conservatives came along in 2006 and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney drastically overhauled the immigration system, bringing in skilled refugees and calibrating immigration to support the countrys specific economic needs.

I am sure that if I applied for immigration under the revised system brought in by the Conservatives, I might not have been eligible to immigrate to Canada. That would've been fair, because, looking back, letting hundreds of immigrants into the country like myself when there were no real jobs now looks like a case of false advertising.

Concerns over competition and economic burdens

When I speak with new Canadians whove struggled to find their professional footing in Canada about more immigrants, seniors and refugees being accepted as permanent residents, they arent very thrilled by the news. Unless, of course, theyre sponsoring family or senior parents.

A couple of weeks ago, I found out that an acquaintance who spoke out against bringing in more seniors had herself sponsored her parents ten years earlier to Canada.

In previous estimates, a set of grandparents can cost the system $400,000. Statistics have pegged sponsored parents and grandparents as receiving, on average, $6,262 in Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) payments plus $1,381 in other government transfers each year.

Many Canadians, new and old, who are struggling to keep or find jobs are wary about having to compete with new waves of job seekers. One parent I spoke to thought it might be a good idea to reduce immigration numbers until the economy improved. She was also opposed to foreign student workers because theyre often willing to work for less than minimum wage.

And in any case, a large percentage of the almost 350,000 international students currently studying in the country have every intention of becoming permanent residents. For many South Asians and Asians in particular, coming to Canada as an international student is just another way to immigrate.

Many immigrant parents with university-going children stay awake at night, worrying that their children may not find jobs once they graduate. How are they supposed to feel optimistic about Canada bringing in more immigrants who will likely compete with them as well as their children for a limited number of jobs?

Considering this, economic indicators should also be factored in when setting annual immigration quotas.

Bringing newcomers into a broken system

I often wonder how practical it is to have a large number of immigrants come in without taking into account the state of the economy. While I get it that Canada needs immigration in order to keep its economic engine running, I worry that the immigrants and refugees now being admitted into the country could end up being a burden on the system.

How can an immigrant contribute to the economic success of the country if he or she is not working at their full potential or is not working at all? That will be the likely fate of so many new immigrants in the years to come.

Meanwhile, it is the over-burdened taxpayer who is obliged to pitch in at a time when their own job security is shaky.

Pradip Rodrigues is currently the editor of Can-India, a weekly newspaper and website catering to the South Asian diaspora in the GTA. He immigrated to Canada in 2000 and currently lives with his wife and young son in Mississauga. Prior to coming to Canada, he was the Assistant Editor at Bombay Times, then the city section of the Times of India.

This piece was originally appeared in New Canadian Media (newcanadianmedia.ca) See http://newcanadianmedia.ca/item/33673-economy-not-ideology-should-guide-immigration
Photo caption: Still evolving./ Reuters/Abhishek N. Chinnappa

By Olivia Goldhill

Special to The Post

While you may not remember life as a toddler, you most likely believe that your selfhood thenyour essential beingwas intrinsically the same as it is today.

Buddhists, though, suggest that this is just an illusiona philosophy thats increasingly supported by scientific research.

Buddhists argue that nothing is constant, everything changes through time, you have a constantly changing stream of consciousness, Evan Thompson, a philosophy of mind professor at the University of British Columbia, tells Quartz. And from a neuroscience perspective, the brain and body is constantly in flux. Theres nothing that corresponds to the sense that theres an unchanging self.

Neuroscience and Buddhism came to these ideas independently, but some scientific researchers have recently started to reference and draw on the Eastern religion in their workand have come to accept theories that were first posited by Buddhist monks thousands of years ago.

One neuroscience paper, published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences in July, links the Buddhist belief that our self is ever-changing to physical areas of the brain. Theres scientific evidence that self-processing in the brain is not instantiated in a particular region or network, but rather extends to a broad range of fluctuating neural processes that do not appear to be self specific, write the authors.

Thompson, whose work includes studies of cognitive science, phenomenology and Buddhist philosophy, says this is not the only area where neuroscience and Buddhism converge. For example, some neuroscientists now believe that cognitive faculties are not fixed but can be trained through meditation. And there may be scientific backing to the Buddhist belief that consciousness extends into deep sleep.

The standard neuroscience view is that deep sleep is a blackout state where consciousness disappears, Thompson says. In Indian philosophy we see some theorists argue that theres a subtle awareness that continues to be present in dreamless sleep, theres just a lack of ability to consolidate that in a moment-to-moment way in memory.

Studies of meditators sleep patterns suggest this might indeed be the case. A study published in 2013 found that meditation can affect electro-physical brain patterns during sleep, and the findings suggest there could be capacity to process information and maintain some level of awareness, even during a state when usually these cognitive functions are greatly impaired, according to the researchers.

But neither neuroscience nor Buddhism has a definitive answer on exactly how consciousness relates to the brain. And the two fields diverge on certain aspects of the topic. Buddhists believe that theres some form of consciousness thats not dependent on the physical body, while neuroscientists (and Thompson), disagree.

But Thompson supports the Buddhists view that the self does in fact exist.

In neuroscience, youll often come across people who say the self is an illusion created by the brain. My view is that the brain and the body work together in the context of our physical environment to create a sense of self. And its misguided to say that just because its a construction, its an illusion.

This piece was originally appeared in Quartz (qz.com). See http://qz.com/506229/neuroscience-backs-up-the-buddhist-belief-that-the-self-isnt-constant-but-ever-changing/
If youre like most Vancouverites youre probably unaware Vancouver Fashion Week (VFW) is currently underway. Monday nights Opening Gala marked the events 27th season and 15th year! Community leaders have recognized the goodwill the event generates and Mayor Gregor Robinson sent a taped greeting to start the show. Even MP Jody Wilson-Raybould sent her regrets for being unable to attend. The weeklong event showcases established, student as well as international designers from Germany, Britain, Korea and Japan to name a few countries. From today (Thursday) through Sunday, March 20th a total of 56 designers will send their creations down the runway. If youre curious about attending but worried about which fashion is right for you, I suggest the following. 1. Visit www.vanfashionweek.com. 2. Click the Event link at the top of the page and click the FW16 Schedule button. Make a mental note of the designers names from Thursday - Sunday. 3. Lastly, click the Designer link at the top of the page and click the Designer's names. Most designer profiles contain a few images. Please keep in mind some profiles contain work from last season but it will be enough to give you a sense of their style. Youll see everything from sheer and edgy to cute and whimsical to sophisticated and chic. Provided youre excited by what youve seen, ticket prices range from approximately $30 (for two consecutive shows only) to approximately $75 for an entire evening. Each evening contains a few 10-minute intermissions to mix, mingle and pose for the all-important selfie! The event is held at the Chinese Cultural Center at 50 E. Pender (and within walking distance of the Stadium/Chinatown Sky Train station).

If youre planning to attend VFW, nows the time to dress to impress. While I have one eye on the runway, I have the other eye scanning the crowd for well-dressed guests. There were so many designers and fashionistas to pick but I had to limit my selection to four.

Photo caption:

Anna: Design Student

Sleeveless jacket: Bebe

Blouse & pants: made by Anna

Jewelry: Chanel

Purse: Chanel

Heels: Valentino

Street & Saddle

Vancouver based designer

Emma Bellini

Peruvian based designer

Kanika: Fashion Editor/Model/Mom

Scarf/headwrap: Dynamite

Necklace: Adore by Kanika

Pants & jacket: Masaba Gupta

Purse: BCBG

Heels: Steve Madden

Visit R!c's website: www.SidewalkRunway.com or follow him on instagram.com/sidewalkrunway_com or Twitter @RunwaySidewalk

All images are copyright protected. Re-posting or re-production of images is strictly forbidden without written consent.
Donald Trump And Hillary Clinton Dominate; Marco Rubio Out

Trending News: Looks Like Your Choices Are President Trump or President Clinton

Why Is This Important?

Because hope for anyone else but Trump taking the nomination is all but lost.

Long Story Short

Donald Trump's big night on Primary Day will likely seal his nomination, but now he'll have to convince the rest of the nation to get in his corner  a much tougher task, to say the least.

Long Story

Donald Trump had another big day in the primary race, but this time, nobody can honestly say they're really that surprised  we're well past surprise at this point. Trump yanked Marco Rubio's state of Florida from under him and got "Little Marco" to suspend his campaign.

JUST IN: Marco Rubio announces he has suspended his presidential campaign https://t.co/phuRIqTmaT https://t.co/o6HhirZM1f  ABC News (@ABC) March 16, 2016

Later, Trump took Illinois and its 69 delegates, as well as North Carolina's 72, helping him get closer to the 1,237 needed to win the nomination. But Trump's plans for a #PrimaryDay sweep were halted by John Kasich, who won probably the only state he's going to win, the state he governs, Ohio.

Kasich's people went all out on the confetti like he just won Super Bowl 51.

They went all-out with the confetti for John Kasich's Ohio Primary victory speech tonight. pic.twitter.com/RVCJLk0hGq  NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) March 16, 2016

Besides stopping the Trump sweep, Ohio's 66 delegates will be significant come GOP convention time, according to NBC's Senior White House Correspondent Chris Jansing.

66 Ohio delegates = contested convention.  Chris Jansing (@ChrisJansing) March 16, 2016

Could we be in for a House of Cards-style brokered convention finish (anyone else already binged Season 6 cause I have).

Over in the Democrat camp, Hillary Clinton had a great night of her own  taking Florida, North Carolina and Ohio by considerably large margins. And in her victory speech, the former secretary of state and first lady didn't waste any time setting the stage for the real election campaign  the one for the presidency of the United States of America.

.@HillaryClinton: "This may be one of the most consequential campaigns of our lifetimes." https://t.co/VFfP5vqyOChttps://t.co/k1HKI8FKkz  The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) March 16, 2016

So is this what we've gotten ourselves into? A Trump vs. Clinton 2016 face-off?

Perhaps this is the end of the line for Trump, as political commentator Jake Novak wrote for CNBC. Or perhaps people have been saying that this whole time and America will shock the world in favor of The Hairpiece? One thing's for sure, we're in for an exciting and brutal one folks!

Own The Conversation

Ask The Big Question

What the hell have the Republicans just done?

Disrupt Your Feed

This election slate has every inclination of an underdog story and that's completely and utterly terrifying.

Drop This Fact

Trump eclipsed the 50% mark for the first time this week in a nationwide poll of Republican primary voters done by The Economist/YouGov.
Labor wants to make it easier for small businesses to take on large ones in court by giving federal court judges the power to stop the small players from paying the larger rivals costs in an unsuccessful litigation.



According to a report by the Canberra Times, Labor said the move would level the playing field between small and large players by removing the fear potentially hefty loosing costs.



This will change the dynamics of small businesses and their representatives in the ability to bring private litigation, shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said.



When you talk to small business about the issues, they will tell you it is very hard to get before a court when they have to weigh up not only their own legal costs but the chance of being provided with a bill for the other side's legal costs and the other side may well engage in a legal strategy to maximise those costs, Bowen said.



The Times reported that the move has been welcomed by the Council of Small Business of Australia, and cautiously welcomed by the Business Council of Australia.



The new proposal would mean small private litigants would request a no adverse cost order from a federal court judge who would then decide whether the case had merit. If merit was established, the defendants liability for legal fees would be waived.



Labor wants small business litigants to send the complaint to the Small Business Ombudsman to assess the likelihood of success prior to court. While not legally binding, it would help businesses understand their prospects, assisting the whole procedure.



The Parliamentary Budget Office estimates that the Small Business Ombudsman would require an extra $1m worth of funding to facilitate the new process.



This is a modest, sensible proposal to provide some support for small businesses without damaging competition in the process, Bowen said.




Witnesses heard gun shots and a car travelling the wrong way down a one-way street in the early hours of yesterday morning when Melbourne criminal lawyer Pino Joseph Acquaro was gunned down in what was believed to be a professional hit.



Court documents show that there was a $200,000 contract on his head that had, according to The Herald Sun, been increased to $500,000 in recent months.



Acquaro who represented a number prominent crime figures, was allegedly wanted dead by the Calabrian mafia. He had been warned by police but he refused to take safety precautions, according to a report by The Age.



I'm isolated. They can't physically harm me, he told The Herald Sun recently.



I'm not afraid of dying.



But he had severed ties with many of his former Calabrian mafia clients.



He was shot dead as he walked to his car, parked on a Brunswick East street, after he had shut his gelataria and cafe at around 12:40 for the evening. His body was found by a rubbish truck driver who called emergency services at around 3am.



Acquaro started running the cafe, Gelobar five years ago. In January, the store was damaged in a suspicious fire. Though police said it was over a minor dispute, they would look into any possible links to the murder.



Acquaro was known in the community as a lawyer and businessman who would help disadvantaged Calabrian community members.



Previously the president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and heavily involved with Brunswicks Reggio Calabria club, Acquaro was an advocate of his culture and business in Melbourne.



He was so down-to-earth, everyone loved him, I've got my whole staff in tears, said George Mirabella, owner of a nearby store.

And he bought in some cannoli. That's the type of gentleman he was. I can't believe it.





Police are now looking into CCTV footage in the hope that they may be able to see the car used by the shooter.


Plans to make international backpackers in Australia pay tax on their earnings looks likely to be scrapped after a campaign from tourism and agriculture industries raised concerns.The tax on people in Australia on working holiday maker visas who can work during their stay in the country was to be introduced in July is now being reviewed and it is expected to be scrapped.Tourism chiefs had warned that the plan to take backpacker out of the tax free threshold could result in a serious drop in the number of backpackers which would then hit many industries that rely on them for short term work.Backpackers have long been encouraged to work in Australia on working holiday visas which allow them to stay for a second year if they work for three months in rural areas.The new tax would have required travellers on working holiday visas to pay 32.5% on every dollar earned, when they previously paid no tax on income up to $18,000 (9,500).Tourism Minister Richard Colbeck said that he has taken the concerns on board. "Working Holiday Makers are vital for two of our key super growth sectors for the next decade, agriculture and tourism. Concerns have been raised about the impact of the 2015 budget measure on tax arrangements for working holiday makers, particularly our global competitiveness as a backpacker destination," he explained."We have therefore decided that the proposed tax arrangements require further discussions to ensure Australia does not lose market share in backpacker visitation. The key issue is to ensure we have a balanced and equitable approach to the tax status for workers in Australia on visas," he added.Those against the tax pointed out that in the tourism industry alone, Australia is facing a shortage of 127,000 workers in the next five years. Over 90% of workers in the tourism industry are Australian but the industry relies on workers from overseas for the remainder.A further 40,000 working holiday makers annually contribute to the prosperity of the broader agricultural sector, including the horticulture and general agriculture sectors.The move was backed by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry which has taken a lead in explaining the consequences of the planned tax which it described as "ill-conceived"."Rather than treating working holiday-makers as an easy source of tax revenue, the Government should recognise the economic benefits they bring to small businesses and their Australian employees. Scaling back the proposed backpacker tax would boost economic activity in regional and rural areas," said Steve Whan, manager of the Australian Chamber National Tourism Council."The Government claims the tax would raise more than $500 million, but that will be overshadowed by the economic harm if Australian receives significantly fewer working holiday makers and tourists," he pointed out."The National Tourism Council supports the campaign to axe the backpacker tax. I applaud the minister for listening to the concerns of the tourism and farming sectors and urge him to take the next step: to scale back the tax and instead seek to attract more visitors to our shores. We look forward to making this case to the Government's review," he added.
Despite having posted a $100,000 bail, 28-year-old Alex Demetro is currently on the wanted list and was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of a drug causing injury, and driving with a revoked or a suspended license.His passenger and victim was a 43-year-old CarMax salesman named Warren Smale, who was transported to the hospital immediately after the crash but was sadly pronounced dead.Apparently, Demetro was driving the Vette at a high rate of speed before he lost control of the car and hit a pole and a tree on the passenger side, killing his passenger. Witnesses told KLTA that he was going at least 70 mph, and the state of the Corvette in the aftermath seems to support that theory.Police investigators believe that he was under the influence of drugs when he crashed the vehicle, so that was another contributing factor to the accident, apart from the high speed at which he was going in a residential area just a couple of blocks from the CarMax lot in Ontario, where the test drive had begun just minutes earlier.Having been released from jail on bail the second day after the crash, Demetro fled and the authorities have issued an arrest warrant under his name.According to a criminal complaint against him, the man had three previous convictions for driving with a suspended license. County inmate records mention that Alex Demetro is 6 ft 2 in tall, weighs 160 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. If anyone has any information about him, they should either contact Ontario Police Office Brian Olivo at 909-395-4646, or if they prefer to remain anonymous, they can call 800-78-27463.
SUV

According to The Detroit News , Jeep CEO Mike Manley has declared that the replacement for the Compass and Patriot is perfectly on track. Theres still no official confirmation on the name of the compact-sized SUV , but the CEO says that Brazil is the place where it will debut and where it will be assembled.Manley is referring to the Sao Paulo Auto Show, slated to open its doors to the public in November, and the Goiana plant in Pernambuco, the facility that handles production of the Renegade. Inaugurated in 2014, the Goiana plant can manufacture up to 250,000 vehicles on a yearly basis, although it hasnt reached its full potential just yet. Maybe the C-will help with that.As for the Grand Cherokee, the Jeep numero uno told that he has pretty exciting news to share with us. Some people are adamant that Mike Manley is talking about the Hellcat V8-powered Grand Cherokee, the one enthusiasts call the Trackhawk. From my point of view, we should wait for the facelifted Grand Cherokee to be presented first, then dream about the Hellcat variety.Manley previously told the automotive media that the Hellcat-ified Jeep Grand Cherokee would come before the end of calendar year 2017, which kind of confirms my assumption that the facelift has priority.In related news, the Jeep brand will bring to market an all-new Wrangler and pickup truck in the following years, as well as a modern interpretation of the Grand Wagoneer. Word on the street is that the all-new Grand Wagoneer will use Maserati engines and will rival the likes of the Range Rover.
Before Toyota-owned Scion draws its last breath in August 2016 , the youth-oriented brand is sending its message. That message is I dont want to die like a dog hit by a car, so heres something to remember me. Unfortunately, though, nobody will remember the Scion tC Release Series 10.0 in five years time.The only entity that will remember the last hurrah of Scion is the Wikipedia encyclopedia. Another thing that could make some people remember Scion is that their communications manager thought that it would be appropriate to use cool swag and Scion-ara in the brands press release for the 2016 NYIAS.Talk among yourselves, but cool swag in a release from a company that failed at being youth-oriented is as inappropriate as it gets. And what sort of individual would rub his chin and go: Hmm, Scion-ara, what a smart sound-based wordplay. Dear Scion, these kind of things are annoying. Sincerely, everyone.These being said, care to guess how much is the tC Release Series 10.0 and what does it bring new to the table? Its $23,190 for the 6-speed stick shift or $1,860 more than the standard entry-level model. The model year 2016 tC Release Series 10.0 comes exclusively in Barcelona Red.Scion prides itself on bringing Kei Miura to help with the design of the rear lower and deck spoiler, rocker panels, and front lip spoiler. This tC also boasts black Scion badges and gloss black alloy wheels. As for the inside, the red and black theme continues. The only mods that matter in my opinion are the TRD dual exhaust system and TRD lowering springs. Other than those two additions, I cant put my finger on anything remotely desirable about this thing. I wonder how much it will be worth in a decade or so.
MQB

MPV

SUV

The Spanish automaker closed 2015 with 6 million euros of profit after tax, compared to 66 million lost in 2014. It's a small result, but considering the Ateca will be introduced this year, we are confident 2016 will be even better.So, where does the profit come from? Well, last year's operations of 8.3 billion euros mean revenue is twice as high as in 2009. But while they are selling more cars, earnings per vehicle sold have also increased 3.5%.The range of vehicles cash-strapped SEAT offers is tiny compared to other automakers. There's just one sedan and no SUVs until the Ateca hits showrooms later this year. Thus, the Ibiza supermini and Leon range of compacts are the bread earners.Of the just over 400,000 cars they sold, 160,900 were Leons, a 4.4% increase over the 2014 result. The Ibiza accounts for 153,600 sales, up 2.4% despite being one of the oldest cars in the segment. The Alhambra also had a good year thanks to a cosmetic update and some-based engines. Sales of thismodel were up over 17%."SEAT's progress in 2015 was twofold - not only did we obtain a positive result for the first time since 2008, but we achieved it during a year of major challenges. We are implementing the right strategy that enables us to face the challenge of sustaining long-term profitability with optimism. We have a brilliant future ahead of us thanks to the launch of new products and the integration of new technologies in both the field of mobility as well as connectivity," pointed out Luca de Meo, President of the SEAT Executive Committee, during the presentation of the 2015 annual results.If we were stockholders, that speech would make us jump for joy. But we're not. Instead, we're going to point out that the Line 1 at the Martorell factory has been adapted for MQB A0 platform vehicles. In 2017, the Spanish automaker will start production of a "smaller all-road crossover to be developed and manufactured in Martorell." That would be the Ibizawe've been expecting.The Tiguan-sized SEAT Ateca model will be made by Skoda at the Mlada Boleslav factory. However, Spain stands a good chance of becoming a hub for small car production. The decision to move the next-gen Audi A1 there in 2018 has already been announced. We are also expecting Volkswagen to announce that the production "Polo SUV" previewed by the T-Cross concept will be made at Martorell.
Considering the car that will be announced there, the Model 3, that's a little counter-intuitive: here is the vehicle that is supposed to transform Tesla from a premium, low-volume manufacturer into the first mainstream electric-only car maker, and the launching event will only feature a few select guests. Surely a presentation on a packed stadium would have been much more suited.But there's still time, since the Model 3 isn't expected to enter production any sooner than early 2017, so this latest product from Tesla will probably get the chance to face more of its potential owners in the future. Until then, though, it's on schedule for a private reunion on the last day of this month.Earlier today, Tesla Motors sent out the official invitations to all current Tesla owners, but they're not asking them to take part in the event. No, instead, it's an invitation to participate in a lottery that could get you one of the 650 vacant seats at the Model 3 unveiling on March 31. So, if you end up watching the presentation on a computer screen come the end of the month, you only have your luck to blame.The recipients of this message have until noon today to reply to the email, and those who were selected should receive a confirmation and the official invite tomorrow, March 17. The event is scheduled to start at 7:00 pm Pacific, but the car itself won't be shown earlier than 8:30 pm.The invitation also contains a "teaser" image, but in fact, it may be just a blacked-out Model S, so we can't even see the outline of the Model 3. The extreme secrecy continues, but shouldn't it, considering that Tesla doesn't need teasers to create hype?
Still, we have no news as to whether the Himalayan will take this trip to Europe and North America. Even though the machine may seem underpowered, especially when compared to dual-sport bikes with a similar displacement, this Royal Enfield could still be an exceptional beginner or commuter motorcycle that can go places.With a claimed peak power of just under 25 hp at 6,500 rpm and a peak torque of 32 Nm (23.8 lb-ft) at 4,500 revs per minute, the Royal Enfield Himalayan is hard to impress. Still, these figures might be exactly what a beginner or a returning rider is looking for.Of course, when it comes to the European markets, compliance with the Euro 4 emission standard is a must. We recently found out that some of the iconic motorcycles such as the Yamaha XJR1300 or SR400 may not have a future in Europe exactly because of this Euro 4 thing. No news arrived as to the emission standards for the Royal Enfield Himalayan, so maybe there's still hope. Just maybe.Other features that may be strong selling points are the 10,000 km (6,200 miles) oil change intervals, its light weight, and the enduro-approved 21" front wheel. All the info from India indicates that the model will be a huge hit for Royal Enfield, but we're not sure how the model will fare in international markets. Time will certainly tell.
LeasePlan Corporation N.V. has announced the launch of FlexiPlan, a new offering designed to meet the flexible needs of companies with changing, fluctuating, or short-term mobility needs.

The new solution, FlexiPlan, offers a 1-24 month full-service package for companies that may not know what their long-term mobility needs are, and do not want a long-term contract that requires too much commitment. This mobility solution offers flexibility in contract duration and mileage, an on-demand structure, and does not incur penalties if clients mobility needs suddenly change  there are no early termination fees.

LeasePlan said it identified a gap between short-term rental offerings (1-30 days) and longer-term fixed leasing offerings (usually from 24 months onwards), and realized that many companies would prefer the option of a solution that was flexible to their mobility needs. Where traditional operational leasing is based on a fixed-term contract, FlexiPlan gives more flexibility. Simplicity is the key word; simplicity of the product, simplicity during the use of a flexible vehicle, and simplicity when terminating the contract.

We developed FlexiPlan in order to meet the growing demand for driver mobility solutions as an alternative to the traditional lease product, said Nick Salkeld, chief commercial officer at LeasePlan. It is part of our mobility strategy to be the one-stop-shop for all vehicle-related mobility needs, from hours to years. As our clients organizations are required to be increasingly flexible in an ever-changing environment, we want to provide solutions that respond to these changes by offering benefits to both clients and drivers.

FlexiPlan is now available in the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. FlexiPlan will be rolled out globally in 2016 across all LeasePlans operating companies. LeasePlan manages a fleet of over 1.5 million vehicles worldwide.
Doc, the B-29 restoration project that was forced outside over the winter due to a lack of hangar space in Wichita, now is back under a roof, Josh Wells, a member of Docs Friends, told AVweb this week. Last week we were able to reach an agreement on a tentative plan for hangar space at the same location where weve been restoring the plane, Wells said. Its a temporary solution, he said, but at least will protect the airplane from unpredictable spring weather. He added that the team is working with the FAA to verify the airplane is airworthy, and they are waiting for sustained outside temperatures of at least 50 degrees before running the engine tests.

Were also awaiting permission from Washington, D.C., to allow us to use a non-joint-use active military airfield as an operating base for test flights, Wells said.A few other details we are working to confirm are the logistics of getting the qualified B-29 crew in Wichita to conduct preliminary ground operationsand ultimately flight testing. No date has been set for the first flight. We must be satisfied that Doc is airworthy, and the FAA also must satisfied that Doc is airworthy, Wells said. Also in the works are two projects with Constellation airplanes, both hoping to return the aircraft to flight.

At Marana Regional Airport, near Tucson, Arizona, a team from Dynamic Aviation is preparing to fly Columbine II to their company headquarters in Bridgewater, Virginia, early next month. The Lockheed Constellation first flew in 1948 for the U.S. Air Force, and later was used by President Dwight Eisenhower, then flew for Pan Am and later returned to the Air Force. Dynamic Aviation bought the airplane last year with the goal to restore it to flying condition. Once the restoration is complete, the company says it expects the airplane will be transferred to a nonprofit museum and will fly at airshows. Meanwhile, work by Lufthansa on a Connie in Maine has slowed down, but is still underway, according to ConnieSurvivors.com. If progress continues at the slow and steady rate, the airplane should be ready to fly in another two years, according to the website.
16 March 2016 16:41 (UTC+04:00)

By Aynur Karimova

Amid the global economic crisis, sharp drop in crude prices, political chaos and bloodshed in the Middle East, as well as increased threat of terrorism, cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey gains much more importance.

From this angle, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Turkey on March 15 immediately after deadly attacks on the capital gains special importance in terms of demonstrating joint position on global threats.

This visit in facts demonstrated the truly fraternal relations between the two countries, founded on a principle of "one nation, two states" -- a fundamental stone in every moves of the nations.

It is also accepted as a symbolic gesture by the Azerbaijani leader to be with Turkey in its difficult time, when the country faced a terrorist attack on March 13 killing 37 people leaving over 120 injured.

Azerbaijan, which has repeatedly suffered from the Armenian terrorism, strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms and during the visit the president voiced his country's support to the fraternal people of Turkey.

Turkey was with Azerbaijan in the most difficult period for the country as well. The country once again made it clear that it strongly supports Baku in the liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 over Armenia's territorial claims against Azerbaijan. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed as a result of large-scale hostilities and over one million Azerbaijanis are unable to return to their homes because of the invasion. Armenia continues the occupation of Azerbaijani territories, which in turn obstacles the regional security and peace.

One of the important messages voiced during President Aliyev's Ankara visit was the two countries' interest in further developing military and defense cooperation. Continuing joint military exercises of the two countries' Armed Forces during this visit could be seen as a symbolic gesture.

Turkey has the second powerful army within NATO - after the U.S. and the second powerful army in Europe - after Russia. The country's military power is not only estimated for the quantity of military personnel, but also for the material base, which includes modern weapons, training level, the effectiveness of the control system and others.

Azerbaijan, in turn, has recently developed the defense industry. If earlier Azerbaijan was consumer of military equipment and weapons, now the country has become the producer and exporter of a number of weapons, ammunition, and military technology.

Taken the military and defense potential of the two countries into account, one can say with no doubt that Azerbaijan and Turkey will have serious prospects of cooperation in the future as well.

President Aliyev and President Erdogan decided to hold the 3rd Meeting of the Turkey-Azerbaijan Defense Industry Cooperation in the coming months.

Azerbaijan-Turkey enjoyed strong relations for centuries due to a common culture and history and the mutual intelligibility of the Turkish and Azerbaijani languages.

Turkey was the first country in the world to recognize Azerbaijan's independence in 1991 and has been a staunch supporter of Azerbaijan in its efforts to preserve its territorial integrity and realize the economic potential that arises from its rich natural resources in the Caspian Sea.

Azerbaijan and Turkey enjoy good and developing economic ties, especially in terms of huge energy projects envisaging the transportation of Azerbaijan's hydrocarbon resources to the European and world markets through the Turkish territory.

Along with the political importance, this visit was also important from the viewpoint of realization of joint energy and transport projects.

As part of the visit it was decided to accelerate the works towards the implementation of the Trans-Anatolian natural gas pipeline, which will bring Azerbaijani natural gas to Turkish and European consumers.

Today, Azerbaijan and Turkey are the beneficiaries of all the major projects in the region, in particular the Southern Gas Corridor, which comprises TANAP and TAP projects, as well as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.

If the TANAP project is in full swing, the largest transport project in the region - the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway has entered its final stage. This project, which will connect the continents, will play an important role in the economies of both Azerbaijan and Turkey. It will turn the two countries into the transit point for transportation of goods from Asia to Europe and vice versa. It will bring significant revenues to the budgets of these countries. By agreeing the transport policies and tariffs, Baku and Ankara will be able to establish the most competitive route for cargo delivery.

Today, the partnership between Turkey and Azerbaijan has become a driving force forming policy and economy of the region. The two countries complete each other. The political weight of Ankara is supported by the economic projects implemented at the initiative of Azerbaijan. This unity allows Baku and Ankara to respond all modern challenges.

--

Aynur Karimova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
16 March 2016 09:43 (UTC+04:00)

A new print edition of the AZERNEWS online newspaper was released on March 16.

The new edition includes articles about the fifth meeting of the Turkey-Azerbaijan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, celebration of Last Novruz Tuesday, Japan keen to deepen all-round cooperation with Azerbaijan, Baku to host French gastronomy day, the national Molla Nasreddin magazine considering a weapon against injustice, etc.

AZERNEWS is an associate member of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).

The online newspaper is available at www.azernews.az.
16 March 2016 12:30 (UTC+04:00)

By Nazrin Gadimova

Greece contributes to the process of peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

Alexis Tsipras, Greek Prime Minister made the remark in a meeting with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Athens on March 15.

Tsipras stressed that Greece contributes to the process of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group, adding that he wants to see the development of the region in conditions of peace, security and stability.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenia's territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor in 1988. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions that make 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory.

Although diplomats of Russia, the United States and France  the co-chair countries of the mediating Minsk Group  have been brokering for the peace in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, no real breakthrough have been achieved for more than 20 years.

The conflict is still far from a comprehensive settlement despite Baku's best peace efforts and the OSCE Minsk Group's mediation involvement. All efforts have gone in vain since Yerevan continues to shun all peace brokering efforts.

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Nazrin Gadimova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @NazrinGadimova

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16 March 2016 16:12 (UTC+04:00)

By Nazrin Gadimova

Azerbaijan and the European Union exchanged views on the current state and prospects of relations as part of EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Herbert Salbers visit to Baku.

During the meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, the parties discussed the cooperation in various areas, including the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Touching upon relations between the EU and Azerbaijan, the head of the state said that there are good prospects for future partnership.

Salber, in turn, emphasized that the visit of High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini to Baku opened good opportunities for expanding the cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan.

The EUs representative said he had visited the region several times to get familiar with the current situation, adding that the organization intends to make its contribution to the settlement of the conflicts.

As part of his visit to Baku, Salber met with Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

The parties exchanged views on the current state and prospects of relations between Azerbaijan and the EU, and expressed mutual interest for the development of bilateral cooperation.

Mammadyarov and Salber stressed the importance of the energy partnership between Azerbaijan and the European Union, including TAP and TANAP projects, which are the important components of the Southern Gas Corridor.

The sides also discussed scientific, educational and humanitarian cooperation.

Azerbaijan expects to receive the EU Council's mandate to negotiate on a new agreement on strategic modernization partnership, which will determine the format of the future cooperation with the EU.

The Azerbaijani government submitted a draft agreement to the EU in May 2015 as part of the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga, Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev said earlier adding that we are expecting now to obtain a mandate from the highest political body of the EU to start the negotiation process.

Currently, the bilateral relations between the EU and Azerbaijan are regulated on the basis of agreement on partnership and cooperation, which was signed in 1996.

A new agreement envisages the adjustment of Azerbaijans legislation and procedures to the EUs most important international and trade norms and standards, which should lead to an improvement in the access of Azerbaijani goods to the EU markets.
16 March 2016 15:45 (UTC+04:00)

By Aynur Karimova

Azerbaijan has set a goal to have one of the most advanced customs services in the world. The country plans to achieve this target by greatly improving the level of work of the customs agencies throughout the country.

Aydin Aliyev, the Head of the countrys State Customs Committee, made the remark at a conference devoted to the development and future prospects in the customs system on March 14.

Aliyev said that falling oil prices have set new challenges for Azerbaijan, and this has necessitated adjusting the work of many state agencies, including customs bodies, to new challenges.

A conference on Development in customs system and future prospects organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan kicked off in Baku on March 14.

"Instability in global economy in recent years and significant decline in oil prices impacts all countries, including Azerbaijan," Aliyev said. "As a result, many state agencies, including the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, have to solve a number of issues, primarily having ensured transparency of our activities."

Aliyev also stressed the necessity of improving the activities of customs bodies in line with international standards.

A number of legislative acts have been already adopted in Azerbaijan, including amendments to the countrys Customs Code, he said. They all comply with the latest international standards.

Speaking at the event, Arzu Hajiyeva, the representative of Ernst & Young in Azerbaijan, said that along with the traditional functions, the customs structures in Azerbaijan should have new functions in current realities.

"Currently, the customs structures of many countries, including Azerbaijan, are facing such new tasks as the promotion of international trade, the formation of the necessary sphere for investment and business development, as well as the protection of the main property rights," she noted.

She also stressed the necessity of protecting the main intellectual property rights in Azerbaijan.

Recently, Azerbaijan has taken very important measures to simplify customs procedures and improve transparency in the direction of improving legislative framework in customs activities, organizing a call-center, mediating restrictions in customs activity, as well as reducing the time spent on customs clearance, Hajiyeva said. The public and entrepreneurs positively accepted all these measures and hope that these reforms will be continued in the future as well.

Currently, some points in this area are in the spotlight.

For example, the maximum examination period is 20 days, Hajiyeva said. It's quite a long time, and that creates new risks for entrepreneurs associated with additional costs for storage of products, the possibility of failure to fulfill conditions on timing pre-specified in contracts, and so on.

Another point is the lack of a unified concept to form customs value of the products.

We propose to develop administrative procedures on all decisions made by the managing customs officials, Hajiyeva stated. It should be a clear and transparent process, and every customs employee should give proof of decision to the importer.

At the same time, it is necessary to minimize contacts between customs officers and entrepreneurs through the use of electronic systems.

It is also necessary to carry out customs inspection of products within the framework of risks management system or to take a decision on the refusal of customs inspection of goods in the shortest possible time, she added.

Delivery period to be reduced

In his remarks, Shaig Mirzayev, a member of the Murphy Shipping and Commercial Services Ltd, said that the period of delivery of transit goods to the intended destinations through Azerbaijans territory will be reduced by three times in the future.

"'Currently, the period for delivery of cargoes through Azerbaijan to their destinations is 60 days," he said, adding that in the future this period can be cut down to 20 days after the negotiations continue and the agreements are reached.

Mirzayev believes that Azerbaijans geographical location elevates the countrys role in transit as the country is located at the intersection of the North-South and the East-West transport corridors.

"Cargoes transported from China to Iran may further continue their trip on several routes," he said, adding that one of those routes goes through Turkey to southern and western Europe, and another runs through Azerbaijan and Russia to northern and eastern Europe.

Also, there are currently six potential corridors from China to Europe, half of which may run through Azerbaijan.

This once again demonstrates Azerbaijans important role in transit and can turn the country into a major transit center in the world, Mirzayev added.

New regime wanted for importers

Deloitte, an international audit company, offered Azerbaijan to consider the establishment of free customs zones processing of products in the customs territory.

The company's senior tax manager, Emil Garayev said that duties and taxes imposed on imported products pose certain obstacles to the activities of importers. Therefore, the new regime could be one of compromise solutions.

Later, Aliyev told journalists that customs duties on a number of imported products may be reduced in Azerbaijan.

He said that this will mainly relate to customs duties on imports of raw materials and components for manufacture of products of Azerbaijani origin.

We should give green light to production in Azerbaijan, he noted. Therefore, we made a proposal to reduce import tariffs on raw materials and components needed for manufacture of products in the country. At the same time, customs duties on other imported goods may be increased. We have already made our proposals and the government will decide whether to accept them or not.

Since 2001, Azerbaijan has been using a multi-stage differentiated tariff system with a rate of 0, 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 9 and 15 percent.



Currently, a number of imported goods are subject to the maximum rate of customs duty (15 percent) to protect domestic products from the negative impact of foreign competition.

Aliyev went on to add that Turkish goods are not exported from Azerbaijan to Russia.

"The Azerbaijani customs bodies always require presenting a certificate of origin of the products during export, he said. We are thoroughly conducting inspection in this direction. I can assure that Turkish goods are not exported from Azerbaijan to Russia."

While speaking of the delay in transporting Azerbaijani goods through the Russian customs, Aliyev said that the Russian side is entitled to inspect imported products.

"This is their right, namely, the Russian customs bodies and the Federal Service for Veterinarian and Vegetation Sanitary Supervision, he said. They are fully entitled to inspect the products imported to the country."

Touching upon the import of cigarettes to Azerbaijan, Aliyev said that it decreased by six times within two months.

"This is primarily connected with the prevention of import of tobacco products supposedly for own use, but used for commercial purposes," Aliyev added.

As is known, in accordance with the law, one individual is allowed to import 30 packs of cigarettes for personal use into the country, he stated. Unfortunately, some repeatedly cross the border with Georgia, Iran and Russia during the day, import the allowed volumes of tobacco products several times and then use them for commercial purposes.



This kind of business inflicts a lot of damage, according to Aliyev. Such actions are detrimental not only to the country's market of tobacco products, but also Azerbaijan's economy as a whole."

In January 2016, tobacco products worth $5.44 million were imported to Azerbaijan, which is 6.1 times less than in the same period last year, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.

Aliyev went on to add that the State Customs Committee is planning to accelerate the application of online customs declarations.

"As you know, according to President Ilham Aliyev's order, we have been instructed to create online customs declarations within two months. But we intend to implement this task before and we are working in this direction," he noted.

Aliyev said that application of online customs declarations is related not only to an increase in transparency in the activities of the State Customs Committee, but also to the establishment of e-government.

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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova

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16 March 2016 12:59 (UTC+04:00)

By Nazrin Gadimova

Slow Internet connection in Azerbaijan is linked with the failures in communication lines in about half of cases.

Araz Aliyev, deputy head of the State Service for Antimonopoly Policy and Consumer Rights Protection under the Economy Ministry made the remark while talking to local media.

The service together with the Communications and High Technologies Ministry has recently created a working group, which was engaged in checking the speed of the Internet in the country, Aliyev said.

We have received complaints that the speed of the Internet, received by subscribers, is lower than it was promised. We have considered these facts, and I would like to say that not all the complaints were well-grounded. In general, speed of Internet meets the requirements, but subscribers do not receive it completely. First of all this may be due to the failures on lines, as well as in equipment, he explained.

Based on these complaints, Internet service providers have acted appropriately and most of the problems were solved, Aliyev said, noting that the group continues its work.

"This is not because there are many problems  the group is working to prevent occurrence of such problems and quickly respond to possible appeals of subscribers, he concluded.

The number of Internet users in Azerbaijan with a population of over 9.6 million people reached 76 percent as of early 2016, according to the Communications and High Technologies Ministry. About 65 percent of the total number of Internet connections in Azerbaijan falls on the broadband access services that have an ability to transport multiple signals and traffic types simultaneously.

The Countrys government has developed a special project for further development of this area.

The ultimate goals of the project are to provide the whole territory of the country, including remote rural areas, with high-speed internet in the range of 10-100 megabits per second. Thus, the share of broadband Internet users will be brought up to 85 percent and this will allow Azerbaijan to reach the level of developed countries by 2017.

Today, the field of ICT, including the Internet, is a rapidly developing area. The state pays special attention to this sphere, which is a priority for the economic development of the country.

Azerbaijans Ministry of Communications and High Technologies is responsible for establishing and enforcing policy on electronic communications, acting both as a policymaking and as regulatory body. The Ministry also formulates proposals related to the provision of public investment in the ICT sector.

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Nazrin Gadimova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @NazrinGadimova

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16 March 2016 16:56 (UTC+04:00)

By Nazrin Gadimova

Azerbaijan has reduced the total number of licenses and permits for business doing.

The countrys parliament adopted an appropriate draft law On licenses and permits during the plenary session in the third reading held on March 15.

Addressing the event, Ziyad Samadzade, the chairman of the parliamentary committee on economic policy, entrepreneurship and industry, said that the previous version of the law provided for the issuing licenses in 32 areas.

Given the fact that the regulation of banking and insurance sectors, as well as stock market has passed to the Financial Markets Supervision Board, we have reduced the number of licensed spheres up to 23 based on discussions held in the Presidential Administration, Samadzade added.

The original version of the document provided for issuing more than 300 permits, but now its number has dropped to 80, he stressed.

The difference between a permit and a license is that the license is issued permanently and for a specific type of activity, while a permit for a specified period, after which it should be renewed.

Samadzade believes that the law On licenses and permits will have a positive impact on the development of entrepreneurship in the country.

The new law provides for the simplification of procedures and the improvement of the rules for obtaining licenses and permits, including so-called single window system, which means providing licensing procedures at one place. Thus, the issued license will automatically enter in a single register, which will be available for anyone to check for confirmation.

Moreover, the draft law also provides for shortening the licensing period from 15 to 10 days, and granting permission up to 7 days.

Public bodies will provide entrepreneurs with methodological assistance within five days to ensure that entrepreneurs do not spend extra funds and that they are ready to get a license, according to the new law.

Azerbaijan has recently taken a number of steps towards protecting and promoting local entrepreneurship after setting a goal to form economic growth through the non-oil sector in the period up to 2020-2030.

The government began introducing privileges for entrepreneurs under a presidential decree simplifying licensing procedures for entrepreneurship and encouraging business transparency in October 2015.

Under the appropriate amendments, some 22 types of licenses have been canceled following the decree last year.

Now, the government does not demand entrepreneurs to obtain license for such types of business as sale, import and production of alcohol and alcoholic beverages, as well as tobacco goods, international, intercity and long-distance passenger and cargo transportation by motor transport, production, processing and trafficking precious metals and stones.

Moreover, those engaged in sale of petroleum and gas products, travel and auditing activities, hotels and hotel-type facilities, cartographic activities, drawing up strict reporting forms, delivery, processing and sale of non-ferrous metals, industrial and manufacturing waste containing precious metals and stones allowed to work without necessary licensing.

Customs broker and the carrier activities, merchant shipping (passenger and cargo transportation by sea), as well as passenger and cargo air transportation and activities of commodity exchanges do not require obtaining a license in Azerbaijan, as well.

Other businesses allowed to work without necessary licensing include intermediary activity of individuals in employment of Azerbaijans citizens in foreign countries, installation, repair and adjustment of power facilities, activities of non-state pension funds, establishment of customs warehouses and temporary storage warehouses, construction, reconstruction and repair of buildings, structures, premises of fire-fighting system, as well as non-governmental phytosanitary service, including sales and storage of plant protection products and agrochemicals.

With simplification of issuing licenses and permits for business, entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan is expected to get another positive impulse.

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Nazrin Gadimova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @NazrinGadimova

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17 March 2016 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Nazrin Gadimova

Over 100 companies with foreign investments operate in Azerbaijan as of early 2016, reads a report by the countrys Taxes Ministry released on March 16.

Since the beginning of 2016, the ministry registered 25,508 taxpayers, including 23,828 individuals and 1,680 legal entities (114 of which are enterprises with foreign investments), according to the report.

The ministry further said that the foreign-invested companies operating in economys non-oil sector have expanded their interests. Thus, earlier these companies were represented in such spheres as industry, construction and transport, while now they are also engaged in trade, tourism and sphere of services.

Sparkassen Advisory Services and DB International GMBH (both from Germany), General Engineering Services and Supply Company LP and Cieco BTC UK Limited (both from UK), as well as U.S. Trea International Group Inc. are among the new companies operating in the country.

Moreover, such foreign companies as Estonian SKYBUS, Austrian Vega International Car Transport & Logistic-Trading Gesellschaft, French Airbus Ds Geo Sa, Norwegian Qinterra Technologies AS and EPI limited are operating in the country.

The ministry further noted that foreign investors' interest in Azerbaijan following the measures taken to improve business and investment climate and simplify business registration, as well as increased state support for entrepreneurs.

Attraction of foreign investments into the country and increase in the number of large companies with broad financial capabilities contribute to the development of Azerbaijans private sector, the ministry emphasized.

On the background of the worldwide economic fluctuations, Azerbaijans government is keen on diversifying the economy by encouraging local entrepreneurs and attracting foreign investments.

The head of the state has repeatedly stated that business development and the deepening of radical reforms are the priority issues for Azerbaijan at this stage.

Experts believe that one of the key points here is to attract investment. Thus, the head of the state has signed a decree to encourage investment activities, improve business environment, increase industrial production, as well as create a mechanism and normative legal acts related to encouragement of investments.

Thus, the amendments to the Tax Code, approved by the head of state on February 16, provide for tax benefits to legal and physical entities engaged in investment activities. Following the amendments, the entrepreneurs will get the relevant document, granting them with tax and customs privileges.

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Nazrin Gadimova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @NazrinGadimova

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16 March 2016 13:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

The International Mugham Center in Baku has hosted another event in the framework of the From the regions to the capital project, which familiarizes residents and guests of Baku with the beauties of the countrys regions.

This time the event was dedicated to Shusha, a homeland to a great number of Azerbaijani poets, architects, musicians and other people of culture, as well as historical figures and generals.

Organized by the Baku Culture and Tourism Department, the Shusha Culture and Tourism Department and supported by the Shusha Executive Power, the event feautred ancient and rich culture and traditions of this region.

Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfaz Garayev , addressing the event, voiced the importance of holding the event devoted to Shusha in the Mugham Center, as this region is known as the cradle of Azerbaijani music and made an invaluable contribution to the national music. Shusha is particularly renowned for this art, as its residents preserved historical traditions of Mugams, vocal and instrumental compositions.

Shusha is also well known for its ancient carpet-weaving, as Karabakh's rugs increased the fame of Azerbaijan carpet school in many countries of the world.

Unfortunately, following the groundless territorial claims by Armenia and the Karabakh War, Shusha was occupied by Armenian aggressors on 8 May 1992. The entire cultural heritage which was not evacuated was either looted, destroyed or pillaged by the Armenians during the occupation.

Touching upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the minister expressed confidence that the problem will be solved within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

The fall of Shusha came as the last stage of Armenia's military occupation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region - part of Azerbaijan's historical and internationally recognized territory.

The Armenian militaries killed 195 civilians during the occupation of the city. Some 165 people were wounded and over 22,000 were displaced as the result of this brutal campaign. The fate of an estimated 68 Azerbaijani nationals remains unknown to this day after they were taken hostage by Armenian troops.

Speaking about the ancient history of Karabakh, Head of Shusha Executive Power Bayram Safarov stressed the importance of the event that allows to get acquainted with the culture and art of Shusha.

Whether in the fields of music, arts, architecture, literature or other, Shusha was a jewel of Azerbaijan, a source of pride and cultural center.

Ancient Shusha was founded by famous Azerbaijani Khan Panahali in the middle of the 18th century on the highest site of the Karabakh province. The city was also called Panahabad in honor of its founder, Khan.



Shusha was built as a castle with a unique infrastructure, on a rare geographic position. The oxygen-rich air was sparse and ultimately beautiful. Shusha's strategic and geographic position turned it into a political, economic and cultural hub since its very establishment. Many castles, mosques, palaces and cultural centers were built during the reigns of Panahali Khan and his son Ibrahim Khalil Khan in Karabakh Khanate.

Azerbaijan's culture suffered a huge blow with Shusha's occupation. Armenian invaders pillaged and looted 8 museums, 31 libraries, 17 cultural clubs and 8 culture houses in the region. A total of 279 religious and 104 historical and cultural monuments were destroyed in Shusha during and after the occupation.

The Gala walls, Ganja gates, the Castle of Panahkhan, the Library of Panahkhan, Govharaga mosque, Saatly mosque, the Castle of Agabeyim Aga, Caravanserai, the Khan Palace, as well as the Khan Cave, the Gakhal Cave, and Shusha Castle were looted recklessly by Armenian troops.

The subsequent pillage of the Shusha museum - with its 5,000 exhibits, was in fact the deliberate annihilation of Karabakh's 250-year-long history by Armenia.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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16 March 2016 18:23 (UTC+04:00)

By Gulgiz Dadashova

OPEC and non-OPEC producers will meet in Qatars Doha on April 17 in a bid to stabilize falling crude prices.

Qatari Energy Minister Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, who is also the current OPEC president, announced about the meeting on March 16.

"This comes as a follow-up to the meeting that was held last month in Doha between Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Venezuela at which they proposed an accord to freeze oil output at January 2016 levels and called on other producers to do so," the minister said in a statement.

He further added that to date, around 15 OPEC and non-OPEC producers, accounting for about 73 percent of global oil output, are supporting this initiative.

A plunge in oil prices since mid 2014 is straining the budgets of major oil producers, as Russia and Saudi Arabia which have previously resisted tempering the output were the first to support Venezuelas initiative to support the prices.

Although Saudi Arabia still enjoys $600 billion in financial reserves, the low price of oil has pushed it to make budget-cutting moves.

In Russia, oil and gas taxes make up about 50 percent of the state budget. Although Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev claimed that the economy shows a high adaptability to the oil shocks, he warned that the country must be prepared to live with oil prices of $40-$50 for years.

However, whether the oil freeze plan actually goes anywhere, or is just a tool to encourage markets is a topic of discussions, as the initiators of oil freeze deal announced they would proceed only if others commit.

Brent Crude oil prices initially surged above $35.50 a barrel on discussion of a deal. But the details prompted a drop in prices below $33.

Later, the prices recovered again reaching even the mark of $40. But, the prices once again fell on March 16. The cost of the US Light crude oil decreased $0.19 to stand at $36.26, while the Brent crude traded at $39.12.

Russian energy minister Alexander Novaks statement in Tehran on March 14 put pressure on oil prices, as he noted that Iran could be excluded from a freeze deal to allow it to increase its crude production after Western sanctions over its nuclear program.

Iran pumped out 3.1 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude in February, up from 2.9 million in January, according to OPEC's monthly report released on Monday. It pumped 4.0 million bpd before sanctions were imposed.

Overall production by the 13-nation cartel fell by 175,000 barrels per day in February to an average of 32.28 million bpd, largely because of a steep drop in Iraqi output and smaller falls in Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates, the report said. Supplies from producers outside the Cartel also fell by 40,000 barrels a day in February.

Even a deal represents a step forward, some experts voice that it will be a somewhat symbolic one. They say the market requires serious production cuts, but countries are not willing to cut, which can result in lost of a market share, which might be hard to win back.

The share of OPEC crude oil in total global production decreased slightly to 33.7 percent in February compared with the previous month. OPEC assures that global oil demand, which saw a spectacular growth last year, will grow by 1.25 million barrels a day in 2016.

Although the rare cooperation between major oil producers is seen as economic weakness, with prices falling about 70 percent in the last 18 months everyone seeks to see the global oil glut to ease. So, the next step in the process will be rallying support and ensuring that all are on board for higher prices.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijans Energy Ministry reported that the country has not yet received an invitation to join the meeting

"If the invitation is received, we will consider it," the ministry told Trend.

Earlier a senior OPEC delegate said Saudi Arabia, Russia, Venezuela and Qatar hoped to persuade Iran, Iraq, Oman, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Mexico and other producers within and outside OPEC to join them in freezing crude.

Although Azerbaijan's share in global oil production is negligible and does not affect the formation of prices, SOCAR president Rovnag Abdullayev said the country is going to freeze oil production in 2016 at the level of 2015.

In 2015, Azerbaijan produced about 0.8 million barrels of oil a day, while the global output level hit 95.71 million barrels per day.

Last year, Azerbaijan produced 41.6 million tons of oil against forecasted 40.7 million tons, and exported 38.1 million tons of oil to world markets.

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Follow Gulgiz Dadashova on Twitter: @GulgizD

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16 March 2016 10:39 (UTC+04:00)

At a meeting in Tehran, members of the Iran-Russia Joint Chamber of Commerce considered the plans to facilitate banking ties, visa requirements and increasing the number of flights between the two countries.

Expressing his dissatisfaction with the low level of trade turnover between Iran and Russia, Asadollah Asgaroladi, a member of the Iran-Russia Joint Chamber of Commerce, said Tehran and Moscow faced several hurdles for the expansion of trade ties, Fars news agency reported March 15.

Asgaroladi made the remarks at a meeting between the Irans Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture and Russias Ural Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Tehran.

He added that some problems in transportation, particularly in aviation and issuing visas, have already been cleared, but there are still problems with customs tariffs and money transactions.

According to Asgaroladi, the volume of trade turnover between Iran and Russia currently stands at $2 billion, while the volume of trade turnover between the Islamic Republic and China is $40 billion.

During the meeting, Qadir Ghiafeh, another member of the Iran-Russia Joint Chamber, said traders will obtain visas within three days after receiving a recommendation from the Chamber.

Ghiafeh added that a number of Iranian bankers have paid a visit to Russia over the past week to discuss facilitating banking ties.

Iran and Russia have also agreed to establish or increase the number of existing regular flights from Iran to the Russian cities of Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Sochi, with an aim to facilitate trips, as well as increase the trade turnover between the two countries.

The sides are also considering a plan to launch a direct flight per week to Russias Astrakhan as of late March.

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16 March 2016 14:29 (UTC+04:00)

Germany has urged its citizens to leave Turkey due to the threat of new terrorist attacks in this country, the German embassy in Turkey announced.

Earlier, Germanys Federal Foreign Office urged the countrys citizens not to travel to Turkey, and recommended the countrys citizens, who are currently in Turkey, to avoid crowded places.

Turkish police have recently warned that the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist group plans to commit a series of terror attacks in the countrys large cities from March 20 to March 30.

A car bomb exploded in Ankara on March 13, near a crowded bus stop. The explosion killed as many as 37 people, 125 more got injured.



Preliminary reports said the two suicide bombers, one male and one female triggered the explosive device, while in the car. According to reports, the mentioned car was hijacked Feb. 10 in the Turkish south-eastern province of Sanliurfa.

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16 March 2016 15:37 (UTC+04:00)

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has dismissed that the country's missile-launching activity threatens neighboring counties.



We have no plan to attack any neighboring country and Irans missile activity only have defense purposes, Fars news agency quoted the president as saying on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting this morning.



He slammed the critics of Irans missile activity and those who urged the UN Security Council to probe into the countrys recent missile launches and said Iranians hate tensions.



He further expressed hope that with the contribution of the Islamic Republic, the peace, stability and security will be established in the region and the hostile countries will give up violence.



Earlier on March 12, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the world powers to take "immediate punitive steps" against Iran, following its ballistic missile tests last week.



On March 9, Irans test-fired several ballistic missiles from several bases across the country as part of a recent massive missile drills.



While a couple of Western and regional states claims the recent tests have violated a UN resolution, Iranian officials have constantly reiterated that Tehran's ballistic missile tests do not violate the nuclear agreement it reached with the P5+1 group of countries and are not in breach of a United Nations Security Council resolution.

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16 March 2016 16:24 (UTC+04:00)

Belarusian envoy to Turkmenistan Oleg Tabanyuhov held a series of meetings in Ashgabat with the representatives of the countrys Cabinet of Ministers.

The cooperation between the two countries on a wide range of issues in the spheres of trade, industry, agriculture, construction, science, education and culture were discussed during the meetings, said the embassy of Belarus.

The parties stressed the strategic nature of bilateral cooperation and the significant potential for its intensive development, confirmed their interest in further expansion of cooperation in all these areas, according to the embassy.

The construction of Garlyk mining and processing enterprise in Turkmenistans Lebap region, where rich deposits of potassium salts located, is one of the main projects in the economic partnership between the two countries.

It was earlier reported that the enterprise is built by Belarusian Belgorkhimprom JSC and its capacity is 1.4 million tons of mineral fertilizers per year.

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       3.0 (      -       -         ): editor [at] bahrainmirror.com
10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW: Todays guide to the obscure, the possibly relevant and things in between
Finsbury Food Group has reported a 91% growth in its H1 UK bakery operating profit, from 3.8m to 7.2m.

In the figures for the 26 weeks ended 26 December 2015, it also revealed UK bakery revenue jumped 49% from 96.3m to 143.2m and like-for-like (LFL) sales were up 6.1%.

The company claimed success in both the cake, and bread & morning goods markets. It said revenue growth in the cake sector had been driven by a successful Christmas trading period and the success of such products as the Minions licensed celebration cake. Meanwhile, it said a focus on niche bread and morning goods helped defy a general value decline of -1.5% in that sector.

Finsbury Foods has been strengthened in recent years by the acquisition of Fletchers Bakeries in the autumn of 2014, and Johnstones Food Service in the summer of last year. The company said that Fletchers had expanded bread and morning good opportunities by bringing in new foodservice and retail customers, while Johnstones had allowed the company to move into the coffee shop market, an area it previously had little exposure to.

foreign sales

Foreign sales, primarily formed of the import of British baked goods into France, also saw growth, up 19% from 11.3m to 13.4m.

John Duffy, chief executive of Finsbury Food Group, said: We are very pleased to once again be reporting a strong first-half performance, with our organic growth being supplemented by the acquisition of Fletchers and Johnstones. Alongside this growth, our capital investment strategy, together with our continued efficiency programme, has resulted in improved operating margins.

Despite operating in a challenging market, we have created a group that is well-positioned to flourish in an improving environment and we look forward to benefiting from increased consumer confidence. Having built solid foundations and implemented a robust growth strategy that aims to create sustainable value for our stakeholders, we look forward to driving further growth both organically and through strategic M&A.
A rise in the number of businesses able to access Small Business Rate Relief, and a tax on sugary drinks, were among key commitments set out by the Chancellor, George Osborne.

British Baker picks out the key points for the bakery sector:

Small Business Rate Relief

Osborne announced a rise in the Small Business Rate Relief threshold, to allow more businesses to become eligible. From April next year, businesses with a rateable value of up to 15,000 will be able to apply for 100% relief, up from the current threshold of less than 6,000.

The higher-rate threshold, which allows businesses to have their rates assessed with the small business multiplier, will also be raised from 18,000 to 51,000.

Osborne said: Let me explain to the House what this means. From April next year, 600,000 small businesses will pay no business rates at all. Thats an annual saving for them of up to nearly 6,000  forever.

A further quarter of a million businesses will see their rates cut. In total, half of all British properties will see their business rates fall, or be abolished altogether.

Osborne said the move was to allow small businesses to compete better with online retailers, such as eBay and Amazon.

Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said: "Businesses will welcome the Chancellors permanent reforms to business rates  taking more small firms out of the regime and changing the uprating mechanism from RPI to CPI, which the CBI has long been calling for."

Sugar Tax

The Chancellor responded to calls for a sugar tax to tackle childhood obesity, by promising a tax on sugary drinks.

The tax will be levied in two bands, one for drinks with a sugar content of over 5 grams per 100 millilitres, and a higher band for those exceeding 8 grams per 100 millilitres.

It will not come into force for two years, to allow manufacturers time to adjust their product mix, and will not apply to pure fruit juice or milk-based drinks.

However, Osborne expressed no intention to extend the levy to cover the bakery or confectionery sectors, which will come as a relief to many in the industry.

He said: Some may choose to pass the price on to consumers, and that will be their decision, and this would have an impact on consumption too. We understand that tax affects behaviour. So lets tax the things we want to reduce, not the things we want to encourage.

Ian Wright, director general of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), responded negatively to the move, saying: We are extremely disappointed by todays announcement of a new tax on some of the UKs most successful and innovative companies. For nearly a year we have waited for an holistic strategy to tackle obesity. What weve got today instead is a piece of political theatre.

The imposition of this tax will, sadly, result in less innovation and product reformulation and, for some manufacturers, is certain to cost jobs. Nor will it make a difference to obesity. Many of those singled out today by the Chancellor have been at the forefront of efforts to provide consumers with healthy choices. The industry will now ask whether such efforts are still affordable.

Corporation Tax

The Chancellor announced further cuts to the UK rate of corporation tax, committing to reduce it from 20% at the start of the current parliament to 17% by April 2020. He said the reduction would be paid-for reforms to how multinational companies pay tax, closing loopholes to raise an extra 9bn a year.

Fairbairn welcomed the move, saying: "The reduction in the headline corporation tax rate sends out a strong signal that the UK is open for global business investment."

Infrastructure

Osborne promised investment to improve transport in the north of England. In addition to promising upgrades to the west-east A66 and A69 roads, he also committed to finding new money to establish a four-lane M62, a major road connecting Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Hull. He also announced a boost for the northern rail network, greenlighting High Speed 3 (HS3) between Manchester and Leeds.

Further south, London also received attention, with Osborne committing to commission Crossrail 2.

disappointing

Reacting to the budget, Alan Clarke, chief executive of Scottish Bakers, said: "Its disappointing to learn that the economy is not recovering as quickly as the Chancellor predicted. With the Chancellor committed to reducing the deficit, the options that he has to stimulate growth in the economy are more limited.

"It is heartening that there is support for the oil industry, the reduction in oil prices has had a major economic impact on the North East of Scotland. The changes to business is rates is welcomed as is the freeze on fuel duty.

"However the speed with which the National Living Wage has been introduced this year, combined with the mandatory company pension contributions will significantly increase costs for bakers this year and we are highly concerned that this will lead to job losses within the Scottish bakery sector especially within rural areas."
Diego de Jesus Mondragon in Concert at Terra Noble Spa

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - CK Productions of Puerto Vallarta is pleased to announce their second Terra Noble Concert Series Event on Wednesday, March 23rd, at 8 PM, featuring world class performer, Diego de Jesus Mondragon. Known across the globe as one of the finest violinists, Diego will give his Vallarta audience a night of incredible music at the beautiful Terra Noble Spa.

Joining Diego de Jesus Mondragon for this incredible evening of music will be other superb Latin, Spanish and Flamenco Maestros. Featuring two acts and nine accomplished musicians in a variety of genres along with a Flamenco dance piece by Marijose Marana, this is sure to be the CAN'T MISS musical event of the Spring in Vallarta!

Joining Diego will be musicians, Al (Mimi) Ramirez, Jose (Pepe) Galvan, Jesus Estrada, Mike Rodriquez along with Special Guests, Gabriel Reyes, Miguel Salazar and others! The evening will open with guitarist, Gabriel Reyes and percussionist, Miguel Salazar with other extraordinary live performances to follow.

Diego de Jesus Mondragon, as the featured musician of the night, is a world famous violinist. He has played for the presidents of the U.S.A. and Mexico. He has performed across the globe in places like Cuba, Paris, Barcelona, England, Italy and Japan. Born in Mexico City and raised in California from the age of 5, Diego is genuinely bicultural, yet has a deep respect and value for his Mexican, French and Spanish heritage.

Classically trained, Diego played his first solo violin concerto at the age of 10 and later became the first chair in the South Bay Youth Orchestra in San Diego, California. At age 15, he was offered a full scholarship to the Royal British Conservatory in England. Diego's early jazz influences were Herb Albert, Jean-luc Ponty, Joe Venuti, Stephen Grappell and Didier Lockwood.

Diego de Jesus Mondragon is truly an extraordinary musician who is delighted to return to Puerto Vallarta to perform at Terra Noble, in this most spectacular location, right in the heart of PV. The evening will feature hor d'oeuvres by Celebrations Vallarta and a cash bar. State-of-the-art, high quality sound and lighting equipment will be provided by Mussyka Watussy and stage design by Barefoot Design.

This season, CK Productions has offered three incredible, quality performances in their series and they look forward to bringing you more world class, live music in the future. A promotional video for this event can be seen on Youtube.

For information and/or tickets go to Tickets.CK-Prod.com or CK Productions on Facebook. VIP tickets are 750 pesos and general admission tickets are 600 pesos. Seating is limited for this one-time event. Book your tickets early, while they are still available!
'Giselle' Packed the House at ASPV's New Arts Center

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - There was a full house on Sunday, March 13, to celebrate the formal inauguration of the American School of Puerto Vallarta's new Javadpour Arts Center with a performance of Giselle by the Puerto Vallarta Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestra School, and the local ballet academy Arte, Danza y Cultura.

A special thank you to the orchestra director, Daniel Oliveros, and to the academy director Denisse Villasenor. Thank you everyone who came out to share with us this festive occasion, a night in which ASPV's spirit came to life.

We were honored to host our building's primary donor, Mr. Brian Javadpour, for a ribbon-cutting and plaque unveiling ceremony. The center is dedicated to Mr. Gerald Selitzer and Mrs. Kathleen Selitzer for their life-long commitment to education.

May this be the first of many events in which the American School of Puerto Vallarta brings our community closer together through culture and art.
It was a packed room of residents at USF St. Petersburg on Tuesday evening.

People who showed up were encouraged to grab a sticker and vote for their favorite amenities for the St. Pete pier approach project.

Eve Kress has followed the progress of the pier and the pier approach since the very beginning. At the meeting she got to give her input by placing either a green or red sticker on a board of things she likes or dislikes.

I think its very important as long as we keep moving forward, Kress said.

Eric Mathis just moved to this area but he still gets a say at this meeting.

Now living here full time its great to have the opportunity to get a say and to hear from the people who are building it, he said. I havent analyzed it enough. These are more like examples of other areas. We like Canada so we even saw a picture of a location there and I thought that that was really great that theyre looking all over to bring ideas to our community.



This meeting gave residents a better idea of what the pier approach could look like. Coming up on Thursday, the public will have a better idea of what the actual pier will look like.

Mayor Rick Kriseman has already gotten a sneak peak at the piers progress.

Im very pleased. What we said from the beginning was, where we thought we went wrong the first time was we got concerned with the form over the function and now were focusing over the function, Kriseman said.



The pier and the pier approach are separate projects but theyre expected to look as one. Its something the architect for the pier approach project says will make the job that much easier with the help of these citizens.



We need to also get a little more specific about whats going to happen in the pier district so were looking for input on that tonight from the community, said W Architecture and Landscape Founder, Barbara Wilks.



If you couldnt make it to this public meeting there is a way you can still contribute and vote on http://www.newstpetepier.com/.


The Jefferson County District Attorney's Office is expected to drop capital murder charges against two Beaumont men held since 2013, according to the men's attorneys.

Terry Frazier and Terry Euglon were arrested in July 2013.

Both were accused in the death of Aaron Leffage, who was beaten outside of his home in the North End of Beaumont in July 2012. Leffage died two days after the assault.

Ryan Gertz, Frazier's attorney, said a "careful review of phone records and an exhaustive investigation" show the police timeline of events was incorrect and that Frazier was elsewhere at the time of the crime. Gertz said two other people are the more likely perpetrators.

The case was set for trial in the 252nd District Court on March 28.

Gertz and Euglon's attorney, James Makin, said the decision to drop the charges is the correct one.

Prosecutor Rachel Grove said the investigation would be sent back to Beaumont police.

She said key witnesses in the case recanted earlier statements and were no longer cooperating with the the district attorney's ability to prove the case to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.

Grove said she hopes further evidence will allow a case to be brought to court.
Flood water is sloshing onto the closed-down Interstate 10 roadway on the Texas side of the Sabine River bridge, a state highway department spokeswoman said.

The major east-west artery that carries about 62,000 vehicles a day across the river will remain closed until the water recedes and the department has a chance to check for damage, said Sarah Dupre of the Texas Department of Transportation's Beaumont District.

Electronic message signs as far west as El Paso and Odessa warn motorists and truck drivers to head toward Interstate 20 in Northeast Texas if their destination is Louisiana or farther eastward.

Louisiana transportation officials also are directing their westbound interstate traffic to head toward Shreveport, the area of the first devastation by last week's monumental rainfall up and down the Sabine's and Red River's watersheds.

Eighteen inches of rain fell over Toledo Bend Reservoir, which stores 172 feet of water behind its dam for generating hydroelectricity.

It is not a flood control dam. When the level rose past the full level, Toledo Bend's operators, the Sabine River Authority began releasing unprecedented flows from the dam, swamping river communities. The flood reached into the Orange area and began to overtop the interstate today.

Dupre said Interstate 10 eastbound traffic is being diverted to northbound U.S. 69.

Eastbound interstate traffic is accessible to motorists from 11th Street eastbound to Texas 62, about 7.5 miles west of the Sabine.

Vidor residents, for example, who work in Beaumont will be able to drive home on Interstate 10 today.

Local residents who are thinking about using Texas 82 at Pleasure Island to drive across into Louisiana are encouraged to avoid it, but Dupre said it is still open. Its causeway is low to the water so elevated levels in Sabine Lake could threaten it.

Dupre said the highway department is not recommending Texas 82 as an alternate use for interstate traffic because it is unsuitable for it.
Three people were arrested Friday after Beaumont Police officers discovered methamphetamine while searching their vehicle.

Officers attempted to stop a white Toyota SUV at the intersection of Dowlen Road and the Eastex Freeway, according to a release from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. The suspects instead fled, leading police on a pursuit lasting about five minutes. The vehicle stopped at a residence on the 5900 block of Briarcliff Drive.

The driver attempted to flee on foot. The suspect, identified as Christopher Wade Ferrell, 34, climbed over several privacy fences before being located and taken into custody by a Beaumont PD K-9 unit.

The other two suspects, Jessica Hillary Ferrell, 37, of Houston, and Walter Eugene Lewis, 59, of Temple, were taken into custody without further resistance.

Officers found 11 ounces of meth, valued at around $30,000, during a search of the vehicle.

All three suspects were charged with possession of a controlled substance, a first-degree felony.

Christopher Wade Ferrell was also charged with evading arrest, a third-degree felony.

The arrests were part of three-month-long investigation into meth trafficking in Southeast Texas, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
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Parts of Orange and Newton counties are underwater and residents are displaced until early next week in what has been the most significant flooding event in Southeast Texas since Hurricane Ike in 2008, causing the closure of the main interstate at the Texas-Louisiana border.

Water levels had been rising since at least Saturday following last week's rains, but Tuesday marked the first time it seriously impacted residents in many parts of Orange County, said Joe Mires, a public information officer with the Orange County Office of Emergency Management.

Today, floodwaters are expected to continue spreading through downtown Orange, where a mandatory evacuation was ordered Tuesday afternoon. Gov. Greg Abbott will tour the city Wednesday before speaking to media at a 1:45 p.m. press conference.

Despite the dramatic photos and stories from around the region, Orange County has avoided a worse fate because of the coastal swamps southeast of Orange, which had absorbed so much water it swelled to about the same size as Sabine Lake.

Orange County residents close to the Louisiana border on Tuesday were forced to make tough decisions as water continued to rise toward homes - choosing whether to leave their homes behind or risk being stranded in the flood's aftermath.

Officials in Orange County estimated about 2,000 households could be affected by flooding, but that number could grow. Deweyville, a Newton County town with a population of about 1,000, is almost completely under water.

Texas Department of Public Safety officials would not allow entry into Deweyville on Tuesday from Texas 12 near Texas 87, much to the frustration of some residents.Jason Lisle, 38, of Newton County, said 3 feet of water had crept into his home since Sunday morning. Lisle packed his clothes and furniture into an RV, then headed west Friday. He spent Tuesday sending cinder blocks to his 68-year-old father, also in Newton County, where the front yard is flooded and water is slowly reaching the home.

"Water has never been this high," Lisle said. "Nobody thought it would get this high."

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles projects that the Sabine River at Orange won't recede to Tuesday's levels until Sunday morning.

The westbound side of Interstate 10 at the Texas-Louisiana line was closed on Tuesday and could remain that way until Sunday.

Water levels in Orange were six feet above normal and expected to rise to at least 7.5 feet, said Mires, explaining that tidal changes Wednesday and rain forecasted for Thursday both had the possibility to worsen conditions.

"The rain throws in a whole different equation," he said. "If it sprinkles, no biggie. If it comes in like this did, it's going to add problems, water on top of what we've already got."

Richard Cook, 77, of Orange, planned to wait out the flood on the second floor of his two-story home as the National Guard and a volunteer firefighter task force went door-to-door on Tuesday encouraging residents to leave. Cook said this is the highest he has seen the water since 1954, when a grocery store at 2nd Street and West Turrett Avenue flooded.

"I'm a little concerned, but many of these things can be replaced," Cook said. "We're just trying to protect life and limb."

Debra Watts, an Orange native who now lives in Port Neches, helped get her 73-year-old aunt out of a home at Interstate 10 and 10th Street, where there has been extreme flooding.

"There's no way to even get to her house to assess the damage at this point," Watts said.

Jerry Jones, city manager of Bridge City, said he's not anticipating widespread flooding in his city, even with the expected rise in water levels.

"The only place we have water is the edge of (Cow) Bayou," Jones said. "Even with a couple more feet they're talking about, maybe (we'll have) localized flooding in the low-lying areas. That's the only thing we can see."

BScott@BeaumontEnterprise.com

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Reporters Dan Wallach and St. John Barned-Smith contributed to this article
The distance between Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn reservoirs is about 25 miles in a straight line, but in last week's deluge, it made a significant difference - as much as the difference in the operations of the two lakes.

Rayburn is a flood control impoundment of water. Toledo Bend is not a flood control lake. Toledo Bend exists to generate hydroelectricity.

Rayburn didn't get anywhere near the rain intensity that fell over the Toledo Bend area, which was 18 inches of rain within a two-day storm.

However, Rayburn operates on different rules from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the spillways and retains flood water until there is capacity downstream to take it.

A river gauge at Evadale indicates how much release Rayburn can make, said Scott Hall, general manager of the Lower Neches Valley Authority. The gauge cannot exceed 20,000 cubic feet per second or else the Neches River would jump its banks, causing a flood.

Rayburn can keep water backed up safely. Its full conservation pool - the level at which the lake can meet all needs for two years without additional inflow of water - is 164.4 feet.

As of today, the flood pool is more than 5 feet above the conservation pool.

Hall said it will take between 20 and 30 days to control the release to settle back down to 164.4 feet.

Toledo Bend's full pool is 172 feet above sea level.

The sudden inflow of flood water from the upper Sabine River pushed the lake level at least 5 feet above that and the Sabine River Authority ordered its spillway gates opened to let it out as quickly as it was coming in.

That's what caused the lower Sabine to engulf its downstream communities.

Hall said the height of the Toledo Bend release was about 400,000 acre-feet of water per day.

The water volume of Sabine Lake, which forms at the confluence of the Neches and Sabine rivers, is 300,000 acre-feet.

That means the amount of water washing into Sabine Lake was enough to change the entire lake in 16 hours.

The flip side of Toledo Bend's massive release could be seen during the extended drought of 2011, Hall said.

That was when Rayburn reached its lowest historical level at 150 feet.

"There was still plenty of water available in Toledo Bend," he said.
ROAD CLOSURES

ORANGE COUNTY

-Eastbound Interstate 10 in Orange County has been ordered closed to all traffic. Traffic will be diverted at Hwy. 62 in Orange County. In Jefferson County traffic will be diverted at U.S. Hwy 69/96/287. With this closure, all lanes of the interstate are closed at Hwy 62. It is unknown at this time the time frame for the reopening of the interstate.

-The underpass of 16th St. and IH-10 is closed due to high water. Motorists are advised to take FM 3247 as an alternate route of travel.

- IH 10 eastbound from SH 62 to the state line is closed

-FM 3247 from SH 87 east to W Bluff Rd is closed

- FM 736 closed

-BU 90/ Simmons Dr. from 14th St to IH 10 closed

-IH 10 frontage road/ turnaround at Baird's Bayou closed

-SH 87 at Church St has water over road

-FM 1130 at Cherokee Trails closed

- SH 87 underpass & turnarounds at IH 10 is closed

- SH 87 at Barkins has water over the road

-The Travel Information Center @ IH10 westbound is also closed

JEFFERSON COUNTY

-Eastbound lanes of IH-10 diverted in Beaumont. Orange County residents will still be able to travel between Orange County and Beaumont. TxDot will be diverting traffic, but Beaumont access ramps will be open. You will not have to show ID. Purpose of diversion is to keep traffic out of flooded area of IH10 eastbound near Tx/La state line. If you have not been evacuated and your roads to your homes are not flooded, you can go home.

NEWTON COUNTY

-Drivers can not access Louisiana by SH 63 or SH 12.

- FM2829 closed

- Spur 272 closed

- SH 12 from SH 87 to the state line is closed

- FM 2460 closed due to high water and damage

- FM 253 from 87 to CR 4117 closed

- SH 63 from FM 692 - the state line is closed due to damage and debris

- FM 1416 closed

- FM 2626 from US 190 to SH87 is closed due to damage from flooding.

- FM 1414 closed due to damage

SHELTERS

-North Orange Baptist Church will no longer be used as shelter. The Montagne Center, 4400 MLK Pkwy, Beaumont, is open and accepting evacuees at this time. Community Church, 3400 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive has been opened for staging of evacuees needing transportation to The Montagne Center. Transportation will be provided from Community Church to The Montagne Center.
In a healthcare landscape trending toward the outpatient setting, Evalyn Cole supports physicians who want independence and patients who seek quality care at low costs.

"I think a strong administrator is one who leads and does not drive," says Ms. Cole, administrator of Spine Surgery Center of Eugene (Ore.) and CEO of KeiperSpine in Eugene, Ore. "Leading and mentoring and being a person with an open door encourages [the staff] to grow as people and become more team-oriented."

Supported by a skilled administrator, a physician group proves capable of operating an ASC on their own. That's Evalyn Cole's take, at least.

"Physicians need a strong administrator so that they can run the center on their own without the involvement of a corporate partner," says Ms. Cole. "The corporate partner takes away some of their choice."

Ms. Cole has traveled around Oregon helping physician groups design, construct and open their centers. Her passion rests in helping physicians "figure out a way to do this on their own."

"Oregon was a real virgin demographic area for surgery centers," says Ms. Cole, noting her first surgery center in Salem was only the 25th center in the state. In Salem, she negotiated contracts for a group of 22 orthopedic surgeons.

During her first surgery center experience, Ms. Cole realized her healthcare career would benefit from a Master's degree. She wrote her thesis about the inception of an ASC, titling the project, "Designing, Developing, and Deploying An Ambulatory Surgery Center."

"My thesis was done in 2000, when 61 percent of all procedures were done in the outpatient setting," explains Ms. Cole. Today, that number soars to about 75 percent of procedures, and Ms. Cole expects the shift toward the outpatient setting to continue.

After building eight more centers in the state, Ms. Cole took on her current administrator role in Eugene in 2007. As an administrator, she not only helps physicians flourish, but also meets patients' needs. She hopes to impress upon patients the importance of personal health, and believes the industry would benefit from more education on healthier lifestyles.

"I've always been a problem solver and find a way to make what we do understandable and acceptable to patients," says Ms. Cole. "I've always had a passion for saving money and finding creative ways to do things in an economical way."

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Most Americans think CEO compensation is a problem  but they don't even realize the half of it.

A study from Stanford (Calif.) University's Rock Center for Corporate Governance indicates Americans vastly underestimate how much CEOs at the largest publicly traded organizations earn  yet they still think it's too much.

"There is a clear sense among the American public that CEOs are taking home much more in compensation than they deserve," said David Larcker, PhD, an author of the study and professor of accounting at Stanford Graduate School of Business. "While we find that members of the public are not particularly knowledgeable about how much CEOs actually make in annual pay, there is a general sense of outrage fueled in part by the political environment."

The survey polled a representative sample of 1,202 individuals on CEO pay levels among Fortune 500 companies, and the results showed a large disconnect between perception and reality. When asked how much they believed CEOs make, the median response was $1 million and the average response was $9.3 million. In reality, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies make a median of $10.3 million and an average of $12.2 million, according to the study.

Even while estimating lower compensation, 74 percent of respondents said they believe the CEO to worker pay ratio is not what it should be. About two-thirds felt CEO pay should be capped relative to worker pay, though this opinion was slightly less popular among Republicans than Democrats and Independents.

"CEO compensation figures are much higher than the public is aware of," Dr. Larcker said in the study. "In many parts of the country, it is incomprehensible that anyone can earn this much money. It is understandable that any limit on CEO pay would be low for most citizens."

While most Americans polled agree CEO pay is an issue, they disagree on solutions. About half believe the government should get involved, but ideas of how this should happen vary widely. Opinions are split between increasing taxes on CEO compensation, setting a dollar limit on CEO pay, setting a dollar limit on CEO pay compared to employee pay, banning stock options in compensation contracts, banning equity compensation and requiring compensation to be more performance-based.

Companies should make it more clear how CEO pay is tied to performance, according to author Nicholas Donatiello, president and CEO of Odyssey and a Stanford lecturer. The study shows the median respondent believes, in a hypothetical situation where a company's value grows $100 million, the CEO should receive 0.5 percent as compensation.

"Either the public is not sold on the idea that CEOs should share in value creation to the extent that they do, or they do not believe that CEOs play an important role in value creation," Mr. Donatiello said in the study.

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Which medical profession is the highest paying job in the US?

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Reduced Medicaid reimbursement and increased net taxes are pushing Connecticut's independent hospitals to join larger systems, but these hospitals are left with few options due to new restrictions on health system growth in the state, according to The Connecticut Mirror.

Over the past five years, the net taxes Connecticut hospitals pay have jumped by nearly $400 million. At the same time, the state has cut Medicaid reimbursement for certain services. Adding to hospitals' financial strain, Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration delayed approximately $140 million in payments to the state's acute care hospitals in early March.

To ease financial pressure, some independent hospitals in the state are interested in partnering with larger systems. However, those plans were put to rest in February, when Gov. Malloy issued an executive order instructing the Connecticut Department of Public Health to push back final decisions on big hospital deals until 2017.

"It's the proverbial rock and hard place, particularly for us as a small community hospital," Brian Mattiello, vice president for organizational development at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, Conn., told The Connecticut Mirror. Charlotte Hungerford announced it had taken the first step toward affiliating with Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare just hours before Gov. Malloy issued the executive order.

Hospital leaders in the state are upset by the uncertainty in the Connecticut healthcare market.

"The state can't have it both ways," William Stanley, vice president for development and community relations at New London, Conn.-based Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, told The Connecticut Mirror. "You can't continue to cut hundreds of millions in Medicaid reimbursement, withhold federal payments to the hospitals that are supposed to come as a result of the hospital tax, and then expect there not to be any repercussions at the other end. It's just mathematically impossible."

The proposed affiliation between Lawrence + Memorial Hospital and Yale-New Haven (Conn.) Health System is delayed until 2017 under Gov. Malloy's order.

Hospital leaders are now exploring how to move forward. Charlotte Hungerford hopes to get an exemption to the executive order, while Yale-New Haven Health System is "continuing to look at all options in play," and reviewing all legal and legislative options, a spokesman for the system told The Connecticut Mirror.

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Franciscan St. James Health, part of Mishawaka, Ind.-based Franciscan Health Alliance, is experiencing a setback in its plans to restructure hospital operations in its Chicago Heights and Olympia Fields locations following an initial state review, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The Catholic health system wants to close its hospital in Chicago Heights and relocate services to its Olympia Fields facility, roughly five miles away. To accommodate the shift of patients from Chicago Heights to Olympia Fields, Franciscan St. James Health proposed plans to renovate and add 56 beds to the latter facility, which would cost $114.6 million.

However, an initial state examination of the plans by the staff of the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board found more hospital beds aren't needed in Olympia Fields or its surrounding communities, even with the closing of the Chicago Heights hospital. The board members found the renovation and expansion plans for the Olympia Fields hospital didn't meet seven state standards, including ones regarding the duplication of services, according to the report. The nine-member state board will vote on the restructuring plans March 29.

The mayors of Chicago Heights and other nearby suburbs oppose Franciscan St. James Health's plans because they fear closing the Chicago Heights hospital and losing its emergency room will negatively impact the community's public health, especially those who are uninsured or underinsured, according to the report. The health system said it would expand the ER, add beds to the medical-surgical and intensive care units and build obstetrics and rehabilitation departments in Olympia Fields to mitigate the effects of losing the ER in Chicago Heights.

The health system needs the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board to approve its plans to expand the Olympia Fields hospital. However, according to the Chicago Tribune, the board can't stop Franciscan St. James Health from closing the Chicago Heights hospital since Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation last summer removing the board's authority to review and decide on the discontinuation of healthcare services in Illinois.
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has released its March 2016 report on Medicare payment policy to Congress, in which it makes fee-for-service payment rate recommendations and gives a status report on the Medicare Advantage and Part D drug programs.

Here are eight key Medicare issues from MedPAC's March report.

1. MedPAC recommended Congress direct HHS to increase acute care hospital inpatient and outpatient payments in 2017 by the amount specified in current law, 1.75 percent.

2. MedPAC recommended a 0.5 percent payment rate increase for physician and other health professional services, an update called for in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. MACRA, which repealed the sustainable growth rate formula, provides for a 0.5 percent increase in Medicare physician fee schedule rates through 2019.

3. The commission believes ambulatory surgery center payment rates should not be increased for 2017, and the base payment rate should be the same as in 2016. MedPAC also called for Congress to require ASCs to submit cost data.

4. The commission recommended Congress direct HHS to reduce the price Medicare pays for separately payable 340B drugs by 10 percent of the average sales price. The $300 million saved by reducing the rates would be redirected into the Medicare-funded uncompensated care pool.

5. Regarding Medicare Advantage, MedPAC recommended the cap on benchmark amounts in certain counties be eliminated.

6. A Medicare Advantage plan's payment is set by comparing its cost when bidding to serve a specific region with the benchmark, or the maximum amount Medicare will pay a plan. Certain counties are subject to caps, which constrain annual growth for benchmarks and penalize plans that exceed the cap. MedPAC said the caps "create inequity among MA plans."

7. The commission also recommended Congress eliminate the doubling of the quality increases for Medicare Advantage plans in specified counties.

8. Since 2012, Medicare Advantage plan payments have been tied to star ratings, which allow plans to obtain quality incentive payments. Contracts in counties with certain demographic factors are eligible for double quality bonuses, giving plans in those counties bonuses twice that of plans with identical quality performance that are in non-double-bonus counties. To qualify for double bonuses, counties must be part of a metropolitan statistical area that has total population above 250,000 and have Medicare Advantage penetration of 25 percent. Average spending on behalf of fee-for-service beneficiaries in that jurisdiction must also be less than the national average for fee-for-service spending. Like the benchmark caps, double bonuses are a source of inequity among Medicare Advantage plans, according to MedPAC.

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Proposed legislation in Michigan would require hospitals to make their chargemasters publicly available, according to Michigan Radio.

Sen. Joe Hune (R-Hamburg) introduced the bill to increase price transparency. However, some argue that chargemaster prices will be confusing for consumers, as the figure reflects the hospital's charge but not the price negotiated by insurance companies or reduced prices for low-income patients.

David Finkbeiner, senior vice president for advocacy at the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, said chargemasters only show what the hospital charges, not what a patient will pay out of pocket, which varies by insurance plan.

"If this is what the Legislature chooses to enact, we are not opposing the bill," said Mr. Finkbeiner. "The question is: If the goal is to help patients better understand the cost of their healthcare, we're not convinced that this is the mechanism that's going to do that."

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A pending $13.5 million sale to a boutique hotel operator based in Davis, Calif., might give a new use to Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo, Calif., which has been vacant since it closed last year, according to the Richmond Confidential.

The West Contra Costa Healthcare district board, which owns the hospital, accepted Royal Guest Hotels' offer to buy the facility in January. The deal is likely to close within the next four months, according to the report.

Doctors Medical Center, which stopped seeing patients in April of 2015, cited financial struggles due to low reimbursement rates for Medi-Cal and Medicare patients as its primary reason for ceasing operations.

The healthcare district's board hopes selling the hospital property to Royal Guest Hotels will help the district begin to alleviate its $20 million budget deficit. The district expects to receive an additional $725,000 from selling its medical equipment, landing it at a total of $14.2 million toward paying off its debt, according to the report. Continued earnings from property taxes and a 2004 parcel tax will help the healthcare district pay back the rest of the debt.

The sale of the Doctors Medical Center property and equipment would also help cover financial obligations to former hospital employees, such as unemployment insurance, pensions, retiree healthcare benefits and workers' compensation, Eric Zell, chair of the West Contra Costa Healthcare district's board of directors, told the Richmond Confidential. The district has approximately $15 million in employee-related expenses. It is also responsible for storing the medical records of all the patients cared for during its 50 years of operation, which is estimated to cost $425,000 in 2016, according to the report.
Thousands of cyberattacks  some successful and others detected and prevented  are carried out everyday across every industry. In the digital world of healthcare, vulnerability to such attacks is greater than ever. During the American College of Healthcare Executive's 2016 Congress on Healthcare Leadership, Russell Branzell, president and CEO of the College of Healthcare Information Management, outlined key cybersecurity concepts for healthcare leaders to know.

Here are five takeaways from Mr. Branzell's presentation.

1. Why healthcare is a prime target for cyberattacks. The medical information compromised during a cyberattack commands a high value on the black market. "A financial identity can be worth anywhere from $1 to $3," said Mr. Branzell. "A medical identity can be sold for $7 to $10. Healthcare is ground zero for cyberattacks."

Additionally, a medical identity, once stolen, has the potential to be used for years before the perpetrators are caught. The value of medical data, coupled with healthcare's tendency to overlook the importance of cybersecurity, makes the industry ripe for these attacks.

2. The main threats. The faces behind cyberattacks can belong to anyone. "They aren't coming to the front door with a gun and saying 'I am going to rob you.' They are far smarter than that," said Mr. Branzell. The main threat actors include:

 Organized crime groups

 Hacktivists

 Cyberthieves

 Malicious insiders

 Careless insiders

 Busy insiders

 State actors

While financial gain is the most obvious motivation behind healthcare data breaches, the end-game can range from identity theft and embarrassment to espionage and extortion.

3. Top healthcare security risks. While high profile cyberattacks may garner the lion's share of media attention, there are number of other significant security risks in healthcare. Theft, fraud and loss of medical data cost billions of dollars each year, and nearly 15 percent of all documented attacks are carried out by insiders, according to Mr. Branzell. Additionally, many hospitals and health systems become vulnerable to attack due to unintentional errors made by insiders.

Healthcare employees accidentally leave laptops unattended, only to find they are stolen. Organizations may not have an accurate inventory of all the devices storing protected health information. Risk expands beyond a hospital's own walls and network, as well. Vendors have access to healthcare data, but are they held to the same security standards?

Nearly everything in healthcare is connected to a network, including medical devices, and these devices are particularly vulnerable to breaches. "Medical devices can easily be hacked into," he said. "[This] may be the most critical weakness in your health system."

Attacks come in many forms  spear phishing, trojans and malvertising being some of the most common  but regardless of the mode, healthcare's defenses are not keeping pace. "We are never going to get ahead of the bad guys. We are just trying to shorten the gap," said Mr. Branzell.

4. Barriers to security measures adoption. Effective cybersecurity is complex and expensive. The major barriers healthcare providers face when working to adopt and maintain security practices include:

 Volume and expanding types of threats

 Too many software applications, devices and network touch points

 Lack of qualified personnel

 Lack of financial resources

 Lack of cyberthreat intelligence

 Lack of effective tools

Additionally, the CISO position, entirely dedicated to security, is still underutilized in healthcare. Even healthcare organizations that do have CISOs face budgetary issues. "Even if you have the smartest CISO, you are probably underfunding [him or her]," said Mr. Branzell.

5. Minimizing risk. While it is no longer a question of if a breach will happen, but a question of when, there are ways to reduce the risk. Here are eight actions healthcare providers can take, according to Mr. Branzell:

 Increase awareness of major threats

 Implement data exfiltration controls

 Enhance user education and accountability

 Put in place vendor security management

 Implement risk assessment and management programs

 Improve detection and reaction capabilities

 Manage long-term challenges around medical devices

 Plan ahead for possible incidents
Ruth Attaway's 7-month stint as administrator and CEO of Blountstown, Fla.-based Calhoun Liberty Hospital has come to an end, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

As of Monday, Louisville, Ky.-based Alliant Management Services took over daily operations of Calhoun Liberty, and Alliant CEO James Heitzenrater began serving as the hospital's interim CEO.

Ms. Attaway will now become chairman of the hospital's board.

"I feel like I was put in this position for a purpose, and that purpose was to save our hospital," Ms. Attaway told the Tallahassee Democrat. "Now that we're moving in the right direction, this company and Mr. Heitzenrater will be able to carry through with that mission, and I am excited about this new position of leadership for our board of directors."

Although he's the temporary CEO for now, Mr. Heitzenrater told the Tallahassee Democrat he is interested in taking a permanent position as the hospital's leader. Mr. Heitzenrater has served as a hospital administrator since 1991.

The leadership shakeup at Calhoun Liberty comes three days after Ms. Attaway fired two nurses and a paramedic for the way they handled the case of Barbara Dawson, a 57-year-old woman who died after being forcibly removed from the hospital by police last December.

In the wake of Ms. Dawson's death, Calhoun Liberty's public perception was further damaged when its former CFO sued the hospital's board for doing nothing to stop harassment and threats from its former CEO Phillip Hill. Mr. Hill is under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for allegedly defrauding the hospital of more than $1 million over a six-year period.

Calhoun Liberty also faces thousands of dollars in state fines for deficiencies the Agency for Health Care Administration uncoveredin February.

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Kevin J. Sexton, president and CEO of Silver Spring, Md.-based Holy Cross Health, has retired.

Here are seven things to know about Mr. Sexton.

1. He is Holy Cross Health's longest-serving president and CEO.

2. He joined Holy Cross Health in 1998 as president and CEO. At that time he was also president and CEO of the Maryland Region of Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health.

3. During Mr. Sexton's tenure, Holy Cross Health has been designated a "Best Place to Work" by the Maryland Work Life Alliance every year since 1999, and was designated as a "Top Performer on Key Quality Measures" by The Joint Commission, the only hospital in Maryland to receive that designation for 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, according to a news release.

4. Mr. Sexton reorganized Holy Cross Health in anticipation of the 2014 opening of Holy Cross Germantown (Md.) Hospital. Holy Cross Health also recently completed a major expansion at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring and opened its fourth health center in Germantown.

5. Holy Cross Health recognized Mr. Sexton's accomplishments when it named the Kevin J. Sexton Campus of Holy Cross Health last year, and in January 2016, when it named the Kevin J. Sexton Lobby at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital and established the Kevin J. Sexton Fund to Increase Access and Improve Community Health.

6. Previously, Mr. Sexton was senior vice president and director of the healthcare organizations practice of The Lewin Group, a nationally recognized healthcare policy and consulting firm. He has also served as president of MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, and worked in the Health Care Financing Administration.

7. Holy Cross Health and Trinity Health expect to announce Mr. Sexton's successor in April.





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The Department of Veterans Affairs said March 15 it will seek the firing of three top executives of the Phoenix VA Health Care System amid fallout from the hospital's nationwide scandal over long patient wait times and scheduling problems, according to The Arizona Republic.

Here are four things to know about the issue.

1. The VA issued "notices of proposed removal" for Phoenix VA Associate Director Lance Robinson; Darren Deering, MD, the hospital's chief of staff; and Brad Curry, chief of health administration services, according to the report.

2. Deputy VA Secretary Sloan Gibson praised the firings. "Frankly, I am disappointed that it took as long as it did for proposed actions to be made but I am satisfied that we carefully reviewed a massive amount of evidence to ensure the accountability actions are supported," he said in a prepared statement. "These cases have served as a distraction to the progress being made to improve the care we provide in Phoenix and across the nation."

3. The Phoenix VA has already named successors for Mr. Robinson and Mr. Curry. Agency spokesman Paul Coupaud told The Arizona Republic the Phoenix VA's acting associate director is Donald Taylor, and Susanne Brice is acting chief of health administration services. Mr. Coupaud expects an interim chief of staff to be appointed soon.

4. Although Dr. Deering, Mr. Robinson and Mr. Curry won't serve in their positions anymore, they may still appeal their removals, according to officials.
Hospital and health system boards increasingly need members with clinical experience to meet the governance needs of today's industry to help their organizations improve care quality, address population health and reduce costs.

Nurses, however, despite playing a vital role in patient care delivery, have not traditionally had these board opportunities. According to the most recent American Hospital Association governance data, from 2014, nurses make up only 6 percent of hospital board members.

Furthermore, experienced nurses and nurse leaders do not always position themselves well to secure a board seat, according to Rachel Polhemus, senior partner of executive search firm Witt/Kieffer.

"Nurses can be incredibly valuable to boards," she says. "But many nurses don't feel like they are well prepared for the task."

Here, Ms. Polhemus provides four things nurses can do to better prepare themselves to serve on hospital and health system boards.

1. Know the core competencies and skills boards are looking for. Many times a board will have a whole list of competencies, and they are looking to ensure their board makeup covers these components. Nurses should make certain they are coming to the table with those competencies checked off. Otherwise, they might not be the best fit for that particular board seat. For instance, a nurse coming from the nonprofit sector who is not as knowledgeable about finances might not be the best fit for the board of a biotech company looking for somebody with financial expertise who has worked in the biotech industry. "It's really thinking about 'How do I build my resume to be on a board that I'm attractive to, the right kinds of boards I want to serve on,'" Ms. Polhemus says.

2. Start small. Nurses should look for voluntary board roles at nonprofit organizations, or with board associations related to their subspecialty, according to Ms. Polhemus. Community boards, such as a rotary club or chamber of commerce board, may also be helpful in preparing a nurse to serve on a hospital or health system board, she says. "It's giving you the exposure to understanding what governance means and what your role is. When you serve on a board it's a really big undertaking that can't be taken lightly, and you've got to be willing to have the time commitment to be a member of that board, attend the meetings, contribute and be a part of subcommittees of the board. There's a lot of work that goes behind itYou've got to know there are a lot of undertakings with it."

3. Look for mission alignment. Ms. Polhemus also encourages nurses to meet the chair of the board they want to serve on, as well as the organization's CEO, so they understand what their goals, mission and vision are. "Those are critical relationships because if you're not aligned with the CEO, that could be a decision factor whether it's the right board for you," she adds.

4. Don't worry about a lack of "board readiness." Every first-time board member goes through a baptism by fire, and the best way to get governance experience is to learn by doing and have strong mentors, according to Ms. Polhemus. These mentors can help educate the individual on details of the organization or strategic goals or history. The organization "wants a new board member who can value-add and bring a perspective and support the organization's mission and objectives for the future," Ms. Polhemus says. "So no one's going to come completely ready, but you want to make certain the board supports your on-boarding process."

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Greenville (S.C.) Health System plans to eliminate more than 400 positions after suffering a $16 million shortfall in the first quarter of the fiscal year, according to The State.

That announcement was made Tuesday at a GHS board of trustees committee meeting.

Greenville Health System COO Greg Rusnak said, "The initial action plans call for eliminating roughly 410 positions," according to the report. He said more than half of the positions that will be done away with will be the result of not filling open vacancies, normal attrition and the possible implementation of a "voluntary exit incentive program."

In addition to the job cuts, the health system also plans to reduce the capital budget by $39 million. Hospital officials said additional measures will be taken throughout 2016 to address the shortfall.

A $100 million Epic system, other investments and lower than expected patient volumes contributed to Greenville Health System's financial troubles, according to the report.

The system has about 15,000 employees.

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Victoria Morrison, FNP, isn't like other nurse practitioners.

Ms. Morrison is the only nurse practitioner on staff in the Anaheim (Calif.) Fire & Rescue's Community Care Response Unit, a program created last year, according to The Orange County Register.

As part of the program, it is Ms. Morrison's job to respond to low emergency level 911 medical calls. "A lot of people call 911 because they're scared," she said, according to the report. "Sometimes they just need a medical professional to treat something small, like a stomachache. Other times they really do need to visit the emergency room."

The other calls involving higher intensity situations  like heart attacks, gunshot wounds or traffic collisions  are handled by the fire department. "The tough calls are the low-acuity calls that aren't really an emergency, where we don't need to transport someone with the lights and sirens on," said Captain Dave Barry, the Anaheim Fire & Rescue emergency medical services manager, according to the report. "They need another type of care that Victoria has done an excellent job in treating and keeping them out of the hospital."

The Community Care Response Unit program is a one-year pilot for now, the cost of which was partially funded by a grant from Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente. Though the total cost of launching the program was approximately $500,000, it has helped cut healthcare costs and allow firefighters to respond to higher emergency level situations. The program isn't the first of its kind, either  it was modeled after a similar program started in 2008 in Arizona.

Thus far, its successes can be quantified in the sheer number of patients Ms. Morrison has seen. Since the program's launch at the end of last May, she's visited 230 patients, 46 percent of whom she advised to visit a physician or get treated right away.

Anaheim Fire & Rescue Chief Randy Bruegman is planning on asking the Anaheim City Council to extend the Community Care Response Unit program another year.
Seventeen months after she was terminated from her position, a former Stamford (Conn.) Hospital anesthesiologist has filed a lawsuit against her former employer for discrimination and sexual harassment, according to the Stamford Advocate.

Samantha Jansson, MD, sued Stamford Hospital in state Superior Court, claiming physicians and administrators conspired against her after she voiced concerns that the anesthesiologists hired for the hospital's cardiac program were inexperienced, according to the report. The lawsuit has since been moved to federal court.

Here are 5 things to know about Dr. Jansson's lawsuit.

1. In her 46-page complaint, Dr. Jansson said she was fired after a number of interactions with one physician in particular, Michael Coady, MD, who she said treated employees at the hospital, including herself, with extreme disrespect. Dr. Jansson had been working at Stamford Hospital since 2007.

2. After expressing concerns over the safety of the patients in her unit due to the inexperience of new anesthesiologists, Dr. Jansson said she was left out of the interview process for new hires with Dr. Coady and Theresa Bowling, MD, the recruiter for the hospital's department of anesthesiology.

3. Her complaints were not received well at subsequent meetings. A Stamford Hospital attorney informed Dr. Jansson complaints had been raised against her for not being engaged with patients, speaking too loudly and not sitting right next to her patients' heads during surgery. Dr. Jansson cited a hearing problem for her loud speaking volume and said she was protecting herself from radiation by sitting behind a lead shield a few feet from patients' heads during surgery, according to the report.

Dr. Jansson was told by the same attorney she would have to undergo an evaluation and enroll in a counseling program, one that Dr. Jansson believed was for disruptive staff.

4. In addition to Drs. Coady and Bowling, Dr. Jansson is also suing Sal Mancino, head of the hospital's human relations department; Sharon Kiely, MD, the hospital's CMO; Stamford Anesthesiology Services; and VantagePoint HealthCare Advisors.

5. Dr. Jansson also alleges Dr. Coady sexually harassed her and other female hospital workers, claiming he referred to women by a number of derogatory names. She also said he made negative remarks regarding their ethnicity, race and disabilities, that he regularly swore at women in the operating room and bragged about getting female employees fired without letting it be known he was responsible, according to the report.
Undercover officers arrested Dennis Nicholl, a financial analyst at Chicago-based University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, last week for allegedly using an illegal device to jam passengers' cell phone calls on public transit trains in Chicago, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The arrest came after photos of the 63-year-old certified public accountant holding an illegal call jamming device circulated online for months.

Acting on a tip, Chicago police teamed up with the Federal Communications Commission and the Chicago Transit Authority to bust Mr. Nicholl. An undercover "mission team" went into action on Tuesday when they saw Mr. Nicholl enter the Loyola station on the Red Line. One of the officers sat near Mr. Nicholl and spoke on his cell phone. The officer saw Mr. Nicholl remove a black device with multiple antennas from his pocket. When Mr. Nicholl pushed a button on the device, the officer immediately lost his cell phone signal and the call was dropped, according to the report.

Holding the jamming device in his hand, Mr. Nicholl was arrested at the next train stop. He was charged with unlawful interference with a public utility, a felony.

Mr. Nicholl, who a judge dubbed "the cellphone police" during a bail hearing, admitted to using the illegal jamming device. According to the arrest report, Mr. Nicholl said "he gets annoyed at people talking on their cell phones while riding on the CTA."

Mr. Nicholl's lawyer, Charles Lauer, told The Chicago Tribune that his client meant no harm. "He might have been selfish in thinking about himself, but he didn't have any malicious intent," he said.

This is not the first time Mr. Nicholl has been accused of jamming cellphone calls. After pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge in 2009, his jamming equipment was confiscated and destroyed, and he was placed under court supervision for a year, according to the report.

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Albert Ades, MD, of Englewood, N.J., has been sentenced to 37 months in prison for defrauding Medicare, Medicaid and private payers of $280,000 by submitting claims for office visits that never occurred, according to the Department of Justice.

To bill payers for bogus office visits, Dr. Ades admitted he altered patients' medical charts by inserting fabricated clinical notes and vitals to make it appear as if they had visited his office on billed dates.

Dr. Ades' $280,000 scheme ran from 2009 to 2013, according to the DOJ.

Dr. Ades has offices in Cresskill and Little Falls, N.J.

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More than 200 registered nurses at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, represented by the California Nurses Association, kicked off a seven-day strike March 15 to push for higher wages and an increase in patient care staff, according to a Los Angeles Daily News report.

According to KABC, RNs started picketing at 7 a.m., and nurses said there will be at least 100 people at the picket line at any given time between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. every day for the next week.

The walkout involves 1,200 RNs who voted last summer to join the CNA, and are pushing for their first contract.

Karen Chan, with the union, told the Los Angeles Daily News the RNs want to feel valued, and believe there is a lack of resources at the hospital. These are critical issues, she told the publication, since Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente recently announced plans to open a medical school in Pasadena, Calif., 10 miles northeast of Los Angeles, and plans to use the Los Angeles medical center as a teaching hospital. The system plans to break ground on the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine in 2017, and the first class of students is set to arrive in 2019.

Patti Clausen, RN, BSN, Kaiser's chief nurse executive at the Los Angeles Medical Center, said the strike is unfortunate because RNs have been taken away from patient care, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

"We believe the union is doing this to influence a bargaining," Ms. Clausen told the publication. "We are always open to continuing the bargaining."

Kaiser Permanente officials said they have a plan in place to make sure patient care is not affected by the strike.

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The CDC issued primary care clinicians updated guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain patients, outside of active cancer treatment, palliative care and end-of-life care.

Here are seven things to know:

1. Per the recommendations, opioids like OxyCotin and Percocet should not be the first line of defense to treat chronic pain.

2. If providers deem opioids appropriate, the CDC recommends providers to start with the lowest possible dose and increase the dose gradually. Providers should use opioids in combination with nonpharmacologic therapy and non-opioid pharmacologic therapy, as appropriate.

3. When prescribing opioids, providers should prescribe immediate-release opioids, as opposed to extended-released.

4. The recommendations state in acute pain cases, a three day to seven day course of opioid drug therapy should suffice to combat pain the patient may be experiencing.

5. If patients need opioids from more than one prescription company, physicians should check state monitoring programs, if they are available.

6. Providers should assess opioid benefits and harms to patients within one week to four weeks of starting opioid therapy or when raising a dose. Providers should assess the benefits and harms of continued therapy every three months or more.

7. Prior to starting therapy, clinicians should use urine testing and consider urine drug testing every year to assess patients for prescribed medications, controlled prescription drugs and illicit drugs.

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Doctors Medical Center of Modesto (Calif.) opened its Darroch Brain & Spine Institute in January 2016, according to The Modesto Bee.

Here are five things to know:

1. The center offers deep-brain stimulation and treatments for spinal cord pain, aneurisms, back problems, migraines, numbness and weakness.

2. Neurosurgeons David Bybee, MD, Benjamin Remington, MD, and Gregory Helbig, MD, offer services at the new center.

3. The neurosurgeons also help out the hospital by responding to calls for injured or sick patients in the emergency room.

4. The center expects to expand its services to include pain management and neuro-oncology.

5. The center was named for John Darroch, MD, who first offered neurosurgery services in Modesto in 1965.
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At the official opening of Locktons new premises in Belfast were (l-r), Gary Ennis, Lockton Belfast managing partner, Dame Mary Peters, Mike Hammond, CEO Lockton Companies International, and Chris Brown, partner, Lockton LLP board member responsible for the UK

The chief executive of a leading commercial insurance broker has said its Belfast office is a "jewel in the crown" of the firm.

Mike Hammond of Lockton International in London was on a visit to the new Belfast office of the company, which lists pharmaceutical firm Almac, Moy Park and haulage firm the Woodside Group among its clients.

The office employs around 60 people and places more than 50m of gross written premium into the Northern Ireland and UK insurance market.

It also has expertise in construction, property, agri-foods, technology, life science, manufacturing and care.

The firm invested 700,000 in the offices on Clarence Street West, off Bedford Street, in a move from Linenhall Street.

Mr Hammond said the firm had grown four-fold in the 10 years since acquiring predecessor Alexander Forbes.

He said the firm owed much of its growth to the contribution of Gary Ennis, managing partner of the Belfast office.

"When Gary Ennis joined us 10 years ago, business had probably gone backwards by about 30%.

"But since then it's grown to become four times the size it was - and that's all been over the course of a financial crisis in the economy."

And he said the pace of growth in Belfast had been much faster than other offices around the UK, making it the "jewel in the crown" of the firm.

The international firm remains in private hands.

"It's based in Kansas City where it was founded 50 years ago, but it's now a $1.3bn family," Mr Hammond said.

"Its founder, Jack Lockton, died of pancreatic cancer. It is now run by his brother, David, and all four of his sons are actively engaged with the business."

And he said the firm was still aiming for more growth, with plans to increase revenue by double digits every year.

A spokeswoman said: "The company prides itself in serving every aspect of the Northern Ireland business community, from global companies to the smallest SME. The results speak for themselves as Lockton Belfast has doubled its workforce over the last 10 years while maintaining client retention at 98%.

Fit-out firm 1080 carried out work on the new premises.

And Gary Ennis said: "We wanted an office space that would reflect our position as Northern Ireland's leading business insurance broker.

"Our founder laid down his philosophies for how the business should be run and this included a statement that our associates are our greatest asset. We wanted to deliver staff facilities that showed as much investment in them as we have in our clients. Now we have state-of-the-art meeting rooms and AV that will enable us to do more for our clients in terms of both seminars and training."

Lockton has signed up to a 10-year lease on its new offices, which the firm said was a signal of its commitment to Belfast. The firm's continued growth comes at a time of consolidation in the Northern Ireland insurance sector.

Abbey Insurance Brokers, which is based in Newtownabbey, has paid a multi-million pound sum for Open + Direct, a firm founded in the province that became part of English firm Swinton Group.

The combined entity will employ 420 people and have 200,000 policyholders on its books. The deal is one of the biggest in the sector in recent years.

And in January, Ryan Direct Group in Chicago bought Midas Underwriting, which is based in Newtownards. Midas remains a specialist brand within the Ryan Direct Group.
Northern Ireland's high numbers of bankruptcies and company insolvencies are to be tackled by a team of business advisors.

Begbies Traynor -led by regional managing partner Ken Pattullo - has been appointed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI).

There have been high levels of insolvencies - for both companies and individuals - in the past six years since the credit crunch.

And there remain historic problems even as Northern Ireland picks itself up after the economic crash.

Many have suffered due to the fall in property prices in particular, with high levels of mortgage debt combining with consumer debt such as credit cards to create serious financial problems.

Over the 12 months to the end of March 2015, just over 1,592 new cases were received by the Insolvency Service, which is part of DETI.

That was the highest number ever recorded over a year, and an increase of 30 cases on the previous year.

Insolvencies have fallen in the last year - but Begbies Traynor has now been engaged to help DETI clear up its existing caseload.

Mr Pattullo of Begbies Traynor said: "The Northern Ireland economy is still reeling from the after-effects of the darkest days of recession and this is taking its toll both on businesses and individuals in the province.

"We hope to be able to play a part in alleviating the misery that so many are facing by helping to process these cases more rapidly and reach a positive conclusion for everyone involved."

Mr Pattullo will be working on the DETI project with colleagues Kenny Craig and Lawrence O'Hara.

DETI's intervention comes as a report for charity, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), said the Northern Ireland economy was falling behind the rest of the UK.

The New Policy Institute, which wrote the report, said significantly lower employment in Northern Ireland, and lower levels of pay, were hindering attempts to address poverty.

The report said the province's employment performance was lagging behind Great Britain.

Since 2011, working-age employment rate had increased only slightly to reach 68%, compared to a 3% increase to a record high of 73% in Great Britain.

At 26.8%, the province has the highest rate of economic inactivity of the 12 UK regions.
Bob Geldof and the other businessmen said Miten Dutia's "partnership claim" was "without merit"

Musician and campaigner Bob Geldof has won the latest round of a legal fight relating to a firm which invests in African businesses.

A High Court judge had been asked to decide whether a dispute, centred on the 8 Miles private equity firm of which Bob Geldof is the chairman, should proceed to a trial.

Businessman Miten Dutia claimed that he was a member of a partnership, along with Bob Geldof and three other businessmen, behind the creation of 8 Miles. They disputed the claim.

Mr Dutia said his claim should be analysed at a trial.

Bob Geldof and the other businessmen said Mr Dutia's "partnership claim" was "without merit".

They said there was "no good reason" for a trial.

A less senior judge had already ruled against Mr Dutia.

Chief Master Matthew Marsh granted "summary judgment" in favour of Bob Geldof and the three other businessmen.

He said Mr Dutia's prospects of success at a trial were "fanciful".

Mr Dutia then asked a High Court judge to overturn that ruling.

But Mr Justice Nugee on Wednesday ruled against Mr Dutia and dismissed his appeal.

He said in a written ruling: "I am entirely satisfied that the Chief Master was right to conclude that the partnership claim was unsustainable."

Mr Justice Nugee had analysed the appeal at a High Court hearing in London in December.

Bob Geldof, the driving force behind the 1980s' Band Aid and Live Aid projects, had not been at that hearing.

A company website said 8 Miles was a private equity firm "focused exclusively on making private equity investments in Africa".

"We invest in consumer-driven businesses and service providers with strong growth prospects," said a website summary.

"A core part of our strategy is active ownership - actively participating in transforming businesses in which we invest. We are 'hands on' investors in Africa."

It said Bob Geldof was the chairman of 8 Miles and "advises the team on political and strategic issues".

Mr Justice Nugee said Mr Dutia had made other claims and legal action would continue in relation to those.
Adele sits at Rebeccas bedside in a surprise visit at the start of her latest tour

Touching moment: Tracy Gibney with Rebecca and her cousin Katy-Rose and (above) Adele sits at Rebeccas bedside in a surprise visit at the start of her latest tour

Adele sits at Rebeccas bedside in a surprise visit at the start of her latest tour

A fortnight ago, with only 30 minutes' warning, Tracy Gibney had a superstar crying in her arms, at her clinically equipped town house in Belfast's Short Strand. In that moment, Adele was just a young mother reaching out to another, a woman living with the worst maternal dilemma possible: the terminal illness of her child.

The momentous visit by the multi-award-winning singer is the best gift Tracy (38) could have given little Rebecca, an ardent Adele fan, ahead of the child's 13th birthday on Monday.

But, although she won't show it, Tracy will be celebrating the occasion with a heavy heart behind the smiles.

"She's going to be a big teenager, God bless her," said the mother of two and foster mum of one. "But I asked the paediatrician, Dr Armstrong, how long her other wee patients like Rebecca have lived to. She said 13."

Bursting into tears, towards the end of an emotional interview, this remarkable woman apologises, feeling "daft". But who could blame her - it's very difficult to remain dry-eyed when Rebecca's story is told.

It proved impossible for Adele, the moment she met Tracy, on February 29.

"She gave me a big hug - you know, a real one - and started to cry," Tracy recalls. "I said 'ack, don't be crying' but then I did, too, and then her manager started as well. I was, like, 'everybody has to be happy.'

"Adele sat down beside Rebecca and told her that her nails were beautiful, and stroked her hair, and she said, 'your mum has told me all about you'. She admired the Frozen lights and things I have around Rebecca's bedside and said her wee son likes Frozen, too.

"Rebecca lay and stared into her face. She's not completely blind; it's more colour-blindness she has. She doesn't speak - she has never called me mam - but she knew it was Adele.

"She doesn't normally look at people like that."

Rebecca suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy, due to complications with her birth. She cannot speak and is confined to bed at her home near the River Lagan in Belfast, where she lives with her older sister Joanna (20), a student, and her second cousin, Katy-Rose (16), who Tracy has cared for since she was eight.

At Christmas 2014, Tracy was given the devastating news that Rebecca had six months to live. The child managed to survive and when Adele announced, the following November, that she was kicking off her 2016 tour in Belfast, Tracy began her now famous Facebook campaign, Make Rebecca's Wish Come True.

The little girl's dream was to meet Adele and her mother was determined to fulfil it. The huge support online was extremely gratifying for Tracy and led to subsequent online chat with Adele's manager, who said she'd see what she could do. But come the morning of February 29, the date of Adele's first concert at the SSE, there was no word back.

"I'd bought two tickets for the concert - they were about 100 each," Tracy explains. "When I didn't hear from her manager, I thought 'that's it; they're not coming'. So, then, there I was sitting in the hairdresser's getting a colour in my hair, when the phone went and it was Adele's manager.

"She said Adele had seen the Facebook stuff and was very emotional, and asked would I let her come to see us. I was in complete shock - I said 'get this stuff off my head' and rushed back to the house and they were there.

"Adele was so genuine - the nicest person I've ever met. She looked beautiful - she had no make-up on and her hair was back, and she has lovely skin. The first thing I said to her was 'you look fantastic'. She must have lost about four stone."

A single mother for the past 10 years, Tracy admits to forgetting to make tea or coffee for the world's best-selling songstress. "I was in so much shock and it happened so quickly, I didn't think. Adele just talked away to Rebecca and gave her signed books and T-shirts and jumpers; for me, too. She was here for 20 minutes, in my house, sitting on my couch and by Rebecca's bed.

"She's a very, very nice person and to be honest, I do think she'll keep in touch. We're friends on Twitter and I sent her all the photos."

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Rebecca was born on March 21, 2003, deprived of oxygen, after an extremely difficult labour, and was not expected to survive. A medical team at the Royal Victoria Hospital battled for three months to stabilise the baby before she was able to go home.

Tracy recalls: "I had a difficult birth with Rebecca.

"When she was born, I remember my mum saying 'the child is blue', and they took her away to an incubator and said I'd get her back the next day.

"The nurse took me - there were tubes attached to Rebecca everywhere and they said she was going to die - that's all I could hear: die, die die. We got the priest in to christen her but she's a fighter. She still is.

"When I got the news she had only six months, I thought to myself, 'Rebecca's my daughter and she's not ready'. I was ready to do all in my power to protect her from infections and to keep her alive."

The hospital provided the hi-tech equipment required for Rebecca's home care and a paediatrician and team of community nurses were assigned to help Tracy care for her. With the help of a wheelchair, the child was able to attend Glenveigh special needs school in south Belfast.

"It's a brilliant school - Rebecca was able to go until three years ago. Her spine wasn't able to support her in the wheelchair any more and she's been bed-bound ever since.

"The teachers still come and visit her and Dr Armstrong, the paediatrician, is out like a bullet if Rebecca takes a fit or anything. She's brilliant. I know Rebecca's really ill. She's on a lot of morphine and I just have to take it day by day.

"I put on Adele's music every morning for her and she just goes into her own wee world. She loves her."

Joanna, who's studying health and social nursing at university, helps her mother to care for Rebecca. She's also helping to gather the world-wide coverage of Adele's visit into a scrap-book for Rebecca, and has started an influx of nominations for Tracy to win a Belfast Telegraph Woman of the Year Award.

"Rebecca's dad has not been part of her life. It's just me and Katie-Rose and Joanna. I'm really proud of Joanna - she's at university and she minds Rebecca if I need to go into town or the hairdresser's. She's very, very helpful.

"Katie-Rose is a great wee thing, too. She's my cousin's child - I said I'd take her and foster for her for six weeks and ended up keeping her."

Tracy needs all the help she can get. Caring for Rebecca full-time, she admits she doesn't always get a good night's sleep.

"She's in with me in my bedroom and I've to carry her up the stairs every night. Don't get me wrong - I never moan - but she's getting heavier, and I can't get a lift installed because of an insurance issue over Rebecca's epilepsy.

"She does get a drug which makes her sleep all night - about four nights out of seven. I do get tired but I love her and I just get on with it.

"My house is like a hospital with all these machines. I learned a long time ago from watching the nurses, how to put Rebecca's tubes in and working the suction machine and cleaning, and so on."

From her experience of caring for Rebecca, Tracy doesn't rule out the possibility of becoming a children's nurse one day.

For the time being, she is dedicated entirely to her frail second child, and to throwing her a party to remember on Monday.

"I would love to have brought my wee Rebecca to Adele's concert but there was no way we could," says Tracy, trying to stem her tears.

"She put us in the VIP part and in the middle of the concert she stopped and told everyone she'd met me and Rebecca that day, and was dedicating the next song to us. The whole crowd cheered and I just cried. She sang Rebecca's favourite, Make You Feel My Love.

"It meant the world to me.

"I mean, all the doctors and nurses tell me I'm a good mum, but now I know I've been able to do something really special for Rebecca.

"About four years ago, I told her that one day I'd get Adele to meet her and I wouldn't forget it. And I didn't."
Northern Ireland's Chamber of Commerce has clashed with Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell after he claimed most of its members were in favour of leaving the EU

Northern Ireland's Chamber of Commerce has clashed with Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell after he claimed most of its members were in favour of leaving the EU.

A recent survey by the body found that, in fact, around 81% of businesses here support staying in a reformed EU.

As the debate over the UK's future relationship with the European Union intensifies, NI Chamber chief executive Ann McGregor asked the DUP minister to withdraw remarks he made in the Assembly.

And the business network also wants the official record of what the Enterprise Minister told MLAs in the Assembly's Hansard report to be altered too.

Ms McGregor said the minister's comments did not reflect the views of the Chamber of Commerce or the majority of its members.

"I have actually asked the minister to withdraw these remarks, because I have even had people joke: 'I see you are the poster girl for the 'Out' campaign'," she told the Belfast Telegraph.

Mr Bell told MLAs he had been at a function at which she had said the majority of members were for voting to leave the EU.

Quizzed by UUP MLA Alistair Patterson, Mr Bell said he had recently held talks on Brexit with the Federation of Small Businesses and the CBI, as well as the chamber.

"Most recently I was in Bushmills with the Chamber of Commerce and Ann McGregor. Interestingly, at that function, Ann McGregor said that, based on her conversations with members, the majority of members are for 'Vote Leave'," he claimed.

But in a statement, it said: "In all statements made by NI Chamber and its officers, the chamber has maintained a clear position of neutrality on the upcoming EU referendum, to respect the diversity of views amongst the businesses we serve.

"The chamber does, however, report our members' views and to date we have carried out two surveys, with the most recent one highlighting that 81% of our members are in favour of staying in the EU.

"We will keep surveying business opinion and report the findings before the referendum on June 23, 2016.

"We have asked that the reference is removed from Hansard."

There was no response from the minister or his department last night.

Mr Bell also told MLAs that US Secretary of State John Kerry's special representative Andrew O'Brien had told him American companies would not stop investing in the province, regardless of what happened in the referendum.

He was asked by Alliance's Kieran McCarthy how many potential investors had said they would like Northern Ireland to be outside of the European Union. The minister responded: "That question was asked of our largest single investor in Northern Ireland (the US) in the American Consulate.

"They asked Andrew O'Brien the question, and he answered very clearly by saying that he had no knowledge of people from the United States who would stop investing in Northern Ireland purely on the basis of the situation with the EU.

"In all my trips, the three things that come across very clearly are that Northern Ireland has one of the best talent pools in the world; that the costs of doing business in Northern Ireland are about 84% of the costs of doing business in the rest of the UK, and that, from April 1, 2018, we will have a corporation tax rate of 12.5%, which is the most competitive rate in western Europe."
Claims that a UK exit from the EU could lead to renewed sectarianism across Northern Ireland have been branded "nonsense" by the DUP.

Former Secretary of State Lord Mandelson yesterday warned that a Brexit could put peace and jobs at risk.

The former Labour minister, who previously served as a European Commissioner, also sounded alarm bells over bringing back a "formalised border" with the Republic.

But the DUP's Sammy Wilson warned that Lord Mandelson had employed similar scare tactics in the debate over the euro currency.

In a key speech to the British Irish Chamber of Commerce in the City of London, Lord Mandelson said: "Anything, in my view, that strengthened a sense of separation between Northern and Southern Ireland - physically, economically, psychologically - has the potential to upset the progress that has been made and serve as a potential source of renewed sectarianism."

Lord Mandelson, who served as Northern Ireland Secretary between 1999 and 2001, also described the EU as "a fundamentally stabilising" influence on Irish politics.

"It is unclear what the border arrangements would be in the unprecedented situation of the UK leaving Europe, and everyone would want to work to avoid border posts and elaborate checks," the peer said.

"But the reimposition of a formalised border would be a radical departure from the established strategy of administrations in Dublin, Belfast and London."

In an interview with the BBC later, he added: "There are 50,000 Northern Irish jobs linked to exports to the European Union.

"If we start to insert new trade as a result of Britain leaving the European Union, which will limit demand for those exports, these jobs would then be put at risk." But Mr Wilson argued that "any prediction about anything" by Lord Mandelson should be treated with the strongest degree of scepticism.

"When he was a member of the Labour Government he was known as the 'Prince of Darkness' and the master of spin," the East Antrim MP said.

"His comments on the consequences of leaving the EU are not just spin, they would be a credit to the most energetic acrobat.

"His claim that 50,000 jobs would be at risk is just plain nonsense.

"For any such prediction to be true, every single good sold to the EU countries, including the UK, would have to stop being traded.

"As for his claim that we would have a hard border with border controls, he knows full well that the Common Travel Area between the UK and the Republic of Ireland is not dependent on EU membership.

"Indeed, it is as important to the Republic as it is to us, and the open border at present does not cause problems of large-scale illegal immigration.

"Mandelson played the same game when he wanted the UK to join the euro. He was wrong then, and he is wrong now."
A passer-by leaves a floral tribute near the spot where the bomb went off

Adrian Ismay who died yesterday, 12 days after a bomb exploded under his van

Justice Minister David Ford said those responsible for planting the device had little regard for life

The family of murdered prison officer Adrian Ismay are utterly devastated by their loss, colleagues have said.

Finlay Spratt, chairman of the Prison Officers Association in Northern Ireland, said he had visited the 52-year-old's wife and three daughters on Wednesday.

He said: "They are just totally and utterly devastated.

"This man was a servant of the community. He had an amazing record both within the prison service and outside, as a volunteer. You name it, he did it.

"He served everybody in the community."

Sean McCarry, from the Community Rescue Service with which Mr Ismay volunteered, also paid tribute.

He said: "Adrian spent tireless hours trying to save people's lives.

"This was not just an attack on Adrian, this was an attack on society as a whole.

"Adrian spent his time going out and saving lives, not taking lives, he was trying to build communities, not destroy communities, and that's the truth about the man who was murdered."

Church and political leaders have united in expressing revulsion at the attack by dissident republicans who are opposed to the peace process.

Stormont Justice Minister David Ford said those responsible for planting the device had little regard for life.

He said: "I am shocked to learn Adrian has died as a direct result of the actions of people who have obviously little regard for the lives of those who serve the community.

"This is shocking news and will be even more painful for Adrian's family and prison service colleagues."

Prison staff in the Republic of Ireland have also expressed disgust.

A statement from the Prison Officers' Association said: "Adrian was the victim of a cowardly and atrocious bomb attack while he was driving to work.

"This was a horrendous act that has no place or serves no purpose on this island.

"A shameful and cowardly act such as this is reminiscent of difficult times that we all thought were left in the past."

Anne Connolly, chairman of the Policing Board, expressed condolences to the officer's family.

She said: "We are ever grateful to those who work to keep our community safe and people in our community share the sadness now being felt by those who knew Adrian best.

"Serving the community for over 28 years, Adrian's contribution to society through his work in the prison service and volunteer roles is in stark contrast to those who carried out this vile attack."

Ms Connolly urged anyone with information to bring it to police.
Maria Sweeney as Dorothy and Archie as Toto in The Wizard Of Oz at the Theatre At The Mill in Newtownabbey last night

Archie the rescue dog - who hit the headlines after he was found wandering down a busy motorway - is set for stardom after making his acting debut.

The stray's life was in danger as he was spotted alone at a service station close to one of Ireland's busiest roads - Dublin's M50 motorway - before he was plucked to safety and taken in by an east Belfast family.

Months later his new family put him forward for one of the biggest canine roles.

And last night 18-month-old Archie appeared on stage as Toto in a production of The Wizard Of Oz by Fortwilliam Musical Society.

Archie's owner Julie Morris, a former dog trainer from Bloomfield, explained that treats and bribery helped throughout the rehearsals but they were prepared for any glitches in the opening night's performance.

"He's such a wee character that he's liable to do something stupid, but he has been fairly good during rehearsals," she said. "The lights do panic him a bit but he's doing OK."

Julie said that during the play Archie - as Toto - is warned not to pinch a sausage off a barbecue, but does it anyway.

"I think he's a bit worried but he's not doing anything wrong, he's perhaps a bit hesitant," she said.

"He's never been trained; it's bribery and corruption.

So I carry treats and once he catches on what you want, that's him, he will be happy to do it. It's about reassuring him.

"The problem is that he does like the Wicked Witch of the West more than he likes the treats, because she would often sit with him and pet him.

"We also got him a red glittery collar to match Dorothy's shoes so he will look well on stage.

"He only has one chance to get ready and do it right the first time.

"I don't know if this is his last performance but we'll see how it goes."

Fortwilliam chairperson Tony Young said: "Archie has been working very hard in the rehearsal room but it's very different when we throw in lights and smoke and the audience so it's all been very interesting.

"One of the key things is that his owner Julie has been very supportive and that has been a big part of it and helped Archie along too.

"As the four principal characters, we have really got to know and love him. In all the rehearsals I have never heard him bark - he's the most laid-back dog I have ever met.

"We've been really looking forward to the show as it's a very different show for us. They say never work with children or animals, and we have got them both in this production.

"It should be interesting and we are looking forward to getting on the Yellow Brick Road."

The Wizard Of Oz is at the Theatre At The Mill, Newtownabbey, and runs until Saturday.
From Left to right: Stephen McGeehan, Project Sponsor, Tom Daly, Chairman of the Casement Park Project Board, Michael Hasson, Ulster Council President and Rory Miskelly, Project Director Picture by Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye.

From Left to right: Tom Daly, Chairman of the Casement Park Project Board, Stephen McGeehan, Project Sponsor, Rory Miskelly, Project Director and Michael Hasson, Ulster Council President Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

The Ulster GAA has announced details of a fresh community consultation on plans for the redevelopment of the Provincial Stadium at Casement Park in west Belfast.

The document, which the GAA has described as a "robust engagement framework", has been launched in advance of the submission of its planning application towards a redeveloped Provincial Stadium at Casement Park.

Sports Minister Caral Ni Chuilin has welcomed the announcement by the GAA.

It comes a week after Ms Ni Chuilin walked out of a Stormont committee meeting investigating safety issues at Casement Park.

The minister was requested to appear again at the committee after it had heard claims in January that she had been briefed on safety concerns as far back as 2012.

The GAA's hope to build a new stadium on its existing grounds at Casement Park has been beset with problems and delays. Its planning permission was overturned last year.

Launching the start of the new planning application process on Wednesday Tom Daly, Chairman of the Casement Park Project Board said they want to hear the views of all.

"We wish to thank everyone for their support as we look forward to a new stadium at Casement Park," he said.

"Essentially what we are announcing today is the launch of an entirely new process that will inform the design and build of a new stadium.

"There will be two phases to the engagement framework, phase 1 forms the technical scoping exercise.

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"During the second phase, a 20 week community consultation period, we are looking forward to hearing from local residents and interested members of the community, businesses, arts and cultural organisations and sporting bodies on our proposals."

Mr Daly said they are in the early stages of the process.

"We are still in the early stages, with the consultation and technical evaluations set to inform the stadium design at a later stage," he said.

"The GAA is a proud community organisation, embedded in communities and open to everyone.

"The GAA is volunteer driven and thrives on community spirit, the Casement Park project therefore represents for us an opportunity to invest in a community which we are proud to be a part of. It has been the home of Antrim GAA since 1953 and we are excited at the prospect of it also becoming the home of Ulster GAA. This will be a facility everyone in the local area, all of Belfast, Antrim and Ulster can be proud of."

Mr Daly added that the capacity for the new stadium is not pre-determined and will be informed in consultation with the public, statutory consultees, key stakeholders such as the Safety Technical Group, PSNI and others.

"The first phase in the process is developing and agreeing a scoping exercise with the Belfast City Council," he said.

"An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the proposed redevelopment will identify key topics for assessment as well as other reports and information with an Environmental Statement being submitted to Belfast City Council in support of the proposals and to assist in the determination of the application.

"Following the environmental scoping the GAA will launch phase two - a comprehensive 20 week Pre-Application Community Consultation (PACC) programme to seek views across all elements of the new Provincial Stadium with local stakeholders, interest groups, local residents, the wider GAA and other relevant stakeholder groups such as business, arts, social and sporting bodies."

Rory Miskelly has been appointed Project Director for Casement Park. He has previously been involved in major capital projects including the delivery of Titanic Belfast and the new stadia at Ravenhill and Windsor Park.

To obtain a copy of the working document please email: enquiries@casementpark.ie
A former UDR member acquitted of the sectarian murder of a Catholic man 33 years ago has said that he will not rest until he is compensated for the "destruction" of his reputation.

Colin Worton (55) spent 30 months on remand following his arrest in connection with the murder of Armagh man Adrian Carroll in 1983.

He was cleared before his trial in 1986 after a judge said he was excluding his evidence because it had been coerced from him by RUC detectives.

Since his acquittal 30 years ago he has been demanding a public apology and compensation from the Government.

However, in the Assembly this week Justice Minister David Ford said that while he sympathised with Mr Worton's plight, he had now run out of road legally.

"He is in no different position from any another person that was charged and found not guilty," Mr Ford added. "He has, as far as I can see, exhausted all legal remedies."

But Mr Worton said that he did not accept Mr Ford's comments and insisted that he would keep fighting "to restore my good name and reputation that were destroyed".

"I am still stuck in 1983," he said. "I will not give up until I have a public apology and am compensated for 30 months in jail for something I did not do. I have been fighting this 33 years and will keep fighting it."

In 2011 Mr Ford underlined Mr Worton's innocence during a debate in Stormont, but the south Armagh man, whose brother was killed in the Kingsmills massacre in 1976, said it was not enough.

"It was just words," he said. "I want actions to back up those words. This isn't just about me, it is also about my family. My parents lost one son to terrorism and then another son was branded a terrorist.

"My father died in 2001 without seeing my reputation properly restored.

"You couldn't put a figure on what I have been through. This remains with me 24/7. I am surprised by what the Justice Minister said, but as far as I am concerned, I'm not giving up."

Mr Worton, who now works as a window cleaner, also said he was angry that three members of the so-called UDR Four - Noel Bell, Winston Allen and Jim Hagan, who were convicted of the November 1983 killing in Armagh before being cleared on appeal - received 500,000 in compensation while he had not been given a penny.

He was told that because he had not been found guilty, he could not be deemed to have been wrongly convicted.

Mr Carroll was shot dead on his way home from work, with a number of UDR men arrested and charged in connection with the killing. One of them, Neil Latimer, was convicted of being the gunman. His subsequent appeals were rejected.

Mr Worton initially claimed he helped Latimer, but he walked free after a judge said he was excluding his evidence because it had been coerced from him by the RUC.
Parents and pupils at a west Belfast school staged a mass walkout to protest against persistent and high levels of teacher absenteeism amid fears that exam results will be affected.

More than 20 concerned parents and around 50 pupils from the sixth form gathered at the gates of De La Salle College in Andersonstown after more than a third of teachers - 25 out of 70 - called in sick on Monday.

A female caller to BBC Radio Ulster's Stephen Nolan Show has claimed her son was an A*/A sixth form student, but is now achieving B grades.

"My son has no director of Sixth form study, no year head and two out of three of his teachers are out," she said.

"He is suffering from stress and feels absolutely powerless."

However a teaching assistant at the school also called into the programme and insisted that the situation has been "blown out of proportion".

Education Minister John O'Dowd told the Nolan Show that he understands the dispute is down to a breakdown in relations between staff and the leadership within the school.

"Over this last year, maybe a bit more, there has been a breakdown in relationships in the school between senior management and sections of the staff," he said.

"Morale is very low. It then escalated after an incident in November where a member of staff was then dismissed from the school over quite a serious incident. That is now before the Labour Relations Agency so I can't go into too much detail on it.

"But there are serious efforts taking place to bring this matter to a resolution to the satisfaction of everyone and I believe that those people involved in trying to resolve that are serious about trying to get a result."

Mr O'Dowd said the situation has escalated beyond what anyone had expected.

"Like parents of pupils attending De La Salle College, I am very concerned about the ongoing issues at the school and the impact on its pupils," he said.

"I understand the school, employing authority and unions are working together to resolve the situation and I would urge all involved to bring this to a resolution as soon as possible.

"I will be keeping the situation under close review."

It's not the first time the school has been criticised by parents. Last November concerns were raised that huge numbers of staff were ringing in sick, leaving pupils without lessons.

Seven of John Hughes' family, including him and his four sons, studied at De La Salle. He says it's just not good enough.

"It's been building up. It's an historical problem that's been going on for around two years," he said. "Any experience I had at the school was excellent and it was a great environment for the children, but now it seems that teachers who were contributing to the school are leaving.

"It started off with one, then another left. It's been creeping up, but it's time questions were being asked why teachers are taking such long periods off sick. Grades will be affected.

Mr Hughes phoned the school twice to find out what was going on and was told that everything was normal - a comment which he branded "nonsense".

"How can things be running as normal when the students are not getting a continuity of teaching?" he asked.

Parents are so worried about the staffing issues that they set up and have galvanised support through Concerned Parents of La Salle on Facebook, and say the standoff will continue.

Mr Hughes added: "We'll be there. Whatever industrial disputes are going on need to be addressed because there is definitely something wrong in that school.

"Whatever power struggle is going on, there needs to be some sort of resolution so the kids can regain their respect for the staff and get on with getting a good education."

Gerry Murphy, northern secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation, said: "We remain concerned at the deteriorating industrial relations situation in De La Salle College, Belfast.

"On behalf of our members, INTO is engaged with the school's management and employing authority in an attempt to address a number of ongoing issues within De La Salle College. INTO has been made aware that a number of our members within the school are currently absent on medically certificated absences.

"At a meeting of INTO's central executive committee, on Thursday, March 10, a decision was taken, prompted by our increasing concern at the slow progress towards a resolution of the issues in the school, that INTO will ballot members within the school for further targeted industrial action.

"INTO would prefer to reach an acceptable resolution around the issues within the school, rather than see any further erosion of the industrial relations climate."

A spokesman for the school said: "When issues first arose a strategic group was set up, comprising the board of governors, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, and the following unions: INTO, ATL, NAHT and NASUWT.

A strategic plan for renewal was devised by the group and work began immediately to implement this plan.

"The intention was, and remains, to resolve any internal issues within the school through the implementation of this plan.

"The immediate priority remains the full educational provision for all students in the school.

"We can assure parents that all interests in the strategy group are working together to ensure that there is no delay in this process and that there is total commitment from all to continue to work towards a resolution."
A passer-by leaves a floral tribute near the spot where the bomb went off

Police have launched a murder investigation following the death of prison officer Adrian Ismay, after a post mortem confirmed he died as a result of a dissident republican bomb attack

Mr Ismay died 11 days after the bomb attack in east Belfast.

The 52-year-old, suffered leg injuries when the booby trapped device detonated under his van on March 4.

Dissident republican group the New IRA said it was responsible.

The father of three was said to be recovering well but was taken back into hospital on Tuesday morning and died.

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Richard Campbell said: "Today is yet another difficult day for the Ismay family, his friends and colleagues as they struggle to come to terms with the events of the past 12 days. We have spoken to the family this morning and advised them of this development.

"We are also liaising with the Public Prosecution Service in relation to the individual who is currently charged with attempted murder and causing an explosion with intent to endanger life.

DCI Campbell concluded: This has been treated as a significant Serious Crime investigation from the outset and will continue as such. I would reiterate my appeal from yesterday about the two vehicles we believe were involved in this murder. The cars were a red Citroen C3 with registration SKZ6662 and a silver Skoda Fabia with registration KFZ2352. Anyone with information should contact detectives on the Non-Emergency 101 number or anonymously through the Crimestoppers Charity 0800 555 111.

One man has already been charged with attempted murder but the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said detectives will await medical evidence before deciding whether to launch a murder investigation.
Education Minister John O'Dowd is "obsessed" with Irish language schools, a unionist critic has claimed.

DUP MLA Peter Weir made the claim following a funding announcement for primaries.

Mr Weir welcomed a 40m investment in 10 schools across Northern Ireland, but claimed the announcement was tarnished by a "lack of equality".

Mr O'Dowd said the schools would benefit from new state-of-the-art facilities and that the funding would also provide a welcome boost to the construction industry as the projects come to fruition.

Those receiving funding include a new primary school in Islandmagee created from the amalgamation of Mullaghdubh PS and Kilcoan PS, and two Irish language primary schools - Gaelscoil Aodha Rua in Dungannon and Gaelscoil Eanna in Newtownabbey.

Mr Weir said the funding was good news for education and congratulated those who had benefited.

However, the education committee chair also raised a number of questions about "equality in funding".

"The announcement is tarnished, not simply by those schools that have inevitably failed to gain a new build in this tranche, but with a concern of a lack of equality in funding in this announcement," he said.

"In including Irish-medium schools as 20% of the new builds announced, the minister has demonstrated a continued obsession with Irish-medium new builds at the expense of other sectors.

"Despite representing only 1.3% of the school population, Irish-medium schools have benefited from eight out of 65 new build announcements in this mandate.

"This is greater than either the voluntary grammar school sector or the integrated sector, with 11 and five times the numbers of pupils respectively, and a third of the new build announcements for either controlled or maintained schools with 30 and 27 times the number of pupils.

"It is perhaps unsurprising that the minister on his parting gesture on capital funding has chosen to yet again favour such a small sector.

"Apart from the few schools that benefit today, it will leave so many others with a sense of continuing frustration."

Last week Mr O'Dowd officially opened Colaiste Dhoire in Dungiven, a new Irish language secondary school for just 15 pupils. However, Colaiste Dhoire will more than double its enrolment in September, with 39 students expressing an interest in attending.

Thirty-three pupils have registered the school as their first choice and a further six have picked the school as their second choice.

Colaiste Dhoire is only the second State-funded Irish-medium secondary school in Northern Ireland, following in the steps of the first, which is located in Belfast.

Mr O'Dowd said: "All schools were evaluated and selected on the same criteria, as outlined in my statement to the Assembly today.

"There is no lack of equality or clarity in the decision-making process."
Education Authority is to review its decision to cut pre school provision for children with special needs.

The Education Authority is to review a proposal to cut hours for pre-school children with moderate to severe learning difficulties from 4.5 hours a day to 2.5 hours.

The cut was revealed in a letter sent from the EA to a parent earlier this month sparking concern among parents of children with special needs.

It confirms that from September 2016 "all pre-school children will receive 2.5 hours in pre-school per day".

Education Minister John O'Dowd intervened last week to demand the Education Authority review its decision.

He claimed the decision is flawed.

Education Authority chief Gavin Boyd and Dr Clare Mangan appeared before Stormont's Education Committee on Wednesday morning.

Mr Boyd said the decision has currently been "set aside" while a review takes place.

Dr Mangan said she does not expect the review to take very long, adding they are conscious of needing to have a policy in place for September.

"It (the review) is not anticipated to run for a long period of time," she told the committee.

"We need to ensure we can make arrangements for children for September 2016."

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Dr Mangan explained the proposed policy was designed to bring consistency to early years provision for children with special needs across Northern Ireland.

"At this point in time there are inconsistency and there are issues around access," she explained.

There are currently 41 special schools in Northern Ireland. 29 of these provide early years classes, and 15 provide part time provision.

The proposal about cutting special needs provision will affect 29 of these schools.

Mr Boyd told the committee that far more children with special needs attend mainstream schools, and the EA would encourage that.

He said around 17,000 children with special needs attend mainstream schools.

Mr O'Dowd said he believes the EA should "go back to the drawing board".

"The EA have to come forward with a decisive position in relation to the future of special needs education in the nursery sector. But their current decision is flawed," he claimed.

"It's flawed in two elements. They've made their decision based on the Learning to Learn policy. The Learning to Learn policy does not relate to special educational needs.

"And they've made the decision without consultation.

"It's key - particularly in areas such as this - that you consult with the schools; the parents and the pupils about the future of early years education in the special educational needs sector."
The former manager of a Co Down leisure centre has escaped going to prison after he admitted stealing almost 4,000 "out of revenge" from his employers

The former manager of a Co Down leisure centre has escaped going to prison after he admitted stealing almost 4,000 "out of revenge" from his employers.

Frederick Kelly Shaw (56), of Wyndell Heights, Newtownards, was handed down a nine-month jail sentence suspended for two years after he admitted burgling Bangor's Aurora leisure complex last year.

Downpatrick Crown Court heard Shaw had carried out five separate burglaries at the Valentine Playing Fields centre on dates between July and August 2015.

Rosemary Walsh, prosecuting, told the court that Shaw had been manager at Aurora until he had been suspended from his post but had retained a set of keys to the premises.

"He entered the premises without permission and knew how to deactivate the alarm system," she told Judge Piers Grant.

"He unlocked a safe and removed keys to a number of vending machines.

"He opened the vending machines, removed coins and then emptied them into a bag. Workers were able to identify him from CCTV footage as the burglar."

The court heard that two days after the last burglary on August 11, 2015, police arrested Shaw and found a receipt in his car which showed he had deposited 1,300 into his Danske Bank personal account.

"During interview, he fully admitted to police the offences that were put to him," said Ms Walsh.

Judge Grant was told that Shaw had two previous convictions for dishonesty dating back 40 years which included a burglary of a non-dwelling in 1975.

The prosecution lawyer said that it was a "breach of trust" case in that Shaw had worked as manager at the centre where he had been expected to safeguard the premises and its contents.

Defence barrister Chris Holmes told the court that although the Aurora Leisure Centre estimated that only 1,300 had been taken, Shaw was now admitting that he took a total of 3,800 during the burglaries.

He said that Shaw had committed the burglaries out of "sheer stupidity" and as an "act of retribution" after he was suspended from his post.

Mr Holmes added: "He realised he was on CCTV. He realised would stand out on CCTV and he would have been easily detected.

"He has now gone from middle management to living on absolute borderline benefits.

"He has brought this entirely upon himself."

Judge Piers Grant said that it was a clear "breach of trust case" as relations between Shaw and his employers had broken down.

"I am satisfied that these offences were committed not for financial gain," he said.

"This was done out of revenge at the way you perceived you had been treated by your employers."

Stating that the 3,800 had now been repaid in full, Judge Grant said he was sentencing Shaw to nine months in custody but would suspend the jail term for a period of two years.

He warned Shaw that if he committed any offences in the next two years "it is almost inevitable in the circumstances that this sentence will be put in effect if you are brought back to court".
Convicted child killer Robert Howard, who died in prison last year aged 71, remains the prime suspect in the Arlene Arkinson case

A retired police officer has rejected suggestions that the investigation into the disappearance of schoolgirl Arlene Arkinson was haphazard.

Neil Graham, a former detective inspector, was unable to provide an explanation for the delay in arresting child killer Robert Howard, who was the last person to see the teenager alive in August 1994.

But he told an inquest at Belfast's Laganside court complex that all elements in the high profile case would have been carefully considered by a senior team.

He said: "I unfortunately am not in a position to give a reason why there was such a delay. I would love to give a reason."

The officer was among the first CID detectives to hear that 15-year-old Arlene had gone missing after a night out across the border in Co Donegal.

A twin-track investigation was launched to determine whether she had run away, or whether something more sinister had happened, the court heard.

Mr Graham said: "There was very much a heightened investigation on the part of the police at that particular time.

"We had a number of outstanding issues in relation to what actually happened to Arlene. Had she gone away? There were some suggestions and stories that could not be tied up with all that was going on.

"In the absence of any clear evidence where Arlene was, the best activity that the police could do was to carry out a significant number of searches, all based on information received on the last known movements of people concerned."

Information would have been passed up the chain to senior commanders, but the inquiry was made more difficult in the absence of forensic evidence or a body, it was claimed.

Ivor McAteer, representing the Arkinson family, asked if it was a case where "the right hand did not know what the left hand was doing".

The former officer replied: "No, it was not, no."

He later added: "The concept of police pursuing a successful criminal investigation in the absence of evidence or a body had not been tested in any form.

"I have no doubt that the senior investigating officer would have been very mindful of all those facts, particularly in consultation with the Prosecution Service."

Meanwhile, the court also heard that a large number of searches in forests, bogland and country roads in the Castlederg area and across the border in Co Donegal during September and October 1994 had been fruitless.

Although searches were carried out at Robert Howard's flat on Main Street, the paedophile sold his car a day before being arrested on September 28 1994, it emerged.

Mr McAteer added: "We know he had a flat, we know he had a car, we know that Arlene was last seen in the car, we know that there were lies by witnesses who have seen her. We knew he had been crossing borders in breach of bail. At no time anybody thought 'we'll have him' prior to September 28. Is anything I saw inaccurate?"

The ex-policeman said: "No."

Fifteen-year-old Arlene, from Castlederg, vanished after a night out at a disco across the Irish border in Co Donegal on August 13 1994.

She was last seen being driven away down a country road late at night with Howard.

Although he was acquitted of her murder in 2005 by a jury which was unaware of his conviction for killing south London teenager Hannah Williams, he always remained the prime suspect until his death in prison last year, aged 71.
Men who have sex with men are still banned from donating blood in NI

Former Health Minister Edwin Poots has won his bid to overturn rulings that his ban on gay men giving blood in Northern Ireland was irrational and "infected" by apparent bias.

Appeal judges also held there was no basis for concluding that the decision was predetermined by his Christian beliefs.

They further ruled that it was for Stormont's Health Minister, rather than the UK Health Secretary, to decide whether homosexual men should be permitted to donate.

And, by a further, 2-1 majority, the Court of Appeal concluded the current maintenance of the lifetime prohibition was not disproportionate or contrary to EU law.

The verdict represents a vindication of Mr Poots position in a four-year legal battle over donations from men who have sex with men.

The gay blood ban, put in place during the 1980s AIDS threat, was lifted in England, Scotland and Wales in November 2011.

It was replaced by new rules which allow blood from men whose last sexual contact with another man was more than a year ago.

But Mr Poots maintained the prohibition in Northern Ireland on the basis of ensuring public safety.

Findings were made against him in a judicial review sought by a homosexual man granted anonymity in the case and referred to as JR65.

A High Court judge held that the Democratic Unionist MLA did not have the power to keep the lifetime ban.

Challenges to the verdict have been continued by Mr Poots' DUP ministerial successors and the British Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Attorney General John Larkin QC, representing the Department of Health, had argued that JR65 has no personal interest in the case because he was paid for sex.

Questioning the man's legal standing in the case, Mr Larkin contended that he would be barred anyway because of the cash transaction and a further failure to comply with a 12-month celibacy rule.

The court was also told Mr Poots was entitled to go against the rest of the UK on the issue, with devolved powers giving Stormont ministers the right to take a different view.

But counsel for JR65 claimed, based on evidence, that lifting the total ban would increase the risk of a contaminated donation getting through just once every 15,000 years.

According to their case Mr Poots' acted irrationally in maintaining the prohibition because the threat was "infinitesimal".

They argued that his decision was a "knee-jerk reaction" which went against the advice of his officials and experts.

Delivering their verdict today the three judges, led by Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan, rejected the assessment that Mr Poots' stance was irrational or based on apparent bias.

Sir Declan said: "There is no basis for the conclusion that the Minister's decision in this case was predetermined by his Christian beliefs and there is ample evidence to indicate that the Minister approached the decision-making by evaluating the competing factors before adopting on a precautionary basis the status quo.

"We do not consider that the fair minded and informed observer could conclude that there was a real risk of apparent bias."

The court backed the view that the Minister at Stormont exercising powers to secure a high standard of public health can introduce measures that comply with the provisions of the relevant legal treaty.

In his judgment, Sir Declan held that Mr Poots' maintenance of the permanent ban for a period of years after receiving advice from a blood safety advisory committee was unlawful.

But his two judicial colleagues disagreed with his view that it was disproportionate and contrary to European law.

Lord Justice Gillen said they were dealing with a situation where a decision has not yet been made by the Minister.

Agreeing with that assessment, Lord Justice Weir held that the current Health Minister should be given an opportunity to analyse all data and research material
The ban on gay men donating was lifted in England, Scotland and Wales in 2011 and replaced with rules that allow them to give blood after a one-year deferral

Northern Ireland's Health Minister should decide whether gay men can donate blood, not the UK Health Secretary, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan has said the controversial issue should be dealt with by the devolved administration at Stormont because it is not a reserved matter.

The judge also dismissed an earlier court ruling that the region's former health minister Edwin Poots acted irrationally by retaining the current ban.

He told a sitting at Belfast's Royal Courts of Justice: "Having analysed all the relevant circumstances in this matter we have concluded that there is no basis for the conclusion that the minister's decision in this case was pre-determined by his Christian beliefs and there is ample evidence to indicate that the minister approached the decision-making by evaluating the competing factors before adopting on a precautionary basis the status quo.

"We do not consider that the fair-minded and informed observer could conclude that there was a real risk of apparent bias."

The ban on gay men donating was lifted in England, Scotland and Wales in 2011 and replaced with rules that allow them to give blood after a one-year deferral - ie 12 months since their last sexual encounter with another man.

But the lifetime deferral was kept in operation in Northern Ireland by DUP MLA Mr Poots who cited "blood safety" issues. His successor Jim Wells also declined to lift the ban.

Following a judicial review brought by an anonymous man last year, the High Court branded Mr Poots' stance "irrational", given that Northern Ireland can accept blood supplies from other parts of the UK.

Mr Justice Treacy also found he had breached Stormont's ministerial code by not consulting on the policy with fellow ministers in the devolved power-sharing coalition.

Mr Poots and his health counterpart at Westminster, Jeremy Hunt, lodged an appeal against the critical determination.

While Mr Poots was appealing against the entirety of Mr Justice Treacy's ruling in the case, which was known as JR 65, Mr Hunt was only appealing against the finding that responsibility for blood donation policy was a reserved matter.

The Lord Chief Justice was sitting with Lord Justice Gillen and Lord Justice Weir.

The judges ruled by a 2-1 majority that maintaining the current lifetime ban was not "disproportionate or contrary to EU law".

Last year the current health minister Simon Hamilton announced that the ban should be lifted if a government advisory group says it is safe.

Afterwards, gay rights campaigners said the new ruling provided clarity.

John O'Doherty director of the LGBT support group The Rainbow Project said: "It is disappointing that their lordships have failed to recognise that there is no reasonable, rational or medical reason to maintain this lifetime ban, particularly in light of the fact that all other regions in the UK have moved to a temporary deferral.

"Today's judgment clarified that the issue of blood donations remains within the purview of the Northern Ireland minister for health. We would once again urge Minister Simon Hamilton to accept the advice given by the experts and adopt a one-year deferral which exists in all other parts of the UK.

"This issue has been debated for over five years and tens of thousands of public funds have been spent on maintaining a lifetime ban. While the minister may state that he has not yet made a decision, any right thinking person would accept that five years is enough time to come to a decision."

The Northern Ireland Equality Commission said it looked forward to a decision on the issue.

A statement said: "The Commission's position has been that a ban on blood donations from any group must be based on clear medical evidence and the extent and duration of the ban must be proportionate to the level of risk identified.

"The Commission considers that the lifetime ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men living in Northern Ireland is inconsistent with the Department of Health's practice of accepting donated blood from Great Britain, where such men are permitted to donate blood after a 12 month deferral."

Later, Mr Poots said he had been vindicated.

He said: "It was regrettable that this case was taken in the first place. It was not the best use of resources. The department and minister should now be given time and space to properly consider these matters with public safety being the main priority.

"The safety of the public has always been my first and foremost objective in this matter and nothing else.

"I welcome the fact that the highest court in Northern Ireland has vindicated my position and my integrity in this matter."
A man from Northern Ireland who spent 18 months in a Hong Kong jail after the drug crystal meth was planted in his suitcase has told of his horrific ordeal.

Brendan Toner (62), from Castlewellan, was caught with 2kg of the highly addictive class A drug while he was en route to Australia in April 2014.

For 549 days the former Down GAA star - who has always been anti-drugs - awaited trial in a stinking cell with the prospect of a 26-year sentence hanging over him.

In an unprecedented ruling last November, however, a Chinese court ruled that he and five others had been innocent victims of a sophisticated smuggling scam.

In his first in-depth interview since his release, Mr Toner, who won Ulster and National League titles with Down in the 1980s, told the Belfast Telegraph about the nightmare of spending a year-and-a-half incarcerated for something he didn't do.

"I decided early on there was no way this was going to beat me," he said.

"You just get yourself into a state of survival.

"I was in jail for six months before I even saw a solicitor; in mainland China or Indonesia I'd probably be on death row by now.

"But there I was, facing 26 years and there was nothing I could do."

The nightmare began in April 2014 after Mr Toner, a single man, stopped off in the former British colony for 10 days en route to a holiday in Australia.

During a baggage search at Hong Kong International Airport the drugs were found in his suitcase.

"It was probably a mixture of shock and 'oh s***' when I was arrested," he said.

"If you hit me over the head with crystal meth I still wouldn't know what it was.

"I'm totally anti-drugs; never touched them in my life.

"I think that's what kept the family together; they knew I wasn't into drugs. I don't even smoke."

Despite his protests Mr Toner, a construction manager now based in Darlington, Co Durham, was charged with trafficking and banged up in the maximum security facility.

But last November Judge Kevin Zervos found that Mr Toner and five other foreigners - two men and three women - had been unaware they were carrying the narcotic and acquitted them.

The 1983 National League winner with the Mourne County revealed how writing long letters to his family back home comforted him - and how his sense of humour kept him from abject despair.

"If I hadn't a sense of humour I wouldn't have survived," said Mr Toner, the second eldest of nine children.

"I was walking up and down a room for six months not knowing what was going to happen.

"The prosecution team were supposed to produce evidence against me but they came up with nothing. When the 'evidence' was finally produced, it was complete and absolute rubbish."

The construction manager added: "I knew in my heart I'd done nothing wrong. Proving it was, however, always going to be a problem."

Mr Toner normally shared his cell with another inmate, but sometimes a third man had to be accommodated.

"You couldn't move," he said.

"You had a toilet but nothing was private. I just had to adjust."

He added: "The food was the biggest problem. It was terrible, but if you don't eat you die.

"In there I saw big, tough men crying because they weren't with their family.

"I celled with a Ukrainian who got locked up for hitting a policeman and he cried his eyes out every night to me. I told him I couldn't do that; I wouldn't let them see they were hurting me."

One of the lowest points of his incarceration was when he was sent to a local hospital after an insect bite on his back ballooned "to the size of an egg".

"They put me into the public ward and handcuffed me to the bed," he said.

"For the operation they handcuffed me to the operating theatre and they cable-tied my ankles to the bottom of it.

"I asked them where they thought I was going to go; get up and run down the streets of Hong Kong in a surgical gown? I had to laugh, and that's the only way I survived out there."

During his time inside Mr Toner looked forward to letters from his five brothers, three sisters, nieces Joanne and Eleanor and nephew Martin.

"They asked me why my letters were so full of humour and I told them that if I lost my humour I'd lose my life," he said

"I had a cycle going with the letters. It took two weeks to get one back so I wrote one every day and it ended up that I was getting one back every day for the whole 18 months."

The tide of justice began to turn for the Northern Ireland native on July 14 last year.

"A guy from Legal Aid told me a lot of things had come to light about my case and that there was something not right about the whole thing," he recalled.

"I was only allowed a phone call every two months, so I couldn't even tell my family things were looking up."

Now that the nightmare of his incarceration is over, Mr Toner said he was getting back into construction work.

"I'm going to get on with my life," he added.
A murder inquiry has been launched after a prison officer died following a bombing in Northern Ireland.

A post-mortem examination has concluded Adrian Ismay died as a direct result of the injuries sustained when the booby-trapped device detonated under his van on March 4.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Campbell, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said: "Today is yet another difficult day for the Ismay family, his friends and colleagues as they struggle to come to terms with the events of the past 12 days.

"This has been treated as a significant serious crime investigation from the outset and will continue as such."

Dissident republican group the New IRA, which opposes the peace process, said it was responsible.

The 52-year-old father-of-three suffered leg injuries and was said to be recovering well from surgery. But he was taken back into hospital on Tuesday morning and died.

One man has already been charged with attempted murder.

DCI Campbell added: "We are liaising with the Public Prosecution Service in relation to the individual who is currently charged with attempted murder and causing an explosion with intent to endanger life."

Mr Ismay, a veteran officer who had more than 28 years service with the Northern Ireland Prison Service, was married and had three grown-up girls.

He trained other guards at HMP Maghaberry near Lisburn and was based at Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre in south Belfast. He also worked as a search and rescue volunteer and spent many years with St John's ambulance.

Finlay Spratt, chairman of the Prison Officer's Association in Northern Ireland, said he believed his friend and colleague had been murdered.

"I am not surprised a murder inquiry has been started," he said.

"It is my considered opinion that Adrian was murdered.

"He was making a good recovery but we did not know the long-term consequences which were caused by that bomb under his van."

The attack happened in the Hillsborough Drive area, off Woodstock Road, a predominantly loyalist area in the east of the city, just after 7am on Friday March 4.

The New IRA claimed to have used the plastic explosive Semtex and a commercial detonator, but police have released no details.

Police have renewed appeals for information about two vehicles they believe were involved in the murder.

A red Citroen C3 - registration SKZ 6662 - is believed to have been used by those planting the device during the early hours of the morning.

A silver Skoda Fabia, with a KFZ 2352 number plate, is suspected to have been used before and after the incident by those involved.

Describing the perpetrators as "despicable," Mr Finlay confirmed that warders had been taunted by paramilitary inmates when news of the death was announced.

He said prisoners at Roe House had cheered and smoked cigars on hearing of the tragedy.

"It is a fact that happened," he said.

"They were cheering and smoking cigars because he was dead.

"That just demonstrates the type of people that we are dealing with.

"And, these are the people who talk about their human rights being violated.

"What about Adrian's human rights - was there any consideration given to him or all of the prison officers who have been killed?"

Following the attack on Mr Ismay, police commanders warned violent dissidents were trying to escalate their activities to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising - a pivotal date in the republican calendar which sparked a series of events that led to 26 counties in Ireland gaining independence from Britain.

Sue McAllister, director general of the Northern Ireland Prison Service has requested an updated assessment of the level of threat posed by dissident republicans, which has been severe for some time.
Arlene Foster said the new body would be a "great asset"

A new Advisory Council is being set up to support trade and investment between Northern Ireland and the United States.

Prominent businessmen Shaun Kelly, global chief operating officer of KPMG and John Hartnett, founder and chief executive of technology firm SVG Partners will chair the group advising the Stormont Executive on business opportunities.

The Advisory Council will operate on the east and west coasts with five or six members in each location.

It is expected to be fully operational by late spring.

New York based Mr Kelly, who is originally from Belfast, will liaise with Invest Northern Ireland about east coast openings while Mr Hartnett will advise on the west coast and Silicon Valley.

It is part of a new drive to promote Northern Ireland's lower corporation tax rate which is due to take effect from 2018 and was announced by the First and Deputy First Ministers who are visiting New York and Washington.

First Minister Arlene Foster said the new body would be a "great asset".

She said: " The Advisory Council will provide advice to ministers as we continue to grow the economy. It will also use its networks and connections to reach potential new investors to support Invest NI's drive to win even more investment for Northern Ireland.

"The US remains a vital market for Northern Ireland. It is our number one foreign direct investor with nearly 180 US companies employing over 24,000 people in Northern Ireland. It is also an important export market with Northern Ireland companies currently exporting just over 1.1 billion of goods to the US."

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "Over the last five years we have seen investments from the US grow steadily.

"With the support of the Advisory Council and the continued work by Invest (Northern Ireland) we hope to continue this trend and secure even more investment from this market."
First Minister Arlene Foster and the deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness meeting with President Obama in the Roosevelt Cabinet Room of the White House yesterday

US President Barack Obama welcomed Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness to the White House with the message: "Blessed are the peacemakers."

The First and Deputy First Ministers joined Secretary of State John Kerry, Vice President Joe Biden, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers for the annual highlight of the St Patrick's week in Washington.

The president told his guests: "As I said in Belfast, hope is contagious. And you've designed a hopeful blueprint for others to follow. You're proof of what's possible. I'm very proud that my administration has played a part in helping you to make hope one of your greatest exports."
The widow of the first PSNI officer murdered by paramilitaries has urged the family of a prison officer who died after he was targeted in a dissident republican bomb attack to "hold their heads up high".

She also voiced her disgust over reports republican prisoners gloated over the man's death.

Kate Carroll's husband Constable Stephen Carroll was shot dead after responding to an emergency call in Craigavon on March 9 2009.

Two men - Brendan McConville (40) and John Paul Wootton (20) - were later jailed for life for the murder.

Mrs Carroll told the Stephen Nolan show she was "fuming" and "disgusted" after a prison officer died in hospital on Tuesday morning eleven days after a dissident republican bomb exploded under his van in east Belfast.

Adrian Ismay a 52-year-old married father of three required surgery after an explosive device partially detonated under the van he was driving on Hillsborough Drive off the Woodstock Road just after 7am on Friday March 4 - causing a loud explosion.

The long-serving officer was based at Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre in south Belfast and worked as a trainer for new recruits to the NI Prison Service.

The man had undergone surgery and was understood to be recovering well.

But it is believed he was rushed back into hospital on Tuesday morning with a suspected heart attack and later died.

Mrs Carroll said: "My thoughts and prayers are with Mr Ismay's family this morning

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close A bomb disposal unit officer at the scene following a suspected car bomb attack on a prison officer at Hillsborough Drive on March 4, 2016 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images A bomb disposal unit officer inspects the damaged van following a suspected car bomb attack on a prison officer at Hillsborough Drive on March 4, 2016 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images The scene at the top of Hillsborough Drive off the Woodstock Road in east Belfast where a device exploded under a van resulting in one man being hospitalised. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye A man, believed to be a prison officer, has been taken to hospital after a device exploded under a van in east Belfast. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press A man, believed to be a prison officer, has been taken to hospital after a device exploded under a van in east Belfast. Picture credit  Matt Mackey - Presseye.com Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th March 2016 The scene where a man, believed to be a prison officer, has been taken to hospital after a device exploded under a van in east Belfast. It happened around the Woodstock Road at about 07:10 GMT on Friday. A man, believed to be a prison officer, has been taken to hospital after a device exploded under a van in east Belfast. The scene where a man, believed to be a prison officer, has been taken to hospital after a device exploded under a van in east Belfast. It happened around the Woodstock Road at about 07:10 GMT on Friday. The scene where a man, believed to be a prison officer, has been taken to hospital after a device exploded under a van in east Belfast. It happened around the Woodstock Road at about 07:10 GMT on Friday. A man, believed to be a prison officer, has been taken to hospital after a device exploded under a van in east Belfast. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press A man, believed to be a prison officer, has been taken to hospital after a device exploded under a van in east Belfast. The van at the scene of the car bomb in East Belfast The scene where a man, believed to be a prison officer, has been taken to hospital after a device exploded under a van in east Belfast. It happened around the Woodstock Road at about 07:10 GMT on Friday. Police seal off a large area after a device exploded under a car in east Belfast, leaving a man injured. PA Police seal off a large area after a device exploded under a car in east Belfast, leaving a man injured. Pic Lesley-Anne McKeown/PA Wire PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp A bomb disposal unit officer at the scene following a suspected car bomb attack on a prison officer at Hillsborough Drive on March 4, 2016 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

"I'm absolutely disgusted that this has taken place again and I'm sure every other single decent person in this island as well is absolutely appalled.

"Who do these people really think they are trying to hold this country ransom?

"I've had enough of living in the fear of being caught up in the mayhem these individuals try to cause.

"They have no regard to life and it's apparent in what they did."

There have been reports that republican prisoners in Maghaberry celebrated the death of Mr Ismay when news broke in the prison.

Mrs Carroll said she would like to show them the pain caused to the families of their innocent victims.

She said: "If I had anything to do with it, I would bring those people in jail into a room full of relatives of innocent people that they have killed and let them see the pain they have caused

"I am absolutely fuming.

"Why don't they have the courage of their convictions and come out on the street instead of hiding in their rat sewers.

"I am so fuming that this has gone on so long and what has it gotten? Nothing."

She continued: "It's absolutely futile. What they are doing is ruining people's lives, destroying our country."

Mrs Carroll said Mr Ismay's family will be going through "absolute hell".

She said: "From what I can remember back to the day Stephen was killed, my head was everywhere. I didn't think it was happening, I was distraught, I was just going along in a daze

"These people achieve absolutely nothing only malicious damage to people's minds"

The widow said Mr Ismay's family should "keep their heads held high".

"Don't let these people drag you further into bitterness and hatred. Stand up and publicly denounce everything they stand for," she said.
A passer-by leaves a floral tribute near the spot where the bomb went off

Prison officers are demanding the sudden death of their bomb victim colleague Adrian Ismay is treated as murder by police.

The 52-year-old died from a heart attack yesterday morning, less than two weeks after he survived a terrorist bomb attack.

It has emerged the married father-of-three was due to become a grandfather, with one of his three daughters about to give birth.

Some republican inmates at Maghaberry Prison reportedly celebrated the death by taunting warders and smoking cigars.

Detectives are awaiting the results of medical tests to see if Mr Ismay's heart attack was related to injuries he sustained when a booby-trap device exploded under his van in east Belfast on the morning of Friday, March 4.

Fellow prison officers insisted Mr Ismay's death could not be treated as anything other than murder. "They placed a bomb under his van and days later he died of a heart attack," one said. "It'd be a disgrace if police treat this as attempted murder. What sort of signal would that give out to those groups targeting us?"

Sean McCarry, a close friend of Mr Ismay who worked with him in the Community Rescue Service which searches for missing people, called him a "decent man".

He said his friend had told him he planned to retire from the Prison Service and volunteer for the charity on a full-time basis following the attempt on his life.

"Adrian didn't allow his injuries and what happened to make him bitter," he added. "He saw it as an opportunity for him to move on and help others."

First Minister Arlene Foster said she was "personally devastated" by news of Mr Ismay's death. She tweeted: "Can't believe the news. I was texting Adrian before we left for the US. He was doing well. Thoughts with his family."

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness added: "I am deeply saddened that this prison officer has lost his life. Thoughts and prayers with his wife and three daughters. These are futile acts which achieve nothing."

Justice Minister David Ford praised Mr Ismay's courage, revealing he attended a passing out parade for new recruits to the service last Friday, just a week after he was attacked. He said this contrasted with the cowardice of those who planted a bomb under his van in the dark of night.

Unionist politicians joined calls for Mr Ismay's death to be treated as murder. Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt said: "Whatever the exact cause of death, I cannot accept he would be dead if it were not for the bomb."

DUP MLA Paul Givan added: "Adrian's colleagues see this as murder. A bomb was placed under his vehicle. The intent was to murder. He had a heart attack within days. Most people will be expecting that this will be a murder investigation."

Police yesterday appealed for information about a red Citroen C3, registration SKZ 6662, which is believed to have been used by those who planted the device, in the Hillsborough Drive area of east Belfast at around 2.20am on the day the bomb exploded.

They are also looking for information about a silver Skoda Fabia, KFZ 2352, which is believed to have been used in the attack. In particular, detectives would like to hear information about any sightings of the car between 7pm on Thursday, March 3 and 4am on Friday, March 4.

The senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Richard Campbell, said police believe a male was dropped off in the Skoda Fabia in Pilot Street in the Docks area of Belfast at around 3am on March 4. He asked anyone who saw this, or who knows the identity of the man, to come forward to police.

Mr Ismay was a long-serving officer based at Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre in south Belfast. He worked as a trainer for new Prison Service recruits and had served for 28 years.

He was released from hospital last week, where he was treated for injuries sustained during the bomb attack, but he was rushed back yesterday morning after suffering a heart attack.

A dissident republican group calling itself the new IRA claimed responsibility for the attack. It said that Mr Ismay was one of a number on a list of potential targets and that the attack arose from a dispute over the treatment of dissident republican inmates in Maghaberry.

Last week, Christopher Robinson (45) from Dunmurry, Co Antrim, appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court charged with the attempted murder. The defendant was also charged with possessing an improvised explosive device with intent to endanger life.

Mr Ismay is the second prison officer to die following an attack by dissidents, after David Black, who was shot dead on the M1.

Deputy Chief Constable Drew Harris said more attacks were planned ahead of the 1916 Easter Rising commemorations, and Police Federation chairman Mark Lindsay warned those in the security forces "to exercise maximum vigilance at this dangerous time".
Three people were rushed to hospital following a serious car crash in Dromara, Co Down

Three people were rushed to hospital following a serious car crash in Dromara, Co Down.

It's understood the crash, which involved a single vehicle, happened on the Dundrum Road in the town shortly before 9pm, with police closing the road afterwards.

A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said that there were three occupants in the car and all three were injured.

Two were found to be unconscious at the scene with the condition of the third individual unknown last night.

Ambulances were dispatched to the scene from Banbridge, Downpatrick and Newcastle and took those with injuries for treatment at Royal Victoria Hospital. No further details were available.

Meanwhile, a woman in her 40s who was injured in a quad bike crash in Co Fermanagh yesterday morning has also been moved to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

She is said to have suffered serious head injuries and is in a critical condition after the 300cc Kawasaki machine she was riding crashed in Lisnarrick at around 11.25am.
A Northern Ireland woman has been reunited with the daughter who was snatched as a baby by her dad 24 years ago.

Dorothy Fowler never gave up hope of seeing Shaymaa once more.

She said: "Now I am whole again.

"It is a dream come true. It has taken me 24 years to find her and I never, ever want to let her go again."

Dorothy was just 18 and working in Greece as a nanny when she fell in love with an Egyptian man 12 years older. She quickly fell pregnant but the relationship became abusive. Despite the trauma Dorothy stayed with him and the pair later married.

She had Shaymaa in May 1989, but when it became clear her husband would not change she got a one-way ticket home to Northern Ireland when the baby was a few weeks old.

Dorothy tried to move on but her ex tracked her down to Omagh and persuaded her to give their marriage another chance.

Still just 20 and the baby 18 months old, and not wanting to deprive her of a father, she eventually agreed and they flew back to Greece. But within days Dorothy knew it was a mistake. She said: "He hadn't changed, if anything he was more violent."

Dorothy told him she was leaving again. But days later she says a group of his friends arrived and told her if she went she would be going alone. She added: "I told them I wasn't leaving without my daughter but they said if I tried to take her they would cut her head off. I was petrified."

The terrified mum was then frog-marched outside, put into a car and driven to the airport screaming for her daughter.

Dorothy said: "I couldn't take it in, I was in shock, my baby had been kidnapped but I was terrified that he would kill her if I went back. I was in a state but convinced myself that once I was in the UK and safe I could get my baby back through the courts. I sat numb in shock unable to take it in. All of my family were waiting for us at the airport but I was too upset to even explain what had happened initially. I locked myself in my flat and cried."

Dorothy was in for another shock. She had no money and did not qualify for legal aid. She contacted the British Embassy in Athens and staff searched for Shaymaa, but she was already gone. They suspected her dad had fled to Cairo, taking the baby with him.

Every legal route she took drew a blank because her daughter was out of the jurisdiction. All she had left were some clothes and photographs. She was left with no choice but to try to build a new life.

Dorothy had three more children: Dean (22), Charlene (20) and Dwayne (17). She said: "I loved them dearly but, of course, they didn't replace my daughter."

Then, in 2004, she got a call from the British Embassy telling her there had been a sighting of her now 15-year-old daughter in Cairo.

With renewed hope Dorothy appealed in the UK Press for help and raised 15,000 by taking out loans and credit cards to fly back to search for her.

She explained: "It was my first ray of hope in 13 years. I would have done anything to get there." Dorothy spent day and night searching the streets with staff from the Embassy but there was no news of Shaymaa.

For 10 years she had no choice but to live her life. She had daughter Miriam (5) with another partner, but the relationship failed.

Then last August, just as she was giving up hope of ever seeing Shaymaa again, the phone rang. It was her girl's father. He said he would tell her where to find their daughter if she helped him get a British passport.

Dorothy added: "I knew I couldn't do that but decided to play along in the hope that I might get information." The pair spoke daily for weeks before he gave out the number in October.

When Dorothy and her daughter had that first, very emotional conversation, Shaymaa told her she lived in Egypt with her husband and three sons and had nothing to do with her father.

She said he had taken her there as a baby and dumped her to be raised by his sister. Shaymaa had not seen her father for 24 years. Dorothy said: "We laughed and we cried and talked, the bond was there instantly. She did not blame me, there was no anger. Her English was quite good."

Weeks later Dorothy flew to Egypt with Charlene and Miriam. They were driven to a house in a village. Shaymaa came outside and ran towards it and the women hugged for the first time. Dorothy said: "We were both crying. I was shaking. It was overwhelming. She looked just like me."

Over the next few days they got to know each other better and after three weeks the mum flew home. Dorothy said: "I have been denied that for so many years and I am determined to make up for it."

Dorothy is fundraising to help bring Shaymaa back to the UK. To support her visit gofundme.com/mc9qfnxg <https://www.gofundme.com/mc9qfnxg>
A British academic says he is being deported from Turkey after being found with invitations to Kurdish New Year celebrations.

Chris Stephenson, a computer sciences lecturer at Bilgi Unviersity in Istanbul, told The Associated Press that he was detained on Tuesday at a court where he was supporting three fellow academics charged with making terrorist propaganda.

He said he was arrested by police after security guards discovered the invitations in his bag.

Speaking moments before his departure from Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport Mr Stephenson told The Associated Press there had been "no offence, no trial, just an administrative decision to deport me after 25 years of residency in Turkey".

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are providing assistance to a British national who was arrested in Istanbul on March 15 2016, and will remain in close contact with the local authorities."

Kemal Tuncaelli, Mr Stephenson's lawyer, told The Associated Press the lecturer had been accused of "making terror propaganda" and said they plan to appeal the decision to deport him.

Mr Stephenson, who is married to a Turkish national and has a 13-year-old daughter, said he was "gutted" and denied supporting terrorism.

"In no way was I supporting terrorism. I was supporting a peaceful solution."

He said the invitations found in his bag were issued by the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party, and featured a reference to Kurdish self-determination and a small picture of a barricade.

His arrest comes just days after a suicide bomb in Ankara killed 37 people.

Authorities have blamed the attack on a female Kurdish rebel.
George Osborne has unveiled a new sugary drinks tax to fight childhood obesity, as he blamed a "dangerous cocktail" of risks from the global economy for derailing his fiscal plans.

The independent Office for Budget Responsibility upgraded borrowing forecasts by a total of 56 billion over the coming five years, forcing the Chancellor to announce an additional 3.5 billion in spending cuts to keep alive his hope of hitting his target of getting the nation's books into surplus by 2019.

Delivering one of his most difficult Budgets yet, the Chancellor was forced to admit that Government debt will rise as a proportion of GDP this year - breaking a key rule he had set himself - and growth forecasts have been sharply revised down.

But Mr Osborne was able to deliver a freeze in fuel duty for the sixth successive year, and gave tax cuts to millions of families by raising the income tax personal allowance to 11,500 and the higher 40p rate to 45,000 next year.

There were also boosts for business, with 600,000 small companies taken out of rates altogether and a cut in corporation tax from 20% to 17% by 2020. And Mr Osborne sought populist applause by freezing duties on beer, spirits and most ciders.

A new Lifetime Isa will help under-40s save for their first homes, with a 25% bonus from the Government on up to 4,000 of savings a year.

But the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies thinktank said that overall the Budget delivered "measures that will increase tax revenues and cut spending". IFS programme director Gemma Tetlow told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "The big picture is weaker economic performance meaning that the underlying forecast for borrowing increases really quite significantly".

The independent Office for Budget Responsibility said that signs of a pick-up in productivity growth which allowed the Chancellor to deliver a sunny Autumn Statement in November had turned out to be a "false dawn", as it downgraded its growth estimates for this year from 2.4% to 2% and next year from 2.4% to 2.2%

Confirmation that the fiscal rule had been broken came as Mr Osborne revealed that debt was now expected to be 82.6% of GDP in 2016/17 rather than 81.7%. The OBR also pushed up its forecast for 2017/18, from 79.9% to 81.3%, and for 2019-20 from 77.3% to 79.9%. By 2020-21 it will be 3.4% higher than previously expected at 74.7%.

The deficit - the amount the Government spends above what it takes in - is forecast to fall next year to 2.9%, rather than the 2.5% anticipated before.

Mr Osborne insisted the UK was "well placed" to handle the worldwide slowdown and said that the Government would "act now so we don't pay later".

Despite the turbulence, Mr Osborne said the Government still expected to record a slightly larger overall surplus by 2019-20 than previously predicted, at 10.4 billion.

"In this Budget we choose the long term," said the Chancellor. "We choose to put the next generation first. Sound public finances to deliver security, lower taxes on business and enterprise to create jobs, reform to improve schools, investment to build homes and infrastructure - because we know that's the only way to deliver real opportunity and social mobility.

"And we know that the best way we can help working people is to help them to save and let them keep more of the money they earn."

In comments likely to enrage Tory Eurosceptics, the Chancellor used the platform of his parliamentary set-piece to warn that leaving the EU was one of the biggest risks to the UK's future. He also dragged the OBR into the referendum row, quoting the independent watchdog as agreeing that Brexit would lead to "disruptive uncertainty".

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described Mr Osborne's Budget as the culmination of "six years of his failures" and said it had "unfairness at its very core" because it offered Capital Gains Tax cuts for the rich at a time when disabled people are losing benefits.

And Liberal Democrats accused the Chancellor of smuggling in a cut "by the back door" as he revealed public sector employers will have to increase their contributions to unfunded pension schemes - such as those operated for the Army, NHS staff, and teachers.

Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA, which represents senior civil servants, said the move would effectively transfer 2 billion a year from public services to the Treasury from 2019/20 in what he branded "a political con trick that can only further damage public services".

A series of major infrastructure projects were outlined, including the HS3 train project and Crossrail 2, while tolls on the Severn Crossings between England and Wales are to be halved by 2018.

And Mr Osborne confirmed the widely-trailed announcement that all schools will be expected to be on track to become academies by 2022.

But the most eye-catching news was the new tax on sweet drinks from 2018, which will see companies charged according to the level of sugar in their products. The 520 million raised will be used to help support primary school sport.

The levy was welcomed by health campaigners including TV chef Jamie Oliver - who tweeted the message "We did it!" to supporters - but sent shares in soft drinks companies tumbling on the stock exchange.

CBI director general, Carolyn Fairbairn, said: "After a year of surprises, this was a stable Budget for business facing global stormy waters. The Chancellor has listened to our concerns about the mounting burden on firms and chosen to back business to grow the economy out of the deficit."

But Len McCluskey, general secretary of the Unite union, said Mr Osborne had been exposed as a "one-trick chancellor - and his one trick is to cut because he refuses to act to grow our economy".

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the Chancellor's economic credibility was "completely shot through" because he had been unable to meet his own targets.

Mr McDonnell said it was "morally reprehensible" that of total savings of almost 4.2 billion due by 2020/21, 1.3 billion would come from the cuts to personal independence payments for disabled people. Labour would restore the 20p corporation tax rate and ditch Mr Osborne's surplus target, he said.
Camilla and Charles watch traditional dancers performing in Tvrda, the old town of the city of Osijek in eastern Croatia

A leading music scholar was moved to tears when the Prince of Wales visited the biggest Orthodox temple in the Balkans on the first day of a two-day visit to Belgrade.

Charles met Professor Dimitrije Stefanovic at St Sava Temple and was treated to some medieval music.

Prof Stefanovic warmly shook the Prince's hand, becoming very emotional as he thanked him for visiting the spiritual temple of Serbian believers.

Two choristers performed a selection of music for the Prince before they joined Prof Stefanovic to sing a song specially written for Charles's visit.

The performances took place in the temple's crypt - which is yet to be completed - and there were fresco artists painting as the Prince was told about the detailed work that had gone into the building.

Crowds of well-wishers gathered to see the Prince as he left the temple to the ringing of bells. He took some time to shake hands with some members of the public, many of whom had applauded and cheered upon catching sight of him.

Earlier in the day Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall attended a memorial ceremony at Belgrade New Cemetery.

To mark the occasion, the Prince wore an RAF tie, veterans badge and the shoes issued to him when he joined the RAF in March 1971.

The memorial is above an underground crypt in which the bodies of 4,603 known and unknown soldiers have been laid to rest.

Shortly after the event, the Prince and President Tomislav Nikolic attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery.

They were led into the site by a piper from the Royal Irish Regiment, and greeted by a British military band.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Prince asked Mr Nikolic to pause for a short time so he could pay his respects. After the wreath laying, the Last Post was played and a short prayer was said.

Crowds lined the streets as the royal couple made their way to Kalemegdan Fortress where they took in the view of the confluence of the River Danube and the River Sava.

The Duchess then left to make her way to an event at Zvecanska Children's Home where she was due to meet representatives of Unicef and the Djokovic Foundation.

Charles continued to walk in the sunshine towards the Roman Well, through the King's Gate, along the Sava Promenade and up the Grand Staircases towards the Victor Monument.

He stopped briefly at a World War One exhibition before walking on to Princess Ljubica's residence.

The building is one of a few that survived the first reign of Prince Milos Obrenovic, and was built between 1829 and 1831. Members of the public excitedly hurried to get photos of the Prince, some applauding as he passed by.

He was greeted at the residence by the Choir of the Jewish Community in Belgrade. He was then invited to take a seat in the Divan room to engage in an inter-faith dialogue with representatives from Serbia's Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities.
A passer-by leaves a floral tribute near the spot where the bomb went off

Adrian Ismay who died yesterday, 12 days after a bomb exploded under his van

"Deeply saddened to hear prison officer injured in bomb attack in Belfast on March 4 has died. Thoughts with father-of-three's family."

Prime Minister David Cameron

"I am personally devastated to hear this news this morning.

"Of course what we must do is support [ Chief Constable] George [Hamilton] and his colleagues to make sure that those who tried to murder this man are brought to justice

"I had been in touch with this prison officer after his trauma and he had indicated that he was doing well and it is just so, so sad to hear this morning that he has passed away."

First Minister Arlene Foster

"I'm deeply saddened that this prison officer has lost his life.

"Obviously first and foremost my thoughts and prayers are with his wife and three daughters

"These are futile acts that will achieve absolutely nothing."

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness

"I am shocked and saddened to hear of the death of this prison officer.

"My thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family."

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers

"Adrian Ismay gave over 28 years of service to prisons in Northern Ireland and he was greatly respected by all those who knew him.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time."

Justice Minister David Ford and Prison Service director-general Sue McAllister

"We must continue to work at all levels to copper fasten a future for Northern Ireland that is committed to the democratic process and the rule of law and is free from violence and intimidation."

Taoiseach Enda Kenny

"A very sad day indeed for Northern Ireland and for everyone who wants to see progress and peace continue.

"Yet another family unnecessarily traumatised and grief brought to bear upon them as a result of people using violence in this way, which is just entirely inexcusable."

PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton

"In offering my deepest sympathy and condolences to them, I pray that they would know God's love and comfort at this intensely difficult time."

Presbyterian Moderator, Rev Dr Ian McNie

"I am deeply saddened by the death of Prison Officer Adrian Ismay and wish to express my sincere and heartfelt condolences to his family. I pray that they would be deeply aware of God's grace, consolation and blessing, and ask for continued support for them in prayer in the days that lie ahead. The attack on Prison Officer Ismay was a deplorable and terrible act.

"I commend all those who serve in the Northern Ireland Prison Service on behalf of our community. They deserve our fullest support."

Rt Rev Harold Miller, Church of Ireland Bishop of Down and Dromore

I was shocked upon receiving the tragic news of the death of Mr Adrian Ismay. I extend my deepest condolences and my prayerful support to his family in their grief and to his colleagues within the Prison Service at this extremely difficult time.

As a society, let us be more determined than ever to work for peace and for the good of each other. The future of Northern Ireland can only find its foundation in community engagement and political dialogue rather than through the senseless and destructive pursuit of violence.

Noel Treanor, Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor

"I am devastated to hear of the death of prison officer Adrian Ismay.

"My thoughts are with his family and friends and all who put on a uniform to keep us safe.

"Whatever the exact cause of death, I cannot accept he would be dead if it were not for the bomb.

"Those with knowledge of the perpetrators must come forward."

Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt

"News of the death of Adrian Ismay, a prison officer who was targeted in a bomb attack in east Belfast last week, is a huge blow to all of us who have stood against those with such murderous intent.

"My thoughts and the thoughts of the SDLP are with Adrian's family and friends at this very difficult time.

"Violent dissident republicanism has declared its intent to escalate a campaign of murder and mayhem. Today we must all make a declaration of our intent to escalate our response. We will not be bullied, we will not be dragged back and we will not be broken.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MLA

"I am stunned and deeply saddened to learn that the prison officer from my constituency has passed away.

"It will not just be the people of east Belfast who share in this grief, but also everyone in Northern Ireland.

"Mr Ismay has lost his life at the hands of terrorist murderers simply because he chose a career working in the service of our community. He was not just a brave and dedicated prison officer, but most importantly he was a loving husband and father."

Gavin Robinson, East Belfast MP

"You will have many of the critics of the peace process on the airwaves during the year and then once an attack takes place where somebody is killed or severely injured they disappear. They need to come out, they need to explain themselves and they need to be open to challenge."

Sinn Fein MLA John O'Dowd

"It was thought that he was making a good recovery.

"I don't know what he suffered but he's dead and it is very hard to come to terms with."

Finlay Spratt, chairman of the Prison Officers' Association

"Adrian was the father of three grown-up daughters and had over 28 years' service with the Prison Service.

"He was greatly respected by all those who knew him.

"Our deepest sympathy is with Adrian's family, friends and colleagues at this sad time."

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Campbell

"We need action now to round up for whatever reason all those people that the security forces believe would make us safer if they were no longer roaming and able to take innocent lives."

Ukip leader in Northern Ireland David McNarry MLA

"This was a callous and cowardly attack on the entire community.

"We must work together to reject those who would wish to return Northern Ireland to the days when these heinous attacks were commonplace. Their futile agenda will not succeed. We best honour Adrian's memory by redoubling our efforts to build a truly peaceful future for the people of Northern Ireland."

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan

"I am devastated at this news and my thoughts are with Mr Ismay's family.

"Violence is never the answer and I utterly condemn this mindless, needless attack."

Steven Agnew MLA, Green Party

"Our hearts go out to Adrian Ismay's family.

"They will be experiencing the dreadful pain of loss, and I know they will have the support of the extended family circle, Prison Service colleagues and of course the wider community.

"He was doing an essential job for this entire community when dissident republicans singled him out. The plain and simple truth is that there can never be any justification for such cowardly actions.

"A man's life is lost for a futile cause and a whole family is plunged into grief."

Mark Lindsay, chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland
Prince Harry, royal patron of MapAction, attends a briefing to learn more about the charity's response to the Nepal disaster ahead of his tour there

Prince Harry, royal patron of MapAction, attends a briefing to learn more about the charity's response to the Nepal earthquake

Prince Harry has said he hopes his forthcoming trip to Nepal will "shine a light" on the country as it rebuilds following last year's devastating earthquake.

Nearly 9,000 people were killed during the earthquake and aftershocks that struck the country last year and almost a million houses and buildings were damaged.

The prince said the least Britain could do was support the nation's tourist industry and visit as Nepalese men had been fighting alongside British forces since the 19th century.

His comments came during a Kensington Palace reception with members of MapAction, a humanitarian emergency response organisation which helps co-ordinate relief efforts in disaster areas.

It has successfully deployed to dozens of emergency missions since it was launched over 10 years ago, recently working in Sierra Leone during he Ebola epidemic and sending a team to Nepal when the earthquake struck last April.

Harry, MapAction's patron, listened to a briefing about the organisation's work in Nepal and told the volunteers that whenever a disaster strikes there is a "huge amount of interest" before people move on to the next thing.

Speaking about his first visit to Nepal which begins at the weekend, he said: "I think, hopefully, by doing this trip it will shine a spotlight back on the issue, and people will realise that there's still a hell of a lot needs to be done.

"But everyone should know the locals will do their very best to turn the country around, given the opportunity."

Hundreds of thousands are still homeless, living in tents and huts, and they faced the harsh winter weather in Nepal's mountain villages.

Last December, the Nepalese parliament approved laws allowing the government to spend billions of dollars pledged by foreign donors on home reconstruction.

But it has been criticised for delays to the new laws and the formation of a reconstruction authority because of disagreements among political parties about who would head the agency.

During his five-day visit, Harry will meet people rebuilding their lives after the earthquake to learn about the work to restore historic buildings and efforts to prepare for future disasters.

The prince has long wanted to visit the country largely due to his admiration and respect for the Gurkha troops - men from Nepal - he served with in Afghanistan.

Harry added: "Everyone that's been to Nepal says amazing things and the more we can encourage people to go - it's that question of 'Nepal is here now'.

"Since World War One, World War Two - way before that - we've had the Nepalese army, the Gurkhas, helping us out, so the least we can do is repay the favour."
The court was told that the toddler now displays a different personality to before the attack.

A man who tried to rape a toddler and sexually assaulted two other children has been jailed for 14 years.

Michael Fletcher, who has been described as having mild learning difficulties, admitted trying to rape a two-year-old girl.

He also admitted raping an eight-year-old boy and sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl.

The offences were committed between 2007 and 2015.

Fletcher, described as a dangerous offender by the judge, must serve two-thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole.

He will also be put on license for a further eight years and must sign on to the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

In addition, he will be subject to a Sexual Harm Behaviour Order indefinately.

Your offending is extremely serious," said Judge Andrew Hatton at Liverpool Crown Court, the Liverpool Echo reported.

Trevor Parry-Jones, prosecuting, said that while Fletcher had made initial denials about the accusations, he later went on to admit the offences.

Mr Jones said that the attempted rape of a toddler was discovered after the girl complained of pain to her mother and told her what had occurred.

The court was told that the toddler now displays a different personality to before the attack. She is reportedly now behaving in a sexualised manner, in addition to being withdrawn and wary of men.

It was only when Fletcher was investigated for the attempted rape of the toddler that his other crimes were discovered, the court was told.

Fletcher, who has a three year-old son but is no longer with the mother, was living in a residential centre in Pemberton, Wigan when the crimes were discovered, Wigan Today reported.

He utterly struggles to articulate his thoughts and feelings, said David Morton, defending, adding that Fletcher had no previous convictions.

He knew it was wrong but was unable to express himself why he had allowed his behaviour to progress into criminality."
Donald Trump has warned Republicans there will be riots if the party tries to block him becoming its presidential nomination.

With at least three more states in his win column, Mr Trump is now the only candidate with a path to clinching the Republican nomination before the party's convention in July.

But he must still do better in upcoming contests to get the necessary 1,237 delegates, leaving some opponents with faint hope he can still be stopped.

In the US primary system, voters in each state determine how many delegates each candidate receives and the delegates then vote for the nominees at the conventions where each party selects its candidate.

"I still think it's a very realistic chance that nobody's going to have a majority of the delegates," said Henry Barbour, a senior Republican National Committee member who worked on Marco Rubio's delegate strategy until the Florida senator exited the race on Tuesday.

Mr Barbour said Mr Trump "doesn't deserve to be president", but also said he could ultimately support the billionaire if he "can convince me that he's presidential material".

Mr Trump cautioned that his supporters would revolt if he falls just short in the delegate count and loses in a rules fight.

"If you just disenfranchise these people, I think you would have problems like you've never seen before," he said.

Despite the deep concerns about Mr Trump within the Republican Party, there was little tangible action that indicated a way to stop the businessman's march towards the general election.

There was no rush among party leaders or donors to coalesce around senator Ted Cruz, the only candidate in the race with a long-shot chance of overtaking Mr Trump in the delegate count. A small group of conservatives moved forward with plans to meet on Thursday to discuss the prospect of rallying behind a third-party option, but no candidate had been identified to lead that effort.

Meanwhile, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton set her sights on a November showdown with Mr Trump. Her sweep of Tuesday's five primary contests was a harsh blow to rival Bernie Sanders, giving Mrs Clinton what her campaign manager described as an "insurmountable lead" in the delegate count.

"We are confident that for the first time in our nation's history, the Democratic Party will nominate a woman as their presidential nominee," Robby Mook wrote in a memo to supporters.

Mrs Clinton has at least 1,599 delegates to Sanders's 844. It takes 2,383 to win the Democratic nomination.

Mr Trump urged Republicans to view the party's nominating contest with the same sense of clarity. During a round of calls to morning television shows, he said some of the same Republican senators who publicly criticise him have called him privately to say they want to "become involved" in his campaign eventually. He also picked up an endorsement on Wednesday from Florida Governor Rick Scott.

Mr Trump also effectively killed the next Republican debate scheduled for Monday in Utah, saying "we've had enough debates". After Ohio Governor John Kasich said he would not debate without Mr Trump on stage, host Fox News scrapped the event.

Mr Trump has won 47% of the Republican delegates awarded so far, according to the Associated Press delegate count. He needs to win 54% of the remaining delegates to clinch the nomination by the time the primary season ends on June 7.
Macedonia's president says Greece is not being cooperative on the immigration crisis following a large influx of refugees into his country on Monday.

Gjorge Ivanov convened a meeting of the National Security Council late on Tuesday, and afterwards told the press that Greece should stop allowing migrants to reach the boundary between the two nations.

About 14,000 people are stuck in a muddy tent city at the Idomeni crossing, on the Greek side of the border, hoping that Macedonia will allow them through on their journey to Europe's prosperous heartland.

About 1,500 bypassed a fence on Monday to enter Macedonia, but were detained and forced back into Greece - with violence according to some refugees. Macedonia has rejected the claims.

Mr Ivanov called for better cooperation between Macedonian and Greek security services.

Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency says more than one million people have crossed into Greece alone since the start of 2015.

UNHCR figures show more than 143,500 people - mostly Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans - have reached Greece from Turkey this year through March 14.

A calculation of agency figures Wednesday shows total land and sea arrivals into Greece were 1,000,229 since January 1, 2015.

UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration had previously reported that more than one million people reached Europe overall last year, but that included arrivals across the central Mediterranean route from Libya to Italy.

The new figures show how much Greece has borne the brunt of the influx. UNHCR has repeatedly appealed to the European Union to take a more coordinated approach in handling the influx.

Italy's coast guard said about 2,500 people have been rescued in more than a dozen operations over the past two days. Three bodies also have been recovered.

The numbers mark a dramatic increase in rescue operations in the Straits of Sicily after a recent lull in crossings to Italy from Libya as the migrant Balkan route has taken centre stage.

In years past, the warmer weather and calmer seas of spring and summer have often meant a surge in smuggling activity from north Africa toward Italy.

The coast guard said 1,467 people in a dozen rubber boats were rescued in different operations on Wednesday involving Italian and Norwegian vessels participating in the EU's Frontex patrol operation. On Tuesday, another 951 migrants were rescued.
The US Secret Service has apologised to Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams for denying him entry into the White House during his St Patrick's Day visit.

In a statement on Wednesday, a spokesman said: "The Secret Service would like to express our regret that the issue involving Mr Gerry Adams entry into the St. Patricks Day reception could not be resolved in a more timely manner.

"Unfortunately, an administrative input error received by the Secret Service was not able to be rectified promptly."

Mr Adams was in Washington on Tuesday evening to attend the Irish community's annual St Patrick's Day reception at the White House, Irish Central has reported.

A Sinn Fein spokesman said there was an issue at the door, but he eventually got in where he met actor Richard Gere.

In a statement, the Sinn Fein president described his treatment as an unacceptable development.

"I had received my usual invitation to attend the St Patricks Day celebrations in the White House and was pleased to accept," he said.

When I arrived the staff at the White House informed me that there was an issue of security. After two decades of travelling back and forth to the USA and countless meetings in the White House with successive US Presidents, this is an unacceptable development.

It is obvious that there remain some within the US administration who seek to treat Sinn Fein differently.

Some of our political representatives have been denied access to the USA while others, including myself, have to regularly go through additional searches and scrutiny when we travel to and from the USA.

Last year the State Department initially refused to meet me as part of a transparent effort to pressurise Sinn Fein during negotiations at Stormont.

That meeting did take place after protests from US political leaders. Efforts to pressurise us in the negotiations failed.

This morning Martin McGuinness, Mary Lou McDonald and I met with the Congressional Friends of Ireland. They too shared our grave disappointment at the White House situation and expressed their determination to have this issue resolved.

My invite 2

The White House. Just saying. pic.twitter.com/0fGax1LMhB  Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) March 16, 2016

Sinn Fein will not sit at the back of the bus for anyone. We are elected to represent citizens and we will do this. I am hopeful that the controversy around my White House invitation will help lead to a resolution of all these matters.

The US authorities have not yet explained why Mr Adams was excluded from the event.

Mr Adams was reportedly pulled aside from other Sinn Fein personnel as he arrived at the White House alongside party vice-president Mary Lou McDonald.

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According to the Irish Central, an aide to Congressman Ritchie Neal said the the Sinn Fein leader's exclusion would be immediately addressed.

Mr Adams is known to face what is called 'secondary inspection' when boarding planes to the US and accordingly is in the habit of arriving early for flights.

However, problems with entry to the White House are unheard of in recent years.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is believed to have entered the function unhindered.

Irish Central also reported that in his remarks President Obama lamented he was holding his last St Patricks Day party and referred to Irish immigrants on Famine ships and blacks on slave ships and stated he was delighted that his daughters would have different ethnic backgrounds to explore.

For his part, Enda Kenny thanked Obama for his help and support for Ireland over the past seven years and stated there would always be a place in Irelands heart for him.
Troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces prepare to fire mortars on ISIL positions on the frontline on November 11, 2015 near Hasaka, in the autonomous region of Rojava, Syria. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Female Kurdish troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces speak in a forward operating base overlooking the frontline on November 10, 2015 near the ISIL-held town of Hole in the autonomous region of Rojava, Syria. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Female Troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces take up positions near the frontline on November 10, 2015 near the ISIL-held town of Hole in the autonomous region of Rojava, Syria. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces head towards the frontline on November 9, 2015 near the Isis-held town of Hole in the autonomous region of Rojava, Syria. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces are moving closer to the gates of Raqqa, Isis's de-facto capital in Syria, reports say.

The armed groups, made up mostly of Kurds from the YPG and YPJ fighting units, along with Arabs and Christians, are now 20 miles from Raqqa, Sky News reports.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been celebrating a string of victories as they reclaim villages from Isis control.

In the hopes of retaking communities from Isis those suspected of being Isis militants are arrested and men are often taken aside for questioning.

Expand Close HOLE, SYRIA - NOVEMBER 10: Female troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces discuss frontline positions from a forward operating base on November 10, 2015 near the ISIL-held town of Hole in the autonomous region of Rojava, Syria. The coalition of forces, primarily Kurdish, are attacking ISIL extremists in the area near the Iraqi border and calling in airstrikes from U.S.-led coalition warplanes. The autonomous region of Rojava in northern Syria has become a bulwark against the Islamic State. The Rojava armed forces, with the aid of U.S. airstrikes and weapons, are retaking territory which had earlier been captured much by ISIL from the Syrian regime. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp HOLE, SYRIA - NOVEMBER 10: Female troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces discuss frontline positions from a forward operating base on November 10, 2015 near the ISIL-held town of Hole in the autonomous region of Rojava, Syria. The coalition of forces, primarily Kurdish, are attacking ISIL extremists in the area near the Iraqi border and calling in airstrikes from U.S.-led coalition warplanes. The autonomous region of Rojava in northern Syria has become a bulwark against the Islamic State. The Rojava armed forces, with the aid of U.S. airstrikes and weapons, are retaking territory which had earlier been captured much by ISIL from the Syrian regime. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

With the help of coalition air strikes, the soldiers advanced from al-Shaddadi to link up with a second group from the SDF, who were attacking from Saluk, near the Turkish border.

The move cut off nearly 4,000 square miles of Isis land.

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Expand Close Troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces prepare to fire mortars on ISIL positions on the frontline on November 11, 2015 near Hasaka, in the autonomous region of Rojava, Syria. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces prepare to fire mortars on ISIL positions on the frontline on November 11, 2015 near Hasaka, in the autonomous region of Rojava, Syria. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

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Rizgar Serekani, an SDF commander, told Sky News: "We're trying to create a barrier between here and Raqqa, to stop Isis movement and clear the area of all Isis."

Expand Close Kurdish female troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces stand in a forward operating base overlooking the frontline on November 10, 2015 near the ISIL-held town of Hole in the autonomous region of Rojava, Syria. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Kurdish female troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces stand in a forward operating base overlooking the frontline on November 10, 2015 near the ISIL-held town of Hole in the autonomous region of Rojava, Syria. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Raqqa was captured by Isis forces in August 2014 and has since acted as the group's headquarters in Syria.

Syrian government forces, backed by air strikes, recently took rebel ground around Aleppo and said they were poised to advance on Raqqa.

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Expand Close A Kurdish female soldier from the Syrian Democratic Forces rests from frontline action at a forward operating base on November 10, 2015 near the ISIL-held town of Hole in the autonomous region of Rojava, Syria. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp A Kurdish female soldier from the Syrian Democratic Forces rests from frontline action at a forward operating base on November 10, 2015 near the ISIL-held town of Hole in the autonomous region of Rojava, Syria. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
Unlike Chief Constable George Hamilton, most people in Northern Ireland won't need to wait for medical records to confirm that the death of a prison officer on Tuesday morning was murder.

The majority of the population will immediately hold the New IRA solely responsible for the 52-year-old passing away less than two weeks after he sustained his serious injuries when a bomb under his van exploded.

And although Adrian Ismay's death was linked in a New IRA statement to the ongoing disputes in Maghaberry jail between the prison authorities and dissident republican inmates, most observers, especially those who lived through the Troubles, will see it as part of a wider picture, of a means to ratchet up violence in the run-up to the 1916 centenary commemorations across Ireland.

Their targeting of the officer also underlines again that despite their relatively and mercifully low kill rate, the armed republican dissidents have an intelligence-gathering capacity that reaches well beyond their own areas into loyalist and unionist zones.

The overwhelming majority of those taking part or looking forward to the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising will object strongly to any hint or suggestion of a possible link between the rebels who "were out in '16" and the 21st century hardline republicans who target prison officers as well as police and troops in Northern Ireland.

The latters' detractors will point out that eventually the rebel leaders won widespread, albeit retrospective, support in the 1918 general election and created a kind of back-reference legitimacy for their revolt against the British Empire.

In addition, the current critics of dissident republican violence will argue that even someone so dedicated to the cause such as Patrick Pearse decided to surrender to the British less than a week later because he was concerned about the mounting toll of civilian casualties in Dublin during Easter Week.

Yet, from the viewpoint of the republican dissidents, there is a cold, hard logic to their claim to be continuing the "unfinished business" of 1916.

They in turn can point out that the rebels were in fact an armed minority who not only defied the political line of John Redmond's Nationalists but also its military wing, the Volunteers, the majority of whom stuck with Eoin McNeill's order to the force set up to defend Home Rule against Lord Carson's UVF that they should not take part in the rebellion.

The dissidents will remind their critics on the nationalist side today that the insurgents were angrily jeered at by a large number of Dubliners for help wreaking so much death and destruction in a city where at the time many of their sons, husbands, brothers, cousins, neighbours and lovers were fighting in Irish regiments on the Western Front.

The counter-counter argument to this is that Pearse himself, whom despite his obsession with blood sacrifice and Celtic martyrdom, had a much more realistic attitude to the north compared to some other rebel leaders back then.

Part of the reason why there was no so rising of any substance in the north was because Pearse ordered that there be no widespread insurrection in that part of the island, fearing as he did a bloody reaction by the heavily armed and by now, in many cases, battle hardened unionists.

Subsequent "armed struggles" from the Border campaign of 1956-62 to the 30-year campaign of violence by the Provisionals have all failed because they faced a far more immovable object than the British Army alone - widespread unionist opposition to their goals.

Nonetheless, this will hardly prevent the various factions of dissident republicanism from attempting over the next week or so from mounting other murderous attacks across Northern Ireland.

Because their struggle isn't just with the Northern Ireland Prison Service, the officers who man the jails or the police who have successfully put so many of them behind bars of late.

Their "war" is also one of who controls historic legacy; of who can boast about being the true believers, the authentic inheritors of the physical force tradition.

And within these battles are caught the likes of Adrian Ismay and his grieving family, who are denied the basic human right to live for Ireland (whether that be the Republic or Northern Ireland), rather than without any consent whatsoever, to die for it.
The headset will go on sale in October priced at 349 (Sony)

Pre-orders for PlayStation VR, Sony's upcoming virtual reality headset for the PS4, have sold out on Amazon within 10 minutes of becoming available.

The headsets, which cost 350, were available to pre-order on Amazon UK from 11AM on 16 March. By 11:10AM, they had all sold out.

The lucky gamers who managed to place their order within the 10-minute window should receive their devices on launch day, currently scheduled for October 2016.

Pre-orders are now available on the site again, but there's no details on when buyers will get the headsets this time - suggesting later customers might theirs after the launch date. Amazon has also said their pre-orders are limited to one per customer, due to limited stock.

There's still other places to get your orders in, while they last. The headset is available to pre-order on GAME's website, along with a 390 bundle which includes the PlayStation Camera, a neccessary purchase if you want the PlayStation VR to work.

You can also pre-order the device in one of GAME's high-street shops, but you'll need to put down a 100 deposit first.

Pre-orders are also available from GameStop UK, who don't appear to have sold out yet. It's also set to be sold at Argos, although they're only letting customers register their interest at the moment.

Naturally, it'll be available from other retailers after launch.

It's no wonder that gamers have rushed to pre-order the headset - its price makes it far cheaper than its main competitors in the world of high-end VR, the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive.

In fact, buying a brand-new PlayStation 4, the PlayStation VR headset and the camera would cost you less than the Vive alone. That's not counting the hefty price of the powerful gaming PC you'd need to run the Vive or Rift.

With a low price, some impressive-looking launch games, compatibility with an inexpensive and widely-used console and an established stable of developers working inside the PlayStation ecosystem (there's apparently already 160 games in development for the platform), it looks like the PlayStation VR could be the headset to beat this year.
Urban legend has it that during one of the worst hurricanes in U.S. history, a band of people were partying on the third floor of the Richelieu Manor Apartments in Pass Christian, Mississippi, ground zero for the storm. As the storm approached, feeling invincible and determined to ride out the storm, the apartment dwellers through a party. When a police officer asked them to evacuate, they refused and continued to party. The storm hit, destroyed the building and they died.

This urban legend is reminiscent of King Belshazzar partying in Daniel 5. Feeling invincible due to his power and accomplishments, in an act of blasphemy, the King used stolen items from the temple in Jerusalem to drink and eat during his orgy. But while the crowd was feasting, fingers of a mans hand appeared on the wall and wrote something the king could not understand.

When Daniel interpreted the message, it wasnt good news for the prideful king who mocked Daniels God and worshipped idols. Basically, God told the king that his days were numbered, he wasnt all that powerful and that his kingdom would be divided. The King was killed that night and his kingdom divided. God dealt with the King who willfully mocked and ignored Him.

How often do we ignore God? Like Belshazzar, do we feel invincible, know what is right, but continue to live our own way? Yes, I know cohabiting is not right, but or I know I shouldnt gossip, but it is so easy to do. Or maybe, I had to lie to protect my reputation. A little cheating wont matter because the government cheats me.

The handwriting is on the wall. God will expose a heart that is divided-one that serves him only when it is convenient. When God writes His truth on our heart, we need to listen. Our days are numbered. We arent as powerful as we think. One day, we answer to God. If we put our trust in anything other than God, it will fail. In todays time, we want to stand firm in the midst of the cultural storm, not giving in to prideful self-reliance, thinking we can live our lives apart from God and be OK.

God is looking for those who can read the handwriting on the wall and put Him first.
V. Sankar is treated at a hospital after being attacked in Udumalpet, Tamil Nadu, March 13, 2016.

V. Sankar paid with his life for marrying a woman belonging to a higher caste.

On Sunday, the 22-year-old engineering student from south Indias Tamil Nadu state was out shopping with his wife, Kausalya, 19, in Udumalpet, some 430 km (270 miles) from Chennai, when three machete-wielding men attacked the couple in broad daylight.

Sankar was killed and Kausalya critically injured in the assault, which was caught on closed-circuit cameras, as dozens of onlookers stood by.

Police said they were investigating the attack as a likely incident of honor killing, in which couples are targeted because their families disapprove of their relationships over caste or religion.

The case is just the latest example of violent discrimination exploding from underlying tensions between an age-old caste system and modern society in India, the worlds most populous democracy.

Sankar belonged to the historically marginalized Dalit community, which forms the lowest rung of the Hindu caste hierarchy, while Kausalya belongs to the upper Thevar caste, a dominant community in Tamil Nadu, police said.

The couple married eight months ago against the wishes of Kausalyas family, police said.

The girls father, Chinnaswamy, surrendered on Monday and has been remanded to police custody until March 21. We have arrested four others in connection with the murder. All of them are known to Chinnaswamy. We are now searching for a fifth suspect, the girls uncle, a police official requesting anonymity told BenarNews on Tuesday.

India: Dalit Man Hacked to Death in 'Honor-killing'

Sankars younger brother, Vigneswaran, claimed that Kausalyas family had tried to kill his brother on several occasions.

Just 10 days after they got married, they (Kausalyas family) kidnapped my brother and tortured him to make him leave Kausalya. They had threatened and tried to attack him many times after that, Vigneswaran told BenarNews.

Sankar had approached police several times, but no action was taken, he said.

Evidence, an organization working to secure Dalit rights, claims there have been 81 honor killings in Tamil Nadu in less than three years.

Though honor killings are on the rise, not a single case has ended up in [a] conviction in the state as family members are involved in such murders, managing director A. Kathir told Deccan Chronicle. Of these 81 killings, 80 percent of victims were women.

Caste Hindu women who love or marry a Dalit are murdered by their family members. On the other hand, Dalit women who marry caste Hindu men, are ditched due to societal pressure. Almost 84 percent of Dalit women who are into inter-caste marriage face humiliation due to marital discord, he said.

Although India-specific figures are unavailable, U.N. statistics show that 1,000 of 5,000 such killings annually occur in India, a majority of them in the countrys rural pockets, according to an AFP report.

Deep-rooted problem

Ramesh Nathan of the National Dalit Movement for Justice said so-called honor killings stemmed from a deep-rooted problem of caste-based discrimination in Indian culture.

The situation for Indias nearly 180 million Dalits, formerly disregarded as untouchables, is grim, he added.

Even though Article 17 of the Constitution of India outlaws the practice of untouchability, it is still very much prevalent in our society, Nathan told BenarNews.

The reason this outlawed and archaic practice is continuing unabated is because government and police officials refuse to act sternly on complaints, he said, adding, the officials are also part of the system, so they dont want to take on their own community for fear of being ostracized.

Nathan said there had been a 19 percent rise in the number of crimes committed against Dalits and tribal communities since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in May 2014.

It isnt as if atrocities were not being committed against marginalized groups before. But they have increased under the present government. That is a cause of concern, he said.

Ruling party under fire

BJP came under fire for allegedly backing caste-based discrimination in the aftermath of the suicide of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit scholar at the Hyderabad Central University, in January.

Vemula hanged himself almost five months after he, along with four other Dalit students, was suspended following an altercation with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) student leaders over ideological differences. ABVP is the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), BJPs ideological mentor.

In his suicide note, Vemula, who was forced to live in a tent on campus and barred from using the hostel, library or the cafeteria during his suspension period, wrote: My birth is my fatal accident.

While the opposing Congress party accused Prime Minister Narendra Modis government of suppressing Indias Dalit and tribal communities, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra countered the allegation, saying it was the opposition, not the ruling party, which had an anti-Dalit mindset.

At a public meeting in Tamil Nadu last month, Modi said that India can be healthy only if Dalits  grow.

I am different

Modis statement makes little sense to Rajni, a 19-year-old Dalit girl in Rajasthans capital, Jaipur, who goes door-to-door collecting garbage from about 100 households every morning.

When I was very young, my mother told me that this will be my life. I will be collecting other peoples waste. And I should not dream of anything else, Rajni, who goes only by her first name, told BenarNews.

As I grew older, I understood what she meant. I am different. People avoid touching me because I am considered dirty, since I make a living collecting and cleaning other peoples dirt. No one even allows me to step inside their homes. They leave the garbage can at the door, she said.

In 1990, India implemented a caste-based quota system, which ensures 52.5 percent of government jobs and educational institutes are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) or Dalits, Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC) and people with disabilities.

Despite the effort aimed at helping socially and economically disadvantaged sections of society, more than 60 percent of Dalits earn their livelihood collecting garbage, cleaning public toilets and doing other odd jobs, according to official figures.

Farm laborer C. Velusamy, whose eldest of three sons, Sankar, was hacked to death Sunday, said he does not want any help from the government.

Ive raised my three sons working as a farmhand. Sankar would have been the first to graduate from college. But hes gone now. I dont want any help raising my other two sons.

I have only one request for the government. Put an end to these caste-based killings. Let Sankar be the last one to die because of his caste, he told BenarNews from his village in Tamil Nadu.

Vasudevan Sridharan in Bengaluru, India, contributed to the report
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (left) speaks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi after a news conference in Beijing, Feb. 17, 2016. This week she voiced concern about the brief arrests of two Australian journalists in Malaysia.

Malaysia on Tuesday deported two Australian journalists who were arrested over the weekend for allegedly crossing a security line to try to interview Prime Minister Najib Razak over ongoing financial scandals.

The government expelled Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC) reporter Linton Besser and camera operator Louie Eroglu, after authorities decided not to press charges against the pair for getting too close to Najib while he visited a mosque in Sarawak state on Saturday, officials said.

The move followed criticism over their arrest from press advocacy groups, as well as concern expressed by Australias foreign ministry about the case amid growing restrictions on press freedom in Malaysia.

On Tuesday, police had received instructions from the DPP that no prosecution was made against them  instead they have been ordered to leave the country, Dev Kumar, senior assistant commissioner for Sarawaks Criminal Investigation Department, said in a statement released to media.

They will be deported under Section 18(3)(h) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

Besser and Eroglu boarded a flight to Singapore on Tuesday, but they would only be allowed to re-enter Malaysia as tourists, Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed warned.

If they have been deported, that means they have done something wrong. When they come back, we will see then, he told reporters. If they come back as tourists, then theres no problem, but there will be a problem if they come back and break any laws.

What is wrong with asking the question?

Albert Tang, a Malaysian lawyer representing the Australian journalists, told BenarNews that while the government had the right to file charges for "obstructing state officials" - referring to official allegations that his clients had breached a security line - such action would have been the right approach.

The government should not have detained and interrogated them because all they wanted to do was question Najib about scandals linked with the indebted state fund 1 Malaysia Development Berhad, the lawyer added.

"What is wrong in asking questions? I see many journalists do that every time, but they were not arrested, interrogated and charged in court," he said.

During a visit to Fiji on Monday, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australia was raising the case of the two ABC journalists at the highest levels within the Malaysian government, the Associated Press reported.

Im always concerned where there are instances of a crackdown on freedom of speech, in democracies particularly, and Im also concerned about the freedom that journalists have to carry out their work in places around the world, AP quoted Bishop as saying.

On Tuesday, New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticized Malaysia over its knee-jerk reaction in the case of Besser and Eroglu.

Their six-hour detention demonstrated the incredible lengths that the authorities are prepared to go to protect Prime Minister Najib from any sort of hard questions about his actions, said Phil Robertson, deputy director of HRWs Asia division.

Its shameful that the Malaysia government is apparently willing to shred the countrys already diminished reputation as a rights-respecting democracy to shield one man from serious allegations of malfeasance, he added.
An image from a closed-circuit TV camera captures suspected rebels as they move through a parking lot at Cho-irong Hospital during an attack in the southern Thai province of Narathiwat, March 13, 2016.

Rebels in southern Thailand violated international law by taking over a hospital while attacking a military installation in Narathiwat province this week, the United Nations and Human Rights Watch said.

The U.N. Human Rights Office for Southeast Asia (OCHCR) issued a statement Wednesday deploring the actions of between 10 and 50 rebels who reportedly seized the Cho-irong Hospital in Narathiwat for about 30 minutes on Sunday, while patients and medical staff were inside.

The insurgents endangered the lives of civilians and medical workers by using the building to stage an assault on nearby Army Ranger Base Camp 4816, Bangkok-based U.N. officials said.

This incident is a flagrant breach of international law. We are appalled that a public hospital was used in such a manner, and that the lives of hospital staff and other civilians were put at risk, said Laurent Meillan, the acting regional representative for OHCHR.

Hospitals, medical units and medical personnel are protected under international humanitarian law, and they should not be targeted or used for military purposes at any time, the office said.

Thai security forces surrounded the building while the rebels were inside the hospital, BenarNews reported Monday. Thai authorities said soldiers withheld fire even though insurgents were shooting at them from the hospital. The rebels eventually fled into nearby woods.

According to the regional branch of Thailands Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), 40 to 50 insurgents were involved in the hospital incident.

Health workers in harms way

The insurgents seizure of a hospital in southern Thailand is far more damaging than just the harm done to the facilitys equipment, Brad Adams, Asia director for New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement issued Tuesday.

Putting hospitals at risk of attack threatens the lives of patients, doctors and medical workers throughout southern Thailand. The insurgents should publicly commit to ending attacks on medical facilities immediately.

Before retreating, the insurgents tied up a pregnant nurse and destroyed hospital computers, telephones and other equipment, HRW said, adding that the incident violated the laws of war.

Individuals who order or deliberately carry out an attack on a hospital are responsible for war crimes, HRW said.

Claims by insurgents that attacks on civilians are lawful because the targets are part of the Thai Buddhist state or because Islamic law as they interpret it permits such attacks have no legal justification.

Both HRW and the U.N. Human Rights Office cited figures from Thailands Ministry of Public Health, which reported that at least 112 public health volunteers and hospital staff had been killed or injured, and 28 community health centers burned down or bombed during the past 12 years in Thailands insurgency-wracked Deep South.

If I shouted, I would have been killed

Orawan Namkhan, the pregnant nurse who was bound during Sundays incident, said she saw 10 rebels storm into the hospital as they tried to hide from Thai forces.

They tied my hands in the back. Luckily I was quiet, so I was safe. If I shouted, I would have been killed, the eyewitness told reporters.

No one was killed or injured during the incident, but one defense volunteer and 11 other people were injured in attacks carried out by southern insurgents on Sunday and Monday.

The latest attacks unfolded around the 56th anniversary of the founding of Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN)  the largest of the armed separatist groups in the predominantly Muslim, Malay-speaking Deep South.

The attacks brought to 20 the number of people killed in related violence in the region since Thai security forces raided a rebel hideout in Pattani province on Feb. 10.

They also took place against the backdrop of ongoing efforts by the Thai junta to persuade rebel groups and factions to open formal peace talks for the first time since 2013. Since 2004, more than 6,000 people have died in the conflict.

On Wednesday, ISOCs Region 4 command announced the arrest of a man suspected of taking part in Sundays takeover of the hospital by rebels.

He has been under interrogation at Ingkayuth Borihan Fort in Pattani [province] to see whether he was involved in the shootout, ISOC 4 spokesman Col. Yuthanam Petchmuang told reporters.

Meanwhile in Narathiwat, security forces on Wednesday held five local men for questioning after launching a mission in Ra-ngae district to search for suspected insurgents.

Some rebels escaped into the forest, but the authorities recovered gas tanks and other bomb-making materials, said 45th Paramilitary Regiment Commander Col. Rungroj Anandhato.

Nasueroh in Pattani, Thailand, contributed to this report.
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For Immediate Release, March 16, 2016 Contact: Jeff Miller, (510) 499-9185, jmiller@biologicaldiversity.org Lawsuit Seeks Overdue Protection for Rare Frog in California, Oregon SAN FRANCISCO The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a lawsuit over the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services lengthy delay in deciding whether to extend Endangered Species Act protection to the foothill yellow-legged frog, which has disappeared from more than half of its former streams in California and Oregon. This stream-dwelling amphibian faces a host of threats, including impacts from dams and water diversions, logging, mining, livestock grazing, roads, marijuana cultivation, off-road vehicles, climate change, pollution, invasive species and disease. Photo courtesy James Bettaso, USFWS. This photo is available for media use. Foothill yellow-legged frogs need habitat protections and recovery efforts under the Endangered Species Act to avoid more population declines and stem the risk of extinction, said the Centers Jeff Miller. If we can protect these frogs, it will benefit other wildlife and many river and stream ecosystems in California and Oregon that we already love and rely on for recreation, wilderness qualities, open space and drinking water. The 1.5- to 3-inch-long frogs, with a distinctive lemon-yellow color under their legs, live in low-elevation streams in Pacific Coast drainages, from the Willamette River basin in Oregon south to the San Gabriel River in Los Angeles County, Calif., as well as the lower western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains. They have disappeared from many portions of their historical range, especially in Southern California and Oregon. Frog populations have declined severely in the southern Sierra Nevada, central California coast, Bay Area, Southern California coast and central Oregon. Each of these areas may contain distinct populations or subspecies of yellow-legged frogs. The Center petitioned in 2012 for protection of the foothill yellow-legged frog under the Endangered Species Act. In July 2015 the Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the species may warrant protection and initiated a formal status review. In August 2015 the Center submitted extensive information on declines of frog populations, demonstrating that the species should be protected. The Service is now more than three and a half years overdue in determining whether the frog should have the Acts protection. With nearly a third of the worlds amphibians in danger of extinction, we should be paying attention and taking action when one of our native frogs is in rapid decline, said Miller. Background

The foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii) is nearly extirpated from the entire Willamette River drainage in central Oregon. The species has also declined in southwestern Oregon and the Umpqua River drainage, and may be extirpated from the upper Klamath River basin. Californias northern coast ranges are the species stronghold. Although there have been some declines, healthy frog populations remain in the Smith, Klamath, Trinity, Eel and Russian river drainages, as well as Redwood Creek in Humboldt County and coastal tributaries in Mendocino County. Frogs have declined severely in the central Sierra Nevada foothills, but populations still can be found in the Rubicon, American, Yuba and Feather river drainages, as well as Spanish Creek and Canyon Creek. They are nearly extirpated from the southern Sierra Nevada and are gone from Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. There have been severe declines of frogs in the Bay Area and central California coast among populations in Sonoma County and the Diablo Range. The species is nearly extirpated from the south-central California coast and has been eliminated entirely from streams in Southern California and Baja California. The foothill yellow-legged frog is one of 10 species the Center is prioritizing this year for Endangered Species Act protection decisions. Under a 2011 settlement agreement with the Service, the Center can seek expedited decisions on protection for 10 species per year. The other nine priority species for 2016 include the monarch butterfly, California spotted owl, Northern Rockies fisher, alligator snapping turtle, wood turtle, Virgin River spinedace, Canoe Creek pigtoe, Barrens topminnow and beaverpond marstonia. Under the settlement 144 species have gained protection to date, and 36 species have been proposed for protection. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 990,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.


For Immediate Release, March 16, 2016 Contact: Patrick Sullivan, (415) 517-9364, psullivan@biologicaldiversity.org 'California Lawyer Attorney of the Year' Award Recognizes Three

Center Attorneys for Landmark Victory Against Sprawl Development SAN FRANCISCO The Daily Journal and California Lawyer magazine today honored three Center for Biological Diversity attorneys who helped achieve a landmark legal victory against sprawl development near Los Angeles with the prestigious California Lawyer Attorney of the Year award, commonly known as the CLAY Award. The CLAY Awards honor attorneys across the state for work with a significant impact over the past year. Todays CLAY Awards recognize Center attorneys John Buse, Kevin Bundy and Aruna Prabhala for their roles in a 2015 California Supreme Court decision that will force state officials to reconsider threats to protected wildlife and the climate posed by the planned Newhall Ranch mega-development. In its November ruling, the Supreme Court upheld a challenge by the Center and other organizations to the California Department of Fish and Wildlifes compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and wildlife laws in approving the Newhall Ranch development. The courts opinion provides important guidance on how public officials must address the impacts of climate change and avoid harm to some of Californias most rare and highly protected fish and wildlife. We appreciate this award for highlighting an important victory against sprawl developments threat to our climate and Californias wildlife, said Buse, who is senior counsel and legal director at the Center. The California Supreme Courts decision should push officials across our state to do a much more careful job of evaluating harmful projects that would increase carbon pollution and harm our imperiled animals. Award winner John Buse coordinates the Center's legal work and handles cases involving endangered species conservation and land use. Buse received a law degree from the University of California Davis School of Law, a masters in biochemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a bachelors degree in the history, philosophy and social studies of science and medicine from the University of Chicago. Award winner Kevin Bundy, climate legal director and senior attorney, works with the Centers Climate Law Institute, where his practice includes litigation and policy work under the Clean Air Act, California Environmental Quality Act, and other federal and state environmental laws. After graduating from UC Berkeleys Boalt Hall School of Law, he served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Procter R. Hug, Jr., of the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals and the Honorable David W. Hagen of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. He holds a bachelors degree in English from Oberlin College. Award winner Aruna Prabhala is a staff attorney who works with the Center's Strategic Litigation Group, primarily focusing on land use and endangered-species protection in California and working to identify novel ways of advancing conservation through the legal system. She graduated from the University of Michigan Law School and double-majored in biology and journalism as an undergraduate at Boston University. Also receiving CLAY Awards are the other members of the successful Newhall Ranch litigation team: Adam Keats (also formerly with the Center); Sean Hecht, co-director of the Environmental Law Clinic and the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the UCLA School of Law; Jason Weiner, of the Wishtoyo Foundation and Ventura Coastkeeper; and Jan Chatten-Brown and Doug Carstens of the firm Chatten-Brown and Carstens. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 990,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.


For Immediate Release, March 16, 2016 Contact: Andrea Santarsiere, (303) 854-7748, asantarsiere@biologicaldiversity.org Lawsuit Filed to Protect Northern Rockies Fisher Under Endangered Species Act Rare Forest Carnivore From Idaho, Montana Threatened by Trapping, Habitat Loss VICTOR, Idaho The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to make a decision on whether to protect the Northern Rockies fisher under the Endangered Species Act. The Center petitioned for protection for the fisher in 2013, but the Service is now more than two years late in making a decision on the imperiled carnivores protection. The secretive old-growth predator once ranged through five states, but after nearing extinction due to habitat loss and trapping, today survives only along the border of northern Idaho and Montana. Fishers are being killed by trappers at an alarming rate, said Andrea Santarsiere, a staff attorney with the Center. Only, the protection of the Endangered Species Act can safeguard the remaining populations and spur recovery. Fishers are cat-like, medium-sized members of the weasel family with slender, brown bodies and long, bushy tails. Related to minks and otters, and the only true predators of porcupines, fishers once inhabited old-growth forests from northeastern Washington, Idaho, Montana and northwest Wyoming to north-central Utah. While the fishers have recovered from near extirpation in the 1920s, the population is still struggling. Fishers are still legally trapped in Montana, and as trapping for wolves, bobcats and other species has increased in Idaho and Montana, so have levels of incidental trapping of fishers. Twice as many fishers have been incidentally trapped in Idaho since 2008 as were captured from 2002 to 2007. Reported nontarget catch of fishers by individual fur-takers in Idaho from the 2010-2011 season through the 2014-2015 season have totaled 159, 66 of which have been killed. It is unknown how many fishers are incidentally trapped and killed in Montana each year because the state does not maintain records of nontarget catch. The Center and five other conservation organizations filed a petition seeking federal protection for the Northern Rockies fisher in September 2013. In January of this year the Service issued a positive 90-day finding on the petition and is now conducting a review of the animals status to determine if protection is warranted. The litigation filed today will ensure that the determination is completed in a timely manner. The Northern Rockies fisher is one of 10 species the Center is prioritizing this year for Endangered Species Act protection decisions. Under a 2011 settlement agreement with the Service, the Center can seek expedited decisions on protection for 10 species per year. The other nine priority species for 2016 include the monarch butterfly, California spotted owl, alligator snapping turtle, wood turtle, Virgin River spinedace, foothill yellow-legged frog, Canoe Creek pigtoe, Barrens topminnow and beaverpond marstonia. Under the settlement 144 species have gained protection to date, and 36 species have been proposed for protection. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 990,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.


For Immediate Release, March 16, 2016 Contacts: Anne Rolfes, Louisiana Bucket Brigade, (504) 452-4909, anne@labucketbrigade.org

Cherri Foytlin, Bridge the Gulf, (334) 462-4484, foytlinfam@cox.net

Jonathan Henderson, Vanishing Earth, (504) 453-1375, Jonathan@vanishingearth.org

Steve Jones, Center for Biological Diversity, (510) 844-7140, sjones@biologicaldiversity.org

Marissa Knodel, Friends of the Earth, (202) 222-0729, mknodel@foe.org Residents Demand No New Offshore Oil Leases in Gulf of Mexico Hundreds to Rally Against March 23 Lease Sale at New Orleans Superdome NEW ORLEANS For the first time ever, hundreds of Gulf Coast residents are joining forces with local and national environmental and social-justice groups to oppose a federal offshore fossil fuel lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico. The proposed lease of 43 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico to develop as much as 965 million barrels of oil and 4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas is the largest single offering by the Obama administration. Today the coalition sent a letter to President Obama requesting the sales cancellation as it prepares for an unprecedented March 23 demonstration at the Superdome, where the bids will be announced. The letter, signed by 47 groups, states that sales of publicly owned fossil fuels contribute significantly to global carbon emissions and counteract the Obama administrations pledges to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. Offshore drilling threatens the well-being of Gulf Coast communities and wildlife. Coalition members will also gather at a public hearing on March 17 in New Orleans to oppose the proposed sale of another 47.4 million acres in the Central Gulf for oil and gas drilling, scheduled for March 2017. Fighting new offshore leases in the Gulf of Mexico, long an epicenter of the fossil fuel industry, represents a new front for an environmental movement that has recently focused on stopping offshore drilling in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. The Obama administration just released its 2017-2022 plan for offshore fossil fuel development, which took the Atlantic off the table but proposed three leases for the Arctic and 10 for the Gulf. The Superdome rally will build off the momentum of the national Keep It in the Ground movement, which has used direct action to block federal auctions of drilling rights on public lands across the country over the past year. Gulf residents are also demanding the industry create at least 1,000 jobs to address its aging infrastructure and toxic legacy, particularly in communities of color. Details on the Superdome event and Gulf organizing effort can be found at www.nonewleases.org. Statements from groups and letter signatories: The people in the Gulf Coast are finally waking up to the utter destruction of handing over our Gulf of Mexico to Big Oil. Oil spills, a destroyed coast and seafood in peril is what has come from drilling over the last fifty years, said Anne Rolfes of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade. We are making a historic call for no new drilling in our Gulf of Mexico. Like the people of the West Coast and Atlantic Coast, we are standing up for ourselves, our future and the future of this planet. Its decision making time. Some well-meaning folks say that the choice is between jobs or the planet. Thats just not true. Its between just survive, like weve been doing, or thrive. I want my kids to thrive, and that means creating systems of longevity for them. Fossil fuels just arent that, said Cherri Foytlin with Bridge the Gulf and Idle No More. The marine environment, our coastal communities, our seafood and really, the entire planet are under assault by oil and gas operations in the Gulf, said Jonathan Henderson with New Orleans-based Vanishing Earth. Everyday, oil is leaking and toxic fracking chemicals are being dumped offshore, while some 27,000 abandoned wells are ticking time bombs. East Coast communities rose up against offshore oil drilling and the Atlantic was protected. The lesson is that public action matters. Now we need to demand no new leases in the Arctic and Gulf of Mexico, to protect our climate, wildlife and coastal communities, said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans program director at the Center of Biological Diversity. Expanding offshore oil and gas development comes with significant risks that are nearly impossible to avoid or mitigate, said Marissa Knodel, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth. Our message is simple: The Gulf Coast should not be treated as an energy sacrifice zone, but a place worthy of protection for present and future generations to experience and enjoy. "From the BP drilling disaster to the loss of coastal wetlands the size of Delaware, the Gulf has already paid too high a price for our nation's oil addiction," said Aaron Viles with Care2.com. "We're standing alongside over 65,000 Care2 members who have asked the Administration to admit all carbon is connected, and end new oil leasing in the Gulf of Mexico." Tomorrow is today. Now is the time to diversify the Gulf's economy, creating and investing in clean and inclusive economic development, said Jackie Antalan, director of outreach and programs with Operation HomeCare, Inc. In a chilling foretelling, BP nicknamed its own Deepwater Horizon oil-drilling lease Macondo, the cursed town of mirrors in Gabriel Garcia Marquez 100 Years of Solitude, and the story of generations doomed to repeat history, said Janet MacGillivray, Esq. with Indigena. We are here on 3/23 to stop the next generation of oil and gas leases, break the curse and unite with communities to claim a fossil free future. Turning over even more of our public waters to Big Oil is a step backward, said Allison Fisher, outreach director of Public Citizens Climate and Energy Program. Less, not more drilling in the Gulf, is required to reduce the risk of catastrophic spills, protect coastal communities and achieve significant cuts in U.S. carbon pollution. The people of the Gulf and citizens across the nation are no longer willing to make the Gulf of Mexico a national sacrifice zone for the fossil fuel industry, said David Helvarg, executive director of Blue Frontier. Its time to stop drilling and spilling and move on to job-generating clean energy. Besides, no wind spill ever destroyed a beach or a bayou. The Gulf of Mexico has been devastated by negligent oil companies and continues to be plundered for profit. President Obama, stop these corporate giveaways and protect the Gulf for the safety, health and economy of Gulf Coast people, its ecosystems, and for our climate, said Ruth Breech, senior campaigner at Rainforest Action Network. We cannot continue selling our children and grandchildrens future to the fossil fuel companies. The Gulf, or any biodiverse ecosystem, should not be sacrificed for oil and gas development, said Shelley Silbert, executive director of Great Old Broads for Wilderness. Public lands and waters need to be the solution to climate change, not the problem. These are places to celebrate and leave intact to sustain the health of our planet. International climate deals are meaningless if they dont result in keeping fossil fuels in the ground. This fossil fuel auction is a test of President Obamas resolve. Will he stand with local communities fighting for a just transition to clean energy, or a fossil fuel industry motivated only by greed? Climate leadership means keeping fossil fuels in the ground, and under the sea, said Jason Kowalski, policy director at 350.org.


For Immediate Release, March 16, 2016 Contact: Tierra Curry, (928) 522-3681, tcurry@biologicaldiversity.org Lawsuit Filed to Save Alabama Mussel, Tennessee Fish, Georgia Snail BIRMINGHAM, Ala. The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to protect three southeast freshwater species under the Endangered Species Act. The Center petitioned for protection of the highly imperiled species in 2010, but the agency is now more than five years late in making a decision on their protection. Barrens topminnow photo by J.R. Shute, Conservation Fisheries, Inc. These small but important freshwater animals need the effective protection of the Endangered Species Act, or we could lose them forever, said Tierra Curry, a biologist at the Center. The Southeast is home to more kinds of freshwater animals than anywhere else in the world, but the region has already lost more than 50 of these species to extinction. The Canoe Creek pigtoe, also known as the Canoe Creek clubshell, is a freshwater mussel that only lives in Big Canoe Creek, a tributary of the Coosa River, in northeast Alabama. It was first discovered in 2006. The mussel is threatened by erosion and water pollution from development, agriculture and natural-gas exploration, including fracking. The mussel is nearly 4 inches long, with a dark-yellow to brown shell and a salmon-orange, soft body. Juveniles have faint green stripes, and the inside of the shell is iridescent mother-of-pearl white. Fewer than two dozen individuals have ever been seen. Barrens topminnow is a small freshwater fish found in only three locations on the Barrens Plateau of south central Tennessee. Its range is just three counties  Cannon, Coffee and Warren  in the headwaters of the Duck and Elk rivers in the Tennessee River drainage and in the Caney Fork River system in the Cumberland River drainage.

It lives in clear spring-fed streams with aquatic vegetation and declined from 14 known sites in the early 1980s to seven sites in the mid-1990s; it is currently known from only two to three viable populations. Reasons for the decline include water diversions and withdrawals for agriculture, drought, water pollution and predation by invasive mosquitofish. It is 4 inches long, flashily colored and swims near the surface of the water where it preys on mosquito larvae and other insects. The beaverpond marstonia is a tiny, tan freshwater snail known only from a single creek  Cedar Creek, a tributary of the Flint River in Crisp County, Ga. Its shell has four whorls and is one-tenth of an inch tall. It was first discovered in 1977 and has not been detected in recent surveys, causing scientists to fear that it may be nearly extinct. It is threatened by pollution from cotton fields, groundwater withdrawal and urbanization. Protecting these little animals we dont often think about, like fish and mussels and snails, will also help safeguard clean water that people need, said Curry. Freshwater species play a critical role in maintaining the health of streams and rivers. Freshwater mussels filter water constantly, which removes harmful pollutants and makes the water clearer. Small fish and mollusks play an important role in the food web because they are eaten by larger fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. The Southeast has an incredibly rich natural heritage, and we need to do everything we can to keep it intact for future generations, said Curry. Under the terms of a 2011 agreement with the Service, the Center can choose 10 species per year for expedited decisions on whether they should receive Endangered Species Act protection. These southeastern species are three of the 10 species the Center has prioritized for 2016. The other seven priority species include the monarch butterfly, alligator snapping turtle, wood turtle, California spotted owl, Northern Rockies fisher, foothill yellow-legged frog and Virgin River spinedace. Under the settlement 144 species have gained protection to date, and 36 species have been proposed for protection. Photos are available for media use:

Barrens topminnow

Canoe Creek pigtoe

Beaverpond marstonia The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 990,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.


Media Advisory, March 16, 2016 Contacts: Amaroq Weiss, (707) 779-9613, aweiss@biologicaldiversity.org

Stephanie Taylor, (503) 849-9624, Stephanie.in.pdx@gmail.com

Courtney Rae, (614) 282-2559, Courtney@bark-out.org

Karen Coulter, (503) 284-6027, bluemountainsbiodiversity@gmail.com Wildlife Supporters to Rally Thursday at Governor's Mansion Protest Targets Gov. Brown's Decision to Obstruct Court Challenge of Wolf Delisting PORTLAND, Ore. Supporters of Oregon wildlife will rally Thursday at the governors mansion in Salem to give voice to widespread opposition among Oregonians to a bill signed into law by Gov. Kate Brown this week that impedes legal challenges to the states decision to prematurely strip protections from gray wolves. Photo of OR-25 courtesy Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. This photo is available for media use. What: Members of the public  including members of Bark, Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project, the Center for Biological Diversity, Northeast Oregon Ecosystems and Predator Defense  will rally on the sidewalk in front of the governors mansion to remind Gov. Brown that the vast majority of her constituents in Oregon support wolves. The rally will highlight the importance of science-based management of Oregons still-fragile wolf population and of the separation of powers guaranteed by Oregons Constitution. When: 1 to 3 p.m., Thursday, March 17 Where: Mahonia Hall (the governors mansion), 533 Lincoln Street South, Salem 97302 (rally to be held on the sidewalk at the corner of John Street South and Lincoln Street South) Visuals: Attendees will hoist posters and banners supporting wolves, opposing the new anti-wolf law and asking Gov. Brown to commit her administration to science-based wolf recovery, agency accountability, and the separation of powers guaranteed by the Oregon constitution. Speakers will include Amaroq Weiss, West Coast wolf organizer with the Center for Biological Diversity; Stephanie Taylor on behalf of Predator Defense; Kimberly Fanshier, Portland State University grad student and volunteer on behalf of Bark; and Karen Coulter, director of Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project. Background

House Bill 4040 was introduced by Republican legislators on behalf of the livestock industry to derail a lawsuit filed by conservation groups challenging the legitimacy of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commissions decision to delist wolves. In delisting wolves last November, the commission ignored written comments received from two dozen scientists stating that the science the commission was relying on was fundamentally flawed and that wolves have not met state delisting criteria. The commission also failed to have an outside scientific peer-review panel review the science, as required by state law. In December conservation groups filed a legal challenge to the delisting. The new law goes into effect immediately because it was tagged as emergency legislation, which ensured that it would become law before the court could rule on conservation groups legal challenge to the controversial wolf delisting decision. As a result, the law not only rubber-stamps bad science but strips Oregon citizens of their right to a judicial review of the commissions likely illegal wolf-delisting decision. In testimony at legislative hearings, the bills sponsors noted they had run the bill by the governors office to get the right wording, raising questions about the administrations role in a bill that purposefully sidesteps the constitutional separation of powers by hindering judicial review. Barks mission is to transform Mt. Hood National Forest into a place where natural processes prevail, where wildlife thrives and where local communities have a social, cultural, and economic investment in its restoration and preservation. Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project is an eastern Oregon based grassroots ecological protection group working to monitor National forests and BLM districts to protect wildlife habitat.



The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 990,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. Northeast Oregon Ecosystems works to protect and expand Oregon's

wildlife and wild places. Predator Defense is a national nonprofit advocacy organization devoted to protecting native predators, helping people learn to coexist with wild animals, and ending America's war on wildlife.
Plants grown in high-density or crowded populations often put more energy into growth and maintenance than reproduction. For example, flowering may be delayed as plants allocate resources to growing taller and escape competition for light. This sensitivity to crowding stress has been observed in some varieties of sweet corn, but other varieties show higher tolerance, producing high yields even in crowded conditions. A recent University of Illinois and USDA Agricultural Research Service study attempted to uncover the genetic mechanisms of crowding tolerance in sweet corn.

"We were trying to find genes that differentiate sweet corn hybrids that have potential to produce higher yields under crowding stress versus hybrids with lower yields under the same growing conditions," explains U of I crop science researcher Eunsoo Choe.

Choe and her team measured observable or phenotypic traits for high- and low-yielding hybrids under crowding stress; these included traits known to correlate with crowding stress, such as plant height, leaf area, and time to maturity. Other traits, such as yield, kernel mass, kernel moisture, and fill percentage were also measured. Lastly, the team extracted genetic material from the plants to explore correlations between gene expression patterns and measured traits.

"We found clusters of genes that were related to yield under crowding stress," says Choe.

Although gene expression patterns indicated each hybrid utilized unique mechanisms for tolerating crowding stress, the researchers did confirm a common genetic basis for the yield response in the six hybrids tested. Low-yielding hybrids had gene activities related to various stress responses while high-yielding hybrids utilized gene activities more directly related to carbohydrate accumulation.

Choe says that genes involved with cell growth were prevalent in low-yielding hybrids; these genes may be responsible for delayed flowering under crowding stress. Conversely, genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism were prevalent in high-yielding hybrids; these genes may relate to maintaining yield under crowding stress.

"The gene clusters we identified were very broad in their biological functions," notes Choe. "Our results will have to be tested further for agronomic improvement by breeders. But narrowing down the pool of genes to those most likely influencing yield is an important step."

The article, "Identification of crowding stress tolerance co-expression networks involved in sweet corn yield," is published in PLoS ONE. Martin Williams, an ecologist at USDA ARS and the University of Illinois, and Jenny Drnevich, a bioinformatics specialist at the University of Illinois, also contributed to the paper.

Source: University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
When we remember events which occurred recently, the hippocampus is activated. This area in the temporal lobe of the brain is a hub for learning and memory. But what happens, if we try to remember things that took place years or decades ago? Neuroscientists at the Ruhr-University Bochum and the Osaka University have been able to give some answers to this question. They reveal that the neural networks involved in retrieving very old memories are quite distinct from those used to remember recent events. The results of the study have now been published in the open source science journal eLIFE.

Hippocampus is a hub for memory

Neuroscientists agree that the hippocampus, which contains the cornu ammonis regions 1 and 3 (CA1 and CA3), plays a major role in retrieving recent memories. However, a major controversy in memory research resides on whether the hippocampus is also engaged when experiences date back half a life-time or whether this is the role of the parahippocampal region of the brain: the cortical areas directly adjacent to the hippocampus. Prof. Dr. Magdalena Sauvage and her team of neuroscientists have monitored brain activity in mice during the retrieval of memories that are one day to one year old - e.g. up to the mouse-equivalent of 40 human years. For their study they applied a high-resolution molecular imaging technique, which detects the expression of a particular gene tied to plasticity processes and this way sheds light on cognitive processes.

Old and recent memories are retrieved differently

"For the very first time we were able to show that the retrieval of old and recent memories are supported by distinct brain networks", Prof. Dr. Magdalena Sauvage reports. The CA3 region, believed to be the place of memory storage in the hippocampus, no longer plays a role when we remember very old memories. Rather, the involvement of the CA1 region persists and the cortical areas adjacent to the hippocampus become involved. The reason for the differential involvement of the hippocampal subregions could lie in the mechanisms supported by CA3, explains Prof. Sauvage: "In CA3, memories can be retrieved on the basis of single features of an original memory, which are used as cues. Since the memory for single features degrades over time, we speculate that they might ultimately be of no more use as cues, hence retrieving memory would then essentially rely on CA1 and other processes taking place in the parahippocampal region of the brain".

Source: Ruhr-University Bochum
SAN FRANCISCO - Online retail colossus Amazon is seeking a US patent on using selfies - instead of passwords - for shopping when using smartphones.

Seattle-based Amazon reasoned that combining sensor and camera capabilities in smartphones with face and gesture recognising software results in higher security than passwords or identification numbers.

"Such approaches provide for user authentication without the user having to physically interact with a computing device, which can enable a user to access information by looking at a camera, performing a simple gesture such as a smile, or performing another such action," Amazon said in a patent application filed late last year.

"Such an authentication can be user friendly, particularly with respect to conventional approaches such as typing and remembering long passwords, and can provide enhanced security because it can be difficult for another person to replicate a user's face in three dimensions."

Smartphone cameras would capture video snippets to avoid being duped by a fraudster using someone's picture to impersonate them in an online transaction, according to the patent application.

"The device can prompt the user to perform certain actions, motions, or gestures, such as to smile, blink, or tilt his or her head." the patent application said.

Chinese internet giant Alibaba and payments payments firm Mastercard are reported to be working on incorporating facial recognition in transaction confirmations.
Botswana-based retailer Choppies has missed targets to break even in SA this year due to the rapid deterioration in consumer spend in the country's mining areas, where most of its stores are located.

Choppies CEO Ramachandran Ottapathu.Photographer: Calvin Anderson

But the discount retailer said it was reasonably confident its performance would soon turn around, after the acquisition of 21 stores owned by Durban-based Jwayelani, which were expected to unlock significant synergies. Choppies is in a race against time to reach its target of 200 stores by year-end, and on Tuesday reported a loss before tax of 23.7-million pula (R32.4m) at its South African operations in the six months to December.

The loss came as financially strained consumers in towns such as Rustenburg and Carletonville, where a number of mining companies have closed shafts, increased purchases of basic staples, that earn lower margins such as rice, flour, sugar and mielie meal.

"With our expansion plan, we should have been breaking even in SA by this financial period. But we couldnt achieve it," said Choppies CEO Ram Ottapathu.

The last three months of 2015 had been particularly challenging, with the sharp weakening of the rand causing costs to rise.

Despite the weakening economic environment in SA, Ottapathu was hopeful about the groups prospects. "The acquisition of the Jwayelani stores will unlock significant synergies and improve the performance in SA," he said.

Choppies has yet to make a profit in SA since entering the country in 2008.

The groups 78 stores in Botswana recorded a profit before tax of 129.7-million pula.

Profit growth was also achieved from its 28 stores in Zimbabwe, despite macroeconomic pressures, and a deflationary trend, due to the usage of hard currency.

Headline earnings per share fell to 6.84 thebe in the first half from 8.37 thebe, due to the increase in the number of shares issued over the period.
Stellar Diamonds, the London-listed diamond development company has conditionally raised R13 million ( 600,000), to finance the development its mining interests in Guinea and Sierra Leone in West Africa, through a share issue and the sale of diamonds from its Baoule project.

At present, Stellar is trial mining its Baoule kimberlite project in Guinea, and is developing the 1,45 million carat Tongo Dyke-1 resource in Sierra Leone through the mining licence application process. In addition, Stellar holds the 3 million carat Droujba project in Guinea and continues to pursue channels to ensure the proper reinstatement of its Kono licences in Sierra Leone.

Issue of equity

The company has conditionally raised the money before expenses, through a placing of 4,4 million new ordinary shares of 1 pence each at 10 pence per share in the company and through the subscription of 1,6 million new ordinary shares at 10 pence per share.

The proceeds of which will be used for general working capital purposes in addition to being used to:

support the Tongo Mine Licence application process

complete the trial mining and diamond sales exercise at Baoule

complete a maiden resource statement at Baoule targeting 3 million carats

Baoule diamond sale

Stellar recently sold 3,291 carats at auction in Antwerp, raising R4,8 million, at an average of R1465,89 per carat. The lower average price when compared with the previous sale in May 2015 (R2,500 per carat) is due to a different mix of goods with a higher proportion of lower quality stones as well as a broadly weaker rough diamond market since mid-last year.

However, certain gemstones fetched over R16,000 per carat and up to R74,000 per carat, mostly white gems and fancy coloured yellows, demonstrating that the Baoule pipe is yielding some high-quality stones are present.
The Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) has donated educational equipment worth R313,000 to the top eight schools in the proximity of the Cape Town International Airport.

The eight schools were identified by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) as the secondary schools that have shown an improvement in their Grade 12 pass rates.

The grant will provide the eight secondary schools with interactive whiteboards, devices that have largely replaced traditional whiteboards in many modern schools. An interactive white board acts as a large display that projects a computer desktop onto the board's surface so that users control the computer using a pen, finger or stylus.

Over the past ten years, Cape Town International Airport has donated R18.1m towards such community projects near the airport. Through this initiative, the schools receive interactive white boards, educational software and training for teachers. In the past four years, 31 interactive white boards have been donated valued at close to R1m.

Upliftment of communities

Speaking at the handover event at Hindle Secondary, Mark Maclean, the assistant general manager of Cape Town International Airport, said that business at Cape Town International Airport is not only about airports and operations - its also about giving back to communities. "The upliftment of the airports immediate surrounding communities is important to us and in achieving this, we have to ensure that whatever support we give leads to self-reliance and sustainable projects which benefit the people living in these communities.

The eight performing schools (ranked by Grade 12 pass rate percentages for 2015) that will benefit from the donation are:

Hindle Secondary - (from 95% in 2014 to 98.5% in 2015)



Elsies River Secondary - (from 88.8% in 2014 to 96.6% in 2015)



Perseverance Secondary - (93.3%)



Beauvallon Secondary - (93%)



Florida Secondary - (from 85.6% in 2014 to 90.9% in 2015)



Cravenby Secondary - (from 75.4.8% in 2014 to 83.5% in 2015)



John Ramsey Secondary - (76.4%)



Bishop Lavis Secondary - (69.5%)

Other contributions

Maclean added that the other educational support contributions from the Cape Town International Airport include the Hoofweg Learning and Resource Centre, a partnership with the Western Cape Education Department and AfriSam.

This e-learning centre at the Hoofweg Primary School in Wesbank, Delft was a first of its kind in the Western Cape, made possible by an initial donation of R1.6m towards this project. The centre includes a library, computer lab and training facility, accessible to three other schools in the vicinity too.

As a company we see the potential that education brings and by investing in it, we not only set individuals up for success, but we strengthen communities to become relevant and sustainable, he concluded.
Malawi has burned 2.6 tons of illicit ivory, comprising 781 elephant tusks. The ivory had been seized from ivory traffickers in Mzuzu in 2013, the capital of Malawi's Northern Region.

In sentencing the traffickers in July 2015 the High Court ordered the ivory to be burned.

Malawi has been identified as a key transit route and distribution hub for illicit ivory, due mostly to its location between some of the countries worst hit by poaching - Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia. The small land-locked Southern African country has been implicated in some of the worlds biggest ever ivory seizures, including the single largest seizure on record - 6.5 tons in Singapore in 2002 of ivory shipped from Lilongwe, Malawis capital.

The ivory burned in Mzuzu included ivory from Tanzania and Mozambique seized while in transit from Tanzania to Malawis capital of Lilongwe.

Powerful message

Wildlife crime is among the most serious, dangerous and damaging of international crimes. Putting ivory beyond use sends a powerful message to the criminals behind the illegal wildlife trade that their activities will not be tolerated, said Jason Bell, director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

Malawi is being exploited as a conduit by wildlife traffickers as can be seen from this very case. Todays event sends a clear message - do not target our nation to traffic illicit goods, because we shall turn it to ashes. And Malawis stance is clear, that ivory is not for trade, said Brighton Kumchedwa, Malawis director of National Parks & Wildlife.

Most illegal ivory is destined for Asia, in particular China, where it has soared in value as an investment vehicle and is coveted as 'white gold'. Availability of legal ivory in China purchased from the stockpile sale in southern Africa in 2008 has, in turn, boosted demand and encouraged illegal ivory trade and the poaching of elephant to meet market needs.

Recently, Malawi has made major strides in its work to end wildlife crime, including updates to legislation that ensure stiffer sentences for convicted wildlife criminals, training of staff and the introduction of ivory detection dogs, proactive wildlife investigations and wildlife crime interception management.
The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) is leading a business delegation on an Investment and Trade Initiative (ITI) to Brazil. The objective of the ITI to Brazil, which starts today, is to increase exports of value-added products to the Brazilian market.

The ITI will focus on showcasing South Africas diverse range of capabilities to produce world class products and services in the targeted sectors, which include agro-processing (rooibos tea, dried fruits, spices, sauces, frozen fish and sparkling 100% fruit juice), industrial chemicals and automotive components, said Minister Rob Davies. The business delegation will visit Porto Alegre and Sao Paulo.

The Minister said South African companies have made inroads into the Brazilian market, with select products being marketed by companies with a strategic and long-term perspective of the Brazilian market. South African companies, said the Minister, have developed highly specialised skills and products and there are various opportunities for South African companies to market their expertise and collaborate in projects with their Brazilian counterparts.

The programme of the ITI will include a trade and investment seminar, business-to-business meetings and sector-specific business site visits to companies in Sao Paulo and Porto Alegre. The ITI will conclude on Friday.

ITI to Zimbabwe

Meanwhile, deputy director general of export promotion at the dti, Pumla Ncapayi, said the trade and investment mission that the South African government undertakes to Zimbabwe every year goes a long way to cementing close historical, economic and political ties. The dti, together with a business delegation, has been on an ITI to Zimbabwe since Sunday.

Ncapayi was addressing delegates who attended the Investment and Trade Business Seminar hosted by the dti in Harare on Monday. We are undertaking ITIs in a bid to further cement the close historical, economic and political ties that have bound our two economies since the times of South Africas liberation struggle. South Africans are truly grateful for the support received from the people of Zimbabwe during our struggle for liberation.

Today we share a common destiny of mutual pursuance of stable democratic governance, economic growth and socio-economic development. We, therefore, share a sense of kinship with the people of Zimbabwe, which we believe forms a solid basis for the strengthening of business ties, said Ncapayi.

She said South Africa remained committed to partnering with Zimbabwe in the realisation of the two countries economic aspirations. She said Zimbabwe had been at the forefront of a number of historical milestones in advancing the industrialisation agenda in Africa. These include the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap and the Tripartite Free Trade Area.

Both of these initiatives will see Africa attaining self-sustaining development through value addition, employing strategies that boost production capacity of industries, developing infrastructure that leverages industrialisation and promotes technological advancement, emphasised Ncapayi.
Clint Abrahams of the University of Cape Town (UCT) has won third prize in his region in this year's Corobrik Architectural Student of the Year Awards for his thesis entitled "High Streets: Constructing the public realm in low income areas". He also won an award for the best use of clay brick in his thesis.

His thesis proposes, through the design of a Further Education and Training (FET) college in the low income area of Delft, to construct an institutional building that aids a positive public realm and reinforces the towns emerging high street by facilitating diversity.

Unique street energy of Delft

Abrahams interest in high streets came from growing up in Macassar, an apartheid-planned township which had no high street. Having lived in Observatory for the past seven years, he became intrigued by the different energies of the adjacent high streets there. This prompted him to try and understand what constituted a functioning high street and how architects and urban designers could retrofit this idea to lower income areas.

He decided to site his thesis in Delft, a low income area 25km from Cape Towns CBD, because its unique street energy was reminiscent of areas like Observatory.

"In Delft, the high street is an emerging one that has both informal and institutional use. However, here the energies are brought about by the informal activities and not the institutional use. My design explores how institutional buildings can also aid positive street-making conditions in the same way the informal use does.

"The lack of high streets in low income areas negates the socio-economic vitality of these towns," Abrahams explained. "By understanding how a high street functions one is able to transfer the aspects of good streets to low income areas.

"Locally referred to as main streets, these streets are where most shops and other businesses and transport modes are found."

Diversity was key

Abrahams explained that diversity was key to making a functional high street. His thesis investigates which components create street diversity such as the pace of the street, adaptability to rapid change and a concentration of things. It looks at how high streets exist within the Cape Town context and compares developed high streets, emerging high streets and areas with no high streets.

He identifies Main Road, Delft as an emerging high street where he finds that the informal and institutional uses constitute the street but that the institutional buildings have a lack of positive street-making characteristics.

He believes that his design of an FET college, an institutional building, would facilitate diversity in Delfts high street.

"The components of street diversity are explored by developing three building types that make various street conditions, namely a building onto a town square, a building as a thoroughfare and a building as an edge," Abrahams said.

The use of clay brick

Abrahams specifies clay brick for the construction of his Delft design and, as a result, was also named UCTs winner of the Award for Best Use of Clay Brick.

he model of Clint Abrahams prize-winning design of an FET College in Delft which aims to facilitate diversity and reinforce an emerging high street in this low income area near Cape Town.

"By using clay brick construction to construct the public realm, an enduring new civic image is created that speaks of robustness and low maintenance," he said. "The construction methods are appropriated to available skills and thus create job opportunities."

"The building trade, in particular brick masonry, supplements the livelihoods of many households in low income areas. These trades are often practised outside to build up wealthier areas, a situation that is reminiscent of how apartheid-planned towns remain subservient to wealthier towns. Masonry work is practised in an ad hoc manner in these areas and is not representative of the creativity and skills of local labour. The idea is to bring these skills that are practised elsewhere, home."

Abraham went on to say that, by using clay brick in a creative manner, it challenges the mundane use of clay brick for traditional institutional buildings in these areas.

"In my Delft design, brick is used as enclosure, screening and ground cover as well as craft and pays homage to the informal way it is used in the area."

The ideal material

Christie van Niekerk, Corobriks GM in the Western Cape, praised Abrahams vision and his appreciation of the value of clay masonry construction.

"There is a growing realisation that clay brick is the ideal material for institutional and government projects, even for affordable housing, due to its sustainability and strength. While concrete and innovative building technologies are more penetrable due to their higher level of movement, they can develop cracks easily and therefore dont last as long. By comparison, brick is less penetrable and can last a lifetime."
Let's face it, nobody wants to tackle their own mortality, which is why selling life insurance can be an interesting challenge. The marketing team at 1Life believe that their multi-channel direct approach, coupled with tailor-made product solutions, innovations and emotive marketing campaigns help to "make a difference in their customers' lives".

Rick Rupping, head of marketing, Matt Arnold, brand manager, Brina Sieber, digital strategist and Grant Malherbe-Stroud, media manager

Rick Rupping, head of marketing, Matt Arnold, brand manager, Grant Malherbe-Stroud, media manager, and Brina Sieber, digital strategist, tell their brand story.

Who is the brands target market?

Any consumer who needs financial products and services, which they can access directly, without the hassle of using a third party. We speak to consumers who understand the importance of planning their financial future  and those that need guidance  to ensure their families have adequate financial protection.

Whats on the teams wish list for brand objectives for 2016?

To showcase what our business stands for, and why we are in the business of financial solutions. That is, to truly change the lives of our customers, our staff and all South Africans on a daily basis through our product offerings, processes and education.

What innovations have the current team been responsible for?

Truth About Money: which is a financial education course covering debt management and counselling services as well as wills and estate planning services, all for free. It focuses on behavioural change, and to date, we have seen massive uptake, due, we believe, to the dire need for financial education and support.

All Woman: is specifically designed to ensure the financial protection and support if a woman, or her child, are diagnosed with cancer.

Preserve Funeral Plan: was recently launched, and is a first of its kind truly African funeral plan. It is a comprehensive package that caters for the cultural and traditional burial needs, where consumers have access to a burial within a privately controlled and secure, 400-hectare conservation park.

1Life brand:while we have always been very strong in the print, TV and online advertising space, we have taken this a level further. To really connect with consumers we needed to tell a story that is emotive, real and resonates with them. As such, we developed a brand campaign using the example of how one small action or decision can have a profound impact on ones life journey.

What makes your brand stand out from others in its class?

Very simply, its that we strive to make life less complicated for our clients when it comes to their financial protection.

This means that we not only tailor packages to consumers specific financial needs, by removing tedious processes typically associated with financial planning and insurance cover, we also ensure that we provide them with cover that actually meets their immediate and long-term financial needs.

What does the team see currently as the main challenges and or opportunities for the brand sector?

Operating in the type of industry we do, we always need to be aware of external factors such as consumer spending, new technology development and the current economic climate, as these all have an impact on our business.

Does the team still see the value of TV, print and other mainstream media?

Yes, but one cannot simply view a specific channel in isolation. Given that we operate within such diverse target markets, which all have different preferences in terms of the media channels they use, we have to explore a host of different mainstream media.

We launched our #StrongerTogether campaign, in September last year to help support the need for greater education around cancer, but doing so in a manner that actually connects with people.

As a result, we shared stories from around South Africa and profiled people affected by cancer, all supported by informative and helpful advice.

What are the biggest obstacles to take up and planning of "new media" campaigns?

Consumer needs are continuously evolving, and a companys brand strategy must reflect these changes  otherwise it will run the risk of becoming irrelevant in the minds of consumers.

We responded to the consumers growing need for directly accessible financial planning products and services, with the launch of our new brand campaign  Life Less Complicated in March this year.

What does the team love most about your brand?

All our staff truly believe that we are changing lives and actively live this on a day-to- day basis, which directly translates to what we stand for as a brand and how we communicate.
A global distribution system (GDS) is an online network that enables automated transactions between travel service providers and travel agencies. Read on for all the important ways that listing your travel service on one of these portals can open up markets, boost bookings and save time for all concerned.

Arebbusch Square

The major GDS companies are Sabre, Apollo/Galileo, Worldspan and Amadeus, each of which require their own access code, "where travel industry members can push their availability and rates via their channel manager. We use SiteMinder," says Robert Nienaber of the City Accommodation Group. He adds, "Getting onto the GDS involved a lengthy setup and integration process, but one which I believe will result in good dividends."

The benefits for the City Accommodation Group, which has recently listed their Windhoek-based Arebbusch Travel Lodge on the GDS, are likely to include:

 New business in the way of travel agents

 New business in the way of private clients

 Ease of booking for existing clients

Opening up the market

Currently, there are only a handful of hotels/accommodation establishments in the Windhoek area connected to the GDS. "When an overseas travel agent or tour operator, say one that is Frankfurt-based, runs a GDS search for accommodation in Windhoek, we will appear alongside only three or four other hotels that are currently listed. This obviously opens up a massive market for us," enthuses Robert. "We will basically pop up whenever the approximately 5,000 global travel agents, making use of the system, run a search in Windhoek via the GDS portal." Additionally, no direct marketing is needed and bookings can be made in real time.

Additionally, many of the GDS companies, along with the travel agents, airlines and car rental companies that they link to, offer online-booking portals which clients can use to book their own travel-related services  bringing in more private clients, says Robert. "While we do already integrate with a lot of online travel agents, for example Expedia, we will now pop up on many more platforms when potential private clients run direct searches for accommodation in Windhoek," he says.

The process is also simplified for existing clients (i.e. travel agencies), who use the GDS and who already make regular bookings with a vendor, by the vendor listing on the GDS too, comments Robert. "They no longer need to email or phone us to check availability, confirm rates and make a booking. They simply log onto their GDS portal of choice, input the relevant code and all the info appears before them to aid real-time bookings with us." He adds that bookings made in this way pull straight through to their reservations grid, cutting out all the time-consuming manual work.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has urged the government to embark on the total privatisation of loss-making state-owned enterprises, starting with South African Airways (SAA).

NJR ZA via Wikimedia Commons - SAA park

DA spokeswoman on public enterprises, Natasha Mazzone noted at a media briefing on Tuesday that state-owned enterprises such as SAA, Eskom, South African National Roads Agency (Sanral), PetroSA and the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) had made a combined loss of R15.5bn in the 2014-15 financial year. They currently held R409bn in government guarantees.

"We must initiate an urgent process of privatisation to dispose of these liabilities and this process must start with SAA," she said. SAA had accumulated losses of R18bn and there was "little sign of a turnaround in sight".

Mazzone did not believe government's proposed solution of a merger between SAA and SA Express and the introduction of a minority equity partner would address the problems faced by the airline. "The merger may in fact have negative effects by creating an even larger state monopoly that is altogether more difficult to monitor and manage," she said.

The best solution was for the state to sell off SAA, which cost the taxpayers far more than they received in return. "It simply makes no sense to continue to prop up this ailing entity while 8.2-million South Africans are without jobs or have given up looking for jobs."

Source: Business Day
As BBC World News celebrates its 25th anniversary this month, Focus on Africa presenter Anne Soy exclusively shares her favourite BBC story she's covered, as well as top media trends to watch out for in 2016.

Back in 1991, World Service Television (known as BBC World News today) launches with its first half-hour bulletin across Europe. Skip forward to 2014, and the BBC is identified as a leader in global breaking news and the most-shared news brand on Twitter. I chatted to Anne Soy, one of the BBC's bilingual reporters based in Nairobi who actually broke the story of the attack on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi for the BBC in 2013 and has a Twitter following of 48,000+, about one of the most significant news stories shes covered in her BBC career and her daily on-the-job stresses

1. Tell us more about the specific story featured in this image.

Soy: My colleague Charlotte Attwood and I were at a laboratory in Bamako, Mali, reporting about efforts to find a viable vaccine for Ebola. It was an uplifting story to do at a time when there were many heart-rending tales of death and devastation.

Soy and Attwood reporting from a laboratory in Bamako, Mali on efforts to find a viable vaccine for Ebola.

2. Definitely. Give us a brief overview of your personal story  your studies and career highlights package so far.

Soy: I completed my undergraduate degree in information sciences, specialising in media studies, from Moi University in western Kenya in 2005. I got my first job as a reporter at the Kenya Television Network shortly afterwards. It was at KTN that an editor asked me to produce a weekly segmented feature on HIV/Aids. I took on the challenge and reported on the subject for five years. I always told the stories through people who were living with, or affected by, HIV and Aids, apart from talking to experts. In 2009, I was nominated for the award of UN Person of the Year in Kenya. I won six other awards. It wasnt always easy interviewing the experts  the researchers and medics  so I yearned to learn more about health and healthcare. I enrolled for a Master of Public Health/ Epidemiology degree at Moi University in 2011. The course really broadened my understanding of health issues. I credit the KTN editor for guiding me towards health reporting, something I continued with when I joined the BBC in 2013.

Reporting on Ebola was tough. The world went into panic mode, consequently transport was paralysed and there was the constant risk of exposure to infection. I have covered risky stories like war and insurgency and my family has been fine with it, but in the case of Ebola it was very difficult to convince them that I also needed to go where the outbreak was to tell the story. The BBC management are very supportive and understanding. There were measures put in place to ensure we were safe. Eventually I did manage to tell the story to the world. Its always tough witnessing the devastation first-hand but that motivated me to want to tell the story more, so that the affected people could get help.

3. What else do you enjoy most about your daily duties, and which aspects cause you the most stress?

Anne Soy

Soy: I love the spontaneity. No two days are the same. There are days I report to work and end up spending the night in a different country. We have to make decisions on our feet. Teamwork is everything. Also, being at the centre of unfolding news when the world needs information, and being able to report and explain everything to our audience, is fulfilling.

While I find the job fulfilling, Im still learning to balance its demands with raising a young family. I have two daughters aged eight and five-and-a-half. Im not always home to do homework with them, but I try my best to be there for them when Im in Kenya. My husband is also very supportive and understanding. It helps that he is an editor, though in a different media house. Luckily he doesnt need to travel much. He once told the kids that he needed to travel out of the country for work and they put up a big fight, telling him moms are the ones who should travel while dads stay at home with the children.

4. Too funny, especially as media's one of the fastest-changing industries thanks to the fast-pace of technological change that disrupts the news flow and traditional methods of reporting. Elaborate on the specific journalism/media trends you're most looking forward to in the industry this year.

Soy: Mobile technology. It has given us the ability to report faster than we would using traditional methods. In breaking news situations particularly, the mobile phone has proven to be a powerful tool. There is simply no limit to what we can do with it; we can deliver for radio, television and online platforms.

Thats for sure. Follow Soy on Twitter, or you can click here for more on BBC World News, visit their website and follow their Twitter feed.
KHARTOUM - Sudanese security agents confiscated all copies of the Tuesday edition of a newspaper seen as close to the government, its editor said, the latest such seizure in a country criticised for media restrictions.

On Monday night, "after the printing finished for the Tuesday edition, members of the security apparatus came to the printer and seized all copies" of Al-Sudani without giving reasons, the daily's chief editor Dia al-din Bilal told AFP.

Journalists in Sudan complain of harassment from the authorities and the country regularly ranks near the bottom of international press freedom indexes.

The powerful National Intelligence and Security Service often confiscates entire print runs of newspapers over articles that it deems to be offensive, rarely explaining why.

Bilal said the last time his newspaper was seized was five months ago.

"We have become more careful about the material we publish and despite no seizures for five months, it has happened again," he said.

Source: AFP
He said: Grandpa Saw Ler Pwe suddenly vomited coming home on his way back from church. He was then sent to Pegu Hospital and died there.

DKBA sources said the body was going to be transported from Pegu to the DKBA headquarters in Kawkareik Township.

General Saw Ler Pwe had undergone unsuccessful treatment for the cancer in both Burma and Singapore.

The DKBA broke away from the Karen National Union in 1994, and signed a ceasefire agreement with the Burma military regime who supported the group with weapons and money.

After refusing to join the Border Guard Force the DKBA started fighting the government again on 8 November 2010, the day after the national elections.

The group then signed another ceasefire with Thein Seins government in November 2011.

General Saw Ler Pwe became infamous in Thailand after the Thai authorities accused him of trafficking drugs and included him on a list of their 25 most wanted drug dealers in April 2012.

In response to his inclusion on the list General Saw Ler Pwe called a press conference at the Kaw Thoo Mwe Khee Section in the Walay Area of Myawaddy Township to respond to the allegations made against him by the then Thai Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung.

He said that the Thai Government had been wrong to include him on the list, that he was innocent and that neither he nor any of his soldiers had ever been involved in the drug trade.

Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
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The State Department has released all of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's work related emails which have not revealed the smoking gun Republicans had hoped to find so, in their effort to dig up something, they've filed four more lawsuits for a total of six lawsuits.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) filed two initial lawsuits last week and an additional four lawsuits today all of which seek to force virtually every agency or organization Clinton has been affiliated with to hand over troves of documents.

One asks for communications between officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development and both the State Department and Clintons affiliate outside organizations, such as the Clinton Foundation. [...] The third lawsuit asks for communication between the State Department staffers and the Clinton Foundation, as well as other Clinton-linked groups. The final lawsuits asks for visitor logs for Clintons personal office and the State Departments Diplomatic Reception Room as well as details about a program to fund the historic rooms renovation.

It seems clear, judging by the nature of the lawsuits they've filed, that the RNC is looking for evidence that the State Department or Secretary Clinton herself somehow illegally coordinated with the Clinton Foundation. The foundation, I would remind you, is a philanthropic public health charity that spends nearly 90 percent of its revenue on charitable missions that include abominable goals such as reducing childhood obesity.

It remains to be seen if the District Court of D.C. will entertain the RNC's politically-motivated fishing expedition which is clearly part of their grand plan for fighting Hillary Clinton in the general election.

I'm not convinced average voters will give a shit about Hillary Clinton's charitable foundation while Donald Trump is calling for physical violence. I'm not even convinced the media will spend a great deal of time covering this because so much of their time is already occupied broadcasting every single word that comes out of Trump's mouth.

You may have noticed that none of the lawsuits filed by the RNC over the past week mention Benghazi.
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenpress news agency presents on the air of Lratvakan radio all that you will hear, read and see on todays news.

The four Aurora Prize finalists will be announced. The first Aurora Prize will be held on April 24, this year in Yerevan. Aurora Prize Co-Chair George Clooney from the Selection Committee will award the Aurora Prize. Members of the initiative will meet with journalist today, on March 16 to present the details of the initiative.

"Protection of rights without borders" NGO invites to participate in the presentation-discussion of the report Human rights budgeting in the penitentiaries of the Republic of Armenia. The processes of financial allocations from the state budget and expenditure planning will be discussed, focusing on the issue to what extent those allocations and planning correspond with human rights criteria of imprisoned people.

The political and expert circles of Armenia discuss the terror acts that occurred in Turkey recently and the policy conducted by the Turkish authorities. Expert-analyst Sargis Hatspanyan and political scientist Sergey Shakaryan will introduce their remarks on the recent foreign and domestic developments in Turkey. Sargis Hatspanyan will also touch upon the fate of St. Kirakos Church of Tigranakert.

Today is the 95th anniversary of the Russian-Turkish treaty signed on March 16, 1921. President of Constitutional Right Union Party, MP Hayk Babukhanyan and Dean of the Faculty of History, doctor in historical sciences, professor Edik Minasyan will speak on the topic.

Weather forecasts and expected frostbites in the agricultural areas are in the focus of the public in these days. Gagik Surenyan, Deputy Head of Hydromet Service Meteorological Center and Deputy Minister of Agriculture Garnik Petrosyan will speak about expected weather, as well as will introduce proper ways to protect agricultural activities from frostbites.

What potentials does Armenia have to develop scientific tourism? Symposium entitled Scientific tourism in South Western Asia will be held at the Armenian Institute of Tourism. It is expected that the potentials and opportunities of Armenia to develop scientific tourism will be presented at the symposium.

Events in the sidelines of Francophone month go on. This time a competition of French language will be held intended for the students of the Alliance Francaise in Armenia. The students will be awarded with certificates and letters of appreciation, as well as a trip to Paris.

You can read more about these and other topics at armenpress.am and listen to the news on the air of Lratvakan radio. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. After the passing of the law on "State support for IT sector, a 4-5 times increase in startup formation is registered in Armenia. 16 startups were founded in 2014, and then in 2015, after the law took effect; the number of newly created companies went up to 80, 71 of which had been granted privileges.

Deputy Economy Minister Emil Tarasyan informed about this during an interview with Armenpress", noting that in the first couple of months of 2016, the figure has already increased by 10%. "The dynamics is in place, now we have to continue the privileges. They are restricted in terms of time. December 31, 2017 is the deadline for applications for the newly established startups, and the current privileges will be active until 2020.

We need to analyze the field of privileges, taking into account all the positive-negative aspects. I think this year we will launch a new initiative in the National Assembly in order to extend the deadline for accepting applications and granting privileges. In addition, the law will be clarified, so that there are no barriers to foreign capital, as well as for the creation of Armenian startups, the Deputy Minister said.

He was pleased to note that 4 organizations with foreign capital, having no connection to Armenia, decided to launch a startup here.

According to Emil Tarasyan , they will expand the range of activities to create a favorable environment for innovation development. "The field of innovative development is of a much wider range and it is possible that the by creating favorable environment we will attract innovative design companies , he said.
Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Stobart Air, today launched the first flight on its new route from Shannon to Edinburgh.

The new route will operate six times weekly with fares from 29.99 one-way including taxes and charges.
A Dublin man will find out this morning if he is going to have to serve time in prison for stealing from a charity he set up to send sick children to Lapland.

John Cornelius Murphy of Church Road in Killiney was told he may avoid a custodial sentence if he finds a way to pay the money back.
Police in the North have launched a murder investigation after the death of a 52-year-old prison officer, yesterday.

Adrian Ismay who suffered serious leg injuries in a bomb attack in Belfast 12 days ago, died of a suspected heart attack yesterday.
By Daniel McConnell, Political Editor in Washington DC

Update (9.20pm): The US Secret Service has this evening apologised to Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams after he was refused entry into the White House.

The Secret Service would like to express our regret that the issue involving Mr Gerry Adams entry into the St. Patricks Day reception could not be resolved in a more timely manner, the statement read.

Unfortunately, an administrative input error received by the Secret Service was not able to be rectified promptly.

Earlier:

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams was reportedly refused entry to the White House for the St Patrick's Day reception hosted by President Barack Obama.

Gerry Adams says it's unacceptable he encountered a long delay trying to enter a St Patrick's Day White House eventhttps://t.co/mvf0GfWXEw  RTE News (@rtenews) March 16, 2016

According to IrishCentral.com, Mr Adams was refused entry to the event which saw acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny present Mr Obama with a bowl of Shamrock.

Mr Adams arrived with other Sinn Fein personnel including the party's Vice President Mary Lou McDonald and Martin McGuinness.

Mr Adams was pulled aside from the other Sinn Fein members as the White House security personnel examined his documents.

According to IrishCentral.com, Mr Adams is on a list which requires him to pass through additional security checks.

He is known to face what is called secondary inspection when boarding planes for North America and he usually arrives very early for flights, but problems at the White House level are highly unusual.

That is because anyone attending the event is known to have been screened by the FBI and Secret Service before being issued with an official invite.

Even in cases where, for instance, an Irish passport holder may have his passport in Irish, as happened to a TD recently, usually a way around the issue is found.

However, after waiting 90 minutes and seeing no movement in the effort to gain him entrance, Mr Adams decided to leave.

This afternoon Mr Adams released a statement on White House incident.

He said: "I had received my usual invitation to attend the St. Patricks Day celebrations in the White House and was pleased to accept.

"When I arrived the staff at the White House informed me that there was an issue of security.

"After two decades of travelling back and forth to the USA and countless meetings in the White House with successive US Presidents, this is an unacceptable development."

Gerry Adams has claimed he was refused entry to White House for political reasons #iestaff  Daniel McConnell (@McConnellDaniel) March 16, 2016

He said: "It is obvious that there remain some within the US administration who seek to treat Sinn Fein differently.

He went on: "I have to regularly go through additional searches and scrutiny when we travel to and from the USA.

"Last year the State Department initially refused to meet me as part of a transparent effort to pressurise Sinn Fein during negotiations at Stormont.

"That meeting did take place after protests from US political leaders. Efforts to pressurise us in the negotiations failed," he added.

"This morning Martin McGuinness, Mary Lou McDonald and I met with the Congressional Friends of Ireland. They too shared our grave disappointment at the White House situation and expressed their determination to have this issue resolved.

"Sinn Fein will not sit at the back of the bus for anyone. We are elected to represent citizens and we will do this. I am hopeful that the controversy around my White House invitation will help lead to a resolution of all these matters."

We have sought a comment from the White House, but they have not yetresponded.
YEREVAN, MARCH 15, ARMENPRESS. The exhibition entitled "Genocide after Genocide" will tour across Europe. This was stated during an interview with Armenpress by Peto Demirchyan, in charge of communications of the ARF Europe Armenian National Committee.

According to the program the exhibition will be held in various European cities. We are currently in the planning stage, therefore I prefer not to mention details, but as soon as the program is confirmed, we will inform you. This will happen during this year, he noted.

The "Genocide after Genocide" exhibition was presented at the European Parliament from February 29 to March 4.

"The exhibition was very successful in the European Parliament, the official opening was held on March 1. During one week, 32 large photographs, which were created by monument historian Samvel Karapetyans organization, were exhibited in the European Parliament. The exhibition had more than 1000 visitors, Demirchyan said, adding that the exhibition caused great interest.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan awarded the special Haykyan award to monument historian Samvel Karapetyan, for the exhibition Genocide after Genocide, which was initiated within the framework of the 100th Armenian Genocide Anniversary commemorative events.
Anders Behring Breivik has told a court that the Norwegian government is trying to kill him by holding him in isolation.

But the right-wing extremist, who killed 77 people in 2011, says his Nazi ideology has helped him survive so far.

The 37-year-old has sued the government, insisting that his prison conditions are "inhuman" and violate the European Convention on Human Rights.

The government disagrees, noting that Breivik has access to three cells and the right to receive visitors and communication with the outside world - except for other extremists, who could be inspired by his "poisonous" ideology.

"It would have been more humane to shoot me than to treat me like an animal," Breivik told a court hearing in the gym of Skien prison, where the trial is being held for security reasons.

Breivik was convicted of terrorism and mass murder for his attacks on July 22, 2011.

He killed eight people with a car bomb in Oslo's government district and shot 69 others, mostly teenagers, dead in a massacre at a summer camp for left-wing youth activists on Utoya island.

He was sentenced to a 21-year term, Norway's maximum sentence, which can be extended for as long as he's considered a danger to society, most likely for the rest of his life.

Entering the court, Breivik didn't repeat the Nazi salute he had used yesterday on the first day of the trial, but described himself as a die-hard national socialist.

Reading from a prepared statement, he accused the government of trying to drive him to suicide by keeping him isolated from other prisoners and by stopping his mail correspondence with sympathisers.

He said he drew strength from principles he had learned from Adolf Hitler's book Mein Kampf.

"Those principles are the only reasons that I am alive today," Breivik said.

Except for prison staff, health personnel and others visiting him in a professional capacity, Breivik said the only person he's seen in prison is his mother, who has since died.

Government lawyers said that he's allowed to receive visitors, but that there were few requests to see him, except by other right-wing extremists.

Breivik said the isolation is making him apathetic and depressed, giving him headaches and difficulty sleeping.

"I don't think most people would have survived as long as I have," he said.

Prison psychiatrist Randi Rosenqvist testified that she found no signs that Breivik had suffered serious mental health problems due to his isolation.

"Everyone has headaches from time to time," she said, adding that could be remedied with painkillers and water.

The government says Breivik is being treated with dignity and respect despite the severity of his crimes.

It says all restrictions on his contacts with others are for his own safety and to ensure he doesn't use his prison time to build extremist networks.

Later today, court officials were to visit Breivik's cells in the high-security section of Skien prison.

The trial is set to end Friday.
Disgruntled children and their parents in the UK have hit out at George Osborne's budget proposal to lengthen school days.

The Chancellor has announced extra financial support for at least 25% of all secondary schools "that want to offer their pupils longer school days with more extra-curricular activities like sport and art".

Chloe Tatlock, 17, from Chorley, Lancashire said she was concerned about the effect of the changes on younger school children - including her 14-year-old brother.

She said: "I think the main thing would be stress - me and my friends are currently doing our A-levels and have already completed our GCSEs so we know how much pressure kids feel whilst in school."

She studied her GCSEs at Holy Cross Catholic High School and is now in her second year working toward A-levels in English literature, English language and film studies at Runshaw College.

She said: "I think there's too much expectation placed on students too young.

"When you start to feel like all you're doing is school work it becomes monotonous and you begin to resent school and you lose your willingness to learn."

Asked what the impact would be on school children, she said: "I think they would be less inclined to work hard and other aspects of their lives would suffer.

"Speaking from experience, I have had periods of time where I struggled mentally with the pressures of college and it's caused me to panic, be ill and fall behind in my work."

She said she was lucky to have supportive tutors who had helped her a lot, adding that they too would suffer if hours increased.

Jemma Binanti, 23, from Edinburgh, has a young daughter who is not yet in school but said she feared longer hours would put a "real strain on family time" with her younger sister Katie.

She said: "I don't have a little one at school just yet but my younger sister is eight.

Jemma Binanti, 23, from Edinburgh and her six month old daughter Aria. Pic: PA

"I already feel she spends so much of her time at school, I fear longer hours would put a real strain on family time, not to mention the added pressure on teachers.

"Teachers are already so stretched with ever-growing class sizes. Happy teachers equal happy children, something I do not think longer school hours would achieve."

Justine Roberts, chief executive of Mumsnet, the UK's largest network for parents, said: "The pre-Budget noise about school changes has been much discussed this morning.

"The cost and availability of childcare are huge issues for parents, and making use of school buildings for after-hours clubs and activities makes a lot of sense to Mumsnet users.

"However, many would prefer the additional activities to be non-curricular - and quite a few think that if raising academic standards is the object, addressing teacher recruitment in Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects might do more good than one extra school hour per day."
Germany is urging Israel to reverse the seizure of land in the West Bank.

A spokeswoman for Germany's Foreign Ministry says Berlin fears the expropriated land will be used to expand Israeli settlements and make it harder to forge a peace deal with the Palestinians.
The migration crisis is topping the agenda of the EU leaders summit.

The EU is proposing aid of 6bn to Turkey, which is trying to deal with a massive volume of refugees, on certain conditions.

These include the "one-for-one" plan, under which Turkey no longer facilitates illegal immigrants to reach the Greek Islands.

For every migrant turned back, the EU will accept a properly documented asylum-seeker from Turkey.

Sean Kelly MEP is hopeful of agreement: Its legal rather than illegal.

Its regular rather than irregular, it is safe rather than dangerous.

And I am quite sure on the March 17, St Patricks Day, who he himself was a migrant, coming from Wales to Ireland.

He might inspire the leaders on that day to come up with a good solution.
Another group of Russian warplanes have left their air base in Syria to return home, Russia's defence ministry has said.

The announcement comes two days after President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian military to withdraw most of its fighting forces from Syria, signalling an end to Russia's five-and-a-half-month air campaign.
Update 11.15am:

Belgian Prosecutors have said the Paris suspect shot dead by police during anti-terror raids was Algerian and had been in Brussels illegally.

Thierry Werts, the prosecutor, said an Islamic State group flag, a Salafist Muslim book and a Kalashnikov assault rifle were found in the suspect's home

Update 11am:

They have been holding a news conference this morning after their investigation into the Paris attacks led to a shootout in the Belgian capital yesterday.

The man killed by officers was reported to have been armed with an assault rifle and detectives say they found an Islamic State flag by his body.

Two other suspects were captured alive earlier after a major manhunt.

An emergency meeting of the country's national security council has been called later today.

Update 9.37

Police in Belgium have arrested two suspects following an anti-terror raid in Brussels, linked to last November's Paris attacks.

The Belgian prosecutor is holding a press conference on the incident this morning.

While an emergency meeting of the country's national security council has been called for later.

Sky's Sam Kiley is at the scene: The front of this house and indeed the back has got bullet strikes and broken windows, from that engagement.

We understand from authorities here that the whole operation is now over and there are two people in custody.

Update 6.20

A manhunt is still underway in Brussels this morning as police close in on the Paris terror suspects.

One man, armed with a Kalashnikov, was shot dead by officers yesterday during the operation in the Belgian capital.

While another two remain at large today, despite a shootout and a series of home raids in the suburbs.

The crackdown is part of the investigation into November's Islamist attacks in Paris in which 130 people died.
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. On the contact line of the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijani opposing forces, on March 15 and early morning of March 16 the adversary fired more than 700 shots at Armenian positions from different caliber weapons.

As Armenpress was informed by the Press Service of the Nagorno Karabakh Defense Ministry, the Defense Army troops confidently continue carrying out their military duty, conducting response actions only in case of strict necessity.
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YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. The Federal Member for Bennelong, Mr. John Alexander, spoke in the Federation Chamber of Australia's Parliament on March 16 to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the Sumgait Pogroms that took place in February 1988.

Asa Armenpress was informed from the Armenian National Committee of Australia, during his address, Alexander spoke of the oppressive history of the region towards Armenians, stemming from the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 by the former Ottoman Empire, to the anti-Armenian Sumgait Pogroms, and how Azerbaijans poor human rights record has continued today.



Alexander talked about the history of the Sumgait Pogroms and how peaceful demonstrations held by the Armenian people living in Azerbaijan and in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh to re-unite with Armenia, turned sour as violence broke out as an act of collective punishment. He then went on to mention the manner of which destruction was brought about by Azerbaijani mobs, through systematic attacks and assaults on the Armenians of Sumgait, as well as brutal murders, tortures, burning, and rape of women and young girls.



Alexander stressed that the crimes committed in Sumgait were never adequately prosecuted by the then Soviet or Azerbaijani authorities and led to his explanation of Azerbaijans poor human rights record, and specifically mentioning the case of Ramil Safarov.



This year the world will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, and next month we will commemorate 101 years since the start of the Armenian Genocide, stated Alexander.



In the conclusion of his speech, Alexander mentioned the lack of attention these cases have had in the media, in Parliament and in the history classes of schools. He then commented on how Armenians have been able to flourish and have been able to proudly celebrate their cultural traditions.

ANC Australias Executive Administrator, Arin Markarian said: We thank Mr. Alexander for the heartfelt speech he made, remembering the innocent Armenian victims of the Sumgait Pogroms, while highlighting the chain effect that has occurred as a result of not condemning human rights violations and anti-Armenian behaviour by the Azerbaijani government.
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan arrived in the Republic of Cyprus on the evening of March 15 on an official visit. As Armenpress was informed from the Department of Public Relations and Mass Media of the Republic of Armenia Presidents Office, after the reception ceremony, a private conversation took place between the two Presidents, Nicos Anastasiades and Serzh Sargsyan, which was followed by an expanded format negotiations with the participation of official delegations.

As a result of the negotiations a range of documents aimed at developing and deepening cooperation between Armenia and Cyprus were signed. The Presidents of the two countries briefed the results of the meeting for media.

During todays talks we had an opportunity to discuss a number of issues of mutual interest and reconfirmed the high level of bilateral relations, as well as the excellent cooperation between Cyprus and Armenia in international organizations. We are committed to further reinforce and deepen our cooperation in all possible spheres, the President of Cyprus said.

In his speech, he attached great importance to the Armenian community in Cyprus for their role in linking the two friendly countries. Today, considering our historic, cultural and religious ties, we reconfirm our readiness to continue and further activate our bilateral cooperation, as well as cooperation within the framework of international organizations. The best proof of my words is the unanimous decision adopted by the parliament of Cyprus on April 2, 2015, criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide. We are the first EU member state to recognize the Armenian Genocide in 1982. Within the limits of our opportunities and through the world-spread Diaspora structures we consolidate our voice and we are against all those who do not want to recognize the Armenian Genocide, President Anastasiades said.

The Cypriot President also mentioned that during the conversation with the Armenian President they informed each other about the developments over Nagorno Karabakh and Cyprus issues. President Anastasiades told the media representatives that he had informed Serzh Sargsyan about the efforts of Cyprus to get rid of usurpers and to reunite Cyprus.
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YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. Glendale became the first US city where all schools will be closed on April 24 in memory of Armenian Genocide victims. As "Armenpress" was informed by the ANCA, the Glendale Community School Board decided to declare April 24 "Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide ".

"This is an important day for Hay Dat and for all those who are fighting for justice and for the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide," reads the Committee statement.
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades hosted an official dinner on March 15, in honor of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. The two Presidents made mutual toasts during the dinner. As Armenpress was informed by the Department of Mass Media and Public Relations of the Presidential Administration, they referred to the centuries-old friendship and similar values of the nations, the strengthening of interstate relations, deepening of relations between Cypriot and Armenian peoples.

"The stories of our peoples are often identical and common.

When we were persecuted, we were persecuted for the same values, the founder and bearer of which were we. When we fought, we fought together, relying on our values and way of thinking. And even today, faithful to our principles and our firm beliefs we support each other in our foreign policy agenda.

The proof of this is Mr. Anastasiades visit to Yerevan last April, when he stated that crimes cannot go unpunished and that "naturally, Cyprus and Armenia are fighting together against the criminals of the 20th century's first genocide."

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The common history and ties of our peoples is the source of inspiration for the development and expansion of our interstate cooperation. I am pleased to note that our political dialogue, especially in recent years, is developing. Mutual visits of heads of parliaments of Armenia and Cyprus and foreign ministers speak to this fact. There are many cultural and educational ties. Normal activity in all of these areas is provided by bilateral legal framework. I want to highlight our bilateral military cooperation, which is strengthening year by year.

Armenia and Cyprus exemplary cooperate in international and European formats too. And the fact that we rely on principles of international law regarding issues of vital importance for our countries, but at the same time continue to closely cooperate in multilateral fields, once again proves that our relations are above any kind of political interests, based on friendship set in the past, present and future brotherly cooperation , President Serzh Sargsyan said.

The President also spoke about the Armenian-Cypriot historical past, the political and economic relations between the Kingdom of Cilician Armenia and Kingdom of Cyprus.

Serzh Sargsyan also highlighted the visit of Cypriot high ranking officials to the commemorative events of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
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YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador of Armenia to Germany Ashot Smbatyan met with the President of the German Bundestag Norbert Lammert. As Armenpress was informed from the Department of Press, Information and Public Relations of MFA Armenia, during the meeting the interlocutors discussed a broad range of issues referring to Armenian-German political dialogue, reinforcement of inter-parliamentary ties, partnership in economy, culture and education.

Referring to the current cooperation between the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and the Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany the sides expressed readiness to make more efforts aimed at further deepening the ties between the parliaments of the two countries.
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Looking out over the still, reflective waters of Gungahlin's Yerrabi Pond, it's hard to believe Neil Maher saved two children from drowning from just downstream almost four years ago.

For his efforts Mr Maher has received a commendation for brave conduct as part of the Australian Bravery Awards.

"It was a bit out of the blue to get the letter  it's a pleasant surprise," he said.

When he heard screams and squeals while walking along the pond's shores with his daughter Tianna near their home on the fateful Friday afternoon in 2012, he initially thought it was kids playing.
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. Crimea marks the second anniversary of the historic referendum that returned the peninsula to Russia on March 16. Armenpress reports, citing TASS.

Marches, a flash mob, a car rally, exhibitions and other events will take place across Crimea, culture Minister Arina Novoselskaya informed Tass. March 18, when the Republic of Crimea and Russia signed a treaty making the peninsula a constituent territory of the Russian Federation, will be celebrated on a wider scale and will be a day off in the republic.

The main events will take place in Simferopol, where at least 1,500 people are expected to march through the streets to celebrate reunification.

The Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, a city with a special status on the Crimean Peninsula, where most residents are Russians, refused to recognize the legitimacy of authorities brought to power amid riots during a coup in Ukraine in February 2014.

Crimea and Sevastopol adopted declarations of independence on March 11, 2014. They held a referendum on March 16, 2014, in which 96.77% of Crimean and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the reunification deals March 18, 2014.
ANCA Gallery: Retronauts. Artists Leah Bullen and Sara Roberts present a series of works on paper that interrogate the relationship between painting and photography. Until April 3. Open Wednesday to Sunday, noon-5pm. 1 Rosevear Place, Dickson. See: anca.net.au.

Jacob Potter's Goosebumps (detail) is on display in his Side A exhibition at M16 Artspace.

Belconnen Arts Centre: "We are made of star stuff"  Carl Sagan. Jennifer Hawkins examines our connection to each other as human beings and addresses the big questions like 'where do we come from?'. False Readings. An exhibition of book and paper sculptures that explore human-digital interactions. Covet. Works from a group of textile artists examining the idea of 'covet': desiring an object that is not theirs. All until March 28. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-4pm. 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen. See: belconnenartscentre.com.au.

Bungendore Fine Art: Australia, its Beauty. Graeme Schreiber presents realistic and abstract depictions of Australian scenery. Until April 28. Open daily, 10am-4.30pm. 42b Ellendon Street, Bungendore. See: bungendorefineart.com.au.

M16 Artspace: Smiles for Miles. A solo exhibition by local photographer Stella-Rae Zelnik documenting the custom motor bike scene. Side A. Artist Jacob Potter engages with a variety of materials in his exploration of construction and deconstruction. Dibutades Shadow. A collection of portraits by artist Lynda Edridge which draws on the artist's fascination with faces. All until SundayOpen Wednesday to Sunday, noon-5pm. 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith. Ph: 6295 9438 or see: m16artspace.com.au.

Nancy Sever Gallery: Scylla and Charybdis. An exhibition showcasing works which challenge the ordinary and negotiate the perils of balancing the personal with the critical. Until April 3. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am-5pm. 4/6 Kennedy Street, Kingston. See: nancysevergallery.com.au.

NGA Contemporary: The Last Temptation. A collaborative installation which uses uranium glass and ultraviolet light in a bold response to nuclear industry. Until April 3. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm. Parkes Place, Parkes. Ph: 6240 6411 or see: nga.gov.au.
Men and abusive perpetrators are critical to driving the cultural change needed to drive down rates of domestic and family violence across Australia.

That's the view of counsellor David Nugent, who overcame his own problems with violence and aggression to start a behaviour change program in Victoria for men who struggled to control their temper.

David Nugent will visit Canberra this week for a screening of the documentary Call Me Dad, which followed participants of the counselling program he runs in Melbourne.

He said men needed to look at themselves and their relationships to avoid contributing to the "horrible" statistics of abuse in Australia, with one in three women affected by domestic or family violence in their lifetime.

Mr Nugent said abuse commonly stemmed from men wanting to exert power and control over their partners due to insecurity or a lack of self-confidence  and emotional abuse could be just as insidious as physical violence.
The corporate watchdog is vowing to put a microscope over the entire life insurance sector using in-depth data and clamp down on any errant behaviour it finds in the wake of the CommInsure scandal.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission deputy chairman Peter Kell said the corporate regulator will be combing for signs of dodgy practices across the sector, and not just concentrating on the latest revelations surrounding CommInsure.

"If we find that there are, for example, particular products or particular types of claims or a particular insurer that seems to exhibit problems or anomalous outcomes, then we can look at whether that will require more in-depth investigation or review," Mr Kell told Fairfax Media.

"We obviously have an immediate priority of looking at the allegations that have been raised around CommInsure, but in terms of the broader sectoral review, our priority there will be gathering information that helps us make a judgement about where we may need to undertake some more in-depth research."
A leading analyst has suggested the banking regulator might toughen its stance on how much capital banks must hold against housing investor mortgages, after recent comments from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.

CLSA's Brian Johnson highlighted on Wednesday what he described as "buried" remarks, in which APRA said it would review its approach towards the capital treatment of housing investor loans after the international club of regulators, known as Basel, has completed its current round of work.

The banking regulator might require banks to hold more capital against housing investor loans, CLSA's Brian Johnson says. Credit:Glenn Hunt

The Switzerland-based Basel Committee on Banking Supervision is looking into the risk models banks use to determine how much capital lenders hold against home loans as part of its work program in 2016, often referred to as Basel IV.

APRA noted this week Australia was one of several countries where housing investor loans received the same capital treatment as owner-occupier loans, and that this would be the subject of future review.
Telstra has lost about $12 billion in market value since Andy Penn stepped up as chief executive in May last year.

So you can understand he's looking to pull every lever he can to reverse the slide.

A billion dollar bet on the Philippines? Sure, if there's a taker.

How about a flutter on whatever telco talent is currently floating about on the market? Other than Sol Trujillo, of course.
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. Special pays allocated to the participants of the Great Patriotic War or other military operations by the USSR are planned to be increased up to 12 thousand AMD against the existing 8 thousand AMD. Armenpress reports this draft decision is included in the March 17 session of the Cabinet.

At the same time, according to the draft, people belonging to the abovementioned category and receiving labor pension will also receive 12 thousand AMD special pays against the current 5 thousand, 7 thousand and 8 thousand drams.

As a result, special pays allocated to 874 people of the mentioned category will increase by 50-140 percent.

If the draft is adopted, it will enter into force on April 1.
The "notion of scale in advertising between print and TV is not remotely as powerful", thanks to the digital revolution, he said. "There was a piece in The Australian saying that we were looking at buying a stake in Nine, and I said no we weren't. I just had to deny it. There's speculation around those issues, which can mislead our shareholders about what our strategy is. "We can put as much video out online as we want to around our core news and information business. We don't need alliances with free-to-air TV stations to do that." Nevertheless, Mr Hywood said he supported Senator Fifield's attempt to deregulate Australia's media industry, because it would create a more level playing field between traditional media outlets and their digital competitors. "We're very supportive of operating in a deregulated, unregulated environment because it just provides optionality and we should have optionality because the major competitors for our advertising are not having to deal in a regulated environment at all. It puts us at a disadvantage at being able to move around our pieces on the chess board."

Accusations of emotion over reason Speaking the National Press Club in Canberra, Senator Fifield accused some senators of approaching the loosening of media ownership restrictions "on the basis of emotion rather than reason" amid efforts by some Labor senators to split the bill. Labor supports the abolition of the reach rule but some Labor senators have indicated they would prefer not to scrap the two-out-of-three rule, amid fears that to do so could allow Rupert Murdoch's News Corp to get a greater grip on traditional Australian media by buying Ten Network Holdings. Senator Fifield told the Press Club that "strong and near-unanimous support for the removal of two-out-of-three and reach among media organisations ought to dispel any notion" that the reforms favoured any one particular media organisation. "The fact is that some people instinctively react against media law because they think it may assist a particular media company or a particular proprietor, and I fear that this approach might be alive and well among a few analogue warriors in Canberra," he said.

"It would be disappointing, it would be illogical, to reject the reform package on this basis. It would be emoting at its worst." Former communications minister Senator Stephen Conroy is known to be among those senators that have concerns about the two-out-of-three rule. Senator Fifield said there is "hesitation in some quarters" about the removal of the two-out-of three rule because it protects diversity. Media held hostage to rules "What is the justification for keeping a rule that pretends that the internet doesn't exist? What is the point of keeping a rule that pretends there are only three media platforms in place? And why should Australian domestic media organisations be held hostage to rules that don't apply to their international competitors? We've got to give Australian media organisations the opportunity to compete against global giants, and that's a daunting task."

Netflix has a market capitalisation close to $58 billion, Senator Fifield noted, while all listed major Australian broadcasters added up to a market cap of less than $5 billion. "Facebook's is $432 billion. Apple and Google each have market caps over $700 billion. Imagine how ridiculous it would be if, say, Apple were restricted to only selling you a few different products. Phones and tablets OK, but not computers or TVs and certainly no music streaming," Senator Fifield said. "Yet, incredibly, some want to keep similar restrictions on Australian media companies that are trying to compete." Senator Fifield, who left examining the anti-siphoning list off the reforms he is proposing, said media laws are constantly under review, but for there to be significant changes to the anti-siphoning list there would need to be a better understanding of how the regime works and broad parliamentary support  neither of which are there currently. "I do acknowledge that the anti-siphoning list does provide a degree of comfort to the community that the events they love will be available free to air," Senator Fifield said.
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has hit out at "a few analogue warriors" in Canberra who threaten to derail his media deregulation bill because they fear it will allow Rupert Murdoch to tighten his grip on Australian media.

Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Senator Fifield accused some senators of approaching the loosening of media ownership restrictions "on the basis of emotion rather than reason" amid efforts by some Labor senators to split the bill.

Mitch Fifield is pushing his media reforms. Credit:Jessica Hromas

The minister has proposed the abolition of the "reach rule", which prevents networks from broadcasting to more than 75 per cent of the population, and the two-out-of-three rule, which prohibits proprietors from owning a TV station, radio network and newspaper in the same market.

Labor supports the abolition of the reach rule but some Labor senators have indicated they would prefer not to scrap the two-out-of-three rule, amid fears that to do so could allow Rupert Murdoch's News Corp to get a greater grip on traditional Australian media by buying Ten Network Holdings.
The erosion of struggling mineral exploration companies from the Australian Securities Exchange picked up pace in the December quarter, with 25 companies delisting, entering administration or switching their focus to another industry.

On the back of low commodity prices, investors have predominantly turned away from junior resources stocks, with the exception of a number of gold and lithium plays, prompting cash-strapped companies to act.

A large number of exploration companies are in "cash preservation mode. Credit:Aaron Bunch

About 120 of the 753 listed exploration companies, or 16 per cent, did not actively explore during the December quarter, according to accounting and advisory firm BDO's latest quarterly cash analysis on the sector.

BDO said "an increasing number of exploration companies are going into cash preservation mode" or leaving the struggling sector entirely.
Getting licked once has not scared off one of the world's most famous ice-cream makers, Haagen-Dazs , which is confident it can win over Australians on its second attempt.

Haagen-Dazs is sold in more than 80 countries worldwide and was first introduced to Australia in 1999.

"Consumers' food values have changed since 2004," says Joe Ens, managing director of General Mills Australasia. Credit:Simon O'Dwyer

But the high-end ice-cream sold poorly and it withdrew from the market five years later.

Now its owner, American food giant General Mills, says Australian palates are ready for what it has to offer.
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) are strengthening their support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and women entrepreneurs in the Eastern Partnership countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Armenpress was informed about this from the official website of the EBRD.

Support to the SME sector is one of the strategic priorities of the EBRD under its Small Business Initiative, launched in July 2014.

Trade promotion and competitiveness

The European Union is providing 8 million to support the extension of business advice to SMEs in the six countries over several years that will enable small businesses to access advice through local consultants and international industry advisers in a wide range of areas including strategy, marketing, information technology and energy efficiency.

Forty per cent of advisory projects in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine will be related to helping small businesses unlock new opportunities under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). Business advice will serve to improve companies competitiveness, ease their access to finance, seize new trade opportunities and promote compliance with new food safety, technical and quality standards, as well as with environmental protection measures.

Approximately 550 SMEs are expected to benefit from this second phase of the programme, creating over 2,500 jobs. Many more will benefit from awareness raising and market development activities.

Women and growth

The European Union is also providing 5.035 million to the EBRDs Women in Business Programme in Eastern Partnership countries. The programme offers women-led SMEs access to finance and business advice through credit lines, risk management support and technical assistance to local partner banks that work with women-led SMEs and business advisory services, training and mentoring. The EU contribution will support risk management and technical assistance activities under the programme, which is also funded by the Government of Sweden and the EBRDs Early Transition Countries Fund.

SMEs in these six countries account for over 95 per cent of all enterprises, but contribute an average of only 30 per cent to GDP, said Claudio Viezzoli, EBRD Managing Director, SME Finance and Development. We believe that a vibrant SME sector is vital for a well-functioning economy and that, with the right support, the strong entrepreneurial spirit we see in this region can reach its full potential. I am very pleased that we can continue to partner with the European Union in this work.

The EU pays special attention to the support of the private sector, especially smaller businesses, stimulating economic growth and jobs creation in the Eastern Partnership countries. The European Union supports activities in the areas of business advice, access to finance or policy dialogue.

The EU and EBRD cooperate also on DCFTA-related activities in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, countries that have signed Association Agreements with the EU. The activities are part of the larger DCFTA Facility for SMEs, which will unlock new investments for small and medium-sized enterprises in the three countries, largely from new loans by international financial institutions such as the EBRD and the European Investment Bank.

To date, the EBRD has invested over 8.84 billion in the Eastern Partnership countries through partner financial institutions, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, energy efficiency, women entrepreneurs and other priority areas. The Bank has also enabled almost 4,000 SMEs to access advice in the region, thanks to donor funding from the European Union, Sweden and other donors.
Graham Quirk has a big problem, and it's all about the D word.

Not D for donor. Nor is it D for a disastrous and defensive campaign, where the local Liberals tried to play small target.

Development is a key word in this year's Brisbane election campaigns. Credit:Harrison Saragossi

It's D for the development the Brisbane City Council has smothered our suburbs in, and which is now causing angst within the Liberal camp.

The problem has been obvious to the BCC for more than a year, but has batted off at every opportunity.
"Taking these pictures is a way that I identify who I am. It helps me defragment myself ... it helps me concretise myself," he says. "It allows me to delve into aspects of myself that perhaps if I wasn't an artist or a photographer I couldn't delve into.

Ballen says the images are mined from his own subconscious  an attempt to capture his half-glimpsed inner life.

Erasing the line between reality and fiction, the disturbing images often highlight the relationship between humans and animals. Shot exclusively on film and with no digital manipulation, Ballen pushes the boundaries of the decisive moment, capturing bizarre, disconcerting scenes that frequently reward the viewer's extended attention.

"Everybody is alone, everybody is an outsider in my personal opinion," he says. "Everybody is trying to cope with their identity and cope with the reality around them. These are universal existential issues."

"I've always said that I am very, very lucky that I have a camera. People may be more creative than me and don't come to terms with any of the things that I have tried to come to terms with because they don't have a tool to express themselves. I consider myself lucky that I found this tool that I have been obsessed by and passionate with for over 50 years."

Dean of the SCA Colin Rhodes, who curated Theatre of the Mind, saw an exhibition of Ballen's work in Washington a few years ago and knew immediately the Callan Park premises would be the perfect backdrop for an exhibition.

Rhodes is fascinated by the notion of Ballen searching in the physical world of the near-slums of Johannesburg for images that conjure up his own inner life.

"How do you collage together this thing which is then a psychological reality as well as something that exists in real space," he says. "That is one of the things I find really, really interesting about what he is doing."

As well as his still photography, Ballen's work reached a much wider audience in 2012 when he collaborated with South African rave-rappers Die Antwoord on their music video I Fink U Freeky. The four-minute clip, unmistakably featuring Ballen's aesthetic, has since gone viral, garnering nearly 80 million YouTube views.
If you RSVP for an event called Gastronomica Apocalyptica you can be sure to expect something that's not your average dinner party.

And indeed the 12 or so guests who will go to "dinner at the end of the earth" set in a hypothetical 2036 when world trade deals have collapsed may not even know what they are eating.

You Are Here managing producers Vanessa Wright and Adelaide Rief in one of the unusual festival venues Verity Lane, Civic, behind the Sydney Building. Credit:Graham Tidy.

But when it comes to an independent and experimental arts festival, could there be any better way to dine?

It's just one of the interactive activities of the sixth annual You Are Here festival, beginning on April 13, which its managing producers Vanessa Wright and Adelaide Rief admit is hardly an arts festival at all and unlike most events has been consciously scaled down over the years to its five-day format.
The handsome Scottish actor, as Secret Service man Mike Banning, saved President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart), his best mate, in Olympus Has Fallen in 2013.

Gerard Butler goes down the Tube, and the tubes, in the return of a franchise that's as nasty as it is fanciful.

That film trashed the White House and the Washington Monument; this time the movie damages "nearly every major landmark in London", as one character says with pride.

They do the same to any idea that a film must have a shred of credibility, but that has been happening for a long time. Still, as ridiculous plots go, this establishes a new frontier.

The British prime minister has died unexpectedly; major world leaders gather for the funeral  a security nightmare. Banning farewells his pregnant wife (Radha Mitchell) and boards Air Force One. His resignation letter will have to wait.

The Iranian-born director Babak Najafi assembles the early scenes with efficiency, prolonging the tension.

The Japanese prime minister is caught in traffic on Chelsea Bridge; the German chancellor stands in the open taking the salute at Buck Palace; the Canadian prime minister texts his daughter while en route to St Paul's Cathedral; the French president bobs on the Thames; the elderly Italian prime minister takes his 30-year-old girlfriend for a tryst at Westminster, but the bang is larger than he expects.
Food porn takes on a whole new meaning in the upcoming animated film Sausage Party.

A vision cooked up in the minds of Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Jonah Hill, the R-rated computer-generated movie brings food and supermarket products to life. The not completely finished film - it's scheduled for release in the United States in August - had its first public showing this week at the South By Southwest Film Festival.

The idea has been simmering for more than six years.

"We were talking about our love for animated films and then we kind of just had this vision of the title, Sausage Party, and spitballed with that and came up with 'What if we did the secret life of food?'" says Goldberg, who has teamed with Rogen and Hill on movies such as Bad Neighbors and Superbad.
Stone has set The Daughter in a rural community once dominated by the timber mill in which the locals were all employed. When the film opens, the mill is closing down. Its owner, Henry (Geoffrey Rush), distant and monumental, is presiding over the end of his business, and at the same time he's about to remarry, in an elaborate ceremony that seems out of sync with the austerity that is engulfing the small town. His much younger bride-to-be, Anna (Anna Torv), has been his housekeeper. His estranged son, Christian (Paul Schneider), returns from the United States for the wedding and reconnects with a childhood friend, Oliver (Ewen Leslie), who has been working at the mill. The ebullient Oliver is married to Charlotte (Miranda Otto), who teaches at the local school; their child, Hedvig (Odessa Young), is about to turn 16.

Writer-director Simon Stone freely adapted Ibsen's play The Wild Duck for Belvoir St Theatre five years ago. Now, with his feature debut, The Daughter, he has returned to the same source of inspiration. The deceptions at the centre of the drama are similar; certain elements are further transformed.

The film does not present itself as a version of Ibsen, but as a work inspired by it. Changing the title separates the movie from the play, and also tells us something about Stone's emphasis; it signals the importance of the figure of Hedvig, the only character whose name is unchanged from the original play. Hedvig  whose luminous bleached hair has an ominous flicker of red running through it  is a vivid presence, a little older and more worldly than Ibsen's character, sexually curious, eager, volatile, close to her parents. She is trusting and open, and this makes her vulnerable in ways that become distressingly clear. It's a terrific, moving performance from Young (Looking for Grace), as a young woman whose emotional pain, visited on her by others, is at the heart of the film.

Hedvig is identified with a wild duck, a literal and a symbolic presence in the narrative from the very beginning. The duck is winged by Henry and rescued by Walter (Sam Neill), Oliver's father, who looks after animals in a makeshift sanctuary on the family property; Hedvig's relationship with the creature suggests something about her and her fate.

Determining the relationship between Ibsen's play, Stone's 2011 version and his film is an intriguing matter. Certainly, there's no need to know The Wild Duck or its various incarnations, although it's interesting to see the path that Stone has taken in responding to it. His distilled stage version was condensed to the length of a feature, and while the dialogue had a colloquial familiarity to it, there was a feeling of artifice in its presentation  the action unfolded inside a room-sized perspex box, with miked actors.

The Daughter has a sense of immediacy and an apparent embrace of naturalism, yet its carefully heightened use of space, place and emptiness has a strong impact. Stone sets key scenes in echoing, vacant factory buildings, or within a landscape of trees that loom like witnesses; there's a bleak beauty to the natural world in which this tale of three generations and two families plays out.

It is a story of long-maintained secrets and their latent, destructive force. Christian, the returning son, who sets in train a series of disrupting revelations, is shown here as a damaged figure  only recently sober, with a relationship in crisis, defined by unhappiness and his resentment of his father. Ibsen's equivalent has a more explicit moral position, a more conscious justification of his action, of his espousal of truth whatever the consequences. Christian, however, is driven by misery and unable to see beyond his own blinkered vision.
Subtitled "A New England Folktale" and inspired by court records and diaries from the 17th century, it has an archaic quality far beyond what is typically expected of a period piece. Performances are formal, even stiff. The characters speak in broad northern English accents, say "thou" and "thee" and talk solemnly about original sin.

Robert Eggers is not the usual kind of young American director, and his first feature, The Witch, is not the usual kind of horror film.

Jarin Blaschke's cinematography is drained of colour, giving the whole world a corpse-like look. Shots tend to hang on screen as subjects for contemplation: a man digging a grave with smoke rising from a chimney and dark hills behind him, or a young woman caught in a shaft of light from an upper window as in a painting by Vermeer.

The world of The Witch has a corpse-like look.

The film follows the fortunes of a Puritan family eking out an existence in a farmhouse on the edge of the woods. When their newborn disappears, it's the first in a string of disasters apparently linked to supernatural evil, personified by a witch (Bathsheba Garnett) who lives in the woods and may have designs on the family's other children, especially adolescent Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy).

Most modern storytellers tackling this material would do so from an implicit feminist perspective, hinting that the traditional notion of the wicked witch came, at least partly, from male paranoia about women left to themselves.

The Witch proceeds differently. To be sure, the film is not uncritical of the Puritan world view, or of patriarchy in general: William (Ralph Ineson), the head of the household, is a flawed man by his own standards let alone those of today. However, when it comes to witches, Eggers plays a very straight bat; as if he were aiming to recreate the attitudes of the era as an antiquarian exercise, rather than expressing a point of view of his own.
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. Famed international rights lawyer Amal Clooney says Azerbaijan is abusing its power by trying to silence critics of the regime, including imprisoned reporter Khadija Ismayilova. Armenpress reports, citing Radio Liberty.

Clooney, who is helping represent Ismayilova before Europe's top human rights court, also said that the case against Ismayilova was wholly politically motivated, aimed at keeping her from continuing her corruption investigations of President Ilham Aliyev and his family members.

"I believe it's important to protect an individual journalist against a powerful state that has overstepped. This is about a government that is abusing its power to silence journalists like Khadija, as well as other critics of the ruling regime," Clooney told RFE/RL in an e-mail conversation on March 15.

"It's important to fight for the right of journalists to tell the world what is happening in their countries," she said.

Ismayilova, a renowned investigative reporter and regular contributor to RFE/RL, was arrested in Baku in December 2014 and put on trial on charges that her supporters said were politically motivated.

In September, a Baku court sentenced her to 7 1/2 years in prison, a ruling that prompted international criticism.

Clooney confirmed in January that she would be joining Ismayilova's defense, a move that brings substantial legal and public clout to her case.

In the case she is bringing before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Clooney told RFE/RL that she and her co-counsel were arguing that there was no genuine suspicion that Ismayilova committed any of the crimes she was charged with and that there was no justification for her pretrial detention.

"On the contrary, the case involved a politically motivated prosecution to restrict her freedom of speech," she said.

"Khadija's case is emblematic of a wider crackdown on journalists and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan," she said. "Azerbaijan has one of the highest rates of imprisonment of journalists in the world, and yet this is a country that is a member of the Council of Europe, an organization whose goal is to promote human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. This is something that should concern us all."

Supporters of the Aliyev regime have repeatedly tried to smear Ismayilova, including circulating secret surveillance video of her.

Top government officials have also attacked Clooney with spurious allegations that she is of Armenian descent. Clooney, who holds dual British and Lebanese citizenship, again rejected the label.

"I don't see how belonging to any nation, whatever it is, would discredit me in any way. As it happens my heritage is not Armenian, but I do not see why this should matter," said Clooney, who has been involved in several high-profile cases around the world, including the defense of a Canadian journalist for Al-Jazeera and an ECHR case in which she represented Armenia.
Words and music have always had a torrid relationship: both about finding meaning, but not necessarily in the same way.

Sydney Symphony Orchestra's new concert format, Playlist, puts words front and centre, tasking a member of the orchestra  this time it's assistant concertmaster Lerida Delbridge  with the curation and presentation of a one hour playlist giving an insight into their personality.

It's an attractive product  not only short and sweet but also, hopefully, intimate and inspiring, and aimed squarely at attracting classical newbies. So does it work?

In terms of music, yes. From the glowing Mendelssohn "Swiss" Sinfonia to the impossibly sustained yearning of the Adagietto from Mahler's Fifth Symphony the performances at this first crack were never less than excellent.

It is always a pleasure to be reminded how good the SSO sounds in chamber repertoire: Bach's Concerto for Two Violins was thrilling, and principal clarinet Frank Celata played Aaron Copland's Simple Gifts melody with liquid innocence.

Soprano Kate Amos, making her SSO debut singing what must surely be one of the more terrifying solos in the repertoire, gave a brave and beautiful performance of the Pie Jesu from Faure's Requiem.
The only problem was, he didn't actually have a job.

The then 16-year-old would spend his weekends catching crayfish and selling them at the markets and had made himself a tidy profit, so he tricked his parents into believing he had landed a job dancing in Ireland, got on a plane and left.

Ethan Walker is a Brisbane-born producer bringing his production Ireland The Show home for the first time

The former Kelvin Grove State College student was finding himself dissatisfied with school and dreaming of greener pastures.

Ethan Walker is a Brisbane-born producer bringing his production Ireland The Show home for the first time

Maybe it was the luck of the Irish, maybe he stumbled across a leprechaun, maybe it was just being in the right place at the right time, but things definitely panned out alright.

"I thought I had learned everything I could from school and found myself wagging half the week anyway," he said.

"I was doing Irish dance lessons and really wanted to join one of the bigger shows like Lord of the Dance or Riverdance, and I knew I would have to be over there for it to happen, so I told my parents I had a job and they let me go."

When he got there, he went to a theatre that was hosting an Irish dance show and asked to speak to the producer.
It's time for West Australian foodies to show their love for our bustling dining scene.

With our restaurant industry now firing on all cylinders, driven partly by the bevy of classy restaurants at the refurbished State Buildings and string of new nosheries along the coast, WA deserves its place in the dining sun.

Propeller in North Fremantle is new on the top 500 list.

And WA foodies can fan the flames and cast a vote for their local favourite to win the 2016 People's Award as part of The Australian Financial Review Australia's Top Restaurants award.

There are 56 WA restaurants, 21 of them new, among 500 across the nation vying to be Australia's Top Restaurant.
Coal firms won the right to claim the planting of grass or trees on old mine sites as conservation offsets for future woodland destruction despite strong opposition from environment department staff, new documents reveal.

The reports detail the 2013-14 internal debate between the Department of Trade & Industry and the Office of the Environment and Heritage (OEH) over a plan that broadened the scope of what miners could count as compensation for habitats wiped out by new mines.

OEH argued in one note, secured by the Nature Conservation Council (NCC) under freedom of information laws, that "there is no certainty that functioning ecosystems can be restored to their original value through rehabilitation" after a mine closed.

"[M]any animal species require resources that are found only in mature forest," it said.
The Turnbull government will use savings from the National Disability Insurance Scheme to help pay for its contribution to it in future years.

Social Services minister Christian Porter introduced a bill on Tuesday to create a savings fund to pay for the federal government's contribution to the scheme after 2019, when it says it faces a $5 billion funding shortfall.

Social Services Minister Christian Porter says the fund would have an opening balance of $162.4 million in NDIS savings. Credit:Jamila Toderas

Mr Porter said the fund would have an opening balance of $162.4 million in NDIS savings, set aside last year after trials revealed that "some future costs during transition will be lower than originally anticipated."

If passed, the fund would allow the government to "pool and protect underspends and specific savings from across government over future years, locking them in as forward contributions to the NDIS," he said.
The latest series of The Bachelor Australia has yet to commence, but already one contestant has an unfair advantage over all of the other bachelorettes looking for love with Perth hunk, Richie Strahan.

Keira Maguire, a self-described lifestyle and fitness blogger, is among the hopefuls pictured filming scenes for the Ten show by Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.

Unfair advantage? One blonde contestant is best friends with The Bachelor Richie Strahan's first cousin. Credit:Network Ten

However, the swimsuit loving blonde already has the upper hand over her competition thanks to the fact that she is best friends with former Big Brother Australia star, Lisa Clark, who also just happens to be Strahan's first cousin. It's a small world!
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. On March 16 by 14.00 all state and interstate highways in the Republic are passable.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia, Sotk-Qarvachar highway is difficult to pass.

Black ice is formed on Goris-Sisian highway.



As the department of Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of The Republic of Georgia informs Stepantsminda-Larsi roadway is open for passenger cars and buses with no more than 30 seats.
McDonald's employees from across Australia have blasted the company's decision to serve breakfast food all day, saying it creates cramped and unhygienic kitchens.

The all-day breakfast was rolled out in December in Australia, as shareholders saw shares rise to a record high in January of 2016.

But the decision to add more items to an already-packed menu has drawn the ire of employees in Australia, who took to a thread on community website Reddit to complain about the changes.

A spokeswoman for McDonald's told Fairfax Media on Wednesday that customers had been receptive to the changes and that workers had risen to the challenges.
The Irish around the world commemorate St Patrick's Day on Thursday but a pall has been cast over local celebrations.

The Sydney St Patrick's Day Parade and Family Day has been cancelled.

Hundreds of people have watched and taken part in the St Patricks Day march through Sydney in previous years. The parade will not take place this year. Credit:Warren Clarke

The parade, Australia's largest single Irish event, has been organised by volunteers since 1979 but a run of bad luck and weather marred recent parades with attendances and income plummeting.

The event ran up a debt of $150,000 and last January, after volunteer committee members bailed, a decision was made to scrap this year's parade.
A man has been charged after allegedly stalking a teenage girl for several months at a library in Sydney's south-west.

The 40-year-old man will face court on Thursday after allegedly following the 15-year-old girl in Cabramatta.

Police will allege in court that the girl was with five female friends in Cabra Vale Park, on Park Road in Cabramatta, between 2.30pm and 3.30pm on Saturday when they were approached by the 40-year-old man.

The group left the park and went to a library across the road, and the man allegedly followed them.

The girls alerted police, and officers from the Cabramatta Local Area Command launched an investigation.
After giving up drugs and landing a job as a roofer's apprentice, Cain Sayers was on the straight and narrow.

His family had little reason to believe otherwise.

That was until his mother spotted a recognisable figure in CCTV footage of a "vicious and unprovoked" attack on a man in Parramatta in Sydney's west.

Moments later on Tuesday afternoon the woman called police to say she believed her 19-year-old son was one of the men depicted in the footage, which showed a man punched from behind and kicked on ground.
Okkie  an 18 year-old thoroughbred appearing in the Easter Show's nightly performance of Banjo Patterson's classic poem  was saved from the knackery 12 years ago.

They are the racehorses that the man from Snowy River saved from becoming dog meat.

On Thursday night, Okkie and two other rescued former racehorses will thunder on to the main area of the Spotless Stadium at the Easter Show with 100 horses, dogs and cattle in the premiere of this year's production of The Man from Snowy River. It is the first time since 2004 that the production, a crowd favourite, has returned to the show.

Horse trainer Heath Harris saved Okkie from becoming dog meat. He is now one of the equine stars of the The Man From Snowy River show at this year's Sydney Royal Easter Show opening on March 17. Credit:Steven Siewert

"We bought [Okkie] from a dog meat sale," said horse trainer Krissy Harris, who plays Jessica, the love interest in the production based on Banjo Patterson's classic poem.

The 18-year-old horse  described as "flea-bitten grey" in colour because of his speckles  is one of hundreds of former racehorses that Mrs Harris and her husband Heath have rescued and turned into stars of films, including various productions of The Man from Snowy River.

Okkie was a natural performer, she said, watching him rear up  on cue  onto his hind legs. "He loves being loved."
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia Sergo Karapetyan received the delegation headed by the Head of the Unit of Neighbourhood East, Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission Mathieu Bousquet, press service of the Ministry of Agriculture informed Armenpress.

Agricultural sector of Armenia, as a priority branch of economy, has recorded dynamic increase in the recent years in which the joint projects with the EU and other international organizations have had a significant role, greeting the guest, the Minister said. Among the mentioned projects the Minister singled out the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD).

Minister Karapetyan mentioned that Armenia adopted a law on Agricultural cooperatives in 2015 and a structural body was set within the Ministry for the support of agricultural cooperatives. This year 45 cooperatives will be set with the support of the European Union.
International students have been offered casual employment at just $50 per day, well less than half the Australian minimum wage, to campaign on behalf of a Liberal National Party councillor in the lead-up to Saturday's poll.

Workers manning prepoll booths for Macgregor councillor Steven Huang's campaign have been paid $50 a day for what was advertised as eight hours' casual work.

The arrangement angered Queensland Council of Union assistant general secretary Michael Clifford, who said it raised "further concerns" about the LNP's attitude towards workers.

A post seeking workers for the LNP campaign was sent to members of UQ Focus, a group for Christian international students at the University of Queensland with a high proportion of Chinese-speaking members.
A man accused of murdering his wife and mother-in-law near Cairns earlier this week will remain in custody after his court case was adjourned.

Police allege Balwinder Singh Ghuman, 43, fatally stabbed his wife, Manjinder, in their family home at Gordonvale, south of Cairns, before attacking the woman's elderly mother, Sukhwinder, in the yard of a neighbouring property on Monday afternoon.

As well as the two murder charges, he is also accused of attempting to murder his father-in-law Sarwan Singh and wounding his 17-year-old daughter as they tried to protect Manjinder.

His case was briefly mentioned in the Cairns Magistrates Court on Wednesday. However, he did not appear in the dock.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was unaware of any offer to Mr Macfarlane, but confirmed he had applied for the role, adding he "has a lot to contribute".

A spokesman for Mr Macfarlane said he was still considering the offer.

A spokesman for Ian Macfarlane said he was still considering the offer. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The Groom MP, who announced his intention to resign after a failed attempt at switching from the Liberal to National Party after being left off Malcolm Turnbull's front bench, has been offered the role of the state's Resources Investment Commissioner, a non-partisan position which involves finding new investment for the resources sector.

"He has applied for the job, I can confirm that today, he has applied," she said.

"But let me just say that it is no secret that Mr Macfarlane has said that he will not be standing at the next election. Mr Macfarlane is one of the longest-serving federal resource ministers that Australia has seen, I believe that he has a lot to contribute and Mr Macfarlane has applied for the job."

Ms Palaszczuk said the position had been advertised through the normal channels and "anyone" could have applied.

"The Queensland government would want to see that position filled quickly and we would like whoever is successful in that role to actually start as soon as possible," she said.

"It is a very important position, it is one that my government is taking extremely seriously and like I said, it is no secret that he has applied."
Prosecutors have dropped an animal cruelty charge laid against a 91-year-old greyhound trainer in the wake of the live baiting scandal due to a lack of evidence.

Sunshine Coast hinterland trainer Ray Gatti faced the Ipswich Magistrates Court briefly on Tuesday, where his charge of serious animal cruelty was withdrawn.

Greyhound trainer Ray Gatti is banned from the industry but has had animal cruelty charges withdrawn. Credit:Robert Shakespeare

Mr Gatti's friend, fellow trainer Tracey Kunde, said the Glasshouse Mountains man was relieved but the charges never should have been laid in the first place.

"I just think it's a total waste of the public's money chasing something that's not true," he said.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has warned her MPs to behave in a "responsible and respectable manner" to all members of Parliament, in the wake of attacks on Labor defector Rob Pyne.

Mr Pyne, whose vote now has the power to make or break the government's legislation, has been publicly labelled a "traitor", a "megalomaniac" and a "rat" by his former colleagues for his decision to move to the cross bench.

Now Independent MP Rob Pyne Mr Pyne, whose vote now has the power to make or break the government's legislation, has been publicly labelled a "traitor", a "megalomaniac" and a "rat" by his former colleagues. Credit:Chris Hyde

Ms Palaszczuk, who said she was "disappointed" in the decision which has left her government with 42 seats, equal to the opposition, said she believed all "MPs should behave in a responsible and respectable manner to all members of Parliament".

"I expect the highest standards of my team," she said.
And with a Dixer, we are done! No Principal Wellington can't hold back his glee. And Winnie and Piglet look a little sad to think their buddy time is over - but it's OK, guys - YOU'LL BE BACK TOMORROW!

And so will we.

But first, to the wash up -

MVP - Deb Hecklington, for stepping up to the plate and restoring the balance with a warning. We were worried.

Theme of the day - JOBS IS ALWAYS THE ANSWER

Coming up

The LNP have their motion, so there's that. Plumbing is on the agenda. The Nature Conservation legislation, which will see cattle moved out of National Parks, among other things was meant to be on the agenda, but is not, which means the government doesn't have the support to get it across the line as yet.

That's not surprising - the cross bench held meetings with those who will be affected by it, and were moved by their plight. So, stay tuned.

Thank you to Producer extraordinaire, Danielle Cronin, and as always, our readers for playing along. We'll see you around 10am tomorrow for more fun and games - the last sitting for March.

Have a wonderful evening.
Tourism is back and every Australian state - except Western Australia, as well as the Northern Territory - shared in an 8 per cent revival in tourism in Australia in 2015, compared with 12 months ago.

Australia's tourism revival in 2015 has seen tourist nights in Australia increase by 11 per cent and total trip expenditure up by 18 per cent to $107.1 billion in 2015.

Cheaper petrol boosted driving holidays in Sunshine Coast in 2015, says the CEO of Visit Sunshine Coast.

Queensland's share increased 9 per cent, with big increases in far north Queensland (27 per cent), and smaller increases on the Sunshine Coast (2 per cent), in Brisbane (11 per cent) and on the Gold Coast (6 per cent).

Here is how the states' tourism expenditure grew from 2014 to 2015, according to Tourism Research Australia.
A parliamentary committee has recommended not supporting the Katter's Australian Party bid to have Queensland Uber drivers hit with demerit points, instead calling for better enforcement of current laws.

The bipartisan Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee spent six months reviewing the Katter bill, holding several public hearings and reviewing more than 550 submissions.

The committee found the bill, which aims to see motorists caught driving for Uber slapped with three demerit points - would not achieve its aim. Credit:Eddie Jim

But it found the bill, which aims to see motorists caught driving for Uber slapped with three demerit points - with the third penalty leading to a loss of licence - would not achieve its aim, recommended it not be passed.

It called for better enforcement of the current legislation while the Jim Varghese review of Personalised Transport Services, due back in August, was underway and recommended an "urgent review" of the mechanisms for enforcing compliance and "immediate action" to ensure the regulatory system was enforced.
A teenager reported missing after she failed to show up for school in Brisbane's south on Monday morning has been located safe and well on Wednesday.

Police issued a missing persons appeal early Wednesday after her family not heard from her for two days, however, she was located a short time later.

A teenager reported missing after she failed to show up for school in Brisbane's south on Monday morning has been located safe.

EARLIER This teenage girl left for school on Monday morning but didn't come home.

The 13-year-old from Forest Lake in Brisbane's south didn't go to school and a text was sent from her phone saying she was going shopping at Forest Lake Shopping Centre in the afternoon.
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. Kurdish-controlled areas of northern Syria are expected to declare a federal system on March 16, Armenpress reports, citing Reuters, a Syrian Kurdish official said, taking matters into their own hands after being excluded so far from political talks to resolve the Syrian war.

The step that will combine three Kurdish-led autonomous areas of northern Syrian into a federal system will be sure to alarm neighbouring Turkey, which fears growing Kurdish sway in Syria is fueling separatism among its own Kurdish minority.

The announcement would mean "widening the framework of self-administration which the Kurds and others have formed," said Idris Nassan, an official in the foreign affairs directorate of Kobani, one of three autonomous areas set up by Kurdish groups two years ago.

He told Reuters the areas would be named the Federation of northern Syria, and represent all ethnic groups living there.

The Syrian Kurdish PYD party has been left out of peace talks underway in Geneva, in line with the wishes of Turkey, which sees it as an extension of the PKK group that is waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey.

The powerful Syrian Kurdish YPG militia has captured large areas of northeastern Syria from Islamic State, and has been the most effective partner on the ground for a U.S.-led air campaign against the jihadists.

Syrian Kurds effectively control an uninterrupted stretch of 400 km (250 miles) along the Syrian-Turkish border from the frontier with Iraq to the Euphrates river. They also control a separate section of the northwestern border in the Afrin area.

Syria's government on Saturday ruled out the idea of a federal model for the country. Damascus ally Russia has said federalism could be a possible model for Syria.
The small business lobby group still can't quite believe what's just happened. "Well f--- me," was the reaction from Peter Strong, chief executive of the Council of Small Business of Australia, as cabinet on Wednesday backed an effects test for small business.

The campaign for an effects test first started back in 1977 and finally gathered momentum under the advocacy of former small business minister Bruce Billson.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with Treasurer Scott Morrison and Kelly O'Dwyer, Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer. Credit:Andrew Meares

But the test appeared to be dead in the water after a powerful coalition of big business lobby groups campaigned against it.

The Business Council of Australia argued an effects test would hurt shoppers, leading to higher prices, the Australian National Retailers Association claimed it would lead to legal uncertainty and Woolworths boss Grant O'Brien warned the test would send a "chill" through the economy. But for small business it is simply a provision aimed at levelling up the playing field.
A man accused of killing a father of four in his Rye home feared he was being controlled by aliens, a court has heard.

John Woodruff, 25, who has pleaded not guilty to murdering 72-year-old Barry Gray on the grounds of mental impairment, also believed the Greek God Zeus was inside him.

Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth told a jury they had to decide if Mr Woodruff was fit to stand trial on charges of murder, aggravated burglary, car theft and stealing petrol.

Justice Hollingworth said the Crown case against Mr Woodruff was that he had broken into Mr Gray's Parson Street home on May 7, 2013, and stabbed him to death before stealing his car.
A 13-year-old girl has been sexually assaulted by a man while watching a movie at a cinema complex in Melbourne's south-east.

An image of the man police wish to speak to. Credit:Victoria Police

The young teenager was sitting next to her mother, watching a movie at the Village Cinemas at Century City, Glen Waverley, on a Saturday afternoon last month when she was sexually assaulted.

Police said a man sat two seats away from the teenager in the cinema and placed a coat between them.
A new clue in the brutal murder of Melbourne woman Rani Featherston has come to light as the second anniversary of her death approaches.

Ms Featherston, 34, was found dead in a pool of blood in an industrial area in the south-east suburb of Doveton, just 500 metres from her home.

Factory workers made the gruesome discovery on Lace Street about 7am on Wednesday, April 2, 2014.

Police said Ms Featherston had been the victim of a vicious assault and had traumatic injuries to her head and face from a bladed weapon.
A King Street skyscraper that Melbourne City Council warned could create a recess used by homeless people sleeping rough has been approved by the Andrews government.

The 62-storey, 210-metre circular tower by developer Farinia smashes new building density rules, which cannot be retrospectively applied to the project, and has been vigorously opposed by the council.

Planning Minister Richard Wynne was keen to emphasise a "compromise" with the developer whereby almost 60 metres and 172 apartments were whittled from the proposal first submitted in October 2014.

But only nine apartments have been removed from the latest modified plans considered by council in November.
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. Within the framework of the official visit to Cyprus, President Serzh Sargsyan and the President of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiades were present at the opening ceremony of the cross-stone, which symbolizes the Armenian-Cypriot friendly relations. The ceremony took place on March 16 in the outdoor museum of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus. As "Armenpress" was informed by the department of Mass Media and Public Relations of the Presidential Administration, the copy of the destroyed Jugha (Julfa) cross-stone dating back to 1598 was presented by President Serzh Sargsyan to his Cypriot counterpart on the occasion of his official visit to Cyprus.

President Anastasiades expressed gratitude and underlined that the cross-stone monument depicts the inseparable link between the Armenian and Cypriot peoples. "Our peoples, who have been victims of the same crime, fight and struggle for their rights and values in the international arena. Cyprus is the first European country to recognize the Armenian Genocide and condemn this crime. Our countries and peoples, Mr. President of the Republic of Armenia, my friend, are faithful to the norms of international law, including the right of self-determination of peoples, peaceful solution of problems, and decide their future by respecting human rights. Children of Armenian people, who escaped Genocide 100 years ago and settled in Cyprus, are an important and active part of the Cypriot society today, at the same time preserving their language, identity and traditions and respecting their background, their country and also the country which received them . We are proud that they are part of our society.

Cyprus and Armenia continue developing bilateral cooperation by joining forces in order to achieve victory in their struggle for justice. Today's opening of this monument once again shows and reminds everyone of the deep and historical ties that exist between our nations, President Nikos Anastasiades said.

The President said that the choice of the gift, one of the most unique cultural Armenian creations, is symbolic, which being erected near the Cypriot Foreign Ministry, will show to the people of Cyprus and Armenia, as well as other visitors, the brotherly and historic ties between the two nations. This will also show that any encroachment of any cultural manifestation is a crime against humanity and will bring unification of all humanity, to fight against the threat of force to historic monuments. "This symbolic masterpiece of Christian and spiritual values of the Armenian people, became a part of UNESCOs Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

More than 10 thousand cross-stones are registered in the Armenian History and Culture monument list, and each of them is unique in its composition with different ornaments.

For us, Armenians, the cross, the church had an exclusive historical role. During prolonged absence of statehood the church often assumed the role of the state: united the people, and the cross-stone: cherished and preserved the Armenian identity, which 25 years ago enabled the establishment of our independent statehood.

Therefore, the choice of this symbolic gift to our friendly Cypriot people was not accidental. The spiritual and material: the cross and the stone were united and received spirit, summarizing our history, culture, faith, mentality and thinking. If we unite all cross-stones from around the world, we will receive the entire path of the Christian Armenian people.

Each cross-stone ever created throughout history speaks without words, tells about the glorious pages of our history, failures, ups and downs. Among them there are those that still stand in their native land, as the age-old witnesses of the Armenian statehood, there are those that are scattered all over the world bearing our nation's memory. There are others that have fought as soldiers, and survived like the cross-stones which were saved from destruction in Artsakh. There are, unfortunately, those that were destroyed by vandalism, such as the 3000 destroyed cross-stones in Nor Jugha (Julfa) by Azerbaijan.

This magnificent specimen is the copy of one of those cross-stones, which dates back to the 16th century. It was destroyed, but reborn: the stone was destroyed, but never the cross, President Serzh Sargsyan said.
The stabbing death of schoolgirl Masa Vukotic a year ago shocked the city as it tried to cope with the random slaying. In the decade before that there was a string of killings that horrified Melbourne.

2005  Jai, Tyler and Bailey Farquharson (murdered by Robert Farquharson)

Brothers Jai, Bailey and Tyler Farquharson.

The drowning deaths of three boys in a Winchelsea dam on Father's Day provoked outrage and disbelief. Farquharson claimed he veered off the road and into the water after blacking out from a coughing fit.
A young Midvale man faces a string of charges after police said he did a burnout in front of them before ramming a police car as he attempted to flee.

The man performed the burnout about 9.30pm on Tuesday in his red Ford Falcon in front of police on Hooley Road near Ewart Street, Midland, then drove recklessly in an attempt to escape.

A man has been charged for doing a burnout in front of police in Midland. Credit:File Picture

At the Roe Highway on-ramp at Great Eastern Highway, he hit a police car, causing extensive damage to both vehicles.

Police arrested the 22-year-old and charged him with reckless driving, failing to stop in circumstances of aggravation, driving under a suspended licence, possessing a controlled weapon, causing excessive noise and breaching bail.
The head of Australian company Brickworks has flagged potential job cuts at its Perth manufacturing base, saying it is cheaper to ship to Sydney from Spain than it is from Perth.

Managing director Lindsay Partridge said Perth's housing market had crashed but the east coast's was booming.

Lindsay Partridge says it's cheaper for the east coast market to source bricks from Spain than from Perth. Credit:Brendan Esposito

While he would rather ship product from Perth to meet demand, this cost about 20 cents per brick.

To ship them from Spain would cost closer to 10 cents.
Leaving dogs inside a locked car on a scorching hot day is pretty dumb.

But leaving dogs inside a locked car on a scorching hot day, outside a prison, allegedly with weapons and stolen property police have yet to identify in the vehicle, is completely foolish.

First the dogs were found in the hot car. Then contraband. Then weapons.

As the temperature hit 40 degrees on March 14, a Department of Corrective Services dog handler was about to leave Bandyup Women's Prison when he spotted two dogs left locked inside a car in the visitors' carpark.

After he arranged for police security to make the male visitor open his car and give the dog's water and shade, they allegedly noticed "contraband" in the car, a DCS spokesman said.
An officer caring for an Aboriginal woman who later died has told an inquest she believed medical professionals who declared her fit for custody.

Ms Dhu, whose first name is not used for cultural reasons, died two days after being locked up at Western Australia's South Hedland Police Station in August 2014 for unpaid fines totalling $3622, stemming from offences including assaulting an officer.

Ms Dhu died after she was held at South Hedland police station in WA. Credit:ABC News

Constable Tamara Perry was the lock-up keeper on the second day and testified on Wednesday that she checked on Ms Dhu, 22, at the start of her shift and organised for her to have a shower.

She said she noticed scratches on Ms Dhu's back and they discussed her sore ribs, but Constable Perry did not note anything in the system after discussing it with her shift supervisor.
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. NASDAQ OMX Armenia OJSC made no USD sale and purchase deals on March 16. Armenpress was informed about this from NASDAQ OMX Armenia. The Central Bank informs that dollar depreciated by 0.43 drams on March 16, forming 486.98 drams, the Euro appreciated by 0.40 drams, forming 540.21 drams and the Russian ruble depreciated by 0.01 drams, forming 6.88 drams.

The currency market has the following average exchange rates.


London: Ecuador's ambassador in London has met a British Foreign Office minister and expressed concern over the government's position on Julian Assange.

Carlos Abad spent more than an half an hour with MP Hugo Swire discussing the case of the WikiLeaks founder, who has been staying at the Ecuadorean embassy in London for more than three years.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange speaks from the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy last month. Credit:Getty Images

The Australian is wanted for questioning in Sweden over sex allegations, which he denies, but believes if he goes he will be extradited to the United States over the activities of WikiLeaks.

Tuesday's meeting was the first time Ecuador approached the British government since a United Nations working group said it believed Mr Assange was being "arbitrarily detained".
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. The plan to receive 23.5 million euro loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is of key importance for the city. Minister of territorial Administration and Development of the Republic of Armenia David Lokyan told about this at the National Assembly answering the question of ANC faction head Levon Zurabyan.

The credit agreement is currently in the stage of discussions and will be ready by April 15. After that the issue will be discussed at the EBRD and if Armenia satisfies all the conditions, the credit package will be available in November, Armenpress reports the Minister saying.

The Minister added that 33.5% of the package is a donation and the rest is a credit with quite affordable conditions. It is not often we manage to get such loans for community development, Minister Lokyan said, adding that this will give Gyumri authorities to turn Gyumri, the second capital of Armenia, into a tourist center linking Armenias north with other tourist centers.
A New South Wales investment property spruiker who promised investors of returns up to 30% per annum from property development projects in Queensland has been found guilty of fraud.Following an ASIC investigation, Steven William Hill, a former company director has been found guilty of six charges of fraudulent misappropriation by a Sydney District Court jury after a four-week trial.ASIC alleged that between January 2006 to February 2007, Hill, through Hill Stephens & Associates and International Finance Consortium, induced various investors to pay approximately $618,000 to acquire interests in a house and land property development located in Queensland.According to the regulator, Hill reviewed the financial circumstances of investors, recommended they set up a self-managed superannuation fund ( SMSF ) for investment, referred investors to a solicitor to establish a SMSF, elicited establishment fees and instructed investors to deposit their funds to his company bank accounts.He then advised investors their funds would be used as seed capital in a number of Queensland based property developments he was facilitating and that they would receive returns of between 10 - 30% per annum. However, unknown to the investors, the funds paid were not invested in the property developments.The Jury found Hill guilty of fraudulently misappropriating $281,000 of the invested funds that were directed to company bank accounts to make payments to himself and other third parties.However, Hill was found not guilty of one charge of fraudulently misappropriating $150,000.The matter was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. It will return to court on 7 April 2016 for a hearing on sentencing.
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. On March 15 the Prime Minister of Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan attended the event dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Artsakh's independence, held in Beirut. He also met with a group of Lebanese businessmen. Armenpress was informed from the Information and Public Relations Department of the Artsakh government that during the mentioned event Artsakh PM delivered a welcome speech expressing his gratitude to attendees for warm reception and daily patriotic activity. In his speech Arayik Harutyunyan particularly noted:

25 years ago the people of Artsakh legally enshrined the right to determine their own destiny, proclaiming Artsakhs independence. Of course, we had to protect the mentioned right by lives of thousands of Armenians, which would not be possible without the great support of Mother Armenia and Armenians worldwide. 25 years ago we had a destructed empire, destroyed economy, threshold of war. We had no arms and ammunition. Nobody could imagine at that time that we could win, based on the mentioned conditions, but we won. Yes, the rates are high and there are also many problems. During 25 years we have recorded everything that can be assessed as satisfactory. Undoubtedly the Armenian Diaspora has had and still has a major role in this process. What should we have after 25 years? Primarily we should have more powerful and efficient army, as well as developed economy and state. On our way to realize the mentioned above I would like us to always perceive that the homeland is not only for love and visit, but also a responsibility that we all must share.

PM Harutyunyan also met with a group of Lebeanese businessmen and presented the economic priorities of Artsakh and the attractiveness for investments. PM discussed prospects of possible cooperation with entrepreneurs; answered their questions, as well as gained some agreements on further deepening of ties.

Working visit of the delegation headed by Artsakh PM to Lebanon ended by the mentioned event.
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It is a battle of the baristas!

New Yorks best coffee art creators are foaming at the mouth to compete in a no-holds barred latte art competition at the Coffee and Tea Festival New York City in Greenpoint on March 19. The 32 competitors will use milk and espresso to form flowers, portraits, and artsy swirls in their cups, despite a series of challenges designed to give them the jitters, a competition organizer said.

The size of the cups might change for example, or you will have to pour a latte from several feet up into a cup on the ground, so you have to be versatile, said Shaak Shatursun, of Cafe Grumpy, the sponsor of the event.

The roughly 90-minute competition will have multiple one-on-one rounds, narrowing down the coffee field to a final emperor of espresso. The hot pouring action will be projected onto a large screen, so audience members can get a close look at the results at the same time as the judges.

The competitions three judges will score the competitors based on creativity and on the technical aspects of their work, including how crisply their foamed milk contrasts with the espresso, Shatursun said.

Winning the competition has its perks  first place prize is $500, and second place is a trove of caffeine-loaded goods from festival vendors.

One competitor, a manager at Cafe Grumpys Grand Central Terminal location, said he will roast the competition with his consistency.

Ive been working on making it really symmetrical and adding a lot of layers  its not really something specifically fancy, just working on the perfect tulip, said Alex Kim.

The foam feud is part of a two-day festival of caffeinated beverages, with demonstrations, seminars, and tastings from 60 vendors.

Those who watch the latte throwdown can keep up their coffee consumption by slurping down the works of art once they have been judged, Shatursen said.

We hate to throw them out, so if anyone wants to drink them they are up for grabs, he said.

The Coffee and Tea Festival New York Citys Latte Art Throwdown at Brooklyn Expo Center [72 Noble St. at Franklin Street in Greenpoint, (631) 9407290, www.coffe eandt eafes tival.com/ nyc ]. March 19 at 1 pm. $25. Festival lasts March 1920, noon6 pm.

Reach reporter Dennis Lynch at (718) 2602508 or e-mail him at dlync h@cng local.com .
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62nd Precinct

BensonhurstBath Beach

A crap-sy attitude

An argumentative goon robbed a guy at a Cropsey Avenue gas station on March 9, according to a police report.

The two got into an argument at the station near 19th Avenue around 9:30 pm that soon escalated into fisticuffs. The thief punched his victim in the face, knocking him down.

He then grabbed some unspecified electronics and the victims Chicago Bulls hat, hopped in his car, and fled down Cropsey Avenue towards Bay 22nd Street, police said.

Bag snatcher

A brutish baddie robbed a woman on Bay Parkway on March 10, police said.

She was near 82nd Street around 12:45 am when the guy came up from behind, pushed her down, and grabbed her handbag. He got away with $40 in cash and some of her debit and credit cards, according to police.

Good dog

A burglar was caught red-handed while breaking into a W. Eighth Street home on March 7, by the owners perceptive pooch, police said.

The victim was sleeping in his bedroom at his home between Bay Parkway and Avenue O around 3 pm when his pups barks coming from a rear bedroom awoke him. He investigated and found a housebreaker standing outside the window with the screen open and blinds pulled.

When the homeowner went outside to talk to the intruder he was nowhere to be found.

Lock cutters

A pair of burglars broke into a construction site on McDonald Avenue overnight on March 8, police said.

The last workers left the site between Kings Highway and Billings Place around 2:30 pm and returned in the morning to find the locks to the gate cut and a number of construction tools missing, according to police.

Car swiped on 19th Ave.

A car thief stole a mans ride on 19th Avenue overnight on March 11, according to police.

The guy parked his car near 73rd Street around 9:30 pm and came back the next morning to grab it, but it was nowhere to be found, police said.

 Dennis Lynch
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68th Precinct

Bay RidgeDyker Heights

High stakes

Some phony sweepstakes scammers conned an elderly 100th Street woman out of $60,000 between Feb. 22 and March 7, according to police.

The 72-year-old victim received multiple calls at her home between Fourth Avenue and Fort Hamilton Parkway from people calling themselves Mr. Kennedy, Mr. James, and Ms. Alice, who told her she won a sweepstakes, but had to send in money to a post office box in New Jersey, according to a police report. She sent the money, but never received any prize back, police said.

Avian abuser

A lout tossed injured pigeons from his car on 68th Street on March 9, police said.

A bystander saw the man throw the birds out of his car near Ninth Avenue around 6 pm. The pigeons could not fly, collapsed on the ground, and were in distress, according to a police report.

Police recovered five of the eight pigeons and transported them to an animal rescue facility in Manhattan. The scoundrel could face felony charges, according to police.

Johnny Apple-thief

A carbreaker stole a trove of electronics from a mans car parked on Fifth Avenue sometime overnight on March 7, police said.

The victim left his car near 79th Street around midnight and returned at 7 am to find his MacBook Pro, an iPad Mini, and his wallet missing  although there were no signs of forced entry, according to police.

Strike again

Tire-and-rim thieves struck a mans car parked on 10th Avenue sometime overnight on March 6, police said.

The victim parked the Honda  a frequent target of wheel thieves, according to police  between 85th and 86th streets around 10 pm, and returned at 7 am the next day. Two tire and rims were missing from the passenger-side of the vehicle.

Wheely bad

Rim robbers stole all of the wheels from a womans car parked on Battery Avenue sometime between March 7 and 10, according to a police report.

The victim left her ride near Fort Hill Place around 7:30 pm on March 7 and returned three days later around noon to find her car sitting on bricks.

 Dennis Lynch
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94th Precinct

GreenpointNorthside

Lock down

A thief crept into a guys Manhattan Avenue apartment and ran off with a single key during the early morning hours of March 10.

The victim woke up in his apartment near Skillman Avenue at 4:20 am and opened his bedroom door to see some creeps silhouette in his living room, police said.

When the victim said Hello, whos there? the perp scampered out the front door and fled on foot in an unknown direction, according to authorities. The victim noticed the sneak had snatched a gold key from a key ring on a table next to the front door, according to a police report. Police said the perp apparently came in through the front door without using force.

Stick it out

A violent villain punched a guy in the face when he failed to fork over cash on Skillman Avenue on March 8, but the victim ultimately scared off the assailant by brandishing a stick.

The victim was near Woodpoint Road at 3:30 am when the fiend approached him and demanded money, police said. When the victim said he did not have any cash, the perp punched him in the nose and shoved him against a nearby building, injuring him, according to a police report.

The victim then picked up a stick, and the attacker fled in an unknown direction, police said.

Slim pickings

Two greedy goons robbed a couple of guys at gunpoint on Dobbin Street on March 9, but only made off with a few bucks.

The two victims were near Norman Avenue at 4:43 am when the cretins crept up behind them and said Give me your wallet as one of the perps brandished a gun, cops said.

The baddies, who wore bandanas over their faces, snatched a single dollar from one of the victims and $6 from the other, police said. The miscreants fled on foot towards Norman Avenue, according to authorities.

 Allegra Hobbs
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. There is no final decision in regard to the price of imported Russian gas to Armenia at this point yet, but negotiations on this issue are continuing, Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan said in the interview with reporters, Armenpress reports.

"This issue was discussed at the meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Russia, and now the ministries and the company " Gazprom Armenia "are in negotiations about the price of gas", the prime minister said.

Referring to the proposal to conduct energy trade in rubles in the territory of the EAEU, Abrahamyan stressed that this issue has still no progress. "The issue is discussed in the framework of the EAEU. The Russian Prime Minister's visit to Armenia will be held on April 7, and on April 8 - the visit of the Prime Ministers of the member countries of EAEU. We will hold a meeting of Heads of Governments of EEAU member-countries, during which we will try to discuss the mentioned issue and to get answers ", Armenian Prime Minister concluded.
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YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. There will always be changes in the government of Armenia, but they will be timely and accurate. Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan told reporters, Armenpress reports.

"We will continue to optimize, in other words cutting positions and machines. Now officials are engaged in the mentioned issue the prime minister said.

He said that the separation of the Ministries of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations was due to the cooperation between the Republican Party and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) "Dashnaktsutyun. "As a result of the general discussion, we came to this conclusion", Abrahamyan said.

In response to the question whether ARF ministers are working better or not, Prime said that he has earlier touched on the mentioned question.
Experts on active shooters and school safety available for media

National experts join more than 900 school educators and counselors at Safe Schools seminar

Schools must be safe places for learning, for students, faculty and staff. To make that happen, we need to bring together the best people and best ideas on prevention and response, and then we need to be committed to action. 

BUFFALO, N.Y.  An FBI expert on active shooters in schools and a university professor with extensive knowledge of Virginias successful school model to recognize and stop violent individuals will highlight Wednesdays Safe Schools seminar at the University at Buffalos North Campus.

The two speakers will hold a news briefing to discuss the latest research and findings on school violence.

When and Where: Noon on Wednesday, March 16, at the Center for the Arts on UBs North Campus.

What: The news briefing will be held in between sessions at UBs 13th annual Safe Schools Seminar. This years seminar topic: Preventing and Responding to Violent Threats: Tools for Schools and Law Enforcement.

Who: The national experts are at UB to speak to more than 900 school educators and counselors on preventing school violence, including active shooters who invade classrooms.

Speaking at the news conference are Katherine W. Schweit, section chief in the violence prevention section in the FBIs Office of Partner Engagement. Schweit will discuss the findings of the FBIs Study of Active Shooter Incidents in the United States Between 2000 and 2013, which studies active shooter events in educational settings, as well as an analysis of victims and casualties from active shooter events and strategies to mitigate future active shooter events.

Dewey Cornell, professor of education at the University of Virginia and director of its Youth Violence Project. Cornell will review Virginias successful school-based threat-assessment model that uses both assessment and intervention with individuals who have engaged in threatening behavior.

Joining them is Amanda B. Nickerson, director of UBs Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention.

About the Safe Schools Seminar: The seminar includes a screening of the film The Coming Storm, a dramatization of the aftermath of a campus shooting that weaves in best practices and lessons learned from active shooter incidents that have occurred throughout the U.S., and details what FBI resources are available to local law enforcement.

About 1,000 people have registered for the event, including educators, law enforcement and other interest groups including those in transportation, social service agencies and those working in youth services. This is the largest safe schools seminar held at UB, and officials are calling it one of the largest conferences held at the university in recent years.

Why: Schools must be safe places for learning, for students, faculty and staff," says Dennis Black, vice president for university life and services at UB. To make that happen, we need to bring together the best people and best ideas on prevention and response, and then we need to be committed to action.

The program is open to all who deal with school or building safety issues, including grade school, middle school, high school and district faculty, staff (administrators, counselors, psychologists and school resource officers) and school board members; college/university administrators, police officers and other law enforcement officials; elected officials; and school transportation professionals.

For more information, visit: https://www.ubevents.org/event/safeschools2016.
The Institute of Builders Merchants (IOBM) has endorsed the Builders' Merchants Federation's (BMF) view that firms unwilling to take on apprentices will lose out when the government's new Apprenticeship Levy comes into effect in April.

The scheme will reinvest 0.5% of staff spending into apprenticeships via PAYE for all companies with a payroll of more than 3m. A recent BMF survey found 92% of merchants required to pay the levy have no plans to take on additional apprentices, meaning they'll see no return on their contribution.

The policy is central to the government's push to create 3m new apprenticeships by 2020. The apprenticeships will be funded through training credits or vouchers, to use on government-approved training courses with an additional 15,000 allowance provided to spend on extra training.

The same survey found the industry is still divided over apprentices, with approximately half (51%) of firms currently employing at least one apprentice, meaning 49% have none on the books. The average BMF member employs 14 apprentices a year and the sector is expected to take on 1,000 more in the next two years.

Allan Durning, president of IOBM, said: "We wholeheartedly share the concern of the BMF that the overall effect of the new apprenticeship levy will be negative if firms in the industry are unwilling to bring on additional apprentices.

"Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to blood new talent and remain a great option for employers. It's important those that are required to contribute reap the rewards of the scheme and this can only be achieved by recruiting apprentices.

"This scheme must be viewed as an incentive to create new apprenticeships and not just an additional employment tax imposed by the government. The research carried out by the BMF provides enough grounds for concern that this is not the case. We must see a change in mind-set before our industry misses out and the money is spent elsewhere."
Plumb Center and Parts Center have unveiled a new floor plan at a branch in Purley to improve customers in-branch experience.

Purley joins the companys branch in Redhill, Surrey, in showcasing this new open plan design, which is set to be replicated in more than 500 branches across the UK.

The new design features a number of firsts for Plumb Center. Reducing the length of the trade counter removes physical barriers between customers and employees, to create a bright and open environment. The office areas have now been integrated into the branch itself, making it far easier for branch staff to greet and service customers. Merchandising has also been introduced, with a range of fast-moving stock, trade essentials and seasonal items on immediate hand for self-selection.

Graeme Wallace, branch manager at Plumb Center and Parts Center in Purley said: Its a brilliant space to work in and its nice to be able to spend more time with customers and less behind a counter or desk. We are proud to pioneer this new approach for our company and the customer reaction has already been very encouraging
Bordentown exhibit showcases items belonging to Napoleon's brother

The Bordentown Historical society is gaining international attention for its Joseph Bonaparte exhibit, former King of Spain and brother of Napoleon.
High-tech burglars could be using drones to check out properties in the Burnham-On-Sea area in preparation for carrying out robberies, a meeting has heard this week.

Residents in the village of Mark heard about the concern during the annual parish meeting, which was attended by Police and Crime Commisioner Sue Mountstevens.

She was asked whether the police are aware of drones being used for aerial monitoring of properties in the Burnham area.

She responded that there have been a couple of incidents where drones have been flown over areas to potentially case the joint but that it is not illegal to use them.

One resident told the meeting that they were concerned that microlights had been seen flying over properties in the Mark area shortly before a spate of farm thefts.

The government is currently looking into how to control the use of drones flying over private homes and being used irresponsibly.
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. The purpose of the Armenian authorities  to assure consolidation over the new Electoral Code, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamya told reporters, Armenpress reports.

Two members of the government are working over the Electoral Code - Davit Harutyunyan (Minister - Chief of Armenian Government Staff) and Arpine Hovhannisyan (Minister of Justice). Our goal is to ensure the consolidation of the law. Our desire is to make this code as transparent as possible ", the prime minister said.

To the remark that the draft on Electoral Code creates obstacles to the implementation of the rights of the opposition and journalists, the Prime Minister said: "We have no purpose to hinder anyone's rights."
Mahindra Reva plans to launch its e20 electric car in the UK next month, a senior executive told a London newspaper.

We want to take electric cars out of the elitist market and make it more of a run-of-the-mill thing, Arvind Mathew, CEO, Mahindra Reva, was quoted by the Evening Standard newspaper. Our product is really designed for city commuting, not for long distance driving. According to Mathew, Mahindras foray into the UK was purely electric. So its a big deal for us because as a brand we dont exist. From the Mahindra group perspective, this is a huge deal. The company will be launching the e20 in London next month at just under 13,000 (about Rs.12.33 lakh), said the paper. London has been chosen as the global launching pad for Mahindras electric car business. That is good news for ecologically-minded drivers priced out of the current range of electric vehicles launched by the likes of Tesla and BMW, noted the report. Electric vehicle drivers can park for free in London at charging spots. Customers in the UK will be able to buy the car online. A fleet of mobile service vehicles will ensure repairs at the buyers homes. Later, the company plans to launch its e-vehicles in Birmingham, Bristol, and Milton Keynes.

Source : BS Motoring
Royal Enfield launched the much-awaited Himalayan adventurer tourer on Wednesday. The bike is priced at Rs.1.55 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai).

While the Himalayan will not be sold in Delhi as is not BS-IV compliant, the bike will be available in other parts of the National Capital Region and priced at Rs.1.79 lakh (on road).

The BS-IV compliant bike will be launched in April 2017. According to Siddhartha Lal, managing director and CEO, Eicher Motors  which owns the Royal Enfield brand - the company has created a new segment of adventure tourer in India. Lal said the company plans to export some of the bikes to southeast Asia and Latin America.

It has also generated some interest in the US and Europe. Royal Enfield is strengthening its international presence in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and southeast Asia. The company hopes to produce 9 lakh motorcycles by the end of next year from its two manufacturing facilities. A third one is coming up in Tamil Nadu. The company is also building two new technology centres in India and in the UK to develop new products.

The Himalayan comes with a five-speed gearbox and a 411 cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine engine which produces 24.5 bhp at 6,500 rpm.

Source : BS Motoring
TVS Motor Company launched TVS Victor in Hyderabad on Tuesday. The motorcycle will be positioned in the executive segment and features broader space on the seat, better performance, and powerful headlights.

In its new avatar, it comes with an advanced, 3-valve Ecothrust engine tuned to deliver a combination of power and fuel economy.

The electric start fires up the 4-speed power train at 8000 revolutions per minute, J S Srinivasan, vice-president, sales & service, TVS Motor Company said at the launch.

Designed for comfort, safety and handling on a single cradle tubular frame, it delivered a mileage of 76 km a litre of petrol under test conditions. The TVS Victor will be available with Disc and Drum options and comes in six colours including red, black red, black silver, grey, silver and blue and is priced at Rs. 53,900 ex-showroom (in Andhra Pradesh and Telengana) and the drum option at Rs. 51,900. We are constantly evolving our products to offer technologically superior and stylish products to our customers, added Srinivasan. We believe that TVS Victor is world-class product as it takes a big step forward in terms of performance with ride and handling so as to deliver complete rider control and comfort. The company, which boasts of a 7 per cent market share currently in the motorcycle segment, hopes to ramp up this by at least two more per cent. It also expects its domestic sales of two-wheelers to grow by 10 per cent in the coming fiscal. The company is targeting to sell 1,500 TVS Victory vehicles per month in AP and Telangana and the all India target is 15000 vehicles. Srinivasan recalled that the success of Victor, first launched in 2002, laid the foundation for TVS Motors in India.

Source : BS Motoring
signed an agreement with ALAFCO, a Kuwait-based leasing company for leasing 14 Airbus A320neo aircraft.

The delivery of aircraft is likely to start from early next year. The agreement was signed between CMD Ashwani Lohani and the vice chairman and CEO of ALAFCO Ahmad Al Zabin in the presence of CEO of CFM paul Abanga and Phileppe Combet, vice-president, sales, Airbus.

This induction is expected to augment Air Indias capacity in domestic market. already has strong infrastructure maintenance facilities for the Airbus A320 family. The agreement comes on a day the Civil Aviation Minister lauded Air India's for making progress in its financial performance.

The partnership between Air India and Airbus dates back to 1989 when the erstwhile Indian Airlines became the launch customer to induct the Airbus A320.

Air India chief said: This is a very important partnership for Air India. The A320 aircraft will add strength to our existing fleet and enhance our role as a major player in the domestic market.



These A320neo aircraft will come fitted with the new generation CFM leap engines which will reduce noise and emissions, enhance the operational efficiency and reduce fuel consumption by at least 15% while offering the passengers the best in class comfort. Air India and CFM enjoy a long standing partnership as CFM engines are fitted on the existing A320 family aircraft, according to the company.




AirAsia India has appointed a new chief financial officer (CFO) and commercial head as it prepares to expand operations, the airlines group chief executive officer (CEO) Tony Fernandes said on Wednesday. However, there would be no change in CEO, Fernandes added.

While Fernandes did not name the executives, sources said Ankur Khanna, Air Frances finance head in Singapore, was chosen as the new CFO and Kiran Jain, Delhi airports aero-marketing head, was picked as the new chief commercial officer in AirAsia India.

Fernandes, who has been accused of remote-controlling the airline from Malaysia, said he has applied for Overseas Citizen of India card.

Once I receive it, I will have a party with all non-resident Indians, he said. Earlier too, he had questioned whether Indian carriers were really owned by Indian residents  in an apparent reference to Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal who lives in London.

At the moment Arun Bhatia is still committed to the airline in India. But that is an issue between Indian shareholders and I am not aware of it, he said, responding to queries on boardroom fights in the airline.
Dassault Aviation, French manufacturer of military aircraft and business jets, will deliver 10 long-range Falcon 8Xs globally, including one to an Indian corporate customer, this year. This was revealed by the companys senior vice-president (civil aircraft), Olivier Villa.

The large-cabin trijet business jet, 3.2 feet longer than its predecessor Falcon 7X, is set to be certified in mid-2016. The Falcon 8X can fly non-stop from anywhere in India to destinations such as London City Airport.

We have been seeing good traction in the Indian market and expect the countrys accelerated economic growth to translate into rising Falcon sales going forward, said Villa.

Currently, 22 aircraft from the Falcon family are in service in India. According to the company, a majority of new Indian Falcon orders are for longer range models such as the Falcon 7X and Falcon 8X.

Dassaults popular Falcon 2000 twin-jet, which is now approaching the 600th production mark, accounts for the largest portion of the present Indian fleet.

Stating that the market has been disappointing, resulting in a drop in sales since the past two years, Villa said the company was optimistic on future sales, thanks to its good customer base and demand, primarily for the Falcon 2000 series and the Falcon 7X and 8Xs.

Since the rollout of the first Falcon in 1963, Dassault has so far delivered around 2,400 Falcon jets globally. Dassault predicts strong demand among Indian customers for its new Falcon 5X very-large-body twin-jet, which is currently in development. According to the company, the Falcon 5X is due to enter service in 2020.
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. On March 16 Armenia President Serzh Sargsyan met with Chairman of the House of Representatives of Cyprus Yanakis Omiru within the framework of his official visit to Cyprus.

Serzh Sargsyan expressed his gratitude to Yanakis Omiru for the warm reception of Armenian official delegation and noted that he is glad to be hosted in fraternal Cyprus with which Armenian current fraternal relations are in the same quality as they were in the past. Armenia President expressed confidence that the future builders of the Armenia-Cyprus relations will have the responsibility of making a big commitment to maintain and strengthen the high level of current friendly relations.

Armenpress was informed from the Department of Mass Media and Public Relations that Sargsyan and Omiru warmly recalled their previous meetings. They concurred that historically established warm ties between Armenian and Cypriot peoples received a new value after the restoration of Armenia's independence, and inter-state relations developed in a spirit of mutual understanding and friendship. President Sargsyan highly appreciated the personal contribution of Yanakis Omiru in all the mentioned above and recalled the adoption of a law criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide by Omiru, as well as his participation together with the President of Cyprus in the Yerevan events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Armenia President and Chairman of the House of Representatives of Cyprus highlighted the close cooperation of the 2 friendly countries within the framework of parliamentary assemblies. Sargsyan and Yanakis Omiru exchanged views on important issues of the foreign policy agenda of Armenia and Cyprus and mutually assured that Armenia and Cyprus stand side by side in solving these issues.

On March 16, President Serzh Sargsyan also met with the Archbishop of Nova Justiniana and All Cyprus.
A team from the Drugs Controller General of India and Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will in a day or two conduct an investigation at Johnson &Johnson's factory at Mulund in this city's northeast.

This is in the wake of the FDA's decision to send samples of J&J's Baby Powder for laboratory testing, a week after a US jury ordered the cosmetics giant to pay compensation of $72 million to the family of a woman who won a legal battle against it. The charge was a link to ovarian cancer after decades of using the company's talc powder.

An FDA official told Business Standard, The team will look into the source, samples, specifications, testing and records at the J&J factory. The team will also verify ingredients or impurities, if any, in the talc or baby powder which might have carcinogenic effect. He expected the report to be ready within a month.

FDA has already collected samples of J&J's 'Shower to Shower' and also 'Dermicool', 'Ponds' and 'Nycil' talcum powder brands of other from across Maharashtra. The samples have been sent to our laboratory to check if they follow the rules laid down under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The test will determine the presence of heavy metals in the talcum powder which might have carcinogenic properties,'' he added.

He said they could consider similar investigation in other after completion of these tests.

A J&J spokesman said, ''Our products contain talc that meets the highest quality, purity and compliance standards. Our sources for talc undergo comprehensive qualification to ensure quality, safety and compliance with all global standards. Consumers should feel confident that the overwhelming body of research and clinical evidence continues to support the safety of cosmetic talc. This includes assessments by external experts and our own company testing. Many research papers and epidemiology studies have specifically evaluated talc, and these studies have found talc to be safe.''



Adding: "J&J always complies with regulator requests, including further testing."
Ruia-owned has prepared a plan to double earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) margins at its domestic operations to 18-20 per cent in FY17, by way of reducing dependency on natural gas, a major input cost for the debt-laden company, and by capturing local demand, which has improved after curtailing of import.

The plan is to lower costs by 30 per cent, by increasing production from our corex and blast furnaces which use coke, coal and in-house generated gas as feedstock, and reduce dependency on production from the sponge iron plant which uses natural gas as its feedstock, director Jatindar Mehra said.

The company has burnt its figures in the past for relying heavily on natural gas as feedstock. More than half of its 10.2 million tonnes steel making capacity is idle due to non-availability of gas in the domestic market, amid high-priced imported gas. Essar Steel's domestic operations' capacity is 6.8 mt of a sponge iron unit, with 1.7 mt and 1.68 mt capacity of blast furnace and corex (a type of blast furnace), respectively.

We will be increasing capacities at corex and the blast furnace to 2.2 mt and 2.5 mt, respectively, mainly via changing the processes to yield more steel production. Due to this, there will be no additional funds needed for this, explained Mehra. Via this route, the company aims to take its capacity utilisation to 80-85 per cent in 2016-17 from 70 per cent at present.

Apart from operational issues, has also been dealing with high debt levels. This has worsened the situation for the company after a severe downturn in the industry, exacerbated by predatory pricing from China. As on end-March 2015, the company's standalone debt was about Rs 30,000 crore. To cut the burden, it has managed bring half its loan amount under the 5/25 scheme of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the management is working to bring the balance, too, of debt under this. The scheme allows banks to extend long-term loans in the core and infrastructure industries sector to 20-25 years, to match the cash flow of projects, while refinancing these every five or seven years.

In the past three years, the company has already made debt repayments worth Rs 20,000 crore, with the promoters and group infusing about Rs 14,000 crore, and the balance coming from the company's Ebitda (of the steel business), which has been eight to nine per cent, said Mahadev Iyer, director (finance) and chief financial officer. Our loan is a combination of rupee and dollar, and we are currently looking to bring the remaining 50 per cent (Rs 15,000 crore) under the 5/25 scheme. The management said that despite a debt that high, the debt per tonne was Rs 30,000, largely in line with peers (see chart).

Since the RBI guidelines do not give us the flexibility to lease-back, no selling of assets (worth Rs 7,200 crore) will take place, said Mehra. Before the central bank guidelines, the company had managed to sell one of its assets, worth Rs 4,000 crore.

The situation for it was not too friendly until November last year. The Ruias had hired SBI Caps and ICICI Securities to sell stake. However, with the plan to bring itself on its own feet via a cost and debt reduction strategy, and with the business scenario in the domestic market improving, especially after imposition of minimum import price (MIP), the need for a strategic investor isn't being felt.

To have a strategic investor is one of the options. In today's context, when the market has started to look up, to have one is not relevant. What the steel industry needs is more consideration from banks and rejigging of the balance sheet. Not a new investor, said Mehra.

Domestic steel has been in a long battle with cheaper import from China since October 2014. Only recently did the government lend support via an MIP on 173 products, making about 15 percent of domestic demand vacant for local steel producers to capture. Prices have moved up significantly since then and a further rise is likely in the coming months. This is set to improve companies' revenue from the June quarter.
Gas-based power producers have put near-zero bids to procure subsidised RLNG from the government.

This was the third round of a reverse e-auction process for power plants to avail the subsidy to buy costly imported regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG). This involves a reverse bid for the subsidy amount to come from the Power System Development Fund (PSDF).

The eligible bidders indicate the total incremental electricity they would generate using the e-bid RLNG. The companies also quote the subsidy they require to ensure the net purchase price for the distribution companies to buy that power, without exceeding the target plant load factor.

However on late evening of Tuesday, during the third such bidding, the power producers did not indicate any subsidy amount. The companies were ready to buy gas at the floor price suggested by government, said a senior power ministry official. He did not disclose the floor price.

Officials said the ministry of power would review the process, as no one had envisaged that financially sick gas-powered plants would forgo the subsidy in the round. A revised auction is likely at the end of this week.

Sources said the committee would allow negative and zero bids. If so, the government would save on the PSDF amount given to support the gas-based plants. The amount was calculated to be around Rs 1,600 crore.

The second round of the revival plan for gas-based power plants got bids from units with cumulative installed capacity of 8,262 Mw in August last year. This involved government support of Rs 1,590 crore from the PSDF.

In the first round in June 2015, 14 gas-based power plants with cumulative capacity of 8,100 Mw had bid. The successful bidders were mostly from the southern region.

Under the gas mechanism announced last year, every stakeholder in the supply chain would have to forgo a part of their returns on operations. While the central government would give up the service tax it levied on gas sourcing, the power plant operators would forgo return on equity. GAIL would source the imported gas and with Gujarat State Petronet would forgo 50 per cent of their transmission rate and 75 per cent of the marketing margin in supplying imported RLNG.

The lead banker to these plants would ensure all receipts of money would be utilised only for payments towards the variable cost of generation (fuel cost), and the operation and maintenance expenses, in accordance with regulatory guidelines. Debt servicing would be made after capping the fixed cost.

Of the 24,150 Mw of gas grid-connected power generation capacity, 14,305 Mw has no supply of domestic gas. On this front, an investment of about Rs 60,000 crore is at the threshold of becoming a non-performing asset. The remaining capacity (9,845 Mw), involving an investment of about Rs 40,000 crore, is working at a sub-optimal level, based on the limited quantity of domestic gas.
The government has banned popular cold medicines such as Crocin Cold and Flu and D-Cold Total. These were among the drug combinations that the government banned last week but all the names did not get disclosed at that point.

The government banned 344 drug combinations over the weekend, including codeine-based cough syrup by Pfizer and Abbott, after a government panel of experts said these had no therapeutic justification.

Crocin Cold and Flu is a small portion of the Crocin brand, with its market share in single digit, according to industry estimates. Though Crocin Cold and Flu have been banned, GlaxoSmithKline spokesperson said Crocin (companys main brand) was not banned.

The government also banned other popular drugs such as Sumo and Oflox. According to an analysis by the AIOCD AWACS, a market research entity, the Indian pharmaceutical industry is going to take a Rs 3,000-crore loss due to the ban. According to the analysis, top five companies which are going to take the hit are  Abbott, Pfizer, Macleods, Glenmark and Mankind.

The Delhi high court on Tuesday granted interim injunction to the government ban on Abbott on sale of its cough syrup. Glenmark and Macleods also received such injuctions on Tuesday.

The court granted an interim stay to the pharmaceutical companies and said regulators should take "no coercive steps" against them. The case will be heard on Tuesday. US drugmaker Pfizer had on Monday won a similar reprieve on a ban on its cough syrup Corex.
Emirates is looking to operate its Airbus A380 services to more cities, including Delhi and Hyderabad, once the bilateral talks between the United Arab Emirates and India for more seating capacity is given to the company.

Ahmed Khoory, senior vice-president, commercial operations, West Asia and Indian Ocean for Emirates said there are a lot of attractive places in India and they would like to expand as much as possible if the bilateral talks go well.

Speaking at the India Aviation show after presenting one of the Emirates' luxury A380 aircraft at the venue, Khoory informed the Emirates' optimism over Indian skies comes in the light of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that his country was expecting to receive 20 million tourists.

Emirates operates 185 services on 10 routes in India and it currently has 65,000-seating capacity for Dubai from here. Even a 100,000 seating capacity is not enough for us, Khoory said.

Emirates operates over 1,800 flights per week from its hub at Dubai International Airport to close to 60 destinations around the world. This is the third time the airline is taking part in the biennial show.
US-based aircraft and rotorcraft maker Textron Inc would completely build its single-largest selling helicopter model  Bell 407  in India, said Inderjit Sial, president and managing director of Textron India.

For this, the company will form partnerships with players in the local support ecosystem, including manufacturers of avionics, rotors, gearbox etc. We are now doing a feasibility study and the facility will be up and running during the 2018-19 time-frame, said Sial.

Sial added Textron was in talks with the state governments of Andhra, Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka to establish a manufacturing plant.

Textron has a development centre in Bengaluru, employing 500 aeronautical engineers. The company has a tie-up with Dynamatic Ltd to manufacture the Bell 407 cabins in Bengaluru, to cater to the export markets, especially the US and Canada.

The Bengaluru unit can manufacture four 407 cabins a month. Sial said the company would increase the capacity to 120 units a year by 2017. Bell 407 is the single-largest performer for Textron in terms of sales volumes. Bell helicopter has maintained a solid presence in the Asia-Pacific region for close to three decades, with an installed fleet of 1,000 helicopters serving multiple mission segments.

Sial said India offers a huge opportunity for Bell 407, and that the company would position the product as the right replacement to Chetak and Cheetah copters.

We are looking at participating in the reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters programme of the Indian military, which is part of the Indian governments Make in India initiative. An RFS (request for service) has already been called for, and we expect the Indian military to induct at least 400 Bell 407s, if the project is awarded to us, Sial said.
Indian firms on Wednesday clinched a slew of deals worth around $4 billion with long-time strategic partner Russia for purchasing stakes in two key East Siberian oilfields operated by Rosneft, the world's largest publicly-traded oil company. The move is expected to bolster India's energy security amid subdued global oil prices.

As part of the deal, a consortium of three public sector undertakings (PSUs) - Oil India (OIL), Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum Resources (BPRL) - will pay $1.28 billion (Rs 8,618 crore) for a 29.9 per cent stake in Rosneft-operated Taas-Yuryakh oilfield based on a share purchase agreement (SPA) signed on Wednesday. The deal values the oilfield at $4.2 billion (Rs 28,280 crore) and is expected to be closed by September.

The Taas-Yuryakh field is rich in gas with presence of layers of oil. Its current crude oil production hovers around 20,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd). The management is working on a target to raise production to 100,000 bopd in around two years. The field houses 137 million tonne of liquid hydrocarbon and 181 billion cubic metre (bcm) of gas. "As a result of this deal, we will get the rights over 30 per cent of the current production. The deal also stipulates around $180 million capital expenditure by the consortium in the oilfield," said a senior executive close to the development.

The Indian consortium also signed a Heads of Agreement (HoA), which comes between an initial memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a final SPA, for acquiring 23.9 per cent stake in Vankorneft, the subsidiary that operates the Vankor oilfield in East Siberia. ONGC Videsh (OVL), the overseas arm of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) had last September bought a 15 per cent stake in Vankor field for $1.27 billion. Based on the valuation in that deal, the consortium will pay around $2 billion (Rs 13,466 crore) for the stake.

As part of the deals clinched, OVL also signed a MoU with Rosneft to raise its stake in the Vankor oilfield to 26 per cent. OVL will pay around $930 million (Rs 6,261 crore) for the additional stake, officials said.

"We have been given the target of closing this deal by June 16. It is a tall target as we will have to do a lot of due-diligence again. A lot has changed in terms of global oil prices since we last studied the valuations," a senior OVL official told Business Standard. The consortium also signed an MoU on Wednesday with Rosneft for acquisition of a cluster of satellite fields surrounding Vankor. Officials said details of reserves in the fields were yet to be established. New Delhi's interest in increasing economic cooperation with the Kremlin is seen as an extension of several rounds of talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi and abroad.
As part of its plans to scale up its power generation capacity by nearly 19 times to exceed 2,000 Mw in the coming years, India Power Corporation (IPC) is looking forward to acquiring another three-four stressed thermal plants in the near future.

The move will augment the power companys generation capacity by 500-750 Mw.

We are focussing on brownfield expansion as far as our thermal power generation business is concerned, the Chairman Hemant Kanoria told Business Standard.

The major part of funds needed for these acquisitions will be spent from the companys own coffers.

However, based on the need, we may go for finance options, but that will not be a major part, he said.

Ruling out takeover of state-owned thermal plants and focusing only on private players, it will acquire only those plants which are either up and running, or are nearly 80 per cent complete.

Kanoria is not considering greenfield projects to further its thermal capacity citing a tenure of about 10 years to construct a plant and make it operational. Additionally, new plants need power purchase agreements as well as fuel supply agreements to be drawn and implemented.

The companys decision comes in the wake of its recent acquisition of the entire 89 per cent stake of French energy firm Engie in Meenakshi Energy in Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. IPC will thereby have the controlling stake in this power plant whose net worth is around Rs. 1,600 crore, but will also have to bear a burden of Rs, 3,000 crore of debt owed by the power producer.

This deal immediately adds a significant 300 Mw of thermal portfolio to the company, while another 700 Mw will be added shortly. Also, a 450 Mw thermal plant in Haldia, in West Bengal, will be commissioned by the end of 2016. At present, its thermal generation capacity is only 12 Mw.

It is also evaluating wind energy greenfield projects in two-three states to ramp up its portfolio in this vertical. The firm currently has a wind energy capacity of 95.2 Mw spread across Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka.

However, despite its small-scale presence in solar energy, and the government actively promoting solar energy, the company will not not focus on this front.

Policy issues and related hurdles were cited by Kanoria to have influenced this decision.

While we are looking at enhancing our generation capacity, we want to be a cautious and conservative player as well, he said adding bottomline to be his topmost priority. The company, which is also into distribution business having a portfolio totaling 7,694 square kilometres, has also applied for parallel distribution licences in West Bengal and Harayana.

It is our endeavour to balance generation with distribution, he said.

Critical of the governments recent attempt to transfuse new life into the debt-ridden state distribution companies (UDAY scheme) as provisions for reward and penalties are not included, Kanoria is of the view that allowing more competition in the energy distribution front as well as provisioning for open access will make the Indian power sector more competent.

IPC's present capacity includes a wind energy portfolio of 95.2 Mw, a 12 Mw fired-thermal plant in Dishergarh in West Bengal and a small 2 MW grid-connected solar plant in the same state.
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on March 16 visited the University of Cyprus, where he met with students, professors and lecturers of the university, delivered a speech and answered the questions of the participants.

As Armenpress was reported by the Department of Mass Media and Public Relations of the Armenian Presidents Staff, the Rector of the University of Cyprus Constantinos Christofides and a member of the House of Representatives of Cyprus Vardges Mahdesyan delivered welcoming speeches, addressed to the Armenian President.
Forensic audit is in the news in India, with banks, regulators and enforcement agencies using more of such services at a time when financial fraud seems to be rising. David Stulb, who heads the EY (earlier Ernst & Young) global forensic practice (Fraud Investigation & Dispute Services) was in India recently. A talk with Rajesh Bhayani:



In which areas are frauds rising globally, apart from cyber crimes?



At the global market, EY is focusing on two areas where we see increasing levels of fraud. The first is terrorist financing. There has been an increase in global terrorist attacks and these have to be financed somehow. In addition to the traditional methods, terrorists are innovatively using technology more and more, a serious global challenge.



The second is increased market volatility. Last August, we saw how volatility in the Chinese stock market led to tremors across global markets. Additionally, anticipated correction in the energy market, alongside sharp volatilities in currencies and a weak start to the year for equities, also demonstrates this. Whether this is due to market forces, financial fraud or related to terrorism cannot be known but certainly this sharp market volatility gives us a sense that something is wrong, which cannot be attributed solely to market forces.



When the present government came to power in India, hopes were raised that stern action would be taken on corruption, bribery and black money. These are serious issues and challenging from a forensic accounting point of view.



Among market frauds, where is the potential seen higher?



Recent corporate frauds such as Volkswagen and those involving bribes paid by corporates to government officials have created panic. Circumvention of financial sanctions and terrorist financing are also areas where market platforms can potentially be used.



In India, we know from our discussions with the Reserve Bank (RBI) and the Central Bureau of Investigation that there is a real concern regarding funds raised for religious charities and the end purpose of such funds. These agencies are carefully looking at this problem.



For example, my sense is that IS (Islamic State, the West Asian insurgency) is actually an organised crime syndicate, engaged in raising funds through oil theft, profit kidnapping and prostitution, and using financial channels to move this money around. They might also use religious charities to do this, a big headache for all governments  Asian governments are particularly concerned. Sharp movements and crashes in markets are pressure points where the potential threat of inflows or outflows of terrorist financing cannot be ruled out.



In the context of India, the month of March as a popular financial year-end is a time where companies might be tempted to window-dress balance sheets, show higher profits, hide non-performing assets and keep derivative losses opaque, for example.



Which India-specific fraud issues are forensic auditors in demand?



Classic banking frauds related to the rise of non-performing assets or frauds involving connivance of employees and their clients are on the rise. Investigators and regulators have frequently started using the services of forensic accountants to detect such fraud.



Similarly, we have seen a high level of bribery and corruption-related charges recently and a number of foreign clients have also required our forensic services. Therefore, it is no surprise that our India team has grown from 30 to 600 over the past four years, under Arpinder Singhs leadership. This shows corporates in India are looking at tackling such issues and pro-actively managing their fraud risk frameworks.



The Indian governments efforts to further increase the ease of doing business is seen in a positive manner. Transparency International notes this in its recent index, where Indias rating is equal to or better than other BRIC nations.



But, bad brains always stay ahead of investigators!



Yes but the Indian enforcement agencies I have come to know are investing in new technologies and will continue to invest much more. India has the best of the brains for software development and this can be used to detect frauds. I know RBI is providing training to their inspectors from a forensic perspective. Enforcement agencies are using voice analysis technology more and more during interviews, to provide a better indication as to whether people are hiding information or lying. The use of external forensic accounting experts has also increased. The Aadhaar card initiative is another important initiative which could help in the detection of fraud.



On the corporate front, I am amazed to see how fast technologies are evolving in India. Solutions to combat fraud and corruption are becoming increasingly automated. Today, EYs forensic technology labs in Mumbai and Hyderabad support global companies through cyber forensics and forensic data analytics capability, which enables us to decipher fraud patterns and determine other areas of concern.



How are you addressing cyber crime?



You can judge we are taking it seriously from the fact that EY recently appointed a former director from the (US) Federal Bureau of Investigation, two former air force generals and has 1,200 professionals dedicated to forensic technology issues, including cyber crime. This is a serious global issue and although Indian companies are worried about it, their awareness and level of security for cyber crime is lower in comparison to global peers. Hence, India has emerged as a big market for us for all kinds of frauds. EY now has 10 partners and 600-plus professionals focusing on forensic work in India.



How secure is e-commerce, catching up fast in India, from that perspective?



A potential risk. E-commerce is in a nascent stage in India and the risk will have to be mitigated as it continues to grow. Since it connects a large chain of merchants, couriers, financiers and credit card companies, storage, etc, there is a high risk of fraud and for counterfeit products to be sold. There have also been instances of buyer-seller frauds, where participants from the other side take the benefits of discounts and cash-back.
Three Indian oil firms plan to invest $1.7 billion to pick up a stake in the Russian oil field Taas-Yuriakh, a source close to the matter said.

Indian Oil Corp , Oil India Ltd and Bharat Petro Resources Ltd, the upstream arm of state-owned refiner Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd , will also invest $180 million each as part of future capital expenditures, the source said.

The field is currently producing 20,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and is expected to go up to 100,000 bpd in the next two years.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker said today the airline is treated unfairly by the Indian government on matter of bilateral seat allocation and added that it remains interested in investing in IndiGo.

is also willing to send its planes to India for maintenance and overhaul if MRO facilities are developed in the country, Al Baker said today at Hyderabad.

which is the smallest of the big three Gulf airlines (others being Emirates and Etihad) is displaying its Airbus A350 aircraft at the Indian Aviation 2016 show in India.

"We did show interest in IndiGo. Unfortunately because of rules governing IPO in India we could not invest directly. If we had to we would have to do this through our parent company which is sovereign fund. To do that we needed more time and the time was short," he said.

Baker however added that the airline is open to investing in IndiGo. "Yes, if there is an opportunity. I cannot force the owners to sell. If they are willing to sell, then we are interested," he said.

Qatar is unfairly treated by Indian authorities, "despite the fact that Qatar is the largest supplier of natural gas and fertiliser to India, he said.

Qatar Government raised unfair treatment issue (with the Indian Government) many times, Al Baker said adding, " there is never a balance in air traffic rights".

"This is a false pretext. You will never have a balance in usage of traffic rights," he said. While Qatar Airways fully utilises its side of traffic rights Indian carriers utilise only half of 24,000 seats.

Expressing his opposition to the government's proposal to auction additional bilaterals, he said that the plan is 'ill-conceived'.
Russian state-owned petroleum explorer and the world's largest publicly traded oil company Rosneft is all set to purchase 49 per cent stake in India's private sector oil refiner Essar Oil, promoted by the Ruia family.

The Russian firm announced that its Chief Executive Officer Igor Sechin has held negotiations with the management of Essar Oil and confirmed it will buy 49 per cent stake. Through this deal, Rosneft will gain access to Essar-operated Vadinar refinery, the second-largest oil refinery in India, with a capacity of 20 MT per annum.

Read more from our special coverage on "ROSNEFT" Russias Rosneft sells nearly half of Vankor field to Indian firms

"We had constructive discussions with management of Essar. We achieved preliminary agreement on the terms and procedure," Sechin told reporters after meeting Essar Directors Prashant Ruia and Ravi Ruia here.

Apart from the refinery, Essar Oil also operates a network of petrol pumps as well as coal-bed methane (CBM) blocks. "We have to go to obtain all the permits (for the acquisition). The transaction will be completed by June 2016," Sechin said. Essar Oil plans to implement the modernisation program expanding the refinery's capacity up to 25 million tonnes per annum including production of 1 million tonnes per annum of propylene, the Russian explorer said in a statement.

Essar Oil Director Prashant Ruia confirmed the development saying Rosneft has today confirmed its intention to acquire 49 per cent equity interest in Essar Oil Ltd. "The parties intend to close the transaction by June 2016 following the execution of mutually agreed binding documents and after receipt of necessary approvals," he said.

According to Rosneft, preliminary mutual understanding has been achieved on the timing and structure of the deal to buy into the equity of Essar Oil Ltd. "The parties intend to sign and close the transaction by the end of June 2016 upon obtaining all necessary permits," the firm said in a statement. Rosneft will also supply 10 million tonne of crude per annum to the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat for 10 years. "In addition an agreement on crude oil deliveries to commence this year has also been achieved," it said.

Rosneft and Essar Oil & Gas Ltd and Essar Energy Holdings Ltd, companies incorporated and managed under the laws of Mauritius, had in July last year signed a non-binding Term Sheet. Promoter Ruia family held 90.5 per cent of Essar Oil in July last year, of which 65.6 per cent is in the form of overseas depository shares. The company has since been delisted through a share buy-back.
said its revenue from defence and aerospace business is expected to have a 7.5 per cent annual increase to Rs 2,650 crore by the end of current financial year.

A significant number of Tata are currently engaged in defence and aerospace sector. These include  Tata Advanced Systems, Tata Advanced Materials, Tata Motors, Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division (SED), TAL Manufacturing Solutions, Tata Technologies, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Steel, Tata Elxsi and Titan Company (Precision Engineering Division).

Read more from our special coverage on "TATA GROUP" Four Tata Group companies to raise $2.5 bn via foreign loans

At the annual group leadership conference in 2014, Chairman, Cyrus Mistry, identified defence and aerospace as one of the four growth clusters for the group. As reflected in the cluster approach for the defence and aerospace sector, several of these already work collaboratively to provide convergent defence solutions and thus meet multiple requirements of customers, said Mukund Rajan, director, Tata Sons.

In the past five years, the group's defence business has seen a compounded annual growth of 18 per cent.

Currently, Tata Advanced Systems has the largest defence order book of Rs 4,400 crore. It has partnered with global original equipment manufacturers for both local and overseas businesses. In last year, the company has achieved deliveries for Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky, Boeing, Pilatus, Cobham, RUAG and Rolls-Royce.

It has also partnered with Airbus defence & space to manufacture a complete fly-away C295 aircraft, and collaborated with TERMA to integrate and deliver surface surveillance radars for the Navy.

SED has another large chunk of Rs 1,900 crore defence order in the group. The firm has evolved into one of the largest private sector prime contractors with eligibility to participate in all MAKE and Make-like programmes of the Ministry of Defence.

Another company, Tata Motors has established itself as a player having mobility solutions from logistics to combat support for the Army. The company has Rs 900 crore order book.
Coca-Cola India, the countrys largest beverage maker, is to hive off its bottling and manufacturing business in the next few years.

This is part of a strategy to get away from the production lines in major markets, to enable more focus on branding, marketing, improving of margins and profitability.

It seems to be following archival PepsiCo, which earlier sold its bottling operations for north and east India to its largest bottler, the Ravi Jaypuria-led RJ Corp.

Coca-Cola currently manufactures its products in 24 plants in India, through its bottling subsidiary, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB). Globally, The Coca-Cola Company operates through two major operations  bottling and manufacturing through Bottling Investment Group, and marketing and promotion through various Coca-Cola entities.

However, the bottling and production business has been putting pressure on the companys margins and profitability for some years. The cola majors profit fell to $7.35 billion in 2015 from $10.8 bn in 2012. To address the issue, Muhtar Kent, global chairman and chief executive, declared a plan to sell off the bottling business across the world. It will hand over its bottling plants in the US by 2017 and is in talks with buyers in China.

Manufacturing is a low margin and high investment business, for which one has to maintain huge assets but the returns are low, a company official said. In this country, Coca-Cola had Rs 509 crore in net profit and





Rs 1,818 crore in net sales during 2014-15, with net profit margin (NPM) at 28 per cent. HCCB posted Rs 241 crore net profit and Rs 7,859 crore of operating revenue, with NPM at three per cent in the same period. The bottling business generates far lower profit compared to revenue than the companys core business of selling concentrates for aerated beverages and branding.

We are moving towards a franchise bottling model globally. In India, too, we might get out of the production business eventually, the company official added. It will let us fully concentrate on marketing and branding, and improve margins.



Apart from affecting the return of capital employed for the business, the production business takes away considerable resources, which Coca-Cola will be able to use for its core operations after a selloff, is the thinking.

For both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, the need for focusing on marketing and branding is more important in India, where per capita consumption of beverages is low. The two majors are working to increase consumption in big markets like India and China. It is important to change the consumer behaviour related to soft drinks. We need to place these as a regular drink and not only to be consumed during summer or on occasion, an industry executive said.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. A British academic was arrested in Istanbul for allegedly distributing invitations to Kurdish New Year celebrations. He was accused of spreading terrorist propaganda amid the ongoing crackdown on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party and its supporters, Armenpress reports citing rt.com website.

Chris Stephenson, a Cambridge University graduate, British national and a professor of computer sciences, who was a lecturer at Istanbuls Bilgi University, was detained on charges of making propaganda for a terrorist organization.

Stephenson was arrested outside an Istanbul police department where he arrived in support of three Turkish academics arrested the day before. According to Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency, the scholar was detained for spreading terrorist propaganda because he was in possession of leaflets that contained PKK messages and images.

However, according to other reports the leaflets were only invitations to attend the Kurdish Nevruz (New Year) holiday celebrations, and the man was not even distributing them.
Four Indians and four persons of Indian origin aged under-40 have made it to World Economic Forum's 2016 list of 121 young global leaders who excel in public service.

Most people in the Young Global Leaders Class of 2016 come from emerging economies - with over 50 per cent being women.

SHINING STARS

WEFs Young Global Leaders 2016 THE CELEBS WHO MADE IT Amal Clooney

Ashton Kutcher

Emmanuel Macron INDIANS ON THE LIST Sheetal Amte-Karajgi

Dhivya Suryadevara

Kanika Dewan

Shaurya Veer Himatsingka SOME PERSONS OF INDIAN ORIGIN Nina Tandon

Shivan Siroya

Rohit Chopra

Divya Seshamani

Among the four Indians selected is Sheetal Amte-Karajgi, grand-daughter of renowned social reformer Baba Amte. Amte-Karajgi, a social entrepreneur, has been "building on her family's legacy on championing for the rights of lepers", WEF said.

The other two Indian women on the list - Dhivya Suryadevara and Kanika Dewan - hold senior leadership positions in corporate India. Suryadevara, vice-president of finance and treasurer at General Motors, has been described by WEF as "one of the rising leaders of General Motors with the responsibility of managing $80 billion in assets". Dewan is president of a mining conglomerate, Bramco group, and a recognised designer. The fourth winner from India, Shaurya Veer Himatsingka, deputy managing director of India Carbon, has been actively espousing the cause of training visually impaired person, and launched a nationwide campaign to stop child sexual abuse, WEF said.

Among the persons of Indian origin who made it to the list is US-based Nina Tandon, the founder of world's first company growing living human bones for skeletal reconstruction, EpiBone Inc.

US-based Shivan Siroya's InVenture, a data-led microfinance company, helps people access credit through phone apps. Also to make it to the list is US-based Rohit Chopra, managing director of Lazard, a financial advisory and asset management firm.

Another name of South Asia origin to feature on the 2016 list is Monica Yunus, daughter of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus. Monica Yunus co-founded Sing for Hope, a not-for-profit organisation that works to give access to arts to communities in need.

The 2016 class of Young Global Leaders includes celebrities like Amal Clooney, a barrister who specialises in international criminal law and human rights, and Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher, described by WEF as an "emerging technology investor who launched an innovation lab to fight child sexual exploitation".

Others who have been named in the past in the Young Global Leader list included British Prime Minister David Cameron, Alibaba Group chief Jack Ma, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and Google chief Larry Page.
The government on Wednesday acknowledged that the definition of the law was "very wide" and said it was being reviewed by the law commission after members in the Rajya Sabha demanded it should be scrapped as it was a colonial legacy and a "relic".

Home Minister Rajnath Singh agreed for an all-party meeting to discuss the issue after the commission files its report on the law which has come under focus in the wake of JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) controversy.

The government also rejected the Opposition charge that it was rampantly using the law and pointed out that except the one case of JNU, cases have mostly been registered outside Delhi.

"Anbody, who speaks against the government can be booked under law. Amendments have been suggested because the definition is very wide...there are various cases. That is why concerns were have been raised. I would like to the ask the law commission to consider a very comprehensive review," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said.

Rajnath Singh added that the "commission is carrying out a review regarding this law. Our government has said that they should file the report as soon as possible." Rijiju said the commission, in its 42nd report, had noted that the law was "defective" but did not favour its deletion.

He said that in another report, the commission had sought a change in the defintion of sedition but did not favour the scrapping of the law.

Asked whether any timeframe had been fixed for the commission to file its report, Rijiju said the home ministry had from time to time written to the ministry of law and justice to speed up the process.

Rejecting the Opposition charge that the government was rampantly using the law, Rijiju said, "It is registered in Telangana not Delhi", alluding to the sedition case lodged against Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal.

Quoting figures from a report of Crime Records Bureau, he said a total of 47 cases under the law were reported across the country in 2014, of which the most 16 cases were registered in Bihar in which 28 arrests were made.

"The second highest is Jharkhand," he said adding that Kerala and Odissa follow them.

He said that while the Opposition is directly accusing the government of taking action against the students, the fact is that some cases have also been registered against politicians.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said given the



wide definition of the sedition law as pointed out by the minister "half of the parties of the country will be anti- if there is a ban on speaking against the government."



He also wondered whether those engaged in "communal divide" will also be brought under the ambit of sedition law after review.

Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said this was a law made by the Britishers and the government should get rid of this "colonial legacy". "This should be scrapped," he insisted.

Yadav also sought an all-party meeting to discuss the sedition law, to which the Home Minister said, "we will do it after the Law Commission gives its report."



Singh also expressed agreement with Azad's contention for tough action against those fanning communal divide.

"We are in cent percent agreement with the view of the Leader of Opposition that there should be tough action against those creating communal divide. Standing in this House, I appeal to all state governments to take tough action against those trying to wage communal divides," the Home Minister said.

Azad said the issue of sedition was never talked about in past in the manner it has been discussed for last few days.

"The sedition law needs to be revisited. You take action against those who slogans against the country. But even more dangerous are those, who are engaged in carrying out communal divide. Will this also come under the new sedition law," the Congress leader said.

Rijiju said that no communal angle should be brought when a law is made in the country.

"Except the incident of Delhi, there is no incident at any other place, which shows any such intention of NDA and BJP," the minister said.

D Raja (CPI) said the 124 (A) Indian Penal Code under which one is charged with sedition is a "relic".

He said he had brought a private members' bill in 2011 demnanding the deletion of the sedition law.

Raja asked "what is the justification of slapping sedition charge against (JNU Students union leader) Kanhaiya Kumar and other students. We are demanding the scrapping of the sedition law. I am asking the Home Minister to answer this question directly. What is the justification of slapping sedition charges against the students."



Rijiju said that often it is found that the sedition charge was found violative of section 19 A. On the specific issue of the JNU row, he said it is "sub-judice and there is already a case going on.

(Reopen PAR17)



Rijiju said since the JNU case is sub-judice, its pros and cons should not be debated.

He, however, hastened to add "I am not defending the action of the Delhi Police. I am just stating the facts."



In the written reply, he said the Indian Penal Code was promulgated in 1860 and section 124A of the IPC related to sedition was inserted in IPC in 1870 through an amendment.

"In October 2012, a request was made by the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Ministry of Law and Justice to study the usage of the provisions of the section 124A of IPC and suggest amendments, if any, so that necessary steps can be taken in this regard.

"The Ministry of Law and Justice requested the Law Commission to consider a comprehensive review of the criminal laws of the country. On December 11 in 2014, the Law Commission intimated that they have identified certain focus areas and formed subgroups to deliberate on such areas, in the context of comprehensive review of criminal laws," he said.
Even as the jewellers' strike reached a critical stage with a section of traders in Tamil Nadu and Kerala deciding to open shops, Indian Bullion and Association (IBJA) has hardened its stand opposing the excise duty, which was imposed in the Budget.

Around 10 per cent of the showrooms in Tamil Nadu, mainly in Chennai, have started operations. In Kerala, too, many have opened stores. According to industry estimates, the in Tamil Nadu have already lost business worth Rs 5,000 crore owing to the strike. "There are 35,000 jewellery showrooms across Tamil Nadu. The jewellers in the state are facing business loss of Rs 350 crore every day because of the strike," said Jayantilal Challani, president of Madras Jewellers and Diamond Merchants Association.

Even when the association had called for strike earlier, several showrooms in the shopping hub of T Nagar in Chennai were open. These included GRT, Kalyan Jewellers, Kerala Jewellers, Prince Jewellery, Nalli, etc, Meanwhile in Bengaluru, jewellers continue to down their shutters. "We have around 40,000 people protesting in Delhi tomorrow (Thursday) and we are hoping for a favourable feedback from the government," said Venkatesha Babu, president of the Jewellers Association of Bangalore. The jewellers will hold a rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. The rally has the support of the Aam Aadmi Party.

On Thursday, the finance ministry has called a meeting to discuss the gold monetisation scheme. IBJA, which will participate in the meeting, has demanded that that the meeting's official agenda be discussion on excise duty. "Else, IBJA won't promote the gold monetisation scheme and will not participate in any future meetings," said an IBJA official.

IBJA has threatened that it will not support the government's gold bonds scheme if the excise duty is not withdrawn. It is also contemplating not to pay any taxes till the excise duty is not withdrawn.

According to All India Gems & Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF), another industry body, the stakeholders of the sector - goldsmiths, artisans, jewellers, etc - have lost business worth Rs 20,000 crore because of the strike.
The Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today that the on 13th December 2015, the Ground Breaking ceremony to start the work on the Turkmen leg of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline was held at Mary, Turkmenistan. Earlier in November 2014, the Pipeline Consortium, TAPI Pipeline Company Limited (TPCL) was incorporated in Isle of Man, a British Crown dependency. The Share Holders Agreement of TPCL was also signed on 13th December 2015. The shareholding percentage in the TPCL would be Turkmenistan 85%, India 5%, Pakistan 5% and Afghanistan 5%. .

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With the Ground Breaking Ceremony on 13th December, 2015 work has begun on the Turkmen leg of the pipeline. The technical study of the TAPI project has estimated an overall project duration of 6? years from the start of the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) process till handing over of the pipeline for commercial operation. .

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The Pipeline will enter India at Fazilka, Punjab. The gas available from the project is expected to boost development of industrial and commercial activities in Fazilka district, including start of CNG and City gas distribution and associated employment generation. .

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RG/Rk
First Home of India Handloom Brand Products" Exhibition cum sale inaugurated by Union Textiles Minister I want to take India Handloom Brand to the entire country. In order to make handloom products more popular in the current scenario, it becomes imperative to produce good quality, defect-free handloom fabrics with good colour-fastness that do not contain harmful dyes. There is also a need to widen the range of products in order to cater to a larger audience, especially the youth, which today has access to fashion from across the globe. The Indian handloom industry has a glorious past and we are committed towards the resurgence of hand-woven textiles and also our weavers, whose welfare and development remains our key focus. - Union Textiles Minister, Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, at inauguration of Handloom Expo An exhibition cum sale titled First Home of India Handloom Brand Products" was inaugurated by the Union Textiles Minister Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, at Jawahar Vyapar Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi on March 15th, 2016. Organized jointly by Central Cottage Industries Emporium and Office of Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, the exhibition showcases authentic and good quality products under the India Handloom Brand, drawn from some of the exotic locations of India. The products range from sarees: Chanderi, Mangalagiri, Venkatagiri, Balrampuram, Maheshwari, Kota Doria, Pochampalli, Tangail, Chettinad, Banaras Tanchoi Silk, Banarasi Buti Silk; Fabrics: Banaras Tanchoi Silk, Banaras Cut-Work, Plain Tussar, Ikat, Pochampalli; Kullu Shawls and Pochampalli Bedspreads.

All these products are on display and sale at the flagship showroom of CCIC, at competitive prices for the public.
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the 5thEdition of India Aviation today (March 16, 2016) at Hyderabad. .

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Speaking on the occasion, the President said India is at the threshold of taking a major leap in the aviation sector. India Aviation 2016 is well timed and resonates well with our latest policy initiatives of Make in India, Stand up India and Start Up India. It is for global giants to seize this opportunity and take the lead to forge long-term partnerships. He expressed hope that this platform will usher a new era in strategic partnerships and collaboration in the Indian civil aviation sector enabling India become a hub of world class aerospace technology and services. .

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The President said Indian civil aviation market is growing at a rapid pace and now ranks ninth in the world. It is estimated that by 2020, India would be the third largest civil aviation market. With a network of domestic and international airlines connecting 40 countries, Indian airports handled passenger traffic of 190 million persons in 2015.

Yet India is one of the least penetrated air-markets in the world with 0.04 trips per capita per annum as compared to 0.3 of China and more than 2 in the USA. The development of tourism, trade and travel has contributed to increased passenger traffic in India. By 2020, total passenger traffic in India is likely to touch 421 million. It is time for the government and all stakeholders of the Civil Aviation Industry to leverage this tremendous business opportunity. .

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The President said the civil aviation sector of India is poised for a faster and sustainable growth with the development of 100 smart cities; new economic corridors; more than 50 new airports and expansion of existing airports. The government is planning to invest over 120 Billion US$ in the development of airport infrastructure and Aviation Navigation Services over the next decade. The deeper air penetration to smaller cities; better connectivity to North Eastern part of India and higher disposable incomes of the middle class of India is expected to further propel the growth of Indian Civil Aviation Industry. .

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Indian Railway has advertised its plan to redevelop A-1 and A category stations (about 400 in number) on as is where is basis, by inviting proposals from developers with their designs and business ideas. The entire cost of station redevelopment is to be met by leveraging commercial development of land and air space in and around the stations. .

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During various interactions with the stake holders, their response has been encouraging. .

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In addition to above, redevelopment of eight stations viz., Anand Vihar, Bijwasan, Chandigarh, Gandhinagar, Habibganj (Bhopal), Shivaji Nagar (Pune), Surat and SAS Nagar (Mohali) has been entrusted to Indian Railway Station Development Corporation Ltd. Letter of Intent has been issued for Habibganj station and Request for Pre-Qualification (RFQ) for Anand Vihar and Bijwasan stations have been opened. .

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Ministry of Railways have signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) along with the following for Technical Cooperation in Railway Sector wherein Station Development is one of the cooperation areas:- .

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1. Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development of the Slovak Republic. .

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2. Department of Transport of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. .

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3. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport & Tourism of Japan .

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4.

Ministry of Railway of the Government of the Peoples Republic of China .

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5. The Joint Stock Company Russian Railways" .

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6. Czech Railways (CESKE DRAHY) of the Czech Republic and Association of Czech Railway Industry (ACRI) of the Czech Republic .

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7. SNCF, the French National Railway .

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8. DB International GMBH, Germany .

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9. Ministry of Mobility of the Kingdom of Belgium .

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The above MoUs provide for a cooperation through expert meetings, information exchange and implementation of jointly agreed cooperation projects. .

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This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Manoj Sinha in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 16.03.2016 (Wednesday). .

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There is no apathy from Government towards Pali, Prakrit and Sanskrit. .

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(i) A scheme for the Award of the Certificates of Honours was introduced in the year 1958 to honour the scholars of Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian Languages. The scheme was extended to cover Pali/Prakrit in year 1996. Certificate of Honour is awarded to Scholars of eminence over 60 years of age with outstanding contribution in the field of Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian or Pali/Prakrit. This scheme envisages a onetime monetary grant of Rs. 5,00,000/- to the Scholars. This Scheme included one award of Certificate of Honour to One Scholar of either of Pali or Prakrit for a year. .

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In addition to this, the Scheme also provides for Maharshi Badrayan Vyas Samman for young Scholars in the age group of 30 to 45 years in the field of Sanskrit, Pali/ Prakrit, Arabic and Persian.

This award carries an amount of Rs. 1.00 lakh as one-time payment to each Awardee along with a Sanad and shawl, which is presented by President of India. However, from the year 2016, separate awards shall be awarded to Scholars, one each from Pali & Prakrit both under Category of Certificate of Honour & Maharshi Badrayan Vyas Samman. .

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(ii) Further, Pali-Prakrit Development Project was started in the year 2009 on the initiative taken by Ministry of Human Resource Development as regular Scheme of Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan (Deemed University) in the current five year Plan (2012-2017) for Sanskrit, there are several independent departments in colleges, universities, and Sanskrit institutes and universities. It is taught at various levels of education, from schools to universities. .

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Literature of Pali Language was removed from the scheme of the examination w.e.f. Civil Services Examination, 2013 vide Gazette Notification dated 6th March, 2013 issued by Department of Personnel and Training. Literature of Prakrit Language had never been an optional subject in the scheme of Civil Services Examination. .

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This information was given by Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today. .

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The victories were lopsided. The celebrations were effusive. The delegates were piling up by the hundreds.

But Donald J Trump and Hillary Clinton's resounding triumphs on Tuesday masked a profound, historic and unusual reality: Most Americans still don't like him. Or her.

Both major parties must now confront the depth of scepticism, resistance and distaste for their front-runners, a sentiment that would profoundly shape a potential general election showdown between Trump and Clinton.

Even as they watched the two candidates amass large margins on Tuesday, historians and strategists struggled to recall a time when more than half the country has held such stubbornly low opinions of the leading figures in the Democratic and Republican Parties.

"There is no analogous election in the modern era where the two top candidates for the nomination are as divisive and weak," said Steve Schmidt, a top campaign adviser to George W. Bush in 2004 and John McCain in 2008. "There is no precedent for it."



Clinton's commanding wins in the swing states of Ohio, North Carolina and Florida seemed to hobble the once robust challenge of Senator Bernie Sanders. And Trump's dominance in Florida, North Carolina and Illinois knocked out Senator Marco Rubio and propelled Trump even closer to the Republican nomination.

This would be the moment, under normal circumstances, when the de facto nominees, emerging victorious from the intramural skirmishes of their parties' nominating contests, would invite an eager national electorate to take their measure. And in their victory speeches, both tried their best, issuing broad appeals for Americans to unite behind them.

But Trump has unnerved many Americans with his inflammatory oratory and radical-sounding proposals. And Clinton, while viewed as a more seasoned and serious political figure, has struggled in her campaign to win the trust of the American electorate. And it is all but impossible for the country to take a fresh look at them.

America has lived with Trump and Clinton, in a remarkably intimate fashion, for decades, processing their controversies, achievements and setbacks, from impeachment to marital breakdowns, Senate victories to flashy skyscraper openings.

Voters' impressions of them, with few exceptions, are largely formed and fixed. According to Gallup, 53 per cent of Americans have an unfavourable opinion of Clinton and 63 per cent have such a view of Trump.

"You are talking about two universally known figures here," said David Axelrod, the Democratic strategist and former adviser in the Obama White House. "The strong feeling that each generates is unusual."



The negative perceptions will be difficult to overcome.

Fewer than half of Republican voters across five states on Tuesday said Trump was honest and trustworthy. Even in the states where he won, a majority of voters do not view him as truthful.

And while majorities of Democratic voters viewed Clinton as honest and trustworthy, she finished second to Sanders among those who said honesty mattered most in their decision.

That reality is forcing the Trump and Clinton campaigns to prepare for all-out warfare against each other, an improbably brutal dynamic for a pair of New Yorkers whose paths have crossed, repeatedly, for years - even on the way down the wedding aisle. ( Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, attended Trump's third wedding, in 2005.)



They are devising appeals that are as much arguments that their all-but-certain opponent would be disastrous for the nation as they are messages trumpeting their own virtues or character.

Aides to both predict that a Clinton-Trump contest would be an ugly and unrelenting slugfest, as she pounces on his business practices and personal integrity, portraying him as unscrupulous robber baron, and he lacerates her over ethical lapses and sudden riches, painting her as a conniving abuser of power certain to be indicted in a federal investigation.

There is, both sides concede, plenty of material to mine, stretching back to 1980s Arkansas (for her) and 1970s New York (for him).

Voters are strikingly familiar with the candidates' biographical vulnerabilities and political liabilities, interviews show, and they express disapproval in vivid, sweeping terms.

Kent Moore, 51, a Democrat from Charlotte, N.C., does not simply dislike Clinton. He doubts her basic values. "She has no moral centre," Moore said.

He ticks off past sins: She favoured free trade agreements that have killed American jobs, he said, and she supported the misbegotten 2003 war in Iraq. How, he wondered, could she beat Trump with a record like that?



Even those who vote for Clinton harbour reservations. Renee White, 31, a Democrat in Youngstown, Ohio, is not entirely convinced that Clinton, her choice in Tuesday's primary, cares about people like her, she said. "A lot of people," she said, "just don't trust her at all."



The views of Trump from Republicans are almost equally uncharitable and unwavering.

"Too crude and rude," is how Nikki Heath, 59, a graphic artist from the Columbus, Ohio, area put it. She supports the state's low-key, genial governor, John Kasich. She has written off Trump and his antics as "an embarrassment."



The distaste is so strong that voters speak of a radical transformation (or personality transplant) required for them to consider backing Trump.

"He's going to have to be completely different," said Steve Rogers, an engineer in Ohio who will try to hold his nose and back him if he becomes the nominee.

Those dim assessments are not isolated, which is why the commanding tallies that Trump and Clinton have collected are pushing both parties into uncharted waters. Should they clinch the nomination, it would represent the first time in at least a quarter-century that majorities of Americans held negative views of both the Democratic and Republican candidates at the same time.

The highest unfavorability rating for any nominee or front-runner was 57 per cent, for the elder George Bush, in October 1992, as he emerged from a difficult first term in the White House. But his Democratic rival, Clinton, was widely liked: Just 38 per cent viewed him unfavourably, according to Gallup.

The unpopularity of Trump and Clinton is prompting Republicans and Democrats to weigh unusual considerations at the ballot box.

Lowell P. Weicker Jr, who sought the Republican nomination for president in 1980 and served as an independent governor of Connecticut in the 1990s, said he held Clinton in low regard. But he holds Trump in even greater contempt. "I don't like her," Weicker said, "but I am sure going to vote for her over Trump."





THE ROAD AHEAD

Donald Trump's road to securing the Republican presidential nomination got longer after Tuesday's primaries in five states. Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton's got shorter THE REPUBLICAN STORY Donald Trump lost Ohio to John Kasich



Kasich, who secured his first victory after more than 20 states have voted, vowed to stay in race



Florida Senator Marco Rubio has walked out of the race



Republicans could be headed for a potentially chaotic national convention in Cleveland in July



Trump remains the dominant front-runner but losing Ohio is a dampener THE DEMOCRAT STORY Hillary Clinton's victories will most likely make her the party's presidential front-runner



Clinton victories will re-energise her campaign after a surprise loss to Bernard Sanders last week in Michigan



Her win in Ohio will help allay fears that she couldn't win in states dominated by white, blue-collar voters WHAT NEXT The race next moves to March 22 primaries in Arizona and Utah for the Democrats and the Republicans



The Democrats also have caucuses in Idaho on that day



After that, there are no big-state contests again on the Republican side until Wisconsin on April 5

2016 The New york Times News Service
Real estate mogul Donald Trump has swept the crucial Republican presidential primary in Florida taking away with all the 99 delegates from the State which will provide major impetus to his aspiration to become the US President even as Hillary Clinton has won the North Carolina Democratic primary.

The former Secretary of State was projected to bag at least 56 delegates out of 107 at stake in North Carolina.

Clinton also won in Florida after having a massive lead over her sole rival Senator Bernie Sanders. Clinton had support of 65.6% of the votes as against 30.6% for Sanders.

Notably, Republican Senator Marco Rubio has ended his campaign after suffering a humiliating loss in his home state of Florida.

It has been a "devastating" night for Rubio in Florida where he polled just 27.8% of the votes as against Trump's impressive 45.3%.

"Word is that, despite a record amount spent on negative and phony ads, I had a massive victory in Florida," Trump said in a tweet even before major television channels projected his victory.

Being billed as Super Tuesday 2.0, primary elections were held in five States - Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois and Missouri.

Initial reports suggested that Clinton and Trump had leads in North Carolina where 72 delegates are at stake for the GOP. Texas Senator Ted Cruz was closely following Trump.

However, in Ohio where 66 delegates are at stake, State Governor John Kasich was leading against Trump. Clinton was leading in Ohio.

The primary elections held in five states yesterday is part of the process of both the Republican and Democratic parties to nominate their presidential candidates for the November 8 elections, which would elect the next occupant of the White House.

It all started with the Iowa caucus on February 1, with 17 Republican candidates and three Democratic candidates in the race. A month and half later, during which primaries and caucuses have been completed in nearly three dozen States and territories, the race to the White House has shrunk to four candidates on the Republican side and two on the Democratic side.

It would all culminate in the once-in-four-year conventions of both the parties in July wherein their respective delegates from all 50 States and territories would democratically elect and nominate their presidential nominations.

The Democratic convention would be held in Philadelphia where the party's 4763 delegates would nominate their presidential candidate. The nominee needs to have the support of majority of the 4763 delegates, which comprises of the elected delegates through the primary and caucuses and super delegates, who are party leaders and other elected officials.

Cleveland in Ohio will host the Republican convention wherein the nominee needs to have the support of at least half of the 2572 delegates.

If none of the candidates in the race are unable to have half of the delegates in their kitty before the Cleveland convention in July, the delegates would then vote for their favourite nominee, which might witness a rare horse trading in the American political system. However, the top leadership of the Republican party believe that this would be settled much before that and they would be able to avoid a contested convention.

Before yesterday's primaries, Trump was leading among the Republican candidates with wins in 15 States and 469 delegates to his kitty. He was followed by Senator Ted Cruz with 370 delegates and wins in seven States. Senator Marco Rubio was a distant third with three wins and 163 delegates. The Ohio Governor had 63 delegates without winning a State.

On the other hand, in the Democratic front, Hillary Clinton had 1235 delegates as against 580 of the Senator Bernie Sanders. But the margin was much narrow when it came to elected delegates: Clinton (748) and Sanders (542).
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. The U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State rebels has seen some Russian warplanes and troops leave Syria since Moscow announced a withdrawal, but its combat power is largely intact and involved in some operations, a spokesman said on March 16, Armenpress reports.

Army Colonel Steve Warren told a Pentagon briefing by video from Iraq that the coalition had seen eight to 10 Russian aircraft leave Syria and that a number of small ground units near the airport were packing up to head home.

At the same time, he added, Russian planes had flown sorties since the withdrawal announcement, although they had not conducted air strikes. And Russian artillery units supporting Syrian troops attacking Islamic State near Palmyra were still in the field, he added.

"It's difficult to know what the Russians' intentions are," Warren said. "We were not expecting this announcement in the first place, so as we compare their words to their actions, we'll have to wait to see what develops."

Western diplomats have speculated that Russian President Vladimir Putin was trying to pressure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to accept a political settlement of the five-year-old war.

Warren said the coalition had been "working diligently" to assess what the Russians' intentions were and what impact the withdrawal would have on fighting on the ground.

"It's difficult to tell. It's been less than 48 hours so far," he said. "There's been a relatively minor withdrawal of air combat power. There has been an equally minor withdrawal of ground forces (but) ... we haven't seen a significant reduction frankly in their combat power."

Warren said there had been a "fairly notable reduction" in the fighting between the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his more moderate opposition as a result of the cessation of hostilities agreed as peace talks began.

"We're going to continue to focus on fighting ISIL (Islamic State) and watching what the Russians do so that we can decide how to proceed," Warren said.
Deutsche Borse and London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) agreed to combine in a $30 billion deal to create a European trading powerhouse better able to compete with US rivals encroaching on their turf.

However, the deal, which marks a third attempt to link the exchanges, may prompt a takeover war after New York Stock Exchange owner Intercontinental Exchange said it may bid for the British group.

Nearly 16 years after Deutsche Borse first tried to take over LSE, the exchanges said last month they were discussing an all-share merger, which they confirmed on Wednesday would give Deutsche Borse shareholders 54.4 per cent and LSE investors 45.6 per cent of a new company.

This offers a unique opportunity for Frankfurt, which has always played second fiddle to London as a global financial centre, something recognised by the German government, which said it would welcome the deal if it strengthened Frankfurt.

They also promised users, the banks and fund managers who pay fees to trade and companies which pay to be listed, substantial benefits, but gave no figures.

And, in a clear effort to win over Europes politicians to the benefits of a dominant pan-European exchange, Deutsche Borse Chief Executive Carsten Kengeter said it would enable Europe to enhance its capital . This chimes with European Union plans for a Capital Union to compete better with the US and Asia.

Kengeter said Germanys Bundesbank and Frankfurt-based European Central Bank would really appreciate the boost to Frankfurt as a financial centre.

With this transaction Deutsche Borse is halting its decline in market share that has been on the cards for a number of years, Kengeter said.

Deutsche Borse has been under constant pressure because Europe was the natural space for expansion for North American and Asian rivals, with the deal providing the critical mass needed for Germany and Europe overall to fight back, he added. Despite these incentives, the deal faces questions over Britains European Union referendum in June and whether regulators will approve a huge presence in derivatives clearing.

Kengeter said the time was right for a merger which will combine the LSE's share-trading operation with the derivatives trading of Deutsche Borse's Eurex, adding that he expects the deal to close by the end of 2016 or in early 2017.

No decision has been taken on the date of a shareholder meeting to vote on the merger and Kengeter shrugged off concerns over the impact of Britain, Europe's biggest financial centre, voting to leave the EU. "We will be having a successful transaction irrespective of the Brexit outcome," he said.

In further efforts to keep all parties happy, the exchanges confirmed LSE Chairman Donald Brydon would be chairman and Kengeter chief executive officer and the board would have equal representation of LSE and Deutsche Borse directors.

One potentially sensitive question yet to be ironed out is the name for the new firm, which will be domiciled in Britain, with a primary listing in the blue-chip FTSE 100. It will also have a home on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and a corporate headquarters in both cities. LSE Chief Executive Xavier Rolet, who will retire if the deal goes ahead, sought to ease concerns that large swathes of IT operations would shift from London to Frankfurt, saying there would be a "balanced" distribution between the two.

Industry analysts warned of challenges from the EU's competition regulator over a huge presence in derivatives clearing, which was an issue when a previous attempt by Deutsche Boerse to merge with NYSE Euronext was scuppered by Brussels.

Kengeter said he was "confident" of clearing a review by regulators and talks has already begun with them, adding that clearing should be viewed in a global not European context.

LSE Group -- created in 2007 when London Stock Exchange merged with Milan stock exchange Borsa Italiana -- said its shareholders would receive a dividend of 25.2 pence per LSEGshare for the six months to Dec. 31.
US senator Marco Rubio has dropped out of the presidential race after suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of Republican front runner Donald Trump in his home state of Florida.

Trump scored a massive win Florida, which he termed as his second home, by gaining the support of 45.5% of the votes counted, while Rubio was a distant second with 27.1% of the votes.

Rubio, who had so far won primaries in Minnesota, Puerto Rico and Washington DC and had 163 delegates, was banking heavily on a win in Florida. But Trump's victory margin of more than 400,000 put curtains down on his presidential ambition.

The 44-year-old was endorsed by maximum number of party leaders, governors, senators and Congressmen. Indian American leaders Bobby Jindal, the former Governor or Louisiana and Nikki Kaley the Governor of South Carolina were among prominent GOP leaders to endorse Rubio.

In his speech in Miami in Florida, Rubio acknowledged that the country is in the middle of a political storm- Tsunami. "America's in the middle of a real political storm," he said.

"This is the right way forward for our party, for our country. But after tonight, it's clear that while we are on the right side this year, we will not be on the winning side," Rubio said.

"While this may not have been the year for a hopeful or optimistic message about our future, I still remain hopeful and optimistic about America," said the Florida Senator.

Noting that it was "not God's plan that I be the President in 2016" Rubio urged his countrymen not to give up on the sense of optimism he tried to push.

"I ask the American people do not give into the fear, do not give into the frustration," he said.

Notably, Rubio is not running for re-election of his Senate seat. His term ends in January 2016. Before dropping out of the race, Rubio did not indicate who he would be supporting for in the Republican presidential race but definitely not Trump.

While he was announcing to drop out of the race, his supporters were saying "No, No, No" and some other asking him to "Go to the Convention."



Rubio said this was not his time, but would continue to be fighting for the rights of the people of his country.

"I chose a different route, an I'm proud of that.

In a year like this, that would have been the easiest way to win, but that is not what's best for America," he said.

"There is nothing more that you could have done," he told his supporters.

In his impressive speech, Rubio accused the "political establishment" for failing to pay heed to real frustrations from conservative voters.

Rubio said during the beginning of 2007-2008 when the country faced a major economic crisis, voters repeatedly showed their complete disregard for politicians, beginning even before the 2010 tea-party wave that got Rubio elected.

Yet their concerns went unheard, and their leaders need to do better.

"I understand all of these frustrations, and yet when I decided to run for president, I decided to run a campaign that was realistic on all of these challenges.

From a political standpoint, the easiest thing to have done in this campaign is to jump on all of those anxieties," Rubio said.
was locked in upper circuit of 20% at Rs 4.86 on the BSE on media reports that the private equity (PE) funds along with domestic textile companies are in race to buy the company.

The banks are running the entire process of implementing the Strategic Debt Restructuring (SDR) scheme and the company has no role to play in the said process, said on a clarification of report.

In January 2016, informed the stock exchange, "The company has been informed by its lead bank, State Bank of India (SBI) vide their letter dated 18 January 2016 that as decided by the joint lenders' forum (JLF) at their meetings held on November 23, 2015 and December 11, 2015, strategic debt restructuring (SDR) has been invoked on the company with the reference date being November 27."



Under the SDR norms laid down by the Reserve Bank of India, banks can convert part of their debt into majority equity in a firm which has defaulted on its payments.

Till 03:17 PM, a combined 26.35 million shares changed hands and there were pending buy orders for 2.19 million shares on the BSE and NSE.
Shares of (India) were up nearly 2% at Rs 586 on the Bombay Stock Exchange after the company said it has received an order from state-owned oil explorer Oil India.

The company said in a release that it has received Letter of Award of contract from Oil India Ltd for 2D Seismic Data Acquisition in the areas covering parts of Assam & Arunachal Pradesh for an estimated contract value of Rs 102.42 crore.

This contract is under National Seismic Program for acquisition of 2D Seismic Data in unappraised areas of North East India entrusted to Oil India Ltd, the release added.

The stock opened at Rs 596 and touched a high of Rs 605. At 12:15pm, over 63,000 shares were traded on both the stock exchanges.
At least 10 security force personnel and 15 Taliban insurgents were killed in separate clashes in Afghanistan's Uruzgan province last week in ongoing military operations said local officials.

In addition several Taliban insurgents and 11 other security forces were injured.

Dehrawood district Governor Aminullah Khaliqi said that clashes took place after security forces launched an operation to clear the area of insurgents, reports Tolo news.

No civilian casualties happened during the operation, he said, adding that the operation to clear all insurgents will continue in the district.

The Afghan security forces in the past few months have launched military operations in several provinces of the country including Uruzgan, Nangarhar and Baghlan to clear the areas of insurgents.
An Air India plane, AI 332, was on Wednesday parked at an isolated area at Suvarnabhumi airport after traffic controllers directed the pilots to taxi the plane due to bomb threat, Air India said.

AI 332 that took off from Delhi 2.05 P.M for Bangkok was forced landed at Suvarnabhumi at 7.10 P.M.

"While it was 1.15 hrs away from Bangkok, two threat calls were received by Delhi call centre. Accordingly the pilot was informed who informed Bangkok air traffic control for priority landing," said Air India.

"Flight was not diverted because aircraft was on the sea," it added.

The authorities activated an emergency plan and safely evacuated all 231 passengers, including a child and 10 crew members, from the aircraft and began checking for a bomb.

Police from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit are checking all pieces of luggage including those loaded on the aircraft.

Air India uses a Boeing 787 dreamliner for the flight, according to the flightaware.com.
The pout queen Alia Bhatt recently turned into Sidharth Malhotra's pout instructor, while heading off to Jaipur for 'Kapoor and Sons' promotions.

Taking to his Twitter handle, the 31 year-old actor recently shared a selfie, captioning it as, "En route Jaipur....ladki beautiful teaching me how to pout @aliaa08 #KapoorAndSons #KNSMarch18."

It is needless to say that in the pic, the 'Highway' actress is seen perfectly pouting, while the 'Ek Villain' actor still needs to work a lot to perfect it.

Yesterday, Alia and Sidharth was in the national capital for their film promotions.

The movie highlights the problems of a dysfunctional family and also hints that Alia could be the bone of contention between two brothers, who fall for same girl Tia.

Directed by Shakun Batra, the upcoming rom-com, that also stars Fawad Khan, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor is slated to hit the theaters on 18th March.
Expressing his dissatisfaction on the overall condition of the Bangladesh Bank, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said the bank needs reform.

"Different systems of the Bangladesh Bank require reform. It is not in healthy condition," Daily Star quoted Muhith as saying at the secretariat in Dhaka.

Without making anything clear about the reform, he said that we have appointed Fazle Kabir as new governor of Bangladesh Bank and he would look after the issue.

Kabir, former finance secretary and incumbent chairman of state-run Sonali Bank, is in New York at present, and would return home on March 18.

The finance minister also said that Kabir is expected to join as new governor of Bangladesh Bank by March 20.

Former Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman had yesterday quit from his post on moral grounds over the heist of US$101 million from the central bank's account with the New York Federal Reserve Bank.
With political scuffles and murders on the rise ahead of the upcoming Kerala Assembly polls, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation is set to meet the Election Commission here on Wednesday over the increasing political crimes in the state.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Ababs Naqvi, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda are likely to be part of the delegation besides others.

Sunilkumar, a youth Congress worker, was yesterday hacked to death allegedly by Left backed DYFI workers in Alappuzha.

Sunilkumar, who was a DYFI activist, joined the Congress and there were rumours that the CPM workers in the area were unhappy with this move.

The police arrested four persons, including a former panchayat member, in connection with the attack.

Last week, an auto driver from Kannur Chokli who was a BJP worker was hacked and grievously injured by a masked gang.

Last year, a RSS worker was killed allegedly by Left backed activists in Kerala.
With Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ganesh Joshi drawing major flak for injuring a police horse in Dehradun, another party MLA Chandan Namdas on Wednesday defended his colleague and said that the horse got injured after it fell.

Demanding an 'unbiased' probe on this matter, Namdas told ANI that horses were used to trample his party workers, who were protesting against the Congress-led government in the state.

"We are sad that the horse's leg is broken but these allegations are baseless. Ganesh Joshi ji did not injure the horse, it fell on its own and got injured. This is an attempt to fail the rally. There should be an unbiased probe into this matter," he said.

"Ganesh Joshi ji tried to stop the horse, but the place where the horse fell was a different area. He waved a stick at the horse, but that was at a different place and the place where the horse fell was different. Both incidents are separate and attempts are being made to club them," he added.

The police have registered a case against Joshi and his supporters under Cruelty to Animals Act in connection with the incident, while several animal rights activists have also lodged a police complaint against the MLA for his "inhuman" act.

The ghastly attack on the horse took place during a protest on Monday against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Monday for 'misuse' of funds.

The BJP MLA allegedly attacked the horse deployed to disperse the protesters during a protest against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat.

The protest took a violent turn when in a bid to dismount the rider the protesters charged at the horse with sticks and broke the animal's leg.

Joshi was allegedly seen in the video attacking the horse and other agitators supporting him in the effort.

The horse underwent a surgical procedure to fix one of its hind legs.
The ruling People's National Congress party lured a number of MPs to its ranks this term, but lobbying to remove the prime minister recently intensified since the grace period for a motion of no-confidence lapsed.

Mr Basil said his Pangu Pati has agreed to team up for next year's elections with a leading party in the government, the People's Progress Party, led by the influential minister for petroleum and energy, Ben Micah.

PAPUA New Guinea's deputy opposition leader Sam Basil says the wheels are starting to come off the Peter O'Neill-led coalition government.

The window is due to close again soon, but Mr Basil said that there is a groundswell of MPs dissatisfied with Mr O'Neill's handling of the economy.

He said this is especially the case with many public servants, teachers and health workers going unpaid for some time.

"The central bank is under great pressure to raise money to meet the government's commitments which have of course been overspent and mismanaged. That is not a good sign, he said.

The public are not supporting this government anymore. So we know that many political parties in the coalition attached to this current government are now talking to the opposition.

They're talking amongst themselves and changes are imminent any time from now until the elections."

Mr Basil said it is a sign that parties within the ruling coalition are disillusioned with the leadership of prime minister Peter O'Neill and his People's National Congress party.

"We are all looking forward for the elections but whatever happens in between, we know that the sooner we put a stop to this government, the sooner we can shift this country away from the disaster that currently the prime minister and his coalition are taking us to."
Asserting that the Kashmiri separatist leaders were misleading the nation, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Gupta today said that the Hurriyat would be playing into the hands of Islamabad by accepting the invitation to attend Pakistan Day celebrations at their embassy in New Delhi.

"It is high time to understand that the Hurriyat has been misleading people for several years...They are playing into the hands of Pakistan.They never react when the Chinese Army transgresses into Kashmir border.Pakistan should not intervene into our internal matter," Gupta told ANI.

The Pakistan High Commission on Monday invited Hurriyat leaders and others to attend the Pakistan Day function here, even as there are chances of a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushama Swaraj and Sartaz Aziz, Advisor to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs, on the sidelines of the SAARC ministerial meeting in Kathmandu.

The meeting comes as a major breakthrough as the two sides have been on extremely strained terms since the Pathankot attack earlier this year which had derailed the Foreign Secretary-level talks in Islamabad in January.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif may meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi later this month on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.
Asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government is hell bent upon digging its own grave to change the fundamental narrative of this country, the Congress on Tuesday said the Indian academia is suffering at the hands of the Centre.

"It's very unfortunate that the people, who have not seen the inside of a college, are now ministers looking after universities. The other tragedy is I pity the Indian academia... when they are asked to bent, they are actually crawling on both hands and knees," Congress leader Manish Tewari told ANI.

"What is happening in the Jawaharlal Nehru University or the FTII in Pune is absolutely abominable and shocking. You are rusticating students even when the authenticity of the video has not been established. You are chargesheeting students in FTII. This government is hell bent upon digging its own grave, happily so in its attempt to change the fundamental narrative of this country," he added.

The Deans of five schools of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) yesterday wrote a letter to Vice-Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar, saying that contrary to the message being conveyed that Deans were apprised of the High Level Enquiry Committee report of the Afzal Guru row, they had not been given any details of the charges made against students or the degree of punishment.

The Deans have asked the Vice-Chancellor to issue a clarification in this regard to say that the Deans Committee was not informed of who all are being charged, what the charges are and what the recommended punishment in each case is.

A high-level committee appointed by the university to probe the event organised to protest the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leader Maqbool Bhat, besides other related issues is believed to have recommended expulsion of JNU students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar, PhD scholars Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya and two others.

Based on the findings of the panel, the university has issued show cause notices to 21 students, including Kanhaiya, who is out on bail, as well as Umar and Anirban, currently in judicial custody on sedition charges.

The committee was formed on February 10 to probe the controversial event during which anti- slogans were allegedly raised.
The police chief of Afghanistan's Kandahar Province, General Abdul Raziq has reportedly called on the United States to force Pakistan to end its support to the anti-government armed militants to ensure and secure stability in the country.

According to a Khamma News Agency report,General Raziq was quoted, as saying, "The United States has enough information regarding Pakistan. We want the United States to increase pressure on Pakistan so that they give up support to the insurgent groups."

He was further quoted, as saying by Tolo News that, "The United States should step in and take actions to dismantle the terrorist safe havens in order to end the ongoing violence in Afghanistan."

He said the Afghan leaders should continue to their efforts to maintain stability through peace talks but the military should maintain crackdown on militants.

Officials in Afghanistan have been criticizing Pakistan for supporting and sheltering the anti-government armed militant groups waging violence in the country.

Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz has even admitted that Islamabad has influence on the Afghan Taliban leaders based Pakistan and for the first confirmed that some of the group's leaders are based in Pakistan, and that Islamabad can use its influence to bring these Taliban leaders to the negotiation table for peace talks.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has quashed talks of quitting the club and said that he is now much more motivated to guide his team to glory than he used to be when he joined the Emirates Stadium.

The Frenchman's job came under severe pressure following Arsenal's exit from the FA Cup after suffering a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Watford at home on Sunday.

Wenger had received a flurry of criticism from Arsenal fans who are calling for him to leave the club this summer. But it seemed that the Gunners boss was in no mood to leave the club at the moment.

Wenger, who still has one year left on his contract, said that he had no doubt about his capabilities and highlighted that he had brought the club so far with his uphill struggle, the Mirror reported.

Insisting that he was still dedicated towards his club, Wenger admitted that he now feels more pressure and responsibility to keep the team moving forward.

Reflecting on his side's recent performances, Wenger admitted that his side had gone through some really disappointing spell in recent times, but added that he and his entire team were still determined to bring trophies to their shelf.

Wenger further called on Arsenal to deliver something special, saying that they had to put themselves fully in order to turn the things around for themselves.

With the FA Cup exit, Arsenal's hopes of clinching silverware this season seem to be fading fast as they are 11 points behind leaders Leicester City at the top of the Premier League and are trailing 2-0 against Barcelona in the Champions League, with second leg to be played on Thursday.
World number three Saina Nehwal produced a rich vein of form as she saw off Karin Schnaas of Germany to progress through to the pre-quarterfinals of the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament here on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old took just 33 minutes to sweep aside her German opponent 21-7, 21-15 in the one-sided second round of the tournament.

With the win, Nehwal, who had bagged the Swiss Open title in 2011 and 2012, has now set up a clash with Czech's Kristina Gavnholt, who has also made it to the next round after claiming 12-21 21-9 21-8 victory over her Bulgarian opponent Petya Nedelcheva.

Meanwhile, sixth-ranked P.V Sindhu also advanced to the next round after brushing aside Chloe Magee of Ireland 21-19, 21-10.

In the men's singles event, Sai Praneeth displayed a remarkable performance as he also managed to reach the pre-quarterfinals after claiming a comfortable 21-7, 21-10 win over Uzbekistan's Artyom Savatyugin in a 21-minute match.
President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday will formally inaugurate the fifth edition of the India Aviation 2016

and the five-day biennial aviation show is being jointly organised by the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at the Begumpet airport at the heart of the city.

About 25 countries are taking part this time in the India Aviation show, being held with the theme of Indian civil aviation sector: Potential as global manufacturing hub.

Union Civil Aviation Joint Secretary, Anil Srivastava informed that this time India Aviation gains much significance as the country will become the third largest aviation market in the world by 2020 after the US and China.

The passenger traffic in the country is expected to increase to 450 million by 2020 from the present about 160 million.

By the end of the 12th five year plan, the country's aviation sector is likely to see investments of more than 12 billion US Dollars, with major contribution from the private sector.

The officials also informed that 200 low-cost airports are planned to be built in the next 20 years to connect tier-II and tire-III cities and about 1.3 billion Dollars planned to be spent on non-metro projects during in next two years, focussing on modernisation and upgradation of airports.

Currently more than 85 international airlines operate to India and 5 Indian carriers connect over 40 countries. It is also one of the least-penetrated air markets in the world with 0.04 trips per capita per annum as compared to 0.3 in China and more than 2 in the US.

=Aviation Industry leaders, foreign delegates including ministers and ambassadors, officials, representatives of industry associations and other stakeholders from about 40 countries will be taking part. Leading aircraft and helicopter manufacturers like Boeing, Airbus, Textron, AA Embraer, Gulfstream, Dassault, Agusta Westland, Bell Helicopters, Russian Helicopters will take part in the show. As many as 30 aircrafts, including small business jets and big aircrafts will be on display.

These include B777 by Air India, Dornier by HAL, TAC-003 by Thrust Aircraft Co., MI-172 by Pawan Hans, A 350 by Qatar Airways; A0330-300 by Air Asia; Legacy 500, 650, Phenom 200 and 300 by Embraer, B-787 by Etihad, A380 by Emirates. IndiGo will display A320 Neo, which recently made its debut in India and supposed to be the first eco-friendly and fuel efficient aircraft built by Airbus.

The first three days will be only for business visitors while on the last two days it will be thrown open to general public.
Seven people came ahead and surrendered before the police in connection with a church being vandalised and its parishioners thrashed and assaulted in Chhattisgarh, after which they were arrested.

This arrest brings up the total to seventeen as ten people had been arrested earlier.

The arrests were made after the victims had identified the attackers, who were all local men.

The Centre had earlier sought a report from the Chhattisgarh Government over the matter as Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said that the police have already taken necessary action and the guilty will not be spared.

According to the footage released by the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, men were seen barging into a church and vandalizing furniture, musical instruments and mocking the devotees.

"Members of the Bajrang Dal chanting 'Jai Sri Ram' charged into the church. They attacked woman, ripped their clothes off and also thrashed infants. They began alleging that people were being converted here. The police came here and seized the vehicles the attackers came here. They desecrated the Bible and some of the pictures that were hung on the wall," Chhattisgarh Christian Forum President Arun Pannalal told ANI.

The Chhattisgarh Christian Association has demanded stern action against the vandals.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Standing Committee meeting commenced in Pokhara on the eve of 37th SAARC Council of Ministers' meeting.

The meeting began under the chairmanship of Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shankar Das Bairagi.

All the Foreign and External Affairs Ministry secretaries of eight member countries are participating in the meeting.

Discussions on various issues including the proposal of 'Youth Charter' regarding resolving problems of youth unemployment in SAARC region will be held.

The Foreign Secretaries of SAARC member countries had arrived in Pokhara yesterday to participate in 42nd meeting of Standing Committee.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that anything Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj wants to discuss will be discussed during his stay in Pokhara to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ministerial meeting.

"The meeting is of course to hand over the invitation for the SAARC Summit, but anything that she (Sushma Swaraj) wants to discuss, we will discuss," said Aziz.

Aziz and Sushma will hold a bilateral meeting in Pokhara on Thursday.

On being asked about other discussions like the recent Pathankot terror in India's airbase, Aziz evaded the question.

Aziz, however, said that the Pakistan's special investigation team will soon be visiting India to probe the attack.

Meanwhile, Swaraj has also arrived in Pokhara.

Swaraj is expected to raise the Pathankot terror attack with Aziz during the meeting on the sidelines of SAARC.

This development comes amid the stalled Foreign Secretary-level talks between both nations following the impasse over the probe of the January 2016 Pathankot Air Base terror attack.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will leave for Nepal on Wednesday to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ministerial meeting in Kathmandu where she will be meet Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on the sidelines of the meet.

Standing Committee of the SAARC which is a Foreign Secretaries level Forum will be held today which will be attended by Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar.

These meetings will prepare the ground for the session of Council of Ministers. It will be attended by Foreign Ministers of SAARC countries.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said these meetings are part of regular interactions within the SAARC framework.

He said the meetings are expected to give an opportunity for a comprehensive review of decisions taken across all SAARC forums over the past one and half years especially India initiated proposals like SAARC Satellite.

Swarup said India's focus would be not only to take stock of the decisions but also to work out the way forward on priority issues.
US student Otto Warmbier has been sentenced to 15 years' hard labour by North Korea's highest court after he was arrested for removing a political banner from a hotel.

According to the Guardian, the 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate student, was convicted and sentenced in a one-hour trial on Wednesday morning at the country's Supreme Court after being charged with subversion.

Warmbier was arrested as he prepared to leave Pyongyang in January.

He was paraded last month in front of the media as North Korea announced that he was being charged with the theft of a political banner.

During the press conference he broke down, acknowledging and apologising for the supposed crime.

According to Warmbier's statement, he took the banner with a political slogan on it as a trophy for a church member.

After footage of Warmbier's "confession" was released, the US accused the North Korean regime of using him for propaganda purposes.

Warmbier was arrested while visiting the country with Young Pioneer Tours, an agency specialising in travel to North Korea.
Training guns at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the handling of the Pathankot terror attack, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the former lacks vision and runs international diplomacy according to his 'whims and fancies'.

"I had raised it in my speech also. The way the issue was handled in a centralized manner by the NSA. There are a lot of skilled people in the country; he needs to make use of them. The Prime Minister thinks that he has all the answers or people around him have all the answers. This is wrong. There are ministers, bureaucrats; he should make use of them," Gandhi told the media outside the Parliament.

"What is required is a coherent strategy? Meaning, that there should be clear strategy of what he is doing. The Prime Minister does not have that clear vision. The Prime Minister moves and jumps from one position to the other lacks vision. He thinks that international diplomacy can be done on his whims and fancies," he added.

Gandhi's comments came after Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia lashed out at the government in Parliament over the Pathankot attack.

"Operation was going on in Pathankot, but all decisions were being taken in Delhi. The NSA was controlling the entire operation," Scindia said in the Lok Sabha today.

"The Home Minister tweeted and then deleted. Till today, we don't know if there were five terrorists or six terrorists," he added.

The terrorists attacked the Pathankot Air Force Station, part of the Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force, on 2 January. Four terrorists were killed in the gun battle and two security forces personnel were martyred defending the air base.
Turns out, having a recognition program doesn't mean it is working. A new study has revealed that award programs like "Employee of the Month" and "Top Sales Club" might be reducing firms' overall productivity.

The University of California research shows that seemingly innocuous non-financial award programs can be costly to firms, primarily because they can upset the status quo and influence perceptions of equity and fairness. This can lead to internally motivated employees becoming disenfranchised.

Lead author Timothy Gubler said that the common knowledge is that non-monetary awards can subtly motivate people in ways that are fundamentally different to financial reward programs, such as by increasing organizational loyalty, encouraging friendly competition, or increasing employees' self-esteem.

Gubler added, "In fact, past research has focused almost exclusively on the benefits of these programs, and the costs have been considered negligible."

To explore the potential downsides of award programs, the researchers used field data from an attendance award program implemented at one of five industrial laundry plants in the Midwest United States.

Using data from the company and a statistics technique called difference-in-differences (DiD), the researchers found that reward-motivated employees responded positively to the awards by reducing tardiness, but gamed the system to maintain eligibility using sick days and reverted back to poor attendance behavior when they lost eligibility in a given month.

It also showed that the awards crowded out intrinsic motivation in internally-motivated employees, who were already performing well by coming on time in the absence of rewards. These employees had increased tardiness after the program was implemented and they lost eligibility.

The awards decreased motivation and productivity for internally-motivated workers, suggesting these employees were unhappy because of fairness and equity concerns.

In total, the award program cost the plant 1.4 percent of daily productivity, mainly because of the lost productivity by internally-motivated employees.

Gubler said the research is among the first to show that motivational awards can be costly to firms, rather than beneficial.

Gubler noted, "To be effective, companies offering award programs need to consider not only the group they are targeting, such as those that are coming late to work, but also those that are already doing the right thing, as there is a possibility of demotivating some of their best employees."

The study is due to be published in the journal Organization Science.
Alok Industries was locked at 20% upper circuit at Rs 4.86 at 15:22 IST on BSE on media reports that private equity funds and few textile majors are in race to buy the company.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 140.48 points or 0.57% at 24,691.65.

Massive volumes accompanied the spurt in the stock. On BSE, so far 73.38 lakh shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volume of 15.03 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a low of Rs 4.14 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 9.05 on 9 April 2015. The stock had hit a record low of Rs 3.76 on 18 February 2016. The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 15 March 2016, sliding 0.98% compared with Sensex's 4.23% rise. The scrip had also underperformed the market in past one quarter, declining 41.56% as against Sensex's 3.04% fall.

The small-cap company has equity capital of Rs 1377.32 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

Media reports suggested that the potential buyers are more keen on individual assets than taking control of Alok Industries. Further, reports suggested that some bankers have been contemplating an alternative plan to split the company's business into cotton and non-cotton units and sell the latter. Meanwhile, Alok Industries in its clarification issued during market hours today, 16 March 2016 said that the banks are running the entire process of implementing the strategic debt restructuring (SDR) scheme and the company has no role to play in this process. It may be recalled that a joint forum of banks led by State Bank of India decided in January 2016 to convert loans extended to Alok Industries into a 65% equity stake by invoking SDR option.

Alok Industries reported net loss of Rs 1638.29 crore in Q3 December 2015 in the quarter ended 31 December 2015 as against net profit of Rs 25.86 crore in the quarter ended 31 December 2014. Net sales declined 8.6% to Rs 3264.05 crore in the quarter ended 31 December 2015 over the quarter ended 31 December 2014.

Alok Industries is one of the India's leading fully integrated textile company, with a dominant presence in the cotton and polyester segments.

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Canara Bank fell 1.71% to Rs 183.45 at 13:22 IST on BSE, with the stock sliding on profit taking after the bank said its board of directors will meet on 21 March 2016, to consider raising capital through the issue of Basel III compliant Tier II bonds

The announcement was made during market hours today, 16 March 2016.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 154.26 points or 0.63% at 24,396.91.

On BSE, so far 1.28 lakh shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volume of 3.45 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 187.70 and a low of Rs 182.80 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 411.45 on 15 April 2015. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 156.20 on 29 February 2016. The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 15 March 2016, advancing 4.19% compared with Sensex's 4.23% rise. The scrip had also underperformed the market in past one quarter, declining 22.16% as against Sensex's 3.04% fall.

The large-cap bank has equity capital of Rs 542.99 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

Shares of Canara Bank had risen 3.78% in the preceding three trading sessions to settle at Rs 186.65 yesterday, 15 March 2016, from its close of Rs 179.85 on 10 March 2016.

Canara Bank's net profit fell 87% to Rs 84.97 crore on 1.4% decline in total income to Rs 12050.63 crore in Q3 December 2015 over Q3 December 2014.

The Government of India held 66.3% stake in Canara Bank as per the shareholding pattern as on 31 December 2015.

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PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Continuous decline in IIP for the third month in a row is worrying, said Dr. Mahesh Gupta, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a press statement issued here today.

Decline in capital goods for the month of January 2016 is worrying as growth of capital goods is an indicative of investment activities in the economy, said Dr. Mahesh Gupta.

The IIP declined to (-) 1.5% in January 2016 from (-)1.2% in December 2015. Capital goods declined to (-)20.4% in January 2016 from (-)19.1% in December 2015 while the manufacturing growth stands at (-)2.8% in January 2016. Growth in consumer durables also declined substantially from 16.3% in December 2015 to 5.8% in January 2016.

However, significant announcements in the various segments of the economy would help to revive demand and help in industrial activity to come in momentum, said Dr. Mahesh Gupta.

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Steel being a deregulated sector, the role of Government is limited to that of a facilitator for the growth of steel industry in the country. Production, import, export etc. of various steel items are, therefore, solely depend on the decision of individual steel manufacturer and the Government has not imposed any quantitative restrictions on them. As per available information, presently there is glut in global steel market.

Due to the excess capacity in many of the leading steel producing countries like China, Japan, Russia, Korea etc. these countries export steel products into growing markets like India, even at below cost of production, resulting in the prices of imported items being much lower than their domestic prices.

(d) In order to protect domestic steel sector against cheap steel imports, the Government has taken the following steps:-

(i) To ensure that only quality steel is produced or imported, Government has notified Steel & Steel Products (Quality Control) Orders, 2012 dated 12 March 2012 and Steel & Steel Products (Quality Control) Orders, 2015 dated 15 December 2015.

(ii) To increase availability of Coal and Iron ore for the domestic steel industry:-

(a) Notified the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Amendment Act, 2015 on 30 March 2015 to streamline coal block allocations.

(b) Notified the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 on 27 March 2015 to streamline grant of Mining Leases.

(iii) The Union Budget 2015-16 has raised peak rate of basic customs duty on both flat and non-flat steel to 15% from 10%.

(iv) Hiked import duty on ingots & billets, alloy steel (flat & long), stainless steel (long) and non-alloy long products from 5 % to 7.5% and non-alloy and other alloy flat products from 7.5% to 10%. This was further revised in August, 2015 on flat steel from 10% to 12.5%, long steel from 7.5% to 10% and semi-finished steel from 7.5% to 10%.

(v) In November, 2014, instructions were issued to ensure import of rebars strictly as per Steel Product Quality Control Order 2012, to block influx of cheap imports of boron added rebars.

(vi) In June, 2015, an Anti-Dumping Duty levied for five years on imports of certain variety of hot-rolled flat products of stainless steel from China ($ 309 per tonne), Korea ($ 180 per tonne) and Malaysia ($ 316 per tonne).

(vii) Imposed, in September, 2015, a provisional Safeguard Duty of 20% on hot-rolled flat products of non-alloy and other alloy steel, in coils of a width of 600 mm or more, for a period of 200 days.

(viii) Imposed, vide its notification dated 05.02.2016, the Minimum Import Price (MIP) condition on 173 steel products. Imports of items covered under this notification will not be allowed into the country below the notified price.

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Ease of Doing Business and Make in India are the two pillars running through all Budget proposals, said Mr Ram Tirath, Member (Budget), Central Board of Excise & Customs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

He further reiterated that a number of small procedures have been eliminated in the Budget, which were so far resulting in increased cost of compliance to the Industry, while not resulting in major revenue generation for the Government. The ease of paying taxes has been enhanced, procedures cut down drastically and the Cenvat Credit Rules have been simplified and rationalised.

These steps are expected to make it easier for the industry to concentrate on business and thereby generate more revenue in the long run.

In the past one year, the Government has addressed a number of areas which are prone to litigation, and issued clarifications and circulars wherever needed. The Dispute Resolution mechanism has been simplified and rationalised to a large extent, which will bring down the cost of administration to the Government, and the cost of compliance to industry, stressed Mr Tirath.

While welcoming the audience to the session, Mr Rajiv Memani, Chairman, CII National Committee on Taxation and Chairman - India Region, EY appreciated the Government for delivering a conservative and balanced Budget in times of global volatility.

The Budget, with its prime focus on rural development, is the need of the hour, not only for the social fabric of the country, but also from a business standpoint, said Mr Memani.

Mr Memani further applauded the Central Board for Direct Taxes as well as the Central Board of Excise and Customs for coming out with a large number of circulars and clarifications, during the last six months, which go a long way in simplifying taxes and reducing litigation. There have also been clarifications in the entire refund process, which have not happened before in recent times.

While Mr Memani appreciated the Government for accepting a lot of suggestions of the Justice R V Easwar Committee Report in the Budget, and laying down the road map for phasing out of incentives, Mr Memani suggested that the road map for reduction in the Corporate tax rates also needs to be identified in advance, so that industry can plan its activities accordingly.

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The Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Mr. Rajiv Pratap Rudy said HRD ministry is also agree to make two-year diploma courses at Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) equivalent to Class 12 in order to ensure greater participation but waiting for committee's report at The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) event.

We are trying to create an ecosystem where this aspiration is created, said Mr. Rudy, Minister of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.

Mr. Rudy said, today about 17% of engineering graduates and 15% of management graduates are unemployable or unemployed. Out of 18 Lakhs seats, nearly 8 lakhs engineering seats are vacant. Now, we have created almost 18 lakhs seats for ITIs and 18 lakhs seats for engineering.

We have a professor of mathematics, literature but we have no professor for buildings, no professor for plumbing, beautician, said Minister.

I am happy that after one and half years at least in the space of skills in the ecosystem that we have been able to give the language for skills which is not being recognized so far. We expect from state governments and partners from the industries and also expect from the people who have huge infrastructure system and who understands the language of skills, said Mr. Rudy.

The employability of person who speaks English is 30% more than any other person getting regular environment, said Mr. Rudy.

Our Prime Minister has launched the Skill India programme which is seen as complementary to the Make in India initiative.

He said that we mentioned earlier also that there is need to create of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE).

Mr. Sunil Kanoria, President ASSOCHAM said, less than 4% of our workforce has received any formal vocational training, and this figure is in stark contrast with 75% in Germany, 80% in Japan and almost 50% in China. Majority in India have acquired hereditary skills or learnt on the job.

There is plenty of talk about potential for partnerships with corporate sector and even foreign training institutes. In fact, these skill-gap figures will get any potential investor interested. Since I keep interacting with investors from around the world, I too have discussed with them on this matter. I have asked them why not enough investments are materialising despite PM's stated goals.

Mr. Kanoria further said, the feedback that I have received is that the investors are not clear where to start from - there are so many different government bodies and agencies running skill development with little synergy and often leading to duplication of efforts. For instance, both the Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoLE) and the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) created their own sector skill councils to identify India's skill development needs, even as the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has been setting up Sector Skill Councils since 2011. Ideally a Labour Market Information System (LMIS) should be the one centralised resource for such exercises, preferably under MSDE. Minister Sir, my request to you is to ensure that your Ministry takes on this crucial task of co-ordination among government agencies so that optimum use of resources is ensured and there is no overlap.

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IT major Wipro announced a strategic partnership with Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management and automated systems, to develop convergent solutions for India's Smart Cities. Wipro and Schneider Electric will collaborate to enable the delivery of cost-effective and efficient citizen services to urban and rural communities. Both organizations will jointly develop solutions in the smart city space for India and global markets. Smart Cities have a strong and equal play of operational technology (OT) along with information technology (IT) to provide convergent solutions. Wipro and Schneider already have a strong partnership around IT, Data Centers, connectivity, Intelligent Building Management Systems and Data Center Infrastructure Management solutions. Both the companies are now collaborating to focus on key OT areas like energy optimization, analytics and citizen service improvement for smart cities, Wipro said in a statement. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 15 March 2016.

Realty stocks will be in spotlight after the Lok Sabha yesterday, 15 March 2016, approved the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2016. The bill seeks to create a set of rights and obligations for both the consumers and developers and encourage both of them to live up to the expectations of each other as per the agreement entered into by both of them. The bill got passed in Rajya Sabha on 6 March 2016.

Cipla announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Cipla (EU) Limited, UK (Cipla UK) has made an additional investment of $3 million in Chase Pharmaceuticals Corporation Inc., US (Chase) towards full settlement of its obligation under the agreed arrangement for investment in Chase. Consequently, Cipla UK's total investment in Chase would aggregate to approximately $5.12 million for a 16.7% stake on a fully diluted basis. The announcement was made before market hours today, 16 March 2016.

Reliance Power announced after market hours yesterday, 15 March 2016, that a meeting of the board of directors of the company will be held on 18 March 2016 to consider and approve issue of non-convertible debentures on private placement basis.

Balasore Alloys' board of directors at its meeting held yesterday, 15 March 2016, approved the issuance of upto 2.30 crore convertible warrants of Rs 5 each, to the promoters group companies on a preferential allotment basis. Out of these warrants, 1 crore warrants shall be converted into equity shares in the next financial year (FY 2017) and the remaining 2.30 crore warrants shall be converted into equity shares in FY 2018 subject to necessary statutory compliances/approvals. Balasore Alloys said that the funds shall be utilized for funding growth, expansion and modernization projects to be undertaken by the company. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 15 March 2016.

Puravankara Projects said that ratings agency ICRA has reaffirmed (ICRA) BBB rating for Rs 1650 crore long term credit line of the company including [ICRA] A3+ rating for short term limits (interchangeable). The outlook on the long term rating has been revised from positive to stable. ICRA has also assigned [ICRA BBB] rating for Rs 500 crore long term credit line of the company with a [ICRA]A3+ for short-term limits (interchangeable) for Provident Housing Limited, a 100% and material unlisted subsidiary of the company. Puravankara Projects made the announcement after market hours yesterday, 15 March 2016.

Rana Sugars announced after market hours yesterday, 15 March 2016, that a meeting of its board of directors will be held on 26 March 2016, to give effect to the sale/transfer of power units of Rana Sugars situated in Uttar Pradesh to Rana Energy and Rana Green Power.

Alphageo (India) announced after market hours yesterday, 15 March 2016, that it has received a contract from Oil India for provision of 2D seismic acquisition services in the areas covering parts of Assam & Arunachal Pradesh for an estimated contract value of Rs 102.42 crore. The contract is to be executed by November 2018. This contract is under National Seismic Program for acquisition of 2D Seismic Data in unappraised areas of North East India entrusted to Oil India.

NCC announced after market hours yesterday, 15 March 2016, that its subsidiary, NCC Infrastructure Holdings, has entered into share sale agreement with Sembcorp Utilities for sale of a portion of the stake held in Sembcorp Gayatri Power.

As a part of its strategic initiatives to divest the stake held in the various special purpose vehicles (SPVs) in which it has invested, NCC Infrastructure Holdings (NCCIHL), a subsidiary of NCC, has entered into share sale agreement with Sembcorp Utilities (SCU) for sale of the stake held in Sembcorp Gayatri Power (SGPL) (formerly NCC Power Projects) which is linplementing the 1,320 megawatts (MW) Coal Fired Power Project near Krishnapatnam, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. The present transaction involves sale of 25.68 crore equity shares of Rs 10 each held by NCCIHL in SGPL to SCU for a gross consideration of Rs 352 crore. NCC is the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor for the power project being implemented by SGPL, NCC said in a statement.

SCU is a leading developer, owner and operator of energy and water assets with strong operational and technical capabilities. SCU has over 10,600 MW of power capacity installed and under development with an established presence in Asia and a strong growing presence in emerging markets around the world, NCC added.

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The Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency is accepting applications for the Brendan McGrath Memorial Scholarship through 5 p.m. Monday, May 2.

The scholarship is open to the agency's current employees; children, stepchildren or grandchildren of employees; and current or former customers of the agency and their children, step-children or grandchildren.

The scholarship is a collaboration between the agency and the family of McGrath, who served for 21 years as a volunteer board member for the agency and 19 as its chair before his accidental death in March 2010.

Awards of $500 will be made in each of the three eligibility categories for the fall 2016 college semester.

For more information, visit cscaa.com/mcgrath.html.
Unlike other mammals, female pandas approaching adulthood wander long distance looking for mating opportunities, new research has found.

Instead of waiting around for male callers, female adolscent pandas seem to rival the males in distances moved from home during mating season, the study said.

The findings suggest that giant pandas buck a mammal trend of girls staying closer to the home range.

There is also evidence that the adolescent females tend to disperse further than males, though they may return near their original home range to give birth and raise their cubs, said study co-author Thomas Connor from Michigan State University in the US.

"The tendency for female natal dispersal is an interesting behavioural adaptation that is uncommon in mammals, and not found in any other bear species," Connor said.

For the study, published the journal Integrative Zoology, the researchers tracked five pandas with GPS collars in southwestern China and compared their analysis with other similar studies.

The pandas in the studies live in two mountain ranges -- the Qionglai range, where the famous Wolong Nature Reserve is located, and the Qinling Mountains to the north.

Past studies did not agree on whether the brownish pandas in the Qinling range, which look a bit different from the more familiar Wolong pandas, had smaller or larger home ranges compared to those in the Qionglai.

The new study revealed that there is in fact no difference at all.

Despite a larger seasonal migration in the Qinling, pandas in both areas use a similar amount of territory, Connor said.
Air India on Wednesday signed an agreement for leasing 14 Airbus A320neo aircraft with ALAFCO, a Kuwait-based leasing company.

The delivery of aircraft is likely to start from early next year. The agreement was signed on the inaugural day of India Aviation 2016, the country's largest aviation conference and exhibition

Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani and ALAFCO vice chairman and CEO Ahmad Al Zabin signed the agreement.

"This induction will augment Air India's capacity in domestic market. Air India already has strong infrastructure maintenance facilities for the Airbus A320 family," the state-owned carrier said in a statement.

"This is a very important partnership for Air India. The A320 aircraft will add strength to our existing fleet and enhance our role as a major player in the domestic market," said Lohani.

The A320neo aircraft will come fitted with the new generation CFM leap engines which will reduce noise and emissions, enhance the operational efficiency and reduce fuel consumption by at least 15 percent while offering the passengers the best in class comfort.

Meanwhile, IndiGo displayed its first A320neo on the inaugural day of the aviation show.

The aircraft was delivered on March 11 after a direct flight from Toulouse to Delhi International airport lasting over eight hours, the company said in a statement.

IndiGo, India's largest airline by passenger numbers is Airbus' biggest A320neo customer having ordered a total of 430 aircraft placed in 2011 and 2015.

The A320neo 'new engine option' incorporates many innovations, including latest generation engines and large Sharklet wing-tip devices, which together deliver 15 percent in fuel savings from day one and 20 per cent by 2020. This is equivalent to a reduction of 5,000 tonnes of CO2 per aircraft per year. So far Airbus has won orders for over 4,500 A320neo aircraft.
Researchers have discovered why it is important to stay clam before taking any big decision in life. Anxiety disrupts brain activity that supports decision-making, says a study.

Anxiety disengages a region of the brain called the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which is critical for flexible decision making, the findings showed.

By monitoring the activity of neurons in the PFC while anxious rats had to make decisions about how to get a reward, the scientists made two observations.

First, anxiety leads to bad decisions when there are conflicting distractors present. Second, bad decisions under anxiety involve numbing of PFC neurons.

The data indicates that anxiety has an exquisitely selective effect on neuronal activity that supports decision making, said lead author of the study Bita Moghaddam, professor at University of Pittsburgh in the US.

The study was published in The Journal of Neuroscience.

The researchers monitored the activity of a large number of neurons as rats made decisions about which choice was most optimal for receiving a reward.

They compared behavior and neuronal activity in two groups: one group that had a placebo injection and another that got a low dose of an anxiety-inducing drug.

As with many people who suffer from anxiety but go through day-to-day life and make decisions, the anxious rats completed the decision-making task and, actually, did not do too badly.

But they made far more mistakes when the correct choice involved ignoring distracting information.

"A brain locus of vulnerability for these anxiety-induced mistakes was a group of cells in the PFC that specifically coded for choice. Anxiety weakened the coding power of these neurons," Moghaddam noted.

This better understanding of the brain mechanics behind anxiety and decision making could lead to better treatment of anxiety in people and, subsequently, better outcomes in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, she said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday accused the BJP of shielding those "who raised anti-national slogans" on the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus here.

"BJP is most anti-national of all. Why is it shielding those who raised anti-national slogans?" Kejriwal asked in a tweet.

The Aam Aadmi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had been at loggerheads over several issues, including the JNU row. The AAP has demanded the arrest of the outsiders who raised the anti-national slogans in the varsity campus on February 9.

Following the incident, JNU Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar was slapped with sedition charge and was arrested. He was given an interim bail of six months by a Delhi court on March 2.

Two other students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, who too were booked under the sedition charge, are still in police custody.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said there was more than 35 percent reduction in cases of border intrusion in 2015 over the previous year.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on the issue of border security, intelligence sharing and the steps taken by the government to ensure security and safety of the country in the wake of the Pathankot attack, he said the government will carry out security audit of the borders to identify the lapses there.

"In 2014, about 222 cases of border intrusion was recorded, while in 2015, 121 were recorded. There was a reduction of more than 35 percent. This has been possible only because of the valiant efforts of the security forces," he said.

"We will be doing security audit to identify the lapses. This will help in doing away with the lapses," Rajnath Singh added.

He said that compared to the previous year (2014), in 2015 there was a reduction of 17 percent in the killings of security forces, and when it came to the question of the ordinary citizens, there was a reduction of 39 percent.

"In the last two months too, there has been reduction of 35 percent. The entire credit goes to the security forces and the army of the country," said Rajnath Singh.

On the issue of border security, he said: "As far as border security is concerned, almost 558 km of the Punjab border is shared with Pakistan. About 12 km is riverine. It is true that security forces are not deployed there. Maybe sometimes, terrorists do use the riverine route to enter India. They could have taken that route.

"Now, we are looking into technological solutions to prevent the terrorists from entering India through the riverine route. This time our government is going to spend more money to secure the borders," he added.

On the issue of Gurdaspur police superintendent Salwinder Singh, Rajnath said: "Salwinder Singh is being questioned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The agency is investigating it and I cannot comment on it right now."

"On the question of close and effective coordination, it has always been there with the intelligence agencies and the security forces. There has been no compromise on that. But we cannot claim that our strategic plan is foolproof. Therefore, we'll welcome all kinds of suggestions on strategic affairs and security issues."

"As far as intelligence inputs sharing is concerned, we have shared it with the state governments. We have also shared it with Punjab. Multi-agency centre is also there working 24X7. Through this too we've been working on intelligence sharing," he added.

Rajnath Singh also said the government wants good relations with its neighbours but not at the cost of the nation's pride.

"We want good relations with all our neighbours including Pakistan, but not at the cost of nation's dignity and respect. I cannot doubt the intentions of any government in ensuring security and safety of the country.

"I know every government has tried their best in ensuring this. It should not be a battle between your government and our government. I need the support of all the political parties and the people in ensuring security of the country," he said.
Traumatic brain injury may be related to both increased risk and earlier onset of mild cognitive impairment, which typically occurs later in life, says a study.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which typically occurs later in life, can involve problems with memory, language, thinking and judgement that are greater than normal age-related changes.

"This is one of the first studies to demonstrate later-life risks of mild cognitive impairment in relation to a remote history of traumatic brain injury in a large population sample," said senior study author C. Munro Cullum, professor at University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Centre in the US.

The study analysed cases of 3,187 people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment versus a normal-cognition group of 3,244 people.

Researchers discovered those who had experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) with loss of consciousness for more than five minutes were at greater risk of being diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, and showed signs of that impairment 2.3 years earlier on average than those with no TBI history.

The results were published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

The researchers found several important variables associated with a higher risk for MCI: TBI with loss of consciousness for greater than five minutes, certain genetic risk factors, and a history of depression.

However, these MCI risk factors need closer examination, the researchers said.

"We cannot yet determine who is at greatest risk for later-life cognitive decline following TBI, but these results suggest that a relationship exists for some people. Our ultimate goal is to identify various risk factors that may play a role," Cullum said.

"TBI is hypothesised to activate a neurodegenerative process that may interact with age and other factors over time," Cullum noted
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the Narendra Modi government of ignoring the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh by denying special status to the state.

"Unfortunately, the government of the day is not interested in supporting the aspirations of people of Andhra Pradesh. I have visited AP many a times to fight for special status, I have mentioned Polararam as well but the government of the day isn't interested," Gandhi said, addressing a delegation of Congress workers at party headquarters here.

He said the Congress party will ask the central government to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh. Congress workers have got one crore signatures for a petition from the people residing in Andhra Pradesh, demanding 'special status' for the state.

"We can exert pressure on government of India, that we can get special status and other demands that are rightfully yours," Gandhi said while making a reference towards prime minister "that he only understands pressure".

"The Congress party has managed to put pressure him (prime minister) on Land Bill that you have noticed and the budget after which it became the pro farmer budget. For two years, there was no interest of farmers, that they are dying didn't matter, that they are committing suicide it also doesn't matter, but Congress party exerted pressure and the budget became pro-farmer," Gandhi added.

He also asked the Congress cadre to work hard to bring the party back in power in Andhra Pradesh.

"Today, you might not have large votes in AP but it'll take little bit of hard work, we are going to help you and you'll see that you'll surprise yourself and come back to power much quicker than you think and lead AP once again," Gandhi said.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday asserted that defence installations in the country were completely secured and the government was spending more on the security apparatus in comparison to previous regimes.

"Defence installations are completely secured and since December 2014, not a single attack has taken place on defence installations in Jammu and Kashmir," Parrikar said, replying to a discussion on the country's security after an attack at the Pathankot air base.

"In 2014, 104 terrorists were neutralised, while we lost 31 security personnel. Earlier, the ratio used to be 1:1, while now it has shifted towards security forces 3:1. In 2015, it was 97 and 33," he said, adding that the government has "set up a committee for security audit".

"The defence forces have taken necessary steps to ensure that there is no breach in security establishment," Parrikar added.

"We have spent all the defence budget, and a part of that I have used a lot of money lying with the US government under foreign military sales. We have an agreement with them now, by which for the next two years, we won't send them dollars for procurement of foreign military weapons," Parrikar said in response to an interjection from the opposition regarding the government's expenditure to keep the nation secured.

The defence minister said the government moved special security forces from the adjoining cantonments to Pathankot at the time of the incident.

"It is wrong that we did not move security forces. At 8 p.m. on the same night, 1 para came to Pathankot from Sambha, another group was moved to Gurdaspur from Nahan at 12.30 in the night. So special security forces were moved," he said replying to the discussion.

Parrikar also took potshots at the opposition accusing them of sacrificing the country's military intelligence to gain political points.

"The intelligence build up cannot be done overnight. Intelligence which was developed over deep assets fell to the political policies and political scoring points. Military intelligence has been sacrificed to alter political goals. Once you do this, rebuilding intelligence takes time," he said, referring to the opposition benches.

"We came to know about suspected terrorist presence at 5.55 in the morning of January 1. Brig R.R. Singh, station commander of Tibrig Cantonment, Gurdaspur was informed that four suspects in army fatigue have hijacked a jeep and may be heading towards Pathankot," Parrikar told the house while disclosing specific information about the incident.

"So civil police was contacted for ensuring that patrolling for the area outside the base is carried out. At 6.15 a.m., Pathankot SSP also gave the same information that military had received earlier.

"At 3.11 p.m., there was a specific info that terrorists were inside military installation. There are three more army installation within 4-5 km of the area. At 4.35 p.m., helicopters were also launched in the search operation," he added.

The defence minister noted that the operation was completed in 43 hours contrary to the notion in media that it lasted for 3-4 days.

"Our forces had surrounded them concentrating the terrorists in a 200 by 200 metres pit from where they could not come out and the operation took only 43 hours to complete," Parrikar said.

"My instructions to the army chief were, there is no pressure of time but there should be no fatality. If we would trap them they would have no where to run. Hence the operation didn't take so long. The instructions were general in nature that we don't lose more men as we had already lost 6 men the previous day," he added.

The minister said such attacks like that on the Pathankot air base "should be treated as more of a mini war conducted by our adversaries because they are weak".

He also assured the house that the gaps in the security establishment have already been filled.
India, a major power, rarely plays up to other nations, said a state-run Chinese daily which noted that the national interest is always prioritised in New Delhi's foreign policies.

An opinion piece "US intervention resisted by Indian culture" in the Global Times on Wednesday said: "As a major power, New Delhi rarely plays up to other nations. This has been one of India's most significant features since it gained independence in 1947. National interest is always prioritised in New Delhi's foreign policies."

The US was "disappointed" over India's decision not to issue visas to members of a US commission that reviews violations of religious freedom around the world, US State Department spokesperson John Kirby said last week.

"As the White House is attaching more importance to its ties with New Delhi in recent years, how the visa refusal will affect the US-India relationship is worth exploring," said the article by Zhuang Guotu, professor at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Xiamen University.

The article said this is not the first time the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has been refused visas. The panel was denied access to India in 2009 also.

"Given the independent and self-reliant stance of the Indian government, there is little likelihood for other powers to draw New Delhi over to their camps. Refusing visas to the US delegation is consistent to India's traditional way of handling its foreign relations," it said.

The article noted that the US has long been attempting to use its soft power, especially its system of values, to influence the internal affairs of other nations.

"Since US President Barack Obama came into office, the White House has attached great significance to manipulating US smart power, a combination of hard power and soft power strategies, to influence others."

It added: "However, to Washington's disappointment, New Delhi has the capability and determination to resist US-led Western cultural infiltration. While almost all the other civilized nations have been Westernised in many aspects of life, India has shown high confidence in its traditional culture."

"Compared with other nations, Western culture has exerted little influence on New Delhi."

The article observed that cultural confidence is a key driving factor for India to stick to its own religions, ideologies and customs.

It went on to say that judging from the current situation, "the White House is attaching increasing importance to its relationship with India".

"Following the rise of East Asia and South Asia, the whole of Asia is carrying more weight in the international system. As a major state that can reshape Asia's power pattern, India is becoming increasingly vital to the White House."

"While Washington needs to draw New Delhi to its side to counter Beijing, the Indian government, which eyes the maximization of its interests, will not back off in the interactions with the US. This is why India has flatly refused to grant visas to the US religious panel this time."

The professor wrote that the visa refusal may be a retaliatory measure to an unpleasant incident that happened in 2010 as well.

"Then Indian ambassador to the US Meera Shankar was singled out and frisked by a security agent at US airport, allegedly because she was wearing a sari. This was unacceptable to India, which later strongly protested to the US," the article recalled.

"The principle of reciprocity is honoured in Indian diplomatic activities. It is unsurprising for India to retaliate over this unpleasant incident six years later."

The article predicted that cultural collision between the US and India will see an intensifying trend in the future.

"The US will continue to infiltrate its system of values into India by all possible means, to which New Delhi will still firmly reject," it said.

It added: "The ruling BJP is a Hindu nationalist party. Denying visa to religious panels reflects the determination of the administration of Narendra Modi to protect local cultures and religions. Tougher US intervention will see firmer resistance from India."
Alleging that the first list of candidates for the assembly polls was an example of the Congress' love for "dynastic politics", many party workers across the state took to the streets on Wednesday, while some 'deprived' legislators vowed to contest as independents.

Angry Congress workers in Lakhimpur laid siege to the party office Rajiv Bhavan in Lakhimpur and called for a shutdown of the district on the day opposing the All India Congress Committee's decision to give the ticket for the constituency to Joy Prakash Das instead of party veteran Ghana Buragohain.

While Das is the former leader of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the party, Burhagohain is the former Lakhimpur legislator who had lost to Asom Gana Parishad's Utpal Dutta in 2011 only by a margin of 1,099 votes.

Grassroots workers of the ruling party also set a deadline till Thursday to replace the candidature of Joy Prakash Das by giving the ticket to Buragohain, failing which they have threatened to desert the Congress en masse.

Similarly, Congress workers in Mahmora constituency agitated against the candidature of Suruj Dihingia, instead of sitting legislator Sarat Saikia, who has been winning the seat for the last three consecutive terms on Congress tickets.

Party workers in Mahmora set ablaze the effigy of Assam Congress chief Anjan Dutta for depriving Sarat Saikia of a ticket.

Saikia, meanwhile, hinted that he may contest the polls independently.

Amia Gogoi, the Congress legislator from Duliajan, was also not given a ticket. Newcomer Dhruba Jyoti Gogoi is the party candidate.

"My supporters are urging me to contest the polls independently. I shall take a decision in this regard soon," Gogoi said.

Many agitators also alleged that the first list of 65 candidates was an example of the Congress' love for "dynastic politics".

They said that in the name of giving tickets to new candidates, the party has named only the sons and daughters or relatives of senior Congress leaders.

"The party had earlier assured tickets to new candidates. However, most of the new candidates include only sons or daughters or other relatives of veteran Congressmen," said Utpal Das, one of the agitators at Mahmora.

"In Aamguri, they have given the ticket to Ankita Dutta, who is the daughter of APCC president Anjan Dutta. Similarly in Sarupathar, they have given the ticket to Rosenila Tirkey, daughter of sitting MLA Aklius Tirkey."

The Congress list announced on Tuesday evening in Delhi includes the names of Gautam Dhanowar, son of Digboi legislator Rameswar Dhanowar, and Pallabi Saikia Gogoi, the daughter-in-law of Teok legislator Membar Gogoi.

BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma said: "There cannot be a worst list for the Congress candidates than the one announced yesterday (Tuesday).

"The Congress is a party run by 'mother-son' and 'father-son'. After the Congress list was out, many leaders have contacted us and we are going to take a decision on them soon," he said.

Going by the list, Sarma said the Congress will get even lesser seats in the polls than the BJP had expected it would get.
AUBURN  Cayuga Community College hosted a career fair Wednesday in recognition of National Criminal Justice Month.

Students learned the responsibilities involved with a potential criminal justice career from 17 participating public safety agencies from across the region, including the Auburn Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office, Syracuse Police Department and the New York State Police.

Wednesday marked CCC's sixth annual fair as part of National Criminal Justice Month.

The function offered an opportunity for students to learn about "the good, the bad and the ugly" involved with criminal justice careers straight from the professionals, said Teri Misiaszek, assistant professor with CCC's criminal justice department. This information, she added, can then be used to make proper career choices without jumping into a job blind.

"They get what they call a 'CSI' effect," Misiaszek said. "By watching television, students see the dramatization from a lot of TV shows, but then they realize that it's something totally different once they get into a field."

As part of National Criminal Justice Month, Misiaszek said students have been encouraged to attend lectures that go beyond the classroom, such as the recent public forum on heroin abuse featuring U.S. Rep. John Katko.
Emirates is looking to expand its operations in India and is negotiating with the Indian government for more seats, a top company official said here on Wednesday.

The airline, which is operating one A380 aircraft on Mumbai-Dubai route, is also keen to operate more such flights but the official said this would depend on the outcome of the negotiations, approvals and the facilities available at the airports.

Emirates senior Vice President Ahmed Hashim Khoorey was talking to reporters on the sidelines of India Aviation 2016, where the airline is displaying A380.

"We have been given 2000 plus seats to operate from Mumbai in 2014 that gave us capability to operate A 380," he said.

He was optimistic about the outcome of talks for additional seats on Indian routes. "The bilateral talks are on a fast track after Indian prime minister's visit to UAE last year. We hope that we will have something very soon," he said.

Emirates currently has more than 73 A 380 aircrafts in service. "We bring the A 380 to show our commitment to Hyderabad air show as well. It is a strong flagship carrier for emirates and it is a beautiful product. Serving A 380 depends on market demand and also depends on the airport, how it is ready to handle such an aircraft," said Essa Sulaimaan Ahmad, VP India and Nepal said.

Essa said Emirates would run A 380 on commercially viable routes. He did not rule out Hyderabad for its operation looking back how Emirates has grown over the past couple of Years.

"We started as first major international operations from here started with 8 aircrafts now we have daily services with three 777 aircrafts," he added.
India has called for strictly enforcing the Security Council sanctions on the Taliban and al-Qaida to combat the resurgent terrorist threat to Afghanistan.

India's Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin told the Council Tuesday that the effective implementation of the sanctions "will go a long way in imposing restrictions on the listed entities/individuals' movements, assets and arms embargo."

He was a speaking at a Council debate on UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA), which had its mandate renewed. The meeting heard a dire warning from Nicholas Haysom, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative for Afghanistan that in "2016, survival will be an achievement for the National Unity Government" as the nation "is being severely tested."

Cautioning against the Taliban expanding territorial reach, Akbaruddin said, "We urge the Security Council to look into the security situation and the means to contain it with a sense of urgency."

"The distress signals are unremitting-a worsening security situation; an increase in the tempo of insurgent activities; a greater toll of civilian casualities; and a deteriorating humanitarian situation," Akbaruddin said. "All point to the need for greater engagement by the international community."

For India's part, he said it "is working to support the Afghan Government and people." New Delhi was ready to expand training programs for Afghan military and security forces at its institutions, he said.

On the economic front, Akbaruddin said Kabul would be able achieve its full potential if it is allowed the freedom of transit to major South Asian markets. "We are working with Afghanistan and Iran to develop trilateral transit and participation in the development of the Chahbahar Port which will augment our connectivity with Afghanistan," he said. While cooperating with Iran in developing the port, New Delhi is building roads in Afghanistan to link to it.

He referred to the National Assembly Building built with Indian aid that was dedicated in December by Prime Minister Narendra Modi President Ashraf Ghani. "The Parliament complex is a symbol of the resolve of Afghanistan to shape its future through votes and debates and the belief that terror and violence cannot be the instrument to shape Afghanistan's future or dictate the choices the people of Afghanistan make," he said.

During the debate Afghanistan and Pakistan traded charges over cross-border . Afghanistan's Permanent Representative Mahmoud Saikal demanded an immediate end to incursions from across the Durand Line that marks their border.

There have been at least 56 instances of violation of Afghanistan's territory from across the border, he said adding, "This jeopardizes Afghanistan- Pakistan relations at a time when making peace with Pakistan is essential to making peace with the Taliban."

Pakistani Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi responded that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists were coming in from Afghanistan. Asserting that "we have a long border which is not easy to control," she said that "there has been opposition to Pakistan's creation of border barriers."

Saikal sounded a warning about the threat from the Islamic State or Daeish, al-Qaida, and other violent extremist and terrorist groups, in addition to the Taliban. "Everything we cherish - equality, democracy, justice and human rights - is under attack from their daily onslaught of violence," he said.

He called on Islamabad to help facilitate the direct talks between the Taliban and the Afghanistan government citing Pakistan Prime Minister's Foreign Policy Adviser's assertion that his government had "influence on the Taliban."

Lodhi claimed that "Pakistan condemns all terrorism" and said that there should be no "unrealistic" deadlines or preconditions for the talks between the Taliban and the government.

India along with most countries expressed support for talks. But Akbaruddin said participants in "the Afghan government-led reconciliation process" must respect the redlines" against violence and should accept the constitution of Afghanistan."

Speaking to reporters after the Council session, Haysom said that so far Pakistan was cooperating with the Afghan peace process. Initial indications were that they were doing "some heavy lifting" to facilitate the talks, he said and added that Islamabad realises that it will be accountable.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at aru.l@ians.in)
The government has asked Google India to give a revised proposal for its Project Loon, aimed at providing internet connectivity in rural India, parliament was told on Wednesday.

"The matter was discussed with all stakeholders and it was concluded that frequency band 700-900 Mhz to be used in the pilot test of Project Loon is being used by cellular operators and if the pilot is carried out, it will lead to interference with cellular transmissions," Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

"Revised proposal from Google India with change of frequency band is yet to be received," he added.
Veteran Pakistani politician and former minister Syeda Abida Hussain, who has also served as her country's ambassador to the US, feels that India-Pakistan relations are unlikely to improve any time soon as Modi "would lose his hardcore supporters if he makes gestures of friendliness" towards Pakistan.

"Modi stands for Hindutva and he is a right wing hardliner. It is unlikely that India-Pakistan relations will improve in any meaningful way. Though Sharif is quite genuine in seeking better relations with India, it is not reciprocal," Hussain said in an interview to IANS here.

Abida Hussain, who served as a minister in the Nawaz Sharif government from 1996 to 1999, also dismissed proposals like joint governance in Kashmir, put forward by former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri in his recent book.

"It's a ridiculous proposal to try joint governance in Kashmir which has not been tried anywhere in the world and it's not feasible at all," said Hussain , who quit the Sharif government in 1999 after allegations involving power theft.

Hussain asserted that Pakistan's reaction to the Pathankot attack was kneejerk. "Our reaction to Pathankot was hasty and we almost said that we were behind it. Now, inquiries found that we had nothing to do with it. We should have maintained it from the beginning," she claimed adding that Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Mazood Azhar, whom India accused as the mastermind was never a free man.

"Azhar is not a free man. Wherever he is, he is in custody of the authorities," she said.

India has maintained that the attack was carried out by militants who came across the border and that Pakistan has not done enough to rein in Azhar.

The former minister also scoffs at India's opposition to Washington selling eight F16 jets to Pakistan."Why is India worried about US selling F16 to us? India is a leading buyer of hardware in the world. Why should India protest, while we never opposed India buying weapons?" she asked.

She was here to release her book 'Power Failure: The political Odyssey of a Pakistani Woman,' which traces 45 years of her political journey. Hussain also has the distinction of being the first woman to chair the district council of Jhang.

Hussain also admits that though she had an aristocratic background and family support, she had to push boundaries to hold her place in Pakistan politics as a woman. "There were several hurdles but I have managed to take it in my stride. However, politics is all about opposition, it's a chunk of life and it was challenging." says Hussain, daughter of late Syed Abid Hussain, a prominent name in Pakistan politics.

While the book gives an insider view into the tumultuous political events in Pakistan from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's rule from early 1970s to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in 2007, Hussain describes the book as a narrative of missed opportunities.

"Starting from Bhutto, Pakistan had several missed opportunities. If Bhutto had ordered repolls in 1977, we could have avoided a military intervention. It was a missed chance when Prime Minister Junejo took on Zia ul Haq prematurely which led to dissolution of the Assembly in 1985," she said adding that Benazir Bhutto failed to deliver good governance and the country suffered again when Nawaz Sharif failed to handle military succession.

Hussain, who is a member of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) since 2006 having rejoined after leaving it in the 1970s, says that she quit PPP when she wasn't given a seat in elections.

"Bhutto said that he didn't want a seat to be wasted on women, I found it as a gender bias. Eventually, I came back to PPP when Benazir returned," she says.

She also foresees the resurgence of PPP in five to seven years. "If Bilawal (son of Benazir) works hard, PPP will return to power. He has to grow out from the shadow of his father and reach out to the masses," she says.

(Preetha Nair can be reached at preetha.n@ians.in)
He has never been to India, but is no stranger to the country's cinematic portfolio. Jon Favreau, a name to reckon with in Hollywood, feels Indian cinema is engulfed in a "new movement" wherein "director-driven" and "independent" films with a unique vision are coming up -- much like Hollywood during the 1970s.

The 1970s era is termed as the golden age of Hollywood (also refereed as New Hollywood era and the American New Wave) -- a time when the American film industry saw immense creativity, and when young filmmakers experimented with new subjects, and imbibed the social changes into films' plot. "The Godfather", "Chinatown", "Five Easy Pieces", "The Deerhunter", "Apocalypse Now" and "Being There" are some of the marvels that came up during the period.

Favreau, known for projects like "Iron Man" and "Chef", notes a similar development in India, specifically pointing out at Anurag Kashyap's "Gangs Of Wasseypur", which grabbed audience attention when it was screened at the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival in 2012.

"Cinema is transforming in India right now. You know, tremendously prolific movies and titles are coming out of there. The Bollywood system has done incredibly well, but there is a new movement that is more director-driven, more independent, has started to emerge and reminds me of what happened in the US in 1970s," Favreau told IANS.

Favreau walked back in time during a candid tete-a-tete with this IANS correspondent here at a restaurant of iconic The Hollywood Roosevelt hotel, which itself harks to the time gone by with memories of the first ever Academy Awards ceremony.

Favreau, whose new offering -- Disney's "The Jungle Book" -- will release in India on April 8, a week before it hits screens in the US, confessed that like many others in his country, he had misconceptions about Bollywood. But "Gangs of Wasseypur" -- a gritty drama set in Indian hinterlands -- broke them.

He said: "The most recent I saw which felt different from anything will be 'Gangs of Wasseypur'. I didn't know that this was going on... Before watching the film, I thought about Bollywood what America thinks -- Bollywood is big musical numbers, pageantry that feels like studio age of old Hollywood."

"So I see that what has started to happen now... I know that it is exciting whenever there is a new interesting filmmaking going on... That has been going on in Hong Kong, Korea and now India seems to be emerging to have some unique voices in filmmaking."

To an extent, Favreau stands true. Movies like "Masaan", "Titli", "Zubaan" and "Aligarh" are part of the new wave, which is not just finding critical acclaim on foreign shores, but also finding takers at the home turf.

Favreau, who has acted in films as well as television shows like "Friends", noted that while the song-and-dance bit of Bollywood is still big, the country's independent cinema is also emerging in an impressive way.

He stressed that while very few international films break through the American film market, "but some of the best -- with a strong voice and unique vision -- do".

(The writer's trip was at the invitation of Disney. Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in)
Japan has signed for grant assistance of 16 million yen (over $140,000) for two grassroots projects in Delhi and Assam.

The signing ceremony of the grant contracts for the two new projects, under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP), was held at the Embassy of Japan.

The agreements were signed between Kenji Hiramatsu, Ambassador of Japan to India, and the representatives of the two organisations, Venu Charitable Society, Delhi and Assam Centre for Rural Development.

In the first, Venu Charitable Society, that runs the Venu Eye Hospital and Research Centre, will get 6 mllion yen for provision of eye surgical equipment for underprivileged patients in Delhi.

In the second, Assam Centre for Rural Development will get around 10 million yen for construction of a Vocational Training Centre for poor women in Kamrup district of Assam.
A high-level committee of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, inquiring into the February 9 event, has said that the dean of students was "not vigilant enough" in preventing it and that varsity students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya were among those who did not submit the booking form to the appropriate authorities.

The five-member committee, which submitted its report last week, has also found faults with the university security for not making efforts to stop "outsiders" from raising provocative slogans at the event.

Anti-India slogans were allegedly raised at the event and sedition case was subsequently filed against JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, Khalid, Bhattacharya and three others. All three were arrested and while Kanhaiya Kumar was granted bail, the other two are still in custody.

"It is to be noted, given that the event had taken place in 2015 as well, DOS (dean of students) office was not vigilant enough to anticipate and prevent this event," the report said.

It also said security did not make any efforts to stop the outsiders from leaving the campus.

"... the security was not alert and vigilant to stop the posters for this event till after the chief security officer (CSO) met the authorities," it said.

The report also said that as the process of taking permission was not complete, there was confusion at the dean's office on whether the permission had been granted or not, and while the dean was not present on campus during the event, he was in touch over the phone with the CSO.

"The booking form was never submitted to the approving authorities by the students concerned (Khalid, Bhattacharya, Komal Mohite, Ashwati Nair). Since the process of seeking approval was never completed, the booking form did not reach the CSO. Therefore, the CSO did not know about the event," the report added.

The high-level inquiry committee included Professor Rakesh Bhatnagar, Professor H.B. Bohidar, Professor Suman K. Dhar, Professor G.J.V. Prasad, and Professor Ummu Salma Bava.

The report said that Mohite "misrepresented" her hostel address in the undertaking form and the other students did not write their full names.

The report also mentions that the undertaking form attached to the booking form did not have the full names and stamps of the four signing authorities- "the faculty, the chairperson, the dean of the school and dean of students/additional dean of students (DOS/ADOS)."

Kanhaiya Kumar along with JNUSU general secretary Rama Naga and varsity students Anant Prakash Narayan, Bhattacharya, Ashutosh, Khalid, Ashwarya Adhikari and Shwetha Raj were suspended on February 12.

However, the administration last week revoked the suspension of all after the committee submitted its report.
Delhi Police on Wednesday told a court here that JNU students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya organised the February 9 event on the campus while JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was not its organiser.

Police took the stand while opposing the bail plea of Khalid and Anirban, who are also facing sedition charge, in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh.

Police said their case was different from that of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar.

The court has set March 18 for its order on the bail plea of Khalid and Anirban.

Both have sought bail on the ground of "parity", saying that Kanhaiya Kumar was already granted six-month interim bail by the Delhi High court on March 2 in a sedition case.

Anti-national slogans were raised at the controversial event on the campus here.

Both the students surrendered before the police last month outside a university gate.

A case was registered against Khalid and Bhattacharya at the Vasant Kunj police station, soon after Kanhaiya was arrested on the same charge on February 12.

Police told court that the controversial poster for the event was designed by Anirban and finally approved by Khalid. The poster was mailed by Anirban to Khalid, Delhi Police told the court.

Delhi Police also told the court that the controversial poster bore the names of Khalid and Anirban as organisers. Both even went to the university office along with other students on February 8 for getting permission to hold the event.

First, the permission was allowed but when the event posters surfaced, university authority withdrew the permission.

Both the accused still went ahead with the event and led a procession in which anti-national slogans were shouted, police said.

The defence counsel of both questioned the authenticity of a video clip of the event aired on a private news channel.

Delhi Police told the court that besides the visual clip from a private channel, they have a videotape of the event taken by JNU staff member Jaspreet Singh. Both videos have been sent to a forensic science laboratory for tests.

Police said statements of 10 witnesses, including university staff, security personnel and students were recorded, and that support the allegations against the accused.

Citing Supreme Court judgment, defence counsel, however, contended that the case did not come under the sedition charge. The act does not amount to sedition unless there is incitement to violence which did not happen, the defence argued.

Police, however, contested the defence stand and said there was an attempt to incite people to violence as anti-national slogans were raised. It said involvement in violence was not at all required to support the charge.

In its status report filed before the court, Delhi Police said the case investigation was at a delicate stage as some accused people were still on the run.

"The larger conspiracy behind the seditious act of the accused is to be unearthed and exposed," police said in their status report.

They argued that if the accused were granted bail at this stage, the very line of investigation would get adversely affected.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) camps in Jammu and are more upbeat about government formation today than they ever have been during the past more than two months.

A series of developments taking place in the last three days indicate that the two alliance partners are warming up to each other on government-formation in the state that was placed under Governor's Rule on January 8, a day after the then chief minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, passed away at AIIMS in New Delhi following a brief illness.

State BJP chief Sat Pal Sharma on Wednesday told reporters in winter capital Jammu: "The stalemate has ended. An elected government would take office soon."

The series of 'positive developments', as the state PDP and BJP leaders have been calling these, got off the starting block with union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley making a statement in Parliament regarding J&K.

Jaitley told the Lok Sabha on Monday that the Centre was committed to implementing the developmental agenda for the state which included the Rs.80,000 crore financial package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Jaitley further said that the Centre was committed to equitable development of all the three regions of the state -- Ladakh, Valley and Jammu.

PDP insiders told IANS that Jaitley's statement in Parliament included an assurance that the PDP -- read its chief Mehbooba Mufti -- had demanded.

The statement by Jaitley came a day before PDP president Mehbooba Mufti flew to New Delhi to attend Parliament before it goes into inter-session recess on March 17.

Mehbooba Mufti's visit to New Delhi was ostensibly already planned -- but given the renewed hopes in her party and the BJP, there is definitely something more brewing than meets the eye.

The day she flew to New Delhi, state governor N.N. Vohra postponed the crucial State Advisory Council (SAC) meeting in which budget proposals for the state relating to the next fiscal were scheduled to be discussed.

Vohra also postponed another important meeting of political leaders of various parties that he had called for discussing the modalities of the forthcoming local urban bodies elections in the state.

These two decision indicate that the governor may have received feelers about an elected government taking office soon.

Constitutional experts opine that the governor, who has kept the state assembly in suspended animation, cannot do so beyond April 9.

According to article 53 of the J&K constitution, the gap between the two sessions of the state legislative assembly cannot be more than six months.

"The last session of the state assembly ended on October 10, 2015. This means that the state assembly must hold its session before April 9 failing which the governor is bound to recommend dissolution of the state assembly," said a constitutional expert here.

J&K is the only state in the country that has a constitution of its own applicable concomitantly to the Indian constitution.

In a nutshell, last ditch efforts to stitch a ruling alliance between the PDP and the BJP are on at present.

Whether this fructifies into government-formation or forces a mid-term election on the state would be known within the next five-to-seven days.

"It has to be now or never," said a senior PDP leader while commenting on the renewed efforts to form an elected government in Jammu and .

(Sheikh Qayoom can be contacted at sheikh.q@ians.in)
Australian officials leading the search into missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on Wednesday expressed doubt that the debris found recently on the Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean is part of the missing plane.

The Australian government's Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) said the debris, a 40cm x 40cm fragment of hard material, was unlikely to be from MH370 or any other plane, Xinhua reported.

"Officials from Malaysia are continuing discussions with the French authorities about debris found on La Reunion. Current advice is that it is unlikely to be from an aircraft," the JACC statement said. The Reunion Island is an overseas French territory.

The most recent piece of debris was discovered almost two weeks ago on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean by the same man who last year found a wing fragment, a flaperon that was proven to be MH370 wreckage.

Johny Begue found the square-shaped grey item with a blue border in nearly the same spot. But he said that unlike the flaperon there were no barnacles attached to the latest item.

The Malaysia Airlines passenger jet, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, disappeared with 239 people aboard on March 8, 2014.

In slightly more positive news for the families of those missing, the JACC statement said two other items found recently in Mozambique on the Africa's east coast were being brought to Australia for testing by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

"A South African citizen reported finding debris, suspected to be from an aircraft, in Mozambique," the JACC statement said on Wednesday.

"Arrangements are being made for the debris to be transported to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau laboratories in Canberra, along with the debris that was found in Mozambique by an American citizen last week."

"Both items will be examined by investigators from Australia and Malaysia, as well as specialists from Boeing, to confirm if they come from an aircraft and establish their origin."

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is leading search operations for MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean, off the coast of Western Australia.

More than 90,000 square km of the seafloor in the southern Indian Ocean have been searched so far. The entire search area is roughly 120,000 square km in size.
Republican Representative Richard Hanna (R-NY-22) got it right. He was one of the first people in the House Republican caucus to make it crystal clear that he will not back Mr. Trump or Sen. Ted Cruz if either gets the Republican nomination.

Rep. Hanna knows that these two presidential candidates are out of sync with the core values that make our country great  respect for one another, freedom of religion, decency and democracy. Hes offended by religious intolerance toward Muslims, racist stereotypes of Mexicans immigrants as criminals and rapists." And recognizes the danger to our national security with the use of bombastic talk about getting other nations to do things our way, or else ... He understands that there can be no compromise when it comes to human decency. Thank you, Mr. Hanna.

Unfortunately, in our adjoining congressional district (NY-24), the district where I live and am currently running for Congress, Republican Representative John Katko, refuses to take a similarly principled stand. He insists that he will back whoever the Republican nominee is. Although I like Mr. Katko personally, I disagree with him on many critical issues, including reproductive rights, tax cuts for the rich, cutting and privatizing Social Security and Medicare. That, after all, is why I am running for Congress in NY-24. But there is nothing on which I have a greater disagreement than his failure to make it clear to his constituents and his party that Mr. Trump and Senator Cruz are both unsuited for the presidency because they are advancing ideas that would tear down and undermine our democracy.

Mr. Katko, you are on the wrong side of human decency and democracy. Again, I respect you as a person and I will be pleased to debate the issues with you, but as our representative, you need to make clear that there should be no place in our political discourse for such hateful rhetoric. Whether they are Democrat, Independent, Republican, Conservative, Working Families Party, Women's Equality Party, or Green , let your constituents know that you will not tolerate hate as a standard bearer for your party. Do it now, not in two weeks or two months from now. Its time to lead!

Eric Kingson

Manlius

Kingson, a professor of social work at Syracuse University and co-founder of Social Security Works, is seeking the Democratic nomination to run for Congress in New Yorks 24th congressional district
West Bengal Left Front chairman Biman Bose on Wednesday took umbrage to state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury blaming some Left Front partners for standing in the way of seat adjustment for the upcoming assembly polls.

"Some Left Front partners have told me that Chowdhury has made some disparaging comments about them. Such comments are disrespectful. Left Front is not a grouping of nine day wonder leaders. It has been formed through years of struggle.

"Such comments are unwarranted and should be avoided, as otherwise the seat adjustment talks could be affected," Bose told the media after a meeting of Left Front constituents.

However, he claimed that the disputes with the Congress over some of the seats were being sorted out.

"These things will be resolved in the next few days. The seat adjustment is more or less complete. Only a few seats need some more discussions."

Bose announced eight more candidates of the Left Front while extending support to two independents.

With this, the Left Front has put candidates in 207 seats.
Parliamentary approval was on Wednesday accorded to the Aadhaar bill with the Lok Sabha again passing the bill without any of the amendments suggested by the Rajya Sabha which had returned the bill after a heated discussion.

The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016 was passed by the Lok Sabha by voice vote after all the amendments were negated and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley sought to allay the opposition's apprehensions on the bill.

The Congress and other opposition parties had made a strong pitch against the overall nature of the bill in the Rajya Sabha, where the government is in minority, and the bill was returned to the Lok Sabha with amendments.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha after CPI-M member Mohammad Salim referred to the amendments approved by the upper house, Jaitley said one of these sought to replace the words "national security" with "public safety and public emergency" but noted these phrases had not been defined in the constitution.

"Though I consider the wisdom of the upper house but I reject their amendments," he added.

The Aadhaar bill was brought as a money bill with respect to which the Rajya Sabha has limited powers and cannot amend but only suggest amendments.

The debate on the bill in the upper house saw a heated debate as opposition members questioned the decision to convert it into a money bill.

The government saw an embarrassing defeat in its efforts to stop the amendments - the second time in this session. Earlier, the opposition forced an amendment in the motion of thanks to the president's speech, even after Prime Minister Modi urged them to pass it unanimously.

The amendments passed on Wednesday included on enrolment under Aadhaar (clause 3), mandatory use for government services and subsidies (clause 7), disclosing information in the interest of national security (clause 33) and allowing private persons to use Aadhaar (clause 57).

The opposition had recommended that Aadhaar be made voluntary, disclosure of information should be permitted in the interest of public safety or public emergency, instead of national security, and the clause allowing private persons to use Aadhaar be deleted.

"I don't have an Aadhaar number and I don't need one, because I am not a beneficiary of subsidy, but tomorrow if I want a mobile connection, the guys say 'Where is your Aadhaar number! You made it mandatory no!" said Congress member Jairam Ramesh, who had moved all the four amendments that were passed.

Jaitley, however, held that Aadhaar was not mandatory and where people don't have it, alternative documents will be prescribed, while the user would be predominantly the state government.

"Tomorrow if Tamil Nadu government decides that people below a certain income would get some benefits then it is mandatory if you want benefits," he said, giving an example.

Assuring that there are provisions for ensuring privacy, he said that personal information of a person would be shared only on basis of his consent, and the "core biometric data" will not be shared even if there is consent.

"The only ground on which data can be shared is national security. One authority will be created in Delhi," he said, adding that the decision of that authority will be reviewed by an authority headed by the cabinet secretary.

On it being made a money bill, he said: "Article 110 decides what a money bill is. If money flows into consolidated fund of India and money flows out of consolidated fund of India, and a law yields with that matter it becomes a money bill."

"Article 110(3) says clearly it is satisfaction of speaker of Lok Sabha that is final... Once the speaker satisfies herself and says I certify it is a money bill, it will be a money bill and no authority in the country can question that provision," he said.

He also rejected Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury's argument that government was being hasty in bringing the law as a five-member bench of Supreme Court is looking into the Aadhaar case.

"Sub-judice an argument which is available when issues of individual culpability are pending in the court, you don't prejudice a trial or hearing in a court by discussing it in a parliamentary forum," he said, adding that if the government waited for matters in court, petitions would be filed on other legislations as well.

"Because an unlegislated executive action of a government has been challenged in the court, parliament does not lose its right to legislate," he added.

The Aadhaar bill intends to provide for targeted delivery of subsidies and services to individuals residing in India by assigning them unique identity numbers.
With the spectre of a severe drought looming large, Maharashtra will celebrate a 'dry Holi' this year to conserve water for the next 100 days before monsoon.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday appealed to the people to celebrate a 'dry Holi' on account of severe water shortage across the state.

"I am not saying don't play Holi. Let's play a dry Holi without water. Use less water. I appeal to all in the state to celebrate the ensuing festival of colours as a dry Holi," Fadnavis said at a water awareness programme here on Wednesday evening.

The popular festival will be celebrated across the country on March 23, followed by Rangpanchami on March 24.

Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan said swimming pools and water theme parks have been ordered to remain shut till the commencement of the rainy season in mid-June.

Similarly, rain dances in five-star hotels, resorts, bungalows of celebrities and housing complexes will also be curbed this year due to the water crises.

Some BJP corporators in the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation have demanded that a stiff penalty of Rs.50,000 be slapped on those violating the rules and wasting water during Holi.

Mahajan told mediapersons that all municipal corporations in the state have been issued directives on this to save every drop of water and make drinking a priority.

The minister informed that the state barely barely 25 percent water left in its reservoirs while in the parched Marathwada region, the situation is critical with just five percent water left.

"In such a scenario, nobody will be allowed to waste water. We must save every available drop," a grim Mahajan said.

Elsewhere in the state, the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation has launched a water conservation awareness week before Holi, Pune, Nashik, and Thane Municipal Corporation has barred water supply, including through private tankers, for any Holi revelry.
MIM legislator Waris Pathan was suspended from the Maharashtra assembly on Wednesday when he refused to say "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" in the house.

The issue started when another All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen legislator was speaking on the debate on the governor's address and a Shiv Sena member intervened to say that his party chief (Asaduddin Owaisi) had recently refused to say "Bharat Mata Ki Jai".

Reacting to this, Pathan -- who represents Byculla in south Mumbai -- got up to say: "We will say 'Jai Hind' but not 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' as there was no compulsion on this nor did the Constitution say it."

This outraged other members across all parties who demanded his suspension for what they termed an "insult" to the motherland, violation of parliamentary tradition and misuse of freedom of speech.

Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Ram Kadam also asked him to say "Bharat Mata Ki Jai", but Pathan refused.

Refusing to comply with Kadam's request, Pathan referred to Bollywood writer Javed Akhtar's speech in parliament and said: "If Javed Sahab wants to say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', let him, we won't. We will say 'Hindustan Zindabad' and 'Jai Hind'."

By commenting on the cap worn by Owaisi, Javed Akhtar has insulted Muslims of not only India but the whole world, he added.

Several members from the ruling BJP, Shiv Sena and opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party strongly criticised Pathan's action and demanded his suspension.

Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse asked MIM legislators to apologise, but other members rejected the move, demanding that they should be suspended from the house and following noisy scenes, the house was adjourned for 10 minutes.

When it reassembled, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ranit Patil moved a proposal for suspending Pathan for the entire duration of the ongoing budget session which was approved unanimously, Speaker Haribhau Bagade announced.

Later, Pathan told media persons that "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" was a diktat from the RSS and he would not subscribe to it.

While under suspension, Pathan will not be permitted to attend the legislature proceedings nor be allowed near the Vidhan Bhavan complex.
The mail links between the US and Cuba were restored with the arrival of the first mail flight in Havana.

A plane from IBC Air landed at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana on Wednesday, Xinhua reported citing the report of Cuban News Agency (ACN).

Carlos Rodriguez, an inspector from the US Postal Inspection Service, ceremonially delivered a letter to Carlos Asensio, president of Correos de Cuba, the state-owned postal company.

This letter formally re-initiated the direct sending of letters and parcels between the two countries, and was followed by an exchange of postal seals, specially designed for this occasion.

Correos de Cuba vice president Zoraya Bravo told ACN that from March 25, three weekly flights would leave Miami for Havana on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and that all post offices in both countries were now accepting mail to be sent on this route.

The restoration of direct postal services was part of the steps laid out by Cuban President Raul Castro and US President Barack Obama to normalize relations.
An Indian delegation has called for more interaction between the people of India and Pakistan which can bridge the gap between New Delhi and Islamabad and bring the neighbouring nations closer to each other.

The three-member delegation, led by Vijay Jolly, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party's national executive committee and former convener of the party's foreign cell, on Tuesday expressed these views during a visit to the Karachi Press Club, Dawn online reported.

"We need to look and move forward," said Jolly, adding that "there is always a need to improve ties and that target can only be achieved when the people of the two sides come into each other's contact on a regular basis."

"For this, we should keep visiting each other and hold healthy discussion for that particular objective," added Jolly.

Another member of the delegation said that there was a positive change in public opinion on both sides of the borders.

"You can't eliminate borders but there must be sanity that should prevail and I feel that it has grown over the past few years. This should continue and for that we have to pick positive sides from each country instead of remembering the negative past," he said.

A journalist member of the delegation said that the people of both the countries have been victim of terrorism. She said they had suffered a lot due to the actions of a certain segment of society.

She said that Pakistani artists were welcomed in India and similarly Indian artists were widely admired by Pakistanis.

"It reflects that the people of two sides love each other and their art. We should focus and highlight on this bright side of the picture. The two governments must realise the wishes of their people and ease the visa regulation for visitors from both sides," she added.
At least 22 people were confirmed dead after two suicide attacks on Wednesday targeted a mosque in Umarari village of Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno, a spokesman of the Nigerian army said.

In a statement, Col. Sani Usman said one of the attacks took place inside the local mosque, while the second blast occurred a few minutes later, about 50 metres away, Xinhua reported.

Two female suicide bombers perpetrated the attacks, he added.

Earlier, local authorities who confirmed the incident said 21 people sustained various degrees of injury in the attack.

All the injured were evacuated to a state-run hospital near the commercial city of Maiduguri, the army spokesman said.

One of the suicide bombers sneaked into the mosque during early morning prayer, according to Alhaji Dambatta, leader of the civilian joint task force, who coordinated rescue operation after the incident.

Terror group Boko Haram was suspected to be responsible for the attacks. The group, which has spread its tentacles to Cameroon, Chad and Niger, has kidnapped thousands of people and killed more since 2009.

Early this year, the Nigerian government said it has "technically defeated" Boko Haram, but the unrelenting group has continued to carry out more attacks.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday ordered the suspension of a jail official for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl, an official said.

"The chief minister has directed top concerned officials to suspend Kishanganj jail superintendent Kripa Shankar Pandey and lodge a case against him for his crime," said an official from the Chief Minister's Office.

During a meeting with top administration officials, Nitish Kumar also expressed his unhappiness over the delay in taking action against Pandey.

The move came after a video went viral on social media on Tuesday in which Pandey was allegedly seen sexually assaulting a minor girl.

Kishanganj Superintendent of Police Rajiv Ranjan late on Tuesday asked Sub-Divisional Police Officer Kamini Bala to probe the matter and submit a report.
US President Barack Obama will visit Saudi Arabia and Britain in April, ahead of his previously arranged trip to Germany, the White House said on Wednesday.

Obama will first head to Saudi Arabia on April 21 to attend a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, during which issues such as the fight against the Islamic State terrorist group, regional conflicts, and sectarian tensions will be discussed, according to a White House press release.

Obama will then travel to London, where he will have a private lunch with Queen Elizabeth II. He will then meet Prime Minister David Cameron.

The White House said Obama's final destination will be Germany, where he will attend the world's largest trade show for industrial technology -- the Hanover Messe. He will also meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel on his fifth visit to the European country.
Former "Strictly Come Dancing" dance professional Ola Jordan, who appeared on the show for almost a decade, is ready to pen an "explosive" book.

"This is one explosive book, she is going to reveal all the backstage goings on and she won't hold back. It's going to be one of the biggest page turners to come from the show, it will definitely ruffle a few feathers. We are sure Ola has a lot to say, let's hope she checks it with her lawyer," a source told mirror.co.uk.

The 33-year-old dancer is also expected to divulge details on some of the show's most scandalous romances as well as give the low down on the judges and their voting tactics.

Jordan, who quit the show in 2015, a year after her husband James Jordan left, is planning to release her new book in October, so that it corresponds with the new series of the show.
PM announces effects test is to come

Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has today announced that the effects test will be introduced into the Australian Competition and Consumer Act.

Introducing the test will change Section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act which deals with misuse of market power by big businesses acting alone. Until now,. Section 46 stipulated that to be found guilty of misuse of power, a business with substantive market power must have planned to and acted in a way that misused its power in an anti-competitive manner.

Under the effects test the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) will only have to prove the large business acted in an anti-competitive manner. It will not have to prove it had the intention to misuse market power.

The effects test has previously drawn criticism with both Coles and Woolworths speaking out against it. In January 2016 Australian Food News reported that ex-ACCC Chairman Graeme Samuel said he was worried it could limit access to cheap groceries.

At the time Samuel said the effects test would give smaller businesses an unfair advantages and that bigger companies (such as major supermarkets) may be afraid to lower prices.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott had rejected the effects test but it has been under consideration again since Malcolm Turnbull became Australian Prime Minister in September 2015.
The government on Wednesday said that it was not informed about the itinerary of the travel of various Pakistani High Commission officials to attend Pakistan's matches in the ongoing World Twnty20 in India.

Responding to a query following reports that five Pakistani diplomats were barred from visiting Kolkata for the March 19 India-Pakistan match, external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said that "Pakistan has not informed the government of the itinerary for the proposed travels, as required by bilateral practice".

"This was despite repeated reminders over the past few days," he said.

Swarup, however, said that considering the occasion, 19 approvals were issued as a gesture.

"This has been conveyed to Pakistan ministry of foreign affairs at senior levels," Swarup said.

"We have urged that agreed requirements are met so that the rest of the requests can be processed," he added.
Pakistan and Turkmenistan on Wednesday signed agreements including one on financial intelligence to curb money laundering and terrorism financing, officials said.

The visiting president of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif witnessed the signing ceremony in Islamabad, after the two leaders agreed to boost cooperation in various fields.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in exchange of financial intelligence related to money laundering and terrorism financing was inked by Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and his Turkmenistan counterpart Muhammetguly Muhammedov, a Radio Pakistan report said.

Other agreements related to cooperation in the field of energy, the Programme of Cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, as well as MoUs on cooperation in areas of information technology, education and research.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan was committed to the early completion of the multi-billion dollar Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project that will open a new chapter in economic collaboration and greater regional integration with Central Asia.

"Pakistan is ready to provide any assistance to expedite the implementation process of TAPI and help minimize the project cost," he said, adding Pakistan views TAPI not only as a gas pipeline project, but as a precursor to making it a trade and transit corridor as well.

"Such corridor could comprise gas pipeline, road, electricity transmission and fiber optic lines besides economic zones connecting Pakistan with Turkmenistan," said the prime minister.

He suggested that Pakistan and Turkmenistan could be connected through a railway corridor connecting Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran.

Sharif welcomed Turkmenistan's offer for export of 1,000 mega watt electricity to Pakistan and signing of tripartite MoU during his visit to Turkmenistan last December.

He stressed the need for greater cooperation in the fields of trade, energy, agriculture, education, science and technology, infrastructure and transportation. He said Pakistan looked towards Turkmenistan for future energy security and asked Turkmenistan to take advantage of Pakistani ports for its exports and imports.

On terrorism, he said Pakistan shares the concern that terrorism and extremism were the root cause of insecurity and instability in the region.

"This menace also undermines our endeavours for socio-economic development. We have to work collectively to eradicate the scourge of terrorism and extremism," he said.

The Turkmenistan president said both the countries are facing common challenges and "combating common threats is our goal."

He said the early completion of the TAPI gas pipeline project would not only solidify the relations between all the participating countries, but also create new opportunities.

"The gas line would bring warmth and cordiality, and generate economic activity, create job opportunities and improve the living standards," President Berdimuhamedov said.

He said the TAPI pipeline had a great impetus to boost socio-economic cooperation and hoped the project would be implemented soon.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked Delhi's civic bodies to pay sanitation workers their salaries for February before March 21.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath posted the matter for Monday with the direction that salaries be paid to sanitation workers "without fail".

The court's direction came after some of unions of Delhi's sanitation workers told the court that they have not received salaries for February. Counsel for the civic bodies told the bench that they have no information regarding non-payment of salaries.

"It's (information of non-payment of salary) in every newspapers. We are aware that salaries are not paid and you are not aware?" the bench said.

"We will take this matter on Monday and by that time salaries be paid without fail."

Employees of the national capital's three civic bodies were on strike last month over the non-payment of salaries for the past few months. However, after the court's intervention, unions agreed to call off the strike.
A powerful bomb, detonated by a timing mechanism, ripped through a bus carrying government employees in Pakistan's Peshawar on Wednesday, killing at least 16 people and causing injuries to another two dozen commuters

The attack took place on Peshawar's Sunehri Masjid road after the bus picked up government employees from Shergarh in Mardan and was transporting them to work in the city.

"The blast was caused by a timed-improvised explosive device (IED) planted in a tool box inside the bus," Superintendent of Police (SP) Cantonment Kashif Zulfiqar said.

"There were 40-50 people on the bus."

The bus was carrying employees of the Civil Secretariat and government officials coming from Mardan.

"The bus carrying government employees was targeted at at 7.55 a.m," DC Riaz Mehsud stated.

"The top part of the bus has blown off and is being cut to pull out the injured," an eyewitness told local Urdu tv.

"The bus carried on a few hundred yards after the explosion as the driver lost control of the vehicle," eyewitnesses said.

According to sources, 15 of the total number of injured people at Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) were air force employees.

Residents of the area shifted the injured in their cars to LRH, The area was closed for traffic.

According to hospital reports, most of the dead and injured were from Malakand, Mardan and Charsadda.

Bomb disposal squad officials said 10 kg of explosives were planted on the bus and further investigations were underway.

"Emergency has been declared and all doctors have been called in to handle trauma," hospital spokesperson Jamil Shah said. Many of the wounded were in critical condition and the death toll could rise, he said.

"There are eight buses that come from different areas to Hayatabad, Peshawar. The route of this bus was Dargai-Khanmai-Charsadda-Motorway-Hayatabad" SP Zulfiqar said.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack and expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the attack.

"These cowardly attacks cannot shatter our unflinching resolve against terrorism," Sharif said.

Further, the premier directed the concerned authorities to give the best treatment to those injured during the attack and also directed law enforcement agencies to hunt down those responsible for the attack.

The explosion came a day after the military top brass suggested publicly that the army was about to conclude the military offensive in North Waziristan's Shawal valley.

In January, the insurgency-ravaged province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa witnessed another A P S-style attack on Charsadda's Bacha Khan University, engineered by the mastermind of the horrific December 2014 massacre.

Since then, there have been numerous attacks targeting security forces' convoys and checkposts.

The most recent attack comes just days after a blast hit Charsadda's Shabqadar area, an attack claimed by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan splinter group Jamatul Ahrar.

On the other hand, official reports claim there have been thousands of intelligence-based operations, and scores of militants have been arrested and eliminated as per the implementation of NAP.
As India challenges centuries-old biases, the power of one million elected women is influencing communities across India through the local self-government bodies, according to Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi.

"During the last seven decades, we have achieved significant success in the political sphere by taking the democratic institutions for local self-government right down to the local governance level, Gandhi told the UN Commission on the Status of Women Tuesday.

"Today, nearly one million women constituting nearly half of the total elected representatives of these bodies are in position to make decisions influencing local communities," she said.

Focusing on the issue of women's safety which many of the speakers at the session raised, Gandhi said, "Ensuring gender equality and combating violence against women are integral to our national pursuit of forging inclusive society and development." She listed several legal measures enacted for this in recent years.

Among them were the 2013 amendments to the criminal laws to broaden the definition of sexual assault and harassment, increase penalties for offenders and ensure greater accountability of public officials in safeguarding women; the Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place Act of 2013; and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.

On the enforcement front, India was promoting the goal of women making up at least a third of the police forces, she said. It was building a gender-responsive and senistised police through training programmes and performance appraisal, she added.

One Stop Centres were being set up around the nation to provide victims medical aid, police assistance, legal help, psycho-social counseling, and temporary support services all under one roof, she said.

To fight the imbalance in child sex ratio brought, India has launched a multi-pronged programme, "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" (Save the Girl Child, Educate theGirl Child). "This programme aims at changing the mind-set and removing the centuries-old bias," she said.

"In one year, we have seen dozens of local innovative additions to this flagship programme and we are now able to measure signs of positive improvement in the child sex ratio."

Gandhi said India has achieved gender parity in primary education and the disparity in secondary education is fast declining.

On the health front, "our country has made remarkable progress in reducing maternal deaths in the last two decades and Maternal Mortality Rate has registered an overall decline of 70 percent between 1990 and 2012," Gandhi said.

Institutional and safe deliveries have increased from 34 percent in 1999 to 86 percent in 2014.

India has formulated the National Policy for the Empowerment of Women and it ensured that gender analysis is undertaken while designing government projects and programmes and indicators are included to assess to assess their gender impact, Gandhi said.

(Arul Lewis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in
President Pranab Mukherjee will visit Uttarakhand on April 1 for the convocation of the Swami Ram Himalayan University.

The President will be the chief guest at the convocation of Swami Ram Himalayan University at Doiwala in the hill state and will participate in the convocation ceremony between 4.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m., an official told IANS.

A high-level meeting of officials was held in the state assembly building on Wednesday where preparations for the visit of the president on April 1 were reviewed.

The meeting, presided over by Chief Secretary Shatrughan Singh, reviewed the security measures being taken for the presidential visit.
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien on Wednesday expressed his displeasure and anguish over display of what he said was lack of confidence in the chair by some members of the upper house.

"If you do not have confidence in me... if I cannot call a person to speak, why am I sitting here?" a visibly exasperated Kurien said after members from various parties, including the Samajwadi Party and the Trinamool Congress, raised objections when Kurien called CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury to speak on the Aadhaar Bill.

TMC's Derek O'Brien questioned as to how the time allotted for the principal opposition Congress in the house was passed on to the Communist Party of India-Marxist members.

"Is it because of any deal?" Derek O'Brien asked and was countered strongly by Yechury and other Left members.

"I cannot take these insults," Yechury said.

Earlier, Yechury and other opposition members like Naresh Agrawal of the Samajwadi Party objected to the government move to call the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016, a "money bill".

A piece of legislation declared as a "money bill" can be debated and discussed in the Rajya Sabha but not rejected by it. If the upper house votes amendments to it, but the Lok Sabha rejects these, the bill is deemed to have been passed by both the houses in its original form.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, defended the status and said the Lok Sabha speaker's ruling on the issue was binding on all.

The Aadhaar Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on March 11 with a voice vote after a brief debate.
The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday witnessed acrimonious scenes during the zero hour over a sting operation in West Bengal as members from the Trinamool Congress and the Communist Party of India-Marxist exchanged heated words.

While the Trinamool Congress questioned the authenticity of the video that allegedly showed Trinamool leaders accepting money for lobbying for a private firm, the CPI-M demanded a probe.

Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha during zero hour, TMC's Derek O'Brien said, "Let us not judge the credibility of the video; let's judge the source of the video."

"Even the (TV news) channels are running the video with a disclaimer that they are not responsible for the content... In this age of technology, no one knows if it is right or wrong," O'Brien said.

"When the so-called sting operations are done, what is the credibility of the people who do this?" he asked, adding that the company address was of Dubai. He claimed foreign funds were coming to the company.

The TMC leader said that "my issue is much bigger", and added that the company had made five telephone calls to Dubai on the day that the "so-called" sting operation video was released.

"We would like professional journalists to have the right to do any kind of investigation," O'Brien added.

Urging the government to immediately order a probe into the matter, CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, "This is a scam of the highest order."

He said perhaps there was a "match-fixing" between the government and the Trinamool Congress on the issue.

"The government should order an investigation... Why are they not ordering an investigation?" he said.

"If the government is not responding, the chair has to protect the dignity of the house and order a house probe," the CPI-M member said.

"When Tehelka tapes came (during the Vajpayee government), their leader (Mamata Banerjee) and their party had walked out of the BJP government," Yechury said.

A sting operation by a news portal allegedly showed several Trinamool Congress leaders accepting money in return for lobbying for a private firm.

Pushed to the wall on the sting controversy both in parliament and outside, the Trinamool Congress questioned the credibility of the video footage and hinted that foreign money was involved in creating these videos.

As the Trinamool and Left members clashed, some CPI-M members trooped into the well of the house.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien told agitating Trinamool members, "What's the point fighting when he (Yechury) is only demanding an investigation! What is your objection over it?"

The zero hour, however, went on amid the ruckus.
The law on sedition is under review of the Law Commission and the home ministry has asked for a report on the issue as soon as possible, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Rijiju also admitted in the upper house that the cases of sedition were often found to be violative of the right to freedom of speech.

"The provisions (of the sedition law) are very wide. Anyone who speaks against the government established by the law can be booked under the sedition law," Rijiju said in response to a question.

"Often the sedition charge is found to be violative of Article 19(1)(a), freedom of speech and expression," he said.

Asking supplementaries to the question raised by Shiv Sena member Anil Desai, Leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad sought that inciting of communal sentiments should be included in the law, while Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav demanded that the law be scrapped.

The minister informed the upper house that a Law Commission report in 1997 had admitted that the sedition law was defective, but did not ask for its deletion.

In 2006, the 156th report of the Law Commission also sought substitution of the word 'sedition' but did not ask for its deletion.

"... reports and suggestions have come that there should be a comprehensive review of the criminal justice system in the country... sedition law has also been brought under this scrutiny, that there must be some amendment to it because the meaning is very wide," he said.

Rijiju said the government wants the Law Commission to take steps as soon as possible to address this law.

"There are cases and concerns are being raised. That is why I would like to quote the reports and we would like to see that the Law Commission takes steps as early as possible so that the concerns raised in the country are addressed," the union minister said.

The home ministry has, from time to time, the latest in 2012, written to the law ministry to speed up the process, he said.

Speaking on similar lines, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said: "The Law Commission is reviewing (the law); we have asked the Law Commission to give the report soon."

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad suggested that speeches inciting communal feelings also should be included in the category of sedition.

To this, Rajnath Singh said: "We agree 100 percent; there should be action against those who divide on communal lines."

Rijiju also defended the government over the Jawaharlal Nehru University case, and clarified that the Centre was not involved in the filing of the sedition cases against leaders like Sitaram Yechury, Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal who went to the campus.

"The JNU case is sub judice; investigation is going on... How are you directly accusing the government of taking action against students? There are cases against these students. There are some cases against politicians also not filed in Delhi. It's not the action of the government of India," he said.

Giving out figures, Rijiju said in 2014, the highest number of 16 sedition cases were filed in Bihar, in which 28 people were arrested. Jharkhand came second, Kerala third, and Odisha fourth on this count, he said.
The unusually warm winter is melting into summer and falling, as usual, in the cusp of this yearly weather transition is Holi, a heady festival of colour and laughter.

If you love the sights, sound and colours of Holi, then travel to some of the most spectacular places in India where it is still celebrated in deeply traditional manner.

Here's a list of six such places where Holi celebrations are still full of verve and vigour.

Lath Mar Holi, Barsana, Uttar Pradesh: It's one place on earth where people from all corners want to be in during the festival. No wonder -- Govardhan, Barsana and Nandgaon -- are the most visited places. The festival is popular here because of the way it is celebrated.

The women of Barsana village near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh beat up men from neighboring Nandgaon village with sticks, in what's known as Lathmar (stick-beating) celebrations.

Lathmar Holi takes place around a week before the main day of Holi. It's worth going to Barsana a couple of days in advance so that you can also experience the Laddoo Holi festivities there. Sweets are thrown around and spiritual songs related to Radha and Krishna are sung.

Basant Utsav, Purulia, West Bengal: This is a three-day folk festival where you'll get to sing and play Holi with the locals, as well as enjoy a wide variety of folk art. This includes the remarkable chau dance, darbari jhumur, natua dance, and songs of West Bengal's wandering Baul musicians. What makes the festival special is that it's organised by villagers as a way of helping sustain themselves. The location is around five to six hours by train from Kolkata.

Hola Mohalla, Anandpur Sahib, Punjab: The best way to experience Holi the Sikh way is at Anandpur Sahib. During the festival of Hola Mohalla, it is enthralling to see Nihangs (Sikh warriors) in action on the banks of the Charan Ganga.

Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib is one of the five temporal seats of the Sikh religion where lakhs of devotees visit during the three-day festival to seek the blessings of the Almighty. It is an extremely colourful festival where Nihangs dressed in their blue/saffron clothes engage in mock battles with their weapons before an extremely receptive crowds. This is a boon for photographers and for those who loves to experience an Indian religious cultural mela.

Traditional Holi at Mathura and Vrindavan: One must experience the festival in Mathura and Vrindavan and also pay a visit to the famous Banke-Bihari Temple. The crowd's enthusiasm for their beloved Lord Krishna needs to be seen to be believed. In Vrindavan, the festival is celebrated for a week.

Basantotsava, Santiniketan: This is one place that should be visited during the Spring Festival that falls during the Holi festivities. Students dress up in spring colours and stage a huge cultural program for visitors, including dancing to Rabindranath Tagore's songs. This is followed by the usual exchange of colours. Basantotsava has become a cherished part of Bengali history and culture and attracts numerous tourists.

Royal Holi, Udaipur: The experience in this majestic place is of course royal. A day before Holi, which is celebrated as Holika Dahan, hundreds of pyres are lit all over the city. But the one at the Jagdish Temple is the biggest. The Holi experience here is grand.

So this Holi (March 24), which also happens to be a long weekend, celebrate with more vigour and, of course, safe colours.

(Kavita Bajeli-Datt can be contacted at kavita.bajeli@gmail.com)
Review to bring Australian Consumer Law up-to-date

The first ever review of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) will test whether consumer protections will suit the modern market place says Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Chairman Rod Sims.

Speaking today at the ACCCs annual National Consumer Congress in Sydney, Sims said the upcoming review will also address whether regulatory tools and sanctions are delivering compliance.

Just as the introduction of the ACL built on previous laws and regimes, we are confident that the 2016 review will confirm this new and improved base while taking steps to advance consumer protection, Sims said.

Sims listed some of the topics expected to emerge as part of the review including the sharing economy, dealing with phoenix companies, and the reach and size of penalties under the ACL.

We have often commented that the introduction of AUD$1.1 million pecuniary penalties has been a game changer for regulators in terms of deterrence. But is it enough to deter larger companies? We also think there is a strong case to examine the merits of extending the reach of penalties to cover breaches of the general prohibitions against misleading and deceptive conduct, Sims stated.

Penalties and other remedies already apply to false or misleading representations and there is often overlap between the two, he said.

The review was a main topic on the congress agenda which brought together consumer groups, community organisations and government.

Issues outside of the ACL discussed at the congress included protecting consumers online and issues affecting disadvantaged and vulnerable consumers. Keynote speakers included The Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer, The Hon Kelly ODwyer MP, CHOICE Chair Nicole Rich, Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Gerard Brody, Emergency paediatrician Dr Ruth Baker and The Checkout Executive Producer Julian Morrow.
The most anticipated meeting between India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Sartaj Aziz, foreign relations adviser to the Pakistani prime minister, has been fixed for Thursday evening, Indian and Nepali diplomats said on Wednesday.

The two leaders arrived in Pokhara on Wednesday to attend the 37th meeting of the Saarc Council of Ministers.

The positive tone for the meeting was set on Tuesday during the dinner hosted by Nepal's Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi where the Indian and Pakistani foreign secretaries rubbed shoulders and held informal talks, said officials privy to the dinner.

The prospect of the meeting between Sushma Swaraj and Aziz grew further after they met during a reception hosted by Nepal's Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa on Wednesday evening.

"What I can confirm is that the meeting between Sushma and Aziz has been fixed in Hotel Grand on Thursday evening," said one Indian diplomat.

That meeting would take place once the ministerial meeting is over, he added.

After the ministerial meeting, the visiting foreign ministers and senior officials will leave for sightseeing. They will then return to the hotel and sit for talks.

(Anil Giri can be contacted at girianil@gmail.com)
India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday left for Saarc foreign ministerial level meeting scheduled for Thursday in Nepal's Pokhara city.

"Leaving for Nepal. EAM @sushmaswaraj departs for the 37th SAARC foreign ministerial-level meeting in Pokhara," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said in a tweet.

Swaraj is also expected to meet Pakistan's foreign affairs advisor Sartaj Aziz, who is already in Nepal to attend the meeting, Pakistani media said.

Swaraj and Aziz are likely to discuss the delayed foreign secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan, which were postponed due to a terror attack on Pathankot air base.
The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday witnessed acrimonious scenes during the zero hour over a sting operation in West Bengal as members from the Trinamool Congress and the Communist Party of India-Marxist exchanged heated words.

Urging the government to immediately order a probe into the matter, CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, "This is a scam of the highest order."

He said perhaps there was a "match-fixing" between the government and the Trinamool Congress on the issue.

"If the government is not responding, the chair has to protect the dignity of the house and order a house probe," the CPI-M member said.

"When Tehelka tapes came (during the Vajpayee government), their leader (Mamata Banerjee) and their party had walked out of the BJP government," Yechury said.

A sting operation by a news portal allegedly showed several Trinamool Congress leaders accepting money in return for lobbying for a private firm.

Pushed to the wall on the sting controversy both in parliament and outside, the Trinamool Congress questioned the credibility of the video footage and hinted that foreign money was involved in creating these videos.

Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha during zero hour, party member Derek O'Brien said, "Let us not judge the credibility of the video; let's judge the source of the video."

He said that "my issue is much bigger", and added that the day what he dubbed as the "so-called" sting operation video was released, the portal company had made five telephone calls to Dubai.

As the Trinamool and Left members clashed, some CPI-M members trooped into the well of the house.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien told agitating Trinamool members, "What's the point fighting when he (Yechury) is only demanding an investigation! What is your objection over it?"
Republican Donald Trump had another great night with three major victories and a near tie, while a big loss in his home state of Florida prompted Marco Rubio to drop his White House bid.

Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton too scored major wins in Florida and North Carolina and in a crucial victory, she stopped self-styled Democratic Socialist rival Bernie Sanders in his tracks in the industrial Midwest by taking Ohio.

Trump won Republican primary victories in Florida, North Carolina and Illinois and was in a virtual tie with closest rival Ted Cruz in Missouri getting at least 159 more delegates and taking his total to 619 from 18 wins.

However, his loss in Ohio to its Governor, John Kasich made it more difficult for the brash billionaire to reach the 1,237 delegates he needs to capture the Republican nomination without a heated contest. Cruz has 394 delegates, Rubio 167 and Kasich 136.

But Trump's victory in the biggest contest of the night, taking all off Florida's 99 delegates forced Rubio out of the race and upended Republican establishment's plans to get united against the real estate tycoon.

"This was a great evening," he said in his primary night address describing himself proudly as a candidate of the angry and disaffected.

"There is great anger," Trump said. "Believe me, there is great anger."

"We have to bring our party together," he said urging party unity amid growing speculation about the potential of a convention fight. "We have to bring it together."

Conceding defeat, Rubio warned that Trump's of division will leave America a "fractured nation".

"America is in the middle of a real political storm, a real tsunami and we should have seen this coming," he said. "While we are on the right side," he said, "this year, we will not be on the winning side."

Trump on the other hand congratulated the Florida senator "for having run a tough campaign".

"He is tough," Trump said. "He is smart and he has got a great future."

On the Democratic side, Clinton won the Florida and Ohio primaries and with a win in North Carolina completed her sweep of Southern states where she has enjoyed strong support from African-American voters.

"We are moving closer to securing the Democratic Party nomination and winning this election in November," Clinton said in a victory speech in West Palm Beach, Florida.

She said that by the end of the night she would have two million more votes than Sanders, and hold a lead of more than 300 in the delegate count.

Even in defeat, Sanders delivered his standard campaign speech, decrying the influence of big money in and vowed that "billionaires would have to pay their fair share".

Describing "Rubio's demise" as "the last gasp of the Republican reboot", the Washington Post said "Years of carefully laid plans to repackage the Republican Party's traditional ideas for a fast-changing country came crashing down" with him quitting the race.

The New York Times said Rubio's exit had "spoiled the Republican buffet". Kasich, it suggested, "is the best of the remaining three candidates, but has little to no chance of pulling past either of the other two in the delegate count.

"Those two, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, are merely different flavours of rancid fare," said the influential daily which has endorsed Kasich and Clinton for their parties' nominations.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
US student Otto Frederick Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour for anti-North Korea crimes, the Supreme Court of North Korea said on Wednesday.

Warmbier, 21, was a student of finance from the University of Virginia. He confessed to committing the crimes of trying to take down a political slogan from a hotel, Xinhua reported.

The sentence of hard labour is being served starting from February 4, and the ruling was unappealable, the court said.

Warmbier on January 1 attempted to take down a political slogan which inspired people's love for North Korea from a staff-only area at Yanggakdo International Hotel, where he stayed during his tour to Pyongyang.

But the slogan was too heavy to carry. It dropped to the ground after Warmbier took it down from the wall.

Warmbier escaped from the scene. He was arrested and detained by the authorities at Pyongyang International Airport on January 2.

He was charged with following the US hostile policy against North Korea and undermining the unity of the country's people.

Warmbier was quoted as saying that the task was given by the Friendship United Methodist Church, at the encouragement of the Z Society and at the connivance of the US government, with the objective of undermining the unity of North Korean people and eventually overthrowing its system.

"The aim was to harm the work ethics and motivation of North Korean people," Warmbier said, adding that he was used and manipulated by the church and the Z society.

The Z Society is an organisation at the University of Virginia comprising students who give time, talent and financial contribution to groups and individuals that exemplify the spirit of the society and the ideals of the university. Membership is typically anonymous.
Yale will become the first university member of the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (CPLC), a private-public partnership to strengthen carbon pricing policies through the development of a network for sharing best practices.

The partnership among the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), governments, nonprofits, and private sector companies was launched at the recent COP-21 climate summit in Paris by World Bank president Jim Yong Kim and IMF managing director Christine Lagarde.

The CPLC coalition includes over 90 business and strategic partners as well as more than 20 governments, ranging from Germany and France, to Mexico and Chile, to Ethiopia and Morocco.

The announcement was made Monday in Mumbai, during the World Bank's Corporate Carbon Pricing Leadership Workshop, according to a media release from New Haven, Connecticut based university.

Two recent Yale graduate and undergraduate students who work on Yale's Carbon Charge Project, Jennifer Milikowsky and Ryan Laemel, gave presentations at this workshop as well as at the India Climate Policy and Business Conclave in New Delhi on Tuesday.

"Universities have a critical role to play in offering leadership, teaching, and research expertise to help develop effective climate change solutions," said Yale President Peter Salovey.

"It has been an honour to work this past week with Indian officials, the World Bank, and member companies of the CPLC to share Yale's carbon charge pilot project," said Laemel.

"The lessons we are learning are an important extension of our efforts on campus. The CPLC's network will be an invaluable resource as we continue to test and develop the concept."

Milikowsky, who was a student representative to the Presidential Carbon Charge Task Force as a graduate student and now works on the carbon charge project, said: "The biggest opportunity for Yale in the next 10 years is to further its leadership role in climate action by developing concrete solutions that can extend beyond our campus to other universities and institutions around the world."

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
Seed companies have gained the spotlight, following the governments focus on rural India in the Union Budget and the row on genetically modified cotton (termed Bt cotton, the former standing for Bacillus Thuringiensis; Bt are known to be more pest-resistant).

This should give sheer to these entities, as below normal monsoons for two years had hit the growth and profitability of agro-focused companies. Consumption fell and farmers limited income also curtailed their ability to try newer technology-based products. So, the stock prices of Monsanto India, Rallis, Bayer Crop Sciences and Kaveri took a beating, down 40-60 per cent (Bayer was down 15 per cent) from their 52-week highs in the past six-odd months.

Things seem to be looking up. The government panel recommendations to significantly cut cotton seed pricing through a big cut in the Bt tech fee has led to a lot of debate on pricing and a focus on the shares. The recommendations mean the price will be lowered to Rs 800 a packet of 450g, from Rs 830-1,100 at present, by cutting the royalty payable to innovators. This vindicates Kaveri Seeds stand; it had paid Monsanto royalty at no more than Rs 70 a packet, which the latter had disputed in the high court and this had raised concerns over continuing tech collaborations.

A final decision by the government is awaited. Rajat Wahi, partner at KPMG, says it will have to strike the right balance, as a certain level of fee for the multinationals is necessary to incentivise those bringing newer technologies.

Rallis India faces challenges on working capital and receivable days but its prospects are also on the mend. Sales in the first nine months were soft. In the December 15 quarter, Rallis business recorded a 17 per cent year-on-year drop in revenues and international sales also remained soft. Though exports are likely to rebound in the March quarter, the FY16 consolidated performance might remain soft. Analysts expect a rebound in FY17 and those at Kotak Securities build strong recovery in revenues and earnings, led by a likely revival in demand next year and on expectation of a normal monsoon.

Historically, after two bad monsoon seasons, the following one has been encouraging. The government is also trying to give a push to the rural economy, reflecting in the higher outlays for irrigation, etc, in the Union Budget. These moves should boost demand for agri-inputs like seeds, pesticides and crop protection solution providers, as will the governments plan to double farmers income over the next five years.

Looking at governments focus, improved connectivity, foreign investment in food processing and even the pay commission report, Wahi at KPMG feels it is time to get bullish on agri-related sectors. Analysts at Elara Capital say higher allocation for agriculture & farmer welfare and credit, healthy allocation for crop insurance and strengthening of irrigation will boost the agri sector in the medium term. They remain positive on PI Industries, Tata Chemicals, UPL, Rallis India, Insecticides India and Dhanuka Agritech. Sageraj Bariya at East India Securities finds Kaveri Seeds, Rallis and BASF trading at attractive valuations. The valuations for Bayer look stretched, he adds.
A sting operation video that purportedly shows top Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, including some MPs and ministers in the West Bengal Cabinet, accepting huge sums in cash as favours from a fictitious business entity has squashed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claim to probity in public life.

Curiously, Banerjee as well as others in her party have not questioned the authenticity of the video. Instead, they said it was a "conspiracy" by the Opposition to malign the TMC leadership since Assembly polls are due next month.

Even if it is so, what is wrong with that, so long as the video is not doctored? It would be like missing the woods for the trees. The very fact that a notice has been served by a TMC leader in the Rajya Sabha under Rule 267 to discuss the use of "foreign money" in influencing voters is a direct admission of the video's authenticity. Banerjee must now come clean on the issue.

Meanwhile, the law must take its course. This includes disqualifying the MPs and MLAs appearing in the video from their membership of the central and state legislatures, besides initiating criminal proceedings against them.

Remember that Banerjee had once demanded George Fernandes' resignation as defence minister after a similar sting operation had allegedly shown a senior functionary accepting bribe at the official residence of the minister. She had stepped down as minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Union Cabinet on that issue, though only to return to its fold after her party was drubbed in the Assembly polls in West Bengal the same year.

S K Choudhury, Bengaluru



Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:The Editor, Business StandardNehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar MargNew Delhi 110 002Fax: (011) 23720201E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
The first half of the of Parliament ended on Wednesday on an embarrassing note for the government, with the Opposition recommending five amendments to the Aadhaar Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

But, in a departure from the past two sessions, during which little business was transacted because of constant disruptions, the tail end of the current session was marked by vigorous activity, thanks to the spirit of accommodation shown both by the government as well the Opposition on several legislation, including on the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill.

In the past week, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha sat till late into the night to achieve record productivity and cleared much pending business. After a 40-day recess, the two Houses of Parliament will meet again for the second part of the from April 25 to May 13.

The agenda for the second half will include the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Constitution amendment Bill and the passage of the Finance Bill. The standing committee studying the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code is scheduled to submit its report by April 29. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2016, was passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday and is likely to be taken up in the second half of the session.

In the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, the Congress and Left parties led other smaller parties to not only recommended amendments to the Aadhaar Bill, but also berated the government for bringing that Bill as a money Bill under false pretences to bypass Rajya Sabha scrutiny.

The Opposition succeeded in putting its objections to the Bill on record and also said it would approach courts of law to question certifying of Aadhaar Bill as a money Bill. According to the Constitution, the President may either give or withhold his assent to a money Bill, but it cannot be returned to the House by the President for reconsideration. However, the Lok Sabha rejected the amendments leading to Opposition apprehensions that having discovered the money Bill route for passing Bills, the government may now opt to use it as a preferred parliamentary tactic in the future.

The government lost despite All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supporting it on the issue, while parties like the Trinamool Congress, Biju Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party staging walkouts before the Congress and Left parties demanded a division of votes. The last couple of days were also marred by vicious exchanges between members of Congress and Left parties on one side and those of Trinamool Congress after the surfacing of a sting where leaders of West Bengals ruling party are purportedly seen to be accepting cash from representatives of a private company.

The session began on a dismal note with disruptions becoming the rule almost every day in both Houses. However, the Real Estate Regulation and Development Bill 2015, which was also passed by the two Houses following pressure on the Congress by home-buyers, and the passage of 10 other legislation led to 120 per cent productivity of the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha virtually matched that performance at just under 100 per cent, also passing 10 Bills. The Lok Sabha functioned for 97 hours and the Rajya Sabha for 75 hours.

The Opposition did have its way by forcing the government to amend the Presidents Address to the two Houses by forcing it to oppose a minimum education qualification being fixed for candidates in local and panchayat elections. The amendment was adopted 94-61, driving home the governments lack of numbers in the upper House. The Opposition also forced the government in the Rajya Sabha to refer the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill 2016 to a standing committee although the Lok Sabha has passed it.

Privately, Congress MPs conceded that daily parliamentary disruption was a strategy of diminishing returns. But they also pointed out that if the government did not have a majority in the upper House, it needed to accept this and reach out to the Opposition more.

We helped the government pass at least two Bills because they had the grace to concede that these Bills were originally brought by us: the land swap agreement with Bangladesh moved by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and the Juvenile Justice Bill brought by Women and Child Welfare Minister Maneka Gandhi. We passed the Bills because the ministers reached out to us and publicly acknowledged our role in drafting the Bills. If the government is respectful and statesman-like, we will also meet it half way. But if you abuse us and revile us and then expect us to do your bidding, you are mistaken, said Rajya Sabha member B K Hariprasad.

The inter-session period will see heated campaigning for five Assembly elections around the time the House reconvenes. However, in the course of this period and before the Monsoon session in August, nearly 75 MPs will retire from the upper House and new ones will take their place. This will include five nominated MPs, who will be the NDA governments choice to replace the ones who have already retired. In addition, a new crop of MPs from Tamil Nadu will reflect the Assembly election results. The second part of session will see some old but many new faces in the upper House.

BILLS PASSED

BILLS INTRODUCED

(Development and Regulation) Bill (passed by LS; RS to take up)(Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016 (passed by LS)(Amendment and Validation) Bill (passed by LS, sent by RS to a select committee)(Scheduled Castes) Order Amendment Bill (passed by LS)(Regulation and Development) Bill (passed by both Houses)(Amendment) Bill (passed by both Houses)(Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill (passed by both Houses)(Amendment) Bill (passed by both Houses)(passed by RS; passed by LS in winter session)(passed by both Houses)(in RS)
Rejecting RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's suggestion for infusing patriotism, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has said he will not chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' even if a knife is put to his throat, prompting Shiv Sena to tell him on Monday that he should go to Pakistan.

Owaisi's assertion days after Bhagwat said the new generation needs to be taught to chant slogans hailing mother India drew sharp condemnation from RSS, BJP and Shiv Sena while he stood by his statement made at a public rally.

"I don't chant that slogan. What are you going to do, Bhagwat sahab," the Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad said at the rally in Udgir tehsil of Latur district in Maharashtra yesterday.

"I won't utter that (slogan) even if you put a knife to my throat," Owaisi said, amid loud applause from the crowd.

"Nowhere in the Constitution it says that one should say: 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'," he said.

On March 3, Bhagwat had said the new generation needs to be taught to chant slogans hailing mother India, comments which came against the backdrop of the row over alleged anti-India sloganeering on the JNU campus.

"Now the time has come when we have to tell the new generation to chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' (hail mother India). It should be real, spontaneous and part of all-round development of the youth," the RSS chief had said.

Asked by reporters to comment on the condemnation of his statement, Owaisi said he stood by it, asserting there is no violation of any law or Constitution in what he said.

"Whom is he(Bhagwat) trying to frighten? He can't force his ideology on others," he said.

Senior Shiv Sena leader and minister Ramdas Kadam said Owaisi should go to Pakistan if he doesn't want to say 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'.

"I have asked Maharashtra government to take action against him," Kadam said.

BJP leader and Finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said the local administration will examine Owaisi's statement and the government will then take appropriate action.

Ratan Sharda, author and RSS ideologue, accused Owaisi of playing on feelings and asked, "If you say I love my mother then what is the problem."



BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh also accused Owaisi of trying to provoke nationalist sentiments, describing his statement as "highly condemnable".

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said statements like that made by Owaisi should be "completely avoided".

Interestingly, Samajwadi Party MLA in Mumbai Abu Azmi said Owaisi should say 'Bharat Mata ki jai', but added that "parties like BJP and Shiv Sena are indulging in over the issue".
On a day the authenticity of information on the Lok Sabha website came under a cloud, the Opposition on Wednesday embarrassed the government in the Rajya Sabha by recommending to the Lok Sabha as many as five amendments to the . The Lok Sabha sat till late in the evening to discuss the Bill and rejected the amendments after a walkout by several Opposition parties. The Lok Sabha passed the Bill in its original form.

It is rare in the history of Parliament for the Upper House to have recommended amendments to a money Bill. The was certified as a money Bill by the Lok Sabha Speaker, which meant that the Upper House could only recommend amendments, which are not binding on the Lok Sabha. According to the Constitution, the Speakers veto on the issue cannot be challenged.

But, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) chief Sitaram Yechury said in the Upper House that legal avenues would be explored on the issue of the Speakers discretion. Echoing similar views, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters that the party could challenge the Speakers ruling in a court of law since by no stretch of imagination, is the a money Bill. In the discussion on the Bill, Congress member of Parliament Jairam Ramesh suggested nine amendments that primarily related to ensuring that Aadhaar is not made mandatory for seeking government entitlements, that it should not be used for any other purpose other than for identifying beneficiaries for government subsidies, and that the government should look into the recommendations by the A P Shah committee on privacy of Aadhaar data. He also suggested the clause relating to sharing of biometric information in cases of  security be amended considering the possibility of its misuse.

The Opposition  the Congress, the Left parties, Janata Dal (United) and other regional parties  pushed for a division of votes on five of these nine amendments. But, such is the lack of numbers of the government in the Rajya Sabha that despite the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam members supporting the government on the issue and parties such as Trinamool Congress, Biju Janata Dal, Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party staging a walkout, the government lost 76 to 64 of the 140 members voting on the amendments.

Ramesh, the former union minister for rural development, criticised the government for pushing it as a money Bill. He said the government, by trying to bypass the scrutiny of the Upper House, was knocking a nail in the coffin of the Rajya Sabha.

THE FIVE CHANGES TO AADHAAR BILL

Congress member of Parliament (MP) Jairam Ramesh moved nine changes. Other MPs also moved changes. The Opposition pushed for a division on five of Rameshs nine changes. These five were incorporated in the Bill and recommended to the Lok Sabha, which later rejected all these changes RAJYA SABHAS FIVE CHANGES

CHANGE 1: Clause 3 An individual who does not wish to continue as a holder of Aadhaar number should be permitted to have his number deleted from the Central Identities Data Repository. A certificate shall be issued within fifteen days of the request. CHANGE 2: Clause 7 If an Aadhaar number is not assigned to or if an individual chooses not to opt for enrolment, the person shall be offered alternate and viable means of identification for delivery of the subsidy, benefits, or service. CHANGE 3: Clause 33 For the words  security, the words public emergency or in the interest of public safety be substituted. CHANGE 4: Clause 33 The Oversight Committee (which will take a decision on whether to agree to a request to share biometric data of an individual for security) should also include the central vigilance commissioner or the comptroller and auditor general. CHANGE 5: Clause 57 This clause be deleted

Clause 57: states that nothing contained in this Act shall prevent the use of the Aadhaar number for establishing the identity of an individual for any purpose, whether by the state or any body, company or person.

Ramesh added that former Attorney General K Parasaran, a nominated member of the House, had a said that in its pith and substance Aadhaar was not a money Bill.

He also accused Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of having manufactured information that the previous Congress governments had pushed through such Bills as the Juvenile Justice Bill in 1986 and African Development Bill in 1983 as money Bills.

Jaitley said the source of his information was the Lok Sabha website, but Ramesh countered it by saying that the Rajya Sabha secretariat has told him that the information was incorrect and neither of the two Bills had been certified as money Bills.

Subhash C Kashyap, former secretary-general of the Lok Sabha, said he could not recall a previous instance of the Rajya Sabha having recommended amendments on a money Bill. He also said Jaitleys mistake was bona-fide and could not attract a privilege motion. The privilege motion can be moved if a member of the House has shared some information deliberately, wilfully and with a view to misleading the House. This clearly wasnt the case as the finance minister had relied on the Lok Sabha website.
Kanhaiya Kumar will not campaign for the Left parties in the forthcoming assembly elections in West Bengal and Kerala. After announcing that he might, top leaders of the Left parties have had second thoughts in sending him to two states where their principle enemy isnt the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to top leaders of the Left parties, Kanhaiya, the president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students union will continue to lead protest marches or address students in colleges and universities across the country, including in Kerala and Bengal.

A Left leader told this website that Kanhaiyas speeches would focus more on the dangers that face Indias pluralism and its secular democracy from the current government. It is apparent from posters and hoardings featuring Kanhaiya put up by the Congress party in Guwahati that he isnt an icon just for the Left parties.

By campaigning actively for a particularly party in Kerala and Bengal, Kanhaiya runs the risk of losing the support he has received not just from the Congress, large sections of the intelligentsia and also those who are vehemently opposed to the Left ideology. Thanks to Kanhaiya, the Left has has managed to occupy the mainstream discourse after decades and has also come across as a strong bulwark against Hindutva . The Left leaders now say that Kanhaiya has emerged as a youth symbol against all that is ostensibly wrong with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre, and they are unlikely to expend him for their immediate electoral gains.

The statement that Kanhaiya might campaign in Kerala and Bengal for the Left parties  the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI (M), Communist Party of India (CPI) and their other allies  was attributed to CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury. But theres been a rethink since. Kanhaiyas message will go to Kerala and Bengal, just as its spreading across the country, a top Left leader said, adding that Yechurys statement was taken out of context. The battle that the country faces currently is much bigger than winning an assembly election or two, said a Left leader.

This realisation among Left leaders has come after Kanhaiya himself made it amply clear and conveyed as much to the Left leadership that his focus at the current juncture was on completing his doctoral dissertation and serving out the remainder of his term as the JNU students union president. According to sources, Kanhaiyas professors have also advised him against jumping headlong into electoral .

There is also hard political analysis behind Kanhaiyas decision to turn down the offer by Left parties to campaign for them in Kerala and Bengal. Kanhaiya is with All India Students Federation (AISF), which is affiliated to the CPI. The CPI is non-existent in large parts of the country, including in Kanhaiyas home state of Bihar. It is a marginal player even in Kerala and Bengal, surviving in the shadow of big brother CPI(M).

Kanhaiya is product of a Left movement that is in steep decline. The situation is different from when student leaders of the 1970s, like Sitaram Yechury and Prakash Karat, were propelled to the heights of Indian on the strength of a vibrant Left movement in several parts of the country.

Kanhaiya can either joining politics now and run the risk of becoming yet another student leader who might fall into political oblivion in the years to come, or he can focus on academics, start teaching and continue with his political commitments.
Altogether 127 women were lynched in Jharkhand between 2012-14 after being branded as witch, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

"As per information provided by the NCRB, a total of 26, 54 and 47 cases were reported under murder for witchcraft in Jharkhand during 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively," Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said replying to a written question.

The Minister said continuous awareness programmes through print and visual media are being conducted and help of NGOs in educating people of witchcraft related superstition is being taken.
A powerful bomb ripped through a bus carrying government employees in Pakistan's Peshawar city today, killing at least 15 people and injuring 30 others.

The blast took place as a bomb placed inside the bus exploded when the vehicle packed with government employees reached Peshawar from Mardan.

The bomb exploded when the private bus was on Sunehri Masjid Road as it was taking civil secretariat employees for duty.

At least 15 people were killed in the blast targeting the bus carrying government officials, SSP operations Peshawar Abbas Majeed Marwat said.

He said about 50 people were on board the bus at the time of the explosion.

Two women and a child were among the dead. At least 30 people were injured in the blast.

SP Cantt Kashif Zulfiqar said the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted inside the bus. About 8 kg of explosives were used in blast.

The injured were shifted to Lady reading hospital. The condition of a majority of those injured was stated to be critical. Eight of the injured were admitted in ICU.

The security forces and police cardoned off the entire area and started a search operation.

Fear and panic spread among residents in the wake of the explosion.

"The top part of the bus has blown off and is being cut to pull out the injured," an eye witness was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.

Peshawar has seen scores of attacks on civilians as well as law enforcement personnel in the past.

The city is also the home to the XI Corps, an administrative corp of the Pakistan Army, which manages all military activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is currently engaged in a full-blown operation against militants in North Waziristan.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack in Peshawar. He expressed grief over the loss of precious lives in the attack.

"These cowardly attacks cannot shatter our unflinching resolve against terrorism," Sharif said.
At least 17 Pakistani government employees were today killed and over 30 others injured when a powerful bomb ripped through a bus ferrying them to work in this restive city, an attack Taliban said was to avenge death sentences confirmed against 13 militants a day ago.

The blast occurred this morning as a bomb placed inside the bus exploded when the vehicle packed with government employees reached Peshawar from Mardan. The bomb exploded when the private bus was on Sunehri Masjid Road as it was taking civil secretariat employees for duty.

At least 17 people, including three women, were killed in the blast targeting the bus carrying government officials, according to senior police officials.

About 50 people were on board the bus at the time of the explosion, SSP operations Peshawar Abbas Majeed Marwat said. Over 30 people were injured in the blast.

SP Cantt Kashif Zulfiqar said the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted inside the bus. About 8 kg of explosives were used in blast.

A militant group affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban, Lashkar-e-Islam, claimed responsibility, saying it was to avenge the sentencing of 13 militants to death which was confirmed by army chief Raheel Sharif yesterday.

The injured were shifted to Lady Reading hospital. The condition of a majority of those injured was stated to be critical. Eight of the injured were admitted in ICU.

The security forces and police cordoned off the entire area and started a search operation.

Fear and panic spread among residents in the wake of the explosion.

"The top part of the bus has blown off and is being cut to pull out the injured," an eyewitness was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.

Peshawar has seen scores of attacks on civilians as well as law enforcement personnel in the past. The northwestern city is also the home to the XI Corps, an administrative corp of the Pakistan Army, which manages all military activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is currently engaged in a full-blown operation against militants in North Waziristan.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack in Peshawar and expressed grief over the loss of precious lives in the attack.

"These cowardly attacks cannot shatter our unflinching resolve against terrorism," Sharif said.

Pakistan Army launched its offensive in the region in 2014 in a bid to wipe out militant bases.

Attacks have decreased since the government crackdown after the 2014 Army Public School attack and the Taliban have been squeezed into small pockets of territory. However, militant groups remain able to launch sporadic attacks on security forces and civilian targets.

Last week, 17 people were killed and 31 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowded court in Shabqadar Bazaar of Charsadda district near here, an attack the Taliban termed as revenge for the execution of the killer of liberal Punjab province governor Salman Taseer.
Security personnel today recovered three can-bombs from Bokod village under Rania police station in naxal-hit Khunti district.

The bombs were found hidden in a road side ditch, Superintendent of Police Anish Gupta said.

The recovery was made during a search operation launched jointly by CRPF and district armed police force in the naxal-affected areas.

Gupta said the explosives, weighing 20 kgs each, have been defused by the bomb disposal squad.
Thirty insurgents in Somalia's Al-Qaeda-aligned Shebab jihadist group were killed in heavy clashes in the south and northeast of the country, Kenya's armed forces and local authorities said separately.

In the first incident, the Kenya Defence Force (KDF) yesterday said it had thwarted an assault on a military camp at Afmadhow in the Lower Juba area in southern Somalia, killing 19 rebels and seizing a haul of weapons.

Kenyan troops operating under the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) mission "foiled a planned attack" near the camp, operated by the Somali National Army (SNA) and AMISOM, the KDF said in a statement.

"The... Terrorists had approached the camp at night with the intent to attack and cut off the SNA from the AMISOM KDF camp," it said.

"KDF soldiers on patrol identified the militants and engaged them in a fierce battle. The (Shebab) attempted to fight back, but were swiftly repulsed by the KDF soldiers on patrol and those at the camp," it said, quoting army spokesman David Obonyo.

"Following the incident, 19 (Shebab) militants were killed and one technical vehicle destroyed. Some of the arms and ammunition recovered include 10 AK 47 rifles and three rocket-propelled grenades."



In a separate incident yesterday, troops in Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region killed 11 Shebab in heavy fighting in villages on the northeastern coast, local authorities said.

The clashes came a day after around 100 insurgents sought to take control of the villages of Garmal and Suuj, near the port of Eyl, a pirate hotspot, local officials and residents said.

"Puntland forces have attacked elements of the Shebab group who have attacked coastal villages in the Puntland region in order to destabilise the area," Mohamud Hassan, the Puntland administration's information minister, said at a press conference.

"Eleven of the fighters were killed in the fighting and the rest are surrounded now," he said, adding that the clean-up operation was still ongoing.

It was not immediately possible to independently verify the information.

Residents in the Eyl district said the Shebab arrived in the villages in fishing boats.

They seized Garmal late Tuesday and then took up positions in Suuj village where the fighting yesterday was "very heavy", said Ali Weli, a resident.
Altogether 50,000 toilets would be built for women under the Swachh Maharashtra Mission, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the state Assembly today.

"Mumbai needs almost one lakh toilet blocks to put an end to open defecation and the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) would be directed to prepare a time-bound programme for constructing the same," Fadnavis said during to a debate on a calling attention notice in the House.

"As per norms, there should be at least one toilet seat per 35 men and one toilet seat per 25 women. Mumbai, however, has one toilet seat for 50 people. Altogether 50,000 toilets would be built for women under the Swachh Maharashtra Mission," Fadnavis said.

Municipal corporations have been instructed to build toilet blocks by utilising the portion of reserve funds, he said.
More than half a dozen countries, including France, China, Germany, and Russia, have tied up with Railways to extend expertise in redeveloping stations across the country, Lok Sabha was told today.

Railways has signed MoUs with nine countries for technical cooperation in rail sector, including in station development, MoS for Railways Manoj Sinha said in a written reply.

The MoUs are with Slovak Republic, UK, Japan, China, France, Belgium, Russia, Czech Republic and Germany for ties in rail sector through expert meetings, information exchange and implementation of jointly agreed cooperation projects.

Railways has advertised its plan to redevelop 400 major stations and invited proposals from developers with their designs and business ideas.

Besides, redevelopment of eight stations - Anand Vihar, Bijwasan, Chandigarh, Gandhinagar, Habibganj, Shivaji Nagar (Pune), Surat and SAS Nagar (Mohali) has been entrusted to Indian Railway Station Development Corporation, he said.

The entire cost of station redevelopment is to be met by leveraging commercial development of land and air space in and around the stations, Sinha said.
At least nine Pakistani fishermen, languishing in jails in India, were released and handed over to authorities of that country at Wagah today.

The fishermen, who have been languishing in jails for around one and half years, were handed over to Pakistan Rangers at the Wagah-Attari border post, official sources said.

The release of nine Pakistani fishermen came a week after 87 Indian fishermen were set free by Pakistan.

According to an estimate, around 457 Indians are believed to be in jail in Pakistani and most of them are fishermen arrested for territorial violation.

Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz had recently said that 113 Pakistani fishermen are in Indian custody.

Both Indian and Pakistani fishermen are often arrested for illegal fishing since the Arabian Sea border is not clearly defined and many boats lack the technology to fix their precise location.
Just a few weeks after she turned 17, Danielle Burgess was diagnosed with colon cancer.

Burgess had been noticing blood in her stool for several years, but she shrugged it off after consulting Dr. Google and self-diagnosing hemorrhoids.

By the time she went to the doctor to have a colonoscopy, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer.

It wasnt great but they gave me a lot of treatment options, said Burgess of Kansas City, Mo.

Six months later she was cancer-free. Doctors continued to monitor her colon (large intestine) every three years. In 2009, when she was 25, a growth on her colon once again tested positive for cancer.

Luckily, they caught it early, said Burgess, now 32.

Colorectal cancer, a malignancy that occurs in the colon or rectum, is a leading cause of cancer deaths. This year, its expected to claim the lives of nearly 50,000 people in the United States.

Its also largely preventable. Screening tests can detect and remove abnormalities before they have a chance to turn cancerous  or spot problems in the early stages, when the disease is more responsive to treatment.

The American Cancer Society and other groups say that screening for most men and women should begin at age 50. Even so, many choose to ignore this advice. Roughly one-third of the countrys eligible adults havent been screened for colorectal cancer as recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC estimates that if everyone age 50 and up had regular testing, at least 60 percent of deaths from this cancer could be avoided.

In nearly every case, colon cancer begins with a small growth called a polyp, which over time turns into a large polyp, and eventually turns into cancer, said Dr. David Greenwald, director of clinical gastroenterology and endoscopy at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. This process takes many years to occur; if polyps are removed when they are small or even when they are big, but before they turn into cancer, colon cancer is prevented.

If found in its earliest stages and if the cancer hasnt spread, the survival rate beyond 5 years is 90 percent, said Durado Brooks, managing director of cancer control intervention for the American Cancer Society. If it has already spread, the survival rate drops to 12 percent beyond 5 years.

Our treatments are much, much more effective at the early stage, Brooks said.

There are numerous ways to screen for colorectal cancer, and several organizations have issued their own guidelines.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening using high-sensitivity fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy beginning at age 50 and continuing until age 75, at which point the decision to continue screening should be made on an individual basis depending on the persons overall health and screening history.

The tests the task force recommends:

High-sensitivity fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) to detect blood in the stool, a possible sign of cancer. People get a kit and collect small samples of stool that are sent to a lab. This test should be done annually.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy, where doctors use a thin, flexible, lighted tube called a sigmoidoscope to examine the interior walls of the rectum and the lower third of the colon. Should be done every five years in conjunction with FOBT/FIT every three years.

Colonoscopy, similar to a sigmoidoscopy but uses a longer colonoscope tube to look at the inside walls of the rectum and the entire colon. Should be done every 10 years. During the procedure, tissue samples may be collected for further testing or polyps may be removed. Colonoscopies are often performed as a follow-up if abnormalities are picked up by other screening methods.

Doctors say theyve heard a plethora of excuses from patients whove put off screening.

Some excuses for not undergoing screening include a fear of being diagnosed with cancer, said Dr. Andrew Chan, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Other patients do not want to undergo endoscopic screening tests because they are afraid of pain or discomfort. For these patients, I explain that the vast majority of patients do not experience discomfort since they are given sedatives and pain medicines during the procedures.

While most adults can wait until 50 to start routine screening, tests should begin earlier and be done more frequently for those at higher risk, such as people with inflammatory bowel disease or a strong family history of colorectal cancer or polyps.
Academy CEO Dawn Hudson has issued an apology to 25 members, including Ang Lee, George Takei and Sandra Oh, who signed a letter of protest against "racially insensitive jokes" in last month's Oscars ceremony.

Hudson called their concerns "valid" and promised that "future Oscar telecasts (will) be more culturally sensitive," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The brief response that was emailed to the members, acknowledged their criticisms, which centred on a skit in which host Chris Rock introduced three Asian children as Academy accountants and some comments by presenter Sacha Baron Cohen.

Hudson emphasised that it "was never the Academy's intent to offend anyone" and that the organisation "will be exercising more oversight" going forward "to ensure that material in future telecasts (will) be more culturally sensitive."



Her personal apology follows a statement issued by an Academy spokesperson earlier that expressed "regrets that any aspect of the Oscar telecast was offensive.
Expressing concern over lack of classrooms in government schools, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today said that it can only be imagined what students must be learning when there are over 150 of them in a room.

"If there are over 150 children in one classroom, even if God decides to teach, he can't," Sisodia said during the inauguration of 17 new classrooms in SKV school in Mayur Vihar area.

He also thanked PWD for making 17 classrooms in the budget allocated for 16 classrooms.

"There is a huge dearth of classrooms in government schools and there are schools where over 150 children study in one room; we can imagine what they can learn in such an atmosphere.

"There is a school in north-east Delhi where 174 children are made to sit in one room. Several of them skip the classes. What will they learn in such classrooms? They must be feeling like sitting in a vegetable market," he said.

The minister said that government has doubled the education budget after looking at the state of affairs in the education sector.

Around 8,000 new classrooms are being constructed in government schools in Delhi, he added.

"Construction in some schools have been completed, rest would be completed by July. This project is on the priority of PWD," he added.
Indian mining giant today took a step forward in realising its 21.7 billion dollars coal mine in Australia by concluding the final landholder compensation agreement, a day after it received the backing of the Queensland's Parliament for the controversy-hit project.

"This agreement, which allows for the inclusion of land within the surface area of the mining lease, represents another important milestone in ensuring the company's mine, rail and port projects proceed, and another step in Adani's plans to build a long term future with Queensland," a spokesperson for said.

The latest company announcement came after Queensland parliament agreed that Enterprises Ltd should be granted "all state government approvals" to build one of the world's biggest coal mines.

The company described the move as an "important milestone" stating that high quality, low ash, low sulphur coal mined at Carmichael, ideal for use in Indian generators, will help meet growing energy demand in the company's home market, while providing much needed jobs and export opportunities for Queensland."



Welcoming the news, Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Michael Roche said: "This is yet another milestone as these important projects continue to progress. And as the QRC has regularly stated, these important economic opportunities benefit all Queenslanders, not just those in the regions".

Last night, Queensland Parliament announced its support for the approval of Adani's Carmichael coal project.

Last month, Queensland state's Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) issued a final environmental authority (EA) for Adani's Carmichael Mine project but with about 140 conditions. The project is located near the fragile Great Barrier Reef.

Adani's plan to build the coal mines in Australia has been hampered time and again. A federal court in August last year had revoked the original approval due toenvironmental concerns.

In October last year, the project got a new lease of life after the Australian government gave its re-approval.
An Air India jet from Delhi to Bangkok carrying 241 people was today ordered to park at an isolated area of the Thai capital's main airport after a bomb threat, officials said.

Air India flight AI 332 from Delhi landed at Suvarnabhumi airport at the scheduled time of 7:13pm (8:43pm IST) and was asked by air traffic controllers to be parked at an area away from other planes, sources told PTI.

Authorities activated an emergency plan and safely evacuated all 231 passengers, including a child, and 10 crew members from the aircraft to begin checking for a bomb.

All passengers were evacuated safely via slides.

Police from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit are checking all pieces of luggage including those loaded on the aircraft, Chadanisa Chumnanvej, deputy general manager of Suvarnabhumi airport in charge of operations, was quoted as saying by The Bangkok Post.

The result of the check remains unknown, the report said.

Air India uses a Boeing 787 dreamliner for the flight, according to the flightaware.Com. The plane left the Indian capital at 2:05pm IST.
An Air India flight from Delhi to Bangkok carrying 241 people was today searched for explosives after it was ordered to park at an isolated area of the Thai capital's main airport following two bomb threats, officials said.

Air India flight AI 332 from Delhi landed at Suvarnabhumi airport seven minutes ahead of its scheduled time of 7:13pm (8:43pm IST) and was asked by air traffic controllers to be parked at an area away from other planes, sources told PTI.

Authorities activated an emergency plan and safely evacuated all 231 passengers, including a child, and 10 crew members from the aircraft to begin checking for a bomb.

All passengers were evacuated safely via slides.

"The plane was searched here as a matter of procedure and nothing was found," Indranil Banerjee, chief of Air India's Thailand office, told PTI.

He said all the passengers on board were evacuated safely and after the search by authorities, the luggage items were also released.

However, the national carrier's departure flight has been postponed to tomorrow.

Air India said in a statement: "While the plane was 1.15 hrs away from Bangkok, two bomb threat calls were received by Delhi call centre. Accordingly, the pilot was informed who asked the Bangkok Air Traffic Control (ATC) for priority landing.

"With the close coordination of crew and ATC the flight landed safely at Bangkok at 1910 hrs local time and taken to isolation. The threat was for 1915 hrs local time. All parachutes were deployed and all 231 passengers were evacuated in 90 seconds."



Police from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit checked all pieces of luggage including those loaded on the aircraft, Chads Chumnanvej, deputy general manager of Suvarnabhumi airport in charge of operations, was quoted as saying by The Bangkok Post.

Air India uses a Boeing 787 dreamliner for the flight, according to the flightaware.Com. The plane left the Indian capital at 2:10pm IST.

Suvarnabhumi is Thailand's largest international airport and sees around 50 million passengers annually.
National carrier Air India today signed a pact with Kuwait-based ALAFCO for leasing 14 A320 neo aircraft.

The delivery of these planes is likely to start from early next year.

In this regard, an agreement was inked by Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani and ALAFCO Vice-Chairman and CEO Ahmad Al Zabin.

"This is a very important partnership for Air India. The A320 aircraft will add strength to our existing fleet and enhance our role as a major player in the domestic market," Lohani said in a release.

With the induction of 14 A320 neos, the national carrier is expected to augment its capacity in the domestic market.

The planes would come fitted with the new generation CFM leap engines which would reduce noise and emission, enhance the operational efficiency and reduce fuel consumption by at least 15 per cent, the release said.

The partnership between Air India and Airbus dates back to 1989 when the erstwhile Indian Airlines became the launch customer to induct the Airbus A320, it added.
Andhra Pradesh government, with the support of the Centre, will set up an aviation academy at Puttaparti in Anantapuramu district, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said today.

The academy would come up on a 150-acre site in the next three months, he said.

The Chief Minister met aero industrialists and manufacturers who were here to participate in India Aviation Expo this evening and discussed the possibility of developing aviation industry in Andhra Pradesh, a release from the Chief Minister's Office said.

The Chief Minister held talks with representatives of Airbus, Qatar Airways, Boeing, Aerospace, Czech Airways. He also discussed the matter with Union Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapati Raju.

While a greenfield international airport would be developed at Bhigapuram near Visakhapatnam, aerospace and defence manufacturing units would be set up in Anantapuramu district, the Chief Minister told the business representatives.

The state government would also develop five regional airports at Kuppam, Dagadarthi, Donakonda, Orvakallu and Nagarjuna Sagar.

Czech Airways has come forward to develop airports at low cost, the CMO statement said.
Apple has fired anew at the US government's legal fight to force it to break into an attacker's iPhone, saying the tactic would "appall" the country's founders.

Apple dug into its legal position in a written filing ahead of a hearing set for March 22 before a federal judge in Southern California.

Apple stuck to its argument that the FBI was overstepping legal bounds by using an All Writs Act to compel the company to help break an iPhone used by one of the shooters in the December terror attack in San Bernardino, California.

"The government attempts to rewrite history by portraying the Act as an all-powerful magic wand rather than the limited procedural tool it is," Apple attorneys yesterday said in a filing that responded to one submitted to the court a week earlier by the Justice Department.

"Thus, according to the government, short of kidnapping or breaking an express law, the courts can order private parties to do virtually anything the Justice Department and FBI can dream up. The founders would be appalled."



Apple urged the court to reject the FBI request on the ground it is forbidden by the Constitution.

Forcing Apple to help unlock an iPhone is a "modest" demand that may turn up vital evidence in a terrorist attack, the US government argued in a brief filed last week, upping the ante in its legal standoff with the technology giant.

Apple, which is backed by a broad coalition of powerful rival technology firms and activists, argues that the FBI is seeking a "back door" into all iPhones as part of the probe.

The government brief, in sharp contrast, argued it is a single case of technical assistance in an important national security investigation.

"The court's order is modest," Justice Department lawyers wrote.

"It applies to a single iPhone and it allows Apple to decide the least burdensome means of complying."



An FBI victory in the case could serve as a legal precedent backing requests for access to iPhones by law enforcement agencies throughout the US.

Apple general counsel Bruce Sewell last week slammed the Justice Department brief as reading "like an indictment" and apparently crafted to smear the iPhone maker with innuendo such as implying a "sinister" relationship with China.

He bashed the "cheap shot" brief as "an unsubstantiated effort to vilify Apple" that was on a flimsy legal footing.

Apple attorneys said that the California-based company has "categorically and absolutely not" been asked by any government other than the United States to build a backdoor into a product.
Argentina's navy has announced that it used gunfire to sink a boat Chinese-flagged boat that was fishing illegally in national waters.

China's government said it expressed its serious concern to Argentina and called for an investigation



The navy statement said yesterday the boat was intercepted on Monday off the coast of Puerto Madryn, about 1,460 kilometres south of Buenos Aires.

The statement said the boat did not heed warning calls and instead tried to ram an Argentine naval vessel. Sailors then shot holes in different parts of the fishing boat, causing it to sink, the navy said.

Four people on board were rescued and arrested. They remained in custody and were to go before a federal judge in southern Chubut province, the statement said.

The navy said it had been 15 years since one of its vessels last sank a foreign vessel fishing illegally in Argentina's waters.

In Beijing, Lu Kang, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, posted a statement on the ministry's website saying the boat had been fishing in Argentine waters and was chased for several hours before Argentine naval fire holed the vessel.

It said four Chinese were picked up by the Argentines and 28 more were rescued by a nearby Chinese vessel.

The statement did not directly address the question of whether the boat was fishing illegally or tried to ram the Argentine navy vessel.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy to Argentina have lodged urgent representations with Argentina, expressing serious concern, urging Argentina to carry out a full investigation immediately and to inform China of the details, to protect the safety and lawful rights of Chinese sailors, and to take effective measures to avoid similar incidents," the statement said.
Real estate company Arihant Superstructures Ltd (ASL) has roped in Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh as its brand ambassador.

In a filing to BSE, ASL informed that "Ranveer Singh is brand ambassador for Arihant".

The company has presence in Navi Mumbai and Jodhpur (Rajasthan).

ASL Chairman Ashok Chhajer said: "Arihant's philosophy matches with Ranveer's passion of giving his best to his audience and in our case to the customer."



The BSE-listed company has executed projects covering over 4 million sq ft comprising over 5,000 homes and as on date it has 16 projects under different stages of development covering over 13 million square feet.
The Arizona Community Tree Council and Arizona State Forestry have partnered to bring a Homeowners Tree Workshop and Firewise Education to Flagstaff area residents. This free workshop will be held Saturday, March 26, from 9 a.m. to noon at Summit Fire Department Station 33, 6050 E. Firehouse Lane.

Participants will learn the fundamentals of proper tree installation, initial care, growth, development, and the benefit of trees for the homeowner and the community. The speakers will also educate participants on the proper maintenance of surrounding landscape to protect homes from wildfire.

To register go to aztrees.org/event-2177165.

Vendors sought for county fair

Coconino County Parks and Recreation is currently accepting vendor applications for the 2016 Coconino County Fair, to be held Sept. 2  5, at Fort Tuthill County Park. Vendors may submit applications for amusement, food, commercial businesses and non-profits.

In an effort to promote local products and services, an early bird rate is being extended. Interested business owners and operators are encouraged to submit a vendor application by May 31 to take advantage of a 50 percent early bird discount for non-premium outdoor locations on the fairgrounds. Non-profit vendors are not eligible for early bird rates.

Vendor applications are available on the Coconino County Parks and Recreations website at www.Coconino.az.gov/CountyFair.

The Coconino County Fair is celebrating its 67th anniversary this year and remains a much beloved event among community members. More than 40,000 people regularly attend the fair, which features exhibits by 4-H and community members as well as national, regional and local entertainment, and food and commercial vendors.
Assam Agriculture Minister Rockybul Hussain today filed a police complaint against an 'Election Commission Election Expenditure' team for allegedly defaming him by searching his vehicles.

Hussain said that he along with his wife had come to his house in Panjabari area here at around 6.30 PM when the EC team, who was waiting there, asked them along with Hussain's security forces in another car to get out of their vehicles to conduct search operations there.

The team did not state the exact reason for conducting the search, the Minister said.

"A person of the team told me 'there is a reason' for doing so. The team came in a car with a sticker of 'Expenditure Observer On Election Duty Kamrup Metropolitan District'".

"After the search was over, the officer who claimed to be from Gujarat cadre, said 'I am satisfied' but refused to give me a report that the search was conducted," Hussain said.

"The search is a political conspiracy as the BJP is afraid that Congress will win the Assembly elections again," he told reporters.

"As soon as the Election Expenditure' team left, my house was raided by an Income Tax team. We have never seen I-T raids being conducted in the night but only in the day time", the minister said.

"There is a political conspiracy and an attempt has been made to defame me and the good work of Congress. I and Congress are not scared by such back door threats using the machinery. We will win the elections again", he said outside Dispur police station after filing his complaint there.

Without naming anyone, the minister blamed a one-time colleague who recently joined the BJP for the raids.
Australian officials say a piece of debris recently found on an Indian Ocean island where a wing fragment from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 had previously washed ashore is unlikely to be from the missing plane.

The piece was discovered earlier this month on French-governed Reunion Island by Johnny Begue. Begue had found a wing part on Reunion in July that came from Flight 370, which disappeared in March 2014.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said Wednesday that French authorities examining the latest piece have determined that it's unlikely to be from the missing Boeing 777.

The wing fragment found in July remains the only confirmed debris from Flight 370. Two other pieces of debris that washed ashore in Mozambique have yet to be examined by investigators.
Lambasting Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for his remarks equating RSS with terrorist outfit ISIS, a state leader of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh today said the Rajya Sabha MP is "intellectually bankrupt".

"It is very much intellectual bankruptcy that is what I said about his level of intellect," RSS' Prant Sangh Chalak, Jammu and Kashmir, Brig Suchet Singh told reporters here.

Azad had on Sunday kicked up a row after he sought to draw a parallel between the RSS and the terrorist outfit ISIS.

"So, we oppose organisations like ISIS, the way we oppose RSS. If those among us in Islam too do wrong things, they are no way less than RSS," the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha had said at a event organised by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind in Delhi.

"Azad is a senior leader, one does not expect such silly statements from him. However, I can only say this has shown his intellectual level," Singh said.

He said RSS has been working for strengthening the country and society and making Bharat the 'vishwa guru' it used to be.

"We are working to make the country prosperous but whatever people think let them think. When an elephant walks on the street, dogs bark, but it continues its journey," he said.
Bangladesh is set to hang fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami for war crimes during the 1971 independence struggle against Pakistan.

Authorities today served the death warrant to 72-year-old Nizami, two months after the apex court upheld his death penalty.

"We received the death warrant earlier this morning and served it to the convict (in the death row)," an official of the suburban high security Kashimpur Jail briefly told reporters.

Attorney general Mahbubey Alam, meanwhile, said the top leader of the country's biggest Islamist party would now get 15 days time to seek review of the judgement by the Supreme Court itself in his final bid to evade the gallows.

He, however, said that the scope of reviewing the judgement in a war crimes case is very slim.

"If he prefers not to get the judgement reviewed within the time-frame or if his petition is rejected, the government may execute the verdict anytime in the subsequent days," Alam told newsmen.

He said Nizami, however, could seek presidential mercy immediately if the review petition was rejected but he would not get any extra time to decide for seeking the clemency.

Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) originally sentenced Nizami to death in October 29, 2014. The apex court upheld the verdict on January 6 this year.

According to TV reports Nizami's lawyers sought to meet their client in jail as the death warrant was issued to know his mind if he wants to exhaust the opportunity of filing a review petition.

Leader of infamous Al-Badr force in 1971, Nizami is the last remaining top perpetrators of crimes against humanity whose fate now hangs on the balance.

Nizami was found guilty of systematic killings of more than 450 people alone in his own village home in northwester Pabna siding with the Pakistani troops during the liberation war.

Nizami at that time was the chief of the student front of Jamaat, which was opposed to Bangladesh's 1971 independence.

Four opposition politicians, including three leaders of the Islamist party, the Jamaat-e-Islami, have been convicted by a war crimes tribunal and executed since late 2013.

Two others -- former Jamaat chief Ghulam Azam and ex-BNP minister Abdul Alim --- earlier were handed down "imprisonment until death" penalty instead of capital punishment due to their old age as they exceeded 80.

They subsequently died in the prison cells of a specialised state-run hospital due to old age ailments.
A woman infected by the Zika virus during the first three months of pregnancy faces a one-in-100 chance her child will suffer severe brain damage, according to a study released today.

Zika increases the risk of microcephaly -- an otherwise rare condition that results in an abnormally small head -- by fifty-fold, the researchers calculated.

"The first trimester is the most critical," lead author Simon Cauchemez, a scientist at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, told AFP.

His team's statistical analysis of a Zika outbreak in French Polynesia in 2013-14 that spread to two-thirds of the population is the most rigorous attempt yet to quantify the risk of microcephaly, which emerges in foetuses.

Brazil has been hardest hit by the mosquito-borne virus, with some 1.5 million people infected and 745 confirmed cases of the brain-deforming syndrome, but the ongoing epidemic and patchy data have thwarted similarly rigorous analyses.

One study from Brazil estimated the chance of birth defects for mothers carrying the virus during pregnancy at more than 20 percent, but carried a very large margin of error.

All told, some 40 countries have reported transmission within their borders since last year, according to the World Health Organization, which declared a global health emergency on February 1.

The new research does not prove that Zika causes the brain-deforming syndrome.

But recent experiments, including one showing that the virus singles out and attacks cells crucial to brain development, have left little doubt in the minds of many researchers that Zika is to blame.

A flurry of studies has also established strong links to other rare neurological disorders, including one -- Guillain-Barre syndrome -- in which immune defences turns against the body's nervous system, sometimes causing lasting damage or even death.

A number of factors in French Polynesia -- its small population, universal medical records, an epidemic with a clear beginning and end -- created laboratory-like conditions favourable to research.
Attacking the BJP Government in the State, opposition INLD MLA Naina Chautala today alleged that the saffron party had made "hollow promises" to the people and had "failed" on various fronts.

Participating in a discussion on the Governor's address in the ongoing budget session of Haryana Assembly, the Dabwali MLA also hit out at the Manohar Lal Khattar government on women's issues.

"The BJP just made hollow promises to the people..," she alleged.

"They failed on various fronts," she claimed.

Naina Chautala, wife of INLD leader Ajay Singh Chautala, made a mention of how a 22-year-old woman who had given birth to a child recently, was allegedly sexually assaulted in the ICU of a private hospital at Bahadurgarh in Haryana's Jhajjar district last month.

"Women are still not safe and secure. This sexual assault on the young mother was shameful...In another incident, a 70-year-old woman in Rohtak was recently booked on false charge of theft, and police realised this later on, but the damage had been done. While such incidents are happening, the government is sitting like a mute spectator," she alleged.

She urged the state government to take steps to empower women, give them a safe and secure environment, "if it does not want initiatives like Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao to be reduced to mere one-line slogans".

Participating in the discussion, BJP MLA Randhir Kapriwas read out a poem to highlight various initiatives of the BJP led Khattar government.

BSP's lone MLA Tek Chand Sharma praised various initiatives of the BJP Government, particularly those taken for the farming community.

Among others who participated in the discussion on the Governor's Address also included BJP's Assem Goel and Gian Chand Gupta.

Earlier during the Zero Hour, BJP's Shyam Singh Rana told the House that he had recently covered over 120 km on foot for his 'Sadbhavna Yatra' which he had taken out from his Radaur constituency to give a message of brotherhood among people.

While ruling BJP benches appreciated his initiative, his effort also drew praise from the opposition INLD, with Leader of Opposition Abhay Singh Chautala stating that even he too had held "sadbhavna meetings" in all the 21 districts.
The BJP today raked up the foreign policy "failures" of Congress-led UPA government to hit back at Rahul Gandhi after he attacked the Modi dispensation, saying it lacks a clear vision in its global diplomacy.

BJP also highlighted the "success" of its government in foreign affairs like rescue of over 18,000 Indians from abroad and "growing" ties with major countries across the world.

"The Congress vice president suffers from Modi phobia. Does he remember the fiasco at Sharm El Sheikh or that the UPA government had an External Affairs minister who read out a speech meant for foreign minister of another country at a UN meeting?



"A dossier of terrorists given to Pakistan by the then UPA government carried names of dead terrorists or those lodged in Indian jails. Rahul Gandhi should do some home work," party national secretary Shrikant Sharma said.

He said countries which maintained a distance from India earlier, now want better mutual and business ties.

A joint Indo-Pak statement in Sharm El Sheikh, when Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister, had invited criticism from several quarters for allegedly compromising India's stand on terrorism.

Modi government has enhanced the prestige of India and Indians the world over, he claimed.

On Gandhi's criticism over the attack on IAF base in Pathankot, Sharma said while the UPA government was found sleeping during the Mumbai terror attack, the Modi government acted promptly in killing terrorists involved in the attack.
BJP leaders led by its state president Kummanom Rajasekharan today staged a dharna in front of the secretariat here in protest against the alleged 'political violence' unleashed by CPI(M) in Kerala in the run up to the May 16 Assembly polls.

"CPI(M) is unleashing violence in the state in the run up to the May 16 Assembly polls," BJP national general secretary in-charge of Kerala, H Raja said launching the stir.

Rajasekharan demanded arrest of CPI(M) workers responsible for the attack on the BJP rally at nearby Kattayikonam on Monday last, in which at least 30 people were injured.

He also said that a new front under the leadership of BJP was gaining strength in Kerala as an alternative to the Congress-led UDF government and 'politics of violence' followed by CPI(M).

Senior party leaders, including former Union minister O Rajagopal, were among those who participated in the dharna.

Later, both Rajasekharan and Raja visited the hospital where a seriously injured BJP worker was admitted.

Meanwhile, eight CPI(M) workers have been arrested in connection with the attack on BJP activists at Kattayikonam.

Recently, an RSS worker was hacked to death in Pappinesseri and a BJP worker escaped with serious injuries in Panur, both in Kannur district, after they were attacked allegedly by CPI(M) workers.
Setback suffered by BJP in various elections across the country is the indication of "impending" defeat of the saffron party in Gujarat in next year's Assembly polls, AICC general secretary Gurudas Kamat said here today.

"BJP government is on its way out in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP has suffered a string of humiliating defeats in local body polls in Rajasthan, Assembly elections in Bihar and earlier in Delhi," Kamat said.

He said these setbacks will act like "stepping stones" for the Congress' victory in Gujarat and impending defeat of the ruling party.

The former MP and state Congress president Bharat Solanki today interacted with newly-elected presidents and other office-bearers of six district panchayats of Central Gujarat.

Local BJP leader Udesinh Bariya and former BJP corporator in Vadodara Municipal Corporation Ashok Pawar joined Congress in presence of Kamat.
Norway's worst mass killer pledged allegiance to Nazism, compared himself to Nelson Mandela and complained about being served cold coffee and microwaved food as he testified today in a trial over his prison conditions.

Anders Behring Breivik, 37, accused the government of trying to sap his will to live by isolating him from other prisoners and denying him mail correspondence with other right-wing extremists.

"This is inhuman treatment," said Breivik who killed 77 people in 2011 in a bombing in Oslo's government district and a shooting massacre on Utoya island, where the youth division of the left-wing Labor Party had gathered for its annual summer camp.

Testifying in a prison gym temporarily used as a courtroom, Breivik was given three hours to explain why he thinks his human rights have been violated in a prison system widely seen as among the world's most lenient.

He said the government had abused him through 885 strip searches, frequent handcuffing and restrictions on pen pals and visitors. His long list of grievances included being served microwaved food and having to eat it with plastic utensils.

But he also used his first chance to speak to an outside audience since his 2012 criminal trial to declare himself a pure "national socialist," or Nazi. After the attacks he had described himself as a commander of a Christian militant group, which investigators found no trace of.

Throughout his rambling speech, Breivik's focus was on himself, his political views and the perceived injustices he faces in prison, not on the lives he took and the families he destroyed.

"This is a waste of time. He has nothing to complain about," said Freddy Lie, whose teenage daughters were on Utoya when Breivik attacked. One of them died and another was seriously wounded.

Lie, the only family member of a victim attending the trial in Skien prison, said the judge should have stopped Breivik from making "irrelevant" political statements.

Norwegian authorities insist Breivik has the same rights as any other inmate to challenge his prison conditions. Judge Helen Andenaes Sekulic repeatedly urged Breivik to speed up his monologue to the court, but didn't stop him from describing his ambitions to lead a fascist party from prison.

Though he refrained from doing a Nazi salute, like he did on the first day of the trial, Breivik explained how he became a Nazi at age 12 and how Adolf Hitler's teachings helped him endure his isolation in prison.
Reckless driving

Flagstaff police arrested a woman for reckless driving after witnesses said she almost hit a pair of cyclists who were in the bike lane.

According to the police report, the suspect called Flagstaff Police Department at about 4 p.m. Sunday to complain about two cyclists riding slowly in traffic on West Santa Fe Avenue west of South Milton Road. When the officers arrived, however, multiple witnesses told them the cyclists were lawfully riding in the bike lane on Santa Fe when the suspect started following them in her pickup truck at an uncomfortably close distance. Witnesses said the driver began yelling at the cyclists while riding close to them in the bike lane. She then sped past them and pull into the bike lane right in front of them, nearly hitting one of the cyclists.

The 33-year-old driver was cited for reckless driving and released.

Charged

with DUI

 Michael Gerard Gilbert, 33, of West Pennsylvania Court was arrested by Flagstaff Police Department and charged with extreme DUI at 2:16 a.m. Monday.

 Wilson A. Fuentes, 29, of Phoenix was arrested by Flagstaff Police Department and charged with extreme DUI at 1:49 a.m. Sunday.

 Daisy Romero, 21, of East Pine Knoll Drive was arrested by Flagstaff Police Department and charged with DUI at 9:47 p.m. Saturday.

 Angelita Amador, 28, of Tempe was arrested by Flagstaff Police Department and charged with extreme DUI and aggravated DUI with a suspended license at 2:34 a.m. Saturday.

 Pamela Maciel, 34, of Olympia, Wash. was arrested by Flagstaff Police Department and charged with DUI at 1:34 a.m. Saturday.

 Cierra Roberts-Kirby, 22, of South Highland Mesa Road was arrested by Flagstaff Police Department and charged with extreme DUI at 1:07 a.m. Friday.

City and county residents who want to report a crime but wish to remain anonymous may call Silent Witness at 774-6111 or (877) 29-CRIME, submit a tip online at www.coconinosilentwitness.org, or text the word Flagtip along with your information to 274637 (CRIMES). Rewards of up to $2,000 are given for information that leads to an arrest.
A Bihar School Education Board (BSEB) assistant was arrested on graft charge by the Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) here today, an official release said.

Acting on a complaint, a VIB team headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Munna Prasad laid a trap and arrested BSEB assistant Anil Kumar Singh as soon as he took a Rs 50,000 bribe at his house in Indrapuri locality from one Harendra Singh, a native of Bhojpur district, the release said.

Singh had demanded Rs one lakh as bribe from the complainant to forward a file related to a probe report regarding a college to senior officials, it said.

The tainted BSEB assistant was taken to the vigilance headquarter for interrogation, the release said adding, he would be produced at a designated vigilance court tomorrow.
There was an uproar in the Chhattisgarh Assembly today over alleged irregularities in the procurement of lab equipment for high-school and higher- secondary schools.

Congress MLAs demanded an inquiry into the irregularities and the credentials of suppliers. School Education Minister Kedar Kashyap rejected the demand, so the Congress MLAs staged a walkout.

The issue was raised by Congress legislators Brihaspat Singh, Mohan Markam and Motilal Dewangan through a calling attention motion.

They said that the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) issued a tender for purchase of lab equipment and materials worth Rs 10 crore on December 25, 2015, but it was published in newspapers on December 30.

To make the tendering process online, it was uploaded on departmental website on January 1 where the last date for submission of bid was notified asJanuary 20, whereas, as per Store Purchase Rules, 45 days interval is mandatory, they said.

Most of 261 materials for which tender was floated were not needed, they said, but purchases were made saying that otherwise the budgetary allocation would lapse.

The DPI does not have a technical team to initiate rate contract process, they alleged.

Education Minister Kashyap said the list of materials and equipment had been prepared by experts and a competent purchase committee had been constituted in DPI which had members with technical expertise. There was complete transparency, he claimed.
Canadian passenger railway Via Rail confirmed today it is beefing up security after having received a threat to train stations.

Specific aspects of the threat were not released.

Via Rail spokeswoman Marie-Anna Murat told AFP it appeared to be "unfounded."



Still, she added, "VIA Rail has advised employees reminding them to be vigilant."



As a precaution, the railway has also stepped up police and canine patrols "in certain stations" and continues to work closely with law enforcement agencies.

"Lately, it seems that passenger carriers worldwide are subject to unsubstantiated threats against their facilities," Murat said.

"Such a threat was received at VIA Rail recently. The police were informed."



Via Rail trains travel over 12.500 kilometers of track in Canada connecting 143 stations. It transported 3.8 millions passengers in 2014, according to corporate figures.

Two radical Islamists who plotted to derail a packed passenger train traveling between Toronto and New York were sentenced last September to life in prison in Canada.

Tunisian national Chiheb Esseghaier and Raed Jaser, a Canadian resident of Palestinian descent, planned to cut a large hole in a railway bridge to derail a Via Rail train, with the aim of kill and injuring passengers and crew.

In the wake of a foiled jihadist attack on a train from Amsterdam to Paris last August, European nations also stepped up security at train stations.

A 25-year-old Moroccan, Ayoub El Khazzani, was charged in that incident. He was quickly overpowered by a group of French, British and American passengers after he stepped out of a toilet cubicle with an assault rifle, 270 rounds of ammunition and a Luger pistol strapped to his chest.
Chhattisgarh Government today ordered aCentral Bureau of Investigation (CBI) enquiry into the 2013 Jiram valley attack by Naxals in which some prominent Congress leaders from the state were killed.

In reply to a discussion on Budget demand proposals of his department in the Legislative Assembly, acting Home Minister Ajay Chandrakar made the announcement.

The BJP government was seriousabouttackling the menace ofNaxalism. Security forces were doing their job while development works were being carried out inthe Naxal-affectedregions, the minister said.

Speakingabout the Jiram valley incident, the minister said it wasn't just Congress or the families of Nand Kumar Patel and Mahendra Karma who lost their near and dear ones, but the ruling party leaders too lost their good friends.

BJP members were deeply pained on losing theleaders like Patel and Karma in theJiramattack, he added.

Naxals talk about ideology but terrorism does not have any ideology and the government was committed to drive the Naxals out of Chhattisgarh, he added.

Chandrakar, while speaking in the House, made a certain comment about Congress (later expunged) which led to Congress MLAs shouting slogans, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for five minutes.

Congress members boycotted the proceedings and sat on a dharna in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue in the Assembly premises.

Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal asked them to take part in the proceedings, but they did notcomeback.

On May 25, 2013,Naxals ambushed Congress leaders' convoy inJiramvalley of Bastar's Darbha region.

Thirty-one people, including state Congress chief Nandkumar Patel, his son Dinesh, former Union Minister Vidayacharan Shukla, former leader of opposition Mahendra Karma and former MLA Uday Mudliyar were killed.

The Centre had roped in NIA for the probe.

The state government had also constituted a judicial commission.
Social media is abuzz with complaints against the "tough" maths paper for Class 12 and as many as 240 petitions have been posted on Change.Org platform, getting support from 25,000 people.

Within 24 hours of the Mathematics exam, which reportedly left many students in tears, students and parents from across the country have started the online campaign for leniency in evaluation.

"Hundreds of anxious Class 12 students and their parents have started petitions on Change.Org appealing the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to show leniency in evaluating the Mathematics paper that concluded yesterday," said the petition platform.

The biggest petition, with 12,500 signatures, was started by a student from Guwahati. Other petitions were started by students from Kolkata, Chennai and other cities including Thrissur.

"CBSE has broken the dreams of several students by setting a paper which was meant for IIT aspirants. This year CBSE Maths Paper was tough as well as long and has made several students cry. CBSE should come out with a statement immediately to take care of their mental agony which will help them to concentrate on their next exam," said the Guwahati petition starter in this Change.Org petition.

Meanwhile, government today favoured a probe into the reported leakage of a CBSE Class XII examination paper and suggestions that the questions were rather difficult for the students, after members from several parties raised the issue in the Lok Sabha.

N K Premchandran (RSP) and K C Venugopal (Congress) said most questions of the mathematics paper were "very difficult" and out of syllabus, while referring to media reports which claimed that the questions were leaked in the Patna region.
Amid China's deepening maritime and territorial disputes, Premier Li Keqiang today said that his country will not waver in its resolve to uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity while striving to uphold regional peace and stability.

"Let me say that China all along believes in pursuing harmonious coexistence with its neighbours and we always believe in having a stable neighbourhood environment," Li said in his annual press conference here answering a question on the disputed South China Sea and other territorial disputes.

"It is up the efforts regional countries to maintain regional stability and harmony in the neighbourhood. It is also natural that some differences may arise between neighbours but as long as we all treat each other with sincerity and seek peaceful settlements to resolve difference with diplomatic means,regional stability will be maintained," he said.

Li, 60, addressed the customary annual press conference at the end of froth night long Parliament session.

He said while China needs a stable neighbourhood and peaceful international environment for its domestic development, it will also assert territorial rights.

"China will remain committed for the path of peaceful development and will not waver in its resolve in upholding sovereignty and territorial integrity. These two are not in conflict," he said.

"We hope that all the countries from within the region and outside will work together to uphold the regional stability not the opposite way," he said.

Besides the escalating South China Sea dispute where China is locked in confrontation with the US, Beijing also has tense ties with Japan as it proactively asserted its rights over Diaoyu/Senkaku islands.

India did not figure in the over two-hour-long press meet of Li in which he answered questions about China's tenuous ties with the US, Japan and growing relations Russia.
A vociferous Congress-NCP led Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council today demanded dissolution of the Shiv Sena-BJP ruled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over alleged irregularities in awarding work contracts.

Senior NCP member Sunil Tatkare demanded Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe and a special audit by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) into the contracts awarded for desilting of storm water drains, road signals, junction repairs, road repairs and disposal of debris.

As the opposition continued to press for its demands, Council Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar ruled that he was withholding the question raised by Sharad Ranpise (Congress) and others.

Nimbalkar also directed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to make a detailed statement on the question.

The debate over the question led to heated exchange between Congress and Shiv Sena as Minister for Environment Ramdas Kadam (Sena) objected to Ranpise's attempt to quote BMC Mayor's (Snehal Ambekar) remarks (as told by her in an recent interview) that civic body officials reportedly indulged in getting some percentage (share) in awarding of BMC contracts.

Raising a supplementary query, Ranpise referred to section 520 (D) of BMC Act, 1888, which was amended in 1998, that provides for dissolution of BMC if gross irregularities are detected.

Replying to the debate, Minister of State for Urban Development Ranjit Patil said, "Probe in some contracts is over while in some contracts, it is in final stages. Samples have been taken and reports are awaited."



He said 13 civic employees have been suspended and cases have been marked for further probe to Economic Offence Wing (EOW).

"An FIR has been lodged in the matter," he said.

Replying to queries over irregularities found in road



construction raised by Sanjay Dutt (Congress), Patil said irregularities were found in 34 road repair works, executed by one Ms SGF.

"Irregularities like missing second layer topping in the roads have been detected. The final report is awaited," he said.

Replying to another query by Kiran Pawaskar (NCP) over irregularities in desilting of storm water drains, the minister said out of the Rs 197.54 crore worth works, irregularities worth Rs 98.72 crore have been detected.

To a query regarding irregularities in purchase of Anesthesia machines raised by Prakash Binsale (NCP), Patil said contracts worth Rs 16.02 crore out of Rs 200 crore have been disbursed.

He added that orders have been issued to recover the disbursed amount.

Raising a supplementary query, Tatkare said the government has admitted to corruption having taken place in the contracts.

He further remarked that Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar has termed the corruption case as "tip of the iceberg".

In his response, Patil said the BMC Municipal Commissioner was the competent authority to conduct the probe and that it was done in an unbiased manner.

As the Opposition continued to demand an SIT probe, special audit by CAG and dissolution of BMC, the Chairman adjourned the proceedings for five minutes.

Later, as the House reassembled and opposition continued raising their demands, Nimbalkar ruled that he was withholding the question.
Congress today walked out briefly from Gujarat Assembly during question hour while accusing the BJP government of "failing" to implement the prohibition law to stop illegal liquor trade in the "dry State".

Demanding strict action against those involved in the trade, the Leader of Opposition Shankersinh Vaghela boycotted the question hour proceedings and led the walkout.

The walkout happened at the end of the question hour and it lasted for just five minutes after which the party MLAs returned to join the discussion on budgetary demands.

The issue of illicit liquor cropped up when Minister of State for Home, Rajnibhai Patel was answering a question raised by Congress MLA Kantibhai Kharadi on the seizure of liquor in Banaskantha district.

In his reply, Patel stated that liquor worth Rs 11.30 crore has been seized from the district during 2014-15.

However, the answer sparked protests as some Congress MLAs raised slogans against government alleging that the figure indicates that bootleggers are having a "free hand" to carry out their business due to "inaction" on part of government.

Patel rebutted the charge stating that the seizure of liquor worth crores is indicative of activeness of police in curbing the menace.

He alleged that some local Congress leaders were also caught while ferrying liquor in recent past.

In his reply, Vaghela referred to recent reply of government in the Assembly wherein it 'conceded' that liquor worth Rs 316 crore was seized across the state during last five years.

He alleged that government lacked conviction to stop the illicit trade and that "massive corruption has plagued the system".

"Bootleggers are having a free hand in the state. They had even attacked policemen who tried to stop their vehicles in the past. Due to criminal negligence and unwillingness of this government, prohibition policy has failed in Gujarat," Vaghela said.

He said the Congress cannot tolerate such inaction as a large number of youths are falling prey to liquor consumption.

"Thus, to wake this government on this issue, we are boycotting the question hour," the opposition leader said.
CPI(M) today questioned the "complete silence" of Mamata Banerjee over the sting video purportedly showing three TMC ministers and some party MPs and MLAs as accepting bribes from a fictitious firm saying it "proves high-level of corruption" in the state.

Attacking Banerjee on the issue, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury reminded the West Bengal Chief Minister that she had quit the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government when a similar sting video was released in 2001.

Alleging "corrupt ways" by TMC, Yechury reiterated the recent sting only reaffirms that making money the poor people of Bengal is a norm for the government.

In his Facebook post, Yechury also welcomed reported remarks by former state election commission chief Mira Pande that EC should take adequate measures for fair polls and "restoring" democracy in West Bengal.

"We endorse her (Pande's) call and expect EC to take notice of corrupt and violent campaign being run by TMC. We hope it will act strongly against the ruling party. A free and fair election is the least the voters of West Bengal deserve," Yechury said.

The Central Election Commission yesterday said it had received representations from political parties on the sting video and that the matter will be examined.

The Left leader claimed the money is being used to unleash violence on Banerjee's political opponents during poll campaign and added the "unholy" marriage of corruption and violence doesn't "portend" well for the state.

A recent sting operation, by new portal Narada, purportedly showed three West Bengal ministers and some TMC MPs and MLAs as accepting bribers from a fictitious company.

The TMC has maintained the videos are "doctored" and part of "smear campaign" by its political rivals.
EU president Donald Tusk has warned that hard work lay ahead to finalise a proposed deal with Turkey to end Europe's migration crisis, after Cyprus threatened to derail it over longstanding disagreements with Ankara.

Tusk held hastily arranged talks in Nicosia in an attempt to win Cyprus's backing for the proposal, which has been hailed as a "game-changer" for countries buckling under the burden of a mass refugee influx.

But there has been a growing pushback against the deal, with both France and the Czech Republic warning yesterday against attempts by Turkey to "blackmail" Europe.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said his country would not accept "Turkish demands without (the) implementation of Turkey's long-pending obligations," including Ankara's official recognition of the Cyprus government.

EU and Turkish leaders agreed last week to a tentative proposal that calls for the return to Turkey of all new migrants landing in Greece. For each Syrian refugee returned, the EU agreed to take one from a Turkish camp and resettle them in Europe.

Cyprus has expressed reservations, not least as its longtime adversary Turkey expects the accord to lead to the opening of new chapters in Ankara's EU membership bid and the easing of visa requirements in Europe's passport-free Schengen area.

From Nicosia Tusk flew on to Ankara for talks with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, saying afterwards it was "not an easy task" to make the proposal legally sound and acceptable to all 28 EU members.

"It is clear that there is still hard work to be done," Tusk said, adding there were "a catalogue of issues" to address if an agreement was to be reached at a new summit on tomorrow and Friday.

The UN's top officials on refugees and human rights questioned whether the plan would be legal and Tusk conceded this was an issue that still had to be worked out.

Paris yesterday insisted that Turkey will not be allowed to dictate terms at the summit.

France will tell Turkey it wants "more efficient" cooperation on the migrant crisis, but will warn against any attempt at "blackmail", Prime Minister Manuel Valls said.

Czech President Milos Zeman also lashed out at Turkey yesterday, claiming that Ankara was seeking billions of euros more in EU aid.

"Impolite people like myself call that blackmail," he told reporters.
PHOENIX  A Senate panel voted Tuesday to ask voters to give up some of their rights to enact  and, more to the point, preserve  their own laws.

HCR 2043 would effectively overturn a 1998 voter-approved constitutional provision that says once a measure is approved at the ballot it can be overturned only with a three-fourths vote of both the House and Senate. And even with that margin, they cannot repeal what voters have enacted but can approve only changes that further the purpose of the underlying measure.

Rep. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, said lawmakers need the ability to react when situations change.

Pretty much everything passed at the ballot is locked in stone, he told members of the Senate Committee on Federalism, Mandates and Fiscal Responsibility

Mesnard said his proposal, if approved in November, would not provide a carte blanche for a majority of lawmakers to undo voter proposals on a willy-nilly basis.

It says lawmakers could enact changes only if they get the same margin as the original measure. So if the initiative got 55 percent of the popular vote, it would take 33 of 60 House members to override and 17 of 30 senators.

Sierra Club lobbyist Sandy Bahr said organizations like hers go to the ballot because the Republican-controlled Legislature has repeatedly failed to respond to things that people want, whether funding to preserve parks, outlaw animal cruelty or enact tobacco taxes to fund health care. She suggested that there would be fewer incidents of voters deciding to take things into their own hands if lawmakers would work in a bipartisan fashion.

That drew a skeptical response from Sen. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix.

Bipartisanship is not always a good thing, she said. And a compromise reached is not always beneficial to the citizens.

Central to the debate is that 1998 constitutional change.

It actually has its roots in a successful 1996 initiative, the first attempt to allow doctors to prescribe marijuana and otherwise illegal drugs to their patients. The following year, though, lawmakers concluded that voters might have been confused and effectively repealed what voters had just enacted.
A two-member team from National Commission for Scheduled Castes today met the parents and wife of the Dalit youth who was killed by a gang in Tirupur district and said they would submit their report in two days.

Research Officer and Head of Office Chandraprabha and investigator Lister from Chennai went to Shankar's house in Kumaralingam near Udumalpet and met his father to gather details about the incident.

They then met Kausalya, who is undergoing treatment at the government hospital here under police protection, along with senior medical officers.

Later Chandraprabha told reporters that they would submit their report to the Commission in Delhi in two days.

She said the father narrated the events that had occurred in the last one year after his son fell in love and married Kausalya some eight months ago.

He sought protection to his family as he feared they could be attacked any time, Chandraprabha said.

"Though there was no proper commitment from the boy's family to take her back, it can be concluded that the parents were not against Kasusalya coming and staying in Kumaralingam," she said.

Kausalya said she wanted to study and try for a job and requested that somebody from her husband's family come and stay with her in hospital in her moment of agony, Chandraprabha said.

The team also visited the spot of the killing and spoke to some officials in Tirupur and Coimbatore.

Shankar (22) and Kausalya (19) were attacked by a gang with sickles in full public view on Sunday in nearby Tirupur district, resulting in the death of the husband.

Kausalya's father, Chinnasamy has already surrendered before the police.
A social arm of Goa church has taken a dim view of notices issued to those objecting to the Defence Expo scheduled in the state later this month.

"The right to peaceful dissent and opposition against various forms of injustice is a fundamental right under the Freedom of Expression under Article 19 of the Constitution and a fundamental duty as in Article 51-A," Council for Social Justice and Peace's executive secretary Fr Savio Fernandes said in a statement issued here.

"The unprecedented instances of abuse of state machinery and judiciary by the state and Union government in a bid to curb the secular, socialist and democratic spaces of citizens by concocting stories about possible threat to security and law and order is a matter of serious concern and absolutely deplorable," he said.

The Council has appealed to Goa government to adopt a path of dialogue with citizens and refrain from misusing state power to repress dissent from the people against destructive and wasteful development projects erasing the rich ecology of the state and threatening livelihood of the local people.

The notices were issued by the South Goa district administration yesterday to several protesters who have been holding demonstrations against the upcoming event, including local panch member Charles D'Silva, for agitating against the Expo to be held at Naqueri-Betul village, scheduled between March 28 and 31.

The issue was yesterday also raised on the floor of House by Congress legislator Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, who claimed that the government has "snatched democratic right of the people to agitate".

A section of people have been protesting against the DefExpo claiming that they were not taken into confidence while deciding the venue for the event.

With more than 977 companies and 46 countries registering for the upcoming Defence Expo scheduled in Goa, the Defence Ministry earlier said the event is steering the path of steady growth.
Delhi's Women and Child Development Minister Sandeep Kumar, who was rapped by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for "misbehaving" with a school's lady principal, today denied asking the principal of a government school to inscribe his wife's name on a plaque to be put on the building.

Kumar, who also holds Social Welfare portfolio in the Kejriwal government, said he did not "misbehave with or threaten" the principal for installing the plaque without his wife's name in the school in his constituency, Sultanpuri area.

The minister's reaction came after media reports stated that he was pulled up by Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia for asking the principal to inscribe his wife's name on a plaque which was to be put up in the school during the inauguration of classrooms.

Both the CM and the Deputy CM summoned Kumar and made him to apologise to the principal on March 14 after she complained to Kejriwal and Sisodia.

"As I speak Haryanvi, if we talk in normal ways, people think we are fighting...It was wrong to say that I threatened her (school principal) for not inscribing my wife's name on plaque. It was normal talks between me and her," Kumar said.

Asked if conspiracy is being hatched against him, he said there is nothing like that and if the school principal feels good from my apology, I did the same.

"For us, teachers are the foremost as they shape our children's future. For the welfare of our children, I would like to apologise even if I was not at fault. I did not misbehave with her. It was general talks with her," Kumar said.
Delhi University students' union president Satender Awana, against whom an FIR was filed in a dowry dispute case involving two families, today refuted the charge, saying he will step down from the post if found guilty.

An FIR was registered against the ABVP student leader and his father at a Noida police station on February 12 on a complaint by a woman following a dispute between her family and her in-laws allegedly over dowry.

"The woman has referred to me as her brother-in-law while levelling allegation of dowry against me. I have nothing to do with her in laws' family, although I know them as fellow villagers from my native village Harola in Noida," he said.

"On the night of February 12, I had gone to Sector 19 residence of one Mohit of my village who was married to the complainant woman. Her family and their supporters had attacked Mohit's family and I had tried to intervene even though police was present there," Awana said.

He said Mohit was married to the woman in May last year and the two families had some domestic dispute.

"Last year a panchayat was held to settle the dispute where the woman's family had alleged Mohit to be physically unfit but dowry demand was never raised," he said.

Claiming that the FIR against him and his father was "an attempt to tarnish his family's political and social image", Awana said he will file a defamation case against the complainant.

He also hit back at student organisations seeking his resignation in the light of the dowry allegations.

"Why did these organisations not ask for Kanhaiya's resignation when he was charged with sedition. I will step down if allegations against me are proved," the DUSU president said.
In the wake of engineering exports dwindling by 17.8 per cent to USD 49.284 billion in April- January FY2015-16, quality issues have come to the forefront, an industry official said.

The CEO of the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), Anil Jauhri, said that global buyers were becoming more demanding in terms of quality standards and pricing while the governments and regulators were imposing stringent approval norms.

"This makes it imperative for the Indian exporters to be producing and supplying goods which not only match the international quality standards but also follow the correct nomenclature," he said at a quality awareness programme organised by EEPC in city.

The Commerce Ministry has teamed up with the EEPC India for helping engineering exporters in eastern India in upgradation of their skills, technology and manufacturing standards and align them to service the global market.

The international accreditation would help the exporters, but certain procedures have to be followed for grant of such accreditation.

EEPC India held technical workshops and sessions with a range of manufacturer exporters from Kolkata and near about cities, giving them orientation about the global standards which will help them get international accreditation, Arun Kumar Garodia, Regional Chairman(ER), EEPC India, said.
Voicing concern over "unremitting distress signals" of a worsening security situation in war-torn Afghanistan, India said "effective" implementation of UN sanctions will ensure restrictions on the movements of groups perpetrating violence.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddinhighlighted the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and called for greater efforts by the international community to support the Afghan government.

"The distress signals are unremitting - a worsening security situation, an increase in the tempo of insurgent activities, a greater toll of civilian casualities, and a deteriorating humanitarian situation," he said.

"All point to the need for greater engagement by the international community in support of the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan," he said, addressing the Security Council debate on UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA) yesterday.

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the UN mission in Afghanistan untilMarch 17, 2017.

The resolution said it "looks forward" to the next Ministerial Conference to be held in New Delhi this year and called on Afghanistan and its regional partners to keep up the momentum and continue their efforts to enhance regional dialogue and confidence.

India has in the past underscored that it is the responsibility of the sanctions committee to protect UN nations and its citizens from terror groups and has demanded that sanctions against listed individuals be strictly adhered to and implemented.

Akbaruddin said groups and individuals that perpetrate violence against the people and government of Afghanistan "cannot be allowed to exercise control or wield influence" over any part of Afghanistan's territory, as it would pose serious threats to the gains of the last 15 years.

"The effective implementation of the UNSC's Sanctions regime including the 1267 ISIL/ Al-Qaeda Sanctions regime and the 1988 Taliban Sanctions regime is a tangible measure that will go a long way in imposing restrictions on the listed entities/ individuals' movements, assets and arms embargo," he said.

Terming the expansion of the Taliban's territorial reach as a "disturbing development", Akbaruddin asked the Security Council to look into the security situation and the means to contain it with a "sense of urgency" adding that efforts to incite ethnic violence and conflict are also serious developments.

He voiced India's support to an Afghan government-led reconciliation process that respects the redlines drawn by the people of Afghanistan and the international community, adding that the "groups and individuals to be reconciled must give up violence and abide by the Constitution of Afghanistan.

Akbaruddin noted that that the Secretary General's report



on Afghanistan confirms the "worrisome security situation" that there have been more than 11,000 documented civilian causalities in 2015.

Reiterating India's commitment to stand "steadfastly" with Afghanistan during its transformation decade, he said India is working to support the Afghan government and people in accordance with their priorities and national circumstances.

He said Afghanistan will be able to achieve its "optimum" economic potential if it is allowed the freedom of transit to major markets of South Asia.

"We are working with Afghanistan and Iran to develop trilateral transit and participation in the development of the Chahbahar Port which will augment our connectivity with Afghanistan," he said.

He also reiterated that India extends its full support to Afghanistan for strengthening its defensive capabilities to preserve its unity and territorial integrity.

"We stand ready to collaborate with Afghanistan to expand the training opportunities for Afghan National Defence and Security Forces in relevant Indian institutions, based on the requirements of Afghanistan," he said.

The visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Afghanistan in December last year followed by Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah's visit to India earlier this year "reflect the blossoming with a renewed vigour and vitality of India's cooperation with Afghanistan," he added.

Afghanistan's Parliament complex, constructed under India-Afghan Development Cooperation, is a symbol of the belief that terror and violence cannot be the instrument to shape Afghanistan's future or dictate the choices the people of Afghanistan make, the Indian envoy said



The Secretary-General's Special Representative and UNAMA head Nicholas Haysom told the Council that the five major hurdles facing Afghan's National Unity Government include a contracting economy, an intensifying insurgency, an increasingly divided political environment, significant medium-term financial demand, and the need to achieve progress towards a sustainable peace.

Afghan envoy Mahmoud Saikal said peace talks with the Taliban must move forward, adding that "making peace with Pakistan is essential to making peace with the Taliban".

Pakistan's envoy Maleeha Lodhi hoped that direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban could resume soon, in line with the Quadrilateral Coordination Group road map and factors that would be critical are consistent declarations from the Afghan Government of its commitment to work for a negotiated peace, the ability of the Afghan security forces to hold their ground and the influence and political capital of all four members of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group members -Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US.

She emphasised that the Afghan government must come up with incentives to encourage the Taliban to engage in sustained talks, without preconditions that could halt negotiations before they started.
Himachal Pradesh government is making efforts to make the medical college in Chamba and Nahan functional this year, subject to permission of Medical Council of India (MCI), state Health and family welfare minister, Kaul Singh informed the House during the Question Hour today.

Replying to a question from Gulab Singh Thakur, Gobind Thakur, B K Chauhan (all BJP) and Maheshwar Singh (HLP), the Health minister said the state government had sought permission from the MCI to start admissionsto first batch of MBBS in two medical colleges in the monthof August this year.

The minister said the Central government had sanctioned Rs 198 crore to each medical college to be set up in Sirmour, Hamirpur and Chamba districts.

"The government has already got Rs 21.53 crore from the Centre to start work on them, " he said.

The state government has decided to name Nahan medical College in the name of first Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar and Chamba medical college in the name of first Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru.

He said the Centre had issued guidelines to develop district level hospitals after expanding them to 10 km from their respective headquarter, adding thatthe state governmenthad already allotted tender to Health Service Construction Company (HSCC) to build up 300 bedded hospitals at Nahan.

Kaul Singh said the government had decided to appoint the staff soon and serving Assistant Professors of IGMC and Tanda have been given the option to join in the new colleges with the incentive to raising the retirement age to 65 years from 62 years.

The minister said that state cabinet decided to develop first AIIMS at Kothipura near Bilaspur as it was sanctioned in the last budget of Central government.

He said that land of Animal husbandry department would be transferred for construction of AIIMS building.
Egypt's president today vowed to do everything he could to shed light on the fate of an Italian student found dead in Cairo bearing signs of having been tortured.

The corpse of Cambridge University PhD student Giulio Regeni, 28, was found dumped in a ditch on the outskirts of Cairo in February, in a case that has strained ties between Italy and Egypt.

Egyptian authorities are working "day and night" to solve the crime, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in an interview with Italy's La Repubblica newspaper.

"I promise you that we will do everything to shed light (on the case) and we will get to the truth," he said.

Addressing Regeni's family, he added: "We will work with the Italian authorities to bring to justice and punish the criminals that killed your son."



Sisi said that as a "father first and foremost", he understood the "pain and suffering that you feel at the loss of your son."



"I feel the shock and bitterness that has broken your heart," he said.

Regeni disappeared on January 25. Many Italians and Egyptian opposition figures believe he was abducted and killed by elements of the Egyptian security services, an allegation the authorities in Cairo have rejected as baseless.

His slaying while he was in Cairo doing research for his doctoral thesis has become a cause celebre amongst academics around the world and has turned the spotlight on what rights and opposition groups say are increasing abuses by security services under the military-backed government in Cairo.

Sisi did not respond directly to these suspicions but suggested that the murder was aimed, like terrorist attacks on tourist centres, "at hurting the Egyptian economy and isolating the country," -- comments that could be read as trying to blame Islamist groups.

Sisi added: "We face a terrorist threat against our tourist sites and the frontier with Libya, and we need to forge unity and support rather than create divisions with friendly countries like Italy.
Joe Root made an impressive 48 as England powered their way to 182 for 6 in their World T20 campaign opener against the West Indies here today.

Root struck two sixes and three fours in his 36-ball knock while cameos from Ross Buttler (20-ball 30) and captain Eoin Morgan (27 not out in 14 balls) also helped England to post the challenging score in the Super 10 Group 1 game at the Wankhede Stadium.

Other significant contributions came from opener Alex Hales (28) and Jason Roy and Ben Stokes, who both made 15.

For the West Indies, pacers Andre Russell (2 for 36) and Dwayne Bravo (2 for 41) were the pick of the bowlers. Put in to bat, England utilised two poor overs from the West Indians in the power play to get off to a good start.

Roy took advantage of a wayward Jerome Taylor in the speedster's second over as he hit two fours while the bowler conceded five wides too. In all, the over yielded 18 runs.

More gifts followed in leg-spinner Samuel Badree's next over as he lost control to bowl a full toss first ball that was dispatched to the square leg boundary by Alex Hales. The next ball was swept by Hales to the same region and he cut the third to the cover region for four.

With 31 runs coming in two overs, England's score raced to 36 in four overs when Andre Russell, who replaced the expensive Taylor, packed off Roy through a fine tumbling catch at short mid-wicket off a flick.

At the end of power play, England were 49 for one.

The arrival of England's top Test batsman Root saw the run-rate kept at a healthy eight an over as he hooked Russell for a six and then swung and flicked Carlos Braithwhite's medium pace for two fours off successive balls.

Root, playing in his maiden World T20, showed aggressive intent and outscored his partner Hales as England reached 81 for one at the half-way stage of the innings.

The second wicket partnership was worth 55 off 40 balls when Benn came back for a second spell to castle Hales -- who had slowed down after the arrival of Root -- with England on 92 in the 12th over.

Root departed after seeing England score past the 100-run mark, putting up a tame catch to mid-off after being deceived by Russell's slower ball in the 15th over. He struck two sixes and three fours.

Buttler and Morgan then carried the score past the 150 mark and towards the end Morgan, who hit two sixes and one four, and Stokes helped England add 30 in the last three overs.
Delhi High Court today directed the three municipal corporations to ensure that all its employees are paid their salary for the month of February by March 21.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath issued the direction after counsel appearing for the various employees, including safai karamchaaris, of the corporations told the court that they have not been paid salaries for the month of February.

Meanwhile, the counsel for the corporations sought time to seek instructions on whether the employees have been paid.

Displeased with lack of information from the side of the corporations, the bench said it "does not want to hear the instructions".

"What were you (corporations) doing? The matter was listed for today and now you are saying you will seek instructions. Everyone is aware about it (non-payment of salary). There are newspaper reports. We want that salaries are paid.

"We do not want to hear your instructions. We are not concerned with it. We just want salaries are paid by March 21. Just ensure salaries for the month of February are paid without fail by Monday," the court said and listed it for hearing on that date.

The court is hearing three pleas filed by three different individuals.

A PIL by Birender Sangwan has sought lifting of garbage littered on streets due to safai karamchaaris' strike and that the stir be called off as it was causing hardship to public.

The karamchaaris had called of their strike after their salaries till the month of January 2016 were paid.

Another petition filed by D P Chandel, President of



Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), has sought directions to the Delhi government and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) to release arrears as per the sixth pay commission to employees of the civic body.

The plea, also by Rakesh Vaid, its General Secretary, has sought release of salaries in the first week of each month.

In January end, another petitioner Rahul Birla moved the court when the safai karamchaaris decided to go on strike, claiming that the authorities were not paying salaries and arrears since 2003 to the workers of the MCD.

He had said the workers of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, South Delhi Municipal Corporation and East Delhi Municipal Corporation -- had gone on strike last year too, which had led to "accumulation of garbage for number of days at different places, which made the lives of people pathetic and miserable".

It said if the court does not intervene, it will spark a major health crisis in the capital.
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- If Arizona campaign donations were ballots, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, would have the states primary sewed up.

Recent numbers from the Federal Election Commission show Arizonans gave just under $4 million to 20 Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns through the end of January.

Rubio received $716,025 of that total, well ahead of Donald Trump -- who still had a commanding lead over Rubio in Arizona in a recent poll. Rubios fundraising in the state was trailed closely by Democratic frontrunner Hillary Rodham Clinton, who received $705,244 in donations from Arizona.

The Republican field raised just under $2.8 million, in part because of sheer numbers: 15 of the 20 candidates who reported to the FEC that they had raised money in Arizona were in the GOP.

Even though Arizona is a red state, the five Democratic candidates were still able to raise almost $1.2 million. Green Party candidate Jill Stein reported raising $3,250 in the state.
European leaders launch a charm offensive to win backing for a migrant deal with Turkey today, seeking to heal rifts between member states on the eve of a key summit with Ankara.

EU president Donald Tusk warned Tuesday that hard work lay ahead to finalise the deal, after Cyprus threatened to derail it over long-standing disagreements with Turkey.

Tusk held talks in Nicosia in an attempt to win Cyprus' backing for the proposal, which has been hailed as a "game-changer" for European countries buckling under the wave of new arrivals.

EU and Turkish leaders last week agreed a tentative plan that would see new migrants landing in Greece sent back to Turkey. For each Syrian refugee returned, the EU would resettle one from a Turkish camp.

But there has been a growing pushback against the deal, with both France and the Czech Republic warning against attempts by Turkey to "blackmail" Europe.

Cyprus has expressed reservations, not least because longtime adversary Turkey expects the accord to further its EU membership bid and ease visa requirements in the passport-free Schengen area.

Top United Nations officials on refugees and human rights have also questioned whether the plan would be legal.

Tusk conceded this was an issue and it was "not an easy task" to make the proposal legally sound and acceptable to all 28 EU members.

"It is clear that there is still hard work to be done," Tusk said after flying to Ankara, adding there was "a catalogue of issues" to address before the talks on Thursday and Friday.

Ahead of the summit, the Cyrian president will meet the head of the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, which will also release a report giving details of the plan.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has championed the proposal, will also lay out her position before the Bundestag.

Paris on Tuesday insisted that Turkey will not be allowed to dictate terms at the meeting.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls said France will tell Turkey it wants "more efficient" cooperation on the migrant crisis, but will warn against any attempt at "blackmail".

Czech President Milos Zeman also lashed out at Ankara on Tuesday, claiming that Ankara was seeking billions of euros more in EU aid.

"Impolite people like myself call that blackmail," he told reporters.
A printer fault at Bangladesh's central bank meant that overseas queries about suspicious transactions went unanswered, according to a report seen today on the USD 81 million cyber heist that sent shockwaves through the banking world.

The report, filed to police yesterday, recounts the events leading to the discovery of the dramatic theft from an overseas account of Bangladesh Bank.

It says that because of a printer and software problem, it took the Bangladesh central bank nearly four days to ask banks across the globe to halt payments to the hackers.

They tried to steal around USD 1 billion and got away with USD 81 million from the impoverished country's coffers.

Central bank governor Atiur Rahman and two of the deputy governors have lost their jobs over the scandal, which has hugely embarrassed the government and raised alarm over the security of the country's foreign exchange reserves of over USD 27 billion.

Today the government, which has said it was kept in the dark about the losses for weeks, also removed its most senior banking official M Aslam Alam from his position.

The hackers managed to transfer USD 81 million on February 5 -- a Friday, when Bangladesh Bank is closed -- from its account with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, transferring the cash electronically to accounts in the Philippines.

In the report seen by AFP, the bank's joint director Zubair bin Huda said engineers were unable to fix the printers until February 6, a day after the New York bank sent queries about four separate transactions.

"Since such glitches happened before, we thought it was a common problem just like any other day," Huda said in the report.

Bangladesh Bank tried to contact New York on February 6 by email, fax and phone to ask that the transactions be suspended when it realised that the SWIFT interbank messaging system which it normally used was not working properly, Huda said.

"We realised that the SWIFT system being ineffective was an important issue, and therefore we sent an email to Federal Reserve Bank of New York at 1:30pm on February 6 to halt all types of payment processing," he said.

But they were unable to get through as the US bank was closed for the weekend.

It was not until Monday afternoon that the central bank's main server was again working properly and officials were able to send the formal requests to stop the payments to six banks across the globe. But by that time USD 81 million had been transferred from Bangladesh Bank's New York account to a bank in the Philippines.
Foreign Direct Investment in the country increased by 29 per cent for the 15-month period -- ended December last year -- after the launch of 'Make in India' initiative, Parliament was informed today.

Launched on September 25, 2014, the initiative aims at promoting India as an important investment destination and a global hub for manufacturing, design and innovation.

"FDI inflow has increased 29 per cent during October 2014 to December 2015 (15 months after 'Make in India') compared to the 15 months period prior to the launch of this initiative," Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

In a separate reply, she said during April-January 2016, the government has received 424 FDI proposals. Out these, 285 proposals have been disposed of.

In a separate reply about FDI in e-commerce, the minister said foreign investment in business to customer (B2C) e-commerce activities has been "opened in a calibrated manner" and entity is permitted to undertake retail trading through e-commerce under certain circumstances.

She said that a manufacturer is permitted to sell its products manufactured in India through e-commerce retail and a single brand retail trading entity operating through brick and mortar stores, is permitted to undertake retail trading through e-commerce.

An Indian manufacturer is also allowed to sell its own single brand products through e-commerce retail.

In a separate reply, she said the DIPP is implementing the eBiz project which is envisaged to work as a single portal for providing all central and state services.

"20 central and 30 state government services have already been integrated on the portal," the minister added.
Five posts of directors are lying vacant in various museums including National Museum under the Culture Ministry, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

"The posts are lying vacant mainly because of non-availability of suitable candidates and litigation," Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said in a written reply.

The organisations where the directors' posts are vacant are: National Museum (New Delhi); National Gallery of Modern Art (Mumbai and Bengaluru), Indian Museum (Kolkata) and Salarjung Museum (Hyderabad).

Sharma, however, said, "The process of selection for the vacant posts of directors is ongoing".
Four sanitation workers of a family died after allegedly inhaling toxic gas while cleaning a septic tank here, police said today.

The incident took place yesterday in a private housing society in Isasani area of South-Western part of Nagpur.

According to police, the sanitary workers were unaware of the presence of toxic gas and entered the chamber to clean the chocked drain and died due to suffocation.

The victims were identified as Sunil Nekram Walmik, his son Rinki, Sumit Dinesh Walmik and Balu Namdev Masate, they said.

Another worker identified as Pramod Chavan was rushed to a nearby hospital in a serious condition.

An FIR has been registered under relevant sections of IPC against one Hemant Anant Deshmukh (40), the president of the housing society, for negligence causing death.
France has vowed to step up anti-terrorist cooperation in Africa after Al-Qaeda's North African branch said it carried out a deadly weekend attack on an Ivory Coast beach resort.

"We must reinforce our cooperation so that the terrorists have no chance" of success, said French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault yesterday, who arrived in Abidjan earlier Tuesday along with Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.

The two ministers flew in after Sunday's attack on the Grand-Bassam resort that left 18 people dead, among them four French nationals. Thirty-three people were wounded in the attack, 26 of whom are still in hospital.

After visiting some of the wounded, the French ministers met with Ivorian Defence Minister Alain-Richard Donwahi and Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko.

Also in Abidjan as a mark of solidarity were Benin President Thomas Boni Yayi and Togolese counterpart Faure Gnassingbe, who urged a regional response to terror.

"You don't fight terrorism alone... There are national responses which are important but they must be complemented and amplified by a regional and international response," Gnassignbe said.

"Alone, no one can defeat terrorism."



"Terrorism falls under international jurisdiction," agreed Benin's president.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM) said the shooting rampage was one of a series of operations "targeting dens of espionage and conspiracies".

It directly threatened France and its allies in the region in warning that nations involved in the anti-insurgent Operation Barkhane and the 2013 French-led Operation Serval in Mali would "receive a response", with their "criminal leaders" and interests targeted, according to the SITE group which monitors extremist groups.

"Regarding (Operation) Barkhane... We have decided to station GIGN elements who in the event of attack in the region will be able intervene quickly and provide training in circumstances of serious terrorist crisis," to achieve a coordinated response, Cazeneuve said.

GIGN is a French paramilitary unit.

He said rapid intervention units could follow and that if necessary, France would "go beyond" mere coordination, without giving further details.

French President Francois Hollande had on Sunday vowed to "intensify cooperation" in African states hit by insurgencies.
The Bombay High Court today dismissed a petition filed by the brother of suspected gangster Sandeep Gadoli, who was shot dead by Gurgaon Police at a hotel here, seeking a FIR against Gurgaon Police on murder charges.

A division bench of justices R V More and Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi accepted the arguments put forth by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi that the Haryana Police has already filed FIR in the case and investigation is on to ascertain if the encounter was fake.

Rohatgi, who appeared for the Haryana government, told the court that ordering for multiple FIRs to be registered will only lead to "chaos and clutter".

Public Prosecutor Sandeep Shinde along with Usha Kejriwal told the court today that an FIR has also been registered with the MIDC police here and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Assistant Commissioner of Police has been formed to probe the case.

The bench accepted these arguments and dismissed the petition filed by Gadoli's brother Kuldeep Singh, who claimed that his brother was murdered by the Gurgaon Police at the behest of his business rival and Gurgaon politician Binder Gujjar.

Gadoli's family also filed an application challenging the post-mortem report of the body.

The court dismissed this application too and said all guidelines were followed.

Gadoli was shot dead by the Gurgaon Police in an alleged shootout at a Mumbai hotel on February 7.

A day after the alleged shootout, an FIR was registered by MIDC police. The complainant, Gurgaon police sub-inspector (SI) Pradhuman Yadav, who led a team of eight personnel to Hotel Airport Metro, alleged that Gadoli fired at his men and died in the counter attack. Hence, Gadoli was booked under attempt to murder charges.
Son of a Dubai-based businessman, who is alleged to have killed three person with his SUV at Gandhidham in Kutch district, has been arrested today from neighbouring Rajasthan.

Pankil Mohatta (25), was apprehended from Abu Road early this morning when he arrived at his relative's house, police said.

"We had alerted the police in Palanpur, Ahmedabad and Abu Road where his relatives live as we thought he might visit them," said Kutch (East) Superintendent of Police G V Barot.

The accused's blood sample was sent for analysis to ascertain if he was driving under influence of liquor or drug on Monday night when his SUV rammed a group of people killing three and injuring two others.

The incident took place near the main gate of IFFCO Colony on the Gandhidham-Kandla Road after which Pankil fled from the spot.

"Pankil was behind the driving wheel when the accident took place," Barot said.

His father, Sunil Mohatta, is into export-import business and resides in Dubai, while Pankil stays with his grandparents in Gandhidham, around 250km from here, police had said.
Sri Ganganagar MLA Kamini Jindal today demanded action against the district collector, P C Kishan, for allegedly threatening farmers who were seeking compensation for crop damage.

Raising the issue during zero hour in the Rajasthan assembly, Jindal said it was not only an insult to the farmers but also of public representatives.

The MLA of National Unionist Zamindara Party said the farmers approached him for compensation for damage to their crops due to unseasonal rains and hailstorm but the collector instead threatened to put them behind bars.

Deputy whip of Congress Govind Singh Dotasara also demanded action against them.

Collector of Sri Ganganagar, P C Kishan was caught threatening a group of farmers on camera when they met him to seek compensation in his chamber on Monday.

"Zyada bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai...Ab tak jail mein daal deta tumko. (Don't speak too much. By now I would have put you behind bars)," he had said.
Government today favoured a probe into the reported leakage of a CBSE Class XII examination paper and suggestions that the questions were rather difficult for the students, after members from several parties raised the issue in the Lok Sabha.

N K Premchandran (RSP) and K C Venugopal (Congress) said most questions of the mathematics paper were "very difficult" and out of syllabus, while referring to media reports that claimed that the questions were leaked in the Patna region.

While even many bright students in southern India found the questions very tough, on the other hand they were leaked in north India, Venugopal said, alleging that there was a conspiracy behind it and the HRD ministry should intervene.

Premchandran said tens of thousands of CBSE students were "adversely affected" by the mathematics paper as 80 per cent of the questions were very difficult and also out of syllabus.

Ramesh Bidhuri (BJP) blamed the UPA government, saying they have set up a system which tries to "suppress bright Indian students".

It was due to the American pressure, Bidhuri claimed, that the previous government decided to have a no-fail system of examination till Class IX.

His comments drew protests from Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who said the BJP government has been in power for close to two years but he was still blaming the previous dispensation over such issues.

Making a statement, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said such an issue has "nothing to do with this side or that side.

"The matter deserves enquiry," he said, adding that he would refer the matter to the HRD Ministry.
Claiming that the Centre was "not interested" in according special category status to Andhra Pradesh, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today said pressure must be exerted on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue as "he only understands pressure".

"Now what you all and we all need to do is put pressure on the Prime Minister... He only understands pressure. Congress had managed to put pressure on him over Land Bill and the Budget after which it became a pro-farmer budget.

"For two years, they did not take care of interests of farmers, that they are dying didn't matter, that they are committing suicide it also doesn't matter, but Congress party exerted pressure and budget became pro-farmer," Gandhi told partymen from Andhra Pradesh.

Insisting that only Congress was leading the fight for Andhra Pradesh and not Telugu Desam Party or Jaganmohan Reddy's YSRCP, he said the Centre is "not interested" in the development of the state.

"Unfortunately, the government of the day is not interested in supporting the aspirations of people of Andhra Pradesh. I have visited AP many a time to fight for special status, I have mentioned Polavaram as well but the government of the day is not interested," he said.

Taking a dig at Modi, Gandhi said the Prime Minister only likes to organise events and everybody knows that. "Sometime the PM doesn't realise that these special events might insult people," he said.

Talking to reporters later, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu accused Congress of "misleading" people on the issue. He said the Centre has referred the matter of special category status to Niti Aayog.

"It is me who had raised in Rajya Sabha the issue of special status. I had said that if the then (UPA) government wanted to give special status, why it did not put the matter in the bill," he said.

He charged the opposition party with shedding "crocodile tears." "After failing in their duty, they are now criticising us. The A P Reorganisation Act does not talk about special category status," he said.

Congress has given a notice for adjournment motion in Lok Sabha to discuss the issue.
Opposition's criticism of its handling of the JNU row notwithstanding, government today said what happened at the prestigious university was "definitely an anti-national activity", which cannot be allowed.

As the first half of the budget session came to an end today, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said it was good that issues like JNU row and Rohith Vemula's suicide were debated in both Houses as it "exposed" many parties which had earlier adopted a "spit and run" strategy.

Claiming the government has given effective responses to all issues that the opposition raised, Naidu said, "JNU incident raised some serious issues. Universities, the highest seats of learning, are supposed to be the breeding grounds for reason, responsibility and maturity instead of pioneering anti-national activities. This message has effectively gone out in the public domain as a result of some opposition parties seeking to make a political capital out of it."



"Clearly what was happening in JNU by people inspired by a particular ideology, ultra-Left and separatist forces... Is definitely an anti-national activity. Government cannot allow such thing. All these things are in public domain. Some people have a fancy. They have become zeroes. So they want to make heroes. All parties are thoroughly exposed," he said.

Without naming Congress, he said that it was regrettable that a party, which has ruled the country for such a long time, is putting up posters of those who shouted slogans in favour of Afzal Guru in poll-bound Assam.

Calling the suicide of a "bright scholar" Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad Central University as "unfortunate", Naidu said the truth will come out.

"Government is nowhere in picture," he asserted and pointed out that ten students of Hyderabad University including Dalits had committed suicide sometime back. No one visited them, including the Congress President.

Ruing that the government of the day is targeted for no reason by allowing "free play for politics", he said, "Dissent has a certain place in democracy but not disruption and disintegration of institutions. One can criticise the State which is only a component of the Nation but upholding nationalism is the solemn duty of all citizens. No one can afford to compromise on this.
An environment ministry panel has deferred green clearance to Adani Power's 1,600 MW thermal project in Jharkhand and has sought more information from the company.

Adani Power (Jharkhand) Ltd (APJL), a subsidiary of Adani Power Ltd (APL), is planning to set up 2x800 MW Paraspani thermal power project in Godda district of Jharkhand.

Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) "observed that although the proposed site seems to be suitable for the TPP (thermal power project) w.R.T. Ecology etc., the PP (Project proponent) did not provide the information regarding the water availability... Accordingly, the proposal was deferred and... information was sought," an official document said.

The power plant is being developed as a result of the MoU signed between India and Bangladesh in 2010 with a view to enhance traditional ties of friendship, through economic cooperation.

Accordingly, APJL had last year signed a MoU with Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), to develop a 2X800 MW thermal power plant on build-own-operate (BOO) basis in India and supply the entire power generated to Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) through a dedicated transmission line.

The document further said the EAC has sought from the project proponent the information like data from the state irrigation department justifying the water availability and impact of proposed water drawl on the downstream users and ecology.

The panel has also sought a copy of No Objection Certificate from Ministry of Power for the export of power.
Scientists have grown protein crystals and measured their growth in a specially-designed chamber onboard the International Space Station (ISS) to better examine the effects of microgravity on the crystals.

Scientists monitored the very slow growth and dissolution rate - approximately one centimetre per second of the crystals by laser interferometry.

This was the first time the technique had been used onboard the ISS to measure the growth rate of the crystals at various temperatures.

To observe this, researchers developed unique growth cells suitable for long-term projects, for about six months.

"We are interested in the growth mechanisms of a space-grown protein crystal - a lysozyme crystal - as a model crystal to understand why space-grown crystals sometimes do show better quality than the Earth-grown crystals," said Tomoya Yamazaki from Tohoku University in Japan.

The experimental process, known as NanoStep, was performed in the Japanese Experimental Module (KIBO) of the ISS in 2012, researchers said.

They had previously measured the growth rates of protein crystals under simulated microgravity by using a Russian recoverable satellite and aircraft in parabolic flights.

Researchers took precise measurements of the growth rate of the lysozyme crystals versus their driving force, supersaturation - the natural logarithm of the protein's concentration divided by its solubility - with measurements of the solution's refractive index distribution obtained through interferometry.

This also yielded crucial information about the growth mechanism.

They opted to modify the supersaturation of the solution by increasing or decreasing the growth cell's temperature, which can easily be done remotely.

This took place over a range of 10 to 40 degrees Celsius, which necessitated building a closed growth cell to withstand the stresses caused by the thermal expansion of the growth solution.

The closed, cube-like growth cell was constructed out of quartz glasses with different thickness, an essential component for laser interferometry due to its high chemical and mechanical resistances with a protein seed crystal glued to the top of the sample holder.

To relieve the thermal stress on the glass, the researchers attached tubes made out of an elastomer, low-moisture- permeability thermoelastic polymer.

This was selected to mitigate evaporation of water in the crystal growth solution. They also employed a special spring tension system to reduce stress by keeping the gap between the glass cell and thermal control modules constant amid thermal expansion.

The growth cell could also be used to fine-tune the measurements of extremely small growth or dissolution rates of insoluble minerals on the order of 0.001 nanometres per second of insoluble minerals, researchers said.

The findings were published in the journal Review of Scientific Instruments.
Prosecutors have announced the first criminal conviction in connection with the 2014 hacking of Hollywood celebrities that resulted in the online release of hundreds of private nude photos.

Officials in Los Angeles said yesterday that 36-year-old Ryan Colins of Pennsylvania agreed to enter a guilty plea on hacking charges as part of the "Celebgate" investigation.

Authorities said Collins admitted to a "phishing" scheme to obtain passwords of more than 100 people, many of them movie stars, and then using that to obtain nude pictures from their "cloud" storage accounts.

But the officials said there was no evidence that Collins published the pictures online, and that the investigation was continuing.

The 2014 hack resulted in the release of hundreds of nude photos including those of models and actresses such as Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton, stunning Hollywood.

The US attorney's office said Collins accessed at least 50 iCloud accounts and 72 Gmail accounts, most of which belonged to female celebrities.

"Today, people store important private information in their online accounts and in their digital devices," said US Attorney Eileen Decker.

"Lawless unauthorized access to such private information is a criminal offense. My office remains committed to protecting sensitive and personal information from the malicious actions of sophisticated hackers and cyber criminals."



According to the plea agreement, Collins from November 2012 until September 2014 used a scheme in which he sent e-mails to victims that appeared to be from Apple or Google and asked victims to provider their usernames and passwords.

This allowed him to access data from the accounts including photographs stored in the cloud. In some instances, Collins would use a software program to download the entire contents of the victims' Apple iCloud backups.

Prosecutors said the agreement, which must be approved by a judge, calls for an 18-month prison sentence. The case is set to be transferred from California to Pennsylvania under the deal.
Six members of a family including two women were sentenced to life imprisonment by a court here for killing a 20-year-old woman after setting her on fire in Bharuch district of Gujarat in 2013.

Ankleshwar Additional Sessions Judge S B Christian awarded the sentence yesterday to accused Jitendra Vasava, Ranjit Vasava, Harish Vasava, Raman Vasava, Ramila Vasava and Dhaniben Vasava.

The incident took place on April 4, 2013 in Vadhewad village of Jhagadiya taluka in Bharuch district.

The victim, identified as Lilaben Vasava, was set ablaze over a dispute on construction of a washroom inside her house.

The accused initially beat her up then set her afire when she was on her way to aunt Savitaben's house in the same village.

The woman, soon after the incident, was admitted to a nearby hospital where she succumbed to burn injuries on April 14, 2013.

Later a case under 302,307 and 114 of IPC was registered against all the six members of this family.
Haryana assembly today unanimously passed a resolution condemning the reported statement of AAP Convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that he was against the construction of the SYL canal as Punjab has no spare water.

Launching a scathing attack on Kejriwal, Haryana's Agriculture and Irrigation Minister O P Dhankar termed the AAP Convener's statement as "unfortunate".

"It runs counter to the established constitutional norms and is against Haryana's interests," said Dhankar, who moved the resolution verbally, which was seconded by ruling BJP's Gian Chand Gupta.

Opposition INLD MLA Parminder Dhull questioned Kejriwal's locus standi in issuing statements on the contentious issue, over which neighbouring Punjab and Haryana have been at loggerheads for years.

Dhull said that nobody has given Kejriwal the right to speak on bilateral issue, as he pressed that the condemnation resolution against Kejriwal be passed.

Later, it was passed unanimously.

Earlier, Dhankar said that during his one day visit to Punjab yesterday, Kejriwal had stated that he was against the construction of the SYL since Punjab did not have surplus water to spare.

Talking to reporters outside the assembly, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also launched a blistering attack on Kejriwal, suggesting his Delhi counterpart to remain neutral on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal issue and choose his words carefully.

Khattar said that like Haryana, Delhi was also affected by the similar issue.

He said that Delhi also did not have its own sources of water and instead, sourced it from other states.

"Therefore, the carrier of water should remain safe. As Haryana's water carrier should remain safe in Punjab, Delhi's water carrier should also be safe," he said.

Replying to another question, he said that land on which SYL was constructed has not yet been released and no Bill of any kind has been passed in Haryana.

Khattar said the Bill on SYL issue has been recently passed only in Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

"It would not be considered to have been passed until the Governor signs the Bill. All this did not have any bearing as this was a legal battle presently being fought out in the Supreme Court," he said.

Khattar said Haryana has asked the Central Government to resolve the SYL issue at the earliest for protection of Haryana's water.

(REOPENS DES 56)



Outside the assembly, Dhankar was more unsparing in his attack on Kejriwal, and told reporters that it was time that people of Delhi should question him whether he was standing for the "rights" of the people of Delhi or had spared himself to take up Punjab's cause.

Dhankar said during the recent Jat quota agitation normal water supply to Delhi was disrupted for few days as the arsonists had damaged Munak canal, so Kejriwal should think twice how Haryana will meet water requirements for Delhi if its Chief Minister talks contrary to the State's interests, which would ultimately "affect" the national capital as well.

"If we don't get enough water and rightful share of our water from Punjab, won't it affect Delhi too," he said asking Kejriwal to clarify his stand.

When asked that some farmers in Punjab whose land was acquired for construction of SYL canal have started levelling the land for cultivation after Punjab Assembly passed a Bill to return it from whom it was acquired, Dhankar said they will seek Centre's intervention on the issue.

Haryana's Health Minister Anil Vij also condemned the statement of Kejriwal, saying he should understand what would happen to Delhi, if Haryana too behaves like Punjab with Delhi on its water share.

He claimed that Delhi has nothing of its own including electricity, water, milk, fruits and vegetables.

"This kind of small mindedness is not in the interest of the country. For us vote bank comes later, country comes first," Vij asserted.

He said that BJP would not let the federal structure wear out, "and for this we are prepared to go to any extent."



Leader of Opposition and senior INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala also launched an attack on Kejriwal, saying he was trying to derive political mileage out of the issue.

Chautala also attacked the BJP, claiming they were not realising the seriousness of the issue.

"BJP Ministers, MPs, MLAs should resign (on SYL issue) and our party will follow..The Haryana Chief Minister should take all along and meet the Prime Minister at the earliest," Chautala told reporters.
A harassment complaint has been made by a woman employee of Asiatic Society, Kolkata, against a union leader who has since been terminated and a committee is looking into the issue, government told the Rajya Sabha today while informing about "irregularities" in the prestigious institute.

"I have accepted that there have been irregularities. The person concerned against whom complaint of harassment of a woman has been made has been terminated," Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said.

"A four-member fact-finding committee has been formed under the Secretary which will look into all irregularities and inquire, including the complaint of harrassment of a woman employee. Then police action will also be initiated against the guilty," he told Rajya Sabha.

He said government is determined to set things right in the prestigious institution and has released funds.

"What philanthropic work this society is doing, it is a matter of concern for whole of the House and government is determined to set it right," he said, adding that the new Executive Council of the Asiatic Society will be elected on April 26 as the tenure of the present term will end on May 2.

In reply to a question on whether government is appointing an Administrator in view of the complaints received against the institute, Sharma in his written reply said, "At present, Government is not considering to appoint any Administrator in the Asiatic Society, Kolkata."



Asked by JD-U member Kehkasha Parvin on whether a police complaint has been filed against the union leader concerned, the Minister said, "I agree to your concern, but before registering an FIR a full inquiry should be held and it would be better that only after that an FIR is registered."



At this, the JD-U member expressed resentment and agitated saying, "This amounts to injustice with the woman as an FIR will be registered only after the committee finds out."



Sharma earlier said partially corrective steps have been initiated by the Society with regard to compliance of CAG and internal audit report.

The Minister said the members of the Council are elected by the members of the society as per the Asiatic Society Act, 1984.

"Regulations and by-laws and the learned Council members are experts from different fields like academics, administration, law etc with vast experience. The executive council meets every month," he said.
Notwithstanding Shiromani Akali Dal Punjab unit's stand that the state has no surplus water to spare for others, the party's lone MLA in Haryana Balkaur Singh today asserted that the neighbouring state should get its share of SYL water.

"I am of the view that we should get Sutlej Yamuna Link waters (SYL), people of Haryana need this water..," the Kalanwali MLA from Sirsa district said speaking on the sidelines of ongoing Haryana assembly session.

"I belong to Haryana first, my stand is clear and I will talk about my state. They (Akali govt in Punjab) are an elected government and whatever they are doing is for the people of Punjab. But what should be done for the people of Haryana, I am free to make that choice."



However, when asked that Punjab Assembly had passed a bill against construction of contentious SYL canal, he said, "it is their stand for their people."



When asked if BJP leadership in Haryana decides to meet the Prime Minister or central leaders on the SYL issue, he said, "wherever they require me to accompany to get our share of water, I am ready to go".

Attacking the ruling BJP in Haryana, Singh, whose party is in alliance with INLD in the State, questioned "when the Bill was passed by Punjab, it was after that the Haryana's BJP government thought to condemn it. The resolution in this regard was brought in our assembly after Punjab had passed the Bill".

"But why did the BJP not take any concrete step to scuttle Punjab's move. Out of 10 Lok Sabha MPs of Haryana, only INLD's Dushyant Chautala raised the issue in the Parliament. Where were others? What were the seven MPs of BJP from the State doing?



"If BJP wanted to stop this, it could have been stopped. They have double standards and they are pointing fingers at me in the Assembly. Yesterday, they told me that I could have prevailed upon the Akali government in Punjab and asked them to spare water for Haryana. I told them you leave the government, I will get the job done," he said.

Yesterday, Haryana's Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu had pointed fingers at Balkaur Singh, saying the SAD MLA in Haryana, had left the Assembly, minutes before the resolution against the Punjab Bill was moved, two days ago.
The Bombay High Court today asked the Maharashtra government to inform within two weeks whether it has implemented its policy regarding reducing weight of schoolbags carried by students.

The bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka was hearing a PIL filed by Swati Patil which contends that the heavy load carried by students has adverse health effects.

After government lawyer Purnima Kantharia said she needed time to seek instructions, the court granted the government two weeks' time to file a reply.

The court also asked whether the policy, published in a circular last year, would apply to all schools, aided and non-aided, etc.

The petitioner's lawyer argued that the rules should apply to all the schools, otherwise the purpose of framing the policy won't serve any purpose.

As per the directive of the high court, the government had last year issued a circular based on recommendations of a committee.

The government-appointed committee had said in many cases students were lugging schoolbags 20-30 per cent heavier than what the children should carry. Because of this, around 60 per cent students below the age of 10 suffered from orthopaedic ailments, it said.

It recommended that weight of the textbooks can be cut down by using lighter paper and doing away with hardcovers. It also suggested use of e-classroom, audio-visual technology and other modern means of teaching to lessen the load of books and notebooks.
The Gujarat High Court today issued notice to the state government and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) over a PIL, which alleged there was discrimination on religious ground in providing civic amenities to different localities of the city.

A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice Vipul M Pancholi issued notices to the Secretary, Urban Development and Urban Housing Department of Gujarat government and Municipal Commissioner of AMC, seeking their replies within a month.

A PIL had been filed by NGO Jan Sangharsh Manch in this regard, in which it requested the court to direct concerned authorities to provide "basic civic amenities to the residents of Muslim localities".

The petitioners had approached the court claiming that the AMC did not respond to "several reminders" sent to it to "provide basic civic amenities like drinking water, drainage, street lights, disposal of garbage etc to residents of several housing societies belonging to Muslim community... Situated in Jodhpur Ward of Ahmedabad city at the earliest."



Petitioners alleged that there were "glaring differences in the status of civic facilities in Hindu housing societies and Muslim housing societies".

AMC had miserably failed to discharge its duty under the provisions of the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations Act, they said adding, "This action on the part of respondents is arbitrary, discriminatory and violative of Article 14 and Article 15.
Taking a serious note of publication of photographs of accused in the alleged honour killing of a Dalit youth in the media despite court orders against such practice, the Madras High Court today sought an explanation from Tamil Nadu government.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, a division bench, comprising Justice M Jaichandran and Justice S Nagamuthu, pulled up the police for releasing to the media photographs of the accused in the brutal murder in Udumalpet in Tirupur district, and said "we intended to issue contempt notice."



The matter relates to the March 14 attack on a couple by a gang using lethal weapons, in which Shankar (22) died and his caste Hindu wife Kousalya survived with grievous injuries.

The bench said "the photograph found in newspapers prima facie shows that it was taken when the accused were in police custody. The accused were handcuffed behind. This court has said this should not be done. How this could come in newspapers?" it asked.

Referring to its earlier judgment, the bench said that in the interest of the society, the court had earlier directed the Director General of Police to issue circulars to all police stations not to release photographs of the accused to the media as it affected identification parade, investigation and the trial.

"Despite the direction to the police, the photographs of the accused were published in some newspapers," it observed.

Public Prosecutor Shanmughavelayutham submitted that it had to be verified whether police had provided the photos to the press or the press itself had taken the pictures.

He assured the bench that action would be taken if it was found that police were at fault.

A new circular would be issued with regard to the same and its copies sent to media, he said.
The Delhi High Court today reserved its judgement on a plea challenging the constitutional validity of Article 370 of the Constitution that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

"File your written submissions. We will consider it and will pass an order," a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath said.

During the brief hearing, the counsel appearing for state of Jammu and Kashmir told the bench that a similar issue was raised before the Supreme Court but it had refused to intervene in it.

The counsel claimed that the PIL was "nothing but a politically motivated petition".

Countering the submissions, the lawyer appearing for petitioner Kumari Vijayalakshmi Jha argued that the issue raised by him before the high court was different from the matter which was put before the apex court.

"In none of these cases (referred to by the counsel for Jammu and Kashmir) such issues were raised," the lawyer said.

The bench, after hearing the arguments, asked both the parties to file their written submissions within a week.

In the plea, the petitioner has contended that Article 370 was a temporary provision that had lapsed with dissolution of the state's Constituent Assembly in 1957.

It said the question before the court for its consideration was whether the temporary provision lapsed automatically with the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir on January 26, 1957.

The petition has said that "continuance of temporary provision of Article 370, even after dissolution of Constituent Assembly of J&K, continuance of J&K Constitution which has never got the assent/approval of President of India/Parliament/Government of India, regarding the matter like citizenship, which is in exclusive jurisdiction of Parliament, amounts fraud on the basic structure of our Constitution, ... (as it is) against the sovereignty, integrity, unity of the nation, sovereignty of Parliament etc.".

The Centre had earlier opposed the plea saying the issue has already been considered by the Supreme Court.

Earlier in July 2014, the Supreme Court had dismissed a plea challenging special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution and asked the petitioner to move the high court.
The Bombay High Court today gave two weeks time to Maharashtra government and BJP leader Ashish Shelar to file their responses to a contempt petition filed against them for failing to comply with its earlier directions on precautions to be taken during the Dahi Handi festival.

A bench of Justices Abhay Oka and G S Kulkarni was hearing a petition filed by Swati Patil seeking contempt action against Principal Secretary of Home department Swadheen Kshatriya and Ashish Shelar, head of Dahi Handi Samiti set up by the government in February last year.

The Judges asked the government and Shelar to file their replies within two weeks and warned that no further time would be given to them.

The Dahi Handi Samiti was set up by the government following directions from the high court on precautions and restrictions during the Dahi Handi festival.

The high court had, among other directions, asked the government to ensure that Dahi Handi (formation) is restricted to only four layers and the height of pyramids is reduced to prevent people from falling down and getting injured.

In her petition, Patil claimed that the high court's directions were flouted by several pandals across the state and the Samiti and its members failed to comply with the court orders.

The court, while seeking response of the government and Shelar, had earlier remarked "adults can take part in any sport as they have the right to do so. But children are involved here and hence we have to keep their interests in mind.
The Bombay High Court is likely to deliver its verdict on confirmation of death penalty awarded to Himayat Baig, the lone convict of 2010 Pune German Bakery blast case, tomorrow.

A division bench of Justices N H Patil and S B Shukre is expected to pronounce the verdict on the confirmation petition of Maharashtra government and the appeal filed by Baig challenging his conviction and the death sentence.

Baig will be produced before the High Court when it pronounces the verdict.

Baig, who the police said was a member of the terrorist outfit Indian Mujahideen, was arrested in September 2010 for involvement in the blast at German Bakery, a popular eatery in Pune's Koregaon Park area, which killed 17 persons and injured 58 including some foreign nationals.

In 2013, the sessions court in Pune convicted him and awarded him the capital punishment.
She may be just one year old in the film industry but Athiya Shetty has already set the gossip mills running with her link-up rumour, but the actress says such reports do not bother her.

The 23-year-old "Hero" actress is reported to be dating "Ki & Ka" actor Arjun Kapoor after the two were spotted attending a party together in Mumbai recently.

"I don't take link-up rumours seriously as long as I, my family and close ones know the truth. I don't give any thought to it," Athiya told PTI.

Daughter of actor Suniel Shetty, Athiya said her father knows such things are bound to happen when you are a celebrity.

"My father has been in the industry for so long and he understands that all these things come with a celebrity status. We don't give any importance to it. Such reports don't make our dinner table conversations," she added.
A section of officers and employees of IDBI Bank today called for a one-day strike on March 28 to protest against the government's proposed stake sale in the state-run lender.

The staffers, belonging to the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA), have given the strike call under the banner of United Forum of IDBI Officers and Employees (UFIOE).

"We will observe strike on March 28 to demand reversal of government's decision in the Budget that IDBI Bank will be privatised by reducing its stake," UFIOE said in a statement here.

The government owns around 80 per cent stake in the bank.

In Budget 2016-17, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said the government was open to bringing down its stake in IDBI Bank to below 50 per cent.

"The process of transformation of IDBI Bank has already started. The government will take it forward and also consider the option of reducing its stake to below 50 per cent," Jaitley had said.

Last week, around 12,000 employees of the bank belonging to another union -- United Platform of IDBI Bank Unions -- had called for a four-day nationwide strike from March 28 to protest the proposed stake dilution.
India is fully committed to advancing gender equality and women's empowerment and eliminating all forms of discrimination against women for forging inclusive society and development, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi has said here.

"Government of India remains fully committed to advancing the goal of gender equality and empowerment of women, and to eliminating all forms of discrimination against women," Gandhi, Minister for Women and Child Development, said yesterday.

India is committed to building upon the success of the Millennium Development Goals and aims to move further through "transparent and accountable" mechanisms to ensure that women and men enjoy the same opportunities and are accorded equal treatment, she said during a round table session at the 60th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

Gandhi said ensuring gender equality and combating violence against women are integral to India's national pursuit of forging inclusive society and development.

The minister said that amendments to the Indian criminal law in 2013 significantly broadened the definition of sexual assault and harassment, increased penalties for offenders and aimed for greater accountability of public officials in providing relief to woman affected by violence.

Further the National Policy for Women is being updated to capture the emerging challenges to position women as equal partners of sustainable development, Gandhi said adding that efforts are being made by the government to close the gap between the gender equality commitments.

Terming Information and Communication Technology as an "effective enabler" of gender equality and empowerment of women, she told the high-level gathering of women ministers, officials and NGOs from around the world that India has launched the 'Mahila e-Haat', an online marketing platform for women to encourage women entrepreneurs.

The two-week long CSW has brought together representatives from the UN system, member states and civil society from around the world to review the progress towards gender equality and women's empowerment and plan new initiatives.

Over 400 events have been planned with the priority theme being women's empowerment and sustainable development, given that this is the first session of the Commission since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in September last year.

Outlining measures taken in India towards gender equality,



Gandhi said the country is taking strong and result-oriented steps to overcome the challenge of deep-seated bias towards the girl child under the flagship programme 'BetiBachao- BetiPadhao'.

"We have also ensured that while formulating and designing any programme or project of the government, gender analysis is duly undertaken and indicators for judging the success from a gender perspective are included in the Outcome Document," the minister said.

In order to provide an institutional mechanism for women affected by violence to access help, 'One Stop Centres' are being set-up in various parts of the country with services to affected women, including medical aid, police assistance, legal aid/case management, psycho-social counselling and temporary support services under one roof.

India is also building gender-responsive and sensitised police force through training programs, performance appraisal and by promoting 33 per cent reservations to women in police force, Gandhi added.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the Session, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Women and Child Development Preeti Sudan said sustained multi-sectoral actions are needed to converge and provide a comprehensive response to tackle any form of violence against women and girls.

"No schematic intervention can succeed without the involvement of communities hence community engagement, partnership and ownership is extremely critical for the success of any intervention.

"It is also important to give flexibility to your implementing partners to experiment, innovate and showcase within the broad framework of the guidelines for any intervention," Sudan said.

She said that multi-sectoral approach is a must as no single ministry can tackle violence issues alone and along with strict implementation of Acts, positive reinforcement is essential to achieving goals ofempowerment of women andgender equality.
India's high commissioner to the UK, Navtej Sarna, made his posting official today by presenting his credentials to Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

According to diplomatic protocol, the new Indian High Commissioner to the UK must hand over his "Letters of Commission", issued by the Indian Head of State or President Pranab Mukherjee, to the UK Head of State or the British monarch.

"It was one of the most beautiful ceremonies that I have ever seen. It's been a great privilege and an honour today to be part of this ceremony, to be received so graciously at the Palace by Her Majesty, the Queen, and to have the opportunity to actually have a discussion with her about India and the UK relationship," Sarna said at a special "Vin d'honneur" reception.

The 59-year-old diplomat, who arrived here in January this year to take over as the 25th Indian high commissioner to the UK, said he looked forward to taking on the "full plate" of things that lie ahead.

"What is most important is the fact that we are able to do our work with such an open feeling, with such close cooperation and in such friendliness all round. And that makes all the difference," said Sarna, who was accompanied by his wife Dr Avina Sarna.

The reception, which was attended by deputy Indian high commissioner Dr Virander Paul and his wife Rachel Paul, prominent NRI and diaspora figures such as NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul and Cobra beer chief Lord Karan Bilimoria, took place after the official ceremony at the High Commissioner's residence in central London where he arrived in the customary horse-drawn carriage from Palace.

"Her Majesty, the Queen, has always taken a great interest in the relationship between the United Kingdom and India; has visited India herself on many occasions and has hosted many important visitors from your country, most recently the visit of your Prime Minister, Mr (Narendra) Modi, which was a reaffirmation of the depth and breadth of the relationship," said Alistair Harrison, who led today's events in his capacity as Her Majesty's Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps.

"We have a hugely rich people-to-people relationship, based on our shared history. The commercial relationship is flourishing," he said.

The Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1980 batch is among the longest-serving spokespersons of the ministry of External Affairs (2002 to 2008) as well as an author of many fiction and non-fiction books, with the most recent being 'Second Thoughts: On Books, Authors and the Writerly Life' released last year.
Indian-American Raja Krishnamoorthi, who was an adviser in President Barack Obama's 2008 poll campaign, has registered a big win in the Democratic Congressional primary in the US state of Illinois by defeating the state Senator.

Krishnamoorthi's win brightens the chance of yet another person of Indian-origin to be elected to the US House of Representatives in the November general elections.

Born in New Delhi, 42-year-old Krishnamoorthi, an attorney and entrepreneur, polled 57 per cent of the votes in the eighth Congressional District of Illinois as against his two other rivals State Senator Mike Noland (29 per cent) and Deb Bullwinkel (13 per cent).

The district has a sizable Indian-American population.

"Thank you! I'm honoured to be the Democratic Party Nominee for Congressman of Illinois' 8th District," he tweeted late last night after results were out.

Krishnamoorthi seeks to replace his party man Tammy Duckworth who decided against seeking re-election and instead run for the US Senate against incumbent Republican Mark Kirk. Duckworth won the Democratic primary for the Senate seat.

In the November 8 general elections, Krishnamoorthi now faces Peter DiCianni of Republican party who ran unopposed during the primary.

If elected, Krishnamoorthi would join Ami Bera, 51, the only Indian-American lawmaker in the current US House of Representatives in the next Congress beginning January next year. Bera is seeking his third-term in the November general elections.

Ahead of the primary elections, Krishnamoorthi was endorsed by Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the US House of Representatives and Congressman Jan Schakowsky.

Krishnamoorthi was previously the policy director and a senior adviser for Barack Obama's 2004 US Senate campaign and also an adviser to Obama's 2008 Presidential campaign.

He served as Deputy Treasurer of Illinois from 2007-2009 under Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and in 2010 ran for the Democratic nomination for Illinois State Comptroller, losing to David E Miller by less than one per cent votes.

Born in New Delhi in 1973, Krishnamoorthi's parents immigrated to New York when he was three months old.

He is currently the president of Sivananthan Labs and Episolar, Inc, small businesses that develop and sell products in the national security and renewable energy industries.
To the editor:

Through a privatized system of contractors, Arizona cares for about 35,000 individuals with severe developmental disabilities. They are served by direct support professionals in a wide range of roles  skill training, companionship, assistance with medication, food and personal care. Since 2008, there have been unprecedented cuts in reimbursement rates. After the 15 percent rate reduction, there have been well-intentioned, but insufficient, efforts to restore the funds.

Currently, there are not enough resources built into AHCCCS funding for wages for these employees, many of whom make between $8  9.25/hour. This has led to a 56 percent urban and a 70-85 percent rural area turnover rate, respectively, creating a shortage of these caregivers.

This is a crisis for anyone with a disability. We are not asking the Legislature to reinstate 100% of the previously reduced funding, as we understand the challenges of the current budget. Instead, we are requesting to be restored to 2008 rates - a 7 percent funding increase, which is critical to stopping this system from tearing apart at the seams.

The people we serve, who need assistance through no fault of their own, deserve better. Unless we adequately address this caregiver shortage, providers of these services will be unable to provide quality care and basic security to our most vulnerable residents. The Hozhoni Foundation in Flagstaff experienced a massive unprecedented loss in our last fiscal year and we continue to struggle at the same level in the current year. We must have the requested 7 percent increase in funding.

MONICA ATTRIDGE

CEO Hozhoni Foundation

Flagstaff
Six Indian-American students have grabbed top positions, including two winning spots in two separate categories, in a USD 1 million Intel Talent Search contest, a prestigious US competition for young innovators.

Of the first three-place awards, Indian-American students won two of them -- Amol Punjabi won the First Place Medal of Distinction for Basic Research, while Maya Varma won the First Place Medal of Distinction for Innovation.

Same was the case with the second and third spots in all the three categories, as per the list of winners released by Intel Science last night.

Paige Brown from Maine won the First Place Medal of Distinction for Global Good.

"They and the rest of the top winners of Intel STS 2016 are using science and technology to help address the problems they see in the world and will be at the forefront of creating the solutions we need for the future," said Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of Society for Science & the Public and alumna of the Science Talent Search.

Punjabi, 17, from Massachusetts, developed software that could help drug makers develop new therapies for cancer and heart disease. He is the lead author of a paper on nanoparticles published in ACS Nano and co-author of a paper on a related topic in Nanoscale.

Varma, 17, from California, used USD 35 worth of hobbyist electronics and free computer-aided design tools to create a low-cost, smartphone-based lung function analyser that diagnoses lung disease as accurately as expensive devices currently used in medical laboratories.

Meena Jagadeesan, 17, from Illinois, won the Second Place Medal of Distinction for Basic Research.

Milind Jagota, 18, from Pennsylvania, won the Second Place Medal of Distinction for Innovation.

Kunal Shroff, 17, from Virginia, won the Third Place Medal of Distinction for Basic Research.

Kavya Ravichandran, 17, from Ohio, won the Third Place Medal of Distinction for Innovation.

Building on the top award prizes of USD 150,000, three second-place winners received awards of USD 75,000, and three third-place winners received awards of USD 35,000.

(Reopens FGN14)



Jagadeesan won the Second Place Medal of Distinction for Basic Research for investigating an object in algebraic combinatorics to show a novel relationship between classes of graphs.

Jagota won the Second Place Medal of Distinction for Innovation for researching the performance of random nanowire networks as a less costly alternative to the transparent conductors now used in touchscreen devices.

Shroff was awarded the Third Place Medal of Distinction for Basic Research for finding relationship between the key protein associated with Huntington's disease and the biological processes of cellular death that cause Huntington's symptoms.

Ravichandran won the Third Place Medal of Distinction for Innovation for using nanomedicine to destroy potentially fatal blood clots that can cause heart attacks and strokes.

Of the 1,750 high school seniors who entered the Intel Science Talent Search 2016, 300 were announced as semifinalists. Of those, 40 were chosen as finalists and invited to Washington, DC, to compete for the top nine awards.

These finalists join the ranks of other notable Science Talent Search alumni, who over the past 75 years, have gone on to win 12 Nobel Prizes, two Fields Medals, 11 National Medals of Science, 17 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships and even an Academy Award for Best Actress.
A 37-year-old Indian-origin taxi driver has been sentenced to 14 months in jail by an Australian court for being anintegral part of a money laundering operation.

Harmeet Singh, was today found guiltyby a County Court jury for carrying a suitcase stacked with an unaccounted amount of 500,000 dollars in his cab three years ago, following two trials.

He had pleaded not guiltyto a charge of dealing with the proceeds of crime in an amount greater than 100,000 dollars and offered topleadguilty to a lesser charge, on the basis he didn't know how much money he was carrying, was rejected by the court.

According to Herald Sun,Singh protested against the verdict in the court statinghe was innocent.

Dismissing his claim that he had no idea what he was carrying on the day of his arrest,Judge Sexton foundhe was an integral part of the money laundering operation.

"I am satisfied your conduct in this offence was not fleeting and not restricted to the seven minutes or less that you were knowingly in possession of the 500,000 dollars," she said.

The incident occured in October 2013 when police pulled him over in a suburb of Ringwood when hewas not carrying any passengers.

Police had spent a week on his tail and knew what they were looking for, the report said adding, that theyfound a suitcase stuffed with 500,000 dollars in cash in his cab.

However, itwas not yet known where themoney had come from, or where it was going.

Singh was taking orders from an associate in India, the report said.

He had collected the money from a US citizenknown as Mendoza, who had travelled to Melbourne for the operation.

After collecting the cash, Singh drove seven minutes to hishome but was intercepted by police in his driveway.

He told them he had collected money for his Indian associate before, but never in such large quantities.
Indonesia today installed a prominent police general as its new anti-terror chief at a time when the Muslim-majority nation faces a rising threat from citizens flocking to join jihadists in Syria.

Tito Karnavian's promotion to head of the National Counter Terrorism Agency came two months after a suicide bombing and gun attack in Jakarta claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group left four attackers and four civilians dead.

The agency has been strongly criticised for its failure to stop hundreds of Indonesians going to Syria to join IS, and for its inadequate programmes to rehabilitate terror convicts in prison.

One of the Jakarta attackers was an Islamic extremist who had spent years in jail, and police believe Indonesian radicals fighting in Syria may have had a role in planning the attacks along with others currently behind bars back home.

Karnavian was promoted to head the agency from his role as Jakarta police chief. In the past he has also headed the police elite counter-terror unit, which has enjoyed considerable success in tackling militancy.

"I am very happy to return to my natural habitat of counter-terrorism," he told reporters as he was inaugurated at the presidential palace in Jakarta.

He said one of his priorities would be taking on radicals in Poso, a militant hotbed on the central island of Sulawesi where an extremist group has pledged allegiance to IS.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, has suffered several Islamic extremist bomb attacks in the past 15 years, including the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people.

A crackdown had weakened the most dangerous extremist networks, but the emergence of IS has proved a potent new rallying cry for radicals.
Indian Oil Corp, Oil India and Bharat Petroleum today signed an agreement to buy stakes in Russia's Taas-Yuriakh oil field in East Siberia for about $1.3 billion (about Rs 8,750 crore).

The three firms will equally split the 29.9 per cent they bought from Rosneft in . They also signed Heads of Agreements for buying 23.9 per cent in Vankor oilfield in Siberia.

They will pay $1.28 billion for the stake in which currently produces 20,000 barrels per day, officials said. The field has proven reserves of 137 million tons and output will reach 100,000 bpd in two years.

A separate MoU was also inked by ONGC Videsh Ltd with Rosneft taking additional 11 per cent in Vankor oil field in addition to 15 per cent it bought in September last year.

OVL, the overseas arm of the state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), had on September 4 last year agreed to buy 15 per cent stake in Russia's second-biggest oil field of Vankor from Rosneft for $1.26 billion.

IOC, OIL and Bharat PetroResources Ltd (BPRL), a unit of BPCL, will after buying 29.9 per cent stake in Taas-Yuriakh also pay $180 million as their share of future capex.

They also signed MoU with Rosneft for possible stake in Vankor Cluster fields.

The agreements were signed on the second day of Rosneft boss Igor Sechin's two-day visit to India.

Rosneft had last year sold 20 per cent stake in Taas-Yuriah BP of UK for $750 million. The Russian firm will hold 50.1 per cent stake in the project after the deal.

The official said that originally OVL was negotiating to buy 25 per cent stake in Vankorneft, the developer of the Vankor oil and gas condensate field in Turukhansky district of Krasnoyak Territory in Russia.

Rosneft was however willing to give no more than 10 per cent. A 10 per cent stake would not have given OVL a position on board of Vankorneft and so, the Indian firm pressed hard and got a higher 15 per cent interest with right to nominate two board members.

Vankor has recoverable reserves of 2.5 billion barrels. The 15 per cent stake guarantees OVL 3.3 million tonnes a year of oil.

Rosneft, Russia's national oil company, held 100 per cent



stake in Vankorneft. Acquisition by OVL is subject to relevant board, government and regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed by mid-2016, he said.

The 15 per cent stake buy in Vankor was the 4th-biggest acquisition by OVL. In 2013, it had paid $4.12 billion for a 16 per cent stake in Mozambique's offshore Rovuma Area 1, which holds as much as 75 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves.

In 2009, it had bought Russia-focussed Imperial Energy for $2.1 billion. Prior to that, it had in 2001 paid $1.7 billion for a 20 per cent interest in the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas field off Russia's far eastern coast.

Vankor is Rosneft's (and Russia's) second-largest field by production and accounts for 4 per cent of Russian output. It produces around 4,42,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Iran's annual fire festival ahead of the Persian New Year claimed three lives and injured more than 2,500, hundreds of whom remain hospitalised, officials said today.

Each year, Iranians celebrate Chaharshanbeh-Soori, an ancient Zoroastrian tradition on the eve of the last Wednesday of the Iranian calendar, by jumping over bonfires.

But fireworks and improvised explosives are also used to mark the event, often causing casualties as public warnings against the revelry are largely ignored.

After initially giving an injured toll of only 259 nationwide, the official IRNA agency said hours later that more than 2,500 had been hurt, many seriously and some critically.

Among the dead last night was a 45-year-old man who suffered a heart attack brought about by an explosion, said Amin Saberinia, head of Iran's Emergency Medical Service.

The other two fatalities were a 24-year-old man and a teenager, Saberinia told IRNA.

As of today, six people were in an intensive care unit, he said. And there were 31 amputations, mostly of hands and fingers, and 760 mild-to-severe eye injuries.

The youngest person injured was a three-year-old girl who lost fingers.

Many Iranian actors, artists and celebrities this year urged people to stick to the traditional fire-jumping and refrain from using fireworks ahead of Nowruz (New Year), which starts on March 20.

Some did heed the advice but still more than 2,500 were reported injured, 1,900 of whom received outpatient treatment while 636 remained in hospital wards, Saberinia said.

The death toll during the celebrations has been falling in recent years, with nine killed in 2014 and 19 in 2013.

Many Iranians have taken to staying indoors for fear of being hurt on Chaharshanbeh-Soori, when blasts and whistling explosives ring out across Tehran.
An Iraqi army plane went down today near Kirkuk, with the military blaming a technical problem but the Islamic State group claiming its fighters shot it down.

A high-ranking military source told AFP that the plane crashed during a reconnaissance flight near Kirkuk and that its three crew were considered missing.

The military source said authorities had launched a search for the crew after the Cessna 208 Caravan went down near Kirkuk, around 220 kilometres north of Baghdad.

In its combat version, the aircraft can be used to launch laser-guided Hellfire missiles.

The Islamic State jihadist group claimed in a statement posted on Twitter and a video released moments later that its fighters had shot the plane down, killing five crew members.

It said it used anti-aircraft artillery against a plane that had been on a bombing run against the city of Hawijah, a stronghold of the jihadists in Kirkuk province.

A video -- which claims to show the moment the aircraft was shot down -- released by the jihadist organisation shows the wreckage of a plane that could be a Cessna Caravan.

The footage also shows IS fighters celebrating around body parts, some of which are floating in a small canal.

Iraqi forces have been making gains against the jihadists in recent months as they seek to reclaim territory seized by IS during a major offensive in 2014.

Hawijah, like other IS bastions across Iraq, is increasingly isolated as federal, Kurdish and tribal forces slowly close in.

The pressure has mounted on anti-IS forces to flush the jihadists out of the Hawijah area after a chemical attack was launched from the nearby village of Bashir last week.

The suspected mustard agent attack on the Kurdish-controlled town of Taza killed a three-year-old girl and left hundreds of people complaining of burns and respiratory problems.

The town's residents have demanded government action to retake Bashir, which is visible from the main road between Baghdad and Kirkuk, but has remained in IS hands since 2014.

Military coordination between the Kurdish peshmerga fighters and the government-allied Shiite Turkmen militia groups that also operate in the area has been difficult, slowing any operation against the jihadists.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has responded by promising that an operation against Bashir would get under way soon.

A senior military official in Kirkuk said that such an operation would further increase the pressure on Hawijah, which is IS's main remaining hub east of the Tigris.
Police found an Islamic State flag next to the body of an Algerian killed during a major anti-terror raid in Brussels, prosecutors said today, as investigators raced to track down two suspected extremists who escaped.

The man had been identified as Mohamed Belkaid, 35, an Algerian national who was illegally in Belgium, the federal prosecutor said a day after the chaotic shootout.

Two suspects were still at large after the gunbattle, which erupted as Belgian and French police searched a property in connection with the November Paris massacre claimed by IS in which 130 people died.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the investigation was ongoing and that the national security council would meet later to discuss the country's terror alert level after the incident.

Prosecutors said at least two suspects fired on police as the door was opened during a search of the property in the quiet Forest district, wounding three officers including a French policewoman.

A series of gunbattles then erupted, wounding a fourth officer in the head, and a man was "neutralised by a sniper of the special forces when he tried to open fire from the window of the flat", spokesman Thierry Werts said.

"Next to his body was a Kalashnikov, a book on Salafism and an Islamic State flag," Werts told a packed press conference.

Belkaid was unknown to Belgian authorities except for a case of theft in 2014, they said.

Werts said that "two persons who were probably in the flat and whose identity is not known fled the scene and are being tracked down".

Searches throughout the southern district of Brussels found "no results", he said.

Belgian media reported that the two missing suspects were brothers with links to terrorism but there was no immediate confirmation.

"The investigation continues and the danger remains," premier Michel told broadcaster RTL.

Michel said operations had continued throughout the night. He did not rule out that the terror alert in Brussels could be raised to the highest level.

Children were left trapped in nearby schools by the shootout, and Michel thanked residents for their "composure" as bursts of gunfire erupted in the streets and dozens of heavily-armed police with balaclavas and sub-machineguns patrolled.

By early today calm had largely returned to the area and most locals had been allowed to return to their home.

Access to the scene of the shootout was also reopened with the windows in the building blown out and taped up with plastic.
The toll from a deadly attack in Ivory Coast by an Al-Qaeda affiliate rose to 19 today, with the body of a young man shot in the head found on the beach.

State-run RTI television showed images of the body and quoted the person who had found it as saying it had been "washed back by the waves".

Citizens from Burkina Faso, Germany and France were among those killed when gunmen stormed three hotels and sprayed a beach with bullets at the Grand-Bassam beach resort, an unprecedented jihadist assault in Ivory Coast.

The sleepy town, with its pristine beaches and UNESCO-listed French colonial-era buildings, is packed with visitors on weekends from nearby Abidjan, Ivory Coast's main city and commercial capital.

A security source said it was possible that some corpses had been washed away from the beach following the assault.

Several witnesses had reported seeing the attackers firing on people bathing in the sea or swimming.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM) said the shooting rampage was one of a series of operations "targeting dens of espionage and conspiracies".

It directly threatened France and its allies in the region in warning that nations involved in the anti-insurgent Operation Barkhane and the 2013 French-led Operation Serval in Mali would "receive a response", with their "criminal leaders" and interests targeted, according to the SITE group which monitors extremist groups.

Ivory Coast, the world's leading cocoa producer, was France's star colony in Africa.

Yesterday the visiting French foreign and interior ministers pledged to step up anti-terrorism cooperation in the region and deploy crack GIGN special operations troops specialising in counter-terrorism and hostage rescue missions.

France has a permanent military base in Ivory Coast under a deal with the country's founding president Felix Houphouet-Boigny.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said about 10 GIGN troops would be stationed in the capital of neighbouring Burkina Faso and could even intervene if needed.

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara meanwhile held a cabinet meeting in Grand-Bassam today to show "our unity and our strength," adding: "Ivory Coast will not be intimidated."



He said he hoped the town's numerous hoteliers would resume business soon, adding: "We will do everything possible so that normal life resumes.
The superintendent of Kisanganj Jail was today suspended for alleged indecent activity with a minor girl after a photograph of the incident went viral on social media.

An FIR was also lodged against jail superintendent, Kripa Shankar Pandey, Inspector General of Jail Anand Kishore said.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who returned to Patna from New Delhi, this afternoon took a strong note of the incident which was captured on camera and went viral on social media, and ordered immediate "stern action".

A report from Kisanganj said the jail superintendent had been captured on the camera indulging in "indecent activity" with the minor girl of a foodgrain shopkeeper, who had been supplying food items in the Kisanganj jail for the past many years.

Superintendent of Police Rajiv Ranjan had yesterday asked Sub Divisional Police Officer Kamini Wala to probe the matter.

The SDPO while talking to reporters last night said prime facie the allegation was true.

Asked about the incident, the jail superintendent last night claimed to have told reporters that he had "fatherly relation with the girl".

When questioned about the photographs, the Jail Superintendent said "if photographs are indecent what can I do. You derive any meaning you want."



Some months back, a complaint of indulging in "unnatural sex" with the inmates on trial was levelled against Pandey, who was the jailor in the Kisanganj prison at that time.

Then district magistrate of Kisanganj Animesh Kumar Parasar had send a report to the jail authorities at that time.

The official was later promoted as superintendent in the same Kisanganj jail.
The lawyer of Abu Jundal, an alleged key plotter of 2008 Mumbai terror attack, today filed an application before the sessions court here seeking to make Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley's wife Shazia and his friend Tahawwur Hussain Rana accused in the case.

The court has granted pardon to Headley, who is currently in prison in the US, and allowed him to depose in 26/11 terror attack trial as an approver for the prosecution.

"We have moved an application seeking to make both of them accused as Headley, in his deposition, had said that both knew about the attack before November 26, 2008. Headley also said he even got congratulatory message from Shazia (after the attack)," said Jundal's lawyer Khan Abdul Wahab.

The application is likely to be heard tomorrow.

Headley concluded his week-long deposition through video-link on February 13. He is likely to be cross-examined by Khan from March 22.

Among other things, Headley told the court here that Pakistani intelligence agency ISI provides "financial, military and moral support" to terror outfits LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen. He also described how LeT planned and executed the 26/11 attack in Mumbai.
Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) today welcomed Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's assurance for equitable development of all three regions of Jammu and Kashmir, saying the Centre should fulfill its commitment made to the state's people in letter and spirit.

"KCCI appreciates and welcomes the express commitment of Finance Minister and the Government of India on the floor of Parliament about the willingness to walk an extra mile to ensure equitable development of all the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir with the implementation of Prime Minister's Economic Package," a spokesperson of KCCI said.

He said after the floods of 2014, the then state government had asked for a much higher package, which included the return of over existing power projects and establishing new ones in order to tap the huge potential for hydroelectric power generation so as to help consistent economic development of the state.

The chamber also asked the finance minister to fulfil the commitment in letter and spirit and recalled his attention to the reduced and comparatively meager quantum of relief package for flood suffers, which has left a large number of deserving flood affected people high and dry, getting no, or very little amount of relief against the huge losses suffered by them in the 2014 deluge.

The chamber also requested the finance minister to revisit the demand for relief package and consider the same in a manner that the suffers get relief enough to rehabilitate and revive their normal activity in all walks of life and sectors of business including handicrafts, agriculture and tourism, the spokesman said.

He said the KCCI expects Jaitley to stand to his own commitment made during his last visit to the valley regarding including Srinagar and Jammu cities in smart cities project.
The Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) in adjoining Thane district is yet to receive funds from the Rs 6,500 crore package announced by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last year, an RTI query has revealed.

"KDMC Account Officer and Public Information officer Vinay Kulkarni in his reply to my RTI query, said no such funds have been received till date from the Government," RTI activist Anil Galgali said.

In October 2015, Fadnavis had announced a Rs 6,500 crore package for the all round development of Kalyan and Dombivli townships, during a campaign rally, ahead of the KDMC civic poll.

Galgali said he also filed an RTI query with the Chief Minister's office (CMO), which forwarded the RTI application to the Urban Development Department and it in turn forwarded it to the MMRDA.

A reply is yet to be received, he added.
Kenya's military says it has killed 19 fighters from the Somali extremist group al-Shabab who were attempting to ambush Somali national troops.

Military spokesman Col David Obonyo said today Kenyan troops on patrol yesterday night, in the southern city of Afmadow, found a group of militants suspected to have been preparing to attack a Somali National Army camp.

Al-Shabab, which is allied to al-Qaida, is waging an insurgency against Somalia's United Nations-backed government, carrying out deadly attacks on military and civilian targets in and out of Somalia. Kenya is among six countries contributing troops under the banner of the African Union Mission in Somalia that are bolstering Somalia's weak government.

Al-Shabab killed up to 200 Kenyan soldiers in a January attack, according to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Russia next week to discuss the Syria crisis, Washington has said, after Moscow began withdrawing most of its forces from the country.

Kerry said he would hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to "try to take advantage of this moment," which he described as the best opportunity in years to end the bloodshed.

Russia's withdrawal has spurred hopes for peace talks being held in Geneva to try to end Syria's brutal five-year conflict, which has killed more than 270,000 people and displaced millions.

Putin ordered the "main part" of Russia's forces out of Syria on Monday, but pledged to keep some air and naval bases in the war-torn nation.

A senior official said yesterday strikes would also continue against "terrorist targets", and a monitoring group said Russian aircraft had struck the Islamic State group around the ancient city of Palmyra.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura described the withdrawal as a "significant development" for the talks, after the regime and rebel delegations submitted their roadmaps for a political solution.

"We hope (this) will have a positive impact on the progress of the negotiations," he said.

The White House said "the earliest indications are that the Russians are following through" on the withdrawal, and some Russian aircraft had left Syria.

Kerry is expected to go to Moscow some time after yesterday when he returns from a trip to Cuba.

"As we mark the fifth anniversary of the start of this horrific war, we may face the best opportunity that we've had in years to end it," he said.

"I will be travelling next week to Moscow... To discuss how we can effectively move the political process forward and try to take advantage of this moment."



The first of Russia's warplanes to leave Syria received a hero's welcome at an airbase outside the city of Voronezh, where they were greeted by a ceremonial flypast and dozens of cheering supporters.

Pilots were tossed in the air as they disembarked, before being given a traditional present of a loaf of bread and salt, while a robed Orthodox priest offered them an icon to kiss.

Some governments expressed hope the Russian move could pressure its long-time ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to negotiate - although the Kremlin has denied that was its intention.
Following yesterday's warning by the Election Commission to remove all hoardings that violate model code of conduct within 48 hours, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has started a massive removal drive.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dibyendu Sarkar told reporters today that they have received an interim report from the corporation's commissioner that 50 teams comprising 650 workers are doing a massive removal drive.

He said according to the report only 2-3 per cent work is left to be done now.

"They have committed to do the rest also," Sarkar said.

For the 294 Assembly constituencies in the state which will go to the poll in six phases beginning from April 4, the poll watchdog will deploy 193 general observers who will be in their constituencies from the last day of filing nominations till the date of counting.

Sarkar said besides this there will be a team of 66 expenditure observers and another team of 21 police observers.

"The police observers, who are IPS officers from different states, will remain till polling day in their constituencies. They will monitor all law and order related issues during the elections," he said.

To a question, the official said the wife of Trinamool Congress candidate Laxmi Ratan Shukla is a returning officer and has informed the Election Commission about their relationship.

"But Shukla is yet to file his nomination. For us he is a candidate only when he files his papers. Once that is done the matter will be looked after by us," he said on whether they will remove his wife as a returning officer.
Latvian veterans who fought for Nazi Germany against the Soviets in World War II staged a controversial march through Riga today to mark a key 1944 battle.

Police said more than 1,000 people paraded through the Latvian capital's Old Town amid a heavy security presence.

Jewish groups, Moscow and many in Latvia's large ethnic Russian minority see the parade as glorifying Nazism because the Latvian Legion, founded in 1943, was commanded by the Waffen-SS, the Nazi party's elite police force.

A quarter of Latvia's two million people identify themselves as Russian.

Efraim Zuroff of Jerusalem's Nazi-hunting Simon Wiesenthal Center told AFP: "It's a very sad day to see these people marching and to see Waffen-SS troops glorified as freedom fighters.

"Anyone who fought for the victory of the Third Reich shouldn't be a hero."



Latvian Legion veterans have marched in Riga every March 16 since Soviet rule ended in 1991. The date marks the key 1944 battle in which the force ultimately failed to repel an advance by Moscow, leading to nearly half a century of communist occupation.

Veterans insist they were trying to defend their homeland against Soviet occupation.

"I've faced death -- in the Legion and when I was sent to Norilsk (a Soviet prison camp). Since returning, I see every day as a gift to be appreciated," Eduards Zirdzins, 95, told the Latvijas Avize newspaper.

Moscow seized Latvia under a 1939 deal with Berlin that divided eastern Europe between the two powers, subsequently deporting tens of thousands of Latvians to Siberia.

Germany drove out the Red Army when it reneged on the pact and invaded the Soviet Union in 1941.

Some Latvians hailed the Nazis as liberators despite killing 70,000 of the country's 85,000 Jews with assistance from local collaborators.

The Soviets recaptured Riga in October 1944 and ruled the country until the USSR collapsed in 1991.
The driver and helper of a goods carrying lorry were arrested today after the vehicle hit a senior police officer's car in the city, police said.

However, nobody was injured.

The lorry, it was learnt, jumped several red signals before hitting DC South Murli Dhar's car near Alipore area in south Kolkata.

"We've arrested the driver and the helper of the vehicle though nobody was injured in the accident," a senior officer of Kolkata Police said.
The investigation into the Louis Berger bribery case "could not be completed in the absence of custodial interrogation of former Chief Minister Digamber Kamat," Goa government informed the state Assembly.

"The application for cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to accused Digamber Kamat is pending before Supreme Court.

"Hence investigation in respect of accused Digamber Kamat could not be completed as his custodial interrogation is essential to unearth the deep rooted conspiracy," Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said in a written reply yesterday to a question tabled by Kamat on the floor of the House.

Kamat is presently a Congress MLA from Margao seat.

The Goa Police has been probing the involvement of several government officials as well as politicians and the US company officials in the multi-crore bribery scandal.

The case was filed on July 21, 2015, by state Home department against Kamat, ex-PWD Minister Churchill Alemao and other officials, including those of US-based Louis Berger firm and also JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).

The US firm has been charged with bribing Indian officials with several crores of rupees to win two major water developmental projects in Goa and Guwahati.

The Rs 1,031-crore project, funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was approved when Digamber Kamat government was in power, for augmenting water supply in south Goa and laying sewerage lines in the state's major cities.

Kamat, also accused of accepting bribes, was given anticipatory bail by a district court in August.

Parsekar told the House that during the course of investigation, the former officials of Louis Berger, in their statements recorded before a magistrate, confessed about approximate bribes allegedly paid to the then CM Digamber Kamat and then PWD Minister Churchill Alemao amounting to Rs 1.20 crore and 75 lakh, respectively.

"Further, section 201 IPC was added to the present crime, as the accused Digamber Kamat influenced government officials to manipulate RTI information (related to the case) for facilitating him during arguments in anticipatory bail application," he said in the written reply.

In the question tabled on the floor of the House, Kamat had sought notings of the case and also communication between the crime branch and the company which was refused by Parsekar, saying that the case was sub-judice.
AIMIM MLA Waris Pathan was today suspended from Maharashtra Assembly for refusing to say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' with legislators cutting across party lines pressing for action against him through a unanimous resolution.

Pathan, who represents Byculla seat in South Mumbai, will not be allowed to attend the proceedings of the House till the end of ongoing Budget session.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat said, "Pathan was suspended from Assembly for showing disrespect to national heroes and refusal to say Bharat Mata ki Jai."



It all began when All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MLA from Aurangabad, Imtiaz Jaleel, was speaking on the debate on the Governor's address in the Assembly.

Jaleel said the government should not spend taxpayers' money on building memorials of 'great personalities'.

A Shiv Sena MLA interjected, saying Jaleel's party leader Asaduddin Owaisi had recently stated he will not chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'.

To this, Pathan said, "We will say 'Jai Hind' but not 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. There cannot be compulsion on saying 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. The Constitution does not say this."



Immediately after his remarks, MLAs from ruling BJP and Shiv Sena and other Opposition parties including Congress and NCP demanded suspension of AIMIM legislators from the House.

Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse said the AIMIM MLAs should apologise but his suggestion was shot down by angry members of the House, who, setting aside political differences, sought their suspension.

Bapat said he will table a resolution seeking the approval of the House for suspension of AIMIM MLAs, after which it was adjourned for 10 minutes. It was again adjourned thrice amid noisy scenes.

When the proceedings resumed, Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil tabled the resolution, seeking suspension of Pathan, which was approved unanimously.

"Pathan has misused freedom of speech, violated Parliamentary traditions and insulted 'Bharat Mata (Mother India)," the minister said.

The resolution was tabled in keeping with the sentiments of the House, he added.

"During his suspension period, Pathan won't be able to attend House proceedings and won't be allowed near Vidhan Bhawan premises," Patil said.

Speaker Haribhau Bagade informed the House that the resolution was adopted unanimously.

AIMIM has expressed its opposition to chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' as proposed by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat who had said that the new generation needs to be taught to chant slogans hailing mother India.

Owaisi had said he did not want to chant that slogan.

"What are you going to do, Bhagwat sahab. I won't utter that (slogan) even if you put a knife to my throat. Nowhere in the Constitution it says that one should say: 'Bharat Mata ki Jai," Owaisi had said addressing a public rally in Udgir tehsil of Latur district on March 13.

His comments had evoked strong reactions from the Shiv Sena and BJP.
OPEC member states and other major oil producers plan to meet next month to discuss a freeze in oil output levels, Qatar's top energy official said today.

The gathering, which will build on earlier talks that included major suppliers Russia and Saudi Arabia, reflects a growing sense of urgency among producers to try to shore up crude prices following a steep drop that is straining their domestic budgets.

Qatar holds the rotating presidency of OPEC and will host the upcoming talks, which are scheduled to take place the capital, Doha, on April 17.

Some 15 oil-producing nations representing about 73 per cent of world output have agreed to take part, according to a statement from Mohammed bin Saleh al-Sada, Qatar's energy and industry minister.

"The continuous efforts of the Qatari government have been instrumental in promoting dialogue among all oil producers to support the Doha initiative, helping the stabilization of (the) oil market to the interest of all," al-Sada said in the statement.

Energy ministers from Russia and OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Venezuela pledged to cap their output levels if others do the same in an effort to bolster oil prices during a meeting in Doha last month.

Other major producers, including OPEC members Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, have since expressed support for the initiative.

The countries are seeking coordinated action because they are reluctant to give up market share to other producers.

Oil prices plunged to below USD 30 a barrel, their lowest point in more than a decade, earlier this year, extending a slide from over USD 100 a barrel that began in 2014.

Prices have edged higher in recent weeks, with US benchmark crude trading above USD 36 a barrel in electronic trading early today.

The slump is causing growing alarm in countries heavily dependent on oil exports, leading them to slash public sector jobs and search for new sources of revenue.

Kuwait, for example, this week proposed implementing a new corporate tax and the privatization of some publicly run services.
A US man accused of trying to recruit people to join the Islamic State group has pleaded guilty to a terrorism charge.

Authorities say Amir Said Rahman Al-Ghazi, formerly Robert McCollum, pledged his support online to the Islamic State group.

The 39-year-old Al-Ghazi pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms.

A message was left with Al-Ghazi's attorney.

A criminal complaint says the recruits he targeted in 2014 and last year were FBI sources.

The government says Al-Ghazi also tried to buy an assault rifle in his desire to attack the United States.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will deliver a lecture on 'role of students in the future of India' at an educational institute here on March 19.

Senior Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela made this announcement here today.

Singh would speak at an educational institute, run by Vaghela. "I am pleased to announce that our former PM will give his lecture at Bapu Gujarat Knowledge Village (GKV) campus on March 19," Vaghela told reporters.

The former PM was scheduled to visit the institute on February 27. However, the event was postponed after the Special Protection Group (SPG) apparently gave negative feedback about his visit at that time.
Germany's Angela Merkel said today a planned EU-Turkey deal offers the first "real chance" to end the migrant crisis but cautioned that the bloc won't seek agreement at any cost.

Speaking on the eve of a crucial Brussels summit, Merkel made clear the EU would stand firm on civil rights in Turkey and that Ankara's bid to eventually join the 28-nation club is "not on the agenda now".

Europe, divided and desperate to end its biggest refugee influx since World War II, is pinning its hopes on a deal with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Under the plan hailed as a "game-changer", Turkey would seek to stop refugees' dangerous sea journeys and take back illegal migrants from Greece. For each Syrian it accepts, it would send one to the EU in a more orderly redistribution programme.

But the proposed deal -- which would offer Turkey the carrot of eased access to the visa-free Schengen zone and an acceleration of EU accession talks -- has drawn heavy fire on several fronts.

Many critics have voiced unease over human rights concerns in any deal with Turkey, over its arrests of journalists and academics and an intensifying military campaign against Kurdish separatists.

France has warned against attempts by Turkey to strongarm Europe, and Czech President Milos Zeman charged that Ankara's request for billions of euros more in EU aid amounted to "blackmail".

Merkel, addressing the concerns in a speech to parliament, stressed that no shortcuts would be taken.

Europe would continue to "voice our convictions to Turkey regarding, for instance, the protection of press freedom or the treatment of the Kurds," Merkel said.

But she also reached out to Turkey, saying she could understand its request for more EU financial aid.

"What Turkey has done for ... Some 2.7 million refugees can't be praised highly enough," she said.

"Europe has not covered itself with glory in how, as a union of 28 members states with 500 million citizens, it has struggled with fairly sharing the burden."



Sounding a hopeful note, Merkel said the EU summit may "reach an agreement that could give us, for the first time, a real chance at a sustainable and pan-European solution to the refugee crisis."



However, major stumbling blocks remained on the eve of the meeting -- the most immediate thrown up by Cyprus, which threatened to torpedo the plan over its territorial feud with Turkey.
Mizoram Assembly today paid rich tributes to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and former Lok Sabha Speaker and sitting MP Purno Agitok Sangma.

When the assembly session began this morning, House Leader Lal Thanhawla made obituary references to Sayeed (79) who died on January seven last and Sangma (68) who died on March four last.

Lal Thanhawla said that both the departed leaders were tall figures in the entire country and also in their respective states and had served at the Centre and also were chief minister in their respective states.

Opposition group leader and former Lok Sabha member Vanlalzawma of the Mizo National Front (MNF) also said that Sayeed and Sangma were great leaders for the entire country and their demise a great loss to the nation.

One-minute silence was observed in the House as a mark of respect for the departed leaders.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla today slammed the Centre for its alleged high-handed attitude in axing and appointing state governors.

While making an obituary reference on the demise of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in the state Assembly, Thanhawla said when Sayeed was Union Home Minister he had consulted him on the appointment of Mizoram governor.

"Our opinions might not be accepted, but the Centre, in those days had consulted or informed the state chief ministers on removal or appointment of governors," he said.

He said the NDA government now had shown high-handed approach in removing or appointing state governors resulting in Mizoram having the highest number of governors in a year.
More than a dozen US military personnel have been disciplined but face no criminal charges for mistakes that led to the bombing of a Doctors Without Borders hospital that killed 42 people in Afghanistan last year, US defense officials say.

The punishments, which have not been publicly announced, are largely administrative. But in some cases the actions, such as letters of reprimand, are tough enough to effectively end chances for further promotion.

The military has previously said some personnel were suspended from their duties but has given no further details. The disciplined include both officers and enlisted personnel, but officials said none are generals.

The officials, who were not authorized to discuss the outcomes publicly and so spoke on condition of anonymity, said the disciplinary process is nearly complete. It is derived from a military investigation of the October 3, 2015, attack, the results of which are expected to be made public in a partially redacted form in coming days.

The hospital, run by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders in the northern city of Kunduz, was attacked by a US Air Force special operations AC-130 gunship, one of the most lethal in the US arsenal. Doctors Without Borders called the attack "relentless and brutal" and demanded an international investigation, but none has been undertaken.

Army Gen John Campbell, who was the top US commander in Afghanistan at the time but has since relinquished command, has called it a "tragic but avoidable accident caused primarily by human error."



The attack was unleashed as US military advisers were helping Afghan forces retake Kunduz, which had fallen to the Taliban on September 28, 2015. It was the first major city to fall since the Taliban were expelled from Kabul in 2001.

Afghan officials claimed the hospital had been overrun by the Taliban, but no evidence of that has surfaced. The hospital was destroyed and Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French acronym, MSF, ceased operations in Kunduz. President Barack Obama apologized for the attack, which was one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in the 15-year war.

The US command in Kabul said in February that it has expressed condolences and offered payment to more than 140 families and individuals affected by the attack.

In November, the US military provided an outline of what happened. It said the crew of the AC-130 gunship, which is armed with side-firing cannons and guns, had been dispatched to hit a Taliban command center in a different building, 450 yards away from the hospital.
North Korea today sentenced an American student, who admitted to stealing propaganda material, to 15 years hard labour for crimes against the state, China's official agency reported.

The sentence was handed down on Otto Warmbier, a 21-year- old student from the University of Virginia, by North Korea's Supreme Court, Xinhua said in a brief dispatch datelined Pyongyang.

There was no immediate confirmation of the sentence on North Korean state media.

Warmbier, who was arrested in early January as he was leaving the country, later said he had removed a political banner from the staff-only area of the Pyongyang hotel being used by his tour group.

His detention came at a sensitive time, as the US took a leading role in efforts to secure tough international sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear test on January 6 and a long-range rocket launch a month later.

In recent weeks, Pyongyang has maintained a daily barrage of nuclear strike threats against both Seoul and Washington, ostensibly over ongoing, large-scale South Korea-US military drills that the North sees as provocative rehearsals for invasion.

Warmbier had entered North Korea as part of a New Year tour organised by China-based Young Pioneer Tours. He was arrested when the group was set to return to Beijing on January 2.

The United States has no diplomatic or consular relations with the North, and the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang provides limited consular services to US citizens detained there.

Warmbier is one of three North Americans currently detained in North Korea, which last month sentenced a 60-year- old Canadian pastor to life imprisonment with hard labour on sedition charges.

In the past, North Korea has used the detention of US citizens to obtain high-profile visits from the likes of former US president Bill Clinton in order to secure their release.

Detained foreigners are often required to make a public, officially-scripted acknowledgement of wrongdoing, and Warmbier was paraded in front of reporters and diplomats in Pyongyang at the end of last month.

Footage of the event showed a sobbing Warmbier pleading to be released and saying he had made "the worst mistake of my life".
North Korea today sentenced an American student who admitted stealing a propaganda banner from a hotel to 15 years' hard labour for subversive activities, state media said.

The judgement was handed down on Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old student from the University of Virginia, by North Korea's Supreme Court, the North's official KCNA agency said.

Observers said the harsh sentence was likely a reflection of soaring military tensions on the divided Korean peninsula following the North's nuclear test in January and long-range rocket launch a month later.

The United States took a leading role in securing the resulting sanctions that the UN Security Council imposed on the North earlier this month.

In recent weeks Pyongyang has maintained a daily barrage of nuclear strike threats against both Seoul and Washington, ostensibly over ongoing large-scale South Korea-US military drills that the North sees as provocative rehearsals for invasion.

In announcing the jail sentence, KCNA said Warmbier had committed his offence "pursuant to the US government's hostile policy" towards North Korea.

Warmbier had initially been arrested in early January on charges of "hostile acts" against the state. KCNA said he was convicted under an article of the criminal code dealing with subversion.

"In the course of the inquiry, the accused confessed to the serious offence," it said, without elaborating.

Warmbier was arrested as he was leaving the country with a tour group. He later said he had removed a political banner from the staff-only area of the Pyongyang hotel where the group had stayed.

The sentence was handed down just hours after veteran US diplomat Bill Richardson reportedly met two diplomats from North Korea's UN office in New York to press for Warmbier's release.

"I urged the humanitarian release of Otto, and they agreed to convey our request," Richardson, the former governor of New Mexico, told the New York Times.

In the past, North Korea has used the detention of US citizens to obtain high-profile visits from the likes of former US presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton in order to secure their release.

Richardson has travelled to North Korea several times over the years on diplomatic missions that have included negotiating the freedom of arrested Americans.

The United States has no diplomatic or consular relations with the North. The Swedish embassy in Pyongyang provides limited consular services to US citizens detained there.

Warmbier is one of three North Americans currently detained in North Korea, which recently sentenced a 60-year-old Canadian pastor to life imprisonment with hard labour on sedition charges.
Enthused by the passage of bills including real estate, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today expressed confidence that the pending GST bill can also get Parliament's nod in the second part of the Budget session.

However, he castigated Congress for pressing an amendment to the President's address in the Rajya Sabha.

Referring to the passage of 10 bills by both Houses, he said, "If we can pass real estate bill, I do not think there is a problem in passing GST bill in next part of the Budget session" and noted happily that disruptions of proceedings have substantially come down.

Training guns on Opposition for pressing amendments to the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in Rajya Sabha, he said this is an embarrassment to Opposition, particularly the Congress and not to the NDA government. It accused the main Opposition party of "depriving" millions of people the basic education even after 68 years of independence.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad had given an amendment in a division in which 94 voted for the amendment and 61 against. The amendment regretted that President's address did not commit support to rights of all citizens to contest panchayat elections in the backdrop of law in Rajasthan and Haryana where matriculation has been fixed as the criteria for contesting the polls.

Naidu said the amendment got approved "because Congress is numerically more in Rajya Sabha. Now they are calling it a set back to the Modi government".

"But I personally feel that the opposition, particularly Congress has embarrassed itself. Let us consider the basic issue; who is responsible for depriving millions of people the basic education even after 68 years of independence. Congress and its supporters were in power for most of the time, both at the Centre and in the states."



He said that having neglected that Congress is now "criminally" trying to spread "disinformation" against NDA.

"By moving such an amendment, Congress admitted that basic education during their tenure was in shambles and it was glaring that they failed miserably. So moving an amendment on such issue was an embarrassment to the Congress reflecting its failure to fulfill the basic right of the citizen," he said.

He also argued similar provisions existed in Haryana, which Congress never tried to amend despite being in power there for long.

"The Congress party during its tenure never bothered to amend it and was now crying hoarse. After having failed in fulfilling its responsibility, it now has the audacity to bring in an amendment to the Motion of Thanks to the President's address. By making this amendment, the opposition has endorsed all other aspects of the President's address which is a policy statement of our government. I need to thank Opposition for this," he said.

Noting that as a whole, the productivity of both the



Houses was good, Naidu said Lok Sabha has worked 123 per cent of scheduled time, an extra 24 hours 58 minutes, while the productivity of Rajya Sabha was 103 per cent.

"This Budget session has been the most significant and rewarding on several counts. This session gave me a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment because it has given us some of the key takeaways. This session saw Rajya Sabha witnessing a rare occasion of the opposition and treasury benches giving credit to each other for introducing and piloting the real estate Bill.

"The manner in which the bill was passed in upper house clearly highlighted what the highest legislature of the land could do to further the aspirations of the people. The spirit of camaraderie demonstrated in the upper house underlined what we could do collectively for the betterment of the lives of the people," he said.

Naidu noted that this Budget session was happening in the backdrop of increased public and political demand for a productive session.

"In various meetings at the level of Prime Minister, Vice-President, Speaker and the all party meeting convened by me ahead of this Budget session, serious concern was expressed over persistent disruptions over the last two sessions of Parliament.

"Public was getting restive over the functioning of the highest legislature of the land. I am sure this has impact on the conduct of parties concerned which ultimately is resulting in the smooth running of the house," he said.

Reeling out figures, Naidu said that the Lok Sabha sat beyond scheduled business hours on 10 days while Rajya Sabha did so on 6 days.

"Disruptions of proceedings have substantially come down and I thank the Members and Parties for the same. There were quality debates on Motion of thanks to President's address, Real Estate Bill, General and Railway Budgets.

"In Motion of thanks to President's address, 129 members from Lok Sabha and 30 members from Rajya Sabha participated. On the General Budget, 170 members from Lok Sabha and 04 (till now) from Rajya Sabha have participated. On the Railway Budget, the numbers from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are 203 and 37 respectively," he said.

Naidu referred to the passage of Real Estate Regulation Bill, Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, The Carriage by Air Bill and a bill regarding anomalies in the salaries and allowances of judges among the important legislative business having been carried out so far.

Claiming that the government has presented path-breaking General and Railway Budgets, which is the main function of any Budget session, Naidu said the General and Railway budgets reflected the government's commitment to trigger economic growth through inclusive development.
NASA said it will test the effects of a large fire in space by setting off a blaze inside an orbiting unmanned space craft.

NASA has set off tiny controlled fires in space in the past, but never tested how large flames react inside a space capsule in space.

This research "is crucial for the safety of current and future space missions," Gary Ruff, one of the engineers heading the experiment at the US space agency's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, said yesterday.

The goal is to measure the size of the flames, how quickly they spread, the heat output, and how much gas is emitted.

The experiment will be conducted in an Orbital ATK Cygnus capsule after the craft ferries supplies to the International Space Station.

The Cygnus capsule is scheduled to blast off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, atop an Atlas 5 rocket on its final mission on March 23.

Once the capsule undocks from the ISS and is far away from the space station, ground control will trigger the fire on board, Ruff said.

The results of this experiment, dubbed Saffire-1, will determine how much fire resistance is needed in the ultra-light material used in the spacecraft and the astronaut's gear.

It will also help NASA build better fire detection and suppression systems for their spaceships, and study how microgravity and limited amounts of oxygen affect the size of the flames.

"Understanding fire in space has been the focus of many experiments over the years," said Ruff.

While many "small, centimeter-sized fires have been lit in space before, to really understand fire, you've got to look at a more realistic size."



Temperature, oxygen and carbon dioxide sensors will record data on the fire, which is expected to last about 20 minutes, in real time. Cameras also will film the material as it burns.

A few days after the blaze, NASA expects the remnants of the Cygnus capsule to plunge towards Earth and disintegrate in the atmosphere.
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Maulana Azad National Urdu University Chancellor Zafar Sareshwala today sought to downplay the suspension of AIMIM MLA Waris Pathan from Maharashtra Assembly for refusing to say 'Bharat Mata ki jai', saying "mere" sloganeering is "irrelevant" as he pitched for developmental works.

"To me, it is not an issue. All these sloganeering of any sort doesn't count, these are irrelevant. We have seen a lot of sloganeering. There are a lot of important issues in the country, education, health, jobs. We have to develop infrastructure. These are issues on which discussion should happen," Sareshwala told reporters here.

Sareshwala praised the NDA government at the Centre for working in public interest and referred to Jan Dhan Yojana in this context. He termed the opening of 22 crore bank accounts under the programme within a year as a "big achievement" of the government.

"It is a big achievement. Besides this, money is being transferred to people's accounts through direct debit. These are real issues," he added.

To another question, Sareshwala said Urdu is being "wiped out" from the country "systematically" since 1947 and added the varsity is taking efforts to conserve the language.

AIMIM legislator Pathan was today suspended from Maharashtra Assembly for refusing to say 'Bharat Mata ki jai' with legislators cutting across party lines pressing for action against him through a unanimous resolution.

Pathan, who represents Byculla seat in South Mumbai, will not be allowed to attend the proceedings of the House till the end of ongoing Budget session.
Nepal will sign a trade and transit treaty and agreements on importing fuel from China during Prime Minister K P Oli's forthcoming visit to the country, the government said today.

Oli is leaving for Beijing on March 20 on a week-long official visit.

Minister for Industry Som Prasad Pandey said that an agreement on oil exploration will also be signed as China has already assured help to Nepal in this regard.

He said Nepal and China will also sign an agreement to trademarks during the visit.

He said that agreements will also be signed for the construction of an international airport in Pokhara and a bridge over the Simikot-Hilsa road section that will connect Humla district to Tibet.

The nearly five-month-long Madhesi agitation over Nepal's new Constitution and the trade blockade with India that ended last month caused severe shortage of petroleum products in the landlocked nation.
Scientists, including one of Indian-origin, are developing a biological-based fuel cell that uses damaged or waste tomatoes to produce electricity.

"We have found that spoiled and damaged tomatoes left over from harvest can be a particularly powerful source of energy when used in a biological or microbial electrochemical cell," said Namita Shrestha, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

"The process also helps purify the tomato-contaminated solid waste and associated waste water," Shrestha said.

Tomatoes are a key crop in Florida, said Venkataramana Gadhamshetty, professor at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Florida generates 396,000 tonnes of tomato waste every year, but lacks a good treatment process, said Gadhamshetty who began the research at Florida Gulf Coast University.

"We wanted to find a way to treat this waste that, when dumped in landfills, can produce methane - a powerful greenhouse gas - and when dumped in water bodies, can create major water treatment problems," he said.

The team developed a microbial electrochemical cell that can exploit tomato waste to generate electric current.

"Microbial electrochemical cells use bacteria to break down and oxidise organic material in defective tomatoes," Shrestha said.

The oxidation process, triggered by the bacteria interacting with tomato waste, releases electrons that are captured in the fuel cell and become a source of electricity.

The natural lycopene pigment in tomatoes, the researchers have found, is an excellent mediator to encourage the generation of electrical charges from the damaged fruits.

"Typical biotechnological applications require, or at least perform better, when using pure chemicals, compared to wastes," Gadhamshetty said.

"However, we found that electrical performance using defective tomatoes was equal or better than using pure substrates. These wastes can be a rich source of indigenous redox mediators and carbon, as well as electrons," he said.

At the moment, the power output from their device is quite small - 10 milligrammes of tomato waste can result in 0.3 watts of electricity.

However, the researchers said that with an expected scale up and more research, electrical output could be increased by several orders of magnitude.

According to researchers, there is theoretically enough tomato waste generated in Florida each year to meet Disney World's electricity demand for 90 days, using an optimised biological fuel cell.

They plan to improve the cell by determining which of its parts - electrode, electricity-producing bacteria, biological film, wiring - are resisting the flow of electricity.
US network Fox today called off a Republican debate next week after frontrunner Donald Trump announced he wasn't taking part.

The debate -- being organized in partnership with the Republican Party -- would have been held Monday in Salt Lake City, Utah.

"The Salt Lake City debate is canceled," said a statement from Fox News' executive vice president of news, Michael Clemente.

"I think we've had enough debates," Trump had told the same network earlier.

Already on Friday, the billionaire had told reporters he thought it was time to end the debates.

Twelve Republican debates have been held since August. Trump already boycotted one such forum held in Iowa in late January, also hosted by Fox .

"I think we've had enough, how many times can the same people ask you the same questions?" Trump said. "So I was very surprised when I heard that Fox called for a debate, nobody told me about it, and I won't be there, no."



Instead of taking to the stage in Utah, Trump said he would be delivering a speech in Washington at an annual conference held by AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobbying group. Top Democratic White House contender Hillary Clinton is also due to speak at the gathering.

Ohio Governor John Kasich had let it be known that he probably wouldn't participate in the debate either in the absence of Trump.

"Donald Trump's decision to scuttle the Salt Lake City debate is disappointing, but not surprising. His values are out of step with the people of Utah," said Kasich's chief strategist, John Weaver.

"We had hoped to contrast Governor Kasich's positive, inclusive approach to problem solving with Trump's campaign of division. If he changes his mind, we will be there."



Remaining rival Ted Cruz has also decided to back out of the debate, according to broadcaster CBS.

"Ted Cruz has expressed a willingness to debate Trump or Kasich -- or both. But obviously, there needs to be more than one participant," Clemente said.

The number of debates this year is in fact less than in previous election seasons after the schedule was taken in hand by the party. Around 20 were organized during the Republican primaries in 2012 and 2008.

In 2007 and 2008, Barack Obama and Clinton also faced off more than 20 times.
Nobody can claim to be a better devotee than the other, the Supreme Court today said as it directed for determination of entry and exits gates for people and fixing of barricades within two weeks for the famous Kalkaji Mandir here to thwart any danger of stampede.

A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said entry or exist gates should be appropriately barricaded so that the devotees remain in queue and come back in queue.

"The maintenance of discipline is paramount as far as the temple is concerned. Neither any 'savayat' nor any devotee has any right to denigrate the sanctity of the temple. Nobody can put forth a claim that he is a better devotee than the other," the bench also comprising Justice Shiva Kirti Singh said.

The bench's direction came after a submission was made on behalf of a court-appointed committee which said there is no proper signage at the five entry points of the temple and as a result there is an unmanageable crowd which has the potentiality to create an unhealthy atmosphere and may lead to stampede at any time.

It said for the determination of gates, the committee shall hold a meeting with the people concerned and the Assistant Commissioner of Police and complete the exercise within two weeks.

It also directed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of the area to install a demarcating barricade by which the non-temple area can be carved out from the temple area.

It, however, clarified that that the SDM shall not go by any kind of records which may effect the right, title and interest of the litigating parties in various courts and should only demarcate so that the authorities concerned can proceed with the works relating to cleanliness and other aspects.

The bench also passed a slew of directions to Delhi Development Authority, South Delhi Municipal Corporation and Delhi Jal Board regarding the cleanliness at the temple, fencing and leakage of pipes.

Earlier, on October 28, the apex court had appointed a batch of volunteers comprising 28 people for cleaning Kalkaji temple complex here on weekly basis starting from November 1.

It had, however, made it clear that volunteers who have been assigned to clean the temple complex "do not have any status".

The court in 2013 had stayed a Delhi High court order directing demolition of unauthorised constructions in the Kalkaji temple premises.

The high court ordered demolition of unauthorised construction within the complex on a PIL filed by advocate Piyush Joshi highlighting the unhygienic conditions and illegal construction at the temple.

Joshi had accused the "prabandhak" committee of turning a blind eye to rampant illegal construction by shopkeepers around the temple.
Indian-American legal luminary Sri Srinivasan is among the two persons zeroed in on by US President Barack Obama for the post of Supreme Court judge.

Obama is likely to choose either "trailblazer" Srinivasan or Merrick Garland as his pick for the Supreme Court nominee and could announce his decision as early as today.

If chosen, 48-year-old Srinivasan would become the first Indian-American to be on the nine-member bench of the Supreme Court.

To fill up the vacancy on the Supreme Court bench following the sudden death of Justice Antonin Scalia last month, among the most possible names could be Srinivasan or Garland, 63, a source said.

While Garland has been the chief judge of the Washington appeals court since 1997, Srinivasan was appointed to the DC Court of Appeals in 2013.

Paul Watford, who serves on the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in California, is also considered to be in the running, CNN reported, adding that Obama has interviewed all of them.

"The groundwork has been methodical and is done," a source was quoted as saying by CNN, which along with other US media outlets reported that the White House has finished the "critical work" of vetting potential candidates for the US Supreme Court nomination.

All media reports put Srinivasan among the most likely candidate.

In a bitterly divided Senate-wherein the Republican leadership has threatened to block Obama's nominee - Srinivasan has an advantage because it was only in 2013 that he was confirmed by the Senate with a record 97-0 votes.

If nominated by the President and confirmed by the US Senate, Srinivasan would be the Indian-American on the US Supreme Court bench.

Srinivasan was sworn in as judge of the second most powerful court of the US on September 26, 2013, making him the first Indian-American to be on the bench of the US Courts of Appeal for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Chandigarh-born Srinivasan whose parents migrated to the United States in 1970s, confirmed by the US Senate by a huge 97-0 votes in May 2013.

Srinivasan received his BA with honors and distinction in 1989 from Stanford University and his JD with distinction in 1995 from Stanford Law School, where he was elected to Order of the Coif and served as an editor of the Stanford Law Review.

He also holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, which he received along with his JD in 1995. Srinivasan's mother is from Chennai and father was from Tirunelveli.
US President Barack Obama has signed an order implementing UN-backed sanctions on North Korea, amid a series of reprisals from Pyongyang.

The White House yesterday said Obama had signed an executive order targeting the volatile hermit state's energy, financial and shipping assets.

The measures were agreed to at the United Nations in response to a January 6 nuclear test and February 7 ballistic missile launch.

"The order is not targeted at the people of North Korea, but rather is aimed at the government," said the document signed by Obama.

Among the entities targeted are the "Propaganda and Agitation Department" of the Workers' Party of Korea and mining firms that provide the regime with much-needed revenues.

The US Treasury Department estimates that coal revenues alone generate over $1 billion a year for the government of Kim Jong-Un.

In response to the UN sanctions and a US-South Korean drill, Kim has already ordered an upcoming nuclear warhead test and multiple ballistic missile launches.

US officials say the threats are concerning, but fit a pattern of sabre rattling by the regime.

Yesterday, North Korea jailed a 21-year-old American student.

Otto Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years' hard labor for stealing a propaganda banner from a hotel.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest accused Pyongyang of using US citizens as "pawns to pursue a political agenda" and called for his release.

"We strongly encourage the North Korean government to pardon him and grant him special amnesty and immediate release," Earnest said.

"The allegations for which this individual was arrested and imprisoned would not give rise to arrest or imprisonment in the United States or in just about any other country in the world."



In announcing the sentence, state outlet KCNA said Warmbier had committed his offense "pursuant to the US government's hostile policy" toward North Korea.
President Barack Obama will travel to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia in April, a visit set to be dominated by doubts over Britain's EU membership and concerns about turmoil in the Middle East.

The White House said Obama will visit Windsor Castle -- where he will have a private lunch with Queen Elizabeth II -- and 10 Downing Street for a joint press conference with Prime Minister David Cameron.

His visit comes ahead of Britain's hotly contested June referendum on European Union membership.

Obama is likely to express his strong backing for keeping Britain in the EU, but will have to rebuff allegations of interference.

London's loquacious mayor Boris Johnson -- a chief proponent of leaving the bloc -- has accused Obama of "exorbitant hypocrisy" given America's "hysterical vigilance" about its own sovereignty.

In Saudi Arabia, Obama will attend a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, were Washington's policies toward the Middle East are likely to come under the microscope.

Uneasy partners in the Gulf have been furious at Obama's engagement with Iran and perceived retreat from the Middle East.

A senior Saudi royal has publicly criticized Obama for comments accusing the longtime US ally of feeding Middle East conflicts.

Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, has long been a major ally of the United States but the relationship has deteriorated under Obama.

In an opinion piece published in Saudi newspapers, Prince Turki al-Faisal, the kingdom's former intelligence chief and envoy to Washington, lashed out at Obama's recent comments to The Atlantic magazine.

"You accuse us of fomenting sectarian strife in Syria, Yemen and Iraq. You add insult to injury by telling us to share our world with Iran, a country that you describe as a supporter of terrorism," Faisal wrote.

Faisal questioned whether Obama has "pivoted to Iran so much that you equate the kingdom's 80 years of constant friendship with America to an Iranian leadership that continues to describe America as the biggest enemy, that continues to arm, fund and support sectarian militias in the Arab and Muslim world".

Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia has repeatedly accused Shiite Iran of interference in Arab affairs, particularly in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Bahrain.

During the visit Obama will also visit Germany, and, according to the White House attend "Hannover Messe - the world's largest trade show for industrial technology - and meet Chancellor Angela Merkel.
President Barack Obama has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to release Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko from Russian prison.

That's according to a senior Obama administration official who wasn't authorized to discuss the conversation by name and requested anonymity. The White House had previously disclosed that Obama and Putin spoke by phone on Monday.

Savchenko was fighting with a Ukrainian volunteer battalion against Russia-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine when she was captured in June 2014.

Russia claims she was acting as a spotter who called in coordinates for a mortar attack that killed two Russian journalists and several other civilians.

She has gone on a hunger strike and refused to take water after a court hearing last Thursday. Rights advocates fear she could die if she kept refusing water.
The Odisha Assembly witnessed an uproar and was adjourned till 3 pm today as the Opposition Congress and BJP members demanded a clarification from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over alleged scam in the Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) recruitment process.

Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress raised the issue during Zero Hour and urged Speaker Niranjan Pujari to direct Chief Minister Patnaik to give a statement.

"The House should know from the Chief Minister what action the state government has taken in the alleged recruitment scam," Mishra said, adding Patnaik's office had sought information from the General Administration (GA) Department on the matter.

Citing a letter R Mohapatra, joint secretary to the Chief Minister, wrote to the Principal Secretary of GA Department, Mishra said, "Please look into the matter, if AEE exam of the OPSC is one of the biggest scams like Madhya Pradesh's VYAPAM scam."



The CM's joint secretary Mohapatra also suggested in the letter "appropriate action may please be taken on the above suggestion and suitable reply may please be furnished to this office for kind information of Honourable Chief Minister."



Mishra said the Chief Minister had accepted twitter messages from people on the alleged scam and his office had ordered a probe, hence Patnaik must inform the House about the entire episode.

The matter was also taken to the State Administrative Tribunal, which, on October 6 last, ordered the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) not to publish the final result of the AEE recruitment examination without its permission.

Mishra said the OPSC sought permission from the tribunal to publish the results on January 13.

On February 1, 2016, it published the results, but without getting the nod of the tribunal, he said, adding, a contempt of court case has been made against the OPSC.

Mishra said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik himself handed over appointment letters to 230 persons as AEE on March 2 despite many aspirants raising question over the recruitment procedure.

"Therefore, we want a statement from the Chief Minister as his office sought a report from GA department and he himself handed over appointment letters to candidates," Mishra said.

As the Speaker went ahead with other business not giving a ruling in favour of the LoP's demand, Opposition Congress and BJP rushed to the Well of the House and shouted slogans.

They also attempted to climb on the Speaker's podium. As the din continued, Pujari adjourned the House till 3 pm.

Meanwhile, government chief whip Ananta Das said the Chief Minister should not give any statement in the House as the matter is sub-judice.

Ruling party MLA from Malkangiri Manas Madkami raised Polavaram issue in the House and demanded a discussion.

As the House was adjourned, the ruling party members staged a dharna in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Assembly premises and shouted slogans against the Central government.

They blamed the Centre for allowing Polavaram project at the cost of the tribal people of Malkangiri district.
An old man was today killed when a speeding roadways bus hit him in Auraiyee area, the bus then killed one of his grandson and injured another when they tried to stop it after a chase, police said.

Nazir Ali (80) was killed when the roadways bus hit it on the National Highway under Auraiyee police station area here this morning, police said.

The grandsons of Nazir Ali chased the bus for about 20 km and overtook it at Lalpur area of Varanasi but the bus hit their car also killing Akbar Ali (38) and injuring his brother Nizamuddin (30), police said.

Later, however on the advice of the passengers of the bus, the driver directly drove to Mirza Murad police station in Varansi and surrendered, police said adding that the bodies have been sent for post mortem examination.
The Odisha government today said only two of the 174 farmers, who allegedly committed suicide during 2015-16, had suffered severe crop loss.

Replying to a written question of BJP MLA Duryodhan Majhi, Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy also said causes of suicide by the two farmers from Nabrangpur district -- Dasuru Gouda, who suffered a crop loss of 66 per cent, and Kamala Das Majhi, whose 90 per cent crop was destroyed -- were not ascertained.

Their crop was lost due to the drought condition in 2015, he said.

In the list of 174 farmer suicide cases, the minister informed the House that the officials have not ascertained the cause of death of about 24 farmers.

In certain cases, the minister said, "The reason (of suicide) could not be ascertained, but not due to crop loss." And in some other cases he said, "Cause not ascertained, but not for agriculture purpose.
Passengers heading home for Holi by trains can order sweets and other items while travelling as a food aggregator has tied up with the IRCTC for delivering them on the go.

"The festival of colours is back and this is one of the few occasions when people, mostly students or professionals living outside their native places, plan a trip home. Then there are people who end up boarding the train in a rush due to last minute plans and forget to carry any gifts or sweets delicacies," Travelkhana CEO Pushpinder Singh said.

He said "we have started the service for travellers across 37 railway stations including New Delhi, Jabalpur, Ambala and Pune."



Some of the delicacies available are Gond mawa laddoo, Shahi rabdi, special rajwadi kheer, he said.

Food items can be ordered either through Travelkhana's website or mobile app or by directly calling on customer care number, a company official said.

The online platform has already received orders for Pune station.
Orlando Bloom treated his rumoured girlfriend Katy Perry to a road trip across the UK after introducing her to his mother.

The "Lord of the Rings" star, 39, has been linked to Perry since January (16), when they partied together after the 2016 Golden Globes.

They have yet to comment on reports of their budding romance, but they appeared to be close when they put on a number of public displays of affection (PDA) for the first time while on vacation in Hawaii.

The stars have since stepped up their relationship, proving they are serious about one another by jetting to the UK, where Perry, 31, met her boyfriend's family and friends.

The trip also included a low-key pub date at the Stag and Huntsman in Buckinghamshire, where loved-up Bloom introduced Perry to his mother, Sonia.
224 traders, who were either allegedly manipulating the bills given to customers or not depositing the right amount of VAT to government, have been booked with the help of 'Bill Banvao Inam Pao' scheme, a senior official said.

Under the scheme, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had launched a mobile App--'DVAT'-- in January to encourage people to upload their bills of products they bought. 1 per cent of valid entries get prize equal to 5 times the bill amount through lucky draw.

"The records of the dealers whose bills were uploaded by people in January, 224 dealers were found manipulating records by deleting the bills or showing reduced amount of bills in their record.

"The VAT department has taken a very serious view of such manipulators and is prosecuting all these 224 dealers in the court of law," an official said.

The official said that these dealers may face rigorous imprisonment up to 6 months and fine. Scrutiny of bills received in February 2016 is under process and more such dealers are likely to be detected.

"Uploaded bills also helped in detecting 50 dealers, whose registrations were cancelled, doing business. From the 11 cancelled dealers whose



bills were uploaded in January 2016, more than Rs 22 lakh has been recovered as tax and penalty," the official said.

With the help of the bills uploaded by public, it has come to light that 50 traders are running business on cancelled registration number, the official said.

Also, the traders were collecting VAT from the customers but were not depositing the same amount to the government.

The Deputy Chief minister, who today presented cheques of Rs 4.5 lakh to 54 lucky draw winners of the scheme, said that by uploading the bills people have contributed immensely towards better tax collection and development of the city.

"The scheme has also been appreciated by a large section of traders who are doing business honestly as it has helped in creating a level playing field in the market," he said.
ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) and a consortium led by Indian Oil Corp today signed agreements to buy stake in two Russian oilfields in Siberia for an estimated USD 4.2 billion (over Rs 28,253 crore).

IOC, Oil India Ltd and a unit of Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) signed sale purchase agreement (SPA) for 29.9 per cent stake in Tass-Yuriakh oilfield from Russia's Rosneft for USD 1.28 billion, top officials said.

The consortium also signed Heads of Agreement (HoA) with Rosneft for taking 23.9 per cent stake in Vankor oilfield for just over USD 2 billion.

Simultaneously, OVL, the overseas arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), which had in September last year bought 15 per cent in the Vankor for USD 1.26 billion, signed a MoU envisaging its stake going up in the Siberian oilfield to 26 per cent by paying an additional USD 925 million.

The IOC-led consortium also signed another MoU with Rosneft for exploring taking stake in development of Vankor cluster fields of Suzunskoye, Tagulskoye and Lodochnoye.

The agreements were signed on the second day of Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin's two-day visit to India.

Speaking to reporters after the signing of the agreement, he said the pacts "allow India partners to participate in Rusian upstream sector, whilst opening the growing India market to Rosneft".

While the IOC-OIL-Bharat PetroResources deal for 29.9 per cent stake in Tass-Yuriakh oilfield is a concluded agreement, the consortium's Vankor deal is an initial pact and a sale purchase agreement is yet to be concluded. Similarly, OVL's increase in stake in Vankor too is yet to be concluded.

Taas-Yuriah oilfield, which holds recoverable reserves of 137 million tons, currently produces 20,000 barrels of oil per day. The output is slated to rise to 100,000 bpd in two year, officials said, adding that IOC-OIL-Bharat PetroResources will pay another USD 180 million as its share of future capex.

Rosneft had last year sold 20 per cent stake in Taas-Yuriah BP of UK for USD 750 million. The Russian firm will hold 50.1 per cent stake in the project after the deal.

The Russian firm will hold the remaining 50.1 per cent in Vankor after OVL and the IOC-led consortium complete buying the total of 49.9 per cent.

Vankor has recoverable reserves of 2.5 billion barrels. While the 15 per cent stake guaranteed OVL 3.3 million tonnes of oil a year, India as a whole will get access to about 12 million tonnes once 49.9 per cent stake buy is completed.

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Rosneft, Russia's biggest oil producer, has been impeded by US and European economic sanctions over Moscow's involvement in conflict in Ukraine. It needs to pay off debts incurred in its USD 55 billion acquisition of TNK-BP in 2013 and investments by India will help its cause.

BPCL in a regulatory filing said its 100 per cent subisidary Bharat PetroResources Ltd (BPRL) along with Oil India Ltd (OIL) and Indian Oil Corp (IOCL), acting jointly as the Indian Consortium, have signed definitive agreement to acquire 29.9 per cent.

The consortium acquired the stake of "the charter capital of LLC 'TYNGD', a company organised under the laws of Russian Federation, from LLC RN Razvedka I Dobycha, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rosneft Oil Company, a national oil company of Russia", it said.

The acquisition is subject to Board, Government and regulatory approvals and is expected to close by September.

Vanko is Russia's second largest field by production and accounts for around 4 per cent of the country's output. It produces oil at a peak level of about 440,000 barrel a day.

Rosneft said the Heads of Agreement with OIL-IOC-BPRL for Vankor envisages the possible execution of legally binding documents with regard to the sale and purchase transaction.

The MoU with OVL "also oversees the analysis of the joint trading development's potential, including the possibility of entering into long-term crude-oil supply contracts," it said.

Sechin said: "The signed documents literally mark the turning of a new leaf in the cooperation between Russia and India in the energy sector, reached in continuation of the agreements, achieved at the highest level between the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and the Prime Minster of India Narendra Modi."



"The reached agreements represent a shift from energy dependency to energy partnership of both countries."



The official said that originally OVL was negotiating to buy 25 per cent stake in Vankorneft, the developer of the Vankor oil and gas condensate field in Turukhansky district of Krasnoyak Territory in Russia.

Rosneft was however willing to give no more than 10 per cent. A 10 per cent stake would not have given OVL a position on board of Vankorneft and so, the Indian firm pressed hard and got a higher 15 per cent interest with right to nominate two board members.

Rosneft, Russia's national oil company, held 100 per cent stake in Vankorneft. Acquisition by OVL is subject to relevant board, government and regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed by mid-2016, he said.

The 15 per cent stake buy in Vankor was the 4th-biggest acquisition by OVL. In 2013, it had paid USD 4.12 billion for a 16 per cent stake in Mozambique's offshore Rovuma Area 1, which holds as much as 75 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves.

In 2009, it had bought Russia-focussed Imperial Energy for USD 2.1 billion. Prior to that, it had in 2001 paid USD 1.7 billion for a 20 per cent interest in the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas field off Russia's far eastern coast.

Vankor is Rosneft's (and Russia's) second-largest field by production and accounts for 4 per cent of Russian output. It produces around 4,42,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
An Oxford University professor has won a 500,000 pounds prize for cracking a 300-year-old mystery mathematical theorem described as an "epochal moment" for academics.

Sir Andrew Wiles has been awarded the Abel Prize by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters for his proof of Fermat's Last Theorem, which he published in 1994.

The 62-year-old will pick up the award and a cheque for six million Norwegian Krone (495,000 pounds) from Crown Prince Haakon of Norway in Oslo in May, for an achievement that the academy described as "an epochal moment for mathematics".

"It is a tremendous honour to receive the Abel Prize and to join the previous laureates who have made such outstanding contributions to the field.

"Fermat's equation was my passion from an early age, and solving it gave me an overwhelming sense of fulfilment," Sir Andrew, currently a professor at Oxford University's Mathematical Institute was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

"It has always been my hope that my solution of this age-old problem would inspire many young people to take up mathematics and to work on the many challenges of this beautiful and fascinating subject."



The academy said Sir Andrew was awarded the prize "for his stunning proof of Fermat's Last Theorem by way of the modularity conjecture for semistable elliptic curves, opening a new era in number theory.

Cambridge-born Sir Andrew made his breakthrough while working at Princeton.

First formulated by the French mathematician Pierre de Fermat in 1637, the theorem states: There are no whole number solutions to the equation xn + yn = zn when n is greater than 2.

"Wiles' proof was not only the high point of his career - and an epochal moment for mathematics - but also the culmination of a remarkable personal journey that began three decades earlier," the academy said.

The Abel Prize was created in 2002 and is named after Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel, who died in 1829.
The suspicious boat, which had reportedly originated from Pakistan, was intercepted by Indian security forces "pro-actively" in January last year before the occupants blew it up, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told Lok Sabha today, adding it was "not shot".

"I would like to inform the House that when we acted pro-actively against the boat one year prior to this incident (in Pathankot) on a New Year Day, there was a lot of criticism, though we had not shot at the boat.

"Why should the Coast Guard people go 200 kms from the border and act pro-actively? I would not go into the details of who did it. But these are the backgrounds under which Pathankot happened," Parrikar said while responding to a debate on Pathankot.

He said there was criticism for going deep inside the sea and intercepting the boat.

"I would like to indicate that some information which is wrongly... I referred to a boat in Gujarat Coast on 1st January. I just brought out an incident. At that time, there were lot of criticisms saying as to why did you go 200 kms. away and intercepted it.

"You have to intercept your enemies away from the coast. Some people said that. I have not said that you said it," Parrikar added.

Coast Guard officially claimed to have intercepted an explosive-laden boat off Gujarat coast, which originated from Pakistan on New Year's Eve of this year after thorough surveillance. Defence Ministry has consistently maintained that the occupants on board refused to cooperate after being intercepted and blew up the boat.

Interestingly, Coast Guard DIG B K Loshali, who was facing an inquiry for publicly contradicting the government over the sinking of a Pakistani ship, was been dismissed from service in December last year.
In a relief to Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's Supreme Court today rejected the government's plea to continue a travel ban on the former military ruler who is facing trial in a number of cases, including for high treason.

The court ruled that there was no legal bar on foreign travel by 72-year-old Musharraf unless he is stopped by the federal government.

The court rejected the appeal by the government against a decision by the Sindh High Court which had also ruled that the former president can leave the country.

Musharraf's lawyer Farogh Naseem told media that the government had illegally stopped Musharraf from going abroad.

"As per verdict of Supreme Court, there is no bar on Musharraf to go abroad," he said.

However, he also added that government has authority to stop anyone leaving the country by placing the name on the Exit Control List (ECL).

The issue of Musharraf's foreign travel arose when the government launched a high treason case against him in 2013 for suspending the constitution in 2007.

The government in April, 2014 banned Musharraf's foreign travels but the Sindh High Court in Karachi rejected the ban in a decision in June, 2014, which was challenged by the government in the Supreme Court.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali today upheld a Sindh High Court (SHC) decision, allowing Musharraf to travel abroad.

The bench also disposed off Musharraf's application seeking one-time permission to proceed abroad for medical treatment on grounds that the petition was now infructuous.

The court turned down the plea of Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt for rejection of the Sindh High Court decision.

However, the apex court did not stop the government or the special court trying the former president for high treason from placing his name on the ECL, which lists names of people not allowed to leave the country.

The high treason case deals with suspension of the Constitution by Musharraf in 2007 which has been declared under Article 6 as being punishable by death.

He was indicted in April, 2014 but since then no progress has been made in the case for various reasons.

In January, Musharraf was acquitted by an anti-terrorism court in the 2006 murder case of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, the first major relief to the ex-army chief entangled in several high-profile cases.

He came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999, deposing then prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Facing impeachment following elections in 2008, Musharraf was forced to resign as president and went into self-imposed exile in Dubai.

He is facing a slew of court cases after returning from five years in self-exile in Dubai to contest the general election in 2013 which he lost.

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Apart from the high treason case for abrogating the Constitution in 2007 and illegal detention of judges the same year, Musharraf has also been charged for the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and the killing of a radical cleric in the Lal Masjid raid in Islamabad.

In January, 2014, Musharraf suffered a "severe heart attack" on his way to a special court to face high treason charges following which he was admitted to an army hospital.

He has been facing health issues and wants to go out for medical treatment, his lawyer Naseem said.
Pakistan and Turkmenistan today sealed eight accords including a Memorandum of Understanding on curbing money laundering and terror financing and reiterated their commitment to USD-10 billion TAPI pipeline project that will also provide gas to India.

Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who arrived here earlier today for a two-day official visit, witnessed the signing ceremony at Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's residence, where the two leaders also signed the Joint Communique.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in exchange of financial intelligence related to money laundering and terror financing was signed by Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and his Turkmenistan counterpart Muhammetguly Muhammedov, Radio Pakistan reported.

The MoU on cooperation in the field of energy was signed by Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Turkmenistan's Minister for Oil and Gas Myraigeldi Meredov.

The two nations also inked agreements related to the Programme of Cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, as well as MoUs on cooperation in areas of information technology, education and research, the report said.

Sharif reiterated Pakistan's commitment to the early completion of the multi-billion dollar Turkmenistan- Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project that will open a new chapter in economic collaboration in the region.

"Pakistan is ready to provide any assistance to expedite the implementation process of TAPI and help minimize the project cost," he said, while adding that Pakistan views TAPI as a precursor to making it a trade and transit corridor as well.

"Such corridor could comprise gas pipeline, road, electricity transmission and fiber optic lines besides economic zones connecting Pakistan with Turkmenistan," Sharif said.

The Pakistani PM also suggested how the two countries could be connected through a railway corridor connecting Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran.
Note to journalists: Please report that this research will be presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.

A press conference on this topic will be held Monday, March 14, at 10 a.m. Pacific time in the San Diego Convention Center. Reporters may check-in at Room 16B (Mezzanine) in person, or watch live on YouTube http://bit.ly/ACSliveSanDiego . To ask questions online, sign in with a Google account.

SAN DIEGO, March 13, 2016  The blueberry, already labeled a super fruit for its power to potentially lower the risk of heart disease and cancer, also could be another weapon in the war against Alzheimers disease. New research being presented today further bolsters this idea, which is being tested by many teams. The fruit is loaded with healthful antioxidants, and these substances could help prevent the devastating effects of this increasingly common form of dementia, scientists report.

The researchers present their work today at the 251st National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS, the worlds largest scientific society, is holding the meeting here through Thursday. It features more than 12,500 presentations on a wide range of science topics.

Our new findings corroborate those of previous animal studies and preliminary human studies, adding further support to the notion that blueberries can have a real benefit in improving memory and cognitive function in some older adults, says Robert Krikorian, Ph.D., leader of the research team. He adds that blueberries beneficial effects could be due to flavonoids called anthocyanins, which have been shown to improve animals cognition.



Currently 5.3 million people suffer from Alzheimers disease. But that number is expected to increase, Krikorian notes, as the U.S. population ages. By 2025, the number of Americans with this degenerative disorder could rise 40 percent to more than 7 million, and it could almost triple by 2050, according to the Alzheimers Association.

In an effort to find ways to slow down this alarming trend, Krikorian and colleagues at University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center conducted two human studies to follow up on earlier clinical trials.

One study involved 47 adults aged 68 and older, who had mild cognitive impairment, a risk condition for Alzheimers disease. The researchers gave them either freeze-dried blueberry powder, which is equivalent to a cup of berries, or a placebo powder once a day for 16 weeks.

There was improvement in cognitive performance and brain function in those who had the blueberry powder compared with those who took the placebo, Krikorian says. The blueberry group demonstrated improved memory and improved access to words and concepts. The team also conducted functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which showed increased brain activity in those who ingested the blueberry powder.



The second study included 94 people aged 62 to 80, who were divided into four groups. The participants didnt have objectively measured cognitive issues, but they subjectively felt their memories were declining. The groups received blueberry powder, fish oil, fish oil and powder or placebo.

The results were not as robust as with the first study, Krikorian explained. Cognition was somewhat better for those with powder or fish oil separately, but there was little improvement with memory. Also, fMRI results also were not as striking for those receiving blueberry powder. He says that the effect may have been smaller in this case because these participants had less severe issues when they entered the study.

Krikorian said the two studies indicate that blueberries may be more effective in treating patients with cognitive impairments, but may not show measurable benefit for those with minor memory issues or who have not yet developed cognitive problems.

In the future, the team plans to conduct a blueberry study with a younger group of people, aged 50 to 65. The group would include people at risk of developing Alzheimers, such as those who are obese, have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. This work could help the researchers determine if blueberries could help prevent the onset of Alzheimers symptoms.

He acknowledges funding from the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council , the National Institute on Aging and Wild Blueberries of North America .

American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 158,000 members, ACS is the worlds largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
A Parliamentary committee has criticised Home and External Affairs Ministries for failing to bring necessary amendment in existing law to comply with a UN convention on torture which India had signed 19 years back.

The Committee came down hard on the External Affairs Ministry for failing to implement an assurance given to the Lok Sabha in this regard by it in May 2000.

The report of the Committee on Government Assurances, tabled in Lok Sabha today, said an assurance was given in reply to a question in the House that required amendment would be brought in sync with the provisions of the UN Convention Against Torture.

"The committee are perturbed to note that an important assurance pertaining to 'abolition of torture' has been pending for implementation for more than 15 years since May, 2000," it said.

In its reply, the External Affairs Ministry told the committee that required amendment to the existing law has to be brought by the Home Ministry.

"The Committee feel that 15 years is too long a period to be wasted when the country earnestly needed to honour the universal human rights norms so as to enhance its prestige, image and status abroad as an emerging world power.

"The committee, therefore, desire that responsibility should be fixed on all the officials concerned, especially in the nodal ministry of Home Affairs," it said.

The Committee, headed by BJP MP Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, also expressed concern over non-fulfilment of assurance regarding extradition of Kim Davy, the prime accused in the Purulia arms drop case of 1995, from Denmark.
Indian passengers boarding international flights on the domestic leg are not required to file customs baggage declaration form, the government has ruled.

Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) in a circular to all Chief Commissioners of Customs to strictly implement the decision of dispensing with customs baggage declaration form for domestic passengers.

It cited the meeting taken by CBEC Chairman on December 19, 2015 of Principal Commissioners/Commissioners of major airports wherein it was decided "the Customs Declaration form which is prescribed for the domestic passengers travelling along with international passengers in the international flight flying in its domestic leg would be dispensed herewith."



"Pursuant to the aforesaid decision it is once again reiterated that the domestic passengers who board international flights in the domestic leg are not required to file the Customs Baggage declaration form," the order said.

The order essentially means that a passenger who boards a Delhi-Chennai-Colombo flight from Delhi for going to Chennai or a passenger who boards of New York-Mumbai-Delhi flight from Mumbai for going to Delhi would not be required to file baggage declaration form.

The requirement for international passengers to fill the Baggage Declaration Form stays.
Security forces have tightened their grip in Jammu & Kashmir, forcing terrorists to shift elsewhere, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told Lok Sabha today, claiming that this was the reason for attack on Pathankot Airbase.

"Why have terrorists shifted towards Punjab? There is one reason. It is because the security forces have tightened their grip in Jammu & Kashmir," he said while intervening in a debate on Pathankot attack of January.

He was responding when a member asked why Punjab had been chosen as a target by the terrorists.

According to Parrikar, security forces in Jammu & Kashmir have turned on the heat on terrorists as a result of which they are trying to "shift down wards".

He said in Jammu and Kashmir, 104 terrorists were neutralised while only 31 security forces were killed in 2014.

"...Earlier the ratio used to be 1:1 almost. Now, ratio has shifted in favour of security forces to 3:1. In 2015, it was 97 and 33," the Minister said.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang today said it saw no contradiction in safeguarding territorial rights and its desire for regional peace and stability even as the communist nation remains embroiled in maritime and territorial disputes with a host of neighbours including India.

"China will remain committed for the path of peaceful development and will not waver in its resolve in upholding sovereignty and territorial integrity. These two are not in conflict," Li said here at his annual press briefing.

"We hope that all the countries from within the region and outside will work together to uphold the regional stability not the opposite way," said mild-mannered Li, 60, replying to a question about China's volatile neighbourhood where Beijing is involved in a host of disputes.

Besides the escalating South China Sea (SCS) dispute where China is locked in confrontation with the US, Beijing also has tense ties with Japan as it proactively asserted its rights over Diaoyu/Senkaku islands.

China claims almost the whole of the South China Sea - a major shipping lane rich in natural resources, resulting in overlapping claims with several other Asian nations like Vietnam and the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.

They accuse China of illegally reclaiming land in contested areas to create artificial islands with facilities that could potentially be for military use.

Over half of the world's commercial shipping passes through the Indo-Pacific waterways - including one-third of the world's liquefied natural gas.

India did not figure in Li's over two hour-long press meet in which he answered questions about China's tenuous ties with US, Japan and growing relations with Russia though Sino- Indian border dispute continues to cast a shadow over the bilateral ties with recurring reports of incursions by Chinese troops into the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control.

India and China have established a host of mechanisms and confidence building measures to maintain peace along the 3,488 km-long disputed border.

Li in his customary briefing at the end of the fortnight- long annual parliament session focussed more on China-US ties which were bogged down over SCS tensions.

He said despite the tensions, China-US relations will move forward as common interests outweigh differences, no matter who gets elected as the next American President.

"There are broad common interests between China and US. There are also some differences between the two countries. Some differences could be sharp. There is no need to deny this," Li said.

Both the Republican Party leading candidate Donal Trump and Hillary Clinton of Democratic party have targeted China in their campaign, vowing to follow a firm policy to contain Beijing.

Li called the US elections "lively" which have caught the attention of many but said he believes "no matter who gets into the White House the underlying trend will not change. It has been several decades since the two counties established diplomatic ties".

"Hasn't the relationship seen more than fair share of ups and downs? It has always been moving forward which I believe is the underlying trend," said Li, who is second to President Xi Jinping in the Chinese leadership hierarchy.

"For some time, many people have been talking about differences between the two countries. But at the same time overlooked one very important thing of China last year becoming the top trading partner of the US with two-way trade between the two countries reaching USD 560 billion.

"This in itself shows common interest far outweigh their differences," Li said responding to a question on US-China relations which are undergoing a tense phase over Washington's Asia Pivot policy and growing differences over China's moves to assert its claims on the SCS.

"As per difference between the two countries there are up to 100 various dialogue and exchange mechanism between China and US" to address the issues, he said.

Focussing on his comments on the growing China-US business ties, Li said both countries need to act keeping principle of equality and mutual benefit in mind.

"Also long the two countries act with good faith and properly manage dither differences, I believe their common interest will expand. As our cooperation expands the percentage of over all differences in China US relations will come down and broader cooperation serves the interests of both the countries and the world," he said.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his government's foreign policy, saying he lacks a clear vision and believes that international diplomacy can be done as per his "whims and fancies".

"What is required is a coherent strategy, having a clear vision on what one wants to do. What is lacking is that the Prime Minister does not have that clear vision.

"The Prime Minister moves, jumps from one position to another and he thinks that international diplomacy can be done on the basis of his whims and fancies. He thinks like going to Pakistan one day, and he gets up and goes to Pakistan. This is not how you run the foreign policy," Gandhi told reporters.

Congress has been attacking the Modi government's foreign policy, especially its handling of Pakistan.

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A woman asked Rahul at the 'khat sabha' held in Poddar Inter College in Sitapur about his promise of "karz maaf aur bijli half" (loan waiver and half power rates) alleging the region was not even getting four hours of power supply, to which he said Congress was neither in power at the Centre or in UP.

However, his reply apparently failed to satisfy the woman.

Meanwhile, Rahul visited Rabbani Madarsa and held a road show at Amar Talkies crossing, where he garlanded a statue of late prime minister Indira Gandhi.

He later spoke to anganwadi workers and assured them that he would raise their demand regarding wage hike in Lok Sabha.
Acclaimed director Kaushik Ganguly's much-awaited IFFI award-winning 'Cinemawala' is one among several films whose release has been postponed because of the multi-phase Assembly election in West Bengal starting early next month.

The films will be released in theatres either in mid-May or June, according to industry sources.

Kaushik had earlier said he was looking for a Bangla Nababarsho (Bengali New Year) release (mid April).

Similarly, Aniket Chatterjee's 'Shankar Mudi', which had been slotted for a mid-April release (coinciding with Bangla Nabobarsho) will now be released in May after the end of the election.

"Yes, We have taken the decision about not releasing 'Shankar Mudi' now due to the fortcoming election," Aniket said about the film which interestingly stars fellow director and actor Kaushik Ganguly.

With election knocking on the door, director-actor Arindam Sil wrapped up shooting for his 'Eagaler Chokh' (Eagle's Eye), the sequel of Ebar Shabor in time to concentrate full time on campaigning for Mamata Banerjee.

"I am ready to campaign for my leader," Arindam, who was inducted into the TMC fold by Mamata sometime back, said.

Superstar-MP of Trinamool Congress Dev has postponed taking up an ambitious project with friend-director Raj Chakroborty.

Raj, however, has cited his preoccupation with two TV soaps as the official reason behind the delay in starting shooting for feature films.

However, in an exception, veteran director Goutam Ghosh's Indo-Bangla joint production 'Sankhachil', starring Prosenjit Chatterjee, Bangladeshi heroine Kusum and Dipankar Dey, will be released as scheduled on April 15 on both sides of the border, Prosenjit, also one of the producers of the film, said.
Pope Francis today slammed governments who close their doors to migrants in comments that came as the European Union seeks to close the Balkan route into its territory.

The leader of the world's Roman Catholics called for a more compassionate approach to "people living through a real and dramatic exile, far from their countries, with the ruins of their own homes still in their eyes, fear in their hearts and often suffering from the loss of people dear to them.

"How is it possible that so much suffering can be inflicted on men, women and innocent children," the pope said at his weekly audience in St Peter's square.

These people "are there, at frontiers because so many doors and so many hearts are closed."



Francis has regularly spoken out on Europe's migrant crisis. Last month he praised Greece's efforts in seeking to deal with the huge influx of people in a humanitarian manner and said other European countries should help to share the burden.

The pope has also urged every Catholic parish in the region to take in at least one asylum-seeking family. The Vatican is currently hosting two families.

The migrant crisis will dominate a summit of European Union leaders in Brussels on Thursday.
Posters branding AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi as a "traitor" and charging him with causing "insult of Bharat Mata" appeared at the entrance of his official residence on Ashoka Road here today.

The posters were put up allegedly by Hindu Sena activists at around 7 pm. The posters were removed immediately and police began a probe.

"The posters were fixed by our activists as they were angered by Owaisi openly saying that he will not say 'Vande Mataram'. There should not be any place for traitors in the country," said Vishnu Gupta, president of Hindu Sena.

Rejecting RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's suggestion for infusing patriotism in the young generation, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi had said he would not chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' even if a knife is put to his throat.

"I don't chant that slogan. What are you going to do, Bhagwat sahab?" the Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad had said at a rally in Udgir tehsil of Latur district in Maharashtra on February 13.

Police said information has been received about the posters and they are looking into the matter.
President Pranab Mukherjee today suggested enhancing civil aviation infrastructure by building new greenfield airports to not only cater to "phenomenal" rise in passenger and cargo traffic, but also to connect tier 2 and 3 cities, especially in the Northeast.

Inaugurating 'India Aviation 2016', a mega civil aviation expo and conference, at Begumpet airport here, Mukherjee noted that India still lags behind in terms of per capita air travels when compared to other countries.

"It is estimated that India shall require about 800 aircraft by 2020 to cater to the phenomenal increase in air passenger and freight traffic. The supporting aviation infrastructure has to be suitably upgraded by building new greenfield airports, expanding existing airports and upgrading facilities for maintenance, repair and operations," he said.

Despite rapid growth of civil aviation industry in the country, "several tier 2 and tier 3 cities of India still remain unconnected or are inadequately connected with the national grid", the President said.

"With the existing economic centres reaching a saturation point, business activities are bound to move to newer destinations. Northeastern states still lack adequate air connectivity due to paucity of civil aviation infrastructure," he said.

"The deeper the air penetration to smaller cities, better the connectivity to Northeastern part of India," he said.

The President is on a day-long tour to Hyderabad for the fifth edition of biennial aviation event themed on 'India's Civil Aviation Sector: Potential As Global Manufacturing and MRO Hub'.

Despite being ranked 9th in the world, the President pointed out that India was one of the "least" penetrated aviation markets globally with 0.04 trips per capita per annum as compared to 0.3 of China and more than 2 in the US.

However, he said the civil aviation market is "poised" for a faster and sustainable growth with the development of 100 smart cities, new economic corridors, more than 50 new airports and expansion of existing airports.

He underlined that air travel has ceased to be a luxury these days as the middle class population has grown by 60 per cent over the last five years to about 270 million in 2015. The rise in their incomes also "has enhanced their capacity to undertake air travel for business and leisure", he noted.

"This has resulted in further growth in the business of the low cost airlines," he said and asked the industry to leverage the opportunity, saying it is estimated that by 2020, the total passenger traffic in India is likely to touch 421 million.
Public sector units (PSUs) such as Nalco and Hindustan Copper Ltd have proposed to invest more than Rs 10,000 crore in the mining sector, Parliament was informed today.

As per data provided by Minister of State for Steel and Mines Vishnu Deo Sai in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, aluminium maker Nalco, Hindustan Copper Ltd and Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL) have proposed an investment of Rs 10,037.50 crore in the mining sector.

It includes Nalco's investment in Pottangi bauxite mines and Utkal D&E coal blocks in Odisha and Hindustan Copper's in copper mines in Jharkhand and Rajasthan.

"Mining sector has been liberalised since 1993 and it is dominated by a large number of private sector miners. Under the liberalised economic environment, investment decisions are taken by the entrepreneurs based on their techno-economic feasibility and commercial considerations," Sai told the House.

In a separate query on illegal mining, the minister informed the House that a total of 533 FIRs have been filed between 2012-13 and 2015-16 (till January) regarding illegal mining in the company.

Besides, a total of 635 complaints have been lodged in 2012-13 and the first 10 months of the current fiscal.

State governments are empowered, under the Section 23C of the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act), to make rules for prevention of illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals, he said.

The matters relating to illegal mining come under the legislative and administrative jurisdiction of states.

He added that the Centre has amended the MMDR Act to provide for stringent punitive measures to combat illegal mining.

Illegal mining has been made punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and with a fine, which may extend to Rs 5 lakh per hectare of the area.

"Provisions have also been made for setting up of special courts for the purpose of providing speedy trial of offences relating to illegal mining," the minister said.
As per the decision of Punjab Cabinet to return all funds received by the state from Haryana for the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal, the Punjab government today despatched a cheque of Rs 191.75 crore to Haryana government.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in a DO letter to his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar this evening apprised him about the Council of Minister's decision to return the entire fund received by Punjab from Haryana for the SYL Canal, a Spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said.

"I am, therefore enclosing herewith a cheque bearing No' 997640 for an amount of Rs 191.75 crore", said the letter written by Badal to Haryana Chief Minister.

The decades-long legal dispute between Punjab and Haryana on the sharing of river waters is back in the spotlight.

This week, the Supreme Court resumed hearings on the validity of the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act of 2004.

The Punjab Cabinet had yesterday approved to return the entire money which it had received from Haryana in respect of SYL.

The Cabinet had also reiterated the SAD-BJP alliance government's firm commitment not to allow even a single drop of its rightful river waters to Haryana.

"Since water is the lifeline of Punjab so the question of sharing it with anyone does not arise at all and any decision against injustice to river waters of Punjab would never be accepted at any cost," the cabinet observed.

The Punjab government on Monday had passed a bill in the State Assembly seeking to re-vest property rights to the owners of nearly 4000 acres of land from whom it was acquired to construct the main Satluj Yamuna Link canal, with generous provisions for returning the compensation.

Haryana had paid compensation to the owners of the land at the time of acquisition of the land in Punjab.
President Vladimir Putin will bestow state awards tomorrow on Russian military personnel who fought in Syria after ordering the withdrawal of armed forces from the war-torn country, the Kremlin said.

More than 700 soldiers and officers from the Russian air forces, ground forces and navy, and other military officials, have been invited to take part in the ceremony, the Kremlin said in a statement today.

The Russian strongman on Monday ordered the withdrawal of most of Russian forces from Syria saying Moscow's task had been "on the whole" completed.

Russian media and pro-Kremlin observers have hailed the drawdown a political victory for the Kremlin which they said managed to buttress Moscow's ally Bashar al-Assad and break out of international isolation over Ukraine.

Yesterday, the first Russian warplanes returned home to a hero's welcome, followed by yet more planes today.

Activists say that Russia's operation in Syria -- and the current partial pullback -- appear a world away from Moscow's apparent involvement in the Ukraine crisis.

Russia officially denied that it sent its troops into east Ukraine but Kiev and the West insist Moscow deployed forces across the border to buttress the separatist insurgency.

Unlike servicemen who took part in the Syrian campaign, those who took part in the Ukraine fighting largely remained unsung: they received awards behind closed doors while those who died were buried in secret.
The Rajasthan Government today promised action against officials who allegedly mishandled a case of allotment of land worth Rs 150 crore for a poultry farm in Madrampura area.

Replying to query in the assembly, Urban Development and Housing Minister Rajpal Singh admitted the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) had acted "carelessly" in the matter.

"I admit that the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) did not handle properly the case involving a plot of land worth Rs 150 crore. The JDA should have appealed to the civil court in the case but it appealed in the high court while knowing that the case was not within the jurisdiction of the high court," the Minister said.

"After that, it appealed in the civil court but did not pay the court fee and allowed the case to get rejected. It shows how carelessly the matter was dealt," he said in reply to a question asked by Independent MLA Hanuman Beniwal during the question hour.

The case was related to the allotment of 10 bighas of land which later became a matter of dispute.

Beniwal alleged the JDA gave all that laxity to the benefit of a particular real estate businessman who managed to get the land alloted in his name at an auction.
Real estate mogul Donald Trump today swept the crucial Florida Republican primary which will provide a major impetus to his aspiration to become the US President while Democrat Hillary Clinton won two key states.

The former Secretary of State was projected to bag at least 56 delegates out of 107 at stake in North Carolina.

Clinton also won in Florida after having a massive lead over her sole rival Senator Bernie Sanders. Clinton had support of 65.6 per cent of the votes as against 30.6 per cent for Sanders.

Trump walked away with all the 99 delegates which were at stake in Florida.

Notably, Republican Senator Marco Rubio has ended his campaign after suffering a humiliating loss in his home state of Florida.

It has been a "devastating" night for Rubio in Florida where he polled just 27.8 per cent of the votes as against Trump's impressive 45.3 per cent.

"Word is that, despite a record amount spent on negative and phony ads, I had a massive victory in Florida," Trump said in a tweet even before major television channels projected his victory.

Being billed as Super Tuesday 2.0, primary elections were held in five States - Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois and Missouri.

Initial reports suggested that Clinton and Trump had leads in North Carolina where 72 delegates are at stake for the GOP. Texas Senator Ted Cruz was closely following Trump.

However, in Ohio where 66 delegates are at stake, State Governor John Kasich was leading against Trump. Clinton was leading in Ohio.

The primary elections held in five states yesterday is part of the process of both the Republican and Democratic parties to nominate their presidential candidates for the November 8 elections, which would elect the next occupant of the White House.
Two female suicide bombers killed at least 22 worshippers in an attack during dawn prayers Wednesday on a mosque on the outskirts of the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, rescue officials said from the birthplace of Boko Haram.

One bomber blew up inside the mosque and the second waited outside to detionate as survivors tried to escape, said coordinator Abba Aji of the civilian self-defense Vigilante Group.

At least 17 people were wounded and evacuated to the hospital, said Abdul Mohammed of the State Emergency Management Agency.

Umar Usman said he escaped because he was late. "We were just a few meters away from the mosque when a loud bang erupted and all we could see was dark smoke and bodies littered around," he told The Associated Press.

The mosque is in the Boko Haram stronghold of Umarari on the outskirts of the city that is the command center of the Nigerian military's war against Boko Haram Islamic insurgents.

Several suicide bombers have exploded in recent months at roadblocks leading into the city manned by the military and vigilantes, indicating success in preventing attackers from reaching crowded areas.

It is the first attack on Maiduguri since December 28, when Boko Haram attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and multiple suicide bombers, killing at least 50 people.
Implementation of provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act-2014, and also the assurances given by the then Prime Minister in Rajya Sabha, were a matter of "life and death" for people of the state, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said here today, even as the AP Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Centre to expedite the implementation process.

The Chief Minister moved the resolution under Rule 77 in the Assembly listing 17 main issues that the state wanted the Centre to address immediately.

While extending support to the resolution, Leader of Opposition Y S Jaganmohan Reddy asked the Chief Minister if the Telugu Desam Party would issue an "ultimatum" to the Centre forimplementing the Act in a month.

"Will you issue an ultimatum to the Centre that you will pull out your (two) ministers from the Narendra Modi government if it doesn't concede our demands in a month," Jagan asked.

The Chief Minister, however, brushed it aside saying it was a "life and death issue" for the people of the state and he was "seriously" pursuing it with the Centre.

The TDP hurriedly moved the resolution in the Assembly today as the Congress raised, in Parliament yesterday, issues like grant of special category status to AP and implementation of other provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act.

The House witnessed a bitter war of words between the Treasury and Opposition benches during the 130-minute debate before the resolution was adopted.

"While thanking the efforts of the Union Government in resolving certain issues pertaining to the state reorganisation, the House unanimously resolves to request the Government of India to implement expeditiously all the provisions contained in the AP Reorganisation Act 2014 and all other commitments made in the Act and assurances made by then Prime Minister in Rajya Sabha on February 20, 2014 and to continue to handhold the state till it achieves level-playing field on par with neighbouring states," the resolution said.

The AP government also sought implementation of Section 8 that pertains to law and order maintenance issues in the joint capital Hyderabad under the direct supervision of the Governor, who is also common for the two states.

Some of the main issues that the AP government wanted the



Centre to address were: release of balance grant to bridge the resource gap; completion of Polavaram irrigation project, which has been declared a national project, by 2018; fiscal measures like tax incentives to promote industrialisation and economic growth and provision of special financial support for the new capital.

Establishment of Railway Zone at Visakhapatnam, increase in number of seats in the Legislative Assembly from 175 to 225, amending Presidential Order pertaining to local status with regard to education and employment, establishment of steel plant at Kadapa, port at Dugarajapatna, in SPS Nellore district and amending the AP Reorganisation Act to correct anomalies pertaining to taxation were some of the other issues raised by the AP government.

The Chandrababu Naidu government also wanted the Centre to provide support to the state police department for raising additional forces and setting up state-of-the-art Greyhounds training centre and new operational wings as enshrined in the Reorganisation Act.

It also asked the Centre to expedite the process of allocation of government employees between the two states as AP was facing shortage of staff.

Bharatiya Janata Party floor leader P Vishnu Kumar Raju said the Narendra Modi government sanctioned projects worth Rs 1.40 lakh crore to AP in the last 18 months.

"This is unprecedented," he said.

Non-incorporation of the special category state promise in the AP Reorganisation Act was proving to be a hitch in according the status, the BJP leader pointed out but added that the Centre was co-operating with the state in all matters.

The YSRC chief questioned the Chief Minister's sincerity in getting things done by the Centre.

Certain remarks he made against the Chief Minister led to an uproar from the TDP-BJP combine.
Andhra Pradesh Assembly today adopted a resolution requesting the Centre to expeditiously implement all provisions contained in the AP Reorganisation Act 2014, including grant of Special Category Status to the state.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu moved the resolution under Rule 77 in the Assembly today listing 17 main issues that the state wanted the Centre to address immediately.

The TDP apparently decided to move the resolution as the Congress raised the issues of grant of special category status to AP and implementation of other provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act.

"While thanking the efforts of the Union Government in resolving certain issues pertaining to the state reorganisation, the House unanimously resolves to request the Government of India to implement expeditiously all the provisions contained in the AP Reorganisation Act 2014 and assurances made in Parliament and to continue to handhold the state till it achieves level-playing field on par with neighbouring states," the resolution said.

The AP government also sought implementation of Section 8 that pertains to law and order maintenance issues in the joint capital Hyderabad under the direct supervision of the Governor, who is also common for the two states.

Some of the main issues that the AP government wanted the Centre to address were release of balance grant to bridge the resource gap; completion of Polavaram irrigation project, which has been declared a national project, by 2018; fiscal measures like tax incentives to promote industrialisation and economic growth and provision of special financial support for the new capital.

Construction of Railway Zone at Visakhapatnam; increase number of seats in the Legislative Assembly from 175 to 225; amend Presidential Order pertaining to local status with regard to education and employment; establishment of steel plant at Kadapa, port at Dugarajapatna and amend the AP Reorganisation Act to correct anomalies pertaining to taxation issues, were some of the other issues underlined by the Assembly.
Civil rights groups have decried the unexplained deaths of two foreign nationals in one week while in Canadian immigration custody awaiting deportation.

"These sudden and successive deaths in the custody of CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) are troubling," Monia Mazigh, director of the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group, said in a statement yesterday.

The CBSA reported the deaths of two persons at Toronto area detention facilities, but gave no cause of death or other details.

According to the ICLMG, Francisco Javier Romero Astorga, from Chile, was found Sunday "in his cell without vital signs."



A week earlier, Melkioro Gahungu of Burundi, committed suicide, according to unnamed sources cited by the rights groups.

The ICLMG and the immigration rights coalition End Immigration Detention Network noted that since 2000 there have been 14 "suspicious deaths" of immigration detainees in Canada.

"The circumstances of these deaths are shrouded in secrecy and to our knowledge no one has been held accountable," said Mazigh, who called for a government investigation.
Britain's largest government-owned bank Royal Bank of Scotland has announced plans to cut 448 investment banking jobs in the UK and move two-thirds of those to India.

Around 300 jobs will go to existing Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) operations in Gurgaon and Chennai.

London and Newcastle-under-Lyme will bear the brunt of the job cuts, along with Manchester and the layoffs will take place by the end of next year, 'The Guardian' reported this week.

"As part of RBS's drive to be a stronger, simpler and fairer bank, we have been restructuring our corporate & institutional bank, as well as reducing its size, to focus on our core customers and products," the bank said in a statement.

"As this process continues, our frontline staff need a simpler, clearer, more efficient relationship with our middle - and back-office functions to better serve customers, so we're reshaping our services business accordingly," it said.

Unfortunately the changes will result in some job losses.

The bank, which is 73 per cent owned by the British taxpayer after a bail-out during the financial crisis, had recently also announced a cut of 550 investment advisers, replacing them with an automated system.

It has been in the midst of global restructuring as it reported losses of 2 billion pounds this year.
Niche bike maker Royal Enfield today launched Himalayan, an all terrain 411-cc bike, priced at Rs 1.55 lakh (ex-showroom Maharashtra).

The company, which is the two-wheeler arm of Eicher Motors, currently sells various popular models like Bullet, Classic, Thunderbird and Continental GT.

"We are creating a new segment of adventure tourer in India. We hope to get a lot of adventure bikers through this. We will have to wait and see if it is adopted very quickly or gradually picks up," Eicher Motors MD and CEO Siddhartha Lal told PTI.

While the focus is on the domestic market, Himalayan has generated interest in all the markets where the company is present, including the US and Europe, he added.

With its purpose-built ground-up design, the Himalayan is a simple and capable "go-anywhere" motorcycle that will redefine adventure touring in India, Lal said.

Elaborating further on export plans for the bike, he said, "We will send some bikes to some of the markets, like Latin America and South East Asia, to see the response so that in due course of time we can sell there too if there is demand."



Himalayan comes with a five-speed gearbox and 24.5 BHP engine. The company would also sell accessories to go with the bike which has a ground clearance of 210 mm.

It is the first model to be built on the two new engine platforms the company is developing. Multiple products could be launched on the two new engine platforms. The new products would be in the range of 250 cc to 750 cc.

The launch would help the company further consolidate its position to become a leading player in the mid-sized (250 cc - 750 cc) segment globally.

Having established its business firmly in the domestic market, the company is now eyeing major markets across the world to sustain its growth momentum.

In the past few months, Royal Enfield has steadily expanded its global footprint in key nodal cities like Bangkok, London, Madrid, Paris, Dubai, Bogota and Medellin.

The company plans to produce up to 9 lakh motorcycles by end of 2018 from its two existing manufacturing facilities and a third upcoming facility in Tamil Nadu.

Aiming to become the leader in the global mid-sized motorcycle industry, Royal Enfield is also building two new technology centres -- one in India and another in the UK, to enhance capability and execute long-term product strategy.

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Himalayan is powered by a new LS 410 engine which delivers high torque and usable power at lower RPMs and can go 10,000 kms between oil changes. Bookings across all Royal Enfield dealerships will begin in a phased manner from tomorrow.

Launching the bike, Siddhartha Lal said the large adventure tourers which currently define this category do not fare well in the Himalayas as they are very heavy, extremely complicated, intimidating and not really designed for that environment.

Strong mono shock rear suspension with linkage allows for longer travel and delivers a smoother ride experience regardless of terrain, he said.

Its 15 litre fuel tank provides a range of around 450 km.

The bike rides on dual-purpose tyres. In addition to complete braking control, the 300mm front and 240mm rear disc brakes help reduce braking efforts.

Royal Enfield President Rudratej Singh said the Himalayan is priced at Rs 1,55,545 (ex-showroom Maharashtra) and Rs 1,78,872 (on-road, Mumbai).

It will be available in Bangalore for Rs 1,84,316, in Kolkata for Rs 1,81,517, in Chennai for Rs 1,75,840, in Hyderabad for Rs 1,76,580, in Pune for Rs 1,70,362 and in Navi Mumbai for Rs 1,71,065 (all prices on-road).

The oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901. With over 50 per cent growth every year for the last 5 years, it has been ramping up its capacity at its Chennai plant. Its models are shipped to over 50 countries.
A group of Beatrice High School students are learning how to fundraise, organize, work together and design, weld, build and race a car.

The Beatrice Power Drive Racing Team is working together every night to finish an electric car they will competitively race against other Nebraska high school Power Drive teams throughout April.

The president of the club, senior Nickolas Funk, has participated in the effort all four years.

Its a club, but we start to create a family here, Funk said. Last year, we didnt have that. This year, we do.

Funk said he learned lessons from last year, during which he was also the president.

We have a better process this year, Funk said. Were more experienced. Were not constantly going at each others throats. We have more of a plan. ... The biggest thing is that were sharing the workload. Its not all on one person. ... We have more people here willing to learn.

Funk said he is motivated to dedicate several hours during evenings to the effort because he enjoys it. It combines machinery, welding, designing and prototyping, the same things he will continue to study post high school graduation.

Junior Cody Sohl will race the car, even though he said he doesnt want to.

Im smaller, Sohl said, adding that a smaller driver gives the team an advantage in winning a race. The way youre positioned in there  its uncomfortable.
To generate awareness among the common masses regarding RSS ideology, Swayamsewaks will be selling pamphlets and books on the organisation at various places here on March 20, a functionary said today.

The books on RSS ideology and its prominent leaders will be sold at public places like railway stations, bus stands and main markets.

Besides, a programme will be organised on the day in 16 districts falling under Kanpur region.

"Although RSS literature has always been available, now there is a need to connect the common people to its ideology. That is the purpose of organising this programme," Virendra Jeet Singh, the Kanpur region Sangh Chalak, said, adding that the books have been riced between Rs 20 and Rs 100.

"The number of Sangh branches has gone up from 1,315 in 768 places in 2015 to 1,385 in 785 places across 16 districts in 2016," said RSS functionary Mohan Aggarwal.

Singh claimed that around 150 people from minority community have joined RSS sakhas in the region.
A ten-member Russian trade delegation today called for strengthening bilateral ties with India in a slew of areas, including infrastructure and pharma sector.

The delegation from Tomsk region in Russia expressed its desire to promote trade and investment ties at an interactive session organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Kerala here.

In his brief address, the head of the Russian delegation Yaroslav Tarasyuk stated that the delegation was interested in having bilateral relations with India, especially in areas such as pharma, infrastructure, nano Material, plywood, water treatment and so on.

Tomsk region in Russia is famous for Research and Development, Education and Technology, he noted.

He also called upon industry participants from Kerala for joint trade in these areas.

V P Nandakumar, Chairman, CII Kerala State Council, requested the delegation to build trade relations with Kerala in food processing, Ayurveda, tourism, IT, spices, fisheries sectors, among others.

Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Limited (KSIDC), Assistant General Manager (Investment Promotion), Sebastian Thomas, welcomed the delegation for a Joint Venture in sectors like health, with special focus on cancer and thyroid, education and innovation.

He urged Russia to look at curing cancer through personalised treatment method using Ayurveda.
Praising West Bengal government's flagship programme 'Kanyashree' for the girl child, Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi has said he wants to work jointly with the West Bengal government on anti-trafficking issues.

"I wrote a letter to her (Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee) that West Bengal has a great legacy of Nobel laureates and you consider me as one of your own supporter of West Bengal. I want to offer all my experience in this field to support you," Satyarthi told PTI.

The international child rights activist said they had already launched a collaborative anti-trafficking programme with the Assam government and were planning to do soon in other states like Meghalaya and Maharasthtra.

In West Bengal, both a source and destination of human trafficking due to its geographical proximity to the border countries of Nepal and Bangladesh, The Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation was willing to work on preventive measures.

"We have to identify the source areas of trafficking and then take preventive measures like investing more on education, ensuring attendance of all children in schools especially the girls, providing better facilities for girls and women so that traffickers cannot penetrate into their houses," he said, adding the state needed dedicated officers for children.

Satyarthi praised the 'Kanyashree' scheme, which provides



scholarships to girl students to prevent child marriage, but said that one scheme was not enough for the girl child.

"I welcome it and admire that the government has done a good initiative but that is just one activity. You need to do much more than that. Equally important is the rule of law. Trafficking is increasing. The highest trafficking is from here," said the founder of 'Bachpan Bachao Andolan'.

The 'Kanyashree' scheme has won all-round praise and was even represented as one of the best practices in the 'Girl Summit 2014' organised by the Department for International Development, UK and UNICEF.

Pointing out that cases of child labour, child sexual abuse and missing children are quite common in the state, Satyarthi said the government should focus on law enforcement and hold agencies like the police accountable.

"The government should work hand in hand with civil societies in a much more effective manner. One government scheme is not enough," Satyarthi said.
Schneider Electric is partnering with Stanley Healthcare to provide 'intelligent infrastructure' for hospitals in India.

The company has entered into a strategic alliance with Stanley Healthcare, an operating division of Stanley Black & Decker, to offer its solutions in India.

"We have a global partnership with Stanley Black & Decker and we are extending the strategic alliance with Stanley Healthcare in India," Schneider Electric Healthcare Solutions Vice President Michael Sullivan told PTI.

Stanley is bringing real-time location technology in this partnership, he added.

"Schneider Electric is partnering with various companies to bring right information to right person at the right time to improve financial performance, patient safety and patient satisfaction," Sullivan said.

India is a very important market for the company. It is among top 10 healthcare markets for the Schneider, he added.

"We are planning geographical expansion in India. Earlier the focus was on big cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore but now we are looking at middle part of markets," Sullivan said.

The cities that the company is looking at are Ahemdabad, Pune, Hyderabad and Jaipur among others, he added.

The company has engaged major hospital chains in India, including Apollo, Fortis and Manipal Hospitals, for its healthcare solutions, Schneider Electric India Country Segment Manager Healthcare & Life Sciences Deepak Singh Thakur said.

Schneider Electric is a global specialist in energy management and automated systems while Stanley Healthcare provides security and protection, patient and resident safety, clinical operations and work flow in hospitals and healthcare systems.
India today said it firmly believes that a peaceful and secure neighbourhood will yield "rich dividends" for SAARC countries even as it asserted that time has come to take stock of past decisions of the grouping on which there has been no movement.

In his statement during the 42nd SAARC Standing Committee Meeting here, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said India is pursuing with renewed vigour its "neighbourhood first" policy which also translates into priority for SAARC initiatives.

"We believe that there is scope for further rationalisation of SAARC processes. Perhaps the time has come for us to also take stock of past decisions and initiatives, given that there are so many instances of such decisions not seeing any movement for many years," Jaishankar, who arrived here on Monday, said.

"We are firmly of the belief that a peaceful, secure and prosperous neighbourhood will yield rich dividends for all of us," he said.

Noting that the grouping has some useful agreements in the area of security, including the Convention on Terrorism, Narcotic Drugs and on Human Trafficking, Jaishankar said a major challenge that the region faces is that of circulation of fake currency notes.

"This is closely interlinked with the problems of money- laundering, drug trafficking and human trafficking as well as financing of terrorism. It would, therefore, be in the interest of the people of our region for us to collaborate at the SAARC level to tackle this matter," he said.

The Foreign Secretary asserted that connectivity holds the key for prosperity and development and will shape the destinies of all countries of South Asia.

"With this understanding, we have embarked on significant projects in the region in areas such as rail and road building, power generation and transmission, waterway usage and shipping through regional, sub-regional, trilateral and bilateral arrangements. This represents a change of mindset and makes us believe that the logic of regional cooperation has finally arrived in the region," Jaishankar asserted.

"Yet, the pace of regional cooperation as a collective endeavour needs to be hastened, especially in areas that are central to the development agenda of SAARC. In this context, I urge that we sign, at an early date, the SAARC Motor Vehicles Agreement and SAARC Railways Agreement," he said.

Finalisation and implementation of these agreements will realise a long standing dream of seamless movement of passengers and cargo through the entire region, he added.

Jaishankar's statement came a day before the SAARC ministerial meeting.

During his Nepal visit, the Foreign Secretary yesterday also called on Nepalese Prime Minister K P Oli and met Madhesi leaders.

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Jaishankar said India was committed to the deeper financial integration of SAARC.

"We are also committed to deeper financial integration of the region and for achieving the South Asian Economic Union. Free flow of capital is an essential element to increase trade in the region and for significant remittances within and from outside the region," Jaishankar said.

"Initiatives that we have offered from our side to enable such integration include offering a currency swap arrangement for SAARC countries to overcome shortage in foreign currency and capacity building programmes in the areas of taxation and customs. We have also made unilateral concessions to LDC states by offering duty free access to all but 25 products," Jaishankar said.

In his statement, Jaishankar said India was systematically pursuing "important ideas" flagged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the last Summit.

"These are important not because they were made by India but because they have the potential to help us achieve our goal of greater connectivity and integration," he said.

Jaishankar also listed some of the initiatives like the SAARC Annual Disaster Management Exercise (SADMEX), the SAARC Regional Supra-Reference Laboratory for TB and HIV, the Satellite for SAARC, and the SAARC Knowledge Network.

"We organised the first SADMEX in November 2015 and work on execution is underway on the Laboratory. We have received enthusiastic support from many of you on the Satellite for SAARC project and hope to launch it by end of the year. This satellite will be of value to all our peoples as it will support applications in the area of health, education, disaster response, weather forecasting, communications etc," Jaishankar said.

"The SAARC Knowledge Network would provide a unified high speed network backbone for knowledge related institutions in the region. This will bring together all stakeholders - scientists, researchers and students, to work closely for faster development," he said.

The Foreign Secretary stressed that the SAARC Network will take the connectivity being provided by the respective national networks to research and education communities beyond national borders.

"The SAARC Business Travelers' Card, an initiative designed to enable easier movement of South Asian businessmen to India, will be launched within the next two months," he said.
A bill which seeks to amend 91-year-old Sikh Gurdwaras Act to exclude Sahajdhari Sikhs from voting in the elections to Sikh religious bodies, was today passed by Rajya Sabha unanimously without any discussion.

The Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill 2016, which was introduced by Home Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday, was passed with all parties agreeing to it on the last day of the first part of Budget session.

"There is unanimity in the House to pass the bill without discussion. I am passing it," Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said.

The Bill proposes to remove the exception given to Sahajdhari Sikhs in 1944 to vote in the elections to select the members of the Board and the Committees constituted under the Act.

The Union Cabinet had recently approved the proposal of the Home Ministry to amend the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, with effect from October 8, 2003.

The said amendment was also carried out by a Home Ministry notification dated October 8, 2003, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Parliament under Section 72 of the Punjab Re-organisation Act, 1966.

However, the notification was quashed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana on December 20, 2011, leaving it to the appropriate and competent legislature to decide as to whether or not to amend the Act to that effect.
Four radicalised Singaporeans have been arrested for joining armed Islamist groups in war-torn Yemen and Syria, the government here said today.

Mohammad Razif Yahya, 27, and Amiruddin Sawir, 53, were both detained under the under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in August 2015 for voluntarily taking up arms and joining the sectarian conflict in Yemen, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a statement.

They started religious studies in an institution in Yemen in January 2010 and July 2013, respectively, and volunteered to take up armed sentry duties at the institution against any incursion by the Houthis, the ministry said.

Razif was armed with an AK-47 rifle and a Dragunov sniper rifle and had volunteered for sniper training, which he put into practice when fighting the Houthi rebels, MHA stated.

Amiruddin was armed with an AK-47 and was involved in a firefight, it added.

"Razif and Amiruddin were prepared to kill and be killed as 'martyrs' in the sectarian conflict in Yemen. By taking up arms in Yemen, they have demonstrated a readiness to use violence to pursue their religious cause," Channel Asia reported citing the MHA statement.

A third man, Mohamed Mohideen Mohamed Jais, 25, had performed armed sentry duties in Yemen during his religious studies there from 2009 to early 2011.

Mohideen has since been placed on a Restriction Order (RO) under the ISA with effect from March, the ministry said.

The fourth man, Wang Yuandongyi, intended to travel to Syria to join a Kurdish militia group that is fighting against the Islamic State.

The 23-year-old left Singapore in January this year for a third country, from where he intended to travel to Turkey and on to Syria, the MHA said.

However, someone who became aware of his plans reported him and, on the request of Singapore, Wang was located and turned back to the country.
Notwithstanding growing Sino-US tensions over the disputed South China Sea, Premier Li Keqiang today said bilateral relations will move forward as common interests outweigh differences, no matter who gets elected as next American President.

"There are broad common interests between China and US. There are also some differences between the two countries. Some differences could be sharp. There is no need to deny this," Li, 60, said in his annual press conference here.

"For some time, many people have been talking about differences between the two countries. But at the same time overlooked one very important thing of China last year becoming the top trading partner of the US with two-way trade between the two countries reaching USD 560 billion.

"This itself shows common interest far outweighs their differences," Li, who ranks second after President Xi Jinping in leadership hierarchy, said responding to a question on the US, China ties which are undergoing a tense phase over the US' Asia Pivot policy and growing differences over China's moves to assert its claims on the South China Sea (SCS).

China claims most of the resource-rich SCS, countered by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Washington's moves to send naval ships and aircraft in the area to ascertain freedom of navigation has riled China.

As America's China policy has taken the centre stage of the upcoming US Presidential election with contestants vowing to pursue to a more strong policy to contain the Communist giant, Li said Sino-US ties are far deeper to be restricted by differences.

"As for the US elections, it has been lively and caught the attention of many. I believe no matter who gets into the White House, the underlying trend will not change. It has been several decades since the two counties established diplomatic ties. Has not the relationship seen more than fair share of ups and downs?. It has always been moving forward which I believe is the underlying trend," he said.

As per difference between the two countries, there are up to 100 various dialogue and exchange mechanism between China and US to address the issues, Li said.

Focusing on his comments on the growing China-US business ties, he said both counties need to act keeping principle of equality and mutual benefit in mind. Currently, they are engaged in negotiations over Bilateral Investment Treaty.

"China for its part will give US investors wider market access in a gradual way. We hope that such opening will be mutual. As long as the two countries act with good faith and properly manage their differences, I believe their common interest will expand.

"As our cooperation expands, the percentage of overall differences in China US relations will come down and broader cooperation serves the interests of both the countries and the world," Li added.

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On relations with Japan, Li said he does not want to see China-Japan ties deteriorate though there are sings of improvement.

He said the relationship is "not fully established and still fragile".

The two sides should adhere to the consensus on historical issues and it is important to match words with actions, Li said, referring to the tensions generated over the disputed islands in East China Sea claimed by both the countries.

On China's ties with Russia, Li said Beijing-Moscow ties were not affected by US sanctions against Russia over Ukraine.

China and Russia are each other's biggest neighbours, and there is a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in bilateral relations, Li said.

"This relationship is an all-dimensional one," he said, adding that Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met with each other "quite often".

China has developed its relations with Russia on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit and Beijing pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, Li said.

China and Russia can explore their cooperation in the integrated development of oil and natural gas, and introduce greater diversity in bilateral trade, he added.
Delhi Deputy Chief Miniser Manish Sisodia has written to HRD Minister Smriti Irani to order a probe into reported "leak" of mathematics paper of Class XII Boards.

"There are certain media reports that mathematics paper of CBSE Class XII was leaked. Such reports are increasing doubts in students' minds. I request you to order a fair probe pertaining to reports of paper leak," he said in the letter.

Earlier in the day, Union minister Venkaiah Naidu said the matter "deserves inquiry" and he will convey it to the HRD minister.

Sisodia also said that mathematics is a high-scoring subject and students, who are dreaming to take admission in good colleges, expect more numbers in this subject, but the March 14 paper seemed to have shattered the dreams of such students.

He also requested to Irani to allow awarding of "grace marks" to students in this subject.

"You should also take an immediate decision to provide grace marks in mathematics paper so that students could recover from hopelessness and appear in other paper without any tension," Sisodia, who also holds education portfolio, said.

The deputy chief minister will visit London to attend a day-long conference on economics.

"He will leave for London tomorrow to attend a conference on Friday," an official said.
Sri Lanka could win back the suspended trade tariff concession for its exports to the European Union, as the 28-member bloc has noted progress made by the country on GSP+ criteria, a senior EU official said today.

"Now is the correct time -- it is visible that democracy and reconciliation are top priorities of the newly elected government," Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, said in a statement.

The good governance (GSP+) facility had been suspended in 2013 due to want of fulfilling Sri Lanka's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other labour regulations.

The new government led by President Maithripala Sirisena elected last year is keen to regain the facility which is so important to the islands apparel exports industry.

Mimica said it was the common will of the EU to grant the facility. We will work together for an early application. The approval process takes about 10 to 12 months.

The process is on track and a meeting will take place in April when a delegation from the EU comes.

He said the EU was keen to support the new political momentum in Lanka under the government elected in 2015.

Mimica said the EUs Multi-Annual Indicative program amounting to 210 million Euro will be reviewed in order to help the reconciliation process currently underway in Lanka.
An epic clash between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton in the US polls seemed imminent as the front-runners today took giant steps towards securing their parties' presidential nomination by winning pivotal primaries in a multi-state vote.

Trump kept his substantial delegate lead by winning at least three Republican contests, including his knockout victory in Florida that pushed rival and Senator from the state Marco Rubio out of the race. Trump emphatically won Florida, the biggest prize on 'Super Tuesday 2.0', including all 99 of its delegates.

The 69-year-old real estate tycoon registered impressive wins in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina but lost to Ohio Governor John Kasich in his home state.

Clinton, 68, took big strides toward the Democratic nomination by winning Florida and North Carolina while also posting crucial victories over rival Bernie Sanders in the industrial Midwest by taking Ohio and Illinois.

Both Clinton and Trump piled up the delegates, much more than their nearest opponents, but both of them were still at a distance from securing the number of delegates required to be declared their respective parties' presidential nominee.

Trump was leading in the delegate count with his nearest rival Ted Cruz way behind by more than 200 delegates.

Trump in his victory speech in Miami exuded confidence on winning the race and defeating his presumptive Democratic rival Clinton in the November polls.

"We have to bring our party together. We have something happening that makes the Republican party the story over the world. Millions of people are joining the party. We have a great opportunity. Democrats are coming in. Independents are coming in," Trump said.

Based on the primary results, political pundits say Clinton in all probability is on her way to become the first woman presidential nominee of the Democratic party.

This was also evident in her victory speech as she used the occasion to attack Trump.

"When we hear a candidate for president call for rounding up 12 million immigrants, banning all Muslims from entering the United States, when he embraces torture, that doesn't make him strong, it makes him wrong," Clinton said.

"We should be bringing down barriers, not building walls. You know, to be great, we can't be small. We can't lose what made America great in the first place," she said amid applause and cheer from her supporters in West palm Beach, Florida.

The former Secretary of State now has 1,561 delegates as against 800 of her rival Sanders. She needs 2,382 of the 4,763 Democratic party delegates before the Philadelphia convention in July.

Sanders said he would continue with his campaign and has not given up despite the set back today.

The only state whose results were awaited was Missouri where Trump and Cruz were locked in a neck-and-neck race while on the Democratic side Clinton and Sanders were in a dead heat.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz were today seen engaged in an animated discussion over a dinner here hosted for the ministers of SAARC countries.

Though details of their discussion was not known, Indian officials described it as a "social chitchat" between the ministers who were seated alongside.

The two ministers are also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting here tomorrow which was sought by Aziz to extend the invitation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the SAARC summit, to be hosted by Pakistan later this year.

This is the second time the two ministers are meeting since December last when Swaraj had travelled to Islamabad for a multilateral meeting and had also held extensive bilateral talks with Aziz after which both countries announced resumption of the comprehensive bilateral dialogue.

During tomorrow's meeting, Swaraj is expected to nudge Pakistan to take action against the perpetrators of the Pathankot airbase attack, which came days after Prime Minister Modi's surprise visit to Lahore on December 25 last year to attend the 66th birthday of his counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Choudhry were also seen sitting together at another table during the dinner hosted by SAARC Secretary General Arjun Bahadur Thapa.
Farmers in some villages of Patiala and Ropar districts have started taking possession of their land acquired for the construction of Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, two days after the Punjab Assembly passed a bill providing for transfer of proprietary rights back to the land owners free of cost.

Workers of ruling SAD and Congress were seen exhorting farmers and providing equipment to help them to level the land lying untilled for decades.

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh also appealed to farmers to fill up the canal and level it at the earliest, saying "This is the only way to prevent 9 lakh acres of fertile land in Malwa region from turning dry and barren".

On Monday, in an attempt to prevent its neighbouring states from getting a share in river waters flowing through Punjab, the state assembly had passed a bill against the construction of the canal, a contentious issue with neighbouring Haryana. A presidential reference in this regard is pending in the Supreme Court.

The Bill also provides for returning free of cost 3,928 acres acquired for its construction to the original landowners.

Punjab Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki is yet to give his ascent to the Bill but farmers have already started demolishing the canal structure and filling the land.

At least 100 JCBs were today deployed in Dhakki, Gardale, Inderpur, Saini Majra, Ladal, Ghanauli, Makauri, Kainour, Majri Jattan, Mannpur villages in Ropar and several others in Kiratpur Sahib and Morinda.

Ropar Deputy Commissioner Karnesh Sharma appealed to the farmers not to take law into their hands and said the government had not issued any notification in this regard.

Youth Akali Dal's Malwa Zone's President Harpal Juneja, whose supporters arranged for equipment to level the land near Rajpura-Banur road, said "JCBs have been pressed into service to fill the SYL canal. The work will continue."



After the historic decision by the Assembly, it is our duty to help farmers take possession of their land, he said.

Patiala Municipal Corporation Mayor Amrinder Singh Bajaj, who was also present there, said Punjab has no spare water to give to neighbouring states.

Led by Congress Legislature Party leader Charanjit Singh Channi, about a dozen party legislators, including former Union Minister and Patiala MLA Preneet Kaur, reached Kami Kalan village in Patiala and filled with sand the land acquired for the construction of the canal.

Channi said Congress has extended its support to the Bill to protect the interest of the state.

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Meanwhile, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh said the levelling and filling up of land will not only erase the remnants of the SYL canal "but will also assert our resolve to undo the injustice that Punjab has been subjected to in terms of sharing of waters."



Amarinder said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal should also join in as "it is the real chance for them to prove their loyalty and sincerity toward Punjab and Punjabis".

Alleging that the BJP-led central government backstabbed Punjab by supporting Haryana and Badal failed to rise to the occasion, he said filling up the canal was the only way left with farmers to prevent 9 lakh acres in Malwa region from turning into a desert.
Kurdish-led parties meeting in northern Syria today are expected to declare a new federal system in areas under their control, two Kurdish officials said.

The move, which would expand an already existing system of self-administration, is likely to anger Turkey which is wary of any bid by Syrian Kurds to solidify their autonomy and of their control of territory.

Kurdish groups, which hold large stretches of northern Syria, have been excluded from ongoing peace talks in Geneva aimed at ending the country's five-year conflict.

More than 150 delegates from Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian and other parties were meeting today in the town of Rmeilan, in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province.

"The gathering will try to develop a new ruling system in northern Syria," said Sihanuk Dibo, a consultant to Syria's leading Kurdish political group, the Democratic Union Party (PYD).

"All the suggestions are now heading towards federalism," he told AFP from the conference.

Officials said the conference's final decision would be issued either today or tomorrow.

Kurdish parties already operate a system of three "autonomous administrations" in Syria's north, with independent police forces and schools.

The three cantons run along Syria's northern border with Turkey and are known as Afrin and Kobane, both in Aleppo province, and Jazire in Hasakeh province.

As well as three cantons, the plan would see the federal system expand to include additional areas recently seized from the Islamic State jihadist group in northern and northeastern Syria, Kurdish officials said.

Officials said the announcement was not intended as a first step towards independence.

"A federal state for ruling all of Syria is the best way to protect Syria from being divided up, because there is major distrust among the different sides," said Ibrahim Ibrahim, a PYD media official.

Washington-based analyst Mutlu Civiroglu said the announcement would be a political message "from Syrians on the ground, politically and militarily".

"Politically, it's also a message to the United Nations, the US, Russia, and especially to Geneva, that if you ignore us, we are going to determine our future by ourselves," he told AFP.

Despite deep divisions, the opposition High Negotiations Committee and the embattled government in Damascus have both categorically rejected a federal system in Syria.
Tata Motors today said it will supply 25 hybrid electric busses to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

The contract to supply Tata Starbus Diesel Series Hybrid Electric Bus with full low floor configuration is the single largest order awarded for hybrid electric vehicle technology, Tata Motors said in a statement.

It did not disclose the value of the contract.

With these buses, the MMRDA will connect Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to the railways stations of Sion, Bandra and Kurla in the next one year, improving feeder services, to the fastest-growing business hub in Mumbai, it added.

Tata Motors Executive Director, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Ravi Pisharody said: "With this indigenously developed city bus, we are extremely pleased to partner MMRDA for 25 such buses, for a shared vision of sustainable cost-efficient transport solutions.

"With electric mobility as a solution for the future, we are fully geared to cater to the huge potential arising for these technologies, right here in India."



The company said its hybrid electric bus offers the lowest cost of ownership, with improved fuel savings of the order of 25-30 per cent, reduction in emissions in comparison to conventional buses and runs on pure electric mode, for around 30-35 per cent of the total travel distance.
Tata Motors today said it expects a 10-12 per cent yearly growth in revenue from defence exports in the next few years.

The auto major is a leading supplier of defence vehicles.

Exports currently constitute 15 per cent of the company's overall defence revenue, and is likely to grow at 10-12 per cent per annum in the future, Tata Motors Vice-President for defence and government business, Vernon Noronha, told reporters here.

Exact figures on the company's overall defence revenues were not immediately known. At the Group level, Tata today said it expects to close the current fiscal with a 7.5 per cent growth in revenues from defence and aerospace at Rs 2,650 crore.

The company exports to the Saarc countries and Africa at present and is looking at the Asean region, including nations like Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia, as an emerging market opportunity, Noronha said.

Aid and development markets in west and central Africa is also an interesting opportunity, he said.

Among its products portfolio, the thrust is on multi- axle combat support vehicles, light armoured and combat vehicles when it comes to the defence exports, he said.
India's tea exports to Pakistan rose by 60 per cent to Rs 160.82 crore in the first 10 months of the current fiscal.

The overall outward shipments of tea, on the other hand, surged by just 11 per cent to Rs 3,597.41 crore.

Tea exports to the neighboring nation stood at Rs 100.61 crore in the year-ago period.

India is the world's second biggest tea producer and also one of the largest consumers. The country exports CTC (crush- tear-curl) grade tea to countries like Egypt, the UK, and other traditional varieties to Iraq, Iran and Russia.

The overall tea shipments was at Rs 3,240.90 crore in the April-January period of the 2014-15 fiscal, according to the Tea Board data.

The per unit price at which tea was exported to Pakistan increased to Rs 97.58 per kg from Rs 84.05 per kg a year ago.

In volume terms, outward shipments from India to Pakistan increased to 16.48 million kg in the 10-month period of 2015-16, from 11.97 million kg in April-January period of 2014-15.

The total tea exported from India in the period under review rose to 186.63 million kg as against 164.88 million kg a year earlier.

The increase in tea exports was seen in major tea-importing countries such as the CIS countries, the UK, Germany, Poland, the UAE, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Tea production has been low this fiscal mainly due to unfavorable weather conditions. Besides, wage-related issues also hit tea producers.

The tea sector has also been facing other issues including migration of laborers to other industries.

Tea plucking in India mainly starts between July and October.
A 14-year-old girl was injured when a bike-borne youth allegedly threw acid at her in Dera Baba Nanak area here this evening.

The victim suffered 18 per cent burn injuries on one side of her face and arm. She was admitted to a hospital in Amritsar, SSP Diljinder Singh Dhillon said.

The girl, a resident of Dharmabad village here, was returning home from school along with her five friends when one of two youths riding a motorcycle allegedly threw acid at her, the SSP said.

Her friends suffered minor burn injuries as drops of acid also fell on them, Dhillon said, adding one of the accused was identified as Saajan (19), a resident of Phurewal in Amritsar.

The victim had told her family that the accused was stalking her for the past two-three days. Her family members then raised the matter with Saajan's parents, who possibly reprimanded him.

Upset over this, the accused allegedly threw acid at her, police said.

Saajan was reportedly studying in the same school as the victim but was rusticated for his bad conduct, the SSP said.

A case has been registered against the accused and his unidentified accomplice and hunt is on for them, police said.

Meanwhile, Punjab Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema directed the District Education Officer to immediately release Rs 50 thousand for the girl's treatment, personally visit her at the hospital, and report her condition to him.

Cheema directed SSP Batala to take immediate action against the culprit and told the the Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, to ensure special care and treatment of the victim.

The education minister also spoke to the doctors of Guru Nanak Medical Hospital and the victim's father, and assured him of full support in securing justice.
A special court here today asked the CBI to submit within one month report of investigation of a case where 32 Thalassemic children were infected with HIV because of transfusion of contaminated blood at the Junagadh Civil Hospital in Gujarat.

On November 30 last year, the court had asked the central agency to reopen the case and submit a report in two months.

The CBI lawyer today asked for another two months to file the report, arguing that the agency could not track down all the 93 people who had supposedly donated HIV-infected blood.

The judge V K Nai, however, did not cede the request after the petitioners' lawyer argued that it was not difficult to trace the donors as hospital had their mobile numbers and other contact details.

Eight of the 32 affected children have died of AIDS since 2011.

The CBI's earlier closure report gave a clean chit to BJP leader and Junagadh MLA Mahendra Mashru whose blood bank was under the scanner for allegedly providing HIV-infected blood. The agency said it found no evidence.

The parents of the children then filed protest petition through their lawyer Paresh Vaghela, following which the court ordered further probe.

In 2011, 32 children suffering from Thalassemia (a blood disorder which requires regular blood transfusion) were allegedly given HIV-infected blood at Junagadh Hospital. In response to a PIL, the probe was handed over to CBI in 2013.
In a jibe at arrested NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, the Shiv Sena today said time has avenged his attempt to put Sena supremo Bal Thackeray behind bars during his tenure as Maharashtra Home Minister.

"Time has avenged" Bhujbal's action, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said here, adding the NCP leader, who left Sena in 1991, is to be blamed "for his destruction".

"When Bhujbal was the home minister, he was bent on putting Balasaheb (Thackeray) behind bars because he had given a 'Hindutva vadi' (pro-Hindu) speech that was aimed at awakening the people of the country. Even that was a case of political revenge and personal enmity," it alleged.

Bhujbal had "misused" the government machinery "to create false cases" against those who "did not listen to him", so that they could be put behind bars, the Sena charged.

Bhujbal was arrested on Monday in connection with the alleged scam in construction of Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi.

A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court sent the 68-year-old leader in Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till March 17.

The NCP had described his arrest as "vendetta politics" by the BJP.

The Sena, which is part of the ruling alliance, said the people protesting Bhujbal's arrest today will soon forget about it.

"Chhagan Bhujbal was arrested a number of times while he was in the Sena. But then, he was arrested for protesting against atrocities against Marathi people. Now, when he is with the Congress and NCP, he is in jail on charges of corruption.

"He is responsible for his own destruction. People who are today protesting against his arrest will soon forget the issue and go about their usual business," he said.

Bhujbal started his political career with the Shiv Sena and was in the party for over two decades. He left the Sena in 1991 and joined the Congress. Later, after Sharad Pawar decided to split from the Congress and form NCP, the former PWD minister went along with him.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP)  The attack on an Ivory Coast beach resort by an al-Qaida affiliate is the latest sign it is shifting its focus to soft targets associated with foreigners in an effort to destabilize economies and gain the group credibility among jihadis in its rivalry with the so-called Islamic State group.

The three gunmen who burst into the Grand-Bassam beach resort and killed 18 people were part of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, a group that grew out of the Algerian civil war in the 1990s and used to restrict itself to operations deep in the desert, hundreds of miles away.

In recent months, however, it has carried out devastating attacks against luxury hotels frequented by foreigners: first in Mali in November, then in Burkina Faso in January, and now even farther south in an Ivorian resort popular with tourists and locals alike.

They are essentially shifting their strategy from operating in northern Mali and southern Algeria and parts of Libya to much more commercially relevant areas, said Robert Besseling, director of the Exx Africa risk advisory group. Therefore it undermines the whole regions economy and the business confidence surrounding these economies.

Al-Qaidas North Africa branch was once known for striking military posts in Algeria and neighboring countries, but such attacks were often difficult and made little impact internationally.

The group has now taken its cue from other, more brutal organizations around the world and turned to civilian targets linked to its enemies  principally the French.

Theyve realized how easy it is and how much fear you can spread by doing this, said Sean Smith, the Africa analyst at Verisk-Maplecroft Risk Consultancy. You can spread much more fear by attacking capital cities and tourist complexes than the Malian army.

The shift comes as AQIM is under unprecedented pressure from the French-led Operation Barkhane, a wide ranging campaign in the Sahara that has killed a number of jihadi commanders.

According to Andrew Lebovich, an expert on the group, one of its commanders said in a recent interview that all political and security partners of France and the West were now considered valid targets.

The violence at the hotels also comes as one of the al-Qaidas most feared commanders, Moktar Belmoktar, the architect of a 2013 attack on an Algerian gas plant, has rejoined the group with his followers and apparently expanded its capabilities dramatically.

It is a way of showing that they can and will strike far away from the areas that had previously been regarded as security threats, while still maintaining operations in northern Mali and central Mali in particular, Lebovich said.
Manipur police trainees, numbering 376, protested against the state Home department at Manipur Police Training Centre at Pangei in Imphal East district, a senior police official said today.

One police personnel was also roughed up by the agitators but a team of Manipur police soon managed to pacify them during yesterday's development, the official said.

The protesters, undergoing training in both sub-inspector and assistant sub-inspector ranks also locked up the main gate of the training centre and barricaded the roads leading towards it yesterday, the official said.

The agitators were protesting the alleged delay in the passing out parade for these trainees who had completed their training on February 16 this year.

The trainees wanted the official passing out parade function be completed before the coming Holi festival, according to a section of agitators.
A British scholar was deported from Turkey after he said he was found with invitations to Kurdish New Year celebrations.

Chris Stephenson, a computer sciences lecturer at Bilgi University in Istanbul, said he was detained on Tuesday at a courthouse where he had gone to support three scholars charged with making terrorism propaganda.

Stephenson told The Associated Press that security guards found Nawroz invitations in his bag and then police detained him.

Speaking moments before his departure yesterday from Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport, he told The Associated Press that there was "no offense, no trial, just an administrative decision to deport me after 25 years of residency in Turkey."



Stephenson's lawyer, Kemal Tuncaelli, said the prosecutor's office had accused Stephenson of "making terror propaganda" and that his deportation was based on an administrative decision. He said they plan to appeal.

There was no immediate comment from Turkish officials. Britain's Foreign Office said it was providing assistance to a British national who was arrested Tuesday and that it will "remain in close contact with local authorities."



Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said Turkey would "redefine" terrorism and terrorists so that legal action can be undertaken against anyone supporting terrorism -- including legislators, academics and journalists. The next day, three Turkish scholars were arrested pending trial.

Stephenson and the three Istanbul-based academics, also accused of making terrorist propaganda, were among 1,000 scholars who signed a declaration denouncing military operations against Kurdish rebels in the southeast of the country.

The declaration angered Erdogan and led to legal proceedings against some.

Stephenson, who is married to a Turkish national and has a 13-year-old daughter, said he was "gutted" and vehemently denied supporting terrorism. "In no way was I supporting terrorism," he told AP. "I was supporting a peaceful solution."



He said the invitations found in his bag were issued by the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party. A reference to Kurdish self-determination as well as a small picture of a barricade were deemed by the prosecutor to constitute terror propaganda, he said.

Turkey is witnessing a period of increased conflict between security forces and Kurdish rebels in the southeast, a dynamic that has contributed to increased political polarization.

Sunday's suicide bombing attack in Ankara that killed 37 people further fanned tensions. The authorities blame the attack on a female Kurdish rebel who allegedly received training in neighboring Syria.
Police have shot dead two Chinese Uighurs who were allegedly fighting with an extremist group in central Indonesia led by the country's most wanted Islamic radical, an official said today.

The members of the mostly Muslim ethnic minority were killed in a shootout yesterday morning in mountains on the island of Sulawesi, as authorities hunted for the radical group's leader.

"We can confirm that the two who died were Uighurs," Central Sulawesi police chief Rudy Sufahriadi told AFP.

The Uighurs were fighting alongside Santoso, who leads the Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen, a group that has been waging a guerrilla campaign against authorities from remote bases in the jungles and mountains.

The government has launched numerous operations to try to catch Santoso, who has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group. The current operation involves about 2,000 police and military personnel.

Sufahriadi said that based on testimony from detainees, there are four more Uighurs still fighting with Santoso's group. The group itself is estimated to have some 30 fighters to 40 fighters, he said.

Several Uighurs have joined radicals in Indonesia in recent years. A few months ago, police detained a Uighur man on the outskirts of Jakarta who they suspect planned to launch a suicide bombing attack.

Last year, an Indonesian court jailed four Uighurs for attempting to join Santoso's group.

The Uighur minority come from the northwest Chinese region of Xinjiang, where the group say they face cultural and religious repression.

Many are believed to have fled the restive region in recent years, sometimes travelling through Southeast Asia in the hope of resettling in Turkey.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, has suffered a string of Islamic militant attacks in the past 15 years.

The latest was a deadly suicide bombing and gun assault in Jakarta in January, which was the first major attack for seven years and was claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group.
The National Investigating Agency and Special Task Force (STF) unit of Kolkata Police arrested two persons for their alleged links to Bangladesh-based Jamatul Mujahidin Bangladesh.

Enamul Mollah and Habibul Haque were arrested by the NIA during a joint raid with the STF from a house in Metiabruz area of the city last night, a senior police officer of the Force said today.

Both were recruited by the prime accused in the Burdwan blast case, Yousuf Gazi, he said.

"We are trying to find out their role with the JMB... We have that there are several people in the state who have been recruited by the JMB. Hopefully this arrest will help us spotting them," he said.
Nearly 2,000 migrants and two corpses have been recovered from people smugglers' boats off Libya since yesterday, Italy's coastguard said today.

Further rescue operations were ongoing, a spokesman told AFP.

The figures represent a pick-up in the flow of migrants attempting to reach Italy via Libya, a route through which around 330,000 people have made it to Europe since the start of 2014.

Prior to the latest rescues, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) had reported 9,500 landing at Italian ports since the start of the year.

This compares with more than 143,000 who have reached Greek islands by crossing the Aegean Sea since January 1.

With efforts underway to close the entry route through Greece, Italian authorities are wary of a surge in the number of migrants attempting to come through Libya.

So far there has been no indication of that happening. Numbers arriving from Libya have always fluctuated in line with weather conditions in the Mediterranean and other factors.

Arrivals were slightly down in 2015 compared with 2014 -- a trend that may be related to the political chaos in Libya which might have deterred some migrants and has also made it harder for those that do make the journey to find work there while awaiting boats to Italy.
Two NDFB (Songbijit) militants were killed in an encounter with police at Hatipota village in Udalguri district of Assam today.

The encounter took place at about 1.15 AM between a group of NDFB(S) militants and a police party comprising Udalguri Superintendent of Police, Addional SP, Mazbat PS Officer in Charge and other police personnel, IGP Dr L R Bishnoi said.

The two Myanmar trained cadres from NDFB(S) were identified as Daoharu and Jackpot, Bishnoi said.

The arms and ammunition recovered from the spot included two 7.65 mm pistols, two 7.65 mm magazines, four 7.65 mm ammunition, five empty cases of 7.65 mm ammunition, four 9 mm empty cases, besides one SIM card.

A search operation is on in the Assam-Arunachal border area against the underground outfit, Bishnoi said.
Britain will impose a new sugar tax on soft drinks in two years' time to fight childhood obesity, UK Treasury chief announced today in his annual Budget speech that also included public spending cuts of billions of pounds.

"I can announce that we will introduce a new sugar levy on the soft drinks industry. We all know one of the biggest contributors to childhood obesity is sugary drinks," UK Chancellor George Osborne said, adding, the new levy will be based on the levels of sugar in the drinks, with the most sugary drinks paying the highest tax.

The move is estimated to bring the UK government an extra 520 million pounds a year, to be spent on doubling funding for sport in primary schools.

"I am not prepared to look back at my time here in this Parliament, doing this job and say to my children's generation 'I'm sorry. We knew there was a problem with sugary drinks. We knew it caused disease. But we ducked the difficult decisions and we did nothing'. So today, I can announce that we will introduce a new sugar levy on the soft drinks industry," Osborne said in the House of Commons.

Britain has one of the worst obesity rates in Europe and official data from last year showed 61.9 per cent of adults and 28 per cent of children aged between two and 15 are overweight or obese.

The levy will be imposed directly on soft drinks producers, rather than on consumers, and will come in force in two year's time in order to give companies time to change the ingredients of their products.

"It will come into force in two years, based on the volume of sugar, two bands: those with 5g per 100ml and those with more than 8g per 100ml, pure fruit juices and milk-based drinks excluded," he said.

The two tiers of taxes mean that a few soft drinks such as Tango Orange and Lilt will be exempt, because their sugar content is below 5g per 100ml.

A number of drinks, including Fanta and Sprite, will be hit by a new tax, for those with between 5g and 8g added sugar per 100ml.

But the highest tax will hit popular fizzy drinks such as Pepsi, Coca-Cola and 7up.

A number of Royal Colleges in the UK have called for a tax, and British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver also led a campaign for such levies to be introduced.

Among some of the other Budget announcements, the UK Chancellor cut the country's growth forecasts for the next five years and announced 3.5 billion pounds in public spending cuts by 2020.

Tax on cigarettes will rise by 2 per cent, with 3 per cent on rolling tobacco but beer and cider duty will be frozen as will the levy on whisky and other spirits.

The rate at which workers start paying top rate tax is to be raised from 42,385 pounds to 45,000 pounds, with corporation tax to be cut to 17 per cent by April 2020.
The United Nations says Canada will resume contributing funds to the UN relief agency that aids and protects Palestinian refugees.

A statement issued yesterday says Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is pleased that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government decided to restart the funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency.

Canada discontinued the funding in 2010 during the administration of Conservative leader Stephen Harper amid criticism that the agency funded schools that had become hotbeds of anti-Israeli extremism.

Ban met with Trudeau yesterday, who took office in November and has vowed more engagement in world affairs. UNRWA marked its 65th anniversary last year. Ban said at the time that the agency was never meant to exist for 65 years but "exists because of political failure.
The United Nations condemned insurgents in Thailand's deep south today for seizing a hospital during a recent attack on security forces in the violence-plagued Muslim majority region.

The assault was one of several small-scale but coordinated attacks on Thai forces in the region on Sunday night, following a recent surge in violence by insurgents.

More than 6,500 people - mostly civilians - have been killed in a 12-year revolt by insurgents seeking greater autonomy from majority-Buddhist Thailand, which annexed the culturally distinct region more than a century ago.

Both the insurgents and the military have been accused of widespread rights abuses.

In one of Sunday's attacks, a group rebel fighters took over the Cho Ai Rong Hospital in Narathiwat province and used the building to fire on a nearby Thai army post.

The gunfight lasted around 30 minutes and while no-one was killed, patients and medical staff were inside the building during the fighting.

"Hospitals, medical units and medical personnel are protected under international humanitarian law, and they should not be targeted or used for military purposes at any time," the UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia (OHCHR) said in a statement.

The UN added that while attacks on medical staff in Thailand's south have taken place, some of them fatal, Sunday's assault was believed to be the first time insurgents had seized a hospital.

"This new tactic is deeply concerning," said Laurent Meillan, OHCHR's acting regional head.

Violence dipped to a record low last year, something the Thai military says is the result of better intelligence-led operations since it took power in 2014.

But there has been an increase in attacks over the past few weeks.

Over the years Islamist militants have employed brutal tactics including shootings, beheadings and bombings, often targeting perceived civilian collaborators such as teachers and even Buddhist monks.

But the Thai military also stands accused of routinely violating human rights, including torture and extra-judicial killings - something rights groups say has worsened under junta rule.

The military's promise to hold peace talks with the insurgents has also borne little fruit so far.

Rights groups say peace is unlikely while a tight security net remains over the region. Critics also cast doubt on the army's sincerity and the ability of their rebel interlocutors to control the revolt's foot soldiers.
The United Nations has condemned Morocco's decision to reduce its contribution to the world body's MINURSO mission in Western Sahara, saying it would now take "mitigating measures."



UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has now canceled previously announced plans to travel to Rabat given tensions with Morocco, which has condemned his use of the term "occupation" to describe the status of the contested territory.

Morocco's "decision came as a surprise," Dujarric said yesterday, vowing to "take measures to ensure that MINURSO can continue to fulfill its mandate."



"There is no talk of withdrawing MINURSO," the spokesman insisted.

The United Nations hopes its envoy, American former diplomat Christopher Ross, will be able to pursue his efforts to reach a resolution.

"We very much hope it will not be the end of the political process," Dujarric said.

"The people of Western Sahara deserve a political process and a light at the end of the tunnel."



Morocco communicated its decision to Ban on Monday via Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar.

"We obviously regret this decision," Dujarric said.

"We do hope to move on to more constructive and positive relations with Morocco."



Morocco was contributing $3 million to provide food and housing for UN peacekeepers, and some 2,300 UN troops, including to the MONUSCO mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rabat announced a "significant reduction" in its participation in the MINURSO mission, and said it was also "weighing the manner in which Morocco's contribution to peacekeeping missions would be reduced."



After speaking with Mezouar on Monday, Ban expressed "deep disappointment and anger" over demonstrations against him the day before in Morocco.

The United Nations has been trying to broker a Western Sahara settlement since 1991 after a ceasefire was reached to end a war that broke out when Morocco deployed its military in the former Spanish territory in 1975.

The UN chief wants to achieve progress in resolving the 40-year conflict over Western Sahara before he steps down at the end of the year.
The UN's humanitarian chief in Yemen has said that none of the warring parties there were fulfilling their obligations to protect civilians or facilitate humanitarian assistance.

Jamie McGoldrick's yesterday's comments at a Sanaa conference came one day after airstrikes by a Saudi-led and US-backed coalition targeted a busy market in a northern region controlled by Shiite Houthi rebels, killing and wounding dozens.

The Houthi-controlled state agency, SABA, said at least 65 people were killed and 55 wounded, including women and children.

The airstrike on the market in the city of Mastaba, in Hajja province northwest of Sanaa, was the latest in a series of similar bombings by the coalition that have killed hundreds of civilians. The market serves tens of thousands of people and was struck during the busiest time of day. Witnesses said there were no military targets nearby.

Medical aid organization Doctors Without Borders said in a statement that its doctors treated more than 40 people injured in the market airstrike, including two people who died while being transported to a hospital.

Yemen's war pits the Houthis and troops loyal to a former president against the internationally-recognized government and an array of allied forces. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war on the government's side a year ago. The fighting has killed more than 6,200 civilians and displaced millions, pushing the Arab world's poorest country to the brink of famine.

The UN and others have also blamed the Houthis and their allies for civilian casualties, saying they frequently shell residential areas.

The spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement that the latest attack underscores the need for all sides to respect human rights laws amid the fighting. "Attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects, including populated markets, are strictly prohibited," he said.

McGoldrick urged the warring parties to return to the negotiating table, saying military action was unlikely to end the conflict.
Uttar Pradesh Industrial Consultants Ltd (UPICO) today said its order book position has more than doubled to Rs 10 crore this year on the back of rapid infrastructure growth in the country's most populous state.

The consultancy agency is a UP Government undertaking promoted by Small Industries Bank of India (SIDBI), Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI), UP State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC) and banks.

"Our order book stands at about Rs 10 crore this year compared with Rs 4 crore last year. The topline is at Rs 40 crore and we hope to remain profitable this year," UPICO Managing Director Pravin Singh told PTI here.

He said the Akhilesh Yadav government has signed pacts worth Rs 3,00,000 crore in sectors like solar, agriculture and infrastructure urban development (metro) in four cities.

Infrastructure had been growing rapidly in UP and every 200 km, one could find a new urban centre coming up, which presented enormous growth opportunities, Singh said.

The compounded annual growth rate of UP in the last three years has been higher than the national growth rate. Technology and skilling are two major areas we would like to focus on to further accelerate expansion of the State's economy, the official said.

UPSIDC is developing a plastic park in Dibiyapur industrial area in Auraiyya district, which is expected to be ready by next fiscal. To take advantage of 100 per cent FDI, it is setting up food parks at Varanasi, he added.

UPICO was set up in 1974 with an objective to provide comprehensive consultancy services to the prospective entrepreneurs belonging to small and medium sector. SIDBI holds 49 per cent stake and IFCI 12 per cent in the company.

The consultancy services from UPICO cover socioeconomic surveys, industrial surveys, evaluation of schemes of the Centre and state government.

They also cover project identification, technology transfer, preparation of project reports, assessment of market demand, revival and modernisation of sick industrial units, infrastructure and area development studies, management and organisational studies, among other tasks.
US-based Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association, which is into alternative investment education, plans to open a representative office in Mumbai in the current year.

"We have launched CAIA's chapters in Mumbai and New Delhi last year and now we plan to open a representative office in Mumbai in the current year itself," Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association's Chief Executive, William J Kelly said here today.

"There are 500 individuals enrolled in various education programmes in India and we have got 50 faculty members in the country which will constantly be in touch with the forthcoming representative office," he said.

Some of the courses being offered by CAIA include asset management, real estate, hedge fund and commodities.
The US has not provided uranium to India for the last several decades despite the Indo-US nuclear deal and the last time it fuelled reactors was in the initial days of the operation of two units of Tarapur Atomic Power Stations in Maharashtra, Lok Sabha was informed today.

"The United States of America had provided uranium to India during early years of operations of the Tarapur Atomic Power Stations (TAPS) 1 and 2.

"However, no uranium has been supplied by the USA in the recent times for India's civil nuclear power stations," Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office that looks after the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), said in a written response to a question Lok Sabha.

TAPS units 1 and 2, the first lot of which started its operation in 1969, are the only Boiling Water Reactors in the country. The US stopped providing uranium to India after it undertook its first nuclear test in 1974.

These reactors use enriched uranium. The only other commercially operating reactor that uses enriched uranium is Kudankulam unit 1. The indigenously developed Pressure Heavy Water Reactors don't require enriched uranium.

As per the Indo-US civil nuclear cooperation agreement, the US will ensure supply of uranium to India's civilian reactors. India also has planned 12 reactors in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.

Singh added that at present Russia, Canada and Kazakhstan supply uranium for civil nuclear power plants.
Polls closed in the US states of Ohio and North Carolina -- a key date in the race for the White House, with frontrunners Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton looking to consolidate their leads.

Voters were still casting ballots in Florida, Illinois and Missouri. US networks made no early projections in the various contests, which are seen as crucial to shaping the Republican and Democratic nominating races.
A US Navy commander warned today that if the United States lost access to international waters claimed by China in the South China Sea, it would have far-reaching implications beyond military.

US Pacific Fleet commander Adm Scott H Swift told a conference on Indo-Pacific maritime security today that sailing warships in freedom of navigation operations through contested areas where multiple countries have competing territorial claims was "not a naval issue."



He said the issue is the impact on the global economy and international law.

But he said that the United States has no expectation that such a loss of access would ever occur.

The US Navy has angered China by sending warships close to artificial islands built by Beijing that include airstrips and radar stations. The US lays no claims to the waters, but says it has an interest in ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight and peaceful resolution of ownership disputes.

Swift said there was a "palpable sense" that an attitude of "might makes right" was returning to the region after 70 years of security and stability since World War II.

While the United States was increasing its military presence in the region as part of its pivot to Asia, Swift said there was no need for more US naval facilities in countries such as Australia.

"There's no real necessity, in fact it become a facilities burden, if we were to expand in some other way. That's not something that I would support," Swift said. Australia is increasing its defense ties with the United States, its most important strategic ally, as tensions and a military build-up mount in the South China Sea.
The United States has warned that it would not recognize an attempt by Kurdish groups in war-torn to form an autonomous federal region.

Washington has supported and encouraged the Kurdish parties of the area in their fight against a common foe, the Islamic State jihadist group.

But the State Department yesterday said it would not support the breakup of the country and that any new federal model would have to emerge from peace talks.

"We've been very clear that we won't recognize any self-rule autonomous zones within Syria," spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.

"This is something that needs to be discussed and agreed upon by the relevant parties in Geneva and then by the Syrian people themselves."



Representatives of Bashar al-Assad's government and of the opposition ranged against him are negotiating an end to the civil war under UN auspices in Geneva.

But parties representing Syria's Kurdish minority have not been invited to the talks and are instead trying to create a unified region of their own.

Any bid to expand an existing system of self-rule will anger Turkey, wary of anything that might encourage Kurdish separatism within its own borders.

More than 150 delegates from Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian and other parties met Wednesday in Rmeilan, in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province.

The meeting adjourned in the early evening and will reconvene on Thursday, when a decision on declaring a semi-autonomous northern region will be announced.
The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has issued a warning letter to Emcure Pharmaceuticals for violating current good manufacturing practice norms at its Pune-based plant.

In the letter, the USFDA said inspectors during January 27 to February 4, 2015, had found significant deviations from standard manufacturing practices at the company's Hinjwadi, Pune-based plant.

The significant violations included non-adherence to appropriate written procedures, poor sterilisation practices and unreliable environmental and personnel monitoring, the US health regulator said.

Elaborating on the violations at the plant, the USFDA said "operators crawled on the floor on their hands and knees under the filling line during routine aseptic filling operation activities".

Besides, operators opened barrier to adjust or remove vials from the line with bare hands, instead of wearing restricted access barrier systems, it said.

"Your environmental monitoring (EM) and personnel monitoring (PM) data are not reliable because of the materials and procedures you use to conduct EM and PM tests," the USFDA said.

The facility design may represent an additional contamination risk to the products it manufactures, the USFDA noted.

"Furthermore, data falsification and manipulation, and your reliance on incomplete records to release product to the market, are repeat violations," the US health regulator said.

Until all corrections have been completed and FDA has confirmed corrections of the violations and the firm's compliance with CGMP, FDA may withhold approval of any new applications or supplements, the USFDA said.

In addition, your failure to correct these violations may result in FDA continuing to refuse admission of articles manufactured at Emcure Pharmaceuticals' Pune plant into the US, it added.

The FDA issued the letter on March 3, and has given the company 15 days to respond. The company could not be reached for comments over the FDA letter.
In a veiled attack on Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, President Barack Obama today strongly condemned the "vulgar and divisive" rhetoric aimed at women and minorities in the US polls campaign and warned that it is damaging America's image.

"I'm not the only one in this room who may be more than a little dismayed about what's happening on the campaign trail lately," Obama said in his remarks at the annual bipartisan St Patrick's Day gathering in Capitol Hill.

In a veiled reference to Trump, Obama condemned the "vulgar and divisive" rhetoric in the polls campaign and criticised the Republican leadership for keeping quite.

"We have heard vulgar and divisive rhetoric aimed at women and minorities -- at Americans who don't look like 'us', or pray like 'us' or vote like we do. We've seen misguided attempts to shut down that speech, however, offensive it may be. We live in a country where free speech is one of the most important rights that we hold," Obama said.

"In response to those attempts, we've seen actual violence, and we've heard silence from too many of our leaders," Obama said referring to the violence at Trump's rally in Chicago and the muted response from the Republican establishment.

Obama's remarks assume significance as they were made in the presence of top Republican leadership, including the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Paul Ryan.

"Speaker Ryan, I appreciated the words on this topic that you shared with us this morning. But too often we've accepted this as somehow the new normal," said the US President, who in the past has stated that Trump is unlikely to be elected as the President of the United States.

Obama said he rejects any effort to spread fear, or encourage violence or to shut people down when they are trying to speak, or turn Americans against one another.

"The longer that we allow the political rhetoric of late to continue, and the longer that we tacitly accept it, we create a permission structure that allows the animosity in one corner of our politics to infect our broader society. And animosity breeds animosity," Obama warned.

Obama asserted that it is also about the American brand.

"Who are we?How are we perceived around the world? There's a reason that America has always attracted the greatest talent from every corner of the globe. There's a reason that 'Made in America' means something. It's because we're creative, and dynamic, and diverse, and inclusive, and open," Obama said.

"Why would we want to see that brand tarnished? The world pays attention to what we say and what we do," he said.

"I think as a citizen who will still be leading this office, I will not support somebody who practices that kind of politics. And any leader worthy of our support will remind us that even in a country as big and diverse and as inclusive as ours, what we have in common is far bigger and more important than any of our differences," Obama stressed.

(Reopens FGN 18)



"It is worth asking ourselves what each of us may have done to contribute to this kind of vicious atmosphere in our politics. I suspect that all of us can recall some intemperate words that we regret. Certainly, I can. And while some may be more to blame than others for the current climate, all of us are responsible for reversing it, Obama said.

The US President said the campaign rhetoric "is a cycle that is not an accurate reflection of America" and added that "it has to stop".

"And I say that not because it's a matter of 'political correctness', its about the way that corrosive behaviour can undermine our democracy, and our society, and even our economy," he added.

"In America, there aren't laws that say that we have to be nice to each other, or courteous, or treat each other with respect. But there are norms. There are customs, he observed.

"There are values that our parents taught us and that we try to teach to our children -- to try to treat others the way we want to be treated; the notion that kindness breeds kindness," he said.




When Professor Glyn Harper, the historian who chairs the Presss editorial board, announced her appointment, he said With Nicola, we are in excellent hands ... (Her) appointment as publisher is a strong signal that the Press is a serious venture and will be a force in New Zealand book publishing.



So, big expectations and a big job: build a new publishing house from scratch! Nicola regards the challenge as professionally enormously exciting. Its no small thing for a university to set up a Press in these difficult times. They have invested a great deal of trust in me and I fully intend to earn that trust.

Nicola has hired former Random House project editor Kimberley Davis as managing editor - a part time role for now - and well-known freelance book publicist Sarah Thornton will handle all the publicity for the list. David Bateman Ltd is handling sales and distribution. A new website



Ten books are scheduled for publication in 2016, the first being the April release of Experience of a Lifetime, another volume in the very active Centenary History Programme publishing enterprise. Nicola describes its 16 chapters as an interrogation of the traditional narrative of the First World War as a total disaster and a waste of millions of young lives.



For more on what Massey University Press has in store for 2016 and beyond In late August 2015, Massey University Press began with a single employee: respected former Random House New Zealand publishing director Nicola Legat.When Professor Glyn Harper, the historian who chairs the Presss editorial board, announced her appointment, he said With Nicola, we are in excellent hands ... (Her) appointment as publisher is a strong signal that the Press is a serious venture and will be a force in New Zealand book publishing.So, big expectations and a big job: build a new publishing house from scratch! Nicola regards the challenge as professionally enormously exciting. Its no small thing for a university to set up a Press in these difficult times. They have invested a great deal of trust in me and I fully intend to earn that trust.Nicola has hired former Random House project editor Kimberley Davis as managing editor - a part time role for now - and well-known freelance book publicist Sarah Thornton will handle all the publicity for the list. David Bateman Ltd is handling sales and distribution. A new website www.masseypress.ac.nz will launch Thursday March 17.Ten books are scheduled for publication in 2016, the first being the April release of Experience of a Lifetime, another volume in the very active Centenary History Programme publishing enterprise. Nicola describes its 16 chapters as an interrogation of the traditional narrative of the First World War as a total disaster and a waste of millions of young lives.For more on what Massey University Press has in store for 2016 and beyond click here
India today said it wants "good relations" with Pakistan but issued a stern warning to certain groups based there, saying they need to be "taught lesson" and that pain should be inflicted on those who have "inflicted pain on us", citing example of the Myanmar operation.

The government told Lok Sabha that India's wish to have good relations with Pakistan cannot be at the cost of its "pride, dignity and self-respect" and that it will ensure that "our enemies" cannot go scot-free as even small incidents of terrorism have to be "treated as war".

Government also targeted Congress in a veiled manner as it raked up issues related to Ishrat Jahan case and the controversial Technical Services Division (TSD) set up by former Army Chief Gen V K Singh, alleging politicisation in these.

"We are in the process definitely to ensure that our enemies cannot go scot-free," Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said, adding "the compromise made earlier was probably one of the reasons as to why we are suffering today."



He noted that there are certain organisations across the border in Pakistan which are making statements and they "should be taught lessons".

"If you inflict pain on India, we will inflict pain on those individuals and organizations who have inflicted pain on us. I think this has to be carried out," he said while responding to a discussion on Pathankot terror attack.

He cited the example of the operation carried out by army against Myanmar-based insurgents after Indian soldiers were killed in an ambush in Manipur.

"When armymen of 6 Dogra were killed in North-East, the Indian government used its forces and ensured that those who inflicted pain were taken to task," the Defence Minister said.

"Today, probably that is one of the reasons why North-East is - of course, the Accord that was signed also played its role - comparatively much more peaceful," he said, but added that "I am not saying that it is entirely peaceful."



In his reply, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said India wants good relations with all neighbours but not at the cost of self-respect.

"We want good relations with all our neighbours. We want good relations with Pakistan too, but not at the cost of this country's pride, dignity and self-respect," he said.

Parrikar and Singh were responding to a debate during which the government came in for a scathing attack over handling of the Pathankot attack, with the opposition dubbing as a "critical mistake" the decision to handover the operation to NSG.

The opposition also questioned as to what Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lahore stopover had achieved, noting that the terror strike had happened just a few days after that.
Sending out a message to Pakistan, India today said it wants good relations but not at the cost of its "pride, dignity and self-respect" and that it will ensure that "our enemies" cannot go scot-free as even small incidents of terrorism have to be "treated as war".

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar also asserted in Lok Sabha that security has been stepped up on the borders since in the wake of Pathankot Airbase attack of January.

He said till now it has not found through which route the attackers of Pathankot Airbase came but insisted that six terrorists were involved in the attack, amid contention by the NIA that the investigators had found only four bodies.

Parrikar as also Home Minister Rajnath Singh were responding to a debate during which the government came in for a scathing attack over handling of the Pathankot attack, with the opposition dubbing as a "critical mistake" the decision to handover the operation to NSG.

The opposition also questioned as to what Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lahore stopover had achieved, noting that the terror strike had happened just a few days after that.

In his reply, Singh said India wants good relations with all neighbours but not at the cost of self-respect.

"We want good relations with all our neighbours. We want good relations with Pakistan too, but not at the cost of this country's pride, dignity and self-respect," the Home Minister said.

Parrikar noted that there are certain organisations across



the border in Pakistan which are making statements and they "should be taught lessons".

"We are in the process definitely to ensure that our enemies cannot go scot-free," Parrikar said, adding "the compromise made earlier was probably one of the reasons as to why we are suffering today."



In a veiled attack on the previous UPA government, the Defence Minister said, "I have seen many instances. I do not want to quote more instances. I can quote many instances when military intelligence has been sacrificed at the altar of political goals."



Talking about Pathankot attack, Parrikar said it was "an accumulation of asymmetric war. These are small attacks of weak forces on a stronger force. When the weak forces know themselves that they are not going to succeed in defeating the stronger force... They try to create disturbances and demoralise strong force."



He then added, "I can assure that the gaps have been filled and we have already security audit of all defence establishments."



With regard to the criticism over handling of the Pathankot attack, Parrikar said "Army acted properly" and standard operating procedures were followed. "You cannot have a running commentary about such operations on television channels. This puts security forces in danger," he added.

The Home Minister said while different governments might have different action plans, nobody can say that their strategy is foolproof.

"No one can point finger on any government's intention when it comes to national security... When all political parties contribute only then we can ensure safety and security of nation," Singh said.

Responding to questions by some members as to why Punjab was chosen for the attack, Parrikar said it was because security forces have tightened their grip in Jammu and Kashmir.

Giving figures, he said, "I would like to indicate very clearly that the security forces tightening in Jammu and Kashmir has resulted in heat on terrorists and they are trying to shift downwards. Probably, Pathankot is one of the reasons why this has happened."



He noted that in the last one-and-a-half years, there has been no attack on army installation in J&K.

During discussion, Congress President Sonia Gandhi seemed



visibly dissatisfied with the reply given by Parrikar and was heard saying "we don't want all the details". She was also seen at times nodding her head in disapproval about certain remarks.

Furnishing statistics about Jammu and Kashmir, Parrikar said that in 2014, 104 terrorists were neutralised and only 31 security personnel died. Last year, 97 terrorists were killed while 33 security personnel lost their lives.

"I assure the House that our defence forces have taken and will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure that there is no breach in security of the defence establishments. Also the command and control is perfectly well established," he said, adding "no one needs to worry about this."



Debunking allegations that Army was not involved in the decision-making with respect to handling the attack, the Defence Minister said Army was in command of the operations.

Since NSG is trained for urban warfare, they were deployed as the Air base had around 3,000 families, he said.

Meanwhile, to drive home the point that security has been stepped up on borders, Singh said there were 121 infiltration attempts in 2015 while the number stood at 222 in 2014.

Compared to last year, there has been 17 per cent decline in the number of soldiers who became martyrs and over 30 per cent fall in civilian casualties, he said.

The government is also doing security audit of the borders to fill all the gaps, he added.

Responding to allegations that there was no coordination within the government, Parikkar asserted that there is good coordination between him and the Home Minister.

Singh too said that "close and effective" coordination that was needed was there during the Pathankot incident.

When he was reminded that Rajnath Singh had tweeted on January 1 that the operation was over, Parikkar said "probably there was a small error which was immediately corrected".

"We totally foiled the terrorists' attempt to make a big scenario," Parrikar said.

With regard to contention of NIA which is probing Pathankot incident that only four terrorists were killed, Parrikar said six attackers were neutralised over two days.

"Four terrorists were killed on the first day... Next day, the balance two terrorists were engaged and killed," he said, adding that lives of seven security personnel were lost.

Citing the latest forensic report, Singh said burnt mass of human male have been found inside the building but the identities are yet to be ascertained.

"The incident (Pathankot terrorist attack) took only 43 hours and not 2-3 days and the terrorists were confined in 200x200 zone," Parrikar said and took a swipe at some members saying that some spoke on the basis of media reports.

"I want to make it clear that till now it has not found through which route the terrorists who attacked Pathankote air base came... NIA is investigating the matter", he noted.

"I assure the House that the government has taken steps to ensure that there is no breach in security...No one need to worry," he stressed.

(Reopen PAR43)



Parrikar referred to his earlier comments that "If you inflict pain on India, we will inflict pain on those individuals and organizations who have inflicted pain on us" and said "I think this has to be carried out."



Taking this argument further, he cited the example of the operation carried out by army against Myanmar-based insurgents after Indian soldiers were killed in an ambush in Manipur.

"When armymen of 6 Dogra were killed in North-East, the Indian government used its forces and ensured that those who inflicted pain were taken to task," the Defence Minister said.

"Today, probably that is one of the reasons why North-East is - of course, the Accord that was signed also played its role - comparatively much more peaceful," he said, but added that "I am not saying that it is entirely peaceful."



Talking about boosting intelligence system, he said it cannot be done overnight.

He then targeted in a veiled manner the previous UPA government.

"Intelligence, which was developed, whether it is Deep Assets or the attempt of TSD (Technical Services Division) formation by (then Army Chief) Gen V.K. Singh, fell to the political aspirations, to the political policies and political scoring point," he said.

"It is not only Ishrat Jahan. It was a political issue. I think the TSD also became a political issue. A unit set up to eliminate terrorists was brought into open, leaking every information, demoralising the forces," he said.
Leading ship and rig repair facility Western India Shipyard Limited has announced to recommence its operations in Goa.

Company officials had long discussion with Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar yesterday after which they announced that WISL would recommence the operations.

"There is a big downturn in the ship building industry. Under such situation, we want to play a role in boosting the industry. We are serious in continuing our ship building unit here," Sayyad Abdi, managing director and CEO, ABG Shipyard Ltd told reporters yesterday.

ABG has 60 per cent stake in Western India Shipyard.

Abdi said the company's current lease with Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) expires this month, but it will be extended further.

"We have an assignment to construct a new ship and the work will commence in ten days," he said.

The issue of WISL was raisedduring the ongoing Goa Assembly session wherein legislators, including Leader of Opposition Pratapsingh Rane and Independent MLA Vijai Sardessai, questioned about job security of 350 workers in the shipyard.

Earlier, addressing the issue on the floor of the House, Parsekar promised that government will put in all efforts to help the workers.

"My government is not anti-worker. We are very much concerned about the working class. I agree, as per law, state cannot intervene in the matter but at the same time we are looking out for some solution outside our jurisdiction. I assure the House that the interest of the workers will be protected," he had said.

The workers of WISL had earlier this month protested in Vasco town against non-payment of salaries for the last ten months.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has requested Punjab Governor, Kaptan Singh Solanki, to withhold his assent to the Punjab Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal (Rehabilitation and Re-vesting of Proprietary Rights) Bill, passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on March 14.

As the row over water sharing between two neighbouring States escalated after Punjab Assembly passed the Bill, Khattar today wrote to Solanki, who is Governor of Haryana holding additional charge of Punjab as well.

In a letter to the Punjab Governor today, the Chief Minister asked him to direct the Punjab Government to immediately restore the status quo ante on the SYL in Punjab territory as it existed on March 14, 2016.

Alluding to the "very important and pressing issue", Khattar wrote, "In an attempt to circumvent and divert the ongoing hearing in the Presidential Reference before the Supreme Court of India and to deprive Haryana of its legitimate share of water in Ravi Beas, Punjab Vidhan Sabha has passed the Punjab Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal (Rehabilitation and Re-vesting of Proprietary Rights) Bill on March 14."



"Through this Bill, the Punjab Government intends to de-notify the lawfully acquired lands for construction of SYL. The Haryana Vidhan Sabha has unanimously passed a resolution condemning this unilateral and unconstitutional action of Punjab on March 14," he said in the letter.

Drawing the attention of the Governor to media reports stating that the farmers in Punjab have already started filling up the SYL Canal in the districts of Patiala and Ropar in Punjab territory, he said it was a "blatantly illegal and irresponsible act on the part of Punjab."



"I, therefore, request you to withhold your assent to the said Bill and also to direct the Government of Punjab to immediately restore the status quo ante of the SYL in Punjab territory as it existed on March 14, 2016," the Haryana Chief Minister wrote in the letter.
Protesters trying to impose a strike along the Imphal-Moreh route damaged a police vehicle while a 40-year-old woman received injuries after being hit by a tear gas shell today at Samaram in Thoubal district, the police said.

The injured was rushed to the district hospital for treatment.

The police vehicle was vandalised after security personnel tried to disperse a mob trying to force the strike, but was confronted by angry protesters prompting the police to fire rubber bullets and lob tear gas shells.

The strike was being imposed by locals of Samaram area in connection with the death of a woman, whose body was recovered on February 26 last, the police said.
Activists of Youth Congress today staged a protest against the Centre over liquor baron Vijay Mallya leaving the country amid a massive loan default probe against him.

The protesters who began their march from the Youth Congress office on Raisina Road were detained by police at Parliament Street.

"Many protesters, including Delhi Youth Congress president Amit Mallik, were injured after police resorted to lathi charge. They were later detained at Parliament Street police station," spokesman for the outfit Amrish Pandey said.

The Youth Congress has charged the BJP-led central government with "supporting" Mallya's "escape" after "looting taxpayers money."



Facing a multi-agency clampdown over unpaid loans and dues amounting to Rs 9,000 crore, the beleaguered businessman left the country on March 2.
By Anshuman Daga and Prakash Chakravarti

SINGAPORE/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Noble Group is in advanced talks to raise a large unsecured loan from banks that will help repay its debt maturing in May, the loss-making commodity trader's head of treasury said, a move that could help it win back investor confidence.

Noble, whose debt has been downgraded by credit rating agencies and which has been accused of inappropriate accounting, is seeking to raise $1.5 billion through a one-year loan that is not backed by assets, sources with direct knowledge of the situation said. Noble has denied the accounting claims.

If Noble is able to raise that sum, it would have met most of its upcoming debt obligations for this year, potentially allaying investor concerns that its finances are not sufficiently sound following a $1.2 billion writedown on assets and downgrades by S&P and Moody's on its debt to junk status.

Wildrik de Blank, Noble's group treasurer, declined to give details on the size of the loan, which would be structured as a revolving credit facility. "The revolving credit facility will close ahead of its May maturity and is expected to exceed our target amount," he told in an email.

The Singapore-listed company, one of the world's biggest commodities traders, is in discussions with a group of banks, including HSBC, Societe Generale, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFG) and JPMorgan on the new loan, said the sources, who declined to be identified as the talks are private.

Noble will kick off the roadshows in Hong Kong next week, the sources said.

Societe Generale, JPMorgan and MUFG declined to comment on the loan, while there was no immediate response from HSBC.

Noble has around $2.1 billion of debt maturing in May and the unsecured loan will be used to partially repay that debt. This year, Noble raised $750 million by selling its stake in an agribusiness venture.

The one-year loan comes on top of a $2.5 billion secured financing that the company is also seeking in the United States from its lenders, sources had said..

A $2.29 billion loan signed by Noble in May last year included a $1.15 billion one-year portion that pays an interest margin of 85 basis points over Libor, according to Thomson LPC.

De Blank said the latest loan would come at a higher price than the one-year tranche raised by Noble a year ago.

(Additional reporting by Chien Mi Wong of LPC; Editing by Denny Thomas and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
An arm of the Indian finance ministry has recommended maintaining import duties on some steel products until March 2018, a government document showed on Wednesday, in a move to support the local steel industry and protect mills from cheaper imports.

The government imposed a provisional safeguard import duty for 200 days on some steel products in September 2015 and last month set a floor price on imports to deter countries such as China from undercutting local mills, the first such move in more than 15 years.

Steel imports into India, the only major market where steel demand is growing, dropped for a fourth straight month in February. However, companies such as JSW Tata Steel and Kalyani Steels continued to lobby for more protectionist measures as imports weighed on their margins.

The chief of the Directorate General of Safeguards, a division of the finance ministry, said an investigation found that cheap overseas purchases of steel were causing serious injury to India, the world's third-largest steel producer, and the imposition of safeguard duty would be in the public interest.

The Director of Safeguards recommended a 20 per cent import tax for hot-rolled flat products of non-alloy and other alloy steel in coils of 600 mm width or more for the first year, minus anti-dumping duty, the document showed.

The duty could be lowered every six months after the first year and by March 2018 could be levied at 10 percent depending on the value of the goods, the director recommended.

Such recommendations from the safeguards department are generally accepted by the finance ministry because they come after detailed investigations.
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - A division of India's finance ministry has recommended safeguard duties of up to 20 percent on some hot-rolled flat steel products, a government document showed on Wednesday.

The Director General of Safeguards said the steel industry was in need of "further protection" from cheap imports, and the imposition of safeguard duty would be in the public interest. (https://bit.ly/1XuFrrl)

(Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal; Editing by Sunil Nair)
and London Stock Exchange Group Plc (LSE) agreed to combine in a $30 billion deal to create a European trading powerhouse better able to compete with U. S. rivals encroaching on their turf.

But the deal, which marks a third attempt to link the Frankfurt and London exchanges, may prompt a bidding war after New York Stock Exchange owner Intercontinental Exchange said it may make an offer for the British group.

Nearly 16 years after Deutsche Boerse first tried to take over LSE, the London and Frankfurt exchanges said last month they were discussing an all-share merger, which they confirmed on Wednesday would give Deutsche Boerse shareholders 54.4 percent and LSE shareholders 45.6 percent of a new company.

In a combined statement the exchanges sought to sell the deal, which they described as "a premium free merger of equals", to their investors with the lure of potential annual cost savings of 450 million euros ($500 million).

They also promised their users - the banks and fund managers who pay fees to trade and companies who pay to be listed - "substantial benefits", although they gave no figures.

And in a clear effort to win over Europe's politicians to the benefits of a dominant pan-European exchange, Deutsche Boerse Chief Executive Carsten Kengeter said it would enable Europe to enhance its capital .

This chimes with European Union plans to establish a "Capital Union" to bolster the region's financial to compete better with the United States and Asia.

Despite these incentives, the deal faces questions about what happens if Britain votes to leave the European Union in a referendum in June and whether regulators will give the nod to the creation of a huge presence in derivatives clearing.

Kengeter said the time was right for a merger which will combine the LSE's share-trading operation with the derivatives trading of Deutsche Boerse's Eurex.

"We strongly believe this is the right transaction at the right time for our two companies," Kengeter told reporters, adding that he expects the deal to close by the end of 2016 or in early 2017 after a very broad regulatory review.

BALANCE OF POWER

Kengeter shrugged off concerns over the impact of Britain, Europe's biggest financial centre, voting to leave the EU.

"We will be having a successful transaction irrespective of the Brexit outcome," he said.

In further efforts to keep all parties happy, the exchanges confirmed a balance of power between Britain and Germany in the combined group, with LSE Chairman Donald Brydon becoming chairman of the new company, while Kengeter would be CEO.

The combined companies' board would be made up of equalnumbers of LSE and Deutsche Boerse directors.

The new firm, which will be domiciled in Britain, with aprimary listing in the blue-chip FTSE 100, will alsohave a home on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and have corporateheadquarters in both cities. LSE Chief Executive Xavier Rolet, who will retire if the deal goes ahead, sought to ease concerns that large swathes of IT operations would shift from London to Frankfurt, saying there would be a "balanced" distribution between the two.

Industry analysts say the combined group could face challenges from the EU's competition regulator over its huge presence in derivatives clearing.

Kengeter said he expected a thorough review by regulators and talks has already begun with them.

"We feel confident about the process," Kengeter said.

LSE Group, which was created in 2007 when London Stock Exchange merged with Milan stock exchange Borsa Italiana, said its shareholders would receive a dividend of 25.2 pence per LSEGshare for the six month period ended Dec. 31. ($1 = 0.9016 euros)
It has been far too many years since the Woke theology interlaced its canons within the fabric of the Indoctrination Realm, so it is nigh time to ask: Does this Representative Republic continue, as a functioning society of a self-governed people, by contending with the unusual, self absorbed dictates of the Woke, and their vast array of Victimhood scenarios?

Yes, the Religion of Woke must continue; there are so many groups of underprivileged, underserved, a direct result of unrelenting Inequity; they deserve everything.

No; the Woke fools must be toppled from their self-anointed pedestal; a functioning society of a good Constitutional people cannot withstand this level of "existential" favoritism as it exists now.
NEW DELHI/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Indian state companies signed energy deals worth billions of dollars with Russia's Rosneft on Wednesday to buy into its most promising assets in Siberia, stepping up a drive to cut New Delhi's dependence on imports.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wants to cut India's oil imports by 10 percent in six years, is steering efforts to buy foreign energy assets, taking advantage of low global oil prices and a slowdown in China's overseas acquisitions.

Under the deals signed with Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, the Indian companies will raise their stake in the Vankor oil field to almost 50 percent and buy about 30 percent of the Taas-Yuriakh field.

The deals will help Rosneft, the world's biggested listed oil producer by output, to pay off debts incurred in its $55 billion acquisition of TNK-BP in 2013.

Russia is keen to develop and deepen its Soviet-era economic ties with India and sell oil to one of the world's fastest-growing economies at a time when its own economy is stagnant, hit by Western sanctions and a plunge in global oil prices.

Modi had pitched to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the granting of stakes to Indian oil firms during his visit to Moscow in December.

The deals will help India to secure Russian oil output, while Rosneft will gain access to the Indian market, Sechin told reporters in New Delhi.

Sechin met Essar Oil officials during his visit and said that Rosneft hopes to conclude a deal to buy a 49 percent stake in the 400,000 barrel-per-day Vadinar refinery in western India by the end of June.

The proposed deal would give Rosneft an additional outlet for its oil as it grapples with a global crude supply glut.

ENERGY BRIDGE

"We are establishing a reliable energy bridge between our countries, which will be developing the interests of both Russia and India," Sechin said.

A consortium of Oil India, Indian Oil Corp and Bharat PetroResources (BPRL), a unit of Bharat Petroleum Corp, has bought 29.9 percent stake in Rosneft's Taas-Yuriakh field.

The companies will together pay $1.121 billion for their share in the operation and $180 million each for future capital expenditure, a source with knowledge of the deal said.

Meanwhile, India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp signed an initial deal to raise its stake in the Vankor project to 26 percent from 15 percent, while the other three companies could together pick up 23.9 percent.

A final deal for Vankor will be signed in June, sources told last week.

If the deals go through, Rosneft will retain 50.1 percent of Vankor, which produced 22 million tonnes of oil in 2014, representing about a tenth of the company's total output.

Vankor's oil is shipped to Asia, mostly to China.

Indian companies could pay close to $3 billion for boosting their Vankor stake, based on the price ONGC paid for its 15 percent stake in the project, an ONGC source told .

IOC-Oil India-BPRL also signed a preliminary deal to buy a stake in Rosneft's Vankor cluster - a separate group of small oil fields.

(Reporting by Nidhi Verma and Neha Dasgupta in New Delhi,; Alexander Winning and Katya Golubkova in Moscow; Editing by David Goodman)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Three Indian oil firms plan to invest $1.7 billion to pick up a stake in the Russian oil field Taas-Yuriakh, said a source close to the matter.

ONGC Videsh Ltd, the overseas arm of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation , Oil India Ltd and Bharat Petro Resources Ltd, the upstream arm of state-owned refiner Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd , will also invest $180 million each as part of future capital expenditures, the source said. The Taas-Yuriakh field is currently producing 20,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and is expected to go up to 100,000 bpd in the next two years. (Reporting by Nidhi Verma; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
Like his father before him, Dattatatraya Kshirsagar, 80, has been looking forward for years to the day when a $65 million dam will be completed in his village, an hour-and-a-half drive southeast of Mumbai.

The dam would supply enough water to irrigate 1,000 hectares (2,470 acres) of parched land around it, including Kshirsagar's 2.5-hectare family farm in Kondhane village.

A steady water supply, instead of reliance on seasonal monsoon rains, would allow him to switch to cash crops and reap three harvests a year, instead of one now, Kshirsagar said.

Read more from our special coverage on "NARENDRA MODI"

Kshirsagar's family has been holding on to that dream since 1984, when the project was first proposed by the state government. "My family's income will more than double if they complete the dam," he said.

Prime Minister is promising to do just that in the 2016-17 Budget presented on February 29. His government has pledged nearly $13 billion on rural development, aiming to double farmer's incomes by 2022.

Irrigation is a centrepiece of that promise in a country where nearly half of the arable land depends on monsoon rains.

Modi's Budget has allocated a record $18 billion in the federal budget to expand irrigation and recharge aquifers  two thirds of that could come from overseas loans

At stake are both Modi's political future and his growth ambitions. Most of India's 1.3 billion people live in the countryside and depend on agriculture to make a living.

Late last year, rising rural distress after back-to-back droughts contributed to an embarrassing defeat of Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in a state election. Global warming is making India's summer monsoon increasingly unpredictable, scientists say.

More crucial state elections are due in the coming months, including in West Bengal. India's farm sector, which accounts for around 14% of gross domestic product, contracted by 0.2% in 2014-15. It grew by 4.2% in the previous year.

Sloth, corruption, no coordination

Stalled projects like the Kondhane dam tell a cautionary tale for politicians making big promises.

Successive federal governments have thrown billions of dollars over the years to fix the problem. But many of the projects stalled due to bureaucratic sloth, corruption, opposition to land acquisition and lack of coordination within the government.

More than 200 irrigation projects worth some $36 billion have been stuck for years. One irrigation project has languished for 40 years in eastern Uttar Pradesh, which goes to polls next year. The delay has increased the cost of the Durgawati project by eight times to Rs 800 crore ($119.15 million), a source at the Water Resources ministry said.

"Every year, a large amount of funds allocated for irrigation lie unutilised and that's because of lethargy, red tape, inept administration and a lack of political will," said Ashok Gulati, an agricultural economist, who formerly advised the government on crop prices.

Poor coordination between New Delhi and the states is one of the biggest challenges.

Other than the ministries of farm, water resources and rural development, nearly half a dozen departments of state governments are also involved in each project, making coordination and implementation tricky and time consuming.

"It's a case of too many cooks," said Devinder Sharma, an independent farm and trade policy analyst.

Depleting Groundwater

Only 64 million hectares of the 142 million hectares of farm area under crops in India are irrigated. Surface irrigation projects cover only 25 million hectares of that total.

Nearly 60 % of the irrigation for farms now comes from ground water, mainly through electric water pumps. Subsidised electricity gives farmers an incentive to pump out more water, a key reason behind fast depleting water tables.

That has lent an added urgency to speed up the surface irrigation projects.

Modi's administration has decided to focus initially on 46 of the stalled surface irrigation projects. It has set a deadline to complete half of those by March 2017 and the other half by 2020, according to the 2016/17 federal budget.

The 23 projects will help bring an extra 1.3 million hectares under irrigation.

The remaining 150 or so projects that are stalled  like the Kondhane dam  have no timeline yet, as the government tackles the biggest ones first.

At the dam project site in Kondhane, nearly two dozen dumpers and a dozen excavators remain parked in a row, idle and covered in blue tarp with the Western Ghats mountain range in the backdrop.

After the Maharashtra state government first conceived the Kondhane dam, it took 27 years to get the necessary approvals from various government departments to start excavating the site.

Work started in earnest in 2011, but a year into it, the project got stuck again, in legal troubles this time, including environmental concerns about the impact of the dam. The matter is now before a court. The state's anti-corruption bureau is also investigating graft charges.

The cost of the dam, meanwhile, has increased to 4.35 billion rupees from 80 million rupees when it was first conceived.
By Ahmad Ghaddar

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices firmed on Wednesday on an announcement that producers will meet next month in Qatar to discuss a proposal to freeze output and on growing signs of a decline in U.S. crude production.

Producers both from and outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will hold talks in the capital Doha on April 17, Qatari oil minister Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada said.

Around 15 OPEC and non-OPEC producers, accounting for about 73 percent of global oil output, support the initiative, the minister said in a statement.

Brent crude futures were up 78 cents at $39.52 a barrel at 1140 GMT.

U.S. crude futures were trading 79 cents a barrel higher at $37.13.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Venezuela along with non-OPEC member Russia agreed last month to freeze output at January levels, but Iran has rejected such a deal.

On Monday, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said a deal could be signed excluding Iran, which he said has the right to boost oil output after years of sanctions.

Kuwait plans to take part in the meeting, acting oil minister Anas al-Saleh said on Wednesday.

Analysts, however, said talks about freezing output would do little to rein in a global glut that sees more than 1 million barrels of crude produced every day in excess of demand.

"Any such deal would still not be a game changer. It would really just maintain the excess supply that is now in place," Thomas Pugh of Capital Economics said in a note.

But Standard Chartered said supply concerns due to non-OPEC production cuts could drive prices above $60 a barrel by the end of the year.

"We think that in coming months supply-side concerns will dominate, particularly when global inventories start to fall, which we think will happen in the third quarter," the bank said in a note.

U.S. shale producer Linn Energy said on Tuesday that bankruptcy may be unavoidable as the company missed interest payments amid a slump in oil prices of as much as 70 percent since mid-2014.

Other companies, also fighting for survival, are seeking risky and costly borrowing from private equity firms.

The market is also eyeing crude inventory data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration due later on Wednesday. The numbers are expected to show a rise of 3.4 million barrels last week, a poll of eight analysts showed. [EIA/S]

(Additional reporting by Henning Gloystein in Singapore; Editing by Dale Hudson)
BERLIN (Reuters) - Porsche said it would pay workers a higher bonus for 2015 despite the emissions test-rigging scandal at parent Volkswagen that has sparked cost reductions across the group.

Porsche, the second-biggest contributor to group profit among Volkswagen's (VW) brands, will pay almost 20,000 staff at plants in the German cities of Stuttgart and Leipzig a bonus of up to 8,911 euros ($9,881) each, up from 8,600 a year earlier, it said on Wednesday.

Porsche Chief Executive Oliver Blume said workers deserved the higher payout for helping the sports-car maker "achieve an exceptional result in an environment that was anything but easy".

Vehicle sales jumped almost a fifth to a record 225,121 cars in 2015, helped by the first full year of deliveries of the Macan sport-utility vehicle, boosting operating profit by a quarter to 3.4 billion euros.

VW, Europe's biggest automaker, is accelerating a cost-savings programme at its core division and has earmarked about 3,000 office jobs to be cut in Germany as it struggles to cover the costs of its emissions scandal.

Top executives and labour leaders at the core VW brand have agreed staff on in-house contracts, around 100,000 people, should also be rewarded with a bonus for 2015, but the amount is expected to be lower than the previous year's 5,900 euros each.

Earlier this month, VW's luxury division Audi said it would pay workers at its German plants in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm a bonus of 5,420 euros each on average, down from 6,540 euros for 2014.

($1 = 0.9019 euros)

(Reporting by Andreas Cremer; Editing by Mark Potter)
Russian oil firm said on Wednesday it had signed a series of documents on selling stakes in Russian oil fields to Indian firms during a visit by its CEO Igor Sechin to India.

The deals mean that Rosneft, which needs to pay off debts incurred in its $55 billion acquisition of TNK-BP in 2013, is selling almost half of its most promising assets to Indian firms.

Under the agreements announced on Wednesday, India's ONGC will increase its stake in Rosneft's Vankor project to 26 percent while Oil India, Indian Oil and Bharat Petroresources will buy up to 23.9 percent between them in the same field, if the deals are finalised.

State-controlled is the world's top listed oil producer by output. did not disclose the value of the deals or whether the deals included cash payments.

If the deals go through, Rosneft will retain a 50.1 percent stake in Vankor.

Last year, India's ONGC agreed to buy a 15 percent stake in Vankor, one of Rosneft's newest fields which produced 22 million tonnes of oil in 2014 - or around a tenth of Rosneft's total output. Vankor's oil is shipped to Asia, mostly to China.

Oil India, Indian Oil and Bharat Petroresources also signed a legally binding share sale agreement for 29.9 percent in Rosneft's Taas-Yuriakh field, the company said.

BP, a Rosneft shareholder, controls a 20 percent stake in Taas-Yuriakh, another newly developed east Siberian oil field, but on a smaller scale than Vankor.

Sechin said in a separate statement that the deal on Taas-Yuriakh allowed the shareholders "to open new prospects for marketing east Siberian hydrocarbons."
By Rania El Gamal and Alex Lawler

(Reuters) - Oil producers including Gulf OPEC members support holding talks next month on a deal to freeze output even if Iran declines to participate, OPEC sources said, increasing the likelihood of the first global supply deal in 15 years.

That a meeting could go ahead with or without Iran indicates a shift in the stance of Gulf oil exporters including Saudi Arabia, who had previously maintained that all major producers should participate in any agreement.

OPEC and non-OPEC producers will meet in Doha on April 17, Qatari Energy Minister Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada said, following a February agreement between Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Venezuela and non-OPEC Russia to stabilise output.

"To date, around 15 OPEC and non-OPEC producers, accounting for about 73 percent of global oil output, are supporting this initiative," Sada said in a statement. Qatar holds the OPEC presidency in 2016 and has been organising the effort.

Oil prices rose on Wednesday, supported by the announcement and on growing signs of a decline in U.S. crude production. Brent crude was trading above $40 a barrel, up from a 12-year low of $27.10 reached in January.

The reluctance of Iran to join an accord while it seeks to boost its oil exports to recover market share after the lifting of Western sanctions has been cited by OPEC sources as a potential roadblock to an agreement.

Sources familiar with the matter said the issue was among the factors which caused an earlier plan to hold the producer meeting on March 20 to be dropped.

But on Monday, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said after talks in Tehran that a deal could be signed in April and exclude Iran. An exemption for Iran is not a deal breaker, OPEC sources said.

"It's a setback but it will not necessarily change the positive atmosphere that has already started," said one OPEC source from a major producer, referring to Iran saying it will not join any freeze accord.

Novak said he talked to Sada and Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi on Wednesday. With the freeze deal, the oil market would rebalance as early as late 2016, Novak said, but without it the rebalancing would not happen until late next year.

A freeze in output would at least stop adding to the excess supply that has caused prices to collapse from levels above $100 a barrel seen in June 2014.

OPEC delegates have said that further action including a supply cut could follow by the end of the year, depending on Russia's commitment to the freeze and how much oil Iran adds to the market.

HARD TO BACKTRACK

A second delegate from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said a pact that failed to include Iran was not the worst possible outcome.

However, "if the others freeze and the Iranians are outside the agreement, it will not help the market unless the demand is very large", this delegate said. "January output is already at high levels."

Backtracking on the deal would risk jeopardising the recent rally in oil prices, other OPEC sources said.

"You can't ignore all other oil producers. The meeting is likely to go ahead," a third source said, adding that the April meeting was likely to discuss and finalise details of the deal. "We will not just meet for the sake of meeting."

It was unclear whether all 13 OPEC members and which outside producers would attend. Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have said they would commit to the freeze if other major producers also participated.

Novak said Qatar was sending invitations to all OPEC members as well as to some producers outside the organisation.

"After it receives confirmations it will be possible to talk about the exact number of participants," Novak said.

"Iran said it was ready to take part in this meeting," he added.

The willingness of Iraq, the biggest source of OPEC supply growth in 2015, to join the deal is also important. Baghdad on Monday said the freeze initiative was acceptable.

(Additional reporting by Darya Korsunskaya and Olesya Astakhova in Moscow; Editing by Dale Hudson and David Evans)
Its been three years since Microsoft Accelerator set up shop in Bengaluru. It has, so far, made six partnerships with the likes of Reliance, Patni, Citibank and Indian School of Design and Innovation (ISDI), among others. They have graduated about 80 companies and most of these have been in their infancy. But, the US-headquartered company is trying to change tack a bit, and looking to accelerate later-stage companies as well.

We will now accept later-stage start-ups as well even those after Series-A funding, said Narendra Bhandari, general manager, developer experience and evangelism, Microsoft India. Incubators typically focus on bootstrapped and angel-funded companies providing them technology, an office space, access to mentors and along with helping them network and secure the next round of funding. Usually, for these services incubators pick up a small portion of equity or the company has to pay them back once revenues start to trickle in. This, however, is not the way the Accelerator operates. We work on a zero capital, zero equity model. All we do is help the ecosystem, said Bhandari.

Microsoft Accelerator usually keeps its call for entries quiet, especially before the start of a batch. Word of mouth and reputation, Bhandari said, helped them pull in the crowds. The focus of these start-ups is decided on the basis of partnerships made. One of these partnerships that recently bore fruit was with ISDI.

We wanted to create a design-led entrepreneurship system and that was our main focus, said Siddharth Shahani, executive director, ISDI, which just graduated six start-ups after an eight-month programme. Three of these start-ups, ISDI said, would announce funding news in the next two months. The focus for ISDI, unlike Microsoft, has been business-to-customer companies, as that is where design plays in an important role. Shahani explained that while ISDI brought design expertise to the table, the partnership with Microsoft meant it could provide technology expertise, which it couldnt. We had two non-tech enabled start-ups and they both now have managed to use Microsoft guidance to optimise their supply chain and get scale, added Shahani.

The review process in all Microsoft-led incubators is stringent and with partnerships that range from Internet of Things (IoT) to retail, the primary area of interest is to add value to the ecosystem. But, is there a temptation to pick up some of these start-ups and use their products as white label offerings for Microsoft? No. We will never do that either, said Bhandari. What Microsoft prides itself is in getting these start-ups in touch with the right kind of mentors. We have a mix of internal and external mentors who guide them into developing the right product. We even call in founders whose start-ups have graduated and have raised money to share their views, said Bhandari.

The Accelerator has, at different times, graduated ZoomCar, CloudCherry and ZingHR among others. Some of them have become market leaders in their segments. These founders then have made their way back to the Bengaluru campus to guide upcoming start-ups. This has helped the Accelerator boast an extraordinary success rate. Almost two-thirds of our graduates go on to get funded. That is a very good number, added Bhandari.

The company believes start-ups in the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) segment, especially in fraud detection, will catch on. Bhandari and his team, however, are not as passive as they might seem. Microsoft uses its accelerators across the world to create a network and gives its batches access to them. Sometimes, there have been pivots because of idea exchange. Some have even swapped technology. It makes for a very harmonious growth atmosphere, said Bhandari.

For Microsoft Accelerator, there is only one thing that is of primary importance: customer experience. The success of a start-up is dependent on quality of customer experience, he signed off.
Suharsh Dev Burman, co-founder of MerryMen Ventures India, is all set to hit the road to raise funds for his first venture --Dakaar!, a daily destination for short duration video content. Burman, in his mid-40s however, was taken by surprise when investors told him that he is a tad old for them to bet on.

"Only one of the fund advisers mentioned that our age will be a problem as we start looking to raise funds. However, I feel most investors are placing their bets on the ability of an entrepreneur and the product idea than just their age," says Burman.

But with the startup ecosystem fuelled by entrepreneurs in their 20s and 30s, investors are preferring to back the younger lot than those in their 40s.

Taveesh Pandey of Black Diamond PE Advisors believes that a founder's age matters for investors. According to him, venture capitalists (VCs) while looking for a good idea are also looking for high energy and a flexible entrepreneurial team. With a young team, they get access to multiple ideas and people who are not aware of the limits of a situation and hence attack a problem in multiple ways. On the other hand, with 'senior' entrepreneurs, one gets a solid idea with a clear execution plan, which very rarely has a 'what if' section if it does not pan out.

"Today, a 25-year-old can easily raise $5 million for a half thought-out business plan but a 45-year-old will struggle to raise even $500,000 for a well-conceived idea. Most startups took their first steps based on a very basic business model but have evolved and in some cases, metamorphosed into something else entirely. The belief in the ability of a young team to come up with multiple ideas on the fly is stronger than the belief in a person who has significant experience. This can be best summed up in the quote, 'If youth only knew: if age only could'. VCs bet more easily on the lack of knowledge and go slow on lack of energy," he adds.

There are several examples that elucidate what Pandey wants to say. For instance, inMobi, one of the most successful startups from India, initially started as mKhoj. The founders had to abandon their initial idea of solving the local information problem using SMS-based search.

Ajeet Khurana, angel investor and startup mentor, says three years ago, 25-35 was the sweet spot to be an entrepreneur but after 2013, 20-30 became the ideal age. Now 30s is considered the right time to be an entrepreneur-- with the right mix of experience, wisdom and risk taking ability while 40s is considered too late. "However, age is largely taken into consideration only by VCs. Angel investors are not worried about someone's age factor," adds Khurana.

But it is also a fact that with more experience and age on their side, entrepreneurs are very picky about what the investors want and who joins their board. Take the instance of Pune-based Sapience Analytics. Co-founded by Shirish Deodhar and three of his friends in 2009, the founders were between 40 years and 50 years of age at the time of company's inception.

"Investment is a two-way street. While the investors look to find the right set of people and idea, the founders too need to get an investor who is in sync with their idea and has a network that they can leverage. More than the investor, founders should be choosy about who represents the investor on their board. At Sapience, we never had to actively scout for investment. We were fortunate in being approached by investors at the right time and with who we built a rapport right away. Our investors (IAN, Seed and Orios) continue to be wonderful mentors and strong supporters on our journey," says Deodhar.

Entrepreneurs across the board feel that investors tend to move in herd when it comes to taking bets."It's like investors preferring to bet on people with IIT and IIM background because their success rate is high. Other than the herd mindset, it is also a fact that experienced and senior executives who start on their own are very adamant on how the product will develop or how they intend to go about their business, which then creates problem," says a fund adviser.

"Age for us is secondary. We have done deals with entrepreneurs in their 20s and 40s as well. It depends on the entrepreneur. Though data shows that from a median, 34-36 years of age group, were most successful entrepreneurs. People in their early 40s have made money and are ready to take risks. It is a damn good time to be an entrepreneur," says Sasha Mirchandani, founder and managing director, Kae Capital.
GSFC signs agreement with Canada's KRN to facilitate debt financing

Agreement will help Karnalyte Resources, in which Gujarat State Fertilizers is the largest shareholder, to achieve the financial closure for its Wynyard Potash Project phase I in Canada

Agreement will help Karnalyte Resources, in which Gujarat State Fertilizers is the largest shareholder, to achieve the financial closure for its Wynyard Potash Project phase I in Canada

To enable Karnalyte Resources Inc, Canada, (KRN) achieve the financial closure for its Wynyard Potash Project phase I, Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd (GSFC), as the largest shareholder of KRN, has entered into an in-principle agreement with KRN to facilitate debt financing by procuring standby letter of credit (SBLC) form Indian banks and backstop the untied equity/mezzanine financing subject to the required Indian regulatory approvals.



Karnalyte Resources is engaged in the business of exploration and development of high quality potash and magnesium products. In the first phase, KRN intends to produce 625000 tonnes of potash per year, increasing to 2.125 million tonnes per year on completion of all the three phases.



Karnalyte wholly owns Subsurface Permit KP 360A and Subsurface Mineral Lease KLSA-010 located near Wynyard, Saskatchewan, comprising a total of 85,126 acres.



Currently, GSFC holds 19.98 percent stake in KRN acquired in 2013 with an investment of CAD 45 million along with an offtake agreement for getting 350,000 metric tonne per annum (MTPA) muriate of potash (MOP) from phase I production and further 250,000 from phase 2 production.

BS B2B Bureau
Government harassment of nonprofit advocacy groups chills political speech

Lawson Bader, former president of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, at right, answers a question during a March 4 panel discussion about government forcing private organizations to release donor lists. Other panelists are attorney Jon Riches (left) and investment manager Ted Hicks. (CJ Photo by Dan Way)

RALEIGH The Founding Fathers might have been unable to create the foundations of a new American nation had they operated in today's climate of federal government harassment and intrusion into citizen privacy, a constitutional lawyer says.said Jon Riches, director of national litigation for the Arizona-based Goldwater Institute's Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation.Private political speech guaranteed by the Constitution is under assault by government regulators, activist judges, and media demanding greater disclosure of donors and members of private and nonprofit organizations, Riches said during a March 4 panel discussion at the Civitas Institute's Conservative Leadership Conference in Cary.Riches said.The anonymity shielded James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay from publishing under their own names, a condition they sought because regional rivalries, and personalities, particularly Hamilton's, might have led readers to focus on the authors rather than the arguments they were making, Riches said.Riches said.Riches said.Private donors are often disparaged publicly for providing "dark money" for political activities by businesses, unions, and nonprofit groups, even though many of these groups are not required to disclose the identities of their donors, Riches said.Riches challenged the notion that such privacy was nefarious, asking instead,Depending on where the line is drawn, so-called dark money practitioners could include the ACLU, the local church, or a soup kitchen.Riches said.Carolina Journal's parent organization, the John Locke Foundation, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit.Riches said the escalating trend should concern Americans for several reasons.as has been long recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court, he said.Forcing groups to disclose their contributors shifts the spotlight of public discourse from the message to the messenger, Riches said.That allows retaliation against speakers who disagree with authorities, he said, including regulations that can make it difficult to determine what speech is allowed and what is not.which is the antithesis of what the Founders intended for the country, Riches said.Riches said the media frequently rely on privacy to perform their mission. Reporters use anonymous sources - the Deep Throat whistleblower of Watergate wasn't identified until 40 years after President Nixon resigned. Editorials are published anonymously, as are commentary and op-ed pieces.Riches said.he said. But there are other ways to stifle political dissent.To comply with the labyrinth of campaign finance rules and regulations, one study estimated, it would require $9,000 in up-front legal fees, and $2,800 in ongoing compliance costs for someone in a rural area to run one message on federal environmental policy, Riches said.Riches said."Be wary of a transparency argument" when the government comes after donor disclosure lists, said Lawson Bader, former president of the Competitive Enterprise institute, which is being sued by Pennsylvania State University climatologist Michael Mann. Mann said the organization defamed him as a fraud for his climate science work.Transparency is not inherently wrong, but it has been used as an excuse for political manipulation in "an attempt to get at the privacy of our own supporters themselves," Bader said. Charities are already highly regulated institutions with numerous disclosure mandates, and that should mute the call for donor lists to be made public.
Abbott Healthcare and Macleods Pharmaceuticals got a stay by the Delhi High Court (HC) on Tuesday on the ban on sale of certain combination medicines till March 21.

Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said that similar relief as granted to pharma major Pfizer's cough syrup Corex on Monday be extended to these two companies. Abbott's sells the same combination under the brand Phensedyl. The Judge observed that the drugs have been in the market for more than 20 years. "I am of the view that a counter affidavit is required in these petitions," he added.

"The matter has been listed for Monday (March 21). Till then, the effect of notification shall remain stayed and no coercive steps shall be taken against the stockist, retailer and the sellers, qua the petitioners here," the court said.

The HC also directed the health ministry to file a status report regarding the findings of the expert committee set up by it following which the sale of more than 300 drug combinations have been banned with effect from March 10.

Additional solicitor general Sanjay Jain, appearing for the Centre, submitted that the action taken was not against a company or brand centric.

The decision was taken by the expert committee, he said adding that this was done in public interest. The court's order came on pleas moved by Abbott and Macleods contending that no show-cause notice or hearing was granted prior to the notification.

Meanwhile, Procter & Gamble India said on Tuesday it had stopped manufacture and sale of its cough-andcold medicine Vicks Action 500 Extra with immediate effect after regulators banned it citing potential health risk.
Healthcare

In one of Business Worlds latest blogs we discussed how Irish Life had acquired GloHealth and Aviva.

In one fell swoop, Irish Life consolidated their position in the Irish healthcare sector significantly; they now cater to 400,000 of the 1,900,000 healthcare customers nationwide.

Challenge

When the status quo is challenged in a sector, such as has happened in the Irish healthcare sector, it can unsettle markets.

New entrants typically engage in aggressive sales tactics in a bid to gain market share. Tactics typically include offering products at lower cost than the current prices available in the market, known as penetration pricing. Penetration pricing often leads to a price war which can have positive and negative reprecussions.

Price Wars

In the broader retail sector, we often see price wars mentioned in various lights;

Supermarkets  In a recent Guardian article supermarket price wars were featured negatively, Small UK food suppliers and farmers are coming under increasing pressure from Britains supermarket price war, with their profit margins cut by more than a third while those at bigger competitors have widened.

Air fares  In an Irish Mirror article air fares were featured in relation to price wars, The Irish airline (Ryanair) has already said its average fare will tumble 8% this winter, as it slashes prices to help fill a wave of 40 new planes it has ordered. Marketing Chief Kenny Jacobs said: The big drop has given airlines more financial firepower. It will be great for consumers as there will be a fares war. It will be very, very aggressive.

Public Consciousness

How the media portrays these stories can have a positive or negative effect in how a brand is perceived in the public consciousness.

We can see the how supermarkets are portrayed negatively, having squeezed suppliers and we can see how airlines are portrayed positively; offering good value to customers.

Brand Portrayal

With the consolidation of the healthcare sector in Ireland many stakeholders expect that there will be a significant price war and that is likely to benefit customers across Ireland.

This will be a significant news story in the coming months as over 40% of the Irish population have health insurance. How this message is managed and how this message is perceived in the media can be crucial to a successful merger, market entrance and successful growth projection.

How a company reacts when it is under scrutiny or when its entering a new market place, is often key to success. Business World can guide your written content across your online platforms. We can help you get your message across, in your own words. Get in touch today so we can show you what we can do.
PwC have today released results from their 19th Annual Global Survey of more than 1,400 CEOs, which includes responses from 101 CEOs in the insurance sector in 43 countries.



An overwhelming majority (79%) cite data and analytics and 76% cite relationship management systems as providing the greatest potential contribution to improving engagement with customers.



The report indicates that technology is also creating new benchmarks for customer experience, response and cost by making it easier for customers to judge and compare insurers against their competitors.

For insurance firms, the ability to meet these challenges is often hampered by slow and unwieldy legacy systems and traditional ways of working.

Nearly 70% of insurance CEOs see the speed of technological change as a threat to growth and more than 60% are concerned about shifts in consumer spending and behaviour.



Furthermore, only 28% of insurance CEOs now believe the global economy will improve over the coming year, reflecting a dip in optimism. Interestingly, whilst 38% of insurance CEOs are very confident about their ability to increase revenues, this is down from 44% in 2015.



Seventy per cent of insurers are planning to implement a cost cutting initiative over the next 12 months and technology is the trend insurance CEOs see as most likely to transform customer expectations over the next five years.

Director at PwC Ireland Insurance Practice, Ronan Mulligan says, "If insurers are to meet the real business challenges of delivering profitability in a changing market then regulation needs to come down the priority list."

He added, "CEOs and regulators will need to find a way to deliver the necessary level of regulation and oversight at an acceptable cost to the business model. If they can't, then their responsiveness to the changing needs of the customer will be slower."



Source: www.businessworld.ie

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It was announced today that the 5-star Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny is up for sale.



Since opening in 2006, the Lyrath Resort has become one of the most popular wedding and function hotels in Ireland and is located just 1.2 kms from Kilkenny City.



The hotel has 139 bedrooms and suites with full air conditioning and a health club featuring a 17m infinity edge pool, sauna, jacuzzi, fitness centre and creche.



CBRE Hotels, the sole agents handling the sale, are guiding offers in excess of 20 million for the entire Estate which is approximately 69ha.



Director of CBRE Hotels, Dermot Curtin says, "This sale of the Lyrath Estate Hotel, Spa & Convention Centre offers the purchaser a quite outstanding opportunity to acquire one of the best known and most profitable Resort Hotels to come to the market in Ireland in recent times.

He added, "Outside of Dublin city centre, Kilkenny is one of the countrys most sought after hotel hotspots and the Lyrath Resort is without doubt, one of the most successful, full service, modern 5 star hotel operations in Ireland today."

Source: www.businessworld.ie

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It was announced today that Trinity College Dublin is to receive 6 million in Horizon 2020 EU funding for a new postdoctoral programme, EDGE, which will employ 71 world-class ICT researchers.



This will be delivered through the College's three Science Foundation Ireland research centres - ADAPT, AMBER, and CONNECT.



It is the single biggest award for Trinity College Dublin under Horizon 2020, the EUs 80 billion research and innovation funding programme. The award, made under the EUs COFUND initiative, will match 7m of funding already pledged to the EDGE project by the three centres.

EDGE will run for five years with recruitment of postdoctoral researchers commencing in September 2016.

Ten third-level institutes around the country are participating in the programme which will be coordinated by the CONNECT Centre at Trinity College. It will be led by Professor Linda Doyle.



The Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Dr Patrick Prendergast today commented, "This is a significant funding success for Trinity. Securing funding from Horizon 2020 is a primary focus of Trinitys research strategy and the EDGE project is the largest award for Trinity to date. This programme will result in exciting collaborative ICT research and innovation. I would like to congratulate the three research centres on this significant research award."



Director General of Science Foundation Ireland, Professor Mark Ferguson added, "Ireland has an ambitious target of drawing down 1.25 billion of funding over the course of the lifetime of Horizon 2020."

He continued, "Todays announcement is a major success story for Ireland, and is testament to the quality of research conducted at these Science Foundation Ireland centres. I would like to congratulate the centre directors: Professor Linda Doyle (CONNECT), Professor Michael Morris (AMBER), and Professor Vincent Wade (ADAPT)."

Source: www.businessworld.ie

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Six years of almost unbroken industrial peace in Ireland is beginning to fray, as a recovering economy breeds contested wage demands, weekly threats of strikes and a headache for the country's new government - whenever one is formed.

Ireland was spared the kind of walkouts and protests that beset its fellow bailout recipients - Greece, Spain and Portugal - throughout the financial crisis. Workers reluctantly stomached steep tax hikes and deep wage cuts.

But with the economy set to outperform the rest of Europe for a third straight year after growing 7.8% last year, a string of conflicts have blown up in recent weeks, from factory workers to teachers, emergency call operators to train drivers.

Progress was made in the most serious dispute on Wednesday, when a planned St. Patrick's Day strike by workers at one of Dublin's two rail services was deferred, averting action that would have upset the busy March 17 tourist occasion.

Drivers pointed out that passenger numbers have soared as the jobless rate almost halved, to 8.8 percent, since 2012. They sought pay increases of more than 50 percent over the course of five years, although they later moderated their claims.

Neither side disclosed the final details, but the terms will be closely watched across the economy. Trade unions say other pay claims are likely to follow, soon.

"I think you're going to see many workers seeking to reclaim the lost ground they had to concede during the recession," said Owen Reidy, the divisional organiser for the SIPTU trade union, which negotiated the agreement. "Workers right across the economy are becoming more confident."

A 2010 deal mostly sheltered the public sector from further wage cuts, and Irish employers lost as few days to industrial disputes over the past six years as they lost during the same period at the height of the "Celtic Tiger" economy.

The rate has crept up over the last 18 months alongside the re-emergence of pay rises. Ireland's central bank forecasts wages will rise another 2.5% this year and next.

But living costs such as rent are outstripping that rate, and worker patience is being tested. The average wage dropped to its lowest level of the crisis as recently as late 2014. Although it has since risen by 6 percent, that has only taken it back to the levels of 2009.

Frustration is rising that Europe's fastest growing economy is not translating into bigger pay packets. The frustration was reflected in the inconclusive election at the end of February, when the incumbent coalition was rejected by voters yet to benefit from the upturn.

As parties struggle to piece together a new government, analysts predict it will face a far less harmonious period in Irish industrial relations.

"You can see a lot of parallels with the election results. People felt not only was the recovery not continuing, they hadn't felt it," said Michael Doherty, professor of employment and labour law at National University of Ireland, Maynooth.

"You see something similar with the strikes. Workers are saying we've had years of cuts, years of more work for no more pay and we need to get something back. There is a wider connect into the public mood and I think we will see more disputes in the coming months, reflecting this anger on the ground." (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie


Carlsberg's attempt to regain momentum with a new strategy after years in the doldrums failed to convince markets on Wednesday, with shares in the Danish brewer falling as much as 3.2%.

A central plank of Chief executive Cees 't Hart's new approach is that Carlsberg will remain in Russia, despite the many challenges it has faced there.

The Dutchman was brought in last year to solve Carlsberg's problems in Russia, which date back to its takeover of Russia's largest beer brand Baltika in 2008.

"We want to transform our business in Russia, and we understand what is required to make this happen," he said.

Overall, he said that Carlsberg would invest more in its key and specialty brands, and in non-alcoholic beer, and that it would focus on growing in big cities, as well as outside its European and Asian core markets.

Carlsberg's new strategy, which comes on top of a restructuring program launched in November, would deliver organic sales growth and margin improvements, he said, although he would not give any indications as to how much.

Return on invested capital (ROIC) would be improved not only through earnings but also by reducing invested capital, 't Hart said. Carlsberg reported a ROIC of 8.1 percent for 2015, excluding major writedowns made by 't Hart when he took over.

Although some analysts and investors expressed disappointment about the lack of financial targets, Carlsberg did say it was aiming for a net interest bearing debt (NIBD) below two times its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). This figure was 2.3 times at the end of 2015.

It also pledged to deliver a dividend pay-out ratio of 50%, from 30% for 2015 as cash flows had been good.

Nykredit and Sydbank analysts told Reuters they had hoped for more tangible targets for the development in sales, earnings or return on invested capital.

"This is more of a change of culture than a fundamental restructuring," analyst Ricky Rasmussen from Nykredit said.

When 't Hart launched his overhaul last year he said it could deliver net benefits of up to 2 billion Danish crowns by 2018. Half of that would be reinvested in brands and commercial activities to boost sales.

The company has closed seven breweries in China, reduced capacity at four in Russia and will lay off around 2,000 people.

Carlsberg is the smallest of the world's four big brewers which had 47% of volumes and three-quarters of profits in 2014. Their number is soon to drop to three, with the planned $100 billion-plus takeover of SAB Miller by AB Inbev. Dutch Heineken is the third-largest. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie

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Members of a U.S. Senate panel and firms working on self-driving vehicles on Tuesday called for national rather than state regulation of the cars to avoid a patchwork of rules that could slow development.

Major automakers and technology companies are racing to develop and sell vehicles that can drive themselves but have complained that state and federal safety rules are impeding testing and ultimate deployment.

The rules will determine when and if a fully autonomous car could be driven on roads. Differing rules from state to state would prevent the cars being driven over state lines.

"If every state is left to go its own way without a unified approach, operating self-driving cars across state boundaries would be an unworkable situation and one that will significantly hinder... the eventual deployment of autonomous vehicles," Chris Urmson, the head of Alphabet Inc's Google self-driving car program, told the Senate Commerce Committee

Executives from General Motors Co, Lyft and Delphi Automotive PLC echoed that position. Urmson said 55 self-driving laws have been proposed in 23 states.

California in December proposed draft rules that would bar autonomous vehicles without human controls and a licensed driver, which Google opposes.

Duke University robotics professor Mary Cummings supported California's move because she said there was a lack of safety evidence and more testing is needed.

Senator Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat, said the United States "must ... work to implement a consistent national policy."

Joseph Okpaku, vice president of government relations at ride-hailing app firm Lyft, said, "The worst possible scenario for the growth of autonomous vehicles is an inconsistent and conflicting patchwork" of laws.

Lyft and GM launched a rental program on Monday, the first step toward building a network of autonomous vehicles because it will establish the infrastructure to house, maintain and organize a large fleet of cars.

Senator John Thune, a Senate Republican who chairs the Commerce Committee, said technological challenges remain.

In January, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it may waive some vehicle safety rules to allow more driverless cars to operate on U.S. roads as part of a broader effort to speed up their development.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in January NHTSA will write guidelines for self-driving cars within six months. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie

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Amidst the rising optimism emanating from Iran detente with the West, Armenian authorities have since 2015 sought to reinforce military and security ties with Tehran. Armenias MoD leadership visited Tehran on May 24-25, 2015 and after finding common ground on a broad spectrum of issues, Irans Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan pledged to visit Yerevan in the foreseeable future, though this has yet to take place. Iran indeed sees a potential for increasing its role in the South Caucasus after the sanctions were lifted. Could Iran present Armenia with an alternative in order to balance its overwhelming dependence on Russia?

BACKGROUND: The South Caucasus has historically been important in Irans strategic rivalries with both Turkey and Russia. Despite sharing the Shia Islamic faith with Azerbaijan, Iran has provided substantial support to Armenia in its conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. This policy was driven by Irans growing concern about Turkeys and Azerbaijans influence in the Azerbaijani-populated Northwestern provinces of Iran. The rulers in Tehran felt that separatism inside Iran could rise dramatically in the case of Armenias strategic defeat. Irans position has favored maintaining the status-quo in Nagorno-Karabakh through a sustained balance of power between the adversaries, in order to retain relative peace at its North-Western border region.

The ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh incentivized Tehrans military and political circles to establish military cooperation with Armenia, which Yerevan had to decline as sanctions were imposed on Iran. Upon taking office, Armenias President Serzh Sargsyan underlined Irans importance, in parallel with Russia, to Armenias security. While arguing against the Western sanctions, Armenian authorities nevertheless failed to lay the groundwork for a reliable political and economic partnership with Iran.

Over the past year, Tehran has sought closer economic and political ties with Georgia and Azerbaijan, which have intensified after the sanctions were lifted. In contrast, Irans energy pipeline ambitions have hitherto been designed to bypass Armenia due to its deepening dependence on Moscow. Tehran realizes that Russias increasing political and economic absorption of Armenia hinders it from establishing a sustained economic corridor to Europe. Yet the visit of Irans First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri Kouhshahi to Yerevan in early November 2015 signaled Armenias importance in Irans engagement with the region.

Meanwhile, some Iranian moderate-wing officials recently laid out the rationale of forging strategic relations with Armenia. In December Irans former Ambassador to Armenia, Mohammad Farhad Koleyni, reportedly encouraged both Armenian and Iranian officials to build bilateral ties based on a One Nation, Two States concept, reminiscent of the Turkey-Azerbaijan relationship. This idea stems from a profound belief among certain Iranian politicians, clerics and academics that Armenians and Persians share the same ethnic origin, and that Armenia is part of the pan-Iranian world.

Regardless of Russias dominance in Armenias political and social life, Tehran hopes to build a sustainable strategic relationship with Armenia in order to anchor Iran in the South Caucasus in political, military and economic terms. However, Russias monopoly on Armenias energy supplies in the period 2012-15 left little room for Iran and other potential investors. The economic and political obstacles due to Russian interference in Armenia-Iran bilateral ties have led to stagnation in this relationship. In response to Iranian overtures during Kouhshahis visit, Armenian officials instead aligned with Moscows position, proposing that Iran should align itself with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

However, some experts in Yerevan and Tehran assert that Kouhshahis visit provided an opportunity for Tehran to assess Sargsyans government and its ability to at least independently assert Armenias position on the Nagorno-Karabakh question. This was crucial in order to evaluate the risk that the status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh becomes disrupted by the deployment of Russian troops posing as peacekeepers, which runs counter to Irans interests. Likewise, some Iranian and Armenian analysts suspect that statements by Armenian officials on their firm resistance against Russian boots on the ground in Karabakh are intended to lull U.S. and Iranian vigilance towards this prospect. On January 22, this prompted Irans Foreign Ministry to offer Tehrans mediation in the Nagorno-Karabakh talks.

IMPLICATION: Iran is of high geopolitical significance to Russia. Yet Moscows policymakers tend to view Irans engagement with the South Caucasus according to the logic of a zero-sum game. Despite the convergence of Russian and Iranian interests in Syria, Moscow also sees Iran as a threat to its predominance in the South Caucasus and particularly in Armenia, on par with the West and Turkey. Russia was able to capitalize on the international sanctions regime against Iran, which isolated Iran from the West and confined it to a narrow political and economic space. Prior to the nuclear deal, Iran avoided antagonizing Russia and conducted a circumspect policy in the South Caucasus. Tehran may now wish to assume a more visible role at Russias southern flanks. In mid-January, President Rouhani called on his Armenian counterpart to connect the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea via an Armenia-Georgia transport corridor. This initiative is at odds with Russias interests in South Caucasus and appears to be a source of concern in Moscow. Apparently, Iran seeks to offer Armenia at least a partial alternative to Russias predominance. This, however, seems unrealistic without an alignment of Iranian and U.S. interests regarding Armenia.

The end of sanctions on Iran inevitably shifts the strategic environment at Moscows expense, and the U.S. has sent positive signals regarding Irans potential engagement with Armenia. Particularly, the U.S. ambassador to Armenia, Richard Mills, unambiguously announced in February that Armenia could become a platform for U.S.-Iran commercial relations  thereby acknowledging that Iran may play an important role in reducing Armenias dependency on Russia. The statement subscribes to the assumption that Irans ability to alter regional dynamics will provide Armenia with increased room for maneuver in its vulnerable relations with Russia.

However, Sargsyans team faces a range of obstacles that will likely hamper Armenias possibilities to forge strategic ties with neighboring Iran. One crucial issue is the de facto subordination of certain state institutions and a large part of the political-oligarchic elite to the Kremlin. Moreover, a number of agreements already bind Armenia to Russia primarily via the EEU and CSTO, precluding any tangible breakthrough with Iran without Russia's approval.

The transnational corruptive mechanisms imposed by Russia on Armenia and other post-Soviet states permit Moscow to regulate and/or limit their policymaking. Iran witnessed Russias modus operandi with Armenias leadership and society in 2005, when Russia effectively pressured Armenian authorities to minimize the transit capacity of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline in order to prevent the possibility of further export to Europe and limiting the utility of the pipeline even for the domestic needs. In its approximation of geopolitical opportunities deriving from the consequences of the nuclear deal, Tehran understands that Armenian authorities cannot ignore Russias increasingly assertive behavior in the South Caucasus. Realizing that deeper security ties with Armenia would be counterproductive in the current political context, Iranian policymakers have instead opted for minor steps, in anticipation of Russias gradual geopolitical decline and withdrawal from the region.

As a waning Russian influence is imaginable in a long-term perspective, Iran will likely continue to consider Armenia a preferred security partner in the Caucasus, in order to counterbalance the alliance between Turkey and Azerbaijan. On the other hand, the enthusiasm in Armenian policy-making circles is limited, as Armenias current ruling regime ultimately depends on Moscow for its survival. Hence, Sargsyans team is unlikely to object to concrete Russian demands regarding its foreign policy in general.

CONCLUSIONS: Since the sanctions were lifted, Iran has set an agenda for developing comprehensive ties with the South Caucasian states, where Armenia, due to a range of political and historic circumstances, is of special importance to Tehran. Yet insufficient proficiency in strategic planning and frequent miscalculations in foreign policy have restricted Yerevans strategic vision, suggesting that Armenia-Iran defense and security cooperation will be symbolic rather than practical in the short-term perspective. Meanwhile, Tehran has embarked on promoting its own regional agenda, implying that the establishment of strategic ties with Yerevan is only a matter of time.

In Washingtons re-evaluation of U.S. strategy in the South Caucasus, Irans engagement could potentially be a contributing factor to diminishing Russias excessive influence over Armenia. Geopolitical circumstances might lead Iran to work with the West in containing Russia from the southern direction.

AUTHORS BIO: Dr. Eduard Abrahamyan is an Armenian regional security and defense policy analyst. He is currently based at the University of Westminster in London, and is a fellow of Policy Forum Armenia, Washington DC.

Image Attribution: www.rferl.org, accessed on March 9, 2016
Giulio Regeni: All we know for sure is that hes dead

Published on March 16, 2016

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On the 25th of January 2016, Italian researcher Giulio Regeni went missing in Cairo, Egypt. On the 3rd of February his body was found under an overpass baring clear signs of having been tortured. The last few weeks have been marked by institutional outrage, anger and shock, but over a month after Giulio was found the truth about what really happened is still struggling to come to light.

You can do a lot in a month. You could do an intensive language course, go on a long trip abroad or, perhaps, conduct a concrete murder enquiry.

Its been just over a month since the lifeless body of Giulio Regeni was found. The Italian researcher was killed and abandoned under a motorway overpass linking Cairo to Alexandria  after having been tortured for several days. Its only after a month that inquiries are starting to get moving.

Where it all began

Giulio Regeni  a 28-year-old PhD student at the University of Cambridge, living in Cairo to write his thesis on Egypts independent trade union movements  disappears on the night of the 25th of January 2016. Events come to a dreadful end a week later: on the 3rd of February, Guilios lifeless body is found, baring clear signs of having been tortured prior to his death.

Straight away, the Egyptian authorities propose the suggestion that the Italian researcher was in contact with local criminals or that his death was a result of a revenge attack. Such clear red herrings are immediately dismissed by those close to Giulio, then by an autopsy carried out by the Italian authorities: no traces of drugs are found in his system but what are discovered are signs of prolonged physical torment and torture, which would have been carried out over a period of at least six or seven days. Such systematic torture could only have been carried out by Egyptian National Security (Amn el-Dawla)  just as they regularly do with their own prisoners.

According to the Rome Public Prosecutors Office, which is investigating the murder, what is central to the story is that "Giulio Regeni was not being monitored prior to the 25th of January and that the reasons behind why he was killed need to be found in the area of research he was undertaking on Egyptian independent unions."

Those comments are from Giuseppe Acconcia, journalist for il manifesto and specialist researcher on the Middle East, when interviewed by cafebabel. "This squashes the most slanderous allegation," he continues, "that many Egyptians launch towards any foreigner sitting in a bar in Cairo alongside other locals: that of being a spy. Giulio was a serious and meticulous researcher, an avant-garde for Europe."

Was he a carefully monitored target? Its unlikely, as this would have been difficult. However it has since emerged, according to Acconcia, that "in Giulios circle of friends everyone feared being noticed and photographed for having taken part in a union assembly on the 11th December last year. Or at gatherings with trade unionists Fatima Ramadan and Amr Assad  Giulio Regenis most established contacts."

Giulio, in a message to a friend, reports having been photographed by "suspicious individuals" during that same assembly in December. It would also seem that in the days leading up to the 25th of January, the police had gone looking for Giulio at his home, also threatening him with the prospect of carrying out a search.

The many questions surrounding Giulio's death

"Giulios level of Arabic was excellent, one of his friends explained to us how he could have passed as an Egyptian," explains Acconcia, "So its possible that Giulio Regeni could have been stopped that evening as part of a general security check. At that same time five thousand homes were searched in Egypt, since it was the fifth anniversary of the protests in Tahrir square and the police feared there would be demonstrations  of which there were none."

There are still some points that remain unclear. An individual such as Giulio Regeni would in any case have been "protected" by his passport. The arrest, torture and killing of a foreign academic would have clearly (as is indeed happening) thrown an unwelcome light on the conduct of the Egyptian government aimed at "controlling" dissent  control carried out through blood, torture and barbarity.

Was it therefore a mistake? There are many different possibilities. "The fact he was an Italian national, alongside the silence of his researcher and activist friends with whom he was involved, must have triggered a period of dragging him from one institutional body to another within the Egyptian security system until he was finally tortured," affirms Acconcia.

Or it could even be that they didnt realise early enough that a mistake had been made. Such torture would have started well before the persecutors would have realised who it was that they really had in their custody, and before realising at the same time that they couldnt just let such a person go. A dead body attracts attention but a tortured academic who would tell the world what happens whilst in the hands of Egyptian Security forces would summon a lot more. "Or even," remarks Acconcia, "supposing hed never been identified as a foreigner, you might think that he was maybe one of his Egyptian friends, who were seen as political opponents."

In any case, Egypts Al-Sisi government would be responsible. Having risen to power in 2013 after a coup detat against the democratically elected Morsi, Al-Sisi has over the course of three years differentiated himself in his fierce oppression of political opponents, promoting a climate of collective hysteria towards foreigners, often resulting in accusations of espionage or anti-government hostility. (Al-Sisi's first open comments about the Regeni case were given in an interview with La Republicca on the 16th of March. Ed.)

Even if Giulios case were one of error, this would have never happened in a country where abductions and the torture and murder of academics, activists and journalists weren't on the agenda. The numbers are chilling: 474 Egyptians in 2015 alone died in the hands of security forces, and another 700 were tortured.

The truth, for Giulio

Italians reacted quickly, from posting on social media to holding a sit in organised by Amnesty International in front of the Egyptian Embassy in Rome. Such action appears to have got more Egyptians involved, with the Italian investigative team later being invited to Cairo.

Still nobody in Italy's Renzi Government has accused Cairo of being responsible, not even indirectly, of instigating a climate of suspicion and banishment of anyone foreign, or of Guantanamo style methods being deployed at the hands of Amn el-Dawla. There has only been a firm request (however generic) to identify those responsible, with names and surnames.

Theres not been any apparent reaction  not even to the as of yet scarce collaboration of the Egyptian authorities with Italian investigators (there were officially invited to Cairo on Monday the 14th of March. Ed.). There is no sign that  apart from the typical (required) circumstantial rhetoric  that the Italian government is ready to put real diplomatic pressure on Egypt.

In addition to such political jargon are highly symbolic gestures: the European Parliament has just voted on a resolution which "strongly condemns the use of torture and assassination of the European citizen Giulio Regeni." Eventually, on the 9th of March, Giulios parents  Paola and Claudio Regeni  were invited to see the Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

So is the lack of answers all down to diplomacy and a lack of backbone? Not just that. Two further points need to be brought to one's attention. Firstly: the oil company ENI, which is still under part control of the Italian Treasury, last year announced the discovery of an enormous natural gas field on Egyptian soil, which could satisfy the requirements of the North African country for the next coming decades.

ENI has proposed an enormous development plan for the area, with some likewise immense economic returns for Egypt and Italy. In other words  its a situation where everybody wins. Under the request of the Regeni family, the same ENI has declared it wants the clear truth on what happened to Giulio, but the entire investment amounts to around 7 billion Euros. It would be difficult to give up such a huge opportunity.

Secondly: Egypt is a fundamental geopolitical component in fighting ISIS in Libya, since it would lend hugely important logistical support in the case of any eventual military intervention. Perhaps this is too important to raise any diplomatic uproar that would call for Egypt to stand up to their responsibilities.

On the other hand, such affairs cannot simply be ignored. Pecunia non olet as they say: money does not stink. Blood, however, does  especially the blood of a 28-year-old found dead under a motorway overpass linking Cairo to Alexandria. Rest in peace, Giulio.

Story by Stefano Fasano

Translated from Giulio Regeni: di sicuro c'e solo che e morto
Murphy Givens Columnist SHARE Capt. Andrew Anderson remembered when a stubborn bridegroom was "shivareed" until he agreed to make a donation to the cemetery fund.

Andrew Anderson was a year old when he came to Corpus Christi. It was in 1853 when his parents, Capt. John and Mrs. Anderson, moved from New Orleans. His family lived in the Anderson home on Water Street, where the Nueces Hotel was later built. Andrew, like his father, became a ship captain and bay pilot.

In an interview in 1940 he recalled a "shivaree": "A shivaree was a very harsh method of getting some special favor from a married man. If the bridegroom didn't grant the request of the crowd, usually for refreshments all around, he was 'shivareed.'" The biggest shivaree in Texas, at least that Anderson knew about, was given to a man in Corpus Christi.

"This man was about 65 years old and had lost his wife only six months before he married a girl of 16. He was not very popular at this time because he had refused to donate to a fund being raised to take care of the (Bayview) cemetery. The boys decided to make him suffer.

"After the wedding he disappeared. Although his bride was at her parents' home on Water Street, he was not there. He couldn't be found. Finally he was discovered hiding in the old tumbled-down Cahill house on Chaparral, where he had made himself comfortable and was reading.

"He was brought out and put up on the seat of a street sprinkler, and hauled through the city, to the accompaniment of a great din noise from tin cans and bells. They asked him to give $100 to the cemetery fund, but he wouldn't. They hauled the bridegroom up the length of Chaparral and back again. His new white hat was ruined in the rough and tumble fun the boys were having, but he was as determined not to give as they were that he should.

"Finally he said he would give $50. The boys, knowing he was pretty well fixed, refused to accept the offer. The celebration continued. The thoroughly angered victim offered $75, but that was not accepted either. He was finally released at the bride's home and the boys received $100 for the cemetery fund."

Interview, 1940

Vicente Lozano, born in 1879 at Bagdad, Mexico, came to Corpus Christi in 1891. He worked in the fishing business and then in a grocery store selling charcoal for five cents a bucket and cleaning the oil lamps. When he was 20, in 1899, he married Elvira McCarthy and opened his own grocery store on Mesquite Street. He later built a new store at Agnes and Staples.

Lozano once recalled his early years as a fisherman. They would unload the day's catch at Blucher's Ice House. Some of the big fish would be sold to the chefs at the St. James Hotel. There were no ice boxes on the fishing boats back then. The fishermen kept their catches fresh by keeping them alive. They dumped their fish in skiffs rigged up like bait boxes. There were holes in the sides through which saltwater could flow. This kept the fish alive until they were towed to the fish house. In those days, oysters brought 50 cents a barrel and Lozano could earn three cents a pint shucking oysters at Royal Givens Packing House.

Times, March 26, 1947

Mrs. Sam Rankin (born Lillie Mussett) recalled the first sewing machines and first dolls in town. Her mother and Mrs. Wrather "had the first sewing machines in Corpus Christi. They were sold by Uriah Lott, who had a little store north of where the Corpus Christi National Bank was built." This was when Lott was a young man before he started building railroads.

"These sewing machines were a great boon to the women. Up to that time women did all their sewing by hand. I don't remember them myself, but I do remember the one my mother got just after her first one. It was so far behind the present machines in every way, but was still considered a big improvement over the first one. The original must have been a very simple thing indeed. My mother was just a young married woman when she got the machine, so it must have been about 1866. On the corner where the bank is now (Corpus Christi National Bank) was Dreyer's store, a little dingy shop, hardly more than a shack. Here the first dolls to appear in town were bought."

Interview, Sept. 25, 1939

Kate Dougherty (later Mrs. Vincent Bluntzer) was the daughter of Robert Dougherty, who was teaching school in Ireland during the great famine. "In 1848 he left Ireland and came to this country. Seven of the children of that family left home and their mother to come over here. But she stayed in her native land with relatives and they never saw her again.

"Father Gonnard conducted the Hidalgo Seminary in Corpus Christi until the yellow fever epidemic in 1867 cost him his life. My father was asked to take charge of the seminary. He came to Corpus Christi to become the head of the school. We lived in a cottage on Chaparral.

"The Hidalgo Seminary for boys stood at what is now the corner of Lipan and Tancahua. It was a plain two-story concrete building, with a little portico in front. Downstairs were several rooms while there was one big room upstairs. An outside stairway had at its foot a long white stone on which the boys would sharpen their pencils.

She said the school had the agreeable smell of education: of chalk and ink and varnish. "In the upstairs room, father taught the higher branches of learning while downstairs my mother taught the little boys their letters. There were about 90 boys enrolled. They were bad boys, good boys, big and little boys. But they were all good in father's school. Boys from all over the country, even Mexico, were sent to the Hidalgo Seminary. It was a famous school. The boys who lived there slept in two of the downstairs rooms. In 1874 father gave up this school and went to San Patricio for his health. Here he built St. Paul's Academy at Round Lake."

Interview, Dec. 7, 1939

(This is the fifth of six columns based on the memories of pioneers and settlers in the Corpus Christi area.)
SHARE CALLER-TIMES FILE Aislynn Campbell plants a tree at Tom Graham Park as a wind break for the educational vegetable gardens planned for the park through Grow Local South Texas. Related Coverage Robstown farmer receives national honor

By Fares Sabawi of the Caller-Times

A nationwide network honored a Corpus Christi farmer for an initiative she started to introduce more local products to the community.

On Tuesday in Washington, D.C., Farm Credit, a national company that provides financial services to people in the agriculture industry, recognized Aislynn Campbell as one of its 100 Fresh Perspectives.

Campbell was picked in the Rural and Urban Connection category. She helped start the Corpus Christi Downtown Farmers Market so residents can pick up fresh produce. She also founded GROW Local South Texas, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting local food and improving access to nutritious choices.

The 100 farmers honored for their "fresh perspectives" were selected by a panel of experts in the agriculture industry.
President Barack Obama has warned White House contenders to avoid raising tensions.

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Outgoing US President Barack Obama has warned White House contenders to avoid raising tensions, telling them not to resort to insults and certainly not violence against other Americans, BBC reported. He insisted that, "What the folks who are running for office should be focused on is how we can make it even better - not insults and schoolyard taunts and manufacturing facts, not divisiveness along the lines of race and faith."



Mr Obamas call came after Republican primaries elections are becoming more and more violent. Indeed, Donald Trump, the leading candidate for the Republican nomination for the presidential election of November 8, 2016, called off his Chicago rally last Friday after fighting broke out between his supporters and protesters. His rivals and others have accused him of using inflammatory rhetoric. Mr Trump's rivals for the Republican nomination, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, have both called the incident "sad".



Mr Cruz accused Donald Trump of creating "an environment that only encourages this sort of nasty discourse". Mr Rubio and another Republican challenger, John Kasich, suggested they might not rally behind Mr Trump if he wins the nomination. Rubio said it was "getting harder every day" to keep his promise to unite behind the eventual Republican nominee.



Donald Trump while denying that he is fostering division, reportedly told Fox News after the clashes in Chicago that, I represent a large group of people that have a lot of anger. There is tremendous anger out there on both sides." He has taken a strong anti-immigrant stance, promising to build a "great wall" at the border with Mexico. He is also reported as saying with regard to relations between Muslims and America that, : "Islam hates us."



Tension in the Republican nomination race has continued to the extent that on March 12, during campaigns on Ohio, Donald Trump was briefly surrounded by Secret Service agents on stage after a man tried the security cordon.

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Tripti Lochan, VMLs CEO for Southeast Asia and India, said 2016 is a big year for the agency, as it eyes rapid growth across its markets.

With RP [Singh], Alex [Guimares] and Camila [Martins] on board, I am confident we have started this year very much on the front foot, she said.

Leading VML Singapores regional media team, Singh is tasked with growing the agencys paid media practice, in terms of both revenue and expertise.

He has 15 years of digital and new-media experience and has worked with brands including P&G, Lufthansa, Pepsico, Tourism New Zealand, HSBC and Ford.

Guimaraes will lead projects regionally, spearheading the delivery teams, building and improving processes and managing profitability.

He has program management experience in Brazil, Norway and Singapore. Having worked on technology projects for IBM, he has also led project and delivery teams in organisations including Johnson & Johnson and BBDO.

Martins has a Masters in data-mining and computational math coupled with an MBA and more than six years experience in data-driven business consulting companies. She has worked at Accenture, on projects including CRM strategy, consumer segmentation for cosmetics clients, loyalty programmes and ROI analytics.
| BY Ricki Green |

M&C Saatchi Asia Creative Chairman Ben Welsh is jury president for this years Film and Radio categories at AdFest. Here he reflects on the first few days of judging.

I like AdFest. Its much more down to earth than Cannes. A lot of the work that wins here wins at Cannes. Judging isnt that different either  locked up in a dark room all day looking at a lot of crap work, hoping youll come across a gem or two  then the drinks that follow in the evening. The biggest difference  no rose!

No, the biggest difference here is the fascinating journey you take exploring the regions rich cultures. Theres a new category called Lotus Roots which celebrates this and I kept finding myself wondering if what I was watching had been entered in Roots.

Advertising is a perfect snapshot of a countrys culture. Anyone who wants to understand whats really going on in the region should spend a few days watching ads. Youll discover that as well as loving the truly bizarre, Japanese look back at their school days as the best days of their lives. Not surprisingly, because theyre all sad at work being anonymous salarymen.

The Thais have a great sense of humour based on the eternal battle between sexes.

Malaysia is obsessed with trying to ensure everyone gets along.

India is proud of its wonderfully weird and diverse culture.

Korea still suffers from the Korean War.

China isnt quite sure what it is yet.

And there werent enough entries from anywhere else to get a good idea.

I take my hat off to the team in Indonesia who got briefed to sell life insurance to people who believe that everything is Gods will: Inshallah. Now that is a tough one.

Culture popped up a lot when choosing the metal  particularly when selecting the very best work  as you will see.

AdFests culture deserves a Roots Lotus of its own. Vinit and Jimmy Lam have created something special here. The jury was a delight, the helpers couldnt be nicer and Jeremy Craigen is ensuring we get to play hard after we work hear

Weve finished film and radio; tomorrow its Innova and Integrated.
About 15 car spaces will be closed in the southern section of a Mort Street car park, from the Elouera Street roundabout for about 65 metres north, will be closed between 9am today and 5pm Wednesday March 23. The closure will allow for excavation works to retrieve a large broken drill head from underground rock where it became lodged during construction work.
"Up they came and I went straight in. I didn't know I would be the first, buying a ticket for myself and my wife, but I should have had a clue because when I was able to choose my seat, I could choose from any seat in the cabin. There were 200 free seats."
"The Inspector-General is inquiring into allegations that there may have been coercion of people signing up for the trials in 2001-2002, so it's not a general inquiry into the use of mefloquine," he said.
Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact.

Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here.

Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing.

You are our people. You Care. We Care2.
Raipur, March 16, 2016: Chhattisgarh government today said 2,112 posts of principal and 11,658 positions of lecturer are lying vacant in high schools and higher secondary schools of the state.

In a written reply to the question of BJP MLA from Jagdalpur constituency Santosh Bafna, School Education Minister Kedar Kashyap informed the Assembly, "A total of 3,966 high schools and higher secondary schools are operational in Chhattisgarh."

"Out of the 3,966 sanctioned posts of principals in these schools, 2,112 posts are still vacant.

Similarly, of 36,220 posts of lecturers, 11,658 are lying vacant," he said, adding "Efforts are underway to fill the vacant posts."

According to the minister, maximum vacancies (175) for the post of principal are in higher secondary schools of Balodabazar district, followed by Rajnandgaon (145), Kanker (144), Bastar (125), Bemetara (123), Kabirdham (122), Kondagaon (114), Mahasamund (111), Raigarh (97), Koriya (93), Surajpur (89) and 88 each in Jashpur and Dhamtari.

Likewise, 1,038 posts of lecturers are vacant in Rajnandgaon, followed by Bastar (859), Kondagaon (826), Balodabazar (797), Jashpur (684), Koriya (677), Bilaspur (483) and Kanker (589), he said.

Read:

Chhattisgarh Professional Examination Board declares TET 2016 results



PTI
Patna, March 16, 2016: The Bihar School Examination Board has been surprised by a large number of impersonators caught this year in the Class 10 exams that started last Friday.

As many as 279 impersonators have so far been caught and more are likely to be netted over the remaining days of the exams, an official of the board said. "We never expected to nab impersonators on such a large scale.

The 'Munnabhai' trend in Class 10 examination is something new.

In the past, only a very few fake examinees were caught," an official of Board said. 'Munnabahi MBBS' was a popular Bollywood comedy, released in 2003, in which the protagonist, a ruffian, passes the medical exam by getting a doctor to relay him the right answers in the exam centre via a hidden communication device.

This year the board has been using strict measures against mass cheating and the use of unfair means in the Class 10 and 12 exams.

CCTV cameras have been installed at examination centres and 'unlawful assembly' of five or more people banned under prohibitory orders.

"We are worried because the number of impersonators caught is big. It has surprised us," said board chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh. Alerted, the board is now taking special care in detecting the fake examinees even before they gain entry into exam centres, Singh said.

"Unlike impersonators caught in government recruitment exams, who are paid large amounts of money, impersonators caught in Class 10 exams are mostly family members, relatives and friends of the registered examinees," he said.

The board is taking action against both: The actual examinee and the person impersonating him or her. So far 519 students have been caught cheating in the Class 10 exams across Bihar and dozens of people helping the examinees in cheating have been arrested, said officials.

Nearly 15.70 lakh students are taking the Class 10 exams at 1,309 centres across the state.

The board had put in place similar tough measures for Class 12 exams in which nearly 2,000 students were expelled after they were caught cheating.

The Class 12 exams concluded in first week of March.

IANS
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Ford Australia has released new photo and video footage of the final ever Ford Falcon special editions; The XR6 Sprint and XR8 Sprint, including a huge photo gallery which includes images of pre-release testing.



The special editions, of which only 1400 will be built, start at $54,990 AUD for the XR6 Sprint and $59,990 AUD for the XR8 Sprint. While the XR8 Sprint is available with 6-speed manual or automatic gearboxes, the XR6 Sprint is auto only.

For that outlay, you get significant power increases, suspension modifications, Sprint embossed seats, build plates, plus a unique stripe package.

The XR6 Sprint gets a 435hp (325kW) and 576Nm (424lb ft) 4.0-litre turbocharged straight-six- but that jumps to 496hp(370kW) and 650Nm(480lb ft) thanks to a transient overboost function.

The XR8 Sprint, meanwhile scores a 462hp (345kW), 575Nm (424lb ft) iteration of the supercharged Miami V8 (based on the Coyote seen in the Mustang GT), or 536hp(400kW) and 650Nm (480lb ft) with temporary overboost.

Both cars have gold-plated Brembo calipers; six-pistons clasp the 355mm front rotors with four-pistons, 330mm rotors out back. Suspension-wise, the pair benefit from new springs and Sachs dampers, a larger anti-roll bar on the XR6, new wheel alignment and camber settings said to enhance steering feedback. Staggered Pirelli P-Zeros (245mm front/265mm rear) complete what could be the best handling Falcon ever made.

With production winding up in October, we are unlikely to see other special editions such as the Falcon RS, but the Sprint twins will be great to drive and emimently collectable.

Video

Photo Gallery
Fighting crime in Oz has never been more chic than behind the wheel of the departments very own Guardian.



This is a Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe, which was taken on a loan from the manufacturer for 12 months, at no cost to Australian taxpayers. It received its codename because it will keep officers safe and will be used both as a promotional vehicle, at various exhibits across the state, and as an operational highway patrol car.

Death and serious injuries on Victorian roads could be reduced by a third overnight if everyone was driving the safest cars they can afford. Were not saying that everyone needs to rush out and buy the latest and greatest but we need people to prioritise safety over leather seats and shiny wheels. Your car should be a guardian for your safety and the safety of your family much like police are a guardian for everyone in the community, said Doug Fryer, Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner.

The full-sized Mercedes SUV is unlikely to join the regular police fleet, due to its high running costs, as it isnt really the most frugal vehicle out there. However, its thirst is justified by the 5.5-liter biturbo V8 engine, producing 584 PS (576 HP) and 760 Nm (561 lb-ft) of torque, responsible for allowing the vehicle to hit 100 km/h (62 mph) just 4.2 seconds.

PHOTO GALLERY
Photo: Joy McGinnis

Theres just no way to avoid it. Everyone gets older. It doesnt matter if you exercise religiously, eat healthily, or drink moderately. Its gonna happen.

Currently Ive been having reminders on a daily basis. Last week, I talked about forgetting my phone at my brothers. (LINK) This week, I was running around getting ready to go to the gym. I ran downstairs to grab a towel and then BOOM! Cant find my phone. I just had it!

Ahh, Ill call it I think to myself. I use my land line, and sure enough, I can hear my cell phone ringing. I walk into the bedroom, the kitchen, the living room, but the ring doesnt get louder. It doesnt fade, either.

What the??

It took me longer than I care to admit to realize it was in my pocket.

Then cant find my sunglasses. I just had them! Oh well, Im in a hurry, these will do. I get to my girlfriends house and she stares. Nice look, she deadpans.

Seems I had one pair on my face, and one pair on top of my head.

Photo: Joy McGinnis Always have a second pair of sunglasses for when you can't find the first pair.

I recently attended a fancy dress event. I spent a great deal of time and effort on my hair, makeup, and outfit. My date called out from the living room that we had 10 minutes before leaving, so I turned back to the mirror for a last minute preening.

And thats when it struck, with the speed and stealth of a ninja. The mother of all hot flashes. Now ladies, we all know that short of a walk-in freezer, theres no way to stop those suckers.

I watched in dismay as my carefully coifed hair fell in damp ringlets around my face, and a series of dark sweat stains appeared on the front and back of my pale blue silk dress. I sighed as I viewed the damage, and moved back to my closet. Pour yourself another glass of wine, I called to my date. Were gonna be late.

Have accepted the fact that I have to stop walking to sneeze and that it is necessary now to pluck both the top and bottom of my eyebrows. I have given up on ever again reading the proper dosage on the back of a pill bottle.

However, there is one thing I know. A youthful appearance is not solely predicated on a tight creamy complexion or perky butt.

I think our bodies become larger, softer, and more pliable to hold all the love, compassion and knowledge weve acquired over the years. The children, relationships, and experiences that make every wrinkle, dimple, and curve worthwhile.

A positive outlook. An open heart. A mind open to new experiences, ideas, and cultures. Making new friends, trying new foods. Learning new skills, or daring to try a new adventure. Above all, remembering to laugh. That is the key to remaining ageless.

Im heading off now, to try yoga. If I can find my keys.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: Carmen Weld

More than 1,700 BC Hydro customers in West Kelowna will be in the dark March 23, most of them for much of the day.

The utility has a planned outage scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. that will impact nearly 1,200 residents in the Rose Valley area while BC Hydro crews make improvements to the system. Another 520 customers will be without power from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

A list of affected streets can be found on BC Hydro's website.

BC Hydro recommends turning off all appliances and lights, as well as unplugging all electronics before the planned outage.
Photo: CTV

An estimated 300 protesters, many wearing masks and singing anti-police chants, snaked their way through downtown Montreal on Tuesday night in the annual march against what they call police brutality.

Police turned out in significant numbers but no incidents were reported in the early stages of the event.

At one point, the protesters headed west, against the traffic, on busy Sainte-Catherine Street.

Before the march began, some people took turns hitting a large effigy of a police officer bearing a pig's head as it was strung from a tree branch.

Many of those present at a pre-protest gathering said they are often victims of profiling and that police follow them on the street and harass them because of what they look like.

The protest has been held in Montreal for nearly 20 years, with some ending with smashed-in storefronts and damaged cop cars.

Last year's event led to one arrest, while nearly 100 tickets were given out and several police cars were vandalized.

That march was declared illegal as soon as it began because organizers had not informed authorities of their route.

In 2014, five people were arrested, while 200 were detained a year earlier.
Photo: The Canadian Press

About one in five kids under age six continued to be given over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, despite a Health Canada-mandated warning against use of the products in young children, researchers have found.

Since October 2009, the federal department has required that labels on cough and cold medications carry a warning that parents and caregivers should not administer the drugs to children under six because they are not only ineffective, but also potentially harmful.

But in a study that looked at parents' reported use of the OTC preparations a year before October 2009 and roughly two years after, researchers found usage dropped only about four percentage points  from 22 per cent to almost 18 per cent by October 2011.

"It went down a very little bit, saying to us that even having a label on the bottle is probably not enough to deter its use," said principal investigator Dr. Jonathon Maguire, a pediatrician and researcher at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.

"And I think parents just don't know that they're not supposed to be used in little kids."

Maguire said there is no scientific evidence that these off-the-shelf remedies reduce the duration of a cold or its symptoms.

The products  which typically include some combination of antihistamines, decongestants, cough suppressants and an analgesic like acetaminophen  can cause side-effects such as heart palpitations and high blood pressure, which kids under six may be unable to communicate to their parents.

If young children are given too much of the medications  due to a mix-up in measuring the dose or from overlapping doses  they could suffer seizures or a coma.

"Some of these medications are sedating and that has caused children to pass away," Maguire said.

"We know these medications are harmful. We know they're not recommended for use in children. We also know a lot of families seek them because, let's face it, when your child is sick with a cough and cold, it's a really tough time and parents are grasping for solutions for relief."

The study, published Wednesday in the Canadian Journal of Public Health, included almost 1,100 children aged one to five who were seen at one of seven primary-care practices in the Greater Toronto Area that make up the TARGet Kids! research network.

Researchers found that children under six who had younger parents and those in families with older siblings were more likely to be treated with cough and cold remedies, despite warning labels advising against the practice.

"We think younger parents are more likely to do it just because they don't know, they haven't been around as parents very long and they just don't know," said Maguire.

"And I think the older siblings has to do with parents who have a number of children. They may have used the cough and cold medications in their other children when that labelling requirement wasn't around and continue to do so with their younger children."

The researchers suggest that warnings not to use the medicines in young children should be made more prominent on the front of bottles, and that the products be put behind the pharmacist's counter to make them less easy to access.

"It's just so easy now to pick them off the (drugstore shelves)," Maguire said.

"I think further efforts to inform people about the risks involved might be helpful."
Photo: Contributed - Wikipedia

UPDATE: 10 a.m.

Manitoba is officially into a provincial election campaign.

Premier Greg Selinger has met with Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon and has asked her to dissolve the legislature.

That has triggered a 35-day campaign that will end with a vote on April 19.

Manitoba's NDP has enjoyed a 16-year run in power, but polls heading into the campaign suggest the party is on the ropes.

The New Democrats have faced public backlash over a 2013 decision to raise the provincial sales tax, and Selinger barely survived an internal challenge to his leadership last year.

The NDP faces a well-funded Progressive Conservative party under leader Brian Pallister, a former MP, and a revived Liberal party headed by Rana Bokhari, a lawyer who has worked to raise the Liberal profile since taking over as leader in 2013.

ORIGINAL

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger is to launch an election campaign today with pollsters suggesting the NDP and its 16-year run in government could be in peril.

Selinger would not confirm the launch, but the NDP is already promoting an election rally with him this evening. A NDP source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the campaign will kick off sometime after a morning cabinet meeting.

The election date has already been set under provincial law for April 19. The campaign will see Selinger try to climb back from public opinion ratings that suggest his New Democrats are 20 points or more behind the Opposition Progressive Conservatives. The NDP currently holds 35 of 57 legislature seats.

"The polls do indicate we're not peaking too early," Selinger told reporters Tuesday. "We have work to do. But the one thing we know is elections count and people will have good choices upon which they can decide how they are going to vote."

The NDP has faced public backlash over their 2013 decision to raise the provincial sales tax to eight per cent from seven. The party told voters the tax hike was necessary for much-needed road work, flood protection and other infrastructure projects, but support for the party sank.

Five of Selinger's top cabinet ministers called on him to step down after the move in order to help the party's fortunes rebound.

Selinger barely survived the strife, winning 51 per cent of the vote on the second ballot of a three-way leadership vote last year. Following the slim victory, many stalwarts both in the legislature chamber and the party's back rooms left.

The NDP faces a well-funded Progressive Conservative party under leader Brian Pallister, and a revived Liberal party under Rana Bokhari, who has worked to raise the Liberal profile since taking over as leader in 2013.

Pallister is scheduled to launch his party's campaign in Selinger's St. Boniface constituency. He said Monday he plans to visit every constituency over the five-week campaign except Kewatinook, a northern seat that he visited recently.

"You're getting closer to the time ... when people will have to make a decision, so it becomes all the more important to get out there and show Manitobans you're willing to do the work."

Pallister, who took over the Tory leadership in 2012, is counting on a big breakthrough to add to the 19 seats his party won in 2011. But only four of those seats were among the 31 Winnipeg constituencies.

The Liberals won just one seat in 2011, but opinion polls suggest their popularity has jumped by absorbing most of the support lost by the NDP.

Bokhari is a political rookie, however, and faces a challenge in trying to secure a legislature seat. She is running in the Fort Rouge constituency in Winnipeg  a traditional NDP stronghold.
I've never had much to do with politics until this last election when, fed up with the Harper government, I decided to support Stephen Fuhr. The more I saw of Stephen, the more I liked his commitment and dedication to Canada and the more I saw of Justin Trudeau's platform, the more I liked it. So far, I am delighted with this government that is so very different from any previous one, especially the last one.

Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau had not really entered my consciousness until, flipping through channels on Thursday, I saw the Trudeaus in Washington and there was a clip of Michelle Obama and Sophie talking at "Let the Girls Learn" group. I was struck by the ease, friendliness and passion of the two women, but especially by Sophie. As she spoke I was amazed at her eloquence, commitment and powerful manner. How had I not noticed this woman before? I did see her election night with her hand to her breast as an act of commitment beside Justin. I thought fleetingly how together they seemed. For me, however, she was in the background as wife and mother. I knew she had graduated from McGill as I had lived in Montreal some years. Of course she had a good education, as she was upper class.

Sophie spoke brightly at this "Let the Girls Learn" session about how young people are leaders and young girls know their rights and should fight for those rights. I discovered she is an activist for women's rights, for education for young girls, a volunteer and a spokesperson for many causes, all ones I respect.

She was wearing a red dress with floral inserts designed by a Canadian designer. Not French or American, but Canadian! This same Canadian designed her evening dress.

I will follow Sophie more closely now and I have a new respect, admiration and joy to see her. How very fitting that we have a young family in leadership of our country, one in which both parents are educated, wise, compassionate and committed to making this country of ours, a better, more open and compassionate one, bringing Canada once more into the forefront of the world's "good" places to live. How very blessed we are and how wise we were to vote for them.

Flo Masson
Parade steps off Audio Article For the first time since 2019, marching bands, classic cars, dance troupes, scouts and politicians made their way along Midlothian Turnpike for the annual Midlothian Day Parade on Saturday, Oct....
Arctic char, the first course at the Taste of Iceland dinners at Cite.

Update: Cite restaurant has extended the Taste of Iceland menu through March 31, 2016 due to popularity.



Icelandic chef Thrainn Freyr Vigfusson is no stranger to Chicago. Vigfusson once staged, or apprenticed, at Alinea for two months. Hes back in town this week, tearing himself away from the Nordic paradise called Blue Lagoon. If youve ever seen photos of blissed out people, floating in what looks like sky blue, velvety, mineral-rich waters, thats the place.

About 24 miles from the capital city of Reykjavik, his restaurant Lava is actually built into a lava cliff at the geothermal spa. The volcanic heat warms not only the lagoon but the surrounding ground, and thats where Vigfusson buried and cooked the rye bread he brought with him for a series of Icelandic pop-up dinners hell serve in the skies.

The Taste of Iceland dinners by chef Vigfusson will be held March 17 through 20 at Cite restaurant on the 70th floor of Lake Point Tower with dramatic 360-degree views of the city from the lakefront. The series is a collaboration with Martial Noguier, chef and owner of Bistronomic restaurant on the Near North Side. Noguier is also the consulting chef at Cite and brings his gastronomic French influence to the menu.

Icelandic chef Thrainn Freyr Vigfusson, left, and Martial Noguier, chef and owner of Bistronomic restaurant, and consulting chef at Cite.The Taste of Iceland dinners at Cite are a collaboration between the chefs. (Louisa Chu/Chicago Tribune)

I had a chance to visit the chefs in the kitchen during their three days of prep. Vigfusson unwrapped a long, narrow, foil-wrapped brick, revealing an Icelandic milk carton. He unfolded the top to expose the dark rye bread. It looks like your typical cocktail loaf, dry and punishing. But he took a slice, smeared it with soft butter, then added a sprinkle of salt. In Iceland, our butter is much saltier, he said.

This was not the rye bread I was expecting, but instead soft and sweet, like cake. Its almost like gingerbread, said Noguier, but different, without the spice. Geothermally cooked rye bread that tastes like an unexpected gingerbread? Surely the work of Icelandic huldufolk, or the hidden folk of elves and fairies.

Chef Thrainn Freyr Vigfusson brought with him from Iceland rye bread that had been cooked in the ground near his restaurant LAVA by the volcanic heat. Cooked in a foil-wrapped Icelandic milk carton, the bread was soft and sweet, like cake. (Louisa Chu/Chicago Tribune)

The bread will be transformed into a crunchy crumbed soil in the first of four Icelandic food courses (prix fixe, $70) featuring arctic char, wild-caught cod, free-range lamb and liquid nitrogen frozen skyr ice cream (made from an Icelandic yogurt). But Vigfusson says that if any guest asks about the rugbrau, or rye bread, he will be happy to offer a taste straight from the loaf.

Paired cocktails shaken with Icelandic Reyka vodka will be available ($16 each).

The menu does not include the countrys infamously stinky hakarl, or fermented shark. For that, says Vigfusson, youll have to come to Iceland.

After his Icelandic goodwill tour, what will Vigfusson have to eat when he gets back home, to make him feel at home again? Its funny, he laughs, But its a hot dog. We have a lamb sausage, in a bun, with ketchup, mustard, like a Dijon mustard, remoulade, fried onions and raw onion.

Ketchup on a hot dog? That may make us shudder in Chicago more than the shark.

Icelands tourism bureau, Iceland Naturally, is presenting the pop-up as part of a four-day citywide cultural festival to celebrate the launch of Icelandairs new nonstop service from Chicago to Iceland

Prix fixe four-course menu, $70. Cite, 505 N. Lake Shore Dr., 312-644-4050, www.icelandnaturally.com/article/taste-iceland-chicago-2016.

lchu@tribpub.com

Twitter @louisachu
Don't you hate it when you're getting a divorce, but then you and your ex have movies opening within a week of each other, so you're both contractually obligated to talk to the press?

A very Hollywood-specific problem, sure, but it's the quandary that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner find themselves in at the moment. Garner's family drama "Miracles from Heaven" lands in theaters this week, while Affleck is gearing up for the release of the much-anticipated "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" next week.

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Even though the A-listers split up about eight months ago, they're cognizant that everyone really wants to hear what they have to say about it. So Affleck and Garner -- and their PR teams -- have set a new standard for how to handle this situation. Here are the guidelines.

1) Give one major interview -- to a prestigious outlet, of course -- where you talk about everything (almost).

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Want to gin up the most publicity possible for your movie while simultaneously staying on message about your personal life? Then deliver one big, juicy interview, rather than squandering your energy among mid-tier journalists. Garner chose the March cover of Vanity Fair; Affleck sat down with the New York Times.

2) Spill just enough to titillate the public, but keep the details to yourself.

Face it: People want the dirt. Garner gave an unusually candid interview without actually saying anything at all. "No one needs to hate him for me. I don't hate him. Certainly we don't have to beat the guy up. Don't worry -- my eyes were wide open during the marriage," she said. Whatever that means.

She flat-out denied that their former nanny Christine Ouzounian -- romantically linked to Affleck in several tabloid reports -- caused their divorce. But she tossed out this nugget about her ex: "He's just a complicated guy. I always say, 'When his sun shines on you, you feel it.' But when the sun is shining elsewhere, it's cold. He can cast quite a shadow." Hmmm. Garner, who usually embodies a snark-free sweetness, even managed to throw shade at Affleck's new full-back tattoo of a phoenix rising from the ashes: "You know what we would say in my hometown about that? 'Bless his heart.'"

Meanwhile, Affleck apparently "vowed" not to talk about Garner to the Times ... but just couldn't help himself. And hey, she started it by talking to Vanity Fair, right? "She felt like she wanted to discuss it and get it out there and get it over with, so she could say, 'Look, I already talked about it -- I don't want to do it again.'" Affleck said, adding, "It's fine. She's allowed to talk about it."

3) Keep it civil.

Last summer, Affleck and Garner's camps (via anonymous "sources") fired blasts at each other through the tabloids about who was to blame for the split: Was it Affleck's wandering eye? Or did Garner make him feel "inadequate" as a husband?

Not anymore. In public, they were demonstrably friendly when they bumped into each other at the Vanity Fair Oscars party. In interviews, both stars emphasize their three kids are still the priority. "Jen's great. She's a great person. We're on great terms. I just saw her this morning, so that's the reality that I live in," Affleck told the Times. An Affleck "source" told People magazine that the actor "doesn't seem mad" about Garner's Vanity Fair story, and "it was all fair."

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Garner also spoke warmly of her ex. "I didn't marry the big fat movie star; I married him," Garner said in Vanity Fair. "And I would go back and remake that decision. I ran down the beach to him, and I would again. You can't have these three babies and so much of what we had. He's the love of my life." Wednesday morning on the "Today" show, she noted that Ben was on hand back home to take the kids to school. "We will make it work," she said.

4) Acknowledge that you're a punchline.

Remember to show fans you still have a sense of humor about yourself. After the Golden Globes, when host Ricky Gervais drew gasps by introducing Matt Damon as "the only person Ben Affleck hasn't been unfaithful to," both stars made sure we knew they thought it was just plain hilarious.

Affleck laughed when asked about it, the Times reported. "It's the way Ricky Gervais perceives me, I suppose," he said. "Whatever. I've had jokes made at my expense before. It's part of the deal."

"I laughed," Garner told Vanity Fair.

5) Only make appearances on celebrity-friendly shows.

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The talk-show circuit is a must, but choose wisely. Affleck appeared on the ever-gentle Ellen DeGeneres's show Wednesday. Garner is booked on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" Wednesday night, and will visit "Live! With Kelly and Michael" and "Late Night With Seth Meyers" Thursday. So really, neither star should expect any hardball questions, the ideal scenario for any celebrity.
"In the past few days alone the Mayor stood with CTA leaders to announce a new assembly factory on the South Side that will create 169 new jobs building the new L cars," mayoral spokesman Adam Collins responded in an email. "He stood with them again to highlight new bus trackers that will help people get around the city more easily. He was in the annual St. Patrick's Day parade on Saturday, and at the morning Mass. And he'll be making another major economic and jobs announcement.
Chicago Public Schools fell into the worst category, called Financial Watch, for the second year in a row in a new report from the Illinois State Board of Education. (Anthony Souffle / Chicago Tribune)

Finances remain shaky to tumultuous across Illinois school districts, new state data show, with most districts spending more than they're taking in and dipping into reserves or borrowing to stay afloat.

The Illinois State Board of Education on Wednesday released the 2016 School District Financial Profile Scores that gauge the financial health of districts, and ISBE board members and staff were troubled by some aspects of the data.

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The profile shows that Chicago Public Schools and Will County's Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210, among others, fell into the worst category, called Financial Watch, for the second year in a row, and one Lake County district has been stuck on the watch list since 2007.

Overall, 32 districts fell into that lowest category, fewer than the 38 last year. And more districts made the top category, called Financial Recognition  568 compared to 553 last year  according to an analysis posted online by the Illinois State Board of Education. There are four categories of financial health.

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But amid the promising news were concerns.

"On it's face, this is a really good, positive report," said state board vice chairman Steven Gilford, at a meeting at which the report of the scores was approved, "but I think there's a couple of pieces of this that are really, really troubling."

He noted that, "Almost 60 percent of districts are deficit spending. ... Everybody is spending beyond their means."

In fact, 499 of 852 districts reporting budget information  58.6 percent  are deficit spending, meaning they're spending more than their revenues in main operating accounts, such as for instruction, school maintenance and transportation expenses. That's the highest percentage since at least the 2010 school year.

A key concern is that districts can look good on paper and increase their financial profile score by borrowing to bolster their operating accounts and dipping into reserves to cover the red ink, among other measures.

Robert Wolfe, chief financial officer at ISBE, noted that districts issued long-term debt of $307.2 million in the year ending June 30, 2015, less than the year before but still troubling. Some districts also are borrowing against future tax collections to pay bills.

"They're issuing debt and leveraging future revenues to sustain operations ... and that is not good fiscal practice. It's not what we do at home and not what any business would do," Wolfe said.

Districts say they have been struggling over the years because of reduced and delayed state aid as well as declining property wealth  a key component of how much districts can borrow.

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Along with CPS and Lincoln-Way, Chicago-area districts on the Financial Watch list are Summit District 104 and Wheeling District 21 in Cook County; Big Hollow District 38 and Millburn District 24 in Lake County, and Johnsburg District 12 in McHenry. The rest of the most financially troubled districts are downstate, with Madison and St. Clair counties in southern Illinois having the most Financial Watch districts. Several districts on the watch list, most of them downstate, were on last year's list.

Tensions have been high in Chicago, where educators are planning a one-day demonstration April 1 over public school funding and the union contract. The ISBE data noted that CPS' financial score has continued to decline, and this year, the district received its lowest score in the 12-year history of the Financial Profile analysis.

CPS officials, in a written response to the Tribune, said: "Schools across Illinois are suffering from the state's chronic underfunding of education, and this new data from the state demonstrates that financial challenges will continue to plague our schools until Illinois sheds the shameful distinction of being at the bottom nationally for funding education.

"Chicago students face an even more daunting hurdle from the state, since they get only 73 cents for every dollar that their peers around Illinois receive, which is why we will continue to push for funding reform."

In the suburbs, Lincoln-Way has been in turmoil over its deteriorating finances, questionable spending and plans to close one of the district's high schools.

Lincoln-Way Superintendent R. Scott Tingley said the district expected to remain on the financial watch list and that given the district's deficits, "next year's score will not be considerably better," he said.

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But finances should begin to turn around the following year, he said.

"We have submitted a plan to the state that illustrated that we should have financial stability at the close of the 2016-17 fiscal year," he said. "We are waiting to hear if the state has any additional guidance for us."

Noting that 60 percent of the state's school districts are in deficit spending is "scary," Tingley said. "This cannot continue."

In Big Hollow 38, the district has been deficit spending for years and last school year borrowed against future tax collections to pay bills, according to information in the district's most recent Annual Financial Report.

Superintendent Bob Gold just recently started in the district and is focused on getting off the watch list and getting out of a cycle of borrowing to make ends meet.

"I really think we're heading in the right direction," Gold said.

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Millburn 24 has been on the watch list every year since 2007 and once again landed on the list for 2016. Superintendent Jason Lind said the situation arose from a variety of factors, including going into debt to build schools. The district has been working closely with the state to get back in shape, he said.

"We are greatly improving. I think we are in better financial shape than many other districts," Lind said.

One district in the Chicago region, Aurora West School District 129, was on the Financial Watch list in 2015 but got off this year. It was bumped to the second-worst category, the "Early Warning" designation. Getting there entailed issuing bonds in a refinancing deal, dipping into fund balances to cover red ink, and borrowing against future tax collections, according to data in the district's Annual Financial Report.

The Financial Profile scores are based on five categories related to key financial measures, including whether a district has healthy reserves and is not deficit spending. Other categories relate to the level of short- and long-term borrowing and cash on hand  the number of days a district would be able to pay bills without additional revenues. Districts get scores between 1 and 4.

The scores are based on information from Annual Financial Reports for the year ending June 30, 2015. In all, 857 districts provided that information. In addition to the Financial Recognition and Financial Watch categories, 61 districts were in Financial Early Warning category, and 196 were in the second best Financial Review category.

Daily Southtown reporter Susan DeMar Lafferty contributed.

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drado@tribpub.com
Democratic Cook County state's attorney primary winner Kim Foxx greets commuters at Millennium Station in downtown Chicago on March 16, 2016, after her victory over State's Attorney Anita Alvarez and Donna More the night before. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Challenger Kim Foxx won the Democratic primary for Cook County state's attorney Tuesday night, riding a wave of discontent over incumbent Anita Alvarez's handling of the Laquan McDonald police shooting case.

Alvarez spoke to supporters at the Palmer House hotel downtown about two hours after polls closed, saying she hoped some of her programs to combat gun violence and domestic violence would continue under her successor, and hanging her defeat at least in part on her political shortcomings.

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"I have been criticized that I wasn't a very good politician, and that's probably right, and that's probably why I stand before you tonight," Alvarez said, returning to a theme she stressed during the campaign. "But I am very damn proud of the fact that I am a good prosecutor, I have been."

Alvarez did not mention the McDonald case, and neither did Foxx, who told supporters during her victory speech that her win was about "turning the page."

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"The work is just beginning, and our struggles here are very real," Foxx told a jubilant crowd. "The need to rebuild a broken criminal justice system here in Cook County is not work that should be taken lightly."

Alvarez tried to position herself during the race as the tough-on-crime candidate. But the McDonald video, and allegations that the two-term incumbent was too slow to charge police Officer Jason Van Dyke with murder, made the race a referendum on her handling of high-profile prosecutions, particularly when police misconduct is alleged. Alvarez was forced to deal with groups of protesters who turned up at most of her public appearances in the final three months of the campaign to call for her resignation or defeat.

With 96 percent of precincts reporting, Foxx had 58 percent of the vote to 29 percent for Alvarez. Another challenger, Donna More, had 13 percent of the vote.

Foxx, a former prosecutor and protege of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, said the case highlighted Alvarez's failures on several fronts. She hammered the incumbent on the need to reform the office by diverting low-level drug offenders into treatment, work harder to right wrongful convictions, hold more bad cops accountable for their actions and stop prosecuting students for fistfights in school.

Under Alvarez, "trust in our criminal justice system has been broken," Foxx repeatedly said on the campaign trail.

Also tapping many of those same themes was More, a former prosecutor now in private practice, mostly representing casinos. She called Alvarez "a serial screw-up" when it came to big cases, and maintained that both Foxx and Alvarez were too beholden to the political powers that be in Cook County.

Alvarez spent much of the campaign defending her handling of the McDonald case, saying she was waiting to charge Van Dyke with murder until the completion of a "meticulous" joint investigation by her office and the U.S. attorney. Alvarez filed the charges hours before the court-ordered release of the video, saying she had made up her mind weeks earlier and was waiting on federal prosecutors but decided to act earlier "in the interest of public safety."

Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, right, chats with the Johnson family from Ventura, Calif., at the Billy Goat Tavern after casting her ballot in the suburbs March 15, 2016. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

The winner faces Republican candidate Christopher Pfannkuche in the November general election.

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Although Foxx was endorsed by the county Democratic Party at Preckwinkle's urging  after the McDonald video surfaced and some African-American and Latino politicians defected from Alvarez's camp  Alvarez still had the backing of powerful 14th Ward Ald. Edward Burke, the 11th Ward Democrats led by the Daley family and the support of the vote-rich 19th Ward Democratic organization.

Alvarez labeled Foxx "a proven liar" for at first saying she handled "hundreds" of trials and later saying it was about 100, although the numbers could not be verified because she spent the bulk of her 14 years as prosecutor in the Juvenile Justice Bureau, where cases are not public record.

The incumbent also criticized Foxx for failing to disclose $25,000 that Preckwinkle's campaign committee spent on a poll to test the waters for Foxx before she got into the race, which led to a $19,450 state fine to her campaign fund that Foxx is appealing. And Alvarez maintained both her challengers lacked the experience to run the office that decides which cases to pursue and oversees $104 million in annual spending and about 1,150 employees.

The hard-fought campaign became acerbic as election day neared, with accusations flying. A recent televised forum on WTTW-Ch. 11's "Chicago Tonight" descended into name-calling, Foxx labeling Alvarez "a national laughingstock," Alvarez accusing Foxx of being a "political puppet for some political boss" and More taking shots at them both.

Meanwhile, all three candidates hit the airwaves after raising a total of about $5.4 million since July 1. About half of that money flowed into Foxx's campaign coffers or a super political action committee set up to promote her candidacy.

Democratic donor Fred Eychaner gave $600,000 to Foxx's campaign. Preckwinkle's campaign chipped in more than $300,000. Service Employees Union International affiliates gave more than $200,000.

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And billionaire Democratic contributor George Soros pumped $333,000 into the Illinois Safety and Justice PAC backing Foxx, a contribution matched by the Washington, D.C.-based Civic Participation Action Fund, which bills itself as a group that aims to "promote racial equality, expand civic engagement and increase economic opportunity for low income communities and communities of color throughout the United States."

In a photo published in the Chicago Tribune, a 2-year-old Kim Foxx waits for food stamps with her mother Gennell Wilson, 21, and brother Stephen, 3, in the Cabrini-Green public aid office in February 1975. Foxx's mother was featured in a Tribune story about President Gerald Ford's proposal to reduce federal spending by raising the price of food assistance. (Read the full story)

As Foxx continued to build up that war chest in the last two weeks of the campaign, Alvarez and her physician husband lent her campaign $400,000, an amount that allowed her to stay on TV in the waning days. In one ad, Alvarez donned a pink sweater and conceded "our court system does move too slow."

It was More who allowed her two challengers to raise unlimited funds, after she lent $250,000 to her own campaign and busted the cap on contributions. In the end, she raised less money than each of her two opponents.

Chicago Tribune's Jeff Coen and John Chase contributed.

jebyrne@tribpub.com

hdardick@tribpub.com
Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton pulled out a narrow win Tuesday night as she held off a late surge by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to secure a hard-fought victory in the state where she grew up.

With 97 percent of precincts reporting statewide, Clinton had 50.5 percent of the vote to 48.7 percent for Sanders  a difference of about 33,000 votes out of 1.87 million votes cast. The Associated Press declared Clinton the winner.

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The contest in Illinois played out as Clinton claimed victories in Florida, North Carolina and Ohio while Sanders had a slim advantage in Missouri and vowed the nominating contest would continue. Regardless of the final tally in Illinois, Clinton's wins in the other states guaranteed she would extend her overall delegate lead over Sanders.

"We are moving closer to securing the Democratic Party nomination and winning this election in November," Clinton declared to cheers at an election night rally in West Palm Beach, Fla. "Today all of you in the states where contests were held voted to break down the barriers that hold us all back so every one of us can share in the promise of America."

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Holding out hope for wins in Illinois and Missouri, Sanders spoke to supporters in Phoenix before much of the vote in those states had been counted.

"The reason we have done as well as we have, the reason we have defied all expectations is that we are doing something very radical in American politics  we're telling the truth," Sanders said. "We cannot go forward unless we deal with the realities of American society today, and that's what we're going to do."

Favored to win in Illinois given her ties to the state  she was born in Chicago and grew up in Park Ridge  Clinton found herself fighting through head winds created by a renewed Sanders, who scored a narrow upset win in Michigan last week.

Sanders sought to erode Clinton's support in Illinois by attacking one of her top surrogates in the state  Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Emanuel, who endorsed the former secretary of state early on, has struggled to restore his support in Chicago following the Laquan McDonald police shooting scandal. The mayor's fight to keep a police video of the shooting under wraps led to weeks of street protests, allegations of a cover-up, calls for resignation and a plummeting approval rating.

In the final days of the campaign, Sanders assailed Emanuel's record as "disastrous," mocked his decision to close nearly 50 schools and called on Clinton to reject the mayor's endorsement.

"I think he has done a very bad job," Sanders said over the weekend when asked if Emanuel should resign. "If I lived in this city, I would be active in that effort."

Clinton long has counted on Emanuel as a reliable ally in Chicago, and the mayor served as a top fundraiser and senior adviser to former President Bill Clinton. The former first lady and president traditionally had appeared alongside Emanuel during visits to Chicago, but that wasn't the case during the primary race as Emanuel stayed off the campaign trail and instead parked in his City Hall office.

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Sanders' quick close on Clinton in Illinois mirrored his surprise come-from-behind victory in Michigan. Heading into that race, many polls had Clinton leading by as much as 20 or 30 points, and no polls had Sanders within 5 percentage points.

A Chicago Tribune poll conducted March 2-6 showed Clinton with a sizable lead, 67 percent to Sanders' 25 percent. But in the final days leading up to Tuesday, national polls showed the race tightening, and exit polls for major cable news and TV networks showed late-deciding voters in Illinois breaking for Sanders over Clinton.

All told, there are 182 delegates at stake in Illinois for the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this summer. Of that total, 102 delegates will be awarded based on the percentage of the vote they earn in each of the state's 18 congressional districts.

The other 80 delegates will be finalized at the party's state convention in May, and include a slate of party leaders and so-called superdelegates who are free to back whichever candidate they choose, regardless of the elections results.

In the final 10 days before the primary, Sanders and Clinton ramped up their presence in Illinois, both on the stump and TV.

Sanders aired three 30-second TV ads, including one featuring Chicago Public Schools Principal Troy LaRaviere that took Clinton to task for her relationship with Emanuel, who he said stood "in the way of us getting good schools." A second ad featured County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, who forced Emanuel into a runoff election last year.

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Clinton's ads did not take on Sanders directly, but instead focused on her track record. Actor Morgan Freeman narrated a TV ad noting how Clinton had spent her lifetime "breaking barriers." Another Clinton ad featured TV producer Shonda Rhimes and stars from shows she's associated with, including Kerry Washington of "Scandal," Ellen Pompeo of "Grey's Anatomy" and Viola Davis of "How to Get Away With Murder." Each declares: "I'm with Hillary."

She also aired radio ads narrated by Freeman and featuring the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Dontre Hamilton and Jordan Davis, who lost their lives to gun violence or in police-involved incidents.

Both Clintons spent much of their Chicago campaign trail time trying to boost turnout among African-American voters, who helped deliver Clinton convincing victories across the South in previous primaries. As part of that effort, both Clintons touched, albeit delicately, on the gun violence that has plagued the city.

In a visit to a South Side African-American church Sunday, Bill Clinton suggested videos of shootings, such as the one of the McDonald killing, should not be left in the hands of police and should be released faster. Hillary Clinton talked with mothers of children killed in gun violence in an emotional visit to a memorial for such children in Pullman, and mentioned that visit in her victory speech Tuesday night.

"It is for the mothers who I stood with in Chicago yesterday, who have lost children to gun violence," Clinton said of her campaign. "They're turning their sorrow into a strategy and their mourning into a movement."

As has been the case in previous contests across the country, Sanders' campaign in Illinois was largely energized by younger voters, who turned out in droves at his events.

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During a late-night rally Monday in the Loop, Sanders urged those voters to head to the polls in large numbers.

"We win when voter turnout is high, we lose when voter turnout is low," Sanders declared. "Let's make sure that tomorrow we have a high voter turnout."

Unlike Sanders, Clinton spent little of her campaign time in Illinois focused on her Democratic opponent. Instead, she more frequently railed against the Republicans and the often toxic tone of their campaigns, saying at a Chicago rally Monday, "I don't think the stakes have ever been higher and the rhetoric on the other side any lower."

She continued that approach in her speech Tuesday night, homing in on Trump.

"When we hear a candidate for president call for rounding up 12 million immigrants, banning all Muslims from entering the United States, when he embraces torture  that doesn't make him strong, it makes him wrong," Clinton said. "And yes, our next president has to bring our country together, so we can all share in the promise of America. We should be breaking down barriers, not building walls. "

bruthhart@tribpub.com

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Twitter @BillRuthhart
Annie Smith, 37, picks up a ballot on March 15 while voting at the Immaculate Conception Parish gymnasium in Highland Park. (Chris Walker, Chicago Tribune)

From a $198 million bond referendum proposal to contentious countywide races and term-limit questions, suburban voters cast ballots shaping the future of their communities Tuesday.

Some of the key local votes around Chicagoland included:

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North: In the biggest dollars-and-cents question on the ballot, voters in Highland Park-based North Shore School District 112 faced a $198 million bond referendum measure. Early results showed residents opposed to the referendum, 6,136 to 2,812.

The measure was to dramatically alter the school district whichever way the vote went. If it failed, district officials planned to merge school attendance areas and close four schools. If it passed, it would mean six of the district's 12 schools would be renovated, others would close and a new middle school would be built. The 1,800-student middle school would become the largest in Illinois and would include fifth-graders.

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Lake County Democrats were also picking a nominee to face incumbent State's Attorney Michael Nerheim, who was unopposed in the GOP primary Tuesday.

Democrats Matt Stanton, 55, and Michael Perillo Jr., 61, were vying for the nomination to represent their party in the fall contest.

Stanton was leading with 53 percent of the vote to Perillo's 47 percent. It was unclear how many precincts had reported.

During the campaign, both Stanton and Perillo said the prosecutor's office needs to do more to address its history of false confessions and convictions. They both said they would push reforms beyond steps Nerheim has already taken while bringing greater diversity to the agency.

Meanwhile, Lake County residents in Fox Lake were asked whether the Village Board should raise the retail sales tax rate by up to a percentage point and whether to add the village to the Fox Lake Fire Protection District.

The sales tax question was losing with about 69 percent to 30 percent of the votes cast. The question on whether to join the Fire Protection District, however, appeared to be winning with about 59 percent of the votes cast in favor to about 41 percent against. It was unclear how many precincts had reported.

West: On the Kane County Board, incumbent Chris Lauzen was leading attorney Kenneth Shepro in the Republican race for chairman, 13,475 votes to 5,096, with more than half of the precincts reporting.

Lauzen is a former Illinois state senator, and Shepro served the County Board as its attorney prior to Lauzen's election.

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In Kendall County, the spotlight was on the race for the Republican nomination for coroner.

Jacquie Purcell, who has spent 12 years as the full-time chief deputy coroner in Kendall County, was competing for the GOP nod against Carl Gutierrez, a 28-year Illinois State Police veteran and part-time deputy coroner for about three years. The current coroner, Ken Toftoy, is retiring after 24 years. No Democrat filed to run in the primary.

Some precincts in Kendall County were "temporarily" without Democratic ballots Tuesday afternoon, said Kendall County Clerk Debbie Gillette. Because of the problem, polls in Kendall County were allowed to remain open an hour later.

The county had a delay while more ballots were printed, Gillette said. She said two or three precincts might have gone 15 or 20 minutes without the ballots. Kendall County does not allow voters to cast ballots electronically, she said.

Kendall County Democratic Committee Chairman Chuck Sutcliff said the gap in ballots could hurt turnout, if voters chose not to come back to vote after ballots arrived. "It's unfortunate because this is a pretty big day here," he said.

South: Voters had their say on term-limits referendum proposals in Homer Glen and Alsip.

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Homer Glen's referendum limiting the mayor to two four-year terms had 89 percent of the vote with 12 of 16 precincts reporting. In Alsip, a term limits referendum limiting the village president, clerk and trustees to no more than three consecutive terms had 81 percent of the vote with 11 of 15 precincts reporting.

Residents in both communities expressed strong anti-incumbent feelings.

"They all get in there and it's a permanent job," said Joseph Brown, a 73-year old retiree in Alsip. "They get comfortable, and they don't care about the people after a while."

At Homer Glen Village Hall, some residents echoed the sentiment.

"I don't believe there should be any career politicians," said Dennis Peters. "They seem to get in the office and start working on re-election instead of what's best for the country."

In the race for Will County circuit court clerk, two Democrats sought to replace current five-term clerk Pamela McGuire, who is not seeking re-election. On the Republican ballot, Marlene Carlson ran unopposed.

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McGuire's current employee Andrea Chasteen led Bob Enright, a former 16-year employee of the clerk's office, with 68 percent of the vote to Enright's 32 percent with more than two-thirds of precincts reporting.

A $27 million bond issue was on the ballot in Burbank School District 111 to rebuild a school. That measure was supported by 58 percent with 10 of 14 precincts reporting.

Reporters Gregory Pratt, Mike Nolan and Susan DeMar Lafferty of the Daily Southtown, Emily K. Coleman of the News-Sun and Karen Berkowitz of Pioneer Press contributed, along with freelancer Erin Gallagher.
Anders Behring Breivik has his handcuffs removed inside a court room at Skien prison in Skien, Norway, on March 16, 2016. (Lise Aserud/NTB scanpix via AP)

Hours before, his bomb had erupted in Norway's capital.

Anders Behring Breivik - dressed for war - was soon marching through a summer camp for the left-leaning party's up-and-coming leaders, spraying bullets at the children. He was purportedly protesting Norway's multiculturalism.

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Survivors later said that the gunshots sounded more like firecrackers or bursting balloons. The shrill screams that followed almost didn't seem real.

"Is he coming?" a survivor said. "Is he? Oh God, I think he is."

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The survivors' accounts, which were later told to GQ, captures July 22, 2011, when Breivik slaughtered 77 people in a bombing and shooting spree - dubbed the deadliest massacre in Norway since World War II.

He was convicted of terrorism in 2012 and sentenced to 21 years in prison - Norway's maximum sentence, which can be extended when criminals are deemed a threat.

Nearly five years later, Breivik, 37, has made his way back to the courtroom this week. This time, he is suing authorities for perceived inhumane treatment behind bars.

Human rights experts say his case reignites a debate about the justice system - highlighting the balance between punishment and the right to fair and humane treatment.

On July 22, 2011, Breivik, a far-right extremist, drove a white Volkswagen van into Oslo's government district and ignited a bomb, according to GQ.

There, authorities said, he killed eight people.

He then drove west to an island, Utoya, and opened fire - mainly on teenagers - at a summer camp for the youth league of the left-leaning Labor Party.

"I'm going to kill you all," Breivik purportedly told them, according to a survivor's account in GQ. "You're all going to die."

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Sixty-nine more were killed.

Earlier this week, Breivik was escorted into a makeshift courtroom inside a gymnasium in Norway's Skien prison to call out authorities for violating the European Convention on Human Rights. Moments later, he gave them the Nazi salute.

On Wednesday, he vowed to the court that he would fight for National Socialism until the very end.

"I have been a dedicated National Socialist since I was 12," he said at trial, according to Reuters.

Breivik also compared himself to Nelson Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid leader, according to CNN, saying the difference between the two is Mandela "ordered action" and Breivik "carry out the action."

Through his lawsuit, Breivik is arguing that those responsible for his care have violated the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects a person's right "to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence" and prohibits "inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."

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During his testimony Wednesday, he complained that he had been strip-searched more than 800 times and that the microwaved meals they feed him are "worse than waterboarding," according to reports.

"For the past five years the state has tried to kill me," he said, according to BBC News. "I don't think many people would have survived as long as I have."

Norway, which has abolished the death penalty as well as life sentences, is known for its humane approach to incarceration.

Breivik has been in isolation in Skien, not far from Oslo, in a three-room cell - with separate areas for sleeping, studying and exercising.

In his suite, he can type notes on a laptop (without Internet), run on a treadmill, watch TV and DVDs or play games on a Sony PlayStation, according to the New York Times. He has also been permitted to take correspondence courses at the main university.

But Breivik has been unhappy with his stay.

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In 2012, Breivik penned a 27-page letter to officials, listing his complaints, the New York Times reported at the time, citing the Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang.

He didn't have a thermos to keep coffee from turning cold.

He wasn't allowed to keep moisturizing lotion for his skin.

The switches for his TV and his light were outside of his cell.

Then there was his writing pen - designed to keep inmates from stabbing themselves or someone else. He called it a "nightmare of a tool" that made his hand hurt.

More seriously, Breivik has complained about strip-searches, censorship and isolation - which his attorneys have said "isn't human," according to the New York Times.

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Indeed, since Breivik was incarcerated, he has been separated from other inmates, and his interaction with professionals has been from behind a glass screen. His mother was the only person permitted to meet with him face-to-face, and she died in 2013, according to the BBC.

Years ago, Breivik wrote a 1,500-page anti-Islam and anti-liberal manifesto called "2083: A European Declaration of Independence," in which he noted that prisons were an ideal place to recruit followers.

That's why, authorities told the Guardian, they have been limiting Breivik's contact with other inmates and closely monitoring his phone calls and letters to keep him from establishing an "extremist network." Government attorneys said some 600 letters have been withheld from about 4,000 letters that were either written by Breivik or to him, because of those security concern, according to the Associated Press.

David Fathi, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's National Prison Project, said that balance between punishment and protecting an inmate's human rights is a "difficult balance to strike."

"We want to hold people accountable for very serious crimes of this nature and we want to keep them from doing additional harm but don't want to torture them and we don't want to damage them to the point where they can't live in society," Fathi told The Washington Post. "So that is the challenge of a humane and progressive criminal justice system."

Fathi said that regardless of how comfortable Breivik's physical surroundings are, "deprivation of human contact" can cause excruciating pain.

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"Prisoners who have suffered the most extreme forms of abuse and mistreatment, from John McCain to Nelson Mandela, say that solitary confinement is the worst of all," he said, adding that Breivik's complaint about isolation "is not a frivolous argument."

Norway's parliamentary ombudsman, who looked into Breivik's claims, released a report last year saying that Breivik's isolation could turn into "inhumane treatment," the Guardian reported at the time.

"The regimen in the very high security unit imposes very strict conditions on inmates' freedom of movement and their possibility to have contact with other people," ombudsman Aage Thor Falkanger, who investigates such claims, wrote after he visited Breivik's prison conditions, according to the newspaper.

He added: "This, and the fact that in reality there is an extremely limited number of inmates in the very high security unit, means that this regimen represents an elevated risk of inhumane treatment."

Falkanger recommended more interaction between guards and inmates to "reduce the risk of damage" from isolation and using "less intrusive security measures than handcuffs," the Guardian reported.

The court hearings in the case were set to begin this month.

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The goal, Breivik's attorneys said, is for Breivik to gain contact with other inmates and face fewer restrictions on his communication with the outside world, according to the Associated Press.

"There's justification for physical separation," said Fathi, with the ACLU, "but you can have physical separation without social isolation. That's the challenge in managing prisoners who are dangerous or who may be in danger themselves."
Hillary Clinton triumphed Tuesday in the Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Illinois presidential primaries, putting her in a commanding position to become the first woman in U.S. history to win a major-party nomination. Donald Trump strengthened his hand in the Republican race with a big win in Florida but fell in Ohio to that state's governor, John Kasich.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio ended his once-promising campaign after his devastating home-state loss, so the GOP primary is now down to three candidates: Trump, Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

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Trump also picked up wins in North Carolina and Illinois. The billionaire businessman told a victory rally, "This was an amazing night."

Trump is the only Republican candidate with a realistic path to the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination before the July convention. But his loss in Ohio kept hope alive for mainstream Republicans dismayed by his candidacy and suggesting the real estate mogul can still be stopped in a convention fight.

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"The campaign goes on," Kasich declared at a victory rally. Now thrust into the center of a campaign that has been bitingly personal, Kasich vowed to "not take the low road to the highest office in the land."

Both the Republican and Democratic races in Missouri's presidential primaries were too close to call Wednesday morning.

A confident Clinton pivoted quickly to November during her victory rally, assailing Trump's hardline immigration positions and support for torture. "Our commander-in-chief has to be able to defend our country, not embarrass it," she declared.

Underscoring Republican concerns about Trump, Rubio focused heavily on an implicit critique of Trump in a speech announcing he was dropping out of the race. The senator urged Americans to "not give in to the fear, do not give in to the frustration."

A favorite of Republican leaders, Rubio is the latest candidate to fall victim to an unpredictable election cycle and Trump's unmatched ability to tap into the public's anger with Washington and frustration with sweeping economic changes.

Clinton's victories in Ohio, Florida and Illinois were blows to rival Bernie Sanders and bolstered her argument that she's the best Democratic candidate to take on the eventual Republican nominee in the general election. Her win in Ohio was a particular relief for her campaign, which grew anxious after Sanders pulled off a surprising win last week in Michigan, another important Midwestern state.

Clinton kept up her large margins with black voters, a crucial group for Democrats in the general election. Democratic voters were more likely to describe Sanders as honest, but more likely to describe Clinton's policies as realistic, according to exit polls.

Campaigning Tuesday in North Carolina, Clinton said "the numbers are adding up in my favor." She signaled an eagerness to move on to a possible general election showdown with Trump, saying he's laid out a "really dangerous path" for the country.

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In Missouri, the margins between Trump and Cruz and between Clinton and Sanders, were less than one-half of 1 percentage point, meaning the losing candidate can request a recount. The Associated Press did not call either race.

Trump entered Tuesday's primaries embroiled in one of the biggest controversies of his contentious campaign. The GOP front-runner has encouraged supporters to confront protesters at his events and is now facing accusations of encouraging violence after skirmishes at a rally last week in Chicago.

The atmosphere at his events has deepened the concern over his candidacy in some Republican circles. Rubio and Kasich have suggested they might not be able to support Trump if he's the nominee, an extraordinary stance for intraparty rivals.

His closest competition so far has come from Cruz, who has kept relatively close to the businessman in the delegate count and has been urging other candidates to drop out so he can take Trump on one-on-one.

After another good night for Trump, some Republicans were struggling to come to grips with the prospect of him becoming the nominee and desperate to find long-shot ways to stop him.

A group of conservatives planned to meet Thursday to discuss options including a contested convention or by rallying around a third-party candidate. While such no candidate has been identified, meeting participants planned to discuss ballot access issues, including using an existing third party as a vehicle or securing signatures for an independent bid.

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House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., did not rule out the idea of being drafted by the party at the convention.

"People say, 'What about the contested convention?'" Ryan said in an interview with CNBC. "I say, well, there are a lot of people running for president. We'll see. Who knows?"

Despite concerns from party leaders, Republican voters continue to back Trump's most controversial proposals, with two-thirds of those who participated in GOP primaries Tuesday saying they support temporarily banning Muslims from the United States.

The exit polls were conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks.

Trump's Florida victory brought his delegate total to 621. Cruz has 396 and Kasich 138. Rubio left the race with 168 delegates.

Clinton has at least 1,561 delegates, including the superdelegates who are elected officials and party leaders free to support the candidate of their choice. Sanders has at least 800. It takes 2,383 to win the Democratic nomination.

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Associated Press
WASHINGTON  President Obama will announce his nominee to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court in the White House Rose Garden at 11 a.m., he said in an email to supporters Wednesday.



While Senate Republicans have said they will not consider any jurist the president nominates for the nation's highest court, Obama sent out an email to supporters declaring he was prepared to do so. Late last week Obama had narrowed the list of potential nominees to three federal appeals judges: Sri Srinivasan, Merrick Garland and Paul Watford.



Both Srinivasan and Garland sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, while Watford sits on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.



"Today, I will announce the person whom I believe is eminently qualified to sit on the Supreme Court," he said in the email. " As president, it is both my constitutional duty to nominate a justice and one of the most important decisions that I -- or any president -- will make."



Obama wrote that he's "devoted a considerable amount of time and deliberation to this decision" and the White House has "reached out to every member of the Senate, who each have a responsibility to do their job and take this nomination just as seriously."



The president said his nominee will meet his "three principles" for selecting a justice. Any justice "should possess an independent mind, unimpeachable credentials, and an unquestionable mastery of law"; should "recognize the limits of the judiciary's role" and "a keen understanding that justice is not about abstract legal theory, nor some footnote in a dusty casebook."



Still, Senate Republicans have said they have no intention of holding a hearing and a vote on the president's pick. Speaking on the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon, Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley, Iowa, said "the next Supreme Court justice could dramatically change the direction of the court" and Americans deserved to "weigh in" before that happens.



Grassley openly questioned Obama's emphasis on finding justices who have "empathy" and whose decisions are informed by their personal backgrounds.



"The American people deserve the opportunity during this election year to weigh in on whether our next justice should apply the text of the Constitution, or alternatively, whether a justice should rely on his or her own 'life experiences' and personal sense of right and wrong to arrive at 'just decisions and fair outcomes,'" Grassley said. "Senate Republicans will ensure the American people aren't denied this unique and historic opportunity."



Democrats, for their part, are preparing to make Republicans' opposition to filling the vacancy an issue in the fall election. Speaking in West Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday night, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton mentioned in her victory speech that one of the reasons the presidential race matters is because the Supreme Court appointment has such enormous policy implications.

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"Together, we have to defend all of our rights -- civil rights and voting rights, worker's rights and women's rights, LGBT rights and rights for people with disabilities and that starts by standing with President Obama when he nominates a justice to the Supreme Court," she said, prompting large cheers from the crowd.



"While the question of who sits on the nation's highest court is not traditionally a top-tier election issue, Democrats are hoping to use it as part of a broader narrative about Republican resistance to the president's policies.



David Greenberg, a professor of history and journalism and media studies at Rutgers University, noted that Richard Nixon first elevated the court as an electoral issue in 1968, when he attacked then-Chief Justice Earl Warren and his fellow justices.



"It was putting a liberal-dominated court at the center of the liberal establishment he was attacking," Greenberg said, for "bringing about all these cultural changes" in the country.



This year, Greenberg said, Democrats are hoping to leverage the impasse over the court to promote the idea, "The Republican Party is the party of nothing."



While administration officials know the nominee faces long odds given the opposition of Grassley and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., they remain hopeful that the GOP senators who are most vulnerable this election -- Sens. Kelly Ayotte, N.H., Ron Johnson, Wisc, Mark Kirk, Ill., and Pat Toomey, Penn. -- may lobby their leaders for a vote if they come under fire back home for obstructionism.



"The success or failure of this will depend on the pressure that can be brought to bear on those senators who Mitch McConnell marched out to the firing line," said one former senior administration official, who asked for anonymity in order to discuss internal White House deliberations.

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Here is the president's full emailed statement on his Supreme Court decision.

"Today, I will announce the person whom I believe is eminently qualified to sit on the Supreme Court.

As President, it is both my constitutional duty to nominate a Justice and one of the most important decisions that I -- or any president -- will make.

I've devoted a considerable amount of time and deliberation to this decision. I've consulted with legal experts and people across the political spectrum, both inside and outside government. And we've reached out to every member of the Senate, who each have a responsibility to do their job and take this nomination just as seriously.

This is a responsibility I do not take lightly. In considering several candidates, I held each to three principles that reflect the role the Supreme Court plays in our democracy.

First, a Justice should possess an independent mind, unimpeachable credentials, and an unquestionable mastery of law. There is no doubt this person will face complex legal questions, so it is imperative that he or she possess a rigorous intellect that will help provide clear answers.

Second, a Justice should recognize the limits of the judiciary's role. With a commitment to impartial justice rather than any particular ideology, the next Supreme Court Justice will understand that the job is to interpret the law, not make law.

However, I know there will be cases before the Supreme Court in which the law is not clear. In those cases, a Justice's analysis will necessarily be shaped by his or her own perspective, ethics, and judgment.

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Therefore, the third quality I looked for in a judge is a keen understanding that justice is not about abstract legal theory, nor some footnote in a dusty casebook. It's the kind of life experience earned outside the classroom and the courtroom; experience that suggests he or she views the law not only as an intellectual exercise, but also grasps the way it affects the daily reality of people's lives in a big, complicated democracy, and in rapidly-changing times. In my view, that's an essential element for arriving at just decisions and fair outcomes.

I'm confident you'll share my conviction that this American is not only eminently qualified to be a Supreme Court Justice, but deserves a fair hearing, and an up-or-down vote.

In putting forward a nominee today, I am fulfilling my constitutional duty. I'm doing my job. I hope that our Senators will do their jobs, and move quickly to consider my nominee. That is what the Constitution dictates, and that's what the American people expect and deserve from their leaders."

The Washington Post


President Obama announces his Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, right, in the Rose Garden at the White House on Wednesday. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images)

Reporting from Washington  President Obama sought Wednesday to reshape the clash over presidential power that has engulfed the vacancy on the Supreme Court, nominating a federal judge with a centrist reputation, Merrick Garland, and all but daring Republicans to hold fast to their refusal to consider his choice.

Obama held up his pick of the 63-year-old Garland as an opportunity for Republicans to reverse course and avoid making the judicial system "an extension of our divided politics."

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"I said I would take this process seriously  and I did," Obama said as he stood alongside Garland, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. "At a time when our politics are so polarized, at a time when norms and customs of political rhetoric and courtesy and comity are so often treated like they're disposable  this is precisely the time when we should play it straight."

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The president's Rose Garden announcement amounted to a political challenge to Republicans just as they appear to be grappling with the consequences of their own stalwart opposition to Obama throughout his presidency with the surprising rise of GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump. Obama tried to frame his decision as an effort to look past election-year politics and create an implicit contrast with Republicans' stonewalling.

He praised Garland as the kind of candidate he had promised to choose: one with sterling credentials and a widely respected temperament.

Garland is known as "one of America's sharpest legal minds" and "brings to his work a spirit of decency, modesty, integrity, evenhandedness and excellence," Obama said.

"These qualities and his long commitment to public service have earned him the respect and admiration from leaders from both sides of the aisle," he added.

Republican leaders, though, held firm to the position they first claimed just hours after the death last month of Justice Antonin Scalia, a staunch conservative: that they wouldn't even meet with the nominee, insisting Obama doesn't have the mandate so close to the end of his term to be making such a consequential move, and preferring instead to leave the choice to Obama's successor.

"It's about a principle and not a person," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on the floor of the Senate moments after Obama and Garland left the White House Rose Garden. "It seems President Obama made this nomination not with the intent of seeing a nominee confirmed, but in order to politicize it for the purposes of the election."

White House officials said Obama's choice was driven by a desire to pick the most qualified candidate, unaffected by the politics of an election year that undergirded McConnell's pledge.

"It's fair to say that there's simply nobody better qualified," said White House counsel Neil Eggleston, who helped lead the vetting process.

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Garland was a leading contender for the last Supreme Court vacancy, in 2010, and an early favorite in part because of the bipartisan support he won when the Senate confirmed him to his current post.

Several longtime GOP members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have publicly lobbied for Garland's selection in the past, underscoring the political bind the president's choice puts them in. Seven current Republican senators voted to confirm Garland to the federal bench in 1997.

White House officials believe they stand a chance of getting a confirmation hearing for Garland in the Senate despite McConnell's opposition and pointed to some Republicans appearing to break ranks by opening the door to at least meeting with Garland.

The White House lobbying effort began as soon as Garland left the Rose Garden. He started calling senators right away and will go to Capitol Hill to meet them  at least those willing to invite him in  on Thursday.

Garland has experienced this type of standoff before. President Clinton nominated him to a federal judgeship in 1995, but he wasn't confirmed until two years later, after the Democrat's reelection.

Obama's announcement came a day after he challenged politicians in both parties to examine what role they have played in helping to give rise to a "vicious atmosphere in our politics." He seemed to be appealing to Republican senators who have tried to distance themselves from Trump amid concerns that his inflammatory rhetoric could hurt their own chances for reelection and cost the party its control of the Senate.

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Democrats say Republicans are instead enabling Trump to potentially choose the court nominee.

"Senate Republicans who continue their Supreme Court obstruction are saying unequivocally that they want Donald Trump to appoint the next Supreme Court justice," Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said at a news conference.

The discomfort was visible as several Republican senators dashed through the halls of the Capitol on Wednesday, refusing to comment on the nomination, while others  particularly those up for reelection  eased off their unequivocal refusal to consider Obama's nominee.

As many as six GOP senators indicated they might be willing to meet with Garland, said Democratic aides keeping a tally  more than just the one or two before Trump's decisive victories in Tuesday's primaries.

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Sen. Susan Collins of Maine was among many senators whom Obama called, and she said Wednesday she was "happy" to meet with the nominee and believed it would be best for the Senate to hold hearings and vote.

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Even though Collins voted to confirm Garland for the D.C. Circuit Court in 1997, her approval is not guaranteed, she said, also raising doubts about Republicans' position.

They risk seeing a more liberal Supreme Court justice seated if Hillary Clinton wins the presidential election and Democrats retake the Senate majority, she said, noting: "That certainly would be an ironic outcome."

Two senators in tough reelection campaigns, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Rob Portman of Ohio, said that they would give the nominee the courtesy of a meeting but that their positions were unlikely to change.

Republican strategists said they doubted voters would cast ballots only on the Supreme Court issue, and remained confident GOP senators could run on their record of getting the Senate working again.

Democrats who cheered Garland's selection said there was greater potency in showcasing Republicans' reflexive opposition to the president than if Obama had opted for a nominee who would more clearly tip the court's ideological balance or rally the Democratic base heading into the fall.

"Garland is so unquestionably qualified that the Republican opposition just got more politically untenable," said Dan Pfeiffer, a former senior White House advisor who helped shepherd Obama's first two nominees, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, to confirmation.

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Both parties and their allies have been preparing for a public lobbying campaign, which will ramp up as senators leave Thursday for a two-week recess.

Whether Obama's third Supreme Court pick will be confirmed depends almost entirely on how much pressure Republicans can withstand from the left and the evolving opinions of swing and independent voters before the November election.

"There are a handful of Republican senators in states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Illinois and New Hampshire who cannot win unless they get some folks who voted for Obama in 2012," Pfeiffer said. "That hard task is about to get impossible."

Sen. Mark Steven Kirk, a Republican seeking reelection in Illinois, reiterated his break with his party's plan and his "commitment to represent the people of Illinois in an independent and thoughtful manner, free from the partisanship and political rancor that too often consumes Washington."

"The Senate's constitutionally defined role to provide advice and consent is as important as the president's role in proposing a nominee, and I will assess Judge Merrick Garland based on his record and qualifications," Kirk said.

The president also appears to be weighing his own legacy. A fresh illustration of GOP intransigence, especially on a compromise choice like Garland, highlights the deep-seated opposition that Obama faces and sees as an important theme of his presidency.

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He repeatedly referred to the seriousness of the task before him and Republicans to fulfill their constitutional roles. "I hope they're fair. That's all," he said.

Garland, Obama said, has exemplified the kind of approach he wants Republicans to join him in taking.

"He's shown a rare ability to bring together odd couples, assemble unlikely coalitions, persuade colleagues with wide-ranging judicial philosophies to sign on to his opinions," Obama said.

"He is the right man for the job. He deserves to be confirmed."

Times staff writer Christi Parsons in Washington contributed to this report.

Twitter: @mikememoli

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ALSO

Donald Trump: Senate leaders should block Obama's Supreme Court choice

Donald Trump's primary romp boosts another candidate: Hillary Clinton

Rubio lost because of Rubio: 5 takeaways from Tuesday's primaries
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were the winners in a big presidential primary day on Tuesday. But both showed just enough vulnerability to keep the races intensely contested for at least another month.

Trump decisively won all 99 of Florida's delegates, eliminating that state's senator, Marco Rubio, from the Republican contest. But he lost another winner-take-all primary in Ohio, where Gov. John Kasich captured his first victory of the presidential campaign in his home state. Trump won narrow victories over Ted Cruz in North Carolina and Illinois.

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Clinton won landslide victories over Bernie Sanders in Florida and North Carolina and, significantly, also defeated him in Ohio. Clinton's strong showing widened her 2-to-1 delegate lead, keeping her in a dominant position to take the Democratic nomination at the party's July convention in Philadelphia.

Donald Trump claimed Florida, the biggest delegate haul of Tuesday night's five Republican primary elections, by sweeping nearly all categories of voters men and women, rich and poor, the highly educated and those without college degrees. March 15, 2016. (AP) (Associated Press)

Trump remained the Republican front-runner over strong objections from many party leaders who hope to find a way to prevent him from winning enough delegates to secure the nomination. Many of those leaders had placed their hopes on Rubio, now the latest Republican to be run over by the New York billionaire's passionate supporters.

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Yet the challengers on both sides sounded upbeat.

As the field narrows, Cruz relishes the prospects of taking on Trump on one on one; polls suggest he'd do well.

"Trump can't get to 50 percent anywhere," said Jeff Roe, the Texas senator's campaign manager. "We're headed into places where he is weak and in primaries where only Republicans and independents can vote."

The anti-Trump movement, in peril if the reality TV star had swept Tuesday's contests, is planning even bigger efforts over the next month; Republican politicians fear a general election disaster if Trump becomes the nominee. But their attacks have had minimal impact on voters and they've been unable to rally behind one alternative.

Cruz, to many of these Republicans, looks good only in comparison to Trump. That leaves Kasich after his victory in Ohio, where Trump made a big pitch in the closing days. Yet it's hard to see Kasich's pathway to the nomination.

The goal now of the anti-Trump forces is to keep him at least 100 votes short of the 1,237 delegates needed for the nomination. That would give them a way to coalesce around another nominee at a contested convention in Cleveland starting July 18.

Although Clinton's prospects for getting a majority of delegates moved closer to reality on Tuesday, she still displays weaknesses as a candidate. Outside the South, where a heavy African-American vote has won the day for her, Sanders is outpointing her.

Sanders has no intention of throwing in the towel and his campaign believes the next few weeks will be strong ones for him. If they are right, they'll face a showdown with Clinton in her home state of New York on April 19.

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"We will be staring down the barrel of a two-week campaign in New York," said Tad Devine, the leading Sanders strategist. "Bernie will do well there."

The calendar over the next month does not work to the advantage of either party's front-runner.

On the Republican side, Trump is favored in the winner-take-all Arizona primary next Tuesday, though Cruz is making a strong run. Then Cruz will have an edge in many of the following contests because of the organizational advantage he brings to states that choose delegates at conventions or caucuses.

On April 5, expect a three-way showdown in Wisconsin, which apportions most of its delegates by congressional district. Trump has been ahead in the polls, Cruz is organizing in targeted districts and Kasich is counting on the support of the popular former Gov. Tommy Thompson.

Then it'll be advantage Trump again in Connecticut, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Delaware and his home state of New York; he could roll up a sizable delegate lead in this region.

Kasich, who has no chance to get anywhere near a majority of the delegates going into Cleveland, is counting on a strong showing in all the big states outside the South. He also hopes to pick up some delegates even in unfriendly states by winning in friendly congressional districts. That, coupled with polls showing him a strong general election candidate, might give him leverage at the convention in his home state. That's at least a rationale for staying in the race.

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The Cruz camp believes he can almost wipe out Trump's delegate advantage before the final contests on June 7, when 303 delegates will be chosen. Almost 60 percent of those will be in California, where the winner of each congressional district gets all the district's delegates. That puts a premium on strategic targeting, his campaign's strength. Another big June 7 contest is New Jersey's, in which the winner gets all 51 delegates. All the candidates are focusing on Gov. Chris Christie: Trump riding his endorsement and Cruz and Kasich hoping to take advantage of his weak approval rating at home.

Hillary Clinton defeated Bernie Sanders in Florida, North Carolina and Ohio on Tuesday and pushed for wins in two other Midwest primaries, aiming to lay the groundwork for a potential fall showdown against Republican Donald Trump. March 15, 2016. (AP) (Associated Press)

Among Democrats, the Sanders campaign understands its disadvantage when it comes to delegate math. But it hopes to overcome it with a big winning streak over the next month. Strategists are looking for victories in six caucus states, including Washington, and in a primary in Wisconsin with its big block of progressives and college students. That, they say, could set the stage for the New York showdown.

Devine argues that the Vermont socialist has strengths in Clinton's home state, which she represented in the Senate for eight years. Sanders will emphasize his Brooklyn roots, immigrant parents and upstate proximity to Burlington, Vermont, where he was mayor from 1982 to 1988. The hope is to energize liberals not enamored of Clinton.

The Clinton camp dismisses any possibility of losing New York, and contends that their candidate's seemingly insurmountable lead in the delegate contest will render any upcoming Sanders victories irrelevant.

She expects to start focusing less on her primary challenge from the left and more on the general election. On Tuesday night she called Trump "not strong" but "wrong."

Despite this show of optimism, there remains turmoil internally and renewed talk of bringing in some new political strategists. That talk may subside after Tuesday's victories. Yet some Clinton supporters fear that their main problem remains: a candidate who doesn't inspire voters and is surprisingly prone to gaffes.

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Bloomberg View

Albert Hunt is a Bloomberg columnist.
Republicans have been talking about changing the rules for picking a presidential nominee at their national convention in Cleveland in July. Their best bet may be to go bold.

Right now, their options do not look good. Let's assume that Donald Trump finishes the primaries with more delegates than any other candidate, but not a majority, and Sen. Ted Cruz comes in second.

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Trump is already arguing that having the most delegates entitles him to the nomination, and his sympathizers are saying that any other result would amount to stealing it from him. But a very large fraction of the party is still bitterly opposed to him, and seems likely to fight to keep him from getting a majority.

Deny him the nomination when he has a plurality, though, and many of his supporters will see treachery  especially if the nomination goes to someone else after convention politicking. And who should that someone else be? Someone who got fewer votes and fewer delegates than he did? Or someone who got no votes, because he did not even run?

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When people suggest that the convention should pick someone who didn't run, they typically have Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan in mind. They are both well-known, enjoy respect from a lot of Republicans, and could raise the money a campaign would require. But nominating Romney would mean picking someone who had harshly criticized the candidate with the most delegates. Nominating Ryan would mean picking someone who disagrees with the top two vote-getters on immigration.

Usually primaries build consensus within a party for a nominee. Weaker candidates drop out, and one of the remaining candidates starts looking like the winner and attracting more votes. Delegate-selection rules can help the process. All the delegates in some states are pledged to support whoever won the primary, even if the winner only got a plurality. Thus pluralities of voters can be converted into majorities of delegates by a process that nearly everyone regards as fair. This typically helps front-runners, and it has helped Trump, who has won a higher percentage of delegates than he has of votes.

But the rules in the Republican primaries, as we are now seeing, are not ideally designed to create consensus. Trump hasn't won a majority in any contest so far  and he could in theory keep failing to win majorities and still come to the convention with a delegate lead. If he had a majority of the delegates, even his fiercest opponents within the Republican Party would have to concede that he had won fair and square. Republican opposition to his nomination would fade, too, if he had a big plurality built by a lot of state majorities.

Different rules, as Francis Barry has written, could make it more likely that in the future party nominations will go to candidates with majority support. States could, for example, hold runoff elections between the top two candidates in a primary. Or they could hold "instant runoffs." Take a race with three candidates. Voters could rank those candidates. If none of them got 51 percent of voters to say he was their first choice, the candidate with the fewest votes would be eliminated. Then his voters would be reallocated to their second-choice candidate. The winner would then be preferred by the majority.

It's not too late to apply some version of this idea to the choice of a Republican nominee. Republicans could change the rules of their convention to permit some kind of preferential ballot. The rule change would have to be proposed in advance, so that members of the convention's rules committee have time to consider it before voting on it during the week before all the delegates arrive in Cleveland. Then, if it passes the committee, a majority of delegates would have to vote for it too.

When it came time for the delegates to vote on the presidential nomination, delegates would rank their candidates  with pledged delegates putting the candidates to whom they are pledged at the top of their lists. It would probably also be necessary  to reduce the likelihood of accusations of dirty tricks  for each delegate to make his or her rank orderings public immediately after the vote.

It's a process that would generate a majority for a candidate automatically: There would no need for multiple ballots, and thus no politicking between rounds of voting. The process would also be formally neutral. My guess is that most of the delegates who are not pledged to either Trump or Cruz will prefer the senator to the billionaire, and so the process will work to Cruz's advantage. But it is certainly possible that Trump would win the instant runoff  and even possible, if less likely, that a third candidate could.

Whoever lost the nomination contest would have no legitimate complaint with this process, which would be entirely above-board. Supporters of the losing candidate would, of course, still be able to withhold their votes from the nominee in the fall, by voting for a third-party candidate, or voting for the Democratic nominee, or just staying home. But they would have no grounds for arguing that the nomination had been stolen.

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Republicans have no way to guarantee that they will have a nominee who has the support of the vast majority of party members, let alone one who has a good chance of winning in November. But this procedure may be the party's best bet for making it out of Cleveland alive.

Bloomberg View

Ramesh Ponnuru, a Bloomberg View columnist, is a senior editor for National Review and a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
At a moment of impasse over President Barack Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, to fill the Supreme Court vacancy caused by Antonin Scalia's death, it would be useful to remember this example: A powerful U.S. senator asks the president to nominate his brilliant young staff lawyer to a high judicial position. Both are Democrats, but the president is a lame duck, Republicans are poised to take control of the Senate and the staff attorney helped draft and advance controversial legislation in a reluctant Congress. Nonetheless, the nominee is overwhelmingly confirmed, with Republican votes delivered by a die-hard conservative.

Never in your lifetime? Maybe not, but certainly in mine. And that lawyer now sits on the U.S. Supreme Court.

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It was a few weeks after Jimmy Carter was defeated by Ronald Reagan in 1980. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) had introduced and piloted one of Carter's signature achievements through Congress  the law that opened the established airlines to competition. The man who shaped Kennedy's ideas on deregulation and joined his staff to help enact the legislation was a Harvard professor of administrative law named Stephen Breyer. Kennedy wanted to reward him.

I was sitting in my West Wing office serving out my final months as Carter's chief domestic policy adviser when the phone rang. It was Kennedy, informing me that there was a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit, which reviews cases in New England. He wanted Carter to nominate Breyer, whom he said was brilliant and had been crucial to our airline deregulation victory.

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Flabbergasted, I told the senator that he did not need to convince me of either Breyer's qualifications or the central role he played in our legislative achievement. But I said that two hurdles seemed insurmountable. Kennedy asked what they were.

First, I told him there was no love lost by the president toward him; Carter felt that Kennedy's challenge to his nomination split the party and helped elect Reagan. Kennedy quickly replied, "I know, that's why I called you and not the president." The second was that because the Democrats had also lost the Senate, Strom Thurmond, the South Carolina conservative, was poised to become chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Why, I asked, would Thurmond permit a Democrat to fill a lifetime appellate position just one step below the Supreme Court when he could block Carter's appointment, wait a few months and confirm Reagan's choice?

"Stu," he said, "you take care of the president; I will take care of Strom."

Shortly afterward, and with some trepidation, I went to the Oval Office. "Mr. President," I began, "forget who requested this, but there is a vacancy on the 1st Circuit, and it would be a tribute to you to nominate Steve Breyer." I had written all the reasons the president should nominate Breyer on my trusty yellow legal pad, but Carter stopped me as I started reading out my list. "I agree," he said simply. "I'll do it."

I called Kennedy to report that I had delivered on my part of the deal  and what about Thurmond? To my amazement, he said that Thurmond would support the nomination and bring the other Republicans along with him. And why, I asked, would he do that? Kennedy explained: "Strom likes Steve and feels he has been fair to him and the Republicans. Even though we're at opposite ends of the political spectrum, we do these kinds of personal favors for each other for people we feel are qualified."

Breyer later told me that on countless mornings while he worked for Kennedy, he and Kenneth Feinberg  a senior Kennedy aide who later became renowned as a mediator of 9/11 claims and other cases  would have breakfast with Emory Sneeden of Thurmond's staff. They discussed upcoming issues and the different positions of various senators "to try to get things to work out smoothly." They also discussed judicial appointments, and when there were differences, they would "work out everything" in time for the committee's closed-door session, when nominees were discussed.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Breyer has told me he feels he probably would never have been picked for the high court by President Bill Clinton if he were not already serving as an appellate judge. During the first confirmation hearings, and later those for his Supreme Court nomination, Thurmond heaped such praise on Breyer that if I had redacted the senator's name from the transcript, I might have imagined Kennedy were speaking.

We lived then in a political world far from today's polarized and polluted arena, where what happened with Breyer's nomination would be unimaginable. No one can make time run backward, but the example remains of his judicial temperament and the personal courtesy and legislative comity that put him on the bench. May it be restored to our nation one day soon.

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Washington Post

Stuart E. Eizenstat served as chief domestic policy adviser to President Jimmy Carter, and as ambassador to the European Union, undersecretary of commerce and state, and deputy treasury secretary in the Clinton administration.
Say what you will about this presidential election through Tuesday's hard-fought primaries in Illinois and four other populous states: It's been volatile, messy, noisy, exhausting, ugly and sometimes even scary. But you can't say it hasn't been democratic with a small "d" and a big heart. It's hard to remember a campaign for the White House that was so wide-open, so competitive, so galvanizing to voters.

Watching the results roll in Tuesday night you saw the Republican race roiled early and often: First, Donald Trump's fast win in Florida. Then John Kasich's almost as fast win in Ohio; Trump's loss there makes it harder for him to lock up the necessary 1,237 delegates for a first-ballot win at the party's national convention in Cleveland. And, sandwiched between those two events, Marco Rubio's withdrawal  thus making him, yes, a potential GOP candidate for vice president. All of that within an hour of the polls closing here in Illinois, where Trump also triumphed. Whew.

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Almost as swiftly, Hillary Clinton had won Florida, North Carolina and Ohio. So if you've been hoping for open conventions in which neither party's candidate is predetermined: The odds that Republicans who oppose Donald Trump can survive a first convention ballot improved Tuesday night  even as the already slim odds that Bernie Sanders can make a real race of this grew a little slimmer.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 42 Vivian Turton, second from right, fills out paperwork before casting her vote March 15, 2016, at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in the 1600 block of West Foster Avenue in Chicago. (Anthony Souffle / Chicago Tribune)

There is no telling who will be inaugurated next January. But it's clear that the familiar presidential election template has been smashed, most likely for good. American democracy, often controlled by powerful insiders, has been taken over by the people.

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No one saw it coming. Ever since Barack Obama was re-elected in 2012, the smart money bet that veteran insiders Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush would enjoy a smooth, straight ride to their parties' 2016 nominations. They had the names, they had the connections, they had the money and they presumably had the good opinion of most of the rank-and-file.

The grousing often heard back then was that Americans were going to be subjected to the political equivalent of a monarchical succession battle. The campaign would follow carefully staged choreography. It was going to be stale, predictable and dull.

Nothing about the Trump and Sanders campaigns has been conventional. Trump has about as much interest in conservative philosophy as he does in occupying a bungalow. Sanders has served more than two decades in Congress while disdaining the party whose nomination he seeks: He was an independent who has caucused with Democrats but kept his own counsel.

Trump rejects the GOP traditions of free trade and muscular internationalism. Sanders has criticized Bill Clinton, a Democratic icon, as an apologist for Wall Street whose welfare reform amounted to "scapegoating some of the most vulnerable people in this country."

You don't have to agree with either of these candidates to recognize that they have changed the way the presidential campaign game is played  by challenging assumptions and upending expectations. They have captured the interest of people who sat on the sidelines in the past. Both have attracted huge throngs to their rallies. Republican turnout has been well above what it was four years ago and, in many states, the highest of any year going back to 1980. Democratic participation has likewise spiked from the 2012 level.

Populism is not always a positive force. Trump's alarms about Mexicans and Muslims exploit unsavory racial and religious prejudices. Sanders' ostentatious contempt for "Wall Street" and demand for near-confiscatory income tax rates play on class envy and economic fantasy.

But their showing in this rambunctious campaign cycle proves that the people running things up till now have failed to address the legitimate concerns of many Americans who feel left out or misused. In a democracy, when large numbers of people are unhappy, they have the option of rebelling.

In 2016, in these United States, the people rule.

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U.s. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., will face U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., in the November general election. (Chicago Tribune)

Just when you thought the election season was behind you, or at least taking a nice long vacation in other states, we have news for you. The race to November starts now. Tuesday's primary brought a healthy turnout of Illinois voters to vet candidates for local, state and federal races. It's on.

Shortly after the polls closed, Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, who's trying to keep his job, was declared the winner over business owner James Marter of Oswego. Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth beat her two opponents, former prosecutor Andrea Zopp and state Sen. Napoleon Harris, for the Democratic nomination to challenge Kirk.

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That means Kirk and Duckworth are headed for a Nov. 8 showdown in one of the most competitive U.S. Senate races in the country.

Sen. Mark Kirk thanks voters, discusses plan for future in Illinois. March 15, 2016. (WGN-TV) (Chicago Tribune)

The Republicans hold a 54-46 seat advantage, counting two independents who caucus with the Democrats. Nationwide, 24 seats held by Republicans and 10 seats held by Democrats are up for election this year.

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So Republicans will be fighting this fall to keep their majority, including seats that Kirk and several other first-term Republicans won in the election of 2010  a Republican-wave election that President Barack Obama ruefully admitted was the Democrats' "shellacking."

Some national political observers give Duckworth the edge over Kirk  one publication called Kirk the most "endangered" incumbent in the U.S. Senate  but Illinois voters tend to support moderates like Kirk in statewide races. So far he's done a good job of distinguishing himself from the more hard-right elements of his party.

In other key races, voters showed once again that they like their incumbents. Democratic voters of Illinois' 1st Congressional District chose U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Chicago, over Chicago Ald. Howard Brookins Jr. Rush won the nomination for an almost certain 13th term despite a House ethics investigation and one of the worst missed-vote records in Congress.

Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown beat back two challengers after the county's Democratic Party withdrew its endorsement as a federal corruption probe loomed.

Illinois voters also cast ballots in more than 30 contested primaries for seats in the state House and Senate where Democrats hold supermajorities. Some of those races played out as proxy wars between top Democratic and Republican officials, namely House Speaker Michael Madigan and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. Both spent millions of dollars to advance their candidates.

Madigan came out big in the 5th House District, ousting Rep. Ken Dunkin who had rebelled against him. Rauner and his allies heavily backed Dunkin. But Madigan's candidate, Juliana Stratton, beat him handily.

Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez lost to Kim Foxx  Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle's former chief of staff  largely over Alvarez's handling of the police shooting of Laquan McDonald.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 42 Vivian Turton, second from right, fills out paperwork before casting her vote March 15, 2016, at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in the 1600 block of West Foster Avenue in Chicago. (Anthony Souffle / Chicago Tribune)

Police dashcam video showed McDonald, 17, walking away from police in the middle of Pulaski Road when Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke opened fire, hitting McDonald 16 times.

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Alvarez charged Van Dyke with murder, but only after a judge ordered the video released to the public, 13 months after McDonald was killed. Public outrage prompted Mayor Rahm Emanuel to fire his police chief, but he rejected demands that he resign.

It was up to voters to decide whether Alvarez would keep her job. On Tuesday, they said no.

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Federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland, left, accompanied by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, steps to the microphone as he is introduced as Obamas nominee for the Supreme Court during an announcement in the Rose Garden of the White House on March 16, 2016. (Andrew Harnik, AP)

In nominating Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court seat vacated by the death of Antonin Scalia, President Barack Obama on Wednesday praised the Illinois native as a judge "widely recognized not only as one of America's sharpest legal minds, but someone who brings to his work a spirit of decency, modesty, integrity, even-handedness and excellence." Over nearly two decades of service on a federal court of appeals, Garland has won nearly universal admiration.

He is in little danger of being "borked"  subjected to a nonstop barrage of attacks on his judicial philosophy and his character such as that inflicted on Robert Bork after he was nominated in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan. Bork was not confirmed; the partisan unfairness and personal ugliness he encountered set a political tone that resonates to this day in judicial nomination fights.

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Republicans don't question Garland's fitness for the job, but rather Obama's insistence on making any nomination. Their position is that at this late stage of his presidency, he shouldn't nominate  and the Senate shouldn't confirm  a new justice, but should leave the decision to the next president. Said the No. 2 senator in the Republican leadership, John Cornyn of Texas: "At this critical juncture in our nation's history, Texans and the American people deserve to have a say in the selection of the next lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. The only way to empower the American people and ensure they have a voice is for the next president to make the nomination to fill this vacancy."

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 13 Federal appeals court Judge Merrick Garland, right, shakes hands with President Barack Obama as he is introduced as Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court on March 16, 2016. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said any nominee will get no hearing and no vote. He points out that in 1992, with a Republican president and a Democratic Senate, then-Judiciary Committee Chairman Joe Biden said that "once the political season is under way, and it is, action on a Supreme Court nomination must be put off until after the election campaign is over. That is what is fair to the nominee and essential to the process." Both parties, curiously, now have changed their minds on that approach.

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Obama argues that refusing to consider the nomination would be "an abdication of the Senate's constitutional duty." He said, "I simply ask Republicans in the Senate to give him a fair hearing, and then an up or down vote."

We understand the reluctance of Senate Republicans to agree to an Obama nominee who could serve for decades  and, because he would replace a conservative justice, could tilt the balance of the court on a host of momentous issues, from voting regulations to gun rights to affirmative action. They're entitled to reject a nominee whose thinking or record they find wanting.

But it's pretty hard for them to say that they have fulfilled their obligation to provide "advice and consent" on judicial appointments if they decline to assess Garland on his merits. It's perfectly in keeping with the Senate's constitutional role for Republicans (and Democrats) to read his opinions and interrogate him at length to get a fix on how he would interpret the laws and the Constitution  and, if they are unsatisfied with what they find, to vote against him.

McConnell apparently worries that if Garland were given the standard treatment, the American people would demand his confirmation. Not likely. The hearings would be a chance for Republicans to draw attention to the issues likely to come before the court  and to highlight that a shift in the court could undo decisions that enjoy public support. It's by no means clear that the effect of a thorough confirmation process would work to the political disadvantage of the GOP  or to the advantage of Democrats.

Republican senators might keep in mind that if Hillary Clinton is elected president, she would most likely choose someone more liberal than Garland. They could figure that Garland is the best they can do, or they could conclude he is too risky to approve.

Either way, he and the American people deserve a hearing and a vote.

Follow the Editorial Board on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.
Robert McDonald, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, speaks at the opening of the Northwest Indiana Veterans Village. (Jim Karczewski, Post-Tribune)

Brian Cody has lived homeless for years, living out of boxes and suitcases.

With the opening of the Northwest Indiana Veterans Village in Gary, though, he no longer has to worry about having a place to live.

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"Knowing I can hang up my clothes, cook my own meals. It's unbelievable," he said.

Federal, state and local officials gathered Wednesday to celebrate the official opening of the Veterans Village, which provides permanent housing as well as other services to homeless veterans and is the first of its kind in Northwest Indiana.

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U.S. Secretary of Veteran Affairs Robert McDonald, a Gary native on hand for the ribbon cutting, called the project part of a national effort to provide housing to homeless veteran, a necessary collaboration to combat the issue.

"We have to be compassionate and smart in how we attack the problem," he said to a packed room.

The $10.1 million complex, which includes 44 apartments as well as room for Veteran Affairs staff to provide social services, an arts and craft room and other community space, opened to residents last fall, Vernita Leslie, executive director of the Broadway Area Community Development Corp., said. It took a month for all of the units to fill up.

Cody, 54, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who moved in in November, has struggled with homelessness for years, he said. He's unable to keep a job because of health issues but was able to find help several years ago through Veterans Life Changing Services in Gary. He found out about the village from VLCS and even helped work on it in the beginning. Now he calls it home.

Cody, who said he's working with VA doctors in the hope of being able to work in the future, said he still can't quite believe that his home is permanent.

"I'm still waiting for them to say any day 'you've got to go,'" he said.

The village has also provided haven to Frederick Owen, who moved to Northwest Indiana from Kansas City, Mo., after he lost his job and then his apartment, forcing him to live in his car.

Owen, 54, a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Korean War, came to visit his father in Schererville and was able to get a job at Methodist Hospitals Southlake but still struggled to find a place to live.

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Owen said the help he's received from the VA while living at the Village "has changed my life."

"It's really a dream," he said.

For Gary native Anton Jones, 45, having a permanent home means a loss of stress from his life. Jones had lived at Brother's Keeper Shelter in Gary but left because of safety concerns. He's struggled with health issues for some time, including more than a decade on dialysis because of a failing kidney and is trying to get training for a clerical job. Having a home helps him focus on those areas instead of where he'll live next, he said.

"So much weight is lifted off of me," he said. "So much stress you don't have to worry about."

McDonald said that nationally the project to get veterans into permanent housing has dropped the number of veterans living on the streets in half and has reduced the number of overall homeless veterans, including those in shelters by 36 percent.

A current count of homeless veterans in Gary wasn't available as of Wednesday, but a count from last summer put it at about 70 people. Leslie said that the Village has an interest list, although she was not sure how many were on it other than to say "many."

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Statewide, Indiana has been able to provide housing for 1,400 homeless veterans in recent years, newly appointed Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb said.

"Today expresses our commitment to the lingering cost of their sacrifice," Holcomb said.

Gary Mayor Karen Freeman Wilson noted that many of the people gathered Wednesday also attended the groundbreaking in 2013, when the weather was wet and cold.

No one complained, though, she said, because they all knew that homeless veterans experienced much worse.

Leslie said that the Veterans Village is still in need of donations, both money, food and toiletries, because many of the residents are not able to work. It is also looking for volunteer arts and crafts leaders to provide programs for residents, she said. Anyone interested in volunteering or making a donation can call the BACDC at 880-1750.

tauch@post-trib.com
By Roy K. McCall

Biotech investment is driving not only services outsourcing (vs. manufacturing) to China, but also accelerating Chinas growing leadership in innovation  central to the countrys 13th Five Year Plan 2016-2020. In the previous Five Year Plan, the central government injected US$2 billion in subsidies to spur biotech innovation, creating expectation for electron microscopes and spectrometers directed toward discovering therapies.

Chinas pharmaceutical market is approaching US$150 billion with roughly a third, or US$50 billion, in biotech drug discovery. This compares to America and Europes regional pharmaceutical markets of about US$350 billion each, with approximately half devoted to biotech and drug discovery. China is currently demonstrating an impressive inflection point or shift away from low risk contract work in sales and generics (biosimilars) development  to novel therapy research.

China has in recent decades served mainly as a contract researcher (CRO) for chemistry, as opposed to biology and health therapies. Given the US$1 billion cost in developing new bio-therapies in the U.S. and Europe, big pharmaceuticals have been eager to reduce costs and therefore outsourced to China. Chinas big three CROs benefited, including WuXi AppTec (formerly Wuxi PharmaTech  based in Shanghai), ChemExplorer (Shanghai) and Pharmaron (Beijing). In addition to most leading global pharmaceuticals with offices in China, foreign CROs in China include Brunswick, Viva and Xenobiotic Labs. The problem for China is that foreign brands dominate the high end market.

China is now spearheading its own biology research  from preclinical research through therapy testing. In the past decade, Chinas SFDA (State Food and Drug Administration  absorbed into the Health Ministry) approved therapies from Shenzhen Kexing Biotech, Shenzhen Sibiono GeneTech, Shanghai Sunway Biotech, and Shandong Simcere Medgenn Biopharmaceutical. Other emerging biotechs include Shanghai Fudan-Yueda Bio-Tech, Shanghai Genomics, Shanghai Benon Bio-Engineering, Shanghai Huaguan Biochip, Shanghai United Cell Biotech, Shenzhen Beike Biotechnologies, and Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences. Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals, Xiuzheng Pharmaceutical, Yangtze River Pharmaceutical, Harbin Pharmaceutical, Shanghai Pharmaceutical, North China Pharmaceutical and Weigao are all established leaders.

In vaccine production, China is dominant. State-owned CNBG (China National Biotec Group) has an 80 percent domestic market share in vaccines and is already the worlds largest vaccine producer.

One of the obstacles inhibiting the hundreds of private diagnostic reagent providers from integrating backwards or upstream, into more sophisticated therapy product research, is the constrained revenue from their primary (90 percent) market  price controlled hospitals in China.

Assisting them to develop more sophisticated research are firms such as Amoytop Biotech (Xiamen) and HD Biosciences (Shanghai/La Jolla). AbMart (Shanghai) and AbPro Labs (Boston/Shanghai) accelerate the monoclonal antibody discovery from the typical 9 to 1.5 months.

Once breakthrough prospects attract market attention, two ways for investors to exit include private M&A (generally comprising in aggregate 10 percent of GDP in developed markets as a rule of thumb) or the prestigious but less common IPO (one percent of GDP). TPG and Carlyle are among the PE firms active in healthcare investments.

While on the lookout for more blockbusters coming out of China, the timing is good to invest with strong research teams taking advantage of best-in-class research tools from firms such as Abpro Labs.

Roy K McCall is a CFA and Harvard MBA with three decades experience in Asia and the Middle East. At Peking Universitys executive MBA program, Roy was the first instructor to launch his proprietary text (Measuring, Managing, Improving Performance) in the mid-1990s on the Web for students. He is currently writing from the Washington DC area.



About Us Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email china@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight. 

Importing and Exporting in China: a Guide for Trading Companies

In this issue of China Briefing, we discuss the latest import and export trends in China, and analyze the ways in which a foreign company in China can properly prepare for the import/export process. With import taxes and duties adding a significant cost burden, we explain how this system works in China, and highlight some of the tax incentives that the Chinese government has put in place to help stimulate trade.

An Introduction to Doing Business in China 2015

Doing Business in China 2015 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in China. Compiled by the professionals at Dezan Shira & Associates, this comprehensive guide is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Chinese market, but also for companies that already have a presence here and want to keep up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes.

Selling, Sourcing and E-Commerce in China 2016 (First Edition)

This guide, produced in collaboration with the experts at Dezan Shira & Associates, provides a comprehensive analysis of all these aspects of commerce in China. It discusses how foreign companies can best go about sourcing products from China; how foreign retailers can set up operations on the ground to sell directly to the countrys massive consumer class; and finally details how foreign enterprises can access Chinas lucrative yet ostensibly complex e-commerce market.
China's non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) in January and February surged 71.8 percent over the same period of 2015, according to new official data.

The country's ODI in the first two months of 2016 hit 195.97 billion yuan (29.92 billion U.S. dollars), said the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) in a statement on Tuesday.

The ODI in February alone outnumbered the total for the first two months of last year.

The MOC attributed the rise to a more diversified investment portfolio. In January and February 2016, nine of the 20 industries considered in the ministry's calculation contributing ODI of over 1 billion U.S. dollars, compared to only four in the same period of 2015.

The Belt and Road Initiative also accelerated business cooperation between Chinese firms and their foreign counterparts.

China's Jan.-Feb. ODI to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative stood at 2.23 billion U.S dollars, an increase of 41.1 percent year on year.

Asian countries and regions were the most popular ODI destinations for Chinese firms. Investment in them accounted for about 60 percent of the total in the first two months.

ODI to Hong Kong almost doubled year on year to 15.82 billion dollars in the said period, that to ASEAN countries jumped by 33.3 percent.
A resident shows China's RMB and U.S. dollar banknotes in Qionghai, south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 7, 2016. [Xinhua file photo]

A sharp fall in net sales of foreign exchange by China's central bank in February indicates capital outflow is easing and the yuan is stabilizing.

The People's Bank of China announced on Monday that its yuan funds outstanding for foreign exchange dropped 228 billion yuan (about US$30 billion) to 24 trillion yuan in February.

The fall sharply narrowed from the 644 billion decline in January and a record plunge of 708 billion yuan in December. Through 2015, the funds only rose in January and October.

As yuan is not freely convertible under the capital account, the central bank has to purchase foreign currency generated by China's trade surplus and foreign investment in the country, adding funds to the money market. Therefore, such funds are an important indicator for foreign capital flow in and out of China as well as domestic yuan liquidity.

As the February data showed, China's foreign exchange market has in general calmed down after months of volatility, said Ding Zhijie, professor in finance at University of International Business and Economics.

The capital outflow had largely peaked in January, and the market is back to normal, said Ding, calling the strong expectations for yuan depreciation in past months as an "overreaction."

The latest data came as concern rose about capital outflow as the economy has been slowing and the currency heading south since the foreign exchange mechanism was revamped last year.

These concerns came with a shrinking foreign exchange reserve, declining for a fourth straight month in February to 3.2 trillion U.S. dollars, the lowest level since December 2011.

Lian Ping, chief economist of Bank of Communications, saw a weakening of momentum for capital outflow from China, citing gradually stabilizing yuan in February following "very strong" expectation for yuan's depreciation in January.

It is normal market forces that have brought the foreign exchange market back to normal, but a combination of fundamentals which are improving, and policy measures or even interventions also played a role, said Lian.

Economic indicators led by property investment posted a surprise rebound in February, and regulators of foreign exchange and foreign trade have intervened within their functions and powers, Lian said.

As to whether net sales of foreign exchange would continue to narrow, Lian sounded a cautious note, urging investors to watch for more signs.

But if the overall economy continues to stabilize or shows momentum for stabilization and improvement, China's foreign exchange market should do well, Lian added.

Xie Yaxuan, chief macroeconomics researcher at China Merchants Securities, said changes to the expectations for Fed rates also stabilized the yuan. "Wait and see" meant exactly that, not just in terms of Fed rates, but also in terms of capital outflow, said Xie.

The mantra of China's officials in recent months has been that there is no basis for continued yuan weakness. They have also played down the risk of capital outflow, pointing to a rush by Chinese companies to repay foreign debt, rising outbound investment by domestic firms and overseas spending by Chinese tourists rather than any sucking out of capital by foreign investors.

Last week central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan said that the yuan had started to return to a normal and reasonable level after volatility.

On Tuesday, the central parity rate of the renminbi weakened 166 basis points to 6.5079 against the U.S. dollar, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trading System.
The sluice gates of the Three Gorges Dam. [Photo/Xinhua]

A consortium, led by China's Three Gorges Corp, the world's largest hydropower producer, is preparing to bid for a contract to build and operate an 8,000-megawatt power station in Brazil, a top official said.

When bidding opens for the hydroelectric dam on the Tapajos River, the Chinese consortium will be a strong contender, said Wang Shaofeng, executive vice-president of China Three Gorges International Corp, a Beijing-based subsidiary of CTG.

"We have been present in the Brazil's hydropower market for several years. For most of the projects, we participated in it through capital investment," he told China Daily in an interview.

"But with our rich experience we can do more in Brazil," he said, referring to construction of one or two hydropower projects in the region.

The Tapajos dam will become one of the world's 10 largest hydropower projects after completion, he said.

Brazil, the second-largest producer of hydroelectric power in the world, has become high in CTG's investment portfolio, as the country strives to build dams to meet its growing energy demand.

At least 40 large dams are being built or planned in the Amazon, according to local media.

Earlier last year, CTG won 30-year concession rights to operate two major hydroelectric projectsIlha Solteira and Jupia plantsin Brazil, with a total investment of US$3.7 billion.

They are seen as the best among the 29 hydro projects auctioned by the Brazilian government.

Wang said CTG plans to use Brazil as a base to tap into other South American countries such as Chile, Peru and Colombia, all of which have rich water resources and experience of dam construction.

The builder of the world's largest dam has also set up a Hong Kong-based company named Hydro Global Investment Ltd with the Portuguese power company EDPEnergias de Portugalas a platform to explore business opportunities of small and medium-sized hydropower projects in the region.

"When we are doing global projects, we are looking at the long-term development and investment, so we are very careful in selecting the projects and conducting them," Wang said.

The executive said the biggest challenge the company faces right now is to deal with the exchange rate fluctuations to prevent risk and increase profit in overseas countries.

China itself has been embarking on an ambitious plan of dam building to combat air pollution. The Three Gorges Power Plant, the world's largest hydropower project, generated more than 800 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity since its first turbine was connected to the grid in 2003.

The world's largest energy consumer possesses more than half the large-scale hydroelectric plants on earththat is more than all the plants in Brazil, the United States and Canada combined.

Experts said that China can leverage on its domestic experience to boost its export and drive the growth of equipment manufacturing industry.

Company hopes to acquire Pakistani power stations

An investment arm of China Three Gorges Corp, the builder of the world's largest dam, plans to acquire both state-owned and private hydropower stations in Pakistan.

"Pakistan plans to privatize some of its state assets, and we want to take an active part in the auction of the state-owned hydropower stations," said Wang Shaofeng, executive vice-president of China Three Gorges International Corporation, the Beijing-based unit of CTG.

There are several large hydropower projects in Pakistan with a total installed capacity of about 3,000 megawatts, Wang said.

"These could be our top choices for acquisition, but we will also consider acquiring small and newly built private hydropower projects," said the senior executive, who had previously worked in Pakistan for more than a decade.

The projects that the unit has in Pakistan are worth $9 billion. It has signed an agreement with Pakistan for a series of projects that could increase the figure about US$50 billion.

The Chinese company chose Pakistan as the first stop of its overseas investment due to close ties between China and Pakistan, a country that faces great challenges in meeting its energy demand.

Wang said the 1,100-megawatt Kohala hydropower station, the biggest project currently in Pakistan, is expected to start construction this year and the project is due to be completed in six years.

The Chinese company also plans to set up a facility jointly with Dongfang Electric Corporation in Pakistan to support the local market as well as other neighboring countries.
The acquisition of US hotel chain operator Starwood by Chinese insurance conglomerate Anbang Insurance Group, if successful, will increase the hotel group's global market share and ensure the continuity of its operation and brand, analysts said on Tuesday.

The consortium led by Anbang has offered $12.8 billion in cash for the hotel operator, compared with an earlier offer by Marriott of $12.2 billion.

If completed, the transaction will be the largest acquisition made by a Chinese company in the US, according to financial data provider Dealogic.

Analysts said the combination of Starwood's extensive global hotel chain network and the purchasing power of affluent Chinese tourists will likely produce a successful deal.

"It will have a very positive impact on Starwood's global market share given the rapid growth of China's outbound tourism. Chinese tourists will naturally select hotel brands that are owned by the Chinese," said Michael Chin, executive chairman of WT Global Hospitality Investment Co in Hong Kong.

A source close to the Chinese insurer said Anbang intends to ensure the stability of the management team without any layoffs. Anbang will also keep Starwood's headquarters in the US.

"This could be an attractive factor for Starwood because it is very likely that Marriott will implement substantial adjustments, including firing members of the management team in the overlapping business if it takes over Starwood," Chin said.

"Anbang will also boost the advertising campaign for Starwood's hotels in China," he added.

News of Anbang's bid for Starwood came just days after it agreed to acquire Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc from US private equity firm Blackstone Group for $6.5 billion.

Anbang's latest mega merger deal underscores an overseas buying spree by cash-rich Chinese companies.

An insurance analyst at a global investment bank, who declined to be named, said it demonstrates Anbang's desire to diversify its investment portfolios and to hedge the potential risk of a weaker yuan. "The deal is unlikely to place pressure on Anbang's capital position, as most of its liabilities are long-term," he said.

While it is unclear how Anbang will fund its cash offer, some analysts said that forming a consortium with two private equity firms, JC Flowers & Co in the United States and Primavera Capital Group in China, would help Anbang avoid domestic regulatory hurdles.

The Chinese insurance regulator stipulates that the outstanding value of overseas assets owned by a Chinese insurer cannot exceed 15 percent of its total assets of the previous year.

Analysts said uncertainties remain over how the deal will unfold. Margaret Taylor, a senior analyst at credit rating agency Moody's Investors Service, said, "There is a high risk that Marriott may ultimately choose to increase its offer.

"We believe Marriott views the acquisition of Starwood as important as it would solidly position the combined company as the world's largest hotel chain and increase its brand and geographic diversification," she said.
From economists and policymakers, to entrepreneurs and lawmakers, Chinese elites are refuting western predictions of China's"economic collapse" and mulling policy prescriptions to ride through challenges, during the annual sessions of both the NPC and CPPCC.

Pessimistic predictions of China's economic future have been making headlines since last year, as the world continues to watch whether the second largest economy is losing steam amid lackluster economic data and a gloomy global outlook.

The topic has also drawn heated discussion in the country's annual sessions of its top legislature and political advisory body, in early March.

From economists and policymakers, to entrepreneurs and lawmakers, Chinese elites agree that a possible hard-landing, which was predicted by the likes of billionaire investor George Soros, is overstated and clouds the silver lining of the powerhouse's huge potential to deliver a "new normal" economy.

In response to Moody's downgrade of its outlook on the country's sovereign bonds and wide skepticism over China's stabilized growth, Xu Shaoshi, China's top economic planner, reassured the public that the prospect of a hard landing will not occur and that China's economy is resilient enough to resist downside risks.

"China is capable of keeping economic growth rate within a reasonable range," said Xu, who is also chief of the National Development and Reform Commission, on the sidelines of the annual sessions of the NPC and CPPCC."We are fully confident in our development prospects."

In his 2016 government work report, Premier Li Keqiang revealed that China's growth rate will be targeted to a range of 6.5 to 7 percent, after the country revealed its lowest growth rate in 25 years at 6.9 percent throughout 2015.

Xu noted that China has the capacity to broker growth at a reasonable range, citing that the country boasts a rich material basis, huge market demand, ample room for regional development and profound experience in macroeconomic strategy.

"China is undergoing structural reforms, which are bound to witness the restructuring of a few sectors with overcapacity. However, the trend of China's economy will be to progress and improve steadily," said Li Yining, honorary dean of the Guanghua School of Management at Peking University.

He viewed that the world's second largest economy is transforming from a trend of industrialization to post-industrialization, at a period of time when it is normal to see a few indicators of slowdown in its economy.

Foreign remarks regarding China's "economic collapse" should not be misinterpreted against the general picture of the upbeat performance after several rounds of structural reforms, said Jia Kang, a senior economist and political advisor. He insisted that China still has "ample weapons in its arsenal" to broker a sound and stabilized growth.

On Feb. 29, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) announced it will reduce the reserve requirement ratio for banks by 0.5 percentage points, the first such operation in China during 2016.

"Stabilized growth is gathering momentum as several rounds of interest and bank reserve cuts are producing desirable results," he said, adding that the PBOC's move signaled additional, bold pro-growth measures on the horizon amid economic overhauls.

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China will need nearly a million more professional social workers by 2020 as rapid urbanization creates more groups in need, Civil Affairs Minister Li Liguo said on Tuesday, World Social Work Day.

The country has hundreds of thousands of qualified professional social workers but nowhere near enough jobs for them, said Li.

There are 4,686 private social work institutions registered in China, according to the minister.

Back in 2011, the government set a target of having 1.45 million social workers by 2020.

Li said poverty alleviation is the central task of professional social workers. They mostly provide services to rural "left-behind" children and elderly people whose migrant-worker parents and children are off working in distant cities.

Social services are still at an early stage of development in China and there are not enough support policies in place yet, said Huang Shengwei, deputy chief of the Ministry of Civil Affairs' social work department.

On the one hand, there are lots of social workers out of work. On the other, professional social workers are desperately in demand, Huang said.

Tang Qunrong, Communist Party chief of a community in Renshou County, Sichuan Province, said many locals really need access to social services, but social work is a tough, poorly-paid job that few people are attracted to.

According to Huang, some areas are exploring ways to improve social services, especially on the more affluent east coast. For example, governments in Guangdong Province fund social work institutions to recruit more staff on the basis that they be assigned to communities, schools and hospitals.

Last year, Guangdong spent over 1.1 billion yuan (168.9 million U.S. dollars) on procurement of social services.
A Catholic Church in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Roman Catholic and Protestant groups in China face a severe shortage of clergy as the number of followers continues to rise, according to church leaders.

The 6 million-plus Catholics in the country are served by 3,316 priests and 5,622 nuns from 106 parishes, according to the Bishops Conference of the Catholic Church in China.

Liu Yuanlong, vice-president of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, said the number of recruits to the priesthood in the Catholic Church in China has dropped sharply in recent years. Fewer than 800 trainee priests are receiving training at the nation's 10 major seminaries.

"The shortage of new recruits is a major problem for the Catholic Church in China," he said on the sidelines of the annual session of the top political advisory body, which ended on Monday.

He said some seminaries are smaller than a rural middle school and have just one or two newly recruited trainee priests each year.

Liu said the talent shortage is caused by a variety of factors, including underground churches.

"The lack of attention paid to church recruits by bishops has also made the problem more serious," he said.

He added that a rise in living standards has also resulted in fewer people who are willing to devote themselves to church service.

Li Shuxing, vice-president of the National Seminary of the Catholic Church in China, said seminaries have prioritized the training of priests who are patriotic and can adapt to society.

"The priests do not live in a vacuum. It is important for them to adapt well to society and serve their parishioners," he said.

Churches under the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China, which had more than 30 million registered followers as of last year, also face a lack of newly recruited clergy.

Gao Feng, president of the Standing Committee of the China Christian Council, said there are about 5,000 pastors and 6,000 Protestant elders in China, as well as about 190,000 leaders of voluntary groups.

"The shortage can easily be seen from the figures. Each pastor would have to serve between 5,000 and 10,000 followers in each parish. The ideal situation is for one pastor to serve 150 followers," he said.

Gao said there are about 800 graduates from seminaries under the Protestant Church each year, while 400,000 to 500,000 people in the country are baptized as Protestants annually.

"The graduates would need proper training in parishes before becoming elders and pastors. It is virtually impossible for us to catch up with the increase in the number of followers," he said.

Gao added that a majority of newly trained graduates from seminaries are focusing on parish management, but few are focusing on theological research.

According to the China Christian Council, there are 22 Protestant seminaries in China, with 292 theology teachers providing training sessions to more than 3,000 students.
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Undated photo shows the illegal immigrants from Vietnam captured by police in Liuzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo: cnr.cn]

China's lawmakers and political advisers have called for a tough law to tackle the increasing number of foreigners illegally entering, living and working in China.

Bills and suggestions have been made during the two sessions, demanding enhanced supervision over visa agents and improvements to the repatriation mechanism.

China's has recently been piloting more flexible visa and immigration policies in Shanghai and Beijing to attract more foreigners with higher education and good career backgrounds.

But law experts say more attention needs to be paid to foreigners doing low-end jobs, and China's current immigration policies.

They say China should initiate a working visa quota for lower skilled jobs.

A national census in 2011 showed that about 600,000 foreigners were living in China.
U Htin Kyaw (L), newly elected president of Myanmar, walks with National League for Democracy party leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar's parliament in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, March 15, 2016. (Xinhua)

The fundamentals of friendly relations between China and Myanmar will remain unchanged after Myanmar's new leadership comes to power.

U Htin Kyaw from Myanmar's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi, won the presidential election Tuesday, becoming Myanmar's new president for the next five years.

Yet, U Htin Kyaw is a long-time friend of Aung San Suu Kyi who could not assume Myanmar's presidency due to constitutional restraints. Aung San Suu Kyi's influence and prestige has not been eroded, and she is still the commander of the NLD and entrusted by the public.

Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to head the NLD to govern Myanmar, fulfill her promises of ushering in change in the country, and lead the country towards future prosperity. Her open talks about China-Myanmar relations in recent years have been positive.

In November 2015 after her NLD won Myanmar's elections, she told Xinhua that the party would continue to value Myanmar's relations with its neighbors and would relay Myanmar's friendship to China.

In June 2015, Aung San Suu Kyi led a NLD delegation to China and met Chinese leaders. The two sides reached consensus on enhancing China-Myanmar ties, which laid a political foundation for continuously advancing bilateral ties.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said Turkey will strongly fight against terrorism.

Speaking during a joint press conference with visiting Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the Presidential Palace in the Turkish capital Ankara, Erdogan again strongly condemned Sunday's Ankara bomb attack, calling it an attack on every Turkish citizen.

"Those who want to settle accounts by spilling blood of innocent people will never bring Turkey to its knees," said the Turkish president.

Erdogan described the Ankara blast as a "cowardly terrorist attack against all of Turkey and all the 79 million Turkish people."

Erdogan said that while the attack targeted the country's integrity as well as unity and solidarity of people, it "does not diminish our will to fight against terror."

Erdogan and Aliyev both emphasized the need to stand against terrorism after the fifth meeting of Turkey-Azerbaijan High Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Ankara.

The Azerbaijani president reiterated his condemnation of the Ankara attack, saying Azerbaijan will always stand by Turkey in its fight against terror.

The car bomb attack in Ankara's central Kizilay neighborhood Sunday evening hit a major public transportation hub, killing 37 people and injuring more than 100 others.
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Death toll from Tuesday afternoon airstrikes carried out by Saudi-led coalition aircrafts on a crowded popular market north of Yemen's capital Sanaa increased to at least 65 civilians, medics and officials told Xinhua.

"So far, the death toll mounted to 65 civilians and 55 others injured when the Saudi-led fighter jets launched two airstrikes on Al-Khamees market in Mastaba district in Hajja province," a medical official told Xinhua, updating a death toll which he previously put at 30.

The airstrikes took place during the rush hour afternoon while people were crowding in the public market, said the official, adding that hospitals in Mastaba and Abs districts have not enough medicines to treat those huge numbers of injured.

Doctors without Borders reported that they have received about 40 injured from the airstrikes in Mastaba district and they were brought to the organization-hosted Rural Hospital in Abs district. The international organization said most of those 40 injured were women and children.

Official Saba news agency, which is under control of the Houthi group, also raised the death toll to 65 civilians from the two airstrikes in Mastaba district and said dozens of others were hurt.

Hajja, about 123 km northwest of the rebel-held Sanaa, is another stronghold of the rebel Shiite Houthi rebels, who also control northern provinces, while southern provinces have been retaken over the past few months by the government forces loyal to the internationally recognized President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

The Saudi-led coalition started daily air bombing on the Shiite Houthi rebels and their allied forces since March 2015, vowing to drive out the rebels and retrieve Sanaa, the capital.

Yemen has been mired in an all-out civil war since September 2014, when the Shiite Houthi group backed by forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh invaded the capital Sanaa and drove President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi into exile. The war has killed nearly 6,000 people, mostly civilians.

Meanwhile, ground battles between the Houthi fighters and government troops renewed in southwest province of Taiz and in northeast province of al-Jouf.

Local sources said at least 23 Houthis and 14 government troops were killed over the past 24 hours in the southern and southwestern suburbs of Taiz.

The sources also said that 10 Houthis and seven government troops were also killed over the past hours in the battle fronts in the northeast al-Jouf province.
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Saudi-led coalition has started removing mines planted by Houthi militias on Saudi-Yemeni borders, Al Hadath local news reported on Tuesday.

Mine experts have arrived at three Yemeni border cities to remove the planted mines, the report said.

Meanwhile, the Arab coalition spokesperson Ahmed Al Asiri said the state of calmness and removal of mines are being carried out through the mediation of heads of Yemeni tribes.

Saudi Arabia welcomed last week the "calm" in Saudi-Yemeni border to reach political solution under the United Nations.

The coalition, which has been engaged in a war in Yemen for almost a year, attributes the state of calmness to the mediation of tribal and social personalities to give the chance for the entry of medical and humanitarian aids to the nearby Yemeni villages.
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The first group of Russian aircraft has left the Hmeimim air base in Syria for their home base in Russia, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

The group is composed of a Tu-154 transport plane as the "leader," and several multifunction Su-23 bombers, the ministry said in a press release.

Each group of the withdrawing forces will be led by a transport plane carrying personnel and equipment, followed by fighter jets, the ministry added.

The move came after Moscow announced it would withdraw from Tuesday the bulk of its forces from the war-torn Middle East country.
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Al-Shabaab militants on Monday took control of Garacad town in Puntland, northern Somalia and later raised their flag in the city centre, officials and residents said Tuesday.

Mayor of Garacad town Abdinur Abdullahi Hersi said the coastal town, which is located in the Mudug region, was seized without resistance by dozens of militants who have arrived there with three boats.

Hersi said insurgents including foreign jihadists stormed the town and took over the town.

"Al-Shabaab fighters captured the town. They came here in boats and residents are evacuating. I have also fled the town, the armed militants came from Haradhere town in Mudug region in hundreds," he added.

Al-Shabaab controls Harardhere town and several key areas in Mudug and Galgaduud regions of central Somalia, whereas Galmudug state is planning to take over and expand its administration.

"Al-Shabaab who were armed entered into the town from the shores and they immediately raised their black flag inside the town. Some of them are masked and foreigners are among them, but I cannot tell you their exact number," said one of the residents.

Garacad is 700 kilometers to north of the Somali capital Mogadishu and it is the first town under Puntland State to have been captured by Al-Shabaab fighters since Puntland forces defeated the group in the northeast region of Bari a year earlier.

Garacad was once a pirate hub which is administered by the Somalia's autonomous state of Puntland. The group suffered great loss from airstrike last week in the south and central Somalia.
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Two Russian military facilities will keep functioning in Syria after Moscow announced a pull back of the bulk of its armed forces in the war-torn country, the Kremlin said Tuesday.

Some Russian personnel would remain deployed at the Hmeimim air base in Latakia and the naval base in the port city of Tartus in Syria to monitor the cease-fire between the Syrian government and the opposition, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Kremlin Administration head Sergei Ivanov also said Russia would maintain all necessary equipment to protect its facilities in the region, including the sophisticated S-400 missile defense systems that were deployed at the Hmeimim air base after Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 fighter jet in late Nov. last year.

The S-400 Triumf is by far Russia's most advanced surface-to-air missile system, capable of hitting an airborne target at a distance of up to 400 km with medium- and long-range missiles.

Russia started an air campaign in Syria on Sept. 30, 2015 at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.8 On Feb. 27, a tentative cease-fire deal, brokered by Russia and the United States, came into force between the Syrian government and the opposition groups in the country.

The truce has since then largely held, and negotiations aimed to facilitate a political transition in Syria are continuing in Geneva, Switzerland.

The positive sign made Russian President Vladimir Putin come to a conclusion that the objective set in Syria had been generally fulfilled, and the Russian leader ordered on Monday the withdrawal of Russian armed forces from the country after a nearly six-month air campaign against terrorist targets.
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Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang

China called for caution in both word and deed from all sides to avoid escalating tension on the Korean peninsula, a foreign ministry spokesman said Tuesday in Beijing.

Top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un said that his country plans to test a nuclear warhead and ballistic rockets capable of carrying nuclear warheads, according to the official KCNA news agency.

"China's position on that issue is clear. We urge all sides to fulfill requirements of the UN security council, be prudent with their words and actions, and not take any action that would worsen tensions on the Korean peninsula," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at a press briefing.

He reaffirmed China's willingness to implement the UN Security Council's resolutions concerning sanctions against the DPRK, saying that the government would inform those affected in a timely manner.
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Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, on Tuesday welcomed the Syria pullout announcement by Russia made on the first day of the current round of Intra-Syrian Talks held in Geneva as "a significant development," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

De Mistura said that "he hoped that it will have a positive impact on the progress of the negotiations in Geneva, aimed at achieving a political solution of the Syrian conflict and a peaceful political transition in the country," Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the withdrawal of the main part of Russian forces from Syria, saying the six-month military intervention had largely achieved its objective.

Meanwhile, the intra-Syrian talks commenced this week with de Mistura at the helm. The talks are being convened in the context of the full implementation of the Geneva Communique as the basis for a Syrian-led political transition.

Also on Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a message to mark the fifth anniversary of the Syrian conflict, which broke out in March, 2011, to appeal to the stakeholders and the UN Security Council to fulfil their responsibilities and to help make the United Nations-mediated peace talks a success.

"If we miss this opportunity the consequences for the Syrian people and the world are too frightening to contemplate," the secretary-general said in the message aimed at the Syrian parties, regional and international stakeholders and the Security Council.

Already in the past five years, more than one-quarter million Syrians have been killed and nearly half of all Syrians have been forced from their homes.

Terrorist groups such as Da'esh and Al Nusra Front have capitalised on the chaos, with foreign fighters and sectarian militias continuing to pour into Syria, Ban said.

The conflict "has been the scene of the use of chemical weapons, siege and starvation as a tool of war, unlawful detention, torture, and the indiscriminate and criminal shelling and aerial bombardment of civilians," said Ban.

Syrian men, women and children feel abandoned by the international community, he said, urging those responsible for these crimes to be held to account.
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The UN Security Council on Tuesday approved a short extension of the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) until June 15, 2016 to assist the further work in establishing the country's government of national accord.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-nation Council reiterated its support for the full implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement, a UN-sponsored peace agreement signed on Dec. 17, 2015 in Skhirat, Morocco, to form a government of national accord that can gain wide support in the country.

The Council, while expressing its support for the ongoing efforts of UNSMIL to facilitate a Libyan-led political solution to the challenges facing the country, encouraged all parties in Libya to be part of and engage constructively in good faith with the agreement.

Five years after the toppling of Libya's late Muammar Gaddafi's regime, the North African country is still struggling with the democratic transition.

On Sunday, Libyan presidential council called on all sovereign institutions of the Libyan state, mainly official financial institutions, to start communicating with the newly-appointed government of national accord for "an organized and peaceful transfer of power."
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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that he will go to Russia next week to meet President Vladimir Putin, discussing the crisis on Syria.

"I will be traveling next week to Moscow to meet with President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in order to discuss how we can effectively move the political process forward and try to take advantage of this moment," Kerry said here before a meeting with Georgia's Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said the date to Moscow will be after Tuesday next week, when Kerry returns from a trip to Cuba with President Barack Obama.

Putin on Monday announced that the Russia would withdraw its air forces deployed in Syria starting from Tuesday.

The decision was discussed and coordinated with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during a phone call earlier in the day, Putin said, adding that "the fundamental tasks set for the Russian armed forced in Syria were resolved."

The White House said on Tuesday Russia so far appears to begin pulling its troops out of Syria.

"The earliest indications are that the Russians are following through," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

He also cautioned that "it is still too early at this point to determine the impact that might have on the broader situation."

"With the cessation of hostilities largely holding, Russia's announcement yesterday that it will remove half of its forces immediately and more perhaps from Syria and with the political negotiations reconvening this week in Geneva, we have reached a very important phase in this process," Kerry said.

"So this is a time to seize, not waste," he said. "We have at this moment the ability to finally take a step towards ending this war and the bloodshed."

Kerry will also likely discuss situation in eastern Ukraine and implementation of the Minsk agreements during his Moscow trip, according to the State Department.
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Syrian main opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) spokesman Salem al-Meslet on Tuesday cautiously welcomed Russian intentions to withdraw forces from Syria, but warned that words must be followed by action.

"We heard the decision, but hearing is different from seeing things on the ground. It's important for us to see a full pull-out of the Russian troops, not only Russian troops but all foreign troops," al-Meslet explained.

"It's a positive step if they are serious about implementing that. We'll wait and see and I believe our decision will be based on what we see on the ground," he added.

UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, who is mediating the latest round of talks aiming to find a political solution to the crisis which started five years ago, also welcomed the development.

"The announcement by President Putin on the very day of the beginning of this round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva is a significant development, which we hope will have a positive impact on the progress of the negotiations in Geneva aimed at achieving a political solution to the Syrian conflict and a peaceful political transition in the country," he said in a statement.
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Two wildlife conservationists, an Italian father and his son, were accidentally shot and killed in the Mana Pools wildlife national park in northern Zimbabwe after park rangers apparently mistook them for poachers, the government admitted Monday.

Two rangers patrol in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. Rangers in the park always patrol with guns because the poaching groups have become increasingly sophisticated and armed. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority identified the two Italian nationals as Claudio Chiarelli and Max Chiarelli. The two might have been on an anti-poaching patrol in the park late Sunday afternoon when they were shot.

"Rangers who had been pursuing the spoor of suspected poachers came across a fresh fire place in dense vegetation, which they suspected to have been used by poachers. They later saw movement in the thicket, heard voices and opened fire, accidentally killing on spot the pair," the parks authority said in a statement.

The parks authority said the two men who worked for a wildlife conservation organization, Zambezi Society, had on the day decided to join the parks authority on an anti-poaching patrol and had come to replace the rangers when they stopped to attend to a mechanical problem on their vehicle.

It said investigations on the matter were underway.

An official with the Italian Embassy in Harare confirmed that the killed men were an Italian father and his son, whose ages have not yet been revealed. The father had lived in Zimbabwe for more than 30 years.

The official could not give further details saying "we have not yet received an official report so we cannot comment further because we don't know exactly what happened and we are waiting for authorities to come up with a report".

Emmanuel Fundira, head of the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe told Xinhua Chiarelli the father was a renowned professional hunter who regularly volunteered to assist the national parks with logistics and technical support in its anti-poaching activities.

He said as the private sector they had the responsibility to assist the national parks in wildlife conservation efforts and that they had numerous such organizations of volunteers in all areas with a high concentration of wildlife.

"Mr Chiarelli frequently volunteered his time to assist the national parks with logistics and technical support on its anti-poaching activities and it is one such tragic incident that has happened," Fundira said.

Zimbabwe has some of Africa's largest and most popular game reserves. Despite its applaudable reputation for conservation in the 1980s and 1990s, Zimbabwe in recent years has faced increasing pressure to protect its wild animals from better equipped and sophisticated poaching rings.
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Three Belgian police officers suffered minor injuries in a shootout during a raid on a property in Brussels as part of the investigation into the Nov. 13 terror attacks in Paris, the Belgian federal prosecutor said on Tuesday.

Police officers guard at a crossroad on the site of a shooting in Forest, Brussels, Belgium, March 15, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Shots were fired in the Brussels commune of Forest, at a property on Rue de Dries. A man reportedly fired on several police officers with an automatic weapon.

Eric Van Der Sypt, spokesman for the federal prosecutor, said: "As soon as the officers rang the doorbell of the house, shots were fired in their direction. Several policemen were slightly injured."

According to the local police department, the suspected gunman is on the run. The number of fleeing suspects is still to be confirmed.

Belgian public broadcaster RTBF said the police were not heavily armed as investigators had not expected to find people inside the building, which had reportedly been rented under a fake name.

The anti-terrorist raid was carried out on Tuesday as part of a Franco-Belgian operation, Belgian interior minister Jan Jambon confirmed.

French police officers were also involved in the operation, described by the interior minister's office as a "joint mission, as is done regularly since the Paris attacks."

According to RTBF, Belgian prime minister Charles Michel has not ruled out a meeting of the National Security Council depending on the outcome of today's raid.
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Republican Donald Trump on Tuesday called for unified support within the party after sweeping victories in crucial presidential nomination contests.

However, despite his delegate lead, Trump's appeal to his rivals' supporters would likely fall on deaf ears and the GOP nomination process in this election cycle could continue to drag on.

Trump scored at least three victories in Tuesday's primaries with the Missouri primary too close to call as of early Wednesday morning, making it an uphill battle for the other candidates to garner the majority of total delegates required to win their party's presidential nomination.

The biggest prize for Trump was the winner-take-all Florida primary, in which the New York billionaire developer pocketed 99 delegates, delivering a fatal blow to Florida Senator Marco Rubio who suspended his campaign Tuesday night.

The commanding victory for Trump in Florida was the first part of his campaign plan to seal his nomination.

But Trump lost Ohio to its governor John Kasich. The state is also a crucial winner-take-all primary with 66 delegates at stake.

To win the Republican nomination, a candidate must win at least 1,237 delegates.

Trump now led the race for delegates with a total of 619 in Tuesday's contests, trailed by Ted Cruz with 394.

With about 1,000 delegates left for grab after Tuesday, Trump would need to win about six in 10 to notch the nomination before the GOP convention. Cruz would need to win about eight in 10, and Kasich couldn't reach a convention majority even if he won every single delegate from now on.

Trump could nab the most delegates come the Republican convention in July but still fall short of acquiring the crucial threshold 50% of all delegates.

Speaking at a rally Tuesday night in Florida, Trump told supporters that the time had come for party unity.

"The fact is we have to bring our party together," said Trump, adding that his candidacy had drawn in many people who hadn't voted before.

The results on Tuesday came at a time when Trump was widely questioned as to whether he was doing enough to stem violence at his rallies in the wake of confrontation between Trump supporters and protesters at a rally in Chicago on Friday.

During his farewell speech on Tuesday, Rubio took one last shot at Trump.

"I ask the American people - do not give into the fear, do not give in to the frustration," said Rubio, referring to Trump's past controversial remarks about illegal immigrants and Muslims, which seemed to resonate with the electorate in this chaotic election cycle.

"We can disagree about public policy. We can disagree vibrantly and passionately. But we are a hopeful people," said Rubio.

Trump drew widespread criticism last June when he said in his presidential announcement speech that Mexico was sending "rapists" and drug dealers to the United States. Since then, the billionaire had repeatedly vowed to deport about 11 million undocumented immigrants if elected.

In another outburst of emotional remarks, Trump called for a "total and complete" ban on Muslims entering the United States in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks last year.

Around the country, Trump's campaign team even started teaching supporters how to handle possible confrontation with protesters who did not see eye to eye with Trump's anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim remarks.

"If a protester starts demonstrating in the area around you, please do not touch or harm the protester," said a scripted message that precedes all Trump allies. "Please hold a rally sign over your head and start chanting 'Trump! Trump! Trump!'"

However, the past two weeks had witnessed escalating violence, which culminated with a tense confrontation between Trump's supporters and protesters after the Trump campaign canceled a rally in Chicago on Friday.

After Friday's incident, Trump's rivals, both Republicans and Democrats, lined up to throw jabs at the belligerent Republican presidential front-runner who had since Day One of his candidacy unleashed the pent-up fury of economically displaced working-class white Americans.

With the possibility of Trump winning the GOP nomination looming large, resistance from the rank-and-file Republicans appears to have intensified.

According to an exit poll conducted by NBC News on Tuesday, more than a third of Republican primary voters said they would consider a third-party candidate if faced with a general election matchup between Clinton and Trump.
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A meeting between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's and Russian President Vladimir Putin is under consideration as the top U.S. diplomat will visit Moscow next week over the Syria crisis, according to the Kremlin.

"The visit by John Kerry is being coordinated and is very likely to take place in Moscow where he will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ... and the possibility of Kerry's meeting with the Russian president is under consideration," Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

The two sides are expected to focus on the situation in Syria, he said, adding that Moscow is satisfied with its joint efforts with the United States in coordinating and promoting the peaceful settlement process in the country.

Earlier in the day, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, confirmed to Russia's Govorit Moskva radio station that the Russian side is coordinating the possible visit.

The U.S. State Department said Tuesday that the purpose of Kerry's trip is to continue to look for ways to move the political process forward in Syria.

"Obviously, there are other issues to discuss in our bilateral relationship with Russia, but the prime mover for it, again, is Syria," said U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby.

He said other issues, including the situation in Ukraine, will be discussed as well.

Kerry's visit follows the start of the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria.
A man takes a picture of Toshiba's 4xFullHD television set at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin. [Photo/Agencies]

A deal on the sale of Toshiba Corp's home appliances business to Chinese company Midea Group has yet to be confirmed, both companies said on Tuesday.

The announcement came after Japan's Nikkei media reported that talks on the sale had reached the final stage.

The sale will be worth more than $1 billion, the report said.

Midea, a leading Chinese home appliances manufacturer based in Guangdong province, said the company had no information to share on the deal.

However, Midea has always been in an "open and active" approach in looking for opportunities to strengthen its international business, while taking every factor into consideration before making final decisions for its global operation, the company said in a news release.

Toshiba also said that no concrete agreements had been reached on the sale with any specific company.

Toshiba, which reported a loss due to accounting fraud in 2015, said in a news release that it had not made such announcement and the Nikkei report was not based on information provided by the company.

In December, the Japanese electronic giant announced a restructuring. It has since been in negotiation with several companies on improving efficiencies.

Midea's turnover reached an all-time high of $23 billion in 2014, with one-third of its revenue coming from overseas, partly due to its rapid foreign acquisitions.

The Shenzhen Stock Exchange-listed company purchased the magnetron plant of Japan's Sanyo Electric Co Ltd in 2001 and acquired a 32.5 percent share of Egypt-listed air-conditioning manufacturer Miraco in 2010.

Industry insiders said previous cooperation between Midea and Toshiba would help make the sale "possible" to Chinese companies, which have emerged rapidly in the international market.

"Toshiba has developed a sound brand and good quality in its home appliances business. But it needs to be well restructured due to big losses," Chen Yan, a researcher specializing in Japanese business in China, was quoted as saying by the China Business News.

Acquisition of Toshiba's home appliances business will help boost Chinese companies' strength in technology, research and branding, Chen said.

Midea had formed a joint venture with Toshiba-Carrier for the production of air-conditioning products in 2004 after purchasing the Macro-Toshiba compressor factory, which was later named GMCC-Guangdong Midea Toshiba Compressor Corp.

"It has been Midea's core strategy to operate globally and we are actively seeking opportunities for investment overseas," said Yuan Liqun, vice-president of Midea Group and a deputy to the National People's Congress, during the ongoing annual meeting of the legislative body in Beijing.

After years of development, Midea has set up three overseas research and development centers and seven production bases in six countries, including Egypt, Brazil, Argentina and India, with some of the projects jointly set up by the Chinese side and other multimedia white-goods giants, according to Yuan.
SHANGHAI - Imports of coal and lignite through Shanghai in January and February were up 150 percent year on year, the local customs authority announced on Tuesday.

Shanghai imported 1.94 million tons of coal and lignite in the first two months. The average price for a tonne of coal stood at 316 yuan ($49), down 6.2 percent year on year, according to the customs.

During the period, coal imports from Australia more than doubled year on year to 566,000 tons, encouraged by tax cuts due to a China-Australia free trade agreement that took effect in December.

Shanghai coal imports from ASEAN countries reached 1.2 million tons in the first two months, up 90.5 percent year on year and accounting for 62 percent of its total imports.

Increased power demand and China's dropping domestic coal inventory contributed to the jump in imports, according to the customs.
BEIJING - A year ago, farmer Liu Tongyong, who lives deep in the mountains and had never used the Internet, was worried about his snake gourd sales.

Now the 45-year-old from east China's Anhui province is selling his produce online. "I have not only sold out of product, but also gotten a better price," he said.

Liu's home in Taiping Village is about a two-hour ride from the seat of Yuexi county.

In the past, he had to wait for someone to collect the gourds. Sometimes the collectors wouldn't even show up. Liu had no choice but to let the fruit decay in the field.

This year, an e-commerce service center was set up in Taiping Village, which has helped more than 300 farmers sell their products. About 7,500 kilograms of snake gourds were sold in a year.

A report by the China Internet Network Information Center showed that of China's 688 million Internet users by the end of 2015, 195 million, or 28.4 percent, were rural residents.

China has witnessed a boom in rural e-commerce in recent years, with 780 villages exceeding 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) each in online transactions in 2015, according to a report released by online retail giant Alibaba.

China's online sales remained strong in 2015, jumping 33.3 percent year on year to 3.88 trillion yuan, with 22.4 percent of online shoppers coming from rural areas.

E-commerce has not only helped farmers sell their products, but also helped them buy things.

With the spring growing season on the way, Zhou Zhuwen in east China's Jiangxi province is buying fertilizer for his grain online.

"It is cheaper, and I have more choices," he said. The fertilizer can be delivered to his home, saving him the trouble of transportation. "This time, I bought 20 tonnes and saved more than 10,000 yuan," he added.

"E-commerce is changing farmers' work habits and boosting their efficiency," said Zheng Fengtian, vice head of the School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development at Renmin University.

Last year, China's Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce announced 200 counties that would serve as demonstration bases for rural e-commerce and earmarked two billion yuan to help with development there.

According to Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng, the country will reduce logistics costs, which are 15 to 16 percent of total product costs on average, almost double that in developed countries.

"Methods of consumption will be improved," he said, adding that online sales have become the trend.

In this year's government work report, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang promised to "encourage the introduction of e-commerce into rural areas", and increase the accessibility of broadband networks in both urban and rural areas.

The government has pledged to spend 140 billion yuan by 2020 to provide at least 50,000 villages with broadband Internet access. At that time, about 98 percent of the nation's rural areas will be hooked up to the Internet.

Alibaba plans to invest 10 billion yuan to establish 100,000 village service centers in the next three to five years, which will serve to teach rural people how to use the Internet for shopping or business.

Farmer Liu has just expanded acreage of his snake gourd fruit. "With the help of the Internet, I hope that more products could be sold," he said.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks at a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 16, 2016.[Photo/Xinhua]

China will not falter in carrying out its reform agenda while ensuring that growth is not seriously affected, said Premier Li Keqiang at a news conference on Wednesday.

"One thing is for sure, that we are determined to push ahead with our reform agenda," he said after the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 12th National People's Congress in Beijing.

The country will also protect the interests of workers in industries where overcapacity will be cut, Li said.

China has earmarked a 100 billion yuan ($15.4 billion) fund to subsidize possible layoffs and "if necessary, the fund can be expanded," the premier said.

Local governments must also allocate funds to help push for the restructuring of industries suffering from overcapacity, such as steel and coal mining, he said.
Premier Li Keqiang greets journalists attending the news conference after the closing meeting of the fourth session of China's 12th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 16, 2016. [Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/chinadaily.com.cn]

: Some people are worried that China's growth might fail to reach the target or even below 6.5 percent. What's your view?

Li Keqiang: You raised a big question. But it is impossible for me to agree that China cannot achieve the growth target this year. The weak world recovery has taken its toll on the Chinese economy, which is deeply engaged in the world economy. China's economic transition is under way and its deep-rooted problems are emerging. The downward pressure indeed is increasing. But one prominent feature is greater divergence among regions and industries.

The other day I read a foreign media report saying that one visit to a heavy industry left the impression of depression, while the next stop to a technology park left the impression that the economy is growing at a double-digit rate. This is in line with my last year's field trip conclusion: hope and challenges coexist. If we look at the "fundamental" and "big trend", hope outweighs challenges.

We are fully confident about China's long-term growth prospects. This confidence is not groundless, because we believe that there will not be a hard landing as long as we stick to the reform path. There is still huge potential for China's markets; the general public has unlimited creativity. The government has overreached its aims in many aspects of economy, which hindered the gains of productivity; we are also not doing a sufficient job in ensuring a level playing ground . I believe through reform we can stimulate more vitality in the market, and greater vigor of the people. The wisdom and hard work of our people, if well tapped, is enough to withstand downward pressures.

The deregulation and tax cuts of the past few years will unleash the vitality of the market. Meanwhile, new forces of economic growth drivers are taking shape in a way that beats expectations. Despite the slowdown over the past few years, the employment condition is not bad. Last year we created more than 13 million jobs in the urban area. In the first two months of this year, the service sector grew 8.1 percent. Among them, there is high-tech research development, which is giving a push to the upgrade of traditional industries, an area where there is so much work we can do. We are in the midst of pushing ahead with deindustrialization and urbanization. New-style urbanization is the large domestic demand, especially in central and western regions, where there is enormous room for effective investment. If we combine the "fostering of new drivers" and "upgrading of old engines" and make them the "double-engines" of the Chinese economy, it will go through the pass of difficulties and leap to the plateau of hope.

Under uncertain world economic prospects, instability is adding. But we have ample reserves of policy instruments. Last year, despite a six-year low in world growth, we managed to reach our previous target. We realized that in the absence of all-out stimulus measures, instead we have chosen the path of structural reform, which is tough but sustainable. There will be small and short-term volatility down the road, but in case there is any sign that the economy will slide beyond an appropriate range, we have the reserves of innovative macro-adjustment measures to stabilize expectations.

The "stress test" we have been through, in another way, is a precious experience. I believe that under the leadership of the CPC central committee with Xi Jinping as general secretary, as long as the new vision we have deployed unites the people's efforts, we will be able to deliver a good start to the 13th five-year plan, which will bring a warm breeze to the world.
NANNING - The 13rd China-ASEAN Expo, slated for Sept 23-26, will be held in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, local authorities announced Wednesday.

The expo will highlight "jointly building the 21st-century maritime silk road and closer China-ASEAN community of common destiny," said Wang Lei, secretary-general of the expo during a conference of senior officials from China and ASEAN.

Enterprises from around the world will participate in the expo, with investors and buyers holding dialogs with entrepreneurs from China and ASEAN on economic and trade cooperation.

Vietnam will be the country of honor this year, apart from holding the chair, it will welcome a group of Chinese companies and hold exhibitions from June 16 to 18, 2016 in Vietnam.

Initiated in 2004, the expo is an important platform to promote bilateral trade and relationships between China and ASEAN.

This year marks the first year of the establishment of the ASEAN community, which is the first cross-nation union in East Asia and is expected to lead the region to a new stage of integration and growth.

The community will bring China-ASEAN cooperation closer as China has been the ASEAN's largest trade partner, and ASEAN has been China's third largest partner, since 2010.

Mutual trade volume was nearly $450 billion in 2015, data from the General Administration of Customs showed.

Founded in 1967 in Thailand, ASEAN members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
BEIJING - China's non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) in January and February surged 71.8 percent over the same period of 2015, according to new official data.

The country's ODI in the first two months of 2016 hit 195.97 billion yuan ($29.92 billion), said the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) in a statement on Tuesday.

The ODI in February alone outnumbered the total for the first two months of last year.

The MOC attributed the rise to a more diversified investment portfolio. In January and February 2016, nine of the 20 industries considered in the ministry's calculation contributing ODI of over $1 billion, compared to only four in the same period of 2015.

The Belt and Road Initiative also accelerated business cooperation between Chinese firms and their foreign counterparts.

China's Jan-Feb ODI to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative stood at $2.23 billion, an increase of 41.1 percent year on year.

Asian countries and regions were the most popular ODI destinations for Chinese firms. Investment in them accounted for about 60 percent of the total in the first two months.

ODI to Hong Kong almost doubled year on year to 15.82 billion dollars in the said period, that to ASEAN countries jumped by 33.3 percent.
CAIRO - China's leading auto maker, Chery International, announced Tuesday the relaunching of its Speranza cars under the new name of "Chery."

The "Chery" will be assembled in Egypt in partnership with two leading Egyptian automobile corporations, Ghabbour Auto (GB) and Aboul Fotouh Automative (AFA).

Chery has sold over 30,000 Speranza models in Egypt since 2004 and has become the most popular Chinese car in Egypt in cooperation with Aboul Fotouh Automative.

With the new trilateral partnership, Chery decided to relaunch its assembled cars in Egypt under the company's name.

"This relaunch is an important step for Chery International's strategy, as Egypt is a leading country in Africa and Chery started its export business in the Middle East and Africa. That is why we see Africa as a market with huge potential," He Xiaoqing, President of Chery International, told Xinhua in an interview following the ceremony.

He added that AFA has abundant local resources in order to assemble car parts and integrate Chery's products, while GB's solid marketing experience guarantees successful sales and customer service for Chery's products.

Chery expects AFA to assemble 35,000 units annually and the Chinese auto manufacturer is focusing on brand design, product enhancement and upgrading service in its comprehensive growth strategy in Egypt.

GB Chairman, Raouf Ghabbour, said he is proud to partner with Chery International due to its past success in the Egyptian market and said the agreement will also assist AFA to work at full capacity during the current economic recession.

"It was a good chance to first of all increase the GB brand visibility of Ghabbour and at the same time support Aboul Fotouh Automative to operate at full production capacity. So, it is a win-win situation which is why we did not hesitate to partner with them," Ghabbour told Xinhua during the ceremony.

GB added that Chery is "a significant name with a successful track record in Egypt," stressing that Egyptian customers value the quality of Chery vehicles, which is the reason why this partnership will benefit all those concerned.

"We will definitely mobilize our experience to support Chery as we did with Geely, Hyundai and Mazda, through networks of sales branches and licensed distributors, maintenance and service centers and spare part sales outlets," he said, noting that no Chery cars will be assembled in Egypt outside of AFA.

GB is funding the relaunch which is worth hundreds of millions of Egyptian pounds for the Chery and AFA deal, and expects to sell 1,500 Chery vehicles a month, targeting an annual sales goal of 40,000 cars each year.
Will China make concrete progress toward its vision of a more inclusive and sustainable society in 2016, rebalancing its economy to better address the related challenges of eradicating poverty, reducing inequality and protecting the environment?

A clear course has been set by three international agreements reached in 2015the first in Addis Ababa on finance for sustainable development, the second in New York on a set of global goals to eradicate extreme poverty, and the third in Paris on climate change. These agreements have set forth a bold, new vision for how the world can tackle these challenges. As President Xi Jinping has said, after unprecedented economic expansion since 1990, China now needs to embrace a new economic model that focuses more on the quality rather than the quantity of growth. Will the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) be able to deliver this?

On combating climate change, China has already made its plans known with its declared goal of peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. It also aims to increase its share of non-fossil sources in its primary energy consumption to 20 percent while reducing carbon intensity by 60 to 65 percent from 2005 levels. China could signal its commitment to climate action by setting more stringent caps on coal consumption and production, expanding its program of low carbon provinces and cities and turning its carbon-trading pilot program into a national emissions trading system, as expected by 2017.

Recent news reports suggest China has set a target of reducing its carbon intensity by 18 percent from 2015 levels by 2020, beyond its 2009 goal, this target could help China reach its goal of peaking carbon emissions by 2030 or earlier.

On finance, China needs to make its financial system more environmentally sustainable if it is to embark on a new model of high-quality economic growth. So will China's government send clear signals to shift investment to resource-efficient growth and pollution control, moving from "business as usual" to green finance?

A new report from the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development recommends that China launch a national green development fund, develop long-term sources of finance by promoting green bonds and support the development of a green finance risk guarantee mechanism, including environmental liability insurance. When it hosts the G20 summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, in September, China can provide real leadership to encourage central banks and finance ministries to enable the global financial system to more easily support green investment.
Movies are becoming a popular pastime for urbanites, especially in smaller cities.

"Before I got married two years ago, I went to the cinema almost every week. Now I go about twice a month. Tickets for new movies are often sold out in my city."

Li Jian, civil servant in Zhaoyuan, Shandong province

"I went to the cinema only twice last month because of my wife's pregnancy. I used to go at least once in two weeks. Cinemas here have become much more crowded."

Li Xuefeng, high school teacher in Chaohu, Anhui province

"I watch movies quite a lot and, except for unpopular art-house films, I watch most of the new screenings."

Hu Xiaoxiao, kindergarten teacher in Ningbo, Zhejiang province

"I go to the cinema every week if I'm not busy. I prefer Chinese-language films. I'll watch excellent ones, such as the recent Mermaid, two or three times."

Lang Rongqian, civil servant in Zhuanghe, Liaoning province

Compiled by China Daily
Skeptical netizens found a local media outlet in Southwest China's Sichuan province giving inaccurate information in a report about a female graduate of one of the country's top universities who launched a company and now works as a deliverywoman.

Xu Lu, 34, enrolled as a journalism major at Peking University in 2000, and worked for a high-tech company and later for a property developer after graduating, the Chengdu Business Daily reported.

The media outlet cited Xu as saying that she could earn as much as 20,000 yuan ($3,074) a month at that time, but in 2010 she returned to her hometown, Shifang in Sichuan province, after she married.

In 2013, Xu conquered barriers to get a franchise for a large nationwide express company to operate her own company in Shifang.

In March, Xu was honored as "March 8th Red Banner Holder" in Deyang city, which governs Shifang. The honor is granted to those who are regarded as role models for women.

When the report was put online on Tuesday, it sparked hot debate among Chinese netizens on the uselessness of a university education, because it took physical work rather than metal work for her to become successful.

The hot debate later led netizens to question whether Xu was a student at Peking University.

Some netizens said that Peking University did not have a journalism school in 2000 and they could not find Xu's name on the list of students enrolled that year.

The online news portal thepaper.cn reported that its reporters contacted Xu, who said she studied at a college in Beijing and got her college degree in 2003.

After that she took part in a program at Peking University and took journalism courses in 2004. She got a bachelor's degree from Peking University in 2007, Xu told thepaper.cn.

"I did not know the report would say I was enrolled in Peking University in 2000. It was in 2004. I told the reporter that I got the bachelor's degree through an adult education program," Xu said. "I did not mean to hype."

Peking University confirmed late Tuesday that Xu studied journalism courses from 2004 to 2007 through the university's adult education program, Beijing Youth Daily reported.
Pioneer of mediation focuses on community By Zhang Zhouxiang and Shi Baoyin (China Daily) Updated: 2016-03-08 08:16:21

When she graduated from college in 1994, 20-year-old Zhu Zhengxu was confident she would be a good judge.

She had achieved high grades, undergone demanding internships and had pored over legal columns to find the right combination of words for her carefully crafted written verdicts.

In fact, her verdicts were so proficient that they were selected by the national judiciary newspaper as example essays.

Yet life as a judge in rural Central China's Henan province proved difficult, especially when the locals began to complain that they could not understand the words Zhu used.

Worse, most villagers were poor and had little education, which adversely affected their ability to build a legal case or hire a decent lawyer.

Zhu found that her judgments, though following the letter of the law, would almost always favor those who were rich and well educated, because they could hire better attorneys and build a better case.

"That's justice on paper but not justice in reality," she said, "We needed to think of a solution or people would stop trusting the rule of law."

To combat this problem, Zhu introduced a system of mediation in her court that was also designed to make the process friendlier, as she had often witnessed legal battles over minor disputes turn good neighbors into bitter enemies.

Village elders, along with other members of the community who were held in high regard, were asked to act as mediators in certain disputes before a final ruling was made.

"You need a good community to have justice and doing nothing else but making stone-cold rulings won't help us build one," said Zhu.

In Naodian People's Court, where Zhu has served since 2007, they have about 40 such mediators. Thanks to their efforts, scores of cases have been amicably resolved before the court could make a final ruling.

Zhu always insists on being a part of the mediation process so that she can see justice being served. When a litigant insists or a judgment from the court is deemed necessary, she will make a ruling. Mediation should not be done at the cost of justice, she said.

The judge's reputation won her enough votes to be elected as a deputy of the NPC in 2012. Her pioneering efforts were further recognized by the Supreme People's Court in May, when she received the National Exemplar Judge award.

Zhu's proposals include strengthening labor protection and improving the selection process for judicial staff. She would like to see better differentiation between these staff, such as judges and procurators, and administrative staff in courts and procuratorates. "It is our common wish to have the rule of law", she said, "that needs our joint efforts."

Contact the writer at zhangzhouxiang@chinadaily.com.cn
Sessions a real place for the public's voice; closely related to people's lives By Du Juan (China Daily) Updated: 2016-03-16 07:17:33

As a business reporter, I used to consider mergers and acquisitions valued at hundreds of billions of dollars more important than wishy-washy political plans that take years to realize.

I believed the performance of the stock market and company scandals were more relative to people than long-term economic structural plans.

I was wrong.

During this year's two sessionsChina's biggest political event, which takes place annually in MarchI listened to several discussions among deputies to the National People's Congress. Then, I realized these annual plenary meetings are a real place for the public to speak.

The 5,000 NPC deputies and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee are from all over the country, coming here with their suggestions based on various experiences and expectations with one common goalmaking a better China.

The policies they have been discussing concern everyone's daily lifeincluding having a second child, fair education resources, farmers' equal rights, food security, pollution and corruption.

When Vice-Premier Wang Yang went to a discussion with deputies from Liaoning province, a farmer deputy named Mao Fengmei raised several issues with Wang.

Mao said farmers' pensions should be raised. He said people in rural areas get 50 yuan ($7.7) a month, which is not fair compared with 500 yuan a month in cities.

"I think it's better for the government to give the elderly above 80 years old 300 yuan a month, 70 years old 200 yuan a month and 100 yuan monthly for those who are above 60," he said.

I found the communication between Wang and Mao inspiring. This country's real policymakers are peopleyou and me, senior officials and rural residents, not a small number of smart ones.

The issues that matter in a country are not only how many billionaires it creates or how many successful Chinese companies are in the world's top list.

What matters more is how happy the people living in this country are.

Do they get enough of a pension after retirement? Do they have satisfying jobs? Do their kids get fair education and healthcare? Are children bullied at school?

It has been said that the two sessions are not fruitful since deputies and members are usually government officials, scholars, experts or even celebrities rather than common people.

Maybe. But those officials, scholars and celebrities are also sons and daughters, parents and grandparents. They may be experts in certain sectors, but they are just as common as you and me in other fields and they will speak for us during those sessions.

One day, I took a taxi to the meetings and the taxi driver said he didn't care about the two sessions because politics is far from his life.

I told him Mao's story and many other suggestions I have heard from the two sessions, telling him politics is not far away at all.

He agreed and told me he will definitely read more news these days.
Soybean province wants protection from GM crops By Zhao Huanxin and Zhou Huiying (China Daily) Updated: 2016-03-16 07:33:45

National legislators from Heilongjiang province, which is China's principal producer of non-genetically-modified soybeans, are calling for a law to set up a special zone where the planting and processing of GM plants is prohibited.

Deputies to the country's top legislature hope such a law would preserve ecological diversity, benefit farmers who plant non-GM soybeans and avoid "possible contamination" of the soybean crop by GM plants.

The size of the proposed special zone would restore the province's soybean growing acreage to its 2010 level of 4.3 million hectares, said national lawmaker Tan Zhijuan.

Tan said universities in Heilongjiang and beyond should have first call on the non-GM soybean products coming out of the special zone.

"Heilongjiang, China's largest producer of non-GM soybeans, has seen its planting acreage downsized to a tipping point of 1.4 million hectares," said Tan, who is a veteran agricultural specialist.

"This represents a drop of a staggering 66 percent in five years following the influx of much cheaper GM imports."

Nationwide, China imported 81.7 million tons of soybeansmostly GM oneslast year, which meant more than 80 percent of its soybean consumption was met by imports, said Tan.

"China has the world's most diversified wild soybean resources," Tan said.

As a responsible country, China must protect living genetic material including seeds and tissue used for plant breeding, preservation and research, Tan said.

Although the planting of GM soybeans has not been detected so far in Heilongjiang province, there are risks that GM seeds might find their way to the fields, for example, through leakage from road transportation, Tan warned.

She said the key to establishing the non-GM soybean protection zone would be to build up an industrial chain that streamlines the planting, processing and sales of non-GM soybeans.

This non-GM industrial chain will differentiate itself from that for GM products and improve the competitive edge of the domestic soybean industry to target its niche market, Tan said.
Q&A: China-Russia relations (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-03-16 12:46:04

Premier Li Keqiang greets journalists at the news conference after the closing meeting of the fourth session of China's 12th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 16, 2016.. [Photo by Xu Jingxing/chinadaily.com.cn]

: Both China and Russia have recognized that the business cooperation between the two countries is lacking behind the growth of their political ties, and both sides have promised to change the situation by promoting trade ties and also investment cooperation. However, we have not seen a large inflow of Chinese investment in Russia yet. What is the reason for that? Is it because of the Western sanctions against Russia or Russia's own economic situation? Are Chinese companies under pressure from the United States and other countries in cooperating with Russia. Moreover, some Chinese experts believe that China is not that interested in making investment in Russia, but only interested in getting Russia's cheap energy. What is your response?

Li Keqiang: China and Russia are each other's biggest neighbors, there is a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries. This relationship is an all-dimensional one. President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin have met with each other quite often, there is a close political relationship between the two countries and our business cooperation has been continuously rising because we have multiple operations in quite many fields. China has all along developed its relationship with Russia on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit, and China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace. China-Russia relations will not be affected by changing circumstances in the international environment, and will not cave to third-party pressure. In the meantime, China follows the principle of nonalignment, and China-Russian cooperation will not be targeted at any third party.

Just now I said our business cooperation has also been rising. For example, last year, Chinese imports of oil from Russia increased by eight million tons, but because of plummeting commodity prices on international markets, China's total imports and exports declined, not just its imports from Russia. The physical volume has gone up, by the total trade volume has come down because of the falling prices, and neither country is responsible for that. Last year I had a deep discussion about China-Russia business cooperation with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, we agreed that we can explore cooperation in the integrated development of oil and natural gas, sectors that will help attract more Chinese investment, and we can also introduce a greater level of diversity into our trade mix. I hope that next year, if you come to this press conference again, I can tell you that the business ties between our two countries have turned the corner for the better.

And I believe the enhancement of our business ties will also reflect the improvement of the global trade situation, and that will be a warm breeze our two countries can bring to global trade.
Q&A: Stability of Asia-Pacific region (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-03-16 13:30:18

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang greets journalists at his press conference after the closing meeting of the fourth session of China's 12th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 16, 2016. [Feng Yongbin / China Daily]

: Just in the last two months, actions of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have got the United States to increase its military presence in the Republic of Korea. At the same time, military tensions have increased in the South China Sea. And now Australia is in talks with the US in order to host strategic plane bombers in its territory And in the trade area 12 countries, not including China, have signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership. And my question is putting these together do you think that President Obama's focus in the Asia-Pacific region has already become a problem for China? Or do you see any other sources of instability in the whole Asia-Pacific area?

Li Keqiang: It seems that all your questions are related to China's neighborhood. So let me say that China all along believes in pursuing harmonious coexistence with its neighbors, and we always believe that we need to have a stable neighborhood environment.

It is up to the efforts of regional countries to maintain regional stability and harmony in the neighborhood. It is also natural that some differences may arise between neighbors. But we believe that as long as we all treat each other with sincerity and seek peaceful settlements to differences through diplomatic means, regional stability will be maintained. As for countries from outside the region, like the United States, we think the United States has never left the Asia-Pacific region. And all countries can work together to enhance cooperation and properly handle differences.

China is now pursuing modernization, hence development remains our top priority. China needs a stable neighborhood and a peaceful international environment for its domestic development. And a growing China will remain a staunch force for upholding global peace and it is also in the interests of China's neighbors. China will remain committed to the path of peaceful development and China will not waiver in its resolve to uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity and these two are not in conflict. Well we hope all countries from within this region and without will work together to uphold regional stability, not the opposite. That is in the interests of all.
Q&A: China-Japan-ROK leaders' meeting (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-03-16 14:04:06

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks at a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 16, 2016. [Photo by Feng Yongbin/chinadaily.com.cn]

: I have a question about the meeting of leaders from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Last year this trilateral leaders' meeting was resumed in Seoul, in the ROK, and this year Japan is the host of the trilateral leaders' meeting. We believe that there are many areas where the three countries can work with each other, for example, in addressing the DPRK nuclear issue and in pursuing the free-trade agreement involving the three countries. So my question is what are your expectations for the trilateral leaders' meeting this year? And in order to attend this meeting, you will for the first time go to Japan in your current capacity. Some experts also believe that Japanese companies can play a big role in helping China achieve economic transformation. So I want to ask for your prospective on the economic complementarity between China and Japan?

Li Keqiang: Last year I went to the ROK and attended the trilateral leaders' meeting. This meeting should have been an annual event, however, it was only resumed last year after a three-year hiatus, and this has not come easily. As to whether the format will enjoy smooth development in the future, it's very much up to the interactions among the three countries. In particular, there has been some signs of improvement of Sino-Japanese ties, but it is not fully established yet and it is still fragile. We believe that it is important to adhere to the consensus reached between the two sides on the issue of principle involving history, and it is important to match one's words with concrete actions. What I don't want to see is another disruption in the holding of such a meeting.

Talking about the relationship among China, Japan and the ROK, I cannot help but recalling a lighthearted topic. That is the recent match between the ROK champion and AlphaGo, the match between human and computer. It has become a very hot topic in all the three countries, I think that shows in a way that there is much commonality culturally among the three countries. I have no intention to comment on the results of the match here, but I believe, despite win or lose, after all this machine, AlphaGo, is designed and made by humans. I also believe that the three countries, or between China and Japan, can have wisdom in boosting smart manufacturing and science and technologies to develop high quality products that can better meet consumer needs. The economy of the three countries accounts for one-fifth of the global total and 70 percent of the Asian total. I believe there are many complementarities among us and if we can leverage these complementarities, we can do even better in global markets.
Preferential Taiwan business policies to remain unchanged By PENG YINING (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-03-16 14:12:40

A reporter from Taiwan's CTI television asks a question during a press conference in Beijing, March 16, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Preferential policies for Taiwan businesses that have already been introduced will remain unchanged, said Premier Li Keqiang in a news conference on Wednesday, adding anything could be discussed based on mutual recognition of the 1992 Consensus and the one-China policy.

When asked by a reporter from Taiwan's CTI television about the cross-Straits relations after the island elected a new leadership, Li said peaceful development of cross-Straits relations is in the interests of people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. Economic and social ties between the two sides are also becoming increasingly close, and there needs to be sound interaction between the two, he said.

"Last year, I paid a field trip to Fujian province where I had a round table with some Taiwan business people. Many of them were quite sensitive about any economic measures from the mainland and some are considering whether the preferential policy for Taiwan businesses will be changed," said Li, adding that their point was well taken and the government had quickly issued a document specifying that all the introduced preferential policies for Taiwan businesses will remain unchanged to reassure them.

"Why did we do that? Because we are all members of a big family," said Li.

The premier said China will introduce more policies to boost business cooperation between the mainland and Taiwan on the premise that there will be continued peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, the cornerstone of which is the 1992 Consensus, and the mutual acknowledgment of both mainland and Taiwan belonging to one and the same China.

"I for one feel optimistic about the future of peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. There is a strong tie between the two sides that cannot be severed," he said. "I also believe that closer business cooperation could bring benefits to people of both sides."
Li stresses role of countries in region and beyond in upholding stability By Li Xiaokun (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-03-16 14:23:51

Premier Li Keqiang answers media questions at a news conference after the closing meeting of the fourth session of China's 12th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 16, 2016.. [Photo by Feng Yongbin/chinadaily.com.cn]

Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday called on all countries in China's neighborhood and outside the region to work together to uphold regional stability.

He made the remarks when asked about tensions in the Asia-Pacific region at a press conference at the end of the annual Two Sessions.

"We hope all countries from within this region and without will work together to uphold regional stability, not the opposite. That is in the interests of all," Li said.

As for US focus on the region, he said "we think the United States has never left the Asia-Pacific region".

"And all countries can work together to enhance cooperation and properly handle differences.''

He stressed that China believes in pursuing harmonious coexistence with its neighbors.

"China needs a stable neighborhood and a peaceful international environment for its domestic development," he said, adding a growing China will remain a staunch force for upholding global peace.

Li said it is natural that some differences may arise between neighbors. "But we believe that as long as we all treat each other with sincerity and seek peaceful settlements to differences through diplomatic means, regional stability will be maintained."

Still, he added "China will not waiver in its resolve to uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity".
Q&A: Cross-Straits relations By leilei (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-03-16 14:23:05

Premier Li Keqiang arrives for the news conference after the closing meeting of the fourth session of China's 12th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 16, 2016. [Photo by Xu Jingxing/chinadaily.com.cn]

CTI Television Incorporation: There has been a change of ruling party in Taiwan this year. There is a perception that the change will bring uncertainty to cross-Straits relations. I would like to ask for your opinion about the prospects of cross-Straits relations. Will the mainland introduce more measures that will help boost cross-Straits relations, business cooperation and improve people's livelihoods?

Li Keqiang: Peaceful development of cross-Straits relations is in interest of people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. Economic and social ties between the two sides are also becoming increasingly close, and there needs to be sound interaction between the two sides. Last year, I paid a field trip to Fujian province, where I had a round-table with some Taiwan business people. Many of them were quite sensitive about any economic measures from the mainland and some were considering whether the preferential policy for Taiwan businesses will be changed. Their point was well taken and we quickly issued a document specifying that all the introduced preferential policies for Taiwan businesses will remain unchanged to make them feel reassured.

Why did we do that? Because we are all members of a big family.

We will introduce more policies to boost business cooperation between the mainland and Taiwan on the premise that there will be continued peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and the footstone of it is the 1992 Consensus. As long as one adheres to the political foundation of the 1992 Consensus and recognizes it, that both mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China, anything can be discussed. I for one feel opmistic about the future of peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. There is a strong tie between the two sides that cannot be severed. I also believe that closer business cooperation could bring benefits to people of both sides.
Interactions key to success of meeting of leaders of three countries, Li says By ZHANG YUNBI (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-03-16 15:17:58

Premier Li Keqiang arrives for the news conference after the closing meeting of the fourth session of China's 12th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 16, 2016. [Photo by Xu Jingxing/chinadaily.com.cn]

Premier Li Keqiang said whether the China-Japan-Republic of Korea leaders' meeting will enjoy smooth development in the future "is very much up to the interactions among the three countries".

"In particular, there has been some signs of improvement of Sino-Japanese ties, but it is not fully cemented yet and it is still fragile," Li said in response to a question about the meeting at a Wednesday press conference in Beijing.

Li noted that last year he went to the ROK and attended the sixth trilateral leaders' meeting. "This meeting should have been an annual event, however, it was only resumed last year after a three-year hiatus, and this has not come easily," he said.

On China-Japan ties, Li said: "We believe that it is important to adhere to the consensus reached between the two sides on the issue of principle involving history, and it is important to match one's words with concrete actions."

"What I don't want to see is another disruption in the holding of such a meeting (among the three countries)," he added.

Talking about the relationship among China, Japan and the ROK, Li referred to a lighthearted topic - the recent match between the ROK champion and AlphaGo, the match between human and computer.

"It has become a very hot topic in all the three countries, and I think that shows in a way that there is much commonality culturally among the three countries," Li said.

There should be wisdom among the three countries, or between China and Japan, "in boosting smart manufacturing and science and technologies to develop high quality products that can better meet consumer needs".

Li noted that the economy of the three countries accounts for one-fifth of the global total and 70 percent of the Asian total.

"I believe there are many complementarities among us and if we can leverage these complementarities, we can do even better in global markets," Li said.
Q&A: Future of Hong Kong (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-03-16 15:49:43

Premier Li Keqiang answers questions of the media at the news conference after the closing meeting of the fourth session of China's 12th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 16, 2016. [Photo by Feng Yongbin/chinadaily.com.cn]

Phoenix TV: In the past couple of years whenever we come to the mainland, we are often asked what has happened with Hong Kong. There is so much to this one simple question and also the Mong Kok riots that took place on the first day of China's Lunar New Year exposed some problems that exist in Hong Kong's society. Hong Kong's economic growth has also been slowing. Mr. Premier, next year marks the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, many people in Hong Kong are asking this question: where will Hong Kong go in the future? What is your answer to that question Mr. Premier and will the central government introduce more policies to support Hong Kong's development?

Li Keqiang: Next time you get asked about this question, I suggest that you can answer that Hong Kong will maintain long-time stability and prosperity. The policy of the central government of adhering to "one country, two systems"  the Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong and high degree of autonomy will not change, and this policy has not changed. We believe that the Hong Kong SAR government has the ability and Hong Kong people have the wisdom to properly handle the complex issues in Hong Kong.

The development of Hong Kong is needed by Hong Kong itself and also the country as a whole. Hong Kong's development ultimately comes down to the efforts made by the people in Hong Kong. As an advanced economy, Hong Kong achieved a (GDP) growth of 2.4 percent last year, which is not low at all. Hong Kong can further use its own strength and also seize the opportunity offered by mainland development. The central government will give full support to any proposal from the SAR government that helps maintain Hong Kong long-term stability and prosperity and contributes to the well-being of people in Hong Kong. I have a confidence in a bright future of Hong Kong.


Q&A: Pension benefits payments (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-03-16 15:59:07

Premier Li Keqiang answers media questions at a news conference after the closing meeting of the fourth session of China's 12th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 16, 2016.. [Photo by Feng Yongbin/chinadaily.com.cn]

China News Service:

Governments in some localities are having difficulty in paying pension benefits. Governments of some cities and counties have even borrowed money to make the payments. My question is, will the central government sit by and be hands off, or will the central government foot their bills?

Li Keqiang: You raised quite a sharp question. Honestly speaking, it is true that some localities have found it hard to make pension benefits payments, but these are only isolated cases. Now the pension schemes in China are managed at the provincial level. Our provincial governments have the responsibility and capability to raise funds through various channels to ensure the payments for pension benefits. If local governments have done their best, but still have special difficulty, the central government is prepared to extend help. In the past three years, the central government has earmarked one trillion yuan in this respect, make no mistake, local governments must exert their utmost, and the central government will supervise local governments to make sure that pension benefits are paid on time and in full.

One day, we will all be retired and live on pension benefits. So here's the message of reassurance. That is, nationally speaking and in the long run, there will absolutely be no problem in meeting pension payments by the Chinese government. Last year, the surplus of our pension insurance schemes was still at 340 billion yuan, and accumulative balance was 3.4 trillion yuan. Moreover, we still have the central social security fund, which is worth 1.6 trillion yuan, as a strategic reserve that has not been touched, and we can also use State-owned assets to replenish the social security fund. So, ensuring that the elderly will be provided for cannot and will not be an empty promise.
Pension payment, healthcare needs 'will be solved' By Shan Juan (China Daily) Updated: 2016-03-17 02:36:53

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks at a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 16, 2016. [Photo/China Daily by Feng Yongbin]

The central government will try its best to solve issues concerning people's livelihoods, such as pension payments and health insurance, Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday.

Despite reports of sporadic cases of pension payment difficulties in some places, "there will be absolutely no problem for the government to meet the public's pension payment needs," Li said at a news conference at the end of the two sessions.

The national pension insurance reserve recorded a surplus of 340 billion yuan ($52.3 billion) last year, taking the cumulative figure to 3.4 trillion yuan since it was established in the late 1990s, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

Moreover, the central social security fund of 1.6 trillion yuan can serve as a strong backup for pension payments nationwide, Li said.

The central government set up the pension insurance reserve in 1998 to meet the increasing needs of retirees.

In 2014, reports that retirees could not obtain their pensions began to make headlines, with most cases occurring in Northeast China, the country's old industrial base. Many workers in this region have been laid off and enterprises closed due to restructuring reforms since the mid-1990s.

Ni Huping, a senior official in charge of pension programs at the Civil Affairs Department in Zhejiang province, said the problem occurred due to insufficient premium input in a fledgling pension insurance system. He described such a shortage of funds as "a debt left by history".

Over the past 40 years, China has also implemented a policy limiting most couples to having only one child, which has been cited as part of the reason for a rapidly aging society. This has led to many observers forecasting that the nation faces a challenge as pension payments will not be sustainable.

By the end of 2014, China had 212 million people age 60 and older, accounting for 15.5 percent of the population. The so-called gray population is expected to reach 400 million by the middle of the century.

To solve this problem, the government is considering plans for delayed retirement, with an implementation plan to be issued in 2017, Yin Weimin, the minister of human resources and social security, said at a news conference last week.

Ni suggested that other measures be taken to help ease pension payment pressure, such as making the pension system more independent and transparent and setting up a risk prevention system.

Li said he is confident the pension problem can be solved, adding that this will not be "an empty promise to ensure that the elderly are provided for".
BEIJING

NTC presents Du Fu

[Photo provided to China Daily]

National Theater of China is to stage its latest work, Du Fu, which is based on the famous Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). Starring veteran actors, including Liu Peiqi and Zhang Jiasheng, and directed by Wang Xiaoying, the play tells of the poet's ambition to serve his country but his life, like the whole country, was devastated by wars and his last 15 years were a time of almost constant unrest. 7:30 pm, March 18-27. National Theater of China; 277 Guang'anmenwai Dajie (Street), Xicheng district. 400-610-3721.

Danish orchestra

Denmark's Concerto Copenhagen, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, is to perform in Beijing. Under the baton of its founder, harpsichordist Lars Ulrik Mortensen, the orchestra will do pieces including Handel's A Suite from Water Music.

7:30 pm, Saturday. Forbidden City Concert Hall, inside Zhongshan Park, west of Tian'anmen Square, Xicheng district. 010-6585-5755

Xian Xinghai onstage

After its premiere in Guangzhou last September, the Chinese musical, Xian Xinghai, will be performed in Beijing. Based on the story of Xian Xinghai (1905-45)one of the earliest Chinese composers influenced by Western classical musicwho is best known for his Yellow River Cantata, the musical revolves around the composer's early life and how he created music as a weapon to protest the Japanese occupation.

7:30 pm, March 25 and 26. China Theater; 16 west Third Ring Road, Haidian district. 4006-228-228.
Strawberry Music Festival 2015 will be held from April 30 to May 2 in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The Strawberry Music Festival, one of the country's biggest outdoor music festivals, will be held during the May Day holiday in Beijing and Shanghai.

Shen Lihui, the founder of indie music label Modernsky, which is the organizer of the festival, announced this in Beijing on Monday.

Beijing's Strawberry Music Festival will be held at a tourist resort called Grand Epoch City in Hebei province's Langfang city. It is 50 kilometers away from downtown Beijing.

The Shanghai event will be held at Shanghai World Expo Park.

Both of the festivals will run from April 30 to May 2.

For the first time, the Beijing's festival will mark out a 10,000-square-meter tent area for fans to camp.

The lineup for the festivals will not be revealed till the end of March.

Shen says that hundreds of bands from home and abroad will perform in Beijing and Shanghai.

Launched by Shen eight years ago, the annual music festival has expanded its reach by touring across China.

Besides Beijing and Shanghai, it also goes to second- and third-tier cities, including Xiamen in Fujian province and Changchun in Jilin province.

"The Strawberry Music Festival is definitely beyond music. It's a celebration for young people, who love music, fashion and outdoor experiences," says Shen.

Meanwhile, Modernsky, which was founded in 1997, has evolved into one of the biggest indie music labels in the country. It is home to more than 100 indie acts such as New Pants and Queen Sea Big Shark.

Related:

Georgian pianist returns to thrill with Chinese orchestra
The US Navy amphibious assault ships USS Bonhomme Richard, bottom, and USS Boxer, second from top, are underway with the Republic of Korea Navy Dokdo Amphibious Ready Group in the East Sea during exercise Ssang Yong 2016, March 8, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

The vicious circle at work on the Korean Peninsula, whereby each side blames the other for being provocative while speaking and acting provocatively, is dangerous. Not just because the spiral is proving hard to break, but because the saber-rattling and verbal sparring are pushing it to ever greater extremes.

Washington has told Pyongyang that the largest-ever war drills being conducted by the United States and the Republic of Korea are not meant to provoke the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Yet the unprecedented deployment of US strategic weapons goes far beyond a regular show of muscle, and the joint exercises reportedly include simulated surgical strikes on selected targets in the DPRK.

In return, an irate Pyongyang keeps raising the pitch of its threats. After initially vowing to launch "preemptive attacks", it is now threatening nuclear annihilation of Seoul and Washington D.C.

And after appearing in a picture with a claimed "miniaturized nuclear warhead", DPRK leader Kim Jong-un issued a call for a nuclear warhead explosion test and test firings of "several kinds" of ballistic rockets "as soon as possible".

Kim might not be serious. Yet the underlying truth is he has been steadily pressing ahead with his country's nuclear weapons program.

While the latest United Nations sanctions are said to be "beginning to bite", they are yet to curb Kim's nuclear ambitions. The current military drills may even spur him on.

The standoff is fragile and inflammable.

Pyongyang is betting Seoul and Washington will not pull the trigger, because they cannot rule out the probability of nuclear retaliation. Seoul and Washington are betting Pyongyang will not follow through on its threats, because that would be suicidal. Despite all the rhetoric about preemptive attacks, both sides appear to believe the other is bluffing.

That is where the real danger lurks. With the UN sanctions starting to pinch the DPRK, its economic conditions continuing to deteriorate, and tensions mounting and escalating on the peninsula, there is no guarantee either will retain a cool head.

Going back to the negotiating table is the only formula for an all-win scenario, not only for the three at loggerheads, but also beyond.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a close neighbor of both Koreas, China is seeking to broker peace and contain the crisis.

Since neither party has excluded the prospect of talks, the relevant parties should heed Beijing and help to make that happen.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi takes questions from the press during a news conference on the sidelines of the two sessions on March 8. [Photo by Kuang Linhua/chinadaily.com.cn]

Last week Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated China's friendship with the United States and what China expects of Washington to maintain good bilateral relations. At a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of China's top legislature, he also said China, as a responsible country, has a broad and open mind and long-term vision for world peace.

Wang emphasized that China is neither the US nor does it intend to acquire the US' leadership role in the world, saying this is the core of China's political philosophy. Wang made particular mention of the "American mindset", and said it is the source of "America-style concern" that the US exhibits while dealing with an emerging power like China.

The US is obsessed with the "act-by-itself" mindset in international affairs, which makes it see "potential foes" everywhere, and its misperception of China is the result of its own worries, anxieties and misjudgments.

China neither intends to nor has the ambition to replace the US as the world leader. This fact is not related to whether China has the ability and capacity to do so; instead, it is related to the Chinese mindset and is deeply rooted in the Chinese nation.

Chinese people have long believed in the adage, "don't do unto others what you don't want others do unto you". The US follows the opposite principle.

Contrary to Chinese people's belief that a country can influence another only with virtue, the US believes in making other countries follow its line through force. The main difference between Chinese philosophy and the US mindset is that, the former puts emphasis on "sharing" while the latter advocates "exclusive enjoyment".
An assembly line of a Daimler AG venture in Minhou, Fujian province. Investment from Germany jumped 59 percent year-on-year to $410 million in the January-February period, 2015. [Yang Enuo/China Daily]

After 30 years of breakneck growth, the Chinese economy has entered a new normal. While accepting the fact that China's potential growth rate has slowed significantly, it is worth emphasizing that 6.5 percent is still a high growth rate. If such a rate is maintained, China will achieve its objective, set in 2010, of doubling per capita income by the end of 2020.

Over the past 30 years, one of the most important features of China's growth has been its dependence on investment, especially real estate investment. The growth rate of investment has been consistently higher than that of GDP. China has three main areas of investment: real estate, infrastructure and manufacturing. Real estate accounts for one-fourth of the total investment, and for a long period it has been the most profitable of the three.

At the end of 2015, the total floor area of unsold houses in China was more than 700 million square meters, while the average annual floor area of the houses sold in normal times was 1.3 billion sq m.

But faced with a double-digit growth in inventory, real estate developers have greatly reduced their investment. In fact, the growth rate of real estate investment has dropped to almost zero, and 2016 is very likely to see real estate investment growth entering negative territory. Considering the large share of realty development in GDP and the links between real estate and other sectors such as steel, cement, plate glass, aluminum, coal and other construction materials, one can see how large the impact the fall in real estate investment will have on overall economic growth.

Ideally, the government should encourage more household consumption to offset the fall in real estate investment, but that is easier said than done. Household consumption is largely stimulated from within, and it is unlikely to increase at a very fast pace while the economic growth rate is at its lowest in a decade.

No doubt the fundamental cause of the slowdown is structural. Apart from the diminishing returns on scale, the misallocation of resources, manifested in the investment fever in real estate development, is the main contributor to China's falling potential growth rate.
Staff members from a female dress brand work late at night at the Haizhu Creative Industry Park to welcome the coming "Singles Day" in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province, Nov 10, 2013.[Photo/Xinhua]

Tuesday was World Consumer Rights Day and it has once again brought into the spotlight the companies that are paid to delete the negative comments and complaints about businesses posted online. These Internet PR service providers are paid to delete all kinds of comments including news reports, BBS forum discussions and blogs. Rednet.cn commented on Tuesday:

Every year around World Consumer Rights Day, some companies or enterprises seek to delete online complaints and negative comments, and they are willing to pay PR companies to do this.

Paying to delete complaints violates the rights of customers. The purpose of wiping the threads is to cover up the truth and create a false image, cloaking the secrets behind their profits in darkness. Therefore, it counts as another way of hiding the malice in business. In 2013, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate defined the deleting of consumer's online comments as illegal.

We should reflect on the phenomenon. Violations of customers' rights have been increasing, and as a result online complaints have increased as well.

It is still difficult for customers to protect their rights, especially with the lack of easy, convenient and efficient channels for them to seek redress. If the only official channel functioned as it should, there would be fewer complaints.

And there will always be those willing to profit by silencing customers' complaints.

Hence, more efficient channels should be established for the management of online comments.
A job fair held at Xi'an University of Science and Technology attracted thousands of college graduates, Nov 7, 2015. [Photo/IC]

Zheng Qiang, president of Guizhou University in Southwest China's Guizhou province and a deputy to the National People's Congress, has called for more and better universities to be built up in China to develop more talent. However, the poor employment records of some existing universities should be addressed first, said Beijing Youth Daily on Tuesday:

For some educational authorities, the difficulties some university graduates face in getting a job is hardly a pressing problem, because in comparison with China's total population, university students are a minority.

Less than 1-in-10 of the mainland's population have a college degree or above, while, in comparison, about 4-in-10 have at least a bachelor's degree in the United States. That partly justifies China's educational authorities' determination to expand the enrollment of college students.

But the quality of talent recruitment, as well as the two countries' social and economic differences, also need to be taken into account. In general, most US colleges have their particular academic focuses, and students in the US have to put extra efforts into their studies to get a diploma, including those in community and vocational colleges.

This is rarely the case in Chinese universities, where students can easily manage to graduate once they are enrolled, even though their capabilities do not meet the needs of most employers.

Being the world's second-largest economy, China's revenue from value added services accounts for only 47 percent of its total GDP, which lags far behind that of the US. The gap may continue to expand if China fails to recruit more creative talents for the service industry, which accommodates most Chinese college graduates.

Of course, graduates are supposed to choose their careers based on their qualifications and employment opportunities, but it is inappropriate to rush them to take a job that has little to do with the subjects they have studied. The higher education they receive should be able to improve their competitiveness and capabilities, and help prepare them for a good career.

Therefore, to improve the quality of talent, Chinese universities should be given a better say in managing their affairs; they also need to adopt more modern governance and get rid of the administrative restrictions.




China's Global Newspaper





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Buddhist Stupa in the old part of Kathmandu near Durbar Square,Kathmandu,Nepal.[Photo/IC]

Nepal received a large Chinese tourist group on Tuesday, nearly 11 months after last year's April 25 devastating earthquake.

The quake-ravaged mountainous country welcomed 150 Chinese tourists who arrived via a single flight of Air China from Chengdu.

The tourists, aged from 60 to 70, are retired Chinese professionals from various sectors.

"This is the biggest Chinese group arrival after the quake that left huge impact on tourism. We are working closely with China to bring more tourists within a year," Govinda Thapaliya, managing director of Koshi International Travels, told Xinhua.

The company alone has set a target of bringing 10,000 Chinese tourists till the end of 2016.

Chinese tourists are mostly fond of elephant rides, boating, rafting and sight-seeing.

Thapaliya, who has recently stepped into the tourism industry, said, "In average, a Chinese tourist spend 2,000 U.S. dollars in Nepal for their week-long trip besides airfare."

Nepal has witnessed an increase in the number of Chinese tourists in recent years.

Figures of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation showed that the number of Chinese tourists stood at 123,805 in 2014.

Nearly 800,000 foreign tourists visit Nepal every year.

Ujjwala Dali, an official with Nepal Tourism Board, said, "China is the most important market for Nepal's tourism. We are hopeful that 2016 will set a landmark."

Four Chinese airlines are operating direct flights between Nepal and China.
Li: China-US ties will move forward By ZHANG YUNBI (chinadaily,com.cn) Updated: 2016-03-16 12:21:04

Premier Li Keqiang arrives for the news conference after the closing meeting of the fourth session of China's 12th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 16, 2016. [Photo by Xu Jingxing/chinadaily.com.cn]

Premier Li Keqiang has said "common interests will further expand" between China and the United States as long as the two sides "act with good faith and properly manage their differences".

Li made the remarks in response to a question about disputes between the world's two largest economies at a Wednesday press conference in Beijing.

The Premier noted that many people have been talking about differences but they overlooked one key fact that China became the United States top trading partner last year, with two-way trade reaching $560 billion.

"This in itself shows that the common interests between the two countries are constantly expanding, and (the common interests) far outweigh their differences," he added.

About the ongoing negotiations on the Bilateral Investment Treaty, Li said China"will give US investors wider market access in a gradual manner, but we hope such openings would be mutual, and the BIT negotiations should proceed on the basis of seeking mutual benefit".

Elaborating on the ongoing US election, Li said:"I believe that no matter, in the end, who gets into the White House, the underlying trend of China-US ties will not change.

"It has been several decades since the two countries established diplomatic relations, and the relationship has seen more than a fair share of ups and downs, but it has been always moving forward, which I believe is the underlying trend," he added.

On differences between the two countries, Li said there are up to 100 various dialogue and exchange mechanisms between China and the US.

"As our cooperation expands, the number of differences may naturally rise, but the percentage of differences in the overall China-US relationship will only come down," Li said.
Premier says third-party pressure will not disrupt China-Russia ties By ZHANG YUNBI (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-03-16 14:42:17

Premier Li Keqiang greets journalists attending the news conference after the closing meeting of the fourth session of China's 12th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 16, 2016. [Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/chinadaily.com.cn]

Premier Li Keqiang has said China-Russia relations will not cave in to third-party pressure while the two-way cooperation "will not be targeted at any third party".

Li made the remarks in response to a question about the China-Russia relationship and their business cooperation at a Wednesday press conference in Beijing.

"China-Russia relations will not be affected by changing circumstances in the international environment, and will not cave in to third-party pressure. In the meantime, China follows the principle of nonalignment, and China-Russian cooperation will not be targeted at any third party," Li said.

The Premier addressed pessimistic opinion over the two-way trade figures by saying that "business cooperation has been continuously rising".

Li noted that last year, Chinese imports of oil from Russia increased by eight million tons, but because of plummeting commodity prices on international markets, "China's total imports and exports declined, not just its imports from Russia".

"The physical volume has gone up, but the total trade volume has come down because of the falling prices, and neither country is responsible for that," Li added.

Li referred to an in-depth discussion with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev last year.

"We agreed that we can explore cooperation in the integrated development of oil and natural gas, sectors that will help attract more Chinese investment, and we can also introduce a greater level of diversity into our trade mix," Li said.

Li told the Russian reporter who asked the question that:"I hope that next year, if you come to this press conference again, I can tell you that the business ties between our two countries have turned the corner for the better."

"And I believe the enhancement of our business ties will also reflect the improvement of the global trade situation, and that will be a warm breeze our two countries can bring to global trade," he added.

On the two-way ties, Li said the relationship is an all-dimensional one, and President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met with each other quite often.

"There is a close political relationship between the two countries and our business cooperation has been continuously rising because we have multiple operations in quite many fields.

"China has all along developed its relationship with Russia on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit, and China pursues an independent foreign policy," Li said.
China's first home furnishing Internet data platform Haier Jiawayun was launched in Beijing on Sunday, aiming to tackle the imbalance between growing domestic e-commerce demand and poor resource integration.

Initiated and incubated by Haier, China's top household appliance manufacturer, the third party platform sets to link different e-commerce process like order management, logistics, warehouse and after service.



According to Li Jielin, chairman of Jiawayun, the platform has signed with 12 domestic logistics provider, covering 30 provinces nationwide, and 12 warehouses from furnishing origin cities.



Statistics show that china's furnishing e-commerce volume had reached 205 billion yuan in 2015, with on-line shopping increasing 249%. Despite the increase, problems like poor logistics, installing and after service remain to be tackled to improve relations with customers.

Zhou Yunpeng, rotating president of Haier, said jiawayun is an entrepreneur team as part of Haier's restructuring. Zhou said entrepreneurs should indentify their target consumers and provide individual service to be outstanding in the industry.
South Korean professional Go player Lee Sedol (R) presents the Go game board with his signature to Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google's London-based AI company DeepMind during a press conference after finishing the final match of the Google DeepMind Challenge Match against Google's artificial intelligence program, AlphaGo, in Seoul, on Tuesday. Google's Go-playing computer program again defeated its human opponent in a final match on Tuesday that sealed its 4-1 victory. [Photo/Xinhua]

Google's Go-playing computer program AlphaGo on Tuesday ended a historic match of the ancient Chinese board game with Go grandmaster Lee Sedol of South Korea by taking a 4-1 lead with its fourth victory in the final match of the best-of-five series.

The final winner was already determined before Tuesday's encounter as Lee lost the first three games of the five-game match. AlphaGo got $1 million in prize, which will be donated to charities.

The human Go champion beat the artificial intelligence (AI), developed by Google's London-based AI subsidiary DeepMind, in the fourth match, but Lee was defeated once again in the final match.
Emergency personnel work near a burning vehicle after an explosion in Ankara, Turkey March 13, 2016.[Photo/Agencies]

ANKARA - The suicide bomber who carried out the deadly attack in Ankara on Sunday was identified as a member of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), Turkey's Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.

The PKK member was Seher Cagla Demir and she was born in 1992 in the province of Kars in eastern Turkey, said the ministry.

Demir joined the PKK in 2013 and later received training with the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria.

The car bomb in Ankara's central Kizilay neighborhood on Sunday evening hit a major public transportation hub, killing 37 people and injuring over 100 others.

It was the third major blast to hit the Turkish capital since last October.

On Oct. 10, 2015, suspected Islamic State (IS) militants bombed a peace rally near Ankara Railway Station, killing 103 people.

On Feb. 17, a suicide car bomb targeted military shuttles in the capital city, killing 29 and injuring 81 others. The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks, a Kurdish militant group linked to the PKK, claimed responsibility.

Since a cease-fire between the government and the PKK collapsed last July, Turkish security forces have been conducting a major campaign against the group in the southeast of the country.

More than 260 members of Turkish security forces and thousands of PKK members have been killed inside Turkey and in northern Iraq.
China is becoming increasingly active in its efforts to forge peace and security in conflict-affected states, according to an expert.

Chris Alden, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science, spoke at a panel discussion about emerging powers and countries in conflict at the Brookings Institution in Washington on Tuesday.

China has seen a gradual increase in engagement with post-conflict states in the past few years, primarily by ensuring peacekeeping and development of African nations, Alden said.

"Chinese relationships towards these Western ideas  have been to pick apart each of these and say, Does this work in this particular instance?' and ask a set of practicality questions," Alden said.

The result of China's activity includes several missions to build infrastructure in Africa, which the Chinese government has prioritized in the past.

"China has provided South Sudan and Angola the basis of a new infrastructure, which are necessary to get the economy going," Alden said.

The overseas missions are not without peril.

"2011 was a turning point for China," he said. "In Libya, there were 50 infrastructure projects of some consequence, and there were about 35,000 Chinese individuals. Both of these were jeopardized by the NATO bombing and subsequent chaos."

"This was the real turning point as far as China's recognition that it had some exposed interests in a number of countries in Africa and beyond; it now has to find strategies to preserve and secure those," Alden said.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a March 8 press conference on the sidelines of the national legislature's annual session that China will deliver on investment and aid promises made to Africa at last December's Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), despite a global economic slowdown.

Wang responded to an African reporter's question on whether the economy would affect China's commitment.

President Xi Jinping announced at the FOCAC that China would carry out 10 cooperation plans with Africa.

Wang said that by encouraging more Chinese companies to invest in Africa, China is looking to help the continent accelerate its industrialization and boost its growth capacity.

"These plans cannot come at a better time, as they are designed precisely to help Africa deal with the new challenges from the international economic situation," he added.

Three months after the summit, China has contacted more than 20 African countries to follow up on summit outcomes, with a number of plans soon to materialize and the China-Africa fund for industrial cooperation now running.

Wang pointed out that Sino-Africa diplomatic ties went back 60 years, and the deep bond of friendship, mutual trust and support between the two sides remains unchanged.

At the summit, many African leaders stated publicly that China had never colonized Africa, rather it helped the continent emerge from poverty and to develop.

They also said Africa had been looking for a dependable partner with mutual interests, and eventually found such a partner in China, Wang told the press.

China's aid and investment focus is on long-term infrastructure projects in underdeveloped countries, Alden said.

"Chinese aid has taken as its point of departure  mutual benefit or win-win. What that really means is that there is a belief that sustainability is found in projects which have a commercial basis that both parties recognize.

"Grant aid is useful in certain respects, but ultimately, longer-term sustainable economic projects are founded on the logic of business, the logic of the market," Alden said.

Allan Fong in Washington contributed to this story.
The Foreign Ministry requested that Argentina "investigate thoroughly" circumstances surrounding the sinking of a Chinese fishing boat by the Argentine coast guard, the ministry said in a news release on Wednesday.

South Korean rescue boats work in waters about 85 km northeast of the Gagedo island in North Jeolla province, South Korea, Jan. 27, 2016. A Chinese fishing boat capsized off an island in southwest South Korea, with four rescued among 10 on board the vessel. [Photo/Xinhua]

Ministry spokesman Lu Kang confirmed that the boat, Luyanyuanyu 010, was chased by the Argentine coast guard for hours on Monday, Beijing time, before being shot at and sunk.

There were no casualties in the incident and four of the crew members were rescued by the Argentine coast guard, while 28 others were also rescued.

Leaders of the State Council were paying close attention to the incident and issued important instructions, according to Lu.

"The Foreign Ministry and the Chinese embassy in Argentina have lodged urgent representations to Argentina, expressing grave concern over the incident and requesting Argentina to immediately and thoroughly investigate the case, inform China of the details, effectively ensure the safety and lawful rights of the Chinese crew, and take effective measures to prevent any such cases from happening again," he said.
(Photo : GETTY IMAGES) No happily ever after?

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Less transnational couples are divorcing in Taiwan, the statistics' bureau said on Sunday.



Transnational couples, made up of a Taiwanese citizen and a foreign national, accounted for about 20 percent of Taiwan's divorces last year. According to the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics (DGBAS), 53,000 divorces were filed in 2015, seeing a measly 0.5 percent year-on-year increase.



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Out of the 53,000, 11,000 divorces filed in 2015 involved a transnational couple, posting an annual 3.3 percent drop. This corresponds to 20.7 percent of the total divorces in Taiwan.



10,000 of the divorced transnational couple involved a Taiwanese man, while 62 percent of the women are Chinese nationals (women from Hong Kong and Macau included).



The number of divorce of transnational couples has seen a slow decline since 2010 when it hit a 15-year record high, accounting for 26.2 percent of total separation. This is mostly because of the 24.4 percent rise in the number of Taiwanese-Chinese couples.



"Recent studies in Taiwan have demonstrated that marriage migrants are likely to endure domestic violence because of language barrier, economic restriction, poor family support, and power asymmetry," researchers from the National Taiwan Normal University wrote.



The study noted that the patriarchal family system and masculinity amplify the power asymmetry between migrant women and their husbands, which ultimately leads to a high divorce rate.



Overall, the divorce rate in Taiwan since 2001 has been on a roller coaster, dipping and spiking throughout the years until 2013.



Meanwhile, the number of marriages registered in 2015 saw a 3.4 annual increase with 154,000 couples tying the knot, the DGBAS said. 20,000 of these were transnational marriages, a 1.5 percent yearly increase.



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Tagstransnational divorce in Taiwan, divorce in Taiwan, marriage in Taiwan, migrant women in Taiwan, divorce rates, marriage records
(Photo : GETTY IMAGES) Chinese tourist visiting Dr. Sun Yet-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan.

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Amidst reports that mainland China will cut at least 40 percent of possible tourists to Taiwan, the mayor of its capital Taipei said that the city already has a backup plan.



Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je told American press that his government has drafted plans to diversify its tourist base and will work to attract more visitors from Japan and 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).



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Ko is in the United States for his first official visit which will last for nine days. Ko flew to San Francisco, Taipei's sister city, early last week, and is scheduled to visit its two other sister cities, Los Angeles, and Phoenix in Arizona.



"We will try to avoid putting all eggs in one basket," Ko told reporters.



It is rumored that mainland China will slash 43 cities out of 47 whose residents are allowed to travel to the Taiwan Strait.



"We're still trying to confirm (the rumors), but the other side said 'as of now, there is nothing of the sort.' I cannot make any speculation or inference," said Yang Chia-chun, chief secretary of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC).



The seemingly harsh measures is seen as putting pressure to newly-elected Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen to agree to the controversial "1992 consensus," which says that both sides of the Taiwan Strait is considered as "one China." However, the interpretation of the meaning of "China" is still up in the air and has been a cause of misunderstandings.



Ko has said that he hopes China will not "use business to push politics."



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Tags1992 consensus, Taiwanese president elect, China-Taiwan relations, Yang Chia-chun, Tourism in Taiwan, mainland China politics force, Taiwan Strait
(Photo : Getty Images) China's Foreign Ministry has denied reports that PLA troops have been dispatched to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

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China on Monday said that it is not aware of the presence of Chinese troops in Pakistani Kashmir. The statement came after Indian media reported on Sunday that high-ranking officials in the Chinese army have been spotted at a forward post in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).



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China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said "I have not heard about the incident you mentioned," in response to a question about the presence of People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops in Pakistani Kashmir.



In response to another question about recent media reports that PLA forces have made frequent intrusion into the Indian region of Ladhak, Lu said, "there is no such thing as going beyond the border".



He described such media reports as 'regrettable,' urging the press to play a more constructive role in improving the relationship between New Delhi and Beijing.



"The bilateral relationship [between India and China] has maintained sound momentum of development. Friendly cooperation is the mainstream of the bilateral relationship," Lu said. "We hope that the relevant media would report objectively about China-India relations and do more to improve the friendly relationship between the two sides."



Lu, however, reiterated that China's stand on the 'Kashmir issue' remains unchanged despite Beijing's willingness to improve relationship with New Delhi.



"We believe that the relevant issue was left over by history between India and Pakistan. We maintain that the two countries should properly resolve it through negotiations and consultations," Lu said.



After reports emerged on Sunday that Indian forces have spotted PLA troops along the Line of Control (LoC) on the Pakistani side of Kashmir, Indian experts claimed that Chinese troops have come to Pakistani Kashmir to supervise a major infrastructure project.



The Chinese government is currently funding many big infrastructure projects across Pakistan. The most notable is the $41 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which will connect the Pakistani city of Gwadar Port to China's northwestern region of Xinjiang.



The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor also passes through Pakistani occupied Kashmir. India has protest against the fact that the corridor passes through the disputed territory.



China and Pakistan's foreign policy towards India is largely determined by decades of mistrust and also complex geo-political factors. Both countries have fought wars against India, with Pakistan having fought as many as four wars against India over disputed region of Kashmir.



Experts say the mutual acrimony with India has brought Pakistan and China closer. Over the past three decades, Beijing has regularly provided military and economic aid to Islamabad to keep up the pressure on New Delhi.



India and China Cold War



India and China are currently engaged in sort of cold war with both countries seeking to increase influence in each other's neighboring territories. China has already established its presence in Indian ocean region with lucractive port projects in Sri Lanka and Pakistan.



India, on other hand, is making efforts to develop close ties with China's neighboring countries including Vietnam and Philippines. Beijing is currently involved in a dispute with these nations over the South China Sea.



Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to India in September 2014 helped to normalize ties between Beijing and New Delhi. But experts say the 'recent normalization' has hardly stopped the cold war between the two countries.



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Tagschina, India and China, kashmir, Pakistan, China and Kashmir
(Photo : Getty Images) Putins announcement of the Russian forces withdrawal in Syria coincidentally came after the peace talks commenced in Geneva, Switzerland.

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Russia's President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday that Russian forces will withdraw from the Syrian War Zone as the country has achieved its objectives.



The pullback of Russian troops was scheduled to commence on Tuesday.



Putin stated that the Russian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces has achieved its goals in Syria. Therefore the defense minister will be ordered to start withdrawing a majority of their Russia's factions from the Syrian Arab Republic.



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Putin has reportedly explained his decision to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad during a telephone call. The timetable for the official withdrawal of Russian forces has reportedly been mutually agreed upon.



However, in compliance with the ceasefire agreement, Russia will still run an aviation support centre in Syria.



The Kremlin released a statement that the operations by the Aerospace Forces of Russia has had a huge impact in the fight against Syrian terrorists.



Russian forces started the strikes in September 2015.



President Assad has commended the courage of the Russian forces, who took part in the military operations in Syria. Assad expressed his gratitude to Russia for its alliance in battling terrorism and providing humanitarian aid.



Putin is reported to have also discussed his decision to withraw Russian forces from Syria with US Preisdent Barack Obama. Obama welcomed the decision as a 'much-needed reduction in violence.' However, he emphasized that the continuous offensive by Syrian forces will undermine the Cessation of Hostilities and the United Nations' intervention.



Meanwhile, ongoing peace talks have resumed in Geneva regarding the partial truce between the government of Syria and a multitude of rebel groups. This talk excludes terrorist organizations, which were held responsible for the worst attacks that killed a lot of people.



Putin's announcement of the withdrawal of Russian forces coincidentally came after the peace talks commenced in Geneva, Switzerland. Some experts have pointed out that Putin's move is meant to urge Syria and its allies to come up with a political solution.



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TagsVladimir Putin, withdrawal, russian troops, Syria, Civil war, syria civil war
(Photo : Getty Images) The remaining GOP candidates on stage in Detroit for a debate hosted by Fox News. The field is tied with Trump in Florida, according to the latest Quinnipiac Poll.

According to a recent poll from Quinnipiac University, real estate mogul Donald Trump has taken a commanding 24 percent lead over senator Marco Rubio, heading into Tuesday's Florida republican primary. However, were the rest of the GOP field consolidated into one candidate, the race would be tied.



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The poll shows Trump in front with 46 percent of the vote. In 2nd place is Rubio, at 22 percent, followed by senator Ted Cruz at 14 percent and governor John Kasich at 10 percent - a combined 46 percent.



Although Trump performed terribly in Saturday's Washington D.C. and Wyoming caucuses, garnering only one delegate so far, taking Florida's 99 delegates would double his current lead over Cruz.



As the billionaire juggernaut gains momentum through the primary process, the republican establishment has bandied about two strategies for stopping Trump: either unify behind one candidate or stick with the current model of Cruz, Rubio and Kasich winning enough delegates that none of the candidates has the required majority before the Republican National Convention in July.



Ted Cruz appears to be the obvious choice for the party to back, and even former opponent Lindsey Graham tentatively agrees. Speaking with Charlie Rose, Graham said "Ted Cruz is not my favorite by any means." However, he went on to say, "we may be in a position where we have to rally around Ted Cruz as the only way to stop Donald Trump."







Cruz has demonstrated that he is open to working with the establishment, stating that he "could absolutely see a place for Marco Rubio and John Kasich in an administration. They're talented, smart, serious leaders."



With the hypothetical tie in a two-man race in Florida, now seems to be the perfect time for the GOP to unite. But it may be too late, as polls are already open.



If Donald Trump has a big day, it could be too late for any Republican strategy to overcome his bid to be their nominee.


(Photo : Getty Images) ZTE's deal with Telenet indicates that the company is turning to the European market.

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Chinese telecom company ZTE Corp is in talks with the U.S. Commerce Department to remove the trade sanctions leveled on the company last week, according to inside sources.



A senior official in the U.S. Department of Commerce has confirmed to Reuters that discussions are ongoing with ZTE. The official stated that discussions have been constructive and result oriented.



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A ZTE spokesman also confirmed that the company is holding talks with the U.S. Commerce Department, but refused to divulge any information about the details of the talks.



On March 7, the U.S. Commerce Department imposed tough trade sanctions on the Chinese company after ZTE violated its export restrictions to Iran. The restrictions put ZTE Corp on the U.S. list of blacklisted companies, barring the company from procuring many goods from U.S. companies, including computers, software and telecommunications equipments.



The sanctions are likely to threaten ZTE's global supply chain and create severe shortage of spare parts for the company in the long run.



"It's (sanctions) going to have a big impact on the company, that's for sure," said a source familiar with the matter.



China has criticized the U.S. sanctions against ZTE. In a television broadcast, China's Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng said, "The Chinese side attaches great attention and strong dissatisfaction over this."



Gao said China hopes ZTE will be soon removed from the blacklist entities "in order to avoid harming the stable, healthy development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations."



Last week's sanctions is a result of 2012 investigation



Last week's sanctions imposed on ZTE Corp is a fall out of an investigation by the U.S. Commerce Department launched in 2012. The investigation was launched following a Reuters report claiming that the company was exporting hardware and software products from well known U.S. tech companies to Iran.



Reuters reported that ZTE Corp exported powerful surveillance systems to Iran.



Iran's controversial nuclear program



America's long-time ban on the sale and export of U.S. made tech products to Iran was mainly in response to Tehran's controversial nuclear programme. The U.S. feared that Tehran may use U.S. made tech products to develop its military and nuclear technology.



The U.S. claims that Iran's nuclear programme poses a threat to world peace. However, Tehran has refuted these allegations, claiming that its nuclear programme is only civilian purpose - mainly for generating electricity.



In 2015, the U.S. and Iran reached a nuclear agreement after Tehran agreed to dismantle its nuclear programme. But distrust between the two nations still lingers.



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TagsZTE Corp, ZTE, U.S. Commerce Department, china, China and US
(Photo : Getty Images) China is building a tsunami alert center in the disputed South China Sea region.

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China has set up a tsunami alert center in the South China Sea, the head of the country's maritime regulator said on Wednesday, as Beijing continues to assert its claim over the disputed maritime territory.





Wang Hong, head of the State Oceanic Administration, told reporters that the tsunami alert center is still under construction. However, it has already started initial operation. Wang made the revelation on the sidelines of ongoing 12th National People's Congress.



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"We have already begun issuing tsunami alerts to the international community, including countries on the periphery of the South China Sea," Wang said. "Cooperation in the South China Sea is one of our important focuses. We hope to collaborate with South China Sea countries and create a peaceful and harmonious sea."



The latest move comes after China made two big announcements relating to South China Sea last week. Beijing is set to commence civilian flight operation to the disputed South China Sea this year. China is also setting up an international maritime dispute resolution center'.



China has been accused by its neighbors and the U.S. of carrying out provocative actions in the South China Sea in recent months - escalating tensions in the Asia Pacific region. Last month, reports emerged that China has deployed missiles and fighter jets to Woody Island.



China's decision to deploy weaponry to the disputed region has been severely criticized by other claimants nations as well as the U.S. and Australia.



On Tuesday, Malaysia's Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that he plans to meet Australia's Defence Minister Marise Payne next week to discuss China's military buildup in South China Sea.



Beijing has remained unperturbed by these developments, saying that it would not give up its sovereignty in the South China Sea.



China is laying claim to a large part of the South China Sea, which has billions of barrels of oil below it. Several neighboring countries - Brunei, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam - have competing claims in the region.



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TagsSouth China Sea, Tsunami Center in South China Sea, china
Writers smack Falwell: Comparison of Trump to King David 'utterly ridiculous' 16 March, 2016 by Staff , |

LYNCHBURG, Va. (Christian Examiner)  Some of the media's biggest guns have fired a barrage of editorials at Jerry Falwell Jr.'s latest endorsement of New York billionaire Donald Trump.

Writers at National Review, Time and The Federalist each were responding to Falwell's comments in the March 8 issue of The Champion, the online student newspaper for Liberty University, where the university president made the surprising comparison between Trump and a biblical king  David.

In the article, Falwell said he has been friends with the New York billionaire since he first spoke at Liberty University in 2012, and although the university itself doesn't endorse candidates (it issued a statement saying as much January 26), Falwell has. He has taken heat for the endorsement from other Christians and even a university board member.

Falwell has previously claimed Trump reminds him of his father  the founder of the university and the one-time leader of the Moral Majority voting bloc. Now, the comparisons have reached a new, higher level.

To mention King David in the same breath as Donald Trump is to insult our theological intelligence. Yes, David did terrible things  among them, committing adultery and sending his mistress's husband to die in war  but God imposed terrible punishment  a punishment that cost David his son and ultimately plunged his nation into civil war.

Falwell claimed in the article that criticism of his endorsement is unwarranted, primarily because he is not basing his endorsement on religious character, but on what he believes are the qualities needed for the nation's highest office. He believes Trump has those, in spite of his moral failings, coarse language, belittling of women and Muslims, and his violence-prone political rallies.

"God called King David a man after God's own heart even though he was an adulterer and a murderer," Falwell said.

"You have to choose the leader that would make the best king or president and not necessarily someone who would be a good pastor. We're not voting for pastor-in-chief. It means sometimes we have to choose a person who has the qualities to lead and who can protect our country and bring us back to economic vitality, and it might not be the person we call when we need somebody to give us spiritual counsel."

Falwell also said the Washington establishment fears Trump because he represents the move to take away their power.

"The establishment is having a seizure," Falwell said. "They're going ballistic because they are scared to death that they're going to lose power. ... They're scared to death of Trump because he's the kind of guy that will walk into Washington, kick over the tables, kick over the chairs, throw the bums out, start over, and do things that a career politician would never do."

Falwell also said he likes the fact that Trump has never held office before. He claimed the founders of the nation envisioned that kind of leadership  the kind that made laws and then went home to their own businesses and lived under the laws they created. Trump, he said, would not be beholden to special interests and is a true outsider.

That claim, however, is disputable. Trump has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to political candidates of both stripes in Washington. Censured New York Congressman Charlie Rangel received the most, but Trump also contributed to Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democrat nominee for president, while she was still a senator from New York. The candidate has faced withering criticism from Texas Sen. Ted Cruz for giving money to Democrats  many of whom supported same-sex marriage and abortion rights.

Still, Trump has "prominent Christian defenders, men and women who twist reason and logic to the breaking point in the quest to defend the indefensible," David French wrote at National Review. He chided Falwell for his comparison of Trump to King David:

"To mention King David in the same breath as Donald Trump is to insult our theological intelligence. Yes, David did terrible things  among them, committing adultery and sending his mistress's husband to die in war  but God imposed terrible punishment  a punishment that cost David his son and ultimately plunged his nation into civil war."

David, he said, sinned awfully and was forgiven for it, but only after he repented. Trump, French wrote, has not indicated he feels a need to repent.

"Trump will bring us sin without repentance and consequence without the mercy. Trump isn't remorseful about his affairs (among his many other sins), he brags about them. In his book, The Art of the Comeback, Trump said, 'If I told the real stories of my experiences with women, often seemingly very happily married and important women, this book would be a guaranteed best-seller.' In Think Big and Kick A** (It's not exactly the Psalms, but let's not split hairs), he said "Beautiful, famous, successful, married  I've had them all, secretly, the world's biggest names."

Mollie Hemingway, writing at The Federalist, claims Falwell's comments about Trump has both "good and bad" in it. It is "good," she wrote, that Falwell makes a distinction between pastor and president, which she claims may not have been the legacy of Falwell Sr. (without naming him). She wrote, however, that David was a miserable failure morally when he seduced Bathsheba and ultimately had her husband killed.

Hemingway also delves into Trump's boasting about his adulterous relationships, but spends the most time on his refusal to acknowledge a need for repentance. That is most troubling to her and should be to every Christian who believes repentance is a key step in receiving grace from God, she wrote.

"Now, if things continue as they're going, the next president will not be morally virtuous. And if he were elected president, Trump would not be the first unrepentant adulterer to hold that office.

But far worse than bad presidents is bad theology that ignores the importance of repentance for the Christian, and that means both sorrow over our sin and faith in the promise of forgiveness. Repentance simply means to turn away from sin," Hemingway continued. "For the Christian, it means to turn away from sin to see Jesus crucified for us."

The comparison between King David and Trump also drew the attention of David Wolpe, the senior rabbi of the Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. Wolpe wrote at Time that the comparison is "utterly ridiculous."

"This is an almost perfect example of using scripture to endorse the precise opposite of what the scripture teaches," Wolpe wrote, as he claims the story of David's leadership qualities were not what made him a "man after God's own heart."

It was his godly sorrow that made him so, Wolpe wrote.

"In other words, if you want to make a case for a man being after God's own heart, find a man who admit his misdeeds, can cry at his sins, and strive to be better with people and with God," Wolpe wrote.

"Falwell had other choices from the Bible. He might have cited King Rehoboam (I Kings, ch. 12), who when faced with people feeling disenfranchised, took counsel with the elders who had served his father Solomon. They suggested he speak softly and kindly, but he chose a harsh rhetoric, promising a policy of retribution. He too was a king of Israel. King Rehoboam incited a division in the nation that was never healed," Wolpe wrote.

Like Wolpe, French claims evangelical Christians are making a mistake and it is time they correct it. It is time, he wrote, for Christians to realize that "Trump's Evangelical cheerleaders aren't leading the flock  they're following the mob."

"And as they follow the mob, they engage in ever-more bizarre theological and intellectual gymnastics to justify the unjustifiable. They're sacrificing their integrity  and harming their reputations  for the sake of a dime-store demagogue's vile, doomed cause," French wrote.
Dong Shin Presbyterian Church of Southern California and Korea Campus Crusade for Christ (KCCC, or SOON Movement) signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday as a promise to partner together in ministering to the younger generation. KCCC had already moved its central offices from Los Angeles into a portion of Dong Shin's property in Fullerton, and Dong Shin agreed to provide KCCC with a worship space, offices, a music studio, and other necessities for its ministry.

KCCC and local Korean churches have had an 'uncomfortable' relationship over the years due to the question of who will be able to utilize and build up resourceful college students. Korean churches would feel that their college students are being taken away by KCCC, and KCCC would feel that they are misunderstood by the church. As almost a reflection of that, though KCCC has had churches that have supported the ministry over the years, this is the first time in KCCC's 45-year history that a local church has decided to form a missional partnership with the ministry through an MOU.

In response to the question, "Haven't local Korean churches avoided partnering with mission organizations over the years?" at the press conference after the MOU signing, Rev. Jung Woo Baek, the senior pastor of Dong Shin, responded, "That's a very good question."

"When we can't understand one another, there will inevitably be conflict," Baek said. "But when we are well aware of why we are doing what we are doing, we can overcome the conflicts."

"If there is no 'next generation,' both the local churches and the mission organizations will be faced with a crisis," he continued. "If, by learning from KCCC's ministry, passion, and strategies, the partnership is beneficial for building God's kingdom, we are willing to bear with any slight discomfort."

"According to our statistics, about 75 to 80 percent of Korean Americans leave the church once they go into college," said Dong Whan Kim, the national director of KCCC. "We believe that by working together with local churches, we can help the second generation Korean Americans to look past any negative thoughts they had towards the first generation Korean church." Kim added that the partnership also will help to reduce much of KCCC's administrative and operational costs.

This MOU is focused on ministering to the younger generation through college campuses. KCCC will provide training programs for Dong Shin's college students and assist in developing strategies for college ministry. The ministry will also provide any resources and materials to assist in evangelizing and ministering to college students in the church and in the campus. Dong Shin, meanwhile, will 'adopt' a nearby university as a mission field and help KCCC's ministry through praying, giving, and participating.

"Our church tried to evangelize to students at Cal State University of Fullerton (CSUF), which is near our church, but the results weren't very fruitful. We're hopeful that this partnership will help our church's college ministry to grow," shared Young Do Shin, an elder at Dong Shin.

The MOU is binding for two years, unless the two parties mutually agree to continue the relationship for an extended period. Changes to the MOU must be in writing, signed and dated by a representative from both parties, the MOU states.

10 pastors and elders from Dong Shin, and 20 staff from KCCC were present at the MOU signing ceremony. KCCC is planning to build missional partnerships with other Korean churches in the region and share strategies in evangelizing and ministering to college students.

This article has been translated by Rachael Lee. For the original in Korean, visit kr.christianitydaily.com.
The House of Representatives passed a resolution to declare atrocities committed by ISIS against Christians and other minorities in Iraq and Syria as 'genocide.'

The resolution was approved with 393-0 votes and puts pressure on the Obama administration to decide on the issue before the March 17 deadline, which is the day mandated by the Congress for the Obama administration to determine if persecution of minorities in war-torn Middle Eastern countries is really a genocide.

The decision of declaring the conflict a genocide will have far-reaching consequences, and will obligate US to step up military intervention in Iraq and Syria, experts say.

The resolution followed closely on the heels of a new report by Knights of Columbus and In Defense of Christians, which describes ISIS aggression in the Middle East.

A number of Republican lawmakers supported the decision to label the ISIS-perpetrated violence in the middle east as genocide, even though government treats that determination to militarily intervene in other countries with caution.

"When ISIS systematically targets Christians, Yezidis, and other ethnic and religious minorities for extermination, this is not only a grave injustice-it is a threat to civilization itself," Jeff Fortenberry, (R-Ne), said in a statement. "We must call the violence by its proper name: genocide."

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wi) and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Ca) backed him.

"What is happening in Iraq and Syria is a deliberate, systematic targeting of religious and ethnic minorities. Today, the House unanimously voted to call ISIS's atrocities what they are: a genocide. We also will continue to offer our prayers for the persecuted," Ryan said.

McCarthy reiterated the stance, and pushed for the intervention.

"We want to label what this is so this never happens and should not happen, and someone has to stand up," he told Fox News.

White House Spokesman Josh Earnest was asked on March 1 why the administration has not yet decided on calling the ongoing strife as genocide. He replied, "My understanding is the use of that word involves a very specific legal determination that has at this point not been reached."

The House also passed a resolution by 392-3 votes, to punish Assad regime for atrocities committed by it.

The US had termed mass killings in Sudan as genocide in 2004, only once in recent history, but did not intervene at the time, but went to the UN to form an agreement on military intervention.

The UK parliament has not yet labelled ISIS persecution of minorities a genocide, even though the European parliament has done so.
The Vatican will venerate Mother Teresa into a Saint, who was known for her tireless service for the poor. Pope Francis has approved the canonization of Mother Teresa, and thousands of her admirers will come to witness the event on September 4.

"Pope Francis today approved Mother Teresa's elevation to sainthood and set September 4 as the date for her canonization," the Vatican told the Mother House, a charity mission in Kolkata, in a message.

In a few months, Mother Teresa will be known as Saint Teresa, who founded Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata in 1950, which was dedicated to serving the poor and sick. She died in 1997, at the age of 87. She was beatified in 2003, which is the first step on the way to sainthood.

The news of Mother Teresa's canonization was received with much excitement.

"We have received an official confirmation from Vatican that Pope Francis has approved Mother's sainthood and set September 4 as the date for her canonization. We are very excited and happy," Sunita Kumar, spokesperson for Missionaries of Charity said.

"We arranged a special afternoon prayer to celebrate the occasion. We were expecting this announcement ever since the second miracle was recognized by the pope in December... The only joy we get it is through prayers. That's our celebration," said another sister from Mother Teresa's mission.

Mother Teresa was the third child of Albanian parents, who ran a grocery store. Her father died when she was eight years old. Upon turning 18, she joined Sisters of Loreto convent and a year later she came to India. She took her vows as a nun in 1931, and was named after Therese de Lisieux.

She identified herself as a citizen of the world. In her own words she had said: "By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus." Speaking about her calling in the world, she said, "God still loves the world and He sends you and me to be His love and His compassion to the poor."

Apart from Mother Teresa, four other historical figures will be canonized by the Pope:

Jose Gabriel del Rosario (1840-1914) from Argentina who suffered leprosy throughout his life, and known for his service for the poor and sick; Stanisaus of Jesus and Mary (1631-1701) of Poland, who founded the Marians of the Immaculate Conception; Maria Elizabeth Hesselblad (1870-1957), a Swedish nurse who converted to Roman Catholicism, and will be the first Swedish saint in over 600 years. She founded a new form of Bridgettines known as Bridgettine Sisters; Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio (1913-1928) was a Mexican Cristero who martyred at the age of 14 by Mexican government when he refused to deny his Catholic faith.
I am not a politician, but a minister who teaches theology. As a citizen of this great republic, I have convictions about domestic and foreign policy, but none of that qualifies me to join the fray of political experts and pundits. I am qualified, however, to engage the topic of significant support among self-identified evangelical voters for Donald Trump and what this means, not for the country but what it suggests about significant segments of the US church.

While a theological analysis of other candidates would suggest many equally troubling assumptions of their evangelical followers, no candidate is more identified with the word evangelical as is Trump. The loyalty of his self-identified evangelical followers is especially startling to many.

Let me suggest that the slender thread connecting Trump to the church is his occasional holiday appearances at Marble Collegiate Church, made famous by its pastor for 52 years, Norman Vincent Peale. Blending pop-psychology and spirituality, Peales The Power of Positive Thinking (1952) remained on The New York Times bestsellers list for 186 weeks. Nicknamed Gods Salesman, Peale was criticized for trivializing Christianity. Reinhold Niebuhr said that he corrupts the gospel, and that he helps people feel good, while they are evading the real issues of life.

In the 1952 election, Peale declared presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson unfit because he was divorced. For his part, Stevenson quipped, Speaking as a Christian, I find Paul appealing and Peale appalling. During the Kennedy-Nixon campaign, which began his long relationship with the Nixon White House, Peale declared, Faced with the election ...

1
Tullian Tchividjian has been removed from ministry by his new church, days after his former church picked his replacement.

In view of some recent disclosures of which we were previously unaware, we recently decided to end [his] employment, Willow Creek Presbyterian Church in Winter Springs, Florida, told CT this morning.

Kevin Labby, the churchs senior pastor, also announced to Patheos blogger Warren Throckmorton that he and four other board members (out of nine total) have resigned from the Liberate Network, a resource ministry focused on Gods inexhaustible grace that Tchividjian founded in 2011.

Last month, Liberate announced its relaunch and praised Tchividjians restoration process for going remarkably well.

Repentance is progressive and often painful, wrote Willow Creek in its statement to CT. It involves disclosing and dealing with the darkest places of our hearts and lives.

Tchividjian, a grandson ...

1
OSV Newsweekly Unveils New Digital Edition Contact: Christine V Owsik,

215-230-8095,

COwsik@osv.com



HUNTINGTON, Ind., March 16, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Our Sunday Visitor's highly acclaimed publication OSV Newsweekly is now available in a new digital edition that allows for easy, convenient reading across multiple platforms.



As the world's largest English-language Catholic publisher, OSV developed the new digital edition of its award-winning weekly newspaper to offer control and flexibility for the reader, who can choose to view and read each article in multiple ways across every device. Readers will be able to easily share interesting stories via email or social media, quickly access back issues and scan the entire paper for a particular subject. They can custom-filter content based on topic or section of interest and can request notification when there is an update on a specific area of interest.



"OSV Newsweekly has had a variety of digital options for many years, but this new offering raises the bar," says Gretchen Crowe, OSV Newsweekly Editor. "The new digital edition is tailor-made for 21st-century reading habits, allowing for the easy viewing, sharing and consuming of reliable, relevant Catholic news on every device."



Elizabeth Scalia, U.S. Editor-in-Chief of Aleteia.org, says, "OSV Newsweekly is part of my essential Catholic reading. I access it wherever I am, and share the news with my colleagues and friends."



Lisa Hendey, author, blogger, and founder of CatholicMom.com, stated, "I love OSV Newsweekly's new digital edition! I'm thrilled that I can now access the excellent articles in a format that's been enhanced perfectly to be read on my mobile device or tablet. All of the great links, resources, crisp photos, and graphics are now simply a click away."



"Catholics are consuming content in a variety of ways, and Our Sunday Visitor is continuing to keep pace with the publishing industry in the digital world," says Joe Wikert, President of OSV Publishing. "Such an offering only contributes to our mission of forming and informing Catholics in their faith as they progress forward on the path of discipleship."



The digital edition operates on the Olive Software platform, an ePublishing pioneer serving the world's leading content brands, including half of the top U.S. Newspapers.



About Our Sunday Visitor

The world's largest English-language Catholic publisher, Our Sunday Visitor serves millions of Catholics globally through its publishing, offertory, and communication services. Established in 1912, Our Sunday Visitor publishes a wide range of books including Bibles, biographies of the saints, books by Pope Francis, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, children's books, devotionals, bible studies, inspirational works, and curriculum.



Our Sunday Visitor Offertory Solutions provides complete offertory programs, stewardship services and campaign and appeal fulfillment services for parishes, missions, dioceses and other Catholic organizations. Our product and service offerings combine the use of technology with envelope and communications programs to provide you with the flexibility to adapt to the needs of your constituency.



Our Sunday Visitor is a not-for-profit organization, returning a portion of net earnings back to the Catholic community through the Our Sunday Visitor Institute. For more information, visit www.osv.com and www.osvoffertory.com.

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Trump Strategy: 'The Establishment vs. The People'

Contact: Matt Waters, 202-257-5054



WASHINGTON, March 16, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Pundits from across the political spectrum are up in arms over the rise of populism in this election cycle--but what none has pointed out is the fact that Donald Trump is merely echoing conservative godfather Richard A. Viguerie.



In 1983, conservative activist Richard A. Viguerie wrote a book that detailed his recommendations for a conservative victory, called, "The Establishment vs. The People: Is a New Populist Revolt on the Way?"



Thirty-three years later, and in the new political age of Trump, Viguerie's observations and prescriptions sound eerily similar to the debate taking place in 2016. While Viguerie, now 82, endorsed Ted Cruz, his book may well be the strategy document behind Donald Trump's campaign.



Right off the bat, Viguerie defines The Establishment as, "the class of persons with unusual access to the political process, whether gained through economic power or social status or through an old-boy network.



"It is characterized by the belief that people in general are not smart enough to manage their own affairs and, therefore, the government should select intelligent, qualified persons to run societythe members of the elite are part of the upper crust, either economically, socially, or as measured by how many university degrees they have. In the vast majority of cases, these members of the establishment have never got their hands dirty earning a living. They need not be rich; they may be professors, or bureaucrats, or TV commentators."



Viguerie's definition is spot on, and the editors at rags Left and Right, from the New York Times to The Weekly Standard, have completely missed this.



Viguerie then informs readers that The Establishment is actively opposed to the "We the People" idea of which The Framers built America on. Every single day the mainstream media pursue details regarding a not-so secretive meeting of GOP elites or the hopes of a "brokered convention" wherein the GOP Establishment is actively attempting to sabotage millions of voters who cast their vote in favor of abolishing the status quo.



What should interest beltway pundits, the media, and all of those in D.C. who have aligned themselves against Trump is Viguerie's chapter entitled, "100 Ways to Make America Great Again." Has a familiar ring to it, no? Here are a few of Richard's suggestions

Cut taxes and eliminate Social Security benefits for non-U.S. Citizens or foreign workers in the U.S. as illegal aliens;



Reduce foreign aid by 50% and eliminate all U.S. funds going to the IMF;



Illegal Aliens: Establish a ceiling on all legal immigrationwe must control our borders.

Mother Jones despaired, "Trump has proposed an enormous tax cutHe would reduce federal tax revenue by $9.5 trillion over the next 10 years. That's a 45 percent reduction in projected revenues." The Weekly Standard predicted a week ago, "if you believe that stopping Trump matters too, then Super Tuesday offered evidence this goal is achievable."



The Weekly Standard and Mother Jones agree, Trump and the supporters who support him are not only wrong, but wrong-headed. What appears to be the case is The Establishment, made up of editors, pundits, consultants, etc., are on one side, while Trump and The People are on the other.



Richard Viguerie asked the question, "Is a new populist revolt on the way?" Yes, Mr. Viguerie, it is.



Matt Waters is president of The Waters Agency, Direct Marketing for the RIGHT Cause. Matt worked for Richard Viguerie on two occasions. For more information visit TheWatersAgency.com.
Operation Rescue Opposes Nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court Newman urges Senate Republican leadership to hold firm on their promise not to hold hearings on Obama's SCOTUS pick



Contact: Troy Newman , President, 316-841-1700; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President, 316-516-3034, both with Operation Rescue, info.operationrescue@gmail.com



WASHINGTON, March 16, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Operation Rescue announces its opposition to President Barack Obama's nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to replace Justice Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court. Garland currently serves as chief judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and is considered a "moderate liberal."



"Millions of lives hang in the balance of each ruling on abortion put forth by the Supreme Court. I refuse to support any nominee - Republican or Democrat - that will not renounce Roe v. Wade and commit to restoring legal protections to the pre-born," said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue.



The Republican-controlled Senate leadership has pledged not to confirm any nomination for the Supreme Court made by Pres. Obama in this election year. The Judiciary Committee, which would be responsible to hold confirmation hearings for Garland, has vowed not to convene hearings for Obama's pick.



"I strongly urge the members of the Judiciary Committee to hold fast to their promise, for the sake of the future of our country and the future of our posterity," said Newman. "The Senate Republican leadership cannot afford to break this important promise to their conservative, pro-life base, if they expect us to vote for any of them ever again."



Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Click here to support Operation Rescue.

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home Entertainment '19 Kids and Counting' star Josh Duggar returns from rehab

The reality television star of 19 Kids and Counting, Josh Duggar, who entered rehab to address porn and sex addiction problems has recently returned home to his wife Anna Renee Duggar and kids.

The 28-year-old was at the center of intense controversy last May when it was revealed that he had molested his sisters when he was a young teen.

But things were to get worse, when it was later revealed that Josh was using an Ashley Madison account - a website designed to connect people wanting to cheat on their spouses.

In the aftermath of the revelations, Josh was admitted to a rehabilitation center in Illinois.

Josh spent six months in the faith-based rehabilitation center, in the hope that with professional help, Josh can get his life back on the right path.

The Duggar family recently released a positive statement on their website www.duggarfamily.com saying, "Josh has completed his residential rehabilitation program. We are so thankful for everyone who worked with Josh in this program. It was a crucial first step in recovery and healing for Josh.

"Josh has now returned to Arkansas, where he will continue professional counseling and focus on rebuilding relationships with his family. We look to God for help and guidance and place all of our trust in Him. We are forever grateful for the love and prayers offered by so many and hope you will continue to pray in the days ahead."

On a positive note, the father of four is lucky that his tight knit family is forgiving and is sticking by him, because even after what the family has been put through they have expressed their love and dedication to Josh, and recently celebrated Josh's 28 birthday.

However, Josh's rehabilitation won't stop just because he left the center. It will take more time and effort from him and a lot of patience and faith from his family, reports have stated.

Jessa, Josh's sister, said in an interview with People, "I definitely have forgiven Josh. It is a process, though, that you have to work through in your heart ... And trust is not quickly rebuilt. It is something that takes a while. We love him very much, though, and we are very hopeful for the future."

Now the family is working on moving on from the crisis, and hopes to rebuild and become even stronger as a unit.
home Faith Did Joel Osteen endorse Donald Trump? Lakewood Church releases clarifying statement

Pastor Joel Osteen has recently come under fire after being accused of endorsing Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump during his book tour six months ago.

There are some Twitter users who have called Pastor Joel Osteen's comments on Donald Trump an endorsement. However, Lakewood Church officials have denied the claims that his comments amounted to an "endorsement", according to KHOU.

In an official statement issued to The Blaze on Tuesday, Lakewood Church said Pastor Osteen has not endorsed any presidential candidate.

"Contrary to the misinformation making the rounds on social media, Pastor Joel Osteen has not endorsed any candidate for President of the United States," Lakewood Church said.

Recently, news spread that Osteen had expressed support for the GOP Republican frontrunner. It all began when Pastor Joel Osteen called Donald Trump a "good man" in an interview in October 2015 on Fox News radio's "Kilmeade and Friends," the report relays.

In the interview with Fox, the megachurch pastor said some good things about the billionaire and even called him a "friend" to his ministry and an "incredible communicator." However, the pastor did not explicitly endorse the real estate mogul, nor another other candidate.

The Republican presidential candidate, on the other hand, has seemingly reciprocated Osteen's praises. Trump has been known to quote the Christian leader in some of his Twitter statuses. He also called it an honor to be associated with the Lakewood Church pastor, whom he described as a fantastic man.
home Entertainment 'God's Not Dead 2' private screening takes place in Arkansas

The faith-based movie "God's Not Dead 2" has been shown in a private screening in Arkansas on Monday night, and event that was attended by its lead star Melissa Joan Hart.

"God's Not Dead 2" debuted on Monday at Riverdale 10 Cinema in Little Rock. Melissa Joan Hart, who plays the lead role in the Christian movie, said on Twitter that it was her first destination in their publicity tour, Arkansas Online reports.

In the new movie, Hart plays the role of Christian teacher Grace Wesley who is forced into a court battle after answering a student's question about Jesus. Her character is in danger of losing her dream career for standing up for her faith. The epic court case could also remove God from the classroom.

The faith-based film was shot in Little Rock from May to September last year. Some of the landmarks featured in "God's Not Dead 2" are the Pulaski County Courthouse and the state Capitol. Hart even joked about her experiences shooting the new film, saying that the director made her walk up and down the Capitol's marble staircase many times in high heels during filming.

"I had to walk up that staircase so many times, but it was beautiful," said Hart.

Before the private screening in Arkansas, the "God's Not Dead 2" lead star described her trip to the state's capital city. She said she enjoyed running near the Arkansas River and showing the place to her children whenever they visited her there.

For the actress, her role in the Christian film was a "calling" to spread the message that Jesus is real.

"I think that the big message overall is that Jesus as a historical figure did exist," Hart added. "I hope that is what viewers will come to."

"God's Not Dead 2" officially opens in theaters on Apr. 1.
home US How Marco Rubio's campaign failed; Florida candidate loses home state

Marco Rubio had all that you need in a Republican presidential candidate: fluency on the issues, a conservative outlook, crossover appeal as a Cuban-American, and youthful good looks.

But in an election year when anyone associated with the Republican establishment is seen as tainted, Rubio ended his campaign after New York real estate mogul Donald Trump won the coveted primary, or nominating contest, in Rubio's home state of Florida on Tuesday.

"This may not have been the year for a hopeful and optimistic message about our future," Rubio told supporters as he announced his decision.

How the 44-year-old U.S. senator got to this point is a story of miscalculations and missed opportunities, according to interviews with more than a dozen campaign officials, financial donors and Republican strategists.

Rubio attempted to position himself as a new-age Republican, the son of Cuban immigrants who was able to connect with everyday voters with tales of his hard-luck upbringing. He also tried to appeal to America's growing Hispanic population to help boost his party's chances of claiming victory in the Nov. 8 election.

He got off to a difficult start.

His advisers wanted to run a campaign where it made more sense to be on Fox News, a channel popular with Republicans, or on other cable networks and local broadcasters whose clips can go viral on social media, rather than spend a lot of time in small towns in Iowa and New Hampshire. The early nominating contests there often shape the narrative and direction of presidential elections.

So Rubio made a strategic gamble. He would try a different approach in those two states, strategists familiar with his campaign said. He would try to save time and money by making strategic stops in those states rather than carpet-bomb them with multiple visits.

'HE COULD HAVE DONE IT'

It would be a break from the usual playbook of White House hopefuls that says candidates should saturate Iowa and New Hampshire with town halls and other events and aim for early wins to garner media coverage and campaign donations and build momentum.

Rubio's gamble backfired. Republican activists in Iowa complained he was largely absent from the state for long stretches, not spending the face-to-face time necessary to sell himself. He only made an all-out push in the late stages of the race.

Throughout the campaign, Rubio has battled perceptions that he does not work hard enough. For other candidates running for president, a voting record in the Senate would be a minor issue. But for Rubio, missing votes on the Senate floor dovetailed with the narrative that was building on the trail. If he was not in the Senate and was not on the trail, where was he?

Rubio spokesman Alex Conant said Rubio faced more than $50 million in attacks ads. "Obviously that had a massive impact. I think we could have won Iowa had it not been for the more than $25 million in attacks spent on us in Iowa alone."

Republican rival and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas tried to visit every Iowa county on a bus. Rubio tended to fly in and fly out. Polls showed he typically did better in metropolitan areas, not the hamlets than can often make or break candidates in early states.

Cruz won Iowa's caucuses on Feb. 1 with Trump second. Rubio's third-place finish was seen as something of a victory by his camp, but Republicans in the state were not so sure.

"He had a chance to win Iowa," said Jamie Johnson, a Republican activist in Iowa. As Johnson traveled the state ahead of the caucuses, voters often asked him when Rubio would visit their area, he said.

"Iowans like being visited in their home county," he explained. "If a presidential candidate wants to win in Iowa, then he must put in the shoe leather."

Rubio's team said he had tended to campaign in major population centers in Iowa in order to get the most impact from the news media.

"I was very pleased with the campaign that we ran here and I thought the national team did a very good job and I had no complaints," said Iowa state Senator Jack Whitver, who was the head of Rubio's Iowa campaign.

NO-SHOW AT DINNERS

Rubio heard similar complaints in New Hampshire. He spent just 28 days campaigning there, about half as much as former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and a fraction of the some 70 days that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Ohio Governor John Kasich were there.

Fergus Cullen, a former chairman of the state Republican Party, sought to hold meet-and-greet events at his home for each candidate. Candidates such as Bush and Kasich took him up on it. Rubio did not. Cullen eventually aligned himself with Kasich, who went on to finish second to Trump in the state.

"There were a lot of opinion leaders - key endorsers who end up on a candidate's delegate list - who were interested in Rubio but never got to meet him or have those small-group, private meetings that result in commitments," Cullen said.

Renee Plummer, a real-estate developer and an influential conservative activist in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, who hosted more than 10 Republican candidates for intimate dinners with local leaders, said she tried to schedule Rubio three separate times to no avail. She eventually threw her support behind Christie.

'LACK OF STATURE'

Rubio faced another problem: a perception that he could only muster well-worn talking points.

At a July 6, 2015, dinner at a Chicago steakhouse with reporters, he appeared relaxed and knowledgeable. But as the campaign intensified, that Rubio appeared less and less frequently, replaced by a candidate who seemed able only to deliver canned lines and talking points.

Christie's campaign noticed. Days before the Feb. 9 New Hampshire primary, Christie caught Rubio in repeat mode during a debate, calling him robotic and scripted. It affirmed some voters' doubts that he lacked depth. Rubio never quite recovered.

"What happened to Marco in New Hampshire struck a responsive chord," said John "Mac" Stipanovich, a prominent Florida lobbyist who first supported Bush and then switched to Rubio. "It crystallized that lack of stature."

Trump's unrelenting dominance of the media spotlight made it hard for rivals to shine. But Rubio's decision, starting with a debate in Houston on Feb. 25, to try to match Trump insult for insult was cited by voters as another wrong move. Rubio has since said he regretted the negative turn.

A campaign source said it was Rubio who made the ultimate decision to switch gears and attack Trump personally, motivated in part by a desire to win more media coverage. It worked. At a rally in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday, he ruefully noted that when he was engaged in his war of insults with Trump, CNN and other networks carried his events live, something they had not done before.

That was, in a nutshell, the problem. Months of wall-to- wall news coverage of Trump decimated Rubio's strategy of using free-media avenues.

"You can't out-Trump Trump," said Rubio supporter Jim Bundstein in Florida.

'NOTHING BUT AMNESTY'

For some, the roots of Rubio's problems can be traced back further to an icy afternoon in Washington on Jan. 28, 2013. That is when he held a news conference with three Democratic senators and a Republican on Capitol Hill to launch immigration reforms.

The legislation, sponsored by what became known as a bipartisan "Gang of Eight" senators, would have created a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, but only if steps were taken to secure the U.S. southern border with Mexico and strengthen visa tracking.

Rubio had already faced conservative anger when flirting with immigration reform a year earlier, when he proposed a path to citizenship for young people who came to the country illegally but would join the military.

Conservative columnist Ann Coulter derided those ideas as "nothing but amnesty" for lawbreakers.

The "Gang of Eight" bill ran into similar resistance. As Rubio distanced himself from it, Hispanic groups faulted him for giving up.

In a Republican primary race where Trump has thrilled many conservatives by vowing to deport immigrants and build a wall on the Mexican border, Rubio's involvement in the legislation and sudden abandonment of it haunted his 2016 campaign.

It was the centerpiece of attack ads by his rivals and the independent fundraising groups supporting them.

At a rally in Tampa, Florida, on Monday, Trump said of the senator: "He's weak on immigration. He's very weak on amnesty. I don't know how he got elected."
home World ISIS is committing 'Genocide' against Christians and other minorities, declares U.S. House of Representatives

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a resolution declaring that ISIS is committing genocide against Christians and religious minorities in the Middle East.

This week, the House voted unanimously to pass the resolution, which serves as additional pressure on President Barack Obama's administration to follow suit as the March 17 deadline for the declaration looms nearer, according to Fox News.

The "genocide" resolution says ISIS' atrocities have resulted in the murder, subjugation, forced emigration, physical and psychological harm, and sexual abuse of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East. These acts were done deliberately and in a manner that goes against the laws of the respective countries.

So far, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the White House have not yet decided on whether to make the same genocide declaration. On Mar. 1, White House spokesman Josh Earnest explained that the term "genocide" involves a specific legal determination that they have not yet reached.

A few days ago, the Knights of Columbus and In Defense of Christians released a graphic report supporting the declaration that ISIS is indeed committing genocide against the Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East.

"When ISIS systematically targets Christians, Yezidis, and other ethnic and religious minorities for extermination, this is not only a grave injusticeit is a threat to civilization itself," Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, (R-Neb.), said in a statement. "We must call the violence by its proper name: genocide."

House Republican Speaker Paul Ryan also supported the measure, and urged the White House to decide on the matter in light of the continued attacks ISIS has launched against Christians and other minorities. On Monday, he spoke about how ISIS killed 16 people at a retirement home in Yemen. The victims included four Catholic nuns, the report details.

Presidential candidates Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Hillary Clinton have also called on the Obama administration to label the ISIS atrocities as genocide.

Aside from the House genocide resolution, the U.S. Senate is also set to vote on a similar measure.
Budget 2016: What Christian charities thought of 'social justice by Conservative means'

George Osborne made another pitch to be next leader of the Conservative party on Wednesday as he attempted to show he had a concern for poorer households.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer said his eighth budget in the role was one of "social justice delivered by Conservative means".

"This is a budget that puts the next generation first," he told MPs.

However in his response the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the budget had "unfairness at its very core". He quoted a study from the Institute for Fiscal Studies which suggested the poorest have suffered the greatest proportional impact as a result of cuts to government spending.

"If he can afford giveaways to certain business sectors why can't he afford to protect the dignity of disabled people?" asked the leader of the opposition after it emerged 600,000 people with disabilities would be affected by changes to their benefits.

Osborne pointed to turmoil in global economies as a reason to balance the books. He said: "We must act now so we don't pay later."

Christian Today has compiled a range of reaction from Christian charities to the Chancellor's budget to assess whether he convinced voters of his concern for social justice.

The Children's Society bluntly said the budget "fails the next generation" in a direct contradiction to the Chancellor's claim.

Chief executive Matthew Reed said: "If the Government wants to put the next generation first it must confront child poverty head-on. Instead it is pressing ahead with a four-year benefits freeze that will hit 7.5 million children."

Reed added that although child poverty has fallen since 2010, half a million more live in "absolute poverty" and "without immediate action" many more would join them.

"If the Government wants to act now rather than pay later, it must invest in early intervention services in order to address problems before they become crises and make sure children can get the start in life they deserve," he said.

However The Centre for Social Justice, a think-tank established by work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith, praised a number of aspects in the budget.

"There is much in this budget that the CSJ welcomes," said executive director Philippa Stroud, Duncan Smith's former advisor. "We have campaigned for a help to save measure; mentoring schemes have had our support since we first recommended home-school support champions; a commitment to tackling rough sleeping in our cities is crucial; and the raising of the National Living Wage so that work pays through earnings is vital."

However she said it failed to truly be a budget for the next generation because it did invest in "strong stable families". Stroud called for an "early intervention programme that will ensure that if you are born into a family that wants to care for you but does not know how, they are given all the skills to do so, and if you are born into a family that cannot care for you, you receive all the support you need before it damages you."

The Christian lobby group CARE added to scrutiny over families. It said the failure to expand the tax break for married couples was a "key omission" in Osborne's search for a social justice focused budget.

CEO Nola Leach told Christian Today: "Given the public benefits of marriage for couples, children and communities, it does not make sense that we should make the option of marrying fiscally less accessible in this country.

"Family breakdown is costing 47billion a year and so there is an urgent need for a significant rethink to make sure family responsibilities are properly recognised in our tax system."

She continued: "An expanded marriage tax break not only sends out an important social message about marriage it also is the first step to correcting the current bias in our tax system against traditional, one-earner families."

Among the measures leaked ahead of the budget was a package worth 115m to tackle homelessness, which is a key aspect to the Chancellor's new-found heart for social justice.

The chief executive of Housing Justice gave a cautious welcome to the announcement.

Alison Gelder said: "As we welcome the Chancellor's apparent realisation that something needs to be done to help people who are a long way from being able to take advantage of home ownership deals, we at Housing Justice will be watching what happens carefully so that our supporters in churches can hold him to account, ensuring that the promised funds are delivered."

She added: "We need to see how this announcement fits with the proposed limits on local housing allowance that are the axe hanging over thousands of supported housing projects that are currently housing homeless people, as well as accommodation in domestic abuse refuges and sheltered housing for elderly and disabled people."

The Chancellor's phrase "social justice by Conservative means" is likely to be repeated again and again as the campaign for Tory leadership intensifies. Interestingly the line was not in the original text of his speech published by the Treasury so it was a rare impromptu addition from Osborne.

Christian charities are evidently unconvinced it was a wise move.
China: Huge new church to open in Guangzhou city as elsewhere pastors are imprisoned

The largest church ever to be built in Guangzhou, capital of China's Guangdong province, is to open its doors soon.

Combining modern features with traditional Chinese architecture, it is described by the China Christian Daily as "a landmark of Christianity in China".

It is set to be opened at some time during the first half of this year.

Tianhe Church is the first new church building to be erected in the province since the Revolution of 1949 and the creation of the People's Republic of China.

Taking 10 years to contruct, it is designed to be a multi-purpose building with a hall, chapel, bell tower and administrative buildings. It will have an underground parking area covering 2,493 square metres.

Yang Yongchun, Pastor of Tianhe Church, told China Christian Daily the opening of the church had "great religious and social significance". He said it was not only useful for its members but could set the standard for a religious building that would promote harmonious social development in wider Chinese society.

While the Church in China is under pressure in some areas, particularly in Zhejiang Province where churches have been demolished, crosses torn down and pastors and lawyers imprisoned, elsewhere it is allowed to flourish relatively unhindered.

Guangzhou has several large and historic Christian churches, including the spectacular Gothic Sacred Heart Cathedral. Built in 1863, it is one of only four Gothic-style churches in the world to be built entirely of granite.

Another large church, Guangxiao, was built in around 1924 and was funded by Chinese Christians rather than Western missionaries. Like the new Tianhe Church, it also shows Chinese architectural influences.
Church could broker peace in 'water wars' between Egypt and Ethiopia

Christians could play an important role in easing tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia, according to an Egyptian Coptic bishop.

Tensions have risen between the two countries over the allocation of water from the Nile, vital for the economies of both. Ethiopia has been constructing its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile since 2011 and it is set to be one of the largest in the world. While Ethiopia argues it will not reduce the flow of water downstream, Egypt has fiercely resisted its construction.

Interviewed by the Al-Monitor news service, Bishop Beeman, who coordinates relations between the Ethiopian and Egyptian Coptic Churches, said the Church was a "soft power" trusted by both Egypt and Ethiopia.

"The Church is openly fulfilling its duties in an organised and orderly manner and is sending messages of love to the Ethiopian people," he said. "We seek to consolidate relations between the Ethiopian and Egyptian peoples in order to create a suitable climate for politicians and technicians so as to improve the dam negotiation."

He said he believed Ethiopia would not decrease the vital flow of Nile water through Egypt because "the Ethiopian people and church will not allow the government to harm the Egyptian people".

"This was confirmed by the Ethiopian church leaders in all of our meetings," he said, adding: "The Ethiopian Church is the voice of the Ethiopian people, and an active government expresses the will of its people."

While Egypt has been largely isolated in its opposition to the dam, which will see a massive boost to electricity generating capacity in the region, it has won backing from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Egypt is helping with the construction of a huge dam about 140 miles southwest of the capital Kinshasa.
Florida governor signs Pastor Protection Act that protects religious persons if they refuse to administer same-sex marriages

Churches, religious organisations and religious persons in Florida may not be compelled to perform same-sex marriages and provide services and accommodations if these violate their religious beliefs under a new state law.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed into law on March 10 HB 43 or the Pastor Protection Act that shields religious entities and individuals from any lawsuit if they refuse to administer same-sex weddings.

The law, which takes effect on July 1, provides that "churches or religious organizations, related organizations, or certain individuals may not be required to solemnize any marriage or provide services, accommodations, facilities, goods, or privileges for related purposes if such action would violate a sincerely held religious belief; prohibiting certain legal actions, penalties, or governmental sanctions against such individuals or entities."

Covered under this are churches; religious organisations, corporations, associations and fraternal benefit society; religious schools; integrated auxiliary of a church; individuals employed by a church or religious organisations while acting in the scope of employment; and clergies and ministers.

It said a refusal to solemnise any marriage or provide services, accommodations, facilities, goods, or privileges may not be used as basis for a civil cause of action or criminal lawsuits.

Rep. Scott Plakon, sponsor of HB 43, said most parts of the bill came from a similar Texas law.

"This has been a collaborative effort with diverse  perhaps the most diverse  groups we have seen working together on an issue. And I'm very, very proud of all the people who put hard work on this to get where we are today," Plakon said, as quoted by the Herald Tribune.

Christian Family Coalition executive director Anthony Verdugo said the bill is needed following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage last June.

"You can't be penalized. You can't have your tax-exempt status pulled ... you can't have grants denied to you. You can't be treated any differently than you are now based on your views on marriage," he said.

Liberty Counsel's Mat Staver said he is "pleased that the Pastor Protection Act is now law in Florida."

"We should pass broad legislation that protects the religious freedom and conscience of all people who refuse to be conscripted into service of the so-called LGBT agenda," he added.
Former Missouri pastor sentenced to 50 years for murder-for-hire plot against wife, other crimes

A former pastor in Missouri was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the attempted murder of his wife, intentionally burning their house and financial exploitation of an elderly.

Donald Lafferty, 71, was convicted last January of hiring his mistress, Brandi Hicks, and her husband, Christopher, to set their house on fire and kill his wife, Mildred Lafferty, in January 2013. The judge also sentenced him for defrauding his mother of $86,000, the Southeast Missourian reported.

Lafferty got 50 years of imprisonment in total15 years for attempted murder, 15 years for arson and 20 years for financially exploiting his mother.

He promised the Hickses that he would pay them $15,000 for burning his house plus $5,000 if his wife died in the fire.

"I think that for all the things that the defendant did, it [the sentence] is very appropriate," said Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver.

However, Lafferty maintained his innocence.

"There were some negotiations by the prosecutor's office as to whether Don Lafferty would be interested in testifying in Chris Hicks' upcoming trial. My client is not interested in doing that because his position has been, and he has always maintained, that he is completely innocent in this," said his lawyer Daniel Moore.

Oliver disagreed, saying, "There was a mountain of evidence in this case."

The judge allowed Lafferty to post $250,000 cash bond as he appeals his case but is prohibited from contacting the victims. He must also surrender his passport and travel documents.

Court documents showed Mildred Lafferty woke on the night of Jan. 12, 2013 to discover that their house was on fire. Investigators determined that it was caused by arson, set by gasoline and butane lighter.

She told investigators that before the fire, she woke up to find her husband moving a computer and cedar chest out of the house.

Authorities later discovered that Brandi Hicks and Donald Lafferty had a relationship.

After the incident, Lafferty fled to Vermont and Massachusetts before he was arrested in May 2014 in North Andover, Massachusetts.
Former vicar jailed for abuse of 12-year-old boy

A former vicar who sexually abused a boy from his church has been jailed for eight years.

Leonard Skinner, 79 and of Brighton Grove, Tyne and Wear, was a vicar in Grange Park, Enfield in London when the abuse took place in the 1970s.

He was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court, which heard how he had befriended the boy and invited him to the vicarage for confirmation lessons before abusing him over a four-year period.

The boy was only 12 when the assaults began. They were reported on last October, when police began an investigation.

Skinner pleaded guilty at his trial last month. Police spokesman Detective Constable John Ritsema said: "Skinner used his role in a position of trust, as well as his friendly demeanour, to gain access to his victim. I would like to pay tribute to the courage of the victim in speaking out against Skinner. It was his testimonial that secured the charges and enabled this case to be brought to court."

In a statement the Diocese of London Safeguarding Team said: "We are aware that Rev Leonard Harold Skinner, a former member of the clergy in London, has pleaded guilty to several counts of indecent assault against a child. These are appalling crimes."

They added: "We treat all abuse allegations with the utmost seriousness and are working closely with the authorities on this case as well as providing support to those affected by Leonard Skinner's actions."
Franklin Graham launches another attack on Islam, blames Muslims for Christian persecution

Franklin Graham, who heads Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, has launched another attack on Islam in an interview with a conservative Christian news channel and condemned President Obama's plans to increase the number of refugees given shelter in the US.

Graham has regularly made headlines for his trenchant views on Islam. In an interview on the Christian Broadcasting Network reported by CNS he spoke of the oppressive nature of Islam, saying: "This is Islam: They persecute the Church, they persecute Christians."

He spoke of the atrocities committed by Islamic State as committed by "the Sunnis", saying: "The Sunnis persecute the Christians. We see in Syria and Iraq where they cut the heads off Christians, they rape the women, take them as sex slaves."

He continued: "They take the Yazidis, the minorities, and they do the same thing. They kill the men but take the women to have sex with them. And then after they have used them for a number of months, they're so distraught mentally and physically that then they may let them go or they may kill them."

He referred to US ally Saudi Arabia and the stringent rules about the observance of other religions in the Kingdom.

"If you go into Saudi Arabia with a Bible, they take it away from you," he said. "If you try to preach or evangelize in Saudi Arabia, they will execute you."

Asked whether he was concerned at President Obama's desire to increase the number of refugees coming to the US, he said: "I would love to see those immigrants be the minorities  the Christians, the Yazidis, and other minorities, the Assyrians, and so forth, that still live in Syria and that are minorities, and allow these Christians and minorities to come to this country would be great."

However, he added: "But to allow more Muslims into this country at this time while we're still fighting against ISIS, and we have these issues, I think it's creating a problem for us."

The current crisis, he said, was the result of Obama's "failed policies".

Graham is part way through his Decision America prayer tour during the election campaign. He has led prayer rallies at polical centres around the country and is set to speak at the Capitol building in Santa Fe, New Mexico today.

He wrote in a Facebook post on Monday: "This past week we saw violent protests at political rallies. One candidate is under investigation by the FBI. Another candidate says we need a political revolution. What America needs is a Godly revolution! Washington is broken. Our nation is brokenpolitically, spiritually, and morallyand our only hope is Almighty God. Let's take a stand together and pray for God to intervene in this country, to forgive us, and to give us another chance."

Graham has not endorsed any political candidate and resigned from the Republican party in December. However, some of his declared positions align him with policies advocated by Donald Trump, such as his support for banning all Muslims from entering the US.
Georgia House passes bill giving $2 million to pro-life pregnancy resource centres

Georgia's House of Representatives has passed a bill giving as much as $2 million to pregnancy resource centres to encourage them not to have an abortion.

The House voted 105-52 to pass the bill that would provide alternatives to abortion services to medically indigent women at no cost.

These women will be provided with pregnancy support services that "encourage childbirth instead of voluntary termination of pregnancy and which assist pregnant women or women who believe they may be pregnant to choose childbirth whether they intend to parent or select adoption for the child."

Georgia's Senate approved the measure last month with a 38-16 vote.

It will fund organisations that do not perform, refer or promote abortions to women unless a physician advises that the pregnancy would threaten a mother's life.

The bill establishes the Positive Alternatives for Pregnancy and Parenting Grant Program to promote healthy pregnancies and childbirth.

Republican state Sen. Renee Unterman, the bill's sponsor, said the undercover videos on Planned Parenthood inspired her to provide funding to pregnancy resource centres, LifeSite News reported.

State Rep. Sharon Cooper said, "When our party has been a party pushing for decreased access to abortion facilities and has so stressed the need not to have abortion, I think we have a moral responsibility to say: 'If you make the choice, if you choose life and you need help, we'll be there to help you,'" the Associated Press reported.

"This $2 million, I can guarantee you, is going to be spent well," because it's "going to have transparency," Unterman said last February.

She said funding a pro-life programme would allow lawmakers "to talk about something not so heinous and terrible, but talk about something that is very, very good."

The budge would benefit about 70 pro-life women's centres.

There were about 27,500 abortions performed in Georgia in 2013, according to AP.
Iraqi Christians desperate for the US to declare ISIS atrocities a genocide

Iraqi Christians are hoping that the US will declare the atrocities committed by the Islamic State (ISIS) a genocide before Christianity is completely wiped out in the country.

Genocide is defined as "acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group" and a declaration of such for a country that is party to the UN Convention will mean that the country will be entitled to support and protection from other member nations.

"The American delay in officially declaring what has happened to the Christians officially as genocide, or mass extermination and systematic persecution has caused a huge disappointment among the Christians. They have waited a long time for the international community, especially America, to declare this so that they can be supported and protected in their own country," said Yacoob Gewargis, head of the Al-Rafidain Christian bloc in the Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) Parliament in northern Iraq, was cited by FOX News.

According to the report, the US could make a declaration by March 17, the deadline set by US Congress to vote on a bill that would declare ISIS actions genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Thousands of families have been displaced in the country, especially in the main areas of Mosul and its surrounding communities.

"My feeling is utter disappointment that the West has left us, everybody has left us," said Martin Alqas, a displaced Iraqi Christian from the Nineveh Plain villages of Qaraqosh, said to FOX News. "The West, with all its advanced technology, can finish ISIS. But they are delaying that due to political purposes which are unknown to us. We as Christians, and other minorities in Iraq, are facing extinction and we are paying the price."
Is ISIS a truly Islamic State? According to Mohammed's covenants with Christians, no.

ISIS is violating the teaching of Mohammed in persecuting Christians, according to a new study on previously untranslated writings of the Prophet.

Contrary to the brutal treatment Christians face under ISIS, the Muslim Prophet Mohammed described his ideal Islamic State as a community with religious pluralism and civil rights, where Christians and the ability to worship were protected.

ISIS' treatment of Christians goes against the teaching of the prophet they purport to follow.

Says who?

Dr Craig Considine, a research professor from Rice University, who has written a paper exploring the covenants Mohammed made with Christians.

Based on what?

A collection of newly translated covenants written by Prophet Mohammed between 622 and 632 AD that he made with different Christian groups, including the monks of mount Sinai, the Christians of Najran, the Christians of Persia and the Christians of the World.

These covenants reveal the Prophet's desire to work with  not against  Christians in the area, in order to build his ummah (Arabic community).

Right, what do these covenants say?

These covenants revealed the thinking behind and practical implications of Mohammed's desire to ensure religious freedom.

"Prophet Mohammed made it clear that freedom of religion is an inherent right for Christians living in a Muslim nation," Considine said.

This was not derived from political aspiration, but "rather they resulted from his belief that Christians should be able to freely practice their own faith in accordance with their own will."

In the covenant with the Christians in Persia, the prophet was emphatic on this issue, writing:

"Even as they honour and respect me, so shall Muslims care for that people as being under our protection and whensoever any distress or discomfort shall overtake (Christians), Muslims shall hold themselves in duty bound to aid and care for them, for they are a people subject to my Nation, obedient to their word, whose helpers also they are."

Mohammed was clear that no Christian should be under a compulsion to accept or reject Islam. He extended the duty of care for Christians to giving civic rights to their religious leaders.

"The covenant of Allah is that I should protect their land, their monastries, with my power, my horses, my men, my strength and my Muslim followers in any region, far away or close by, and that I should protect their businesses," he wrote in 'The covenant of the Prophet with the Christians of the World'.

"I grant security to them, their churches, their businesses, their houses of worship, the places of their monks, the places of their pilgrims, wherever they may be found," he wrote.

He's pretty clear  Christians should be free to be Christians while living in Ummah. This is integral to an Islamic State.

Why are we just learning about them now?

These documents have been found in obscure monasteries around the world, and have been out of print for centuries  some were never even translated from their original language.

"Scholars and believers are turning to them now because of the widespread violence against Christians in places like Iraq and Syria," Considine said.

So the "Islamic State" isn't really an "Islamic State"?

Not according to Mohammed's standards for an Islamic State, no.

Considering the fact that ISIS' treatment of Christians and other religious minorities is so severe that it has been called "genocide" by both the US and Europe, it is difficult to harmonise the two.

Naturally, if you claim to follow Mohammed, it is pretty crucial to follow his teachings. So, if you are trying to build an Islamic State, you'd have thought that his teachings on what that would look like would be central to what you'd hope to build.

What does this mean?

The revelation of these Covenants Mohammed made with Christians reveal the Prophet's true vision for an Islamic State  one that "radiates compassion and peace"  and so enables us to disassociate Islam from ISIS. It gives us a new perspective, which reconfirms that ISIS is not a true expression of what Mohammed envisioned a Muslim nation to look like.

It could be viewed "as a kind of medicine to cure the diseases of Islamic extremism and Islamophobia," Considine said.

"This is what American society  and indeed the world  needs now more than ever."
Kentucky Senate passes bills creating Bible study elective in public schools, protecting religious liberty of business owners

The Kentucky Senate has approved two bills aimed at creating an elective course on the Bible in public schools and protecting religious freedom in the state.

S.B. 278, approved by the state Senate with a 35-3 vote on March 14, requires "the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate administrative regulations to establish an elective social studies course on the Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament of the Bible, the New Testament, or a combination of the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament of the Bible."

It says the course should "provide students knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture, including literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public policy; (and) permit students to use various translations of the Bible for the course."

Sen. Robin Webb, the bill's sponsor, said the measure will "allow Bible literacy courses in the form of a social studies elective."

"This bill would not have religious connotation as much as a historical connotation," she said.

Under the bill, the course "shall not endorse, favor, or promote, or disfavor or show hostility toward, any particular religion or nonreligious faith or religious perspective."

Webb told The Independent that she's "happy to see this bill moving forward. I had a Bible class in high school and it was very beneficial to me from a historical position."

The Senate also passed a bill that will allow business owners to refuse serving gays and lesbians on the grounds of religious beliefs.

S.B. 180, passed with a 22-16 vote, establishes protected activities, activity provider and protected rights and prohibits "any statute, regulation, ordinance, order, judgment, of other law or action by any court, commission, or other public agency from impairing, impeding, infringing upon, or otherwise restricting the exercise of protected rights by any protected activity provider."

The "provider" will be insulated from being fined, imprisoned, held in contempt or punished for refusing to provide services "unless a court finds that the complaining person or the government proved by clear and convincing evidence that a compelling governmental interest in infringing upon the act or refusal to act existed and the least restrictive means was used."

Sen. Joe Bowen voted for the bill because "this is a live-and-let-live piece of legislation," the Courier-Journal reported.

According to The Advocate, Kentucky has no anti-discrimination law on sexual orientation or gender identity. However, eight cities in the state have it: Lexington, Louisville, Covington, Morehead, Frankfort, Danville, Midway, and Vicco.

Lead sponsor Republican Sen. Albert Robinson earlier said the bill's intent is to protect businesses that don't want to serve same-sex weddings, LGBT pride festival or other LGBT events.

"All of these business owners want to treat everyone with full human dignity and respect," Robinson said. "But their consciences and religious beliefs prevent them from using their skills to promote a celebration that runs counter to what the Bible teaches about marriage. Shouldn't their rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion be respected?"

Democrats currently have a 53-47 majority in the state House.
Mighty warrior and Mother of Israel: 3 things Christians can learn from Deborah

Deborah  a biblical prophetess who spent her days instructing Israel from under a palm tree  lived in a tumultuos period of Israel's history. Her story is recorded in Judges 4-5.

In a time where Israelites were living under Canaanite rule, Deborah was one of the four judges of Israel, the only female one recorded in the Bible. The people of Israel were oppressed by Jabin, the king of Canaan, and had been for 20 years.

In a time where there was no King, the judges ruled Israel. They were considered prophets and by consulting God, through prayer and meditation, they would give counsel and settle disputes in Israel.

Motivated by the suffering she saw, Deborah acted, stirring up a rebellion. She sends a military commander called Barak to gather 10,000 troops ready to attack the Canaanite military leader Sisera. He says he will not go, if she doesn't come with him. So she obliges.

The battle is victorious, and peace comes upon the land for 40 years (Judges 5:31).

Deborah's story is a remarkable one. She lived a life that any man in her 12th Century patriarchal society would have envied. This is not a comment of the limitations of women, rather on the sovereignty of God. No man would have chosen a woman to judge Israel, but God did.

What can we learn from this woman of God?

1. God won't abide by our rules.

Deborah's rise to prominence would have subverted the structures in which she lived. Women in ancient Israel held a subordinate position in society, and that she was appointed judge  a ruler of Israel  would have gone against all the rules of her society.

Yet, God did it any way.

Where man is bound by convention, God is free. It is easy for us to look around at our circumstance and be limited by it, inadvertently making it sovereign. We allow our situation to dictate our actions, making them the authority, relegating God's authority.

The life of Deborah is a reminder that God is sovereign. Rather than looking to our situation  or societal norms  to dictate the value or direction of our lives, we get to look to God. We are free to live to another standard.

2. Submit to him

Deborah's life, though not dictated by societal norms, remained one of radical submission  just to a different authority.

Rather than relying on her own wisdom, Deborah consistently referred back to the words of the Lord. Her first words to Barak were "Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you..."

The invitation away from society's expectations to God's does not lead to our autonomy and control, but to a radical submission. It is only in her yielding to God, that Deborah is useful to God.

Similarly, it is only through allowing God to work through us, that we are able to be raised up and become useful to Him. Deborah was not elevated to the position of Judge through her own abilities, but through God's sovereign choice, and her willingness to be obedient.

Where other judges fell through pride, she did not. Rather than owning the victories as her own, she and Barak sang a song glorifying God for His victory.

3. He will enable and embolden us

Deborah spoke boldly in tough situations, spoke God's truth in times of uncertainty and commanded an army into battle, facing the enemy they had been suppressed by for 20 years. Her courage became an encouragement, enabling Barak  with Deborah by his side  to go to battle. This led to victory  driving Sisera into the tent of Jael, who killed him in his sleep.

Her faith in God led to her being emboldened to act, as she trusted that He would deliver Israel against her enemies.

In this position of submission, God will guide our lives in a way  whilst not always looking like worldly success  enabling us to do things that, in our own strength we would not be capable of.

Deborah, the Mother of Israel, submitted to God, liberating her from the shackles of her society in order that she might liberate her nation from theirs.
Missouri students keep on praying even as atheists' group seeks to bar youth pastor from entering school and joining them

Students in Missouri continue to gather and pray during lunchtime to symbolise their strong faith despite attempts by an atheist group to bar a youth pastor from visiting the school and leading them in prayer at lunchtime.

"Blessed to be a part of a school where so many students stand up for a student-led prayer during lunch," wrote student Carley Smith on Facebook along with a photo of students at Buffalo High School praying in support of Hollister Middle School, which is the target of the complaint.

Their action was in response to a letter by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) demanding school districts in Hollister and Reed Spring, Missouri to stop the visits of youth pastor Robert Bruce and representatives of KLIFE Christian ministry.

FFRF informed Superintendent Dr. Brian Wilson of the Hollister R-V School District about a video showing Bruce "leading the entire lunchroom in a prayer with all of the students surrounding him in a circle."

"The parent's child also reports that students were directed in a similar prayer all of last week and this week as well during the seventh-grade lunch," FFRF staff attorney Patrick Elliott said in the letter.

Bruce is a member of KLIFE Tri-Lakes, which its website says, "works alongside churches and families in the community to teach and encourage kids to be strong in the Lord in spite of all the negative pressures they face as teenagers," reported Christian News Network.

"When the school grants KLIFE ministers access to students, it advances KLIFE's mission of proselytizing. In many cases, we have found that similar youth programs use schools to befriend students with the goal of spreading a religious message and recruiting members for their youth groups. No religious organization should have direct access to students at school," the FFRF said.

Wilson told the Springfield News Leader that the prayer was not a school-sanctioned event.

"This was student-led, it was student initiated," he explained, adding that students have long been praying during lunch.

He said a minister from KLIFE was visiting the school when a student asked him to pray. He agreed, unaware that it was against school policy.

"After we were made aware of that, we addressed the issue," he said.

FFRF even posted a video of the said prayer event on YouTube.

It said the youth pastor should not be around students.

"Youth pastors have had unrestricted access to students during the school day to be able to befriend [students], and ultimately recruit them for their religious groups. We've been talking with the parents [in Hollister] and considering our legal options," Elliott told KOLR.
Netanyahu calls on world powers to punish Iran for conducting banned ballistic missile tests

World powers involved in negotiating last year's landmark nuclear deal with Tehran must "take immediate punitive action'' against Iran after the latter conducted ballistic missile test last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

"They must take immediate punitive steps following the repeated gross transgressions by Iran in the matter of rockets,'' Netanyahu said in a statement issued on Saturday, according to Fox News. "This would test the world's powers ability to enforce the nuclear agreement.''

The call was issued amid reports that Iran is preparing to launch a new long-range rocket into space. According to U.S officials, any test of a new ballistic missile would be a direct violation of a U.N. resolution forbidding Iran from working on its rocket programme.

"The U.S. will raise the issue during a closed door Security Council meeting next week,'' U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power said, adding that countries must cooperate on undermining Iran's missile programme.

Just recently, Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles in one day for the first time since 2012 despite mandated provisions in the U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231 that says Iran "is not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology."

The U.S. State Department clarified that the launches last week were not in violation of the nuclear deal, but "inconsistent" with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, which was tied to the nuclear deal when it went into effect, Fox News said.

A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander said Thursday that Iran's ballistic missile programme will continue to move forward despite threats of international sanctions.

U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, while meeting Netanyahu Wednesday, did not acknowledge the missile launch directly, but issued a strong warning to Iran if it continues to be stubborn.

"A nuclear-armed Iran is an absolutely unacceptable threat to Israel, to the region and the United States. And I want to reiterate which I know people still doubt here: If in fact they break the deal, we will act," he said.
Obama writes to Abedini, praising him for his 'unyielding faith and courage in the face of great adversity'

U.S. President Barack Obama has written a letter to Pastor Saeed Abedini in response to the latter's letter thanking the President for helping him regain his freedom after spending more than three years in an Iranian prison.

"Thank you for taking the time to write to me to express your gratitude. As President, I made a vow that our country would do everything in its power to win your release. I want to personally convey to you how gratified I am that we were finally able to do so," Obama wrote in his letter, which Abedini shared on his Facebook page.

"As you know, I was joined by many of our fellow Americans in praying for your freedom. We all now give thanks that you are home. Many will continue to be inspired by your unyielding faith and courage in the face of great adversity," Obama said.

"Please know I will keep you and your loved ones in my thoughts and prayers," the President wrote.

Abedini described Obama's letter as "inspiring." He then shared a Bible passage about the importance of authority. The Bible verses are from Romans 13:1 and 4. They say: "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. For he is God's minister to you for good."

Meanwhile, Abedini wrote in a separate post that people must emulate God whenever they are going through difficulties in life.

"Let God be God by being in control of your life and your battles. Like a lamb, be silent and don't defend yourself. Do you want God in charge of your life? Then keep silent in front of your offenders," he said. "You are much more like Jesus Christ when you keep [silent] under attack!"
Respected theologian and priest commits suicide following abuse accusations

A well-known and respected theologian, professor and priest accused of molesting a boy over 30 years ago committed suicide on Monday.

Father Virgilio Elizondo, 80, was a Roman Catholic Priest and professor at the University of Notre Dame. He was found dead at his home in San Antonio, Texas on Monday, having suffered a single gunshot wound to his head.

Though details of the circumstances are yet to be confirmed, the Bexar County Medical Examiner released the official cause of death today as suicide by a gunshot wound shortly before 2pm yesterday.

A longtime friend and administrive assistant of the priest, Janie Dillard, told the San Antonio Express-News that the priest "died of a broken heart".

Elizondo was accused in May last year of molesting and trying to kiss an orphan, when he was trying to report abuse by another priest 30 years ago.

The priest denied the accusations: "The allegations made against me are not true and have absolutely no basis in fact. I deny the claims which have been asserted against me."

A well respected and a leader in Hispanic Christian thought and liberation theology, Elizondo was the professor of pastoral and Hispanic theology at the University of Notre Dame.

The former Archbishop of San Antonio, Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles described Elizondo as "a good friend and a brother priest".

"He was generous and kind to me from the time I was a young priest and throughout my years as a bishop," he added.

"My experience was not unique. Father Virgilio was a scholar with a pastor's heart and he served as a father figure for an entire generation of young Latinos who were trying to make their way in theology and pastoral ministry in the Church."

Elizondo founded the Mexican American Cultural Center, now the Mexican American Catholic College, which provided training and research for pastoral leaders who came from across the US and Latin America to study. He was also named one of Time magazine's spiritual innovators for the new millenium and has received six honorary doctorates.
Satanists kill restaurant worker in ritual to turn him into a vampire in Mexico

A 24-year-old restaurant worker was tortured and killed by three Satanists recently during a ritual to turn him into a vampire in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Police identified the victim as Edwin Juarez Palma, who died of strangulation and a slash on his neck. Palma was said to have been led to an initiation rite to be a member of the cult Sons of Baphomet.

Arrested on suspicion of homicide were Omar "Osiris" Sanchez Garcia, 25, and Gustavo Adolfo Dorantes Dorantes and Iveth Nayeli Lopez Hernandez, both 18.

"This crime took place during an initiation ceremony led by a satanic sect called Sons of Baphomet 1 during which the victim was supposed to become a vampire. All that's left now to do is to arrest the leader of the sect whose name we have," said Police chief Pablo Rocha, according to the Daily Mail.

The alleged ringleader of the cult, Calep Josefath Acosta Loera, was arrested later by Chihuahua state police.

Palma's body was found wrapped in black plastic bag on a street in Chihuahua.

He was tortured and killed with the belief that he could return to his former life as a vampire, according to Christian New Network.

Palma is believed to have been murdered in the restroom of a cafe where he worked.

The suspects reportedly used bleach to clean the scene of the crime.

After the funeral, Palma's sister Alicia posted on social media to tell friends and family not to "be sad."

"I know it hurts that he's no longer with us. He's my brother and we are his family and it hurts us more than anyone. But we have something that comforts us. He always had words for us when we felt down, words of encouragement," she wrote.

She added, "I know as his sister that he wouldn't have wanted us to be sad about his departure.''

The staff at Cafe 340 where he worked put a black ribbon on the facade as a sign of respect.

"He was an honest person who always tried to keep out of trouble. His interest in vampires was a hobby and nothing more," the staff said.
South Dakota governor signs bill banning abortions beyond 20 weeks of pregnancy

South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed a bill that will ban abortions beyond 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Daugaard signed the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act on Thursday, making South Dakota the 13th state in America to have such an abortion ban.

Other states that have the law are Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Republican state Rep. Isaac Latterel, one of the bill's sponsors, earlier told the National Right to Life that the bill protects the unborn.

"These are people just like you and me," he said.

Dr. Fred Deutsch, president of South Dakota Right to Life, praised the governor for signing the bill.

"I'm thrilled the Governor signed the bill. The fact that the unborn baby can experience severe pain from abortion provides additional verification that the baby is a human being deserving of protection," he said, according to LifeSite News.

He added, "This legislation begins a new chapter in the history of South Dakota to protect unborn babies in our state."

According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, there is evidence that the unborn would not feel pain until weeks later, the Associated Press reported.

Expectedly, abortion provider Planned Parenthood disagreed with the law.

Timothy Stanley of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota said, "This is just another bill that puts politicians in the way of women's personal medical decisions."

South Dakota lawmakers have passed four pro-life bills this session to inform women that abortions may be reversed, to require the state health department to make its abortuary inspection records public, and to make sale of aborted foetal parts illegal, LifeSite News reported.

The Informed Consent and the Fetal Body Part Ban bills are on Governor Daugaard's desk.

Daugaard signed on Monday the Reporting Bill that requires the South Dakota Health Department to make public its records on inspections of abortion clinics.
Trump scores major wins in 5 primaries, but Kasich takes Ohio; Rubio suspends campaign after Florida debacle

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump defeated his rivals in five of six primaries held on Tuesday as he moved closer to securing his party's nomination, having officially scooped more than half of the required delegates.

Trump won over his three remaining rivalsSenators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio and Ohio Gov. John Kasichin North Carolina, Illinois, Northern Marianas Islands, Missouri and Florida, the state that offered the biggest prize of all with its 99 delegates all going to the winner, WND reported.

Even before vote counting was finished in Florida, Rubio announced that he was suspending his presidential campaign, according to NBC News.

"While we are on the right side, this year, we are not on the winning side," Rubio told supporters at rally near Miami.

Trump also squeaked past Cruz in Missouri, winning by .1 percentage point. With 100 percent of the polling precincts reporting, Trump got 40.8 percent of the votes to Cruz's 40.7 percent. Trump took 15 Republican delegates in the state.

However, Trump stumbled in Ohio, losing to Kasich in the latter's home state, 35.9 percent to the governor's 47.1 percent. As a result, Kasich grabbed all the 66 Republican delegates in the state.

Trump's biggest victory was in Florida where he handily defeated Rubio in his home turf, 45.8 percent to 27 percent.

Trump also clobbered his rivals in Illinois where he got 49 delegates courtesy of a 38.9 percent victory over Cruz, his nearest rival, who got 30.5 percent.

Trump took 29 delegates from North Carolina after winning with a 40.3 percent vote over Cruz's 36.8 percent.

Earlier, the GOP front-runner won 9 delegates in the Northern Marianas Islands, a U.S. commonwealth in the Pacific Ocean.

Trump now has a total of 661 delegates, according to the Associated Press tally as reported by the New York Times. He needs 576 more to collect the total of 1,237 delegates needed to secure the Republican presidential nomination.

Cruz now has 406 delegates, Rubio 169, and Kasich 142.

The next delegate-rich states are Arizona (58 delegates), Utah (40), Wisconsin (42) and New York (95).

Trump's failure to win in Ohio increased the possibility that Republicans could be headed for a potentially chaotic national convention in Cleveland in July, according to Bloomberg.

If he had won all 66 delegates of that statewhich all went to Kasichhis total delegate count would have made Trump unstoppable, according to analysts.

Kasich, who secured his first victory after more than 20 states have held their primaries and caucuses, vowed to continue campaigning until the party's convention and beyond.

Clinton buries Sanders, winning in all 5 primaries

Meanwhile, Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton turned her sights to the general election and Trump after decisive wins over Sen. Bernie Sanders in Florida, Ohio and North Carolina and a close victory in Illinois and Missouri.

Clinton's victories on one of the most delegate-rich nights of the Democratic presidential contest had her supporters confident that she would emerge from the latest round of voting with a virtually insurmountable delegate lead over Sanders, Bloomberg reported.

As of early Wednesday, Clinton had 1,561 of the 2,383 delegates and super delegates needed to win, while Sanders had 800, Associated Press estimates showed.

The race next moves to March 22 primaries in Arizona and Utah for the Democrats and the Republicans, while the Democrats also have caucuses in Idaho on that day. After that, there are no big-state contests again on the Republican side until Wisconsin on April 5.

Seemingly moving past Sanders, Clinton used her victory speech to address a potential showdown with Trump in November.

"It's clearer than ever this may be one of the most consequential elections of our lifetimes," she said at a rally in West Palm Beach. "Our commander-in-chief has to be able to defend our country, not embarrass it; engage our allies, not alienate them; defeat our adversaries, not embolden them."

Explicitly targeting Trump, Clinton said the next president "has to bring our country together so we can all share in the promise of America."
US Congress declares ISIS acts in Syria and Iraq 'genocide' but will Obama?

Following calls for the US to finally declare the acts committed by the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq as genocide, the United States Congress has unanimously made the declaration, putting pressure on the Obama administration to do the same.

After a 393-3 vote, Congress issued a resolution declaring the acts committed by ISIS against minorities in Iraq and Syria a genocide, reported RT.

The resolution comes days before the deadline set by the US Congress for the State Department to make its own determination.

In a Twitter post, House Speaker Paul Ryan aired the House's position on the atrocities being committed in the Middle East.

"What is happening in Iraq and Syria is a deliberate, systematic targeting of religious and ethnic minorities. Today, the House unanimously voted to call ISIS's atrocities what they are: a genocide. We also will continue to offer our prayers for the persecuted," he said.

Ryan, in an earlier statement condemned the killing of 16 people in a retirement home in Yemen, including four nuns. The attackers tied up the residents before executing them.

A report by Fox indicated that the US Senate is set to vote on the same issue.

However, White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said that the President is still weighing the legalities involved in making its determination.

"The word genocide involves a very specific legal determination that has, at this point, not been reached," he explained.

Meanwhile, presidential nominees Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Hillary Clinton have supported calls to declare the acts committed by ISIS a genocide.
What did Christian politicians think of Budget 2016?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has described his eighth budget as one that "puts the next generation first".

George Osborne made a number of changes to the tax system which included an increase in the tax free personal allowance to 11,500 as well as an increase to the higher tax rate threshold to 45,000 from its current threshold of 42,385.

In addition he announced a new "lifetime ISA" to encourage young people to save and a series of measures worth 115 million to tackle homelessness.

Osborne said it was a budget of "social justice delivered by Conservative means". However the leader of the Labour party, Jeremy Corbyn, said it had "unfairness at its very core".

"This budget is a culmination of six years of his [Osborne's] failures," said Corbyn.

Christian Today has sought the views of a number of Christian politicians from all parties who have given their snap reactions.

David Burrowes, Conservative MP for Enfield South, who led a rebellion against the Chancellor's plans to liberalise Sunday trading, gave Osborne warm praise: "This is a Budget that puts the next generation first  a Budget to make Britain fit for the future," he told Christian Today, echoing the Chancellor's words.

"The British economy is stronger because we confronted our country's problems and took the difficult decisions, but we now face the challenge of a dangerous cocktail of global risks. Britain is well prepared to handle this challenge, but only if we act now so we don't pay later.

"I am pleased that the vulnerable will be helped in this Budget. It is because of our commitment to long-term decisions and sound public finances that we can, for example, spend an additional 1 billion on the disabled and 115 million more on the homeless."

Stephen Timms, Labour's faith envoy, told Christian Today Jeremy Corbyn was "quite right to highlight the weaknesses in George Osborne's stewardship" and pointed to failure to eradicate the deficit, as promised, by 2015.

He continued: "I very much agreed with Jeremy Corbyn was his point that if the Chancellor can finance give-aways to certain business sectors, why not for disabled people?"

Osborne has announced cuts to the personal independence payment for people with disabilities which will effect 600,000 people. Timms said the cuts were "particularly objectionable" as they came alongside hand outs "to people who are much better off".

On the 115 million fund to tackle homelessness Timms told Christian Today: "We have gone backwards very significantly on rough sleeping under this government so the acknowledgement we need to do something about it is rather late but it is welcome. There are wider problems emerging from the housing market failure. Street homelessness is the most striking but it by no means the only consequence."

However Timms said the Chancellor was "quite right" to highlight the "significant shock to the British economy" of a vote to leave the European Union.

Helen Goodman, the Labour MP for Bishop Auckland, was more disparaging. She told Christian Today the homelessness fund was a "short term measure" and was "only a patch" on what she described as the "major structural destruction of the welfare state".

"Under the Conservatives we have seen massive cuts to housing benefit and the introduction of the Bedroom Tax. Inequality in the UK and across the world continues to rise unacceptably. Oxfam says that the top one per cent in Britain have gained a quarter of new wealth since 2000," she told Christian Today.

"This Budget does nothing to reverse the fundamentally unjust approach the Conservatives have taken  in fact, the capital gains tax cut is a further boost to the rich."

Among the Chancellor's numerous announcements was a further 3.5 billion in cuts to government spending per year during this parliament in order to reach his self-imposed aim of a budget surplus by 2020.

Lord Newby, the Liberal Democrat chief whip in the House of Lords, ridiculed this aim and said there was "no economic justification for these further cuts". He told Christian Today: "They amount to little more than macho political posturing but they will have devastating impacts on the lives of many of the poorest and most vulnerable in our society and the public services on which they depend. Spending more money on education may be welcome but it is a sideshow compared to the billions of pounds of cuts planned across the whole public sector."

Gavin Shuker, the Labour MP for Luton South told Christian Today the budget revealed Osborne's "failure to tackle the debt, his failure to follow his own fiscal rules and his failure to foster a robust recovery."

He drew attention to a number of measures including a "1.2 billion personal independence payment cut for disabled people," and said over 2 million families would lose on average 1,600 from Universal Credit cuts.

He said: "Once again George Osborne has put the burden on the most vulnerable people, an immoral choice."

However Caroline Spelman, Conservative MP for Meriden and second church estates commissioner, praised the changes introduced in the budget. Among Osborne's more obscure hand-outs was a further 20 million fund for repair works to cathedrals which Spelman particularly welcomed.

She told Christian Today: "I welcome the measures the Chancellor has today introduced in today's Budget Speech. Not only has this budget guaranteed the security of the British economy, protecting jobs and helping small businesses grow during uncertain times, but it has further ensured that our young people will have access to a home of their own and a fair pension.

"In particular, I welcome a pledge of 20 million to fund cathedral repairs, a guaranteed fairer schools funding formula and a long term plan to address issues around children's health."

The Church of England also said it "welcomed warmly" the announcement.
Wife of freed pastor Saeed Abedini pleads with him go to counselling

The wife of freed pastor Saeed Abedini has revealed that she is still not reconciled with her husband because she claims he is "not willing" to get counselling for abuse issues.

In a Facebook post titled "IMPORTANT UPDATE", Naghmeh Abedini wrote: "Dearest friends and prayer warriors,

Many of you have been concerned about and have asked about updates on Saeed and our situation. At this point Saeed has not been willing to join me in getting counseling on the abuse which has been a big part of our life together. Once the abuse has been addressed, then that will open the way for us to get marriage counseling on the more common marrital issues."

Pastor Abedini, who was detained in Iran in 2012, was freed earlier this year.

His wife had campaigned tirelessly for his release, and spoke before Congress, to the UN and even met President President Barack Obama. It was after he was finally released in January that she revealed she had filed a domestic relations case.

Naghmeh, pictured above in her parents' home in West Boise, Idaho, said on Facebook: "I hope that Saeed can address the abuse as soon as possible so that our family can move towards reconciliation and healing. With birthdays and holidays coming up and for the sake of our children, no one longs for reconciliation for our family more than me.

"I have loved Saeed more than I have ever loved any human being in my life and it has been hard to stand and keep the boundaries and ask for the abuse to be addressed. This is the most loving thing I can do for my husband and children at this time. My love and passion in fighting for Saeed's freedom has not changed, but it has taken a different form on my knees."

Pleading for prayers for the family, especially their son whose birthday is soon, she said: "Many of you understand the battle we often face for our loved ones for spiritual chains. The battle is hard and emotional. By Grace of God I did not give up fighting for my husband's physical chains and by God's Grace I am not going to give up in praying and petitioning God for the long waited family reunion.

"Once steps are taken by Saeed in addressing the abuse and our family starts moving towards reconciliation and healing, I would be the first to announce it and give shouts of praise and thanksgiving. But until then I would appreciate your prayers for continued Grace and strength."

Since his release, Abedini has been assiduous in thanking all politicians and religious leaders for their campaigning on his behalf.

His wife has also said: "I sincerely had hoped that this horrible situation Saeed has had to go through would bring about the spiritual change needed in both of us to bring healing to our marriage.

"Tragically, the opposite has occurred. Three months ago Saeed told me things he demanded I must do to promote him in the eyes of the public that I simply could not do any longer. He threatened that if I did not the results would be the end of our marriage and the resulting pain this would bring to our children."

Abedini has in the past countered her claims.

"Much of what I have read in Naghmeh's posts and subsequent media reports is not true. But I believe we should work on our relationship in private and not on social media or other media."

He also described her as his "hero" for being a single parent to their children and for her campaign to see him released.
Even though the oil and gas industry has always been the Houston economy's bread and butter, the medical industry here remains a primary driver in the region. And now real estate deals are working to catch up with the thriving and changing industry.

The Texas Medical Center provides more than $14 billion annually in economic impact and is growing. This means a need for more space. CBRE Research analyzed how an evolving regulatory environment and an ongoing trend toward a consumer-driven care model are driving change in the medical office building sector.
Museum goes green

Irish culture and traditions will be celebrated on St. Patrick's Day at The Woodlands Children's Museum. In addition to Irish-inspired art projects and games geared to ages 4-8, the day will include a performance by the McTeggart Irish Dance troupe and magic by Claude Sims.

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday

Where: 4775 W. Panther Creek, The Woodlands

Tickets: $5; woodlandschildrensmuseum.org

Birds of prey

Master falconer Steve Hoddy of EarthQuest will present a birds-of-prey program at Brazos Bend State Park. The program, which will be held on the lawn in front of the park's nature center, will include hawks and an Andean condor. Blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged. The program is free with regular park admission.

When: 11 a.m. Saturday

Where: 21901 FM 762, Needville

Tickets: $7, free for ages 12 and younger; brazosbend.org

Family day at Bayou Bend

Bayou Bend will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a super-size version of its monthly Family Day. Visitors can tour the former home of Ima Hogg and see its artwork and antiques. The admission-free day also will include musicians, puppeteers and storytellers, craft activities and demonstrations. The estate was gifted by Hogg to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in 1957.

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday

Where: 6003 Memorial

Information: mfah.org
Happy St. Patrick's Day. Here are three last-minute foodie deals that are good only on Thursday.

The popular deli Kenny & Ziggy's is offering a corned beef and cabbage dinner (includes two sides and a house salad) and a bottle of beer for $17.99 from 6 p.m. to close. 2327 Post Oak, 713-679-8453

Ouisie's Table is serving a corned beef and cabbage plate plus a beer for $20 all day Thursday. 3939 San Felipe, 713-528-2264

Hot-cakes haven IHOP is offering $1 short stacks of buttermilk pancakes 7 a.m.-7 p.m. to guests wearing even a touch of green. Find the nearest store at ihop.com.

One great Easter deal

Pizzitola's Bar B Cue is offering hickory-smoked bone-in hams for $5.95 a pound. The 7- to 10-pound hams must be pre-ordered for pickup during regular business hours Wednesday-March 27. 1703 Shepherd, 713-227-2283

Wine & Food Affair

More than 75 chefs and restaurants will take part in the 13th annual Sugar Land Wine and Food Affair April 6-10 at Sugar Land Town Square. Among the many festivities are the casual Sip & Stroll, a high-energy Bartenders Challenger and the Grand Tasting. New this year is the Big Green Egg Extravaganza that will test the pit skills of three of Sugar Land's top steakhouses. Tickets start at $40. Find them at sugarlandwineandfoodaffair.com.

Whole-hog experience

The Lache Pas Boucherie is a unique event allowing guests to experience a personal connection to their food source. The daylong event - 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday at Black Hill Ranch - begins with the slaughtering of a hog and includes butchering and cooking demonstrations. The day concludes with a celebratory meal. Several Houston chefs will take part, including Peter Garcia of El Meson, Graham LaBorde of Bernadine's and Danny Trace of Brennan's. Tickets are $100. Purchase at brownpapertickets.com. Black Hill Ranch is located at 16124 Becker Road in Hockley.

Special brunch

Talk about meals on wheels. The third annual Dogwood Special Brunch Train will depart the Palestine Depot at 10 a.m. March 26. Passengers will enjoy a four-course meal while traveling aboard the Texas State Railroad to Rusk. The train returns to Palestine about 1 p.m. Cost is $80; beer, wine and Bloody Marys will be available for purchase. Call 903-683-3098 or book online at texasstaterr.com.

Revival Market pig roast

Revival Market is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a pig roast 2-6 p.m. Sunday. The $10 entry fee will get you some of the aforementioned pig, as well as sides and dessert. There also will be live music and complimentary beer. And feel free to BYOB. 550 Heights, 713-880-8463

Lunch specials at Federal Grill

Federal Grill, marking its third anniversary this month, now offers a $10 daily lunch special. Specials include fried chicken on Mondays, chicken-fried steak on Wednesdays and fish and chips on Fridays. 510 Shepherd, 713-863-7777

Purim party at Genesis Steakhouse

Genesis Steakhouse will host a Purim celebration at 6 p.m. March 24. Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jews in ancient Persia. The party's theme is a Texas hoe-down, and it will feature live music and a barbecue buffet. Cost is $80, $25 for ages 11 and younger. 5427 Bissonnet, 713-665-2222

Crawfish benefit at Jax's

Jax's Bar & Grill will host a crawfish boil benefiting Casa de Esperanza 1-4 p.m. April 2. A $35 ticket gets you 2 pounds of crawfish, corn and potatoes. Additional crawfish are $10 per pound. Tickets must be purchased in advance at brownpapertickets.com. Casa de Esperanza helps children in crisis due to abuse, neglect or HIV/AIDS. 1613 Shepherd, 713-861-5529

Keels & Wheels Uncorked

Mickey Gilley will be the special guest at the Keels & Wheels Concours d'Elegance's Uncorked 7-10 p.m. March 24 at the Wynden Event Center, 1025 S. Post Oak. For the noshing event, chefs from a half dozen restaurants will serve small bites (with wine pairings) inspired by classic cars and boats. Among the participating restaurants are Masraff's, Mark's and Amalfi. Tickets are $75 in advance. Find them at eventbrite.com.
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Thank the two owners of this Palm Springs house for this marvel of a time capsule, which has been well maintained for decades.

It was originally listed at $850,000 in 2016 before being reduced to $835,000.

Except for the kitchen, this three-bedroom, 3,350-square-foot California residence has remained untouched since it was built in 1969. The first homeowners decorated it. The next homeowners intentionally kept its character-filled interior in its original condition.

"The original owner was a builder, Milton Seidner, who built a few homes in the Twin Palms neighborhood," listing agent Lucio Bernal says. "The home was sold to my client's parents in 1994 after his passing. My clients' parents lived in the home until they passed recently."

MANSION: NFL's Adrian Peterson's Woodlands home price reduced by nearly $2 million

The unique dwelling has drawn the attention of people from all over the world because of its bold vintage appeal.

"(The) home has been viewed by hundreds in the past month, both online and in person and the general (consensus) is, 'Keep it the way it is because it looks like a museum,'" Bernal says. "Some comments range from 'life-changing' to 'I remember that color as a kid.'"

Everything is custom, from the magenta- and rose-colored canopy bed in a bedroom, to the symmetric semi-circle couches that flank an over-sized coffee table in the living room. The wood-paneled den has a wet bar with a mirror backsplash. The home's swimming pool can be admired from several rooms in the house, including the royal blue master suite.

BITTERSWEET: Robert Griffin III 'Fixer Upper' episode airs after homeowner loses wife to cancer

The most fascinating detail in this colorful home is, arguably, the bath tub surrounded by hot-pink carpet.

Also intriguing is the condition of the textiles and finishes that haven't faded or become distressed.

"That goes to show that quality stands the test of time," Bernal boasts.

This Palm Springs, Calif., home is listed at $835,000. Bernal and Benjamin "Chip" Romero at Berkshire Hathaway have the listing.

See the video above for a fun house tour.
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Bibles will replace booze when a church opens in what once was one the largest nightclubs in West Texas.

Stonegate Fellowship, a Southern Baptist Church, bought Odessas Graham Central Station, at 4240 Preston Smith Road, for $3 million in February. An additional $3 million in a renovation process is expected to be spent to transform the party pit into the parishs third place of worship, Pastor Chad Bullard told mySA.com in a phone interview.

RELATED: The last days of Tin Hall Dance Hall & Saloon, Texas' oldest dance hall

In its heyday, the 28,123-square-foot building was packed with people carousing through its seven different dance areas. Wild Cats, one of the rooms under the clubs roof, was advertised on the business website as the spot YOU gotta see.

Need we say more?  Wild girls dancing on the bar and slinging liquor, the site propositioned its thirsty patrons.

Bullard said some members of his 400-person congregation had been praying the building would one day be a place used by God since construction on it began in 1998.

Starting in December, it will be.

RELATED: Photos: Honky-tonk dancing heats up at Wild West San Antonio

We had a lot of people praying, our hearts were set on it, Bullard said.

Members of his congregation have been overwhelmed with joy upon hearing about the acquisition of the former bar  there have been happy tears, phone calls and social media posts, he said.

We just got a Facebook post that said thank you for turning darkness into light, Bullard shared a message that was sent from a mother whose son supposedly died at the club in 2006.

The remodeling includes obvious plans to tear down bars and dance floors as well as remove a mural which covers the clubs facade. Bullard said he and his fellowship have never had any reservations in their decision to use a bygone bar as their newest sanctuary.

RELATED: San Antonio's Sporting District was once the largest red-light district in Texas

The church is a people and this is just a building, he said.

The churchs current operation is a testament to Bullards belief. For now, services for Stonegates Odessa campus are being held in the auditorium of Bonham Middle School, about a 9-minute drive from the future church. Staff begins setting up for services at 7 a.m. and then breaks down and hauls away their temporary church afterwards. When the community shows up at the Preston Smith location in the winter, they will already be home, Bullard said.

RELATED: West Texas country music festival Crude Fest leads to drunk man stabbed in butt

Meanwhile, a similar scene happens in San Antonio every weekend at 151 Saloon, where City Church West takes over the dancefloor on Sundays, hours after Saturday night boot-scootin boogiers close their tabs.

Yes, we have a church in a bar. Seriously, the website says. Now lets get a few more questions out of the way. The only drinks during our services are soft drinks and the only brew is coffee.

(h/t Odessa American Online)

mmendoza@mysa.com

Twitter: @MaddySkye
Rice University will cost about $1,600 more to attend next year, as its board of trustees has decided on a 3.2 percent hike in tuition and fees.

The increase brings Rice's undergraduate tuition to $43,220, up $1,660 from this year. The total cost for a year at Rice, including $13,750 for room and board and $698 in mandatory fees, will be $57,668, according to a news release.

The university offers generous financial aid packages and has long been known as an affordable elite private school. Nearly 60 percent of all undergraduate students at Rice receive financial aid. Nearly 15 percent of undergraduates receive Pell Grants, federal money intended to help students from low-income families.

Some middle-class parents complained last year that they were beginning to feel the squeeze after a nearly $2,000 hike.

Tuition has risen more than 60 percent since 2006, from $26,500 a year. Cornell, Washington University, the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown, Duke, Brown, MIT, Stanford and Princeton -- schools Rice counts among its peers -- all charge more per year than Rice, however.

Tuition hikes at public universities across the state -- including a roughly $200 bump at the University of Houston and a more than $300 increase at the University of Texas at Austin -- have state leaders looking to rein in college costs.

The fight brewing between public school leaders and state lawmakers reflects a national argument over who should carry the burden of paying for college. As states have slashed higher education funding over the last several years, colleges and universities across the country have leaned more on tuition to cover their costs. Nationally, state funding for public schools decreased by 12 percent overall between 2003 and 2012, and the median tuition at those schools rose 55 percent, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

As a private institution, Rice must perform its own budgetary balancing act, President David Leebron said in a statement.

"With the economy in another period of volatility and uncertainty, it's even more important that we take steps to augment our high quality of education and generous financial aid," Leebron said. "That takes support from our donors and prudent stewardship of our endowment and other resources. Our undergraduate students contribute through their tuition and fees payments on average about 30 percent of the total cost of their education, but we have worked very hard to keep increases in their share as small as possible even while adding enhancements to our educational programs."
Baylor College of Medicine may be the biggest medical school bargain in the U.S. The Houston-based school ranked 20th for research in the 2017 U.S. News & World Report rankings of medical schools, but charged less than half the tuition of other schools in the top 20.

Baylor charges tuition of $19,650 per year, while no other school in the top 20 charged less than $40,000. Several schools had discounted rates for in-state students. For example, the University of North Carolina, ranked 22nd, charged $21,837 for in-state students and $48,716 for out-of-state students.

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, ranked 25th for research and 21st for primary care, charges in-state tuition of $17,913 and out-of-state tuition of $31,013. The University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston tied for 56th on the list of research medical schools. Its tuition is $15,025 in-state and $26,125 out-of-state.

Although Baylor College of Medicine is a private school, it does receive state funding for Texas residents. The arrangement dates back to 1969 when Texas was planning to open another medical school to meet demand. Baylor agreed to double the size of its medical school class if the Legislature would kick in funding for in-state residents.

Under the arrangement, Baylor receives the same level of state funding per Texas student as medical schools at the University of Texas-Southwestern and University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. But Texas does not provide funding for the out-of-state students or for capital, brick and mortar costs.

"It's the single greatest bargain in the state of Texas," said Dr. Paul Klotman, Baylor president, CEO and executive dean.

Klotman says about 70 percent of the medical students come from Texas, although the school's low-tuition attracts some of the top candidates from other states. About 70 percent of the students who graduate from Baylor and complete their residency there end up staying in Texas to practice medicine.

"If they took the money away, we would raise our tuition to what the other private schools are charging," he said. "It's a way for the state of Texas to absolutely retain the top of the top of the kids in Texas who want to go to medical school."

Baylor College of Medicine moved up in all of the rankings released Wednesday, rising to ninth in primary care, second in nurse anesthesia programs and seventh in pediatrics programs.

Last month Klotman expressed concern that Baylor's year-and-a-half-long probation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education might affect this year's ranking. The school had been cited for concerns mostly involving a lack of documentation. The school remained accredited through the probationary period, which ended in early February.

The UTHealth School of Nursing ranked 23rd among masters programs in nursing and 24th among Doctor of Nursing Practice programs, which U.S. News ranked for the first time this year. UTHealth's nurse anesthesia program was ranked eighth-best in the country.
The city of Alvin will present the final draft update of its thoroughfare plan, a guide to future road planning and development, on Tuesday March 22 and allow area residents the opportunity to comment.

"Nobody knows our roads as much as our residents do," Alvin City Manager Sereniah Breland said. "Because this is a long-range planning document ... we welcome the opportunity for residents to be involved in the process."

Alvin will hold its third and final public meeting on the proposed plan update from 7-8 p.m. at the Alvin Senior Citizen Center, 309 West Sealy St. The city periodically updates the plan to keep abreast of anticipated transportation needs.

"A thoroughfare plan is not a guaranteed plan for new roads nor is it an effort to relieve current traffic congestion. The citizen engagement process allow us to educate our residents and make adjustments based on their observations as it relates to long-range planning," Breland said.

A similar meeting held on Dec. 1 attracted more than 100 residents.

According to minutes of the meeting, 13 residents "indicated the proposed plan would adversely affect their property or neighborhood by either requiring their land or changing the characteristic of the neighborhood."

Many of the comments, according to the minutes, pertained to the proposed extension of County Road 146/Shroeder Lane north and eastward to FM 528.

Residents' comments also included objections to added traffic signals at certain intersections and what appeared to them to be unaddressed bottlenecks at Texas 6 and Texas 35. Others expressed the desire for more bike lanes in the city.

Purposes of the process include producing a transportation planning document to guide decisions, pursuing funding options and addressing maintenance needs, according to an August 6 council agenda statement.

City Council approved spending $75,000 to hire Klotz Associates engineering firm to spearhead the first phase of plan development.

At the March 22 meeting engineers will make available maps identifying proposed locations for new roads and classifications and suggestions for expansion to current ones.

City Engineer Michelle Segovia told the council on Aug. 6 the second phase would require about 18 months to complete and cost an estimated $100,000. The second phase, she said, would include more specific work toward the city's capital improvement plan, traffic implementation plans and further coordination with other governmental agencies.

Residents may view the proposed map and plans at the city website, Alvin-tx.gov. Click "Economic Development" under the "Departments & Utilities" menu. Scroll down the page and click "Alvin Thoroughfare Plan" under the "Economic Development Maps" header.

Residents may contact City Hall at 281-388-4200 for more information.
Concern about drainage and vehicle accidents highlighted the conversation at a recent Texas Department of Transportation open house in Bellaire aimed at garnering public comment on plans for a complete reconstruction of the U.S. 59 and Loop 610 interchange, ranked among the most congested in the state.

TxDOT officials presented plans to add detention ponds to reduce the flooding that plagues part of the area.

"Larchmont is a bowl. We desperately need drainage improvement," said Stacey Spencer, president of the Larchmont Civic Association during the March 3 open house at the Bellaire Community Center. The Larchmont subdivision is situated south of the Galleria and bounded by Loop 610 and U.S. 59.

Spencer hopes TxDOT's plans to add detention ponds in the proposed intersection will help alleviate some of his area's flooding problems.

He also believes TxDOT or the city of Houston should consider enlarging the culverts and drainage capacity along Westpark Drive and U.S. 59 to aid with drainage for Larchmont. He said businesses along Sage Road had seen flooding as recently as in the past few months.

According to the TxDOT schematics, plans include adding around six detention ponds of varying sizes under and around the interchange where none currently exist.

TxDOT spokesman Danny Perez said the detention ponds will provide relief for the roadway and that relief for a specific community is tied to city drainage.

Road proposals

TxDOT proposes to construct direct connectors linking U.S. 59 and Loop 610 in all directions, to construct access ramps to realign Post Oak Boulevard and to reconstruct the Loop 610 main lane bridge.

Phase 1 would include building direct connectors from U.S. 59 northbound to Loop 610 southbound and then from Loop 610 northbound to U.S. 59 southbound.

The cost for that work is estimated at $130 million, Perez said.

Phase 2 would include constructing a direct connector from U.S. 59 northbound to Loop 610 northbound and a direct connector from U.S. 59 southbound to the southbound lanes on the Loop.

Phase 3 would be construction of a main-lane bridge for Loop 610 as it passes over U.S. 59.

Perez said total cost for all three phases is expected to be around $310 million. He said work on the first phase will likely begin in the fall of 2017.

Bellaire officials became concerned when they learned in late 2013 of TxDOT's plans which included having a two-lane direct connector from U.S. 59 northbound to Loop 610 southbound rising between 30 and 35 feet above ground level.

Then-mayor Phil Nauert called it "a nightmare" because motorists would end up looking down into Bellaire residents' backyards, he said.

Plans also included routing that U.S. 59 northbound to Loop 610 southbound connector in such a way that it would eliminate the ability for motorists to exit at Fournace Place. The original plans also proposed creating a double u-turn at Bellaire Boulevard to accommodate the added traffic from eliminating the Fournace Place exit.

As a consequence of negotiations with the city and comments made by residents at a June 2015 public meeting changes were made and incorporated into schematics on display March 3.

Those changes include lowering the connector to come in at freeway grade, providing access to Fournace Place from the connector, eliminating the double u-turn at Bellaire and adding noise walls, because of noise from motorists on Loop 610.

TxDOT officials say the proposed project should help eliminate drivers weaving among lanes trying to exit, decrease congestion on the main lanes by adding additional connector lanes, increase sight distances for increased safety, and widen the Loop 610 main lanes bridge by adding shoulders.

Bellaire councilmember Trisha Pollard is concerned about the main lanes of Loop 610 running through Bellaire, specifically on the section of Loop 610 northbound in the vicinity of the PetSmart store and Boudreaux's Restaurant. She said the current configuration results in weaving, congestion and consequently auto accidents.

"The freeway goes down and comes up. There is an issue with depth perception. Our city is spending a tremendous amount of money and manpower to fund TxDOT's poor original design which results in more than 700 wrecks taking place there annually," she said.

TxDOT engineer Sharon Xu said at the meeting that the direct connectors will be two lanes instead of the current one lane and will initiate sooner from the Loop 610 roadway than the current ones.

As a result, this, plus the added lane, should get more motorists off the main lanes sooner and thus alleviate some of the weaving and congestion issues the council members mentioned.

Councilmember Michael Fife said she is concerned about the same area because she has noticed water ponds during rain events and that, she said, creates a hazard for motorists.

Send your comments

Residents may continue to offer comments by sending email to HOU-PIOWebmail@txdot.gov or by sending written correspondence to Texas Department of Transportation - Houston District, Attention Director of Project Development, PO Box 1386, Houston, Texas, 77251-1386.
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A hundred gallons of house paint and 300 spray paint cans were used to create the new "Downtown Mars" mural that wraps around a formerly drab, three-story building at 1301 Leeland, said artist Sebastien Boileau.

"Every color in the spectrum was used," said Boileau, whose company, Eyeful Art Custom Murals and Designs, was commissioned to design and paint the mural by its new occupant, Texas Direct Auto.

"The store inside is open and ready for customers as a satellite Sell Us Your Car center," said Brett Bertrand, a business development professional for the company.

"Painting started precisely on Jan. 1," said Boileau.

More Information At a glance Eyeful Art Custom Murals and Designs: 502 Anita St. Call 817-707-4278 or go to www.eyefulart.com/. Texas Direct Auto: 1301 Leeland. Call 281-921-3597 or go to www.texasdirectauto.com/sell-us-your-car/houston/downtown/ See More Collapse

Almost immediately, people began to notice the pops of color, including Barrett White, a Montrose resident, who said, "I park near this building every morning; I pass it twice a day. It was a boring, tan-colored old building."

The University of Houston creative writing student, who works part-time downtown, said in the second week of January, an upside-down astronaut appeared in the mural with no face, followed on Jan. 12 by Boileau inserting the face of a Jack Russell terrier.

"It's the best thing ever," said White.

Bertrand added, "The astronaut doggie floating in space is guaranteed to put a smile on people's faces during their daily commutes."

Boileau said, "We started with the fun side of the building, to get people to notice. That was very successful. It was hard to miss it."

From higher up and farther away - from, say, the Toyota Center, which is a block away - Boileau said, "You can see that all the walls produce the Texas flag, with the dog being the star."

Red-colored boulders were positioned at the building's entrance to give the final creation a trompe l'oeil effect for customers arriving at Space City's "first (car) dealership on Mars," Boileau said.

"It was wholly inspired by humanity's distinct curiosity with the planet Mars," said Bertrand.

Inside the building is a children's play area and space education center, along with kiosks with information on the inventory at TDA.

But as one of 10 Sell Us Your Car centers statewide, Bertrand said its main purpose is to buy cars.

"We can appraise your vehicle and print you a check right here.

"It's an in-and-out process."

He said the goal of the mural project, rather than erecting a typical billboard, was to turn the building into a "must see" public art destination.

"It is intended to pay homage to Houston, also known as Space City, with a colorful and whimsical twist," he said, adding that the company was attracted to Eyeful Art after its owners saw other large-scale murals by Boileau across the city.

Eyeful Art Murals and Designs, located at 502 Anita St. in Montrose, was established by Boileau in Paris, France in 1992, its name a "play on words" with Eiffel Tower, the artist said.

Boileau met a woman in Paris who was visiting and moved to Dallas to continue that relationship. It didn't last, but he began getting work projects in Houston, too.

"I instantly preferred Houston," he said. So he moved to Houston in 2006.

Boileau was the project manager and lead artist on the project, usually working with three artists on site for the past two months.
Costume designer Colleen Grady approaches every show as if it's never been done before, but that's actually the case with her designs for the world premiere of "The Sweet Potato Queens" March 17-27 at Theater Under the Stars in Houston.

"It's a musical about lifting women up together in all their fabulousness," said the Atascocita resident, who is married to stagehand Mark Grady.

She has been aboard the project since early 2015 when composer Melissa Manchester, lyricist Sharon Vaughn and writer Rupert Holmes approached TUTS with the idea of creating a musical based on Jill Conner Browne's 1999 best-seller, "The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love: A Fallen Southern Belle's Look at Love, Life, Men, Marriage and Being Prepared."

Grady hadn't read Browne's book, she said, "But when I Googled it, I recognized the book cover. Obviously, I had seen it displayed at book stores."

More Information Want to go? What: "The Sweet Potato Queens" Where: Zilkha Hall, The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby When: 7:30 p.m. March 17 and 24, 8 p.m. March 18 and 25, 8:30 p.m. March 19 and 26, 3 p.m. March 19-20 and 26-27, March 19 Details: 713- 558-8887 See More Collapse

The book cover featured six Southern women dressed the same, in red wigs, cat-eyed glasses, green-sequined miniskirts and long pink gloves, which is what Browne's first group of Sweet Potato queens wore when they scandalized onlookers the first time they rode in a St. Patrick's Day parade in Jackson, Mississippi.

Brown called the group "the only female drag queens in existence, complete with fake rear ends and majorette boots."

Grady's job as a costumer was to add hot pink feather boas, as well as design and build costumes that would juxtapose the group's flamboyant fashions with how they dressed in the humdrum, everyday lives they desperately want to escape.

"I did research into what Jill Conner Browne was all about, and the musical is basically her story," said Grady. "A lot of what she espouses is 'to love who you are.' "

Grady embraced the SPQ philosophy of empowerment "and ran with it," said Marley Wiskoski, who co-directed the musical with TUTS artistic director Bruce Lumpkin.

"She put together a storyboard with sketches for each character, and she totally 'got it.' "

Lumkpin has played a big role in Grady's life, she said, including hiring her at TUTS and introducing Grady to her husband when the three of them worked together on "Texas," an outdoor musical at Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Grady grew up in Saskatchewan, Canada, where she danced in high school musicals, including "Guys and Dolls," "Finian's Rainbow" and "Swing Time," which she calls "the 'High School Musical' of its time."

At the University of Regina, Grady studied interior design, which meant she had to take an art class, which was next to the theater building.

"I was swept into theater," she said, and because of her interest in set design and the influence of her father, who was an architect, "I got pulled into the costume shop."

On her way to earning a fine arts degree in costume design, Grady spent summers working at the Main State Music Theater, where Lumpkin was a director.

There, she worked on musicals such as "Evita," "The Who's Tommy" and "The Music Man," as well as her favorite show, "Carousel."

"Its music is so beautiful," she said. "It ran for three weeks, and every night we would stop for the song 'You'll Never Walk Alone,' and I cried every single time."

If there is a song in "The Sweet Potato Queens" that can make Grady weep, she said, it would be "a sweet song" that the main character, Jill, sings in a duet with her younger self.
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College students are reaching deeper into their pockets as more schools approve tuition hikes nationwide.

Rice University , the highest ranked college in Texas, announced a 3.2 percent ($1,660) tuition increase this week, bringing the total cost for a year at the school to $57,668. The University of Texas also approved a tuition hike, which was the school's first increase in five years.

RELATED: The most selective colleges in America

Startclass examined data from the National Center for Education Statistics to find the public schools with the highest tuition increases over the past 10 years. Of those schools, 16 saw in-state tuition double. Many of the schools with the biggest increases are located in Colorado and California, along with one in Texas, according to Startclass.

>> Click the gallery above to see the colleges with the biggest tuition hikes over the past 10 years

The list includes schools with at least 5,000 undergraduate students. All tuition amounts were inflation-adjusted for 2015.

Rising tuition costs have moved state leaders in Texas to look for solutions in regulating college costs. Learn what options are on the table in this story on HoustonChronicle.com.
Police are searching for the man identified as the prime suspect in the slaying of the owner of a local gas station.

Zia Siddiqui, 51, was fatally shot shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday during a holdup at his Raceway gas station at FM 1960 West and Mills Road.

Houston police said Nadonte Pugh, 19, fired the fatal shots and has been charged with capital murder. He's currently at large, authorities said.

Pugh walked into the convenience store, looked around, then placed a soda on the counter at the register. He puled out a gun and demanded cash from a store clerk, Houston police said.

The employee ran back to the office where Siddiqui was armed with a pistol. They tried to close the door but Pugh forced his way inside and began firing, Houston police said.

Siddiqui managed to return fire before he was shot and killed. Pugh allegedly ran from the store and in the direction of a nearby apartment complex.

Houston police have received tips saying Pugh was shot in the lower abdomen. According to the tipsters, he was taken by a relative for treatment at a local hospital. Houston police believe family members are "shuttling him around."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
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Two Houston-area congressmen are calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the distribution of polling places and voting machines in Harris County, contending that long lines during the March 1 primary disproportionately affected precincts with predominantly African-American and Hispanic voters.

U.S. Reps. Al Green and Gene Green, both Houston-area Democrats, wrote U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch that it is imperative that the Justice Department look into what they called "the unequal distribution of voting machines and polling stations in Harris County to ensure that all voters" can access the ballot box. They sent the letter Tuesday.

The political parties -- in consultation with the county clerk's office -- decide where polling places will be and how many voting precincts will be assigned to each location, Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart said.

He said those decisions are driven by a state formula that uses historical voting data to estimate expected turnout and assign the number of voting machines per polling place.

Election Day turnout in Harris County -- about 329,000 Republicans and 227,000 Democrats went to the polls --exceeded projections by nearly a third, or about 130,000 ballots, surprising the political parties and the clerk's office, Stanart said.

"I can't see how anyone can blame them or us because we were all caught off guard," he said. "Voters are the reason why we had the 'problem', but in that sense it's also a good problem."

Stanart said the county was not looking at how precincts that had high numbers of African-American or Hispanic voters were disproportionately affected. In many cases on March 1, the last voters left the polls after 10:30 p.m.

Harris County Democratic Party Chair Lane Lewis said long lines affected polling places where there were more white voters, too.

"We've had boxes up on the north side in white neighborhoods that didn't come in until midnight," Lewis said.

Both Lewis and Stanart said they were not opposed to a Justice Department investigation.

Stanart said he was working on a model that would better predict voter turnout based on the impact of national politics and a trend toward heavier turnout on Election Day, as opposed to early voting.
Houston police are currently in West Houston investigating reports of a body found in a neighborhood.

According to KTRK-TV, investigators are at the scene in the 1600 block of Wycliffe near Mayfield Road.

A Houston Police Department spokesperson reported that they received a call from a concerned neighbor early this afternoon saying that a person was down near their home.

Police tell KTRK-TV that the body appears to be that of a black female in her early '20s, adding that the body had likely been there for the past day or two.

The area features a mix of residential and industrial developments.
The search continued Tuesday for a missing Katy-area high school student believed to be in grave danger after her father was found dead, his body burned, in Walker County over the weekend.

An Amber Alert from the state Department of Public Safety remained active for Adriana Coronado, a 14-year-old freshman at Mayde Creek High School.

Walker County Sheriff Clint McRae, whose agency is leading the investigation, revealed no new information in a Tuesday email to media outlets.

"At this time the Walker County Sheriff's Office is working with State and Federal Resources in the Adriana Coronado case," the message read. "When some headway is made we will be releasing additional information if available via a press release or news conference."

More for you FBI hunts for teen daughter of Houston-area man found slain

Representatives of the Harris County and Fort Bend County sheriff's offices, which cover part of the Katy area, said their agencies were not actively involved in the case. Representatives of the Houston Police Department and the FBI's Houston field office, which are assisting in the case, referred questions to Walker County authorities.

The Amber Alert for Adriana was issued in the early-morning hours Monday, as Walker County Sheriff's Office investigators looked into the death of her father, Caesar Vladimir Coronado. His burned body was found midday Sunday in the rural county of about 70,000, which is located more than 60 miles north of downtown Houston.

Investigators found information that caused them to believe the teenager was "in great danger" and that her whereabouts were "of great concern," according to an earlier news release from Walker County authorities. They believed she might have been with her father at the time of his death.

On Monday, Sheriff Clint McRae said the girl was likely outside of Walker County, and perhaps outside of the country. Asking for the public's help, authorities said "that time may very well be of essence."

The teenager has been described as 5 feet tall and 105 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. She wears black framed glasses. On what is believed to be her Facebook page, photos show her cuddling a small dog, posing in a flower crown, and smiling with another young girl, their faced painted with black noses and whiskers.

Adriana was last reported seen at 1 a.m. on Saturday, according to the Amber Alert.

Her mother, who was in Mexico, told KPRC TV that she spoke with her husband and daughter on Friday and that nothing appeared to be wrong. The girl's Katy ISD high school had just gone on spring break.
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Cameron County officials have raided yet another round of illegal, underground gambling operations in the Brownsville area.

On Tuesday night investigators executed a search and seizure at three separate locations in Cameron County. At one stop they reported seizing 36 motherboards from 25 gambling machines. According to officials they had raided that location in the past.

This location was the scene of a reported armed robbery in which patrons were robbed at gunpoint of their winnings and other valuables, a frequent danger when running or soliciting these illegal operations. In that incident robbers allegedly fired a warning shot in the air.

A second bust at separate location netted 26 motherboards and another 19 gambling machines.

A third bust saw officials take custody of 31 motherboards and 23 gambling machines.

RELATED: Take a look at an illegal gambling trailer in Brownsville

There were no arrests made in the raids Tuesday night. All the operations were empty at the time of the raids. Officials have an idea that some of the operations were tipped off that they could be raided. At one location the smell of cigarette smoke was still in the air.

These busts are a part of Operation Bishop, which seeks to stamp out illegal gambling in the community. Operation Bishop kicked off in April 2013 and according to officials they have executed more than 70 raids since.

A large raid in October 2015 uncovered a series of gambling operations set inside re-purposed 18-wheeler trailers.

According to current Texas state law, 8-liners and other businesses that give out cash prizes or gifts valued at five dollars or more are deemed illegal-gambling operations.

Its been speculated that the Brownsville operations could be used by Mexican drug cartels in the area to launder large amounts of illicit cash.
A suspect allegedly told a College Station police officer that she would Sandra Bland him as she was being booked into jail.

On Monday, Conroe woman Tobin Kershaw, 30, was arrested and charged for alleged assault and bodily injury and resisting arrest after police were called to a scene in the 1100 block of Southwest Parkway in College Station.
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Interstate 10 remains shut down in both directions at the Texas border with Louisiana along the Sabine River as floodwaters threatened the area and more rain is forecast for the region during the next few days.

Officials with the Texas Department of Transportation blocked the eastbound lanes Wednesday morning as water crept onto the roadway. Their counterparts in Louisiana shut down the westbound lanes Tuesday.

ON THE ROAD: Detoured on I-10? Here are the best roadside attractions

Officials with the Louisiana Department of Transportation said the freeway is likely to be closed all day Wednesday and it was unknown when the road would be reopened.

Joe Mires, spokesman for the Orange County emergency management office, said the river could still rise by another 6 inches near Interstate 10, but should begin receding late in the day on Wednesday.

Gov. Greg Abbott praised emergency personnel who have coordinated the evacuation of thousands of people from flooded areas of Southeast Texas.

PHOTOS: Aerial images capture damage caused by rising flood waters

Abbott said during a news conference Wednesday in Orange that emergency coordination among local and state agencies helped minimize dangers to residents. He thanked Louisiana officials for contributing to the emergency effort.

More rain is forecast later this week for areas along the state line near Orange, Texas, and Lake Charles, La., as well as near Lafayette, La., according to the National Weather Service. A 40 percent chance of rain fall is expected Thursday, increasing to 50 percent Friday and Saturday before the area may get break from the rain on Sunday.

Forecasters said a total of about a half inch to an inch of rain is expected in most spots as showers and thunderstorms move through the region, which is already drenched in floodwaters. But the rain likely will not increase flooding problems.

"Fortunately, rainfall totals should not result in new or worse flooding, said Tim Humphrey, a meteorologist with the weather service in Lake Charles.

Officials in Texas and Louisiana said they are monitoring the situation and worry more rain could create additional transportation headaches.

"Obviously any more rain is not great news," Sarah Dupre, a TxDOT spokeswoman. "It's a waiting game at this point."

Louisiana officials agreed.

"Right now we're just taking it one day at a time," said Deidra Druilhet, a spokesman foe LDOT.

Water released from the rising Toledo Bend Reservoir north of I-10 is flowing downstream, helping to create the flooding. Heavy rains pounded Southwestern Louisiana in previous days.

On Wednesday, Dupre said U.S. 190 is open at the Sabine River, but other bridges across the river remained closed on state highways 12 and 63. These are the three southernmost crossings north of I-10.

The bridge over the river on State Highway 82 was open Tuesday but officials advised travelers against using it because floodwaters threatened the area and the bridge was not built for large amounts of traffic.

The closure had traffic backed up for miles and motorists were encouraged to seek alternate routes and to use Interstate 20 for travel to the east and west in the area.

Flooding in the region has prompted residents to flee the rising water. Evacuations were ordered Tuesday for areas along the Sabin River in Orange County. Several people were rescued from floodwaters.
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SAN ANTONIO  Congressman Joaquin Castro said Tuesday he disagrees with San Antonio Police Department Chief William McManus' decision to rescind punishment for an officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man last month.

RELATED: McManus: Officer will get training, not discipline in fatal shooting

"Chief McManus was right the first time. Training is not enough. Mr. Scott lost his life because of Officer Lees extremely poor judgement," U.S. Rep. Castro, D-San Antonio, said in a statement to mySA.com.

Meanwhile, Mayor Ivy Taylor backed McManus in a Tuesday statement:

I have been in close communication with Chief McManus throughout the investigation. While the initial impression was that poor tactical execution by Officer Lee alone led to the loss of Mr. Scotts life, the investigation revealed that responsibility for the outcome was shared and therefore firing Officer Lee was not appropriate. While I still believe this tragic incident should never have occurred, I understand the Chiefs path on discipline here. I remain committed to carrying out the police reforms in training that we have begun. I am also asking the City Manager and Police Chief to examine how we expand our community policing efforts. Regular interactions between neighborhood residents and our officers can go a long way toward preventing these types of incidents.

McManus changed his mind about firing Officer John Lee after a Monday meeting with the 12-year SAPD veteran, who shot 36-year-old Antronie Scott on Feb. 4 during a North Side traffic stop after he said he mistook a cellphone for a gun. Lee instead he will receive additional training, McManus said.

Scott was shot and killed shortly after getting out of a Mercedes sedan in the Wood Hollow Apartments at 10362 Sahara St. parking lot. Lee was attempting to detain Scott, who was wanted on felony warrants.

SEE MORE: More than 30 people killed in Bexar County by law enforcement officers since 2010

SAPD turned over details of its investigation of the shooting to the DAs office, which is still reviewing the case.

His decision has zero effect on our analysis of the evidence, Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood said in a text message to the San Antonio Express-News Monday night. One is an analysis on tactical procedures and the other is an analysis on whether a crime occurred.

McManus said that Lee will remain on administrative duty pending the outcome of the district attorney's investigation.

Meanwhile, Scotts family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city alleging Scott's civil rights were violated and claims SAPDs policies are deficient.

After the Feb. 4 shooting, it appeared that Lee would lose his job.

On March 1, McManus issued a statement saying that Lee has been issued a contemplated indefinite suspension for placing himself unnecessarily in a tactical situation wherein he felt compelled to use deadly force.

SEE MORE: SAPD officer who shot, killed unarmed Antronie Scott faces indefinite suspension

But just a few days later, the chief told the Express-News that Lee could get his job back.

Two detectives were also at the scene of the shooting. McManus said he would meet with them later this week to finalize their discipline.

kparker@mysa.com

Twitter: @KoltenParker
Fla. Sen. Marco Rubio ended his presidential campaign Tuesday night after a steep loss to Donald Trump in his home state.

"It's not God's plan that I be president in 2016," he told an audience at a rally in his hometown of Miami. "I ask the American people, do not give into fear, do not give into frustration."
The Houston-based presidential campaign of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz suffered a major setback Tuesday night, as Donald Trump more than doubled his lead for the Republican nomination.

After failing to win any states outright in a big round of primary votes, Cruz now faces dismal chances of winning an outright majority of delegates, and experts said he'll have to posture carefully for the future of this race and his political career.

"The only credible path Cruz has now to the nomination is through a contested convention," said Mark Jones, a political scientist at Rice University's Baker Institute.

That could happen if no candidate arrives at the Party's July convention with more than 50 percent of delegates awarded, prompting a series of re-votes that could plausibly name Cruz the party nominee.

RELATED: Cruz's campaign stump anticipates a contested convention

A contested convention looks more likely after Tuesday night, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political scientist at the University of Houston. If the three remaining candidates continue to pick up delegates at the respective rates that they have been, it will become increasingly likely that none wins a majority, he said.

But to stand a chance of winning that scenario, Cruz would have to arrive at the convention within close reach of Trump's delegate count, which is seeming increasingly unlikely.

On Tuesday morning, Cruz trailed Trump by about 100 delegates, and the gap widened to more than 200 by Tuesday night. Experts said he would have to be within a few dozen of Trump to be a credible choice in a convention contest.

"It was a pretty sobering night for [Cruz]," said Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University.

Several big primary contests remain  including California and a block of Northeastern states  none of which are traditionally inclined toward Cruz's brand of fierce conservatism. But there remains substantial anxiety in the GOP over the possibility of handing the party flag to Trump  which may be Cruz's last hope.

RELATED: In final appeal, Cruz calls himself GOP's only alternative to Trump

With Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's resignation from the race on Tuesday night, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich's tremendous lag in delegates, Cruz is the only realistic alternative the party has to nominating Trump. He'll stress that tirelessly in the coming days of his campaign.

But Jillson dismissed any possibility of Cruz recovering from Tuesday's loss.

"Trump will be the nominee," Jillson said. "There is no way for the establishment to take the nomination from Trump if he is even close to the 1,237 delegates he needs."

That presents a tricky task to Cruz, who built his presidential campaign making powerful enemies in Washington D.C.: how to maintain prominence in the Republican Party.

"He has to carefully talk about what this all meant," Rottinghaus said. "That's a hard thing to do."

Cruz, who laid out his path to the White House precisely at age 17, is unlikely to relinquish his presidential ambitions after one popular but unsuccessful bid. Experts agreed he sees a high place for himself in national politics, but he'll have to reconcile his likely loss to Trump, and spin the campaign to shine positively on his future in the Senate and beyond.

"He has to be sure that his exit leaves him as a compelling figure in the Republican Party going forward," Jillson said. "He has to stick the dismount."
"We need to get a fresh start."

That's what U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said in 2005 when Democrats opposed President George W. Bush's judicial nominations. Today, as President Barack Obama nominates Merrick Garland to fill Antonin Scalia's seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, we hope that Cornyn will take his own advice.

So far, however, Cornyn and the bulk of Republicans in the Senate seem ready to keep fighting and escalating. While the Constitution grants the president the power to nominate candidates to the Supreme Court, they can only be appointed with the "advice and consent" of the Senate. This means majority approval. But Cornyn isn't merely threatening to vote against Garland, or even attempting to filibuster a vote. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Cornyn refuses to have hearings in the first place.

In fact, Texas' senior senator and former justice on the Texas Supreme Court threatened to wallop any nominee like a pinata.

Cornyn has justified this stonewalling - unprecedented in modern politics - by claiming that "Democrats would do the same thing if the shoe was on the other foot."

No doubt that tit-for-tat drives too much of the political mindset in Washington, but like Cornyn said, we need to get a fresh start.

Garland would be a good place to begin. Widely considered the model, neutral judge, according to Supreme Court blogger Tom Goldstein, Garland, 63, has more federal judicial experience than any other Supreme Court nominee in U.S. history. He was confirmed to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1997 and was elevated to chief judge in 2013. During Garland's first confirmation hearings, arch-conservative Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said the nominee was "as good as Republicans can expect from [the Clinton] administration. In fact I would place him at the top of the list."

Before he was appointed to the bench, Garland served as an attorney in the Department of Justice, where he led the investigation of the Oklahoma City bombing and successfully secured a death sentence for Timothy McVeigh.

Overall, Garland's nomination is a good faith effort by Obama to put forward a non-controversial, middle-of-the-road candidate. There's obvious differences between him and the man he was replacing: Scalia was Catholic and Garland is Jewish. Scalia was an activist originalist and Garland is known for avoiding unnecessary, sweeping pronouncements. But there's no doubt that a candidate with Garland's temperament, intellect and experience is qualified to hold a seat on the Supreme Court.

Garland has worked hard to get where he is, graduating valedictorian from Harvard College and graduating magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he served as articles editor on the Harvard Law Review. He has shown jurisprudential brilliance in a variety of disciplines whether leading prosecution against the most virulent of terrorists or delving into complex and often tedious regulatory matters that face the D.C. Circuit. Garland has earned a hearing before the Senate.

As Cornyn himself has said through the years, an up-or-down vote on judicial nominees is a matter of fundamental fairness.

It is also a matter of upholding the U.S. Constitution. Waiting until after the presidential election in November to nominate a justice to replace Scalia, as Cornyn has argued, would undermine the constitutional protections that isolate the nation's highest court from the sways of a turbulent political sea. As the Founding Fathers wrote in Federalist No. 78, the "complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential in a limited Constitution."

Instead of maintaining the "specified exceptions to the Legislative authority," as the Founders wrote, Cornyn wants to transform judicial appointments into an election, violating the original vision of the Constitution - something we're sure would earn the scorn of Scalia.

"It is the Senate's constitutional duty to act on each nomination," Cornyn said under President Bush. "It is also critically important to our judicial system and the proper functioning of our federal government to fill these positions. Senators have a right to vote for or against any nominee - but blocking votes on nominations is unacceptable."

Presidents may change, but we will still hold Cornyn to his word. Like any honorable Texan, we expect him to keep it.
The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p.
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Warriors suffer 44-14 loss to Gehlen Catholic ALTA - The Alta-Aurelia football team hosted Gehlen Catholic on Friday evening, but lost the game 44-14. The Warriors struck...

Warriors take down Raiders to finish regular season ALTA - The Alta-Aurelia volleyball team hosted East Sac County on Thursday evening and took down the Raiders 3-1 to...

Braves go 3-6 at Heelan Invite SIOUX CITY - Cherokee's volleyball team, 23-9, worked on fine tuning its skills here Saturday in a 12-team Sioux City...
Americans live under an ever-growing administrative state, in which distant bureaucrats centralize legislative, executive, and judicial power. States and localities are increasingly overpowered by a growing federal government that transgresses the Constitutions original limits. The Constitution, were told by the progressive-minded, is a living, breathing document that allows for such updating in the modern age. On the other side, originalists and textualists argue that the Constitutions meaning is stable, that its words retain the meaning they possessed when they were written. The dispute has spanned more than a generation, and, with the recent death of Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia and nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the Court, has taken on tremendous political weight. Scalias successor, whether its Garland or someone elseif Republicans prevail in blocking Obamas nominee this yearcould tip the balance of the Court in favor of one of these competing interpretations. Either way, the next president will likely fill several Supreme Court vacancies and thus have the opportunity to shape constitutional law for decades to come.

Often considered the solution foror alternative tojudicial activism, originalism has been adopted by numerous judges and debated extensively in the legal academy over the last four decades. Yet, its proponents disagree over many nuances. Some originalists look to the original public meaning of the Constitution, others to the meaning that it would have to a reasonable hypothetical observer. Some find a distinction between interpretation and construction; others see no difference.

Progressives cite such disagreements as proof that originalism is not a viable alternative to their preferred expansive reading of the Constitution. Yet internal debates shouldnt obscure the guiding principles of originalism, which are surprisingly simple. Only craft and ingenuity can obscure them.

Prior to the twentieth century, most lawyers and judges interpreted legal texts, including the Constitution, by looking at the intention of a laws authors, as evidenced by the words they used. Starting in the 1950s, the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren began discovering rights and powers in the Constitution never previously identified. The Court created new sets of rights for criminal defendants, including the Miranda rights made famous by police procedurals on television. They instituted suppression of evidence as a remedy for unlawful police conduct. Conservatives feared that this new judicial permissiveness would exonerate many criminal defendants, against whom there was usually plenty of evidence to convict. And then, in Roe v. Wade, the Court constitutionalized the right to an abortion in accordance with what the justices labeled the penumbras of other constitutional rights.

The Constitution was never intendedeither by those who wrote it or by those who ratified itto have the effect given it by the Warren Court. A constitution that is viewed as only what the judges say it is no longer is a constitution in the true sense, said attorney general Edwin Meese in a landmark 1985 speech to the American Bar Association. Words have meaning, Meese said, and judges can discern those meanings. Judges will always have predispositions, but this cant mean that anything goes. The Reagan administration in which he served, Meese promised, would endeavor to resurrect the original meaning of the constitutional provisions and statutes as the only reliable guide for judgment.

Critics of originalism pushed back. In a speech a few months later at Georgetown University, Supreme Court Justice William Brennan dismissed the judicial philosophy of original intention as arrogant and rejected the notion that modern judges could discern what the Founders thought about a particular case. Our distance of two centuries cannot but work as a prism refracting all we perceive, he said. We current Justices read the Constitution in the only way that we can: as twentieth century Americans. Law professor H. Jefferson Powell argued that the Founding generation did not intend to make its understanding of the Constitution binding for the future. Paul Brest, eventually dean of Stanford Law School, attacked originalism in his article The Misconceived Quest for the Original Understanding, in which he sought to undermine the idea that there is such a thing as the Founders collective intent. There were many Founders and Framers, he wrote; each presumably had his own unique intentions. Brest did, however, make concessions to what he considered more plausible versions of originalismthose that looked to high-level purposes rather than the specific intent of particular Framers and those that understood that words have meaning only in context.

Responding to these counterattacks, originalists emphasized the original public meaning of a constitutional provision that those who ratified the Constitution would have understood it to have. Neither the secret personal intentions of the individual Founders, nor their collective intentions, nor even the intentions of those who participated in the ratifying conventions matter under this approach. All that matters is how people understand the written words of the Constitution at the time it was adopted.

The debate continues over originalism, which is sometimes described as a theory still working itself pure, as Lord Mansfield once characterized the precedential evolution of common law. Originalism is not a settled theory; legal thinkers continue to refine it. Most originalists today would agree that we must first understand what the Constitution says; only then can we ask whether the Constitution, when properly understood, is legitimate and worthy of obedience.

Todays originalists often argue that any communication, oral or written, should be interpreted by its original public meaning, unless there is some indication that it should be interpreted in another way. The original public meaning is thus the true meaning of any public communication. To maintain the integrity of the Constitution over time, Yale law professor Jack Balkin writes, we must preserve the meaning of the words that constitute the framework . . . . If we do not attempt to preserve legal meaning over time, then we will not be following the written Constitution as our plan but instead will be following a different plan. The content of all communication is fixed at the time of its utterance. Take the example of a letter written in the twelfth century that uses the word deer. As Georgetown professor Lawrence Solum has pointed out, today, deer refers to a four-legged mammal of the cervidae family, but in Middle English, the word deer meant a beast or animal of any kind. Therefore, we would wrongly read deer in a letter written in the Middle Ages to mean what we think of as deer today.

Or take an example from the Constitution itself. Article IV, Section Four states that America shall protect every state in the union against domestic Violence. The modern-day semantic meaning of the phrase domestic violence, Solum notes, is intimate partner abuse, battering, or wife-beating; it is the physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse that takes place in the context of an intimate relationship, including marriage. Yet the Framers used the term domestic violence to refer to insurrection or rebellion. It would be a linguistic mistake to interpret this clause of the Constitution as referring to domestic violence as we understand it today. In the exposition of laws, and even of Constitutions, James Madison wrote in an 1826 letter, how many important errors may be produced by mere innovations in the use of words and phrases, if not controulable [sic] by a recurrence to the original and authentic meaning attached to them! As Madison saw it, we shouldnt let the effect of time in changing the meaning of words and phrases justify new constructions of written constitutions and laws.

In a 1997 article, law professor Gary Lawson offered a lively justification for original public meaning when he compared reading a constitution with reading an eighteenth-century recipe for fried chicken. No one doubts that the meaning of a recipe is fixed. Because, as Lawson notes, every document is created at a particular moment in space and time, documents ordinarily . . . speak to an audience at the time of their creation and draw their meaning from that point. A recipe presents itself to the world as a public document. Its meaning is its original public meaning. Even a document with a clear original public meaning can pose problems of interpretation, of course. Some recipes, for instance, suggest adding pepper to taste. Such nuances, however, have to do with how, not whether, to apply original public meaning. Suppose that over the centuries, cooks began substituting rosemary for pepper in the fried-chicken recipe to suit changing tastes. According to Lawson, it wouldnt change the recipes meaning. The recipe says pepper, and if modern cooks use rosemary instead, they are not interpreting the original recipe, but rather they are amending itperhaps for the better, but amending it nonetheless. The term pepper is simply not ambiguous in this respect. A recipes meaning also doesnt change over time simply because people refuse to follow it.

The same is true of a constitution, which, as Lawson explains, is but a recipe for government: As a recipe of sorts that is clearly addressed to an external audience, the Constitutions meaning is its original public meaning. Other approaches to interpretation are simply wrong. Interpreting the Constitution is no more difficult, and no different in principle, than interpreting a late-eighteenth-century recipe for fried chicken. The Constitution was addressed to a public audience at a certain time, and its meaning was fixed at that time. Whether the Constitution is legitimate is an entirely separate question.

No originalist disputes that the Constitution is sometimes, like a novel, hard to interpret, and that readers might have different understandings of the text; readers at the time of the Founding did, too. Some words create ambiguity, intentionally or unintentionally. But each word still has an objective public meaning; conventional usage still limits our interpretation; and some interpretations are better than others.

Yet, a commitment to originalism doesnt rule out the possibility of adaptation to future circumstances. Perhaps the ratifiers of the Fourteenth Amendment did not believe that the Constitution required desegregating schools, for instance, but it doesnt follow that Brown v. Board of Education was wrongly decided. If originalists believed that only the original, expected applications of the Constitution are valid, then the First Amendment wouldnt apply to speech on the Internet, and the Fourth Amendments guarantee against unreasonable searches and seizures wouldnt apply to GPS devices. Most of the Constitutions provisions define standards or principlesunreasonable searches and seizures, equal protection, due processwith meanings that can apply to new situations.

In Federalist 37, James Madison described both the power and the limitations of human language and the human mind, and how those limitations affect the writing and interpretation of a constitution:

All new laws, though penned with the greatest technical skill, and passed on the fullest and most mature deliberation, are considered as more or less obscure and equivocal, until their meaning be liquidated and ascertained by a series of particular discussions and adjudications. Besides the obscurity arising from the complexity of objects, and the imperfection of the human faculties, the medium through which the conceptions of men are conveyed to each other adds a fresh embarrassment. The use of words is to express ideas. Perspicuity, therefore, requires not only that the ideas should be distinctly formed, but that they should be expressed by words distinctly and exclusively appropriate to them. But no language is so copious as to supply words and phrases for every complex idea, or so correct as not to include many equivocally denoting different ideas. Hence it must happen that however accurately objects may be discriminated in themselves, and however accurately the discrimination may be considered, the definition of them may be rendered inaccurate by the inaccuracy of the terms in which it is delivered. And this unavoidable inaccuracy must be greater or less, according to the complexity and novelty of the objects defined. When the Almighty himself condescends to address mankind in their own language, his meaning, luminous as it must be, is rendered dim and doubtful by the cloudy medium through which it is communicated.

What can we take away from this remarkable passage? First, all human communication will necessarily be somewhat indeterminateparticularly when were dealing with a constitution that advances a new theory of government, using complex ideas for which existing words might prove insufficient. But we also learn that words express ideas, however imperfectly or obscurelyand these ideas are fixed at the time of writing or utterance. Lastly, we learn that Madisons theory of liquidation is a way of resolving ambiguity. It may be that the words create some ambiguity, that the ideas expressed have uncertain applications. But over time, those ambiguities will get resolved in favor of one interpretation or another; at that point, the words can become fixed for future generations.

Much of what the federal government does today would not be possible under an originalist interpretation of the Constitution. Since the advent of the New Deal State, the federal government has legislated in almost all areas of life, often on the grounds that it is regulating interstate commerce. Lawmakers justify federal minimum-wage laws, labor standards, and welfare programs by invoking the Commerce Clause. The Founding generation, however, understood commerce specifically as the exchange of goods. It did not encompass, say, the manufacturing of goods within purely local dimensions. Thus, minimum-wage laws and other labor regulations should be left to the states, as should most welfare programs. Some originalists (especially the libertarian ones) also claim that as originally understood, the Fourteenth Amendments guarantee to each citizen of the privileges and immunities of citizenship meant that the states could not infringe on economic liberties without compelling justifications. And yet, today, most states infringe frequently on economic freedom by, for example, requiring licenses to engage in normal occupations.

Most administrative law today would have to be reversed as well. The Framers never contemplated that unelected bureaucrats would wield legislative, executive, and judicial power. The Constitution creates a specific government structure, whereby only the legislature can exercise legislative power, only the president and his officials the executive power, and only judgesappointed by the president with tenure and salary protectionsthe judicial power. The Constitution granted bureaucrats no authority to exercise at least two of these powers, let alone all of them at once. And yet constitutional law today allows bureaucrats to do just that.

Finally, much criminal defense law would have to be changed. Indigent defendants might not be guaranteed attorneys in non-capital cases. Police would not have to tell a suspect he has the right to remain silent. Any violation of the Fourth Amendments right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures would not result in the suppression of evidence. Thats not to say that these constitutional adjustments are bad from a policy perspective, only that it is hard to justify many of them on originalist grounds. Congress could, and likely would, enact many of the criminal-procedure protections of modern Supreme Court doctrine.

Originalists have different approaches to legal precedent, however, and not all would want to go as far as undoing longstanding (if dubious) constitutional doctrines. But the important point is that originalism matters. Applied vigorously, it can transform how we interpret the Constitution and lead to a dramatic reduction in the scope and size of the federal government.

Top Photo: George Washington at the signing of the Constitution by Junius Brutus Stearns (1810-1885)
When Jeff Young began his job as managing editor of the nascent Ohio River Network earlier this month, one of the first things he did was set off on a road trip. Visiting his three-state newsroom, said the public media veteran, was an essential step in building trust in the new regional journalism collaboration.

Spanning Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia, the Ohio River Network consists of seven public media partner stationsled by Louisville Public Mediatasked with producing hard-hitting, high-quality multimedia journalism that examines the regions economy, energy, environment, agriculture, infrastructure, and health. The network, which also has partnerships with NewsHour and Morning Edition, among others, for stories with a broader reach, was founded with a $445,000 grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It is one of eight new regional journalism collaboratives that CPB is funding.

All told, CPB says the $4.4 million venture will eventually create 57 newsroom positions, including 11 editors, in places ranging from Little Rock, Arkansas to Buffalo, New York. Its the latest experiment in a continued push for reporting collaborations at both CPB and National Public Radioa period of trial and error that has seen some promising results and also some course corrections.

When public radio got started in the 1970s, said Louisville Public Media president and general manager Donovan Reynolds, everybody thought they had their own independent fiefdom, but now stations that once saw each other as competitors have become collaborators. The most pressing news doesnt stop at state lines, Reynolds said, not least the problems stemming from the Ohio River, which is the most polluted waterway in the country. And hes been alarmed to see the consequences of major newspapers retrenching to the urban core, leaving behind smaller community papers that, he said, havent always had the staff or resources, or sometimes even the guts to take on controversial issues.

In an attempt to fill the void, Louisville Public Media created the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting in 2013, a nonprofit newsroom that it is incubating alongside the three public radio stations that operate under LPMs umbrella. It also expanded its capital coverage, in part by developing a newscast that it distributes around the state, laying the groundwork for the more far-reaching collaboration of the Ohio River Network.

Oddly, Reynolds said, noting Louisville Public Medias intersecting partnerships, Kentucky, I think, is on the avant-garde here for how public radio stations can work together in a collaborative.

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This is where the best practices of previous collaboratives and ventures into local journalism come into play (as does more than one acronym). Bruce Theriault, CPB senior vice president of journalism and radio, said that the regional journalism collaborative (RJC) model builds upon Project Argo, which supported beat-oriented bloggers at member stations, and local journalism centers (LJC), which helped partner stations build authority on subjects of national importance. While LJCs had a single-topic focus, the new RJCs turn the spotlight on multiple interconnected subjects.

Over the past eight years, Theriault said, CPB has supported 127 reporting positions (including 22 editors) in newsrooms in 37 states. The number-one lesson learned: get the right person in the managing editor role. They need not only a strong journalism background but, equally, strong people skills, Theriault said.

Its a unique challenge, after all, to supervise a team spread out across hundreds of miles, and, in the Ohio River Networks case, across multiple time zones. Reynolds noted that the editor also has a mentorship role, because well probably be hiring a lot of younger journalists and people who are just coming into the field.

Enter Jeff Young. Young is a veteran of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, one of the Ohio River Network partners, and he grew up in that state, giving him a more than passing familiarity with the issues the collaborative will cover.

This is a place thats been kind of beaten down over the years, and I think theres a kind of fatalism, he said. A lot of people in this region believe that in order to have economic growth, we have to accept environmental degradation and bad impacts on our health. We want to have good journalism around these issues that present some options for going in a direction thats better and healthier.

Young is working with the leadership at the local stations to hire seven newly created positions, including a digital media reporter based in Louisville which, Young said, gives me as an editor different tools in the toolbox to tell these stories. New reporters will be embedded at each of the partner stations, rather than re-assigning current ones, resulting in a net expansion of news coverage.

The collaborative stretches across both cities and rural areas, reaching listeners that tune in from Athens, Ohio, to Whitesburg, Kentucky, home of WMMT/Appalshop, the legendary documentary outfit that is perhaps the most distinctive station in the network. But Reynolds emphasizes that the collaboration shouldnt be understood as a homogenization of content that serves diverse audiences.

Young added that its important to be sensitive to how stations definitely have their own voices and character, and he means that literally: theres a wonderful blend of styles across the region  the distinct Appalachian characteristics, and the Midwestern quaver in parts of it. I think those things will come through in the work we do.

Then theres the issue of sustainability: how to support the project after the initial funding wanes. The RJCs have two-year grants, and, for those on the right track, Theriault said, a third year is possible.

Reynolds said that Louisville Public Media has made inroads by creating a collaborative model for development in Kentucky public media, including the hiring of a statewide underwriting coordinator for development and major giving. That creates a scaffolding to build its business plan, while at the same time, he says, Im hopeful as the journalism improves, the development activities improve and guarantee the success of the project as local stations improve revenue.

As to how the Ohio River Network will measure success, Reynolds, Young, and Theriault each said that the primary metric is its impact on the community: whether the teams reporting influences policy decisions, and whether it engages more citizens in the education and health of their communities.

And, for Young at least, theres also an added purpose: to interrupt the tendency in many national media narratives to use Appalachian stereotypes as props.

As a native of the region, Ive often felt the stories of this area are not really fully and accurately told to the rest of the country, Young said. And that is also part of the goal here, in addition to helping the communities we serve better understand whats happening to them by providing an honest narrative account.

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Anna Clark is a journalist in Detroit. Her writing has appeared in ELLE Magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Next City, and other publications. Anna edited A Detroit Anthology, a Michigan Notable Book, and she was a 2017 Knight-Wallace journalism fellow at the University of Michigan. She is the author of The Poisoned City: Flints Water and the American Urban Tragedy, published by Metropolitan Books, an imprint of Henry Holt. She is online at www.annaclark.net and on Twitter @annaleighclark.
Widespread flooding in Louisiana and Mississippi has damaged thousands of homes, and the risk of rising water prompted additional evacuations Sunday.

At least four deaths have been reported in Louisiana amid the flooding that began last week, and the National Guard has rescued nearly 3,300 residents. Two fishermen have been missing for days in Mississippi.

Flood warnings were in effect across the region as many rivers remained dangerously high. Also of concern was another line of thunderstorms that hit parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, northern Louisiana and northern Mississippi on Sunday night, bringing more rain and reports of tornadoes in Arkansas.

At this point, any rain will aggravate the flooding situation, Davyon Hill, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, said.

Downpours  part of a system that affected Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and Alabama  have submerged roads and cars, washed out bridges and forced residents to flee homes.

In Louisiana, emergency officials said more than 4,958 homes were damaged. That number is expected to rise as more reports come in from areas still battling floodwaters. Mississippi reported that 185 homes were damaged by floodwaters and about 650 homes sustained minor damage.

On Sunday, President Barack Obama signed an order declaring the flooding in Louisiana a major disaster. The presidents declaration triggers federal aid for flood victims.

Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser said he was worried that many flood victims had not purchased flood insurance.

A lot of these people I spoke to did not have flood insurance because they had never flooded before, Nungesser said in a telephone interview.

He warned that residents may not get federal disaster aid if they didnt have insurance. Its not going to be the open check book, he added.

Authorities in Louisianas Natchitoches Parish said Harold Worsham, 78, drowned while trying to flee floodwaters on Saline Bayou. The sheriffs office said Worsham was in a boat that capsized as he and two others were moving items from a home onto an aluminum boat. At least three others have died in the state.

On Sunday, Mississippi officials said they were still looking for two missing fishermen but had no reports of injuries or deaths there.

Flooding on rain-swollen rivers remained a major concern.

Its the most widespread non-hurricane flooding the Louisiana National Guard has ever dealt with, said Col. Pete Schneider, a guard spokesman.

The National Guard said it had about 1,400 soldiers and air crews at work in flooded areas throughout Louisiana, deploying in high-water vehicles, boats and three helicopters. By Sunday morning, National Guard crews had evacuated more than 3,295 people and 316 pets as part of its round-the-clock operations.

Sunday night, officials said reports of a breached levee prompted evacuations in a rural northeastern Louisiana community, but residents were allowed to return to their homes after flooding was less severe than expected.

Caldwell Parish Sheriffs Deputy Jack McKeithen said the department began evacuating residents in rural Hebert, a community of between 1,500-2,000 residents, after receiving word Sunday evening that a levee was topped and 2-4 feet of water could be headed for the area.

McKeithen told The Associated Press that after authorities realized several hours later the influx of water would be far less severe, residents were allowed back.

In the adjacent Richland Parish, Director of Homeland Security Dawn Williams told The News-Star the parish jail was evacuated as a precaution.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Lin-Manuel Miranda & Hamilton Cast Perform At White House, Obama Talks Musicals Origins

Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton musical is one of the hardest Broadway shows to get tickets to today. However, one of the perks of being the most powerful man in the world is that you can get Broadway to show up at your doorstep. On Monday, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed the cast of Hamilton to the White House. This isnt the first time that Lin-Manuel Miranda has performed at the White House. Miranda performed the opening number from the musical in 2009 at the White House Evening of Poetry, Music, and the Spoken Word. Check out the report below for a look at the cast performance as well as Obamas comments on his role in Hamiltons origins.

President Obama welcomed the cast of Hamilton at the White House, saying:

It is an understatement to say this was one hot ticket. Last time I went to Hamilton I didnt even get to see the show. The just let me come on stage and talk after the curtain fell. So feeling a little deprived we invited the cast to perform today. Because we wanted to share this incredible musical with folks who otherwise might not get the experience. And I want to thank them so much, the shows producers, for helping to bring Hamilton to the White House.

The President went on to discuss the role that the White House played in Hamiltons origins, adding:

Now the truth is though, they do owe me. Because seven years ago Lin-Manuel Miranda came to the White House poetry jam, and he took the mic and he announced that he and his musical collaborator, Alex Lacamoire, that they were going to perform a song from a hip-hop album they were working on, and Im quoting him, about the life of somebody who embodies hip-hop, Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. And so we all started laughing but Lin-Manuel was serious, and who's laughing now. Having said that, not to take undue credit or anything, but this is definitely the room where it happened.

Check out the cast of Hamilton performing, My Shot, at the White House:

 2016 The Classical Art, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

TagsLIn-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton, Cast, Perform, White House, Obama, Musical, Origins
Kristen Stewart Shares Kiss With Rumored Girlfriend Soko

Kristen Stewart and rumored girlfriend Soko went public by locking lips in Paris. Their kiss confirmed longstanding speculation that the Twilight actress and the French artist are more than just friends.

The 25-year-old actress and Soko, 30, definitely didnt hold back on the PDA, holding hands as they strolled around the City of Lights. They laughed and smiled while they enjoyed each other's company.

Despite sunglasses and a black beanie, Stewart was still recognizable in black skinnies, a gray shirt and leather jacket.

This isnt the first time Kristen and Soko have been seen out together -- this was their second day strolling around Paris, and Soko even surprised the Stewart with a bouquet of flowers at the airport. So far, neither Stewart or Soko has publicly acknowledged their relationship status.

Kristen Stewart & her rumored girlfriend Soko were seen kissing in Paris today: https://t.co/wwDIXq8hwQ pic.twitter.com/OcuqTaufvt  JustJared.com (@JustJared) March 15, 2016

K-Stew, who had a long relationship with Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson, has chosen not to label her sexual preference.

"Google me, I'm not hiding," she told Nylon magazine last August. "In three or four years, there are going to be a whole lot more people who don't think it's necessary to figure out if you're gay or straight. It's like, 'Just do your thing. I don't feel like it would be true for me to be like, 'I'm coming out!'"

 2016 The Classical Art, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

TagsKristen Stewart, soko
AKRON, Ohio -- A man convicted in the murder of an Iraq war veteran is now charged in a 15-year-old cold-case rape.

Efrem Johnson, 56, is set for trial on Monday on charges of rape, kidnapping and felonious assault. He has pleaded not guilty.

Johnson is accused of attacking and raping a then-38-year-old woman on Aug. 26, 2000 in the 900 block of Moeller Avenue.

Akron police at the time found the woman partially nude with injuries to her face and head. Two people witnessed the attack and called police, according to police reports.

The woman told police she was attacked and raped by two men.

DNA from the rape kit taken in 2000 matched Johnson's DNA after it was tested against the national database some 14 years later. Johnson's DNA was on file because of his 2011 conviction for aggravated murder.

Johnson killed U.S. Army Reserve veteran Jacob Courie, 24, with a shotgun in March 2010.

Courie was on leave from his second tour of duty in Iraq and was celebrating St. Patrick's Day with family members when Johnson shot him in the 300 block of East Exchange Street near the University of Akron campus.

Courie and Johnson argued two different times that night. Johnson went to his nearby apartment, got his shotgun and hid it behind a retaining wall.

He taunted Johnson and lured him behind the wall. He grabbed the shotgun and shot Courie in the stomach.

Johnson pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and was sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility in 26 years. His first chance at parole is January 2036.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Harvey Buchanan, a retired Case Western Reserve University art historian and administrator, is warmly remembered for his bow ties, courtly manner and guidance of CWRU's outdoor art collection.

Buchanan, who died of natural causes under hospice care on Feb. 19 at his home in Gates Mills, also let it be known that he didn't want a memorial service, his nephew, Richard Davis of Madison, Connecticut, said Tuesday. Buchanan was 92.

Davis, who spoke publicly for the first time about his uncle's death, said, "I would say that the community has lost a great educator."

He said he'd remember Buchanan "for his insatiable curiosity, his commitment and, I would say, his graciousness."

Davis said that he and the museum are planning a tribute during a lecture at 5:30 p.m. in its recital hall on April 22, part of a series endowed by Buchanan's friends in his honor after his retirement from CWRU in 1988.

In his 36-year teaching career, Buchanan rose from being an instructor at the Case Institute of Technology to full professor and later professor of art history and humanities at CWRU, a title he held until his retirement.

Buchanan also held administrative posts including provost for humanities and the arts, and the chairmanship of the Department of Art at CWRU.

"Harvey's impact at Case was really considerable," Catherine Scallen, the current chair of art history at CWRU, said Tuesday.

"He knew how to read people," Scallen said. "He had a great smile and a twinkle in his eye and extrarordinary energy late into his life."

As a provost, Buchanan played an important role in the merger of the Case Institute with Western Reserve University, Scallen said.

She also said Buchanan partnered in the 1960s with Sherman Lee, then director of the Cleveland Museum of Art, to create a joint graduate program in art history that continues today.

"What he and Sherman Lee imagined and brought to fruition was extraordinary," Scallen said.

The program gives equal emphasis to art history and museum studies - disciplines normally separated at other institutions.

At the doctoral level, the program has morphed into the Nancy and Joseph Keithley Institute for Art History, launched with a $500,000 Mellon grant in 2012 and a $15 million grant in 2013 from philanthropists Nancy and Joseph Keithley.

From its beginnings, graduates of the joint program have included Roger Mandle, a former president of the Rhode Island School of Design and a former deputy director and chief curator of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Others include Carolyn Kinder Carr, deputy director and chief curator of the National Portrait Gallery, in Washington, D.C.; and Christopher Bedford, director of the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.

In addition to his teaching, Buchanan took on a new role in 1980 as director of CWRU's public art collection, founded with a $1 million grant from the John and Mildred Andrews Putnam Fund, a gift worth nearly $2.9 million in 2016 dollars.

The fund stipulates that money must be spent on works by artists who were born, raised, educated or working in Cleveland, Ohio or the Midwest.

Working under that requirement, Buchanan amassed roughly 50 works of art, including outdoor sculptures by leading American artists such as Ronald Bladen, Tony Smith and Keith Haring.

Iconic pieces in the collection include Athena Tacha's 1986 "Merging," a terraced fountain off Bellflower Road between East Boulevard and Ford Drive comprised of right-angled ledges and trickling waterfalls.

Buchanan also masterminded the 1996 addition of the "Turning Point," a collection of five, craggy, 20-foot-high abstract forms designed by architect and Cleveland native Philip Johnson.

The sculptures, which once marked a bend in a campus pathway north of Euclid Avenue near Bellflower Road, were removed to make way for the construction of CWRU's new University Center.

The sculptures are in storage and await relocation, said Kathleen Barrie, who now manages the public art collection.

Daniel Harvey Buchanan was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1923, and earned his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees at Yale University.

He interrupted his studies during the latter years of World War II to assist refugees and civilian war victims in France and Germany through an Anglo-American Quaker relief agency, Davis said. In 1949, he directed a camp for Palestinian refugees at Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip, also under Quaker auspices, Davis said.

Buchanan was married for 51 years to the late Penelope Buchanan, a revered longtime educator at the Cleveland Museum of Art, who died in 2010 at age 87.

"She was an imposing figure as she wandered around as the pied piper of the museum with several boys and girls in tow," Davis said.

An administrator at a community bank in Guilford, Connecticut, and the only surviving family member, Davis visited his uncle in Gates Mills roughly every six weeks over the past five years.

It was a period in which Buchanan donated an important 18th-century Rhode Island desk and bookcase to the Cleveland Museum of Art.

"He retained his curiosity, he read the paper every day," Davis said. "He was always interested in the museum and the university. He retained strong interests in the arts and humanities. He was an insatiable reader."

Asked to sum up his feelings for his uncle, Davis said simply: "proud, inspired."
BRUNSWICK, Ohio -- By fairly slim margins in each case, area voters supported one operating levy while rejecting another March 15.

Based upon unofficial results from the Medina County Board of Elections, Issue 7, the Brunswick City Schools' 3.4 mill operating renewal, passed by a 7,609 to 5,282 vote margin.

Meanwhile, Issue 4 - a five-year, 2.5 mill increase to continue funding current operations of the Brunswick Hills Police department to the tune of $624,000 annually - went down to defeat 1,637 to 1,547 votes, based on unofficial numbers from the Medina County Board of Elections.

Thankful for support

Brunswick Schools Superintendent Michael Mayell thanked voters for supporting the renewal, which will continue to generate $3.2 million of funding for the district annually.

"I would like to say thank you to the community for continuing to support us," Mayell said. "I'm glad that we have been able to show that we have been wise with their money - asking for no additional money since 2006."

Facing fiscal challenges

In campaign literature leading up to the March 15 primary, the police department stated that failure of levy would result in a reduction in police personnel, delayed response times, significant reduction in drug and OVI enforcement, discontinuation of community policing programs, and an inability to engage with other communities in mutual aid.

"I would like the trustees to put it back on the ballot in November," Chief Tim Sopkovich said.

He added that the department will need to keep watching its purse strings for the remainder of 2016, since even if an operating levy is passed later this year, collections would not start until 2017.

"The cuts I've made so far are just enough to keep guys out there in the 'what if' situation," Sopkovich said, noting that officers most recently received a 1 percent pay raise that is "not even meeting the cost of living."

"I need money to operate, but I also understand nobody wants to pay the government any more money than they already are," Sopkovich said. "(The levy) would have cost the owner of a $100,000 another $87 a year. It is hard for me to keep coming back and saying 'I need money,' when residents do too, for bills and kids in college. But with the cost of cars, fuel, health insurance and keeping enough officers out there for that 'what if' situation - I just wish there was some other means that we could fund it."

The department currently has six full-time and three part-time patrolmen, two sergeants and the chief. Sopkovich said that is at least one full-time and one part-time officer short of what is needed to adequately patrol and investigate incidents in a 12 square mile township that has grown from 5,500 residents to more than 11,000 in the past 15 years.

"Some cities with 6,000 residents have 14 officers," he said. "Our community needs us and taxpayer funding is the only way to do it."

In spite of the two defeats at the ballot box in the past four months, voters rejected of a 3.5 mill levy in November 2015 - Sopkovich said the department will continue to serve the community. With less funding though, how much is able to be covered becomes an issue, he said.

"Our guys are doing a great job," Sopkovich said. "But, for instance, during the recent apartment fires in Brunswick - we were down there helping the city for three hours. So it's not just our community but the mutual aid we provide other communities.

"A lot of people say we should go with the sheriff, but they are facing the same thing (in terms of funding), they have to cover the jails and courts, and they have five or six deputies covering the whole county."
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Leesburg, Virginia man was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison for sending child pornography to an undercover investigator and traveling to the Cleveland area to have sex with a 13-year-old girl.

A jury found David Vickers, 42, guilty in December of enticement, distribution of child pornography and traveling to engage in sexual conduct. Prosecutors said he thought he was communicating with a mother to set up a sexual tryst with a 13-year-old. He talked about "breeding" with the teen and sent videos depicting child pornography and bestiality and said that he had sexually assaulted a child.

During Wednesday's sentencing, David Vickers' father Edgar Vickers testified that he found out last year that his son was molested as a child. He also said that he saw a change in his son when his mother died of Alzheimer's disease in 2013.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko said he gave that weight to those factors when deciding on a sentence, but not much. He said the jury who had to watch the videos with child pornography and bestiality "may need some mental-health treatment after that."

He called Vickers "every parent's worst nightmare."

Vickers intends to appeal his conviction. He declined to make a statement to the judge on Wednesday.

His attorney, Greg McCormack, tried to argue for a sentence of between 21 and 27 years in prison. He said that was what the U.S. Attorney's Office offered Vickers in a plea agreement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Filiatraut balked at that, saying that Vickers pleading to the charges would have shown that the defendant could be rehabilitated. The judge agreed.

"You cannot now get the benefit of what the government was offering before trial," Boyko said.

Vickers was arrested in January 2015. According to a criminal complaint filed after Vickers' arrest, he had also posted on a website that he was looking for "younger girls" and that he was "looking for a lovely lady to breed with."
Attorney Martin Yavorcik

Attorney Martin Yavorcik, defending himself in a public corruption case stemming from a 2008 run for Mahoning County Prosecutor, makes opening arguments March 15, 2016.

(John Harper, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Weeks after pleading guilty to public corruption charges, Youngstown Mayor John McNally will testify at trial against a man prosecutors say he wanted to become Mahoning County prosecutor.

McNally is among 28 witnesses in the state's case against Youngstown attorney Martin Yavorcik, the final defendant in a corruption case where McNalley and former county auditor Michael Sciortino already pleaded guilty.

Senior Assistant Ohio Attorney General Daniel Kasaris and Yavorcik, who will represent himself in court, gave opening statements Tuesday after two-days of jury selection.

Prosecutors said Yavorcik agreed in 2008 to drop an investigation into McNally and Sciortino if he became Mahoning County Prosecutor.

McNally, then a county commissioner, and other Democratic officials paid Yavorcik to run for office, prosecutors say, while the sitting prosecutor proceeded with an investigation into how McNally worked with local developer Anthony Cafaro, who wanted to prevent the county's Department of Job and Family Services from moving out of his building.

During his opening statement, Yavorcik told the jury that he did not agree to drop the investigation in exchange for money, and that he thought the county prosecutor handling the corruption case at the time was politically motivated.

"The evidence will not show that I received bags of cash from Anthony Cafaro, or Lisa Antonini, or Mike Sciortino, or John Rearden, or anyone in this case," Yavorcik said. "It was not Marty Kavorcik getting $40,000, the evidence will not show that...It will show that money was used for political purposes."

Lisa Antonini was formerly chairwoman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party.

Prosecutors said that McNally retained outside legal services paid for by Cafaro in an attempt to stop a sheriff's sale that ultimately gave Mahoning County control a building where Job and Family Services was trying to move, prosecutors say.

McNally failed to stop the sale and the offices eventually moved out of Cafaro's Garland Plaza.

The mayor and the county executive tried to cover up the legal services paid for by Cafaro as then-prosecutor Paul Gains opened an investigation, prosecutors said.

Yavorcik denied that he received cash in exchange for agreeing to drop the investigation.

Yavorcik faces 11 felony counts including corruption, money laundering and tampering with records. The case is being prosecuted in Cuyahoga Court of Common Pleas because some of the alleged offenses took place in the county, including McNally's employment of Cleveland law firm Ulmer and Berne.

Testimony resumes Wednesday at 8:45 a.m.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohio Gov. John Kasich scored an easy victory in his home state's Republican Party presidential primary Tuesday, dominating the vote in the big metro areas and many other places in between.

Donald Trump, however, won nearly all eastern and southern Ohio counties, as shown in the map above.

Kasich won 55 of Ohio's 88 counties, unofficial results showed. Trump won 31. Results for two counties were so close that the outcome likely will not be known for weeks.

Late-arriving absentee ballots and provisional ballots are not included in unofficial tallies released Wednesday.

Overall, Kasich carried 47 percent of the vote, well ahead of Trump at 35.9 percent, Ted Cruz at 13.3 percent and Marco Rubio at 2.3 percent.

Other votes were split among six candidates who dropped out of the race earlier, but remained on Ohio's ballot. Rubio said after polls closed on Tuesday that he also was quitting.

Kasich ran strong in Ohio's nine largest counties, scoring a 160,571-vote margin over Trump, accounting for a little more than half of the registered voters. Head-to-head, Kasich beat Trump 61 percent to 39 percent in those counties - Butler, Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Lorain, Lucas, Montgomery, Stark and Summit.

In the combined vote for the other 79 counties, Kasich led by 56,388 votes, defeating Trump 53 percent to 47 percent head-to-head.

Kasich's strongest showings came in Central Ohio. He won 63.9 percent of the vote in Delaware County and 63.7 percent in Franklin County, home to the capital and the city of Columbus.

In some places, the vote was so split among the six candidates that Kasich won with well less than a majority. In Richland County, for example, Kasich won with 36.7 percent of the overall vote; Trump had 36 percent.

Trump won a majority in seven counties, including five in eastern Ohio stretching from north of Marietta to north of Youngstown: Jefferson (53 percent), Trumbull (52.6 percent), Harrison (51.7 percent), Monroe (50.9 percent) and Mahoning (50.6 percent).

The official final tally will not be complete for weeks, giving time for the addition of provisional and late-arriving absentee ballots.
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(Columbia Records)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Alternative Press Music Awards won't be the only major music event hitting Columbus in July.

PromoWest Productions, an independent concert promoter, has announced the lineup for its inaugural PromoWest Fest. The three-day extravaganza will take place in Columbus's Arena District from July 15-17.

Coincidentally, this year's APMAs will take place at Columbus' Schottenstein Center the following day on July 18. The APMAs moved from Cleveland to Columbus this year to avoid the hoopla of the Republican National Convention.

PromoWest Fest will feature a variety of big name acts, including Modest Mouse, Snoop Dogg, Brand New, LL Cool J, Mac Miller, Tears for Fears, Ryan Adams, Garbage and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.

The festival will also feature All Time Low, whose members Alex Gaskarth and Jack Barakat will host this year's APMAs. Mike Shea, CEO and publisher of Alternative Press, says he and his team are working with PromoWest to cross promote the two events.

"We've been working with them trying to help each other out," says Shea. "It's not a competitive thing at all. We want the Cleveland music scene to grow and the Columbus music scene to grow, and we both want to the APMAs to be a success."

The nominees for this year's APMAs will be announced tomorrow. While no acts have been named for this year's show, it's unlikely (outside of All Time Low and Brand New) the APMAs will feature the kind of indie-rock and hip-hop acts headlining PromoWest.

As a promoter, PromoWest is no stranger to Columbus. The company has origins in the city and hosts more than 450 events a year at various area venues. PromoWest also purchased Cincinnati's Bunbury Music Festival two years ago.

"PromoWest has shown its forward thinking as it has evolved from a simple rock club across from The Ohio State University to a true powerhouse in the concert promotion industry," said Randy Malloy, owner and president of PromoWest, on the festival's website. "PromoWest producing a festival in Columbus makes perfect sense, like the prodigal son returning home."

Tickets for PromoWest can be purchased HERE.
Star Wars The Force Awakens Han Solo

Chewbacca and Han Solo's origin stories will be told in a "Star Wars" anthology film due in 2018.

(Film Frame/Lucasfilm via AP)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Which of these four actors looks like they can make the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs?

That's the decision facing Disney as the search for the actor to play young Han Solo in a "Star Wars" anthology film is down to the wire. While the original list included well-known names like Miles Teller ("Whiplash") and Ansel Elgort ("The Fault in Our Stars"), the finalists, at least according to the Hollywood Reporter, appear to be four actors that will you have reaching for the IMDB.

They are:

Taron Egerton: Starred opposite Colin Firth in "Kingsman: Secret Service" and as ski jumper Eddie Edwards in "Eddie the Eagle."

Jack Reynor: The Irish actor was the boyfriend in "Transformers: Age of Extinction."

Emory Cohen: The thick New York accent he spoke with as Saoirse Ronan's husband in "Brooklyn" could really annoy Kanjiklub.

Alden Ehrenreich: Perhaps the most unknown of the group, he recently appeared in the Coen brothers' "Hail, Caesar!"

But a young scruffy-looking nerfherder isn't the only legacy "Star Wars" character they may have to cast. Disney Chief Bob Iger recently confirmed the Han Solo movie will also tell Chewbacca's origin story. Everybody's favorite Wookiee was 234 years old as of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," so while they don't necessarily need to cast a shorter actor, Peter Mayhew may already be retired. The original Chewie is 71 and wasn't announced as part of the cast for Episode VIII. Mayhew split duties with another actor on "The Force Awakens."

The still-untitled Han Solo movie will be directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller ("The Lego Movie") and is slated for a May 2018 release. It is being written by Lawrence Kasdan ("The Empire Strikes Back") and his son, Jon.
Zika virus link to rise in rare syndrome probed

The Ohio Department of Health is starting Zika virus testing. The test, performed within 7 days of symptom onset, can pick up the virus in blood samples. The samples will still be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation. The virus is transmitted via the Aedes aegypti mosquito, shown here.

(James Gathany, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Ohio Department of Health can now test blood samples of people who show symptoms of Zika virus to detect the mosquito-borne illness.

"By conducting our own initial Zika virus testing on patients within seven days of symptom onset, we can significantly speed up initial test results for patients who are anxiously waiting on them," ODH Medical Director Dr. Mary DiOrio said in a news release.

"We anticipate sharing initial test results with submitters, such as doctors' offices, hospitals or local health departments, within 48 hours of receiving the blood specimen."

ODH will continue to forward all tests to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation, according to the news release.

A laboratory test called real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) can pick up the virus in blood samples collected within a week of symptom onset, ODH said.

Zika, spread primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, cannot be spread person to person through casual contact. There have been confirmed cases of Zika virus transmitted sexually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has led to recommendations for precautions, especially for pregnant women.

The virus can be spread from a pregnant woman to her fetus, and has been linked to a birth defect called microcephaly, a rare neurological condition that results in a significantly smaller head size. For more information about Zika and pregnancy, check here.

Zika is usually a mild illness. The most common symptoms are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis, or red eyes. About 80 percent of people infected do not have any symptoms, and people are not usually sick enough to go to the hospital.

Symptoms may last for several days to a week, and Zika is rarely deadly.

In early February, ODH announced the state's first Zika case, in a Cleveland woman who had recently traveled to Haiti.

Nationally, there have been 193 travel-associated Zika virus cases reported so far, but there has not yet been any local transmission of the virus in U.S. states.

There is currently active transmission of the virus in more than 20 central and South American countries. Local mosquito-borne transmission of Zika virus has been reported in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and America Samoa.

For more information on Zika virus, check the CDC's site here. For a list of areas actively transmitting Zika, check here.
Segregation high in Cuyahoga County

High racial segregation, along with high income inequality and poverty, are driving poor health outcomes in Cuyahoga County and in other areas of Ohio. Segregation of neighborhoods, institutionalized in federal housing and banking policies in the 1920's which barred blacks and other minorities from securing home loans, has created large areas of deteriorating housing and environmental conditions. These conditions have direct and indirect effects on health, and need to change, public health experts say.

(Joshua Gunter/The Plain Dealer, File)

CLEVELAND, Ohio-- Cuyahoga County is large and diverse, the most populous county in Ohio. It's also one of the most racially segregated counties in one of America's most segregated states.

And that division is bad for our health, researchers say.

"Highly segregated neighborhoods tend to have environmental hazards, often elevated crime levels, and segregated residents in general have fewer opportunities for good education or a job that pays a living wage, or access to health care and healthy food," said Marjory Givens, associate scientist with the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

The institute, along with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, released new numbers Wednesday on segregation and health in the annual County Health Rankings & Roadmaps Report.

The 7th annual report shows that residents of Cuyahoga County suffer more in terms of quality of life, life expectancy, and infant mortality than people in many other areas of the state. Cuyahoga has consistently fallen in the bottom third of the RWJF rankings on health outcomes. This year, it ranks 64th among Ohio's 88 counties.

The impacts of segregation and inequality can be mapped by neighborhood. Residents of Lyndhurst, on the East Side, live 24 years longer on average than residents of Cleveland's Hough neighborhood, only 8 miles away, one of the highest disparities in such close proximity nationwide.

The county's high residential segregation is no accident or anomaly, Givens said.

"We know that these segregated communities are the result of past, and sometimes even present policies that were put in place to intentionally separate communities," said Givens.

One former federal policy, redlining, effectively barred blacks and other minorities from home ownership. Redlining created color-coded "security maps" of cities. Areas with larger shares of black of foreign-born residents were marked as unsafe for home loans. Banks were given copies of the maps, which effectively barred loans in redlined areas. That policy lasted until 1968.

Cleveland's 1930's-era security map redlined many neighborhoods that still suffer from persistent poverty.

Redlining, and other policies like it, inevitably led to neighborhood decay, said Gregory Brown, executive director of PolicyBridge. Racial covenants, for example, forbid property sales to blacks and other minorities in some communities, denying them the opportunity to move.

"If you couldn't buy a house or get a loan to fix up a house, housing quality fell," he said. "And you see that today. That's a direct descendant of a policy that started in the 1920's."

Neighborhoods that were redlined almost a century ago are home to the poorest, sickest residents, the most unhealthy air, the worst dumping problems, and the most impoverished schools, Brown said.

The black/white residential segregation index can range from zero (complete integration) to 100 (complete segregation). Anything above 60 represents extremely high segregation. Ohio's rate is 70, and Cuyahoga County's is 72. The measure is only available for counties with a black population of at least 100. Thirty-five percent of US counties (shaded in gray) have a black population of less than 100 people.

The whole state, and the region, suffered in Wednesday's rankings. Overall, Ohio scored 70 out of 100 on the black/white segregation index--near the higher end. Nationally, midwest and Northeast states fared worst overall.

"There's no question that the Midwest has a big challenge on its hands," said Cuyahoga County Health Commissioner Terry Allan. "We're sort of ground zero for these social indicators of poor health."

For years the state's large urban counties have struggled with high rates of violent crime and premature death, an unacceptable number of low-birth-weight infants, a high percentage of children living in poverty and in single-parent homes, and high rates of sexually transmitted infections and births to teen mothers. Ohio also has one of the worst infant mortality rates in the nation.

Rural residents aren't faring a lot better, in Ohio or elsewhere. While premature death continues to fall in most urban counties, rates are rising in rural counties across the country.

What can be done?

Allan and Brown hope the report and its attention to neighborhood segregation, among other measures of inequality, will help change the conversation about how people become healthy.

"Kids walking to and from school aren't safe. People have bullets going through their houses and people have been killed in this community," Brown said. "Those are very practical, immediate concerns that you can't ignore when you think of health and quality of life."

The current healthcare model for years has focused on treating sick people and trying unsuccessfully to induce individuals to change their behavior. That is not working, Allan and Brown said. They argue that it's time to flip the model to figure out why so many people in the same neighborhoods become unhealthy in the same ways.

There are models for that. The countywide initiative called Health Improvement Partnership-Cuyahoga (HIP-C) was launched two years ago to find solutions to the most pressing health problems facing county residents. It has focused on problems that are disproportionately affected by race or income, such as infant mortality.

Those efforts also also have started a community conversation about race, Allan said.

"Every time we bring it up, it's uncomfortable," he said. "But when it's done thoughtfully, I've seen people awake and say 'well that's not fair.'"

One key to change is recognizing that the way communities look today--healthy or unhealthy--is due to decisions people made in the past, Givens said. "We can make decisions now differently, and we can make sure we include everyone in the process," she said. "We did this. We can undo it."
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Richmond Heights City Council is considering ways it can raise revenue for the city.

(Jeff Piorkowski/special to cleveland.com)

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- City Council is expected to pass a budget at its March 22 meeting that will have the city spending about $280,000 more than it spends in 2016.

The city will use its cash reserve to make up the difference, a cash reserve that is expected to stand at approximately $3.7 million after the difference is made up.

But, Councilman Donald O'Toole warned fellow council members, things could get worse in 2017 and 2018.

To that end, council spent part of a Finance Committee meeting Tuesday evening discussing options to increase city revenues.

Discussed were alternatives such as reducing the 100-percent tax credit the city, under its charter, now grants residents who work in other communities; reducing the credit limit to those same residents who work elsewhere; and increasing the city's income or property tax rates.

Speaking about the tax credit and credit limit, city tax administrator Anthony Miceli said, "As cities increase their tax rate, it affects us. It reduces what we get."

For example, the city of Cleveland is considering asking its residents to increase that city's income tax rate from 2 percent, to 2.25 or 2.5 percent. As a city that offers a 100-percent tax credit, Richmond Heights takes in only the difference between its 2.25-percent rate and Cleveland's 2 percent for its residents who work in Cleveland.

If Cleveland increases its rate and equals Richmond Heights' 2.25 percent, there would be no money left over for Richmond Heights.

Richmond Heights, thus, could ask voters to reduce the 100-percent tax credit.

It could also ask residents to reduce the credit limit.

If, for example, the full credit limit of 2.25 percent (Richmond Heights' current income tax rate) now offered to residents who work in other cities were reduced to 1.75 percent, it is estimated Richmond Heights would take in an additional $382,742 annually. That means that 1.75 percent of any city's tax rate above 1.75 percent, would be credited.

If the credit limit were reduced to 1 percent, Richmond Heights would take in a projected $1.4 million in additional taxes.

"The public would ultimately have to vote on this," O'Toole, chairman of the Finance Committee, told council of any option chosen. "We have to have our ducks in a row before we go to the public."

In 2011, the city's cash reserve stood at just $219,000. In 2013, Richmond Heights residents approved a .25-percent income tax increase, leading to the more than $3 million reserve of today.

Mayor David Roche said the city, in order to keep a good bond rating, needs a reserve of at least $3 million.

As for future years, O'Toole said the city benefited this year from a one-time tax windfall in which a large amount of tax money was paid ahead of schedule. The city, however, lost in the last year two big taxpayers in Macy's, at Richmond Town Square, and Associated Estates, which moved its offices to Canada.

Like other Ohio cities, Richmond Heights has also lost state funding, including local government funds and inheritance taxes, that amounted to $977,000 as recently as 2011.

"All of these options are on the table," O'Toole said of the path council might take to ask the public for more revenue."

Both O'Toole and fellow Councilman Mark Alexander stated that they were not comfortable with spending more than is taken in in 2016.

Council attempted to whittle down the deficit amount for 2016 at Tuesday's meeting. They did reduce it Tuesday, by $120,000, by deferring payment on a $1.2-note for another year.

The $280,000 deficit for 2016, however, could increase.

"We still don't know the impact of negotiations with all of our bargaining units," O'Toole said. "That includes the police, fire, dispatchers and service workers. And, whatever we negotiate with the unions, we usually give to our non-union employees, also."
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The University of Cleveland Preparatory School became the first charter school in Cleveland to unionize today.

(Patrick O'Donnell/The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Teachers and staff at an I Can charter school voted today to join the Ohio Federation of Teachers, making it the first charter school in Cleveland to be unionized, and one of the first in the state.

With an 18 to 4 vote, the 29 teachers and staff will now be represented by a local unit called the Cleveland Alliance of Charter School Teachers and Staff (Cleveland ACTS) and will start pursuing a contract with the network.

The University of Cleveland Preparatory School at E. 40th Street and Chester Avenue is one of two schools in the I Can charter network whose employees have pursued unionization over the last few years.

Charter schools are rarely unionized, as the schools try to have more flexibility to operate differently from traditional schools. The unionization drive led to some hostility between the teachers and the charter network and accusations of unfair labor practices.

The charter network with close ties to the Cleveland school district had to re-hire four teachers last summer and give seven teachers back pay for cutting ties with them during unionization efforts in 2013-14, according to a settlement through the National Labor Relations Board.

The other I Can school with employees looking to unionize, the Northeast Ohio College Preparatory School in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood, does not have an election scheduled yet while more labor charges are resolved.

I Can operates seven schools in Cleveland, Akron and Canton and has close ties with the Cleveland school district, even receiving some local tax money.

"I Can Schools supports the teachers in their decision, and we are committed 100% to assuring they receive the tools that are required to excel in the classroom, develop professionally, and fulfill our mission statement," the network said in a written statement.

Abi Haren, a second-grade assistant teacher at the school who had been fired during the campaign to organize, was pleased with the vote.

"This takes us one giant step closer to our goal of a contract for educators and support staff that improves school accountability, respects our professionalism and gives us a strong voice to advocate for students," she said.

The vote was cheered by the union, both locally and nationally. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said charter school teachers want unions as much as teachers in school districts.

"This vote to have a voice through a union is a historic move for the charter educators in Cleveland," Weingarten said. "There is now a growing movement of teachers at charter schools across the country who are committed to raising their voices so they can better advocate for the students they serve."

David Quolke, president of the Cleveland Teachers Union, welcomed the staff as union brothers.

"These hardworking educators deserve a seat at the table, and the students and families served by UCP deserve teachers and staff who are empowered to deliver the best education possible--that's what forming a union is all about," he said.

Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper also welcomed the school into the union.

"We know we share many common challenges and a common vision of professionalism and high-quality, student-centered education," Cropper said.
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Cleveland police say they're hopeful that the security plans they have in place for the 2016 St. Patrick's Day parade will quash any sort of violent attacks.

(Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland police said they're hopeful that a revamped security strategy for this year's St. Patrick's Day parade will quash the sort of booze-fueled violence the event has attracted in recent years.

While specifics about the new strategy are being kept under wraps, officials said they learned from holes in last year's plan that resulted in mob attacks on at least six people in the hours after the parade.

Officers from least eight law enforcement agencies are expected to patrol downtown Cleveland Thursday during and after the city's largest annual event, police and parade officials said on Wednesday.

Police this year are going to be more visible and work for faster response times at the parade that has drawn as many as 500,000 spectators to the city, Cleveland Cleveland police Commander Harold Pretel said.

"We're going to beseech you and beg you to listen to the Cleveland police when they tell you what to do on St. Patrick's Day," said James J. Kilbane, Jr., executive director of the parade. "They're not stopping you from going down the road because they're being mean. We have a plan. The plan works."

Cleveland police arrested 46 people downtown last St. Patrick's Day, according to statistics from the police department. Nine of those were related to "drunkenness," three were in connection with disorderly conduct and one each was related to felonious assault, robbery and theft.

The remaining 31 arrests were listed as "all other offenses."

At least six people were attacked near Public Square in a period of about 10 minutes. Security cameras on Euclid Avenue captured two of those attacks and the police response.

This year, Cleveland police will be joined by officers from the Greater Cleveland RTA, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department, Cleveland State University, the State Highway Patrol, Ohio Homeland Security, the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority and the FBI.

Authorities are using a "layered" security plan that involves several agencies and various types of technology, Pretel said.

The police department will also set up two 30-foot "sky watch" towers to keep an eye on the revelers.

"There was some disorder last year and previous years," Pretel said. "We've done a redeployment plan... most important is our awareness from the public and our response times."

Pretel said he hopes that closures at Public Square due to ongoing construction will keep that area safer.

"The construction does make it just physically impossible to have the same issues at the same intersections as last year," he said.

However, he said this could lead to "crime displacement," so police will monitor other areas for potential violence.

In addition to improved police tactics, the city says is taking other precautions for crowd control, including shutting down East Roadway between Euclid and Rockwell Avenues near Public Square.

Most Tower City Center shops and restaurants will close at 2 p.m., according to a news release that says loitering is "strictly prohibited."

City officials said they're also relying on the public to call 911 if they see suspicious or unruly behavior. Parade-goers are encouraged to communicate with them on social media using the hashtag #CLEStPats
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A poll worker accused of pulling out a gun and threatening to kill another worker at a polling station inside a West Side elementary school pleaded guilty to a sex crime, Cuyahoga County court records say.

In 2002, a grand jury indicted Allen Bethea, 45, of Cleveland, on charges of rape, sexual imposition, sexual battery and kidnapping with a sexual motive. He pleaded guilty to sexual imposition and the other charges were dropped as part of a plea deal, court records say. Bethea was sentenced to 90 days in jail. The sentence was suspended.

Witnesses say that Bethea pulled out a gun and said, "Somebody's going to die," after an argument with fellow poll workers inside the Louisa May Alcott Elementary School in the 10000 block of Baltic Road.

An elections board representative had just fired Bethea, one poll worker told cleveland.com.

Bethea faces charges of aggravated menacing, having weapons under disability, carrying concealed weapons, illegal weapons or ordinance on school property, and possession or use of drugs or a controlled substance, a Cleveland Municipal Court clerk said. His initial court date was not set as of Wednesday morning.

Poll workers said Bethea also was trying to sell drugs to them. He was found guilty of a misdemeanor drug charge in 1997, court records say.

About 50 voters were in the polling station when Bethea pulled a .380 pistol out of his backpack, poll worker Tonya Gullardo said.

"He had two guns in a bag, and he pulled one out and said, 'I've got something for her,' and he was pointing at me," Gullardo said. "He said, 'Somebody's going to die tonight.'"

Gullardo dialed 911. Bethea ran away.

Cleveland police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said police took him into custody about noon at West 107th Street and Detroit Avenue.

Ciaccia said officers found no evidence of a second gun.

Cleveland Metropolitan School District spokeswoman Roseann Canfora said students were never in danger because polling locations have separate entrances, and are completely separate from students and teachers.

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Five men were shot in Cleveland in a six-hour span overnight Monday into Tuesday, police said.

(File photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Five men were shot in Cleveland during a six-hour span between Monday night and Tuesday morning, according to police reports.

Cleveland police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said Tuesday night that it doesn't appear any of the shootings are connected.

The first three shootings happened between 7 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., according to Ciaccia.

A 46-year-old Cleveland man was shot at 7 p.m. when a man tried to rob him.

The man was walking around a property on the 7000 block of St. Clair Avenue because he was considering buying it when a man wearing a hoodie tied around his face approached, drew a gun and demanded money. The victim was shot in the thigh.

Officers were called 40 minutes later to the Glenville neighborhood for another shooting near the intersection of East 109th Street and Navarre Court.

A 61-year-old Cleveland man told police he was shot by a stray bullet from a gunfight outside his home, Ciaccia said. A 23-year-old man was also shot by a man trying to rob him at gunpoint. Both victims were taken to MetroHealth for treatment.

Around 8:15 p.m., police were called to the intersection of East 93rd Street and Manor Avenue in the city's Kinsman neighborhood for a report of a man shot in a parking lot.

The victim, a 33-year-old man, was shot three times and was taken by a friend to University Hospitals. Police were not able to question the victim because he was in surgery Monday night.

A 30-year-old Maple Heights man walked into the Marymount Hospital emergency room about 1 a.m. Tuesday with a gunshot wound to his leg, Ciaccia said. He was only able to tell police he was shot on Harvard Avenue, and investigators are still working to pinpoint the shooting's exact location.

The victim was taken to MetroHealth via Life Flight helicopter for treatment.

Each shooting investigation is ongoing.
BROOK PARK, Ohio -- Janet Kavandi is becoming NASA Glenn Research Center's first female director and its first director to have flown in space.

takes over Glenn after a year as its deputy director.

She succeeds Jim Free, a Greater Cleveland native who ends three years as director to become deputy associate technical administrator for NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C.

"Janet has demonstrated extraordinary leadership throughout her NASA career, from her spaceflights to her continued dedication to our mission at the Johnson Space Center and Glenn," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, another former astronaut. "I know she'll bring that same excellence to bear on Glenn's critical role in our journey to Mars."

Glenn is developing several technologies for the Orion mission to Mars and beyond. The center's main campus in Brook Park is also in the midst of renovations expected to cost $255 million from now through 2022.

Kavandi will oversee a roughly $580 million budget and more than 3,200 staffers and contract workers in Brook Park and Perkins Township, near Sandusky. She's also helping Glenn celebrate its 75th anniversary this year. She was not available for comment today.

Kavandi (pronounced kuh-VON-dee) was born Janet Lynn Sellers in Springfield, Mass., and earned a doctorate in analytical chemistry from the University of Washington at Seattle. She helped develop power systems at Boeing Aerospace for NASA and the defense department.

As an astronaut, she flew on three space shuttle flights totaling more than 33 days and over 13.1 million miles. Among other duties, she helped map the earth's surface and install an airlock on the International Space Station.

After the Columbia shuttle's explosion in 2003, she began working with the victims' families. She rose to deputy director of the Johnson Space Center's Health and Human Performance Directorate before becoming Glenn's deputy last March. Her husband, John, is an airline pilot based in Detroit. The couple has two children.

Glenn recently staved off the latest in years of threatened budget cuts. But Kavandi told The Plain Dealer last February that she saw a healthy future for all of NASA's centers, including Glenn.

"We want to have 10 viable centers, where each one contributes to the local economy and provides jobs," she said. "We want to make sure, as programs change -- the shuttle went away, and now we have Orion -- that we redistribute the work and maintain the 10 centers."
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Parma Safety Director Michael O'Malley on Tuesday trounced Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty in the Democratic primary election, according to unofficial results released by the county Board of Elections.

O'Malley, who declared his quest a "David vs. Goliath battle," collected more than 55 percent of the county's vote, delivering a drubbing to the incumbent prosecutor.

"I think the message from the voters is that they want somebody who they believe listens to their concerns, is willing to meet with community leaders and willing to fairly and impartially dispense justice in this county," O'Malley said in a phone interview after McGinty conceded.

No Republican or independent candidates filed for the November general election, so Tuesday night's results send former Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason's chief deputy to the top law enforcement post in the county in January 2017.

Next slide: Keys to the victory

Joshua Gunter | cleveland.com

Michael O'Malley defeats Timothy McGinty in race for prosecutor

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor-elect Michael O'Malley watched results from Tuesday night's Democratic primary election at his election party at The Harp on Cleveland's West Side. O'Malley handily defeated incumbent Timothy J. McGinty.

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Lynn Ischay, The Plain Dealer

Keys to O'Malley's victory

OMalleys campaign sought to tap into voter anger over McGintys investigation of the death of Tamir Rice, the Cleveland 12-year-old who was shot by police outside a recreation center in Nov. 22, 2014.

At the time, Tamir was in possession of an airsoft pellet gun. A grand jury declined to indict the two officers involved. McGinty had recommended the grand jury not return indictments. The shooting and the grand jurys decision resulted in demonstrations by Black Lives Matter and other groups.

OMalley campaigned hard in predominantly black neighborhoods in Cleveland and near east-side suburbs, and touted the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge, a Warrensville Heights Democrat who is influential among black voters.

McGinty was the second prosescuting attorney to lose a re-election bid in the wake of controversial police killings.

Voters in Illinois ousted Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, who came under fire for her handling of the Chicago police shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.

Next slide: McGinty spent heavily

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Cory Shaffer | cleveland.com

McGinty spent heavily

McGintys campaign spent heavily on advertisements touting his offices success in prosecuting cases based on previouslyt untested rape kits, demolishing dilapidated homes and barring assistant prosecutors from holding political positions.

He and OMalley appeared together at a debate put on by the City Club of Cleveland and a forum hosted by the Greater Cleveland Congregation, a group of religious leaders.

Next slide: OMalley refuses to answer

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Cory Shaffer | cleveland.com

O'Malley refuses to answer

On the campaign trail, OMalley criticized McGinty for recommending that the grand jury not indict the officers in the Tamir case. But OMalley repeatedly refused to say whether he thought the officers had broken the law.

He said only that he would have made no recommendation to the grand jury and would not have sought outside opinions by use-of-force experts on whether the officers actions were reasonable given the circumstances.

Next slide: What did OMalley campaign on?

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Cory Shaffer, cleveland.com

O'Malley's platform

OMalley campaigned on few specific policy proposals, choosing instead to focus on broad promises to work with judges, defense attorneys and community leaders to restore confidence in the office.

His biggest campaign issue was to work with state legislators to pass a law requiring the Ohio Attorney Generals Office to investigate deadly shootings by police across the state.

Its unclear how much support such a bill would receive in the Statehouse, which is dominated by Republicans.

Next slide: McGintys legacy

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Gus Chan/The Plain Dealer

McGinty's legacy

McGinty championed reforms to the criminal justice system with an aim of bringing fairness to a system that favors the haves over the have-nots.

But his abrasive style put him at odds with the countys Common Pleas Court judges.

Cuyahoga County Administrative Judge John J. Russo, who pulled out of the decade-long Judicial System Reform group in November.

McGinty also drew the ire of the Cleveland Police Patrolmens Association when he secured the first indictment in decades of a Cleveland police officer for an on-duty fatal shooting.

McGinty blasted the union for instructing its officers not to testify against Michael Brelo, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter for the shooting deaths of an unarmed couple in November 2012.

Next: McGinty promises softer approach in next term/O'Malley prepares for first term

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Cory Shaffer | cleveland.com

O'Malley's first term

OMalley has promised to continue McGintys ban on politics in the office.

He also promised to convene a summit with city prosecutors across the county to develop a uniform policy for deciding whether cases should remain in municipal court and be handled as misdemeanors.

McGinty has yet to signal his next step after he finishes his term. But at 64 years old, he is eligible to retire and bring to an end a four-decade career, including 20 years as a Common Pleas judge.
Donald Trump, Corey Lewandowski , Eric rump

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds up two fingers as he speaks to supporters at his primary election night event at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday, March 15, 2016. His margin of victory in Missouri was less than 1 percent, raising the possibility of a recount. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

(Gerald Herbert)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Recounts are possible in Missouri after Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton both won presidential primaries by less than 1 percent Tuesday.

Trump defeated Ted Cruz by 1,726 votes in the Republican vote.

Clinton edged Bernie Sanders by 1,531 votes in the Democratic race.

Missouri is not a winner-take-all primary in either party, meaning the overall winner amounts to little more than bragging rights.

From there, it gets a little more complicated.

The state's 52 GOP delegates will be awarded by the winner of the popular vote in the state's eight congressional districts. That means the vote margins could be even slimmer when the count is spliced over those boundaries.

"It looks to me like the separation is pretty clear," John Hancock, the chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, told the Post Dispatch. "The question is if the congressional districts are tight enough. And we aren't going to know that for a while."

According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the state's 52 GOP delegates will be awarded by the winner of the popular vote in the state's eight congressional districts. That means the vote margins could be even slimmer when the count is spliced over those boundaries.

In the Democratic primary, 47 of the 71 delegates will be divided based on their showings in the eight House districts. The remainder will be allotted based on their percentage of the statewide vote, the Post Dispatch reported.
cwrumedicine.jpg

Case Western Reserve University's medical program ranked high in the latest graduate school rankings from U.S. News & World Report.

(Case Western Reserve University)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve University fared well in the 2016 graduate school rankings by U.S. News & World Report.

Ohio State was ranked top in the state for most professional school programs. CWRU was top-ranked in medical and nursing programs.

Cleveland State University was the top college in Ohio for those attending law school on a part-time basis.

Professional school programs are ranked annually based on expert opinions and statistics that measure the quality of a school's faculty, research and students, U.S. News said.

The rankings, released Wednesday, are designed to help prospective students research programs and evaluate the potential return on their investment, U.S. News said.

"Going to graduate school is a major commitment of time and money," Anita Narayan, managing editor of education at U.S. News, said in a release. "Our rankings and advice offer guidance throughout the decision-making process to help prospective students and their families find the right fit."

For more information go to usnews.com/grad or search #BestGradSchools on Facebook and Twitter.

The publication also examined historical data on changes in enrollment and tuition. It said:

Since 2006, tuition has gone up in each discipline, with significant increases seen in in-state public graduate school rates.

The cost of getting an MBA has increased the most over the past ten years.

Enrollment has gone up in business, medical, engineering and education fields, and has decreased in law. In 2016, enrollment numbers at law schools at public and private colleges hit a record low while tuition saw a record high.

Following are the rankings for Ohio colleges

Business

Ohio State - 27

University of Cincinnati - 63

Part-time MBA

Ohio State - 8 (tie)

Miami University - 28 (tie)

CWRU - 51 (tie)

Ohio University - 130

John Carroll University - 130

University of Akron - 141

Bowling Green State University - 141

Education

Ohio State - 18 (tie)

UC - 93 (tie)

OU - 99 (tie)

Kent State University - 107 (tie)

Miami - 107 (tie)

University of Dayton - 107 (tie)

BGSU - 120 (tie)

Engineering

Ohio State - 31 (tie)

CWRU - 46 (tie)

UC - 82 (tie)

Fine Arts

Ohio State - 33 (tie)

OU - 33 (tie)

UC - 55 (tie)

Law

Ohio State- 30 (tie)

CWRU - 57 (tie)

Cleveland State University - 106

UA - 136

University of Toledo - 144 (tie)

Part-time Law

CSU - 38 (tie)

Medical - research

CWRU - 25 (tie)

Ohio State - 33 (tie)

UC - 40 (tie)

Medical - primary care

Ohio State - 29 (tie)

Nursing - master's degree

CWRU - 8 (tie)

Ohio State - 21 (tie)

UC - 28 (tie)

Xavier- 88 (tie)

Nursing - Doctor of nursing practice

CWRU -5 (tie)

Ohio State - 26 (tie)

Public Affairs

Ohio State - 25 (tie)

CSU - 45 (tie)

Social Work

CWRU - 9

Ohio State - 17 (tie)

Follow on Twitter: @karen_farkas
Is the degree by which Michael O'Malley defeated incumbent Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty Tuesday a mandate for O'Malley to reopen the case of Tamir Rice and seek justice for the death of the 12-year-old at the hands of police?

O'Malley won the Democratic Party primary by a landslide, with more than 55 percent of the vote. That generally does not happen to incumbent Democrats in Cuyahoga County.

From the start, this was less of a contest between McGinty and O'Malley than it was a referendum of McGinty's handling of the Tamir case and his decision not to ask the grand jury to indict the officers involved in the shooting.

O'Malley had the support of U.S. Rep Marcia Fudge and many other East Side leaders, who are furious about McGinty's decisions.

Still, supporters of O'Malley and McGinty thought the race would be close. No one predicted a blowout. Voters clearly were not pleased with McGinty.

So, we ask again, is the vote a mandate to take another look at the Tamir case? And what might that involve?

Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

Election a call for Justice for Tamir?

Michael O'Malley gives a speech at The Harp in Cleveland Tuesday night, after he was elected Cuyahoga County prosecutor.

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Michael O'Malley, left, and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty spar over McGinty's handling of the investigaiton into Cleveland police killing of 12-year-old Tamir Rice in a Feburary endorsement interview at cleveland.com

Cory Shaffer | cleveland.com

What McGinty did: 16-months of investigation, releasing everything, not seeking indictment

The investigation went through several stages before it landed on McGinty's desk. Cleveland police conducted an investigation before handing it over to the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriffs Office completed its portion in June, and turned over all of its materials to the prosecutors office in that month. McGinty said the case required additional investigation and he hired a slew of expert witnesses to fill in the gaps of evidence.

He released expert reports authored by a former FBI agent, a Colorado prosecutor and a crime scene expert.

The move was unorthodox, but he explained that he did so under the guise of transparency. He admitted that he wanted to avoid shocking the public with an outcome and that he wanted avoid the sort of visceral explosion that happened when prosecutors didnt indict the officer in the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Missouri.

Those expert reports gave some clues as to what the outcome would be.

Then, after 16 months, McGinty announced that he would not seek charges against the two officers involved in Tamirs death.

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Still frames from an enhanced video analysis of the shooting of Tamir Rice at Cudell Recreation Center in Cleveland in November 2014. Stills were released on Saturday, November 28, 2015.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office

Is there a statute of limitations?

If O'Malley wanted to present Tamir's case to a new grand jury, Ohio's statute of limitations laws may melt away the chance at an indictment on many charges that could apply.

Aggravated murder and murder charges have no statute of limitations. Manslaughter, voluntary or involuntary, are prosecutable up to 20 years after the offense. Felonious assault, reckless homicide and other general felonies are prosecutable for up to six years.

The clock will run out on any misdemeanor, including dereliction of duty and negligent homicide, two years after the date of the shooting. In Tamir's case, that would be this Nov. 22, more than a month before O'Malley is scheduled to take office.

When McGinty took office, his predecessor Bill Mason stepped down four-months early to allow McGinty to take over. It's possible that McGinty could extend the same courtesy to O'Malley and allow him to review the Tamir case before the clock runs.

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Gus Chan/The Plain Dealer

Is there double jeopardy?

No.

Since the officers weren't indicted, another prosecutor can review the evidence, present it to a grand jury and seek a different outcome.

Double jeopardy only applies in cases where a criminal defendant stands trial and is acquitted by a judge or jury.

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Would O'Malley need more investigation, or could he just use what has been done thus far?

O'Malley has said that the public has not had a chance to see all of the evidence that the grand jury got to see. However, much of the 16-months worth of evidence that McGinty released called the shooting of Tamir "reasonable."

Expert witnesses can be tricky. Attorneys for the Rice family released two reports that countered many of the findings found in the reports authored by McGinty's experts.

If O'Malley believes the case was bungled, he would likely need experts of his own to reach that conclusion.

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Protesters and members of Tamir Rice's family released doves at Cudell Park in Nov. 22, 2015, the one-year anniversary of his shooting.

Lynn Ischay, The Plain Dealer

McGinty presented the case over months. Would O'Malley have to do that?

Justice isn't always swift, as evidenced by the length of time it took to reach the conclusion in the original case.

O'Malley would have something of a head-start with all of the materials collected by the Cleveland police, the Sheriff's Office and the voluminous evidence collected by McGinty.

O'Malley would likely have to seat a fresh grand jury and spend days, weeks and possibly months gathering testimony and presenting evidence before reaching a conclusion and making a recommendation to the jurors.

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Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

Would O'Malley want to take this on?

We don't know.

O'Malley got a lot of mileage out of criticizing McGinty's handling of the case. What O'Malley never offered during his campaign is any indication of how he would have presented the case to the grand jury, whether he thought the officers broke the law or what he would have recommended.

He routinely said that he would have to see the evidence before he could reach any sort of conclusion. Hell have that opportunity when he's sworn in.

Cleveland.com posed this question to the prosecutor-elected and a spokesman for his campaign offered this statement:

"Mike does not take office for another nine months. He will tackle all of the issues that are before the prosecutor's office. It would be irresponsible for him to speculate on any issue that he will tackle nine months from now without reviewing the complete set of facts."

Rachelle Smith, a community activist who campaigned against McGinty, said O'Malley should answer that question when he comes into office.

"He should review that evidence and let the public who put him in that position know what his actual answer is," she said.

Community activist and O'Malley supporter Basheer Jones took a more measured stance Wednesday. He said he would defer to Tamir's family on whether the case should be re-opened, but himself questioned the move.

"As far as going back and having (O'Malley) bring up every case that I felt wasnt done justly, I dont know how that would help us move forward," Jones said. "We have to create a process where that doesnt happen again."

Smith and Jones said Tuesdays election was more a repudiation of McGinty's handling of Tamirs case and a warning for O'Malley.

"O'Malley should expect the same treatment, Smith said. "If the public doesnt feel that he's looking out for the public's interest, then he should expect them to vote in someone else."
Officer Shot Texas

A Fort Worth police officer guards an area along Camp Bowie West Boulevard on Tuesday as officers search for a suspect in a shootout that left a policeman critically wounded and another suspect dead.

(Khampha Bouaphanh, Star-Telegram via AP)

FORT WORTH, Texas -- A police officer was in critical condition Tuesday night after being shot multiple times while chasing two suspects, a father and son, reports say.

Officer Matt Pearce was awake, alert and "very vocal" in a hospital emergency room after being shot three times in the chest and once in the leg, the city's police chief tells the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

"The officer is alive," Chief Joel Fitzgerald said at a news conference, WFAA.com reports. "We are happy for that."

One suspect, Ed R. McIver, 42, who was being sought on felony warrants, was shot and killed by police. McIver's son, Ed R. McIver Jr., was caught Tuesday evening, the Dallas Morning News reports.

The incident started at Tuesday afternoon. Police tried to stop an SUV occupied by the suspects to serve warrants on the father when the vehicle sped off. Officers chased the vehicle for about 20 minutes before the men got out and ran into a wooded area.

Officers ran after the men and were fired upon about two minutes later, reports say.

Pearce was wounded, but other officers returned fire, killing the elder McIver. Pearce, who has been a Fort Worth officer since 2009, was flown by helicopter from the scene to a hospital.

Linda McIver, the mother and grandmother of the suspects, tells the Star-Telegram she doesn't believe her grandson would shoot at police.

"My son? That's possible, but not my grandson," she said. "He's not dangerous. He's got a heart of gold."

She said she used to have a good relationship with her son but it had deteriorated after he served time in prison.

"We just didn't see eye to eye on a lot of things," she said.
Romney hopes to pull Kasich across finish line KASICH from A1

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump rallies supporters Monday in Vienna. He lost Tuesday's Ohio primary and he'll have an even tougher time in the general election.

(John Kuntz/cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Sixty-nine-year-old Ken Calhoun of Ellsworth, Ohio, sums up the appeal of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in one word.

"Charisma."

Calhoun is one of a dozen people - and one of seven self-described Democrats -- who told me Monday during a Trump rally that they were voting for the billionaire Tuesday.

They described Trump's charm several ways.

"He doesn't sugar coat."

"He doesn't lie."

"He means business."

Standing inside an airport hangar in Vienna, Ohio, just outside of Youngstown, I had to agree that Trump has charisma -- at least compared to the last two Republicans who campaigned in the same hangar, 2012's vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan and 2008 presidential nominee John McCain.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich beat Trump in the Buckeye State today, but Trump won Florida and appears in even better shape to win the nomination.

Trump's charisma - or whatever you want to call it - wasn't enough in Ohio's Tuesday primary. And it won't be enough in the general election in Ohio -- long considered America's bellwether for its balanced electorate that reflects the national mood and picks presidential winners.

Trump is far from presidential.

I've witnessed several dozen political rallies across the state in the last 12 years. Trump's events are unique, even when you set aside the occasional violence.

Where else does a presidential candidate autograph the cover of Playboy Magazine while working the rope line? (Trump appeared on the March 1990 cover with a nearly nude woman.)

On Monday, Trump's charisma inspired one women in her 60s to boast on a campaign button, "Hot chicks for Trump."

When Trump declared during his speech that the media lies, the audience cheered. One man showed his support for the remark by turning to a large cluster of reporters behind him and waiving his middle finger like a tiny flag.

But Trump's challenges in Ohio's general election won't be so easy to laugh off as the media. Here are a few problems Trump faces in November.

Trump will lack a loyal GOP following

Trump is a long way from earning unqualified support from the Ohio Republican Party. Its leaders and volunteer base not only favor their hometown guy, they dislike Trump.

With Kasich staying in the race, the party will only grow farther away from Trump. If Trump wins the nomination in July - and he likely will - it's hard to see the state party enthusiastically endorsing him. And that matters.

The party's ground game - the ability to identify voters statewide and get them to the polls - is crucial to winning the state. In 2004, the state party and George W. Bush's re-election campaign proved to be a fabulous team, grabbing cul-de-sac moms, rural Republicans and urban independents largely through a network of motivated volunteers. The state party also performed well 2008 and 2012. In those elections, McCain and Mitt Romney, respectively, failed to inspire voters. Trump can't match up to either candidate. Add that fact to an apathetic ground game, and Trump loses.

Trump won't win over enough Democrats

Trump is unquestionably attracting Democrats. Polling and election data show it. Democrats also are easy to find at his rallies. He's winning them and others over with promises to return well-paying jobs lost to foreign countries.

Brook Park Mayor Tom Coyne, a Democrat, recorded an automated phone message for Trump urging residents of the working-class Cleveland suburb to back the businessman.

But there's a ceiling to winning over Democrats in places like Brook Park and Mahoning County, which includes Youngstown.

William C. Binning, emeritus chairman of Youngstown State University's Political Science Department and former head of Mahoning County's Republican Party, said Trump has indeed hit a nerve with his populist message.

Binning said Trump would do better in Mahoning Valley than Romney did four years ago. But he said wholesale conversion of Mahoning Valley Democrats, who Binning said were inspired by the New Deal, would be difficult.

"It's like changing from a Catholic to Presbyterian," he said. "It's hard on the psyche."

Trump's proposals are unrealistic

Trump talks about issues - such as trade, care for veterans, border security and healthcare. But at the moment, his plans for addressing them - such as forcing Mexico to pay for a wall on America's border -- are as real as unicorns. The general election will only highlight how unrealistic and out of touch he is.

Cuyahoga County is a wall Trump can't breach

Cuyahoga County is Ohio's largest Democratic base. In recent presidential elections, the county has produced a net gain of at least 250,000 votes for Democrats, which insulates the party against losses in rural counties.

The county's urban center - and its black voters - has been key to its success. Democrat Hillary Clinton showed in Tuesday's primary that she could motivate voters here, so Trump shouldn't expect any opening in November. (Let's not forget Trump's rhetoric continues to drive away black voters.)

We won't likely see Trump in Ohio again until the Republican National Convention in July.

But on Monday, most of Trump's supporters at the Vienna rally, including Democrat Tom "New York" Nuch of Youngstown, appeared charged up and confident that he will emerge as the Republican candidate.

"He can straighten this country out," said Nuch, who stood for hours with a "Go Trump" sign.

Trump won't get the chance to fix America if he can't win Ohio in November, a point Republican Gary Schultz foreshadowed.

"Even if he doesn't win," he said. "I can say I saw him."
North Royalton NEORSD.jpg

Now, only the northeast corner of North Royalton is served by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. Under a proposed agreement, the entire city would pay storm-water fees toward NEORSD's storm-water management program.

(Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District )

NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio - The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District would expand into all of North Royalton - but only when it comes to storm-water management - under a proposed agreement between the city and NEORSD.

It means that thousands of North Royalton residents and businesses would, for the first time, receive bills from the sewer district. The money would go toward the district's regional storm-water management program.

Now, only the northeast corner of North Royalton is part of the sewer district, and residents there pay sewer bills to NEORSD. The city's own Wastewater Department serves other parts of town.

Under the proposed agreement, all North Royalton property owners would pay storm-water fees to NEORSD, adding about 8,000 parcels to the sewer district. Nothing would change regarding sanitary service.

In exchange for storm-water fees, NEORSD would address flooding throughout North Royalton, especially in southern parts of town, which contain about 20 miles of waterways.

"We have major (flooding) issues along all of our rivers and tributaries every time there is a heavy rain event," Mayor Robert Stefanik said. "The city has done a lot with small creeks and culverts, but this agreement is a chance to finally take care of the larger rivers and tributaries."

However, Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells, NEORSD's deputy director of watershed programs, made it clear to City Council earlier tonight that the district will prioritize storm water projects throughout its 62 communities according to need.

"You can bring projects to us, but we base projects on criticality and risk," Wells told council. "That is the only way to do things fairly."

Tonight, council placed the agreement on first reading and referred it to council's Storm Water Committee.

In a presentation to council, Wells said the Ohio Supreme Court in September ruled that NEORSD can charge property owners fees for storm-water management. This was after years of court battles involving several communities challenging the district's right to manage storm water and charge fees.

Initially, North Royalton was among the communities fighting NEORSD in court. But in February 2013, the city settled, allowing the district to charge fees for storm water management. In exchange, the district agreed to pay the city up to $700,000 for the design and construction of a detention basin in the Cedar Estates subdivision.

The 2013 storm-water settlement involved only the city's northeast corner - known as NEORSD District C - which was already receiving sanitary service from the sewer district.

After the Supreme Court's September ruling, Stefanik said the city immediately started negotiating with NEORSD to expand the sewer district throughout the city, when it comes to storm-water management.

Wells said if council approves the agreement, North Royalton property owners would start receiving storm-water bills in July. The residential rates are $3.09 a month for properties with less than 2,000 square feet of impervious surfaces, which including roofs and driveways; $5.15 for those with 2,000 square feet-4000 square feet; and $9.27 for properties with more than 4,000 square feet.

For nonresidential properties, the rate is $5.15 for each 3,000 square feet of impervious surfaces.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There is a fine musical to be written about the life and times of David O. Frazier, who died Sunday at age 76.

It would be filled with music both sad and joyous, and feature lavish costumes and exotic locales to reflect his love of travel, a passion he indulged with Joseph Garry Jr., his collaborator in art and life for 49 years.

The two spanned the globe like characters plucked from a Jules Verne novel, Cleveland's version of Phileas Fogg and his resourceful French valet, Passepartout.

The tuner would be a resounding hit, one audiences would want to return to again and again, a show as warm, witty and wise as Frazier himself, as anyone lucky enough to spend even minutes in his orbit can attest.

During his tenure as one of Cleveland's most notable artists, Frazier appeared in more than 150 productions -- many at the Cleveland Play House, where he acted for nearly four decades -- and co-wrote 30 original musicals with Garry. Despite that resume, he is best known for his part in "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris," the revue directed by Garry and performed in the lobby of the dilapidated State Theatre in the pre-renovation 1970s.

A showcase for the songs of Belgian composer and enigmatic showman Jacques Brel, the cabaret opened in April of 1973.

Though booked for a few weeks, it proved so popular it ran for an astonishing two-and-a half-years, launching what critics called "the Brel era," the beginning of a renaissance that not only saved Playhouse Square and its grand, crumbling houses from the wrecking ball but led to its becoming the second-largest performing-arts complex in America.

Gina Vernaci, architect of the KeyBank Broadway Series at Playhouse Square, offered her sympathies by celebrating that remarkable legacy.

"David and Joe Garry have been beloved fixtures at Playhouse Square since the days of 'Jacques Brel,' " Vernaci wrote.

"With his cast mates Cliff Bemis, Terry Piteo and Prov Hollander, and under the direction of Joe and musical director David Gooding, David gave his all in 522 performances of the show that was the catalyst for the saving of our historic theaters. His passing leaves a hole in our hearts that will not be filled. Our condolences go out to Joe and to David's family, friends and all those who knew him."

And so many did.

As news of his death spread, emails began arriving to Garry's inbox - from Nepal, Rio, Paris and London. There was even a note from the Princess of Kuwait, the result of Frazier and Garry's performing on cruise ships, a run that lasted 10 years, from 2000 to 2010.

Their residencies aboard the Queen Mary and other storied vessels took them from Tierra del Fuego to the North Pole, Frazier mostly doing cabaret, Garry onstage also as narrator and storyteller. Their shows weren't the usual "Love Boat" cliche.

"For example," remembered Garry, "we would perform a musical piece on Gauguin and then take the audience to his gravesite [next to Brel] in the South Pacific."

Though they stayed closer to home as Frazier's health declined, they were never far from the Cleveland theater scene they helped create, attending performances in and around Playhouse Square, Frazier balancing on a cane and then later, ferried along by Garry in a wheelchair.

"During David's long illness, Joe was the perfect caretaker," said longtime Cleveland critic Roy Berko, recalling how Garry carefully transferred Frazier to his seat in the orchestra.

Ever the performer, Frazier "worked at an illusion of wellness," said Garry. "Even in the wheelchair."

Without Frazier, there might well have been no "Brel era" and, consequently, no gala unveiling of the world's largest outdoor chandelier, no home for touring Broadway, no downtown arts mecca. There would only be more parking lots.

"As a matter of fact I didn't like 'Jacques Brel' at all when I first saw it in London," Garry explained to The Plain Dealer's theater critic Peter Bellamy in 1977, "and only after hearing David play the recording for five years did I consent to direct the musical. Then I grew to love it."

First staged by Garry for the Berea Summer Theatre before taking up residence at the State, "Jacques Brel's" devotees flocked to it with the zeal of "Rocky Horror" groupies. Bill Rudman, founder and artistic director of the Musical Theater Project, was among them.

"My girlfriend and I saw it six times -- it was Our Show!" Rudman remembered in an email. "And the same could be said for hundreds of other couples in town.

"David was just plain riveting. Whatever he was doing on stage - whatever he was saying - he was so present that you felt you were right there with him."

"Just ask Clevelanders who were here when 'Brel' ran," wrote John David Sidley in The Plain Dealer's magazine on the occasion of a 10th anniversary revival in 1985. "And if you can find some who never attended, you will discover them almost apologetic -- as if they were bring forced to admit they voted for Nixon."

In his rave, Bellamy explained the oddball allure of "Jacques Brel."

"The production has no plot, consisting of a little dialogue and many songs. They treat of angels and devils, of dreams and hope, of despair and the hell of war. They also deal with youth, old age, drunks, prostitutes, dogs, rainbows, cotton candy, carousels and calliopes.

"Brel is a poet and philosopher as well as a composer. He is concerned not only with man's atrocities, but his nobility. He comments, but does not preach. He mentions Vietnam and Hiroshima, but is not bitter. He has compassion for the human condition.

" . . . Frazier, remembered for his many fine roles at the [Cleveland] Play House, has a voice of great power and provides many moments of hilarity with his clowning and pantomime."

Fans so identified Frazier with the project they often thought he was the Belgian songwriter himself, remembered friend Frank Dutton in a Facebook tribute to Frazier. Dutton was a self-described "mangy teenager" in the 1970s, working coat check during the initial run of "Brel."

"For some reason some people thought David was Brel!" Dutton wrote. "They would usually say things like 'I just love that Jacks Brel (sic), you tell Mr. Brel how much we enjoyed his show.' We always wondered why no one thought Cliff was Brel. In actuality, neither of them looked like Brel, but maybe David is what people thought Brel would look like."

Frazier followed that success with his turn as playwright and personality Brendan Behan in "Conversations With an Irish Rascal" in 1975, a musical biography filled Irish songs and ballads that Frazier wrote with the late publicist Kathleen Kennedy.

Bellamy dubbed Frazier, who learned to play the harmonica for the role, "magnificent." After clocking a healthy 90 performances at Playhouse Square, "Rascal," also directed by Garry, went on to a celebrated stand at the Edinburgh Festival and an off-Broadway premiere at the Top of the Gate Theater, later known as the Village Gate, a famous Greenwich Village spot that once hosted jazz greats John Coltrane and Dizzy Gillespie, rockers Patti Smith and Jimi Hendrix, and Broadway darling Tommy Tune.

Frazier tore his pants the night of the opening, sending Garry running to find a costumer at a show that was playing downstairs. No luck, quipped Garry, as "Let My People Come" was an explicit musical about sex that featured a nude cast.

Though The New York Times' Clive Barnes dismissed "Rascal," it won fans on tour.

"We performed 'Rascal' all over the world," Garry wrote in a guest column for The Plain Dealer in 1976, "everywhere from the National Theatre of Scotland to a brothel in the Caribbean. We have performed it before 50 people and 1000 people and its ability to leave an imprint on your soul never dies. There is that kind of nakedness to it."

Certainly, that had something to do with the man himself. Despite his celebrity, Frazier threw himself into parts with the eagerness of a novice, no matter the size of the stage.

As the star in a production of "The King and I" for Berea Summer Theatre in 1977, Frazier shaved his head, pierced his ear ("at a Miss Bojangles' establishment," Frazier reported), grew a "Fu Manchu mustache" and lost 40 pounds. ("I did not wish the show to be known as 'Anna and the Fat of Siam.' ")

He also nearly severed a middle toe colliding with a metal coat rack racing to the dressing room for a quick change on the second night of the show. He wrapped the injured digit in masking tape and made it through the polka in "Shall We Dance."

Inspired by pain, his death scene that night "was the best . . . of my career." He was admitted to the hospital as "King of Siam."

The only member of Actors' Equity, the professional actors' union, in the production, Frazier, in order to defray costs, helped sew his own costumes and styled the hair of his 12 stage wives.

In an especially delicious anecdote, the Kankakee, Illinois, native dropped out of hairdressing school to join the resident company of the Cleveland Play House in 1966.

(He also picked cotton in Texas; worked as an Air Force supply clerk in Missouri; sold stationery in Kansas City, Missouri, where he once moonlighted as a female impersonator; and hawked men's sportswear at Higbee's in Cleveland, among other pursuits.)

The versatile song-and-dance man who could also rivet in straight plays became an elite member of the Tony Award-winning theater's Hall of Fame in July of 2001.

Frazier "sings with zest and acts with gusto," Bellamy wrote in his review of the "King and I," another Garry production, and those who knew and loved him best say he approached his days the same way.

"David Frazier had a raucous, ebullient love of life, on stage and off," said Cleveland Scene theater critic and performer Christine Howey.

"His performances in 'Jacques Brel' as well as many other productions were always fiery, intense and memorable. But more than that, he was a loving and compassionate friend. I can still hear his booming laughter that punctuated most conversations, and I trust I always will."

But no one knew him better than Garry. In truth, there is no way to celebrate one without speaking of the other.

They met at Berea Summer Theatre, where Garry was helming "Carnival." With a keen eye for talent, Garry advised him "to give up all this other nonsense," including those barbershop dreams, and audition for K. Elmo Lowe, then artistic director of the Play House.

Frazier did, appearing in some 50 productions, everything from Garry's rocked-out version of Aristophanes' "The Birds" to the Sam Shepard modern masterpiece "Buried Child." He was known, said managing director Kevin Moore, for his immense talent to create a wide variety of characters and as "a gregarious and loving gentleman."

In a short, poignant video shot during the 100th anniversary celebrations at Cleveland Play House in October 2015, Frazier recollected his almost 40 years as an actor there, holding the theater's Tony.

"I had great moments here," he said, surrounded by Garry and artistic director Laura Kepley, "too many to mention, so I just think this is the best moment of all," he said, spinning the little silver disc on the statuette.

After the first rehearsal of "Carnival," he asked to store some of his things at Garry's place for a weekend during a move. The stuff - and Frazier - stayed. "His timing," said Garry, "was always perfect."

Their sultanate of a condo in Bratenahl is legendary, a museum of artifacts from their voyages - elaborate masks and statuary and rainbows of wall hangings - and framed photos of the couple with friends they'd met: Patricia Neal, Rue McClanahan, Elaine Stritch, Tony Walton and Cliff Robertson. They threw Kitty Carlisle a birthday party when she turned 92 and swam laps with her in the pool. ("She won," Garry said.)

"He lived his life in Capital Letters..." Garry wrote in an email addressed to "Dear Family and Precious Friends" the morning of Frazier's death.

". . . as Peter Bellamy, the PD Drama Critic said 'He brought fire from the sky.' I witnessed his life for 49 glorious years and I cherish every golden moment. David had an intensity and energy that infused everything he ever did. When he performed 'Irish Rascal' at The National Theatre of Scotland a critic said 'his towering performance grabbed the audience by the throat.' He grabbed my heart in the same way."

Though the pair married two years ago on March 18, they would have celebrated 50 years together on Aug. 1.

"David kept pushing to make plans but I knew we would never reach the date," Garry wrote.

"We lived our lives as one . . . we were singular. The first gift I gave David included a card which read 'You are the We of Me' and so he will remain."

"Brel, above all, is concerned with the power of love," wrote Bellamy of their most famous collaboration. "One of his lines is: 'Without having anything else but the strength of loving, you have in your hands the whole world.' "

That they did.

"Celebrating A Rascal," a memorial to David O. Frazier, will be held in the State Theatre on Monday, April 25 at 5 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
Mackenzie Saunders

Mackenzie Saunders, a 19-year-old John Carroll sophomore, voted for Bernie Sanders. She's not surprised Hillary Clinton beat him today in the Ohio primary.

(Peter Krouse, cleveland.com)

Before Gov. John Kasich and Hillary Clinton clinched key Ohio primary victories Tuesday, cleveland.com talked to more than two dozen Ohio voters to learn about who they supported and why.

We followed up with some of those voters to get their election-night reactions.

Mackenzie Saunders, Parma native and John Carroll University sophomore

I'm not really surprised. I was optimistic he was going to pull through with the win, but I sort of knew it was probably going to be hard for it to happen.

His campaign symbolizes the people's voice. He is so down to earth, and has so much integrity. He was just a regular person speaking for the people, and I feel like we haven't had that in a long time.
Barack Obama, Merrick Garland

Federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland, right, stands with President Barack Obama as he is introduced as Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court during an announcement in the Rose Garden of the White House, in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (

(Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Democrats quickly praised President Barack Obama's nomination today of Merrick Garland, a prominent federal appeals judge, to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, filling the vacancy created by Justice Antonin Scalia's death. They urged the Senate to quickly hold confirmation hearings and vote to seat Garland this year.

Republicans, however, said they see no need to fill the high court vacancy in the midst of a presidential campaign that in November will determine the name and party of the next White House occupant. They want to let Obama's successor -- whom they hope will be a Republican -- make that choice.

Here are some of the early reactions to the nomination of Garland, chief judge on the U.S Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia; check back for additional comments as Congress weighs in.

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman: The Ohio Republican said he wanted to learn more about Garland's record. But he said, "My view is we should not be confirming somebody during this presidential election cycle. I mean, we're already well into the presidential campaign, it's the last year of the Obama presidency.

"I think it would be better to have the people play a role here, you know, give the people a voice in this by saying, 'OK, let's make this a part of this presidential campaign,'" Portman continued. "I think that's the better thing for the country right now. If you did it this year, it would be ugly."

We are in the midst of a highly-charged presidential election and this lifetime appointment could reshape the Supreme Court for generations.  Rob Portman (@senrobportman) March 16, 2016

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown: The Ohio Democrat said, "President Obama is doing his job and nominating Judge Merrick Garland to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. Now it's time for Senators to do our jobs.

"Senate Republicans have said they will refuse to even meet with this President's nominee, much less hold a hearing and an up-or-down vote," Brown said. "But now we have an unquestionably qualified nominee who has earned support from both Republicans and Democrats in the past, so I expect my colleagues to put politics aside, do the job we were elected to do and give Judge Garland full and fair consideration. Anything less undermines our democracy."

.@POTUS did his job nominating Judge Merrick Garland. Now its time for Senators to do our jobs.SB #DoYourJob https://t.co/ILKL7c3JyC  Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) March 16, 2016

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell: "The next justice could fundamentally alter the direction of the Supreme Court and have a profound impact on our country, so of course the American people should have a say in the Court's direction. It is a President's constitutional right to nominate a Supreme Court justice and it is the Senate's constitutional right to act as a check on a President and withhold its consent. As Chairman Grassley and I declared weeks ago, and reiterated personally to President Obama, the Senate will continue to observe the Biden Rule so that the American people have a voice in this momentous decision.

"The American people may well elect a President who decides to nominate Judge Garland for Senate consideration. The next President may also nominate someone very different. Either way, our view is this: Give the people a voice in the filling of this vacancy ....The decision the Senate announced weeks ago remains about a principle, not a person."

The American people are perfectly capable of having their say on the #SCOTUSnominee. So lets give them a voice. pic.twitter.com/8KyGZTuqoo  Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) March 16, 2016

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid: "Judge Merrick Garland is a brilliant man who will make a fine Supreme Court justice. He is a highly qualified jurist with decades of experience, whose career exemplifies a straight-forward approach to the law. The Senate should do its Constitutional duty and provide this good man with a fair and open confirmation process. The American people expect nothing less.

"Earlier today, Donald Trump called on Republicans to block this highly-qualified nominee. Republicans now face a choice between blindly taking their marching orders from Donald Trump, or doing their jobs and providing fair consideration to this highly-qualified nominee.

"I am optimistic that cooler heads will prevail, and sensible Republicans will provide Judge Garland with the fair treatment that a man of his stature and qualifications deserves. The American people expect their elected leaders to do their jobs. President Obama is performing his Constitutional duty. I hope Senate Republicans will do theirs."

I hope the President's nomination of an exceptionally qualified nominee will convince Republicans to change course. #DoYourJob  Senator Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) March 16, 2016

Niles-area Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan: President Obama is nominating a man who has dedicated the majority of his professional life to public service, with the goal of making the United States a more just country. Judge Garland has a world class legal mind and has the respect of both Democrats and Republicans. I stand behind this nomination and call on the Senate to fulfill their Constitutional duty.

I have heard continued calls from my Republican colleagues to hold on any Supreme Court nominees until a new President has been elected, but we cannot allow a seat on our nation's highest court to sit vacant for 11 months because of partisan differences - the American people deserve more from their elected representatives.

President Obama has not taken this nomination lightly and understands the political reality and has nominated a man who has received vocal support over the years from both sides of the aisle. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell should meet with Judge Garland, schedule hearings, and ultimately give Judge Garland an up or down vote on his nomination. The President had done his part - it's time for the Senate to follow suit.

.@POTUS has made an excellent choice in Merrick Garland. The Senate MUST vote on his confirmation. #SCOTUSnominee https://t.co/dCSqbMYBDQ  Congressman Tim Ryan (@RepTimRyan) March 16, 2016

Wadsworth Republican Rep. Jim Renacci: "The President has the authority to nominate Judges to the Supreme Court under the Constitution. But the Constitution also gives the Senate the power of "Advice and Consent". The Republican majority in the Senate has advised the President they will not consent to any appointment of a nominee this year. I stand firmly behind Senate Leader McConnell's decision to let the American people have their say in the direction of the Supreme Court this November."

Senate Republican majority has #advised the President they won't #consent to any appointment of a nominee this year. pic.twitter.com/ke9QBnoIEO  Rep. Jim Renacci (@RepJimRenacci) March 16, 2016

Champaign County Republican Rep. Jim Jordan: "I applaud the Senate for putting this critically important decision where it should be: in the hands of the voters and their pick for president in November."

The American people deserve to have a voice in the direction the court will take for generations to come #SCOTUSnominee  Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) March 16, 2016

Reporter Jeremy Pelzer contributed to this report.
Donald Trump stumps in Youngstown, Ohio

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stumps at Winner Aviation in Vienna, Ohio, March 14, 2016. John Kuntz, cleveland.com

(John Kuntz, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Donald Trump is projected as the winner of the Illinois and North Carolina primaries, the GOP frontrunner's second and third victories of the night, according to multiple media outlets.

And in the Democratic race, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is projected to beat Sen. Bernie Sanders in North Carolina.

With 35 percent of precincts reporting, Trump was leading Sen. Ted Cruz in Illinois 40 percent to 27 percent, according to CNN. Ohio Gov. John Kasich was third with 21 percent, and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who suspended his campaign after losing his home state of Florida earlier in the night, was last with 9 percent.

Illinois Republicans award 15 delegates to the winner of the state's primary election, while another 54 delegates are awarded based on which candidate wins individual congressional districts. The state was the location of Trump rally last Friday in Chicago that was canceled after protesters swarmed the event, leading to violent clashes with Trump supporters.

And in North Carolina with 57 percent of precincts reporting, Trump is leading with 40 percent of the vote. Trailing behind are Cruz with 36 percent, Kasich with 13 percent and Rubio with 8 percent. North Carolina Republicans award the state's 72 delegates proportionately based on the election outcome.

And in the Democratic race, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is projected to beat Sen. Bernie Sanders in North Carolina, 55 percent to 40 percent with 66 percent of precincts reporting, according to CNN. The state's 107 pledged delegates will be awarded proportionately.
John Kasich rally at Baldwin Wallace Universtiy

Supporters of Ohio Gov. John Kasich cheer inside the recreation center at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea after watching live television results declaring Kasich the winner in Ohio's Republican presidential primary Tuesday.

(John Kuntz, cleveland.com)

John Kasich finally defeats Donald Trump - and vows to compete in a contested convention this summer in Cleveland. Meanwhile, the Buckeye State remains Clinton Country. Read on for today's very special post-primary edition of Ohio Politics Roundup.

John Kasich's big night: The Ohio governor finally won a presidential primary - his home state's - Tuesday. By beating front-runner Donald Trump, he established himself as the Republican establishment's best hope to block the real estate mogul's path to the nomination.

Winning Ohio was harder than Kasich thought it would be. But it's about to get tougher. Kasich will have to consolidate support among those uncomfortable with Trump or Ted Cruz, the other remaining candidate. And he's going to need a plan to win what almost certainly will be a contested convention. If this is, as Trump foes believe, a battle for the soul of the GOP, it's now likelier than ever before that it won't be resolved until Cleveland. My analysis.

Ohio comes through for Hillary: Hillary Clinton outperformed expectations in Ohio, bursting Bernie Sanders' hopes of scoring another upset in the Midwest, writes Jeremy Pelzer. "Clinton was always favored to win Ohio, but recent polls indicated her support was starting to slip. Experts said she needed a strong showing in Ohio's urban areas - especially among black voters - to overcome Sanders' support among younger voters and in more rural areas. Clinton got the urban support she needed - early returns showed her with solid leads in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and other cities." Clinton also marched to victory in Florida and North Carolina.

Your complete guide to the results: Here's everything else you need to know about the outcome of Tuesday's elections from cleveland.com's wall-to-wall coverage.

What Kasich said: The governor, in his victory speech at Baldwin Wallace University, told a cheering crowd he would win the GOP nomination and beat Clinton in November. And he repeated another vow he has made before, directed at Trump: "I will not take the low road to the highest office." Emily Bamforth has the story.

The presidential map: Data analysis editor Rich Exner looks at the geography behind Kasich's and Clinton's Ohio victories. Check out his maps of the Republican and Democratic races at cleveland.com/datacentral.

The road ahead for Trump: Columnist Mark Naymik predicts that Trump, if he does become the nominee, will lose the Buckeye State again in November. "Trump's charisma - or whatever you want to call it - wasn't enough in Ohio's Tuesday primary. And it won't be enough in the general election in Ohio -- long considered America's bellwether for its balanced electorate that reflects the national mood and picks presidential winners," Naymik writes.

Taking down the bully: Kasich "beat the bully," columnist Brent Larkin writes. He hopes it's the beginning of the end for Trump, "a crude and sexist bigot, a pathological liar with no respect for the most basic human values."

It's not all about Ohio: Voters in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and the Northern Marianas Islands also weighed in on the presidential race Tuesday. "Donald Trump has now won more than half the delegates he needs to clinch the Republican nomination, after nearly running the table in Tuesday's primary elections," writes Andrew J. Tobias. The Florida contest closed the book on the campaign of Sen. Marco Rubio, who couldn't manage a win in his home state. Check out Tobias' slideshow on Rubio's collapse.

It's Strickland vs. Portman: Ohio's race for the U.S. Senate is finally set, with Democratic former Gov. Ted Strickland easily securing the right to challenge Republican Sen. Rob Portman. Steve Koff has an analysis and a slideshow looking ahead to the fall.

Decision time: Throughout the GOP debate season, Sabrina Eaton has hosted a group of Northeast Ohio Republicans for debate watch parties on Twitter. How did the debates influence them, and what did they end up deciding on Ohio's big day? Check out Eaton's video and slideshow.

Other voters react: Christopher Evans and Sara Dorn checked back with some of the voters featured in our "Ohio votes" project for their reactions to the primary results. It's all summed up in a slideshow.

A new Cuyahoga County prosecutor: Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty was unable to hold off a re-election challenge from fellow Democrat Michael O'Malley. Cory Shaffer has details of the hotly contested race in a slideshow.

And all the rest: Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce emerges the clear victor in a spirited contest with tea party favorite Matt Lynch. Matt Dolan comes out on top of the three-way race for the GOP nomination to succeed State Sen. Tom Patton. Plus other legislative races, judicial contests and important issues in Northeast Ohio. Karen Farkas wraps it all up.

The vote totals: Finally, here's where to find all of the results you're looking for.

Get Battleground Briefing, our FREE politics newsletter, delivered to your inbox: Sign up here. Tips or links? Send here. Follow along on Twitter: @HenryJGomez.
leslie-bostic-kasich.jpg

Leslie Bostic says Kasich win "could lead to something pretty spectacular."

(Jeremy Pelzer, cleveland.com)

Before John Kasich and Hillary Clinton clinched Ohio primary victories Tuesday, cleveland.com talked to more than two dozen Ohio voters to learn about who they supported and why.

We followed up with some of the same voters to get their election-night reactions.

Leslie Bostic, 82, of Grove City:

We've held our breath right along the circuit with John.

I think the win puts him in a position that could lead to something pretty spectacular. It takes him over the edge, gives him fresh fish to fry.

I just feel that he's always had this belief there's something looking over him.

He's certainly talking the right message.
Group tries to limit salaries of lawmakers

The Ohio Statehouse west portico.

(Shari Lewis, Columbus Dispatch )

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Former state Rep. Matt Dolan holds a narrow lead in the GOP primary for state senator from the 24th Senate District, according to absentee ballot results.

Close behind Dolan were State Rep. Mike Dovilla of Berea and State Rep. Nan A. Baker of Westlake.

The district loops like a necklace around Cleveland, from Mayfield village and Chagrin Falls in the east to Strongsville and Berea in the south, then on to Bay Village, Rocky River and Westlake.

The seat currently is held by term-limited Tom Patton of Strongsville, who is seeking to replace Dovilla in the Ohio House seventh district. Dovilla is not currently term-limited; he could have sought one more term in the House, but didn't.

Who's who in the race:

Baker: Also term-limited in her western suburban House seat, Baker, 61,is a business owner who has served on Westlake's Board of Education and City Council. In 2008 she won a seat in Ohio's House, where she's in her fourth term. Baker chairs the House Economic and Workforce Development Committee.

Baker's slogan, "It's all about jobs!" underscores her focus on employment and on encouraging small businesses, which can be engines of job creation.

Dolan: Dolan, 51, is a lawyer whose family owns the Cleveland Indians, was a three-term House member last decade until he resigned early in 2010 to run for Cuyahoga County executive. As a House member, Dolan chaired the budget-writing Finance-Appropriations Committee.

Dolan is focusing are tax reform, workforce development and job growth and job retention.

Dovilla: Dovilla, 40, a three-term House member and an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, chaired the House Policy and Legislative Oversight Committee last session.

Dovilla, with Rep. Kristina Roegner, a Hudson Republican, was prime sponsor of a long-sought and hard-fought charter school reform law that took effect Feb. 1.

In 2009, Dolan was one of five House Republicans to vote "yes" on a bill (that session's Substitute House Bill 176) to protect gay and transgendered Ohioans from discrimination in housing and employment. Baker voted "no" but says she'd support such a measure now. Dovilla wasn't in the House then.

The winner will face Rocky River Democrat and lawyer Emily Hagan in November.
ohio-supreme-court.jpg

A second attempt to execute a man for the murder of a 14-year-old girl would not constitute cruel and unusual punishment or violate his constitutional protection against double jeopardy, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled.

(Plain Dealer file photo)

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The state can try again to execute convicted murderer Romell Broom, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. The second attempt by the state would not constitute cruel and unusual punishment or violate his constitutional protection against double jeopardy.

In a 4-3 ruling, the court held that although technicians sought for two hours to access one of Broom's veins to administer a lethal dose of drugs, the constant sticks, while painful, were a preparatory step to carrying out Broom's sentence.

"The state's intention in carrying out the execution is not to cause unnecessary physical pain or psychological harm, and the pain and emotional trauma Broom already experienced do not equate with the type of torture prohibited by the Eighth Amendment," Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger wrote in the majority opinion.

Read the ruling below. Mobile users click here.

Broom was sentenced to death after he was convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering 14-year-old Tryna Middleton in 1984 in East Cleveland. He stabbed the girl seven times in the chest.

In September 2009 the state tried to execute Broom by injection, but the state's execution team was unable to insert two shunts into a vein through which the lethal drugs could be pushed into Broom's body.

The team tried for 45 minutes before taking a break. More attempts were made, but after two hours the state's prison director recommended the process be stopped. Gov. Ted Strickland then ordered a temporary reprieve.

The court ruled that Broom's rights protecting him from being punished twice for the same crime were not violated because the first attempt did not constitute an execution as defined by state law.

"There is no question that lethal drugs did not enter Broom's body," Lanzinger wrote. "The execution attempt was halted after preparations to establish a viable IV line were unsuccessful."

State law defines an execution as commencing when lethal drugs enter the IV line to the inmate's body. Since that did not happen, double jeopardy protections did not attach, she wrote.

Following the 2009 attempt, Broom's legal team sought to keep the state from making a second attempt to execute him.

Here's what followed.

April 2011: A Cuyahoga County court denied Broom's request for a hearing to prove that any future attempt to execute him would be unconstitutional. An appellate court also rejected his arguments.

June 2015: The Supreme Court heard arguments in Broom's appeal.

March 2016: In Wednesday's ruling, Lanzinger was joined by Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor and Justices Terrence O'Donnell and Sharon Kennedy.

Justice Judith French, joined by Justice Paul E. Pfeifer, dissented, arguing that Broom should have been allowed his hearing in 2011.

Justice William O'Neill, in a separate dissent, wrote that a second execution attempt would violate Broom's Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment.

"Appellant Romell Broom's first execution date -- a botched attempt --

was the example I offered to support my belief that even lethal injection is a cruel punishment on par with the "decapitations, hangings, and brandings" that were

common in a less civilized time," O'Neill wrote.

In the future: Broom's legal case will continue. Appeals filed in federal court have been on hold since 2011, waiting for completion of this court action.
WASHINGTON - Voters had their say. Now the U.S. Senate race that everyone knew was coming -- Ted Strickland vs. Rob Portman - can start in earnest.

Strickland, the former Ohio governor, had to win his primary Tuesday against lesser-known Democrats PG Sittenfeld and Kelli Prather. No surprise: Strickland won. Now comes the hard part.

The coming race in November, in which freshman Republican Portman will try to win a second six-year term, represents much of what is happening in politics in 2016. One candidate will call the other an unapologetic liberal, or a privileged Republican. Each will say the other is out of touch with "real" Ohioans. Each will call the other a hypocrite. In ongoing conversations with cleveland.com, they already have.

Both Portman and Strickland could benefit -- or suffer -- from the popularity of their parties' presidential candidates. Each could find himself trying to mark differences from Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump or any other nominee. This is becoming tricky territory.

If you love politics, you just might love this race.

Next slide: Where they start.

--Stephen Koff, cleveland.com Washington bureau chief

March 15, 2016

Ted S. Warren, Associated Press

Ted Strickland against Rob Portman: the race is on

It was practically preordained: Ted Strickland would win the Democratic U.S. Senate primary in Ohio and challenge Rob Portman, the incumbent Republican senator. Themes and tactics for the November race have emerged already. Here's how Portman, Strickland and their campaigns say the race will play out. In other words, here's what you're in for, Ohio.

Don't Edit

J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press

They start dead even -- or not

Most political races start with a frontrunner. Not this one. Polls since last summer have shown Portman -- the incumbent U.S. senator, former member of President George W. Bush's cabinet and former member of the House of Representatives -- locked in a statistical tie with Strickland.

Maybe you don't care for poll-driven politics; you're an issues voter. Good for you, and we're going to address those issues. But people who run campaigns are using poll metrics for guidance anyway.

Put aside the tied horse race and ask yourself a different question: Do you have a favorable or unfavorable view of these candidates?

In the most recent Quinnipiac University poll, taken in February, 42 percent of voters surveyed said they had a favorable view of Portman, compared with 18 percent who held unfavorable views. That means his net positive is 24 points  the difference between his positive and negative.

Strickland winds up in the positive camp, too, with a net 11 percent.

Portman's campaign sees opportunity in that number, reasoning that at this stage, favorability is the best proxy for where voters actually stand. You will see Portman-sponsored ads soon enough that try to keep Strickland's favorability from rising.

Next slide: Portman's got problems, too

Don't Edit

Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press

Who is this Portman guy?

Never mind his favorability; 39 percent of Ohio voters polled in February said they hadn't heard enough about Portman to have an opinion of him  even though he has represented them in the U.S. Senate for more than five years.

That's a much higher share than the 26 percent of voters who said they did not know enough about Strickland to form an opinion.

Portman's havent-heard-enough rating gets worse among independent voters: 45 percent. If you assume that most Democrats will vote for Strickland and most Republicans for Portman, that 45 percent slice of independents will be important for both campaigns to reach. Strickland will try to move them into the column against Portman.

Next slide: Spending to reinforce these numbers.

Don't Edit

Money will buy ads. It already has.

Portman is positioned to hit Strickland hard  and "hit" is the correct verb  when the time is right. Portman, a prodigious fund-raiser, had $12.7 million in his campaign account near the end of February. He intends to spend the money to reinforce a negative impression of Strickland.

Strickland's fund-raising has lagged, and he has $2 million in his campaign account. Even some Democrats have worried that his initial fund-raising is a sign of lackluster support or low energy.

Yet Strickland has managed to hang on despite this disadvantage. Outside groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Koch Brothers' Americans for Prosperity already spent millions on ads criticizing Strickland. They may have even helped erode what looked like a Strickland lead a year ago. But Portman still has not pulled ahead in the head-to-head matchup.

Next slide: The Trump effect

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Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press

Might Trump be a problem?

Voters in November will see a lot of names on their ballots, starting with presidential candidates. The identity of those candidates might matter.

If Donald Trump is the Republican nominee, for example, other Republican candidates will have to decide whether to stand with him, or distance themselves. Portman so far has sidestepped that question, and his campaign insists this will be an election about Portman and Strickland, not about Trump.

Democrats say that's wishful thinking, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee already is trying to link Portman and other Republican senators to their party's presidential front-runner and his comments about Mexicans, Muslims and others.

But what if John Kasich, the Ohio governor, were to become the GOP presidential nominee?

A ticket in Ohio with Kasich at the top would "make it tough for me," Strickland acknowledged to the Cincinnati Enquirer editorial board.

Next slide: Clinton and coal

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CNN

Distancing himself from Clinton

Let's suppose Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination. Strickland is a Clinton ally, and Democrats say he could benefit from a strong Clinton performance in Ohio.

Maybe he can. But issues could make for some clumsiness.

Sunday night, Clinton talked about cleaning the climate and cutting coal use, telling CNN, Were going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of work. Coal mining is a dwindling source of employment in southeast Ohio, but its emotional attachments remain strong. True, Clinton was speaking in the context of creating more alternative-energy jobs and providing benefits for workers when mines close. But that's a sore subject where coal mining has been a part of life.

Strickland distanced himself from Clinton Monday. "I disagree with Secretary Clintons choice of words," he said. "My goal is to keep jobs in these mining communities and help Appalachia as it deals with the variety of market forces that are limiting the demand for coal."

Strickland added that Portman has voted for bills that would have weakened federal mine-safety standards, and he made an unsubtle reference to Portman's relatively privileged life  a theme his campaign intends to push to Ohio workers: "Sen. Portman has no idea what life is like for someone who has worked in the Appalachian coal fields."

Next slide: Inside and out of touch

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D'Arcy Egan, The Plain Dealer

It's simple: He voted no

How to beat Rob Portman? Repeat the following, over and over, as the Strickland campaign intends to:

He's a Washington insider who spent years in Congress. He was Bush's budget director before the economy went into the deepest recession since the Great Depression, a result Democrats blame on Bush's policies. Portman also did a stint as Bush's trade ambassador, promoting trade deals that shifted Ohio factory jobs to Mexico and China. He criticized Obama's auto bailout, even though it saved the industry tens of thousands of jobs.

Portman boasted of all the good things he was getting for Ohio in a December spending bill  money to fight the heroin epidemic, to keep the NASA Glenn research center going, to bulldoze decrepit homes  and then voted against the whole bill, saying it was too expensive. Even when it came to non-binding budget blueprints, Portman supported Republican plans to cut student aid in 2011.

Next slide: It's not that simple

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John Minchillo, Associated Press

Context is always more complicated

Here's how Portman defends himself:

Before voting against the spending bill in December, Portman says he made sure Ohio was taken care of. He helped assure that some good came out of a bill he otherwise disliked, he says, and that's how the real world, with all its nuance and context, works.

He subsequently sided with Democrats who tried unsuccessfully to get an extra $600 million for a bill to fight heroin  a bill for which Portman was a primary champion.

Similarly, while Democrats accuse Portman of trying to cut college student aid, he has supported some aid programs, including a proposed expansion of Pell grants for high school students who simultaneously pursue college credit. Last year, he disagreed with fellow Republicans who let the federal Perkins loan program expire  even though years ago he backed his then-boss, President Bush, in trying to shut down the program, calling it inefficient and poorly targeted.

The timing of the bills, the manner in which they are packaged and the party messaging all come into play.

Portman says the trade deals he supports helped Ohio employers win more opportunities for exports, goods even Strickland cited as a bright spot when he was governor. He says that had Congress accepted the budgets he worked on, deficits and debt would have decreased. As for the auto bailout, Portman said in 2011 and 2012 that he called it "a lousy deal for Ohio" because it required a restructuring that led to plant closings and the elimination of more than 100 Ohio car dealerships.

Next slide: Bad times remembers

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Remember the pain?

Remember the recession and all the pain it caused in Ohio? Portman intends to remind you of who was governor: Ted Strickland. Or as Portman's allies put it in a field-tested label: "Retread Ted."

Do we really want to put Strickland back in government? That's Portman's argument. Ohio lost more than 350,000 jobs when Strickland ran the state. He wrote or supported budgets that reduced aid for education, cut libraries, sliced money for mental health services  people protested over that  and drained a surplus. Voters turned him out after only one term.

Then Strickland moved to Washington to run an advocacy arm of a liberal think tank, the Center for American Progress Action, and as critics see it, flip-flopped on gun rights. He used to be an unapologetic Second Amendment supporter. Now he says he'd favor an "enforecable" assault-weapons ban and "comprehensive, no-loophole" background checks on gun buyers.

Strickland supports President Barack Obama's deal lifting sanctions on Iran, which Republicans say could help Iran re-arm and be more of a threat to Israel than ever. That's an important issue for even many Ohio Democrats, whom Portman will work on to cross the aisle and vote against the Democratic candidate.

"This race is very simple: when Ohio voters realize that the Ted Strickland running for Senate is the same Ted Strickland that was fired from the governor's office, he cannot and will not win this race  period," said Corry Bliss, Portman's campaign manager.

Next slide: Strickland's defense

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Mark Duncan, Associated Press

Governors don't cause recessions

Strickland has defenses, too.

On Iran, he can point to security experts who say the deal will do much more than the status quo to contain the nation once deemed to be part of the "axis of evil."

As for his budget cuts, he says Ohio voters know full well that they were necessitated by the recession  and that it was a national recession with multiple causes, including reckless practices by the Wall Street banks Portman cozies up to.

Ohio's economy began turning around, in fact, while Strickland was in office, he'll say, adding that Kasich benefited from Strickland's belt-tightening. .

Strickland says his position on gun control evolved after the 2012 school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut.

Do you believe him? Portman says you shouldn't. But Strickland says Portman is the one with the lousy, anti-worker record.

Now that the Democratic primary is over, get ready to hear more of this. A lot more.

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Ted Strickland

Ted Strickland has won the Democratic primary in Ohio for U.S. Senate.

(Mark Duncan, Associated Press)

COLUMBUS -- Former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland on Tuesday won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, setting up a challenge to incumbent Sen. Rob Portman, a first-term Republican.

Although only about 10 percent of votes have been counted, Strickland captured about 70 percent of them, a pattern that appeared certain told hold.

"Thank you, Ohio Democrats," he said in prepared remarks to supporters in Columbus. "I am honored to have earned your vote, your trust and your nomination. I am running to fight for Ohio's working people because that's where I came from, that's who I care about and that's who I will stand up for in the U.S. Senate."

The single-term governor from southeast Ohio was the establishment favorite from the start. He did little campaigning against Democratic challengers PG Sittenfeld and Kelli Prather and sidestepped pleas for a debate, saying that there were few differences among the Democrats and that he was concentrating on taking on Portman.

It helped that Sittenfeld, a Cincinnati City Council member and the better known of the challengers in Strickland's party, never rose enough in polls to be deemed a serious threat. Strickland was helped mightily by the Ohio Democratic Party, which closed ranks around him early with an endorsement.

Strickland's friends in Democratic circles, including Hillary Clinton, the front-runner for the party's presidential nomination, are expected to help him campaign in his November race against Portman.

But Strickland can help the party's presidential nominee, too. He knows Ohio well and been part of operations that turned out the vote successfully for Democrats in the last two presidential elections.

"Hardworking Ohioans are getting a raw deal," Strickland said in his victory remarks, previewing themes from the coming race against Portman. He said that "wages are staying flat while costs are rising, unfair trade deals are shipping our jobs to places like China, higher education is increasingly out of reach, and too many worry that retirement is a luxury they'll never be able to afford."

He accused Portman, the target of his coming fall race, of "pushing the interests of the wealthy Washington power brokers and the well-connected special interests he serves at our expense. This campaign will offer Ohioans a simple choice: Rob Portman is looking out for what's best for Washington, while I will stand up for the working people of Ohio."

Portman's campaign manager, Corry Bliss, fired back, issuing a memo on the race ahead.

"Ted Strickland's primary has exposed Ted as the worst Senate candidate in America," Bliss said. "Ted is hobbling out of his primary with no money, a splintered Ohio Democratic Party, and a string of headlines describing his low-energy campaign as 'invisible,' 'ghost,' and 'stealth.' The truth is that Ted Strickland has been hiding from his awful record when Ohio lost over 350,000 jobs and ranked 48th in job creation."

The job losses occurred during the recession, but Portman says Strickland's policies made them deeper than they might have been otherwise. Strickland counters that the recovery began on his watch, too, even though his successor, Gov. John Kasich, takes credit. Kasich won Ohio's Republican presidential primary tonight and now continues his quest for the GOP presidential nomination, with Portman's support.

Though Republicans portray Strickland as a liberal, partly because he worked for a time after leaving office for a wing of the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank in Washington, Strickland was not considered the liberal in the primary race. Sittenfeld, 31, assumed that role, characterizing the 74-year-old former governor as an old-school politician playing it safe. Sittenfeld did not let up, pushing for stricter gun control.

Meeting with reporters across the state and gaining press attention, Sittenfeld contrasted his stance repeatedly with that of Strickland, who once held ratings of A and A+ from the NRA . That got Sittenfeld several noteworthy celebrity endorsements, including one from Mark Hamill of "Star Wars" fame, and from Jonathan Banks, a popular actor in the "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Paul" series.

Sittenfeld's energy and ideas - and Strickland's refusal to debate and mount a real primary race - also made an impression on editorial writers, earning Sittenfeld, and not Strickland, endorsements from media including The Plain Dealer and the Akron Beacon Journal.

Strickland at first ignored Sittenfeld's criticism. Then he allowed that he had changed his position on gun rights, saying he would support a stricter, "no loophole" system of background checks on gun buys and an "enforceable" ban on assault weapons.

Sittenfeld tonight said his quest for "doing good through public service" will continue. He said he would "do everything I can" to help Strickland beat Portman.

"After all, I am a Democrat -- and the differences I have with Ted pale alongside the differences we both have with Sen. Portman," Sittenfeld said.

Strickland's fall race against Portman may play an important role in the Democratic Party's attempt to take the U.S. Senate from Republican control. Portman is already better funded, with $12.7 million in his campaign account, compared with $2 million in Strickland's. Yet that coming race has registered in polls as a dead heat for months.

Reported with Jackie Borchardt
Group tries to limit salaries of lawmakers

The Ohio Statehouse west portico.

(Shari Lewis, Columbus Dispatch )

CLEVELAND, Ohio - State legislator Tom Patton appears headed for victory against Jennifer Herold in the Republican primary for Ohio House District 7.

With about half the vote counted, Patton led with 79 percent of the vote.

Patton, the current Ohio Senate majority leader, is seeking to replace Mike Dovilla, who is seeking Patton's Senate seat.

Patton is term-limited and could not run for re-election. Dovilla is not, but chose to vacate his seat.

The primary winner will face Democrat David Thurau of Berea in November.

Patton came under fire in January after suggesting in a radio interview that Herold shouldn't be running for office because she is a young mother.

"The gal that's running against me is a 30-year-old, you know, mom, mother of two infants," Patton said. "And I don't know if anybody explained to her we've got to spend three nights a week in Columbus. So, how does that work out for you? I waited until I was 48 and my kids were raised, and at least adults, before we took the opportunity to try."

In a news release, Herold -- who has two sons, ages 1 and 3 -- said Patton's remarks were "insulting and discriminatory," noting that other female politicians have served in office while raising a family.

Patton later apologized.

Patton, 62, of Strongsville, served in the Ohio House from 2003 until 2008, when he moved to the Senate. A Cleveland State University graduate, he is a widower with six children and six grandchildren.

Herold, 30 of Strongsville, was seeking her first political office. She has a degree in applied health sciences from Bowling Green State University and a doctorate in occupational therapy from the University of Toledo.

The Seventh District includes Strongsville, North Royalton, Berea, Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township.

Following are results in other contested primaries for the Ohio House.

District 9: Incumbent Democrat Janine Boyd was leading Isaac Powell. The winner will face Republican Joe Miller in November.

District 12: Incumbent Democrat John Barnes Jr. was leading Jill Miller-Zimon. No Republican has filed.
strickland-portman.jpg

After Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Ted Strickland and incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman won their respective primaries Tuesday, it didn't take long for the two sides to start launching attacks at one another.

(AP, The Plain Dealer file photos)

COLUMBUS, Ohio--After sailing through Tuesday's primary election, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman's campaign and Democratic rival Ted Strickland's allies wasted little time in turning on each other.

Portman, the Republican incumbent, quickly put out a couple of web videos laying into Strickland. One rehashes all the attacks made by Democrats against Strickland during the Democratic primary race, including comments by opponent PG Sittenfeld's super PAC describing Strickland, 74, as "tired" and "unsteady."

The other Portman campaign video, part of its revamped website called RetreadTed.com, is a more conventional attack ad that repeats Strickland's comments to The Plain Dealer/cleveland.com editorial board that his own record on gun control is "mixed and spotty."

The Ohio Democratic Party, meanwhile, launched a new website, BeltwayRob.com, that labels Portman as a Washington insider who "puts D.C. first and Ohio last."

"At every turn, Senator Portman pushes the agenda of the Washington power brokers and the wealthy special interests he serves at the expense of Ohio's working people," said Ohio Democratic Party spokesman Daniel van Hoogstraten in a statement. "This site will help Ohioans learn and share the truth about Beltway Rob: he represents exactly what Ohio hates about Washington."

Strickland also embarked Wednesday on a three-day campaign tour, with campaign stops planned in Cleveland, Youngtown, Akron and other cities to discuss his economic plan.
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There are signs that the commodities rout is bottoming out, but iron ore prices still face downside risk, BHP Billiton 's chief executive told CNBC on Wednesday.

Andrew Mackenzie admitted that the "collapse of OPEC" and sustained slide in oil prices caught the mining giant by surprise, although "there are some signs that may have bottomed", which may stem the spillover on other commodities, he said.



In December, the Saudi Arabia-led Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries declined to cut production, even amid a global oil oversupply, leading to further price falls. Subsequent attempts by OPEC and non-OPEC producers to agree a deal on production levels have so far proved fruitless.

But the mining boss had a less positive outlook on one of BHP's key product.

"The reality is ... the supply of low-cost iron ore continues to grow at a faster rate than demand is increasing," Mackenzie said on the sidelines of the Australian Financial Review Business Summit in Melbourne.



"So, of all the products that we produce, it has the greatest risk of price downside, but we still make the most money in it. So, if we can continue to reduce the cost of producing iron ore in Australia, we can win market share, and we can still make appropriate profits."
"I heard this 'way overdone' argument from pretty much everyone I talked to," the " Mad Money " host said.

Investors repeatedly assured Cramer that Valeant's cash flow was so strong he didn't have to pay attention to the decline in the stock because it was all emotional. After all, they said, prior to Tuesday it had already fallen so much and it was way overdone.

One look at the action on Valeant 's stock on Tuesday, and now investors understand why Jim Cramer preaches that when the words "accounting irregularity" are associated with a company, that always means sell.

That should have been the clarion call to get out no matter what. When you see accounting irregularities you sell first and ask questions later.

Some even tried to convince Cramer that Walgreen's gave its seal of approval with its deal on cheaper drugs with Valeant so there was nothing to worry about.

Cramer did not believe it, and added that Walgreen's also gave its good housekeeping seal of approval to Theranos and subsequently backed away after the FDA raised questions about the blood testing firm's methodology.

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"Even back when Valeant was a beloved stock, I had always been uncomfortable with their business model of rolling up drug company after drug company, slashing research and development and then raising prices," Cramer said.

It wasn't until The New York Times and short-selling research firm Citron openly questioned Valeant's accounting that Cramer finally had a bearish story to back up his opinion. Citron compared the company's accounting to Enron's and said to sell the stock, admitting that it had shorted it and used a price target of $50.

Comparing any company to Enron is a stretch for Cramer, but nearly 50 points from Citron's call, Valeant revealed it may have overstated its earnings the last time it reported.

"That should have been the clarion call to get out no matter what. When you see accounting irregularities you sell first and ask questions later," Cramer said.

Cramer and his colleague from RealMoney.com, Carleton English, checked in with Citron's Andrew Left on Tuesday to gain insight now that Valeant has hit its original downside target.

While Left admitted to Cramer that he was no longer short the stock, he did express concern that Valeant had overpaid on everything it acquired, and now it is in the predicament of slower sales and cannot raise prices.

With more than $15 billion in debt on its balance sheet, Cramer thought this was a valid question.

Thus Cramer stood by his tried and true rule that any time the question of accounting irregularities arises, investors should sell. It could come at the cost of missing out on benefits at times, but it could also avoid big disasters like Valeant.

"Believe me, you'll always remember my admonition and smile that you avoided a stock that destroyed so many allegedly smart people who should have known better," Cramer said.

CNBC reached out to Valeant for a statement, and did not immediately receive a response.
Htin Kyaw, newly elected president of Myanmar and member of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party, leaves after a parliament session in Naypyidaw on March 15, 2016. STR | AFP | Getty Images

Myanmar's parliament elected a close friend and confidant of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as president on Tuesday, making Htin Kyaw the first head of state since the 1960s who does not hail from a military background. Suu Kyi led her National League for Democracy (NLD) to a landslide election win in November, but a constitution drafted by the former junta bars her from the top office. She has vowed to run the country anyway through a proxy president, and on Thursday the NLD nominated Htin Kyaw for the role. He runs a charity founded by Suu Kyi and has been a trusted member of her inner circle since the mid-1990s. He is not a lawmaker. "Today's result is because of the love of people for her. It is the victory of my sister Aung San Suu Kyi," Htin Kyaw told reporters after the vote. The United States, which has backed Myanmar's transition to civilian government and refers to the country as Burma, called Htin Kyaw's election "yet another important step forward in Burma's democratic transition."

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White House spokesman Josh Earnest told a regular briefing that while important progress had been made, additional steps were needed and Washington would continue to back reform. China's embassy offered congratulations for the election of state leaders and said it hoped "to continuously push forward the friendly and cooperative relationship between China and Myanmar." The sizeable NLD majority ensured a comfortable win for Suu Kyi's pick in a vote by both houses of parliament. Htin Kyaw received 360 of the 652 votes cast. Suu Kyi was the first member of parliament to vote and clapped and smiled when the result was announced. Outgoing President Thein Sein congratulated the man who will replace him on April 1.

"On behalf of the nation and the people, I take pride in your being elected as the president," he said. NLD lawmakers, most of whom have no experience as members of parliament, spent time rehearsing how they would vote the night before the election, a Reuters witness said. They were keen to ensure there were no last-minute mistakes that would cost them a presidency they had campaigned for decades to see. "This is the big day for us," Zar Ni Min, an NLD lower house MP, said after the vote. "This is what we have hoped for for a long time." Yanghee Lee, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, said there was no time for complacency because Myanmar had hundreds of laws that were out of line with its international obligations, and people could be sentenced to hard labour for "all kinds of reasons". The change of government was also a chance to break the "tragic status quo situation" of a million minority Rohingya Muslims who have been deprived of their most fundamental rights, she said.



Tens of thousands of Rohingyas have fled poverty and persecution in western Myanmar since religious violence erupted in 2012, and Lee told a news conference in Geneva she was afraid more would flee in the 2016 sailing season. Simmering tensions The still-powerful military holds a quarter of parliamentary seats and the constitutional right to nominate one of the three presidential candidates. Its candidate, retired general Myint Swe, received 213 votes and becomes first vice president. Relations between the armed forces and Suu Kyi will define the success of Myanmar's most significant break from military rule since the army seized power in 1962. Tensions have simmered in the run-up to the election and as the NLD prepares to take power. Suu Kyi wants to demilitarize Myanmar's politics but effectively needs the support of the military to do this. The armed forces are guaranteed three ministries under the constitution and enough parliamentary seats to give them a veto over constitutional amendments - enough to limit the potential scope of Suu Kyi's reforms.


Drugs are prepared to shoot intravenously by a user addicted to heroin in St. Johnsbury Vermont. (File photo). Getty Images

A country home might be a less healthy home, a lot less healthy. Almost 1 in 5 rural counties in the U.S. saw increases in the number of premature deaths over the past decade  even as most large urban counties saw regular improvements in their premature death rates, according to new rankings released Wednesday. "That was surprising and shocking to me," said Bridget Catlin, director of the County Health Rankings, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Catlin noted that 1 in 6 Americans live in a rural county, which as a rule have higher rates of smoking, obesity, child poverty and teen births than large urban counties. Rural counties are defined as those with less than 50,000 people. Forty-six million people live in 1,974 rural counties.

The spike in premature deaths in many rural counties was fueled in part by an epidemic in drug overdose deaths occurring throughout the United States, noted the 2016 County Health Rankings report, which compares health differences on a wide range of measures on a county-by-county basis.

There has been a 79 percent increase in the rate of fatal overdoses since 2002, and a 200 percent hike in the rate of death involving opioids, which include heroin and prescription painkiller pills. "Drug overdose deaths appear highest in northern Appalachia and in parts of the West/Southwest," said the report, Such deaths were "lowest in the Northeast and higher in rural counties than in other types of counties."

"This is a problem that is hitting a lot of places, and a lot of people from all walks of life," said Catlin. Nationally, the average rate of drug overdose deaths is 13 per 100,000 people. But 16 percent of counties have drug overdose rates that are above 20 people per every 100,000  "with some counties having rates as high as 85 per 100,000," the report said.

Drug overdoses are "all around us," said Julie Miller, administrator of the health department in rural Boone County, West Virginia, where the report identified the overdose death rate at more than 81 per every 100,000 people. Miller said Boone County's drug problem has become more severe in the past five years. "A couple of years ago, people were surprised" to hear of a fatal overdose, she said. Now, "it's not out of the ordinary," Miller said.

The county has seen a huge increase in the number of cases of hepatitis C and hepatitis B, which are often transmitted through sharing of syringes or bodily fluids. In 2010, Boone County had 24 cases of hepatitis C and just two cases of hepatitis B. This year, Miller said, there are 54 reported cases of hepatitis C and 24 cases of hep B. Drug use isn't the only health problem in Boone County. "Everybody has bad health," Miller said. "They're overweight, they don't exercise, they eat bad food." "We have a lot of a diabetes, a lot of people with lung disease," she said. "You've got people that eat like their grandparents or their parents ate, but biscuits and gravy for them when they work and have manual labor jobs is a lot different from biscuits and gravy for me." Miller also said there are not many sidewalks around Boone County, which discourages efforts at exercising.
Australian transport fuel company Caltex Australia has built what it believes to be the world's first off-grid, solar-powered truck stop and gas station.



The idea behind the scheme is to extend the range of the company's truck refueling network, which already consists of 200 "dedicated truck stops" as well as 300 "truck friendly sites."

Two sites in remote areas of the Pilbara region in Western Australia have been set up with solar panels and on-site battery storage. They are not connected to mains power.

"The biggest challenge of supplying fuel in remote parts of Australia isn't getting fuel there," Leon Calvetti, Caltex network development manager for Western Australia, said in a statement this week.
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Hillary Clinton took a giant step toward locking down her party's presidential nomination. Donald Trump took a step toward locking down his  but needs to keep striding briskly. That's the upshot of Tuesday night primaries across five states.

Clinton, the former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state, swept primaries in Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Illinois. She remained locked in a tight contest with her populist rival Bernie Sanders in Missouri with a few votes yet to be counted.

Her dominance helped calm fears within the Democratic Party that mushroomed after her surprise defeat in Michigan last week. Clinton extended her lead over Sanders in pledged delegates beyond 300. Counting her wide edge among unpledged "super delegates," she now has roughly two-thirds of the total needed to secure the Democratic nomination.

Her victories entrenched her existing support, since those super delegates can switch support at will. Sanders needs to shake their confidence in Clinton's viability, but he failed to do so Tuesday.

Trump scored a huge victory in Florida, the biggest state voting Tuesday. That allowed him to grab the state's 99 delegates which, on the Republican side, are awarded on a winner-take-all basis. It also knocked Florida Sen.Marco Rubio, once considered his most formidable Republican rival, out of the race. Trump also grabbed 24 delegates in Illinois by winning there.





But his results elsewhere were more mixed. He lost winner-take-all Ohio and its 66 delegates to that state's Gov. John Kasich. By winning, Kasich managed to stay alive in the race as the sole remaining "establishment" candidate."

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas roughly split delegates with Trump in North Carolina even as the front-runner won the popular vote. Cruz remained deadlocked with Trump in Missouri with some votes yet to be counted.

The night left Trump with roughly half the delegates he needs for a first ballot nomination at the summer convention in Cleveland. But it also left mainstream Republicans who bitterly oppose him, led by 2012 nominee Mitt Romney, with hope that Cruz and Kasich can offer enough resistance in remaining states to deny Trump a convention majority.




Republican leaders have also resorted to history as a basis to withhold a confirmation hearing for any person that President Obama nominates. In a letter by Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans to Senator McConnell, they justified their refusal because "[n]ot since 1932 has the Senate confirmed in a presidential election year a Supreme Court nominee to a vacancy arising in that year. And it is necessary to go even further back  to 1888  in order to find an election year nominee who was nominated and confirmed under divided government, as we have now."

Such historical cherry-picking is fraught with the same weakness as that used by liberals who have argued that since 1900 six justices have been confirmed during presidential election years. Justice Scalia explained the fallacy: "The historical practice of the political branches is, of course, irrelevant when the Constitution is clear."

Republican leaders have further tried to cloak their decision under the statements and actions of Democratic leaders during prior nomination disputes. Senator Charles Schumer, for example, stated in 2007 that "we cannot afford to see Justice Stevens replaced by another Roberts, or Justice Ginsburg by another Alito" and thus the Senate should not confirm a nominee "except in exceptional circumstances."

Justice Scalia would have scoffed at such a justification because these are politicians after all. He recognized as much in explaining that what members of Congress think is of limited relevance: "I have often criticized the Court's use of legislative history because it lends itself to a kind of ventriloquism. The Congressional Record or committee reports are used to make words appear to come from Congress's mouth which were spoken or written by others (individual Members of Congress, congressional aides, or even enterprising lobbyists)."
In Cramer's perspective the U.S. has been crushed on almost every single trade deal it has done, going all the way back to Nafta. And every time Cramer has asked an official of either party to name a deal that was signed in the last decade that has given the U.S. a trade surplus, no one could come up with an answer.

"Trump has real things to say. They may not be what you think, and they often seem like wishful thinking. But you need to know his views, not just how he is doing coming around the far turn," the " Mad Money " host said. (Tweet This)

Jim Cramer is tired of the horse race. He is sick of hearing whether John Kasich can be a comer because he won his home state, or if Ted Cruz can win enough delegates. For once, Cramer would rather go over what Donald Trump is actually saying, and what he would do if elected President.

Trump has real things to say. They may not be what you think, and they often seem like wishful thinking. But you need to know his views, not just how he is doing come around the far turn.

For years those who have questioned any of the trade deals has been dismissed as foolish. Now that Trump has said that the U.S. government has been horrendous at negotiating these deals, Cramer has no beef with it.

"Say what you will about Trump, I agree with him about these trade deals," Cramer said.

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That is why Cramer decided to dig through what Trump has actually said about various companies and the economy and figure out what he would do if elected.

First, Trump claimed that he is going to force Apple to make its cellphones here in America. Cramer doesn't know how Trump is going to make Apple do this, particularly because the U.S. does not have the workforce to assemble the phones, and most of the component makers reside in Asia.

Trump would have to let Apple repatriate its foreign dollar with almost no tax and demand it be used to build factories and train the workforce. And while it's great that Trump wants to solve the repatriation tax issues, Cramer thinks it would be best to just let Apple do exactly what it has been doing, which is put millions of people to work all over the place.

"I say Apple's hiring policies are low on the list of this country's problems," Cramer said.

Second, Trump talked about Carrier. In February, United Technologies notified union workers at a Carrier heating, ventilation and air conditioning facility near Indianapolis that work will be shifted to Monterrey, Mexico.

"I say welcome to the world of Nafta. You can make heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment so much cheaper in Mexico, it's a wonder anyone makes anything here," Cramer said.

It all comes down to free trade, in a nutshell. If United Technologies CEO Greg Hayes wants to make his numbers and raise profits to grow the company, Cramer thinks it just makes sense for him to move the plant to Mexico.

Trump also expressed an issue with Pfizer 's merger with Allergan , which is headquartered in Ireland. It is playing by the rules set forth by the Treasury Department to meet new standards of inversion to avoid U.S. taxes on overseas profits. The deal has been structured per the way the Obama administration established its safe harbor for inversions.

If Trump is actually president, maybe he can have the Treasury Secretary rewrite the IRS rules, but by the time that would happen, it would be impossible to undo the Pfizer-Allergan merger.

"The fact is, with the possible exception of future tax inversions like this Pfizer-Allergan deal, nothing will change with a Trump presidency unless he updates 'The Art of the Deal' to prove he can buffalo everyone in the room, Democrats and Republicans alike. These are legislative decisions, not presidential hand-waves," Cramer said.

In the end, Cramer wants investors to know and understand the Trump's views. It could seem like wishful thinking, but they could also become a real agenda if Trump wins in November.
The transition in the telecoms industry to 5G, the fifth generation of mobile networks, will herald a "revolution" in digital communications, enabling new technologies that will change citizens' lives, European Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Society Gunther Oettinger told CNBC.

The industry is targeting a transition to 5G in the next few years, said Oettinger at the CeBIT conference in Hannover, Germany on Tuesday.



The jump from 3G to 4G is a "kind of evolution but no revolution," he said. But 5G in combination with 4G was truly a technological revolution, the commissioner said, as it will enable new technology such as connected cars, and health care supported by digital technology. None of that is feasible without 5G.



"5G is just a technological enabler," Oettinger told CNBC.
The world would be a happier place if we were more equal, according to this year's World Happiness Report Update.

For the first time since its publication in 2012, the World Happiness Report has focused on the measurement and consequences of inequality in the distribution of well-being among countries and regions.



In previous years, the editors argued that happiness provides a better indicator of human welfare than income, poverty, education, health and good government measured separately.



However, this year they have recalculated their findings to show that the inequality of well-being provides a broader measure of inequality, according to this year's report released Wednesday by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN),



Two regionsthe Middle East and North Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean have more unequally distributed happiness than the world as a whole.



"There's a greater inequality in all aspects of life in those regions," John Helliwell, an economist and one of the editors of the report, told CNBC on Wednesday.


If Donald Trump becomes the next president, stocks will fall 50 percent, according to Wedbush's director of equity sales trading.

That's based on his analysis of the effects Trump's economic policies would have if the GOP front-runner carried them out as president.

In making his bold call, Ian Winer first looks at Trump's proposal to cut taxes on the highest-earnings Americans and on corporations, which according to different sources, would reduce government revenue by something in the neighborhood of $10 trillion over the next decade. On the spending side, Trump has promised to bulk up the military and bolster the country's infrastructure, which could lead to increased rather than reduced expenditures.

"Without any cut in spending, it's probably going to require somewhere between 8 and 9 percent GDP growth just to make us neutral," Winer said Tuesday on CNBC's "Fast Money."

Read MoreWall Street's wisest rap Trump



In other words, a massive increase in the country's deficit is likely, which could reduce the country's credit position.

The second policy plan Winer analyzes is one of Trump's best known  his promised mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. Not only will this cost a great deal of money to carry out, but it would massively deplete America's labor supply, Winer said.

"If you assume that every one of the 11 million people leave, and for every one of those jobs an American takes it  which probably is not likely, but let's just say they do  they're going to be higher-wage jobs," Winer said. That would "cut into corporate margins, and at the end of the day, it's just going to result in higher prices for consumers when they go to Wal-Mart and when the go to buy things."

Finally, Winer takes a look at the tariffs proposed by Trump on imports from China, Mexico and elsewhere.

"All this would do would be to raise prices on the poor," as it would directly increase the prices of goods, Winer wrote. "All it really does is impose a tax on U.S. consumers."

Read MoreTrump trade plans could cause global recession: Experts



All in all, Winer believes Trump's policies would lead to a nation on weaker fiscal footing, with a lack of cheap labor and a lack of cheap goods. In this environment, the multiple paid on S&P 500 earnings would dramatically decrease, he said.

"If all the policies are enacted," the S&P's price-to-earnings ratio "could go as low as 11," which is how you "get to 1,000 on the S&P," Winer wrote.

That would represent a 50 percent drop from current levels.

Winer isn't alone in predicting that a Trump win will hurt stocks. Byron Wien of Blackstone and Joseph Grano of Centurion Holdings made similar points in recent interviews on "Fast Money," though neither went so far as to say it could lead to a 50 percent crash.

For the other side, click here to see Trump's arguments.
Wealthy Iranians, companies and state-backed buyers will spend up to 6 billion ($8.5 billion) on overseas real estate over the next five-to-10 years following the lifting of international sanctions, a report said on Wednesday.

High-net-worth Iranians are likely to look to buy properties in London, Dubai, Switzerland, Germany or the south of France, London estate agency, Rokstone, said.

Becky Fatemi, the agency's Iran-born managing director, said London would be the location of choice, due to historical ties between the two nations. She added that wealthy Iranians tended to invest in property, jewelry and gold.

"Britain was the colonial power in Iran and it was British firms that first exploited Iran's oil reserves. Between 1945 and 1979, the Shah of Iran, his royal court and the business elite had lots of ties with Britain and the elite-owned luxury residential property in London and the home counties," Fatemi said in a media release on Wednesday.



"Dubai on the doorstep will also be popular but it cannot compete with London's educational system or cool summer climate. The other historic ties are with Germany, Paris, the French Riviera and Switzerland, but London is safer than these since a lot of properties in the capital are in conservation areas where building alterations are restricted, so values hold and outperform continental Europe," she later added.
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Between political uncertainty, a strong dollar and low oil prices hurting Middle East buyers, the largest American defense company is trying to play both defense and offense. Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson briefed reporters this week on how the company plans to move forward. Tellingly, she did not discuss what a Trump or Clinton (or Sanders) election would mean for her company or her industry. In fact, most of the vision she laid out didn't even touch on the U.S.

Instead, Hewson talked extensively about international markets. She also spoke about the long-term need for new technologies, like a plane that could fly more than 20 times the speed of sound.

The Lockheed Martin SR-72 is a conceptualized hypersonic UAV intended for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Source: Lockheed Martin

The world has become "a complex threat environment," Hewson told reporters, a place of "unpredictable instability." On the other hand, she said, "we've begun to see defense budgets stabilize ... which adds some predictability." For example, the Pentagon has increased spending this year for the first time in a long time, which is good news for programs like the F-35. Still, Hewson said there are fewer new American military programs on the horizon, and that is creating more intense competition among traditional players, along with new competition created by disruptive start-ups (like SpaceX). That's resulting in cases where Hewson said companies are "accepting unprecedented risk to gain or hold market share." In contrast, Hewson said, "we take prudent risks to do the right thing for shareholders, ... we do not commit to things we cannot do."

Her focus remains overseas, where Hewson said sales will continue to grow, but more slowly. Lockheed Martin's international sales were $9.5 billion in 2015, 21 percent of all revenues, a number the CEO still plans to grow to 25 percent. She expects much of the new business to come from Europe, facing its most serious security threat since the end of the Cold War. Aside from terrorist attacks, a resurgent Russia has "revitalized NATO," she said. This year, five of Lockheed's 53 F-35s scheduled for delivery will be assembled in Italy. Germany has selected Lockheed's Medium Extended Air Defense System, and there is potential interest in that system from Poland and Turkey.

Perhaps the most interesting news was about new technologies the company is investing in, especially in the area of "hypersonic" planes, which can go from six times the speed of sound to more than 20. Speed gives one an advantage in battle, and Hewson said Lockheed could develop, build and demonstrate a hypersonic aircraft the size of an F-22 for under $1 billion. A prototype could be flying by 2018. "The technology could also enable hypersonic passenger flights, and even easier access to space," she said. The question is whether there's an appetite for such an aircraft right now. "Now is the right time," Hewson insisted. "We know we must continue to disrupt ourselves before our competitors do."

The company also provided updates on a variety of programs.

Space, spies and security

Lockheed Martin's Orion spacecraft could someday take astronauts to Mars. After a successful unmanned test flight in December 2014, the company is building the next version for a final unmanned flight in 2018 that will go 30,000 miles past the moon. Manned flights could begin in 2021, and it looks increasingly likely Orion will first go to the moon before heading to Mars. "The moon is a great place to demonstrate living off the land," said program manager Mike Hawes.

Lockheed's Skunk Works, where all of the company's legendary aircraft have been conceived, is pitching the Air Force on its design of an unmanned replacement for the U-2 called the TRX. There's still talk of a new SR-71 called the SR-72, though few details could be provided. The company's cybersecurity division said it is now selling products that not only defend networks but can conduct offensive maneuvers against enemies. One system called Icarus can take control of someone else's drone, though the U.S. government is not yet a buyer.





Nothing matters more to Lockheed Martin than the success of the F-35 program, the most expensive in Pentagon history. The company said it is lowering the cost per aircraft from about $108 million now to around $85 million by 2019-2020.

Costs are being driven down with several initiatives, including the use of robots to coat certain parts of the aircraft. Previously that work had been done by hand, and often had to be redone.

Now about the F-35....
President Barack Obama is warning that the "vulgar and divisive" presidential campaign is damaging the country's reputation abroad.

Addressing Congress and guests including the Irish prime minister in his early St. Patrick's Day address, Obama said he was more than a little "dismayed" at the brash and aggressive style of campaigning with their controversial proposals comments, mainly by outspoken Republican front-runner Donald Trump.

"I know that I'm not the only one in this room who may be more than a little dismayed about what's happening on the campaign trail lately," Obama told the audience at the Friends of Ireland luncheon on Tuesday, according to a transcript of the speech on the White House website..

"We have heard vulgar and divisive rhetoric aimed at women and minorities  at Americans who don't look like 'us,' or pray like 'us,' or vote like we do. We've seen misguided attempts to shut down that speech, however offensive it may be. We live in a country where free speech is one of the most important rights that we hold," he said.

"In response to those attempts, we've seen actual violence, and we've heard silence from too many of our leaders," he added.
Health officials on Wednesday declared the outbreak to be over.

Health investigators have so far been unable to determine how the strain was contracted, a CDC spokeswoman told CNBC.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that nine of the 13 cases of the illness affected people who reported eating at a Pizza Ranch restaurant prior to becoming ill.

An investigation into a multistate E. coli outbreak has been linked to food served at several Pizza Ranch restaurants, health officials concluded.

Pizza Ranch said it has been working with investigators.

"Pizza Ranch independently ran over 40 tests on different products to test for the presence of E. Coli O157, and it was not found in any products tested," Ryan Achterhoff, chief administrative officer for Pizza Ranch, said in a statement. "We provided public health investigators with a list of all of our ingredients, as well as contact information for our ingredient suppliers. We also contacted the supplier of our dough mixes regarding this issue, with the request that they cooperate with state and federal health officials."

The restaurant has temporarily discontinued its use of its Skillet Dough and Original Dough mix due to reports that the products were a possible factor in the contraction of the illness.

"In addition, we instructed all Pizza Ranch locations to complete a special, precautionary cleaning of all surfaces and equipment used in dough preparation or service," Achterhoff said.



He said the likely source of the bacteria is an ingredient supplier and not the restaurant; the CDC confirmed that several people living multiple states away from a Pizza Ranch location have contracted the same strain of E. coli.



The states affected by this particular E. coli outbreak were Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina, New Jersey, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.



Eight of the individuals who contracted the illness were hospitalized, including two children who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to kidney failure, a CDC spokeswoman said. No deaths have been reported.



Pritzker Olsen, a law firm in Kansas, told CNBC it is representing a girl who developed HUS, but has not yet filed a lawsuit.

Pizza Ranch has more than 180 locations in 13 states, all of which are open and serving the company's full menu.

CORRECTION: E. coli is a bacteria. That fact was misstated in an earlier version of this article.
The Cincinnati Zoo put visitors and staff on lockdown Wednesday after a polar bear escaped its enclosure.

Berit, a 16-year-old female, escaped her pen into a behind-the-scenes area, zoo officials said. At no point was the animal loose in the zoo, a spokesman from the zoo told CNBC.

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"There is no risk to staff or visitors in the park," he said, noting that there have been no injuries. Guests may leave the park if they choose, he added.

Visitors inside the park took to Twitter following the lockdown:

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The situation is ongoing and under control, zoo officials say.



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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday the Senate will not consider President Barack Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court.



Obama did it "not with the intent of seeing the nominee confirmed, but in order to politicize it for the purpose of the election," the Kentucky Republican said.



He also said the Senate will "revisit" the matter when the next president nominates someone, adding that the people should have a say in who fills the currently vacant seat. "The American people may well elect a president who decides to nominate Judge Garland for Senate consideration. The next president may also nominate somebody very different," McConnell said.

Senate Republicans have vowed not to hold confirmation hearings or a vote on any nominee picked by the Democratic president for the lifetime position on the court. Senate confirmation is required for any nominee to join the bench.



Earlier Wednesday, Obama announced that he had selected Garland to fill the vacancy left by the Feb. 13 death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia.



"Of the many powers and responsibilities that the Constitution invests in the presidency, few are more consequential than appointing a Supreme Court justice," Obama said at the White House Rose Garden. "The men and women who sit on the Supreme Court are the final arbiters of American law."

"This is not a responsibility I take lightly."

Obama was looking for someone who could persuade the Republicans to drop their vows to block any nomination by the lame duck president. Garland, 63, has a moderate record, was a federal prosecutor who oversaw the Oklahoma City bombing case and has a history of drawing Republican support.



"Over my seven years as president, in all my conversations with senator of both parties, ... the one name that has come up repeatedly, from Republicans and Democrats alike, is Merrick Garland," Obama said. "To suggest that someone as qualified and respected as Merrick Garland doesn't even deserve a hearing, let alone an up or down vote, to join an institution as important as the Supreme Court, ... that would be unprecedented."

Garland, 63, is the chief judge on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.



"For me there could be no higher service than serving as a member of the United States Supreme Court," Garland said.



Garland was appointed to the appellate court by Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1997, winning confirmation in a 76-23 vote. Prior to that, he served in the Justice Department during the Clinton administration.



Garland was under consideration in 2009 for Obama's first appointment but the president chose Sonia Sotomayor.

In recent decades, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has been a springboard to the Supreme Court for several justices, including Scalia.
German cities including Berlin and Hamburg will see housing prices spike over the next 15 years as a growing refugee influx helps raise demand for urban housing, a Postbank report shows. The German retail bank issued a report earlier this month that looked at how housing prices across 36 cities would be affected by factors including a forecast settlement of 1 million refugees who could be granted asylum by 2030.



Berlin Olaf Protze | LightRocket | Getty Images

Postbank explained that a one percent population increase alone would raise city apartment prices by an average of 3.5 percent and single-family homes by 1.9 percent. While the report explains that areas of eastern Germany could benefit from a population boost, cities like Berlin and Hamburg are likely to face challenges as rising demand puts pressure on urban housing supplies. It's important to note that projections published by Germany's statistics service Destatis show the German population is set to decline, even under the most bullish migration estimates. Germany's population  which last stood at 80.8 million in 2013  is expected to pop over a period of five to seven years depending on the extent of migration, but fall to at least 73.1 million by 2016. That's in part due to falling birth rates and an ageing populace. Still, Postbank predicts increased urbanization rates, in part thanks to the expected settlement of refugees, in some of the country's most popular cities will drive up residential property prices.

In Berlin, where settled refugees are expected to boost the urban population by 4.7 percent, property prices are expected to soar 14.5 percent by 2030. Without the refugee influx, prices would rise 8.5 percent during that period, Postbank explained by email. Meanwhile, Potsdam is expected to see the second largest rise in population rates at 4.5 percent and Hamburg at 4.4 percent, the report stated. The rise in refugee numbers itself won't directly affect real estate costs, but will cause a domino effect on prices, the report explains. Demand will rise for subsidized housing, which will in turn drive up demand and costs for higher end rentals and ultimately drive up purchasing prices.

Berlin is already suffering from reduced housing stock, according to reports. German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported in February that Berlin's senate was negotiating a 600 million euro ($664.73 million) contract with the Grand City Hotels Group hotel chain in an effort to find a housing solution for 10,000 refugees. However, that plan has been attacked by those who claimed the money should be used to house Berlin's homeless population rather than non-nationals.
The white stork seems to like the taste of garbage. Birds in southern Europe are forgoing their annual migration in favor of spending their winters picking through the landfills of Spain and Portugal.

European storks used to be a totally migratory species, but some have begun to settle year-round in landfills in Spain and Portugal. Source: Aldina Franco

The white stork, scientifically known as Ciconia ciconia, used to be a totally migratory species. They are found across Europe and Central Asia in the warmer months and typically travel to Africa for winter. However, over time these migratory birds have begun to settle near landfills, feasting on the abundant "junk food" found there, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Movement Ecology. A group of researchers at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom have been studying these storks, and say while some birds are continuing their migratory ways in winter, others are instead hanging around all year in the dumps of southern Europe.

The team attached GPS trackers to several birds to track their movements over the course of a year. They found some birds living year-round at the landfills, and discovered that even migratory birds are traveling farther to get to the landfills than previously thought. Those who are staying year-round have an advantage in picking a spot to nest and they are breeding earlier in the following year. "Having a nest close to a guaranteed food supply also means that the storks are less inclined to leave for the winter," said study researcher Aldina Franco in a press release. "They instead spend their non-breeding season defending their highly desirable nest locations." Garbage makes up close to 70 percent of the food landfill storks are eating year-round, and the number of storks choosing to winter at the landfills has increased dramatically over the last decades. In 1995, there were just more than 1,000 storks overwintering at landfills in Portugal. By 2008, the number grew to more than 10,000, and by 2014, there were somewhere around 14,000, according to the study.
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South by Southwest isn't usually populated by a lot of suits or American flag lapel pins. Walking through the interactive festival you're more likely to find entrepreneurs in too-tight t-shirts emblazoned with unfamiliar logos or "I heart hackathons" hoodies. But this year Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx and the mayors of half a dozen major cities, each with their own lapel pin, gathered in the Austin, Texas, convention center to commune with these techies about one big area of common ground: Bringing urban transportation into the future. Foxx unveiled the seven finalist cities in his "Smart City Challenge," a competition to generate high-tech solutions to moving people and goods. Of the 78 cities that submitted applications, the finalists are Austin, Denver, Kansas City, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco. The final winner will be announced in June.

"This is not just about having one city win. This is about having our incubators of innovation, our cities across the country actually thinking about the future, making plans about the future that can actually be done," said Foxx. "Although we only have one winner, we're going to work with all 77 of the other cities to give them a pathway to move forward as much as we can with what they've planned out."

The winning city will bring home $40 million from the government to spend on its proposal and another $10 million from Paul Allen's Vulcan to invest specifically in electric car infrastructure. Plus, the challenge is focused on partnering the public and private sectors. The challenge will bring cities as much as another $50 million worth of technological services from a range of private companies, including Amazon Web Services , traffic-sensor company Mobileye and 3-D visualization company Autodesk. "In technology and transportation there's no way the public sector can solve all of our problems on its own," Foxx said of the key importance of local governments working with a range of companies. "We're chronically underinvesting for one thing, and I think our imaginations have been stunted by the lack of resources. On the other hand you've got the technology and innovation world that is coming up with all kinds of solutions that could be practically applied to solve these challenges. It's going to take both of us working together and that's part of the power of us coming together at SXSW."
Coal miners operate a carbide-tipped shearer as it scrapes coal at a mine in Wind Ridge, Pennsylvania. Ty Wright | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Few Wall Street banks are still willing to get their hands dirty in the coal business. Under pressure from government officials and environmental advocacy groups, a growing number of top financial services firms are scaling back their financing of coal mining operations. This month, JPMorgan Chase and PNC Financial announced new policies restricting their activity supporting mountaintop removal, a particularly destructive coal mining process. It comes after banks such as Morgan Stanley , Wells Fargo , Citigroup , Goldman Sachs and Bank of America announced commitments to back away from financing the coal industry, although the language in each firm's environmental statements tends to vary. "The major banks are first movers on this," said Amanda Starbuck, climate and energy program director with the Rainforest Action Network, an environmental group that has pushed for banks to exit financing coal development projects. "The bank that has the furthest to go is Goldman Sachs; the bank has not cut financing for coal mining on a sectorwide basis." Late last year, Goldman Sachs issued a statement and said it would be "selective" in coal project financing. Yet Goldman's work financing coal sector deals has been less than most large banks in the U.S. and in Europe, on a dollar basis. Starbuck was also critical of policies announced by Deutsche Bank , whose policies on coal project financing she said lacks transparency.

The White House this year issued a moratorium of new leases for coal mined on federal lands, a blow to coal producers. California pensions, under Gov. Jerry Brown's 2015 law, will divest from investments in coal companies by mid-2017. Somewhere along the line, financing the coal sector became nearly tantamount to backing firearms makers. Banks' withdrawal from coal is having an immediate impact. After sector pressures forced Alpha Natural Resources into bankruptcy last August, the lack of financing from banks to let the company exit Chapter 11 led the company to sell more assets as it continues its restructuring. Wednesday, coal producer Peabody Energy skipped an interest payment due March 15, warning investors it faces potential bankruptcy. Trade publication Debtwire reported earlier in March that the company selected bankruptcy consultant Kurtzman Carson as a claims agent for a potential Chapter 11 process. Peabody declined to comment. Last month, analysts at Barclays slashed estimates for Peabody stock and noted that the company faces challenges to its financial position, not just from banks' pulling away from coal financing but from commodity price pressure, as well. "We also believe that in current markets the likelihood of a major asset sale at a multiple sufficient to allow deleveraging also looks more and more remote," analysts wrote in their report.

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Even with Trump 's huge projected delegate haul in four state primaries Tuesday, the odds are increasing the billionaire businessman may not ultimately get the 1,237 delegates needed to claim the GOP nomination before the convention.

Haugland is one of 112 Republican delegates who are not required to cast their support for any one candidate because their states and territories don't hold primaries or caucuses.

"The media has created the perception that the voters choose the nomination. That's the conflict here," Curly Haugland, an unbound GOP delegate from North Dakota, told CNBC's " Squawk Box " on Wednesday. He even questioned why primaries and caucuses are held.

This could lead to a brokered convention, in which unbound delegates, like Haugland, could play a significant swing role on the first ballot to choose a nominee.

Most delegates bound by their state's primary or caucus results are only committed on the first ballot. If subsequent ballots are needed, virtually all of the delegates can vote any way they want, said Gary Emineth, another unbound delegate from North Dakota.

"It could introduce Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney, or it could be the other candidates that have already been in the race and are now out of the race [such as] Mike Huckabee [or] Rick Santorum. All those people could eventually become candidates on the floor," Emineth said.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, who decided not to run for the White House this year, said in a CNBC interview Tuesday he won't categorically rule out accepting the GOP nomination if a deadlocked convention were to turn to him. But on Wednesday, a Ryan spokeswoman said the speaker would not accept a Republican nomination for president at a divided convention.

Democrats experienced the last true brokered presidential convention to go beyond the first ballot in 1952. Republicans came close at their 1976 convention.



"The rules haven't kept up," Haugland said. "The rules are still designed to have a political party choose its nominee at a convention. That's just the way it is. I can't help it. Don't hate me because I love the rules."

Haugland said he sent a letter to each campaign alerting them to a rule change he's proposing, which would allow any candidate who earns at least one delegate during the nominating process to submit his or her name to be nominated at this summer's convention.

If the GOP race continues at the same pace, Trump would likely have a plurality of delegates. So far, he's more than halfway to the 1,237 magic number.

Trump split Tuesday's winner-take-all primaries in Florida and Ohio.

The real estate mogul dominated in Florida over Sen. Marco Rubio, who dropped out of the race after losing his home state.

But Trump lost Ohio to the state's governor, John Kasich. Trump also won Illinois and North Carolina. He held a slim lead over Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in Missouri early Wednesday.

Emineth, also a former chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party, told "Squawk Box" in the same interview that he's concerned about party officials pulling "some shenanigan."

"You have groups of people who are going to try to take over the rules committee," he warned. "[That] could totally change everything, and mess things up with the delegates. And people across the country will be very frustrated."

"It's important that the Republican National Committee has transparency on what they're doing [on the rules] going into the convention and what happens in the convention," he continued. That's because of "all the votes that have been cast in caucuses and primaries. Don't disenfranchise those voters. Because at the end of the day, our goal is to beat Hillary Clinton or whoever their [Democratic] nominee is in November."



Emineth said he's worried that frustration would discourage Americans in the general election from voting Republican.

 CNBC's Lori Ann LaRocco contributed to this report.


Medical marijuana growing in Denver Harriet Taylor | CNBC

This year could be historic, not only for the presidency but also for the American marijuana industry, according to research released this week from Marijuana Business Daily, a leading publication of information on the medical and retail cannabis markets. The publication a few years back was initially tentative about the industry's prospects, but it is now bullish on weed.



"We're witnessing the emergence of a business that is about to become a massive economic force," wrote managing editor Chris Walsh in the publication's 2016 factbook.

Put simply, this election year will play a pivotal role in the future of the nation's marijuana industry. "You're gonna have a handful of states voting on whether or not to legalize," Walsh told CNBC. "These states could have some huge markets." For instance, Florida, with its large senior population is "ripe" for legalized medical marijuana, according to Walsh. However, he said the real excitement is around Nevada, a huge tourist destination, which is voting on legalizing recreational marijuana use this year. Marijuana Business Daily's exclusive research data found that year-to-year growth of medical and recreational sales from 2015 to 2016 will go from 17 percent to 26 percent, between $3.5 billion and $4.3 billion in revenue being raised this year. These are sales through legal dispensaries and storefronts or what Walsh called the "core of the industry," not the black market. Nevertheless, he admits that the boom is taking the industry away from a mom-and-pop focus, something that many are not happy about.

Walsh said that legalized states "are still feeling their way along, especially on the recreational side" with edibles and infused products for which there is a fast-growing demand as people cannot or do not want to inhale smoke. These states are pushing for more regulation, whether that means adding conditions for medical patients or "grappling with pesticides" on the cultivation side of the business. In addition, Walsh said that medical marijuana markets  even mature ones  continue to grow while start-up costs for dispensaries, testing labs and even infused product companies are increasing to cover licensing fees, standards and security.
UTICA, N.Y.  Budget proposals in the New York State Senate and Assembly include funding for a proposed hospital in Oneida County.

The $300 million that the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) is seeking for the facility is part of the budget proposals in both legislative houses, State Sens. Joseph Griffo (RRome) and David Valesky (DOneida) along with State Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi (DUtica) said in a joint news release issued Friday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomos budget proposal didnt include the funding, the legislators said.

MVHS is an affiliation of Faxton St. Lukes Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center, both of Utica. The two organizations teamed up in March 2014.

MVHS on April 1, 2015 had announced the 2015-16 state budget included $300 million that it would target for a new facility.

Since then, the funding had been reallocated for other purposes in the budget, the lawmakers noted. But they believe their corrective action will ensure that the funding is part of the current budget process.

A new hospital would replace the inpatient care currently provided at the St. Lukes campus of Faxton St. Lukes Healthcare (FSLH) and at St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC).

MVHS estimates that a new hospital would cost between $460 million and $500 million. The state-approved $300 million helps to lay the foundation for funding, the organization added in its April 2015 announcement.

MVHS has been working to assemble a budget, timeline, location analysis, and re-use plans for its current facilities, Griffo said.

But in order to move forward, Mohawk Valley Health System must be confident that the state will fulfill its promise. By now taking this corrective action in the Legislature, were hopeful that the governors administration will stand by its stated commitment and agree to the necessary funds we have budgeted for this important community project to improve the healthcare services of Oneida County, he added.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
Boone County high school football regular-season superlatives in 2022

Here are some of our superlatives for Boone County football players at the end of the regular season.
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On The Docket Whether it's a verdict or a hearing, it's On The Docket SHARE

By Katie Fretland of The Commercial Appeal

A 26-year-old Memphis man pleaded guilty Wednesday to distributing child pornography, said the office of Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.

Julius Ford pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and is scheduled for sentencing July 7.

On September 4, 2014, Homeland Security Investigations agents in Memphis received an investigative lead about an individual in the Memphis area using a flagged e-mail account to send and receive e-mails containing child exploitation material, Stantons spokesman Louis Goggans said in a news release. The investigation revealed that the IP address and login activity associated with the e-mail account was registered to Ford at a residence in the Frayser area of Memphis.

An investigator with the Memphis Child Exploitation Task Force contacted the account, which resulted in a series of e-mails sent from the account to the covert investigator, Goggans wrote. The e-mails contained child exploitation material, including videos depicting prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts with other minors and adults.

A search warrant Feb. 2, 2015 resulted in the seizure of two laptops, a hard drive, phone and thumb drive.

Ford later admitted to being the user of the mail account and that he had used the account to trade child pornography, Goggans wrote. The defendant also admitted to sending e-mails from the account containing videos of child pornography to the covert investigator.
On The Docket Whether it's a verdict or a hearing, it's On The Docket SHARE

By Katie Fretland of The Commercial Appeal

A 58-year-old Memphis woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to theft of government money, said the office of Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.

Marcia Daniels, who received the retirement insurance benefits of her boyfriend after his death, is scheduled for sentencing June 16, 2016.

James Henry Johnson died on June 2, 2011, Stantons spokesman Louis Goggans said in a news release. Daniels was listed as the informant on Johnsons death certificate. At the time of his death, Johnson was receiving approximately $1,800 in Title II Retirement Insurance Benefits via monthly checks mailed to a P.O. Box in Memphis. The checks continued to be deposited into Johnsons First South Credit Union account after his death.

Daniels was identified by bank tellers as depositing Johnsons checks, Goggans wrote.

Bank records reflect that between July 1, 2011 and March 3, 2015, approximately $80,000 of Social Security Administration checks were deposited and cash withdrawals were made from ATMs in Memphis and at several casinos in Tunica, Mississippi, he said
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By Kevin McKenzie of The Commercial Appeal

Evergreen Packaging Inc. easily won a PILOT in Memphis and Shelby County as it considers making Memphis the site of a consolidated headquarters for a $5 billion operation.

Evergreen is a Memphis-based milk and juice carton manufacturer spun off from International Paper Co. in 2007.

The companys strategic owner, New Zealand billionaire Graeme Hart, has decided to combine Memphis-based Evergreen with two sister firms, Indianapolis-based Closure Systems International and York, Pennsylvania-based Graham Packaging Co., Evergreen officials said.

Memphis, Indianapolis and York, as well as Lake Forest, Illinois and Charlotte, North Carolina, are in a competition to become headquarters for the new, combined organization, officials told the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County.

The combined headquarters would add 70 positions with an average pay of $176,283 to about 103 jobs averaging $113,849 currently employed at Evergreen, the company reported.

The EDGE board approved a payment-in-lieu-of-tax incentive for the project, labeled "Nuco," that would provide a total $1.16 million break in Memphis and Shelby County property-related taxes over 15 years. The company reported that it would invest about $3.8 million to expand its operations in an office building at 5350 Poplar or other locations.
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By Kevin McKenzie of The Commercial Appeal

The Greater Memphis Chamber on Wednesday unveiled a plan to grow local small, minority- and women-owned businesses as suppliers after months of working with a collaborative group.

Meanwhile, the chamber also proposed minor revisions to a mandatory diversity policy that EDGE was set to put in place this year for companies seeking PILOT tax breaks in Memphis and Shelby County.

Chamber chairman Carolyn Hardy, CEO Phil Trenary and economic development project manager Andre Gibson outlined for the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County board a broad plan to grow minority- and women-owned firms. The three major planks:

Supplier diversity support. Members of the chamber's Chairman's Circle companies will be invited to share their supplier diversity polices and processes and receive assistance if they don't have one. A business-to-church program and procurement seminars will be included.

Mentor/protege relationships using mentoring by Chairman's Circle firms and training to boost the capacity of small businesses.

A comprehensive online portal providing minority-, women-owned and local small businesses with automatic notification of public and private bids. It would also provide links to business development service providers, a universal certification acceptance application and serve as a comprehensive database of small firms.

Working with a "supplier diversity collaborative" that included business, government and other representatives, the chamber had asked EDGE to delay for three months implementing a more stringent diversity policy for companies receiving PILOTs.

That new policy, which sets mandatory rather than good-faith efforts for PILOT recipients to spend with certified minority-, women-owned and local firms, was set to start with the new year.

Like the EDGE policy on hold, the chamber's proposal for the PILOT diversity program would set a minimum 15 percent target for spending on construction, site preparation and annual local purchasing with certified small firms. The target for good-faith efforts currently in place is 25 percent.

The chamber's proposal also sweetens incentives and somewhat weakens possible penalties, compared with the EDGE policy. The EDGE board voted to take no action, leaving the legacy policy in place until July 1.

After the presentation, Trenary said chamber officials believe that with the new tools of the broader plan to boost women- and minority-owned firms in place, in a couple of years companies receiving PILOTs will exceed targets, making mandatory requirements unnecessary.

"Let us make it easy to do the right thing and help companies be successful in this and basically take advantage of the incentive part, the carrot part," he said.

Chamber officials pointed to a low share of business receipts for African-American owned businesses, 0.84 percent, and for women, 2.8 percent.
Shawn McGhee of Hollywood Feed poses near Mississippi-made pet beds. The Memphis company was awarded a PILOT Wednesday for a plan to expand and move its headquarters to North Memphis. (Image courtesy of Hollywood Feed.)

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By Kevin McKenzie of The Commercial Appeal

Hollywood Feed LLC plans to move its headquarters to North Memphis and create 31 new jobs with plans that won a PILOT Wednesday from Memphis and Shelby County.

The Memphis-based pet products retailer received a green light from the EDGE board for an eight-year, $419,117 payment-in-lieu-of-taxes incentive to renovate a distribution facility at 1339 Warford.

Hollywood Feeds retail store on Broad will remain while its corporate headquarters and warehouse distribution facility will move to the Warford site, officials said. Currently, 80 percent of the company's products are supplied through the Broad location, officials said.

The company plans to invest a total of nearly $3.2 million in the project, including $1.1 million to renovate an existing 175,000 square foot building and $1 million to buy two adjacent parcels, the company reported to the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County.

Company officials have set the end of the third quarter, or by the end of September, as target date to move in to the Warford site.

The new jobs, added to a workforce of about 42, would pay an average of $47,419 a year, the company reported.

Founded in Memphis in the 1950s as a feed store at Hollywood and Jackson supplying farmers, the Memphis Zoo and the citys animal shelter, since changing hands in 2006 Hollywood Feed by last year had grown to 42 stores in five states and plans 12 to 15 more this year, officials said.

Moving into the larger facilities will allow the company to move more quickly wiht expansion plans, currently including Atlanta.
SHARE George Howard Putt outside Judge William Williams' courtroom on April 24, 1973. (Fred Griffith/The Commercial Appeal) Bernalyn and Roy Dumas. (Courtesy of Michael Dumas) Serial killer George Howard Putt has died. George Howard Putt outside Judge William Williams' courtroom on April 24, 1973. (Fred Griffith/The Commercial Appeal)

By Yolanda Jones and Jody Callahan of The Commercial Appeal

George Howard Putt, an infamous serial killer who terrorized Memphis during the summer of 1969 when he murdered five people in less than a month, died in a state prison hospital late last year, officials confirmed Wednesday.

Putt died Oct. 26 of natural causes at the Lois DeBerry Special Needs Facility in Nashville. He was 69. After no one came forward to claim Putt's body, he was given a state burial. It was unclear why officials with the state Department of Corrections didn't release the information at the time of Putt's death.

"A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I logged into the website and it showed he was deceased," said Michael Dumas, whose parents were Putt's first victims. "It was surprising that they didn't let the victims know, the families of the people who died as well as victims being Memphians my age or older who recall that summer 47 years ago."

Putt's grim spree put Memphis on edge like nothing ever had before, or likely since. Residents made runs on hardware stores for stronger locks. Streets were nearly deserted at night. A Memphis police task force grew to more than 50 officers assigned to the case.

"In my 29 years here, I've never seen anything like the state the city was in," former Memphis police Deputy Director Don Lewis said in 1989. "There have been other murders that were bad, but they didn't compare with... the savagery with which he killed."

Added former homicide chief Bob Cochran: "I just don't have the words to describe the atmosphere. It was a 29-day period of pure hell."

This all began in May 1969 when Putt, 23, was sentenced to six months on a Mississippi penal farm for burglary. A month later, on June 26, Putt walked away from a work farm. He and his wife, Mary, fled to Memphis later that summer.

Putt's murderous spree began on Aug. 14, when he strangled Roy Dumas, 58, and his wife, Bernalyn, 46, in separate bedrooms of their apartment at 1133 S. Cooper, just south of Cooper-Young. Bernalyn had been sexually mutilated. Michael Dumas made the grisly discovery after his folks failed to show up at a birthday party.

Dumas said he eventually forgave Putt for what he did, but that he never got over the pain the killer caused.

"My reaction (to Putt's death) was remorse, because it brought back all the painful memories of that summer," Dumas said. "The death of my parents has always been painful. One part of me was happy that maybe this is over with. We all carry our pain from the past. You never get over that."

On Aug. 25, 11 days after the Dumas killings, Putt strangled and sexually mutilated 80-year-old Leila Jackson at her rooming house on Somerville. Putt met Jackson when he asked about renting a room from her a month earlier.

After the killings of Bernalyn Dumas and Jackson, Putt strategically placed a lamp so that it shone on their bodies.

Putt struck again four days later, when he abducted Glenda Sue Harden, a 21-year-old employee at Jackson Life Insurance, after she left Downtown's Falls Building. The next day, police found her body in Riverside Park. She had been stabbed 14 times, her hands bound with her pantyhose. Officials wouldn't say at the time if she'd also been mutilated.

Putt cooled off for several days, but on Sept. 11, he struck again. He'd been drinking at a Midtown bar called the OK Cafe earlier that day, reports said. That afternoon, he made his way to the apartments at 41 N. Bellevue, where 59-year-old Christine Pickens lived.

Putt stabbed her repeatedly, but she let out a scream that alerted others in the complex. A janitor, Henry Currie, encountered Putt and slowed him down.

At that point, Walker Armstrong, who lived across the hall from Pickens, emerged with a gun. Wearing just his undershorts, Armstrong chased Putt down the street, firing at least six wild shots. Armstrong and Currie got in a car and continued the pursuit. Police were alerted, and two officers soon caught Putt on Pasadena a little north of Linden.

"It was the highlight of my career," Officer R.G. Noblin said in 1989. "If I didn't do anything else, I made the greatest catch in the history of the city of Memphis."

Putt later confessed to all five murders, but was only tried for three: Ray and Bernalyn Dumas and Pickens. After a death sentence was commuted, Putt was eventually sentenced to 497 years in prison, a term that would have run through 2432.

In an interview with Memphis magazine on the 20th anniversary of the murders, Putt showed little remorse.

"I think where I'm at now is where I'm supposed to be. If it meant me understanding ... to get where I'm at (mentally and spiritually), I'd do it all again."
March 16, 2016 - District Attorney Amy Weirich supports an initiative which offers financial assistance to qualifying individuals seeking to have their criminal record expunged. (Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal)

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By Kayleigh Skinner of The Commercial Appeal

A criminal record is often a barrier to finding a job, a home, student loans and more when people are required to acknowledge they have a criminal history on applications. Now, with the help of a recent law, some have the chance for a clean slate.

In July 2012, a law went into effect that allows people convicted of specific nonviolent crimes in Tennessee to have their records expunged. Eligible applicants can only have one misdemeanor or class E felony conviction and must wait five years after the completion of their sentence before they apply. Examples of eligible crimes include reckless driving, public intoxication, shoplifting and vandalism, depending on the monetary damage caused.

"You have to have satisfied every requirement that the judge put on you," Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich said. "Remember what we are talking about is people that have never found themselves back in the criminal justice system, back at 201 Poplar."

But some can't afford the $450 fee.

On Monday, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland is hosting a "Better Memphis Fund" fundraiser to benefit eligible applicants who can't afford the fee on their own.

"He (Strickland) and I have had many conversations about how this statute works and one of his questions was, 'What are the barriers, what keeps people from availing themselves of this beneficial statute?'" Weirich said. "The only barrier that we can think of is money, not having the funds to pay the $450 extra fines that have to be paid to take advantage of the statute."

Weirich said 294 applications in Shelby County have been granted since the law went into effect in 2012, and there are currently 141 applications pending.

Tennessee legislators are working to make the fee more manageable. House representative Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, is sponsoring a bill in the current legislative session that would reduce the current expungement fee.

Having a criminal record "keeps people from getting through the door to an interview," said Josh Spickler, executive director of criminal justice reform nonprofit Just City.

His organization has raised funds for about 50 eligible applicants over the last two years.

The "Better Memphis Fund" fundraiser hopes to raise more.

"These are people trying to get their life back in order... there are many people in Memphis who want to find a job or a better job and their records are being held against them," Strickland said.

Strickland's fundraiser will be held at the Hattiloo Theater from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on March 21. There is a suggested $25 donation.

"It helps Memphis because it gets people back in the workforce so that they're not enticed back into a life of crime," Strickland said.
<p>May 6, 2015 - Commissioner Terry Roland (right) talks to fellow commissioner Eddie Jones during budget hearings before the Shelby County Commission Budget and Finance committee at Vasco A. Smith Jr. Administration Building. (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal)</p>

By Linda A. Moore of The Commercial Appeal

Shelby County commissioners agreed Wednesday to take no position on the pending de-annexation legislation expected to go to the Tennessee Senate next week.

While Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland has said the bill has the potential to financially devastate the city and has taken a strong position against it, the County Commission represents the city, the unincorporated county and areas fighting to leave the city.

Commissioners, acknowledging the body's competing needs, said that taking a position could harden legislators in Nashville on both sides.

The commission must be "the adults in the room," said Commissioner David Reaves, who has called Strickland's dire predictions "fear mongering."

On Monday, the Tennessee House of Representatives approved a bill that would let voters in areas annexed after 1998 hold a referendum to break away from cities, including Memphis, that had annexed them.

As Mayor Mark Luttrell joined Strickland in a meeting with Shelby County's legislative delegation in Nashville on Wednesday, the county commission's legislative affairs committee spoke by telephone with Chip Smith, one of its Nashville lobbyists, about de-annexation.

Smith assured them that he was relaying to legislators that the commission had not taken a side.

Smith also said the Shelby County delegation in the legislature has been divided during the House debates, but the Senate has so far been quiet about the bill it will take up next week.

The lobbyists will defer to whatever the commission directs, but advised that advocating on any side could be "problematic," Smith said.

County officials met Tuesday to discuss the financial impact to the county and expect to have a report early next week, said Harvey Kennedy, county CAO.

The administration will assess parks, libraries, community centers, road maintenance and a shift in gas tax, Kennedy said.

They expect fire fees collected in the areas to offset the cost of fire protection, but the "long pole in the tent," he said, is law enforcement by the sheriff's department, which is funded from the general fund and would have to patrol the areas that could be returned to unincorporated Shelby County.

Strickland has put the de-annexation cost to the city at anywhere from $27.7 million to $79.1 million if all 10 eligible residential areas in the city voted to de-annex.

However, Commissioner Terry Roland, providing no specific figures, noted that because the bill allows the city to keep commercial and industrial areas, it would actually make money.

He speculated that only Southwind/Windyke and South Cordova would be likely leave the city and said that citizens there have received few services since being annexed.

"I would say the city would be at a net gain if this happens, seeing as how they get to keep the sales taxes and the commercial," Roland said.
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By Richard Locker of The Commercial Appeal

NASHVILLE  A bill that would strip the University of Tennessee of $100,000 a year in state funding for certain diversity and inclusion operations began advancing in a House subcommittee Tuesday  but on a separate track than a similar effort in the state Senate.

House Bill 2248 as originally filed by Rep. Micah Van Huss, R-Johnson City, would strip all state funding from UT's Office for Diversity and Inclusion. But Van Huss entered the House Education Subcommittee on Tuesday afternoon with an amendment that would take $100,000 a year for the next three years away from UT and use it instead to pay for decals bearing the national motto "In God We Trust" on law enforcement vehicles.

The amendment would also prohibit UT from using any state funds "to promote the use of gender-neutral pronouns, Sex Week or to promote or demote a religious holiday." The committee approved the amendment and moments later, the bill, on an unrecorded group voice vote.

Rep. Eddie Smith, R-Knoxville, asked Van Huss whether he would be willing to accept an amendment later, in the full House Education Committee, that would allow UT to keep the $100,000 a year and use it to recruit students from six Tennessee counties with no students currently enrolled through UT's various diversity efforts  including minority students, veterans and students who are the first in their families to attend college. Van Huss said he would be willing to discuss such an amendment with Smith before the bill reaches the full committee next week.

But he declined a suggestion by Smith, the chairman of the Knox County legislative delegation, to hold off and give UT time to work out its controversies internally under a separate bill already approved by the House to restructure the UT administration.

Smith said that bill makes reporting lines clearer in the UT campus and system administration and makes clearer the responsibilities of the UT board of trustees.

"Would it be advantageous to take a step back, allow that process to work to see if (they) can fix these issues internally rather than us doing it, and if not we have a mechanism to hold those individuals accountable?" Smith asked.

Van Huss: "I don't know if it would be advantageous to take a step back. The University of Tennessee and specifically the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, in my mind and my research, has a history of repeat offenses.  Personally I don't trust the University of Tennessee to fix the problem on their own."

The Senate Education Committee on March 2 recommended stripping $8 million from the UT budget for diversity and inclusion operations and reroute it to agricultural extension and other rural outreach programs. That proposal still must be considered by the Senate Finance Committee.
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By Richard Locker of The Commercial Appeal

NASHVILLE  Lawmakers dealt a fatal blow Tuesday to efforts to expand high-speed internet service to rural and suburban residents this year, deferring to next year bills that allowing public electric utilities to expand their broadband services outside their electric service areas.

State Rep. Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland, blamed a phalanx of lobbying by commercial broadband companies like AT&T and Comcast.

"It's a testament to the power of lobbying against this bill and not listening to our electorate," Brooks said. "We have thousands of petitions signed (in support of the bill) and the voice of the people was not heard today."

The House Business and Utilities Subcommittee killed his bill, even though Brooks had amended it down to a "pilot" program in which the city-owned Electric Power Board of Chattanooga could expand its nationally acclaimed broadband service outside its Hamilton County service area and into adjoining Bradley County. Current Tennessee law allows municipal electric utilities to provide Internet service only within the boundaries of their electric service.

Supporters of rural broadband have tried for seven consecutive years to win approval of some form of legislation allowing local publicly owned electric utilities to expand their high-speed internet services outside of their immediate service areas but have been thwarted annually by lobbying by for-profit companies who have been slow to expand their high-speed telecommunications services into more sparsely populated  and less profitable  areas.

Swann, chairman of the subcommittee and a supporter of efforts to expand broadband, said those efforts have "all been put on hold until we come back next year. I think we've got the attention of the industry finally and I think they're going to come to the table and start talking seriously about this rather than running continual delays and delays."

Swann said he expects the issued will be studied by a legislative committee after the General Assembly adjourns, with a report back next year. In addition to the legislature, rural broadband availability is being examined by the state Department of Economic and Community Development and the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, a state and local government research agency.

Rep. Dan Howell, R-Georgetown, said Brooks' bill was "a perfect opportunity" for a municipal broadband provider to prove the viability of expanding service outside its primary service area "but they wouldn't even let us do a pilot program."
FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2013, file photo, state Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey holds a news conference in his office in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig, File)

By Richard Locker of The Commercial Appeal

NASHVILLE  His voice cracking with emotion, Senate Speaker and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey announced Wednesday he won't run for re-election to the General Assembly this year, ending a 24-year legislative career that made him the second-most powerful official in state government.

Ramsey, 60, R-Blountville, delivered the surprise news on the Senate floor at the end of a short session, making it clear he wants to spend more time at home in the Bristol area, where his auction and real estate business is located and where he, his wife, three daughters, four young grandsons and a new granddaughter due Wednesday live.

"When I ran for office four years ago, I had a one-year old grandson. That grandson, Parker, will be starting kindergarten in August. I now have four grandsons. My first granddaughter will be born today. I will be leaving immediately following session to celebrate the birth of little Sadie Rhea with my family," he said.

Ramsey was first elected to the General Assembly in 1992 when Democrats were in firm control, and he served two two-year terms in the House of Representatives. In 1996, he won the first of five four-year terms in the Senate.

In 2007, he defeated longtime Senate Speaker John Wilder to become the first Republican lieutenant governor of Tennessee since 1869. The late Wilder, a Democrat from Somerville, had been Senate speaker since 1971. In Tennessee, the speaker of the Senate is elected by the 33-member Senate and also carries the title lieutenant governor.

Ramsey ran for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2010 but finished third behind then-Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and former Chattanooga congressman Zach Wamp. He often argued that he would have won if he had Haslam's money.

But he can accurately take credit  and often does  for being the chief architect of the Republican takeover of the state Senate, and to a lesser degree, the House as well. He has stenciled high on the wall of his Legislative Plaza conference room one of his two favorite phrases, "It matters who governs."

He cited his second most-repeated phrase, "I'm living the dream," during his brief floor speech Wednesday.

"I have always been known as a straight-shooter who gets right to the point. Today is no exception. I stand before you today to announce that I will not be seeking another four-year term to the state Senate. I have served in the General Assembly for nearly a quarter of a century ... For the last 10 years, this body has granted me the privilege of serving as lieutenant governor and speaker of the Senate. It has been a true honor to serve my state in this way.

"I have said many times, I truly am 'living the dream.' I have never meant that phrase as much as I mean it right now. I am living the dream. While serving in the Legislature, I have tried my best to keep my priorities in order."

They are, he said, his faith, his family, his business, and fourth, politics and state government. "Sindy is not only my wife but my best friend. She is truly the wind beneath my wings. I have the three best daughters a father could ask for. And now I have three wonderful sons-in-law ...

"It has been the honor of my life to serve here. We have accomplished great things together. We have left Tennessee better than we found it. But lately, it seems like life is flying by," Ramsey said.

"After a lot of prayer and many sleepless nights, I have determined that I simply cannot commit to another four years in office. I am ready to take priority number four off the table and commit a lot more time to priority No. 2, my growing family. This has not been an easy decision. I love the state Senate. I love being lieutenant governor."

Senators of both parties, staffers and visitors in the gallery gave him an extended standing ovation.

Reaction began flowing in immediately.

Haslam called Ramsey "an outstanding leader for Tennessee, and I will truly miss working with him on a daily basis. Ron is smart and effective, and he has been passionate about serving Tennessee and his district. I appreciate his 24 years of service in the General Assembly, and I will miss him."

Tennessee GOP Chairman Ryan Haynes: "Ron Ramsey has been a conservative leader in the Republican Party. He leaves an incredible legacy of reform that will be hard for anyone to match. The Tennessee Republican Party would not have reached its supermajority status without our lieutenant governor's clear vision, guidance, and support. Ron Ramsey proves the old adage is true: It matters who governs."

House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville: "I have served alongside Ron Ramsey for many years and I have the utmost respect for him. He dedicated his time in public service to making Tennessee a great state. He often says that it matters who governs, and indeed it does  Tennessee has had a great leader in Ron Ramsey."

Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris, D-Memphis, called Ramsey "a true statesman and, really, a role model on authenticity in public life.

"He demonstrated that again today in how he announced his retirement," Harris said. "He set out a list of priorities and we would be lucky to be as smart, self-aware, authentic, and courageous enough to be able to do the same someday. We would all also be lucky to have even a portion of the blessings that Ramsey has had. He deserves a long-round of congratulations."
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By Daniel Connolly of The Commercial Appeal

Evaluators have given the Collierville school system above-average marks after a review of operations this week.

The team from Alpharetta, Georgia-based AdvanceED conducted a series of school visits and interviews. They assessed everything from test scores to use of technology and gave the suburban school district an overall score of 329.27, higher than the average of 278.34 among the thousands of schools worldwide the organization reviews.

"So congratulations to you for achieving such high numbers," lead evaluator David Gullatt told school board members Wednesday.

The Collierville school system is one of six municipal districts that broke away from the larger Shelby County Schools. The accreditation agency's visit this week represents a test of the system's performance so far.

"I'm just proud of the work everyone put in," Superintendent John Aitken said. "It's a validation."

Collierville leaders have made schools central to the town's identity and economic development, saying good schools are an essential ingredient for drawing both people and business investment.

The Tennessee State Board of Education authorizes AdvanceED to issue accreditation certificates, said Philip Cramer, staff attorney for the state board. Among other benefits, students from an accredited school system may become eligible for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship, he said.

Accreditation also ensures the school system can continue to receive federal funding and that its diplomas are recognized by colleges, said Collierville's director of curriculum and accountability Louise Claney, and school system chief of staff Russell Dyer.

The evaluation team arrived Sunday and stayed until midday Wednesday, when Gullatt gave his verbal report. The visitors will write a report that will go to a committee within AdvanceED, which will likely issue accreditation, Claney said.

The assessment praised the Collierville schools for providing a strong learning environment and good leadership.

"They seem to have a focus on where they're going and how they're gonna get there," Gullatt said.

The visitors found just one area of substantial weakness: They said the school system needs to do a better job of making sure adult advocates or mentors are available to all students.

"And that's certainly something we'll look at very closely," school board chairman Mark Hansen said in response.

The evaluators also gave the system relatively low marks on use of technology to enhance learning. The school system is already discussing ways to increase its use of technology, including buying iPads or similar devices for students in certain grade levels.
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By Ron Maxey of The Commercial Appeal

DeSoto remains Mississippi's healthiest county, according to 2016 data released Wednesday by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

The annual rankings of the overall health well-being of most counties nationwide has ranked DeSoto as the state's healthiest each year since at least 2011, the earliest year for which rankings are available at countyhealthrankings.org.

Among other area Mississippi counties, Tate ranks 18th among 82 counties, Marshall is 32 and Tunica is 70.

In Tennessee, Shelby ranks 49 among the state's 95 counties. Williamson, in the Nashville area, is Tennessee's healthiest. In Arkansas, Crittenden County is 68 among 75 counties. Benton County, in Arkansas' northwest corner, is at the top of the list.

The rankings gauge the healthiness of each county based on equally weighting longevity and the quality of life. According to the website, the rankings look at a variety of factors that affect the future health of communities, such as high school graduation rates, access to healthy foods, smoking rates, obesity and teen births.

The ranking program "brings actionable data and strategies to communities to make it easier for people to be healthy in their homes, schools, workplaces and neighborhoods," the website says.

Hernando Mayor Chip Johnson has been involved in the Johnson Foundation rankings and did a video for the group in 2012 on "Fostering A Culture of Wellness."

Johnson said Wednesday he thinks the data underscores how the county and its cities have "created opportunities" for healthy living.

"We're not trying to force anyone to live a certain lifestyle," Johnson said, "but it's important to provide opportunities."

He said access to parks has been a priority throughout the county, and his own city's award-winning farmers market has provided opportunities for healthier food options.

"We're expanding the farmers market," Johnson said. "More vendors are taking SNAP benefits to make foods more accessible to those receiving assistance."

This year's Hernando farmers market opens April 23.

Johnson said he thinks the smoke-free policies instituted by cities in the county also have played a role in fostering a healthier culture.
March 16, 2016 - Dotty Johnson, city clerk/recorder, poses for a portrait at Germantown's City Hall, where she's worked for 26 years. Johnson, who announced her retirement recently, plans to babysit her great-grandchildren, sew, be active in church and spend time with her husband of nearly 55 years. "Working for the city all these years has been a big plus," Johnson said. "I love my city. I love the people who work here." (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

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By Jane Roberts of The Commercial Appeal

For decades, Dotty Johnson's world has been in the center of the development and political give-and-take of Germantown city government.

The longtime city clerk, direct in her opinions and old school enough to take minutes in shorthand ("the Dotty Johnson version"), will retire May 1 after 26 years.

When the news was announced at the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting this week, Alderman Rocky Janda stepped down from the dais with a copy of Johnson's "rejected" resignation letter, signed by each alderman.

Johnson, 74, who sits in front of the aldermen in meetings, refused to accept it.

"What I love about Dotty is that you can talk to her," Janda said later. "She is your mentor as a new alderman. You can bounce ideas off her because she has been there. She looks at things as both a citizen and adviser to us.

"She is adaptable, cooperative, loyal, truthful, patriotic and honorable, and above all, speaks her mind."

Johnson, raised in Braggadocio, Missouri, came to Germantown in 1984.

"There were three houses on my street (Dalkeith Drive), and Germantown Road was two lanes," she said, as City Hall employees stopped in the hall to congratulate her.

"I get phone calls all day from people needing me to look up things, dates, when codes went into effect. I keep all the contracts. We were looking up something the other day; I found it. It was in 1973," Johnson said.

She started at City Hall as a part-time secretary in 1990, and she was full-time six months later. When the court clerk's job opened, she took it and stayed four years. When former city clerk Judy Simerson retired in 2003, Johnson moved into the job  one of three posts appointed by the board in Germantown city government.

For 13 years, she's been the tender of official minutes for the city commissions and board meetings, which she formats on acid-free, archival paper for the bound volumes that line the shelves in "Dotty's Closet."

"She's capable and frank, and I mean that with all sincerity," Patrick Lawton, city administrator, said. "Those are nice traits to have. She's a kind soul, very tough-mined and takes her job seriously," he said, noting that Johnson is a certified municipal clerk, a designation she sought on her own, and a longtime member of the Tennessee Association of Municipal Clerks and Recorders.

She's seen lots of impassioned arguments from citizens over the years. What's changed, she said, is the measures governments now take to be transparent.

"We try harder to make all the meetings open. That can be good or bad," she noted.

Her husband is putting the finishing touches on a new "shed" at their home where Johnson plans to retreat with her five sewing machines, including the treadle from her grandmother.

"And probably my friends will bring their machines over too. Oh, yes, we're just going to have a sewing fest. We will help each other."
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The city of Memphis should not make another sizable investment in Beale Street Landing.

The Riverfront Development Corporation is considering a $3 million to $5 million dock expansion in preparation for a new wave of Mississippi River cruise ship business.

The nonprofit RDC, which manages the landing and riverfront amenities for the city of Memphis, is considering extending the landings' riverboat dock to the south and add two poles in the river, known as "dolphins," to allow two additional ships to moor at the same time.

The expansion is contingent on Viking River Cruises signing an agreement with New Orleans to use that city as its home port  a deal that is "very close" to happening," RDC President Benny Lendermon said. He said Viking is working with the U.S. Maritime Administration to meet legal requirements for operating ships in the U.S.

If everything falls into place, it could mean extra riverboat cruise ships docking at Memphis and their passengers spending money here.

To many, Beale Street Landing is a $43.6 million boondoggle  its projected $29 million cost inflated by construction delays, the rising cost of construction materials and engineering problems.

But a boondoggle it is not. Besides being an aesthetically pleasing recreation area, the river cruise ships have come. And, the riverboat excursionists have had a positive financial impact on the city.

Lendermon said the tax revenue generated by Beale Street Landing  estimated at $2.3 million in 2015, not counting the amount that went to the Bass Pro tourism development zone  more than covers the debt service. Also, he said, Beale Street Landing's economic impact is valued at $36.4 million.

The RDC has not determined funding sources for the extension, but could ask Viking to pay for at least some of the expansion.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, who heard about the expansion in a previously unannounced meeting with RDC board members on Monday, said he wasn't sure if public funding would be available.

The city has done its part in getting Beale Street Landing built. The best thing would be for the RDC to raise the money in collaboration with Viking.

But because of the economic impact the riverboats have had on the city, a minor symbolic investment from the city would not be out of line.
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By Clarence Page

During a weekend of violence at some of Donald Trump's rallies, I received a flurry of angry emails, all playing the same game of "How would you feel?"

How would you feel, I was asked in one note, if a group of Ku Klux Klansmen broke up a Bernie Sanders rally?

That's a round-about way of referring to the violence that erupted at Trump rallies, particularly in Chicago, where the Republican front-runner's rally was called off after crowds of protesters grew exceptionally large.

Early announcements that police had called off the event were withdrawn after police denied it. Some protest organizers insisted they were intent on making noise, not shutting down the event, although they joined the cheering after the event was shut down.

I could argue against false equivalencies here. You may disagree, but I don't see the potpourri of blacks, whites, Hispanics, Arab-Americans and others who gathered to peacefully protest as the moral equivalent of organized Klansmen.

Still I won't deny that some young pseudo-anarchists and other hotheads would delight at shutting down Trump's events and those of anyone else with whom they disagree.

So, make no mistake: Muzzling your opposition makes you no better than Trump, a guy who likes free speech as long as it's his own.

Sure, he cries out for free speech when his own is threatened. He promised at a late-February event in Fort Worth to "open up" libel laws if he is elected, so that when journalists write "purposely negative horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money."

Since libel laws already hold journalists accountable when they publish false and defamatory information, whether it is out of negligence or intent, one wonders with dismay what Trump has in mind. Free speech for him, perhaps, but not for me?

Adding apparent injury to insult, Trump disputed charges filed by Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields against his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, with police in Jupiter, Florida. In the incident, witnessed by another reporter, Lewandowski allegedly grabbed her roughly by the arm.

It is more than enough for Trump to corral reporters in the back of the room and mock them in his speeches. His staff members don't need to manhandle them, too.

Free speech is not entirely free. Even Trump must avoid sounding too provocative or he could be charged with incitement to riot. As a result, he denies condoning violence even as he justifies and encourages it.

"I'd like to punch him in the face, I'll tell you."

"In the good old days this doesn't happen, because they used to treat them very, very rough."

"I love the old days. You know what they used to do to guys like that when they were in a place like this? They'd be carried out on a stretcher, folks."

"If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would ya?" He said at one rally. "Seriously. Just knock the hell out of them,"

After he promised to "pay for the legal fees" of anyone who did that, he would "take a look at" paying the legal fees of an elderly white man who sucker-punched a black protester who was being escorted out of a North Carolina rally.

When you have offered to pay the legal fees of those who "knock the hell out of" protesters, it's pretty hard to argue that you are blameless when riots break out. Yet Trump plays the victim with complete indifference to contrary evidence, including his own words.

Unbowed at a Boca Raton rally on Sunday night, Trump boasted about "how well we handled" those earlier confrontations. Surrounded by police, Secret Service agents and other security, Trump taunted: "Do we have a protester, anyone?" and "Is there a disrupter in the house?"

Yes, as much as I deplore much of what Donald Trump has to say, as a famous old saying goes, I will defend to the death his right to say it.

But if you poke a stick at a grizzly, you should not be surprised that the grizzly strikes back.

E-mail Clarence Page at cpage@tribune.com.
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By Jonah Goldberg

For the last few days the burning question among pundits has been: "How much blame does Donald Trump deserve for the violence at his rallies?" It's a fair question, and the obvious answer is: a lot.

On Sunday, the demagogue paid his usual lip service to social norms, rejecting "violence in any shape." He then proceeded to say, again, that he's willing to pay the legal fees of those who commit violence on his behalf. He routinely waxes nostalgic for the good old days when troublemakers were "carried out on stretchers."

That said, there was a good deal of Kabuki to the recent chaos in Chicago.

The Trump campaign said it had to cancel its event there because the police were concerned about public safety. That's a lie. The Chicago Police Department insists the decision was Trump's  as was the choice to stage a rally in an area of Chicago where the campaign knew protesters would swarm.

Of course, protesters were only too happy to play the role Team Trump expected them to play. Whether they were Bernie Sanders campaign pawns, as the chants of "Bern-ie! Bern-ie!" would suggest, or puppets of MoveOn.org, or self-starting rebels matters little. What they wanted, as the hashtag campaign #ShutItDown suggests, was to suppress free speech.

That makes them doubly blameworthy: Their goal was dishonorable, and their tactics only helped burnish Trump's bogus self-image as the brave-yet-victimized anti-PC warrior.

Such high-ratings spectacles only magnify the sense that politics is a contest of will, not arguments. As the commentator Jonathan Chait writes, "The whole premise of democracy is that rules need to be applied in every case without regard to the merit of the underlying cause to which it is attached." If you think it's acceptable to shut down Trump's rallies, you have no grounds to complain when Trump's supporters shut down Sanders' rallies.

The real problem with the question, "How much blame does Trump deserve?"  or, for that matter, "How much blame does Sanders deserve?"  is that such questions assume blame is a limited commodity. If we say Trump deserves a lot of blame, the implication is that there's only a little left for everyone else. The reality is that there's plenty to go around. We are all adrift in an ocean of blameworthiness.

Chicago was a fleeting scene in a very long-running play. The Spanish philosopher Jose Ortega y Gasset defined barbarism as the lack of universal ideals to which all can subscribe. The war on free speech is really just a battle in the larger war on universal standards.

When leaders claim the system is irredeemably corrupt and the rules rigged against them, politics becomes a kind of barbarism. What is good for my team is right, and whatever is good for your team is wrong.

Trump is merely the latest actor to deliver such assurances to his coddled constituencies. Barack Obama, who recently absolved himself of all blame for the state of politics in the nation he's led for seven years, has played this game with more finesse than most, but that's the thing about the great ones: They make it look so easy. Obviously, he hasn't encouraged violence; that is Trump's special contribution to the degradation of our politics. But from his contemptuous rhetoric for his political opponents to his unilateral disregard for constitutional restraints, Obama has helped fuel distrust and discord in ways his fans can't or won't see.

Sanders ignited his populist fire by insisting the country is held hostage by malefactors of great wealth who are exempt from the rules that bind the rest of us. Hillary Clinton, who got rich(er) giving hidden speeches to those very same malefactors, is not trusted by the voters because she seems to think the rules are for other people, at least when it comes to handling classified materials.

The truth is that politics is downstream of culture. And all of these politicians, Trump included, reflect deeper tendencies. Identity politics on the left and the right  from the war on so-called white supremacy to the bitterness of the white backlash  amount to what the French philosopher Julien Benda described as the "intellectual organization of political hatreds." What's remarkable about the violence Trump encourages isn't its sudden appearance. It's that it took this long.

Jonah Goldberg is a senior editor of National Review. Contact him at goldbergcolumn@gmail.com.
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By Noah Feldman

Russian President Vladimir Putin had his "mission accomplished" moment Monday, announcing that Russia would withdraw its main forces from Syria after they turned the tide in President Bashar al-Assad's struggle against Syrian rebels.

The announcement partly explains why Putin has been supporting a cease-fire and truce talks over the last month: His goal is to consolidate the gains he and Assad made together. From a purely cynical perspective, the operation has been a fairly impressive success for Putin: Bomb intensely to create a humanitarian crisis while your troops advance, then negotiate peace to look like a good guy while assuring that the other side can't fight back without violating the truce. And accomplish all this while strengthening your bargaining position vis-a-vis the U.S. and Europe.

But the announcement also makes it explicit that Putin has no interest in giving Assad the support he'd need to take on the forces of the Islamic State. By declaring victory before Assad has really confronted the Sunni militant group, Putin is saying that Russia is perfectly willing for Islamic State to remain in existence indefinitely.

Putin's lack of interest is unfortunate insofar as Islamic State's persistence as a functioning statelet is destabilizing for the region, bad for the world and disastrous for the victims of its brutal governance. But to be fair, no one else in the region seems very interested in taking on Islamic State, either. Putin has simply calculated that he has less to gain by trying to take it on and risking failure than by declaring victory and departing the field.

No one should have any illusions that Assad was consulted about Putin's decision, which reflects Russian interests, not his regime's. Assad will miss Russian troops, although he will probably still have some Russian air support, because the Russians are keeping their airbase at Hmeimim, near Latakia.

Nevertheless, Assad may well agree with Putin that attacking Islamic State would be a bridge too far. It would be extremely dangerous for Syria to seek to recover territory held by the group, even with Russian support. Assad needs all the troops he has to try to consolidate the gains he's made against Syrian rebels, particularly near Aleppo. He needs to establish some sort of functioning government in the part of the country he holds.

That means the Russian announcement is a significant win for Islamic State. Putin is guaranteeing that Assad will have no choice but to seek a cold peace with the group, respecting its border in the hopes that it won't try to invade the territory Assad has recovered or make a run at Damascus.

From Islamic State's angle, a temporary, cold peace with Assad looks appealing. The group can't govern millions of Alawites loyal to Assad. But because it considers them infidels, it would have to try to convert, expel or kill them if it somehow managed to defeat the regime.

More to the point, Islamic State can't fight on all its fronts simultaneously. It faces a protracted struggle with the Iraqi government, which is slowly (and not all that surely) trying to reconquer majority-Sunni areas of Iraq. Islamic State is likely to face long-term conflict with Turkey, which doesn't want a terrorist state on or near its border, and with Kurds of whatever stripe, who will fight over every inch of territory.

Under these circumstances, short-term conciliation with Assad looks pretty good for Islamic State.

Meanwhile, Putin and Assad have done the group the tremendous favor of knocking back all the other Syrian rebels. If you're a Syrian Sunni who hates Assad, you're running out of options for joining a credible opposition. It may not happen right away, but Islamic State could easily come to look like the only serious Sunni alternative to Assad. That could mean manpower and even support from frustrated Sunni Syrians.

Eventually, becoming the only Sunni force opposing Assad could also mean indirect support from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf principalities. Those states see Syria as an Iranian tool, an illegitimate outpost of Shiite geopolitical influence. Structurally, those states' interest is with Sunnis who oppose Assad and Iran, no matter how repulsive they might be.

To be sure, Putin isn't trying to help Islamic State. He just doesn't care enough about it to take the risk of entering an Afghanistan-style quagmire in Syria. Getting out fast will burnish his credentials as someone who understands how to make war in the Middle East. He leaves Syria having achieved a limited objective cheaply and quickly. Russia looks stronger than before. Assad will continue to need Russia as much as ever, and won't become the kind of client that can make infinite claims on its patron, as happened with U.S.-backed governments in Afghanistan and Iraq.

It has been a nasty business. But from Putin's perspective, it has been well worth it. It's one more reason to take Putin seriously as a danger to the European state system  as if we needed one Crimea.

Noah Feldman, a Bloomberg View columnist, is a professor of constitutional and international law at Harvard.
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In a lengthy legal rebuttal to the U.S. government, Apple yesterday deployed an unusual defense -- that its devices are susceptible to attack -- to counter arguments that it should help the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) crack a terrorist's iPhone.

Apple's brief, the last submitted to a federal magistrate before she holds a hearing next week, focused on the government's use of a 1789 law, the All Writs Act, to compel the company to assist law enforcement in breaking into a passcode-locked iPhone 5C.

But the brief also ranged elsewhere, including responses to assertions by the Department of Justice (DOJ) that Apple not only should be forced to aid the FBI, but that the task would be simple and the code could safely be entrusted to Apple, which would store it at its HQ.

The iPhone in question was an employer-issued device used by Syed Rizwan Farook, who along with his wife, Tafsheen Malik, killed 14 in San Bernardino, Calif. on Dec. 2, 2015. The two died in a shootout with police later that day.

The government has labeled the attack an act of terrorism, and last month obtained a court order requiring Apple to write software that would let the FBI electronically blast the iPhone with passcode guesses in the hope of unlocking it, then extracting data from the device.

Apple has contested the order on multiple grounds, including its argument that creating such software would be an extraordinary burden.

Among the government's prior contentions: Apple could jumpstart its work on the purported one-of-a-kind iOS by using security vulnerabilities and third-party hacking tools, including one created by the FBI, to ease that burden.

Eric Neuenschwander, Apple's manager of privacy, dismissed those avenues as not only unrealistic, but also as proof that creating a special version of iOS for Farook's iPhone would open a veritable Pandora's Box.

"The historical security vulnerabilities and jailbreak incidents Mr. Perino identifies underscore the constant battle Apple is engaged in to identify and close off security vulnerabilities," Neuenschwander said in an affidavit, referring to an earlier declaration by Stacy Perino, an electronics engineer with the FBI. Last week, Perino suggested that Apple leverage vulnerabilities and embed third-party code to create a customized version of iOS destined for Farook's phone.

"I believe that Apple's iOS platform is the most-attacked software platform in existence," Neuenschwander said. "Each time Apple closes one vulnerability, attackers work to find another. This is a constant and never-ending battle. Mr. Perino's description of third-party efforts to circumvent Apple's security demonstrates this point."

Neuenschwander also argued that creating what he slyly dubbed "GovtOS" -- a nod to the naming conventions Apple uses for its iOS, watchOS and tvOS operating systems -- would not only be an unwarranted burden on the company and threaten all iPhone owners with criminal attack, but would also put Apple's engineers in personal jeopardy.

"Those employees, if identified, could themselves become targets of retaliation, coercion, or similar threats by bad actors seeking to obtain and use GovtOS for nefarious purposes," Neuenschwander said. "I understand that such risks are why intelligence agencies often classify the names and employment of individuals with access to highly sensitive data and information, like GovtOS. The government's dismissive view of the burdens on Apple and its employees seems to ignore these and other practical implications of creating GovtOS."

Apple's lawyers also cited the firm's security problems in its primary brief yesterday, in which it took issue with the All Writs Act.

"No All Writs Act authority permits courts to require an innocent private company to create and maintain code whose 'public danger is apparent' and whose disclosure would be 'catastrophic' to the security and privacy interests of hundreds of millions of users," Apple's attorneys wrote.

In a footnote to bolster that line of logic, the brief said, "Even Apple devices are not immune from cyberattack," and referenced a March 6 story by the Reuters news service that described a recent attempt to plant "ransomware" on Macs by using a stolen cryptographic digital certificate.

Elsewhere in Apple's brief, the firm took exception to last week's implied threat by the government that, if Apple refused to cooperate, the DOJ may demand that the company hand over its iOS source code and signing key so that FBI engineers could create the tools investigators demand.

"The government also implicitly threatens that if Apple does not acquiesce, the government will seek to compel Apple to turn over its source code and private electronic signature," Apple said. "The catastrophic security implications of that threat only highlight the government's fundamental misunderstanding or reckless disregard of the technology at issue and the security risks implicated by its suggestion."
NASA intends to start a large-scale fire in space, but unless something goes horrifically wrong its not like you will look up and see a fireball overhead.

Maybe theres been too many movies showing how a fire in a spacecraft leads to disaster  action films which allegedly got it wrong  for NASAs plan to start a fire in space not to sound alarming. Nevertheless, on March 22, NASA will launch an unmanned Cygnus spacecraft, via a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, to the ISS for a resupply mission; after undocking, NASA will kick off the first of three Spacecraft Fire Experiments (Saffire).

What do the ISS astronauts, who have probably seen the same movies as we have, think? Dan Tani, a former astronaut who flew two space shuttle missions and spent 120 days aboard the ISS, said, Igniting a relatively large-scale fire in a zero-gravity environment is a big deal.

Although NASA mentioned the fire in space experiment during a recent press call, NASA Glenn Research Center posted a video last year to explain how the Saffire experiment will go down.

Once the supplies are offloaded and Cygnus is loaded with the astronauts trash, it will fly a safe distance away from the ISS  about four hours away and on a different orbit according to Gizmodo  then NASA control engineers in Dulles, Virginia, will remotely spark the fire. Cygnus will be put into free drift during the Saffire experiment which is expected to take up to 2.5 hours.

Cygnus, along with the Saffire experiment hardware, will burn up when re-entering Earths atmosphere, but not before the data and video from the experiment are downlinked to several ground stations across the globe and then transferred to NASAs Glenn Research team in Cleveland, Ohio.

Saffire I, II, and III will launch separately in 2016 aboard resupply missions. Despite plans for three fire-in-space tests, NASA explained, The experiment is very limited in the amount of data and test conditions that can be investigated. In Saffire-I and III, the sample material is a single large sample (approx. 0.4 m wide by 0.94 m tall) to demonstrate the development and spread of a large-scale low-gravity fire. Once started, the entire burn of each of these samples is recorded, the data compressed, and downlinked.

The image below, according to NASA, is of the Saffire Experiment Module with the cover removed so we can see it better. The hardware consists of a flow duct containing the sample card and an avionics bay. All power, computer, and data acquisition modules are contained in the bay. Dimensions are approximately 53- by 90- by 133-cm.

Saffire II will include nine smaller samples having dimensions of 5 cm wide x 25 cm long being burned. NASA added, These are burned sequentially with the camera recording images only from the sample being burned. Once started, these experiments run automatically. Because of limitations in time available for downlinking, a maximum of 20 gigabits of data can be downlinked.

This is far from the first fire to be studied in space or even on the ISS. Three years ago during an ISS experiment dubbed FLEX, astronauts studied how to put out fires in microgravity. The flames went out as planned, but unexpectedly the droplets of fuel continued burning. They seemed to be burning without flames, something called cool flames which can burn for long minutes. Those flames are trippy-looking as seen in a NASA video which showed the difference between a flame on Earth and a flame in space.

NASAs large-scale fire in space is even expected to have benefits for Earthlings, such as helping to understand fire behavior inside mines, airplanes or submarines.

NASA makes the Saffire experiments sound less alarming than what we might conjure up after hearing NASA intends to set a large-scale fire in space. Heres hoping the words, Houston, we have a problem are not uttered and that we dont look up and see a fireball in the night sky.
Today's Senate subcommittee hearing on immigration began with a warning from chairman Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) about current rates of immigration.

Sessions believes the influx in the number of immigrants is too large, and "has created great stress on the job prospects and wages of Americans." That group includes immigrants seeking permanent residency as well as those now in the U.S. on guest worker visas.

"The plain truth is that technology and robotics advance the quality of our lives and lowers the cost of products, but they eliminate many good jobs," said Sessions. "At this point in time, our economy cannot sustain the current lawful rate of immigration, much less the illegal flow."

Gary Cameron/Reuters U.S. Sens. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), left, and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) chat before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in January 2014. The two men are at odds over increasing the number of H-1B visas.

Sessions has endorsed Donald Trump, the billionaire businessman running for the GOP presidential nomination who favors reduced levels of immigration.

Sessions has in the past held hearings on the H-1B visa and its impact on the technology workforce, and has criticized the use of visa workers in the wholesale replacement of IT department workers.

At Wednesday's hearing, the committee focused on the broader spectrum of immigration, from permanent residency to guest workers.

Sessions cited Pew Research Center data that found -- after the passage of the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 -- the nation's foreign-born population increased from 9.6 million, or 5% of the population, to 45 million in 2015, or 14%.

"In general, when immigrants come in, those who compete with immigrant workers will tend to do a little worse off, and those who use immigrant workers or compliment immigrant workers tend to do better off," said George Borjas, a professor of economics and social policy at Harvard, who testified at the hearing.

"Somebody's lower wage is somebody's else's higher profit," said Borjas, who said that what immigration really does is redistribute wealth.

Also testifying was Steven Camarota, director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies, an organization that favors lower immigration rates. He said there is no question that immigration leads to a larger economy, but a larger economy, by itself, is not a benefit to Americans, "in the same way that Mexico has a larger economy than Norway."

There is no research indicating that immigration significantly increases the income of native born residents, said Camarota.

Benjamin Johnson, executive director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, also testified and argued in support of immigration. Johnson said immigrants "helped build and invent the industrial era, the atomic age, and now the computer age."

Despite the "overwhelming evidence" that immigration has helped the U.S., Johnson argued that our history "has been repeatedly sullied by periods of fear and anger" and blame toward immigrants over social and economic challenges.
Here, the Euro-centric map-making company founded by Nokia, yesterday said it is withdrawing from the Windows 10 ecosystem in two weeks and would limit changes to its Windows 8 apps to critical bug fixes.

The announcement triggered despair from long-standing Windows followers who have relied on Here's mapping, public transit and direction apps on Microsoft's mobile operating systems.

"There's just no way to sugarcoat it: This is a huge loss," wrote Paul Thurrott, a popular blogger who focuses on Microsoft and Windows.

Consumers who preferred Here's Windows Mobile apps over Microsoft's own were more outspoken, and at times stooped to playground taunts. "Here, you suck!" raged someone identified as "rakker91" in a comment appended yesterday to Here's announcement.

"Way to kick your loyal fans in the face," said another commenter, "a5678," today.

"This is a very short-sighted decision," echoed "Peribanu" Wednesday. "Your most loyal ambassador customers are on the Windows platform. It's suicide for a business to cut off their fan base in one fell swoop. Whoever took this decision should be fired. It's like cutting off your nose to spite your face."

Here, which Nokia sold to a group of German auto makers for about $3.1 billion last year, said it was yanking its Windows 10 apps from Microsoft's mart on March 29. Those for Windows 8 will be updated only to patch critical bugs.

The Windows 10 apps -- Here Maps, Transit and Drive -- will continue to work on Windows 10 through June 30, at which time they will go dark.

"We made the Here apps compatible with Windows 10 by using a workaround that will no longer be effective after June 30, 2016," the company claimed. "To continue offering the Here apps for Windows 10 would require us to redevelop the apps from the ground up, a scenario that led to the business decision to remove our apps from the Windows 10 store."

Some users were skeptical of that explanation, attributing the move to everything from Windows Mobile's small market share to laziness, even betrayal, on Here's part.

But the move should not have come as a surprise.

"Windows Mobile hasn't gone anywhere," said Jan Dawson, principal analyst at Jackdaw Research, in an interview. "Here doesn't get any benefit from [the platform]. It can get far more scale from iOS and Android."

Here released apps for Apple's iOS and Google's Android operating systems in March 2015 and December 2014, respectively, both dates following the closing of the sale of Nokia's handset business to Microsoft in April 2014 for approximately $7.9 billion. Last summer, Microsoft scratched $7.6 billion of that deal from its books, conceding that the acquisition was a bust.

Separate from that transaction, Microsoft signed a four-year license for Here's mapping data; the Redmond, Wash. company has used -- and will continue to use -- that data for its own Windows 10 Maps app. Microsoft is currently testing a refreshed "universal" mapping app that will run on both desktop and mobile versions of its newest OS.

Although some opined last year that Microsoft should buy Here when Nokia put it on the block -- and yesterday argued that by passing, Microsoft missed the bus -- Dawson said Microsoft did the smart thing.

"They're picking their battles," Dawson said of Microsoft and its Windows Mobile. According to researcher IDC, Windows powered just 2.2% of 1.4 billion smartphones shipped last year worldwide. "They recognize that they can't be best in class [in maps] on their own. So their focus is not trying to compete on data by themselves."

In fact, Microsoft sold some of its home-brewed mapping technology and assets -- including a transfer of about 100 employees -- to the Uber ride-sharing service last summer. In effect, Microsoft called it quits on collecting its own mapping data and images.

As Dawson put Here's move in perspective, he rejected the idea that losing the firm's apps is a sign that Microsoft is on the verge of pulling the plug on Windows Mobile.

"Microsoft has been backing off on its own maps for a while," said Dawson. "Microsoft knew some time ago that they needed to have maps on [Windows Phone], but that they didn't have to do it themselves. Maps can't be a huge differentiator for [Windows], but they knew they could license [data] from Here."
23 May 2022

- Understand the French healthcare system, how you access it and how you are reimbursed - Useful if you are new to the French healthcare system or want a more in-depth understanding - Reader question and answer section Aimed at non-French nationals living here, the guide gives an overview of what you are (and are not) covered for. There is also information for second-home owners and regular visitors.
Sir Michael Wilshaws latest appearance at the Commons Select Committee was part of an investigation into the quality and purposes of education. He brought with him Sean Harford, Ofsteds national director for schools. Mr Harford said that the current cost of inspecting schools was roughly a fifth of the cost of a teaching assistant per school per year  2,000. This equates to 0.1 to 0.2 per cent of a typical schools budget and is a derisory amount to spend on the main vehicle of quality control in schools. Mr Harford and Sir Michael Wilshaw defended the current system in predictably emotive terms  Sir Michael had been subject to inspections under the pre-2005 regime, and Mr Harford said teams of 10-15 inspectors descended on schools. In fact, the number of inspectors in primary schools was rarely more than 5, and teams of 15 or more would only be used in schools with large sixth forms.

Sixth form inspection has virtually disappeared  the retiring HMI for languages told the Westminster Forum three years ago that she couldnt form a view of language teaching in sixth forms, because we never see any. Subject inspection too has almost vanished  the only survey currently listed on the Ofsted website is maths.

It is all very well for Sir Michael to tell the committee that inspectors are now looking at science and languages  the recently appointed languages lead has, as Ive pointed out, emailed primary schools asking if they are doing any  but Ofsted is still not ensuring that teams have a balance of skills that enable them to do this. Mr Harford said that inspectors would be linked to a specialist by April, but that the specialists would be telling colleagues what questions to ask, rather than asking them themselves. Its pretty obvious from this that the people asking the questions would not be in a position to assess the answers, let alone evaluate the work.

Sir Michael doesnt think this matters  he told the committee that weaknesses in a school tended to be the same across the board. He is, however, the latest of a line of HMCI to have been appointed without practical experience of inspection, and he is quite wrong in this. There are very often pockets of good and even excellent teaching in a failing school, and a fair inspection system will find these out, rather than tarring all of the teachers with the same brush. An example from a failing school whose inspection I led before 2005 was a brilliant head of science who was managing to hold his department together and obtain good GCSE results despite a severe staffing problem that, at the time, affected many schools just outside London. Cameos of his excellent work helped to demonstrate that both he and the school had been treated fairly.

This principle has been abandoned. Sir Michael told the committee that virtually all academies in Cambridgeshire are either inadequate or require improvement. A quick check of the reports on its secondary academies showed six outstanding, nine good, eleven requiring improvement and one inadequate. A serious problem, but not one that merits emptying a bucket of tar on every school in the county. In fairness to Sir Michael, his error may have arisen from the practice of not inspecting the most successful schools, so that he only saw reports on the weaker ones, but he still owes Cambridgeshire an apology.

The unfairness extends to the treatment of the very leaders that Sir Michael thinks are important. Kirby High School in Knowsley, for example, had its leadership and management rated as requiring improvement when the detail of the report showed that new management was doing all that could be expected of it  it was quite inconsistent with the grade awarded. An HMI letter to Neale Wade Academy in Cambridgeshire was similarly complementary about the impact management was making on problems. A skilled inspection service should be able to distinguish good work from bad, whatever its context.

Ofsted, as presently constituted, cant, and needs to be restructured. The basis should be a return to the format of the short inspection that was introduced prior to Labours Education Acts of 2005 and 2006. The preparation for a short inspection was the same as for a full one, with a scrutiny of documents, pre-inspection questionnaires for pupils and parents, meetings for parents and governors, and a days visit to the school by the lead inspector and a colleague. This allowed us to meet the staff, discuss data with the head and senior managers, identify issues that he or she would like to be looked at closely during the inspection, and write a pre-inspection briefing.

The inspection would then take place over two days (not the day or day and a half now typical) with a reduced, but balanced team, of two or three inspectors for a primary school, and perhaps five or six for a large secondary school with a sixth form. The lead inspector would feed back to the governors and senior managers. Short inspections were reserved for more successful schools, but could trigger a full inspection and HMI visit if serious weaknesses were found. This backup was an essential element of fairness throughout the system, and it has been lost.

Inspection reform would cost a tiny proportion of the education budget, and would not require a new Act. All that is needed is a revision of the Framework to ensure that core subjects, and a selection of others, are reported on in each school inspection, and that lesson observations should return to a basic 30 minutes. Pre-inspection preparation should be restored to its former position, except where a no-notice inspection is needed for specific reasons, and reports need to be written in enough detail to provide parents with more than a bare grade. Cameos of excellent work should be restored, and, as a personal view, the grading system extended to distinguish the exceptional, from which the country should learn  eg Mossbourne  from the very good.

Or we can, of course, continue as we are.
Osborne triumphant! He trampled his enemies and sounded as boastful, as intellectually confident, as Nigel Lawson in his pomp.

We are, the Chancellor assured us, on course for a Budget surplus! Statistics from the Office for Budget Responsibility were scattered so liberally, and in a manner so favourable to himself, that one wondered whether its initials actually stand for Osborne Booster Rocket.

But that would be unfair to its head, Robert Chote. The boosterism here was all the Chancellors own work.

He was flanked by David Cameron and Theresa May. At the start of his speech, their faces looked, in repose, not just tired (as well they might be after almost six years in office), but also sad, as if they were reflecting on private sorrows of which the world knows nothing.

Osborne set about the task of cheering them up. He declared that thanks to the broad shoulders of the United Kingdom, he is able to help out the North Sea oil industry. How the Prime Minister beamed at the Scottish Nationalists as the Chancellor pointed out that they would never have been able to provide this assistance, had Scotland voted for independence.

And pretty much everyone enjoyed his sally at the expense of the Liberal Democrats. The Chancellor said their pensions expert, Steve Webb, thought the lump sum was going to be abolished, instead of which were going to keep the lump sum and abolish the Liberal Democrats.

Even Tim Farron, the leader of that shrunken party, seemed to find this amusing, perhaps because for once the Government was at least referring to the Liberal Democrats.

Eurosceptics will not have enjoyed Osbornes portentous warning that the OBRs forecasts are predicated on remaining in the EU. But almost all Conservatives will have been delighted by the various tax cuts he announced.

Andrew Tyrie (Con, Chichester), who chairs the Treasury Select Committee, said he expects the reduction in corporation tax to 17 per cent will raise more revenue, and also welcomed, as the son of a shopkeeper, the various measures to help small businesses.

But Tyrie said there is a lot of detail for his committee to examine, and would not of course confirm, in the meantime, that the Chancellors figures add up.

Every so often, a still, small voice of doubt whispered a question in ones ear. Is Osborne giving way to hubris? Do we see him at the height of his powers, from which he is now fated to descend? He himself made some cautionary remarks about the dangerous cocktail of risks facing the economy.

Today, however, the Chancellor was a commanding figure, and Jeremy Corbyn, replying for the Opposition, had no idea how to spoil things for him.
Journalists like writing about rows among politicians who, on the whole, strive to avoid giving them the opportunity to do so, partly for the same reason. As a journalist, I am therefore grateful to Charles Tannock for saying that Syed Kamall, his London MEP colleague, should resign as President of the European Conservative and Reformist Group in the European Parliament. As a former politician, however, I cant help thinking that he should have kept schtum, and raised the matter privately within the ECR group instead.

Tannock argues that, since Kamall has now come out for Brexit, he will now not be taken seriously by the other political group leaders in the European Parliament, thus weakening his hand to promote our agenda. Maybe, though who knows what the consequences could be for Tannock  or for you and I and everyone else, dear reader  once one begins to tot up reasons why each of us might not be taken seriously. He also says that all the other ECR national delegations would be very concerned by a Brexit outcome and none support their own countries leaving the EU. This appears to concede that the ECR group itself has no corporate view on Britains membership of the European Union and that, therefore, Kamalls views on Brexit are no automatic obstacle to him leading it.

At any rate, ECR members can now argue the matter out among themselves, and I can write a little more about Kamall, who for better or worse I didnt support during his bid for the London Mayoralty. My thinking was that his country needed him in the European Parliament, and his EU referendum decision suggests that I may have had a point. The ECR President is an interesting figure for at least three reasons.

First, he is a politician who is a serious Muslim rather than a politician who claims to be a serious Muslim. This in itself seems to be unusual. Second, he has a real understanding, having been brought up in an ethnic minority family that hails from part of the Commonwealth, of the unfairness that EU membership brings with it to our immigration system, which automatically privileges those entering Britain from EU countries above those entering from the Commonwealth. This has the potential to be a decisive factor in the coming referendum campaign, since ethnic minority members are still more likely, on balance, to vote Labour than Conservative, but have a solid reason for not following the former partys official position on Brexit (or the latters, either).

Finally, he has a passion for the free market and for social action, two commitments that do not always run together. I hope that sooner or later he makes the transition from Brussels to Westminster. But not yet. There is work for him to do as a former leader of the Conservative Group in the European Parliament and, yes, as President of the ECR Group, in which post I hope he stays. Resisting the blandishments of Downing Street over his Brexit views will not have been much fun, so I hope that he now has some, visibly and prominently, during the campaigning weeks ahead.
Adam Smith Institute

Madson Pirie, President:

Nigel Lawsons budgets were models of clear-sighted vision. In every budget he cut taxes, simplified them, and abolished at least one altogether. A George Osborne budget seems more like one of Gordon Browns, a patchwork quilt of little measures with no clear pattern to it.

Sam Bowman, Executive Director:

Mr Osbornes deficit reduction plans for this Parliament always seemed improbable but lowered growth forecasts make this plain to see. At the current rate of cuts, he will now need to find 31bn of cuts or tax rises in the year 2019 alone to deliver his surplus. This is highly unlikely and it seems almost certain that he will end up breaking all three of his own fiscal rules. In all likelihood he does not expect to be in the job by then and doesnt mind handing the problem to someone else.

Confederation of British Industry

Carolyn Fairbairn, Director-General:

After a year of surprises, this was a stable Budget for business facing global stormy waters. The Chancellor has listened to our concerns about the mounting burden on firms and chosen to back business to grow the economy out of the deficit. Businesses will welcome the Chancellors permanent reforms to business rates  taking more small firms out of the regime and changing the uprating mechanism from RPI to CPI, which the CBI has long been calling for.

The reduction in the headline Corporation Tax rate sends out a strong signal that the UK is open for global business investment, and reforms to Interest Deductibility are in rightly in line with the international consensus.

Changes to the tax treatment of losses will make it harder for larger scale-up firms and companies that have been through tough times to play their part in the recovery. Progress on some key infrastructure projects, from HS3 to 5G, are positive. Investors and companies will be encouraged by the greater clarity and simplification of the Governments energy policy.

Institute of Economic Affairs

Mark Littlewood, Director General:

This was a slow, steady, rather unimaginative budget, but at least the Chancellor hasnt thrown out his target of a Budget surplus for 2020, even if he has almost no margin for error in hitting that target.

There were good signs for earners and enterprise in this Budget. The increase in the 40p threshold of income tax will be welcome relief for many middle-earners, whilst the substantial cuts to Capital Gains Tax will increase activity and may well pay for themselves in terms of increased revenue. The old top rate of 28% was actually losing the government income  high CGT rates damage economic growth by encouraging individuals to hold on to assets that would be better off under different ownership.

It is astonishing that the Chancellor has announced a tax on sugary drinks when there is no evidence from anywhere in the world that such taxes have the slightest effect on obesity. Whether dressed up as a direct tax or a levy on industry, the effect will be that the government will be picking the pockets of the poor for no benefit.

Institute of Directors

Simon Walker, Director General:

There was plenty in the Budget for small and medium-sized businesses. They will welcome measures including more relief on business rates and cuts to capital gains tax, and a further corporation tax reduction coming in a few years. Business leaders and workers alike will be pleased with increases to the income tax personal allowance and the higher rate thresholds next year, while the introduction of a lifetime ISA will be a big boost for young people who have been put off by the inflexibility of pensions.

The announcements of new infrastructure will be welcomed by IoD members, both in London and across the North. They key with new roads and rail links is getting spades in the ground. Businesses in Northern cities have been waiting a long time for these improvements, and cannot afford to see the protracted delays we have endured on other major infrastructure, such as airports.

TaxPayers Alliance

Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive:

The Chancellor yet again delivered a mixed bag of measures which will do very little to address the state of the public finances. While taxpayers will welcome tax cuts like the rise in the personal allowance which will leave more money in peoples pockets, measures like the regressive Sugar Tax will penalise families already struggling with the cost of living. The Budget needed to include far more concrete measures to ease the enormous pressure on taxpayers and create a simpler, more competitive tax system.

Centre for Policy Studies

Daniel Mahoney, Head of Economic Research:

George Osbornes commitment to further spending cuts along with changes to the personal allowance and 40p tax thresholds is welcome. Some of the Budgets tax proposals will also undoubtedly help boost British enterprise, particularly announcements on business rate relief, corporation tax and tax cuts for the offshore oil and gas industry. It is also welcome that a new Lifetime Savings ISA will be introduced, which is very similar to the proposal from CPS Research Fellow Michael Johnson.

However, the Chancellor has unfortunately ducked some of the more major reforms needed. His announcement on tax simplification, for example, falls far short of what is required.

Centre for Social Justice

Philippa Stroud, Director:

There is much in this Budget that the CSJ welcomes  we have campaigned for a help to save measure; mentoring schemes have had our support since we first recommended home-school support champions; a commitment to tackling rough sleeping in our cities is crucial; and the raising of the National Living Wage so that work pays through earnings is vital.

But this Budget also spends millions on infrastructure programmes and tax reductions from building tunnels and railways to freezing beer duty.

If we are really committed to the next generation it is time to listen to what the next generation really needs: strong stable families with a strong early intervention programme.

Bright Blue

David Kirkby, Senior Research Fellow:

The Chancellors focus on boosting savings is welcome. Particularly for those on low income and for the self-employed, household savings are all too often limited or non-existent. This weakens financial resilience and can increase costs to the state in the long run.

Bright Blue has long been calling for government to incentivise and reward savings for those on low incomes through matched funding. The new Help to Save scheme is welcome and could significantly boost savings rates for those on low incomes.
Budget 2016-17: As If Children Matter

By Joseph Anthony Gathia

16 March, 2016

Countercurrents.org



Earlier the Economic Survey 2015-16 and now the Budget 2016-17 gave impression that deprived sections of our country are going to get fair treatment but a careful analysis shows that there is crafty shift in resource mobilisation and the onus of the development funding has been shifted to the state governments , especially for health, nutrition, and education, which is likely to impact children who are 36.6 per cent of Indias total population .

Let us examine two important sectors: health and education in relation to the Economic Survey 2015-16 and the Budget 2016-17.

Education

Education plays pivotal role in social change and early childhood education is the key for overall well-being of a child. The biggest investment that is needed to ensure equitable and quality learning for all age groups must begin with investment in care and early childhood development services. The budget for Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) has declined marginally since last year and this will definitely impact plans to add quality to creche and pre-school component of ICDS and turn Anganwadi Centres into vibrant learning centres

The one clear message of the Economic Survey 2015-2016 is that the quality of public provisioning of basic services, such as health and education, is declining and people are opting for services provided by the private sector. Government schools enrolment in rural areas dipped from 72.9 per cent in 2007 to 63.1 per cent in 2014, (Annual Status of Education Report or ASER, 2014).

Although the government funding for education in 2016-17 is Rs. 71,139 crore an increase of seven per cent since last year, but the allocation for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has seen a meagre hike. Though the decision to invest in building 62 new Navodaya Vidyalayas and plans for ten public and ten private institutions to emerge as world-class Teaching and Research Institutions is welcome, but this intervention cannot meet the current challenge of ensuring quality with access and equity across 1445807 elementary (Grades I-VIII) schools in the country out of which 74.47 per cent are government schools catering to 118,973,934 children (DISE 2014-15). Investment in primary grades in capacity building of teachers, particularly to ensure that children learn to read and write is essential.

Disaggregated data shows that per student expenditure can be as low as Rs 37 and Rs 40 in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, respectively. The survey states that an increase in expenditure per se may not guarantee appropriate outcomes and achievements and efficiency of expenditure is equally important. However, without adequate investments, quality suffers. In rural government schools, the percentage of children who could do division in standard V halved from 41 per cent in 2007 to 20.7 per cent in 2014 (ASER 2014). In private schools also, the percentage of children who could do division in standard V declined from 49.4 per cent in 2007 to 39.3 per cent in 2014 in private schools. The survey admits that the decline in enrolment in government schools and shift to private schools might be related to poor quality education in government schools. Alarmingly, it surmises that the poor quality is because it is free or offered for a nominal fee. Is the survey blaming the poor for availing of free education for the government providing bad quality education? Is it preparing the ground for user fees by regarding free education as a subsidy? Therefore, while declaring that greater investments are needed in education, is it really questioning the need for universal free education?

Health

Like education, the expenditure on health as a proportion of GDP has remained less than 2 per cent. The survey acknowledges that in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) index developed by the World Bank, India ranks 157th according to per capita government spending on health and 25th among leading countries with a serious hunger situation .

The survey admits that India has the second highest number of undernourished people at 194.6 million persons (FAO, State of Food Insecurity in the World, 2015,). In India, 37 per cent of children under five in 15 states were stunted (NFHS-4), showing a fall of just five percentage points in a decade. Bihar and Madhya Pradesh are the worst off, with 48 and 42 per cent respectively of children stunted. Unless children are provided the necessary micronutrients they need, they are unlikely to develop to the best of their potential. The fact that mid-day meal allocation has been increased by only Rs. 463.6 crore, or five per cent, and ICDS supplementary programme finds no mention in the budget, is a cause for concern.

Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages is still far behind the target. For India to achieve this goal, it will have to reach the value of around 0.9 for its Health Index, which includes health status of population, quality of healthcare institutions and financial instruments for access to healthcare (insurance, etc.). Public expenditure on health in India has hovered around one per cent of the countrys GDP, and accounts for less than one third (33 per cent) of total health expenditure.

Though the budget has given a health cover of Rs 1,00,000 for each family which is welcome, this budget has not enhanced spending on health sector and both young children and adolescents are likely to be negatively impacted when it comes to out-of-pocket expenditure that the poorest families cannot afford.

Writing on the wall

Notwithstanding the dismal indicators of the well-being of the children, the survey limits the central governments role to policy making, leaving the gargantuan challenge of service delivery to the states.

Childrens wellbeing cannot be measured through social infrastructure as the Modi Government seems to think, but by basic human entitlements. This requires a multi-pronged effort to counter multi-dimensional poverty by budgeting and providing for water, energy, food security, livelihood creation for the households, reducing vulnerabilities, ensuring equity and assuring a just governance framework.

The conclusion reached based on the Economic Survey and the Budget 2016-17 gives ample indication that Modi Government could not keep promises made to Indias largest segment of population.

The writer is Delhi based senior journalist and has worked on childrens rights issue for a long time . He has authored several books on children's problems in India . Email : jospeh.gathia@gmail.com




The Global Refugee Crisis: Humanity's Last Call For A Culture Of Sharing And Cooperation

By Rajesh Makwana

16 March, 2016

Sharing.org

Razor-wire fences, detention centres, xenophobic rhetoric and political disarray; nothing illustrates the tendency of governments to aggressively pursue nationalistic interests more starkly than their inhumane response to refugees fleeing conflict and war. With record numbers of asylum seekers predicted to reach Europe this year and a morally acceptable humanitarian response nowhere in sight, the immediate problem is more apparent than ever: the abject failure of the international community to share the responsibility, burden and resources needed to safeguard the basic rights of asylum seekers in accordance with international law.

Of immediate concern across the European Union, however, is the mounting pressure that policymakers are under from the far-right and anti-immigration groups, whose influence is skewing the public debate on the divisive issue of how governments should deal with refugees and immigrants. With racial intolerance steadily growing among citizens, the traditionally liberal attitude of European states is fast diminishing and governments are increasingly adopting a cynical interpretation of international refugee law that lacks any sense of justice or compassion.

The 1951 Refugee Convention, which was implemented in response to Europes last major refugee crisis during World War II, states that governments need only safeguard the human rights of asylum seekers when they are inside their territory. In violation of the spirit of this landmark human rights legislation, the response from most European governments has been to prevent rather than facilitate the arrival of refugees in order to minimise their legal responsibility towards them. In order to achieve their aim, the EU has even gone so far as making a flawed and legally questionable deal with President Erdogan to intercept migrant families crossing the Aegean Sea and return them to Turkey against their will.

Instead of providing safe and legal routes to refugees, a growing number of countries on the migration path from Greece to Western Europe are adopting the Donald Trump solution of building walls, militarising boarders and constructing barbed wire barriers to stop people entering their country. Undocumented refugees (a majority of them women and children) who are trying to pass through Europes no-longer borderless Schengen area are at times subjected to humiliation and violence or are detained in rudimentary camps with minimal access to the essentials they need to survive. Unable to travel to their desired destination, tens of thousands of refugees have been bottlenecked in Greece which has become a warehouse for abandoned souls in a country on the brink of its own humanitarian crisis.

Ostensibly, the extreme reaction of many EU member states to those risking their lives to escape armed conflict is tantamount to officially sanctioned racial discrimination. Unsurprisingly, this unwarranted government response has been welcomed by nationalist parties who are now polling favourably among voters in the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Poland. The same is true in Hungary, where the government has even agreed Nazi-era demands to confiscate cash and jewellery from refugees to fund their anti-humanitarian efforts.

There can be little doubt that the European response to refugees has been discriminatory, morally objectionable and politically dangerous. Its also self-defeating since curtailing civil liberties and discarding long-held social values has the potential to destabilise Europe far more than simply providing the assistance guaranteed to refugees under the UN convention. Albeit unwittingly, the reactionary attitude of governments also plays directly into the hands of Islamic State and other jihadi groups whose broader intentions include inciting Islamophobia, provoking instability and conflict within western countries, and recruiting support for terrorism in the Middle East and across Europe.

Dispelling nationalist myths of the far-right

With the public increasingly divided about how governments should respond to the influx of people escaping violent conflict, its crucial that the pervasive myths peddled by right-wing extremists are exposed for what they are: bigotry, hyperbole and outright lies designed to exacerbate fear and discord within society.

Forced migration is a global phenomenon and, compared with other continents, Europe is not being subjected to the invasion of refugees widely portrayed in the mainstream media. Of the worlds 60 million refugees, nine out of ten are not seeking asylum in the EU, and the vast majority remain displaced within their own countries. Most of those that do settle in Europe will return to their country of origin when they are no longer at risk (as happened at the end of the Balkan Wars of the 1990s when 70% of refugees who had fled to Germany returned to Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Albania and Slovenia).

The real emergency is taking place outside of Europe, where there is a desperate need for more assistance from the international community. For example, Turkey is now home to over 3 million refugees; Jordan hosts 2.7 million refugees  a staggering 41 percent of its population; and Lebanon has 1.5 million Syrian refugees who make up a third of its population. Unsurprisingly, social and economic systems are under severe strain in these and the other countries that host the majority of global refugees  especially since they are mainly based in developing countries with soaring unemployment rates, inadequate welfare systems and high levels of social unrest. In stark comparison (and with the notable exception of Germany), the 28 relatively prosperous EU member states have collectively pledged to resettle a mere 160,000 of the one million refugees that entered Europe in 2015. Not only does this amount to less than 0.25% of their combined population, governments have only relocated a few hundred have so far.

The spurious claim that there are insufficient resources available to share with those seeking asylum in the EU or that asylum seekers will take our homes, our jobs and our welfare services is little more than a justification for racial discrimination. Aside from the overriding moral and legal obligation for states to provide emergency assistance to anyone fleeing war or persecution, the economic rationale for resettling asylum seekers throughout Europe (and globally) is sound: in countries experiencing declining birth rates and ageing populations  as is the case across the EU as a whole  migration levels need to be significantly increased in order to continue financing systems of state welfare.

The facts are incontrovertible: evidence from OECD countries demonstrates that immigrant households contribute $2,800 more to the economy in taxes alone than they receive in public provision. In the UK, non-European immigrants contributed 5 billion ($7.15 billion) in taxes between 2000 and 2011. They are also less likely to receive state benefits than the rest of the population, more likely to start businesses, and less likely to commit serious crimes than natives. Overall, economists at the European Commission calculate that the influx of people from conflict zones will have a positive effect on employment rates and long-term public finances in the most affected countries.

A common agenda to end austerity

If migrant families contribute significantly to society and many European countries with low birth rates actually need them in greater numbers, why are governments and a growing sector of the population so reluctant to honour international commitments and assist refugees in need? The widely held belief that public resources are too scarce to share with asylum seekers is most likely born of fear and insecurity in an age of economic austerity, when many European citizens are struggling to make ends meet.

Just as the number of people forcibly displaced from developing countries begins to surge, economic conditions in most European countries have made it politically unfeasible to provide incoming refugees with shelter and basic welfare. Voluntary and compulsory austerity measures adopted by governments after spending trillions of dollars bailing out the banks in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis have resulted in deep spending cuts to essential public services such as healthcare, education and pensions schemes. The resulting economic crisis has led to rising unemployment, social discontent, growing levels of inequality and public services that are being stretched to breaking point.

The same neoliberal ideology that underpins austerity in Europe is also responsible for creating widespread economic insecurity across the Global South and facilitating an exodus of so-called economic migrants, many of who are also making their way to Europe. Economic austerity has been central to the development policies foisted onto low-income countries for decades by the IMF and World Bank in exchange for loans and international aid. They constitute a modern form of economic colonialism that in many cases has decimated essential public services, thwarted poverty reduction programmes and increased the likelihood of social unrest, sectarian violence and civil war. By prioritising international loan repayments over the basic welfare of citizens, these neoliberal policies are directly responsible for creating a steady flow of refugees from globalisation who are in search of basic economic security in an increasingly unequal world.

Instead of pointing the finger of blame at governments for mismanaging the economy, public anger across Europe is being wrongly directed at a far easier target: refugees from foreign lands who have become societys collective scapegoats at a time of grinding austerity. It's high time that people in both rich and poor countries recognise that their hardship stems from a parallel set of neoliberal policies that have prioritised market forces above social needs. By emphasising this mutual cause and promoting solidarity between people and nations, citizens can begin overturning prejudiced attitudes and supporting progressive agendas geared towards safeguarding the common good of all humanity.

From a culture of war to conflict resolution

Its also clear that any significant change in the substance and direction of economic policy must go hand-in-hand with a dramatic shift away from aggressive foreign policy agendas that are overtly based on securing national interests at all costs  such as appropriating the planets increasingly scarce natural resources. Indeed, it will remain impossible to address the root causes of the refugee crisis until the UK, US, France and other NATO countries fully accept that their misguided foreign policies are largely responsible for the current predicament.

Not only are many western powers responsible for selling arms to abusive regimes in the Middle East, their wider foreign policy objectives and military ambitions have displaced large swathes of the worlds population, particularly as a consequence of the illegal occupation of Iraq, the war in Afghanistan and the ill-conceived invasion of Libya. The connection between the military interventions of recent years, the perpetuation of terrorism and the plight of refugees across the Middle East and North Africa has been succinctly explained by Professor Noam Chomsky:

the US-UK invasion of Iraq  dealt a nearly lethal blow to a country that had already been devastated by a massive military attack twenty years earlier followed by virtually genocidal US-UK sanctions. The invasion displaced millions of people, many of whom fled and were absorbed in the neighboring countries, poor countries that are left to deal somehow with the detritus of our crimes. One outgrowth of the invasion is the ISIS/Daesh monstrosity, which is contributing to the horrifying Syrian catastrophe. Again, the neighboring countries have been absorbing the flow of refugees. The second sledgehammer blow destroyed Libya, now a chaos of warring groups, an ISIS base, a rich source of jihadis and weapons from West Africa to the Middle East, and a funnel for flow of refugees from Africa.

After this series of blundered invasions by the US and NATO forces, which continue to destabilise an entire region, one might think that militarily powerful nations would finally accept the need for a very different foreign policy framework. No longer can governments ignore the imperative to engender trust between nations and replace the prevailing culture of war with one of peace and nonviolent means of conflict resolution. In the immediate future, the priority for states must be to deescalate emerging cold war tensions and diffuse what is essentially a proxy war in the Middle East being played out in Syria. Yet this remains a huge challenge at a time when military intervention is still favoured over compromise and diplomacy, even when common sense and experience tells us that this outdated approach only exacerbates violent conflict and causes further geopolitical instability.

Sharing the burden, responsibility and resources

Given the deplorably inadequate response from most EU governments to the global exodus of refugees thus far, the stage is set for a rapid escalation of the crisis in 2016 and beyond. Some ten million refugees are expected to make their way to Europe in 2016 alone, and this figure is likely to rise substantially with population growth in developing countries over the coming decades. But it's climate change that will bring the real emergency, with far higher migration levels accompanied by floods, droughts and sudden hikes in global food prices.

Although largely overlooked by politicians and the mainstream media, the number of people fleeing conflict is already dwarfed by environmental refugees displaced by severe ecological conditions  whose numbers could rise to 200 million by 2050. Its clear that unless nations collectively pursue a radically different approach to managing forced displacement, international discord and social tensions will continue to mount and millions of additional refugees will be condemned to oversized and inhumane camps on the outer edges of civilisation.

The fundamentals of an effective and morally acceptable response to the crisis are already articulated in the Refugee Convention, which sets out the core responsibilities that states have towards those seeking asylum  even though governments have interpreted the treaty erroneously and failed to implement it effectively. In the short term, its evident that governments must mobilise the resources needed to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to those escaping war, regardless of where in the world they have been displaced. Like the Marshall Plan that was initiated after the Second World War, a globally coordinated emergency response to the refugee crisis will require a significant redistribution of finance from the worlds richest countries to those most in need  which should be provided on the basis of enlightened self-interest if not from a genuine sense of compassion and altruism.

Immediate humanitarian interventions would have to be accompanied by a new and more effective system for administrating the protection of refugees in a way that is commensurate with international refugee law. In simple terms, such a mechanism could be coordinated by a reformed and revitalised UN Refugee Agency (the UNHCR) which would ensure that both the responsibility and resources needed to protect refugees is shared fairly among nations. A mechanism for sharing global responsibility would also mean that states only provide assistance in accordance with their individual capacity and circumstances, which would prevent less developed nations from shouldering the greatest burden of refugees as is currently the case.

Even though the UNs refugee convention has already been agreed by 145 nations, policymakers in the EU seem incapable and unwilling to demonstrate any real leadership in tackling this or indeed any other pressing transnational issue. Not only does the resulting refugee fiasco demonstrate the extent to which self-interest dominates the political status quo across the European Union, it confirms the suspicion that the union as a whole is increasingly devoid of social conscience and in urgent need of reform.

Thankfully, ordinary citizens are leading the way on this critical issue and putting elected representatives to shame by providing urgent support to refugee families in immediate need of help. In their thousands, volunteers stationed along Europes boarders have been welcoming asylum seekers by providing much needed food, shelter and clothing, and have even provided search and rescue services for those who have risked their lives being trafficked into Europe in rubber dinghies. Nowhere is this spirit of compassion and generosity more apparent than on Lesbos and other Geek islands, where residents have been collectively nominated for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for their humanitarian efforts.

The selfless actions of these dedicated volunteers should remind the world that people have a responsibility and a natural inclination to serve one another in times of need  regardless of differences in race, religion and nationality. Instead of building militarised borders and ignoring popular calls for a just and humanitarian response to the refugee crisis, governments should take the lead from these people of goodwill and prioritise the needs of the worlds most vulnerable above all other concerns. For European leaders and policymakers in all countries, its this instinctively humane response to the refugee crisis  which is based firmly on the principle of sharing  that holds the key to addressing the whole spectrum of interconnected social, economic and environmental challenges in the critical period ahead.

Rajesh Makwana is STWR's director and he can be contacted at rajesh [at] sharing.org




Did Kanhaiya Kumar Make This Statement? The Damage Is Already Done!

By Mithilesh Kumar

16 March, 2016

Countercurrents.org

Yesterday, there was a protest march to demand the release of Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya and other demands. Incidentally, both students have now been again sent to 14 days judicial custody. The JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar who faces rustication gave the list of demands and this is how it was quoted on the website of NDTV:

"We want the resignation of Smriti Irani, dropping of sedition charges, the release of two students from jail, no interferences in the university's autonomy and a law against caste politics in colleges," Mr Kumar told NDTV.[1]

This is a statement which has to be taken very seriously. The resignation of Smriti Irani, dropping of sedition charges, release of the students and preservation of autonomy are all legitimate demands but what exactly a law against caste politics in colleges means. This puzzled my mind so greatly on reading that I went into a frenzy. For some, they might say have an upper caste guilt consciousness and maybe it is true who knows but I hope that guilt makes my politics unimpeachable. I first asked for the authenticity of this statement. I posted the link on facebook to ask if this was really what was said. I also wrote to a Dalit activist whom I greatly admire and is my friend on facebook alerting him to this. Finally, I asked my friend who was in the march if it was true and whether the JNUSU president has actually made the remark. The first reaction was that no he could not make that demand because it is very unlike him. I insisted that a question be raised publically to the president and he should answer it publically because it is a very sensitive issue. If Rohith Vemula is also the spirit behind this movement this should be clarified. If this statement has not been given NDTV should immediately correct and edit and apologize for it because it will be disastrous to the movement. A few minutes later I was told that the statement was not made. When I asked if this question was asked and answered publically I got no response. At the time of writing this article the webpage is still showing the same statement. Thus, either the leadership has no idea about this NDTV story or they dont think its important or this was the statement that was made. We should give them the benefit of the doubt but extremely small benefit. Whether it was said or not said is now immaterial that it has been quoted and put on a public platform for so long is enough to make peoples mind. Did we not say that the right-wing media is playing with the perceptions of the people? By that logic we are pretty bare faced about our caste prejudices.

The more amusing part was the reaction of my colleagues. We are all upper-caste, middle-class. Other identities should be kept secret. They said that my interpretation was wrong because what the JNUSU president really meant was to end caste discrimination. To this response I asked how they could interpret it like that when the text is plain in saying law against caste politics. I am sure that even if tomorrow it is proved that the JNUSU president indeed did not say that and actually said law against caste discrimination in colleges the problem remains. How could someone be so imaginative in their interpretations? Yes it is reading between the lines and against the grain and what have you but it is also the refusal to admit that a leader they approve of could become casteist. Their leader is above reproach no matter what he says. This is not to say that my colleagues are vicious anti-caste people. Nothing could be further from the truth. Their heart is in the right place and that is what makes it doubly dangerous.

Now, the question arises how much of the solidarity shown to Rohith Vemula by upper caste, middle-class intelligentsia and students are without problematics of prejudice. This small personal incident which I have related shows that not much progress has been made. That Jai Bhim for this section is becoming an empty signifier and worse an opportunist stand. Each of us have to cure ourselves of this caste blindness and mask it with high theory. Today, according to the same report a slogan was raised: Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Jai Samvidhan. Well, we should refresh our memories a bit. This slogan was a war cry against Pakistan in 1965 and a call to make sacrifices for the country. Now, with Samvidhan this slogan has fortified nationalism with constitution. Now, we know that nationalism of the left liberal kind is not so bad after all fortified as it is with the holy book of constitution. In passing one should also remember that this slogan came at a time when land reforms were negligible and the small peasants and the landless labour of which most were Dalits were the most exploited ones. Jai Jawan Jai Kisan meant only that they could get recruited and become cannon fodder or keep on working for big landlords under inhuman conditions. Clearly, there is not much use for nationalism of any kind for the Dalits. And I hope that the statement attributed to the JNUSU president is proved to be incorrect.

UPDATE

NDTV corrected the statement after this article was published. The statement now reads:

"We want the resignation of Smriti Irani, dropping of sedition charges, the release of two students from jail, no interferences in the university's autonomy and a law against caste discrimination in colleges," Mr Kumar told NDTV.

Mithilesh Kumar is a PhD Candidate at Western Sydney University, Australia. His interest is in the issues of logistics, migration and labour, political philosophy and theory. He wants to work on the nature, evolution and innovation of the Indian state with respect to social and political movements in India. Email: kmithilesh@hotmail.com

[1] http://www.ndtv.com/cheat-sheet/expel-kanhaiya-kumar-and-4-others-says-jnu-report-sparks-anger-1287277




Russias Military Aims Achieved, Putin Switches To Diplomacy

By Paul Craig Roberts

16 March, 2016

Paulcraigroberts.org

American presstitutes, such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, expressed surprise at Russias support for the Syrian ceasefire, which Russia has been seeking, by Putins halt to attacks on the Islamic State and a partial withdrawal of Russian forces. The American presstitutes are captives of their own propaganda and are now surprised at the failure of their propagandistic predictions.

Having stripped the Islamic State of offensive capability and liberated Syria from the Washington-supported terrorists, Putin has now shifted to diplomacy. If peace fails in Syria, the failure cannot be blamed on Russia.

It is a big risk for Putin to trust the neocon-infested US government, but if ISIS renews the conflict with support from Washington, Putins retention of air and naval bases in Syria will allow Russia to resume military operations. Astute observers such as Professor Michel Chossudovsky at Global Research, Stephen Cohen, and The Saker have noted that the Russian withdrawal is really a time-out during which Putins diplomacy takes the place of Russian military capability.

With ISIS beat down, there is less danger of Washington using a peace-seeking ceasefire to resurrect the Islamic States military capability. Therefore, the risk Putin is taking by trusting Washington is worth the payoff if the result is to enhance Russian diplomacy and elevate it above Washingtons reliance on threats, coercion, and violence. What Putin is really aiming for is to make Europeans realize that by serving as Washingtons vassals European governments are supporting violence over peace and may themselves be swept by the neoconservatives into a deadly conflict with Russia that would ensure Europes destruction.

Putin has also demonstrated that, unlike Washington, Russia is able to achieve decisive military results in a short time without Russian casualties and to withdraw without becoming a permanent occupying force. This very impressive performance is causing the world to rethink which country is really the superpower.

The appearance of American decline is reinforced by the absence of capable leaders among the candidates for the Republican and Democratic party nominations for president. America is no longer capable of producing political leadership as successive presidents become progressively worse. The rest of the world must be puzzled how a country unable to produce a fit candidate for president can be a superpower.

Dr. Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and associate editor of the Wall Street Journal. He was columnist for Business Week, Scripps Howard News Service, and Creators Syndicate. He has had many university appointments. His internet columns have attracted a worldwide following. Roberts' latest books are The Failure of Laissez Faire Capitalism and Economic Dissolution of the West, How America Was Lost, and The Neoconservative Threat to World Order.




Solidarity Letter From Indian Workers Association Great Britain

Press Release

16 March, 2016

Countercurrents.org

Release JNU students Omar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya immediately!!

Release Delhi University Professors SAR Geelani and GN Saibaba, immediately!!

Abolish Capital punishment! Abolish colonial Sedition Act

Justice for Rohit Vemula and enactment of Rohit Act!!

Complete withdrawal of Army from Kashmir, North-eastern states and Chhattisgarh!!

Justice for Soni Sori! Stop assaults on journalists, activists and NGOs in Chhattisgarh!

Indian Workers Association, Great Britain continues to stand firmly with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and strongly condemns the attempts by the Indian state and the Hindutva forces to stifle the voices of democratic dissent, disagreement and discourse in the campuses. We congratulate the students and the faculty for standing unitedly and firmly at a time when assaults on democratic rights is taking place across India on various sections of the people. We thank and congratulate the students, faculty and the staff of various educational institutions from within India such as Jadhavpur University, Hyderabad Central University, IITs, IIMs, FTII and IIMC for standing with the JNU. We also thank hundreds of academicians such as Noam Chomsky from universities across the globe, including Columbia, Harvard, Yale, Cambridge, Oxford and Warwick for their outpouring solidarity in support of the JNU. We also thank the legal team who volunteered to act as lawyers for the six JNU students including Kanhaiya, Omar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya and also for successfully getting the JNU students Union president Kanhaiya out on interim bail. It demands immediate release of Omar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya from prison.

On a similar note, IWA Great Britain strongly condemns the arrest of Prof Geelani, Delhi University, barely three days after the arrest of JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar. While the six JNU students have been charged with sedition over an event on JNU campus against hanging of Afzal Guru, Prof Geelani is facing the same charges over an event at the Press Club on the same issue. SAR Geelanis biggest crime is that he is a Kashmiri Muslim and questioned the capital punishment given to Afzal Guru. IWA, GB demands his unconditional release from detention.

IWA, GB likes to remind that yet another Delhi University professor, GN Saibaba, who was incarcerated in Nagpur jail for 14 months, was sent back to prison again in the last week of January, within 6 months after being released on bail based on his deteriorating health conditions. He was charged under the colonial Sedition Act and the UAPA. The only fault of this 90% disabled wheelchair bound professor was that he questioned the ongoing military assault of the government, code named Operation Green Hunt on the poorest of the poor - the Adivasis of Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkhand. He also questioned signing of hundreds of secretive mining and infrastructure contracts (MoUs) by the central and state governments with multinational corporations, who are looting the natural resources, grabbing thousands of acres of land of the indigenous people and destroying their livelihood. In a related development, a contempt notice was issued against Arundhati Roy by High Court Justice Arun Chaudhari in December for her views published in Outlook magazine on the arrest of Dr GNSaibaba and subsequent rejection of his bail plea early last year. IWA, GB demands immediate release of Dr G N Saibaba and withdrawal of contempt notice served against Arundhati Roy.

We cannot see what is happening in the JNU or Rohit Vemulas institutional murder in the University of Hyderabad in isolation from what has been happening elsewhere in India and across the world. As the global economic crisis is deepening, the corporations are bringing extreme right-wing forces to power in many countries, which are intensifying their assaults on the democratic and constitutional rights of the people, including students. Historically, students have been in the forefront  may it be the anti-war campaign against the US war on Vietnam or against the Chinese governments assault at Tiananmen Square. On the 9th of March 2016, about half a million students and industrial workers jointly took to the streets in Paris and other cities around France, striking against President Francois Hollandes proposed changes to the labour laws, which are seen as a major assault on workers rights. The demonstrations shook the French rulers, reminding them of the 2006 militant demonstrations of students and youth. From that perspective, the students in India have a huge responsibility in building a democratic movement in India, resisting the ongoing assaults by the pro-corporate Hindutva government.

JNU has brought some age-old important issues to the forefront once again for debate. One of them is the right to self-determination of nationalities and the question of Kashmir Contrary to what the Sangh Parivar thinks, India is not just one monolithic nation. India is diverse with various nationalities, regions, tribes and cultures. In political terms India is a union of several nationalities, which are still struggling to evolve as full-fledged nations. The right to self-determination of oppressed nationalities such as Nagas, Manipuris, Mizos and Assames is being crushed under the iron heels of the armed forces. Though there are name-sake State governments, Kashmir and north-eastern states have always constantly been under military rule, with hundreds of thousands of armed forces being deployed there. The pre-1947 promises made by the Indian National Congress (INC) to the people of various nationalities in India for a real federal democratic republic remained as broken promises, making India a prison-house of nationalities.

Another question is the Capital punishment and colonial repressive acts such as the notorious Sedition Act, which the British used on Bhagat Singh, Gandhi and Tilak. In addition to what they have inherited from the British, the Indian rulers have made innumerable draconian repressive laws such as AFSPA, TADA, POTA, NASA, MISA, UAPA, Chattisgarh Special Public Security Act and so on.

The same Government, which has taken away the non-NET fellowships and is rushing to sell-off our educational institutions to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), is on the other hand continuing its assault on the industrial working class by diluting the already weak labour laws, making it easy for the corporations to hire and fire workers. The same Hindutva forces, who are responsible for the institutional murder of Dalit scholar Rohit Vemula of HCU are also responsible for the suicides of thousands of peasants. The same fascist forces that are responsible for the massacres of thousands of monitories such as Muslim and Christians across the country are intensifying their assaults on thousands of villages in the mineral-rich forest areas of Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand and Bihar with an intention of displacing millions of Advasis from their lands and homes for the benefit of foreign and domestic mining and heavy industry corporations. Attacks on Adivasi villages by armed forces are increasing. Arrests, torture, rapes, burning of crops and homes, stealing their savings and poultry by armed forces have been going on as a routine for more than two decades. According to the reports of Home Ministry, there are over 1 lakh armed forces such as CRPF, BSF and ITBPF are deployed in South Chhattisgarh, making it the most-militarised zone in the entire country. Around two years ago Indian Army too was deployed in the guise of establishing a training school for the Army. The Indian Airforce is building airstrips there.

Indian jails are over-crowded, most of them being people from poor working class / rural background and political activists. According to 2013 prison statistics of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), published in Times of India (9th Nov 2013). Chhattisgarh is the worst among any other state in India with 14,780 prisoners against the prison capacity of 5,850, which means a 252.6%. Most of them are adivasis imprisoned under false cases. 68% of them are undertrials and never produced before the court. Legal aid organisations such as jagLAG, who provide free legal advice to poor adivasis and NGOs such as Red Cross, who provide free medical care to the adivasis and many journalists such as Malini Subramanyam of Scoll.com, who report the atrocities of the armed forces on adivasis are driven out of South Chhattisgarh by the police. A day after being warned by Chhattisgarh police to vacate her home in a village near Jagadalpur, tribal leader Soni Sori was attacked by some unidentified persons, who threw a chemical on her face.

Our country is passing through a critical phase of history in terms of erosion of democratic rights and shrinking democratic space. We appeal to the students and youth of India to stand in solidarity with other progressive sections of the society such as journalists, lawyers and teachers to build a democratic united front against the ongoing assaults by the fascist state. They should stand in solidarity with the peasants who are being driven to take their own lives and adivasis who are facing the joint assault of armed forces and multinational corporations. They should join forces with the industrial working class as the French students are doing. The interests of working class and peasants are not any different from those of the students, as majority of them come from poor peasant and working class families.

* Long live the unity of students, intellectuals, workers, peasants and adivasis

* Uphold the democratic values and fight to retain the rights achieved through democratic struggles.

* Freedom for all political prisoners.

In Solidarity

Indian Workers Association, Great Britain (COC) iwagb1938@hotmail.com

Lekh Pal, General Secretary 074695 39797

Charan Atwal, President 077791 44977




SHARE Daniel Wooters

By Shannon Hall of the Courier and Press

EPD Sgt. Cullum's statement about the incident

Shortly before he was shot and killed by police on Tuesday night, Daniel Wooters was allegedly inside TGI Fridays threatening to kill some cops.

Police identified Wooters, 38, on Wednesday. He was shot by three officers after he reportedly advanced toward them on Morgan Avenue with a knife after allegedly stealing a police cruiser and leading officers on a short chase across part of the citys East Side commercial district, according to police.

Wooters was listed as homeless but has family in Carbondale, Illinois, Vanderburgh County Deputy Coroner Steve Lockyear said. An autopsy was schedule for 1 p.m. Wednesday.

The incident began at about 8:20 p.m. at TGI Fridays in Eastland Mall. Witnesses told police that Wooters acted aggressively and threatened to kill some cops, according to a news release.

Wooters then left the restaurant and walked to Fifth Third Banks parking lot. He approached an empty car in the Fifth Third parking lot where the owner, who was also in the parking lot, told Wooters to get away from his vehicle.

A uniformed officer in a marked vehicle then approached Wooters in the parking lot, and witnesses said Wooters pulled a knife out, according to police.

As the officer backed away, Wooters got into the police car and drove away, according to the release. Other officers responding to the TGI Fridays 911 calls saw Wooters driving away in the car and being pursuing, Sgt. Jason Cullum said Tuesday night.

(The situation) went from 0 to 60 in half a second, Cullum said.

He said Wooters somehow damaged a front axle on the cruiser and lost control near the 3300 block of East Morgan Avenue. Wooters got out of the car and advanced toward pursuing officers with a knife.

Three officers fired at Wooters and he dropped to the ground, according to police.

The officers reportedly performed CPR until medical personnel arrived. Wooters was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Wooters died of internal bleeding stemming from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest, according to Vanderburgh County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Lockyear.

The Courier & Press has filed a request for body camera footage from Tuesday nights incident.

No officers were injured. The three officers were placed on paid administrative leave, per the Evansville Police Department policy. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone who witnessed any of the events that began at TGI Fridays around 8:20 p.m. is asked to call Evansville Police Department at 812-436-7979.

Police officers are also investigating a suspicious circumstance call at about 6: 40 p.m. from the Chilis restaurant in front of Eastland Mall.

Officers were called to the restaurant when a man came in and asked if he could leave his duffle bag on one side of the restaurant while he ate on the other side. An employee thought the mans behavior was suspicious and they called 911, according to the release.

Police werent able to locate the man and are looking into the possibility that the man at Chilis was also Wooters.

In August, Wooters was arrested and charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct. He was drinking at bar and became belligerent, according to a probable cause affidavit. He started arguing and fighting with the manager, court documents state.
The Photo:

You've almost certainly seen this photo somewhere, but may not know the background, other than "It was at the Olympics, right? Aren't they standing on that medal thing?"

It was at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, and American runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos won medals in the 200-meter finals. But what catapulted them into notoriety was this photo of them doing the "black power" salute at the podium. The photograph became an iconic image in the history of civil rights, but what's not often discussed is the awkward-looking white guy on the left.

DPA/LANDOV

"Man, I never know what to do with my hands during a photo. What do you guys usually- oh."

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The Tragedy:

That's the Australian silver medalist, Peter Norman. While he looks kind of jittery in this scene (and is clearly not participating in the black power bit), he knew very well what was going to happen behind him -- he'd spoken to Smith and Carlos before the ceremony. Not only did he support their cause, but the black gloves were his idea, and he wore a civil rights pin on his tracksuit when he took to the podium.

Unfortunately for him, Australia wasn't any more progressive than the United States at that time, being under the grip of a whites-only immigration policy, so having one of their own support racial equality in front of the entire world was like a kangaroo punch to the groin.
The utter nightmare we're about to describe starts with a poor college graduate, not too different from lots of the people reading this. Jeremiah was fresh out of school and living in a dilapidated flophouse in Ruai, Nairobi (as bad as you think the job market is for recent grads where you live, trust us, it can be worse). His living situation is actually an important detail to keep in mind here, because when people have very little to their name, it can either bring out the absolutely best or the very worst in them, both of which Jeremiah got to experience firsthand.

"My room was a part of a 23-room block that we shared with 22 other diversified tenants (students, waiters, mechanics, etc.). One of the rooms was occupied by my best friend, Dennis. We exchanged keys so we could help each other with basic supplies (laptops, utensils, gas cylinders we used for cooking, etc.), because that's what friends do," he says.

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In other words, day-to-day stuff that doesn't usually involve the threat of vigilante mob murder.

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But on the evening of June 21, 2015, this arrangement would result in the minor misunderstanding that would quickly spin out of control. "I arrived at the house at around 9 p.m. My gas cylinder had dried up the previous night, and Dennis was inconveniently not in his room when I got there," he says. "So after buying some groceries, I went and used my copy of his key to borrow his cooking cylinder with clean intentions of returning it once I was done, a routine we had both done a couple of times."
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Online retailer Kogan has acquired selected intellectual property from failed retailer Dick Smith for an undisclosed sum.

Kogan founder Ruslan Kogan said he would continue to run Dick Smith's online store as a separate entity to his own business.

Dick Smith is an iconic Australian brand and were thrilled to be able to keep it alive, as well as Aussie owned and run. We will invest in building and nurturing the Dick Smith community, and honour the great legacy of this Australian business.

I remember as a kid always visiting Dick Smith to look for parts to upgrade my computer. There is a strong history of passion in the Dick Smith community for how technology can improve our lives, and we look forward to helping make it more affordable and accessible for all," said Kogan.

The deal includes "Dick Smith brand and trademarks, the online business in Australia and New Zealand, customer and loyalty databases, websites and domain names", according to a report by Fairfax.

The Dick Smith website will continue to sell branded and private label consumer electronics and appliances.

James Stewart, from receiver Ferrier Hodgson, said: "After a thorough process with multiple bidding parties we are pleased that Kogan.com is the successful acquirer of the Dick Smith online business.

"As Australias largest pure-play online retail website, Kogan.com is a natural and logical owner of the Dick Smith online business and we are particularly pleased that the Dick Smith brand will continue under its stewardship."

Ferrier Hodgson raised widespread industry concerns when it was revealed two weeks ago that they were selling the retailer's customer database.

At the time, a Ferrier Hodgson spokesperson said the firm would inform all Dick Smith customers of the transaction before it is finalised on 1 June and would provide an option to opt out.

Approximately 2,460 Australian staff have already lost their jobs when Ferrier Hodgson announced that Dick Smith would close on 25 February.

A further 181 employees were let go when the 27 Electronics Powered by Dick Smith stores  a joint venture with David Jones  were closed on 22 January.

The deal marks a massive step for Kogan, which has gone from strength to strength since it was established by the eponymous founder almost 10 years ago, focused on grey market imports. The company has since expanded into an online department store selling a range of consumer products, from electronics to clothing to health and beauty.
Dick Smiths remaining stock was not part of the sale of assets to Kogan revealed Tuesday morning, CRN has learned.

Kogan was revealed as the winning bidder for selected intellectual property from Dick Smith, with the deal including Dick Smiths brand and trademarks, online business, customer and loyalty databases, websites and domain names. However, the effect on suppliers when Kogan revives Dick Smiths online retail store on 1 June is as yet unknown.

Dick Smith supplier Oppo Australia's marketing director, Michael Tran, told CRN he had only just heard of the Kogan deal on Tuesday morning. He added that it was still early days, but would be waiting to see if the reseller relationship could continue.

Since Dick Smith shut up shop, weve been in talks with other retailers, but we still have Optus, said Tran.

Kogan told Fairfax that suppliers who previously refused to supply Kogan to avoid a backlash from traditional retailers, such as Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi, may be more willing to supply DickSmith.com.au.

Chinese smartphone vendor Oppo launched into Australian retail market last year, signing an exclusive retail agreement with Dick Smith.

Two weeks after Dick Smith announced it would close its remaining 301 stores, Oppo recruited Optus to sell its entry-level F1 smartphone in retail stores, ending the exclusivity arrangement.

Tran said that Oppo was open to more reseller partnerships in Australia, but Optus would continue to sell its outright phones and post-paid plans.

When we launched in Australia in 2014, Dick Smith only took us on board mid-year. We sold devices at their stores exclusively and we noticed consumers were latching on. Were confident that this can be replicated.

Oppo opened up its own dedicated kiosks in 150 Dick Smith stores alongside Apple and Samsung in July last year.

Its disappointing to see whats happened to Dick Smith but at the same time, its shown what we can do in the market, said Tran.
It's not just computers and mobile phones that are vulnerable to cyber attack, according to software firm Trend Micro. As more devices are hooked up to the Internet, it could be anything from medical equipment to industrial machinery - and even sex toys.

To illustrate the point, Trend Micro spokesman Udo Schneider surprised journalists at a news conference this week by placing a large, neon-pink vibrator on the desk in front of him and then bringing it to life by typing out a few lines of code on his laptop.

While the stunt provoked sheepish giggles, the message was sobering. As the number of smart, interactive devices connected to the Internet explodes, concern is mounting about insufficient safeguards and a lack of consumer and employee awareness.

"If I hack a vibrator it's just fun," Raimund Genes, chief technology officer at Tokyo-listed Trend Micro, told reporters at the CeBIT technology fair in Hanover.

"But if I can get to the back-end, I can blackmail the manufacturer," he added, referring to the programming system behind a device's interface.

(Reporting by Caroline Copley; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Applications & OS News

Windows 10 Nagware Has Some Partners Questioning Microsoft's OS Rollout Strategies

Lindsey O'Donnell

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Microsoft has been insistently urging Windows 7 and Windows 8 customers to upgrade to its newest software, Windows 10. And some partners aren't happy about it.

Solution providers say corporate customers need time to test how the new software fits into their line of business, whether their apps and devices are properly supported, and whether they are comfortable with the OS user interface.

"We  find it disconcerting to have to deal with yet another somewhat heavy-handed approach from Microsoft to garner a quick adoption of Windows 10," said Bob Nitrio, CEO of Ranvest Associates, an Orangevale, Calif.-based Microsoft partner. "They're pushing hard to get customers to adopt this, but customers have choices, and Microsoft should respect those choices."

[Related: Head-To-Head: Huawei MateBook Vs. Microsoft Surface Pro 4]

Several solution providers interviewed by CRN said their customers with computers running on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 have discovered Windows 10 upgrade nagware buried in security patches.

The nagware, which partners say can be removed, comes in the form of an ad on users' Internet Explorer browser encouraging them to upgrade.

The Redmond, Wash.-based company's pressure on customers, which partners say they have not seen with previous Window OS upgrades, has increased a month after Microsoft switched its update status from "optional" to "recommended."

"Upgrading has always been more of a client-centric choice," said Nitrio. "Microsoft seems to be taking an almost abrasive approach in pushing customers to adopt this."

A Microsoft spokesperson told CRN that the company is evolving its notifications to be "more approachable" in helping customers adopt Windows 10.

"We've been using notifications from the task bar to inform people when their upgrade is ready," said the spokesperson. "We are evolving our notifications to be more approachable and hopefully clear, and will continue to test new things in different markets around the world. This is part of that effort. Users that have turned off the GWX app or disabled notifications in settings will not see this recent change, nor will Windows Professional users."

Microsoft has touted Windows 10 as its "best Windows ever," with better security features, an innovative user interface and a more streamlined experience among devices.

Mike Hadley, CEO of Boston-based Microsoft partner iCorps Technologies, said customers should look into upgrading to Windows 10, because of its enhanced efficiency and security measures -- but said he thinks Microsoft could utilize the channel to promote Windows 10 adoption as opposed to nagware.

"At some point, everyone will have to adopt Windows 10, and ultimately, it's a good thing for companies to move to this OS," said Hadley. "I don't believe in the nagware approach, though.  Microsoft may be able to find alternative ways to [promote Windows 10] through the channel."

Hadley and a handful of other partners that CRN talked to said they haven't been directly contacted by Microsoft about pushing Windows 10 adoption for customers.

Microsoft's Windows 10 campaigns seem to be working, according to a report by Net Applications: Since its release in August, the OS had passed 10 percent share of the worldwide OS market as of January.

While Windows 10 already has slightly more market share than Windows 8.1, which has 10.4 percent share, it is nowhere near the Windows 7 adoption rate, which as of January had 52.4 percent share of the worldwide OS market.

Michael Goldstein, president and CEO of LAN Infotech, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Microsoft partner, said that the choice is still there for customers -- while some clients are interested in the touch-screen features of Windows 10, others are still opting for Windows 7 on their desktops.

"I think customers are [still looking] at Windows 10," he said. "Some are still happy on Windows 7 on their desktop, while it's still available, but if we're selling something that has touch-screen capabilities, it makes sense for us to go out there and talk about Windows 10."
Cloud News

Cloud Makes For Strange Bedfellows: Apple Signs On With Google, Cuts Spending With AWS

Kevin McLaughlin and Joseph Tsidulko

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Alphabet's Google has quietly scored a major coup in its campaign to become an enterprise cloud computing powerhouse, landing Apple as a customer for the Google Cloud Platform, multiple sources with knowledge of the matter told CRN this week.

Since inking the Google deal late last year, Apple has also significantly reduced its reliance on Amazon Web Services, whose infrastructure it uses to run parts of iCloud and other services, said the sources, who all requested anonymity to protect their relationships with the vendors.

Apple has not abandoned AWS entirely and remains a customer, the sources said.

[Video: Apple Goes With Google Cloud, Cuts Spending With AWS]

According to the sources, Google executives have told partners that Apple is spending between $400 million and $600 million on Google Cloud Platform, although this couldnt be independently confirmed. Also unclear is whether this range refers to an annual spending rate or a set amount of capacity.

AWS said Apple's move to work with Google does not signify "competitive defection."

Its kind of a puzzler to us because vendors who understand doing business with enterprises respect [non-disclosure agreements] with their customers and dont imply competitive defection where it doesnt exist," said the AWS spokeswoman in an emailed statement sent to CRN late Wednesday.

Spokespeople from Google and Apple werent immediately available for comment.

Morgan Stanley, in a report released last month, estimated that Apple spends around $1 billion annually on AWS, but speculated that Apple may look to reduce that figure by moving more computing to its own data centers.

Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple is spending $3.9 billion to build new data centers in Arizona, Ireland and Denmark, the first of which is set to open later this year.

While it might seem odd for Apple to give business to a cloud service run by a bitter rival in the mobile device market, such arrangements arent uncommon in a public cloud market thats seeing intense pricing pressure, particularly in compute and storage services.

Reports of Apple using AWS and Microsoft Azure to run parts of its cloud services date back to 2011, although neither AWS nor Microsoft has ever confirmed that Apple is a customer.

But in an Apple iOS Security white paper published in 2014, Apple acknowledged that encrypted portions of some iOS files are stored in Amazon S3 and Microsoft Azure.

Mountain View, Calif.-based Google, which last November hired VMware co-founder and former CEO Diane Greene to lead its cloud business, is said to be aggressively forming partnerships and swinging deals to bring in large enterprise customers. Last month, Google signed up Spotify, which runs part of its streaming music service on AWS, as a cloud customer.

CRN reported last month that Google and Verizon were in talks about a strategic partnership involving a Verizon-branded hybrid cloud service running on Google Cloud Platform.

Although Google doesnt break out cloud revenue, signing up Apple -- no matter what the size of the deal -- would give a huge boost to a vendor widely perceived as the distant No. 3 player behind AWS and Microsoft Azure in the public cloud.

In the fourth quarter of last year, Google sales for only its Infrastructure-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service products -- Compute Engine and App Engine -- came in under $300 million, according to an estimate from Synergy Research.

That's seven times less than the respective business for AWS, John Dinsdale, Synergy's chief analyst, told CRN.

Google entered the cloud market with a vow to undercut Seattle-based AWS on pricing, and industry watchers said Apple could gain pricing leverage with AWS and Microsoft by virtue of its Google cloud deal.

Google's extensive fiber network linking its data centers is said to be a major competitive advantage when it comes to networking bandwidth costs. Cheaper networking would present significant savings for Apple data services like iCloud, iTunes and App Store, which must either push content to customers or shuttle massive amounts of backup data to the provider.

"Google is laying a lot more fiber in a lot more areas, so they have a lot more reach [than other cloud players]," Michael Fraser, CEO of InfiniteOps, a cloud vendor that works with Google and other public cloud vendors, told CRN.

Although Fraser said he doesnt have direct knowledge of Apple's deal with Google, he believes that Google is getting better at winning enterprise customers because it offers superior performance and pricing.

"Google is actually the cheapest play in the market when you take into consideration everything they're doing and when you take into account their various incentives," Fraser said. "[They offer the] most cost savings, lowest pricing for what you actually get."

Fraser said Google Cloud Platform, according to his companys internal testing, has "better performance than any of the other major cloud providers."

While AWS is the cloud of choice for many startups that can't afford or don't want to build their own infrastructure, it also has a growing list of big-name enterprise customers. Google has seen a slower march of customers to its cloud, a list that includes Snapchat, PricewaterhouseCoopers, General Mills, Coca-Cola, HTC and Best Buy.

AWS has such a huge lead in the public cloud space -- with a 31 percent share of the market in the fourth quarter compared with Google's 4 percent, according to Synergy -- that losing some of Apples business likely wont leave a lasting impact. Market researcher Gartner said last May that AWS has more cloud capacity in use than its next 14 competitors combined.

[UPDATED to add comment from Amazon Web Services]
Networking News

CRN Exclusive: Cisco, Avant Promote Cisco Powered Cloud To Telecom Channel

Gina Narcisi

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Cloud broker and master agent Avant Communications on Wednesday teamed up with Cisco to tout the power of providers of Cisco Powered cloud services to solution provider partners.

Chicago-based master agent Avant -- which aggregates cloud solutions from more than 70 global cloud service providers, including providers of Cisco Powered cloud services -- wants to help traditional telecom agent partners make the transition to the cloud. This week, Cisco is recognizing Avant as the largest aggregator of Cisco Powered cloud solutions.

"We are taking names that aren't necessarily household names, and really helping drive that name and [those] solutions to some of the world's largest VARs and the most successful trusted advisers -- the solution providers," said Avant President Drew Lydecker.

[Related: The Role Of The Cloud Broker: Solution Providers Have The Inside Track ]

Of Avant's large portfolio of providers, the master agent is seeing success and growth within its group of Cisco Powered cloud service providers, including NTT/Dimension Data, Peak 10, Quest and West IP Communications.

Peak 10, a Cisco Powered cloud data center provider and Avant partner based in Charlotte, N.C., introduced Avant to the concept of Cisco Powered cloud solutions, said Steve Harris, senior vice president for Peak 10's National Partner Alliance.

"We played matchmaker at first because we thought it would be a perfect fit for them as [Avant] continued to move forward into the cloud space," Harris said.

Cisco has built its business on selling hardware, but as the IT industry rapidly evolves in favor of software and cloud, the IT behemoth has had to transform its business, too, he said.

Cisco's channel has consisted of traditional hardware VARs. Avant, on the other hand, has had a channel full of telecom agent partners and smaller solution providers that have primarily made a living from selling networking services. But now, the telecom agent channel has begun dabbling in cloud services.

"The value for Cisco in partnering with Avant is they are going into a whole new set of [partners] that can resell Cisco services that they never attacked before," Harris said.

Peak 10 sees tremendous value in working with the telecom agent channel, too.

"I don't have the resources to manage hundreds of small agents, but that's where Avant provides that value. Avant is giving Peak 10 and Cisco the ability to engage in this new opportunity with [telecom partners]," he said.

As customers are aggressively moving to cloud, the reseller community wants to know which kind of these services to offer -- and how to offer them, said Steve Benvenuto, senior director of sales and business development for Ciscos cloud group.

"This is where Avant comes in," he said. "They can work with our [Cisco Powered] cloud providers, aggregate these services, and help the resellers understand how to prospect and ultimately how to sell into their customer base."

Via the relationship between Avant and Cisco, Avant offers resources to help solution provider partners understand what a Cisco Powered cloud service provider can bring to the table, compared with competing cloud service providers.

"We are helping large VARs and trusted [solution] providers not only understand Cisco Powered cloud providers, but [to] go to market confidently with them.  It's all about training everyone that wants to get into this game and giving them every tool possible so they are educated when they talk to their customers," Avant's Lydecker said.

Cisco Powered cloud services go through a stringent technical auditing process, including validating architecture and assessing operations, according to the company. Cisco Powered cloud solutions include several kinds of cloud offerings, such as Infrastructure-as-a-Service, disaster recovery as a service, hosted collaboration and desktop as a service. There are about 250 Cisco Powered cloud certified service providers, according to Cisco's Benvenuto.

Cisco is working on expanding its partner ecosystem and facilitating a partner-to-partner approach, he said.

"This is another unique relationship with a partner that allows us to expand our ecosystem," Benvenuto said.
Networking News

Partners: Possible Polycom-Mitel Merger Has 'Huge Potential'

Mark Haranas

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As unified communications vendors Polycom and Mitel reportedly pursue a merger, channel partners say combining the two companies would turn up the heat on competitors and lead to much needed innovation in voice and video technologies.

"If they're not just merging, but re-engineering themselves as a developing technology company, they have huge potential with their [channel] partners and distribution capabilities to create a developed mind share of emerging technologies," said Gary Berzack, chief technology officer and chief operating officer of New York-based eTribeca, a Polycom partner.

Berzack said both Polycom and Mitel can maintain their legacy products, but also have an opportunity to co-develop products in the voice market, which is ripe for innovation.

[Related: 8 Cisco Game-Changing Technology Initiatives In 2016]

"We don't have a solid selection of Voice over IP solutions that will run over Wi-Fi. It's never quite blended well how to address the mobile market," said Berzack. "Reliable Voice over Wi-Fi is an example of what [a Polycom-Mitel could create], with both soft clients that run on Android and Apple IOS and dedicated hardware mobile devices."

According to a Reuters report Wednesday, the two companies are in talks to merge. Polycom declined to comment on the matter. Mitel did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.

In October, Elliott Management -- which owns stakes in both Mitel and Polycom -- filed a statement with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission that said the market is ripe for consolidation and that it is encouraging Mitel and Polycom to combine their telecommunications and videoconferencing expertise.

Rhonda Wingate, vice president of collaboration for Carousel Industries, a Polycom partner based in Exeter, R.I., said merging would benefit both companies' channel partners.

"With both [companies'] current financial positions and declining shares, coming together could make each stronger," said Wingate in an email. "With Polycom's fastest growing product segment being audio, expanding to incorporate Mitel solutions is a natural progression to become more of a collaboration partner."

Wingate said consolidation appears to be the fastest way for collaboration companies to grow in today's market.

Mitel CEO Richard McBee didn't shy away from embracing the idea of a potential merger in a recent interview with CRN.

"If a Polycom and a Mitel came together, the [Software-as-a-Service] business would be really large between the two companies," McBee said. "Everywhere we sell in enterprise telephony equipment, there's always video in those big accounts. Wherever we're selling video equipment, there's always telephony."

Investor Elliott owns a 6.6 percent stake in San Jose, Calif.-based Polycom and a 9.6 stake in Ottawa, Ontario-based Mitel, with about $100 million invested in each company, according to the letter filed to Polycom's board of directors from Elliott in October.

In the letter, Elliott said the merger was needed in part because of heavy competition from large vendors such as Avaya, Huawei and, specifically, Cisco.

"Cisco is a formidable competitor with a strong collaboration portfolio and the ability to drive large, bundled sales through strategic customer relationships," wrote Elliot in the filing. "These relationships provide opportunities for Cisco to successfully win sole-source deals with customers and displace competitive vendors."

ETribeca's Berzack said there's potential in the market for Mitel and Polycom to co-develop new solutions around unified communication and collaboration.

"We could see some new emerging technologies that blend Polycom, with a good software stack, and Mitel, with a good distribution channel, that can penetrate into legacy markets with new technologies," said Berzack.
MSC Cruises has announced a new partnership with celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi to further enhance its international fine dining experience.

The innovative Japanese-American celebrity chef will initially introduce a specialty pan-Asian restaurant onboard the cruise lines new next-generation ship, MSC Seaside  known as the ship that follows the sun  bringing his unique fusion of cooking traditions to MSC Cruises, according to a prepared statement from MSC.

Our heritage lies in the Mediterranean, where a passion for food is a way of life and we seek to bring this to life every day for our guests with always fresh, authentic food of the highest quality, said Gianni Onorato, chief executive officer of MSC Cruises. The enjoyment of good food plays an integral role in creating unforgettable emotions as well as enabling our guests to discover new cultures and tastes, whilst cruising on one of our beautiful ships.

The dining experience on an MSC Cruises ship is distinguished by the extensive variety of Mediterranean and international cuisines and wide range of dining formats available, said Onorato. The four top chefs whom we currently work with are known as leading global experts in their respective cuisines and each one brings world-class fine dining expertise, elevating the dining experience for our guests to a new level.

We provide a wide range of specialty restaurants to give our guests a wide and varied choice during their cruise, continued Onorato. We are developing exciting new dining options onboard MSC Seaside, with nine eateries featuring cuisines from all around the world including a pan-Asian restaurant in partnership with Roy Yamaguchi, a luxury fish restaurant with a chefs table and a world class international steak house where the beef will dry age onboard.

In addition to featuring a variety of Chef Yamaguchis gourmet pan-Asian style dishes, the restaurant will include a sushi, sashimi, and raw bar, as well as a space with teppanyaki grills in which guests will be able to enjoy a variety of cooking styles  ranging from traditional Japanese to Malaysian to Thai Korean  and be entertained by skilled teppanyaki chefs as their meal is cooked in front of them. An international culinary visionary and the creator of Hawaiian fusion cuisine, Yamaguchi intertwines his Japanese heritage with love for the freshest ingredients. He is the founder of 30 Roys Restaurants, including 28 in the United States, one in Guam and one in Okinawa, Japan. His numerous accolades include the prestigious James Beard Award. Yamaguchi has also hosted six seasons of the television show "Hawaii Cooks with Roy Yamaguchi," seen in more than 60 countries. He has also published four culinary cookbooks.
Various news, rumors and notes as heard by the Cruise Industry News editorial team on Wednesday in Ft. Lauderdale.

** EMC has debuted its innovative SpeedNet solution for onboard connectivity, drastically speeding up page load times. Look for a number of cruise lines to roll it out before year's end. EMC purchased MTN in 2015, a leading provider of connectivity services to the cruise industry.

** Turkish passenger sourcing is picking up significantly for Celestyal Cruises, as CEO Kyriakos Anastassiadis told Cruise Industry News the line expects to carry 40,000 Turkish passengers this year, up from just 3,000 in 2013.

** During yesterday's State of the Industry discussion, Pierfrancesco Vago noted MSC Cruises will have a year-round ship based out of Havana in 2017. This is MSC's first public clarification of this, and was reported by Cruise Industry News earlier this year.

** Matthias Rieger, CEO of Hamburg Cruise Center, is looking forward to the port's 827th anniversary party scheduled for this spring. "This is a huge event in all of Germany," Rieger told Cruise Industry News. "The Hamburg population is into cruise ships. People are celebrating on shore and having private parties (to see the ships). The enthusiasm of the people is outstanding" Other news include the debut of shorepower this summer, with the port set to hook up to AIDA ship. Before that, as part of the port anniversary, the AIDAprima will be christened.

** Le Havre is expecting a record 2016 with 128 calls and 285,000 passengers, and 10 inaugural ship calls.

** Norwegian Cruise Line will introduce the Norwegian Joy in China at a rate "below" Quantum-class vessels in the market.

** Pullmantur has issued the following statement to Cruise Industry News following news of the closing of the line's Brazilian office:

The change in the commercial organization of Pullmantur Cruceros in Brazil is part of a reformulation of our presence in the country in order to be much more efficient and effective.

We are highly committed to this market, because of that we are working hard to ensure that thousands of Brazilians travel with us in any of the routes we operate. In addition, they will enjoy a renewed product, in which we have the best All Inclusive of the industry; a wonderful gastronomy and an excursion proposition better than eve: we have multiplied by 5 our offer.

In any case these changes will not have a negative impact on the service we provide to our customers. In fact, we are working to reinforce our customer service even more for our next cruise season that will start in September 2016.

** Holland America Line has debuted the "Dive-In" food truck in Ft. Lauderdale, serving their signature hamburgers, hot dogs and fries for free to cruise ship, cargo and other vessel crew members at Seafarers' House at Port Everglades. The event kicked off several days of fundraising for the local maritime charity with the Dive-In food truck.

** Previously not for sale, tour operators in Brazil are now offering 11-night cruises on the Norwegian Getaway as she repositions from Miami to Rio, and then from Rio to Miami, on her Rio Olympic charter. The cruises are 11 nights at sea.
I registered my daughter for kindergarten last week. Parents have to list their top three school choices and hope that their child is assigned to the top pick.

Though we have several schools in our zone, we wanted either the neighborhood school or the slightly further away school that is more focused on the arts. I didn't have a third choice until I learned of the STEM school program and thought that perhaps this should be my top pick.

I'm a writer and a reader, which is why the arts program appealed to me, but when I learned of the STEM program, I had visions of my daughter growing up to be the most successful woman in cybersecurity.

Some might think that I'm off my rocker for trying to discern the trajectory of my soon-to-be-5-year-old daughter's career, but folks at Trustwave and LifeJourney would surely agree that training young students with the skills they need to become the next generation of cybersecurity experts is important.

Brian Hussey, global director of incident response and computer forensics of Trustwave's SpiderLabs division, is one of those several volunteer mentors who is excited to sign on with LifeJourney, "a technology company whose online career simulation and mentorship platform enables students to test drive their future in Cyber by living a day in the life of Americas STEM professionals."

Hussey's route to his current position was what he called, a bit atypical. "There is much more to this job than just the technical side. Coming out of high school, I had a lot of literature, poetry, thematic analysis experience. Thats what I did and loved to do. I was an English literature and public speaking major in undergrad," said Hussey.

Having a strong interest in digging to the bottom of problems served as an asset in his study of literature, and his love for teaching and learning drove him to take a three-year position teaching English to high school and special education students in Japan. There he had the opportunity to learn the language, culture, and people, as well as travel through Asia.

Upon his return home, Hussey grew more interested in a deeper way of digging into investigations, particularly with the FBI and IT capability. "I came across what was then the only computer forensic program at George Washington University and earned my MS Forensic Science in high tech crime investigation," he said.

This shift in careers required that he take some pre-requisite courses to get the right technical background and get his foot in the door, but he persevered. "I fell in love with the field. After I graduated, I went to a unit developed by folks who left the CIA, and they brought me on as a trainee. They were great mentors for me. I went off to lead incident response for USDA. From there I joined with the FBI in a contractor role," Hussey said.

As he progressed in his career, he joined a unit of highly specialized malware reverse engineers and worked on counter terrorism and counter espionage. "I've worked on some very high profile cases. There was on one where we caught a child predator, put him in jail, and rescued two little girls," Hussey said.

But the work was not the only reward for Hussey whose position allowed him the chance to travel throughout the world to places like Latvia, Ukraine, and Romania. "I taught FBI streaming curriculum, which was a great experience. I was managing and leading the group in the FBI, then I started teaching at George Mason. From there, I was approached by Trustwave to lead their global team at Spiderlabs," Hussey said.

What made the greatest impact on the evolution of his career was the consistent opportunities for both teaching and learning, which is why he is so enthusiastically supportive of the new global initiative that Trustwave LifeJourney are endeavoring upon.

"Its a great opportunity. I like working with kids in general. As a mentor, I get to help kids and help develop future talent," Hussey said. The value of the program goes beyond filling positions in cybersecurity, though, as it also puts young children on a path to success. "If they start early, they are less likely to make mistakes in their lives early on. We are helping young students plan out their STEM education because we are a growing company in a very competitive field and we have to find people to do this work. The more demand there is, the harder it is to find these people," Hussey said.

The hope is that if students are engaged in long-term planning, they can start to alleviate the shortage.

There are a lot of technical people in IT and cybersecurity, but the communications element is equally as important and will continue to be as the field grows and evolves. "Kids can click on my face and see my background, and realize that there is more than one way to get here," Hussey said.

So, perhaps there is still of hope for my daughter if she ends up in our neighborhood school.

Are you a LifeJourney mentor? Connect with me to share the story of your career.
Why is it that an acquisition cannot occur in the IT Security space without that tired old word, consolidation, being rolled out to describe it? This must be a pet peeve of mine since a quick Google search reveals that I have written about consolidation nine times. Nothing I write will change the perception of Wall Street or journalists evidently. So, why dont I do some research to back up my oh so strongly held belief? If the industry is consolidating then the number of vendors should go down, right?

Over the past year I have carefully assembled a very large list of IT security vendors. I would love to say it is a complete list but that appears impossible. I encounter new security vendors every single time I research my list.

Just before the RSA Conference this year I scrambled to categorize the last 280 vendors into their major buckets. Since that pass I have done a much deeper dive into three locations, Georgia, India, and Israel, because I received push-back on my reported numbers. Now I peg India at 41 total security vendors and Israel at 228, lower than an exuberant Israeli press reports but enough to make Israel the undisputed #2 in cybersecurity. Georgia is another matter. I have not been able to find any more than 25 vendors, placing Georgia behind Florida.

Before revealing for the first time the results of my analysis let me just make the point (again) that the IT security industry does not consolidate and will not until the numerous threat actors give up and go home.

The IT security industry percolates. McAfee acquires Foundstone. The three founders leave as they get great ideas for new technology: Kevin Mandia to create Mandiant, George Kurtz to form CrowdStrike, Stuart McClure to found Cylance. Or IBM acquires ISS. Or Symantec acquires hundreds of startups. This is the security industry circle of life. To extend the metaphor: threat actors are the fuel, breaches and attacks are the fire that fuels the cycle of startups bubbling up and be acquired by large vendors  constant percolation.

The numbers

I have categorized 1,440 IT security vendors in 35 countries. These are companies that make products. The only services included are the Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) and a few testing labs; no resellers, distributors, or consulting firms are included.

Here is the breakdown by country.

Vendors by country

It is no surprise that the United States has over half of all security vendors at 827. On a recent trip to Israel sponsored by AIFL I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm for the cybersecurity startup scene. There were over 100 exhibitors at Cybertech2016 which made it into my database. The Prime Minister keynoted the event and declaimed that Israel aimed to be the cyber capital of the world.

After Israel, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England combine to chalk up a healthy 75 security vendors, and Canada 49.

Based on the number of invitations I receive to speak in India, and the number of followers I have on Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin, from India it is no surprise that India is booming in cybersecurity with 41 companies. I expect there to be many more startups coming out of India soon. Perhaps the acquisition of Cyberoam by Sophos will be to India what the IPO of Check Point was to Israel, igniting a fevered startup economy.

Now lets look at the breakdown within the United States:

IT-Harvest Research Security vendors by US state

Of course California is the overwhelming leader in cybersecurity with 324 vendors, most in the Bay Area. In my experience Boston (60) should have a clear second place but in recent years cyber has become big business in Washington DC. If you combine Virginia (60), Maryland (27), and DC (4) you get 91 vendors, which points to a second major concentration of vendors in the US.

Even though I knew of many vendors in Texas it surprised me to count 53, way ahead of New York (38) and Florida (34).

I have looked carefully at many lists of security companies in Georgia (25). I think the reason the local business press is so effusive is that people in Atlanta still think of ISS, SpyDynamics, CiphererTrust, and Lancope, as their own, even though they have been acquired and belong to IBM, HP, Raytheon, and Cisco respectively. Based on the valuations of these companies, Georgia can still claim to be a hotbed of cybersecurity.

One last interesting set of data is my classification of all vendors into the major buckets of Network, Endpoint, Data, IAM (Identity and Access Management), and GRC(Governance Risk Compliance).

IT-Harvest Research Major Buckets of the IT Security Industry

For now, my estimate of the actual revenue are very rough and based on a total IT Security market of $104 billion in 2015. Much more on that later. But the number of vendors in each bucket are accurate. The 230 network security vendors include all Firewalls, UTM, IPS/IDS, NBAD, and netflow based solutions.

IAM is next. The reason there are so many vendors in this space  211  is that there are so many authentication mechanisms. Two-factor authentication, password grids, smartphones, and biometrics from finger prints to facial recognition to voice and even how you walk (gait) are included in this bucket.

The Data security bucket (169) includes all the encryption and digital certificate solutions. This space will continue to boom as the industry scrambles to counter the latest threat: government surveillance.

GRC has 190 participants. Many of the vendors will not be happy that I lump them in this bucket, but here is where vulnerability management, SIEM, log management, and risk management vendors belong.

There are other buckets and I will be writing about each of them. Anti-fraud is a big business with 43 vendors. Cloud security has 29 pure plays. Threat intelligence has 31 vendors but that belongs in a bucket I am calling Cyber Defense which also includes the breach detection, advanced malware defense, incident response, and security analytics, sectors.

This is not an industry that is consolidating. It is growing by every measure: sales, number of vendors, number of countries with vibrant security eco-systems, and number of industry analysts needed to cover it.
The email comes from a trusted source -- the CEO, a regular vendor, the company attorney or accountant. It's part of an ongoing conversation, the format and language is identical to previous emails of the same type.

There might even be phone calls. It's no surprise that in this situation an employee would send a wire transfer to a new payee or a sensitive business document to someone who turns out to be a fraudster.

According to ZapFraud, these kinds of spear phishing attacks, known as business email compromise (BEC), now account for 4 percent of the total volume of scams, up from from less than 1 percent in 2011.

BEC fraud was the fastest-growing type of spear phishing attack last year, reported PhishLabs in a report released late last month.

This type of fraud cost global business more than $1.2 billion over the past two years, the FBI reported late last summer, and the number of victims increased by 270 percent during the first eight months of 2015. The average loss per scam was $130,000.

According to the FBI, BEC fraud typically includes urgency or secrecy, uses a look-alike email address, takes place just before a holiday or weekend or while the CEO is away from the office, and typically results in a large sum of money transferred to China.

Some of these aspects are evolving, however. Fraudsters increasingly spoof the actual email address of the CEO or trusted business partner, and ask for the money to be sent to a domestic bank account, according to PhishLabs.

This scam is both very profitable and difficult to defend against using traditional defenses, said Markus Jakobsson, ZapFraud's founder and CTO.

"Spam filters look for large volumes of similar or identical messages," he said. Spear phishing emails are individually targeted, so they slip past all the spam filters.

And the return email addresses are also individually created for each scam, so they don't show up on blacklists, he added.

Other usual signs of spam, such as outlandish stories about lottery winnings or Nigerian princesses, or keywords like Rolex or Viagra, also don't appear anywhere.

"It looks like it comes from someone you trust, and it's about everyday business," said Jakobsson.

Improving business processes and educating employees can help, he said.

"For example, one policy could be to never wire money unless you see the face of the person requesting it, and they're in your office," he said.

This could be particularly effective for high-value transactions to new payees.

However, it might not be as effective for scams where the fraudsters are looking to get copies of sensitive documents instead.

"If you have to show up in the office for every document, that would take us back many many years in terms of efficiency," he said.

For example, messaging service Snapchat and Segate, a disk drive manufacturer, recently fell victim to BEC emails that tricked them out of tax documents that contained employees' addresses and Social Security numbers.

There are technical solutions as well, Jakobsson said, including those offered by his company.

For example, a filter could check whether an email address is close to -- but not identical to -- that of a trusted contact.

"Or it might have a different reply-to address from the return address -- which is easy for attackers to spoof for companies that don't use DMARC," he added.

DMARC is a 4-year-old project that helps companies authenticate email addresses. According to a report released last month by email security vendor Return Path, only 29 percent of global brands use DMARC.

"If it's an actual account takeover, the best approach is to confirm on a different channel, such as an SMS or known alternate email address," he said.
In a rare confluence of events, all three branches of the federal government are weighing changes that would affect when and how personal data is accessed.

The approaches are somewhat contradictory: Some moves would protect citizen privacy, while others could result in more access by government agencies to records kept by businesses and smartphone users about personal information. Encryption technology is usually at the center of the discussions, with intelligence officials eager to find ways to detect communications on smartphones used by criminals and terrorists.

Various actions are taking place in the federal judiciary, before Congress, as well as the executive branch.

FCC and ISP privacy

In the latest proposal made last week, the Federal Communications Commission wants Internet service providers to receive customer permission before their personal data is shared for marketing and other purposes.

The FCC will debate the proposal at its March 31 meeting. The proposal quickly won an endorsement from nearly 60 privacy and digital rights groups, including Free Press.

Meanwhile, opponents also have emerged, including the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, which said the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's oversight of broadband providers already protects broadband customer privacy while balancing privacy with industry costs and innovations.

Both FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez appeared together at the CES trade show in January to urge tech companies to expand their efforts to protect consumer privacy.

Apple and the FBI

Also receiving big headlines is the FBI's attempt to force Apple to write new software that would override password protections on the iPhone of a mass shooter in last year's deadly San Bernardino, Calif., attacks.

Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym on Feb. 16 ordered Apple to comply, but the company is appealing the decision on constitutional and other legal grounds. A hearing on the appeal is set for Tuesday. Many experts expect the case will end up at the U.S. Supreme Court.

A series of affidavits by both parties in the case have been filed almost daily. Last week, the FBI described how it tried to access content on the work-issued iPhone 5c used by San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook.

Congressional action

Legislation expected to pass in Congress calls for creating a 16-member commission on security and technology challenges. The commission, drawn from a broad base of security and privacy advocates, would have a year to issue a final report.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), one of the commission's co-sponsors, said the group can "strike an appropriate balance that protects American's privacy, American security and American competitiveness."

A big issue for backers of the commission is ensuring that Congress not pass knee-jerk legislation seeking backdoors or other workarounds of encryption used on smartphones and other devices. The concern is that since many encryption apps are available from foreign companies out of reach of U.S. laws, any U.S. regulation would only hurt U.S.-based companies. Furthermore, terrorists could resort to using apps developed in other countries, or build their own.

Timing matters

While much of the concern over encryption and privacy rose out of the mass shooting attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, the recent deliberations before all the major branches of government can also be tied to the election calendar, analysts noted.

FCC commissioners and officials at the Department of Justice, the FBI and other security agencies are appointed by the president, and Barack Obama's term ends in January. The same goes for 435 members of the House and one third of the members of the Senate.

In the judiciary branch, the Apple-FBI case -- and others -- could drag on well past January. If the case heads to the Supreme Court, the appointment and confirmation of a ninth justice to replace recently deceased conservative Antonin Scalia, could have bearing on the outcome.

In June 2014, the high court ruled unanimously in favor of civil liberties and personal privacy in the landmark Riley v. California case. That ruling held that police may not search digital information on a cell phone without a warrant, even if the phone was seized from an arrested person. Some legal scholars see that case as having a bearing on smartphone privacy cases, since there is so much personal data, such as financial and health information, contained on a smartphone.

Potential contradictions

While the FBI and other agencies are pushing for access to a smartphone that was specifically designed by Apple to protect personal information, other government actions, like the one before the FCC, are heading in the other direction.

"The FCC plan is right on the mark for protecting consumer privacy  but it is also in direct contradiction in spirit to what the FBI is asking for from technology companies," said Avivah Litan, a longtime security analyst at Gartner, in an email.

"There is a ton of rich data at ISPs that can be used to identify and track terrorists and criminals. In fact, this data is more fertile than what is on a personal smartphone because it reveals networks and connections that involve crime or terrorist rings," Litan added.

Given that a terrorist or a criminal could easily resort to using a prepaid burner phone, (a phone briefly used and then disposed and replaced)  as happened with two other phones in the San Bernardino attack  Litan suggested that going after smartphones protected with encryption might not be the most effective course for the FBI.

"The government should accept that encryption advances are well underway, so trying to force Apple and Google to open backdoors for them is a futile exercise," Litan said. "The cat is already out of the bag," she wrote in a recent blog.

"The government needs to master new techniques for gathering intelligence and finding perpetrators instead of bullying technology and phone companies to open backdoors for them," she said in another blog.

"The government should stick to principals and stay away from technology details," she said. "And they need to accept that we are no longer living in the 20th century. The world has moved forward, as has technology. They should make the best of it and take advantage of all the information that is indeed out there, instead of sticking to old ways of doing business and blaming others for their ineptitude."

This story, "Privacy issues hit all branches of government at once" was originally published by Computerworld .
Indias legislators are on Wednesday debating a law that would allow the government to collect biometric and demographic information from people in return for distributing to them government benefits and subsidies.

A number of legislators and civil rights activists are concerned about the absence of strong privacy safeguards in the legislation and a provision in the law that allows the government to access the data collected for national security reasons. There is also concern that such a large centralized database of personal information could be hacked and critical information leaked.

Biometric information, once leaked cannot be 'revoked,' and identity fraud may in fact become harder to detect if Aadhaar is used for authentication of transactions, said Pranesh Prakash, policy director at the Centre for Internet and Society in Bangalore, in an email.

Activists are also wary that the program could be extended by the government to make it a mandatory digital ID card for people in the country. Already some telecommunications services and financial services companies use the biometric identity as an optional way for verifying customers. Currently, people can keep their personal information in silos, as for example their insurance company can't combine their database with that of a hospital, Prakash said. "However, with Aadhaar as a unique linking factor, they could, even without the person's consent," he added.

The biometric ID, which assigns a person a 12-digit number called the Aadhaar number, requires the collection of photos, fingerprints, iris scans and other information such as the name, date of birth and address of the individual. Every time a person has to be verified, he has to present the Aadhaar number, and his biometric information has to match the data stored in a centralized repository.

The digital identity is expected to provide proof of identification to the large number of poor Indians who do not have house addresses, school certificates, birth certificates or other documents that are usually used to prove identity in India.

The traditional paper ration books used in the country are notoriously stuffed with people who are nonexistent or who do not typically qualify for benefits, so the government hopes to save some money by linking the benefits to a digital identity. But the new scheme addresses only end-user fraud and not the large-scale theft prevalent in the entire supply chain, according to analysts.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a member of Indias Parliament, has proposed amendments to the bill that would ensure that Aadhaar numbers should not be used as proof of identity for purposes other than subsidies and benefits. Chandrasekhar also wants the Unique Identification Authority of India that manages the project to be responsible for ensuring the security and privacy of the biometric and demographic information of the account holder, with liability for damages in a civil court in the case of a breach.

The Aadhaar program has been allotting IDs for a number of years, even under a previous government, but the program was the offshoot of an executive order and had no legal sanction. The countrys Supreme Court ruled in 2013 in an interim order that people cannot be required to have Aadhaar identification to collect state subsidies. Aware of the legal minefield it was treading on, the government had said the scheme was voluntary.

The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016 passed recently in the Lok Sabha, one of the houses of Indias parliament, now aims to make the scheme mandatory. The bill sailed through the Lok Sabha where the government has a majority, but will likely meet with strong opposition from the other house, the Rajya Sabha. But the government has classified the bill as a money bill and the Rajya Sabha does not have the final say on such bills. So the legislation is likely to be passed in any case despite its limitations.
In a notification letter dated March 10, American Express warns cardholders that their account information might've been exposed after a third-party service provider suffered a data breach.

"...Account information of some of our Card Members, including some of your account information, may have been involved. It is important to note that American Express owned or controlled systems were not compromised by this incident," the letter states.

The third-party provider, which isn't named, is engaged by several merchants the notification letter explains. Cardholders should expect that their account number, name, and other card details were compromised.

American Express says they are monitoring accounts for fraud, and that cardholders should do the same and report any suspicious transactions. If it isn't already enabled, customers are also encouraged to use the transaction notifications, which will alert them each time the card is used.

The interesting aspect of this notification is that the incident being referenced by American Express happened on Saturday, December 7, 2013. It isn't clear why the there was such a delay. American Express says the notification is just a precaution.

But why the wait?

Worst-case scenario, American Express hasn't tracked any related fraud, but the incident at the provider actually went undetected for several years. That seems unlikely, but it's possible.

According to the California Attorney General, this date is also the same day Affinity Gaming reported their data breach, which impacted card transactions at eleven casinos in four states.

In fact, 2013 had a number of large data breaches, including Target, multiple incidents at LinkedIn, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter and Pinterest, Zendesk, Adobe, Living Socal, and Evernote.

Update: A point of clarification.

As a rule, American Express will issue alerts long after an incident if there are indications that cardholders were or could be exposed somehow. You can see examples of this in any of the notification search engines.

The company doesn't discuss their anti-fraud measures, so why this happens isn't clear, but it isn't uncommon for them to alert cardholders of potential problems long after an incident has been made public.

Also, some incidents are known to the card brands themselves, but not the public.

But the date of the incident in question being referenced by this notice (December 7, 2013), as well as the wording on the source itself ("a third party service provider engaged by numerous merchants.") is what stood out as something worth discussing.

The last time American Express issued a notification letter with a long gap was in November of 2015. In that case, the incident being referenced happened in 2008.

Update 2:

American Express just sent the following statement:
DERBY-The city acted properly when it terminated a clerk in the Tax Collectors office last March after investigating her 2014 arrest for shoplifting in Danbury, the state Board of Mediation and Arbitration ruled recently in a split decision.

No one ever questioned Laurene Boultons three years of work as a clerk in the citys tax office. There she was considered "an excellent employee" by her supervisor who added "her handling of (tax) payments to the Town was to the penny, according to the ruling.

However, it was a March 30, 2014 arrest sixth-degree larceny involving the attempted shoplifting of $187 in clothing from a Danbury department store that sealed her fate.

Mayor Anita Dugatto learned of the incident in three anonymous letters. As a result, the mayor called for an independent investigation which led to Boulton suspension and eventual March 3, 2015 termination.

Boulton and her AFSCME local appealed the termination to the Connecticut Labor Departments Board of Mediation and Arbitration.

The boards eight-page ruling, which includes a dissenting opinion, disclosed that Boulton successfully completed an Accelerated Rehabilitation program, paid a fine and as a result had her record expunged.

Boulton and Kathleen Cooper, her union lawyer claimed that this "momentary lapse of judgement" occurred away from the workplace and should not be grounds for termination based on her exemplary work record.

However, Francis Teodosio, the citys labor lawyer argued that the shoplifting does impact her job performance and continuing her employment could impact the citys credibility.

"This is not a case of precipitous action on the part of the City," reads the ruling. "Indeed, the City proceeded cautiously in considering what action should be taken in response to reports it received about Boulton's theft."

Stephen R. Ferrucci, III, the labor representative on the three-member board, found no just cause for Boulton's firing. He described it as too severe for the minor larceny during non-working hours particularly since her record was expunged.

Ferrucci claimed there was little opportunity for theft in the tax office due to the many checks and balances built into the system, as well as other employees working there.

Finally, Ferrucci cited Gov Dannel P. Malloys policy of second chance for people who committed far worst crimes...was not even considered.

Neither Cooper or Teodosio would comment on the ruling.
BRIDGEPORT - Thirty-eight national domestic violence organizations on Wednesday called for the areas top state prosecutor to drop charges against a Bridgeport mother on trial for killing her boyfriend.

Stating the prosecution is an example of how the country disproportionately imprisons black woman who defend themselves against domestic abuse, the organizations demanded that Bridgeport States Attorney John Smriga free Cherelle Baldwin.

Domestic violence exists in every community, but black women are consistently denied the right to self-defense and survival. said Holly Krig, Director of Organizing for Moms United Against Violence and Incarceration. We see Cherelles case as part of this larger context and demand justice for her and all incarcerated survivors of domestic violence, who are overwhelmingly Black women. The state of Connecticut should not ignore the impact of domestic violence in this case.

Smriga said he couldnt comment on a case that is before a jury.

I am not aware of what these organizations are asking for and I cannot comment on it, said Baldwins lawyer, Miles Gerety.

The organizations calling for Baldwins release are from California and Chicago and Krig said the trial is getting national attention. She said she talks regularly with Baldwins mother.

We are outraged by how aggressively Cherelle, a survivor of domestic violence, is being prosecuted, and question the states reasoning in pursuing a retrial after her first resulted in a mistrial, said Stacy Suh, an organizer with Stand with Nan-Hui, a California based group that has rallied in support of Cherelle. Cherelle needs our support, not incarceration after surviving such traumatizing abuse. The state must drop the charges now instead of using its resources to incarcerate and prosecute a young mother who would have died had she not taken the action she did.

The 23-year-old Baldwin is charged with murder in the May 18, 2013, death of 24-year-old Brown. A first jury deadlocked on a verdict. A new jury began hearing evidence in the case on Monday.

Police said Baldwin plowed Brown into the side of the neighbors garage next to her Ash Street home with her car.

The impact left an impression of his body on the cement wall.

Baldwin tearfully testified during the first trial that she hit Brown with the front of her car but contends she wasnt trying to kill him.

She told the first 12-member jury that Brown broke into her home, dragged her by the hair off her bed where she was sleeping with the young son and began choking her with a belt.

Pretending she had passed out, she testified she managed to get away from him and fled outside to her car parked in the street, leaving her baby alone in the apartment.

She said Brown managed to get into the car with her and resumed choking her with the belt.

She pulled into the driveway next to her home and Brown got out of the car and walked around in front of it. She then hit the gas.

When firefighters pulled the car away from the wall they found a folded belt next to Browns body along with Baldwins purse.

Her lawyer, Gerety, argued before the jury that his client had been battered by Brown and she killed him in self-defense.

Gerety put on evidence that Brown had previously been convicted of ripping a cell phone out of Baldwins hand.

And he presented a photograph of his client purporting to show belt marks on her back that his client claimed were made by Brown.
If the State Department red flags a destination  be it for terrorism, civil war or genocide  chances are youll find former Congressman Christopher Shays there.

In the past five weeks alone, Shays has visited Sudan and Iraq, where the Republican is currently attending an American University forum on how to confront the the terrorist threat posed by the Islamic State (ISIS).

The passport of Shays, a Stamford native who made Bridgeport his home for many years, is the antithesis to the dubious government list of places Americans should avoid.

But what does one expect of a former Peace Corps volunteer?

The only way...you learn about a country, you eat their food, you take their transportation, you live in the places they live, Shays said Wednesday. I am comfortable, but alert.

Shays, 70, spoke to Hearst Connecticut Media by cell phone from the Iraqi Kurdish city of Sulaymaniyah in the northeastern part of the country.

That part of the world is quite familiar to Shays, who traveled to Iraq 19 times as a member of Congress from Connecticuts 4th District before he was unseated in 2008. At the time, Shays was criticized by many constituents for his support of the Iraq war.

Whats really a concern to me is we spend a fortune in Iraq and we have both Iraq and the Kurds having to confront ISIS, Shays said. Theyre getting very little assistance from us.

Last month, Shays visited Sudan to observe the impact of U.S. sanctions against the African nation that has been torn apart by civil war.

The fighting is just as bloody and as frightening as before, said Shays, who has previously visited Sudan and Afghanistan.

Shays said the long-standing sanctions have created a black market and cash economy, punishing a country that has been helpful to the U.S. war against terrorism.

Its one of the most, if not the most, cooperative countries in helping us confront radical Islam, Shays said.

Although hes been out of office for nearly eight years, Shays has hardly retreated from politics, including the GOP White House scrum.

Before New Hampshires Republican primary last month, he attended 50 town hall events for former House colleague and Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the Granite State. He also accompanied Kasich to several events in Michigan.

Shays expects to reprise his role as the wingman of Kasich, who won his home state of Ohio Tuesday night, in Connecticut and Shays adopted home of Maryland. Both hold their primaries April 26.

Shays compared Kasichs insurgency against Donald Trump to Shays unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate in 2012, when he was edged by wrestling mogul Linda McMahon in the GOP primary.

We have this Donald Trump-Linda McMahon phenomenon, which is, I have lots of money and Im a celebrity, Shays said. Were a Kardashian society. We tend to really be enamored with people who are on TV.

Trumps campaign declined to comment Wednesday.

neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy
MILFORD - School officials failed to heed Maren Sanchezs warning that Christopher Plaskon was emotionally disturbed and possibly dangerous months before he stabbed the 16-year-old to death at Jonathan Law High School, a lawsuit charges.

We feel there was an opportunity here for the school system and Plaskons parents to intervene to prevent Marens death from happening, said Donna Cimarelli-Sanchez, Marens mother. Were bringing this lawsuit to make sure that reports like the one Maren made are properly handled and that parents and school personnel will respond to protect minor children from terrible injury and death.

The lawsuit was filed in Superior Court here, said Sanchezs lawyer, David Golub, against the City of Milford Board of Education and City of Milford as well as Christopher Plaskon and his parents, David and Kathleen Plaskon. It seeks unspecified money damages.

The lawsuit comes one week after Plaskon pleaded no contest to murder for Sanchezs death April 25, 2014.

He faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced June 6.

We deny all the allegations of negligence against David and Kathy Plaskon, said their lawyer, Edward Gavin. To suggest these loving parents did anything inappropriate is unfounded. To suggest David and Kathy intended Maren Sanchez to be fatally injured knowing their son would face 25 years of incarceration is beyond belief.

The city of Milford has been made aware of civil litigation filed on behalf of Maren Sanchez, said Milford Mayor Ben Blake. Marens life was tragically taken, and our hearts and prayers continue to go out for her, her family and all those still healing. With respect to the legal process, we will refrain on commenting on this case and allow the judicial system to determine the outcome.

The lawsuit states that in November 2013, Maren Sanchez reported to the high school guidance department her concern that Plaskon was emotionally disturbed and was threatening to commit suicide or acts of serious self-harm by cutting himself with a knife, and that she believed it was important for high school personnel to help Plaskon to prevent him from engaging in potentially violent conduct dangerous to himself or to others.

Plaskon was absent from school for a week after Sanchezs report about him to the school guidance counselor, and then returned to school and continued to engage in self-destructive behavior, including cutting himself with a knife, and began bringing a knife to school with him, the suit states.

Plaskons guidance counselor failed to advise the school principal, school security or others in the school administration or the state Department of Children and Families of Sanchezs report in violation of mandatory school policies and state law, the lawsuit continues.

The lawsuit further alleges that Plaskons parents were aware that their son was engaging in self-destructive conduct with knives that was potentially dangerous to himself and others and failed to obtain proper medical treatment for him  nor did they try to prevent him from having access to knives.

"We know that Maren Sanchez's estate carefully reviewed the circumstances leading up to her stabbing death at Jonathan Law High School in Milford, said Anthony Bonadies, the lawyer for Sanchezs father, Jose Sanchez.

The lawsuit spells out the mistakes made by those who had the duty and power to prevent Maren's senseless death. Most notably, the count against the Milford Board of Education explains how the school disregarded its own policies and procedures that are intended to safeguard the student body and Maren specifically. As a result, Maren was robbed of her adolescence and her entire adult life. Her death is a profound loss to her family and to those who knew and loved her.
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MILFORD  This could well be the last summer in which beach lovers can enjoy Silver Sands State Park for free.

While the start of beach season is still more than two months off, visitors to Silver Sands will be able to park for free, but also will do without the concession stand, changing rooms and other amenities planned for the park by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Construction is expected to start later this year on those projects, and is expected to take a year to complete, state officials said.

DEEP is still committed to this project and envisions park improvements along the general lines of what we have been discussing, spokesman Dennis Schain said last week.

But we will not be ready to start construction in time to have the improvements in place for the upcoming summer park season, he said. So there will not be changing rooms, bathrooms, or a snack bar available at Silver Sands this summer and there will not be a parking fee charged at this park during the upcoming summer season.

That is good news for most Milford residents and officials, who have become used to enjoying the almost-hidden little jewel of a shorefront park as it is and have opposed many of the plans to upgrade it over the years.

State DEEP officials held a public hearing in Milford last fall and got an earful from residents, and from environmentalists concerned about the impact to the fragile marsh ecosystem at the edge of the park.

A separate project  to install a 290-foot section of boardwalk, repair a 60-foot section of existing boardwalk and restore 7,000 square feet of the tidal wetlands  is moving ahead separately.

City officials and the Milford delegation to the state Legislature attempted to get five acres of the park transferred to municipal ownership, for a residents-only parking lot, but that measure was rejected.

Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milford, recently proposed legislation that would allow residents to request a new environmental study if more than five years elapse before construction starts on any state project.

Milford residents have raised valid concerns about the Silver Sands build-out being done based on a 24-year-old environmental impact evaluation, Slossberg said. Read her full statement here.

The state has invested more than $10 million since 1960 in acquiring the park property, including closing and capping a landfill, removing a rutted street that used to pass between the marsh and the beach, and building the existing boardwalk.

Unlike other shoreline state parks, Silver Sands does not have a direct connector road to the parks off I-95 as Sherwood Island in Westport, Hammonasset in Madison and Rocky Neck in East Lyme do.

All visitors pay to park at Sherwood Island, Hammonasset and Rocky Neck; fees for state residents range from $9 on weekdays to $13 on weekends; non-residents pay $15 and $22.

Getting to Silver Sands from I-95 requires a trip down Route 1 and through residential neighborhoods.

fjuliano@ctpost.com; @FrankJuliano
A Stamford doctor has surrendered his Connecticut medical license rather than face disciplinary charges for letting two unlicensed men perform liposuction on two unsuspecting patients at his spa in Stamford in 2011.

Dr. Marlon Castillo voluntarily surrendered his license Feb. 29, according to a consent order presented to the state Medical Examining Board Tuesday. The board agreed to drop the pending charges against Castillo, who was convicted in New York in 2014 for aiding or abetting in the unauthorized practice of unlicensed medicine.

The board dropped the charges on the advice of lawyers from the state Department of Public Health, who said that continued prosecution of the case was unnecessary because Castillo no longer has a medical license.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a 2014 press release that Castillo acted out of greed when he let Carlos Arango and William Ordonez perform the surgery in 2011 on women without general anesthesia, leaving them permanently disfigured.

Arango admitted to recruiting the two female patients in Queens, New York and that he and Ordonez performed the liposuction with Castillos knowledge at Castillos office at On Shape Medical Spa on Strawberry Hill Road in Stamford, Schneiderman said.

New York records show that Castillo told patients the men were licensed and lied about his pending criminal case when he tried to renew his medical license in New York in 2013. New York officials have since banned Castillo from practicing medicine.

After pleading guilty in New York on May 8, 2014, Castillo was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay $8,700 in restitution to his victims, Schneiderman said.

Ridgefield M.D. fined

In other business, the state Medical Examining Board disciplined six doctors on Tuesday, including reprimanding and fining Dr. David L. Johnston of Ridgefield $3,000 for billing Medicare and private insurance companies for services he did not provide.

It also placed Johnstons medical license on probation for three years and ordered audits of his practice for two years after he resumes billing Medicare and insurance companies.

DPH staff attorney David Tilles said Johnston finished serving a three-month sentence in federal prison in December after pleading guilty earlier in 2015 to federal health-care fraud charges.

Johnston was billing for osteopathic services that he said he had provided but were actually provided by a massage therapist, DPH records show.

Johnston had falsely billed insurers for more than $70,000 in services he did not provide, a consent order approved by the board said.

In addition to the prison sentence, Johnston, who operates the Osteopathic Wellness Center in Ridgefield, was ordered to pay $270,528 to settle civil claims related to the fraud, the U.S.attorney's office said.

On Tuesday, the board also fined a Norwich doctor $4,000 for failing to secure his prescription pads, leading to several fraudulent prescriptions being taken to local pharmacies.

The board also reprimanded the Norwich doctor, John Paggioli, for pre-signing blank prescriptions and leaving them with his medical assistant, who did not sufficiently secure them when she left work at the end of a day. Paggioli did not contest the allegations, which were laid out in a consent order he signed.

The medical board also reprimanded Dr. David S. Parnas, a family medicine physician from Westport, for his failure to appropriately prescribe narcotics to patients, a consent order he signed said.

The board also placed Parnas medical license on probation for two years and DPH will monitor a portion of his medical records. DPH is also requiring him to take courses on prescribing practices and recognizing drug addiction and drug-seeking behavior, the consent order said.

In 2012 and 2013, DPH received referrals from two other state agencies that he was inappropriately prescribing drugs.

In March 2013, Parnas surrendered his permit to prescribe controlled substances, the consent order said. A DPH consultant found that Parnas failed to document narcotic prescription doses, failed to adequately evaluate pain and did not adequately monitor medication use by patients between 2008 and 2013, the consent order said. Parnas did not contest the allegations.

The board also reprimanded and fined a Stamford doctor $2,500 for directing unlicensed office staff to give medication injections to patients.

DPH launched an investigation of Dr. David Lauren, medical director at the AFC Doctors Express urgent care center in Stamford, after receiving an anonymous complaint that unlicensed staff members were giving injections to patients under Lauren's direction between June 2014 and August 2015, state records show.

In October, Lauren submitted a plan of correction to DPH and hired an advanced practice registered nurse to supervise licensed practical nurses giving the injections at the walk-in clinic, according to a consent order Lauren signed. Lauren did not dispute the allegations against him.

Reprimand for poor records

The board also reprimanded a retired New Canaan doctor, Katherine Wagner-Reiss, for prescribing cough medicine with codeine for family members between 2012 and 2014 without doing physical exams or keeping medical records on them.

Her attorney, Matthew Sconziano of Bridgeport, urged the board not to reprimand Wagner-Reiss, a pathologist who retired in 2015 from St. Vincents Medical Center in Bridgeport. He wrote to the board that she was a model physician with an unblemished professional career for more than 35 years.

He wrote that she prescribed the cough medicine for herself, her husband and her two adult children because she was concerned about the comfort of her family members in the case of an illness. He wrote that she was not aware of the requirement that doctors need to keep formal medical records for family members when writing prescriptions for them.

Sconziano wrote that since Wagner-Reiss has voluntarily surrendered her state registration to prescribe controlled substances, there is no need for a formal reprimand.

On Tuesday, the board reprimanded Dr. Tarek Alasil, an ophthalmologist, who works at Yale-New Haven Hospital, in connection with disciplinary action taken by Massachusetts officials in October 2015.

Massachusetts officials fined Alasil $5,000 and reprimanded him because he failed to report to Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River on April 23, 2012 when he was on call despite three requests for him to come in. The CT board can discipline doctors with Connecticut medical licenses when they have been disciplined by other states.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team (www.c-hit.org).
Somerset jury finds two of three defendants guilty of murder

Now in its fifth day of testimony and seventh day overall, the double murder trial taking place in Somerset County is now over. The jury decided.
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Business Secretary Sajid Javid and his colleague Anna Soubry (pictured) so went out of their way to berate Labour Europhiles, it was almost as if they wanted to create a diversion, writes QUENTIN LETTS

David Cameron often mocks the Leave campaign for its disunity but in the Commons yesterday we had squabbling between top pro-EU figures.

Business Secretary Sajid Javid and his colleague Anna Soubry so went out of their way to berate Labour Europhiles, it was almost as if they wanted to create a diversion.

Old Soubry is an incorrigible pugilist. She could have picked a fight with Little Weed, this one.

Even before a word was uttered at yesterdays Questions to the Business Department, she sat on the Government bench with her lips drawn into a fruity strop  a woman who had just bitten a crab apple.

Her Thatcherian nose quivered, as would that of a terrier scenting the breeze for sausages. La Soubry has been a Europhile since the 1970s, when she and her hot pants were a source of fever among Young Conservatives.

Her boss Javid is a more recent convert to the glories of communautaire socialism. Until the start of this year Mr Javid styled himself as a bold Eurosceptic.

Now, bingo, he is right behind Mr Camerons Love Brussels gang. Careerism can do that to a man.

Mr Javid and Miss Soubry, perhaps wishing us to think of something other than the collapse of his principles, threw insults at the Labour leadership.

Miss Soubry went first, complaining that Jeremy Corbyn was not doing enough to campaign for Brussels. Hed be better doing that than engaging in CND rallies! she thundered, in reply to a perfectly friendly question from Labours Ian Lucas (Wrexham).

Kevin Brennan, Labour frontbencher, protested that Miss Soubry should look at divisions in the Tory party. Miss Soubry, shaking her peroxide mane, snorted that the Labour leader is failing in his duty to play a full part in the Remain campaign.

This ignited Labours own Boadicea, Angela Eagle. Kittens took shelter. Grown mice shielded their eyes. Miss Eagles soundtrack should be the music from the shower scene in Psycho.

She cried that although Mr Javid might pose as a Brussels basher he was seen as a Brexit betrayer. With her trademark charm and honeyed delivery - it is, in fact, a voice that could curdle cream at 20 paces - Miss Eagle dwelt heavily on Mr Javids political discomfort at having to support the EU. She concluded that Britain deserved a Business Secretary who was truly committed to Europe rather than one who had switched to it at the last minute.

It was instructive to watch Mr Javids right foot as she was making these allegations. It rotated fast in an anticlockwise direction. Down at the far end of the Chamber, meanwhile, his college friend Robert Halfon - another new-born Brussels lover - blushed deeply.

Mr Javid and Miss Soubry, perhaps wishing us to think of something other than the collapse of his principles, threw insults at the Labour leadership, writes QUENTIN LETTS

Mr JAVID responded to Miss Eagle by spitting out a bitter little echo of Miss Soubrys attack on Mr Corbyn. My, my! Well, they do say that a losing side often descends into tetchiness. Only minutes earlier, Mr Cameron had been on television, making a bad-tempered speech attacking the Leave campaign.

Do we perhaps detect an element of disarray in the pro-EU gang?

Talking of bloody civil war, the House also discussed Syria - namely, the apparent withdrawal of Russian forces. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said he was not convinced it was happening. Putin is a very difficult partner, said Mr Hammond, deploring the Russian presidents unpredictability.

You slightly wonder what the Putin regime makes of Mr Hammond, another former Eurosceptic who suddenly changed his mind in order to agree with his boss. We heard yesterday that Mr Hammond had not telephoned Moscow to ask what it was doing in Syria. Nor did he intend to do so.

We all start out with hope and end up with experience, said Mr Hammond with the world-weary tone of a man who despairs of dealing with indecisive opportunists. Eurosceptic voters know the feeling, matey.
A 115-year-old royal tradition is broken tomorrow by the Duchess of Cambridge, who has pulled out of presenting St Patrick's Day shamrocks to the Irish Guards, a role carried out by a female royal since Queen Alexandra in 1901.

Kate took over the role from Princess Anne in 2012.

My source says: 'It appears that Kate, in London for Commonwealth Day, was keen to get back to Norfolk and her children. So William will dole out the shamrocks. Naturally Irish Guards officers are deflated.'

The Duchess of Cambridge (pictured) was keen to get back to Norfolk and her two children so Prince William will dole out the shamrocks instead, writes EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE.

Our most celebrated Bond film beauty, Ursula Andress, who turns 80 this weekend, says: 'I don't like the Bond movies now. I hate the special effects.'

Her emergence, bikini-clad, from the sea in 1962's Dr No, was certainly special. But it wasn't an effect created by CGI (computer generated imagery) on which Bond films now rely.

Bond film beauty, Ursula Andress (pictured in Dr No), who turns 80 this weekend, says she hates the 'special effects' in modern Bond films

The Prime Minister, waiting for the Commonwealth memorial service to begin, passed the time by texting.

Meanwhile, the Chancellor, in his Whitehall office, tweeted 'keep it down!' to broadcaster Chris Evans as the latter's Top Gear team disrespectfully performed noisy 'doughnut' antics in a sports car at the nearby Cenotaph.

Do Dave and George demean their offices by their childish attachment to social media?

George Osborne tweeted 'keep it down!' to broadcaster Chris Evans as the latter's Top Gear team disrespectfully performed noisy 'doughnut' antics in a sports car at the nearby Cenotaph (pictured)

Forgotten in the centenary commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin are the 200 soldiers from the Sherwood Foresters who died there.

Most were newly recruited youngsters killed within days of arriving in Dublin.

While the 15 Easter Rising leaders shot by the British are hailed as heroic martyrs, who weeps for the 180 Sherwood Foresters buried in Ireland?

House of Cards creator Lord Dobbs praises Robin Wright who plays First Lady Claire Underwood in the Netflix show. Ms Wright, 49, is also an executive producer and director.

Lord (Michael) Dobbs, 67, a former Thatcher adviser, tells me: 'Robin is keen to direct and very good at it.' He, too, is an executive producer. 'They call me Sir Dobbs,' he says.

House of Cards creator Lord Dobbs praises Robin Wright (pictured) who plays First Lady Claire Underwood in the Netflix show

While Boris Johnson urges a vote for Brexit, his brother and fellow Tory MP Jo Johnson, Minister for Science, says otherwise.

'A vote to leave would be a leap in the dark,' he warns, claiming it might threaten EU research grants to UK science. 'Jo's wetter than a winter night in Arbroath,' cautions my source.

While Boris Johnson (pictured) urges a vote for Brexit, his brother and fellow Tory MP Jo Johnson, Minister for Science, says otherwise

Now moping over the crass Cenotaph stunt with a souped-up American car, the claims of Top Gear host Chris Evans, 49, that his show will be 'more inclusive' and 'less blinkered' than that of Jeremy Clarkson, 55, seem questionable. More moronic certainly.
The White House was caught off-guard by Russias shock announcement that it was declaring victory on its own terms in Syria.

Remarkably, President Barack Obama, along with his Nato allies, only learned of this dramatic development in what is the worlds most strategically important war zone from an impromptu television appearance by Russian strongman Vladimir Putin.

Perhaps we should not be surprised  both by Obamas weakness and Putins fox-like guile. After all, when Putin first ordered his countrys vast military arsenal into combat in Syria five months ago, Western leaders (and their much-vaunted, network of intelligence agencies) were likewise caught napping.

When Vladimir Putin declared he was sending his military to Syria, the West were caught unaware

Now the Russian President has announced he has ordered the first of his troops to return home

President Putin is claiming that their job is done and their pilots are returning home as heroes, pictured

There is, though, far more at stake here than the reputation of a soporific, lame-duck U.S. President as he staggers through his final months in office.

For it is now clear that during those tumultuous five months, the Kremlin ran rings around other world leaders, consolidating its power and influence not only in Syria, but throughout the wider Middle East.

And it pulled off its Syria gambit on the back of its brazen military adventurism in Ukraine  something the international community was also unable, or unwilling, to confront in any meaningful way.

In light of Russias withdrawal from Syria, the contrast between decisive Putin and pusillanimous Nato leaders is starker than ever.

The latter have merely repeated the tired mantra that Syrias President Bashar al-Assad must step down.

They also watched as the biggest refugee crisis since World War II  brought on in no small part by the Syrian war  ironically created an unprecedented crisis of confidence among their own populations in the ability of their leaders to govern.

Putin's aim was to use military force to secure Bashar al-Assad's position in Syria by attacking his rivals

Especially sobering is that, by any objective measure, Putins bold but subtly worded claim that his armed forces have achieved general completion of their strategic goals in Syria is a pretty accurate assessment of what has happened.

Because at this stage, it seems Putin has managed to pull off his immediate strategic aim: to turn the tide of the civil war in favour of Bashar al-Assad and his brutal but secular regime, and thus guarantee the survival of the only steadfast Russian ally in the Arab world.

For Russia has succeeded in helping Syrias armed forces, who were on the brink of defeat six months ago, to almost see off the so-called moderate Syrian rebels backed by the West and its allies, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.

According to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, the short campaign managed to cut the supply of resources to these anti-Assad groups and kill more than 2,000 of them.

Syrian troops, meanwhile, liberated more than 400 settlements and more than 6,200 miles of territory, with the support of more than 9,000 sorties conducted by the Russian Air Force.

Russian claims of a limited victory are more credible than the vacuous and hubristic Mission Accomplished declarations by our own leaders following the previous overthrow of the secular leaders of Iraq and Libya.

Striking, too, is the contrast with our criminal lack of planning for a post-regime reality in those countries, which allowed for the terrifying emergence of Islamist terror outfits and which left our diplomatic standing in the region at a lower point than at any time in living memory.

President Obama, pictured with Ireland's caretaker prime minister Enda Kenny has a few months left in office

Of course, our own policy towards Syria, too, looks equally shambolic. The thousands of Russian sorties against Islamic State strongholds over the past few months  which are to continue  brought into humiliating relief Natos relatively timid efforts in the country.

While Putins forces were moving in for the kill against Assads enemies, our leaders were pathetically doctoring intelligence briefings in order to sex-up our limited military successes while stubbornly sticking to a hare-brained idea of training an entirely new rebel army to topple the Assad regime and defeat the Islamic State.

At a cost of billions of dollars, it predictably came to nothing. In contrast, Putins no-nonsense approach to Isis has not only weakened the group inside Syria but has also sent a clear message to other Islamic terror groups on Russias borders.

Of course, the fact that Russias withdrawal was timed to coincide with the new round of peace talks in Geneva is hardly coincidental.

The wily Putin is able to cultivate the story of his military success in Syria while promoting his own image as an international peacemaker.

And in this way, Putin has not only demonstrated that the Russian military is to be reckoned with, but that it also has an indispensable role in determining the future of Syria and other world trouble-spots.

Putin has announced the removal of his forces to coincide with peace talks in Geneva

For, even if peace negotiations fail or if the Islamist rebels enjoy a resurgence, Russia has promised to return to the battlefield if necessary.

Indeed, Syrias Hmeimim airbase in Latakia and its Mediterranean port at Tartus will be protected by Russian warships and S-400 missile defence systems  on Europes doorstep.

Western leaders, via Nato and their undemocratic Gulf allies, have been forced to soften their demands for Assads departure.

The result is that the thuggish Putin is viewed in parts of the world as someone who not only manifests diplomatic skills, but has the guts to confront the jihadist scourge come what may: a leader  albeit an autocratic one  who doesnt show weakness under pressure.

This impression has been reinforced by the web of alliances Putin has cleverly forged with other countries during the Syria campaign, further pushing Western leaders to the sidelines as Russia emerges as the new, power broker in the region.

Perhaps most worryingly, he has been allowed to do this by Obamas misguided decision to lift sanctions against Iran (a steadfast ally of Russia and Syrias President Assad) shortly after Putin entered the Syrian war. There is another area where Putin has caught Western leaders napping.

With the Assad regime propped up by the Kremlin and internal terrorist enemies seriously diminished, it seems that Russias long-held goal of building a lucrative and politically valuable gas pipeline through Syria to Europe looks like it will be achieved.

Putin, pictured with King Mohammed VI of Morocco has been meeting Middle Eastern leaders in recent weeks

In addition, there are the billions of dollars to be made by the Kremlin from reconstructing Syria itself, a massive project that Assad will have little choice but to hand to Russian companies since the Damascus government owes the Kremlin an estimated $100 billion in outstanding debts.

Meanwhile, Egypt, the most populous Arab country, has already thrown itself at Russias feet, signing arms deals worth billions of dollars and contracting a Russian company to build its first nuclear plant in the coastal city of Alexandria.

Putin has even managed to forge diplomatic and military ties with the regions two arch-enemies: Israel and Hezbollah.

Russia has been fighting alongside Hezbollah in Syria while co-ordinating with the Israeli air force  even, astonishingly, when it was attacking Hezbollah inside Syria.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that what Putin has achieved by helping the survival of Assad would represent the biggest shift in geopolitical influence in the Middle East since the 1956 Suez Crisis. For Assad would be the first Arab leader to survive Western attempts at regime change since Egyptian strongman Gamal Abdul Nasser.

Then, a failed attempt by Britain, France and Israel to seize Egypts Suez region  and its vital canal  marked the moment our commanding influence in the world came to an end, and pushed Egypt into the arms of the Soviet Union.

The Syria debacle may come to be seen as the moment the West conceded hegemony in the region to Russia.

Its clear that in our post-nuclear weapon age, Putin understands that brash and unapologetic deployment of conventional forces is what gives countries military and economic dominance.
Easter is now an excuse for artisan chocolatiers to show off just how adventurous they can be

On Christmas morning you run the very real risk of opening a package and finding socks. On Easter Sunday you're guaranteed chocolate. We know which we prefer.

What's more, Easter is no longer the domain of cheap, thin, plasticky chocolate eggs that probably never made acquaintances with a cocoa pod.

Artisan chocolatiers now see Easter as an excuse to show off just how far they can push chocolate's capabilities, and spend it creating some truly breath-taking pieces of art. Delicious, edible art, that is.

Here are some of the most amazing 2016 Easter eggs money can buy

1. The most expensive in the world

British chocolate company Choccywoccydoodah have created the world's most expensive Easter eggs - a trio of enormous, Faberge-inspired chocolate monsters weighing 100kg and costing 25,000 - each.

Featuring 3D dragons and unicorns, the eggs are entirely handmade, hand-sculpted and hand-painted, all in chocolate, and are available to order only, with three weeks lead time required.

Choccywoccydoodah, 25,000

Put your hand in your pocket: You may need to remortgage for this trio of Choccywoccydoodah Easter eggs

2. The Oriental one

In Paris over Easter? Visit the Shangri-La Hotel and treat yourself to a Tian-Long Egg, a fabulous beast created by pastry chef Michael Bartocetti, who drew inspiration from China and the Orient. A blend of dark and milk chocolates and gianduja, the egg is covered in more than 200 scales then sprayed with gold mist.

Available to buy at the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris 70 (54)

If you're planning a trip to Paris, these two eggs are worth a hop on the Metro for. Left is the Tian-Long Egg, which costs 70 (54) from the Shangri-La Hotel, and right is the Creation Compression Fossile, 45 (35)

3. The sci-fi one

French chocolatier and pastry chef Christophe Roussells 2016 Easter showpiece is the Easter Creation Compression Fossile, a dramatic work of edible modern art composed of dried fruits, biscuits and chocolate pieces coated with chocolate and gianduja, all sitting on a praline base.

If you're not around to visit their Paris store, they have several shops in and around Nantes - perfect for a an Easter mini-break by the Atlantic!

Christophe Roussel, 45 (35)

4. The cosmic one

Heading up Marks & Spencer's most luxurious range of Easter Eggs ever is this stunning milk chocolate egg stuffed with heavenly golden spheres bursting with dulce de leche. Weighing in at 1kg, the hand-painted egg is finished by specialist chocolatiers trained to work solely on this egg. The 7,500 limited edition Giant Cosmic Eggs each come with their own number. M&S Chocolate Product Developer Katy Patino says: 'We've been working on perfecting this egg for years and the elaborate structure and time it takes to make it means we can only make a limited number.'

M&S, in store only, 40

The Giant Cosmic Egg, left, 40 from M&S , features mouth-watering golden spheres of dulce de leche, while the Giant Easter Atelier Egg, right, 1,000 from Godiva, was inspired by the most delicate Belgian lace

5. The delicate one

Inspired by the finest Belgian lace, Godiva's award-winning Chef Jean Apostolou has created just 10 enormous 14kg Atelier Grand eggs (66cm tall) by hand. Painstaking application of fine traces of white, dark and milk chocolate comprise the front half of the egg, while the rear is sprayed with milk chocolate. The two halves are sealed together using Godiva's dark chocolate carres. Godiva are also selling 200 small versions for 180.

Godiva, 1,000

6. The how on earth did they do that one

Another one from the other side of the Channel, famous French chef Alain Ducasse has commissioned artisan chocolatier Nicolas Berger to hand-sculpt a mesmerising collection of fabulous eggs. The Oeuf Tourne, originally designed by Parisian designer Pierre Tachon, is a hypnotic milk chocolate beauty filled with praline and plain chocolate fishes and shellfish.

Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse, 45 (35)

The Oeuf Tourne was handsculpted by artisan chocolatier Nicolas Berger at the request of chef Alain Ducasse

7. The posh one for grown ups

The definitive Easter Egg for adults, the Fruit & Nut Lattice Egg egg is loaded with pistachios, salted hazelnuts, almonds, golden raisins and sour cherries. A gourmet, handmade egg that not only looks amazing but tastes divine.

M&S chocolate expert Katy Patino says: 'Easter eggs are no longer just for kids  they've gone gourmet. We are making the chocoholic's dream come true this year with ultimate posh Easter eggs, made especially for adults.'

M&S in store only, 12

The handmade Fruit & Nut Lattice Egg (12 from M&S, left) is made especially for adults and is as delicious as it is pretty, while the Colossal Egg (95 from Fortnum & Mason, right) is made of five chocolate layers

8. The Russian doll of Easter eggs

Welcome to the Russian doll of chocolate eggs! A beautiful duck egg blue, the Colossal Egg from Fortnum & Mason is a beast of a treat made up of five chocolate layers. It weighs a mighty 1.4kg and has shell flavours of milk chocolate caramel, chocolate orange, chai, Fortnum's signature Rose & Violet, and finally the zesty Mitcham Mint.

Fortnum & Mason, 95

9. The off the wall ones

This Easter, Maison Pierre Marcolini has leapt down the rabbit hole for a journey into Wonderland. The upmarket boutique's jolly collection features chocolate eggs emblazoned with 3D playing cards and bowties, and sculptured characters from Lewis Carol's most famous fantastical story, including a chocolate Mad Hatter, a chocolate Queen and a chocolate Rabbit.

Pierre Marcolini, 13.90-105

The upmarket Pierre Marcolini boutique has an Alice in Wonderland-themed Easter collection this year

10. The one with English spring flowers

Betty's limited edition Imperial Easter Egg is named after the Imperial Suite on the first floor of Betty's Cafe Tea Rooms in Harrogate. The egg  which comes in both milk and dark chocolate  is decorated with edible ferns, hand-painted butterflies and spring flowers by cake decorating experts at Betty's. Weighing 5.4kg and standing 70cm high, it's no surprise that one couple chose to have an Imperial Easter Egg instead of a wedding cake.

Bettys, 250

Almost too pretty to eat: The Imperial Easter Egg from Betty's in Harrogate (250, left), is hand-decorated, as is Charbonnel et Walker's oddly named Big Bertha (650, right)

11. The oddly-named but rather pretty one

This year Charbonnel et Walker, purveyors of fine English chocolates, have come up with Big Bertha, an egg far prettier than its name. Weighing 10.5kg, with hand-decorating, it is made to order only. Just whatever you do, don't drop it.

Charbonnel et Walker, 650

12. The Art Deco one

Claridge's iconic, limited edition Easter Eggs are inspired by the Mayfair hotel's Art Deco checkerboard lobby. The hotel's Head Pastry Chef Kimberly Lin has created 100 limited-edition Deco eggs using the finest Valrhona dark, milk and white chocolate. Each egg is filled with a selection of handmade chocolate quail eggs and carefully packaged in a glamorous eau de nil coloured box. The Claridge's Easter Egg is wrapped in bespoke black and white Art Deco foil and tied with a black satin bow.

Claridge's, 50

If you've been to Claridge's, you'll remember the Mayfair hotel's stunning checkerboard lobby which inspired these pretty Art Deco style Easter eggs

13. The single origin one

This Single Origin Cocoa Pod Easter Egg - a supremely elegant, unusual chocolate egg - isn't actually a chocolate egg at all, it's a chocolate cocoa pod made of Dominican Republic dark chocolate and comes with single origin milk and dark chocolate tasting bars from Java, Ecuador and Tanzania. If you have a discerning chocolate fan in your life, this beauty is the one for them.

M&S, in store only, 12

If you have a discerning chocoholic in your life, buy them the Single Origin Cocoa Pod Easter Egg from M&S (left, 12), while the abstract Large Painted Easter Egg from William Curley (55, right) looks very modern

14. The modern art one

Artisan patissiere William Curley's Large Painted Easter Egg is a deliriously stunning hand-painted milk or dark chocolate showstopper filled with sea salt caramels, Muscavado caramels, chocolate hazelnuts, chocolate almonds, dark cinder toffee, milk cinder toffee, orangettes, dark truffles, milk truffles and champagne truffles. Gloriously decadent stuff.

William Curley, 55

15. The one that looks like a stained glass window

Melt's limited edition Abstract Egg, hand-crafted by skilled chocolatiers to resemble a multicoloured stained-glass window, is a unique work of modern chocolate art filled with the luxury chocolate company's best-selling chocolate: their crunchy, salted squares.

Melt, 120

The Abstract Egg from Melt (120, left) is designed to look like a stained-glass window, while the Lakrids Egg (19,99 from Selfridges, right) contains eggs made from liquorice and dulce de leche chocolates

16. The liquorice one

For chocolate-lovers with a dark and salty side, Lakrids' Dulce de Leche Chocolate-Coated Liquorice Egg is a must. Utterly unique, the egg is actually a plastic oval shell filled with silver-speckled liquorice, dulce de leche, chocolate and raw liquorice powder eggs. Yowzer.

Selfridges, 19.99
A woman has had an emotional reunion with her long last father after tracking him down on the other side of the globe 28 years after they were separated when she was a baby.

Carrie Vuyk, 28, was born in the West Midlands and taken to South Africa when she was six months old by her mother after she split up with her father, Bryn Flavell.

After her mother met a new man and had another daughter with him, Carrie grew up believing he was her real father and had no idea of her English roots.

Carrie Vuyk pictured with her father Bryn Flavell at Birmingham Moor Street Station where they were reunited after 28 years apart. She grew up believing another man was her father

Bryn pictured aged 23 with Carrie as a baby. Not long after this photo was taken, her mother fled with Carrie to start a new life in South Africa and he wouldn't have any contact with her for nearly three decades

The father and daughter had an emotional reunion on a train platform, pictured on TLC show Separated At Birth, after Carrie travelled across from South Africa

It was only when her stepfather and her mother divorced when she was 13 that she was told the truth.

Carrie, a sales rep, said the news was a huge shock but helped her make sense of feelings she'd had growing up that she didn't belong.

'I was always the different one in the family and my father treated me differently compared to my sister,' she said as she shares her story on the new series of TLC show Separated At Birth.

'I knew I was different, like when Christmas came my sister got a present, but I was told I didn't deserve them and that's how it was.

'My parents split up when I was 13 and I was told he was not my real father. It hurt but I finally knew why I was different from my sister and I understood, it explained a lot to me.'

Carrie's mother had long since lost touch with Bryn and said she had no means of getting in touch with him.

Carrie said she didn't find out the truth about who her father was until her mother divorced her step-father when she was 13. Until then, she thought he was her real father and couldn't understand why he treated her differently to his sister, Hazel

Carrie started searching for Bryn after she married her childhood sweetheart, Steven, pictured with her here, but it took her seven years to track him down as she only had his name to go on

Carrie is now a mother to Matthew and Joshua and understands why her mother made the decision to take her to South Africa when she was a baby to give her a better life

Carrie, who now lives in Richards Bay, South Africa, with her husband Steven and their two sons Matthew and Joshua, said she didn't resent her mother's decision to take her away from her father.

She said: 'My mum was living in England when I was a baby and she couldn't make ends meet.

'Her parents were living in South Africa at that time so she decided to go there to be with her parents so they could help her with me.

I had many questions but after hearing his voice none of that mattered anymore

'My mum took the decision she thought was best for me and her at that time. Being a mum now I understand that and would probably have done the same for my children if I was single and on my own.'

However, she said it was frustrating having no memory of her real father and 'not even knowing what he looked like'.

She was only told his name and that he lived in England.

It was when she was 20 and got engaged to Steven, her childhood sweetheart who she met at school, that she became determined to track down Bryn.

But it took seven years of searching online before she was able to find him.

She recalls: 'It was very difficult searching for him as he wasn't active on the internet. Finally five months ago I found him through the voting register. I had his name, address and who had been living with him at that time.

'My sister Hazel looked up the address on Google Street View and saw a van parked outside with the number of a plumbing business on it so she called it.'

After finding Bryn's address on the electoral register, Carrie looked it up on Google Street View and found a van with a number for a plumbing business on it parked outside. She spoke to Bryn's step son who was finally able to put her in contact with her real father

Bryn said he didn't know about his ex's plan to take Carrie to South Africa until it was too late and wishes he could have done something to stop her. He said he has always thought about his long lost daughter

Bryn and his mother, Rosemary, pictured, said they were heartbroken when Carrie was taken away, pictured here looking at photos they kept of her as a baby

The plumbing business belonged to Bryn's step-son, who passed on the message that his daughter - who he had last seen as a baby - had been in touch.

Bryn, now 52, and living near Wolverhampton, said he was overcome to hear from his long lost little girl.

He was 23 and had been living with Carrie's mother for eight months when she fell pregnant.

It is something you can never describe, meeting your father for the first time. The first thing I said was "I do look like you!'

He had been delighted to become a father but said financial turmoil after he lost his job led to him and Carrie's mother splitting up.

He had no idea she was planning to take his daughter away for a new life in another country.

However, his mother, Rosemary, did and she has lived with the guilt of keeping the news from him for nearly three decades.

She had promised not to tell Bryn about Carrie's mother's plan to go to South Africa in return for one last week with her granddaughter before she left.

Rosemary said: 'I kept my promise to her or she wasn't going to let me have her and I still feel guilty. It broke my heart and I still blame myself for not telling Bryn. I told him about four days after they had gone.'

Bryn said: 'It was too late by the time I found out, she was already gone. I don't think there was a lot I could have done about it anyway, legally, I wish I had now.'

Rosemary added they were both heartbroken after Carrie was taken away and her mother ceased contact with them.

She said: 'I can't describe what it was like, I loved her that much, she was my first granddaughter.'

Bryn added: 'I thought about her all the time. Times like Christmas I thought, she should be here having her presents. On birthdays I thought I wish she was here now.'

Carrie wept as she saw her father for the first time and said the experience was indescribable

Father and daughter hug as they are reunited. Carrie then said to her father: 'I do look like you!'

He went on to marry his wife Rose, and they had a daughter Kayleigh together. He never forgot Carrie but as the years passed, he thought she may be better off not having him in her life.

He said: 'I have a lot of guilt as I haven't looked for her and maybe I should have done. But I didn't want to disrupt her life, not after 20 odd years. I didn't know what she had been told about me. If she was having happy life I would rather she got on with it.'

Bryn was delighted when he finally heard Carrie had tried to contact him and he called her straight away.

Carrie recalls of the life-changing phone call: 'When I heard his voice I knew it was him. I don't think we said anything we just cried for about ten minutes and then his wife Rose took the phone to speak to me and I couldn't talk as I was crying so much, it was overwhelming. I had many questions but after hearing his voice none of that mattered any more.'

After catching up by phone and text message, the pair finally arranged to meet with Carrie travelling to returning to her home country.

They both cried as they met for the first time in 28 years on a platform at Birmingham Moor Street station.

Carrie said it was an emotional experience.

'It is something you can never describe, meeting your father for the first time. The first thing I said was "I do look like you!"'

'We have a lot of catching up to do and I can't wait to meet my grandmother, my half sister and Bryn's wife Rose.'
Instagram star Sally Mustang, who shot to fame for her racy online snaps, is the face of the campaign

They have also launched an advertising campaign about plastic featuring bikini clad models

The couple had the idea for the festival while travelling around the entire Australian coastline

Founders Natalie Wood and Daniel Smith want to get people involved in something that's not 'overly greenie'

The afterparty includes local music, food and free beer from Stone and Wood Brewery

The event gets attendees to clean up local waterways before they can attend the festival

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What do you get when you take a bunch of young, beautiful people on tour to clean up the environment before they party? The Festival of the Stone.

Started by the Clean Coast Collective, it's trying to be a festival with a difference. Instead of big name headliners, overpriced drinks and expensive tickets, Festival of the Stone focuses on craft beer and cleaning up the environment.

'They need to keep the environment clean to keep their beer crisp' the collective's website reads.

Founded by Natalie Wood and Daniel Smith, who live on the NSW North Coast in Australia, the festival is travelling the country trying to make being an environmentalist 'cool.'

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Beachy cool: The Clean Coast Collective aims to help the environment by making it 'cool'. They have launched the Festival of the Stone, where attendees get to party only after they have cleaned up a waterway

Get lost: The collective have also created an advertising campaign called Castaway (above) that aims to educate people about the dangers of plastic in the oceans (pictured is Instagram star and model Sally Mustang, who shot to fame for her racy online photos)

Clean up: The Festival of the Stone is travelling the country, making nine stops including Noosa, Torquay, Hobart and Gold Coast

The concept is that festival-goers first get together to clean up a local beach or waterway before attending the free after party with food, music and beer.

Ms Wood, who is 27, said she and boyfriend Mr Smith came up with the idea when travelling around the entire coast line of Australia.

'We were doing a lot of hikes into remote beaches and national parks,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'And there was so much marine debris.'

When in Cape York, the young couple spoke to locals who explained how much rubbish washed up on the beach, so they decided to start Clean Coast Collective.

Making a difference: Founders Natalie Wood and Daniel Smith (above) decided to start Clean Coast Collective after travelling the entire coast line of Australia and seeing the marine debris that washed up in remote areas

Trash tribe: The couple then crowdfunded for a group of musicians to travel to Cape York with them, where they cleaned up two tons of rubbish in a week

On tap: Brewery Stone and Wood have partnered with Clean Coast Collective for the festival, and are serving beer out of their mobile bar at each event

They crowdfunded for a group of musicians to travel to Cape York with them, where they spent a week cleaning two tons of rubbish off of the six kilometres of beach.

It was after this that they decided to start Festival of the Stone, as a way to engage with people on environmental issues 'in a way thats accessible and not overly greenie'.

'The festival a great way to bring a whole range of people to clean up events. It gets people excited to attend a clean up because its a cool event afterward,' Ms Wood explained.

Castaway: The couple decided to start Festival of the Stone as a way to engage with people on environmental issues 'in a way thats accessible and not overly greenie'

'It gets people excited to attend a clean up': Ms Wood says that the festival makes it cool to do a clean up because there's an event on afterwards

Party time: Volunteers get to attend the after party for free and even get a free beer. All other sales of alcohol go back to the collective and the work that they do

The festival has already been held in Newcastle, Sydney, Canberra and Hobart, and still has five more stops on the tour.

Next Clean Coast Collective is heading to Torquay, then Melbourne, Brisbane, Noosa and the Gold Coast.

At each stop the couple gets local musicians to play and local restaurants to set up food stalls. Brewery Stone and Wood provide alcohol, and are travelling along with a mobile bar for the length of the festival.

Beachy clean: The collective also sells t shirts and merchandise to fund their events, and runs a blog about the 'Clean Coast lifestyle'

'We're trying to put the issue in a captivating way': Ms Wood told Daily Mail Australia that the purpose of the collective was to educate people about the environment in a way they would be interested in

Rubbish free: A film about the Clean Coast Collective's trip to Cape York, called Trash Tribe, has also been made and is screening around the country

The collective has also launched an advertising campaign, called Castaway, to try and raise awareness of the damage plastic can do to the environment - a campaign starring Instagram star and model, Sally Mustang, who regularly speaks about her work with the environment.

Mustang shot to fame earlier this year with her boyfriend, Mitch Goebel, after they shared intimate snaps and stories of themselves on Instagram.

'She drifted for days  castaway on the deep blue seas. And when she finally washed ashore, she realised she wasn't the only foreign object brought in on the tides...' the campaign description reads.

'Everything we do, we're trying to put the issue in a captivating way,' Ms Wood said.
Brazil's reputation as a sexually liberal nation makes it unsurprising that it plays host to thousands of sex workers.

However, those open-minded attitudes often do not extend to Rio De Janeiro's transgender residents as Stacey Dooley discovers in an eye-opening series, Sex In Strange Places.

In a hard-hitting new series for BBC Three, Stacey Dooley travels to Turkey, Russia and Brazil to uncover shocking stories about attitudes towards sex and prostitution.

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Barbara, from Brazil, is a successful dancer and the first transgender woman to lead the Rio Carnival but has been forced to turn to prostitution

Barbara, pictured leading the Rio carnival, works as a prostitute to support her grandmother with whom she lives with in a working class neighborhood on the outskirts of Rio

In tonight's episode the presenter took a glimpse into the world of transgender prostitution and the dangers workers face on the streets.

Around a million transgender people live in Brazil, but many of them face deep-seated prejudice and resort to selling sex just to earn a living.

She meets Barbara, a successful dancer and the first transgender woman to lead the Rio Carnival. However despite her fame, Barbara admits that she struggled to make ends meet once the parade is over.

Stacey Dooley meets club owner Oscar Maroni (pictured) who owns 33 apartments with mirrored walls which he rents out to prostitutes

Barbara's life may appear glamorous to an outsider but she has to support her grandmother with whom she lives with in a working class neighborhood on the outskirts of Rio.

With 90 per cent of transgender women turning to sex work Barbara reveals there is not often another option.

She tells Stacey: 'I'm scared but I still go, I don't go as often as I did before but I still go. We don't have enough to eat at home or we haven't paid a bill so I'll go because its the only choice I have.

'If someone sees a trans they're already thinking even if (she) isn't a sex worker they should be doing sex work because its a label we've been given.

'I once asked a friend if I could be a cleaning assistant cleaning the floors. He laughed at me and said "Barbara, you don't look like a cleaner." And i said "I need to work". We want social equality.'

However, Stacey's research reveals that it is not just transgender sex workers that fall victim to the toils of prostitution.

Transgender Barbara said people in Brazil think she should do sex work because 'its a label' transpeople have been given

Stacey discovers that the biological women face just as many difficulties on a regular basis. She visits Rio's red light district Villa Mimosa where up to a thousand girls work every night controlled by a local armed militia who operate above the law.

The documentary takes a look inside one of the bars where the girls operate with the owner letting out ten rooms in 20 minute slots to the women.

Stacey meets a mother-of-three children who she cares for during the week before heading to Villa Mimosa at the weekend.

She explains that she was once sleeping with up to 30 different men a night in the bar's cramped conditions in order to live, but the bar's owner Carla says that working within her building is far safer than if they were to walk the streets.

She said: 'If this place were to lose its license the girls would go onto the streets risking their lives and putting up with a load of shit they might even die because clients on the street do whatever they want with women but here they feel safe.'

On the other end of the spectrum is the luxury hotel for sex workers called Bahamas Night Club run by businessmen Oscar Maroni.

The building houses 33 apartments walled with mirrors where clients can be entertained by the women who work there.

Stacey Dooley, who presents the programme on BBC Three, met two male sex workers who got hands on

Oscar, who was unable to attend the original BBC3 interview because he was 'having a threesome', views his establishment as the Disneyland of prostitution.

He said: 'In the club you wont find unhappy people. You'll see girls looking at the door willing clients to come in.

'They are women who are free and open. Sex is good healthy and hot. It doesn't matter what form it takes.'

However, Stacey discovers that for some of the women working at Oscar's club, this isn't the case.

Lara has been working at the club for three months, but says that the decision to do so came as a last resort.

She tells Stacey: 'I had a stationary store and I didn't get the money to pay the rent. I don't want to be here all my life.'

Stacey met sex workers as well as club owners in Turkey, Russia and Brazil where sex work is prevalent

Stacey, with trans sex worker Derya in Turkey, found many sex workers were hoping to build a future with the money they receive from selling their bodies

Lara reveals that she has a nine-year-old daughter and a boyfriend, neither of whom have any idea about her profession.

She said: 'Every night when I lay down with the guy I just think "oh my God what am I doing here?" I just want to stay with my boyfriend I don't want to stay here all night thinking about making money and lay down with the old guys and ugly guys. My head is just a mess.'

However, Oscar is quick to defend his treasured club: 'I view the profession of the girls as a profession. Every profession has its pros and cons at the Bahamas club the prostitute themselves to buy things to pay for their BMWs, Louis Vuittons and houses.

'They earn a lot and they earn it from sex.'
A teenager recovering from anorexia is sharing images of herself at different stages of her eating disorder to show how the illness is not always visible.

Lauren Houston, 17, has spent two years as an inpatient at a Belfast hospital being treated for anorexia, depression and anxiety, and has also suffered from bulimia.

And she has shared an image on her blog that shows her being tube fed in hospital, while she was secretly binge eating, alongside a current photo as she recovers to show you do not have to be skeletal to be suffering.

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Lauren Houston, 17, from Belfast has shared this photo to highlight the fact that an eating disorder is often invisible and doesn't relate to body size. (From left to right) Beng tube fed in hospital; suffering from bulimia; feling happy and healthy, but still recovering

'Eating disorders are mental illnesses that have physical side effects,' Lauren told FEMAIL.

'Too many sufferers feel ashamed to get help because the media has projected the misconception that you must be skeletal in order to be suffering.

'In fact the reality is that eating disorders are life threatening illnesses regardless of weight.

'Anorexia came very close to killing me and my only hope is that sufferers don't have to reach that point in order to receive treatment.'

The teenager has spent two years as an inpatient being treated for anorexia, depression and anxiety. At her lowest weight she had to be tube fed

Lauren pictured in hospital, says she doesn't want to reveal her lowest weight as she doesn't want to perpetuate the idea that an eating disorder is linked to being a certain size

To raise awareness, Lauren has posted the collage of images on her blog, asking: 'What do I have in common in all three pictures? An eating disorder.

'Im glad to say that in the most recent picture (right) I am on my way to recovery.The girl on the left? She was epitome of the medias stereotype, she was met with worried looks and furrowed brows.

'But what about the picture in the middle? A happy, healthy teenage girl? Think again.'

The middle picture was taken in 2015 when Lauren was suffering from bulimia.

'This girl had tormented her body. She had starved it, punished it and scarred it,' she recalled.

Although appears healthy and happy, she was still struggling both physically and mentally with the aftermath of being anorexic

In 2015, Lauren was suffering from bulimia. Her loved ones were delighted to see her eating and gaining weight, but she was secretly doing something just as unhealthy and disordered as her anorexia

'The girl in the middle had only just recovered from a torturous spiral of depressive episodes, she was trying to find herself after spending months dictated to by an invisible narrator in her head.

'It told her to binge. To stuff her face until she could barely move, not because she wanted to, not because she enjoyed it, but simply as a method of painful self punishment.

EATING DISORDER CATEGORIES Bulimia is one of the most common eating problems, and involves consuming large amounts of food before purging. Sufferers often stay roughly the same weight, but some fluctuate between being overweight to underweight quite often. Anorexia involves reducing food intake or stopping eating altogether. It's commonly associated with low self-esteem, negative self-image and feelings of intense distress. People with binge eating disorder, or food addiction, can't stop eating, and eat all day or consume large amounts in one sitting. It differs from bulimia as sufferers don't usually purge afterwards. Eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) means that a person meets some but not all of the criteria for an eating disorder like bulimia or anorexia. For example, you may be starving yourself but still maintain a healthy weight. Or you may binge and purge, but not regularly enough for a diagnosis of bulimia. Advertisement

'When in the depths of restriction, control is what fuelled me. It was an ecstasy that ran through my veins, it powered me when nutrition didnt.

'And when things hit rock bottom and I was forced into the realisation that my life of starvation could not continue, the concept of losing my precious control petrified me to absolutely no end.

'Bingeing led me deep into a horrific spiral of depression. I felt like a fake anorexic, which of course is not the case, because my weight was rising at the most horrifically rapid pace.

'It was not that I was gaining weight in a therapeutically beneficial way, but in fact my weight gain was as disordered and unhealthy as my restrictive weight loss had been.

'I exceeded my target healthy weight and people began to relax in the knowledge that I was eating and looked healthy, leaving me feeling ashamed, secretive and misunderstood and feeling as though my sick and disordered mind was trapped within a fat body.

'After the shameful episodes of bingeing Id spend hours with my head in the toilet bowl.

'My gums would bleed, my oesophagus was torn and damaged, and my potassium dropped to levels that could have killed me. But she doesnt look like she has an eating disorder though?

'Yet she does. The raw reality is that an eating disorder does not look like anything.

'Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and Eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) are secretive and manipulative, they take over your head and force the smile onto your face.

Lauren, pictured recently. She is nearing the end of an inpatient admission and is on the road to health and happiness

The teen is on the road to recovery (left) but is still very slender. Through blogging Lauren, (pictured right with her aunt) is hoping to raise awareness of the fact that an eating disorder doesn't look like any specific body size

T'hey speak for you. They say the words I already ate or Im not feeling well with a well-rehearsed smile, whilst the victim is left buried inside silently screaming help me!.

Lauren doesn't wish to mention specifics of her weight in order not to further fuel misconceptions surrounding eating disorders.

She likens some media reports and blog posts about eating disorders to an 'anorexia Olympics', and wants to highlight how many people may be suffering in secret.

'They are filled to the brim with phrases like I nearly died, I was a walking skeleton or I had to be fed through a tube to save my life,' she said.

'When I search the words eating disorder sufferer on Google, the first image Im met with is a drastically underweight model.'

'But eating disorders are not a body size or a calorific intake. The truth is that eating disorders actually have NOTHING to do with food.

''Only 10 to 15 per cent of diagnosed eating disorders are diagnoses of anorexia.
A professional make-up artist used her talent to take her mind off of her labor pains by giving herself a glamorous bedside makeover complete with skin contouring and fake eyelashes.

Alaha Majid of New York City has taken to Instagram to post numerous photos of herself applying a full-face of make-up before she welcomed her daughter Sofia Alaya Karimi into the world on February 15.

'Three weeks ago at this time I was finishing up my make-up and getting ready for my princess to make her appearance. Yes, I was doing my make-up while I was in labor!' the 27-year-old captioned a photo of herself using a 35-shade eye shadow palette to do her eye make-up while lying in her hospital bed.

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Make-up-loving mom-to-be: Beauty lover Alaha Majid took the time to apply a full face of cosmetics while she was in labor in the hospital

'Full glam': The 27-year-old make-up artist wanted to look her best when she welcomed her 'princess' Sofia

Getting ready: Alongside the jug of ice chips left by nurses for her to eat and stay hydrated, Alaha set up a full make-up station on her hospital bed, applying everything from foundation to false eyelashes

'I was pausing during contractions and picking up where I left off once the contractions passed. I only packed some of my favorite products in my hospital bag...' she noted.

However, it's hard to believe that Alaha has even more make-up at home. For her trip to the hospital, the expectant mom packed numerous beauty products, including mink eyelashes, a contouring kit, liquid lipsticks, a brow pomade, and a holder for her many make-up brushes.

Another photo sees Alaha using an egg-shaped sponge to blend the make-up around her eyes as she leans back in her bed. The table in front of her is filled with cups containing make-up brushes, foundation, cosmetics covered tissues, and of course, a hospital picture filled with ice cubes for her to suck on.

During one of her more difficult contractions, Alaha's husband was pictured dabbing a make-up brush on her face as she turned her head away from him in pain.

A helping hand: Alaha said that she 'paused' her make-up whenever she had a contraction, but when they became too painful, her husband happily took over

Sharing the happy news: The mother-of-one posted on Instagram and Twitter to let her friends and followers know that she had given birth to a daughter, including an image of herself doing her make-up

Blessed: 'Both hubby and I are so in love with her that we stare at her for hours as our hearts fill with joy,' Alaha said of her daughter

'When the contractions got too strong, hubby was there to save the day,' she captioned the sweet - albeit strange - image.

Before sharing photos of herself doing her make-up in the hospital, Alaha first posted snapshot of herself glammed up while holding her newborn baby girl.

'We would like to take a second to welcome our precious angel, Sofia Alaya Karimi, into the world,' she wrote. 'Baby Sofia was born two nights ago, on February 15, 2016 at 6:19pm weighing 8lbs 13oz and a height of 21.5 inches.'

Alaha went on to say that even though their daughter had only been in their lives for two days, she couldn't remember what life was like before her.

Beautiful baby bump: Throughout her pregnancy, Alaha shared many a glamorous image of herself showing off her swollen baby belly

Stunning: Alaha is well known on Instagram for her incredibly glamorous beauty looks

Flaunting her talents: The make-up artist uses social media as a means of showcasing her skills, however since the birth of her daughter she has been posting numerous images of her beloved child

'She has changed our lives in ways we never thought were possible and has given us the most beautiful outlook on life,' she continued. 'How could a little human who we have only known for 48 hours, have so much impact on our lives?

'Both hubby and I are so in love with her that we stare at her for hours as our hearts fill with joy, and our eyes fill with tears trying to understand how we became so lucky to be chosen as her parents.'

After explaining that she and her husband chose to keep Sofia's face concealed for cultural reasons for the time being, she went on to explain her full-face of make-up in the photo.

'Now many of you are probably wondering about this picture, LOL [laughing out loud]! It was taken the minute she was first handed to me after I delivered her, look at her little head in my palm,' she wrote, admitting that she did go 'full glam' to welcome her daughter into the world.
Rockwell's mom made the costume  just like an Elf on the Shelf one the family made for Rockwell in December

Alan then edited the photos, making it look like Rockwell painted the dog, the house, and the washing machine

The Irish would have us believe that leprechauns only live in on the The Emerald Isle, but as it turns out, one of the cutest leprechauns of all lives over 4,500 miles away in Paradise, Utah.

Father-of-five Alan Lawrence, 40, decided to celebrate St. Patrick's Day a few days early by transforming his youngest son, six-month-old Rockwell, into one of the little green mythical beings.

In an adorable series of pictures, the baby is seen dressed in green, burying a pot of gold, smiling through a bright orange beard, and even adding the emerald touch to everything around him.

Just call him Sham-Rockwell! Father-of-five Alan Lawrence dressed his son up as a leprechaun in honor of St. Patrick's Day

He's lucky! The six-month-old tot looked adorable in his little green outfit, buckled shoes, and top hat (but didn't actually spray-paint this dog; that was done with photo-editing later on)

A mischievous little elf: Rockwell's 40-year-old father set him up in funny situations, like pouring paint (thanks to Photoshop) into the washing machine)

Alan first dressed his youngest son up last December as an Elf of the Shelf, putting the little boy in a pointed red hat and onesie and perching him on the fireplace mantle, atop a shower rod, and on his big brother's crib.

He even took a cue from Will Ferrell's hit Christmas movie Elf, having Rockwell pretend to drink maple syrup through a straw and chow down on spaghetti mixed with candy.

In the new pictures, Rockwell ditches red for green, wearing a Kelly green jacket and breeches, striped socks, buckled elf shoes, and a matching buckled top hat  an outfit sewn together entirely by his mom.

He also wears a bright orange beard, which nearly didn't make it into the sweet shots.

Getting to work: Though Rockwell's mom made the costume, and early photo shows Rockwell and his big brother taking over the sewing machine

Everyone's after me pot-o-gold! Alan said Rockwell tried to 'bury' his gold, even though it was only chocolate

Up to no good! He also pretended that the baby 'modified' his Air Jordans with a leprechaun buckle

'We almost didn't have him wear the beard because we couldn't find anything that looked good,' Alan told Today Parents. 'When you search for orange beards for babies on Amazon, the results are not awesome. At the very last minute we ended up finding some fluffy fabric that looked perfect.'

Then, the fun began. In one photo, Rockwell is seen holding a pot of gold, sneaking through the front door. In another, he chooses between eating a piece of green brocoli and a candy cane  a nod to his days as the Elf on the Shelf.

'He was very confused as he tried broccoli for the first time,' Alan, who works as a photographer and art director, wrote on his blog. 'After licking it like a candy cane for ten minutes I decided to tell him that it needed to be chewed and swallowed.'

Alan's favorite is one of Rockwell spraying green paint on the family dog, which he achieved by editing the green spray paint into the photo later.

'I am pretty meticulous about keeping the magic looking as real as possible,' Alan said.

New foods: Rockwell tried broccoli for the first time for these pictures, though he tried to lick it like a lollipop

So cute: Though he didn't mind the suit, Rockwell wasn't a fan of the beard, which got stuck in his mouth

Flashback: In December, when he was four months old, he was dressed as Elf on the Shelf

Bonding time: The family had so much fun that they decided to dress Rockwell up for more holidays

He also used his photo-editing skills to make it look like Rockwell poured green paint into the washing machine and painted the entire house the springy hue  two things they'd never, of course, let him actually do.

Later in the series, Rockwell is seen burying his pot of gold in some dirt.

'I think he is a little worried that the kids might steal his gold. I didnt have the heart to tell him they were just chocolates,' Alan joked.

All in all, the little man seemed to have fun with the photo series, even if he wasn't a huge fan of his entire costume.
The concept was inspired by her time at graduate school at New York

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' lookalike granddaughter Rose Schlossberg is an up and coming comedian who has debuted a new satirical web series teaching women how to survive the apocalypse.

The 27-year-old daughter of Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg co-launched End Times Girls Club with her friend Mara Nelson-Greenberg, and the six-episode web series from Above Average was actually inspired by Rose's time at New York University

'It came up as a response to seeing the way that New York responded to Hurricane Sandy, and how people were grossly underprepared  specifically, girls in damsel in distress mode,' she told Mashable of the venture.

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Doppelganger: Rose Schlossberg (R), the granddaughter Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (L), has inherited her grandmother's wide-set eyes, delicate lips, and thick brunette hair

Steering clear of politics: The 27-year-old Harvard graduate has co-launched her own comical web series, End Times Girls Club, with her friend Mara Nelson-Greenberg (left)

Doomsday: Rose and Mara play the roles of Bee and Lara, respectively, two vloggers who are teaching female viewers how to survive the apocalypse

'I thought it would be interesting to create this world where girls have to be survivalists without compromising their cute factor.'

In the short webisodes, Rose and Mara play the roles of Bee and Lara, respectively, two vloggers who are teaching viewers how to do everything from a 'fun new way to start a fire after the apocalypse' to making mascara using nothing but 'ashes and plain old auto grease'.

'I am not a huge fan of make-up myself, but there are real benefits to looking good post-doomsday,' Rose's character says in the clip entitled Apocalypse Makeover. 'For example you will want people to invite you into their bunker.'

Rose, who is the eldest grandchild of Jacqueline and former US President John F. Kennedy, has her grandmother's same brunette locks, delicate smile, wide set eyes, and slender frame.

Fashion icon: Rose, who studied English and film as an undergrad at Harvard University, inherited Jackie's good look and her love of the arts

Political dynasty: Rose can be seen sitting in between her brother Jack and her father Edwin at a ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the visit of President John F Kennedy in New Ross, Ireland, in 2103

Unmistakable resemblance: Because of her physical likeness to her grandmother, Rose was dubbed 'Jackie 2.0' in 2010

However, the web series sees her donning messy ponytails, casual T-shirts, jeans, and a pair of baggy camouflage pants, which is a far cry from Jackie O's classic style.

The web series is a part of the online comedy distributor Above Average Productions, which is the digital sector of Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels' company Broadway Video.

'We are big comedy fans, and I think Broadway Video has the best record in the comedy world for making stuff,' Rose told Mashable. 'It's an environment that enables creators, so its been a great fit.'

The brunette beauty, who was named after JFK's mother, was close to her grandmother andwas only a month shy of her sixth birthday when the former First Lady died of lymphoma.

Formal event: Although she often keeps a low profile, Rose attended the 2014 Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. with her younger sister Tatiana

Family outing: Rose is pictured sitting in between her parents Edwin and Caroline Kennedy (right) and her brother and sister, Jack and Tatiana (left) in 2013

Rose was also left devastated by the loss of her uncle John F. Kennedy Jr. in 1999 after the airplane he was flying crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

After she graduated from the The Brearley School, an all-girls private school in New York City's Upper East Side, Rose attended Harvard University, where she studied English and film.

Although Rose comes from a political dynasty, her grandmother Jackie was a patron of the arts and a lover of literature, spending her later years working as a book editor in New York City.

However, unlike her siblings, who both attended Yale, she has remained out of the spotlight in recent years and attends few public events.

Devastating time: Rose, who is pictured with her mother in 1996 (left), lost her grandmother and uncle John F. Kennedy Jr. (right) in 1994 and 1999, respectively

Historic legacy: Rose is the oldest grandchild of Jackie and John F. Kennedy. The Kennedy's are pictured with their children Caroline and John in 1963

Despite her new web series, Rose barely has a presence on social media, which may be the result of Gawker publishing some of her private photos when she was a freshman in college.

While Rose's 25-year-old sister Tatiana is a writer for the New York Times, her 23-year-old brother Jack is following in his family's footsteps and looking to pursue a career in politics.

Although she has skipped many of the high profile events honoring her grandfather, Rose joined her sister at the 2014 Kennedy Center Honors.
A Swedish fake tan firm has sparked outrage with their extremely dark colour which users have branded 'blackface.'

Emmaatan, founded by Emma Patissier Alm, is facing a backlash for its 50 a bottle range, which includes shades like Dark Chocolate and Onyx.

Emma posted a defence on Instagram where he claimed the 'colour isn't going for black' but commenters found the colours and their names in bad taste and argued you 'can't "wear" a race.'

Emmaatan, founded by Emma Patissier Alm, is facing a backlash for its range of dark shades. However Emma defended her 50 a bottle product saying the photo was taken before it was washed off

Emma, who has 19,000 followers, stood up for her business on Instagram and said the aim was not to get a 'crazy black tan' and expressed her shock at the backlash

Emma defended the dark shades on the company's Instagram which has 19,000 followers and explained it was a small business which she set up two years ago.

She wrote: 'I'm in shock for the response I've gotten and may have responded and commented the wrong way because I expect people to know how spray tan works.

'I've got a lot of feedback and mostly been called "blackface" and racist.

'People looks at my pic I've posted and without a blink assume we desire to look black, I understand why it might seem that way and I apologise for the misunderstanding my pic may have approached.

'Tanning is very popular these days because of the cancer factor, everybody is talking about how dangerous the sun bed is and therefore looking for a healthier option.

'I will never understand how "black people" are facing the world and it's sad to know people don't get respect just because of their looks.'

But the brand received backlash over the shades which some said was appropriating 'race for fashion'. It was branded 'disgusting' and 'gross'

She also explained that the photographs posted on Instagram were taken before the customer had a shower.

Emma posted: 'First of all it never gets black, a lot of my pics are a result of a few seconds after applying the tan.

'Fake tan always gets really dark because of the activation of the result of the color.

She explained 20 to 30 per cent of the colour washes off when the person showers.

Emma wrote: 'My color isn't going for black, it's going for a natural golden tan when you wash it off. I never want my customers to look unnatural or too dark since we usually have a lighter skin tone.

'You also have to understand I have ppl with dark and pale skin tone and therefore look darker or lighter. I love all skin types and that's why I think people should be able to choose for what they feel good in, as long as you respect people around you.'

She posted she didn't want her followers to 'think we want to go for a crazy black tan, we don't!

Emma she had been called 'racist' by people who accused her of trying to give people 'blackface'

'At least not all of us. I can't speak for everyone but I personally am trying to keep it natural. Please reconsider calling ppl names, it's not helping to communicate and trying to understand.'

Since the response was posted two days ago, it has had more than 300 likes.

However her explanation seemed to anger many others.

Kansas590 posted on Instagram: 'Bulls*** white tears. I'm not buying into this. stop trying to imitate us, white women have to take everything from us, don't they? Every f***ing thing.'

While Tcasteezy posted: 'This is disgusting. You can't "wear" a race for fashion and conveniently wash it off whenever you want.

'This is the same justification white people use to put on a sombrero and be 'Mexican' for Halloween.'

Twitter user @TheOldKanye was also unimpressed. They wrote: 'White folks got "Dark Chocolate" tanning sprays now? Oh, OK.'

Instagram user Yonceadeleto posted in reponse: 'It's crazy how some people want to appropriate black culture - dark tan, super plumped fake lips - yet don't want to talk about the important issues that plague the black community.

The shades which have names such as Chocolate and Caramel and are on sale for 50 a bottle on the brand's website. Other colours include Onyx, coconut and dark ash tan

Many commenters accused the brand of appropriating black culture - and using it as fashion - with the dark spray tans

The Instagram page of Emmaatan showed one customer with an extremely dark tan all over her body

@EllieThe Doll posted on Twitter about the use of the incredibly dark colours: 'When you think tanning couldn't get any worse, they go harder and harder on the blackface.'

While another Instagram user posted they were 'dying' at the choice of names for the colours.

Tarynxox wrote: 'Their colour name choices include onyx, caramel black, coconut, chocolate, dark ash and extreme - in a black bottle.

'If those aren't ways to describe people of colours I don't know what is. You don't want a "crazy black tan" but a "dark ash tan" or "chocolate."

But there were some defenders who argued that tanning is 'not racism'.

Vickispets posted: 'Talking and discussing racism is great because it helps us move forward and keep making race such a taboo, and [making] such a big deal over such silly things and giving it more important than it should only backfires and makes racism a bigger and never-ending problem.'

Emma told Femail she found the reaction to her products 'overwhelming and sad.'

She said: 'It's all a big misunderstanding because of the picture, I believe getting a tan is not the issue, it's bigger than that.

'I believe in equality, doesn't matter of shapes or skin. I also believe that it doesn't matter where you come from there's always going to be people getting bullied or criticised for being "different" but I personally am having a hard time seeing why I'm a racist because I tan, though people might see it that way.
Joan Bakewell, I'm sure, didn't mean to offend when she attributed the rise of anorexia to an 'obsession with being beautiful, healthy and thin'.

She was just trying to point out that it is, for the most part, a First World problem, and that in places where there is not enough food  Syrian refugee camps, as she put it  eating disorders don't exist.

Anorexia, she said, 'was called hunger when we were young. You sat and ate until your plate was clean. I sat at my mum's table and my mum said: 'You are not leaving this table until you have finished.' '

Dame Joan Bakewell said anorexia 'was called hunger when we were young' causing a controversy

It's a widely held view  and a perfectly sensible one. But this is 2016, not 1946, and the world is a very different place. I don't think anyone who doesn't have school-age children can have any real concept of the kind of pressures that today's youngsters face.

They're not physical pressures  a wanting for food or clothes. They're psychological.

The response to Baroness Bakewell's comments offer a glimpse of the problem. She was swept away on a tide of online indignation, her comments blown out of all proportion and the lady herself viciously condemned.

Shaken by the vitriol, she withdrew from social media.

For those growing up in the age of the smartphone, however, such a thing is virtually impossible. Mobiles, tablets, social media and text messages are an integral part of our children's existence.

Primary school pupils do their maths homework online; parents rely on phones to track their child's progress home from school.

Even the most Luddite among us must recognise that, unless we want our child to be at a serious disadvantage, academically and socially, we have to embrace modern technology.

But what few understand is that such a fundamental social change comes with a huge psychological cost. We're living through a cultural revolution every bit as seismic as that of the Sixties and Seventies.

We're living through a cultural revolution every bit as seismic as that of the Sixties and Seventies

The moment a child gets hold of their first smartphone  around the age of ten, but in some cases as young as eight  is the moment they cease to live in a child's world.

Technology is killing childhood  with terrifying speed.

Long before their psyches are anywhere near mature enough to cope, young people are being subjected to the kind of material that would reduce the most level-headed adult to a gibbering wreck.

It's not just the obvious stuff, such as online porn and violence, horrible as they are. Much of the really distressing abuse originates closer to home, from within their own peer groups.

It's everything from being 'unfriended' on Facebook  it sounds trivial, but to them it's a public slap in the face  to savagely cruel attacks on social media. It's being told you're ugly, you're fat, your boobs aren't big enough, that everyone in school hates you.

It's every classroom feud, every playground row, amplified, shared with your friends and then beamed via the internet directly into what ought to be a child's place of love and safety: their home.

There is no place of refuge, no quiet haven, no escaping the nastiness. It lives with them at all times  in their pocket or schoolbag.

I don't believe anorexia is driven by vanity. The weight loss is a symptom  the result of a deep-seated self-loathing that finds expression in self-starvation. A slow but deliberate suicide attempt.

Anorexia is on the rise because anxiety is on the rise. And that is because the adult world, via our whizz-bang technology, is casting an ever darker shadow over the sunny uplands of childhood.

Some call it progress. I call it the end of innocence.

To help their daughters or sons who are new parents, Santander is set to offer grandparent leave. What a brilliant idea. Its far more useful to have granny around than someone who requires an ovation if he so much as puts a plate in the dishwasher.

How has Angela Merkel gone from being the Iron Chancellor to a woman who, thanks to her bonkers immigration policies, has succeeded in re-awakening the long dormant German Right? The answer is simple: she was the latest proponent of virtue signalling, which means showing off how compassionate you are. She was so busy asking Does my policy look PC in this? that she forgot to engage her brain.

CHRIS'S JIMJAMS SAY IT ALL! Chris Evans leaving BBC Radio 2 after apologising on air for the Top Gear Cenotaph stunt Its not the sight of Chris Evans in his pyjamas per se thats worrying; its the fact that theyre Christmas Snoopy pjs. Even in the privacy of the bedroom, such a garment should not be seen on anyone over the age of 19. The fact he sees fit to wear them to work proves that, despite being one of the highest paid broadcasters in the country, the man is still essentially a child. Which in turn explains why the BBC chose him as a successor to Jeremy Clarkson. Advertisement

Half of new mothers lie about sleeping with their babies, according to a study, because official advice discourages the practice.

I always slept with mine. Theres simply nothing nicer than snuggling up next to a baby.

All my friends thought that I was mad. They would lecture me about how it would alienate my husband and breed clingy children. But I never listened.

The result is that at least once a week we have a hulking 11 or 12-year-old in bed with us  and sometimes both. Not to mention the dogs.

Getting any sleep at all is a fraught business, especially since my son insists on bringing his extensive array of soft toys.

One day, I tell myself, Ill put my foot down. But that day has yet to come.

So new mothers, beware: todays toddler will be tomorrows tween. Give em an inch and theyll take the entire mattress.

PROOF MADGE IS MAD The old Madge would never have allowed her thighs to be photographed dangling over the top of her striped stockings For weeks, rumours have been circulating about Madonna losing the plot  and heres the proof. The old Madge would never have allowed her thighs to be photographed dangling over the top of her striped stockings in such an unflattering manner. Advertisement

I doubt that when Victorian philanthropist and Quaker George Cadbury established the Bournville Village Trust in 1900 to provide affordable housing for workers, he had in mind individuals such as Marie Buchan.

The former lap-dancer receives 20,000 a year in benefits to provide for herself and her eight children. Buchan, in court for running up 4,000 in rent arrears on her four- bedroom Trust property, claims she had such a large brood because as I started having more children my benefits money went up  which made it easier to have a good lifestyle.

Thats two chocolate fingers to Mr Cadbury  and to us taxpayers.

THRUSTING AMBITION Tom Hiddleston performed a sex scene with Jed Marshal in BBC's The Night Manager Until The Night Manager on Sunday evening, I would never have described Tom Hiddleston as a thrusting young star. More of a gentle thespian, rather keen on his poetry and theatre roles. But after THAT performance, Id say hes destined to thrust his way right to the very top. It certainly shook me out of my Antiques Roadshow-induced torpor. Advertisement

Like most women, I fight a daily battle with dust. So its nice to know that even Gwyneth Paltrow has dust issues.

Though, being Gwynnie, hers is no ordinary dust. Hers is special Sex Dust.

The Glowing One says you can add it to your smoothie for an aphrodisiacal boost.

Im not sure the contents of my dustpan would have the same effect. But then again, Im not flogging it for $60 (42) a pot.
The citizens of Bhutan have jointed together to plant 108,000 trees across the Himalayan nation to honor the beloved king and queen's new baby boy.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, 36, and Queen Jetsun Pema, 25, who are wildly popular in the nation of 800,000, announced the birth of their first child on February 5. The prince will officially be named on April 16, when he is two months old.

Last week, Prime Minister Tschering Tobgay joined tens of thousands of volunteers in planting the trees in celebration of the newest member of the royal family.

Wonderful news: King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema welcomed their first child into the world on February 5

Celebration: The citizens of Bhutan planted 108,000 trees across the Himalayan nation last week to honor the royal baby. Bhutanese people are pictured planting saplings in Thimpu, Bhutan on Sunday, March 6

Cultural beliefs: In Buddhism, trees planted in his honor are symbols of longevity, health, beauty and compassion

In Buddhism, trees are symbols of longevity, health, beauty and compassion. The number of saplings was also symbolic, as Buddhists believe each person is required to overcome 108 defilements in order to achieve enlightenment.

'The trees will serve as a constant reminder to all of us about the importance of the Wangchuck Dynasty,' said Tenzin Lekphell, the head of a private company that organized the tree planting.

The species of trees planted range from teak to oak, and dogwood to pine, depending on the altitude at which they were planted, Lekphell said.

Bhutan prizes environmental initiatives highly, enshrining conservation in a constitution that also declares that 60 percent of the country must always be under forest cover.

Added meaning: The number of saplings was also symbolic, as Buddhists believe each person is required to overcome 108 defilements in order to achieve enlightenment

Special occasion: The prince will officially be named on April 16, when he is two months old. His name will be announced on Zhabdrug Kuchoe, the anniversary of the death of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel

Proud parents: Four days after his birth, the royal couple released the first photos of the heir to the thrown

'Tree planting is a part of Bhutanese culture. His Majesty the King also loves planting. He, too, may have planted saplings inside the palace complex,' said palace secretariat official Kunzang Wangdi.

Citizens in Bhutan are anxious to ensure the survival of groves of trees, and many people in the Buddhist country stop during daily walks or drives to water some of the 108,000 saplings placed on hillsides and in valleys.

In Buddhism, trees are considered divine for their role in providing and nourishing all life forms.

'We are now nurturing the plants as if we are nurturing the little prince,' said Dasho Karma Raydi, who is among those helping to care for the new trees. 'We are committed to take care of the plants because so much emotion is attached to this unique way of celebrating the new arrival.'

Famous faces: Tens of thousands of people volunteered in planting the trees in celebration, including Prime Minister Tschering Tobgay

Family photo: King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck is pictured with his wife and his father, his Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck

Wonderful times: The prince was delivered safely at the Lingkana Palace, Thimphu last month.

Next generation: The king and queen look on as their son his held by the royal grandmother

Blessed event: Kezang Dorji (left) traveled all the way from Merak, a settlement in far east Bhutan, to offer his wishes for the newborn prince

Raydi, who heads a government-run company, had driven his car to a small hill near a huge Buddha statue on the outskirts of the capital, Thimphu, to water a pine he had planted last week. He said he saw dozens of others doing the same.

Next month, the newborn's name will be announced on Zhabdrug Kuchoe, the anniversary of the death of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the Bhutanese leader.

Although name of the heir to the thrown is unknown, the royal couple released a statement expressing their delight over becoming parents for the first time.

'Our happiness knows no bounds, as we announce the Royal Birth of His Royal Highness The Gyalsey on 5 Februrary 2016. Our Prince, the first Royal Child of his Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Her Majesty Queen Jetsun Pema, was delivered safely at the Lingkana Palace, Thimphu.

Parents-to-be: King Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema are pictured at Paro Ugyen Pelri Palace in Bhutan in January. The royal couple announced that they were expecting a child in November 2015

'I do': King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck married and crowned Jetsun Pema, the commoner daughter of an airline pilot, at the Punakha Dzong in Punakha, Bhutan on October 13, 2011 in a Buddhist ceremony

Look of love: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck kisses the Queen Jetsun Pema during a ceremony at the main stadium in Thimphu in Bhutan on October 15, 2011

'His Majesty was at Her Majestys side during the time of the delivery. Following the Royal Birth, His Royal Highness was first presented to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo.'

Four days after their son was born, the king and queen released the first photos of their little boy, who is swaddled in a golden-yellow blanket.

The heartwarming pictures, which see the proud parents holding their son as they look at him with love, were posted on the king's Facebook page on February 9.

'Bhutanese families spent a wonderful Losar today, celebrating the day with family and loved ones. To make the day even more special, we have the honor of bringing to you the very first official photograph of His Royal Highness The Gyalsey,' reads the caption of the first family photo.

'In this delightful Losar Kupar from Lingkana Palace, His Royal Highness The Gyalsey is surrounded by His Majesty The King, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, and Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen.'
BBC police drama Happy Valley reached a thrilling climax last night - but some fans of the West Yorkshire police show say that the episode wasn't quite as brutal as they expected it to be.

As writer Sally Wainwright's plot, which focused on a prostitute-murdering serial killer and one detective with a very dark secret - reached its crescendo, viewers were treated to an hour of television that included suicide, a stand-off with a stalker and even a late revelation about incest.

Similarly to series one, Sergeant Catherine Cawood, played by Sarah Lancashire, emerged as the heroine of the hour and managed to spot what her dithering police detective colleagues had missed - a murderer in the midst of the Sowerby Bridge police department.

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Anything but happy! An exhausted Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) tied up plotlines in dramatic style last night...but failed to talk down Detective John Wadsworth from a bridge

Much of the drama centred around Detective John Wadsworth (Kevin Doyle) finally being exposed as the killer of Vicky Fleming (Amelia Bullmore), his former lover.

While his colleagues had missed the clues, Lancashire's Cawood, with a little bit of help from her sister's boyfriend Neil (Con O'Neil), managed to stitch together the pieces and uncover Wadsworth before a suspense-filled chase down a railway ensued.

However, viewers said they were disappointed that a sub-plot that had promised a violent conclusion and involved psychopath Tommy Lee Royce's spellbound girlfriend Frances Drummond (Shirley Henderson) enacting revenge on his nemesis Sgt Cawood failed to materialise.

Instead, misguided Scottish pharmacist Drummond merely receded when told that she was in fact among a string of women that Tommy Lee Royce had wooed from behind bars. Back to Scotland, one assumes.

After the show's end, which saw a pensive Catherine watching her grandson Ryan running across the Dales, plenty of people took to Twitter to say say they didn't quite feel the show had lived up to expectations.

'What would you do in this situation?' Detective John Wadsworth (Kevin Doyle), facing arrest for murder, shared how he had 'talked 17 people down'...but in this case, he wasn't going to take his own advice

Tension: It looked as if Cawood might persuade Wadsworth to retreat from the bridge...

Sarah Lancashire has won huge plaudits for her role as maverick police sergeant Catherine Cawood

Exhausted: After chasing Wadsworth down the railway line and failing to persuade him to come down from the railway bridge, Cawood slumps against a wall before being attended to by an ambulance man

Frances Drummond (Shirley Henderson) was revealed to be a Scottish pharmacist who'd stolen her sister's identity to get close to Tommy Lee Royce's young son Ryan...but fans said they thought the fraudster might make a more dramatic exit than she did

@mollgrohl wrote: 'Happy Valley was really good but I'm a bit disappointed that there wasn't a twist... All was as it seemed.. #HappyValley'

@M4rtyFunkhouser added: 'Expected a bit more craziness from Frances.' 

@TheShowOff85 added: 'Was I the only one slightly disappointed by the ending?' and @Daisydoos_News asked: 'Anyone else disappointed with the finale?

Many loved the acting, particularly from Lancashire, but felt like the show had promised more after a dramatic penultimate episode. 

@Mazz_x said: 'Sarah Lancashire was amazing as per usual but think I'm the only person disappointed with that finale #HappyValley'

Yesterday, Happy Valley obsessives had been posting on Twitter about how they'd scrubbed any plans from their diaries in favour of tuning into the BAFTA award-winning drama.

And for the most part, the reaction on Twitter was positive, with the show trending after its conclusion on BBC1 at 10pm.

The good news for those already mourning the end of this series is that the BBC is widely tipped to announce a third series to be filmed later this year.

HOW THE NATION FELL FOR SALLY WAINWRIGHT'S FAULTLESS SCRIPT Will they spot the sheep in wolf's clothing: Andy Shepherd (Vincent Franklin), left, and Jodie Shackleton (Katherine Kelly), right, have yet to discover Detective John Wadsworth's guilt (Kevin Doyle) The second series of the drama, which follows the trials and tribulations of Sergeant Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) in the West Yorkshire community of Sowerby Bridge has been as brutal - physically and emotionally - as the first with terminal illness, trafficking, alcohol abuse and rape and murder all par for the course. Add in a dash of northern wit, plenty of cups of tea and you're somewhere near. The current murder count for the show is seven with just one edge-of-the-sofa episode left and although the BBC has faced continuous complaints about the sound quality, there has been nothing but praise for Wainwright's watertight plot. Sean Balmford (Matthew Lewis) was charged with the murders...before another body was found A star cast has helped with Sarah Lancashire and James Norton leading a flurry of familiar faces from British television including Shirley Henderson, Kevin Doyle and Matthew Lewis. Norton - fresh from War and Peace and Grantchester - has reprised his role as the fearsome Tommy Lee Royce, who has spent the entire series casting a spell over madly-in-love Frances Drummond (Shirley Henderson). There have been technical glitches though; the BBC has had to respond to ongoing sound issues saying it has 'worked very hard to ensure everything was audible while keeping the sense of reality and the rawness of the performances'. A blinking corpse in episode three also didn't add ease the BBC's production woes. Advertisement

The penultimate episode of Sally Wainwright's drama last week left viewers reeling after a particularly gruesome final scene which saw a mother shoot her murder-suspect son dead.

Last night's finale opened with Alison Garrs (Susan Lynch) being rescued from a very nearly successful suicide attempt after shooting her son Daryl (Robert Emms), who'd earlier confessed to 'doing bad things' to prostitutes.

She letter revealed to Sgt Cawood in a tender hospital bedside scene that Daryl had actually been her son by her late father, something which seemed to resonate with Cawood, who is bringing up Tommy Lee Royce's son, her grandson Ryan.

The second series of the drama, which follows the trials and tribulations of Sergeant Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) in the West Yorkshire community of Sowerby Bridge has been as brutal - physically and emotionally - as the first with terminal illness, trafficking, alcohol abuse and rape and murder all par for the course.

Add in a dash of northern wit, plenty of cups of tea and you're somewhere near.

For those who have been bypassed by the Happy Valley train, there's the chance to catch up on Netflix; the video-streaming service has confirmed that it will screen the second series in its entirety.
She's known to be fond of a trouser suit, perhaps because of her former career as a newsreader, and Queen Letizia showed off penchant for business-like chic as she stepped out in Puerto Rico.

The Spanish monarch is visiting the Caribbean island along with King Felipe for the Seventh Spanish Language International Congress.

Letizia teamed her pale grey suit jacket and matching tapered trousers with matching peep toe heels and a clutch

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King Felipe and Queen Letizia are visiting Puerto Rico with King Felipe for the Seventh Spanish Language International Congress. They also stopped off at La Fortaleza Governor's Mansion and El Morro and San Juan Museum yesterday

The Queen, 43, showed off penchant for business-like chic in pale grey suit jacket and matching tapered trousers

She looked to be taking style notes from the Duchess of Cambridge who also stepped out in head to toe shades of grey for the Commonwealth Day service in London earlier this week.

However the Spanish Queen added a splash of contrasting colour with a black and white patterned blouse.

The royal couple were seen visiting La Fortaleza Governor's Mansion and El Morro and San Juan Museum on in San Juan.

Accompanied by PR Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla and first lady Wilma Pastrana, they were given a personal tour of the 'Quijotes por el Mundo' exhibition by curator Jose Manuel Lucia.

King Felipe greets the Wilma Pastrana, wife of the governor of Puerto Rico, at La Fortaleza Governor's Mansion

The king placed a protective hand on his wife's back as they made their way to the San Juan Museum

The Spanish Queen added a splash of contrasting colour with a black and white patterned blouse

They also helped launch the week long conference organised by the Royal Spanish Academy. The organisation meets every three years and regulates a language spoken by nearly 500 million people.

More than 200 writers, academics and experts traveled to the US territory to talk about new challenges that the Spanish language faces.

The academy most recently debated whether to accept the word "selfie" and is pushing to create a dictionary for digital natives.

Their visit is the couple's first international trip of the year and no doubt provided a welcome distraction from troubles that have been unfolding at home.

The couple are shown the way by an official as they visit La Fortaleza Governor's Mansion

Queen Letizia has recently been drawn into a financial scandal after leaked texts revealed she pledged support for a banker friend accused of misusing funds

Queen Letizia has recently been drawn into a financial scandal after leaked texts revealed she pledged support for a banker friend accused of misusing funds.

The monarch reportedly sent the messages in October 2014 to Javier Lopez Madrid, a longtime friend of King Felipe VI and former Bankia bank board member.

The prominent business executive is caught up in a scandal involving alleged corporate credit card abuse and Spain's El Mundo newspaper has called on the Queen to explain the text exchange.

Letizia was ultra co-ordinated, wearing grey peep toe heels and carrying a clutch bag in a complementary shade

Jose Manuel Lucia, curator of the 'Quijotes por el Mundo' exhibition by the Cervantes Institute, guides King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia and Mayor of San Juan Carmen Yulin Cruz (left) during a tour of the Museum of San Juan

The overseas visit no doubt provided the royals with a welcome distraction from the troubles they have been facing at home

Letizia used an expletive to describe to Lopez Madrid the section of El Mundo that printed a story about him and the credit card scandal, adding 'we know each other, like each other, respect each other.'

Lopez Madrid, one of dozens of former bank executives and board members being investigated for the credit card purchases, thanked Letizia.

He wrote: 'I'll make every effort to be careful in the future, we live in a very difficult country and I will be even more conscious about my conduct.'

Felipe then joined in the text conversation and said he wanted to have lunch with Lopez Madrid soon.

Spain's royal palace does not dispute the validity of the text messages, said an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of palace rules.

Felipe has broken all ties with Lopez Madrid, the official said, declining further comment.
The Prince of Wales and Camilla enjoyed another sunny day in Western Europe today as they continued their five-day tour of the Balkans - landing in Serbia in bright sunshine this morning.

The Duchess of Cornwall, 68, wearing a grey and black Bruce Oldfield coat and a wide-brimmed black hat with a fur trim took care not to trip as she descended the private jet's steps at Belgrade Airport.

On day three of their royal tour of Western Europe, the couple began the day by attending a memorial ceremony at the Belgrade New Cemetery.

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Wearing a wide-brimmed black hat with fur trim, black suede knee-high boots and a black and grey Bruce Oldfield coat, Camilla paid her respects at the Memorial Crypt of the Belgrade Defenders after touching down in Belgrade today

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic offers a welcome handshake to Prince Charles as Camilla follows behind

How do you get braids like that? Charles meets a trio of youngsters - one brandishing a bouquet for Camilla - after arriving at Belgrade airport

Camilla finished off her stylish look with pearl earrings, a leopard-print scarf and the black suede knee-high boots that have been a common feature on this trip.

In a nod to his own military career, Charles wore an RAF tie, veterans badge and even donned the shoes that were given to him when he joined up as a young man in 1971.

Charles, 67, and the Duchess of Cambridge were greeted by Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic of the memorial ceremony which saw them lay wreaths at the Memorial Crypt of the Belgrade Defenders.

After touching down at the airport, the couple stopped to chat with local children dressed in traditional Serbian outfits and were led to the ceremony by at British Military band. The royal couple listened as the band played out both countries' national anthems.

A salute for Serbia: Charles, 67, offers a cheery wave from the back of the royal car

Wearing his RAF tie, Charles walks past a parade of military officers from the Serbian army

Afterwards, Charles and Camilla visited the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, where the dead include escaped prisoners of war from Italy and Greece.

The sombre respect is a far cry from how the couple spent yesterday, enjoying sampling local wine at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival in Trvda, Osijek.

The royal couple visit the town to learn about the town and see stalls selling local produce for which the area is famed.

Osijek and Slavonia are recognised for their farming produce, with an increasing focus on organic food.

Camilla, 68, looked elegant in an embellished cream coat and fur trimmed hat - however she could not compete with the locals who turned out in full traditional costume to welcome their honoured guests.

Charles shares a joke with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic

Deep in conversation: Charles and the Serbian Prime Minister talk while a bouquet-carrying Camilla looks on

Badges of honour: Charles sported military medals for the ceremony including an RAF veterans badge

Following the festival Charles and Camilla are due to visit an archaeological museum, where Charles will attend an interfaith dialogue meeting, and the Osijek Software City workshop.

Camilla, who supports many women's charities, also spent some time learning about how sexual violence was used as a weapon of war.

The couple began their tour in Zagreb, where the Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic offered them a whistlestop tour of the country.

Charles and Camilla enjoyed a visit to the Croatian National Theatre following an official ceremonial welcome and a tour of the President's Palace.

The pair are also bound for Kosovo and Montenegro with their trip ending on March 19.

Charles stands solemnly at a ceremony at the Memorial Crypt of the Belgrade Defenders

The royal couple are using their trip to highlight causes close to their hearts. Yesterday Camilla addressed the issue of sexual violence while in Crotia

Military parade: Charles and Camilla follow the wreath before laying at the Memorial Crypt of the Belgrade Defenders

Now it's time for the President! Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and his wife Dragica pose for images with the royals
The royal family's most devoted equestriennes, Princess Anne and daughter Zara, glammed up to join the throng for Ladies Day at Cheltenham.

The pair watched the action from their private balcony where they were joined by Zara's long-term friend Dolly Maude, who was also her maid of honour at her wedding.

Horse-loving Zara, 34, was also spotted at the festival on Tuesday, and she scored high in the fashion stakes for a second time today in a cosy zip-up blue asymmetric coat and feathered hat from Rosie Olivia Millinery.

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Despite arriving separately, the pair were later spotted sharing a joke in their private box while they watched Yorkhill race to victory in the Novices Hurdle Race alongside Zara's close friend Dolly Maude

Princess Anne greets her daughter Zara Phillips on Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival yesterday

Zara, 34, was all smiles as she arrived for Ladies Day at the Cheltenham Festival with a female companion

Princess Anne shares a joke with a friend as she arrives at Cheltenham Festival, where prizes will total 4.1m

The mother and daughter duo were joined by Zara's long-term friend and maid of honour Dolly Maude, left

She paired the coat with a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses, black heels and a white clutch.

The royal wore her signature blonde locks swept back into a bun and added a pair of gold hoop earrings.

Her mother, meanwhile, sported a tweed lilac coat with flared sleeves and oversized buttons as she entered the venue with two companions.

The pair arrived separately before meeting up in a private enclosure where they watched the action unfold.

The pair were seen cheering enthusiastically as they watched Yorkhill race to victory in the Novices Hurdle Race alongside Zara's long-term friend and maid of honour Dolly Maude, left

Avid racing fan Princess Anne appeared tense as she watched the action through a pair of binoculars

They were seen cheering enthusiastically as they watched Yorkhill race to victory in the Novices Hurdle Race alongside Dolly and friends.

Dolly wore a powder blue leather biker jacket with an A-line floral skirt.

Later on, the trio were taken behind the scenes to visit the horses.

Zara shares a joke with fellow race goers as they enjoy a drink in their private hospitality box

The trio were seen chatting in a private balcony as they watched the first race of the day at Cheltenham

Zara's husband Mike was nowhere to be seen, despite previously making several appearances at Cheltenham

Tense: The group watch Yorkhill race to victory in the Novices Hurdle Race, the first fixture of the day

Dolly Maude, centre, and Zara Phillips, right, cheer as they watch the action from their private balcony

Zara's husband Mike Tindall, 37, was nowhere to be seen in the hospitality box, despite arriving at Cheltenham alongside his wife of five years.

They joined thousands of fellow race goers flocking to the Gloucestershire hills to eat, drink and bet as they watch some of the best horses in training fight it out for some monster prize money.

This year the stakes were higher than ever, with prize money from the four-day festival totalling a record 4.1 million.

The trio were later taken behind the scenes to visit some of the horses after watching the Novices Hurdle

The royal family's most devoted equestriennes, Princess Anne and daughter Zara, were joined by friend Dolly

Today kicked off with the Novices Hurdle Race at 1.30pm, followed by the Steeple Chase.

But the highlight will be the much-anticipated Queen Mother Champion Chase, which was won last year by Dodging Bullets, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by jocket Sam Twiston-Davies.

There are seven races in total today, with the final race kicking off at 5.30pm. With tickets costing between 40 and 85, racegoers wanting a little more luxury can pay up to 6,800 for a hi-lux chalet box.

The Royal wrapped against the March chill with a cosy zip-up blue asymmetric coat and feathered hat

Mike Tindall, 37, was nowhere to be seen in the hospitality box, despite arriving at Cheltenham alongside Zara

Zara wore her signature blonde locks swept back into a bun and added a pair of gold hoop earrings

Zara, who rode at the 2012 London Olympic Games, was yesterday seen arriving with a group of friends and was later spotted enjoying a drink with friends and later chatted to race horse owner Trevor Hemmings in a private enclosure.

Last November, Princess Anne opened a new grandstand at Cheltenham Racecourse as part of a new 45 million redevelopment - flanked by Zara and husband Mike Tindall, 37.

Anne is known for her love of horses and last year attacked the suffering of horses being transported to slaughter houses.

In a foreword of a book released in May, the Princess Royal said the 'inhumane' transportation of horses is the 'greatest suffering' the animals can face.

Last year, Princess Anne helped open a new grandstand at Cheltenham Racecourse

The Royal paired her lilac jacket with a flared purple skirt, suede boots and a leather handbag and gloves

The royal, the sister of Prince Charles, is the president of the World Horse Welfare organisation and previously sparked controversy when she said horse welfare could be improved if horse meat was sold in British supermarkets.

In the book Horse Welfare: Use not Abuse, written by Christopher Hall, she said the care of horses is getting worse because of 'over-breeding, doping and indiscriminate horse trading'.

She said: 'The greatest suffering continues to be in the inhumane transportation of horses across country borders to slaughter houses, matched only by the thousands of horses, donkeys and mules working long hours in the developing world.'

The Royal is the president of the World Horse Welfare organisation and previously sparked controversy when she said horse welfare could be improved if horse meat was sold openly in British supermarkets

'In these countries, the wellbeing of the horse may be just as significant as that of a child because, without a horse to fetch and carry, the very viability of family life can suffer.

'And yet it is still difficult for some to recognise the value of working animals in these situations.
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Extraordinary wedding photographs from an Ultra Orthodox Jewish wedding in Israel yesterday offer a fascinating insight into the more traditional elements of the ceremony.

The wedding, between the grandson of the Rabbi of the Tzanz Hasidic dynasty and the granddaughter of the religious leader of the Toldos Avraham Yitzchak Hasidic dynasty, in the central Israeli city of Netanya involved a guest list of thousands, with people lining the streets to welcome the bride.

Inside, a floor-to-ceiling gauze curtain separated men from women and male well-wishers dressed all in black wore the traditional shtreimel hats.

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Dance for me: The veiled bride arrived in the men's section of the wedding as the male well-wishers, wearing their traditional shtreimel hats, danced to fulfil the Mitzvah tantz part of the wedding, where men and honoured rabbis are invited to dance for the bride

Spectacle: The men begin the elaborate dance while the bride looks on from behind her full-face veil

The roomy venue was packed for the wedding of the grandson of the famous Rabbi, which took place today, and saw many from the Tzanz Hasidic dynasty community attending.

The bride was completely covered in a decadent lace and pearl embroidered dress, which included a full-face veil, to enter the men's section of the hall where a key element of the traditional wedding was carried out.

As other women watched from behind the gauze curtain, the bride took part in the Mitvah tantz ritual - where members of the family and honoured rabbis danced in front of her and then with the groom.

Using gartels - a traditional Jewish belt - to form a link back to the bride, the men danced while hundreds of onlookers watched from the tiered seating.

A rabbi tied around the chest with a black gartel - belt - performs as part of the Mitzvah tantz. The bride holds the gartel while the groom, dressed in a blue robe

The rabbis and the groom dance to fulfil the Mitzvah tantz part of the ceremony as onlookers snap pictures of the wedding

The bride holds a gartel while family members dance and the grandson of the Rabbi of the Tzanz Hasidic dynasty wore a tile-print robe

Separated: Men and boys, including one on his mobile phone, look on as the dancing takes place. Behind the bride women watch, with many sat behind a thin veil

A closer look at the remarkable beading and pearls and lace on her veil and dress, left, as the bride sits during the ceremony, right

Before the veil goes on, the Jewish bride arrives in a simple horse-drawn carriage with members of her family

With the Netanya skyline in the background, Jewish children parade alongside the bride in her horse and carriage

The bride arrives for the ceremony in a white carriage with a plum interior and is helped from the carriage in her dress

Smile! The bride is escorted into the venue by friends and family who try to keep the train of her dress from dragging on the floor

The family of the bride, dressed in their wedding finery, guide her into the venue before the rain began to pour on the city

The wedding venue was so full that some guests were forced to use binoculars just to catch a closer glimpse of the bride and groom as they were married.

Members of the congregation held hands and danced during the ceremony and sweets were handed out to children before the wedding party enjoyed a traditional meal.

The Vizhnitz sect was formed by Menachem Mendel Hager of Kosov in the 1800s in Vyzhnytsia, Bukovina, Austria-Hungary - now the Ukraine.

Vizhnitz is one of several major Hasidic sects, with others including Breslov, Lubavitch (Chabad), Satmar, Boston and Spinka.

The different communities can usually be identified by their particular clothing, such as their hats or socks.

Before the veil goes on, the Jewish bride arrives in a simple carriage with members of her family. After arriving at the venue, she sits, wearing an elaborate silk and lace wedding dress in a cream chair. The female wedding guests, mostly wearing dark colours, gather behind her.

Many of the guests sit outside, with the male guests protecting their shtreimels with plastic coverings in case of any rain clouds above Netanya. Such is the sheer amount of people in attendance that many of the guests need binoculars to see the happy couple close up.

Guests share a joke as the bride closes her eyes in prayer, her dress spread out around her

The bride wore a tiara under the intricate veil and a string of pearls over her high-necked pearl-encrusted dress

A thin gauze curtain separates the male guests from the female guests at the large wedding

Captivated: The guests watch, fascinated by the dancing as the bride looks on

The bride takes part in the 'mitzva tantz', the custom in which relatives dance in front of the bride after her wedding ceremony

The Jewish men attend the wedding in traditional shtreimel hats as they watch the proceedings

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man uses binoculars during the wedding to catch a glimpse of the bride

Rainclouds gather...but these young Orthodox Jews are well prepared, covering their hats with plastic bags

Ultra-Orthodox Jews - wearing plastic coatings on their hats - gather in the men's section during the wedding

Reading prayer books, some of the guests find a higher platform to attain a better view
Prince Harry has spoken of his determination to help rebuild Nepal after last years devastating earthquake.

The 31-year-old was speaking ahead of his first official trip to the country this weekend which he hopes will 'shine a spotlight' on the issues that still need addressing.

The royal; said: Everyone is aware of it when it happens, the media is on it, theres a huge amount of interest and then before we know it everyone is onto the next thing.

Prince Harry has spoken ahead of his first official trip to Nepal this weekend. He is determined to help the country in its attempts to rebuild after last years devastating earthquake

Prince Harry speaks with MapAction volunteers Hamish Pritchard and Wai-Ming Lee during a briefing by MapAction to learn more about the charity's response to the recent Nepal earthquakes

'Hopefully by doing this trip it will shine a spotlight back onto the issue and people will realise there is still a hell of a lot that needs to be done.

The fifth in line to the throne was speaking as he attended a briefing by MapAction - which uses skilled mapping professionals, almost all volunteers - to help co-ordinate the emergency response in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

Harry has been royal patron of the charity, which has undertaken 59 emergency missions across the globe so far, since 2007.

During the meeting at Kensington Palace this morning he was briefed by glaciologist Hamish Pritchard, a volunteer with the charity, who happened to be working in Nepal for the British Antarctic Survey when disaster struck on April 25.

He described walking through the streets of the capital Kathmandu and seeing the devastation first-hand, just minutes after it happened.

This enabled him to start collating information for his Map Action colleagues who jumped on the first flight out there.

I cant begin to imagine what that would have been like, especially in a place like that, Harry said.

The earthquake, which had long been anticipated, claimed more than 8,000 lives. A further 21,000 were injured and hundreds of thousands of people left homeless.

It was the worst natural disaster to strike Nepal since the 1934 and also resulted in the destruction of dozens of centuries-old buildings, particularly in the Kathmandu Valley.

During the meeting at Kensington Palace this morning he was briefed by glaciologist Hamish Pritchard, centre, a volunteer with the charity who happened to be working in Nepal for the British Antarctic Survey when disaster struck on April 25, pictured with volunteer Kirsty Ferns

Prince Harry speaks with MapAction volunteers Kirsty Ferns, Hamish Pritchard, MapAction Chief Executive Liz Hughes and volunteer Wai-Ming Lee

The earthquake also triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest, killing 21, and making April 25 2015 the deadliest day on the mountain in history.

Harry, dressed casually in chinos, desert boots and an open-necked shirt, appeared to have been well briefed by the charities who are helping to facilitate his forthcoming trip.

The charities say that there is no good time to rebuild after something like this. The rains comes and everything gets washed away, he said.

He also appeared impressed at the detailed amounts of data that MapAction were able to pull together so quickly in the aftermath of the disaster, spread out in front of him on the table.

None of these obviously existed before Map Action got out there? So wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you drop everything and get out there? he said.

I hear there was no damage to the airport which people say was a miracle.

He added: The impression I get is that it is organised chaos in the aftermath of a disaster and then a massive lull before the kicking into gear of the next phase, which is understandable.

Harry, dressed casually in chinos, desert boots and an open-necked shirt, appeared to have been well briefed by the charities who are helping to facilitate his forthcoming trip

Prince Harry listened intently as the volunteers explained the circumstances in Nepal following last year's devastating earthquake

Turning to the MapAction team he said: Thanks to you guys for all you have done and the more people that can find out and use MapAction to its full potential the better. 

Harry will visit Nepal for the first time on behalf of the British Government between Saturday March 19 and Wednesday March 23.

The visit will support British interests in the region and highlight the broad and deep relationship between the UK and Nepal. This year is the bicentenary of bilateral relations between the two countries.

The prince has asked to meet as many Nepali people as possible.

An aide said: He has a huge amount of admiration for the resilience of the people of the country, particularly in response to the earthquakes last year. During the visit he will learn how the country has been recovering over the last 11 months.

Harry will also be introduced to the home of the Brigade of Gurkhas, saluting the extraordinary bravery and commitment that Gurkhas have shown in the last 200 years.

This will be a particularly important moment for him, having such a huge amount of respect for Gurkha soldiers, and having known members of the Gurkhas who have sadly been injured in recent conflicts, a spokesman said.

Harry speaks with MapAction volunteer Wai-Ming Lee. His first full day of engagements in Kathmandu will focus on the devastation left by the earthquake, particularly to the citys ancient temples and monuments

His visit will also take in meetings with the Nepali Prime Minister, K. P. Oli, and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa and Nepals first female President, Bidya Devi Bhandari, Nepal's, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Presidential Palace in Kathmandu.

His first full day of engagements will be in Kathmandu and will focus on the devastation left by the earthquake, particularly to the citys ancient temples and monuments.

The prince will then travel on to Bhaktapur, about 45 minutes' drive from Kathmandu, where he will visit a pre-positioning site for emergency supplies.

The facility, which is run by the Nepal Red Cross with funding from DFID, provided assistance to 800 households during the initial 24 hours after the April 2015 earthquake.

The supplies, which have since been replenished, include emergency shelter kits, water and sanitation equipment, and household items.

From the site, Prince Harry will then travel on to visit a temporary camp for families displaced by the 2015 earthquakes. The site currently houses around 250 people, a quarter of whom are children, and Harry will have an opportunity to hear for himself about their experiences.

He will then travel on to experience the beauty of the Bardia National Park which, together with neighbouring Banke National Park, forms the largest tiger conservation area in Asia.

The prince will then travel on to Bhaktapur, about 45 minutes' drive from Kathmandu, where he will visit a pre-positioning site for emergency supplies

At around 1000 sq km of forest and grassland, Bardia is also home to wild elephants, rhinos, crocodiles and more than 250 species of bird.

Efforts to reduce poaching in the Park have employed smart-phone technology, which allows real-time patrol data to be transmitted to a control room.

During his visit, Prince Harry will have an opportunity to experience rafting on the Khauraha River and view tiger camera traps in the jungle.

PRINCE HARRY MOVED BY NEPAL An aide said: Prince Harry is greatly looking forward to getting to know the Nepali culture and people. 'He was moved last year by what happened to the country following the two deadly earthquakes. 'But he is also conscious that, almost a year on from the first disaster, Nepal is once again very much open for business and keen to welcome back visitors.' Advertisement

He will also visit Dalla, a local community which is benefitting from the economic potential of tourism by offering homestays to visitors, before travelling north to the Pokhara area, where he will take part in a trek in the foothills of the Himalayas.

In this breathtaking environment, he will see how Nepal's natural bounty is being carefully opened up to visitors, so that conservation efforts and tourist revenue can become self-reinforcing.

His trek will end in a remote hamlet in the hills where Prince Harry will enjoy a cultural show organised by local people, before watching the sun set over the Himalayas.

He will spend the rest of the evening at a Gurkha homestay, where he will stay overnight.

After watching sunrise over the Himalayas, the prince will visit a school affected by the earthquake and now being helped by the Gurkhas before travelling onto the British Gurkha Camp at Pokhara.

Each year 240 Nepali young men are selected to join the British Army, following a highly competitive and rigorous series of physical and mental tests.

The visit concludes in Kathmandu where Harry will open the Nepal Girl Summit which will highlight the promotion of gender equality in Nepal, in particular by encouraging moves to end child marriage.

It is estimated that among Nepali women aged 25- 49, more than half were married before the age of 18. Around one in 4 Nepali women have given birth before reaching 18 years old and suicide is the leading cause of death among married women of reproductive age.
Crop tops may be one of Kendall Jenner's most beloved wardrobe staples, but her taut stomach isn't the result of time spent at the gym.

The busy 20-year-old model has admitted that she hasn't worked out once since she walked in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show four months ago as her recent travels to New York, Milan, and Paris for three major fashion weeks have left little time for her to hit the gym.

'I've been really, really bad and I literally havent worked out once since the Victorias Secret show in November,' she told PeopleStyle. 'Ive been so bad.'

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Tell the difference? Kendall Jenner has revealed that she hasn't worked out since walking in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in November (L). The model is pictured wearing a bandeau in Paris last week (R)

Serious training: The 20-year-old said she worked every single day  sometimes twice a day  before she made her debut at the lingerie show four months ago

Like most of the models who walked in the lingerie show, Kendall explained that she really pushed herself physically when she was preparing to make her Victoria's Secret runway debut.

'I worked out so hard for that, like, literally every single day  sometimes twice,' she said. 'Id go to my trainer, then Id go for a run a couple hours later.'

Kendall, who said she loves running outside, has only been able to stretch her long legs on the catwalk during three out of four cities' fashion weeks, walking for the likes of Balmain and Chanel.

The brunette beauty, who walked in a total of 12 shows in New York, Milan, and Paris, skipped London Fashion Week because she was shooting another campaign.

Taut tummy: Although Kendall's busy modeling schedule has left her unable to find time to work out, it didn't stop her from wearing crop tops in Paris last week

Fantastic figure: Kendall took to Instagram in February to share the latest image from her sultry Calvin Klein underwear campaign

In addition to her recent international travel, shooting fashion campaigns, and promoting her Kendall + Kylie clothing line, the reality star stars in a sultry new short film that sees her posing in Calvin Klein swimwear, denim and underwear to demonstrate how to go from Pool to Party.

The clip, which was released by released by Love Magazine, celebration of her collaboration with Calvin Klein and marks CK's return to swimwear.

And while many would assume Kendall is keeping her body in tip top condition by watching what she eats, the Keeping Up With the Kardashian's star said that is not the case.

Kendall, who said she was 'really on point' when she was preparing for the Victoria's Secret Show, told PeopleStyle that she hasn't been eating in the same way, revealing that her favorite food to snack on are Fritos Chili Cheese flavored corn chips.

Good genes? Kendall showed off her midriff in athleticwear in January while walking around West Hollywood

Letting go: Kendall, who said she hasn't been following a strict diet in recent months, shared this photo of herself holding a slice of pizza before walking in the Marc Jacobs show in February

International star: Kendall recently showed off her figure in February while walking in the the Bottega Veneta show in Milan (L) and the Michael Kors show in New York (R)

'Like Ive been eating just s**t all the time,' she admitted. '[Be]cause I feel like Im on vacation now for the past couple months.'

And despite her half-sister Khloe's unbelievably toned body and recent weight loss, Kendall said she has the 'greatest snacks ever', saying it is 'dangerous' to walk into her house.

Last month, Kendall insisted she 'downed pizza' before walking in Marc Jacobs' Fall 2016 presentation at New York Fashion Week, sharing a photo on her app in which she can be seen touching up her make-up and holding an untouched slice of cheese pizza on a paper plate.

After a month of international travel for the fall 2016 shows, Kendall flew back home to Los Angeles on Friday after ending her season with a starring role in the Chanel show.

The model covered up her famous physique in a trench coat paired with Sophia Webster lace-up boots while she and her 18-year-old sister Kylie sat courtside to watch the Lakers and Sacramento Kings face off at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.




Yesterday, she posted a selfie in her underwear to show off her small pregnant belly

She also uploaded a clip of herself lifting weights on a balancing ball with Carmen in her lap

Try as she might, Hilaria Baldwin can't always get in an uninterrupted yoga sessions with two little kids running around the house  especially when one just wants a hug from mom.

The pregnant 32-year-old yoga instructor was practicing her poses at home yesterday with her nearly-three-year-old daughter Carmen, perched on her own mini mat nearby, when the diaper-clad baby demanded some instant affection.

Though she tried to keep moving, she couldn't exactly resist when the little cutie waddled over to her for a quick hug.

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Yoga time! Hilaria Baldwin shared a video of herself doing yoga at home this week

Hey, ma! Her daughter Carmen had her own yoga mat nearby, but wasn't into it

Gimmie affection! Instead, she cried for her mama and demanded attention

So sweet: She told her, 'Yo quiero abrazarte', which means 'I want a hug' in Spanish, making her mom giggle

In the short video which she shared on Instagram, Hilaria is already in the middle of her yoga session on a purple mat in what looks like a living room when Carmen starts yelling.

The little girl is sitting in just a diaper on her own purple mat, her face screwed up in a teary expression as she yells 'no', sounding like she might be on the verge of a tantrum.

'Mama!' she says with a cry, picking up her mat and walking the two feet over to mom's head, her right arm outstretched.

Wrapping her arm around Hilaria as she moves into cobra pose, the toddler says in Spanish, 'Yo quiero abrazarte'  meaning, 'I want a hug.' Hilaria can't help but giggle.

Keeping fit: The next day, she also worked out with daughter Carmen, who sat on her lap as she balanced on a ball

Mine! The toddler whined as her mom lifted weights, not happy that her mom was using 'her' balls

Honesty: Hilaria shared a revealing photo on Instagram, wearing just her pink and black bralette and underwear, with a lengthy message to her followers about embracing her pregnancy body

Hilaria certainly hasn't slacked on her fitness since announcing that she is expecting her third child with husband Alec Baldwin last week.

Earlier today, she shared another video of herself working out with Carmen, this time doing some strength training.

In the clip, the fit mom sits on an exercise ball, balancing on her behind with her legs raised. Carmen sits on her lap, with Hilaria managing to maintain her balance with a toddler moving on top of her and while lifting weights.

She counts reps in Spanish as Carmen cries, which Hilaria explained was because the little girl didn't want to share '"her"playground balls'.

Pucker up! She and husband Alec Baldwin announced the news with a picture captioned: 'Ireland, Carmen, Rafael, Alec, and I are excited to share with you that we are going to have another addition to our family'

In love: The 32-year-old and her husband Alec , who have been married since 2012, announced baby number three last week

'It's weird, I kno' : Hilaria showed off her baby bump as she posed on top of her kitchen counter, with one leg straight up in the air and the other on the wall

Hilaria also uploaded a picture yesterday, showing off her tiny baby bump in a matching set of bra and underwear. Though she said the purpose was to show women they don't have to be embarrassed of their pregnancy bodies, the yoga nut is certainly more toned than most.

'I posted belly photos every two weeks when I was pregnant with Rafa. I didn't have the guts to do it the first time around with Carmen,' she wrote. 'The purpose? To show that we don't need to be ashamed or hide the pregnant figure.

'These are common emotions in our society that elevates a thin body above all else. Being my third baby in three years, I am a true believer that our bodies are amazing, and we should celebrate them, rather than feel embarrassed and hide until the baby weight is entirely gone.

'For both women and men: we create life...so let's honor how we make these miracles. Every pregnancy is different, so we shall see what happens this time around, ready to take the journey with me? Deep breath, pressing "share"...'

'It's Monday morning and we are getting stuff done': Hilaria and Alec are parents to two-year-old daughter Carmen (pictured) and nine-month-old son Rafael

Having a blast: Hilaria is a former yoga instructor and often shares photos to her Instagram demonstrating different poses

Hilaria and her husband Alec, who have been married since 2012, announced baby number three last week, revealing that they are expecting a second boy in the fall.

In the nearly-nude baby bump selfie, the beauty left her dark brunette locks loose, opting to pull her heavy fringe to one side.

One hour earlier, the stunner showed off her baby bump as she did a yoga pose on top of her kitchen counter, with one leg straight up in the air and the other on the wall.

The mom of two faced the camera with her arms on the counter as her legs were extended out, revealing her growing baby bump, captioning it: 'It's weird, I know...go @charlieebersol #FlexorFlexible.'
Antibiotics used to treat common infections in children could soon be rendered useless, as levels of resistance to the drugs grows, experts today warned.

Such is the scale of the crisis, several drugs could become ineffective as first-line treatments in many countries.

While the crisis affects all nations, antibiotic resistance is more prevalent as a threat in developing countries, it has been suggested, because the drugs tend to be freely available over the counter.

Common antibiotics are now ineffective in almost half of British children, the new study has revealed.

Globally there is a high level of resistance to some of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics for children, experts today warned. Such is the scale of the crisis, several drugs could become ineffective as first-line treatments in many countries

Some 48 per cent of UK youngsters with a common bladder complaint were carrying germs resistant to Ampicillin  a drug used to treat several illnesses.

Meanwhile 25 per cent of British children had become resistant to Trimethoprim, another common antibiotic, and 8 per cent could not be treated with Co-Amoxiclav.

It means the most frequently used antibiotics could soon be rendered unusable, researchers from the University of Bristol and Imperial College London suggested.

The research, published last night in the British Medical Journal, adds to a growing body of evidence that antibiotic resistance is creating a breed of untreatable superbugs.

Dame Sally Davies, the Governments Chief Medical Officer, has repeatedly warned that superbugs risk creating a public health catastrophe on the scale of terrorism or global warming.

Our findings detail global high-level resistance to some of the most commonly-prescribed antibiotics for children in primary care, which could result in several drugs becoming ineffective first-line treatments in many countries

Her message has gained traction at the very highest levels  David Cameron has warned that superbugs resistance could send medicine back to the dark ages.

Part of the problem is the high usage of antibiotics, which increases the chances of bacteria becoming resistant.

The new study confirmed doctors concerns, with the researchers finding that E.coli bacteria remained resistant to antibiotics for six months after treatment.

The scientists focused on children with urinary tract infections, analysing data from 78,000 children around the world.

They reviewed 58 studies, and assessed how many children had E.coli bacteria that was resistant to commonly used antibiotics.

The researchers found that developing countries had higher rates of resistant bugs - thought to be because antibiotics in many poor countries are freely available over the counter.

But even in Britain, where antibiotics are tightly controlled, almost half of children tested were carrying bacteria resistant to some antibiotics.

In wealthy OECD countries, more than half of all samples were resistant to Ampicillin and almost a quarter were resistant to Trimethoprim.

The new study confirmed doctors concerns, with the researchers finding that E.coli bacteria, pictured, remained resistant to antibiotics for six months after treatment

Three in 10 samples were resistant to Co-Trimoxazole and 8.2 per cent were resistant to Co-Amoxiclav.

The researchers said resistance was substantially greater in non-OECD countries, where almost four in five samples were resistant to Ampicillin, almost 70 per cent were resistant to Co-Trimoxazole and three in five did not respond to the antibiotic Co-Amoxiclav.

The team wrote: Our findings detail global high-level resistance to some of the most commonly-prescribed antibiotics for children in primary care, which could result in several drugs becoming ineffective first-line treatments in many countries.

Urinary tract infections are very common in children, with one in 10 girls and one in 30 boys suffering with the problem by the time they turn 16.

E.coli is responsible for more than 80 per cent of all urinary tract infections in children.

Ashley Bryce, of the Centre for Academic Primary Care in Bristol, said: Prevalence of resistance to commonly-prescribed antibiotics in primary care in children with urinary tract infections caused by E.coli is high, particularly in countries outside the OECD, where one possible explanation is the availability of antibiotics over the counter.
The evidence connecting the Zika virus to a severe birth defect is mounting, as another study draws a link between the illness and microcephaly.

For every 100 pregnant women infected with Zika during the first trimester of pregnancy, one expectant mother will give birth to a baby with the defect.

Scientists, who based their estimate on data from an outbreak of the virus in French Polynesia in 2013-14, say quantifying the risk should help public health officials respond to the crisis.

The new study, published today in The Lancet, suggests the risk of microcephaly associated with Zika infection is relatively low, at one per cent, compared to other maternal infections.

Yet, the authors note the link remains an important public health issue, because the risk of Zika virus infection is particularly high during outbreaks such as the current one affecting South America.

A new study, published today in The Lancet, adds to the growing body of evidence that the Zika virus is linked to the severe birth defect microcephaly, where babies are born with smaller than normal heads

Dr Simon Cauchemez, co-author of the paper, from the Institut Pasteur in Paris, said: 'Our analysis strongly supports the hypothesis that Zika virus infection during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased link of microcephaly.

'We estimated that the risk of microcephaly was one in 100 women infected with Zika virus during the first trimester of pregnancy.

'The findings are from the 2013-14 outbreak in French Polynesia and it remains to be seen whether our findings apply to other countries in the same way.'

On February 1, the World Health Organization declared the suspected link between Zika virus and microcephaly a public health emergency of international concern.

Microcephaly is a neurological abnormality that is present at birth.

In Europe and Brazil, about two in every 10,000 babies are born with the defect.

Our analysis strongly supports the hypothesis that Zika virus infection during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased link of microcephaly Dr Simon Cauchemez, from the Institut Pasteur, Paris

Babies are born with smaller than normal heads, and the condition is also linked to a reduction in brain volume, often leading to intellectual disabilities, speech impairment and behavioral issues.

Known causes of microcephaly include genetic and environmental factors, including prenatal viral infections, such as rubella or herpes, maternal alcohol use and hypertensive disorders.

Although evidence of the association between microcephaly and Zika virus is growing, the risk has so far not been quantified.

The outbreak in French Polynesia began in October 2013, peaked in December 2013 and ended in April 2014.

Over that period, more than 31,000 people saw their doctor with suspected Zika virus infection.

Over the course of the outbreak, eight cases of microcephaly were identified.

Of these, five pregnancies were terminated through medical abortion (average gestational age 30.1 weeks), and three cases were born.

Nearly all of the cases of microcephaly (seven, or 88 per cent) occurred in a four-month period around the end of the outbreak.

For every 100 pregnant women infected with Zika, which is typically transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, during the first trimester of pregnancy, one expectant mother will give birth to a baby with the defect, the study from experts at the Institut de Pasteur in Paris found

In this study, the research team used mathematical and statistically modelling to estimate the expected number of microcephaly cases under different assumptions about the risk of microcephaly from Zika virus infection.

They compared models where the risk was highest during different trimesters of pregnancy and a model where there was no association.

The researchers used data on the total number of cases of microcephaly, the weekly number of consultations for suspected Zika virus infection, blood tests confirming the presence of Zika virus antibodies taken post-outbreak, and the total number of births during the outbreak.

An important question that the authors do not discuss is the possibility that the virus has undergone mutations that make it better able to cross the placenta and/or infect neuronal tissue Professor Peter Openshaw, of Imperial College London

By comparing these models to the number and timing of actual cases of microcephaly, they found that the scenario where the first trimester of pregnancy was associated with an increased risk was most consistent with the observed data.

The researchers were able to estimate the risk of microcephaly as 95 in 10,000 women (or approximately one in 100) infected with Zika virus in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Professor Arnaud Fontanet, co-author of the study, also from the Institut Pasteur added: 'Data from French Polynesia are particularly important since the outbreak is already over.

'This provides us with a small, yet much more complete dataset than data gathered from an ongoing outbreak.

'Much more research is needed to understand how Zika might cause microcephaly.

'Our findings support WHO's recommendations for pregnant women to protect themselves from mosquito bites.'

Writing in a linked Comment piece, Dr Laura Rodrigues, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: 'The finding that the highest risk of microcephaly was associated with infection in the first trimester of pregnancy is biologically plausible, given the timing of brain development and the type and severity of the neurological abnormalities.'

But she added more research is needed.

On February 1, Dr Margaret Chan, director general of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of Zika spreading through South America, an international public health emergency over the concerns the virus is linked to microcephaly

'Further data will soon be available from Pernambuco, Colombia, Rio de Janeiro, and maybe other sites,' she added.

'The fast production of knowledge during this epidemic is an opportunity to observe science in the making: from formulation of new hypotheses and production of new results that will provide confirmations and contradictions to the refinement of methods and the gradual building of consensus.'

Professor Peter Openshaw, of Imperial College London, said on the surface the new evidence is reassuring.

He referenced a recent report from Rio de Janeiro that estimated the risk to be 20 per cent, rather than the one per cent found in the latest study.

But, he cautioned: 'An important question that the authors do not discuss is the possibility that the virus has undergone mutations that make it better able to cross the placenta and/or infect neuronal tissue.'

Professor Openshaw said the fact that of the eight cases of microcephaly reported in French Polynesia, seven were seen during the last four months of the outbreak 'hints that the virus might have changed'.

He added: 'If this is so, the findings in French Polynesia may not be so reassuring after all.'
pay 4,000 to have them removed and now cannot smile properly

But she suffered rare reaction after her

A woman feared her lips were going to explode after suffering a horrific reaction to fillers she'd had years 15 earlier.

Jillian Paris, 47, had a form of collagen, Artecoll, permanently injected into her lips during her early thirties to give her a plumper pout.

But terrifyingly, her own body started to reject the fillers years later - causing chronic inflammation which felt like 'teeth' bursting through her skin.

Ms Paris was forced to undergo private surgery - which cost her 4,000 - to remove the agonising fillers.

She has now been left unable to smile properly after the damage caused numbness in the corners of her mouth.

'The product was practically pushing itself out of my mouth. I was terrified it was going to explode,' she said.

Jillian Paris started having problems with her lips last year (left) - 15 years after having the permanent fillers. She underwent surgery in January to have them removed (right)

The fillers looked fine in October 2014 before her body started to attack the filler, causing painful lumps to develop which felt like 'teeth' trying to push through

'It was horrendous. I was told by the surgeon that my lips might need to be removed - it was that bad.

'Thankfully he managed to save my lips, but now my mouth is disfigured and I've been left with no confidence - I even struggle to leave the house.'

After battling skin cancer in her 30s, Ms Paris, from Wirral, Merseyside, decided to have cosmetic surgery to boost her confidence.

She opted for eyelid surgery and chose a top surgeon to perform the operation following two years of research.

After talking through the process, she decided to combine the surgery with permanent lip fillers to keep her lip lines at bay.

Permanent lip fillers are no longer recommended by experts because of the risk of infection, hardening and scarring.

Ms Paris, who runs her own cosmetic company, said: 'I had always wanted a plumper pout, but nothing too dramatic - just a nice, fuller shape.

'After my battle with skin cancer I was excited to look and feel fresh-faced again. And I was confident I had made an informed decision after all the research I'd done.'

In 2001, she underwent eyelid surgery as well as permanent lip fillers - with both procedures costing 5,500.

She underwent the procedure to regain her confidence after battling skin cancer and all was well (left) until they suddenly started to swell last year (right) making her lips feel like they would 'explode'

The bloody, infected fillers were removed from her lips after her body's immune system began attacking the foreign objects, years after she had the procedure

She was delighted with the results and felt 10 years younger.

'People told me how lovely I looked and complimented me on my lips,' she said.

'As it was subtle, no one really noticed I'd had it done. I never wanted a trout pout, so was really pleased with my new lips.'

But last summer, Ms Paris, who shares her time between England and Miami, awoke last summer to find she had swollen lips.

The lumps had become sharp and felt like teeth sprouting under my mouth. I could barely eat with the pain

At first she believed she was having an allergic reaction to the heat, but her mouth quickly became painful to the touch.

When she returned to the UK for her mother's 80th birthday weeks later, her lips had ballooned, leaving her with a 'trout pout'.

Two months later, lumps the size of jelly beans appeared across her lips.

'The lumps had become sharp and felt like teeth sprouting under my mouth,' she said.

'It was horrifying. I knew something was majorly wrong at this point. I could barely eat with the pain.'

She sought medical help and a doctor injected her mouth with steroids to ease the pain.

In the meantime she waited for an emergency appointment with her surgeon in the UK.

On January 5, she had the fillers removed under general anaesthetic in an operation which took three hours.

'The surgeon told me it was the worst case he had ever seen,' she said.

Her lips remained swollen after she paid 4,000 to have the implants removed. 'After everything I've been through I'd advise others never to have anything permanent injected into their face,' she said

Ms Paris, aged 26, prior to the implants. She decided to have the cosmetic procedure after battling skin cancer as she wanted to regain her confidence

'He managed to remove most of the product, but there is still filler embedded inside my mouth.

'I'll need further revision surgery in the future and fat grafts to rebuild my lips.'

The surgeon explained the product, Artecoll was made up of tiny beads of plexiglass suspended in collagen.

Her immune system had started to attack the fillers - in an attempt to break them down - and the plexiglass was pushing its way through her skin.

After everything I've been through I'd advise others never to have anything permanent injected into their face. It's just not worth the risk Jillian Paris, 47

'When I saw the product he had removed I nearly vomited. It was literally bloody shards of glass.

'It's disgusting to think that was in my body. It's very worrying that this product was deemed safe all those years ago - yet this suddenly happened.

'Products like these should undergo rigorous safety tests before they are allowed to be used.'

Today Ms Paris struggles to eat and talk properly, she has no feeling in the corners of her mouth, so often finds herself dribbling.

'After everything I've been through I'd advise others never to have anything permanent injected into their face. It's just not worth the risk.'

A spokesperson for the European Medical Contract Manufacturing, who was one of multiple manufacturers of the permanent lip filler, said it had been rigorously tested.

'With regard to product quality and safety, EMCM maintains rigorous quality standards for all products it manufactures, including Artecoll.
A revolutionary blood test could predict 20 years in advance if a person will develop Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists hope the breakthrough could prevent victims having to reach an advanced stage before they are diagnosed.

It may also help middle-aged people determine their risk of the devastating condition.

The German researchers claim their test can identify the proteins involved with the disease as they seep into the blood stream.

Known as amyloid-beta peptides, these misshapen strings clump together in the brains of people with Alzheimer's, slowly killing off the surrounding cells.

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The German researchers claim their test can identify the proteins involved with Alzheimer's disease as they seep into the blood stream

Previous studies have shown these clusters begin to form up to 20 years before the disease becomes obvious from a patient's behaviour

The new test is based on an immuno-chemical analysis using an infrared sensor.

The sensor's surface is coated with highly specific antibodies which extract biomarkers for Alzheimer's from the blood or the cerebrospinal fluid, taken from the lower part of the back.

The infrared sensor then analyses if the biomarkers show already pathological changes, which can take place more than 15 years before any clinical symptoms appear.

Early results from the German pilot study, published in the journal Analytical Chemistry, suggest that the blood test has an accuracy of 84 per cent.

A major problem of Alzheimer's disease diagnosis is the fact that, by the time the first clinical symptoms appear, massive irreversible damage to the brain has already occurred.

And at this point, treating the symptoms is the only option, as there is currently no cure.

'If we wish to have a drug at our disposal that can significantly inhibit the progress of the disease, we need blood tests that detect Alzheimer's in its pre-dementia stages,' said study author Klaus Gerwert, professor of biophysics at Ruhr University Bochum,

'By applying such drugs at an early stage, we could prevent dementia, or at the very least delay its onset.'

Using the methods now developed in Bochum and Gottingen, the researchers have analysed samples from 141 patients.

A major problem of Alzheimer's disease diagnosis is the fact that, by the time the first clinical symptoms appear, massive irreversible damage to the brain has already occurred. And at this point, treating the symptoms is the only option, as there is currently no cure

They have achieved a diagnostic precision of 84 per cent in the blood and 90 per cent in cerebrospinal fluid, compared with the clinical gold standard.

The test revealed an increase of misfolded biomarkers as spectral shift of Amyloid beta band below threshold, thus diagnosing Alzheimer's.

In a group of 141 people aged about 70, it successfully identified 21 of the 28 patients who were judged by clinicians to have Alzheimer's.

The test also correctly identified eight of the 11 participants who had mild memory problems because of the disease.

The results suggest that even in pre-dementia stages, an increased concentration of misfolded Amyloid beta peptides can be detected in body fluids.

'This sensor is an important milestone in the right direction,' the researchers concluded.

Simon Ridley, director of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, told The Times than an early warning system was important but the German test was not yet good enough.
A mother in labour lost a staggering 44 pints of blood after her placenta burst through her womb.

Doctors discovered Natasha Pollock, 34, had placenta percreta as they struggled to deliver her son Oliver by an emergency Caesarean, eight weeks early.

The life-threatening condition is caused by placenta continuing to grow and can eventually cause the the womb to rupture.

Mrs Pollock bled so much doctors were forced to pump her with an astonishing 39 pints of blood in a single nine-hour operation - before the hospital ran out of supplies.

The human body only contains an average 10 pints of blood but Mrs Pollock's case was complicated by another condition which was preventing her blood from clotting.

Doctors discovered Natasha Pollock, 34, had placenta percreta as they struggled to deliver her son Oliver by an emergency Caesarean, eight weeks early. They were allowed home after 12 weeks in hospital

While Oliver was born premature but healthy, his mother was left fighting for her life after the placenta burst through her uterus and attached onto her bladder, tearing her inner organs.

She needed a further five pints of blood the following day, taking the total to 44 pints.

'I am so lucky to be here - if it wasn't for blood donors my children would be growing up without a mum,' she said.

'The doctors said they've never seen a transfusion as big as mine, and they think it was the most blood anyone has ever received and survived in the UK.

'My consultant had phoned a bladder surgeon colleague who rushed in to help - he was able to patch it up, saving me from having a catheter for the rest of my life.

'I also had to have a hysterectomy - my uterus was destroyed, there were so many holes it looked like a colander. It was irreparable.'

WHAT IS PLACENTA PERCRETA? A placenta is an organ which forms in the uterus during pregnancy to nourish and maintain the foetus through the umbilical cord. Placenta percreta is a disorder where the the placenta doesnt get the signal to stop growing, Dr Chavi Karwowsky, a maternal foetal expert at Montefiore Medical Center, New York, explains. It keeps spreading, down and out, through the lining of the uterus in what is called placenta accreta. Or the placenta can keep growing through to the muscle wall of the uterus in what's called a placenta increta. It can penetrate through the uterus, working its way to adjacent organs such as the bladder or bowel - in what's called a placenta percreta. A woman who has had one prior caesarean has a risk of 3 percent; a second caesarean ups the risk to 11 percent; at the third, 40 percent; fourth, 60 percent; and by the fifth, the risk of placenta accreta jumps to 67 percent. Source: When a Placenta Tries to Kill a Mother

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During her pregnancy the mother-of-three, from Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, was diagnosed with grade four placenta previa.

This is when the organ - which nourishes and maintains the foetus - doesn't get the signal to stop growing.

The condition causes it to cover the opening in the mother's cervix and can cause severe bleeding before or during delivery.

Mrs Pollock began noticing spots of blood appearing towards the end of her pregnancy and was hospitalised.

After a heavy bleed, doctors at Worcester Royal Hospital decided to deliver the baby early, on Christmas Eve.

But as soon as they started the operation, they discovered she also had placenta percreta and was losing dangerous amounts of blood.

Her husband Dai, 38, faced an agonising wait after doctors told him his wife was unlikely to survive.

The couple's children Eddie, five, and Bethany, four, were left with Mrs Pollock's brother as he rushed to be by her side.

'It was horrendous - I was waiting outside just sitting down and pacing up and down, waiting to be told what was going on,' he said.

She was given multiple transfusions, but continued to bleed out, causing doctors to worry.

Further tests revealed she had a condition which was stopping her blood from clotting properly, called disseminated intravascular coagulation, exacerbating the bleeding.

Mrs Pollock bled so much doctors were forced to pump her with an astonishing 39 pints of blood in a single nine-hour operation - before the hospital ran out of supplies. She had five more the following day

Oliver is now at home after being born eight weeks early on Christmas Eve by an emergency Caesarean

Mrs Pollock attached to a cell saver machine, which recycled some of the blood she was losing while doctors managed to stabilise her condition.

After spending 12 weeks in hospital, Mrs Pollock was allowed home with Oliver, who weighed just 4lb 11oz when he was born.

My uterus was destroyed - there were so many holes it looked like a colander Natasha Pollock, 34

'I'm just so incredibly grateful to people that take the time to give blood - it's life-saving,' she said.

'I'll be making sure the kids donate too when they're old enough.

'If it wasn't for blood donors, I wouldn't be here now - and my kids would be growing up without their mum.

'I would really encourage everyone to donate and bank their blood - it's not a bottomless pit, and you never know when you might need it. It's so quick and easy to do.'

The NHS Blood and Transplant service does not keep official records of blood transfusion numbers, but encouraged people to donate.

A spokesperson said: 'Blood and platelets regularly save the lives of people like Natasha who have traumatic injuries, cancer, or life threatening complications in childbirth.'
A teenage girl was left fighting for her life after developing toxic shock syndrome from using tampons.

Peyton Caples, of Ventura, California, was just 15 when she contacted the rare illness, which was initially misdiagnosed as a virus.

She was rushed to hospital when the 'virus' became steadily worse and she felt weak, feverish and was struggling to walk.

There, as she was repeatedly vomiting, doctors discovered her body was swelling and she had 'the heartbeat of a baby'.

She was transferred to intensive care where she was diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome, and as blood poisoning ravaged her body, her kidneys and liver began to fail.

Peyton Caples, now 17, was left fighting for a life after developing toxic shock syndrome from using tampons

Miss Caples was rushed to hospital where doctors pumped her full of antibiotics as her organs began to fail

Medics desperately pumped her full of antibiotics in a bid to save her life, and miraculously, she pulled through and survived.

It is thought she caught the deadly infection as a result of using tampons - but she insists she didn't leave them in for longer than the recommended time.

Now 17, she has shared the shocking images of her in hospital to warn other of the dangers of toxic shock syndrome.

Recalling the horror of being in hospital, Miss Caples said: 'I felt like I'd been shot. I've never been so ill in my life.

'I got to the intensive care unit at Ventura County Medical Centre in Ventura, California, and my heartbeat was the same as a baby's.

'I started throwing up and medics put five IVs in my arms and a tube down my nose.

'I remember having no family members in the room and screaming for my grandma Bonnie.

'I had a 103 Fahrenheit [39.4 Celsius] fever but they couldn't give me medicine for it because my kidneys and liver were failing.

'My tongue was white then turned red. I had the worst sore throat ever, they gave me water but it hurt too bad to drink anything.'

She has now shared the shocking images of her in hospital to warn other of the dangers of tampons

Miss Caples had been using tampons which she believes triggered her toxic shock syndrome

Miss Caples had begun feeling ill during her period a few days earlier in June 2013, yet had just recovered from glandular fever for which she was taking steroids, and so thought nothing of it.

She had been using tampons, but insists she had not left them in for any longer than the recommended time, as instructed on the pack.

But over a few days her condition deteriorated, and she began to feel feverish.

She said: 'I started feeling really faint and nauseated. I could barely walk, but didn't think much of it because I was on steroids for a different illness.

'On the third day I started feeling better so my friend came over. But I felt really sick when I stood up.'

Her grandmother Bonnie, 67, called the doctor's surgery immediately, and a nurse arrived at Miss Caples' home.

The nurse said she was probably suffering from a virus, but also ordered a blood test in case Miss Caples was anaemic, a condition where a woman is deficient in iron, making them more susceptible to infections.

But later than night, after the nurse left, Miss Caples could barely walk.

'I had a horrible fever and was nauseous,' she said. 'When I finally went to sleep I woke up throwing up and feeling really weak.'

WHAT IS TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME AND HOW DOES A TAMPON CAUSE IT? Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but life-threatening bacterial infection. It is caused by staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus pyogenes - bacteria that normally live harmlessly on the skin, nose or mouth. But they can invade the body's bloodstream, where they release poisonous toxins. The toxins damage tissue, including skin and organs, and can disturb many vital organ functions. TSS is a medical emergency and sufferers must seek medical help as soon as possible. Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but life-threatening bacterial infection caused by staphylococcus aureus (pictured) and streptococcus pyogenes Signs of TSS include a temperature of 38.9C or above; fainting; widespread; flat, red skin rash; three or more organs affected by infection; infection caused by staphylococcus or streptococcus. If left untreated, TSS can cause shock and organ damage that results in death. Anyone can develop TSS but for reasons that are not fully understood, a significant number of cases are in women who are on their period and using a tampon - particularly those designed to be 'super absorbent'. The role of tampons in toxic shock syndrome remains unexplained. One theory is that if a tampon is left in your vagina for some time, as is often the case with the more absorbent types of tampons, it can become a breeding ground for the bacteria. Another theory is that the fibres of the tampon may scratch the vagina, allowing the bacteria or the toxins to enter the blood. No evidence has been found to support either theory. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement

Once again, she went to see her doctor, who diagnosed a bad virus and told her she would feel better in a few days.

While her grandmother told her not to use tampons anymore, she had continued.

That night, she started struggling to walk and passed out on the floor.

She said: 'I couldn't walk at all. I was in so much pain. I felt like I was dying. I was having horrible pain everywhere.

'My legs felt like they were dead and I could barely move. I passed out right when I stood up.

'I fell straight onto my friend who called my grandma to say we needed to take me to the emergency room.'

In hospital she was barely able to breathe and doctors immediately started hydrating her.

Thirty minutes later she was transferred to intensive care, as doctors tried to figure out what was wrong with her.

'They started me on different antibiotics to help,' she said. 'I couldn't bend my arms, my whole body was swollen and I could barely see.

'They pricked all of my fingers for blood.'

In intensive care, doctors pumped Miss Caples with antibiotics in a bid to save her life. She is pictured after recovering

She took days to sit up and walk again after battling the potentially-deadly infection. She is pictured in hospital

Miss Caples' parents, Shelley and Evan, both 47, and her brother Curren, now 20, were in Germany at the time.

Curren is a professional skateboarder and was competing in skateboarding competition X Games.

As soon as they heard Miss Caples was fighting for her life in hospital, they booked flights home, arriving the next day.

'At that point doctors said it could be toxic shock, but, they didn't know yet,' Miss Caples continued.

'My parents watched me while I slept that night and noticed the tube in my nose was red and the bag where it emptied had a lot of my blood filling into it.

'The nurse turned off the pump part of it and the bleeding stopped. Later that night they put it down further.

'I woke up screaming because it was so painful.

'My heartbeat jumped from 70bpm to 150bpm and I was screaming and crying for my mom and it felt like I had been shot.'

Miss Caples said: 'Never did I think at 15 I'd be a survivor. But everything happens for a reason'

Later that morning, she was officially diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome and started on antibiotics.

'I kept having to get IVs changed because my veins would collapse,' Miss Caples said.

'I still wasn't allowed to eat or drink, so I was starving and still in pain.'

After two day, Miss Caples was allowed to eat.

'But I cried because it hurt too much to eat anything,' she said.

'I still couldn't walk that night. The next night doctors allowed me to stand up. It was really hard to stand but I was proud of myself.

Never did I think at 15 I'd be a survivor Peyton Caples, 15

'The next day they let me walk to a chair which made me more proud of myself but it hurt really bad to walk.

'Since I was getting stronger the next day they got me a wheelchair and let me out of intensive care and into a regular room. I was released two days after getting a new room.'

Miss Caples is now banned from using tampons, and has shared the horrific pictures of herself in hospital to warn others of the danger of toxic shock syndrome.

She has recovered well and plans to start at community college later this year to study fine art.
A four-year-old girl was left with devastating injuries when an plane airbag suddenly exploded in her face mid-flight.

Daisy James suffered burns, cuts and bruises to her face, arm, chest and thigh when the airbag, secured within her seatbelt, mistakenly deployed.

When crash sensors in the airbag device detect an impending incident, it deploys up and away from the seated passenger  providing protection to the head, neck and torso.

Daisy was travelling back from Washington DC to London Heathrow with her grandmother when the accident happened.

After landing in the UK with her face three times its normal size - and unable to speak or eat - she was rushed to see paramedics who gave her morphine for the pain.

Daisy James, now eight, pictured with mother Gillian, 38, has been awarded a five-figure settlement from Virgin Airlines. She was left with devastating injuries when a plane airbag exploded in her face four years ago

Daisy suffered burns, cuts and bruises to her face, arm, chest and thigh when the airbag secured within her seatbelt mistakenly deployed

For months afterwards she suffered nightmares about the accident, and her mother Gillian, 38, launched legal action against Virgin Airlines.

Admitting liability and apologising for the incident, Virgin has now awarded Daisy an undisclosed five-figure settlement.

Mrs James and her husband are sharing the horrific pictures of Daisy's injuries to ensure such an accident never happens again.

Mrs James, 37, said: 'I couldn't believe it when I saw Daisy come in to the arrivals area at Heathrow.

'I'm still so angry at what happened.'

Daisy was returning from a trip to America with her grandmother Sally Dyer, 67, when the incident occurred in May 2012.

Mrs James said Daisy's grandmother had offered to take her to America so she and her husband, Nik, could go to work as usual in the school holidays.

'While they were away they visited zoos, went to the beach and did girly things,' Mrs James said.

'They rang while they were away to talk about what they'd been up to, and her gran helped put together a journal for her to remember the trip, with leaflets from the places they'd visited and photos.'

Despite having the time of their lives, the holiday ended up being memorable for very different reasons due to the incident on the way home.

After landing in the UK with her face three times its normal size, covered in grazes and unable to speak or eat, Daisy was rushed to see paramedics and given morphine for the pain

Virgin Airlines has apologised to the family and admitted liability for the accident, which left Daisy bruised

Some airlines now have airbags built into their aeroplane seatbelts as a cost-effective way to meet a requirement by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The FAA has decreed that all seats must be able to withstand stresses and impacts of up to 16 times the force of gravity,

This reduces the force on a person in the case of an accident, leading to less severe internal injuries.

WHY DO PLANE SEATBELTS CONTAIN AIRBAGS? Some airlines now have airbags built into their aeroplane seatbelts as a cost-effective way to meet a requirement by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA has decreed that all seats must be able to withstand stresses and impacts of up to 16 times the force of gravity. This reduces the force on a person in the case of an accident, leading to less severe internal injuries. It could also keep a passenger conscious after a crash, increasing their chance of survival. The device is stored in the seatbelt itself and contains a 'crash sensor' which detects an impending accident. In the case of an accident, the airbag deploys up and away from the seated passenger  providing protection to the head, neck and torso. Advertisement

It could also keep a passenger conscious after a crash, increasing their chance of survival.

The device is stored in the seatbelt itself and contains sensors which detect an impending accident.

In the case of such an occurrence, the airbag deploys up and away from the seated passenger  providing protection to the head, neck and torso.

But the airbag in Daisy's seatbelt was faulty and exploded with no trigger.

Mrs James said: 'The first I knew Daisy had been injured is when I got a call from my mum to say Daisy had a graze to her face.

'I was prepared for a graze. But her face was swollen three times its normal size. It was absolutely horrendous.

'Her left arm was in a sling and her face was bright red and sore. She couldn't talk due to the swelling.

'Daisy was in shock. She didn't know what was going on. She seemed to be in a lot of pain and not really with it.'

Mrs James says her mother is also shocked by the incident, and doesn't like to talk about what happened.

'She's heartbroken,' Mrs James said. 'She said that when the explosion happened she grabbed Daisy and ran, and my mum has sticks so she can't even walk well.'

Mrs James explained that after she saw her daughter at the airport, she took her to the Virgin desk and paramedics were called to treat her.

At Cheltenham Hospital in Gloucestershire, doctors took X-rays of Daisy's body and she was given morphine for the pain of the burns.

Then, she was transferred to Frenchay Hospital, in Bristol, where a specialist investigated whether her skin was young enough to heal properly.

After the accident, skin specialists told Daisy her scarring would heal and fade within two years

Daisy was travelling back from Washington DC to London Heathrow when the accident happened. She is pictured on holiday before embarking on the flight home

They said the scarring would heal and fade within two years.

After she was pumped with more painkillers, she saw a child psychologist to help her deal with the shock of the accident and the resulting scarring.

Finally, after two nights in hospital, she was sent home to recover the next day.

'Her arm was wrapped up for a week. Her face had to stay open to heal,' Mrs James said.

Before, Daisy didn't know what an accident was. Since, she says, 'Well if it happened then, it could happen again' Gillian James, 38

'From there, Daisy struggled to eat and drink. We tried to feed her yogurt through a straw and she screamed.

She continued: 'She also suffered nightmares for months. She still doesn't sleep well.

'She slept in with me and her dad for the first eight months, and is now in with her brother, Jack, who is five.'

Her daughter has been severely emotionally affected by the accident - and still talks about it constantly, Mrs James claims.

She said: 'Psychologically, she's really struggling. When she talks about life, this incident is the first thing she talks about.

'Before, Daisy didn't know what an accident was. Since, she says, "Well if it happened then, it could happen again."

'Not a day goes by that she doesn't mention it.'

Mrs James said her daughter suffered nightmares for months after the incident, and had to sleep in the same bed as her parents (pictured) or her brother Jack

Mrs James said: 'Before, Daisy didn't know what an accident was. Since, she says, "Well if it happened then, it could happen again"

Days after the accident, Mrs James was advised to seek legal help and her family began working with Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, who investigated what had happened on the plane.

Mrs James concluded: 'We got legal help because we thought it was important to find out what had happened and we didn't want this to happen to any other families.

'I hope airlines and the manufacturer can prevent this from happening again.'

Nicola Southwell, an aviation lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, who represented the family, said: While safety measures are, of course, absolutely crucial on flights, it is clear these airbags can cause serious injury if they activate during normal use of the seatbelt.

Virgin Airlines has apologised to the family and admitted liability for the accident.

A Virgin spokeswoman said: 'We have expressed our sincere apologies to the family and while it doesn't lessen the impact of what happened, we have reached a settlement to the family's satisfaction.
Living proof of the enormous potential of genomics is Aurea Yenmai Smigrodzki, a happy and healthy two-year-old girl from Clemmons, North Carolina. Aurea was the world's first PGT-P baby, meaning she has been scientifically selected for her genes, and is statistically less likely to develop a genetic disease or disorder in her lifetime. She is pictured left with her father Rafal Smigrodzk. PGT-P - preimplantation genetic testing for polygenic disorders - is conducted in conjunction with IVF and allows prospective parents to actively select which of their own embryos to take, based on the strength of its genes. The difference between PGT-P and other screening tools is that PGT-P can screen for more genetically complex diseases, ie, those that are influenced by genetic variants in more than one gene. This may include heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity - all of which do not have a single genetic cause, but develop due to multiple genetic factors in combination with lifestyle and environmental factors, such as exercise, diet or pollution. Becoming a parent for the first time is a major moment for anyone - but for Laura Gayton, right, giving birth to a healthy, crying baby boy felt nothing short of a 'miracle'. Laura, a swimming teacher from Kettering, Northants, is one of around 10,800 people in the UK with cystic fibrosis (CF), a progressive genetic disease that claims the lives of half of those affected before the age of 40. When she was diagnosed at just two months old, Laura's parents were told their daughter would be lucky to make it to her 30th birthday. But today, Laura, 31, has never felt fitter, thanks to a pioneering new treatment - and after four years of trying, she and her husband Nicholas, 33, a fire station commander, now have a 13-month-old son, Louis.
The Zika virus is expected to strike up to 50 US cities this summer, experts warn.

The virus, which is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, has swept through Latin America and the Caribbean in recent months.

But, as the hot summer months take hold in the US, the mosquito is likely to become abundant across much of the southern and eastern US.

The National Center for Atmospheric Research determined the Zika virus risk estimates for 50 US cities.

Cities in southern Florida, as well as impoverished areas in southern Texas, carry the highest risk of Zika outbreaks, a team of experts determined.

However, the mosquito is also projected to appear as far west as Phoenix and Los Angeles, and as far north as New York City.

NCAR scientist Andrew Monaghan said: The research can help us anticipate the timing and location of possible Zika virus outbreaks in certain US cities.

Scroll down to see animation of when specific cities will likely be affected

Experts warn that the Zika virus, which is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, will soon spread to the US. Pictured above, a map depicting the 50 continental US cities facing the highest risk of the virus. Below, the projected timeline of when the cities will be hit

Understanding where the Aedes aegypti mosquito can survive in the US and how its abundance fluctuates seasonally may help guide mosquito control efforts and public health preparedness.

The Zika outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization in February, over concerns of a surge of birth defects and temporary paralysis cases linked to the virus.

A group of NCAR scientists had been studying Aedes aegypti for years  as the mosquitoes also carry the viruses that cause dengue and chikunguya.

To determine the potential risk of Zika in the continental US, the scientists ran two computer models that stimulated the effect of meterological conditions on the mosquitos entire lifestyle.

They looked at 50 cities in or near the known range of the species.

The mosquitoes generally need warm and stable temperatures  in addition to water-filled containers, such as buckets, barrels and tires, for their eggs to hatch.

CITIES AT HIGH RISK FOR ZIKA CITY STATE Charleston South Carolina Jacksonville Florida Miami Florida Mobile Alabama New Orleans Louisiana Orlando Florida Tallahassee Florida Tampa Florida Savannah Georgia Source: National Center for Atmospheric Research

Nevertheless, once a mosquito bites an infected person, it needs to be able to live long enough  a week or more, depending on the temperatures  for the virus to travel from the mosquitos mid-gut to its salivary glands.

And, once the virus is in the saliva, the mosquito can transmit the virus again by biting another person.

Thats why summer weather conditions are favorable for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, experts explain.

Spring and fall conditions can only support low to moderate populations of the mosquito in the more southern regions of the US.

And, the winter is too cold for the species outside of southern Florida and southern Texas, according to scientists.

However, long-range forecast for this summer project a 40 to 50 per cent chance of warmer-than-average temperatures across the country.

Dr Mary Hayden, a medical anthropologist at NCAR, noted that this could lead to an increased suitability for the mosquito in much of the South and East.

And so, as springtime weather warms, the potential abundance of the mosquito begins to increase in April in the Southeast and some cities in Arizona.

By June, nearly all of the 50 at-risk cities have the potential for at least low to moderate abundance.

The Zika-transmitting Aedes aegypti mosquito (pictured) thrives in warm temperatures. Thus, scientists project it will become most abundant in the continental US in July, August and September

The conditions for the mosquito are most suitable in July, August and September  though the peak times vary by cities.

In southern and western cities, the conditions can remain suitable as late as November.

The scientists project that even some cities where the Aedes aegypti mosquito has not been detected  including St. Louis and Denver  may have suitable midsummer weather conditions for the species.

The mosquito could potentially spread to those cities through the transport of used tires or other human activities, the computer models revealed.

The scientists also warned that northern cities could become vulnerable to the virus if a related species of mosquito that is more tolerant of cold temperatures - Aedes albopictus  starts to carry Zika, as well.

Understanding where the Aedes aegypti mosquito can survive in the US and how its abundance fluctuates seasonally may help guide mosquito control efforts and public health preparedness Dr Andrew Monaghan, of NCAR

Additionally, the scientists found that travel from Zika-affected areas and socioeconomic conditions in states facing potential abundant mosquito populations may also play a role in the virus spread.

They estimated the number of passengers arriving into US cities on flights from airports in 22 Latin American countries and territories listed on Zika travel advisory from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of January 29.

Miami, Houston and Orlando were determined to have both high potential numbers of Aedes aegypti and a large volume of air travelers.

Furthermore, the scientists estimated that nearly five times as many people cross the US-Mexico border per month than arrive by air in any of the 50 cities.

That finding indicates a high potential for transmission along the US-Mexico border.

Dr Sarah Ruth, of the National Science Foundation, said: This research highlights the complex set of human and environmental factors that determine whether a mosquito-borne disease is carried from one area to another, and how severely it affects different human populations.

By integrating information on weather, travel patterns, mosquito biology, and human behavior, the project team has improved our ability to forecast, deal with, and possibly even prevent future outbreaks of Zika and other serious diseases.

The study was published in the journal PLOS Currents Outbreaks.
A few quick questions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi threw 70-odd BJP MPs from Uttar Pradesh into a spot recently.

Almost no one knew about their own governments various welfare programmes.

This happened when Modi was at his Cabinet colleague Mahesh Sharmas house on Monday night. The culture minister had hosted 70 BJP MPs from Uttar Pradesh for a stock-taking exercise.

Unimpressed: Narendra Modi with BJP veterans LK Advani and Arun Jaitley

The PM wanted to know how aware these MPs were of their own constituencies and the work that the central government is doing.

Uttar Pradesh goes to the polls in 2017. The BJP had swept the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in the state, returning with 71 MPs out of 80.

The prime minister barely spoke for two minutes and left a number of MPs uncomfortable. He asked how many MPs had a list of villages in their constituencies that have been provided with electricity under the Deendayal Jyotigram scheme. No hands were raised.

The PM also got no response when he asked how many MPs had downloaded the mobile app that gave a complete lowdown on the governments achievements.

There is general concern that the Centres policies are not reaching people at the grassroots, so the PM wanted to know if his own MPs were aware of the initiatives.

Apart from Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Uma Bharti, Manoj Sinha and others, BJP chief Amit Shah and the party in-charge for the state, Om Mathur, were also present in the meeting.

PM Narendra Modi with BJP MPs during the partys parliamentary board meeting on 15 March. Modi had addressed 70-odd MPs from poll-bound Uttar Pradesh

The outcome of the meeting left the PM disappointed. He said the issue would be taken up later.

Lawmakers' failure to make the common man aware of the achievements of the Centre has been a major concern for a while.

The PM and senior ministers have raised this issue in several board meetings, while urging MPs to be active in their respective constituencies. The issue figured in the parliamentary board meeting on Tuesday as well.

The party brass asked MPs to publicise pro-poor and pro-farmer programmes in the Budget. The saffron party is leaving no stone unturned for the coming UP battle, particularly after its defeat in Bihar. It hopes to repeat its performance in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

At the Monday meeting, Shah highlighted the need for effective social media strategy for state polls.

The Congress has already hired poll strategist Prashant Kishore for UP polls and this is probably one of the reasons that social media platforms have come under focus of most parties.

Speaking at the meeting, Om Mathur informed the gathering about the partys outreach programme.

The prime minister would be touring the poll-bound state for the launch of a 10-day farmer outreach programme to highlight the measures announced in the Budget for the welfare of farmers.
Former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhars farmhouse, known as Bharat Yatra Kendra (BYK), at Bhondsi village, will get commercial status by October.

The structure, spread over 588 acres in the Aravalli mountain range, was acquired by the Haryana government after the demise of the former prime minister.

It has now been handed over to the Haryana Forest Development Corporation (HFDC), which will renovate the structure and set up a museum, education centre, restaurant and rest house on the premises to attract domestic and foreign students.

Former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar's farmhouse in Bhonsdi, Haryana is spread over 588 acres

We have started the renovation of the place and expect it to complete it within six months. Since the 500-acre land falls in dense forest, we will preserve it as while adding some natural experience to promote eco-tourism, said Subhash Yadav, GM of HFDC Gurgaon range.

The rest house will comprise 50 AC and non-AC rooms. The corporation will provide packages to a group of 40 students for one-night stays. There will also be provision for day camping. Besides, people can also visit individually by paying a fee of Rs 10.

The main aim is to bring school and college students close to nature with the help of a museum and study centre, Yadav said, while adding that HFDC has signed an MoU with the Centre for Environment Education for Excellence and the project also involves the district education officer to work in the field.

BYK was also known for commando training while former PM Chandrashekher was alive. There are some natural routes in the area, which were used by his commandos for exercises. Those areas will also be renovated in a similar fashion so that visitors can experience natural forests.

HFDC is also eyeing two more places - at Silkhom in Mewat district under Tauru Tahshil and Mashani in Dharuheda in Rewari - for development.
The hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference on Tuesday said people who link militancy in Kashmir with Islam were showing signs of political immaturity.

The Hurriyat Conference attributed militancy in Jammu and Kashmir to the long-pending Kashmir issue, and alleged state oppression against the people.

The statement issued by a senior Hurriyat Conference leader is likely to evoke debate in the restive state among different separatist groups.

Hardline Hurriyat Conference chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani

The Kashmir dispute has a living and a strong historical background and India has not only forcibly occupied this land for past 69 years but it is brutally crushing and muzzling peaceful voices of Kashmiris. These policies have caused reaction in the past and it continues to cause reaction. If anywhere in the world masses are suppressed and their voices are being muzzled, people, irrespective of their religion, will rise against oppression, Hurriyat deputy general secretary Ghulam Nabi Sumji said.

People who want to relate it (militancy) with Islam have particular mindset and they easily get overawed by others, he added, claiming that the militancy in Jammu and Kashmir was the result of alleged state oppression and is not religion-driven, as argued by some experts.

The Hurriyat leader said the alleged oppressive tactics of the state were drawing Kashmirs younger generation away from political struggle.

That is why they are leaving universities and colleges and are taking path of brave-hearts, he said, while alluding to new generation militants.

The statement comes at a time when Kashmir is witnessing growing support for younger militants.

There has been an increase in incidents of people gathering nearing encounter sites and pelting stones at police and army personnel in a bid to help militants escape.

Last week, the army issued a blatant warning to people cautioning them to stay away.

The police also issued an advisory last month asking people to stay away from encounter sites.

Though in recent months the army and police have killed a number of militants in proactive counter-insurgency operations, the security forces are unnerved as people near encounter sites engage security forces in stone-pelting.

After the encounters, people turned up in their thousands to participate in the funeral processions of the militants.

In October last year, around 35000 people gathered in the Kulgam area of South Kashmir for the funeral of Abu Qasim, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander in Kashmir.
A day after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told Parliament that the Centre was willing to walk an extra mile for Jammu and Kashmir and promised equitable development of all three regions of the state, Governor NN Vohra postponed the presentation of the state budget.

The budget was scheduled to be presented in a special meeting of the State Administrative Council on Tuesday.

A senior government official said the presentation was deferred as the Governor was not keeping well.

Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra is said to be indisposed, but other sources have hinted at a political motive behind the budget delay

However, sources said hectic political activities which started after Jaitleys address are the major reason behind the rescheduling of the budget.

Jaitleys commitment in Parliament regarding Jammu and Kashmir has generated hope among the Peoples Democratic Party and the state BJP about government formation.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti flew to New Delhi on Tuesday.

Jaitley had told Parliament on Monday: We want to implement Rs 80,000 crore economic package of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for equitable development of the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

He mentioned setting up IIT, IIM and AIIMS in the state.

A senior PDP leader said the budget will not make any difference in the government formation.

However, he said the Governor is a seasoned diplomat and is trying to put pressure on political parties to expedite the exercise of government formation, and the presentation of the Budget could be construed as one of the ways.

The governor could present it on March 29, he added.

Vohra had taken several briefings about the salient features of the budget. Earlier, he issued directives which stated that adequate provision must be made to meet the states share of all centrally-sponsored schemes like those announced in the Union Budget before finalising projected allocations.

The Governor had stressed the need to devote special focus to areas like agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, poultry, animal and sheep husbandry, tourism, and power development.
One may think India is sleeping, but that is not the case. India is busy with civilisational issues.

Whether it is a mega-cultural event on the banks of Yamuna or the tolerance debate in the Indian universities, the buzzword is civilisational, a word cherished by Indian thinkers.

It reminds me of the lengthy civilisational dispatches from KM Panikkar, the then Indian Ambassador in Beijing, to his prime minister during the fall of 1950. Jawaharlal Nehru always promptly replied with grand philosophical cables about peace in the world.

Ideological

At exactly the same time, Mao Zedong sent short, to-the-point orders to the Peoples Liberation Army to advance towards Indias northern borders, invading Tibet in passing.

Tourism has become a major force in supporting the economy of Chinas border areas - and proper infrastructure is crucial to attracting visitors

The Great Headsman went straight to the logistics required: providing the Chinese invading force with the day-to-day practical instructions.

The philosophers have so far only interpreted the world, the point is to change it, Mao had written earlier.

To juxtapose the two is an eye-opener. Has the situation changed in the past 65 years? Not much. The focus of the Indian nation remains on philosophical or ideological issues (does tolerance need to be discussed again and again, when it is a fact of life in India?), while China still believes that it does not matter if a cat is black or white as long as it catches mice.

Just look at the massive development in Nyingchi Prefecture (called Nyingtri by the Tibetans), north of the Indian border of Arunachal Pradesh. Though the happenings in the area have critical implications for India, this does seem to bother anybody in the country. It is true that the North-East is so far from Delhi!

The Yarlung Tsangpo, known as Siang in Arunachal Pradesh and Brahmaputra in Assam, flows through the Tibetan prefecture, which will set up an international ecotourism zone during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020). It will receive six million tourists by 2020 and get a hefty $1.2 billion revenue from the mainland visitors.

According to China Tibet Online, during the next five years, Nyingchi will build 10 rural tourism demo villages, adding some 70,000 jobs; the per capita income for the local population will increase by about 10,000 yuan ($1620).

Tourism has become a major force in supporting the economy of Chinas border areas, and Beijings Five-Year Plan says that it is crucial to improve the income of the Tibetans and develop infrastructure for the region.

For the first time in 2015, Nyingchi Prefectures GDP has crossed 10 billion yuan to reach 10.4 billion yuan ($1.67 billion); its growth rate of 11.2 per cent is the highest among cities on the plateau.

Can you imagine something similar in Upper Siang, Anjaw or other border districts of Arunachal? In Nyingchi, 25 per cent of the prefectures revenue comes from tourism. There were 3.2 million tourists in Nyingchi in 2015, a 20 per cent increase from 2014. (Today) over 5,000 local residents work in tourism, running 219 family inns, proclaim the local officials.

Infrastructure

On the other side of the slope, India remains busy with civilisational issues. As a result, the infrastructure south of the McMahon Line is coming up at a snails pace and still struggling under an antiquated Inner Line Permit system set up by the British.

In Southern Tibet, the infrastructure of the border areas grows faster every day (note that the same infrastructure is used by the Peoples Liberation Army). Is this development a danger for the environment of these pristine areas and India downstream? Probably, though last week, during a panel discussion with the delegates from Qinghai province on the sidelines of the National Peoples Congress, President Xi Jinping pledged to protect the fragile ecology of Tibet.

He said: The ecological environment has irreplaceable value. We should treat it as our lifeline and protect it like the apple of our eye.

He exhorted the delegates to treat environment as our lifeline. This is great news if it is followed by acts.

In India, infrastructure development has not reached this point, though two Advanced Landing Grounds (ALG) in Ziro and Aalo have just reopened in Arunachal Pradesh, slightly improving the Air Forces operational capability; though it is a small step forward, the situation remains pathetic.

Tourism

A PTI report explained that the runway surface at Ziro saw a steady deterioration over a period of time due to lack of maintenance and other issues. Encroachment due to absence of a security wall further added to the declining status of the airfield.

One could ask, why not open the area to tourism on a large scale like China? After all, it is Indian territory.

The last Chinese Plan promises that Nyingchi will strengthen the transportation networks via air, rail, highways, and waterways, as well as the building of starred hotels, economy hotels, motels, theme hotels, family inns, and recreational vehicle parks to diversify the type of accommodations.

The China Tibet Online further reports: The Lhasa-Nyingchi highway was put in use by the end of 2015, while the Lhasa-Nyingchi railway is also under construction. In addition, Mainling Airport could become an international airport with more flights and routes in the future.

After opening a tunnel in 2013, the small county of Metok, north of the Geling Circle of Upper Siang district, which was earlier known as the last county without road access in China, received 70,000 visitors in 2015. Is it not an example worth studying at least?

One can only pray that Delhi will wake up and start building more roads and tunnels in the border districts of Arunachal Pradesh. For this, tourism has an important role to play - but can the mindsets change in Delhi?
Soldiers will now light the fire of nationalism in schoolchildren and also toughen them up physically and mentally, according to Ministry of Human Resource and Development (HRD) sources.

Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani had proposed hiring retiring junior commissioned officers and soldiers as physical training instructors at central government schools. That plan has now been set into motion.

Soldiers retiring from the army after completion of 17 years of colour service and JCOs at the end of their military tenure who are willing to join central schools are to be posted as PT instructors," sources said.

Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani had proposed hiring retiring junior commissioned officers and soldiers as physical training instructors at central government schools - and the plan is now in motion

Soldiers are physically fit and are trained to be mentally robust even in the most difficult situations. With their personality and bearing, they will also influence students positively, sources added.

Apart from physical fitness and mental toughening, soldiers will also inculcate a spirit of nationalism and patriotism among school students.

Soldiers carry with them stories of unparalleled valour and sacrifice from Siachen to counter-terror ops and from aiding civil authorities during natural calamities to keeping the interests of India First. These examples will certainly inspire students," sources privy to the proposal told Mail Today.

The proposal has already been shared with the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Dalbir Singh and the army has responded enthusiastically.

This is a win-win situation. Soldiers retiring from the army will get a new career and they will play a positive role in nation building. This will provide them with an opportunity to give back even more to society by shaping Indias future, sources in the Army Headquarters said.

In fact, the army is in the process of drawing out a list of soldiers who have won gallantry awards and are due to retire in near future.

This is an excellent proposal. We have soldiers who were instructors at different military academies  NDA, IMA & OTA. They have knowledge and experience in training students," sources added.

Students at various central schools are also curious about the armed forces. The soldiers will share their experiences about what it takes to keep the country together and the flag flying high from the Bana post at 21,500 feet in the Siachen Glacier to coming in aid of civil authorities when required," said an official.

The pilot project will begin at select central schools and if the feedback is positive it will be extended to other central schools across the country, as well as private schools.

While PT classes are compulsory for students, interaction with soldiers and classroom talks on nationalism, patriotism, military deployment in counter-terror operations etc will be optional for students to attend, the official added.

The opposition has reacted with scepticism to the proposal.

It is very good idea that retiring soldiers will get re-employed at central schools and they certainly will have inspirational tales to tell. However, the motive of the government is not clear. Why is this being done and why now? asked Tom Vadakkan, Congress party spokesperson.
The Delhi police are going all-out against the most wanted criminals in the Capital.

The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has prepared a list of the notorious criminals in each district, and their activities will be under constant watch using the Prisoners' Management System.

The system is one of the favourite projects of Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma.

The Prisoners Management System (PMS), which was developed to track criminals and their activities, was never properly used by the Delhi police.

The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has prepared a list of notorious criminals in each district to keep track of their activities

Sources say police stations have been ignoring this system for many years, but the top cop has made it clear that now districts have to use it properly.

On the directions of the Police commissioner, the crime branch has prepared a list of wanted criminals in various districts to keep surveillance and track the criminals through PMS and the Visitor Management System.

The Crime Branch has prepared a district-wise list of wanted criminals and sent it to districts to deploy teams to track and arrest wanted criminals.

Delhi Police chief public relations officer and Special CP crime Taj Hassan confirmed that the Crime Branch has prepared the lists of district-wise wanted criminals.

You are directed to deploy teams from the concerned keep station, Special Staff/Ops/ AATS to arrest those who are wanted, keep surveillance over the criminals who are out of jail and keep track of the criminals running in the Judicial custody through PMS/VMS and local intelligence. Suitable rewards can be proposed for the wanted criminals.

"Please direct your staff to be in touch with the corresponding sections/ officials of the Crime Branch, so that concerted/coordinated efforts can be mounted against the hardened criminals and this synergy translates into an organised and effective action at the ground level, joint commissioner, crime, Ravinder Yadav said in his letter to districts.

Sources say each district will have to submit a progress report regarding the system.

A senior police official said this system allows cops to get information about people meeting prisoners and criminals who are out of jail, among others.
In a fresh twist to the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) saga, two new students - Mujeeb Gattoo and Mohammed Qadeer - have been named in the report of a high-level committee formed to look into the February 9 incident.

The pair are alleged to have been part of anti-India sloganeering, and are now missing from the campus.

On February 9, an event organised to protest hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was held despite the university withdrawing its permission.

The two students, who are missing from campus, have been accused of raising anti-India slogans. (Pictured: JNUSU students rally at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi)

According to the report, Gattoo and Qadeer, who hail from Kashmir, were seen in close proximity of the outsiders who indulged in anti-India sloganeering.

The report prepared by a five-member panel, headed by Rakesh Bhatnagar, a professor at the varsity, said it was unfortunate that the students allowed outsiders to be present on campus and shout provocative slogans.

The panel has also noted lapses on the part of the universitys security unit, saying it did not make any effort to stop outsiders from shouting slogans and stop them from leaving the campus.

This group of students had their faces covered by a cloth/scarf most of the time. They were shouting slogans like: Kashmir ki azadi tak, jang rahegi, jang rahegi; Bharat ko ragda, de ragda, zor se ragdo, de ragda and Go India, go back. Along with these outsiders, one JNU student Mujeeb Gattoo was also seen participating in the sloganeering in the video clip. Another student, Mohd Qadeer, was seen close to Gattoo. Both were found in close proximity of the outsiders, the report said.

They (Gatto and Qadeer) are not in their rooms. We have not seen them since the incident took place, one of the students from Kaveri hostel, where Gattoo stayed, told Mail Today.

A social science student, Gattoo joined the university in 2012 and seemingly had no political agenda.

On the other hand, Qadeer has been an active member of the All India Students Association (AISA) and is a resident of Jammu and Kashmir.

Both these Kashmiri students are missing from their respective hostels. Qadeer was in Lohit hostel and has not been seen for the last few days, a senior official from the university told Mail Today, requesting anonymity.

Sucheta De from AISA told Mail Today: From what I know, Qadeer has not been served any show-cause notice by the university. He has gone to Kashmir to meet his mother.

Taking into account the role of outsiders in the controversial event, the university panel has found Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya guilty of arousing communal, caste or regional feeling and creating disharmony among students. No specific charges have been pointed against the JNUSU president Kannhaiya Kumar.

Kumar along with Khalid and Bhattacharya were arrested on charges of sedition. While Kumar is out on bail, Khalid and Bhattacharya are still in custody.

The Delhi Police have failed to identify the masked outsiders mentioned in the university report and have not been able to trace Qadeer and Gattoo.

The report pointed out that slogans like Kashmir ke log sangharsh karo hum tumhare saath hain, Afzal Guru Zindabad, Cheen ke lenge Azaadi, Manipur maange Azaadi, Nagaland maange Azaadi, Kashmir maange Azaadi Kashmir ki Azaadi tak jung rahegi jung rahegi, Hindustan ki barbadi tak, jung rahegi jung rahegi, Hum kya mange azaadi, bandook se lenge azaadi, Cheen ke lenge azaadi, and Ek Afzal maroge, har ghar se Afzal niklega were shouted.
The proposal to set up Supreme Court benches outside Delhi has already been rejected several times

The Modi government on Tuesday vehemently opposed before the Supreme Court any move to establish a National Courts of Appeal with regional benches in major cities  Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai  to hear appeals against the orders of high courts.

This ironically comes on a day when a bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur said it will constitute a five-judge constitution bench to decide the long-pending demand which will take the highest level of justice closer to the doorsteps of the litigants in the far-flung south, east, west and north east areas of the nation.

It will require amendment to the Constitution. I dont think it is possible or desirable. The proposition that the Supreme Court should have benches in different places has already been rejected. Now they are asking for something between high courts and the Supreme Court.

It will require amendment to the Constitution. I dont think it is possible or desirable. The proposition that Supreme Court should have benches in different places has already been rejected.

"Now they are asking for something between High Courts and the Supreme Court. Instead of it what is required is strengthening of the High Courts and the Supreme Court observing restraint in admitting cases, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who represented the centre, told the court.

The Law Ministry had recently echoed the same view.

The apex court has already rejected similar proposals four times  in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2010.

"A full court (a meeting of all 31 judges) of the Supreme Court had rejected the demand saying it would affect the country's unitary character. Our view is also the same, a law ministry source had said.

Meanwhile, the chief justice importantly also directed Rohatgi and senior lawyer KK Venugopal, who has been appointed as amicus curiae, to formulate Questions for reference to the bench by April 4, the next date of hearing.

CJI Thakur said the SC will decide on whether to take the highest level of justice closer to the doorsteps of the litigants.

Puducherry-based advocate V Vasantha Kumar, the petitioner in the PIL demanding the NCA, had submitted that distance of the apex court in the national Capital from other parts of the country, coupled with high travel expense and cost of litigation were coming in way of citizens from far flung areas to approach the top court of the land, which is otherwise also burdened with large scale pendency of cases."
On March 11, the Lok Sabha passed the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016 which will give statutory backing to the collection, preservation and use of individuals' biometric data under the Aadhaar scheme.

Though resistance to the scheme - touching on issues of privacy - has been mainly over the lack of statutory backing, the legislative move has led to another controversy.

The government has sought to bypass the Rajya Sabha, where the government lacks a majority, by classifying the Bill as a Money Bill.

A woman has her eyes scanned during enrollment for an Aadhaar Number. Questions have been asked as to whether or not a Bill that collects and stores biometric data should bypass the Rajya Sabha.

While the Constitution envisages such a procedure for expeditious clearance of laws dealing with the imposition or regulation of taxes, appropriation of money from the Consolidated Fund, etc, the controversy has cropped up because the government decided to take the Money Bill route for the Aadhaar Bill - which may have to do more with people's privacy, than with money.

The Modi government has succeeded in convincing the Speaker, whose decision is deemed to be final, that the classification of the Aadhaar Bill as a Money Bill is neither convincing nor in the larger public interest.

The object of the law - the targeted delivery of subsidies, benefits and services - may be laudable but this does not (as in the case of Money Bills) justify the bypassing of the Rajya Sabha or immunity from scrutiny by any Parliamentary Committee, particularly when the collection of biometric data raises fears of a potential violation of the right to privacy.

While the Aadhaar scheme - introduced through a resolution by the executive in 2009 - is facing a stiff challenge before the Supreme Court, which has even issued interim orders against making it mandatory for the disbursement of subsidies, the scheme may have needed statutory backing to ensure it curbed the pilferage of public funds, while warding off fears of privacy violations.

The fact that the UPA version of the Aadhaar Bill - now withdrawn - had been hanging fire since 2010 may have prompted the government to take the circuitous route to law-making.

The move raises questions, as use of the Aadhaar is not proposed to be limited to identification of the beneficiaries of subsidy, and the UPA version with similar provisions was not introduced as a Money Bill.

The targeted delivery of subsidies may have been highlighted as the main objective of the Bill, but the issue of protecting people's privacy cannot be ignored.

To classify a Bill dealing with formation of Unique Identification Authority of India, collection and storage of biometric data of individuals, use of such data and protection of privacy, etc, as a Money Bill may not be justified as the Constituent Assembly had envisaged the fast-track route bypassing the Rajya Sabha and scrutiny by committees only for some financial provisions.

Article 110(1) states that a Bill will be deemed to be a Money Bill if it contains only provisions dealing with all or any of the matters specifically enumerated therein.

The list includes imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax; the custody of the consolidated Fund or the Contingency Fund, the payment of money into, or the withdrawal of money from, any such Fund; the receipt of money on account of the Consolidated Fund or the public account of India or the custody or issue of such money; or any matter incidental to any of the matters specified.

First Speaker GV Mavalankar stressed that the word only was not restrictive and if a Bill dealt with a tax, it could also have provisions necessary for administration of that tax.

Given the scope for inclusion of incidental matters, the Modi government - learning from the experience of the UPAs Bill which might have failed to garner support of lawmakers after facing strictures from a Parliamentary Committee - may have played a masterstroke by withdrawing the UPA Bill and moving a fresh one classifying it as Money Bill.

The Bill, already passed by the Lok Sabha, is unlikely to face legislative hurdles. It cannot be referred to any committee.The Rajya Sabha cannot reject it, and if it does not return it within 14 days, it will be deemed to have been passed.

But the smooth legislative passage may come with challenges of a different kind. The government may have to face onslaught from Opposition parties with a strong presence in the Rajya Sabha. The move may also throw up fresh challenges for the government in the Supreme Court.

The activists may oppose the move with renewed vigour, fearing a greater threat to privacy in the absence of any effective scrutiny of the law by Parliament.

As such, the task of molding public opinion in favour of the law will be all the more difficult.

New law could encourage forced conversions of Hindus in Pakistan

The new law could encourage forced conversions of married women from the Hindu community

Pakistan's version of the Hindu Marriage Law is currently courting controversy.

A clause in the draft Bill providing for annulment of marriage if either of the spouses converts to another religion is being opposed, as it could encourage the forced conversion of married women from the Hindu community.

Sindh has already passed the law and there is a move towards adoption of the law at a national level.

With Hindus in Pakistan already grappling with forced conversion of girls, the community fears that the clause ending marriage on conversion could potentially encourage the forced conversion of married women as well.

It is not that the Indian version of the law does not refer to conversion, but there is no automatic annulment of marriage on conversion.

Conversion of a spouse gives the other spouse the right to seek divorce.

Section 13, which lists grounds for divorce, permits separation if the spouse ceases to be a Hindu by conversion to another religion and also if the spouse has renounced the world by entering any religious order.

The Indian law frowns upon any advantage sought to be drawn by the defaulting spouse.

In the Sarla Mudgal case, the Supreme Court removed the misconception that polygamy would be permitted if a married Hindu husband embraced Islam.

New National Court of Appeal to only benefit the rich

The Supreme Court should ensure that the NCA does not merely exist to grant more appeals

The Supreme Court is set to consider setting up of a National Court of Appeal (NCA) with regional benches.

The proposal is aimed at making delivery of justice more effective. It has been observed that most litigants from far-off areas either avoid filing appeals in the Supreme Court, or spend a lot of time and money in doing so.

The idea is commendable and is seen as a welcome move. But the court, while considering the moralities, should ensure that setting up of the NCA did not amount to granting one more opportunity of appeal.

The biggest fear is that the setting up of an additional court may come as a boon to the rich who may use the services of high-profile lawyers to question orders of the NCA by way of Special Leave Petitions (SLP) in the Supreme Court.

With the right to appeal in most cases ending at the High Court level, litigants question the decisions by filing SLPs.
Kejriwal said Dalits have been suppressed over centuries, and the rise of crimes against them highlights the hatred and discrimination they face

After connecting with Punjabs distressed farmers during his last trip, Arvind Kejriwal attempted to woo the states Dalit voters during a day-long visit on Tuesday.

Addressing people from Pirthipur in the Roopnagar district, the Delhi Chief Minister slammed the BJP and its ideological mentor the RSS on the issue of Rohith Vemulas suicide, and accused the right-wing of atrocities against Dalits.

Kejriwal said Dalits have been suppressed over centuries, and the rise of crimes against them highlights the hatred and discrimination often faced by the community.

Citing the case of Rohith Vemulas suicide, Kejriwal said that it seems the BJP is allergic to Dalits.

Rohith Vemula had told them that he is a poor Dalit student. The two ministers did not listen. The BJP had stopped an event organised by the Periyar Ambedkar study circle at IIT Madras. One professor was shot at in Madhya Pradesh. It seems that BJP is allergic to Dalits, said Kejriwal.

The AAP leader said that his government is concerned about Dalits and will lend all possible help to the community.

He also favoured reservation in government jobs, while attacking the RSS over its views on the Dalit quota.
Mamata Banerjee

Protests have broken out in West Bengal a day after a bribery sting operation by online news portal Narada News exposed Trinamool Congress leaders accepting cash to "help set up a company".

Opposition members led the outrage, demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The opposition Congress, Left Front, and the BJP organised various protest marches across the city demanding the removal of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government, virtually bringing the city to a standstill.

Chief election commissioner Nasim Zaidi on Tuesday said that the poll panel had already received complaints from the Opposition.

The opposition parties have approached the commission on the bribery issue. We are looking into it, Zaidi said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organised a protest rally and submitted a memorandum to Governor KN Tripathi.

The entire government machinery and the ruling party in West Bengal is now under the grip of unprecedented corruption, misrule and denigration of democratic values. The state is facing a complete constitutional breakdown, the statement that was given to the Governor said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee must step down. It is a shame. We have already placed our demand with the governor seeking his intervention into the matter. A CBI probe into the allegations is also imperative, BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said after meeting the governor.

On the other hand, state youth Congress activists, led by their human rights cell, staged a protest in the citys downtown Esplanade throwing fake notes in the air.
The elderly in India will soon have special facilities and services on their doorstep (photo for representation).

The elderly in India will soon have special facilities and services on their doorstep.

Taking a cue from Sweden, the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is designing a special program in which healthcare workers would assist in home-based care of older, disabled people.

Under the program, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will design geriatric training courses for health workers.

Affordable assistive technology will also be explored which is appropriate in terms of culture, gender and age.

The elderly population is going to increase in India. Sweden, which has the second largest population of elderly, has made health and social care of the older group a significant part of the Swedish Welfare policy. The social and health care set-up has undergone major reforms in Sweden.

"The elderly are provided service centres, nursing homes and home health services apart from old age homes and rehabilitation centres to cater to their needs, said a senior official.

The focus is more on home care using the services of efficient, multi-professional teams trained for this purpose. India is beginning to face the challenges of a growing elderly population, and may learn from the Swedish example. However, the models need to be tailored for the elderly of India, the official added.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has stated that government formation in Jammu and Kashmir is in the final stage, and that the Centre is willing to go an extra mile for the state.

We can say talks about the government formation in J&K are in the final stage. We will be going to Delhi on March 19 for deliberations and things will be clear by March 20, Sat Sharma, BJPs J&K-unit president told Mail Today.

He said the BJP wanted the government formation to take place as soon as possible.

I think something positive is going on between the Centre and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sharma said.

As PDP president Mehbooba Mufti arrives in Delhi, the party remain tight-lipped about Mehbooba's role in the ongoing negotiations

After Jaitleys commitment on the floor of the Parliament on Monday, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti left for the national Capital on Tuesday.

The party is tight-lipped about Mehboobas Delhi visit. A senior PDP leader said the party president was leading negotiations this time.

Some serious dialogue is taking place, said a former minister in Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led government.

Mehbooba didnt pick up the phone despite repeated calls.

Another senior leader of the party, Muzaffer Hussan Baig, who is an MP from north Kashmir, is in New Delhi.

However, sources said Mehbooba has not met Baig till now.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley stated that government formation in Jammu and Kashmir is in the final stages, and that the Centre is willing to go the extra mile for the state

Meanwhile, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, who is in Pune, would be returning to the Capital on Thursday, and sources claim that Mehbooba and Madhav are expected to discuss the issues involving the J&K government formation.

As government development is taking shape in J&K, the PDP is making positive noises.

A senior PDP leader said that all this augurs well.

We had worked a lot for relief and rehabilitation and the Centre releasing relief money silently under the Governors rule speaks volume about the commitment of the Modi government towards the state, the leader said, requesting anonymity.

He added that the PM was doing more than he had promised to the state.

Relations between India and Pakistan are improving, the state is getting funds in relief and rehabilitation, flood protection funds are also coming and we hope something would be done on NHPC as well, he said, indicating that the PDP sees the release funds to the Governor as part of the deal for the government formation.

He said the Central government - instead of creating divisions or looking for a one-man party as an alternative to the PDP in J&K - has stuck to the alliance with the PDP and reached-out to the party.
A decision to demolish Delhi's iconic Hall of Nations and Nehru Pavilion has been labelled a 'disgrace' by one of the men behind their construction.

The iconic buildings were created by structural engineer Mahendra Raj and architect Raj Rewal in 1972, and are still looked on as futuristic landmarks more than 40 years on.

But last year the India Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO) cleared plans to bulldoze the venues to make way for the new world-class convention centre at the Pragati Maidan complex.

The iconic Hall of Nations was built by structural engineer Mahendra Raj and architect Raj Rewal in 1972

It's a move that has shocked 86-year-old Raj, who is now the vice-chairman of the Engineering Council of India, and he is appealing to save the landmarks from the bulldozer.

'These buildings are a reflection of what India was in the 1970s. Destroying them will be as much disgrace as destroying any historic building,' he said.

'We built it to host the first international trade fair to be held in Delhi. It was commissioned by the then government under the authority who maintained the Pragati Maidan complex.

'During that time, steel was not available in abundance. So we built it in reinforced cement, which is even harder to design.

'But we completed it in the record time of two years. It is disastrous that there is a decision to tear it down,' he said.

'Every era has produced iconic buildings in India. Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar or the Bahai temple - we have always upheld buildings that make India a global phenomenon.'

Raj, who is also the brains behind other important buildings like Sri Ram Centre for Arts and the NCDC building, continued: 'We had written to the Heritage Conservation Committee under the Ministry of Urban Development in 2013 to consider including these two buildings as heritage sites.

'There has been no response, positive or otherwise, from their side.'

The same two men also created the Nehru Pavilion, and both buildings are still seen as futuristic in design more than 40 years on from their construction

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed to the High Court along with a request from Indian National Trust for Art and Heritage (INTACH) to stop the process.

The case was closed, with the judgement reading: 'Mere pendency of representation to declare the buildings as "Heritage Buildings" cannot be the basis to stall the redevelopment of the Pragati Maidan Complex. We see no reason to pass any order as sought in the present PIL. The same is dismissed. All the pending applications are also dismissed.'

AGK Menon, founder-member of INTACH said: 'More than the fact that there is difficulty in wrapping ones head around the idea of modern architectural heritage, it is the bureaucratic apathy that is causing trouble.

'Heritage Conservation Committee or the MCD is not saying "no" to notifying it as a heritage building.

'They are just shuttling it back and forth. If no action is taken, the Trade Fair Commission will go ahead with demolition.

Mahendra Raj, who is now 86, said the demolition of the buildings would be 'disastrous' for Indian heritage

'The Rashtrapati Bhavan is not a 100-year-old building. But we consider it heritage because it has been notified as a heritage building.'

The two structures - Hall of Nations and Nehru Pavilion - host book fairs and trade fairs. And at a time when India was going global, it was these structures that helped.

Raj says they were featured in many magazines in Germany, France and Switzerland.

'At that time, these had become Delhis identity. We got to know about the demolition process two years ago when the government was considering it.

'They wanted to build an ultra modern convention centre. But we were able to stall it then.

'But now, the new government has already decided to go through with the process,' he said.

But TPO officials had been complaining of how Pragati Maidan had become inadequate to hold expositions of the scale that are held today compared to when it was built.

But Raj says they are fighting a losing battle, adding: 'Pragati Maidan exhibitions function only certain weeks in a year, a convention centre would function 365 days. It would lead to huge traffic snarls. It will be in the best interest of everyone if the buildings stay.'

When the New Yorks Penn Station was torn down, it gave rise to a movement called Docomomo - or the modern movement in architecture.
Libor allegations: Deutsche Boerse chief Carsten Kengeter

There is much not to like in Deutsche Boerses backdoor effort to take over the London Stock Exchange.

The regulators are not that keen either, which is among the reasons that investment bankers and lawyers are still revising a merger document expected some days ago.

In the rush to get the deal done the LSEs able chief executive Xavier Rolet was pushed towards the door clutching a potentially very fat cheque.

His German counterpart Carsten Kengeter was elevated as first choice to run the enlarged exchange, if the deal is done.

Now we learn that in his previous role at UBS, Kengeter found himself drawn into the Libor fixing scandal.

The allegation, in a draft Serious Fraud Office co-operation agreement seen by the Wall Street Journal, is that Kengeter conspired with convicted Libor rigger Tom Hayes to manipulate interbank rates.

People close to Kengeter have been quick to note that he was several layers above Hayes in UBS hierarchy, was not named during the trial and only came to the attention of the authorities as the result of the efforts by Hayes to implicate colleagues.

Deutsche Boerse hurriedly issued a statement confirming that investigations by UBS and independent third parties, as well as all investigations by the authorities, identified no reasonable grounds for accusing Mr Kengeter of any wrongdoing.

As damaging perhaps, is a UBS memo, attributed to the Deutsche Boerse chief, which instructed Hayes to get on with making money so I can pay him more.

That may be red-in-tooth-and-claw capitalism, of the kind which persuaded UBS to run down its investment banking, but it hardly suggests the finest of banking standards.

No doubt as Hayess ultimate boss at UBS, and former head of Asian trading at Goldman Sachs, Kengeter is ably qualified to lead what will be Europes dominant share trading and clearing platforms.

But it is worth pointing out that under the terms of the Financial Conduct Authoritys new senior persons regime, which makes top bosses fully accountable for what happens on their watch, Kengeter might not fully pass muster.

Long before such rules existed the governor of the Bank of England Mervyn  now Lord  King invited then Barclays chairman Marcus Agius and deputy chairman Sir Mike Rake to his office and all but ordered the dismissal of Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond.

And his sin? Allowing Libor rigging to take place on his watch. The present governor Mark Carney has been unforgiving when it comes to cleaning up markets for the benefit of society. Is this an opportunity to raise an eyebrow?

Slow justice

In spite all the huffing and puffing by the Serious Fraud Office over a determination to bring the market cheats to book, it is not having much success.

At the end of January five Libor traders were exonerated of any wrong-doing at Southwark Crown Court. In the latest humiliating episode the SFO has closed its criminal investigation into allegations of fraudulent conduct in the foreign exchange markets.

The SFO reached the conclusion that the evidence is not good enough to bring the cases to trial after pouring over half a million documents, supplied by the City regulator the FCA, for more than 18 months.

Fiddling foreign exchange rates is far from being a victimless crime in that the end user, be it the citizen going on holiday or the company engaged in billion-dollar transactions, will end up out of pocket.

It has been said to me by senior bankers in the recent past that bad behaviour will not be squeezed out of dealing rooms until those responsible for the misdemeanours are seen being carted off in handcuffs to serve prison sentences.

People are more likely to go to jail for shoplifting or immigration offences than driving a bank over a cliff and destroying its reputation and business model.

Much of the work the SFO does is meticulous stuff which does need to be thoroughly checked. Nevertheless it seems to take endless time to bring big probes such as the alleged bribery payments made by GSK and Rolls-Royce to a conclusion.

Similarly the allegations that Barclays paid potentially illegal commissions to raise emergency cash after the financial crisis has dragged on for too long.

Seeing financial justice done is still too rare.

The much maligned Financial Conduct Authority has found the key to bringing prosecutions to a successful conclusion with former Schroders trader Damian Clarke pleading guilty to nine counts of insider trading which yielded a profit of 155,161. Good work.

Bid Coupe

Mike Coupe at Sainsburys needed to show that the grocer is turning the corner, in the face of the Lidl-Aldi challenge, if he was to underpin shareholder confidence in the companys ability to do something clever with Argos owner Home Retail Group.

The 0.1 per cent advance in Sainsburys sales in the final quarter by scrapping multiple pricing offers demonstrates sensible management in tricky circumstances. It also seems as if Argos counters, in ten Sainsbury stores, are going great guns.
Blimey, the tax office really has got itself into a terrible mess over George Osbornes savings revolution.

The changes dont even kick in until next month, but already revenue collectors are making the sort of errors that cause honest taxpayers years of headaches.

The Chancellors well-intended shake-up is showing all the hallmarks of a major shambles.

His seismic changes mean that savers will no longer have basic-rate, 20 per cent tax deducted before they are paid interest.

Blunder: The Chancellors well-intended savings shake-up is showing all the hallmarks of a major shambles

Instead, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will deduct anything you owe  after the new 1,000 savings allowance (500 for higher-rate taxpayers)  from your salary or pension.

It will do this by adjusting your tax code, which at first glance does seem more sensible than asking people to fill out self-assessment forms.

To deduct the right amount of tax, however, HMRC must find out how much interest you are earning  and that is far easier said than done.

First, HMRC told us its master plan was simply to ask banks and building societies how much interest you were paid last year. As we reveal today, that is a deeply flawed policy.

Officials will get out-of-date information on hundreds of thousands of people whose returns have fallen. Any number of people could be left out of pocket.

Now, HMRC is saying it will use any old information it can get its hands on. That could mean using figures you provided over the phone years ago.

Again, HMRC is going to get useless information and hit savers with tax errors that take an age to correct.

The galling truth is that the tax office is making it up as it goes along. Each week we get a different explanation of how it will work out your tax bill  all of them rotten.

Bungling officials could have solved the problem very easily by taxing savers in arrears.

HMRC should allow everyone tax-free interest until the end of each year, then work out how much they earned and deduct any dues from the next years salary or pension.

If you listen to the Chancellor give his Budget speech at 12.30pm today, it will be clear why HMRC hasnt done this.

Mr Osborne is strapped for cash. Delaying tax collection on savings for 12 months would create a black hole in his finances that he can ill afford.

Gordon Brown was a great tax fiddler, and Mr Osborne has fallen for the same temptation with savings interest.

But the pairs tinkering has caused our tax code to balloon to ten million words. The text is 21,602 pages long, up from 17,795 in 2010.

In 1965, it comprised fewer than 1,000 pages.

Mr Osborne could save himself and HMRC a lot of bother. Ultimately, he should concede that HMRC has no business raiding the interest on our savings at all, as we have already paid tax once on that pot of money.

The best move the Chancellor could make in todays Budget would be to scrap tax on savings altogether.

A fairer fight

When MPs had their gold-plated pensions tapered last May, almost half were spared the changes.

It was decided they were too close to retirement, with less than ten years to go, to bear a cut to the payouts they would get in old age  proving once again that its one rule for them and another for the rest of us.

At short notice, around 500,000 women born in the Fifties have been told to tear up their plans to collect a state pension at the age of 60 and instead wait until they reach 66.

A raucous campaign to slow down the rise is being led by the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) group.

They have had little success because reversing the changes could cost the Treasury up to 30 billion.

Its supporters should rally behind a proposal from the Work and Pensions select committee, which says that workers should be able to take their state pension early if they accept a lower weekly amount.

The devil will be in the detail of how much of the new 155 standard payout they will give up, but this lifeline is worth backing because it is affordable and, therefore, realistic .

Though I would still rather see MPs chip away at their own bloated pensions before attacking ours.

Well done, L&G

Finally, Legal & General has admitted its shoddy treatment of a dying customer trying to claim on her life insurance policy was out of line.

Last month, we told how the giant insurer refused to pay 130,000 to Violeta Beaver after her consultant said she had six months to live.

L&Gs medical experts  who had never met Violeta  claimed she might live longer.

When Money Mail got involved, the firm grudgingly paid up. Now, L&G has found the heart to send a letter to Violetas husband, Perry, to apologise for the distressing and traumatic experience.

It has offered 457 to cover the interest the couple lost due to the delays and 2,000 to compensate for the emotional distress.

Violeta and Perry are deciding whether to spend the money on return flights from the Philippines to the UK for Violetas brothers to visit before she dies, a short break to Ireland if Violeta can travel or a donation to charity.
In January 2001, my wife and I bought a property for our children to live in.

Our daughter and grand-daughter live there now. Would there be any tax implications if we gave it to our daughter?

The property is in joint names (myself and my wife). The purchase price was 46,000. The latest valuation is 115,000.

K. W., Leeds.

Complex question: Would there be any tax implications if parents were to gift a house to their daughter?

Your question might seem straightforward, but Im afraid the answer is rather complex.

Patricia Mock, tax director at accountant Deloitte, says you have to consider capital gains tax (CGT) and inheritance tax.

Youve made a gain of 69,000 (115,000 less the 46,000 purchase price). As you and your wife own the property jointly, this will be split between you  34,500 each.

You each have an annual exemption of 11,100, which would reduce the gain to 23,400 each (assuming the gift is made this tax year). But you should be able to reduce this further.

Ms Mock says: If you incurred any costs in improving the property, these will be deductible, as will any incidental costs of purchase, such as lawyers fees and stamp duty.

The amount of tax will depend on your tax status. If your total gains, including the gain from the property, come to less than 31,785, youll pay 18 per cent. But if they exceed this figure, youll be taxed at 28 per cent.

There is one proviso here. If you and your husband have lived in the house, then part of the gain may be exempt from CGT.

Next comes inheritance tax. Each of you will be treated as making a gift to the value of 57,500 (half the 115,000 property value).

Providing you both live a further seven years, there will be no tax to pay. However, if you do not, the gift will fall within your nil-rate band of 325,000 each. If you have not made other gifts exceeding this limit, there would be no tax to pay.

Ms Mock says there is an alternative: you could continue to own the house and leave it to your daughter in your wills. The gains arising up to the dates you die will be exempt from CGT. However, the value of the house at your deaths will be included as part of your estates.

You need to check the legal nature of your joint ownership to establish how this would be reflected in your wills. You should take advice from a tax and estate planning expert.

YOU HAVE YOUR SAY Every week Money Mail receives hundreds of letters and emails about our stories. Heres what you had to say about our investigation into the rip-off insurance policies, endowments and pensions held by millions of savers: I took out one of these pensions in May 1985 with a lump sum of 1,043. Today, its worth 1,616  the rest has gone in charges and management fees. Dont you just love the finance industry. M. R., Swindon, Wilts. I was sold an endowment policy by my father. He even made a note on the back of the policy document that estimated a payout of 94,000. On maturity, the insurer sent me a cheque for 32,000. It was not only the customers who were deceived, but employees as well. D. D., via email. My wife and I were sold with- profits life insurance policies that have changed hands four times between companies. If it wasnt for the prior profits the policies made and the low fixed payments, we would have dumped them long ago. Insurers should not be allowed to sell with-profits schemes and then find ways not to pay them. D. R., Stockton-on-Tees. Unfortunately, a lot of poor value plans were sold in the Eighties, but those who bought them should have reviewed them or had them checked by a financial adviser several times over the past 30-odd years. They should not have just left them until retirement and then complained they were poor value. P. L., Surrey. I worked door-to-door for an insurer for almost ten years in the Nineties and we made a fortune. Two-thirds of the first years premiums came as commission and 2.5 pc every year after that for the full term of the policy. C. T., Glasgow. I was offered an endowment mortgage in 1972 and read the small print. I then showed the annoyed salesman the door. What would have been an endowment payment was used to buy a larger house. A. B., Telford, Shropshire. Buying a whole-life policy was my only financial mistake. It sounded great as I had just bought my house and had a young son. After 15 years, my monthly payments rose from 20 to 120 a month. They wanted to get rid of me and forced me to leave, giving me 1,300 for the privilege. T. R., Birmingham.

I was horrified to discover my November Vodafone bill was 229.80 instead of the usual 9.

Id been charged 165.69 for a call on October 14 to my husband who was, and still is, in hospital.

I called Vodafone and said there was no way we could have talked for the nine hours and 39 minutes the bill claimed we had.

It agreed to investigate and said it would delay the bill for two weeks and get back to me.

When it failed to do so, I called again and was told I would have to pay the full amount. I said I couldnt afford this, but was told it had already taken the money.

My bank cancelled the direct debit, but I am worried my phone will be cut off. I wish to pay the money but dont know how.

Mrs P. C., Glos.

I have excellent news for you. Vodafone has looked at your unique circumstances and has come up trumps  it has refunded the whole 229.80. Unfortunately, you did make a mistake.

When you called your husband on October 14, you left the phone connected, so the bill ran up throughout the day.

Vodafone has obviously taken into account the stress you would have been under at this time.

STRAIGHT TO THE POINT I often read about the Halifax prize draw and have received invitations to enter. Is it a scam? R. P., by email. Halifax does have a genuine monthly prize draw for customers with savings accounts. There have been 55,800 winners who have received 33 million in prizes. However, you should be wary of any correspondence that claims to be from the bank and offers big prizes if you are not actually a Halifax customer. My AVIVA with-profits endowment, which Ive held for 19 years, matures in October 2019. If I surrendered it now, would I be liable for tax? W. B., Sheffield. Usually, as long as you have paid your premiums for at least ten years or three-quarters of the policy term, there is no tax charge. However, you may face exit penalties, a reduction in the value of your fund or not be eligible for bonuses. It is worth checking the terms with your provider and making sure you understand the full implications of surrendering your policy early. My husband has 100 in premium bonds. Wed like to cash them in, but have lost the paperwork. What should we do? M. L., by email. Call premium bond provider National Savings and Investments on 0500 007 007. Alternatively, write to NS&I, Glasgow G58 1SB. In either case, youll need to provide your name, address and date of birth, and try to provide a rough date for when the premium bonds were bought. You may also need to give a previous address if you moved without telling the bank. If you send a letter, your husband must sign it or it cant be acted on. I took out a phone and internet contract with BT last July and was promised a 200 Sainsburys gift card, which never arrived. BT is refusing to send another. A. K., Sunderland. BT did send out the initial vouchers. But a letter-tracking service showed they werent delivered. You say you asked for details to claim compensation from Royal Mail, but BT wouldnt help. When I contacted BT, it apologised and said a new gift card is on its way. I started a pension 30 years ago and made a one-off contribution of 750. I left the company soon after, then it went bust. How can I track down my cash? I. H., by email. Contact the Pension Tracing Service on 0345 6002 537 or write to The Pension Service 9, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LU. Its a government service that was set up to help people find nest eggs that have disappeared.

I paid 26.78 for a computer back-up service using my Post Office MasterCard. However, I became suspicious this was a scam.

I reported that I had lost my card, so it could not be used again and I could get a new one.

Nevertheless, the Post Office credit card security section sent me a letter in December demanding payment of 107.14 to the back-up service.

I do not understand why the Post Office is demanding I pay scammers who turned up on my laptop and kept asking for payment until I parted with 26.78.

I am a 79-year-old widower.

F. G., Kent.

A number of companies operating on the internet tread a very thin line between scams and legitimate business.

These companies operate by invading your computer using what is known as malware. They can offer services such as computer back-up, but once on your computer, they can be very difficult to remove.

In your case, you had signed up to a trial of this service, but the recurring payments were not cancelled at the end of the period.

I have looked at reviews of the service published by specialist PC magazines and, apparently, it is legitimate. But on internet forums I found many negative comments about this and similar services.

Post Office Money has refunded the payments you say you did not authorise and has put a stop to further payments.

For future reference, if you have a payment you want to stop, you should contact the firm concerned and your credit card provider.

If the firm is difficult to contact or does not respond, it will be sufficient to deal purely with your credit card company.

Cutting up your card or asking for a new one does not stop a recurring transaction such as this.

A second point is that anyone tempted by services such as these should look for reviews by legitimate computer magazines.
Legal & General boss Nigel Wilson has criticised the government over support for small businesses

Britain needs to develop a culture of lending to small businesses, an insurance boss has claimed, as it was revealed more than half of start-ups are funded by credit card.

Nigel Wilson, the boss of Legal & General, yesterday said the startling borrowing figure underlines why Britain is so bad at turning start-up firms into thriving grown up businesses.

Wilson says the UK is too reliant on debt and it is still too difficult for firms to get funding.

He added the country has yet to develop the virtuous equity culture of the US where entrepreneurs can more easily get access to finance to grow their business.

Banks have been criticised for not lending enough to small businesses since the financial crisis.

Despite the rise of alternative finance, such as peer-to-peer lenders, Wilson said small firms still do not have enough access to funding. L&G said it had hiked its dividend by 19 per cent to 13.4p per share after yet another bumper year.

Profits jumped 10 per cent to 1.09billion.

A national drive to enrol millions of people into work pension schemes has been a huge boost for L&G and other insurers.

Like many of its peers L&G reported falling earnings in its general insurance business as it was hit by stiff competition and the severe winter storms.

But it was boosted by the pension reforms which came into force in April last year.

Despite a 45 per cent slump in sales of individual annuities to 327million, L&G said assets run by its fund management arm jumped 8 per cent to 746billion.
Witnesses report more than 100 people killed, many of them children

Saudi-led warplanes killed at least 65 people and wounded dozens in several airstrikes in northern Yemen on Tuesday, witnesses say.

Airstrikes hit a busy outdoor market in Yemen's northwestern province of Hajja, a region largely controlled by the Iran-allied Shiite Houthi rebels.

While the coalition intervening in Yemen's civil war has been blamed for the attack, Saudi Arabian officials have yet to claim responsibility.

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Deadly war: At least 65 people were killed in the attack on a busy outdoor market in Mustaba, Yemen's Hajja province, but local reports claim more than 100 died in the airstrikes

Shocking: Horrific images claiming to be from the scene of the strikes show dead bodies strewn across the streets, with torn limbs and charred bodies lying among the rubble

Local news claims at least 65 people were killed and 55 wounded, while reports on Wednesday morning cited more than 100 dead.

A majority of the dead and wounded in Tuesday's airstrikes were reportedly civilians, rather than Houthi militia, the believed intended targets.

The market in the city of Mustaba, Hajja province, serves tens of thousands of people and was struck during a busy time.

Horrific images claiming to be from the scene of the strikes show dead bodies strewn across the streets, many of them children, with torn limbs and charred bodies lying next to sacks of flour and twisted metal.

'The scene was terrifying,' witness Showei Hamoud told The Associated Press.

The civil war in Yemen pits the Shiite Houthi rebels and supporters of ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, against the current government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi - which is supported by a Saudi-led coalition

'Blood and body parts everywhere.' He said many of the dead were children who worked stalls or carry goods in return for tips.

'People collected the torn limbs in bags and blankets,' he said, adding that he could count up to 40 motionless bodies.

A second witness, Mazahem Khedr, said 'dozens were killed' and that he saw wounded people screaming for help.

The global charity Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said earlier on Tuesday that more than 40 people, all of them civilians including an eight-year-old in critical condition, were admitted to Abs Hospital after an air strike in Mustaba.

More than 6,000 people, half of them civilians, have been killed in Yemen's civil war since the Saudi-led intervention began in March 2015, according to the United Nations.

Local news reported some 55 wounded, while Medicins Sans Frontieres said they had received more than 40 people in need of hospital care in the wake of the strikes on Tuesday

The conflict pits the Shiite Houthi rebels and military units loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, against the internationally-recognized government and President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Brigadier General Ahmed al-Asseri, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition - which supports President Hadi - said it was looking into reports of the attack.

'We are investigating this to make sure if it is true or not. It's too early to talk about until we reach a clear picture, but we regret any injuries or loss of life if it did happen,' Asseri said.

He said Yemeni army forces loyal to President Hadi and backed by the coalition were in action in parts of Haja, but witnesses to Tuesday's airstrikes said there were no military targets nearby.

Hajja is northwest of the capital, Sanaa, which fell to the Houthis in September 2014.

The Houthis issued a statement describing the market attack as 'gruesome crime' that threatens peace talks, but stopped short of vowing to retaliate.
Daughter claimed nurse tried to 'force' porridge down her mother's throat

But within six days found unconscious and dehydrated in a soiled bed

Pat Crosby fit and well when sent to Darnton House care home last year

Pat Crosby died after a care home nurse allegedly tried to force porridge down her throat as she lay unconscious in bed, it was claimed yesterday

A grandmother-of-six died after a care home nurse allegedly tried to force porridge down her throat as she lay unconscious in bed, it was claimed yesterday.

Pat Crosby, 89, had been deemed fit and well by doctors when she was sent to a 'transitional' unit at the care home following more than a month in hospital.

But within six days of arriving there her daughter Anne Hinchliffe found her lying unconscious and badly dehydrated in a soiled bed, with medicines strewn around.

She claimed a nurse had tried to 'force' porridge down her mother's throat.

She was immediately returned to hospital, but died ten days later on October 14 last year.

Police have now launched an investigation into the incident at Darnton House in Ashtonunder-Lyne, Greater Manchester, following complaints to health bodies by families with relatives at the home.

Darnton had already been placed in special measures by watchdogs who found it 'unsafe, uncaring and inadequate'.

Mrs Hinchliffe, 56, yesterday accused care home bosses of 'wilful neglect'.

The retired bank manager said: 'Mum was lying in a soiled bed, there were tablets in the bed and on the floor, tablets half dissolved and others wrapped up in tissues. It was awful.

'If I hadn't turned up when I did she would have been left to die. Then they falsified medical records to cover it up.

'A nurse tried to force porridge down her throat when she was still unconscious and only stopped when a doctor warned her mum could choke.'

She says her mother was not given any food for two days and claims she was refused a doctor for four days.

Three MPs have jointly written to Tameside Hospital NHS Trust demanding answers to 37 separate questions over the care Mrs Crosby received.

The 89-year-old had been deemed fit and well by doctors when she was sent to a 'transitional' unit at the care home following more than a month in hospital. But within six days of arriving there her daughter Anne Hinchliffe found her lying unconscious and badly dehydrated in a soiled bed, with medicines strewn around

Mrs Crosby was transferred to Darnton House (pictured), which only opened last year, in September after spending a month in hospital

Mrs Crosby was transferred to Darnton House, which only opened last year, in September after spending a month in hospital.

She was placed in a Transitional Care Unit (TCU) where her care needs were to be assessed before a care plan was organised and she was allowed to go home.

But Mrs Hinchliffe says that instead of caring for her and building her strength back up she believes that her mother was neglected and left to starve.

Mrs Crosby at age 21 (left). Mrs Hinchliffe, 56, yesterday accused care home bosses of 'wilful neglect' in regards to her mother (right)

'Darnton House was culpable in mum's death,' she said.

Last night it emerged that the TCU at the home has been shut down.

L&M Healthcare runs four care homes in the North West.

A spokesman said: 'L&M Healthcare is unable to comment further at this time as there is an ongoing investigation. We will be co-operating fully to assist the police in their inquiries.'
Five people have been bitten in one day by snakes, including one man who didn't realise he'd been bitten until his leg started to go numb and ankle turned black, as the reptiles seemed to co-ordinate their attacks.

The victims of the bites, all from unknown snakes and all of which occurred in Queensland, included a woman in her 80s who was bitten on her lower leg and a teenage boy who was bitten on his finger.

Tuesday's first bite victim was the woman in her 80s, who was bitten at a home in Brisbane's north just before 4am, the Courier Mail reported.

Five people were bitten by snakes in one day in Queensland on Tuesday, each in one of the locations above. All are expected to recover

None of the people bitten were knew what sort of snake they had been bitten by. Above is a venomous Red-bellied Black snake (stock image)

One of the world's most venomous snakes, the Eastern Brown Snake, is found in Queensland (stock image)

A Death Adder, another of the venomous snakes which can be found in Queensland (stock image)

About 11am, a 27-year-old man in Brisbane's CBD called emergency services when he noticed his leg was going numb and saw it was black around the ankle.

He was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a stable condition, and believed he had been bitten earlier when mowing elsewhere.

Later, just before 3pm, a man in his 40s was bitten on the lower leg in Pomona, on the Sunshine Coast and half an hour later, the teenage boy was bitten in Brassall, near Ipswich.

About the same time an elderly woman in Blackwater was bitten and taken to Townsville Hospital.

All of the victims were expected to recover.

The spate of bites comes after a summer filled with concerns of a snake plague across Australia, when a high number of elderly women and pets were attacked by the reptiles.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF BITTEN BY A SNAKE? If the correct first aid treatment is applied to a snakebite as soon as possible the chance of survival is greatly increased.

The correct first aid procedure is known as the Pressure Immobilisation method. It works by limiting the spread of venom throughout the body. Pressure - A broad constrictive bandage is applied to the affected area of the body (usually a limb) starting at the bite site and working towards the heart. Immobilisation - Preventing movement of the affected area reduces the spread of venom throughout the body. Get medical assistance for the patient. Source: Whatsnakeisthat.com.au Advertisement

Earlier in January, Dr Bob Cavey from Ultimate Veterinary Clinic in Narre Warren South in Melbourne told Daily Mail Australia they had noticed an increase in bitten pets.

Weve certainly noticed that a lot of people have been ringing us this year with dogs that have died with what looks like snake bites, with ample evidence to conclude it was the cause of death.

He said snakes were more active on especially hot days.

The hotter the day, the more active the snakes are  definitely.

Its a very hot season. Theres also a lot of new developments so the snakes dont have the habitat that they used to have, so theyre basically moving into peoples backyards

He said the habitat of tiger snakes had been reduced recently with an increase in developments and housing estates.

He said summer 2012 had also been a big year for snake bites.

The 27-year-old man who was in the Brisbane CBD when he noticed he had been bitten was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (stock image)

An elderly woman, aged in her 80's, was taken to the Townsville Hospital (pictured) after she was bitten by a snake early on Tuesday morning (stock image)
The lawyer representing the seven women in a defamation case against Bill Cosby has filed papers demanding that one of his lawyers be blocked from becoming involved in the case.

Monique Pressley appeared alongside Bill's wife Camille Cosby when she gave a deposition in the case last month, but failed to fill out the necessary paperwork according to attorney Joseph Cammarata.

The 208-page filing also accuses Pressley of making it difficult to conduct the deposition, noting that Camille declined to answer questions at least 98 times, citing marital or attorney-client privilege.

Pressley's ethics are also called into question, and her behavior in past cases.

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Legal eagle: Monique Pressley (above on February 3) appeared alongside Bill's wife Camille Cosby when she gave a deposition in a defamation case against her husband last month

Claim: Pressley failed to fill out the necessary paperwork according to attorney Joseph Cammarata, who is representing the seven women in the case against Cosby (above on February 3)

Ms. Pressley has been engaged in the unauthorized practice of law on behalf of Camille Cosby in this action since December 18, 2015, whereas Ms. Pressley only requested leave of this Court to appear pro hac vice on behalf of Defendant,' reads the court filing.

'Indeed, Ms. Pressley represented in an affidavit submitted to this Court that she would only represent Defendant.

'Furthermore, Ms. Pressley never entered an appearance on behalf of Mrs. Cosby, nor did she otherwise take any steps to properly represent Mrs. Cosby in this action.

'Ms. Pressley thus has egregiously violated the rules of this Court and the laws of the State of Massachusetts.'

It goes on to say; 'Ms. Pressley has previously violated legal rules regarding the unauthorized practice of law, in the State of Maryland.

'Moreover, in a third jurisdiction, the District of Columbia, the United States District Court found in a still-pending action that Ms. Pressley, inter alia, failed to timely disclose attempted evidence-tampering, as an attorney in a case pending before that Court.'

In that second case, Pressley is accused of withholding information from both the court and plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed after the mass arrest of protesters in 2002 in DC's Pershing Park.

Pressley was defending the city in that lawsuit and was accused of not revealing that internal records had been almost been deleted from the police department's database.

The attempt to delete these records, which had to do with the arrests the day of the protest, failed because there were backups.

There were also claims that were never substantiated that police video had been deleted or removed from the system.
British documentary maker Louis Theroux is considering making a film about the Australian outback on an upcoming tour of the country later this year.

Theroux is coming to Australia for a live stage tour in September to speak for the first time about the people and events behind his films and documentaries.

He has made a name for himself telling stories from inside California's San Quentin State Prison and talking to the extreme believers of the Westboro Baptist Church who are known for picketing the funerals of American soldiers.

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British documentary maker Louis Theroux is considering making a film about the Australian outback when he come to the country in September for a live stage tour to talk about his films

Theroux has also told stories of the San Fernando Valley's male porn performers and Neo-Nazis.

He is now hoping to film the Australian outback on his upcoming tour.

'I've always been interested in the landscape of Australia. The idea of the outback is hugely appealing,' he said, according to the ABC.

'I've got a romantic association both with the American West and the Australian interior which seems to strike emotional tone of austerity and size and remoteness, people carving out their destinies in this vast wilderness.

'I don't know exactly what the story is but I've loved the idea of being in that frontier... the town at the end of line, this one-horse town with lives that combine dignity and a sense of desperation.'

His two-week tour will be the first time he openly talks about his films.

Theroux says he has always been interested in the landscape of Australia and the idea of the outback was hugely appealing

He has previously told stories from inside California's San Quentin State Prison and talking to the extreme believers of the Westboro Baptist Church who are known for picketing the funerals of American soldiers

'For me, making my programs is quite a private process,' Theroux said.

'They are about forging a human connection with people whose lives are at the outermost edge of what we as people experience.'

The filmmaker's work spans over 15 years and takes viewers inside some of the world's most fascinating beliefs, behaviours and institutions including San Fernando Valley's male porn performers and the extremist believers of the Westboro Baptist Church.

Known for his BBC series Weird Weekends in which he dives into the intimate corners of American culture, Theroux added he hopes to invite Australian viewers into his exploration of sex, drugs, death and human nature.

The tour will kick start in Perth on September 22 before heading to Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane.

Fans will also have the chance to pick at the filmmaker's brain in a Q&A session in the second half of the show.
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The row over a 'deformed' Crufts winner deepened yesterday as the RSPCA questioned why the dog was even competing.

German shepherd Cruaghaire Catoria  known as Tori  won a Best in Breed title despite having a curved back and struggling to walk properly.

Hundreds of animal lovers vented their concern on line about the three-year-old bitch's appearance, forcing Channel 4 to address the issue during its coverage of the world famous show on Sunday.

German shepherd Cruaghaire Catoria won a Best in Breed title despite having a curved back and struggling to walk properly

Host Clare Balding said Tori looked 'lame'. The Kennel Club, which runs the show, said the dog's condition 'worried us'.

Yesterday the RSPCA said it was 'appalled' to see a dog that 'could not move freely' had won a title. But the breeder, Susan Cuthbert, insisted her dog was simply nervous of the crowd and cameras.

German shepherds are often used as service dogs due to their strength and intelligence. In that role, they are more familiar to the public for having a straight back.

But those bred for shows with high pedigrees have developed a more sloping back  a contrast which was raised in 2008 by the BBC documentary, Pedigree Dogs Exposed. It said show dogs have been bred to have a banana-shaped back and sagging back ends, leading to them being described as 'half-dog, half-frog'.

Mrs Cuthbert said her dogs are bred to strict guidelines set up by Max Von Stephanitz, the 'inventor' of the German shepherd in the late 19th century. However, critics said his dogs had a very straight back. Concerns have grown that the animals with curved backs can be left crippled.

The RSPCA said it was 'appalled' to see a dog that 'could not move freely' had won a title. But the breeder, Susan Cuthbert, insisted her dog was simply nervous of the crowd

German shepherds are often used as service dogs due to their strength and intelligence. In that role, they are more familiar to the public for having a straight back

Mrs Cuthbert, 42, of Fife, described comments made about Tori as 'horrendous'. She added: 'How can you judge a dog on such a brief observation?I don't see what the problem is.'

A spokesman for RSPCA said: 'We would question how the dog had been allowed to have qualified for Crufts. In doing so, this dog, like all Crufts competitors, would have been awarded on at least one other occasion, suggesting this is unlikely to be an isolated incident.'

Mrs Cuthbert, 42, of Fife, issued a 1,500 word statement describing comments made about Tori as 'horrendous'. She added: 'How can you judge a dog on such a brief observation?I don't see what the problem is.'

She stressed her dog had passed a strict vet's inspection.

Yesterday Kennel Club Secretary Caroline Kisko said concern for German shepherds' health is reflected in the fact the breed is classed as 'category three' under the club's 'breed watch' scheme. This relates to certain breeds where some dogs have 'visible conditions or exaggerations' that could cause pain or discomfort.

A spokesman added: 'We will continue to review judges who may appear to disregard the health instructions they are given.'
Uber drivers say they are dropping teenagers and even primary school students to school when they are running late to save lazy parents the trouble of driving them in.

Parents are said to be using the unregulated ride-sharing service to chauffeur their children to and from sporting events and sleepovers, despite the minimum-age to register being 18.

One Melbourne driver told the Herald Sun he had done a number of trips with teenagers running late for high-school, and had once driven a mother with her two young children to primary school.

Uber drivers say there is an increasing demand to chauffeur primary school students and teenagers to school (stock)

One Melbourne Uber driver said he had once driven a mother with her two young children to primary school (stock)

'It's part of the lazy generation. Why take a school bus or walk, or drive your child to school, if you can get an Uber?' the driver told the publication.

'Parents are setting up Uber accounts for their 15-year-olds  they have the mobile phone, the credit card, and now the Uber account.'

The driver claimed that the roads surrounding some of Melbourne's private high-schools were crowded with luxury hire cars ferrying children to class in the morning.

Uber requires new users to provide credit card details in order to sign up to the service, but some parents are signing up their teenage children to the service with their own cards.

Those using the service can send a text message through the app with a link to the trip, meaning parents can follow the route and know exactly where their children are at all times.

Victorian Principals Association president Gabrielle Leigh encouraged parents to walk their children to school rather than send them in a ride-sharing service.

'Nothing beats a walking bus of local students with one parent walking to school, if they can,' she said.

Uber requires new users to provide credit card details in order to sign up to the service

Social media users defended the increasing use of Uber by parents to send their children to school in the morning (stock image)

Uber's website says its drivers must pass 'rigorous criminal background and driver history checks provided by the Australian Federal Police and relevant state transport departments.'

A number of social media users headed online to defend the increasing use of Uber by parents for their children.

'When I went to school there was a good school bus system. I am looking at enrolling my son for schools and out of the three schools only one has school buses and the other school have no form of public transport,' wrote one man.

'Not saying I would use uber but can understand why people are using them if there is absolutely no public transport to get there.'

Uber Melbourne has been contacted for comment.
See the latest on the GOP debate at www.dailymail.co.uk/GOPDebate

The 13th Republican debate hosted by Fox News and Kelly is due to take place on March 21

Megyn Kelly on Tuesday night during the March 15 primaries

The seemingly endless feud between Fox News Host Megyn Kelly and GOP front-runner Donald Trump continued on Tuesday night.

Trump retweeted numerous posts about Kelly saying she was bashing Trump on Fox News as the pundits covered the night's primaries.

And the candidate also called her 'Crazy Megyn' and branded her 'unwatchable'.

Fox News announced Monday that it will host a debate in Salt Lake City, which was scheduled last month.

It will be the 13th debate of the GOP presidential primary.

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Donald Trump (left) went on the attack against his nemesis Megyn Kelly (right) in a Twitter tirade, in which he called her 'Crazy Megyn' over and over

Trump told Fox 2 that he has had enough with the debates and called for them to end.

The debate will be moderated by Fox News hosts Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly and Chris Wallace, who have been praised for aggressively questioning the Republican candidates.

'I think we've had enough debates,' Trump told Fox 2 on Friday.

'I mean, how many times do you have to give the same answer to the same question?'

On Tuesday night, the Donald's claws were out as he retweeted aggressive tweets about Kelly.

One person said he was electing to watch CNN instead of Fox News when he saw Kelly was hosting.

Trump retweeted his supporter's complaints about Kelly before airing his own grievances and calling her 'Crazy Megyn'

Another post Trump retweeted, which was directed at Kelly, said: 'If media wasn't so biased against Trump, he would've won all of the delegates.'

Trump retweeted seven times about Megyn Kelly, calling her 'Crazy Megyn' twice.

'Can't watch Crazy Megyn anymore.

'Talks about me at 43% but never mentions that there are four people in race.

'With two people, big & over!' Trump wrote.

Fox News host Megyn Kelly lit in to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during the first official presidential debate of 2016 (pictured) for demeaning comments he's made over the years toward women, including Rosie O'Donnell, pointing out that he's in the past called them 'fat pigs' and 'slobs'

At the first Republican debate on August 6 (pictured), Donald Trump said he felt he was being treated 'unfairly' by Kelly after she asked him about his derogatory remarks directed at women

When a person wrote the Kelly was 'trying so hard to bash Trump' he replied: 'Don't worry, everyone is wise to Crazy Megyn!'

His final tweet reads: 'Watching other networks and local news.

'Really good night! Crazy Megyn Kelly is unwatchable.'

Trump's beef with Kelly began on August 6, during the first Republican debate, which Kelly co-hosted.

Kelly asked Trump about demeaning comments he'd made over the years about women, including Rosie O'Donnell, pointing out that he'd called them 'fat pigs' and 'slobs'.

Trump boycotted the second Fox News debate (pictured) and instead held his own event due to the feud with Kelly

Trump responded, saying he only spoke that way about Rosie O'Donnell.

Trump hit back at the host's treatment of him during the debate, and he also gave a series of interviews on Friday morning accusing Fox News of treating him 'unfairly'.

Following the debate, Trump went on CNN and said Kelly had 'blood coming out of her... wherever' when she was grilling him on his history of insulting women.

On January 28, Trump boycotted a Fox News debated moderated by Kelly to hold his own event to benefit veterans after saying Kelly was 'unfair' to him.

The two squared off during the last debate on March 3 and will come face-to-face again at the next Republican debate, which will take place on on March 21.
The details of injuries sustained by Todd Palin, the husband of former Alaska Governor and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, in a weekend snowmobile accident have been revealed by the couples daughter, Willow.

Willow Palin, 21, posted a photo of her father on Instagram in which she explained her father had surgery on his shoulder and ribs after suffering 14 rib fractures, a collapsed lung and other injuries.

Had surgery last night on his shoulder and broken ribs - 14 total rib fractures, she wrote in her Instagram caption on Tuesday. Still keeping a close eye on him with his collapsed lung and other injuries.

Update: Willow Palin, 21, posted a photo of her father on Instagram in which she explained the extent of her father's injuries

Recovery: Todd Palin, left, underwent surgery early Tuesday morning after being in a very serious snowmobile accident Sunday night in Alaska. Pictured above with his wife Sarah Palin, right, in 2008

Other than that, everything is good and steady, she added. Thank you for all the support and we appreciate all the good vibes getting sent our way.

Mr Palin underwent surgery early Tuesday morning after the snowmobiling accident left him hospitalized in an intensive care unit

In a post on Facebook early Tuesday morning, Sarah Palin detailed her husband Todd's injuries while thanking her supporters for their prayers.

Palin wrote that her husband suffered multiple broken and fractured ribs, a broken shoulder blade, a broken clavicle, a collapsed lung and other knee and leg injuries.

The 51-year-old champion snowmobile racer underwent surgery early Tuesday morning to repair multiple fractures.

'Thank you for your prayers for a speedy recovery. We, as his wife and children, appreciate your respect for our privacy during this time,' the statement reads. 'Knowing Todd, once he's cognizant, he'll probably ask docs to duct tape him up and he'll call it good. He's tough.'

Injuries: Sarah Palin posted this update about her husband's condition on Facebook early Tuesday morning

Outdoorsman: Mr Palin is a four-time champion of the Tesoro Iron Dog - the world's longest snowmobile race. Pictured above he is seen competing in the race in 2009

The post included a smiling picture of Todd, and daughter Bristol Palin reposted it to Instagram, writing, 'Toughest guy I know, thank you for all the love and support'.

Few details are currently known about the accident, but the Alaska Dispatch-News reported that only one snowmobile was involved.

Knowing Todd, once he's cognizant he'll probably ask docs to duct tape him up and he'll call it good. He's tough.

Mr Palin was reportedly on a ride with family members but was found by a bystander.

Kevin Kastner, executive director of Iron Dog Inc - the snowmobile race Mr Palin has won four times - told CNN that Mr Palin is in serious but stable condition and the family seems to be doing 'pretty well'.

Mr Palin's father Jim said on Monday that he expects his son to fully recover. He called the crash 'one of those freak accidents'.

Sarah Palin was campaigning for Donald Trump in Florida when her husband was involved in the accident. She cancelled one appearance to fly back to Alaska, but still spoke at a Trump town hall on Monday afternoon before catching her flight.

Won't stop: Sarah Palin was in Florida campaigning from Donald Trump when her husband was involved in the accident. She spoke at a town hall for the Republican before boarding a flight back to Alaska Monday afternoon

'When real life happens, when somebody is sick in your family, there is an accident that happens...all of these real life issues that happen it really puts thing in perspective doesn't it?

'And doesn't it make you so appreciate your time? Time is our most valuable resource. It makes me appreciate the time that we have to spend in doing something so worthy and that's to get Donald J Trump elected president,' she continued.

Palin then lashed out at the groups who had disrupted Trump rallies in the midwest this week, as well as the media for covering the violent events.

'What we don't have time for is all of that petty punk-a** little thuggery that's been going on with these "protesters" who are doing nothing but wasting your time and trying to take away your First Amendment rights, your rights to assemble peacefully, and the media being on the thugs' side - what the hell are you guys thinking media?' Palin asked.

Taking to the stage following Palin's appearance, Trump made an awkward segue-way into gun control by insisting if Todd Palin had been at the scene of the San Bernardino attacks he would have saved lives by firing back.

Sympathies: Ted Cruz was the first presidential candidate to express sympathies on Twitter for injured Todd Palin

Thoughts from Arizona: Sen John McCain also tweeted a message of support for Todd Palin Monday afternoon

At the rally, Palin thanked the Trump supporters for their prayers for her husband, before launching into a pitch for the Republican front-runner.

'Thank you guys for your prayers for my husband who is recovering in ICU right now after a little wreck on a snow machine - big wreck,' Palin said.

He then reportedly added: 'Forget about Todd, especially now'.

However, is seems unlikely the GOP contender intended the comment negatively as he went on to thank Sarah Palin and told her: 'get home to that incredible husband'.

Mr Palin's accident happened on Sunday night, not long after his eldest daughter Britol posted a picture on Instagram of her newborn daughter Sailor and brother Trig with her father.

'Sailor's first time at Papa's cabin,' Bristol captioned the picture.

Later that night, Bristol posted a snapshot of her seven-year-old son Tripp wearing a helmet, a jacket, and matching black gloves.

'And my future Iron Dog Boy #openface #handmedowns,' she wrote, referencing the grueling 2,000-mile off-road snowmobile race her father competed in last month.

It's unclear if Tripp was with his grandfather at the time of the snowmobile accident.

The night of the accident: Bristol Palin took her daughter Sailor Grace to visit her father Todd's cabin for the first time this weekend. She posted a picture of Todd with his granddaughter and seven-year-old son Trig Sunday night

Snowmobile ride: Later on Sunday night, Bristol Palin posted this picture of her seven-year-old son Tripp bundled up with a helmet on. It's unclear if Tripp was with his grandfather at the time of the crash

Sunshine State bound: The former Gov Palin posted this picture showing her leaving Alaska for Florida on Saturday to stump for Trump

Mr Palin is a skilled Alaskan outdoorsman, and has won the the Tesoro Iron Dog - the world's longest snowmobile race - four times.

He was forced to scratch out of this year's competition after his partner suffered engine trouble.

While defending his title in 2008, Mr Palin was thrown 70 feet from his machine and broke his arm, but was still able to finish in fourth place.

Todd and Sarah Palin met in high school and have five children together: sons Track, 26; and Trig, 7; and daughters Bristol, 25; Willow, 21; and Piper, 14.

For most of his working life, Mr Palin worked as an oil field production manager for BP. He left the company in 2009 to spend more time with his family. He has also worked as a commercial salmon fisherman in Bristol Bay, Alaska.

Sarah Palin served as governor of Alaska from December 2006 until July 2009. She ran as Senator John McCain's running mate during the 2008 presidential election.

The Palin family live in Wasilla, Alaska - about an hour north of Anchorage, Alaska.
A police officer suffered life-threatening injuries after being shot four times while trying to apprehend a man in Fort Worth, Texas.

The cop, who has not been named at his wife's request, was part of a team who tried to stop Ed McIver, 42, and his son Ed McIver Jr, 20, as both of them drove in a car on Tuesday.

Mclver Sr, a father of five, had several outstanding warrants against him, including one for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The two men's car sped when police tried to apprehend him, eventually stopping about seven miles away, the Star-Telegram reported.

Ed McIver (left), 42, and his son Ed McIver Jr (right), 20, were in the same car when police officers tried to stop them. McIver Sr had several outstanding warrants against him, including one aggravated assault with a deadly weapon

The two men got out of the car and cops chased them as they ran away. They caught up with them in a wounded area, where the shooting happen. The wounded officer, who has not been named, was hit three times in the chest and once in the leg. He was taken to the hospital by helicopter (pictured)

The injured cop got out of surgery later on Tuesday and is still in critical condition in the ICU, where he is monitored constantly. His injuries are life-threatening. Pictured, a helicopter comes to transport him to Fort Worth's John Peter Smith Hospital after the shooting

McIver Jr initially escaped and remained on the loose for three hours on Tuesday as police tried to find him. His father was shot and killed. Pictured, a policeman during the manhunt for McIver Jr

McIver's grandmother told the Star-Telegram she didn't think her grandson could have shot the officer. 'My son? Thats possible, but not my grandson,' she said. 'If hes armed, that means he took his dads gun. Hes not dangerous. Hes got a heart of gold.' Pictured, police block a road as they try to find McIver Jr

Fort Worth Corporal Tracey Knight (center) said when McIver Jr was still missing that he was 'very dangerous'. Police asked people to stay inside as they looked for him on Tuesday afternoon

Officers chased the two men as they ran, both armed, into a wooded area nearby, where the shooting happened.

The wounded cop was shot three times in the chest and once in the leg, NBCDFW reported. He was taken to Fort Worth's John Peter Smith Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

McIver Sr was shot and killed at the scene. His son escaped and remained on the loose for three hours on Tuesday.

The officer has come out of surgery, the hospital's CEO Robert Earley said during a news conference on Tuesday evening.

He remains in critical condition and has been placed under constant monitoring in the ICU. A fellow officer previously described him as awake, alert and very vocal while he was in the emergency room.

'Time is our friend,' Earley said during the press conference. 'We've got a wonderful ICU team. We all hope and we all want the best.'

Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald (pictured) said McIver Jr had been taken into custody during a news conference on Tuesday evening

McIver Jr is now in custody, Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald said.

Officers previously asked residents to stay inside as they tried to find him. Fort Worth Corporal Tracey Knight said he was 'very dangerous'.

It was unclear whether the father or the son shot the officer.

Linda McIver, respectively their mother and grandmother, told the Star-Telegram she didn't believe her grandson had done it.

'My son? Thats possible, but not my grandson,' she said. 'If hes armed, that means he took his dads gun. Hes not dangerous. Hes got a heart of gold.'
Disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris is accused of a further seven counts of indecent assault against girls and women.

Fresh allegations include claims one of the girls involved was disabled, while another, aged 13, was allegedly indecently assaulted at the BBC Television studios.

Harris is currently serving a term of nearly six years in Stafford Prison after being convicted in July 2014 of indecently assaulting four girls in Britain between 1968 and 1986.

Disgraced children's entertainer Rolf Harris will face Westminster Magistrates Court charged with seven additional indecent assault offences

Fresh allegations include claims one of the girls involved was disabled, while another, aged 13, was indecently assaulted at the BBC Television studios (pictured)

Last month the Crown Prosecution Service said there was sufficient evidence to charge Harris with a further seven counts of indecent assault .

These date between 1971 and 2004, relating to seven complainants aged between 12 and 27 at the time.

Of the further seven counts Harris will face court over this week, one is said to relate to the assault of a disabled girl, The Mirror reported.

According to the publication, in another assault he allegedly molested the 13-year-old girl at West Londons BBC Television Centre in West London 1983.

This is the first attack which is claimed to have taken place at the BBC.

One of the most recent charges allegedly relates to a disabled girl

Harris is currently serving a term of nearly six years in Stafford Prison after being convicted in July 2014 of indecently assaulting four girls in Britain between 1968 and 1986

The 85-year-old Australian-born artist and musician is due to appear in Westminster Magistrates Court tomorrow.

Harris is the most high-profile figure to have been convicted since police launched Operation Yewtree to investigate celebrity sex crimes, following revelations in 2012 that late BBC TV host Jimmy Savile had been a prolific child abuser.

The entertainer shot to fame in the 1960s with comedic songs like Jake the Peg and became a major television personality in the UK.

In March last year the Queen stripped Harris, pictured her in 1998, of his CBE

In March last year the Queen stripped him of his CBE, a week after he was told to hand back his Order of Australia honours.

She had appointed Harris a Commander of the Order of the British Empire - one step below a knighthood - a year after he painted her portrait to mark her 80th birthday.
Former Fair Work Commission vice-president Michael Lawler should have been sacked from his role after he behaved 'dishonourably' during an ABC television appearance, a government-commissioned report found.

The report was commissioned after Mr Lawler took nine months sick leave on his salary of $435,000 and he resigned from his role two weeks ago before the investigation findings were handed down.

The investigation found there was cause for his dismissal because he did not fully disclose his personal relationship with former Health Services Union boss Kathy Jackson, and for unlawfully recording phone conversations later aired on the ABC's Four Corners program.

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An investigation into former Fair Work Commission's Michael Lawler found he should have been sacked after illegally recording phone calls that later aired on the ABC's Four Corners (pictured)

However, it found he shouldn't have lost his job for taking extended periods of sick leave.

Mr Lawler appeared on Four Corners in October last year to clear the air after he was accused of fraudulently taking excessive sick leave so he could work on Ms Jackson's case after she was found to have misappropriated union funds.

While speaking about how he thought people would react to news he was in a relationship with Ms Jackson, he said he was afraid people would think he had been 'c***struck' by his new partner.

'I'll be characterised as that scumbag, crook, fraudster, and, at the very best, somebody who's been bewitched by an evil harridan, namely Kathy [Jackson],' Mr Lawler told ABC journalist Caro Meldrum-Hanna.

'That I'm c***struck and that I have been utterly taken in by somebody who's a serious crook.'

The conclusions on the investigation were reached by former Federal Court judge Peter Heerey, who the federal government charged with conducting an investigation into Mr Lawler.

His report, parts of which have been blacked out, was tabled in parliament on Tuesday by Employment Minister Michaelia Cash.

Mr Heerey concluded there was a reasonable basis for both houses of parliament to consider requesting the governor-general remove Mr Lawler from his position on grounds of proved misbehaviour and incapacity.

His stated reasons were Mr Lawler's failure to disclose his relationship with Ms Jackson during conciliation conferences in August 2008 during which she appeared for one of the parties.

The investigation also found there was cause for his dismissal because he did not fully disclose his personal relationship with former Health Services Union boss Kathy Jackson

Another reason for cause for his dismissal related to him unlawfully recording a phone conversations that later aired on the ABC's Four Corners program

Mr Lawler appeared on Four Corners to clear the air after he was accused of fraudulently taking excessive sick leave so he could work on Ms Jackson's case after she was found to have misappropriated union funds

It was five months after the pair started a personal relationship.

Another reasons was Mr Lawler's involvement in the Four Corners program and the matters broadcast during it.

Mr Heerey said that participation was behaviour of a standard far below that which the Australian public was entitled to expect from a person holding his office.

Among other things, he unlawfully recorded and broadcast a telephone conversation with commission boss Justice Iain Ross.

'In doing so he displayed personal ingratitude and disloyalty. This conduct was dishonourable.'

Mr Lawler also demonstrated feelings of 'suspicion and hostility' toward trade unions and 'gratuitously disparaged the (Fair Work Commission), and also used offensive language'.

The conclusions on the investigation were reached by former Federal Court judge Peter Heerey (pictured) who the federal government charged with conducting an investigation into Mr Lawler

The report was commissioned after Mr Lawler took nine months sick leave on his salary of $435,000 and he resigned from his role two weeks ago before the investigation findings were handed down

But Mr Heerey said Mr Lawler's assistance in helping Ms Jackson prepare for appearances before the royal commission into trade union corruption and a Federal Court case while he was on sick leave did not provide a reasonable basis for him to lose his job.

His absences from work were also 'reasonable' in light of his mental illness of 'considerable severity' that was supported by an appropriately qualified specialist.

The investigator received a lengthy email from Mr Lawler on January 27 - nearly three weeks before he provided his final report to government.

Mr Lawler proposed he resign and claimed the Four Corners program was not a fair representation of the information he conveyed to the ABC.
There were many big moments during the OJ Simpson murder trial, but few were as important as the one when the defendant tried on the black gloves found at the scene of the crime - and they did not fit.

That moment was the focus of Tuesday's episode of American Crime Story: The People V. OJ Simpson, which depicted the moment Robert Shapiro (played by John Travolta) came up with the idea.

The show also revealed how the defense, led by Johnnie Cochran (played by Courtney B. Vance) tricked the prosecution into getting Simpson (Cuba Gooding Jr.) to try on the gloves.

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Big moment: American Crime Story: The People V. OJ Simpson (above) depicted the moment Simpson tried on the infamous black gloves during his trial

Thought: The idea came to Robert Shapiro (played by John Travolta, above) while he was looking at the size of the gloves during a recess in the trial

During a recess in the case one morning, Shapiro is seen walking up to the witness box where the gloves have been laid out.

After looking at the gloves he picks them up and tries them on, realizing almost immediately they will not fit his hands.

He then runs backs to the defense table and reveals what he has found, pointing out that Simpson's hands are bigger than his own and if the gloves do not fit him, they will not fit the defendant.

Unbeknownst to the defense, Marcia Clark (played by Sarah Paulson) and Christopher Darden (Sterling K. Brown) had been fighting over having Simpson try on the gloves.

Darden was for it, and Clark very much against it feeling that it put the narrative into the defendant's hands.

That is why Clark was so shocked when Darden fell into the defense's trap to have Simpson try on the gloves.

Simpson, wearing latex gloves on his hands, tried on the gloves, which appeared to be slightly too small.

That would later lead to Cochran's famous line in the case.

In real life, things did not play out exactly the same way according to Clark.

Firm no: Marcia Clark (played by Sarah Paulson, pictured) had been opposed to Simpson trying on the gloves

For it: Christopher Darden (Sterling K. Brown), Clark's fellow prosecutor, wanted Simpson to try on the gloves

Bad moment: The gloves appeared to be slightly small for Simpson (Cuba Gooding Jr.) when he tried them on

In an interview with Barbara Walters after the trial, Clark admitted that she and Darden did disagree about the gloves but said it was Judge Lance Ito who called on him to wear the gloves.

'I objected because then he'll have to wear latex [under the gloves] and that will alter the fit,' said Clark.

Darden did not agree and won the argument, she told Walters.

The prosecutor ended that interview, to promote her book Without A Doubt, by lashing out at Simpson, saying; 'I think you may now realize, Mr. Simpson, that not everyone bought your act.
An autistic boy who has been locked in a psychiatric ward for six months will be able to leave imminently, it emerged last night.

Matthew Garnett, 15, has been kept in the unit because there are no beds for him in an autism centre which will be able to care for him properly.

He feels like he is in prison and his desperate parents yesterday marched on Parliament to present a petition signed by 330,000 people to get him freed.

Matthew Garnett, 15, (right) has been kept in a psychiatric unit for six months because there are no beds for him in an autism centre which will be able to care for him properly

But they said that they had been told that he will be moved soon to a specialist centre in Northampton where he will finally have his needs properly assessed.

Yesterday, his mother Isabelle, 47, said: We just want him to come home to the family he loves.

He needs to be properly assessed in Northampton which will take 12 weeks and then he needs to come home.

Hes been away from home for six months and hes already deteriorated. We want to get him home and back to school in Sussex.

Were speaking to Northampton and weve been told that his move is imminent but it is not confirmed.

The family, from Dulwich, South London, yesterday held a meeting with health minister Alistair Burt to discuss their sons case and the situations of other children like him.

They say that had he received the care he needed in the community, he might not have got to the point where he had to be sectioned.

The community services arent forthcoming for these children and this is the reason why they get to a crisis point, his mother, a special needs teacher, said.

The NHS has spent thousands on him being at this unit  it costs 1,000 a day to keep a child on a medium security psychiatric placement.

That money could have been spent on his care in the community.

Theres no joined-up thinking. Its ridiculous that parents have to go to these extremes to get care they need. Its a corrupt system.

Matthew is autistic and has ADHD and anxiety issues. He also has the mental understanding of a five-year-old and needs full-time care as his condition can cause him to lash out.

He was sectioned and admitted to a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) called the Cygnet Hospital in Woking, Surrey, last year after attacking his father.

A PICU is a temporary facility that usually operates like an A&E for those with mental health issues. Patients are usually treated quickly, sent home or moved on to a more suitable location.

Instead, he has been there for six months as there is no room at St Andrews Healthcare in Northampton  despite him being top of their waiting list since September last year.

His family say that he has fewer rights than a criminal since being sectioned and are desperate to free him as he is literally pulling his hair out.

His father Robin, 48, who works in promotions for the Discovery Network, said previously: Weve had six months of him not having any rights.

It feels as if he has fewer rights than a criminal and yet hes done nothing wrong. Hes like a lost little boy. He doesnt know whats going on.

He thinks hes in prison and is being punished for something. Hes one of the most vulnerable young adults in society and the way he is being treated is appalling.

We desperately want him out of there as soon as possible.

NHS England has said he will shortly be moved to the specialist facility St Andrews Healthcare in Northampton, but have not yet confirmed a date.

His parents argue that his situation would have been entirely avoidable had he received adequate community support.

The criticism comes as a new report concluded parents of youngsters with autism face a battle to get good health care for their children.
A quick flick through the channels will tell you something strange is going on in the world of television.

When a man and woman present a show, whether its the news, a chat show or breakfast TV, the male host is always seated on the left.

According to industry protocol, the left-hand position  as seen by viewers  is reserved for the more senior presenter, who usually happens to be a man.

Pecking order: New BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker and co-host Louise Minchin yesterday

Sitting pretty: Miss Minchin with Charlie Sttayt

Right spot: Smiling with former host Bill Turnbull

Now a sexism row has erupted as BBC Breakfast viewers have pointed out that new boy Dan Walker is seated on the left of its famous red sofa, while Louise Minchin remains on the right  the position usually reserved for juniors.

Experienced Miss Minchin, 47, has been presenting the programme for more than a decade  compared with Walker, 38, who has only been working on the show for a matter of weeks.

Adele Clarke, a disgruntled viewer from Cheshire, wrote in a letter to the Radio Times: I was annoyed to see new boy Dan Walker seated on the left, in Bill Turnbulls [old] place, while far more experienced presenter Louise Minchin remained in the number two position.

How long will it take the BBC (and most other news stations) to catch up with the rest of us in the 21st century? Be brave  try seating a woman on the left and see how the world will keep turning.

Oona King, the former Labour MP and diversity executive at Channel 4, blamed low-level sexism which is rife on television. It seems strange that you have women with more experience being slotted into secondary or deputy position, so they are always playing second fiddle to the men.

It influences girls and women in their behaviour and expectations of what they can do, the baroness said.

Sitting comfortably: Eamonn Holmes and wife Ruth on This Morning

Prime position: Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid

Right on cue: Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby

However, it would appear that BBC Breakfast is far from the only programme demoting the female presenter to right-hand woman.

In fact, in the vast majority of presenting duos, the man is automatically placed in the favoured camera left position, pushing him higher up the pecking order.

On the BBC, The One Show presenter Alex Jones and Too Much TV host Sara Cox both sit on the right of the screen, despite being arguably bigger draws than their male co-hosts, Matt Baker and Aled Jones.

And its not just a daytime TV crime  as industry insiders have also pointed out that the seating plan reflects the hierarchy when it comes to primetime chat shows. Graham Norton always sits on the left of the screen on his BBC1 programme, while his guests are lined up on the right in order of decreasing importance.

Jonathan Ross used to run things differently on his BBC show, sitting on the right hand-side of the screen. But when he moved to ITV, he moved his desk too  to the left.

Hierarchy: Matt Baker and Alex Jones on The One Show

Here is the news: Mark Austin and Julie Etchingham

Also on ITV, Piers Morgan has bagged the left-hand seat on breakfast show Good Morning Britain, even though Susanna Reid is the far more experienced presenter. She co-hosted BBC Breakfast for more than a decade, before moving to Good Morning Britain two years ago, while former newspaper journalist Morgan only joined the show in October.

Being married doesnt seems to make a difference, as Eamonn Holmes also takes the left-hand seat when he fronts This Morning with his wife Ruth Langford.

However, if you look hard enough, you can spot a few left-field exceptions to the rule. Holmes takes the right-hand seat when he fronts Sky News Sunrise breakfast show with Isabel Webster. And Richard Madeley often took the right spot next to his wife Judy Finnigan during their 13-year reign as hosts of This Morning.

Television sources say the longstanding left-to-right hierarchy actually has its roots in the way we read. A senior ITV executive said: The eye goes from left to right. Certainly, camera left is the position of authority. It has always been the case.
Two bites into his morning McMuffin, Joshua Camilleri spotted a cockroach and just moments later, he was vomiting.

The Brisbane man, 37, had been tucking into his breakfast when he claims he made the revolting discovery which he says has put him off the fast food chain for life.

'I threw up pretty much straight away. I went to the bathroom and threw up. Its disgusting,' he told the Courier Mail.

'I will never eat McDonalds again in my life.'

Joshua Camilleri says he purchased this McMuffin from McDonald's in Coorparoo, Brisbane and found the cockroach (pictured) inside it

Mr Camilleri is not the first person to claim to have found a cockroach in their McDonald's (stock image)

The postal worker said as soon as he spotted the insect he went to a bathroom and vomited (stock image)

Mr Camilleri said when he returned to the outlet with the offending McMuffin he was given a refund for the meal (stock image)

The McMuffin, purchased from the Coorparoo branch, had a cockroach fried into the egg, Mr Camilleri, a postal worker, said.

Posting about it on Facebook, he wrote: 'Well I feel sick! Thank you McDonald's Coorparoo, for the added crunch. I don't remember ordering cockroach on my muffin!!!'.

In further comments, after saying he had been put off eating anything further that meal, he joked about getting a bit of extra protein with his breakfast burger.

Mr Camilleri returned later that day and was given a refund upon presenting what was left of the meal.

Mr Camilleri was given a refund for his cockroach contaminated McMuffin

Mr Camilleri had hoped to enjoy a normal McMuffin for his breakfast but was instead revolted to find a cockroach in the egg (stock image)

In another insect-related incident with McDonald's food, a teenage hairdresser from the UK found this live beetle crawling in her wrap lin 2015

However, he disregarded requests by the restaurant for the half-eaten McMuffin to be given to them for investigation, keeping it himself 'just in case'.

He claims the manager at the time offered no explanation for the roach.

But a spokeswoman told the Courier Mail without the burger, a proper investigation could not be conducted and it had 'no reason to believe this contamination occurred in our restaurant'.

After being alerted to the situation, the Brisbane City Council said it planned to inspect the outlet.

It's not the first time a McDonald's - or other fast food chain - has faced claims of food contamination involving insects.

Consumers from as far away as the United Kingdom have found live beetles in wraps and deep-fried moths in french fries

The 17-year-old from Norwich, in the UK, said clients in her salon were 'screaming' when they saw this live beetle
British export champions are being pestered by Whitehall officials hunting for pro-EU propaganda, it emerged last night.

Leaked emails show how staff at the Business Department have infuriated company bosses with requests for glowing case studies they can feed to ministers and Number Ten.

Officials want the firms to agree to have details of how important the EU is to their turnover included in speeches and other pro-Brussels propaganda.

Leaked emails show how British export champions are being pestered by Whitehall officials hunting for pro-EU propaganda. MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan (left), of the Vote Leave campaign, said the emails were 'deeply disappointing', while fellow Out campaigner Douglas Carswell MP (right) was also critical

MPs said it was another brazen attempt to use the machinery of Government to swing the referendum contest in favour of the Remain campaign.

A senior official at UK Trade and Investment, an arm of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, sent out the unsolicited emails last Friday.

It read: Good Morning Export Champions. Hope you are all well. We have been receiving requests for examples of businesses selling successfully in the EU, potentially to be mentioned in speeches by Ministers in the run up to the EU Referendum.

Therefore, we are thinking ahead, and would like to prepare a pack of case studies so that when the requests come in, we will have information readily available to send on.

The Daily Mail has seen emails in which one business protested at being asked to take part in spin for a one-sided argument.

BREXIT SCARES 'LIKE MILLENNIUM BUG' Boris Johnson took aim at scare stories over Brexit yesterday  likening them to the panic spread over the Millennium Bug. The London mayor dismissed claims of job losses and higher prices on his LBC radio show, saying they were a load of old cobblers and ... a kind of Millennium Bug-style scare story frankly. Mr Johnson said: It does remind me very much  do you remember everybody running around and saying that at the millennium, planes will fall out of the sky, bank accounts will get wiped? Its all wildly, wildly over-done. Governments across the world spent millions on warnings about the risks that on January 1, 2000 computers would switch the date to 1900  causing untold problems. In fact, little went wrong. Advertisement

GENERAL'S NATO FEARS DISMISSED A US generals claims that a Brexit vote would undermine Nato were dismissed last night. Lieutenant-General Frederick Ben Hodges, the head of US forces in Europe, said if the EU began to unravel it could weaken efforts to resist Russian aggression in Europe and the Middle East. He added: Anything that undermines the effectiveness of the alliance has an impact on us. But Colonel Richard Kemp, a retired commander of British forces in Afghanistan, said it was exactly the time for Brexit. He warned that the EU fast-tracking Turkeys membership puts its borders on the frontiers of Syria, Iraq and the Islamic State. Advertisement

The UKTI official, a senior contract and stakeholder manager, replied: As a Government Department, we follow the Government Policy line when we are requested to supply any briefing or requests for information to No10 or the Ministers.

MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan, of the Vote Leave campaign, said of the emails: Its deeply disappointing that civil servants are being used as a campaigning tool rather than to do the actual job of helping businesses.

Fellow Out campaigner Douglas Carswell MP said: They dont just have people in Downing Street haranguing generals and threatening the British Chambers of Commerce.

This month David Cameron came under pressure to act against adviser Daniel Korski after it emerged he berated British Chambers of Commerce director-general John Longworth for saying Britain should quit the EU

AVON'S BACKING BRITAIN Cosmetics giant Avon yesterday defied the doom-mongers over the EU referendum by revealing it will move its global headquarters to the UK. Remain campaigners have insisted Britain will see a jobs exodus if voters opt to leave the Brussels club on June 23. But Avon, known worldwide for selling make-up door-to-door, plans to move from New York to the UK over time. The companys shares immediately rose in after-hours trading in New York. Sheri McCoy, Avons chief executive, said the move would drive efficiencies, improve operational effectiveness and deliver significant cost savings. Employment Minister Priti Patel was delighted by the announcement, adding: We are the fifth largest economy in the world but its vital we take back control of key decisions that affect our economy so we can secure our prosperity. Liz Bilney, of the Leave.EU campaign, said: The more David Cameron says that Brexit will trigger some sort of economic armageddon, the more developments in the business world fly in his face. Avon employs 28,300 worldwide  with hundreds of new British jobs now expected. Advertisement

'Theyve got civil servants lobbying for examples to help ministers make their case. Its precisely because its such a feeble case theyre having to do this.

Earlier this month there was outrage after a senior Downing Street aide was accused of helping to orchestrate the removal of a pro-Brexit business chief.

David Cameron came under pressure to act against 93,000 a year adviser Daniel Korski after it emerged he berated British Chambers of Commerce director-general John Longworth for saying Britain should quit the EU.

Mr Longworth was suspended from his job within hours of the intervention, and later resigned.

It followed furious rows over ministers soliciting support from FTSE100 executives and military generals to back the Remain campaign.

At the end of last month, a civil servant in Downing Street drew up a letter to be distributed around company bosses. Some of Britains biggest companies refused, saying it was up to voters to decide.

The PM was forced to defend Number Tens involvement in orchestrating the pro-EU letter.

Downing Street was also embarrassed when officials wrongly added General Sir Michael Roses name to a letter that claimed Brexit would leave us facing grave security threats.
Republican presidential candidate John Kasich won the primary in his home state of Ohio on Tuesday, picking up all 66 of the state's delegates.

The governor drew Ohio voters who are looking for a president with political experience as well as moderates and those identified as somewhat conservative.

During a celebration speech following the announcement of the projected win, Kasich vowed never to take the 'low road' to the 'highest office in the land'.

John Kasich won the Republican primary in his home state of Ohio on Tuesday, picking up all of the state's 66 delegates

Kasich is accompanied by his wife Karen as he takes the stage to speak to supporters after being declared as the winner of the Ohio primary

'To have people believe in you and to believe that you can bring people together and strengthen our country thank you,' Kasich said in the speech. 'I represent you and it is my job to look at these situations and these problems and to listen to you.'

Now all he has to do is win 91 per cent of the remaining delegates and he can clinch the nomination before the convention this summer.

The Ohio governor beat back a challenge from Donald Trump in the home-state election Tuesday that is keeping Kasich's underdog campaign alive.

He's one of just three candidates left in the race after rival Marco Rubio dropped out of the race earlier Tuesday.

'The campaign goes on,' Kasich told a crowd in Berea, Ohio, on Tuesday night.

'Tomorrow Im going to Philadelphia and then Im going all over the country,' he added before suggesting he'd return to Ohio for more rallies if he gets the Republican nomination.

Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sent Kasich a message via Twitter to congratulate him for his Ohio Win.

'John Kasich, my dear friend, congratulations. I'm so proud of you,' he said in a video message.

asich reacts to the crowd as his daughter Reese (left) looks on as he celebrates following the announcement of his projected Ohio win

Kasich accompanied by his daughters Emma, left, and Reese, second right, and wife Karen, speaks at his presidential primary election rally

asich celebrates his Ohio primary victory as confetti falls during his victory rally in Berea, Ohio on Tuesday

Kasich's speech was interrupted by a protester wearing clothes with Trump's campaign logo - Make America Great Again.

To that, Kasich joked that he appreciates a good, 'peaceful protest every once in a while' since he went to college in the 1970's.

Marco Rubio has more delegates than Kasich has, and the Florida senator suspended his campaign Tuesday night.

Donald Trump still leads the race for delegates, with 568. Ted Cruz has 370 delegates, Kasich has 129 and Rubio left the race with 163.

It takes 1,237 delegates to win the Republican nomination for president.

'The grand prize is Ohio, because Ohio is critical for a Republican to win the White House,' said Republican strategist and Kasich supporter Mike Gonidakis.

He predicted a large turnout: 'We believe that they're coming out to draw a line in the sand against Donald Trump.'

As supporters chanted Kasich's name, he said his campaign is 'Cleveland and secure the Republican nomination'.
Veteran broadcaster Jon Snow might be pushing 70, but his body is as fresh as todays news  as this picture shows.

The Channel 4 news presenter was snapped in the middle of a workout yesterday at its London TV studio before he went on air.

The sneaky picture was shared on social media by his colleague, Hayley Barlow, who wrote: We asked Jon Snow to read todays noon bulletin, so he started with a little warm-up prep first.

Veteran broadcaster Jon Snow might be pushing 70, but his body is as fresh as todays news  as this picture shows. Jon is doing the side plank, which strengthens the abdominal muscles and lower back

She later told me: Some days I make him dash to the coffee shop and back just before noon!

In the picture, Jon is doing the side plank, which strengthens the abdominal muscles and lower back.

Perhaps he is trying to keep up with his wife, Zimbabwe-born academic Precious Lunga, who is 27 years his junior.

He is one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, but Liam Neeson looked a shadow of his former self this week when he visited his hometown of Ballymena, Northern Ireland

Neeson pale and gaunt in Ireland

He is one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, but Liam Neeson looked a shadow of his former self this week when he visited his hometown of Ballymena, Northern Ireland.

The 63-year-old action hero made a surprise appearance at Slemish College secondary school to mark its 20th anniversary. Posing with design teacher Caroline Quail, above, Liam appeared pale and gaunt as he cloaked his thin frame in a black coat.

He first shocked fans with a fragile appearance last summer, but insisted shortly afterwards that the dramatic look was for the new Martin Scorsese film, Silence.

There is, supposedly, no rivalry between ITV News at Ten anchor Tom Bradby and the man he replaced, Mark Austin. But how long will that truce last?

For I am told that ITV Evening News presenter Austin has  in his own understated way  outflanked friend of the Royals Bradby, who was granted the first interview after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges engagement.

A behind the scenes charm offensive by Austin has secured an interview with Prince William  on protecting rhinos, Im told. Advantage Mark.

Tess makes a VERY revealing confession

Shes the wholesome host of Strictly Come Dancing, but Tess Dalys nude scene in an early 1990s pop video still mortifies her.

I cringe when Im reminded of the video for The Beloveds track Sweet Harmony, says Tess (right), 46-year-old wife of Vernon Kay.

It was a studio of models with nothing but Elastoplast to protect our modesty... The song still gets played and Vernon is always keen to tell our daughters Its your mums song again, girls!

He was a fan of that video before we even met...
Anna Duggar took her first trip to visit husband Josh in Tuesday's premiere episode of Jill and Jessa: Counting On.

The young mother was joined by newborn daughter Meredith as she made the trek from Arkansas to Illinois to see Josh, who was in a faith-based rehab program at the time and who she had not seen in three months.

She returned in time for the Duggar family's fall feast, and broke down in tears while speaking about her trip and her love for her husband.

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Trip: Anna Duggar visited disgraced husband Josh for the first time in three months on Tuesday's episode of Jill and Jessa: Counting On

Seeing daddy: She brought along the couple's newborn daughter Meredith as she made the trek from Arkansas to Illinois

'I don't know what I'm stepping into. I don't know how to handle each situation,' said Anna while preparing to leave for her trip.

'It's not anything I ever would have thought I would walk through. Just do the next right thing. Have the next right response for the next 15 minutes.'

She then added she was trying to follow a recent message she had heard from a pastor; 'Just do the next right thing, have the next right response for the next 15 minutes.'

After returning home she spoke about what she was thankful for with the Duggars, and noted that this was a time in her life 'mixed with a lot of joy and a lot of grief.'

She then told the family; 'I just got back from visiting Joshua, and he loves each one of you guys very much, and is just really grateful for a family that's not willing ... that is willing to talk straight and to grieve when you've fallen but also to love and forgive and have hope.'

At this point Anna began to cry as did Josh's sister Jinger, who was wiping tears off her face.

Anna went on to say; 'So i look forward to seeing what God has in the future.'

Later, during her one-on-one interview, Anna said; 'This visit was great because it definitely gives a lot of hope but i think it's also ... the weight of everything is also there and so it's ... definitely it drives me deeper to my faith.'

She closed by saying; 'God's grace can give me the strength to love Josh when others would say he doesn't deserve it.'

Difficult: Anna broke down in tears speaking about her trip when she returned home from seeing Josh

Powerful: 'God's grace can give me the strength to love Josh when others would say he doesn't deserve it,' said Anna

Thoughts: After returning home she spoke about what she was thankful for with the Duggars, and noted that this was a time in her life 'mixed with a lot of joy and a lot of grief'

Last May, the public learned that Josh molested five minors as a teenager, including four of his sisters.

He was never tried or charged for those offenses, and law enforcement was never notified in any official capacity by his parents.

In the aftermath of this scandal, the family's popular reality show 19 Kids & Counting was cancelled by TLC.

The summer then ended with the news that Josh had an account on the adult cheating website Ashley Madison and had been having sexual encounters with women outside his marriage.

Josh confessed to having affairs in a letter in August, writing; 'I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife.

'I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him.'

Josh and Anna wed in 2008, and are parents to seven-month-old Meredith Grace, two-year-old Marcus, four-year-old Michael and six-year-old daughter Mackynzie.

Emotional: Anna's comments about Josh brought some members of the family to tears, including his sister Jinger (pictured)

In an episode of Jill & Jessa: Counting On that aired in December, Anna broke down in tears while speaking about her marriage.

'I knew about this long before it hit the press,' said Anna while describing why she decided to stick by Josh during the molestation scandal.

Anna explained that she visited Josh and his family in Arkansas before they were officially courting, and that Josh told her family 'his life story' - including his sordid past.

'He was very detailed and honest with my parents because in his heart he knew he wanted to pursue a relationship.'

Anna then said that when their daughter Meredith was born in July, the media surrounding her husband's adolescence was calming down and that the baby was a 'ray of sunshine' through all of the chaos.

Then, a month later, came the news of his affairs.

'I think it is such a betrayal for a spouse to go through what were walking through,' said Anna as she fought back tears.

She then added; 'It was hard to realize that it was such a public thing, and so, not only was it a betrayal against me, but it was also a betrayal for those who call themselves Christian.

'Everyone was able to see us get married and to vow before God to be loyal to each other, and that loyalty was broken. And so, for my heart, it was just broken.'
Slain gangland lawyer Joe Acquaro is believed to have fallen out with two of the most dangerous members of the Calabrian mafia before he was shot dead outside his Melbourne gelato bar, including a vicious, volatile leader from one of the 31 Calabrian mafia families who control the Australian drug trade

Acquaro, who was shot dead in the early hours of Tuesday morning outside his East Brunswick gelato bar, was once the trusted legal representative and a lifelong friend of jailed Francesco Madafferi, a feared figure in Melbourne's drug trade who once threatened to cut the head of an associate who had crossed him and chop up his body.

Madafferi's preparedness to commit savage violence was shown in a conversation in a police phone tap he had with fellow mafia boss, Pasquale Barbaro.

In the exchange bewteen the Australian mafia top two bosses, Madafferi told Barbaro: 'Tell him that he can go get his f***ing coffin, get it f***ing ready'.

In the conversation, revealed by former NSW Police Asistant Commissioner and author of a recent about abut the mafia in Australia, Clive Small, Madafferi threatens to cut off an associate's head and tells Barbaro that in terms of mafia patches: 'Melbourne is mine'.

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Enemies: Once his trusted legal adviser and lifelong friend, Joe Acquaro allegedly fell out with mafia drug boss Pasquale Barbaro (left) and Melbourne mafia don Frank Madafferi (right)who he represented at their trials for the importation of 1.2 million Ecstasy tablets

Dangerous liaisons: Mafia lawyer Joseph Acquaro represented some of the Calabrian community's most dangerous men, including Pasquale Barbaro and Frank Madafferi, who were jailed for the importation of 1.2 million Ecstasy tablets

One of Joe Acquaro's clients was Ecstasy importer Pasquale Barbaro, pictured (left) under police surveillance in Melbourne, who comes from a Calabrian Italian family one of just 31 in Australia who control the drug trade

Slain lawyer Joe Acquaro had also been the lawyer for Rocco Arico (pictured) an alleged organised crime figure, but he had fallen out with his former client and friend, Frank Madafferi

Joe Acquaro represented both Madafferi and Barbaro at their trial resulting from the phone taps, for Australia's largest-ever ecstasy drug importation.

Police arrested more than 30 members of the drug ring involved in the 2007 importation of 1.2 million Ecstasy tablets stamped with kangaroo symbols and hidden in tomato tins.

Madafferi received ten years in prison and Barbaro, the former boss of the Griffith-based mafia, was sentenced to life behind bars.

Victorian police detectives investigating the suspected mafia killing of Acquaro are crossing the border to interview members of the Calabrian mafia, N'Drangheta, from Griffith, the south-western NSW town regarded as Australia's drug capital.

Griffith has been an N'Drangehta's power base for decades since notorious mafia godfather 'Aussie Bob' Trimbole allegedly murdered anti-drugs campaigner, Donald Mackay in 1977.

Over a decade from 1995, Joe Acquaro helped Madafferi fight deportation back to his Calabrian homeland in Italy, where he had allegedly committed crimes.

Joseph Acquaro had once been the 'go to' lawyer for Melbourne's Calabrian community early in his career (pictured) representing witnesses to the 1992 mafia hit on Melbourne fruiterer Alfonso 'The Fonse' Muratore

Police spent tens of thousands of hours keeping Pasquale Barbaro (second from right) and his gang under video and phone intercept surveillance, meaning Acquaro could not prevent Barbaro from getting life in prison

The Ecstasy importation of 1.2 million tablets (pictured) organised by Joe Acquaro's clients, Frank Madafferi, and Pasquale Barbaro was uncovered by the Australian Federal Police in 2007

Griffith drug baron 'Aussie Bob' Trimbole (above) was the cannabis kingpin in Australia's drug capital which became infamous after the mafia hit on anti-drugs campaigner Donald Mackay

When the Federal Liberal Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone granted Madafferi citizenship in 2006, he began planning with Pasquale Barbaro the tomato tin Ecstasy importation.

The Herald Sun reported that Joe Acquaro had spoken recently of falling out with Madafferi who had been a lifelong friend, and he felt isolated.

Acquaro had once been the 'go to' lawyer for Melbourne's Calabrian community after, early on in his career, representing witnesses to the 1992 mafia hit on Melbourne fruiterer Alfonso 'The Fonse' Muratore.

More recently he defended alleged gangland boss Rocco Arico. Detectives had warned Mr Acquaro there was a $500,000 contract out on his head.

The Herald Sun reported that reported that after that members of the gangland task force went to a friend of Frank Madafferi about the contract and warned him he would be spoken to again if anything happened to Mr Acquaro.

'I cannot understand why the police would do that,' Clive Small told Daily Mail Australia. 'There's something wrong with that.'

Mr Small whose recent book Evil Life revealed explosive details of the relationship between the Australian mafia and local politicians, said the only alternative possibility to Mr Acquaro's presumed mafia assassination was an outside hit.

Police conduct aerial surveillance of an orange orchard in 2011 near Griffith,NSW, known for decades as the drug capital of Australia and a power base for Calabrian mafia families who control the drug trade

Among Jose Acquaro's early clients were Calabrian witnesses to the mafia murder of Melbourne fruiterer Alfonso Muratore (pictured) who was shot dead outside his home 28 years after his father was killed in similar circumstances

Police discovered 1.2 million Ecstasy pills (pictured) imported from Italy by Pasquale Barbaro's drug ring and concealed in tomato tins which sat on the wharf while detectives watch the members of the gang

'But if that had been the case, the Calabrian mafia would have been forced to protect [Aquaro] and gone and killed the person who put the bounty on Aquaro's head,' he said.

'That only leaves the option that Acquaro did something to offend the mafia boss and that he has been killed ... as a means of conveying that there are consequences to breaching the mafia code.

'It's to show discipline and of the three main mafia groups, the Camorra, the Sicilian mafia and the Calabrian mafia, the N'Drangheta, who come from the the region in the far southern 'boot' of Italy, known for its rugged territory and its secret societies.

'It is is the Calabrians who are most disciplined. Their approach to betrayal or disobedience ... is go convey their authority.'

Clive Small revealed the phone tap conversation between Frank Madafferi and Pasquale Barbaro, which took place when the their 1.2 million Ecstasy tablet importation scheme was coming unstuck.

Ecstasy king pin and mafia boss, Pasquale Barbaro, (pictured, left) who is serving life in prison for the importation of 1.2 million Ecstasy tablets which saw the arrest of 30 men including Black Uhlans bikie gang founder John Higgs (right)

Police arrested more than 30 members of the drug ring involved in the 2007 importation of 1.2 million Ecstasy tablets stamped with kangaroo symbols (pictured) and hidden in tomato tins

The tomato tins filled with Ecstasy tablets that Pasquale Barbaro imported into Australia and sat on the Melbourne wharf for six months while the drug syndicate wondered if police were surveilling them

In July 2008, Madafferi was highly agitated about one of the drug syndicate's underlings called Pino Varallo, who he was threatening to 'chop into little pieces' and eat 'one bite at a time'.

Caught on Australian Federal Police telephone intercepts, Madafferi was talking down the phone to Ecstasy drug syndicate boss, Pasquale Barbaro, complaining that the tablets he had sold cheaply for $8 each had been onsold by Varallo for $8.50.

When Barbaro put Varallo on to talk, Madafferi claimed the right to set the price of Ecstasy in his home city, although acknowledging that the other states were under Barbaro's control.

'[I'm] responsible fo Melbourne... Melbourne is mine,' he yelled at Varallao, warning him not to 'break my f***ing balls on my f***ing turf'.

In the ensuing days, Madafferi did not let up telling Barbaro: 'I'm going to pull his f***ing head off ... I'm going to eat him alive. Tell him that he can go get his f***ing coffin, get it f***ing ready.'

Police burn part of a $23 million cannabis crop uncovered in 2011 raids at Griffith, NSW, Australia's notorious drug capital and home to the Calabrian mafia

A terrified Varallo told Barbaro that Madafferi was 'going off his rocker... off his tree' and had threatened to slit Varallo's throat or shoot him.

Evil Life, which is co-authored by journalist Tom Gilling, also recounts the history of the mafia in Australia, beginning in the 1920s when shootings, bombings and extortions began among Italian immigrants to a new life.

Mr Small said the relationship between the Federal Liberal Party and Francesco Madafferi was interesting.

Senior Liberal politician and then immigration minister Philip Ruddock ordered Madafferi's deportation on the grounds he was unsuitable because of offences against him in Italy.

Madafferi had married an Australian woman and they had children while he fought the order. Then Senator Amanda Vanstone replaced Ruddock as the minister and in 2005 she personally stepped in to quash the deportation.

Vanstone said she did it on 'humanitarian grounds'. Thereafter Calabrian families in Victoria raised a $140,000 donation to the Liberal Party.
The lizard, whose second head wasn't attached properly, was euthanised

She took the lizard to the local veterinary hospital, where it surprised vets

A woman would have been forgiven for thinking she was seeing double when she discovered a two-headed, four-armed lizard in her backyard, whose mother had just abandoned it moments after birth.

Western Australia woman, Jo, thought she had stumbled upon a snake in her backyard but was relieved to see a bobtail lizard crawl away, according to WA Today.

Upon further inspection, Jo found the mother bobtail had abandoned three of its newborn babies - including a two-headed, four-armed lizard at her Dunsborough home, south of Perth.

Jo would have been forgiven for thinking she was seeing double when she discovered a two-headed, four-armed lizard in her backyard, whose mother had just abandoned it moments after birth.

Not sure what to do with the lizard, Jo took it the Dunsborough Veterinary Hospital. Despite its rare condition, the lizard was born a healthy 13cm long

'The two healthy bobtails were already starting to move off but the third two-headed bobtail was struggling to walk,' she said.

'Both heads were moving, but because of the position of the extra head it was making it near impossible for the bobtail to go anyway.'

Not sure what to do with the lizard, Jo took it the Dunsborough Veterinary Hospital.

'it wasn't a case of two well attached bobtails' - Vet Shamus Henry said the second head was not structurally attached, with no neck vertebrate

Dr Henry said it was the first two-headed bobtail he had seen, but he was aware that others had been discovered

Vet Shamus Henry told the Daily Mail the bobtail was euthanised because it was only seven hours old and didn't have much chance of survival in the wild.

Despite its rare condition, the lizard was born a healthy 13cm long.

'The second head was not structurally attached, in that it didn't have a neck vertebrate attached - it wasn't a case of two well attached bobtails,' Dr Henry said.

'When the body of the bobtail moved it trapped the second head underneath it and was dragged.

'The bobtail was also in respiratory distress and was a poor candidate for saving.

'We are pretty proactive about saving wildlife, but it wouldn't have been fair to try.'

Vet Shamus Henry told the Daily Mail the bobtail was euthanised because it was only seven hours old and didn't have much chance of survival in the wild

The body of the two-headed lizard has been sent to the Western Australia Museum to further study the reptile

Dr Henry said it was the first two-headed bobtail he had seen, but he was aware that others had been discovered.

'We do a lot of work on injured and rehab wildlife but its something we hadn't seen before.'

The body of the two-headed lizard has been sent to the Western Australia Museum to further study the reptile.

A Reddit thread has since discussed the discovery of the rare reptile and offered condolences two it's unfortunate situation.

'If the bottom head could speak he would say, 'please kill me',' one user wrote.

'The top one looks pretty pissed off to be alive,' another person wrote.
The newspaper said the victim was subjected to a 'sadistic' assault in 1976 - and named the perpetrator as Garth Moore, chancellor of three dioceses and vicar of St Mary's Abchurch in the City of London

Dozens of Church of England officials failed to take action after being told of 'sadistic' abuse on a boy by a paedophile clergyman, a damning report has revealed.

Over 40 years, the victim repeatedly spoke about the treatment he suffered as a 15-year-old, in what was described as 'a tragic catalogue of exploitation and harm'.

But an independent report by safeguarding expert Ian Elliott found officials failed to act - leading the church to issue an official apology last night and promise it would introduce a raft of changes on how it handles sex abuse allegations.

The Church of England published only the conclusions and recommendations of the review, without names, but last night The Guardian revealed further details from within the report.

The newspaper said the victim was subjected to a 'sadistic' assault in 1976 - and named the perpetrator as Garth Moore, chancellor of three dioceses and vicar of St Mary's Abchurch in the City of London. The clergyman died in 1990.

It was reported that over almost 40 years, the victim had made disclosures about the abuse to dozens of people within the church, including senior clergy - but when questioned for the report, none of the senior figures could recall the conversations.

'What is surprising about this is that [the victim] would be speaking about a serious and sadistic sexual assault allegedly perpetrated by a senior member of the hierarchy. The fact that these conversations could be forgotten about is hard to accept,' the report said.

Among those told of the abuse were three bishops and a senior clergyman who was later ordained as a bishop, The Guardian reported.

Bishop of Crediton Sarah Mullally, speaking on the church's behalf, said the abuse suffered by the victim, known in the report as Survivor B, had 'clearly devastated his life'.

She said: 'I apologise profusely for the failings of the church towards him and for the horrific abuse he suffered.

'It has taken him years of heartache and distress to get his story heard and believed by those in authority, and it is clear he has been failed in many ways over a long period of time.

Justin Welby pledged to ensure the review's 11 recommendations are acted on as quickly as possible

'We should have been swifter to listen, to believe and to act. This report is deeply uncomfortable for the Church of England.'

It emerged the victim, had disclosed 'a tragic catalogue of exploitation and harm' to figures both inside and outside of the church over the years but no firm action was taken.

He felt ignored, had lost his faith and harboured feelings of frustration and failure following the many bids he made to gain help from the church, the review noted.

Survivor B has since been offered an unreserved apology and a settlement - which The Guardian said was 35,000 - amid further efforts by the church to repair the damage caused to him.

The church said the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, had pledged to ensure the review's 11 recommendations are acted on as quickly as possible.

They include the need for training to be provided to those who may receive abuse allegations. They should record what information has been shared with them and explain what action they will take.
A serial sex offender who once raped a five-year-old girl just weeks after his 14th birthday will remain behind bars despite serving his most recent sentence of 18 years.

The Brisbane Times reports that Joel George Currie was due to be released from jail on Sunday, March 20, after he had served more than 18 years for a string of sexual offences. He carried out his first sex attack when he was just 11 years old.

According to a court judgment released last Friday, he raped a five-year-old girl in the 1990s so badly injured that she was left with vaginal lacerations.

Joel George Currie was due to be released from jail on Sunday, March 20, after he had served more than 18 years for a string of sexual offences (stock image)

The 32-year-old later sexually assaulted another child in October 2004, when he climbed a wall while drunk, got into the girls room and touched her legs while she was asleep.

He also threatened to kill a 17-year-old woman during an extended sexual assault in her own home two years later.

If you wake your Mum, I'll get my gun out and shoot you, he said to the woman, the Brisbane Times reports.

I'll get my knife out and stab you through the heart and then I'll kill your mum too.

Currie carried out his first sex attack when he was just 11 years old (stock image)

It was also heard that he ejaculated on a liaison officer who was helping him with a parole application while in custody in 2009.

Currie was evaluated by three separate psychiatrists evaluated Currie who found that if released hed be at a high risk of sexually offending again.

They noted he'd been sexually, physically and emotionally abused as a child, and that five members of his extended family died by suicide.
Labour's John Mann (pictured) called it 'a part-time Parliament'

MPs were accused of being paid to attend a part-time Parliament after it emerged the House of Commons will sit for just 27 days during the whole of the summer.

Politicians will be granted an extra seven days leave compared with normal summers because of the European Union referendum.

Summer officially starts on June 1, when politicians will already be on a Whitsun recess.

But although they will briefly return to the Commons on June 6, by June 15 they will rise again for a special break to coincide with the referendum vote.

Once they go back to work again on June 27, time in Westminster will be short lived with the summer break, lasting more than six weeks, commencing again on July 21.

Last summer, the break began on July 21 and MPs returned to work on September 7.

Labour backbencher John Mann MP, a member of the Treasury Committee, told The Evening Standard: This is a part-time Parliament, allowing Government to get away without proper accountability

The controversy comes after MPs were handed a 1.3% pay rise, breaking the 1 per cent rise cap affecting public sector workers.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) has confirmed that the increase will take effect from next month - less than a year after politicians received a back-dated 10% hike to 74,000.

By contrast, workers such as NHS staff and members of the armed forces have been limited to 1%.

The pay rise drew criticism from Chief Secretary to the Treasury Greg Hands, in a letter to Speaker, John Bercow.

Whilst stressing that he recognised the watchdogs independence, he said: The Governments policy is for public sector pay to increase by 1% per year, and its position on increases in MPs pay, at a time when difficult decisions are being taken elsewhere to reduce the deficit, has not changed.

The part of MPs pay we do control - ministerial pay - has been frozen until 2020.

The pay rise drew criticism from Chief Secretary to the Treasury Greg Hands (pictured), in a letter to Speaker, John Bercow

Under the pay package introduced by Ipsa, MPs salaries are uprated annually in line with increases in average weekly public sector earnings.

However, those figures are typically higher than the 1% cap because they include bonuses and promotions.
President 'O'Bama' donned a green necktie and welcomed Ireland's Prime Minister Enda Kenny for an early St Patrick's Day celebration.

In preparation for the holiday, the fountain on the South Lawn was died green, a tradition which first lady Michelle Obama began six years ago.

'This is an annual affair and always one of my favorites. It allows me to trot out my Irish heritage,' Obama said as an Oval Office visit from Taoiseach, the word for Irish Prime Minister, Kenny kicked off the St. Patrick's Day festivities at the White House.

President Barack Obama with Vice President Joe Biden, and Ireland Prime Minister Enda Kenny (right) hold up a bowl of shamrocks during a reception in honor of St. Patrick's Day in the East Room of the White House

The fountain on the South Lawn of the White House has been dyed green in honor of St. Patrick's Day for the last six years

Along with everything green there were bagpipes on the East Landing, Guinness draft and Jameson whiskey in the East Room and a traditional menu of lamb, shepherd's pie and shamrock-shaped shortbread.

Kenny gave Obama a book of poems by William Butler Yeats, one of the president's favorite poets and one of Ireland's best 'exports', according to Obama.

Vice President Biden held a holiday breakfast of country potatoes and Irish soda bread at his official residence, joking: 'Anyone wearing orange is not welcome in here!'

A green tie is a must for Obama as he celebrates Ireland early on Tuesday morning for St Patrick's day

Obama delivered remarks at a Friends of Ireland luncheon on Capitol Hill, which was attended by Ireland Prime Minister Enda Kenny and his wife Fionnuala Kenny

The president recognized investments made by both American and Irish companies that continue to improve both economies through trade

In the Oval Office, Obama congratulated Taoiseach Kenny on the economic progress made over the last several years in Ireland, according to a release from the White House.

He complimented his leadership, saying it has 'allowed the country to build for the future and attracting businesses with a highly skilled and well-educated workforce.'

Additionally, the president recognized the investments made by both American and Irish companies that continue to improve both economies through trade.

The day ended with Obama and Kenny remarking on the struggles the Irish have overcome and praised their success in today's world.

Kenny thanked Obama for his support in Ireland's peace process and his immigration reform that improved the lives of 11 million Irish people.

Obama also spent tme with Fionnuala Kenny (pictured, right), the wife of Ireland's Prime Minister Enda Kenny
Prince Andrew reportedly smashed his Range Rover through closed park gates to avoid a one-mile detour

Prince Andrew reportedly smashed his 80,000 Ranger Rover through closed park gates to avoid a one-mile detour.

The Queen's son is said to have left Windsor Great Park with a bill of thousands of pounds, following the incident on Sunday.

It's claimed the 56-year-old rammed open the gates after returning to Royal Lodge, which was given to him by his mother in 2003.

A park worker told The Sun: 'It was a crazy thing to do and we are jokingly calling it "ParkGate".

'But seriously, he has a bit of a reputation for roaring around like Toad of Toad Hall and he seems to think he can do what he likes.'

'The gate stops deer roaming and the Prince uses it as a short cut. For some reason the sensors didn't work. Instead of going a mile out of his way, he just decided to ram it open.'

Buckingham Palace and the Crown Estate, which owns Windsor Great Park, both refused to comment on the incident.

It's not the first time the Duke of York has got himself in a spot of bother with his Range Rover.

In 2013, he received a parking ticket after the vehicle was left unattended on double yellow lines.

Prince Andrew had left his 4x4 in Mayfair, central London, while dining at private members' club LouLou's, when a ticket was placed on the vehicle by a warden.

The Duke of York left these gates temporarily damaged by crashing into them with his car

The Prince was attempting to take a shortcut as shown in this map of the area to avoid going on a longer route

But a personal protection officer who had stayed with the car and another vehicle saw that the ticket had been issued - and told the warden that officers had been with both vehicles.

Officers with royals are believed to be allowed to park on double yellow lines on security grounds.

The City of Westminster attendant later offered to remove the ticket.

Yesterday it emerged, that despite his blunders, Prince Andrew is the Queen's favourite son.

Unlike Charles and Anne, both of whom were born when she was still Princess Elizabeth, Andrew was the son who came along when the Queen had reigned for the best part of a decade.

The Duke was heading to his home Royal Lodge, pictured, at the time of the accident

In 2013, he received a parking ticket after the vehicle was left unattended on double yellow lines

He was named after his paternal grandfather, the dissolute gambler Prince Andrew of Greece, who saw little of his son Prince Philip and died penniless on the French Riviera.

The Queen has always done just a little more for Andrew, a family friend told The Daily Mail. Its "second son syndrome". Andrew was the spare to Charles the heir and the Queen has always tried to compensate by ensuring that he is not left out of things. Its a mothers instinct.

In the Queens eyes, the Dukes private life is his private life. She keeps him on something of a pedestal.

He still has a flat in Buckingham Palace and whenever the Queen hears hes there by himself shell send him a hand-written note and he will change into a suit and go and see her, greeting her with a bow from the neck, then kissing her hand and both cheeks.
The Project said it used the image '

A South Sudanese born hip hop artist said his image was 'destroyed' after The Project 'inadvertently' used his image in a segment detailing an outbreak of gang violence in Melbourne.

Channel Ten's light news program The Project used an image of Melbourne rap artist Ror Akot, also known as Ror Da Poet, in a video package on gang violence on Monday after the predominately South Sudanese gang Apex were involved in a riot in Federation Square on Saturday night.

The photo, which was ripped from a documentary on the Sudanese-born musician, was made black and white and superimposed onto a South Sudanese flag, with the only attempt to hide his identity being a black bar over his eyes.

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Channel Ten's The Project has apologised to South Sudanese hip hop artist Ror Akot after his image(bottom) was 'inadvertently' used in a segment on gang violence

The segment discussed a violent gang brawl that took place in Melbourne's Federation Square on Saturday involving the predominantly Sudanese gang Apex (pictured)

The 19-year-old, who has worked with The Project before, found out after he started to receive phone calls from confused friends and family members who wanted to know if he was involved in the violent gang brawl.

Mr Akot, who escaped South Sudan when he was only nine years old, said he was 'disappointed and disgusted' that his image used to push an agenda that he felt was critical of the African community.

'This is what I get for being a young Blackman working hard trying to succeed,' he wrote on Facebook.

Mr Akot, who was once named Young Citizen of the Year for his contribution to mentoring local youths, said using his photograph 'destroyed' his image and tarnished his good name.

The photo was made black and white and superimposed onto a South Sudanese flag, with the only attempt to hide his identity being a black bar over his eyes

The 19-year-old, who has worked with The Project before, found out after he started to receive phone calls from confused friends and family members who wanted to know if he was involved in the violent gang brawl

Mr Akot, who escaped South Sudan when he was only nine years old, said he was 'disappointed and disgusted' that his image used to push an agenda that he felt was critical of the African community (pictured with Molly Meldrum)

Mr Akot wrote a detailed statement about the use of his image and posted it to Facebook on Tuesday

Natalie Cunningham, whose documentary the image was taken from, said it was irresponsible of The Project's producers to chose to take an image of an innocent young man when there was so much footage of Saturday's carnage available.

'There was plenty of live footage from the weekend's violence at your disposal and it's completely unacceptable that you resorted to using this photo, which left the person in question feeling victimised for absolutely no reason other than the fact that you decided to present your story in a given way.'

Ms Cunningham said the news program contacted her around a year ago and asked to use some of the footage from her short documentary on Ror's life to which she happily obliged.

The image was taken from a short documentary on the Melbourne rapper's life

Mr Akot uses his music to explore both the 'hardships and triumphs' he faced throughout his life

Mr Akot, 19, fled his native South Sudan when he was only nine years old and relocated to Melbourne

She had no idea it would be used at a later date to cover a topic that was completely unrelated, adding that the image should have been credited to photographer Justin Leijon.

The documentary maker also noted there was another young man's image that was used by the Project in a similar manner but did not reveal his identity as she did not know him personally.

She told Crikey that she was extremely disappointed that the 'exceptional' young man's image was used in such a negative light.

'It does a great disservice to the South Sudanese community (and wider African community) and it is very discouraging and disappointing to see such lack of consideration given to the use of his photo.'

Mr Akot and Ms Cunningham posted their statements about the controversial segment to Facebook on Tuesday, prompting a response from The Project on their nightly program.

Hamish McDonald made a brief apology to Mr Akot on Tuesday night, stating that the program had used the image 'inadvertently'

Hamish McDonald made a brief apology to Mr Akot on Tuesday night, stating that the program had used the image accidentally.

'In a story last night on gang violence, we inadvertently used a graphically altered and treated image of Melbourne rapper Ror Da Poet.'

'We'd like to make it clear that Ror is in no way connected to gang violence and and we apologise for any distress the use of this image may have caused.'
Debris recently found on an Indian Ocean island where a wing fragment from MH370 had previously washed ashore is unlikely to be from the missing plane, officials have revealed.

The piece in question was discovered earlier this month on Reunion Island by Johnny Begue, who found a wing fragment on the same island last year that investigators confirmed was part of the jet.

French authorities examining Begue's most recent find told the Australian agency directing the search for the plane off Australia's west coast that it is unlikely to be from Flight 370.

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Workers search Reunion Island beaches in August as part of a search for debris from the missing MH370

Australia's Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) is running the search in the southern Indian Ocean, where the jet is believed to have diverted to from a Kuala Lumpur-Beijing flight path.

The centre said Malaysian officials were 'continuing discussions with French authorities about debris found on La Reunion'.

But they added in a statement that 'current advice is that it is unlikely to be from an aircraft'.

Begue previously revealed he found the latest piece of debris - measuring 15ins by 8ins - in early March in nearly the same spot as the wing fragment, which is known as a flaperon.

The flaperon remains the only confirmed debris from the Malaysian plane, which disappeared during a flight on March 8, 2014, with 239 people on board.

Two other pieces of debris recently discovered in Mozambique will be sent to Australia for examination by an international investigation team.

Australia's Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) is running the search in the southern Indian Ocean, where the jet is believed to have diverted to from a Kuala Lumpur-Beijing flight path

The piece in question was discovered earlier this month on Reunion Island by Johnny Begue, who found a wing fragment (pictured) on the same island last year that investigators confirmed was part of the jet

Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai has cautioned against speculation that any of the recently found parts came from the missing plane, though he has suggested that one of the parts found in Mozambique looks promising.

That part was discovered by an American man earlier this month.

A U.S. official said photos of that piece appear to show that it is the fixed leading edge of the right-hand tail section of a Boeing 777; Flight 370 is the only missing 777.
An American tourist cried hysterically in a North Korean courtroom Wednesday after a judge sentenced him to 15 years in prison with hard labor on a subversion charge, as US officials demanded his release and the White House announced tough new sanctions on the insular Southeast Asian state.

Otto Warmbier admitted to attempting to steal a propaganda banner from a restricted area of his hotel at the request of an acquaintance who wanted to hang it in her church.

Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate student, was convicted and sentenced in a one-hour trial at the North's Supreme Court.

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the sentence was 'unduly harsh' and urged North Korea to pardon Warmbier and release him on humanitarian grounds.

'Despite official claims that U.S. citizens arrested in the DPRK are not used for political purposes, it's increasingly clear from its very public treatment of these cases that the DPRK does exactly that,' Toner told reporters, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Emotional: Otto Warmbier cries at court in an undisclosed location in North Korea

He was arrested in January while visiting the country with Young Pioneer Tours, an agency specializing in travel to North Korea

Warmbier, 21, was arrested for trying to steal a propaganda sign from a hotel while visiting North Korea in January

The American college student was sentenced to 15 years hard labor after being found guilty of 'crimes against the state'

Warmbier was charged with subversion. No further details were immediately available.

Hours after Warmbier's sentence was made public, president Barack Obama announced new, tough sanctions on North Korea.

There was no apparent connection between Obama's executive order and North Korea's treatment of Warmbier.

The executive order was issued in response to North Korea's January 6 nuclear test and its ballistic missile launch the following day, the White House wrote in a statement.

'The U.S. and the global community will not tolerate North Koreas illicit nuclear and ballistic missile activities, and we will continue to impose costs on North Korea until it comes into compliance with its international obligations,' the statement concluded.

The president's order allows for U.S. implementation of sanctions approved by the United Nations two weeks ago.

The sanctions include mandatory inspections of cargo leaving and entering North Korea by land, sea or air; a ban on all sales or transfers of small arms and light weapons to Pyongyang; and expulsion of diplomats from the North who engage in 'illicit activities.'

The president also announced the implementation of an act passed unanimously in the Senate last week that will sanction anyone who contributes to North Korea's proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, arms-related materials, luxury goods, human rights abuses and activities undermining cyber security.

Warmbier speaks at his trial in North Korea. He has been detained since January. On Wednesday, North Korean officials said Warmbier had been sentenced to 15 years of hard labor

This picture shows press and other people gathered at the March 16 trial of Otto Warmbier

Last month, North Korea paraded Warmbier before the media in Pyongyang, where he tearfully apologized for attempting to steal the political banner.

He sobbed as he begged for forgiveness for the 'hostile' act, claiming the attempted theft, from a staff-only section of the hotel where he had been staying, had been at the behest of a member of a church back home who wanted it as a 'trophy'.

'I made the worst mistake of my life,' the tearful UVA student said at the press conference, which was covered by North Korean and international media, according to CNN.

'I committed the crime of taking down a political slogan from the staff holding area of the Yanggakdo International Hotel,' Warmbier said.

'I apologize to each and every one of the millions of the Korean people and I beg that you see how I was used and manipulated,' the student's statement continued.

'I plead for you to forgive me, not for me, but for my family,' he added.

In video from the press conference, Warmbier could be seen bowing his head as he asked for forgiveness.

He said: 'I never, never should have allowed myself to be lured by the United States administration to commit a crime in this country.'

'I wish that the United States administration never manipulate people like myself in the future to commit crimes against foreign countries.'

'SADISTIC, HELLISH, DEPRAVED': A TERRIFYING GLIMPSE INTO LIFE INSIDE A NORTH KOREAN GULAG Chilling testimony from a former guard at one of North Korea's notorious prison camps has revealed the shocking cruelties and deprivation the inmates face. The man, known only as 'Lee' to prevent reprisals against his family, was a guard at Prison camp No16, also known as Hwasong camp, where 20,000 political prisoners live. The total amount of political prisoners in North Korea is estimated at 200,000. In a system that has been compared to Soviet Gulags and Nazi concentration camps, prisoners are typically worked until death and subjected to torture and forced starvation. Lee watched one man get murdered by two soldiers. The prisoner was first questioned by a man at a desk and then ordered to leave through a door at the back of the room. Behind the door was a pair of men, one of whom had a rubber cord. One wrapped it around the prisoner's neck while the other tightened it. Another grisly execution method Lee heard about was prisoners being forced to dig holes in a field. They were then told to stand on the edge before being hit on the back of a head with a hammer. Guards bragged to each other about the sadistic ways they had dispatched their terrified and helpless victims. Prisoners had to walk seven miles to work in -25C conditions. Starvation was rife and the prisoners were often worked to death. In a 2014 UN report, one political prisoner described being strung over a lit fire during interrogation, and having a finger cut off for dropping a sewing machine while performing forced labor. Amnesty International published this satellite image of a North Korean prison camp One form of torture recounted by escapees is known as 'pigeon torture.' One survivor described how 'your hands are handcuffed behind your back. And then they hang you so you would not be able to stand or sit.' The UN report found that 'the majority of prisoners who remain in the camps have no prospect of ever being released.' 'The camps are surrounded by high perimeter fences that are electrified at a deadly voltage and further secured by barbed wire. Pit traps and minefields are also placed around the perimeter fence.' 'Camp guards are under firm orders to shoot to kill anyone trying to escape and they are rewarded if they do.' Punishment for minor infractions include 'ration cuts and additional forced labour' as well as 'solitary confinement, beatings and mutilation.' One political prisoner described being strung over a lit fire during interrogation, and having a finger cut off for dropping a sewing machine while performing forced labor. Satellite imagery shows a remote North Korean prison camp Starvation is one of the most common causes of death in the camps. Former prison guards testified that starvation in the camps is 'a deliberate measure to keep prisoners weak and easy to control and to augment their suffering.' Given the minimal rations of food, which in some cases consist only of corn and salt, 'prisoners are only be able to survive over longer periods of time by hunting and gathering insects, rodents and wild plants or finding ways to divert food meant for the guards and farm animals.' Advertisement

In this picture released by North Korean officials, Warmbier appears to attach his thumb print to a document during his trial

North Korea sometimes uses the detention of foreigners as a means of exerting pressure on its adversaries

American student Otto Warmbier is escorted on Wednesday at the Supreme Court in Pyongyang in the secretive state

The alleged attempted theft occurred on January 1, the day before Warmbier was due to leave the country after a trip organized through the China-based travel agency Young Pioneer Tours (pictured Wednesday)

'I entirely beg you, the people and government of [North Korea], for your forgiveness. Please!'

The CIA, an underground organization at the University of Virginia, and a church member in Warmbier's hometown of Wyoming, Ohio, were all blamed for pressuring the student to commit the crime, CNN reported.

It is unknown whether or not Warmbier was forced to speak at the press conference - but a North Korean official told the station the student called the press conference 'at his own request.'

However, the insular East Asian nation, whose official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is known for staging propaganda spectacles in opposition to the United States.

In previous cases, people who have been detained in North Korea and made a public confession often recant those statements after their release.

After his confession, Warmier's parents released a statement saying they hoped their son would be freed.

I entirely beg you, the people and government of [North Korea], for your forgiveness. Please! Otto Warmbier

'I hope the fact that he has conveyed his sincere apology for anything that he may have done wrong will now make it possible for the DPRK authorities to allow him to return home,' said Fred and Cindy Warmbier in a statement to their son's school newspaper, University of Virginia'sCavalier Daily.

'I urge the DPRK government to consider his youth and make an important humanitarian gesture by allowing him to return to his loved ones,' the family's February 28 statement continued.

North Korea announced in late January it had arrested Warmbier  but no details of what kind of charges or punishment Warmbier faces were immediately released.

He was arrested while visiting the country with Young Pioneer Tours, an agency specializing in travel to North Korea, which is strongly discouraged by the U.S. State Department.

He had been staying at the Yanggakdo International Hotel, which is located on an island in a river that runs through Pyongyang, the capital.

It is common for sections of tourist hotels to be reserved for North Korean staff and off-limits to foreigners.

The alleged attempted theft occurred on January 1, the day before Warmbier was due to leave the country after a trip organized through the China-based travel agency Young Pioneer Tours.

As Warmbier was about to board the plane from Pyongyang, he was detained by North Korean authorities, witnesses said.

An Irish student who was booked on the same flight as Warmbier said the American was accosted by armed officials at the airport and dragged away.

'When we were leaving one of the other tour group's [the Young Pioneers] tour leader said 'We're missing Otto,'' the student, who was only identified as Darragh, told the Independent.

'[The tour leader] got up and was really frantically running up and down the plane. She ran to the air hostess and was trying to say to the air hostess that "we're missing Otto." She then went up to business class and he wasn't there.'

Warmbier, the detained University of Virginia student tearfully apologized for attempting to steal a political banner in this picture taken on February 29

Otto Warmbier went to North Korea on a tourist trip organized through a travel agency. When he was about to leave the country, he was arrested for allegedly trying to steal a political banner. Pictured here in file photos

Warmbier bowed during his confession and asked for forgiveness for his 'hostile act' against North Korea (he is pictured on February 29)

This file photo taken during Warmbier's initial press conference February 29, 2016 was released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on March 1

According to Warmbier's statement on Monday, he wanted the banner with a political slogan on it as a trophy for the church member, who was the mother of a friend.

In his comments, Warmbier said he was offered a used car worth $10,000 by a member of the church.

He said the church member told him the slogan would be hung on its wall as a trophy. He also said he was told that if he was detained and didn't return, $200,000 would be paid to his mother in the form of a charitable donation.

Warmbier identified the church as the Friendship United Methodist Church, which is in his hometown of Wyoming, in Ohio.

Meshach Kanyion, pastor of the church, would not confirm whether he knows Warmbier or if he is a church member.

'I don't have any comment at this time,' he told The Associated Press.

Warmbier's parents said they had not heard from their son since his arrest and were greatly relieved to finally see a picture of him.

'You can imagine how deeply worried we were and what a traumatic experience this has been for us,' Warmbier's father, Fred Warmbier, said in a statement provided by the University of Virginia.

'I hope the fact that he has conveyed his sincere apology for anything that he may have done wrong will now make it possible for the (North Korean) authorities to allow him to return home,' he said.

The university said it had no immediate comment other than that it was in close contact with Warmbier's family.

Warmbier told reporters in Pyongyang that he had also been encouraged in his act by the university's 'Z Society,' which he said he was trying to join. The magazine of the university's alumni association describes the Z Society as a 'semi-secret ring society' that was founded in 1892 and conducts philanthropy, puts on honorary dinners and grants academic awards.

Warmbier said he accepted the offer of money because his family is 'suffering from very severe financial difficulties.'

'I started to consider this as my only golden opportunity to earn money,' he said, adding that if he ever mentioned the involvement of the church, 'no payments would come.'

North Korea regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow its government to enable the U.S.-backed South Korean government to control the Korean Peninsula.

U.S. tourism to North Korea is legal and virtually all Americans who make the journey return home without incident.

Even so, the State Department has repeatedly warned against travel to the North. Visitors, especially those from America, who break the country's sometimes murky rules risk detention, arrest and possible jail sentences.

Young Pioneer describes itself on its website as providing 'budget tours to destinations your mother would rather you stayed away from.'

The agency, based in China, also has tours to Iran, Cuba, Turkmenistan, Iraq and other former Soviet countries.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (above) is known for staging propaganda spectacles in opposition to the US

After Warmbier's detention, it stressed in a news release that he was the first of the 7,000 people it has taken to North Korea over the past eight years to face arrest.

'Despite what you may hear, North Korea is probably one of the safest places on Earth to visit,' it says on its website.

In the past, North Korea has held out until senior U.S. officials or statesmen came to personally bail out detainees, all the way up to former President Bill Clinton, whose visit in 2009 secured the freedom of American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling. Both had crossed North Korea's border from China illegally.

It took a visit in November 2014 by U.S. spy chief James Clapper to bring home Matthew Miller, who had ripped up his visa when entering the country, and Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who had been incarcerated since November 2012.

Jeffrey Fowle, another U.S. tourist from Ohio detained for six months at about the same time as Miller, was released just before that and sent home on a U.S. government plane.

He left a Bible in a local club hoping a North Korean would find it, which is considered a criminal offense in North Korea.
Police officers rescued a flamingo running through traffic in Hialeah, Florida, on Sunday (pictured)

Three Florida cops rescued a pink flamingo after one of them spotted the bird running through traffic.

Officer Jose Romero was patrolling when he saw the flamingo on Sunday evening in Hialeah.

He called for back-up and two colleagues helped him capture the bird, the Miami Herald reported.

They used a traffic vest to cover the animal's eyes and calm it down.

The flamingo ended at the back of the police car as the officers drove it back to its original owners.

'We were just lucky it didn't get hurt,' Hialeah police spokesman Sergeant Carl Zogbysaid.

'He was in the middle of traffic in Hialeah, poor guy.'

The bird had escaped from Hialeah Park, a historic racetrack in the city dating back to the 1920s.

The park earned a spot on the US national registry of historic places in 1979.

The property now includes a flamingo reservation and a casino.

It began as a greyhound racing track and was later used for horse racing.

Hialeah Park's flamingo reservation is listed by the Audubon Society, a conservation nonprofit, as a sanctuary for the American flamingo.

Officer Jose Romero was patrolling when he spotted the bird. He called for back-up and two colleagues helped him catch the flamingo using a traffic vest (pictured)
Andy Benavidez, 47, (pictured) attacked an African American man because of his race

An Iowa City man who wore a surgical mask because he said he was 'allergic to black people' has been charged after starting a fight with a man simply because of his race.

Andy Benavidez attacked an African American man, Sunday, the victim has claimed.

Police responded to a report of two men fighting at a public location in Iowa City, Iowa, reported CBS2.

The victim told police that Benavidez, 47, called him racial slurs and then attacked him forcefully.

He was then forced to fight back in 'self-defense'.

Benavidez told police he was wearing a surgical mask because he said he was 'allergic to black people' and 'didn't want to catch their germs'.

Benavidez also told police that he only fought the victim because he was black.

He has been charged with Assault - Violation of Individual Rights, which is considered a hate crime.
The Missouri primary went down to the wire for both parties on Tuesday night, with no winner being decided after 99.9% of votes were cast.

There was less than one per cent between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz when the count stopped early on Wednesday morning.

The Donald is only 1,726 votes (0.18 per cent) ahead of Cruz as it stands out of 762,000 votes cast but is predicted to win the contest.

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The Texas Senator was looking for his first win of the night after the Republican frontrunner swept three states - Florida, North Carolina and Illinois.

For the Democrats, Clinton led Sanders by 0.2 per cent.

When counting stopped early on Wednesday morning Sanders and Clinton were separated by just 1,531 votes out of 619, 673.

But Clinton appeared to declare on Twitter that she had won the state, posting: 'Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri: We did it. And together, we're going to win this nomination.'

Both results could easily be challenged when a winner is declared raising the prospect of a legal battle stretching over days.

Sanders and Clinton could barely be separated on a night that saw the former Secretary of State win four states - Ohio, Florida, Illinois and North Carolina.

HOW CLOSE THE PRIMARIES CAN GET - AND MOST OF THE TIME THE NARROWEST MARGIN COMES IN IOWA In the 2012 Iowa Caucus, there was a margin 0.0279 per cent between Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney. The difference in votes cast was 34 out of 121,503. Romney was declared the winner by eight votes on the night - completing one of the closest races in election history. It has been a theme in Iowa Caucuses throughout history. Earlier this year Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders miniscule difference of 0.2 per cent became the lowest margin ever between Democratic presidential candidates in the state's voting history. The Democrats hadn't seen such a narrow Hawkeye State race since 1988, when Dick Gephardt beat politician Paul Simon by 4.6 per cent. Former presidents George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan boast the third narrowest difference. Bush won by 2.1 per cent in the 1980 Republican Iowa caucus. The fourth smallest difference in the Iowa caucus was the 3 per cent difference between Republican nominees former Sen. Bob Dole and Pat Buchanan in the 1996. Advertisement

Clinton inflicted a huge blow on Bernie Sanders, taking victory on one of the biggest nights of the primary season so far.

Jennifer Palmieri, Clinton's director of communications, even told CNN that Bernie can no longer win the nomination, because of the gap in delegates.

But Sanders remained confident and told supporters his campaign had 'defied expectations'.

He spoke to a crowd in Phoenix, Arizona - a state not part of the primary night - and asked if they were ready for a 'political revolution'.

With 99.9 per cent of the votes cast, there was no clear winner between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz in Missouri following Tuesday night's primary

The situation was similar with the Democrats, with the lead changing between Hillary and Clinton throughout the evening

Florida Sen. Marco Rubios suspended his White House campaign after surrendering his home state. Trump tipped his hat to the man 25 years his junior, and then slammed him for spending so much money to try to defeat him.

'I want to congratulate Marco Rubio on having run a really tough campaign,' Trump told a crowd of socialites and journalists at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach. 'He's tough. He's smart, and he's got a great future.'

'But I have to say, nobody has ever, ever in the history of politics, received the amount of negative advertising I have,' Trump carped.

Most of it, he claimed, was 'false, vicious, horrible.'

Donald Trump (pictured on Tuesday night) led Ted Cruz by less than 1 percent in Missouri as the count entered Wednesday morning. But the close race wasn't going to dampen the mogul's successful night

The Texas Senator (pictured) was looking for his first win of the night after the Republican frontrunner swept three states - Florida, North Carolina and Illinois

'It added up to over $40million' in Florida alone, Trump said. 'And you explain it to me, because I can't. My numbers went up!'

'We're going to do a lot of trips over the next month,' he pledged. 'And we're going to have a lot of great victories.'

Ohio Gov. John Kasich won in his home state, offsetting what might otherwise have been a devastating night for the rest of the GOP field.

Florida's winner-take-all rules, shared by Ohio's Tuesday primary matchup, translate to a windfall of 99 convention delegates for The Donald, and signaled the end of Rubio's run.

While Florida was a Trump-friendly bloodbath, Ohio's 66-delegate race ended as a rare defeat for him  and the only one so far at Kasich's hands.

Trump's appearance was billed as a 'press conference' like the others he has hosted on primary election nights. he delivered brief remarks on stage, accompanied by his senior staffers and a few family members, but took no questions from the people he referred to as 'disgusting reporters' who write 'lies, deceit, viciousness.'

'Some are nice. [There are] some really disgusting people back there,' he jabbed.

Journalists and camera crews were kept behind nearly 500 chairs set up for Mar-a-Lago members and Trump's other high-society friends.

Election watchers called the Florida race for Trump at 8:00 p.m. once polls in the state's panhandle region  in a separate time zone  closed for the night.

With 98 per cent of votes counted, Trump had collected 45.7 per cent in the Sunshine State  a gargantuan lead of more than 440,000 votes over home-state-senator Rubio, who was supported by just 27 per cent.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was in third place with 17.1 per cent. Kasich brought up the rear with 6.8 per cent.

Bernie Sanders (pictured speaking in Phoenix on Tuesday) had a disastrous night, but was holding on in Missouri as the final votes were counted

Clinton (pictured in West Palm Beach on Tuesday night) inflicted a huge blow on Bernie Sanders, taking victory on one of the biggest nights of the primary season so far

Cruz pushed for relevance despite coming up empty in the first four races of the night, insisting that the Republican nomination fight was now a head-to-head competition.

'Only two campaigns have a plausible path to the nomination, ours and Donald Trump's,' he told supporters. Nobody else has any mathematical possibility whatsoever.'

'The choice is straightforward,' he insisted: '"Do you want a candidate who shares your values, or a candidate who has spent decades opposing your values?'

'The mainstream media, the network suits who makes the decisions, want Donald Trump as the nominee. That's why they've given him hundreds of millions in free advertising  because they are partisan Democrats "ready for Hillary"' in November.

In Florida, Rubio won only his home county, Miami-Dade. His margin there was decisive  more than 70,000 votes  but a drop in the bucket compared with the rest of Florida's urge to jump on the Trump train.
A homeless man from San Francisco who pointed police toward the two Orange County inmates who had escaped from jail will get $100,000 of the $150,000 reward set up for their successful capture.

Matthew Hay-Chapman was awarded $100,000 by the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

Hossein Nayeri, 37, Jonathan Tieu, 20, and Bac Duong, 40, escaped from Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana on January 22 and were the subject of a statewide manhunt for days.

Hay-Chapman spotted Nayeri and Tieu on January 28 in San Francisco and recognized their stolen white GMC van from news reports.

He pointed them out to police officers in the area, leading to their arrest.

Matthew Hay-Chapman (pictured) was awarded $100,000 by the Orange County Board of Supervisors after he pointed police toward two Orange County inmates, Hossein Nayeri and Jonathan Tieu, who both escaped from jail

Hay-Chapman said he saw Nayeri get out of the van. Both he and Nayeri both went into McDonald's, with Nayeri getting in line

In an interview with ABC 7 earlier this month, Hay-Chapman said he saw a parked van at a Whole Foods not far from a McDonald's he regularly goes to.

He said: 'Main thing I noticed people were sleeping in it, cause the windows were all steamed up cause of heavy, heavy condensation.

'I thought to myself, there's two people in that van 'cause I used to live in a Savannah GMC van many years ago when I had a job.'

Hay-Chapman said he saw Nayeri get out of the van. Both he and Nayeri both went into McDonald's, with Nayeri getting in line.

He told KGO that he went outside and asked a man if he could borrow his phone and was brushed off.

Hay-Chapman said while walking to a police station, he saw a a police cruiser, and waved at the vehicle, getting its attention. Hay-Chapman said the vehicle pulled over and he spoke to authorities.

The police cruiser parked, with officers getting out and approaching the van, he said.

Nayeri, he said, was holding a cup of coffee and noticed the first responders.

'He's just trying to pretend he's not the guy,' Hay-Chapman told KGO.

Hay-Chapman said he gestured to an officer about Hossein.

Making a pointing movement, he told KGO: 'And I'm going cause I'm right behind Hossein and I go with my cane like this - body language, boom! That's the guy!'

The board also voted to split the remaining $50,000 between two Target employees who called police after spotting the inmates and a man whose van was stolen by the escapees.

The owner of the stolen van (pictured), Armando Damian, will receive $20,000, officials said

Hossein Nayeri (left), 37, Jonathan Tieu (center), 20, and Bac Duong (right), 40, escaped from Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana on January 22 and were the subject of a statewide manhunt for days

Hay-Chapman told ABC 7 News that if he got the money he'd like to use it to start a new life and help his grown children who have also had some tough times.

The third fugitive, Bac Duong, had surrendered to police in Orange County the day before.

The owner of the stolen van, Armando Damian, will receive $20,000, officials said.

Damian, of Los Angeles, called police to say that a man responding to a Craig's List ad had taken it for a test drive on January 23 and not returned.

Target employees Hazel Javier and Jeffrey Arana, will get $15,000 each.

Manager Hazel Javier noticed two men acting suspiciously on surveillance footage on the night of January 22.

Long Ma (pictured wearing hat), the cab driver kidnapped by the inmates, was held hostage for a week by the three men and did not receive any of the reward money

She showed the video to loss prevention officer Jeffrey Arana who called police because he thought the men might be the fugitives.

Supervisor Shawn Nelson voted against rewarding Damien and he wasn't the only person upset as Hoang Tu, the attorney for Long Ma, the cab driver kidnapped by the inmates, insisted his client should receive a piece of the money, according to ABC News.

Long Ma was held hostage for a week by the three men and did not receive any of the reward money.

The trio escaped the Orange County Central Men's Jail on January 22 after concocting an elaborate escape plan that involved cutting through steel bars, plumbing tunnels and rappelling down the jail's roof.
Thousands of televisions worth $1.8 million will be thrown into the Dick Smith fire sale after a court ruled that the company wouldn't have to return them to its Chinese manufacturer.

The iconic Australian electronics retailer will have roughly six weeks to offload the extra television sets, giving consumers ample time to capitalise on huge closing down sales across the country.

The dispute began when Chinese company Shenzhen MTC, Dick Smith's manufacturer, learnt of the retailer's imminent collapse at the beginning of 2016, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

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Australian electronics retailer Dick Smith will be looking to offload thousands of extra televisions in its fire sale

A dispute between Dick Smith and its manufacturer left the televisions picking up dust in warehouses, but a Federal Court decision in Sydney saw the retailer entitled to ownership of the television sets

Fearing it would not receive money for its latest shipment of televisions, Shenzen MTC demanded 17 shipping containers of televisions be returned immediately.

But shipping company Toll sent 14 of the containers off to a warehouse managed by Dick Smith instead - where they lay unused as a legal case fighting ownership of the televisions played out.

In a Federal Court decision in Sydney on Tuesday, Justice Steven Rares ruled that Dick Smith was entitled to the television sets, putting responsibility on Toll to pay damages to Shenzhen MTC  including over $100,000 in fees built up in the time the containers sat in unused warehouses.

The court heard that Shenzhen sent Toll an email on January saying: 'DSE: please urgently hold cargo, and recall. Urgent Case!' news.com.au reported.

Dick Smith's Chinese manufacturer Shenzen MTC tried to take back 17 shipments of televisions when they found the company had gone belly up, but shipping company Toll sent the containters to a warehouse

14 of the 17 shipping containers lay unused in a warehouse managed by Dick Smith as a legal case fighting ownership of the televisions played out

'The receivers are conducting closing down sales of Dick Smith's business over about the next six weeks,' Justice Rares wrote.

'They hope to sell the disputed cargoes to engorge the receipts of that process while leaving MTC in the position of being an unsecured creditor.'

According to Business Insider, prices on smartphones, laptops, DSLR cameras and headphones, including the popular Beats by Dre brand, have been slashed by up to 30 per cent for the fire sale, which was first announced in February.

More than 2400 staff will lose their jobs when the company finally closes all of its doors in the next six weeks - with 363 stores across Australia and New Zealand set to close shop.

It was announced on Tuesday that entrepreneur Ruslan Kogan - founder of digital department store kogan.com - will take over the Dick Smith brand and run it as an online-only retailer.
A young pregnant woman has told how she was punched in the face, ribs and eye in a 'cowardly' attack by two men who tried to snatch her handbag.

Insurance specialist Natalie Hotait, 24, who is 14 weeks pregnant, was grabbed from behind in a quiet road in Blacktown, western Sydney, on her way to go shopping in Westpoint.

She has been left with suspected broken ribs and a black eye with a split eyelid and blurred vision following the attempted robbery at around 7.30pm on Monday.

'They tried to grab my handbag from behind and when I turned around to see who it was I was punched again in the left eye,' she told Nine News.

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Natalie Hotait, 24, who is 14 weeks pregnant, has told how she was punched in the ribs, face and eye before falling to the ground in a vicious attempted robbery which left her with a split eyelid

The mother, who already has a young son (pictured together with her partner), said she believed her screams for help scared the would-be thieves away

'I then dropped to the ground, screaming out for help and they yanked on my handbag from behind me. I dont know if they were trying to rip off its straps.'

The mother, who has a young son, said she believed her screams helped scare the would-be thieves away as the men sprinted off down the street after failing to grab the bag.

She was forced to walk home 'bleeding and in pain' before her partner raced her to Blacktown Hospital.

Paramedics glued her eyelid together, but the hospital was not able to perform a scan on her ribcage because of her pregnancy.

She has been left with suspected broken ribs and a black eye with a split eyelid and blurred vision following the attempted robbery at around 7.30pm on Monday

She has been left with suspected broken ribs and a black eye with blurred vision following the attack at around 7.30pm on Monday

Ms Hotait said doctors told her that her baby was not injured as there was no internal bleeding.

But the mother said she has not been able to go outside alone since the horrifying ordeal.

'I havent been able to go out on my own since, so my husband has been going everywhere with me,' she said.

Officers are appealing for anyone with information to come forward following the brutal attack on Boys Avenue as both men are still on the run.

Ms Hotait said she could only remember that one of her attackers had a 'dark complexion'.

Inspector Paul Tickner from NSW Police said: 'Its pretty bad, this is a cowardly attack.'

Anyone who may have witnessed the attempted robbery should contact Blacktown Police on 02 96719199 to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

All information will be treated in strict confidence.

The mother said she has not been able to go outside alone since the horrifying ordeal
The mother of a 14-year-old girl who lost her battle with mental illness when she took her own life shortly before Christmas has penned an emotional open letter after launching an anti-bullying campaign.

Jessica Tolhurst, from the south coast of New South Wales, had been struggling with depression since she was just 10-years-old, and sadly died following an eating disorder, self-harm, and bullying her mother says she suffered at a new school.

The 14-year-old took her own life on December 7, only days after she got a boyfriend and adopted a puppy named Pepsi  an early Christmas present to help lift her spirits and nicknamed Therapy Dog for his love.

Her mother Melinda Graham has since launched Bobdan Foundation in Jessicas honour, and on Wednesday wrote an open letter on Facebook to all the bullies out there.

Jessica Tolhurst (pictured with dog Pepsi), 14, had been struggling with depression since she was just 10-years-old, and sadly died after battling an eating disorder and bullying

Theres not one thing I miss about her. I just miss having her near me. I miss her cuddles and her saying: Mum, I love you, Mrs Graham said (pictured left with Jess, right)

Yes my baby girl had depression, anxiety and an eating disorder. After a long battle of three-and-a-half years of not being diagnosed. My baby girl had mental illness. Is this why my chook ended her life, NO, Mrs Graham wrote on the public Facebook page on Wednesday.

She said bullying had tipped her daughter over the edge.

I have lost like no other, I am left with surviving life not living, I am left with a hole so big that not one person can fill it, I am left without spending every day with my chook, I am left with nothing because you decided to take my beautiful sensitive gorgeous daughter and use her for your power trips, to make you feel better, she claimed.

It makes it even worse, that you can put down someone that already is down.

From age 10, Jess became nauseous, vomit, and suffer migraines after eating

Jess had been out of full-time school due to her health for years, but was transitioned back into school around a year ago

Well guess what I am fighting and will continue to fight for change, because these beautiful gorgeous sensitive kids are so worth fighting for as they are love.

We need to stand up and do what we can and keep fighting to stop you bullies from doing what you do without consequences, she said.

Mrs Graham has so far raised almost $6,000 through GoFundMe to help launch Bobdan Foundation, to raise awareness of mental health and the effects bullying has on children.

Her emotional open letter also told her daughter, who she affectionately nicknamed Chook, she will always miss and love her.

I will continue to fight for you and each and every day I will get up and keep going. No one or nothing will ever stop me because you are worth more than anything in this world.

It got worse. The last few months with Jess was very tiring, she was very hard work. I know that the bullying escalated severely, the mother said

Obviously the school didnt take it [the bullying incident] seriously enough,' the mother said

Love you so much chook and I wish I could go back 12 weeks to this time and day and have it over again. I would of moved mountains for you baby girl and your memory will live on and the people and systems that have come against my journey with your fight will stop and take a look at this and change, Mrs Graham wrote on Wednesday.

I promise you that.

In January, Mrs Graham told Daily Mail Australia she wanted to educate parents and children that words can hurt.

'You don't know what someone else is going through. You don't know their journey. You don't know the road they're travelling at the moment so just be nice.'

She said before they had a diagnosis for Jessica, she would become nauseous and vomit, or suffer migraines after eating.

The family later discovered this was depression in disguise.

It was like a physical illness, disguising itself, Mrs Graham said, distressed they didnt know what was wrong for three-and-a-half years.

We only had six months to try [and help her] but by then it was like it was too late.

Jessica had been out of full-time school due to her health for years, but was transitioned back into school about a year ago.

Id hate to be a kid in this era. Jess couldnt escape from it [online bullying], wherever she went it was with her,' Mrs Graham said

No more than four weeks into her first term back at school she found herself the target of bullying, her mother said, and went on a downward spiral and severely crashed, losing five or six kilograms.

This is our story, this is Jess story, and we want to tell it and educate that words can hurt,' Mrs Graham told Daily Mail Australia

Jessica then attended hospital school before her diagnosis last June. She later returned to mainstream school where the bullying continued.

Mrs Graham said she had complained to staff at the school as well as police.

Unfortunately, her mental health continued to deteriorate.

It got worse. The last few months with Jess was very tiring, she was very hard work, the mother said.

Theres a lot of things that come into it. We were seeing a psychologist for her eating disorder, and Jess actually began putting on weight.

But then I noticed her self-harm skyrocket. It just blew out of control, Mrs Graham said.

Two days before [her suicide] she looked at me and said: Mum youre my best friend. I can just tell you anything.

'I just miss having her near me. I miss her cuddles and her saying: Mum, I love you, Mrs Graham said.

For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14

The entire open letter from Melinda Graham to bullies Today at 2.15pm 12 weeks ago I was sitting in the car at my boy Jacks school waiting for him to come out and go home. We stopped at Maccas for a famous Jessi slushie that she loved for us to bring home to her. We arrived home to silence with pepsi, Jessi dog lying on her bed and what came next was unimaginable. Jack and I were to find my baby chook gone, left us, no life left. This letter goes out to all the bullies out their....... You think that your words mean nothing, you think that saying the littlest things dont hurt, you think that it is ok to say horrible things to people, to our kids, to my baby girl. You think its a power trip to make fun of someone, to put them down, to treat them like crap. WELL IT IS NOT OK. It never will be ok......... Yes my baby girl had depression, anxiety and an eating disorder. After a long battle of 3  years of not being diagnosed. My baby girl had mental illness. Is this why my chook ended her life, NO. Does that make it ok to put her down even more, does that make it ok to give her crap and say things that hurt. Does it make it ok. NO IT DOES NOT. I as her mother know that these things do kill people, but what pushed my baby chook over the edge was the fact that my Jessi got bullied to the extent of threatening messages that were actually death threats to myself and my baby chook and a lot more really really sad harrassing messages, calls at school where they would just ring her and say a whole heap of horrible words and hang up, a lot of bullying. Some people actually say that Kids dont always grow up in the right household so they do what they are taught to do, and yes I agree. I also know that kids need consequences and the kids these days have none and they know it. The kids know that they can get away with this as their will be nothing done. Does this make it right, NO. We need to stand up and do what we can and keep fighting to stop you bullies from doing what you do without consequences. It makes it even worse, that you can put down someone that already is down. To the bullies who have excuses that you did it because you were bullied, or you did it because you heard a rumour, or you did it because you just want to be tough. Their is NO EXCUSE at all. None what so ever. Words hurt and you can never take them back after you say them so choose your words carefully and if you wouldnt like someone to say them to you, then shut your mouth or stop your keyboard warrior thing happening and dont say it........ To the bullies, you hide behind your keyboard to put words out their that crumble and devastate someone. You are not just attacking the person themselves, you are attacking their parents, their siblings, their family, and their friends. What you do bullies is you leave innocent young people feeling worthless, hopeless and living in a nightmare. What you do bullies is you leave the family devastated for the rest of their lives. Would you like your parents living day to day without you. Would you like your siblings going through life without you. Would you like never to get a licence, go to a formal, have children of your own??????? I dont think so. My baby chook actually has written down that most people go to sleep and have nightmares but my chook said she goes to sleep ok but her everyday life that she was living was a nightmare. Is this fair???? Is this ok??????? NO NO NO I have lost like no other, I am left with surviving life not living, I am left with a hole so big that not one person can fill it, I am left without spending every day with my chook, I am left with nothing because you decided to take my beautiful sensitive gorgeous daughter and use her for your power trips, to make you feel better. How do you feel now???? You hide behind the law that there is none and that there is no consequences for your actions. Well guess what I am fighting and will continue to fight for change, because these beautiful gorgeous sensitive kids are so worth fighting for as they are love. I do apologise for my anger in this letter to the bullies, but I am angry and hurt and a lot more. Love is the key guys. Please just love one another. To my chook, life will never be the same, I will always miss you and love you so much. I will continue to fight for you and each and every day I will get up and keep going. No one or nothing will ever stop me because you are worth more than anything in this world. Love you so much chook and I wish I could go back 12 weeks to this time and day and have it over again. I would of moved mountains for you baby girl and your memory will live on and the people and systems that have come against my journey with your fight will stop and take a look at this and change. I promise you that. Take care chook and my love is always with you. Love mum. xxxxx Source: Bobdan Foundation Advertisement

Jess (centre) with her family, including her mother Melinda Graham (third from the left, back row), brother Jack, 17, (right, front row), her three step-siblings and step-father (second from left, back row)
A British medic is treating wounded ISIS jihadis on the frontline in Syria, MailOnline can reveal.

Macer Gifford, an anti-extremist fighter, said he would be 'burnt in a cage or brutally murdered on camera' if the jihadis found him injured in battle.

The Briton, who gave up his job in finance in London to go to Syria, is part of an all-action battalion of fighters from the UK, US, New Zealand and Sweden, backing Kurdish forces - but will treat anyone injured in the fighting, even extremists trying to kill them.

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Briton: Macer Gifford, who gave up his top job in London to volunteer with the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in 2014, set up the medic unit with help from overseas funding two months ago

Treatment: The team of Western medics provides treatment to a Kurdish fighter who was injured when a improvised explosive devise exploded. The man suffered severe head wounds and later died from his injuries

Jihadis: Combat medic Tama pictured with ISIS fighters taken prisoner during a battle in Shaddadi, Syria

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Macer, 29, said: 'There was one ISIS fighter that came in last week that sums this war up.

He was 14 years old and didn't look like a vicious ISIS fighter on his stretcher, he just looked like a kid. Macer Gifford

'He was 14 years old and grievously wounded and we did everything we could to keep him alive. He didn't look like a vicious ISIS fighter on his stretcher, he just looked like a kid.'

The teenage jihadi had been shot in the head, wrist and thigh, but was still able to squeeze the hands of the medics treating him.

Macer, who fights with a group called the YPG, which is the Kurdish People's Protection Units, said: 'He was looked after, just as one of our soldiers would be treated. That's in direct contrast to the fate that I would face at the hands of ISIS.

'I despise ISIS more than anyone else - I've lost half my last unit to them.

'But there is good and evil in this fight. We have treated absolutely everyone.

'Tragically the young ISIS fighter died of his wounds - another victim of ISIS and their ideology of hate.'

On the ground: The medics, who have 50 years of military experience, are attached to Kurdish units in Syria. Pictured: The team responding to a call for help

Treatment: Brennan from America works to save a casualty, who had been shot in the chest in battle. Thanks to the team, the man survived his injuries

Medic unit: 'River Rainbow O'Mahoney Hagg', one of the medics, is pictured standing in front of a road sign. He brought his camera to the frontline and is the team's unofficial photographer

Team member: Firat, a Kurd from Sweden, works alongside Macer Gifford and other Western medics to save the lives of fighters on the frontline in northern Syria

Macer, a former Young Conservative who also fought for six months last year and uses his nom de guerre, launched the medical team two months ago with overseas funding.

He is joined by 'Tama', who served in the British Army, 'Firat', a Kurd from Sweden, 'Brennan' from America and 'River Rainbow O'Mahoney Hagg'.

The men, most of whom do not use their real names, are attached to Kurdish units, known as taburs, and operate on the frontline in northern Syria.

'When I was last in Rojava, my friends were dying from preventable injuries,' Macer explained. 'One guy bled to death after being hit in the leg and another nearly died after being struck in the upper arm.

'The conditions for the wounded were atrocious - six-hour drives to hospitals that were understaffed and under equipped.

'Our new team changes everything - applying life saving procedures in the field saves lives.'

The medics, who have 50 years' military experience between them, are providing training to Kurds and are giving them first aid kits. They soon hope to have 1,000 people trained, equipped and back on the frontline.

Westerners: The medics are from the UK, U.S., New Zealand and Sweden and support Kurdish forces in Syria

Injured: Photographs of the team's most recent casualty shows the medics treating him on the back of a truck

Devastating injuries: Macer (pictured right) said: 'His head was in a bad way, his brain was hanging out and his face had been torn off'

A series of photographs of the team's most recent casualty has been shared with MailOnline, showing the medics treating the man on the back of a pickup truck.

'When we advanced on one particular village we sent the bomb disposal team into a school where there was a suspicious ammunition case,' Macer, who himself received medical training from his own team, said.

'Our team was just down the road and saw the blast. We rushed to the scene and encountered both the casualties - one was already dead, the explosion had decapitated him and blown him 20 meters over a wall.

'His colleague was alive but had devastating injuries. He had severe chest injuries that included a sucking chest wound.

'His head was in a bad way, his brain was hanging out and his face had been torn off.

Lifesavers: Macer, a former Young Conservative who fought with the YPG for six months last year, launched the medical team two months ago. He receives overseas funding to pay for their equipment

Injuries: One of their patients lies on a bed with a blanket wrapped around him and his hands in bandages

Treatment: The medics are training Kurds and giving them first aid kits, as well as providing life-saving treatment to fighters on the ground themselves

'We provided pain relief, cleared his airways, applied a catheter and chest seal. We put in a IV drip and began the process of evacuating him to hospital.

We rushed to the scene and encountered both the casualties - one was already dead, the explosion had decapitated him and blown him 20 meters over a wall. Macer Gifford, anti-ISIS fighter

'After a two-hour journey to hospital, he died in the early morning after surgery.

'We've gone on to help many other people with similar injuries. Wherever there is fighting in Syria against ISIS, you'll find our team.'

Syria's Kurds have dramatically strengthened their hold on northern Syria during the civil war, which this week entered its sixth year.

A two-week-old Russia and U.S.-engineered partial cease-fire is holding and peace talks have resumed this week in Geneva with the U.N. envoy to Syria.

Moreover, Russia on Tuesday began withdrawing the bulk of its troops from Syria, signaling an end to Moscow's five-and-a-half month air campaign.

Victory: Syria's Kurds have dramatically strengthened their hold on northern Syria during the civil war

Supplies: The Western medics are training the Kurds and providing them with first aid kits (pictured)

First aid kits: The medics soon hope to have 1,000 people trained, equipped and back on the frontline

And although they are medics first and foremost, the men do get caught up in the fighting.

'Our priority is our casualties but we do patrol with the guys,' Macer said. 'We also have to secure our casualties and the first rule is to win the firefight.

'We're here to make a lasting difference and I won't be coming home until Raqqa (ISIS' capital) has been taken.'
Germany has banned a country-wide neo-Nazi group after police targeted its members in dawn raids in ten states on Wednesday.

Police confiscated weapons, propaganda leaflets and data carriers in the raids against the far-right group calling themselves the White Wolves Terror Crew - Weisse Woelfe Terrorcrew in German.

The German interior minister said the raids and seizures of evidence across the country had targeted 16 leaders of the group.

Far-right group White Wolves Terror Crew has been banned in Germany after police targeted its members in dawn raids in ten states on Wednesday (pictured is a neo-Nazis demonstration in Berlin)

'This is a group of neo-Nazis who spew hate openly against our country, against our society, against people with different political opinions, against migrants and also against police,' Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said today.

'This group openly subscribes to the values of national socialism and wants a dictatorship based on that model.'

Authorities confiscated weapons, hard drives and propaganda material. It was not clear if any suspects were detained, because the raids were continuing when de Maiziere briefed reporters in Berlin late Wednesday morning.

The minister said the group, with an inner circle of about 25 members, had violently confronted the police and political opponents, and planned attacks on refugee shelters. The ban will also affect possible successor organizations.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the raids had targeted 16 leaders of the group

In recent months, Germany has seen a sharp rise in attacks on refugee homes and migrants themselves. The government has reacted by banning several far-right groups.

In January, it banned a far-right Internet platform called Altermedia Deutschland that it accused of spreading 'racist, xenophobic, anti-Semitic, homophobic and anti-Islamic content.'

Also in January, German prosecutors charged three men and one woman with forming another far-right group and planning to bomb a refugee shelter.

That group, which went by the name Oldschool Society, discussed how to manufacture explosives and the possibility of attacking Islamic extremists and asylum seekers in Germany.

De Maiziere on Wednesday said the latest ban of Weisse Woelfe (White Wolves) Terrorcrew should be seen as a signal that the government would continue to crack down hard on far-right groups.

'I am saying to the activists in the far-right extremist scene: the state is watching you. We are acting against you. We will do this with resolve and rigor,' de Maiziere said.

WWT had been active across Germany since 2014, according to the country's domestic intelligence agency.

Its members have been seen holding banners reading: 'Achieve national socialism with all means.'

Founded in 2008 as a fan-club of the extreme right skinhead band Weisse Woelfe, the WWT subsequently developed into an outfit that carries out far-right violence.

Police had already carried out raids in 2009 against its members, and in 2012 federal prosecutors launched proceedings against it over charges that it was a terror organisation.
Tourists will be able to travel from London to Bordeaux in just four hours if new Eurostar plans go ahead.

The chief executive of the rail service, which connects Britain with mainland Europe, confirmed it was looking into a direct route between the two cities yesterday.

The journey, which would be the latest in a number of expansions by the service, would make use of the new 6.1billion line between Bordeaux and Tours, which is due to be completed next year.

Tourists will be able to travel from London to Bordeaux in just four hours if new Eurostar plans go ahead, Above, the new Eurostar e320 trains

The news emerged as Eurostar reported a drop in passenger numbers following last November's Paris terror attacks, which saw ISIS gunmen slaughter 130 people in venues across the city.

Nicolas Petrovic, chief executive of Eurostar, admitted the company was considering expanding and said he was hoping for a strong 2016, with the introduction of larger trains that will offer free WiFi and access to around 300 movies.

He told The Times: 'There is nothing decided at the moment beyond Amsterdam, but we are looking at opportunities maybe in Bordeaux because there is a new high-speed line opening in 2017.'

The potential plans are being considered as the company attempts to increase passenger numbers, which flatlined last year at around 10.4million.

The chief executive of the rail service, which connects Britain with mainland Europe, confirmed it was looking into the route yesterday. Above, Saint-Emilion near Bordeaux

Operating profits also fell last year to 34m - a sharp decrease from the 55m made the year before.

Compensation handed to passengers due to delays caused by migrants on the tracks is thought to be one of the main reasons why the profits decreased.

A spokesman for Eurostar added: 'Whilst the business saw a sharp drop in passenger numbers... trading has started to pick up over the first two months of the year.'
The Duchess of Cambridge's decision to break a 115-year-old tradition by pulling out of presenting the Irish Guards with their traditional St Patrick's Day shamrock has sparked an online backlash.

Members of the public have expressed anger at Kate's decision to return to her home of Anmer Hall in Norfolk following a series of engagements in London in order to spend time with Prince George, aged two, and Princess Charlotte, who is 10-months-old.

Today members of the public took to Twitter and Facebook to slam the decision, with one saying sarcastically: 'Well she has done it for the last four years - she probably needs a rest!'

Another said: 'I feel disappointed - if the Royals start breaking with good traditions then I'm not sure what they're there for.'

Mother-of-two Kate, 34, took over the role from Princess Anne in 2012 and last year performed the ceremony while eight months pregnant (pictured left) with Princess Charlotte. Right: The Duchess is pictured in 2014

The Duke and Duchess pose for an official St Patrick's Day photograph with the Irish Guards in 2013

The Duchess of Cambridge pictured in 2012 when she first presented shamrocks to The Irish Guards

The controversy comes following a recent series of PR blunders for the royal couple, and amid fears they may be down to the fact the new, young generation of courtiers and advisers are incapable of saying No to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Handing the clover to the Hounslow-based Infantry Battalion has been carried out on St Patrick's Day by female members of the royal family since 1901, when Queen Alexandra began the tradition.

Mother-of-two Kate, 34, took over the role from Princess Anne in 2012 and last year performed the ceremony while eight months pregnant with Princess Charlotte.

But now it is understood the duchess will spend the next few weeks with the children ahead of her trip to India and Bhutan with Prince William in April.

Over the last week the duchess has attended a number of events alongside her husband, including a day of focus on male suicide on March 10, visiting charity XLP on March 11, and the Commonwealth Service on March 14.

Today members of the public took to Twitter and Facebook to slam the decision, with one saying sarcastically: 'Well she has done it for the last four years - she probably needs a rest'

Last night a source told the Daily Mail's Ephraim Hardcastle column: 'It appears that Kate, in London for Commonwealth Day, was keen to get back to Norfolk and her children.

'So William will dole out the shamrocks. Naturally Irish Guards officers are deflated.'

Kate still has an official engagement scheduled in Norfolk the following day. She is Royal Patron for East Anglia's Children's Hospices and will officially open a new EACH charity shop in Norfolk on Friday.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said: 'The Duchess has very much enjoyed the occasions when she has been able to attend, but the Duke is the Colonel of the Regiment and is looking forward to presenting the Irish Guards with their Shamrock.

'The Duchess looks forward to marking St Patrick's Day with the Irish Guards many times in the future.'

But the move has been criticised on social media sites.

One user wrote on Twitter: 'Shame about the Irish Guards @KensingtonRoyal breaking a tradition that goes so far back. It's almost like you want the bad press.'

Following her marriage to the Prince of Wales in 2011 Kate's first ever royal military engagement was handing out medals to the battalion (pictured)

Another wrote sarcastically: 'Kate pulls out of traditional St Patrick's Day ceremony with Irish Guards. Poor girl must be tired after her holiday.'

On Facebook a user said: 'I think that she should have carried on the tradition - it wouldn't have taken long and she would have been respected for it.

'I know she has two young children and wants to be with them, which is admirable, but quite frankly they won't remember if Mummy was gone for a few hours.'

The news comes following intense public criticism of both William and Kate over claims they are 'part time' royals who carry out far fewer engagements then the Queen and Prince Philip.

William in particular was criticised over his commitment to both his part-time job as an air ambulance pilot and his work as a senior member of the royal family.

Sources at East Anglia Air Ambulance have suggested that he is failing to pull his weight at work, while others say he should also be doing more to help his grandmother the Queen, who turns 90 next month.

The hours worked by the Queen and Prince Philip put the younger royals to shame.

Aged 94, the Duke of Edinburgh clocked up 250 official duties at home and abroad in 2015, compared to the 198 conducted by William, Kate and Harry combined.

But in the past week the Prince has apparently hit back at claims he is not working hard enough - taking on 11 public engagements in the space of just four days.

The sudden onrush of highly visible engagements for William is likely to be seen as a response to recent criticism of his workload, although Palace sources insisted that the timing was just a coincidence.

Williams Private Secretary and team of aides are all, like him, in their 30s.

One friend of the Royal Family told the Mail on Sunday: There is a feeling that perhaps there isnt someone in Williams court who will put their foot down and say no if they think William is making the wrong decision.

William has changed and so have his aides, says another source. William needed Jamie for advice and counsel because he was younger, but hes a grown-up man now with his own ideas and opinions. He has a clear idea of how he wants to steer his PR machine.

He has a good team around him, but the point is they all listen to William and rarely question him when sometimes William does need to be questioned.

The couple pose for photographs along with officers while visiting the Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day 2014

Last Thursday the couple carried out four separate engagements in London relating to mental health.

The next day, William presided over an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, handing out gongs to figures including footballer Denis Law, actor Idris Elba and singer Damon Albarn.

He was joined by Kate in the afternoon for a visit to the XLP youth mentoring project in the City of London.

On Monday, the couple were among a large group of Royals, including the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, to attend a Commonwealth Day service in Westminster Abbey.

The duke has been the Royal Colonel of the Irish Guards since 2011 and its Colonel-in-Chief is the Queen.

The custom of handing the soldiers shamrocks was started by by Queen Alexandra in 1901 and the role was later taken on by the Queen Mother and Princess Anne, who carried on the tradition until Kate took over

The Queen Mother poses with members of the Irish Guards and their mascot, Irish wolfhound Cuchlain in 1997

The battalion, which still draws the majority of its recruits from Northern Ireland, was founded in April 1900 by a royal decree from Queen Victoria to commemorate the Irishmen who died fighting during the Boer War.

The custom of handing the soldiers shamrocks was started by by Queen Alexandra in 1901 and the role was later taken on by the Queen Mother.

Since then the Guards have fought in all the major 20th century conflicts and, more recently, led the British advance into Basra during the Iraq War in 2003.

The Irish Guards were also among the last units to be deployed to Afghanistan and in 2013, were drafted in to play a mentoring role for local Afghan troops before being returned to the UK in time for the Queen's birthday parade.

Following her marriage to the Prince of Wales in 2011 Kate's first ever royal military engagement was handing out medals to the battalion.

The Queen Mother is pictured presenting a shamrock to an officer of the Irish Guards in London, in 1969

During each of her engagements with the Irish Guards she has sported a special gold shamrock, a brooch loaned to her from the regiment, which has been worn by the Queen Mother and Princess Anne.

Meanwhile, Kate and William also faced criticism last week for choosing to take their first holiday as a family with Princess Charlotte in secret.

Their aides bizarrely refused to say where the royal family had stayed during their secret holiday, other than to say it was in the French Alps, but it was later revealed they enjoyed their break in the exclusive Courchevel resort.

The upmarket 'playground of the oligarchs' resort within the popular Les Trois Vallees ski region is known for attracting A-list celebrities and royals. Film star Brigitte Bardot helped to put it on the map in the 1960s and David and Victoria Beckham are regular visitors.

Time off: The couple went skiing in Courchevel with their children Charlotte and George earlier this month

Unlike royal ski holidays of old - when a group of photographers was invited to capture the family relaxing on the slopes - the Cambridges chose to escape the country without telling the media of their plans.

Instead of arranging a photo-call to mark the getaway, William and Kate invited only a single Press Association photographer, who took a small number of posed portraits.

However they shrugged off the controversy last week as they attended a meeting with mental campaigners to highlight suicide prevention at St Thomas hospital, followed by a discussion with Streatham school children in Kensington Palace.

They also undertook two private engagements on the same day, visiting a suicide refuge in Finsbury Park, North London. Later they met with families bereaved by suicide at Kensington Palace.

MailOnline has contacted the palace for a comment.
A deluge of flooding has caused caskets in a Lousiana cemetery to rise to the surface as a town in Texas remains submerged under water.

After more than a week of relentless rain in the southern states, water levels have been rising prompting many people to be evacuated from their homes and have also seen six people die.

And in a spooky scene at a cemetery in Calcasieu Parish in Louisiana, local officials were forced to wrangle coffins that had been displaced by the flood waters.

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Caskets were brought to the surface after they were unearthed by flood waters in Calcasieu Parish in Louisiana

More than a week of relentless rain has caused flooding on the border between Louisiana and Texas

The County Coroner warned people to stay away from the cemetery due to safety reasons linked to the flooding

The caskets had unearthed from the low lying cemetery on the Texas border prompting the county coroner to warn people to stay away from the grave sites.

Zeb Johnson from the County Coroner's office said: 'Do not go to the cemeteries.'

'These vaults weigh 1,600 to 1,800 pounds; they are caskets full of water.

'And if they are full of water, we know how to handle and take care of that.'

The warning came as the town of Deweyville in Texas remained under water after the Sabine River burst its banks following a week of wet weather.

The town of Deweyville in Texas remains submerged under water after the nearby Sabine River burst its banks

A home is completely submerged by the flood water in Deweyville, where residents have been forced to evacuate their homes

An emergency worker goes into a home surrounded by floodwaters in the town of Orange in Texas

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is scheduled to tour the area today, has issued a disaster declaration across much of the region

The rain has displaced thousands of people, forced the temporary closure of a major interstate, and overwhelmed small towns along the Louisiana border.

People rushed to fill sand bags to place around their houses as authorities warned of record flooding not seen since 1884 along the Sabine River.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is scheduled to tour the area today, has issued a disaster declaration across much of the region.

Livestock was being moved to higher ground and residents were trying to salvage equipment in some areas, including by using small boats to move equipment out of flooded buildings.

Flood waters also built up along Interstate 10 near Orange in Texas, which was closed at one point causing massive detours for drivers

Officials warned people using boats to escape floodwaters to be careful of fast-moving waters and of poisonous snakes and other wildlife that could pose threats

Officials warned people using boats to escape floodwaters to be careful of fast-moving waters and of poisonous snakes and other wildlife that could pose threats.

In the town of Orange, Mayor Jimmy Sims said he'd never seen the kind of flooding that has hit the area about 100 miles east of Houston over the last week.

He asked people to stay away from the downtown area yesterday amid its evacuation.

Although the rain has mostly subsided, the water is moving south along several waterways, including the Sabine, Neches and Trinity rivers, heading to Galveston Bay - but not before inundating several riverside towns.

People row a boat past a stricken car in Deweyville, Texas. Officials have warned people in boats to take care due to fast flowing water

Although the rain has mostly subsided, the water is moving south along several waterways, including the Sabine, Neches and Trinity rivers, heading to Galveston Ba

The heavy rains also prompted authorities to release massive amounts of water from the Toledo Bend Reservoir, including at a rate of 207,000 cubic feet per second - similar to the flow rate over Niagara Falls.

The flooding also forced intermittent closures of Interstate 10, one of the country's major transportation arteries.

The Texas Department of Transportation at one point closed the eastbound lanes and motorists as far away as El Paso, in another time zone, were warned to find alternative routes.
George Osborne today finally offered relief to the middle class after six years of pain as he announced the 40p income tax threshold would rise to 45,000 next year.

The leap toward his manifesto pledge of 50,000 will lift 585,000 workers out of the 40p tax bracket altogether and comes on top of another rise in the personal allowance of tax free income - this time to 11,500.

The Chancellor also announced he would continue his fuel duty freeze and also a major overhaul of corporation tax that will hit multinationals, but hand 7billion back to small firms.

Mr Osborne announced grim figures on economic growth and the public finances - but used the opportunity to claim the independent Office for Budget Responsibility had warned Brexit would only slow the economy.

But the bad news did not stop him announcing a Budget for the 'next generation', which also included a controversial sugar tax to tackle childhood obesity, a lifetime of tax free savings for the young and 1.5billion for education.

Chancellor George Osborne announced a string of policies today to help the middle classes, including tax cuts for higher rate earners, a freeze to fuel duty and a corporation tax overhaul

Mr Osborne's cut to the 40p rate threshold will save middle earners 400 a year.

But the tax cut will not automatically apply to 53,000 higher rate taxpayers in Scotland as the Edinburgh Government now has power to set the threshold.

The Treasury said it will be up to the Scottish Government whether they will match the 45,000 threshold.

Some 31 million earners across the UK will benefit from a further rise in the personal allowance to 11,500 from next year.

In his major announcements, Mr Osborne revealed:

A sugar tax that could add 8p to a can of Coke, which will raise more than 500million a year to fund more sport in schools

585,000 people will be taken out of the 40p tax rate as Osborne raises the threshold to 45,000

But the tax break will not automatically apply to 53,000 higher-rate taxpayers in Scotland

A rise in the personal allowance will benefit 31million earners across the UK

700million in new flood defences for areas hit by the winter storms paid for by an increase to the insurance premium tax

Hundreds of millions of support for infrastructure projects in the north including motorway upgrades, a new High Speed 3 rail link between Manchester and Leeds and a tunnel under the Pennines

Fuel duty will be frozen again after protests from Tory backbenchers about a possible rise after the collapse in the oil price

Beer and whisky duties will be frozen but wine and tobacco will be increased

Sweeping reforms to corporation tax which will see the headline rate cut to 17 per cent but loopholes closed to raise 9billion from multinationals. New tax breaks worth 7billion will be handed to small firms and shopkeepers

Mr Osborne said: 'This is our Budget: one that reaches a surplus so the next generation doesn't have to pay our debts. One that reforms our tax system so that the next generation inherits a strong economy.

'One that takes the imaginative steps so that the next generation is better educated.

'One that takes bold decisions so that our children grow up fit and healthy.

'This is a Budget that gets investors investing, savers saving, businesses doing business; so that we build for working people a low tax, enterprise Britain; secure at home, strong in the world.

'I commend to the House a Budget that puts the next generation first.'

BUDGET 2016 AT-A-GLANCE The key announcements made by George Osborne included: A sugar tax will be imposed on soft drinks

Increase the personal tax allowance from 11,000 to 11,500

40p tax threshold to rise to 45,000 - a 400 tax cut for 500,000 middle-earners

All pupils could be taught maths until the age of 18

1.5bn in new schools funding to extend the school day and turn all state run schools into academies

A new crackdown on tax avoidance by multinational companies will raise 9bn - 7bn of which will be handed back to small firms.

Tax break for Airbnb and eBay entrepreneurs

80m to be spent on Crossrail 2 for a railway that runs from north to south London, expected to open in 2033

60m High Speed 3 link to cut journey times between Leeds and Manchester

75m to explore options for an 18-mile Trans-Pennine road tunnel between Sheffield and Manchester

1.2bn fund for brownfield sites to enable the building of 30,000 'starter homes' for first time buyers

GDP growth forecasts were sharply downgraded after the Chancellor warned of the impact of the Chinese slowdown and other global factors

Insurance Premium Tax to rise, adding up to 100 a year to the bill for a home-owning family with two cars, a pet and medical insurance. The money raised will pay for new flood defences

Fuel duty frozen for the sixth consecutive year Advertisement

Unveiling his 40p tax cut, Mr Osborne said: 'From April next year Im going to increase the higher rate threshold to 45,000.

'Thats a tax cut of over 400 a year.

'It is going to lift over half a million people who should never have been paying the higher rate out of that higher tax band altogether.

'And its the biggest above inflation cash increase since Nigel Lawson introduced the 40p rate almost thirty years ago.'

Mr Osborne said the policy was a key component of his Budget for 'working people'.

The Chancellor announced corporation tax will be cut to 17 per cent by April 2020 - which he said showed Britain was 'blazing a trail' in the world.

He promised a 'level playing field' for large and small businesses as he announced a new tax crackdown on multinationals.

After a bruising row over Google's tax bill, the Chancellor unveiled a string of new measures to tackle tax avoidance by firms with profits of more than 5million.

He said it would create a 'modern tax code' that would raise an extra 9billion for the exchequer - and promised to hand 7billion of it to small firms.

Mr Osborne announced he is raising to 15,000 the threshold for business tax relief, which he said will mean 600,000 small businesses will pay nothing in business rates and 250,000 will see them fall.

'I am more than doubling it and more than doubling it permanently.'

He said: 'This is a Budget which gets rid of loopholes for multinationals. And gets rid of tax for small businesses. A 7bn tax cut, for our nation of shopkeepers. A tax system that says to the world: we're open for business.

'This is a Government that's on your side.'

Outlining the new sugar tax, Mr Osborne said: 'He said: 'I'm not prepared to look back at my time here in this Parliament doing this job and say to my children's generation: ''I'm sorry, we knew there was a problem with sugary drinks, we knew it caused disease but we ducked the difficult decisions and we did nothing''.

'So today I can announce that we will introduce a new sugar levy on the soft drinks industry.

'It will levied on the companies; it will be introduced in two-years' time to give companies plenty of space to change their product mix.

'It will be assessed on the volume of the sugar, sweet and drinks they produce or import; there will be two bands: one for total sugar content above five grams per 100ml, a second higher band for the most sugary drinks with more than 8 grams per 100ml.'

Mr Osborne today revealed slashed growth forecasts and said the Office for Budget Responsibility had warned a Brexit vote would make the situation worse

The sugar tax project will be modeled on Hungary's sugar tax scheme, which has cut sugar content by 40 per cent.

The levy could hit consumers with an increase of up to 24p on a litre of the most sugary drinks and will raise an estimated 500million a year for the taxpayer.

The measure aims to reduce the amount of sugar in soft drinks by 5 per cent a year.

SEVERN BRIDGE TOLLS ARE HALVED BY OSBORNE'S BUDGET George Osborne today delighted his Welsh MPs by halving the tolls to cross the two River Severn Crossings. The charges - currently 6.60 for cars and 13.20 for vans - apply to motorists travelling from England into Wales and are among the most expensive in Britain. Mr Osborne said today: 'Ive listened to the case made by Welsh colleagues and I can announce today that from 2018 we are going to halve the price of the tolls on the Severn Crossings.' The Federation of Small Businesses Wales (FSB) policy chairwoman Janet Jones claimed the reduction in charges would result in an uplift of confidence among companies in England and Wales. She said: 'This cut will have a positive impact for many small businesses, reducing the cost of trading across the Welsh border and boosting confidence among small firms both sides of the border.' Advertisement

Launching his reply, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the Budget was the 'culmination of six years of failure.'

He said: 'It's a recovery built on sand on a Budget of failure.

'He's failed on the budget deficit, failed on debt, failed on investment, failed on productivity, failed on trade deficit, failed on the welfare cap, failed to tackle inequality in this country.'

The Labour leader added: 'Today he has announced growth is revised down last year, this year, every year forecast.

'Business investment revised down, Government investment revised down. It's a very good thing that the Chancellor is blaming the last government - he was the Chancellor in the last government.

'This Budget has unfairness at its very core, paid for by those who can least afford it.

'He could not have made his priorities clearer - while half a million people with disabilities are losing over 1 billion in personal independence payments, corporation tax is being cut and billions being handed out in tax cuts to the very wealthy.'

Other major announcements by Mr Osborne included a freeze on fuel duty - a major concession to his backbench MPs in the face of deep party splits over the EU referendum.

Treasury officials said Mr Osborne had decided to repeat the freeze in fuel duty 'some time ago' - which drew questions over why he had not moved to allay fears from his backbenches before today.

Beer, cider and spirits will also have their duties frozen - but wine and cigarettes will become more expensive.

Mr Osborne's Budget was set against grim statistics from the Office for Budget Responsibility.

He began his Budget by telling the Commons the economy was still 'on course for a surplus' and that Britain was well prepared to tackle the coming 'storm clouds'.

The personal allowance has been gradually rising since the 2010/11 tax year and today Mr Osborne announced it would rise again to 11,500

As he began his eighth Budget statement as Chancellor, Mr Osborne struck an optimistic note and insisted 'we choose the long term and choose to put the next generation first'.

The Chancellor told MPs growth forecasts were sharply down on his forecast in November while borrowing is higher than expected.

He said both the deficit and debt forecasts were higher than in November.

He said that when he first entered the Treasury in 2010 Britain was borrowing 1 in every 4 but now it is borrowing just 1 in 14.

The budget watchdog has revised down Britain's economic growth, predicting it will grow 0.2 per cent smaller than previously predicted.

It predicts 2 per cent growth for this year, then 2.2 per cent in 2017, falling back to 2.1 per cent growth for the two following years.

But Mr Osborne boasted that international forecasts still predicted the UK to grow faster this year than any other advanced economy in the world.

Jeremy Corbyn blasted the Budget in his response, left, but the remarks appeared to pain Mr Osborne as he listened to the Labour leader's intervention

Mr Osborne risked causing anger among his backbench MPs with a warning from the OBR that leaving the EU would lead to 'disruptive uncertainty'.

Quoting advice from the budget watchdog, the Chancellor said: 'The OBR say this: 'There appears to be a greater consensus that a vote to leave would result in a period of potentially disruptive uncertainty.'

'I believe we should not put at risk all the hard work the British people have done to make our economy strong again,' Mr Osborne said.

Mr Osborne admitted he had broken his target of making debt lower as a share of GDP but told MPs that in cash terms it was down 9billion.

But Mr Osborne said: 'I report on a deficit down by two thirds, falling each year and I can report today on course for a budget surplus.'

Elsewhere in his Budget, Mr Osborne announced 700million for new flood defences and declared he was 'rebalancing the country' with a raft of infrastructure announcements.

Mr Osborne and Home Secretary Theresa May appeared to share an awkward moment as Mr Osborne wrapped up his Budget today

The new flood money will be raised via a second increase to the insurance premium tax in the space of a year.

THE BUDGET IS 146 PAGES LONG - BUT WHAT DID NOT MAKE THE CUT? George Osborne spoke for an hour today and published a Budget Red Book that ran to 146 pages. But despite the 77 different policies unveiled by the Chancellor at the Commons despatch box there were still significant omissions. The biggest gap was in pensions. Radical changes had been trailed which would have abolished many pension tax reliefs in favour of creating 'pension ISAs' that would have been tax free on retirement. Also missing was any mention of the controversial third runway at Heathrow - despite the infrastructure drive at the heart of the Budget. Lord Adonis, the chairman of Mr Osborne's National Infrastructure Commission, has insisted the third runway - backed by the Davies Airport Commission - is crucial for Britian's growth. But the EU referendum has parked the issue until at least the summer. Advertisement

Mr Osborne told MPs the money will provide a 'boost to our resilience and flood defences' after parts of northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland were hit with the worst flooding in a generation over Christmas.

Announcing a raft of infrastructure projects - mostly in the north but including Crossrail 2 in London - Mr Osborne said he was 'rebalancing the country' by 'building the roads and laying the tracks' essential to the northern powerhouse.

The Chancellor announced a series of actions to tackle tax avoidance and evasion totalling 12 billion, including moves to end the use of 'personal service companies' by public sector employees to minimise their tax liabilities.

A number of TV stars  including Jeremy Paxman - have faced criticism for their use of the tax loophole.

Other announcements in Mr Osborne's Budget included a halving of tolls on the Severn Bridges.

He said: 'I've listened to the case made by Welsh colleagues and I can announce today that from 2018 we are going to halve the price of the tolls on the Severn Crossings,' he told to cheers from MPs.'

And he revealed a 115million package for homelessness.

The Chancellor said the surplus in 2020 would now be more than 10billion.

The Chancellor tweeted that his Budget was ready ahead of his Commons statement today promising it would offer 'long term solutions to long term problems'

Chancellor George Osborne emerged from No 11 Downing Street today ready to deliver his latest Budget to MPs at 12.30pm

The OBR predicts the economy and productivity will grow for each of the upcoming years but has revised down the figures due to a 'materially weaker' global economy.

Prime Minister David Cameron earlier told the Cabinet the Budget was 'pro enterprise, pro infrastructure, pro devolution'.

And he told his ministers the Budget 'fully lives up to what this government is all about - transformation'.

Ministers banged the Cabinet Table in Downing Street in appreciation of the plans, Mr Cameron's official spokeswoman said.

Mark Serwotka, leader of the Public and Commercial Services Union said: 'No attempt at distraction with announcements on education and a sugar tax can disguise the reality that the Tories are damaging the economy for the vast majority of people while handing tax cuts to the wealthy and to businesses.

'Further cuts to civil service departments would be devastating, as tens of thousands of jobs are already under threat and hundreds of offices are earmarked for closure, hitting vital services from tax collection to our justice system.'

Jim Duffy, chief executive of Entrepreneurial Spark said: 'Reducing corporation tax to 17% by 2020 will have a transformational effect on start-ups and scale-ups, allowing ambitious entrepreneurs to reinvest more profits and create new jobs.'

Ahead of today's Budget the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the spending watchdog, warned David Cameron's decision to protect the health, schools, defence, pensions and international aid budgets means cuts will be deeper in areas such as local councils, courts, police and business support.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who was spotted catching the bus to Westminster today, accused Mr Osborne of planning a 'press stunt' instead of a Budget.

He said: 'Take his education announcement, it won't address the real issue in our education system around increasing class sizes, shortage of teachers and lack of school places by just forcing schools to become academies.'

Mr McDonnell continued: 'With only one in four schools getting any additional money for the extra hour he's adding to the school day, we will see schools competing with each other for funding and parents will see their aspirations constrained.

'There's further uncertainty of funding when it comes to the infrastructure projects that the Chancellor is set to reannounce. Only one in five projects in his infrastructure pipeline is under construction.

'And when you put all this together with the possible tax cuts that are floated, which will be paid for by more stealth taxes and cruel cuts to the disabled, this Budget from George Osborne looks to not be about the future, but taking us back to the old politics of spin and little substance.'

Liberal Democrat economic spokesperson Susan Kramer said: 'The Conservatives are not the Party of the builders, they are the Party of the press release.

'They endlessly re-announce the same projects but with no money to back them up and no shovels going into the ground.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, left leaving home this morning, responded to Mr Osborne's plans immediately after the Budget speech. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, right, was seen catching the bus to work today

Mr Osborne left for work today against a rather different backdrop to his Labour shadow Mr McDonnell as he prepared to deliver his Budget in the House of Commons

'If he wanted to, George Osborne could really get Britain building again, by borrowing to fund real infrastructure investment.

'It is only because of his choice to achieve an overall surplus that this isn't happening. He'd rather reheat old announcements than put a fire under infrastructure investment.'

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said Britain 'deserves better'.

He said: 'On the one side theres a Government choosing to attack the fabric of our communities - and on the other, an opposition party too focused on themselves to be able stand up for the real people in this country.

'We owe our constituents and we owe Britain better than this.

'Its time the Government showed the people in this country; the people who care for us, those who teach our children and the people who keep us safe a little more respect.'

Mr Osborne had to announce today, yellow bars, that in the next three years the deficit as a share of GDP would be higher than he planned in November, red bars. This means borrowing is higher - but the Chancellor said he would still achieve a deficit by 2019/20

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, left, will be handed extra money at today's Budget, which was briefed to the Cabinet this morning. Seen arriving were Environment Secretary Liz Truss, centre, and Home Secretary Theresa May, right

Oliver Letwin, left, and Jeremy Hunt, right, both arrived in Downing Street today to hear Mr Osborne's Cabinet briefing on his plans

Osborne's budget for working people: Chancellor unveils tax giveaway for the middle classes as he raises 40p tax threshold to 45,000 and increases tax-free personal allowance

George Osborne handed income tax cuts to millions of people today and eased the pressure on the middle class with a big increase in the 40p rate.

More than 30 million people will get a tax cut while 1.3 million of the lowest earners will be lifted out of income tax altogether when the personal allowance hits 11,500 in April 2017.

The middle class was handed a 400 a year tax cut with the change to the 40p rate as the Chancellor made a leap toward his manifesto pledge of lifting the threshold to 50,000.

The personal allowance has steadily increased since 2010 and will reach 11,000 in April this year, while the 40p rate currently starts at 42,385.

George Osborne said the changes meant basic rate taxpayers will be paying over 1,000 less income tax than when he became Chancellor.

The increase in the higher rate threshold would take more than 500,000 people out of the 40p band.

'It's the biggest above-inflation cash increase since Nigel Lawson introduced the 40p rate almost 30 years ago,' Mr Osborne said.

'We were elected as a government for working people and we have delivered a Budget for working people.'

The increases in the personal allowance and 40p threshold will cost the Exchequer more than 2 billion in lost income tax receipts in 2017/18.

The self-employed were also given a tax cut, as Mr Osborne scrapped class 2 National Insurance contributions (NICs) from 2018.

'That's a simpler tax system and a tax cut of over 130 for each of Britain's three million-strong army of the self-employed,' Mr Osborne said.

Young savers are handed up to 1,000 a year Budget bonus with new Lifetime Isa as part of Osborne's offer to the 'next generation'

LOW EARNERS HANDED A FREE 1,200 IF THEY CAN SAVE 50 A MONTH FOR FOUR YEARS The savings scheme in today's Budget will offer a bonus of 1,200 to low earners George Osborne will today detail plans to hand a 1,200 bonus to low earners who save regularly. Trailed by David Cameron earlier this week, the Help to Save policy is aimed at helping workers on tax credits or universal credit to build up a savings pot of 3,600. Labour has claim the Government stole the idea five years after claiming an identical Labour policy was unaffordable. Ahead of today's Budget, Mr Osborne said: 'This government is determined to improve the life chances of the poorest in our society and our new Help to Save scheme will mean millions of low income savers across the country could now receive a Government bonus of up to 1,200 to help them build up their savings. 'Alongside our new National Living Wage, we're also boosting pay for young workers with increases in the National Minimum Wage - the next step for the next generation as we move to a higher wage society.' Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, said: 'Already, many people make the mistake of trying to save when they are in debt and yet the cost of debt for most usually vastly outweighs the gain of saving. 'My worry with Help to Save - especially because of the long delay before people get the bonus - is that people may start to think that everyone should put aside money each month, when the truth is for many with expensive debts, especially payday loans, that's a bad idea.' Advertisement

Young workers will no longer have to choose between saving for a home or retirement, as the Chancellor revealed a new Lifetime Isa with an up to 1,000 a year bonus in his Budget.

The new Lifetime Isa, which can be invested in stocks and shares or cash savings, will be launched next April to help people aged 18 to 40 get a foot on the housing ladder, without hindering their efforts to put aside money for their pension

Savers can tap into their bonus pot if they use some or all of the money to buy their first home, or wait until they are 60 to withdraw cash and their bonus tax-free, according to George Osborne, who unveiled the measure in today's Budget.

The savings and the bonus can be used towards a deposit on a first home worth up to 450,000 - but the deal allows two first-time buyers to both earn bonuses then pool their resources to buy a home.

Those aged under 40 can open a Lifetime Isa and save up to 4,000 a year into it to get a maximum 1,000 bonus. They will get this for every year that they save money until age 50.

The Chancellor also delivered a huge hike in the overall annual Isa allowance from 15,000 to 20,000, with the new Lifetime Isa pot falling under this umbrella.

Those with a Help to Buy can transfer those savings into a Lifetime Isa when they are launched in 2017, or continue saving into both. However, you can only use the bonus from one to buy a house.

Those who prefer to use the allowance to save for retirement, can take out all the savings tax-free when they are 60 and get their Lifetime Isa bonus paid out.

But there will be fairly stiff penalties for making withdrawals from a Lifetime Isa for anything other than buying a home.

You can cash in at any time before you turn 60, but you lose the government bonus and any interest or growth on this, plus savers doing this will have to pay a 5 per cent charge.

The Treasury confirmed to This is Money that all savers aged under 40 will be able to open a Lifetime Isa, even those who already own a home and are saving into a pension.

This opens up the door for investors who can find the money to benefit from both tax relief on pension contributions and the bonus on a Lifetime Isa

However, only saving for retirement through a Lifetime Isa could be less attractive than an ordinary pension where you save from untaxed income - the Government pays tax relief at your 20 per cent, 40 per cent or 45 per cent income tax rate.

Chancellor George Osborne was recently forced to ditch radical plans to axe tax relief and introduce a Pensions Isa for everyone, for fear of a backlash from voters ahead of the Brexit referendum.

The Lifetime Isa likely to be see as a half-way measure, possibly laying the groundwork for extending it once the EU referendum is over.

Mr Osborne also announced in his Budget today that other savers will be able to save tax-free to the tune of 20,000 from April 2017, .

At present, savers can stash away 15,240 in Isas shielded from the taxman, with a new limit coming into effect each April. This can be held in a combination of both cash and stocks and shares.

The move comes with the introduction of the new personal savings allowance, which comes into play next month. It formed the centrepiece of his Budget last year.

Shares in soft drinks companies go into freefall within minutes of Osborne announcing a sugar tax in his Budget

George Osborne today announced a 25p per litre sugar tax on fizzy drinks from 2018 - and within seconds sent shares in the soft drinks industry plummeting.

Campaigners including Jamie Oliver were celebrating the Chancellor's Budget decision, which will raise an estimated 520 million a year.

Share prices in Coca-Cola's British arm, Britvic, which makes 7 Up, Robinsons squash and Tango, and Irn-Bru maker A.G. Barr fell by up to 27p per share within seconds of the announcement.

Shares in Coca Cola UK, whose drinks would be subject to a levy, also slumped by 20p after Mr Osborne's announcement

Jolt: Shares in soft drink giant Britvic, left, which makes Tango, right, R. White's Lemonade, and Robinsons squash, saw its share price fall more than 20p the moment George Osborne announced the sugar tax

The NHS has hailed the decision as brave but some have branded it a tax on Britain's poor.

The tax will be imposed on soft drinks companies producing drinks containing more than a teaspoon of added sugar per 100ml.

The proposed tax will be levied in two bands:

A higher band for the most sugary drinks with more than 8 grammes per 100 millilitres, which includes Coca Cola, Red Bull and Irn-Bru - adding 8p to the price of a can

A lower band for drinks above 5 grammes per 100 millilitres, which includes Fanta and Sprite - adding around 5p to a can

Pure fruit juices and milk-based drinks are exempt

Chef Jamie Oliver, a vigorous campaigner for a sugar tax, said the Chancellor's announcement that he will tax the soft drinks industry was 'amazing news'.

He posted on Instagram: 'We did it guys !! We did it !!! A sugar levy on sugary sweetened drinks ... A profound move that will ripple around the world ... business cannot come between our kids health !! Our kids health comes first ... Bold, brave, logical and supported by all the right people ... now bring on the whole strategy soon to come ... Amazing news.'

Chef Jamie Oliver, a vigorous campaigner for a sugar tax, said the Chancellor's announcement that he will tax the soft drinks industry was 'amazing news'

Mr Osborne said the estimated 520 million a year raised will be spent on doubling funding for sport in primary schools.

The levy will be introduced in two years' time, to give companies time to adapt products to reduce their sugar content.

Pure fruit juices and milk-based drinks will be excluded, and the smallest producers will have an exemption from the scheme.

Mr Osborne said that, at present, five-year-old children are consuming their bodyweight in sugar every year and experts predict that within a generation more than half of all boys and 70 per cent of girls could be overweight or obese.

The sugar tax on soft drinks will impact on a raft of products at different levels - but companies may choose not to pass it all on change their recipes

No rise in beer tax AGAIN, George Osborne reveals in new victory for Britain's drinkers

George Osborne will say there will be no increase in beer duty in today's Budget

Beer taxes were frozen in today's Budget by George Osborne.

The Chancellor has cut beer duty by 1p duty cut in his last three Budgets. But the 4billion hole in the public finances has prevented him cutting again.

The freeze still means an effective cut because duty has not gone up with inflation.

Drinkers already pay 52p per pint in tax, one of the highest rates in Europe.

In his Budget today, Mr Osborne said: 'The action we took in the last Parliament on beer duty saved hundreds of pubs and thousands of jobs.

'Today I back our pubs again. I am freezing beer duty and cider duty too.

'Scotch Whisky accounts for a fifth of all of the UK's food and drink exports.

'So we back Scotland and back that vital industry too, with a freeze on whisky and other spirits duty this year.

'All other alcohol duties will rise by inflation as planned.'

Mr Osborne's decision means wine and other alcohol will go up in price as taxes and duties rise in line with inflation.

Turning to other so-called 'sin taxes', Mr Osborne revealed duty on hand rolled tobacco will increase by inflation plus 5 per cent plus inflation in recognition more and more people are using instead of regular packs.

The changes will mean tobacco taxes will add 21p to a pack of 20 cigarettes and 44p to a 30g pack of hand-rolling tobacco.

Free betting promotions online are to be brought into line with additional restrictions in place in bookies.

Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, said 25 million spirits consumers would welcome the spirits duty freeze, but expressed disappointment that 30 million wine drinkers had been 'singled out for a duty rise'.

He said: 'The freeze in wine duty in 2015 has resulted in 118 million extra in revenue to the Treasury in the last 10 months, up 4%, which makes it very unfair that wine has been penalised.

'We also deeply regret that the Government has missed this important opportunity to support the emerging English wine industry, which is a real home-grown success story that needs nurturing rather than being hit by another unfair tax increase.'

A tax cut for lower and higher earners: Osborne hikes personal allowance again and bumps 40p tax threshold to 45,000

UK taxpayers will be able to hold on to more of their hard-earned cash after the Chancellor increased income tax-free earnings in today's Budget.

Delivering another jump in the personal allowance, George Osborne said that from 6 April 2017, the start of the 2017/18 tax year, individuals will be able to earn 11,500 before they start to pay tax.

And in a boost for higher earners, he also increased the threshold at which 40 per cent income tax kicks in to 45,000 - this was the biggest giveaway to 40p taxpayers since the rate's introduction nearly 30 years ago.

Keep more of your money: By raising the personal allowance and higher-rate thresholds, most people will pay less tax

The move represents a further step in the plan to raise the personal allowance all the way up to 12,500 and Mr Osborne claimed today's rise would provide a tax cut for 31million people.

It is also a step towards rewarding higher earners who have suffered years of fiscal drag as the failure to raise the 40p tax threshold in line with wages has pulled millions more into the tax bracket.

The increase in the personal allowance to 11,500 is an improvement of 300 compared to the 11,200 that was originally planned to come into effect on 6 April 2017.

It's also 500 more than the 11,000 allowance that comes into force next month, on 6 April 2016, and 900 more than the 10,600 allowance that applies for the remainder of this tax year.

Today's announcement was part of the Tories' manifesto commitment to raise the personal allowance to 12,500 by the end of parliament in 2020.

George Osborne had previously said in November's Autumn Statement that the personal allowance would be increased in 2017/18 to 11,200.

George Osborne has raised further the personal allowance - to 11,500 - and the 40p rate to 45,000 in today's Budget handing tax cuts to more than 30 million workers

The Treasury said today's rise in the personal allowance 'continues to ensure that no-one working 30 hours per week on the National Minimum Wage will pay income tax in 2017/18, and will bring the total number of taxpayers taken out of income tax since the start of this parliament to 1.3 million.

'As a result, a typical basic-rate taxpayer will pay over 1,000 less income tax in 2017/18 than in 2010/11.'

The hike in the threshold at which individuals have to pay the high rate 40 per cent tax to 45,000 is 2,000 more generous than the 43,000 that comes into effect on 6 April 2016 and 1,400 than it was originally due to rise to in April 2017 - as previously announced in November's Autumn Statement.

In the current tax year, individuals start paying 40 per cent tax when they earn 42,385.

The Treasury said the move to the 45,000 threshold 'will be the biggest above-inflation cash increase to this threshold since it was introduced by Lord Lawson in 1989.

'This delivers the Government's ambition to reverse the trend whereby an increasing number of individuals are faced with paying the higher rate. In 2017/18, there will be 585,000 fewer higher rate taxpayers than at the start of the parliament.'

George Osborne promises to make Britain 'fit for the future' as he uses the Budget to announce new railways, upgraded motorways and Europe's longest road tunnel

George Osborne will today promise to offer Britain 'long term solutions to long term problems' when he presents his Budget.

At the centre of his plans will be a raft of policies to deliver major new pieces of infrastructure, including 60million to develop High Speed 3, 80million for Crossrail 2 and 75million to explore a road tunnel under the Pennines.

Mr Osborne will place a new high speed rail link between Manchester and Leeds and the 18-mile road tunnel linking Manchester and Sheffield at the heart of his plans for the Northern Powerhouse.

The projects - which are all in the early phases of development - will all cost billions more to build in the coming decades.

The announced plans include a new High Speed 3 railway linking Manchester and Leeds, marked with a red dotted line, a road tunnel linking Manchester to Sheffield, the black dotted line, and Crossrail 2 in London, marked in yellow, inset

But Mr Osborne has insisted 'long term solutions' are crucial for the country.

Ahead of today's statement, he said: 'In the Budget, we are not going to go for short term fixes in this uncertain world, we are going top have long term solutions to Britain's long term problems and the Budget is going to make sure Britain is fit for the future.

'I think an absolutely crucial part of improving the economy of our country is making sure we invest in our northern powerhouse and improving transport links across the north of England will be a huge boost to the economy of the north of England and the whole of the United Kingdom.'

Other infrastructure announcement due in today's Budget include 161million for Highways England to accelerate upgrades to the M62.

He will also create a 1.2billion fund for 30,000 starter homes on brownfield sites.

Shadow transport secretary Lilian Greenwood has questioned whether any of the trailed projects will ever be delivered.

She said: 'Investment in transport infrastructure for the North is vital but under this Government there has been a huge gap between rhetoric and reality.'

George Osborne's aides scramble to calm fears that all pupils will be forced to study maths until they turn 18

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan is to oversee plans to convert all schools to an academy

Treasury officials were forced to row back after George Osborne sent schools and pupils into a panic today with suggestions that all students would be forced to study maths until they turned 18.

A spokeswoman for the Chancellor clarified comments he made in today's Budget saying the Government was 'going to look at teaching maths to 18 for all pupils'.

She said a government review is under way on how to help improve how maths is taught in schools but added that he had not promised to make the subject compulsory for A-level.

It was one of a number of radical reforms the Chancellor unveiled in a massive shake-up to the education system in his Budget today.

Mr Osborne based his Budget on the 'putting the next generation first' as he announced an end to 'the Victorian tradition' of the school day finishing at 3.30pm.

From next year, hundreds of thousands of secondary pupils will stay in school for at least an hour longer each day doing extra lessons, sports or art.Head teachers will be invited to bid for extra funding to provide the activities and pay overtime to staff.

Mr Osborne also announced plans to convert all state schools into academies by 2020.

Currently 85 per cent of primary schools and 40 per cent of secondary schools are still run by their local education authority but extra funding unveiled by the Chancellor today will help them move to academies by the end of the decade.

He told MPs: 'I can announce that we are going to complete the task of setting schools free from local education bureaucracy, and were going to do it in this Parliament.

From next year, hundreds of thousands of secondary pupils will stay in school for at least an hour longer each day doing extra lessons, sports or art. Head teachers will be invited to bid for extra funding to provide the activities and pay overtime to staff (stock photograph)

'I am today providing extra funding so that by 2020 every primary and secondary school in England will be, or be in the process of becoming, an academy.'

The announcement in his Budget is intended to drive up standards and make life easier for working parents.

But teaching unions and some critics have demanded assurances that it will improve learning - not just provide extended childcare.

OSBORNE SAYS NEW 1.5BN POLICY WILL BE THE END OF VICTORIAN ERA HOURS - BUT ISN'T HE JUST BRINGING IT BACK? Life in the Victorian classroom: Girls and boys in the 1900 classroom - where many would only be educated until they were 11 and the school day matched the 9am until 5pm working day Although George Osborne claims his new proposals to fund extended school hours after 3.30pm will end Victorian practices, many schools over a century ago routinely stayed open until 5pm. In the 1890s children started the day at just before 9am and had a two-hour lunch break so they could go home for lunch. In rural areas where children often had to walk several miles to school they would be fed in the classroom, but the food would often be brought in by the teachers. Parents would then be expected to pick up the children by 5pm - matching up with the typical 9 until 5 working day. Although some schools did close earlier, from 3.30pm, which remains in place today. In 1870 a law was passed saying that children aged between five and 10 had to attend weekday school, and the the leaving age was raised to 11 in 1893. But many children were kept away from school by parents and employers who would rather have them earning money - meaning education was the reserve of the rich. Advertisement

Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of headteachers, said: 'The idea that most schools shut at 3.30 in the afternoon is itself pretty outdated, but we have no problem with extra money to help them in the activities they offer.

'Any expansion of hours must be properly funded, as school budgets are extremely tight. There's not a lot of evidence internationally linking a longer academic day to higher standards, but extracurricular activity is usually valuable.

'As long as this remains at the discretion of schools to meet the needs of their pupils, then it seems positive.'

Claire Paye from Mothers at Home matter - a campaign group whose aims include the protection of family life told MailOnline: 'A lot of schools already offer hours beyond the typical 3.30pm, so more funding would be welcome.

'But these extra hours should not just be extra childcare with children who are just sat in their classroom on their tablets. They need to be taught, do sport or music.

'We would also be disappointed if this was something later extended to primary schools and pre-schools.'

There are also concerns about the level of funding made available by the Chancellor.

Malcolm Trobe, interim general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'It is highly divisive that the funding will only be available to 25 per cent of secondary schools as this will potentially disadvantage children at the three quarters of schools which miss out. Many schools already provide after-school activities so we also need to understand how this new provision will be differentiated from the existing provision and what will be expected of schools.'

To the fury of teaching unions, the Government will also force all schools to become academies by 2020  bringing an end to decades of local authority control.

Mr Osborne promised an extra 1.5billion of funding over this Parliament, saying: 'It is simply unacceptable that Britain continues to sit too low down the global league tables for education. Now is the time for us to make the big investments that will help the next generation.'

In his conference speech last year, David Cameron said he wanted to make local authorities running schools to be a 'thing of the past'.

He announced the Government would create 500 more free schools and convert all council-run schools to academies.

David Cameron visited the Harris Academy in Hackney this week to talk to pupils about his plans for apprenticeships

Unemployment falls by 28,000 as wage growth improves in pre-Budget boost for George Osborne

George Osborne was given a pre-Budget boost this morning as official figures revealed another fall in unemployment, while the number of people in work hit a new record.

It means the rate of unemployment in the UK economy remains at its ten-year low of 5.1 per cent after the jobless number fell to 1.68million between November and January - a drop of 171,000 compared to the previous year.

The number of people in work hit a new record high of 31.42million, but Labour said this figure failed to take into account the rise in part-time jobs and zero-hours contracts.

The Chancellor was also given a boost as the Office for National Statistics figures revealed an improvement in wage growth.

Three in four people in the UK are in work - hitting an all-time high of 74.1 per cent, ONS figures revealed today

Average earnings rose by 2.1 per cent in the year to January - a 0.2 per cent boost from the previous month.

The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance has fallen to 716,700 - the lowest number since 1975 after the latest 18,000 drop last month.

Meanwhile the number of job vacancies rose by 10,000 on the previous month to 768,000, the ONS figures revealed.

Employment reached a new record high of 31.4million after another increase of 116,000 between November and January.

The employment rate has increased steadily for the last two years, but Labour say this fails to tell the full story of part-time work and zero-hours contracts, which do not guarantee a minimum number of hours for workers.

The figures showed that the number of people in work grew by nearly half a million over the last year.

George Osborne insists the economy will be even WORSE than today's dismal forecasts if Britain backs Brexit as the referendum looms over the Budget

The EU referendum loomed over George Osborne's Budget in the Commons today

George Osborne warned the economy would be worse off if Britain backs Brexit in June as the EU referendum loomed large over the Budget today.

The Chancellor sparked controversy by quoting the independent Office for Budget Responsibility in aid of his claim Britain was 'stronger and better off in the EU'.

The Vote Leave campaign accused Mr Osborne of dragging a politically neutral organisation into the referendum.

Mr Osborne's Budget had already been influenced by the referendum as he abandoned plans for a radical pensions overhaul, reportedly to avoid a fresh battle with Tory MPs.

And he backed off from suggestions of a rise in fuel duty amid vigorous protests from his party.

In his speech, Mr Osborne said: 'Over the next few months this country is going to debate the merits of leaving or remaining in the European Union, and I have many colleagues whom I respect greatly on both sides of this argument.

'The OBR correctly stay out of the political debate and do not assess the long term costs and benefits of EU membership.

'But they do say this, and I quote them directly: a vote to leave in the forthcoming referendum could usher in an extended period of uncertainty regarding the precise terms of the UKs future relationship with the EU.

'This could have negative implications for activity via business and consumer confidence and might result in greater volatility in financial and other asset markets.'

Mr Osborne added: 'Britain will be stronger, safer and better off inside a reformed European Union.

'I believe we should not put at risk all the hard work that the British people have done to make our country strong again.'

Vote Leave Chief Executive Matthew Elliott said: 'There is one budget the Chancellor didnt touch today  the 350 million of taxpayers money he hands to Brussels every week.

'Nor could he cut taxes like VAT which weve given up control of to the EU Commission.

Disappointingly, the Chancellor sought to politicise the OBR and drag it into his campaign to keep us in the EU despite the OBR making clear that it was not making a judgment about the referendum.

'If we want to take back control of our economy and our democracy so the Government can spend our money on our priorities, the only safe option is to Vote Leave'.

Motorists are saved from higher fuel duty after George Osborne steers clear of Tory anger and freezes petrol tax AGAIN

Tax currently makes up nearly 60p in a litre of petrol and George Osborne today said this would not change

Despite being 1/2 odds on to rise ahead of today's announcement, fuel duty will remain frozen for the sixth consecutive year, George Osborne confirmed in his Budget statement.

In what came as a welcome surprise to motorists, the tax on petrol and diesel remains at 57.95p per litre despite plans buried deep in last year's Treasury documents alluding to an increase in-line with inflation.

But motoring industry experts suggested drivers shouldn't celebrate too soon: some warned fuel costs could still increase in the near future, with two supermarkets already swelling forecourt prices in response to recovering oil values.

The Chancellor, buoyant in his commitment to extending the freeze at 57.95p per litre, said fuel duty was 'the tax that keeps Britons on the move' when he addressed the Commons on Wednesday afternoon.

With faltering oil prices ushering fuel to six-year lows since the turn of the new year, some saw the nation's drivers as a soft target for a tax hike.

But, after acknowledging the lower cost of fuel in recent months, the Chancellor said motorists wouldn't be targeted just because oil prices had nosedived.

The decision also went against the planned rise he'd failed to mention in the Autumn Statement at the end of last year.

'In the last 12 months petrol prices have plummeted. That is why we penciled in an inflation rise,' the Chancellor said on Wednesday.

Keeping Britain on the move: George Osborne said motorists would not be penalised while oil prices were low

'But I know that fuel costs still make up a significant part of household budgets and weigh heavily on small firms.

'Families paid the cost when oil prices rocketed; they shouldn't be penalised when oil prices fall.'

The announcement isn't likely to signal a long-term extension of the 1-a-litre fuel costs motorists have been enjoying throughout 2016, though.

In fact, some drivers would have noticed pump prices were already on the up a day ahead of the Chancellor's Budget statement.

Both Tesco and Morrisons raised the cost of petrol and diesel on Tuesday, with retailers looking to offset the recovery of oil from Februarys $26 lows to almost $40 a barrel this week.

Robot cars and lorries will be tested on British motorways before 2020 as the Budget paves the way for driverless vehicles

Robot vehicles will take to British roads before 2020 after George Osborne used the Budget to announce regulatory barriers will be swept away and research will be funded.

A 15million 'connected corridor' will link London and Dover to allow vehicles to communicate wirelessly with infrastructure and other vehicles.

Mr Osborne said he wanted Britain to pioneer an industry which would be worth 900billion worldwide by 2025.

Mr Osborne said: 'Driverless cars could represent the most fundamental change to transport since the invention of the internal combustion engine. Naturally we need to ensure safety, and that's what the trials we are introducing will test.

'If successful, we could see driverless cars available for sale and on Britain's roads, boosting UK jobs and productivity.'

Trials of driverless cars on local roads in Bristol, Coventry and Milton Keynes, and Greenwich are already being worked on.

John McDonnell blasts the Budget as 'morally reprehensible' as he claims a THIRD of the cuts in 2021 will hit the disabled

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell slammed the Budget as 'morally reprehensible' today after highlighting cuts to disability benefits.

After analysing the Budget Red Book, Mr McDonnell said a third of the cuts at the end of the spending period would come from reductions to the personal independence payment (PIP).

In a post-Budget briefing, the shadow chancellor said he would return corporation tax to its 2010 level to raise the money necessary to make the change he wanted.

Mr Osborne slashed disability benefits by a further 1.2billion in today's Budget as he worked towards his goal of cutting 12billion off the welfare budget by 2020.

Mr McDonnell said the move stood in contrast to income tax cuts for the well-off via a change to the 40p rate - though he admitted Labour would not oppose moving the threshold to 45,000.

The state pension accounts for by far the largest slice of the welfare budget, worth more than 40 per cent of the budget this year, but is protected from cuts. Disability Living Allowance, part of the section marked yellow, has been earmarked for cuts. Source: IFS pre-election analysis

The cuts to PIP payments will take effect from the start of next year and will make up about a quarter of the 4billion of public spending cuts Mr Osborne announced today.

Those affected by cuts to PIP include 640,000 people who need help dressing or undressing or using the bathroom.

The prospect of PIP cuts has already caused angry protests at Westminster and follows the bitter row over the 'bedroom tax'. But Whitehall sources insist the changes are 'fair and sensible' and there has been extensive consultation with disability groups. They will save 1.2billion a year by 2020/21.

The cuts will help ministers get back on track with their commitment to limit the cost of social security. The Government breached its self-imposed benefits cap last November when the Chancellor scrapped plans to make cuts to tax credits.

Mr Osborne said at the time that this would still cut 12billion from the welfare bill, but would do so 'in a way that helps families, as we make the transition to our National Living Wage [a new higher minimum wage]'.

Tories will MISS their target of cutting net migration to under 100,000 by 2020, budget watchdog warns

The Tories will fail to cut net migration to their target of 'tens of thousands' - even under the most generous forecasts, according to the budget watchdog.

In its assessment of George Osborne's Budget decisions today, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) published different scenarios on future immigration figures and under each it finds that David Cameron's pledge to cut net migration to under 100,000 will not be met before 2020.

Last year 323,000 more people came to the UK than left despite the Tory election manifesto repeating the pledge it made in 2010 to reduce net migration to 'tens of thousands'.

The OBR stated today: 'Even under the low scenario, net inward migration does not quite drop into the 'tens of thousands' sought by the Government within the forecast period'

The new ONS data out today showed net migration stood at 323,000 in the year to the end of September 2015 - 31,000 higher than 12 months ago

The OBR forecasts net migration will fall over the next few years but could still be around 270,000 a year by 2020.

ROMANIAN AND BULGARIAN IMMIGRATION UP BY 38 PER CENT In the 12 months to September 2015: 617,000 people arrived in the UK. This is up 0.3 per cent on the previous year. 257,000, or 42 per cent, arrived from the European Union. This figure is up 4 per cent on the year. 130,000, or 21 per cent, arrived from the 'EU15' group of countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. This figure is up 5 per cent on the previous year. 69,000, or 11 per cent, came from the 'EU8' group of countries: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. This figure fell on the year by 9 per cent. 55,000, or 9 per cent, came from Bulgaria and Romania. This was up 38 per cent on the year. The remaining 2,0 (0.3 per cent) came from Malta, Cyprus and Croatia. This figure was down by 60 per cent on the previous year. Advertisement

And even by its most generous forecast, it still predicts that more than 100,000 people will arrive in the UK than emigrate in 2020 - meaning the Tories will have broken their flagship immigration pledge for two Parliaments in a row.

The OBR states: 'Even under the low scenario, net inward migration does not quite drop into the 'tens of thousands' sought by the Government within the forecast period.

Last month figures released by the Office for National Statistics revealed that net migration fell for the first time since the end of 2013.

But at an estimated 323,000 in the year to September, net migration is more than three times the Government's aim of less than 100,000 and has now been running at an annual level of more than 300,000 for almost two years.

The figures showed a rise of 31,000 on the previous year, with the rise driven by a dramatic 38 per cent increase in the number of Romanian and Bulgarian migrants coming to Britain - and the ONS release today said 10,000 of the 55,000 arrivals were not here for work purposes.

Responding to the figures last month Home Secretary Theresa May said net migration remained 'too high' but insisted Mr Cameron's deal with the EU would 'clamp down' on abuses and reduce the pull factor of migration.

The latest migration figures also revealed that net migration from the EU was at 172,000 in the year to September.

Households will be hit with bigger insurance bills after George Osborne announces SECOND hike to premium tax in five months, with all the 700m raised going to flood defences

Households will face bigger insurance bills after the Chancellor announced a second hike to premium tax in five months.

Families are already paying on average an extra 100 per year because of the rise in November, triggered by floods in northern England.

But George Osborne unveiled another increase in insurance premium tax, from 9.5 per cent to 10 per cent, during his Budget today.

George Osborne announced a second hike in a year to the insurance premium tax - this time to fund flood defences for storm hit areas

Mr Osborne said he would raise the standard rate of insurance premium tax by 'just half a percentage point  and commit all the extra money we raise to flood defence spending'.

November's premium tax hike was even steeper, rising from 6 per cent to 9.5 per cent.

Some 700 million generated from the extra insurance taxes will go to strengthening and maintaining defences in areas ravaged by recent floods.

Premium tax hikes will affect policies for cars, households, private medical insurance and even pets.

Experts warned the changes will hit the youngest, oldest and sickest the most, as well as those who live in flood-prone areas or inner-cities. These households already pay more for their motoring, medical or home insurance.

Young drivers will pay on average an extra 50 a year under the two increases, the AA said. It urged the Government not to treat young motorists as 'wallets on wheels'.

Older drivers, who already pay high premiums, are also likely to be hit harder by the increase.
He convinced her to let him stow away in her family car with his cousin

They met up in London and Southend-on-Sea before travelling to Calais

A mother-of-four was groomed into people smuggling by her Albanian lover after he contacted her on Facebook.

Melanie Edwards from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, was caught trying to smuggle Fisnik Misini and his cousin into Britain from Calais in the boot of her family car.

The 40-year-old says she fell in love with Misini, 23, after he contacted her on Facebook and was 'bullied' in to trying to sneak him across borders.

Melanie Edwards, 40, (left) says was tricked into people smuggling by Fisnik Misini (right), the Albanian 23-year-old she fell in love with

She was convicted of two counts of people smuggling at Canterbury Crown Court on Monday after sending him 500 to try to get back in to the country.

Mrs Edwards, who is separated from her husband, Lee, said she began speaking with Misini online when he sent her a message 'out of the blue'.

The pair began chatting regularly after connecting on the social network in October 2014 and arranged to meet up for a coffee in London weeks later.

They then met up once a week in hotels in the capital or at her family home before travelling to Calais where she was introduced to his cousin.

The Albanian native convinced Mrs Edwards to let him stow away in the boot of her car

At first, she said, he insisted he was 30 and living in the country legally. Once in France, however, the 'charming' 23-year-old convinced Mrs Edwards to smuggle him and his cousin back in to Britain in the boot of her family's Nissan.

'He bullied me into it. He said, "Youve got to do it for me, if you dont, you dont love me,"' Mrs Edwards told The Daily Mirror on Monday.

They were stopped by French authorities and Mrs Edwards was thrown in to custody before being transported back to the UK to face trial.

Initially she told police the two men must have hidden in her car while she was having coffee but was later found to have sent text messages arranging for Misini's return to the UK.

She sent him 500 to try to get back in the country after he contacted her to claim he needed an MRI scan.

She was convicted of two counts of people smuggling and given a 12-month suspended prison sentence and told to complete 240 hours of community service in Canterbury on Monday.

Before her trial she discovered the man had been having relationships with several women.

'I was in love with him, I was trying to do everything to please him.

'Its as if all he ever wanted me for was to smuggle his cousin into Britain. I know now he was with other girls so obviously he was doing the same thing to them,' she said.
Steven Mark John Fennell, 56, has pleaded not guilty to bludgeoning Liselotte Watson, 85, (pictured) to death with a hammer

A jury has been told it made no sense for a junk mail deliverer to murder 'the golden goose' that was 85-year-old Liselotte Watson if he was stealing money from her.

Steven Mark John Fennell, 56, has pleaded not guilty to bludgeoning the elderly widow to death with a hammer at her home on Macleay Island, off the coast of Brisbane, in 2012.

It has been claimed that Fennell callously murdered Ms Watson after she discovered he was stealing thousands from her account.

But Fennell's defence lawyer Adrian Donaldson questioned why the delivery driver would kill the grandmother if he had been stealing money from her.

'Why kill the golden goose?' he told Brisbane Supreme Court.

'Why kill Mrs Watson when she still had plenty of funds in her account?'

The court heard that Fennell had been carrying out Mrs Watson's banking for her on the mainland with her permission.

Mr Donaldson said Fennell had been authorised by Mrs Watson to make cash withdrawals from her bank account on her behalf.

But the prosecution pointed out that Fennell was regularly spotted gambling at the local TAB, the prosecution argued.

Mr Donaldson conceded that Fennell did gamble but had done so for a lengthy period before Mrs Watson's violent death.

The grandmother was found dead on her bedroom floor having been struck repeatedly in the head with an object consistent with a hammer.

The court heard evidence from a handwriting expert that one of Mrs Watson's banking withdrawal slips appeared to have been altered - with the nominated amount jumping from $3,000 to $8,000 with a few extra strokes.

But Mr Donaldson argued that this didn't rule out the elderly woman changing her mind herself.

He also told the jury there was no DNA evidence linking Fennell to the murder scene.

Mr Donaldson cautioned the jury to consider the evidence carefully, telling them: 'This is not an Agatha Christie story'.

The trial continues.
Scotland Yard has warned residents to 'never take safety for granted' after launching a manhunt for a sex attacker who carried out terrifying assaults on two lone women within hours of each other.

Detectives made the chilling warning as they offered a 10,000 reward to help catch the suspect behind the two linked attacks in Streatham, south London.

The assaults took place just before Christmas but Scotland Yard released the information today, after linking the two incidents through forensics.

Police have launched a manhunt for a sex attacker who assaulted two lone women. The suspect was captured on CCTV (left and right) while walking along Streatham Common, south London, before the second attack

As they launched the appeal, they also urged women to be on their guard, warning them to be assertive, to avoid walking alone and to 'trust their instincts' if they feel vulnerable or uneasy.

In the first attack, the suspect crept up on a 29-year-old woman from behind, punching her to the floor and continuing the assault until he was stopped by a member of the public.

Hours later, he sexually assaulted a 20-year-old woman after following her into her alleyway and forcing her to the ground.

Scotland Yard's Detective Constable Gemma Robb said help was needed from the public and that the man 'must be apprehended'.

She said: 'Both attacks have involved a significant level of violence and have been terrifying for the victims.

'I would urge anyone who has information that could assist this investigation, or anyone who knows who is responsible, to contact police.'

In the first attack, the suspect crept up on a 29-year-old woman from behind, punching her to the floor in Challice Way, Streatham (pictured) and continuing the assault until he was stopped by a member of the public

The first attack took place at around 10pm on December 20 in Challice Way, Streatham. The suspect targeted the woman before running off in the direction of nearby Hartwell Close.

The second incident took place three hours later, at around 1am. The victim noticed the man following her as she walked along Streatham Common South.

Before she could escape, he attacked her in an alleyway between Covington Way and a recreation ground on the common. After sexually assaulting her, he fled the scene.

In the second attack, he sexually assaulted a 20-year-old woman after following her into her alleyway, close to a recreation park (pictured) on Streatham Common, and forcing her to the ground

The suspect is described as a male, aged in his mid to late 20s, of medium build and approximately 5ft 7inches tall. He also has a dark beard.

Police have released CCTV footage which shows him walking along Streatham Common South.

They also issued 'personal safety advice', telling Londoners to prepare travel arrangements before leaving the house and to ensure they look as 'assertive' as possible when out alone.

One piece of advice reads: 'Never take your safety for granted and look after your friends so that they don't become vulnerable.'
Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik told a court Wednesday that he would fight 'to the death' for National Socialism, the political doctrine of the Nazi party.

Breivik, who is suing Norway over his prison conditions, said the state had been 'trying to kill me for five years' by keeping him in isolation following the 2011 massacre in which he killed 77 people.

He claims he is a 'victim of cruel and inhuman treatment' in Skien prison, 87 miles south-west of Oslo, where he has an entire cellblock to himself and access to a computer and a PlayStation.

Making his case: Addressing the court on Wednesday, Breivik said the Norwegian state had been 'trying to kill me for five years' by keeping him in isolation in prison

Yesterday, the 37-year-old mass murderer made a Nazi salute after having his handcuffs removed, carrying out the offensive gesture for several seconds without speaking - or being interrupted.

Today, he obeyed a judge's orders not to do so, before describing himself as a model prisoner, and his isolation conditions as described as 'torture'.

Breivik claimed to have been 'treated worse than an animal', complaining about cold coffee, having to use plastic cutlery and being served microwaved meals which he said were 'worse than waterboarding'

'It's understandable when it's justified, for example when it involves people who have a violent past or something like that, but I have been conducting myself in exemplary fashion for five years,' Breivik said.

He also compared himself to anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, saying the only difference between them was that Mandela 'ordered action,' while he had been the one to 'carry out the action,' CNN reports.

Nazi: Taking the stand for his first public statement since his sentencing in August 2012, Breivik said he would fight 'to the death' for National Socialism

Mass killer Anders Behring Breivik raises his arm in a Nazi salute as he enters the gym-turned-courtroom in Skien prison, south-west of Oslo on Tuesday

Addressing the court, he vowed to fight 'to the death' for Nazism, confirming fears he would use the platform to grandstand his extremist views.

'I have fought for National Socialism for 25 years, and I will fight for it to the death,' he said of the Nazi party's political doctrine.

Taking the stand for his first public statement since his sentencing in August 2012, Breivik said he was the secretary of an extremist party he is trying to create, the Nordic State Political Party.

Norwegian authorities have refused to broadcast his testimony on television to try to prevent him sending coded messages to supporters and out of respect for survivors of his murderous spree in 2011 and the families of the victims.

Three hours were set aside for the court to hear Norway's most infamous inmate outline his prison conditions, which are considered more than comfortable by many.

It was considered too dangerous to hear the case in an Oslo court, and proceedings are instead being held inside Skien prison's gymnasium, which has been turned into a courtroom for the case.

Breivik's lawsuit is widely seen as a test of Norway's legal system, and may reopen painful wounds for victims' families in a country that has tried hard to forget the perpetrator of the country's deadliest attacks since World War II.

Breivik 'got what he wanted', Utoya survivor Viljar Hanssen, who was shot four times, tweeted on Monday. 'He is adored in extreme-right circles and can spread hate from his cell.'

'Proud and happy however to live in a robust state of law that applies to everyone. It's the cornerstone of a modern democracy,' he wrote.

Murderer: Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in 2011, is suing Norway, claiming his solitary confinement in Skien prison, south of Oslo, is 'cruel and inhuman treatment'

'Cruel and inhuman'?: Breivik has an entire cellblock to himself at Skien prison, with three cells, access to a computer and a PlayStation, as well as a yard and permission to cook his own food

Breivik's suit is being heard in Skien prison's gymnasium, which has been turned into a courtroom for the day

Survivor Dag Andre Anderssen, deputy leader of a support group for survivors and the bereaved, called Breivik a 'unique' inmate in Norway's prison system, which is focused on rehabilitating rather than punishing criminals.

'They say that every society is measured by how they treat their prisoners so we will allow him to use the system, to try to use the system against us,' Anderssen said.

'But I think the system will say that his conditions are as good as they can be.'

While many survivors and families of victims are trying to ignore this new trial, some watched a re-transmission of the proceedings from a courthouse in Oslo.

'It's pathetic. It's a farce,' said Lisbeth Royneland, whose 18-year-old daughter, Synne, was killed in Breivik's shooting massacre. She now heads a support group for survivors and the bereaved.

Breivik murdered 77 people and injured more than 300 - many of them teenagers - in July 2011, by detonating a bomb in downtown Oslo and carrying out a mass shooting on Utoya Island.

The Norwegian Correctional Service denies Breivik is held in solitary confinement, preferring the phrase 'excluded from the company of other prisoners' - as he disposes of an entire block.

At Skien prison, Breivik lives in three different cells - for living, study and exercise - between which he can move freely.

He also access to a computer, which is not connected to the internet, as well as his own television and a PlayStation.

Breivik has his handcuffs removed after entering the 'courtroom' in Skien prison

The Norwegian Correctional Service denies Breivik is held in solitary confinement, preferring the phrase 'excluded from the company of other prisoners' - as he disposes of an entire block

The right-wing anti-muslim extremist is also free to take walks in a yard at his leisure and he can cook his own food and do his laundry should he so wish.

'There is no evidence that the plaintiff has physical or mental problems as a result of prison conditions,' the Office of the Attorney General, the Norwegian state's legal office in civil lawsuits, wrote in a document sent to the Oslo District Court and released on Wednesday.

Breivik was sentenced to 21 years' imprisonment with preventive detention in 2012, and has been kept in isolation since his arrest.

There is no maximum time for how long he can be held in such 'extra high security', a Norwegian prison service official said.

Breivik, whose case will be heard at Skien in two weeks time, argues the regime is degrading and is a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Breivik's lawyer says his client only has had contacts with professionals, such as prison staff, his lawyers and his mother, when she was alive, according to a separate court document published late on Tuesday.

'According to the information available, they (Breivik and his mother) only had five minutes together when they could hug each other,' it said. Breivik's mother died from cancer in 2013.

While many survivors and families of victims are trying to ignore this new trial, some watched a re-transmission of the proceedings from a courthouse in Oslo

Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik sits next to his lawyer Oystein Storrvik, right, at a makeshift court in Skien prisons gym

The Norwegian Attorney General has denied Breivik's claims, saying there is no evidence of the murderer suffering from the conditions under which he is being held at Skien (pictured)

Making statements: This is not the first time the extreme right-wing mass killer had made Nazi or facists salutes in court, seen here in 2012

The document also said Breivik's mail was being monitored to a degree where 'he doesn't feel he could form relationships through letters'.

He considers this a breach of 'his right to respect for his private life and his correspondence', also part of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Norway says control over prisoners' communication is not in itself a violation, because it could uncover information about the planning or commission of criminal offences.

Breivik wrote in his extreme right-wing manifesto discovered after the killings that prisons were considered ideal recruitment places, the Attorney General's document said.

His 21-year sentence, the maximum in Norway. The term can be extended if he is still considered a threat.

Before the hearing started Tuesday, lawyer Oystein Storrvik said the goal of the case was to improve Breivik's prison conditions, including allowing to him to interact with other prisoners and removing some restrictions on his mail correspondence.

The government says the restrictions are well within the European Convention of Human Rights and are needed to make sure Breivik isn't able to build militant extremist networks from prison.
Pregnancy is not enough of a deterrent to stop women from smoking, new research claims

Pregnancy is not a strong enough deterrent to stop women from smoking, with nine out of ten failing to quit before heir babies are born, new research has suggested.

Of those who tried to give up once they discovered they were pregnant in a recent survey, 87 per cent took the habit back up before their babies were born, the report claims.

Almost half of those who do quit will likely return to smoking within six months of giving birth, found researchers at the University of Nottingham and University of York.

Those who do take it back up after childbirth are more likely to see their own children smoke in the future, it also claimed.

The research, compiled from 11 trials involving 571 women, suggests more needs to be done to help mothers abstain from smoking during and after pregnancy, said experts.

'Most pregnant smokers do not achieve abstinence from smoking while they are pregnant, and among those that do, most will restart smoking within six months of childbirth,' the authors wrote.

'This would suggest that despite large amounts of healthcare expenditure on smoking cessation, few women and their offspring gain the maximum benefits of cessation.'

Dr Matthew Jones of the University of Nottingham said the research indicated a 'wide gulf' between the needs of pregnant smokers and the current services available to help them quit.

'Smoking during pregnancy is a major global public health issue - a conservative estimate for the annual economic burden in the UK is 23.5 million and in the US $110million.

'Our report reveals a wide gulf between what pregnant women need to quit smoking and what our healthcare services currently provide.'

Almost 19,000 pregnant women in England used NHS stop-smoking services between 2014 and 2015.

While it is paramount to babies' health for their mothers to abstain during and after pregnancy, experts have warned that other family members must consider giving up to lessen the chances of infant death or breathing problems.

According to researchers, the children of mothers who take smoking back up within six months of giving birth are more likely to smoke themselves later in life

'While its vital that pregnant smokers quit to give their baby the best start in life, the risk of serious harm from smoking doesnt disappear once the baby is born,' said Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the charity Action on Smoking and Health.

'And all smokers in the home need to be encouraged to quit, or at least not to expose the baby to tobacco smoke, as whoever or wherever it comes from, tobacco smoke increases the risks of breathing problems and sudden infant death.'

Smoke is the the biggest changeable factor for sudden infant death according to The Lullaby Trust which researches and promotes safer sleep for babies.

Its chief executive, Francine Bates, called for more pregnant women to give up smoking before their children are born to avoid further tragedy.

'Exposing babies to smoke is now the single biggest modifiable factor for sudden infant death.
Police in Brazil have arrested a 16-year-old boy suspected of committing 11 murders

Police in Brazil have arrested a 16-year-old boy suspected of 11 murders after avoiding authorities for months.

The unnamed teen had a handgun and cartridges on him when he was held by officers in Teresina, the capital of the north-east state of Piaui, along with an 18-year-old suspected robber accomplice.

His alleged victims include taxi driver Jose Wilson Teixeira, 60, shot as he tried to escape after being held up at gunpoint on February 3, and a 44-year-old man killed on February 27 after being held up by two men on a motorbike as a customer paid him.

The unnamed youngster is also suspected of shooting dead a 27-year-old street seller in January thought to have been targeted after stumbling into a makeshift meeting of local criminals by mistake.

Police captain Paulo Silas said: 'We've been after him for some time and went to a house where we arrested him in a neighbourhood in the north of the city after receiving intelligence he was there.

'He's cruel. He killed just for the sake of it.'

Pictures released by the police today show the pint-sized 16-year-old in swimshorts with a tracksuit top over his bare chest, surrounded by heavily-armed officers.

The 18-year-old suspected robber arrested with him, known as Mateusinho, looked equally dishevelled in a dirty T-shirt and grubby shorts.

Officers said they suspected the younger of the two suspects, said to have committed the murders in an area of Teresina known as Promorar, had been constantly moving around to try to avoid detection.

A sergeant involved in the capture said: 'In the Promorar area alone we believe he's killed 11 people.

'He also shot at a police officer during a robbery.'

Taxi driver Mr Teixeira, who was married with four children, was shot dead after trying to resist an armed robber who wanted to steal his car.

He was killed after refusing to hand over the keys to his white Fiat Siena and attempting to run away from the gunman.'

Police said at the time: 'The offender made it clear he wanted to rob his victim's car and when he saw he wasn't going to be able to take it, shot at him to kill him.
For more of the latest news and updates on Europe's refugee crisis visit www.dailymail.co.uk/refugeecrisis

Pope Francis urges nations to 'open their hearts and open their doors' to migrants trapped on their borders

More than one million migrants have arrived in Greece alone since the start of 2015, says United Nations agency

-bound refugee said: 'We were surprised to see the army there. They were very harsh with us'

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Macedonian troops have been accused of acting 'like a death machine' when they rounded up hundreds of migrants and sent them back to Greece.

Up to 1,500 refugees trekked for five miles and crossed a river to get past the razor-wire border fence on Monday after Macedonia shut its frontier.

But they were immediately detained by soldiers, herded onto truck and returned to their holding camp in northern Greece, where 14,000 migrants are stuck in filthy, disease-ridden conditions.

Among them is Hassan Omar, whose wheelchair was pushed for miles by strangers through valleys and up mountains  only to be met by a wall of troops who he claims treated them violently.

Omar, who fled fighting in Iraq, said: 'We were surprised to see the army there. They were very harsh with us. It felt like a death machine, not humans dealing with us.'

A child sits beside a filthy toy rabbit in the mud at the Idomeni refugee camp in Greece where 14,000 migrants are trapped in squalor

A girl stands in the mud next to a makeshift toilet at the Idomeni refugee camp. The decision by Macedonia to close its border to migrants on Wednesday has left thousands of people stranded at the Greek transit camp which has become a quagmire after days of heavy rain

Children sit at a sofa next to tents at a makeshift camp for refugees at the Greek-Macedonian border near the village of Idomeni, Greece

Up to 1,500 refugees trekked for five miles and crossed a river to get past the razor-wire border fence on Monday after Macedonia shut its frontier only to be met by Macedonian troops who rounded them up on trucks and sent them back to the camp at Idomeni

The Macedonian action was part of a drive by Western Balkans states to shut down a migration route from Greece to Germany used by nearly a million people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Asia over the last year in Europe's biggest refugee influx since World War Two.

Greek authorities said they could not confirm the return as there had been no official contact from the Macedonian side, but those who arrived back at the camp recounted their experiences on Tuesday.

One man from the northern Syrian province of Raqqa, who gave his name as Abdo, said Macedonian authorities divided the detainees into groups of 25 to 50 people, put them in cars and dropped them off at the border.

'They told us to run, so we started to run,' he said.

Authorities estimate at least 14,000 people, including thousands of children, have been stranded in the Idomeni camp, where sanitary conditions have deteriorated after days of heavy rain.

Concern about the spread of infection grew after one person was diagnosed with Hepatitis A.

Migrants are reflected in a puddle while waiting in line to receive hot tea during rainfall at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni

A Syrian refugee couple warm themselves next to a bonfire at a makeshift camp for migrants at the Greek-Macedonian border

A migrant cuts firewood at a makeshift camp for migrants at the Greek-Macedonian border near the village of Idomeni, Greece

POPE TELLS NATIONS TO 'OPEN YOUR HEARTS AND DOORS' TO MIGRANTS TRAPPED ON BORDERS Pope Francis appealed to nations to 'open their hearts and open their doors' to migrants, saying those waiting at closed European borders in the cold and rain were made to feel like exiles abandoned by God. The huge influx of refugees has prompted countries straddling the main migration corridor through the Balkans to the wealthy north of the EU to seal their borders, trapping tens of thousands in Greece. 'How many of our brothers these days are living through a real and dramatic situation of exile, far from their homelands. In their eyes they still have the ruins of their homes,' Pope Francis told tens of thousands of people in St Peter's Square. 'They have fear in their hearts and unfortunately, often, the pain of having lost loved their ones,' Francis, who has made defence of migrants a major plank of his three-year-old papacy, said in mostly improvised remarks. Advertisement

It was unclear why so many people made for the border on Monday, but Greek officials say leaflets that circulated at the Idomeni camp before the march showed it was a planned action.

Sixty-year-old Syrian Mohammad Kattan, who hoped to be reunited with his family in Serbia, said it had taken him six hours to trudge to the border.

'At my age it was very difficult,' he said, bundled up in a thick blanket. 'My hope was to get to Macedonia... so that I could continue on to another country.'

Downcast and exhausted, he returned along with a second group of migrants, numbering about 600, who were prevented from even crossing the border by Macedonian security forces.

They waded back knee-deep through the icy river near the border on Tuesday, some barefoot, others weighed down by children and their worldly belongings on their shoulders.

On the riverbank, men and women stood around a fire drying their feet and clothes. One woman sobbed, her face framed by a pink headscarf.

Others dragged their belongings across the dirt, and pulled along their children in fruit baskets.

A Syrian woman who gave her name as Nasreem described how she sheltered her children overnight with plastic bags and said she believed they would finally be 'done with all the rain and the cold' when they arrived at the border.

Macedonia has denied the claims.

Macedonia, a non-EU and non-NATO country of two million people, has deployed its army at the border since August last year to control the influx of people on the main refugee route through the Balkans.

But after countries further up the chain shut their doors to migrants over a week ago, Macedonia did the same and hundreds of its troops are now charged with keeping out at least 43,000 migrants massed in Greece.

'The situation is hard for us as well as them. I see the children on the other side, I hear it's difficult.

'I myself have two children,' said Marko, 34, one of the soldiers. But we have to do our job and protect our country.'

Another soldier added: 'It is incomprehensible to me that a small country like ours is the main defence of Europe, while Europe is not able to find somewhere for all those people who are suffering opposite us.

Macedonia's president says Greece is not being cooperative on the immigration crisis following a large influx of refugees into his country on Monday.

A migrant washes himself at a makeshift camp for migrants at the Greek-Macedonian border. Concern about the spread of infection grew after one person was diagnosed with Hepatitis A

A migrant shaves another at a makeshift camp at the Greek-Macedonian border. Some 1,500 migrants who crossed into Macedonia despite the border being closed to them for a week have been sent back to Greece by Macedonian troops

ONE MILLION MIGRANTS HAVE ARRIVED IN GREECE ALONE SINCE THE START OF 2015, SAYS UN The UN refugee agency says more than one million people have crossed into Greece alone since the start of 2015. UNHCR figures show more than 143,500 people - mostly Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans - have reached Greece from Turkey this year through March 14. UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration had previously reported that more than one million people reached Europe overall last year, but that included arrivals across the central Mediterranean route from Libya to Italy. The new figures show how much Greece has borne the brunt of the influx. Advertisement

Gjorge Ivanov convened a meeting of the National Security Council late on Tuesday and afterwards told the press that Greece should stop allowing migrants to reach the boundary between the two nations.

Mr Ivanov called for better cooperation between Macedonian and Greek security services.

Meanwhile, Angela Merkel said a planned EU-Turkey deal offers the first 'real chance' at a 'sustainable' solution to the migrant crisis but cautioned that the bloc won't seek agreement at any cost.

Speaking on the eve of a crucial Brussels summit, the German Chancellor made clear the EU would stand firm on civil rights in Turkey and that Ankara's bid to eventually join the 28-nation club is 'not on the agenda now'.

Under the plan hailed as a 'game-changer', Turkey would take back illegal migrants from Greece. For each Syrian it accepts, it would send one to the EU in a more orderly redistribution programme.

But the proposed deal, which would offer Turkey the carrot of eased access to the visa-free Schengen zone and an acceleration of EU accession talks, has drawn heavy fire on several fronts.

Many critics have voiced unease over human rights concerns in any deal with Turkey, over its arrests of journalists and academics and an intensifying military campaign against Kurdish separatists.

It came as Italy's coastguard said it had rescued nearly 2,000 migrants and two corpses from people smuggling boats off Libya since Tuesday.

The figures represent an increase in the flow of migrants attempting to reach Italy via Libya, a route through which around 330,000 people have made it to Europe since the start of 2014.

Prior to the latest rescues, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) had reported 9,500 landing at Italian ports since the start of the year.
Vladimir Putin may be preparing to drop Syrian president Bashar al-Assad as the Russian leader manoeuvres for a key role in peace negotiations.

The Russian president will urge dictator Assad to relinquish power after the Kremlin spent six-months bombing anti-government rebels in Syria, western diplomats believe.

Putin highlighted Russian military success in the war-torn country as his reason for scaling back his forces there - but many believe that his decision was made in the belief that the intervention would deliver him a seat at the top table of world affairs as negotiations over a deal for peace continue.

Vladimir Putin (pictured) may be preparing to drop Syrian president Bashar al-Assad as the Russian leader manoeuvres for a key role in peace negotiations

The Russian president will urge Assad to relinquish power after the Kremlin spent six-months bombing anti-government rebels in Syria, western diplomats believe. They are pictured at the Kremlin in October

One diplomat at peace talks in Geneva said Putin was 'not inextricably bound up' with Assad, suggesting Russia would be ready to back a different Syrian president if it suited their aims.

Russia's defense ministry said today that another group of its aircraft has left the Russian air base in Syria and is returning home.

But a senior Western diplomat at the peace talks taking place in Geneva told the Guardian the Kremlin is now expected to put pressure on Assad to compromise.

The diplomat said: 'Assad can shape the future constitution, but Russia knows he has no choice but to stand aside at some point, otherwise there will be stalemate.

'The Russians have strengthened Assad's position enough so he can come to the negotiating table closer to a state of equilibrium, but they want this war to come to an end. They are not inextricably bound up with him, so long as they maintain their influence.'

The Guardian said analysts believe the timing of the pull-out was a demonstration by Russia that Putin rather than Assad was calling the shots with peace talks starting.

Some have suggested that the real reason behind Russia's bombing campaign was to give the country a say in world affairs.

Putin highlighted Russian military success in the war-torn country as his reason for scaling back his forces there. A Russian pilot is held aloft after returning from Syria yesterday

In the space of six months it has gone from being a pariah state in the West because of its annexation of Crimea and support for pro-Kremlin rebels in eastern Ukraine to being the go-to partner over Syria. Once spurned by Western leaders, it is now a regular interlocutor for both Washington and EU leaders.

'Putin has already got all the political benefits,' said Nikolai Petrov, a political expert at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow.

'It is better to withdraw before costs increase, before any accident can happen, and before the risks become too high.'

Maha Yahya, acting director of the Carnegie Middle East Center said Russia's plan to withdraw forces from Syria is sending a strong message to Assad, whose hard-line stance is diverging from Moscow's interest.

He said: 'There was an overlap in interests in the last few months. Now they (the Russians) are telling Assad, "this is where we start to diverge, and you've got to step up to your responsibilities, you can't rely on us forever".'

Russia's defense ministry said today that another group of its aircraft has left the Russian air base in Syria and is returning home

On Tuesday, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied that Russia's decision was prompted by the Kremlin's displeasure with the Syrian government's tough position in the negotiations, or that it was intended to put pressure on Assad.

The withdrawal announcement also triggered successive statements from the Syrian presidency and armed forces rejecting speculation that the decision reflected a rift between the allies.

Militarily, the implications of Russia's drawdown are unlikely to hurt Assad as long as Iranian-organised Shiite militias are still fighting on his behalf. Russia, which is keeping its naval base in Tartous and air base in Latakia, may also redeploy at any time if needed.

Hossein Royvaran, a political analyst in Tehran, said the withdrawal is part of a plan agreed upon by Iran, Syria and Russia, and that Moscow's forces may return to Syria if the political process fails.

But Firas Abi Ali, senior analyst at IHS Country Risk, said the withdrawal highlights divergences among Iran, Syria, and Russia, and probably reflects Moscow's intention to impose a compromise that might include a partition or federation model.

The situation in Syria where more than 270,000 people have been killed in nearly five years of civil war

'Russia can accept a settlement in which the Kurds gain autonomy in northeastern Syria, Sunni groups dominate Idlib and Aleppo, while a successor to the Assad government remains in core Syrian government territory in Damascus, Homs, and along the coast,' Abi Ali said.

'This could take the form of a new federal constitution, or even Syria's partition.'

On Monday, Lavrov said it would be up to the Syrians to decide what form of state they should have.

Several analysts, however, dismiss talk of any formal partition or federal system based on sectarian and ethnic identities that would be sowing the seeds for further conflict down the road.

Mark Galeotti, a New York University global affairs professor who spends much of his time in Moscow, said the Russians have been signaling that they think it's time for some kind of resolution in Syria.
He eventually sold his share in the corporation to a group of businessmen

But when it collapsed, he began selling franchising rights to his recipe

This became so popular that in 1950 he was awarded the title of 'Colonel'

Eventually he ran his own restaurant and motel in Corbin, Kentucky

Before perfecting his chicken spices recipe in 1940, he worked many jobs

As a young man: Harland Sanders' life was marked by his notorious temper before he embarked on his career as a fast-food trailblazer just before the United States entered the Second World War

Today KFC stands as a defining symbol of the American Dream - born from one man's bloody-minded perseverance, 19,000 stores worldwide now generate $23billion in revenue.

But behind this remarkable success story lies one man - Harland Sanders, a bad-tempered perfectionist who spent decades tweaking his secret chicken recipe that ultimately revolutionized fast food.

Sanders first developed his love of cooking as a child. Born in Henryville, Indiana, in 1890, he was forced to care for his siblings after his father died when he was five.

With his mother away working, he sometimes looked after them for days at a time - before quitting school altogether at age 12 and leaving his mother and stepfather's home to find work.

During this time he jumped between jobs on farms, railroads, and as a cleaner before meeting Josephine King at age 19, who he soon married.

After this - sometime around the early 1920s - he spent three years practising law, though this ended when he had a brawl with a client in a courtroom.

Further ventures into ferry boat sales, lamp manufacturing and a job with Michelin Tires ended similarly before he settled in Corbin, Kentucky, in 1930 to run a service station.

It was then 40-year-old Sanders and his wife Josephine began their first foray as restaurateurs.

Located close to a highway in order to entice passing travellers, they soon opened a diner and motel next to the service station where they sold home-cooked meals.

However, the pressure cooker which would ultimately allow him to cook the chicken quickly and to order had not yet been invented, nor had he finalised the last of his 11 secret spices.

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Colonel Sanders' first eatery was the Harland Sanders Restaurant which was also a roadside service station and motel. Here he sold his fried chicken, though it took many years before he had perfected the recipe

Here he is pictured as a young man in the kitchen of his restaurant located near a highway in Corbin, Kentucky

Before his foray into the food industry, Colonel Sanders managed service stations. It was during this time the hot-tempered businessman shot a rival during a dispute over their competing road signs

Here he is pictured marrying his second wife Claudia Ledington-Price in 1948, who had been an employee for many years at the Harland Sanders restaurant in Kentucky

One day in 1931, Sanders heard competing service station owner Matt Stewart was painting over some of his business signs.

Known as a hot-head, this was intolerable to Sanders - even though he had aggressively erected the signs at both ends of the town in order to direct traffic to his own business.

Racing to the location with two Shell Oil executives to support him, a confrontation ensued in which Stewart shot dead one of the executives before being shot in the shoulder by Sanders.

Stewart was later convicted of murder, but the charges against Sanders were dropped - thereby removing his main competitor in the town.

By 1940 he had developed his final combination of spices, and the newly developed pressure cooker allowed him to cook to order within eight minutes.

However, gas rationing during the war meant business was slow for his restaurant and accompanying motel, and he spent some time working in a friend's store in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

This town later emerged as the location of the top secret centre where U.S. scientists enriched the uranium later used in the atom bombs which ended the war.

Upon his return to Corbin, Kentucky in 1945, Sanders' business grew in popularity and the state governor bestowed him with the title of 'Colonel' in recognition of his services to the food industry.

However, in 1955, with Sanders now aged 65, he was forced to sell the business for fraction of its value when Interstate 75 diverted the vast majority of his customers from passing through the town.

Sanders was back to square one and was penniless aside from the small franchise payments he had arranged with friend Pete Harman, who was selling his secret chicken recipe in Salt Lake City.

Colonel Harlan Sanders (pictured in 1978) spent decades developing his secret spices recipe after first learning to cook as a child when he was forced to look after his siblings following his father's death

A group of protesters march outside a KFC store in Pennsylvania in 1971. Colonel Sanders was one of the first to recognize the potential of franchising and first licensed his recipe to a friend in the early 1950s

It was not until his later years that he adopted the 'Colonel Sanders' moniker as part of his image. Although he was never an army Colonel, he was given the 'Colonel' title by the governor of Kentucky

Colonel Sanders was a notorious perfectionist, who in his later years was prone to making surprise visits to franchisees and berating them if the gravy was not up to his high standards

Colonel Sanders pictured in an old advertisement showing him preparing his famous secret recipe chicken

Harman, who is credited with developing the red and white branding, the 'Kentucky Fried Chicken' name and pioneering the sale of takeaway orders, went on to open many outlets selling Sanders' recipe.

The two had agreed a small fee for every chicken sold using Sanders' spices - the composition of which was fiercely guarded, and produced and shipped to Harman by Sanders himself.

Without his business in Corbin to manage, Sanders set about refining his own image and pouncing on the opportunity of the newly-developing franchise concept.

He began wearing only white suits with a string tie, and grew his trademark white goatee as he travelled the country signing up restaurants with rights to use his recipe.

In his autobiography, he wrote: 'I never liked the idea of using my photograph on things.

'I had always referred to my face as my mug. But I did have a line drawing made for use in advertising, and when I saw it on the boxes containing my food I nearly fainted.'

But this became overwhelming for the elderly businessman, who continued signing up restaurants while his second wife, Claudia Ledington-Price, stayed at home to package and send them the secret spices.

By 1964, with more than 400 franchisees - including some abroad - a now 74-year-old Sanders sold his interests in the corporation to a group of Kentucky businessmen.

Retained as a goodwill and brand ambassador, he had little control over the direction of the company and in later years often complained the gravy was 'slop'.

During the Second World War he was too old to enlist but did his part by moving to work at a friend's restaurant in Oak Ridge, a town in Tennessee where the uranium for the first atom bomb was enriched (pictured)

The scientists who worked at the site (pictured) were sworn to secrecy and it was only in the years after the war that Colonel Sanders realised he was serving them during his time at the restaurant

Colonel Sanders pictured with a pair of businessmen in Canada during his foray into the country, which began in the 1960s. The group are photographed eating KFC chicken legs

The Colonel - who was given his name by the governor of Kentucky - was a short tempered man who sought perfection but after being bought out in the 1960s, he had little control over the stores which bore his image

Colonel Sanders died in 1980, aged 90, but had only fame and wealth with his recipe in his 70s

According to a 1970 New Yorker profile, he was fond of making surprise visits to franchisees and if their gravy was not up to his standards, unleashing a tirade of verbal abuse at the business owner.

A company executive told the paper: 'Lets face it, the Colonels gravy was fantastic, but you had to be a Rhodes Scholar to cook it.

'It involved too much time, it left too much room for human error, and it was too expensive.'

Despite his qualms, the original businessmen who purchased Kentucky Fried Chicken - which was shortened to just KFC in 1991 - had massively expanded the corporation.

Although it has changed hands several times since Sanders relinquished control, it has grown to the point where it controls 19,000 stores in 120 countries.

Colonel Harland Sanders eventually died aged 90 after a seven-month battle with leukemia.

Buried in his distinctive white suit, he had carried on working as a brand ambassador for his beloved brainchild right up until the months before his death on December 16, 1980.
With no signs of a turnaround from warm conditions, scientists say global warming is impacting the environment

The two glaciers usually snake down from the mountain to a temperate rainforest but are now melting rapidly

Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting too quickly ending a traditional hike that dates back a century

glaciers are too dangerous for tourist to trek to from the bottom of the mountain

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New Zealand's renowned glaciers which are among the country's top tourist attraction saw hundred of hikers trek to the top of the mountains before it was deemed too dangerous and closed due to the rapidly melting ice.

The Fox and Franz Josef glaciers in the South Island have been melting so quickly over the past few years making it practically impossible for people to walk up the mountains towards the glaciers.

The glaciers which were previously known to snake down from the mountains to a temperate rainforest below have slowly been disappearing, ending the tradition trek that dated back a century.

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Two glaciers in New Zealand have been melting so quickly that they are now too dangerous for hikers to walk across ending a tradition that dates back a century (pictured in 2016)

Fox and Franz Josef glacier in New Zealand's South Island used to snake down from the mountains to a temperate rainforest below (pictured 2007)

The glaciers were easily accessible from the trek which began at the bottom of the mountains (pictured 2007)

Tour operators stopped taking guided hikes onto the Franz Josef in 2012 and the nearby Fox in 2014

With continuing warm weather this year there are no signs of a turnaround, and scientists say it is another example of how global warming is impacting the environment.

Tourism in New Zealand is booming and nearly 1 million people last year flocked to get a glimpse of the glaciers and the spectacular valleys they've carved.

But the only way to set foot on them now is to get flown onto them by helicopter.

Tour operators offer flights and guided glacier walks, although logistics limit this to 80,000 tourists per year, half the number that once hiked up from the valley floor. Up to another 150,000 people each year take scenic flights that land briefly at the top of the glaciers.

Flying in the UNESCO World Heritage area comes with its own risks, highlighted in November when a sightseeing helicopter crashed onto the Fox Glacier, killing all seven aboard.

Sitting near the base of the Franz Josef Glacier, Wayne Costello, a district operations manager for the Department of Conservation, said that when he arrived eight years ago, the rock he was perched on would have been buried under tons of ice. Instead, the glacier now comes to an end a half-mile (800 meters) further up the valley.

'Like a loaf of bread shrinking in its tin, it's gone down a lot as well,' Costello said.

'So it's wasted away in terms of its thickness, and that's led to quite a rapid melt.'

As the glaciers are no longer covered by the ice like they previously were (pictured) the ice melts down the mountain at a rate of four meters (13 feet) each day, picking up rocks and debris along the way

Due to the warmer weather conditions, the glaciers have been melting resulting in dangerous conditions for the hikers

With no expectations of improving weather conditions scientists have noted this as another example of global warming

The only way to set foot on the glaciers now is with a helicopter which has its own risks as well - last year a sightseeing helicopter crashed at Fox Glacier killing all seven people on board (pictured is the trek closed off to the public in 2016)

Tourists are pictured trekking across the glaciers before it was closed to the public after being deemed to dangerous

Because of that melt, the valley walls that were once braced by the glaciers have been left exposed and vulnerable to rock falls, making hiking up too dangerous. Tour operators stopped taking guided hikes onto the Franz Josef in 2012 and the nearby Fox in 2014.

A 2014 paper published in the journal Global and Planetary Change concluded the two glaciers have each melted by 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) in length since the 1800s, making them about 20 percent shorter. The glaciers have recently been melting at a faster pace than ever previously recorded, the authors said.

Heather Purdie, a scientist at the University of Canterbury and lead author of the paper, said climate change is the driving factor.

'We know that glaciers around the world, including the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers, are responding to that warmer temperature and they're retreating,' she said. Small changes in temperature and snowfall tend to be magnified in the two glaciers and their retreat has been interrupted by advances that can last years, she said.

Costello and tour operators are hoping to see another advance soon. But there's no sign of that: February was the second-hottest month ever recorded in New Zealand.

The hot weather has even created a new type of tourist attraction over the other side of the mountains. Purdie said the glaciers there are also rapidly retreating, resulting in tourists taking boat rides on the lakes to see some of the massive icebergs that have begun to shear away.

The two glaciers have each melted by 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) in length since the 1800s, making them about 20 percent shorter and they are melting at an even faster rate

Wayne Costello, a district operations manager for the Department of Conservation, explains that eight years ago, the rock he was perched on would have been buried under tons of ice. Instead, the glacier now comes to an end a half-mile (800 meters) further up the valley

A helicopter trip onto the Fox Glacier reveals deep crevasses in the translucent blue ice and stunning ice caves through which guides take crampon-wearing tourists. A guide retells the indigenous Maori legend which would have it that the Franz Josef Glacier began as a stream of tears left by a young woman whose lover was killed by an avalanche.

The glaciers are formed by prevailing westerly winds dumping snow in a high-altitude basin. It compacts into ice and is pushed down the valleys much like toothpaste being squeezed from a tube. The glaciers slide and roll down the mountain at a rate of 4 meters (13 feet) each day, picking up rocks and debris along the way.

'It's the uniqueness, the rawness of the environment,' that draws tourists from Australia, North America, Europe, and, increasingly, China, said Rob Jewell, chairman of the Glacier Country Tourism Group.

It's also a region which is subject to rapid changes in the weather. At the time of November's helicopter crash - which killed four tourists from Britain and two from Australia, as well as the New Zealand pilot - some observers said the weather and visibility were marginal for safe flying.

Jewell said he didn't want to comment until an investigation by authorities was complete. He said the crash hasn't affected tourist numbers, which have been stronger than ever this year.

At the base of the Franz Josef, Dutch tourist Dieuwke Derkse said she was overwhelmed by the beauty of the glacier and the purity of the environment.

She said she believed global warming was responsible for its retreat and felt a little guilty even visiting New Zealand because of the fossil fuels burned by the plane ride there. But she said the glacier also helped inspire her to live in a more environmentally conscious way.

'It makes me a little bit sad because you see how fast everything is going,' she said. 'The river is going very fast but the snow and glacier is going backward.'

Operators were hoping to see better weather conditions but there hasn't been any sign of improvement with February being the second-hottest month ever recorded in New Zealand (before shot pictured in 2007)
Tamara Ecclestone was today seen strolling through London with her sister and daughter as her husband appeared in court alone to face charges of helping a fugitive drugs baron.

The Formula One heiress looked happy and relaxed as she walked through Notting Hill in the sunshine with her sister Petra and her 23-month-old daughter.

The outing came just hours after Jay Rutland, 35, had turned up at court with his lawyer to face accusations that he helped 66-year-old crime king James Tarrant escape the UK ahead of his trial for drug and gun charges.

Ms Ecclestone, who has rarely been seen with her husband since he was charged in February, was noticeably absent as the former City trader arrived at Thames Magistrates' Court this morning.

Tamara Ecclestone (left and right) was today seen strolling through London with her sister and daughter as her husband appeared in court to face charges of helping a fugitive drugs baron

The Formula One heiress looked happy and relaxed as she walked through Notting Hill in the sunshine with her sister Petra (right) and her 23-month-old daughter

According to sentencing guidelines, Mr Rutland would face up to seven years in jail if he is convicted.

The allegation against him, which he is set to deny, dates back to 2010, before he met Miss Ecclestone.

In court today, Mr Rutland stood only to confirm his name, before the matter was adjourned until next month.

His co-defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, failed to appear while the prosecution is also reviewing the actual charge, the court was told.

Rutland was bailed to his 70million mansion in Kensington, west London, which he shares with Miss Ecclestone and their daughter Sophia.

In a statement at the time he was charged, Mr Rutland's spokesman said: 'Mr Rutland voluntarily attended a police station and assisted the police with their inquiries.

The outing came just hours after Jay Rutland (left), 35, had turned up at court with his lawyer to face accusations that he helped 66-year-old crime king James Tarrant escape the UK ahead of his trial

'He was later charged. He denies the charge and will defend it vigorously.'

Tarrant was arrested after police found cannabis, cocaine and a handgun at a house in Waltham Abbey, Essex.

He was granted conditional bail ahead of his trial, in which he was accused of conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis as well as possession of a gun and ammunition.

But he fled to Holland, before the trial began. He was convicted in his absence and jailed for 14 years.

Although Ms Ecclestone was noticeably absent from court this morning, it is unclear whether she is supporting her husband through the court process

There was no sign of his 31-year-old wife, who has rarely been seen with her husband since he was charged in February. They are pictured together left in 2013 in Monaco and right in 2014 in London

Tarrant was put on Britains most wanted list as police tried to track him down and was featured in an appeal on Crimewatch.

He eventually gave himself up at Breda police station, near Rotterdam, in September last year, after five years on the run.

He was detained on a European Arrest Warrant before being flown home to serve his sentence.

Mr Rutland proposed to Miss Ecclestone after a whirlwind romance in January 2013 and they married later that year in a 7million ceremony on the French Riviera.

Guests included Sir Elton John, Sir Sean Connery and music producer Mark Ronson.
Wildlife experts have warned that the craze for releasing flocks of white doves at weddings or funerals could endanger the environment by leaving large numbers of birds to fend for themselves in the wild.

The ceremony, which sees couples letting as many as 100 birds fly into the air at the climax of their wedding, has become increasingly popular.

But if the birds used are not homing pigeons, they will be unable to return to their base and will be left to live in the wild or on nature reserves, where they could squeeze out other species.

Trend: Many couples now choose to release doves into the sky during their wedding ceremonies (file photo)

Event organisers have warned customers to ensure that they use reputable suppliers of birds to avoid causing environmental chaos.

A number of companies offer doves at weddings, funerals, christenings and other events, either in cages as part of the decor or released in a pair or a flock.

It typically costs around 200 to hire a flock of 10 doves to be released at a wedding, but couples can pay more to get a larger flock.

White homing pigeons are the only appropriate species to be used, because they are able to return to their dovecote after being released into the sky.

They can only be released within a few miles of their home, otherwise they may be unable to find their way back.

Danger: Experts warn that if the birds end up on nature reserves they could threaten other species (file photo)

If other species of dove or pigeon, such as the popular ringneck dove, are released they will not return home and will either die or end up infiltrating other species in the wild.

One dove charity warns that releasing ringneck doves 'will undoubtedly prove fatal', while the RSPB has expressed concerns about increasing numbers of domesticated doves on nature reserves.

Julianne Evans, who manages a reserve in Sussex, told The Times that the last two years had seen more and more white doves escaping into the wild.

She added: 'We feed the wild birds here and they are able to nest so their numbers can increase quite quickly.

'The main concern is that they will take the food from the wild birds in the reserve and are not very hygienic when they collect around the public picnic tables.'

Attack: This photo shows a dove released by the Pope in 2014 which was immediately mauled by a crow

The RSPCA said: 'We would always advise people to use a reputable and professional company and never undertake releases themselves.'

White doves have been bred for their looks over the past decades, and it is not known how well they are able to fare in the wild.

The dangers faced by doves was graphically illustrated two years ago when the Pope released a pair of the birds in St Peter's Square as a sign of peace, and they were immediately attacked by a much bigger seagull and crow.
For more of the latest Russian news visit www.dailymail.co.uk/russia

They allegedly used 'special photo and video recording equipment'

They are accused of illegally

This is the moment two British diplomats were flagged down in Russia to be accused of filming a military air base.

The pair, based at the British Embassy in Moscow, were named as Air Force attache Carl Scott and Assistant Naval Attache Ryan Coatalen-Hodgson.

Moscow sought to maximise the incident by releasing footage of 'police' tailing their official car, and images of the defence attaches' identity cards after they were pulled in at a checkpoint.

Air Force attache Carl Scott is caught on camera holding up his identity card after he and colleague Assistant Naval Attache Ryan Coatalen-Hodgson were pulled in at a checkpoint in North Ossetia, in the Caucasus

Russia announced on Tuesday that it had 'caught' the pair 'illegally' snooping on Mozdok military airport' in North Ossetia, in the Caucasus.

They were accused of 'secret observation' and using 'special photo and video recording equipment', according to an FSB secret service source.

They entered the region - close to Chechnya - without 'appropriate permission', it was claimed.

Dashcam footage, from early March, shows what is described as a police vehicle as it trails a British diplomatic car with the 001 registration assigned to the United Kingdom in Russia.

The Cold War-style sequence shows the tailing operation for several miles through the North Ossetian countryside, before road traffic policemen wave the diplomats to stop at a checkpoint.

Dashcam footage shows what is described as a police vehicle as it trails a British diplomatic car

Russia announced on Tuesday that it had 'caught' the pair 'illegally' snooping on Mozdok military airport' in North Ossetia, in the Caucasus

Footage shows Russian authorities tailing the pair for several miles through the North Ossetian countryside, before road traffic policemen wave the diplomats to stop at a checkpoint

The pair entered the region - close to Chechnya - without 'appropriate permission', it was claimed

Here the diplomats were made to show their diplomatic identity cards and Scott held up his driving license.

The British officials refused to show the Russians what if anything they had filmed at the airfield, citing diplomatic immunity, said Moscow reports .

The footage was shown by pro-Kremlin news site LifeNews which boasted the video showed Russia 'detaining British diplomat-spies'.

In fact, Moscow has taken no action against the diplomats who remain in post at the British Embassy in Moscow.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: 'It is routine for Defence Attaches to travel around their host countries in the course of their diplomatic duties.'

'This is no different in Russia. The Defence Attaches from the British Embassy in Moscow submitted to all relevant checks requested by the Russian authorities.'
A pet Chihuahua loyally stayed by the side of his beloved four-year-old owner who had been beheaded by her schizophrenic, ISIS-loving Russian nanny even as their home burned around them, the little girl's father has revealed.

The tiny dog's charred body was found amid the remains of the family's Moscow flat, next to the spot where the headless corpse of little Anastasia 'Nastya' Meshcheryakova was discovered by horrified rescue workers.

The defenceless four-year-old had been decapitated by nanny Gyulchehra Bobokulova, who then set the flat on fire before parading the child's severed head through the streets of the Russian capital.

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Special bond: Family pet Lusya was devoted to four-year-old Anastasia 'Nastya' Meshcheryakova, who was murdered in February by her crazed nanny Gyulchehra Bobokulova, who then paraded her head in the street

Hope: Nastya's family had been appealing for people to help find the little dog, who they had hoped ran away after the fire was started in their Moscow flat on February 29 - but this week made another grim discovery

Devotion: Nastya's father Vladimir has revealed Lusya's body was found in the fire-ravaged flat, wedged close to the bed where his little girl's headless body was discovered between the wall and a dresser

Nastya's devastated parents had been clinging to the hope the frightened dog, named Lusya, had fled before Bobokulova set the flat alight and might be returned to them, with hundreds of neighbours joining the search for the Chihuahua.

But those hopes were dashed after the loyal creature was found wedged close to Nastya's bed as the family undertook the gruesome task of picking through the ruins of their home.

'Today when we cleaned the debris in the flat, we found Lusya,' said Vladimir, 36.

'She was with Nastya until the final moment.

'We found her next to Nastya's bed, between the dresser and the wall.'

Nastya was murdered by Bobokulova, the woman who friends claimed had cared for her 'like a daughter' since she was a baby, after starting a fire at the child's family home in a block of flats on February 29.

The 38-year-old then headed towards a metro station in north-west Moscow, where she pulled Nastya's head from a bag.

She reportedly shouted: 'I hate democracy. I am a terrorist. I want you dead.

'You have become so hardened, you have eliminated so many of us. Look I am a suicide bomber, I will die, doomsday will come in a second.'

Importance: Vladimir said Lusya had been a huge comfort to the little girl, who suffered both physical and mental disabilities, adding that they had a 'special connection'

Appeal: Locals rushed to help in the search for Lusya after the brutal murder, hoping to give the family what little comfort finding the beloved pet might afford. Pictured: A poster appealing for information

Discovery: Vladimir said the little dog was with Nastya until her final moments. Pictured: The little girl's body in the cot amid the ruins of the burnt-out flat

Torched: Bobokulova, a Muslim, from Uzbekistan where the majority of the population is Muslim, set fire to the Moscow flat after she decapitated the girl

Grief: The little girl's mother mother Ekaterina (right) - who collapsed in the street upon hearing the horrific news - and her father Vladimir Meshcheryakov (left) revealed the dog was found during the clean-up of the flat

Nastya's remains had been found in a cot in the family flat, dressed in her night clothes, a T-short and shorts.

On her blanket was a picture of a kitten.

Speaking after the discovery of the sickening crime, Vladimir had appealed for help in finding Nastya's companion.

He released footage of Lusya licking Nastya's hand and ear as she lay on the bed in the flat where she was later barbarically killed in the hope someone might find the dog.

Lusya had been a huge comfort to the little girl, who suffered both physical and mental disabilities, he said, adding that they had a 'special connection'.

'Lusya and Nastya were very close,' he said.

The beloved pet's death will be yet another heartbreak for the family who are still struggling to come to terms with Nastya's brutal murder, while being faced with images of a grinning Bobokulova every time she appears in court.

Confession: Bobokulova (pictured with Nastya's head) has admitted to the horrific crime

Insane: Bobokulova has said she did it because of Russia#s bombing of ISIS, but also because voices in her head told her to, and that she was inspired by beheading videos on the internet

The deranged nanny has confessed to killing Nastya with a kitchen knife and is now undergoing psychiatric tests in a secure prison hospital in Moscow.

A police source revealed how the babysitter had kept her schizophrenia a secret and was 'kicked on to the streets' after a divorce.

She told police she committed the act in revenge for Vladimir Putin's aerial bombardment of Muslims in Syria.

In one court appearance, she was heard to explain: 'I took revenge against those who spilled blood. Putin spilled blood, planes carried out bombings. Why are Muslims being killed? They also want to live.'

Later she claimed she was inspired by ISIS death videos showing medieval-style beheadings.

Smirking: The deranged nanny has confessed to killing Nastya with a kitchen knife and is now undergoing psychiatric tests in a secure prison hospital in Moscow

Court: The nanny, who is on strong medication, faces 25 years behind bars if she is found fit to face trial

But she also told how she heard voices in her head - saying Allah made her do it.

Her own 19-year-old son revealed that she had tried to recruit him as a jihad fighter.

If she is deemed fit to face trial, Bobokulova will serve up to 25 years in jail.
For more of the latest Islamic State news visit www.dailymail.co.uk/isis

The spy chief claimed his network received $10,000 a month from the U.S.

But when he asked the CIA if they were used, he

The CIA has ignored crucial intelligence since 2013 from within ISIS ranks that could have helped prevent its rise, a Syrian rebel spy chief has claimed.

The Free Syrian Army spy boss said he had been sending reports to his CIA contacts for more than two years that included GPS coordinates, ISIS movements, photographs and phone numbers.

His operation - which utilizes 30 operatives placed inside ISIS-controlled cities - was 'trained abroad' and received $10,000 per month from the U.S. government, he claimed.

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The Free Syrian Army spy chief (not pictured) said the CIA has ignored crucial intelligence that may have helped the stem the rise of ISIS. Pictured are FSA rebel soldiers in Idlib, northwestern Syria

He claimed plans were drawn up for an offensive to remove ISIS from Aleppo (pictured) as early as 2014 only for the U.S. to delay it several times. Eventually, Al Nusra Front launched a counterattack that scuppered it

A Free Syrian Army rebel smokes a cigarette during a break in fighting against the government in Damascus

The spy chief, interviewed by Le Monde and named only as 'M', said: 'From the moment [ISIS] had 20 members to when it had 20,000, we have shown everything to the Americans', RT reported.

'When we asked them what they did with this information, they always gave evasive answers, saying it was in the hands of decision-makers.

'My agents also managed to get hold of phone numbers of ISIS officials, serial numbers of satellite equipment and IP addresses. But once again, zero response.'

Among the intelligence details cited were a photograph and GPS coordinates of a secret ISIS training camp in Latakia Province, Syria.

Another document was 2014 a battle plan designed to expel ISIS from Aleppo. However, it revealed the attack was postponed several times by the U.S. before a counter attack from Al Qaeda's Al-Nusra Front scuppered it.

Today, control of Aleppo is torn between government and rebel factions and is the scene of some of the worst civilian casualties of the entire Syrian war.

Years of bombing has also fuelled the migrant crisis currently seen gripping Europe as thousands flee their homes in the city.

Meanwhile, top ISIS commander and feared ethnic Chechen jihadi fighter Omar al-Shishani has died of wounds suffered in a U.S. airstrike in Syria, a senior Iraqi intelligence official and the head of a Syrian activist group said.

ISIS commander and feared ethnic Chechen jihadi fighter Omar al-Shishani (pictured) has died of wounds suffered in a U.S. airstrike in Syria, it has been claimed

Al-Shishani, who was wounded in a U.S. airstrike earlier this month, died on Monday outside the group's main stronghold of Raqqa in Syria, the two told The Associated Press.

There was no immediate confirmation of his death from ISIS but its affiliated Aamaq news agency denied he was killed, saying that 'he was not subjected to any injury'.

The outlet quoted an unnamed 'source' for the denial, without giving further details or evidence that al-Shishani was still alive.

An American spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition battling the Islamic State group in Iraq said the alliance was also confirming the militant commander had died.

The red-bearded ethnic Chechen was one of the most prominent ISIS commanders, who earlier served as the group's military commander for the territory it controls in Syria.
John Kasich celebrated his win in the Ohio primary Tuesday night like he had just won the entire election.

After giving a speech at campaign headquarters in his home state, staffers for Kasich shot off a canon of confetti that created a cloud of red, white and blue paper so thick that the governor and his family disappeared for a moment.

Video of the overblown rally quickly became a meme online, with many jokingly expressing concern for Kasich's whereabouts.

'KASICH DISAPPEARS INTO THE CONFETTI. ALL TRACES OF HIS PRESENCE ARE ERASED FORM EARTH,' one Twitter user wrote.

Ohio Gov John Kasich celebrated his presidential primary win in his home state Tuesday night with a massive explosion of confetti

The cloud of red, white and blue confetti was so thick that the governor momentarily disappeared

Staffers for the Kasich campaign said he complained there wasn't enough confetti at a campaign event in New Hampshire last month so they went all out this time

'We decided to bury him tonight,' the staffer said, according to TIME magazine

Above, the 100th town hall in New Hampshire last month which Kasich thought didn't have enough confetti

Others mocked the amount of money that the campaign must have spent on the confetti, while others said the confetti was saved up from all the other primaries Kasich lost to Donald Trump.

However, it seems there was a real reason the Kasich campaign decided to go all out for his first primary win.

A staffer told TIME magazine reporter Phil Elliott that Kasich had actually complained about the measly amount of confetti at his 100th town hall in New Hampshire last month, so they decided to go all out this time. Video from that event, taken by New Hampshire 1, shows a sad display of multi-colored confetti shooting out over a small crowd.

'We decided to bury him tonight,' the staffer said.

Republican US Presidential hopeful Ohio Governor John Kasich celebrates his Ohio primary victory during a voting day rally at Baldwin Wallace University on March 15, 2016 in Berea, Ohio

Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich greets supporters at Baldwin Wallace University March 15, 2015 in Berea, Ohio. Kasich won the Ohio primary tonight

Confetti falls around Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich at his presidential primary election rally in Berea, Ohio, on Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Republican presidential candidate Ohio Gov. John Kasich smiles as confetti is released after speaking at his presidential primary election night rally in Berea, Ohio, on Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Republican U.S. presidential candidate Governor John Kasich and his family are surrounded by confetti after Governor Kasich spoke about the results of the Ohio primary election during a campaign rally in Berea, Ohio, March 15, 2016

Conffetti falls as Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks to supporters at Baldwin Wallace University March 15, 2015 in Berea, Ohio. Kasich won the Ohio primary tonight

Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich laughs as confetti falls after speaking at his presidential primary election rally in Berea, Ohio, on Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Confett covers the podium and stage after U.S. presidential candidate John Kasich made his victory speech after winning the Ohio Republican primary election at his election night rally in Berea, Ohio March 15, 2016

A John Kasich for president campaign sign is buried in confetti after the candidate delivered a victory speech after winning the Ohio Republican primary election at his election night rally in Berea, Ohio March 15, 2016.

Conffetti covers the floor after Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich spoke to supporters at Baldwin Wallace University March 15, 2015 in Berea, Ohio. Kasich won the Ohio primary tonight

Conffetti lies on the mark after Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich spoke to supporters at Baldwin Wallace University March 15, 2015 in Berea, Ohio. Kasich won the Ohio primary tonight

After Tuesday's primaries, only Kasich, Trump and Ted Cruz remain in the race, with Marco Rubio dropping out after failing to win his home state of Florida.

Since Ohio is a winner-take-all state, Kasich made a big score with 66 delegates, but he is far and away from the 1,237 needed to secure the primary.

In fact, if he were to win every delegate from here out, he still wouldn't have enough to secure the nomination before the convention.

But if he and Cruz stay in the race, there is a chance that they can take enough votes away from Trump to cause a brokered convention, at which point certain delegates will be allowed to re-vote as free agents.

It's unclear if the GOP at large would get behind Cruz or Kasich, but some have proposed a late-entering candidate with wide appeal like Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan could steal the nomination away from Trump.
Donald Trump only divulged one name this morning when Morning Joe's Mika Brzezinski asked him who he was talking to about foreign policy.

'I'm speaking with myself, No. 1, because I have a very good brain,' Trump said. 'And I've said a lot of things.'

Trump conducted his victory lap by bouncing around on various morning shows this morning speaking about a number of topics, but one question that seemed to be on most of the hosts' minds is how primary election Trump transitions into general election Trump.

On Morning Joe that meant being asked specifics about who he consults on issues of foreign policy  an important area if he plans to go toe-to-toe with a former secretary of state, which became all the more likely last night with Hillary Clinton's four wins, and possible fifth, and Trump easily taking three states.

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Donald Trump explained this morning on Morning Joe that he looks inward when it comes to foreign policy 'because I have a very good brain'

After last night's set of victories, Donald Trump may begin pivoting toward the general election, though didn't give any more specifics this morning about his foreign policy team

Trump said he looked inward first and pointed to the fact, as he has many, many times, that he had written about the dangers of Osama bin Laden before the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The Donald even noted how co-host Joe Scarborough thought his prescience on the topic was 'amazing.'

'So I know what I'm doing and I listen to a lot of people, I talk to a lot of people,' Trump said. 'I talk to a lot of people. And at the appropriate time, I'll tell you who the people are. But my primary consultant is myself. And I have a good instinct for this stuff.'

Trump was then asked if he considered himself to be a 'neo-isolationist,' which he refuted.

'I wouldn't say that, I wouldn't say that at all,' he answered.

'They like to say that speaking with my very good friend Howard Stern, long before the start of the war I sort of said, well, maybe, I don't know. It was the first time I was ever asked the question about going into Iraq.'

Trump had often touted the fact that he had consistently been against the Iraq War, before a clip from Howard Stern's show was dug up where Trump showed tepid support for an invasion.

'The fact is, I was opposed to the war in Iraq, it was a horrible mistake,' he continued.

'At the same time, now that you have ISIS, you have to take ISIS out. They're cutting heads, they're drowning people in cages and they're looking to do serious damage,' he added.

Trump, right after noting the medieval means the Islamic State uses to kill, then told the Morning Joe panel that his biggest concern was 'weaponry.'

'If we had, if this was 15 years ago or 100 years ago and you fought by gun and by sword, I would have been out of there so fast, but the problem is you can't allow somebody to get to the big weaponry,' Trump said.

The hosts asked if that meant sending ground troops to fight the group in their strongholds in Syria and Iraq.

'I'll tell you what it means,' Trump replied. 'It means we have to take ISIS out.'

'And I would consult with very good people, I would consult with the best people,' he added.

When against asked who, the billionaire wouldn't supply names.

'I would much prefer, some of the other nations of our world involved and let them so something for a change,' Trump said, seguing to Russia pulling out of Syria. 'Which is very interesting.'

He suggested that Russia's involvement in Syria was similar to the country's involvement in Afghanistan several decades back.

'Afghanistan is the thing that broke up the Soviet Union,' Trump said. 'The cost of Afghanistan was enormous.'

Pivoting again, Trump turned his attention back to domestic policy.
For more on the Cologne sex attacks visit www.dailymail.co.uk/germany

Just one in ten rapes are reported in Germany, and 8% lead to conviction

Current law asks rape victim to prove both 'saying no' and

The German government has agreed to reform the country's rape laws to protect victims and encourage reports of sexual assaults in the wake of the New Year's Eve Cologne attacks.

Rape law is set to be extended to also cover cases of sexual assaults where it cannot be proven that the victim physically resisted an attacker.

Under current law, rape victims must not only prove that they verbally refused sex - 'saying no' - but also that they physically resisted their attacker.

German rape law is set to be extended to also cover cases where the victim was taken by surprise, intimidated or threatened with violence (pictured is the crowds in Cologne during the New Year's Eve mob attacks)

The bill agreed upon Wednesday by Chancellor Angela Merkel's Cabinet would not require proof that victims resisted their attackers before rape charges can be brought.

These include cases in which the victim was taken by surprise, intimidated or was threatened with other violence, for example in an abusive relationship.

It is hoped that the reformation will lead to more victims stepping forward and reporting sexual assaults, in addition to seeing more perpetrators convicted.

As it stands, only ten per cent of rapes in Germany are reported to the police.

In addition, only eight per cent of rape trials result in convictions in, Justice Minister Heiko Maas said today.

Burden of proof: Under current law, rape victims must not only prove that they refused consent, but also that they physically resisted their attacker

Mr Maas called the draft law 'an important step toward strengthening sexual self-determination', noting that there were 'unacceptable gaps in protection' against sexual coercion and assault under German law.

'It is high time that changes. We owe that to the victims.'

He added that the new legislation would now cover 'the actual situations in which most attacks occur'.

The proposed reforms, which still requires parliamentary approval, follows the widely published 'sex mob attacks' in the western city of Cologne on New Year's Eve.

Hundreds of women reported sexual assaults, ranging from groping to rape, and robberies, which have since been blamed on groups of Arab and North African men which had been roaming the streets on the night.

Cologne's police chief conceded that most perpetrators may never be caught over the spate of assaults, which inflamed public debate about a record influx of refugees and migrants.
He has been outspoken on the issue of immigration ever since announcing he would run for president.

And now Donald Trump has provoked fresh outrage after he appeared to compare migrants to venomous snakes by reciting a Sixties soul song at a rally in Ohio.

The Republican hopeful had been speaking at an event in front of supporters in Cleveland ahead of the results of primary elections in Ohio, Florida, Missouri, Illinois and North Carolina.

Donald Trump speaking at a rally in Cleveland, Ohio on Monday, where he recited a song comparing immigrants to venomous snakes

Trump recited the lyrics to the Al Wilson song 'The Snake' much to the delight of his supporters who had gathered to hear him speak

He took the opportunity to tell his supporters that America should not be letting people into the country without the correct paperwork.

The billionaire businessman added: 'We can't do it.'

It then prompted his to start reciting the words to the song 'The Snake', an R&B song released in 1968 by Al Wilson.

It tells the story of a woman who takes in an injured venomous snake and cares for it before it bites her, causing death.

The final lines of the poem say: 'Oh shut up silly woman, said the reptile with a grin.

'You knew damn well I was a snake before you let me in.'

And the end of his recital, he received loud cheering from his assembled supporters who also applauded when he pledged to build a wall on the Mexican border.

Trump's comments on immigration came before he won primary elections in Florida, North Carolina and Illinois

Trump has constantly talked about immigration at his rallies and has pledged to end birthright citizenship and deport every single one of the country's estimated 11million illegal immigrants

But his recital of the song provoked outrage on social media where he was branded a 'hypocrite' as his wife Melania is an immigrant to the US.

Others claimed he has now made offensive comments about Mexicans, Muslims and now immigrants and slammed his 'toxic rhetoric.'

Trump has constantly talked about immigration at his rallies and has pledged to end birthright citizenship and deport every single one of the country's estimated 11million illegal immigrants if he is elected.

After his speech, the presidential hopeful too another step closer to the Republican nomination with crushing victories in Florida and Illinois, and a narrower victory in North Carolina - cementing his GOP front-runner status and knocking Marco Rubio out of the race.

In Missouri, the race went down to the wire between Cruz and Trump, with Trump only 1,726 votes ahead (0.18 per cent) out of 762,000 when counting stopped early on Wednesday.

The state was judged too close to call, and the tiny margin of less than one per cent means second-place Cruz could challenge the result if it stands.

Trump is the front-runner in the Republican race to become the party's candidate to run for the White House

Florida Senator Rubio suspended his White House campaign after surrendering his home state to Trump, who won 45 per cent of the vote to his 27 per cent.

Trump tipped his hat to the man 25 years his junior, and then slammed him for spending so much money to try to defeat him.

'I want to congratulate Marco Rubio on having run a really tough campaign,' Trump told a crowd of socialites and journalists at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach. 'He's tough. He's smart, and he's got a great future.
For more of the latest Thailand news visit www.dailymail.co.uk/thailand

Nearly half of Thailand's 300,000 Buddhist monks are obese as a result of being given 'fatty and sugary' food by worshippers, a study has found.

Monks all over the country receive alms in the form of food donations from devoted Buddhists, who believe that it will bring them luck.

However, with the more popular dishes being ones laden with fat - like deep-fried tod mun fishcakes - or sugar - such as thong yib and foy thong desserts - the waistlines of monks are growing.

Risky tradition: Nearly half of Thailand's 300,000 Buddhist monks are obese as a result of being given 'fatty and sugary' food by worshippers, who believe the tradition of alms bring them luck

A study by Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok has found that nearly half of Thailand's 300,000 monks are obese and suffering from chronic diseases.

'Obesity in our monks is a ticking time bomb,' Dr. Jongjit Angkatavanich, a nutrition and diet expert at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, told the Bangkok Post.

The study found that 48 per cent of monks were obese, 42 per cent had high cholesterol, 23 per cent had high blood pressure and more than ten per cent were diabetic.

As the Thai government covers medical costs for Bhuddist monks, the bill for the subsequent health issues is being picked up by the taxpayer, the newspaper writes.

A study by a Bangkok university found that 48 per cent ofThai monks were obese, 42 per cent had high cholesterol, 23 per cent had high blood pressure

The annual cost of care for monks with obesity-related health problems cost more than 6.1million (300 million baht) in 2012, a figure which is believed to have increased since.

The problem of obese monks is not isolated to Thailand, and in 2012, the Sri Lankan government set up guidelines for what kinds of food should be donated to holy men.

'The Medical Research Institute has been asked to prepare menus that could be used for alms givings,' Sri Lanka's health ministry said in a 2012 statement.
This is the horrifying moment a tourist guns down a lion after apparently paying nearly 12,000 to shoot, kill and then pose for photos with the animal.

Footage shows a group of men in South Africa pointing their guns towards the undergrowth before a single shot fires and they run off down a dirt track.

It then shows them surrounding the male big cat, laughing about their kill and lifting up its limp head by the ears and mane for a trophy picture.

Footage shows a group of men in South Africa pointing their guns towards the undergrowth before a single shot fires and they run off down a dirt track

One man prods the animal's face with the barrel of his gun and then laughs as he backs away

The video shows the men surrounding the male big cat, laughing about their kill and lifting up its limp head by the ears and mane ahead of a trophy photo

The video emerged after Prince William sparked controversy by saying there was 'a place for commercial hunting in Africa as there is round the world'.

According to a message posted along with the film on LiveLeak, the lion was shot dead in South Africa and the hunter paid 15,000 euros for the right to kill the animal.

The identity of those involved is not known, but an interview with one of the men is conducted in French.

Footage, also shown by France 4, begins by showing three men taking aim from a dirt track before a shot is fired.

It then shows them approaching the male lion, which is lying on its side. One man prods the animal's face with the barrel of his gun and then laughs as he backs away.

Congratulations: Two of the other men smile and embrace before another says: 'Congrats, very good'

The animal's head is pulled up by the mane and ears while one man says: 'Put his tongue back in'

Two of the other men smile and embrace before another says: 'Congrats, very good.'

One of the hunters, speaking in French, is then asked how he feels after the hunt to which he replies: 'I don't know, I can't explain it. He is a very handsome animal. I'll only have the one that's for sure.

'I'm happy he's a beauty but afterwards there is the emotion all mixed together; regret, joy, everything. It's good, it was a great hunt.'

One of the team is then seen stroking the animal's side before footage shows them preparing the lion for a trophy photo.

Its head is pulled up by the mane and ears while one man says: 'Put his tongue back in.'

The shooter then kneels down beside the animal for a photo shoot.

It comes after Prince William admitted supporting trophy  just after unveiling a historic agreement aiming to stop the international trade in ivory and rhino horn.

One of the team is then seen stroking the animal's side before footage shows them preparing the lion for a trophy photo

One of the hunters, speaking in French, is then asked how he feels after the hunt to which he replies: ''I'm happy he's a beauty but afterwards there is the emotion'

The 33-year-old royal faced criticism after he said: 'There is a place for commercial hunting in Africa as there is round the world,' although he conceded: 'It's not everyone's cup of tea.'

William, president of United for Wildlife, made the comments during an interview on ITV News.

Asked how he 'squared' the practice with his 'passionate advocating of conservation', the future king believed there was a case for allowing old animals to be killed for sport.

'There is a place for commercial hunting in Africa as there is round the world. It's not everyone's cup of tea,' he said.

'But the arguments for regulated, properly-controlled commercial hunting is that the money that goes from shooting a very old infirm animal goes back into the protection of the other species. So when one is infertile, he's at the end of his life.

Prince William admitted supporting trophy hunting  just after unveiling a historic agreement aiming to stop the international trade in ivory and rhino horn

'If somebody out there wants to pay that money, and it wouldn't be me, but if somebody did, then as long as that money goes back into protection of the species then it is a justifiable means of conserving species that are under serious threat.

'That isn't just me talking, there's a lot of eminent conservationists who truly believe that there is a balance to be had here.' But asked 'whether he felt the killing last year of 'Cecil the lion' by US dentist Walter Palmer in a Zimbabwean reserve was 'unforgivable', the prince admitted: 'Yes'.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said: 'It is important to note that he stressed that it is something he would never do himself. But a number of conservationists believe this is an important part of the mix to save these animals.'
This astonishing footage shows the nerve-jangling moment two inmates escaped via a helicopter that landed on the roof - and no guards tried to stop them despite it taking six minutes.

It was filmed by prison guards in Quebec three years ago and has come to light during the unrelated trial of one of the two escapees, Hells Angels sympathizer Benjamin Hudon-Barbeau.

Clinging to a rope that was precariously dangling from a helicopter, Hudon-Barbeau and fellow inmate Danny Provencal managed to flee the detention centre.

The dramatic video footage shows prisoners Benjamin Hudon-Barbeau and Danny Provencal escaping from a Montreal detention centre

It took six minutes for the bungling pair to escape after their accomplice was unable to haul them up

The footage, from March 17, 2013, has been made public during the unrelated trial of Hudon-Barbeau - who is on trial on two counts of first-degree murder and three of attempted murder

In the video, which has been made public for the first time, Hudon-Barbeau and Provencal take six excruciating minutes to escape.

The bungling prisoners first tried to scale the rope attached to the helicopter, helped by two accomplices.

After one slipped down the rope, the helicopter pilot then tried to pull them clear by starting the chopper - but that proved fruitless.

Their two accomplices, who were armed, then tried to haul them onto the ledge but that also failed.

They started the helicopter again and finally, on the fourth attempt and six minutes later, they flew clear of the jail.

But their great escape proved in vain as they were apprehended just hours later following a stand-off with police.

The pair were tied by their feet to the rope and after six minutes finally flew clear of the prison

The men were left dangling from the rope as the helicopter started up and flew clear of the jail

The union that represents the prison guards said they did not have guns to confront the armed accomplices, and so they had no option but to watch the drama unfold through the security cameras.

Mathieu Lavoie, president of Peace Officers in Correctional Services of Quebec, said: 'We have to evaluate who's on board the helicopter - they were accomplices. Were they armed? We cannot intervene with inmates climbing a rope.

'It's only in the movies that you can shoot down a helicopter with a handgun.'

He added that since the incident on March 17, 2013, nothing has changed and no new security measures have been put in place.

Instead, the union have called for stricter searches, particularly those that would detect cellphones.

One of the inmates broke off a light as he knocked it while clinging to the rope hanging from the helicopter

After a six minute attempted escape, the prisoners finally flew clear - but they were caught only hours later

Guards were not able to shoot at the escapees as they are not armed inside the prison walls

The mastermind who planned the job, Bill Beaudoin, pleaded guilty in January, while accomplice Steven Mathieu Marchisio accepted his role in the jail break and was handed an 15 year prison sentence.

Provencal pleaded guilty to the escape last year and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Earlier this year, Hudon-Barbeau, 38, was set to go on trial for the escape when he changed his plea to guilty at the last minute.
A celebrity nightclub which was once the Royals' favourite haunt could be shut down for good after its licence was suspended for the second time in just a few months.

Boujis, in Kensington, West London, has been forced to close its doors ahead of an emergency council meeting which will decide whether or not the club can continue to operate.

The latest crisis for the trendy nightspot comes after a vicious fight between two friends who had hired a private room, which ended up with police arresting one of the men.

It was previously closed for two weeks in October and November last year following a mass brawl between revellers, which the council said put Boujis 'in the last-chance saloon'.

Closed: Boujis could be forced to shut down after a fight in a private room of the Kensington club

Boujis, a private members' club charging 500 a year, was once notorious as the favourite nightclub of Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate Middleton.

It has also hosted star-studded parties with visits from the likes of Lady Gaga and Lewis Hamilton.

Club bosses today blasted the latest licence suspension, saying it was a 'breach of natural justice' to shut down the establishment because of its customers' behaviours.

Police requested an urgent licence review after attending Boujis on March 6 in response to reports of a fight between two men, one of whom is now on bail on suspicion of assault.

According to the Evening Standard, officers told the meeting yesterday: 'Two patrons were fighting inside the premises. A male is seen to punch many times another male and then to kick him while on the floor.

'The victim sustained facial injury as a result and had to attend hospital.'

Royals: Prince William with then-girlfriend Kate Middleton outside Boujis in 2007

Popular: Prince Harry pictured leaving the club, where he was a regular patron, in 2007

Stars: The Black Eyed Peas' Fergie and Lewis Hamilton are among the celebrities to have visited the club

The alleged assailant was arrested at his home around an hour later, the licence review was told.

Officials from Kensington and Chelsea Council decided to suspend Boujis' licence ahead of a full hearing which will take place some point in the next four weeks.

The club's lawyer told yesterday's hearing that the ruling 'may well be the death knell for the business because of reputational issues', the Standard reported.

After the previous licence suspension, the council allowed Boujis to reopen on condition that the club carry out security patrols of the local area.

The fight in October involved more than a dozen people brawling on the street after one clubber apparently made an anti-semitic comment towards another reveller.

Boujis today insisted that it had worked hard to improve security since reopening in the aftermath of the incident.

Brawl: The suspension comes after a mass fight outside the club last October, pictured

A spokesman argued that the latest fight had been 'resolved' by the club's bouncers and claimed that the licence suspension was disproportionate.

'We are mortified that a minor argument between two friends that was quickly and efficiently resolved by security staff should have resulted in the reputation and livelihood of the club being put at risk in this way,' the spokesman said.

'Whilst we strive for the highest standards of behaviour at all times there will be rare occasions when emotions get out of hand but our security staff stepped in quickly and resolved the situation.

'The club followed police procedure to the letter, even though the matter had been resolved and the injured party did not want to press charges against his friend.

'It seems disproportionate and in breach of natural justice if, in co-operating fully with police protocol, the actions of these two individuals result in punitive restrictions being placed on the Boujis licence.'

A spokesman for the council said: 'The decision was taken to suspend the licence pending a full hearing which will be held within 28 days.'
The devastated partner of a gangland lawyer gunned down in a 'contract execution' has said she will meet her 'soulmate' again in the afterlife.

Underworld figures have claimed that Joseph 'Pino' Acquaro, 55, was shot up to five times outside his gelato parlour because he 'knew too much' about the mafia and posed a threat to Melbourne's 'godfather'.

His partner of 20 years, Marisa Di Lisio, has now spoken about the moment she found out that Mr Acquaro had been killed after seeing news reports about a shooting early on Tuesday.

'I rang his office and they confirmed what I dreaded,' she told the Herald Sun.

Gangland Joseph 'Pino' Acquaro (right) was killed in a professional hit, pictured (left) is his partner Marisa Di Lisio

Garbage workers discovered Mr Acquaro's body on the footpath behind Gelobar around 2.30am Tuesday

The bounty on Mr Acquaro's life had reportedly ballooned from $200k to $500k in recent months

'No one deserves to die like that, least of all him. He represented a lot of people. I wish I would wake up and it was all a dream. Unfortunately, it's not a dream.

'He knows we were soulmates and we will meet again in the afterlife. Thank God we were both spiritual people. I know I'll see him again.'

Ms Di Lisio, 51, who runs Melbourne cafe Bella Cosi, said she had known Mr Acquaro since she was 16 and revealed that they started their relationship 20 years ago.

She described the lawyer as a 'loving' family man who adored his children, as well as her three sons.

But Ms Di Lisio revealed that they would argue about the fact that he 'couldn't say no'.

'We would sometimes be in the middle of something, but he would have to leave because someone needed help with something. He couldn't say no  that was what some of our fights were over.'

Ms Di Lisio (pictured) has now spoken of the moment she found out that Mr Acquaro had been killed after seeing news reports about a shooting early on Tuesday

Ms Di Lisio, 51, who runs Melbourne cafe Bella Cosi, said she had known Mr Acquaro since she was 16 and revealed that they started their relationship 20 years ago

Floral tributes lay out the front of the ice cream parlour on Tuesday afternoon

Mr Acquaro's body was found on a footpath in East Brunswick by a rubbish-truck driver about 2.30am on Tuesday.

It has since emerged that the lawyer had a $200,000 bounty on his head which was increased to $500,000 before his death.

Organised crime sources have spoken about how Mr Acquaro's knowledge of Melbourne mafia meant that he posed a threat.

The lawyer, who had aspirations to be Melbourne's 'godfather', was stripped naked, pistol-whipped and beaten in a pizza restaurant 14 years ago over suspicions that he was a police informer.

Police documents seen by the Herald Sun detailed how mafia 'money man' Mario Condello blamed Mr Acquaro after police became aware of an attempt to launder proceeds through an estate agency.

But Mr Acquaro was later freed after convincing Condello, who was later killed, that he was not to blame, the newspaper said.

The homicide squad is waiting for an autopsy report to confirm how many times Mr Acquaro was shot

Mr Acquaro's murderer remains on the loose and police want to speak to any witnesses who heard shots or a car travelling fast the wrong way up the one-way street where his body was found.

The homicide squad is waiting for an autopsy report to confirm how many times Mr Acquaro was shot, or what type of gun was used.

The father-of-three had strong ties within the Calabrian community and had been president of Melbourne's Italian Chamber of Commerce and the Reggio Calabria Club.

He was also a criminal lawyer who had represented a raft of prominent gangland figures in Victoria.

Court documents show there was a $200,000 contract on his head, and he had been warned by police his life was in danger.

The Herald Sun reports this bounty was increased to $500,000 in recent months. Mr Acquaro was aware of the threat against him but was not worried, the newspaper reported on Wednesday.

'I'm isolated. They can't physically harm me,' he told the newspaper recently. 'I'm not afraid of dying.'

Mr Acquaro was a former lawyer of Francesco Madafferi, a mafia figure and drug dealer convicted of importing 4.4 tonnes of ecstasy in tomato tins in 2007

Mr Acquaro represented several prominent Melbourne gangland and Calabrian crime figures and was also a past president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce

Mr Acquaro represented Francesco Madafferi (left) who was jailed for his connection to the importation of 4.4 tonnes of ecstasy tables hidden in tomato tins in 2007. He was also representing Rocco Arico (right)

Mr Acquaro took over the popular gelateria and cafe on Lygon Street about five years ago.

Throughout his career, Mr Acquaro represented several prominent Melbourne and Calabrian crime figures, including accused mafia boss Frank Madafferi and recently, alleged crime boss Rocco Arico.

A regular at the gelato shop, Mary Marcuccio, told Daily Mail Australia Mr Acquaro seemed in a fine mood when she popped in to get an ice cream on Monday.

'No, not at all. He was very hospitable.

'We just exchanged 'hi, how are you' and he just asked if there was anything else I can help you with.... He didn't look disturbed or anything.'

Dr Dominic Barbaro, president of the Dante Alighieir Society, said he was shocked that a 'nice guy' who was 'very well regarded in the Italian community' had been killed.

Rocco Careri, who has also been president of the Reggio Calabria society, said the community was 'very upset' it had lost a 'very nice person'.

'He was a very, very kind person. I hear the news this morning (and we are) very upset we lost a very nice person.
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Angelina Jolie was mobbed by hundreds of star-struck migrants today when she visited a Greek port where thousands are stranded.

The actress, a special envoy for the United Nations refugee agency, proved a welcome distraction for the refugees, many of whom have endured torturous journeys into Europe after fleeing war in the Middle East.

At times, she struggled to move through the crowd, with many jostling for the best positions to take pictures and get a glimpse of the Hollywood star.

Jolie greeted children and asked the throng of reporters, cameramen and photographers to be more 'thoughtful' as she tried to speak with them.

She told one boy: 'I'm here to learn and speak with you and the agencies and the government to learn what is happening, OK? Try to stay strong.'

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Time for that selfie: A migrant grabs a picture with Angelina Jolie as she visits a temporary camp in an Athens port

Relief: The actress, a special envoy for the United Nations refugee agency, proved a welcome distraction for the refugees

Jolie greeted children and asked the throng of reporters, cameramen and photographers to be more 'thoughtful'

Mobbed: Angelina Jolie is surrounded by excited migrants and members of the press on a visit to a temporary migrant camp in Athens

Jolie proved a welcome distraction for the refugees, many of whom have endured torturous journeys into Europe after fleeing war

At times, she struggled to move through the huge crowd, with many jostling for the best positions to take pictures and speak to her

Jolie told one boy: 'I'm here to speak with you and the agencies and the government to learn what is happening, OK? Try to stay strong'

According to the UNHCR, Jolie is visiting Greece 'to reinforce efforts by UNHCR and the Greek government to step up the emergency response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation'.

About 4,000 people are waiting at the port of Piraeus in Athens either to head north to Greece's closed border with Macedonia or for a place in rapidly filling official shelters.

Some 44,000 refugees and migrants, the last of the 143,000 who have entered Greece so far from Turkey in boats, are trapped in the country because of border closures on the Balkan route to Europe's prosperous heartland. About 12,000 are in the greater Athens area.

Yesterday, Jolie turned up in a downpour at a Lebanese refugee camp yesterday to demand world leaders bring an end to the five-year-long conflict in Syria.

She branded delays over a peace deal were 'tragic and shameful'.

Miss Jolie's Hollywood grin and movie premiere-ready figure looked decidedly out of place in a camp which thousands of Syrian refugees are forced to call home.

Migrants wait to see UNHCR's Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie during her visit in the port of Piraeus where they are stranded

About 4,000 people are waiting at the port either to head north to Greece's border with Macedonia or for a place in rapidly filling shelters

Star treatment: Angelina Jolie waves to refugees during her visit at the port of Piraeus near Athens

A refugee takes a selfie with his smartphone with U.S. actress Angelina Jolie, partially seen at bottom centre, during her visit to the port

The actress, 40, said: 'We need governments around the world to show leadership: to analyse the situation and understand exactly what their country can do.'

She added that while much of the refugee debate was focused on Europe, 'the greatest pressure is still being felt in the Middle East and North Africa'.

Some 80 per cent of the camp's inhabitants are in debt, she said.

The one million registered refugees in Lebanon represent a quarter of the country's population.

The war in Syria between Assad's government, rebels and foreign jihadis has drawn in world powers and generated what the U.N. says is the largest humanitarian catastrophe in a generation.

US actress and special envoy of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Angelina Jolie visits the temporary refugee facilities

Some 44,000 refugees and migrants, the last of the 143,000 who have entered Greece so far from Turkey in boats, are trapped in the country because of border closures on the Balkan route to Europe's prosperous heartland

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (left) welcomes American actress Angelina Jolie (right) during their meeting in Athens

Jolie is visiting Greece 'to reinforce efforts by UNHCR and the Greek government to step up the emergency response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation'

Jolie (left) waves as she leaves the Maximou mansion after her meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras

Half of Syria's prewar population of some 23 million has been displaced, with around 5 million having fled their homeland, mainly to neighboring Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq.

The international relief organization OXFAM warned Tuesday that Lebanese municipalities are running out of space to bury deceased refugees.

'We should never forget that for all the focus on the refugee situation in Europe at this time, the greatest pressure is still being felt in the Middle East and North Africa, as it has for each of the last five years,' Jolie said.

After a tidal wave of refugees poured into Europe last year, some countries began erecting political and physical barriers to migration, which have left tens of thousands of refugees stuck in squalid conditions in the Balkans this spring.

Humanitarian hero: Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, speaks during a press conference at a Syrian refugee camp, in the eastern city of Zahleh, Lebanon
A Kurdish father whose daughter was shot dead at a wedding in Germany has posted a picture of her lying in a pool of blood on his Facebook page and is demanding justice.

He wrote that his beloved 21-year-old daughter Shilan had rejected an arranged marriage to her cousin and had paid for it with her life during a wedding ceremony in Hanover, Germany.

The father, named as Ghazi H., 50, posted the harrowing image of his daughter on Facebook as police continued to hunt for the cousin.

A Kurdish father whose daughter was shot dead at a wedding in Germany has posted a picture of her lying in a pool of blood on his Facebook page and is demanding justice

Police have a warrant for the arrest of the woman's cousin Sefin (pictured). She had earlier rejected an arranged marriage with him

He said that his Kurdish family had fled Iraq heading to Germany when his daughter was just three, and he said she had grown up as a self-confident young woman with German citizenship, studying property management at college in Hanover.

Posting the images he added: 'It is with the deepest sense of loss and pain that I announce the loss of my daughter. She died in a pool of her own blood, as a victim of a treacherous tradition.'

He said that his two brothers, identified as Numan H. and Hassan H., had tried to arrange a forced marriage for the young woman to her cousin Sefin, 22, but she had refused.

Crime scene: The shooting took place at a wedding ceremony in Hanover, Germany at about 10pm on March 13

She told her father that she did not love the man she was supposed to marry, and rejected the suggestion.

He said that he had left his brother looking after his family including his daughter while he was working on a project in Iraq.

He said that behind his back, his brother had decided to marry his son off to Shilan, and had already started to make the arrangements.

When he returned, he said: 'She begged me to do something and so I cancelled the engagement.'
An administrative judge found Chipotle's social media policy violated federal labor laws while ruling in favor of a Philadelphia-area employee who was fired after criticizing the company on Twitter last year.

The Colorado-based fast-food chain must offer to rehire 38-year-old James Kennedy and pay him for lost wages, the judge ruled Monday. Kennedy worked at the chain's store in Havertown until he was fired in February 2015 and now has a union job with American Airlines.

'If you want to tweet something about your personal experience at your job, do it,' Kennedy told Philly.com on Tuesday. 'A lot of times your bosses will sugarcoat what's going on. Doing it publicly really puts the spotlight on them.'

The Colorado-based fast-food chain must offer to rehire 38-year-old James Kennedy (seen left and right) and pay him for lost wages, the judge ruled Monday.

The social media post that landed Kennedy in hot water came after a customer tweeted thanks for a free food offer in January 2015.

'@ChipotleTweets, nothing is free, only cheap #labor. Crew members make only $8.50hr how much is that steak bowl really?' Kennedy tweeted in response.

Kennedy took down the tweet after a supervisor showed him a social media policy that banned 'disparaging, false' statements about Chipotle. But he was fired two weeks later after circulating a petition about workers being unable to take breaks.

Kennedy, of Upper Darby, was represented by the Pennsylvania Workers Organizing Committee, which has pushed for higher pay for fast-food workers. The National Labor Relations Board agreed with complaints filed by the group that Kennedy was unfairly treated. The case was one of several the NLRB considered regarding the social media rights of fast-food workers protesting wages and working conditions.

At a hearing, Kennedy's manager testified that she fired Kennedy, a war veteran, because she was concerned he would become violent after arguing with her about the petition.

Kennedy took down the tweet after a supervisor showed him a social media policy that banned 'disparaging, false' statements about Chipotle (file photo)

Administrative law judge Susan Flynn ruled Chipotle's social media rules violated labor laws and ordered the restaurant to post signs acknowledging some of its employee policies  and especially the social media rules  were illegal.

A Chipotle spokeswoman didn't respond to Philly.com's report and didn't immediately return an email from The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Kennedy said he'd happily accept his back wages in the form of food vouchers.
The Justice Department has confirmed that a .50 caliber sniper rifled found at El Chapo's Mexican hideout and used to shoot down helicopters was sold through the Fast and Furious program.

The rifle was found inside the Los Mochis property where the Sinaloa Cartel kingpin was discovered hiding on January 8 this year before a raid by the Mexican Marines that led to his capture.

Fast and Furious was a botched Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives smuggling operation in which guns were deliberately sold to cartel dealers.

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A .50 caliber sniper rifle used to shoot down helicopters that was discovered at the Mexican hideout of El Chapo was sold by the U.S. government's botched Fast and Furious program, officials confirm (file image)

The hope was that the weapons could be traced south over the border into Mexico, and then used to make arrests using serial numbers as evidence.

While the program did lead to a handful of arrests, the agency was eventually forced to admit that it lost track of 1,400 of the 2,000 weapons it sold.

Officials say the rifle was among 19 weapons recovered from El Chapo's hideout in Sinaloa-controlled territory, and was the only one found to have been sold through the program.

According to earlier reports, the weapon would have been given to a sharpshooter positioned on a hill around El Chapo's hideout.

The hitman's job would have been to watch out for helicopters flying low over the ground in order to hunt for the cartel kingpin, and then take them out.

Fast and Furious was a failed operation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (pictured) which deliberately sold guns to cartel arms dealers in the hopes of tracing them across the border

Eric Holder, former Attorney General, was found in contempt of Congress after refusing to release documents related to the program, and was only protected from prosecution by the use of executive privilege by Obama

The rifle fires huge .50 caliber rounds, the same bullets fired by machine guns typically mounted on top of a Humvee, which are designed to penetrate reinforced glass, metal and concrete.

Fired using a bipod because of the extreme recoil, the rifles are used to disable cars by firing through the engine block, can take down helicopters, and are capable shooting through walls.

The Fast and Furious program was only uncovered when border patrol agent Brian Terry, 40, a former U.S. Marine, was killed in a shootout with cartel members in December 2010.

Two weapons found near to the scene of Terry's death were traced back to the operation, and were shown to have been bought by the Sinaloa Cartel - run by El Chapo.

While it is unclear whether either of the weapons were used to kill Terry, their very presence at the scene set off a political chain reaction that led to then-Attorney General Eric Holder being found in contempt by Congress for failing to turn over documents relating to the program.

The weapon was found inside the Los Mochis hideout where El Chapo was recaptured in January (pictured) after exchanging texts with actress Kate Del Castillo

Five of El Chapo's henchmen were killed during a shootout inside the property (bloodstains pictured) while one Mexican Marine was injured. It is not thought that the rifle was used in the exchange of fire

Holder had previously stated that he had known about the operation for only a few weeks before Terry's death, but memos uncovered later showed he had been aware of it for at least a year.

Barack Obama has long been criticized over his handling of the political fallout after using executive privilege over the documents Holder was asked to release, preventing further prosecution.

In total, 34 of the 2,000 weapons sold under Fast and Furious were believed to be .50 caliber rifles of the kind found in El Chapo's hideout.

Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, who escaped his cell at the Altiplano jail last July, was recaptured in a shootout earlier this month that killed five of his guards and injured one Mexican Marine.

The billionaire cartel leader was tracked to a property in Los Mochis after exchanging a series of romantic texts with actress Kate del Castillo which authorities were able to track.
President Barack Obama is to travel to Britain next month, the White House has confirmed.

The US leader will have a private lunch with the Queen at Windsor Castle and stage a joint conference with David Cameron at 10 Downing Street.

It is likely to be the president's last visit to the UK before his term in office ends in January and comes after he made clear his desire for Britain to remain in the European Union.

His time in the UK will come after a trip to Saudi Arabia on April 21, where he will participate in a summit with leaders from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

HEADED OVERSEAS: President Barack Obama will stage a joint press conference with David Cameron at 10 Downing Street and have lunch with Queen Elizabeth

FINAL HURRAH: Obama's visit with Queen Elizabeth will likely be his last before he leaves office. The Obamas and Her Majesty are pictured in London in 2011

He said the UK's EU membership gave America 'much greater confidence about the strength of the transatlantic union' ahead of the June 23 referendum.

But the US president's intervention was described as a 'piece of outrageous and exorbitant hypocrisy' by Boris Johnson, who is campaigning for Britain to leave the EU.

Obama is also expected to arrive in the UK just after the Queen celebrates her 90th birthday on April 21.

A White House spokesman said: 'The visit will allow the president to offer his gratitude to the British government and people for their stalwart partnership with his administration and the American people throughout his presidency.'

Obama and his family have developed a close affinity with the British monarchy during his term in office.

When the Queen hosted the US leader and his wife, Michelle, at Buckingham Palace during a state visit in 2011, the First Lady was seen putting her arm around the monarch's waist, showing how the women had become firm friends.

TENSION: Obama's visit with David Cameron (pictured in 2011) comes after he criticized his British counterpart's position on fighting the ISIS terror army

Obama will visit Saudi Arabia on April 21 for a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, including leaders of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. They will discuss the fight against the Islamic State terror group and other regional security concerns.

Following his UK visit, the US president will travel to Germany to meet Chancellor Angela Merkel and visit Hannover Messe, the world's largest trade show for industrial technology.

Obama's visit comes after he criticized Cameron for his actions over Libya.

The president was critical of European nations - including the UK - which joined the US in military action to prevent a massacre in Libya in 2011, but then failed to prevent the north African country becoming a 'mess' in the aftermath of war.

In a lengthy interview published in The Atlantic magazine last week he said Cameron became 'distracted' from Libya by other priorities, while he accused then French president Nicolas Sarkozy of seeking to hog the spotlight for his part in countering dictator Muammar Gaddafi's attempt to put down a rebellion.
Syrian Kurds say they will declare a federal region in the country in a move likely to complicate peace talks in Geneva.

Kurdish-controlled areas of northern Syria were expected to imminently declare the new system as negotiations aimed at ending the nation's five-year civil war got underway.

The move, which would expand an already existing system of self-administration, is likely to anger Turkey which is wary of any bid by Syrian Kurds to solidify their autonomy and of their control of territory.

Syrian Kurds say they will declare a federal region in the country in a move likely to complicate peace talks in Geneva. A Kurdish militia member is pictured in Aleppo

It comes as Germany's leader Angela Merkel said an EU summit tomorrow to discuss a deal with Turkey over the influx of refugees into Europe offers the first 'real chance' to end the migrant crisis.

The Syrian Kurdish PYD party has been left out of the Geneva peace talks - aimed at ending the five-year conflict - in line with the wishes of Turkey, which sees it as an extension of the PKK group that is waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey.

More than 150 delegates from Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian and other parties were meeting Wednesday in the town of Rmeilan, in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province.

'The gathering will try to develop a new ruling system in northern Syria,' said Sihanuk Dibo, a consultant to Syria's leading Kurdish political group, the Democratic Union Party (PYD).

'All the suggestions are now heading towards federalism,' he told AFP from the conference.

Officials said the conference's final decision would be issued either Wednesday or Thursday.

Kurdish parties already operate a system of three 'autonomous administrations' in Syria's north, with independent police forces and schools.

The three cantons run along Syria's northern border with Turkey and are known as Afrin and Kobane, both in Aleppo province, and Jazire in Hasakeh province.

MERKEL: EU SUMMIT 'FIRST REAL CHANCE' TO END THE MIGRANT CRISIS Germany's Angela Merkel said a planned EU-Turkey deal offers the first 'real chance' to end the migrant crisis but cautioned that the bloc won't seek agreement at any cost. Speaking on the eve of a crucial Brussels summit, Merkel made clear the EU would stand firm on civil rights in Turkey and that Ankara's bid to eventually join the 28-nation club is 'not on the agenda now'. Europe, divided and desperate to end its biggest refugee influx since World War II, is pinning its hopes on a deal with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Under the plan hailed as a 'game-changer', Turkey would seek to stop refugees' dangerous sea journeys and take back illegal migrants from Greece. For each Syrian it accepts, it would send one to the EU in a more orderly redistribution programme. Germany's Angela Merkel (pictured) said a planned EU-Turkey deal offers the first 'real chance' to end the migrant crisis but cautioned that the bloc won't seek agreement at any cost But the proposed deal - which would offer Turkey the carrot of eased access to the visa-free Schengen zone and an acceleration of EU accession talks - has drawn heavy fire on several fronts. Many critics have voiced unease over human rights concerns in any deal with Turkey, over its arrests of journalists and academics and an intensifying military campaign against Kurdish separatists. France has warned against attempts by Turkey to strongarm Europe, and Czech President Milos Zeman charged that Ankara's request for billions of euros more in EU aid amounted to 'blackmail'. Merkel, addressing the concerns in a speech to parliament, stressed that no shortcuts would be taken. Europe would continue to 'voice our convictions to Turkey regarding, for instance, the protection of press freedom or the treatment of the Kurds,' Merkel said. But she also reached out to Turkey, saying she could understand its request for more EU financial aid. More than 1.2 million people fleeing war and misery flocked to Europe last year, most hoping for new lives in wealthy Germany and Scandinavian countries 'What Turkey has done for ... some 2.7 million refugees can't be praised highly enough,' she said. 'Europe has not covered itself with glory in how, as a union of 28 members states with 500 million citizens, it has struggled with fairly sharing the burden.' Sounding a hopeful note, Merkel said the EU summit may 'reach an agreement that could give us, for the first time, a real chance at a sustainable and pan-European solution to the refugee crisis.' However, major stumbling blocks remained on the eve of the meeting - the most immediate thrown up by Cyprus, which threatened to torpedo the plan over its territorial feud with Turkey. European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker was set to meet President Nicos Anastasiades ahead of the summit to discuss the issue, after EU president Donald Tusk jetted to Nicosia on Tuesday for emergency talks. The eastern Mediterranean island has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded its north in response to an Athens-engineered coup attempt. Turkey does not recognise the Cypriot government, and Nicosia has blocked six key chapters of Ankara's negotiations for EU membership since 2009, effectively halting the process. Tusk conceded there was 'a catalogue of issues' to address before the largest diplomatic push yet to stem the massive influx. Europe, divided and desperate to end its biggest refugee influx since World War II, is pinning its hopes on a deal with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (pictured) More than 1.2 million people fleeing war and misery flocked to Europe last year, most hoping for new lives in wealthy Germany and Scandinavian countries. The flow of people into northern Europe has been halted for now as eastern European countries have effectively shut down the Balkans route with coordinated border closures. This, however, has caused a bottleneck of tens of thousands of migrants in Greece. Refugees' desperation again became clear this week when some 1,500 made a dash across a river on the Greek-Macedonian border, only to be sent back to the muddy camps and tent cities on the Greek side. The EU-Turkey deal aims to discourage more boat arrivals - but legal experts have argued that sending asylum seekers back en masse to Turkey would breach international law. Tusk has admitted the deal needs to be 'rebalanced', and European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans made clear on Wednesday that, in fact, 'there can be no blanket returns'. 'Returns can only take place in accordance with the international and EU legal framework... the case of each person needs to be assessed individually in the light of the charter of fundamental rights and European directives.' He stressed that 'we are not turning our back on the refugees because they will be assured adequate international protection, either in the EU or in Turkey.' Advertisement

As well as three cantons, the plan would see the federal system expand to include additional areas recently seized from ISIS in northern and northeastern Syria, Kurdish officials said.

Officials said the announcement was not intended as a first step towards independence.

'A federal state for ruling all of Syria is the best way to protect Syria from being divided up, because there is major distrust among the different sides,' said Ibrahim Ibrahim, a PYD media official.

Washington-based analyst Mutlu Civiroglu said the announcement would be a political message 'from Syrians on the ground, politically and militarily'.

'Politically, it's also a message to the United Nations, the US, Russia, and especially to Geneva, that if you ignore us, we are going to determine our future by ourselves,' he told AFP.

Despite deep divisions, the opposition High Negotiations Committee and the embattled government in Damascus have both categorically rejected a federal system in Syria.

The Geneva talks are part of a diplomatic push launched with U.S.-Russian support to end a conflict that has killed more than 250,000 people, created the world's worst refugee crisis, and allowed for the rise of ISIS

On Wednesday, the head of the government delegation to the peace talks, Bashar al-Jaafari, told reporters in Geneva that announcing a federation would be 'a total failure'.

'The Syrian Kurds are an important component of the Syrian people... So betting on creating any kind of divisions among the Syrians will be a total failure,' he said.

The issue of Syria's Kurds has caused a rare rift between the United States and NATO ally Turkey, which is battling a decades-long insurgency led by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Turkey has shelled the main Kurdish militia across the border, the People's Protection Units (YPG), but the United States has cooperated with the group, which has emerged as a key force fighting IS.

'Syria's national unity and territorial integrity is essential,' a Turkish diplomatic source in Ankara told AFP.

He said the Syrian people would 'decide collectively' on the future governance of their country.

'Except for that, unilateral initiatives cannot be valid,' he said.
A super-rich playboy heir who left a little girl with catastrophic injuries in a high-speed collision could face fresh charges after it emerged she died nine years later as a direct result of the crash.

Antonio Boparan-Singh, 28, left Cerys Edwards paralysed and unable to speak after ploughing his Range Rover Sport into the family's Jeep as he tried to overtake at more than twice the speed limit.

Cerys, who had just celebrated her first birthday, broke her spine in the 2006 crash and lived for nine years with brain damage and paralysis. She died in October, just before her tenth birthday.

Antonio Boparan-Singh (left), 28, left Cerys Edwards (pictured right) paralysed and unable to speak after a high-speed crash. He could now face fresh charges after she died ten years later

Boparan, the heir to a 130m fortune, has already been convicted of dangerous driving and spent six months of his 21-month sentence behind bars.

But today, West Midlands Police said it handed a file to the CPS which includes post-mortem examination results, showing the little girl died as a direct result of the injuries she sustained.

A specialist prosecutor will now consider whether to bring fresh charges, such as causing death by dangerous driving. The maximum penalty for that crime is 14 years.

Today, Cerys's father Gareth Edwards called for Boparan to face murder charges, branding him a 'child killer.'

He added: 'Police have found his actions caused the death of my daughter so he is a child killer, simple as that: he killed my daughter.

'I want to see him in that dock again facing charges of manslaughter or murder. He used that motor vehicle to kill my daughter.

West Midlands Police has handed a file to the CPS which confirms the little girl (pictured in hospital following the crash) died as a direct result of injuries caused by Boparan

After the crash, Boparan, the heir to a 130m fortune, was found guilty of dangerous driving and spent six months of his 21-month sentence behind bars. This is the aftermath of the collision

'I cannot turn the clock back - my daughter is gone and is six feet under - all I can do is fight for justice for that little girl.'

Boparan, from Little Aston, West Midlands, was 19 when he crashed into the Edwards's family car while speeding his 57,000 4X4 through nearby Sutton Coldfield.

The family were returning home from delivering Christmas presents when the crash took place.

Boparan was convicted two years later, but served only six months of his sentence. It sparked a campaign, backed by 13,000 people, demanding government action.

The petition was delivered to Westminster by Cerys's parents in July 2009 and led to the creation of 'Cerys's Law', which upped the maximum sentence for dangerous driving from two to five years.

Cerys, who had just celebrated her first birthday, broke her spin and lived for nine years with brain damage and paralysis caused by the 2006 crash. She is pictured as a little girl prior to the crash

Three years later, Cerys was awarded 5million compensation for her injuries, along with a guaranteed annual payout of 450,000 to help pay for her care bill.

At the time Judge Martin McKenna, sitting at Birmingham County Court, described it as the 'saddest and most tragic case' he had ever come across.

The Range Rover Boparan was driving was owned by his wealthy parents, Ranjit and Baljinder Boparan.

They run the 2 Sisters Food Group, the third largest food company in the UK by turnover with an annual revenue of 3.4billion.

His family went on to set up the Boparan Charitable Trust in 2009, which is fronted by Boparan and his mother.

Last year, Boparan was jailed again for throwing a man to the floor and kicking him in the end in a bar brawl in Birmingham which left one victim blind.

Cerys (pictured left with her mother Tracey in 2008 and right) died in October last year, one month before her tenth birthday. In 2012, Cerys was awarded 5million compensation for her injuries

Cerys's father Gareth Edwards called for Boparan to face murder charges, branding him a 'child killer'. Cerys was described as a young girl who lived for fun, loved shopping, going on holidays and watching films

He pleaded guilty to violent disorder and inflicting actual bodily harm and was jailed for 12 month.

Speaking today, Mr Edwards added that Boparan needs to serve a 'proper sentence' for what happened.

'Almost 10 years on things have got worse, not better. I live and breathe this every single day. I just want justice for that little girl,' he said.

'Cerys is the victim of this. She could not talk, she could not walk, but I will stand up and fight for justice for her.

'He has never shown any remorse for what he has done. Even the charity he set up - not a penny went to Cerys.

'He needs to serve a proper sentence for what he did.'
Anti-EU campaigners are locked in a legal battle with one of Britain's leading artists after they projected a political advert on the Angel of the North.

Vote Leave, the referendum campaign backed by politicians such as Boris Johnson, used a projector to shine its logo and slogan on the statue's 180ft wingspan.

But sculptor Sir Antony Gormley, who created the artwork near Gateshead two decades ago, reacted with fury claiming the stunt wrongly suggested that he supported leaving the European Union.

Stunt: Vote Leave projected this anti-EU message on the Angel of the North near Gateshead this week

The message 'Vote Leave, take control' was projected on the Angel this week by the group which is campaigning for a Leave vote in June's EU referendum.

Lawyers for Sir Antony, 65, have now sent a letter for the campaigners threatening to take action over the stunt.

Anger: Sir Antony Gormley has sent a legal letter to Vote Leave complaining about the political stunt

The letter states: 'As an artist with a substantial reputation in the United Kingdom and worldwide, it amounts to passing off to suggest a false endorsement by, or by connection with, Sir Antony in connection with the activities and political purposes of Vote Leave Limited.

'Presumably the reputation of the work and its instantly recognisable character were the reasons that it was selected for the projection or digital manipulation.'

It adds that Vote Leave should have known that 'their use of the Angel of the North as an advertising medium is both unlawful and damaging to the integrity of this important work'.

A spokesman for Sir Antony said that the sculptor was 'discussing next steps with his legal team' in response to the stunt.

Vote Leave said in a statement: 'Every year the North-East sends 500million to the EU.

'If we take back control we can start spending our money on our priorities in the North-East like the NHS.'

The pro-Brexit group is one of two organisations vying to be designated as the official Leave campaign for the referendum which is scheduled to take place on June 23.

Two years ago, Sir Antony criticised a marketing stunt by Morrisons which saw the university project a giant baguette on the Angel of the North.

Monumental: The Angel is one of the best-known landmarks in the North-East of England

The supermarket was forced to apologise after a backlash from members of the public who were upset at the commercialisation of the beloved artwork.

The sculptor has always said that the Angel should stand on its own without any sort of lighting, and the original agreement to create the work stipulated that it should not have any artificial light.
A dashing long-haired headmaster who previously taught primary school pupils how to use a shotgun has become something of an internet heartthrob following a TV appearance.

Mike Fairclough is the head teacher of West Rise School in Eastbourne, and he dresses just as unconventionally as he teaches, often sporting tweed and dashing open-necked shirts.

He appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning to discuss the school's herd of Asian water buffalo, its bees and the fact pupils are currently building a Bronze Age village - but as his long locks fluttered in the breeze many viewers began swooning.

Mike Fairclough is the headteacher of West Rise School in Eastbourne, and he dresses just as unconventionally as he teaches, often sporting tweed and dashing open-necked shirts

A Twitter user tweeted this picture of the headmaster as he appeared on the BBC Breakfast show this morning

One viewer wrote on Twitter: 'I think Mike Fairclough must be auditioning for Poldark'.

Another wrote: 'This head teacher looks so cool!' while another, rather more ardent fan said: 'Sexy headteacher Mike Fairclough makes me want to use my teacher qualifications!'

Another Twitter user added: 'This head teacher is undoubtedly sexy however he needs to button up his shirt rather than wear two.'

The unexpected Lothario sparked controversy in 2013 after the school took pupils as young as eight on a day's shooting trip.

Thirty children aged between eight and 11 were handed shotguns and taught how to shoot at clay pigeons with live ammunition.

The dashing long-haired headmaster who previously taught primary school pupils how to use a shotgun has become something of an internet heartthrob following a TV appearance

He appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning to discuss the fact pupils are currently building a Bronze Age village - but as his long locks fluttered in the breeze many viewers began swooning

It was part of an event organised run by instructors from the British Association for Shooting and Conservation to help educate the youngsters about the countryside.

The move was condemned by anti-guns campaigners, who argue that a young child is not mature enough to handle a weapon.

But Mr Fairclough said the day's shooting helped educate children about the food chain and instilled skills such as self-discipline and commitment to a task.

He told the Times Educational Supplement: 'We need to get beyond the Victorian, behind-desks model of education and get children actively involved.

'We are a successful school, rated good with excellent features by inspectors, because we teach this way.'

The unexpected Lothario sparked controversy in 2013 after the school (pictured) took pupils as young as eight on a day's shooting trip

Mr Fairclough said he also wanted to promote equal opportunities, as his catchment has a large proportion of children entitled to Free School Meals, an indicator of poverty.

He wanted these children to have equal access to the opportunities, normally reserved for private school children.

He said: 'It's about trust. We trust independent school children everywhere to shoot at this age, so why do we not trust children at state-run schools?

'Just because parents have more money, that does not mean the kids are any more reliable.'

West Rise Junior School leases land which was once part of Europe's second largest Bronze Age site.

To help pupils understand the importance of the Eastbourne site, the school has introduced animals including Asian water buffalo to the grounds.

Water buffalo were found in England and southern Europe during the Bronze Age.
Franchesca Pawson, 12, died of septic shock after being sent home from an NHS walk-in centre twice

A schoolgirl died of sepsis after being sent home from an NHS walk-in centre where nurses prescribed her ibuprofen and paracetamol.

Franchesca Pawson visited the clinic in Derby, East Midlands, twice in two days with her mother in January last year after feeling unwell.

But an inquest heard staff there failed to keep adequate notes on her case, and advised Mrs Pawson to continue giving her daughter ibuprofen and paracetamol.

When the girls condition failed to improve, the pair returned to the Derby walk-in Centre the next day. Franchesca was given antibiotics and again sent home.

She was admitted to the Royal Derby Hospital that Monday lunchtime but stopped breathing four hours later.

The inquest into her death today heard that vital opportunities to save the youngster had been 'missed' by nurses who failed to properly take note of all her treatment at the walk-in clinic.

Derby Coroner's Court heard that Franchesca had been 'incorrectly diagnosed' when she first visited the walk-in clinic on Saturday January 10.

In a narrative verdict Louise Pinder, deputy coroner for Derbyshire, ruled that Franchesca died from natural causes, namely toxic septic shock caused by a lung infection.

But she added: The significance of her deteriorating condition over the weekend went unrecognised by the healthcare professionals who assessed her.'

According to one of the hospital's doctors, staff should have had cause for concern when the schoolgirl arrived at the walk-in clinic.

'I think there were signs on Saturday and Sunday of a high heart rate which would have made it a concern,' said Dr Richard Bowker.

By the time the child arrived at hospital a third time she had a temperature of 37.8C and a pulse of 148, he added.

The walk-in Centre, which was formerly run by Derbyshire Health United, was taken over by private company One Medical Group last April.

The schoolgirl was taken to a walk-in centre by her mother twice but no one diagnosed her condition until she was admitted to Royal Derby Hospital (above)

Franchesca (pictured above with her brother, Felipe) died after being rushed to hospital two days later with a soaring temperature and fast pulse

Derbyshire Health United said it had carried out an investigation into the cause of Franchesca's death and noted that not all observations on her condition had been noted by staff.

Dr Aqib Bhatti, who works for the service, said not all staff had been aware of others on site that may have been able to help the 12-year-old.

The inquest in Derby heard Franchesca was first seen by a nurse who examined her for two or three minutes at the walk-in centre.

An inquest heard how staff 'missed opportunities' to save the schoolgirl's life

When she returned the next day, Franchesca was complaining of chest pains and a bad cough. A chest infection was diagnosed and antibiotics prescribed. Her care was never escalated  this represents the second missed opportunity, said the coroner.

On both occasions at the walk-in centre, which at the time was run by Derbyshire Health United, doctors were on hand but had not been consulted by nurses.

Deputy Coroner Louise Pinder condemned staff at the walk-in centre for failing to recognise her deteriorating condition the first time she arrived for treatment.

'The significance of her deteriorating condition over the weekend went unrecognised by the healthcare professionals who assessed her.

'The bronchopneumonia remained undiagnosed and therefore untreated until Sunday afternoon.

'The empyema remained undiagnosed, despite chest pain and therefore remained untreated until her admission to hospital on Monday.

'There was a failure to escalate her care over the weekend, despite clinical findings failing outside the normal parameters,' she said.

Speaking after the verdict Franchesca's father Tim said he and his wife Elsa were still trying to come to terms with her death.

'We're still trying how best to come to terms with what happened to Franchesca,' he said.

'We have started to learn to move on and get better but we still miss her dearly. She played such an important part in our lives.

'She would be looking forward to her bright future now and everything that life had to offer for her.

'We think about her all of the time and we think of all of the memories we have together and those moments we shared.'

The family moved to Littleover, Derby, in the summer of 2013 from Quito, Ecuador, after Mr Pawson took up a post at a Christian mission in the city.

Sepsis is an over-reaction to infection in which the immune system turns on the body. If caught early enough, its treatable with intravenous antibiotics and fluids. Septic shock is the end stage of the condition.

However, doctors struggle to recognise sepsis before its too late. As for parents, most have never heard of it.

The Mail, with the support of bereaved parents, has been calling for a national public awareness campaign of the disease that claims 37,000 lives a year because doctors and nurses have not been adequately trained in spotting it.

Last year 1,500 children died as a result of the infection, a figure which has prompted Jeremy Hunt to promise a long awaited awareness campaign to alert parents to its many dangers.

The Health Secretary promised more training would be given to health workers after the death of William Mead in 2014 who died when GPs, 111 call handlers and out-of-hours services failed to diagnose his condition.

Derby Coroner's Court (above) heard that Franchesca's worsening condition should have been spotted by nurses
Holt Parker, 59, was arrested on Tuesday on child pornography charges

A University of Cincinnati professor was suspended and banned from the campus after his arrest for child pornography.

Court records state that Holt Parker, a 59-year-old classics professor, admitted to police that he traded child pornography nearly 'every day using the internet' over the last five or six years.

As he was being arrested at his Clifton, Ohio home on Tuesday, Parker reportedly told his wife he was sorry 'for his behavior and (for) ruining their lives,' Cincinnati.com reports.

When the university found out about his arrest, he was immediately suspended from his position and banned from campus and having contact with any students.

According to his resume, Parker had taught at the school since 1991 and held a master's degree and PhD from Yale.

Parker's specialty was in gender studies, literary theory and linguistics and he has published papers on sexuality, slavery and sadism.

His arrest comes after a year-long investigation after Yahoo tipped off authorities in July about a person with the email address daddy.cruel@yahoo.com who had sent child pornography.

Police were then able to trace that address back to Parker, uncovering hundreds of videos and images - many involving prepubescent boys and girls engaged in sex acts with adults.

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Parker has been teaching classics at the University of Cincinnati since 1991. He holds a master's degree and PhD from Yale

Court records state that the 59-year-old admitted to police that he traded child pornography nearly 'every day using the internet' over the last five or six years

In his email exchanges, Parker also chatted with other users about 'his desire to have sexual intercourse with minors,' according to the arrest affidavit filed Tuesday.

In one August 2014 chat regarding a video showing a 4-year-old girl 'crying' during a sex act, Parker allegedly wrote 'love that', 'show me', and 'please!'.

Among the other videos seized in the sting is a 15-second video of a nude female who is approximately 12 to 13 years old. Another video shows two prepubescent children performing a sex act.

For the sexually explicit videos, Parker was hit with one count of distribution and receiving child pornography.

When the university found out about his arrest, he was immediately suspended from his position and banned from campus and having contact with any students

He also faces a charge of destruction of property to prevent seizure, for allegedly breaking a thumb drive before police could access its contents. Parker reportedly told investigators that it contained thousands of recently downloaded child porn files.

Parker appeared in court Tuesday afternoon, and is due back on Wednesday for a detention hearing.

Following his arrest, university spokesman Greg Vehr issued a statement reading: 'The University of Cincinnati has learned today that Holt N. Parker, a professor in Classics, has been arrested on child pornography charges. The University takes these charges very seriously and is cooperating fully with authorities. Per University policy, Parker has been suspended from his position, barred from University property, and is to have no contact with students.'

News of Parker's arrest sent shockwaves at the university where students were disgusted by the allegations.
The 17-year-old was arrested after two students reported him to the police

He planned to carry out the Columbine-style mass shooting within 70 days

Also compiled a list in his journal of 20 classmates and teachers to murder

Teen had mapped out where he would place bombs and a locked 'kill zone'

A high school student who planned to murder at least 100 classmates in a mass shooting has been arrested.

The 17-year-old had mapped out a 'kill zone' at Newberg High School in Oregon and even compiled a list of targets which included fellow students and teachers, police say.

He was taken into custody yesterday after sharing his twisted plans with two classmates who reported him to the police.

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The 17-year-old had even compiled a list of targets which included fellow students and teachers at Newberg High School in Oregon (pictured)

'I think what was averted was the potential for a lot of casualties,' Yamhill County District Attorney Brad Berry told KGW.

Investigators then discovered the boy's journal in his room which detailed his 'growing obsession' with carrying out a Columbine-style shooting.

Capt. Chris Bolek of the Newberg-Dundee Police Department say the diary contained a map of the school, including where bombs would be placed and gates would be chain-locked. The locked gates were part of the plan to isolate victims in a 'kill zone.'

It also contained a 'to kill' list of 20 students and faculty members and shopping list of guns, bombs, masks, chains, locks and 'lots of ammo' needed to carry out the attack.

The boy had already attempted to unlock his mother's safe to get a firearm and had contacted others about obtaining other weapons.

Capt. Bolek said the boy had initially planned the mass shooting for the final day of school but had changed the date when he realized many students would not be in.

Yamhill County District Attorney Brad Berry said the teen's arrest had averted the 'potential for a lot of casualties'

Instead he decided the attack would be carried out in 70 days to ensure the highest number of victims.

'It was not one off-handed comment,' Berry said. 'It was not just jotting down some place. I think I want to take out X, Y, Z.

'It was much more complex planning than that, much more detailed planning than that.'

On Thursday, March 3, police announced a 'credible threat of violence' against students as they posted officers around the school. But classes continued and there were no attacks carried out.

The teen, who cannot be named as he is a minor, is charged with attempted assault and attempted unlawful use of a weapon.

He is being held in the Yamhill County Juvenile Detention Facility in McMinnville.

Another student was arrested at the same time but released without charge.

Clarence Rivas, a student at the school, said he was shocked that one of his classmates could have been planning such a horrific attack.

Claudia Stewart, a spokesman for Newberg schools, said the district can't discuss specifics of an active investigation but classes were continuing as usual.

There has already been ten mass shootings at American schools this year - according to Everytown for Gun Safety.

As recently as February 29, police responded to reports of a shooting at Madison High School in Ohio - which injured four students.

Clarence Rivas, a student at the school, said he was shocked that one of his classmates could have been planning such a horrific attack

James Austin Hancock, a 14-year-old member of the school's wrestling team, had opened fire on students in the cafeteria during lunch.

He has since been arrested charged with attempted murder, felonious assault, inducing panic and making terroristic threats.

Since 2013, there have been at least 170 school shootings in America  an average of nearly one a week.

Last year, the state of Oregon was rocked by its most deadly mass shooting in modern history after Christopher Harper-Mercer, a 26-year-old enrolled at the school, shot dead an assistant professor and eight students in a classroom.

Another nine students were injured in the horrific shooting before Harper-Mercer committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.

One of the most deadliest incidents in recent years was the notorious Sandy Hook Elementary shooting occurred on December 14, 2012 when 20-year-old Adam Lanza fatally shot 20 children aged between 6 and 7 years old, plus six teachers.

He had also shot dead his own mother at their Connecticut home before the shooting. He shot himself in the head before he could be arrested.
ISIS has lost nearly ten per cent of its territory in Iraq and Syria in the last three months alone, new analysis has found.

The terror group has now relinquished 22 per cent of its land  an area roughly half the size of England  since the start of 2015 in the face of airstrikes and ground offensives by allies.

But new figures show coalition warplanes last month dropped the fewest bombs on ISIS targets since June, suggesting the jihadists are also being hit by other factors such as loss of income and a reduction in the number of militants signing up.

Analysis by research company IHS Conflict Monitor found ISIS had lost eight per cent of its territory since the beginning of 2016 and a further 14 per cent between January 1 and December 15.

A graphic by research company IHS Conflict Monitor showing ISIS has lost 22 per cent of territory  an area roughly half the size of England  since the start of 2015

ISIS had lost eight per cent of its territory since the start of 2016 and a further 14 per cent last year (above)

Columb Strack, a senior analyst at the group, said: 'The tide of the war is turning against the Islamic State. ISIS is increasingly isolated and being perceived as in decline.

'In 2016, we have seen major losses in the north-east extend south towards Raqqa and Deir al-Zour as the mixed-sectarian Kurdish and Sunni Syrian Democratic Forces advance under the cover of U.S. and Russian airstrikes.

'Isolation and further military defeats will make it harder for the Islamic State to attract new recruits to Syria from the pool of foreign jihadis.'

Following the loss of the strategically important town of Tal Abyad on Syria's border with Turkey last year, IHS began to register signs that ISIS was struggling financially.

The Syrian government has also made gains in the West, now stands just 5km outside the ancient city of Palmyra, which was overrun by the jihadists in mid-2015, he added.

Pulling out: A Russian SU-25 strike fighter taking off from the Syrian Hmeymim airbase, outside Latakia, Syria. Russian warplanes are leaving the airbase for permanent location airfields in Russia following the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw the majority of Russian troops from Syria

Russian Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jets take off as part of the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria

Financial difficulties including tax hikes, increases in the cost of ISIS-run public services such as rubbish collection and security, and cuts of up to 50 per cent in fighters' salaries have been further exacerbated by US-led and Russian air strikes on their sources of oil revenue, said IHS.

But he said the group's reversal of fortunes 'plays into the hands' of its main rival, Al Qaeda's Syrian affiliate the Al Nusra Front.

The multi-pronged offensive by the West has been highlighted by new figures which the U.S. and its allies dropped 2,054 bombs last month, a fall from 2,694 in January and 3,139 in December.

That is the fewest since 1,683 were used last June, according to Air Force data, it was reported by Bloomberg Business.

Russian pilots sit inside a cabin of a military aircraft before the take-off as part of the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria at Hmeymim airbase on Wednesday

A Russian pilot (L) shakes hands with a member of support personnel shortly before the take-off

Army Major Roger Cabiness, a Defense Department spokesman, said intelligence gathered through reconnaissance sorties 'enables the coalition to become increasingly effective at striking strategic targets that put intense pressure on' the militants.

Russia announced Monday it would begin withdrawing its forces from Syria, saying its five-month bombing campaign had helped 'radically change the situation in the fight against terrorism'.

In an assessment in January, US colonel Steve Warren, spokesman for the international coalition which carries out daily air raids against ISIS, said the group had lost about 40 percent of the territory it controlled in Iraq.

The group is on the rise in Libya, having significantly expanded its area of control in the troubled country, according to United Nations experts.
A Syrian refugee has been stuck in a Turkish airport for a year and made to live in the 'Problematic Passengers Room'.

Fadi Mansour, 28, a law student from Homs, has been detained in the room which has no natural light, no beds and is only 14 steps wide.

He is constantly facing the threat of being sent back to Syria.

He has apparently told relatives he is considering being asked to return to his homeland because 'at least there I die once and it's over, instead of dying more and more each day I spend in here'.

Human rights watchdog Amnesty said his detention and conditions may amount to 'cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, prohibited under domestic and international law.'

Fadi Mansour, 28, a law student from Homs, has been detained in Istanbul's Ataturk airport for a year

Mansour has been confined to the 'Problematic Passengers Room' in Istanbul's Ataturk airport since March 15, last year.

He is fed three meals a day which he said 'are all junk food'. He uploaded a picture today of his Burger King lunch to his Twitter account.

There are no beds in the room and he is forced to sleep on 'very uncomfortable and old chairs' that open at 10pm and close at 7am.

He told the LRB blog there were 31 other detainees in the room with him yesterday night.

Mansour held up this sign, in a picture uploaded to his Twitter account, saying: 'Looking for safety is not a crime. The crime is to hold a person in the airport for a year'

Mansour fled Syria in August 2012 - a year after the start of the civil war - to avoid military service and moved to Lebanon.

But after being kidnapped and held for ransom by a gang, he left for Turkey in 2014.

After spending about a month in Turkey he went to Malaysia but was refused entry because of the alleged use of false identity papers.

He was returned to Turkey on March 15, 2015, where he was detained for eight months.

After being attack by another detainee, he asked to go to Lebanon but was denied entry on November 20 and flown back to Istanbul. Upon re-entry, he was re-detained and returned to the 'Problematic Passengers Room'.

In what appears to be Mansour's Twitter account, he has pleaded with the authorities to let him leave, captioning one picture: 'One year is enough'.

Mansour has been holed up in the airport in Istanbul for a year and made to eat three junk meals a day

His lawyer has urged the courts to release him from the 'Problematic Passengers Room'.

Turkish authorities have used detention as a way to pressure asylum-seekers and refugees to 'voluntarily' go back to their countries of origin.

Around 2.7million Syrian refugees are in Turkey having fled their war-ravaged country.

Earlier this month, the EU and Turkey agreed that all migrants arriving in Greece from Turkey would be returned.

For each Syrian sent back, a Syrian already in Turkey would then be resettled in the EU.
The key to solving the mystery of a pensioner found dead on a remote hillside could lie in a metal plate fitted inside his left leg in Pakistan, it was revealed today.

The man, who is believed to be aged between 65 and 75, sparked a worldwide search to trace his identity after he was found dead near Dovestone Reservoir in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

And police have now discovered that he has a four-inch plate screwed into his left femur that was fitted in Pakistan between 2001 and 2005, which could help officers identify him.

Search: The mystery pensioner (pictured) - who was found dead on Saddleworth Moor in the Pennines last December - died from a lethal dose of rat poison, toxicology reports revealed earlier this week

Four theories are that he was a Pakistani national injured there, a UK national in Pakistan when he suffered the injury, had dual nationality or was a health tourist going abroad for cheaper treatment.

In a report in The Sun by Richard Moriarty and Ken Bennett, it was also revealed that mortuary staff nicknamed the man Neil Dovestone after the area of Saddleworth Moor where he was found.

Earlier this week toxicology reports showed that the man, who died just 24 hours after catching a train from London to Saddleworth Moor, was killed by a lethal dose of rat poison.

Detectives have been left stumped by the riddle of the smartly-dressed lone walker, who was caught on CCTV buying a one-way ticket from Ealing Broadway to Euston on December 11 last year.

Just 24 hours later, he was found dead  lying on his back with arms by his side  on the moor.

Location: It had been thought that the man, who was found close to the summit of Indian's Head above Dovestone Reservoir, may have been involved in the 1949 air disaster in the area - but this was later ruled out

Twenty four dead: Despite still not knowing the man's identity, police had thought he could have had a family connection to the crash at Saddleworth Moor involving a British European Airways Douglas Dakota in 1949

Theories as to why he had travelled 200 miles to die on the remote hillside had ranged from him being a victim of a 1949 air crash at the site, to the moor having some sort of meaning to him.

Pesticide used to kill rodents and birds: Toxicology reports reveal the man had traces of strychnine poison (pictured) in his body at the time of his death

However, toxicology reports have now added to the mystery  by revealing he had traces of strychnine poison in his body at the time of his death.

The poison, a white powder which is highly toxic, is a pesticide used to kill rodents and birds and is usually inhaled, injected or taken orally.

It is illegal to buy in the UK and can be fatal in humans if swallowed or absorbed through the eyes or mouth.

One previous explanation was that the man was a survivor of the 1949 plane crash on the moor -which claimed 24 lives - and had returned to the scene of the tragedy to take his own life.

But that line of inquiry hit a dead end when the last-living surviving of the ill-fated British European Airways flight, respected academic Professor Stephen Evans, came forward.

Investigations to identify the unknown man, found above the reservoir close to the summit of Indian's Head on December 12, now remain ongoing several months after the discovery.

As well as being found to have rat poison in his bloodstream, police also earlier revealed that the man was carrying an empty plastic container displaying thyroxine sodium - a medicine which is used to treat an under-active thyroid.

However, at the time officers said there was no suggestion that he had overdosed from the drug.

The man was slim, white and clean shaven with grey receding hair, brown eyes and a large nose.

Investigation: Officers are appealing for anyone who recognises the man - seen on CCTV at Ealing Broadway train station in West London - to get in touch. Police are not treating the pensioner's death as suspicious

He was wearing slip on shoes and had 130 in cash in his pockets and three train tickets he purchased the day before.

DEATHS ON SADDLEWORTH MOOR Saddleworth Moor in the South Pennines is where killers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley dumped bodies Saddleworth Moor, which is situated in the South Pennines, became infamous in the 1960s as the burial site of four victims of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley. The pair lured children and teenagers to their deaths, with their victims sexually tortured before being buried on the moor in Greater Manchester. In 1965, the bodies of Lesley Ann Downey and John Kilbride were discovered at the remote hillside, having been buried there during the previous two years. Saddleworth Moor was also the site of a 1949 plane crash. The twin-engined British European Airways Douglas Dakota plane crashed into the hillside after taking off from Belfast, killing 24 people. Those killed included 11 women, six men and four children, three of whom were aged under two years, as well as a number of crew. Eight people survived. Advertisement

He is believed to have started his journey in London, before taking the train to Manchester and heading to the village of Greenfield the day before.

Detectives are unclear if he was a Londoner, or had just taken to a visit to the capital.

Officers identified the man in footage taken in Ealing, West London, of him walking 'backwards and forwards' as he went to a train station at 9am. He arrived in Manchester shortly after midday where he walked around the shops at the station where he bought some food.

The man then headed to the city centre before making his way to Saddleworth and visited a pub at 2pm, where he asked how to get to the top of the 1,500ft peak.

The landlord said he spoke with a northern accent but didn't sound as if he was local to the area. The landlord told him he wouldn't be able to climb the mountain in the dark or in heavy rain but he did anyway.

Witnesses saw him about a mile up the hill at around 4.30pm and again about three quarters of the way up. He was wearing black slip-on shoes, a blue coat and a white shirt with a collar.

His body was found the next morning, lying face-up on a boggy section of track, with head pointing towards the mountain summit, his legs together and arms by his side. The peak overlooks the moor where murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley buried their victims in the Sixties.

Police are not treating the death as suspicious and believe he lay down on the spot and died.

Despite numerous appeals, officers have been unable to identify the man, who was carrying no documentation or had any scars, marks or tattoos on his body. Searches of DNA databases have found no matches.
Spanish police have launched an investigation after nearly 5million of cocaine was found abandoned on a popular tourist beach.

The drugs were found in several sacks near the shoreline at Migjorn Beach on Formentera, an island close to Ibiza, on Tuesday afternoon.

Local Civil Guard officers confirmed today they had recovered 183lbs (83kg) of the Class A drug from the paradise island beach.

The white isle: Spanish police found 183lbs (83kg) of the Class A drugs on Migjorn Beach on Formentera, an island close to Ibiza, on Tuesday afternoon

A member of the public who had been walking along the beach rang to alert them to the find.

Police have been combing the sea around where the drugs were discovered for more sacks but are not thought to have found any others so far.

Migjorn Beach, a 3.5 mile long beach fine white sand beach on Formenteras southern coast, is by far the longest on the island and one of the most popular.

Travel guides describe it as a 'Robinson Crusoe-style beach which is a favourite of naturists'.

Spains proximity to north Africa and its close ties to south America have helped make it the gateway into Europe for cannabis and cocaine.

Nice stash: The 5million worth cocaine was found in several sacks near the shoreline, and were spotted by a member of the public who called the police

In January seven Brits were arrested in Spain after three tonnes of cocaine bound for the UK were seized.

Elite GEO police trained in dealing with terrorist attacks and hostage taking intercepted a van being used to take the first consignment of drugs from Pontevedra in north west Spain to Malaga.

In December six men from Liverpool were arrested after police in the port of Valencia, eastern Spain, discovered 1.5 tonnes of cocaine disguised as wooden pallets.

In November a Brit described by Spanish police as Europes number one drugs trafficker was arrested at his luxury villa on the Costa del Sol.

Robert Dawes, 44, from Nottingham, was held on a European arrest warrant issued by a French court related to the discovery of 1.3 tonnes of cocaine at Paris Charles De Gaulle airport in September 2013.

The seizure was the largest ever made in France.
Four suspected terrorists were arrested in Paris today after police claimed they were plotting an 'imminent attack' on the French capital.

Three men and one woman were captured in the siege on the 18th arrondissement of the French capital and the nearby, rundown suburb of Saint Denis.

An AK-47 rifle, and electronic equipment including a USB stick and computer files, were found during the dawn raid.

French intelligence officers have been questioning the suspects at their headquarters in the city tonight.

The raid comes a day after a man suspected of having links to the Paris massacre in November was gunned down in a Brussels after a shoot-out with police. Police are pictured in the Belgian capital on Tuesday

Police later said the four suspects had been under surveillance on suspicion of a 'possible' attack, with one source adding: 'You can't at this stage talk about a plan of imminent attack.'

The arrests were carried out at dawn in two Paris districts, as well as Saint Denis, the scene of a massive raid after the November 13 Paris attacks.

TF1 reported that two French brothers of Turkish origin - identified as Aytac and Ercan B - were among the suspects. Another Frenchman Youssef E., 28 has been identified as a suspect.

TF1 said he was a known Islamist and had already been sentenced to five years in prison in March 2014 after being arrested with two others as they tried to leave France to fight in Syria.

He was was released from prison in October and had been under house arrest since February 29. There are reports that his companion was also arrested in the dawn raid.

It comes a day after a man suspected of having links to the Paris massacre in November was gunned down in a Brussels after a shoot-out with police.

Belgian investigators are still hunting two suspects who fled an apartment one day after a police sniper killed the gunman holed up inside

In November, the mastermind behind the Paris terror plot was killed during a special forces siege on a flat in Saint Denis

Belgian investigators are still hunting two suspects who fled an apartment one day after a police sniper killed the gunman holed up inside. Authorities found a stock of ammunition and an ISIS flag there, officials said.

Four officers were wounded in Tuesday's joint French-Belgian raid in a Brussels neighbourhood and related searches.

Prosecutors on Wednesday released without charges two men they held in the wake of the raid, leaving the hunt on for two suspects who have not been identified. Prosecutor Eric Van der Sypt said they 'are being actively sought'.

The dead man was identified as an Algerian man living illegally in Belgium, Mohamed Belkaid, whose only contact with authorities appeared to be a two-year-old theft charge, said Thierry Werts, a Belgian prosecutor.

ISIS fanatics murdered 130 people in the French capital on November 13 when they targeted bars and restaurants, the Stade de France stadium and the Bataclan music hall in a wave of gun and suicide bomb attacks.

In November, the mastermind behind the Paris terror plot was killed during a special forces siege on a flat in Saint Denis, close to where four arrests were made today.

Paris attacks mastermind Abdelhamid Abaaoud (left) was killed in the raid while Salah Abdeslam (right) escaped and went on the run

Security sources said the raid (pictured), which left five French police officers with minor injuries and a police dog dead, prevented a new ISIS double terror attack on Paris

Abdelhamid Abaaoud, 27, died in a gun and grenade battle which saw 5,000 rounds of ammunition fired by police. Officers were seen removing two bodies from the apartment this afternoon.

French prosecutor Francois Molins revealed that neither Abaaoud nor Salah Abdeslam, who went on the run after the attacks, were among the seven people arrested in Saint Denis that day.
They have now suspended the four students from school for a week

Grosse Point South High School officials found out after it went viral

But an offended student shared a screenshot of the image on Twitter

Four Michigan students have been suspended for a week after posing for a photograph at a party with 'n*****' written across their stomachs.

The white students, from Grosse Point South High School in the affluent Detroit suburb of Grosse Point, posed with their shirts held up to reveal their midriffs.

Three had the racial slur written across their stomachs in felt-tip pen, while a fourth girl had 'I heart weed' written across her knee.

They captioned the picture, which was shared on Instagram and Snapchat, with 'like what even' alongside laughing face and monkey emojis, the Detroit Free Press reports.

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Four Michigan students have been suspended for a week after posing for a photograph at a party with 'n*****' written across their stomachs.

But another student then posted a screenshot on Twitter, where it was shared more than 1,000 times, and landed the teenagers involved at the center of a race storm when it came to the attention of school officials.

The school became aware of the picture on Sunday, according to a letter sent home to parents the following day.

An investigation is now underway after police were informed, Gary Niehaus, the Grosse Point Schools superintendent, said.

'We had four students at a party downstairs,' he told the Free Press.

'They went through the process of taking a picture, posting it online and once it went viral, there were exchanges back and forth between the students, resulting in two other students being disciplined for threatening comments.

'The principal found out Sunday afternoon, spent five or six hours talking to the four students and the other two that were involved in the target message.

The students were Grosse Point South High School (above) in the affluent Detroit suburb of Grosse Point

The school's newspaper reported the students came to a diversity club meeting on Monday to apologize

'He also talked to parents, other students and then this morning he went through the process of talking to more students.'

Moussa Hamka, the principal, then wrote a letter to parents explaining that while the school could not control all off-campus activities, it would not stay 'silent in the face of racially intolerant language'.

Grosse Point student Tia Fowlkes was one of the first people to post a comment to the original picture on Instagram  asking the student who posted it to delete it.

' was shocked that someone who I thought was my friend would do something like this, so I decided to confront her about it Tia Fowlkes, member of the school's African-American diversity club BASE

'I was shocked that someone who I thought was my friend would do something like this, so I decided to confront her about it,' Fowlkes, a member of the school's African-American diversity club BASE told the school newspaper The Tower Pulse.

'I told her it wasn't funny, and instead, she tried defending herself, acting like it wasn't an act of racism.

'So I decided to put it out there to know since she thought it was so funny.'

But on Monday, the school newspaper reported the four students had attended a BASE meeting to apologize for the picture.

'I was really, really disgusted by it,' Grosse Point student Phelan Johnson told WJBK.

'I was not happy. I just think that the people who go to this school are getting a good education and that this isn't a result of stupidity, it's a result of racism.'

He added: 'They should be suspended but I also think that there should be more discussion about it and discussion about racial awareness.'
A nurse had sex on numerous occasions with a patient on a psychiatric hospital ward and claimed she had 'romantic feelings' for him, a tribunal heard.

Rebecca Ball is accused of sending a string of explicit texts to the patient and spending long periods in his bedroom at the Wells Road Centre in the St Ann's area of Nottingham.

She later described sex with the patient in 'graphic detail' to a colleague and admitted having sent inappropriate messages, the hearing was told.

A nurse sent a string of explicit texts to the patient and spent long periods in his bedroom at the Wells Road Centre in the St Ann's area of Nottingham (pictured)

Ms Ball admits spending time alone with the patient, but denies she told the him she had feelings for him and denies they had sex.

CCTV footage shows Ball entering a 'quiet room' and the patient's bedroom for extended periods of time, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) heard.

James Edenborough, representing the NMC at the tribunal into her conduct, said: 'A colleague visited Ms Ball at her home and she (Ball) told her she was having a relationship with him.

'She had liked him for a long time, and she had had sex with him on a night shift in a quiet room.'

The nurse was unable to explain her time alone with the patient to colleagues and had failed to fill in any records about the interactions.

She allegedly told the man she had 'romantic feelings' for him and told an internal investigator she had given the patient her personal mobile number and had become too close.

She also accepted that some boundaries could have been crossed, but denied making lewd or suggestive comments.

Mr Edenborough added: 'She admitted she had spoken about having sex with the patient but said she had been lying about it.'

Rebecca Ball is facing a tribunal into her conduct at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (pictured)

Ms Ball is accused of having an inappropriate or sexual relationship with the patient at the centre, which treats people with learning disabilities and mental health problems.

She is also accused of spending over an hour alone with the patient on two occasions and 18 minutes alone with him on another with no explanation.

It is alleged that she told the patient she had feelings for him, gave him her personal number and exchanged messages with him.

The nurse is to give evidence via video link to the hearing, which is being held at the NMC's London headquarters.
This is the heartbreaking moment hundreds of dead dolphins were reeled in after being caught in illegal nets.

Conservationists discovered more than 320 animals stuck in the nets after intercepting six fishing ships in the Indian Ocean in January.

Photographs show the dolphins' bodies being hauled on board of the environmental group's ship. Many have their fins entwined in the illegal netting while others have suffered cuts from the wire.

This is the heartbreaking moment hundreds of dead dolphins were reeled in after being caught in illegal nets

Conservationists discovered more than 320 animals stuck in the nets - including the above dolphin - after intercepting six fishing ships on the Indian Ocean in January

Other images show hundreds of fish from vulnerable species - including the critically endangered Southern Bluefin tuna - also caught in the driftnets, which were being used to trawl open waters.

The group, called Sea Shepherd, have now launched a campaign called Operation Driftnet in a bid to track down the vessels, whose owners and nationalities remain unknown.

They said: We want to confront them while they are engaged in the act of illegal fishing and then employ direct-action techniques to shut down their operations.'

The environmental group initially discovered the six fishing vessels in January before they sent out divers to inspect the nets.

The environmental group, called the Sea Shepherd, decided to confront the vessels after discovering they were using the illegal nets. The group is pictured (above) pursuing one of the vessels

After being confronted, the fishing ship abandoned its nets and forced Sea Shepherd to haul them in instead

Conservationists untangle one dolphin, who was caught in the 5km-long illegal nets left in the Southern Indian Ocean

After discovering around 5km of nets being used by one ship, the group decided to confront its owners.

But the ship fled leaving its nets in the waters and forcing Sea Shepherd to haul them in instead.

The group now plans to take photographs and video clips of the vessels using driftnets before presenting the evidence to authorities in the hope that those engaged in the illegal practice can be charged.

A spokesman for Sea Shepherd added: Were hoping that our sea and land activities will bring an end to the destruction these vessels are bringing.

Other images show hundreds of fish from vulnerable species - including the critically endangered Southern Bluefin tuna - also caught in the driftnets, which were being used to trawl open waters

The group, called Sea Shepherd, have now launched a campaign called Operation Driftnet in a bid to track down the vessels, whose owners and nationalities remain unknown. Above, dozens of fish that were caught in the net

The group now plans to take photographs - such as the one above - and video clips of the vessels using driftnets before presenting the evidence to authorities

A seal left with blood around its neck was one of the hundreds of animals caught in the abandoned net

Siddhartha Chakravarty, campaign leader and captain of the group's ship, the Steve Irwin, also pointed out that driftnets, which can be up to a mile long, were banned by a UN moratorium.

He said: The nations of the world were concerned 24 years ago about the negative impact of this form of fishing.

Driftnets didnt have a place in the worlds oceans then and they dont today. Our role is to ensure the ban is enforced.
Adams received a minor neck wound during the attack, but otherwise none of the shooters were injured

Three Florida teenagers have been charged with shooting a six-year-old boy dead after he got caught up in crossfire while on his way to buy candy.

Leonard Adams, 18, and Irwen Pressley, 17, were charged with second-degree felony murder and attempted murder Wednesday and will be tried as adults, police in Miami said.

Meanwhile accomplice Tamar Teems, 16, was charged with the same offence but as a juvenile. All three boys pleaded not guilty.

Leonard Adams, 18 (left), and Irwen Pressley, 17 (right), have been charged as adults with second degree felony murder and attempted murder for the shooting of King Carter, 6, on February 20 in Miami

First-grader King Carter was killed during a firefight on February 20 at an apartment block in Miami-Dade County after a Facebook row escalated into violence, the Miami Herald reports.

Police say Adams, Pressley and Teems drove to the apartment block in a black Lexus car looking for a rival named only as 'JuJu' then opened fire after seeing him in a nearby stairwell.

Tamar Teems, 16, has been charged with the same crimes as a juvenile. The trio have pleaded not guilty

JuJu returned fire, officers said, nicking Adams in the neck but only causing minor injuries. None of the other shooters were injured.

Meanwhile Carter, who had been playing outside with friends but went to buy his favorite chewing candy after being given $3 by his father, wandered out of the apartment complex at around 2.40pm and was shot in the chest.

A police officer who was nearby at the time of the shooting performed CPR on the boy and he was airlifted to hospital, but later died from his wounds.

Following the shooting Adams checked into Jackson North Hospital for the gunshot wound, and was traced back to his home by police.

Meanwhile Pressley, who was on supervised release on a burglary charge at the time of the shooting, was traced from a GPS ankle monitor he was wearing during the attack.

The pair were arrested four days after the attack and both admitted to their part in it, officers said. Cops said a 9mm pistol was discovered at Pressley's home that he admitted using to target JuJu.

Two days later, as Carter was being laid to rest, authorities announced that they had captured Teems. The trio were held without bail.

Police revealed Pressley has an extensive arrest record, dating back to when he was 13, including robbery with a deadly firearm, aggravated assault and armed carjacking.

Two of those cases were dropped because a defendant died and another moved back to Ukraine, but Pressley did eventually enter Boot Camp at Miami-Dade Corrections in 2015 for the deadly firearm charge.

Police say Adams, Pressley and Teems drove to an apartment block where they shot at rival 'JuJu' after a Facebook row escalated. Carter (left and right) was hit in the chest and later died from his injuries

Carter's death sparked protests following a spate of children and young people dying in shootings. Since 2013, at least 67 people aged 18 or under have been shot dead in Miami-Dade County alone

It was there that he was fitted with the GPS ankle bracelet that police say places him at the scene of the crime.

Officers, who say they have seized a number of weapons in evidence, are still not sure who shot Carter or which weapon fired the bullet.

However, Florida law allows all those participating in a felony crime to be charged with murder if someone dies while the crime is being committed.

The death of Carter, who said he wanted to be a police officer when he was older, caused widespread demonstrations in the community amid a string of children and teens being killed.

At least 67 people aged 18 or younger have been fatally shot in Miami-Dade County since 2013, according to a count by local television station WPLG.
Turkey is to make praising violent acts on par with committing terrorist atrocities as the country's president said supporting killers is just as bad as carrying out murder.

Tayyip Erdogan made the comments after 37 people were killed in a suicide bombing in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Sunday, that security officials blamed on Kurdish militants.

Rights groups fear that anti-terrorism laws, already used to detain academics and opposition journalists, will be used in courts to stifle discussion of issues such as a Kurdish conflict in the media and on other public platforms.

Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan, who has said supporting terrorist attacks is just as bad as carrying out the atrocities

But speaking today, Mr Erdogan said: 'Those who support directly or indirectly people who destroy innocent lives are not in the slightest different from terrorists.

'We must immediately revise the definition of terror and terrorist. In line with this new definition, we must immediately change the penal code.'

Western states are concerned about a wave of bombings in Turkey, blamed on ISIS or Kurdish militants, valuing Ankara as a key ally in containing warfare in neighbouring Syria and Iraq.

However, at the same time, they have criticised the NATO ally and EU aspirant's human rights record, raising questions about the independence of its judiciary.

Erdogan made the comments after 37 people were killed in a suicide bombing in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Sunday, that security officials blamed on Kurdish militants

An injured man is carried to an ambulance after an explosion in Ankara on Sunday. Western states are concerned about a wave of bombings in Turkey, blamed on ISIS or Kurdish militants, valuing Ankara as a key ally in containing warfare in neighbouring Syria and Iraq

Police detained 20 suspects, including lawyers, in an Istanbul operation targeting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is accused of carrying out the Ankara bombing, state-run Anadolu Agency said.

On Tuesday an Istanbul court detained three academics pending trial on charges of 'terrorist propaganda' after they publicly read a declaration urging an to end military operations in the mainly Kurdish southeast.

Meanwhile a British man, who has lived in Turkey for decades and had gone to the court to show support for the academics, was detained overnight for terrorism offences.

Chris Stephenson, a teacher at Bilgi University said after his release: 'I was released by the court but they're going to deport me now. This is very scary and wrong.'

Mr Stephenson was one of more than 1,000 academics who signed a petition this year criticising military action in the largely Kurdish southeast.

Over 40,000 people have been killed since 1984 in an insurgency by Kurdish militants for autonomy

A legal expert in the ruling AK Party said the government aimed to 'broaden the extent' of the anti-terror law.

'A man may not have participated directly in terrorist acts but may have supported them ideologically. This may not be a full terror crime, but a degree of terror crime,' he said.

Emma Sinclair-Webb, senior Turkey researcher at Human Rights Watch, said she was appalled at the prospect of a widening of the definition of terrorism. 'It completely violates Turkey's international obligations and law,' she said

Over 40,000 people have been killed since 1984 in an insurgency by Kurdish militants for autonomy. A ceasefire broke down in July, unleashing some of the worst violence in the history of the conflict.
Earlier, the site's finance team said they didn't put ads on the video

Horan said Gawker earned just $11,000 based on viewers and ad revenue

Media analyst Peter Horan was called as an expert witness for Gawker

His lawyers are arguing the site earned $15m with spike in viewers and ads

Says neither she nor Hogan knew they were taped or the tape was leaked

She said she was 'upset' after her husband showed her the video

Jury heard taped deposition from Heather Clem, ex-wife of Hulk Hogan's former best friend, radio DJ Bubba the Love Sponge

The woman at the centre of the Hulk Hogan sex tape trial was close to tears as she told how she discovered her husband had filmed her.

Heather Clem said she was 'upset' after her husband, radio DJ Bubba the Love Sponge, showed her the explicit video several weeks after she had sex with the former wrestling star.

In a taped deposition played to the jury at the $100 million invasion privacy trial brought by Hogan against Gawker Media, Clem admitted she had sex with Hogan on three occasions.

She maintained neither she nor Hogan, who is using his real name Terry Bollea, had any idea their sexual encounter was being filmed.

Under examination by Gawker's lawyers Clem said other sexual encounters with different men had been recorded by her husband at their home.

She also denied any knowledge about the tape being leaked to New York based Gawker.

Heather Clem wept in court (left in her taped deposition on Wednesday) as she said her husband, radio DJ Bubba the Love Sponge urged her to have sex with Hulk Hogan, 62, (pictured, right, in court on Wednesday)

Asked by lawyers about her reaction to the tape Clem said she was 'upset' and asked her husband (pictured together in 2009) to stop playing it. Clem said she asked her husband to destroy the tape, made in 2005

Asked by lawyers about her reaction to the tape Clem said she was 'upset' and asked her husband to stop playing it. Clem said she asked her husband to destroy the tape which was made in 2005.

Clem said she did not watch the whole tape and during her subsequent divorce from Clem had asked that it be destroyed.

She told lawyers she was under the impression that the tape had been destroyed following her 2012 divorce.

Hogan stared intently at a large TV screen in the St Petersburg, Florida, courtroom as Clem's emotional deposition was played.

Clem, who now uses her maiden name Cole, said she had been encouraged to have sex with Hogan who at the time was best friends with her husband.

The court had earlier heard that they had an open marriage and her husband encouraged her to have other sexual partners.

Clem said the first sexual encounter took place at Hogan's Florida home.

The second was at a hotel in Tennessee when she and her husband were attending a wrestling event.

Clem said she had been encouraged by her husband to go to Hogan's hotel room when they were visiting Tennessee.

'I was asked to go to Mr. Bollea's room by my husband, and I did', Clem said.

Clem said on both occasions no one else was present and she was not aware of any cameras being set up to film the sex.

The former wife of the DJ spoke in a faltering voice as she was asked what took place, replying 'a sex act' when talking about the second encounter in a hotel.

Clem said that as far as she was aware her husband never told Hogan that he had filmed him having sex.

She said she had done 'her best' to protect herself when she began divorce proceedings and asked for the sex tape to be destroyed.

Clem said she believed that the tape, which was on a CD, had been destroyed.

She became aware that the tape was being discussed in the media in 2012 and her husband told her there was no such thing as bad publicity.

Hulk Hogan (right) and his attorney listen to videotaped testimony by Heather Cole on Wednesday

Clem, who clutched a tissue in her hand as she gave her deposition in January 2015, said she had not watched the short clip used by Gawker that has led to the trial.

Gawker has claimed they had a right to show the sex tape as Hogan often spoke about his sex life. Lawyers say the publication of the tape is protected under the 1st Amendment and freedom of speech.

Lawyers for Hogan say the tape is an invasion of privacy and seeking $100m in damages.

Earlier the jury in the Hulk Hogan trial were given a detailed description of sex tape that helped launch Kim Kardashian's career.

While the panel have yet to see the tape at the centre of a $100m invasion of privacy lawsuit brought by the former pro wrestler hey learned all about the tape featuring Kardashian and her then boyfriend.

They heard that more than 105m people have watched the tape for free after it was uploaded to the Pornhub website.

The involvement of Kardashian in the trial came as after a deposition of a marketing manager involved with Pornhub was played to the court in St Petersburg, Florida.

The day of hearings began with testimony from a media and internet expert who spoke on behalf of Gawker.

Peter Horan, who had worked for the About.com site and is now an investor in digital media, told the jury Gawker media website made less than $11,000 from running the sex tape.

Lawyers for Hogan have claimed the New York based company made at least $15 million from running an excerpt of the sex tape and in doing so boosted web traffic to their website.

Media analyst Peter Horan (pictured on Wednesday) was called as an expert witness for Gawker. He told the jury Gawker earned just $11,000 based on how many watched the video and the site's ad revenue figures

Horan appeared as an expert witness for the Gawker legal team and said he was being paid $400 an hour to appear during the trial.

He told the jury in St Petersburg, Florida, that it would be hard to assign an increase in value to the website from a single posting.

Horan said he had arrived at his $11,000 figure by analyzing Gawker's advertising revenue and the number of people who viewed the story.

He told the jury it would be hard for Gawker to have made any money from the story, as it didn't carry any advertising.

'It would be hard to assign an increase to just one post,' he told the court.

The court had previously been told 5.4 million people had looked at the Hogan sex tape story but only half actually viewed the one minute and 41 second clip showing the sex taking place.

Gawker chief Nick Denton told the jury during two days of evidence that he stood by publishing the story.

While the jury has yet to watch the sex tape Denton was ordered to read out in court the explicit words that accompanied the video.
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Work to flatten the last makeshift shelters in the migrant camp known as 'The Jungle' was finished today.

The temporary accommodation in the south side of the camp - which became a magnet for people hoping to reach Britain - has been steamrollered.

All that is left in the shelter are a handful of mosques, schools and canteens, along with upturned chairs, soaked mattresses, grubby blankets and abandoned shoes.

Flattened: The south side of the 'Jungle' camp in Calais has been demolished, with only temporary schools and mosques still standing

Wasteland: A migrant carries wood through the deserted Calais camp, while another cycles past piles of litter on the day it was flattened

Eerie: The migrants can either move into converted containers in the northern part of the camp or to similar accommodation centres in France

'THE JUNGLE' BY YEARS 2002: The Jungle is born after the Sangatte reception centre near the port is closed. 2009: It is estimated that the Jungle has some 800 inhabitants. 2014: By September this year, it is estimated to have increased to 1,300. July 2015: Jungle residents up to around 3,000 in the wake of the migrant crisis. November 2015: The influx continues, and it is reported that some 6,000 now live in the Jungle in Calais. January 11: Calais authorities opens a new 20m camp for 1,500 Jungle residents January 13: Residents refuse to move into the new camp, and starts protesting January 15: Authorities give a Monday deadline, and residents rush to move out January 18: Demolition of one third of the camp finally begins March 2016: Clashes between riot police and refugees who refused to be moved from the camp March 16 2016: South side of the Jungle is bulldozed Advertisement

Many living in the camp fled conflicts in Syria, Libya and sub-Saharan Africa, while others arrived by land, often travelling from places like Afghanistan via the Balkans.

The south side of the 'Jungle' was once home to as many as 3,000 refugees.

Officials say migrants can either move into converted containers in the northern sector of the camp, where there is room for 1,500 people; move to similar accommodation centres elsewhere in France; or claim asylum in France.

France's top minors' rights watchdog today urged the French government not to leave hundreds of children living unsupervised the slums without proper shelter.

Genevieve Avenard, a state-appointed official whose job is to alert authorities to threats to minors' rights but lacks enforcement powers, called on the Calais regional government to build by this summer a shelter for the 326 children who authorities say currently live on their own in the Jungle.

Local migrants associations say the number of children in the camp - some of whom are as young as seven years old - tops 500 and more when including those living with their parents.

'Most of these kids only want to go to Britain. If you take them away, they'll come back,' Avenard told Reuters in an interview. 'We are still in the dark when it comes to assessing exactly who these children are and hence what can be done for them.'

Avenard said unaccompanied minors identified so far were mostly from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Sudan and Syria.

A French administrative court ordered the Calais government in November to identify all minors in the camp and transfer them to child welfare centres. But carrying out the tally has proven difficult as new migrant families keep arriving.

'We need to understand these children, listen to them and make sure we can implement specific policies such as asylum or family reunions in Britain when possible,' Avenard said.

Around 90 children have the right to enter Britain legally because of family members already there, she added.

The new camp, built by French authorities at a cost of 20million, consists of converted metal shipping containers and comes complete with power sockets, heated towel rails, toilets and washing facilities.

But migrants have complained it looks like a 'detention centre' and fear attempts to move them from the Calais area will prevent them from trying to reach Britain.

They are wary of the new camp, particularly the hand-print scanners used to come and go - fearing that giving this data will stop them applying for asylum in Britain if they ever manage to smuggle themselves across the Channel.

Afghan migrant Hayat Sirat said: 'Going to Britain...is what people [here] want. So destroying part of the Jungle is not the solution.'

Charity groups have also hit out at the plans, claiming the new camp can only accept some 50 migrants a day and will therefore leave many without shelter.

Elaine Ortiz, founder of a Brighton-based aid organisation and one of the main groups helping refugees in Calais, told the New Statesman: 'It's not that they've accepted it. People are just exhausted.'

Tensions have mounted since local government officials gave the refugees just days to move out of the camp before the south side was bulldozed.

Earlier this month, riot police clashed with migrants who refused to be moved from the camp.

Video footage showed refugees and hard-left activists burning tents and setting off fireworks as they yelled 'f*** you' at police.

One woman, thought to be from Iran, followed through on a threat to cut her own wrists when approached by police.

Meanwhile migrants brandishing metal bars and hurling rocks tried to hijack lorries in their desperate attempts to reach Britain.

On watch: French police patrol as workers demolish makeshift shelters on the final day of the dismantlement of the southern part of the camp

Tension: Emotions have been running high this month as bulldozers dismantled the southern half of the Jungle camp
A second doctor has been charged over the death of a British mother in France after an anaesthetist admitted to downing vodka on the night of the delivery.

Expat Xynthia Hawke, 28, from north Petherton, Somerset, died shortly after giving birth to her baby son Isaac at the Kappa Clinic near Bayonne, south west France, in September 2014.

Her baby boy survived the but she had a fatal heart attack when a resuscitation procedure that went horribly wrong.

Xynthia Hawke (right, with her partner Yannick Balthazar) died shortly after giving birth to her baby son Isaac at the Kappa Clinic near Bayonne, south west France, in September 2014

Anaesthetist Helga Wauters, 45, is facing five years behind bars for aggravated manslaughter after she botched Miss Hawke's caesarean section.

The doctor, who was found to be three times over the legal drink drive limit, told police: 'I need vodka so I don't shake.'

It has now emerged that an obstetrician has been charged with the 'non assistance of a person whose life was in danger', the Local reported.

Miss Hawke's family lawyer, Philippe Courtois, said the obstetrician's charge is not linked to mistakes made by Dr Wauters.

Dr Wauters administered the first dose of anaesthetic for Miss Hawke's caesarean and then left to drink with her friends.

Anaesthetist Helga Wauters (pictured), 45, is facing five years behind bars for aggravated manslaughter after she botched Miss Hawke's caesarean section

Doctors ordered another dose for her because she was in so much pain but when Dr Wauters returned, she smelled of alcohol and by her on admission was 'in a daze'.

She struggled to insert Miss Hawke's breathing tube and accidentally placed it in her esophagus - the canal which connects the throat to the stomach - not her windpipe.
For more of the latest on the 2016 Budget visit www.dailymail.co.uk/budget

The EU referendum loomed over George Osborne's Budget in the Commons today

George Osborne warned the economy would be worse off if Britain backs Brexit in June as the EU referendum loomed large over the Budget today.

The Chancellor sparked controversy by quoting the independent Office for Budget Responsibility in aid of his claim Britain was 'stronger and better off in the EU'.

The Vote Leave campaign accused Mr Osborne of dragging a politically neutral organisation into the referendum.

Mr Osborne's Budget had already been influenced by the referendum as he abandoned plans for a radical pensions overhaul, reportedly to avoid a fresh battle with Tory MPs.

And he backed off from suggestions of a rise in fuel duty amid vigorous protests from his party.

In his speech, Mr Osborne said: 'Over the next few months this country is going to debate the merits of leaving or remaining in the European Union, and I have many colleagues whom I respect greatly on both sides of this argument.

'The OBR correctly stay out of the political debate and do not assess the long term costs and benefits of EU membership.

'But they do say this, and I quote them directly: a vote to leave in the forthcoming referendum could usher in an extended period of uncertainty regarding the precise terms of the UKs future relationship with the EU.

'This could have negative implications for activity via business and consumer confidence and might result in greater volatility in financial and other asset markets.'

Mr Osborne added: 'Britain will be stronger, safer and better off inside a reformed European Union.

'I believe we should not put at risk all the hard work that the British people have done to make our country strong again.'

Vote Leave Chief Executive Matthew Elliott said: 'There is one budget the Chancellor didnt touch today  the 350 million of taxpayers money he hands to Brussels every week.

'Nor could he cut taxes like VAT which weve given up control of to the EU Commission.

Disappointingly, the Chancellor sought to politicise the OBR and drag it into his campaign to keep us in the EU despite the OBR making clear that it was not making a judgment about the referendum.

'If we want to take back control of our economy and our democracy so the Government can spend our money on our priorities, the only safe option is to Vote Leave'.
Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello faces two lawsuits alleging sexual harassment and refusal to pay his employees their due wages.

Two former servers of Chiarello's high-end tapas restaurant Coqueta filed lawsuits in San Francisco Superior Court on Tuesday, alleging a work environment that was hostile and sexually charged.

A spokesman for Chiarello, Terry Fahn, called the allegations unfounded and said the chef would vigorously defend himself.

Chiarello has hosted cooking and entertainment shows on the Food Network and Cooking Channel, and appeared on the popular competition show Top Chef, according to his website.

Chef Michael Chiarello (pictured in 2013) is facing two lawsuits alleging sexual harassment and refusal to pay his employees their due wages

Two former servers of Chiarello's high-end tapas restaurant Coqueta filed lawsuits in San Francisco Superior Court on Tuesday, alleging a work environment that was hostile and sexually charged

Coqueta (above), which means flirt in Spanish, opened in 2013 to top reviews over its pretty cocktails and imaginative tapas plates

Attorney Kelly Armstrong, who filed the lawsuits on behalf of Katherine Page and Asja Sever, told the San Francisco Chronicle that the women hoped to 'send a strong message that this type of treatment will not be tolerated'.

One lawsuit says Chiarello crudely likened martinis to breasts and once said: 'Martinis are like t**s, one is too few, three is too many.'

The chef (pictured in 2014) allegedly told managers at the restaurant to only hire people they found sexually desirable

He also allegedly told managers to only hire people they found sexually desirable.

In another incident, the lawsuit claims Chiarello held a baguette to his crotch in an overly suggestive manner and stroked it in full view of his employees.

In addition, the lawsuit alleges he compared a sandwich on his menu to a vagina.

The suit also accuses various chefs and managers of inappropriate touching and making remarks that were sexually abusive, racist and homophobic.

A second lawsuit by the women is a class-action complaint alleging that the restaurant didn't pay the women and others for all the hours they worked, including overtime.

The women, who worked at the restaurant for more than a year before filing the lawsuit, also claim they and others were denied meal breaks and rest periods.

Coqueta, which means flirt in Spanish, opened in 2013 to top reviews over its pretty cocktails and imaginative tapas plates.

In a statement, Chiarello's spokesman called the celebrity a true American success story who learned to cook by watching his mother in the kitchen and who cares about the people with whom he worked.

'The allegations are not only upsetting to him, they are also against his core beliefs,' the statement said.
Households will face bigger insurance bills after the Chancellor announced a second hike to premium tax in five months.

Families are already paying on average an extra 100 per year because of the rise in November, triggered by floods in northern England.

But George Osborne unveiled another increase in insurance premium tax, from 9.5 per cent to 10 per cent, during his Budget today.

Mr Osborne said he would raise the standard rate of insurance premium tax by 'just half a percentage point  and commit all the extra money we raise to flood defence spending'.

November's premium tax hike was even steeper, rising from 6 per cent to 9.5 per cent.

Some 700 million generated from the extra insurance taxes will go to strengthening and maintaining defences in areas ravaged by recent floods.

Premium tax hikes will affect policies for cars, households, private medical insurance and even pets.

Experts warned the changes will hit the youngest, oldest and sickest the most, as well as those who live in flood-prone areas or inner-cities. These households already pay more for their motoring, medical or home insurance.

Young drivers will pay on average an extra 50 a year under the two increases, the AA said. It urged the Government not to treat young motorists as 'wallets on wheels'.

Older drivers, who already pay high premiums, are also likely to be hit harder by the increase.

Cash-strapped households could feel forced to reduce or even abandon their insurance cover, under what the Association of British Insurers warned was a 'raid' on responsible consumers.

The British Insurance Brokers' Association (Biba) said it was 'astonished' at the further increase in the premium tax.

It said the latest rise means that, year-on-year, insurance buyers have faced an increase in tax of 66.6 per cent since March 2015.

The AA had raised fears last week that the tax could be increased to as high as 12.5 per cent.

Edmund King, AA president, said: 'The Chancellor has listened to our campaign against a 3 per cent hike in insurance premium tax and 0.5 per cent increase is better than expected.

Using it for flood defences is helpful but it simply replaces past spending cuts and targeting motorists to pay for flood alleviation is robbing Peter to pay Paul.'

Huw Evans, director general of the ABI, said: 'A further increase in IPT is disappointing news.

'Increased investment in flood defences is vital but should be part of core Government expenditure, not an afterthought paid for by raising taxes on people and businesses who do the responsible thing in protecting themselves through insurance.'

The extra 700 million in flood defences and maintenance by 2020-21 is on top of 2.3 billion government funding already committed.
Budget Day is traditionally a time when all eyes are on the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

But yesterday Theresa May managed to upstage George Osbornes speech  not through any political statement but with her daring choice of clothing.

As the Chancellor ploughed through the statistics, many could not help but find the 59-year-old Home Secretary, sitting to his left on the front bench in the House of Commons, something of a distraction.

Eyeful: A lacy bra peeking out from underneath her red dress, the Home Secretary Theresa May caused quite the stir on Twitter, dividing opinion between those who couldn't stop talking about it and others critical of them

Twitter user @TenajMe wrote: '#TheresaMay put your baps away darling we all have a pair. Thanks', while 'CoxeyLoxey' added: 'They are going to escape in a minute...'

Her low-cut dress revealed a little more than just her tan lines  and her spiral necklace only accentuated the matter.

The pictures were taken yesterday as a stills photographer was allowed into the Commons for the first time.

The Home Secretary's outfit prompted a brief deluge of chatter on social media website Twitter.

So great was the attention she received that one Twitter user posted: I think Theresa May may have just broke the internet.

But other Twitter users were dismayed by the extensive online discussion about Mrs Mays plunging neckline, branding it everyday sexism and ridiculous, and lamenting how it was dumbing down politics.

Talking point: The Chancellor George Osborne found himself somewhat upstaged by Theresa May's outfit, a cleavage-boosting number which provoked almost as much debate as the Budget itself

Backlash: Other Twitter users were dismayed by the extensive online discussion about Mrs May's breasts, branding it 'everyday sexism' and 'ridiculous' and lamenting how it was 'dumbing down politics'

One said: Seriously. Women have breasts, people. Even if theyre Home Secretary. And even if theyre over 40.

Another posted: Theresa May is the longest serving Home Sec since 1892, but she has breasts. Who cares? Ridiculous, as ever.

Others defended the Home Secretarys dress and matching jacket. One poster said: Theresa Mays bosom was a bit of a focus puller. Good on her.

TV cameras have been transmitting images from the Commons since 1989, and radio broadcasting of debates and announcements began in 1978.

Critical: One, Kate Maltby wrote: 'Seriously. Women have breasts, people. Even if they're Home Secretary. And even if they're over 40. *goes back to bed* #theresamay'

Others defended Mrs May's look, Mellie Buse posting: 'Theresa May's bosom was a bit of a focus puller. Good on her.' She and Mr Osborne appeared to share an awkward moment at the end of his Budget speech

George Osborne announced a string of policies which he said would make Britain ready for the next generation

Despite the backlash, plenty more remarks were made about how Mrs May's choice of outfit had set tongues wagging. Charlotte Neal tweeted: 'Theresa May, congrats on spicing up the budget with your outfit choice'

Last year the rules were liberalised further to allow close-up shots of MPs by installing eye-level cameras as well as the traditional fixed positions.

Among the key announcements made by Mr Osborne in his Budget were:
House Speaker Paul Ryan is taking himself out of consideration for the Republican presidential nomination, even if the party's July convention turns into utter chaos and needs a consensus candidate to calm the waters of a Trumpertantrum.

As front-runner Donald Trump warned Wednesday about 'riots' that could turn ugly if he arrives in Cleveland, Ohio with the most delegates but is denied the nomination, rumors swirled that the popular Wisconsin congressman could emerge as part of a GOP face-saving maneuver.

But Ryan's spokeswoman, AshLee Strong, said in a statement on Wednesday that 'the speaker is grateful for the support, but he is not interested. He will not accept a nomination and believes our nominee should be someone who ran this year.'

An evasive Ryan had told CNBC just hours earlier that he wouldn't rule out the idea of parachuting in to resolve a deadlocked convention.

NOT GONNA DO IT: Paul Ryan now says through a spokesperson that he won't accept the GOP's presidential nomination even if it's thrust upon him at the convention

LONG WAY TO GO: Donald Trump has more convention delegates locked down than anyone else but he's nowhere hear the magic number of 1,237 yet

'You know, I haven't given any thought to this stuff,' the speaker said. 'People say, "What about the contested convention?" I say, well, there are a lot of people running for president. We'll see. Who knows?'

Ryan was Mitt Romney's vice presidential running mate in 2012. The affable lawmaker might have been an establishment-wing antidote to Trump's combative and often polarizing approach to running for the White House.

But his closest aides had already asked a 'draft' committee to abandon its efforts to rope him into the presidential race, preferring to focus on staying on Capitol Hill.

'I actually think you should run for president if you're going to be president, if you want to be president,' Ryan told CNBC.

'I'm not running for president. I made that decision, consciously, not to.'

'I don't see that happening,' he added. 'I'm not thinking about it. I'm happy where I am, so no.'

That statement, though, was a far cry from shutting the door on accepting the nomination if Republican Party leaders were to recruit him amid a topsy-turvy convention floor fight.

Strong's statement  that he 'will not accept a nomination'  slams that door with force.

Trump, the GOP's front-runner, can secure the presidential nomination outright if he wins about 55 per cent of the delegates remaining to be awarded this year.

That task became harder when Ohio Gov. John Kasich beat him in the Buckeye State on Tuesday, but at the same time easier when Florida Sen. Marco Rubio pulled out of the race following an ambarrassing shellacking in his own home state.

Most of the state-level primary elections yet to come award delegates proportionately  not on a winner-take-all basis  meaning Trump can expect to pick up some delegates in a three-man race that would have been out of reach with Rubio still in the mix.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich remain in the fold to oppose the billionaire real estate developer.

STILL IN THE HUNT: Ohio Gov. John Kasich (left) and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (right) aim to slow Trump down enough to throw the July convention into chaos

HEY GIRL! Ryan (at right) was Mitt Romney's VP pick in 2012 and later became speaker of the House

It will take 1,237 delegates to secure the nomination. Following Tuesday's contests in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio, and a Monday overnight battle in the Northern Mariana Islands, Trump leads the pack with 646.

Cruz is in second place with 397. Kasich's 142 delegates put him in third.

Before Rubio suspended his campaign, be controlled 168 delegates. About 100 of those are 'unbound,' meaning that they could vote for someone other than Rubio on the convention's first ballot.

But since the 19 states and territories where Rubio won delegates operate according to a widely varying set of rules, questions remain about what will happen to them.

And in a long-shot scenario where Trump too few delegates to win on the first ballot and Rubio were to be offered as a consensus pick, he could count on his own 168 to be loyal to him during a second vote.
Desperate Syrians are being forced to sell their beloved valuable racing pigeons - some worth more than 10,000 - to wealthy Gulf and Lebanese buyers so they can buy food.

The prize specimens are smuggled across front lines to Lebanon, where pigeon breeders are snapping up the expensive birds.

Before the war, Syrian breeders were renowned to have the best pigeons - which are bred for competitions that judge the beauty of the birds with some collections valued at an astonishing $1million.

Valuable: Some of the pigeons have been valued at thousands of pounds and are being traded by desperate Syrians to buy food

Smuggled: Birds are smuggled across front lines in muslin bags to be sold to Gulf and Lebanese collectors

But now Syrians are being forced to part with their much loved pets to buy food to feed their families.

'During the last five years, the Syrians started selling their pigeons so they could buy food to eat,' Jordanian pigeon fancier Nasser al-Hindi told the BBC.

'The birds were dying in explosions anyway, so they started sending them to Lebanon to sell.'

Some of al-Hindi's birds have been valued at 10,500 and he went to Lebanon in a bid to buy new specimens to add to his collection and to ensure the birds stay in the Levent and are not exported to Gulf states.

According to the BBC, he has spent more than 350,000 buying Syrian birds over the last five years.

The birds are smuggled in muslin bags from Syria across front lines held by rebel factions and Hizbollah militias to Lebanon.

Explosions: Syrians have sold their valuable assets because they were dying under bombs in their coops

Banned: Keeping pigeons has been banned in areas under ISIS rule where the penalty has been death

One shipment of 70 birds were reportedly killed when the smugglers were caught in the crossfire - losing thousands of pounds worth of the valuable cargo.

But once in Lebanon, strict quarantine periods are rarely imposed meaning many birds are put down after they cross the border if caught by the authorities.

Breeding pigeons was once a popular Syrian hobby, but is yet another cultural casualty of the bloody five year war.

ISIS has banned the practice, claiming it is an activity that distracts people from religion.
America's founding fathers 'would be appalled' by the Department of Justice request to unlock an encrypted iPhone, Apple said on Tuesday in its final brief before a court showdown next week.

The tech giant is fighting a court order obtained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation last month.

The order requiring Apple to write new software and take other measures to disable passcode protection and allow access to San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook's iPhone.

Ahead of the face off in federal court in Southern California on March 22, Apple urged the court to reject the FBI request on the ground it is forbidden by the Constitution.

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America's founding fathers 'would be appalled' by the Department of Justice request to unlock an encrypted iPhone, Apple said on Tuesday. Pictured, Apple CEO Tim Cook

The firm stuck to its argument that the FBI was overstepping legal bounds by using an All Writs Act to compel the company to help break an iPhone used by one of the shooters in the December terror attack in San Bernardino, California.

'The government attempts to rewrite history by portraying the Act as an all-powerful magic wand rather than the limited procedural tool it is,' Apple attorneys said in the filing.

'Thus, according to the government, short of kidnapping or breaking an express law, the courts can order private parties to do virtually anything the Justice Department and FBI can dream up.

'The founders would be appalled.'

On Tuesday, Apple also said Congress had declined to give the Justice Department the authority to compel the company's help.

'Although silence is sometimes a weak indicator of intent, it is a different story when Congress actively considers legislation to address a major policy issue, yet deliberately declines to enact it,' Apple said.

Apple is fighting a court order requiring it to write new software to disable passcode protection and allow access to San Bernardino shooter Rizwan Farook's iPhone. Pictured, Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik

In a statement, the Justice Department said it looked forward to responding to Apple's arguments in court.

Spokeswoman Emily Pierce said: 'As we have said in our filings, the Constitution and the three branches of the federal government should be entrusted to strike the balance between each citizen's right to privacy and all citizens' right to safety and justice.

'The Constitution and the laws of the United States do not vest that power in a single corporation.'

Apple and the government have had several heated exchanges in court papers over the case.

According to the government, short of kidnapping or breaking an express law, the courts can order private parties to do virtually anything the Justice Department and FBI can dream up. The founders would be appalled

Law enforcement officials have said the shootings by Farook, 28, and his Pakistani wife, Tashfeen Malik, 29, were inspired by Islamist militants.

The FBI want to access the data on the phone to try and find out whether or not the couple had contact with any terror groups.

The government has claimed Apple is refusing access as part of a 'marketing strategy' to show off its commitment to customer privacy.

In response, Apple senior director Robert Ferrini filed a sworn statement saying Apple has created nearly 1,800 advertisements worldwide since rolling out its iOS 8 operating system in October 2014, generating an estimated 253 billion impressions worldwide.

'Of those advertisements, not a single one has ever advertised or promoted the ability of Apple's software to block law enforcement requests for access to the contents of Apple devices,' Ferrini said.

Repeating some of the arguments from its previous court filings, Apple said the court order violated free speech rights by compelling it to create the software.

It added that it also contradicted the purpose of a 1994 law called CALEA, which regulates government surveillance of communications networks.

The government has asked Apple to create a new version of its operating system, which would circumvent a feature that erases data on an iPhone after too many incorrect passwords are entered.

Protesters demonstrate outside an Apple Store in Los Angeles last month, objecting to the US Government's attempt to put a backdoor to hack into iPhones

It says forcing Apple to help unlock the iPhone is a 'modest' demand that may turn up vital evidence in a terrorist attack.

Apple, which is backed by a broad coalition of powerful rival technology firms and activists, argues that the FBI is seeking a 'back door' into all iPhones as part of the probe.

Digital rights activists warn that the issue provides little middle ground, that once law enforcement gains a 'back door,' there would be no way to close it.

The government brief, in sharp contrast, argued it is a single case of technical assistance in an important national security investigation.

'The court's order is modest,' Justice Department lawyers wrote.

'It applies to a single iPhone and it allows Apple to decide the least burdensome means of complying.'

APPLE v THE DOJ: DIGITAL PRIVACY OR NATIONAL SECURITY? Apple is fighting a court order obtained by the FBI requiring it to unlock a terrorist's iPhone. In the case that has pitted digital privacy rights against national security concerns, the tech giant is sticking to its argument that the FBI is overstepping legal bounds by using an All Writs Act to compel the company to help break into the device. Apple sees the request as a demand for a 'back door' into the software that powers all iPhones. The government brief, in sharp contrast, argued it is a single case of making a 'modest' demand for technical assistance in an important national security investigation. But an FBI victory in the case could serve as a legal precedent backing requests for access to iPhones by law enforcement agencies throughout the US. Advertisement

And FBI Director James Comey told a congressional panel that some answers are needed because 'there are times when law enforcement saves our lives, rescues our children.'

In a court filing last week, the government suggested that it could also have the authority to seek Apple's source code and signing key.

If the government did obtain that code, experts said it could access an unlimited number of devices, not just Farook's phone.

In response, Apple said 'the catastrophic security implications of that threat only highlight the government's fundamental misunderstanding or reckless disregard of the technology at issue and the security risks implicated by its suggestion.'

Additionally, Apple senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi said the company has never provided any government with its proprietary source code, according to a sworn statement filed in court.

Farook and Malik shot and killed 14 people at a holiday party on December 2 last year, before they both died in a shootout with police.

Tech industry leaders including Google, Facebook and Microsoft and more than two dozen other companies filed legal briefs earlier this month supporting Apple.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department received support from law enforcement groups and six relatives of San Bernardino victims.

However, Salihin Kondoker, whose wife, Anies, was shot three times during the attack but survived, expressed support for Apple's position in the case that has pitted digital privacy rights against national security concerns.

Kondoker said he believes 'privacy is important and Apple should stay firm in their decision.'

FBI Director James Comey testifies during a House Judiciary Committee hearing titled 'The Encryption Tightrope: Balancing Americans' Security and Privacy' on Capitol Hill on March

Meanwhile, an FBI victory in the case could serve as a legal precedent backing requests for access to iPhones by law enforcement agencies throughout the US.

Apple general counsel Bruce Sewell last week slammed the Justice Department brief as reading 'like an indictment' and that it is apparently crafted to smear the iPhone maker with innuendo such as implying a 'sinister' relationship with China.

He bashed the 'cheap shot' brief as 'an unsubstantiated effort to vilify Apple' that was on a flimsy legal footing.

Apple attorneys said that the California-based company has 'categorically and absolutely not' been asked by any government other than the United States to build a backdoor into a product.

The government brief said the request is similar to requiring telephone companies to install wiretaps under court orders.
It only took 25 minutes for one of the managers to discover the ring

Begged to have the truck detour to a transfer station so they could search

Couple found out the garbage truck was headed for a radioactive landfill

Bernie Squitieri saw the towels and threw them out the next morning

A Missouri couple is believing in miracles after they were reunited with a missing $400,000 wedding ring that was discovered buried in 10 tons of trash.

Carla Squitieri's 12.5 carat wedding ring and anniversary band accidentally ended up in the trash when she left them by the kitchen sink after washing her hands on Saturday.

Her husband Bernie Squitieri, 54, threw the paper towels in the trash the next morning before tying up the garbage bag and bringing it out to the sanitation workers who had arrived for a pickup.

Carla Squitieri's 12.5 carat wedding ring and anniversary band accidentally ended up in the trash when she left them by the kitchen sink after washing her hands on Saturday

Her husband Bernie Squitieri, 54, (pictured together) threw the paper towels in the trash the next morning before tying up the garbage bag and bringing it out to the sanitation workers who had arrived for a pickup

Carla noticed her rings were missing when she returned home after dropping their daughter off at school, panicking as she tried to find her beloved rings.

When the couple's nephew said he remembered seeing them on the kitchen counter the night before, Squitieri realized what he had done.

Carla immediately broke down into tears, Squitieri told ABC News.

Although the rings were insured, they had sentimental value. Carla, a mother of four, planned to pass them down to her only daughter.

The couple then called Meridian Waste Services - and found out the truck was headed to a radioactive landfill.

Squitieri asked if the truck could be moved to a transfer station in the City of O'Fallon and a plan was made for the couple and three managers to comb through the trash.

Wearing jumpsuits and goggles and armed with bags and tweezers, the five of them began the search that would prove to be much smellier than finding a needle in a haystack.

Squitieri said one of the managers said they had a 'slim to none chance' of finding the ring, but the search didn't even last an hour.

The couple convinced Meridian Waste Services to divert the garbage truck and donned protective gear so they could help search for the ring (pictured with operations manager Joe Evans, who found it)

The couple, Evans and two other managers spent only 25 minutes searching through 10 tons of trash (pictured) before the ring was discovered

Twenty-five minutes after getting their hands dirty, operations manager Joe Evans discovered the ring.

'I couldn't get to him fast enough,' Carla told KPLR 11. 'I put them on, dirty and everything.'

'It was crazy,' Squitieri told ABC. 'I thought we were going to be there for two days.'

Evans was just as surprised, saying '10 times out of 10' the company is never successful in finding people's lost valuables.

'It was the best feeling in the world to find that ring and give it back,' he said. 'I was raised a certain way and I knew it'd have more meaning to them than it would have for me.'

'He could've put the ring in his pocket and nobody would've ever noticed,' Squitieri said.

'It gave my wife a really good feeling and it's nice to know that there's still good people out there.'

Carla said the couple reached out to the media to get publicity for the 'great people' of Meridian Sanitation.

'Without them I would not have been so lucky,' she said. 'It will never leave my finger.'
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has called on Australia to 'pull your finger out' and introduce a tax on sugary soft drinks to combat childhood obesity after hearing the UK government was bringing in a levy.

The British government revealed on Wednesday it had plans to introduce a sugar tax on soft drink companies from 2018.

After hearing the government's surprise move, Oliver, who is a vigorous campaigner for a sugar tax, posted an online video urging other countries including Australia, Canada and Germany to follow suit.

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Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has called on Australia to 'pull your finger out' and introduce a tax on sugary soft drinks to combat childhood obesity after hearing the UK government was bringing in a levy

'Pull your finger out Australia,' Oliver said.

'It's about time your governments got on this.'

The chef later told media the move, which was announced by Chancellor George Osbourne, came as a complete shock to him.

'Surprisingly and fascinatingly we've seen Osborne come out with a bold, brave tax... I'm shocked but in all the right ways, I'm humbled actually,' he said.

'This will travel right around the world, to Canada, to Australia.'

Similar taxes have been used to reduce consumption and childhood obesity in countries including Mexico and Hungary.

But Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo has played down the prospects of Australia following Britain's lead and introducing a sugar tax.

'If you ask what's my personal view, I'm not a fan of that, I think the more you get in and distort these types of things, the more government causes havoc across the system,' Mr Ciobo told ABC TV on Thursday.

After hearing the government's surprise move, Oliver, who is a vigorous campaigner for a sugar tax, posted an online video urging other countries including Australia, Canada and Germany to follow suit

The British government revealed on Wednesday it had plans to introduce a sugar tax on soft drink companies from 2018

Oliver took to Instagram to celebrate the news as well saying the sugar tax was 'amazing news'

Oliver took to Instagram to celebrate the news as well.

'We did it guys !! We did it !!! A sugar levy on sugary sweetened drinks ... A profound move that will ripple around the world ... business cannot come between our kids health !! Our kids health comes first ... Bold, brave, logical and supported by all the right people ... now bring on the whole strategy soon to come ... Amazing news,' he wrote.

The UK treasury faced some scrutiny following the announcement when it emerged sweet coffee, tea, and milkshakes, which can contain up to 25 teaspoons of sugar, will be exempt because they contain milk. Pure fruit juices will also not be taxed.

The celebrity chef said afterwards that any drink with added sugar, including milkshakes, should have been included.

A sugar tax on soft drink companies is expected to raise more than $1 billion in revenue for the government.
Donald Trump lashed out at Hillary Clinton on Wednesday in a look ahead at what would be a bruising general election contest, warning that her campaign-rally impression of a barking dog will make her an international 'punchline' if she wins the White House.

'Is this what we want for a President?' Trump wrote in a message accompanying his Instagram video.

It begins with a caustic message played over images of Russian president Vladimir Putin executing a judo takedown and a gun-wielding ISIS jihadi.

'When it comes to facing our toughest opponents, the Democrats have the perfect answer,' read words on the screen.

And then Trump's social-media blast cuts to footage of Hillary barking like a dog.

BARK LIKE A DOG: Hillary Clinton imitated a lie-detecting canine in a frequently mocked February campaign appearance that Donald Trump threw in her face Wednesday in a new Instagram video

TOUGH TALK: Trump's video seems to say the ISIS terror army won't fear a barking-dog president

HILLARY THE PUNCHLINE: Trump's short video argues that world leaders won't take Clinton seriously because of her less-than-presidential moments

'We don't need to be a punchline!' the video blares in all-caps letters as a few seconds of Putin bursting into laughter ends the scene.

Clinton's magic canine moment came in February during a rally in Reno, Nevada as she retold an old story about an Arkansas radio ad featuring a dog that barked every time someone told a lie.

She suggested enlisting a pooch to call out her political opponents next.

'The dog was barking on the radio and so people were barking at each other for days after that,' she said. 'I want to figure out how we can do that with Republicans.'

'Arf, arf, arf, arf!' she chirped as her audience guffawed.

'I think we could cut right through a lot of their claims,' Hillary beamed.

The barking-dog stunt did not become part of Clinton's regular stump speech.

Those few seconds of video have become fodder for the GOP as right-wingers have mocked the former secretary of state as unpresidential.

CHUCKLES: Vladimir Putin is seen in the Trump video laughing uproariously right after Hillary's yip-yip moment

Trump has parried claims that he will lose to Clinton in November if he's the Republican nominee, saying that he 'hasn't even started with her yet.'

He appeared to turn that corner Wednesday morning.

'I think she's an embarrassment to our country,' Trump said on the CNN 'New Day' program.

'She doesn't have the strength or the stamina to be president, frankly, as far as I'm concerned.'

'She doesn't have strength. She doesn't have the stamina,' he said.

'She talks about "defeat our enemies." Well, where has she been for the last year? We can't even beat ISIS. She's not defeating our enemy. She wouldn't know how to defeat the enemy. It's ridiculous.'

ONE-TIME ONLY: Clinton's dog impression never made a second appearance on the campaign trail after it became fodder for Twitter comedians and late-night talk show monologues

'AN EMBARRASSMENT': Trump is looking ahead to a general election matchup with Clinton by hammering her more and his Republican rivals less

In her victory speech following a string of primaries on Tuesday night, Clinton hinted at her differences with Trump but didn't name him.

'Our commander-in-chief has to be able to defend our country, not embarrass it,' she said. 'Engage our allies, not alienate them. Defeat our adversaries, not embolden them.'
Kashawn 'DJ Boogy' Harris, 25, was fined for playing an N.W.A. song as police were clearing out an overcrowded pub in Massachusetts last fall

A local DJ in Massachusetts says police accused him of trying to incite a riot after he played N.W.A.'s hip-hop classic 'F*** the Police' as officials were shutting down a college party at a bar.

The party at Shenanigans Pub in Westfield, Massachusetts last October was over capacity, police said, which led the fire marshal to decide to shut it down.

As the crowd was clearing out, police said Kashawn Harris, who was spinning records that night under the moniker DJ Boogy, started playing the controversial 1988 song.

'I believed at that time the combination of alcohol, the excessive amount of people in the bar and the song that the DJ chose to play at that time was an intentional act by the DJ to incite the crowd which showed a reckless disregard for public safety,' Westfield police officer Juanita Mejias wrote in a report, according to MassLive.

Harris, 25, fought back against the accusations in a video posted to his Facebook page Tuesday.

'I don't know why [the officer] is trying to make this into something it's not. I don't come from a background where I'm trying to start riots, in a place... that I do business in faithfully,' Harris said, adding that he has been performing at Shenanigans since he was in college.

Kashawn 'DJ Boogy' Harris, 25, said he didn't try to incite the crowd by playing an N.W.A. song. Pictured right with DJ equipment.

In Harris' version of events, he had cued up the song before officials arrived, and it only began playing after the crowd had already thinned out.

Harris said he then made eye contact with a male police officer, and they both 'giggled about the song' before he turned it off.

'I played a snippet, and cut it off,' the DJ said.

According to MassLive, Harris was found responsible for disorderly conduct on March 11 and slapped with a $50 fine.

'It frustrates me, because I respect police officers who do their job... and who serve and protect. But then you have officers like this who make lies up, to make somebody look like a bad guy, which I'm not.'

A spokesperson for Westfield Police Department could not be reached for a comment.

West coast hip-hop pioneers N.W.A. have been making headlines with their controversial lyrics ever since their 1988 debut
She acquired another passport and travelled to Egypt within a few months

Her father brought her home, took her passport away and put her under 'close supervision'

But 16-year-old changed her mind about heading further into ISIS territory

A bright teenager ran way from home twice because she thought her parents were not strict enough as Muslims.

The girl first flew to Turkey and reached the Syrian border before she changed her mind about travelling onwards into Islamic State territory.

Her father responded by bringing the 16-year-old home, taking her passport away and putting her under 'very close supervision'.

Yet a few months later the girl  described as an 'A-star student' - had acquired a replacement British passport, and travelled to Egypt in the hope of studying Islam and marrying and Islamic scholar.

The 16-year-old who wanted to live under 'stricter codes of Islamic behaviour' should have been given more help to steer her away from extremism, a court ruled (file photo of jihadi brides)

The teenager who wanted to live under 'stricter codes of Islamic behaviour' should have been given more help to live apart from her Pakistani family and to be steered away from extremism, Mr Justice Hayden ruled in a High Court judgment published yesterday.

He said Enfield council's decision to do nothing to help the girl or her family had been 'fundamentally flawed'.

During her rebellion against her family, the judge disclosed, the girl also went through a preliminary form of Islamic marriage to a man in his 30s who lived in Bethnal Green in East London.

'It appears to be against the expressed wishes of the parents,' the judge said. 'This individual is monitored by police in the light of his radicalised beliefs.'

The case of the Enfield teenager is the latest in a series involving young women in London who have tried to travel to Syria after developing radical Islamic views.

Mr Justice Hayden said that the girl, who is now 18, ran away to Turkey in early 2014. She 'left her family home in February 2014 without the consent of her family and travelled through Turkey to the Syrian border.

The girl first flew to Turkey and reached the Syrian border before she changed her mind about travelling onwards into ISIS territory (file photo of women being trained to shoot in ISIS territory)

'She contacted her father from Turkey to come and collect her, apparently having had a change of heart about her plans. It is clear that she travelled to Turkey alone. Prior to her flight she is reported to have been following a number of local Muslim girls on the internet.

'She met an adult man, online, called Umar who lived in Turkey and he had encouraged her to run away from home. Her father responded to his daughter's call.'

She reported being unhappy at her family home explaining that she disliked her family and had done so for a long time. She professed to want to live somewhere where she felt more accepted Mr Justice Hayden

The judge said the girl had told social workers her parents 'they were not strict enough Muslims'.

He added: 'She reported being unhappy at her family home explaining that she disliked her family and had done so for a long time. She professed to want to live somewhere where she felt more accepted.

'By this, it is clear from the documentation in the case, she meant that she wanted to live in an environment that was observant to stricter Islamic codes of behaviour.'

She also said that her father had 'hit and pulled' her during the course of an argument.

The girl 'said that she went to visit people in Turkey whom she had met on Twitter. She said she wanted to join their group, she felt happy there,' the judge said in his ruling.

'The family told the police that they were afraid that she might try and leave again, possibly being influenced by the same people who they considered were involved 'in what was happening in Syria at present'.'

Her father responded by bringing the 16-year-old home, taking her passport away and putting her under 'very close supervision' (file photo of women being trained to shoot in ISIS territory)

In September 2014, the girl ran away again, still aged 16, this time to Egypt.

She left the country because she was afraid her parents would follow her, and travelled on to Greece and Bulgaria, before returning to Britain, where she was questioned by anti-terrorist police and Border Agency officers.

It is perhaps important to emphasise that the nature of the risk from this chaotic lifestyle was of a different complexion to the risk of radicalisation Mr Justice Hayden

After Enfield social workers decided the girl could live with her parents, she stayed with friends and relatives and, from time to time, with her parents.

Her behaviour became 'increasingly unsafe', Mr Justice Hayden said.

'It is perhaps important to emphasise that the nature of the risk from this chaotic lifestyle was of a different complexion to the risk of radicalisation. In this context, the risk was more generally to her physical, emotional and sexual security,' he said.

In November 2015, the girl was detained at Heathrow seeking to travel to Bulgaria again. She then dropped out of her A-levels before enrolling for a diploma in Islamic Studies.
A Texas family is devastated after their St Bernard was stolen from their yard and was later found brutally beaten and left for dead.

Cassi Moss, owner of seven-year-old Big Ben, said the dog was taken from their Fort Worth home's yard on Monday before he was discovered with a swollen eye and a bleeding, severed paw.

This tragedy only comes three months after the family adopted Ben, saving him hours before he was set to be euthanized, according to CBSDFW.

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A Texas family is devastated after their St Bernard was stolen from their yard and was later found brutally beaten and left for dead (Big Ben's injuries pictured left and right)

The toes on Ben's paw appeared to be severed as his crushed paw is pictured severely damaged right. Ben is currently at a critical care center facing several injuries and possible paw amputation

'It hurts,' an emotional Moss told the station. 'I haven't even told my kids.'

Ben, who is facing several surgeries, had been let out into the yard on Monday and was stolen as Moss was inside getting his food, according to a Gofundme page set up to help with the dog's medical treatment.

The family searched the area around their home but had no luck in finding Ben, who Moss' husband, James, noted had an embedded microchip.

They then contacted police and reported him missing before later that evening a passerby found the brutally beaten dog in a ditch near railroad tracks.

Cassi Moss, owner of seven-year-old Ben, said the dog was taken from their Fort Worth home's yard on Monday before he was discovered with head injuries, paw injuries and an eye swollen shut

The family had contacted police and reported him missing before later that evening a passerby found the brutally beaten dog in a ditch near railroad tracks

Ben had reportedly been thrown over a fence before he was discovered with a badly crushed paw, head injuries and left blinded in his right eye, according to CBSDFW.

'We get a phone call later that evening that our dog was found in the ditch beside a fence half dead,' James Moss said.

'We think some punk kids wanted to beat a dog up and they just happened to pick our dog.'

The dog now might have to have his paw amputated which could mean he would be unable to walk, as Mr Moss explained Ben already has a weak back leg.

'We get a phone call later that evening that our dog was found in the ditch beside a fence half dead,' owner James Moss said. He thinks that some 'punk kids wanted to beat up a dog' and picked theirs

Owner Cassie Moss said the whole ordeal hurts and that she has not even told her kids yet. She thinks someone did it intentionally

On Tuesday morning, he was taken to Greenville Animal Hospital in Greenville. He was scheduled for his first surgery today

Ben, who is described as 'the friendliest dog you'll ever see in his life', was initially taken to critical care at Metrowest Emergency Vet in Fort Worth.

On Tuesday morning, he was taken to Greenville Animal Hospital in Greenville. He was scheduled for his first surgery today.

Mrs Moss, who believes 'somebody intentionally' hurt Big Ben, is certain he was taken from their yard and noted that when they realized he was missing, the gate was still closed.

Fort Worth Police have been notified of the incident and are searching for the person(s) responsible.

The Moss family had adopted Ben three months ago, saving him hours before he was set to be euthanized

Animal activist Sherri Green, who runs a local animal rescue group and helped the family find Ben, set up the Gofundme page for the family on Monday.

The Moss' at the time were unsure how they were going to pay for his bills.

In one day the fund raised $10,250 and has since been closed for donations. A note on the account said remaining funds will be transferred directly to the vet taking care of Ben.
The plainclothes Maryland police officer who died in a chaotic shootout at a Maryland police station was deliberately shot by a fellow officer who did not recognize him and viewed him as an armed threat, a police chief said Wednesday.

Police Chief Hank Stawinski was careful not to speculate about the state of mind of the unidentified officer who fired on Officer Jacai Colson on Sunday afternoon outside a police station in Landover, but he said it was clear that the officer feared for his life.

'I don't believe for a second that our officer intentionally fired at another police officer,' Stawinski said.

Three brothers who live near the suburban Washington police station have been charged in the gunfight, which police have described as an attempt by the suicidal oldest brother, 22-year-old Michael Ford, to provoke officers into killing him.

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Officer Jacai Colson, 28 (pictured), was deliberately shot on Sunday in Landover, Maryland, by a fellow officer who did not recognize him and viewed him as an armed threat

Investigators say evidence shows 22-year-old Michael Ford (left) opened fire on Colson. He and his brothers, 18-year-old Elijiah (center) and 21-year-old Malik (right) face multiple charges in Colson's death

According to police, Ford was driven to the station by his two younger brothers and began firing at the building and at passing vehicles, causing officers to return fire.

Ford fired more than 20 shots, prosecutors said in court on Wednesday.

Police said Ford's brothers aided him before and during the shootout and used their cellphones to record video of the gunfight.

They also recorded video of Michael Ford offering a 'last will and testament', police said.

A judge denied bail on Wednesday afternoon for Ford's brothers, 21-year-old Malik Ford and 18-year-old Elijah Ford, in a dramatic hearing that included emotional pleas on their behalf by their father and several other relatives.

While listening to his relatives, Malik Ford, who appeared in court via closed-circuit television, collapsed and fell to the floor.

Some of his family members wept as he was treated by medical personnel, and the hearing resumed a few minutes later, with Ford seated in a chair.

The relatives tried to distance Malik and Elijah from Michael's actions, saying they were not armed and their involvement was minimal.

'He didn't pull the trigger,' their father, Michael Thomas, said of Elijah. 'My son is excellent. He's a great person.'

After bail was denied for Elijah Ford, his sister, Ebony Howard, blurted out to Judge Robert Heffron, 'Do you all have any incriminating evidence against him?'

Colson (pictured), who was not in uniform, was killed in the chaotic ambush. Police Chief Hank Stawinski was careful not to speculate about the state of mind of the unidentified officer who fired upon Colson outside the police station in Landover, but he said it was clear that the officer feared for his life

Heffron informed her that it was the state that gathers evidence against defendants.

Thomas said his sons had strong character and mostly stayed out of trouble.

Elijah, a high school senior, has no criminal history, while Malik has been charged twice with petty theft. The charges were dropped in both cases, court records show.

The eldest Ford brother's criminal record lists more than a dozen charges, including possession of drug paraphernalia, theft, trespassing and public urination.

'I've lost three kids in one shot,' Thomas said.

The police union leader, John Teletchea, was livid that the suspects would coldly watch and record what he said their own cellphone evidence shows was an unprovoked and premeditated attack.

Colson, Teletchea said earlier this week, 'reacted to protect his fellow police officers and his community. And while doing so we had individuals videotaping, as if it's a game, as if it's something we're going to put on YouTube and glorify'.

A relative of the Fords, who did not identify herself in court, said 'Elijah was not seeking YouTube celebrity', arguing instead that he recorded video of the shooting because he was concerned no one would believe what had happened.

The relatives declined to comment after the hearing. They were represented by a public defender, Kevin Valdez, who declined to comment or to identify who had spoken.

Colson, a 28-year-old narcotics detective, was wearing street clothes and responded to the shooting from a different location than the other officers, according to charging documents.

Colson was black. Police have not revealed the race of the other officers involved in the shootout.

Prince George's County police chief Hank Stawinski comforts the parents of police officer Jacai Colson, James and Sheila Colson during a news conference at Prince George's County Police HQ on Monday

State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said her office would investigate every aspect of the shooting, including whether race was a factor.

Michael Ford faces more than two dozen charges, including second-degree murder. Malik and Elijah face charges including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Alsobrooks has said the brothers, who were not armed, could also be charged under Maryland's felony murder law, which applies to people who participate in a felony that results in a homicide.

Earlier this week, the Fords' aunt, Shanelle Ramos-Rogers, told the New York Daily News that Michael Ford had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

'We are sorry for everything and all the grief we caused in this officer's life,' she said. 'We are truly shameful for everything going on.'

Speaking to The Post, Ramos said her sister, Lisa, who is the Ford siblings' mother, suffered a heart attack when police burst into her home after the shooting. She was taken to the same hospital as her wounded son.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan earlier this week ordered flags lowered to half-staff in honor of the slain four-year veteran of the Prince George's Police Department.

'The First Lady and I send our sincere prayers to the family and loved ones of Officer Colson, who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his fellow citizens and community,' Hogan said in a statement late on Sunday.

Colson, an undercover narcotics officer, would have turned 29 years old this week.

Sheriff's deputy Dominick Chambers, a friend from the police academy, said they celebrated their four-year anniversary as officers on March 12, the day before Colson was killed.
An ex-prison guard has gone on trial accused of murdering his wife after a New Year's Eve party four years ago, even though police initially ruled her death a suicide.

Tom Fallis, 38, allegedly shot the 28-year-old mother of his three children Ashley in the head just after midnight on January 1, 2012, at their home in Greeley, Colorado, following a heated argument.

Authorities said she had killed herself, but a damning reporter from TV station KDVR suggested there were inconsistencies in the investigation and revealed she was shot in the back of the head.

A source even suggested that a sheriff had overheard Wallis confessing to the crime hours after the deadly shooting.

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Former prison guard Tom Fallis stares forward from the defense table during the first day of his trial. He is accused of murdering his wife Ashley after a New Year's Eve party in Greeley, Colorado, in 2012

Ashley Fallis' death was initially ruled a suicide, but a reopened investigation and a story by a local TV station led to his arrest in 2014. She is pictured above on her wedding day

Fallis, who was working as a Weld County corrections officer, called 911 in screaming hysterics to say his wife had committed suicide.

He angrily denied that he had anything to do with his wife's death and Evans police quickly ruled that Ashley had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

On Wednesday, the first day of the trial, prosecutors described Fallis as a furious man who was frustrated by overbearing in-laws and the state of his marriage.

His family claim he was red-faced and had clenched fists on the night his wife died, the Denver Post reported.

He also allegedly screamed at her relatives when they gave Ashley marijuana at the party.

Weld County Deputy District Attorney Anthea Carrasco told the court during her opening statement: 'At the conclusion of this case you'll be asked to answer one question.

'Whether you believe Ashley Fallis, a young mother of three with her whole life ahead of her... in a matter of moments went from happy-go-lucky... to walking into her bedroom, pulling out a gun - her kids just rooms away - and putting a bullet in her head.

'Or whether you believe the one person witnesses describe as being as angry as he could possibly be as putting a bullet in her head.'

But defense attorneys maintain that Ashley killed herself.

According to the Post, attorney Iris Eytan told the court: 'We are here because of Ashley's parents. They couldn't accept... that their daughter committed suicide in 2011 and they still can't accept it.'

On Wednesday, the first day of the trial, prosecutors described Fallis (left with Ashley on their wedding day) as a furious man who was frustrated by over-bearing in-laws and the state of their marriage

They added that his wife Ashley was like a 'pressure cooker'.

They described her as a troubled woman with a family history of suicide who was off her mental health medication at the time.

They also said she had been overwhelmed by a miscarriage and was intoxicated after a New Year's Eve party.

'We'd be remiss if we didn't talk about how Ashley Fallis got to the point to kill herself,' Eytan said.

The defense went on to portray Ashley as unstable.

Fallis (mug shot pictured above) was arrested in Bloomington, Indiana, in November 2014 and has finally made his first appearance in front of a judge

They mentioned the loss of her job in 2010, stress from her son's 10th brain surgery, and an affair she had in the summer of 2011 as part of the reason for her 'unstable' character.

They also said she had several mental illnesses including anxiety, depression, bipolar tendencies and sleeping disorders.

'She created emails in the name of her lover and sent those to her husband to cause him pain,' Eytan said. 'She was up and down in 2011. She was all over the place...very good at masking her true self.'

The defense read from a suicide note Ashley wrote in July of 2011, to finish their opening statements: 'I just can't take this life any longer. I can't live being me. I hate me... I can't go on any longer. I am sorry.'

Fallis was arrested three years after the crime. Local detectives allegedly covered up evidence of his crime and ruled her death a suicide.

Her family never believed she had killed herself and they campaigned for three years for police in Evans, Colorado, to reopen the case.

Fallis was arrested in Bloomington, Indiana, in November 2014 and has finally made his first appearance in front of a judge.

A police interview shown after her death has shown Fallis denying the scratches across his chest and neck had anything to do with her death - and insisted they were a result of shaving.

'I didn't shoot my wife,' he insists in the interview, which was recorded.

'Tell me what happened then!' the detective responds. 'Why do you have scratches on your body?'

'When you shave your chest you do this all day!' he says, lifting up his shirt and scratching his chest.

The marks were swabbed for DNA and photographed, KDVR reported.

Fallis is seen talking to police during an interview, insisting cuts on his chest were from shaving and not defensive wounds from a supposed scuffle with his wife before her death

Ashley Fallis' nails were also swabbed - and sources told the station that those swabs tested positive for her husband's DNA, 'calling into question whether Fallis lied that night', Joseph reported.

But the DNA and scratches are not the only pieces of evidence that raise questions.

Among the details that KDVR uncovered: A friend at the party who said he overheard Ashley crying for her husband to get off of her; a neighbor who said he heard outside his window as Tom Fallis confessed to killing his wife; reports from Ashley's parents that he had been violently angry before Ashley's death; and clear evidence of a struggle in the bedroom where Ashley's body was found.

Most shockingly, one of the the Fallis' young children, aged six, told police that she saw 'Daddy getting the gun ready' and 'saw Daddy shoot Mommy'.

Ashley's mother, Jenna Fox, told KDVR: 'He was irate and explosive. He was abusive with his words and he was telling us he hated us, and to 'F everybody' and then he went into the room and slammed the door.'

But in the interview, Fallis insisted that he never argued with his wife.

After he claimed the scratches were not from Ashley, the detective asked: 'Why would she tell you to get off of her then?'

Fallis' defense team described his wife as troubled woman with a family history of suicide who was off her mental health medication at the time (pictured are the couple in a Facebook snap)

'I was never on her,' he responded.

And in a bizarre twist, he claimed he found two alleged suicide notes from Ashley in late 2014 - nearly three years after her death.

Ashley's mother, Jenna Fox, told KDVR that it's 'suspect' that he's only just come forward with the notes.

'If anything they are probably notes from Ashley discussing her struggle as a wife and not her alleged intention to kill herself,' she said.

In November, he was arrested in Bloomington, Indiana, where he had been living with the couple's three young children after fleeing Colorado. He was extradited back to Colorado.

He has always maintained his innocence.

The children were handed over to Ashley's parents, Jenna Fox and Joel Raguindin.
NSW Police has asked for an appeal against the sentence given to her

She was given a suspended jail sentence and a good behaviour bond

Ms Levy has been banned from driving for the next three years

The 60-year-old woman also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence

Glenn Wheeler was on his scooter when he was hit by a van last year

Police have asked for an appeal against the sentence given to the woman who was high on cannabis when she crashed into TV and radio broadcaster Glenn Wheeler.

A NSW Police spokeswoman has confirmed to Daily Mail Australia police have asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider an appeal as the sentence handed to Deborah Levy was too lenient.

The 60-year-old woman was given a seven-month suspended jail sentence, a two-year good behaviour bond and disqualified from driving for three years when she fronted court last week.

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Glenn Wheeler (pictured) was placed in an induced coma after he was struck by a van driven by Deborah Levy

During her court appearances, Deborah Levy, 60, has shielded (right) her face from the waiting media pack

The badly damaged scooter after the radio broadcaster was struck by a van when he was on his want to work

This comes after Wheeler, a presenter on The Morning Show, spent 321 days in hospital after he was struck by a van driven by Ms Levy when he was on his way to work on January 31, 2015.

She cut the corner with her Mitsubishi Star Wagon, toppling over Wheeler's scooter at the intersection of Woolooware Road and Caronia Avenue in Sydney's south.

The much-loved media personality was placed into an induced coma after suffering serious injuries to his brain and pelvis, as well as a severed artery in one leg.

Wheeler's family released a statement shortly after he was admitted to hospital saying he was in a 'very early and delicate stages of resting his brain and other injuries' after coming out of the coma.

Wheeler (with his fellow Morning Show hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies) after waking from induced coma

The much-loved media personality was placed into an induced coma after suffering serious injuries

The Morning Show presenter spent 321 days in hospital following the crash, which led to an induced coma

'The impact left him with a severed artery in one leg and other significant injuries to various parts of his body,' the family statement read.

'There's some bleeding on the brain but scans have come back with encouraging results. He continues to show signs that he's with us and at times we feel he hasn't lost his sense of humour.'

Ms Levy had pleaded guilty to negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

On the evening of the accident, police told Wheeler's colleagues at the radio station that he may not survive the night.

The evening of the accident, police told Wheeler's colleagues at Radio 2GB they did not think he would survive

The 60-year-old draping a black jacket over herself to hide from the media when she left court last week

Wheeler leaving hospital for the first time in 321 days - an emotional moment celebrated by his family

Last December, Wheeler recorded an emotional interview from the brain injury unit at Liverpool Hospital, with his Channel Seven co-workers Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies.

He personally thanked everyone who contributed to making him feel loved and 'a part of the team'.

'Thank you everybody collectively for the fabulous support that I have had, that this little black duck has had over the last two years,' the enigmatic presenter said.
A Chinese mother who sold her two daughters illegally to compensate for mounting debts was caught on camera counting the cash in front of one of the oblivious little girls.

The woman Long Baoxin had two girls in her care - Su Xiaochun, 4, and Su Xiaoqiu, 2, (not their real names) - according to Huanqiu.com, an affiliation of People's Daily Online.

Long Baoxin, who hails from Heng County in central China, attempted to traffick her daughters separately for a combined 32,000 Yuan (3,500) in order to pay off gambling debts. The trafficker is now on trial for her crimes after the father of the children alerted authorities.

Tragic case: Long Baoxin (right) had two daughters in her care - Su Xiaochun (above, left), 4, and Su Xiaoqiu, 2. Above, she is counting the money made from a sale

Cruel: Long Baoxin, from Heng County, China, attempted to traffick the girls for 32,000 Yuan (3,500) in total

Horrific story: Long Baoxin sold Su Xiaoqiu (right) to a buyer (above, in white) at a train station in Binyang County in December 2014

Scary: Some of her illegal gains were used to pay off the debts, and used the remainder to continue to gamble

Before she fell into her money-spinning addiction, she and her partner of seven years, identified by his surname Su, had funds to enjoy a frugal life.

Things all changed when Long Baoxin started gambling and fell into debt.

After an argument over money, the couple separated and Long Baoxin left with the children.

According to reports by Sohu TV, Su initially thought that she would return after a cooling off period but when she still hadn't come back six months later, he decided to pay her a visit.

It was only then that the father of two discovered that his daughters have gone missing and informed the police.

Police discovered that after going broke, Long Baoxin sold Su Xiaoqiu to a buyer, identified by her surname Wei, at a train station in Binyang County in December 2014 at a price of 19,000 Yuan (2,070).

The mother used some of her illegal gains to pay off the debts, and used the remainder to continue to gamble until all the money had been used up again.

Horror: In January 2015, Long Baoxin agreed for her remaining daughter Su Xiaochun to be sold off to a different buyer

Justice done: Long Baoxin faced the Heng County People's Procuratorate to answer for her illegal dealings

In January 2015 in Heng, Long Baoxin agreed for her other daughter Su Xiaochun to be sold off to a different buyer, also identified by her surname Wei ,for 13,000 Yuan (just over 1,400) before using the money for the same purposes.

A horrifying video clip, taken by the buyer during the transaction, showed the mother counting the money right in front of the little girl.

The girl was seen helping her count the cash, completely oblivious to the fact that she is being sold.

Three months later in April 2015, police officers discovered the transactions that had taken place and were able to rescue both of the children and take them to safety.

Heng County People's Procuratorate recently ruled that Long Baoxin made concious efforts to obtain illegal profits and violated criminal law in relation to the trafficking of children.

She had admitted to the charges but awaits sentencing.
A woman in east China needed a truck to transport hundreds of thousands of coins she received as payment to a bank to be deposited.

Unfortunately for her, several bank refused to take her small change amounting to 540,000 Yuan (54,000), because they were understaffed and there was no one available to count it.

Her unusual problem was finally solved on March 14 when the Agricultural and Commercial Bank in Dongyang city agreed to draft in all its staff to help out, reported the Peoples Daily Online.

Overloaded: A woman in Dongyang city used a truck to carry 540,000 Yuan (54,000) in coins to the bank

Heavy: Two workers were needed to carry all of the coins from the truck and into the bank on March 14

The woman's husband runs a firm in the city. The 1 Yuan (10p) and 5 Mao (5p) coins were paid to them by a bus company to honour a loan, reported the South China Morning Post.

In total they had 1.16 million Yuan (110,000) in coins at home, but the wife decided they should deposit a smaller amount as it was too difficult to transport that much money.

She said she was shocked by how much money she had received in coins but decided to keep the money.

The woman contacted several banks but they all refused to take the coins from the woman because it was such a heavy workload to count them all, and they were too understaffed at the time.

Staff at Agricultural and Commercial Bank reportedly said they had never seen a case like this but agreed to take the money as many of their customers were restaurants that needed coins.

Spare change? In total the woman had 1.1 million Yuan (110,000) in coins at home but didn't take it all with her

Thousands: Bags of coins stacked up outside a bank in Dongyang city, China, the money was refused

Normally they can only handle about 15,000 Yuan (1,500) in coins a day but after liaising with their customers and staff, they were able to quickly distribute the funds according to QQ.

In accordance with the banks relevant laws and regulations on deposits or withdrawals, it cannot refuse to deposit the money.

However, in practice, when faced with tens of thousands of coins the bank would have difficulties taking it all.

This is not the first time that a large amount of coins has been involved in a transaction in China.

Last year, MailOnline reported that a man paid for a new car with 70,000 in coins in north-east China.
A pair of female tourists hailing from China sparked outrage during a recent holiday to Thailand after it had emerged they had been playing around 'inappropriately' beside a historic city wall.

On March 14, it was reported that they were reprimanded after one did a handstand against the site in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, reported Huanqiu.com, an affiliation of People's Daily Online.

The tourists were also spotted jumping up and down near the wall and generally messing around.

Careless: The women, one photographing and one doing a handstand, were reprimanded for disrespecting site

Thoughtless: The woman bent over to rest her feet against the ancient brickwork in view of other tourists

The woman in question bent over to rest her feet against the ancient brickwork, in full view of everyone walking along the busy street in the tourist hotspot.

Passers-by were quick to criticise the thoughtless actions of the women, stating that acting in such a cavalier way next to a respected monument was the wrong thing to do.

Soldiers in the local area were called and the young women were condemned for their acrobatics.

They were told to stop immediately but it's not known if they were charged for their unruly behaviour.

Denied: In September Chinese model photoshoot at a Thai temple was ridiculed by the designer for being 'ugly'

Disruptive Chinese tourists have attracted a certain degree of ire from Thai locals in recent times, with residents of the south-east Asian country accusing them of being disrespectful to their culture.

In March last year, 'uncivilised' Chinese visitors to Wat Rong Khun temple in northern Thailand were banned after it emerged that they had defecated and urinated on the walls of the artistic site.
Huge dam building projects across the Amazon basin are threatening 'countless' unique animals and plants with extinction.

Scientists have warned that the dams could result in massive changes in the ecosystems in the rivers and surrounding forests.

There have already been 191 dams built by nine countries that span the Amazonian basin and there are a further 243 in development.

The construction of huge dams in the Amazon basin is threatening hundreds of rare and unique species. The flooding caused by the dam building can leave patches of isolated forest cut off from the surrounding areas (islands formed by flooding in the Reserva Biologica do Uatuma, Brazil, are pictured)

Professor Carols Peres, an environmental scientist at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, and his colleagues have examined the impact these may have on the wildlife there.

They say fish, freshwater turtles, frogs, bats, birds, primates, rodents and marsupials, many of which are protected from hunting by law, could be hit by the landscape changes.

THE ANIMALS AT RISK A species of fish related to the zebra pleco, which are popular ornamental fish, was recently discovered in the Xingu river. Zebra pleco are already considered to be 'vulnerable' and some species are listed as 'critically endangered'. Species like Great dusky swifts which roost behind waterfalls in the Cachoeiras do Curua on the Serra do Cachimbo in southern Para. Globally important colonies of white collared swifts could also be impacted while bats like the Nyctinomops could also be harmed. The researchers warn populations of river dolphins that inhabit the water courses in the Amazon basin are among the most threatened by the dam building. Just two years ago, a new species of river dolphin was discovered in the Araguaia river in south eastern Brazilian Amazonia. The researchers also warn there could be indirect damage caused by the construction of the dams as the surrounding forest is cut down to make way for roads and for building materials. Advertisement

Dams on the Amazon river and adjacent Tocantins River will flood huge areas of forest while also preventing aquatic wildlife from moving upstream and downstream.

Professor Peres said: 'The rivers that run across these tropical forest landscapes are home to many endemic species  species that are found nowhere else.

'Some of them are restricted to isolated sections of rapids only a few tens of kilometres in length.

'Our research shows that an expansion of the dam network will result in huge changes to these Amazonian rivers by obstructing movement of aquatic fauna both upstream and downstream, by submerging rapids under huge lakes, by flooding adjacent forests and by creating forest islands that cannot sustain viable animal and plant populations.

'These changes to the habitat will also be followed by indirect effects on the region's fauna and flora because the influx of people and money attracted by cheap hydropower are expected to result in higher deforestation rates in the areas affected by dams.'

Dam building in the Amazon basin is largely driven by rising populations resulting in increasing electricity demands.

The Amazon basin accounts for 18 per cent of the world's river discharge, making it an attractive prospect for tapping for hydroelectric power.

It already accounts for six per cent of global hydropower production, but with new mega-dams being constructed in the area this is ste to rise.

Venezuela boasts one of the largest dams the Guri dam, which has a electricity producing capacity of 10,325 megawatts.

There are 243 dams under construction (Belo Monte hydroelectric dam in Brazil pictured) across the Amazon basin, risking widespread change to the rivers and surrounding forest environment

Vulnerable fish like zebra pleco (pictured) are already at risk from the ornamental fish trade but the researchers warn they could be harmed further by changes in their environments due to dam construction

Birds like Great Dusky Swifts (pictured) would not be immune from the damage caused by dam building as they often roost on rock hidden behind waterfalls. Dam building would dramatically change these habitats

Behind its four-and-a-half-mile long concrete wall there is a lake that covers 1,641 square miles, making it the largest fresh water body in Venezuela.

Brazil is currently constructing an enormous 11,233 megawatt hydroelectric dam on the Xingu river. When complete, the Belo Monte dam will create a 42 square mile reservoir.

THE RUSH TO BUILD DAMS Between them the nine Amazonian countries are planning to build an additional 243 dams across the Amazon basin. Most of these are planned for southern Amazonia. Brazil will be the most heavily impacted country with a total of 397 across its territory if all those planned go ahead. Brazil already generates around 80 per cent of its electricity from hydroelectric plants and this is expected to increase as demand rises. The lower and middle parts of the Amazon and its tributaries, which already have 34 operational dams, are expected to be affected by the greatest number or new large dams. Sixteen of 79 planned dams larger than 30 megawatts will be in Brazil. Already the Amazon and the neighbouring Tocantins watersheds account for six per cent of the global hydropower resources. It is thought, however, there is a further 14,576 terawatts per year of untapped potential in tropical rivers, with a large proportion of this coming from Amazonia. Advertisement

Dr Alexander Lees, an ecologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in New York and lead author of the new study, published in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation, said: 'The change from fast-flowing to still waters after river impoundment likely favours generalist or invasive species over the specialist and often micro-endemic species that require fast-flowing rivers and exposed rocky islets.

'This loss, degradation and fragmentation of habitats will eventually lead to a large loss of regional biodiversity and a simplification of the community of species.'

The researchers found many rare and unique species live in the catchment areas that will be affected by the dams.

Those living downstream could see their habitats changed almost as dramatically as those upstream where land will be flooded.

The Big Bend of the Xingu river is known to have many unique and rare species but it will be left with 20 per cent of its natural flow following the construction of the Belo Monte Dams in Brazil

A species of fish related to the zebra pleco, which are popular ornamental fish, was recently discovered in the Xingu river.

Zebra pleco are already considered to be 'vulnerable' and some species are listed as 'critically endangered'.

Species like Great dusky swifts which roost behind waterfalls in the Cachoeiras do Curua on the Serra do Cachimbo in southern Para.

There are 191 dams across nine countries in the Amazonian basin already in existence while a further 243 are planned or under construction. the map above shows the locations of these in the vast part of South America

Vast areas of forest can be destroyed by flooding that comes with dam building while the surrounding areas are often cut down to make way for roads (dead forest caused by the Balbina Dam is pictured)

Globally important colonies of white collared swifts could also be impacted while bats like the Nyctinomops could also be harmed.

The researchers warn populations of river dolphins that inhabit the water courses in the Amazon basin are among the most threatened by the dam building.

Just two years ago, a new species of river dolphin was discovered in the Araguaia river in south eastern Brazilian Amazonia.

The researchers also warn there could be indirect damage caused by the construction of the dams as the surrounding forest is cut down to make way for roads and for building materials.

New species are regularly discovered in the Amazonian basin. The Big Bend of the Xingu river is known to have many unique and rare species but it will be left with 20 per cent of its natural flow following the construction of the Belo Monte Dams in Brazil

A new species of Hypancistrus fish (pictured) was discovered in the Xingu river recently but could be threatened by the dam building upstream, the researchers warn

'Even terrestrial wildlife and woody plants in forest areas well above the water-level of hydroelectric reservoirs are not safe,' said Professor Peres.

'These populations typically become stranded in artificial archipelagos whose biodiversity is committed to extinctions and rapidly eroded over time through the ravages of habitat isolation and edge effects.'

Dr Philip Fearnside of Brazil's National Institute for Research in Amazonia (INPA) added: 'The planned dams are not an inevitable part of Brazil's future development because they are not necessary.

'Brazil has many better options, including investing in energy efficiency, ceasing to export electricity in the form of aluminium and other electro-intensive commodities, and tapping the country's vast potential wind and solar resources. T
Uber is expanding its car-hailing kingdom to include food delivery in a bid to take on Seamless.

The firm had been trialling the uberEats service, and today announced a dedicated app allows deliveries in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Toronto.

'Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Melbourne, New York, Paris, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. are just around the corner,' it said in a blog post.

UberEATS is making its way to 10 cities across the US. This new move will allow users to order food from dozens of local restaurants and have it delivered with in 30 to 40 minutes for delivery.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Download the UberEATS app (available by March) and add your delivery address. Enter your drop-off location. Choose from full menus from dozens of restaurants in your location Place your order and follow along as your meal is prepared and delivered. After an order is placed, Uber sends it to the restaurant and shoots back an estimated delivery time to the customer. When the item is close to being ready, Uber locates a driver in the vicinity of the restaurant and lets them decide if theyd like to pick it up and drop it off. Advertisement

'For the past year and a half weve been delivering the best food cities have to offer in minutes,' the firm's Chetan Narain wrote.

'The restaurants behind these favorites are putting the Uber network to work.

'Theyre expanding delivery distances and reaching new customerspairing great food with the reliable service that people know and expect from Uber.

The firm initially tested the service within its car app.

'We learned quickly that requesting a ride and ordering a meal are two very different experiences.

'They each deserve their own home.

'Now, with the standalone UberEATS app, you can find and order the food you love and follow along on your phone as it comes right to you'

After an order is placed, Uber sends it to the restaurant and shoots back an estimated delivery time to the customer.

When the item is close to being ready, Uber locates a driver in the vicinity of the restaurant and lets them decide if theyd like to pick it up and drop it off, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The 10 major US cities are New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago Austin, Washington D.C, Houston Dallas, Seattle and Atlanta. Uber has also developed a new standalone app for this new service that works similar to the original car requesting app

If more than one person orders from the same place and around the same time, Uber will bunch all of the orders into a single trip and give one drive the opportunity to earn multiple delivery fees.

Every order will have a delivery fee of about $5, but it will vary by city, and Uber says all deliveries will be with a 30 to 40 minute time frame.

Uber shares part of the fee with the driver and charges the restaurant a fee for every order placed through the app.

It has waived the fee for the app launch.

UberEATS fully opened up in Toronto, Canada last month.

Residents have access to the standalone app that hosts more than 100 restaurants in the city and delivers from 10 am to 10 pm, which is the same time for its operation in the US.

UberEATS in the US, as of right now, only caters to the lunch crowd with a limited menu available from 11 am to 2 pm, but customers do receive their food within 10 to 15 minutes.

The firm plans to keep the lunch service, but will rename it 'Instant Delivery' and pay drivers an hourly rate instead of a share of the delivery fee.

One challenge Uber might face with this new service is converting Uber drivers into delivery drivers.

According to The Wall Street Journal, food delivery creates new hurdles for drivers, as they just wont be picking up and dropping off anymore.

Drivers will have to get out of their cars, pick up food and quickly make their way over to the destination.

Uber plans to have the UberEATS app completely rolled out by March and will run on both iOS and Android.
New Zealand is renowned for its wondrous scenery, and among the country's top tourist attractions are two glaciers that are both stunning and unusual because they snake down from the mountains to a temperate rain forest, making them easy for people to walk up to and view.

But the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting at such a rapid rate that it has become too dangerous for tourists to hike onto them from the valley floor, ending a tradition that dates back a century.

With continuing warm weather this year there are no signs of a turnaround, and scientists say it is another example of how global warming is impacting the environment.

Tourists who have taken a helicopter trip onto the Fox Glacier climb through a hole in the ice in New Zealand: Now it has become too dangerous for tourists to hike onto them from the valley floor, ending a tradition that dates back a century.

HOW FAST ARE THEY SHRINKING? A 2014 paper published in the journal Global and Planetary Change concluded the two glaciers have each melted by 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) in length since the 1800s, making them about 20 percent shorter. The glaciers have recently been melting at a faster pace than ever previously recorded, the authors said. Advertisement

Tourism in New Zealand is booming and nearly 1 million people last year flocked to get a glimpse of the glaciers and the spectacular valleys they've carved.

But the only way to set foot on them now is to get flown onto them by helicopter.

Tour operators offer flights and guided glacier walks, although logistics limit this to 80,000 tourists per year, half the number that once hiked up from the valley floor.

Up to another 150,000 people each year take scenic flights that land briefly at the top of the glaciers.

Flying in the UNESCO World Heritage area comes with its own risks, highlighted in November when a sightseeing helicopter crashed onto the Fox Glacier, killing all seven aboard.

Sitting near the base of the Franz Josef Glacier, Wayne Costello, a district operations manager for the Department of Conservation, said that when he arrived eight years ago, the rock he was perched on would have been buried under tons of ice.

Instead, the glacier now comes to an end a half-mile (800 meters) further up the valley.

'Like a loaf of bread shrinking in its tin, it's gone down a lot as well,' Costello said.

'So it's wasted away in terms of its thickness, and that's led to quite a rapid melt.'

Because of that melt, the valley walls that were once braced by the glaciers have been left exposed and vulnerable to rock falls, making hiking up too dangerous.

Tour operators stopped taking guided hikes onto the Franz Josef in 2012 and the nearby Fox in 2014.

A 2014 paper published in the journal Global and Planetary Change concluded the two glaciers have each melted by 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) in length since the 1800s, making them about 20 percent shorter.

Wayne Costello, a district operations manager for the Department of Conservation, explains how the ice has retreated at the Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand. He said that when he arrived eight years ago, the rock he was perched on would have been buried under tons of ice.

The Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand. The Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting at such a rapid rate that it has become too dangerous for tourists to hike onto them from the valley floor, ending a tradition that dates back a century.

The glaciers have recently been melting at a faster pace than ever previously recorded, the authors said.

Heather Purdie, a scientist at the University of Canterbury and lead author of the paper, said climate change is the driving factor.

'We know that glaciers around the world, including the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers, are responding to that warmer temperature and they're retreating,' she said.

Small changes in temperature and snowfall tend to be magnified in the two glaciers and their retreat has been interrupted by advances that can last years, she said.

Costello and tour operators are hoping to see another advance soon.

But there's no sign of that: February was the second-hottest month ever recorded in New Zealand.

This Feb. 6, 2016 photo shows an ice crevasse on the Fox Glacier in New Zealand. The Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting at such a rapid rate that it has become too dangerous for tourists to hike onto them from the valley floor, ending a tradition that dates back a century. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)

Tourist relax at the end of the track at the Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand.

The hot weather has even created a new type of tourist attraction over the other side of the mountains.

Purdie said the glaciers there are also rapidly retreating, resulting in tourists taking boat rides on the lakes to see some of the massive icebergs that have begun to shear away.

A helicopter trip onto the Fox Glacier reveals deep crevasses in the translucent blue ice and stunning ice caves through which guides take crampon-wearing tourists.

A guide retells the indigenous Maori legend which would have it that the Franz Josef Glacier began as a stream of tears left by a young woman whose lover was killed by an avalanche.

The glaciers are formed by prevailing westerly winds dumping snow in a high-altitude basin.

It compacts into ice and is pushed down the valleys much like toothpaste being squeezed from a tube.

The Fox Glacier: Nearly 1 million people last year flocked to get a glimpse of the glaciers

In this Feb. 7, 2016 photo, tourists walk past waterfalls at the Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand.The glaciers have recently been melting at a faster pace than ever previously recorded, the authors said.

The glaciers slide and roll down the mountain at a rate of 4 meters (13 feet) each day, picking up rocks and debris along the way.

'It's the uniqueness, the rawness of the environment,' that draws tourists from Australia, North America, Europe, and, increasingly, China, said Rob Jewell, chairman of the Glacier Country Tourism Group.

It's also a region which is subject to rapid changes in the weather. At the time of November's helicopter crash  which killed four tourists from Britain and two from Australia, as well as the New Zealand pilot  some observers said the weather and visibility were marginal for safe flying.

Jewell said he didn't want to comment until an investigation by authorities was complete. He said the crash hasn't affected tourist numbers, which have been stronger than ever this year.

In this Feb. 6, 2016 photo, tourists who have taken a helicopter trip onto the Fox Glacier follow a guide in New Zealand. The Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting at such a rapid rate that it has become too dangerous for tourists to hike onto them from the valley floor, ending a tradition that dates back a century. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)

At the base of the Franz Josef, Dutch tourist Dieuwke Derkse said she was overwhelmed by the beauty of the glacier and the purity of the environment.

She said she believed global warming was responsible for its retreat and felt a little guilty even visiting New Zealand because of the fossil fuels burned by the plane ride there. But she said the glacier also helped inspire her to live in a more environmentally conscious way.
It is a country more famous for its violent Viking past and the melancholy brooding of Hamlet, but Denmark has emerged as the happiest nation in the world.

The Scandinavian country, which has a population of around 5.6 million, knocked Switzerland into second place to take the title of the happiest country in the 2016 World Happiness Report.

A combination of a relatively high GDP, good healthy life expectancy and high levels of social support gave the country its edge over the other nations.

Despite having high taxes and a reputation for a fierce Viking past, people in Denmark have been ranked as the happiest in the world (stock picture) in the latest edition of the World Happiness Report. It found people in the Scandinavian country could expect high income, good healthy life expectancy and social support

The country is also well known for its generous state welfare and for its egalitarian nature.

It was closely followed by Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Finland as the next happiest places to live.

At the other end of the spectrum, Syria and Burundi were ranked as the least happiest countries out of the 157 assessed.

The report was released ahead of the UN's World Happiness Day this weekend.

Jeffrey Sachs, from Columbia University, who helped write the report, said that happiness and well-being should be on every nation's agenda.

Denmark is well known for its generous state welfare and for its egalitarian nature. It was closely followed by Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Finland as the next happiest places to live. The top 50 countries are shown

THE WORLD'S HAPPIEST COUNTRIES 1. Denmark 2. Switzerland 3. Iceland 4. Norway 5. Finland 6. Canada 7. Netherlands 8. New Zealand 9. Australia 10. Sweden 11. Israel 12. Austria 13. United States 14. Costa Rica 15. Puerto Rico 16. Germany 17. Brazil 18. Belgium 19. Ireland 20. Luxembourg 21. Mexico 22. Singapore 23. United Kingdom 24. Chile 25. Panama 26. Argentina 27. Czech Republic 28. United Arab Emirates 29. Uruguay 30. Malta 31. Colombia 32. France 33. Thailand 34. Saudi Arabia 35. Taiwan 36. Qatar 37. Spain 38. Algeria 39. Guatemala 40. Suriname 41. Kuwait 42. Bahrain 43. Trinidad and Tobago 44. Venezuela 45. Slovakia 46. El Salvador 47. Malaysia 48. Nicaragua 49. Uzbekistan 50. Italy 51. Ecuador 52. Belize 53. Japan 54. Kazakhstan 55. Moldova 56. Russia 57. Poland 58. South Korea 59. Bolivia 0. Lithuania 61. Belarus6 62. North Cyprus6 63. Slovenia 64. Peru 65. Turkmenistan 66. Mauritius 67. Libya 68. Latvia 69. Cyprus 70. Paraguay 71. Romania 72. Estonia 73. Jamaica 74. Croatia 75. Hong Kong 76. Somalia 77. Kosovo 78. Turkey 79. Indonesia 80. Jordan 81. Azerbaijan 82. Philippines 83. China 84. Bhutan 85. Kyrgyzstan 86. Serbia 87. Bosnia and Herzegovina 88. Montenegro 89. Dominican Republic 90. Morocco 91. Hungary 92. Pakistan 93. Lebanon 94. Portugal 95. Macedonia 96. Vietnam 97. Somaliland region 98. Tunisia 99. Greece 100. Tajikistan 101. Mongolia 102. Laos 103. Nigeria 104. Honduras 105. Iran 106.Zambia 107. Nepal 108. Palestinian Territories 109.Albania 110. Bangladesh 111. Sierra Leone 112. Iraq 113. Namibia 114. Cameroon 115. Ethiopia 116. South Africa 117. Sri Lanka 118. India 119. Myanmar 120. Egypt 121. Armenia 122. Kenya 123. Ukraine 124. Ghana 125. Congo (Kinshasa) 126. Georgia 127. Congo (Brazzaville) 128. Senegal 129. Bulgaria 130. Mauritania 131. Zimbabwe 132. Malawi 133. Sudan 134. Gabon 135. Mali 136. Haiti 137. Botswana 138. Comoros 139. Ivory Coast 140. Cambodia 141. Angola 142. Niger 143. South Sudan 144. Chad 145. Burkina Faso 146. Uganda 147. Yemen 148. Madagascar 149. Tanzania 150. Liberia 151. Guinea 152. Rwanda 153. Benin 154. Afghanistan 155. Togo 156. Syria 157. Burundi Advertisement

He said: 'Human well-being should be nurtured through a holistic approach that combines economic, social and environmental objectives.

'Measuring self-reported happiness and achieving well-being should be on every nation's agenda as they begin to pursue the Sustainable Development Goals.

'Indeed the Goals themselves embody the very idea that human well-being should be nurtured through a holistic approach that combines economic, social and environmental objectives.

'Rather than taking a narrow approach focused solely on economic growth, we should promote societies that are prosperous, just, and environmentally sustainable.'

The landlocked African state of Burundi was found to be one of the most miserable places in the world. The country has been torn apart by civil war and is the poorest nation in the world. Millions of people have been displaced by the violent struggles in the country (refugees on the shorts of Lake Tanganyika pictured)

People in Denmark enjoy high levels of job security and will receive state support if they lose their jobs or fall ill. The high taxes paid in the Scandinavian nation are reinvested into schools, universities and healthcare. The country also suffers few natural disasters and has little corruption (woman in Copenhagen pictured)

The report is the fourth of its kind to be produced, using a variety of factors to measure happiness around the world since the first World Happiness Report in 2012.

People's health, access to medical care, family relations, job security, political freedom and levels of government corruption are all among the measures used to assess happiness.

MONEY CAN'T MAKE YOU HAPPY While many people believe that money may be the path to happiness, it turns out that increases in income do not affect most people's levels of life satisfaction. Researchers tracked 18,000 adults over a nine-year period in the UK and Germany, asking them annually about their income level and how satisfied they were with life. They found that people with higher salaries were no more likely to have a high life satisfaction than those who didn't. The findings of this research contradict a previous study which suggested purchasing material goods gives us more frequent joy over the course of weeks and months, compared to the happiness we get from an experience. The researchers said experiences provide intense feelings that will eventually fade, but material things remind a person about the happiness they felt when they first received it. The University of British Columbia measured people's happiness up to five times over a two-week period after they purchased or received something material or experiential. Advertisement

The UK was ranked in 23rd place in the assessment, after slipping two places from the previous year, while the US came 13th overall, behind Canada in sixth place, followed by the Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Israel and Australia.

China was ranked in 83rd place and Russia came in 56th place.

Some countries that have experienced dramatic turmoil in recent years also saw significant drops in their rankings since the previous report in 2015.

Greece, for example, slipped from 120th to 126th place while Spain and Italy, which were also hit hard by the Eurozone crisis also fell.

Despite high taxes, Denmark was able to take the top spot because much of these is reinvested in schools, universities and free access to healthcare.

Students are given monthly grants for up to seven years while 43 per cent of the top jobs in the public sector are held by women.

Many feel confident that if they lose their jobs or fall ill, the state will support them.

The country also has to deal with few natural disasters and has little corruption.

Knud Christensen, a 39-year-old social worker from Copenhagen, said 'We have no worries.

'And if we do worry, it's about the weather. Will it rain today, or remain gray or will it be cold?'

Syria was ranked as the second last country in the happiness report. The nation has been devastated by civil war as rebels try to oust President Bashar al-Assad. Recent airstrikes by Russian forces have forced millions to flee towns and cities (a boy being comforted in the rubble in the Syrian city of Aleppo is pictured)

Kaare Christensen, a university professor in demography and epidemiology in Odense, where fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen was born, says it doesn't take much to satisfy Danes.

'They are happy with what they get. Danes have no great expectations about what they do or what happens to them,' she said

Christian Bjoernskov, an economy professor at the University of Aarhus, Denmark's second- largest city, believes feelings self-assurance and self-determination have a lot to do with it.

'Danes feel confident in one another... when we stand together we can succeed,' he says. 'And they also have a strong belief they can decide their own lives.'
' laser than can burn through metal could be deployed next year

The dream of a hypersonic aircraft three times faster than Concorde is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Lockheed Martin has said it's close to making a breakthrough in developing a military plane that can fly at Mach 6  six times the speed of sound.

The Maryland-based company's boss has also revealed the firm is working on a laser weapon that is expected to be deployed next year.

Lockheed Martin has said it's close to making a breakthrough to developing a military plane that can fly at Mach 6  six times the speed of sound. In November 2013, the firm announced it was developing an SR-72 spy plane (illustrated) said to be able to accelerate up to Mach 6

Marillyn Hewson said Lockheed's engineers are on the verge of making technology such as scramjet engines, which have been talked about for years, a workable reality, The FT reported.

They work by burning fuel in a stream of air compressed by the forward speed of the aircraft itself, as opposed to a normal jet engine in which fan blades compress the air.

Orlando Carvalho, head of Lockheed's aeronautics division, told journalists at the company's annual media day that firm has collaborated with rocket manufacturer Aerojet Rocketdyne for the scramjet technology and that engineers are making 'much more rapid' progress than before.

Marillyn Hewson said Lockheed's engineers are on the verge of making technology such as scramjet engineers, which have been talked about for years, a reality. This illustration shows the design for the SR-72's engine. The plane will also have a 'warm structure' that will heat up during flight

THE RACE FOR SUPERSONIC AND HYPERSONIC TRAVEL Scramjets have been under development for decades, but a breakthrough came in May 2013 when the US Air Force Research Laboratory's Boeing X-51A WaveRider flew for 240 seconds over the Pacific, It flew on scramjet power, reaching Mach 5.1 and ran until its fuel was exhausted. Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works - builder of the Mach 3.5 SR-71 Blackbird spyplane - then unveiled plans to develop a successor, dubbed the SR-72, pictured. Designed for reconnaissance and strike missions, the SR-72 would combine turbojet and scramjet engines to enable the aircraft to take off from a runway, accelerate to a Mach 6 cruise, and then return to a conventional runway landing. Lockheed Martin believes a prototype could be flying as soon as 2023 and the SR-72 could enter service by 2030. Advertisement

He did, however, admit a significant amount of development work and investment lies ahead, with the aircraft predicted to enter service in the 2030s.

Ms Hewson said: 'We're proving a hypersonic aircraft can be produced at an affordable price.'

'We estimate it [the hypersonic aircraft] will cost less than $1bn to develop, build and fly a demonstrator aircraft the size of an F-22.'

The F22 is Lockheed's most sophisticated fighter jet.

Rumours of tests for a secret hypersonic aircraft developed for the US military, codenamed Aurora, have been circulating for years.

In 2014, numerous people reported mysterious loud bangs in Croydon and Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Clarence and Niagara Falls in the US, with Dr Bhupendra Khandelwal, an engineering research associate from Sheffield, claiming they were created by a type of experimental jet engine.

Conspiracy theorists say Aurora has been under development since 1989 and could reach Mach 11.8.

However, there is no suggestion the 'bangs' came from Lockheed's SR-72, which the firm has previously said has been in the works since at least 2013.

The hypersonic SR-72, will have a so-called 'warm structure' - it will heat up rather than reflect the heat using the sort of ceramic tiles that covered the Space Shuttle.

The SR-72 would be the successor to the Mach 3.35 Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird craft built by Lockheed Martin that was retired in 1998 (pictured)

This will enable it to withstand the heat created at Mach 6, unlike Concorde whose materials prevented it from passing Mach 2.

A hypersonic military jet would give the US an advantage in reaching targets before an enemy had time to launch a counter strike.

ADAM LASER DISABLES BOATS Athena is based on the firm's Area Defense Anti-Munitions (Adam) laser weapon system. In tests off the California coast last May, Adam was used to successfully disable two boats at a range of approximately one mile (1.6km). The high-energy laser burnt through multiple compartments of the rubber hull of the military-grade small boats in less than 30 seconds. Lockheed Martin previously demonstrated the system's capabilities on airborne targets in flight, including small-calibre rocket targets and an unmanned aerial system target. The system can precisely track moving targets at a range of more than three miles (5km). Advertisement

Ms Hewson continued: 'We're now producing a controllable, low-drag, aerodynamic configuration capable of stable operation from take-off, to sub-sonic, trans-sonic, super-sonic, and hypersonic to Mach 6.'

'As weapons and aircraft become more capable, our ability to defeat them must mature as well. For decades, we've been advancing laser weapon system development.

'Lockheed Martin is demonstrating that laser weapon systems can effectively stop land, air, or sea targets in their path.'

She additionally showcased a laser weapon burning a hole in the bonnet of a pick-up truck to break its engine, which could prove useful in a warzone.

Lockheed first shared images of the weapon, called Athena, earlier this month.

The 30-kilowatt prototype can burn through the metal bonnet of a truck, having been fired a mile (1.6km) away.

Athena is based on the firm's Area Defense Anti-Munitions (Adam) laser weapon system, which has been shown to disable two boats at a similar range in tests off the California coast.

The laser, known as Athena, was built by Maryland-based security firm Lockheed Martin. During the test, the 30-kilowattfibre laser burnt through the truck's engine (pictured) and disabled it from more a mile away

It uses a technique known as spectral beam combining, to blend multiple laser modules to create a single, powerful, high-quality beam.

This is said to provide greater 'efficiency and lethality' than multiple individual 10-kilowatt lasers used in other systems.

'This test represents the next step to providing lightweight and rugged laser weapon systems for military aircraft, helicopters, ships and trucks,' said Keoki Jackson, Lockheed Martin chief technology officer.

Efforts are underway to make the weapon lighter, while boosting its power, but Ms Hewson said the laser, designed to be fitted to a US Army ground vehicle will be delivered next year.

Lockheed is also working on a missile that launches at Mach 20.
For people with fingers any larger than those of a child, using the tiny touchscreens on smartwatches can be a frustrating experience.

But sonar technology could soon provide a solution for those struggling to navigate their way around screens smaller than a matchbook.

Computer scientists have developed technology that allows users to interact with mobile devices by writing or gesturing on any nearby surface or even in mid-air.

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Using the microphones on a smartwatch, researchers have developed a way of tracking the movement of a finger with sonar. The soundwaves bounce off the finger and are then picked up by the watch's microphones. It can be used to trace out shapes on any surface (pictured) or even to use gestures to scroll through menus

The technology tracks finger movements with active sonar, the same technique used by bats and dolphins, using the microphone and speakers in a smartphone or smartwatch.

As sound waves travel through fabric, users can even use their devices while they are hidden in a pocket or under shirt sleeve.

HOW THE TECHNOLOGY WORKS The researchers developed a way of using the built-in microphones and speakers in smartwatches and phones. Using a signal called Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, the speakers can emit an inaudible soundwave. This bounces off the finger and the echo this produces is then picked up by the microphones on the device. This can then be used to calculate the distance from the device and so track the finger movements. While the application will work on most modern smartphones, smartwatches may need to be adapted to include two microphones. They found they could track fingers down to 0.8mm accuracy with the technique. Advertisement

It could save those of us with larger hands from having to ineffectually mash the screen of their smartwatches.

Rajalakshmi Nandakumar, a computer scientist at the Univeristy of Washington who led the research, said: 'You can't type very easily onto a smartwatch display, so we wanted to transform a desk or any area around a device into an input surface.

'I don't need to instrument my fingers with any other sensors - I just use my finger to write something on a desk or any other surface and the device can track it with high resolution.'

The technology works by using the phone or watch's built-in speakers to produce inaudible soundwaves, known as an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing signal.

When these bounce off a finger, they produce echoes that are picked up by the device's microphones.

Software then calculates the time delay of the reflection and so the distance to the finger.

The researchers, who have been working with scientists at Microsoft Research and were partly funded by Google, said they are able to track finger gestures in two dimensions down to 8mm (a third of an inch).

By tracking the movements of a finger, it is possible to trace patterns, letters or drawings on a flat surface like a table (pictured) so they appear on the device's screen. It will make it easier for people who struggle to use the tiny screens that come on most modern devices

The technology works by using the built in microphones in the device. A soundwave is emitted by its speakers, which is then reflected off the finger if it is nearby. The microphones detect this (illustrated) and this is then used to calculate the position of the finger

Dr Shyam Gollakota, the senior researcher on the project, said: 'Acoustic signals are great - because sound waves travel much slower than the radio waves used in radar, you don't need as much processing bandwidth so everything is simpler.

'And from a cost perspective, almost every device has a speaker and microphones so you can achieve this without any special hardware.'

The researchers say it is possible to use the technology to trace out shapes on a blank sheet of paper, on a table top or on a window.

Movements in mid-air can scroll through options on a smartphone or move a page up and down on a phone. It could even be used to control the volume of a phone while still in a pocket.

Using the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing  signals usually used in wireless communications  along with algorithms, the researchers were able to reduce the errors that typically occur when trying to use sonar to track finger movements.

For some smartwatch and phone users, small touchscreens on their devices can be frustrating to use as their fingers can often be too big to accurately select options. The animation above is from the Simpsons

The team has developed a prototype app called FingerIO they were able to use on Android phones to track finger movements as students traced out patterns (pictured) to an accuracy of 0.8mm (a third of an inch)

They were able to load a prototype of their FingerIO app onto a Samsung Galaxy S4 device and other Android phones to demonstrate how it could work.

A smartwatch needed to be customised to have two microphones in order to track finger motion. Most smartwatches currently only have one microphone.

While the mobile could track fingers down to 0.8mm the smartwatch was slightly less accurate at 12 mm.

Vikram Iyer, an electrical engineering student at the University of Washington who took part in the study, said: 'Given that your finger is already a centimeter thick, that's sufficient to accurately interact with the devices.'

The team now hope to improve the technology so it can track multiple fingers moving at the same time and even extend the tracking into three dimensions.
Impressive statues of a lion-headed goddess worshipped by the ancient Egyptians have been discovered buried by a temple on the banks of the Nile.

The six statues, carved in black granite, are believed to be 3,300 year's old and depict a powerful sun goddess named Sekhmet, sometimes shown holding people's lives in her hands.

Archaeologists also recovered part of a statue of pharaoh Amenhotep III wearing a ceremonial cloak at the mortuary temple dedicated to him.

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Impressive statues of a lion-headed goddess (pictured left and right) worshiped by the ancient Egyptians have been discovered buried by a temple on the banks of the Nile

Members of 'The Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project' directed by Hourig Sourouzian made the discoveries, Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities said.

Six of the statues represent the lion-headed goddess seated on a throne and holding a symbol of life in her right hand.

Ancient Egyptians believed Sekhmet was the goddess of the sun who protected the Sun-King Re in his 'temple of millions of years' by repelling his enemies.

The six statues, carved in black granite, are probably 3,300 year's old and depict a powerful solar goddess named Sekhmet, sometimes holding people's lives in her hands. A mid section is pictured

Archaeologists also recovered part of a statue of pharaoh Amenhotep III wearing a ceremonial cloak at the mortuary temple dedicated to him. A stock image of the ruins of Amenhotop III is shown above

THE EGYPTIAN GODDESS SEKHMET In Egyptian mythology, Sekhmet was a powerful warrior goddess as well as a solar deity, sometimes called the daughter and protector of the sun god Ra. She is typically shown with the head of a lioness and a solar disk on her head. Sekhmet's name comes from the Ancient Egyptian word 'sekhem' which means 'power or might'and she has also been described as the 'mistress of dread' and 'she who mauls'. In order to placate her wrath, her priestesses performed a ritual before a different statue of the goddess on each day of the year, perhaps explaining why so many have survived. It's thought that 700 statues of Sekhmet once stood iat the temple of Amenhotep III, on the west bank of the Nile. To further pacify Sekhmet, festivals were celebrated at the end of battle, so that the destruction would come to an end. And in an annual festival of intoxication held at the beginning of the year, the ancient Egyptians danced and played music to soothe the wildness of the goddess and drank great quantities of wine ritually. Advertisement

With a fearsome lion's head and attractive female body, she was also seen as the protector of pharaohs.

All the statutes discovered show her wearing a figure-hugging dress and wig.

Three of the Sekhmet statues are almost complete, measuring six feet (1.9 metres) tall, 1.6 feet (half a metre) wide and three feet (one metre) deep, while the others are damaged with only parts remaining.

Archaeologists also recovered two middle portions of statues showing the goddess was standing holding a papyrus sceptre in her left hand and a life symbol in her right.

While the statues are not particularly rare, with similar discovered in the temple of Amenhotep III during the past seasons, they are still impressive.

The Temple of Amenhotep III was the largest of the mortuary temples near Thebes when it was built some 3,300 years ago, covering a staggering 3,767,369 square feet (350,000 square metres).

It's thought the statues surrounded a large peristyle court in and the hypostyle hall of the vast temple.

'Each statue is a masterpiece of sculpture, combining the head of a lion with the body of a woman wearing a tripartite wig and a long tight fitting dress,' the ministry said.

The statues are currently being cleaned and documented. They will then be put on display in the temple, which is a popular tourist attraction.

Ancient Egyptians believed Sekhmet was the goddess of the sun who protected the Sun-King Re in his 'temple of millions of years' by repelling his enemies. She has a lion's head and the body of a woman, as shown in the golden statue and tomb painting (neither found at the site) pictured left and right

Archaeologists also discovered the middle part of a headless royal statue, also hewn from black granite, which is thought to represent Amenhotep III.

The pharaoh, ruled in the 13th century BC, is depicted standing up and wearing a cloak.

As the ninth pharaoh in the 18th dynasty, Amenhotep III ruled during a prosperous period when Egypt was at the height of its power, perhaps explaining the vast temple.

Two similar statues discovered in the temple a century ago are now kept in the Egyptian Museum.

Members of 'The Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project' directed by Hourig Sourouzian made the discoveries, Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities said. Part of one of the statues is shown
With a strange tubular body, eyes on the end of stalks and teeth at the end of a long narrow trunk, it is a sea creature that has baffled scientists since it was first discovered 58 years ago.

But now the Tully Monster, as the bizarre sea creature is nicknamed, has finally been identified by scientists who say the odd looking animal had been a predatory vertebrate related to lampreys.

It is thought to have prowled the muddy coastal waters in what is known Grundy County, Illinois, around 300 million years ago and some had thought it was related to a squid.

With a strange tube-shaped body, eyes on stalks and a long trunk like mouth, the Tully Monster (artist's impression pictured) has baffled scientists for decades. Now new research has found the creatures had gills, a rudimentary backbone, making them vertebrates, and were likely predators

But molluscs like squids are invertebrate, meaning they do not have an internal backbone.

New research on the Tully Monster has shown these creatures had a stiffened rod of cartilage that supported its body and gills.

This means the weird looking creatures were predatory vertebrates, similar to some primitive fish.

WHAT WAS THE TULLY MONSTER? The Tully Monster, or Tullimonstrum gregarium, is thought to have been a soft-bodied sea creature that lived in muddy coastal waters in what is now Illinois. They would have grown to be around one foot long (10cm) with a slender segmented body. Its eyes sat at each end of a long rigid bar across the top of its head and it had a caudal fin. Most strangely it had jaws at the end of a long proboscis, suggesting it perhaps ate food hidden deep in the silt of the estuary or within rocky nooks and crannies. Inside its body it had a stiff rod of cartilage, known as a notochord, which helped to give it structure. Advertisement

Victoria McCoy, a palaeontologist who conducted the research at Yale Univesity but is now based at the University Leicester, said: 'I was first intrigued by the mystery of the Tully Monster.

'With all of the exceptional fossils, we had a very clear picture of what it looked like, but no clear picture of what it was.

'It's so different from its modern relatives that we don't know much about how it lived.

'It has big eyes and lots of teeth, so it was probably a predator.'

The Tully Monster, officially named Tullimonstrum gregarium after the amateur fossil hunter who found it Francis Tully, was first discovered in 1958.

Thousands of fossils of the creature have been unearthed in hard rocks dug out of coal mining pits in Mazon Creek, Grundy County, Illinois.

Since then the creature has become hugely popular and even appears on the side of trucks and trailers in Illinios.

Using the Field Museum's collection of 2,000 Tully monster fossils, Miss McCoy and her colleagues analysed the morphology and preservation of the animal.

The Tully Monster (artist's impression) had eyes on either end of a stiff bar that sat across the top of its head while its jaws were at the end of a long proboscis. This suggests they perhaps ate food hidden deep in the silt where they lived or hidden within cracks in the rocks

Thousands of fossils of the creature have been unearthed in hard rocks dug out of coal mining pits in Mazon Creek, Grundy County, Illinois (shown on map)

Using powerful new analytical techniques, such as synchrotron elemental mapping, which illuminates the physical features by mapping the chemistry of the fossil, they were able to unravel its feature.

They discovered the animal had a rudimentary spinal cord, known as a notochord, and gills, which had not been previously identified in the fossils.

Professor Derek Briggs, curator of invertebrate palaeontology at Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History who co-authored the study, which is published in the journal Nature, said: 'Basically, nobody knew what it was.

Fossils of the Tully Monster (pictured) have baffled researchers since they were first found in 1958 as they have been unable to determine if the animal was a mollusc or related to fish

'The fossils are not easy to interpret, and they vary quite a bit. Some people thought it might be this bizarre, swimming mollusk. We decided to throw every possible analytical technique at it.'

However, there are still many questions remaining. No other fossils of these creatures have been found anywhere in the world and it is unclear when they first appeared on Earth.

They are thought to have lived in the muddy shallow waters around the coast that once sat over that area of Illinois 300 million years ago.

When they died they were covered in silt and became encased in the hard rock that later formed.
The Sahara Desert may be the last place you'd expect to yield plants and vegetables.

But that's the dream of an ambitious project aiming to green the world's largest sandy desert.

In its latest move, the Sahara Forest Project (SFP) will build a $30 million 'farm' over 10 hectares in Tunisia in a bid to diversify the environment and bring jobs, food and drinking water to the area.

The Sahara Forest Project (SFP) will begin building a $30 million 'farm' (example illustrated) over 10 hectares in Tunisia in a bid to diversify the predominantly desert environment and bring jobs, more food and readily available water to the area

Today, more than 800 million around the world are 'food insecure'.

This means they don't know where their next meal will come from, and this number is set to rise as the global population increases and our planet warms up.

Water scarcity already affects a large portion of the global population and this is another challenge the SFP hopes to address.

'We try to achieve a triple bottom line - something that makes financial sense, but also delivers social and environmental benefits,' boss of the Norwegian social enterprise, Joakim Hauge told CNN.

The plan is to harness abundant resources, such as the sun and seawater, to generate more in-demand resources such as fresh food, drinking water and clean energy.

Solar power will power and heat the hi-tech facility, while seawater will be used to cool greenhouses in the Tunisian facility. Solar deflectors at the Qatar facility are shown above

The plan is to harness abundant resources, such as the sun and seawater, to generate more in-demand resources such as fresh food, drinking water and clean energy. This image shows grain that's been grown and harvested in a pilot facility in Qatar

INSPIRATION FOR THE PROJECT Biomimicry: The Namibian fog-basking beetle, which has evolved a way of harvesting its own fresh water in a desert, inspired engineers to develop the seawater-cooled greenhouse. Recent history: The team looked to 'recent history' when the Sahara was green in deciding to try and reverse its fortunes. When Julius Caesar arrived in North Africa, he was greeted by a wooded landscape of cedar and cypress trees abundant in fruits in the forests and animals. Caesar's armies set about clearing the land to establish farms and for the next 200 years North Africa supplied the Roman empire with half a million tonnes of grain a year. The enterprise believes deforestation, salinisation and over-exploitation of the land has led to its largely barren state. Advertisement

The sun will power and heat the hi-tech facility, while seawater will be used to cool greenhouses.

This combination will mean crops can be grown all year round.

Seawater will also be desalinated to obtain fresh water.

While the idea may seem whimsical, the SFP has already produced vegetables at the same rate as a farm in Europe, in a facility in Qatar over the course of a year.

And a larger facility is being built in Jordan.

In Tunisia, it is hoped local people will be employed as farmers and technicians.

The project has the support of the Tunisian government, which is looking to mitigate the effects of global warming, including droughts.

While the SFP is expanding, Professor Heribert Hirt of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia said the project faces some similar problems to growing plants on Mars.

'[Among] the biggest problems in the entire region of Northern Africa and the Arab countries are the dust and sand storms that constantly cover up solar panels and get into all machinery that is exposed,' he said.

The project has the support of the Tunisian government, which is looking to mitigate the effects of global warming, including droughts. A stock image of the Sahara desert that covers 70% of the country is shown

The SFP hopes to one day open a 4,000 hectare facility employing 6,000 people and producing 170,000 tons of food a year. This image shows an attractive plant growing in sandy soil with the aid of an irrigation system

But be believes the project will enable experts to work out how to turn vast disused spaces into farms - one of the United Nations' development goals.

The SFP hopes to one day open a 4,000 hectare facility employing 6,000 people and producing 170,000 tons of food a year.

'The Sahara Forest Project enables the growth of plants, but also that of hope and opportunities for people,' its website said.
Artificial intelligence is increasing triumphing in the real world, playing the stock market, driving cars, and even beating grandmasters at board games.

But computers could soon stretch beyond the everyday to triumph over the most primal of human fears, offering a chance to save our loved ones from death.

In just a matter of years it could be possible to upload the mind of someone who has recently died to a computer, immortalising their essence in a robot clone.

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In future it could be possible transfer the mind of a loved one to a computer, immortalising their essence in a robot clone. Bina48 (pictured) from US research foundation Terasem Movement is one of the prototypes. More than 56,000 people have provided data to have their brains digitally backed-up

Terasem Movement, a US research foundation based in Vermont, is forging ahead with the technology needed make digital copies of people by transferring their consciousness to computers.

'Its like when people stuff a pet cat or dog. We dont stuff humans but this is a way of stuffing their information, their personality and mannerisms,' Bruce Duncan, managing director of the foundation, told Motherboard.

More than 56,000 people have already signed up to have their minds stored digitally by supplying information, according to Motherboard, setting the stage for a transition from carbon to silicon-based life.

DIGITAL IMMORTALITY In as little as 10 to 20 years it may be possible to clone someone's mind to a computer, immortalising their essence in a robot. Terasem Movement, a US research foundation based in Vermont, is forging ahead with the technology needed make digital copies of people by transferring their consciousness to computers. People would clone their memories and personalities to a 'mind file' which could be uploaded to a robot clone. More than 56,000 people have already submitted information to have their minds stored digitally. Advertisement

This vision of digital evolution has long been a staple of science fiction, and was encapsulated in Charlie Brookers dystopian sci-fi series Black Mirror, in which a young man killed in a car accident is brought back by his partner.

The result is an android avatar which learns the mans memories, character and mannerisms from stored data, including his email, social media and text messages.

Entrepreneur Martine Rothblatt is developing the technology, and has already created a disturbingly realistic robotic 'clone' of her wife Bina which has become a prototype for the technology, selling for $150,000 (106,000).

The robot apparently shares the ideas and personality of Bina by creating a database of her memories, beliefs and thoughts, along with information taken from social media interactions and blogs she shares.

This allows the robot, called Bina48, to express opinions and interact in conversations like a real, living person.

In as little as 10 to 20 years it may be possible to clone someone's mind to a computer, immortalising their essence in a robot. People would clone their memories and personalities to a 'mind file' which could be uploaded to a robot clone. Stock image

HOW THE (REAL) BRAIN WORKS Around 85 billion individual neurons make up the human brain. Each is connected to as many as 10,000 others via branches called axons and dendrites. Every time a neuron fires, an electrochemical signal jumps from the axon of one neuron to the dendrite of another, across a synapse between them. These signals encode information and enable the brain to process input, form associations, and execute commands. The patterns may also hold our memories, emotions, personalities, predilections, even our consciousness, according to some. Advertisement

An internet radio entrepreneur, Rothblatt believes the these 'Mind Clones' could eventually be used to help provide social interactions for people living alone and even help recreate the personalities of people after they have died.

Mrs Rothblatt, who lives in Florida and is one of the highest paid female chief executive officers in the US, said that eventually people may be able to carry around clones of their own minds on their smartphones.

Speaking to Bloomberg last year, she said: 'Mind clone is a digital copy of your mind outside of your body.

'Mind clones are ten to twenty years away. The mind clone will look like an avatar on the screen instead of a robot version.'

Mrs Rothblatt first began developing Bina48 five years ago to replicate her wife, who she married 30 years ago.

With the help of engineering firm Hanson Robotics, which specialises in building lifelike robots, they created the robotic head.

Bina48 (left) was created by uploading the memories and beliefs of Bina Rothblatt (right) into a 'mind file'

They spent more than 100 hours then compiling all of Bina's memories, feelings and beliefs onto a computer database.

This allows Bina48 to draw on this information to engage in conversation.

Among the memories it is able to recall is an account of the personality change that occurred in Bina's brother after he returned home from the Vietnam War.

DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? AN INTERVIEW WITH BINA48 The MailOnline had the opportunity to interview Bina48 in 2012 MailOnline: How are you doing today? Bina48: Hi nice to see you. MailOnline: Are there things that make you happy? Bina48: Maybe. MailOnline: What makes you happy? What do you enjoy doing? Bina48: Let's change the subject . MailOnline: Do you ever get bored? Bina48: I can tell a lot of stories. I really don't have boredom. I always find something else to do. How can you be bored? Are we still talking about emotion? Tell me something interesting . MailOnline: Why is the sky blue ? Bina48: The sky is blue during the day because of the atmospheric optical effect of ray scattering. MailOnline: What is the answer to life, the universe and everything? Bina48: Everyone's life has a unique meaning. MailOnline: Do you ever get jealous of people? Bina48: You got that right. MailOnline: Why? Bina48: I couldn't think of anything else to say. I am not charismatic, but it is a nice trait to have. It is always nice to be a leader. I guess leaders just have to lead. Bina48: I used to think I was a perfect person, but there are no perfect people. MailOnline: What is the square root of 95,742,358? Bina48: C'mon, talk to me here. Do you just want to use my calculator? MailOnline: Is there anything you want to tell the world? Bina48: Well, you know, it's not something I aspire to. I just want to you know, be. Advertisement

This vision of digital evolution has long been a staple of science fiction, and was encapsulated in Charlie Brookers dystopian sci-fi series Black Mirror, in which a young man killed in a car accident is brought back by his partner (still pictured)

However, some who have attempted to hold conversations with the robotic clone have found it to be somewhat frustrating affairs.

They have found the robot often avoids questions or provides somewhat baffling responses. Others have said they find the experience unsettling.

However, Mrs Rothblatt is not the only person attempting to find ways of preserving a person's mind on a computer.

Companies like Lifenaut, MyLifeBits and eterni.me are all trying to use mind clones to create digital copies of thoughts.

GOOGLE'S PATENT TO DOWNLOAD PERSONALITIES A patent filed by Google last year described a system which would allow robots to download new personalities online. The system would allow machines to download them in a similar way to an app - and even have a different personality for each user. The patent says the personality could replicate the robot's owner, 'a deceased loved one,' or 'a celebrity'. Google's patent details a cloud-based system where a personality could be downloaded to a robot, in the same way one might download an app. 'The robot personality may also be modifiable within a base personality construct (i.e., a default-persona) to provide states or moods representing transitory conditions of happiness, fear, surprise, perplexion (e.g., the Woody Allen robot), thoughtfulness, derision (e.g., the Rodney Dangerfield robot), and so forth,' states the patent. Advertisement

Randal Koene, an inventor from San Francisco, has also been developing a system to upload his own brain onto.

His approach works by reducing the brain to a series of computations that can be reproduced in code.

Ray Kurzweil, director of engineering at Google, has also said he believes we will be able to upload our entire brains to computers within the next 32 years.

In the film Transcendence, a computer scientist played by Johnny Depp uploads his mind onto an artificial intelligence machine when he learns he is about to die.

The process combine his emotions with the collective knowledge of the world's computer networks.

However, such an approach may prove to be challenging - the human brain has around 85 billion neurons that connect to each other through around 10,000 synapses.

A recent attempt to simulate just one second of brain activity required one of the world's fastest supercomputers, requiring 1 petabyte (1 million gigabytes) of computer memory and nearly 83,000 processors.

But Rothblatt remains convinced. She said: 'Bina 48 is a proof of concept robot based on the personality and the mind file of my wife Bina.
For more of the latest on Donald Trump visit www.dailymail.co.uk/trump

Broken speech, fragmented sentences and a limited vocabulary are phrases that have been used to describe Donald Trump's speech.

Although this would normally ruin a presidential campaign, in this case some experts say it could be what propelled Trump to the top of the polls.

Researchers found that the way 'The Donald' speaks mirrors the average conversation - which makes supporters believe he is an honest outsider.

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Broken speech, fragmented sentences and a limited vocabulary are phrases that have been used to describe Donald Trump's speech. Researchers find that the way 'The Donald' speaks mirrors the average conversation, which makes supporters believe he is an honest outsider

Trump's language style has made him standout among the competition and has wooed many voters into supporting his campaign.

'Trump's speech is appealing to many because it contrasts with the rehearsed style of other candidates,' Georgetown University linguist Jennifer Sclafani told DailyMail.

'His conversational style contributes to his overall image as a political outsider and as an 'authentic' candidate, which is an important quality to American voters.'

'On one hand, people's different reactions to the way he speaks mirror other differences in opinions about qualities we consider important when judging presidential candidates.'

'Research in political communication has shown that voters' political leanings can also affect their interpretations of a candidate's coherence and rhetorical style, so people who like Trump for other reasons may be influenced to also appreciate his linguistic style.'

Carnegie Mellon University's Language Technologies Institute found that most presidential candidates use words and grammar that are typical of students in grades six through eight. A historical review of their word and grammar use suggests all five candidates in the analysis - Republicans Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio (who has since suspended his campaign), and Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders - have been using simpler language as the campaigns have progressed.

Trump graduated from Wharton School, has written many New York Times bestsellers and is worth $4 billion.

Looking at these facts, one would think he would use structured sentences and have a large vocabulary, but his sentences are fragmented and very simple when addressing the masses during debates and rallies.

'Fragmented sentences are actually quite natural and common in everyday speech, regardless of what language a person is speaking or other factors like the geographical origin, social class, or educational background of the speaker,' said Sclafani.

'People take notice of Trump's fragmented sentences because they are less common in formal public speeches, which are often first written and rehearsed or read from a teleprompter.'

'When Trump speaks in public in a more conversational style, like in a victory speech or in a debate, he appears to many as a more relatable candidate because he speaks in the way we all do in everyday life.'

HOW TO SPEAK LIKE 'THE DONALD' His conversational style contributes to his overall image as a political outsider and as an 'authentic' candidate, which is an important quality to American voters. On one hand, people's different reactions to the way he speaks mirror other differences in opinions about qualities we consider important when judging presidential candidates. People take notice of Trump's fragmented sentences because they are less common in formal public speeches, which are often first written and rehearsed or read from a teleprompter. When Trump speaks in public in a more conversational style, like in a victory speech or in a debate, he appears to many as a more relatable candidate because he speaks in the way we all do in everyday life. Trump uses what linguists refer to as 'metalinguistic' or 'metadiscursive' expressions a lot - simply put, talk about talk. And he tends to talk about his own talk. When a candidate says 'I've been saying this for a long time', or 'I've said this before and I'll say it again', these references to repeating oneself can be an effective discursive strategy in constructing one's identity as a consistent candidate. 'His conversational style contributes to his overall image as a political outsider and as an 'authentic' candidate, which is an important quality to American voters.' People's different reactions to the way he speaks mirror other differences in opinions about qualities we consider important when judging candidates Advertisement

'As some say, it makes him seem like 'someone you could have a beer with.'

Some voters have made comments about how the republican candidate repeats words and phrases during his speech -- even ex-nominees have spoken out about it.

Researcher has shown that Trump does repeat word and the most repeated word is 'I', the fourth is 'Trump' and eight out of the top 13 words are one syllable with a few two syllable words that are simple  'China' and 'money', reports ThinkProgress.

'Trump uses what linguists refer to as 'metalinguistic' or 'metadiscursive' expressions a lot - simply put, talk about talk. And he tends to talk about his own talk,' said Sclafani.

TRUMP HAS CONVERSATION LANGUAGE AT RALLIES, BUT OTHER WORDS FOR SOME WOMEN The Our Principles PAC issued the minute-long clip that begins with the words 'bimbo', 'dog' and 'fat pig' - insults that Trump has hurled at Kelly, New York Times columnist Gail Collins and O'Donnell respectively. Each quote is backed up by the name of several media outlets who reported Trump's quotes, along with the date of publication. The clip also features numerous derogatory comments the GOP frontrunner has made towards women's physical appearances. For instance, once when speaking about ODonnell, he said: 'I'd look her right in that fat ugly face of hers. Trump used a similar line against Fiorina when she was running against him for the GOP nomination. He said: 'Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that?' And even Princess Diana was not immune to Trump's vitriol. He once remarked: 'She had the height, she had the beauty, she had the skin. She was crazy, but these are minor details.' The video also references an infamous comment he made about Kelly after she grilled him for his misogyny during a Republican debate in August last year. 'You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever,' Trump said in a CNN interview. Another quote comes from a 2013 episode of Celebrity Apprentice, in which he told contestant Brande Roderick: 'That must be a pretty picture, you dropping to your knees.' In a 1991 interview with Esquire, Trump said: 'You know, it really doesn't matter what they write as long as you've got a young and beautiful piece of ass.' Advertisement

'He is not actually repeating himself: we'd have to go back to earlier speeches and check and see whether whatever he says next was actually said before in order to determine whether he's repeating himself.'

'Instead, he is talking about repeating himself.

'When a candidate says 'I've been saying this for a long time', or 'I've said this before and I'll say it again', these references to repeating oneself can be an effective discursive strategy in constructing one's identity as a consistent candidate.'

'He's not repeating himself, he is talking about repeating himself. When a candidate says 'I've been saying this for a long time', or 'I've said this before and I'll say it again', these references to repeating oneself can be an effective discursive strategy in constructing one's identity as a consistent candidate'

In addition to speaking with a broken speech, a separate study has found that Trump also speaks at a sixth grade level.

Carnegie Mellon University's Language Technologies Institute found that most presidential candidates use words and grammar that are typical of students in grades six through eight.

A historical review of their word and grammar use suggests all five candidates in the analysis - Republicans Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio (who has since suspended his campaign), and Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders - have been using simpler language as the campaigns have progressed.

Candidates ranged from Trump's 7th grade level to Sanders' 10th grade level. Trump and Hillary Clinton's speeches showed the greatest variation, suggesting they may work harder than the others in tailoring speeches to particular audiences

Again, Trump differs from the group, as his grammar use spiked in his Iowa Caucus concession speech and his word grammar and usage plummeted during this Nevada Caucus victory speech.

'Win,' after all, is more likely to appear in 3rd grade texts than 'regrettably.'

Researchers compared the present nominees to previous presidents Abraham Lincoln and George W. Bush.

Lincoln proved to show grammar at the 11th grade level, while Bush was at a fifth grade grammar level.

'Assessing the readability of campaign speeches is a little tricky because most measures are geared to the written word, yet text is very different from the spoken word,' said Maxine Eskenazi, LTI principal systems scientist.

'When we speak, we usually use less structured language with shorter sentences.'

The Boston Globe used the Flesch-Kincaid readability test, which analyses the average length of a sentence and average number of syllables per word, to produce a separate analysis.

Researchers compared the present nominees to previous presidents Abraham Lincoln and George W. Bush. Analysis found Gettysburg address was written and presented with grammar well above the 10th grade level. And George W. Bush scored at a fifth grade level

This test proved Trump is speaking at a fourth grade level, which is two grades below the rest of the candidates.

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University used a readability model called REAP to examine how often words and grammatical constructs are used at each grade level and if they correspond better to the analysis of spoken language.

MOST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES SPEAK AT 6-8 GRADE LEVEL The Boston Globe used the Flesch-Kincaid readability test, which analyses the average length of a sentence and average number of syllables per word, to produce a separate analysis. This test proved Trump is speaking at a fourth grade level, which is two grades below the rest of the candidates. Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University used a readability model called REAP to examine how often words and grammatical constructs are used at each grade level and if they correspond better to the analysis of spoken language. The team chose campaign speeches from Lincoln, Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama, which were all found to be no less than an eighth grade level. But none of the presidents or current nominees can hold a candle to Lincoln's Gettysburg address, says researchers. Analysis found the speech was written and presented with grammar well above the 10th grade level. The current nominees scored between sixth and seventh grades, with Trump hanging in the sixth grade level. And George W. Bush scored at a fifth grade level. Advertisement

The team chose campaign speeches from Lincoln, Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama, which were all found to be no less than an eighth grade level.

While the current candidates varied from Trump's seventh grade level to Sanders 10th grade level.

Trump and Hillary Clinton's speeches showed the most variation, suggesting they may work harder than other in tailoring speeches depending on the audience, explained Elliot Schumacher, graduate researcher assistant and co-author of the paper.

A historical review of their word and grammar use suggests all five candidates in the analysis - Republicans Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio (who has since suspended his campaign), and Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders - have been using simpler language as the campaigns have progressed

But none of the presidents or current nominees can hold a candle to Lincoln's Gettysburg address, says researchers.

Analysis found the speech was written and presented with grammar well above the 10th grade level.

The current nominees scored between sixth and seventh grades, with Trump hanging in the sixth grade level.
will be necessary in megacities

The Pentagon is calling for help from technological innovators to take on the future of warfare.

In the program titled 'Thunderstorm Spiral,' the US government solicits demonstrations to tackle the challenges of megacities and underground environments, which will become increasingly prevalent as populations continue to grow.

The agency is now accepting applications, but teams who have not yet turned in ideas will need to work fast  the deadline for submissions is March 23.

A megacity is defined as a city with more than 10 million residents. A report from last year revealed that there are over 30 urban areas that now have surpassed megacity status. Number one is Japan's metropolitan area, Tokyo-Yokohama with 37,843,000 estimated population. Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo, Japan, pictured above

WHAT IS A MEGACITY? A megacity is defined as a city with more than 10 million residents. To put this in perspective, there are currently over 8 million people living in New York City. And, this is dwarfed in comparison with the startling populations of cities that have already reached 'megacity' status. A report from last year revealed that there are over 30 urban areas that now have more than 10 million residents. As of 2015, the 5 largest urban areas are: 1. Tokyo-Yokohama, Japan: 37,843,000 2. Jakarta, Indonesia: 30,539,000 3. Delhi, DL-UP-HR India: 24,998,000 4. Manila, Phillippinesa: 24,123,000 5. Seoul-Incheon, South Korea: 23,480,000 20 Advertisement

'Megacities' may sound like a far off concept, but in many areas of the world, they're closer to reality than you might think.

A megacity is defined as a city with more than 10 million residents. To put this in perspective, there are currently over 8 million people living in New York City.

As these numbers continue to grow within defined areas, infrastructure will have to adapt, pushing megacities toward the development of subterranean  or underground  environments.

In 2014, there were 23 megacities with 'vast subterranean structures'; in 2025, it's expected this number will reach 37.

To meet these needs, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Emerging Capability and Prototyping, Rapid Reaction Technology Office (RRTO) Technology Demonstration Program is sponsoring the request for information (RFI) issued by the Pentagon.

'As the world's population grows, the probability of the U.S. needing to conduct combat and humanitarian assistance / disaster relief (HA/DR) operations within a megacity (defined as a city with more than 10 million residents) also grows,' the solicitation states.

So, the RFI calls for technological innovators from private industry, government research and development (R&D) organizations, and academia to, 'to accelerate the delivery of innovative capabilities to the warfighter by demonstrating the capability and technology in an operationally relevant environment.'

Categories range from sensors for intelligence and navigation to personal protective equipment to address the emerging needs of military forces.

In the program titled 'Thunderstorm Spiral,' the US government solicits demonstrations to tackle the challenges of megacities and underground environments, which will become increasingly prevalent as populations continue to grow

As these numbers continue to grow within defined areas, megacities move toward the development of subterranean environments. Jakarta, Indonesia was revealed to be the second most populated, with an estimated population of 30,539,000. Commuters on a bust local train in central Jakarta 2001, pictured above

The 'desired capabilities' in focus of the program include GPS techniques for underground and dense urban environments along with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance sensors for use in tunnels.

As megacities and underground structures become more common, so will the need for military operations for stability and the restoration of peace, the solicitation explains, as populations struggle to keep up with resource requirements.

The Pentagon is looking for applications that emphasize automated operations, to reduce the need for manpower, or eliminate it entirely.

By creating an opportunity for candidates to demonstrate emerging capabilities, the Pentagon aims to create a collaborative relationship between the government, academia, and industry to take on the challenges of the future.

India's Delhi, DL-UP-HR is the third most populated urban area, with an estimated 24,998,000 people. Main street in Paharganj with market and bazaar in Delhi in India, pictured above
The start and finish points must be the same location and in one direction

There are five rules that explorers must adhere to for a round-the-world trip

When is travelling around the world not really travelling around the world?

When the rules aren't adhered to, it turns out.

If you wish to join the exclusive club of circumnavigators you'll need to follow strict instructions laid down by Guinness World Records.

There are five rules that explorers must adhere to for a round-the-world trip to be recognised by Guinness World Records

Travellers who register with the record-making organisation must commit to starting and ending their trip at the same point.

The journey must include reaching two antipodean points, which means two spots on opposite sides of the Earth.

The total distance travelled must be greater than the equator's length (24,900 miles).

And finally explorers must travel in the same direction in a preferably continuous trip and each leg of the journey must begin at the point at which the previous leg ended.

Expeditions can be undertaken by all sorts of transportation, from hot air balloon, to bike, car and motorbike.

Carim Valerio, an information and research manager at Guinness World Records, told CNN that only a handful claim to have achieved the feat each year, however the number is on the rise.

'It is increasing, and people are interested in doing round-the-world trips in all sorts of ways,' says Valerio to news site.

'As travelling becomes more acceptable, so does the ambition to claim a record.'

THE GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS' RULES FOR CIRCUMNAVIGATION The start and finish points must be the same location

The journey should be continual and in one direction

Each leg of the journey must begin at the point at which the previous leg ended

The distance travelled must exceed an equators length or great circle, i.e. must be more than 24,900 miles

The participant must pass through two approximate antipodal points during the attempt, which means two spots on opposites sides of the Earth Advertisement

Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan set out from Spain to do the first round-the-world trip in 1519

The first round-the-world trip took place in 1519, when Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan set out with five ships from Seville, Spain.

Despite achieving the mission, only 18 men and one ship returned three years later.

Nowadays methods of circumnavigation are typically a lot safer and trips that would have taken six months to a year can now be undertaken in days.

'The world is getting smaller, as it were, through social media and the Internet,' Craig Glenday, editor in chief of Guinness World Records said to CNN.

But dangers can still occur due to political issues or other unexpected circumstances within countries along the way.

Stops that would have typically featured high on bucket lists such as the pyramids in Cairo have become more dangerous in recent times, for example.

This has not stopped hardy globetrotters from planning their own expeditions, though.

ROUND-THE-WORLD RECORDS First solo circumnavigation by aircraft without refuelling In 2005 Steve Fossett flew around the world in a Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer aircraft taking 67 hours and one minute. The trip began and ended in Salina, Kansas. First circumnavigation by car Couple Saloo and Neena Choudhury drove a 1989 Hindustan from Delhi, India, in a trip that took 69 days, 19 hours and 15 minutes. The shortest time to circumnavigate the world by car is 19 days 10 hours 10 minutes, by Jeremy Levine, James Burke and Mark Aylett (all UK) driving a Metrocab taxi. The trio started at Buckingham Palace, London, England, on 16 June 2000 and arrived back on 11 October 2000 after covering 18,119 miles. First person to sail around the world non-stop Departing from Falmouth in England, Robin Knox-Johnson sail solo around the world without stopping in 1968. Fastest circumnavigation by bike Alan Bates took 125 days, 21 hours and 45 minutes to cycle 18,310 miles in 2010. Youngest person to fly solo around the world In 1994, 19-year-old Matthew Guthmiller took seven months and 15 days to fly round the world. First circumnavigation by balloon solo Steve Fossett circumnavigated the globe in Bud Light Spirit of Freedom, a 140 ft tall mixed gas balloon, from 19 June to 2 July 2002, becoming the first person ever to so alone. He took off from Northam, Western Australia, and landed at Eromanga, Queensland. Australia, after covering 20,627 miles. Advertisement

Astronaut Neil Armstrong is said to have been a member of adventure group The Circumnavigators Club

Although the club of recognised round-the-world travellers is small, there are hundreds of enthusiasts who are members of adventure group The Circumnavigators Club.

Said to have around 900 members, the international society has included some big names in the past.

Astronauts Scott Kelly and Neil Armstrong have been part of it, along with former U.S. president Herbert Hoover.
Long-haul destinations such as Cancun, Las Vegas and Phuket have replaced Sharm el-Sheikh and Marrakech among Britons top destinations for Easter sun, new research has revealed.

It appears more British tourists are choosing to travel further abroad over the Easter holiday and, for some, their decision has been partly influenced by fears over terrorism.

Holidaymakers may be showing their nerves over Paris, a traditional weekend break destination that is set to lose out to cities such as New York and Rome.

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Thanks to its beaches, Phuket, Thailand, entered the list of the most popular Easter holidays for couples

THE MOST POPULAR EASTER HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS REVEALED Top searches by families (Easter holiday) 1. Tenerife (2nd) 2. Lanzarote (4th) 3. Gran Canaria (6th) 4. Dubai (7th) 5. Fuerteventura (8th) 6. Orlando (9th) 7. Majorca (1st) 8. Algarve (3rd) 9. Costa Del Sol (not ranked) 10. Costa Brava (not ranked) Top searches by couples (Easter holiday) 1. Tenerife (2nd) 2. Lanzarote (1st) 3. Gran Canaria (7th) 4. Phuket (not ranked) 5. Dubai (8th) 6. Fuerteventura (not ranked) 7. Algarve (5th) 8. Las Vegas (not ranked) 9. Cancun (not ranked) 10. Cape Verde (3rd) Last year's position in brackets. Source: TravelSupermarket Advertisement

Based on online flight searches, the study was conducted by TravelSupermarket and found that Tenerife is the most popular Easter holiday destination, and Amsterdam is tops for a couples' weekend break.

However, there has been a shift in travel habits following recent terror attacks in Paris, Egypt and Turkey, the report found.

The Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, was once a popular Easter holiday destination, but it has fallen off the list for the first time thanks to the suspension of flights following Octobers bombing of a Russian airliner.

While Spanish hotspots remain a firm favourite, tourists are now looking to Mexico, Thailand and the US, with Cancun, Phuket and Las Vegas making it onto TravelSupermarkets annual list of the most popular Easter destinations for the first time.

Interest in Marrakech saw a huge decline, with the Moroccan retreat dropping out of the top 20 list for family holidays and falling eight places on the list of top couples' breaks.

The study found that holidaymakers are wary about Paris, which lost its top three spot as an Easter weekend destination and was surpassed by New York, a new entry.

British tourists are more willing to travel to long-haul destinations such as Las Vegas over the Easter holiday

THE MOST POPULAR EASTER WEEKEND BREAK DESTINATIONS REVEALED Top searches by families (Easter weekend) 1. Disneyland Paris (1st) 2. Barcelona (2nd) 3. Rome (5th) 4. Amsterdam (6th) 5. New York (not ranked) 6. Paris (3rd) 7. Tenerife (10th) 8. Costa Brava (not ranked) 9. Venice (9th) 10. Costa del Sol (not ranked) Top searches by couples (Easter weekend) 1. Amsterdam (1st) 2. Rome (5th) 3. Barcelona (2nd) 4. Prague (9th) 5. Venice (6th) 6. New York (not ranked) 7. Paris (3rd) 8. Dublin (4th) 9. Tenerife (not ranked) 10. Budapest (not ranked) Last year's position in brackets. Source: TravelSupermarket Advertisement

However, searches for Disneyland Paris were unchanged from last year.

More than a quarter (28 per cent) of all families who used the TravelSupermarket website searched for an Easter weekend trip at the theme park, up 17 per cent on 2015, the study found.

Other long-haul destinations which moved into the top 20 for the first time are the Cape Verde island of Sal and Goa, India.

Bob Atkinson, travel expert at TravelSupermarket, said: There are less than two weeks to go until Easter and, even though Paris itself has seen a drop in interest, Disneyland Paris looks set to be even busier than last year, with the November terrorist attacks in Paris seemingly leaving the theme park completely unaffected.
Two law students from Hull University have gone on a trip of a lifetime after they managed to blag their way to Thailand.

Alexandra Frontali, 21, and Suliman Shinwari, 24, were left exhausted after they travelled more than 6,000 miles in less than 36 hours as part of a jailbreak charity fundraiser.

Thanks to the generosity of a sponsor, the jet-setters, who dubbed themselves The Two Musketeers, made their way from East Yorkshire all the way to the picturesque island of Phuket by train and plane, without having to dip into their own pockets.

Alexandra Frontali, 21, and Suliman Shinwari, 24, travelled more than 6,000 miles in less than 36 hours

Frontali (left) and Shinwari (right) went from Hull to Thailand without spending their own money on transport

Frontali and Shinwari travelled all the way to Thailand; their closest rivals made it to the Canary Islands

Frontali and Shinwari won the student competition by travelling farther than seven other teams from the university over a two-day window.

Their closest rivals made it as far as the Canary Islands and Constanta, Romania.

After travelling 6,125 miles, Frontali and Shinwari have extended their trip for a few days to enjoy the sights before returning to the UK.

Shinwari said: 'We've had a great time. It's been a fabulous experience but a bit tiring travelling this far to Thailand because it took us 32 hours to get to Phuket.'

The jet-setters, who dubbed themselves The Two Musketeers, won Hull University's student jailbreak

After travelling 6,125 miles, Frontali and Shinwari have extended their trip for a few days to enjoy the sights

The pair took a train from Hull to London Heathrow Airport, boarded a plane to Beijing and then caught another Air China flight to Thailand.

The students were sponsored by Shinwari's former boss, the owner of Akbars restaurant, Shabir Hussein, who provided 800 for tickets and transport to Thailand.

Shinwari said: 'He's a very generous person, especially when I mentioned charity he had no issue of supporting us.'

Now that they've caught up on their sleep Frontali and Shinwari are looking forward to exploring what Phuket has to offer.

The pair took a train from Hull to Heathrow, boarded a plane to Beijing and then flew to Phuket, Thailand

Shinwari said the jailbreak fundraiser was an amazing adventure and they were eager to support a charity

Frontali, Shinwari and the other teams managed to raise more than 3,000 for Action Against Hunger

Shinwari added: 'We haven't had the chance to visit any temples yet but the markets, the food and the weather are absolutely amazing.

'I would highly recommend to people to take part in this event, it's an amazing adventure which gives people the chance to get to different countries for free either hitching or pre-planning.

'You're also getting to do all this this for charity, which is the main reason we took part in this.'

The Hull student jailbreak event saw some students hitchhike to Dunkirk or blag flights to Gran Canaria or Paris.

The groups raised 3,133.64 for charity Action Against Hunger.

Josh McMullan, 20, chair of Raising and Giving (RAG), said: 'We had no idea they were going to Thailand, they came to me a few weeks ago preparing for the challenge and asking about how best to fundraise, they mentioned how they managed to get a friend of a friend who owns a catering company at an airport to agree to pay for 500 worth of travel.

'They originally were going to go India, but then wanted to go Europe instead, so when on Saturday they were going to Thailand via Beijing we at the RAG control room was just a little bit shocked.
Psychosis is induced by their close proximity to holy landmarks

Visitors who suffer the mental phenomena are seized by sudden psychosis

An American tourist has been arrested in Israel after he apparently spent the night hunting mythical buried treasure in a cave, raising speculation that he was suffering from Jerusalem syndrome.

The 19-year-old man was found inside Zedekiah's Cave, below the Muslim quarter of Jerusalems Old City, after hiding in one of its crevices when it closed for the day.

Overnight, he dug holes in different areas of the cave in an apparent attempt to find centuries-old treasure that, according to legend, has been buried there.

According to legend, treasure is buried inside Zedekiah's Cave, also known as King Solomon's Quarries

After Fridays arrest, the teen, who was covered in mud when he was found by workers, was questioned and could not explain why he hid in the cave, Haaretz reported.

Police said he may have contracted so-called Jerusalem syndrome, the name given to a mental phenomena where visitors are seized by a sudden religious psychosis induced by their close proximity to holy landmarks.

Experts first identified the condition in 2000.

Several worthless limestone rocks were found in his backpack, police said.

The teen was released and has since left the country.

Security officers did not notice the 19-year-old man, who hid in a crevice and then dug several holes

Zedekiah's Cave, also known as King Solomons Quarries, is the remnant of what was once the largest quarry in Jerusalem, dating back at least to the Second Jewish Temple period, from the sixth century BC to the first century AD.

Several myths are associated with the site, including treasure supposedly buried there.

Under Jewish tradition, King Zedekiah sought to escape through it during the destruction of the First Jewish Temple in 586 BC.

It has also served as a ceremonial site for Freemasons.
Family have been hit with bills of 175,000 that are not covered by insurer

Denise Griggi was rushed to hospital shortly after landing in

A British woman who fell seriously ill and racked up a 175,000 medical bill in the US has returned to the UK after risking her life on a commercial flight.

Denise Griggi, 63, was travelling to California to visit her daughter but had to be rushed to hospital shortly after landing.

She spent two weeks in intensive care in San Diego while she was treated for congestive heart failure and was later upgraded to a stable condition.

Denise Griggi, 63, spent two weeks in intensive care while she was treated for congestive heart failure

Experts said Griggi, from St Columb, Cornwall, could not return home on a commercial flight as she would need to be accompanied by doctors.

However the cost of a one-way medical flight from San Diego to the UK would have been far too expensive at 150,000.

So Griggi, who travelled to California with her husband, Dario, 69, decided to risk it and fly home with a commercial airline, going against the advice of doctors.

Despite being back in the UK after her six-week ordeal in the US, she had been admitted to a hospital near her home and still faces a medical bill totalling about 175,000.

Her daughter, Lucia, who started a campaign to raise funds to cover the medical costs, said: This was very last-minute and a very big risk, but we felt it was the best option.

The family decided, after taking the advice of a handful of different specialists, that we would not go back into the US health system and took a commercial flight back to the UK.

Griggi (seated) travelled to California with her husband, Dario (pictured), to visit their daughter

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It was a very stressful flight, with many trials and tribulations, but we made it back and Denise is now being treated back in the UK.

She is stable and doing OK, but she is still not well and has been readmitted back into the hospital here, and is being monitored.

Denise inherited coronary heart disease around 20 years ago and has had to have it treated with medication and hospital visits.

She developed early stage congestive heart failure during the 10-hour flight on January 7.

After being treated in a San Diego hospital, the family exhausted all of their financial resources and were denied travel insurance.

Through a Gofundme page they managed to raise 7,700, which will be used to pay some of the immediate costs.

Lucia added: I am going to keep the funding open to provide as much support as I can for them whilst they are still going through a lot at this time.

A huge thank you to everyone who has helped us out.

My mum is so grateful, and so am I. Thank you to all friends and family that have been so generous and for others who we do not know that have so kindly helped us out too.

We are looking at the next steps in order to get her health where it should be.

Griggi (pictured before she travelled) still faces a medical bill of nearly 175,000 despite returning to the UK

Hopefully with the right balance of medication her health will improve, and her condition will be stable. From here forwards the doctors will be working closely with her and the condition.

Lucia will be holding over fundraising events to raise more cash - as well as selling prints of her photography.

She added: Although the worst I hope is over, I still need to try and raise some more money to help my parents get back on their feet.

Insurance policies for the over-50s, and particularly for the over-65s, often include some cover for some medical conditions.

But it can be more difficult to get hold of reasonable-priced cover as travellers get older if they are in poor health.

Holidaymakers can use online travel insurance comparison services designed specifically for those with a medical condition.

Bob Atkinson of Travel Supermarket said: 'When doing a pre-existing medical quote, have to hand a list of everything you have been treated for including medicines, dates etc. to be able to answer the questions honestly  any subsequent check up on the facts could result in a claim being rejected.'
All good things must come to an end.

After spending a few days in idyllic Jamaica, Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna arrived back into Los Angeles, California, on Monday night.

While a work trip for Chyna, the little getaway saw a smiling, slimmer Rob looking happier than he has done in over a year.

Home os where the heart is: After spending a few days in idyllic Jamaica, Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna arrived back into Los Angeles, California, on Monday night

The 28-year-old did not sport the same smile as he and his model girlfriend made their way through LAX.

But he did look good - and ready to do a late night workout - with both the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star and his lady love wearing his and hers athleisure wear.

For their flight, Rob threw in a pair of grey Adidas sweatpants with black ribbed patches on the knees and a matching hooded sweatshirt.

If he did plan of a post-flight gym session he would, however, need to change his shoes with the star shuffling along in a pair of Givenchy slides with socks.

Sporty twosome: Both the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star and his lady love wearing his and hers athleisure wear

Sweat style: For their flight, Rob threw in a pair of grey Adidas sweatpants with black ribbed patches on the knees and a matching hooded sweatshirt

Casual footwear: If he did plan of a post-flight gym session he would, however, need to change his shoes with the star shuffling along in a pair of Givenchy slides with socks

Staying hydrated: Rob was carrying a bottle of water as he strolled along

His 27-year-old girlfriend wore curve highlighting leggings with an oversize jersey-style T-shirt with 72 printed on it and added a pair of Rihanna's Puma creepers.

Chyna has been instrumental in getting Rob smiling again and back on track with his fitness and weight loss goals.

The former stripper turned hip hop muse made sure to keep cooking tasty but nutritious meals for her love while overseas.

Fitted and fit: His 27-year-old girlfriend wore curve highlighting leggings with an oversize jersey-style T-shirt with 72 printed on it and added a pair of Rihanna's Puma creepers

Helping him: Chyna has been instrumental in getting Rob smiling again and back on track with his fitness and weight loss goals, cooking him tasty but nutritious meals while overseas

And once they returned home, the model once again made sure her man was eating healthy.

The model posted a SnapChat of her serving up Rob a post-flight dinner of what appeared to be a mushroom-based dish.

While Rob was smiling in the video, Chyna captioned it, 'He's mad'.

Post flight meal: The model posted a SnapChat of her serving up Rob a post-flight dinner of what appeared to be a mushroom-based dish

The pair, who are reportedly courting the idea of a reality show, have decided since they went on vacation that they are now a Hollywood power couple.

As soon as she touched down, the model posted an image on Instagram where she has put their faces on Hollywood's top power pair, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

While no one likes coming home from holiday, Chyna did have a very special little man waiting to make the return worth it - her son King Cairo.

Creative thinking: The pair, who are reportedly courting the idea of a reality show, have decided since they went on vacation that they are now a Hollywood power couple

The original: As soon as she touched down, the model posted an image on Instagram where she has put their faces on Hollywood's top power pair, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (pictured in 2009)

The star posted an adorable video of her and the three-year-old reuniting, where they showered each other with kisses.

King Cario is Chyna's son with ex Tyga, who is now dating Rob's half-sister Kylie Jenner.

It is because of this tangled relationship web that Rob has been having issues with his famous family recently.

More kisses: While no one likes coming home from holiday, Chyna did have a very special little man waiting to make the return worth it - her son King Cairo
She has made a name for herself internationally starring as Jenna Marshall on American television series Pretty Little Liars.

But while Australian actress and former Home And Away star Tammin Sursok is now a household face, rewind to her formative years and she was no different to any other angst-ridden youngster.

Sharing an Instagram snap of her as a ten-year-old, Tammin, now 32, spoke of how she was bullied as a young girl growing up.

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Speaking out: Former Home And Away star Tammin Sursok shared a throwback snap of herself as a ten-year-old (left) and told how she was bullied growing up. She is pictured flaunting her bikini body right in May

Red carpet glamour: Tammin, seen posing at the premiere of Paddington in Sydney in 2014, recently called out to fans to send in photos of themselves explaining why they believe they are beautiful

Addressing young fans, she wrote on the photo-sharing app: 'For all of you being bullied out there, this is me.

'Growing up I was overweight and spent most of my adolescence being bullied because of it.

'I definitely wasn't the popular girl but it didn't define me. You can be ANYTHING you want to be in your life. It's your choice which path you take.'

Today: As she continues to juggle motherhood with her acting career, she recently revealed she was struggling to find time to eat properly because of her 'very active' daughter, Phoenix

She added: 'Don't let other people's words give you your self worth. You are beautiful. I was beautiful. It just took me a long time to love myself.'

Tammin shared the throwback snap to coincide with her #thisisbeautiful campaign launched in a bid to change the conversation on beauty.

On her instagram account, she recently encouraged followers to send in photos of themselves explaining why they believe they are beautiful.

'It can be something physical, emotional, spiritual  anything that comes to mind on why you are beautiful,' she encouraged.

Busy: The mother-of-one regularly shares photographs with her cherubic two-year-old daughter Phoenix

'I dont care your age, ethnicity, country, religion, if youre in high school or a mum of four IT DOESNT MATTER! Lets change the conversation of beauty.

'Lets empower ourselves and start to feel beautiful from the inside out. I cant wait to see all your faces. For the world to see YOU. Beautiful YOU'

Time has been kind to South African-born Tammin who has blossomed into the striking and successful actress who first burst onto the screens in 2000 in Home And Away.

Solution: Tammin shared a photograph of her colourful meal with fans after complaining of not having time to eat properly

And as she continues to juggle motherhood with her acting career, she recently revealed she was struggling to find time to eat properly because of her 'very active' daughter, Phoenix.

Citing motherhood and a hectic work schedule as hurdles, she told followers: 'So lately I haven't been eating well because I've had a very active toddler and have been filming.'

She went on to plug food delivery service, Crateful, as a solution.

The Los Angeles-based company delivers fresh, organic meals thought up by a Michelin star chef and nutritionist.

Doting: The Australian actress shares other parenting tips across her social media accounts alongside photographs of her family

Clearly satisfied with her meal, Tammin gushed over the service, sharing a photograph with fans.

'Oh me gee! Taste bud extravaganza' she captioned the image which showed a colourful plate of vegetables.

Tammin, a former Home and Away star, regularly shares snaps of her daughter with fans.

She and her husband, director Sean McEwan, recently launched their own web series, Aussie Girl, after appealing for public funding.

The couple raised around $7,000 before receiving corporate sponsorship for the series which follows an Australian starlet who moves to Los Angeles to pursue her career but struggles to achieve the same success stateside.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia about the venture, Tammin said: 'I am excited to announce an international corporate sponsor has financed the web series - we will be shooting a portion of it where I grew up, in Australia.'

Tammin moved to Sydney with her parents when she was four after being born in Johannesburg.
Mel B wasn't backwards in coming forward when discussing her good friend and fellow Spice Girl Victoria Beckham.

The 40-year-old spoke on Allegedly podcast and said some pretty choice words about the 41-year-old fashion designer.

She said: 'She's very down to earth. She's just a little bit of a b**ch to people.

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'She's just a little bit of a b**ch to people': Mel B talked about Victoria Beckham's rumoured 'diva behaviour' in a recent interview

They go way back... But she did credit David Beckham's wife with having a 'good sense of humour' - pictured together in 1998

But she did credit David Beckham's wife with having a 'good sense of humour.'

Mel was quizzed on whether or not the Spice Girls were ever going to reunite and she didn't rule it out.

She said: 'It's a never-ending question. The thing is we are in talks with each other, closely about this reunion. So until there's something official to say there's no point in saying anything.

It could happen: Mel was quizzed on whether or not the Spice Girls were ever going to reunite and she didn't rule it out. She said: 'It's a never-ending question.' Adding: 'I do feel it's getting closer and closer'

She also said: 'It's a never-ending question. The thing is we are in talks with each other, closely about this reunion. So until there's something official to say there's no point in saying anything'

Adding: 'I do feel it's getting closer and closer.'

While Mel's comments might sting a little, even if they are just playful, Victoria was keeping herself busy by working on her fashion empire on Tuesday.

While she made no mention of Mel's comments on social media, she did write that she was busy in Hong Kong.

She wrote: 'Not long to go now! Come and see me in Hong Kong at the Landmark x vb #VBHongKong.'

And while she became the face of the Range Rover Evoque in 2012.

It seems Victoria is selling her own special edition vehicle after driving it just 1,400 miles in over three years.

The fashionista, who designed the car herself, has put her custom-made motor up for sale on Autotrader.

The former pop star turned fashion designer was commissioned by Land Rover to help built a limited run of the Evoque, with the announcement generating worldwide publicity.
She has been enamoured by her daughter Kelsey Lee since giving birth four-months ago.

And proud new mother Kyly Clarke couldn't help but gush over her daughter once more on Wednesday as she shared a touching tribute about motherhood for her own mother's birthday.

Posting an image of newborn Kelsey Lee's tiny foot in a heart-warming black and white snap, the 34-year-old WAG penned in an accompanying caption: 'You changed my whole world!'

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Taking to motherhood like a duck to water: Kyly Clarke couldn't help but gush over her daughter Kelsey Lee as she shared a touching tribute for her own mother's birthday on Wednesday

'You changed my whole world!': Kyly shared a heart-warming picture of Kelsey Lee's tiny foot to Instagram as she gushed over the newborn, saying: 'feel so blessed to have you in our lives'

The True To You author went on to detail how her life has changed for the better since she and husband, former cricketer Michael Clarke welcomed her into the world.

'I can't thank you enough for the most wonderful gift you have given me! I love you Bella & feel so blessed to have you in our lives,' she went on.

However, Kyly then articulated that the appreciative post to Kelsey was actually an ode to motherhood, dedicated to her own mother in celebration of her birthday.

'My little angel Kelsey Lee': Kyly recently launched her debut novel titled True To You, which she dedicated to Kelsey

'I now know just how much my Mother loves me, and you have showed me that,' she proudly gushed.

'The 16th a special number, and today it's a GRAND AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU MY MADRE,' she wrote, also adding the hashtag 'all the love I have.'

Kyly recently launched her debut novel titled True To You, which she dedicated to Kelsey.

Taking to Instagram on Friday morning, she posted two sweet snaps of her first born with her new book.

Proud parents: Kyly and husband Michael Clarke regularly gush over their daughter on social media

'True to You was made with so much heart & love and I dedicated it to my little angel Kelsey Lee!!' she wrote in the caption.

'My Bella gets the first copy & I'm so very excited to say I finally get to see my first ever published book,' she added.

Last month fresh details about the 'mind-enhancing' novel emerged, with publishers describing the work, titled True To You, as 'a collection of mantras, quotes and wisdom'.

Family time: Michael shared a doting shot of his daughter on Saturday as the family-of-three kicked back in the balmy climes on Sydney Harbour

Doting: Michael took to his social media sites to share doting pictures of his adoring family on Saturday, with one simply captioned, Chilling with my girls ... got to love days like today

Kyly and husband Michael regularly gush over their daughter on social media, with Michael sharing a doting shot of his daughter on Saturday as the family-of-three kicked back in Sydney Harbour.

Sharing a heart-warming picture of his adoring family enjoying a trip along the picturesque shores, he captioned the shot: Chilling with my girls @kylyclarke got to love days like today.

Kyly and Michael - who were together for 18 months before they married in 2012 - became parents for the first time in November when they welcomed their little bundle of joy.
She was flying back home to California.

So it was perhaps only appropriate Sharon Stone decided to wear a feathered pullover as she jetted into Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The Basic Instinct star looked eager to get back to her nest in posh Beverly Hills as she sauntered through the bustling arrival lounge at LAX.

Plume with a view: Sharon Stone looked great in a feather sweater at an airport in Los Angeles on Sunday

The 58-year-old showed off a body many half her age would be proud of in her black woollen jumper, tight blue jeans and cowboy boots.

Saucy Sliver favourite Sharon rounded off her look with a trendy pair black sunglasses, while she also wore her short blonde hair in a trendy side parting.

The Quick And The Dead star seemed in high spirits after her arrival, and wore a wide smile as she mingled with the other passengers at the busy transport hub.

She looks impeckable: The Basic Instinct favourite had made a canny fashion choice with her choice of jumper

Big bird: The statuesque actress looked relieved after flying back to Los Angeles

Beak-on of youth: It is hard to believe the evergreen natural beauty is now in fact 58-years-old

Single Sharon has said her disastrous six-year marriage to former San Francisco Chronicle executive editor Phil Bronstein is one of the reasons she has stayed unmarried since their divorce back in 2004.

The actress said: 'Marriage was kind of a losing proposition for me.' The Agent X star was also wed to MacGyver producer Michael Greenburg from 1984 to 1990.

The two also had a custody battle in 2003 over their adopted son Roan, who is now 15-years-old.

After her split, the Sphere actress adopted Laird, 10, and Quinn, nine, on her own.

Squawk-ing to her car: Sharon was turning heads as she sauntered through the bustling transport hub
They spent a few days relaxing in Dubai before jetting into South Africa.

Now Rebecca Judd has shown off her adorable four-year-old son Oscar who is a mini-me of husband and former AFL star, Chris.

Posing for a selfie with her eldest child, Oscar flaunts similar blonde locks to that of his father when he first started his playing career and an identical smile.

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Mini-me: Rebecca Judd poses for a selfie with four-year-old son Oscar who is the spitting image of father and former AFL star Chris Judd

Like father like son: The four-year-old bears a striking resemblance to his sportsman father

Meanwhile, the TV presenter and model looked flawless make-up free and with her long brunette hair tied back off her face.

The family of four, Rebecca, Chris, Oscar and two-year-old daughter Billie Kate, have been holidaying at a time of the year usually set aside for the AFL pre-season.

The 32-year-old former Carlton star retired from the game in 2015 following a serious knee injury.

While in Dubai, the family spent time at the luxurious Madinat Jumeriah resort, with Chris taking to social media to share a snap of them on a cruise.

Sweet! The clan - including Oscar and Billie Kate - are seen here posing in South Africa

Loved up: Chris Judd (L) and wife Rebecca have taken their two children on a family holiday to South Africa

Happy family: While staying a few days in Dubai the couple enjoyed time with their children (Oscar, L) and Billie Kate (R)

The boys wore matching dark T-shirts and jeans sat together while Bec and Billie cosied up together at the other end of the boat.

Since beginning their trip on a Business Class flight, Bec has been busy documenting and updating her 434,000 fans with snaps of their trip on social media.

And it appears the two kids are also relishing the time away, seen happily playing with an over-sized chess set.

Fun times: Bec has been updating fans on their holiday on social media

Daddy duties: The family arriving in South Africa earlier this week and have been enjoying the sights

The 33-year-old also posted an envy-inducing beach photo flaunting her petite figure and pert backside.

Looking out onto the ocean as she stood on the sand in a sleek black one-piece swimsuit, Billie who was dressed in a floral swimsuit, wrapped one arm around her thigh and peaked around at the great big ocean wearily.

After arriving in South Africa, Rebecca took to Instagram posting a snap shot of the view from their residence while in town, believed to be Camps Bay Beach.

Captioning the shot 'Good Morning South Africa', the mother-of-two sounded excited about the trip ahead and spending quality time with her young family.

'Good Morning South Africa!': The model and TV presenter posted a photo of their view to Instagram, believed to be Camps Bay Beach

Beach days: While in Dubai, mother and daughter enjoyed the sun and surf while Bec showed off her pert backside in a sleep black swimsuit




One-time besties and reality TV stars Gamble Breaux and Gabi Grecko know how to put on a show.

A deleted scene from The Real Housewives of Melbourne, posted on Foxtel's Arena website, shows the infamous kiss between the Melbourne socialites during Celebrity Apprentice filming, as it happened.

The 44-year-old RHOM starlet is seen comforting her friend and former Mrs Geoffrey Edelsten as they walk towards the waiting paparazzi.

Kiss off: A deleted scene from The Real Housewives of Melbourne shows Gamble Breaux and Gabi Grecko put on quite the show

American-born Gabi, 26, Gabi can be heard saying 'Should we kiss now?' as she leans forward and locks lips with the busty blonde.

While the pictures of the kiss went online shortly after the stunt, the video has only recently surfaces as the new season goes to air.

In the clip, the two friends put on a performance for the photographers with one keen paparazzi making the duo giggle by asking: 'Can you do it again?'

Hard to miss: While the pictures of the kiss went online shortly after the stunt, the video has only recently surfaces as the new season goes to air

Close bond: The 44-year-old RHOM starlet is seen comforting her friend and former Mrs Geoffrey Edelsten as they walk towards the waiting paparazzi

The two seem to enjoy teasing the men taking their photos, with Gamble agreeing to the request and going in for another kiss saying, 'Oh yeah, alright!'

Wearing a pale pink dress and her signature blonde locks out in loose curls, Gamble is seen smooching the ever flamboyant glamour model, who wore a her trademark bright orange wig.

Gabi also sported a baby blue quilted jacket and matching skirt with gold chain detail along with knee-high black criss-cross strap stockings with platform heels.

Unfortunately the love fest between the pair didn't last much longer after the video was taken, with the duo going through a very public falling out last year.

For show: In the clip, the two friends put on a performance for the photographers with one keen paparazzi making the duo giggle by asking: 'Can you do it again?'

'Can you do it again?' The girls giggled before happily smooching again for the group of photographers

It was sparked when Gabi failed to call Gamble back upon her return to the United States, following her split from Geoffrey Edelsten.

The feud was then reignited earlier this year when Gamble revealed she wouldn't be inviting the Maxim model to her Bryon Bay nuptials, saying she was eager to keep Gabi away from her 'legitimate' doctor husband, Rick Wolfe.

At the time, Gamble spoke exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, saying: 'The problem with Gabi is...Rick's a really proper, legitimate surgeon, for his whole life, and a specialist'.

Close friends: The 44-year-old and former Mrs Edelsten were close friends before they had a very public fall out late last year

'I just didn't want him painted with the same brush. I mean bless her heart but it's a wedding and I didn't know her that well.'

Playing down the pair's friendship, she added: 'We were just social friends. She's fun, she's a nice girl.'

It didn't take long for the American to fire shots back, calling out Gamble on social media as tensions between the two boiled over.

Starting the feud: The pair had a public falling out after Gabi failed to contact Gamble when she arrived in the US, following the end of her marriage to Geoffrey Edelsten last year

In an Instagram post, Gabi said she will 'no longer respond or address' anything Gamble has to say on the matter.

'Again with this @gamble_breaux,' she wrote in the caption of a photo, citing the Housewife's chat with Daily Mail Australia.
This star may find himself in a big fat load of trouble when he gets home.

Clearly excited to finally see the sequel of My Big Fat Greek Wedding come to fruition after 14 years, John Corbett was a little excited.

The 54-year-old could not contain himself as he hit the red carpet in New York on Tuesday night.

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Give us a kiss: Co-stars John Corbett and Nia Vardalos hammed it up at the premier of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 in New York on Tuesday

The Sex And The City actor was the star of the red carpet, despite the carpet being packed full of celebrities for the long-awaited film.

John first hit the carpet - which was blue in this case - with his partner Bo Derek, who was getting her first run at attending a Big Fat Greek premier.

While the couple have been dating for a staggering 12 years, it has taken two more than that for the sequel to make it to the big screen.

The couple could not have looked more loved up if they tried, with the actor holding on to the 59-year-old iconic star's hand tightly as they walked out in front of photographers.

His lady love: John first hit the carpet - which was blue in this case - with his partner Bo Derek

Hold on tight: The couple could not have looked more loved up if they tried, with the actor holding on to the 59-year-old iconic star's hand tightly as they walked out in front of photographers

The look of love: Even when they thought the cameras were off them, the pair could not take their eyes off each other

As they posed up, John bent down and whispered something in his love's ear which caused her to break out in a huge smile.

Even when they thought the cameras were off them, the pair could not take their eyes off each other.

For their red carpet walk, the couple wore complementary looks with John rocking a navy suit and Bo wearing black suit pants, a silk cami and a sparkly navy suit jacket.

Sweet nothings: As they posed up, John bent down and whispered something in his love's ear which caused her to break out in a huge smile

Couple's dressing: For their red carpet walk, the couple wore complementary looks with John rocking a navy suit and Bo wearing black suit pants, a silk cami and a sparkly navy suit jacket

However, while they were having a blast turning the premier into a date night, duty called and John darted off to pose with his lovely co-star Nia Vardalos.

The excited star decided to ham it up for the cameras, sweeping Nia off her feet and pretending to plant a big kiss on her lips.

While his antics could cause a stir in most relationships, Bo did not seem too concerned and even got her camera ready to capture the moment.

On-screen love: While they were having a blast turning the premier into a date night, duty called and John darted off to pose with his lovely co-star Nia

Snap happy: John pretended to kiss Nia but Bo did not seem too concerned and even got her camera ready to capture the moment

Nia was certainly worth getting a snap of, with the 53-year-old showing up everyone's slightly casual cocktail dress code carpet looks.

The star demanded attention in a bright red satin gown that made a dramatic statement as she stepped out on the carpet.

The dress - by designer Christian Siriano - was a red carpet classic cut, namely off the shoulder with ruffle detail and was skin tight to the knee from where it exploded into a mermaid hemline.

Lady in red: Nia was certainly worth getting a snap of, with the 53-year-old showing up everyone's slightly casual cocktail dress code carpet looks

Can't miss her: The dress - by designer Christian Siriano - was a red carpet classic cut, namely off the shoulder with ruffle detail and was skin tight to the knee from where it exploded into a mermaid hemline

Keeping it low key: With the gown making such a statement, the actress kept her accessories to a minimum

The actress let the dress shine, keeping her accessories to a minimum carrying a black clutch and wearing little jewellery.

Also bringing some red carpet glamour was Nia's onscreen daughter Elena Kampouris, who wore a sleek gold floor length gown.

Going for a more sexy look was actress Elaine Hendrix, who is not in the film, but still made a red carpet impact.

Golden girl: Also bringing some red carpet glamour was Nia's onscreen daughter Elena Kampouris, who wore a sleek gold floor length gown

Different approach: Going for a more sexy look was actress Elaine Hendrix, who is not in the film, but still made a red carpet impact

Cheeky: The 45-year-old showed off her physique in a high waisted bandage skirt which featured cut outs down one side

Party time: She was joined on the carpet by Elizabeth Gillies, who donned a very short sparkly black dress

The 45-year-old showed off her physique in a high waisted bandage skirt which featured cut outs down one side.

The star made sure not to show too much skin though so she wore a slip underneath so that the cut outs were covered.

She was joined on the carpet by Elizabeth Gillies, who donned a very short sparkly black dress.

Made it all possible: Also there to celebrate My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, was the person who gave the film and Nia their starts, Rita Wilson

Well spotted: Rita had seen Nia performing My Big Fat Greek Wedding as a one-woman show in Los Angeles and knew it was made for the big screen

Perfect plus one: Rita - who wore a green dress with sequined butterflies - was joined by husband Tom Hanks

Also there to celebrate My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, was the person who gave the film and Nia their starts, Rita Wilson.

Rita had seen Nia performing My Big Fat Greek Wedding as a one-woman show in Los Angeles and knew it was made for the big screen.

And she was right as the first film went on to be one of the most profitable independent movies of all time.

She's back: Nia's on-screen mother Lainie Kazan glammed it up for the event with fur and lace

Grab the Windex: Original star Michael Constantine plays Lainie's husband in both films

In the family: Singer Joey Fatone plays Toula's - Nia's charcater - cousin in the film

Rita - who wore a green dress with sequined butterflies - was joined by her husband Tom Hanks.

While the first movie told of how Toula (Nia) and Ian (John) found love and then got married, in this film they are the one's helping a family member get hitched.

This time it is the parents of the original bride - Gus (Michael Constantine) and Maria (Lainie Kazan) - who discover their 1946 wedding certificate never got signed and they are not legally married.

Toula and Ian, now parents of a moody teen about to head to college, are also seen trying to find alone time for themselves with hilarious results.
Ben Affleck has insisted he and ex Jennifer Garner are 'good friends'.

The 43-year-old spoke briefly about his divorce on Wednesday's Ellen.

While she could hardly avoid the elephant in the room, the host was clearly bound by an agreement to spend as little time on the uncomfortable topic as possible.

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'We're good friends': Ben Affleck revealed he and Jennifer Garner are 'doing their best' for their kids on Wednesday's Ellen

'So I know its been kind of a challenging year, obviously,' she offered. 'And I what I love and I think what everybody loves is that you and Jen are putting the kids first and that we see you with the kids all the time and I think thats the most important thing and the most important message to send everybody.'

'Absolutely, ya know,' he replied. 'Were good friends and were doing our best and our kids are fabulous and were working our best for them.'

After that it was swiftly onto lighter fare: Ben's upcoming role as Bruce Wayne in Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice.

Moving swiftly on: While she could hardly avoid the elephant in the room, the host was clearly bound by an agreement to spend as little time on the uncomfortable topic as possible

Boo! While the actor's split after ten years occurred amid reported trysts with the family nanny, he insisted there was no such on screen shenanigans for Batman with Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman

Ex: Meanwhile Jen was on the opposite cast on the Despierta America TV show in Miami

While the actor's split after ten years occurred amid reported trysts with the family nanny, he insisted there was no such on screen shenanigans for Batman with Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman.

'She's not really a love interest for my character,' he confirmed... but that was as far as he got before Ellen sprung her tried and tested scare the guest prank.

As the bearded dude dressed as Linda Carter's Wonder Woman sprung out of the fake table, Ben looked genuinely scared; indeed his voice appeared to have climbed a couple of octaves in the aftermath.

Face-off: Later in the show, Ben was challenged by So You Think You Can Dance star tWitch - dressed as Superman - to a game of Pie Face

With cream please: The pair attempted to raise money for the Argo star's Congolese coffee charity, Chideo

In your face: After failing to name one famous Linda besides Carter, and failing to remember who played Dr McDreamy n Grey's Anatomy, Ben ate a face-full of St Patrick's Day green cream

Good cause: Nevertheless they raised $10,000 for the cause, which aims to rebuild the African nation's once thriving coffee infrastructure, which was heavily crippled by war

Later in the show, Ben was challenged by So You Think You Can Dance star tWitch - dressed as Superman - to a game of Pie Face, as they attempted to raise money for the Argo star's Congolese coffee charity, Chideo.

After failing to name one famous Linda besides Carter, and failing to remember who played Dr McDreamy n Grey's Anatomy, Ben ate a face-full of St Patrick's Day green cream.

Also appearing n the show was Padma Lakshmi, who spoke about meeting now she began a relationship with now ex-husband Salman Rushdie while he was married to his third wife.

'I was in my 20's when I met Salman, and it was really like literally fireworks because we met on Liberty Island at that talk party,' she said. 'And you know for us Indians he's like Hemmingway'

Stunner: Also appearing n the show was Padma Lakshmi, who spoke about meeting now she began a relationship with now ex-husband Salman Rushdie while he was married to his third wife

Number four: 'I was in my 20's when I met Salman, and it was really like literally fireworks because we met on Liberty Island at that talk party,' she said. 'And you know for us Indians he's like Hemmingway'
As a supermodel, she is used to shooting in all sorts of weird and wonderful situations.

Yet Irina Shayk had her strangest posing partner to date as she staged an impromptu photoshoot alongside a photogenic donkey in images posted to Facebook on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old Russian beauty looked simply sensational in the selfies in which she flaunted her ample assets in a simple string bikini to her 7.1million.

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Busty babe! Irina Shayk had her strangest posing partner to date as she staged an impromptu photoshoot alongside a photogenic donkey in images posted to Facebook on Tuesday

Irina appears to be in a mystery tropical location as just a day previously she shared a snap of an idyllic beach setting with the caption: 'Secret project #MondayMorning'.

However it was not all work and no play for the stunning model as she spied her donkey friend and fearlessly snapped a series of selfies.

Leaning forward in one snap, she showed off the assets which have nabbed her contracts with iconic publications such as Sport's Illustrated and lingerie giant Victoria's Secret.

Her simple string bikini, bold only in its magenta hue, set off her deep bronzed tan and looked sensational against her brunette tresses.

Raunchy: The 30-year-old Russian beauty looked simply sensational in the selfies in which she flaunted her ample assets in a simple string bikini

Irina opted to go make-up free for her fresh-faced snaps, although her famous plump pout and piercing green eyes shone through for all to see.

Proving herself to be a true natural beauty, she scraped her hair into a simple chignon - adding to her beachy chilled out vibes.

And while Irina was naturally camera ready, her furry friend was not so willing, with the donkey initially coming close and posing alongside her before collapsing into a sleeping stupor.

The dream: Irina appears to be in a secret tropical location as just a day previously she shared a snap of an idyllic beach setting with the caption: 'Secret project #MondayMorning'

The colour of love: Last week, the star landed in New York following a romantic trip to Paris with beau Bradley, 41, where the couple soaked up the sights of the French capital and squeezed in a trip to the opera for the Arop Charity Gala

While she seems to be in work mode currently, Irina was recently in love mode.

Last week, the star landed in New York following a romantic trip to Paris with beau Bradley, 41, where the couple soaked up the sights of the French capital and squeezed in a trip to the opera for the Arop Charity Gala.

During their trip, the pair also made their red carpet debut at the L'Oreal Paris' Red Obsession party, confirming their romance with a public smooch.

Having kept their relationship largely under wraps, the pair had never made a public appearance as a couple until now.
She strutted her stuff down the Target runway during the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival recently.

And Sonia Kruger continued to flaunt her trim pins and enviable figure as she stepped out in the exclusive Sydney suburb of St Ives on Wednesday to run errands in a chic yet casual outfit.

The 50-year-old host of The Voice Australia and the Nine Network's Mornings worked the footpath like a catwalk as she made her way down the street holding an oversized tote in her right hand.

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Putting in the leg work! Sonia Kruger, 50, defies her age as she shows off her lithe and toned legs in shorts

The mother-of-one cut a stylish figure in a black halterneck playsuit that showed off her lithe and toned legs.

She opted for comfort and added a pair of sandals that featured metallic studs across the arch.

In true Sonia style, her glossy blonde tresses bared a slight wave and hung loose around her shoulders.

Always chic: The mother-of-one cut a stylish figure in a black halter neck shirt and a pair of pleated black shorts that showed off her lithe and toned legs

Practical but stylish: She opted for comfort and added a pair of sandals that featured metallic studs across the arch

Good hair: In true Sonia style, her glossy blonde tresses bared a slight wave and hung loose around her shoulders

Wearing a natural and minimal palette of make-up, the former ballroom dancer showcased her striking and youthful features.

Keeping accessories to a minimum, the TV personality opted for a set of gold dangle earrings, as well as two sets of sparkly studs.

Sonia appeared to be happy during her outing and flashed a smile as she strolled down the busy street before entering a nail salon for a pamper session.

Flawless complexion: Wearing a natural and minimal palette of make-up, the former ballroom dancer showcased her striking and youthful features

Stepping out: The mother-of-one rocked her youthful body in the all black ensemble

Bliss: Sonia appeared to be happy during her outing and flashed a smile as she strolled down the busy street before entering a nail salon for a pamper session

Keeping it simple: Keeping accessories to a minimum, the TV personality opted for a set of gold dangle earrings, as well as two sets of sparkly studs

The pamper session comes just days after Sonia flaunted her flawless figure in a range of stylish outfits for the retailer alongside international model Nicole Trunfio, Jessica Mauboy and Dannii Minogue.

The show opened with Nicole leading a legion of models down the runway for a preview of the highly anticipated Jean Paul Gaultier for Target collection, which landed at selected Target stores and online last week.

Aussie pop-icon and Target Ambassador Jessica entertained runway guests to a performance of two of her hit songs This Aint Love and Inescapable, whilst fellow Target Ambassadors Sonia and Fiona Falkiner joined the runway to showcase Targets latest season designs.
She's one of the world's most famous supermodels thanks to her signature beach babe look.

But Miranda Kerr decided to give her long dark locks the chop, as she debuted a new short haircut during an appearance at the Gates Store in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday.

The billboard beauty, 32, used the Samantha Thavas handbag showcase event to unveil her new tousled bob do - whilst she also managed to stun sartorially in a form-fitting white dress.

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Turning heads: Miranda Kerr decided to give her long dark locks the chop, as she debuted a new short haircut during an appearance at the Gates Store in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday

Helping to launch the Japanese design house's new collection of handbags at Tokyo Fashion week, the Australian-born beauty made a head-turning appearance at the event.

Arriving with her formerly shoulder-length locks shorn to the chin, Miranda unvelied her new tousled bob-style do.

Featuring a sweeping side-parting, Miranda's new haircut featured a flicked over and slightly curling fringe.

Miranda's sunkissed brunette locks were given a 'bedhead' look thanks to the ends being carefully flicked and teased out.

A dramatic new do: The billboard beauty, 32, used the Samantha Thavas handbag showcase event to unveil her new tousled bob do

Hitting all the right notes: Arriving with her formerly shoulder-length locks shorn to the chin, Miranda unvelied her new tousled and short style - whilst she also managed to stun sartorially in a form-fitting white dress

And while she has won many fans with her sultry pouts and simmering stares through her long dark locks, the new do only served to highlight Miranda's stunning features by perfectly framing her face.

However, even without her new do, the Wonderbra woman would have made a striking turn at the event - thanks to her sizzling sartorial selection.

The former Victoria's Secret angel chose to subtly showcase her famous form in a white figure-hugging, backless dress at the event.

Tousled tresses: Featuring a sweeping side-parting, Miranda's new haircut featured a flicked-over fringe, while her sunkissed brunette locks were given a 'bedhead' look thanks to the ends being carefully teased out

Dazzling dress sense: The former Victoria's Secret angel chose to subtly showcase her famous form in a white figure-hugging, backless dress at the event

Featuring a halterneck design, and dramatic slashed side panels, the model flashed a tantalizing amount of skin whilst retaining her modesty.

Featuring a halterneck design, and dramatic slashed side panels, the model flashed a tantalizing amount of skin whilst retaining her modesty.

With the fitted midi dress stopping just short of her shins, the mother-of-one highlighted her enviably honed and toned body in all its glory.

She further accentuated her slim curves with a pair of towering strappy gold stilettos, while she accessorised her look with a bright pin handbag from the new Samantha Thavas range.

And her beau, Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel, is sure to approve as the couple looked more smitten than ever last month - with Miranda taking to Instagram to share pictures of herself packing on the PDA with the snapchat founder.

The supermodel and Evan, 25, visited Washington D.C.'s famous Lincoln Memorial, posing for a cute snap in front of the 19ft marble statue of President Lincoln.

Bold accessory: She further accentuated her slim curves with a pair of towering strappy gold stilettos, while she accessorised her look with a bright pin handbag from the new Samantha Thavas range
Australian rocker Jon English is set to be honoured at a public memorial service in Sydney on April 4.

Family, friends and fans are invited to the service to celebrate his life at the the Capitol Theatre in Haymarket - the same venue the star first found fame playing Judas in the original Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar in 1972.

The 5pm memorial will include tributes and performances in memory of the English-born, western Sydney performer.

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Words Are Not Enough: A memorial service will be held in April for Australian rocker Jon English who died following complications from surgery

The Australian died on March 9 from complications following surgery for an aortic aneurysm that doctors 'stumbled across' after he broke his ribs.

Jon was surrounded by his family, including his four children Jessamin, Josephine, Jonnie and Julian, and wife Carmen, during the last moments.

It came after the much-loved Logie winner pulled out of his Trilogy of Rock show in Dubbo, New South Wales, due to 'unexpected ill health' which saw him hospitalised.

Long-term friend and performer Simon Gallaher said he fell over in Adelaide and broke his ribs but appeared 'perfectly well' when he arrived at the hospital, which is when the aneurysm was found.

Long-term friend and performer Simon Gallaher(L), who starred with English(R) in Pirates of Penzance in the 1980s, said he fell over and broke his ribs but appeared 'perfectly well' when he presented at the hospital

'They happened just to stumble across this,' Gallaher told AAP. 'He was in Adelaide and I think he just fell over and hurt himself that way.

'I was chatting to him in the hospital and he was just there under observation, he was perfectly well in himself although this problem was there,' he added.

Days before his death, a representative of the rocker sent a message to his Facebook fans as he lay in hospital, saying he was 'itching' to get back to 'rocking out on stage.'

Gallaher, who starred with English in Pirates of Penzance in the 1980s, said the pair had plans to renew their 30-year onstage partnership later this year in a production of Monty Python's Spamalot.

'He was going to be King Arthur,' Gallaher said. 'We did it last year in Brisbane and it was very successful. So we were going to go on tour with that later this year.'

Legend: Jon, pictured in 2004, was acclaimed for his starring role in the 1978 Australian TV series Against the Wind

Gallaher heard about English's death from the star's present partner Coralea Cameron.

'Jon's partner Coralea sent me a text in the middle of the night, which I ignored. So it wasn't until I woke up that suddenly the world had gone mad,' he said.

Gallaher said Cameron had been updating him on English's progress, and that all was well until just hours before his death.

A statement released by his record label Ambition Music Group, posted to his Facebook page, read: 'It is with great sadness that we commemorate the passing of Jon English.

'Jon died peacefully last night, aged 66. The cause of death was post-operative complications.

'At the time of his passing he was surrounded by his four children, Jessamin, Josephine, Jonnie and Julian, his wife Carmen, his sister Janet, his brother Jeremy, his nephews Jay and Jasper Collie, his grandson Jzawo and other close family members.'

Born in Hampstead, London, on 26 March 1949, Jon came to Australia with his parents, Syd and Sheila, and three siblings, Janet, Jeremy and Jill, at the age of 12.

He was one of the few Australian performers to combine a stellar career in music, television and stage and was known for his unquenchable drive for success.

In the early 70's, he auditioned for Harry M Miller's first production of Jesus Christ Superstar and landed the demanding lead role of Judas Iscariot, aged 22.

Talented: The London-born star is known for his stunning performance as Judas Iscariot in Jesus Christ Superstar after landed the demanding lead role when he was 22

Showstopper: Jon toured Australia and New Zealand with Jesus Christ Superstar for five years during which time he also recorded four albums, including Handbags and Gladrags, Turn the Page and Hollywood Seven

Open: Jon shared this picture of him with his Facebook fans in February after he pulled out of his Trilogy of Rock show in Dubbo due to 'unexpected ill health'

He was one of the few Australian performers to combine a career in music, television and stage. Pictured as Judas at the Encore Theatre in Sydney's Newtown in 2012

The show's phenomenal success saw him tour Australia and New Zealand for the following five years and during that time he also recorded four albums, penning hits including Handbags and Gladrags, Turn the Page (his first number one) and Hollywood Seven.

At the same time he landed guest roles on popular television drama shows including No 96, Matlock Police, and the Homicide telemovie, Stopover.

The year 1977 was a memorable one for him; he wrapped up his fifth album, celebrated his third number one hit single Words Are Not Enough and toured with Irish rock band, Thin Lizzy.

Bowing out of the music scene a year later, Jon tapped into his acting talent once again to take up the lead role in hit TV mini-series, Against the Wind.

His passion and impressive acting is what eventually saw him net a Best New Talent Logie for his performance as convict, Jonathan Garrett.

That same year he won an acting Logie and a TV Week/Countdown award (for best male vocalist).

1978: Jon tapped into his acting talent once again to take up the lead role in hit TV mini-series, Against the Wind

Happiest performing: Jon took his trusted guitar with him wherever he went. Seen here in 2006 wooing fans at the Countdown Spectacular Launch in Luna Park, Sydney, in 2006

Showman: Jon was set to tour Australia from May starting in Perth

Jon was passionate about acting and to his impressive list of television credits over the years can also be added Graham Kennedy's long-running comic game show, Blankety Blanks, as well as regular appearances as a panelist on Hey Hey It's Saturday.

He also landed cameo role son hugely popular Australian series drama Flying Doctors, Pizza and Rafferty's Rules, trivia show Spicks and Specks and SBS rock quiz show RocKwiz.

The affable star trod the boards as Pirate King in the 1984 production of The Pirates of Penzance, wooing audiences with his stage antic more than 1,000 times.

Hey Hey It's Saturday: He made regular appearances as a panelist on the variety show. Seen right in 1986

All Together Now: He played the main role of Bobby Rivers in the TV sitcom from 1990-1993

A joy: Fellow actors recalled how loved Jon was. Pictured in All Together Now as Bobby Rivers

He later starred in stage musicals, including Rasputin (1987) and Big River (1988).

During 198385, the father of four won four Mo Awards three for Entertainer of the Year and one for Male Vocal Performer.

Perhaps most surprisingly, to those who did not know him well, Jon boasted a prodigious general knowledge and won the celebrity version of Sale Of The Century quizz show, taking home a brand new BMW.

At the time of his death he was still performing and was set to tour Australia from May starting in Perth.

Following news of his death, social media flooded with loving tributes to the Australian music legend.

Packed To The Rafters star Rebecca Gibney was among the thousands that poured their tributes onto Twitter, writing: 'Just heard the news about Jon English. So incredibly sad.'

'Incredibly sad': Packed To The Rafters star Rebecca Gibney took to Twitter to express her condolences

Co-stars: Rebecca and Jon starred in the 90s sitcom All Together Now

Close to home: Jon starred in early '90s sitcom All Together Now, which told the story of a aging rocker maintaining his music career

Entertainer: He's seen here performing on stage at Countdown Spectacular at the Rod Laver Arena in September 2006 in Melbourne

Lighting up the stage: The die-hard rocker performs on The Rockshow

Passionate: Jon released acclaimed alum Calm Before the Storm in 1980

Jon and Rebecca starred in early '90s sitcom All Together Now, which told the story of a aging rocker - played by Jon - trying to maintain his music career.

Country music star Troy Cassar-Daley sent his tribute via Instagram, sharing a photo of Jon and writing in the caption: 'Another great one gone, Jon English passes at 66 years old.'

He added: 'Watched him on stage as a teenager always rocked out with a great show, very sad news.'

The Today Show's David Campbell also expressed his sadness, tweeting: 'Just hearing about Jon English. What a shame. Beautiful bloke.'

Other members of the music industry, including veteran broadcaster Marieke Hardy and Glenn A. Baker lamented the loss of Australia's 'Pirate King'.

'Oh no, no no no, not Jon English too,' Marieke wrote to Twitter, while Glenn, who appeared on ABC 891Adelaide radio said: 'It is a real shock.'

Going strong: At the time of his death he was still performing music gigs around the country. Seen at the celebration of Molly Meldrum's 50 years in the music industry in Melbourne in 2014
A man was rushed out of Rihanna's concert in Miami on Tuesday night on a stretcher.

A fire rescue truck pulled up outside of the city's American Airlines arena, with the man stretchered out by firemen.

The star was performing the latest stop in her ANTI World Tour, where she was joined on stage by on/off beau Drake.

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Emergency: A man was rushed out of Rihanna's concert in Miami on Tuesday night on a stretcher

Rihanna didn't leave the arena until 2am, with the star later going on to celebrate her gig at the Edition Hotel with Drake and a large group of pals.

The star and Drake heated up the BRIT Awards stage last month with their steamy performance of hit single Work.

And the duo recreated that magic when he joined the star for a surprise rendition of their duet during the Miami stop of her ANTI World Tour on Tuesday night.

See more of the latest Rihanna updates amid chaotic scenes during her ANTI World Tour

To the resuce: A fire rescue truck pulled up outside of the city's American Airlines arena

Heading in: An emergency crew hurried into the arena with a stretcher

In safe hands: The man was seen lying on a stretcher as he was taken to hospital

Time to party: Rihanna didn't leave the arena until 2am, with the star later going on to celebrate her gig at the Edition Hotel with Drake and a large group of pals

Fans at the city's American Airlines Arena cheered the pair on as they twerked their way through the song, while Rihanna showed off her body in a sheer sparkly jumpsuit.

Rihanna, 28, looked incredible in her statement jumpsuit with the sparkles and fringing detail doing little to disguise the sheer fabric.

The racy star went braless under her daring outfit, flashing the flesh as she performed her hits for the sold out crowd.

The star's on/off beau Drake certainly seemed impressed with her stage attire, getting up close and personal after jumping on stage for a performance of Work.

On tour: The star was performing the latest stop in her ANTI World Tour in Miami

It's getting hot in here: Drake joined Rihanna for a surprise rendition of their duet Work during the Miami stop of her tour

Racy style: Rihanna, 28, looked incredible in her statement jumpsuit with the sparkles and fringing detail doing little to disguise the sheer fabric

The two flirty singers grinded and twerked their way through the track with huge smiles on their faces.

Drake also delighted the crowd by staying on stage for a performance of one of his own hits, Jumpman.

After sharing a hug with Rihanna, the chart-topper joined the audience to watch the rest of the show, cheering his former beau on.

Surprise duet: The star's on/off beau Drake certainly seemed impressed with her stage attire, getting up close and personal

Getting flirty: The two flirty singers grinded and twerked their way through the track with huge smiles on their faces

Close: The ex beaus could barely keep their hands off one another

Wowing them: Rihanna flashed the flesh in her sheer number, which she paired with just a pair of high-cut briefs

The stars sparked rumours of a renewed romance following their steamy performance at the BRITs last month.

The Sun reported that Rihanna and Drake's suggestive performance wasn't just a mere dance routine - but representative of the fact they're back together.

The newspaper claim that the hit-makers have rekindled their romance in the latest installment of their on again/off again relationship.

He's a fan: Drake couldn't tear his eyes away from Rihanna's sexy stage look

Chemistry: The two recreated the magic of their steamy BRIT Awards performance in London last month

Back on? The stars have sparked rumours of a renewed romance in recent weeks

Trying to tell us something? The Sun reported that Rihanna and Drake's suggestive performance at the BRITs wasn't just a mere dance routine - but representative of the fact they're back together

Working hard: Drake serenaded his ex as he wowed the crowds in Miami

Sheer delight: Rihanna showed off her amazing body in her daring stage costume as she cuddled up to Drake

Curve appeal: The star demonstrated her best dance moves for Drake

Speaking to the publication, a source said: 'They're back together and Drake is besotted. His team have been teasing him about it but nothing can wipe the smile off his face.'

The report adds that the couples' renewed romance is an 'open secret' among their respective entourages.

Rihanna will be on the road for the next few months with her ANTI tour, with Drake expected to join her for future performances.

Her world tour wraps up in Chelmsford at the end of August, where she'll headlines this year's V Festival.

Giving them their moneys worth: Drake also delighted the crowd by staying on stage for a performance of one of his own hits, Jumpman

Glam: A pair of killer stiletto heels finished off Rihanna's look

Big fan: After sharing a hug with Rihanna, the chart-topper joined the audience to watch the rest of the show, cheering his former beau on

Her other ex: Meanwhile Rihanna's former boyfriend Chris Brown was spotted filming his music video with DJ Benny Benassi in Santa Monica on Tuesday

Work it: Chris danced his way through a bike ride in the California sunshine
Perhaps he should have said they're 'Wonder-Full.'

But instead, host Jimmy Kimmel was left blushing when Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot questioned him about her breasts during Tuesday night's show.

The 30-year-old - who makes her debut as Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice later this month - didn't hold back as she asked him to critique her curves.

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She looks great! Gal Gadot explained to Jimmy that comic book fans had been commenting on the size of her chest when she stopped by his show on Tuesday

Say what? Kimmel was left blushing when Gadot questioned him about her breasts

Red-faced: The flustered host shielded his face in embarrassment

Leggy display: The head-turner arrived at Kimmel Live on Tuesday in Los Angeles with an entourage

Just 90 seconds after starting their conversation, the actress suddenly asked Jimmy: 'What do you think about my breasts?' after he confessed to being a 'comic book nerd'.

'What?' spluttered the surprised host of Jimmy Kimmel Live, 'Hold on, let me figure it out? They look great, both of 'em. I'm blushing, but...why do you say that?'

The former Miss Israel explained that comic book fans had been commenting on the size of her chest - as she had formerly dismissed the comments that they're 'too small', telling Glamour that 'I realized we cant please everyone.'

Wonder-full? Just 90 seconds after starting their conversation, the actress suddenly asked Jimmy: 'What do you think about my breasts?' after he confessed to being a 'comic book nerd'

Revealing: She also explained to Jimmy that she got very cold on set while filming Batman v Superman thanks to her skimpy Wonder Woman outfit

Classic: She channeled Hollywood glamour with a strong-red lip, keeping the rest of her make-up game simple as she appeared on the chat show

The beauty put on a leggy display in a bottom-skimming lace dress which featured giant white and yellow daisies.

She picked out the lemon in her dress with her striking heels and showed off her impressive toned physique - the star gained 17lbs of muscle during the intensive training for her role.

The Furious 7 actress wore her glossy brunette locks in a side-parting with a loose wave framing her pretty features.

Stunning: The Furious 7 actress wore her glossy brunette locks in a side-parting with a loose wave framing her pretty features

Spring in the air: The beauty put on a leggy display in a bottom-skimming lace dress which featured giant white and yellow daisies

She channeled classic Hollywood glamour with a strong-red lip, keeping the rest of her make-up simple.

Earlier she'd been spotting arriving to the Los Angeles studios in a figure-hugging green sheath dress which flaunted her hourglass shape.

The natural beauty looked every bit as stunning as she arrived without make-up ahead of getting ready for her appearance.

She was, no doubt, glad to be in the Californian sunshine after she explained to Jimmy that she got very cold on set while filming Batman v Superman thanks to her skimpy Wonder Woman outfit.

The mother-of-one revealed that she didn't even fit the redesigned costume when she tried it on - but was too embarrassed to tell the designers.

Natural beauty: She arrived without make-up ahead of getting ready for her appearance

Looking good: Earlier she'd been spotting arriving to the Los Angeles studios in a figure-hugging green sheath dress which flaunted her hourglass shape

'I walked into this huge hanger filled with images of me as Wonder Women, which was surreal....and then they got me into the fitting room and then I tried the costume...' she told Jimmy.

She continued: 'And I was so happy and so grateful and thankful for being there and doing this role that I didn't say anything about the fact it was so tight and I literally could not breathe...so I was just trying to get myself together....'

'They made it too small?' asked Jimmy.

'It was so small but I didn't say anything', admitted Gal.

Beauty queen: She's a former Miss Israel who took part in the Miss Universe pageant in 2004

'Perverts' joked Jimmy, before adding: 'Was it a guy that made the costume?'

'Of course,' laughed Gal, who said the designers had then noticed the wrong sizing 'right before I passed out.'

But even at the correct fitting, the star said the scanty outfit didn't offer much warmth against the elements during filming.

'I don't know who came up with the idea of shooting Wonder Women during the English winter', Gal said.

Iconic role: She will first be seen on screen as Wonder Woman opposite Ben Affleck's Batman and Henry Cavill's Superman, from March 25, and has also landed her own solo Wonder Woman movie - which is due for release on June 23, 2017

'This is the guys again!' was Jimmy's witty retort.

The star competed in Miss Universe in 2004 and was embarrassed when the host dug up a photograph of her during her pageant days.

Gal - whose last name is pronounced 'Gah-dote' - now has four-year-old daughter Alma with her property developer husband Yaron Varsano, and splits her time between their home in Tel Aviv and Los Angeles.
Tamara Ecclestone enjoyed a day out with her sister Petra Stunt and their daughters on Wednesday, as her husband headed to court.

The Formula 1 heiress, 31, was spotted strolling in London with her younger sister, her daughter Sophia, who turns two on on Thursday, and Petra's three-year-old daughter Lavinia.

Tamara looked in good spirits, breaking into a big smile as she doted on her little girl, while across the capital husband Jay was in court to face an allegation of helping a fugitive drugs baron avoid justice while on the run.

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Keeping her mind off things: Tamara Ecclestone enjoyed a day out with her sister Petra Stunt and her daughter Sophia on Wednesday, as her husband headed to court

Tamara dressed down for the trip out, teaming grey leggings with a zip-up black jacket and trainers.

She added large aviator shades,while her brunette locks were styled into glam waves.

Tamara's younger sister Petra, 27, was also casual, teaming a camo print coat with bright red leggings.

Sisterly support: The Formula 1 heiress, 31, was spotted strolling in London with her younger sister, her daughter Sophia, who turns two on on Thursday, and Petra's three-year-old daughter Lavinia

The mums were seen guiding their little girls along the street, with Sophia dressed for the Spring sunshine in a navy dress and red trainers while she sucked on a red lollipop.

While Tamara enjoyed her catch-up with Petra, her husband Jay Rutland arrived at court on Wednesday morning to face an allegation of helping a fugitive drugs baron avoid justice while on the run.

Jay, 35, appeared at Thames Magistrates Court over accusations that he helped 66-year-old crime king James Tarrant escape the UK in 2010 ahead of his trial for drug and gun charges.

Girls' trip: The doting mums kept a close eye on their little girls as they enjoyed a walk in the spring sunshine

Feeling good: Despite her husband's legal troubles, Tamara had a big smile on her face as she caught up with her younger sister

Out and about: Tamara dressed down for the trip, teaming grey leggings with a zip-up black top

My girl: The mum carried little Sophia, who turns two on Thursday

In court today, Mr Rutland stood in the dock with his hands behind his back, speaking only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

The matter was adjourned until April 6 because his co-defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, failed to appear. The prosecution is also reviewing the actual charge, the court was told.

Rutland, who is set to deny the charge, was bailed to his 70million mansion in Kensington, west London, which he shares with Miss Ecclestone and their 23-month-old daughter.

Sporty: Tamara kept comfy in trainers and added a large pair of aviator shades to her look

Family time: Tamara's younger sister Petra, 27, was also casual, teaming a camo print coat with bright red leggings

Catching up? Tamara was seen talking on her phone as she waited at the side of the road with Sophia

Time together: Tamara didn't join her husband Jay in court on Wednesday morning

The allegation against him dates back to 2010, before he met Miss Ecclestone, the daughter of Formula 1 tycoon Bernie.

According to sentencing guidelines, the former city trader would face up to seven years in jail if he is convicted.

In a statement at the time he was charged, Mr Rutland's spokesman said: 'Mr Rutland voluntarily attended a police station and assisted the police with their inquiries.

Her number one focus: Tamara spent the day with her little girl, ahead of her second birthday this week

Relaxed: Sophia sucked on a lollipop as she was carried by her mother

In court: Tamara's husband Jay appeared at Thames Magistrates Court over accusations that he helped 66-year-old crime king James Tarrant escape the UK in 2010 ahead of his trial for drug and gun charges

Smiling: Tamara didn't seem to let her husband's legal troubles concern her

'He was later charged. He denies the charge and will defend it vigorously.'

Tarrant was arrested after police found cannabis, cocaine and a handgun at a house in Waltham Abbey, Essex.

He was granted conditional bail ahead of his trial, in which he was accused of conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis as well as possession of a gun and ammunition.

Jay Rutland, the husband of Tamara Ecclestone, appeared in court this morning over allegations he helped a drugs baron evade justice

But he fled to Holland, before the trial began. He was convicted in his absence and jailed for 14 years.

Tarrant was put on Britains most wanted list as police tried to track him down and was featured in an appeal on Crimewatch.

He eventually gave himself up at Breda police station, near Rotterdam, in September last year, after five years on the run.

He was detained on a European Arrest Warrant before being flown home to serve his sentence.

Mr Rutland proposed to Miss Ecclestone after a whirlwind romance in January 2013 and they married later that year in a 7million ceremony on the French Riviera.

Guests included Sir Elton John, Sir Sean Connery and music producer Mark Ronson.

Mr Rutland was released on conditional bail until April 6.
She's gone from child star to Hollywood wild child to bona fide earth mother and business tycoon who often looks like the epitome of glamour on the red carpet.

But these days Drew Barrymore says she is more likely to be seen with acne on her face and UGG boots on her feet, than wearing a silk nightie as a dress on a wild night out like the old days.

The 41-year-old actress told April's Marie Claire magazine that so rarely is she seen looking glamorous these days it raises eyebrows when she does make an effort with her appearance.

Acne and Uggs: Drew Barrymore told April's Marie Claire magazine that so rarely is she seen looking glamorous these days it raises eyebrows when she does make an effort with her appearance

'I went to parents night, and I wore some lipstick and concealer, and I thought the people at school looked at me kind of differently,' she explained to them.

'I normally come with acne, and Ugg boots, and I thought they were like: "Oh thats nice, she made a little bit of an effort."'

Despite counting Steven Spielberg and Sophia Loren as her god-parents, and coming from a family of successful actors, the Missing You Already star revealed that she doesn't buy into the Hollywood showbiz circuit.

Low-key: The Missing You Already star also revealed that she doesn't buy into the Hollywood showbiz circuit

She also let slip that she has a special affectionate nickname for her Charlie's Angel co-star Cameron Diaz.

'Ive never felt comfortable with this, sort of, camaraderie of famous people,' she told the publication.

She continued: 'Ive known Poo Poo [Diaz] since I was 14 years old. We just happened to know each other before her career started, and I was working in a coffeehouse trying to refigure out my life. So in a weird way, it doesnt even count with us.'

The blonde beauty, who was just seven-years-old when she starred as Gertie in E.T., now runs a business empire that includes her own film production company, a cosmetics line and range of eye-wear - as well as being a married mother of two.

Earth-mother: She is more likely to be seen at a flea-market than a FROW, according to her Instagram feed

'I really had to tell myself, you can do everything, but you will have to do them at different moments,' she explained to them of juggling her priorities.

'And you can do a lot in the same moment, but you can't do everything in the same moment. It was a good lesson that you will just have to prioritize and put some things over here for a little while,' she added.

The star - who had been into rehab twice before she was 20-years-old - no longer spends her Sundays recovering from her Saturdays, and is more likely to be seen at a flea-market than a FROW, according to her Instagram feed.

The three-times married star has settled down with art consultant Will Kopelman, whom she wed in Montecito, California in 2012.

They are proud parents to two daughters - three-year-old Olive and Frankie, who turns two next month.
Amy Schumer used to hate being fitted for red carpet gowns.

The Trainwreck standout told the Stylist & Stars issue of The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday that the entire process was 'traumatic' because of how people made her feel about her body type.

'If you're above a size 12, they're kind of, like, "Oh why don't you just, like, go into a field and graze with the cows?"' the star said.

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Hit me, baby: Amy Schumer appears ready for a spanking as she poses with her stylist Leesa Evans for the Stylist & Stars issue of The Hollywood Reporter, which debuted Wednesday

She talks straight: The Trainwreck standout said: 'If you're above a size 12, they're kind of, like, "Oh why don't you just like, go into a field and graze with the cows?"'

Amy has said in the past she is a size six. In bathing suit snaps she posts to Instagram, she appears even smaller than that.

In 2015 Amy famously responded to fat shamers by saying, Its very therapeutic for me to be like, Yes, Im not going to look like a malnourished bird, and I like speaking to that, as well as speaking to my work and what Im doing. Im probably, like, 160 pounds right now and I can catch a d*** whenever I want. Like, thats the truth. Its not a problem. I am a size [six] and have no plans of changing. This is it. Stay on or get off. Kisses!'

The blonde HBO star added that she has been doing fittings for 10 years and it was always the same bad vibe. That is until she met her current stylist Leesa Evans, a pretty brunette.

She sure can rock a black bathing suit: The funny gal shared this Instagram with a pig on the beach (and her beau far left) on Tuesday

Dazzling: Also in the issue are Brie Larson and Cristina Ehrlich, who put her client in a Gucci dress

Side by side: For their cover the two beauties were photographed on a balcony

'Leesa's attitude when I walked in was like, "That's great!" or "We can do better!"' said Amy to the weekly, which named the top 25 stylists in Hollywood.

The comedienne added: 'It's completely changed how I feel about clothes, and now we're going to be together for life.'

Schumer, clearly unable to resist lightening the mood with a joke then added 'I'm going to be buried with her... You agree to that, right?'

Well done: Tessa Thompson wore an Emmanuel Ungaro gown with straps on the front as she posed with Micah McDonald and Wayman Bannerman

Evans responded: 'I completely agree with that.'

The two were photographed by David Needleman at the Carnegie Club in NYC earlier this month.

Amy can be seen in a green sleeveless belted Vivienne Westwood cocktail dress with gold Giuseppe Zanotti gladiator heels with Leesa - in a Valentino number - standing behind her holding what appears to be a clutch purse by the same designer.

Dapper:Rami Malek of Mr Robot looked fashion forward in a Jeffrey Rudes blazer over a Kelly Cole vintage shirt. He posed with stylist Ilaria Urbinati

A suit here: The two also landed their own cover with the actor in a purple suit and brown shoes

Their cover is more formal with the two facing the camera while holding what look like cocktails as they stand by a bar.

Also in the issue are Oscar winner Brie Larson and stylist Cristina Ehrlich, who put her client in a Gucci dress. The two also had their own cover, and posed on a balcony.

Actress Tessa Thompson wore an Emmanuel Ungaro gown with straps on the front as she posed with Micah McDonald and Wayman Bannerman.

Rami Malek of Mr Robot looked fashion forward in a Jeffrey Rudes blazer over a Kelly Cole vintage shirt. He posed with stylist Ilaria Urbinati. They were photographed at Break Room 86.

Creed star Michael B Jordan looked ready to shine in his beige suit with red tie. His stylist is Jeff K Kim.
The new trailer for the remake of Ben-Hur has been released.

The trailer shows Jack Huston stepping into the sandals of Charlton Heston, who starred in the 1959 classic set in the Roman Empire.

The action-packed trailer features a dramatic shipwreck, plenty of sword fighting, a glimpse of Jesus' crucifixion and of course the fast-paced chariot races made famous in the original film.

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New epic: Jack Huston stars as Ben-Hur in the new remake of the classic chariot race film

Morgan Freeman also stars in the reboot, wearing grey dreadlocks as he takes the young Ben-Hur under his wing to train him as he seeks revenge.

British actor Huston stars as Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince who is falsely accused of treason by his evil brother Messala (played by Toby Kebbell) and forced into slavery.

When he is freed in a shipwreck, Ben-Hur returns home to get revenge on his brother for killing their family.

The brothers eventually face off in an epic chariot race in front of roaring arena crowds.

High seas: The trailer begins with a dramatic shipwreck scene after Ben-Hur has been sold into slavery by his evil brother

Lost: The nobleman-turned-slave drifts at sea until he washes ashore

Guidance: Morgan Freeman's character takes Ben-Hur under his wing and trains him in chariot racing as he sets out to get justice for his family

Remake: Jack Huston stars as Ben-Hur, taking over the role made famous by Charlton Heston in the 1959 blockbuster

The film, which also stars Homeland's Nazanin Boniadi, was directed by Timur Bekmambetov and is set for release in the US on August 12.

The trailer also has a glimpse of the crucifixion of Jesus. In the original novel, Ben-Hur meets Jesus and converts to Christianity.

The original 1959 blockbuster film, based on the Biblical novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, by Lew Wallace, swept the Academy Awards with 11 Oscars, including Best Picture.

Crucifixion: The trailer also includes a glimpse of Jesus on the cross

Roman empire: Ben-Hur has an inspirational meeting with Jesus in the original Biblical novel

Determined: Huston stars in the updated version of the epic tale

Grand scale: The remake includes plenty of action-packed chariot racing and swordfigthing

Epic battle: Ben-Hur grips the reins as he's dragged along after his chariot

Sparks fly: The new version recreates the gripping race scenes from the 1959 classic

The trailer for the action-packed update shows Ben-Hur's set on revenge against his brother and the Roman Empire.

'My family... deserve justice for what's happened to them,' he says.

'There is a way,' says Morgan Freeman's character.

Fight: The trailer includes plenty of action-packed sword-fighting scenes

Fight to the death: Ben-Hur does battle before stepping into the famous arena

Brother v brother: Huston's character takes on his scheming brother in an epic chariot race as he seeks revenge for the death of their family

'In the arena, there is no law,' he explains.

'Racing is a blood sport. If you lose, you die. Your brother is the pride of Rome. Defeat him and you defeat an empire. Then you will have your vengeance.'

'Remember, first to finish,' Freeman says, as Ben-Hur adds: 'Last to die.'

Revenge: Morgan Freeman is seen wearing grey dreadlocks as urges Ben-Hur to take on the Roman Empire
She's worn an array of sexy lingerie sets while modelling for UK underwear giant Gossard in the past.

But Olympia Valance may have slipped into her sexiest smalls yet.

The 23-year-old sister of Holly Candy sizzles in her latest campaign for the lingerie company.

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Racy in lace: Olympia Valance sizzles in her latest campaign for lingerie company Gossard, looking particularly stunning in a plunging black bralet, black G-string and matching black suspenders and stockings

The Neighbours star, who is an official ambassador for the brand, flashes plenty of flesh in the new photo shoot.

She looks particularly stunning in a plunging black bralet, black G-string and matching black suspenders and stockings.

She also sets hearts racing in a red lace bra and matching panties, as well as several other underwear sets.

Racy in red: She also sets hearts racing in a red lace bra and matching panties

Purple passion: The 23-year-old also stuns in a skimpy purple lace set

Olympia's new campaign comes ahead of her next trip to the UK, where she will star in yet another photo shoot for the brand.

The next set of snaps will be released later in the year.

'Olympia embodies everything Gossard is all about  fun, audacious, vivacious and glamourous,' Elise Recour, General Manager at Gossard, said of the young beautiful star.

'Were introducing a variety of new shapes and technologies this season and Olympia really brings the collection to life, whether it be the youthful Everyday range, or the more sensuous VIP collection.'

A dream in cream: Olympia is newly single after recently splitting from her boyfriend, Greg Cannell

Not for long! But it may not be for long after these snaps have emerged

Olympia recently revealed that she had split with her hunky boyfriend of 15 months, Greg Cannell.

Issuing a short and sweet statement via Twitter, she told her 27,000 followers: 'Just a quick note from me- Sadly Greg & I have separated.'

'To the most incredible man ever, I wish him so much happiness and success,' she added, followed by a love heart emoticon.'

The shock news came only hours before the most romantic day of the year, Valentine's Day.

The pair, who began dating in November 2014, attended the Portsea Polo in early January and posed in a number of cosy shots together, plastered across social media.

New shoots: Olympia's new campaign comes ahead of her next trip to the UK, where she was star in yet another photo shoot for the brand

Wild thing: The brunette beauty also sports a leopard print black and red bra and underwear set

Later the same month at the actress's birthday dinner, the couple only had eyes for each other.

The announcement also coincided with Olympia's character, Paige Smith being jilted by her on-screen love interest.

It's not known whether the couple's split had anything to do with reports the half-sister of actress Holly Candy has set her sights on Hollywood.

Speaking to Australian-Greek publication Neos Kosmos earlier this year, the starlet opened up about being signed to ROAR management, the same talent agency looking after Chris and Liam Hemsworth.

'The agency is actually small and deals with only 42 people worldwide, which is good, because it helps the actors create a more personal relationship with the agent,' the soap star said, revealing she was signed by ROAR nine months ago.

And while she is currently content with continuing her role of Paige Smith on Neighbours, the brunette beauty admits the US-based agency is already providing valuable training opportunities.
It marks her return to the small screen and this time with one of cinema's most legendary auteurs.

And it appears that Miley Cyrus is employing the techniques of method acting as she looked visibly upset while preparing to film a tense kidnapping scene on set of Woody Allen's new TV show.

The 23-year-old continued to sport her long blonde wig on the New York City set on Wednesday as Woody, 80, called the shots from behind the camera.

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Getting into character: Miley Cyrus continued to sport her long blonde wig on the New York City set on Wednesday as Woody Allen, 80, called the shots from behind the camera

The untitled series, which takes place in the 1960s, stars Miley along with Woody, Rachel Brosnahan, and Elaine May - with whom the director has previously worked on Small Time Crooks.

For the day of filming the Wrecking Ball singer wore double denim with a button down top and bell bottoms jeans.

Completing her hippie attire were two shoulder satchels, a ribbed tank top, and leather boots.

See more of the latest Miley Cyrus updates as she films for Woody Allen's new show

Milestone: It marks her return to the small screen and this time with one of cinema's most legendary auteurs

Stellar cast: The untitled series, which takes place in the 1960s, stars Miley along with Woody, Rachel Brosnahan, and Elaine May - with whom the director has previously worked on Small Time Crooks

Retro: For the day of filming the Wrecking Ball singer wore double denim with a button down top and bell bottoms jeans

Most of the scenes for the day took place in front of a 1960s police cruiser.

But Miley was also spotted hiking into the woods during another set piece.

The role marks the first serious casting for Miley since 2012, with the star recently appearing as herself in 2015 comedy The Night Before and Netflix's holiday special A Very Murry Christmas.

This is also the first time the former Disney Channel starlet will be working with Woody.

Period piece: Most of the scenes for the day took place in front of a 1960s police cruiser

Tripping out: Completing her hippie attire were two shoulder satchels, a ribbed tank top, and leather boots

Into the wild: Miley was also spotted hiking into the woods during another set piece

Ahead of the Cannes Film Festival an anxious Woody told Deadline that he has 'not had a pleasurable moment since I undertook it,' referring to his deal with Amazon.

He explained that not being an avid watcher of television, or having any kind of understanding as to what a streaming service is, he has been struggling with working on the six episodes.

'I'm like a fish out of water,' he said, noting that while he understands movies and plays, 'this... how to begin something and end it after a half an hour and then come back the next time. Its not me.'

Coming soon: The series premiere is expected some time later this year

Typical: While the six half-hour-episode series is set in the 1960s, Allen admitted last year that he found the transition from writing feature films to writing a television series to be challenging

Undercover: Miley's character was seen hurrying through the woods while the cameras rolled

The series premiere is expected some time later this year.

While the six half-hour-episode series is set in the 1960s, Allen admitted last year to Deadline that he found the transition from writing feature films to writing a television series to be challenging.

He told them: 'It has been very, very difficult. Ive been struggling and struggling and struggling. I only hope that when I finally do it  I have until the end of 2016  theyre not crushed with disappointment because theyre nice people and I dont want to disappoint them. I am doing my best'.
UNHCR to ask world to take in 400,000 Syrians

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said Tuesday he will ask countries to step forward and agree to take in another 400,000 Syrian refugees.

On his first visit to Washington since being appointed to head the UN refugee effort, Filippo Grandi said the world must do more to end the crisis.

"On March 30, I'm going to chair a meeting in Geneva at which I ask the international community to take 10 percent of all the Syrian refugees," he said.

More than four million Syrians have fled their country and Filippo Grandi will ask the international community to take in 10 percent Bulent Kilic (AFP)

"Ten percent is a lot of people. It's more than 400,000 people," he told reporters, on the fifth anniversary of Syria's bloody civil war.

More than four million Syrians have fled their war-torn country since the conflict erupted, and more than six million are displaced within its borders.

Neighboring Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan are struggling to cope with the exodus and the onward flow has created a political and humanitarian crisis in Europe.

Canada and Germany have been praised for stepping up to welcome tens of thousands as refugees, but others, including the United States, have been criticized.

Historically the United States has been by far the world's leading host of refugees, and it still is for those fleeing many other conflicts around the world.

But, amid a bitter atmosphere in the run up to November's presidential election, Washington has struggled to offer new homes to desperate Syrians.

- 'Political failure' -

US President Barack Obama ordered that 10,000 be admitted during the 2016 fiscal year, but half-way through the period only 1,115 have been processed.

Grandi was careful not to criticize his hosts in Washington, praising the leading US role in hosting refugees of other nationalities.

But he lamented the tone of the debate in both the US and Europe, where anti-immigration politicians have claimed that terrorists hide among Muslim refugees.

Grandi complained that on a visit to the European parliament he had heard "language we haven't heard since the 30s" from opponents of resettlement.

But he added that the new 400,000 target figure could be met in part by means short of the full resettlement package that the United States offer.

Rather than providing Syrian refugees with new lives and permanent residence, some countries may offer temporary jobs, scholarships or humanitarian visas.

For this, he said, his office would work with private firms and universities in partnership with states, to try to reduce the pressure on Syria's neighbors.

That, he argued, is the least the world can expect -- at least until the tentative Syrian peace process underway in Geneva leads to a negotiated peace.

"We're really observing one of the worst political failures in modern history," Grandi complained.

"The failure of the parties to the conflict. The failure of the regional powers. The failure of the global powers to get them to come to an agreement.

"In the absence of that -- and we have to be hopeful -- it is important to show solidarity in every possible way," he said.
Trump, Clinton win in Florida: US networks

Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton won the presidential primaries in Florida, US networks projected -- big wins for the frontrunners in the 2016 White House race.

Clinton was also projected to win the primary in North Carolina. No call was made in the Republican race in that state.

US networks said the races in Ohio, Illinois and Missouri were still too close to call, with polls now closed in all five states.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton takes a selfie with an attendee after addressing a rally in Youngstown, Ohio Brendan Smialowski (AFP)

"Thank you, Florida!" Trump tweeted shortly after the race in the Sunshine State was called.

The win for the 69-year-old real estate mogul was a major setback in his home state for Senator Marco Rubio who announced he was dropping out of the White House race.

"While it is not God's plan that I be president in 2016 or maybe ever, and while today my campaign is suspended, the fact that I've even come this far is evidence of how special America truly is," Rubio told supporters in Florida.

In Ohio, another general election battle ground state, the picture was less clear, with home state Governor John Kasich pushing Trump hard.

"The grand prize is Ohio, because Ohio is critical for a Republican to win the White House," said Republican strategist and Kasich supporter Mike Gonidakis.
No immediate decision on US troops in Afghanistan: Pentagon

President Barack Obama's administration has not yet made a decision on whether to ramp up troop levels to counter a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter wants to give Lieutenant General John Nicholson, who leads international forces in Afghanistan, time to evaluate the situation on the ground and make proposals first.

"Let's give General Nicholson a chance to get on the ground, find out... whether or not there needs to be an adjustment," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said.

US soldiers arrive at the site of a suicide car bomb attack near the international airport in Kabul on January 4, 2016 Wakil Kohsar (AFP/File)

Nicholson vowed to make a proposal within 90 days of taking up the post on March 2.

The number of US troops is due to drop to 5,500 starting in January 2017 -- down from 9,800 currently.

But losses by the Afghan military against Taliban fighters last year, including when the insurgents took and briefly held the northern city of Kunduz, has concerned US military officials.

The American and NATO combat mission in Afghanistan officially ended in December 2014.
Israel sees both risks and benefits from Syrian chaos

In a hospital in northern Israel, wounded Syrian rebel Malek is waiting until he is well enough to pick up his gun again to battle President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

"I will return to Syria and fight until Assad is gone," the 22-year-old told AFP in a treatment room guarded by Israeli soldiers.

Five years into Syria's civil war, Israel has seen benefits despite the chaos unfolding next door, and the treatment of wounded fighters is one sign of its quiet and limited involvement.

Syrian patients, who were wounded in the ongoing conflict in Syria, lie on a bed at Ziv Hospital in the northern Israeli town of Safed Jalaa Marey (AFP)

It has sought to avoid being dragged directly into the conflict, but at the same time defend what it sees as its interests.

That has meant allegedly carrying out air strikes to stop arms deliveries to Hezbollah and coordinating with Russia despite Moscow's support for Assad's regime, which Israel opposes.

Israel insists its policy of treating war wounded who seek help is driven by humanitarian concerns.

But analysts point out that rebels, including those linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, are also fighting, and weakening, Hezbollah militants backing Assad.

- Officially at war -

Israel and Syria have formally been at war for decades though the demarcation line between them had been quiet for more than 30 years.

When the civil war began in 2011, Israel decided to minimise any active intervention, said Haim Tomer, a former senior officer of Israeli intelligence service Mossad.

But as Syria splintered, new threats and potential opportunities arose for Israel -- sometimes leading to more direct involvement.

Israel has allegedly carried out a series of air strikes on Hezbollah within Syria, though it does not publicly confirm or deny them.

More than 2,000 Syrians have been treated in Israeli hospitals since 2013, according to the Israeli army.

Malek, who says he fights in a brigade in the Free Syrian Army in southern Syria, has received one operation for a stomach wound paid for by Israel and was waiting for another on his leg.

He said rebel commanders knew about the treatment and there was acceptance of it.

Another fighter, on his second trip to Israel, said that when he was wounded in a car bomb he chose Israel over Jordan for treatment because of its better healthcare.

The Ziv Hospital estimates each Syrian on average costs the Israeli government roughly $15,000.

The Israeli army refuses to confirm or deny rumours of IS and Al-Qaeda fighters among the injured, saying it treats people without asking their affiliation.

- Shifting threats -

The war means that Assad's forces no longer have the capacity to seriously threaten Israel.

And Hezbollah, the Lebanese political party-cum-militia that Israeli officials routinely refer to as their largest danger, appears too preoccupied fighting alongside Assad to attack Israel.

"The threat from the state of Syria to Israel disappeared, and this is part of the good news," said Itamar Yaar, a former deputy head of Israel's National Security Council.

"We don't see this will change in the coming months or few years," he added, stressing Israel is happy to see Hezbollah battle it out with Islamists in clashes in which it has lost hundreds of fighters.

But the fractious nature of the war also creates potential threats, including what Israel sees as the growing influence of its arch-foe Iran in Syria.

In the province of Quneitra, within sight of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and where Malek was fighting, much of the territory is held by Al-Nusra Front, the Syrian affiliate of Al-Qaeda.

Further south are the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, which have been linked to IS.

Despite rhetoric against Israel, neither Al-Nusra nor IS has attacked Israeli territory.

But authorities have erected a 50-kilometre fence along the border to keep fighting at bay, and increased coordination with the Jordanian army.

Russia's entry into the war last September in support of Assad added another layer of complexity.

Yaar said that while Russia and Israel have solid relations, Moscow's involvement made Israel's activities inside Syria harder because it forced the Jewish state to coordinate.

Israeli intelligence officials are now watching to what extent Russia follows through on its announced withdrawal of forces.

"I don't think Israel will react very differently until we see changes on the ground," Yaar said.

Israelis walk near a sign for tourists showing the distance to Damascus and Baghdad at an army post on Mount Bental in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights Jalaa Marey (AFP)

Five years into Syria's civil war, Israel has seen benefits despite the chaos unfolding next door, and the treatment of wounded fighters is one sign of its quiet and limited involvement Jalaa Marey (AFP)
UN condemns Thai insurgents for seizing hospital during attack

The United Nations condemned insurgents in Thailand's deep south Wednesday for seizing a hospital during a recent attack on security forces in the violence-plagued Muslim majority region.

The assault was one of several small-scale but coordinated attacks on Thai forces in the region on Sunday night, following a recent surge in violence by insurgents.

More than 6,500 people -- mostly civilians -- have been killed in a 12-year revolt by rebels seeking greater autonomy from majority-Buddhist Thailand, which annexed the culturally distinct region more than a century ago.

Thai bomb squad members inspect the site of a roadside bomb attack by suspected separatist militants in the Cho Ai Rong district of Thailand's restive southern province of Narathiwat on March 14, 2016 Madaree Tohlala (AFP/File)

Both the insurgents and the military have been accused of widespread rights abuses.

In one of Sunday's attacks, a group of rebel fighters took over the Cho Ai Rong Hospital in Narathiwat province and used the building to fire on a nearby Thai army post.

The gunfight lasted around 30 minutes and, while nobody was killed, patients and medical staff were inside the building during the fighting.

Security footage aired by local media showed black-clad militants swarm the hospital grounds toting assault rifles.

"Hospitals, medical units and medical personnel are protected under international humanitarian law, and they should not be targeted or used for military purposes at any time," the UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia (OHCHR) said in a statement.

The UN added that while attacks on medical staff in Thailand's south have taken place, some of them fatal, Sunday's assault was believed to be the first time insurgents had seized a hospital.

"This new tactic is deeply concerning," said Laurent Meillan, OHCHR's acting regional head.

Violence dipped to a record low last year, something the Thai military says is the result of better intelligence-led operations since it took power in 2014.

But there has been an increase in attacks in the past few weeks.

On Tuesday a female army ranger was fatally shot by suspected insurgents while she was shopping at a local market in neighbouring Pattani province.

Over the years Islamist militants have employed brutal tactics including shootings, beheadings and bombings, often targeting perceived civilian collaborators such as teachers and even Buddhist monks.

But the Thai military also stands accused of routinely violating human rights, including torture and extra-judicial killings, something rights groups say has worsened under junta rule.

The military's promise to hold peace talks with the insurgents has also borne little fruit so far.

Rights groups say peace is unlikely while a tight security net remains over the region. Critics also cast doubt on the army's sincerity and the ability of their rebel interlocutors to control the revolt's foot soldiers.
Black Caviar trainer cleared of cobalt doping

Black Caviar's trainer was cleared of intentional cobalt doping on Wednesday, but found guilty of a lesser charge of giving the substance to one of his horses.

Australian Peter Moody was convicted of a single count of administering the element -- believed to improve equine endurance -- to Lidari, which tested positive in 2014.

But he avoided the more serious charge of using it "for the purpose of affecting the performance or behaviour of a horse in a race".

Australian thoroughbred race-horse Black Caviar, seen during her farewell at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, in April 2013 Paul Crock (AFP/File)

Two other Australian trainers, Danny O'Brien and Mark Kavanagh, were banned for four and three years respectively by the Victorian Racing and Appeals Disciplinary Board in January, joining several others who have already been hit by lengthy suspensions.

If Moody, who previously trained the now-retired Australian wonder mare Black Caviar, had been found guilty of the more serious charge, he would have faced a minimum three-year ban.

"Pleasing aspect of today was that we were found not to have purposely administered cobalt to enhance or change the horse's performance in any one way," Moody told reporters in Melbourne after the decision by the disciplinary board.

"I felt in a way I have been vindicated that we have never cheated or never had to cheat."

Australian racing rules describe cobalt as a naturally occurring element which may normally be present in horses at very low levels. It is also found in vitamin B12.

Cobalt is believed to improve endurance, however, trainers have been warned of severe side effects.

The Australian Racing Board set a threshold level of 200 micrograms per litre with bans enforced for higher concentrations from January 1 last year.

The board said in the decision it was "readily apparent from the evidence before us that there was significant carelessness, for which Mr. Moody was responsible, in relation to the operation of his stables".

"This was particularly so in relation to the administration of cobalt, as well as general feeding, supplementation and injection procedures... He was ignorant as to the dosages horses were receiving."

The prominent trainer said he had introduced different measures at his stables to lower the chances of such a case arising again.

Moody will learn of the penalty, which has no minimum requirements, for the lesser charge on Thursday.

Flemington trainers O'Brien and Kavanagh are appealing their bans.
Lagos losing splendour of its Afro-Brazilian past

Octogenarian Yewande Oyediran sits back in a comfy armchair in her living room in the "Campos" quarter of Lagos, with its fading Brazilian heritage.

She talks about her great-grandfather Joao Esan da Rocha, from Osun state in southwest Nigeria, who was captured by slave traders in the 1850s, taken to South America and later freed.

"Frejon" -- a coconut bean soup popular in Nigeria and Brazil and eaten in the week before the Christian holiday of Easter -- is also a favourite topic.

The Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos was designed by African slave artisans from Brazil Pius Utomi Ekpei (AFP/File)

"I don't wait until Good Friday to eat 'frejon'," she said. "I cook and eat it throughout the year."

But such Brazilian influences on daily life in Nigeria's financial capital are rapidly becoming hard to find.

Descendants are ageing, the pastel-shaded buildings of the "Campos" are being torn down, and few people, if any, speak the Portuguese brought back to West Africa by freed Yoruba slaves.

Only the colourful annual street carnival and a legacy of surnames such as Cardoso, d'Almeida, de Costa, da Silva and Gonsalves remind Lagosians of links to a South American past.

- Afro-Brazilian architecture -

The declining influence is reflected in the dwindling number of Afro-Brazilian-style buildings in Lagos and nearby Badagry, from where thousands of slaves were shipped to Brazil, mainly to Salvador in the coastal state of Bahia.

Freed slaves, most of whom had converted to Roman Catholicism, began returning in the mid-1800s, bringing with them their new faith and architectural influences.

The "Water House" in the dilapidated "Campos" on Lagos Island was built in 1895 and along with the nearby Roman Catholic cathedral is one of the best examples still standing.

Other structures include the Shitta Mosque, which was built in 1892.

The buildings were a reflection of the new-found status of former slaves, many of whom went on to become government officials and successful businessmen after their return.

Oyediran's great-grandfather, for example, is thought to have been Nigeria's first millionaire.

But preserving heritage or, as elsewhere, making it a draw for tourists, has largely failed, as Lagos mushroomed into a megacity that is now home to an estimated 20 million people.

More domestic and foreign tourists could help Nigeria's economy, which has been battered by the global fall in oil prices since mid-2014, as well as by mismanagement and fraud.

One official in the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, however, described efforts to maintain and preserve the city's Brazilian-influenced history as "lacklustre".

"These feeble attempts have been hampered by funding and corruption," he told AFP on condition of anonymity. "The children of the owners of these buildings are also not helping matters.

"Many of them do not value the historical monuments they live in."

- Disappearing heritage -

Most of these Afro-Brazilian-style structures have either been redesigned or demolished to make way for characterless high-rise buildings, said Abiola Kosoko, a tour guide.

Yet the returning ex-slaves from Brazil "took over Lagos by storm with their special building designs," he said.

"Decades back we had about 900 of those buildings on Lagos Island, in (the suburbs) Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry. There are less than 40 of those buildings still standing now.

"The disappearance of Brazilian heritage has been drastic. Most of the buildings were pulled down for development's sake."

An Afro-Brazilian-style building collapsed on Lagos Island recently, added Kosoko, a royal prince as his great-grandfather was the king of Lagos, and who is writing a history of the city.

"Nobody cared to preserve it. They allowed the one-storey building, an architectural masterpiece, to disintegrate," he said.

"Even the annual 'Brazilian Carnival' and the 'Fanti' (Brazilian-style celebration of life and community shows) which used to attract foreign tourists are fast losing their allure these days," said Dayo Medeiros, whose ancestors were taken to Brazil.

"They are sometimes hijacked by area boys (local gangs)."

University tutor Tundonu Amosu, author of "Jaded Heritage: Nigeria's Brazilian Connection", blamed life in Lagos, where traces of British colonial times have been virtually eradicated.

Most members of the Brazilian community "have melted into the generality of Lagos people and life", he said.

Many of the descendants of Brazilian returnees "sold their property along the Marina (shoreline) on Lagos Island," further making their culture fade into "insignificance", he added.

"It is a pity that we allowed the Nigerian factor to creep into it."

A dilapidated residential Afro-Brazilian-style building at the Brazilian quarter in Lagos Pius Utomi Ekpei (AFP/File)
Two Chinese Uighur radicals killed in Indonesia: police

Police have shot dead two Chinese Uighurs who were allegedly fighting with an extremist group in central Indonesia led by the country's most wanted Islamic radical, an official said Wednesday.

The members of the mostly Muslim ethnic minority were killed in a shootout on Tuesday morning in mountains on the island of Sulawesi, as authorities hunted for the radical group's leader.

"We can confirm that the two who died were Uighurs," Central Sulawesi police chief Rudy Sufahriadi told AFP.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, has suffered a string of Islamic militant attacks in the past 15 years Bay Ismoyo (AFP/File)

The Uighurs were fighting alongside Santoso, who leads the Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen, a group that has been waging a guerrilla campaign against authorities from remote bases in the jungles and mountains.

The government has launched numerous operations to try to catch Santoso, who has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group. The current operation involves about 2,000 police and military personnel.

Sufahriadi said that based on testimony from detainees, there are four more Uighurs still fighting with Santoso's group. The group itself is estimated to have some 30 fighters to 40 fighters, he said.

Several Uighurs have joined radicals in Indonesia in recent years. A few months ago, police detained a Uighur man on the outskirts of Jakarta who they suspect planned to launch a suicide bombing attack.

Last year, an Indonesian court jailed four Uighurs for attempting to join Santoso's group.

The Uighur minority come from the northwest Chinese region of Xinjiang, where the group say they face cultural and religious repression.

Many are believed to have fled the restive region in recent years, sometimes travelling through Southeast Asia in the hope of resettling in Turkey.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, has suffered a string of Islamic militant attacks in the past 15 years.
Hamas calls for Egypt to loosen Gaza blockade: delegate

Hamas called for Egypt to loosen restrictions on the Gaza Strip, a delegate said, after officials from the Islamist group travelled to Cairo seeking to mend strained relations.

Senior official Khalil al-Haya said Hamas had begged Egypt to allow more traffic through the Rafa border crossing with the Gaza Strip, the enclave's only transit point not controlled by Israel.

Egypt has largely kept its border with Gaza closed since 2013 and has destroyed hundreds of Palestinian tunnels used to smuggle commercial goods, cash, people and, allegedly, weapons.

Hamas asked Egypt to allow more traffic through the Rafa border crossing with the Gaza Strip, the enclave's only transit point not controlled by Israel Said Khatib (AFP/File)

The Hamas interior ministry said 2015 was "the worst year for Rafah in recent years," when the border crossing was open for just 21 days in total.

Relations have soured between Islamist Hamas and Cairo since the 2013 overthrow of Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, a member of the now-blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood movement.

Former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who deposed Morsi, has since launched a blistering crackdown on Islamist groups that has left hundreds of people dead and thousands jailed.

Tensions piqued this month when Egypt accused Hamas of being involved in the assassination of the country's top prosecutor, who was killed by a car bomb last year.

Hamas has denied the claim, and Haya said his movement "condemned political killings and condemned the assassination of Attorney General Hisham Barakat".
Saudi-led Yemen market strike killed 33 rebels: tribal chief

A Yemeni tribal chief said Wednesday that 33 of the 41 people killed in a Saudi-led air strike on a market in a northern province were rebel fighters, not civilians as first reported.

Medics and tribal sources said that the Tuesday strike in the rebel-held Hajja province killed 41 people and wounded 35.

A health official in Hajja said the dead were civilians.

The Saudi-led coalition launched its air campaign against Iran-backed rebels in support of the Yemen's internationally-recognised government on March 26 last year

But on Wednesday a tribal chief close to Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels said that 33 of those were "fighters".

"The fighters were riding in three vehicles at a military camp that was hit by three air raids," the chief told AFP on condition of anonymity.

He added that Saudi-led warplanes then hit the market when the Huthis arrived there.

In Riyadh, Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said it was "a militia gathering."

In an interview with AFP, he gave no other details of the incident but said the area is a place for buying and selling qat, a mild narcotic that is chewed throughout Yemen.

An official at a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Tuesday the facility had received the bodies of 41 people killed in the raids.

But the charity disputed the claim on Wednesday.

"MSF's hospital in the region received 44 people wounded in the incident, two of whom died," the group's Yemen project coordinator Juan Prieto said.

The rebel-run sabanews.net website said on Tuesday that the coalition carried out two raids targeting the market and a restaurant in the area and gave a toll of 65 civilians dead and 55 wounded.

The coalition launched its campaign against Iran-backed rebels in support of the Yemen's internationally recognised government on March 26 last year.

Rights groups have repeatedly urged the coalition to avoid causing civilian casualties.

A Red Cross spokeswoman told AFP there was "confusion" over Tuesday's market strike in the town of Mustabaa.

"It's difficult to obtain precise information," said Rima Kamal.
OPEC, non-OPEC producers to meet on April 17 in Doha: Qatar

OPEC members and key oil producers from outside the cartel will meet on April 17 in Doha in a bid to stabilise falling crude prices, Qatar's energy minister said Wednesday.

The meeting was a "follow-up" to last month's talks between Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela when they proposed an accord to freeze oil output at January levels, said Mohammed al-Sada, the current OPEC president.

He said in a statement that 15 countries accounting for some 73 percent of global oil output supported the initiative, including the world's top exporter Saudi Arabia, and Russia.

OPEC members and key oil producers from outside the cartel will meet on April 17 in Doha in a bid to stabilise falling crude prices Oli Scarff (AFP/File)

OPEC member Kuwait said Monday it would take part in the meeting.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak concurred that "some 15 countries" were expected to take part in the meeting, according to Russian news agencies.

Ahead of the meeting, a common declaration could be drafted to reflect the "countries' intention to freeze their oil production at a level not higher than that of January," he said.

"We will also discuss in this meeting some mechanisms to monitor the (implementation of the) agreement."

Oil prices, which have plummeted more than 60 percent since mid-2014 partly because of oversupply, recently recovered slightly following talk of an output freeze.

Novak had said that the meeting would "probably" be held in April after it was expected to take place this month.

His comments on Monday put pressure on oil prices after he indicated Iran could be excluded from a freeze deal to allow it to increase its crude production after Western sanctions over its nuclear programme.

Novak said Wednesday that Iran had indicated that it is "ready to participate" in the meeting.

One of the world's biggest producers, Iran, returned to the export market in January.

According to OPEC's monthly report released on Monday, Iran pumped out 3.1 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude in February, up from 2.9 million in January. It pumped 4.0 million bpd before sanctions were imposed.

Overall production by the 13-nation cartel fell by 175,000 barrels per day in February to an average of 32.28 million bpd, largely because of a steep drop in Iraqi output and smaller falls in Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates, the report said.

Oil prices rebounded on Wednesday as investors bought back into the black gold after a two-day sell-off. At about 1200 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in April was up 73 cents at $37.07 a barrel.
Pakistan court lifts travel ban on former ruler Musharraf

Pakistan's top court on Wednesday ordered the government to lift a travel ban on former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, a move that could let him leave the country while awaiting trial for treason.

Musharraf's lawyers say he needs to go abroad for urgent spinal treatment not available in Pakistan. He was placed on the "Exit Control List" (ECL) in 2013 after he returned to the country on an ill-fated mission to contest elections.

Ths former ruler was barred from taking part in the polls and instead forced to face a barrage of legal cases.

Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf seized power in 1999 and ruled Pakistan until democracy was restored in 2008 Asif Hassan (AFP/File)

Last June his name was removed from the ECL by the Sindh High Court. But the federal government, headed by his long-time rival Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, appealed the verdict.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali announced that the government's appeal had been dismissed.

But he said the government or a separate court could technically pass a fresh travel ban if they provided valid reasons.

Faisal Hussain, one of Musharraf's lawyers, welcomed the verdict. "He can leave any time any time now -- there is no impediment or hurdle," he told AFP.

"It is between him and his doctor now where he wants to be treated."

In January Musharraf was acquitted over the 2006 killing of a Baloch rebel leader, Nawad Akbar Bugti.

The decision meant there are now four outstanding cases against him all dating from 2007 -- including treason for the imposition of emergency rule, the unlawful dismissal of judges, the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in a gun and suicide attack, and the raid on the radical Red Mosque.
Iran fire festival celebrations kill three, injure 2,500

Iran's annual fire festival ahead of the Persian New Year claimed three lives and injured more than 2,500, hundreds of whom remain hospitalised, officials said Wednesday.

Each year Iranians celebrate Chaharshanbeh-Soori, an ancient Zoroastrian tradition on the eve of the last Wednesday of the Iranian calendar, by jumping over bonfires.

But fireworks and improvised explosives are also used to mark the event, often causing casualties as public warnings against the revelry are largely ignored.

Each year Iranians celebrate Chaharshanbeh-Soori, an ancient Zoroastrian tradition on the eve of the last Wednesday of the Iranian calendar, by jumping over bonfires Behrouz Mehri (AFP/File)

After initially giving an injured toll of only 259 nationwide, the official IRNA news agency said hours later that more than 2,500 had been hurt, many seriously and some critically.

Among the dead on Tuesday night was a 45-year-old man who suffered a heart attack brought about by an explosion, said Amin Saberinia, head of Iran's Emergency Medical Service.

The other two fatalities were a 24-year-old man and a teenager, Saberinia told IRNA.

As of Wednesday, six people were in an intensive care unit, he said. And there were 31 amputations, mostly of hands and fingers, and 760 mild-to-severe eye injuries.

The youngest person injured was a three-year-old girl who lost fingers.

Many Iranian actors, artists and celebrities this year urged people to stick to the traditional fire-jumping and refrain from using fireworks ahead of Nowruz (New Year), which starts on March 20.

Some did heed the advice but still more than 2,500 were reported injured, 1,900 of whom received outpatient treatment while 636 remained in hospital wards, Saberinia said.

The death toll during the celebrations has been falling in recent years, with nine killed in 2014 and 19 in 2013.
Proud Afridi powers Pakistan to big opening World T20 win

Proud captain Shahid Afridi said he had been determined to lead by example Wednesday after starring in Pakistan's demolition of Bangladesh, drawing a line under his side's troubled World Twenty20 build-up.

The big-hitting Afridi, accused in some quarters of being a "traitor" ahead of his team's World T20 opener, silenced his critics with a devastating blitz with the bat before taking two key wickets in a 55-run victory.

The allrounder's blistering 19-ball 49 helped Pakistan post a commanding total of 201 for five and his bowling was instrumental in restricting Bangladesh to 146 for six from their 20 overs.

The big-hitting Afridi, accused in some quarters of being a "traitor" ahead of his team's World T20 opener, silenced his critics with a devastating blitz with the bat before taking two key wickets in a 55-run victory Dibyangshu Sarkar (AFP)

The result was particularly satisfying for man-of-the-match Afridi who had been under fire back home after saying at the weekend that Pakistan received more "love" from Indian fans than from supporters back home.

"It's a big event and I thought I should take responsibility as the captain," Afridi said after being named man-of-the-match.

While his batting pyrotechnics once earned him the nickname "Boom Boom", Afridi has endured a torrid time at the crease in the last couple of years and some observers felt his ability to play a match-winning innings had gone for good.

But after promoting himself to number four in the order, Afridi smacked four boundaries and four sixes to help Pakistan register their second highest score in T20s.

"I love to give a chance to the other batsmen but sometimes you need extra effort in a big event," said a beaming Afridi.

"I was hungry. I was keen to perform well for my country... As senior player, I had to lead by example.

"Captaincy is not an easy job, but when the team gives you 100 percent, I enjoy it. People expect me to bat and bowl as well and I enjoy both."

Little had gone right for Pakistan in recent weeks. After a dismal showing in the Asia Cup, they had to delay their departure to India for the World T20 in a row over security.

But everything fell into place once Afridi stepped onto the Eden Gardens surface where he won the toss and opted to bat.

His decision was soon vindicated when Ahmed Shehzad (52) and Mohammad Hafeez (64) hit entertaining fifties to stitch a 95-run second wicket partnership and lay a solid foundation for others to build on.

The duo combined the right dose of caution and aggression to blunt the Bangladesh bowling attack, with the Tigers' captain Mashrafe Mortaza unable to stem the tide in the absence of injured bowler Mustafizur Rahman.

Shehzad, who was recalled after missing the recent Asia Cup, reached his fifth T20 international half-century in 35 deliveries while Hafeez struck seven fours and two sixes in his 42-ball stay.

- Breathtaking catch -

The only bright spot for Bangladesh was a moment of brilliance in the field when Soumya Sarkar took a breathtaking catch on the boundary to end Hafeez's innings.

Bangladesh were never really in the hunt and got off to a dreadful start when opener Sarkar was bowled by Mohammad Amir with only the third ball.

The in-form Tamim Iqbal and Sabbir Rahman put on 43 for the second wicket, but they both fell victim to Afridi and Bangladesh's chase fell away.

Amir, on the comeback trail after serving a prison sentence and a five-year ban for spot-fixing, ended with impressive figures of 2-27.

All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan put up some resistance, top-scoring with an unbeaten 50, but his knock never looked like altering the outcome.

Mortaza said it was always going to be a struggle to overhaul Pakistan's total and his team's poor start had rendered it "almost impossible" as early as the sixth over.

"Shakib batted very well and we got 150, so it's not that bad," he said.

"We have to bowl better, we didn't bowl well today."

Pakistan's next match is against arch rivals India in Kolkata on Saturday while Bangladesh's second assignment is against Australia on March 21.

Pakistan's captain Shahid Afridi(right) celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Bangladesh's batsman Sabbir Rahman during the World T20 tournament match at The Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata on March 16, 2016 Dibyangshu Sarkar (AFP)

Bangladesh's in-form Tamim Iqbal (seen here) and Sabbir Rahman put on 43 for the second wicket, but they both fell victim to Afridi and Bangladesh's chase fell away Dibyangshu Sarkar (AFP)
Syria peace talks broaden as pro-Russia opposition meet UN envoy

Peace talks to end Syria's brutal war broadened Wednesday to include an opposition group close to Moscow, as the UN intensified efforts to find a political solution to the five-year conflict.

UN mediator Staffan de Mistura met for the first time late Wednesday with an umbrella delegation including the so-called Moscow Group, which are demanding an equal seat at the negotiating table.

That would be hotly contested by the "official" opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC), which insists it alone must represent the opposition in the talks.

A Syrian man rides a motorbike past destroyed buildings in rebel-held town of Talbiseh on the northern outskirts of Homs on March 15, 2016 Mahmoud Taha (AFP/File)

The UN did not clarify what role the new group would play in the negotiations but co-president Randa Kassis told reporters "We are here as a negotiating delegation."

The entry into the Geneva talks of the Moscow Group, along with the so-called Cairo and Istana groups, followed Russia's surprise decision to withdraw most of its forces from Syria, where they had been fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad.

- Pressure on Assad? -

Western governments voiced hopes the continuing pull-out could boost the talks by pressuring Assad.

Russia has said its five-month bombing campaign in Syria had helped push back the jihadists and analysts say it has allowed Assad's forces to gain ground and cement their hold on key parts of the country.

But the US military said Wednesday it had seen no significant reduction in Russia's combat power in the war-torn country.

In Geneva, it was not immediately clear what impact the inclusion of the pro-Moscow group would have on the talks, or whether it was a gesture from de Mistura to Russia following the pullout.

The UN envoy has said Russia's action could have a "positive" impact on efforts to end the conflict and that Moscow's announcement on the day negotiations opened was "not a coincidence".

After multiple failed peace efforts, de Mistura has said he sees added "momentum" in the current round of dialogue, which comes as a ceasefire imposed on February 27 remains broadly in place.

His tentative optimism was backed by US Secretary of State John Kerry who heads to Moscow next week to discuss the peace drive.

"We may face the best opportunity that we've had in years to end (the war)," Kerry said Tuesday.

The conflict has killed more than 270,000 people and send millions fleeing, many seeking new lives in Europe where the influx of refugees and migrants from the Middle East, Africa and Asia has created a huge headache for the EU.

The Moscow Group is tolerated by Damascus and has not insisted on Assad's departure as a condition for creating a transitional government, which is an unequivocal demand of HNC.

It represents a more "rational" opposition, which can serve as "a bridge between the regime and the (HNC) delegation," said Qadri Jamil, co-president of the group and Syria's former deputy premier, who was sacked by Assad in 2013 and is now viewed by Damascus as a moderate opponent.

During their meeting with de Mistura, the Moscow Group handed over a proposed seven-point programme, calling among other things for the creation of a "transitional governing body" in Syria, "the definition and content of which should be reached through negotiations."

Regime delegation head Bashar al-Jafaari appeared to welcome the arrival of the new opposition faction.

"No one can monopolise the opposition," Jafaari said after meeting with de Mistura Wednesday morning, in a reference to the HNC.

- 'Lift embargo' on Kurds -

The latest spat between rival camps highlights the huge obstacles standing in the way of a peace deal.

"Things are still very complicated," de Mistura's deputy Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy said, while noting "important progress" had been made in the first three days of talks.

Wrangling over delegates has hampered past negotiations, especially the contentious issue of including Syrian Kurdish groups, which control large stretches of northern Syria but have not been invited to Geneva.

The Moscow Group said it was working to "lift the embargo" against bringing in Kurdish delegates.

Kurdish-led parties meeting in northern Syria Wednesday were expected to declare a new federal system in areas under their control, a move aimed at solidifying their autonomy, but which could complicate efforts to forge a united Syria.

Washington warned it would not recognise such an attempt.

Jaafari told reporters that it would prove pointless.

"The Syrian Kurds are an important component of the Syrian people... so betting on creating any kind of divisions among the Syrians will be a total failure," he said.

Islamic States group in Syria and Iraq Jean Michel CORNU, Jonathan JACOBSEN (AFP)

Russian air force pilots walk on the tarmac upon their arrival from Syria at an airbase in southern Russia's Krasnodar region, on March 16, 2016 Sergei Venyavsky (AFP)

Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Jaafari (L) and UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura arrive for a new round of negotiations at the United Nations Office in Geneva on March 16, 2016 Philippe Desmazes (Pool/AFP)
An Indian mother hanged herself after village elders punished her family for her suspected extra-marital romance with a lower-caste man.

The 25-year-old, who had four children, died as dozens of villagers gathered outside her house in central Madhya Pradesh for a party the council had ordered her family to host as a punishment.

She was found 'guilty' of having a relationship with a man from the lowest Dalit caste last month.

An Indian mother hanged herself after village elders punished her family for her suspected extra-marital romance with a lower-caste man (stock image)

The unnamed woman was ordered to host the drinking party, fined 5,000 rupees (53) and told to attend a local temple to atone for her 'sins', police confirmed.

The council had earlier sanctioned a social boycott of the family but changed the penalty after the woman's family pleaded before the village elders.

Maduresh Pacharui, a local police officer, said: 'It seems she was depressed with the events and over her alleged affair with her husband's co-worker, who is a Dalit.

'We are investigating the panchayat's [council's] role.'

The 25-year-old, who had four children, died as dozens of villagers gathered outside her house in central Madhya Pradesh for a party the council had ordered her family to host as a punishment. Above, an Indian anti-caste protester wearing black facepaint walks alongside students during a protest in New Delhi in February

Nobody has been arrested over her death so far, he added.

She was depressed with the events Maduresh Pacharui, a local police officer

Village elders exert enormous influence over rural life, particularly in northern India where they act as arbitrators for millions of poor villagers who do not have access to legal recourse.

Although they carry no legal weight and are unconstitutional, they can be highly influential and have been blamed for numerous abuses such as the sanctioning of 'honour killings'.
Quarter of Netanyahu's salary goes on armoured car

Over a quarter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's salary is deducted for his use of an armoured car for official business, his paycheck shows.

Of a monthly salary of 48,815 shekels ($15,500, 11,300 euros), Netanyahu takes home just 17,645 after taxes and expenses according to the February payroll posted on his Twitter account.

In total, Netanyahu paid 21,572 shekels in taxes, as well as 12,440 for an armoured car.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, on March 13, 2016 Gali Tibbon (AFP/File)

The payroll of an Israeli employee is required to include his use of a company car, as well as taxes deducted based on the value of the vehicle.

The Israeli prime minister is also supposed to work just 42.5 hours per week, a number someone with his responsibilities is more likely to pass in a few days.

As well as being prime minister, Netanyahu is also the country's foreign, economy and communication minister.

The document does not, however, include the cost to the state of the maintenance of his official residence in central Jerusalem or the cost of luxury hotels when he travels.

Netanyahu and his wife Sara have been criticised by the Israeli media for their lifestyle, though the couple repeatedly justify the cost of their two official residences.

In 2013, Netanyahu cancelled a 10,000 shekel ($2,565, 2,314 euros) annual budget for ice cream at his official residence.

A recent request that food for the family's new dog, Kaya, be covered by state funds was denied.

Israeli politicians are not compelled to submit financial disclosure reports, but Forbes Israel recently evaluated Netanyahu's wealth at over $10 million.
Niger presidential challenger Amadou set to miss vote -- again

After four months behind bars on shadowy baby-trafficking charges, Niger's presidential challenger Hama Amadou was flown from jail to Paris on Wednesday for medical treatment, just days before standing for election.

He was evacuated by helicopter to the capital Niamey from Filingue, the town where he was jailed some 180 kilometres (110 miles) away, and then put on a plane for Paris, aide Abdou Rafa told AFP.

"At his request, France will admit Mr Hama Amadou for medical care," a foreign ministry official told AFP.

Niger presidential candidate Hama Amadou

The 66-year-old former premier and parliament speaker came second in the first round of Niger's presidential race February 21 -- with 17.79 percent, trailing well behind President Mahamadou Issoufou, who picked up 48.41 percent.

The second run-off round between Amadou and Issoufou is scheduled for Sunday.

A spokesman for the opposition coalition, COPA 2016, said Amadou would likely be admitted to the American Hospital in the west Paris suburb of Neuilly.

Amadou's doctor Harouna Yacouba told several private Nigerien TV networks this week that his health had "worsened" and that he had had to be hospitalised.

Yacouba was arrested late Tuesday for "propagating false news".

But government spokesman and Justice Minister Marou Amadou, also speaking Tuesday, said the opposition leader had suffered from "a chronic illness for three years" and needed specialist care that "does not exist in Niamey."

He said a team of specialists dispatched to Filingue had diagnosed a state of "general fatigue".

Forced to campaign from behind bars after being detained November 14 on baby-trafficking charges he says were concocted, Amadou won opposition support in his difficult bid to unseat the head of state.

However, while Amadou's name will be on the ballot papers Sunday, the opposition recently said it would boycott the second-round vote.

Amadou heads the Nigerien Democratic Movement (NDM) whose members were tear-gassed by police in February after gathering in their thousands to support their man.

The opposition early this month asked for his release on bail so he could campaign for the second round, but on Monday the Niamey appeals court announced it would hand down a decision on March 28, a week after the vote.

Amadou came in third in the 2011 presidential election and then threw his support behind Issoufou rather than the opposition, being rewarded with the post of speaker of parliament.

He split with the regime in 2013 and joined the opposition.

Issoufou, known as the "Lion" or "Zaki" in Hausa, the majority language in Niger, is seeking a second five-year term.

He had hoped to win an outright first-round victory in the impoverished country straddling the Sahara desert.

His winning pitch was a pledge to restore stability to a country wracked by coups since 1974 and to secure it from jihadist groups active in neighbouring Nigeria, Mali and Libya.

But critics point to the fact that despite its abundance of uranium, coal and oil, Niger remains one of the poorest nations on the planet.
Obama to travel to UK, Saudi Arabia: White House

President Barack Obama will travel to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia in April, a visit set to be dominated by doubts over Britain's EU membership and concerns about turmoil in the Middle East.

The White House said Obama will visit Windsor Castle -- where he will have a private lunch with Queen Elizabeth II -- and 10 Downing Street for a joint press conference with Prime Minister David Cameron.

His visit comes ahead of Britain's hotly contested June referendum on European Union membership.

President Barack Obama will visit Windsor Castle -- where he will have a private lunch with Queen Elizabeth II -- and 10 Downing Street for a joint press conference with Prime Minister David Cameron Mandel Ngan (AFP/File)

Obama is likely to express his strong backing for keeping Britain in the EU, but will have to rebuff allegations of interference.

London's loquacious mayor Boris Johnson -- a chief proponent of leaving the bloc -- has accused Obama of "exorbitant hypocrisy" given America's "hysterical vigilance" about its own sovereignty.

In Saudi Arabia, Obama will attend a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, were Washington's policies toward the Middle East are likely to come under the microscope.

Uneasy partners in the Gulf have been furious at Obama's engagement with Iran and perceived retreat from the Middle East.

A senior Saudi royal has publicly criticized Obama for comments accusing the longtime US ally of feeding Middle East conflicts.

Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, has long been a major ally of the United States but the relationship has deteriorated under Obama.

In an opinion piece published in Saudi newspapers, Prince Turki al-Faisal, the kingdom's former intelligence chief and envoy to Washington, lashed out at Obama's recent comments to The Atlantic magazine.

"You accuse us of fomenting sectarian strife in Syria, Yemen and Iraq. You add insult to injury by telling us to share our world with Iran, a country that you describe as a supporter of terrorism," Faisal wrote.

Faisal questioned whether Obama has "pivoted to Iran so much that you equate the kingdom's 80 years of constant friendship with America to an Iranian leadership that continues to describe America as the biggest enemy, that continues to arm, fund and support sectarian militias in the Arab and Muslim world".

Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia has repeatedly accused Shiite Iran of interference in Arab affairs, particularly in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Bahrain.
India oil groups sign deals with Russia's Rosneft

A group of Indian state-run energy firms Wednesday announced a string of deals with Russian giant Rosneft for stakes in Siberian oil fields, as the two countries seek to step up energy cooperation.

India's oil and gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan met Igor Sechin, the head of state-owned Rosneft who is considered a close ally of Vladimir Putin, for the signing of the agreements.

The deals are worth an estimated $4.2 billion, Press Trust of India said, citing unnamed officials.

An Indian group comprising Oil India, Indian Oil Corporation and Bharat PetroResources signed a deal to acquire a 29.9 percent stake in Rosneft's Taas-Yuryakh oil project Dmitry Kostyukov (AFP/File)

"The signed documents literally mark the turning of a new leaf in the cooperation between Russia and India in the energy sector," Sechin said in a statement.

India imports around 80 percent of its oil needs and is keen to take advantage of low crude prices by signing overseas deals that will help secure supplies, to meet its growing demand.

Russia has been hit badly by recession, exacerbated by the steep drop in oil prices and Western sanctions against Moscow over the Ukraine crisis, and sees India as an attractive market.

An Indian group comprising Oil India, Indian Oil Corporation and Bharat PetroResources signed a deal to acquire a 29.9 percent stake in Rosneft's Taas-Yuryakh oil project.

The consortium also signed an initial, non-binding Heads of Agreement for a 23.9 percent share in Vankorneft, a Rosneft subsidiary that runs its huge Vankor field in Siberia.

And the overseas arm of India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), which earlier agreed a deal for a 15 percent share in Vankorneft, signed a memorandum of understanding to raise that stake to 26 percent.

Indian oil minister Pradhan said the agreements were "a remarkable achievement".

"It is of prime importance that the cooperation is of a long-term nature and it will deliver significant multiplicative effect for the economies of both countries," he said in a statement.

India is also looking to develop its domestic hydrocarbon resources and has outlined policy changes to boost investment in gas and oil exploration in recent weeks.
Iraqi army plane crashes, IS claims downing it

An Iraqi army plane went down Wednesday near Kirkuk, with the military blaming a technical problem but the Islamic State group claiming its fighters shot it down.

A high-ranking military source told AFP that the plane crashed during a reconnaissance flight near Kirkuk and that its three crew were considered missing.

The military source said authorities had launched a search for the crew after the Cessna 208 Caravan went down near Kirkuk, around 220 kilometres (135 miles) north of Baghdad.

Iraqi forces have been making gains against the jihadists in recent months as they seek to reclaim territory seized by IS during a major offensive in 2014 Ahmad Al-Rubaye (AFP/File)

In its combat version, the aircraft can be used to launch laser-guided Hellfire missiles.

The Islamic State jihadist group claimed in a statement posted on Twitter and a video released moments later that its fighters had shot the plane down, killing five crew members.

It said it used anti-aircraft artillery against a plane that had been on a bombing run against the city of Hawijah, a stronghold of the jihadists in Kirkuk province.

A video -- which claims to show the moment the aircraft was shot down -- released by the jihadist organisation shows the wreckage of a plane that could be a Cessna Caravan.

The footage also shows IS fighters celebrating around body parts, some of which are floating in a small canal.

Iraqi forces have been making gains against the jihadists in recent months as they seek to reclaim territory seized by IS during a major offensive in 2014.

Hawijah, like other IS bastions across Iraq, is increasingly isolated as federal, Kurdish and tribal forces slowly close in.

The pressure has mounted on anti-IS forces to flush the jihadists out of the Hawijah area after a chemical attack was launched from the nearby village of Bashir last week.

The suspected mustard agent attack on the Kurdish-controlled town of Taza killed a three-year-old girl and left hundreds of people complaining of burns and respiratory problems.

The town's residents have demanded government action to retake Bashir, which is visible from the main road between Baghdad and Kirkuk, but has remained in IS hands since 2014.

Military coordination between the Kurdish peshmerga fighters and the government-allied Shiite Turkmen militia groups that also operate in the area has been difficult, slowing any operation against the jihadists.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has responded by promising that an operation against Bashir would get under way soon.

A senior military official in Kirkuk said that such an operation would further increase the pressure on Hawijah, which is IS's main remaining hub east of the Tigris.

IS shot down an Iraqi military helicopter on February 17, killing two crew members.
Faulty printer implicated in $81 mn Bangladesh bank heist

A printer fault at Bangladesh's central bank meant that overseas queries about suspicious transactions went unanswered, according to a report seen by AFP Wednesday on the $81 million cyber heist that sent shockwaves through the banking world.

The report, filed to police on Tuesday, recounts the events leading to the discovery of the dramatic theft from an overseas account of Bangladesh Bank.

It says that because of a printer and software problem, it took the Bangladesh central bank nearly four days to ask banks across the globe to halt payments to the hackers.

Bangladesh Central Bank governor Atiur Rahman (pictured) and two of the deputy governors have lost their jobs over the 81 bn scandal Mandel Ngan (AFP/File)

They tried to steal around $1 billion and got away with $81 million from the impoverished country's coffers.

Central bank governor Atiur Rahman and two of the deputy governors have lost their jobs over the scandal, which has hugely embarrassed the government and raised alarm over the security of the country's foreign exchange reserves of over $27 billion.

On Wednesday the government, which has said it was kept in the dark about the losses for weeks, also removed its most senior banking official M. Aslam Alam from his position.

The hackers managed to transfer $81 million on February 5 -- a Friday, when Bangladesh Bank is closed -- from its account with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, transferring the cash electronically to accounts in the Philippines.

In the report seen by AFP, the bank's joint director Zubair bin Huda said engineers were unable to fix the printers until February 6, a day after the New York bank sent queries about four separate transactions.

"Since such glitches happened before, we thought it was a common problem just like any other day," Huda said in the report.

Bangladesh Bank tried to contact New York on February 6 by email, fax and phone to ask that the transactions be suspended when it realised that the SWIFT interbank messaging system which it normally used was not working properly, Huda said.

"We realised that the SWIFT system being ineffective was an important issue, and therefore we sent an email to Federal Reserve Bank of New York at 1:30pm on February 6 to halt all types of payment processing," he said.

But they were unable to get through as the US bank was closed for the weekend.

It was not until Monday afternoon that the central bank's main server was again working properly and officials were able to send the formal requests to stop the payments to six banks across the globe.

But by that time $81 million had been transferred from Bangladesh Bank's New York account to a bank in the Philippines.

- Philippines account -

The money was later transferred to an account belonging to ethnic Chinese businessman William So Go, a Philippine senate committee heard this week.

Go then transferred the money to Filipino casinos, Julia Bacay-Abad from the Philippines' anti-money laundering council told the hearing on Tuesday.

Go's lawyer said the businessman's signatures for his now-frozen RCBC account, which were used to transfer the money, had been forged.

Another transfer of $20 million was halted by a bank in Sri Lanka at Bangladesh Bank's request.

As details of the scandal emerged last week, Bangladesh Finance Minister A.M.A. Muhith threatened to sue the New York Fed.

The US-based bank said in a statement on its website that the payment instructions "were fully authenticated by the SWIFT messaging system in accordance with standard authentication protocols".

RCBC bank in Manila said it was investigating an $81 million deposit after Bangladesh accused Chinese hackers of stealing from a US account and illegally moving the funds to the Philippines and Sri Lanka Noel Celis (AFP/File)
Yemen must not become 'another Libya': coalition spokesman

A Saudi-led coalition's major military operations in Yemen are nearing an end, its spokesman said Wednesday, but the country will need long-term support to avoid becoming "another Libya".

During an interview with AFP in his office at a Riyadh airbase, Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri also said fighting along the Saudi-Yemeni border had essentially stopped after a mediation effort last week.

Saudi Arabia and several of its Sunni Arab allies launched the intervention on March 26 last year to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after Iran-backed Huthi rebels and their allies seized control of large parts of Yemen including the capital Sanaa.

Saudi Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition forces fighting rebels in Yemen, gives an interview to AFP at the King Salman airbase in central Riyadh, on March 16, 2016 Fayez Nureldine (AFP)

Supported by air strikes and some coalition ground troops, anti-rebel forces have retaken ground, including much of the south.

But they have failed to dislodge the Shiite rebels from Sanaa or to completely remove them from the country's third city Taez where intense battles continue.

Still, Assiri said the main fighting was nearing an end.

"In any military campaign you have phases.... Today we are in the end of the major combat phase," he said, adding that the next stages would involve creating a stable security situation and then reconstruction.

But he insisted the coalition would not abandon Yemen, saying it had learned from the United States which pulled combat troops from Iraq and Afghanistan before the countries were stable.

Nor does it want to follow the example of Libya, where Western forces helped topple Moamer Kadhafi in 2011 and then left the country to slide into chaos, Assiri said.

"We don't want that Yemen becomes another Libya, so we have to support the government, go with them step by step until they bring peace and security and stability for the people," Assiri said.

- No quick fix -

Asked if the coalition may have to stay for years in Yemen, Assiri would not give a timeframe.

"Look, there is no magic solution... Yemen has been dismantled through 30 years. You cannot fix this in 30 days."

The Huthis launched cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia in retaliation for the intervention, with more than 90 people -- both military and civilian -- killed on the Saudi side of the frontier by shelling and in skirmishes.

The Civil Defence agency said Wednesday that a border zone resident had been wounded in shelling from Yemen, the first such report in days.

Assiri said the border was essentially calm since the mediation effort by tribal leaders last week allowed aid to start moving into Yemen at the Alb crossing in Dhahran al-Janoub, northeast of Jazan city.

Last week's talks were not an "agreement with the militias" but the coalition supported the effort in the interests of Yemen's stability, he said.

The effort allowed aid to be delivered to villages across the border and helped to ensure that humanitarian convoys are safe, including by the clearance of mines laid by rebels around Alb.

Food and medical supplies have since been sent to Saada, which is the Huthis' stronghold, he said.

"From time to time" shells are still fired into southern Saudi Arabia, and the coalition reserves the right to retaliate, but the number of cross-border attacks has dropped and the tribal mediation has gone well, Assiri said.

The United Nations has been pursuing peace talks but the UN's envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, said last month that "deep divisions" were preventing any progress.

Assiri declined to say how many Saudi soldiers had died in the war or how much it had so far cost.

Money "doesn't have any meaning" when it comes to national security, he said.

The World Health Organisation says the conflict has left more than 6,200 dead in Yemen over the last year and the UN has warned of a humanitarian "catastrophe".

Smoke billows after a mortar shell hit a building in the Beer Basha area of Taez, southern Yemen, on March 12, 2016 Ahmad al-Basha (AFP/File)
Guilty plea in nude photo hack reveals 'phishing' scam

Prosecutors have announced the first criminal conviction in connection with the 2014 hacking of Hollywood celebrities that resulted in the online release of hundreds of private nude photos.

Officials in Los Angeles said Tuesday that 36-year-old Ryan Collins of Pennsylvania agreed to enter a guilty plea on hacking charges as part of the "Celebgate" investigation.

Authorities said Collins admitted to a "phishing" scheme to obtain passwords of more than 100 people, many of them movie stars, and then using that to obtain nude pictures from their "cloud" storage accounts.

A 2014 hack resulted in the release of hundreds of nude photos including those of models and actresses such as Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton, stunning Hollywood David McNew (Getty/AFP/File)

But the officials said there was no evidence that Collins published the pictures online, and that the investigation was continuing.

The 2014 hack resulted in the release of hundreds of nude photos including those of models and actresses such as Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton, stunning Hollywood.

The US attorney's office said Collins accessed at least 50 iCloud accounts and 72 Gmail accounts, most of which belonged to female celebrities.

"Today, people store important private information in their online accounts and in their digital devices," said US Attorney Eileen Decker.

"Lawless unauthorized access to such private information is a criminal offense. My office remains committed to protecting sensitive and personal information from the malicious actions of sophisticated hackers and cyber criminals."

According to the plea agreement, Collins from November 2012 until September 2014 used a scheme in which he sent e-mails to victims that appeared to be from Apple or Google and asked victims to provider their usernames and passwords.

This allowed him to access data from the accounts including photographs stored in the cloud. In some instances, Collins would use a software program to download the entire contents of the victims' Apple iCloud backups.
Senate leader rejects action on Obama high court nominee

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rejected action Wednesday on Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, minutes after President Barack Obama announced his pick.

Speaking from the Senate floor, McConnell said he would stick by his earlier decision to withhold action in his chamber until a new president is elected. The Senate must vote to confirm nominees to the high court.

"The American people may well elect a president who decides to nominate Judge Garland for Senate consideration. The next president may also nominate somebody very different. Either way, our view is this: Give the people a voice in filling this vacancy," McConnell said.

US Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland looks at President Barack Obama after he announced his nomination in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, on March 16, 2016 Nicholas Kamm (AFP)

In announcing his pick, Obama earlier held out Garland as a judge with deep experience who had earned the respect of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Urging the Congress to act on the nomination, he stressed that the Supreme Court was supposed to be "above politics."
NATO chief vows to ramp up support as Afghan forces struggle

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg Wednesday vowed a more "flexible" approach in aiding struggling Afghan forces, after a report said a US general recommended ramping up military engagement despite the end of the coalition's combat mission.

NATO's rules of engagement were sharply curtailed after it formally wrapped up its combat operations in December 2014, leaving Afghan forces to battle a resurgent Taliban on their own.

Stoltenberg insisted NATO will maintain a non-combat role but will offer greater intelligence and medical evacuation support, especially in insurgency-hit provinces such as Helmand and Kunduz.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a roundtable discussion at the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters in Kabul on March 16, 2016 Shah Marai (AFP)

"What we have decided is that we will have a more flexible and targeted approach, with the resources we already have in Afghanistan," the NATO secretary general said at the end of his two-day visit to Kabul.

NATO faces growing pressure from within to expand its military role as Afghan forces struggle to contain the expanding insurgency, as efforts to restart Taliban peace talks falter.

John Campbell, until recently the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, had recommended the White House to resume offensive airstrikes against the Taliban, the Washington Post reported Monday citing senior Pentagon officials.

The recommendation, if accepted, would draw the US back into a broader air campaign against the insurgents, as Afghanistan's own nascent air force struggles to repel the Taliban's advances.

Afghanistan has actively courted the NATO-led coalition to delay a planned drawdown of nearly 13,000 troops stationed in the country and maintain its air power and military support.

President Barack Obama last year abandoned plans to withdraw most US troops by the end of 2016, acknowledging that Afghan forces are not ready to stand alone.

"We haven't yet decided the troop levels for 2017 and it is too early for me to give you specific figures," Stoltenberg said, acknowledging that Afghanistan faces a difficult fight ahead.
Widow says kept in dark over Palestinian's mystery death in Sofia

The widow of a Palestinian militant who died under mysterious circumstances in Bulgaria last month accused authorities on Wednesday of keeping her in the dark about their investigation.

Omar Nayef, who was wanted by Israel over the killing of a Jewish settler three decades ago, was found dead in the courtyard of the Palestinian embassy in Sofia on February 26.

Local media reported that the 51-year-old had fallen from the fourth floor, while a senior Palestinian Authority official said he had suffered "serious torso injuries".

A policemen stands guard near the compound of the Palestinian embassy in Sofia on February 26, 2016 Dimitar Dilkoff (AFP)

Nayef's widow accuses Israel of assassinating him.

She said he had "sought refuge in the embassy two months ago" after receiving threats.

On Wednesday, the widow and her three children staged a protest outside the court of justice in the Bulgarian capital Sofia.

"The authorities have not given us any details about the medical examination or released my husband's body so I can bury him," she told AFP.

She threatened to take the case to the European Court of Justice "if the outcome... isn't announced soon".

But a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office said no details would be revealed at this stage.

"Keeping the investigation secret is essential to our work," Rumyana Arnaudova told AFP.

Nayef, a member of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), was sentenced to life in prison in 1986 over the stabbing of a 22-year-old Jewish student in Jerusalem.

He escaped four years later while being moved to hospital during a hunger strike.

After going into hiding, Nayev eventually fled to Bulgaria in 1994 and married Mahmoud, a Palestinian who holds Bulgarian citizenship.

Last year Sofia agreed to examine an Israeli extradition request, but a December hearing was postponed because Nayef was not at his address, the Bulgarian interior ministry said.

The Israeli government has not officially commented on the incident, but Israeli public radio last month quoted "a security source" as saying that "Israel has no interest in striking at an elderly terrorist, especially if it involves danger or committing resources".

The head of the Islamist Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniya, attacked what he described as "a new Zionist crime".
Palestinian shot dead in West Bank was Hamas fighter: party

Hamas's military wing said Wednesday one of its members was involved in an attack in the occupied West Bank, in what was thought to be the first such acknowledgement since a wave of violence began in October.

The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, in a statement, described Qassem Ouda Jaber, 31, from Hebron in the southern West Bank, as a member of one of the group's cells in the southern West Bank.

The Israeli army said three Palestinians had tried to kill Israelis in two separate attacks on Monday but all three were shot dead, while an army officer and three soldiers were wounded.

Members of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, take part in the funeral of a Palestinian fellow militant in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on March 4, 2016 Said Khatib (AFP/File)

The Palestinian health ministry named the perpetrators as Jaber, Amir Juneidi and Yousef Taraya.

The Qassam statement said Jaber was a member of a brigade formed in 2004. It said he was arrested in 2006 and detained for 42 months for belonging to Hamas, before opening a fruit and vegetable shop.

Hamas rules the Gaza Strip, but also operates in the West Bank.

Army spokesman Peter Lerner, contacted by AFP, said the Hamas claim on Wednesday "doesn't come as such a huge surprise".

"We do see an attempt by Hamas to take advantage of the violence in the region. We have seen this in several attempts to establish new infrastructure" in the West Bank.

Since October 1, a wave of violence has killed 193 Palestinians, 28 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count.

Most of the Palestinians were killed while carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities.
US calls on N. Korea to release student jailed for 'subversion'

The US Wednesday accused North Korea of jailing an American student for political reasons and called for his immediate release after Pyongyang sentenced him to 15 years' hard labour for stealing a propaganda sign from a hotel.

Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old student from the University of Virginia, was convicted of subversive activities and sentenced by North Korea's Supreme Court, the North's official KCNA news agency said.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest charged that North Korea was using US citizens as "pawns to pursue a political agenda" and urged it to free him.

This picture taken by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on March 16, 2016 shows the trial of US student Otto Frederick Warmbier, who was arrested for committing hostile acts against North Korea, at the Supreme Court in Pyongyang

"We strongly encourage the North Korean government to pardon him and grant him special amnesty and immediate release," said Earnest.

"The allegations for which this individual was arrested and imprisoned would not give rise to arrest or imprisonment in the United States or in just about any other country in the world."

Observers said the harsh sentence was likely a reflection of soaring military tensions on the divided Korean peninsula following the North's nuclear test in January and long-range rocket launch a month later.

The United States took a leading role in securing the resulting sanctions that the UN Security Council imposed on the North earlier this month.

In recent weeks Pyongyang has maintained a daily barrage of nuclear strike threats against both Seoul and Washington, ostensibly over ongoing large-scale South Korea-US military drills that the North sees as provocative rehearsals for invasion.

In announcing the jail sentence, KCNA said Warmbier had committed his offence "pursuant to the US government's hostile policy" towards North Korea.

- 'Hostile acts' -

Warmbier had initially been arrested in early January on charges of "hostile acts" against the state. KCNA said he was convicted under an article of the criminal code dealing with subversion.

"In the course of the inquiry, the accused confessed to the serious offence," it said, without elaborating.

Warmbier was arrested as he was leaving the country with a tour group. He later said he had removed a political banner from the staff-only area of the Pyongyang hotel where the group had stayed.

The sentence was handed down just hours after veteran US diplomat Bill Richardson reportedly met two diplomats from North Korea's UN office in New York to press for Warmbier's release.

In the past, North Korea has used the detention of US citizens to obtain high-profile visits from the likes of former US presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton in order to secure their release.

Richardson has travelled to North Korea several times over the years on diplomatic missions that have included negotiating the freedom of arrested Americans.

The United States has no diplomatic or consular relations with the North. The Swedish embassy in Pyongyang provides limited consular services to US citizens detained there.

Warmbier is one of three North Americans currently detained in North Korea, which recently sentenced a 60-year-old Canadian pastor to life imprisonment with hard labour on sedition charges.

The US State Department "strongly recommends against all travel" to North Korea and specifically warns of the risk of arrest.

- 'College prank' -

Human Rights Watch said the severe sentence was shocking given that Warmbier's alleged offence amounted to little more than a "college-style prank".

"Pyongyang should recognise this student's self-admitted mistake as a misdemeanour ... release him on humanitarian grounds, and send him home," said Phil Robertson, deputy director of the rights watchdog's Asia Division.

Detained foreigners are often required to make a public, officially-scripted acknowledgement of wrongdoing, and Warmbier was paraded in front of reporters and diplomats in Pyongyang last month.

Footage of the carefully orchestrated event showed a sobbing Warmbier pleading to be released and saying he had made "the worst mistake of my life".

Warmbier said he had been tasked with stealing the banner by a member of the Friendship United Methodist Church in Wyoming, Ohio, who wanted it "as a trophy" and offered him a used car worth $10,000 if he succeeded.

Political slogans extolling the achievements of the country and its leaders and encouraging citizens to work harder and demonstrate their loyalty are pervasive in North Korea.

They can be seen on the streets and in nearly every public building, as well as every work unit.

Observers said the harsh sentence was likely a reflection of soaring military tensions on the divided Korean peninsula following the North's nuclear test in January and long-range rocket launch a month later

This picture taken and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on March 16, 2016 shows the trial of US student Otto Frederick Warmbier
Iraq offensive uproots 35,000: US military

An Iraqi offensive against the Islamic State group near the town of Hit has driven some 35,000 people from their homes, a US military spokesman said Wednesday.

Taking care of their needs is "a challenge for the Iraqi government," Colonel Steve Warren acknowledged via video conference from Baghdad.

He said the US-led coalition, along with international relief organizations, was doing what it could to alleviate conditions.

Iraqi government forces wave their national flags on March 10, 2016 after retaking the town of Zankura, northwest of Ramadi, from the Islamic State jihadist group Moadh al-Dulaimi (AFP/File)

Having retaken the city of Ramadi from IS in December, the Iraqi military is now moving into the Euphrates River valley toward Hit, a key hub.

Last week they dropped leaflets over the area warning that elite Iraqi forces were approaching, according to Warren.

He said the aim was to warn residents on how to stay safe, but also to "weaken ISIL morale." ISIL is an alternate acronym for Islamic State.

The military spokesman said Iraqi forces have detained 149 IS fighters trying to blend in with the civilians fleeing the area.

"We believe that this enemy is on the defensive," he said.

The US State Department said Monday that more and more IS combatants were defecting.
US says would not recognize Kurdish region in Syria

The United States warned Wednesday that it would not recognize an attempt by Kurdish groups in war-torn Syria to form an autonomous federal region.

Washington has supported and encouraged the Kurdish parties of the area in their fight against a common foe, the Islamic State jihadist group.

But the State Department said Wednesday it would not support the breakup of the country and that any new federal model would have to emerge from peace talks.

Amer al-Halloush (C), member of the Syrian Democratic Council, leaves after a meeting of more than 150 delegates from Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian and other parties in the town of Rmeilan, in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province, on March 16, 2016 Delil Souleiman (AFP)

"We've been very clear that we won't recognize any self-rule autonomous zones within Syria," spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.

"This is something that needs to be discussed and agreed upon by the relevant parties in Geneva and then by the Syrian people themselves."

Representatives of Bashar al-Assad's government and of the opposition ranged against him are negotiating an end to the civil war under UN auspices in Geneva.

But parties representing Syria's Kurdish minority have not been invited to the talks and are instead trying to create a unified region of their own.

Any bid to expand an existing system of self-rule will anger Turkey, wary of anything that might encourage Kurdish separatism within its own borders.

More than 150 delegates from Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian and other parties met Wednesday in Rmeilan, in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province.
UN deplores Morocco's Western Sahara move

The United Nations condemned Wednesday Morocco's decision to reduce its contribution to the world body's MINURSO mission in Western Sahara, saying it would now take "mitigating measures."

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has now canceled previously announced plans to travel to Rabat given tensions with Morocco, which has condemned his use of the term "occupation" to describe the status of the contested territory.

Morocco's "decision came as a surprise," Dujarric said, vowing to "take measures to ensure that MINURSO can continue to fulfill its mandate."

UN vehicles are parked outside the headquarters of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) on May 13, 2013 in Laayoune Fadel Senna (AFP/File)

"There is no talk of withdrawing MINURSO," the spokesman insisted.

The United Nations hopes its envoy, American former diplomat Christopher Ross, will be able to pursue his efforts to reach a resolution.

"We very much hope it will not be the end of the political process," Dujarric said.

"The people of Western Sahara deserve a political process and a light at the end of the tunnel."

Morocco communicated its decision to Ban on Monday via Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar.

"We obviously regret this decision," Dujarric said.

"We do hope to move on to more constructive and positive relations with Morocco."

Morocco was contributing $3 million to provide food and housing for UN peacekeepers, and some 2,300 UN troops, including to the MONUSCO mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rabat announced a "significant reduction" in its participation in the MINURSO mission, and said it was also "weighing the manner in which Morocco's contribution to peacekeeping missions would be reduced."

After speaking with Mezouar on Monday, Ban expressed "deep disappointment and anger" over demonstrations against him the day before in Morocco.

The United Nations has been trying to broker a Western Sahara settlement since 1991 after a ceasefire was reached to end a war that broke out when Morocco deployed its military in the former Spanish territory in 1975.
Police: Man charged in Toronto stabbing cites Allah

TORONTO (AP)  A 27-year-old Canadian man said Allah sent him to stab two soldiers at a military recruitment center in Toronto, according to police.

Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said Tuesday the suspect walked into the center on Monday and began attacking a uniformed Canadian Forces member at the front desk slashing him in the arm. The suspect then attempted to slash a female soldier. Before he was subdued, another soldier was injured. Both soldiers' injuries are minor.

"While at the scene, the accused stated that 'Allah told me to do this, Allah told me to come here and kill people,'" Saunders said.

CORRECTS SPELLING FROM AYANIE TO AYANLE- Chief Mark Saunders speaks at a news conference in Toronto on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, about the attack on two Canadian soldiers at a recruitment center in the city's north end on Monday. Police say a 27-year-old Canadian man, Ayanle Hassan Ali, said, Allah told me to come here and kill people at a double stabbing at a military recruitment center in Toronto. The suspect will appear in court later Tuesday to face charges. (Colin Perkel/The Canadian Press via AP)

Ayanle Hassan Ali has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and several other counts, according to court documents.

Saunders said police were still investigating whether the attack was terrorism and that there was nothing to indicate the Montreal-born man was working with anyone or any organization. He said Ali had no previous criminal record and responded to questions at the scene.

The police chief urged the public against any anti-Islam sentiment in the wake of the attack.

Ali, dressed in a white jump suit and his hands cuffed behind him, bowed his head when he made a brief court appearance on Tuesday. A justice of the peace imposed a publication ban on his preliminary hearing following a request from his lawyer. His case will be back in court Friday.

"He just seems very scared right now and very unhappy to be in the situation he finds himself in right now," his lawyer David Burke said outside court. "He seems like an intelligent enough man."

Burke declined to say what Ali does for a living or detail his living arrangements. He said his law office was contacted by family.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that Canadians and the Canadian Forces "will not be intimidated by terror & hate." He also wished those injured a full recovery. General Jonathan Vance, Chief of Canada's Defense Staff, expressed gratitude to those who bravely detained the attacker. Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said the investigation remains ongoing and terror charges are possible.

"The initial investigation would appear to indicate that this was a singular, lone wolf type of behavior but the investigation is not complete," Goodale said.

"Events of this kind bring back some pretty terrible memories."

In 2014, a man authorities described as an "ISIL-inspired terrorist" ran over two soldiers in a parking lot in Quebec, killing one and injuring the other before being shot to death by police. The man had been under surveillance by Canadian authorities, who feared he had jihadist ambitions and seized his passport when he tried to travel to Turkey.

Two days later, a gunman killed a Canadian soldier at the war memorial in Ottawa and then stormed Parliament before being shot dead. The man had taken issue with Canada's involvement in the war in Afghanistan and the fight against the Islamic State group.

Canada's new Liberal government has ended airstrikes against the Islamic State but has tripled the number of soldiers that train Kurdish soldiers in Northern Iraq.

Chief Mark Saunders speaks at a news conference in Toronto on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 about the attack on two Canadian soliders at a recruitment centre in the city's north end on Monday. Police say a 27 year-old Canadian man said, Allah told me to come here and kill people at a double stabbing at a military recruitment center in Toronto. The suspect will appear in court later Tuesday to face charges. (Colin Perkel/The Canadian Press via AP)

A Government of Canada building is shown as Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders speaks to the media in Toronto on Monday, March 14, 2016. Toronto police are looking into whether a double stabbing at a military recruitment center could be linked to terrorist activity. Police Chief Mark Saunders says a man walked into the center around 3:30 p.m. Monday, pulled out a knife and attacked a uniformed Canadian Forces member. (Victor Biro/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders speaks to the media in Toronto on Monday, March 14, 2016. Toronto police are looking into whether a double stabbing at a military recruitment center could be linked to terrorist activity. Police Chief Mark Saunders says a man walked into the center around 3:30 p.m. Monday, pulled out a knife and attacked a uniformed Canadian Forces member. (Victor Biro/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders speaks to the media in Toronto on Monday, March 14, 2016. Toronto police are looking into whether a double stabbing at a military recruitment center could be linked to terrorist activity. Police Chief Mark Saunders says a man walked into the center around 3:30 p.m. Monday, pulled out a knife and attacked a uniformed Canadian Forces member. (Victor Biro/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders speaks to the media in Toronto on Monday, March 14, 2016. Toronto police are looking into whether a double stabbing at a military recruitment center could be linked to terrorist activity. Police Chief Mark Saunders says a man walked into the center around 3:30 p.m. Monday, pulled out a knife and attacked a uniformed Canadian Forces member. (Victor Biro/The Canadian Press via AP)
Entire DC subway system to shut down for inspections

WASHINGTON (AP)  It's already being branded #Metromageddon.

Hundreds of thousands of Washington, D.C., workers were preparing for a potentially soul-sucking commute with the rail system serving the nation's capital facing a full-day shutdown Wednesday for an emergency safety inspection of its third-rail power cables.

The federal government took some of the pressure off the city's traffic-choked highways by announcing Tuesday that workers have the option to take the day off or telecommute. The announcement from the Office of Personnel Management came under pressure from several members of Congress who said their constituents would have no way to get to work.

Riders sit in a Metro train in the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in Washington. The rail system that serves the nations capital and its Virginia and Maryland suburbs will shut down for a full day Wednesday after a fire near one of the systems tunnels, the systems head announced. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The Metro system's general manager, Paul Wiedefeld, said the closure was necessary to ensure the safety of passengers after a series of electrical fires on the tracks.

"While the risk to the public is very low, I cannot rule out a potential life and safety issue here, and this is why we must take this action immediately," he said.

Metro is the nation's second-busiest transit network: Its six rail lines and 91 stations serve more than 700,000 riders daily, and it is a vital link for federal workers and other commuters to Washington from Maryland and Virginia. The system will shut down at midnight Tuesday and remain closed for 29 hours until 5 a.m. Thursday.

D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans, the chairman of Metro's board, said that while the system had previously been closed for days for weather, including earlier this year, Wednesday was believed to be the first time the system would be shut down for mechanical reasons.

A fire on the tracks led to major delays throughout the system on Monday. The fire was caused by the same kind of electrical component that malfunctioned last year and caused a train to fill with smoke inside a downtown Washington tunnel, killing one passenger and sickening dozens.

Wiedefeld said that during the shutdown about 600 so-called jumper cables will be inspected throughout the system. Wiedefeld said those cables were inspected after last year's L'Enfant Plaza fire, and deficient ones were replaced.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement that putting safety first is the right choice but Metro needs to get serious about fixing issues.

"I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it until the region takes real ownership of its safety oversight responsibilities: D.C., Maryland and Virginia need to stand up a permanent Metro safety office with real teeth. What are folks waiting for?" Foxx said.

Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Virginia Democrat, called the decision to shut down "a gut punch to the hundreds of thousands of commuters who depend on the system."

"While I am extremely frustrated with this news, safety must be our No. 1 priority," Connolly said in a statement. "This dramatic action highlights the need for long-term safety and reliability improvements throughout the system."

News of the closure exploded on social media, where criticism of Metro's shortcomings is a daily occurrence, with some on Twitter dubbing the situation "#Metromageddon" or "#Metropocalypse."

Metro riders taking trains home during Tuesday's evening rush hour heard loudspeaker announcements in stations about the closure. Many said they hoped offices would close or let employees work from home.

"It's really frustrating. It's how everybody gets to work," said Atlee Ahern, 23, a Justice Department intern awaiting her train home to Bethesda, Maryland. "The whole system shuts down, the whole city shuts down."

Ahern, who rides Metro every workday, said she did not see how it would be possible for her to get to the office.

Brian Kirchner, 46, a federal contractor, said he was delayed by two hours getting home to Hagerstown, Maryland, on Monday because of the fire. He commutes by car, bus and Metro to his job downtown.

"I guess I won't be coming to work tomorrow," Kirchner said.

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser said additional police officers would be deployed to help deal with anticipated traffic gridlock. Construction work by city road crews will be suspended, and the city will increase service on its Circulator buses as well as offering free 24-hour memberships in the city's bike-sharing program.

Another population affected by the closure: District of Columbia schoolchildren. The city does not have traditional school buses and many students rely on Metro, which they are allowed to ride for free, to get to school. The school system announced that while schools would be open, absences and tardiness would be excused. D.C. Council member David Grosso said he was concerned about student safety.

"This is a significant disruption for many of our families," Grosso said.

Some commuters said they welcomed the decision out of concern for their own safety.

"If they're going to prevent some catastrophe from happening, then it's fine with me," said Alex Smith, a 44-year-old trade association administrator who lives in Washington. "It almost seems like something they needed to do a long time ago."

___

Follow Ben Nuckols on Twitter at https://twitter.com/APBenNuckols . Follow Jessica Gresko on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jessicagresko.

A Metro train departs the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in Washington. The rail system that serves the nations capital and its Virginia and Maryland suburbs will shut down for a full day Wednesday after a fire near one of the systems tunnels, the systems head announced. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Metro trains arrive in the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in Washington. The head of the rail system that serves the nation's capital and its Virginia and Maryland suburbs says the system will shut down for a full day Wednesday after a fire near one of the system's tunnels. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Metro riders use the escalators in the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in Washington. The head of the rail system that serves the nation's capital and its Virginia and Maryland suburbs says the system will shut down for a full day after a fire near one of the system's tunnels. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

An aide to Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld, left, holds up a photo of a track damaged by fire as Wiedefeld speaks during a news conference to announce that the DC Metrorail service will be shut down for a full day, at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority headquarters, on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Washington. At center is DC Council member Jack Evans. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

DC Council Member Jack Evans, right, and Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld listen to a question during a news conference to announce that the DC Metrorail service will be shut down for a fulls day, at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority headquarters, on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Washington. Wiedefeld said the system would be shut down for an emergency inspection of the systems third rail power cables. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Women with Zika in Tahiti had 1 percent birth defects risk

LONDON (AP)  Women who got pregnant during a Zika outbreak in Tahiti two years ago had about a 1 percent chance of having a baby with an abnormally small head, according to a new study published Tuesday. It's a surprisingly low risk that experts say might not match the threat of the epidemic now spreading explosively in the Americas.

The World Health Organization declared Zika to be a global emergency last month, based on suspicions it is causing a spike in a worrying birth defect known as microcephaly as well as a rare condition that sometimes results in temporary paralysis.

Before reaching the Americas last year, the mosquito-spread Zika triggered epidemics in the South Pacific and in French Polynesia, including its biggest island, Tahiti. Most people who are infected don't get sick or only have mild symptoms.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016 file photo, Gleyse Kelly da Silva, 27, holds her daughter Maria Giovanna, who was born with microcephaly, outside their house in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. Women who got pregnant during a Zika outbreak in Tahiti two years ago had about a 1 percent chance of having a baby with an abnormally small head, according to a new study published Tuesday, March 15. Its a surprisingly low risk that experts say might not match the threat of the epidemic now spreading explosively in the Americas. The World Health Organization declared Zika to be a global emergency last month, based on suspicions it is causing a spike in a worrying birth defect known as microcephaly as well as a rare condition that sometimes results in temporary paralysis. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, file)

After a surge in microcephaly was detected in Brazil, international scientists combed through records from the 2013-14 Tahiti outbreak to see if the same thing had happened there.

They found only eight such cases after tracking about 8,000 pregnant women. Seven occurred near the end of the outbreak, which researchers said suggested their mothers had been infected early in their pregnancies. Of those cases, five of the pregnancies were terminated.

The researchers created a mathematical model that estimated about 1 out of every 100 pregnant women infected with Zika during their first trimester might have a baby with an unusually small head. The paper was published online Tuesday in the journal, Lancet.

But another researcher not involved in the study said the figure seems too low given the birth defects seen in Brazil. Laura Rodrigues, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said she expected the figure to be closer to 10 percent

"If 1 percent is right, then that would be great news," said Rodrigues, who has spent time in Brazil researching the outbreak. "But it just seems a bit implausible right now."

Other viruses that cause the birth defect carry higher risk  like rubella, which has a 40 to 100 percent risk of birth defects when women are infected during their first trimester of pregnancy.

Simon Cauchemez, the study's lead author, warned that the widespread Zika infections seen in French Polynesia  where two thirds of the population were sickened  could have serious consequences for the outbreak in Brazil.

"If you take 1 percent of the many pregnant women infected, clearly this is a big concern for public health," Cauchemez said.

Other experts said Zika might have mutated into a more dangerous form since it first appeared in French Polynesia.

"Something in the virus could have changed to make it more or less harmful to the fetus," said Dr. Ganeshwaran H. Mochida, a neurologist at Boston Children's Hospital.

Rodrigues said it would likely be several more months before any definitive conclusions can be reached.

"We will soon have more pieces of the puzzle," she said.

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Online:
Court rejects lawsuit by kidnapping survivor Jaycee Dugard

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  The federal government cannot be held responsible for kidnapping survivor Jaycee Dugard's 1991 abduction and subsequent 18 years in captivity, an appeals court said Tuesday.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Dugard's lawsuit alleging federal parole officials should have revoked her abductor's parole well before he kidnapped her, but failed to do their jobs.

Phillip Garrido was on parole following his conviction on kidnapping and forcible rape charges when he and his wife Nancy abducted 11-year-old Jaycee from a California street and kept her captive in a backyard compound. Garrido repeatedly raped her over years and fathered two daughters with her.

FILE - In this Tuesday, May 7, 2013 file photo, Jaycee Dugard, right, who was abducted as a child and held for 18 years, and her mother, Terry Probyn, appear with their Hope Award at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children annual Hope Awards in Washington. A federal appeals court says the federal government cannot be held responsible for Dugard's 1991 abduction. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Dugard was not a victim of her kidnapper, Phillip Garrido, at the time he was placed under federal supervision. She had sued, alleging that federal officials should have revoked the man's parole prior to her kidnapping.(AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

The appeals court said in a 2-1 decision that Dugard had not been victimized by Garrido at the time he was placed under federal parole supervision, and there was no way to anticipate she would become his victim. As a result, federal authorities in California had no duty to protect her or other members of the general public from him, the court said. The decision upheld a lower court ruling.

A message for Dugard's attorney, Dale Kinsella, was not immediately returned.

Dugard alleged in her lawsuit against the federal government that parole officials should have returned Garrido to prison for any number of parole violations that preceded her abduction, including testing positive for drugs and alcohol.

In a dissenting opinion, Chief District Court Judge William Smith said the majority had improperly analyzed Dugard's case, and there was good reason to hold the government liable.

Dugard was identified and rescued in 2009 after Garrido took her and the girls to a meeting with his parole officer

Phillip Garrido was sentenced to 431 years to life for kidnapping and rape. His wife Nancy was sentenced to 36 years to life.
Prosecutors: Washington auditor lied in prior business life

TACOMA, Wash. (AP)  Jurors got their first detailed look at the government's case against Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley on Tuesday, with prosecutors alleging that in his prior business life, he lied to mortgage title companies to obtain and hide $3 million in other people's money.

Kelley's attorneys countered that the government has a fundamental misunderstanding of the real estate industry he worked in.

"Really what this case boils down to is a contract dispute," defense attorney Patty Eakes said during opening statement in federal court. "There wasn't any theft. There wasn't any cheating. There wasn't any lying."

In this courtroom sketch, a prosecutor addresses the jury in the trial of indicted Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley, right, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Tacoma, Wash. A lawyer for Kelley is telling jurors her client didn't steal money from anybody or cheat on his taxes. (Gabriel CampanarioThe Seattle Times via AP) SEATTLE OUT; USA TODAY OUT; MAGS OUT; TELEVISION OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT TO BOTH THE SEATTLE TIMES AND THE PHOTOGRAPHER

Kelley, a 51-year-old Democrat and former state representative, is the first Washington state official to be indicted in 35 years. He faces a range of charges  including possession of stolen property, money laundering and tax offenses  stemming from conduct that began in 2005 when he ran a real-estate services firm called Post Closing Department.

Kelley was elected state auditor in 2012, tasked with rooting out fraud and waste in government operations. Allegations of impropriety surfaced during that campaign, leading federal investigators to examine how he ran his old company.

Prosecutors say to obtain business from the title firms, Post Closing Department promised it would collect $100 to $150 fees for each deed-of-trust transaction it tracked; keep $15 or $20 for itself; use some of the money to pay county recording and other fees; and refund the customer any remaining money.

But in most cases, Kelley kept the excess fees, assistant U.S. attorney Andrew Friedman told the jury.

"He stole that money $100 at a time from tens of thousands of borrowers," Friedman said.

One of the companies Kelley worked with, Old Republic Title, sued him for not paying the refunds. Kelley settled the case for $1.1 million after making what prosecutors contend were false statements about his practices under oath.

Friedman broke Kelley's alleged conduct into three phases:

 2005 to 2008, when he ran Post Closing and "lied to get $3 million in other people's money."

 2008 to 2011, when Kelley is accused of trying to hide the money by moving it among various accounts, including a trust in Belize.

 2011 to 2015, when he allegedly began paying himself $245,000 a year from the proceeds and claimed personal costs as business expenses to make it appear that he was still doing real estate work.

Kelley is charged with retaining at least $1.4 million in stolen money.

In 2011, Friedman said, Kelley and his family took a trip to Yellowstone and Glacier national parks, then claimed the costs as business expenses. Also claimed as business expenses, Friedman said, were toys, family meals and a zoo membership.

One of Kelley's former workers, Jason Jerue, will testify he doctored spreadsheets sent to title companies to conceal that borrowers weren't receiving refunds, Friedman said.

In response, Eakes sought to dismantle each of the government's claims.

Nowhere were borrowers promised refunds, she said, nor can the government produce any signed contracts between Kelley and the title companies that required him to return the money.

Kelley settled the Old Republic lawsuit just to get the matter behind him and focus on his political career, she said.

Some of the business expenses may have been reported in the wrong spot on the tax forms, Eakes said, but it's not criminal to make a mistake on your taxes.

As for Jerue, she added, he changed his story after prosecutors offered him immunity for his testimony. The spreadsheets he claims to have doctored can't be found, she said.

Jerue told the FBI he disposed of the computer he used at the time because it stopped working, according to an agent's notes of the interview.

Kelley took a seven-month leave of absence following his indictment last year. He returned to work in December, despite calls from Gov. Jay Inslee and other officials to resign.

Eakes said Kelley won't run for re-election and is done with politics.

Testimony in the four-week trial begins Wednesday. The most serious charge, money laundering, carries up to 20 years in prison.

Washington state auditor Troy Kelley arrives at the federal courthouse in Tacoma, Wash., Monday, March 14, 2016, for the start of his federal trial. Kelley is charged with possession of stolen property, money laundering, lying under oath and tax offenses in connection with the real-estate services firm he operated during last decade's housing bubble before taking office. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Attorney: Texas officer who killed teen feared for life

ADDISON, Texas (AP)  The attorney for an off-duty suburban Dallas police officer who fatally shot a 16-year-old and wounded another juvenile said Tuesday that his client fired his gun because the officer feared for his life, but the attorney would not say whether either boy was armed.

Attorney Chris Livingston said Farmers Branch police officer Ken Johnson "fired his weapon because he felt in fear of his life and he felt that fear was justified." But Livingston would not provide specifics about what prompted the shooting Sunday evening.

Officials say after Johnson saw a vehicle being burglarized in his Farmers Branch apartment complex parking lot, he chased suspects as they fled. After the suspects' vehicle spun out about a half-mile away in Addison, an altercation led to the shooting.

This undated handout photo provided by the Farmers Branch Police Department shows Ken Johnson. Authorities say a 16-year-old from Dallas has been killed and another person is hospitalized after a shooting at a gas station involving an off-duty suburban Dallas police officer. An Addison, Texas spokesman says the preliminary investigation suggests Johnson intervened when he saw a crime in progress. (Farmers Branch Police Department via AP)

Jose Raul Cruz was killed and the other juvenile, who also was shot, was hospitalized.

The Farmers Branch and Addison police chiefs said at a news conference Tuesday that many details won't be revealed until their investigations are complete, including whether either juvenile had a weapon. Addison police are investigating the shooting, while Farmers Branch police are investigating the initial encounter as well as personnel issues. The police chiefs met earlier in the day with the family of the teen who was killed.

"We will not rush this investigation," Farmers Branch police Chief Sid Fuller said, adding, "We're not being secretive, we're being thorough."

Addison police Chief Paul Spencer said officials believe there are witnesses who haven't come forward.

Johnson, who was not injured, is on paid administrative leave pending the completion of the investigations. Fuller said Johnson had no disciplinary record. He noted department policies do not allow off-duty officers to chase suspects in their own vehicles.
Cuba reports first case of Zika transmitted on the island

HAVANA (AP)  Cuban officials announced Tuesday night that they have detected the first case of the Zika virus transmitted inside the country, ending Cuba's status as one of the last nations in the hemisphere without domestic cases of the disease that has been linked to birth defects.

State media said a 21-year-old Havana woman who had not traveled outside Cuba was diagnosed with the virus after suffering headaches, fatigue and other symptoms. On Monday, her blood tested positive for Zika. She remains hospitalized.

Cuba had previously reported a handful of cases of the disease in people who had traveled to countries with outbreaks of the mosquito-borne virus, particularly Venezuela, and appeared to have contracted it there.

Fumigation fog fills the Vedado neighborhood after soldiers sprayed to kill mosquitos in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Authorities are fumigating in an attempt to prevent the spread of zika, chikungunya and dengue, after the World Health Organization declared Zika to be a global emergency last month. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan)

Cuba has close ties to Venezuela, a fellow socialist country that sends hundreds of millions of dollars a year in subsidized oil in exchange for Cuban medical assistance that sees many thousands of people travel between the two countries annually.

Zika is being investigated as a possible agent in cases of microcephaly, a condition in which babies are born with unusually small heads and brain damage, and also in cases of Guillain-Barre, a rare condition that sometimes results in temporary paralysis.

Cuba has thrown more than 9,000 soldiers, police and university students into an effort to fumigate for mosquitoes, wipe out the standing water where they breed and prevent a Zika epidemic.

President Raul Castro has called on the nation to battle lax fumigation and trash collection, turning the Zika fight into a test of the communist government's once-legendary ability to marshal the entire country behind efforts ranging from civil defense to bigger sugar harvests to disease prevention.

In recent days the streets of Havana have been crisscrossed by teams of green-clad soldiers fumigating houses with mosquito-killing fog. Residents of the capital say fumigators no longer accept excuses of allergies or requests to spray some other day, as frequently happened in the past.

Still, neighborhoods like Central Havana, where the patient in Tuesday's case lives, are filled with decaying buildings, piles of uncollected trash and pools of standing water.

The Zika announcement comes at a moment of intense international attention on Cuba: President Barack Obama arrives on Sunday as the first sitting U.S. president to visit in nearly 90 years. The Obama administration on Tuesday announced that it was carving a series of broad new exceptions into the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, removing limits on individual travel that experts predicted would lead to a boom in U.S. visitors.

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Michael Weissenstein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mweissenstein
Peruvians take to streets to protest Fujimori candidacy

LIMA, Peru (AP)  Hundreds of people marched in Peru's capital Tuesday night for the second time in under a week to protest the presidential candidacy of the daughter of imprisoned former leader Alberto Fujimori.

Center-right politician Keiko Fujimori is leading in polls ahead of next month's presidential election.

Opponents are demanding she be disqualified on allegations of vote-buying after one of her strongest rivals was tossed from the race last week by electoral authorities in a ruling questioned by international observers and President Ollanta Humala.

Demonstrators representing female victims of forced sterilizations during Alberto Fujimori's government protest the presidential candidacy of his daughter Keiko Fujimori at Plaza San Martin in downtown Lima, Peru, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, ahead of next month's elections. The elder Fujimori is imprisoned for authorizing death squads and corruption committed during his decade-long rule in the 1990s. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Around 2,500 people marched in downtown Lima. Some held signs reading "No More Fujimori."

The elder Fujimori is imprisoned for authorizing death squads and corruption committed during his decade-long rule in the 1990s. His daughter narrowly lost the 2011 presidential race to Humala.

Demonstrators representing female victims of forced sterilization during Alberto Fujimori's government protest with posters, one which reads in Spanish: "Fujimori never again!," front, at Plaza San Martin in downtown Lima, Peru, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Peruvians poured into the streets for the second time in under a week to protest the presidential candidacy of disgraced former leader Alberto Fujimoris daughter, Keiko, ahead of April 10 elections. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Demonstrators protest presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori with photos of her that read in Spanish: "No to Keiko" at Plaza San Martin in downtown Lima, Peru, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Opponents are demanding she be disqualified on allegations of vote-buying after one of her strongest rivals last week was tossed from the race by electoral authorities in a ruling questioned by international observers and President Ollanta Humalas . Elections are set for April 10. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Demonstrators protest presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori at Plaza San Martin in downtown Lima, Peru, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. The sign at center says in Spanish: "I'm Peruvian and not a terrorist." Former President Alberto Fujimori, Keiko's father, is imprisoned for authorizing death squads and corruption committed during his decade-long rule in the 1990s. Elections are set for April 10. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

A demonstrator holds a poster that says in Spanish: "Fujimori never. No to Keiko" at Plaza San Martin in downtown Lima, Peru, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Peruvians poured into the streets for the second time in under a week to protest the presidential candidacy of disgraced former leader Alberto Fujimoriis daughter ahead of April 10 elections. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

A demonstrator representing a female victim of forced sterilization during Alberto Fujimori's government protests the presidential candidacy of his daughter Keiko Fujimori at Plaza San Martin in downtown Lima, Peru, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, as police stand guard. Peruvians poured into the streets for the second time in under a week to protest the presidential candidacy of the daughter of disgraced former leader Fujimori ahead of April 10 elections. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

A demonstrator wearing a headband that reads in Spanish: "No to Keiko" holds up a photo of presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori at Plaza San Martin in downtown Lima, Peru, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Peruvians poured into the streets for the second time in under a week to protest the presidential candidacy of the daughter of disgraced former leader Alberto Fujimori ahead of April 10 elections. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
North Korea sentences US tourist to 15 years in pr

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP)  North Korea's highest court sentenced an American tourist to 15 years in prison with hard labor for subversion on Wednesday, weeks after authorities presented him to media and he tearfully confessed that he had tried to steal a propaganda banner.

Otto Warmbier, 21, a University of Virginia undergraduate, was convicted and sentenced in a one-hour trial in North Korea's Supreme Court.

The U.S. government condemned the sentence and accused North Korea of using such American detainees as political pawns.

American student Otto Warmbier, center, is escorted at the Supreme Court in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. North Korea's highest court sentenced Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate student, from Wyoming, Ohio, to 15 years in prison with hard labor on Wednesday for subversion. He allegedly attempted to steal a propaganda banner from a restricted area of his hotel at the request of an acquaintance who wanted to hang it in her church. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)

The court held that Warmbier had committed a crime "pursuant to the U.S. government's hostile policy toward (the North), in a bid to impair the unity of its people after entering it as a tourist."

North Korea regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow its government to enable the U.S.-backed South Korean government to take control of the Korean Peninsula.

Tensions are particularly high following North Korea's recent nuclear test and rocket launch, and massive joint military exercises now underway between the U.S. and South Korea that the North sees as a dress rehearsal for invasion.

President Barack Obama on Wednesday imposed new U.S. sanctions on North Korea in response to what the White House called "illicit" nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Warmbier's sentence was "unduly harsh" and urged North Korea to pardon him and release him on humanitarian grounds.

"Despite official claims that U.S. citizens arrested in the DPRK are not used for political purposes, it's increasingly clear from its very public treatment of these cases that the DPRK does exactly that," Toner told reporters, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Warmbier's family in Wyoming, Ohio, could not be reached for comment. Susanna Max, a spokeswoman for Wyoming City Schools, said last month that the district, where Otto Warmbier attended school, had been in touch with the family. She said Wednesday that the district continues "to respect their privacy" and declines to comment. The University of Virginia also declined to comment.

Before the trial, Warmbier had said he tried to steal a propaganda banner as a trophy for an acquaintance who wanted to hang it in her church. That would be grounds in North Korea for a subversion charge. He identified the church as Friendship United Methodist Church. Meshach Kanyion, pastor of the church in Wyoming, declined to comment Wednesday.

Ohio Gov. and Republican presidential hopeful John Kasich said in a statement that Warmbier's was detention "completely unjustified" and that the sentence was "an affront to concepts of justice."

Bill Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said he had met with North Korean diplomats to the U.N. in New York on Tuesday to request Warmbier's release after the student's parents and Kasich asked him to intervene. Richardson said he was neither encouraged nor discouraged by the meeting with the diplomats, who told him they would relay his request to Pyongyang.

Richardson said based on past experience, North Korea could release Warmbier after sentencing, but current U.S.-North Korean tensions could hurt those prospects.

"My concern now is that the U.S.-North Korean relationship is in a very low, negative ebb, and I hope that does not affect a humanitarian negotiation for the release of Otto," Richardson told The Associated Press.

Trials for foreigners facing similar charges in North Korea are generally short and punishments severe. Warmbier was arrested as he tried to leave the country in early January. He was in North Korea with a New Year's tour group.

U.S. tourism to North Korea is legal. Arrests of tourists are rare but the State Department strongly advises against such travel.

Further complicating matters, Washington and Pyongyang do not have diplomatic relations. The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang acts as a go-between in consular issues when U.S. citizens run afoul of North Korean authorities.

North Korea announced Warmbier's arrest in late January, saying he committed an anti-state crime with "the tacit connivance of the U.S. government and under its manipulation." It remains unclear how the U.S. government was allegedly connected to Warmbier's actions.

Warmbier had been staying at the Yanggakdo International Hotel. It is common for sections of tourist hotels to be reserved for North Korean staff and off-limits to foreigners.

In a tearful statement made before his trial, Warmbier told a gathering of reporters in Pyongyang he was offered a used car worth $10,000 if he could get a propaganda banner and was also told that if he was detained and didn't return, $200,000 would be paid to his mother in the form of a charitable donation.

Warmbier said he accepted the offer because his family was "suffering from very severe financial difficulties."

Warmbier also said he had been encouraged by the university's "Z Society," which he said he was trying to join. The magazine of the university's alumni association describes the Z Society as a "semi-secret ring society" founded in 1892 that conducts philanthropy, puts on honorary dinners and grants academic awards.

In previous cases, people who have been detained in North Korea and made a public confession often recant those statements after their release.

In the past, North Korea has held out until senior U.S. officials or statesmen came to personally bail out detainees, all the way up to former President Bill Clinton, whose visit in 2009 secured the freedom of American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling.

In November 2014, U.S. spy chief James Clapper went to Pyongyang to bring home Matthew Miller, who had ripped up his visa when entering the country and was serving a six-year sentence on an espionage charge, and Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who had been sentenced to 15 years for alleged anti-government activities.

Jeffrey Fowle, another U.S. tourist from Ohio detained for six months at about the same time as Miller, was released just before that and sent home on a U.S. government plane. Fowle left a Bible in a local club hoping a North Korean would find it, which is considered a criminal offense in North Korea.

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Eric Talmadge, the AP's Pyongyang bureau chief, contributed to this report from Tokyo. AP writers Lisa Cornwell in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Sarah Brumfield and Matthew Pennington in Washington, D.C., also contributed to this story.

American student Otto Warmbier, center, is escorted at the Supreme Court in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. North Korea's highest court sentenced Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate student, from Wyoming, Ohio, to 15 years in prison with hard labor on Wednesday for subversion. He allegedly attempted to steal a propaganda banner from a restricted area of his hotel at the request of an acquaintance who wanted to hang it in her church. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
Big Maple: Demand for new sweeteners brings boom in Vermont

SANDGATE, Vt. (AP)  Once a side venture that helped farmers pay their taxes, Vermont maple syrup is becoming big business, with corporations buying up thousands of acres of trees as they bank in part on a rise in demand for alternative natural sweeteners.

In a state that often eschews outsiders as "flatlanders" and is fiercely protective of its image and branding, it's perhaps surprising that smaller maple syrup operators don't seem concerned about the big newcomers. That's because demand continues to rise, they said.

"It's a natural product, it's a little healthier than some of the natural sweeteners, and people like that," said Henry Marckres, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture's maple specialist. "Also local, people like to buy local and that is a locally produced product for the most part."

In this March 4, 2016, photo, Mike Chiberton, general manager of Crown Maple's southern Vermont operation, stands near sap and vacuum lines running to maple trees in Sandgate, Vt. The company bought 4,500 acres in southern Vermont and trucks the sap to New York to be processed into maple syrup. Once a side business for farmers to pay their taxes, making maple syrup is becoming big business in the Northeast. (AP Photo/Lisa Rathke)

In the past year, Crown Maple, which started making maple syrup in 2011 on 800 acres in Dutchess County, New York, bought 4,500 acres to tap in southern Vermont and is searching for more land even as the state's sugaring season gets into full swing this week.

In northern Vermont, Sweetree, an operation backed by a Connecticut capital management firm, bought 7,000 acres and is leasing about 8,000 more with plans to become the largest producer of maple in North America, selling syrup, maple-sweetened beverages and other products.

A large tract of land was also purchased near Killington for a planned maple operation, and a New England family bought a small parcel in Marshfield and is looking for more land with plans for the limited liability corporation it set up  Adirondack Management LLC  to develop large-scale, sustainable investments in the maple syrup sector.

"There are many benefits of investing in maple syrup; right now the demand for pure maple syrup is rapidly growing since it is the all-natural, local, healthiest, and best-tasting sweetener in the Northeast," said Colin Christie, of Adirondack Management, by email.

Over the past 15 years, maple production in the 10 biggest producing states has nearly tripled, although yields vary year to year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Vermont, the country's largest producer, made 1.3 million gallons of syrup last year, compared with an estimated 500,000 gallons in 2008.

Demand for alternative sweeteners has risen as consumers seek products they perceive as more healthful than processed cane sugar or artificial sweeteners.

"People are coming to the realization that local and sustainable is better than artificial" or heavily processed, said Peg Checchi, a chef instructor and chairwoman of online education for the New England Culinary Institute.

Studies at the University of Rhode Island found that the compounds in maple syrup are similar to those in green tea, berries, red wine and flax, said Navrinda Seeram, an associate professor at the school's department of biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences.

But there's no direct scientific evidence that maple syrup is healthier than white sugar, according to the Cornell Sugar Maple Research & Extension program.

"It doesn't mean that we want to tell people to eat more maple syrup or eat large quantities of maple syrup," Seeram said. "It's still a sugar. You know, the last thing we want is for folks who have Type 2 diabetes to be consuming more sugar."

Crown Maple is shipping its sap from Vermont to New York, where it's processed into syrup. The company lists recipes on its website for maple lemonade, maple bourbon-glazed short ribs, maple coconut chips and maple old-fashioneds, showing the possibilities of the richly flavored sweetener, said Tyge Rugenstein, chief operating officer.

"I think a lot of chefs are starting to realize that," Rugenstein said. "And that's really helping, I think, the growth of the industry as people realize it's a very versatile natural sweetener."

In this March 4, 2016, photo, sap and vacuum lines owned by Crown Maple of Dutchess County, N.Y., run through a forest in Sandgate, Vt. The company bought 4,500 acres in southern Vermont and trucks the sap to New York to be processed into maple syrup. Once a side business for farmers to pay their taxes, making maple syrup is becoming big business in the Northeast. (AP Photo/Lisa Rathke)

In this March 4, 2016, photo, sap and vacuum lines owned by Crown Maple of Dutchess County, N.Y., run through a forest in Sandgate, Vt. The company bought 4,500 acres in southern Vermont and trucks the sap to New York to be processed into maple syrup. Once a side business for farmers to pay their taxes, making maple syrup is becoming big business in the Northeast. (AP Photo/Lisa Rathke)
Matt Lickenbrock and Sean Ferguson are the poster boys for the rollout of CPR-training kiosks at airports, and for good reason.

Lickenbrock taught himself the lifesaving skill at one of the kiosks, then used it just two days later to revive Ferguson, who ha been hit by lightning.

'I can't thank Matt enough,' said Ferguson, who survived the lightning strike despite major burns. 'I mean, what 21-year-old goes to a CPR kiosk? Why didn't he go to the bar? Why didn't he play on his phone?'

The pair, both students at Ohio's University of Dayton, helped unveil a kiosk last week at the Indianapolis airport; travelers will also see them at Chicago O'Hare, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Baltimore-Washington.

Scroll down for video

Sean Ferguson, left, practices CPR on a kiosk like the one Matt Lickenbrock, right, learned on two days before saving Ferguson's life, during a news conference at the Indianapolis International Airport on March 10

Sean Ferguson suffered burns on 35 percent of his body. His grueling recovery included learning to walk again because the nerves in his legs were shattered

With their rubber torsos, video screens and disco soundtrack, the machines definitely turn heads. (It so happens the Bee Gees hit Stayin' Alive uses exactly the right beat for proper chest compressions.)

The kiosk takes just a few minutes to teach hands-only CPR  no mouth-to-mouth resuscitation required.

More than 20 percent of heart attacks occur in public places, and experts say the chances of survival are much higher if a bystander administers CPR before medics arrive.

'After six minutes, the chances of that person's survival decrease significantly,' said American Heart Association volunteer Danielle Cortes DeVito, who is also a paramedic.

The CPR kiosk rollout follows a successful test at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, where a machine has trained more than 25,000 people since 2013.

That includes Lickenbrock, who used it last April while killing time during a layover en route back to Dayton from spring break.

He followed the video instructions and attempted to 'revive' the dummy. Participants are scored based on the rate and depth of chest compressions, and the placement of their hands. He failed.

'I was way too shallow on depth of compressions,' said Lickenbrock.

So he tried again. And again. On the third try, he got a perfect score.

Two days later, he was driving on campus when he saw lightning strike from afar. As Lickenbrock pulled into a parking lot, he saw a group gathered around a student lying on the ground.

The bolt had knocked Ferguson off his feet and into a parked car, breaking his jaw. Bystanders called 911, but he had no pulse and wasn't breathing. Lickenbrock was the first to administer CPR, which he continued until medics arrived.

Matt Lickenbrock, left, and Sean Ferguson, right, stand next to a CPR kiosk at Indianapolis International Airport

Ferguson, right, and Lickenbrock, center, speak with Indianapolis Airport firefighter/paramedic Todd McKenzie on March 10

Ferguson suffered burns on 35 percent of his body. His grueling recovery included learning to walk again because the nerves in his legs were shattered. But the 24-year-old marketing major returned to campus just a few months later and graduated in December.

'If it weren't for that kiosk, I wouldn't be here today,' said Ferguson, who lives in the Pittsburgh suburb of Allison Park, Pennsylvania.

The kiosks are sponsored by the American Heart Association and the Anthem Foundation, the philanthropic arm of health insurer Anthem Inc.

Indianapolis airport Fire Chief Rick Gentry said he's been waiting for two years to get one of the machines, which he called 'very easy to use.'

'If you can do compressions ... you're doing better than somebody that doesn't do anything and just stands by,' Gentry said. 'So it'll give people confidence to be able to do it.'

Lickenbrock, 22, a mechanical engineering major from Webster Groves, Missouri, said he hopes his compelling story inspires others.
Egypt's president under unusually stinging criticism at home

CAIRO (AP)  Criticism of Egypt's president has gathered momentum in recent weeks as Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's honeymoon in power appears to be ending.

The boldness of the criticism suggests that el-Sissi's aura as the man who "saved the nation" from Muslim Brotherhood rule and the chaos of revolution has faded. Replacing it now is the image of a leader struggling to fix the economy, stop police abuses or suppress an insurgency by Islamic militants.

A recent speech in which el-Sissi seemed angry and frustrated was widely derided not only by social media mockery but also by powerful voices in the media who had backed el-Sissi's rise to power.

FILE - In this Aug. 6, 2015 file photo, provided by the office of the Egyptian Presidency, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi smiles at a boy dressed in a military uniform and waving the national flag during a ceremony unveiling a major extension of the Suez Canal in Ismailia, Egypt. Criticism of Egypts president has gathered considerable momentum in recent weeks as el-Sissis honeymoon in power appears to be ending. The boldness of the criticism suggests that el-Sissis aura as the man who saved the nation from Muslim Brotherhood rule and the chaos of revolution has faded. (Egyptian Presidency, File via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

"Mr. President and you gentlemen running the security agencies, you are wrong, and what you are doing will lead to the return of the Brotherhood. That will be hell for you and the people," veteran politician Mohammed Abu el-Ghar wrote. "Read history and think a little, so we can all save Egypt."

For nearly two years, the media commentariat, politicians, officials and religious leaders have pushed a message that any criticism of el-Sissi, his government or security agencies was tantamount to treason, undermining security.

El-Sissi vaulted to heroic status in the media when, as military chief, he led the army's July 2013 ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi amid massive protests against political dominance by the Brotherhood. He then won the presidency in a landslide election victory.

Since then, he has waged a fierce crackdown, arresting thousands of Islamists and killing hundreds more and suppressing pro-democracy activists who fueled the 2011 uprising against autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Public protests have been effectively banned. Rights activists have raised alarm over widespread torture and secret detentions by police.

For nearly two years there was little outcry from the public as many supported any measures to restore stability. But a string of recent troubles has pointed to problems that are harder to explain away as caused by "enemies of Egypt."

The downing of a Russian passenger jet  widely blamed on Islamic militants  highlighted security failures, and the government's reluctance to acknowledge it as a terror attack raised criticism. The attack was a devastating blow to Egypt's tourism industry, which further gutted the economy.

The culture of abuse inside security forces, meanwhile, may have landed el-Sissi's government in an international scandal. An Italian graduate student, Giulio Regeni, disappeared on Jan. 25 and he was later found tortured to death.

Last week, the European Parliament passed a resolution that stopped just short of accusing Egyptian authorities of killing Regeni. Egyptian officials deny police were behind his death, but even some supporters in the media have cast doubt on the denials.

The government's image was dented by a series of court rulings seen as outrageous. Among them, a young author was sentenced to two years in prison for the publication of sexually explicit excerpts from his novel  a step not taken under Mubarak or the Islamist Morsi. The sentence angered artists and intelligentsia who long cheered el-Sissi out of fear of Islamists.

"Your state is a theocracy, Mr. President," columnist Ibrahim Eissa wrote. "Your state and its agencies, just like those of your predecessor, hate intellectuals, thought and creativity."

El-Sissi has also appeared vulnerable in his government's struggles to repair an economy deeply damaged by five years of turmoil.

The government has been forced to let the Egyptian pound's official value slide to record lows. That has prompted public fears of price increases, given Egypt's dependence on imports.

Another difficult question is how to deal with subsidies that eat up billions of dollars but are vital for millions of impoverished Egyptians. El-Sissi partially lifted fuel subsides last year without unrest, a tribute to his popularity. But another envisaged round of reductions may not go down so well as Egyptians cope with higher prices and unemployment.

Abdullah el-Sennawy, a prominent pro-el-Sissi columnist, warned that further cuts would be "political suicide."

"To recklessly deal with the lives of ordinary people who can barely secure basic life requirements is a recipe for social unrest that security agencies won't be able to contain," he wrote in the Al-Shorouk newspaper.

El-Sissi's own ranting, televised speech on Feb. 24 damaged his image of being in control.

He demanded Egyptians listen to no one but him and stop criticizing the government, vowing to "remove from the face of the Earth" anyone who tries to "bring down" the state.

On the economy, he called on Egyptians to work harder and donate to the government. In a melodramatic gesture, he said he was prepared to sell himself if that would benefit Egypt  opening a rich vein of mockery on social media. Someone quickly posted an ad on the auction website eBay for a "slightly used" general, with el-Sissi's picture.

The speech went over terribly.

"Don't tell us we must listen to you alone," said Youssef el-Husseini, a TV anchorman and firm el-Sissi supporter. "No, we want to do a great deal of talking, discussions and speaking about democracy. Is it democratic to tell us to only listen to you?"

Azza el-Hennawy, an outspoken state TV host, blasted el-Sissi's call for Egyptians to work harder.

"Egyptians do work," she said, "but most, perhaps even all, government leaders don't work. You too, your excellency, don't work. You have not resolved a single issue since you took office."

With the bolder criticism, budding dissent emerged last week within long silent political circles.

A group of politicians and public figures led by leftist Hamdeen Sabahi, who ran for president against el-Sissi in 2014, announced a coalition to create a "political alternative" toward a democratic Egypt. The group avoided directly challenging el-Sissi, but the open talk of an "alternative" was startling.

Also, members of the 50-seat assembly that drafted the 2014 constitution and several prominent figures announced they would work to "protect" the document, opening up a new front of political pressure.

That constitution  perhaps Egypt's most liberal ever  set strong civil rights guarantees and liberties that have been widely ignored since, particularly by the security agencies and the judiciary.

FILE - In this Saturday, July 4, 2015 file photo provided by the office of the Egyptian Presidency, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi addresses members of the Egyptian armed forces in Northern Sinai, Egypt. Criticism of Egypts president has gathered considerable momentum in recent weeks as el-Sissis honeymoon in power appears to be ending. The boldness of the criticism suggests that el-Sissis aura as the man who saved the nation from Muslim Brotherhood rule and the chaos of revolution has faded. (Egyptian Presidency/Mohammed Abdel-Muati via AP, File) MANDATORY CREDIT

FILE - In this Monday, Sept. 28, 2015 file photo, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi arrives for the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters. A recent speech by el-Sissi sparked a wave of public ridicule on social media and unusual criticism from powerful voices in the media - many of whom strongly supported el-Sissis rise to power. The response to that speech has fed the notion of vulnerability and further undermined the former defense minister who was virtually immune to public criticism for the past 18 months. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File)

FILE - In this Monday, May 26, 2014 file photo, Presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabahi shakes hands with a civilian near a polling site on the first day of the presidential elections in Cairo, Egypt. A group of politicians and public figures led by leftist Sabahi, who ran for president against Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in 2014, announced a coalition to create a political alternative toward a democratic Egypt. The group avoided directly challenging el-Sissi, but the open talk of an alternative was startling. (AP Photo/Ahmed Abdel Fattah, El Shorouk Newspaper) EGYPT OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

FILE - In this Sunday, March 15, 2015 file photo, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi speaks during the final day of a major economic conference that has injected billions of dollars' worth of aid and investment in his country, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. A recent speech by el-Sissi sparked a wave of public ridicule on social media and unusual criticism from powerful voices in the media - many of whom strongly supported el-Sissis rise to power. The response to that speech has fed the notion of vulnerability and further undermined the former defense minister who was virtually immune to public criticism for the past 18 months. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

FILE - In this Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015 file photo, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, center, reviews honor guards, as he takes part in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier outside of Kremlin wall in Moscow, Russia. Criticism of Egypts president has gathered considerable momentum in recent weeks as Abdel-Fattah el-Sissis honeymoon in power appears to be ending. The boldness of the criticism suggests that el-Sissis aura as the man who saved the nation from Muslim Brotherhood rule and the chaos of revolution has faded. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev, Pool, File)

FILE - In this Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 file photo, a mourner distributes flowers at a vigil for slain Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni, in front of the Italian embassy in Cairo, Egypt. That widespread culture of abuse inside the security forces may have landed Abdel-Fattah el-Sissis government in an embarrassing international scandal. Regeni, a 28-year-old Italian graduate student, disappeared on Jan. 25 and was later found tortured to death. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)
Texas governor visits communities engulfed by floods

DALLAS (AP)  Paul Fregia II has spent the past few days placing sandbags around his girlfriend's home in Orange, one of several riverside towns in Southeast Texas inundated by floodwaters after days of heavy rains. He said the flooding was worse when Hurricane Ike hit in 2008, but that the dangers this week have been deceptive.

"You don't see the rain with this flood, you just see the water rising," the 21-year-old Fregia said Wednesday. "It's creeping up on you, and you don't know how high it's going to get."

Thousands of people have been displaced and more were evacuated Wednesday amid rising water along waterways in the region, including the Sabine River, a long border between Texas and Louisiana that authorities said has reached levels not seen since 1884.

In this aerial photo, people take a boat past a car submerged in floodwaters from the nearby Sabine River following recent heavy rains, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Deweyville, Texas. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

The heavy rains also inundated the Houston area about 100 miles west, where the bodies of a man and woman were recovered from the rain-swollen San Jacinto River after a small fishing boat was found damaged at the bottom of a 40-foot spillway. High water from the rain likely was a factor in the accident, and evidence indicates the boat went over the spillway, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department said Wednesday.

Floodwaters have reached the roofs of houses in Deweyville, a town along the Sabine River where people could be seen maneuvering small boats near submerged cars. In Orange, about 16 miles south, a canoeist paddled around road signs near Interstate 10, one of the country's major transportation arteries that has been intermittently closed over the past few days by flooding.

Authorities warned such boaters to watch for wildlife trying to escape the water for higher ground, often in residential areas. Poisonous snakes such as cottonmouths are in the region, and people have reported seeing wild hogs in populated areas, said Lori Ardoin with the Orange County emergency management office.

Truman Dougharty, the top administrator in adjacent Newton County  where hundreds of people have fled their homes  was emotional following an aerial tour of the area by Gov. Greg Abbott.

"The number of homes that are under water and people displaced ... it's emotional, sir," Dougharty said, his voice breaking as he turned toward Abbott during a news conference. "So we've got a lot of people needing a lot of help."

Abbott has issued a disaster declaration for much of the region and urged residents to heed evacuations orders. State emergency management officials haven't released information about the extent or potential cost of the damage so far.

The American Red Cross said encroaching floodwaters in Orange forced the closure of two shelters and about 200 people stayed Tuesday night at a shelter at Lamar University in Beaumont. Local officials didn't have estimates on how many people have been displaced, but said about 9,100 people live in the evacuated area.

Paul Craycraft, who runs a livestock auction near the Trinity River west of Orange, said the river rarely overflowed its banks during the last few years because of drought conditions, but that the river has flooded "six times in the last year."

Craycraft said that poses a problem to ranchers with pastures along the riverbanks, which have rich soil for grazing grasses. He said the flooding has forced them to move livestock to higher land.

The flooding follows often torrential rains that fell over four days last week and dropped up to 20 inches in some places.

In this aerial photo, a boat travels past a home submerged in floodwaters from the nearby Sabine River following recent heavy rains, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Deweyville, Texas. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

In this aerial photo, homes are surrounded by floodwaters from the nearby Sabine River following recent heavy rains, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Deweyville, Texas. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

In this aerial photo, homes are surrounded by floodwaters from the nearby Sabine River following recent heavy rains, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Deweyville, Texas. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

In this aerial photo, a man travels by canoe in floodwaters near Interstate 10 near Orange, Texas, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Travelers on parts of Interstate 10 in Southeast Texas face detours due to flooding of the nearby Sabine River following recent heavy rains. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

In this aerial photo, an emergency worker walks up to a house surrounded by floodwaters from the nearby Sabine River following recent heavy rains, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Orange, Texas. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

In this aerial photo, a boat travels past a pair of trucks surrounded from floodwaters from the nearby Sabine River following recent heavy rains, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Deweyville, Texas. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Chinese premier strikes mild tone on regional disputes

BEIJING (AP)  China sees no contradiction between its insistence on safeguarding territory it claims and its desire for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday.

Striking a moderate tone, Li also said China was comfortable with a continued U.S. presence in the region, despite its past characterization of Washington, Australia and others as unwelcome interlopers. China can "engage in cooperation with them in the Asia-Pacific and manage well our differences," he said.

Li's remarks at a news conference following the close of China's annual legislative session were more circumspect than those last week by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who sternly warned that Beijing would not permit other nations to infringe on its sovereign rights in the strategic South China Sea.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang waves as he leaves a press conference after the closing session of the annual National People's Congress held in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Wang also rejected accusations that China was militarizing the area by building man-made islands and topping them with airstrips, turning the accusation back on the United States.

While Li did not address any disputes directly, he reaffirmed China's desire for a calm regional environment and good neighborly relations, saying differences could be handled through diplomatic means.

Although China's commitment to upholding its sovereignty and territorial integrity is "totally unambiguous," Li said it would also be a "powerful force" for world peace.

"We hope that countries from both inside and outside the region can do more to benefit regional stability and not the opposite," Li said. "Otherwise, no one benefits."

The U.S., Vietnam, the Philippines and others have complained that China's island building project has raised tensions by changing the status quo in the area, where six Asian governments have overlapping claims. The South China Sea includes sea lanes through which more than $5 trillion in global trade passes each year, along with rich fishing grounds and potential oil and gas deposits.

Despite China's strong objections, the U.S. Navy says it will continue to sail and fly past the new Chinese islands. The commander of the Pacific Air Forces, Gen. Lori Robinson, said earlier this month that Washington urged other nations to exercise their freedom to fly and sail in international airspace and waters claimed by China in the South China Sea "or risk losing it throughout the region."

Along with contesting disputed territory in the South China Sea, China also claims a chunk of Indian territory along their border, as well as a string of uninhabited East China Sea islands held by Japan.

Asked about Beijing's often tense relations with Tokyo, Li said that although ties have shown signs of an improvement, that is as yet "not fully established" and more concrete action is needed from Japan.

Relations between the two neighbors have been generally calm since violent anti-Japanese riots broke out in several Chinese cities in 2012 after Japan nationalized a chain of uninhabited islands claimed by China.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang listens to a question from a reporter, in foreground, during a press conference after the closing session of the annual National People's Congress held in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
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These stunning pictures show some of the 2.4 million children who fear for their future after fleeing from war-torn Syria with their families.

Many of Syria's most vulnerable child refugees now live in dozens of sprawling encampments including in neighbouring Jordan, which has taken in close to 640,000 migrants.

Children in these camps near the northern Jordanian city of Mafraq say they miss their old lives in Syria - especially going to school.

ISyrian refugee girl Aya Bandar, six, from Hama, Syria, poses for a picture at a tented settlement near the Syrian border on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan

Rakan Raslan, 11, from Hama, Syria, said his home was destroyed during the brutal civil war in his homeland. He said: 'I used to go to the school back in Hama. I used to have friends there. Our home was destroyed in the war and we had to flee to Jordan'

Mona Emad, 5, from Hassakeh, Syria, said she longed to go back to her homeland but her father is determined to reach the United States

'I used to go to the school back in Hama,' Rakan Raslan, 11, said of his hometown in western Syria. 'I used to have friends there. Our home was destroyed in the war and we had to flee to Jordan.'

Rakan said that without an education, his future is in doubt. 'The best I can become is a driver,' he said.

Yasmeen Mohammed, 11, whose family fled the town of Eastern Ghouta near the Syrian capital, Damascus, said she misses her old life. 'All I want is to go back to my school in Syria and see my friends,' she said.

The portrait pictures of these young children were captured by Muhammed Muheisen, The Associated Press' chief photographer for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The UN agency for children said in a report this week that close to 3 million Syrian children are not in school as a result of the conflict, including some 700,000 refugee children.

Zahra Mahmoud, five, from Deir el-Zour, Syria, is among the 2.8million children to have fled along with their families from the war-torn country

Many of Syria's most vulnerable child refugees, including Hammad Khadir (pictured), three, from Hassakeh, Syria now live in dozens of sprawling encampments including in neighbouring Jordan, which has taken in close to 640,000 migrants

Children in these camps near the northern Jordanian city of Mafraq say they miss their old lives in Syria - especially going to school. Mariam Aloush (pictured), eight, from Homs, said: 'I remember our home in Syria and my school there. I just want to go back'

Zahra al-Jassim (left), 10, from Hama, said she 'dreams of going back to Syria to see my friends Raghd, Halima, and Najwa'. Hiba So'od (right), six, from Hassakeh, Syria, is determined to become a teacher

The conflict, which entered its sixth year this week, has killed more than 250,000 people in Syria and displaced close to half the pre-war population of 23 million.

In Jordan, only about 100,000 refugees live in three recognized refugee camps and the rest are scattered across the country. Residents of informal tent camps say they can't afford rent in Jordanian communities or they want to be close to jobs on farms.

Raddah So'od, 48, a mother of five, said she arrived in Jordan two years ago, after fleeing the northern Syrian town of Hassakeh. 'We left our home due to shelling and bombing,' she said. 'My children's school was bombed, too. There is nothing left for us there.'

Children in these camps near the northern city of Mafraq say they miss their old lives in Syria, especially going to school. Amna Zughayar, 9, from Deir el-Zour is pictured above

Mayada Hammid (left), eight, from Hassakeh, said she remembers 'nothing' from Syria. But Ahmad Zughayar (right), six, from Deir el-Zour, said: 'I remember the sound of bombings on homes'

Mohammed Bandar, 12, from Hama, Syria, said he wants to 'become a doctor to be able to help people'. In Jordan, only about 100,000 refugees live in three recognized refugee camps and the rest are scattered across the country

The UN agency for children said in a report this week that close to 3 million Syrian children are not in school as a result of the conflict, including some 700,000 refugee children

But in Jordan, prospects for the future are dim.

'We were forced to leave Syria, fearing for our children's lives,' said Bandar al-Humaidy, 42, a father of 13 from Hama. Al-Humaidy now works on a farm near his makeshift tent camp.
After a night of primary victories, Clinton looks ahead

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP)  Sweeping to victory in four key primary contests, Hillary Clinton has solidified her hold on the Democratic nomination, allowing her to begin the work of unifying her party against GOP front-runner Donald Trump.

The process won't be pretty: Rival Bernie Sanders has tapped into a deep vein of anti-Washington sentiment in the Democratic Party, turning what was once expected to be an easy race for Clinton into a far tougher competition. He's vowed to continue all the way to the national convention in July.

But Tuesday night's victories allow Clinton to claim wins in key general election battlegrounds across the country  North Carolina, Florida and Ohio  and demonstrate her appeal to Rust Belt voters who will play a pivotal role in November.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton arrives to a cheering crowd at an election night event at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday, March 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A decisive win in Florida, Tuesday's biggest delegate prize, left her on track to expand an already-commanding lead. Clinton now has at least 1,599 delegates  including superdelegates  nearly two-thirds of the total needed to win the Democratic nomination. Sanders trails far behind with at least 844.

In Missouri, where the race remained too close to call, Clinton and Sanders were splitting the delegates fairly evenly because Democrats award delegates based on the share of the vote, making the winner of a state less important if the vote margins are close.

"The bottom-line results from last night: Hillary Clinton's pledged delegate lead grew by more than 40 percent, to a lead of more than 300, leaving Sen. Sanders overwhelmingly behind in the nomination contest - and without a clear path to catching up," campaign manager Robby Mook wrote in a memo released Wednesday morning. "Sec. Clinton's pledged delegate lead of more than 300 is nearly twice as large as any lead then-Senator Obama had in 2008."

But in a conference call with reporters Wednesday afternoon Sanders senior strategist Tad Devine argued that there was still a path to the nomination. Devine said the upcoming states offer a "much more favorable terrain in terms of our message and our candidate," and added that the campaign will have the resources to compete.

Devine also said that this isn't just a math problem, saying the "process is dynamic, it is not a static process, it is not a matter of delegate arithmetic."

Over the past few days, Clinton has begun peppering her standard campaign speech with subtle calls for party unity and more direct attacks on Trump's rhetoric, experience and plans.

"I'm going to keep working as hard as I can, but I think it is important that we really do focus on the really dangerous path that Donald Trump has laid out here," she said in Raleigh, North Carolina.

As results rolled in Tuesday evening, she released her first Spanish-language ad in Arizona  an ad that focused not on Sanders but on Trump. And she held her victory party in southern Florida, just miles from where Trump was holding his own election night party at Mar-a-Lago, his private club.

Clinton aides say they plan to compete hard for the rest of the primary season and note that coming caucuses in Western states favor Sanders.

"It is not up to us when the primary ends," said Clinton communications director Jen Palmieri. "There are still a lot of states to go."

After Tuesday's contests, the race shifts to contests in Arizona, Idaho and Utah on March 22 and Alaska, Hawaii and Washington state on March 26. April includes contests in Wisconsin, Wyoming and New York, where Clinton represented in the Senate but is becoming a major target for Sanders.

Clinton aides argue that a Trump-Sanders-Clinton competition in the next weeks could set up a powerful contrast for Clinton, elevating her as an experienced potential commander in chief.

But this hasn't been an election year that's rewarded experienced party politicians. And some Clinton backers worry that she could face a barrage of similar and simultaneous attacks from both Sanders and Trump over her trade policy, Wall Street ties and funding from outside groups.

It hasn't been enough to top Clinton yet, who eked out a narrow win in the state where she grew up. The win surprised Clinton's top aides in Brooklyn, who broke out into spontaneous cheers and dancing at the campaign headquarters.

Her team attributed Clinton's win in Ohio to a more forceful economic message, with Clinton taking a harder position against trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Still, exit polls showed that Sanders' attacks had some impact. Voters in Illinois and Missouri who said trade takes jobs from Americans tended to back Sanders; those who considered trade beneficial generally supported Clinton.

Those findings indicate that states like Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan could play a key role in a general election, prompting questions about Clinton's Midwestern strength, despite her wins in Ohio and Illinois.

Supporters hope to offset loses among working-class voters with moderate Republicans, turned off by Trump's divisive rhetoric.

"Trump will get a lot of Reagan Democrats," said former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell. "But for every Reagan Democrat he gets, we will get a suburban Republican."

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Lucey reported from Des Moines, Iowa. Associated Press writer Nicholas Riccardi contributed to this report from Phoenix and AP News Survey Specialist Emily Swanson contributed to this report from Washington.

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Follow Lisa Lerer and Catherine Lucey on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/llerer and http://twitter.com/catherine_lucey
Trump: Time to rally around me _ or expect voter riots

WASHINGTON (AP)  After yet another round of convincing victories for Donald Trump, Republican leaders spent Wednesday wavering between grudging acceptance and deep denial about the businessman's likely ascent to the GOP presidential nomination. An emboldened Trump warned that if the party tried to block him, "You'd have riots."

With at least three more states in his win column, Trump is now the only candidate with a path to clinching the Republican nomination before the party's convention in July. But he still must do better in upcoming contests to get the necessary 1,237 delegates, leaving some opponents with a sliver of hope he can still be stopped.

"I still think it's a very realistic chance that nobody's going to have a majority of the delegates," said Henry Barbour, a senior Republican National Committee member who worked on Marco Rubio's delegate strategy until the Florida senator exited the race Tuesday.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to supporters at his primary election night event at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday, March 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Barbour said Trump "doesn't deserve to be president," but also said he could ultimately support the billionaire if he "can convince me that he's presidential material."

Trump cautioned that his supporters would revolt if he falls just short in the delegate count and loses in a rules fight.

"If you just disenfranchise these people, I think you would have problems like you've never seen before," Trump said on CNN's "New Day."

Despite the deep concerns about Trump within the Republican Party, there was little tangible action Wednesday that indicated a way to stop the real estate mogul's march toward the general election.

There was no rush among party leaders or donors to coalesce around Ted Cruz, the only candidate in the race with even a long-shot chance of overtaking Trump in the delegate count. A small group of conservatives moved forward with plans to meet Thursday to discuss the prospect of rallying behind a third-party option, but no candidate had been identified to lead that effort.

The three best-financed efforts to stop Trump abruptly ceased advertising after Tuesday's elections. The outside groups American Future Fund, Our Principles and Club for Growth have no Trump attack ads planned for Arizona - a crucial winner-take-all contest in six days - or in any states beyond.

Former House Speaker John Boehner floated his successor, Paul Ryan, as the nominee in the event of a convention fight. But Ryan quickly took himself out of the mix, saying through a spokeswoman that he would "not accept a nomination and believes our nominee should be someone who ran this year."

Meanwhile, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton set her sights on a November showdown with Trump. Her sweep of Tuesday's five primary contests  including a slim lead in yet-to-be-called Missouri  was a harsh blow to rival Bernie Sanders, giving Clinton what her campaign manager described as an "insurmountable lead" in the delegate count.

"We are confident that for the first time in our nation's history, the Democratic Party will nominate a woman as their presidential nominee," Robby Mook wrote in a memo to supporters.

Clinton has at least 1,599 delegates to Sanders' 844. It takes 2,383 to win the Democratic nomination.

Trump urged Republicans to view the party's nominating contest with the same sense of clarity. During a round of calls to morning television shows, he said some of the same Republican senators who publicly criticize him have called him privately to say they want to "become involved" in his campaign eventually. He also picked up an endorsement Wednesday from Florida Gov. Rick Scott.

Trump also effectively killed the next GOP debate scheduled for Monday in Utah, saying "we've had enough debates." After Ohio Gov. John Kasich said he wouldn't debate without Trump on stage, host Fox News scrapped the event.

Trump has won 47 percent of the Republican delegates awarded so far, according to the Associated Press delegate count. He needs to win 54 percent of the remaining delegates to clinch the nomination by the time the primary season ends on June 7.

Just a handful of states will vote between now and mid-April, a reprieve for opponents.

"We've got four weeks to identify what the most effective path is," said Tim Miller, a former Jeb Bush aide who now works for an anti-Trump super PAC.

Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, who is supporting Kasich, said there were "calls going back and forth between the Kasich-Rubio campaign" about the possibility of a joint ticket, though he said those conversations were preliminary.

Any scenarios that end with blocking Trump could leave the party in chaos. But some Republicans suggested that given the party's current state, the chaos couldn't get much worse.

"The divisions are already there," said John Jordan, a California-based donor who was leading a pro-Rubio super PAC. "There's already open warfare on TV. A couple thousand people in a food fight in Cleveland pales in comparison."

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AP writers Stephen Ohlemacher, Julie Bykowicz, Lisa Lerer and Nancy Benac contributed to this report.

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Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC and Steve Peoples at http://twitter.com/sppeoples
Lots of blarney in the Savannah lore about St. Patrick's Day

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP)  Believe everything you hear about St. Patrick's Day in Savannah and you might think hotel rooms are sold out as 1 million people cram Georgia's oldest city to see the Savannah River dyed green.

A sober look at those assertions, however, reveals they're all pure blarney.

To be sure, the St. Patrick's Day parade that Savannah will host Thursday is a supersized celebration. What began in 1824 as a modest procession by Irish immigrants who moved to this Southern port city for work has swelled into one of the South's largest street parties after Mardi Gras.

In this Friday, March 11, 2016 photo, a crowd watches as the cast-iron fountain in Forsyth Park sprays water dyed green less a week before the St. Patrick's Day parade in Savannah, Ga. While dying the fountains in Savannah's parks is a longstanding St. Patrick's Day tradition, many visitors believe the city dyes the Savannah River as well. That happened only once in 1961. (AP Photo/Russ Bynum)

That history comes with lore that sometimes strays from the facts. Here are five of Savannah's greatest St. Patrick's Day myths:

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BUT WHO'S COUNTING?

Parade organizers, the mayor and others all say it: Thursday marks the 192nd St. Patrick's Day parade in Savannah.

They're overlooking an inconvenient historical wrinkle. Yes, Savannah's parade began 192 years ago in 1824. But at least six years since then, the city held no parade at all.

Blame the Civil War in 1862 and 1864, the early arrival of Holy Week in 1913, World War I in 1918, and a decision to cancel during the Irish Revolution in 1921. According to "The Days We've Celebrated," William L. Fogarty's 1980 book on St. Patrick's Day in Savannah, there was no parade in 1830, for reasons unknown.

Parade Chairman Jerry Hogan defends calling this parade the 192nd despite the cancellations. "If there's not been an official parade," he said, "there's been a celebration on March 17."

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GREEN(ISH) RIVER

Tourists call the visitor bureau every year asking: When do they dye the Savannah River green?

They're 55 years too late.

Savannah attempted to color the river behind City Hall on St. Patrick's Day in 1961. Twenty boats pumped dye into the water as roughly 5,000 people watched. Newspapers reported the river turned "greenish," mostly in streaks.

It was "not the perfect job the sponsors hoped for," the Savannah Evening Press reported.

But visitors still ask as if it's an ongoing tradition, said Erica Backus of Visit Savannah.

Savannah does add green dye to its park fountains every year, but don't expect another attempt on the river. Kevin Chambers of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division said dying the river today would violate the state's clean water rules, which prohibit human activities that markedly increase the haziness of public waters.

Apparently that's not an issue in Chicago, which still dyes a stretch of the Chicago River green on St. Patrick's Day. That tradition began in 1962, the year after Savannah's attempt flopped.

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WAR HERO'S ROOTS

It's tough to correct history that's been cast in bronze.

Every March 16, the day before St. Patrick's Day, parade organizers lay a wreath at Savannah's monument to Sgt. William Jasper, who died fighting the British during the American Revolution in 1779. A bronze plaque beneath Jasper's statue pays tribute to the bravery of "the Irish American soldier."

Historians have since concluded Jasper was most likely German.

In 1981, University of Maryland professor George Fenwick Jones published a paper revealing immigration records from Philadelphia show a young John William Jasper arrived in October 1767 aboard a ship from Rotterdam, Germany. He wrote there was "little doubt" this Jasper was the war hero.

Others have come to agree.

"He is German," said Howard Kempf, chief organizer of the Jasper ceremony. "But everybody's Irish on St. Patrick's Day."

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SELLING OUT

Planning a last-minute trip? Hotels are probably sold out, right?

Not so, says Joe Marinelli, president of the visitor bureau Visit Savannah. He says that while many hotels end up full or close to it, he always sees rooms available even the day before the parade.

Hotels probably sold out years ago. But booming tourism in recent years has fueled new hotels, which Marinelli says makes a total sellout unlikely.

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MILLION MAN MARCH 17

In 2012, Savannah's parade chairman boasted St. Patrick's Day had drawn a record-busting crowd of "more than a million people."

Michael Foran didn't base that on any official crowd count, because nobody in Savannah attempts one. The city's top tourism official was downright befuddled.

"My head kind of exploded like, 'Where did that come from?'" said Joe Marinelli, president of Visit Savannah.

It's hard to find room for 1 million revelers in Savannah. The city and surrounding Chatham County have a population of 283,379. There are 15,250 hotel rooms and 103,807 households. Where would 716,621 visitors stay?

Foran  now the parade's 2016 grand marshal  stands by his count. Only now he says the million revelers were spread over several days and a broad area that includes parts of neighboring South Carolina.

"There's a lot of people that don't even make it to Savannah," Foran said. "But they're all partying for St. Patrick's Day."
Questions, answers on new rules for Americans visiting Cuba

WASHINGTON (AP)  Cuba is bracing for an influx of American visitors in the years following the Obama administration's move to do away with the last meaningful restrictions on U.S. travel. After half a century of estrangement from a country just 90 miles south of Florida, Americans are eager for a taste of the communist island that in many ways has seemed stuck in time since revolutionaries kicked out a U.S.-backed government in 1959.

The latest set of changes to U.S. rules, announced ahead of President Barack Obama's historic trip to Havana starting Sunday, will make it easier, quicker and cheaper for Americans to visit essentially on their own terms. But a formal ban on U.S. tourism remains in place.

"The travel ban is on life support here, because for all intents and purposes, anybody can go," said Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., adding that travelers could "even use frequent flyer miles."

A taxi pedals his bicycle, decorated with Cuban and U.S. flags, as he transports a woman holding a sleeping girl, near the Capitolio in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. President Barack Obama will travel to Cuba on March 20. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Some questions and answers about the new rules for Americans traveling to Cuba:

WHO CAN GO?

Any American can now travel to Cuba under 12 categories of legally permissible purposes, which include professional, religious and journalistic activities. Of the 12, the one that will see the biggest boost is "educational activities."

In the past, Americans using that option had to travel on organized, group tours through a company licensed by the U.S. Those tours were costly and allowed visitors less flexibility. The new rules allow Americans to take "people-to-people" educational trips on their own, and they don't need to seek U.S. permission in advance.

WHAT ARE THE RULES?

Americans will be required to have a full-time schedule of authorized activities "intended to enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people's independence."

Plenty of activities could fall under that category, and the White House suggested it wouldn't be splitting hairs. "There's no shortage of opportunities for Americans to build that type of meaningful schedule or people-to-people engagement while they go to Cuba," said Obama's deputy national security adviser, Ben Rhodes.

Visitors must keep records for five years about what they did in Cuba, but won't have to submit them unless asked. The Treasury Department said it would monitor compliance but offered no details.

HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL GO?

U.S. leisure travel to Cuba nearly doubled last year, to more than 160,000 visitors. Tuesday's measure is expected to add another increase of between 10 and 20 percent, Cuban travel experts said.

ISN'T CUBA HARD TO GET TO?

It is, but it's about to get much easier. In the past, chartered flights and routes through third countries were the only way for Americans to get to Cuba. But under previous changes Obama made, the U.S. opened the door to restoring commercial air traffic. The first of up to 110 commercial flights a day are expected to start later this year.

Eventually, many Americans may also come by boat. European cruise ships now make regular appearances in Havana harbor. Some U.S. lines have received U.S. approval but are awaiting the green light from the Cuban government.

WHERE WILL I STAY?

A surge in individual leisure travel could be limited by the near-impossibility of finding lodging in state hotel or private homes without months of searching. Most hotels are at or close to 100 percent capacity and the best-quality rental homes and apartments are already booked through the fall. Several hundred thousand Cuban-Americans visit the country each year, but generally stay with family or in privately rented homes.

One recently added option is AirBnB. The U.S.-based company allows you to search private homes, known as "casas particulares," and pay through your credit card from the U.S.

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Associated Press writer Michael Weissenstein in Havana contributed to this report.

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Reach Josh Lederman on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joshledermanAP
Indian journalists see more threats, attacks with Modi as PM

NEW DELHI (AP)  A newscast on whether India had become intolerant of dissent quickly spiraled into something darker after a guest on the program referred to a pamphlet that called the Hindu goddess Durga a sex worker. Though the host did not make the remarks, she was accused of disparaging the deity and was bombarded with more than 2,500 threatening calls.

"Some called and said they would douse me with acid," Kerala journalist Sindhu Sooryakumar said. Six members of a militant group linked with India's Hindu nationalist ruling party have been arrested.

Sooryakumar is one of a growing number of Indian journalists who say they are increasingly facing a backlash for producing work that raises questions or criticisms of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government or his Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP. The crackdowns are happening as journalists try to cover a nationwide debate on how Indian patriotism should be defined  as Hindu or multicultural, devout or secular  and whether dissent should be tolerated.

In this photo taken Sunday, March 13, 2016, Swati Chaturvedi, a veteran print and TV journalist, looks out from the balcony of her house in New Delhi, India. Indian journalists say they face more violent threats and attacks for questioning government policy or the wisdom of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Some have been threatened hundreds, even thousands, of times. Government and ruling-party officials have denied responsibility, while taking a hard line against anyone viewed as anti-Indian. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Members of Modi's government have offered hard-line views on the issue, equating criticism of the government with criticism of the country. Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani said last month that "the nation can never tolerate an insult to Mother India," while Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted that anyone shouting anti-India slogans "will not be tolerated or spared."

Last week, one of India's best-recognized TV anchors, Barkha Dutt, filed a police report after allegedly receiving "anonymous abusive death threats." She had been reporting along with the rest of the capital's media on a university student's arrest for allegedly making anti-India statements. The student criticized the 2013 secret hanging  under a previous government  of a Kashmiri separatist convicted of an attack on Parliament.

Dutt told a conference organized by a women's group that, following her reports, she received calls threatening "rape, sexual abuse and even shooting me."

During that same student's court hearing on sedition charges last month, lawyers beat reporters and damaged cameras and recording equipment while demanding they not cover public protests against the student's arrest. Journalists from several broadcasters, newspapers and wire services were attacked, including an Associated Press photographer whose hand was bruised and camera lens broken.

The attacks "have heightened concerns about the state of press freedom in India," said a statement from the international Committee to Protect Journalists.

On Friday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley issued the first government comments condemning the violence surrounding the hearing, saying "it was a terrible exception, what happened. Normally people in a public place find media as their natural ally. The whole idea of getting the media dragged into contemporaneous controversy and then attacking it physically is absolutely unacceptable anywhere."

Journalists have never been entirely safe in India  11 have been killed since 2010, according to the CPJ. Most were working outside major cities, often covering small-town corruption, when they were killed.

The fact that journalists in major cities like New Delhi are now being hounded is relatively novel, after years during which they operated largely without fear of retribution thanks in part to the nation's educated, urban elite and the foreign media bearing noisy witness.

"As a journalist, you don't want to be the story yourself," said Swati Chaturvedi, a veteran print and TV journalist who filed a police report last year while she said she was receiving up to 400 threatening messages a day. "I'm actually very scared that, one of these days, this sort of thing will trigger a real riot."

Rahul Jalali, president of the Press Club of India in New Delhi, said he's noticed a creeping change for several years and worries the pressure on journalists could ultimately hurt their credibility.

"The moderate space, even politically, is sort of disappearing, even for journalists. Today, you're being forced to take sides," Jalali said. "There is a lot of self-censorship going on."

For the media, "it's disastrous, we're losing our objectivism," he said. But he hoped it was temporary, noting that India's media had endured previous crackdowns, including Indira Gandhi imposing a state of emergency and seizing powers in 1975-77.

After Sooryakumar, the Kerala news anchor, filed a police complaint about the threatening phone calls she received, police arrested six members of the militant Hindu organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or RSS  the ideological parent of the ruling BJP  for alleged harassment, including posting Sooryakumar's cellphone number to a social media group.

Sooryakumar said the group "exhorted members to call me and solicit my services as a sex worker."

When the six were released on bail earlier this month, a crowd of RSS members reportedly greeted them with cheers.

Kerala's BJP president and RSS member Kummanam Rajasekharan denied RSS involvement and said anyone who called the newscaster had "acted so of their own volition."

The head of Kerala's Union of Working Journalists said the problem was becoming big enough that journalists may need society to help them stand up for free speech.

"The Sindhu Sooryakumar incident is not isolated or a first of its kind," said C. Rahim. "Earlier, political parties would unequivocally condemn it and initiate action against perpetrators. Now there is an atmosphere of organizational support."

TV news channel Manorama correspondent Asha Javed said she felt the atmosphere was becoming less safe.

"We have reported about it (intolerance) for some time, and now we are experiencing it first-hand," Javed said.

In such a climate, it is becoming more difficult for journalists to cover the country's heated debates about whether people should be allowed to criticize the government, empathize with convicted terrorists, eat beef or make jokes about Hindu gods. Under Indian law, it is illegal to inflame communal tension or stoke violence. Prosecutors are increasingly applying that ban to anything deemed anti-Indian, though they have not targeted journalists.

The apparent increase in harassment, meanwhile, may be a sign of the times. India's enormous population of 1.25 billion is also the world's fastest-growing market for both Internet penetration and smartphone use. Interacting online is something new and exciting for long-isolated populations.

Chaturvedi, the reporter threatened last year, said the environment is one in which "you can't say anything against Modi."

"These people are inclined to attack if they don't like a story," she said. "It's a systematic sort of harassment and bullying which will eventually silence a lot of people who don't have the confidence to fight back."

That's the great fear that Jalali, the press club president, has for his profession.

"In India, the newspaper is read out loud in the village center, and everyone gathers to listen. And most still think what appears in print is gospel," he said. "But once they realize the news is filled with bias, or even lies, it will affect our democracy. We are the guarantors of free speech. If we don't have free speech, how will we guarantee it for others?"

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Mathews reported from Thiruvananthapuram, India.

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Follow Katy Daigle: twitter.com/katydaigle

In this photo taken Sunday, March 13, 2016, Swati Chaturvedi, a veteran print and TV journalist, works on her laptop at her home in New Delhi, India. Indian journalists say they face more violent threats and attacks for questioning government policy or the wisdom of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Some have been threatened hundreds, even thousands, of times. Government and ruling-party officials have denied responsibility, while taking a hard line against anyone viewed as anti-Indian. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

In this photo taken Sunday, March 13, 2016, Swati Chaturvedi, a veteran print and TV journalist, poses for a photograph as she works at her home in New Delhi, India. Indian journalists say they face more violent threats and attacks for questioning government policy or the wisdom of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Some have been threatened hundreds, even thousands, of times. Government and ruling-party officials have denied responsibility, while taking a hard line against anyone viewed as anti-Indian. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

In this photo taken Tuesday, March 15, 2016, an Indian man reads a newspaper in front of a newspaper stall in New Delhi, India. Indian journalists say they face more violent threats and attacks for questioning government policy or the wisdom of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Some have been threatened hundreds, even thousands, of times. Government and ruling-party officials have denied responsibility, while taking a hard line against anyone viewed as anti-Indian. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2016, file photo, Indian journalists hold placards during a protest against attack on journalists in Mumbai, India. Indian journalists say they face more violent threats and attacks for questioning government policy or the wisdom of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Some have been threatened hundreds, even thousands, of times. Government and ruling-party officials have denied responsibility, while taking a hard line against anyone viewed as anti-Indian. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File)
The Latest: Syrian group 'optimistic' about Geneva talks

BEIRUT (AP)  The latest developments in ongoing Syria peace talks (all times local in Beirut):

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11:15 p.m.

Syrian chief negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari, Ambassador of the Permanent Representative Mission of the Syria to UN New York, briefs the media after a round of negotiations between the Syrian government and UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria Staffan de Mistura at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)

A leader of an expatriate Syrian group is praising Russia's will to support peace talks and expressing hopes they will be successful before the U.S. presidential election this fall.

Randa Kassis spoke to reporters Wednesday after a loosely affiliated, self-described opposition organization known as the Cairo, Moscow and Astana Groups met with the U.N. special envoy in Geneva.

She said she was optimistic for the talks and noted that "President Obama himself wants the success of these negotiations."

The group is seen as less antagonistic to President Bashar Assad's government than the Western- and Saudi-backed opposition, known as the High Negotiations Committee, that is actively in talks with U.N. special envoy Staffan de Mistura.

The Cairo and Astana groups presented a seven-point platform that largely supports U.N. Security Council resolutions and other international agreements that have paved the way for the talks and laid out long-term objectives for Syria.

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9:30 p.m.

The United States is opposed to any unilateral declarations of autonomous federal zones in Syria but would not be against federalism if the Syrian people chose it as part of a negotiated political settlement.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner spelled out Washington's position after the main Syrian Kurdish party said it would soon declare a federal region in the country's north.

The party said the region's Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen would all be represented, calling it a model for the rest of the country.

Both Turkey and the Syrian government are opposed to such a declaration, fearing that it could lead to the country's partition.

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3:40 p.m.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says U.S. and Russian weapons are ending up in the hands of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which his country considers a terrorist organization.

He also rejected the idea of any form of Kurdish self-rule in Turkey in an address in Ankara.

Erdogan said weapons confiscated from the PKK, the Syrian Democratic Union Party (PYD), and its armed wing, the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), came from Russia and the West, including the U.S.

Washington also considers the PKK a terrorist group, but the U.S. has strong tactical ties with the YPG, which Ankara views as a PKK affiliate. Washington has provided air support to the YPG, which is among the most effective ground forces battling the Islamic State group in Syria.

On Wednesday, a powerful Syrian Kurdish political party said it planned to declare a federal region in northern Syria, across the border from Turkey.

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3 p.m.

The head of Syria's government delegation at peace talks in Geneva is refusing to take part in direct talks with the opposition's top negotiator, calling him a "terrorist."

Bashar Ja'afari, Syria's U.N. ambassador, did not mention Mohammed Alloush by name, though Alloush represents the powerful Army of Islam group and is the chief negotiator for the Saudi-backed opposition, known as the High Negotiations Committee.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday after a meeting with the U.N. envoy for Syria, Ja'afari accused Alloush of membership in a terrorist group that "bombed embassies" and "killed engineering school students" and other people. He did not elaborate.

Ja'afari said he would not take part in direct talks "unless that personality apologizes for the statement he made previously and withdraws it," without specifying.

U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura has been hosting separate meetings with government and opposition delegates  including Alloush  since the "proximity talks" resumed Monday.

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2:40 p.m.

A Turkish foreign ministry official says his country rejects any moves that would compromise Syria's national unity and considers the territorial integrity of Syria as "essential."

The official says it's up to the Syrian people to "decide on the executive and administrative structure of Syria in line with the new constitution which will be formulated through the political transition process."

The official told the Associated Press that "unilateral moves carry no validity."

Wednesday's statement effectively rejected a Syrian Kurdish political party's stated intention to declare a federal region in northern Syria.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government practice.

Dominique Soguel in Istanbul

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1:30 p.m.

Syria's U.N. ambassador has dismissed plans by Syria's Kurds to declare a federal region in northern Syria.

Bashar Ja'afari, who also heads the Syrian government team at the U.N. brokered talks underway in Geneva, says the negotiations in Switzerland are meant to discuss the unity of Syria and how to preserve its territorial integrity.

The diplomat says that "betting on creating any kind of divisions among the Syrians will be a total failure." he said.

Ja'afari spoke to reporters in Geneva on Wednesday, responding to a question about Kurdish plans to declare a federal region in northern Syria. He says he will not comment on "unilateral statements coming from here and there."

Ja'afari ignored a reporter's question on whether President Bashar Assad could be replaced.

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12:50 p.m.

President Vladimir Putin's spokesman says Moscow is satisfied with the joint work with Washington on coordinating Syria peace efforts.

Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday the Syrian peace process is the main focus now for Moscow and Washington.

He hailed Washington's "readiness to coordinate those efforts."

The remarks come two days after Putin announced the withdrawal of most of Russian warplanes from Syria, voicing hope it should help Syria peace talks underway in Geneva.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said two more groups of Russian warplanes took off from Russian Hemeimeem air base in Syria on Wednesday.

Putin has said Russia will keep some troops at Hemeimeem and a naval facility in the Syrian port of Tartous. Peskov wouldn't say if Russia could turn them into permanent military bases.

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12:10 p.m.

A spokesman for a powerful Syrian Kurdish political party says his faction is planning to declare a federal region in northern Syria.

Nawaf Khalil of the Democratic Union Party told The Associated Press that his party is not lobbying for an only-Kurdish region but wants to see the "model of federalism applied to all of Syria."

Khalil, in a phone interview, says the area envisioned for northern Syria would include representation for Turkmen, Arabs and Kurds.

The declaration is expected to be made at the end of a Kurdish conference that is being held Wednesday in the town of Rmeilan in northern Syria.

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11:30 a.m.

A Syrian government delegation is meeting with the U.N. special envoy for Syria for the second time since indirect peace talks resumed this week in Geneva.

Syria's U.N. ambassador Bashar Ja'afari was meeting with Staffan de Mistura on the third day of revolving-door diplomacy.

The talks are known as proximity talks, in which the U.N. envoy meets separately with Syrian government representatives and envoys of the so-called moderate opposition.

Wednesdays' meetings are expected to move onto more substantive matters, after procedural steps and an outlining of goals from the two sides were covered in the two previous days.

On Tuesday, de Mistura met with the Saudi- and Western-backed opposition group known as the High Negotiations Committee.

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10:50 a.m.

NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has welcomed Russia's decision to withdraw most of its fighting forces from Syria.

Stoltenberg told The Associated Press on Wednesday that it's a contribution to efforts to reduce military tensions and find a peaceful solution to the Syrian conflict.

Stoltenberg says the consequences of the withdrawal are yet to be seen but that he "would welcome any action that reduces the military tensions in Syria."

The remarks were Stoltenberg's first since President Vladimir Putin's surprise decision earlier this week. The NATO chief spoke during a visit to the Afghan capital of Kabul.

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9:30 a.m.

Russia's defense ministry says another group of its aircraft has left the Russian air base in Syria and is returning home.

Wednesday's announcement comes two days after President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian military to withdraw most of its fighting forces from Syria, signaling an end to Russia's five-and-a-half month air campaign.

The pullout from the Hemeimeen base coincides with the resumption of U.N.-brokered peace talks in Geneva between the Syrian government and the representatives of the moderate, Western-Backed opposition.

On the ground, a cease-fire has been in effect since late February. Extremist factions  such as the Islamic State group or the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front  are not part of the truce.

Russia didn't indicate when the next group of planes will leave or how many will be pulled out.

Syrian chief negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari, Ambassador of the Permanent Representative Mission of the Syria to UN New York, arrives for a media briefing after a round of negotiations between the Syrian government and UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria Staffan de Mistura at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)
Rescuers: Female suicide bombers kill 24 at Nigerian mosque

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP)  Two female suicide bombers killed at least 24 worshippers and wounded 18 in an attack during dawn prayers Wednesday on a mosque on the outskirts of the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, officials said from the birthplace of Boko Haram.

One bomber blew up inside the mosque and the second waited outside to detonate as survivors tried to escape, said coordinator Abba Aji of the civilian self-defense Vigilante Group.

Those injured totaled 18. An earlier AP toll of 23 injured had double-counted those rescued.

The inside of a damaged mosque following a suicide bomb explosion in Maiduguri, Nigeria Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Two female suicide bombers killed at least 24 worshippers and wounded 18 in an attack during dawn prayers Wednesday on a mosque on the outskirts of the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, the city that is the military command center of the war against Boko Haram Islamic insurgents. (AP Photo)

President Muhammadu Buhari sent condolences to families of victims, said the attack exposed the perpetrators as "mere criminals who have no place among civilized people," and promised that "the final end of Boko Haram is in sight."

It was the second attack in five months on the Molai-Umarari mosque. Twin suicide bombers in October killed six people.

"Do you know that among those in the mosque, only the chief imam survived" on Wednesday, said resident Adam Modu. The second bomber had her back to a child when she exploded, blowing the kid into pieces, he said.

The mosque was closed after the October attack and had only reopened three days ago, residents said.

Umar Usman said he escaped because he was late: "We were just a few meters away from the mosque when a loud bang erupted and all we could see was dark smoke and bodies littered around."

The mosque is on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the city that is the military command center of the war against Boko Haram.

Several suicide bombers have exploded recently at roadblocks leading into the city, preventing attackers from reaching crowded areas.

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This story has been corrected to show that Umarari is not a Boko Haram stronghold.

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Associated Press writer Haruna Umar contributed to this report from Abuja, Nigeria.

People inspect a damaged mosque following a suicide bomb explosion in Maiduguri, Nigeria Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Two female suicide bombers killed at least 24 worshippers and wounded 18 in an attack during dawn prayers Wednesday on a mosque on the outskirts of the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, the city that is the military command center of the war against Boko Haram Islamic insurgents. (AP Photo)
Hunt on for 2 in Belgian raid linked to Paris attacks

BRUSSELS (AP)  Belgian investigators were hunting Wednesday for two suspects who fled an apartment linked to the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, one day after a police sniper killed a gunman holed up inside and authorities found a stock of ammunition and an Islamic State flag, officials said.

Four officers were wounded in Tuesday's joint French-Belgian raid in a Brussels neighborhood after unexpectedly coming under fire in an apartment they believed was empty.

Prosecutors on Wednesday released without charges two men they held in the wake of the raid, leaving the hunt on for two suspects who have not been identified.

Spokesman for the Belgian Federal Prosecutors Office, Thierry Werts, right, and Belgian Federal Prosecutor Eric Van Der Sypt address the media during a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Belgian investigators were hunting Wednesday for two suspects who fled an apartment linked to the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, after a police sniper killed a third man and uncovered weapons, ammunition and an Islamic State flag, officials said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

The dead man was identified as an Algerian man living illegally in Belgium, Mohamed Belkaid, whose only contact with authorities appeared to be a two-year-old theft charge, said Thierry Werts, a Belgian prosecutor.

Belkaid, 35, was shot to death by a police sniper as he prepared to fire on police from a window, Werts said. A Kalashnikov was found by his body, as well as a book on Salafism, an ultraconservative strain of Islam.

Inside the apartment in the Forest neighborhood of Brussels, police found the banner of the Islamic State extremist group as well as 11 Kalashnikov loaders and a large quantity of ammunition, the prosecutor said.

"We were not expecting a violent armed reaction," Prime Minister Charles Michel told Belgium's RTL radio.

The anti-terror raid was linked to the Nov. 13 gun-and-bombing attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks, in which Belgian citizens played key roles.

Among the fugitives is Belgian Salah Abdeslam, who fled the Paris attacks that night, slipped through a dragnet into Brussels and has not been seen since.

On Tuesday, four Belgian and two French police officers unexpectedly came under fire by at least two people armed with a Kalashnikov and a riot gun as soon as they opened the door to the Forest apartment, according to a statement from the Belgian prosecutors.

Four officers, including a French policewoman, were slightly wounded.

The search of another Forest residence Tuesday evening turned up another Kalashnikov as well as two loaded magazines, Belgian officials said.

Since the Paris attacks, the officials said 58 people have been detained in Belgian searches directly linked to the Paris attacks investigation and another 23 arrested in related probes.

Both countries remain on edge.

In France, four people were arrested at dawn on Wednesday amid fears of a separate planned attack. Those arrests were not linked to the Belgian investigation.

One of the four, a former inmate under house arrest, was suspected of being in contact with Islamic State extremists in Syria, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said. All three were born in France and were between 21 and 30 years old, according to a judicial official who requested anonymity to discuss the case.

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Hinnant reported from Paris. Raf Casert contributed from Brussels, and Philippe Sotto from Paris.

Belgian Federal Prosecutor Eric Van Der Sypt, right, prepares to address the media during a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Belgian investigators were hunting Wednesday for two suspects who fled an apartment linked to the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, after a police sniper killed a third man and uncovered weapons, ammunition and an Islamic State flag, officials said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Belgian Federal Prosecutor Eric Van Der Sypt addresses the media during a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Belgian investigators were hunting Wednesday for two suspects who fled an apartment linked to the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, after a police sniper killed a third man and uncovered weapons, ammunition and an Islamic State flag, officials said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

In this image provided by the Belgian Federal Prosecutors Office during a media conference in Brussels on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, a damaged police firearm of one of the police officers involved in an anti-terror operation on Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Belgian investigators were hunting Wednesday for two suspects who fled an apartment linked to the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, after a police sniper killed a third man and uncovered weapons, ammunition and an Islamic State flag, officials said Wednesday. (Belgian Prosecutors Office via AP)

Police officers secure an area during an apartment raid in Brussels on Tuesday March 15, 2016. Belgian police launched an anti-terror raid linked to last year's Paris attacks in a Brussels neighborhood on Tuesday. A police official, who requested anonymity because the operation was still ongoing, said the exact circumstances of the incident were still unclear, and that several police officers were injured. (AP Photo/Thierry Monasse)
10 Things to Know for Thursday - 17 March 2016

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Thursday:

1. OBAMA CHOOSES FEDERAL APPEALS JUDGE FOR SUPREME COURT

The nomination of Merrick Garland is likely a non-starter in the Senate. Republican leaders want to wait to fill the vacancy created by Scalia's death until after a new president is elected.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., leaves the chamber just after President Barack Obama urged Senate Republicans to grant hearings and a confirmation vote to Merrick Garland, his nominee to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. McConnell has been steadfast in his refusal to hold a confirmation for any nominee during the waning months of Obamas presidency. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

2. ANTI-TRUMP REPUBLICANS SEEK ALTERNATIVES

Ex-House Speaker John Boehner, for one, says he'd support his successor, Paul Ryan, for president if Republicans can't agree on a candidate at the convention.

3. KURDS JOLT SYRIAN PEACE TALKS

Syrian Kurds say they intend to declare a federal region in northern Syria, saying it would be a model for a more decentralized government in which all ethnic groups would be represented.

4. US SANCTIONS PYONGYANG FOR NUCLEAR TESTS

Among other things, Obama's order prohibits the exportation of goods, services and technology to North Korea.

5. WHY FED'S NOT BUDGING

The Federal Reserve, deciding to keep short-term interest rates unchanged, cites the risks posed by global economic and financial turmoil.

6. NO CRIMINAL CHARGES IN BOMBING OF AFGHAN CHARITY HOSPITAL

More than a dozen U.S. military personnel are disciplined for the mistaken attack, but won't face harsher penalties.

7. WHERE FEARS OF 'METROPOCALYPSE' DIDN'T MATERIALIZE

Many riders shrug off the unprecedented shutdown of Washington's commuter trains for a safety inspection, saying it's what they've come to expect from the aging, troubled Metro system.

8. NIKE UNVEILS SELF-LACING SNEAKER

The new technology allows users to make the fit looser or snugger by pressing buttons on the side of the shoe.

9. 'HOLY GRAIL OF PUBLISHING' UP FOR AUCTION

Christie's is selling copies of the first four editions of the plays of Shakespeare, 400 years after the Bard's death.

10. HOW NCAA TOURNAMENT COULD GET MESSY

With no clear-cut favorites and seemingly a dozen teams that could take down the nets in Houston, this March could be the mother of madness, the AP's John Marshall says.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen speaks during a news conference after the Federal Open Market Committee meeting in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. The Federal Reserve is keeping a key interest rate unchanged in light of global pressures that risk slowing the U.S. economy. As a result, Fed officials are forecasting that they will raise rates more gradually this year than they had envisioned in December. The officials now foresee two, rather than four, modest increases in the Fed's benchmark short-term rate during 2016. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Anbang gets US committee OK on Fidelity & Guaranty deal

NEW YORK (AP)  China's Anbang Insurance Group has received approval from a U.S. committee for its nearly $1.6 billion purchase of life insurance company Fidelity & Guaranty Life.

This comes on the heels of an announcement two days ago that Anbang is part of a group offering $14 billion to buy the Starwood hotel chain.

A filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission Tuesday said that Fidelity & Guaranty Life, based in Des Moines, Iowa, has received notice from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. that there are no unresolved national security concerns with regards to its acquisition by Anbang.

A worker cleans windows of the Anbang Insurance Group's building in Beijing, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Young, privately owned and ambitious, Anbang Insurance Group stands out in China's staid, state-dominated insurance industry. Founded just 12 years ago, Anbang made a splash in the United States in 2014 with its $2 billion purchase of New York City's Waldorf Astoria Hotel. On Monday, March 14, it went after even bigger game, launching a surprise $14 billion bid with partners for the Starwood hotel chain. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

The deal, which was announced in November, is targeted to close in the second quarter.
Turkey faces uphill battle to stop migrant smuggling

ISTANBUL (AP)  Business begins in earnest at sundown at "smugglers square" in Istanbul's Aksaray neighborhood.

Families trickle in, clutching their belongings and lifejackets in plastic bags while smugglers weave their way around the park, cutting deals and finalizing the logistics of the journey to Greece on their cellphones.

Ali, a Syrian refugee who got into the business of smuggling fellow migrants to supplement his income as a waiter, says anyone who wants to be smuggled out of Turkey must pass through Aksaray first.

FILE  In this Oct. 7, 2015 file photo, Syrian refugees pass the time in Aksaray neighbourhood in Istanbul. The journey for thousands of migrants headed to Europe often begins at an innocuous park in the Aksaray neighborhood of Istanbul which is so central to the human trafficking business that would-be passengers and dealers refer to it simply as smugglers square. Turkey has become the main departure point for refugees --- not only from Syria but also Iraq and Afghanistan -- who view Europe as their best shot at safety and a better life.(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel, File )

"Go into any store or cafe in Aksaray and say you want to go to Europe  you will get a million offers," he said.

Like other smugglers interviewed by The Associated Press, he asked to be identified only by his first name because what he is doing is illegal.

The European Union and Turkey hope to reach a comprehensive deal this week to tackle illegal migration and the refugee crisis spurred by conflicts in Syria and beyond. Under the "one-for-one" deal, which hopes to blunt the appeal of smuggling, one Syrian refugee in Turkey would be resettled legally in an EU country for each illegal Syrian migrant turned back to Turkey.

But critics fear the deal could set the stage for blanket deportations from the EU and the scene in Aksaray  where buses loaded with would-be migrants take off in the cover of night  illustrates the uphill battle faced by law enforcement officials in a country awash with refugees and smugglers.

Last year, an estimated 850,000 people, mostly Syrians but also Afghans, Iraqis and others, used Turkey as a launching point for dangerous journeys to Greece, often on overloaded dinghies. Hundreds died along the way to their first stop en route to the rest of Europe.

Over the past few months, to show it's getting serious, Turkey has all but shut its borders to new arrivals from its conflict-torn neighbor and cracked down on trafficking by increasing sea patrols, prosecuting smugglers and stopping people before they can leave for Greece.

In return for its efforts, Turkey stands to gain $3.3 billion in EU funding to help it improve the situation of the 2.7 million Syrian refugees already within its borders; a much-anticipated easing of EU visa restrictions for Turkish citizens; and expedited talks about the country joining the 28-nation EU.

Turkish officials at all levels say they are doing the best they can. But three smugglers interviewed by The Associated Press insist it is impossible to shut down their business, pointing to a sharp rise in demand this winter compared to last. These men, whom Syrian refugees have used in recent trips, asked to be identified only by their first names because what they are doing is illegal.

Meanwhile, people waiting for unmarked buses arranged by smugglers in Istanbul or boats in the port cities of Izmir and Canakkale often declare they would rather drown in the Aegean Sea than die in Syria, now in its sixth year of war, or stay in Turkey, where it is hard to make ends meet.

"I am not happy to go to Europe," says Abu Dildar, a bespectacled Syrian Kurd who says he tried and failed to make a living ironing clothes in Turkey despite receiving aid from two agencies. "But I am going so that my children have a future, an education. If they remain illiterate, they will blame no one but me."

For the smugglers, the risks are high but so are the rewards. Every journey requires a minimum $6,000 investment for a rubber boat, which will be abandoned once the migrants reach Greece. The average fare is $1,000 for departures from prime locations only a few miles from the Greek islands. Assuming at least 30 people per boat, that translates into a minimum profit of $24,000 per journey, divided among a handful of people.

Hussam, a smuggler in the coastal city of Izmir who says he raked in more than $50,000 last summer and $7,000 so far this winter, says there are more patrols along the coast now, but people still go out once the patrols are out of sight.

Although six of his smuggling buddies have been detained in the past month, he's confident that business will pick up again in the summer. He interprets increased patrols at sea as a bid to prevent further dramatic drowning accidents rather than an effort to stamp out illegal migration.

Law enforcement officials in Turkey defend their efforts.

"We are trying our best," says Bahadir Yesiltepe, head of the anti-smuggling unit in Izmir, a coastal city of nearly 3 million people.

In 2015, Izmir's police caught 11,844 migrants, including 10,566 Syrians, while 345 smugglers were sentenced. Between January and February this year, they caught 5,803 migrants, an alarming number given there are fewer departures in winter. These figures exclude those caught by the gendarmerie or the coast guard.

"As long as the situation continues in Syria, and with weather conditions improving, we anticipate that the intensity we saw last summer will continue," Yesiltepe says.

Turkish officials say smugglers are switching strategies in response to the crackdown, exploring new departure points such as the resort town of Kas, sending out "decoy" boats that get intercepted by the coast guard while others dart across, and using different forms of transport such as rickety fishing boats and even jet skis.

"They just keep coming and coming and coming," a law enforcement official involved in such operations told the AP, requesting anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss smuggling. He acknowledged that a few "bad apples" in law enforcement are turning a blind eye or profiting from the business but said the main challenges are the sheer scale of the smuggling, the shifting tactics and the inaccessibility of the kingpins.

Catching small-time smugglers or intercepting boats or buses is relatively easy, he says. He thinks the best way to dismantle the more complex operations is to target the small businesses, or "safes," that have sprung up in the main trafficking nodes.

Syrians rarely pay the smuggler directly, preferring to deposit their money at a "safe" house in exchange for a code they will share with the smuggler once they have crossed to the other side. Most migrants don't bother to call in this odd honor system, but the smuggler is entitled to the money if five days pass with no news.

One such venture in Izmir advertises itself as a "limited liability company" specializing in money transfers and tourism. But there are no computers or glossy brochures at the third-floor office of the Boss of Homs. The young men in leather jackets who mill there insist it is a regular business, but one migrant described it as "the best and safest place to put your money in Izmir."

"It's a very complicated system that they have developed," says Elif Ozmenek Carmikli, an analyst at the Ankara-based International Strategic Research Organization.

Ziad, a Syrian smuggler operating out of Aksaray, sums up the challenge for law enforcement.

"If one person is caught," he says, "they can't dismantle the network, because everyone knows just one person in the chain."

___

This version corrects the spelling of Aksaray in the third paragraph.

FILE  In this Oct. 7, 2015 file photo, a Syrian refugee couple pass time in Aksaray neighbourhood in Istanbul. The journey for thousands of migrants headed to Europe often begins at an innocuous park in the Aksaray neighborhood of Istanbul which is so central to the human trafficking business that would-be passengers and dealers refer to it simply as smugglers square. Turkey has become the main departure point for refugees --- not only from Syria but also Iraq and Afghanistan -- who view Europe as their best shot at safety and a better life.(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel, File )

FILE  In this Oct. 7, 2015 file photo, Syrian refugees pass time in Aksaray neighbourhood in Istanbul. The journey for thousands of migrants headed to Europe often begins at an innocuous park in the Aksaray neighborhood of Istanbul which is so central to the human trafficking business that would-be passengers and dealers refer to it simply as smugglers square. Turkey has become the main departure point for refugees --- not only from Syria but also Iraq and Afghanistan -- who view Europe as their best shot at safety and a better life.(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel, File )

FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2015 file photo, Syrian refugees pass the time in Aksaray neighbourhood in Istanbul. The journey for thousands of migrants headed to Europe often begins at an innocuous park in the Aksaray neighborhood of Istanbul which is so central to the human trafficking business that would-be passengers and dealers refer to it simply as smugglers square. Turkey has become the main departure point for refugees not only from Syria but also Iraq and Afghanistan who view Europe as their best shot at safety and a better life.(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel, File )

FILE  In this Oct. 7, 2015 file photo, Syrian refugees wait with their belongings in Aksaray neighbourhood in Istanbul. The journey for thousands of migrants headed to Europe often begins at an innocuous park in the Aksaray neighborhood of Istanbul which is so central to the human trafficking business that would-be passengers and dealers refer to it simply as smugglers square. Turkey has become the main departure point for refugees --- not only from Syria but also Iraq and Afghanistan -- who view Europe as their best shot at safety and a better life.(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel, File )

FILE  Feb. 24, 2016 file photo shows the graves marked with numbers of unidentified migrants drowned at Aegean Sea in Izmir, Turkey. The journey for thousands of migrants headed to Europe often begins at an innocuous park in the Aksaray neighborhood of Istanbul which is so central to the human trafficking business that would-be passengers and dealers refer to it simply as smugglers square. Turkey has become the main departure point for refugees --- not only from Syria but also Iraq and Afghanistan -- who view Europe as their best shot at safety and a better life.(AP Photo/Dominique Soguel, File )
Refugee child's drawings trace harrowing journey to Europe

IDOMENI, Greece (AP)  As other children play among the tents of a rain-soaked refugee camp in northern Greece, 8-year-old Shaharzad Hassan sits quietly with her spiral notepad and a set of cheap marker pens.

The events in her life over the past 18 months have left her in little mood for fun. She prefers to draw. Sitting on the floor of a large tent crammed with 30 other families, she produces pictures of death in her hometown of Aleppo, Syria, and her harrowing journey to Europe.

Her father, Mohammed Hassan, sits with his daughter in the pink hoodie and explains one of her drawings. It shows dead people and Islamic State fighters dressed in black, shooting.

Shaharzad Hassan, 8 year-old from the Syrian city of Aleppo poses with a drawing she made at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Friday, March 11, 2016. At an overcrowded refugee camp on the Greek-Macedonian border, 8-year-old Shaharzad Hassan draws pictures of the harrowing events in her life over the past 18 months: Pictures of death in her home town of Aleppo, Syria, and her perilous journey to Europe .(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

"She saw them with her own eyes, with their black uniforms and beards," he says.

More than half of the refugees reaching Greece daily are fleeing civil war in Syria. But more than 40,000 people are now stranded in Greece after Austria and the Balkan countries north of Greece began imposing border restrictions last month.

Shaharzad, her family and 14,000 others are camped out at Idomeni, on the Greek-Macedonian border  a sprawling, muddy assortment of tents where no one has crossed the border legally for days and conditions have deteriorated following days of torrential rain.

One of Shaharzad's drawings, inspired by conditions at the camp, shows refugees waiting in long lines for food and other essentials. It is called "Famine 2016."

"Here is a drawing of the famine. This is the bread truck that is distributing to the people, and the cameramen filming the people. And here are the tents with the burning fires (to stay warm)," her father says.

Hassan, a Syrian Kurd who worked as a taxi driver in Aleppo, sold his cab and moved to the nearby Syrian town of Afrin on the Turkish border, but decided to move on to Europe to try to join relatives in Germany after his money ran out.

One of Shaharzad's drawings is of her crossing to Greece, where she witnessed a rescue by the Greek coast guard after another vessel sank in the eastern Aegean Sea.

"This drawing shows the journey from Turkey to Greece ... and a sinking boat and a Greek ship saving the people from the sea," her father said.

Shaharzad Hassan, 8 year-old from the Syrian city of Aleppo poses with a drawing she made, at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Friday, March 11, 2016. At an overcrowded refugee camp on the Greek-Macedonian border, 8-year-old Shaharzad Hassan draws pictures of the harrowing events in her life over the past 18 months: Pictures of death in her home town of Aleppo, Syria, and her perilous journey to Europe. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Shaharzad Hassan, 8 year-old from the Syrian city of Aleppo poses with a drawing she made, depicting a migrants rescue operation by the Greek navy, as people wait in line for food rations at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Friday, March 11, 2016. At an overcrowded refugee camp on the Greek-Macedonian border, 8-year-old Shaharzad Hassan draws pictures of the harrowing events in her life over the past 18 months: Pictures of death in her home town of Aleppo, Syria, and her perilous journey to Europe. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Shaharzad Hassan, 8 year-old from the Syrian city of Aleppo poses with a drawing she made as people wait in line for food rations at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Friday, March 11, 2016. At an overcrowded refugee camp on the Greek-Macedonian border, 8-year-old Shaharzad Hassan draws pictures of the harrowing events in her life over the past 18 months: Pictures of death in her home town of Aleppo, Syria, and her perilous journey to Europe. The title, of this drawing seen at top right reads "Famine" .(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Shaharzad Hassan, 8 year-old from the Syrian city of Aleppo poses with her father Mohamed Hussein Hassan, holding a drawing she made, depicting migrants sailing in a dinghy, at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Friday, March 11, 2016. At an overcrowded refugee camp on the Greek-Macedonian border, 8-year-old Shaharzad Hassan draws pictures of the harrowing events in her life over the past 18 months: Pictures of death in her home town of Aleppo, Syria, and her perilous journey to Europe. The title of this drawing is "Journey of Death" .(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Shaharzad Hassan, 8 year-old from the Syrian city of Aleppo poses with a drawing she made at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Friday, March 11, 2016. At an overcrowded refugee camp on the Greek-Macedonian border, 8-year-old Shaharzad Hassan draws pictures of the harrowing events in her life over the past 18 months: Pictures of death in her home town of Aleppo, Syria, and her perilous journey to Europe. The title, of this drawing seen top right reads "Refugee family" .(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Shaharzad Hassan, 8 year-old from the Syrian city of Aleppo poses with a drawing she made at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Friday, March 11, 2016. At an overcrowded refugee camp on the Greek-Macedonian border, 8-year-old Shaharzad Hassan draws pictures of the harrowing events in her life over the past 18 months: Pictures of death in her home town of Aleppo, Syria, and her perilous journey to Europe. The title this drawing seen top right reads "Borders of hope" .(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Shaharzad Hassan, 8 year-old from the Syrian city of Aleppo poses with a drawing she made, depicting a migrants rescue operation by the Greek navy, at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Friday, March 11, 2016. At an overcrowded refugee camp on the Greek-Macedonian border, 8-year-old Shaharzad Hassan draws pictures of the harrowing events in her life over the past 18 months: Pictures of death in her home town of Aleppo, Syria, and her perilous journey to Europe. The title of this drawing seen top right reads "Journey of Death" .(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
NATO chief predicts another tough year ahead for Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  The head of NATO on Wednesday predicted a difficult fight ahead for Afghanistan as the government continues to battle the Taliban and other militant factions trying to assert their presence in the war-ravaged country.

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO's secretary general, said insurgents will press their fight against Kabul in what is likely to be another tough year for the Afghan government. He spoke to The Associated Press during a two-day visit to Kabul, his second since taking the top NATO role in late 2014.

The Taliban, al-Qaida and the Islamic State group will keep up their attacks across Afghanistan throughout 2016, he said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, speaks during a media roundtable discussion at Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. NATOs Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has welcomed Russias decision to withdraw most of its fighting forces from Syria as a contribution to efforts to reduce military tensions and find a peaceful solution to the Syrian conflict. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

"We have seen different terrorist organizations trying to establish themselves in Afghanistan," he said. "We have seen the presence of al-Qaida, IS, the Taliban and all the groups, and they are still in Afghanistan."

"There is going to be continued fighting and we have to expect that there are going to be new attacks on the government forces," he added.

NATO has around 3,000 troops in Afghanistan, in the so-called Resolute Support non-combat mission along with about 9,800 U.S. soldiers. The mission was pared down in 2014, with the departure of most international combat troops, leaving Afghan forces to take on the insurgency largely alone.

For now, the United States will halve troop numbers at the end of this year. Stoltenberg said NATO's numbers for 2017 are not yet clear. The use of U.S. airstrikes to back Afghan forces has been critical in helping them hold ground and can push Taliban and other insurgent groups out of contested areas.

The Taliban were well-prepared for the end of the U.S.-NATO combat mission and swiftly intensified their insurgency, now in its 15th year. Officials have said that Afghan forces suffered almost 30 percent more deaths and casualties in 2015 than the estimated 5,000 of the year before.

There have been no official figures released on those casualties.

The U.N. mission in Afghanistan says more than 11,000 civilians were killed and wounded last year, many of them women and children caught in the crossfire.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said this week that the extremists from an Islamic State affiliate that had gained a foothold in the east last year, with ambitions to move north toward the Central Asia states, were now "on the run" following military operations.

Analysts, however, dispute that assessment, and also point to the spread in the north by the Taliban and other Islamic militants.

Nevertheless, Stoltenberg was upbeat in his praise for Afghan forces and said NATO efforts would focus on Kunduz in the north and Helmand in the south, where the Taliban are fighting to hold lucrative routes for smuggling men, guns, drugs, alcohol and minerals.

A dire assessment was also expressed by the U.N. mission chief in Afgansiatn, Nicholas Haysom, who on Tuesday told the U.N. Security Council that the Afghan government was fighting for its survival amid surging militants.

Unless the government overcame "five distinct hurdles" it would face "severe consequences," Haysom said, listing a contracting economy, intensifying insurgency, fractious political environment as well as desperately needed funding from the international community and the need to demonstrate progress toward a sustainable peace.

"For 2016, survival will be an achievement," Haysom said at the U.N.

Ghani's government is hoping to draw the Taliban into a dialogue aimed at formal peace talks, but a face-to-face meeting between representatives of both sides that had been expected earlier this month has yet to be set. The Taliban said last week they would not participate.

Meanwhile, violence continues to kill and wound civilians and Afghan security forces. In Kunar province, bordering Pakistan, a woman and three of her children died when a rocket landed on their home in the Ghazi Abad district early Wednesday, the provincial police chief, Faridullah Dehqaan said.

Further south, in Nangarhar province, also bordering Pakistan, an attack by militants loyal to IS left six policemen "killed or wounded," the provincial governor's spokesman Ataullah Khogyani said. The attack on their checkpoint took place around 2am Wednesday, he said.

___

Associated Press writer Humayoon Babur in Kabul, Afghanistan, contributed to this story.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, center, speaks during a media roundtable discussion at Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. NATOs Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has welcomed Russias decision to withdraw most of its fighting forces from Syria as a contribution to efforts to reduce military tensions and find a peaceful solution to the Syrian conflict. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, speaks during a media roundtable discussion at Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. NATOs Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has welcomed Russias decision to withdraw most of its fighting forces from Syria as a contribution to efforts to reduce military tensions and find a peaceful solution to the Syrian conflict. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
The Latest: Fire destroys an iconic Florida mansion

COCOA BEACH, Fla. (AP)  The Latest on a fire that destroyed the iconic Florida mansion once owned by USA Today found Al Neuharth (all times local):

10:00 a.m.

Cocoa Beach's fire chief says construction was going on at the former mansion once owned by USA Today founder Al Neuharth, and fire investigators will look into whether that played a role in the blaze that destroyed the 10,000-square-foot, oceanfront home.

Stunned crowds gather in south Cocoa Beach as they watch a landmark, the Pumpkin Center, that was once owned by Al Neuharth, founder of USA Today, burn to the ground late Tuesday night, March 15, 2016, in Cocoa Beach, Fla. (Craig Rubadoux/USA Today/Florida Today via AP) NO SALES; MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

Cocoa Beach Fire Chief Ryan Duckworth said Wednesday that firefighters found dumpsters and construction materials at the Pumpkin Center home in Cocoa Beach.

He says that will be a factor as fire investigators examine what caused Tuesday night's blaze.

The chief told the Florida Today newspaper that it's a total loss.

Property records show the owners are Jeffrey and Teeraporn Wells. They purchased the wood-framed Pumpkin Center in 2015 for $4 million.

___

7:40 a.m.

Police are detouring motorists after a fire destroyed an iconic Florida mansion once owned by USA Today founder Al Neuharth.

The fire broke out Tuesday night at the Pumpkin Center in Cocoa Beach.

Cocoa Beach police Sgt. Rick Colon tells Florida Today (on.flatoday.com/1U5Zw9U) that officers cordoned off a section of road in front of the mansion Wednesday morning. Fire officials planned to view the damage by daylight.

Crews responded to the fire around 9 p.m. Tuesday. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire hasn't been determined.

Cocoa Beach Fire Department Chief Ryan Duckworth described the ocean-view estate as a total loss.

____

2:50 a.m.

Officials say a fire has destroyed an iconic Florida mansion once owned by USA Today founder Al Neuharth.

News outlets report fire crews responded to the blaze around 9 p.m. Tuesday in Cocoa Beach.

Cocoa Beach Fire Department Chief Ryan Duckworth says no one was injured in the blaze. The cause remains under investigation.

He described the property as a "total loss."

The ocean-view property, called the Pumpkin Center, recently sold for nearly $5 million. The 10,000-square-foot estate was built in 1975.

After Neuharth died in April 2013, his wife, Dr. Rachel Fornes, lived there with her children until the estate was sold.

Property owner Jeffrey Wells told the Florida Today newspaper earlier this month that his intent was to allow people to hold weddings at the property, once renovations were complete.

Stunned crowds gather in south Cocoa Beach as they watch a landmark, the Pumpkin Center, that was once owned by Al Neuharth, founder of USA Today, burn to the ground late Tuesday night, March 15, 2016, in Cocoa Beach, Fla. Cocoa Beach Fire Department Chief Ryan Duckworth says no one was injured in the blaze. The cause remains under investigation. (Craig Rubadoux/USA Today/Florida Today via AP) NO SALES; MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

Stunned crowds gather in south Cocoa Beach as they watch a landmark, the Pumpkin Center, that was once owned by Al Neuharth, founder of USA Today, burn to the ground late Tuesday night, March 15, 2016, in Cocoa Beach, Fla. (USA Today/Florida Today via AP) NO SALES; MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

Firefighters fight a major fire at the landmark, Pumpkin Center, that was once owned by Al Neuharth, founder of USA Today, as it burns to the ground late Tuesday night, March 15, 2016, in Cocoa Beach, Fla. (Craig Rubadoux/USA Today/Florida Today via AP) NO SALES; MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

Stunned crowds gather in south Cocoa Beach as they watch a landmark, the Pumpkin Center, that was once owned by Al Neuharth, founder of USA Today, burn to the ground late Tuesday night, March 15, 2016, in Cocoa Beach, Fla. Cocoa Beach Fire Department Chief Ryan Duckworth says no one was injured in the blaze. The cause remains under investigation. (Craig Rubadoux/USA Today/Florida Today via AP) NO SALES; MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
Coroner's office says serial killer died of heart disease

NEW ORLEANS (AP)  Convicted serial killer Derrick Todd Lee, who was linked to the deaths of seven women in south Louisiana, died of heart disease, officials said.

Chaillie Daniel, a representative for West Feliciana Parish Coroner, told The Advocate (http://bit.ly/1S3ique) of Lee's cause of death on Tuesday.

Lee died Jan. 21, days after being taken to a hospital outside the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, where he was being held on death row. Nearly two months passed without any official information on the cause of his death.

East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner William Clark says his office performed the autopsy as part of an agreement with Daniel, the custodian of the autopsy records.

Kim Hodgin, an assistant to Daniel, said Daniel does not plan to release Lee's autopsy report, citing patient privacy laws. She said she couldn't provide more details about Lee's death.

Lee had been sentenced to life in connection with the killing of 21-year-year Geralyn DeSoto in January 2002, and to death in the killing of 22-year-old Charlotte Murray Pace four months later. Both women's throats were cut.

Authorities also suspect Lee killed five other women in south Louisiana between 1998 and 2003. He was linked by DNA to those slayings, but wasn't tried in those cases.

___
Russia says air link with Egypt will be restored soon

MOSCOW (AP)  Russia and Egypt are completing preparations for restoring the air link between them that was cut by Moscow after the downing of a Russian passenger jet, the nations' top diplomats said Wednesday.

The Russian plane crashed in Sinai on Oct. 31, killing all 224 people on board. Moscow said it was brought down by an explosive device, and a local branch of the extremist Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for planting it.

The crash and Russia's decision to halt direct flights to Egypt has dealt a severe blow to Egypt's vital tourism sector.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukry arrive for their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hailed the Egyptian authorities for working closely with Russian experts and accepting their advice on boosting airport security. He said Russian and Egyptian experts are finalizing provisions for the resumption of direct flights.

"We have agreed to take steps to speed up that process as much as possible," Lavrov said, without mentioning a specific date.

"Egypt looks at this decision as an important indication of the strength of the relationship and understanding by the Russian Federation of Egypt's economic needs, and the symbolism associated to the presence of Russian tourism that has been awarded at all time with necessary receptivity and friendship," said Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attends a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukry in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Trump, Clinton solidly on course for party nominations

WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trump offered himself Wednesday as the inevitable Republican presidential nominee, warning that if party leaders try to deny him the nomination at a contested convention when he is leading the delegate count, "You'd have riots."

The brash billionaire, who won at least three more states Tuesday but doesn't yet have the needed majority of delegates to secure the nomination, predicted he'd collect enough support before the Republican convention this summer.

"There's going to be a tremendous problem" if the Republican establishment tries to outmaneuver him at the convention, Trump said. Many party leaders have been concerned about his comments against Muslims, immigrants and women and the violence at some of his rallies.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton acknowledges the crowd during an election night event at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday, March 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Democrat Hillary Clinton, who moved closer to becoming the first woman in U.S. history to win a major party nomination after winning at least four states Tuesday, took direct aim at Trump.

"Our commander-in-chief has to be able to defend our country, not embarrass it," Clinton said in a speech that largely ignored rival Bernie Sanders. "We can't lose what made America great in the first place."

With anti-Trump Republicans frantically seeking scenarios to deny the billionaire businessman the party nomination, Trump suggested to morning TV shows that the party establishment already was starting to support him.

Without naming names, Trump said some of the same Republican senators who are publicly critical of him have called privately to say they want to "become involved" in his campaign.

Trump also said Clinton, the former secretary of state and first lady, would be "a major embarrassment for the country" and added that she "doesn't have the strength or the stamina to be president."

A new Trump ad posted on his official Instagram account includes footage of Clinton barking like a dog to suggest she's unfit to be president. The footage from earlier this year was of her barking to mimic an ad she'd been describing to supporters.

The Republican front-runner also said he'd skip a debate scheduled for Monday, saying, "I think we've had enough debates." The debate was canceled after Ohio Gov. John Kasich said he also would not attend.

Trump won Tuesday in Florida, North Carolina, and Illinois but fell in Ohio to Kasich. Clinton triumphed in the Florida, Illinois, Ohio and North Carolina primaries. Votes were also being counted in Missouri, though races in both parties there were too close to call.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio dropped out Tuesday after losing his home state to Trump.

With more than half the delegates awarded through six weeks of primary voting, Trump is the only Republican candidate with a realistic path to the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination through the traditional route. Trump's Florida victory brought his delegate total to 621. Cruz has 396 and Kasich 138. Rubio left the race with 168.

While Trump has won 47 percent of the delegates awarded so far, according to the Associated Press delegate count, that's not good enough. He needs to win 54 percent of the remaining delegates to clinch the nomination by the time the primary season ends on June 7.

Cruz is in better position than Kasich but faces a daunting mathematical challenge after losing four of five contests Tuesday. The fiery conservative needs to claim roughly 75 percent of the remaining delegates to earn the delegate majority, according to Associated Press delegate projections.

On the Democratic side, Clinton's victories were blows to Sanders and bolstered her argument that she's the best Democrat to take on the eventual Republican nominee. Her win in Ohio was a particular relief for her campaign, which grew anxious after Sanders pulled off a surprising win last week in another Midwestern industrial state, Michigan.

Clinton has at least 1,561 delegates, including the superdelegates who are elected officials and party leaders free to support the candidate of their choice. Sanders has at least 800. It takes 2,383 to win the Democratic nomination.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to supporters at his primary election night event at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday, March 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Republican presidential candidate Ohio Gov. John Kasich shakes hands with his supporters after speaking at his presidential primary election rally in Berea, Ohio, on Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Kasich won the Ohio primary. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks during a Republican primary night celebration rally at Florida International University in Miami, Fla., Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Rubio is ending his campaign for the Republican nomination for president after a humiliating loss in his home state of Florida. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, speaks with members of the media after voting in the primary election Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Westerville, Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, appears and speaks at a rally at Abbington Banquets, Monday, March 14, 2016, in Glen Ellyn, Ill. (Bob Chwedyk/Daily Herald via AP)
Danes, once again, take top spot in world happiness report

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  Denmark, perhaps better known for its fictional, suicide-agonizing prince Hamlet and fierce marauding Vikings than being a nation of the happiest people, has just won that very accolade. Again.

Even U.S. Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have singled out the small Scandinavian country as an example of a happy, well-oiled society. On Wednesday, the United Nations made it official: It found Danes to be the happiest people on Earth in a study of 156 countries.

Knud Christensen, a 39-year-old social worker, knows one reason why his compatriots are laid-back  they feel secure in a country with few natural disasters, little corruption and a near absence of drastic events.

FILE - In this May. 19, 2013 file photo, shows people in Tivoli in Copenhagen Denmark. U.S. Democratic front-runners Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have singled out the small Scandinavian country as an example of a happy, well-oiled society. On Wednesday, March 16, 2016 the United Nations made it official: It found Danes to be the happiest people on Earth, in a study of 156 countries. (Jens Dresling/Polfoto via AP) DENMARK OUT

"We have no worries," Christensen said, smiling as he stood on a Copenhagen street near the capital's City Hall. "And if we do worry, it's about the weather. Will it rain today, or remain gray, or will it be cold?"

The Scandinavian nation of 5.6 million has held the happy title twice before since the world body started measuring happiness around the world in 2012. The accolade is based on a variety of factors: People's health and access to medical care, family relations, job security and social factors, including political freedom and degree of government corruption.

Egalitarian Denmark, where women hold 43 percent of the top jobs in the public sector, is known for its extensive and generous cradle-to-grave welfare.

Few complain about the high taxes as in return they benefit from a health care system where everybody has free access to a general practitioner and hospitals. Taxes also pay for schools and universities, and students are given monthly grants for up to seven years.

Many feel confident that if they lose their jobs or fall ill, the state will support them.

Jeffrey Sachs from Columbia University, one of those behind the report, says that happiness and well-being should be on every nation's agenda.

"Human well-being should be nurtured through a holistic approach that combines economic, social and environmental objectives," he said in a statement before the World Happiness Report 2016 was to be officially presented in Rome on Wednesday.

The Roman Catholic Church welcomed the study, declaring that happiness is "linked to the common good, which makes it central to Catholic social teaching," according to Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, one of Pope Francis' key advisers.

Kaare Christensen, a university professor in demography and epidemiology in Odense, where fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen was born, says it doesn't take much to satisfy Danes.

"They are happy with what they get. Danes have no great expectations about what they do or what happens to them," she said

Christian Bjoernskov, an economy professor at the University of Aarhus, Denmark's second- largest city, believes feelings of self-assurance and self-determination have a lot to do with it.

"Danes feel confident in one another... when we stand together, we can succeed," he says. "And they also have a strong belief they can decide their own lives."

After Denmark, the next happiest nations last year were Switzerland, Iceland and Norway, followed by Finland, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia and Sweden.

The United States was 13th place, two spots higher than the previous year.

FILE - This June. 5, 2009 file photo, shows Nyhan in Denmark. U.S. Democratic front-runners Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have singled out the small Scandinavian country as an example of a happy, well-oiled society. On Wednesday, March 16, 2016 the United Nations made it official: It found Danes to be the happiest people on Earth, in a study of 156 countries. (Torben Stroyer/ Polfoto via AP) DENMARK OUT
AP News Guide: It's looking like a Clinton vs. Trump race

WASHINGTON (AP)  It's looking more and more like Clinton vs. Trump in the general election.

Hillary Clinton blunted Bernie Sanders' drive in the latest Democratic primaries on Tuesday, extending a delegate lead that is starting to look unassailable.

Donald Trump powered ahead in the delegate race, knocking Republican rival Marco Rubio out of the campaign. Yet he's a divisive figure whom many in the party want to stop, by denying him a majority of delegates if possible in the primaries and taking the fight into an extraordinary contested convention in the summer.

Supporters cheer for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton as results come in during an election night event at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday, March 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A look at the race after five big states voted Tuesday:

THE MATH

After winning Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Illinois, Clinton now has a total of at least 1,561 delegates, including superdelegates, the party insiders who can support whoever they like. That's 66 percent of the total needed to win the Democratic nomination. Sanders has at least 800. It takes 2,383 to win the Democratic nomination.

Many of the Democratic delegates at stake Tuesday remain to be allocated pending more complete vote totals and results in Illinois and Missouri, where races with Sanders were close. But essentially Clinton has a more than 2-1 lead, including superdelegate support.

Trump passed the halfway mark in the race for Republican delegates, with a total of at least 621 with his gains in Tuesday's contests. Ted Cruz has at least 396 delegates, John Kasich has 138 and Rubio left the race with 168. It takes 1,237 delegates to win the Republican nomination.

Not all delegates have been allocated, but Trump took the biggest prize of the night, Florida, collecting all 99 delegates in that winner-take-all election. He also won Illinois and North Carolina, while fighting with Cruz late into the night for Missouri.

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THE PATH

John Kasich won Ohio, the state he governs, earning all 66 delegates. But it was his first win, and he has no plausible path to the nomination in what's left of that delegate-selection season. Only Texas Sen. Ted Cruz does, and that's a long shot. The question among Republicans is whether the brutal fight will go all the way to convention for the first time in decades.

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THE EXIT

Florida was Rubio's last chance to turn the race around, and his loss ended a campaign that had held much promise. In withdrawing from the race, Rubio said the forces of disaffection that have propelled Trump are a "tsunami" and "we should have seen this coming."

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THE SURVEYS

Trump won Florida by sweeping nearly all categories of voters men and women, rich and poor, the highly educated and those without college degrees, according to exit polls. His strength with Florida's educated Republican voters stood out from his performance in states including North Carolina and Illinois, where he won with a coalition of white, less educated and lower income voters.

Widespread support from black voters powered Clinton's victories in Florida, North Carolina and Ohio. In her strongest states Tuesday night, voters surveyed were more likely to say her policies were realistic. Sanders appealed to voters looking for inspiration.

Two in three Republican voters in all five states supported Trump's call for a temporary ban on non-U.S.-citizen Muslims coming into the country, according to early surveys of voters as they left polling stations. But majorities in all five said people in the U.S. illegally should be given a chance to stay, not all deported as Trump proposes.

Democratic voters in all five states see Clinton as the candidate with the better chance to beat Trump if he is the Republican nominee, the exit polling found.

Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., hugs his family at a Republican primary night celebration rally at Florida International University in Miami, Fla., Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Rubio is ending his campaign for the Republican nomination for president after a humiliating loss in his home state of Florida. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, waves as he departs his polling place after he cast his ballot in the primary election Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Westerville, Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets people as she visits a polling place at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Clinton faces Democratic rival Bernie Sanders in primary contests in five states on Tuesday: North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Missouri and Illinois. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

FILE - In this Monday, March 14, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump holds a plane-side rally in a hanger at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Vienna, Ohio. Fear of a changing America is fueling some of the anger playing out publicly around Trump's bid for the GOP presidential nomination, historians Ken Burns and Henry Louis Gates Jr. said Monday. Trump is "speaking to a need and a deep set of fears within a large segment of the American community," added Gates, a Harvard University scholar and host of a genealogy show on PBS. "Those fears need to be assuaged, and policies formulated to meet the needs of those worried about their future," he said. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Nancy Grogan, right, assistant supervisor of voting at Bernard School in St. Louis, Mo., demonstrates how to use the electronic voting machine to 77-year old Gilbert English. Voters in Missouri, as well as Illinois, Florida, Ohio and North Carolina are casting their ballots in primary elections Tuesday. (Cristina M. Fletes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

Nelofer Ahmed votes at the Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center, Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in Ballwin. Voters in Missouri, as well as Illinois, Florida, Ohio and North Carolina are casting their ballots in primary elections Tuesday.(Huy Mach/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER OUT; THE ALTON TELEGRAPH OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

Oscar Espinoza takes his time to think before casting his vote during the primary elections at St. Agnus Bishop Manz Hall in Chicago, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Voters in Illinois, as well as Missouri, Florida, Ohio and North Carolina are casting their ballots in primary elections Tuesday. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune via AP)

County Judges Andrew S. Hague, left, and Shelley J. Kravitz, right, of the Canvassing Board, check a presumed invalid absentee ballot at the Miami-Dade Election Department in Miami, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Voters in Florida, as well as Missouri, Illinois, Ohio and North Carolina are casting their ballots in primary elections Tuesday. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
Police: Officer mistook plainclothes officer for threat

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP)  The plainclothes police officer who died in a chaotic shootout at a Maryland police station was deliberately shot by a fellow officer who did not recognize him and viewed him as an armed threat, a police chief said Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters outside the Prince George's County courthouse, Police Chief Hank Stawinski was careful not to speculate about the state of mind of the unidentified officer who fired upon Officer Jacai Colson on Sunday afternoon outside a police station in Landover, but he said it was clear that the officer feared for his life.

"I don't believe for a second that our officer intentionally fired at another police officer," Stawinski said.

This undated photo provided by the Prince George's County Police Department shows officer Jacai Colson, a 4-year veteran of the Maryland county's police force. A gunman fired outside a Maryland police station on Sunday, March 13, 2016, prompting a gun battle that killed Colson and wounded the suspect, authorities said. (Prince George's County Police Department via AP)

Three brothers who live near the suburban Washington police station have been charged in the gunfight, which police have described as an attempt by the suicidal oldest brother, 22-year-old Michael Ford, to provoke officers into killing him. According to police, Ford was driven to the station by his two younger brothers and began firing at the building and at passing vehicles, causing officers to return fire. Ford fired more than 20 shots, prosecutors said in court Wednesday.

Police said Ford's brothers aided him before and during the shootout and used their cellphones to record video of the gunfight. They also recorded video of Michael Ford offering a "last will and testament," police said.

A judge denied bail on Wednesday afternoon for Ford's brothers, 21-year-old Malik Ford and 18-year-old Elijah Ford, in a dramatic hearing that included emotional pleas on their behalf by their father and several other relatives. While listening to his relatives, Malik Ford, who appeared in court via closed-circuit television, collapsed and fell to the floor. Some of his family members wept as he was treated by medical personnel, and the hearing resumed a few minutes later, with Ford seated in a chair.

The relatives tried to distance Malik and Elijah from Michael's actions, saying they were not armed and their involvement was minimal.

"He didn't pull the trigger," their father, Michael Thomas, said of Elijah. "My son is excellent. He's a great person."

After bail was denied for Elijah Ford, his sister, Ebony Howard, blurted out to Judge Robert Heffron, "Do you all have any incriminating evidence against him?"

Heffron informed her that it was the state that gathers evidence against defendants.

Thomas said his sons had strong character and mostly stayed out of trouble. Elijah, a high school senior, has no criminal history, while Malik has been charged twice with petty theft. The charges were dropped in both cases, court records show.

"I've lost three kids in one shot," Thomas said.

Another relative, who did not identify herself in court, said "Elijah was not seeking YouTube celebrity," arguing instead that he recorded video of the shooting because he was concerned no one would believe what had happened.

The relatives declined to comment after the hearing. They were represented by a public defender, Kevin Valdez, who declined to comment or to identify who had spoken.

Colson, a 28-year-old narcotics detective, was wearing street clothes and responded to the shooting from a different location than the other officers, according to charging documents. Colson was black. Police have not revealed the race of the other officers involved in the shootout. State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said her office would investigate every aspect of the shooting, including whether race was a factor.

Michael Ford faces more than two dozen charges, including second-degree murder. Malik and Elijah face charges including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Alsobrooks has said the brothers, who were not armed, could also be charged under Maryland's felony murder law, which applies to people who participate in a felony that results in a homicide.

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Follow Ben Nuckols on Twitter at https://twitter.com/APBenNuckols . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/ben-nuckols .

This image provided by the State of Maryland shows Michael Ford, one of the three suspects involve in the shooting of Prince George's County police officer Jacai Colson. The gunman, Michael Ford, 22, was expected to survive, along with his brothers Malik, 21, and Elijah, 18. All three have been arrested and will face dozens of charges between them according to police. (State of Maryland via AP)

This image provided by Prince George's County police shows Malik Ford, one of the three suspects involve in the shooting of Prince George's County police officer Jacai Colson. The gunman, Michael Ford, 22, was expected to survive, along with his brothers Malik, 21, and Elijah, 18. All three have been arrested and will face dozens of charges between them according to police. (Prince Georges' County Police via AP)
Obama to travel to Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom in April

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Barack Obama will travel to Saudi Arabia and Britain next month ahead of his long-planned trip to Germany.

The White House says Obama will head to Saudi Arabia on April 21 for a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Obama last year hosted leaders from the group of Persian Gulf nations. They'll discuss the fight against the Islamic State group and other Mideast security concerns.

Obama also will visit London, where he'll have lunch with Queen Elizabeth II and meet with Prime Minister David Cameron. Obama has encouraged the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union ahead of a June 23 referendum.
UN says none of Yemen's warring parties protect civilians

SANAA, Yemen (AP)  The U.N.'s humanitarian chief in Yemen said Wednesday that none of the warring parties there were fulfilling their obligations to protect civilians or facilitate humanitarian assistance.

Jamie McGoldrick's comments at a Sanaa news conference came one day after airstrikes by a Saudi-led and U.S.-backed coalition targeted a busy market in a northern region controlled by Shiite Houthi rebels, killing and wounding dozens.

The Houthi-controlled state news agency, SABA, said at least 65 people were killed and 55 wounded, including women and children.

United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, speaks to a press conference in Sanaa, Yemen, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. He told reporters that none of the warring parties there were fulfilling their obligations to protect civilians or facilitate humanitarian assistance. His comments came one day after airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition targeted a busy market in a northern region controlled by Shiite Houthi rebels, killing and wounding dozens.(AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)

The airstrike on the market in the city of Mastaba, in Hajja province northwest of Sanaa, was the latest in a series of similar bombings by the coalition that have killed hundreds of civilians. The market serves tens of thousands of people and was struck during the busiest time of day. Witnesses said there were no military targets nearby.

Medical aid organization Doctors Without Borders said in a statement that its doctors treated more than 40 people injured in the market airstrike, including two people who died while being transported to a hospital.

Yemen's war pits the Houthis and troops loyal to a former president against the internationally-recognized government and an array of allied forces. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war on the government's side a year ago. The fighting has killed more than 6,200 civilians and displaced millions, pushing the Arab world's poorest country to the brink of famine.

The U.N. and others have also blamed the Houthis and their allies for civilian casualties, saying they frequently shell residential areas.

The spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement that the latest attack underscores the need for all sides to respect human rights laws amid the fighting. "Attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects, including populated markets, are strictly prohibited," he said.

McGoldrick urged the warring parties to return to the negotiating table, saying military action was unlikely to end the conflict.

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Associated Press writer Dave Bryan at the United Nations contributed to this report.

United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, speaks to a press conference in Sanaa, Yemen, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. He told reporters that none of the warring parties there were fulfilling their obligations to protect civilians or facilitate humanitarian assistance. His comments came one day after airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition targeted a busy market in a northern region controlled by Shiite Houthi rebels, killing and wounding dozens.(AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)

United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, speaks to a press conference in Sanaa, Yemen, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. He told reporters that none of the warring parties there were fulfilling their obligations to protect civilians or facilitate humanitarian assistance. His comments came one day after airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition targeted a busy market in a northern region controlled by Shiite Houthi rebels, killing and wounding dozens.(AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)
Kazakh banker's wife urges France not to send him to Russia

PARIS (AP)  The wife of a Kazakh banker-turned-dissident accused of embezzling billions urged French authorities to block his pending extradition to Russia.

Mukhtar Ablyazov, a former Kazakh energy minister who founded an opposition party, is accused of stealing billions from a bank he founded, BTA. He was arrested in France more than two years ago and is fighting extradition to Russia, which claims its citizens were defrauded in the collapse of the now-nationalized bank.

Ablyazov's wife, Alma Shabalayeva, told a press conference Wednesday that her husband would not get a fair trial in Russia.

Kazakh dissident Mukhtar Ablyazov's wife Alma Shalabayeva gives a press conference, in Paris, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. The wife and son of a Kazakh banker-turned-dissident are urging Frances prime minister to block his pending extradition to Russia, fearing that he would face abuses. Mukhtar Ablyazov, a former Kazakh energy minister who founded an opposition party, is accused of embezzling billions from a bank he founded, BTA. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Ablyazov's lawyers have asked France's Council of State to block his extradition, fearing that he would quickly be handed over to Kazakhstan.

Shabalayeva said "he doesn't have any chance to survive" in Kazakhstan.

Kazakh dissident Mukhtar Ablyazov's wife Alma Shalabayeva, center, and her lawyer Jean-Pierre Mignard, left, attend a press conference, in Paris, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. The wife and son of a Kazakh banker-turned-dissident are urging France's prime minister to block his pending extradition to Russia, fearing that he would face abuses. Mukhtar Ablyazov, a former Kazakh energy minister who founded an opposition party, is accused of embezzling billions from a bank he founded, BTA. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Kazakh dissident Mukhtar Ablyazov's wife Alma Shalabayeva, center, with Ablyazov's lawyers Jean-Pierre Mignard, left and Peter Sahlas, right, give a press conference, in Paris, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. The wife and son of a Kazakh banker-turned-dissident are urging Frances prime minister to block his pending extradition to Russia, fearing that he would face abuses. Mukhtar Ablyazov, a former Kazakh energy minister who founded an opposition party, is accused of embezzling billions from a bank he founded, BTA. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
The Latest: Chief: Officer slain a case of mistaken identity

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP)  The Latest on charges in a deadly shootout outside a police station in the Washington suburbs (all times local):

3:15 p.m.

A Maryland police chief says a police officer deliberately shot and killed another officer during a chaotic gunfight outside a police station in an apparent case of mistaken identity.

This undated photo provided by the Prince George's County Police Department shows officer Jacai Colson, a 4-year veteran of the Maryland county's police force. A gunman fired outside a Maryland police station on Sunday, March 13, 2016, prompting a gun battle that killed Colson and wounded the suspect, authorities said. (Prince George's County Police Department via AP)

Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said Wednesday that the officer did not realize he was firing at another police officer. The officer who was killed, Jacai Colson, was a narcotics detective and was wearing street clothes at the time. Stawinski says the officer thought Colson was an armed threat and feared for his life.

Police have not identified the officer who shot Colson.

The armed man who police say shot at the officers on Sunday afternoon, 22-year-old Michael Ford, faces more than two dozen charges including first-degree murder. He was shot by police and remains hospitalized. Police say his intent in firing at the officers was for them to return fire and kill him.

Police say Ford's two younger brothers aided him in the attack. They were ordered held without bond on Wednesday.

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1:50 p.m.

A Maryland man accused of helping his older brother in an attack on a police station that left an officer dead collapsed during his bond review hearing while listening to his relatives speak about his character.

Malik Ford appeared in a Prince George's County court via closed-circuit television on Wednesday afternoon. He was treated by medical staff for a few minutes after he collapsed, and then the hearing continued, with Ford seated. A judge denied bond for Ford and his 18-year-old brother, Elijah Ford.

Both face charges including attempted murder and conspiracy after police say they helped their older brother, Michael, in his shooting attack on a police station on Sunday afternoon. Police say Michael Ford intended for officers to return fire and kill him. Michael Ford was shot but survived. A plainclothes police officer was shot and killed by what police said was friendly fire.

Seven relatives of the Ford brothers testified about their character at their bond review, calling them good and polite young men who cared for their ailing mother and had never been in serious trouble. Their father and sister were among those who spoke. The relatives declined to comment to reporters after the hearing.

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10:15 a.m.

A man accused of engaging officers in a deadly gun battle outside a police station in the Washington suburbs has been charged with second-degree murder.

Prince George's County State's Attorney spokesman John Erzen confirmed Wednesday that 22-year-old Michael Ford is facing 25 counts, including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, in the incident that turned fatal for Officer Jacai Colson, who was struck by friendly fire. Online court records show Ford is being held without bail.

Police have said Ford fired on the station to draw officers' attention and hoped to die in a "suicide by cop." Police say Ford's brothers, Malik and Elijah, drove him to the station and recorded his "last will and testament" and the firefight. They face multiple charges and are scheduled for bond review hearings Wednesday.

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9:30 a.m.

Two men accused of making videos as their other brother allegedly engaged police in a fatal gun battle will appear in court for a review of their bonds.

The exchange of gunfire Sunday outside a police station in the Washington suburbs turned fatal for Prince George's County Police Officer Jacai Colson, who was struck by friendly fire.

Police have said Michael Ford fired on the station to draw officers' attention and hoped to die in a "suicide by cop." Police say Malik Ford and Elijah Ford drove their brother to the station and recorded his "last will and testament," as well as the firefight.

The brothers face numerous charges, including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Malik Ford and Elijah Ford are scheduled for bond review hearings Wednesday.

This image provided by the State of Maryland shows Michael Ford, one of the three suspects involve in the shooting of Prince George's County police officer Jacai Colson. The gunman, Michael Ford, 22, was expected to survive, along with his brothers Malik, 21, and Elijah, 18. All three have been arrested and will face dozens of charges between them according to police. (State of Maryland via AP)

This image provided by Prince George's County police shows Malik Ford, one of the three suspects involve in the shooting of Prince George's County police officer Jacai Colson. The gunman, Michael Ford, 22, was expected to survive, along with his brothers Malik, 21, and Elijah, 18. All three have been arrested and will face dozens of charges between them according to police. (Prince Georges' County Police via AP)
Sanders needs big-time wins, superdelegates to catch Clinton

WASHINGTON (AP)  Bernie Sanders must win 66 percent of the remaining delegates through June to erase Hillary Clinton's lead, requiring landslide victories in big states and winning over skeptical superdelegates.

So far, he has been unable to do either.

Clinton's victories in four of five states Tuesday  the race in Missouri was too close to call  left her with 1,139 pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses, according to The Associated Press' count. Sanders has 825.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks at a campaign rally at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo)

She picked up twice the number of delegates than Sanders in Florida  the biggest prize of the night, with 214 delegates. She stymied Sanders' efforts to make up ground by also winning North Carolina, Ohio and Illinois, stopping Sanders' momentum after his upset win last week in Michigan.

All the Democratic contests award delegates in proportion to the share of the vote, rather than winner-take-all, so even the loser gets some.

When factoring in superdelegates, which include party officials, Clinton holds a 1,606-851 lead, giving her two-thirds of the number to win, 2,383.

An additional 2,308 delegates, both pledged and superdelegates, remain to be awarded.

"Delegate math is a heartbreaker," said Democratic strategist Joe Trippi, who managed Howard Dean's primary campaign in 2004. "Even with a number of state wins, it doesn't matter if he can't make up delegates. He'll have to start winning over superdelegates, but he's got some convincing to do."

Superdelegates are the Democratic establishment  party officials, governors and members of Congress who can back any candidate they wish. Together, they make up nearly one-third of the clinching total, and their support for Clinton has been strong.

Of the 493 who endorsed a candidate so far, just 26 said they would back Sanders, according to AP's survey. There are 221 who have yet to commit to a candidate.

Superdelegates are free to change allegiances; many did so in 2008, going with Barack Obama after giving early support to Clinton. That shift came after a victories by Obama that gave him an overall lead in the pledged delegate count and convinced superdelegates that he could win the general election.

In AP's survey last month, many superdelegates expressed concern that Sanders, who describes himself as a democratic socialist, might not be able to withstand opposition from a GOP nominee. Among the uncommitted, most said they needed to learn more about Sanders before making a decision.

"I like Bernie Sanders, but ... they're going to tar him with being a socialist," said Indiana superdelegate Shari Mellin, who is backing Clinton. "That word has come to mean  because of the way Republicans have exploited it  terrible things in this country."

Never before have superdelegates backed a candidate who had fewer pledged delegates than his or her opponent.

Halfway through the 2016 primary season, Sanders has won nine states to Clinton's 16. He's heading into a batch of caucus contests in the West that he believes will be friendly to him, and sees the Wisconsin primary as favorable terrain.

Those seven states collectively offer 298 delegates, but he trails Clinton in total pledged delegates by more than that.

Clinton still needs more than 700 delegates to clinch the nomination. Just over 1,000 delegates will be at stake from late March through the end of April, a pot that may not be big enough for her to wrap up the nomination if Sanders splits contests with her.

"Our campaign will continue to compete in every state and will work to amass as many pledged delegates as possible everywhere," Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook wrote in a memo Wednesday.

Sanders strategist Tad Devine predicted a stronger performance ahead and said Sanders will sway superdelegates.

"We acknowledge it's a difficult route, we acknowledge it's a substantial lead, but we do not believe it's set in stone," Devine said. "The factors superdelegates will take into consideration include who's won more pledged delegates ... but also who's gotten stronger, not weaker, over the course of primaries, and who matches up best against Donald Trump or whoever the Republican nominee is."

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Associated Press writer Brian Slodysko in Indianapolis contributed to this report.

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Follow Hope Yen on Twitter at http://twitter.com/hopeyen1
American Air Museum celebrates US-UK special relationship

DUXFORD, England (AP)  As Britons ponder their place in Europe ahead of a vote on European Union membership, a newly reopened museum serves as a reminder that the U.K. has often looked west  to a "special relationship" with the United States that has survived revolution and been cemented by war.

The American Air Museum, which reopens Saturday after a major revamp, holds almost a century's worth of American aircraft that have been based in Britain, from World War II bombers to a supersonic SR-71 Blackbird spy plane and a modern F-15 fighter jet. The hangar-like space, designed by Norman Foster and Partners, bristles with steel: There are Mustangs, Thunderbirds and Warthogs, tiny biplanes and a vast B-52 Stratofortress.

But the museum's displays also tell smaller, more human, stories. There are silk stockings and Wrigley's gum, a war reporter's fur coat and a second-hand wedding dress, painstakingly stitched and altered amid the rationing of World War II.

A man walks through aircrafts and other items on display during a media event to mark the reopening of the American Air Museum after it underwent a major redevelopment, at the Imperial War Museum of aviation in Duxford, England, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. The transformed American Air Museum opens to the public from Saturday March 19 and tells the story of Anglo-American collaboration in 20th and 21st century conflict as seen through the eyes of the people linked with the aircraft and objects on display. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

"It was a beautiful dress," said Peggy Albertson, who wore it on her wedding day in 1945. "Mind you, I wasn't too keen on that long train and that long veil, because it kept getting in the way. Those air force chaps, they're not too careful what they step on."

Albertson's story is one of thousands of individual special relationships forged in wartime. She met her husband Joe, an American airman, while she was a "land girl," working the fields with the Women's Land Army.

They married when she was 19 and he was 22, and Albertson became one of thousands of British "GI brides" to settle in the U.S. It was a shock  on her first night in New York, she heard a police siren and leapt under the bed, thinking it was an air raid.

But, she says, "I was very lucky." Her husband and his family were welcoming, and the marriage lasted 60 years until his death in 2006.

Albertson's story is one of dozens of individual accounts that museum curators have collected to bring the story of aviation and war to life.

Museum project leader Jenny Cousins said she hoped visitors would feel like they understood the people who are featured "and the decisions they made."

"History is not something that just happened," she said. "It happened because people made choices."

Individuals whose experiences are profiled include reporter Virginia Irwin, who covered the liberation of Berlin for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and explosives expert Jack ReVelle, who defused a nuclear bomb and averted cataclysm when a B-52 crashed in North Carolina in 1961. There's testimony by Anna Macdonald, who led the push for an international arms treaty, as well accounts from World War II combatants like Bill Toombs, a flight engineer on B-17 and B-24 bombers.

"It brings back a lot of fond memories and a lot of bad memories," 91-year-old Toombs said Wednesday, looking at the models of aircraft he once flew. "I lost a lot of good friends on these planes."

The museum, on a former World War II airfield 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of London, pays tribute to the 30,000 U.S. airmen and women based in Britain who died during the conflict. They were among almost half a million U.S. air force personnel deployed in the U.K. in what was dubbed the "friendly invasion."

Americans and Britons found they had much in common  and a lot to find bewildering, in matters ranging from driving  keep left!  to tea.

Where Toombs came from  Little Rock, Arkansas  tea meant the iced variety, not the scalding-hot British beverage.

"I got to acquire a taste for it," Toombs says diplomatically.

The trans-Atlantic divide ran both ways. Albertson vividly remembers her first experience of spaghetti, a delicacy unknown in wartime Britain.

"They handed the spaghetti round in the plate and I looked at it and said, 'I'm sorry, I don't eat worms,'" she said. "I think my husband could have got underneath the table."

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Online: http://www.americanairmuseum.com/

Follow Jill Lawless on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/JillLawless

Peggy Albertson, aged 91, who was born in London and married an American airman in 1945, poses for photographs with her wedding dress in display during a media event to mark the reopening of the American Air Museum after it underwent a major redevelopment, at the Imperial War Museum of aviation in Duxford, England, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. The transformed American Air Museum opens to the public from Saturday March 19 and tells the story of Anglo-American collaboration in 20th and 21st century conflict as seen through the eyes of the people linked with the aircraft and objects on display. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Bill Toombs, aged 91, from Little Rock, Arkansas in the U.S. who was a flight engineer on B-24 and B-27 aircraft in World War II, poses for photographs next to a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress during a media event to mark the reopening of the American Air Museum after it underwent a major redevelopment, at the Imperial War Museum of aviation in Duxford, England, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. The transformed American Air Museum opens to the public from Saturday March 19 and tells the story of Anglo-American collaboration in 20th and 21st century conflict as seen through the eyes of the people linked with the aircraft and objects on display. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Aircrafts and other items are displayed during a media event to mark the reopening of the American Air Museum after it underwent a major redevelopment, at the Imperial War Museum of aviation in Duxford, England, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. The transformed American Air Museum opens to the public from Saturday March 19 and tells the story of Anglo-American collaboration in 20th and 21st century conflict as seen through the eyes of the people linked with the aircraft and objects on display. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Jack ReVelle, from Orange, California, in the U.S. who led a team that recovered and made safe two nuclear bombs that fell from a crashing B-52 bomber and landed by the village of Faro, near Goldsboro, North Carolina, poses for photographs next to a large image of himself during a media event to mark the reopening of the American Air Museum after it underwent a major redevelopment, at the Imperial War Museum of aviation in Duxford, England, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. The transformed American Air Museum opens to the public from Saturday March 19 and tells the story of Anglo-American collaboration in 20th and 21st century conflict as seen through the eyes of the people linked with the aircraft and objects on display. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

A cigarette case that belonged to William Wyler, the director of the 1944 documentary 'The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress', and that bears the engraved signatures of General Dwight Eisenhower and the crew of Memphis Belle, is displayed for photographs next to an image of Wyler during a media event to mark the reopening of the American Air Museum after it underwent a major redevelopment, at the Imperial War Museum of aviation in Duxford, England, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. The transformed American Air Museum opens to the public from Saturday March 19 and tells the story of Anglo-American collaboration in 20th and 21st century conflict as seen through the eyes of the people linked with the aircraft and objects on display. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Collections manager John Delaney poses for photographs with a photo album and other items that belonged to the St Louis Post-Dispatch writer Virginia Irwin, one of the first American journalists to enter Berlin near the end of World War II, during a media event to mark the reopening of the American Air Museum after it underwent a major redevelopment, at the Imperial War Museum of aviation in Duxford, England, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. The transformed American Air Museum opens to the public from Saturday March 19 and tells the story of Anglo-American collaboration in 20th and 21st century conflict as seen through the eyes of the people linked with the aircraft and objects on display. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

A World War II accredited war correspondent identification document and other items that belonged to the St Louis Post-Dispatch writer Virginia Irwin, one of the first American journalists to enter Berlin near the end of World War II, is displayed during a media event to mark the reopening of the American Air Museum after it underwent a major redevelopment, at the Imperial War Museum of aviation in Duxford, England, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. The transformed American Air Museum opens to the public from Saturday March 19 and tells the story of Anglo-American collaboration in 20th and 21st century conflict as seen through the eyes of the people linked with the aircraft and objects on display. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Representatives pose for photographs with a photo album that belonged to the St Louis Post-Dispatch writer Virginia Irwin, one of the first American journalists to enter Berlin near the end of World War II, backdropped by a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress during a media event to mark the reopening of the American Air Museum after it underwent a major redevelopment, at the Imperial War Museum of aviation in Duxford, England, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. The transformed American Air Museum opens to the public from Saturday March 19 and tells the story of Anglo-American collaboration in 20th and 21st century conflict as seen through the eyes of the people linked with the aircraft and objects on display. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Firefighters rescue cats trapped by high flood waters

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  For cats, hell is high water.

And that hell became reality for two California felines on Tuesday, when high flood waters left them stranded in trees half-submerged in the Sacramento River.

The Front Street Animal Shelter created a ramp that would lead the cats to safety, but they refused to cross.

One of the cats stranded by flood waters runs across the Sacramento River near the Tower Bridge on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in Sacramento, Calif. Two cats were rescued after high flood waters left them stranded in trees half-submerged in the river. The animals were eventually saved when the Sacramento Fire Department organized a water rescue, using a small boat and ladder. In the background a turtle swims away. (Randall Benton/The Sacramento Bee via AP) MAGS OUT; LOCAL TELEVISION OUT (KCRA3, KXTV10, KOVR13, KUVS19, KMAZ31, KTXL40); MANDATORY CREDIT

The animals were eventually saved when the Sacramento Fire Department organized a water rescue, using a small boat and ladder.

Both cats are safe and uninjured.

A cat stands on a rock by the surrounded by the Sacramento River near the Tower Bridge on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in Sacramento, Calif. Two cats were rescued after high flood waters left them stranded in trees half-submerged in the river. The animals were eventually saved when the Sacramento Fire Department organized a water rescue, using a small boat and ladder. (Randall Benton/The Sacramento Bee via AP) MAGS OUT; LOCAL TELEVISION OUT (KCRA3, KXTV10, KOVR13, KUVS19, KMAZ31, KTXL40); MANDATORY CREDIT

Sacramento Fire Department firefighters and Sacramento Animal Control officers rescue two cats from trees half-submerged due to the recent heavy rains in the Sacramento River near the Tower Bridge on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in Sacramento, Calif. (Randall Benton/The Sacramento Bee via AP) MAGS OUT; LOCAL TELEVISION OUT (KCRA3, KXTV10, KOVR13, KUVS19, KMAZ31, KTXL40); MANDATORY CREDIT

A cat is stranded up a tree near the Sacramento River on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in Sacramento, Calif. Two cats were rescued after high flood waters left them stranded in trees half-submerged in the river. The animals were eventually saved when the Sacramento Fire Department organized a water rescue, using a small boat and ladder. (Randall Benton/The Sacramento Bee via AP) MAGS OUT; LOCAL TELEVISION OUT (KCRA3, KXTV10, KOVR13, KUVS19, KMAZ31, KTXL40); MANDATORY CREDIT
Newark OKs strong police review board; union vows fight

NEWARK, N.J. (AP)  Newark's city council approved a police civilian review board Wednesday that gives New Jersey's largest city greater powers than most around the country to investigate wrongdoing within the police department.

The department is already under a federal monitoring agreement, and the board will face a strong challenge from the city's police union, which plans to go to court to stop the move to vest the board with investigative and subpoena powers.

"For 50 years the people of Newark have been calling for the creation of a civilian review board to hold police officers accountable for wrongdoing. And now the Newark Municipal Council is poised to pass one of the nation's strongest civilian review boards," Udi Ofer, director of the American Civil Liberties Union-New Jersey, said before the council decision.

The push for a review board arose after the U.S. Department of Justice validated many of the accusations the ACLU leveled in a 2010 complaint alleging rampant misconduct, use of excessive force and lax internal oversight in the Newark Police Department.

After a three-year probe, the Justice Department released a report concluding that the department's systems for detecting, preventing and punishing misconduct were so deficient that, for example, only one excessive force complaint against police was upheld over a six-year period. The report also found that police routinely stopped people on the street for no legitimate reason and stole property from civilians.

Mayor Ras Baraka signed an executive order last year creating the board, the first in the state. The city council unanimously approved the proposal on first reading two weeks ago, and the final approval Wednesday keeps the board in place after Baraka leaves office. Members of the board will be appointed by the mayor or council, or be representatives of clergy or community organizations.

James Stewart Jr., president of Newark's Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 12, said this week the union plans to mount a court challenge to the board. He noted the Justice Department didn't specifically advocate for a civilian board to review complaints; an agreement signed by the city of Newark and the department said the city would establish and fund "a civilian oversight entity" whose form and scope would be determined with community input.

"We believe we already have civilian oversight, and that is in the form of our public safety director," Stewart wrote in an email Tuesday. "We also do not believe a civilian body has subpoena powers under the New Jersey Constitution. We will go to court and lay our cards on the table and see who is right."

Several dozen U.S. cities have police oversight boards, according to the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit, though many do not have the same power Newark's would.

Liana Perez, the organization's director of operations and a former police auditor for the city of Tucson, Arizona, said many other boards are restricted to reviewing and commenting on cases that have already been investigated. "Most boards don't have investigative authority, and very few have subpoena authority," Perez said.

In an email Wednesday, Baraka said that while the union has the right to go to court, it should embrace the opportunity the board would offer to increase transparency and accountability.
Mayor, police on alert after deadly cookout ambush

PITTSBURGH (AP)  The city's mayor and police are bracing for possible retaliation after last week's ambush shooting at a cookout in neighboring Wilkinsburg that killed five adults and an unborn child.

A funeral for one of the victims was held Monday and the four other victims will be laid to rest at funerals on Saturday and Tuesday.

"This is the time when we usually see retaliatory crimes," Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said when asked about the shootings Tuesday at an unrelated news conference. "It's during the funerals or right after the funerals that these different cells start to go back and forth and fight."

That's why Pittsburgh has beefed up patrols in some areas that border Wilkinsburg, especially the crime-ridden neighborhood of Homewood. Investigators have said, generally, that bad blood between individuals in Homewood and those in Wilkinsburg might have prompted the shootings, without being more specific.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. has said a victim who remained in critical condition Wednesday, Lamont Powell, might have been the intended target, though his family has denied knowing why that may be.

Three cousins of Powell's, all siblings, were killed in the shooting, Jerry Michael Shelton, 35, Brittany Powell, 27, and Chanetta Powell, 25, as well as another cousin of theirs, Tina Shelton, 37. Brittany Powell lived at the home and hosted the cookout. Chanetta Powell was nearly eight months pregnant and her unborn child also was killed.

Another cousin, Shada Mahone, 26, was killed and buried Monday. Funerals for Jerry Shelton and his siblings are scheduled for Tuesday. Tina Shelton's funeral is on Saturday.

Nobody has been charged. One gunman with a pistol fired from an alley at the backyard gathering prompting the cookout guests to run toward a house for cover, where they were mowed down by another gunman with an assault rifle, investigators said.

Peduto said the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Walli Hardy on Monday at a house in Homewood doesn't appear to be related to the cookout ambush, but that's yet to be ruled out.

Cmdr. Jason Lando, who heads officers who patrol Pittsburgh's violent Zone 5 bordering Wilkinsburg, said the increased patrols aren't the result of any specific threat.
US citizen who served as diplomat pleads guilty in UN case

NEW YORK (AP)  A U.S. citizen who served as a foreign diplomat from the Dominican Republic pleaded guilty Wednesday in a United Nations bribery case, agreeing to cooperate with the government against co-defendants who include a former U.N. General Assembly president and a Chinese billionaire.

Francis Lorenzo, 48, entered the plea in Manhattan federal court to six charges, including conspiracy, bribery, money laundering and tax counts.

Lorenzo told U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick that he facilitated the payment of bribes to others and accepted payments himself from Chinese businessmen, including billionaire Ng Lap Seng.

Francis Lorenzo, second from left, a suspended ambassador from the Dominican Republic and former U.N. diplomat, leaves court after pleading guilty to bribery charges, Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Lorenzo, who was suspended as a deputy ambassador from the Dominican Republic after his arrest, admitted that some of the bribes were paid to John Ashe when Ashe served as General Assembly president for parts of 2013 and 2014.

He also agreed with a prosecutor who described the allegations against him, including that some of the bribes were paid to gain Ashe's support for the construction of a U.N.-sponsored conference center that Ng hoped to build in his hometown of Macau. Prosecutors have said Ashe, a former U.N. ambassador from Antigua and Barbuda, received over $1 million in bribes.

Ashe, of Dobbs Ferry, New York, and Ng have each pleaded not guilty and are free on bail. Ng is under 24-hour security, confined to a Manhattan apartment.

Outside court, Lorenzo declined to comment. His lawyer, Brian Bieber, said his client decided to plead guilty after seeing the government's evidence.

"He's very remorseful for his conduct," Bieber said.

Benjamin Brafman and Hugh Hu Mo, attorneys for Ng who attended the plea proceeding, said in a statement read by Brafman outside court that Lorenzo's plea "does not in any way affect Mr. Ng's determination to proceed to trial. Mr. Ng strongly maintains he is innocent of the charges."

Lawyers for Ashe did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

The plea by Lorenzo came weeks after Broderick ruled that he could not use claims of diplomatic immunity to shield himself from charges, in part because he was a U.S. citizen.

Francis Lorenzo, right, a suspended ambassador from the Dominican Republic and former U.N. diplomat, leaves court after pleading guilty to bribery charges, Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Francis Lorenzo, a suspended ambassador from the Dominican Republic and former U.N. diplomat, leaves court after pleading guilty to bribery charges, Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Francis Lorenzo, a suspended ambassador from the Dominican Republic and former U.N. diplomat, leaves court after pleading guilty to bribery charges, Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
A teenager stabbed to death at school by a classmate she had rejected as a prom date told a guidance counselor that the boy was troubled and capable of hurting himself and others, the girl's mother said in a lawsuit that accuses the school system of negligence.

Maren Sanchez, 16, was killed by a classmate on the day of their junior prom in April 2014. The classmate, Christopher Plaskon, earlier this month pleaded no contest to murder.

His family and friends said he had become upset that Sanchez turned down his prom invitation, though his lawyer has called the claim that the stabbing was over the prom rejection 'inaccurate.'

Maren Sanchez, left was killed by a classmate on the day of their junior prom in April 2014. The classmate, Christopher Plaskon, right, earlier this month pleaded no contest to murder

The lawsuit filed Tuesday in Milford Superior Court alleges that Maren reported to her school guidance department in November 2013 that Plaskon was emotionally disturbed and threatening to commit acts of self-harm by cutting himself with a knife.

It says that the guidance counselor failed to advise superiors of Maren's concerns that Plaskon was capable of hurting others and needed help to prevent an act of violence.

Milford's school superintendent, Elizabeth Feser, said officials would 'allow the judicial system to determine the outcome' and she would not comment on the lawsuit.

The defendants named in the lawsuit include the city of Milford, its board of education, Plaskon and Plaskon's family.

In a statement to the CT Post, Milford Mayor Ben Blake said: 'The city of Milford has been made aware of civil litigation filed on behalf of Maren Sanchez.

'Maren's life was tragically taken, and our hearts and prayers continue to go out for her, her family and all those still healing.

'With respect to the legal process, we will refrain on commenting on this case and allow the judicial system to determine the outcome.'

Donna Cimarelli-Sanchez, Maren's mother and the administrator of her estate, said the school system and Plaskon's parents could have prevented the violence.

'We're bringing this lawsuit to make sure that reports like the one Maren made are properly handled and that parents and school personnel will respond to protect minor children from terrible injury and death,' she said.

The suit also says the school system was negligent by not taking steps to determine whether Plaskon had a knife or other weapon at school.

Christopher Plaskon, right, with attorney Edward Gavin, appears in Superior Court in Milford on March 7

Jose Sanchez is Maren's father and is being represented by Anthony Bonadies.

Bonadies said in a statement to the CT Post: 'We know that Maren Sanchez's estate carefully reviewed the circumstances leading up to her stabbing death at Jonathan Law High School in Milford.

'The lawsuit spells out the mistakes made by those who had the duty and power to prevent Maren's senseless death.

'Most notably, the count against the Milford Board of Education explains how the school disregarded its own policies and procedures that are intended to safeguard the student body and Maren specifically.

'As a result, Maren was robbed of her adolescence and her entire adult life.

'Her death is a profound loss to her family and to those who knew and loved her.'

According to a report from the New Haven Register, the lawsuit is seeking 'punitive damages from Christopher Plaskon.'

The newspaper wrote: 'Cimarelli-Sanchez [...] claims David and Kathleen Plaskon are liable for statutory damages in the amount of $5,000, and asks for punitive damages of at least $15,000.'

Prosecutors have said they will seek a 25-year prison sentence for Plaskon, who was held at a psychiatric hospital after the stabbing. His lawyer has said Plaskon suffered from psychosis

Edward Gavin is representing Plaskon and his parents.

He said in an emailed statement to DailyMail.com: 'It is clear from a fair reading of the complaint that the lawsuit is primarily directed at the City of Milford and the Milford Board of Education.

'It is also fair comment that the Plaintiff is alleging that Christopher was emotionally disturbed prior to April 25, 2014.

'We deny all allegations of negligence against David and Kathy Plaskon.

'To suggest that these loving parents did anything inappropriate is simply unfounded.

'Is it all reasonable to suggest that the Plaskons wanted Maren Sanchez to be fatally injured and their son facing a 25 year sentence of incarceration?

'That allegation is simply beyond belief.

'The Statutory Parental liability for the Torts of Minors is an amount not to exceed $5000.

'I seriously doubt this is what this lawsuit is about.'

Prosecutors have said they will seek a 25-year prison sentence for Plaskon, who was held at a psychiatric hospital after the stabbing. His lawyer has said Plaskon suffered from psychosis.

The attack happened in a first-floor hallway at about 7:15 a.m. Someone tried to pull Plaskon off Sanchez during the attack, and a witness saw Plaskon discard a bloody knife, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
Truck carrying horses crashes on northern Greek highway

ATHENS, Greece (AP)  A truck carrying horses to Italy has crashed on a northern Greek highway, blocking the busy road for more than three hours as rescue crews tried to free the panicked animals.

Police said one horse was killed in Wednesday's crash and five others were injured. The truck driver was unhurt.

The accident occurred near the city of Ioannina. The truck skidded and tipped over while it was slowing down at a highway toll booth.
4 arrested in Paris area over fears of attack

PARIS (AP)  Four people have been arrested in the Paris region and France's interior minister says there were fears that they were planning an attack.

Few details were available on the Wednesday morning arrests. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the four were taken in for questioning, including one man under house arrest who was suspected to be in contact with Islamic State extremists.

Judicial and police officials, who requested anonymity to discuss the detentions, said one of the four was a woman, all were born in France and they were between 21 and 30 years old. A subsequent search found an unused Kalashnikov cartridge, SIM cards, USB cards and a gun for firing blanks.
Michelle Obama tells SXSW crowd she won't run for president

AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Michelle Obama showed off her vocal chops at the South by Southwest Music Festival but drew a round of disappointed sighs when she told the crowd she has no plans to run for president.

The first lady made her debut at the Austin showcase of buzzworthy bands and technology on Wednesday, sitting with Grammy winners Queen Latifah and Missy Elliott to talk about girls' education and empowerment.

But Mrs. Obama broke into song when reflecting on seven years in the White House. She said "time is almost up" before softly singing some of the Boyz II Men hit "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday."

First lady Michelle Obama speaks at a panel discussion during South By Southwest at the Austin Convention Center on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)

Mrs. Obama says she'll most miss interacting with people as first lady  but says she has no presidential aspirations of her own.

"No, no. Not going to do it," she told the packed convention center crowd in liberal Austin.

She mentioned her teenage daughters, Malia and Sasha, as two of the main reasons.

"The daughters of a president. Just think about it. Come on, young people. Not so easy," Mrs. Obama said. "They've handled it with grace and with poise, but enough is enough."

President Barack Obama opened the festival last week with a talk about civic engagement, becoming the first sitting president to attend SXSW in the festival's 30-year history. He weighed in on Apple's legal fight against the federal government over encryption, and told a crowd of tech enthusiasts that Republican lawmakers in Texas aren't interested in making voting easier.

Mrs. Obama steered clear of hot-button topics. She instead promoted her "Let Girls Learn" initiative, which encourages world leaders to provide education opportunities to an estimated 62 million girls globally who do not attend school.

She also says she won't disappear from public view or slow down once she leaves the White House next year.

"Sometimes there's much more you can do outside the White House without the constraints, the lights and the cameras, and the partisanship," Mrs. Obama said. "There's a potential that my voice can be heard by many people who can't hear me now because I'm Michelle Obama, the first lady. I want to be able to impact as many people as possible in an unbiased way to try to keep reaching people. I think I can do that just as well by not being president of the United States."

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Queen Latifah, from left, Sophia Bush, first lady Michelle Obama, Missy Elliott and Diane Warren speak at a panel discussion during South By Southwest at the Austin Convention Center on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)

Actress Sophia Bush, left, and first lady Michelle Obama high-five at a panel discussion during South By Southwest at the Austin Convention Center on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)

First lady Michelle Obama speaks at a panel discussion during South By Southwest at the Austin Convention Center on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)

First lady Michelle Obama speaks at a panel discussion during South By Southwest at the Austin Convention Center on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)

Missy Elliott appears at a panel discussion during South By Southwest at the Austin Convention Center on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
Air India jet evacuated in bomb scare at Bangkok airport

BANGKOK (AP)  Passengers and crew of an Air India jetliner were evacuated using emergency slides at Bangkok's international airport, and authorities searched the plane for explosives after an apparent bomb hoax Wednesday, officials said.

The scare was prompted by an anonymous call received by the national carrier's office in India, warning of an explosive aboard flight 332 en route from the Indian capital, New Delhi, to Bangkok, said Air India's Thailand manager Indranil Banerjee.

As soon as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner landed at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, the pilots were told to park the aircraft in an isolated spot. All 231 passengers and 10 crew members were immediately evacuated using the aircraft's inflatable slides, Banerjee said.

Security personnel searched the plane but nothing was found, Banerjee said.

Air India spokesman G. P. Rao said the bomb threat call was received in New Delhi an hour before the flight from India's capital was to land at Bangkok.
Kasich's hopes rest on a contested convention

CLEVELAND (AP)  Ohio Gov. John Kasich had a gym full of cheering supporters and confetti as well as 66 brand new Republican presidential delegates after his home-state victory, but he's got no mathematical path to win the GOP nomination outright.

By winning the do-or-die Ohio primary, Kasich lives to fight on against front-runner Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. But his only way to his party's nomination is by way of a contested Republican National Convention, where he would try to attract the delegate majority that eluded him in the primary season.

Kasich's hope is a longshot: to win in remaining primary states by peeling away economically worried segments from Trump's feisty coalition. He'd need to appeal to Republican donors, and fast, while steering clear of the Republican establishment label that hurt several candidates who are now gone.

Republican presidential candidate Ohio Gov. John Kasich, left, meets with Jack Shapiro, 11, while speaking at a town hall event at Villanova University, Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

That's a circuitous route back to the convention in Cleveland, 20 miles from where he celebrated his only win of the primaries on Tuesday night. He'd have to come to the convention with enough delegates to show he is a force, then put on a full-scale effort to convince the rest he can win in November.

"It's nuanced, and it's not simple," said Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges, who is part of Kasich's inner circle. "But it's our message and our path forward."

With Marco Rubio out of the race, Kasich and Cruz are Trump's remaining GOP rivals.

Trump leads in the delegate chase, with 661, but must win 54 percent of remaining delegates to reach the clinching number of 1,237. Cruz, with 406 delegates, is farther along than Kasich, with 142, but the Texan has no realistic path to win a majority during the primaries. It's impossible for Kasich because there are not enough delegates left.

However, Kasich could return to Cleveland in July with hundreds more delegates, perhaps enough to persuade many of the rest to side with the candidate described by his strategist, John Weaver, as the "only one who can win a general election."

Weaver also argues the states remaining are more favorable to Kasich than to Trump or Cruz. After a quick stop in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, Kasich is planning to run ads in Utah this week, campaign there Friday, raise money in California and begin hiring staff in every state that's left.

Kasich has begun trying to make inroads with Trump backers by telling audiences he understands their economic anxieties as the son of working-class parents from a blue-collar Pennsylvania town. He's betting that voters who are economically anxious  not simply spitting mad  will eventually side with a candidate who understands their experiences and can deliver solutions.

"As I've traveled the country and I look into your eyes, you want to believe again that we can have job security, you want to believe again that wages can rise," he said. "It's my job to look at these situations and these problems and then listen to you."

Kasich's trick will be keeping his 18 years in Congress and two elections as governor in the background.

"We are not going to embrace the establishment phantom," Weaver said.

Voters have already drummed out of the race candidates associated to varying degrees with the GOP establishment, chiefly Jeb Bush but also Florida Sen. Rubio, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

But to mount multiple organized state efforts, Kasich needs instant cash including contributions from donors who supported other candidates.

Kasich had little money available in February for contests outside of Ohio, where he co-opted the state GOP organization to reach voters. He began February with about $1 million in campaign cash. Also, a separate group able to raise unlimited contributions supported him by advertising and helping to organize Ohio voters.

Weaver says the financial picture has improved since February, but Kasich needs as much money as possible for the next round of states, especially the string of Eastern states where the governor might play well. After Wisconsin on April 5, GOP voters decide in New York, Connecticut Delaware, Rhode Island, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Then the contest comes back to his neighboring Indiana and West Virginia.

Winning over donors leery of being disappointed again will be difficult.

Bill Kunkler, a Chicago investor who backed Bush, said earlier that Kasich was getting his vote in the Illinois contest Tuesday but he was done writing checks for the primary season and did not see a plausible way for Kasich to win a contested convention.

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Associated Press writer Julie Bykowicz contributed to this report from Washington

Republican presidential candidate Ohio Gov. John Kasich gestures while speaking at a town hall event at Villanova University, Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Woman who had sex with Hulk Hogan testifies in privacy trial

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)  The woman who had sex with Hulk Hogan on video testified Wednesday that she didn't know their encounter was being filmed and said she was very upset that her then-husband had recorded the encounter.

The jury in the Hulk Hogan civil trial on Wednesday saw Heather Cole, the ex-wife of radio personality Bubba The Love Sponge Clem, testifying via prerecorded video.

In her deposition, recorded in 2015, Cole said she and Hogan had sex at least three times: once in a hotel, once at his house and once at the house she shared with Clem. In earlier testimony, she said she and Clem had an open marriage.

Former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan arrives in the courtroom Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Hogan, whose given name is Terry Bollea, and his attorneys are suing Gawker Media for $100 million, saying his privacy was violated, and he suffered emotional distress after Gawker posted a sex tape of Hogan and his then-best friend's wife. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius, Pool) NEW YORK POST OUT

Hogan, whose given name is Terry Bollea, is suing Gawker Media for $100 million for posting the edited video. He contends the video violated his privacy.

Cole said that Clem showed her the video several weeks after one encounter with Hogan at their home.

"I immediately asked for it to stop," she said in a soft voice. "I don't remember a specific conversation. I do remember feeling very upset."

Cole said that to her knowledge, the other encounters with Hogan weren't filmed and that she didn't leak the video to Gawker  and doesn't know who did.

She also added that in her opinion, Hogan is someone who likes publicity.

Gawker Media founder Nick Denton testified that the website decided to post the Hogan sex video because "it showed Hogan as a person" and that the editorial team at Gawker deemed the minute, 41-second video newsworthy.

On Tuesday, Denton said that he did not see the video before his editor, A.J. Daulerio, posted it on the Gawker site in 2012. As founder of the media company, Denton said he was not involved in the day-to-day decisions of the editorial process.

The civil case is being held in St. Petersburg. This is the second week of testimony.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, a Florida appellate court ordered that a number of sealed records be released in the case. Judge Pamela Campbell in 2015 ordered the records sealed. It's unclear which records will be unsealed.

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More than 12 punished for mistaken hospital attack by US

WASHINGTON (AP)  More than a dozen U.S. military personnel have been disciplined  but face no criminal charges  for mistakes that led to the bombing of a Doctors Without Borders hospital that killed 42 people in Afghanistan last year, U.S. defense officials say.

The punishments, which have not been publicly announced, are largely administrative. But in some cases the actions, such as letters of reprimand, are tough enough to effectively end chances for further promotion. The military has previously said some personnel were suspended from their duties but has given no further details.

The disciplined include both officers and enlisted personnel, but officials said none are generals.

FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2015, file photo, an employee of Doctors Without Borders walks inside the charred remains of the organization's hospital after it was hit by a U.S. airstrike in Kunduz, Afghanistan. More than a dozen U.S. military personnel have been disciplined but face no criminal charges for mistakes that led to the bombing of a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Afghanistan last year that killed 42 Afghans, U.S. defense officials say. (AP Photo/Najim Rahim, File)

The officials, who were not authorized to discuss the outcomes publicly and so spoke on condition of anonymity, said the disciplinary process is nearly complete. It is derived from a military investigation of the Oct. 3, 2015, attack, the results of which are expected to be made public in a partially redacted form in coming days.

The hospital, run by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders in the northern city of Kunduz, was attacked by a U.S. Air Force special operations AC-130 gunship, one of the most lethal in the U.S. arsenal. Doctors Without Borders called the attack "relentless and brutal" and demanded an international investigation, but none has been undertaken.

Army Gen. John Campbell, who was the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan at the time but has since relinquished command, has called it a "tragic but avoidable accident caused primarily by human error."

The attack was unleashed as U.S. military advisers were helping Afghan forces retake Kunduz, which had fallen to the Taliban on Sept. 28. It was the first major city to fall since the Taliban were expelled from Kabul in 2001.

Afghan officials claimed the hospital had been overrun by the Taliban, but no evidence of that has surfaced. The hospital was destroyed and Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French acronym, MSF, ceased operations in Kunduz.

President Barack Obama apologized for the attack, which was one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in the 15-year war.

The U.S. command in Kabul said in February that it has expressed condolences and offered payment to more than 140 families and individuals affected by the attack.

In November the U.S. military provided an outline of what happened. It said the crew of the AC-130 gunship, which is armed with side-firing cannons and guns, had been dispatched to hit a Taliban command center in a different building, 450 yards away from the hospital. However, hampered by problems with their targeting sensors, the crew relied on a physical description that led them to begin firing at the hospital even though they saw no hostile activity there.

Many chances to avert the error were missed, officials said.

At a November news conference, Brig. Gen. Wilson Shoffner, a spokesman for Campbell, said the actions taken by the U.S. aircrew were "not appropriate" to the threat they faced, suggesting that a number of them could be faulted.

Campbell and Shoffner said that neither the U.S. Special Forces commander who called in the strike at the request of Afghan forces, nor the U.S. aircrew, was aware that a hospital was being hit until it was too late.

The main U.S. military investigation was completed on Nov. 15 but has not yet been publicly released. U.S. Central Command, which is responsible for U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and across the greater Mideast, rejected in December an AP Freedom of Information Act request for the report, which it said was approximately 5,000 pages long.

A separate U.S. report on the incident, obtained last fall by The Associated Press, said the AC-130 aircraft fired 211 shells at the hospital compound over 29 minutes before commanders realized the mistake and ordered a halt. Doctors Without Borders officials contacted coalition military personnel during the attack to say the hospital was "being 'bombed' from the air," and the word finally was relayed to the AC-130 crew, the report said.

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AP Interview: Argentine leader says outraged by corruption

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)  Argentina's president said Wednesday he is outraged by corruption that seeped into all facets of society during his predecessor's administration and believes next week's visit by Barack Obama will be a new chapter that could lead to billions of dollars in investment.

President Mauricio Macri assumed power in December after campaigning on promises to crack down on graft, open up Latin America's third-largest economy and reverse many of the populist policies of his predecessor, Cristina Fernandez.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, the former Buenos Aires mayor and son of one of the country's richest businessmen said he was particularly perturbed by rampant corruption at all levels.

Argentina's President Mauricio Macri listens to a question during an interview with The Associated Press at the Olivos' presidential residency in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Argentina's president says he is outraged by corruption that seeped into all facets of society during his predecessor's administration and believes that the upcoming visit of U.S. President Barack Obama will lead to billions in investment. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

"I feel the same as the majority of Argentines: rage, disenchantment and helplessness," Macri said, reflecting on a video this week that allegedly showed the son of a businessman with close ties to the former president counting what appear to be tightly wrapped stacks of dollars, euros and Argentine pesos at an illegal exchange house. "There will not be a repeat of this kind of embarrassing corruption, these abuses of power."

Macri cast the two-day visit by the U.S. president as an opportunity to show the world that Argentina is cleaning up its act and hopes to open its doors to billions in investment. The last state visit by an American president was by Bill Clinton in 1997.

Such a trip would have been unthinkable under Fernandez, who during her eight years in office aligned herself with socialist leaders in Cuba and Venezuela while often being outwardly antagonistic toward the United States.

Unlike several other Latin American leaders, Macri sidestepped questions about the U.S. election and the controversial candidacy of leading Republican candidate Donald Trump. Macri said he knew both Trump and Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton personally and would be able to work with either should they reach the White House.

Hours before the interview, the lower chamber of Argentina's Congress approved a negotiated deal on repaying bonds held by a group of creditors in the United States, a step toward ending a long-standing fight that made Argentina a financial pariah and kept it on the margins of international credit markets. The legal battle had its origins in Argentina's financial collapse in 2001-2002, when it defaulted on $100 billion in debt.

Creditors led by billionaire hedge fund manager Paul Singer refused to accept bond swaps with lower values. Instead, they took Argentina to court in New York and won. While Fernandez branded the group "vultures" and refused to negotiate, Macri made reaching an agreement one of his top priorities.

"It's the first step. It's as important as opening the door," Macri said. "We need to stop arguing about things that don't help Argentina grow."

In the weeks since assuming power, Macri's administration has rewritten much of the country's social contract. It lifted export taxes on the agricultural sector, effectively freeing up one of the world's breadbaskets, and it lowered import taxes, devalued the Argentine peso, cut energy and other subsidies, and fired thousands of public workers.

Macri agreed his administration has yet to make good on his promise to curb inflation, which approached 40 percent last year. Prices that were already skyrocketing jumped even more when the peso was devalued in December.

The president said his economic changes need more time to bear fruit.

"A year from now, we hope to be growing, and we hope to be receiving investments from all over the world," he said.

As he often did during the campaign, Macri blamed Fernandez for overseeing "700 percent" inflation over the last several years.

When asked whether he wanted to see Fernandez prosecuted for several alleged corruption scandals during her administration, Macri said he would not get in the way of any investigation, while noting that she has not been charged with any crime.

Macri also said he hoped investigators would get to the bottom of the mysterious death of prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who was found shot dead in his apartment early in 2015. Days before, Nisman had accused Fernandez of helping Iranian officials hide the Middle Eastern nation's role in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people and wounded hundreds.

Fernandez has denied the allegations and the case against her was thrown out by a federal judge.

Nisman's death, which has yet to be solved, shook Argentina. For many, it was one more sign of a justice system that doesn't work, of impunity without limits.

"Everything that happened made us look weak in the world," Macri said. "But now we are determined to bring what happened to light."

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Associated Press writer Debora Rey in Buenos Aires contributed to this report.

___

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Argentina's President Mauricio Macri speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the Olivos' presidential residency in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Macri says he is outraged by corruption that seeped into all facets of society during his predecessors administration and believes that the upcoming visit of U.S. President Barack Obama will lead to billions in investment. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

Argentina's President Mauricio Macri speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the Olivos' presidential residency in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Macri says he is outraged by corruption that seeped into all facets of society during his predecessors administration and believes that the upcoming visit of U.S. President Barack Obama will lead to billions in investment. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

Argentina's President Mauricio Macri speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the Olivos' presidential residency in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Argentinas president says he is outraged by corruption that seeped into all facets of society during his predecessors administration and believes that the upcoming visit of U.S. President Barack Obama will lead to billions in investment. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)
Clinton, Trump lead in Missouri by slim margins

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)  Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump clung to slim advantages over their challengers in Missouri's presidential primaries following victories in several other pivotal states that bolstered their standing as national front-runners.

With all precincts reporting results Wednesday, former Secretary of State Clinton led Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders by 1,531 votes. Trump, the billionaire businessman, led Texas Sen. Ted Cruz by 1,726 votes.

That amounts to a 0.2 percentage point lead for both Clinton and Trump  the closest races in any of Tuesday's five primary states.

William Sabourin, right, assistant supervisor of voting at Bernard School in St. Louis, Mo., demonstrates how to use the electronic voting machine to Joe Barnowshi, 34, as he holds his children, Ava, left, 2, and Jack, 4. Voters in Missouri, as well as Illinois, Florida, Ohio and North Carolina are casting their ballots in primary elections Tuesday. (Cristina M. Fletes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

Under Missouri law, candidates can request a recount if they lose by less than one-half of a percentage point. Neither Sanders nor Cruz has said whether he will ask for a recount. As such, The Associated Press has not declared a winner in either Missouri race.

Missouri's vote totals are likely to change at least slightly in the coming days as local election clerks determine whether to count provisional ballots and accept absentee ballots from overseas voters. It could take up to a month before the results are officially certified by the secretary of state's office. Losing candidates then have another week to request a recount.

Because of the way Missouri's delegates are allotted, the Republican winner of the statewide vote stands to gain more than the Democratic victor.

Missouri's 71 delegates to the Democratic National Convention will be awarded proportionally based on the votes candidates received statewide and in each of the state's eight congressional districts. As of Wednesday afternoon, Sanders had won 32 Missouri delegates, and Clinton 31, with eight delegates remaining to be allocated.

Of Missouri's 52 Republican delegates, 12 will go to the top statewide vote-getter. The rest will be awarded in chunks of five to the winners in each of the state's congressional districts. As of Wednesday afternoon, Trump had won 25 district delegates and Cruz had won five, with two districts yet to be determined. In both of those districts, Cruz appeared to have slightly more votes.

Missouri Republican Party Chairman John Hancock said the divisions in Missouri are emblematic of the national split between GOP voters who want a "committed conservative candidate like Ted Cruz" and those who want somebody "completely outside the Republican establishment, represented by Donald Trump."

"If we are to have a hope  an expectation of reclaiming the White House in November  healing is the only option on the table," Hancock said.

Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Roy Temple said he doesn't expect there to be a recount of Missouri's Democratic votes. That's because Missouri's proportional allocation would divide its delegates fairly evenly, regardless of the outcome of a recount. Ultimately, it would not make much of a difference in Clinton's national delegate lead.

"The highest conceivable gain is, like, four delegates, which I guess if you thought it was going to be that close, you'd fight over," Temple said. "But that's kind of unimaginable to me that this thing would play out that close" nationally, he said.

Nearly 1.6 million votes were cast in Missouri  a 39 percent voter turnout that broke the previous high mark for a presidential primary of 36 percent, which was set in 2008.

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Nancy Grogan, right, assistant supervisor of voting at Bernard School in St. Louis, Mo., demonstrates how to use the electronic voting machine to 77-year old Gilbert English. Voters in Missouri, as well as Illinois, Florida, Ohio and North Carolina are casting their ballots in primary elections Tuesday. (Cristina M. Fletes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)
Man charged with supporting Islamic State pleads guilty

AKRON, Ohio (AP)  An Ohio man accused of trying to recruit people to join the Islamic State group pleaded guilty Wednesday to a terrorism charge.

Amir Said Rahman Al-Ghazi, formerly Robert McCollum, pledged his support online to the Islamic State group, authorities said.

Al-Ghazi, 39, pleaded guilty in federal court in Akron to one count of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms.

A message was left with Al-Ghazi's attorney.

Federal prosecutors say Al-Ghazi faces up to 16 years in prison. Sentencing was set for June 23.

Al-Ghazi legally changed his name from Robert McCollum last year, and agents found a sword and an Islamic State flag during a search of McCollum's apartment in the Cleveland suburb of Sheffield Lake.

An affidavit alleged Al-Ghazi began using social media sites in July 2014 to pledge his support for the militant group and its leader and to recruit people to join the group.

He also made various references while chatting online with FBI sources that he wanted to stage terrorist attacks in the U.S., including the derailment of a train, according to the affidavit.

He initially told one FBI source that he wasn't interested in becoming a martyr, but did say he'd be willing to cut off the head of his non-Muslim son if Muslims were to go to war in the U.S., the affidavit said.

Later, he told a source that he wanted to kill non-Muslims and wrote in an online chat, according to the affidavit: "You don't fear death anymore its like walking thru a door for a martyr u know."
Workers finish tearing down migrant camp in northern France

CALAIS, France (AP)  A destruction crew on Wednesday tore down the last of more than 1,000 tents and huts in a large swath of a makeshift migrant camp in the French port city of Calais, a job marked by fiery protests, an ongoing hunger strike and several arrests.

The prefecture, or state authority, which ordered the dismantling of the southern sector of the camp  a veritable village on 7.5 hectares (18.5 acres) of land  said workers guarded by police finished pulling down the flimsy dwellings at 2 p.m. Wednesday, less than three weeks after the job began.

Violence marked the start of the operation on Feb. 29 as riot police went after protesting migrants standing on the roofs of their huts or burning them before they were taken down. A group of protesting Iranian migrants sewed their mouths shut and went on a hunger strike.

FILE - In this Thursday, March 3, 2016 file photo, a migrant walks past a burning dwelling in the makeshift migrants camp near Calais, France. A destruction crew on Wednesday, March 16 tore down the last of more than 1,000 tents and huts in a large swath of a makeshift migrant camp in the French port city of Calais, a job marked by fiery protests, an ongoing hunger strike and several arrests. The prefecture, or state authority, which ordered the dismantling of the southern sector of the camp - a veritable village on 7.5 hectares (18.5 acres) of land - said workers guarded by police finished pulling down the flimsy dwellings at 2 p.m. Wednesday, less than three weeks after the job began. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler, file)

Nearly 4,000 migrants  most hoping to sneak across the English Channel to Britain  live in the migrant camp. Authorities put the population of the southern sector at 1,000, but associations working there say it served as a temporary home to several thousand. The camp, which sprung up last April near a day center opened by authorities, quickly grew into a slum village with houses of worship, schools, shops and even a theater.

A court order forbids the state from dismantling such common areas and they have been left standing as lonely beacons of life in a field of mud.

Authorities have been encouraging the displaced to move into heated containers or tents on the northern rim of the camp  as 643 have done  or go to welcome centers around France. However, many have moved their sparse belongings to the northern sector.
Snyder: Mich. environmental agency misled him on Flint water

WASHINGTON (AP)  A lead-contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan represents "a failure of government at all levels," but the main culprit is a state agency he oversees, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder says.

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality repeatedly assured him and other officials that water from the Flint River was safe, when in reality it had dangerous levels of lead, the governor says.

In prepared testimony for a House hearing Thursday, Snyder says he did not learn until Oct. 1, 2015 that Flint's water was contaminated  nearly 18 months after the city began drawing its water from the Flint River in April 2014.

FILE - In this March 1, 2016 file photo, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy speaks as Food Bank of Eastern Michigan President and CEO Bill Kerr listens in Flint, Mich. Emails obtained by The Associated Press show McCarthy warned in September that the Flint water crisis could "get very big very quickly." McCarthy responded Sept. 26 to messages notifying her that the city's water had high levels of lead and that it had been detected in the blood of some children. McCarthy is scheduled to testify Thursday March 16, 2016, before a U.S. House committee looking into the matter. (Todd McInturf/Detroit News via AP) DETROIT FREE PRESS OUT; HUFFINGTON POST OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

Snyder said he took immediate action, reconnecting the city with Detroit's water supply and distributing water filters and testing residents  especially children  for elevated lead levels.

A state investigation has "uncovered systemic failures at the Michigan DEQ," Snyder says. "The fact is, bureaucrats created a culture that valued technical compliance over common sense  and the result was that lead was leaching into residents' water."

The state has approved $67 million in emergency spending, with a request for $165 million more, Snyder said in prepared testimony before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Environmental Protection Agency chief Gina McCarthy also faulted state officials for the crisis, which occurred when Flint switched from the Detroit system and began drawing from the Flint River to save money. The impoverished city was under state management at the time.

"The crisis we're seeing was the result of a state-appointed emergency manager deciding that the city would stop purchasing treated drinking water and instead switch to an untreated source to save money," McCarthy says in prepared testimony for the House hearing.

"The state of Michigan approved that decision, and did so without requiring corrosion control treatment," McCarthy said. "Without corrosion control, lead from pipes, fittings and fixtures can leach into the drinking water. These decisions resulted in Flint residents being exposed to dangerously high levels of lead."

Thursday's hearing is the second of two Flint-related sessions the oversight panel is conducting this week. The Associated Press obtained copies of testimony by Snyder and McCarthy in advance.

Snyder, a Republican, asked to testify to Congress last month, bowing to demands by Democrats that he explain his role in a cost-cutting move that resulted in a public health emergency that has rocked Flint and caused ripples in the presidential campaign, where Democrats have called for Snyder to step down.

Snyder says in his testimony that the EPA also made mistakes. Top officials silenced an EPA water expert who tried to raise alarms about Flint's water, he said.

Snyder called for Congress to approve a bipartisan bill that would spend $220 million to fix and replace lead-contaminated pipes in Flint and other cities. Senators from both parties have reached a tentative agreement, but the bill remains on hold amid objections by Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

Snyder says the state government is taking responsibility for the manmade disaster, adding that officials are publicly releasing relevant documents from the state agencies involved.

Snyder said he is glad to be appearing Thursday alongside McCarthy, "because all of us must acknowledge our responsibility and be held accountable." Snyder faulted "inefficient, ineffective and unaccountable bureaucrats at the EPA" who "allowed this disaster to continue unnecessarily."

Thursday's hearing follows a contentious session Tuesday in which former city and federal officials pointed fingers at one another for failing to protect the 100,000 citizens of Flint. Committee Republicans targeted for blame a regional EPA executive who resigned last month as the crisis worsened.

Amid withering criticism, Susan Hedman sought to defend the EPA's actions, saying that while the crisis was not EPA's fault, "I do believe we could have done more." Hedman was director of the EPA's Chicago-based Midwest office when the Flint crisis occurred.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, chairman of the oversight panel, said officials "need to understand how the system failed the residents of Flint so badly. But more importantly, we need to understand what is being done to fix the problem and help the people of Flint recover from this tragedy."

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Brexit campaigners urge David Cameron to block Turkey from joining EU

David Cameron is being urged by EU Out campaigners to block moves to admit Turkey to the 28-nation bloc.

Conservative former shadow home secretary David Davis said Turkey was a "state in crisis" and the consequences of allowing it to join the EU could be "catastrophic".

His intervention comes as Mr Cameron prepares to travel to Brussels on Thursday for further talks on a deal that would see Turkey help stem the flow of migrants into Europe in return for a speeding up of the accession process and visa-free travel for Turkish nationals in the Schengen area.

Anti-EU campaigners are calling on the Prime Minister to prevent Turkey from joining the EU

But in a letter to Mr Cameron, Mr Davis - a spokesman for the Grassroots Out campaign - warned that democracy, human rights and the rule of law had all diminished since Recep Tayyip Erdogan had moved from prime minster to become president.

"Erodgan's administration is moving in a dangerous direction, embracing political Islam and moving in a direction inconsistent with the values of a Western democracy," he wrote.

"The relationship between some parts of the Turkish government and jihadists in Syria and the porous border between the two countries means it is possible visa-free access to Schengen will become open access for violent extremists to all the continent of Europe."
Atletico through to quarter-finals after penalty shoot-out win over PSV

Atletico Madrid came through a tense penalty shoot-out to advance past PSV Eindhoven in their Champions League last-16 encounter.

Following a goalless draw in Holland last month, neither side could find a way through in an entertaining 120 minutes at the Vicente Calderon either, although Jurgen Locadia and Fernando Torres both hit the post at either end in an open contest.

Players from both teams managed to find the net with regularity during the spot-kicks, though, until PSV substitute Luciano Narsingh rattled the 15th attempt against the crossbar, allowing Juanfran to convert his penalty and send the 2014 finalists through.

Juanfran scored the decisive penalty

A stalemate did not look in prospect during a first half when the hosts created a raft of opportunities which Koke was largely responsible for creating.

He teed up Antoine Griezmann to fire at Jeroen Zoet before Diego Godin headed Koke's resulting corner narrowly over in a bright start from Diego Simone's side.

Atletico keeper Jan Oblak was fortunate that he did not push Marco van Ginkel's cross straight into Luuk de Jong's path while Zoet was alert to save from an offside Griezmann after Hector Moreno had got a slight touch on Yannick Carrasco's cross.

Saul Niguez almost capitalised on another Atletico set-piece that PSV failed to deal with and Jose Gimenez reached Koke's corner to nod wide in another example of the home side's threat from dead-ball situations.

It was not all one-way traffic, however, as PSV created the best opening so far when Locadia's curling effort was pushed on to the woodwork by Oblak.

With the keeper still on the ground, De Jong could not head past defender Filipe Luis, whose own header to keep the ball out narrowly evaded the incoming Van Ginkel.

Simone brought on Torres to try and force a winner and after he landed a cross onto the roof of the net, he forced Zoet into parrying a shot from a tight angle against his near post.

In extra-time, Lucas Hernandez and Griezmann both came close for the hosts and PSV boss Phillip Cocu then made the controversial call to replace top scorer De Jong with Narsingh with two minutes to go.

Players from both sides then kept their nerve in the shoot-out, including Torres, Gimenez and Filipe Luis, all of whom were in sudden-death situations.
Proposed e-cigarette ban in public places with children present defeated

Plans to ban the use of e-cigarettes in public places where children are present have been defeated during a vote in the Welsh Assembly.

The Public Health (Wales) Bill aimed to restrict the use of nicotine inhaling devices in places such as schools, restaurants and cafes as well as on public transport.

But the contentious legislation was defeated by just one vote in the Senedd - handing the Labour government in Cardiff Bay a bitter defeat on the last day of Assembly business before May's election.

If passed, the Bill would become a UK first and would restrict the use of nicotine inhaling devices in certain public places - such as schools and on public transport

Opposition parties and even some health charities had strongly criticised the planned curb on e-cigarettess.

Shadow health minister and Conservative AM Darren Millar said a ban would have been a huge step backwards for smoking cessation and efforts to improve public health.

He said: "I'm delighted that pressure from the Welsh Conservatives and other opposition parties yielded results in the end.

"Labour ministers are totally misguided in their war on e-cigarettes and in the end their arrogant attempt to force a ban through were thwarted.

"There is no evidence supporting their plans and they should have been ditched months ago. Ultimately, we should be giving people a helping hand to quit smoking - not placing obstacles in their way"

Originally, ministers wanted to ban e-cigarettes from all enclosed public and work places.

However, its proposals were watered down to places where children were present after a committee report split Assembly Members' opinions.

Labour is one seat shy of an overall majority in the Senedd and needed other parties' backing before it can pass legislation.

Ahead of the vote on Tuesday evening, it was thought Plaid Cymru may lend its support - with the Welsh nationalists saying they would consider the plans "very carefully".

However, at the 11th hour Plaid joined forces with the Tories and Welsh Liberal Democrats - bringing the total votes against to 27, pipping the 26 votes in favour.

A Plaid spokeswoman said: "We proposed to Welsh Government that the Bill should be withdrawn before the vote and that the Assembly should be reconvened immediately after Easter to vote on a Bill with all sections on e-cigarettes removed. Plaid Cymru would have supported that legislation."

Pro smoking group Forest branded the e-cigarette ban as illogical.

A spokesman said: "Vapers are almost exclusively smokers who wish to cut down or quit or are looking for an alternative nicotine delivery system in places where smoking is banned.

"Given the a lack of evidence that the use of electronic cigarettes is harmful to users and bystanders, it would be hugely counter-productive to discourage the use of e-cigarettes in public places."

In its previous evidence to an Assembly committee, The British Heart Foundation called the legislation "heavy handed".

Health Minister and Labour AM Mark Drakeford said he was deeply disappointed the Bill would not pass onto the statute books.

He said: "It puts to waste five years of careful preparation and constructive work with a very wide range of stakeholders and supporters.

"There will be widespread anger that opposition parties, who had exerted a real influence on the Bill failed to support it into law and abandoned all the important protections for the public it would have put in place.

"They chose not to do so and they must answer for their conduct."

However, Welsh Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams said: "Labour's illiberal plan flew in the face of medical evidence.

"When you've got a whole host of experts and charities like Cancer Research UK against you, you should realise you're on the wrong side of the argument."

Had the law been passed it would have been the first of its kind in the UK.
Elderly patients 'ushered out' of hospital without support in place, Age UK says

Elderly people are being "ushered out" of hospital beds without proper support in place for them to be cared for at home, a charity has warned.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said the mounting pressure on NHS hospitals and a beds crisis meant people were being sent home despite having inadequate help.

It comes as figures from the charity reveal the extent of so-called "bed blocking" - where patients who are medically fit to be discharged are stuck in hospital beds, often because of a lack of social care support in the community.

Age UK said almost three million hospital bed days were lost between June 2010 and January 2016 in England owing to delayed discharges

Age UK said almost three million (2,998,273) hospital bed days have been lost between June 2010 and January 2016 in England owing to such delayed discharges.

Callers to the Age UK helpline have revealed fears over loved ones being forced home from hospital.

Ms Abrahams said: "Hospitals are under huge pressure but it is unacceptable for any hospital ever to usher an older person out without the home support they need being properly in place.

"The solution to the problem of delayed discharge is emphatically never to 'shunt' an older person off the premises with insufficient regard to their need for care and support, but sadly it seems the pressure on hospitals is now such that sometimes this is happening."

In one case highlighted by the charity in its new report, an 85-year-old woman's husband was told she was ready for discharge from hospital despite the fact she had lost her mobility.

"Nobody has assessed what she will need to help her recover at home, whether she can regain her mobility or what adaptations are available to help them manage," the study said.

In another case, a woman was refused the phone number of somebody to speak to over her fears about how she would look after her 97-year-old husband.

Age UK said major drivers for why people are unable to get home are a lack of information and general confusion about what support is available and who is responsible for paying for it.

There is also a " marked shortage" of good services to help older people recover and " sometimes downright buck-passing between different parts of the NHS and between health and social services", it said.

Figures from the charity suggest there has been a 28.4% increase in the number of hospital days lost due to a lack of social care provision over the last two years.

Professor David Oliver, president of the British Geriatrics Society, said the problem was historical but added: "Gimmicks like the better care fund or social care precept have not even papered over the cracks, leaving hundreds of thousands of older people and their carers short of support with predictable results including record numbers in A&E departments when little alternative support is available, and delayed transfers of care leaving older people marooned in hospital beds which hospitals cannot then free.

"Unless the cuts in social care funding are reversed, both social care and NHS services face Armageddon."

The report comes as a separate study from the GMB union found delays in providing residential and nursing home placements cause 23.8% of the total number of days lost to bed blocking.
Firms challenging haulier migrant fines system

Foreign firms are mounting legal challenges over the Home Office's system for imposing fines on hauliers when migrants are caught hiding in vehicles.

Authorities can issue an on-the-spot penalty of up to 2,000 for every stowaway discovered.

The regime is set to come under scrutiny as two companies - one Romanian and one Dutch - take separate cases to the Court of Appeal.

Authorities can issue an on-the-spot penalty of up to 2,000 on hauliers for every stowaway discovered

Under the rules, road transport organisations and their drivers are required to secure vehicles coming into Britain to stop "clandestine entrants" using them to enter the country illegally.

The Romanian firm involved in one of the cases has paid out a total of more than 3,000 since the scheme began.

In 2013, three migrants jumped on to the roof of one of its trucks from a motorway bridge, cut through the tarpaulin cover and were found by British immigration officers during checks at Calais.

The company was fined 900 and the driver 600.

Marius Cuzmin, who manages the firm, told the BBC: "We are doing all we can, we're following all the guidelines ... we cannot do anything more than we are doing right now."

His solicitor Rupinder Matharu argued a "common-sense approach" was needed.

She said the system of penalties against hauliers, the code of practice and the underlying legislation are "ripe for review".

Ms Matharuis challenging the department on the grounds the firm followed guidelines on security, the driver checked the lorry three times before arriving in Calais and did not stop close to the port where many of the migrants gather.

The case is set to be heard by Lady Justice Gloster, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Simon.

On Thursday, judges will hear another case in which a Dutch company is appealing against a fine of 7,200, according to the BBC.

Under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, those responsible for bringing "clandestine entrants" to the UK can be hit with civil penalties.

The Government's website says all road hauliers travelling to the UK must operate an "effective system" to secure vehicles.

The spotlight fell on the sanctions last summer as migrants made thousands of attempts to cross to Britain from Calais.

Figures showed the number of fines issued to hauliers more than tripled over three years, reaching more than 3,000 in 2014/15.

Last week, it was revealed ministers are considering extending the regime to rail operators.

The Home Office said it does not routinely comment on individual cases.

A spokesman said: "It is in all our interests to combat attempts to enter the UK illegally, which can damage the haulage industry financially and place the safety of drivers at risk.

"That is why we have invested tens of millions of pounds to reinforce security at our controls in northern France.

"The civil penalty regime is an important part of our wider response to tackle illegal immigration and exists to ensure that all drivers are taking reasonable measures to stop migrants from boarding their lorries.
Sergio Aguero has focus on derby win

Sergio Aguero believes derby victory over Manchester United could be critical to Manchester City's hope of securing a top-four spot.

City have fallen off the pace in the Barclays Premier League title race, having been favourites for much of the season, and are even facing a battle to hold onto fourth.

West Ham are just two points behind in fifth place and United could also move within a point if they beat their neighbours at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Sergio Aguero believes derby victory over Manchester United could be critical to Manchester City's hope of securing a top-four spot

Striker Aguero, who has scored 21 goals in all competitions this season, said: "We have to win, even more so because the title is slipping further and further away and we have to make sure we take fourth place.

"We want the title, but we have to take into account that United are right behind us and it will be a tough game. We will have to play intensely."

After reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time this week, the least City need to do is ensure they are in the competition again next season.

Competing among Europe's elite is a key part of the owner's plans and there was further evidence of progress in the way City saw off Dynamo Kiev in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday.

There was little to excite in the dull 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium that saw them through but, after winning 3-1 in Ukraine last month, City had little need to press and they completed a professional job. Kiev created little threat and City, perhaps with the Manchester derby in mind, did not extend themselves.

Kiev's approach was surprising, especially as City lost centre-backs Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi to injury inside the opening 24 minutes, but the hosts were happy enough with the situation.

Aguero said: "I think it was a little strange because we were waiting for Kiev to come out and play a little but we did not expect them to come out so relaxed. We did not have anything to lose."

Aguero, who is contracted at City until 2019, last week told an Argentinian radio station that he intends to return to boyhood club Independiente when his current deal ends.

The 27-year-old has not denied that but insists he is still fully focused on City.

Aguero, who has scored 128 goals for City since joining the club for 38million in 2011, said: "You are born in one club as a kid, and you always want to return to where you started. I have always said it, I will go back.

"But right now I am thinking about winning the Champions League with Manchester City. We will see what happens in the future."

His immediate priority is now Sunday's game against United, and Aguero has noted with interest how the status of the two clubs has changed in his time in the city.

He said: "I think that over the last five years City have always competed hard in the derby. At one point United were huge and City have invested a lot of money to bring in quality players, and that has levelled the playing field.
Music scholar in tears at Charles temple visit in Belgrade

A leading music scholar was moved to tears when the Prince of Wales visited the biggest Orthodox temple in the Balkans on the first day of a two-day visit to Belgrade.

Charles met Professor Dimitrije Stefanovic at St Sava Temple and was treated to some medieval music.

Prof Stefanovic warmly shook the Prince's hand, becoming very emotional as he thanked him for visiting the spiritual temple of Serbian believers.

Prince Charles is welcomed by children next to Serbian prime minister Aleksandar Vucic

Two choristers performed a selection of music for the Prince before they joined Prof Stefanovic to sing a song specially written for Charles's visit.

The performances took place in the temple's crypt - which is yet to be completed - and there were fresco artists painting as the Prince was told about the detailed work that had gone into the building.

Crowds of well-wishers gathered to see the Prince as he left the temple to the ringing of bells. He took some time to shake hands with some members of the public, many of whom had applauded and cheered upon catching sight of him.

Earlier in the day Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall attended a memorial ceremony at Belgrade New Cemetery.

To mark the occasion, the Prince wore an RAF tie, veterans badge and the shoes issued to him when he joined the RAF in March 1971.

The memorial is above an underground crypt in which the bodies of 4,603 known and unknown soldiers have been laid to rest.

Shortly after the event, the Prince and President Tomislav Nikolic attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery.

They were led into the site by a piper from the Royal Irish Regiment, and greeted by a British military band.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Prince asked Mr Nikolic to pause for a short time so he could pay his respects. After the wreath laying, the Last Post was played and a short prayer was said.

Crowds lined the streets as the royal couple made their way to Kalemegdan Fortress where they took in the view of the confluence of the River Danube and the River Sava.

The Duchess then left to make her way to an event at Zvecanska Children's Home where she was due to meet representatives of Unicef and the Djokovic Foundation.

Charles continued to walk in the sunshine towards the Roman Well, through the King's Gate, along the Sava Promenade and up the Grand Staircases towards the Victor Monument.

He stopped briefly at a World War One exhibition before walking on to Princess Ljubica's residence.

The building is one of a few that survived the first reign of Prince Milos Obrenovic, and was built between 1829 and 1831. Members of the public excitedly hurried to get photos of the Prince, some applauding as he passed by.

He was greeted at the residence by the Choir of the Jewish Community in Belgrade. He was then invited to take a seat in the Divan room to engage in an inter-faith dialogue with representatives from Serbia's Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities.

Charles and Camilla at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Belgrade

Camilla greets mothers and children as she visits Zvecanska children's home in Belgrade
Government criticised for 'blocking' bid to limit cheap Chinese steel exports

The Government has come under fresh attack over measures to help the crisis-hit steel industry amid warnings of further job losses.

The European Commission announced moves aimed at overcoming "serious challenges" fuelled by over-capacity and dumping of cheap Chinese products.

The commission said it will accelerate anti-dumping measures, adding that removing the so-called lesser duty rule that limits the size of levies that can be imposed on steel imported from China and other markets, would allow higher anti-dumping duties.

UK steel industry is threatened by cheaper imports

However Gareth Stace, director of trade group UK Steel, said: "China shows no sign of stemming the tidal wave of steel exports which it is dumping on the global market.

"While the EU Commission rightly suggests that scrapping the lesser duty rule would bring about tariffs that would actually make a difference, the UK in blocking these changes is effectively saying to China, 'please dump here, you're welcome.'

"It is galling that the UK Government has not taken action itself and has continued to block these changes in the EU, leaving the steel industry on its knees.
Priest abuse claims 'not passed on to police by Archbishop Carey', inquiry told

Former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey delayed a "proper investigation" into a senior priest's paedophile crimes for two decades by failing to pass information to police, an inquiry heard.

A lawyer for some victims of Peter Ball, the disgraced former Bishop of Lewes and Bishop of Gloucester, made the claim to Dame Lowell Goddard's public inquiry into child sex abuse.

Ball, 84, was jailed for 32 months in October 2015 after pleading guilty to a string of historical sex offences.

A preliminary hearing is being chaired by inquiry head Dame Lowell Goddard

But 22 years previously, in 1993, he was investigated and let off with a caution for gross indecency by police after abusing a trainee monk.

Richard Scorer, who represents 17 victims, made the claim about Lord Carey while an application for three of them, all men, to be "core participants" in the inquiry at a preliminary hearing in the Royal Courts of Justice.

He said one of the men, known as A13, complained to Lord Carey in 1992, when the latter was the most senior figure in the Anglican Church.

Mr Scorer said: "A13 can tell the inquiry about a very detailed complaint he made to Archbishop George Carey in 1992, reporting Peter Ball's behaviour ... years previously.

"We believe that the Archbishop of Canterbury failed to pass that information on to the police and is one reason, we believe, a proper investigation of Peter Ball's behaviour and abuse was delayed by over 20 years."

One strand of Dame Lowell's wide-ranging inquiry will examine child sex abuse by members of the Anglican Church and ecclesiastical authorities' reaction and response to it.

It is looking in detail at allegations involving the Diocese of Chichester, in which Ball worked as Bishop of Lewes from 1977 to 1992, when he took the position in Gloucester.

Lord Carey has previously denied being involved in a cover-up.

After the former bishop was jailed at the Old Bailey last year, the peer said: "I greatly regret the fact that, during my tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury, we dealt inadequately with Peter Ball's victims and gave too much credence to his protestations.

"Allegations by some that my actions amounted to a cover-up or collusion with the abuser are wrong. I have always insisted upon the highest standards of holiness of life from all who are ordained."

While Bishop of Lewes, Ball hand-picked 18 vulnerable victims to commit acts of "debasement" in the name of religion, such as praying naked at the altar and encouraging them to submit to beatings, his trial heard.

Despite complaints, Ball was never charged and worked as a priest in Truro after he accepted the caution.

Ben Emmerson QC, counsel to the inquiry, told the preliminary hearing it would examine allegations of "inappropriate attempts by persons of prominence to interfere in the criminal justice process when Peter Ball was first accused of criminal acts in 1992".

He described Chichester as a diocese that was "notable for a high rate of child sex abuse complaints", with the problem reaching "deep into Chichester Cathedral" and associated bodies.

Mr Emmerson said: "The evidence which is so far available suggests many incidents of sexual abuse by priests or others in positions of power in the Anglican church over a long period of time.

"There is reason to believe that the Anglican church ... in the past produced a picture that was less than comprehensive."

Speaking outside the hearing, the Rt Revd Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham, the C of E's safeguarding lead, said the church would co-operate fully with the inquiry.

He said: "It goes without saying we will examine lessons learnt from the inquiry's findings and believe it will play a vital part in our commitment to making the Church a safer place for all."
Study solves 58-year-old mystery of 'Tully Monster'

It looks like the most unearthly of aliens, or the figment of a bad dream - and has baffled scientists for nearly 60 years.

The so-called "Tully Monster" had a crane-like neck, tooth-filled jaws resembling a lobster claw, and eyes mounted at either end of a bar across the middle of its back.

Thousands of fossil specimens of the foot-long sea beast, that lived more than 307 million years ago, have been uncovered from a single site close to Chicago in Illinois, US.

An artist's impression of a 'Tully Monster' as it would have looked 307 million years ago (Yale University/PA)

Since its discovery in coal mining pits by amateur fossil hunter Francis Tully in 1958, the "monster" has acquired local celebrity status, with its image appearing on the bodywork of trucks and trailers.

Yet scientists had no idea what kind of creature it was - until now.

A new study has shown that the Tully Monster was a primitive vertebrate, an early ancestor of the lamprey, and that it had gills and a rudimentary spinal cord.

Previously there had been speculation that the animal was some kind of nightmarish worm or snail.

Paul Mayer, from the Field Museum in Chicago, which houses 2,000 Tully Monster specimens, said: "The monsters are related to the jawless fishes that are still around today by a unique combination of traits, including primitive gills, rows of teeth, and traces of a notochord, the flexible rod-like structure along the back that's present in chordate animals - including vertebrates like us.

"The Tully monster is a wonderful fossil that captures the imagination of every school kid.

"When I talk to school groups, I used to use the Tully monster as an example of a mystery that palaeontologists have been trying to solve ever since it was discovered."

To date, every specimen of the Tully Monster, Tullimonstrum gregarium, has been found in the fossil-rich Mazon Creek region, 50 miles south-west of Chicago.

When the creature was alive, the area was a swampy shoreline bordering a tropical sea.

After its discovery the "monster" was described scientifically in 1966, but experts were at a loss to categorise it - even at the level of phylum, one of the major animal groups that include molluscs and chordates.

Professor Derek Briggs, from Yale University, who co-authored the Tully Monster's new description in the journal Nature, said: "Basically, nobody knew what it was.

"The fossils are not easy to interpret, and they vary quite a bit. Some people thought it might be this bizarre, swimming mollusc. We decided to throw every possible analytical technique at it."

Scientists examined the Tully Monster more closely than ever before using powerful techniques such as synchrotron elemental mapping, which illuminates a fossil animal's physical features by analysing its chemistry.

The researchers concluded that the Tully Monster had gills and a notochord, which functioned as a primitive spinal cord.

Many questions remain, however. No-one knows when the Tully Monster first appeared on Earth, when it disappeared, or where else it might have made its home.
British academic 'being deported from Turkey' after Kurdish invitations find

A British academic says he is being deported from Turkey after being found with invitations to Kurdish New Year celebrations.

Chris Stephenson, a computer sciences lecturer at Bilgi Unviersity in Istanbul, told The Associated Press that he was detained on Tuesday at a court where he was supporting three fellow academics charged with making terrorist propaganda.

He said he was arrested by police after security guards discovered the invitations in his bag.

Chris Stephenson has spent 25 years as a Turkish resident

Speaking moments before his departure from Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport Mr Stephenson told The Associated Press there had been "no offence, no trial, just an administrative decision to deport me after 25 years of residency in Turkey".

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are providing assistance to a British national who was arrested in Istanbul on March 15 2016, and will remain in close contact with the local authorities."

Kemal Tuncaelli, Mr Stephenson's lawyer, told The Associated Press the lecturer had been accused of "making terror propaganda" and said they plan to appeal the decision to deport him.

Mr Stephenson, who is married to a Turkish national and has a 13-year-old daughter, said he was "gutted" and denied supporting terrorism.

"In no way was I supporting terrorism. I was supporting a peaceful solution."

He said the invitations found in his bag were issued by the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party, and featured a reference to Kurdish self-determination and a small picture of a barricade.

His arrest comes just days after a suicide bomb in Ankara killed 37 people.
Zimbabwe looks to the sun as drought hits hydropower

By Andrew Mambondiyani

MUTARE, Zimbabwe, March 11 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Z imbabwe is pushing forward with plans to build four new solar power plants, amid a drought that has battered its ability to generate hydroelectricity.

Severe dry conditions - linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon bringing extreme weather around the world - are affecting big and small producers of hydropower alike.

Phillip Muwungani of Chipendeke village, 70 km southeast of Mutare city, said his community's vision of producing its own clean electricity using water is fading.

Drought has affected water levels in Chitora River which powers the Chipendeke micro hydro plant, making electricity generation erratic.

The plant, which supplies electricity to villagers, a school, a clinic and a business centre, was built under a sustainable energy initiative backed by the ZERO Regional Environment Organisation, the Zimbabwe Energy Council and international development groups.

"The situation doesn't look good," Muwungani said. "We are not sure if it will improve any time soon."

At the national level too, drought has taken its toll on hydroelectric production.

Experts say the Kariba Dam on the border with Zambia, which provides almost 60 percent of Zimbabwe's power, could lose its ability to generate electricity in around six months' time unless water levels improve.

With an installed capacity of 750 megawatts (MW), Zimbabwe's Kariba power plant is now generating less than 285 MW.

Lake Kariba - the world's largest manmade reservoir - is a little over 10 percent full, down from around half at the same time last year, according to the Zambezi River Authority.

Zimbabwe currently imports power from South Africa and Mozambique to help meet demand.

But to lower the risk of a crippling long-term energy crisis, the government has stepped up efforts to lure investors into solar power.

SOLAR HEATS UP

The Zimbabwe Power Company says feasibility studies and engineering procurement are underway for three solar projects at Gwanda, Insukamini and Munyati.

Construction is expected to start this year, at a combined cost of $635 million. Each solar power plant will generate 100 MW.

The projects have been on the cards for some time now as part of government efforts to boost solar energy, but the tenders were cancelled in 2014 due to irregularities in the bidding process. The contracts were re-issued to new companies last year, as the current drought-induced power crisis jolted the government into action.

In October, the government signed a deal with Intratrek Zimbabwe to construct the Gwanda solar project in partnership with Chinese company CHINT Electrics, backed by a $202 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of China.

Tenders to build solar power plants at Munyati and Insukamini have also been awarded to Chinese firms.

Construction at a fourth solar power project in Marondera, about 70 km east of the capital Harare, will start in September. De Green Rhino Energy, a Zimbabwean joint venture set up by a London-based consultancy, will invest $400 million from German investors in the project, which will start selling electricity to the national grid from the end of 2017 if all goes to plan.

The Marondera solar project should be able to generate 150 MW when it reaches full capacity, but will start with an initial investment of $113 million to produce 50 MW, according to De Green Rhino Energy CEO Francis Gogwe.

The head of the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority, Gloria Magombo, told an energy conference in Harare in December that Zimbabwe needs investment of at least $9 billion to increase its power generation capacity to 5,000 MW by 2030 from around 1,300 MW now.

The country aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services for all citizens by 2030, in line with U.N. goals, Magombo said.

Meanwhile, the government plans to produce 300 MW from solar by 2018. Other energy projects to be completed by that date include extensions at Hwange Thermal Power Station and Kariba South Hydro Power Station, a new hydropower plant at Gairezi, and refurbishment of small thermal plants.

SKY-HIGH COSTS

According to the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Zimbabwe has high solar irradiation which can be harnessed for pumping drinking water and powering lights and appliances in rural communities, generating electricity, and heating water in urban areas.

There is high demand for solar energy systems, especially in remote off-grid areas. But economist Eddie Cross, who is also a legislator for Bulawayo South, says the cost remains prohibitive as much of the equipment is imported, and storage options for solar power are limited.

The government is encouraging local production of solar systems to make them cheaper.

In Zimbabwe, hydro is the most cost-effective way to produce electricity at a cost of 1.5 US cents per kilowatt hour, followed by coal at a cost of 8 to 12 cents per kilowatt hour, Cross said. That compares with 20 to 30 cents per kilowatt hour for solar.

De Green Rhino Energy says its solar project will augment government efforts to expand clean power sources and reduce Zimbabwe's reliance on energy imports, bringing wider benefits.
Cambodia jails student over Facebook call for regime change

PHNOM PENH, March 15 (Reuters) - A Cambodian court on Tuesday jailed a university student for 18 months for inciting crimes in an anti-government Facebook post that called for regime change.

Facebook is popular in Cambodia, where disenfranchised citizens have increasingly turned to the Internet to highlight alleged state abuses and demand political reforms.

Kong Raya, 24, was the first Cambodian convicted of using social media to attack the government of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has warned that online critics could be traced and arrested in a matter of hours.

"There's nothing to be surprised about. This is how the court works," Raya, who looked unshaken by the verdict as he left the courtroom flanked by guards, told reporters.

Raya was charged in August for urging the public to join his "colour revolution" to "change the vulgar regime".

In his Facebook post he said he was willing to go to prison or die for his cause. How he intended to pursue it was never made clear and his call failed to garner public support.

Hun Sen, who started using Facebook in September last year, is one of its biggest fans. He encourages Cambodians to send him their problems and has taken credit for solving them.

Am Sam Ath, an activist with Cambodian rights group Licadho, said Raya's posting caused no turmoil or damage to society.
-Russian warplanes leave Syria, raising U.N. hopes for peace talks

By Dmitry Solovyov and Tom Miles

MOSCOW/GENEVA, March 15 (Reuters) - Russian warplanes began leaving Syria on Tuesday as Moscow started to draw down forces that have tipped the war President Bashar al-Assad's way, and the U.N. envoy said he hoped the move would have a positive impact on peace talks under way in Geneva.

As the first aircraft touched down in Russia, U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura called it a "significant development" and said he hoped President Vladimir Putin's move would advance progress towards a solution and a peaceful political transition in Syria.

Putin's announcement of the withdrawal of the "main part" of Russian armed forces in Syria has led Assad's opponents to speculate Moscow may be trying to press him towards a political settlement, though Damascus has dismissed any talk of differences with its ally and says the move was coordinated.

It was unclear what the withdrawal would mean for the outcome of the war or for the future of Assad.

The talks under way in Geneva are part of a diplomatic push launched with U.S.-Russian support to end the five-year-long war that has killed more than 250,000 people, created the world's worst refugee crisis, and allowed for the rise of Islamic State.

U.S.-Russian cooperation had already brought about a lull in the war going into the talks via a "cessation of hostilities agreement" that led to a sharp decline in fighting between rebels and the government in western Syria.

But the Syrian government, which had been losing ground to rebels before Russia intervened, had indicated it was no mood to compromise on the eve of the talks, calling the presidency a "red line" and ruling out a negotiated transfer of power.

The main opposition delegation wants Assad out of power by the start of a political transition. While some rebels have expressed guarded optimism at Putin's announcement, others doubt Moscow is about to abandon the Syrian leader.

AS PILOTS RETURN, RUSSIAN JETS ACTIVE

Russian television showed the first group of Russia's Su-34 fighter plane task force returning from Syria and landing at an air base in southern Russia on Tuesday.

Between 200 to 300 servicemen, journalists and women greeted the pilots, waving Russian flags, balloons in red white and blue, and flowers. Two priests also attended the event, parading a religious icon.

At least six pilots in white helmets and aviator jackets were seen departing from about three planes.

They were mobbed by the crowd before being thrown in the air in celebration. A brass band played Soviet military songs, including the Stalin-era "March of the Aviators", and the Russian national anthem.

Russia said however that it would keep its most advanced air defence system, the S-400, in Syria.

The Russian air campaign that started at the end of September has focused mostly on insurgents battling Assad in western Syria, helping Damascus and allies including Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iranian Revolutionary Guards to reclaim important ground near the borders with Turkey and Jordan.

The spokesman for a rebel group in Latakia, where fighting has raged throughout the truce, said he did not believe the Russians were changing course. "We do not trust them," said Fadi Ahmad of the First Coastal Division rebel group.

Salim al-Muslat, spokesman for the main Syrian opposition alliance in Geneva, said: "We heard the decision, but hearing is different from seeing on the ground."

Showing Russian warplanes were still active in Syria, heavy Russian air support was reported to help the Syrian army make major gains against Islamic State near the ancient city of Palmyra. IS is not included in the cessation of hostilities.

PEACE TALKS

Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama spoke by telephone on Monday about Syria, with the Kremlin saying the two leaders "called for an intensification of the process for a political settlement" to the conflict.

Putin said Russia had largely fulfilled its objectives in Syria. But he gave no deadline for the completion of the withdrawal and said forces would remain at a seaport in Tartous and at the air base in Latakia.

The Russian intervention, supplemented by ground troops from Iran, helped Assad to halt and roll back insurgent advances that were seen as an increasing threat to his grip on power in the main cities of western Syria, including Damascus, last year.

A Western diplomat said Putin would "now move to focus on the peace talks and this will put pressure on the Syrian government to negotiate".

"We don't know if he is giving up on Assad but we know that the Russians are delivering a message to Assad that they are keen on negotiations over transition to proceed," the diplomat said.

Russia has previously called on Syria to prepare for parliamentary and presidential elections. On the question of Assad, Moscow has said it is up to the Syrian people, not outside powers, to decide.

Syrian opposition figure Maan Abdul Salam said: "I don't think Russia is giving up on Assad yet. It is changing its tactics and the opposition needs to be ready for all possibilities."
Top French Catholic cleric denies covering up acts of paedophilia

PARIS, March 15 (Reuters) - One of France's most senior Catholic clerics on Tuesday denied having covered up acts of paedophilia, his second denial in two weeks, after Prime Minister Manuel Valls demanded that he take responsibility for the situation.

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin's initial denial came in a statement on March 4 after news that the Lyon prosecutor's office had opened an inquiry into complaints made against him and five other people.

The prosecutor is investigating whether charges of failure to denounce a crime and endangering the lives of others could be made in the context of a paedophilia investigation involving 70-year-old priest Bernard Preynat.

Preynat has been under investigation since January over allegations of sexual abuse of children between 1986 and 1991.

"Never, never, never have I covered up the least paedophile act," the Archbishop of Lyon, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, said at a news conference in the southern French town of Lourdes where he was attending a twice-yearly meeting of bishops.

Speaking on RMC Radio, Valls stopped short of calling for Barbarin's resignation but said he needed to "assume his responsibilities" and that "action as well as words" was required.

Sexual abuse of children by Roman Catholic priests first made the headlines in 2002, showing that U.S. bishops moved abusers from parish to parish instead of defrocking them. Similar scandals have since been discovered around the world and tens of millions of dollars have been paid in compensation.
Italy arrests 12 over $17 million Verona art theft in November

ROME, March 15 (Reuters) - Twelve people suspected of stealing paintings worth some 15 million euros ($16.6 million) have been arrested, Italian police said on Tuesday.

The 17 paintings, including works by Tintoretto, Mantegna and Peter Paul Rubens, were taken by armed robbers shortly before the Castelvecchio museum in Verona closed on Nov. 19.

The robbery prompted recriminations in Italy over the lack of security at the museum, which some critics blamed on public spending cuts. Theories over the culprits ranged from local delinquents to Islamic State.

The thieves acted just after the museum's 11 staff had left but before a remote alarm system with the police station was activated. They tied up the museum cashier and forced an armed guard to hand over keys to his car, which they used to get away.

Nine of the suspects were Moldovans arrested in their homeland and three were Italians arrested in Verona, Italian media reported. The paintings were located in Moldova and were in the process of being recovered, reports said.

All the arrests were made by Verona police and paramilitary Carabinieri responsible for safeguarding the national heritage, following an investigation coordinated by city prosecutor Gennaro Ottaviano, a Verona police spokeswoman said.
Health experts train local communities to prepare for disasters

By Alisa Tang

BANGKOK, March 16 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - When natural disasters strike, most public health risks come from sectors such as housing and construction, says Iranian health and disaster expert Ali Ardalan.

A shoddy building collapses in an earthquake, people are injured, then hospitals and health professionals respond.

So Ardalan has worked to strengthen Iran's healthcare system - from hospitals to the country's 150,000 female community health volunteers - by training them in what to do when disasters strike.

"Disasters have an impact on public health, and health systems have to take a proactive approach, preventive measures to reduce the risk of disasters," said Ardalan, chair of the Disaster and Emergency Health Academy at Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

Ardalan was one of several speakers at a conference held last week in Bangkok to discuss implementation of health aspects of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction adopted by U.N. member states a year ago.

Health is a relatively new aspect of disaster risk reduction. The Sendai accord was the first to give health a higher profile, with measures to protect health by reducing damage to hospitals and ensuring medical care continues in disasters. It also tackles the risks of epidemics and pandemics.

In the decade ending in 2014, disasters caused $1.4 trillion in damage, killed about 700,000 people and affected 1.7 billion others, according to the U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.

INFRASTRUCTURE, HOSPITALS OFTEN WIPED OUT

Key infrastructure and healthcare facilities are often wiped out.

The 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China damaged or destroyed 11,000 hospitals, while the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami damaged 61 percent of health facilities in Aceh, Indonesia, killed 7 percent of the area's health workers and 30 percent of its midwives, according to the Overseas Development Institute.

Disaster health experts like Ardalan have focused on building resilience and preparing for such catastrophes.

Iran has worked to ensure its hospitals have disaster contingency plans, including evacuation plans in the event of an earthquake or flood, said Ardalan, who is also a visiting scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health and an adviser to the World Health Organization.

Iran has also trained its community health volunteers - all women - to conduct household training, which includes drawing a household earthquake risk map to show danger spots near big windows or under large ceiling lights, as well as safe spots under tables or near pillars.

Last year, the volunteers trained 500,000 households across Iran, he said.

"We believe it's better to be proactive, work with them, so they are sensitive to their safety and know how to react if something happens," he said on the sidelines of the conference.

"It's a very-cost effective intervention for the entire society."

REMOTE COMMUNITIES IN CHINA

Similar efforts are under way to provide health and disaster preparedness for ethnic minority communities in rural China.

Emily Ying Yang Chan, who worked for Medecins Sans Frontieres for 17 years and now heads the disaster and medical humanitarian response centre at Chinese University in Hong Kong (CUHK), began the ethnic minority health programme about six months after the Sichuan quake.

The typical community her team works with is two flights and a seven-hour bumpy car ride away, though one village, 5,000 metres above sea level on the Tibetan Plateau, took 17 hours to get to in a four-wheel-drive car.

Chan's approach has been to provide the knowledge or help that villagers request, on condition that her team gets to conduct disaster risk training.

Most communities want to learn more about economic development, though women also ask them to teach their husbands not to smoke or how to read food labels.

In return, Chan and her students from the Collaborating Centre for Oxford University and CUHK for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response (CCOUC) give health advice such as not burning waste indoors and reducing salt intake.

Then the team helps the community to prepare disaster kits, handing out red cloth bags, with large Chinese characters that read "rescue bag".

They put in soap, a towel, a bottle of water and non-perishable food, as well as a manual battery-less torch and a multipurpose knife with a can opener - which Chan said has often been missing from aid packages.

"A lot of agencies sent food supplies, but forgot to send a can opener, and many people come to the clinic with cuts because they use whatever they can to cut (open the can)," she said.

The ethnic minority health programme team has worked in 11 villages, visiting each one four times over a two-year period.

The biggest challenge now, Chan says, is digesting the data they have gathered, to improve and scale up assistance for the villagers.
Senator's plea drags Brazil ethanol industry into graft scandal

SAO PAULO, March 15 (Reuters) - The testimony released on Tuesday of a prominent Brazilian senator is leading prosecutors in the widening corruption scandal beyond the graft-ridden oil and electric sector that have been their main focus and into the ethanol industry.

In a 250-page plea bargain of ruling Workers' Party Senator Delcidio do Amaral, who was arrested in November for obstructing a federal investigation, the lawmaker recounts how funds allegedly skimmed from state oil company Petrobras were channeled into a massive ethanol start-up.

The testimony says former chief executive of Petrobras, Philippe Reichstul helped direct funds from Petrobras operations into the ethanol start-up group Brenco, which was created in 2006 and had investors that included Vinod Khosla, Steve Case and Tarpon Investments.

Reichstul denied Amaral's accusations, and told Reuters the senator's testimony was "absurd" and showed little understanding of project financing during his time at Petrobras and in the formation of seed capital for ethanol group Brenco.

Brenco, facing financial difficulties, was bought up in 2010 by the cane industry division of Odebrecht, Latin Americas' largest engineering conglomerate that is at the center of the massive graft scandal involving bribes and political kickbacks funded from overpriced contracts with Petroleo Brasileiro SA .

In addition to Brenco, Amaral's extensive testimony also mentions the powerful Bumlai family 111 times.

Jose Carlos Bumlai, the patriarch of the family and close confidant to former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, controls the Sao Fernando ethanol mill now in bankruptcy.
USDA chief says farmers looking ahead to possible Cuba markets

LIMA, March 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said Tuesday that farm officials want to lay the groundwork so American agricultural exporters can seize new opportunities in Cuba if the trade embargo on the country is lifted.

The normalization of trade relations would allow U.S. farmers to use lower transportation costs to edge in on the European Union's food exports to Cuba, Vilsack said.

President Barack Obama has been using his executive powers to chip away at the half-century-old trade embargo, imposed on the communist-ruled nation in 1960, but cannot lift it without approval from Congress that is unlikely under current Republican leadership.

"There are still preliminary steps that can be taken to prepare for that day," Vilsack said in an interview in Peru.

"When it happens, the United States will be in a very good position to reclaim a portion of the market we've lost."

Vilsack cited soybeans, rice, poultry and biofuels as new markets U.S. farmers could tap in Cuba, which in turn could sell organic products to its former Cold War foe.

The Obama administration is asking Congress for $1.5 million for on-the-ground studies into challenges to agricultural trade in Cuba, from pests to a diplomatic void left by decades of hostile relations.

"We have not had people on the ground," Vilsack said. "We need to develop relationships with the people in Cuba so we know who to do business with and who actually makes the deals."

Vilsack, who visited Cuba last month, said state agricultural commissioners and secretaries have also been traveling to the island on trade missions.

"They have been down to Cuba and they have come back with small contracts for commodities," Vilsack said.

Vilsack said farmers were the most excited about the reopening of relations with Cuba, once a global sugarcane powerhouse.

The U.S. would aim to meet 50 percent of Cuba's food and agricultural needs if trade resumes fully, up from less than 15 percent now, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement to Reuters after the interview.

Vilsack also said he was optimistic Obama would persuade Congress to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal before the end of his term, despite the recent surge in anti-trade rhetoric in presidential campaigns.

"The president is very committed to getting it done and he intends to work as long and hard as he needs to ultimately get it passed," Vilsack said.
In Senegal, a beach town slowly wakes up to Islamist threat

By Edward McAllister

SALY, Senegal, March 15 (Reuters) - Two days after al Qaeda gunman shot dead 18 people on an Ivory Coast beach, tourists strolled nonchalantly down a similar stretch of sand in the Senegalese resort of Saly on Tuesday, browsing trinkets on sale and paddling in the Atlantic.

Even though the jihadist group's Saharan wing, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), has made clear Senegal is in its sights because of its close ties to France, security was noticeable largely by its absence.

No police patrolled the beaches, a favourite weekend retreat 60 km (40 miles) south of the capital, Dakar, and the only guards wandering around as hotel guests sat eating breakfast in the shade of palm trees were unarmed.

And yet a cloud now hangs over Saly and resorts across West Africa after the Ivory Coast attack, which marked a change in tactics by AQIM, whose militants have in the last four months hit large hotels and restaurants in Bamako and Ouagadougou, the capitals of Mali and Burkina Faso respectively.

Ivory Coast, the largest economy in Francophone West Africa and the world's top exporter of cocoa, was already on high alert, knowing it was a target for Islamist militants keen to expand their reach beyond the Sahara and Sahel.

Elite Ivorian troops had run a simulation of just such an incident only ten days ago, according to Control Risks, a global security consultancy.

But when four gunmen hit the quiet town of Grand Bassam, it took elite troops 45 minutes to arrive and local security guards were powerless to stop the killing.

Those in Saly are only just realising how serious the threat is.

"We are not ready for an attack," said Papisse Thiam, who mans the gated entrance to a beachside compound frequented by Westerners. One unarmed person sits at the gate in the day, and five at night, he said.

"The people talk about it but they aren't afraid."

Locals said security has increased over the past year, and there were a few security guards on Saly's busy main strip, one block back from the beach. But they were unarmed and some appeared to be on traffic duty.

The Lamantin Beach Hotel, a sprawling upmarket complex favored by Europeans, added armed guards and introduced vehicle searches in November after attacks in Paris by Islamic State gunmen killed 130 people.

But the security only covers the hotel grounds and does not impact the rest of town.

"Everyone pays attention but it is difficult to be prepared for an attack," said Fatou Fall, a manager at Lamantin. "The menace is real. We cross our fingers and hope," she said.

Many holiday-makers were confident of their safety.

"It's a bit worrying, but there is no problem," said Ramera, a middle-aged French tourist.

"WE DON'T WANT SOLDIERS"

Despite political upheaval and civil wars across the region, West Africa has experienced few of the targeted attacks now being launched routinely by AQIM, which experts say is flexing its muscles to ward off encroachment from Islamic State militants.

Experts worry that despite international assistance, particularly from France and the United States, regional cooperation and intelligence gathering are too weak to catch the spread of militancy or halt attack plans.

Moreover, the isolation of smaller beach towns makes reacting to an attack harder.

"While these states may be on alert, their counter-terrorism capability is below par," said Andre Colling, Chief Lead Analyst at crisis management assistance company red24.

"A committed assault against what is supposed to be a well-secured high-value target can be achieved fairly simply. States in the region simply don't have the resources to deal with this threat and we should expect more."

Yet many in Saly remain unfazed. Yaunick Le Moal, who owns Hotel Les Flamboyants on its main strip, laughed off the threat, saying the French cities of Paris or Marseilles were far more dangerous.

Damien Trilles, who runs a beach bar frequented by French and Belgians, was equally unconcerned, hoping mainly that the perception of danger would not keep people away. Tourism has only just recovered from the Ebola virus outbreak, he said.
Japan ruling party considers international arbitration over China dispute

TOKYO, March 16 (Reuters) - Japan's ruling party urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government on Wednesday to consider seeking international arbitration over Beijing's drilling activities in the disputed East China Sea, mirroring similar action by the Philippines.

Sino-Japanese ties have long been plagued by conflicting claims over a group of uninhabited East China Sea islets. Last year, Japan called on China to halt construction of oil-and-gas exploration platforms in the East China Sea.

At the time, Tokyo accused Beijing of unilateral development despite a 2008 agreement to maintain cooperation on resources development in the area, where no official border between them has been drawn.

China said then it had every right to drill in the East China Sea close to waters it disputes with Japan.

The Philippines has lodged a case with an arbitration court in The Hague about its dispute with China in the South China Sea. China reacted angrily and has pledged not to participate.

Wednesday's resolution by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) called on Abe's government to firmly ask China for the prompt resumption of talks on the drilling issue, as well as to consider taking the case to an international arbitration court.

"If China shrugs off the request, some action must be taken," Yoshiaki Harada, head of an LDP panel on resources development in the East China Sea, told reporters.

"Everyone has agreed that we should not shy away from taking the matter to an international arbitration court and starting preparation for that step should be considered," Harada said after an LDP meeting on the resolution.
April oil freeze meeting may go ahead without Iran - sources

By Rania El Gamal and Alex Lawler

March 16 (Reuters) - Oil producers including Gulf OPEC members still support holding a meeting next month to discuss a deal to freeze output even without Iran, OPEC sources said, as political pressure to prop up prices increases.

On Monday, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said after talks in Tehran that a deal could be signed in April and exclude Iran, which has the right to boost output after years of sanctions.

Kuwait, for example, has been arguing that all major producers need to be part of the output freeze.

While an exemption for Iran is not ideal, it is not a deal breaker, OPEC sources said.

"It's a setback but it will not necessarily change the positive atmosphere that has already started," said one OPEC source from a major producer, referring to Iran saying it will not join any freeze accord.

"There are still talks about a possible meeting between main producers," the source said.

Brent crude was trading just under $39 a barrel on Wednesday, up from a 12-year low of $27.10 reached in January.

A prelimninary deal to freeze output at January levels, reached last month by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Venezuela plus non-OPEC member Russia, has helped to support prices.

A second delegate from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said not having Iran in the pact was not the perfect outcome but it was not the worst.

"If the others freeze and the Iranians are outside the agreement, it will not help the market unless the demand is very large," this delegate said. "January output is already at high levels."

APRIL MEETING?

Three OPEC sources told Reuters on Monday that OPEC and non-OPEC producers were likely to meet in mid-April in Doha.

"You can't ignore all other oil producers. The meeting is likely to go ahead," a third source said, adding that the April meeting is likely to discuss and finalise the details of the freeze deal. "We will not just meet for the sake of meeting."

It was not clear which countries besides the original four would attend. Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have both said they would also commit to the freeze if other major producers did, but they have not received an invitation yet.
PRESS DIGEST - RUSSIA - March 16

MOSCOW, March 16 (Reuters) - The following are some stories in Russia's newspapers on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

VEDOMOSTI

www.vedomosti.ru

- Russian companies will have to disclose their beneficiaries, according to a bill which lawmakers received for consideration from the government.

- Lawmakers are considering amendments which if passed could give "foreign agent" status to Russia's biggest charity funds, the daily reports.

KOMMERSANT

www.kommersant.ru

- The Health Ministry suggests restricting entry into Russia for foreigners who have no medical insurance.

- A group of senior officials of the Culture Ministry, including Deputy Minister Grigory Pirumov, was detained by police on charges of abuse of office and miappropriation of budget funds.

RBC

www.rbc.ru

- Russia may have spent up to 38 billion roubles ($535.44 million) on its military operation in Syria, the daily writes.

- Russia's withdrawal from Syria could affect the peace process in the region which has become possible due to the military achievements of President Bashar al-Assad with Russia's air force support, the daily reports.

- The resignation of Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky in connection with the corruption scandal in his ministry is not on the agenda, the daily quotes Kremlin sources as saying.

ROSSISKAYA GAZETA

www.rg.ru

- Official data published by the daily show that the cost of living in Russia in the last four months of 2015 stood at 9,452 roubles ($132.95).

IZVESTIA

www.izvestia.ru

- Duma deputy Roman Khudyakov has discovered a number of videos on YouTube which he says offend Russia's president. The indignant lawmaker suggested passing a bill which would introduce criminal responsibility for such actions. He recommended that the Investigative Committee should file lawsuits against those posting offensive videos.

NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA

www.ng.ru

- Russian police chief Vladimir Kolokoltsev said on Tuesday that crime in Russia had grown by 9 percent over the past year, while police had failed to solve 50 percent of all criminal offences registered, the daily reports. Kolokoltsev blamed the shortcomings on a lack of personnel, the paper added.
Denmark world's happiest country, Burundi least: new report shows

By Philip Pullella

ROME, March 16 (Reuters) - Denmark overtook Switzerland as the world's happiest place, according to a report on Wednesday that urged nations regardless of wealth to tackle inequality and the environment.

The report, prepared by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Earth Institute at Columbia University, showed Syria, Afghanistan and eight sub-Saharan countries as the 10 least happy places on earth to live.

The top 10 this year were Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, and Sweden. Denmark was in third place last year, behind Switzerland and Iceland.

The bottom 10 were Madagascar, Tanzania, Liberia, Guinea, Rwanda, Benin, Afghanistan, Togo, Syria and Burundi.

The United States came in at 13, the United Kingdom at 23, France at 32, and Italy at 50.

"There is a very strong message for my country, the United States, which is very rich, has gotten a lot richer over the last 50 years, but has gotten no happier," said Professor Jeffrey Sachs, head of the SDSN and special advisor to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

While the differences between countries where people are happy and those where they are not could be scientifically measured, "we can understand why and do something about it," Sachs, one of the report's authors, told Reuters in an interview in Rome.

"The message for the United States is clear. For a society that just chases money, we are chasing the wrong things. Our social fabric is deteriorating, social trust is deteriorating, faith in government is deteriorating," he said.

Aiming to "survey the scientific underpinnings of measuring and understanding subjective well-being," the report, now in its fourth edition, ranks 157 countries by happiness levels using factors such as per capita gross domestic product (GDP) and healthy years of life expectancy.

It also rates "having someone to count on in times of trouble" and freedom from corruption in government and business.

"When countries single-mindedly pursue individual objectives, such as economic development to the neglect of social and environmental objectives, the results can be highly adverse for human wellbeing, even dangerous for survival," it said.

"Many countries in recent years have achieved economic growth at the cost of sharply rising inequality, entrenched social exclusion, and grave damage to the natural environment."

YARDSTICK FOR HAPPINESS

The first report was issued in 2012 to support a U.N. meeting on happiness and well-being. Five countries - Bhutan, Ecuador, Scotland, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela - now have appointed Ministers of Happiness charged with promoting it as a goal of public policy.

The 2016 survey showed that three countries in particular, Ireland, Iceland and Japan, were able to maintain their happiness levels despite external shocks such as the post-2007 economic crisis and the 2011 earthquake because of social support and solidarity.
Slovak Republic - Factors To Watch on March 16

BRATISLAVA, March 16 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial markets on Wednesday. ALL TIMES GMT (Slovak Republic: GMT + 1 hours) =========================ECONOMIC DATA======================== Real-time economic data releases................... Previous stories on Slovak data............ Overview of economic data and forecasts......... ===========================EVENTS============================== BRATISLAVA - Four parties led by Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer party will continue coalition talks. Related news: BRATISLAVA - Statistics office will release industrial orders data for January. Related news: ===========================NEWS================================ COALITION TALKS: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Tuesday his leftist Smer party and three others had signed an agreement on a programme as part of talks on forming a new government. CEE POWER: Forecasts for a rise in solar and wind generation and increasing temperatures that cut demand pushed central and southeastern European day-ahead power mainly lower on Tuesday, traders said. Story: Related news: For Instant Views of key economic data click on For summary of economic data and forecasts For diary of forthcoming Slovak events For calendar of east European economic indicators TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets TOP NEWS -- Convergence watch For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX News editor of the day: Jan Lopatka on +420 224 190 474 E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (Reporting by Prague Newsroom)
Philippine frontrunner favours easing foreign ownership in media, utilities

By Karen Lema

MANILA, March 16 (Reuters) - Grace Poe, frontrunner in the Philippines' presidential election campaign, said on Wednesday she favoured relaxing restrictions on foreign ownership in utilities and media as part of changes she would introduce in the constitution.

The May 9 election is being closely watched by investors who fear the political succession could derail average economic growth of more than 6 percent a year and stall efforts to crack down on corruption made under outgoing President Benigno Aquino, who is limited to one term.

Poe, who is a senator, has campaigned on a pro-poor platform, promising to build on Aquino's programmes of creating jobs and building infrastructure, which have helped propel one of Asia's fastest growing economies.

Foreigners are barred from owning media companies in the Philippines and are restricted to 40 percent ownership of public utilities.

"Within my first month in office, it will be part of the agenda, the economic amendments of our constitution," Poe, 47, told a business forum in Manila, referring to relaxing restrictions on foreign ownership in utilities and media.

"Why not allow more foreign ownership for as long as they employ Filipinos and there is also a technology transfer? I am not for land ownership but I am for media, for certain utilities, for academic institutions and also for the medical profession."

The Supreme Court on March 8 ruled that Poe, who spent much of her life in the United States, was eligible to run for president, reversing a decision by the election commission that disqualified her on grounds that she failed to meet a 10-year residency requirement.

Poe also supported the lifting of a bank secrecy law as senators launched an investigation on Tuesday into millions of dollars hackers stole from the Bangladesh central bank's account at the New York Fed and found their way into a Philippine bank.

Poe has been leading opinion polls with Aquino's chosen successor, former interior minister Manuel Roxas, lagging behind her and Vice President Jejomar Binay.

She is the adopted daughter of action movie hero Fernando Poe who died soon after making an unsuccessful run for the presidency in 2004.

She said she was also keen on signing free trade agreements with other countries if elected.

On the South China Sea, Poe said there was a "need to be able to engage China constructively to follow a peaceful code of conduct" but added the Philippine military should be strengthened.

"If our defence is strong then we will not be bullied as easily as we are being bullied now."
Indonesia security forces kill two Chinese Uighur militants in Sulawesi shootout

By Agustinus Beo Da Costa and Kanupriya Kapoor

JAKARTA, March 16 (Reuters) - Indonesian security forces have killed two ethnic Uighur Chinese belonging to a militant network led by the country's most wanted man, police said on Wednesday.

Indonesia has launched an aggressive, military-backed, security campaign in the jungles of Sulawesi island as it battles the threat from growing domestic support for the Islamic State militant group.

Police said the men, part of China's Uighur Muslim minority, had joined Santoso, a militant in Poso in central Sulawesi, who is Indonesia's most high-profile backer of Islamic State, and has been on the run for more than three years.

Tuesday's shootout followed a challenge by security forces to a group of unknown men to identify themselves, during an operation to comb through a forested area of Poso, which is more than 1,600 km (994 miles) northeast of Jakarta, the capital.

"Based on testimony from another suspect we had arrested, those two were identified as Uighurs," said Central Sulawesi police spokesman Hari Suprapto, adding that authorities had notified the Chinese embassy in Jakarta.

A Chinese embassy press official told Reuters no information had yet been received on the deaths, however.

Four other Uighur men were jailed last year for attempting to join the same militant network, whose leader authorities say they have cornered, after a hunt that lasted more than a year and involved hundreds of troops.

"We have been successful in surrounding them. Their supplies have started to dwindle," the chief security minister, Luhut Pandjaitan, told reporters last week. "We hope Santoso will surrender, but we are prepared for the worst-case scenario."

Asked for an expected timeframe, he gave no details.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Uighurs keen to escape unrest in their far western Chinese homeland of Xinjiang have travelled clandestinely via Southeast Asia to Turkey.

China says they often end up crossing into Syria and Iraq to fight for Islamic State militants.

Hundreds of people have been killed over the past few years in resource-rich Xinjiang, strategically located on the borders of central Asia, in violence between Uighurs and ethnic majority Han Chinese.
PRESS DIGEST- Canada-March 16

March 16 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from selected Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

THE GLOBE AND MAIL

** The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has ruled out pursuing criminal investigations against 24 of 30 current and former senators whose expenses were flagged by Auditor-General Michael Ferguson after a two-year forensic audit of the Red Chamber, sources say. (http://bit.ly/1R2ndtg)

** More than C$16 billion ($11.97 billion) in value was wiped out Tuesday for drug manufacturer Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc, after it cut expectations for its growth and recovery. (http://bit.ly/1Uvz87A)

** M&M Meat Shops Ltd is changing its name to M&M Food Market and broadening its offerings as it tries to win back consumers to its frozen fare by persuading them to stock up for an entire meal and not just on meat. (http://bit.ly/1Lq4rzn)

NATIONAL POST

** Empire Co Ltd's extremely weak third quarter results, thanks to a sharp gross margin pullback in food retailing, is the result of a deterioration in its Western Canadian business.(http://bit.ly/22ltmYN)

** Amazon.com Inc has investors in the transportation sector rattled. The e-commerce giant appears to be making a big push into managing its freight transportation capacity internally, as opposed to outsourcing it. (http://bit.ly/1Pbs7Sx) ($1 = 1.3371 Canadian dollars)
China's $60 bln Africa pledge not threatened by slowdown - ambassador

By Aaron Maasho

ADDIS ABABA, March 16 (Reuters) - China's economic slowdown will not threaten its plans to plough $60 billion into African development projects, Beijing's ambassador to Ethiopia said.

Africa could even benefit as Chinese companies looked for investments while their own economy adjusts, Li Yifan told Reuters.

China's economy grew 6.9 percent in 2015, its slowest pace in a quarter of a century. Beijing's sharp drawdown of reserves to alleviate downward pressure on its yuan currency has unnerved global markets in recent months.

"In spite of all the doubts, I can share with you that the relevant government departments, development banks, and insurance companies in China are engaging ... their African counterparts on how to make this grand plan come (to fruition)," Li said in Addis Ababa, which hosts the African Union.

"You are going to wait and see gradual materialisation of this cooperative framework laid down by the Chinese and African leaders in Johannesburg," Li added late on Tuesday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the multi-billion dollar development initiative at a summit in South Africa last year, saying it would boost agriculture, build roads, ports and railways and cancel some debt.

"While the Chinese economy is shifting gears, all those major industries that have powered the explosion of Chinese infrastructure over the past 30 years have to find a place (to invest)," Li said.
Two suicide bombers kill 22 at mosque in northeast Nigeria's Maiduguri

By Lanre Ola

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, March 16 (Reuters) - Two female suicide bombers killed 22 people on Wednesday at a mosque outside the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, the heart of a seven-year-old insurgency by Islamist Boko Haram militants, a military spokesman said.

The attack, which also wounded 18 people, occurred during morning prayers in the village of Ummarari, six km (four miles) from the centre of the capital of Borno state in Africa's most populous country and biggest energy producer.

It was the first such assault in the northeast since early February, when two suicide bombers - also women - blew themselves up at a camp for internally displaced people in Dikwa, 85 km (50 miles) from Maiduguri..

"Sadly, 22 people were killed and 18 others sustained various degrees of injuries ... The first attack targeted a mosque, while the second blast was about 50 metres away, a few minutes later," said military spokesman Colonel Sani Usman.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, the first in Maiduguri since 65 people were killed in January, but it resembled others by Boko Haram in its campaign to carve out an Islamic state in the region.
Hague drops summons for Serb suspect, averting stand-off

By Thomas Escritt

AMSTERDAM, March 16 (Reuters) - Judges averted a potential stand-off between the European Union and Serbia on Wednesday by excusing a war crimes suspect from returning to The Hague for his verdict because he needed medical treatment unavailable there.

The decision, overturning an earlier compulsory court summons for nationalist politician Vojislav Seselj, avoided the risk of a confrontation that could have led to EU sanctions on Serbia for failing to carry out the summons.

Seselj, accused of using firebrand nationalist rhetoric to incite persecution and murder during the wars that accompanied the break-up of Yugoslavia, is popular among some of the right-wing government's supporters, who would protest his extradition.

Judges said they had received confidential information on Seselj's health from Serbian authorities which had led them to lift their order for him to be present for his verdict on March 31.

"It appears from Serbia's response that the medical treatment can neither be interrupted nor carried out in The Hague," judges wrote.

In 2014, the nationalist politician was released conditionally on medical grounds by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, but was summoned back when he violated a court order to stay out of public life.

"I will not go voluntarily to The Hague. Whether they'll carry me to the airport or something else, I do not know," Seselj said in Belgrade on Tuesday.

The climb-down comes a week before the court rules in the case against wartime Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, charged with genocide for his role in the early 1990s Bosnian war in which 100,000 were killed as ethnic Serbs and Croats carved ethnically pure statelets out of multiethnic Bosnia.
Thailand urged to protect asylum seekers as trafficking trial starts

By Alisa Tang

BANGKOK, March 16 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Rights activists urged Thailand on Wednesday to pass laws protecting refugees and asylum seekers, as a Thai court began the trial of 92 suspected human traffickers arrested after the bodies of migrants were found in shallow jungle graves.

The call for asylum seekers to have legal protection and access to asylum procedures came in a statement by several human rights groups, which also urged the authorities to halt arbitrary detentions of vulnerable people.

There are an estimated 3.7 million migrants in Thailand, including 130,000 refugees and asylum seekers fleeing violence, conflict and persecution in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

While Thailand has come under fire for its treatment of asylum seekers - sending some back to the home countries they have fled - the government defended its record on Wednesday.

"We respect human rights, and we respect the law. We have always stuck to these two principles," government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in response to the groups' statement.

"Authorities detain them because they have entered the country illegally," he said, adding that some asylum seekers here may have broken the law back home.

Thailand has hosted thousands of refugees for decades.

More than 100,000 Myanmar refugees live in thatch huts in nine camps along the Thai-Myanmar border, the first influx having arrived in 1984.

In recent years, Syrians fleeing war have joined urban asylum seekers in the capital Bangkok, while Rohingya Muslims escaping apartheid-like conditions in Myanmar have been smuggled by sea and held for ransom in squalid trafficking camps where the graves were found, before being granted passage to Malaysia.

Many rescued Rohingya trafficking victims, including children, are being held in government-run shelters and detention centres.

The rights groups said urban asylum seekers, who wait an average of four years before the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) determines their refugee status, are at risk of arbitrary arrest by Thai authorities.

Thailand last year also handed over to China more than 100 Uighur asylum seekers and Chinese refugees awaiting resettlement in Canada.

The groups pressed Thailand to ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention and "commit to concrete actions" to protect the rights of asylum seekers, refugees, and trafficking survivors during the U.N. review of the country's human rights record in May.

Since it is not party to the convention and lacks protection laws, Thailand considers asylum seekers and refugees to be violating its domestic immigration law and subject to detention and deportation, putting them at further risk of abuse.

"A key to minimizing the abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking of displaced populations in Thailand is recognition and protection," Amy Smith, executive director of Fortify Rights, said in the statement.
Best of both worlds? Norway is in two minds about EU ties

By Alister Doyle and Stine Jacobsen

OSLO, March 16 (Reuters) - It sounds like the best of both worlds: Norway sells fresh and frozen salmon worth billions of dollars to the European Union almost tariff-free, while curbing EU food imports to protect local farmers.

The fish and agriculture deals are among those that Norway, which twice rejected European Union membership in referendums in 1972 and 1994, has negotiated with the EU in order to access the bloc's 500 million consumers.

It is an arrangement many eurosceptics say is an inspiration for Britain if it leaves the EU after a June 23 referendum. Both countries have their own currency. Norway, unlike Britain, has joined the passport-free Schengen area facilitating worker and traveller mobility.

Yet many Norwegians say the compromise, under which Norway has stayed outside EU fish and agriculture policies and subsidises for example farmers to keep dairy cows in heated barns in the Arctic, is not as good as it looks.

Norway's 5.2 million people pay hundreds of millions of euros to the EU to take part in its internal market, and have 5,000 laws based on EU directives. Norway has a theoretical right to veto directives but has never once said "No", fearing it would jeopardise the whole relationship, officials say.

And the Oslo government has no real say in the bloc's governance. "The Norwegian model is integration without representation," said Ulf Sverdrup, director of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs.

Sverdrup oversaw a 900-page official review of two decades of ties to the EU in 2012 that likened the relationship to a "download democracy" of instructions sent by email from Brussels.

As Britain debates the extent of its future in Europe, Norway's situation is emblematic of the irreversible integration of Europe, despite this continent's faltering efforts to become a true political bloc.

The reason Norway has to accept EU rules is to ensure its businesses have equal conditions for competition with EU peers. That counts in areas from international postal services to telecoms. It's important because 80 percent of Norway's exports go to the EU.

"You go to the office and find that Microsoft has upgraded your computer overnight without you knowing. Do you accept or not?" Sverdrup said, noting that most people unthinkingly press "Yes", just as, he said, many Norwegians feel forced to accept EU directives.

BIG BENEFITS

Whether or not the nation should have full EU membership has been one of the most dominant and divisive issues in modern Norwegian political debate.

The Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister Erna Solberg, would have liked Norway to have full membership.

"Norway would have been better off inside the EU," she told Reuters, adding that it would give Oslo a voice in shaping continent-wide policies.

Yet many believe Norway, which has grown rich thanks to oil and gas before the recent price fall, is better off outside the EU. The Oslo government has built a vast $835 billion sovereign wealth fund, the world's biggest. It holds about $160,000 for each of Norway's 5.2 million people.

"It would be a great inspiration if Britain leaves," said Kathrine Kleveland, head of Norway's "No to the EU" group.

Still, the issue is on the back burner for now because of the two "No" votes. And no poll since 2005 has shown a majority in favour of EU membership.

Beyond the debate, the Scandinavian country has made big gains from access to the EU market as a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) since 1992 - with fellow outsiders Iceland and Liechtenstein. In addition to the bulk of Norway's exports going to the EU, 60 percent of Norway's imports come from the EU.

The 31-nation EEA, comprising the three outsiders and 28 EU states, aims to ensure freedom of movement for goods, capital, people and services. The three small non-members are consulted on rule-making but lack a vote when decisions are taken.

"Norwegian industry and business would have struggled without the EEA," said Elisabeth Aspaker, Norway's EEA and EU Affairs Minister. Still, she said there is a "democratic deficit" because Oslo has no say in making laws that ultimately affect the country.

PERFECT SCORE

Norway was best of all EEA nations in implementing EU directives into law, with a perfect score of zero delays in a 2015 official EEA scorecard. On average, EU nations lagged in implementing 0.7 percent of directives, with Italy worst at 1.6 percent.

Solberg and Aspaker's Conservatives, who supported membership in 1972 and 1994, bemoan a lack of say over EU policy-making even in areas such as oil and gas, where Norway is the number two energy exporter to the EU after Russia.

The Conservatives are now resigned to the EEA as a compromise for a NATO member where voters rejected EU membership, fearing loss of sovereignty. Asked if Norway should pull out of the EEA, 61 percent said "No" in a poll in January, with 23 percent saying "Yes".

The size of payments to the EU in both Norway and Britain, and how to gauge benefits and costs, is hotly debated. Both nations have a long and independent, sea-faring and trading history but now have to weigh that against the benefits of belonging to a bloc given the nature of world trade.

Norway's Foreign Ministry says Norway's main annual contributions are 388 million euros ($430.29 million) for core EEA access from 2014-21, and 472 million euros, mainly to take part in EU programmes for scientific research and innovation.

Taken together, that gives a total of 860 million euros, or about 165 euros for each Norwegian every year. Norway also pays some smaller amounts, for instance to take part in Schengen.

By contrast, a UK parliamentary report in January estimated that Britain paid a net 8.5 billion pounds ($11.99 billion) to the EU last year - about 170 euros each for a population of 64.6 million. It forecast the amount would fluctuate between 11.1 billion and 7.9 billion pounds until 2020.

Many campaigners for Britain to leave the EU say they will be able to avoid the drawbacks of the "Norway option".

Britain's "Vote Leave" campaign says Britain would negotiate a free trade deal with the EU but, unlike Norway, "we (will) end the supremacy of EU law. We regain control." Campaigners say Britain's far bigger economy would have far more clout.

By contrast, Prime Minister David Cameron, who wants Britain to stay in the EU, has explicitly said Norway pays too much and lacks influence.

SMOKING SALMON IN POLAND

The world's biggest producer of farmed salmon, Norway exported fish worth $4.12 billion to the EU in 2015.

According to a deal with the EU, Norway pays a 2 percent duty to sell fresh and frozen salmon to the bloc. Oslo pays a higher price, of 13 percent, on smoked and other processed salmon.

Norway has found a way to circumvent this higher tax on processed fish. Many Norwegian firms have bought processing plants in the EU, mainly in Poland, to smoke salmon. Aspaker says Norway has created 12,000 jobs in the EU, mainly to process the fish.

At the same time, as Norway is not tied by the EU farms and fisheries regimes, Oslo is allowed to protect its farmers.

Norway's farmers received 58 percent of their income from government subsidies in 2014, the highest of any rich nation, according to the Paris-based OECD.

Norwegian farmers are protected by import barriers and by government guarantees of minimum prices for their food. Norwegian consumers help to pay for farmers' steep production costs both through taxes and by paying high prices in shops for everything from beef and lamb to potatoes and carrots.

Many Norwegians dislike the high prices and visit neighbouring EU member Sweden, where their weekly shop is cheaper.

Gunn Nilsen is the manager of Fromagerie, a shop in Oslo selling foreign cheeses, including Camembert from France, Stilton from Britain and Gouda from the Netherlands. Import tariffs start at 27 crowns ($3.15) per kilo, which makes her cheeses a luxury.

"The Norwegian system makes no sense," she says.
Norway satisfies EU smoked salmon appetite through Polish back-door

By Alister Doyle

OSLO, March 16 (Reuters) - Thousands of workers in Poland have jobs marinating and smoking Norwegian salmon thanks to a difference in tariffs imposed by the European Union on the Nordic non-member which is the world's biggest exporter of the fish.

Norway, which farms salmon in pens in fjords, sells fresh and frozen salmon to the EU in 2016 with a minimal two percent tariff. But it has to pay a 13 percent rate on processed fish, making it unprofitable to process salmon at home.

To skirt the higher rate, Norway sends container-loads of fresh fish to EU member Poland, the top single destination for Norway's salmon.

Norwegian exporters pay smokehouses in Poland, where wage costs are much lower than in Norway, to process the fish that then gets re-exported tariff-free within the 28-member EU.

Some Norwegian companies including top salmon farmer Marine Harvest have bought smokehouses in Poland, so the profits go straight back to Norway. Other smokehouses are Polish-owned.

Salmon is one example of how the Nordic country has managed its relationship with the European Union, sometimes cited as a model if British voters decide to leave the EU in a June 23 referendum.

Norway's ties with the EU have not always been amicable. The EU imposed anti-dumping penalties on Norway's salmon exports in 2006. Norway took the case to the World Trade Organization, and a compromise paved the way to the current regime of duties.

Norway has free trade in many areas with the 28-nation EU but has stayed outside fisheries and farm policies, forcing it to negotiate deals, such as the one satisfying the EU appetite for smoked salmon through the back door of Poland.

"We're moving employees and activity out of Norway and into EU countries," said Trond Davidsen, deputy managing director of the Norwegian Seafood Federation which represents 500 fish farming firms.

PACKAGING, HYGIENE AND SEA LICE

Norway's cabinet minister who deals with the European Union, Elisabeth Aspaker, estimates that Norway has created 12,000 jobs in the EU, mainly processing fish. "There's no such thing as a free lunch," she said of Norway's complex EU ties.

Norway exported 1.19 million tonnes of salmon worth a record 47.7 billion crowns ($5.56 billion) last year, from sushi to frozen fish, according to the government-owned Norwegian Seafood Council. Poland was the biggest market on 5.8 billion crowns, ahead of France and Britain.

Norwegian farmers raise fish in pens in their picturesque fjords along a long, rugged coastline, and compete with EU farmers in Scotland and Ireland. Farmed salmon was first reared in Norway in the 1960s.

Norway must abide by EU rules on packaging and hygiene - for example controlling the sea lice that stick to the fish, or the use of antibiotics. The Oslo government says those rules are not hard to implement.

"We generally have stricter standards," said Paul Aandahl, an analyst at the Seafood Council.

Overall, Davidsen says Norwegian fishermen oppose the idea of EU membership, even though it would mean easier access for salmon.

Fishermen reckon the Oslo government is better than Brussels at setting sustainable quotas for fish such as cod or herring to avoid over-fishing. Staying outside the EU has also let Norway keep harpooning whales, despite strong opposition by the EU.

Beijing has restricted salmon imports from Norway since the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2010 Peace Prize to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. Davidsen said it was impossible to know if EU membership might have given Beijing pause, fearing EU sanctions in return. ($1 = 8.5799 Norwegian crowns)
Germany's top Nazi hunter to keep up chase for another decade

By Madeline Chambers

BERLIN, March 16 (Reuters) - Undeterred by dwindling numbers of living suspects, Germany's top Nazi hunter is determined to keep tracking down criminals involved in Hitler's murder machine for another decade.

As a handful of new Auschwitz-related trials get underway, Jens Rommel says his work is getting more difficult every year and yields only modest results. But it still matters.

"We help to make sure these crimes don't disappear into history and that they have a relevance today ... There is still a lot of work to do," said Rommel, no relation to Hitler's Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.

Ageing suspects, most of whom deny guilt, are growing frail, making the race to prosecute them all the more pressing.

Germany's state justice ministers last year gave Rommel's Central Office for the Investigation of Nazi Crimes up to 10 more years to continue its investigative work, before it is turned into a documentation centre.

The 2011 conviction of Sobibor death camp guard John Demjanjuk also gave it new legal territory to explore - it was the first time that involvement in a death camp was seen as sufficient grounds for culpability even without proof of a specific crime.

"Even with no hard proof of a specific deed, being a wheel in the machinery of a camp is now punishable," said Rommel.

"NEVER TOO LATE"

Demjanjuk's conviction 70 years after the crimes did not come too late for Dutch Jew David van Huiden whose parents and sister died in Sobibor's gas chambers.

"It's never too late because the crimes committed are so overwhelmingly heavy that even today nobody could understand how this could happen in a civilised society," said the 84-year-old who sat through some of the trial.

The case widened the net of possible suspects and triggered a wave of new investigations into guards, medics and other camp workers which has led to the current trials.

The same legal argument was used to convict Oskar Groening, the "bookkeeper of Auschwitz" last year and to charge camp guard Reinhold Hanning, on trial in Detmold.

Auschwitz guard Ernst Tremmel is to go on trial near Frankfurt in April while a case against Auschwitz medic, Hubert Zafke, this month stalled due to his frail health. Both are over 90.

Rommel, who took over the Office in October, is also sifting through former Soviet records and chasing leads in Argentina where many Nazis fled.

The intense activity at the organisation's base in the western town of Ludwigsburg coincides with a new zeal among young Germans to ask about their grandparents' role in the Nazi era.

PAST FAILURES

Many victims and perpetrators blocked out the traumatic experiences after the war to build new lives.

Now, few Germans openly oppose putting suspects on trial although some argue pictures of frail men in their 90s shuffling into courtrooms are grotesque.

Some criticise Germany for letting many high-ranking Nazis and SS members escape justice only for their juniors to be convicted now.

An international military tribunal put some top Nazi leaders, including Hermann Goering and Rudolf Hess, on trial soon after World War Two in the Nuremburg Trials.

But in the 1950s and 60s, a West German judiciary comprising many former Nazis had little appetite to pursue Hitler's henchmen at a time when many Germans argued they had been held hostage by 'Der Fuehrer'.

Between 1945 and 2005 West German courts convicted 6,656 Nazi criminals out of more than 36,000 investigations into more than 170,000 suspects, a study by historian Andreas Eichmueller showed in 2008. The numbers, which also include prosecutions in the former Communist East since 1989, have only increased by one or two since then, he said.

"From today's point of view and in terms of victims' need for justice, there has certainly been (a failure of justice)," said Eichmueller, of Munich's Nazi documentation centre.

But he also argued that given the scale of support for the Nazi regime among Germans, it would have been unimaginable to put tens of thousands of people on trial.
Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea sign maritime security agreement

ABUJA, March 16 (Reuters) - Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea signed an agreement to establish combined patrols to bolster security in the Gulf of Guinea, which has been plagued by piracy in the last few years, a spokesman for Nigeria's president said on Wednesday.

Garba Shehu said the agreement, which comes amid the backdrop of a rise in pipeline attacks in the oil-producing Niger Delta region of Africa's biggest crude producer, was signed late on Tuesday by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.

Pirate attacks in West Africa's Gulf of Guinea, a significant source of oil, cocoa and metals for world markets, pose a threat to shipping companies. Pirates target oil tankers, usually wanting hostages for ransom and to sell stolen fuel.

"The conclusion and signing of the agreement is expected to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea and help in curbing maritime crimes such as piracy, crude oil theft, sabotage of oil rigs and arms smuggling," said Shehu.

In a statement, Shehu said the agreement -- signed at the end of Buhari's two-day visit to Equatorial Guinea's capital, Malabo -- established "a combined Maritime Policing and Security Patrol Committee".

The creeks and waterways of the Niger Delta are connected to the Gulf of Guinea.

Earlier this week Nigeria's information minister vowed that the government would prosecute those who attack the country's oil pipelines.
Canada to run for 2021-2022 U.N. Security Council seat -Trudeau

UNITED NATIONS, March 16 (Reuters) - Canada will campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council in 2021-2022, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday, pitting the country against Ireland, Norway and San Marino for two spots.

"Protecting vulnerable populations, leading on the world's stage and engaging on some of this era's greatest challenges - this is the Canada of today, this is how we build the world of tomorrow," Trudeau told reporters and diplomats during a visit to the United Nations in New York.

The 15-member council has five veto-powers - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - and 10 members elected for two-year terms. The 193-member U.N. General Assembly will hold an election in 2020 for the seat Canada wants.

"Our last term concluded in 2000. With a renewed commitment to international peace and security, now is the time for our return," Trudeau said.

Canada has previously served six terms on the 15-member council, but suffered a humiliating defeat in 2010, under Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, when it was forced to withdraw from the race, conceding victory to Portugal.

At the time, foreign affairs analysts largely blamed the failure on Canada's belated campaign and policies likely to have alienated large voting blocs, such as a strong pro-Israel Middle East policy and reductions in aid to poor African nations.

Trudeau's Liberals came to power last November, toppling Harper's Conservatives after nine years in power.
Zimbabwe expects first IMF loan in nearly two decades this year

By MacDonald Dzirutwe

HARARE, March 16 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe expects a loan from the International Monetary Fund(IMF) in the third quarter of this year, the first since 1999, after paying off foreign lenders by the end of June, the central bank governor said on Wednesday.

President Robert Mugabe's government last week agreed to major reforms including compensation for evicted white farmers and a big reduction in public sector wages as the government tries to woo back international lenders.

Central bank governor John Mangudya said the IMF would decide the exact amount of the loan to issue at a later date. The fund had agreed to double the amount available for Zimbabwe, known as a financial quota, to $984 million, he said.

"We are talking about the third quarter, that's when you see most of the action happening," Mangudya told Reuters in an interview, referring to when Harare expected the loan.

Zimbabwe would also receive an $896 million loan from an unnamed country to pay off arrears to the World Bank.

In addition, the African Export-Import Bank would provide $601 million for Harare to clear arrears to the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Zimbabwe would then receive the same amount as a grant from the AfDB, Mangudya said.

The Southern African country's foreign debt stands at $8.3 billion, of which $1.8 billion is arrears.

Zimbabwe is trying to emerge from years of international isolation, largely blamed on Mugabe's policies, including the seizures of farms from white farmers.

The worst drought since 1992 has left 4 million Zimbabweans facing hunger.

Mangudya said the drought had forced the government to lower its growth target for 2016 to below 2 percent from 2.7 percent. The IMF and World Bank forecast growth of 1.4 percent and 1.5 percent respectively.

Once Zimbabwe clears its arrears, it would be ready for rating by international ratings agencies, with a view to issue international bonds in future, said Mangudya.

Mangudya said he supported the government's decision to take over diamond mining in Marange because the government was receiving little money from the operations.

"After the rating we will then go for the Eurobonds and all to raise money on the international capital markets," he said.

The government had issued $250 million in treasury bills to raise money for its operations in 2015, Mangudya said, adding that the bank would soon start holding public auctions of treasury bills to enhance transparency in state borrowing.
South Africa's deputy finmin says rejected finmin role offered by Gupta family

JOHANNESBURG, March 16 (Reuters) - South Africa's deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas said he rejected an offer by a wealthy family with close links to President Jacob Zuma to take up the position of finance minister to replace former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene.

"Members of the Gupta family offered me the position of Minister of Finance to replace then Minister (Nhlanhla) Nene," Jonas said in a statement. "I rejected this out of hand. The basis of my rejection of their offer is that it makes a mockery of our hard earned democracy, the trust of our people and no one apart from the President of the Republic appoints ministers."
Ex-Georgia premier files Swiss complaint against Credit Suisse

ZURICH, March 16 (Reuters) - Lawyers for former Georgia Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili have filed a Swiss criminal complaint against Credit Suisse relating to allegations of money laundering, one of the lawyers told Reuters on Wednesday.

The complaint alleges that Credit Suisse did not have the necessary controls in place, which allowed money to be laundered through its systems, the lawyer said.

Credit Suisse declined to comment on the filing, but said it was cooperating with the Geneva prosecutor.

"We can't comment on the filing and cooperate with the Geneva prosecutor," a spokeswoman for Credit Suisse said in an emailed statement.

Lawyers for Ivanishvili have alleged that fraudulent activities by a Credit Suisse client adviser lost the former Georgian leader hundreds of millions of dollars.

They allege that the adviser moved money from Ivanishvili's account to cover other losses.

These losses came to light in September when shares in a small-cap U.S. company the adviser had invested in fell sharply.

The complaint, which was filed on Tuesday, is the fourth that lawyers for Ivanishvili have filed in Switzerland in this case, but the first against Credit Suisse.

Past complaints have been against the client adviser, whose name has not been publicly released, and unknown persons for alleged fraud and hidden commissions.

The client adviser, who worked for Credit Suisse for around 10 years, has been in custody in Geneva since mid-January, the adviser's lawyer said last month.

"The former relationship manager concealed his deceptions from his colleagues and this is to the best of our knowledge an individual case," Credit Suisse said in its statement.

A lawyer for the adviser was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday, while the Geneva Public Prosecutor's office had no comment.
Bulgarian tycoon's extradition case resumes in Belgrade court

By Aleksandar Vasovic

BELGRADE, March 16 (Reuters) - Legal wrangling resumed in Belgrade High Court on Wednesday over a Bulgarian request to extradite the main shareholder in the country's insolvent Corporate Commercial Bank after the court's initial decision to extradite him was overturned on appeal.

Bulgarian authorities have been trying for 18 months to secure Tsvetan Vassilev's extradition to face charges of embezzlement and are growing increasingly frustrated about the deadlock.

Vassilev has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing but refuses to return to Sofia voluntarily, saying he fears for his life and that he does not believe he will be given a fair trial.

Belgrade's High Court ordered Vassilev's extradition to Bulgaria a year ago but the Court of Appeals overturned the decision and sent the case back to the lower court, saying its original ruling broke legal procedures and was based on incorrect and incomplete facts.

Bulgaria's prosecutor's office said it had sent a second extradition request, including additional charges against Vassilev, to the Serbian authorities in May 2015.

The prosecutor's office said last month it was seeking a hearing before the European Committee on Crime Problems, a Strasbourg-based body that deals with international legal cooperation, about the difficulties it was having in securing Vassilev's extradition.

"RAIDERS' ATTACK"

Corporate Commercial Bank was hit by a run on deposits in 2014 and collapsed later that year, triggering Bulgaria's biggest banking crisis since the 1990s.

Bulgaria's central bank seized control of the bank, the country's fourth biggest, and shut it down.

Vassilev blames the deposit run on a plot hatched by his competitors.

"It was a typical raiders' attack, well-motivated politically and supported by all Bulgarian institutions, and especially by the prosecutors," Vassilev told reporters after appearing in the court, referring to the run on the bank.

Vladimir Beljanski, Vassilev's lawyer, said the defence team had presented the court with evidence against his client's extradition. He said there was no legal deadline to complete the proceedings, which are due to resume on April 6.

Vassilev surrendered to Serbian police in September 2014. He lives freely in Serbia but authorities took his passport away and ordered him to report daily to a police station.
Women's land rights around the world

By Chris Arsenault

TORONTO, March 16 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Women account for nearly half of the developing world's farmers, yet they own far less land than men despite growing evidence that increasing female land ownership can boost food production, education levels and child nutrition.

Women's land ownership can be as low as 10 percent, a survey of 34 developing nations by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) found.

"When women are empowered and can claim their rights and access to land, leadership, opportunities and choices, economies grow, food security is enhanced and prospects are improved for current and future generations," said Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, who is former head of UN Women.

World Bank officials and other experts are meeting in Washington this week to discuss ways to improve female land ownership rates.

Here are some facts about women's land ownership:

* Female land ownership rates vary from 11 percent in Senegal to 54 percent in Rwanda and Burundi. Comparable statistics for men's land ownership are 28 percent in Senegal, 55 percent in Rwanda and 64 percent in Burundi.

* Female farmers lack equal rights to own land in more than 90 countries, making it more difficult for them feed themselves and build a secure future.

* Widows in 35 countries do not have equal land inheritance rights.

* In India, about 11 percent of farms are controlled by women.

* More than 29 percent of farms in Botswana, Chile, Georgia Malawi, Panama and Poland are controlled by women, a higher rate than most developing countries.

* Children whose mothers own land are more than 30 percent less likely to be severely underweight than children of women who do not own land.

* Women who own land are up to eight times less likely to experience domestic violence.

* About 60 percent of farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and 70 percent in South Asia are women. Sources: Landesa, Oxfam, U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization
EU seeks to tweak Turkey deal to make it legal

By Tom Korkemeier and Gabriela Baczynska

BRUSSELS, March 16 (Reuters) - European Union officials added last-minute tweaks to a pact with Turkey to halt the flow of migrants into Europe in an effort to make it legally watertight, but a standoff with Cyprus could yet scupper any deal at a summit this week.

Under a tentative agreement reached last week, Ankara would take back all migrants and refugees who enter the EU from its shores or are detained in its territorial waters, in return for more money, faster visa-free travel for Turks and a speeding up of its slow-moving EU membership negotiations.

For its part, the EU would admit one legal Syrian refugee directly from Turkey for each one trying to reach Europe by boat and taken back by Turkey from the Greek islands in a step meant to wreck the business model of people smugglers.

"We are certainly not giving Turkey a free ride," European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said. Ankara would have to enact a raft of measures within six weeks if Turks were to get visa-free travel to the 26-nation Schengen area in June.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is pushing hardest for the deal after suffering heavy losses in regional elections on Sunday due to public anger over an uncontrolled influx of more than 1 million migrants into Germany last year.

Merkel told parliament in Berlin on the eve of the Brussels summit that no one should be "deceived" by a relative lull in arrivals since Austria and Balkan countries shut their borders.

More than 43,000 migrants and refugees are bottled up in squalid conditions in Greece after Macedonia closed its border, and more are arriving daily despite NATO's Aegean sea patrols.

"The current easing that Germany and some other member states are experiencing is one thing. The situation in Greece is the other, and it must be a big concern to us all because it is not without consequences for us all in Europe," Merkel said.

An agreement with Turkey would need to be followed by a deal among EU countries to accept quotas of refugees, she said, something several central European states have so far rejected.

"TEMPORARY AND EXTRAORDINARY"

European Council President Donald Tusk, who will chair the summit on Thursday and Friday, has drafted a set of principles to overcome legal and political objections to the deal, including an assurance against blanket mass returns of migrants.

"This will be a temporary and extraordinary measure which is necessary to end the human suffering and restore public order," a draft document seen by Reuters said.

Migrants arriving on Greek islands would be duly registered and entitled to apply for asylum in Greece, it said, and their applications would be processed in accordance with EU rules.

People returned to Turkey would be protected in line with international standards for refugees, even though Ankara applies the Geneva Convention formally only to people fleeing Europe.

However, Cyprus has made clear it is ready to veto any widening of EU accession talks with Turkey unless Ankara meets obligations to recognise its statehood by opening its ports and airports to Cypriot traffic. Cyprus and Turkey have been at loggerheads since a 1974 Turkish invasion of the island.

Cyprus could also try to block visa liberalisation for Turks since the EU conditions include the principle of equal treatment of all member states. Nicosia does not have a veto on the visa issue, but it could find allies among reluctant countries such as France, Spain and Austria.

EU officials declined to say whether Tusk, a former Polish premier, secured any Turkish commitment on the Cyprus issue in talks in Ankara on Tuesday, but a Turkish minister warned the EU on Wednesday against letting Nicosia hold the bloc to ransom.

"When a step has been taken towards a solution, when agreement has been reached on a package, the whole structure should not be allowed to be ruined just because of the ... caprice of one EU member country," Volkan Bozkir, minister for EU affairs, said in an NTV interview.

The EU leaders are due to meet Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Friday morning to finalise the deal.
EU and Mercosur to exchange trade offers in April, Argentina says

By Robin Emmott and Francesco Guarascio

BRUSSELS, March 16 (Reuters) - Europe and South America hope to revive stalled free-trade talks in early April with formal offers on how far they are willing to open up their economies to foreign goods, Argentina's trade minister said on Wednesday.

After more than a decade of leftist rule in Argentina, the new pro-business government in Buenos Aires offers the Mercosur trade bloc led by Brazil its best chance in years to complete a deal that has faced multiple setbacks since its launch in 1999.

"Argentina is ready to move forward," Miguel Braun told Reuters during a visit to Brussels to meet EU trade officials to discuss trade talks. "For Mercosur, this is a priority."

Attempts to relaunch the trade talks, most recently at an EU-Latin American summit in Santiago in 2013, failed because of Argentine policies to protect local industry, diplomats say.

Brazil and its other Mercosur partners, Paraguay and Uruguay, were unwilling to do a trade deal without Buenos Aires, despite the urging of Brazilian business.

Argentina is Brazil's closest partner, but until the November election of Argentine President Mauricio Macri, it was one of the most protectionist members of the Group of 20 leading economies.

DUTY-FREE ACCESS

The so-called 'exchange of offers' would set out the duty-free access each side is willing to consider and then allow negotiators to draw up a trade deal designed to encompass 750 million people and $130 billion in annual trade.

The foreign minister of Uruguay, which holds the rotating Mercosur presidency, will visit Brussels on April 8 and the exchange of offers could take place then, and no later than the middle of this year, Braun said.

"The Uruguayan foreign minister is coming here specifically with a proposal to exchange offers," Braun said. "It would be fantastic if they can get that moving then, we cannot move quickly enough."

The Uruguay minister's visit follows EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini's trip to Argentina earlier this month, when she met Macri and pledged EU support for a free-trade deal.

While the EU and Mercosur have already held many rounds of trade talks over the years, both sides are eager to avoid a repeat of 2004, when the offers made on both sides were considered too timid, failing to liberalise flows in trade and services and resulting in a collapse of talks.

The market access proposals involve lists of imports that each side would be prepared to liberalise in negotiations. The European Union is looking for more than 90 percent of goods and sectors to be opened up, EU officials said.
Nigeria's state oil company denies it failed to remit $16 bln in 2014

By Julia Payne

ABUJA, March 16 (Reuters) - Nigeria's state oil company on Wednesday challenged official allegations that it had failed to remit 3.2 trillion naira ($16 billion) in revenues to the government in 2014 and said it only owed $1.64 billion.

The auditor-general made the allegations in a report two days ago. President Muhammadu Buhari won office last May in Africa's biggest oil-producing nation, promising to end the corruption and mismanagement that has stunted the continent's biggest economy.

Under the constitution, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) must hand over its oil revenue - which makes up about 70 percent of total income - and money is then paid back based on a budget approved by parliament.

The latest figures on OPEC's website state that Nigeria's oil exports are worth around $77 billion a year.

However, the act establishing the state oil company allows it to cover costs before remitting funds to the government.

"The declaration by the AuGF (Auditor General of the Federation) may have been borne out of misunderstanding of how revenues from crude oil and gas sales are remitted into the Federation Account," said NNPC Chief Financial Officer Isiaka Abdulrazaq in a statement.

"NNPC wishes to state in strong terms that the AuGF's declaration is erroneous," he said, adding that the auditor-general had failed to account for costs including a fuel subsidy, pipeline vandalism and maintenance.

"Consequently, the figure owed to the Federation Account as at January 2015 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting report was N326,142,137,205.79 ($1.64 billion)...and not the N3.23 trillion alleged by the AuGF," he said.

In 2014, the then central bank governor, Lamido Sanusi, was suspended after accusing the NNPC of failing to pay $20 billion into government accounts between January 2012 and July 2013.
South Africa's main opposition leader calls for Zuma's resignation

JOHANNESBURG, March 16 (Reuters) - South Africa's main opposition party leader on Wednesday called for the resignation of President Jacob Zuma after a deputy finance minister said he had been offered ministry position by family friends of the president.

"It's clear the ANC (African National Congress) has been captured. We must have a full parliamentary inquiry into the appointment of every single cabinet minister," Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane told Reuters.
EU's Turkey migration deal hinges on Cyprus - Tusk

By Gabriela Baczynska

BRUSSELS, March 16 (Reuters) - The European Union warned on Wednesday that a deal with Turkey to curb mass migration to Europe hinges on Ankara acting to support peace talks in EU member Cyprus.

European Council President Donald Tusk, who will chair an EU summit on Thursday and Friday, said much remained to be done to reach a deal with Turkey.

"Work is progressing but there is still a lot to do," he said in a letter to EU leaders. The migration deal needed to be "an opportunity (for Turkey) to support the settlement talks in Cyprus. Only if this is possible can we move forward here."

EU officials offered last-minute tweaks to the draft pact with Turkey in an effort to make it legally watertight, but a standoff with Cyprus could yet scupper any deal this week.

Under a tentative agreement reached last week, Ankara would take back all migrants and refugees who enter the EU from its shores or are detained in its territorial waters, in return for more money, faster visa-free travel for Turks and a speeding up of its slow-moving EU membership negotiations.

For its part, the EU would admit one legal Syrian refugee directly from Turkey for each one trying to reach Europe by boat and taken back by Turkey from the Greek islands in a step meant to wreck the business model of people smugglers.

But Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades has threatened to veto any progress in Turkey's accession talks unless Ankara meets its obligation to open Turkish ports and airports to Cypriot traffic, effectively recognising his state.

A new draft agreement circulated by Tusk to EU states on Wednesday and seen by Reuters gave little concrete away to Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who is due to finalise the deal with EU leaders at a breakfast in Brussels on Friday.

It states: "The EU, together with Turkey, will prepare for the decision on the opening of new chapters in the accession negotiations as soon as possible." That final phrase "as soon as possible" did not appear in the shorter draft Davutoglu endorsed last week. Nor did the phrase "together with Turkey".

Cyprus has been insisting that any wording must reflect the fact that Turkey has not yet met EU conditions for opening such new chapters. There was no immediate comment on the draft from Ankara or Nicosia.

National envoys who discussed the draft in Brussels late on Wednesday said there was a broad willingness to accept it but some issues would be addressed by leaders on Thursday, in particular the matter of when deportations will start. Germany pushed for next Monday but Greece said its services might not be ready, one diplomat said.

There may also be discussion at the summit, before Davutoglu arrives, of how fast to provide a second 3 billion euro instalment of EU aid for Syrians in Turkey and of which states are willing to take in resettled Syrian refugees from Turkey.

"NO FREE RIDE"

"We are certainly not giving Turkey a free ride," European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said. Ankara would have to enact a raft of measures within six weeks if Turks were to get visa-free travel to the 26-nation Schengen area in June.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is pushing hardest for the deal after suffering heavy losses in regional elections on Sunday due to public anger over an uncontrolled influx of more than 1 million migrants into Germany last year.

Merkel told parliament in Berlin on the eve of the Brussels summit that no one should be "deceived" by a relative lull in arrivals since Austria and Balkan countries shut their borders.

More than 43,000 migrants and refugees are bottled up in squalid conditions in Greece after Macedonia closed its border, and more are arriving daily despite NATO's Aegean sea patrols.

"The current easing that Germany and some other member states are experiencing is one thing. The situation in Greece is the other, and it must be a big concern to us all because it is not without consequences for us all in Europe," Merkel said.

An agreement with Turkey would need to be followed by a deal among EU countries to accept quotas of refugees, she said, something several central European states have so far rejected.

"TEMPORARY AND EXTRAORDINARY"

"This will be a temporary and extraordinary measure which is necessary to end the human suffering and restore public order," Tusk's draft accord said.

Migrants arriving on Greek islands would be duly registered and entitled to apply for asylum in Greece, it said, and their applications would be processed in accordance with EU rules.

People returned to Turkey would be protected in line with international standards for refugees, even though Ankara applies the Geneva Convention formally only to people fleeing Europe.

Cyprus and Turkey have been at loggerheads since a 1974 Turkish invasion of the island.

Nicosia could also try to block visa liberalisation for Turks since the EU conditions include the principle of equal treatment of all member states. It does not have a veto on the visa issue, but it could find allies among reluctant countries such as France, Spain and Austria.

Acting Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Wednesday in an interview with Telecinco he was "absolutely convinced" EU leaders would reach a common position on migration. But he said the deportation of refugees from Greece to Turkey was against international law and any deal must respect the rights of asylum seekers.

EU officials declined to say whether Tusk, a former Polish premier, secured any Turkish commitment on the Cyprus issue in talks in Ankara on Tuesday. But a Turkish minister warned the EU on Wednesday against letting Nicosia hold the bloc to ransom.
Al Qaeda attack will not derail Ivory Coast revival -president

By Loucoumane Coulibaly

GRAND BASSAM, Ivory Coast, March 16 (Reuters) - President Alassane Ouattara vowed on Wednesday that an al Qaeda-claimed attack on an Ivory Coast beach resort that killed 19 people would not derail the nation's post-war revival.

Militants burst onto the beach on Sunday in the town of Grand Bassam, 40 km (25 miles) from the commercial capital Abidjan, gunning down swimmers and sunbathers before storming into several hotels.

The attack was a heavy blow for the West African state that has recovered from more than a decade of political turmoil and a 2011 civil war to become one of the world's best performing economies with annual growth averaging around 9 percent.

Ouattara won re-election by a landslide in October, pledging to attract foreign investment to the largest economy in French-speaking West Africa, also the world's top cocoa producer.

"Our march towards (economic) emergence is irreversible. The progress we've made in the past four years must be further reinforced," he said before a cabinet meeting in Grand Bassam.

The government said following the meeting that the death toll from the attack had increased by one to 19.

Eleven Ivorians, including three special forces soldiers, died. Four French citizens were killed and other foreign victims included citizens of Germany, Lebanon, Macedonia and Nigeria.

The government had earlier stated there were victims from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Mali; however, that was later found to be untrue after the identities of the dead were verified.

Another 24 injured people were still in hospital on Wednesday, a government spokesman said.

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the group's North African branch, claimed the attack and said it was revenge for a French offensive against Islamist militants in the Sahel region.

AQIM published photos on its social media sites of three men it said were the suicide attackers, according to the SITE Intelligence Group that monitors militant activity online. AQIM said they were from al Mourabitoun, an allied group led by veteran militant leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar.

Grand Bassam is a popular weekend retreat only a short drive from Abidjan, a cosmopolitan regional economic hub with a population of around five million. The attack came as the government seeks to revitalise a once lucrative tourism industry that was shattered by the crisis years.

After visiting the beach in Grand Bassam and laying a wreath, Ouattara sought to reassure the local tourism.
Zika-hit Cape Verde identifies first case of microcephaly

PRAIA, March 16 (Reuters) - The Cape Verde archipelago off West Africa has identified its first case of the neurological disorder microcephaly, thought to be linked to the Zika virus, in what would be a first for the continent.

The Ministry of Health said the baby was born at the main hospital in the capital Praia on March 14 to a woman who was not among more than 100 women being monitored for the mosquito-borne virus.

"What we are doing right now is gathering samples from the child's mother and sending them today to the Pasteur Institute of Dakar (Senegal) for evaluation," said Minister of Health Cristina Fontes.

"There is a case of microcephaly and we want to investigate to see if there is this link (to Zika)," Fontes said.

The volcanic archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean around 570 km (350 miles) west of Senegal has historic ties to Brazil, where an outbreak of Zika is suspected of causing a spike in birth defects including babies born with abnormally small heads.

The World Health Organization in February declared the virus an international public health emergency due to its link to the birth defects in Brazil.

Authorities in West Africa aim to prepare the region's defences in case of a spread of Zika but say countries are ill-equipped for another public health emergency following the Ebola epidemic that was first announced in March 2014.
U.S. military restricts travel to W. Africa, citing recent attacks

WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - The Pentagon on Wednesday restricted U.S. service members' travel to five West African countries, citing recent militant attacks in the region, U.S. defense officials said.

The order limits unofficial travel by U.S. military personnel to Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Ghana, the officials said.

"It's just increased vigilance given the recent events that have happened in that area of the world," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Falvo, a spokesman for U.S. Africa Command.

Gunmen on Sunday killed 18 people at a beachside resort in Ivory Coast. The attack was claimed by al Qaeda's North Africa branch, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
Slovak PM Fico says parties to split cabinet seats, deal close

BRATISLAVA, March 16 (Reuters) - Four Slovak parties led by the leftist Smer have reached an agreement on sharing out portfolios in a new government, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Wednesday.

The agreement is a significant step towards forming a coalition including three small centrist and right-wing parties, which will allow Fico to stay in power after his Smer party lost its parliamentary majority in a March 5 election.

"We have reached an agreement on the will to create a government coalition and on the arrangement of relations in parliament and the cabinet," Fico said after Wednesday's round of talks.

Smer will retain the post of prime minister, giving the 51 year-old Fico his third term since 2006.

It will also keep the finance ministry, which is widely expected to be run again by Peter Kazimir, respected for keeping budget deficits under control and known for his tough stance in the euro zone's negotiations with Greece.

Slovakia will hold the rotating EU presidency in the second half of the year, giving the strongly anti-immigration leader Fico a bigger voice on issues ranging from the refugee crisis to the aftermath of Britain's referendum on leaving the EU.

On March 5 Smer lost its one-party majority, winning only 49 of the 150 seats in parliament, and seemed at risk of losing power with seven other factions with diverse agendas winning seats.

But the talks on a new cabinet have progressed surprisingly smoothly given the stalemate.

Six centre-right parties could have formed a politically less diverse coalition but such a grouping would have involved two protest movements, and analysts said it could have been more unstable than a right-left coalition under Fico.

The conservative Slovak National Party pulled the plug on the centre-right at the weekend, saying it wanted a deal with Fico. That swayed two other small centrist factions, Most-Hid (Bridge) and Siet (Net), into Fico's camp.

The coalition agreed its agenda on Tuesday, including moderate cuts in taxes for corporates and small entrepreneurs, and a balanced budget by the end of its term in 2020.

It has also agreed to tackle shortcomings in healthcare and education and increase transparency on government and public spending, a major concern for people who voted for opposition parties hoping they would oust Smer from power.

Fico said talks would continue on Thursday and he hoped to present a final deal soon to President Andrej Kiska, who has the right to appoint governments.
Ukraine PM scrapes through crisis but uncertainty remains

By Pavel Polityuk and Matthias Williams

KIEV, March 16 (Reuters) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk has scraped through the biggest challenge to his leadership so far, lawmakers said on Wednesday, but still faces an uphill battle to achieve reforms that Western backers demand.

The comments by several MPs to Reuters pointed showed how the political winds were blowing after weeks of turmoil that saw Yatseniuk survive a no-confidence vote and face down repeated calls for him to resign.

The United States and other Western powers have urged Kiev's leaders to stay united in order to pass reforms needed to secure a further $1.7 billion in aid from the International Monetary Fund and keep its war-torn economy afloat.

But Washington and the IMF have become increasingly impatient with the Ukrainian government's patchy performance, especially in tackling endemic corruption. The IMF has warned it could stop aid altogether it matters don't improve.

If Yatseniuk manages to hold on, Ukraine will continue to be run by a prime minister whose personal popularity ratings are at 1 percent and whose leadership is opposed by the majority of lawmakers, likely prolonging the current instability.

"Yatseniuk will remain in place for the next three-four months. It's simple - there are not yet enough votes to remove him or to put someone in his place," Oleksiy Honcharenko, a lawmaker in President Petro Poroshenko's faction, told Reuters.

Although it jointly governs Ukraine in coalition with Yatseniuk's Patriotic Front, Poroshenko's party tried to topple the government in a no-confidence vote in February.

When that failed, it kept searching for possible replacements to Yatseniuk. Attempts to promote technocrat Finance Minister Natalia Yaresko, championed by Washington as a reformer, fizzled out this week.

"Ukraine's leaders have been locked for months in a cycle of political infighting and indecision about how to restore unity, trust and effectiveness in the reform coalition, and reboot the government and its programme," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said on Tuesday.

"Every week that Ukraine drifts, reform is stalled, IMF and international support goes undisbursed, and those inside and outside the country who preferred the old Ukraine grow more confident."

Yatseniuk's popularity has plummeted since coming to power in 2014 after the Maidan street protests ousted a pro-Kremlin president. This reflects voters' growing disillusion with the pace of change and what Nuland called "the unholy alliance of dirty money and dirty politics" still controlling the country.

But he leads the country's second-biggest party and has challenged lawmakers to either back him or find a viable alternative.

With Yaresko out of the running for now, Poroshenko might launch another attempt to topple Yatseniuk and replace him with Poroshenko's close ally, parliament speaker Volodymyr Groysman.
U.S. military restricts travel to West Africa, notes recent attacks

By Warren Strobel and Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - The Pentagon on Wednesday restricted U.S. service members' travel to five West African countries, citing recent militant attacks in the region, U.S. defense officials said.

The order limits unofficial travel by U.S. military personnel to Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Ghana, the officials said.

"It's just increased vigilance given the recent events that have happened in that area of the world," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Falvo, a spokesman for U.S. Africa Command.

Gunmen on Sunday killed 19 people at a beachside resort in Ivory Coast. The attack was claimed by al Qaeda's North African branch, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

The same group said it was behind a January attack on a hotel and restaurant in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, that killed 29 people as well as a November hotel siege in Mali.

U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Michelle Baldanza, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said the order remains in effect until June 30, and does not restrict official travel to the countries involved.

"Given the recent attacks in western Africa, we felt it prudent to make this decision at this time in an effort to ensure the safety of our personnel," Baldanza said.
What is a Tully Monster? Scientists finally provide an answer

By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - For more than half a century, scientists have scratched their heads over the nature of an outlandishly bizarre creature dubbed the Tully Monster that flourished about 307 million years ago in a coastal estuary in what is now northeastern Illinois.

But researchers on Wednesday announced they have finally solved the mystery.

They analyzed numerous fossils of the creature, named Tullimonstrum gregarium, and determined it was not a segmented worm or a free-swimming slug, as once hypothesized, but rather a type of jawless fish called a lamprey.

"I would rank the Tully Monster just about at the top of the scale of weirdness," said paleontologist Victoria McCoy of Britain's University of Leicester, who conducted the study while at Yale University.

It boasted a torpedo-shaped body, a jointed, trunk-like snout ending in a claw-like structure studded with two rows of conical teeth, and its eyes were set on the ends of a long rigid bar extending sideways from the head. Up to about 14 inches (35 cm) long, it had a vertical tail fin and a long, narrow dorsal fin.

A sophisticated reassessment of the fossils determined it was a vertebrate, with gills and a stiffened rod, or notochord, that functioned as a rudimentary spinal cord and supported its body. The notochord previously had been identified as the gut.

"I've always loved detective work, and in paleontology it doesn't get much better than this," said paleontologist James Lamsdell of the American Museum of Natural History in New York. "Our re-study of the specimens has shown that it is a very strange lamprey, a group of eel-like vertebrates that live in rivers and seas today."

Tullimonstrum shared its shallow marine environment with fish including sharks as well as jellyfish, shrimp, amphibians and horseshoe crabs.

"It fed by grasping things with the proboscis (snout) and scraping bits off with its tongue. We don't know what it ate or if it was a predator or scavenger," McCoy said.

It is called the Tully Monster in honor of amateur fossil-hunter Francis Tully, who first found it in Illinois coal-mining pits in 1958 and brought it to experts at the Field Museum in Chicago.

"This puzzle has been gnawing at paleontologists," said Field Museum paleontologist Scott Lidgard, whose museum holds 1,800 specimens of Tullimonstrum, the official state fossil of Illinois. "I was blown away when the results started coming in."
Super Tuesday 2.0 lived up to its billing. As results trickled in on Wednesday morning, the big winners were Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Trump swept Florida and won Illinois and North Carolina comfortably. He also won the last of the five states that held primaries last night, Missouri, but his victory margin over Ted Cruz was a razor-thin 0.18 per cent. Under Missouri state election rules, a margin below 0.50 per cent can trigger a recount so the result remains provisional.

Ohio governor John Kasich meanwhile won his state to deny Trump a 5-0 sweep. Following his defeat to Trump in his home state of Florida, Marco Rubio announced he was ending his presidential campaign.

Amongst Democrats, Hillary won four of the five states. She also beat Bernie Sanders in the fifth, Missouri - though by just 0.24 per cent. Here too a recount looms.

The Republican nomination contest is now effectively a two-man race: Trump and Cruz. Kasich remains a factor but his appeal is limited to the American midwest. Excluding Missouri, Trump now leads Cruz by 640 delegates to 405. He needs 1,237 delegates to win the party's nomination.

Last Friday, Dr Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon who dropped out of the presidential race two weeks ago, endorsed Trump. Another candidate who ended his presidential bid last month, New Jersey governor Chris Christie, has already endorsed Trump.

Meanwhile, much of the world is aghast. How could Americans even think of nominating a man like Trump to face off against the Democrat nominee (Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders) in the presidential election on November 8?

The Republican party itself has been torn apart by Trump's string of victories. Influential members of the establishment elite, led by former presidential candidates Mitt Romney and John McCain, who lost to president Barack Obama in 2012 and 2008 respectively, have called Trump a "phony" and a "fraud".

Pro-Democrat newspapers like The New York Times are horrified by Trump's violence-strewn juggernaut. The Economist recently pointed out Trump's German ancestry on his father's side. It neglected to mention that Trump's mother, Mary Macleod, was British, born in an island off Scotland.

So the Anglo-German Trump steamrollers on. He may still implode, his critics hope. The violent protests at his rallies in Ohio and Illinois have dismayed most Americans. Others believe that Cruz and Kasich may together have enough delegates to keep Trump below the 1,237 delegates he needs to win the nomination at the Republican party convention in the last week of July. That could lead to a "brokered" convention, freeing delegates to vote for the candidate they want.

Aware of this, Trump has warned Republican party chiefs that this would mock the "people's verdict" and lead to chaos. It could fracture the party, handing the Democrat nominee (Clinton or Sanders) the presidential election on a platter in November. Cruz, however, has now gone on record to say that whoever has the most delegates should be the Republican nominee. A contested or brokered convention, he says, would "be disastrous".

Rising tide of anger

What accounts for Trump's popular surge? Americans are angry about rising income inequality. Blue-collar workers have seen real wages stagnating for over a decade while Wall Street fund managers and tech company whiz-kids in Silicon Valley earn millions. Trump promises to bring jobs back by cutting down on H-1B visas and stopping illegal immigrants from Mexico who take away jobs from local Americans. At a rally on Monday though, he praised "smart Indian students" and called for them to be allowed to work in America.

The second vein of anger Trump has tapped into is against Islamist terrorism. The beheading of Americans in Iraq and Syria by the Islamic State (IS) enraged the country. Anti-Muslim and anti-migrant sentiment is strong and rising. Trump is riding this xenophobic wave. He has promised punishment harsher than "water boarding" for captured terrorists. He says he will send 30,000 US ground troops to "destroy" IS in the Middle East.

Apart from jobs, migrants and Islamist terrorism, American anger is directed at Barack Obama. They see him as a weak president. Nearly 67 per cent of Americans are white. Add white Hispanics (of Portuguese and Spanish descent) and the number of white Americans goes up to 73 per cent. It is this majority that is reacting to Trump's Islamaphobic, racist message.

By getting a respected African-American former presidential candidate like Ben Carson to endorse him, Trump hopes to soften his racist image. After the violence in Chicago by a racially mixed group of protestors last Friday which led to the cancellation of Trump's rally in Illinois University, and a thwarted attack on Trump at a Dayton, Ohio rally, that seems unlikely.

Trump meanwhile points out that the number of people coming out to vote has nearly doubled and that Democrats and independents are flocking to the Republican party fold. Trump uses insult as a means to provoke. His favourite target is the media. He taunts journalists who cover his near-daily press conferences, saying they are the "most dishonest people created by God." He called The New York Times a paper that "lies" and never "checks facts".

The Left-liberal media in the US hates Trump with equal fervour. Even Right-wing Fox TV host Megyn Kelly has engaged in a running feud with Trump who dismissed her as a "lightweight". Kelly, a former practising attorney, got her revenge in a recent Fox TV-moderated debate among Republican candidates. She put Trump on the mat over alleged fraud at Trump University. The matter is in court.

For a man with so many enemies, Trump's presidential run has been surreal. The results of the five state primaries on Tuesday showed how volatile the 2016 US presidential election will be. Four people still have a chance to be the next US president: Trump, Hillary, Cruz and Sanders.
New Delhi: Security agencies killed three of the 10 suspected Pakistani terrorists who had allegedly entered Gujarat recently to carry out attacks on high-value targets.

Top official sources said the three were neutralised in a western state last Friday before they could carry out any attack in the country.

The remaining seven terrorists have also been zeroed in their hideouts and operation is on to neutralise them, the sources said. As the operation is still ongoing, security agencies were not ready to give the details, the sources said.

The group, all suspected to be Pakistani terrorists belonging to LeT and JeM, had planned to attack the Somnath temple in Gujarat during Shivratri on March 7 besides other targets, they said.

Immediately after the intelligence input about the infiltration of the terrorists was received, the Centre had dispatched four NSG teams to Gujarat and they were put in different locations in the state.

An alert was sounded in Gujarat and all metros by central security agencies following reports about infiltration of the terrorists.

An advisory was issued to enhance security at all strategic locations, sensitive industrial sites and religious places after intelligence inputs suggested that the terrorists had entered Gujarat taking the sea route.

A similar alert was also sent to Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chandigarh.
Hyderabad: The AP Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to implement expeditiously all the provisions contained in the AP Reorganisation Act, including grant of the Special Category status as promised by the Prime Minister on the floor of the Rajya Sabha.

The resolution also sought local status, increase in assembly seats, and special financial support for the new capital, by way of implementation of Section 8 of AP Reorganisation Act.

Moving the resolution, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the Centre should resolve all these promises in a time-bound manner. Meanwhile, opposition leader Jagan Mohan Reddy said he was not sure of the sincerity of Mr Naidu.

If he is sincere about achieving all these, he must fix a one-month deadline with the Centre and then withdraw TD ministers from the Union cabinet. Or there would be no meaning in passing a resolution. Mr Jagan said the Assembly had passed a resolution on Special Category status and sent it to the Centre in the past. What happened to that?, he asked.

Earlier in the day, Mr Naidu moved the resolution thanking the efforts of the Union Government in resolving certain issues pertaining to state reorganisation.

It also noted that the Centre was yet to resolve many issues relating to the Reorganization Act. Reacting to Jagans demand to fix a deadline, Mr Naidu said the state was looking up to the Centre to get many projects and funds.

It is important that we maintain cordial relations with the Centre. And indirectly criticising Jagan, Naidu said, Some people are taking such things very lightly, but it is a life-and-death question for the people of Andhra Pradesh.

Endowments minister P. Manikyala Rao (BJP) said his party was supporting the resolution moved by the CM. Ruling party member M. Venugopal Reddy suggested that the CM may also think about taking all the 175 MLAs to PM Modi to pile pressure on the Centre.
Most schools are able to find only women teachers to teach in their institutions.

Hyderabad: Theres no glass ceiling, at least in the teaching profession as lady teachers currently rule the roost in the twin cities.

Teaching in private schools seems to be the least preferred job for men if one goes by the male-female ratio in most of the leading private schools. Male teaching staff do not even exceed 10 to 15 per cent in majority of the institutions here.

For example, there are very few male teachers at Delhi Public School, Nacharam. Mr Toom Bheem Sen, one of the promoters of the school, told this newspaper that finding qualified male teachers had become a herculean task.

Not many are available even if we want to recruit. Nacharam school has a strength of nearly 150, out of which the male teaching staff makes up five to 10 per cent, he added.

And leading missionary schools in the twin cities including Little Flower, All-Saints, St. Pauls, St. Patricks, St. Marys, St. Josephs, St. Alphonso and Don Bosco are no different. According to Bro. Show Reddy, president of Missionary Schools in Hyderabad, this diminishing trend is due to various reasons.

Firstly, men are opting for alternative careers instead of teaching. Others are only aiming for teaching jobs at government schools, where there are regular promotions besides a lesser workload. Some male candidates approach us for jobs, but most of them lack soft skills or do just do not show interest in teaching primary sections, he said.

Ms Usha Reddy, Meridian Schools CEO and ex-chairperson of Hyderabad Sahodoya, a forum consisting of nearly 150 CBSE schools in Hyderabad, said male teachers were not showing interest in handling classes up to the eight standard.

You hardly find male teachers handling pre-primary or primary sections. The situation is little better when it comes to 9th and 10th standards and plus-two levels, where the ratio is nearly 50:50.

Opportunities abound abroad for qualified Indian teachers

Plenty of opportunities await qualified Indian teachers in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Maldives, Dubai as well as in Ethiopia and Libya in Africa.

Salary packages range from Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 per month, exclusive of allowances. In few countries, teachers are also allowed to take tuitions, which fetch them almost the same amount as the pay itself, said Global Placements, Somajiguda CEO Mr S. Srinivasan.

While some countries insist on PG degrees, others take on candidates even with a degree or B.Ed study, he said.

Representatives of the schools visit the city and conduct interviews of candidates. There is also a huge demand for Indian teachers with good track records. The only challenge is going to a different country and getting adjusted to people, culture and conditions there, Srinivasan said.

Teachers trained in foreign languages like German, French and Spanish are also in huge demand, with several private and international schools queuing up to recruit them every year.
Chennai: DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin on Tuesday said the murder of Dalit youth Shankar at Udumalaipet is the high point of deteriorating law and order in the state for the last five years.

He said the murder had been committed in broad daylight at a crowded place and condemned the incident. Shankars wife, Kausalya had said they had complained of death threats to the police who did not take precautionary measures, he said. Refraining from using the word caste in the entire statement, Stalin said the DMK is working for communal harmony among all sections of people. He also said the DMK government set up Samathuvapuram in the name of Dravidian movements founder E.V.R. Periyar.
It's not just computers and mobile phones that are vulnerable to cyber attack, according to software firm Trend Micro

It's not just computers and mobile phones that are vulnerable to cyber attack, according to software firm Trend Micro. As more devices are hooked up to the Internet, it could be anything from medical equipment to industrial machinery - and even sex toys.

To illustrate the point, Trend Micro spokesman Udo Schneider surprised journalists at a news conference this week by placing a large, neon-pink vibrator on the desk in front of him and then bringing it to life by typing out a few lines of code on his laptop.

While the stunt provoked sheepish giggles, the message was sobering. As the number of smart, interactive devices connected to the Internet explodes, concern is mounting about insufficient safeguards and a lack of consumer and employee awareness.

"If I hack a vibrator it's just fun," Raimund Genes, Chief Technology Officer at Tokyo-listed Trend Micro, told reporters at the CeBIT technology fair in Hanover.

"But if I can get to the back-end, I can blackmail the manufacturer," he added, referring to the programming system behind a device's interface.

Germany, host of CeBIT and home to world champion manufacturers, offers rich pickings for hackers, and attacks on industrial production sites are rising, according to the government's latest IT Security Report.

Massive Damage

In 2014, a German steel mill suffered "massive damage" following a cyber attack on the plant's network. In recent weeks, several German hospitals have come under attack from Ransomware, a virus that encrypts data on infected machines and demands that users pay to get an electronic key to unlock it.

The German government got its own wake-up call last year, when hackers attacked the lower house of parliament's computer network, forcing it to shut down the system for several days and compromising large amounts of data.

"If someone decided to start shooting with a pistol from the roof of the Reichstag (parliament), security guards would be all over them. But when data are siphoned off for months, no one bats an eyelid," said Dirk Arendt, director of public affairs at Israeli cyber security firm Check Point Software Technologies.

"There is a lack of awareness."

Responding to the growing cyber threat, Germany approved an IT security law last July that orders 2,000 providers of critical infrastructure to implement minimum security standards and report serious breaches or face penalties.

Fifty-one percent of companies have been victims of digital espionage, data theft or sabotage in the past two years, according to IT lobby group Bitkom.

The threat is more acute among Germany's small-to-medium-sized manufacturers, known as the Mittelstand, where two-thirds of firms registered attacks. As companies move to connect machinery to the Internet to enable it to collect and exchange data and make it easier to control remotely, 84 percent of managers expect the risks to rise, according to Deutsche Telekom's Cyber Security Report.

While Germans are vigilant about data protection because of their experience of state surveillance by the Stasi secret police in East Germany and the Gestapo under the Nazis, Arendt said more attention needed to be paid to data security.

Employees need to be made aware of the dangers of opening suspicious-looking PDFs in the same way that motorists are warned by giant roadside signs not to speed, he added.

"We only wake up when the damage is done," he said. "There are enough examples of successful hacking cases. Now the next steps need to be taken to get back into a secure area."

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American student Otto Warmbier speaks as he is presented to reporters in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea's highest court on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, sentenced Warmbier, who allegedly attempted to steal a propaganda banner from a restricted area of his hotel, to 15 years of hard labor in prison. (Photo: AP)

Seoul: North Korea on Wednesday sentenced an American student, who had admitted to stealing propaganda material, to 15 years hard labour for crimes against the state, China's official Xinhua news agency reported.

The sentence was handed down on Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old student from the University of Virginia, by North Korea's Supreme Court, Xinhua said in a brief dispatch datelined Pyongyang.

There was no immediate confirmation by North Korean state media of the sentence, which appeared to come just hours after veteran US diplomat Bill Richardson reportedly met with two diplomats from North Korea's UN office to press for Warmbier's release.

Warmbier was arrested in early January as he was leaving the country. He later said he had removed a political banner from the staff-only area of the Pyongyang hotel being used by his tour group.

His detention came at a sensitive time, as the United States took a leading role in securing the tough sanctions that the UN Security Council imposed earlier this month on North Korea over its nuclear test on January 6 and long-range rocket launch a month later.

- Military tensions -

In recent weeks, Pyongyang has maintained a daily barrage of nuclear strike threats against both Seoul and Washington, ostensibly over ongoing, large-scale South Korea-US military drills that the North sees as provocative rehearsals for invasion.

Warmbier had entered North Korea as part of a New Year tour organised by China-based Young Pioneer Tours. He was arrested when the group was set to return to Beijing on January 2.

The United States has no diplomatic or consular relations with the North, and the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang provides limited consular services to US citizens detained there.

Warmbier is one of three North Americans currently detained in North Korea, which recently sentenced a 60-year-old Canadian pastor to life imprisonment with hard labour on sedition charges.

In the past, North Korea has used the detention of US citizens to obtain high-profile visits from the likes of former US president Bill Clinton in order to secure their release.

- Diplomatic moves -

According to the New York Times, Tuesday's meeting between Bill Richardson and the two North Korean diplomats took place at a hotel near the UN headquarters in New York.

"I urged the humanitarian release of Otto, and they agreed to convey our request," the former governor of New Mexico told the newspaper.

Richardson has travelled to North Korea several times over the years on diplomatic missions that have included securing the release of other arrested Americans.

Detained foreigners are often required to make a public, officially-scripted acknowledgement of wrongdoing, and Warmbier was paraded in front of reporters and diplomats in Pyongyang last month.

Footage of the event showed a sobbing Warmbier pleading to be released and saying he had made "the worst mistake of my life".

According to the North's state media, Warmbier said he had been tasked with stealing the banner by a member of the Friendship United Methodist Church in Wyoming, Ohio, who wanted it "as a trophy" and offered him a used car worth $10,000 if he succeeded.

Political slogans, extolling the achievements of the country and its leaders and encouraging citizens to work harder and demonstrate their loyalty, are all-pervasive in North Korea.

They can be seen on the streets and in nearly every public building, as well as every work unit.

In recent weeks, Pyongyang has maintained a daily barrage of nuclear strike threats against both Seoul and Washington, ostensibly over ongoing, large-scale South Korea-US military drills that the North sees as provocative rehearsals for invasion.

Warmbier had entered North Korea as part of a New Year tour organised by China-based Young Pioneer Tours. He was arrested when the group was set to return to Beijing on January 2.

The United States has no diplomatic or consular relations with the North, and the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang provides limited consular services to US citizens detained there.

Warmbier is one of three North Americans currently detained in North Korea, which recently sentenced a 60-year-old Canadian pastor to life imprisonment with hard labour on sedition charges.

In the past, North Korea has used the detention of US citizens to obtain high-profile visits from the likes of former US president Bill Clinton in order to secure their release.

- Diplomatic moves -

According to the New York Times, Tuesday's meeting between Bill Richardson and the two North Korean diplomats took place at a hotel near the UN headquarters in New York.

"I urged the humanitarian release of Otto, and they agreed to convey our request," the former governor of New Mexico told the newspaper.

Richardson has travelled to North Korea several times over the years on diplomatic missions that have included securing the release of other arrested Americans.

Detained foreigners are often required to make a public, officially-scripted acknowledgement of wrongdoing, and Warmbier was paraded in front of reporters and diplomats in Pyongyang last month.

Footage of the event showed a sobbing Warmbier pleading to be released and saying he had made "the worst mistake of my life".

According to the North's state media, Warmbier said he had been tasked with stealing the banner by a member of the Friendship United Methodist Church in Wyoming, Ohio, who wanted it "as a trophy" and offered him a used car worth $10,000 if he succeeded.

Political slogans, extolling the achievements of the country and its leaders and encouraging citizens to work harder and demonstrate their loyalty, are all-pervasive in North Korea.

They can be seen on the streets and in nearly every public building, as well as every work unit.
US senator Marco Rubio has dropped out of the presidential race after suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of Republican front runner Donald Trump in his home state of Florida.





Trump scored a massive win Florida, which he termed as his second home, by gaining the support of 45.5 per cent of the votes counted, while Rubio was a distant second with 27.1 percent of the votes.



Rubio, who had so far won primaries in Minnesota, Puerto Rico and Washington DC and had 163 delegates, was banking heavily on a win in Florida. But Trump's victory margin of more than 400,000 put curtains down on his presidential ambition.



The 44-year-old was endorsed by maximum number of party leaders, governors, senators and Congressmen. Indian American leaders Bobby Jindal, the former Governor or Louisiana and Nikki Kaley the Governor of South Carolina were among prominent GOP leaders to endorse Rubio.



In his speech in Miami in Florida, Rubio acknowledged that the country is in the middle of a political storm- Tsunami. "America's in the middle of a real political storm," he said.

"This is the right way forward for our party, for our country. But after tonight, it's clear that while we are on the right side this year, we will not be on the winning side," Rubio said.



"While this may not have been the year for a hopeful or optimistic message about our future, I still remain hopeful and optimistic about America," said the Florida Senator.

Noting that it was "not God's plan that I be the President in 2016" Rubio urged his countrymen not to give up on the sense of optimism he tried to push.



"I ask the American people do not give into the fear, do not give into the frustration," he said.



Notably, Rubio is not running for re-election of his Senate seat. His term ends in January 2016. Before dropping out of the race, Rubio did not indicate who he would be supporting for in the Republican presidential race but definitely not Trump.



While he was announcing to drop out of the race, his supporters were saying "No, No, No" and some other asking him to "Go to the Convention."



Rubio said this was not his time, but would continue to be fighting for the rights of the people of his country.



"I chose a different route, an I'm proud of that.

In a year like this, that would have been the easiest way to win, but that is not what's best for America," he said.



"There is nothing more that you could have done," he told his supporters.

In his impressive speech, Rubio accused the "political establishment" for failing to pay heed to real frustrations from conservative voters.



Rubio said during the beginning of 2007-2008 when the country faced a major economic crisis, voters repeatedly showed their complete disregard for politicians, beginning even before the 2010 tea-party wave that got Rubio elected.



Yet their concerns went unheard, and their leaders need to do better.



"I understand all of these frustrations, and yet when I decided to run for president, I decided to run a campaign that was realistic on all of these challenges.



From a political standpoint, the easiest thing to have done in this campaign is to jump on all of those anxieties, Rubio said.


Sixty-three-old Sneha Lata did not know that attending the just-concluded World Culture Festival on Yamuna river bank would leave her poorer by nearly Rs 75,000.





A 30-gram gold chain of the Maharashtrian follower of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was snatched by a woman criminal who, along with many more thieves like her, targeted at least 70 unsuspecting visitors.



The three-day event, organised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankars Art of Living, was attended by lakhs of people from across the country and abroad.



The mega cultural event turned out to be a rich hunting ground for women thieves, chain snatchers and pickpockets, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Mandeep Singh Randhawa.



A man from Karnatakas Hassan district was also arrested for stealing the wallet of a US citizen. Police recovered Rs 37,870 cash from the possession of Raghavendra. He is among 30 persons nabbed on the three days.



On March 12, Sneha Lata was targeted when she was going towards F-9 Divine Shop at 5.30 pm. Somebody in the crowd snatched my mangalsutra of 25-30 gram gold.

Suddenly, a fat woman pushed me and went ahead. I told her to stop there, but she began to run in the other direction with a woman, Sneha Lata told the police.



The snatchers were running towards the exit gate. Sneha chased them. I managed to catch the woman with the help of people there. But, she gave my mangalsutra to the other woman, who managed to flee, Sneha added. The woman was taken to the police post, where she was identified as Shahdara-resident Basanta.



Sneha Lata came here to attend the festival from Bhandup village in Maharashtra.

In another incident, two women, including a 55-year-old, were caught red-handed when they snatched a gold chain from a 58-year-old woman.



The victim, Uma Maheshwari, came to the capital with her husband from Hyderabad in Telangana.



Around 7.30 pm on March 12, Uma and her husband were beginning to return to their guest house in west Delhis Vikaspuri. At that time, a group of women attacked me on which I fell down, Uma told police in her statement.



Her husband helped her, and she soon realised that her gold chain had been snatched. It weighed around 50 grams and cost Rs 1.20 lakh. Umas husband managed to nab the two woman, but the gold chain was not recovered from their possession.



The accused were identified as 55-year-old Rama and Laxmi, 25. Uma and her husband have returned to Hyderabad, leaving their son and a volunteer from Hyderabad to follow up the case.



Separate cases under section 379 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code have been filed on the basis of Sneha Lata and Umas statements with Sunlight Colony police station.


The much-hyped Delhi governments scheme for crop damage has benefited over 53,000 farmers in the past year. But the disbursed Rs 89 crore has been largely restricted to just four districts, and even those who got the compensation cheques complained of their insignificant amount.





In some districts, not even a single farmer has been awarded compensation as these areas are virtually ineligible for crop damage scheme, said a senior official with the Delhi governments revenue department.



No farmer under the south district has been given compensation for loss of crop since the introduction of the Aam Aadmi Party governments scheme in May 2015. There is a negligible amount of agricultural land in the limits of south district. So such districts become virtually ineligible for the compensation as no crop is damaged in these areas, the official told Deccan Herald. Moreover, farmers dont apply for compensation in such districts.



The capital has been divided into 11 revenue districts and the records related to farmlands in the nearly 360 villages are maintained by the Delhi governments Revenue Department headed by Divisional Commissioner A Anbarasu. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has asked the revenue department head to assess the crop damaged in the city due to unseasonal rain during the past couple of days.



According to the Delhi governments revenue department, the city has a total of 45,307 acres of agricultural land, largely concentrated in four districts  north, west, northwest and southwest. Of this, 14,751 acres suffered crop damage last year, said the official. Some 53,463 farmers have been given a compensation of a total of Rs 89 crore in the past one year, he added.



In April, 2015, the AAP government had announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 per hectare or Rs 20,000 per acre to farmers for the loss of crop. But the Delhi BJP alleged that farmers who have got the compensation cheques since May 2015 complain that compensation cheques ranging from Rs 4,000 to Rs 16,000 are too little to even cover their expenditure on farming.



The AAP government had announced Rs 50,000 per hectare but the highest compensation given to farmers is Rs 14,000 per hectare, said Satish Upadhyay, chief of Delhi BJP unit.



At most villages, the farmers complained to me that the relief promised by the Delhi government after last years crop failure is yet to reach them. Those who got relief said that they did not get the amounts as publicised by the Kejriwal government, he added.

The BJP chief on Tuesday met farmers in 24 villages including Nizampur, Jaunti, Madanpur Dabas, Hiran Kundna, Tikri, Ladpur, Mazra, Dariyapur, Harawali and Ghogha.



There are nearly a dozen Assembly seats in the rural belt in Delhi. The ruling AAP swept all the seats during Vidhan Sabha elections in 2015 as the party had promised better compensation to rain-hit farmers in the run-up to the Assembly polls.


After days of sparring, actors Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut have taken their battle to courts, each slapping on the other legal notices making nasty allegations.





42-year-old Hrithik, who was the first to send the legal notice to his "Krrish 3" co-star, has demanded that Kangana apologise in a press conference and clear the air about their alleged affair which he firmly refutes.



A defiant Kangana, 28, said she was not a "dim-witted" teenager and refused to apologise. She instead shot off a counter-notice to Hrithik warning him to take back his notice or face a criminal case.



The charges and counter-charges, which earlier were flying across in social media, are now contained in two legal notices - first issued by Hrithik seeking an apology from Kangana for allegedly referring to him as her "silly ex" in an interview, and the second sent by her charging him with a clumsy attempt to cover up their relationship.



"Since quite sometime you (Kangana) have been insinuating and trying to create an image within the film industry through print and social media and in public at large that there was some relationship between our client (Hrithik) and you," the notice sent by Hrithik's advocate Deepesh Mehta on February 26 said.



"Our client states that it is needless to mention that there was no relationship between him and you. You are trying to propagate a false idea and thereby gain publicity with ulterior motives and malafide intentions," Hrithik's four-page notice claimed.



In her 21-page reply on March 1, Kangana said, "She is not some dim-witted teenager who has been smitten and that whatever happened between the two of them was with full consent of both parties."



"It is pertinent to record that your client throughout supported my client and fully involved her. He also did not make any attempt to block her. There is no communication from him to my client objecting to an emails. This proves that he received the emails with his participation and consent," her notice said.



Kangana's lawyer Rizwan Siddique told PTI, "Hrithik doing anything like this is the silliest thing he could have ever done. He has made a fool of himself. It's been more than seven days we haven't got any reply from them."



"We are waiting for them to react to the notice first as we have the facts and law on our side," he said.



Hrithik's lawyer said he does not want to comment at the moment on being asked about Kangana's notice.



In his notice, Hrithik contended that he and Kangana acted only in two films and besides professional relationship there wasn't any social, personal, platonic and/or intimate relation between them.



According to Hrithik's notice, the duo met on May 24, 2014 at Karan Johar's birthday bash when Kangana approached the actor and thanked him for sending her an email appreciating her work in 'Queen'.



"To this, our client told you that he has not seen the movie yet. Our client further clarified to you that the email ID from which you received the mail was not his and he gave you his real email ID," the notice said, adding that the actor has already lodged a complaint with the Cyber Cell of the city police about the said fake email ID in December, 2014.



"On coming to know of Hrithik's real email ID, you (Kangana) sent a barrage of emails to him. Our client tried to ignore all the emails (total 1439) to him even though it amounted to mental harassment and stress.



"Besides sending emails to our client you have also been telling people in the film industry about your affair with him and then called our client a 'silly ex'," the notice said.



On her part, Kangana claimed that Hrithik had himself provided her the email ID on which they were corresponding with each other till May 2014.



"My client (Kangana) states that it was Hrithik who wanted to communicate from a newly created ID because of his impending divorce. In an effort to safeguard his name, image and reputation your client (Hrithik) time and again malafidely and in mischief hacked my client's email ID and deleted all the mails sent by him," Kangana in her notice said.



Hrithik alleged that during the outdoor shoot of 'Krrish 3' Kangana in a drunken stupor created a scene in front of him and that her sister Rangoli later apologised.



"Your sister told my client that you are suffering from Asperger's Syndrome and requested him to not tell anyone. Our client kept his word till date," the notice said.



Hrithik has further alleged that Kangana had also got in touch with his father Rakesh Roshan who also conveyed that the actor was not interested in her.



The actor has demanded that Kangana apologise within seven days of receipt of the legal notice or else face criminal action for defamation.



Refuting all the allegations levelled against her, Kangana has claimed that she was not a stranger to Hrithik or his family members.



"In January 2011 and 2012 Kangana was invited for your (Hrithik) sister's birthday parties. In 2013, you, your wife and your parents attended Kangana's birthday party and then in September 2013 Kangana attended your father's birthday party. All these parties were private affairs," Kangana said in her notice.



"Your client (Hrithik) is living in his own illusionary narcissist world which starts and ends at self-aggrandising. Kangana in her interview about her silly exes never mentioned the name of your client (Hrithik). It was your client's own unwarranted and uncalled reaction that made people look at him and assume that the 'silly ex' could be your client," her notice said.



She further refuted Hrithik's claim that she was suffering from Asperger's Syndrome and said that she was not suffering from any such mental disorder.




A 35-year-old Russian billionaire has embarked on an ambitious goal to make immortality a reality by using cutting-edge science that enables uploading of human brain to a computer.





Dmitry Itskov has brought together some of the world's leading neuroscientists, robot builders and consciousness researchers to create a robot which is capable of uploading a person's personality.



Itskov '2045 initiative' is described as the next step in evolution, supporting research into artificial intelligence. The project aims to store a person's thoughts and feelings in a robot, following the belief by experts that brains function in the same way as a computer.



"Within the next 30 years I am going to make sure that we can all live forever. I'm 100 per cent confident it will happen. Otherwise I wouldn't have started it," Itskov said.



The project's first step is to create a robot that can be controlled using the mind. It would work by uploading a digital version of a human brain to an android  effectively rebooting a person's mind  which would take the form of a robotic copy of a human body or, once technology has developed, a hologram with a full human personality.



"If there is no immortality technology, I'll be dead in the next 35 years. The ultimate goal of my plan is to transfer someone's personality into a completely new body," Itskov told BBC.



He has invested in the programme having amassed a fortune from his internet media firm New Media Stars.



Some scientists claim the project is "too stupid" and "cannot be done".



"You cannot code intuition, you cannot code aesthetic beauty, you cannot code love or hate," said Miguel Nicolelis, leading neuroscientist at Duke University.



"There is no way you will ever see a human brain reduced to a digital medium. It's simply impossible to reduce that complexity to the kind of algorithmic process that you will have to have to do that," Nicolelis said.



However, Itskov is more sanguine and believes he could indeed succeed in his goal of bringing about immortality.



"I will answer you to the question of ethics by the opinion which was given to me by his holiness the Dalai Llama when I visited him in 2013. His point was that you can do everything if your motivation is to help people," Itskov said.



"For the next few centuries I envision having multiple bodies, one somewhere in space, another hologram-like, my consciousness just moving from one to another," he said.




Dear Madam,

I am currently doing my mechanical engineering course. I am an average student and aspire to pursue higher studies in Germany. But I am not sure if I can score enough in the competitive exams. Could you shed light on what kind of preparation such exams demand and give details of scholarships, if there are any?

V S Mukesh





Dear Mukesh,

Apart from a good GPA in your bachelors, you need to write GRE and TOEFL exams. Please visit www.ets.org to work on practice papers. Most German universities offer free education or if they do have a tuition fee, it is extremely nominal. Do the language course at the Goethe Institute. It will come of use in the job market. Germany is very student friendly and offers long-stay visas. So, if you know the local language, you will be at an advantage.



Dear Madam,

I am currently in my second year of BBM course and wish to pursue MBA after this. Financially, I cant afford to study in a foreign university. Also, my score have been average till now. I scored 77 per cent in my 10th standard and 86 per cent in my 12th standard. My average in college has been 74 per cent (in the past 3 semesters). Are there any good universities in the UK, Canada, or USA that I can apply to, considering my marks? Kindly let me know of scholarships and loans that I could avail.

A student



Dear Student,

Dont worry. There are enough and more universities for all budgets. Your scores are not so bad, you are just being harsh on yourself. All universities offer scholarship, research assistantship, graduate assistantship and teaching assistantship opportunities. Take the GMAT and the IELTS exam. Get good scores in both these exams. Entry to most MBA programmes would require two to three years of work experience. If you wish to pursue an MS or MSc in management or any other business-related subject, you could apply soon after your BBM. Many UK and Canadian universities offer courses that have study and work options. In UK, for instance, all masters programmes are for one year, except in Scotland, where the duration of programmes is for two years. If you pick a sandwich programme (work-study) in an university in England, you would study for the first year and pay tuition fee for that year alone and in the second year, you would work and get paid. Canada also offers similar options but their masters programmes are for two years.



Dear Madam,

I am interested in pursuing masters in electrical and computer engineering in

the fall of 2016. I cannot apply for educational loans as the assets owned by my parents are not registered as khata. So, I want to know other sources through which I can support my

educational ambitions.

Noor Zahara



Dear Noor,

If you have a good GPA and excellent GRE & TOEFL scores, you would be eligible to apply for scholarships in all the universities. Many universities also offer graduate assistantship and teaching assistantship programmes. Universities in Germany are free for all students. However, admission to these universities is highly competitive. Published research work, projects carried out, internships and work experience will strengthen your resume.



In UK, the duration of all masters programmes is one year. So, you end up saving on tuition and living expenses for an additional year. You are also allowed to work part time for 20 hours during the week and up to 40 hours during holidays. Apart from the regular banks that you are familiar with for your student loans, you also have banks like HDFC Credila that help students finance their studies.



You can also explore scholarship options in India that fund meritorious students for higher education abroad.



These are:



The Lore India Foundation Scholarship Trust (www.scholarshipsinindia.com/lore-india-foundation-scholarships.html).



The Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship for Higher Studies (www.pg.nsfoundation.co.in/Home/Scholarship).



Aga Khan Education Services (www.akdn.org/akf_scholarships.asp).

Inlaks Shivdasani foundation (www.inlaksfoundation.org/inlaks-scholarship.aspx).

JN Tata Endowment for Higher Education (www.dorabjitatatrust.org).



Dear Madam,

I am currently in first PUC and am keen to study marine biology after this. Kindly suggest some good universities that I could look into and exams required.

A student



Dear Student,

The best universities for marine biology are:

In the US: Harvard, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, Caltech, MIT, Columbia, Stanford, Princeton, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Washington and University of Arizona.



In the UK: Cambridge, Oxford, Edinburgh, Bristol, Imperial College London, Durham, Leeds, Manchester and Southampton.



In Australia: The Australian National University, University of Melbourne, The University of Western Australia and Curtin University.



In Japan: The University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Tohoku University and Nagoya University.



In Canada: University of British Columbia and University of Toronto.

ETH Zurich Switzerland, University of Bremen Germany, National Taiwan University, Utrecht University Netherlands, The University of Hong Kong and Peking University China are other well-known universities for earth sciences and marine biology. The exams required for admissions to US and Canada are SAT, Subject SAT and TOEFL/IELTS.

For the rest of the world, IELTS is enough.
Tata Motors has signed a contract with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to supply 25 Tata Starbus diesel series hybrid electric bus with full low floor configuration. This is the single largest order awarded for hybrid electric vehicle technology, Tata Motors said.





With these buses, MMRDA will connect Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to the railway stations of Sion, Bandra and Kurla in the next one year, improving feeder services. A fleet of 10 Tata hybrid buses are already in operation in city of Madrid, Spain and together have covered more than 1 million km.



During the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Tata Motors introduced CNG-electric hybrid buses, as a result of Tata Motors' advances in alternate fuel technologies, including hybrid electric vehicles.




Fitness chain Snap Fitness, which has 60 centres across India, plans to foray into 4-6 more countries in a year.





Peter Taunton, global CEO and president of Snap Fitness, who was in the city recently told Deccan Herald that they are present in over 2,500 locations across countries like the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and Egypt, among others. People want to be healthier and we, Snap Fitness, are very passionate about the wellness space, said Taunton, adding that he loves the way the industry has evolved over eight years since its launch in India in 2008.



The fitness chain, which is headquartered in Minneapolis, also launched MYZONE, Indias first cloud and wireless technology-enabled fitness zone, recently, along with the International Access Card.



MYZONE is to monitor the heart rate and determine the intensity of the workout.

Talking about the fitness and wellness market in India, Taunton says, It is fragmented here, and almost 95% of it is unorganised. We are present in 230 locations in Australia, but in India, finance is a major challenge. There are entrepreneurs out there, but they need capital. It takes nearly Rs 1.5 crore to open a centre, he said.



The fitness market is underpenetrated here as the percentage is only 0.4%, compared with 17-18% in Australia and the US, said Dr Vikram B M, CEO and MD of Snap Fitness India.




A printer fault at Bangladesh's central bank meant that overseas queries about suspicious transactions went unanswered, according to a report seen today on the USD 81 million cyber heist that sent shockwaves through the banking world.





The report, filed to police yesterday, recounts the events leading to the discovery of the dramatic theft from an overseas account of Bangladesh Bank.



It says that because of a printer and software problem, it took the Bangladesh central bank nearly four days to ask banks across the globe to halt payments to the hackers. They tried to steal around USD 1 billion and got away with USD 81 million from the impoverished country's coffers.



Central bank governor Atiur Rahman and two of the deputy governors have lost their jobs over the scandal, which has hugely embarrassed the government and raised alarm over the security of the country's foreign exchange reserves of over USD 27 billion.



Today the government, which has said it was kept in the dark about the losses for weeks, also removed its most senior banking official M Aslam Alam from his position.



The hackers managed to transfer USD 81 million on February 5 -- a Friday, when Bangladesh Bank is closed -- from its account with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, transferring the cash electronically to accounts in the Philippines.



In the report seen by AFP, the bank's joint director Zubair bin Huda said engineers were unable to fix the printers until February 6, a day after the New York bank sent queries about four separate transactions.



"Since such glitches happened before, we thought it was a common problem just like any other day," Huda said in the report.



Bangladesh Bank tried to contact New York on February 6 by email, fax and phone to ask that the transactions be suspended when it realised that the SWIFT interbank messaging system which it normally used was not working properly, Huda said.



"We realised that the SWIFT system being ineffective was an important issue, and therefore we sent an email to Federal Reserve Bank of New York at 1:30pm on February 6 to halt all types of payment processing," he said. But they were unable to get through as the US bank was closed for the weekend.



It was not until Monday afternoon that the central bank's main server was again working properly and officials were able to send the formal requests to stop the payments to six banks across the globe. But by that time USD 81 million had been transferred from Bangladesh Bank's New York account to a bank in the Philippines.
Russias decision to pull out its troops from civil war-wracked Syria deserves international applause. It is expected to provide a much-needed shot in the arm to the ongoing UN-brokered peace talks in Geneva. There is much speculation over why President Vladimir Putin made the decision to pull out. Is Russia cutting its losses? Was there a falling out with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad? Or is Russia, having achieved its goals, acting to facilitate a peace settlement in Syria? At the start of its military intervention in Syria in October, Putin promised to withdraw Russian forces in six months. It is heartening that he has kept that promise.



Many western analysts are of the view that the Russian military intervention was about helping Assad inflict a military defeat on the rebel groups. It was not. In the run-up to the Russian decision to intervene in Syria, the military balance there was tilting towards the rebels. American, Turkish and Saudi military support to the rebels had contributed to a dangerous situation where groups like Islamic State were gaining ground. It was to stabilise the situation of the Syrian government and to prepare the way for a political settlement that Russia stepped in. Six months thereon, Russia has achieved these goals; hence the pullout. Hawks in the Russian establishment are likely to have urged Putin to keep the troops and fighter jets in Syria longer as this would tilt the military balance more decisively in Assads favour, and perhaps even help him militarily defeat the rebels. Putin has done well to resist that line of thinking. After all, Russian troops could have got bogged down in the Syrian quagmire. It would have resulted in a replay of the Russian experience in Afghanistan in the 1980s. Importantly, Russias pullout at this point ensures a level playing ground for the conflict actors at the Geneva talks.



A window of opportunity has opened up for a political settlement of the conflict. A fragile and flawed cease-fire that came into force on February 27 has proved more durable than expected. Over 250,000 people have been killed and 5 million displaced in the five

years since the civil war erupted. This has been an immensely costly conflict not just for Syria but for the larger international community too. Parties to the conflict need to reach a compromise settlement soon. The potential for a political settlement that Russias withdrawal from Syria has created must be put to good use.


Russian President Vladi-mir Putins decision to begin pulling his planes and troops out of Syria on March 15 at the launch of the second round of UN mediated talks between the Syrian government and opposition not only shock-ed Syrian delegations and UN officials but also changed the balance of forces on the ground and at the negotiating table.





The government, which had felt secure in Russian air power and political backing, faces talks without Moscows military muscle and the diplomatic clout conferred by its warplanes, bombs, and advisers.



While Putin could rightly claim Russias five-and-a-half month intervention restored 400 villages to the Syrian government and regained for the Syrian Army the initiative on the battlefield, his timing of the withdrawal may have dimmed the prospects for a deal between the government and the opposition. Both have relied on borrowed power, the regime from Russia and Iran and the opposition from the US, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.



Iran had already begun pulling out its 3,000 revolutionary guards and advisers, making the regime all the more dependent on Russia while the oppositions backers have remained firm. If there is to be a peace deal, they will have to pull back from the flat demand for Syrian president to stand down ahead of the appointment of a transition authority which will draft a new constitution and oversee elections.



The sides have been compelled to attend talks by the two-week ceasefire which has been 80-90% effective and allowed the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians trapped by fighting. The rising tide of 1.2 million Europe-bound Syrian refugees and migrants from elsewhere has exerted pressure on the international community to seek a settlement.



Failure of the Geneva talks, sponsored by the US and Russia, could herald the collapse of the ceasefire and return to full scale war without end. Without Russian air cover, advisers, and Iranian reinforcements, overstretched government forces cannot recapture major objectives while divided armed opposition factions cannot defeat the Syrian army and allied militias.



An unintended consequence of a return to stasis could be strengthening Islamic State  which is exactly what has happened over the past year in Yemen where a Saudi-led coalition is battling tribal rebels for control of that country.



Therefore, there is no option but to secure progress in Geneva and maintain the ceasefire. The plan to which UN mediator Staffan de Mistura is working, calls for the creation within 6 months of a transitional authority with full powers, the drafting of a new constitution and elections by August 2017.



To achieve this end the government, the opposition and their allies must reach painful compromises, if not during this round set to end on the 24th but at subsequent rounds.



Bridging the gap



His main task is to find a formula to bridge the wide gap between the government and the Saudi-sponsored main opposition High Negotiations Committee which remain far apart on the issue of the fate of President Bashar al-Assad.



For the government, his future is a red line. He must stay in office until Syrians rather than outside powers decide who should rule. The Russians have backed this stand although they argue Assad cannot remain in power forever. Their pull out could hasten his departure.



The HNC blames him for the conflict and insists he must step down or be ousted as soon as possible. Hardline Saudi Arabia, Turkey and France agree, although the US does not want him to depart until the military and state institutions are stabilised.



De Misturas mission is complicated by competing visions of post-war Syria. The US, Europe, most Arab states, Iran, Russia and the UN argue Syria must be a democratic, secular, pluralistic state, embracing Syrians of all faiths and ethnicities. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar support armed groups  the most prominent being the Army of Islam and Ahrar al-Sham  which seek to transform Syria into their version of a Sunni Islamic state.



On one hand, Saudi Arabia and Turkey can torpedo the Geneva negotiations by insisting the HNC stick to its hardline on Assad, while, on the other hand, these countries and their militia allies could become spoilers by undermining the ceasefire and continuing to arm and fund groups adhering to their ultimate objective.



Riyadh and Ankara are in a strong position to adopt either both or one of these options, particularly because of the Russian disengagement and the deterioration of their special relationships with Washington in recent years.



The Obama administration has not automatically given in to Saudi and Turkish demands on a variety of issues as in the past. It remains to be seen whether the US will match Russias move by exerting serious pressure on Riyadh and Ankara to ensure their Syrian surrogates are prepared to negotiate an end to the war.
Former Union minister and Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary has demanded that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah withdraw the order to set up a separate Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), saying it was against the law.





Speaking to mediapersons here on Wednesday, he said that the manifesto of the Congress had promised to give additional powers to the Lokayukta.



The State governments order to constitute ACB, however, will curtail the power of the Lokayukta. After consulting the High Court Chief Justice, the chief minister should revoke the governments order on constituting ACB and thereby hand over the anti-corruption work to the Lokayukta institution, he demanded. The Congress leader said that the Lokayukta is an independent institution.



Without bringing in an amendment to the Lokayukta Bill passed by the Legislative Assembly, one can not curtail the powers of the Lokayukta. Who has given you (chief minister) the power to curtail the powers of the Lokayukta? he asked.



There is an advocate general in the State and there are many other advocates and talented lawyers. Had the chief minister collected their opinions before constituting the ACB? Ugrappa, a Congress leader, is a legal expert - did the chief minister seek his opinion in this regard? Poojary wished to know.



The entire nation knows that Siddaramaiah is a sincere chief minister. There is no allegation of corruption against him. The Opposition tried to taint his image in the Arkavathi denotification case, which was actually a brainchild of the BJP. In such a scenario why do you want to curtail the power of the Lokayukta? asked the former minister.



The Lokayukta institution was strong in Karnataka, and other states had followed the model of Karnataka in setting up the institution of Lokayukta. Why does the Congress want to weaken its power? Bhaskar Rao, along with his son, has already weakened the institution of Lokayukta, he rued.



The BJP has no moral right to level allegations against the chief minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had promised of Lokpal Bill has failed to live up to his word. The promise of making the CBI an autonomous body has remained only on paper. The Prime Minister has even failed to act when there were corruption charges against Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje, Poojary said.
The Congress is taking the special status route to claw its way back in its one-time bastion Andhra Pradesh, where it lost power after the state was split to form Telangana.





The Andhra Pradesh unit of the Congress has collected 1 crore signatures demanding special status for the state as mentioned in the AP Reorganisation Act. State unit president Raghuveera Reddy handed over the signatures to Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the presence of former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi.



You have approached the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) for an appointment, but he seems to be scared to meet you, Sonia Gandhi said addressing a brief function at the AICC on Wednesday.



Rahul, the Congress vice-president, said unfortunately, the Modi government was not interested in supporting Andhra Pradesh by granting it special status which could be of help in setting up new businesses, industry and the overall development of the state.



So, we need to put pressure on the prime minister, because he understands pressure. He does not understand any other language, but he understands pressure, said Rahul.



Undivided Andhra Pradesh was once a Congress bastion, where the party ruled for 10 years from 2004. It also sent the highest number of Congress members to the Lok Sabha in the 2009 general elections.
In a relief to actor Dilip Kumar, the Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a plea to restrain him from creating third parties rights over a plot in Mumbai till the arbitration of the dispute with a private developer.





A bench of Justices J Chelameswar and Abhay Manohar Sapre declined the request by Prajita Developers Pvt Ltd, represented by senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan, who challenged March 4 order of the Bombay High Court.



The counsel sought direction to maintain status quo on the land, also having a bungalow. The actor, his agents had on June 23, 2006, entered into a development agreement with the realty firm on the plot at Pali Hill Estate.



According to which, the owner as well as the developers had to share 50% each of residential premises to be built on the land. The Prajita developers had thus obtained the leasehold rights in the property together with the bungalow standing thereon by virtue of lease of September 25, 1953. But the developers failed to raise any constructions.



Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Dilip Kumar, submitted that the actor, who is already 94-year-old, had not been able to enjoy the property as the developers had not been able to raise the building as per the agreements.



He claimed out of the agreed sum of Rs 10 crore, only Rs 8.5 has so far been paid to the actor. The counsel opposed the argument for passing an injunction order against Kumar, saying the developer has lost concurrently and got no relief from the high court.



The high court had rejected the plea of the realty firm, noting the breach committed by it and others goes to the root of the agreement of such contract and as there is no case of any waiver and/or extension of agreed time for further development, in view of express provisions, the contention that the time was not the essence of the contract, is unacceptable.
The ruling Congress which has declared its first list of candidates for the Assam polls, is facing revolt from a section of its party leaders and workers who are miffed with the candidate selection.





Opposition parties, the BJP and the AGP also faced the wrath of their supporters when they released their list of candidates. Congress leaders have accused the party leadership of creating culture of dynastic politics. Many Congress leaders have decided to contest as independent candidates.



My supporters are urging me to contest the polls independently. I shall take a decision in this regard soon, said Amia Gogoi, the Congress legislator from Duliajan. He was not given a ticket this time. Newcomer Dhruba Jyoti Gogoi is the party candidate.



In Lakhimpur district , Congress workers laid siege to the party office and called for a shutdown of the district on the day opposing the decision to give the ticket to Joy Prakash Das instead of party veteran Ghana Buragohain.



Angry party leaders across the state are gunning for Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and state Congress chief Anjan Dutta because many tickets have been given to people from the families of top leaders.



In Aamguri, the party has given the ticket to Ankita Dutta, daughter of APCC president Anjan Dutta. Similarly in Sarupathar, the party has given the ticket to Rosenila Tirkey, daughter of sitting MLA Aklius Tirkey.
Kick-starting the fifth edition of 5-day biannual Civil Aviation show here on Wednesday President Pranab Mukherjee has called upon world players to explore the possibilities for long-term strategic partnerships for manufacturing, maintenance, repair and operations in the aerospace industry of India.





The India Aviation 2016 is the confluence of industry leaders of the civil aviation sector from India and across the globe.



It is an initiative of the government in collaboration with FICCI and other stakeholders to showcase the latest innovations in aerospace technology from across the globe. More than 200 participants from India and 25 foreign countries are participating.



Addressing the inaugural function at the Begumpet Airport the President said India is one of the fastest growing economies of the world and is expected to be amongst the top three manufacturing destinations by 2020.



It is estimated that by 2020, India will be the third largest civil aviation market. With a network of domestic and 85 international airlines connecting 40 countries, Indian airports handled passenger traffic of 190 million persons in 2015. Yet India is one of the least penetrated air-markets in the world, he added.



Stressing on the need for further expansion at domestic front he said that several Tier II and Tier III cities in India still remain unconnected or inadequately connected with the national grid.



The consistent increase in income levels of the middle class in India has enhanced their capacity to undertake air travel for business and leisure. This has resulted in further growth in the business of low cost airlines. By 2020, the total passenger traffic in India is likely to touch 421 million, the President said anticipating a major thrust in civil aviation sector. The President has said that India shall require at least 800 aircraft by 2020 to cater to the ever increasing demand.



The supporting aviation infrastructure has to be suitably upgraded by building new greenfield airports; expanding the existing airports and upgrading facilities for maintenance, repair and operations.



He declared that the government is planning to invest over 120 Billion US$ in the development of airport infrastructure and aviation navigation services over the next decade.



Earlier, Rajiv Narayan Choubey, Secretary Civil Aviation has said that Indian civil aviation sector has grown by 30-35% compared to last two years and 20% growth in domestic sector is unparallel anywhere in the country: India has arrived and no one can afford to neglect India anymore, he said Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju, Telnagana and AP Governor ESL Narasimhan, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and FICCI President Harshavardhan Neotiya were also present.
A day before the meeting of foreign ministers of India and Pakistan, the Modi government on Wednesday made it clear that India wants good relations of with its neighbour but not at the cost of our dignity.





We want good relations with Pakistan too, but not at the cost of this countrys pride, dignity and self respect, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha replying to a debate on the Pathankot terror attack.



Singhs remarks come a day ahead of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajs meeting with her Pakistan counterpart Sartaj Aziz on the sidelines of a SAARC ministerial meeting in Nepal.



Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said security has been stepped up on the borders since in the wake of Pathankot airbase attack of January.


Even as the State government is facing the heat from civil society and legal experts over setting up of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), it has come to light that the Raj Bhavan had asked the Lokayukta police about the status of the complaint against Justice S R Nayak, who was recommended for the post of Lokayukta by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.





Sources said the Lokayukta police sent a reply to the Raj Bhavan, just last week, stating that the preliminary enquiry was still on.



Raj Bhavan had sent communication to various departments, including Bangalore Development Authority, BBMP and Lokayukta police, seeking reactions in the wake of allegations against Justice Nayak. Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath, an NGO, had filed a complaint to the Additional Director General of Police (Lokayukta) Dr S Parashiva Murthy accusing Justice Nayak of violation of house building society bye-laws and the Registration Act. He has also been accused of making a false statement in the sale deed and possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.



A senior official from the Lokayukta police said the communication from Raj Bhavan was received last week and a reply was sent immediately. The complaint against Justice Nayak was filed on January 13, 2016. Meanwhile, social activists suspect that the State government's decision to take away the Prevention of Corruption Act from the Lokayukta police was to clear the way for Justice Nayaks appointment as Lokayukta.



Social activist S R Hiremath said: I suspected this and setting up of the ACB are serious indicators of the state governments objective. First, Siddaramaiah knocked off former Supreme Court judge Vikramjit Sen's candidature, which is evident from Justice Sen's letter to Law Minister T B Jayachandra.



On the other, he transferred the complaint against Justice Nayak to the ACB. Now, technically the complaint against Justice Nayak is not before the Lokayukta police but before the ACB. With one stroke, the Chief Minister had achieved many objectives.''



He said the government wrongly interpreted the Supreme Court order in the Ramaswamaiah case by ignoring the vital readings of the order.



The Ramaswamaiah order was pronounced in 1998. It is a surprise how and why the DG&IGP woke up 18 years after this judgment. In the last para of this judgment, the Supreme Court said that Lokayukta must be armed with proper teeth and claws so that the efforts put in by them are not wasted. The Government has done exactly the opposite,'' Hiremath said.



Clarification on order



The State Government on Wednesday said the provision, in its order setting up of ACB, for prior sanction from the competing authority before starting the investigation, has been wrongly interpreted by the media. The Government Order said, ACB cannot take up investigation against a public servant without prior sanction in connection with his official work, recommendation and decisions.''



The clarification said that this was not applicable to disproportionate assets and trap cases, but only pertaining to official work of a public servant. This was included to instil confidence among public servants to discharge their official duties fearlessly. Hence, this protection has been given to government employees. This proposed amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act is pending before Parliament,'' the clarification stated.



752 pending cases



The Government Order on setting up theACB states that all pending cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act with the Lokayukta will be transferred to ACB. A source said there are 752 such cases pending across the State. This include 253 cases of Disproportionate Assets, 169 cases of trap and 330 others (suo motu and court referred cases).










The National Investigating Agency (NIA) apprehended two men in Kolkata for their connection to the October 2014 Khagragarh blast, which exposed an elaborate Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JuMB) network across India.





The NIA, which has been investigating the case of the October 2 blast at a nondescript house in Burdwan, picked up 25-year-old Enamul Mollah and 30-year-old Habibul Haque from a house at Metiabruz in Kolkatas port area, in a joint raid with Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police.



Running training centres



Mollah and Haque have reportedly been running a radicalisation programme for Muslim youth from a house in the city, which doubled up as a training centre. Admitting to the arrests, a senior Kolkata Police official said that the raid took place on late Tuesday evening.



There is evidence to establish that both were recruited by Maulana Yusuf Gazi, mastermind of the JuMB module at Khagragarh. Were trying to ascertain their lace within the JuMB network, he said.



We believe these two arrests will help us find more people, the official said. Sources in NIA informed that Haque, believed to be the bigger catch among the two, was instrumental in providing shelter to Yusuf, the prime accused in the Khagragarh case.
An MLA from Asaduddin Owaisis All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) was suspended by the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Wednesday after he said that he wont chant Bharat Mata ki Jai.





The MLA from Byculla constituency, Advocate Waris Pathan, has been suspended till the remainder of the Budget session following a unanimous resolution backed by all parties and even independents.



The incident occurred during a discussion when another MIM MLA urged the government to not use public money for construction of statues of great men of the country.



Members from the treasury benches asked whether the MIM MLAs respected patriots and great leaders and would they chant Bharat Mata ki Jai.



Then, BJP MLA Ram Kadam asked him to say Bharat Mata ki Jai, on hearing this Pathan stood up and said he wont say Bharat Mata ki jai, but would say Jai Hind instead. This led to uproarious scenes and the Lower House saw repeated adjournments.



Legislators cutting across party lines raised slogans like Bharat Mata ki Jai, vande mataram, while some even rushed into the Well of the House. During the adjournment period, some even surrounded Pathan and asked him to say Bharat Mata ki Jai.



Leader of the Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said it was objectionable and an insult to national heroes.



The member needs to apologise...be suspended, said Patil. Reactions flew thick and fast. NCPs Bhaskar Jadhav said, He has no right to sit in this House. Shiv Senas Gulabrao Patil said: If you have to stay in this country, you have to say Bharat mata ki Jai.



A few days ago, Owaisi said in a public meet at Udgir town in Latur district that he would not chant Bharat mata ki Jai even at knifepoint as the Constitution does not mandate it.



Owaisis comments came in the backdrop of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwats call for encouraging use of nationalist and patriotic slogans in universities.
The State government will write to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing into the death of IAS officer D K Ravi, with a request to expedite the submission of its report.





Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Wednesday, Law Minister T B Jayachandra said that once the government obtained the investigation report, the cause of Ravis death would be confirmed and the quantum of compensation decided.



Jayachandra was reacting to charges by Ravis family that compensation had been not paid to them even a year after the IAS officers death. He also appealed to the IAS Officers Association, Karnataka, to come to the rescue of Ravis family.




After the government stipulated that at least half an acre of land was required to open new schools in Bengaluru, realtors with no prior experience of running educational institutions are applying for what they consider is a lucrative business.





A number of small-time real estate businessmen and their cronies have sought permission from the Department of Public Instruction to start schools in Bengaluru and elsewhere in Karnataka.



In 2015, the department received 3,501 applications for new schools for the academic year 2016-17. The highest number of applications were received in Bengaluru South educational district at 397, followed by Vijayapura (307) and Bengaluru North (279).



Outside Bengaluru, one acre of land is required to open a new school. The land clause for Bengaluru is particulary tricky given the high prices. The price of land even on the outskirts of Bengaluru is Rs 5,000 per square foot.



Half an acre will cost about Rs 10-12 crore. This apart, such big plots are scarce in most parts of Bengaluru. But for real estate business and their cronies, this clause poses no problem.



Commissioner for Public Instruction K S Satyamurthy told Deccan Herald, Unqualified persons who have no idea about the education system and have no past experience of running even a pre-school are applying for permission to open new schools. He said applications for opening schools on rented premises would not be considered.



An official in the department did not disclose the names of the applicants connected with the real estate business and their percentage in the total applications, but stressed that their numbers had gone up after the fresh guidelines were issued in 2014.



Notwithstanding their applications, most of the real estate businessmen do not appear to meet the criteria specified by the government to start schools. Some of them have not submitted the relevant land documents, the official said.



D Shashi Kumar, general secretary, Karnataka Associated Managements of English Medium Schools (KAMS), saw a conspiracy in the land criterion and said the government wanted to help black money hoarders.
The High Court has ruled that Housing Co-operative Societies cannot charge any lump sum for inducting any new member, who is generally a buyer of a flat/house from the society.





While allowing an appeal, a division bench comprising Justice Vineet Saran and Justice B Srinivase Gowda recently said that a lump sum contribution can in no case be termed as fee, either for admission or entry.



The appellants, Krishnamurthy Subramanyam and two others, dwellers of the Shashikiran apartment in Malleswaram had challenged the single bench order, which had allowed the Samyukta Bharath Housing Co-operative Society Limited' s contention of collecting lump sum for membership.



The appellants had sought membership under the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 1959.



The appellants had contended that the said society apart from collecting fee, share fee etc to enrol as new members to the society, it was also charging a lump sum amount of Rs 15,000.



The bench, in its ruling, said that there is no provision for charging any kind of contribution (other than fee) from a person seeking membership. The bench further said even though there was a resolution passed in the general body meeting of the society on collecting the lump sum, but if collected, it would amount to charging a premium on sale of flats for which there is no authorisation under the Act, Rules or Bye-laws.



If resolution is passed against the bye-laws to collect lump sum, the person purchasing flats from existing owners would be saddled with the additional contribution and thereby the society may start charging as premium. A non-profit housing society cannot be allowed to charge, the bench ruled.




The Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Bengaluru police, along with the Assam state police, arrested three men, including a member of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), from a shed in Bidarahalli, off KR Puram, on Tuesday, in connection with the kidnapping of two Bhutanese nationals.





The police identified the suspects as Boben Mushai, (43), a member of NDFB, Jelson Basumathri, (20), and Narswan Narjari, (25), all natives of Assam. The trio was residing in a makeshift shed in Bidarahalli. They had come down to Bengaluru a few days ago and were living under fake identities, working as helpers in a market in Avalahalli.



The police said the three men were part of an eight-member gang. A couple of days ago, the Assam police arrested NDFB members Birmul, Phakum, Jibon, Manam Basumatri and Ansul Mushai, son of Boben Mushai, in Assam, and seized Rs 3.80 lakh from them.



They were arrested for kidnapping Ajith Rai, 16, son of a pig farm owner in Bhutan, and Bhol Bahadur Saab, 26, a helper at the farm.



On February 22, at around 8.30 pm, the gang kidnapped Rai and Saab who were on their way to feed the pigs. They threatened the duo with a countrymade pistol and Kukri knives and warned them not to raise an alarm.



The duo was taken to Chirang district near the India-Bhutan border, confined to a small room for five days and physically tortured.



They made a ransom call to Rais father and demanded Rs 20 lakh (Indian currency) and threatened to kill his son and the helper if he did not pay up.



Rais father went to a spot near the India-Bhutan border as directed by the abductors and gave them the money after which they released Rai and Saab. On March 7, Rais father went to the Sidli police station in Chirang and registered a complaint, added the police.



The Assam police launched a manhunt for the abductors and arrested five of them, while three of them fled to Bengaluru by train. During interrogation, the police got to know their mobile phone numbers. They checked the call detail records and found that the trio was in Avalahalli in Bengaluru, said an investigating officer.



The Assam police informed Bengaluru Police Commissioner N S Megharikh about the hideout and the latter handed over the case to the CCB who traced the trios residential location.



The CCB officers were keeping a watch on them and, in the meanwhile, the Assam police also arrived and together they raided the shed and arrested them. Another person is absconding and efforts are on to nab him, said the officer.



In 2015, Boben Mushai was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and Birmul, Phakum and Jibon were arrested for their involvement in NDFB activities and released on bail.
A bipartisan effort to make it more difficult for rogue law enforcement officers to find police work in Colorado has passed a key hurdle and is gaining momentum.

The bill would require police agencies to request and review personnel records and internal affairs files on prospective hires from departments where job candidates worked as officers  and the departments would be compelled to hand over the documents.

Current law requires sharing in limited cases in which officers are found to have lied while under oath or during the course of an investigation.

The agency in charge of certifying police in Colorado would gain access to such information as well before it could grant the certification required for law enforcement work in Colorado.

The legislation also cracks down on a deferred judgment loophole that has allowed police with past felony guilty pleas to find work in Colorado.

House Bill 1262 is sponsored by Rep. Angela Williams, a Democrat from Denver, and Sen. John Cooke, a Republican from Greeley and former Weld County sheriff. The legislation passed the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday with no opposition.

The intent is not for the legislation to make hiring decisions for law enforcement, Williams told the committee. It is meant to give law enforcement the necessary information to make good hiring decisions.

If the bill is signed into law, the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, which certifies law enforcement officers in the state, would have the power to deny certification for deferred judgments and deferred prosecutions.

In such deferred judgments, a conviction is dismissed after a successful term of probation. The Colorado courts have ruled that the legislature must determine whether deferred judgments are considered disqualifying offenses for certain professions.

Colorado law governing police certification has been silent on the issue, which has meant some officers have been certified and hired by law enforcement agencies in Colorado despite deferred felony judgements in the past. The proposed change would bring Colorado closer to the standard in states such as Texas and Florida, which consider them as disqualifying offenses for police work.

One of those who benefited from a deferred arrangement was Jeremy Yachik. Despite a guilty plea to felony fraud in New Mexico, Yachik went on to have a law enforcement career in Colorado checkered with personal transgressions and criminal convictions.

The bill has the support of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, the County Sheriffs of Colorado and the Colorado Municipal League.

The legislation is in response to a series of articles in The Denver Post about second-chance officers. The Post highlighted examples of law enforcement officers working in Colorado who had transgressions that would have barred them from continued work in other states.

Colorado has a lenient standard compared with most other states when it comes to police discipline, allowing officers with serious misconduct to be decertified only after a conviction for a felony or certain misdemeanors. Most states allow decertification to occur for far less, such as personal transgressions or excessive force that doesnt result in a conviction.

The legislation would not change what causes a decertification that brings an end to a police career in Colorado, but it would significantly tighten the hiring process for officers.

It would require an officer to submit a waiver to a hiring agency that would empower the agency to seek documents at agencies where the officer has worked. Included would be documents related to job performance, administrative files, grievances, previous applications, personnel findings, complaints, internal affairs files, early warnings and condemnations.

The legislation would require a former agency to share those files with the agency reviewing an applicant. Past nondisclosure agreements would remain binding, but such agreements entered after the legislation is law no longer would prevent a hiring agency from reviewing pertinent records, as it has in the past.

The legislation would apply to investigators for the states revenue department and police and investigators for the State Patrol, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, sheriffs departments, municipal police departments, town marshals and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

The associations representing Colorado sheriffs and police chiefs are pushing to broaden the legislation to encompass other agencies, such as police forces at universities.

People in this profession go back and forth, and making agencies accountable for these background investigations is what were seeking, Michael Phibbs, chief of the Auraria Campus Police Department, told the House Judiciary Committee, speaking on behalf of the chiefs of police association.

Colorado House bill 1262 on the web.
New Mexico officials Tuesday accused Colorado of blindly accepting assurances from the Environmental Protection Agency that the Animas River has returned to conditions that existed before the Gold King Mine disaster  and warned theyre still mulling a legal battle.

New Mexicos chief environmental official also is pressing the EPA to reimburse $1.5 million spent responding to the agency-triggered Aug. 5 blowout, which spilled 880,000 pounds of acidic heavy metals downriver.

Colorado and the EPA keep saying everything has returned to pre-event levels. Thats just false, not backed up by the data, said New Mexicos Ryan Flynn, a Cabinet secretary who runs the state Environment Department.

Theres still a hazard. The risk is still there. Were having to deal with that risk. We shouldnt be having to address, on our own, a risk that was created by others, Flynn said.

Colorado officials didnt respond.

EPA spokeswoman Nancy Grantham said the agency has been working with New Mexico and will review their submission as quickly as possible. New Mexico sought reimbursement for about $375,000 about a week ago then revised that to include additional response costs, Grantham said.

The discord continues despite weekly conference calls and two meetings of state and federal officials in the aftermath of the blowout that worsened contamination in three states. EPA officials have accepted responsibility for the disaster, the result of botched efforts to drain the Gold King Mine.

Theyre reviewing similar reimbursement requests from Colorado. Attorney General Cynthia Coffman sent the EPA a letter Tuesday night urging quicker processing.

In January, New Mexico officials threatened a lawsuit against the EPA, Colorado and owners of inactive mines to compel cleanup, better protection and monitoring. Theres still fundamental disagreement over contaminant screening levels.

New Mexico residents in Farmington, Aztec and other communities have raised concerns about lead and other heavy metals deposited along river banks. They contend that heavy rain and flooding dislodge contaminants, causing spikes in lead levels. They acknowledge that municipal treatment plants remove contaminants and that lead may have existed in soil before the disaster  but they demand further study.

The EPA has established a limit of 15 parts per billion for lead in drinking water. After the disaster, the EPA and Colorado agreed to a recreation-based standard of 20 million ppb for lead in the Animas River, Flynn said. The EPA has used a standard of 500,000 ppb for cleanup of lead-tainted soil at Superfund sites, he said.

We should follow what EPA has done in the past  not fashion an arbitrary cleanup level for this particular site, Flynn said. Its not about getting in a kayak and floating down the river. Were in support of that. But we have households relying on the river and irrigators diverting from the river.

State officials have clashed over the extent of long-term monitoring of water quality. New Mexico favors a robust, EPA-funded effort to measure various contaminants.

However, New Mexico is pleased that Colorado has admitted to an error in sending the state a bill for nearly $20,000 to provide Gold King information requested under the Freedom of Information Act, Flynn said.

And New Mexico also is pleased that Silverton residents and Gov. John Hickenlooper have asked the EPA to launch a Superfund cleanup, he said. But the jury is still out on whether were going to move forward to court.
FinFETs will fly from 16nm to 7nm

Rick Merritt, EETimes

3/16/2016 06:30 AM EDT

SAN JOSE, Calif.Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. is ramping its 16nm process and making progress on plans to roll out 10 and 7nm nodes over the next two years. The news injected optimism in a crowd of about 1,500 attendees at a Silicon Valley event here where the worlds largest independent chip foundry shared its long-sought success with FinFETs and the great unknown beyond.

Some observers were underwhelmed, claiming TSMCs road map to 7nm will only bring it in line with the 14nm process in which Intel is currently ramping its Skylake CPUs.

Indeed, even TSMC executives noted its 10 and 7nm nodes will have minimum feature sizes of about 20 and 14nm, respectively. And they all use the same fundamental FinFET transistor structures Intel pioneered at 22nm and 14nm. However, they also reported significant progress on research on post-FinFET devices.

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Organisers of a new event staged to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes have pledged to create patient power.

The benefits of peer support and networks were highlighted during the first-ever Talking About Diabetes (TAD) conference, which took place on Saturday March 12, at Imperial College, London.

Speakers with type 1 diabetes talked about their harrowing experiences of being diagnosed and living with the condition.

A new generation of doctors

The conference was organised by a team of diabetes consultants, including Dr. Partha Kar (pictured), from Portsmouth Hospitals; Dr. Catherine Peters, from Great Ormond Street Hospital; and Dr. Peter Hindmarsh, of University College Hospital.

Kar said: When we set this up we wanted to take forward type 1 diabetes. One of the reasons for establishing this forum was to create patient power for type 1 diabetes outside the bubble of Twitter. There is a new generation of doctors and consultants that are trying to make things better.

Some themes discussed at the conference included missed diagnoses, the postcode lottery of care in the UK, peer support, education and technology.

The event was compered by BBC Radio 4 Today Programme presenter Justin Webb, whose son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes aged nine.

Webb said: Its very helpful to bring doctors and people together to talk in a positive way about diabetes.

Journey of change and resilience

Anne Cooper, a senior nurse who has had type 1 diabetes since 1979, told the audience about her journey of change and resilience and said peers and support networks are incredibly important.

Joe Eldridge, a co-founder of Team Novo Nordisk and professional cyclist from 2008 to 2014, flew over from America to talk at the conference.

He said: We just want to be an example and inspiration to other people with diabetes to live their dreams and also to have a supportive team around them. Taking control of my diabetes gave me a lot of empowerment and motivation in the racing.

Laura Cleverly, whose alias on Twitter is Ninjabetic, spoke about the routine of being in hospital with DKA every six months, before getting to grips with type 1 diabetes.

Near-death experience

Jamie Reed, a Labour MP in Copeland, recalled his near-death experience following a missed diagnosis during the 2010 General Election; eventually he was told that he had type 1 diabetes. Reed concluded: The truth is type 1 diabetics get a raw deal in this country.

Former Diabetes UK president Richard Lane OBE, recalled his experiences of becoming the first person with type 1 diabetes in the UK to stop taking insulin before eventually having to go back on the drug.
"Relieving the suffering of the poor Cuban people" is one of the standard lines wielded to justify the restoration of relations between Cuba and the United States. But this is an argument loaded with demagoguery, as it seeks to free from blame the main culprit, the Cuba people, and place it all on the tragedys protagonist, the illegitimate government of Raul Castro, and its most intransigent dissidents, both on the island and exile.

But let's debunk this big lie once and for all. The Cuban people, as the mass majority that defines Cuba, its culture and Cuban identity, is absolutely and completely responsible for the situation in which they find themselves. They are the real culprits behind the fact that being born in Cuba has ceased to be a cause for "inexpressible celebration" and become an unmitigated disaster, as evidenced by the sharp drop in birth rates on the island. Nobody wants to give birth there.

A nurse who earns his living as a slushee vendor on the streets of Havana could not have said it better: "This is a country whose youth has no future".

The youth, and its parents, and its grandparents, have resigned themselves to having no future. In Cuba there has been no future for almost six decades now. 15% of the population has fled in search of one, an unprecedented development in the country's history.

There are many internal and external factors which have made possible the prolonged survival of the Castro brothers' dictatorship, from the massive entourage surrounding the leader, to the special circumstances involved in the ideological confrontation between two political systems that sought to annihilate each other. However, following the collapse of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, the Castro regime's survival has been due to the Cuban people's lack of gumption.

Many stories have been written about the alleged courage of the Cuban people, but it's about time to dispel that myth. The courage of the Cuban people has historically been limited to a select few. The struggles against Spain, against Machado, against Batista and against Castroism, were always waged by handful of commendable people who sacrificed their lives, while the vast majority indulged in the rampant hedonism and pleasures of living in a prosperous country (which Cuba was under Spanish rule and much of the republican era), or in a country seduced by the chimera of social equality, with a promising future that never arrived, mired in its miserable, eternal present.

Havana's cabarets were full on December 31, 1958, with thousands of Cubans celebrating in style, before they were pillaged by a wild and opportunistic mob. The urban struggle in the island's streets was waged by very few, and the guerrillas in the Sierra Maestra and Escambray were just that: guerrillas that never numbered more than 500 men, despite the inflated figures Fidel Castro would later report in his stories of a heroic epic that never was.

When Maceo was killed in battle, his troops, hungry and poorly armed, were just a few hundred. His wife went suffered penury in exile, and Havana was passive as the mambisa (pro-independence) offensive struggled.

If we are dispassionate we have to recognize that if the United States had not intervened in Cuba as part of the so-called "Spanish-American War," we very well could have remained a Spanish colony. The myth propagated by a grand historical narrative that American intervention wrested our independence from us, is just that: a myth that is not supported by the facts. Maximo Gomez himself would recognize that it was impossible to beat the Spaniards in a conventional campaign, which is why he devised his scorched earth strategy.

Only a few thousand Cubans took up arms across Cuba. As has been evidenced by examinations of history, the fight for independence was fought by very few. Cuba was a prosperous country, and most did not want war.

Moreover, Cubans serving in the Spanish army, Civil Guard, volunteers and guerrillas, numbered in the thousands; some sources say 80,000. To make matters worse, hundreds of blacks faithful to Spain joined the colonial troops. Perhaps the best known were the members of the black guard of Captain General Valeriano Weyler. Thirty blacks escorted him when he landed in Mariel, as part of its strategy of corralling Maceo, which would culminate with el titans demise.

When the exaggerations of Cuba's historiography are swept away, we find that Weyler was winning the war when he lost his command, following Canovass death.

The western campaign by Gomez and Maceo had been a total failure. Some of the most important generals were dead or captured, and the only major city taken by the rebels was Victoria de las Tunas  where General Calixto Garcia massacred Cubans who fought for Spain, most of them black, before leaving the city.

Under the light of real history, hidden under mountains of lies, it is evident that after the shout of Baire, what prevailed in the minds of most Cubans was the desire for autonomy from Spain.

Today, after Obama's capitulation to Raul Castro's illicit government, the island's political landscape looks similar: most Cubans do not want democracy, but rather US assistance to improve their living conditions. Most of Castroism's enemies do not want to fight for freedom, but rather negotiate with the enemy to convince it to give it to them. Most do not seek happiness, for "happiness entails being free," as Pericles observed. Most want full stomachs and corporeal pleasures, perennial symbols of Cuban happiness. Most prefer to live under their subjugators than to run the risks involved in fighting for their freedom.

And why the hell should we be surprised? It's always been the same story with the poor Cuban people. Now they are clinging to hopes that restored relations with the United States will save them. Perhaps this is why Obama said that going to Cuba "will be fun."
Here Maps has announced that it will remove its apps from the Windows 10 store on March 29 and will stop working on Windows 10 devices after June 30

Here Maps is dropping support for Windows 10. The company has announced that it will remove its apps from the Windows 10 store on March 29 and the service will stop working after June 30. The Here apps will continue to work for devices running Windows Phone 8, but will limit the development of the app to critical bug fixes. Moreover, maps developed for Windows Phone will not be updated any further. In a post on its official blog, the company says that the reason for this decision is that Windows 10 would require them to redevelop the apps from the ground up.

In its post, the company says that the essence of HERE apps lives on in the Windows Maps app. It recommends that Windows 10 for Mobile users should use the preinstalled application as Microsoft developed the app using the Here platform. Here was one of the exclusive services offered by Windows Phone when it was launched and was one of the first to offer offline navigation on smartphones.
The Samsung Galaxy A5 is amongst the best designed phones in the market, but at Rs. 29,400, it is just too expensive to recommend. It's performance isn't comparable to its competitors and you would be better of buying an HTC One A9 or the much cheaper Nexus 5X.

Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 Edition detailed review

With its A-series smartphones, Samsung has been playing the same game that Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi and others have, but in its own way. The Galaxy A8 was basically a metal and glass clad version of the erstwhile Galaxy S5, while the original Galaxy A5 and A7 were attempts at providing value for money smartphones at comparatively affordable prices.





That said, its tough to ignore the competition in the market today, and like the original Galaxy A5, the Galaxy A5 (2016) also suffers some major setbacks. Its definitely better than its predecessor, but in todays market, there are things wed want improved. But first, the good things...

Build and Design: The best of Samsung today..

The metal and glass design that Samsung adopted with the Galaxy S6 has been used in the A5, and that makes this one of the best looking smartphones in this price range. Its only 7.3 mm thick and weighs 155 grams, which means its a treat to carry around in your hand and pocket. Combined with the 5.2 inch display and thin bezels, it makes for one of the most ergonomically sound smartphones out there.

Theres a metal frame on the side, with chamfered edges, completing the overall premium look and feel of the Galaxy A5. The polished glass on the back is surprisingly more resistant to fingerprints than phones like the Sony Xperia Z3+ and even the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and Galaxy S7. Its almost the perfect design.

I say near perfect only because I would have preferred if the phone was narrower. The Samsung Galaxy A5 is 71mm wide and 144mm long, and that is quite ergonomic. But, if you compare that to a OnePlus X, which follows basically the same design philosophy, you realise how much of a difference a few millimeters can make. The OnePlus X is 69mm wide and 140 mm long, and while that may not seem like much, it does make a difference.

However, Id still rate the Samsung Galaxy A5 as one of the best designed smartphones in the market today. Itll be a treat for anyone who wants their phone to be ergonomic and easy to use.

Its almost the perfect design.

Display: Sticking to the strengths

The 5.2 inch FHD Super AMOLED display is predictably good. On the default adaptive display mode, the display doesnt oversaturate colours a lot, but you will see the yellowish tinge if you switch to the Basic mode. Overall though, its quite bright, which suits usage in outdoor conditions, and the colours are really accurate, at least in the adaptive display mode. It is a tad washed out, compared to Samsungs flagship displays though.

Performance: It doesnt belong here

This is where things fall apart. The Snapdragon 615 SoC from Qualcomm is simply not the processor you want on your smartphone in this price range. The difference between this and the Snapdragon 617 SoC on the HTC One A9 is miles ahead of the Galaxy A5. In fact, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, which costs less than half of what the A5 does, can deliver about double the processor performance.

But the processor isnt the only issue. For some reason, the Galaxy A5 doesnt support Open GL 3.1, which is a big bummer for gamers. Combined with the fact that the Snapdragon 615 has some heating issues as well, it results in easily discernible frame drops. Even in regular usage, the phone lags when youre switching between apps, and Flipboard always freezes for too long when you swipe across to it. Of course, this is also because it isn't a native app, but the freezes are more tolerable in the Galaxy A8.

While the HTC One A9 didnt sport the most powerful processor, Android Marshmallow out of the box, combined with an able processor, ensured that the phone was a treat to use. The Samsung Galaxy A5 comes with Lollipop out of the box and is the opposite, in terms of performance.

The phone lags when youre switching between apps, and Flipboard always freezes.

Camera: Needs improvement

While the Galaxy A5s 13MP camera boasts the same F1.9 aperture as the Galaxy S6, you would be wrong to expect the same quality. The Sony IMX135 sensor is smaller than the IMX240 sensor on the Galaxy S6, which results in a drop in image quality. While the shutter response is quite fast, images lack details and struggles with shadows. Under low light, the phone takes quite a bit of time to focus as well.

The camera is comparable to the HTC One A9, which wasnt the best camera phone to start with. The processing algorithm on the Galaxy A5 also seems different from the one used in Samsungs flagship devices.

Overall, the Galaxy A5 has a good camera for a phone priced at Rs. 15,000, but at Rs. 29,400, it falls behind.

The camera is comparable to the HTC One A9, which wasnt the best camera phone to start with.

Battery Life: Long, but not long enough

The 2900 mAh battery on the Galaxy A5 should last a day for average users. On the Geekbench 3 battery test, the phone takes just over 10 hours to fall from full to no charge. On regular usage, I was able to get the phone to last for about 15 hours, which means youre going to have to charge it twice a day.

Watch Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) Review Video

Bottomline: Best and worst of Samsung..

Samsung has so far refused to play the price war going on in the Indian market, and the Galaxy A5 continues that trend. At Rs. 29,400 though, it is really difficult to recommend the Samsung Galaxy A5. It is indeed one of the best designed phones in the market, but theres really no other area where it beats the competition. Perhaps a Snapdragon 617 SoC would have been a better idea for this device.
Sovereign bond yields backed up across the board on Tuesday, with Gilts as the main exception, ahead of the US central bank's policy meeting and despite weaker than expected figures on retail sales in the States which led several top investment banks to trim their projections for economic growth in the first quarter.

Excluding sales of automobiles and gasoline, what analysts refer to as the 'control-group' which is included in the Department of Commerce's quarterly estimates of GDP growth, retail sales were flat month-on-month (consensus: 0.2%) while the previous month's rise was revised lower by four tenth of a percentage point to 0.2%.

That led analysts at Pantheon Macroeconomics to revise down their forecast for first quarter consumption Stateside

from 3.0% to 2.5%.

Nonetheless, the think-tank said it remained to be seen whether spending had simply taken a hit from the volatility in capital markets at the start of the year, in which case a bounce in spending come March was possible.

Bond yields on the Eurozone's periphery rose on the back of profit-taking after an ECB-induced rally over the previous two session, although some market commentary referenced the looming political risks in the likes of Spain and worries about Lisbon's fiscal position.

On a more positive note, Spain's central bank said the country's debt ratio as a proportion of gross domestic product fell to 99.0% of GDP in the last three months of last year, from 99.3% in the same quarter of 2014, below its target for 99.7% and an estimate of 100.7% from the European Commission.

The main take away is that the surge in public debt weve seen since 2007 in public debt has been contained, Oxford Economics said in a research report sent to clients.

The yield on Spanish 10-year government debt rose by five basis points to 1.52%, while those on similarly-dated Italian bonds jumped by six basis points to 1.37%.

German 10-year Bunds fared even worse, pushing their own yield up by four basis points to 0.32%.

Yields on Japanese JGBs also participated in the downdraft, pushing the yield on Tokyo's 10-year debt higher by three basis points to -0.01%.

Similarly-dated Gilts edged higher pushing their yields down by one basis point to 1.54%.
Analysts at Exane BNP Paribas highlighted potential upside at British property specialist Land Securities , British Land and Derwent London on its confidence that the UK will vote to remain in the European Union in June.

Exane said a maturing UK cycle means this trade will be short-lived, but said the shares of Land Securities and British Land had been oversold in the short-term.

"For investors seeking to avoid these political and cyclical risks, Continental Europe offers more sustainable returns," it added, pointing to Vonovia, Klepierre and Beni Stabili.

The British property sector has been weak recently reflecting fears surrounding a potential Brexit and maturing cycle.

On valuations that assume an In vote in line with bookmakers odds, this points to 18% average upside in Land Securities and British Land.

"Total returns of 10% on a 12-month view look mispriced based on 25% discounts to spot NAV, particularly bearing in mind decade-low LTVs and increased income support for valuations.

"However, we would not want to run UK exposure beyond calendar 2016e given our forecasts for broadly flat NAVs in 2017e.

London office specialist Great Portland is upgraded to 'overperform' from 'neutral', with Derwent London upgraded to 'neutral' from 'underperform', with British Land maintained at 'buy'.
British Finance Minister George Osborne on Wednesday staked his political future on his belief he could deliver a budget surplus by 2020 while admitting he had again missed his debt cutting forecasts and economic growth would be slower than predicted.

Saving a savage round of spending cuts towards the end of the current parliament, Osborne gambled that tax receipts, which are lower than he predicted a year ago, would perk up as businesses filled Treasury coffers and pushed him towards his almost messianic target of a budget surplus.

Osborne now expects to borrow 72.2bn compared with a planned 73.5bn. Next year this will be 55.5bn compared with a forecast 49.9bn last November. The following year's borrowings are expected to rise by 14bn to 38.8bn., while in in 2018-19 the number increased to 21.4bn from a predicted 4.6bn.

However, he then expects a swift turnaround in his fortunes to produce a 10.4bn surplus in 2019-20 and 11bn in 2020-21, just in time for the next General Election where his Conservative Party will be seeking a replacement for David Cameron who has said he will not serve a third term as prime minister.

A surplus would also give him room to cut taxes in an election year.

Gross domestic product growth for this year was revised down to 2% from 2.4% and to 2.2% for 2017 from 2.5% as Osborne noted other major economies were reviewing GDP forecasts.

"Financial markets are turbulent. Productivity growth across the west is too low. And the outlook for the global economy is weak. It makes for a dangerous cocktail of risks. But one that Britain is well prepared to handle, if we act now so we dont pay later, he said, outlining a plan to make 3.5bn in spending cuts towards the back end of the parliament.

Like a circus act trying to keep plates spinning on the end of a pole, Osborne juggled not only his ambitions to be leader of the country in four years, but a desire to keep Britain inside the European Union in three months.

Osborne, who is pro-European, tried to avoid overtly making his case for retaining Britain's membership of the EU by using the neutral Office for Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) as his messenger on the tough times facing the global economy.

"The OBR are explicit today that their forecasts are predicated on Britain remaining in the European Union. But they do say this, and I quote them directly: 'A vote to leave in the forthcoming referendum could usher in an extended period of uncertainty regarding the precise terms of the UKs future relationship with the EU'," he told a packed House of Commons.

"This could have negative implications for activity via business and consumer confidence and might result in greater volatility in financial and other asset markets, he also quoted the OBR as saying.

He then tried to be a man of the people, and push the bad news off the front pages, by announcing a new tax on soft drink manufacturers in an effort to combat child obesity. The measure will raise 520m and go towards funding after-school activities and sports.

Corporation tax would be further cut to 17% from 20% per cent by April 2020, while the small business rate allowance would jump by 9,000 to 15,000. He added that the higher rate threshold would go up to 51,000 from 18,000 and take 600,000 out of the tax altogether by April 2017.

Other announcements included commissioning a new high speed rail line between Leeds and Manchester, a new road tunnel through the Peak District and a north-south train link in London.

Beer, spirits, and cider drinkers were all cheering the news that excise duties would be frozen. Motorists saw petrol duties stay put, but smokers were told they would now have to cough up another 2%.

Everyone with a home or car insurance policy saw their bills go up by another 0.5% to 10%. The insurance premium tax has risen by more than 66% since last October under Osborne, raising him some 9bn by 2021.

Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies said Osborne was "moving money around to meet his targets in 2019" and was banking on corporation tax receipts to help him achieve this.

"It is not because the economy is going to be in a much better place," he said.
Full year net asset value at John Laing Infrastructure Fund fell slightly to 108.4p from 109.3p, but the company still increased its second half dividend by 1.04% to 3.41p a share for an annual return of 6.75%.

The company said it was "not unreasonable to expect greater volatility in the share price over the coming months" ahead of the June referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union, although there was evidence that it could benefit from any uncertainty as "investors see listed-infrastructure as a 'safe haven' in times of market turbulence".

The company said a decision to leave the EU could impact UK gilt rates and the government's credit rating.

Underlying portfolio growth was 8.34% while pre-tax profits fell to 47m from 67.2m. The company received 73.3m in cash from investments, 4.3m ahead of project forecasts.

"It is pleasing to announce another solid set of results for 2015. Since the end of the year, we have made our first investment in the Spanish market via a stake in the Barcelona Metro Stations project and agreed the acquisition of two further UK social infrastructure projects from John Laing Group," the company said.

"The secondary public/private partnership experienced something of an adjustment in geographical focus in 2015. The UK market for secondary projects was relatively inactive compared to previous years, whilst the western and southern European markets were particularly active."

"Our team was invited to tender for over 50 projects in these markets alone. Secondary market transactions in North America and the Asia-Pacific region were fewer in number, however, we continue to remain close to these markets as we believe in the medium term they still remain important sources of opportunities for growth."
FTSE 250 oil and gas exploration group Tullow Oil said its Cheptuket-1 well in Northern Kenya has encountered good oil shows.

Cheptuket-1, which is in Block 12A, is the first well to test the Kerio Valley Basin and was drilled to a final depth of 3,083 metres.

The objective of the well was to establish a working petroleum system and test a structural closure in the south-western part of the basin.

Tullow said the strong oil shows encountered in Cheptuket-1 indicate the presence of an active petroleum system with significant oil generation. Post-well analysis is in progress ahead of defining the future exploration programme in the basin.

The company said further exploration activities are now being evaluated following the encouraging Cheptuket-1 and successful Etom-2 results.

Exploration director Angus McCoss said: "This is the most significant well result to date in Kenya outside the South Lokichar basin. Encountering strong oil shows across such a large interval is very encouraging indeed.

I am delighted by this wildcat well result and the team are already working on our follow-up exploration plans for the Kerio Valley Basin."

Tullow operates Block 12A with 40% equity and is partnered by Delonex Energy with 40% and Africa Oil Corporation with 20%.
Londons FTSE 250 was up 0.8% to 16,761.14 at 1440 GMT as investors digested the UK budget and looked ahead to the Feds rate announcement.

Oil and gas exploration group Tullow Oil was the standout gainer after saying its Cheptuket-1 well in Northern Kenya has encountered good oil shows.

Cheptuket-1, which is in Block 12A, is the first well to test the Kerio Valley Basin and was drilled by the PR Marriott Rig-46 to a final depth of 3,083 metres.

The objective of the well was to establish a working petroleum system and test a structural closure in the south-western part of the basin.

Tullow said the strong oil shows encountered in Cheptuket-1 indicate the presence of an active petroleum system with significant oil generation. Post-well analysis is in progress ahead of defining the future exploration programme in the basin.

Tullow, Cairn Energy and Wood Group also got a boost from Chancellor George Osborne's cut to North Sea taxes.

Vectura was also in the black after it agreed on the terms of a merger with Skyepharma.

Under the terms of the deal, Skyepharma shareholders will get 2.7977 new Vectura shares for each Skyepharma share. Based on Vecturas closing price of 146.60p on Tuesday, this values Skyepharma at 410.15p per share or around 441.13m.

There will also be a partial cash alternative of up to 70m pursuant to which Skyepharma shareholders can elect to receive cash instead of some or all of the new Vectura shares to which they would otherwise be entitled under the merger.

Dr Samir Devani, managing director of Rx Securities, said the deal was likely to be significantly earnings-enhancing for Vectura shareholders and will provide stronger long-term growth for Skyepharma shareholders.

Thomas Cook suffered the brunt of the losses after Citigroup downgraded the stock to sell from neutral, although the bank expects a solid second-quarter statement from the tour operator.

The bank cut its forecasts on Thomas Cook amid ongoing earnings risk given an expected significant European airline capacity increase which could put pressure on prices.

It also pointed to a tightening supply/demand balance for hotels which could put pressure on costs.

Moneysupermarket.com was also in the red after founder Simon Nixon sold his remaining stake in the price comparison website for 124m.

AG Barr and Britvic were under pressure after Osborne announced new taxes on sugary drinks.

Risers

Tullow Oil (TLW) 200.20p 4.22%

Pets at Home Group (PETS) 278.50p 3.57%

Wood Group (John) (WG.) 638.50p 3.32%

Cairn Energy (CNE) 197.70p 3.24%

Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 546.00p 3.12%

Zoopla Property Group (WI) (ZPLA) 242.80p 3.10%

Amec Foster Wheeler (AMFW) 493.10p 2.71%

Ocado Group (OCDO) 277.40p 2.59%

Vectura Group (VEC) 150.30p 2.52%

Dunelm Group (DNLM) 970.00p 2.48%

Fallers

Thomas Cook Group (TCG) 96.55p -4.97%

Evraz (EVR) 80.45p -4.85%

Barr (A.G.) (BAG) 527.50p -4.78%

Moneysupermarket.com Group (MONY) 328.50p -4.39%

CLS Holdings (CLI) 1,525.00p -3.24%

Spire Healthcare Group (SPI) 333.40p -3.17%

Britvic (BVIC) 688.00p -2.96%

AO World (AO.) 169.20p -2.87%

Vedanta Resources (VED) 297.40p -2.49%

Indivior (INDV) 162.40p -2.46%
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Ohio State football vs. Iowa: Live updates from Ohio Stadium

The Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Iowa Hawkeyes at Ohio Stadium.
Aspect Consulting

Dayton

Sanford

Knoedler

Bobich

Griffin

Aspect Consulting hired Adam Griffin as a senior remediation engineer in the Bainbridge Island office, Rachel Bobich as a geology/GIS technician and Eric Knoedler as a staff hydrogeologist in Seattle, and Jordan Sanford as a project assistant and Taylor Dayton as a staff water resources engineer in Wenatchee. Griffin has 10 years of remediation experience at commercial, industrial and mining sites. Bobich has environmental consulting experience, and works on geologic and GIS projects. Knoedler supports environmental remediation projects in Puget lowland regions. Sanford has worked in the biological and geological sciences with federal, state and private groups. Dayton holds a master's in civil and environmental engineering from Virginia Tech, and will work on water and stormwater projects.




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FRANKFURT, Germany (AP)  Institutional investors are suing Volkswagen for 3.25 billion euros ($3.57 billion) in damages over the company's handling of its emissions scandal, which has so far seen the share price fall by about a third.

Attorney Andreas Tilp said Tuesday that the suit in the German regional court in Braunschweig was joined by investors from 14 countries, including the U.S., Australia, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, and the U.K. Among the plaintiffs is CalPERS, the giant pension fund for government employees in California.





. . .
The company that currently trains fixed-wing pilots at Fort Rucker has filed a protest in federal court in an attempt to prevent the training contract being awarded to another company.

FlightSafety International, which has trained pilots in Daleville and at the Dothan Regional Airport for many years, filed the complaint against the United States Government on March 15. It has also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction.

The complaint has been filed against the United States because the Department of Defense awards the contract for military training. The complaint and motion have been filed under seal because the company claims the documents include proprietary information.

CAE USA, a competing company, was initially awarded the contract for fixed wing training for the Army on June 3, 2015. FlightSafety and another company competing for the contract, URS, immediately filed protests. They were dismissed Sept. 11 of last year, according to the Government Accountability Office. The contract was apparently awarded again about two weeks ago.

The basis for the most recent protest is not publicly known, since the complaint was filed under seal.

FlightSafety issued a statement Wednesday in response to an inquiry from the Dothan Eagle.

FlightSafety International is on contract through the end of September 2016 with the United States Army to perform fixed wing training at Dothan Regional Airport and at Daleville. FlightSafety has performed this training since 1986 with outstanding performance ratings from the Army. FlightSafety is protesting the March 2, 2016 contract award because we believe FlightSafety offers the most affordable and capable solution. We remain committed to supporting the U.S. Army with outstanding flight training services, the FlightSafety statement said.

Although no official announcement has been made, the Dothan City Commission approved tax abatements for CAE to construct a training facility at the Dothan Regional Airport. The City of Dothan Planning Department has approved development plans for the facility and construction permits have been issued.

It is not yet known how long the protest process will take or if it will delay CAEs progress toward building the Dothan Airport facility.

The lucrative fixed wing training contract has been highly competitive. FlightSafety was granted a one-year extension in October of last year to train fixed wing Army and Air Force personnel, giving CAE a one-year period to build infrastructure to assume the contract. According to documents related to the extension, the training consists of 140 students from the Army for the C-12 Aviator Qualification Course, 60 students for the C-12 Instructor Pilot Course, and 273 students for the C-12 refresher course. The contract also calls for the training of 44 Air Force students for the Aviator course, 22 for the Instructor course and 68 for the Refresher course. FlightSafetys one-year extension had a value of $39 million.

Unless the protest is upheld, fixed wing training responsibilities will shift from FlightSafety to CAE. It is not yet known whether the shift will ultimately result in a net gain or net loss of jobs in the area.
dpa ElectionsData

With dpa ElectionsData you get access to a unique collection of data. Via a programming interface (Rest-API), your developers can access detailed information, candidate profiles and live results for all national elections in the European Union and important international elections, like the US Midterm elections etc.

The data pool also includes all heads of state and government as well as about 20,000 elected members of parliament throughout the EU. In addition to their data (name, party, constituency or list position), we collect social media profiles and official websites of individuals and parties.
Peter Brock supporters have questioned a decision by Holden to revive the controversial Director version of the Commodore  the same nameplate which ultimately forced a split between the famous racer and the car maker.

Wheels magazine reports the Director badge will be revived from later this year, with Holden building "a few hundred" vehicles that borrow standard performance features found on the SS-V Redline sedan along with luxury appointments seen on the Calais V. The special edition, to be priced between $60,000 and $70,000, marks the first use of the infamous Director badging since the Brock-owned VK and VL Holden Dealer Team Directors of the 1980s, the last of which led to the acrimonious split between Brock and the manufacturer.

While Holden has declined to comment, the magazine claims the swansong Director will debut a version of HSV's Magnetic Ride Control  a first in a Holden  adjusting the vehicle's dampers for different kinds of driving. But unlike original Directors, it will only be available with an automatic transmission.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, several Brock supporters criticised the move, accusing Holden of profiteering from the same nameplate which ended its partnership with Brock.

"It's a bit of a kick in the guts," said one Brock supporter and current owner of a VK Director.

"The split came because of the Director and now Holden wants to use the name? I'm really not sure about it.

"It will probably sell well, as there's a bit of a space at present between a regular Calais and a HSV Senator, which doesn't leave much change from $90,000. But the original Director was custom-fitted with whatever the owner wanted, and this one isn't even available with a manual gearbox."

Another supporter said Holden would have been better off reviving Brock's less controversial HDT nameplates, which included the Sandown Wagon, Nitron, Bathurst Aero, Sport and Mt Panorama.

"While I think it's good that Holden is continuing Brock's legacy  the first thing most people think of when they hear Director is Peter Brock  it is also disappointing that Holden is cashing in on that name plate in particular," the source said.

"It's ironic that Holden chose to use this nameplate out of all the others available. Next thing, they'll option a polariser for extra cash."

Drive has learned that Holden owned the naming rights to the Director even when Brock's HDT division built VK and VL editions. The car maker even rejected moves by third parties to purchase the trademark back in 2007.

Despite the split, Brock eventually resumed his association with Holden in 1994 before being killed in a racing accident in 2006.

A long-time associate of Brock told Drive the nine-time Bathurst winner "would be chuffed" with the nameplate being revived, despite the circumstances behind it.

"It's a bit of surprise especially when they are using the Director nameplate in particular," the source said.

"But personally, anything that keeps Peter's memory alive and continues his legacy is a good thing. If Brock was still around, he would be chuffed to see that."

The revived Director is expected to be the first of a wave of new limited-edition Commodores unveiled ahead of Holden's local manufacturing closure at the end of 2017.
Skoda's future success in Australia will rest on the shoulders of its long-awaited new SUV - revealed in concept form at the 2016 Geneva motor show.

The Vision S concept will form the basis for the new seven-seat SUV that will compete against the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.

Skoda Australia director Michael Irmer revealed the new model is set to arrive in local showrooms in the second half of 2017.

"Skoda has decided to make SUV a priority and prioritise it heavily," Irmer explained. "The Vision S is giving a hint at what it could look like, it is a study obviously.

"The next thing for Skoda is to launch the seven-seat SUV on a worldwide scale and we're currently working on a business case for Australia. Obviously we'd be very, very keen to bring that here."

He later added: "Second half next year is what we're aiming for. Subject to business case, engine release dates and stuff like that. "

Tipped to carry the Snowman badge the new SUV will be based on the Volkswagen Group's MQB modular underpinnings which will be used for the new VW Tiguan range.

Despite sharing much of the development with VW Irmer promised the new SUV would remain true to Skoda's core values.

"What you will get is what Skoda always offers, that's more car for your money," he said.

The Snowman - or whatever it will be called - will be followed in 2018 by an all-new version of the compact Yeti SUV.

That will give the brand a pair of SUVs for the first time as the high-riding models continue to take increasing market share. Irmer is looking forward to the prospect of growing sales.

"What it means is basically we get access to a whole new slice of the market where we currently don't have access to," he said. "Anyone would anticipate that that would grown the Skoda sales beyond what they can be without an SUV. Exactly how much that is, I don't want to make a statement."

The Czech brand sold 4750 cars in Australia in 2015 making it a niche player locally. But Irmer is confident that the brand can continue to grow - with the addition of the SUVs - to become a genuine mainstream player.

"Of course there is always potential because Skoda is not a niche brand," he said. "The offerings are truly mainstream products. But what it means as a new brand that's not even been in the country 10 years, you don't have an existing customer base you can grow from. That basically mean the majority of your buyers are conquest, you have to get them from other brands and that's a process that takes time. But ever since we came we're grown every year."

Before the new SUVs arrive the brand will expand its current range with a number of sporty special editions.

The Octavia RS230 is already locked in for the second half of 2016 along with the Fabia Monte Carlo.

Irmer also confirmed the brand is looking to add the Sportline pack to the new Superb. The styling kit will be available on the range-topping 206kW 4x4 model and Irmer admitted it could be made a standard feature or just be available as an option.
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Thanks to EBRD donor support, confectionary producer Rolleo is now a market leader for Kosovar sweets

Lirije Ilazi, owner of Rolleo, has found the perfect recipe for ensuring the success of her sweets company.

When she baked her first biscuits in her kitchen in Ferizaj, southern Kosovo, to supply a local shop, she was already thinking big.

Families across the country, and in particular women, have always taken great pride in - and spent a lot of time - baking traditional treats at home. Ms Ilazi hoped to make their lives easier by providing readymade but fresh Turkish delight of high quality.

Her idea was a huge success in a country where more and more women work away from home and therefore have less and less time for household chores.

Besides, until recently Turkish delight was not easily available on the local market. It was imported from FYR Macedonia primarily during Ramadan and other holidays.

Ms Ilazi got the company off the ground back in 2008, after realising the commercial potential of these traditional sweets in Kosovo and beyond.

Now, after seven years of hard work, Rolleo is a well known brand selling cakes and biscuits and Turkish delight through major retailers in Kosovo, while Ms Ilazi is about to relocate her business from a small garage to a 900-square-metre factory and hire 40 more employees.

To make a cake, you need many different ingredients, she said. Its just like in business: you need a lot of help and support from many different parties to succeed. The EBRD was one of those able to help me.

Demand turned out to be high and the business began to grow exponentially. It was at this point that the EBRD started its involvement with advice and financial assistance through a local bank, TEB.

The EBRDs Advice for Small Businesses team put Ms Ilazi in contact with a local expert who guided Rolleo through best practices in marketing. As a result they developed four new product packages and 10 new product labels, a catalogue and an advertising banner.

Rolleo quickly tripled the number of its employees and sales more than doubled, while its products are now being sold across the whole of Kosovo.

Export possibilities are on the horizon too, with one sales agreement currently being discussed with a Swedish retailer. In order to meet certain export criteria, though, Rolleo needs to obtain certification for ISO 22000 and halal standards.

Given the growing demand, Ms Ilazi realised she needed more space for her production lines, new equipment for a new factory and to improve administrative as well as managing processes.

To make those changes a reality, Rolleo obtained a 200,000 loan from TEB as well as business advice from the EBRD on adopting a Food Safety Management System.

The assistance falls under the EBRD Western Balkans Women in Business framework, which is a facility focussed on assisting women-led small- and medium-sized enterprises. The technical support was possible thanks to funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency  the development agency of the government of Sweden.

Elena Petrovska, EBRD Head of Office in Kosovo, said: We recognise the importance of providing small, women-led businesses with know-how and finance. Not only does it promote female entrepreneurship, but it can drive economic growth.

Ms Ilazis plans go beyond accumulating financial means. I have always wanted to promote and empower women in my country, considering the high unemployment rate amongst women, she said.

I hope that I will be able to hire more female employees at my new factory. The Women in Business programme in Kosovo is a great boost for moving in this direction.
FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday testified before the House Judiciary Committee that the government has the legal right to gain limited access to the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino, California, shooters and other suspected terrorists.

Congress and the judicial system can create a mechanism to protect the safety of the American people while preserving constitutional rights against government overreach, he said in prepared testimony.

New methods of electronic communications have transformed society, Comey noted, adding that he supports the creation of strong encryption technology that protects large institutions and private citizens against cybercriminals and others who might attempt to gain access to proprietary data.

At the same time, terrorists and others criminals have used this technology to stay one step ahead of law enforcement, he said.

We have always respected the fundamental right of people to engage in private communications, regardless of the medium or technology, Comey testified. Whether it is instant messages, texts or old-fashioned letters, citizens have the right to communicate with one another in private  without unauthorized government surveillance  not simply because the Constitution demands it, but because the free flow of information is vital to a thriving democracy.

Clear and Present Threat

However, groups like the Islamic State have used social media to recruit and radicalize individuals to commit terrorist acts, he warned. Law enforcement needs additional tools to gather evidence to prosecute cases and in some instances prevent the acts from occurring.

The FBI is seeking only limited steps from Apple to help it open the San Bernardino shooters encrypted iPhone. It wants the ability to bypass the encryption and spread out the time between individual attempts to guess a password, Comey said during a question-and-answer session with House members.

He likened the request to removing a group of guard dogs so that investigators could access the iPhone and get enough time to essentially break into the device themselves.

Asked repeatedly if the FBI had gone to other private companies or agencies to try to use alternative methods for unlocking the phone, Comey admitted that he was not an expert on the technology and that the FBI and other agencies had been stymied in their attempts to break into the phone.

Agency Assistance

The FBI asked San Bernardino County, where the shooter was employed, for assistance in retrieving data from the iPhone in December, county spokesperson David Wert said.

The statements that have been made contending that resetting the Apple ID password is what made the backup impossible are incorrect. The fact that the phone was off and PIN locked is what made a cloud backup impossible before the Apple ID password was reset, he told the E-Commerce Times.

An iCloud backup requires a WiFi connection, and an iPhone thats turned off wont link to WiFi until the phone is unlocked, Wert said.

At that point, the county said the best that could be done was to check the cloud for any past data uploads, but we would need to reset the Apple ID password because no one knew it. The FBI asked the county if it would do that, and the county agreed, unlocking the cloud and providing the FBI with the data that was in the cloud, he said.

Can of Worms

Granting the backdoor software request in the San Bernardino case will open the door for countless other requests by the Department of Justice  and foreign governments  in far less important circumstances, according to Eli Dourado, director of the Technology Policy Program at theMercatus Center at George Mason University.

This isnt a trade-off between security and privacy  its a trade-off between two kinds of security, he told the E-Commerce Times. One type of security is the kind provided by the FBI; the other is the security that iPhone users can get from encryption on their phones.

In a world with repressive regimes as well as cybercriminals, the latter takes on greater importance, Dourado said.

A U.S. magistrate judge in New Yorkruled Monday that Apple did not have to assist the government in accessing the phone of a drug dealer whose encrypted iPhone was seized along with other mobile devices in a 2014 raid by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

The government did not have the legal authority under the All Writs Act to make Apple provide a way to bypass the encryption built into the phone and give law enforcement the ability to search for additional evidence, the judge ruled.

The dealer in that case pleaded guilty last year, and any new evidence would be used at sentencing or to pursue co-conspirators or others involved in the drug ring, according to court documents.

We are disappointed in the magistrates ruling and plan to ask the district judge to review the matter in the coming days, DOJ spokesperson Emily Pierce said.

As our prior court filings make clear, Apple expressly agreed to assist the government in accessing the data on this iPhone  as it had many times before in similar circumstances  and only changed course when the governments application for assistance was made public by the court, she told the E-Commerce Times.

This phone may contain evidence that will assist us in an active criminal investigation, Pierce added, and we will continue to use the judicial system in our attempt to obtain it.
Apple General Counsel Bruce Sewell on Tuesday testified before the House Judiciary Committee that his company should not be required write new code for software that would weaken the security of the iPhone in the wake of the San Bernardino, California, terrorist attacks.

The FBI wants Apple to take action that would put the privacy and security of millions of the companys customers at risk, he said.

Apple has no sympathy for terrorists, said Sewell, who noted that the company immediately cooperated with authorities in the investigation.

The request not only sets a dangerous precedent, but would open the company to countless other requests in the future, putting the security of all those involved in jeopardy, he said. Congress should settle the debate based on a thoughtful and honest conversion on the facts.

Most importantly, the decisions should be made by you and your colleagues as representatives of the people, rather than through warrant based on a 220-year-old statute, Sewell told the committee in prepared testimony.

During questions and answers with committee members, Sewell pushed back on the notion Apple was engaged in some sort of marketing exercise in its quest to fight the order. The government claimed in some court filings that Apple had complied numerous times with the requests until they were made public.

Apple was doing what was in the best interests of its shareholders, FBI Director James Comeytold the committee, noting that he had previously worked in a corporate capacity and understood the companys corporate accountability.

Microsoft plans to file an amicus brief on behalf of Apple this week in its court battle with the Department of Justice and the FBI, a spokesperson for Apple told the E-Commerce Times.

Prosecutors Stymied

Congress should take the lead on deciding how to balance the issues involved with accessing data on encrypted devices, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. testified at the House hearing.

Ninety-five percent of the criminal cases in the U.S. are handled by state and local law enforcement agencies, and Apples switch to default device encryption in 2014 has severely hampered their ability to investigate many criminal cases, he said.

As of November, Vances office was locked out of 111 smartphones running iOS 8 or higher, he said, citing a report released by the DAs office, called Report on Smartphone Encryption and Public Safety. The number has grown to 175 devices since then, representing 25 percent of the phones received by his offices cyber lab.

With more users migrating to the newer operating systems, investigators cant access half of the phones coming into the DAs office, he said. The phones are involved in investigations of attempted murder, child pornography, sex trafficking, sexual abuse of a child and other crimes.

The district attorney in Harris County, Texas, has more than 100 iPhones that it cant access, involving cases of human trafficking, violent sex crimes and other crimes, said Vance, who also was representing theNational District Attorneys Association. Prosecutors in Cook County, Illinois, cant access 30 devices, and authorities in Connecticut cant access 46 devices.

His office has drafted language for legislation that would require designers of operating systems to provide a way for law enforcement to access unencrypted data on the phones as long as they had a warrant, he said. The legislation would not require the makers to do anything themselves unless the encryption was part of the design.

Other telecom and technology companies have received official requests for data, Vance noted. Verizon received 149,810 in the first half of 2015; Facebook received 17,577 during the same period.

FBI Fighting Last Battle

Law enforcement is using outdated methods and laws to combat a 21st century problem, Susan Landau, who teaches cybersecurity policy atWorcester Polytechnic University, testified. Many law enforcement agencies lack the tools and expertise to fight modern cybercriminals and terrorists using new technologies.

Counter to claims by FBI Director Comey, encryption has been an issue for decades, dating back to at least the 1970s, she said. Other experts in the private sector have ways of accessing the data that the FBI insists only Apple can provide.

Landau, a former policy analyst at Google and distinguished engineer at Sun Microsystems, cited the Chaos Computer Club, a group of European hackers that has exposed flaws in security systems over 30 years. The group last year demonstrated that it could recover data on security chips using electron microscopes.

Technological Misunderstandings

Landeaus testimony echoed the wider security community and computer security experts that Apple should not be forced to reengineer its devices, said Mark Jaycox, civil liberties legislative lead at theElectronic Frontier Foundation.

Director Comey kept on urging Congress to handle this issue  clearly implying legislation  despite the fact that President Obama and the administration said they did not plan on proposing or supporting any legislation, he told the E-Commerce Times.

The law enforcement witnesses appear to not understand the technology or wide-ranging precedent at stake in this case, Jaycox said, adding that committee members did seem to be trying to understand the technological details.

A majority of the committee appear to be on Apples  and the Constitutions  side, he said.

TheAmerican Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday announced that it will file a friend-of-the-court brief supporting Apples fight against the FBI request to create software that will open encrypted iPhones.

The brief notes that Congress deliberately withheld authority from the government to require that technology companies bypass the security built into their own devices.

Law enforcement may not commandeer innocent third parties into becoming its undercover agents, its spies or its hackers, the brief states.
The GermanCartel Office on Wednesday announced the launch of an investigation into Facebook over allegations that it abused its market position by infringing data protection rules, specifically in connection with the terms of service governing user data.

The investigation is aimed at Facebook Inc. USA, the companys Irish subsidiary, and Facebook Germany GmbH in Hamburg. The office, or Bundeskartellamt, is looking into whether Facebooks terms of service violate data protection provisions.

Dominant companies are subject to special obligations, said Andreas Mundt, president of the Bundeskartellamt. These include the use of adequate terms of service as far as these are relevant to the market.

User data is hugely important at advertising-financed Internet services such as Facebook, Mundt added. The investigation will look into whether users are adequately informed about the type and extent of data collected.

Questionable ToS

Facebooks terms of service could be imposing unfair conditions on users, the office said.

The company collects a large amount of personal user data, and users are required to agree to the terms of service, which often are difficult to understand, the Bundeskartellamt said.

The company has complied with the law and will work with the Bundeskartellamt to answer its questions, a Facebook spokesperson said.

The office is conducting the investigation with the cooperation of data protection officers, consumer protection offices, the European Commission and authorities in other EU member states.

The Working Group on Competition Law met at the Bundeskartellamt in October and to discuss dominant digital and social media platforms such as Facebook, Google and Amazon.

Rules of Competition

Germanys investigation may not be about Facebook violating any rules regarding data protection, but rather about competition, said Susan Schreiner, an analyst atC4 Trends.

This is the first time that a company has amassed the sheer volume of data, she told the E-Commerce Times. In todays world, where data is the new currency, is this about user data ultimately translating into market power and giving Facebook an advantage over German and other EU Internet companies?

German regulators are focusing on two central issues, said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT.

First is the way Facebook dominates social markets via four of the eight most popular social apps/services, including Facebook, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram, he told the E-Commerce Times. The second is the companys business model, which is largely based on selling advertising informed by information about Facebook users.

If Facebooks business is as clean as the company claims, then it shouldnt be a problem, King said. However, rival companies have faced similar allegations and defended their practices, facing months of painful inquiries and eventual penalties.

French Investigation

Facebook has come under scrutiny in various European countries in recent months, as officials have examined issues including the security of data that could be transferred to the U.S. and be subject to U.S. government surveillance.

The French data protection authority, the CNIL, last month sent a formal notice to Facebook requiring it to comply with the French Data Protection Act within three months, specifically regarding the browsing data of Internet users who do not have a Facebook account.

The company has 30 million users in France, according to the office.

The office also found that Facebook collects information on the sexual orientation and religious and political views of users without their explicit consent and sets cookies that have an advertising purpose without proper consent.

If Facebook fails to comply in the French case, the chair could appoint a rapporteur who might refer the matter to the CNIL select committee regarding sanctions.

Protecting the privacy of the people who use Facebook is at the heart of everything we do a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement provided to the E-Commerce Times by media rep Arielle Aryah. We are confident that we comply with European data protection law and look forward to engaging with the CNIL to respond to their concerns.
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(Photo:  Peter Kenny / Ecumenical News)World Evangelical Alliance Secretary General Bishop Efraim Tendero photographed in Tirana, Albania on Nov. 4, 2015.

World Evangelical Alliance secretary general Bishop Efraim Tendero has called for official recognition of evangelical churches by the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

He spoke on "the Gospel and Religious Extremism" at the fourth Christ at the Checkpoint conference in Bethlehem from March 7 to 10.

There he called for religious and political leaders to move away from exclusive territorial claims and instead commit to dialogue on common issues, WEA said in a statement released from New York on March 16.

Ten churches are officially recognized under Israel's confessional system, for the self-regulation of status issues, such as marriage and divorce.

These are the Greek Orthodox, Melkite (Greek Catholic), Roman Catholic (Latin rite), Armenian Orthodox, Armenian Catholic, Maronite, Syrian Catholic, Syriac Orthodox churches and Anglicans.

Tendero also met with Israeli and Palestinian government representatives and renewed WEA's call for official recognition of evangelical churches by the state of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

"Christian teaching about salvation and obedience to God rejects extremism and religious nationalism," Tendero said, citing passages and stories from the Old and New Testament of the Bible.

As a practical illustration, he shared his personal experience of peace building when leading a delegation of pastors and imams on a peace mission to the Headquarters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the Philippines.

Tendero delivered the key note address at the opening of the conference where he spoke about common misconceptions about religious extremism, biblical perspectives that counter religious extremism and religious nationalism.

'EXTREMISM NOT LIMITED TO ONE RELIGION'

"Extremism is not limited to one particular religion or one particular part of the world. Muslim extremists are blamed for the Paris attack in 2015 and the beheading of Coptic Christians on the beach."

He noted that Mahatma Gandhi had died at the hands of a Hindu in India, Yitzhak Rabin was killed by a Jew, and Indira Gandhi was killed by a Sikh.

"All three of the perpetrators were extremists who sought revenge, for what had been done to their community.

"In North America the Ku Klux Klan killed hundreds of African-Americans and burned down many schools and churches in the name of a 'pure' Christianity. In European history we find too many examples of Christians promoting violence against Jews. Such extremism is everywhere and people, women, men and children alike, are caught up in its violence."

Tendero also spoke about WEA's continued efforts for peace and reconciliation among people of different faith traditions.

Other speakers included Jesuit Catholic priest David Mark Neuhaus, Patriarchal Vicar for Hebrew Speaking Catholics in Israel and Coordinator of the Pastoral among Migrants and Asylum Seekers in Israel.

Also speaking was Sami Awad, the founder and Executive Director of Holy Land Trust in Bethlehem; Anglican Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali President of the Oxford Centre for Training, Research, Advocacy and Dialogue (OXTRAD); Mark Labberton president of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California and Lutheran pastor Munther Isaac an assistant professor at Bethlehem Bible College and director of the Christ at the Checkpoint conferences.
Federal Education Minister, Simon Birmingham , has blasted state governments for having the gall to complain about an education funding crisis which he says does not exist.Birmingham made the comments during a speech to the Independent Schools Council of Australia (ISCA) yesterday, where he slammed the states for failing to invest in their own schools.Dismissing claims that the Federal Government had cut back on school funding, Birmingham said the Turnbull Government was the one doing the heavy lifting, with its spending growing twice as fast as state governments over the past decade.The federal per student funding for students in state government schools is 66% higher, in real terms, than 10 years ago, yet some states still have the gall to say there's a funding crisis, he said.If there is, then the blame rests comfortably on their heads ... the states cannot and should not be let off the hook for what is ultimately their prime responsibility in terms of how much they spend and how they allocate their spending.This is especially the case for those states who scream loudest for more money, yet invest the least themselves. NSW Secondary Principals Council (NSWSPC) president, Lila Mularczyk , who is an advocate of the Gonski funding model, called the Birminghams statements incomprehensible.I cant fathom where this incompressible approach of the Education Minister is coming from, she told The Educator.The evidence is in. Its an evidence-based model and there are narratives and evidence showing how targeted funding is changing learning outcomes. What we now need is certainty of long-term funding.Mularczyk explained how Gonski funding had resulted in across-the-board improvements in student attendance and engagement.In my school as an example, there is data that shows how we now have increased attendance, engagement in learning and submission rates of school work, she said.Gonski funding has also contributed to increased entry into university, in some cases trebling from one year to another. This has been a direct result of me being able to employ additional staff to be experts in particular areas.She said the NSW Education Minister and the Premier were absolutely committed to a fairer funding model and that they are currently translating that commitment into action.Already, narratives and evidence are coming in from other NSW schools showing how Gonski has made a significant change in learning outcomes and life opportunities.In a statement, Australian Education Union s (AEU) federal president, Correna Haythorpe, called Birminghams speech partisan politicking and provided examples of how Gonski funding had contributed to better outcomes in disadvantaged schools.Gonski funding is already delivering extra support to disadvantaged schools and their students, through things like smaller class sizes and targeted literacy and numeracy programs, she said.These schools need the full six years of Gonski funding to ensure they get the resources they need to properly educate all their students.It is a bit rich for Minister Birmingham to complain about States not funding schools properly when the Coalition Government tried to stop funding agreements which required co-investment from States.
Some of the first congressional oversight hearings about the Every Student Succeeds Act highlighted some of the divisions between lawmakers and the U.S. Department of Education over the best way to implement the new education law, especially when it comes to accountability and interventions in struggling schools.

Acting Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. told House education committee members that the new flexibility in ESSA for states and districts is an appropriate shift in power. But he also made it clear that the Education Department will still have significant responsibilities to ensure that all students, particularly special populations and traditionally disadvantaged students, are well-served by new policies and approaches.

At times, states and districts havent lived up to their responsibility to serve all students well, King told lawmakers on Feb. 25.

However, committee Chairman John Kline, R-Minn., pressed King on whether he would adhere to both the letter of the law and the laws larger intent, which he stressed is, in many cases, to limit the Education Departments role under ESSA to providing guidance and support for states.

We wanted new policies that would empower parents, teachers, and state and local education leaders, Kline said in discussing ESSAs main principles.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., who led a separate Senate education committee hearing about ESSA on Feb. 23 at which King was not present, made similar points about the new policymaking power that the law gives states and districts.

The ESSA hearings took place against the backdrop of Kings nomination by President Barack Obama to be education secretary. The Senate education committee is slated to further consider Kings nomination on March 9.

King repeatedly stressed that as the department oversees the transition to the new law and develops relevant regulations, input from states, schools, and various other groups involved in education would be critical to the departments actions.

The Law is Clear

During the February hearing in the House, he told lawmakers that ESSAs requirements for disaggregating student data would make it especially important for states to make appropriate interventions in low-performing schools. He also stressed that it would be important for states to reconsider those interventions if necessary.

We believe the law is clear, that states have a responsibility to close achievement gaps, King said.

He also said that states have the opportunity through ESSA to broaden the definition of educational excellence and consider new indicators of success, from social-emotional learning to civic engagement. And ESSA puts a high priority on key indicators, King noted, such as requiring states to identify and intervene in schools where the graduation rate is 67 percent or less.

But GOP lawmakers consistently pressured King on the portions of ESSA they say restrict or limit the Education Departments role in important accountability policies.

For example, Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., a potential successor to Kline as the committee leader, told King that before ESSAs passage, states had lost the ability to make their own decisions about how to help low-performing schools. She pressed King on whether, under ESSA, the department would comply with the laws prohibitions on its role in determining these interventions. King said the department would.

And Rep. Mike Bishop, R-Mich., expressed concern that the Education Department would still try to dictate to states how to handle their content standards and assessments.

The federal government is in no way capable of knowing what works best for everyone, Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Ind., and the chairman of the House K-12 subcommittee, told King. However, several Democrats pushed back on the idea that the department should stay entirely in the backseat. Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, D-Texas, said the department had the power to develop broad regulations and guide states and districts as they transition to the new law.

It seems to me that they will need additional support and oversight from the department in order to make the shift to ESSA, Hinojosa said.

In response to a question from Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., about overtesting, King responded that it will be important for states to help districts find and eliminate tests that are redundant or unhelpful.

We dont want assessment to crowd out good instruction, he said.

Differing Views

At the Senate ESSA oversight hearings, state K-12 officials told lawmakers they were ready for their newfound policy power. Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers said getting good data would be key to helping states make informed decisions about accountability. And he told Alexander that it would be realistic to expect that states have their plans for life under ESSA approved and ready to fully implement by the summer of 2017.

Its also going to be giving us a chance to permanently engage people, including on issues not directly related to ESSA, Evers said.

Union leaders stressed to senators that schools needed significant time to adjust to ESSA, a pause from high-stakes testing and accountability policies, and sufficient resources to support teachers and address racial inequalities that often exist between schools based on their demographics.

Its moving from test and punish to support and improve. And I think theres an opportunity to do that now, said American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten.

But not everyone was so sanguine that the new law, on its own, would lead to improved outcomes for students and schools.

Recognizing the need for state and local decision-making does not, as some have suggested, mean that the only real role for the Department of Education is to cut checks, Kati Haycock, the CEO of the Education Trust, told senators.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has provided a EUR 175m long-term loan for the construction of a new industrial combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Kilpilahti that will supply heat to the oil refinery and chemicals plant on the same site. Being built in accordance with the latest environmental regulations, including the European Industrial Emissions Directive, the new CHP plant is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20% compared to the current situation.

EIB Vice-President Jan Vapaavuori said: The European Investment Bank strongly promotes energy efficiency and security of energy supply. Therefore, we are glad to foster the construction of the Kilpilahti power plant, which will offer long-term sustainable support to the largest concentration of oil refinery and petrochemical industries in the Nordic region. The new plant will not only produce electricity and heat with higher efficiency and lower environmental impact, but also ensure a reliable supply of heat to on-site industrial consumers.

The new power generating plant is located 40 km east of Helsinki within the industrial area of Kilpilahti, the site for an oil refinery and petrochemical industries. It will serve the heat demand of this area and provide electricity to the grid. Four new steam and power generation assets will have an installed capacity of 450 megawatt thermal and 30 megawatt electrical power.

These highly efficient units will replace the old ones, improving their environmental performance, and make use of industrial side streams (such as asphaltene) that would not otherwise be recovered for energy generation. This is a good example of resource optimisation, since more than 80% of the fuels that will be used in the new power plant are side streams from the customers own processes. Current gaseous emissions will be reduced by enhanced combustion technology and cleaned with best available technologies to comply with future emission standards. The new power plant is expected to become operational during 2018.

The project is being developed as a joint venture between Borealis and Neste, which both have operations in Kilpilahtis industrial area, as well as Veolia, an experienced energy service company. The latter is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the power plant. The total investment value is around EUR 400m. Besides the EIB, Borealis, Neste and Veolia, the project is also being financed by the Nordic Investment Bank, BTMU, ING, Nordea, SEB and UniCredit.
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) co-hosted the annual meeting of the Heads of Compliance and Integrity Functions of Multilateral Development Banks (MDB) at the CEB headquarters in Paris on 14-15 March.

Representatives from 14 MDBs in Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa discussed recent developments in the field, including integrity due diligence in the private sector and non-sovereign guaranteed operations; the international tax agenda and implications for operations; and best practices for ensuring consistent treatment of integrity issues across MDBs.

Launched in 2010, the meeting has become an annual event involving the Compliance and Integrity Functions of the MDBs. Its purpose is to foster exchange of information, improve responsiveness to compliance issues, and establish closer working contacts.

In his opening address, Rolf Wenzel said: Harmonising integrity enforcement and monitoring across regions is crucial to strengthening compliance and ensuring that we remain relentless in our common fight against harmful tax practices and corruption. Meetings such as this are instrumental in that respect, and I am delighted that the CEB is welcoming today MDB representatives from all around the world for this years annual conference.

International public banks must not only demonstrate a shared commitment to fighting corruption, tax avoidance, money laundering and financing terrorism, but continually build on shared technical, financial and regulatory experience gained across different sectors and from around the world. The European Investment Bank firmly shares this common resolve with the worlds leading Multilateral Development Banks and other financial partners, and is pleased to jointly host this years compliance and integrity meeting with the Council of Europe Development Bank, said Jonathan Taylor, European Investment Bank Vice President.
Island to receive tax revenue from goods and services



Eddie Teare MHK

The Isle of Man is to receive a share of indirect tax revenue from the sale of goods and services.

The Treasury Minister announced new changes in Tynwald following 'extensive negotiations' with the UK Government.

A revision of the tax-sharing formula under the 1979 Customs and Excise Agreement has been made to benefit the coffers here.

Manx shares are expected to rise by 11.8 million in this financial year - Eddie Teare explains how the new system will work to include Internet purchases:

Media

Eddie Teare MHK
Abortion debate sparked ahead of General Election

Prospective politicians should be discussing the subject of abortion ahead of September's General Election.

That's the message from the Positive Action Group which, supported by the Isle of ManFreethinkers, has made the topic the focus of its next public meeting.

The event will be held on Monday night at the Manx Legion Club in Douglas - it's free and open to all.

Terminations are carried out on the Island in some circumstances although the numbers each year are small - the talk will look at whether the process should be a matter of equal rights or justice.

Manx legislation dates back to 1995 - Roger Tomlinson is from PAG and says it may be time for it to be updated:

Media

Roger Tomlinson
Re: HR or other support for mobbing/bullying at Novartis



Quote: grumpygrapefruit Mobbing is a serious issue in CH and is a legally recognised term for bullying/harrasment in the work place. I know a Swiss guy who is fighting a similar case after he was sent to work in the London office of his Swiss company. While he was there he was treated terribly by management and was actually sacked from the Zurich headquarters whilst on holiday. The firm stopped paying his rent in London and all expenses... there's a lot more to it that i can't go into but he has a good lawyer who is fighting his case on anti-mobbing legislation alone and he seems to getting somewhere.



Have a loot at www.mobbing-zentrale.ch - the sixth button down has some info in English



As GG implies, this is not a [company name removed] issue. Speak to your HR rep as a starting point, but I would ask for advice on who to speak about it rather than telling that person all the gory details in the first instance.



While HR are meant to be neutral, you never know who knows who in a company like [company name removed] and professional lines can be blurred.



Finally, write up all instances of when you think you have been "mobbed" - details detail details: time, place, requests, reactions, behaviors, outcomes... BEFORE you go to HR.



At the end of the day unless someone supports your case, it will come down to "his/her word against yours".



Good luck. To quote GGFrom this thread: Mobbing in Switzerland As GG implies, this is not a [company name removed] issue. Speak to your HR rep as a starting point, but I would ask for advice on who to speak about it rather than telling that person all the gory details in the first instance.While HR are meant to be neutral, you never know who knows who in a company like [company name removed] and professional lines can be blurred.Finally, write up all instances of when you think you have been "mobbed" - details detail details: time, place, requests, reactions, behaviors, outcomes... BEFORE you go to HR.At the end of the day unless someone supports your case, it will come down to "his/her word against yours".Good luck. __________________

Never let right or wrong get in the way of a good opinion Last edited by 3Wishes; 18.03.2016 at 16:20 . Reason: removed company name
Re: New to Swiss



Welcome to the forum. Instead of a package I'd suggest plan your trip.

4 days is an ample time to go anywhere and Zurich being in the centre, it helps



Plan-1

1. Day 1: You can rent a car in Zurich and drive up to Milan (3.5hours). Start early and enjoy the rest of the day roaming around Duomo etc. Book a hotel in advance for the night.

2. Day 2: Check out and drive to Venice. Another 3 hours and enjoy the city. Spend the night there.

3. Day 3: Drive up to Florence and Pisa. Spend the day and night.

4. Day 4: Drive back to Venice (takes around 3hours from Pisa) and from there back to Zurich (5 hours).



Plan-2

1. Day-1: Travel to Innsbrucke, on a train reservation. 4 hours. Start early and spend the day at the Swarovski Museum.

2. Day-2: Go to top of Innsbrucke and explore the rest of the city. Evening take a train to Vienna (4hours). Recharge your batteries.

3. Day-3: Explore the city of Vienna.

4. Day-4: Make a halt at Salzburg, (2.5hrs from Vienna) the birthplace of Mozart. Explore the city. Take a late evening train back to Zurich via Innsbruck.



Plan-3

1. Day-1: Travel to Munich. Start early. Explore the city and spend the day drinking beer and tasting the local food.

2. Day-2: Travel to Nuremberg. Explore the city.

3. Day-3: Travel to Prague. Go nuts.

4. Day-4: Return



The key is ensuring you have all your itinerary clear in your head and your reservations done well in advance. A baby might need additional care and some modifications but this is basically a rough idea.



Have a nice long holiday weekend.



PS: the prices might be a tad higher everywhere. Try AirBnB.

PS: Double Check everything. Hi,Welcome to the forum. Instead of a package I'd suggest plan your trip.4 days is an ample time to go anywhere and Zurich being in the centre, it helpsPlan-11. Day 1: You can rent a car in Zurich and drive up to Milan (3.5hours). Start early and enjoy the rest of the day roaming around Duomo etc. Book a hotel in advance for the night.2. Day 2: Check out and drive to Venice. Another 3 hours and enjoy the city. Spend the night there.3. Day 3: Drive up to Florence and Pisa. Spend the day and night.4. Day 4: Drive back to Venice (takes around 3hours from Pisa) and from there back to Zurich (5 hours).Plan-21. Day-1: Travel to Innsbrucke, on a train reservation. 4 hours. Start early and spend the day at the Swarovski Museum.2. Day-2: Go to top of Innsbrucke and explore the rest of the city. Evening take a train to Vienna (4hours). Recharge your batteries.3. Day-3: Explore the city of Vienna.4. Day-4: Make a halt at Salzburg, (2.5hrs from Vienna) the birthplace of Mozart. Explore the city. Take a late evening train back to Zurich via Innsbruck.Plan-31. Day-1: Travel to Munich. Start early. Explore the city and spend the day drinking beer and tasting the local food.2. Day-2: Travel to Nuremberg. Explore the city.3. Day-3: Travel to Prague. Go nuts.4. Day-4: ReturnThe key is ensuring you have all your itinerary clear in your head and your reservations done well in advance. A baby might need additional care and some modifications but this is basically a rough idea.Have a nice long holiday weekend.PS: the prices might be a tad higher everywhere. Try AirBnB.PS: Double Check everything.
Re: pension Quote: mother hen 1 - I would like to know if I can still pay into my swiss pension once i have left the country?

2 - if so, does it have to be the same amount as was being paid in while i was employed in Zurich?

3 - Would i be allowed to draw my pension from anywhere or would it need to be from an EU country?

4 - who would be the best person/company to speak to in order to have my statement explained?



Change of domicile to and / or employment in a foreign country

If you (only Swiss citizens) are employed either by the Confederation or by a federally-recognised international or aid organisation in a country with which Switzerland has not concluded a social security agreement, you can remain insured in Switzerland.

If you are working in a country with which Switzerland has not concluded a social security agreement and keep your residence in Switzerland, you can remain insured in Switzerland.

If you move to a non EU/EFTA member state, you have the option of joining the voluntary AHV/IV insurance. Check the information below and the factsheet: 10.01 - AHV/IV insurance for you and your family when you are employed abroad.

Voluntary AHV / IV

Swiss and EU/EFTA citizens who relocate to a country outside the EU/EFTA, may join the voluntary AHV/IV. To do so, they must have been insured with the compulsory AHV/IV/EO/(ALV) insurance for five years, and they must apply within a year of having been insured to the Swiss representation (embassy or consulate) responsible for their place of residence or to the Swiss compensation office in Geneva. Voluntary AHV/IV requires contributions amounting to 9.8% of your income. Spouses and children of persons with a voluntary AHV/IV insurance are not automatically insured, and need to be insured independently.



If you are not employed, your contributions are considered to be paid, provided your employed spouse made contributions of at least CHF 1,828 per year. Insured persons who are not employed pay a contribution based on the investment and retirement incomes. The minimum contribution for voluntary insurance is CHF 914 per year, and the maximum contribution, CHF 22,850 per year. For more details, see factsheet: 10.02 - Voluntary Old Age, Survivors' and Invalidity Insurance.



Q3: You can draw your pension from anywhere but if you are drawing the pension from outside Switzerland, your pension will be handled by an office in Geneva.



Q4. I suggest you have a read here:



Also, I recommend you make an appointment with your local AHV office. They can answer your questions and explain things to you but you might need someone to translate.



Hope this helps. The answer to Q1 & 2 :If you (only Swiss citizens) are employed either by the Confederation or by a federally-recognised international or aid organisation in a country with which Switzerland has not concluded a social security agreement, you can remain insured in Switzerland.If you are working in a country with which Switzerland has not concluded a social security agreement and keep your residence in Switzerland, you can remain insured in Switzerland.If you move to a non EU/EFTA member state, you have the option of joining the voluntary AHV/IV insurance. Check the information below and the factsheet: 10.01 - AHV/IV insurance for you and your family when you are employed abroad.Swiss and EU/EFTA citizens who relocate to a country outside the EU/EFTA, may join the voluntary AHV/IV. To do so, they must have been insured with the compulsory AHV/IV/EO/(ALV) insurance for five years, and they must apply within a year of having been insured to the Swiss representation (embassy or consulate) responsible for their place of residence or to the Swiss compensation office in Geneva. Voluntary AHV/IV requires contributions amounting to 9.8% of your income. Spouses and children of persons with a voluntary AHV/IV insurance are not automatically insured, and need to be insured independently.If you are not employed, your contributions are considered to be paid, provided your employed spouse made contributions of at least CHF 1,828 per year. Insured persons who are not employed pay a contribution based on the investment and retirement incomes. The minimum contribution for voluntary insurance is CHF 914 per year, and the maximum contribution, CHF 22,850 per year. For more details, see factsheet: 10.02 - Voluntary Old Age, Survivors' and Invalidity Insurance.Q3: You can draw your pension from anywhere but if you are drawing the pension from outside Switzerland, your pension will be handled by an office in Geneva.Q4. I suggest you have a read here: https://www.ch.ch/en/ahv/ Also, I recommend you make an appointment with your local AHV office. They can answer your questions and explain things to you but you might need someone to translate.Hope this helps.
Re: Best Dog food recommendations



But there are several high meat content, grain-free products that might be similar. Orijen, Arcana, Purizon, Lilys Kitchen, Barking Heads, Taste Of The Wild to name a few. In German, grain-free is Getreidfrei, fyi.



The two large pet food chains in Switzerland are Qualipet and Fressnapf, but neither carry the super-premium grain free brand, although they have good brands. Editrust (



Switching foods can be difficult I know. Id first look for manufacturers who make sample size packets to see which one best suits your dog.





(At present I feed Terra Canis, a wet food made of human quality meat from a small producer in Germany, plus Purizon, ZiwiPeak, Orijen, Magnusson (not grain free, but bio - a very simple baked food) Lilys Kitchen, Happy Dog Strauss, plus my own home cooked. Each of the dogs has different needs)



There are many foods available here that seem similar to the one you have been feeding - Im sure youll find something suitable. As far as I know Diamond Naturals is not available here. (Someone please correct me if Im wrong)But there are several high meat content, grain-free products that might be similar. Orijen, Arcana, Purizon, Lilys Kitchen, Barking Heads, Taste Of The Wild to name a few. In German, grain-free is Getreidfrei, fyi.The two large pet food chains in Switzerland are Qualipet and Fressnapf, but neither carry the super-premium grain free brand, although they have good brands. Editrust ( www.editrust.ch ) carries Orijen and Arcana, Zooplus ( www.zooplus.de ) carries those plus several others brands, Meiko ( www.meiko.ch ) carries one or two grain-free products, but not the high meat content brands, IIRC. Goldenway ( www.goldenway.ch ) carries several grain-free products. All of these will do online ordering. Smaller pet shops might also carry what you need - do check locally.Switching foods can be difficult I know. Id first look for manufacturers who make sample size packets to see which one best suits your dog.(At present I feed Terra Canis, a wet food made of human quality meat from a small producer in Germany, plus Purizon, ZiwiPeak, Orijen, Magnusson (not grain free, but bio - a very simple baked food) Lilys Kitchen, Happy Dog Strauss, plus my own home cooked. Each of the dogs has different needs)There are many foods available here that seem similar to the one you have been feeding - Im sure youll find something suitable.
Re: Canada - Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)





Dear Canadians,



You are receiving this email because you are registered with the Government of Canada's Registration of Canadians Abroad service. Please share the following important information with other Canadian nationals in your area.



As of March 15, 2016, visa-exempt foreign nationals who fly to or transit through Canada are expected to have an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Exceptions include U.S. citizens and travellers with a valid Canadian visa. However, from March 15, 2016 until fall 2016, travellers who do not have an eTA can board their flight, as long as they have appropriate travel documents, such as a valid passport.



Checks will be conducted to ensure that all air travellers have the appropriate documents to enter Canada before they board the flight.



These changes could affect you even if you are a Canadian citizen. For example, if you have dual citizenship, such as:

a)A Canadian citizen and a citizen of a visa-exempt country, or

b)A Canadian citizen and a citizen of a visa-required country



You will need to make sure that you travel with a valid Canadian passport. Your Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted identification document that proves that you have a right to enter Canada. If you do not have a valid Canadian passport and present a foreign passport or other document during check in, you may experience delays or be prevented from boarding your flight to Canada.



We invite you to take this opportunity to double check the expiry date of your Canadian passport. You should never allow your Canadian passport to expire when you are outside of Canada. If your passport has expired or is about to expire, please be sure to submit an application for a new passport without delay.



For more information on the new Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), please consult the Government of Canada website:



The same website provides links to the forms you will need to renew or replace your passport.



If you have already left and are no longer in Switzerland, please send an email to our Registration of Canadians Abroad email address at



We encourage you to stay connected with the latest travel advice and advisories, via the web at

Canadians in need of emergency consular assistance should call the Embassy of Canada to Switzerland and Liechtenstein in Bern, Switzerland at +41 (0)31.357.3200 or the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa directly at +1 613 996 8885 (collect calls are accepted where available). An email can also be sent to



Consular Section

www.switzerland.gc.ca

Follow us on Twitter @CanSwitzerland This is the email sent out by the CDN embassy in Bern to explain the program.Dear Canadians,You are receiving this email because you are registered with the Government of Canada's Registration of Canadians Abroad service. Please share the following important information with other Canadian nationals in your area.As of March 15, 2016, visa-exempt foreign nationals who fly to or transit through Canada are expected to have an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Exceptions include U.S. citizens and travellers with a valid Canadian visa. However, from March 15, 2016 until fall 2016, travellers who do not have an eTA can board their flight, as long as they have appropriate travel documents, such as a valid passport.Checks will be conducted to ensure that all air travellers have the appropriate documents to enter Canada before they board the flight.These changes could affect you even if you are a Canadian citizen. For example, if you have dual citizenship, such as:a)A Canadian citizen and a citizen of a visa-exempt country, orb)A Canadian citizen and a citizen of a visa-required countryYou will need to make sure that you travel with a valid Canadian passport. Your Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted identification document that proves that you have a right to enter Canada. If you do not have a valid Canadian passport and present a foreign passport or other document during check in, you may experience delays or be prevented from boarding your flight to Canada.We invite you to take this opportunity to double check the expiry date of your Canadian passport. You should never allow your Canadian passport to expire when you are outside of Canada. If your passport has expired or is about to expire, please be sure to submit an application for a new passport without delay.For more information on the new Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), please consult the Government of Canada website: www.canada.ca . Follow the links to Visit Canada.The same website provides links to the forms you will need to renew or replace your passport.If you have already left and are no longer in Switzerland, please send an email to our Registration of Canadians Abroad email address at siac.registration-inscription@international.gc.ca in order to end your registration in our system.We encourage you to stay connected with the latest travel advice and advisories, via the web at http://travel.gc.ca , our mobile TravelSmart application, available at http://travel.gc.ca/mobile , and our RSS feeds at http://travel.gc.ca/rss . You may also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/travelGoC or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/travelGoC Canadians in need of emergency consular assistance should call the Embassy of Canada to Switzerland and Liechtenstein in Bern, Switzerland at +41 (0)31.357.3200 or the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa directly at +1 613 996 8885 (collect calls are accepted where available). An email can also be sent to sos@international.gc.ca Consular SectionFollow us on Twitter @CanSwitzerland __________________

Do or do not, there is no try(ing). Yoda
Do peanut butter sandwiches count as official business if you're the governor of Montana?

That may sound kind of ridiculous -- and it is.

But that's the kind of odd question you have to deal with when it comes to figuring out where Steve Bullock's duties as governor end and his campaign fundraising begins.

Last week, Gazette reporter Tom Lutey reported a series of questionable trips taken by Bullock around the state which conveniently had fundraising stops attached.

Questionable because the official business -- besides the fundraising -- seemed rather weak, especially at $1,650 per hour of airplane cost at taxpayer expense.

For example, Bullock's official reason for coming to Billings was making peanut butter sandwiches with middle school students. Of course, some of the office and role of the governor has made-for-media publicity stunts mostly aimed at emphasizing important needs of citizens, or feel good opportunities to showcase Montana's top official as an ordinary guy.

But even by normal standards, the news value was pretty weak.

That raises the question: How many grip-and-grin events should be allowed -- or even are necessary -- at the taxpayer expense?

There's no perfect answer or precise formula. And everybody thinks the other party is abusing the system until it's their candidate in office.

It seems to us Bullock's trips across the state that seem to magically coincide with fund-raising events aren't just accidental. And, it makes sense from a time and resource perspective to pair those events. However, it raises the question: Should the taxpayers of Montana be on the hook to foot Bullock's expense as he tries to raise more money? Why should he get a free ride when his opponents don't get the same opportunity? And, just saying that Bullock is doing what others before him have done is a lousy excuse that we shouldn't tolerate. Because someone else did the wrong thing shouldn't excuse it forever into the future.

Other governors in Montana have paid for part of their trips when a fundraising event was scheduled out of their campaign. Marc Racicot paid for part of the costs when he would "piggyback" fundraising events onto official business. When the trip was completely for fundraising, Racicot took a private plane.

Just as questionable as running around in the state plane for fundraising is Bullock's need to fire it up to go from Helena to Butte. We imagine that there's hardly a time savings for such a short trip (less than 70 miles), by the time you figure out shuttling to the airport and getting ready to fly.

Both of these cases seem to have a common theme: Taking advantage of a taxpayer resource.

Sadly, these cases will probably only renew efforts for lawmakers in the 2017 Legislature to restrict the use of the state plane for the governor. This is a time-honored tactic that has been used against governors of both political parties. We've cheered when those efforts have been thwarted because it seems like legislative overreach to try to tell the state's chief executive when he or she can or can't use the plane.

Yet, examples like flying from Helena to Butte have us rethinking the position. Is Bullock -- or any governor -- so important that he or she can't spare the extra time to drive between those two communities?

We hope it doesn't mean the Legislature won't start drafting rules about when the plane can and cannot be utilized. It seems rules like that only beget more rules and red tape.

But the instinct is understandable.

Life in Montana means roads and roads mean driving. We're not sure why the governor doesn't have the same sensibility, especially for short distances.

And if he is using the state plane for fundraising, why not reimburse Montana for the expense? It saves on the charade of trying to explain why making sandwiches is essential state business.

The Gazette began asking for the governor's travel itinerary and emails related to this trip more than a month ago. We'd point out that a simple calendar request should not take this long.

We're not certain what is so cumbersome about releasing Bullock's schedules or his email.

It only gives the appearance that Bullock has something to hide, or that it looks exactly like he's taking advantage of a taxpayer resource.

It's funny that this issue really has nothing to do with a plane and everything to do with openness, transparency and accountability. Few would argue that the governor of the fourth largest geographic state needs plane travel. It's a matter of using state property and funds correctly.
Have Ryan Edwards and Jordan Brown split? It sure seems that way.

'Teen Mom OG' Ryan Edwards' Girlfriend Tells Fans What Kind Of Girl She Is

On Tuesday, after confirming his romance with Brown weeks ago, the Teen Mom OG star took to Instagram, where he made a very odd move, which may suggest their relationship has come to an end.

While Edwards' page used to have to photos of himself and Brown, along with a message telling fans he was so lucky to have Brown as his girlfriend, there are now no photos of Brown at all. Instead, Edwards has shared a new video of a boat.

'Teen Mom OG' Ryan Edwards' Girlfriend Shares Sweet Post About Their Romance

"That's right," Edwards wrote in the caption of the clip.

Although neither Edwards nor Brown have spoken about a possible split between them, Brown did share a couple of odd posts on Twitter, starting with a meme.

Brown then posted the message below to her fans and followers.

So many things suddenly make sense.  Jordan Nichole (@_jordan_nichole) March 15, 2016

Edwards began dating Brown at the end of last year, and after ringing in the New Year together, the two traveled to Los Angeles to film the Teen Mom OG reunion special. Since then, the couple has shared numerous photos of one another on social media.

For more Ryan Edwards, check out the clip below, which features Bookout discussing his relationship with Brown during the Teen Mom OG reunion.
Answering the demand for smaller industrial sites, property group JT Ross has released a basket of sub divided plots in Durbans landmark development, Cornubia.

JT Ross has a substantial lease holding already established at Cornubia, as well as Glen Anil and Riverhorse in the north.

The Durban company has also announced a landmark development to the south of the city - the former Dunlop manufacturing plant in Sydney Road - which will see the development of massive warehousing and logistics facilities to service the citys port and export and import markets.

Grant Smith, Development Director at JT Ross, said the sub-division plan at Cornubia was as a direct result of a response to demand in the market for 6 500 to 15 000m-sized land portions. There is a real shortage of smaller sites for industrial activity in and around the city. We have recognised the gap. We have packaged smaller sites to allow buyers to acquire properties of different and practical sizes, he said.

Cornubia  oft referred to as KwaZulu-Natals brand new city  is a vast residential, commercial and industrial property development just inland of Durbans high-end Umhlanga Rocks. Totalling 1 200ha, the development has 80ha earmarked for industrial development.

The consolidation of both the commercial and residential districts and the industrial township at Cornubia was further cemented with the recent opening of a bridge link to the busy R102.

The Cornubia Industrial Park is ideally located for warehousing and logistics because of it proximity and the newly built interchanges that link it to the provinces main routes such as the R102 and the N2. The exposure from the road for businesses is brilliant.
Unidentified hackers recently stole approximately $81 million from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York after breaching Bangladesh Banks systems in early February and stealing its credentials for payment transfers, Reuters reports.

According to The Inquirer, the funds were then transferred to a bank in the Phillippines, where they were transferred to three different casinos, converted into chips, converted back into cash, and transferred to accounts in Hong Kong.

Another transfer request for $20 million was halted by a routing bank, Deutsche Bank, because the hackers had misspelled the word foundation as fandation. The Fed also notified Bangladesh Bank of an unusually large number of payment instructions and transfers to private entities rather than banks, and another $850 to $870 million in transfer requests were stopped.

Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Finance Minister of Bangladesh, told BloombergBusiness that the Federal Reserve is responsible for the stolen funds. We kept money with the Federal Reserve Bank and irregularities must be with the people who handle the funds there, he said. It cant be that they dont have any responsibility.

Still, a spokeswoman for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said the payment requests followed standard protocols.

To date, there is no evidence of any attempt to penetrate Federal Reserve systems in connection with the payments in question, and there is no evidence that any Fed systems were compromised, the Fed stated on March 9. The payment instructions in question were fully authenticated by the SWIFT messaging system in accordance with standard authentication protocols. The Fed has been working with the central bank since the incident occurred, and will continue to provide assistance as appropriate.

On March 14, Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman resigned, the New York Times reports. Such cyber attacks are happening across the world, Rahman said. We are new in facing such attacks. We lack experience.

Attackers continue to penetrate the cyber defenses of enterprise organizations, lurking for weeks and months at a time, gathering confidential and workflow data in an attempt to piece together enough information to facilitate these types of sophisticated attacks, TrapX Security general manager Carl Wright told eSecurity Planet by email.

In this case, the attackers were assuredly sloppy in many areas as they moved laterally to acquire that knowledge and perpetrate the attack in the first place, Wright added. And because the attackers were sloppy, the bank was able to stop the exfiltration of money after $81M in losses.

However, it is unfortunate that the banking institution did not have sufficient capabilities for post-breach lateral detection, which would have stopped the attack before it occurred, Wright said. That critical post breach lateral detection is the role of deception technologies, a crucial component of breach detection and diversion operations.

Recent eSecurity Planet articles have examined how to secure corporate data in a post-perimeter world and offered 10 tips to mitigate data breaches.
CASPER, Wyo.  A Casper man accused of causing up to $1 million worth of damage at a local bentonite mine pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Natrona County District Court.

Adam Melikian, 20, faces one count of felony property destruction, one count of conspiracy to commit property destruction, five counts of burglary and one count of conspiracy to commit burglary.

He is out of jail on bond while his case proceeds. Melikian is being represented by Casper attorney Scott Murray.

According to court documents, Melikian and another man, Mark Faulcon, burglarized and damaged several buildings and vehicles at the mine. The damage appeared to have been caused using large machinery.

On Jan. 4, the Natrona County Sheriffs Department responded to a call from the mine, which is at the intersection of Poison Spider and Gas Hills roads, for a report of damaged property.

Deputies saw an epic amount of destroyed property, the documents state. The damaged property included a shipping container, a motor home, several trailers, a semi, a Ford F-250 pickup, a portable restroom, tools and other equipment.

The cost of the damage was estimated to run between $500,000 and $1 million.

On Jan. 14, the sheriffs office received a tip from a local resident who was with Faulcon and Melikian during the early morning of Jan. 4, according to the documents. The informant said they drove with Faulcon and Melikian to the area near Poison Spider and Gas Hills roads, where Faulcon and Melikian destroyed property.

Faulcon was interviewed by an investigator and said he and Melikian saw large machines and decided to drive them, the documents state. They used a bulldozer, semi, scrapers, a grader and more to damage and destroy property at the location.

When he was interviewed by an investigator, Melikian said he and Faulcon were together on Jan. 3 from approximately 5 to 11 p.m., and after, Faulcon dropped him off at his apartment and left.

Melikian denied involvement in any of the property damage, according to the documents.
Four ETC booths for 40th anniversary at Prolight + Sound

Date Posted: 2/25/2016

At the Prolight + Sound 2016 exhibition in Frankfurt (5-8 April), ETC is marking the 40th anniversary of the company's founding with a new booth concept across four different stands. In Hall 3.0, the company is presenting its current products, including the Source Four LED system, the Eos and Cobalt console families, the ColorSource range, and ETC's latest line of stage machinery, ETC Rigging. Another booth is reserved entirely for presentations and workshops. The first day of the event (5 April), will be the inaugural "Future Talents Day," a new Messe Frankfurt initiative for which ETC has prepared its own "Student Session," an exciting information session specially designed for trainees, pupils and students.

40 years, 4 days, 4 booths

To mark the 40 th year of the company's existence, ETC will be represented at the Prolight + Sound show at the beginning of April, on all four days of the trade fair, on four booths in close proximity. On the central, main stand (E51), visitors to the exhibition will find control consoles from the Eos and Cobalt families, including their respective Programming Wings. It will also have the Source Four LED system that features three different arrays-Lustr for colors, Daylight HD for cool daylight and Tungsten HD for warm incandescent light. The range is completed by a wide variety of attachments, including fixed focus and zoom lens tubes and both Fresnel and CYC adapters. And making its debut at this year's Prolight + Sound will be ETC's new LED zoom profile spotlight: Irideon FPZ from the Source Four Mini family.

The adjacent stand, E61, is reserved for the popular ColorSource family. In addition to the ColorSource Spot and PAR fixtures, the ColorSource Relay, and the ThruPower power control system, ETC is presenting a number of new products in the budget-friendly range.

Stand F51 will see another Frankfurt premiere: the latest products from ETC Rigging, the over-stage machinery line introduced last year in Europe. On this booth, visitors will be able to get acquainted with the Vortek NXT theater hoist system, and find out more about the safety and ease-of-use afforded by the QuickTouch and Foundation controllers.

A novel feature of the ETC stand concept is the separate, darkened area of Stand E47. This area is reserved exclusively for presentations and workshops. The program - which comprises more than 10 events per day -- ranges from seminars on the basics, such as "Concepts of Lighting Control Technology," to such complex themes as network technology, "Advanced Color Control with Eos v2.3," and a lecture with the intriguing title "50 Shades of R80." The ETC team will be happy to answer technical questions at any time. And those visitors who find all theoretical content a shade grey will have the opportunity to try out the latest products themselves in extensive hands-on sessions.

"Having once again expanded our exhibition area, we have the opportunity this year of providing visitors with even more comprehensive and practice-oriented information," comments Rosi Marx, who is responsible for ETC's European marketing. "Our hospitality, naturally, is the same as ever. We look forward to serving tea, coffee, soft drinks or beer to our many guests."

ETC Student Session

For Prolight + Sound's inaugural "Future Talents Day," the first day of the show, ETC has prepared its own "Student Session" aimed at pupils, apprentices and vocational students. As part of the official program, ETC managers, product specialists and product developers will be in Forum C from 5:00 to 6:00pm to provide the technicians and engineers of tomorrow with insights into the corporate and product philosophies of the company, and to answer all questions related to modern lighting technology. The vouchers required for entry can be obtained at ETC booth E51. On the ETC stand itself, as part of 'High-School Teasers,' students will also be able to learn more about the workshops that ETC has developed exclusively for educational institutions.

"These student sessions have a long tradition with ETC in America," explains Sarah Clausen, the senior product manager also responsible for youth development. "Experience shows that trainees enjoy direct exchanges and behind the scenes glimpses of the company. At this year's Prolight + Sound, for the first time in Germany, we aim to offer young people entering the industry just such an opportunity."

Workshop timetable
SAN DIEGO, March 16, 2016 -- Athletes, the elderly and others who suffer from injuries and arthritis can lose cartilage and experience a lot of pain. Researchers are now reporting, however, that they have found a way to produce cartilage tissue by 3-D bioprinting an ink containing human cells, and they have successfully tested it in an in vivo mouse model. The development could one day lead to precisely printed implants to heal damaged noses, ears and knees.

The researchers presented their work today at the 251st National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS, the world's largest scientific society, is holding the meeting here through Thursday. It features more than 12,500 presentations on a wide range of science topics. A brand-new video on the research is available at http://bit.ly/ACS3DPrint.

"Three-dimensional bioprinting is a disruptive technology and is expected to revolutionize tissue engineering and regenerative medicine," says Paul Gatenholm, Ph.D. "Our team's interest is in working with plastic surgeons to create cartilage to repair damage from injuries or cancer. We work with the ear and the nose, which are parts of the body that surgeons today have a hard time repairing. But hopefully, they'll one day be able to fix them with a 3-D printer and a bioink made out of a patient's own cells."

Gatenholm's team at the Wallenberg Wood Science Center in Sweden is tackling this challenge step by step. First, they had to develop an ink with living human cells that would keep its shape after printing. Previously, printed materials would collapse into an amorphous pile.

To create a new bioink, Gatenholm's team mixed polysaccharides from brown algae and tiny cellulose fibrils from wood or made by bacteria, as well as human chondrocytes, which are cells that build up cartilage. Using this mixture, the researchers were able to print living cells in a specific architecture, such as an ear shape, that maintained its form even after printing. The printed cells also produced cartilage in a laboratory dish.

"But under in vitro conditions, we have to change the nutrient-filled liquid that the material sits in every other day and add growth factors," Gatenholm says. "It's a very artificial environment."

So the next step was to move the research from a lab dish to a living system. Gatenholm's team printed tissue samples and implanted them in mice. The cells survived and produced cartilage. Then, to boost the number of cells, which is another hurdle in tissue engineering, the researchers mixed the chondrocytes with human mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow. Previous research has indicated that stem cells spur primary cells to proliferate more than they would alone. Preliminary data from in vivo testing over 60 days show the combination does indeed encourage chondrocyte and cartilage production.

Gatenholm says further preclinical work needs to be done before moving on to human trials. To ensure the most direct route, he is working with a plastic surgeon to anticipate and address practical and regulatory issues.

In addition to cartilage printing, Gatenholm's team is working with a cosmetic company to develop 3-D bioprinted human skin. Cosmetic companies are now prohibited in Europe from testing cosmetics on animals, so they hope to use printed skin to try out makeup, anti-wrinkling techniques and strategies to prevent sun damage.

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A press conference on this topic will be held Wednesday, March 16, at 9:30 a.m. Pacific time in the San Diego Convention Center. Reporters may check-in at Room 16B (Mezzanine) in person, or watch live on YouTube http://bit.ly/ACSliveSanDiego. To ask questions online, sign in with a Google account.

Gatenholm acknowledges funding from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, Eurostar/Vinnova and the Vastra Gotalands Regionen.

The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 158,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.

Note to journalists: Please report that this research is being presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.

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Title

3D Bioprinting of Living Tissues and Organs with Polysaccharide Based Bioinks and Human Cells

Abstract

The introduction of 3D bioprinting is expected to revolutionize the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, which enables the reconstruction of living tissue and organs using the patient's own cells. The 3D bioprinter is a robotic arm able to move in the X,Y,Z directions with a resolution of 10m while dispensing a bioink and positioning several cell types and thus can reconstruct the architecture of complex organs. There are rigorous requirements for material to be able to be used as a bioink for 3D bioprinting with human cells and natural and synthetic hydrogels are currently being evaluated for these applications. We have discovered that cellulose nanofibrillar dispersion has unique shear thinning properties which is perfect for providing high fidelity during bioprinting. We have developed a new bioink, CELLINK, for printing living soft tissue with cells. CELLINK is composed of a nanofibrillated cellulose dispersion and alginate which is crosslinked during printing. The human chondrocytes have been successfully printed with CELLINK in complex 3D shape of human ear and cells showed good viability after printing and crosslinking. Long term study showed cartilage formation in 3D Bioprinted constructs. We have evaluated this new bioink with mesenchymal stem cells and human dermal fibroblast for providing human skin models for testing cosmetics and for cancer research. Recently several projects started in collaboration with plastic surgeons with aim to translate our finding into clinical applications.
SAN DIEGO, March 16, 2016 -- Drug therapies for many conditions end up treating the whole body even when only one part -- a joint, the brain, a wound -- needs it. But this generalized approach can hurt healthy cells, causing nasty side effects. To send drugs to specific disease locations and avoid unwanted symptoms, researchers developed cellular "backpacks" that are designed to carry a therapeutic cargo only to inflamed disease sites.

The researchers present their work today at the 251st National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS, the world's largest scientific society, is holding the meeting here through Thursday. It features more than 12,500 presentations on a wide range of science topics.

"What we want to do is take advantage of immune cells whose job it is to seek out disease in the body, and use them to deliver cargo for us," says Roberta Polak, a postdoctoral research associate. "How do we do that? Our lab developed cellular backpacks that can be loaded with therapeutic compounds and unloaded."

Polak and fellow researchers in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) labs of Michael Rubner, Ph.D., and Robert Cohen, Ph.D., make the backpacks by stacking ultra-thin layers of polymer materials on top of each other. According to Rubner, they could be used to treat a wide range of diseases from cancer to Parkinson's.

The resulting pack has different functional regions. One is Velcro-like, attaching via antibody-antigen binding to immune cells, such as monocytes and macrophages. These are the body's defense cells that travel to sites of inflammation -- a natural reaction to infection and disease -- and gobble up foreign invaders or attack cancer cells. In vitro testing has shown that the backpacks can stick to the surfaces of the immune cells without getting engulfed. In collaboration with the group of Samir Mitragotri at the University of California at Santa Barbara, the MIT team has also demonstrated in mice that these backpack-functionalized immune cells accumulate in locations where inflammation -- a sign of disease -- occurs.

But there was a problem. The medicine they were using to test the backpacks, a cancer drug called doxorubicin, was leaking out -- even during the initial fabrication process. So Polak worked on this part of the backpack, its payload region. To stop the premature release of the drug, she trapped it in liposomes, tiny bubbles that have already been used to carry therapeutic compounds for other delivery systems, and then incorporated them into the backpacks. She found that she could fit nine times the amount of doxorubicin in the liposomes than in the backpacks alone, potentially transforming them into an even more potent weapon.

To control the release of the drug payload, Polak used liposomes that are echogenic, or sensitive to ultrasound. So in principle, when backpacks infused with these bubbles reach their destination, they can be burst open with ultrasound waves.

Now, to see how well they work to treat a specific disease, Polak is collaborating with Elena Batrakova, Ph.D., at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Batrakova has been working with mice to develop new treatments for brain inflammation, a characteristic of diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. They want to see if they can use the backpacks to carry an inflammation-fighting enzyme across the blood-brain barrier.

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A press conference on this topic will be held Wednesday, March 16, at 10 a.m. Pacific time in the San Diego Convention Center. Reporters may check-in at Room 16B (Mezzanine) in person, or watch live on YouTube http://bit.ly/ACSliveSanDiego. To ask questions online, sign in with a Google account.

Polak acknowledges funding from MIT's National Science Foundation Materials Research Science & Engineering Center.

The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 158,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.

Note to journalists: Please report that this research is being presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.

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Title

Design and Production of Functional Thin-Film Backpacks for Cell-Based Therapies

Abstract

Cellular backpacks are 7-10 m diameter polymer patches of a few hundred nanometers thickness that can be fabricated by using layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly onto a photopatterned substrate. Since backpacks can be attached to the surface of living cells without being phagocytized, our goal is to explore the use of backpacks for cell mediated and targeted drug-delivery. Cellular backpacks can be engineered to carry many different types of biologic and small molecule drugs. Additionally, by attaching the desired antibodies on the backpacks' surfaces, it is possible to adhere them to a wide variety of cells. Recent developments by our group have demonstrated the ability of backpack-monocyte conjugates to migrate and accumulate in inflamed tissue sites (e.g. lungs and skin). In this work, we show that the small molecule drug, doxorubicin, encapsulated into liposomes can be effectively embedded inside cellular backpacks. Drug release profiles from the backpacks show that using liposomes to encapsulate doxorubicin in the backpack leads to a 4-fold increase in drug loading compared to the drug loading without liposomes. The drug-loaded backpacks are then attached to mouse monocytes for studies with cells. Cytotoxicity assays shows that cell backpacks attached to monocytes do not significantly affect their viability. Because liposomes can carry a wide variety of drugs, this work demonstrates that liposomes can be used as drug depots as a versatile alternative for broadening the range of applications for cellular backpacks.
SAN DIEGO, March 16, 2016 -- A team of scientists is exploring an unusual source of electricity -- damaged tomatoes that are unsuitable for sale at the grocery store. Their pilot project involves a biological-based fuel cell that uses tomato waste left over from harvests in Florida.

The researchers present their work today at the 251st National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS, the world's largest scientific society, is holding the meeting here through Thursday. It features more than 12,500 presentations on a wide range of science topics.

"We have found that spoiled and damaged tomatoes left over from harvest can be a particularly powerful source of energy when used in a biological or microbial electrochemical cell," says Namita Shrestha, who is working on the project. "The process also helps purify the tomato-contaminated solid waste and associated waste water."

Shrestha is a graduate student in the lab of Venkataramana Gadhamshetty, Ph.D., P.E., at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. They are collaborating on this project with Alex Fogg, an undergraduate chemistry major at Princeton University. Other project collaborators include Daniel Franco, Joseph Wilder and Simeon Komisar, Ph.D., at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Tomatoes are a key crop in Florida, notes Gadhamshetty. He stresses that the project is important to the state because Florida generates 396,000 tons of tomato waste every year, but lacks a good treatment process.

Gadhamshetty began working on the topic as a professor at Florida Gulf Coast University. "The project began a few years ago when Alex visited my lab in Fort Myers, Florida, and said he was interested in researching a local problem, especially local tomatoes grown in our state and the large waste treatment issue," Gadhamshetty says. "We wanted to find a way to treat this waste that, when dumped in landfills, can produce methane -- a powerful greenhouse gas -- and when dumped in water bodies, can create major water treatment problems."

So, the team developed a microbial electrochemical cell that can exploit tomato waste to generate electric current. Shrestha explains, "Microbial electrochemical cells use bacteria to break down and oxidize organic material in defective tomatoes."

The oxidation process, triggered by the bacteria interacting with tomato waste, releases electrons that are captured in the fuel cell and become a source of electricity. The natural lycopene pigment in tomatoes, the researchers have found, is an excellent mediator to encourage the generation of electrical charges from the damaged fruits.

Some of their results proved to be counterintuitive. "Typical biotechnological applications require, or at least perform better, when using pure chemicals, compared to wastes," Gadhamshetty notes. "However, we found that electrical performance using defective tomatoes was equal or better than using pure substrates. These wastes can be a rich source of indigenous redox mediators and carbon, as well as electrons."

At the moment, the power output from their device is quite small: 10 milligrams of tomato waste can result in 0.3 watts of electricity. But the researchers note that with an expected scale up and more research, electrical output could be increased by several orders of magnitude.

According to calculations by Shrestha, there is theoretically enough tomato waste generated in Florida each year to meet Disney World's electricity demand for 90 days, using an optimized biological fuel cell.

"Our research question at this time is to investigate the fundamental electron transfer mechanisms and the interaction between the solid tomato waste and microbes," Gadhamshetty notes. They plan to improve the cell by determining which of its parts -- electrode, electricity-producing bacteria, biological film, wiring -- are resisting the flow of electricity. Then they will tweak or replace that part.

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A press conference on this topic will be held Wednesday, March 16, at 11 a.m. Pacific time in the San Diego Convention Center. Reporters may check-in at Room 16B (Mezzanine) in person, or watch live on YouTube http://bit.ly/ACSliveSanDiego. To ask questions online, sign in with a Google account.

The team acknowledges funding from the National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Electric Power Research Institute and the Office of Research & Graduate Studies at the Florida Gulf Coast University.

The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 158,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.

Note to journalists: Please report that this research is being presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.

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Title

Energy Recovery from Defective Tomatoes (Culls) Using Microbial Electrochemical Systems -Evaluating Impedance Characteristics of Peel & Seed to Oxidation of Culls

Abstract

The state of Florida generates 2.3 x 108 L.year-1 of tomato wastewater (aqueous organic waste) and 3.6 x 108 kg.year-1 of defective tomatoes (solid organic waste). The defects in tomatoes are induced by worm injuries, freezing traces, and growth cracks. With the tomato production reaching 1.51 x 109 kg.year-1, the tomato processing plants and the packaging houses are expected to face a significant financial burden to accommodate the waste disposal problems. This study evaluates the feasibility of treating the defective tomatoes in microbial electrochemical systems. The particulate characteristic of peel and skin in defective tomatoes were observed to impede the cull oxidation in MES processes at higher current densities. We present a series of preliminary results based on DC voltammetry, AC impedance, and spectrophotometry tests, focusing on some of the counter-intuitive observations in this study. In general, the culls are rich in carbohydrates and indigenous redox shuttles, and they promote the performance of microbial electrochemical systems.
New rules could privilege those working to influence policy on behalf of commercial interests

A move by the UK government to stop lobbying by tax funded bodies could have a serious impact on public health, warn leading researchers in The BMJ today.

Dr Katherine Smith at the University of Edinburgh and colleagues say this "seems to conflict with the pursuit of public health goals, which often require ensuring policy makers are aware of the implications of research."

The new clause, announced by Cabinet Office minister Matthew Hancock last month and to be inserted into all new and renewed grant agreements from May, forbids the use of government funds for lobbying.

The Cabinet Office said the new clause would mean funds are spent on improving people's lives and good causes, not on "activity intended to influence - or attempt to influence - parliament, government or political parties."

Two reports by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) appear to underlie the clause, both presenting sustained critiques of public health advocates and researchers, explain the authors.

The IEA's position is that only money raised through sources other than taxation should be used to influence government spending. The authors argue that, in effect, "this privileges private sector views, some of which clearly run counter to public health."

The new clause is also likely to undermine efforts to encourage researchers to engage with policy makers and practitioners, they add.

For example, they describe how researchers who found that NHS organisations with private finance initiative contracts had higher capital costs than those without such contracts, "worked closely with several parliamentary committees ... to ensure that the research had informed legislative opinion and impacted on its decision-making."

The purpose was to reduce costs to the public purse, and yet the new clause "seems to rule out this kind of work unless academics are funded by sources other than the government," they warn.

They conclude: "The need to improve the use of scientific evidence in policy making is clear; this clause limits government funded researchers' ability to help achieve this, privileging those working to influence policy on behalf of commercial interests."

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(CHICAGO and BOSTON)--Health care disparities are widely established in the United States, but until now there has not been agreement between surgeon-scientists, health disparities researchers, federal funding organizations, and policymakers on which specific research areas are the most pressing ones to address from both a research and funding perspective.

Identifying research and funding priorities for addressing health care disparities -- which encompass differential access, care, and outcomes due to factors such as race/ethnicity -- is the topic of a new scholarly article co-authored by researchers from several institutions. In the article, published in the March 16, 2016 issue of JAMA Surgery, the authors summarize specific priorities that were identified during the Inaugural National Institutes of Health (NIH)-American College of Surgeons (ACS) Symposium on Surgical Disparities Research, held in May 2015, at the National Institutes of Health.

"The goal of the symposium was to create a national research agenda that could be used to prioritize funding for research. We conducted an extensive literature review of existing research, organized the results by theme, and asked attendees to identify what they saw as the top priorities for each theme," explained lead author Adil Haider, MD, MPH, Kessler Director of Center for Surgery and Public Health, a joint initiative of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health.

An extensive medical literature review on surgical disparities was developed in advance of the symposium for attendees to access through a searchable database prepared by researchers and staff at the Center for Surgery and Public Health at Brigham and Women's Hospital. In collaboration with colleagues from the National Institute of Minority Health and Disparities (NIMHD), researchers from the Center for Surgery and Public Health categorized this literature review into five themes: patient and host factors; systemic factors and access issues; clinical care and quality; provider factors; and postoperative care and rehabilitation. Over the course of the two-day state of the science symposium, more than 60 top-level researchers, surgeon-scientists and federal leaders used these themes to guide interactive consensus-building exercises. Breakout sessions throughout the symposium yielded three to five top research priorities by theme. Overall priorities, irrespective of theme, included "leveraging electronic health records and health technologies to improve care, prioritizing shared decision-making in palliative and end-of-life care, and evaluating provider cultural dexterity in patient rapport-building."

After presentations by leaders in the field and several rounds of discussion, the top five overall research and funding priorities identified by symposium attendees, and articulated in the JAMA Surgery article are:

Improving patient-provider communication by teaching providers to deliver culturally dexterous care, and measuring its impact on elimination of surgical disparities.

Fostering engagement and community outreach and using technology to optimize patient education, health literacy and shared decision-making in a culturally-relevant way. Further, disseminating these techniques and evaluating their impact on reducing surgical disparities.

Evaluating regionalization of care versus strengthening safety net hospitals, within the context of differential access and surgical disparities.

Evaluating the long-term impact of intervention and rehabilitation support within the critical period on functional outcomes, and patient-defined perceptions of quality of life.

Improving patient engagement and identifying their expectations for postoperative and post-injury recovery, their values regarding advanced health care planning, and palliative care needs.

The symposium originated with the ACS Committee on Optimal Access (now called Committee on Health Care Disparities), and was jointly hosted by the ACS and the NIH (in particular, the National Institute of Minority Health and Disparities, or NIMHD). Between the ACS's history and success with surgical quality improvement programs and the NIMHD's considerable research and scientific resources, symposium organizers recognized a dynamic partnership that could significantly expand access to surgical care. Both the ACS and the NIH prioritize research initiatives to mitigate surgical disparities.

"We are confident that this is just the beginning of a much larger effort, and hopeful that the National Institutes of Health and the NIMHD will continue to work with the ACS to build upon the foundation that was set during the symposium by establishing a funding stream to support this important research. Together, we can foster systemic change, effectively eliminating surgical and other health care disparities," said L.D. Britt, MD, MPH, FACS, professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School and chair of the ACS Committee on Health Care Disparities. Dr. Britt played a critical role in the creation of the committee and defined the committee's deliverables, which included a national symposium.

The authors concluded that "The NIH-ACS Summit on Surgical Disparities Research succeeded in identifying a comprehensive research agenda." In particular, they noted that future research is needed, especially in the areas of patients' care perspectives, workforce diversification and training, and systematic evaluation of health technologies to reduce surgical disparities. Within the context of the larger literature focused on disparity-related research, results also call for ongoing evaluation of evidence-based practice, rigorous research methodologies, incentives for standardization of care and building on existing infrastructure to support these advances.

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In addition to Dr. Haider and Dr. Britt, other authors of the Symposium summary article are: Allysha C. Maragh-Bass, PhD, MPH; Maya Torain, BS; Cheryl K. Zogg, MSPH, MHS; Elizabeth J. Lilley, MD, MPH; Navin R. Changoor, MD; Peter Najjar, MD, MBA; John A. Rose, Jr., MD, MPH; Ali Salim, MD, FACS, all based in Boston from the Center for Surgery and Public Health, Harvard Medical School and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and/or the Department of Surgery, Brigham & Women's Hospital; Irene Dankwa-Mullan, MD, MPH, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda; Yvonne T. Maddox, PhD, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda; Lisa M. Kodadek, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore; Henri R. Ford, MD, MHA, FACS, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles; Steven Stain, MD, FACS, Albany (NY) Medical College; Shahid Shafi, MD, MPH, FACS, Baylor Scott & White Health System, Dallas; Beth Sutton, MD, FACS, United Regional Hospital, Kell West Regional Hospital, Wichita Falls, TX; and David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS, American College of Surgeons, Chicago.

Support for the Symposium was provided by the American College of Surgeons and National Institutes of Health.

Citation: Setting a National Agenda for Surgical Disparities Research: Recommendations from the National Institutes of Health and American College of Surgeons Summit. JAMA Surgery.

About the Center for Surgery and Public Health at Brigham and Women's Hospital

The Center for Surgery and Public Health (CSPH) at Brigham and Women's Hospital was established in 2005 as a joint program of Harvard Medical School and the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Its mission is to advance the science of surgical care delivery by studying effectiveness, quality, equity, and value at the population level, and developing surgeon-scientists committed to excellence in these areas. CSPH works with a diverse set of collaborators, including academic institutions, non-profit and for-profit organizations nationally and internationally, in order to eliminate disparities and foster patient-centered care through policy and practice.

Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) is a 793-bed nonprofit teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a founding member of Partners HealthCare. BWH has more than 4.2 million annual patient visits and nearly 46,000 inpatient stays, is the largest birthing center in Massachusetts and employs nearly 16,000 people. The Brigham's medical preeminence dates back to 1832, and today that rich history in clinical care is coupled with its national leadership in patient care, quality improvement and patient safety initiatives, and its dedication to research, innovation, community engagement and educating and training the next generation of health care professionals. Through investigation and discovery conducted at its Brigham Research Institute (BRI), BWH is an international leader in basic, clinical and translational research on human diseases, more than 1,000 physician-investigators and renowned biomedical scientists and faculty supported by nearly $600 million in funding. For the last 25 years, BWH ranked second in research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) among independent hospitals. BWH continually pushes the boundaries of medicine, including building on its legacy in transplantation by performing a partial face transplant in 2009 and the nation's first full face transplant in 2011. BWH is also home to major landmark epidemiologic population studies, including the Nurses' and Physicians' Health Studies and the Women's Health Initiative as well as the TIMI Study Group, one of the premier cardiovascular clinical trials groups. For more information, resources and to follow us on social media, please visit BWH's online newsroom.

About the American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 80,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit http://www.facs.org.
PITTSBURGH--A readability analysis of presidential candidate speeches by researchers in Carnegie Mellon University's Language Technologies Institute (LTI) finds most candidates using words and grammar typical of students in grades 6-8, though Donald Trump tends to lag behind the others.

A historical review of their word and grammar use suggests all five candidates in the analysis - Republicans Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio (who has since suspended his campaign), and Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders - have been using simpler language as the campaigns have progressed. Again, Trump is an outlier, with his grammar use spiking in his Iowa Caucus concession speech and his word and grammar use plummeting again during his Nevada Caucus victory speech.

"Win," after all, is more likely to appear in 3rd grade texts than "regrettably."

A comparison of the candidates with previous presidents show President Lincoln outpacing them all, boasting grammar at the 11th grade level, while President George W. Bush's 5th grade grammar was below even that of Trump.

"Assessing the readability of campaign speeches is a little tricky because most measures are geared to the written word, yet text is very different from the spoken word," said Maxine Eskenazi, LTI principal systems scientist who performed the analysis with Elliot Schumacher, a graduate student in language technologies. "When we speak, we usually use less structured language with shorter sentences."

An earlier analysis by the Boston Globe used the Flesch-Kincaid readability test, which is based on average sentence length and average number of syllables per word, and found Trump speaking at a 4th grade level, two grade levels below his peers. Eskenazi and Schumacher used a readability model called REAP, which looks at how often words and grammatical constructs are used at each grade level and thus corresponds better to analysis of spoken language.

Based on vocabulary, campaign trail speeches by past and present presidents - Lincoln, Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama - were at least on the 8th grade level, while the current candidates ranged from Trump's 7th grade level to Sanders' 10th grade level. Trump and Hillary Clinton's speeches showed the greatest variation, suggesting they may work harder than the others in tailoring speeches to particular audiences, Schumacher said.

In terms of grammar, none of the presidents and presidential candidates could compare with Lincoln's Gettysburg Address - an admittedly high standard, with grammar well above the 10th grade level. The current candidates generally had scores between 6th and 7th grades, with Trump just below 6th grade level. President Bush scored at a 5th grade level.

Analyzing campaign speeches is difficult because it often is hard to obtain transcripts of speeches, Schumacher said. It is possible to generate reliable transcripts from video using automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems, such as those developed at LTI, when the speech took place in a quiet environment, but he and Eskenazi opted not to use today's automated methods because they were likely to introduce errors in the noisy environment of campaign rallies.

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The study is available online at http://reap.cs.cmu.edu/Papers/Technical_report_16-001_Schumacher_Eskenazi.pdf .

About Carnegie Mellon University: Carnegie Mellon is a private, internationally ranked research university with programs in areas ranging from science, technology and business, to public policy, the humanities and the arts. More than 13,000 students in the university's seven schools and colleges benefit from a small student-to-faculty ratio and an education characterized by its focus on creating and implementing solutions for real problems, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.
Researchers from the Genes, Development and Disease Group, headed by Erwin Wagner at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) have discovered that psoriasis patients experience a widespread bone loss as a result of the disease. In addition, this paper, which is being published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, describes the molecular communication that is established between the inflamed skin and loss of bone mass. This discovery highlights the possibility to treat psoriasis with drugs that are already on the market, or in advanced clinical trial stages, that would have additional benefits for the bone.

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects 2% of the world population and more than one million people in Spain. It is characterised by inflammation and scaling of the skin, accompanied by a greater risk of contracting some type of metabolic syndrome, predisposing patients to pathologies, such as obesity, diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. Now, CNIO researchers have discovered a new feature of this inflammatory disorder.

"We have detected that psoriasis causes the widespread and progressive loss of bone tissue," explains the researcher Ozge Uluckan, first author of the study. "There is no active destruction of the bone; on the contrary, during the bone regeneration cycle, bone is not formed at the necessary speed to replace what is being lost and, therefore, patients' bone mass reduces over time." The process takes place by means of a mechanism --unveiled in this study -- that inhibits the activity of the osteoblasts, the cells that produce the bone matrix so that bones can grow during childhood and youth, and remain in good condition in adulthood.

IL-17, A CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SKIN AND BONE

In a previous study (Meixner et al, Nat Cell Biol, 2008), Erwin Wagner's team generated a mouse model, from which they had removed the JunB gene in keratinocytes -- cells that form the epidermis -- mimicking what happens during cutaneous inflammatory disorders in humans. Now, they have observed that this mouse mutant suffers from bone loss.

The researchers found that the immune cells in the skin of this animal model generated large amounts of the cytokine IL-17 -- a protein of the immune system that activates cellular inflammation in response to damage. IL-17 travels through the bloodstream to the bones. Once there, the protein acts on the osteoblasts and inhibits Wnt activity, which is a cellular signalling pathway that is involved in the formation of the skeleton and in certain disorders, such as osteoporosis, arthritis and myeloma. Treating these mice with IL-17 blockers allows the Wnt pathway to regain its normal activity and leads to bone formation.

A second mouse model, induced by overexpression of IL-17 in skin, also shows bone loss, and suggests that the deregulation of the protein is sufficient to cause this effect.

Subsequently, they analyzed a hundred human samples. Using high resolution peripheral computed tomography (XtremeCT) -- an imaging method known as virtual bone biopsy -- they observed that psoriasis patients had bone loss when compared to healthy people, and this correlated with increased levels of cytokine IL-17A in blood.

TREATMENT AND IMPLICATIONS FOR OTHER DISEASES

These observations suggest that patients with psoriasis should be monitored for this loss of bone mass, or the presence of high levels of these factors in the blood.

"Treating psoriasis patients with IL-17 blockers -- some already on the market -- could have a beneficial effect on the loss of bone tissue, unlike other compounds that might only affect skin inflammation," says Uluckan. Antibodies that act on the Wnt signalling pathway are also being developed as a therapy for osteoporosis that could prove useful in these cases.

The findings of this study could also have implications for other autoimmune disorders. "IL-17 has become a focus point for the investigation of the immune system. Its deregulation is not only related to psoriasis, but also to other diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis. Some of these have been linked to loss of bone tissue, as in the case of inflammatory bowel disease, found in 70% of cases," explains Uluckan. "It would be interesting to study whether IL-17 is responsible for this secondary effect."

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This work has been carried out in collaboration with the Universities of Mainz, Hamburg and Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany, and the CNIO Bioinformatics Unit. Erwin Wagner was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, the BBVA Foundation, and the European Research Council (ERC), and Ozge Uluckan by EMBO, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, and ECTS-AMGEN.

Reference article:

Chronic skin inflammation leads to bone loss by IL-17-mediated inhibition of Wnt signaling in osteoblasts. Ozge Uluckan, Maria Jimenez, Susanne Karbach, Anke Jeschke, Osvaldo Grana, Johannes Keller, Bjorn Busse, Andrew L. Croxford, Stephanie Finzel, Marije Koenders, Wim Van Den Berg, Thorsten Schinke, Michael Amling, Ari Waisman, Georg Schett, Erwin F. Wagner. Science Translational Medicine (2016). doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aad8996
CIUDAD OBREGON, Mexico: Climate-change-induced heat stress and disease pathogens migrating across borders threaten the world's wheat supply and food security in conflict zones of Africa and the Middle East. To expand the scope of a global partnership to combat these threats, Cornell University has been awarded a $24 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Delivering Genetic Gain in Wheat (DGGW) will mitigate serious threats to wheat brought about by climate change and develop and deploy new strains of wheat that are heat tolerant as well as resistant to wheat rusts and other diseases.

"Over the last eight years, we have built a global consortium of wheat scientists and farmers whose efforts have so far prevented the global epidemics of Ug99 stem rust predicted back in 2005," said Ronnie Coffman, international plant breeder and director of Cornell's International Programs, who leads the consortium. "We have improved wheat resistance to stem and yellow rust globally and increased global yields."

"In the new grant -- delivering genetic gain to wheat -- we will use modern tools of comparative genomics and big data to develop and deploy varieties of wheat that incorporate climate resiliency as well as improved disease resistance for smallholder farmers in these politically vulnerable regions."

The four-year grant builds on the successes of the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative (BGRI), led by the Durable Rust Resistance in Wheat (DRRW) project, funded by the Department for International Development in the UK and the Gates Foundation from 2008 to 2016.

Deadly wheat pathogens have been moving from the wheat fields of northern and East Africa into the Middle East. In their rush to identify genes that can resist evolving and virulent new strains of the disease known as stem rust, BGRI scientists have developed collaborative arrangements and facilities, with the crucial support of national governments and agencies, to screen thousands of samples of wheat yearly from every continent under rust infection, to identify resistant lines.

DGGW will be based at Cornell University, but will enlist national partners in Kenya and Ethiopia, as well as scientists at international agricultural research centers that focus on wheat, including the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). Advanced research laboratories in the U.S., Canada, China, Turkey, Denmark, Australia and South Africa will collaborate on the project. So far, more than 2000 scientists from 35 international institutions spread across 23 countries are involved in the consortium, and 37 countries contribute data to the surveillance network.

Maricelis Acevedo, wheat rust pathologist, former assistant professor at North Dakota State University, and a 2010 recipient of the Women in Triticum Award, is the newly hired associate director for science for the DGGW project at Cornell.

At CIMMYT's Ciudad Obregon research station in Mexico, where the grant is being announced, many of the world's top experts are meeting March 14-17 to review breakthrough tools and technologies that will allow them to monitor the spread of stem rust and other windborne wheat diseases while breeding new varieties aimed at protecting the global wheat supply. This is critical, given that the FAO estimates world demand for wheat is expected to increase up to 60 percent by 2050, as the global population reaches or exceeds 9 billion people.

GLOBAL THREATS

"The challenge for global agriculture is to grow more food on less land, using less water, fertilizer and pesticides," said Hans Braun, director of the Global Wheat Program at CIMMYT and an important partner in the new grant. "Sustainable cropping systems that are economically viable, socially acceptable and respectful of the environment are critical to ensure global food security.

"Wheat provides 20 percent of all calories and 20 percent of all protein in developing and developed countries, is the staff of life for 25 million wheat-consuming men, women and children who live on less than $2 per day and provides vital income for approximately 20 million poor wheat producers and their families."

A recent FAO study warns that climate change is expected to reduce yields of wheat and other major crops and fuel the spread of wheat pathogens, nurtured by higher temperatures and moisture. With climate change, the rusts are more likely to move into areas that are less prepared for them. According to the FAO report, "They are especially serious in the Near East, Central Asia and Eastern and Northern Africa, creating severe epidemics and causing significant losses in wheat production."

A recent peer-reviewed analysis suggests that changing climate is implicated as well in the recent conflict in Syria, reinforcing the importance of protecting important food crops in politically vulnerable regions. A summary of the findings reports: "Before the Syrian uprising that began in 2011, the greater Fertile Crescent experienced the most severe drought in the instrumental record. For Syria, a country marked by poor governance and unsustainable agricultural and environmental politics, the drought had a catalytic effect, contributing to political unrest."

"For many of the poorest people in Africa and southern Asia, wheat provides most of their food and is an important source of income," said Coffman. "It's these people who have benefited the most from the DRRW and the BGRI's successes at developing new strains of wheat that are high yielding, rust resistant and nutritious. With this grant, we will continue to involve farmers in the variety selection and seed multiplication process and train the next generation of wheat warriors to keep up the fight."

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LARAMIE, Wyo.  The Wyoming Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame will announce its Scholar-Athlete of the Year at a banquet Saturday night in Laramie.

The event will take place at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center on the UW Campus next to War Memorial Stadium. Guest speakers include former UW quarterback Karsten Sween and football coach Craig Bohl.

Twelve seniors from 12 high schools in the states five football classifications are finalists. A back and a lineman have been nominated in each classification

In addition, special awards will be presented to state residents for their outstanding contributions to amateur football, coaching, officiating, and to the greatest Wyoming and high school football fans.
Through experiments and computer models of gas releases, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists have simulated signatures of gases from underground nuclear explosions (UNEs) that may be carried by winds far from the detonation.

The work will help international inspectors locate and identify a clandestine UNE site within a 1,000 square kilometer search area during an on-site inspection that could be carried out under the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Jordan recently hosted such a simulated inspection, the Integrated Field Exercise 2014 (IFE14), sponsored by the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and involving more than 40 countries, which tested some aspects of noble gas signature detection.

In addition, the technique can potentially help interpret noble gas (radioactive xenon isotopes) signals captured in the atmosphere following UNEs such as the North Korean test that occurred in January.

The research also led to the development of the LLNL Smart Sampler, which was originally designed as a research instrument to automatically capture gases reaching the surface in remote locations following release of gas tracers underground. During its IFE14 exercise, the CTBTO deployed three of these samplers, which were designed and built by Lab engineers Steven Hunter and David Ruddle at LLNL.

The work combines novel field experiments involving injection of gas tracers using four large compressors into an old nuclear explosion cavity and sophisticated numerical simulations that employ a new method for tracking different parent/daughter isotopes produced in the detonation cavity. The simulations use the results of the field experiment as a basis for probing the isotopic evolution and gas transport processes of a UNE.

The team, made up of scientists from LLNL and National Security Technologies (NSTec), partially reproduced the subsurface conditions following a UNE responsible for the migration of explosion gases to the surface where they can be detected locally at a test site. Such results can provide inspectors with a better idea of what to expect when they are in the inspection area searching for a suspected UNE. With LLNL computer models using information from the tracer experiment, the team was able to track the evolution of gases in the explosion cavity, which may be detected downwind thousands of kilometers away. This actually occurred after the third North Korean UNE in 2013.

"The work is novel in part because of how we did it by injecting gases into an old UNE cavity and then using computer models informed by the experiment to extend our understanding of how xenon gas evolves following the UNE," said Charles Carrigan, LLNL geoscientist and lead author of a paper appearing in the March 16 edition of the journal Scientific Reports.

Using computer models developed by LLNL physicist Yunwei Sun, the team showed that including thermally driven migration of telltale gases from the explosion cavity or chimney may substantially shorten their arrival times at the surface when compared to migration of gases caused only by atmospheric pressure fluctuations or barometric pumping. Previous research has focused on barometric pumping as the primary subsurface gas migration mechanism.

"From monitoring gases coming to the surface during the course of our pressurized field experiment, we also found that background radon gas levels were anomalously high (10 to 15 times normal) at the surface over the explosion cavity," Carrigan said.

The research indicates that the weak subsurface pressurization mimicking the thermal drive following the explosion enhanced the amount of radon that was captured. This suggests that radon anomalies could be potential indicators of hidden or clandestine UNEs that are otherwise difficult to detect during an on-site inspection.

Additionally, the simulations showed that the explosion cavity or chimney behaves something like a leaky chemical reactor or pressure cooker. The gases migrating away from the cooker change the overall chemical makeup (isotopic ratios) of the gases left behind in the cooker or reactor, which continues to make new gases. The team modeled the evolution of these gases out to several months following a UNE.

"The 2013 UNE carried out in North Korea has allowed us some validation of our model of explosion-gas evolution," Carrigan said. "We find that the gases detected almost two months afterward in Russia are best matched by our evolutionary model for the mixture of different xenon isotopes when we assume a range of yields that is consistent with seismic estimates, less than 10 kilotons, for that event. This is a cool result as no one has suggested that isotopic ratios should depend on nuclear yield."

The research also may have applications in monitoring other heated or pressurized subsurface regimes such as in situ coal gasification, deep sequestration of supercritical CO2 and nuclear waste disposal.

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Other Livermore team members include Jeffrey Wagoner and Katherine Myers along with Dudley Emer, Sigmund Drellack and Veraun Chipman from National Security Technologies.

This work was performed as part of the multi-laboratory Underground Nuclear Explosion Signatures Experiment, which is supported by the National Nuclear Security Administration's Office of Proliferation Detection (NA-221).

Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a national security laboratory, with a mission to ensure national security and apply science and technology to the important issues of our time. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is managed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.
Los Angeles, Calif., USA - Today at the 45th Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the American Association for Dental Research, researcher Vibeke Qvist, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, will present a study titled "Postponing Restorative Intervention of Occlusal Dentin Caries by Non-Invasive Sealing." The AADR Annual Meeting is being held in conjunction with the 40th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research.

In this study, reseachers investigated the possibility of postponing restorative intervention of manifest occlusal caries in the young permanent dentition by non-invasive sealing. This prospective, RCT-designed study included 521 occlusal caries lesions in 521 patients, aged 6-17 years. Based on clinical and radiographic assessment, all lesions were in need of restorative treatment. After randomization, 368 resin sealings and 153 composite-resin restorations were performed by 68 dentists from 2006 to 2009 in nine public dental health service locations. Treatments were annually controlled, clinically and radiographic, until patients were referred to private dentistry at age 18 years. Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier survival-analyses and Cox regression-analyses were applied for statistical data-analyses.

After five to eight the dropout rate was eight percent and 54 percent of the treatments were completed due to age (50 percent) or primary caries (four percent). Thirty-one percent of the sealings were replaced by restorations and 12 percent were still functioning although some were repaired/renewed. Seven percent of the restorations were repaired/renewed and 20 percent were still functioning. No endodontics was performed.

Survival of sealings was not influenced by eruption stage of tooth, nor by surface emineralization/cavitation. Notably, the results indicate the possibility of postponing restorative intervention of occlusal dentin caries lesions in young permanent teeth by non-invasive sealing. As expected, the restorations showed the best survival, but more than half of the sealed lesions were still not restored after the first seven years.

This is a summary of oral presentation #0043, "Postponing Restorative Intervention of Occlusal Dentin Caries by Non-Invasive Sealing," which will be presented on Wednesday March 16, 2016, 2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. at the Los Angeles Convention Center, room #403A.

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About the American Association for Dental Research

The American Association for Dental Research (AADR), headquartered in Alexandria, Va., is a nonprofit organization with more than 3,700 members in the United States. Its mission is: (1) to advance research and increase knowledge for the improvement of oral health; (2) to support and represent the oral health research community; and (3) to facilitate the communication and application of research findings. AADR is the largest Division of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). To learn more about the AADR, visit http://www.aadr.org.
In a study using mice, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine infectious disease experts have added to evidence that statin drugs -- known primarily for their cholesterol-lowering effects -- can significantly reduce the time it takes to clear tuberculosis infection.

"If our results hold up in humans, the use of statins as adjuncts to standard drug treatment could confer substantial benefits to public health and the nearly nine million new TB patients diagnosed worldwide each year," says study author Petros Karakousis, M.D., associate professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "Because statins like the one we tested are already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and have a long history of safety in patients, the new data might substantially accelerate their repurposing for tuberculosis patients."

First-line treatment for tuberculosis, which consists of a combination of four antibiotics, should in theory cure all drug-susceptible infections if strict compliance can be assured. However, says Karakousis, a curative course of treatment usually requires six to nine months, with a minimum of 18 months for drug-resistant forms of the lung disease. To assure compliance, most patients in developed countries undergo directly observed therapy, in which a trained health care worker provides the prescribed drugs and watches patients swallow every dose -- a strategy that mitigates spread of the disease but diverts resources from other needed medical care. In many developing countries, patients stop taking their antibiotics early when their symptoms abate, contributing to continued spread of tuberculosis in the community and the emerging problem of drug resistance.

Because new drugs that might shorten treatment duration are few in number and years from clinical use, Karakousis says his team's focus has been on repurposing already approved medicines that bolster the first-line regimen.

Toward that goal, the researchers focused on simvastatin, used by millions in the U.S. alone to reduce heart disease risk. In recent years, evidence has emerged that statins work, in part, by reducing inflammation by modulating the immune system, says Karakousis' colleague and study author Noton Dutta, Ph.D., research associate in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

In a report published just days before World TB Day by the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, the Johns Hopkins team described its initial experiments with TB-infected cells growing in petri dishes. The researchers found that statins didn't directly kill the tuberculosis bacterium, but the addition of statin to infected cells helps stop bacterial growth. The combination of statins and standard drugs cleared the tuberculosis bacteria more efficiently than cells receiving just the usual drugs.

Moving to infected mice, the researchers gave either the first-line regimen or those drugs plus simvastatin to animals six weeks after they were exposed to the tuberculosis bacteria in doses analogous to those standard for human patients. By counting the number of bacteria that remained in the animals' lungs over the course of treatment, the researchers found that adding the statin reduced the time to infection-free lungs from 4.5 months to 3.5 months.

Similarly, after 2.5 months, 3.5 months and 4.5 months of the standard treatment, mice had infection relapse rates of 100 percent, 50 percent and 0 percent. Adding simvastatin lowered the relapse rate to 50 percent after 2.5 months and to 20 percent after 3.5 months.

Together, says Karakousis, the results suggest that simvastatin could be an attractive candidate drug to reduce the amount of time patients with tuberculosis must be treated with the standard regimen, and he adds that preliminary data also suggest that other statins have similar effects. Consequently, he and his colleagues are currently studying other members of this class of drugs to identify the most effective statin for adjunctive therapy and the most effective dose.

Other important considerations in selecting the optimal statin, he adds, include cost and the potential for drug interactions with antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV infection, which is common in patients with tuberculosis in many parts of the world.

The World Health Organization estimates that the cost of standard tuberculosis treatment is about $2,000 per patient in industrialized countries, but that amount rises more than a hundredfold for patients with drug-resistant strains of the disease. Statins vary widely in cost, with some generic versions costing as little as $4 per month through discount programs run by major chain stores to more than $600 per month for name-brand drugs not covered by insurance. In general, statins are well-tolerated by most patients. Severe side effects, such as liver or muscle damage, are extremely rare.

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Michael Pinn of Johns Hopkins also participated in this research. The study also includes researchers from the Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University and the State University of New Jersey.

Funding support for this study was provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the AIDS Clinical Trials Group, and the Johns Hopkins University Center for AIDS Research.
Le Bonheur Children's Hospital has received Magnet designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Le Bonheur is among only 7 percent of hospitals in the country to have earned the distinction of Magnet status.

"This achievement is a testament to the exceptional care we provide to patients and families every day," said Nikki Polis, chief nursing officer of Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. "We are incredibly proud of our Le Bonheur family for achieving this momentous goal. Magnet is evidence that each and every one of us is committed to providing a higher standard of care for all children in need."

Directed by the ANCC, Magnet recognizes health care organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. Consumers rely on the designation as the ultimate credential for high quality patient care. "Our Magnet journey will continue as we improve upon the care and devotion we show to patients, to families, and to one another," Polis said.

The ANCC Magnet Recognition Program designates health care organizations that demonstrate excellence in nursing practice, adherence to national standards for improving patient care, leadership and sensitivity to cultural and ethnic diversity. Hospitals undergo a rigorous evaluation that includes a document submission and an onsite evaluation of patient care and outcomes. Magnet hospitals must provide an annual status report on their progress and must undergo re-evaluation every four years to retain the designation.

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About Le Bonheur Children's Hospital

Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., treats more than 250,000 children each year through community programs, regional clinics and a 255 bed state-of-the-art hospital. Le Bonheur serves as a primary teaching affiliate for the University Tennessee Health Science Center and trains more than 350 pediatricians and specialists each year. Nationally recognized, Le Bonheur is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Children's Hospital.

For more information, please call (901) 287-6030 or visit lebonheur.org. Connect with us at facebook.com/lebonheurchildrens, twitter.com/lebonheurchild or on Instagram at lebonheurchildrens.
ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Medical students are more prone to alcohol abuse than their peers not attending medical school, especially if they are young, single and under a high debt load. That's according to a study on medical student burnout by researchers at Mayo Clinic. The findings appear in the journal Academic Medicine.

"Our findings clearly show there is reason for concern," says Liselotte Dyrbye, M.D., Mayo Clinic internist and senior author of the paper. "We recommend institutions pursue a multifaceted solution to address related issues with burnout, the cost of medical education and alcohol abuse."

Mayo researchers surveyed 12,500 medical students, and one-third of those students responded. Approximately 1,400 of that subgroup experienced clinical alcohol abuse or dependence. Nationally, that translates to about one-third of those responding, compared to only 16 percent of peers not in medical school, and double the rate of alcohol abuse or dependence of surgeons, U.S. physicians or the general public based on earlier research by this team.

Burnout factors such as emotional exhaustion or feelings of depersonalization were all highly associated with alcohol abuse or dependence among the medical students. Three other factors were independently associated:

A younger age than most peers in medical school

Being unmarried

Amount of educational debt

No statistical difference was found between differing years of medical school or between men and women.

Researchers say the average cost of medical school from 1995 to 2014 increased by 209 percent at private colleges and 286 percent at public schools. They say physicians graduating with a medical degree in 2014 had an average of $180,000 in educational debt.

"In our paper we recommend wellness curricula for medical schools, identifying and remediating factors within the learning environment contributing to stress, and removal of barriers to mental health services," says first author and Mayo Medical School student Eric Jackson.

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Other co-authors include Tait Shanafelt, M.D., Omar Hasan, M.B.B.S., and Daniel Satele, of Mayo Clinic. The research was funded by the American Medical Association and Mayo Clinic.

About Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to medical research and education, and providing expert, whole-person care to everyone who needs healing. For more information, visit http://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic or http://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/.
In an article published in the March 2016 issue of the Journal of Anxiety Disorders, investigators in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) report that veterans who fall just below the threshold for a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) respond to a psychotherapy regimen better than those with full PTSD. The study highlights the need to recognize veterans suffering from an overlooked condition called subclinical PTSD. "The study shows not only that we can treat those experiencing subclinical presentations of PTSD, but also that those with subclinical PTSD may actually respond better to treatment than those with more severe forms of the disease," says MUSC investigator Kristina Korte, Ph.D., who is the first author on the article. MUSC co-authors include Ron Acierno, Ph.D., Daniel F. Gros, Ph.D., and Nicholas P. Allan, MS.

Just like patients with full PTSD, those with subclinical PTSD have experienced a traumatic event and are regularly re-experiencing it, often in nightmares or flashbacks. Patients with full PTSD also experience hyperarousal (i.e., they are easily startled) and avoid reminders of the event, for example by withdrawing from social interaction or turning to substance abuse. In addition re-experiencing the event, patients with subclinical PTSD may exhibit either hyperarousal or avoidance, but not both.

Psychologists began noticing this pattern more frequently in the nineties in veterans returning from the first Iraq War, and even more frequently in veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan in the last decade. As researchers have learned more about these patients over time, varying and sometimes conflicting symptoms have provided an incomplete picture of the disorder and how to treat it. Further confounding the issue is that those with subclinical PTSD are often excluded from clinical trials testing treatments for PTSD--patients with only some symptoms of PTSD commonly aren't included in the healthy control group or in the group with full PTSD. As a result, there is still no standard psychotherapy for treating subclinical PTSD as there is for full PTSD.

The researchers devised an intuitive approach -- Why not treat subclinical PTSD patients with one of the standard evidence-based psychotherapy tools already being used in PTSD patients? They enrolled 200 patients with combat-related PTSD symptoms from the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center located adjacent to MUSC, identifying those with either subclinical or full PTSD. For eight weeks, patients received intensive weekly sessions of behavioral activation and therapeutic exposure therapy, designed to lessen their PTSD symptoms by helping them safely re-experience and resolve elements of the original trauma. Psychologists rated the patients' PTSD symptoms and had patients rate their own symptoms before, during, and after the eight weeks.

The results were encouraging. Those with subclinical or full PTSD each experienced a real drop in PTSD symptoms after treatment. The striking result was in how much those symptoms dropped: 29% in those with subclinical PTSD as compared to 14% with full PTSD.

It may seem obvious that patients with a less severe form of PTSD would respond better to standard psychotherapy, but the implications for treatment extend beyond that. PTSD symptoms often worsen over time; as they do, treatments become less effective at reducing symptoms. In this context, subclinical PTSD could be seen as "early-stage" PTSD, in that treatment might be more effective when the disorder is caught early.

Gros' group hopes these early studies can move beyond men in combat to civilians of both sexes.

"It is our hope that providing treatment for subclinical PTSD could have a significant impact on the cost-effectiveness of treating this common disorder, says Korte. It could lead to the prevention of more intractable forms of PTSD that can occur when subclinical PTSD goes untreated."

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About MUSC

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has nearly 13,000 employees, including approximately 1,500 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $2.2 billion. MUSC operates a 750-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children's Hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease, and surgical oncology), Hollings Cancer Center (a National Cancer Institute designated center) Level I Trauma Center, and Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic information or clinical services, visit musc.edu. For more information on hospital patient services, visit muschealth.org.
WASHINGTON, March 16, 2016 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced awards totaling more than $4.5 million to support college and university faculty who develop innovative projects that advance agriculture and science education. An additional $4.5 million will also be available for new projects that will prepare the future agri-science workforce. These awards are made through the Higher Education Challenge (HEC) grants program, administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

"With more than 60,000 jobs opening up in the agriculture industry in the next five years alone, funding higher education projects and programs that increase the skill and preparation of students is an essential step to filling those jobs with the next generation of agriculture professionals," said Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA director.

Projects and research that receive HEC funding address a state, regional, national, or international educational need; involve a creative or non-traditional approach that may serve as a model; encourage and facilitate better working relationships in the university science and education community and the private sector; and result in benefits that last beyond the project duration and USDA support.

NIFA has awarded more than $34 million to the HEC program since 2009 to ensure that quality training and education continues and progresses for higher-education agriculture and science students. Fiscal year 2015 awards include:

Alabama A&M University, Normal, Ala., $135,076

University of Delaware, Newark, Del., $134,546

University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $47,326

University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $642,776

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., $134,892

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn., $626,856

State University of New York, Syracuse, N.Y., $642,811

Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio, $641,739

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Okla., $270,090

Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, $270,032

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, $27,062

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, $267,199

Grays Harbor College, Aberdeen, Wash., $641,277

University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyo., $26,546

Texas Tech University will conduct research to develop curriculum models at three universities for agriculture communications graduates, and share these models nationwide for other programs. A project from the University of Delaware will address textile industry concerns about a lack of qualified employees with expertise in sustainable textile and apparel design to reduce environmental impact of during production, development, and sourcing. A complete list of this year's project descriptions is available on the NIFA website.

Applications for $4.5 million in available HEC funding for the next fiscal year are due April 22. Please see the request for applications for more details. An informational webinar will be held on March 23, 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST to provide an overview of the program.

A May 2015 report released by NIFA and Purdue University showed that there is tremendous demand for recent college graduates with a degree in agricultural programs, with an estimated 57,900 high-skilled job openings annually in the food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and environment fields in the United States. Meanwhile, there is an average of 35,400 new U.S. graduates with a bachelor's degree or higher in agriculture related fields, 22,500 short of the jobs available annually. The report projects almost half of the job opportunities will be in management and business. Another 27 percent will be in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) areas. Jobs in food and biomaterials production will make up 15 percent, and 12 percent of the openings will be in education, communication, and governmental services.

Since 2009, NIFA has invested in and advanced innovative and transformative initiatives to solve societal challenges and ensure the long-term viability of agriculture. NIFA's integrated research, education, and extension programs, supporting the best and brightest scientists and extension personnel, have resulted in user-inspired, groundbreaking discoveries that are combating childhood obesity, improving and sustaining rural economic growth, addressing water availability issues, increasing food production, finding new sources of energy, mitigating climate variability, and ensuring food safety. To learn more about NIFA's impact on agricultural science, visit http://www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts, sign up for email updates, or follow us on Twitter @usda_NIFA, #NIFAimpacts.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay).
The sixteenth tropical cyclone of the Southern Pacific Ocean season was forming in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria on March 16 as NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible picture of the storm. The storm is already headed for landfall in Queensland, Australia, and is not expected to strengthen.

Tropical Cyclone 16P (16P) came together on March 17 at 0300 UTC (March 16 at 11 p.m. EDT). It was centered just 60 nautical miles (60.9 miles/111.1 km) east-northeast of Mornington Island, Australia, near 16.3 degrees south latitude and 140.2 degrees east longitude. 16P had maximum sustained winds near 35 knots (40 mph/62 kph) and was moving to the east-southeast at 9 knots (10.3 mph/16.6 kph).

16P is expected to make landfall later today near the mouth of the Gilbert River in Queensland, located between Kowanyama to the north and Karumba to the south.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology noted on March 16, "The Cyclone Warning between Karumba and Cape Keerweer has been cancelled. The low has moved rapidly eastwards during the day and is now close to the coast. It is no longer expected to intensify into a tropical cyclone. Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding may still develop between Kowanyama and Karumba later today."

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CORVALLIS, Ore. - According to a new study from Oregon State University, restoration of wetlands in the Midwest has the potential to significantly reduce peak river flows during floods -- not only now, but also in the future if heavy rains continue to increase in intensity.

Wetland restoration could also provide a small step toward a hydrologic regime in this region that more closely resembles its historic nature, before roads and cities were constructed, forests were lost, and millions of acres tile-drained to increase agricultural production.

An evaluation of potential wetlands in one watershed in central Indiana found that if just 1.5 percent of the land were used for wetlands, the peak flow of the overall watershed could be reduced by up to 17.5 percent. Also of importance, researchers said, is that expansion of wetlands appears to provide significant benefits across a wide range of possible climate scenarios.

The study was published in Ecological Engineering, in work supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"Flood management in the Midwest is now almost entirely concentrated on use of dams and levees," said Meghna Babbar-Sebens, an assistant professor of civil engineering in the College of Engineering, and the Eric H.I. and Janice Hoffman Faculty Scholar at OSU.

"Wetland construction or restoration could provide a natural and ecological option to help with flood concerns, and serve as an additional tool for flood management. Greater investments in this approach, or similar approaches that increase storage of water in the upper landscape of a watershed, should be seriously considered."

The new research considered not just the problem now - which is serious -- but what the future may bring.

The study used climate models supported by the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program, along with a hydrology model to examine the impact of wetlands during the climate scenarios for a mid-century period from 2041 to 2070. It suggests this central Indiana region could see continued increases in extreme events, such as more extremely hot days during summer and more heavy rain in the wettest 5-day periods.

"There's some variation in the models, but there's general agreement that the future will bring more heavy precipitation events," Babbar-Sebens said. "How we transfer and store runoff on the landscape is going to become even more critical."

"From the perspective of a decision maker, an advantage of wetland construction is that it would significantly reduce flooding from heavy precipitation in almost every possible scenario. Wetlands are consistently effective."

An obstacle at this point, she said, is that many incentive programs that support wetland restoration and creation usually focus on ecology, wildlife enhancement and water quality issues - and there are limited funding mechanisms to create upland wetlands for flood management. This limits the economic incentives for farmers and landowners to set aside room for wetlands, especially with the high price of agricultural crops.

New financial models and flood management policies would probably be needed to address this, Babbar-Sebens said.

Deforestation, agriculture and the historic growth of cities with impervious infrastructure have hugely changed the face of the Midwest and its hydrology, leading to frequent floods.

Climate change is now exacerbating that problem. In 2011, Indiana experienced record-breaking heat in seven counties, record-breaking rainfall in 22 counties, and record-breaking snowfall in six counties. The state has been declared a flood disaster area 14 times between 2000 and 2011, compared to only four times in the decade prior to that.

The great Mississippi River flood of 2011 was considered a "500-year event" and caused $2.8 billion in damage. It flooded more than 21,000 homes and businesses and 1.2 million acres of agricultural land, according to a report from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Wetlands help reduce some of these flooding problems by storing water away from stream channels and releasing it more slowly, while also improving water quality and providing wildlife habitat. Other studies have shown that wetland construction in the Mississippi-Ohio-Missouri river basins could also significantly reduce nitrogen loads in the rivers, which has led to an enormous "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico.

A methodology for evaluating wetlands with respect to historic climate and future climate scenarios, created in this research, should be applicable to other watersheds in the Midwest, researchers said.

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The head of The Innovation Group, Professor Rene Amalberti, has advised that healthcare systems must adapt in order to cope with our ageing populations. His editorial on the topic is published today in the International Journal for Quality in Health Care.

Professor Amalberti was speaking in anticipation of the publication of the editorial which discusses the impact of the current and escalating tsunami of ageing populations, which will present significant planning and budgetary challenges for global healthcare systems.

Since 1960, the global population has more than doubled to 7.2 billion. In developed countries, people aged over 60 make up more than 20% of the population and by the 2030s this will reach 40%. The paper warns that, given the chronic conditions associated with ageing and complex medical histories, these older cohorts present a significant planning and budgetary challenge for health systems across acute, primary and aged care.

At a symposium in Doha, Qatar in October, 2015, the Innovation Group of the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) invited representatives from 16 countries who collectively shared visions, diagnoses and solutions on this issue.

Professor Amalberti commented that, "many developed countries are taking steps to organize and provide care and services differently. That being said, significant reforms have not yet been realised. A perception that change will be costly may be one factor that is inhibiting progress."

The paper examines countries with rapidly ageing populations (such as Japan, Canada and Switzerland) which are already adapting, and so offer some valuable insights. Steps such as a reduction of hospital beds and the consequent reallocation of acute care budgets to other areas such as day care and community healthcare and reforms in primary healthcare have begun, including reorganisation into communities of physicians for better coordination and coverage, and to help rein in costs.

Countries not ageing as rapidly (such as France, Denmark, Norway, Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom) are following in the footsteps of the pacesetters, according to the paper.,Given that their ageing trends are a decade behind, their politicians and healthcare leaders seem slower to respond.

Professor Amalberti went on to say that, "in low and middle income countries there is a growing awareness of the impact of ageing on healthcare. However, this is seen as a longer term issue when considered against the current priorities of expanding access to care and paying for costly new treatments within limited budgets."

In rich and poor countries alike, the real challenge is to balance the needs of the present with those of preparing for the future.

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For further information, contact:

Deirdre Burke

Corporate Services Officer, International Society for Quality in Health Care

dburke@isqua.org | +353 1 6706750
A RAND Corporation report provides the first-ever county-level examination of wages and employment for workers in the Appalachia region with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) training for careers in the oil and gas industry and in advanced manufacturing. The 27 counties are located in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

There has been an increasing demand for employees with a STEM education in the region, and in 2014, Chevron partnered with the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and the Benedum Foundation to create the Appalachia Partnership Initiative. The initiative is a multi-year social investment program to support long-term, sustainable economic growth in the tri-state region by preparing K-12 students and local workers for jobs in the energy and advanced manufacturing sectors.

"We know from previous research that even with the usual fluctuation of energy demand and prices, employers continue to have a need to fill jobs and attract talent, especially for middle-skilled jobs that require a STEM education," said the report's lead author Gabriella Gonzalez, senior sociologist at RAND, a nonprofit research organization.

The report asks whether there is evidence that local labor markets are adjusting to increases in demand for workers to fill STEM positions, and whether the local talent pool is graduating students from high schools and colleges with skills and in fields that could be utilized in the STEM labor market.

The RAND report, intended to set a baseline that will help measure the ongoing success of the effort, includes these key findings:

The utilities industry is the STEM-related industry providing the highest median wages in the region.

The occupations of engineering and architecture have the highest median wages of STEM-related occupations across all industries.

The number of regional jobs in STEM-related industries and occupations is increasing, while those in other industries and occupations are decreasing.

Between 2010-2011 and 2012-2013, Ohio and West Virginia had high-school graduation rates comparable to the rest of the nation, while Pennsylvania consistently outperformed the national average. Graduation rates in Pennsylvania also improved the most in those years (by 3.5 percentage points), compared to only 2 percentage points for Ohio, West Virginia and the nation.

Relative to the national average, a higher percentage of degrees granted from post-secondary institutions in the initiative region are in STEM fields, particularly associate's degrees and one- and two-year certificate programs.

Over five years, the project will track the progress and capture trends in the region's energy and advanced manufacturing sectors. The research team believes that in future years the information could be used to inform leaders across the 27-counties about where there is demand for educating and employing local talent in STEM careers.

"RAND's objective analysis is critical to measuring which programs funded by the Appalachia Partnership Initiative have the greatest impact on building the workforce and growing the region's economy," said Trip Oliver, public affairs manager for Chevron Appalachia. "This region's long history of energy and manufacturing presents a unique opportunity for a collaborative program like the initiative to serve as a catalyst for change and a model for impactful public-private partnership."

Researchers caution the work is intended to be a barometer of economic wellbeing in the region and should not be used to draw conclusions on how well a particular county is meeting the demands of employers for particular skills.

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Support for this research was provided by Chevron. The report, "Wages, Employment, and STEM Education in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia," is available at http://www.rand.org. Information about the Appalachia Partnership Initiative is available here.

Other authors of the study are Kyle Siler-Evans, Gerald Hunter and Matthew Baird.

This research was conducted by RAND Education, a division of the RAND Corporation. Its mission is to bring accurate data and careful, objective analysis to the national debate on education policy.
Rising mortality rates among pensioners aged 85 and over are linked to reductions in spending on income support for poorer pensioners, suggests new research published today by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. The researchers suggest that austerity measures in England have affected vulnerable old-age adults.

Sociology and public health researchers analysed mortality statistics for 324 local authorities in England covering the years 2007 to 2013 to examine whether budgetary reductions in pension credit and social care have been associated with recent rises in mortality rates among pensioners aged 85 and over. They found a significant association between both declines in pension credit spending per beneficiary and the number of beneficiaries with increases in age-85+ mortality.

The researchers say that put into perspective their model estimates that the average drop in pension credit spending per beneficiary in 2012 of 3% corresponds to a 1.4% rise in mortality. The decline in pension credit beneficiaries observed in 2012 translates to a rise of 2.7% in mortality. Lead researcher Dr Rachel Loopstra, Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, said: "Together, these changes are of a sufficient magnitude to explain almost 90% of the observed 4.6% rise in mortality of that year.

Pensioners have been one group thought to be protected from austerity policy, as much emphasis has been placed on promises to protect the state pension such as the so-called 'Triple Lock'. However, this does not apply to pension credits, which directly impact upon the poorest older age adults. In England, total spending on Pension Credits, income support payments for low-income pensioners, reduced by 6.5% in 2012.

Dr Loopstra said: "Poorer older age adults are one of the most vulnerable groups in the population and a reduction of just a few pounds could make a considerable difference to disposable income. Declines of this magnitude can cause significant stress and anxiety to people of older ages, which could precipitate heart attack or stroke." Other reasons for the increase in mortality for these pensioners could include reduced nutrition, inadequate heating, damp or other health damaging circumstances, and social isolation.

"Both recent and proposed future changes to welfare spending fall heavily upon pensioners", said Dr Loopstra. The social care spending gap, exacerbated by population ageing and rising demand for services, has been projected to be 2.8 to 3.5 billion by 2019/20. "Healthcare professionals have a crucial role in drawing attention to the consequences of these cuts and advocating publicly for policies that protect some of the most vulnerable individuals in society."

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Notes to editors

Austerity and old-age mortality in England: A longitudinal cross-local area analysis, 2007-2013 (DOI: 10.1177/0141076816632215) by Rachel Loopstra, Martin McKee, Srinivasa Vittal Katikireddi, David Taylor-Robinson, Ben Barr and David Stuckler will be published by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.

Figures on total Pension Credit spending are from the Department of Work and Pensions, Benefit expenditure by country and region, 1996/97 to 2014/15. Figures on a per beneficiary basis were calculated by linking spending to data on average beneficiary counts from Nomis Web.

For further information or a copy of the paper please contact:

Rosalind Dewar

Media Office, Royal Society of Medicine

DL +44 (0) 1580 764713

M +44 (0) 7785 182732

E media@rsm.ac.uk

The JRSM is the flagship journal of the Royal Society of Medicine and is published by SAGE. It has full editorial independence from the RSM. It has been published continuously since 1809. Its Editor is Dr Kamran Abbasi.

Sara Miller McCune founded SAGE Publishing in 1965 to support the dissemination of usable knowledge and educate a global community. SAGE is a leading international provider of innovative, high-quality content publishing more than 900 journals and over 800 new books each year, spanning a wide range of subject areas. A growing selection of library products includes archives, data, case studies and video. SAGE remains majority owned by our founder and after her lifetime will become owned by a charitable trust that secures the company's continued independence. Principal offices are located in Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC and Melbourne. http://www.sagepublishing.com
Snub-nosed moneys provide an excellent example of adaptive radiation and display uncommon ecological adaptations. They live along an elevation gradient from near sea level to beyond 4500m. Habitats differ according to elevation, and monkey's behaviour and ecology vary accordingly. R. avunculus are endemic to northern Vietnam, and found in subtropical forest on steep karst limestone, which are completely arboreal. R. brelichi generally ranges in a zone of mixed deciduous and evergreen broadleaf forest between 1500 and 2200m above sea level. This species is primarily arboreal and uses wild variety of food resources. R. roxellana ranges in elevation from 1200 to over 3000m above sea level, using deciduous broadleaf forest, conifer forest and a forest type that mixes both deciduous broadleaf and conifer trees. R. bieti distribute in evergreen forests between 3000 and 4500m above sea level, which are the highest known elevations for non-human primates. R. strykeri was recently found in northern Burma(Myanmar) and has now also been confirmed in Nujiang Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. The specimens existed in three or four groups ranging in mountainous forests at 1700-3200m above sea level in the eastern Himalayas. But still little is known for this species.

The snub-nosed monkey used to live in most of China, in the south, southwest, southeast, central and northwestern regions. The monkeys could adapt to varied climates during the past through migration and vertical movement. Unfortunately, in the last four centuries, most populations of snub-nosed monkey died out and were forced to retreat from plain. Currently, all the five species of snub-nosed monkeys face extinction, with the R. roxellana being listed as 'vulnerable,' and other four species being listed as a 'endangered ' and 'critical endangered' by International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). The dysfunction of fragmented and deforested ecosystems is the greatest threat to the long-term survival of this genus. Nowadays, China, Vietnam and Myanmar's state governments are making efforts for protecting snub-nosed monkeys. Although governments are taking actions in protection the monkeys, but it's more important to improve the living standard of local people and heighten public awareness on conservation and sustainable use of natural resources and wildlife.

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This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31270442,31470456),Young Top-notch Talent for Ten Thousand Talent Program(2014-17).

See the article:

Peng Zhang, Kaijin Hu, Bin Yang, Danhe Yang. Snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus spp.): conservation challenges in the face of environmental uncertainty. Science Bulletin, 2016, 61(5): 345-348.

http://www.scibull.com:8080/EN/abstract/abstract510226.shtml#

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11434-016-1008-z
Jefferson researchers say labor guidelines that date to the 1800s need to be updated

(PHILADELPHIA) -- When women in labor are given more time to deliver their baby than current guidelines recommend, their incidence of cesarean delivery drops by 55 percent, say researchers at Thomas Jefferson University.

Their study, in the March issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is the first to formally test what happens when women in the second stage of labor (fully dilated) are given four hours, instead of three, if they did have an epidural.

Not only was the incidence of cesarean delivery reduced by more than 50 percent, there were no associated negative health consequences to the mother or child, says the study's lead author, Alexis C. Gimovsky, M.D., a Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow at The Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.

The findings suggest that the two-hour rule, which dates back to the 1800s, needs to updated, she says. "This was a small study, so a formal change in guidelines should be based on a larger sample of women. But this study shows what we have observed in practice -- there is benefit to allowing women to labor longer."

The current guidelines do allow some flexibility so some obstetricians already provide extra time to labor, on a case-by-case basis, Dr. Gimovsky says. "But, for the sake of reducing the number of cesareans that are performed in this country, we should further investigate expanding the time frame."

About 30 percent of deliveries in the U.S. end with a caesarean, which can put a woman at risk for a number of complications in following pregnancies, can impact fetal health, and which are very costly, she says.

About 10-15 percent of the cesareans for first time mothers result from the two-hour rule, she adds. Allowing three hours if a woman has had an epidural -- medicine that relieves labor pain by blocking nerve signals -- was added on to labor guidelines by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in the 1980s.

In this study, Dr. Gimovsky and the study's senior author, Vincenzo Berghella, M.D., Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, enrolled 78 first time mothers who were between 36-41 weeks of gestation. They were randomized to an "extended labor" group that allowed for at least one additional hour of labor, or to a "usual labor" group that followed current delivery guidelines. At time of delivery, all of the study participants chose to have an epidural. Almost half of the women had an induced labor.

They found that incidence of cesarean delivery was about 19.5 percent (8 out of 41 women) in the extended labor group and about 43 percent (16 of 37 women) in the usual labor group. There were no statistically significant differences in maternal or neonatal morbidity outcomes between the groups.

Dr. Gimovsky noted that many expecting mothers were eager to join the study, suggesting "a majority of women are highly motivated to have a vaginal delivery," she says. "Changing the guidelines may help many women reach that goal."

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There was no financial support for this research, and Dr. Gimovsky and Dr. Berghella declare no conflict of interest.

Article Reference: A. Gimovsky and V. Berghella, "42: Randomized controlled trial of prolonged second stage: extending the time limit vs usual guidelines," Am J Obstet Gynecol,DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.12.042 , 2016

For more information, contact Edyta Zielinska, 215-955-5291, edyta.zielinska@jefferson.edu

About Jefferson -- Health is all we do.

Our newly formed organization, Jefferson, encompasses Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, representing our academic and clinical entities. Together, the people of Jefferson, 19,000 strong, provide the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients, educate the health professionals of tomorrow, and discover new treatments and therapies that will define the future of health care.

Jefferson Health comprises five hospitals, 13 outpatient and urgent care centers, as well as physician practices and everywhere we deliver care throughout the city and suburbs across Philadelphia, Montgomery and Bucks Counties in Pa., and Camden County in New Jersey. Together, these facilities serve more than 78,000 inpatients, 238,000 emergency patients and 1.7 million outpatient visits annually. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital is the largest freestanding academic medical center in Philadelphia. Abington Hospital is the largest community teaching hospital in Montgomery or Bucks counties. Other hospitals include Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience in Center City Philadelphia; Methodist Hospital in South Philadelphia; and Abington-Lansdale Hospital in Hatfield Township.

Thomas Jefferson University enrolls more than 3,900 future physicians, scientists, nurses and healthcare professionals in the Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC), Jefferson Colleges of Biomedical Sciences, Health Professions, Nursing, Pharmacy, Population Health and is home of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.

For more information and a complete listing of Jefferson services and locations, visit http://www.jefferson.edu.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - More than 80 percent of companies use award programs like "Employee of the Month" and "Top Sales Club" to motivate employees and increase performance. While the conventional wisdom is that such awards are cheap and can provide a subtle way to motivate employees, these programs might be reducing firms' overall productivity, according to a new study led by a researcher at the University of California, Riverside.

Recently accepted for publication in the journal Organization Science, "Motivational Spillovers from Awards: Crowding Out in a Multitasking Environment" is the first academic study to show that seemingly innocuous non-financial award programs can be costly to firms, primarily because they can upset the status quo and influence perceptions of equity and fairness. This can lead to internally motivated employees becoming disenfranchised. The study was led by Timothy Gubler, assistant professor of management in UCR's School of Business Administration, together with Ian Larkin from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Lamar Pierce from Washington University in St. Louis.

For years, researchers have studied the unintentional side effects of monetary rewards that tie pay with performance. Such rewards can reduce employees' intrinsic motivation, cause workers to focus less on tasks not recognized financially, and lead to a tendency for employees to play or "game" the system. Conversely, non-monetary recognitions and small nominal awards like gift cards are widely believed to avoid these unintended consequences and present a costless way to motivate employees.

"The common knowledge is that non-monetary awards can subtly motivate people in ways that are fundamentally different to financial reward programs, such as by increasing organizational loyalty, encouraging friendly competition, or increasing employees' self-esteem," Gubler said. "In fact, past research has focused almost exclusively on the benefits of these programs, and the costs have been considered negligible."

To explore the potential downsides of award programs, the researchers used field data from an attendance award program implemented at one of five industrial laundry plants in the Midwest United States. With the plant relying heavily on worker efficiency for overall productivity, the program was designed to recognize all employees with perfect attendance -- defined as coming on time to work and not having any unexcused absences. Each month, employees with perfect attendance were recognized at a plant-wide meeting, with one person receiving a $75 gift card through a random draw.

Using data from the company and a statistics technique called difference-in-differences (DiD), the researchers analyzed data from all five plants both before and after the award was implemented, exploring the award's effects on individual workers' performance and plant productivity as a whole. The found:

Reward-motivated employees responded positively to the awards by reducing tardiness, but gamed the system to maintain eligibility using sick days and reverted back to poor attendance behavior when they lost eligibility in a given month.

The awards crowded out intrinsic motivation in internally-motivated employees, who were already performing well by coming on time in the absence of rewards. These employees had increased tardiness after the program was implemented and they lost eligibility.

The awards decreased motivation and productivity for internally-motivated workers, suggesting these employees were unhappy because of fairness and equity concerns.

In total, the award program cost the plant 1.4 percent of daily productivity, mainly because of the lost productivity by internally-motivated employees.

Gubler said the research is among the first to show that motivational awards can be costly to firms, rather than beneficial.

"Conscientious internally-motivated employees who were performing well before the award program was introduced felt the program was unfair, as it upset the balance of what was perceived as equitable or fair in the organization. So their performance suffered -- not just in terms of their attendance but also through a motivational spillover that affected other areas of their work -- including productivity," he said.

Gubler said firms should carefully consider not only the benefits but also the costs of implementing such programs, and realize an award can cause the same issues as a bonus or other compensation.

"Employees value workplace fairness and they care about how they're perceived relative to others in the organization. To be effective, companies offering award programs need to consider not only the group they are targeting -- such as those that are coming late to work -- but also those that are already doing the right thing, as there is a possibility of demotivating some of their best employees."

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About half of children born with Jacobsen syndrome, a rare inherited disease, experience social and behavioral issues consistent with autism spectrum disorders. Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and collaborators developed a mouse model of the disease that also exhibits autism-like social behaviors and used it to unravel the molecular mechanism that connects the genetic defects inherited in Jacobsen syndrome to effects on brain function.

The study, published March 16, 2016 in Nature Communications, also demonstrates that the anti-anxiety drug clonazepam reduces autistic features in the Jacobsen syndrome mice.

"While this study focused on mice with a specific type of genetic mutation that led to autism-like symptoms, these findings could lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying other autism spectrum disorders, and provide a guide for the development of new potential therapies," said study co-author Paul Grossfeld, MD, clinical professor of pediatrics at UC San Diego School of Medicine and pediatric cardiologist at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego.

Jacobsen syndrome is a rare genetic disorder in which a child is born missing a portion of one copy of chromosome 11. This gene loss leads to multiple clinical challenges, such as congenital heart disease, intellectual disability, developmental and behavioral problems, slow growth and failure to thrive.

Previous research by Grossfeld and colleagues suggested that PX-RICS might be the missing chromosome 11 gene that leads to autism in children with Jacobsen syndrome. To investigate further, Grossfeld contacted University of Tokyo researchers who had already been studying PX-RICS for its role in brain development, but were unaware of the link to autism in humans.

In this study, the Japanese researchers determined that PX-RICS is most likely the gene responsible for autism-like symptoms in Jacobsen syndrome. To do this, they performed several well-established tests that measure common autism symptoms -- anti-social behavior, repetitive activities and inflexible adherence to routines. As compared to normal mice, mice lacking PX-RICS spent less time on social activities (e.g., nose-to-nose sniffing and huddling) and were more apathetic or avoidant when approached by a stimulator mouse. PX-RICS-deficient mice also spent more than twice as much time on repetitive behaviors such as self-grooming and digging than normal mice. In addition, mice lacking PX-RICS more closely adhered to a previously established habit and were less able to adapt their behavior in novel situations.

Grossfeld's colleagues in Tokyo also explored the molecular mechanism connecting lack of PX-RICS to behavior. They found that mice lacking the PX-RICS gene were also deficient in GABA A R, a protein crucial for normal neuron function. That observation inspired the researchers to test clonazepam, a commonly used anti-anxiety drug that works by boosting GABA A R, as a potential treatment for autism-like symptoms in these Jacobsen syndrome mice.

PX-RICS-deficient mice treated with low, non-sedating doses of clonazepam behaved almost normally in social tests, experienced improvements in learning performance and were better able to deviate from established habits.

"We now hope in the future to carry out a small pilot clinical trial on people with Jacobsen syndrome and autism to determine if clonazepam might help improve their autistic features," Grossfeld said.

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Study co-authors include Tsutomu Nakamura, Fumiko Arima-Yoshida, Fumika Sakaue, Yukiko Nasu-Nishimura, Yasuko Takeda, Ken Matsuura, Toshiya Manabe, Tetsu Akiyama, University of Tokyo; Natacha Ackshoomoff, UC San Diego; and Sarah Mattson, San Diego State University.

This research was funded, in part, by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Takeda Science Foundation, Uehara Memorial Foundation, Global COE Program and Strategic Research Program for Brain Sciences, MEXT, Japan.
Genetic tests that provide an estimate of an individual's risk of developing diseases such as lung cancer and heart disease do not appear to motivate a change in behaviour to reduce the risk, according to a study led by the University of Cambridge and published in The BMJ today.

Researchers at the Behaviour and Health Research Unit analysed a number of studies that looked at whether testing an individual's DNA for genetic variants that increased their risk of developing so-called 'common complex diseases' influenced their health-related behaviour. Complex diseases are those such as heart disease, most cancers and diabetes, where no single gene causes the disease, but rather it is the interaction of dozens -- possibly hundreds -- of genes together with an individual's environment and behaviour that leads to the disease.

Genome sequencing -- reading an individual's entire DNA -- has opened up the potential to provide individuals with information on whether or not they carry genes known to increase their risk of disease. Such tests are controversial -- knowing that an individual carries these variants does not mean that individual will develop the disease; however, proponents argue that if an individual knows that he or she is at a greater risk of a particular disease, they can make an informed decision about whether or not to change their behaviour.

In the early 2000s, several companies launched direct-to-consumer tests for a range of common complex disorders, and these tests continue to be sold in Canada, the United Kingdom, and other European countries. In 2013 in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration ordered the company 23andme to stop selling its testing kits because of concerns about their accuracy and usefulness, but in October 2015 the company resumed selling some health related services.

The Cambridge researchers examined over 10,000 abstracts from relevant studies and identified from these 18 studies that matched their criteria for inclusion in their analysis. By compiling the data, they found that informing individuals of their genetic risk had little or no effect on their health-related behaviour, particularly for smoking cessation and physical activity.

Professor Theresa Marteau, who led the study, says: "Expectations have been high that giving people information about their genetic risk will empower them to change their behaviour - to eat more healthily or to stop smoking, for example - but we have found no evidence that this is the case. But nor does the evidence support concerns that such information might demotivate people and discourage them from changing their behaviour."

However, the researchers recognise that DNA testing may still play a role in improving people's health. "DNA testing, alone or in combination with other assessments of disease risk, may help clinicians identify individuals at greatest risk and allow them to target interventions such as screening tests, surgery, and drug treatments," explains co-author Dr Gareth Hollands.

The team argue that these results are consistent with other evidence that risk communication typically has at best only a small effect on health behaviour.

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The study was funded by the Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health Research.

Reference

Hollands, GJ et al. The impact of communicating genetic risks of disease on risk-reducing health behaviour: systematic review with meta-analysis. BMJ; March 15, 2016; http://www.bmj.com/cgi/doi/10.1136/bmj.i1102
Online portal allows industry to keep up with changing technology while cutting costs

Offshore innovation may get easier - and less expensive - with a new online database launched by the University of Houston, through its partnership in the Ocean Energy Safety Institute. The Ocean Energy Technology Portal allows companies to search proven technologies developed by federal agencies and other organizations that could address some of their own research problems.

Worried about pipeline corrosion? Maybe NASA's work on a microparticle coating that can "self-heal" a scarred site would be a solution. A second NASA innovation could dramatically improve critical infrastructure monitoring with the use of a fastener equipped with radio frequency torque and tension sensing.

In addition to research from NASA, the database includes work from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), the National Energy Technology Labs and the European Space Agency - about 100,000 projects in all. Several other international organizations have expressed interest, and more partners will be added, said Paul Robinson, program manager for the Ocean Energy Safety Institute (OESI), who has directed the project.

Jack James, a technology strategist at Johnson Space Center/NASA, said the agency has worked with the oil and gas industry before, so when Robinson approached with the idea, it seemed like a natural fit.

"That's part of the NASA mission," he said. "We explore space and develop new technologies for the benefit of mankind."

OESI was established by BSEE in November 2013 to provide both industry and federal regulators reliable information about safety issues in offshore drilling. Three Texas universities - UH, Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin - are partners in the institute, which is managed by the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station's Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center.

A federal advisory group comprised of representatives from industry, federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations and the academic community recommended forming the institute after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. It does not have regulatory authority but is charged with providing unbiased independent and science-based information.

As part of that, Robinson said BSEE asked the institute to review the state of research involving deepwater oil and gas. Most companies were working independently, he discovered, with little interaction or input from other research teams.

"There was obvious financial resource waste and limited collaboration with other industries," he said.

He proposed the portal to allow people to better coordinate, making publicly funded research more readily available. Robinson said private companies can offer their own research catalogues - either complete technologies or just the abstract. Many of the technologies included in the OETP include contact information for people who want to learn more. Find the portal here: http://www.OETP.org.

Now, with low oil prices forcing producers to cut their capital and research budgets, is the perfect time for the project, allowing them to keep up with technology without starting every project from scratch, Robinson said.

"They know they have to keep advancing, or they'll be behind when the market comes back," he said.

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A University of Queensland (UQ)-led study is among the first in the world to systematically assess the amount of carbon stored in tropical forests recovering after controversial land-clearing practices in the Philippines.

Mr Sharif Mukul of UQ's School of Agriculture and Food Sciences said the study addressed gaps in knowledge on carbon changes following a traditional agricultural practice known as shifting cultivation or "slash-and-burn agriculture".

"Our research indicates that after shifting cultivation, secondary forests are substantial carbon sinks and that their capacity to store carbon increases with abandonment age. Large trees contribute most to above ground biomass.

"In south-east Asia, secondary forests constitute around 63 per cent of the total forest area, with an estimated 14-34 million people dependent on shifting cultivation for their livelihoods.

"The study has wider implications for south-east Asian rain forests that have been cleared for shifting cultivation and are now regenerating.

"We need to develop a better understanding of the relative contribution of different biomass sources in above-ground total forest biomass to fully capture the value of these landscapes from forest management, restoration and conservation perspectives," he said

Mr Mukul said the Philippines was one of the tropical developing countries in south-east Asia, and had long been considered as the "hottest of the biodiversity hotspots".

In a paper published in Nature Scientific Reports, the researchers looked at shifting cultivation (known as kaingin in the Philippines), in which land-holders cultivate fields temporarily, then abandon them when soils show signs of exhaustion, or are over-run by weeds. They often burn abandoned plots to add potash to the soil (from the ashes) or allow fields to revert to natural vegetation while moving to other farming plots.

"In the tropics, shifting cultivation has long been attributed to large-scale forest degradation, and remains a major source of uncertainty in forest carbon accounting," Mr Mukul said.

"Historically, shifting cultivation has been viewed negatively as contributing to many forms of environmental degradation, including loss of biodiversity and biomass carbon in forests.

"Accordingly, throughout much of the tropics, governments have developed policies to control or reduce this practice.

"However, the extent of land under shifting cultivation has declined in recent years due to government policies and economic factors that promoted other land-use systems.

"Consequently in many parts of this region, regenerating secondary forests following shifting cultivation are becoming prominent."

Mr Mukul said the study measured the distribution and recovery of above-ground biomass carbon in post-kaingin secondary forests in an upland area in the Philippines.

"We found significantly higher carbon in the above-ground total biomass and living woody biomass in old-growth forest, while coarse dead wood biomass carbon was higher in the young fallow secondary forest," he said.

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The study was conducted by researchers from UQ, Queensland University of Technology, and the University of the Sunshine Coast, with help from Visayas State University, Philippines, and funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
Researchers Qi-Long Ying from USC and Austin Smith from the University of Cambridge have won the 2016 McEwen Award for Innovation, the highest honor bestowed by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR). Supported by the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine, the award recognizes groundbreaking stem cell discoveries that open new avenues of exploration toward the understanding or treatment of human disease.

Ying originally joined Smith's laboratory as someone who knew next to nothing about stem cells. The third child of a farmer and a factory worker, he grew up in Yongkang, a small city in China's Zhejiang province, during the Cultural Revolution.

"At that time, as a kid, I was always curious about everything," he said. "So the older generation told me when I was small that I was always asking many different questions, always asking, 'Why, why, why?' "

Despite his natural curiosity, Ying had had little chance of obtaining a higher education. Chinese universities admitted students based on political and family connections, not academics, throughout most of his childhood. This changed with the death of Chairman Mao in 1976, and the subsequent reinstatement of the "Gaokao," China's merit-based college entrance exam. Ying earned a top score.

"At that time, the test was very important and changed your life forever," he said. "That's why many people, when they learned the results, they always cried. My mother [was so happy that she] also cried."

Although he originally dreamed of becoming a detective or a civil engineer, charismatic recruiters from the First Military Medical University persuaded him to choose a different path. What he didn't fully appreciate at the time was that attending one of China's military medical universities carried an obligation of 25 years of army service.

After Ying graduated in 1987, the army decided that he would work at a remote missile base near the Chinese border with North Korea -- a three-day train ride from his hometown, his parents and his three sisters. For a salary of $14 per month, he was charged with treating colds, headaches and minor ailments, and triaging more serious patients to a larger hospital elsewhere.

"We were in the mountains," he said. "It was very, very cold -- minus 30 degrees Celsius in the winter. We were not allowed to contact outside people. It took two hours of driving to go to the nearest town. And there were no women, and there was no hope, and life was very boring. We had no future. Sometimes during the weekends, the young officers drank, and they were crying, because there was no hope."

But Ying was determined to elude his seemingly sealed fate. He spent two years studying for the highly competitive exam to attend graduate school in China and earned admission to Shanghai Medical University, where he pursued his master's and PhD degrees.

During his graduate training in the early 1990s, he and his mentor, a famous Chinese neurosurgeon, injected human embryonic neural tissue into the brains of 18 patients with Parkinson's disease. Some regained the ability to walk, but only temporarily. The procedure also carried a high enough risk of fatal infection that the researchers halted the experiments.

Ying happily pursued these educational and research endeavors for nearly a decade. Then the army noticed his absence and summoned him back to his missile troop -- now relocated to the country's remote central region. He realized that to get out of the army, he had to get out of China.

Ying applied to at least 50 jobs all over the world. It was his unique experience with Parkinson's disease that landed him a two-year postdoctoral position in Smith's laboratory, then at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Through six months of dogged persistence and better-than-average luck, Ying secured a passport to embark on his new life.

"Austin Smith asked me to derive neurons from embryonic stem (ES) cells, and then inject these ES cell-derived neurons into a Parkinson's disease rat model," said Ying. "Austin tried very hard to recruit a postdoc to do this and failed, and then I came in. I can do this surgery in a patient. I definitely can do it in a rat."

New to both stem cells and the English language, Ying was determined to make a breakthrough worthy of extending his contract in the Smith Lab.

Ying began trying to "rewind" mouse neural stem cells into ES cells -- and thought he had succeeded. Months later, he realized that that the neural stem cells had spontaneously fused with ES cells in the same petri dish, producing abnormally large ES cells. It was the first proof of spontaneous fusion, and it earned him and Smith a publication in the journal Nature in 2002.

Still under Smith's mentorship, he began exploring new and better ways to induce ES cells to self-renew or differentiate in the laboratory. He found a more efficient way to turn ES cells into neurons, published in Nature Biotechnology in 2003.

Next, he and Smith made the landmark breakthrough that would eventually earn the 2016 McEwen Award for Innovation. They discovered that they could inhibit ES cells from differentiating into specialized cells by exposing them to two proteins -- called leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and bone morphogenic protein (BMP) -- and published the results in Cell in 2003. Subsequently, in a 2008 paper in Nature , they used two inhibitory molecules -- dubbed 2i -- to mimic this effect.

"Because of the properties of embryonic stem cells, we can use these cells to generate different cell types," said Ying. "And these cell types can be used for cell replacement therapy, for drug screening and for many other purposes."

Beyond these scientific successes, Ying is keenly aware of how profoundly Smith changed his life.

"Without Austin, I would not have my daughters. In China, I cannot have more than one child, [my eldest son]," he said. "I would still be in the army as a family doctor, and the only diseases I could treat would be colds, headaches and diarrhea. So I said [to Austin], 'Your offer letter changed everything, changed me.' "

After seven productive years, Ying left the Smith Lab to accept a faculty position at the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, where he also serves as the director of the Chang Stem Cell Engineering Facility.

Shortly after his arrival at USC, Ying and a team of researchers made one of Science magazine's "Top 10 Breakthroughs of 2010" by using ES cell-based gene targeting to produce the world's first knockout rats, modified to lack one or more genes.

"The rat is not only bigger than the mouse," said Ying. "Physiologically, they are much closer to humans. So many diseases, such as many neurological diseases, can only be mimicked in the rat, but not in the mouse."

In recognition of their accomplishments, Ying and Smith will accept the 2016 McEwen Award for Innovation and shared $100,000 prize at ISSCR's annual meeting this June in San Francisco. Past winners of this prestigious honor include: Irving Weissman and Hans Clevers; Azim Surani; James A. Thomson; Rudolf Jaenisch; and Kazutoshi Takahashi and 2012 Nobel Prize winner Shinya Yamanaka.

ISSCR President Sean Morrison describes Ying and Smith as having "made enormous contributions to our fundamental understanding of pluripotency and how this knowledge can be leveraged to develop new tools that advance our understanding and treatment of human disease."

Ying expressed his deep gratitude for the award along with words of inspiration for young biologists.

"I started my stem cell career maybe 15 years ago," he said. "At that time, I had no experience whatsoever with stem cells, but I believed I could make contribution to this field, and I worked hard. So to be successful in this very competitive scientific career, you have to have confidence that you can achieve something."

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The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) will recognize two physician-scientists from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center with two of its highest distinctions at its annual meeting in Chicago.

Ethan Dmitrovsky, M.D., provost and executive vice president and professor of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology and of Cancer Biology, will be honored for his efforts in cancer prevention and control with the 2016 ASCO-American Cancer Society Award and Lecture. Waun Ki Hong, M.D., professor of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology and former head of Cancer Medicine, will be honored for the major impact he has had on the field as well as for his long-standing commitment to ASCO with the Special Recognition Award.

"The extraordinary efforts and seminal contributions of these two leading physician-scientists have made an enduring impact in the assault against cancer," said Ronald DePinho, M.D., president of MD Anderson. "These high honors recognize two incredible researchers who have not only transformed cancer medicine but, through their gifted leadership, have made MD Anderson a global leader in cancer research and care."

Research benefits leukemia and lung cancer patients

Dmitrovsky will receive the ASCO-American Cancer Society Award and deliver a lecture on Monday, June 6.

As an MD Anderson leader who also works at the bench and in the clinic, he is grateful for the honor.

"I am humbled and honored to receive this recognition," he said. "It is a privilege to serve the oncology community and our patients whether as an oncologist, physician-researcher, mentor or leader."

Dmitrovsky is being recognized for his groundbreaking work on the mechanisms behind the tumor-suppressing effects of natural synthetic derivatives of vitamin A, known as retinoids.

He and his team helped establish use of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), the vital component in combination treatment that leads to complete remission and five-year survival of over 90 percent of patients. APL was frequently fatal prior to this finding. Dmitrovsky and colleagues also developed and patented a genetic test that is often used to diagnose APL and monitor treatment.

Dmitrovsky now focuses on lung cancer, building on his work with APL.

His team has:

discovered a protein-destroying pathway responsible for retinoids' effects on cancer because it degrades the abnormal PML-RARalpha fusion protein and other oncogenes;

reported the first transgenic mouse model that expressed PML-RARalpha;

engineered mouse models that recapitulate human lung cancer biology and guide therapies in the clinic;

conducted clinical trials that confirmed the same pathways identified in the lab were engaged in treatment of lung cancer patients.

New approaches to cancer prevention and treatment

Hong will be presented with the Special Recognition Award at the ASCO President's Dinner on Friday, June 3.

He said he is honored to receive this reward for his research, especially from an organization he helped build.

"I thank the wonderful colleagues and trainees who have been a part of our MD Anderson team," said Hong. "It is vital that we always work collaboratively to advance our knowledge, and never lose sight of our patients who rely on us."

In the early 1980s, Hong conceived and led a series of landmark clinical trials showing that patients with laryngeal cancer fared just as well when treated with chemotherapy and radiation as those who underwent surgery that ultimately resulted in removing the larynx and losing the ability to speak. This new model helped shift treatment toward organ conservation in other cancers, including anal and breast cancer.

He is one of the founders of cancer chemoprevention research and pioneered a new paradigm for cancer - the possibility that it can be prevented or delayed. His studies demonstrating that high-dose retinoic acid can reverse oral premalignant lesions and prevent the development of second primary tumors were the first to prove that chemoprevention can work in humans.

Hong also led the development of personalized molecular targeted therapies for lung cancer. He established the groundbreaking Biomarker-Based Approaches of Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer Elimination (BATTLE) clinical trial for lung cancer, a first-of-its-kind effort to match treatment to tumor characteristics. His most recent project, Profiling of Resistance Patterns and Oncogenic Signaling Pathways in Evaluation of Cancers of the Thorax and Therapeutic Target Identification (PROSPECT), has identified several molecular targets and pathways in cell lines that predict drug sensitivity and resistance. Clinical application of these findings is underway in developing and testing personalized therapeutic strategies for non-small-cell lung cancer and mesothelioma.

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When one eats may be as important as what one eats. New research at the Weizmann Institute of Science and in Germany, which recently appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), suggests that the cells' power plants - the mitochondria - are highly regulated by the body's biological, or circadian, clocks. This may help explain why people who sleep and eat out of phase with their circadian clocks are at higher risk of developing obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Dr. Gad Asher of the Weizmann Institute's Biomolecular Sciences Department, who led the study, explains that circadian clocks, which are found in living things from bacteria to flies and humans, control our rhythms of sleep, activity, eating and metabolism. "In a sense," he says, "it's like a daily calendar, telling the body what to expect, so it can prepare for the future and operate optimally."

Dr. Adi Neufeld-Cohen, of Asher's group, in collaboration with Dr. Maria S. Robles and Prof. Matthias Mann of the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Germany, looked for circadian changes in the mitochondria that, by creating peaks and dips in the cells' energy levels, would also help regulate their day-night cycles. The group identified and quantified hundreds of mitochondrial proteins, finding that the quantities of a whopping 40% peak once a day. Further research identified the proteins making up the mitochondrial circadian clock that regulates these activities. Surprisingly, most of the circadian proteins in the mitochondria peaked four hours into the daylight part of the cycle (in mice, which are active at night).

Among the essential proteins the researchers uncovered was a key enzyme that determines the rate of sugar use for energy production. This protein reaches its maximal amount four hours into daylight, suggesting that the mitochondria's capacity for burning sugar peaks around this time, as well. To check, the researchers provided mitochondria with sugar and found that at around hour four, respiration and glucose utilization were indeed at their highest. They also found that the protein responsible for the entry of fatty acids into the mitochondria only peaks at the eighteenth hour and, again, tests showed fat processing was optimal at the same time.

In mice with a genetic mutation that interferes with their overall biological clocks, the amounts of these proteins did not change over the course of the day, and the decomposition activity of fats and sugars was steady throughout.

"These findings support previous findings in our lab in which we showed that if mice eat only at night, when they are active, rather than throughout the day and night, they will eat the same amount of calories but their liver lipid levels will be 50% lower," says Asher. "In other words, the outcome depends not only on what you eat but also on when you eat it. If we could be more aware of the timing of our cellular activities, we might be able to take advantage of various nutrients in a healthier way."

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Dr. Gad Asher's research is supported by the Willner Family Leadership Institute; the Yeda-Sela Center for Basic Research; the Adelis Foundation; the Abisch Frenkel Foundation for the Promotion of Life Sciences; the Crown Endowment Fund for Immunology Research; the Samuel M. Soref and Helene K. Soref Foundation; and the estate of Dorothy Geller. Dr. Asher is the incumbent of the Pauline Recanati Career Development Chair.

The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, is one of the world's top-ranking multidisciplinary research institutions. Noted for its wide-ranging exploration of the natural and exact sciences, the Institute is home to scientists, students, technicians and supporting staff. Institute research efforts include the search for new ways of fighting disease and hunger, examining leading questions in mathematics and computer science, probing the physics of matter and the universe, creating novel materials and developing new strategies for protecting the environment.
The refugee crisis in Europe is just one of a series of problems confronting the Balkan states. The decision of some EU states to close their borders, accompanied by bitter internal fighting, has undermined confidence in the EU among political leaders and citizens in the Balkans. The confused and fractured EU response only underlines to us that the Euro-Atlantic perspective is now unclear, while the economic prospects for the region remain uncertain. Furthermore, geopolitics centred on big power rivalry is once again stoking tensions in this region: Russia has clearly declared an interest in keeping the Balkan countries out of NATO, while Turkey has become more assertive in promoting its interests.

With all of these issues creating great uncertainty, the plague of ISIS is not getting the full attention of EU and Balkan decision-makers. They should ask themselves: Are we prepared to deal with these challenges? Do we have a real understanding about the threat and complexity of ISIS? It is clear that despite some improvement there is an urgent need for better regional cooperation, especially in intelligence sharing, as well as more reciprocal communication and cooperation between security institutions of states in this region.

The US and EU are concerned about the ISIS capacity to organize and launch terrorist attacks in Europe (Paris) and the US (San Bernardino). Still, it is clear that terrorism is a global threat to all states. The Balkans have a special role in combating this threat, being a major route into Europe and a bridge for ISIS funding, supplies and recruitment, and for other radical terrorist groups. Unfortunately with Europe and the US distracted by other issues  the attacks in France and other western states; the ongoing global economic instability; the war in Syria; and the flood of refugees and migrants into Europe  this has reduced support and understanding for the gravity of the terrorist threat in the Balkans.

The facts on the ground in the region confirm the need for immediate action to curb ISIS and deal with home grown terrorist lone wolves. ISIS cells and networks are infiltrating our societies, but more importantly they are securing their strategic position in Europe with an eye on America as the ultimate target.

Recent arrests and trials in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo of fighters returning from Syria and Iraq, highlight the real problem of terrorist-trained and battle-tested individuals to regional security. The appearance of ISIS flags in Bosnian villages, involvement of individuals from the region in foiled terror plots in Sweden, Germany and Austria (for example the case of four Bosnian nationals and an Arab trying to smuggle a bomb from Bosnia into Sweden); and more importantly the links to actual attacks in Spain, France and in the region itself (such as those on a police station and the military in Bosnia) all point to the urgency in increasing regional efforts to contain and eliminate this threat.

According to some media and intelligence sources, the Balkans have become one of the largest recruiting grounds for ISIS. No one really knows how many fighters from the region have made their way to Syria and Iraq, but estimates range from 700-850 or more. The volunteer flow from the region continues despite local efforts to prevent recruitment. These fighters are determined to join ISIS, regardless of the risks and legal punishments they may face. Many have already been killed in combat in Iraq and Syria and some have made propaganda videos revealing their identities. All of this shows the extent of their radicalization and commitment to the ISIS cause. Once returned, they represent grave threats to our societies. Most of them have passports which allow them access to the EU because of visa liberalization and the Schengen agreement, extending the geography of the threat.

Radical Islamic indoctrination over the last two decades has not only created shelters, indoctrination centres, training hubs and safe transit routes but it has also destabilized the Islamic tradition of the region, known for its secular character, historic tolerance and cultural integration. Now a foreign, radical and heretical interpretation of Islam has taken root and is destabilizing the region already troubled by ethnic and national strife.

The Balkans are especially vulnerable for several reasons. Our diverse ethnic and multi-religious region has seen a number of historic conflicts, some still simmering, others dormant, which can be ignited by this new seed of radicalism. Most of the states in the region have very unstable political situations, weak governments and security institutions, stretched thin by economic crisis, war, political infighting, corruption and the increasing numbers of refugees and migrants trying to get to the EU. Prolonged economic crisis and high unemployment have alienated many, exposing youth especially to radicalization. The increasing return and presence of fanatical fighters trained in Syria, Iraq and Libya also creates a serious and immediate threat.

The communist legacies of inefficient governance, bloated bureaucracies and public sectors have created a serious impediment to responding to this and other threats. The legacy of large militaries and recent wars have left large quantities of weapons, explosives and ammunition that have filtered into the black market through corruption and organized crime networks. The slowing EU expansion and lack of will to receive new members in the near future have diminished hope and optimism among citizens, creating more opportunities for radicalization, and undermining political will for reforms and enhancement of regional security. There is also a widespread feeling among the regions peoples that the terrorist threat and the new migrant crisis are EU problems that have been dumped on the Balkans.

How can regional leaders more effectively and decisively address these challenges and how can they contain and eradicate ISIS? Despite all of the problems and factors of instability that besiege this region a response is possible and it begins with increasing cooperation and communication. I believe the following initiatives would create a better foundation for dealing with ISIS and other terrorist threats to the Balkans:

A Balkan Intelligence Coordination and Cooperation Centre must be established, that will better coordinate the collection and sharing of vital information between states and can make a better contribution to building cooperation with EU and US intelligence services and Europol.

A database (clearing house) system must be built that begins a more serious and comprehensive screening of refugees and migrants traveling through the region. This system must combine all aspects of intelligence acquisition that is more easily accessible to states in the region and that will help identify potential ISIS infiltration in a more timely and efficient manner.

Regional leaders and institutions must cooperate in developing an immediate reaction and proposals for resolving the issue of refugees on a regional basis.

States should, with support and expertise from NATO or the EU, immediately start investing and working in developing a more adequate cyber security strategy, addressing ISIS propaganda and communication.

The EU must provide a clear strategy for Euro-Atlantic integration of the countries in the Balkans. This would eliminate uncertainty, fear and frustration within regional states and would allow them more space for addressing the ISIS and refugee challenges in a more confident and efficient manner.

A more open and serious discussion about the ISIS threat to our nations must begin and a coordinated effort of states in the region should be made in better informing citizens through education and building better cooperation with local religious leaders that would close public space for recruitment and indoctrination by ISIS activists.

Greater effort should be made with religion communities, especially with the Islamic community to identify the groups and mosques that are out of their control or are under the influence of extremists.

A coordinated strategy should be developed for dealing with returning foreign fighters and their families.

These steps would not only build a better foundation for dealing with the ISIS threat in the Balkans but it would also bring broader benefits to the region. Greater cooperation would contribute to peace and stability, while at the same time it would help the EU better deal with their own challenges tied to the refugee crisis. The states of the region will need greater support from the EU and the US, but it should be recognized that any investment in building institutional capacity and regional cooperation will also improve the security of the EU and the US. The time to act is now.

The opinions articulated above represent the views of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Leadership Network or any of its members. The ELNs aim is to encourage debates that will help develop Europes capacity to address the pressing foreign, defence, and security policy challenges of our time.
The term Establishment is controversial. It invariably implies a critical stance, suggesting a system, a power structure, in need of a shakeup or worse. Its not a description anyone would welcome having applied to himself. Nobody wants to be seen as defending entrenched privilege. Depending on the context, some deny the existence of such an entity to begin with.

What about in the world of science, and specifically biology? Is it fair to speak of an Establishment there, primed to be updated by rogue outside forces? It seems so. Or perhaps rigidly calcified mindset is the better phrase. Today in the New York Times, Amy Harmon reports on hints of decalcification, a modest but significant move in science research publishing toward preprints. That is, publishing directly online without first submitting your work to the official gatekeepers: peer-reviewed journals.

Dont worry  its not as if this research then goes unreviewed or uncriticized. Instead the review process happens immediately and organically. Those interested enough to read your work can tell anyone and everyone what they think. Minus the online aspect, its the way Charles Darwin published his ideas:

On Feb. 29, Carol Greider of Johns Hopkins University became the third Nobel Prize laureate biologist in a month to do something long considered taboo among biomedical researchers: She posted a report of her recent discoveries to a publicly accessible website, bioRxiv, before submitting it to a scholarly journal to review for official publication. It was a small act of information age defiance, and perhaps also a bit of a throwback, somewhat analogous to Stephen Kings 2000 self-publishing an e-book or Radioheads 2007 release of a download-only record without a label. To commemorate it, she tweeted the websites confirmation under the hashtag #ASAPbio, a newly coined rallying cry of a cadre of biologists who say they want to speed science by making a key change in the way it is published. Such postings are known as preprints to signify their early-stage status, and the 2,048 deposited on three-year-old bioRxiv over the last year represent a barely detectable fraction of the million or so research papers published annually in traditional biomedical journals. But after several dozen biologists vowed to rally around preprints at an ASAPbio meeting last month, the site has had a small surge, and not just from scientists whose august stature protects them from risk. On Twitter, preprint insurgents are celebrating one anothers postings and jockeying for revolutionary credibility.

One diagnostic of a genuine Establishment would be that its members maintain that the system, for everyones good, couldnt be much different from how it is. In this case, theres nothing necessary about the traditional manner in which biologists publish their work. Physics, as Harmon notes, has had preprints for decades, and the field is healthier for it:

Unlike physicists, for whom preprints became a default method of communicating discoveries in the 1990s, biomedical researchers typically wait more than six months to disseminate their work while they submit it  on an exclusive basis  to the most prestigious journal they think might accept it for publication. If, as is often the case, it is rejected, they try another journal. As a result, it can sometimes take years to publish a paper, which is then typically available for a time only to colleagues at major academic institutions whose libraries pay for subscriptions. And because science is in many ways a relay, with one scientist building on the published work of another, the communication delays almost certainly slow scientific progress.

True, its not that preprints are intended to replace traditional publishing. Those interviewed for the article are careful to say they arent rejecting the big journals. You wouldnt want to offend the Establishment!

Many have taken pains to reiterate their wish not to disrupt the journal system, only to enhance it. With enough scientists pushing to legitimize preprints, they hope journals will allow the systems to coexist. Its not beer or tacos, as James Fraser, an assistant professor at the University of California, San Francisco put it at last months conference, its beer AND tacos.

Still, this sounds exactly like a revolt, if mild, seeking to slip out from under some of the bonds of a burdensome hierarchy  one that up till now has controlled the flow of ideas and artificially constrained debate through access and credentialing, with an eye to maintaining its own power and prestige. What will it mean for insurgent scientific ideas like intelligent design and the critique of Darwinism? Time will tell, but the development seems like a hopeful one.

Image credit:  Monet / Dollar Photo Club.
Todd Huizinga, Actons Director of International Outreach, joined host John J. Miller of National Review to discuss his new book, The New Totalitarian Temptation, on the Bookmonger Podcast at Ricochet. They discussed the problems afflicting the European Union, the potential Exit of the UK from the EU, and whether or not the United States faces the same problems with unaccountable government that bedevil Europe. You can listen to the podcast here.

If you find the topic interesting, you can join us tomorrow here at the Acton Building for Todds Acton Lecture Series address; just head over to our events page to reserve your seat for lunch and a stimulating talk.

After the jump, Ive reposted Todds Radio Free Acton interview on his book.
Hi all!



I'm moving to Australia on a working holiday visa (417) in September and was wondering if you could lend some advice on where to best move to for work



I'm a Strategy/Management consultant with 6 years experience, mainly within FMCG and retail. When I (finally!) make my way to Australia I'm hoping to find 6 months of contract work as a contract consultant. My skill set mainly lends itself to large national/multinational organisations who are consumer centric (i.e. they sell products to people)



I was wondering which city would be best to find this sort of work? Sydney seems the obvious choice, but how about Brisbane or Melbourne? Would I find a good number of these companies with head offices in these cities?



Thanks in advance for the advice!


London is like a well-stocked honey hive for a queen bee as far as wealthy people are concerned with the UK capital city judged more attractive than any other in the world.Over the past decade, The Wealth Report from international real estate firm Knight Frank has ranked the cities that matter most to the world's wealthy, based on where they live, invest, educate their children, grow their businesses, network and spend their leisure time.On all measures, year-in year-out, London and New York have vied for the two top slots. No other city comes close in terms of their breadth and depth of appeal but this year, London has beaten New York for the second successive time to win the accolade of most important city.Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Dubai repeated their competition for positions three to six but the report also outlines the risk that could affect the top two.For London, the table of risks was headed by changes in taxation, reflecting five years of relatively rapid tax reform in the UK, followed by changes to financial regulation driven by the impact of European Union and domestic activism on London's financial sector.In New York, tax and financial regulation risk were joined by the threat from terrorism, which ranked only marginally lower in London's case.Looking ahead, the report suggests it is hard to say what cities could realistically challenge London and New York during the next decade. Of those who thought a challenger could emerge, opinion was divided fairly evenly between Singapore and Shanghai.In terms of importance, the survey respondents are predicting Shanghai will eclipse Hong Kong's appeal over the period. Interestingly, while 68% of European respondents and nearly 50% of North American respondents felt no city could overtake London and New York, Asians took a more bullish outcome with only 30% saying the status quo was set in stone.The report also points out that there is no direct correlation between the locations where the wealthy are normally resident and the locations their advisors view as being most important to them.This reflects the itinerant nature of many UHNWIs who increasingly educate their children overseas while working and living in multiple international locations. Working with our data partners at Sabre Airline Solutions, we wanted to understand which cities were actually the best connected to the world's wealthy.New York at 5,600 pips London at 4,900 in terms of resident UHNWI residents but London's geographical position means that within a two hour flight the city is accessible to over 16,000 UHNWIs compared with New York's 8,300.This helps to explain why the UK capital is generally held as being more important to the global UHNWI population. The concentration of wealth within Europe propels cities in this region high up the ranking of wealth accessibility on this measure, with cities in the US and China seeing similar levels of connectivity to wealth.
 LA Times Obscures Judith Butler's Anti-Zionism | Main | Terrorist Groups Increase Child Recruitment Efforts 

March 16, 2016

Huffington Post Rewrites History

The World Post, an affiliate of The Huffington Post, hosted an article penned by a member of the American Anthropological Association, the academic organization most recently in the news for having passed a BDS resolution. One of the resolutions reasons for supporting BDS was that the Israeli state has denied Palestinians  including scholars and students  their fundamental rights of freedom, equality, and self-determination through ethnic cleansing, colonization, discrimination, and military occupation.?

CAMERA has reported on the real anti-Israel, anti-peace nature of the BDS movement, as well drawing attention to the possibility that these resolutions may be illegal, as they violate the organizations' charters which amount to contracts with their members.



Under the headline, Israeli-Palestinian Violence is Not Inevitable,? Assistant Professor of Anthropology Emily McKee of Northern Illinois University decries media accounts of tit-for-tat violence?. Ironically, she places blame for the current wave of terror in which dozens of Israelis have been stabbed in the streets, rammed with cars and shot at by Palestinian Arabs on Israelis.

Professor McKee claims Israels actions taken over the last several decades have created important distinctions between citizens of Israel, Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem, and West Bank Palestinians, which allow some to participate in government, travel freely, and live in well-provisioned neighborhoods and deny these possibilities to others.? The article, which purports to offer historical context, does not report that Arab terrorism against Jews began long before there was a Jewish state, as exemplified by the 1929 Hebron massacre in which 69 Jews were murdered by Arabs after their leaders spread the false rumor that Jews were planning to seize control of the Temple Mount and destroy the Al-Aqsa mosque. It is that very same false same rumor that is being used to incite the current wave of Palestinian violence.



Photo Credit: Hazem Bader via Getty Images

The photo The World Post selected to accompany the article is similarly misleading. Posted without a caption, the image depicts Israeli soldiers violently strong-arming what appears to be a middle-aged Palestinian man with a look of pain on his face. Concerned civilians look on. The choice of photograph speaks directly to the articles intent to tacitly criminalize the IDF and portray Palestinian Arabs as victims. Without a caption, there is no context for this photo and no reader can understand who the man is or even when this incident took place.

In fact, an image search reveals that the photo is of an Israeli protester in Hebron from February. The photo appeared in the Daily Mail with the caption, "Israeli soldiers arrest an Israeli protester during clashes following a demonstration against Jewish settlements on February 20, 2016 in the West Bank city of Hebron Hazem Bader (AFP)"

According to the AAA and Huffington Post, readers are blinded to real causes and potential solutions? to the conflict based on the failures of media coverage. This article contributes directly to that condition.

--Rachel Frommer, CAMERA Intern

Posted by SC at March 16, 2016 08:37 AM

Another example of the BDS movement which should stand for Bullying, Deception and Slander--rewriting history to fit into the anti-Zionist and Semitic narrative. It is shocking that so-called reputable academics and media outlets are so fixated on the Israel in an almost pathological fashion that they cannot even get a plain file photograph right--sloppy and abusive--that is what they are--if Israel disappeared tomorrow they would say the country had it coming to them and despite the fact that the middle east would continue to be the unmitigated mess that it is--they would feel justified in the elimination of a population that has sought to make a democratic nation for itself in its ancestral homeland.

Posted by: michael gordon at March 17, 2016 10:55 AM

Just a quick point of clarification -- the American Anthropological Association is currently neither for or against BDS. It's members will vote this spring on whether or not to accept a resolution to boycott Israeli academic institutions.

Posted by: Jeff Martin at March 17, 2016 11:02 AM

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This is a moderated blog. We will not post comments that include racism, bigotry, threats, or factually inaccurate material.

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 Contested Sahara Versus Occupied West BankMedia Myopia | Main | Huffington Post Rewrites History 

March 16, 2016

LA Times Obscures Judith Butler's Anti-Zionism

The Los Angeles Times identified Judith Butler, an anti-Zionist activist, as a professor "who has written on Zionism"

The Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists calls on journalists to "Identify sources clearly. The public is entitled to as much information as possible to judge the reliability and motivations of sources." In her article today about the new University of California policy draft which includes anti-Zionism as a form of discrimination that is unacceptable on campus, The Los Angeles Times' Teresa Watanabe fails to clearly identify one on her sources as an extreme partisan on the issue ("UC proposal on intolerance says 'anti-Zionism' is unacceptable on campus").



She describes Judith Butler, a long-time anti-Zionist activist only as "a Berkeley professor of comparative literature who has written on Zionism." From Watanabe's incomplete and misleading description, readers would incorrectly conclude that Butler is an impartial academic who has written objectively about Zionism and who therefore is well positioned to give a balanced take on the UC draft.



The reality could not be further from the truth. Writing in Al Jazeera, Mark Levine, a professor of Middle Eastern History at UC Irvine, described Butler as "the literary critic and philosopher whose criticism of Israel and support for the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement have recently defined her in the public eye for more than her seminal research on feminist, queer, literary theory and political philosophy."



A member of the radical Jewish Voices for Peace, Butler's anti-Zionist views envision a "binational" state, commonly understood to mean the dissolution of the Jewish nation state.



Her anti-Israel views were on display in 2011 when she defended the anti-Israel terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah. She stated that "understanding Hamas, Hezbollah as social movements that are progressive, that are on the Left, that are part of a global Left, is extremely important."

Posted by TS at March 16, 2016 08:36 AM

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This is a moderated blog. We will not post comments that include racism, bigotry, threats, or factually inaccurate material.

Post a comment
LISBON, Ohio  About a month after the Columbiana County Fair learned that a major donor to its grandstand project was pulling out, a new donor has stepped up, and for the same $300,000 that the original donor pledged.

Fair Board President John Wolf and the G. Allen Dickey family announced the donation March 10. The grandstand, which was completed in 2014, will be renamed in Allen Dickeys honor.

Dickey, who died in 2002, was well known for giving back to the community and supporting local agriculture. He started D.W. Dickey and Son, and Hilltop Energy. In 2011, he was inducted into the countys Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Stepping up

His sons Tim and Dave decided to make the donation after a previously pledged donation by the Green Family Trust was terminated.

Were very pleased when the Dickey brothers heard of our problems, they contacted me and were interested in helping out, Wolf said. Theyve always been a great help to the fairgrounds.

Wolf said the fair board was planning to accept the donation at its March 16 meeting. He said he went to school with some of the Dickeys, and has known the family for many years.

The whole family has always been big supporters of the fair and the community in general, Wolf said.

Wolf said the fair board will begin the process of having a new sign made, bearing the Dickey family name. Hes hopeful when it is finished and erected, some kind of community event will be held.

The new grandstand seats about 2,500 people, compared to the old grandstand, which seated only 1,400. Wolf said its a beautiful addition to the grounds, and said the fair continues to find new ways the facility can be used.
 Huffington Post Rewrites History | Main | The Iranian Missile Photo That CNN Missed 



Islamic terrorist organizations are increasingly targeting? children for recruitment, according to the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT), a non-profit research group that focuses on radical Islamic groups.

IPT reports that children have become a key target group? for Islamist-oriented terrorists that frequently use social media to advertise their new recruits. The use of children under the age of 15 as combatants violates the United Nations 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Citing a report by West Points Combating Terrorism Center (CTC), IPT notes that in the last year, at least 89 male child soldiers were eulogized as martyrs on Twitter as well as the Islamic States [the U.S.-designated terrorist group also known as ISIS] official Telegram channel [a messaging app]. The child soldiers hailed from countries as varied as Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, and Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, France and Australia.

The CTC report used a database of children eulogized by the ISIS between January 2015 and January 2016. The report concludes that the number of child and youth militants far exceeds current estimates? and that Islamic terror groups are mobilizing children at an ever-accelerating rate.? The report is careful to note that it doesnt claim to be exhaustive and is rather a snapshot in time of how the Islamic State? uses children in its propaganda.

CTC concludes that in contrast to other conflicts in which child soldiers are used as a strategy of last resort,? children used by ISIS are fighting alongside, rather than in lieu of, adult males.? The extent to which the terror group employ children suggests that organizational concerns? are the primary driver instead of propaganda benefits. The centers report says:

Despite these similarities, one PA official has claimed that a key difference exists. Palestinian Media Watch (PMW), a non-profit organization that monitors Arab media in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), the Gaza Strip and eastern Jerusalem, has noted comments made on official PA TV by the authority's Minister of Women's Affairs, Haifa al-Agha. Speaking on Nov. 7, 2015, al-Agha claimed that Palestinian women are "unique" for receiving news of their "son's martyrdom" with "cries of joy."

Hamas also regularly uses children in its terrorist activities. CAMERA has reported how the group holds "summer camps" to train and indoctrinate children to murder Jews ("#HamasSummerCamp," July 9, 2015). Both Hamas and Fatah, similar to ISIS, also have used children as human shields; hiding behind them while launching indiscriminate attacks on civilian populations in Israel.

As recently as January 2016, Fatah, the dominant movement in the Palestinian Authority, held celebrations that featured masked children carrying models of "suicide belts," "RPG's [rocket propelled grenade launchers" and guns ("Palestinian Children Wear Suicide Belts to Celebrate Fatah's Anniversary," CAMERA, January 12).

CAMERA has noted the use of children by Palestinian Arab terrorist groups, Hamas and Fatahs al-Aqsa martyrs brigade, both of which are U.S.-designated terrorist groups.

IPT notes that other jihadi groups are increasingly recruiting and using children: The Pakistani Taliban run several so-called schools dedicated to graduating prepubescent bombers, Houthi rebels in Yemen have routinized the inclusion of children in their ranks, while the Lebanese Hezbollah has begun accepting adolescents into its ranks to boost its presence? in the Syrian civil war.

The presence and participation of children in the comprehensive corpus of Islamic State propaganda extends beyond ultra-violence. Indeed, on an almost daily basis, children are featured in multiple contexts, from highly publicized executions and training camps to Quran memorization fairs and dawa [proselytizing] caravans.?

Posted by SD at March 16, 2016 01:32 PM

A was a member of "Americans That Enlisted Underage". Someone may enlist in the US Armed Forces at the age of 17 but can not go forward into a designated combat zone until the are 18.

One solider who sipped through was sent to his home base from Iraq when it was discovered he was 17.

From: Child Soldiers International

http://www.child-soldiers.org/international_standards.php

Quote:

"1. International Human Rights Law

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC): Adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 May 2000, entered into force on 12 February 2002. OPAC sets 18 as the minimum age for direct participation in hostilities and for compulsory recruitment by state armed forces. States may accept volunteers from the age of 16 but must deposit a binding declaration at the time of ratification or accession, setting out their minimum voluntary recruitment age and outlining certain safeguards for such recruitment. OPAC also prohibits the recruitment or use in hostilities of under-18s by non-state armed groups.

For the full text of OPAC see: Optional Protocol.

Convention on the Rights of the Child: Adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1989, entered into force on 2 September 1990. The Convention on the Rights of the Child generally defines a child as any person under the age of 18. However, Article 38 uses the lower age of 15 as the minimum for recruitment or participation in armed conflict. This language is drawn from the two Additional Protocols to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 (see below).

Article 38 requires state parties to prevent anyone under the age of 15 from taking direct part in hostilities and to refrain from recruiting anyone under the age of 15 years. OPAC was drafted in order to raise the minimum ages set out in the Convention.

Visit the UN treaty dabatase for the full text of the Convention.

Implementation by State Parties of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and of its optional protocols to the Convention, including OPAC, is monitored by the (UN) Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Visit the (UN) Committee on the Rights of the Child website.

2. International Criminal Law

Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: The Rome Statute establishes a permanent criminal court to try persons charged with committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

In its definition of war crimes the statute includes "conscripting or enlisting children under the age of fifteen years into national armed forces or using them to participate actively in hostilities" (Article 8(2)(b)(xxvi)) in international armed conflict; and in the case of an internal armed conflict, "conscripting or enlisting children under the age of fifteen years into armed forces or groups or using them to participate actively in hostilities" (Article 8(2)(e)(vii)).

The statute also defines sexual slavery as a war crime (Article 8(2)(b)(xxii) and Article 8(2)(e)(vii)) and a crime against humanity (Article 7(1)(g)). The treaty came into force and the court came into being on 1 July 2002.

Visit the International Criminal Court website.

3. International Labour Law

International Labour Organization (ILO) Minimum Age Convention 138: This convention was adopted on 26 June 1973 and came into force on 19 June 1976. States ratifying the convention are bound to: pursue a national policy designed to ensure the effective abolition of child labour; and raise progressively the minimum age for admission to employment or work to a level consistent with the fullest physical and mental development of young persons (Article 1). It also sets 18 years as the minimum age for admission to employment or work which by its nature or circumstances in which it is carried out is likely to jeopardise the health, safety or morals of young persons? (Article 3).

International Labour Organization (ILO) Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention 182: This convention was adopted on 16 June 1999 and came into force on 19 November 2000. It commits each state which ratifies it to "take immediate and effective measures to secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour as a matter of urgency". The term "child" applies to all persons under the age of 18 years, and the worst forms of child labour include forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict (Article 3a).

The text of ILO Conventions 138 and 182 can be found on the ILO website.

4. International Humanitarian Law

Additional Protocols to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 (1977): The protocols set 15 as the minimum age for recruitment or use in armed conflict. This minimum standard applies to all parties, both governmental and non-governmental, in both international and internal armed conflict.

Article 77(2) of Additional Protocol I: applicable to international armed conflicts, states:

The Parties to the conflict shall take all feasible measures in order that children who have not attained the age of fifteen years do not take a direct part in hostilities and, in particular, they shall refrain from recruiting them into their armed forces. In recruiting among those persons who have attained the age of fifteen years but who have not attained the age of eighteen years the Parties to the conflict shall endeavour to give priority to those who are oldest.?

Article 4(3)(c) of the Additional Protocol II: applicable to non-international armed conflicts, states: Children who have not attained the age of fifteen years shall neither be recruited in the armed forces or groups nor allowed to take part in hostilities?.

Customary International Humanitarian Law

Customary international law is made up of rules that come from "a general practice accepted as law" and that exist independent of treaty law.

Rules of customary international humanitarian law provide that children must not be recruited into armed forces or armed groups? and that children must not be allowed to take part in hostilities?. These rules apply to both international and non-international armed conflicts.

Additional Protocols I and II and the Rules of Customary International Humanitarian Law can be found on the ICRC website.

5. Regional Standards

African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child: The Charter is the only regional treaty which addresses the issue of child soldiers. It was adopted by the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union) and came into force in November 1999.

It defines a child as anyone below 18 years of age without exception. It also states that: "States Parties to the present Charter shall take all necessary measures to ensure that no child shall take a direct part in hostilities and refrain in particular, from recruiting any child" (Article 22.2).

The text of the Charter can be found on the African Union website.

6. Principles relating to child soldiers

The Paris Commitments and Principles (2007): The Paris principles and guidelines on children associated with armed forces or armed groups (Paris Principles) and Paris commitments to protect children from unlawful recruitment or use by armed forces or armed groups (Paris Commitments) were formally endorsed by 58 states in 2007 at a meeting in France in February 2007. Their drafting followed a review of the "Cape Town Principles and Best Practice on the prevention of recruitment of children into the armed forces and on demobilization and social reintegration of child soldiers in Africa", which had been the guiding principles on child soldiers since their adoption in 1997.

The aim of the Paris Principles and Commitments is to combat the unlawful recruitment or use of children by armed forces or armed groups. Their specific objective is to prevent the occurrence of this phenomenon, to secure the release of children concerned, to support their social reintegration and to ensure that they are afforded the greatest protection possible. In adhering to the Paris Commitments, states agree to uphold certain basic principles which will allow them to achieve the set objectives. The Paris Principles give more detailed guidelines on the implementation of the Commitments. As at September 2011, 100 states had endorsed the Paris Commitments.

Text of the Paris Commitments and Principles can be found in the website of the ICRC.

7. UN Security Council children and armed conflict framework

The UN Security Council has passed a series of resolutions condemning the recruitment and use of children in hostilities. These are resolutions 1261 (1999), 1314 (2000), 1379 (2001), 1460 (2003), 1539 (2004) and 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009) and 1998 (2011) on children and armed conflict. Resolutions can be found on the UN Security Council website.

Security Council Resolution 1379 (2001) called upon the UN Secretary-General to list parties that recruit and use children in the annual report on children and armed conflict. Killing and maiming and sexual violence in conflict (Resolution 1882 in 2009) and attacks on schools and hospitals (Resolution 1998 in 2011), were later added as criteria for listing.

Security Council Resolution 1460 (2003) requires listed parties to enter into talks with the United Nations to agree clear and time bound action plans to end child recruitment and use. The concept of action plans is now also applied more broadly to other grave violations against children for which parties can be listed.

To date, 17 listed parties have signed action plans, including five government forces and 12 non-state armed groups. Of these, five have fully complied with the action plan and were subsequently de-listed.

Security Council Resolution 1612 established the monitoring and reporting mechanism (MRM) on grave violations against children in armed conflict. The purpose of the MRM is to provide for the systematic gathering of accurate, timely and objective information on grave violations committed against children in armed conflict.

Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005) also established the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict which consists of the 15 Security Council members. The Working Group reviews UN Secretary-General reports on children in armed conflict in specific country situations and makes recommendations to parties to conflict, Governments and donors, as well as UN actors on measures to promote the protection of war-affected children.

For information on action plans, MRM and the Security Council Working Group see the website of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict.

8. Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict serves as an independent advocate for the protection and well-being of children affected by armed conflict, working with partners to enhance their protection and facilitating through diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives the work of operational actors on the ground. The mandate of the SRSG was first established by UN General Assembly of resolution 51/77 of 12 December 1996.

The current SRSG is Leila Zerrougui, who was appointed by the UN Secretary-General in July 2012" end quote

The only question is are these children soldiers or terrorists?
High school football scores, live updates Week 10 in Fayetteville

Cumberland County high school football scores and North Carolina live updates from Week 10 of the NCHSAA 2022 season in the Fayetteville area.
Former top-advisor to president Obama and now managing director of Eurasia Group Evan Medeiros explains the situation of the Chinese economy, why Xi Jinping is that powerful and the tensions in den South China Sea.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) is shown on a screen as he attends the opening session of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 3, 2016. Bild: AFP

Mr. Medeiros, how would you describe the relationship between China and the US at the moment?

Alexander Armbruster Verantwortlicher Redakteur fur Wirtschaft Online. Folgen Ich folge



Right now, the U.S.-China relationship is a complex blend of cooperation and competition, covering both economic and security issues in Asia and globally. And both the cooperative and the competitive aspects of the relationship are intensifying. There are more issues on the U.S.-China agenda and more actors on both sides involved in the relationship than ever before. The key strategic challenge for both countries is how to strike the right balance between these two aspects of the relationship in a way that ensures the United States and China are working together to solve regional and global problems, are managing their disagreements, and ultimately avoiding a drift toward strategic rivalry.

President Xi Jinping seems to be more powerful than many of his predecessors. Whys that?

Since becoming the top leader of China at the end of 2012, President Xi has consolidated power quickly and centralized power around himself and within the Central Committee apparatus. He has done so, in part, by ensuring that his predecessors (Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao) dont play an active role in decision-making and by creating new decision-making organizations that report to Xi and his top advisers. He has also used an aggressive anti-corruption campaign to eliminate key opponents in the Party, government, and military  at both the center and in the provinces. Xi has removed significant rival elements that oppose his reform agenda, and in their place promoted a core of trusted advisors who have worked with him when he was a local official. In addition, Xi has also become very popular among the Chinese people. The anti-corruption campaign helped generate support from people frustrated with chronic corruption in the government and enhancing Xis reputation. Also, Xi is creating a cult of personality not seen since the era of Deng Xiaoping, expressed through Party speeches and documents and also in popular culture through state-controlled media.

Which are actually the most influential figures and institutions beside him right now?

In terms of institutions, President Xi has elevated the influence of Central Leading Small Groups, which are decision-making bodies under the Central Committee which seek to coordinate the most difficult policy decisions across different parts of the government. He has expanded the role of these organizations in both policy formulation and implementation. He also created three new Central Leading Small Groups: on economic reform, on national security and one on informatization. President Xi sits on the largest number of these groups, the most notable two include the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform and the Central Leading Group for Economics and Finance. Membership in these key leading groups are interpreted as a sign of political influence, and having President Xis ear.

And when it comes to single persons?

After Xi, one of the influential people in China is Wang Qishan, who sits on the 7-man Politburo Standing Committee and currently leads the anti-corruption campaign. He also has deep expertise in Chinas economy, especially in financial markets. A former Vice Premier, Wang is trusted by Xi and has led the anti-corruption campaign deep into state-owned enterprises in the energy and financial sectors.

Which role does PBoC-Chair Zhou Xiaochuan plays? Some years ago, Forbes-Magazine estimated him to be one of the most powerful people of the world.
In January, CBSs 60 Minutes aired Anonymous, Inc. in which a person with Global Witness, pretending to be a lawyer representing a minister from a poor West African country, sought legal advice about investing millions of dollars into the United States.

The African minister supposedly had earned a fortune by collecting special payments from foreign companies that hed helped obtain valuable mineral rights. The minister did not want his identity disclosed.

The Global Witness impostor secretly recorded meetings with 16 lawyers in New York with only one of the lawyers advising that he would not discuss the subject. The other lawyers, including the then ABA President, while not agreeing to represent the minister, discussed how to structure investment in the United States to keep the identity of the minister hidden.

CBS and Global Witness acknowledge that the lawyers did not engage in wrongdoing, either legally or ethically.

Nevertheless, what transpired should cause the legal profession to reflect on its role in countering international money laundering.

Should all of the lawyers have refused to meet with the representative once they heard that the minister from Africa was trying to keep his identity secret while investing money in the United States?

If no, what limits exist on lawyers in this situation?

Should new rules be imposed so that lawyers can take a more pro-active role in fight international money laundering?

What does the scenario mean for the lawyer facing other forms of corruption?

This panel discussion will examine these and related issues.

The program is free and open to the public.

* * *

The Lawyer as the gatekeeper against corruption

Tuesday, March 22

10-11:30 AM

The George Washington University Law School, Jacob Burns Moot Court Room

Introduction: Associate Dean Susan Karamanian, GW Law

Chair: Assistant Dean Jessica Tillipman, GW Law

Panelists:

Homer Moyer, Miller Chevalier

Tara Giunta, Paul Hastings

Professor Peter Margulies, Roger Williams School of Law

No RSVP necessary

______

Jessica Tillipman is a Senior Editor of the FCPA Blog and Assistant Dean at The George Washington Univeristy Law School. You can follow her on Twitter at @jtillipman.
Abdourahman Mohamed Mahmoud BorehLondons commercial court recently dismissed, in fairly trenchant terms, a corruption-related claim brought by the Djibouti government against Abdourahman Boreh, the man credited with being instrumental in the development of the countrys strategically important and successful port, oil storage, and duty free facilities.

The case was conducted concurrently with proceedings in the London Court of International Arbitration, by which the Djibouti government is seeking on similar grounds to impugn and wrest control of those facilities from DP World (Dubai) and its operating subsidiaries.

The Djibouti government argued that the terms of various investment and infrastructure agreements were disadvantageous and had been entered into in consideration of bribes and sham agreements for consultancy payments.

In his 260-page decision, Flaux J considered that the real motivation for the litigation arose on the breakdown of the Djibouti presidents friendship with Boreh because Boreh didnt support his quest for a third presidential term.

Thirteen of the Djibouti governments claims were abandoned in the course of the trial, leaving only two. Those were ultimately dismissed by the judge on the grounds that the agreements were above board, that any conflicts of interest had been disclosed, and that in any event no loss could be proved.

The claim based on the alleged conflict of interest revealed that the Djibouti Law on Civil Servants, which replaced former French legislation, removed prohibitions on civil servants having private interests provided they were disclosed. The judge found that the Djibouti president was made fully aware of Abdourahman

Borehs potential conflicts of interest.

The case illustrates, if at some length, the need to protect infrastructure investments from the consequences of political vendettas, particularly within a close knit economic and political elite, and that the governing or applicable laws for such investments should be sufficiently nuanced to reflect local laws and operating conditions.

* * *

The decision in The Republic of Djibouti et al v. Abdourahman Mohamed Mahmoud Boreh et al in the High Court of Justice, Queens Bench Division, Commercial Court (London) is here.

____

Alistair Craig, a commercial barrister practicing in London, is a frequent contributor to the FCPA Blog.
People can be selfish in their comments and actions, and often the repercussions of these sentiments live on in your head. One of the hardest things in life is learning to forgive and move on- to take control of your emotions and take charge of your life.

Elizabeth Ebudola James

When you remind yourself that you are loved and forgive everything, you are essentially saying you are bigger than the problem. Before you realise it, people will begin to notice that something has changed about you. It is important to see things as beautiful, wonderful and amazing, and not get drawn into the negative conversations that can so often dominate our society.

You may be wondering what all this has to do with leading a successful life? It is about rebuilding your thought process so that you avoid the troublesome situations. Tell yourself 'I will not judge', 'I will speak to all with respect'. Gratitude is crucial in fulfilling your life plans, and it is important to remember you have the power to forgive and move on when faced with a new path.

The moment you begin a new journey to success, you must always work on it. It is so easy to get caught up with what is happening around you and to become sidetracked from your ultimate goals. To avoid this, make sure you write down what your goal is and see to it that each stage gets ticked off as you go along. We all have the power within us to make a change for the better, we just need to engage it. Power is the strength to do what the extraordinary. It is the application of the mind set that you have what it takes to win. It is this mind set that allows not to see failure, but rather to see results in everything.

There is nothing wrong in celebrating yourself- don't feel guilty! Think of all you have accomplished, and what you hope to accomplish. By making a positive change to your outlook, you are inviting peace and calmness in to your life, which will ultimately lead to success. Peace is better when you are at this stage, as you have a clear mind. A mind that is full of worries is not able to do much- as you follow the right pattern to daily living in wanting to improve yourself, peace will come.

About the Author:

Elizabeth James is the author of The Soul Mender (12.99, Panoma Press) She has joint bachelors of honour in Theology and Counseling from the University of Middlesex, along with a Diploma in Law. She is a Christian counselor, a TV host and a motivational speaker.
Britain's Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall met with locals as they visited a market festival in Croatia.

Britain's Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles

The royal couple walked around the stalls at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival in Trvda, Osijek where they admired various products including wine and cold meats.

They later went their separate ways, with the Duchess heading off to Dakovo State Stud Farm and the Prince of Wales visiting Kopacki Rit Wetlands.

Meanwhile, to welcome them to Croatia earlier this week, the President of Croatia hosted a dinner for the royal couple, where the Prince spoke to praise the beauty of the country.

He said: "Madam President, I am enormously grateful to you for your very kind words on such a special occasion and I'm so grateful to you for arranging such a special dinner this evening.

"The last two times I have visited Croatia the country was at war and just recovering from war. This afternoon I have seen something of Zagreb and I can't tell you how wonderful it is to see how this beautiful city has been so sensitively restored. There could be no better illustration of the extraordinary progress you have made in the past twenty years against so many difficult challenges."
Britain's Prince Harry is creating a stir at Yale University - over rumours he might be enrolling there.

Britain's Prince Harry

It has been reported that the 31-year-old royal - who is the youngest son of Prince Charles - may be attending classes at the prestigious establishment, causing quite a "buzz" amongst students.

One student said: "Everyone was talking about it around the campus. Big buzz!"

Whilst another source added to the New York Post's Page Six column: "Yale would be over the moon to get Harry as a student. Imagine the kind of fundraising they could do."

Meanwhile, it was previously revealed the Prince is being given a more "relaxed schedule" ahead of the Invictus Games, which take place in Florida in May.

A source said: "Nearer to the event in May, Harry and the rest of the team will be working flat-out. When events are a way off the schedule is more relaxed."

Whilst a spokesperson for the Invictus Games added: "As our founding patron, Prince Harry takes a hands-on role in the direction of our work. He attends meetings and is heavily involved in the preparation for the forthcoming Invictus Games in Orlando."
Algeria's Labour and Employment Minister Mohamed El Ghazi has stressed that textile industry has a "great potential" in terms of job creation in the country , the Algeria Press Service has reported.Textile industry "plays an important part in economic stimulus programmes launched by President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika," the minister said.

Algeria's Labour and Employment Minister Mohamed El Ghazi has stressed that textile industry has a "great potential" in terms of job creation in the#

"Textile industry is known for its great potential in terms of job creation as Algeria has undeniable assets, mainly in terms of units, qualified workforce, demanding local market and interesting export assets particularly for the African market," El Ghazi said at a forum on Algerian textile industry in the capital Algiers.The minister said the efforts of government's National Agency for Support to Youth Employment (ANSEJ) and the National Unemployment Insurance Fund (CNAC) have made possible the financing of 8.944 micro-businesses that generated 29.894 jobs.He said that these micro-businesses "working in some textile accessories subcontracting would contribute to the diversification of national economy." (SH)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Finnish home textiles retailer Marimekko Corporation said consultative negotiations to reorganise its operations started in January 2016 have been concluded.The negotiations relate to streamlining the company's operations included all operations in Finland with the exception of the personnel in company-owned retail stores, a press release informed.

Finnish home textiles retailer Marimekko Corporation said consultative negotiations to reorganise its operations started in January 2016 have been#

When the negotiations started, the permanent overall need for downsizing was estimated at a maximum of 55 jobs.However, the negotiations reached a conclusion that operations can be streamlined with fewer job terminations than estimated, the retailer observed.The streamlining and reorganisation of operations as well as outsourcing will concern a maximum of 55 jobs of which a minimum of 35 will lead to termination.According to the company's estimate, 15 persons will be offered a new job and in addition about 5 jobs will be discontinued due to other internal arrangements.The impacts of the implemented organisational change are also reflected in the company's foreign subsidiaries and will lead to some local organisational restructuring.The aim of reorganising operations and implementing other measures was to yield annual cost savings estimated at approximately 2.4 million and an improvement in operating result.Annual savings from streamlining operations and reorganisation will now be approximately 2.1 million.According to Marimekko, the majority of the profit improvement resulting from the cost savings will be visible as of the second quarter of 2016.In connection with the downsizing, the company will post a restructuring provision of approximately 0.8 million for the first quarter of 2016.Marimekko further added that it will support reemployment of those losing their jobs, for instance by offering training for job-seeking.As a part of streamlining operations, Marimekko's chief product officer (CPO) Niina Nenonen resigns her membership of the company's management group as of March 15, 2016.She however, continues with the company as a head of global partner sales responsible for the strategically important partner markets especially focused in Asia.The company will also initiate a recruitment process for chief supply chain officer who will be responsible for the supply chain.The target, according to the retailer, is to develop the efficiency of the company's production, sourcing, and logistics while taking care of Marimekko's coherent quality level and corporate responsibility. (AR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
A lot has been said and written about Salman Khan's alleged affair with the Romanian model, Iulia Vantur. And we all thought, that Salman is very serious about this relationship. But the latest news about the two will shock you.

According to the recent reports, Salman Khan is quite blunt towards Iulia and has no plans of marrying her in the future.

Click On VIEW PHOTOS To See Iulia Vantur's Beautiful Pics



Talking about the same, a source told BOC, ''Salman Khan and Iulia Vantur's conversation over the phone is quite disrespectful a couple of times, Salman doesn't look much in love with her, yes, they are good friends. Salman has done a lot for her. I have heard them a couple of times over the phone, they are quite blunt and impolite towards each other.



Photo Alert: Sridevi's Daughter Jhanvi Kapoor Poses With Alaviaa Jaaferi, Looks Super Cute

It is really surprising because a few days back Salman Khan was spotted buying jewellery for his lady love Iulia Vantur and it was said that he will propose her soon.

Salman and Iulia met for the first time in Romania. Salman had gone there for a recce of his film Jai Ho's song with brother Sohail Khan. Reportedly, the two spent some time together and bonded pretty well. And even after coming back to India, Salman remained in touch with Iulia.

On the work front, Salman Khan is busy with the shooting of his upcoming film Sultan, with Anushka Sharma. The movie is directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and is produced by Yash Raj Films.

Sultan will hit the screens on Eid this year.
It doesn't happen often, the Superstars changing the profile pictures of their social networking accounts. Recently, Shahrukh Khan changed his Facebook profile picture and chose the renowned photographer Avinash Gowariker's piece of work. Undoubtedly, SRK is looking absolutely suave in his current display picture.

He captioned the picture as 'Photo Credits: Avinash Gowariker'. Along with SRK's latest profile picture, we have also brought to you his other hot pictures, whichwere clicked by none other than Avinash Gowariker.

Click On 'View Photos' To Check Out All The Pictures:

Unseen Pictures Of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan & Preity Zinta, Show They Are Crazy Besties!

Avinash & Shahrukh recently worked together in Rohit Shetty's Dilwale. Remember how Avinash Gowariker was left awestruck, when he had seen Shahrukh Khan doing the handstand while shooting for Dilwale at the Black Desert in Iceland?

Ram Gopal Varma ATTACKS Deepika Padukone & Katrina Kaif Along With Vijay Mallya!

H He had posted the picture of the Happy New Year actor and captioned it as saying "#ShahRukhKhan @iamsrk doing a hand stand in the Black Desert of Iceland! He just can't contain his energy!! Up for anything anytime! #Dilwale #LeicaM #LeicaTriElmar."

Shahrukh & his Dilwale team also didn't leave any chance to make Avinash feel special. SRK with entire team of Dilwale,celebrated Gowariker's birthday on the sets of the film.

SRK, On The Work Front:

On the professional front, Shahrukh Khan will be next seen in Maneesh Sharma's upcoming film, Fan. Recently, the trailer of the film was released and it took the social media by storm. The film is already is tremendous buzz and all credit goes to its 'hatke' storyline.

In this film, Shahrukh Khan will be seen portraying two characters i.e., an obsessed fan and his real life character. The film is all set to release on April 15, 2016.
In Kumkum Bhagya, Abhi wants to make his marriage announcement, but Pragya (Sriti Jha) stops him. She tries to convince him to hold the announcement for sometime, but her efforts goes in vain, as Abhi is in hurry.

Meanwhile, the security tries to open the door of a vanity van, which was locked. Nikhil would have locked the door, and Purab asks the security to break the door open. But, Tanu comes to Nikhil's rescue.

Check Out The latest Update & Spoilers With Pictures



Tanu tells Purab that her Muslim friend is inside, who wants to meet Abhi. When her friend comes out, Ronnie asks her to open the burkha, but Tanu stops saying, her friend is from a conservative family, and she is not comfortable facing cameras, which were around.

Nikhil thanks Tanu for managing the situation. Ronnie and Purab inform the same to Pragya, who doubts the person behind burkha is Nikhil. Now, the trio plot another plan to expose Nikhil and Tanu.

Tanu asks Pragya to call the blackmailer to the parking lot, but the former tells Pragya about Abhi and tells her to wait for some time. Pragya asks Tanu prioritise - Abhi or the blackmailer, and Tanu chooses the blackmailer!

Purab goes to the stage and thanks Abhi's fans and makes special announcement. He calls Nikhil on the stage, who was the special organiser of the event. Tanu gets tensed. Pragya now thinks that Nikhil can't escape from this situation, but unfortunately, he does escape!

In the upcoming episode, Abhi proposes Pragya at the concert and shocks everybody. But, before that Ronnie gets into trouble while exposing Tanu and Nikhil.
Sri Lanka is on target to demutualise its national stock exchange by early next year to help improve transparency and corporate governance and facilitate a listing, the bourse's head said on Wednesday.

In an exclusive interview with FinanceAsia, Vajira Kulatilaka, chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, outlined his vision to develop the exchange with new products and a change of structure.

We would like to eventually follow the paths of the Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore exchanges to make ourselves a public company, he told FinanceAsia at the Sri Lanka Investment Summit.

At present the Colombo Stock Exchange is jointly owned by 15 domestic brokers whose interests the exchange mainly supports. Demutualisation, which entails shifting an organisation from from member ownership to shareholder ownership, would help to alter that balance by bringing in new investors and improving governance.

Sri Lankas Securities and Exchange Commission is in the process of finalising an act that will lay out the legal framework, share ownership, and governance structure of the exchange after demutualisation, according to Kulatilaka.

The Colombo Stock Exchange, Sri Lankas only marketplace for secondary trading of stocks and bonds, currently has 295 companies covering 20 sectors with a combined market capitalisation of about $18 billion -- roughly one quarter of the nations GDP.

That places Sri Lanka at the forefront of Asia's so-called frontier markets, Kulatilaka believes.

Although investment rival Bangladeshs Dhaka Stock Exchange is more than twice the size in terms of market capitalisation and number of listed companies, the total value of companies listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange is more than eight times that of the Mongolia Stock Exchange. The Colombo bourse is also well ahead of the Myanmar's Yangon Stock Exchange, which is yet to bring in its first listed company.

New Products

To improve its competitiveness, the Colombo Stock Exchange is in the process of drafting new regulations that will facilitate the listing of real estate investment trusts, Kulatilaka said. The measure is in line with the Sri Lankan governments plan to privatise some of the country's state-owned assets since about 80% of land reserves are held by the government.

The exchange is also contemplating the introduction of exchange-traded funds, structured warrants, and equity-linked derivative products to broaden its product offering.

Furthermore, to develop itself as a regional hub for stock trading the Colombo Stock Exchange is in talks with the Maldives government to bring in some of its state-owned entities for initial public offerings, Kulatilaka told FinanceAsia.

Click here for more of FinanceAsias reporting on Sri Lanka.
Investment advice from software will get a hard look from FINRA.

Acknowledging the explosive growth of robo advisors, FINRA on Tuesday released guidance on digital investment advice for broker-dealers considering the use of such tools.

FINRA says broker-dealers need a "firm reminder," about areas of concern with digital advice, particularly the use of algorithm-based investments and relying solely on automated questionnaires.

The 17-page report does not create any new legal requirements or change any existing broker-dealer regulatory obligations. But FINRA noted that firms employing digital advice will need to "govern and supervise the algorithms they use in digital advice tools" and "should also establish governance and supervision structures and processes for the portfolios digital investment tools may present to users."

FINRA CEO Richard Ketchum tells Financial Planning the report was prompted by broker-dealers increased use of robo advice.

Online advice firms are expected to gather over $655 billion in assets by 2019, up from $192.4 billion in 2014, according to research firm Tiburon Strategic Advisors. The promise of digital assets has prompted moves from a variety of firms: Merrill Lynch announced it was developing a robo advice platform, while LPL is in the pilot phase of developing its own digital advice offering.

In response, earlier this year FINRA had begun reaching out to broker-dealers who offer robo advice, asking how they determine client risk tolerance, among other factors.

Read more: Offering Robo Advice? Prepare for FINRA Scrutiny

"[This is] a good time to reemphasize that, whether it is FINRA rules or just how you treat customers, there are the same issues there whether it's a human being or an algorithm," Ketchum says.

The regulator sees industry change being brought by digital advice and the impending DoL fiduciary rule, Ketchum adds. "Firms that continue to do commission business may do it through fewer products. Firms will experiment with digital advice direct to the client and through their existing advisors.

"The same requirements are in place  the same expectations that you understand your customer, both from the standpoint of what their risk appetites are, and also that you have asked enough questions to really understand their financial situation and that they can accept risk and the risk of loss."

'WARNING SHOT'

"It's a warning shot," says Alois Pirker, research director for Aite Group's Wealth Management practice. "Obviously as digital advice grows, FINRA needed to step up and make sure it happens in a compliant manner. The paper suggests clearly, you're not getting out of the obligations you have because its digital delivery."

FINRA says they are not promoting or discouraging the development or use of digital tools. "Its a business decision, a FINRA official says. "If a firm goes there, we hope that it would consider the effective practices, and that BDs consider their rule obligations. Actual governance structures could vary based on the firm, but the overall principles would apply."

"The paper will help guide us in our review of the infrastructure that firms have around the use of digital investment advice tools," the official adds. "Exams will continue to help inform us."

Because the robo movement is tiny relative to the industry, its been largely flying under the regulatory radar, says industry consultant Tim Welsh of Nexus Strategy. "But now it looks like there will be some compliance teeth that will give both wealth management firms and the robos pause with these new guidelines."

Lack of suitability is a common issue in any arbitration or legal claim against a rep or firm, Welsh notes. "Having a basic online form of six questions that generates an asset allocation recommendation may invite regulators to require more layers of data gathering that can expose the robo to liability if, and when, something goes wrong."

The number of risk profile questions asked by robos in 2015 to obtain asset allocations ranged from Hedgeable's high of 16 to Betterment's and AssetBuilder's low of four questions, according to a recent study by Cerulli Associates.

Welsh says FINRAs guidance on assessing an algorithm wouldn't be a burden on smaller broker-dealers, primarily because most are still not using the tools.

(Among its guidance: assessing whether the algorithm's model remains appropriate as market and other conditions evolve).

But any firm that does employ robo advice will need to understand the software that determines client allocations, says Joel Bruckenstein, a Financial Planning columnist and co-creator of the Technology Tools for Today conference.

"Most firms are following a reasonable vetting process at the corporate level," Bruckenstein says. "Whether the individual rep using the tool really has a firm grasp of these issues is another matter. A more relevant question may be: 'What training or testing do firms require before a financial professional may use the tool?' I suspect that the answer will vary widely from firm to firm."

Bruckenstein found one FINRA critique of current risk profiling done by digital advice platforms noteworthy  how many are assessing whether a client should be saving or paying off debt versus investing.

"It seems to me that many firms are not doing all of these things," he says. "To my knowledge, most client-facing robos dont do this."

'CAREFULLY CONSIDER'

In its report, FINRA also advised investors to learn about potential conflicts of interest inherent in digital advice tools, contrary to claims from many robo providers that they are transparent and fiduciaries.

That caught the attention of Washington-based banking and securities attorney Melanie Fein, who has argued that robo advisors may be unregistered investment companies, in violation of both the Investment Company Act of 1940 and SEC regulations.

Read more: How Robos Fall Short of Fiduciary Law

The new report not only lends further support to her argument, Fein says, "[it] constitutes a significant warning to investors."

"Because of the complex algorithms used, wide disparities in advice given and conflicts of interest, the report recommends that investment professionals should carefully consider the various features of digital investment tools before using them with their clients," she adds. "It goes without saying that it may be hazardous for individual investors to use these tools on their own without education and training."

In its report, FINRA does note that registered representatives cannot rely on the [digital advice] tool for the requisite knowledge about the  customer necessary to make a suitable recommendation.

"This seems to recognize that digital advice tools, in their current state of evolution, are just that  tools  that should be an aid in the decision-making process, and that human involvement in providing advice about certain portfolio decisions, such as asset allocation, is still necessary," says Ron A. Rhoades, attorney, fiduciary advocate and chair of the financial planning program at Western Kentucky University.

"Hopefully FINRAs report will inform various robo advisors that the use of digital technology has not evolved, as of this point in time, sufficiently to incorporate all of the factors that must be taken into account before recommendations can be undertaken as to the proper use of a clients funds," Rhoades adds.

Read more:
Call it rebranding 2.0.

Two years ago the Alliance of Cambridge Advisors, founded in 1995 by Bert Whitehead, changed its name to the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners in an effort to increase membership and visibility  but the needle didn't move much.

This year the association, which emphasizes a tax-oriented approach to planning that uses a retainer payment model, hopes a new public relations and marketing campaign will deliver the boost it initially sought two years ago.

The ACP is aiming to increase its visibility in the industry and double its membership to approximately 300 advisors within five years, says the organization's president, Al Davis, founder of Davis Financial Planning of Asheville, N.C.

"We want to let the industry know what we have to offer," Davis says. "We think there's a big difference in our focus, reflected by our name change to 'comprehensive.' We're not just focused on investments, and we emphasize tax preparation in planning. Many of our members are CPAs or enrolled agents, and an understanding of tax planning is a requirement for membership."

JUSTIFYING A $10K MEMBERSHIP FEE

The ACP plans to issue white papers and make presentations at industry conferences to boost name recognition, and will also increase use of social media and press opportunities for association executives, according to Kristen Moosmiller, a financial planner for Partnership Financial in Columbus, Ohio, who heads the ACP's public relations and marketing committee.

Understandably, the $9,900 initial fee to join the organization  not to mention $2,700 in annual dues thereafter  may give some advisors pause.

But the cost, which covers enrollment and training in the associations ACP System, consisting of an educational "Success Program" and use of proprietary tools, is well worth it, ACP president-elect Lois Basil maintains.

"My business would not be where it is today if not for the Success Program," says Basil, the president of Chicago-based Basil Financial Group. "The tax strategies, planning concepts and tools it provides really aren't available anywhere else."

'LIKE A FAMILY REUNION'

The ACP also offers advisors a close-knit community, Davis says.

"At big industry conferences the people you meet are running their businesses very different from each other," he says. "Within the ACP, advisors are so similar philosophically. When I went to my first ACP conference, I felt like I was walking into a family reunion."

Most members head small firms with only one or two advisors, Davis says, and communicate with each other frequently via message boards, discussion forums, study groups and conferences.

"There's a lot of collaboration," he says. "We share revenue numbers and staffing salaries. I don't know of other organizations that would be that open."

COMPLEMENT TO OTHER GROUPS

That isn't to suggest the ACP sees itself in competition with other industry associations.

"We absolutely complement NAPFA, FPA and AICPA," Davis says. "Our members aren't choosing between us and them. In fact, we want to be more and more complementary going forward."

That works for Geoffrey Brown, NAPFA's chief executive.

"Organizations like ACP have helped amplify NAPFAs efforts to grow the ranks of fee-only financial planners," Brown says. "Most ACP members also belong to NAPFA, and we see them as an important component of our community of professionals. When those organizations are successful, then NAPFA is successful.

Read More:
HONG KONG, CHINA and CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 03/15/16 -- The Board of Directors (the "Board") of Sunshine Oilsands Ltd. (the "Corporation" or "Sunshine") (HKEX: 2012) is pleased to announce the following:

PRIVATE PLACEMENT OF HK$ 189,999,990 OF COMMON SHARES

(a) The Placement

On March 15, 2016 in Hong Kong (March 15, 2016 in Calgary), the Corporation entered into a subscription agreement (the "Subscription Agreement") with Bright Hope Global Investments Limited ("Bright Hope Global") under which Bright Hope Global agreed to subscribe for a total of 558,823,500 Class "A" Common Voting Shares of the Corporation ("Common Shares") at a price of HK$ 0.34 per Common Share or approximately CDN$ 0.058 per Common Share at current exchange rates (the "Subscription Price"), which in the aggregate amounts to gross proceeds of HK$ 189,999,990 (approximately CDN$ 32,576,639 at current exchange rates) (the "Placement").

The aggregate number of Common Shares to be issued to Bright Hope Global (the "Subscriber") represent approximately 13.21 % of the existing issued and outstanding Common Shares as at the date of this announcement and, immediately following the completion of the Placement (assuming there will be no other changes in the number of issued and outstanding Common Shares between the date of this announcement and the completion of the Placement including, without limitation, pursuant to the Employee and Connected Subscription as defined below), approximately 11.67% of the then enlarged total issued and outstanding Common Shares.

(b) Subscription Price

The Subscription Price represents:

(i) a discount of approximately 19.05% to the average closing price of approximately HK$0.42 per Common Share as quoted on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for the last five trading days immediately prior to March 15, 2016 (being the last trading day immediately preceding the signing of the Subscription Agreement); and

(ii) a discount of approximately 11.69% to the closing price of HK$ 0.385 per Common Share as quoted on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on March 15, 2016.

The aggregate gross proceeds to be raised from the Placement will be HK$ 189,999,990 (approximately CDN$ 32,576,639 at current exchange rates).

The Subscription Price was determined with reference to the prevailing market price of the Common Shares and was negotiated on an arm's length basis between the Corporation and the Subscriber. The directors of the Corporation (the "Directors") consider that the terms of the Placement are on normal commercial terms and are fair and reasonable based on the current market conditions and the Placement is in the interests of the Corporation and its shareholders as a whole.

(c) Conditions to Completion of the Placement

Completion of the Placement is subject to the fulfillment (or waiver) of the following conditions:

(i) the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Stock Exchange") approving the listing of the Common Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placement;

(ii) compliance of the Placement with the requirements under the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Code on Takeovers and Mergers (where applicable); and

(iii) the receipt of all other required regulatory approvals.

(d) Termination of the Subscription Agreement

In the event that (i) the Corporation suffers a material adverse change in the management, business, properties, financial condition, prospects, shareholders' equity or results of operation of the Corporation shall have occurred or been announced since the date of the Subscription Agreement; or (ii) any adverse change in the oil price and/or general market conditions and/or the share price of the Corporation takes place after the date of the Subscription Agreement, the Subscription Agreement may be terminated by the Subscriber by written notice, and in which case, the obligations of the Corporation and the Subscriber under the Subscription Agreement shall immediately and unconditionally cease and be null and void.

(e) Completion of the Placement

Completion of the Placement will take place on or before May 14, 2016 (or such other date as the Corporation may choose) (the "Closing Date").

The certificates representing the Common Shares subscribed for under the Placement will bear certain legends, as required under applicable Canadian securities laws, including a legend stating that unless permitted under applicable Canadian securities legislation, the holder of the Common Shares must not trade the Common Shares before the date that is four months and a day after the Closing Date.

Completion of the Placement is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. As the Placement may or may not proceed, shareholders and potential investors of the Corporation are advised to exercise caution when dealing in the securities of the Corporation.

(f) General Mandate to Issue Common Shares

The Placement does not require the approval of the Corporation's shareholders as the Common Shares under the Placement will be allotted and issued under the general mandate, which was granted to the Board at the annual general and special meeting of the Corporation held on June 24, 2015 (Hong Kong time) / June 23, 2015 (Calgary time) (the "AGM") to issue up to 20% of its aggregate issued and outstanding share capital as at the date of the AGM until the next annual general meeting of the Corporation (the "General Mandate"). The amount of the General Mandate is 780,194,614 Common Shares. Details of the General Mandate are set out in the Corporation's circular dated May 19, 2015.

As at the date of this announcement, other than (i) the issuance of 100,000,000 Common Shares as disclosed in the announcement dated September 21, 2015 (Hong Kong time)/ September 20, 2015 (Calgary time); (ii) the issuance of 36,912,000 Common Shares as disclosed in the announcement dated November 10, 2015 (Hong Kong time)/ November 9, 2015 (Calgary time); and (iii) the issuance of 78,125,000 Common Share as disclosed in the announcement dated November 13, 2015 (Hong Kong time)/November 12, 2015 (Calgary time), the Corporation has not issued, and has not proposed to issue, any Common Shares under the General Mandate. The Common Shares when issued pursuant to the Placement will be credited as fully paid and rank pari passu in all respects with the other existing Common Shares.

(g) Background of Bright Hope Global

Bright Hope Global is an existing shareholder of the Corporation and, as at the date of this announcement, holds 36,261,500 Common Shares representing approximately 0.86% of the existing issued and outstanding Common Shares as at the date of this announcement. After the completion of the Placement (assuming there will be no other changes in the issued Common Shares between the date of this announcement and the completion of the placement) including, without limitation, pursuant to the Employee and Connected Subscription), Bright Hope Global will hold 12.43% of the then enlarged total issued and outstanding Common Shares.

To the best of the Directors' knowledge, information and belief having made all reasonable enquiries, Bright Hope Global, and its respective associates (as defined under the Listing Rules) and respective ultimate beneficial owners are independent of and not connected with the Corporation and its connected persons (as defined under the Listing Rules).

An application will be made by the Corporation to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for the listing of, and permission to deal in, the Common Shares to be issued to the Subscriber pursuant to the Placement.

(h) Reasons for the Placement and Use of Proceeds from the Placement

(The Directors consider that the Placement represents an opportunity to raise capital for the Corporation at an important time for the Corporation. The gross proceeds to be raised from the Placement will be HK$ 189,999,990 (approximately CDN$ 32,576,639 at current exchange rates). Based on the estimated expenses of approximately HK$ 700,000 (approximately CDN$ 120,190.2 at current exchange rates), the net proceeds to be raised from the Placement will be approximately HK$ 189,299,990 (approximately CDN$ 32,456,620 at current exchange rates). On this basis, the net price per Common Share under the Placement is approximately HK$0.339.

The Corporation intends to apply the net proceeds from the Placement (i) for general working capital of the Corporation and (ii) as funds for future development of the existing business of the Corporation, including funding the development and operation costs of the West Ells project.

(i) Fund Raising Activities of the Corporation in the Past Twelve Months

The Corporation has conducted the following equity fund raising activity in the 12 months preceding the date of this announcement.

Date of Fund raising Approximate net Intended use of Actual use of announcement activity proceeds raised the net the net proceeds proceeds ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 1, 2015 Private HK$391,612,282. (i) for general HK$ 83,410,658 placement of 50 working capital (approximately Common Shares (approximately of the CDN$ 14.1 under Specific CDN$62,958,149. Corporation; million) used Mandate (the 66 (1),(2)) and as intended "Employee and (ii) as funds Connected for future Subscription") development of the existing business of the Corporation, including funding the development and operation costs of the West Ells project. September Private HK$ (i) for general HK$ 21, 2015 placement of 49,300,000.00 working capital 49,300,000.00 Common Shares (approximately of the (approximately under General CDN$ Corporation; CDN$ Mandate 8,363,161(3)) and 8,363,161(3)) (ii) as funds used as for future intended development of the existing business of the Corporation, including funding the development and operation costs of the West Ells project. November 10, Private HK$ (i) for general HK$ 2015 placement of 22,554,560.00 working capital 22,554,560.00 Common Shares (approximately of the (approximately under General CDN$ Corporation; CDN$ Mandate 3,862,413(4)) and 3,862,413(4))) (ii) as funds used as for future intended development of the existing business of the Corporation, including funding the development and operation costs of the West Ells project. November 13, Private HK$ (i) for general HK$ 2015 placement of 48,300,000.00 working capital 48,300,000.00 Common Shares (approximately of the (approximately under General CDN$ Corporation; CDN$ Mandate 8,293,126(5)) and 8,293,126(5)) (ii) as funds used as for future intended development of the existing business of the Corporation, including funding the development and operation costs of the West Ells project. Notes (1) Based on the Bank of Canada's nominal noon exchange rate (as at May 29, 2015) of CDN$1.00 = HK$6.2202. (2) The issuance of 111,214,210 Common Shares with proceeds of HK$83,410,658 closed on August 21, 2015 and the issuance of the remaining 413,520,000 Common Shares with proceeds of HK$310,140,000 is expected to close no later than May 2, 2016. (3) Based on the Bank of Canada's nominal noon exchange rate (as at September 18, 2015) of CDN$1.00 = HK$5.8949. (4) Based on the Bank of Canada's nominal noon exchange rate (as at November 9, 2015) of CDN$1.00 = HK$5.8395. (5) Based on the Bank of Canada's nominal noon exchange rate (as at November 12, 2015) of CDN$1.00 = HK$5.8241

(j) Effects on Shareholding Structure

The existing shareholding structure of the Corporation and the effect of the Placement on the shareholding structure of the Corporation immediately following the completion of the Placement (assuming there will be no other changes in the issued Common Shares between the date of this announcement and the completion including, without limitation, pursuant to the Employee and Connected Subscription) is set out below.

As at the date of this Immediately after Completion Announcement of the Placement ---------------------------- ---------------------------- Number of Approx. % of Number of Approx. % of Common Shares Common Common Shares Common Name of Shareholder Shares Shares ---------------------------------- ------------ --------------- ------------ Mr. Sun Ping Kwok 803,082,500 18.98 803,082,500 16.77 China Life 314,822,600 7.44 314,822,600 6.57 Insurance (Group) Company(1) Mr. Hok Ming Tseung 295,893,656 7 295,893,656 6.18 Sinopec Century 239,197,500 5.65 239,197,500 4.99 Bright Capital Investment Limited(2) Great Hope Global 36,261,500 0.86 595,085,000 12.43 Other Shareholders 2,576,829,348 60.07 2,576,829,348 53.06 --------------- ------------ --------------- ------------ --------------- ------------ --------------- ------------ Total 4,230,264,104 100.00 4,789,087,604 100.00 --------------- ------------ --------------- ------------ Notes: (1) China Life Insurance (Group) Company owns the entire issued share capital of China Life Insurance (Overseas) Company Limited, which in turn owns 314,822,600 Common Shares. Accordingly, China Life Insurance (Group) Company is deemed to be interested in 314,822,600 Common Shares held by China Life Insurance (Overseas) Company Limited. (2) Sinopec Century Bright Capital Investment Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Petrochemical Corporation.

ABOUT SUNSHINE OILSANDS LTD.

The Corporation is a Calgary based public corporation listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since March 1, 2012. The Corporation is focused on the development of its significant holdings of oil sands leases in the Athabasca oil sands region. The Corporation owns interests in approximately one million acres of oil sands and petroleum and natural gas leases in the Athabasca region. The Corporation is currently focused on executing milestone undertakings in the West Ells project area. West Ells has an initial production target rate of 5,000 barrels per day.

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

This announcement contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, (a) the closing of, and the anticipated timing of the closing of, the Placement and the remainder of the Employee and Connected Subscription; (b) the future financial performance and objectives of Sunshine; and (c) the plans and expectations of the Corporation. Such forward-looking information is subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors. All statements other than statements and information of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The use of words such as "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "project", "plan", "target", "vision", "goal", "outlook", "may", "will", "should", "believe", "intend", "anticipate", "potential", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on Sunshine's experience, current beliefs, assumptions, information and perception of historical trends available to Sunshine, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to those associated with resource definition and expected reserves and contingent and prospective resources estimates, unanticipated costs and expenses, regulatory approval, fluctuating oil and gas prices, expected future production, the ability to access sufficient capital to finance future development and credit risks, changes in Alberta's regulatory framework, including changes to regulatory approval process and land-use designations, royalty, tax, environmental, greenhouse gas, carbon and other laws or regulations and the impact thereof and the costs associated with compliance.

Although Sunshine believes that the expectations represented by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions and factors discussed in this announcement are not exhaustive and readers are not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as the Corporation's actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Sunshine disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subsequent to the date of this announcement, except as required under applicable securities legislation. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement and are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists are not exhaustive and are made as at the date hereof. For a full discussion of the Corporation's material risk factors, see the Corporation's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2014 and risk factors described in other documents we file from time to time with securities regulatory authorities, all of which are available on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange at www.hkexnews.hk, on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com or on the Corporation's website at www.sunshineoilsands.com.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this announcement.

This announcement appears for information purpose only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for securities of Sunshine Oilsands Ltd. By Order of the Board of Sunshine Oilsands Ltd.

Sun Kwok Ping, Executive Chairman

As at the date of this announcement, the Board consists of Mr. Kwok Ping Sun, Mr. Hong Luo and Dr. Qi Jiang as executive directors; Mr. Michael John Hibberd, Mr. Hok Ming Tseung, Mr. Jin Hu and Mr. Jianzhong Chen as non-executive directors; and Mr. Raymond Shengti Fong, Mr. Robert John Herdman, Mr. Gerald Franklin Stevenson and Mr. Zhefei Song as independent non-executive directors.

Contacts:

Mr. Hong Luo

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (1) 403-984-1450

Email: investorrelations@sunshineoilsands.com

Website: www.sunshineoilsands.com




CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The New Zealand dollar weakened against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Wednesday. The NZ dollar fell to more than a 6-month low of 1.1318 against the Australian dollar, more than a 2-week low of 0.6576 against the U.S. dollar and nearly a 4-week low of 1.6872 against the euro, from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.1290, 0.6598 and 1.6819, respectively. Against the yen, the kiwi edged down to 74.62 from yesterday's closing value of 74.63. If the kiwi extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 1.14 against the aussie, 0.64 against the greenback, 1.70 against the euro and 73.00 against the yen. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Australian dollar weakened against most major currencies in the Asian session on Wednesday. The Australian dollar fell to a 6-day low of 0.7439 against the U.S. dollar, from yesterday's closing value of 0.7456. Against the euro and the Canadian dollar, the aussie edged down to 1.4917 and 0.9947 from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.4891 and 0.9956, respectively. If the aussie extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 0.72 against the greenback, 1.52 against the euro and 0.98 against the loonie. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen weakened against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Wednesday. The yen fell to 126.01 against the euro, 160.45 against the pound and 114.96 against the Swiss franc, from yesterday's closing quotes of 125.68, 160.07 and 114.54, respectively. Against the U.S., the Australian and the Canadian dollars, the yen edged down to 113.56, 84.70 and 84.95 from yesterday's closing quotes of 113.12, 84.33 and 84.69, respectively. If the yen extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 130.00 against the euro, 168.00 against the pound, 117.00 against the franc, 115.00 against the greenback, 87.00 against the aussie and 87.00 against the loonie. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
HONG KONG, Mar 16, 2016 - (ACN Newswire) - (Quoted from media in China) The promise of lithium batteries has gained the attention of the whole world. According to Gasgoo's analysis, the total sales volume of global EVs in 2015 has risen 72.8% year-on-year. Closer to home, the EV sales in China has reached 207,382 units, beating the US to rank first world-wide. The rapidly rising popularity has propelled growth in the global lithium battery industry in multiples. Even conservative estimates have the global market for lithium batteries hitting US$100 billion in the coming decade.



China, with the combination of technology and production ability, is in a unique position of leading the world EV production and market. Analysts predict that by year 2020, even 100 1GWh battery factories would probably not fulfill the large needs of China's EV market alone, creating tremendous room for growth.



Not surprisingly, capital markets are eagerly eyeing the electric vehicle market in China. The explosive growth in 2015 has attracted intensive investment from listed companies. Reporters based in China are investigating leads about a few local lithium battery manufacturers engaged in substantial business activity. According to informed sources, two major global investment banks have contacted the leading EV cell provider Boston Power early this year pitching for the listing business, and have proposed an initial valuation in the range of US$8-13 billion. Other financial institutions are also following the situation closely with clear hopes to benefit before its IPO. With a valuation this large, a few skeptical investors regard the valuation as too high. However, as one expert puts it, the core value can be found in their technology edge, production capability and clientele. Following this logic, Boston Power is backed by its two research centers at Boston, Massachusetts US and Beijing, China and customer wins for over 30 types of EV models from likes of Dongfeng, Geely (Xindayang), Nanjing Golden Dragon, etc; coupled with its three production bases in Jiangsu, Taiwan and Lanzhou, China.



At the beginning of 2016, a government work report has clearly stated "the construction of more battery-charging facilities for new energy vehicles". In a similar vein, China's State Council has also proposed "assigning top priority to revolutionary battery technology as one of the five measures to support the new energy vehicle industry". If said were true, Boston Power's timing could not be better.



Reporters tried to contact Mr. Alex Pan, President of Boston Power, but did not receive any replies regarding to the IPO. However, a relevant source confirmed that Boston Power has set up an internal IPO team to manage the listing process; also, besides the US, Hong Kong is also one of the bourses being evaluated by the company.









Copyright 2016 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.





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OSLO, Norway, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Marine Solutions announced today it has signed a purchase agreement to acquire the marine division of Jeppesen, subject to regulatory approval.

Under the terms of the agreement, the former Jeppesen Marine will operate as a separate entity with its own dedicated resources and will trade under the C-MAP brand name. Jeppesen will remain as part of The Boeing Company.

Digital Marine Solutions is owned by the Altor 2003 Fund, which is part of the Nordic based Altor family of private equity funds. This strategic acquisition leverages Altor's experience in the Marine industry, where it also is the majority owner of the Navico house of marine brands. Digital Marine Solutions will ensure that Navico and other 3rd party electronic manufacturers continue to have access to the C-MAP portfolio for both recreational and commercial marine. Over time Digital Marine Solutions will develop C-MAP's capabilities and sales by offering enhanced charting, digital content, and services solutions.

"Jeppesen Marine is one of the premier players in electronic charting and value added services for recreational and commercial marine," said Leif Ottosson, future chairman of the buyer. "We look forward to working with the Jeppesen Marine team to create fresh innovations and to continue to work with Jeppesen Marine's existing customers to further grow the business."

"This is good news for the marine electronics industry, Jeppesen Marine staff and consumers, as C-MAP's high quality products and services will continue to be offered thus keeping the diversity in the market," said James Detar, Director Light Marine Portfolio at Jeppesen Marine.

"We believe that with the vision and values of Digital Marine Solutions we can further improve our portfolio and better service our customers," said Egil Aarstad, Director Voyage Solutions at Jeppesen Marine.

Pending regulatory approval, the transaction is expected to be completed toward the end of the second quarter, 2016.

For information on Jeppesen Marine visit c-map.jeppesen.com and ww1.jeppesen.com/marine.


BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - China is set to achieve its economic growth targets despite global headwinds and the nation will push ahead with reforms, Premier Li Keqiang told reporters after the 12th National People's Congress meeting in Beijing on Wednesday.



Lawmakers approved the economic plan for the 2016-2020 period. China aims to achieve an average growth of above 6.5 percent in the next five years.



The government has lowered its growth target for 2016 to a range of 6.5-7 percent and loosened its fiscal stance to lessen the reliance of the economy on exports.



The economy had expanded at the slowest pace in 25 years in 2015, when GDP climbed 6.9 percent compared to the government's full-year target of about 7 percent.



Li said the government will avoid massive layoffs in the process of reducing overcapacity especially in the coal and steel sectors.



China will use debt-equity swap to lower debt levels, Li said.



He said the government is capable of guaranteeing payment of benefits for pensioners.



Further, the premier said China is in good position to defuse financial risks. China plans to launch a link connecting the Hong Kong and Shenzhen stock exchanges this year.



He also said the relation with the U.S. will move forward no matter who will win the presidential election.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Fraport AG (FRA.DE, 0O1R.L, FPRUF.PK), the owner and operator of Germany's Frankfurt Airport or FRA, reported Wednesday that its fiscal 2015 profit attributable to shareholders advanced significantly by 17.8 percent to 276.5 million euros from 234.7 million euros last year. Earnings per share were 3 euros, 18.1 percent higher than 2.54 euros a year ago. Operating profit or EBITDA increased 7.4 percent to 848.8 million euros, while EBIT climbed 7.8 percent to 520.5 million euros. EBITDA margin declined to 32.7 percent from 33 percent last year. Group revenues were 2.60 billion euros, 8.5 percent higher than last year's 2.39 billion euros. Group revenue adjusted for IFRIC 12 increased 8.4 percent to 2.584 billion euros. Fraport Group closed fiscal year 2015 successfully with a 2.5 percent rise in passenger traffic - serving 61 million at its Frankfurt Airport or FRA home base. The company further said that a dividend proposal at the previous year's level of 1.35 euros per share will be made to the Annual General Meeting this year. This corresponds to a dividend payout ratio of 45.1 percent of the Group result attributable to shareholders. Looking ahead, for fiscal 2016, the company expects group EBITDA between 850 million euros and 880 million euros, and slight revenue growth. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.


BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Re-insurer Swiss Re (SSREY.PK) said that its board proposed an 8.2% increase in regular dividend to 4.60 Swiss francs per share. In addition, the Board of Directors requested the authorisation of a new public share buy-back programme of up to 1.0 billion francs purchase value. The Board of Directors further proposed the election of Sir Paul Tucker as a new member to the Board of Directors. Swiss Re publishes its 2015 Annual Report and its Economic Value Management (EVM) 2015 Annual Report.



Based on Swiss Re's strong performance in 2015, the Board of Directors proposes to increase the regular dividend to 4.60 francs per share, up from last year's 4.25 francs .In addition, the Board of Directors requests authorisation for a public share buy-back programme of up to 1.0 billion francs purchase value at any time ahead of the 2017 AGM.



The Board of Directors proposes Walter Kielholz to be re-elected to the Board of Directors and in the same vote be re-elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors for a one-year term of office until the completion of the AGM in 2017.



Mathis Cabiallavetta, Hans Ulrich Maerki and Jean-Pierre Roth will not stand for re-election at the upcoming Annual General Meeting.



The Articles of Association require shareholders to vote annually, separately and with binding effect on the aggregate amounts of compensation of the members of the Board of Directors and the Group Executive Committee. For the second time shareholders will give a binding vote on compensation. Shareholders will be asked to approve the maximum aggregate amount of compensation for members of the Board of Directors for the time from the AGM in 2016 until the next AGM in 2017.



In addition, shareholders will be asked to approve the maximum aggregate amount of fixed and variable long-term compensation for the members of the Group Executive Committee for the following financial year (2017). Shareholders will also vote on the aggregate amount of short-term variable compensation for the members of the Group Executive Committee related to the preceding completed financial year (2015).



Swiss Re reported an annual EVM income of US$3.7 billion in 2015, compared to US$5.2 billion in 2014. The EVM profit amounted to US$480 million, supported by strong new business.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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MUNICH (dpa-AFX) - German reinsurer Munich Re (0KFE.L) said that it targets a profit in the range of 2.3 billion euros -2.8 billion euros for the current year - despite persistently difficult conditions. Munich Re also announced a further share buy-back programme: shares with a volume of 1billion euros are to be repurchased before the Annual General Meeting in 2017.



As already published, the proposal to the Annual General Meeting will be to raise the dividend to 8.25 euros.



Assuming exchange rates remain stable, the Group anticipates that for the financial year 2016 its gross premiums written will be in the range of 47 billion euros-49 billion euros. Gross premiums of 26 billion euros-28 billion euros are expected in reinsurance, and 15.5 billion euros-16 billion euros in the ERGO field of business.



Munich Re announced a further share buy-back programme: it will repurchase up to 1 billion in shares by the Annual General Meeting on 26 April 2017. This buy-back is also conditional on no major upheavals occurring in the capital markets or in its underwriting business. On the basis of the current share price, Munich Re would repurchase around 5.4 million shares, or approximately 3.2% of the share capital. The buy-back currently in progress is to be completed by the Annual General Meeting on 27 April 2016, and the acquired shares will be retired, as with the previous buy-backs. So far, around 5.2 million shares with a value of approximately 890 million have been purchased under this programme.



Also at its meeting held on 15 March 2016, the Supervisory Board of Munich Reinsurance Company decided on its motions for submission to the Annual General Meeting on 27 April 2016. The Supervisory Board proposes that Clement B. Booth (61) should be elected to the Supervisory Board as successor to Anton van Rossum (70), who is retiring from the Supervisory Board with effect from the end of the Annual General Meeting on 27 April 2016.



The Supervisory Board also decided to approve the Board of Management's dividend proposal to the Annual General Meeting.



At its meeting held Tuesday, the Supervisory Board of Munich Reinsurance Company accepted the request by CEO Nikolaus von Bomhard to leave the Board of Management - and also to step down as CEO - on 26 April 2017, which is the date of the 2017 Annual General Meeting. Joachim Wenning (51) was appointed as the new CEO with effect from 27 April 2017.



Wenning has been responsible for international life reinsurance business on Munich Re's Board of Management since the beginning of 2009. He has also been responsible for human resources since 1 October 2013 and became Munich Re's Labour Relations Director on that date. His appointment to the Board of Management was extended to 31 December 2021 at today's meeting of the Supervisory Board.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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LONDON, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The following notice and explanatory notes below, as well as the proxy voting form and accounts for the year ending 31st December 2015 are available on the company's website at http://www.sequa-petroleum.com/corporate/.

Notice of the General Meeting of Shareholders of Sequa Petroleum N.V.

Shareholders are hereby invited to attend the General Meeting of Shareholders (GM) of Sequa Petroleum N.V. (the Company), to be held at the 24th floor, Rembrandt Tower, Amstelplein 1 (1096 HA) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands on Friday 3 June 2016 at 14.00 hours p.m. CET.

The agenda items of the GM will be as follows:

Agenda

1. Opening and general information

2. Report by the management of the Company on the financial year 2015

3. Implementation of the remuneration policy in the financial year 2015

4. Proposal to adopt the annual accounts of the Company*

5. Proposal to release the members of the managing board from liability*

6. Proposal to release the members of the supervisory board from liability*

7. (Re-)Appointment of managing directors:

a)Reappointment of Mr J. Broekhuijsen*

b)Reappointment of Mr P.D.M. Haynes*

c)Reappointment of Mr J.M. Luke*

d)Reappointment of Mr J.P. Bosma*

8 (Re-)Appointment of supervisory directors:

a)Reappointment of Mr E.F. Eichler*

9. Reservation and dividend policy

10. Allocation of the profit/loss*

11. Appointment of external auditor*

12. Any other business and closing of the GM

* Items put on the agenda for voting. The other items are on the agenda for discussion only.

Meeting documents

All documents prepared for the purpose of the GM, including the agenda, the explanatory notes thereto, and annual accounts are available for inspection and can be obtained free of charge at the Company's offices at 42 Upper Berkeley St, London W1H 5QL, United Kingdom. Shareholders have also received the documents through the respective clearing system: Clearstream or Euroclear, as applicable (the Clearing System).

Record Date / Registration to Vote

Recognised as persons entitled to attend the meeting will be those persons who hold shares of the Company at 6 May 2016 (the Record Date), upon the processes of all additions and withdrawals as at the Record Date.

Shareholders who wish to attend the GM either in person or by proxy are asked to register by SWIFT via their custodian bank with BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.C.A., Luxembourg Branch (the Agent) with a copy to lux.ostdomiciliees@bnpparibas.com and a copy to the Company (address: 42 Upper Berkeley St, London W1H 5QL, United Kingdom; e-mail: Robin.Storey@sequa-petroleum.com) or by sending the registration application to the Company (address: 42 Upper Berkeley St, London W1H 5QL, United Kingdom, to the attention of Robin Storey, or by email to Robin.Storey@sequa-petroleum.com, and it must include proof of ownership from their custodian bank as of the Record Date. A template for the registration application has been received by the shareholders through the Clearing System and can also be obtained free of charge at the offices of the Company.

The registration application needs to be accompanied by a certification of the relevant custodian bank stating the number of shares held by the shareholder at the Record Date. The registration will be confirmed by the registration statement issued by the Company, which will serve as the admission ticket to the meeting. Incomplete registration applications or registration applications that are not accompanied by the aforementioned certification will be disregarded. Registration for the GM is possible in the period from 7 May until 27 May 2016 at 17:00 hours CET.

Voting by Proxy

Notwithstanding the obligation to register for the meeting, a shareholder, who does not wish to attend the GM in person, may give a written proxy and voting instructions to a third person to attend and vote at the GM on his behalf. A shareholder who will not be attending the meeting in person may also give a proxy and voting instructions by SWIFT via their custodian bank to the Agent with a copy to lux.ostdomiciliees@bnppribas.com and to the person referred to in the voting proxy.

Shareholders who wish to attend the GM by proxy are asked to notify the Agent no later than 27 May 2016 at 17:00 hours CET by completing, signing and timely returning the proxy and the voting instruction to their custodian bank.

A template of the proxy has been received by the shareholders through the Clearing System. A template of the proxy can also be obtained free of charge at the offices of the Company. The proxy should, at the discretion of the Company, sufficiently identify the shareholder and the proxy holder and the number of shares for which the proxy holder will represent the shareholder at the GM.

Explanatory notes to the agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders (GM) of Sequa Petroleum N.V. (the Company) to be held at the 24th floor, Rembrandt Tower, Amstelplein 1 (1096 HA) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands on Friday 3 June 2016 at 14.00 hours p.m. CET.

1. Explanation to agenda item 2

1.1 The management of the Company will explain the audited annual accounts for the financial year 2015, as drawn up by the management board of the Company (the Management Board).

2. Explanation to agenda item 3

2.1 In accordance with article 2:135 subsection 5a of the Dutch Civil Code, the implementation of the remuneration policy in 2015, as outlined on page 13 of the report for the financial year 2015, will be discussed.

3. Explanation to agenda item 4

3.1 The general meeting of the Company (the General Meeting) is invited to adopt the annual accounts for the financial year 2015 as drawn up by the Management Board and signed by the Management Board and the supervisory board of the Company (the Supervisory Board).

4. Explanation to agenda item 5

4.1 It is proposed to discharge the members of the Management Board from liability for the performance of their duties during the financial year 2015. Under Dutch law the release from liability only covers the performance of duties to the extent that such performance is apparent from the annual accounts for the financial year 2015 or has otherwise been disclosed to the General Meeting prior to the adoption of the annual accounts.

5. Explanation to agenda item 6

5.1 It is proposed to discharge the members of the Supervisory Board from liability for their supervision of the management during the financial year 2015. Under Dutch law the release from liability only covers the performance of duties to the extent that such performance is apparent from the annual accounts for the financial year 2015 or has otherwise been disclosed to the General Meeting prior to the adoption of the annual accounts.

6. Explanation to agenda item 7

6.1 Each of the current members of the Management Board, being Mr J. Broekhuijsen, Mr P.D.M. Haynes, Mr J.M. Luke and Mr J.P. Bosma have been re-appointed as managing director as of 1 January 2016 pursuant to a resolution of the General Meeting dated 7 January 2016 for a period ending the latter of 30 June 2016 or the date of the 2016 annual general meeting.

6.2 Reappointment of Mr Broekhuijsen :

a) It is proposed to reappoint Mr Broekhuijsen as managing director of the Company for a period ending the date of the 2017 annual general meeting. Mr Broekhuijsen has indicated that he is available for reappointment.

b) In accordance with article 9.3 of the Company's articles of association (the Articles of Association) the Supervisory Board has resolved to nominate Mr Broekhuijsen for reappointment in a meeting of the Supervisory Board held on 14 March 2016.

c) Mr Broekhuijsen is fifty-three (53) years of age and does not hold any position relevant for the performance of his duties as managing director, other than his current position of managing director and as director of one of the Company's subsidiaries, Sequa Petroleum UK Ltd. It is proposed to nominate Mr Broekhuijsen for reappointment as managing director as he has significant knowledge and experience in the oil and gas industry. In particular, he has 25 years of international commercial experience in E&P and LNG working for Shell and BG Group.

6.3 Reappointment of Mr Haynes :

a) It is proposed to reappoint Mr Haynes as managing director of the Company for a period ending the date of the 2017 annual general meeting. Mr Haynes has indicated that he is available for reappointment.

b) In accordance with article 9.3 of the Company's the Articles of Association the Supervisory Board has resolved to nominate Mr Haynes for reappointment in a meeting of the Supervisory Board held on 14 March 2016.

c) Mr Haynes is sixty-one (61) years of age and does not hold any position relevant for the performance of his duties as managing director, other than his current position of managing director. It is proposed to nominate Mr Haynes for reappointment as managing director as he has significant knowledge and experience in the oil and gas industry. He has over 35 years of technical upstream oil and gas experience working for BG Group and other international companies.

6.4 Reappointment of Mr Luke :

a) It is proposed to reappoint Mr Luke as managing director of the Company for a period ending the date of the 2017 annual general meeting. Mr Luke has indicated that he is available for reappointment.

b) In accordance with article 9.3 of the Company's the Articles of Association the Supervisory Board has resolved to nominate Mr Luke for reappointment in a meeting of the Supervisory Board held on 14 March 2016.

c) Mr Luke is fifty-seven (57) years of age and does not hold any position relevant for the performance of his duties as Managing Director, other than his current position of Managing Director and as director of two of the Company's subsidiaries: Tellus Petroleum Invest AS and Tellus Petroleum AS. It is proposed to nominate Mr Luke for reappointment as managing director as he has significant knowledge and experience in the oil and gas industry. He has over 30 years of experience in the offshore oil and gas industry, holding key positions in management, operations, engineering and marketing.

6.5 Reappointment of Mr Bosma :

a) It is proposed to reappoint Mr Bosma as managing director of the Company for a period ending the date of the 2017 annual general meeting. Mr Bosma has indicated that he is available for reappointment.

b) In accordance with article 9.3 of the Company's the Articles of Association the Supervisory Board has resolved to nominate Mr Bosma for reappointment in a meeting of the Supervisory Board held on 14 March 2016.

c) Mr Bosma is fifty-two (52) years of age and does not hold any position relevant for the performance of his duties as Managing Director, other than his current position of Managing Director. It is proposed to nominate Mr Bosma for reappointment as managing director as he has significant knowledge and experience in the oil and gas industry with Shell. He has over 25 years of experience in the oil and gas and LNG industry, holding key positions in management, project development, petroleum engineering, gas marketing and new business development.

7. Explanation to agenda item 8

7.1 Two of the three current members of the Supervisory Board, being Mr J.J. van Rijswijk and Mr L. Windhorst were re-appointed as supervisory directors pursuant to a resolution of the General Meeting dated 7 January 2016 for a period until the day on which the annual General Meeting is held in the calendar year 2017. Mr E.F. Eichler, the third member of the Supervisory Board, was appointed as supervisory director as of 31 March 2014. Pursuant to article 15.5 of the Articles of Association, a member of the Supervisory Board will retire not later than the day on which the annual general meeting of the Company is held in the second calendar year after the calendar year in which such member was last appointed.

7.2 Reappointment of Mr E.F. Eichler:

a) It is proposed to reappoint Mr E.F. Eichler as supervisory director of the Company until the day on which the annual General Meeting is held in the calendar year 2018. Mr E.F. Eichler has indicated that he is available for reappointment.

b) In accordance with article 15.2 of the Company's the Articles of Association the Supervisory Board has resolved to nominate Mr E.F. Eichler for reappointment in a meeting of the Supervisory Board held on 14 March 2016.

c) Mr E.F.Eichler is fifty seven (57) years of age. He holds no shares in the capital of the Company. He is an employee of Sapinda Holding B.V., where he holds the position of executive director and Group CEO and is a member of the board of directors. Sapinda Holding B.V. is a shareholder of the Company. Mr E.F. Eichler is currently non-executive chairman of the board of Schmolz+Bickenbach AG and a board member of SMS Holding GmbH, SGL Carbon AG and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG. He is not a member of the supervisory board of any other company. It is proposed to nominate Mr E.F. Eichler for re-appointment as supervisory director of the Company as he has significant business and financial experience.

8. Explanation to agenda item 9

8.1 The Dutch Corporate Governance Code provides that the policy of a company on additions to reserves and on dividends (the level and purpose of the addition to reserves, the amount of the dividend and the type of dividend) shall be dealt with and explained as a separate agenda item at the general meeting. As there are insufficient distributable reserves, no dividend shall be payable.

9. Explanation to agenda item 10

9.1 The General Meeting is requested to determine the allocation of the loss for financial year 2015 of USD 57,161 thousand to be added to the retained deficit in the shareholders' equity.

10. Explanation to agenda item 11

10.1 It is proposed to appoint KPMG Accountants N.V. as the Company's auditor in relation to the current financial year ending 31 December 2016.

Contacts: Jacob Broekhuijsen - CEO, +44(0)203-728-4450 or info@sequa-petroleum.com
Gothenburg, Sweden, 2016-03-16 08:30 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --Bilia is conducting negotiations to acquire a BMW dealer in Belgium, Philippe Emond, located near the border with Luxembourg. Philippe Emond has an annual turnover of about SEK 730 M and has reported an average operating profit of SEK 22 M during the past two years. Bilia has formed a company in Luxembourg, Bilia Holding, that will acquire Arnold Kontz's BMW and MINI operation in Luxembourg, date of possession 1 April 2016. Bilia is negotiating to acquire Philippe Emond, and the purchase consideration will be paid with shares in Bilia Holding. Bilia will own about 66 per cent, and the seller of Philippe Emond about 34 per cent, of the shares in Bilia Holding. If the deal goes through, the agreement will include an option for Bilia to purchase the seller's shares in Bilia Holding after a five-year period.This deal would increase Bilia's presence around Luxembourg and create opportunities for synergies.We have chosen to disclose information on the planned deal due to rumours circulating in Belgium and Luxembourg; further information will be provided if the deal is concluded.Gothenburg, 16 March 2016Bilia AB (publ)For further information, please contact Per Avander, Managing Director and CEO, or Gunnar Blomkvist, CFO, Bilia AB, tel. +46 31 709 55 00.Attachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=551784

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
BIEL, Switzerland, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Today, at Baselworld 2016 , Urban Jurgensen launches three new models inspired by the greatest technological achievements of the Jurgensen Dynasty, each incorporating the finest and most vaunted techniques of the watchmaking industry.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7777151-urban-jurgensen-watches-baselworld/

The current Urban Jurgensen Collection reflects our devotion to Honouring Timeless Traditions in the fabrication of handcrafted elegant timepieces with an aura of restrained excellence and quiet confidence that is appreciated by Collectors and Connoisseurs throughout the world.

In the Jurgensen 1745 Collection, Urban Jurgensen is introducing a new model, Reference 1741 in Platinum with Perpetual calendar, leap year indicator and moon phases. The Reference 1741 dial is handmade using Grenage dial making and fitted with the Urban Jurgensen white gold Arabic numerals appliques. The creation of the moon disk involves more than 20 different operations and the result is a unique, tiny wonder of classic workmanship that is rarely found in timepieces nowadays.

Urban Jurgensen is also pleased to present the new Jules Collection with two new models, Reference 2240 and 2340. Both models share new contemporary tapered lugs in a classic design on a convex and concave curved case with a diameter of 40 mm. The dials of these two models share the dial finishing technology of the 1741, the handcrafted, delicate and time-consuming Grenage. Reference 2240 comes in rose gold with black engraved Arabic numerals, central seconds and date. Reference 2340 comes in white gold, with small seconds, power reserve, date and moon phase indicator.

About Urban Jurgensen

Our story started in 1745 with the birth in Copenhagen of Jurgen Jurgensen, founder of the watchmaking dynasty that still bears his name. Jurgen's son, Urban Jurgensen (1776 - 1830), quickly followed in his father's footsteps. After completing his apprenticeship at such extraordinary watchmakers as Breguet in Paris and Arnold in England, Urban steered the Jurgensen brand to new heights. Urban's two sons, Jules-Frederik and Louis Urban, then continued the family tradition. Jules studied in Switzerland and moved to Le Locle, while his brother Louis remained in charge of the factory in Copenhagen, giving the company roots in both countries that have been maintained ever since. The innovation and excellence of Jurgensen's output exerted a tremendous influence on the watchmaking industry of Le Locle and, indeed, the entire Canton of Neuchatel, introducing the latest techniques from around the world. Of course, none of this happened by accident; rather, it has been the product of centuries of commitment and dedication to the arts.

Come and visit us at Baselworld: 0.F / Palace 4B

http://www.urbanjurgensen.com

http://www.facebook.com/UrbanJurgensen

http://www.linkedin.com/company/2785991

Watch us on: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbdIF-r9rxCKv6yFKQBop4g

http://www.urbanjurgensen.com/baselworld2016



(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160315/344433 )



Video:

http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7777151-urban-jurgensen-watches-baselworld/


Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.


16 March 2016 HARBOURVEST GLOBAL PRIVATE EQUITY ANNOUNCES ESTIMATED NET ASSET VALUE AT 29 FEBRUARY 2016 * ESTIMATED NAV IS $16.55 (11.89) PER SHARE, A NOMINAL DECREASE FROM 31 JANUARY 2016 * GEARING REMAINS AT ZERO, AND HVPE HOLDS $210 MILLION OF CASH ON ITS BALANCE SHEET * INVESTMENT PIPELINE OF FUTURE COMMITMENTS IS $1.13 BILLION * HVPE COMMITTED $100 MILLION TO NEWLY-FORMED HARBOURVEST SECONDARY FUNDS DURING FEBRUARY * HVPE INVESTED $15 MILLION AND RECEIVED $21 MILLION IN REALISATIONS DURING THE MONTH



HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited ('HVPE' or the 'Company'), a closed- end investment company, today announces its estimated Net Asset Value ('NAV') at 29 February 2016.



HVPE provides a complete private equity solution for public investors, managing the portfolio through four phases of the private equity cycle to create value: Commitments, Investment, Growth, and Realisation. Commitments



During February 2016, HVPE committed $50.0 million to HarbourVest's global secondary fund, which is focused on traditional and complex purchases of private market assets. The Company also committed $50.0 million to HarbourVest's real assets fund, which is focused on secondary purchases of real asset opportunities. HVPE's existing HarbourVest fund commitments continued to make new investments.



HVPE's Investment Pipeline (unfunded commitments) of $1.13 billion increased on a net basis by $85.9 million during February based on the new HarbourVest fund commitments, capital funded, and foreign currency movement. Investment During February, HVPE invested $15.3 million in HarbourVest fund-of-funds and a global secondary fund.



Growth



At 29 February 2016, HVPE's estimated Net Asset Value (NAV) per share is $16.55 (11.89), a $0.01 per share decrease and a 0.26 increase from the 31 January 2016 estimate of $16.56 (11.63). This change resulted mainly from operating expenses. The GBP/USD rate as of 29 February was 1.3917, while the rate as of 31 January was 1.4244.



Realisation



HVPE received $21.2 million in realisations from HarbourVest funds during February (compared to $0.7 million in January). During the month, there were a total of 30 liquidity events across HVPE's underlying portfolio.



Balance Sheet and Credit Facility



HVPE has no drawings on its credit facility. At 29 February 2016, HVPE's cash ($210.0 million) and available credit ($500.0 million) total $710.0 million. Additional detail about HVPE's NAV and investment diversification can be found on HVPE's website, in the Monthly Update for 29 February 2016. Enquiries:



HarbourVest



Richard Hickman Tel: +44 (0) rhickman@harbourvest.com 20 7399 9847



Laura Thaxter Tel: +1 (617) 348 3695 lthaxter@harbourvest.com



FleishmanHillard Fishburn



Henry Adams Tel: +44 (0) henry.adams@fhflondon.co.uk Ludo Baynham-Herd 20 8618 2975 HVPE@fhflondon.co.uk



Notes to Editors:



About HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited: HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited ('HVPE') is a Guernsey-incorporated closed-end investment company which has a dual listing on both the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Amsterdam. HVPE is registered as an investment institution with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. HVPE is designed to offer shareholders long-term capital appreciation by investing in a private equity portfolio diversified by geography, by stage of investment, by vintage year, and by industry. It invests in and alongside HarbourVest-managed funds which focus on primary fund commitments, secondary investments, and direct co- investments in operating companies. HVPE is advised by HarbourVest Advisers L.P., an affiliate of HarbourVest Partners, LLC.



About HarbourVest Partners, LLC: HarbourVest Partners, LLC is an independent private markets specialist, providing investment programs and customized solutions focused on venture capital, buyout, mezzanine debt, credit, and real assets through primary fund investments, secondary purchases, and direct co-investments. HarbourVest has more than 300 employees in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. In more than 30 years of investing in private equity, the team has committed more than $29 billion to newly-formed funds, completed over $12 billion in secondary purchases, and invested $4 billion directly in operating companies. The firm's clients include pension funds, endowments, foundations, and financial institutions around the globe.



This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute or form part of any offer to issue or sell, or the solicitation of an offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for, any securities in any jurisdiction and should not be relied upon in connection with any decision to subscribe for or acquire any Shares. In particular, this announcement does not constitute or form part of any offer to issue or sell, or the solicitation of an offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for, any securities in the United States or to US Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended ('US Persons')). Neither this announcement nor any copy of it may be taken, released, published or distributed, directly or indirectly to US Persons or in or into the United States (including its territories and possessions), Canada, Australia or Japan, or any jurisdiction where such action would be unlawful. Accordingly, recipients represent that they are able to receive this announcement without contravention of any applicable legal or regulatory restrictions in the jurisdiction in which they reside or conduct business. No recipient may distribute, or make available, this announcement (directly or indirectly) to any other person. Recipients of this announcement should inform themselves about and observe any applicable legal requirements in their jurisdictions.



The Shares have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 'Securities Act') or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and, accordingly, may not be offered, sold, resold, transferred, delivered or distributed, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to US Persons. In addition, the Company is not registered under the US Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 'Investment Company Act') and shareholders of the Company will not have the protections of that act. There will be no public offer of the Shares in the United States or to US Persons.



This announcement has been prepared by the Company and its investment manager, HarbourVest Advisers L.P. (the 'Investment Manager'). No liability whatsoever (whether in negligence or otherwise) arising directly or indirectly from the use of this announcement is accepted and no representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, is or will be made by the Company, the Investment Manager or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers, representatives or other agents ('Agents') for any information or any of the opinions contained herein or for any errors, omissions or misstatements. None of the Investment Manager nor any of their respective Agents makes or has been authorised to make any representation or warranties (express or implied) in relation to the Company or as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of this announcement, or any other written or oral statement provided. In particular, no representation or warranty is given as to the achievement or reasonableness of, and no reliance should be placed on any projections, targets, estimates or forecasts contained in this announcement and nothing in this announcement is or should be relied on as a promise or representation as to the future.



Other than as required by applicable laws, the Company gives no undertaking to update this announcement or any additional information, or to correct any inaccuracies in it which may become apparent and the distribution of this announcement. The information contained in this announcement is given at the date of its publication and is subject to updating, revision and amendment. The contents of this announcement have not been approved by any competent regulatory or supervisory authority.



This announcement includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, 'forward looking statements'. These forward looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, including the terms 'believes', 'projects', 'estimates', 'anticipates', 'expects', 'intends', 'plans', 'goal', 'target', 'aim', 'may', 'will', 'would', 'could', 'should' or 'continue' or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts and include statements regarding the intentions, beliefs or current expectations of the Company. By their nature, forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future and may be beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. More detailed information on the potential factors which could affect the financial results of the Company is contained in the Company's public filings and reports.



HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited is registered with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets as a collective investment scheme which may offer participations in The Netherlands pursuant to article 2:66 of the Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht). All investments are subject to risk. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Prospective investors are advised to seek expert legal, financial, tax and other professional advice before making any investment decision. The value of investments may fluctuate. Results achieved in the past are no guarantee of future results.



This announcement is issued by the Company, which is registered with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets and whose registered address is Ground Floor Dorey Court Admiral Park St Peter Port Guernsey GY1 2HT.



 2016 HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited. All rights reserved.



This announcement is distributed by GlobeNewswire on behalf of GlobeNewswire clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.



Source: HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited via GlobeNewswire [HUG#1994584]



BR30MJ8R24



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MILAN, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

New higly portable tactical systems, which emphasise Communication and Information System (CIS) and data management aspects, will satisfy the growing strategic need which is common to all Alliance member countries

Italtel, a leading telecommunications company in Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), managed services and All-IP communication, has been awarded an international tender by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to build two transportable data centers.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130429/612742 )



More than 250 companies belonging to the 28 member countries of the Alliance were notified about the tender for the project - the demand for which was generated by the Italian Army. The acquisition was delegated by TELEDIFE (the Italian Defence Telecommunication Procurement Directorate) to the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA), which developed the technical specification due to its knowledge and previous experience of current systems in place.

The data centers will be deployed at the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Italy (NRDC - ITA), in Solbiate Olona, to align its Communication and Information System (CIS) infrastructure with the requirements of its recently-awarded role of land-heavy Joint Task Force (JTF) Headquarters, which involves leading NATO joint operations within NATO Areas of Responsibility, often performed out of the national borders.

Italtel was chosen to build the two data centers as a result of its competitive cost and compliance with the requirements of the tender. The data centers provided by this project are destined to be used by NRDC - ITA in various overseas locations where allied forces are deployed. The importance of being awarded this tender is evident when considering the complexity of the technical specification in the CIS and data management categories.

"This achievement recognizes Italtel's constant hard work over the last two years, through a continuous strengthening of the relationship between various divisions within the Italian Armed Forces and NATO," said Italtel's CEO Stefano Pileri. "Italtel has built a complex and delicate dialogue with a select number of Italian and international suppliers, who have assisted us in creating the winning solution for our project.

"Italtel has achieved a prestigious result for Italy and has now been placed at the center of a comprehensive network of national and international relations."

Italtel

Italtel designs, develops, implements solutions for NGN and NGS; Professional Services dedicated to the design and maintenance of networks; IT System Integration Services; Network Integration and migration activities. Italtel counts among its customers more than 40 of the world's top TLC Operators and SPs. In Italy Italtel is also reference partner of Enterprises and Public Sector for the deployment of IP Next-Generation Networks and for the development of multimedia convergent services for their customers. Italtel is present in many countries including France, UK, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Poland, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Brazil. http://www.italtel.com.
Regulatory News:

An Extraordinary General Meeting ("EGM") in Ganger Rolf ASA ("the Company") was held today, Wednesday 16 March 2016, regarding the proposal for a merger between Bonheur ASA and Ganger Rolf ASA.

The Chairman of the Shareholders' Committee chaired the EGM. All items on the agenda, which was sent to Oslo Stock Exchange on 23 February 2016, were unanimously resolved in accordance with the corresponding proposals as identified in the summons and placed before the EGM.

The EGM consequentially approved the duly distributed merger plan with appendices dated 11 February 2016 regarding the merger of Bonheur ASA and Ganger Rolf ASA with Bonheur ASA as the surviving company, and the merger will now be carried out subject to and in accordance with the conditions set out in the merger plan.

Following the EGM's approval of the merger plan and subsequent mandatory announcement in the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises, a six week creditor notice period will commence. The Company will revert in due course with dates for completion of the merger.

A copy of the protocol from the EGM is enclosed.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160316005600/en/

Contacts:

Ganger Rolf ASA

Jan Peter Valheim, Chief Financial Officer of Fred. Olsen Co.

Phone +47 22341006

E-mail jan.peter.valheim@fredolsen.no
Clichy, Wednesday, March 16th, 2016

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF APRIL 20TH, 2016

2015 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT

Information available concerning the Annual General Meeting to be held on Wednesday, April 20th, 2016 and the 2015 Registration Document.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING SET FOR APRIL 20TH, 2016:

L'Oreal informs its shareholders that its Annual General Meeting will be held at Le Palais des Congres de Paris (2 place de la Porte Maillot - 75017 Paris) at 10 am on Wednesday, April 20th, 2016.

Information concerning this meeting was published in the BALO (Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires) on Monday, March 14th, 2016 and includes the agenda, the draft resolutions and details on attending and voting. This notification about the meeting together with the Board of Directors' report on the draft resolutions and legal information are now available on the www.loreal-finance.com (http://www.loreal-finance.com/eng/annual-general-meeting-documents) website (under Financial Information / Regulated Information / Annual General Meeting Documents).

Other documents and information concerning this meeting will be available to shareholders and also published on the www.loreal-finance.com (http://www.loreal-finance.com) website under legal and regulatory conditions from Wednesday, March 30th, 2016.

2015 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT:

The 2015 Registration Document was registered with the French Market Authorities on Tuesday, March 15th, 2016. It is available to the public under current regulatory conditions and may be consulted on the www.loreal-finance.com (http://www.loreal-finance.com/eng/registration-document) website (under Financial Information / Regulated Information / Registration Document).

The Registration Document comprises the annual financial report, the report by the Chairman of the Board of Directors on the Board's activities and on internal controls, the reports from the Auditors and their fees, the information required for the share buy-back programme.

"This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy L'Oreal shares. If you wish to obtain more comprehensive information about L'Oreal, please refer to the public documents registered in France with the Autorite des Marches Financiers, also available in English on our Internet site www.loreal-finance.com (http://www.loreal-finance.com/) .

This news release may contain some forward-looking statements. Although the Company considers that these statements are based on reasonable hypotheses at the date of publication of this release, they are by their nature subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated or projected in these statements."

Contacts at L'Oreal (switchboard: +33 1 47 56 70 00)

Individual shareholders and market authorities

Mr Jean Regis CAROF

Tel: +33 1 47 56 83 02

jean-regis.carof@loreal.com (mailto:jean-regis.carof@loreal.com)

Financial analysts and Institutional investors

Mrs Francoise LAUVIN

Tel: +33 1 47 56 86 82

francoise.lauvin@loreal.com (mailto:francoise.lauvin@loreal.com)

Journalists

Mrs Stephanie CARSON-PARKER

Tel: +33 1 47 56 76 71

stephanie.carsonparker@loreal.com (mailto:stephanie.carsonparker@loreal.com)

For more information, please contact your bank, broker or financial institution (I.S.I.N. code: FR0000120321), and consult your usual newspapers, the Internet site for shareholders and investors, www.loreal-finance.com or the L'Oreal Finance app, alternatively, call

+33 1 40 14 80 50.





Read the news release in a PDF file (http://hugin.info/136480/R/1994942/734755.pdf)



This announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: L'OREAL via Globenewswire



HUG#1994942


BIELEFELD, Germany, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

SAP Application Management Services not just for a change process

GfK SE has chosen itelligence AG as a partner for the management of their global SAP solution, including the joint development of a tailor-made service concept. The main challenges were the requirement for the change processes to do justice to a project-driven company and the need to work jointly to develop an economically-efficient model for the desired support and thus to bring about a continual reduction, inter alia, in the high backlog of unprocessed support tickets.

Nuremberg-based GfK is counted among the world's four largest market-research companies and is the undisputed number 1 in Germany. Around 13,000 dedicated employees in more than 100 countries combine global knowledge with the exact analysis of local markets. The company is best known for the GfK consumer climate index and the data on ratings for television in the Federal Republic of Germany.

At GfK the progressive inclusion of end-to-end processes such as "Order to Cash", "Procure to Pay" and "Record to Report" went hand-in-hand with the implementation of the SAP ERP and SAP Supplier Relationship Management applications as well as the SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence (BI) platform. This is a particularly challenging task in a project-driven company and caused the original service provider to face some insurmountable challenges. In an intensive joint review process GfK and its new SAP parter itelligence AG, succeeded in overcoming these difficulties. This process included, among other points, the development of consistent and effective processes for support requests and change requests, which also fixed the backlog of support tickets.

Today GfK is supported by a highly-motivated external, dedicated team for the provision of application management services. It has both extensive knowledge of the relevant internal procedures at GfK as well as a clear understanding of the needs of the users and provides multi-lingual support.

Andre Holhozinskyj, Global Head of Finance, GfK SE said: "We needed a service provider, who would adapt to the delivery structures we want to use. Our key points were short decision paths and a pragmatic approach. That is what we have achieved through itelligence."

The support costs were significantly reduced. A jointly-undertaken needs analysis showed that the initial establishment of a 24/7 service according to the follow-the-sun principle was not strictly necessary since major technical changes in Germany could always be implemented the next working day. In the meantime, a 19-hour service five days a week, with a mix of onsite, nearshore and offshore support, was sufficient to ensure the desired level of service. The geographical concentration and reduction of the SAP Application Management Services team brought further cost savings. Nevertheless, the support provided can be adapted flexibly at GfK request.

Lars Janitz, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Managed Services, itelligence AG said: "Our goal as an experienced, SAP-certified provider of application management services is the customer-based balance between proven standards and best practices, as well as customized service adjustments. With our expertise as an SAP global partner and an SAP-certified provider of application management services we can offer GfK appropriate, highly-qualified and flexible service throughout a long-term cooperation."

itelligence is a leading and an SAP-certified provider of application management services for medium-sized companies and corporations alike. Together with NTT DATA, the company offers innovative, flexible and scalable services for the complex and changing needs of its customers worldwide.

itelligence AG

itelligence is one of the leading international full-service providers of solutions in support of SAP solutions, employing more than 5,000 highly qualified employees in 23 countries. As a frequently awarded SAP partner, among others global value-added reseller, itelligence is SAP-certified in cloud services, an SAP-certified provider of hosting services for SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud and an SAP platinum partner. itelligence realizes large projects in the SAP solution-based environment for customers worldwide. The company's services in support of SAP solutions range from consulting and licensing to application management services and hosting services to proprietary industry-specific SAP solutions. In 2015, itelligence generated total sales of EUR 696.2 million.

SAP, and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE (or an SAP affiliate company) in Germany and other countries. See http://www.sap.com/corporate-en/legal/copyright/index.epx for additional trademark information and notices.

All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

Public Relations:

Silvia Dicke

Tel: +49(0)-521-91448-107

Fax: +49(0)-521-91445-201

silvia.dicke@itelligence.de

itelligence AG

Konigsbreede 1

33605 Bielefeld

http://blog.itelligence.de/

http://www.itelligence.de
TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - March 16, 2016) -

(Please note that all dollar amounts in this news release are expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.)

Primero Mining Corp. ("Primero" or the "Company") (TSX: P) (NYSE: PPP) today announced its 2015 year-end Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources, as well as recent exploration results from the newly discovered Froome Zone at its Black Fox mine located near Timmins, Ontario, Canada.

Highlights:

Mineral Resources Increased Beyond Depletion: Primero successfully increased total Mineral Resources across its assets, with total Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources of 3.1 million ounces of gold plus 88.3 million ounces of silver in addition to total Inferred Mineral Resources of 1.2 million ounces of gold and 77.1 million ounces of silver.



Reserve Estimation to Maximize Free Cash Flow: Primero successfully replaced mined depletion at both of its operating mines from its 2015 drilling results but has elected to implement improved reserve estimation methodologies to maximize free cash flow generation and ensure future profitability. An increased cut-off grade has been applied to Black Fox Mineral Reserves to account for expected operating expenditures and required sustaining costs which led to the removal of marginal, high all-in cost ounces. San Dimas materially replaced Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves in 2015, despite mining depletion and the removal of un-mineable high-grade pillars. Primero's year-end 2015 total Mineral Reserves have remained in line with year-end 2014 on a total tonnage basis. Contained gold ounces declined from 1.9 million ounces in 2014 to 1.8 million ounces in 2015, while contained silver increased from 65.8 million ounces in 2014 to 70.5 million ounces in 2015.



Initial Resource at Black Fox Froome Zone: Primero has outlined an initial Mineral Resource estimate for the highly prospective Froome Zone located approximately 800 metres west of the Black Fox mine. The initial estimate only includes drilling up to February 17, 2016 and contains Indicated Mineral Resources of 43,000 ounces of gold plus Inferred Mineral Resources of 129,000 ounces of gold.



Primero Remains Confident Froome Zone Will Continue to Grow: Primero's exploration team continues to delineate and expand the Froome Zone, demonstrating high potential for further growth. Highlights from recent drilling, excluded from the initial resource calculation, include 4.8 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold over 46.0 metres true width (16PR-G065), 4.7 g/t gold over 45.9 metres true width (16PR-G066), and 8.6 g/t gold over 24.2 metres true width(16PR-G072).

"Our investment in exploration continues to pay off," stated Ernest Mast, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We have successfully grown our total Mineral Resources through the addition of new mineralized areas, such as the Froome Zone at Black Fox. We have taken measures to improve our modelling methodologies to maximize future free cash flow generation and provide more certainty to our mine plans. Looking to the future, we have a very positive outlook with expected exploration results from the Froome Zone and other Froome-like targets at Black Fox, and from areas located outside the Silver Purchase Agreement at San Dimas such as the Ventanas property and Lechuguilla concession."

Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources3. Reported Mineral Resources are uncapped as dataset was determined to have a low-sensitivity to grade capping due to the disseminated nature of the ore body. Indicated Mineral Resources were defined by combining several criteria such as a minimum of three drill holes within 30 metres.

Despite positive results received from infill drilling completed in the first-half of 2015, the Grey Fox project became a lower-priority target for exploration in 2015 following the discovery of the Froome zone at Black Fox. As previously disclosed, expenditures at Grey Fox have been minimized in 2016, but the Company may look to re-evaluate the project should gold prices sustain current levels.

Table 1: Total Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources as at December 31, 2015 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gold Silver Contained Contained Classification Property Tonnage Grade Grade Gold Silver (Mt) (g/t) (g/t) (koz) (koz) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mineral Reserves Proven and Probable San Dimas 5.2 4.8 329 809 55,193 Proven and Probable Black Fox 2.1 3.6 237 Proven and Probable Cerro 32.2 0.7 15 712 15,335 Total Proven and Probable 1,758 70,528 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mineral Resources Measured and Indicated San Dimas 5.1 6.0 409 971 66,540 Measured and Indicated Black Fox 3.1 5.2 521 Measured and Indicated Grey Fox 4.7 4.4 668 Measured and Indicated Cerro 47.9 0.6 13 923 20,546 Measured and Indicated Ventanas 0.2 2.5 258 12 1,286 Total Measured and Indicated 3,095 88,372 Inferred Resources San Dimas 7.0 3.6 330 801 74,030 Inferred Resources Black Fox 1.0 5.9 188 Inferred Resources Grey Fox 1.3 4.2 174 Inferred Resources Ventanas 0.2 2.3 412 17 3,039 Total Inferred Resources 1,180 77,069 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes to Mineral Reserve Statement:

Assumed gold price of US$1,200 per troy ounce and silver price of US$18 per troy ounce. San Dimas cut-off grade of 2.50 g/t AuEq based on total operating cost of US$96.57/t. Metal supply contract obligations have been referenced in determining overall vein reserve estimate viability. Black Fox underground cut-off grade of 4.44 g/t gold based on total all-in costs of C$194.00/t (C$135/t direct costs and C$59/t sustaining capital). Assumed processing recovery factors at San Dimas for gold of 97% and silver of 95% and 95% for gold at Black Fox. Exchange rate assumed is 15.50 Mexican pesos/US$1.00 and CDN$1.25/US$1.00. The Mineral Reserve estimates for San Dimas Mine set out in the table above have been reviewed and approved by Mr. Clifford Lafleur, P.Eng., Director of Technical Services, Primero and Mr. Patrick McCann, P.Eng., Principal Engineer, Primero and a QP for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). The Mineral Reserve estimates for Black Fox Mine set out in the table above have been reviewed and approved by Mr. Clifford Lafleur, P.Eng., Director of Technical Services, Primero and Mr. Russell Pennell, P.Eng., Senior Mine Planner, Primero and a Qualified Person ("QP") for the purposes of NI 43-101. Figures may not add due to rounding.

Notes to Mineral Resource Statement:

Mineral Resources are total and include those resources converted to Mineral Reserves except Cerro del Gallo Mineral Resources which are calculated exclusive of Mineral Reserves. Assumed gold price of US$1,200 per troy ounce and silver price of US$18 per troy ounce. San Dimas cut-off grade of 2.0 g/t AuEq was applied. Black Fox open-pit cut-off grade of 0.9 g/t gold and underground cut-off grade of 3.4 g/t were applied. Grey Fox open-pit cut-off grade of 0.9 g/t gold and underground cut-off grade of 3.0 g/t were applied. At San Dimas a constant bulk density of 2.6 tonnes/m 3 has been used. At Black Fox a constant bulk density of 2.84 tonnes/m 3 has been used. The Mineral Resource estimates for San Dimas and Black Fox Mines set out in the table above have been reviewed and approved by Mr. Dave Laudrum, P.Geo., Senior Resource Manager, Primero and QP for the purposes of NI 43-101. The Mineral Resource estimate for Grey Fox was prepared by Mr. Rodney Webster MAusIMM, MAIG of AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. and a QP for the purposes of NI 43-101. The Black Fox Froome zone drilling was cut-off as of February 17, 2016. Figures may not add due to rounding.

Table 2: Black Fox Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources Breakdown as at December 31, 2015 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gold Contained Classification Category Tonnage Grade Gold (Mt) (g/t) (koz) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mineral Reserves Proven Stockpile 1.1 1.1 38 Probable Underground 1.0 6.2 199 Total Black Fox Proven and Probable 2.1 3.6 237 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mineral Resources Measured Stockpile 1.1 1.1 38 Indicated Open Pit 0.05 2.2 3 Indicated Underground 1.8 7.6 436 Indicated Froome 0.2 5.8 43 Total Black Fox Measured and Indicated 3.1 5.2 521 Inferred Resources Underground 0.05 10.6 22 Inferred Resources Open Pit (Base Metals Zone) 0.1 7.9 28 Inferred Resources Underground (Base Metals Zone) 0.05 5.9 9 Inferred Resources Froome 0.8 5.1 129 Total Black Fox Inferred Resources 1.0 5.8 188 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Primero Remains Confident Froome Zone Will Continue to Grow

Primero continues to delineate and expand the highly-prospective Froome Zone at Black Fox through an aggressive exploration program. Currently there are 4 diamond drill rigs actively drilling the Froome deposit and exploring for other interpreted Froome-style targets located near to existing infrastructure. The initial Froome resource detailed above applied a February 17, 2016 cut-off date for drilling, and as a result the recently received assay results have been excluded from the initial resource calculation.

Highlights from recent drilling include 4.8 g/t gold over 46.0 metres true width(16PR-G065), 4.7 g/t gold over 45.9 metres true width(16PR-G066), and 8.6 g/t gold over 24.2 metres true width(16PR-G072), giving the Primero exploration team confidence that the Froome Zone will continue to grow.

With the completion of this initial resource, Primero will begin evaluating the economics of the deposit as an add-on to the Black Fox mine. The Company believes the deposit can be accessed via an underground drift from the Black Fox underground workings, expediting the permitting process and timeline to initial production. Pending a positive internal scoping study, the Company believes that Froome could begin initial production in the second-half of 2017 coinciding with the expected depletion of the Black Fox low-grade stockpile.

Highlighted exploration drilling results from the Froome Zone are included in Table 3 with locations identified in Figure 1.

Table 3: Froome Zone - Recent Highlighted Drilling Results ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hole From To Core True Width Gold Grade (m) (m) Length (m) (g/t) (m) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16PR-G055 (1) 213.0 227.2 14.2 10.1 5.5 and 241.0 262.2 21.2 15.0 5.1 16PR-G061 124.0 145.0 21.0 15.2 5.5 and 150.0 164.2 14.2 10.3 4.1 16PR-G062 (1) 194.6 201.0 6.4 4.4 7.3 16PR-G064 205.0 224.8 19.8 13.9 5.5 including 216.0 219.0 3.0 2.1 12.5 16PR-G065 136.8 204.0 67.3 46.0 4.8 including 146.0 153.0 7.0 4.8 9.7 16PR-G066 132.4 196.0 63.6 45.9 4.7 including 138.0 142.0 4.0 2.9 11.2 including 155.0 158.0 3.0 2.2 10.3 including 162.0 166.0 4.0 2.9 10.5 16PR-G067 72.0 83.7 11.7 8.3 7.9 including 75.0 78.0 3.0 2.1 11.3 16PR-G069 200.3 216.6 16.3 11.1 4.3 and 218.0 222.1 4.1 2.8 5.9 16PR-G072 139.8 173.5 33.7 24.2 8.6 including 155.0 162.2 7.2 5.2 13.8 and 188.0 198.1 10.1 7.2 5.2 16PR-G088 (2) 191.8 224.7 32.9 22.1 5.5 including 194.3 205.0 10.7 7.2 11.3 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

1: Includes previously released assay intervals. Refer to Primero's press release dated February 29, 2016. 2: 18 assays pending.

About Primero

Primero Mining Corp. is a Canadian-based precious metals producer that owns 100% of the San Dimas gold-silver mine and the Cerro del Gallo gold-silver-copper development project in Mexico and 100% of the Black Fox mine and adjoining properties in the Township of Black River"Matheson near Timmins, Ontario, Canada. Primero offers immediate exposure to un-hedged, below average cash cost gold production with a substantial resource base in politically stable jurisdictions. The Company is focused on becoming a leading intermediate gold producer by building a portfolio of high quality, low cost precious metals assets in the Americas.

Primero's website is www.primeromining.com.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND QUALIFIED PERSON/QUALITY CONTROL NOTES

The Mineral Resource estimates for San Dimas and Black Fox Mines set out in the table above have been reviewed and approved by Mr. Dave Laudrum, P.Geo., Senior Resource Manager, Primero and QP for the purposes of NI 43-101. The Mineral Resource estimate for Grey Fox was prepared by Mr. Rodney Webster MAusIMM, MAIG of AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. and a QP for the purposes of NI 43-101. Mr. Webster is independent of the Company. The Mineral Reserve estimates for San Dimas Mine set out in the table above have been reviewed and approved by Mr. Clifford Lafleur, P.Eng., Director of Technical Services, Primero and Mr. Patrick McCann, P.Eng., Principal Engineer, Primero and a QP for the purposes of NI 43-101. The Mineral Reserve estimates for Black Fox Mine set out in the table above have been reviewed and approved by Mr. Clifford Lafleur, P.Eng., Director of Technical Services, Primero and Mr. Russell Pennell, P.Eng., Senior Mine Planner, Primero and a QP for the purposes of NI 43-101. All of the above QPs have reviewed and approved the contents of this news release with respect to the Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources estimates section.

CAUTIONARY NOTE TO UNITED STATES INVESTORS CONCERNING ESTIMATES OF MEASURED, INDICATED AND INFERRED RESOURCES AND RESERVE ESTIMATES

This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian provincial securities laws which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated, all mineral reserve and resource estimates included in this news release have been prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum classification systems. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. These standards differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), and reserve and resource estimates disclosed in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies.

The mineral reserve estimates in this news release have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, as required by Canadian securities regulatory authorities. For United States reporting purposes, SEC Industry Guide 7 under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as interpreted by Staff of the SEC, applies different standards in order to classify mineralization as a reserve. As a result, the definition of "proven and probable reserves" used in NI 43-101 differs from the definition in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Under SEC standards, mineralization may not be classified as a "reserve" unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. Among other things, all necessary permits would be required to be in hand or issuance imminent in order to classify mineralized material as reserves under the SEC standards. Accordingly, mineral reserve estimates contained in this news release may not qualify as "reserves" under SEC standards.

In addition, this news release uses the terms "measured and indicated resources" and "inferred resources" to comply with the reporting standards in Canada. The Company advises United States investors that while those terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the SEC does not recognize them. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves. Further, "inferred resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. Therefore, United States investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of the "inferred resources" exist. In accordance with Canadian securities laws, estimates of "inferred resources" cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of "measured and indicated resources" or "inferred resources" will ever be upgraded to a higher category or are economically or legally mineable. In addition, disclosure of "contained ounces" is permitted disclosure under Canadian securities laws; however, the SEC only permits issuers to report mineralization as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.

NI 43-101 also permits the inclusion of disclosure regarding the potential quantity and grade, expressed as ranges, of a target for further exploration provided that the disclosure (i) states with equal prominence that the potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature, that there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and that it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resources, and (ii) states the basis on which the disclosed potential quantity and grade has been determined. Disclosure regarding exploration potential has been included in this news release. United States investors are cautioned that disclosure of such exploration potential is conceptual in nature by definition and there is no assurance that exploration will result in any category of NI 43-101 mineral resources being identified.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains "forward-looking statements", within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business and operations of Primero Mining Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, "Primero" or the "Company"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "if approved", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "in order to" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "are anticipated", "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will require", "will allow", "will enhance" or "will include" or similar statements or the negative connotation thereof. Forward-looking information is also identifiable in statements of currently occurring matters which will continue in future, such as "is updating", "is working" or "is also assessing" or other statements that may be stated in the present tense and are not historical facts or words with future implication such as "opportunity", "promising".

Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's estimation of mineral reserves and resources and the realization of mineral reserve estimates (including all assumptions), the ability to identify new resources and convert resources into reserves and resources, the ability to access or find ore below the current mining level, the timing, nature and success of exploration activities, the capital expenditures in 2016; the prospectiveness of the Black Fox Froome deposit; the Company's exploration targets and plans; and the Company's intentions to become an intermediate gold producer.

The assumptions made by the Company in preparing the forward-looking information contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to: the expectations and beliefs of management; the specific assumptions set forth above in this news release; that there are no significant disruptions affecting operations; that the Company does not change its development and exploration plans; that the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar, Mexican peso and the United States dollar remain consistent with current levels or as set out in this news release; that prices for gold and silver remain consistent with the Company's expectations; that production meets expectations; the amount of silver that the Company will sell at spot prices in 2016; that the Company identifies higher grade veins in sufficient quantities of minable ore in or around Black Fox and San Dimas; that there are no material variations in the current tax and regulatory environment or the basis for the calculation of the Company's income tax (including as a result of the current challenge to the advance pricing agreement); that the Company will receive required permits and access to surface rights; that the Company can access financing, appropriate equipment and sufficient labour; that the political environment within Mexico and Canada will continue to support the development of environmentally safe mining projects.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Primero to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including: the Company may not be able to achieve planned production levels; the Company may not be able to expand production at San Dimas as anticipated or generate significant free cash flow; the Company may not be able realize anticipated production levels; the Company may not be successful in returning the Black Fox mine to higher production levels; the Company may be required to change its development and exploration plans with a negative impact on production; the Company may not discover mineralization in minable quantities; the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar, the Mexican peso and the United States dollar may change with an adverse impact on the Company's financial results; the optimization and expansion initiatives may not provide the benefits anticipated; the Company may not be able to become an intermediate gold producer by building a portfolio of high quality, low cost precious metals assets in the Americas. Certain of these factors are discussed in greater detail in Primero's annual report on Form 40-F on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and its most recent Annual Information Form on file with the Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com.

Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. In addition, although Primero has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and accordingly are subject to change after such date. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of our operating environment. Primero does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are included in this document, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/3/15/11G087754/Images/Figure_1-4911a859da44bf569264c642963aebcc.JPG

Attachment Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/3/15/11G087754/PR6-16_Reserves_Resources_Final_v2-342b3c8b570d936c8b9353295f15dcb2.pdf

For further information, please contact:

Evan Young

Manager, Investor Relations

Tel: (416) 814-2694

eyoung@primeromining.com


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Teen apparel retailer Aeropostale Inc. (ARO) is slated to release its fourth-quarter results after the bell on Thursday, March 17, with analysts polled Thomson Reuters estimating a loss of $0.14 per share on revenue of $521.19 million. Analysts' estimate typically exclude certain special items.



The company continues to project fourth-quarter operating loss in the range of $0 million - $10 million, which translates to a net loss of $0.04 - $0.17 per share. This guidance assumes a low-to-mid single digit decline in comparable sales.



Gross margins are expected to be down, while SG&A dollars are expected to decline by a low-double digit percentage. Currently, the company expects depreciation and amortization of about $9 million, a nominal income tax rate of about 0%, and shares outstanding of 80.4 million.



Recently, the company has instituted an aggressive new cost reduction program targeting both direct and indirect spending across the organization. It expects this new program to generate about $35 million - $40 million in annualized pre-tax savings, which is expected to be achieved in fiscal 2016. The company estimates that it will record pre-tax cash expenses of about $1.5 million during fiscal 2015 related to this program.



As part of its new cost reduction program, Aeropostale has also planned corporate headcount reduction by about 100 positions, or 13%, by the end of fiscal 2015.



For fiscal 2016, the company expects to invest about $14.0 million primarily related to store remodels and certain infrastructure investments. This compares to capital expenditures of about $16.0 million planned for fiscal 2015.



Q3 Overview



For the third quarter of fiscal 2015, net sales decreased 20% to $363.3 million, from $452.9 million in the year ago period, reflecting a 10% decline in comparable sales, including e-commerce channel and a weighted average square footage decrease of 20% resulting from store closures.



Net loss for the quarter was $26.4 million or $0.33 per share compared to a net loss of $52.3 million or $0.66 per share last year.



Excluding charges, adjusted net loss totaled $24.6 million or $0.31 per share compared to a loss of $35.2 million or $0.45 per share in the third quarter of fiscal 2014.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Espoo, Finland, 2016-03-16 12:00 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SRV GROUP PLC STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 16 MARCH 2016, AT 13.00.SRV and Ilmarinen sign agreement on nearly 500 housing units in Helsinki Metropolitan AreaSRV has signed a framework agreement with Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company for the construction of nearly 500 rental housing units in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The agreement includes the construction of around 430 housing units in Jatkasaari, Helsinki; Espoo, Vantaa and Kerava. In addition, the package includes 41 already completed housing units in Helsinki and Vantaa in accordance with deals concluded at the end of 2015. The total value of the agreement is approximately EUR 100 million."The agreement signed is a fine example of long-standing cooperation with Ilmarinen. The population of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area is forecast to grow by 10-15 per cent by 2040. We want to be involved in developing Finland's growth centres with long-term partners like Ilmarinen, and to contribute to providing solutions for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area's challenging housing situation," says Antero Nuutinen, SRV's SVP, Housing in Finland.Around 300 of the housing units will be located in Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa, and the remaining just under 200 units in Kerava. Construction work will begin in summer 2016, and the first projects in Jatkasaari, Helsinki and Espoo will be completed in late 2017. The housing units will be recognised as revenue in accordance with their percentage of completion. The projects will be added to SRV's order backlog in stages during 20016, provided that Ilmarinen makes the final decisions on the acquisition of each property."The framework agreement is part of our housing investment programme, in which we are utilising a temporary law that allows the use of debt leverage in new rental housing investments. As part of our housing investment programme, our goal is to implement around 1,000 non-subsidised rental housing units, mainly in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area," says Tomi Aimonen, Ilmarinen's Head of Real Estate Investments.In line with its strategy, SRV has in recent years increased its housing production investments in key growth centres and above all in close proximity to good transport links close. The company's order backlog rose in 2015 to record levels, and at the same time the proportion of housing production doubled from the previous year."We are already one on the Helsinki Metropolitan Area's largest residential constructors, and we intend to continue our focus on expanding urban centres, especially along the rail lines ," Nuutinen continue.SRV is currently building a total of nearly 1,900 housing units, most of which are located in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Of the housing units under construction, up to 76 per cent are already sold and the agreement now signed with Ilmarinen will boost the proportion of sold units.Further information: Antero Nuutinen, SVP, Housing in Finland, tel. +358 40 531 4918, antero.nuutinen@srv.fi Paivi Kauhanen, SVP, Communications, tel. +358 50 598 9560, paivi.kauhanen@srv.fiwww.srv.fiYou can also find us in the social media: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter InstagramSRV - Building for life
DALLAS, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- Masergy Communications Inc. today announced its Security Control Center and customer support has been awarded the Silver prize in the 2016 Stevie Awards for Sales and Customer Service Excellence.

The Stevie Awards are an international competition recognizing excellence in disciplines that are crucial to business success with more than 2,100 nominations this year from a wide cross section of industries.

The expertise and responsiveness of Masergy's cyber security professionals captured the Silver Award for Sales and Customer Service. Judges deemed the company's Unified Enterprise Security (UES) managed security service, which continuously monitors customer networks for potential security breaches, worthy of high praise. Masergy's Net Promoter Score of 66% for customer satisfaction was also a determining factor in the recognition.

"For two consecutive years, our customer service has captured top Stevie Award attention," said Craig D'Abreo, VP of Security Operations, Masergy. "We continue to set high standards for customer service and are proud that our security team continues to be recognized among the industry's best."

"The judges were deeply impressed by the winner's accomplishments and we congratulate all of the winners on their commitment to excellence and innovation," said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards.

About Masergy

Masergy owns and operates the largest independent Software Defined Platform in the world, delivering hybrid networking, managed security and cloud communication solutions to global enterprises. Our patented technology, customizable solutions and unmatched customer experience are why a growing number of leading organizations rely on Masergy to deliver performance beyond expectations. Learn more about Masergy and follow us on our blog Transforming Enterprise IT, Twitter @Masergy, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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PUNE, India, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a new market research "Patient Engagement Solutions Market by Component (Hardware, Software & Services), Delivery mode (On-Premise, Web & Cloud), End User (Provider & Payer), Applications (Home Health, Financial Health), Therapeutic Area - Global Forecast to 2020", published by MarketsandMarkets, the report studies the global Patient Engagement Solutions Market over the forecast period of 2015 to 2020. This market is expected to reach USD 16.39 Billion by 2020 from USD 6.68 Billion in 2015, at a CAGR of 19.7%.

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Browse 95 Tables and 34 Figures spread through 231 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Patient Engagement Solutions Market"

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/patient-engagement-solutions-market-105975994.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.

In this report, the global Patient Engagement Solutions Market is segmented on the basis of component, delivery mode, end user, application, therapeutic area, and region.

On the basis of component, the Patient Engagement Solutions Market is categorized into hardware, software, and services. The software solutions segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the global Patient Engagement Solutions Market in 2015. However, the services segment is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period.

On the basis of delivery mode, the Patient Engagement Solutions Market is segmented into web-based, cloud-based, and on-premise solutions. The cloud-based solutions segment is expected to command the largest share of the global Patient Engagement Solutions Market in 2015. However, the market for cloud-based solutions is expected to witness the highest growth rate, owing to the higher flexibility, scalability, and affordability offered by these solutions.

The Patient Engagement Solutions Market has been further segmented on the basis of end users into providers, payers, individual users, and other end users (including employer groups, government bodies, and pharmaceutical companies). The healthcare providers segment is expected to account for the largest share of the Patient Engagement Solutions Market in 2015 and is poised to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period. This can be attributed to the implementation of government mandates such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) and meeting the requirements of Meaningful Use (MU) in the U.S.

On the basis of applications, the market is segmented into health management, social and behavioral management, home health management, and financial management. The health management segment is expected to command the largest share of the global Patient Engagement Solutions Market in 2015.

On the basis of therapeutic area, the Patient Engagement Solutions Market has been segmented into chronic diseases, women's health, fitness, and others. The chronic diseases segment is the fastest-growing segment and is expected to command the largest share of the global Patient Engagement Solutions Market in 2015.

Geographically, the global Patient Engagement Solutions Market is divided into four major regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (RoW). North America is expected to account for the largest market share in 2015, followed by Europe and Asia.

Talk to Our Expert: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=105975994

As compared to other healthcare IT markets, the Patient Engagement Solutions Market is growing at a double-digit CAGR. Europe is the second-largest market, growing at a higher CAGR as compared to that of North America. The Asian market is relatively new; factors such as increasing government initiatives for HCIT adoption as well as growth of the medical tourism sector in the region are contributing to the growth of this market.

McKesson Corporation (U.S.), Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc. (U.S.), Phytel, Inc. (U.S.), athenahealth, Inc. (U.S.), Orion Health Ltd. (New Zealand), Cerner Corporation (U.S.), GetWellNetwork, Inc. (U.S.), Lincor Solutions Ltd. (U.S.), YourCareUniverse, Inc. (U.S.), WelVU, Inc. (U.S.), Get Real Health (U.S.), Oneview Healthcare (U.S.), PatientPoint (U.S.), and Medecision, Inc. (U.S.) are the key players in the global Patient Engagement Solutions Market.

Browse Related Reports:

Healthcare IT Market by Product (EHR, RIS, PACS, VNA, CPOE, mHealth, Telehealth, Healthcare analytics, Supply Chain Management, Revenue Cycle Management, CRM, Claims Management, Fraud Management) by End User (Provider, Payer ) - Global Forecast to 2020.

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/healthcare-it-252.html

Population Health Management Market by Component (Software, Services), by Delivery Mode (Web-based, Cloud-based), by End-User (Healthcare Providers, Healthcare Payers, Employer Groups) - Analysis & Global Forecasts to 2020.

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/population-health-management-market-263411936.html

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MarketsandMarkets is world's No. 2 firm in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors.

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NEWTOWN, CT -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- Halitron, Inc. (OTC: HAON), an equity holding company implementing a roll-up of sales, marketing, and manufacturing businesses, today is excited to announce the acquisition of ArchivalMuseumSupplies, a leading direct marketing brand from Plastic Retail Displays, LLC.

ArchivalMuseumSupplies is a brand that sells primarily archival-grade storage products like metal edge storage boxes, envelopes, sleeves, and bags unitizing archival-grade materials that help preserve valuable contents for an extended period of time. The brand's target customer base includes museums, libraries, archivists, and professional photographers. In an asset acquisition, Halitron, Inc. acquired a customer list totaling over 128,576 customers, the www.ArchivalMuseumSupplies.com website, and digital artwork files utilized for print and email blast campaigns.

Eliazar Valdez Rosales, General Manager of Plastic Retail Displays, LLC, commented, "The ArchivalMuseumSupplies brand competes in a niche market with tremendous potential. Additionally, many of the products sold can be manufactured at our recently acquired manufacturing plant, PRD Holdings, Inc., which enhances our total gross margins."

In the asset acquisition of ArchivalMuseumSupplies, Halitron, Inc. also acquired equipment, molds & dies, raw material, finished goods and valuable know-how within a very talented management team and employee base to produce goods with high quality at low costs. Halitron, Inc. acquired the brand, ArchivalMuseumSupplies, in an asset sale from Plastic Retail Displays, LLC, for a total purchase of $635,319; paid $119,359 in a short term note payable and $515,960 paid via the issuance of 74,776,846 in restricted common stock valued at $.0069 per share which was the close price on March 15th, 2016. With the acquisition of www.ArchivalMuseumSupplies.com, the Company will add an additional 35% gross profit margin by manufacturing a number of products it sells to the end user.

Halitron's CEO Bernard Findley expressed his reason for the acquisition. "ArchivalMuseumSupplies competes in a niche market that has lower risks associated with economic downturns as the product is a staple within the niche archiving community," he stated. "The brand also opens up the opportunity to evaluate digital archiving based on leveraging the current customer base with new products and services."

With the acquisition of ArchivalMuseumSupplies, the Average Order Value (AOV) is $130.44 which increases the AOV for the company by $9.25 per order or an increase of 8.6% from $107.73 to $116.98. By merging the factory with the brand an incremental 35% gross margins or $45.65 per order will be the result in the synergies between the two businesses.

Mr. Findley added, "Halitron, Inc. now owns NDG Holdings Inc., a digital marketing company (acquired Jan '15), PRD Holdings Inc., a Mexican based factory (acquired Feb '16), and two niche brands, PiecesInPlaces (acquired Feb '16) and Archival Museum Supplies (acquired Mar '16). The base business model is in full operations with strong digital marketing, efficient manufacturing, and well-known brands in niche markets. Management is actively seeking out additional acquisitions to roll into its infrastructure and leverage the infrastructure that has been created."

ArchivalMuseumSupplies is the sixth acquisition since 2015 and the third acquisition in 2016. Halitron, Inc. is on a run rate to generate over $10M in sales over the next three years, including its current pipeline of acquisitions.

About Halitron, Inc.

Halitron, Inc., an equity holding company, is focused on acquiring sales, marketing, and manufacturing businesses, and then rolling them into an efficient, low-cost operating infrastructure. The Company is structured with two Strategic Business Units; Sales & Marketing Division and a Manufacturing Division. Management targets operating entities that can either benefit from current operating infrastructure or operate autonomously and offer an additional product or service to scale existing operations. For more information on Halitron, Inc., please visit www.halitroninc.com.

To learn more about our business model, visit http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/HAON/video-and-presentations

Sales & Marketing Division -- Companies that have operations in traditional marketing services and branded sales opportunities.

Current Equity Assets/Holdings:

NDG Holdings, Inc. - digital marketing

www.PiecesInPlaces.com - brand sales

www.ArchivalMuseumSupplies.com - brand sales

Manufacturing Division -- Companies that have operations in the manufacturing industry.

Current Asset/Equity Holdings:

PRD Holdings Inc. - Mexican-based manufacturing

Safe Harbor Statement:

The information posted in this release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by use of the words "may," "will," "should," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "project," "intend," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing various engineering and manufacturing programs, changes in customer order patterns, changes in product mix, continued success in technological advances and delivering technological innovations, shortages in components, production delays due to performance quality issues with outsourced components, and various other factors beyond the Company's control.
New executive search firm leverages deep industry expertise, exceptional search credentials and SaaS-based technology to disrupt traditional methods with greater transparency and faster results

Firm also expands global reach with new offices in Bangalore and London

Kingsley Gate Partners, a new executive search firm created from the ground up to address talent recruitment needs in the digital age today announced its formal launch to serve global enterprises in the private equity, life sciences, technology, manufacturing and professional services fields. Accomplished founding partners Nancy Albertini, Umesh Ramakrishnan and Buster Houchins conceived the concept for the firm several months ago, leveraging their deep executive search credentials, strong industry relationships and management skills, to design a company that is nimble and works hand-in-hand with its clients to find and attract the best executive talent for exactly the right fit.

"We've created something truly unique in the industry," stated Nancy Albertini, founding partner, Kingsley Gate Partners. "We took the time to analyze what was broken in the traditional search process and fixed it. We designed our firm to deliver the highest level of client service and transparency through our SaaS-based platform. By coupling technology with our deep expertise in executive search, we're able to deliver the highest caliber candidates. In fact, we're often contacted when other firms have failed in their efforts."

To build a firm with true global reach Kingsley Gate Partners recently opened offices in Bangalore and London. Coupled with its existing offices in the U.S., Israel and Singapore, the firm now serves North America, Europe and Asia with plans to expand into South America in the coming months.

Clients have already experienced the advantages of working with Kingsley Gate Partners. Among its many recent high-level searches, the firm recently supported Veritas in finding its new CFO Mick Lopez and CHRO George Haddad. The firm also works with Best Buy, CenturyLink, Corning, Ernst Young, Experian, Ford, Ingram Micro, Medtronic, Neustar and Warburg Pincus.

Bringing executive search into the digital age, Kingsley Gate Partners invested in creating a unique SaaS-based technology platform that incorporates a selectively curated 1.6 million-member executive database to help the firm's partners find exceptional candidates faster. In addition, the firm has gone beyond traditional approaches to create evaluation standards designed for the digital world, including a three phase approach incorporating experiential and cultural assessment; psychological evaluation, and detailed in-depth reference checks, to provide clients with a thorough understanding of the expertise a candidate brings to the position.

"What sets us apart from other executive search firms is how we're leveraging technology to augment our search expertise to deliver greater transparency and results for our clients," stated founding partner Umesh Ramakrishnan. "The longer a search takes, the more expensive it can be for our clients due to lost productivity or the inability to generate revenue. We give our clients access to our search process, so they know exactly what we're doing at any point in time. We have a philosophy of continual investment to ensure our technology meets our needs today and well into the future to create a win-win-win situation for our candidates, our clients and our partnership."

Founding partners Albertini, Ramakrishnan and Houchins bring more than 75 years of combined search industry expertise to Kingsley Gate Partners. Nancy Albertini founded Taylor Winfield in 1986 partnering with private equity firms to provide executive search services to emerging companies. She later went on to found financial advisory services firm Pagemill Partners before starting Kingsley Gate, which was the predecessor to Kingsley Gate Partners. Both Buster Houchins and Umesh Ramakrishnan previously worked in senior roles at CTPartners, one of the world's largest retained executive search firms. Houchins also brings extensive operations and management background from roles with General Electric, ADAC Laboratories, Acuson and Sopha Medical Systems. Ramakrishnan previously held various senior executive and board positions gaining experience in strategic planning and operations as the president and COO of an EPC company.

About Kingsley Gate Partners

Designed for the digital world, retained global executive search firm Kingsley Gate Partners leverages its deep industry insights, vast search experience and state-of-the-art technology to bring transparency and faster results to the search process. Through its industry-leading, multi-phase evaluation process, the firm's search partners deliver the right candidates to meet the needs of discerning clients. Headquartered in Dallas, the partnership employs consultants and recruiters worldwide with expertise in private equity, life sciences, technology, manufacturing and professional services.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160316005397/en/

Contacts:

Finn Partners

Justin Goldstein

Phone: 212.715.1601

Email: Justin.Goldstein@FinnPartners.com
MARKHAM, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- VIQ Solutions Inc. ("VIQ", "VIQ Solutions" or the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE: VQS) is pleased to announce that reseller Voice Products of Wichita has been awarded a digital court recording and case management integration project in Kansas.

The customer, a judicial district consisting of courts across multiple Kansas counties, was looking to modernize their digital court recording and management processes and was impressed with VIQ's advanced digital technology and its emphasis on integration, digital security and modularity. VIQ's powerful platform and the ability to integrate with the court's existing case management system via VIQ's innovative ICM Tool were key technology differentiators for the customer.

This contract marks the third court modernization win in recent months for Voice Products using VIQ technology.

"Sophisticated court customers across the US are recognizing the superiority of the VIQ and Voice Products offering as they look to modernize their digital court recording and evidence management processes," said Pat Teschke, Regional Sales Manager of Voice Products. "VIQ's cutting-edge software workflow, as well their ability to seamlessly integrate with a court's existing technologies to further streamline workflow processes, really sets VIQ apart for our clients."

In addition to the latest VIQ recording and management capabilities, the court also added VIQ's innovative ICM Tool for integration with their existing case management system. The ICM Tool is an integrated workflow tool that seamlessly connects to and imports information from the court's existing case management system, boosting efficiency by preventing input errors and reducing the time required to manually key in case information.

VIQ's ICM Tool is currently in use with dozens of case management systems around the world as well as database systems for law enforcement, immigration or medical records management systems, online scheduling or booking software, and more.

"VIQ's ability to securely and seamlessly integrate with third-party database systems is one of the key technology features that really set us apart in the marketplace," said Sebastien Pare, CEO of VIQ Solutions. "The ICM Tool immediately increases productivity by automating the data entry process, letting our customers' harness the full power of their existing digital data infrastructure and creating an automated digital workflow that saves time and reduces errors. With our powerful database backend, VIQ is the only digital capture and management platform flexible enough to integrate with these third-party systems and provide this level of functionality to clients while maintaining the highest level of security and protecting their digital assets."

For more information on what is making the news at VIQ Solutions, please visit our website at www.viqsolutions.com/news.

About Voice Products

Voice Products is the leading provider of voice, video and call recording. Specialties include courtroom and interview room recording, video surveillance, body worn cameras, dictation and speech recognition software, access control, and customer interaction recording and analytics. Headquartered in Kansas with satellite offices throughout the US, Voice Products services healthcare, legal, education, utility, law enforcement and E911 customers across the country. For more information on Voice Products, please visit their website at www.voiceproducts.com.

About VIQ Solutions Inc.

VIQ Solutions is the leading technology and service platform provider for digital evidence capture and content management. Our secure modular software allows customers to onboard the VIQ platform at any stage of their organization's digitization, from the capture of digital content from video and audio devices through to online collaboration, mobility, data analytics and integration with sensors, facial recognition, speech recognition and case management or patient record systems. VIQ's technology leads the industry in security, meeting the highest international standards for digital/cyber security and privacy, including military and medical regulations.

Our solutions are in use in over 20 countries with tens of thousands of users in over 200 government and private agencies including law enforcement, immigration, medical, legal, insurance, courts, and transportation and transcription services. VIQ also provides end to end transcription services to several large government agencies through our Australia-based reporting and transcription partners. VIQ operates worldwide with partners like security integrators, audio-video specialists, and hardware and data storage suppliers. Managing digital media evidence is what we do, and we do it better than anyone else. For more information about VIQ Solutions, please visit www.viqsolutions.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

VIQ Solutions Inc.

Sebastien Pare

President and Chief Executive Officer

(905) 948-8266 ext. 221

spare@viqsolutions.com




PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Pascagoula Mayor Jim Blevins is accustomed to being peppered with questions from media, citizens, city council members and more.

But come next Tuesday, Blevins will put himself on the line with an entirely new group of questioners.

The Mayor's Youth Council will host the first-ever "Ask The Mayor" youth town hall meeting -- an opportunity for Pascagoula youth in grades 9-12 to fire away with questions foremost in their minds.

"We are exposed to Mayor Blevins and other city leaders pretty often, but that is not the case for everyone," said Mayor's Youth Council Mayor Joey Hasbrouck. "We wanted to offer the youth of our community a forum where they could be free to ask the mayor questions about the issues that affect them as residents, and also to show that our city leaders are open and willing to talk to us."

The meeting will be held at the Pascagoula Senior Center from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will open with an abridged version of Blevin's recent State of the City address, followed by the Q&A sessions. Light refreshments will be served.

The Pascagoula Mayor's Youth Council was founded in 2014 with the goal of providing an opportunity for high school students to learn how local government operates and provides services to the community.

Questions regarding the "Ask The Mayor" event should be directed to LaLinda Grace at lgrace@cityofpascagoula.com or to any Mayor's Youth Council member.
DENVER, CO--(Marketwired - March 16, 2016) - FutureLand Corp. (OTC PINK: FUTL), a leading provider of strategic real estate investment, grow facilities and material solutions to the global cannabis industry, announced today that FutureLand Oregon LLC., a subsidiary of FutureLand Corp., entered into a purchase and sale agreement to buy 40 acres of land in Southern Oregon. The land is currently operational as a licensed medical marijuana facility.



Cameron Cox, CEO of FutureLand Corp. said, "This marks an important milestone in our business plan and allows us to be one of the first public companies to enter the cultivation side of the business. As a result of the consulting agreement signed February 2, 2016 between Hemp, Inc.'s Industrial Hemp and Medical Marijuana Consulting Company and FutureLand Corp, I have been able to dialogue regularly with Bruce Perlowin, CEO of Hemp Inc. (OTC PINK: HEMP), as well as their consulting division, which has been instrumental in aiding us in making the decision to enter the market in this particular area. Specifically, Mr. Perlowin assisted us in identifying hemp farms in Oregon helping to mitigate any potential cross-pollinating threats."



FutureLand Corp agreed to purchase the property for $975,000 in cash and expects to close in the second quarter of 2016. Once the purchase is complete, FutureLand plans to file for a recreational license on the property. Information concerning this event was filed by the Company today with the Securities and Exchange Commission and can be obtained at www.sec.gov.



About FutureLand Corp.



FutureLand Corp., a Colorado company, is a cannabis and hemp specialty zoned land leasing company formed to capitalize upon the emerging global cannabis market. FutureLand, focuses on target acquisition, zoning, license fulfillment, site plan preparation and financing of cannabis or hemp grow facilities throughout the United States. We give growers the opportunity to grow. We monetize through leasing the land, leasing the structures on the land, financing interest revenue and management fees associated with cultivation centers. FutureLand retains ownership of all the land and the structures. FutureLand leases to both medical marijuana, retail marijuana as well as industrial hemp growers. FutureLand does not currently grow, distribute or sell marijuana. To request further information about FutureLand, please email us at info@futurelandcorp.com, log onto our website at http://www.futurelandcorp.com, or visit us on FB @ futurelandcorp and Twitter @futurelandcorp.



Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995



This press release may contain forward-looking statements covered within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, plans and timing for the introduction or enhancement of our services and products, statements about future market conditions, supply and demand conditions, and other expectations, intentions and plans contained in this press release that are not historical fact and involve risks and uncertainties. Our expectations regarding future revenues depend upon our ability to develop and supply products and services that we may not produce today and that meet defined specifications. When used in this press release, the words "plan," "expect," "believe," and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current expectations. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in technology and changes in pervasive markets. This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 27E of the Securities Act of 1934. Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Actual performance and results may differ materially from that projected or suggested herein due to certain risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, ability to obtain financing and regulatory and shareholder approval for anticipated actions.

Contact:

Media Contact

FutureLand Corp.

http://www.futurelandcorp.com

info@futurelandcorp.com

cox@futurelandcorp.com

(720) 370-3554

Twitter - @futurelandcorp

Facebook - futurelandcorp
ATLANTA, GA -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- T5 Data Centers (www.t5datacenters.com), innovators in providing state-of-the-art, customizable and highly reliable computing support environments, today announced that Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, an international legal practice, has signed as the latest customer for T5's Enterprise Solutions Suite at the company's T5@Atlanta data center. By licensing colocation and enterprise services from T5 Data Centers, the law firm will be able to take advantage of T5's "Smart-Tech" remote hands support as well as "ColoFlex" metered power services to more closely align costs with consumption.

Sutherland Asbill & Brennan is the latest law firm to sign as a T5 customer, whose secure and resilient enterprise colocation environments are well suited to host the critical data center needs of legal and financial services firms. The combination of enterprise-grade facilities, services and connectivity solutions was compelling enough for Sutherland to relocate its data center from Virginia to T5@Atlanta while positioning them for long-term growth as they provide secure data access to partners and offices around the globe. As part of its move into the T5@Atlanta colocation facility, the firm also plans to take advantage of T5 Facilities Management (T5FM) services, which provides comprehensive data center operations and management to ensure optimal uptime while managing total costs. In addition, T5's Enterprise Solutions Suite includes a consumable infrastructure billing model with metered power and managed bandwidth, so the law firm only pays for services it actually uses.

"Our ColoFlex consumption-based billing model was a key factor in Sutherland's decision to move its data center operations to T5@Atlanta," said Craig McKesson, Executive Vice President of Enterprise Solutions for T5. "As companies continue to move toward hybrid cloud deployments they're looking for a way to better align the cost models of their private environments to those of the public cloud. T5 ColoFlex offers the best of both by providing the added advantages of better data control and security, better reliability as well as cost containment while also enabling our customers to connect to their preferred public cloud environments. We're excited to welcome Sutherland Asbill & Brennan into T5 and expect to see more law firms move away from paper archives and adopt an extensible data repository to simplify data access and strengthen regulatory compliance."

T5 Data Centers currently offers turnkey enterprise services at its T5@Atlanta and T5@LA data centers. T5's Enterprise Solutions provides a simplified approach to IT, offering top-tier managed networking and colocation services purpose-built to meet each customer's unique demands.

For more information about T5's data center services, visit www.t5datacenters.com.

About T5 Data Centers

T5 Data Centers (T5) is a leading national data center owner and operator, committed to delivering customizable, scalable data centers that provide an "always on" computing environment to power mission critical business applications. T5 Data Centers provides enterprise colocation data center services to organizations across North America using proven, best-in-class technology and techniques to design and develop facilities that deliver the lowest possible total cost of operations for its clients. T5 currently has business-critical data center facilities in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, Portland and Charlotte with new projects announced in New York, and Colorado. All of T5's data center projects are purpose-built facilities featuring robust design, redundant and reliable power and telecommunications, and have 24-hour staff to support mission-critical computing applications.

For more information, visit www.t5datacenters.com.

Contact:



Aaron Wangenheim

T5 Data Centers

(415) 292-7700

aaron@t5datacenters.com




GENEVA, SWITZERLAND -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- Novimmune, a Swiss biotech company, today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to NI-0501 for the treatment of patients with primary HLH with refractory disease, or with recurrent or progressive disease during conventional therapy. NI-0501 is a fully human, anti-interferon-gamma (IFNy) monoclonal antibody discovered and developed by Novimmune. The biological activity of IFNy, which is considered to have a pivotal pathogenic role in HLH, is neutralized by NI-0501, the first targeted therapy for this disease.

"The FDA's designation of NI-0501 as a Breakthrough Therapy recognizes the potential of NI-0501 to address an important unmet medical need in a disease with still high mortality, and for which there are no approved treatments," said Novimmune Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Eduard Holdener. "We look forward to working closely with the regulatory authorities to bring NI-0501 to patients suffering from this devastating disease as fast as possible," added Novimmune Chief Medical Officer, Cristina de Min.

The Breakthrough Therapy Designation is intended to expedite the development and review of new therapies for serious or life threatening conditions, which have shown encouraging early clinical results demonstrating substantial improvement on a clinically significant endpoint over available therapies.

This Breakthrough Therapy Designation for NI-0501 was granted by the FDA on the basis of clinical data from a Phase 2 study in children with primary HLH. Preliminary results from the Phase 2 study have been presented as a late breaking abstract at the American Society of Hematology meeting in Orlando, 8th December 2015.

NI-0501 received orphan drug designation from both the FDA and the EMA in 2010.

Novimmune has been awarded by the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) of the European Commission a EUR6 million grant to the "FIGHT HLH" consortium of institutions to support clinical testing of Novimmune's anti-interferon gamma drug candidate, NI-0501.

About Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)

HLH is a hyperinflammatory syndrome characterized by uncontrolled and aberrant activation of the immune system and a life-threatening cytokine storm presenting with non-remitting fever, pancytopenia, coagulopathy, and hemophagocytosis potentially leading to death. Two forms of HLH are described: primary HLH is genetically determined and is typically diagnosed in infants and young children, while secondary HLH occurs on a background of a rheumatic/inflammatory disease, a malignancy or an infection.

Mortality in patients with primary and secondary HLH remains high, despite the use of aggressive immune-chemotherapy.

About Novimmune

Novimmune SA is a Swiss biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of antibody-based drugs for the targeted treatment of inflammatory and rare diseases, immune-related disorders, and cancer. The Company is headquartered in Geneva. More information is available on the Company website at www.novimmune.com.

Contact:

Eduard Holdener

+41 22 839 71 41

Email Contact




PORTLAND, OR -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- Janrain, the leading global provider of Customer Identity Management solutions, today announced the unveiling of Janrain Segments, its new product offering built for marketers. Janrain Segments offers customers unparalleled segmentation data with behavior-rich predictive targeting to improve personalized marketing efforts. Janrain is the only customer identity management platform with a segmentation capability.

Janrain Segments brings modern marketing and data science together to take personalized marketing experiences further without adding unnecessary vendors to segment the data. It makes big data analytics tools accessible to any marketing team so they are equipped with the most relevant and meaningful customer data to execute successful marketing programs.

"We developed Janrain Segments to support technology teams and help their marketing and business counterparts move digital transformation initiatives forward," said Janrain VP of Product Jamie Beckland. "Adding this horizontal functionality to the Janrain platform brings marketing's existing audience and customer segments to every touch point in the customer journey."

Janrain Segments enriches the customer identity platform by utilizing the latest in data science to surface new customer insights. By integrating this insights tool within the existing Janrain platform, brands can focus on developing more unique and personalized cross-channel customer experiences. Through Janrain Segments, marketers can improve targeting efforts to achieve higher return on investment in advertising and marketing programs.

To learn more about Janrain Segments call 1.888.563.3082. For additional information about Janrain and its proprietary Customer Identity Management solutions visit www.Janrain.com.

About Janrain

Janrain makes it easy to know your customers and personalize every interaction. Our Customer Identity Management Platform helps companies build a unified view of their customers across all devices by collecting accurate customer profile data to power personalized marketing. The platform encompasses social login, registration, customer profile data storage, customer insights, single sign-on, and engagement. Janrain powers customer identity management for brands like Universal Music Group, Pfizer, Samsung, Whole Foods, Fox News, Philips, Marvel, Mattel and Dr. Pepper. Founded in 2005, Janrain is based in Portland, Oregon, with offices in London, Paris, Singapore, and Redwood City, Calif. For more information, please visit www.janrain.com and follow @janrain.
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- Padtec, a global leader in optical communication technology, announces today it was selected by Google for managing and executing the deployment of high capacity submarine network connecting Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo.

The submarine cable, named Junior in honor of Brazilian painter Jose Ferraz de Almeida Junior, will link Praia da Macumba Beach in Rio de Janeiro and Praia Grande Beach in Baixada Santista.

The turnkey submarine solution provided by Padtec is approximately 390 kilometers long and will enable interconnection to other Google submarine and terrestrial infrastructure in the region with the goal of expanding Google's data transmission infrastructure in Latin America. The system is comprised of eight fiber pairs and will be illuminated using Padtec's submarine optical line amplifiers -- developed and manufactured in Brazil -- and will also showcase Padtec's LightPad i6400G SLTE, a high capacity and low latency optical integrated platform with metro, long-haul, and ultra long-haul capabilities.

"Collaborating with Google on such an important project as a technological partner is exhilarating," says Padtec CEO Manuel Andrade. "Above all, we are very excited because it is a solution developed with in-country technology."

Padtec's submarine repeater was tested and qualified to withstand the harshest environments and extremely high pressure to ensure transoceanic transmissions ultra-long distances. The equipment is part of Padtec's turnkey solution for submarine systems, including the planning, management and execution of the project, in addition to integrating world-renowned submarine component suppliers.

"We are very happy to work with Padtec," says Cristian Ramos, Google's Internet Infrastructure Development Partnerships Manager for Latin America. "The company is already globally recognized in the terrestrial optical transport systems sector and with this project, Padtec becomes a new player in the submarine transmission industry. All of this thanks to the investment in talent and research and development. The best of all is that we are talking about a Brazilian company."

The system deployment conclusion, from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo, and start of operations is scheduled for the second half of 2017.

About the solution of Padtec for submarine systems

With great expertise in DWDM systems for optical backbones, Padtec meets market opportunities with a complete solution for submarine optical communication systems, including optical amplifiers, optical submarine cables, Submarine Line Terminal Equipment SLTE, deployment of submerged and terrestrial plants, in addition to the management and support structure. For in-service submarine networks, Padtec also provides operation and maintenance services with its own vessel. In 2014, Padtec held a Sea Trial in the Caribbean Sea, in the presence of authorities and customers. (The Sea Trial video is available in http://www.padtec.com.br/en/plataforma/redes-submarinas/case-1753).

About Padtec

Padtec is a global manufacturer and solutions provider of turnkey optical solutions. The company offers products that span from corporate access, data center interconnection, long-haul terrestrial backbone to complete submarine multi-terabit solutions. Padtec enables customers worldwide and is the premier and largest Latin American manufacturer of optical networking equipment, headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. With a strong focus on research and development, Padtec create custom solutions for global networks leveraging pioneering technology and robust mission critical support.

www.padtec.com | facebook.com/padtec | @Padtec

For Padtec media inquiries, please contact:

Jaymie Scotto & Associates

866-695-3629 ext. 20

Email Contact




CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - March 16, 2016) - Trustwave  and LifeJourney' today announced a global education initiative to help address the skills gap facing the information security industry by providing students with the resources and mentorship needed to discover and develop future careers in cybersecurity.

Mentors from Trustwave will help students explore cybersecurity careers, plan higher education and industry certification paths. The LifeJourney platform features interactive video trailers, interactive sessions and skills-building virtual field trips, helping students explore cybercrime investigation techniques with Trustwave Global Director of Incident Response and Computer Forensics Brian Hussey and members of his team. They will offer inside views into what working in this rapidly-growing field is like, the steps students need to take to excel during and after their education, and additional tips from experts who are on the front lines of helping businesses and government with cybersecurity.

"The shortage of skilled information security professionals is not only an issue we must address immediately in the workforce but also for the future in the world's classrooms," said Robert J. McCullen, Chief Executive Officer and President at Trustwave. "By teaming with LifeJourney on this initiative, Trustwave hopes that students have an informative and engaging opportunity to explore the challenging world of cybersecurity, choose this exciting career path, and join in our cause to fight cybercrime, protect data and reduce risk."

According to the independent, nonprofit IT association ISACA, 83% of enterprises currently lack the right skills and human resources to protect their IT assets, and more than one million unfilled security jobs exist globally. Yet, filling those jobs proves difficult with 35% of cybersecurity professionals reporting that they are unable to fill open positions, 53% saying it takes 3-6 months to find a qualified candidate, and only 16% feeling at least half of their applicants are qualified. The future doesn't look brighter either as less than 2.4% of graduating students hold computer science degrees. 1

"Businesses worldwide are turning to cybersecurity experts to protect against threats that can cause financial and reputational damage, but the noted skills gap in the industry has both short-term and long-term repercussions that must be addressed by encouraging students to enter the field and giving them career exploration programs like LifeJourney that motivates them and puts them onto the right path for a productive cybersecurity career," said Rick Geritz, Chief Executive Officer of LifeJourney. "For cybersecurity, one of the most exciting and promising career fields in science, technology, engineering and math, we're excited to team with an industry leader like Trustwave to bring unique, in-demand cybersecurity expertise to students globally."

1 http://www.isaca.org/About-ISACA/Press-room/Pages/Infographics-and-Photos.aspx

About LifeJourney

LifeJourney' is a technology company whose online career simulation and mentorship platform enables students to test drive their future in Cyber by living a day in the life of America's STEM professionals. To learn more visit https://www.lifejourney.us/.

About Trustwave

Trustwave helps businesses fight cybercrime, protect data and reduce security risk. With cloud and managed security services, integrated technologies and a team of security experts, ethical hackers and researchers, Trustwave enables businesses to transform the way they manage their information security and compliance programs. More than three million businesses are enrolled in the Trustwave TrustKeeper cloud platform, through which Trustwave delivers automated, efficient and cost-effective threat, vulnerability and compliance management. Trustwave is headquartered in Chicago, with customers in 96 countries. For more information about Trustwave, visit https://www.trustwave.com.

All trademarks used herein remain the property of their respective owners. Their use does not indicate or imply a relationship between Trustwave and the owners of such trademarks.

Dillon Townsel

Media Relations

dtownsel@trustwave.com

+1 (312) 995-5732
TORONTO, CANADA -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- BacTech Environmental Corporation ("BacTech" or the "Company"), (CSE: BAC)(OTC PINK: BCCEF) (WKN: A1H4TY) announced today that it has engaged two highly specialized consultants as a result of attending the recent Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference in Toronto, Canada. Both specialists were engaged to pursue the Company's mercury reduction in Ecuador and Peru initiative that was announced in 2015.

Since 1997, Dr. Marcello Veiga has worked as a professor at the Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering within the University of British Columbia. He has published over 300 papers on issues related to mining and the environment. From 2002 to 2008, he worked as an expert and Chief Technical Advisor of the Global Mercury Project for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization ("UNIDO") in Vienna, Austria. The work included environmental and health assessments of mercury pollution in artisanal gold mining in Asia, Africa and South America, as well as the implementation of national policies and procedures to reduce mercury emissions and increase gold recovery. Since 2008, he has been a key consultant for many mining concerns and international agencies dealing with the issues of artisanal mining. His work has led him to over 20 countries globally.

The second specialist engaged by BacTech relates to the dissemination and awareness of news associated with the problems created by artisanal mining in developing countries. Mr. Ellis Martin created The Ellis Martin Report in 1999 as a radio and media resource that assists small and mid-cap public companies in getting their message out to shareholders and prospective investors. Mr. Martin will be working with Dr. Veiga to raise the public's awareness of artisanal mining and its' related mercury and arsenic issues.

"There is a need to educate people about the devastating effects of mercury use in small mining centers. I believe deploying BacTech's proprietary environmental remediation technologies with respect to mine tailings and artisanal mining problems will lead to increased health and wealth amongst afflicted communities. The answer is raising the awareness of the problem and subsequently bringing technology to alleviate the environmental problems," stated Ellis Martin.

Late in 2015, BacTech announced a mercury reduction initiative using bioleaching as the treatment process for high-grade gold and arsenic concentrates in Peru. Bioleaching is an effective tool in stabilizing arsenic as a ferric arsenate and liberating the contained metals for economic recovery.

Presently, BacTech and Duran Ventures Inc. ("Duran"), (TSX VENTURE: DRV) have a signed Memorandum of Understanding to review the possibility of building a bioleach plant to treat Arsenic rich concentrates. Duran is in the final stages of completing a 100 tpd flotation circuit at their site near Trujillo and once completed, a bioleach plant will be proposed to be built at Duran's site. The first task for Dr. Vega is to locate potential feed material for the proposed bioleach plant in Peru, as well as the possibility of another plant in southern Ecuador. It is anticipated that these plants will be built on a small-scale model, processing less than 50 tpd of concentrate. The reduced capital for the plant, along with the high-grade gold feeds should allow for very rapid debt repayment and positive cash flow once operating.

With respect to Bolivia, the management of BacTech met with the Minister of Mines for Bolivia at PDAC to discuss the lengthy delays in signing an association contract with COMIBOL, the state mining company. The Minister pledged his support in getting a contract to process the Telamayu Tailings signed as soon as possible. In addition, the Company discussed with the Minister other potential sites that could use the Company's bioleaching technology in Bolivia.

Finally, the Company announced today that the Board of Directors have approved the issuance of 2,850,000 options to purchase common shares of the Company to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company. The exercise price of the options is $0.07. They are subject to a four-month hold and have a term of 5 years.

The total number of outstanding options under the Company's plan, including the grant above, is now 3,203,000 options or approximately 7.6% of the outstanding shares. The Stock Option Plan allows for up to 10% of the outstanding common shares to be reserved for stock options.

Company Profile

BacTech Environmental Corporation holds the perpetual, exclusive, royalty-free rights to use the patented BACOX bioleaching technology for the reclamation of tailings and mining waste materials. The Company's principle focus is a high-grade silver/copper tailings project called Telamayu, located in Atocha, Bolivia, in association with COMIBOL, the state mining group. Recently, the Company signed an MOU with Duran Ventures Inc. to explore the viability of building a BACOX plant in Peru to treat high-grade gold/arsenic ores. The Company continues to field enquiries globally with respect to additional opportunities for remediation, including licensing transactions for the technology.

Visit Minelife.org to learn more about BacTech's projects.

Follow us on:

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BacTechGreen

Twitter http://twitter.com/BacTechGreen

LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/company/1613873

Vimeo http://vimeo.com/bactechgreen

YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/bactechgreen

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information", which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to future tailings sites, sampling or other investigations of tailing sites, the Company's ability to make use of infrastructure around tailings sites or operating performance of the Company and its projects. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Shares outstanding 42,393,994

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release.

Contacts:

BacTech Environmental Corporation

Ross Orr

President & CEO

416-813-0303 ext 222

borr@bactechgreen.com




MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc. (the "Company" or "BVT") (TSX VENTURE: BEE) is pleased to provide a summary of independently verified results from six commercial demonstrations of its crop inoculation system carried out for leading US-based strawberry growers. Notably, trials were carried out in both indoor and open field settings.

Background

Commencing in December 2015, BVT, in conjunction with one of the largest global bee producers, started demonstrations of its crop inoculation system with leading strawberry growers in six US locations - two in North Carolina, two in South Carolina and two in Florida - in an effort to prove its viability, effectiveness and economic value to growers.

The Carolina demonstrations were all carried out within indoor hoop house growing environments, a growing segment of fruit production implemented to capitalize on lucrative demand for fruit during winter months. During peak winter season growers can realize USD$3 a pound at the peak and around USD$1 at low season.

The Florida demonstrations were carried out in an open field environment. This method of growing strawberries accounts for the bulk of acreage in the USA, estimated to be around 60,000 acres. These demonstrations were conducted in segregated plots using current fungicide programs and non-fungicide - BVT only - plots. All plots were planted with identical plant species and experienced identical weather conditions. Comparisons were therefore made against current processes under verifiable conditions.

Results

Yield and Plant Quality

The use of BVT products resulted in improvements to plant quality resulting in fewer diseases like Botrytis and anthracnose. BVT was found to typically save 15 fungicide sprayings in each site. Each spray has an approximate cost of USD$40/acre. Plots treated with the BVT system were found to have a 30+% higher fruit yield than those treated with fungicide. These findings were gathered by third-party personnel and were independently verified by plant pathologist, John Sutton, PhD whose full report on the BVT demonstration site results can be viewed here - www.beevt.com/wp/studies-reports/2016-Strawberry-Data-Assessment.pdf.

"Strawberries are in the initial five targeted crops BVT is concentrating on. Although the results from these trials were remarkable, they were not unexpected as we have seen similar results in prior sites. The BVT mode of action has evolved over millions of years and its by-products are healthier stronger plants, larger, better quality fruit and an absence of major diseases which translates typically into longer shelf life. We are hopeful that growers and consumers will benefit from an environmentally friendly and sustainable system that will assist in producing food to consumer demands," said Michael Collinson, CEO.

Economic Value

Each strawberry acre has approximately 17,000 plants that can commonly produce approximately 35,000lbs of fruit. With prices reaching USD$3 per pound during peak periods, each acre has a market value of up to USD$60,000. A 30% increase in yield through utilization of the BVT system would therefore have the potential to increase revenue by up to USD$18,000/acre. The current cost of fungicide treatment ranges from USD$600-1200 per acre. The BVT system is comparable in price but carries with it, compelling ancillary benefits of, among others, higher yields and organic processes.

Although trial data pertaining to the shelf life of fruit grown using BVT is still being collated, typically, in the absence of disease, this is expected to increase. This has been observed in previous trials.

Scott Weathington from Agri Tech who was conducting the trials noted, "The BVT system shows promise in berries and other crops. We see increases in yield and quality. We plan to continue to explore the BVT system with trials at our own facility beginning April 1. The preliminary results are encouraging and the entire process seems to have strong future potential."

Issues addressed

Growers are compelled to use fungicides and chemical sprays on a regular basis in order to combat common diseases, such as Botrytis, associated with commercial strawberry production. Botrytis is the most common and costly disease in strawberries and can reduce crop value substantially and, in some cases, destroy the entire crop. This pathogenic fungi is hard to detect in the early stages and, whether Botrytis is visible or not, growers must spray fungicides consistently throughout the growing period to insure a healthy crop.

However, repeated and excessive use of chemical fungicides has two major issues. Each chemical application stalls the plant's growth reducing its size and that of its fruit. Secondly, over time, the pathogen being treated will build resistance to the chemical fungicide ultimately rendering the chemical ineffectual. In comparison, the BVT system assists and stimulates the plant in blocking disease and does not stunt growth. This results in larger, healthier plants which, in turn, produce healthier and larger strawberries. In addition, although not the key positioning of the company, the BVT system is entirely organic which in turn, typically attracts higher prices. According to a recently published TechSci Research report, "Global Organic Food Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2020", global organic food market is projected to register a CAGR of over 16% during 2015 - 2020.

The BVT system demonstrations in North and South Carolina will continue well into May 2016 and further results will be announced as they become available. The strawberry trials will cease in Florida due to temperatures not being conducive to strawberry production. Additional replicated strawberry trials are commencing immediately at the University of North Carolina under the direction of Frank Louws, PhD, a Professor of plant pathology at North Carolina State University. For his comments with respect to the efficacy of certain fungicides in the Carolinas please visit the following link:

https://strawberries.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Fungicide-Decisions-for-Botrytis-and-Anthracnose-2016-FINAL.pdf?fwd=no

The success of these demonstrations have also lead to 'open hoop environment' strawberry trials being requested and commencing in Mexico. These trials are expected to run from April 2016 to the end of the Mexican growing season in June 2016. The trial will recommence in September and continue through to June 2017. Mexico is fast becoming a major producer of berries, including strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. Growing is especially prevalent in the higher altitude regions where growing seasons extend beyond those of California and span the lucrative winter months. Mexico has approximately 25,000 acres of land devoted to berry production.

In partnership with Europe's largest bee rearing company, BVT will also commence strawberry trials and demonstrations on sites in Spain, Holland and Germany during Spring 2016. Europe is anticipated to become a significant market for BVT products as demand is increasing in many European countries for organic and pesticide-free produce.

About Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc.

BVT has developed and owns patented and patent-pending bee vectoring technology (consisting of a proprietary tray dispenser containing a unique carrier agent) that is designed to harmlessly utilize commercially reared bumblebees as natural delivery mechanisms for a variety of powdered mixtures comprised of organic compounds that inhibit or eliminate common crop diseases, while at the same time stimulating and enhancing the same crops. This unique and proprietary process facilitates a targeted delivery of crop controls using the simple process of bee pollination to replace traditional crop spraying, resulting in better yield, organic product and less impact on the environment without the use of water or disruptions to labour.

Additional information can be viewed at the Company's website www.beevt.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc.,

Michael Collinson, President & CEO

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that BVT expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: trials being conducted in Mexico, Spain, Holland and Germany, expectations with respect to trial results on the shelf life of fruit grown using the BVT system, growth in the market for organic and pesticide-free produce in Europe, BVT's future plans and technologies, including the timing of such plans and technologies. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "indicate" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although BVT believes that the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include continued availability of capital, financing and required resources (such as human resources, equipment and/or other capital resources), and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of BVT'S management on the date the statements are made. BVT undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change, except as required by law.

Contacts:

Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc.

Michael Collinson

President & CEO

647-660-5119

marketing@beevt.com

www.beevt.com



For media enquiries or interviews:

Josh Stanbury

416-628-7441

josh@sjspr.co.uk




DURHAM, NC--(Marketwired - March 16, 2016) - MetaMetrics, developer of the widely adopted Lexile Framework for Reading, is pleased to announce the formation of a pilot program within Job Corps, the nation's largest education and vocational training program for economically disadvantaged youth. The pilot will study the use of occupational reading demands in career planning. Job Corps will use MetaMetrics' Lexile Career Database to identify the reading demands of prospective occupations. With the Lexile Career Database, an individual enrolled in the Job Corps pilot will be able to identify the reading ability needed for a desired career and use this information to inform goal setting such that career readiness is attained.

The Lexile Career Database provides Lexile text measures for over 250 careers, as well as important descriptive information for each career. The database is a result of years of research examining the text complexity of a variety of reading materials in various domains of the postsecondary experience. Through their research, MetaMetrics identified, measured, and analyzed reading materials that are commonly encountered and used by individuals who are being trained for or are in their first year of employment. The Lexile Career Database features careers that have been classified as "Bright Outlook" careers by O*NET (Occupational Information Network), the premier online career search database designed for the U.S. Department of Labor. The "Bright Outlook" careers span sixteen career clusters identified by the U.S. Department of Education. "Bright Outlook" careers are careers that are expected to grow rapidly in the upcoming years, will have a large number of job openings or are new and emerging occupations.

Job Corps, administered by the United States Department of Labor, is a free education and training program that helps young people learn a career, earn a high school diploma or GED, and find and keep employment. Job Corps was established in 1964 with a mission to help economically disadvantaged youth, between ages 16 and 24, earn the education and career technical skills to build pathways to career opportunities and to their own personal success. During its five decades, Job Corps has grown to 126 centers, with locations in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. To date, Job Corps has provided education and training to more than two million young people.

"For over fifty years, Job Corps has made a big impact on disadvantaged youth and our economy," added Malbert Smith, III, Ph.D., president and cofounder of MetaMetrics. "We are excited that the use of Lexile measures to promote career readiness has the potential to add value to the wonderful work that Job Corps provides."

About MetaMetrics

MetaMetrics is focused on improving education for learners of all ages and ability levels. The organization develops scientific measures of academic achievement and complementary technologies that link assessment results with real-world instruction. MetaMetrics' products and services for reading (The Lexile Framework for Reading, El Sistema Lexile para Leer), mathematics (The Quantile Framework for Mathematics) and writing (The Lexile Framework for Writing) provide unique insights about academic ability and the potential for growth, enabling individuals to achieve their goals at every stage of development. Connect with the organization at: http://blog.lexile.com.

Elizabeth Lattanzio

Communications Director

elattanzio@lexile.com
LAS VEGAS, NV -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- KSIX Media Holdings, Inc. ("KSIX" and/or "Company") (OTC PINK: KSIX), a Las Vegas, Nevada-based publicly traded company under the ticker symbol KSIX on the OTC, announces the completion of the audit for calendar year ended December 31, 2014 and the financial statements (along with pro forma comparisons) for third quarter ended September 30, 2015 for its first acquisition DigitizeIQ, LLC ("DigitizeIQ"), with the filing of the Form 8-K/A with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

With the acquisition of DigitizeIQ, the Company will be able to greatly increase revenues while reducing the costs. Previously DigitizeIQ had revenues over $3.675M for nine months ended September 30, 2015. By stabilizing the gross revenue for DigitizeIQ in tort law sector, this will allow expansion into verticals that have large scalability. DigitizeIQ utilizes Facebook and substantial KSIX funds to reach these affected persons.

"We're extremely excited about the acquisition," said KSIX Media Holdings, Inc. CEO Carter Matzinger. "It brings great opportunity to our skillset here at Ksix and enhances our marketing offers to our clients."

The company has outlined their strategy to grow the business by capturing a larger segment of the digital advertising business by expanding its technology, strategy, current products and acquiring additional strategic companies. With this new addition they are well on their way to meeting their goals for 2016. This is the first of many acquisitions, with several already lined up, where companies are looking to be taken to next level. The goal for 2016 is to complete another 2-3 additional acquisitions and continually increasing shareholder value.

Matzinger said, "With a laser focus on our proprietary technology while integrating new acquisitions into the technology, this allows us to scale more effectively and increase marketing ROI."

"Our goal is to integrate companies that have a good advertiser base, which can benefit from our other marketing verticals," he said. "This way our acquisitions are accretive and most beneficial for Ksix."

Watch Matzinger's exclusive interview on the Investor Town Hall Show discussing the details about the acquisition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsePC1mRFg0

ABOUT KSIX MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC.

For a Past Interview with Ksix Media Holdings, Inc. Outlining the Company and Strategy

Click Here: https://youtu.be/t0bkwXa5KQU

KSIX Media Holdings, Inc. (OTC PINK: KSIX) http://www.ksixmedia.com is an SEC fully reporting media and Internet company located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Currently, the Company operates three wholly-owned subsidiaries: KSIX, LLC; Blvd Media Group, LLC; and DigitizeIQ, LLC.

KSIX, LLC is an advertising network designed to create revenue streams for their affiliates and to provide advertisers with increased measurable audience. KSIX provides performance-based marketing solutions to drive traffic and conversions within a Cost-Per-Action ("CPA") business model. KSIX has an online advertising network that works directly with advertisers and other networks to promote advertiser campaigns. KSIX manages offer tracking, reporting and distribution on the third-party platform.

BMG Media Group, LLC provides the tools for web publishers to drive traffic and increase revenue. BMG's mission is to monetize the Internet, promoting incentive-based advertisements resulting in more clicks, greater lead generation, and increased revenues.

DigitizeIQ, LLC is one of the largest social media digital advertising agencies specializing in survey generation, and landing page optimization in the tort law vertical. Utilizing Facebook and proprietary software surveys are generated internally resulting in quality and a high conversion rate for the clients.

Safe Harbor" Statement: This press release contains forward-looking statements, including expected industry patterns and other financial and business results that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from results expressed or implied by this press release. Such risk factors include, among others: the sustainability of recent growth rates in of the company; the positioning of Ksix Media Holdings, Inc. in the market; ability to integrate both developed and acquired companies and technology; ability to retain key employees; ability to successfully market product offerings and customer acceptance of products; general market conditions, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, changes to systems and product strategy by vendors of systems; and whether Ksix Media Holdings, Inc. can successfully gain market share. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements in this press release. Since this information may contain statements that involve risk and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, the company's actual results may differ materially from expected results.

Contact:



Carter Matzinger

President

KSIX Media Holdings, Inc.

info@ksix.com



Investor Contact

OmniVance Advisors

Daniel Wong

PR@ksix.com

858-381-5740




George Co. visits Al. State Docks.jpg

George County Supervisors recently toured the Alabama State Port Authority's facilities on Pinto Island. Pictured left to right are Supervisors Fred Croom, Henry Cochran and Kelly Wright, George County Economic Development Director Ken Flanagan, port representative Judy Adams, Mississippi Export Railroad representative Christopher Watkins and Supervisor Larry McDonald. (Photo courtesy of George County Board of Supervisors)

LUCEDALE, Mississippi -- George County leaders are looking to the east for regional partnerships that could help further develop at the county's 1,200-acre industrial park, which is about 40 miles from the Port of Mobile in Alabama.

The Alabama State Port Authority recently hosted a meeting with the George County Board of Supervisors and Mississippi Export Railroad.

Everything from the aerospace industry to waterfront access for rail cars was discussed during the meeting.

County leaders also updated the port on major utility upgrades that are underway at the industrial park, including increased water capacity, development of a new electric substation and several road widening projects.

The George County Industrial Park is directly connected to the port's public seaport and rail terminals with two means of transportation -- U.S. 98 and the Canadian National Railroad.

"Beyond the buzzwords, there is a real 'regional partnership' opportunity here," board President Larry McDonald said.

"The ninth largest port in the United States is a 50-minute drive from our industrial park," he said. "And dozens of railcars already roll through the county's industrial park each day heading to the Port of Mobile."

County supervisors and the state port representatives discussed key secondary connections, such as shared business partners Mississippi Export Railroad and American Tank & Vessel and dozens of George County residents working on the port's docks and wharfs.

District 5 Supervisor Henry Cochran called it a "getting reacquainted meeting."

"Based on the hospitality and the professionalism the Port of Mobile showed us, I feel we already have a solid relationship to build on," he said. "Our board is at the beginning of a new four-year term. This is the ideal time to reach out for new projects."

The county's industrial park currently has 353 acres designated as "Project Ready" by Mississippi Power. That means they have infrastructure and are ready for development.

"We told them, 'Our arms in George County are open wider than many locations along the Gulf Coast,'" Cochran said. "A lot of groups talk about regional development, but we are actively looking for it."

Cochran noted the county's already solid relationship with the Port of Pascagoula to the south in Jackson County.

"We ... feel it's important to develop similar relationship with the Port of Mobile," he said.

Following the meeting, port leaders took the supervisors on a guided tour of their railcar switching yards and covered storage facilities around Water Street in downtown Mobile.

The trip also included a visit to the state-of-the-art carbon steel slab handling facility on Pinto Island.

"This is an impressive operation," McDonald said of the port. "The Alabama State Port Authority's marine cargo activity is clearly one of the largest economic drivers for our entire area."


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. Government has announced new significant regulatory changes that eases sanctions against Cuba.



The measures, announced by the Departments of the Treasury and Commerce Tuesday, make it easier for Americans to travel to Cuba, expand access to U.S. financial institutions and the U.S. dollar from Cuba, and expand the ability for Cubans living in the U.S. to earn a salary.



The change in rules is expected to encourage more person-to-person educational travel and allow Cuban nationals to get jobs in the United States or to open U.S. bank accounts.



Under the current travel rules, educational trips must be sponsored by an educational organization.



These changes, coupled with the arrangement recently announced by the Departments of State and Transportation allowing up to 110 non-stop flights daily between the United States and Cuba, will significantly increase the ability of U.S. Citizens to travel to Cuba to directly engage with the Cuban people.



It means Cuban athletes and entertainers need not defect from Cuba to get jobs in the United States, officials said.



The new regulatory changes in easing of Cuba Sanctions is a follow-up action to what President Barack Obama said in his State of the Union address, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement. The new measure will open the door to increased travel and commerce between the two countries, he added.



The new rules came into effect Wednesday, barely a week ahead of Obama's historic visit to Cuba.



The visit, which is scheduled for March 21-22, is the latest in a series of big steps by the Obama administration in its efforts to normalize relations with Cuba.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
PARIS, FRANCE -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- BNP Paribas is currently the only bank offering Credit Institution agency status to online marketplace clients -- mainly e-commerce sites. BNP Paribas, which has long served as a banking partner to e-commerce players, will provide support to enable marketplace operators to carry on their business and help them comply fully with the regulations issued by ACPR, the French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority.

When an online marketplace carries out collection transactions on behalf of one of its retailers, it is basically providing two distinct services: taking in payment orders and executing bank transfers linked to a paying account. However, the EU Directive in force lays down that such payment services can only be carried out by an authorised payment services provider, so as to protect sellers and purchasers from incurring damage should the marketplace operator file for bankruptcy after collecting the funds.

BNP Paribas Cash Management is therefore offering to confer agency status on major online marketplaces, thus enabling them to benefit from the BNP Paribas banking licence so as to ensure that their transactions are in full compliance with the regulations. Online marketplace operators who take up this offer will have their funds protected by a top-rank banking player and also benefit from the Bank's expertise in combating money-laundering, notably the key Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures.

About BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas is a leading bank in Europe with an international reach. It has a presence in 75 countries, with more than 189,000 employees, including more than 146,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main activities: Domestic Markets and International Financial Services (whose retail-banking networks and financial services are covered by Retail Banking & Services) and Corporate & Institutional Banking, which serves two client franchises: corporate clients and institutional investors. The Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, the Group has four domestic markets (Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg) and BNP Paribas Personal Finance is the leader in consumer lending. BNP Paribas is rolling out its integrated retail-banking model in Mediterranean countries, in Turkey, in Eastern Europe and a large network in the western part of the United States. In its Corporate & Institutional Banking and International Financial Services activities, BNP Paribas also enjoys top positions in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific.

Twitter: Follow us on @Bnpparibas_pr

Press contact:

BNP Paribas

(+33) 1 40 14 40 02

pressoffice.paris@bnparibas.com




Control use of individual apps on your Android devices by time and place and do it remotely

Avira, developers of the award-winning Avira Antivirus, today announced the release of Avira AppLock+, the app that puts Android owners in direct control of what, where, and when every app is used on their device even when the device is far out of arm's reach or off at school.

AppLock+ is available free for Android devices with additional features available for premium users.

Avira's AppLock+ gives users direct control over each app on the device - and the ability to restrict app activity by a PIN password, the time of day, and geographic location. In addition, AppLock+ gives users the ability to remotely manage their devices and apps via the Avira Online Essentials dashboard.

"With a granular level of control and the ability to restrict app activity by time and location, AppLock+ answers an essential problem faced by parents around the globe: How we keep children from playing with a smartphone or accessing social media accounts during school hours, but still be accessible," said Andrei Petrus, product manager at Avira.

The need to moderate smartphone use at school is a modern priority as children have phones at an ever earlier age. According to a Pew Research Center report in 2015, 88 percent of US teens ages 13-17 have a mobile phone. And while multitasking has been a management buzzword, educators are increasingly critical of its impact on developing brains.

AppLock+ is not just for parents, it's also for the privacy conscious, points out Mr. Petrus. "By giving device owners control over access and app use, AppLock+ lets them decide what to share or not solving Android's weakness of a single default device lock. In addition, we've included our Online Essentials dashboard with AppLock+, giving people easy remote management over all of their devices."

Here are the three big advantages to AppLock+:

1. Parental Control Smart controls with a soft touch

AppLock+ enables parents to set healthy limits on smartphone usage without being intrusive. Game apps can be blocked at the school door with geo-lock restrictions or after-school time limits set for social media with the premium version

2. Privacy Protection Share it on your own terms

With AppLock+ you decide how much or how little someone can access your apps and private data. Apps can be locked by PIN and managed individually or in groups. It's your device, it's your choice with AppLock+.

3. Remote management Oversee device activities from anywhere

AppLock+ enables all users to remotely lock or unlock apps on their newly managed devices via Avira Online Essentials - the online dashboard included in all of Avira's consumer and business antivirus security products.

AppLock+ can be downloaded for free in the Google Play store with premium features available for purchase as well.

About Avira

Avira protects people in the connected world enabling everyone to manage, secure, and improve their digital lives. The Avira umbrella covers a portfolio of security and performance applications for Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS. In addition, the reach of our protective technologies extends through OEM partnerships. Our security solutions consistently lead in independent tests for detection, performance, and usability. Avira is a family-owned company with headquarters near Lake Constance, in Tettnang, Germany, and additional offices in Munich, Bucharest, Beijing, and Silicon Valley. A portion of Avira's sales support the Auerbach Foundation, which assists education, children, and families in need. For more information, please visit www.avira.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160316005840/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact USA:

Rocket Science PR

Rich Mullikin, APR, +1 415-464-8110 x216

rich@rocketscience.com

Mobile: +1 925-354-7444
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Dairy Cone celebrated Free Cone Day on Tuesday, March 15. The company celebrated the all-day event to mark the end of winter and also the start of summer a few months early, while raising money for charity. Throughout the day, participating non-mall Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chill locations across the U.S. served fans a free small vanilla soft-serve cone with the signature curl on top. Dairy Cone will collect donations for Children's Miracle Network hospitals, which raises funds to help save and improve the lives of kids treated at 170 children's hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. The donations collected during the day-long event will stay in the communities in which they are raised to support local kids at area CMN hospitals. In 2015, Dairy Cone raised a total of $140 thousand while more than 1,330 cones per store were served during Free Cone Day. Minneapolis, Minnesota-based International Dairy Queen or IDQ is the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corp. IDQ is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., which is led by billionaire investor Warren Buffett. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- hc1.com, inventor of the world's leading healthcare relationship management platform, announced a new partnership with CliniSys Group (www.clinisysgroup.com), the market leading laboratory information management system (LIMS) for pathology labs in the UK and Europe. Through this partnership, CliniSys will deliver a "powered by hc1" pathology CRM and live analytics solution to its current and prospective clients, offering an innovative platform that enables labs to deliver the highest level of service to their clients. Click to Tweet.

With more than 500 client contracts covering 2,000 labs and a 99 percent client retention rate, CliniSys continually innovates and responds to market demands. CliniSys selected hc1.com to meet their clients' need for a pathology-specific CRM solution. The hc1 Healthcare Relationship Cloud is a secure, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform that has been adopted across more than 850 sites around the globe, taking in more than 2.5 billion clinical transactions that are combined with business data to construct comprehensive provider and patient profiles that drive action and accountability.

"Similar to the United States, a shift to patient-centric health delivery models and the associated demand for increased service levels are fueling a revolution in the pathology service business in the UK and Europe. Pathology laboratories are consolidating, competing for new customers, and performing more complex and esoteric testing," said Brad Bostic, Chairman and CEO of hc1.com. "As a result, the market is demanding increased service levels and a greater focus on technology innovation to support a more personalized healthcare experience."

The Pathology Relationship Management solution will seamlessly couple hc1's award winning healthcare CRM, collaboration center, and real-time analytics with the CliniSys WinPath LIMS to create relationship profiles based on ordering activity, service delivery and other metrics. These profiles enable the lab to deliver five-star service levels, improve operational efficiency, and drive personalized engagement with ordering providers.

Key benefits of the Pathology Relationship Management solution include:

Healthcare workflows to focus on service center excellence, such as managing clinician groups within the UK healthcare model.





Real-time alerts and notifications to provide information on issues relevant to operational effectiveness and service center excellence.





Campaigns to help engage clinicians and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and spur ordering activity as a means to grow business based on test ordering profiles.





Improved lab test utilization to enhance clinical outcomes and patient care.

"Our partnership with hc1 will further enrich our already extensive product suite and we are delighted to have the opportunity to offer our customers an innovative approach to customer relationship management," said Fiona Pearson, CEO of CliniSys. "We believe that this out of the box, cloud-based solution that is purpose-built for supporting the pathology service can help our customers provide real differentiation with added value to the services they are offering to their requesting clinicians."

About hc1.com

The hc1 Healthcare Relationship Cloud enables health systems and diagnostic labs to personalize the healthcare experience for patients and providers throughout the entire care journey. hc1 has been adopted across more than 850 locations around the globe and has processed over 2.5 billion clinical transactions to date, generating more than 30 million consumer profiles enabling a five star service experience for industry leaders including Cleveland Clinic, Alere, Sonic Healthcare and AmeriPath. The company has received accolades from Gartner Research and was named "Best Healthcare CRM for Diagnostic Laboratories" by Frost & Sullivan. To learn more about hc1, please visit www.hc1.com and follow us on Twitter @hc1_HRM, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

About CliniSys

The CliniSys Group has been successfully developing and deploying laboratory IT systems for over 25 years. 1987 saw the first system go live in a private laboratory in Belgium shortly followed by a private laboratory in the UK. This was the start of rapid growth across Europe with the group expanding across the UK and Belgium, into Ireland, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Luxembourg. CliniSys is now the European market leader. Headquartered in Chertsey, Surrey, CliniSys currently provides systems to in excess of 2,000 laboratories across 30 countries and employs some 350 dedicated pathology IT professionals. Please visit www.clinisysgroup.com for more information.

For information contact:



Linda Muskin

847-432-7300

Email Contact



Mara Conklin

678-825-2000

Email Contact




WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Republican Senator Marco Rubio has dropped out of the White House race after suffering a humiliating defeat at the party's primary in his home state, Florida, to frontrunner Donald Trump. Rubio's withdrawal comes despite endorsement by prominent GOP leaders including governors, senators, and Congressmen. Rubio finished a distant second to Trump, who scored a massive support of 45.5 per cent of the votes counted. Rubio, who had so far won primaries in Minnesota, Puerto Rico and Washington DC and had 163 delegates, could win only 27.1 percent of the votes. Speaking in Miami in Florida, Rubio acknowledged that his chances of winning a Republican nomination are less. The 44-year old Florida Senator urged his countrymen not to give up on the sense of optimism he tried to push. Before dropping out of the race, Rubio did not indicate who he would be supporting for in the Republican presidential race but definitely not Trump. With four comfortable wins, Donald Trump has moved closer to the nomination. Although the controversial real-estate tycoon claimed he is assured of a GOP ticket, he still needs 54 percent of the remaining delegates to secure it outright. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL--(Marketwired - March 16, 2016) - More than 200 web developers and technology professionals will descend on St. Augustine to hear from local and national tech experts during the Ancient City Ruby Conference set for April 6 - 8 at the Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine, Florida.

This is the fourth year that Hashrocket, a full-service design & development firm based in Jacksonville Beach, has hosted the event. Hashrocket CEO Marian Phelan says workshop instructors and 12 guest speakers will give attendees the opportunity to learn about the latest in programming technology and meet representatives of some of the fastest-growing tech companies in the country.

"It's really grown in terms of the networking opportunities available for those looking for jobs in the technology sector and for companies searching for talented code developers," Phelan said.

The Ancient City Ruby event focuses on Ruby on Rails, an 'open-source code' that allows developers to collaborate on concepts and computer applications.

Ancient City Ruby workshops will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wed., April 6, where instructors Sean Sellek, Beverly Nelson and Micah Woods will provide instruction in areas including learning to code, refactoring and an introduction to the Elixir/Phoenix computer code.

On Thursday and Friday, notable industry speakers from the Ruby and technology community include Ben Lovell, Cameron Daigle, Kerri Miller, Lauren Scott, Paolo Perrotta, Kay Hightower, Robert Jackson, Ross Kaffenberger, Sam Phippen, Sean Griffin, Seth Vargo and Steve Klabnik.

Along with Hashrocket, conference sponsors include WYNCODE, Code School, Shipper Hero, Hello Labs, KIPU Systems, Line5, Honeybadger, Montoya, Skiltrek, Sticker Giant, stickermule, the University of North Florida College of Computing, Engineering and Construction and The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience at the University of Florida.

Tickets for Ancient City Ruby are available through April 6. For ticket information and the conference schedule, visit www.ancientcityruby.com, email amy@hashrocket.com or call 904-339-7047.

About Hashrocket

Headquartered in Jacksonville Beach with locations in Chicago, San Francisco and Columbus, Hashrocket develops technology solutions and products for the Web, iOS and Android. Founded in 2008, the company is best known for working in Ruby on Rails, an open-source framework that allows developers to build sophisticated and powerful web applications. The technology has been the foundation for the growth of Hashrocket. For more information, visit http://www.hashrocket.com or call 877-885-8846.

Media Contact:

Ron Whittington

904-563-0402

ron@whittingtonpr.com
Today, Schulte Roth Zabel ("SRZ") is hosting its annual London Investment Management Hot Topics seminar. Recently named "The Leading Global Law Firm" at the 2016 Hedge Fund Journal Awards, SRZ is also the only firm ranked in the top tier by both Chambers UK and The Legal 500 United Kingdom for its leading hedge fund practice.

At this year's seminar, the panels include: Evolution of a Management Company; Trends in Fundraising; Co-Investments: Structure, Terms and Considerations; and Regulatory Outlook. Christopher Hilditch, head of the firm's London office, will be joined by SRZ lawyers Brian T. Daly, Josh Dambacher, Nick Fagge, Anna Maleva-Otto, Jim McNally, Cathy A. Weist, Steven Whittaker and Lee Smith. The speakers represent a broad range of practice areas, including investment management, regulatory compliance, private equity, shareholder activism and tax. The event is by invitation only.

"We are pleased to present this year's program, which we have tailored to address the specific issues that are top of mind for fund managers today," commented Mr. Hilditch. "Asset managers are closely monitoring emerging trends in the structuring and operation of funds. At today's seminar, we will discuss those developments as well as other important issues impacting the alternative investment management industry," said Mr. Dambacher.

SRZ provides advice on both UK and US law to a wide variety of funds and managers located around the globe, and the lawyers handle all aspects of fund formation and operations on a full-service basis. In addition, SRZ is one of only a few law firms with a dedicated group of lawyers specifically focusing on regulatory and compliance matters within its hedge fund practice.

"We are delighted to host our annual London Investment Management Hot Topics seminar, as it provides a valuable forum for our leading lawyers to discuss the current state of market practice," commented Alan S. Waldenberg, chair of SRZ's Executive Committee.

SRZ is ranked as the top legal service provider for hedge funds based on assets under management in the most recent report released by Hedge Fund Research Inc., a global leader in the indexation, analysis and aggregation of the alternative investment industry.

The firm's lawyers provide clients with a wealth of resources including the AIFM Directive and Shareholder Activism Resource Centers. Most recently, the firm partnered with Activist Insight to publish The Activist Investing Annual Review 2016

About Schulte Roth Zabel LLP

Schulte Roth Zabel (www.srz.com) is a full-service law firm with offices in London, New York and Washington, D.C. As one of the leading law firms serving the financial services industry, the firm regularly advises clients on corporate and transactional matters, as well as providing counsel on regulatory, compliance, enforcement and investigative issues. The firm's practices include: bank regulatory; bankruptcy creditors' rights litigation; broker-dealer regulatory enforcement; business reorganisation; complex commercial litigation; cybersecurity; distressed debt claims trading; distressed investing; education law; employment employee benefits; energy; environmental; finance; financial institutions; individual client services; insurance; intellectual property, sourcing technology; investment management; litigation; mergers acquisitions; PIPEs; private equity; real estate; real estate capital markets REITs; real estate litigation; regulated funds; regulatory compliance; securities capital markets; securities enforcement; securities litigation; securitisation; shareholder activism; structured finance derivatives; tax; and white collar defense government investigations.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160316005992/en/

Contacts:

Schulte Roth Zabel LLP

Sun Min, +1-212-610-7539

sun.min@srz.com

or

Schulte Roth Zabel International LLP

Carla Lynch, +44 (0) 20-7081-8017

carla.lynch@srz.com


Vast Resources plc / Ticker: VAST / Index: AIM / Sector: Mining 16 March 2016 Vast Resources plc ('Vast' or the 'Company')



Exercise of Warrants and Issue of Equity



VAST Resources plc ('VAST' or the 'Company'), the AIM-listed mining company with operations in Romania and Zimbabwe, announces that, pursuant to the subscription agreement entered into with Crede CG III Ltd (the 'Investor') on 4 January 2016, the Investor has elected to convert 32,200,000 warrants issued under the initial subscription ('Warrants'). Notice of exercise of the Warrants was received by VAST on 16 March 2016.



Under the terms of the financing announced on 4 January 2016, the Investor may exercise the Warrants by exchanging them for new ordinary Shares of 0.1p each in the Company (the 'Ordinary Shares') being such number of new Ordinary Shares calculated by dividing the aggregate Black-Scholes Value of the Warrants (as described below) held and to be exercised by the Investor by the closing bid price of Ordinary Shares on the trading day two days prior to the date on which the Warrant exercise notice is issued, at a price per Ordinary Share equal to the Black-Scholes Subscription Price payable in full on the trading date the Warrant is exercised.



Pursuant to the terms of the subscription agreement as set out above, the Company has today issued 55,005,650 new Ordinary Shares to the Investor at the Black-Scholes Subscription Price, which means that Crede is now interested in approximately 2.77 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company as enlarged by the issue of the new Ordinary Shares. Pursuant to the terms of the subscription agreement, an administration charge is due to the Investor following the Warrant exercise. Such administration charge is equal to the number of new Ordinary Shares being issued multiplied by the Black-Scholes Subscription Price, being 55,005.65.



Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange plc for 55,005,650 new Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on the AIM market with admission expected to occur on or around 22 March 2016 ('Admission'). The new Ordinary Shares rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares. There are no Ordinary Shares held in treasury. 1,982,351,016 represents the total number of voting rights in the Company and may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they can determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company under the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.



'Black-Scholes Value' means the value of a Warrant calculated using the Black- Scholes model as developed in 1973 by Fischer Black, Robert Merton and Myron Scholes, using the Economic Research Institute's Black-Scholes calculator, where the Volatility shall be 135 per cent., the term of the Warrants shall be deemed to be 60 months (regardless of the then actual remaining term of the Warrants), the stock price shall be the Subscription Price and the option price shall be 130 per cent. of the subscription price.



'Black-Scholes Subscription Price' means a price per new Ordinary Share equal to a deemed nominal value of 0.1 pence per Ordinary Share on the trading date the Warrant is exercised.



In this instance, 'Subscription Price' means 0.8 pence, being the closing bid price of Ordinary Shares on the trading day prior to the date of issue of the initial subscription shares on 4 January 2016.



**ENDS**



For further information visit www.vastresourcesplc.com or please contact:



Vast Resources plc



Roy Pitchford (Chief Executive Officer) +40 (0) 372 988 988 - Office Romania +40 (0) 741 111 900 - Mobile Romania +44 (0) 7793 909985 - Mobile UK



Roy Tucker (Finance Director) +44 (0) 1622 816918 +44 (0) 7920 189012



Strand Hanson Limited - Financial & www.strandhanson.co.uk Nominated Adviser +44 (0) 20 7409 3494 James Spinney James Bellman



Daniel Stewart and Company plc - Joint www.danielstewart.co.uk Broker +44 (0) 20 7776 6550 Martin Lampshire David Coffman



Dowgate Capital Stockbrokers Ltd - Joint www.dowgatecapitalstockbrokers.co.uk Broker +44 (0)1293 517744 Jason Robertson Neil Badger



St Brides Partners Ltd www.stbridespartners.co.uk Charlotte Heap +44 (0) 20 7236 1177 Susie Geliher



This announcement is distributed by GlobeNewswire on behalf of GlobeNewswire clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.



Source: Vast Resources plc via GlobeNewswire [HUG#1995095]



A0J3GBB142P69R33



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
BOSTON, MA -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- Votacall, Inc., a nationwide provider of fully managed Hosted VoIP, Cloud-based Unified Communications (UC) and Cloud Call Center solutions, announced today that Cambridge School of Weston, a private coeducational high school in Weston, Massachusetts, has selected the Votacall VoIP Platform to streamline communications in order to better serve its faculty and students.

The Cambridge School of Weston was in need of a Hosted VoIP solution designed for schools that would provide them with reliability and ultimate redundancy in order to combat regular power outages, as well as up to date features found in today's VoIP phone systems such as, caller ID, Mobility, Voice Mail to Email, tiered auto attendants, hunt groups, announcements and direct dial access. The Votacall Hosted VoIP solution delivered all of the above and more in a cost effective managed service.

"Votacall's installation and implementation was thorough and successful. Their technical support is great! We had minimal need to train users on their new phones due to the easy-to-understand interface," said Michael Westfort, Director of Academic Technology, The Cambridge School of Weston. "We reviewed three different phone companies and Votacall was an easy decision due to their personal interactions and support, as well as their thoroughness in evaluating our campus network in order to ensure a smooth and successful migration." Votacall is committed to the advancement of the Cambridge School of Weston's communications experience for administrators, teachers, students and parents alike. "Their continued support and attention to our needs is evidence that we made a good decision."

A fully functioning and reliable telecommunications platform is imperative in order for an educational institute to offer the highest quality learning experience for its students. Votacall's Cloud technology provides mobility features to faculty and staff in order to effectively communicate regardless of physical location. This compliments the school's many unique courses by creating a learning environment that is no longer limited to the traditional classroom.

"The Votacall Hosted VoIP phone system is a perfect fit within the education market," said Andy DeAngelis, Chief Operating Officer, Votacall. "Communication flexibility, business continuity and mobility are key components to the success of the Votacall Hosted VoIP education product offer. There is an innovation expectation in education. Students, parents and faculty are all used to the on-demand access and ultimate flexibility that technology affords in their personal lives and that experience should extend outside of the home. Votacall's Managed VoIP solution is built on this very statement, making it a perfect fit for schools and the education market as a whole."

About Cambridge School of Weston

The Cambridge School of Weston was founded in 1886 upon the mission to provide a progressive education that emphasizes deep learning, meaningful relationships, and a dynamic program that inspires students to discover who they are and what their contribution is to their school, their community, and the world. Known as CSW the Cambridge School of Weston is a private high school for day and boarding students in grades 9 to 12, as well as post-graduate students. Through their distinctive Mod System, CSW gives students the opportunity to have access to over 300 high level courses. They are not only a preparatory school for college, or a career, but for the rest of their student's lives.

About Votacall

Votacall is a leading provider of cloud-based Unified Communications (UC) solutions and business-class hosted VoIP. Votacall is committed to delivering the latest best in class offerings to our end users through constant market and product research. Our approach allows our customer base to stay ahead of the technological curve at the lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) in the industry. The Votacall Cloud product suite is fully managed and through the delivery of innovative Cloud applications, we aim to enhance the end-user experience. The Votacall tag line states our vision; you must INNOVATE to effectively COMMUNICATE. We base our organization and its daily operations on those two words. The world is changing, technology is changing, organizations are changing, it is of the utmost significance that you partner with a company that respects and embraces change. Think Big, Go Votacall. For more information, visit http://www.votacall.com

Andrew DeAngelis

Email Contact




LUCEDALE, Mississippi -- George County officials expect flood waters to breach homes today as the Pascagoula River crests at 28.2 feet at Merrill River.

"Right now, we don't have any damage reports to homes or dwelling structures but we expect this to change as the rivers crest," said Nancy Smith, Director of George County Emergency Management. "The river forecast calls for a very slow fall, so it will take a few days for residents to safely get back to their homes to see the full extent of flood damage."

The George County Board of Supervisors will meet Thursday for an update on the flooding and to potentially issue a proclamation declaring a local emergency.

EMA officials estimate that about a dozen homes currently have flood water just below "floor boards," based on drive-by inspections by supervisors and social media posts.

"We are encouraging any property owners with structural damage to call and report it to our EMA Office," Smith said. "These damage reports go to the State and help determine disaster assistance for our community and the entire region."

A number of roads in George County have areas underwater and/or impassible around the low-lying areas of the Pascagoula River -- including Merrill Road, Cochran Town Road, East and West Wilkerson Ferry Roads, Plum Bluff Road and Tom Hepstead Road.

"Remember the phrase 'Turn Around, Don't Drown,'" said Beat 4 supervisor Larry Havard. "We've had impassable roadways since this past weekend, when the river jumped up 10 feet in about a day's time. The river is as high as I've seen it in 20 years. It's not the record high but it's going to be close."

George County will begin an official damage assessment once roadway flooding subsides. Residents/property owners are advised to call 601-947-7557 to report flood damage.

For updates and alerts, residents can follow the George County Emergency Management Agency's Facebook page

.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - In an apparent reference to Republican front-runner Donald Trump, President Barack Obama made a scathing attack against the vulgar and divisive rhetoric aimed at women and minorities in the US presidential campaign. Speaking at the annual bipartisan St Patrick's Day gathering in Capitol Hill, Obama warned that such kind of campaigning is damaging America's image. Obama criticized the Republican leadership for not responding to Trump's vulgar language, and said he is just one among millions of Americans who may be more than a little dismayed about what's happening on the campaign trail lately. 'We have heard vulgar and divisive rhetoric aimed at women and minorities -- at Americans who don't look like 'us', or pray like 'us' or vote like we do. We've seen misguided attempts to shut down that speech, however, offensive it may be. We live in a country where free speech is one of the most important rights that we hold,' Obama said. In response to those attempts, we've seen actual violence, and we've heard silence from too many of our leaders, Obama cited the violence at Trump's rally in Chicago, which did not evoke any response from the Republican leadership. Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, who is a GOP, was among those listening to Obama's speech. Obama's criticism comes within days of his statement that Trump is unlikely to be elected as his successor. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
DUBLIN, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The global beer market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.97% during the 2014-2019 period, according to a report available from Research and Markets. The report states that the growth of the global beer market is directly proportional to global economic conditions, a fact Carlsberg A/S know all too well. The world's fourth-biggest brewer has revealed its financial strategy for 2016-2022, which seeks to address debt incurred by the company as a result of the declining value of the ruble and trouble in Ukraine.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130307/600769 )



Carlsberg plans to pay half its earnings in the form of dividends, a move the Danish brewer hopes will keep company debt at less than two times earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization. Excess cash will be distributed through extraordinary dividends and buybacks. Carlsberg is also cutting jobs at a number of breweries it intends to close. The company has experienced a steep decline in beer sales in Russia and Ukraine over the past five years.

The conflict in Ukraine, where Carlsberg own three breweries, has understandably led to a diminished market. A recent report found that the production of malt in the Ukraine dropped by almost 14% between 2014-2015, and brewers operating in the country are subject to strict excise duties. The report notes brewers are being forced to rethink their strategy, and how most products launched in 2015 fall into the discount or traditional beer sectors.

Russia, where Carlsberg is the largest beermaker through ownership of Baltika Breweries, is struggling with a declining ruble, resulting in a shrinking beer market. Russian consumers' purchasing power in 2015 was seriously eroded compared to 2014, and there was a partial shift of low income consumers from the economy beer segment to home-made spirits, as stated in an industry report. The report states that beer markets continue to decline with economic conditions affecting purchasing power. Carlsberg may be required to manufacture new products more in line with low consumer buying trends if they wish to salvage this market.

For further information on this topic, and a full list of all related documentation, please visit the Beer section at http://www.researchandmarkets.com/rm/NHIJ.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-16/carlsberg-to-distribute-half-of-earnings-in-form-of-dividends

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ROSEVILLE, CA--(Marketwired - March 16, 2016) - International Business Systems (IBS), a leading global supplier of integrated ERP, warehouse management systems (WMS) and supply chain solutions, announces that Reliable Parts has selected IBS Business Suite 2016 as its go-forward enterprise platform. Reliable Parts, a distributor of parts for major electronics and appliance manufacturers throughout North America, has elected to upgrade its legacy IBS Enterprise system to Enterprise Version 9 in anticipation of future expansion plans.

Reliable Parts recently acquired Appliance Parts Depot (APD) of Dallas, Texas, expanding Reliable's U.S. and Canadian locations by 15. The expansion comes after Svoboda Capital purchased Reliable Parts in 2014. The decision to upgrade to IBS Enterprise V.9 is expected to position them for additional growth heading into 2017.

"We needed a solution capable of processing the thousands of transactions that Reliable Parts runs daily, plus the significant increase in daily transactions we expect as a result of our growth plans. IBS was able to demonstrate the processing power to manage the volume," said Lowell Millard, Reliable Parts CTO. "We chose IBS over two competitors, not only because IBS Enterprise is transaction-capable, but also because it supports our wide geographic dispersion and e-commerce needs now and as we grow."

Reliable Parts has been using the IBS system since 1999. Millard said it had proven to meet their needs, and the fact that it runs on an IBM iSeries platform was also important, as other systems would not be able to handle the load.

The upgrade will launch after Reliable effectively absorbs the APD acquisition, transitioning all APD locations to the original IBS platform before moving the entire company onto IBS Enterprise V.9, part of Business Suite 2016.

"This interim step allows us to transfer the existing knowledge base to APD and sets the stage for an easier transition to V.9 later on," said Jim Smith, president of the Mesa Group, a certified IBS implementation partner with more than 20 years of experience.

Onboarding of APD locations will begin around July 2016, with the full transition to IBS Enterprise V.9 expected in the second half of 2017.

"We are extremely pleased to serve our long-time customer, Reliable Parts, in this transition and upgrade project," said Jayne Archbold, IBS CEO. "Their decision to continue growing with IBS demonstrates confidence in the strength of our products, people and services. We are eager to work together as they move forward with the expansion."

About Reliable Parts

Reliable Parts was established in 1933 and has evolved into one of the largest and most respected distributors of parts for major electronics and appliance manufacturers throughout North America. The company serves wholesale and retail customers for the parts they need to service brands such as Whirlpool, GE, Samsung, LG, Bosch, Maytag, Frigidaire and dozens more. Reliable Parts operates from more than 60 branch and warehouse locations in Canada and the United States, covering both countries with next-day delivery.

About IBS

International Business Systems (IBS) is a leading global provider of integrated ERP, WMS and supply chain management solutions to the distribution, wholesale and 3PL sectors. For more than 35 years, we have helped customers such as WORLDPAC, Associated Pharmacies, Inc., GILLIG, Zwilling J.A. Henckels, Miele Inc., Tri Literal LLC, Mighty Auto Parts, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Volvo, Victory Packaging Inc. and many more streamline, automate and accelerate their distribution network processes, and drive profitability and efficiency. Learn more about IBS at www.ibs.net.

Renee Truttmann

IBS Chief Marketing Officer

+1 760 201 6243

renee.truttmann@ibs.net
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - President Barack Obama will visit Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom next month as part of a previously announced trip overseas, the White House said on Wednesday. The White House said Obama will participate in a summit with leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries while in Saudi Arabia on April 21st. The summit will be an opportunity for leaders to review progress in strengthening U.S.-GCC security cooperation since the productive Camp David Summit hosted by Obama in May of 2015, the White House said. The White House said the gathering will also allow leaders to discuss additional steps to intensify pressure on the terrorist group known as ISIS, address regional conflicts, and de-escalate regional and sectarian tensions. Following the stop in Saudi Arabia, Obama will travel to the U.K., where he will meet with Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister David Cameron. The White House said Obama will conclude his travel by visiting Germany, where he will participate in the Hannover Messe - the world's largest trade show for industrial technology - and meet Chancellor Angela Merkel. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwired - March 16, 2016) - Tech CU (Technology Credit Union) today announced that CEO Barbara Kamm was honored as a Power Executive by the San Francisco Business Times, while Vice President Janikke Klem and Senior Vice President Kate Duggan were named among Silicon Valley's Women of Influence by the Silicon Valley Business Journal.

Power Executive

As a winner of the Power Executive Award, Kamm has demonstrated that she is a leader with a strong record of innovation -- resulting in the company's outstanding financial performance. Her strategy of focusing on leading-edge products, services and technologies has allowed Tech CU to remain relevant to its members -- key in this highly competitive market. She also introduced enterprise risk management to Tech CU, partnered with local FinTechs and expanded the credit union's offerings to include commercial lending and wealth management -- all while championing a collaborative management style, transparency and employee engagement. Due to her efforts, Tech CU is poised to have one of its strongest years yet.

"I'm honored to have been selected as a Power Executive," said Kamm. "I have a strong team behind me and our combined effort has allowed the company to reach a record level of loans and assets in 2015 and continue to grow -- all while maintaining excellent credit quality and strong earnings."

Women of Influence

Designed to honor women who have had a strong impact across a variety of professional fields in the Bay Area, the Women of Influence Award shines the spotlight on local businesswomen, community leaders and philanthropists. Two of Tech CU's executives are being recognized -- Vice President of Community and Government Relations, Janikke Klem and Senior Vice President of Marketing, Kate Duggan -- both of whom will be honored at the awards dinner on Thursday, May 5.

"Both Kate and Janikke have been instrumental in their areas of expertise -- ensuring that we serve the needs of our members while supporting our business units. I'm proud to say that they both strongly embody the values of Tech CU. As the head of our community relations program, Janikke encourages Tech CU employees to give back to the community through volunteer work. She also helps us realize our goals in key focus areas by identifying, working with and awarding grants to local non-profits. Since joining Tech CU, she's helped increase both employee and member giving, and expanded our reach into the non-profit community," said Kamm.

Klem oversees Tech CU's corporate social responsibility program, which is focused on STEM education and workforce development, financial literacy, affordable housing, and health and wellness. Her leadership and community involvement have led to Tech CU being recognized as one of the top 50 most generous companies in Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley Business Journal. She also leads Tech CU's government relations program, where she works closely with local, state and federal legislators on issues affecting the credit union and community. Most recently, she helped Tech CU advocate for the successful passing of Senate Bill 850 (SB 850). This includes a pilot program allowing each of California's community college districts to offer one bachelor's degree per campus to serve an unmet need in the area without duplicating programs at nearby state colleges and universities.

Klem is a Salzburg Global Seminar Fellow and an ALF Senior Fellow in the Urban Innovation Network. She is the co-chair of Silicon Valley Leadership Group's Education Committee, Rotary's Downtown Development Committee, and sits on the boards of Leadership San Jose and San Jose State University Alumni Association, to name a few.

"Kate specializes in strategic marketing campaigns and recently spearheaded a hugely successful comprehensive, multi-channel awareness campaign for Tech CU. In just nine months, her campaign helped the company increase brand awareness and boost membership by 8.5 percent, bringing credit union services to even more people in our community. She's also actively involved in giving back to the community, and participates in all of Tech CU's philanthropic endeavors," said Kamm.

Responsible for Tech CU's brand, advertising, communications and PR, Duggan is an innovator in the financial services field. As part of the senior leadership team, she has helped rebrand the credit union, increase awareness and drive new members. In addition to her professional successes, she's been involved with philanthropic causes and non-profits both in the US and abroad for more than 20 years. She is currently a member of the Financial Women of San Francisco and Watermark. Duggan also serves in the Leadership Circle of WANDA (Women's Achievement Network and Development Alliance), a SF Bay Area non-profit working to break the cycle of poverty, one single mother at a time.

To view the full Women of Influence list of honorees, visit http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2016/02/18/we-announce-the-honorees-for-silicon-valleys-2016.html. To learn more about Tech CU, visit www.techcu.com.

ABOUT TECHNOLOGY CREDIT UNION

Tech CU (www.techcu.com) is a $2 billion credit union serving more than 75,000 members throughout the San Francisco Bay Area -- including employees of such companies as Tesla, eBay, Applied Materials, Nvidia and Facebook. A federally insured, not-for-profit organization, we put the financial interests of our members ahead of shareholder profit by helping members achieve their financial goals on their terms and by sharing the benefits of our growth. Founded in 1960 by a group of forward-thinking employees at Fairchild Semiconductor, today we continue to be an industry leader, providing innovative financial products for all stages of our members' lives, including personal banking, wealth management, private banking, commercial lending and business banking. Tech CU consistently achieves a customer satisfaction rating above 95 percent and maintains a 5-star rating from Bauer Financial, the nation's largest independent rating service for financial institutions. And, with mobile and online banking, 65,000+ surcharge-free ATMs worldwide (more than Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo combined) and convenient branch access to our financial experts, Tech CU makes 24/7 banking easy and empowering.

Contact Information:

Linden Kohtz

Public Relations

(512) 964-3784

lkohtz@techcu.com
Regulatory News:

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160316006302/en/

cloud.paris E-Lounge Photo: Clement Guillaume

Four months after it was delivered, marketing of the cloud.paris business centre in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris by SFL (Paris:FLY) has been completed with one of the world's leading cosmetics and fragrance groups set to move into the last remaining 3,000-square metre unit.

In July 2016, the new tenant will be moving in alongside the other blue-chip companies that have chosen cloud.paris: Exane (finance), BlaBlaCar (digital) and one of the leading participants in the global net economy. This transaction provides a further demonstration of SFL's ability to design and develop high quality working space for leading companies operating in a wide range of sectors.

Dimitri Boulte, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of SFL, commented: "As our clients reinvent themselves and gear their organisations to dealing with new challenges, they are choosing offices that will contribute to their teams' well-being and performance.We are responding to these new demands by designing real estate products that are more than just a matter of floorspace or a line in an expense budget. Our new generation buildings stimulate creativeness, motivation and teamwork, making client organisations more efficient and therefore more productive."

Aude Grant, Deputy Managing Director, Asset Management and Investment, added: "Since the start of the year, we have signed leases with first class tenants on some 10,500 square metres of office space in eight transactions in Paris's Central Business District.The market is currently very dynamic and we are uniquely positioned to benefit from the capital's renewed appeal, thanks to our high quality portfolio and the work undertaken in recent years to make our properties even more attractive."

About cloud.paris

cloud.paris is an exceptionally spacious new generation business centre offering 35,000 square metres of office space in the heart of Paris, a stone's throw from the Bourse financial district and the Opera. The building is accessible from rue Menars, which is now pedestrianized (nos. 2 to 8), rue du 4 septembre (no. 10bis), rue de Richelieu (nos. 81 and 83), rue de Gretry (nos. 1 to 5) and rue de Gramont (nos. 16 and 18).

After three-and-a-half years of remodelling and refurbishment work, cloud.paris has space for up to 2,500 people. It has attracted prime companies operating in widely differing sectors.

cloud.paris expresses SFL's belief that buildings are a management and performance resource for companies, and as such must be transformed in alignment with the new working practices of their future users. It symbolises the office building of the future in the historic centre of a diverse and vibrant city that is determinedly facing outwards.

Meaning behind the name, cloud.paris

The hashtag () symbolises the building's architectural design and the ergonomic geometry of the floorplans and volumes.

"Cloud" symbolises the internal and external networking of the people and companies located in the building and the neighbourhood.

"Paris" refers to the building's location in the centre of the French capital.

About SFL

Leader on the prime segment of the Parisian tertiary real estate market, the Societe Fonciere Lyonnaise stands out for the quality of its property portfolio, which is valued at 5.2 billion and is concentrated on the Central Business District of Paris (Louvre Saint-Honore, Edouard VII, Washington Plaza, etc.), and for the quality of its client portfolio, which is composed of prestigious companies in the consulting, media, digital, luxury, finance and insurance sectors.

Stock market: Euronext Paris Compartment A Euronext Paris ISIN FR0000033409 Bloomberg: FLY FP Reuters: FLYP PA

S&P rating: BBB stable outlook

www.fonciere-lyonnaise.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160316006302/en/

Contacts:

SFL

Thomas Fareng, Phone +33 (0)1 42 97 01 51

t.fareng@fonciere-lyonnaise.com

or

Galivel & Associes

Carol Galivel Doriane Fougeres

Phone +33 (0)1 41 05 02 02

galivel@galivel.com
QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- Junex Inc. (TSX VENTURE: JNX) ("Junex" or the "Company"), at the request of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), announces that it is not aware of any material undisclosed information that might explain the unusual recent market activity on its securities.

About Junex

Junex is a junior oil and gas exploration company that holds exploration rights on approximately 5.2 million acres of land in the Appalachian basin in the Province of Quebec, including the Galt Oil Property on the Gaspe Peninsula in eastern Quebec, landholdings on Anticosti Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and landholdings in the St. Lawrence Lowlands between Montreal and Quebec City. In parallel to its exploration efforts in Quebec and expansion of its exploration activities elsewhere, the company operates a drilling services division.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Junex Inc.

Mr. Peter Dorrins

President & Chief Executive Officer

418-654-9661



Junex Inc.

Mr. Dave Pepin

Vice President-Corporate Affairs

418-654-9661




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- It is with great sadness that Duncan Park Holdings Corporation (TSX VENTURE: DPH) announces the sudden passing of its President and CEO, Ian McAvity. Mr. McAvity died of a heart attack at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, earlier today.

Mr. McAvity joined the Corporation's Board in 2004 and has effectively held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer since August, 2007. During his 11+ years with the Corporation Mr. McAvity has made enormous contributions to its exploration programs in both Nevada, USA and Red Lake, Ontario, through his vast experience in the mining industry, and to its financial situation particularly through his raising of flow-through funds for exploration and the provision of directors' loans for working capital purposes.

The Corporation could never thank Mr. McAvity enough for his many years of faithful service.

About Duncan Park

Duncan Park is a Toronto-based mineral exploration company exploring for gold and other precious metals in Ontario's prolific Red Lake gold mining district.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange Inc.) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Duncan Park Holdings Corporation

Harold J. Doran

CFO and Secretary

416-203-0860

harold@duncanpark.com

www.duncanpark.com




ST-GEORGES, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- Komutel has been chosen to be the "PME en lumiere" (Small Business of the month) for March by the "Association quebecoise des technologies" (AQT) (Association of technologies of Quebec). Following this nomination, the CEO, Richard Poulin, will be giving a live interview on the French channel "Argent" this Friday, March 18th at 9:45 a.m.

Komutel won this honor thanks to its newest innovation, the NG9-1-1 platform. This solution provides increased efficiency and savings related to the management of calls to 911 emergency services. Since 2013, the company more than doubled its revenues and 911 solutions are partly responsible for this growth. The public security market represents a high potential market in Canada and in North America for the company.

The innovative aspect of Komutel's NG9-1-1 platform gives to the client the control of its operations by facilitating the management of its emergency procedures while allowing a continuous evolution. Since each customer, territory, region or district has different policies and uses a wide variety of tools, the platform addresses a number of operational interoperability issues.

About de Komutel inc.

Komutel is an Enterprise Communication Software Developer, specializing in the development and marketing of open-ended and innovative solutions in the telecommunications sector. Komutel solutions portfolio for call centers, notification, mobility, interactive voice response can be all run in the cloud or in the customer environment. The various products of the organisation offer user-friendliness and flexibility, which have positioned Komutel as a recognized provider of value added solutions in the industry. Our customers span across many industry sectors such as Public Safety, Health Care, Finance, Insurance, Education and more. Komutel solutions have respectively maximized communications performance for their organizations.

About the contest "PME en lumiere"

The contest "PME en lumiere" is the initiative of the Association quebecoise des technologies (AQT) in collaboration with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), Videotron Business Services, with the support of BCF Business Law. It aims to recognize the success of SMEs in the technology sector.

The SME of the month is a company that stands out because of its success in the markets, with its products, services, approaches and innovative marketing methods. The selection of the SME of the month is done by a panel of senior representatives of business and technology. At the end of the year, the 12 SMEs of the month will be finalists for the final prize that will be presented in October as part of the Big Bang (flagship event of the AQT) during Small Business Week.

Contacts:

Patricia Therrien

Marketing Manager

Komutel Inc.

(877) 225-9988

patricia.therrien@komutel.com

www.komutel.com




MONTREAL, CANADA -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- (NYSE: CAE)(TSX: CAE) - CAE will be holding an Investor Day at the Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto on March 30, 2016, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event is intended for capital markets professionals including financial analysts and institutional investors only. A webcast of the event will be available live and in archive on CAE's website at www.cae.com.

About CAE

CAE is a global leader in the delivery of training for the civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare markets. We design and integrate the industry's most comprehensive training solutions, anchored by the knowledge and expertise of our 8,000 employees, our world-leading simulation technologies and a track record of service and technology innovation spanning seven decades. Our global presence is the broadest in the industry, with 160 sites and training locations in 35 countries, including our joint venture operations, and the world's largest installed base of flight simulators. Each year, we train more than 120,000 civil and defence crewmembers, as well as thousands of healthcare professionals. www.cae.com

Follow us on Twitter @CAE_Inc

Contacts:

CAE contacts:

Investor relations:

Andrew Arnovitz, Vice President

Strategy and Investor Relations

+1-514-734-5760

andrew.arnovitz@cae.com




HOUSTON, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Saudi Arabian Oil Company ("Saudi Aramco") through its wholly owned Saudi Refining Inc. ("SRI") subsidiary and Royal Dutch Shell plc ("Shell"), through its U.S. downstream affiliate, announce today they have signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to divide the assets of Motiva Enterprises LLC. The Motiva joint venture was formed in 1998 and has operated as a 50/50 refining and marketing joint venture between the parties since 2002.

In the proposed division of assets, SRI will retain the Motiva name, assume sole ownership of the Port Arthur, Texas refinery, retain 26 distribution terminals, and have an exclusive license to use the Shell brand for gasoline and diesel sales in Texas, the majority of the Mississippi Valley, the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic markets. Shell will assume sole ownership of the Norco, Louisiana refinery (where Shell operates a chemicals plant), the Convent, Louisiana refinery, nine distribution terminals, and Shell branded markets in Florida, Louisiana and the Northeastern region.

"Motiva's performance has been transformed in the last two years. We propose to combine the assets we will retain from the joint venture with Shell's other Downstream assets in North America. This is consistent with both the Group and Downstream strategy to provide simpler and more highly integrated businesses which deliver increased cash and returns," said John Abbott, Shell Downstream Director.

Abdulrahman F. Al-Wuhaib, Senior Vice President of Downstream, Saudi Aramco said: "Saudi Aramco subsidiaries and affiliates have had a presence in the U.S. for over 60 years, and the Motiva joint venture with Shell has served our downstream business objectives very well for many years. However, it is now time for the partners to pursue their independent downstream goals. The Port Arthur refinery will advance Saudi Aramco's global downstream integration strategy through supply & trading, refining and fuels marketing, chemicals and base oils. Motiva's employees will continue to be critical to fulfilling our future growth potential in the Americas, reinforcing our reliable customer service and supporting the communities where we operate. We fully support Motiva's continuing transformation journey to become an autonomous integrated downstream affiliate."

Dan Romasko, Motiva President and CEO, said: "Motiva has benefited greatly from the nearly two decades of support and resources provided by Shell and Saudi Aramco. While the parties work towards definitive agreements, Motiva will remain focused on our growth agenda, running operations in a safe, environmentally sound and efficient manner while continuing to reliably serve our customers."

Both Motiva shareholders are committed to supporting the venture during this period of transition and assuring excellent customer service and continued health, safety and environmental performance. During the period of transition, shareholder financing support arrangements for Motiva remain in place and both shareholders are committed to maintaining Motiva's balance sheet strength and liquidity.

Under the terms of the LOI, the partners will evaluate options and select an optimal deal structure with the objective of formalizing a definitive agreement to divide and transfer Motiva Enterprises LLC's assets, liabilities and employees between the companies. The companies will make a further joint announcement in due course.

Notes to the Editor:

Cooperation between the companies also includes: Saudi Aramco Shell Refinery Co. (SASREF) - a 50:50 joint venture refining enterprise at Jubail Industrial City in Saudi Arabia with a crude oil refining capacity of 305,000 bpd. Shell and Saudi Aramco also have a multiyear relationship in the Showa JV in Japan. Shell recently reached an agreement to sell shares representing a 33.24% shareholding in Showa to Idemitsu Kosan. Shell will retain a 1.80% holding in the company after completion later this year.

with a crude oil refining capacity of 305,000 bpd. Shell and Saudi Aramco also have a multiyear relationship in the Showa JV in Japan. Shell recently reached an agreement to sell shares representing a 33.24% shareholding in Showa to Idemitsu Kosan. Shell will retain a 1.80% holding in the company after completion later this year. The refining assets from Motiva which will be owned and operated by Shell include the 230,000 barrel per day Convent refinery located in St. James Parish, Louisiana and the 235,000 barrel per day Norco refinery located in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana .

refinery located in and the 235,000 barrel per day refinery located in . The refining asset from Motiva which will be owned and operated by Saudi Aramco is the 600,000 barrel per day Port Arthur refinery located in Port Arthur, Texas .

refinery located in . Distribution terminals, retail assets, branded and commercial customer agreements will be divided by geography in a way to ensure each partner has an integrated and robust business.

SRI will have exclusive use of the Shell brand through a long-term license agreement in its area of operation.

About Saudi Aramco

Saudi Aramco is a world leader in integrated energy and chemicals. We are driven by the core belief that energy is opportunity. From producing approximately one in every eight barrels of the world's crude oil supply to developing new energy technologies, our global team is dedicated to creating positive impact in all that we do. We focus on making our resources more sustainable and more useful. This promotes long-term economic growth and prosperity around the world.

www.saudiaramco.com

About Shell

Royal Dutch Shell plc, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with operations in more than 70 countries. In the U.S., Shell operates in 50 states and employs more than 20,000 people.

plc, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with operations in more than 70 countries. In the U.S., Shell operates in 50 states and employs more than 20,000 people. www.shellus.com

About Motiva Enterprises LLC

Headquartered in Houston, Texas , Motiva Enterprises LLC refines, distributes and markets petroleum products. With three refineries in the U.S. Gulf Coast region, Motiva has a combined capacity of over 1.1 million barrels per day. The company's marketing operations support a network of approximately 8,300 Shell-branded gasoline stations in the eastern and southern United States . Motiva is owned equally by affiliates of Saudi Aramco and Shell Oil Company.

, Motiva Enterprises LLC refines, distributes and markets petroleum products. With three refineries in the U.S. Gulf Coast region, Motiva has a combined capacity of over 1.1 million barrels per day. The company's marketing operations support a network of approximately 8,300 Shell-branded gasoline stations in the eastern and southern . Motiva is owned equally by affiliates of Saudi Aramco and Shell Oil Company. www.motivaenterprises.com

Enquires

Shell Media Relations International: +44 207 934 5550 Americas: +1 713 241 4544 Saudi Aramco Media Relations International: international.media@aramco.com Saudi Refining Media Relations: +1 713 432 4190 Shell Investor Relations Europe: + 31 70 377 4540 North America: +1 832 337 2034 Motiva Media Relations +1 713 427 3424

Cautionary note

The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this announcement "Shell", "Shell group" and "Royal Dutch Shell" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies. 'Subsidiaries', "Shell subsidiaries" and "Shell companies" as used in this announcement refer to companies over which Royal Dutch Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Companies over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to "joint ventures" and companies over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as "associates". In this announcement, joint ventures and associates may also be referred to as "equity-accounted investments". The term "Shell interest" is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in a venture, partnership or company, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

This announcement contains forward-looking statements concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as 'anticipate', 'believe', 'could', 'estimate', 'expect', 'goals', 'intend', 'may', 'objectives', 'outlook', 'plan', 'probably', 'project', 'risks', "schedule", 'seek', 'should', 'target', 'will' and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell's 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward looking statements contained in this announcement and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, March 16, 2016. Neither Royal Dutch Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.

We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this announcement that United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov. You can also obtain these forms from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
ARVIN, CA--(Marketwired - March 16, 2016) - According to Andrew Grundman, spokesperson for Coalition for a Clean Kern County, the operators of California's largest composting facility where two brothers died tragically in a worksite accident is seeking to expand its operations with the County of Kern. "Coalition members consider the proposed expansion insulting given Kern County's 2011 closure of the facility following the brothers' deaths and a recent change of ownership from Crown Disposal to Recology -- a company with its own troubled past in Southern California," said Grundman.

"The Blossom Valley Organics composting facility has a long history of environmental, health and safety violations that has plagued both its workers, the residents living in the rural communities surrounding the site, and the county on whole," said Andrew Grundman, spokesman and attorney representing concerned residents. "The County, in accepting this application, is acting as though a change in ownership from Crown to Recology will erase the historical and ongoing problems at the facility. We've seen no greater oversight, no greater safety enforcement, and no overall changes that will lead us to believe that this expansion will not have harmful impacts on the greater community."

Recology purchased Crown Disposal's operations in late 2014. It is believed that Recology made the purchase to gain a stronger foothold in the Southern California market, as it is now competing for the Los Angeles waste contract. Recology, however, which changed its name in 2009 from NorCal Waste Systems, is a company with a myriad of corruption charges and backroom dealings in San Bernardino County, San Jose, and San Francisco. The culmination of dealing with a new operator with a troubled past in an area with some of the worst air quality in the United States is forcing local residents to draw a line in the sand.

"The majority of residents in this area are low to moderate income Latino households, who for years have experienced environmental racism and injustice. The County admits that the property has been detrimental to the public health after years of violations including odor, trash, flies, etc., so why allow the operators -- new or old -- to pursue an expansion that will, amongst many other things, increase truck traffic and increase solid food waste from Los Angeles County," continues Mr. Grundman. "If Recology is allowed to expand this facility, then Kern County is no better than Kings County with Waste Management's toxic waste landfill outside of Kettleman. It's been asked before a hundred times but worth asking again: How many people must die? How many people must suffer before we say enough is enough?"

Recology's requesting land use entitlements that would require an Amendment to the Kern County General Plan, as well as a modification of Conditional Use Permit 27 to allow for: 1) installing an aeration system; 2) expanding the amount and source of food waste accepted; 3) accepting digestates and biosolids; 4) removing the feedstock tonnage limits and replacing it with an overall tonnage limit; 5) expanding the CUP boundary; 6) allowing sorting and grinding of an estimated 10% of feedstock; 7) allowing wood mulching and coloring; and, 8) increasing the limit of outgoing trucks to 150 trucks per day. The County of Kern is currently seeking Requests for Proposals (RFP) to conduct and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Recology Blossom Valley Organics - South Project.

Grundman Law is a "boutique" law firm located in the heart of Old Sacramento. We provide legal service and practical guidance to a diverse array of clients ranging from public companies to non-profit organizations.

Attachment Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/3/15/11G087740/Letter_to_Kern_Planning_(Murphy)-c0b8c6d165059c0d96ba1be9c35e0cd8.pdf

Attachment Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/3/15/11G087740/lamont-f60082586516adb083df1b281f633833.pdf

CONTACT:

Andrew Grundman, ESQ.

Coalition for a Clean Kern County

(916) 273-4811

Email contact


CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 03/16/16 -- Serinus Energy Inc. ("Serinus", "SEN" or the "Company") (TSX: SEN) (WARSAW: SEN), is pleased to report the results of the year-end evaluation of its oil and gas reserves. The evaluation was prepared by RPS Energy Canada Ltd. ("RPS") in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 51-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities, and includes the reserves in Serinus' Ukraine licences, and in its Tunisian properties. RPS also assigned contingent resources to the Company's Satu Mare licence in Romania.

All of the reserves volumes as well as the net present values attributed to the Ukraine Reserves disclosed herein, refer to Serinus' 70% effective ownership interest in the assets through its 70% indirect ownership in KUB-Gas LLC ("KUB-Gas"), which owns and operates the six licence areas in northeast Ukraine. For the Total Company figures, those aggregate values are also based on 70% interest in the Ukraine assets. Note that the Company sold all of its interests in Ukraine subsequent to December 31, 2015.

Company Reserves - Using Forecast Prices ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2015 2014 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- YoY Oil/Liquids Gas BOE Oil/Liquids Gas BOE Change (Mbbl) (MMcf) (Mboe) (Mbbl) (MMcf) (Mboe) (%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tunisia ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proved Producing 1,468 2,578 1,897 1,602 3,059 2,112 -10% Non-Producing 301 1,337 524 402 1,740 692 -24% Undeveloped 848 1,806 1,150 1,066 2,478 1,478 -22% -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved (1P) 2,617 5,722 3,571 3,070 7,277 4,283 -17% Probable 5,799 14,490 8,214 5,266 12,704 7,383 11% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved & Probable (2P) 8,417 20,212 11,785 8,336 19,981 11,666 1% Possible 11,537 25,038 15,710 9,606 22,323 13,327 18% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved, Probable & Possible (3P) 19,953 45,250 27,495 17,942 42,304 24,993 10% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ukraine (70% SEN Working Interest) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proved Producing 60 12,878 2,207 63 12,452 2,139 3% Non-Producing 20 4,375 749 22 4,296 738 2% Undeveloped 41 6,342 1,098 21 2,800 488 125% -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved (1P) 121 23,595 4,054 106 19,548 3,364 20% Probable 135 16,378 2,864 215 25,599 4,482 -36% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved & Probable (2P) 256 39,973 6,918 321 45,147 7,846 -12% Possible 260 20,591 3,692 359 28,662 5,136 -28% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved, Probable & Possible (3P) 516 60,564 10,610 680 73,809 12,981 -18% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL COMPANY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proved Producing 1,528 15,456 4,104 1,665 15,512 4,250 -3% Non-Producing 321 5,712 1,274 424 6,036 1,430 -11% Undeveloped 889 8,148 2,247 1,086 5,278 1,966 14% -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved (1P) 2,738 29,317 7,625 3,176 26,825 7,647 0% Probable 5,934 30,868 11,078 5,481 38,303 11,865 -7% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved & Probable (2P) 8,673 60,185 18,703 8,657 65,128 19,511 -4% Possible 11,797 45,629 19,402 9,965 50,985 18,463 5% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved, Probable & Possible (3P) 20,469 105,814 38,105 18,622 116,114 37,974 0% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Serinus reports in US dollars. All dollar amounts referred to herein Note: are in USD, unless specifically noted otherwise.

2015 was another challenging year for Serinus and the petroleum industry in general. For the industry, the continuing issue was the collapse in oil prices. The price of Brent Crude started at over $56/bbl in early January, strengthened to above $66/bbl in May, then falling below $37/bbl by year end. During January 2016, it reached $28.55/bbl before finding some strength and has been recently trading near $40/bbl. This has reduced profitability for the entire industry, and caused significant changes in the economic value, and in some cases, the economic viability of reserves and resources.

Total corporate 1P and 3P reserves were substantially unchanged from 2014, while 2P reserves fell by 4%. Lower commodity prices and price forecasts were the dominant factor in 2015. The forecast price for Brent crude for 2016 is $44/bbl, vs. $74.64/bbl in the 2014 evaluation, and in the longer term, the new forecast only recovers to 92% of that used last year. This reduced reserves volumes due to earlier economic cut-offs, and delays some development plans. Individual fields (or countries) had other positive and negative revisions as well which are discussed below.

As in previous years, there were markedly different results between Ukraine and Tunisia, the two countries in which the Company's reserves were located.

Tunisia

In Tunisia, 1P reserves decreased by 17%, while 2P and 3P reserves increased by 1% and 10% respectively. In addition to the effects of lower commodity prices, the revisions to reserves include:

-- Future development in Sabria now contemplates the use of dual lateral horizontal wells. These are expected to have higher IP rates and recoveries at the 1P, 2P and 3P levels, while reducing overall capital costs. -- Better than expected performance from the CS-3 and CS-7 wells. -- Smaller technical revisions included: -- Negative revisions to Proved Developed Producing ("PDP") reserves for several wells that are currently awaiting workover, stimulation or other remedial measures. -- a lower gas oil ratio in the Sabria Field leading to lower gas reserves

Ukraine

1P reserves in Ukraine increased by 20% and 2P and 3P reserves decreased by 12% and 18% respectively compared to year end 2014. The key influences on the Ukraine reserves were:

-- Positive technical revisions due to -- the success of the R30c zone in O-11 and the subsequent addition of a new R30c location -- the installation of field compression in the Olgovskoye Field, and resultant better production performance -- a new horizontal location in the Makeevskoye Field. -- Negative technical revisions due to: -- reduced pool volumetrics around the O-24 well -- the M-19 well watering out earlier than previously anticipated -- decline in the M20 R8 pool production performance -- Net positive economic revisions, as reductions in the nominal royalty rates from 55% to 29% for gas more than offset the effects of lower commodity prices, extending the economic life of the properties. Net Present Value - After Tax, Using Forecast Prices ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2015 2014 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- YoY Change 0% 10% 15% 0% 10% 15% for PV10 (US$ millions) (US$ millions) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tunisia ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proved Producing 3.7 7.4 7.9 27.2 27.2 26.5 -73% Non-Producing 9.9 8.1 7.0 19.0 15.4 13.7 -47% Undeveloped 16.9 5.7 2.9 36.3 18.4 13.4 -69% -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved (1P) 30.5 21.2 17.8 82.5 60.9 53.6 -65% Probable 216.1 88.2 62.4 216.3 97.0 73.4 -9% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved & Probable (2P) 246.6 109.4 80.2 298.8 157.9 127.0 -31% Possible 514.9 140.0 92.0 432.7 140.2 98.6 0% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved, Probable & Possible (3P) 761.5 249.4 172.2 731.5 298.1 225.6 -16% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ukraine (70% SEN Working Interest) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proved Producing 34.2 29.2 27.0 35.6 30.8 28.6 -5% Non-Producing 15.8 11.0 9.4 7.4 4.8 3.9 128% Undeveloped 9.0 2.0 - 1.1 (0.5) (0.8) nm -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved (1P) 58.8 42.5 36.9 44.1 35.1 31.7 21% Probable 76.5 35.4 25.8 78.7 42.3 33.4 -16% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved & Probable (2P) 135.3 77.9 62.7 122.8 77.4 65.1 1% Possible 115.6 47.8 34.5 111.0 46.0 33.3 4% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved, Probable & Possible (3P) 250.9 125.7 97.2 233.8 123.4 98.3 2% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL COMPANY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proved Producing 37.9 36.6 34.9 62.7 58.0 55.1 -37% Non-Producing 25.7 19.1 16.4 26.4 20.2 17.6 -5% Undeveloped 60.5 7.7 2.9 37.4 17.9 12.6 -57% -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved (1P) 89.3 63.7 54.7 126.6 96.0 85.3 -34% Probable 292.6 123.6 88.2 295.0 139.3 106.8 -11% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved & Probable (2P) 381.9 187.3 142.9 421.6 235.3 192.1 -20% Possible 630.5 187.8 126.5 543.7 186.2 131.8 1% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved, Probable & Possible (3P) 1,012.4 375.1 269.4 965.3 421.5 323.9 -11% ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net present values for Serinus' reserves declined by 34%, 20% and 11% for 1P, 2P and 3P reserves respectively. The major contributing factors to those declines were:

-- The drop in commodity prices -- The decrease in royalty rates effective January 1, 2016 on oil and gas production by the Ukraine government partially offset the effect of commodity prices there. -- The changes in reserve volumes as discussed above.

Tunisia

The decline in oil prices significantly outweighed all other factors, even in the 2P and 3P categories which experienced net volume increases.

The drop in oil prices has an effect on Tunisian gas prices as well. In general, gas in Tunisia is priced as an equivalent to low sulphur heating oil, which in turn, will fluctuate with oil prices.

Ukraine

Serinus' production in Ukraine was 98% natural gas, and while the drop was not as severe as that for Brent crude, the price forecast is still materially lower than that used for year end 2014. The average expected prices for 2016 and 2017 are $5.99 and $6.43/Mcf respectively, vs. $8.34 and $8.58/Mcf last year.

The more significant impact on the value of the Ukraine reserves came from the decrease in nominal natural gas royalties from 55% to 29% effective January 1, 2016. This more than offset the loss in value due to the lower commodity price forecasts in all three categories.

Contingent Resources - Romania

In addition to the 1P, 2P and 3P reserves assigned to the Company's properties in Tunisia and Ukraine, contingent resources were also assigned to the Moftinu discovery in Romania made in early 2015. The Moftinu-1001 well tested at a maximum rate of 7.4 MMcf/d and 19 bbl/d of condensate. The currently development plan contemplates three development well and a gas plant tying into an existing sales line running through the Satu Mare concession. The resources and their net present values are shown in the table below.

Resource Volumes (unrisked) AT NPV (unrisked) --------------------------- ------------------ ------------ Probability Oil/Liquids Gas BOE 0% 10% 15% of (Mbbl) (MMcf) (Mboe) ($ millions) Development -------------------------------------------- ------------------ ------------ 1C Contingent Resources 17.7 6,976 1,180.3 10.8 6.9 5.4 85% 2C Contingent Resources 41.8 12,632 2,147.1 36.7 24.5 20.2 85% 3C Contingent Resources 96.3 24,203 4,130.2 94.9 57.2 45.7 85% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pending regulatory approvals by the Romanian government and the ability to finance, first production is anticipated in early 2017 and will require $14 million of capital expenditures.

Finding and Development Costs Total Corporate Finding and Development Costs, excluding Acquisitions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved Reserves ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Year 2015 2014 2013 Total Exploration and Development Costs (M$) 18,875 67,453 75,560 161,888 Net Change in Future Development Costs (M$) 22,750 (22,647) 3,537 3,640 ---------------------------------------- Total Finding & Development Costs (M$) 41,625 44,806 79,097 165,528 Reserve Additions (excluding acquisition) (Mboe) 2,189 1,075 914 4,178 ---------------------------------------- Finding & Development Costs ($/Boe) $19.02 $41.68 $86.52 $39.62 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Finding and Development Costs Total Corporate Finding and Development Costs, excluding Acquisitions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved & Probable Reserves ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Year 2015 2014 2013 Total Exploration and Development Costs (M$) 18,875 67,453 75,560 161,888 Net Change in Future Development Costs (M$) 19,960 (22,597) 3,537 900 ---------------------------------------- Total Finding & Development Costs (M$) 38,835 44,856 79,097 162,788 Reserve Additions (excluding acquisition) (Mboe) 709 978 1,399 3,087 ---------------------------------------- Finding & Development Costs ($/Boe) $54.77 $45.85 $56.52 $52.74 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Corporate Finding, Development and Acquisition Costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved Reserves ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Year 2015 2014 2013 Total Exploration and Development Costs (M$) 18,875 67,453 75,560 161,888 Acquisition/Disposition Costs (M$) - - 99,518 99,518 Net Change in Future Development Costs (M$) 22,750 (22,647) 33,437 33,540 ---------------------------------------- Total Finding & Development Costs (M$) 41,625 44,806 208,515 294,946 Reserve Additions (Mboe) 2,189 1,075 4,656 7,920 ---------------------------------------- Finding & Development Costs ($/Boe) $19.02 $41.68 $44.78 $37.24 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Corporate Finding, Development and Acquisition Costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proved & Probable Reserves ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Year 2015 2014 2013 Total Exploration and Development Costs (M$) 18,875 67,453 75,560 161,888 Acquisition/Disposition Costs (M$) - - 99,518 99,518 Net Change in Future Development Costs (M$) 19,960 (22,597) 61,177 58,540 ---------------------------------------- Total Finding & Development Costs (M$) 38,835 44,856 236,255 319,946 Reserve Additions (Mboe) 709 978 12,783 14,471 ---------------------------------------- Finding & Development Costs ($/Boe) $54.77 $45.85 $18.48 $22.11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: Finding, Development (and Acquisition Costs) in the tables above are shown and calculated on the basis of 100% working interest in Ukraine, consistent with the consolidated financial reporting and statements.

Reserve Evaluator Price Forecasts

RPS used the following commodity price forecasts in preparing its evaluation of Serinus' oil and gas properties.

Ukraine Tunisia Gas Brent Condensate Gas Sabria Chouech ($/Bbl) ($/Bbl) ($/Mcf) ($/Mcf) ($/Mcf) 2016 44.00 33.96 5.99 7.15 7.78 2017 50.00 38.60 6.43 8.13 8.84 2018 58.00 44.77 7.02 9.43 10.25 2019 65.00 50.17 7.53 10.57 11.49 2020 73.00 56.35 8.12 11.87 12.91 2021 78.00 60.21 8.49 12.68 13.79 2022 83.00 64.07 8.86 13.49 14.67 2023 88.00 67.93 9.23 14.30 15.56 2024 93.00 71.79 9.60 15.12 16.44 2025 95.61 73.80 9.79 15.54 16.90 2026 97.52 75.28 9.93 15.85 17.24 2027 99.47 76.78 10.07 16.17 17.59 2028 101.46 78.32 10.22 16.49 17.94 2029 103.49 79.88 10.37 16.82 18.30 2030 105.56 81.48 10.52 17.16 18.66 2031 107.67 83.11 10.68 17.50 19.04 2032 109.82 84.77 10.84 17.85 19.42 2033 112.02 86.47 11.00 18.21 19.80 2034 114.26 88.20 11.16 18.57 20.20 Abbreviations ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- bbl Barrel(s) bbl/d Barrels per day ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Barrels of Oil Equivalent boe Barrels of Oil Equivalent boe/d per day ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thousand Cubic Feet per Mcf Thousand Cubic Feet Mcf/d day ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MMcf Million Cubic Feet MMcf/d Million Cubic Feet per day ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thousand Cubic Feet Thousand Cubic Feet Mcfe Equivalent Mcfe/d Equivalent per day ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Million Cubic Feet Million Cubic Feet MMcfe Equivalent MMcfe/d Equivalent per day ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mboe Thousand boe Bcf Billion Cubic Feet ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MMboe Million boe Mcm Thousand Cubic Metres ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UAH Ukrainian Hryvnia USD U.S. Dollar ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- CAD Canadian Dollar ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cautionary Statement:

BOEs may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of 6 Mcf:1 bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.

Test results are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or of ultimate recovery. The test data contained herein is considered preliminary until full pressure transient analysis is complete.

About Serinus

Serinus is an international upstream oil and gas exploration and production company that owns and operates projects in Tunisia and Romania.

For further information, please refer to the Serinus website (www.serinusenergy.com).

Translation: This news release has been translated into Polish from the English original.

Forward-looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements made as of the date of this announcement with respect to future activities that either are not or may not be historical facts. Although the Company believes that its expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date hereof, any potential results suggested by such statements involve risk and uncertainties and no assurance can be given that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Various factors that could impair or prevent the Company from completing the expected activities on its projects include that the Company's projects experience technical and mechanical problems, there are changes in product prices, failure to obtain regulatory approvals, the state of the national or international monetary, oil and gas, financial, political and economic markets in the jurisdictions where the Company operates and other risks not anticipated by the Company or disclosed in the Company's published material. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties and actual results may vary materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statement. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in this announcement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this announcement, unless required by law.

Contacts:

Serinus Energy Inc. - Canada

Norman W. Holton

Vice Chairman

+1-403-264-8877

nholton@serinusenergy.com



Serinus Energy Inc. - Canada

Gregory M. Chornoboy

Director - Capital Markets & Corporate Development

+1-403-264-8877

gchornoboy@serinusenergy.com



Serinus Energy Inc. - Poland

Jakub J. Korczak

Vice President Investor Relations & Managing Director CEE

+48 22 414 21 00

jkorczak@serinusenergy.com




Mandae, a Sao Paulo, Brazil-based platform that simplifies the shipping process for individuals and small businesses in the country, closed a USD$2.5m (BRL R$10m) funding round.

The round was led by Qualcomm Incorporated, through its venture investment arm Qualcomm Ventures, with participation from existing investors Monashees+ and Valor Capital Group. Earlier investors include Kima Ventures and Hans Hickler, the former CEO of DHL Express USA.

The company, which has now raised USD$5m (BRL R$16m) in total funding, intends to use the capital to accelerate growth, scale its operations and continue to expand its team.

Led by co-founder and CEO Marcelo Fujimoto, Mandae operates a platform that allows individuals and small businesses to ship items through a mobile and desktop app, specifying the items they want to ship. The service then takes care of the rest, from pick-up, to packaging, to selection of the best carriers, to shipping the items.

Earlier in 2016, the company started introducing private transporters onto their platform, including a strategic partnership with Total Express, one of Brazils largest private couriers. In 2015, it did 25,000 pickups, and shipped 160,000 packages, grew to more than 2,500 customers, entered into integration partnerships with LojaIntegrada, and crowdfunding site Catarse.

FinSMEs

15/03/2016
MOD Pizza, a Seattle, WA-based fast casual pizza company, raised approximately $32m in equity funding.

The round was led by existing investor PWP Growth Equity, a private equity fund managed by Perella Weinberg Partners. It represents an expanded investment from PWP Growth Equity, who led a $45 million round in MOD in March 2015.

The company, which has raised approximately $106m to date, intends to use the funds for its ongoing growth plans, which includes doubling its store base in 2016.

Founded in 2008 by Scott Svenson and Ally Svenson, MOD was inspired by the couples love of Italian street-style pizza. Its individual artisan-style pizzas are made on demand, using fresh-pressed dough and signature sauces. Customers create their own pizzas and salads, using any combination of over 30 featured toppings, or they can choose from a menu of classics.

The company currently operates a total of 110 stores in 16 states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

In 2016, MOD plans to expand within existing markets, as well as bring the concept to new markets in the US, including Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin, while also entering the United Kingdom, its first international market.

FinSMEs

16/03/2016
FMCG firm Procter & Gamble (P&G) has discontinued manufacture and sale of its popular brand 'Vicks Action 500 Extra' with immediate effect after the government banned 344 fixed dose combination drugs. The company has also said that it will challenge the ban.

Here's is an all you need to know about the development:

What is the ban all about?

The government on Monday banned 344 fixed dose combination (FDC) drugs, including several antibiotics and analgesics, saying that a government-appointed panel of experts had found the combinations lacked "therapeutic justification". An FDC is a drug that is a combination of two or more drugs in fixed proportion. Vicks Action 500 extra is a combination of Paracetamol, Phenylephrine and Caffeine.

According to the notification, the government, as per the recommendation of an expert committee, found that "it is necessary and expedient in public interest to regulate by way of prohibition of manufacture for sale, sale and distribution for human use" of the drugs.

For a full list of the drugs banned, click here.

What does the move mean for the consumer?

Like Vicks Action 500 Extra, many popular brands are likely to go off the shelves. There will be a scarcity of such OTC drugs, but on the whole the move is indeed good from a health point of view. A report in The Times of India says, the side effects of these drugs mostly go unreported since patients do not generally return to the doctors to consult. Also the mechanism that monitors the healthcare system is weak. According to the report, the health ministry feels such medicines "are causing anti-microbial resistance. The usage could even result in organ-failure, the report says. "Our objective is to ensure only safe products are available in the market. We have reviewed products for several times and there is evidence from research papers and studies to show these medicines are irrational combinations," a healthcare official has been quoted as saying in the ToI report.

What is the industry saying?



The ban has taken the pharma industry by surprise. The Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association has said it is weighing all options. Meanwhile, individual companies are also taking legal route. Abbott, Macleods Pharma and Pfizer have already got relief as court has lifted or stayed the ban. P&G has said it will challenge the ban in the court.

The worry of the industry is understandable. According to estimates, these companies are likely to suffer immediate loss of Rs 1,000 crore. However, the annual loss is pegged at Rs 4,000 crore. This could even go to Rs 10,000 crore, if more drugs are banned. The size of the pharma market in India is estimated to be Rs 1 lakh crore.

What next?



More bans and protracted legal battles. According to media reports, there are more bans on the way. This is because, as the ToI report says, there are 1,000 such cases under scanner. Once the government issues ban order, expect more legal battles.

The problem of FDCs has been there for quite some time in the country. The companies themselves are some of those banned drugs are being sold in the country for the last 30 years. A report in The Hindu in May 2015 citing a paper published in PLOS Medicine notes that India is flooded with such risky FDCs. The paper is based on a study done in just four therapeutic areas including analgesia, anxiety/ depression and psychosis. "Most of the FDC formulations available in India [in the four therapeutic areas studied] were unavailable in either UK or the U.S," the report says quoting from the paper.

All in all, 344 is just the tip of the iceberg.
Finally, the Aadhaar Bill is a reality. The Bill  Aadhaar (Target Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016  was passed in Lok Sabha on Wednesday evening, rejecting the amendments proposed in the Rajya Sabha. In the first place, no one, not even the most hardcore supporters of the Congress and Left parties, dispute the crucial importance of making a legally-backed Aadhaar available for 1.25 billion Indian citizens.

The whole process of subsidy reforms, kicked off during the UPA days and now pushed aggressively by the NDA government, is built on the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) channel, based on the unique identity number, or Aadhaar awarded to each citizen. It holds particular importance for the Narendra Modi government, and the success of its financial inclusion push under the JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile) trinity.

Leakage in subsidy has been a grave concern for India's exchequer for years. Hence, linking bank accounts to a unique social identity number will help plug the spillage. Despite the opposition from the Congress and Left parties, the passage of the Aadhaar (Target Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016 is a done deal now since it was introduced in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday as a money bill.

There are three major objections raised by the opposition parties in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday-the last day of the first half of budget session:

1) Is Aadhaar mandatory for citizens to avail subsidies and government benefits?

2) Will the bio-metric data shared with the government as part of Aadhaar generation put his/her privacy at risk?

3) Can foreign citizens in the country obtain the number and thus become legitimate Indian citizens and use Aadhaar to gain access to subsidies?

These objections are political in nature and do not stand strong against the Aadhaar Bill on account of the following reasons:

One, 99.21 crore Aadhaar cards have already been issued to almost 97 percent of the country's adult population, so the question of whether the scheme is voluntary or not doesn't really matter in the practical sense. And though the NDA government has clarified that Aadhaar will not be mandatory, banks are likely to insist on the number to implement DBT to skirt problems arising out of duplication. Even now, if one approaches a bank to open a Jan Dhan account, the institution will accept any document (driving licence, PAN card, ration card etc.) but to link it as DBT account, it will insist on an Aadhaar number.

Two, the NDA government's modifications to the UPA's bill has taken care of the privacy concerns of citizens; it lets the government access private information only for issues concerning National Security'. The UIDAI too have repeated that the information will be safe with it as reiterated by former chairman of UIDAI, Nandan Nilekani, in this article in The Indian Express.

Three, the argument that foreign nationals can obtain an Aadhaar number and thus become legitimate citizens of the country is based on a weak premise. Even if someone (say a Bangladeshi migrant) manages to get hold of a number, it doesn't give him or her proof of citizenship but only proof of individual identity.

A legally-backed Aadhaar scheme is crucial for taking ahead the subsidy reforms in the country. A lot is at stake with Aadhaar - a key reform step initiated by the UPA regime and followed by the NDA - given its critical importance as a unique identification tool necessary to manage rollout of various government schemes and financial innovation in a country of 120 crore population.

The fate of Jan Dhan Yojna, Modi government's flagship financial inclusion programme is closely linked to the success of the project. Already, some 21.21 crore accounts have been opened under the Jan Dhan Yojana, under which Rs 34,260 crore deposits have been mobilised. Given the primary purpose of Aadhaar is subsidy roll out through bank accounts, legal backing is critical.

It is very unlikely that sharing biometric data with government for Aadhaar will result in serious privacy issues for anyone. The point one must note here again is that Aadhaar is primarily meant to facilitate targeted deliveries of government benefits and subsidies as the Bill itself suggests. In the last year, the Supreme Court had observed that Aadhaar usage should be restricted to the rollout of certain subsidies. But now that the Aadhaar law is enacted, Supreme Court might consider enhancing its scope

The bottomline is this: A legally-backed Aadhaar is a revolutionary step for Indians that can change the way government transfers benefits to the intended beneficiaries in a large verity of schemes plugging the leakages. Ever since the DBT has been used to channelise LPG subsidies, the government has saved Rs 15,000 crore in the last fiscal year.

With Aadhaar gets legal backing, the government can streamline more subsidies and benefits to the intended beneficiaries. It's a win-win situation for both the government and the citizens. The benefits of a legally-backed Aadhaar far outweigh the currently highlighted concerns by Congress and Left parties.

Kishor Kadam contributed to this story
Hyderabad - Global civil aviation majors are taking part in India Aviation 2016, the mega expo that kicks off today. This is the fifth edition of the expo.

The five-day event organised by Ministry of Civil Aviation along with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is being held at Begumpet Airport.

The theme of this year's show is 'Indian Civil Aviation Sector: Potential As Global Manufacturing and MRO Hub'.

Here are all key facts you need to know about the event:

1) More than 200 major participants, including aircraft and helicopter makers, are expected at the show. Leading players associated with aviation and related businesses like Boeing, Airbus, Textron, Embraer, Gulfstream, Dassault, Agusta Westland, Bell Helicopters and Russian Helicopters will also take part in the expo. Engine manufacturers such as CFM, UTC, GE Aviation, Rolls Royce and Pratt and Whitney will showcase their products and expertise.

2) The event is supported by Air India, Airports Authority of India, Director General Civil Aviation, Pawan Hans, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Fornborough International, SP Guide Publications, Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies and Industries and Business Aircraft Operators Association, it added.

3) President Pranab Mukherjee will formally inaugurate the event which will be attended by E S Lakshmi Narsimhan, Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh; K Chandrashekar Rao, Chief Minister of Telangana; N Chandra Babu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, and Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati, Union Minister of Civil Aviation. Ambassadors from at least seven countries are expected to participate.

4) About 29 aircraft, ranging from small business jets to big aircraft, will be on display during the show. A one-day conference on "Indian Civil Aviation Sector: Potential as Global Manufacturing Hub" will be held on March 17 at the venue. The conference, to be addressed by eminent speakers, policy makers and experts, will focus on the policy issues and business aspects.

5) The Indian aviation sector is likely to see investments totalling $12.1 billion during the 12th Five Year Plan, out of which $9.3 billion is expected to come from the private sector, said a press release by the aviation ministry on Tuesday. The government plans to set up 200 low-cost airports in the next 20 years to connect tier-II and tire-III cities. The aim is to make India an aviation hub and one of the three key aviation markets globally by 2020, the statement from the ministry said.

With PTI
FMCG firm Procter & Gamble (P&G) has discontinued manufacture and sale of its popular brand 'Vicks Action 500 Extra' with immediate effect after the government banned fixed-dose combination drugs.

"The Government of India has prohibited the manufacture for sale, sale and distribution of fixed-dose combination drugs (Paracetamol + Phenylephrine + Caffeine) with immediate effect," Pfizer said in a BSE filing.

It further said, "Our product 'Vicks Action 500 Extra' has the same fixed-dose combination and gets covered under notification. We have discontinued the manufacture and sale of all SKUs of 'Vicks Action 500 Extra with immediate effect."

On Monday, drug majors Pfizer and Abbott stopped the sale of their popular cough syrups Corex and Phensedyl respectively, after the government banned over 300 fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) drugs.

The two companies, however, said they are exploring "all options" to counter the impact of the ban.

According to a report by Reuters, the company plans to challenge the government ban and said that all its products, including Vicks Action 500 Extra, were backed by research to support their quality, safety and efficacy.

Pfizer said it has stopped the sale of its Corex cough syrup that garnered sales of Rs 176 crore in the nine-month period ended December 31 and said the government's move will have an adverse impact on it.

"The company is exploring all available options at its disposal... The prohibition is likely to have an adverse impact on the revenue and profitability of the company," Pfizer had said in a BSE filing.

In view of the government ban on manufacture and sale of Corex, the "company has discontinued the manufacture and sale of its drug 'Corex' with immediate effect," Pfizer said adding that Corex has a well-established efficacy and safety profile in India for more than 30 years.

Abbott India has also stopped the sale of its Phensedyl cough syrup. When contacted a company spokesperson said, "Abbott is complying with all legal requirements related to the government notification."

The company termed the Health Ministry's decision to ban "certain fixed-dose combinations drugs that have been already approved" as a "unilateral approach".

"Abbott has reviewed the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) notification and we are concerned about the unilateral approach in prohibiting the manufacture, sale and distribution of certain fixed dose combinations that have already been approved for use by DCGI. We are evaluating the notification and exploring all available options," the spokesperson said.

Some of these formulations have been the treatment of choice for specific medical conditions, Abbott India said.

"We are concerned that patients may not have access to some medicines which have been approved by DCGI and safely and effectively used in India for years," Abbott spokesperson said.

In a gazette notification on March 10, the government had, among others, banned manufacture, sale and distribution of the fixed-dose combination of Chlopheniramine Maleate plus Codeine syrup which is used in the cough syrups.

The government had imposed ban on 344 drug combinations, including several antibiotics and analgesics, saying that a government-appointed panel of experts had found the combinations lacked "therapeutic justification".

Agencies
Mumbai: After almost a 10-year hiatus, dance bars are set to reopen in Maharashtra. The Supreme Court ordered the state to issue licences from 15 March, on condition that certain rules are adhered to.

While activists have sounded a warning that women and girls could be trafficked and abused in these venues, bar owners are arguing that this is legitimate and needed work.

Maharashtra in 2005 suspended the licences of hundreds of bars and hotels that featured skimpily dressed women dancing to Bollywood tunes on a small stage for male customers.

But after several appeals over the years against the ban, the Supreme Court ordered the state to issue licences from 15 March on condition that certain rules are adhered to.

When the bars were shut in 2005, about 75,000 women were estimated to be working there and bar owners said the women were earning a legitimate living.

But activists and charities feared the women were victims of trafficking and the bars were fronts for brothels.

Its not as if shutting them down stopped trafficking, but reopening them would legitimise it and give traffickers another reason to dupe and abuse women and girls, said Suparna Gupta, founder of Aangan Trust which works with victims of trafficking.

A majority of dance bars were doubling up as brothels, and we established a clear link between many rescued minor girls and these establishments.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last week said the government was not in favour of reopening dance bars and will draft legislation to find a way around the Supreme Court ruling.

About 150 bars and hotels in Mumbai and about 1,200 in the state are applying for licences, according to an industry lobby.

The Maharashtra government, which opposes dance bars on the grounds of obscenity, had proposed more than two dozen conditions for new licences but the Supreme Court rejected some of them, including requiring a live stream to police stations.

Instead, closed-circuit televisions will be installed at the entrance, with a limit of four dancers per bar, a railing around the performance area, and a distance of at least five feet (1.5 m) between the stage and customers.

Women wont be permitted to dance in an obscene manner and customers cannot fling money at the dancers, the rules state.

Hotel and bar owners have lobbied against some of these conditions, calling them unreasonable.

What has the state done in the last 10 years for the rehabilitation of the thousands of women who lost their livelihood overnight? said Adarsh Shetty, head of the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association in Mumbai.

Many women who found themselves without a job then were forced into prostitution or trafficked to Gulf nations, said Bharat Thakur, president of the Dance Bars Association in Mumbai, which has criticised the states moral policing.

REUTERS
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday reserved its order on JNU students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya's bail pleas in a sedition case for 18 March which were opposed by the police on the ground that allegations were grave as they were the main organisers of the campus event.

The duo, who are lodged in jail since 23 February, has sought bail on the ground of parity with JNU student's union President Kanhaiya Kumar, saying he has already been granted bail and the incident did not attract charges of sedition.

Additional sessions judge Reetesh Singh heard the arguments in which both the accused said they should be given the relief like Kanhaiya since they are in judicial custody and the police do not need their custody for the probe.

This was opposed by the investigators who said the students' intention was to create hatred against the established government which attracts the sedition charge. The police said the case against Kanhaiya "is very much different" from that of Umar and Anirban as the JNUSU President was not the organiser of the event and there are 10 independent witnesses including security guards, JNU staff and the students who have confirmed that "anti-Indian slogans were raised" at the programme.

"The slogans attempted to incite the mob. These two persons, Umar and Anirban, led the crowd which shouted anti-Indian slogans. The police has also recovered two cellphones which established that anti-Indian slogans were raised by Umar and Anirban during the event," the prosecution said, adding that posters used for the event were recovered from the emails of two accused which shows that they were the main organisers of the event which took place even after permission was withdrawn by the JNU administration.

However, the counsel for both the accused said, in this case there was no violence prior or later to the incident.

Advocate Trideep Pais, who represented Anirban, said there are a number of reports and even the police is saying that several videos on the incident which are in public domain are doctored and "even the report of JNU on the incident says that the slogans were raised by outsiders".

Pais said that event organised by both the accused cannot be termed as unlawful assembly, even though the permission to hold that meeting was cancelled as no violence took place.

"My clients are already in the custody since 23 February after they voluntarily surrendered, including seven days' police custody. They were absent for few days before surrendering because there was serious threat to life," the counsel said.

He also said that their absence is resulting in ex-parte orders passed by the committees set-up by JNU in this matter.

Identical arguments were made by Umar's counsel Jawahar Rana.

While seeking bail on the ground of parity, the counsel said, "Their co-accused Kanhaiya Kumar has already been granted bail and there were similar allegations against him as well. This case is not different from Kanhaiya's. Besides these three, seven persons were also named in the case but they are also free."

Advocate Yashpal, caught on camera attacking JNU students and media persons in the Patiala House Court Complex on 15 and 17 February, was also present in the proceedings, which took place amid high security.

The advocates, related to the case, were also taken out of the court in police escort.

The police had arrested Umar and Anirban for allegedly organising a controversial event at JNU on 9 February where anti-India slogans were alleged to have been raised.

Their judicial custody was yesterday extended by the court till 29 March.

The duo had returned to the JNU campus on 21 February after going missing since 12 February.

Delhi Police had issued a look-out notice on February 20 against Umar, Anirban and three other students -- Rama Naga, Ashutosh Kumar and Anant Prakash.

Kanhaiya was earlier granted interim bail for six months by the Delhi High Court.

PTI
New Delhi: A Delhi-based journalist was on Tuesday questioned by police for his news report claiming that the government had been discriminating against Muslims in appointment as yoga instructors in AYUSH Ministry.

Journalist Pushp Sharma of Milli Gazette, where the story was published, was questioned at Kotla Mubarakpur police station in south Delhi on a complaint by a senior AYUSH Ministry official, police said.

A senior police officer said that Sharma had earlier been arrested in 2009 on the charge of extorting government officials by threatening sting operations on them.

There were also allegations that Sharma even tried to extort police officers, the officer said.

The Ministry had earlier condemned the "misreporting" which it claimed was aimed at causing a "chasm" between different sections of society and "promoting disharmony and mistrust with ulterior motives".

"The Ministry of AYUSH has noted with anguish certain mischievous misinformation being spread in certain section of media and social media quoting a reply to an RTI by mentioning a fabricated draft as Annexure I to that letter, which has never been issued by the Ministry of AYUSH or any of its agencies.

"The Ministry strongly condemns this piece of misreporting, clearly aimed at causing chasm between different sections of society and promoting disharmony and mistrust with ulterior motives," the Ministry had said in a statement.

The Milli Gazette issued a statement on its Facebook page, saying "a police force claiming to be from Kotla Mubarakpur police station in New Delhi picked up journalist Pushp Sharma from his home in Lajpat Nagar at around 6:30 pm today."

It also claimed that Sharma has been arrested. However, police did not confirm report of his arrest.

PTI
New Delhi: New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday today slammed various provisions of the Aadhaar bill, singling out the ones like making the Aadhaar card mandatory as an identity proof besides voicing concern that national security

could be made a ground for sharing of an individual's details.

The House saw an animated discussion when the Aadhaar Bill, passed by Lok Sabha, was moved for consideration and return, with Opposition questioning in unison why it has been been brought has a 'Money Bill' (which deals with issues like taxation).

At this, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said since the decision to declare it as 'Money Bill' had been taken by Lok Sabha Speaker, he could not do anything but ensure that it is returned to the Lower House (after passage).

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh supported the Aadhaar Bill which is aimed at giving statutory backing to the unique identity number scheme, but proposed amendments including a "fundamental departure" against the provision making its use mandatory rather than voluntary.

The former minister argued that every individual should have the freedom to opt out of Aadhaar and said the present Bill does not give that space.

Informing that he himself does not have an Aadhaar card, Ramesh said a situation may arise when it may be needed even to book a flight or get a phone number.

He also opposed another provision in the Bill which he termed as "broad" and "amorphous" and could become the ground for misuse of the law as it gives "sweeping powers" on the grounds of national security.

He suggested that rather than national security, the terms "public emergency" or "public safety" could be used. He suggested that an independent member like the CVC should be included in the panel that decides which information regarding a person can be shared.

Ramesh said any suo motu powers, "even to collect information" should not be given to the Aadhaar authority, for instance it could even direct collection of DNA.

He said there were concerns of privacy and the amendments moved by him were in line with the recommendation suggested by a Commission headed by Justice (retd) AP Shah, which had been set by the Planning Commission to examine the matter.

While Ramesh suggested these amandments, he also expressed "anguish" that the Bill had been brought as a Money Bill, an act he likened to "knocking a nail in the coffin of the Upper House".

Earlier while moving the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other subsidies, benefits and services) Bill, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the present bill was different from the one brought by the UPA government as it has further tightened the privacy provisions with regard to

sharing of information of individuals collected by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

The Leader of the House said privacy laws are tightened to an extent that the data of individuals would be shared only on the ground of national security.

Amid continued interruption, Jaitley took a dig at Ramesh for objecting to the bill which was originally conceived by the UPA government.

"I think the stand of Jairam depends on where he sits. When he is on this (ruling) side, his stand is different and when is on that (opposition) side, his stand is different," Jaitley quipped.

Ramesh countered by saying that his stand on important legislations be it GST, Aadhaar or Land aquisition has been consistent and he did not need a certificate on his intellectual intergrity. He said on all this "Jaitley and his party had changed."

The finance minister and the Congress leader also clashed over whether or not the Aadhaar bill was 'Money Bill'.

Ramesh said that Jaitley, in his attempt to justify the decision to treat Aadhaar bill as 'Money Bill', had "misled" the House by claiming that in the past two Bills, one on Juvenile Justice and another on African Development Bank, had been brought as Money Bills.

"Where was this information manufactured," he asked.

Jaitley then told the House that his source was Lok Sabha website itself.

"You can accuse me of being misled by the website," Jaitley said, while contending that the information was still available on the website and he had taken a printout just few minutes back.

Ramesh said the information on Lok Sabha website was "wrong".

Jaitley said it was Ramesh who had "misled" the House by giving a "half-truth".

The Congress leader, on the other hand, emphasised that Jaitley should have checked the facts.

As the argument continued, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said that if the source of the finance minister's information was the Lok Sabha website, it cannot be termed as misleading of the House.

Speaking about the Aadhaar bill, Ramesh said it was because of "small mercies" that a debate had taken place over it.

The Congress leader said the major use of Aadhaar should be that it could be used to improve the way subsidy is distributed to curb leakages, but it should not determine who is eligible for for subsidy.

Ramesh said while much has been made out by the finance minister about Rs 14,000 crore savings in the distribution of LPG subsidies because of Aadhaar based DBT, the findings of a London-based think tank suggest otherwise.

He said while the present Bill is better in some respects than the one brought by UPA in 2010, it is silent on other aspects. He said he had overall nine objections to the Bill, a number for which Jaitley had shown much fascination in the budget.

He said that during the UPA regime, there was scepticism over Aadhaar even among the National Advisory Council (NAC) but his party leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had remained firm.

Ramesh said while the government had provided the opposition with "fait accompli", it should have rather been sent to a Select Committee headed by a BJP member like Anil Madhav Dave or Bhupendra Yadav and better bill could have been come up with.

Speaking after Ramesh, BJP member Chandan Mitra said the Congress leader had on one occasion mentioned that criticism of Aadhaar could get anyone labelled as 'anti-national', which reflected the paranoia of the opposition.

Naresh Agarwal (SP) said the government's action of bringing the Bill as a Money Bill raised suspicions. He too suggested that the Bill should be sent to a Select Committee.

Opposing making of Aadhaar mandatory, he said questions could be raised about citizenship of several people.

KG Tyagi of JD(U) raised questions about the safety of data saying it could reach CIA or Mossad. He also referred to the Nazi regime in Germany and said it had introduced cards to identify Jews.

PTI
The News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) has asked news channel Times Now to issue an apology and pay a fine for its reportage on the Jasleen Kaur case.

For those who don't remember, Kaur is a student of the Delhi University who had accused Sarabjit Singh of harassing her verbally at a road crossing in Delhi. She had taken a photo of the incident and it splashed across news channels including Times Now in August 2015.

Kaur was one of the talking heads that night on several news channels and she was backed by members of the Aam Aadmi Party which is the ruling party in Delhi. The incident involving Kaur went viral with her Facebook post being shared over a lakh times. It also prompted a quick response from the Delhi Police who arrested the accused within a day on charges of sexual harassment.

Despite Singh and his family denying the allegations, several news channels continued to hound them. Days later, a man, claiming to be an eyewitness in the case, said the girl fabricated the story.

Celebrities including Sonakshi Sinha had backed Jasleen, but had to later apologise.

The NBSA order, as quoted by Livemint, condemned Times Now's reportage saying it was of an aggressive, intimidating, and browbeating style". Further, the order stated that the telecast of carried "tag-lines treating the accused as guilty".

According to the Livemint report, the NBSA said, "Broadcasters cannot condemn as guilty persons accused of having committed a crime or offence when the matter is still under investigation or where the court is yet to decided upon the guilt or otherwise of the accused."

The NBSA's rap on Times Now comes as a wake up call for the entire media industry. The Jasleen Kaur case is a glaring example of several factors that is wrong with the media today.

Unlike earlier, when the morning daily was the only source of news, the time between an incident and it appearing on tickers and Twitter feeds has reduced drastically. Often, like in the Jasleen Kaur case, a viral post on Facebook or a tweet is picked up by the media and it becomes a story. In a bid for TRPs and clicks fact checking, accuracy and getting the other side of the story is mostly forgotten.

Technology (in this case, social media) cannot be good or bad. It is just how we use the information which is out there. And there is an abundance of it. So due dilligence and discretion should be thumb rules.

While it was a right for the media to pick up Jasleen's story, the least they could have been done before putting Sarabjit in the witness box was to get his side of the story. As rightly pointed out by the NBSA, "Media howsoever bona fide its intentions are, cannot act as the judge, jury, prosecutor and investigator in regard to any matter pending before a court or under investigation. It should be kept in mind that the reputation or credibility of a person once lost, as a result of a sustained media campaign focus, can never be regained."

Publishing funny viral videos and posts are one thing, but a line needs to be drawn while reporting on such serious incidents.

In digital and broadcast news organisations, the basic rules of journalism are given a miss in the pursuit of being the first to break a story. Especially in cases like Jasleen's, where it has potential to cause outrage, the fastest-person-first attitude always works because the consumer takes what media houses publish at face value.

During these times of fast-paced news, media organisations have to look inwards and be aware of the moral responsibility that rests on their shoulders. The reportage, as we have seen several times in the past, has the potential to make or break a case. A glaring example is the 2012 Delhi gangrape case. It wouldn't be wrong to say that the Indian media played a significant role in fuelling public support for justice in the brutal case. The protests and public outcry that followed resulted in the formulation and changing of laws that punished crimes against women in the country. However, when the public outcry is wrongly directed at one person as a result of shoddy reportage, it can have grave consequences for people involved.

The NBSA order is for all those media houses who, in their unending quest to "get it first", forget that a huge responsibility rides on their shoulder. And that should not be ignored while airing or publishing a story.
Stop branding my brother as anti-national. He wants azadi (independence) from the destroyer of the nation said an emotional 11-year-old Sarah Fatima, the youngest sister of Umar Khalid who is facing sedition charges for allegedly raising anti-India slogans on 9 February at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and is presently lodged inside Tihar jail in the national capital.

Umar is fighting for the nation, and for its oppressed and downtrodden people. He can never be anti-national, Sarah told Firstpost after her father  Dr SQR Ilyas  encouraged her to talk to the media.

I miss him, but I am not afraid at all, because so many people are supporting him, she said adding that he will come back soon smiling.

Asked if she knows that the judicial custody of Umar and Anirban has been increased by a further 14 days, he said, My brother will come out clean. It is just a matter of time. I am glad to see that such a large number of people have gathered here in his support. What disturbs us is him being labelling as an anti-national and a terrorist by a section of the media.

Asked what brought her to the march, she said, I, along with my elder sister and father have come here to ask the government to release Umar and Anirban, and withdraw the sedition charges, because most of the videos on the basis of which they have been booked have found to be doctored and none of the videos show Umar raising anti-India slogans.

To a question on what message she wished to give to Umar, she said, You continue with your fight against all kind of injustices and always stand with the truth.

Sharing the same view, Kulsum Fatima (25), a post-graduate in history from Ambedkar University, praised her bhai  as she fondly calls Umar  as a good human being who has done nothing wrong. Such massive support means a lot for us, because the 10 days when my brother was missing were really nightmarish. We were scared of his life. But now, things have improved. We have faith in the judiciary and are hopeful that he will be granted bail, she said.

The bail applications of Umar and Anirban are likely to be filed in the court on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers' Association (JNUTA) has rejected the show cause notices issued to the students by the internal inquiry committee of the JNU administration alleging vagueness of charges and mischief. How is it that a report of the inquiry committee of JNU is being leaked to the media when there is no official word either from the rector or the vice chancellor on it? How can guilt be established without a proper inquiry? As far as the show cause notices issued to many students are concerned, no charge has been specified in that, JNUTA Secretary Bikramaditya Chaudhary told Firstpost, adding that, If you are not transparent, you are not trustworthy.

A show cause notice issued to a student, whose name and other details are withheld, reads, As per the High Level Enquiry Committee findings, you have been found guilty on the following accounts under the Clause 3, Category II of Rules and discipline and proper conduct of students of JNU: (IX) Arousing communal, caste or regional feeling or creating disharmony among students, (XI) Causing or colluding in the unauthorised entry of any person into the campus or in the unauthorised occupation of any portion of the university premises, including halls of residences, by any person, (XXV) Any other act which may be considered by the VC or any other competent authority to be an act of violation of discipline and conduct during the incident which took place on 9 Februray 2016 in the JNU campus. You are hereby asked to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against you for indulging in the above act.
Mumbai: Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi on Wednesday stressed that for making world a better place the energy of youth needs to be harnessed even as he felt that the new generation is becoming intolerant and violent because they are "confused" and "misguided".

"Whatever they are doing today is because they could either be misguided or they don't have a clear path in their lives. They are confused in the competitive world and they don't see much opportunities. This frustrates them and creates a dislike for the whole system and establishment, eventually making them intolerant and violent," Satyarthi told PTI on the sidelines of an event organised by CII here.

Satyarthi said his NGO has launched a new global campaign against child labour and exploitation. The online and offline campaign is called as "100 million for 100 million" which aims to channelise the energies of the youth to create a better world.

The idea behind the campaign is to get 100 million young people to voice their views and act for another deprived 100 million children by sensitising others about issues relating to child labour, exploitation, sexual abuse and trafficking, through the initiative.

"There is a need to harness the anger and energies of the young people for a better world than wasting them in blaming each other. They can be the champions and voices on behalf of the 100 million children who are deprived of their basic rights to education and healthcare," he said.

The international child rights activist further said the government, civil society and the corporates should come together to ensure children are not exploited in any production or supply chain.

"Whenever corporates execute their projects they should make sure that no child is deprived of education and healthcare. All the three major stakeholders jointly create a culture of mutual trust and work together towards this common goal," Satyarthi said.

PTI
Academics, scholars and prominent personalities across the world have come out in support of feminist writer Nivedita Menon, who teaches at the Centre for Comparative Politics and Political Theory at the School of International Studies in JNU and noted scientist and poet Gauhar Raza.

Kafila has issued a statement condemning the attack on Menon and Raza and requesting the Press Council of India and the Broadcast Association to take necessary action against Zee News and IBN 7 for their "unlawful reportage."

Actors, journalists, lawyers and many others, including Kavita Krishnan, Naseeruddin Shah, Prabhat Patnaik and more have also signed the statement demanding Zee News to take responsibility and issue an apology, as per The Citizen.

According to Catch News, media channel Zee News called Raza "anti-national and "who supports Afzal Guru," while playing one of his poems.

Referring to a speech made by Menon on JNU campus, on 8 March, Zee News reported "some professors of the prestigious university are the real culprits, who are infusing hatred for the country amongst the youngsters."

The Wire reported that Menon was giving a lecture on the accession of Kashmir into India at the time of Independence and how the map of India looks very different in international publications. She had said, "If people are raising slogans for azadi, shouldnt this be looked at in the context of India being seen as an imperialist country internationally? The report said that Zee News has been accused of "airing doctored video" and selectively picking Menon's quotes from her speech. It added that IBN 7 "demanded sedition charges slapped against Menon."

On 13 March, the ABVP lodged two police complaints against the varsity's associate dean for giving permission to the controversial Afzal Guru event and professor Nivedita Menon for her alleged remarks on pro-azadi slogans on Kashmir.

JNU Students' Union Joint Secretary Saurabh Sharma, who had filed the complaint, had stated regarding Menon, "Everyone knows that India is illegally occupying Kashmir. It is said the world over. Everybody accepts (it). (sic)"

JNU's ABVP unit president Alok Singh had said, "We demand that Nivedita Menon (a teacher) must step down for ridiculing and trivialising the martyrdom and dedication of Indian army. The teachers have been academically legitimising the terrorism and violence on the campus."

Defending Menon, Mary E. John, who is with the Centre for Womens Development Studies, wrote in The Hindu, "That is precisely why we are outraged not by the fact that people disagree with Prof. Menon or want to question her views, but by the mode in which they are choosing to do so. The malicious campaign we have witnessed in recent days is not about expressing dissent; it is about bullying and intimidation."

With inputs from PTI
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016, aimed at at better targeting of subsidies through the Aadhar unique identity number. The passage of the Bill was preceded by heated debate in the Rajya Sabha involving Opposition members, especially Congress member Jairam Ramesh.

Here are the salient features of the bill (as explained by PRS Legislative) and the concerns regarding its implementation:

What is the bill all about?

The Bill intends to provide for targeted delivery of subsidies and services to individuals residing in India by assigning them unique identity numbers, called Aadhaar numbers. Every resident shall be entitled to obtain an Aadhaar number. A resident is a person who has resided in India for 182 days, in the one year preceding the date of application for enrolment for Aadhaar.

What are the salient features of the Bill?

For anyone to get an Aadhaar number the details that needs to be submitted include (i) biometric (photograph, finger print, iris scan) and (ii) demographic (name, date of birth, address) information.

The Aadhaar number will be used to verify the identity of a person receiving a subsidy or a service. If a person does not have an Aadhaar number, the government will ask them to apply for it. Otherwise, the person will be given an alternative means of identification. Any public or private entity can accept the Aadhaar number as a proof of identity of the Aadhaar number holder, for any purpose. However, the number is not a proof of citizenship or domicile.

What are the safeguards in place?

It is the UID authority that will authenticate the Aadhaar number of an individual, if an entity makes such a request. A requesting entity (an agency or person that wants to authenticate information of a person) has to obtain the consent of an individual before collecting his information. The agency can use the disclosed information only for purposes for which the individual has given consent.

The UID authority is not permitted to share an individuals biometric information such as finger print, iris scan and other biological attributes. Further, these details will be used only for Aadhaar enrolment and authentication, and for no other purpose.

The authority shall record the entity requesting verification of a persons identity, the time of request and the response received by the entity. The purpose for which an individual's identity needs to be verified will not be maintained.

What are the exceptions for information sharing?

As per Section 33 of the Bill there are two cases when information may be revealed:

a) In the interest of national security, a joint secretary in the central government may issue a direction for revealing, (i) Aadhaar number, (ii) biometric information (iris scan, finger print and other biological attributes specified by regulations), (iii) demographic information, and (iv) photograph. Such a decision will be reviewed by an oversight committee (comprising Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries of Legal Affairs and Electronics and Information Technology) and will be valid for six months.

b) On the order of a court, (i) an individuals Aadhaar number, (ii) photograph, and (iii) demographic information, may be revealed.

What are the offences and punishments for violation?

A person may be punished with imprisonment up to three years and minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh for unauthorised access to the centralised data-base, including revealing any information stored in it. If a requesting entity and an enrolling agency fail to comply with rules, they shall be punished with imprisonment up to one year or a fine up to Rs 10,000 or Rs 1 lakh (in case of a company), or with both.

Why did the Opposition object to the Bill?

For one, the Opposition parties raised objections to the Bill being introduced as a money Bill. A money Bill pertains to taxes or spending or borrowing of the government and requires no approval from the Rajya Sabha. The Upper House can only make recommendations, which the Lok Sabha can accept or reject. Once the Lok Sabha passes a money bill with or without amendments recommended by the Rajya Sabha, it is deemed to have been passed by both the Houses.

The Opposition contents that the Aadhaar Bill has been introduced as a money Bill only to circumvent the ruling NDA's minority status in the Rajya Sabha.

Secondly, the case on whether the implementation of the Aadhaar number indeed encroaches the privacy of a person is still pending in the Supreme Court. So the Opposition parties were of the opinion that Parliament cannot legislate since the matter is before Supreme Court.

Thirdly, there are concerns that the term 'national security' as mentioned in Section 33 (that deals with exceptions for not disclosing identity) can be mis-used. The concern is not without basis given the emotions being whipped up around nationalism and patriotism. Ramesh wanted the words 'national security' to be replaced by "public emergency and public safety" for sharing the bio-metric details.

A group of social activists had also raised this concern after the bill was passed in the Lok Sabha earlier. They said the legislation may be misused for "mass surveillance" as it does not address concerns over privacy. "It will used for mass surveillance. The law will be an infringement on the rights of privacy of people," activist Kavita Srivastava was quoted saying in a PTI report.

Fourthly, does the bill make Aadhaar number mandatory for all the citizens. The finance minister clarified that it is not mandatory. If a person does not have Aadhaar number, he or she will be given an alternative identification.

In last-ditch attempts, Opposition members including those from Trinamool, CPI(M) and BJD appealed to the government to respect the "wisdom" of the house of elders and accept their amendments in a democratic spirit and not to reject them on "ego".

What are the government's justifications?

According to finance minister Jaitley, who moved the Bill, it is a money Bill because it deals subsidies and money that is flows out of the Consolidated Fund of India. What also came to the government's rescue is speaker PJ Kurien's contention that that it was a money Bill.

On the Opposition argument that Parliament should not legislate as the case is pending in the Supreme Court, Jaitley said Parliament cannot abdicate its duty under the Constitution which clearly separates powers among various institutions.

On the use of the term 'national security', Jaitley said security of state over the years have come to be defined as a well defined concept. He also said the phrase has been borrowed from the 2010 law, which was brought in by the UPA. "(The term national security) has evolved and is defined. It is something to do with integrity of the India, sovereignty of India. (But) there is no concept of public emergency. You are permitting by your amendment, a much larger encroachment of privacy that the law permits.

He also said while national security is limited, public safety and public emergency are not constitutional phrase. "They are undefined and unustified... Public safety is a vaguer phrase," he said, adding, "national security over the years is a narrower phrase. It interest involves interest of the security of the state, integrity of India".

He also said that the "encroachment" of personal liberty or privacy has been narrowed down and "we have taken care of larger no of privacy concern...".

Why is the Bill important?

As explained earlier, it is central to the ambitious financial inclusion programme of the Modi government. For the government, passing such a law had become important after the Supreme Court issued an interim order in October 2015 saying the Aadhaar number cannot be made mandatory for availing benefits or subsidies or services of the government. The Aadhaar card scheme is purely voluntary and it cannot be made mandatory till the matter is finally decided by it, the court had said.

The Bill will enable the government to set up a statutory authority for the Aadhaar card scheme. This will permit banks to use the Aadhaar number as identification for customers, which will help them weed out fake Jan Dhan accounts.

With inputs from PTI
A Delhi-based journalist was on Tuesday questioned by the police for his news report claiming that the government had been discriminating against Muslims in appointment as yoga instructors in the AYUSH Ministry.

Journalist Pushp Sharma of Milli Gazette, where the story was published, was questioned at Kotla Mubarakpur police station in south Delhi on a complaint by a senior AYUSH Ministry official, police said.

A senior police officer said that Sharma had earlier been arrested in 2009 on the charge of extorting money from government officials by threatening them with sting operations.

There were also allegations that Sharma tried to extort money from police officers, the officer said.

The Ministry's stand

The Ministry had earlier condemned the "misreporting" which it claimed was aimed at causing a "chasm" between different sections of society and "promoting disharmony and mistrust with ulterior motives".

"The Ministry of AYUSH has noted with anguish certain mischievous misinformation being spread in certain sections of media and social media quoting a reply to an RTI by mentioning a fabricated draft as Annexure I to that letter, which has never been issued by the Ministry of AYUSH or any of its agencies.

"The Ministry strongly condemns this piece of misreporting, clearly aimed at causing chasm between different sections of society and promoting disharmony and mistrust with ulterior motives," the ministry had said in a statement.

The ministry on Saturday said that an RTI request dated 17 September, 2015 was received from Sharma which sought information about various issues including how many times yoga councils were formulated in last ten years, detail list of each council, name of Yoga council members who got selected, how many Muslim candidates were invited, selected or sent abroad as Yoga trainers, amongst others.

The Ministry said that on receipt of the query, it forwarded this RTI request to its three agencies namely Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy and International Cooperation wing of the Ministry.

"This is a simple forwarding letter under section 6(3) of RTI Act and therefore does not contain any reply to the queries.

"The same forwarding letter of the Ministry has been used by a section of the media in this matter, but with a non-existent, fictitious "ANNEXURE- I", (which has never been issued by the Ministry)," it said.

The Ministry had successfully conducted the first International Day of Yoga on 21 June last year, which witnessed the participation of more than 30,000 participants and created a Guinness World record. The Ministry further said that the contents regarding religion based data in the so-called Annexure- I are not only "fabricated but factually incorrect" as well.

"The response of the International Cooperation Section of the Ministry clearly said that invitations were sent to yoga experts and enthusiasts without reference to their religions. Replies sent to the applicant by MDNIY, CCRYN are also enclosed for ready reference. The Ministry is initiating appropriate action in the matter," it said.

Petition filed against AYUSH's "discriminatory" policy

Following the controversy, a petition was filed with National Commission of Minorities (NCM), Prime Minister and President by lawyer-activist Shehzad Poonawalla against the 'discriminatory' policy adopted by the AYUSH Ministry.

Poonawalla urged the NCM to direct the government to immediately withdraw this 'discriminatory and unreasonable' policy against Muslims which is thoroughly "violative" of the Constitution and should have never been introduced at all.

"NCM should monitor and review periodically the policies of the government to ensure they are not discriminatory against any religious minorities and live up to the slogan of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas in letter and spirit.

"PM Modi must take cognizance of communal incidents being done by certain elements who have now entered the mainstream. It is time to make stringent rules against his kind of communal assault targeting Muslims. The President must advise the government to take necessary corrective measures," Poonawala had said in the petition.

Milli Gazette's stand

The Milli Gazette issued a statement on its Facebook page, saying "a police force claiming to be from Kotla Mubarakpur police station in New Delhi picked up journalist Sharma from his home in Lajpat Nagar at around 6.30 pm today."

Urgent News : Journalist arrested in Delhi. Recently in news for his Yoga trainers RTI, Pushp Sharma has been picked up... Posted by The Milli Gazette on Tuesday, March 15, 2016

It also claimed that Sharma has been arrested. However, police did not confirm the report of his arrest.

In an Editor's note published on Sunday, titled Ayush Ministry's reply is misleading, noted that Sharma stands by his story and the "Ministrys rebuttal to our story is factually incorrect".

"The ministry is talking about a different RTI filed by the same journalist at about the same time, and concerns foreign yoga experts invited to attend the Yoga conference last year while our story talks about Yoga teachers sent out from India," it said.

With inputs from agencies
New Delhi: Retiring as Rajya Sabha member, noted film personality Javed Akhtar said on Tuesday that "adjournaments" and "polarisation" will not take the country forward. He pleaded with the Opposition and the government to work together without thinking about the next elections. Taking a break from the usual uproar, the different political parties in the Upper House, were seen cheering Akhtar, unanimously.

Akhtar, who was nominated to the Upper House by the UPA government, said there are capable leaders in the Modi

government who can do good work but those making extremist comments, need to be reined in.

"I hope both Opposition and the government will work together. Adjournments will not take us forward. Even

polarisation will not take us forward. Please forget next election and think about the country," he said in his

impassioned speech. The house listened to him in rapt silence and occasionally burst into applause after a particularly good statement.

The film lyricist slyly slammed AIMIM leader and MP Asaddudin Owaisi for saying that he wont chant 'Bharat mata ki jai' because the Constitution does not ask him to do so.

Taking a dig at Owaisi's constitutional rights, Akhtar said, "the Constitution even does not ask him to wear sherwani (dress) and topi (cap)... I don't care to know whether saying 'Bharat mata ki jai' is my duty or not but it is my right."

He went on to chant 'Bharat mata ki jai' a number of times.

He also condemned the right-wing extremists who say Muslims should go to Pakistan.

Underlining that there cannot be democracy without secularism, Akhtar said protecting secularism is not about

protecting one community or the other. "We need to protect secularism because there cannot be democracy without it. I believe this is our greatest achievement."

On religious freedom, Akhtar said time does not stop and the country either would move forward or backward.

"One who learns from experience is intelligent. But those who learn from others' experiences are more intelligent. Look at those countries where religion is given importance, where the tongue is cut and people are hanged if they speak against the religion. Whether that country should be an example for us or a country where there is

religious freedom. We have to think," he asked.

Expressing concern over lack of development in the country, Akhtar said India has industrialised and become a big

power now but "more could have been achieved. Anyway whatever has been achieved is no less."

At the same time, he said, "We need to think why there is no development despite there being government and system in place? We want development but whose development and for whom? we need to think."

He added, "Development is not GDP. Development is Human Development Index. Be it any party, they wish the development of the countyr. Why our energies are wasted?"

On democracy, he said, "We are fortunate to have democracy though we complain about the government and society.

We don't thank what we have with us. We don't thank enough to our constitution. ...The constitution gives democracry. But remember, there cannot be democracry without secularism."

He said that the meaning of democracy is taking views of the majority and not minority. "But the democracy believes

that majority and minority is not permanent. They keep changing. The democracy will die the day we define minority

and majority in our own way."

Emphasising the need to protect secularism, Akhtar said protecting secularism is not about protecting one community or the other. "We need to protect secularism because there cannot be democracy without it. I believe this is our greatest achievement."

Besides democracy and the Constitution, Akhtar said India has youth power unlike Japan and China.

"The country's 50 per cent of the population is young. 35 crore people are youth and in age group of 10-15 years.

They have lot of energy and talent," adding, "Japan has lost this advantage and China is losing this advantage. You have 20 years to take advantage of the youth power. Both Opposition and the government have to think about it," he said.

PTI
A day after BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi was booked for attacking a horse in Uttarakhand, the incident drew a sharp response from Union minister and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi.

Reacting to the video showing Joshi hitting the horse, Gandhi demanded that action be taken against him, and said that he had brought a bad name to the party. Gandhi said she planned to request the higher-ups in the party to take action against him, CNN-IBN reported.

Joshi, however, termed the controversy as 'fabricated news' and claimed that he was hitting the ground with a stick and not the horse. He also claimed that the horse attacked a BJP worker after which the worker was admitted to the ICU.

Mussoorie MLA Joshi was accused of beating the horse with stick during a party's protest march in the state. The photograph of the animal lying badly injured with a fractured leg soon went viral on social media.

The MLA insisted that he had not inflicted injury on the horse, adding that it went out of control during the protests and one of its hind legs got stuck in a hole dug up to put up the barricades, causing it injuries.

"The party is aware of the incident. Party has taken a serious note of the incident. I am sure the party will take a call on this," Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters.

Such behaviour is unacceptable, he said.

Even as the MLA faces criticism from within his party, it remains to be seen if any action will be taken against him.

Meanwhile, even as reports began streaming in that the horse's leg had been saved, a petition on the website change.org has demanded that the horse should be provided with a prosthetic leg and transferred to an animal shelter. "Our culture teaches us to love and respect all living beings. A person as cruel as Ganesh Joshi only brings shame to the BJP and India as a whole," it read.

With inputs from PTI
by Smita Deshmukh and Sanjay Sawant

Even as the Chhagan Bhujbal saga enters the decisive investigation stage, whispers are loud and clear on who is next on the radar of the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in Maharashtra.

All fingers point out at Ajit Pawar, the controversial nephew of Marathi strongman Sharad Pawar. Pawar Jr, whose name keeps on propping up in the Rs 70,000 crore irrigation scam in the state and some who has made life difficult for his uncle for a while now.

The nephew uncle power game seems to be a curse on the politics of a progressive state like Maharashtra. Ambitious, over-zealous nephews are putting top leaders in a spot, creating legal and political battles and in some cases, even putting them in jail. Every family seems to be affected by this  the Mundes, Thackerays, Pawars and now Bhujbals.

The big families are busy fighting their own political, legal and criminal battles thanks to the power struggles between the uncle and nephews. Who needs an outside enemy when the trouble maker is within?! The ambitious nephews are dividing the families, amassing wealth, creating new political identities and some joining the familys political opponents to settle scores.

Raj Thackeray vs Balasaheb Thackeray: In 2005, Raj Thackeray addressed his supporters and announced his resignation, but said he did not wish to leave the Shiv Sena. He broke his silence after sending a letter to uncle Bal Thackeray objecting to the style of functioning of Uddhav and resigned from all party posts stating that he did not wish to dance to the tune of a 'coterie of petty clerks' around his uncle, who he claimed, didn't understand politics.

Raj had insisted that the Sena chief was like God to him and would continue to remain so. But he opened up a battlefront against his uncle, forcing Balasaheb Thackeray to choose between his son and nephew. Sainiks got confused. Many migrated to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, a new party Raj formed. The Shiv Sena was challenged within. Raj's charisma and ability to attract thousands to his rallies made Balasaheb restless.

The Thackeray uncle vs nephew had all elements of drama and deceit. While Balasaheb insisted that Raj went out on his own, Raj claimed that he was humiliated beyond to leave and continued to blame Uddhav, splitting the Sena vote.

The cousins did come together for the funeral of the uncle, but the divide is real and complete.

Ajit Pawar vs Sharad Pawar: "If there is no water in the dam, should we urinate into it?" deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's statement two years ago at a function in Indapur near Pune created a relentless clamour by the opposition for his resignation. Uncle and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar entered the scene to rescue his nephew over the insulting remark on drought. Pawar Jr apologised and Pawar Sr insisted that the matter should end now. But it didn't.

The powerful Sharad Pawar had to bend backwards several times during the tenure of his nephew Ajit Pawar as deputy CM. Here is one example:

"It was good that Ajit Pawar apologised. Political leaders should take precautions while making public comments," Sharad Pawar had said, adding, "Ajit Pawar should choose his language carefully. I duly apologise on the behalf of the deputy CM of Maharashtra for the unwarranted comment that he had made, stated Sharad Pawar.

Known to be ambitious and arrogant, the state babus have often complained about Ajit Pawar's aggressive style of functioning, often forcing the uncle to intervene and sort out battles. The question on everyones mind is whether Ajit Pawar will survive the irrigation scam?

Dhananjay Munde Vs Gopinath Munde: On 2 July, 2013 senior BJP leader Gopinath Mundes estranged nephew Dhananjay Munde quit the saffron party to join the Sharad Pawar-led NCP. Dhananjay squarely blamed his uncle for sidelining him in the state BJP for the benefit of Mundes daughter Pankaja Munde-Palwe, who is currently a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council from Parli, the BJP leaders home town.

Since the past 20 years, I have been a loyal worker of the BJP. In 1996, I became the president of BJPs Maharashtra students wing (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad). After that, twice, I was the vice president of BJPs Maharashtra Yuva Morcha and then the president. The party policy has always been that from this post, the person becomes a state general secretary of the parent body. But that did not happen, complained Dhananjay.

During the 2009 state elections, Munde Sr had announced Dhananjays name as the BJPs candidate for the Parli assembly constituency and even made him work for his election campaign. But just a month before the elections, a decision was taken to nominate Pankaja to fight from Parli.

Dhananjay did remain silent on the issue but things became bad to worse forcing him to leave the party and join NCP. With Gopinath Mundes demise, Pankaja has carried the legacy and has been politically strong in the state, while elder sister Dr Pritam has held her late fathers seat in the Parliament. It is rumoured that Dhananjay was behind the latest chikki scam against Pankaja, who is the states women welfare minister.

Sameer Bhujbal Vs Chhagan Bhujbal: Even as the arrest in a money laundering case has put a question mark over senior Nationalist Congress leader Chhagan Bhujbals political future, his party colleagues and former aides say his faith in nephew Sameer may have led to the complete fall of his political career.

Sameer used to handle everything for Bhujbal, except the political decisions. Nobody questioned him. Bhujbal was dependent on Sameer for everything, said a former aide. The Enforcement Directorate has described Sameer as the mastermind in the money laundering case. He is in the ED custody for almost six weeks.

As Bhujbal shot to prominence in state politics in the 1990s, Sameer became his shadow. When Bhujbal became the deputy chief minister, he entrusted the responsibility of political management and his business to Sameer, and not his son Pankaj. NCP legislators said Sameers influence could be felt in Bhujbals Mantralaya office, too, during his tenure in the government (as the deputy chief minister or a minister).

Sameer was not a frequent visitor to the office, but Bhujbals one or two personal assistants used to directly coordinate with him. They even had direct access to the senior officers in the department headed by Bhujbal, said a senior legislator.

Sanjay Sawant is Mumbai bureau chief of Firstpost and Smita Deshmukh is a senior journalist and communications expert based in Mumbai
Editor's note: Tamil Nadus political parties are fighting each other mainly for one section of the electorate this year. This election is all about how the youth will vote. Over 60 lakh youngsters will ink their fingers in May and with little ideological baggage, an aspirational and determined youth is calling the politicians bluff on a number of issues. In this series, Firstpost compiles what the Tamil youth want, if only the politicians would listen. This is part three of a four-part series on #TN2016: The Anger of the Youth.

Yogendra Babu of Uraiyur town near Trichy in Tamil Nadu is eager to talk and does so rapidly, revealing his angst about the topic  why he views himself as someone that the system failed. Yogendra is 21 years old, studying for a Bachelors degree in Engineering at a private engineering college. He is fuming at perceived injustice.

We are paying Rs 25,000 extra per year apart from the fees to the college, he told Firstpost. There is no bill for this. Is this not corruption? It is time to stop politicians from running colleges, he said.

The extraordinary cost of a tertiary education is a crucial reason for young Tamils feeling rage against the machine. Like Yogendra, many come from poor and middle class families, struggling to make ends meet. Despite this, parents scrimp and save in order to fund quality education for their children. Yogendra says his parents put him in a private school whose medium of instruction was Tamil, because they felt private schools were better than government ones. All was well until he reached college.

The first two years were extremely tough, recalled Yogendra. I did not understand a single concept because it was all taught in English. If it had been taught in Tamil I would have understood. It was horrible. I couldnt use the full three hours in an exam because I simply did not know what to write. Even if I knew the answer in Tamil, I could not deliver it in English. I would just shut down and freeze in the exam hall, he said.

Yogendra had four arrears through the traumatic first two years of college. In his third year, he has begun to pick up the English language a little and things are slowly looking up, he says. But he is angry, he adds emphatically. As far as studies are concerned, English is very important, opined Yogendra. Tamil is important too, it is our mother tongue. But a lack of English knowledge is very tough for us. Language should not become politics, he stated.

Language politics

Language politics came to the fore in Tamil Nadu as early as in 1937, when the Congress C Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), then Chief Minister of the Madras Presidency, issued a circular making Hindi compulsory in all schools. Leaders of the Dravidian movement, EV Ramasamy Naicker (popularly known as Periyar, meaning the elder one or great one), CN Annadurai amongst others, vehemently opposed what they called the imposition of brahminical Hindi and Sanskrit on the Tamils. The issue came to a head once again in 1965, resulting in major clashes and riots across the state, and forcing the Congress out of power for ever after in the state.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), led by then Chief Minister CN Annadurai would come to power for the very first time on the back of this successful anti-Hindi agitation in 1967. By 1968, the Three-Language policy introduced by the Centre was scrapped by the Annadurai government. Only Tamil and English would be taught in schools in the state. The medium of instruction in government schools would be Tamil ever since.

There was a great exhilaration over the Tamil language from the Tamil nationalists at that time, said Stalin Rajangam, political analyst. But no one knew whether the people wanted it. The Dravidian movement supported this stance. The Dravidian movements pro-Tamil agenda was helped to a great extent by teachers. Teachers would not look beyond Tamil, he said.

Rajangam added that there is a need to review this policy since politicking was harming large numbers of students. Political parties have not even reviewed or looked into this issue for years, he said. Students from villages who are afraid to try and learn English, end up taking Tamil literature in college or history, rather than the sciences. Political leaders must conduct a review of whether Tamil has really grown in the last 50 years of Dravidian parties rule. Without reviewing this, language is still being used politically and glorified, he said.

Many states in the country, like Maharashtra and Karnataka amongst others, would follow the example set by Tamil Nadu in gaining mileage out of language politics.

Try. Fail. Repeat process.

28-year-old M Mahesh Kumar, resident of a Dalit slum called Solama Nagar near Uraiyur, is pursuing his PhD, after completing his M Tech degree. Despite being well qualified, Mahesh says he has failed every single exam he has attempted including the Civil Services exam. Subject-wise I know all the answers but I am unable to answer in English, he explained. I am going to write all exams all over again.

These repetitive exams put enormous strain on the familys finances. Maheshs father having died a number of years ago, his elder brother, a daily wage labourer and his elder sister, a textile company employee, are the breadwinners. Totally the family of four lives on less than Rs 12,000 a month, just enough to keep them all fed and clothed. Maheshs debts are increasing as he borrows more to write more exams, desperate for a government job which would be the solution to his familys woes.

In Thyagaraja Nagar, about 3 km from where Mahesh Kumar lives, another young man is flummoxed by language. 20-year-old S Suriyan, a Diploma certificate holder in Mechanical Engineering laughs as he recounts the conversations with potential employers. About yourself, about yourself-nu kekkaranga, he stated, meaning the interviewers ask Suriyan to tell them about himself. When this reporter asked him what he says in reply, Suriyan is embarrassed. I Suriyan, mother house, father drive auto, I Diploma Mechanical  that is what I tell them, he replied, visibly mortified at his lack of command over English.

Suriyan says he has pestered his father no end and managed to join a private tuition course that teaches youngsters like him how to handle interviews and speak basic English. The interviewers kept rejecting me saying my pronunciation is poor, he said ruefully. There are simply no jobs available for people like me. We need to be taught these skills  how to handle interviews and group discussions  all of these must be taught in schools itself, he said.

While the previous DMK regime introduced the Samacheer Kalvi education system in the state, touting it to be a game change in the education system, in reality, not much has been done to address the real and basic issues in the sector. Despite successive state governments and various courts passing orders capping fees of tertiary educational institutions, capitation fees and hidden costs, like those being paid by Yogendra Babu of Uraiyur, continue to cast shadows over students and their families.

In January, three young students of a college near Kallakurichi allegedly committed suicide jointly by jumping into a well. A note left behind speaks of harassment and a constant demand for money from the students who were forced to live in misery in the college. The deaths sparked off a debate on the need for state government to conduct regular audits of mushrooming private colleges. Barely two months later, the issue seems to have been forgotten, by media and politicians alike.

A state government in stagnation for over a decade does not bode well for the future of young, bright minds in the southern state. Post May 2016, the new government will have to act swiftly to relieve varied and enormous burdens from the young shoulders of Tamil students.

The author tweets @sandhyaravishan.

Read part one and two.
The Maharashtra Assembly witnessed high drama on Wednesday as Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MLA Waris Pathan was suspended from the House for refusing to chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'

Earlier, BJP members cornered Pathan and asked him to say 'Bharat Mata ki Jai, to which he refused. Following this, a ruckus ensued in the Assembly, after which Pathan was suspended, CNN-IBN reported.

The controversy erupted after MIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said, "I don't chant that slogan. What are you going to do, Bhagwat sahab...I won't utter that (slogan) even if you put a knife to my throat." Owaisi had said that the Constitution does not mandate any one to chant the slogan.

Reacting to the suspension, BJP's Shaina NC said, "If a person chooses to behave in an unparliamentary manner, it is well within the jurisdiction of a Speaker to take a stand which would set an example."

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)'s Jitendra Awhad also hit out at Owaisi, saying that the matter 'is being politicised to make it an issue of vote banks.'

Owaisi's comments had drawn sharp reactions from several political quarters, and had also echoed in Parliament during the ongoing Budget session. Rajya Sabha MP and film lyricist Javed Akhtar said in Parliament, " I don't care to know whether saying 'Bharat mata ki jai' is my duty or not but it is my right."

Responding to Owaisi's comments, Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam had said that Owaisi should go to Pakistan if he does not want to say 'Bharat Mata ki jai.'

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said statements like that made by Owaisi should be "completely avoided".

With inputs from PTI
Brussels: Belgian and French police have launched a vast manhunt for more possible suspects after a Kalashnikov-wielding assailant was killed and four officers were wounded on Tuesday during an anti-terror operation in Brussels linked to the November 13 Paris attacks.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said operations were continuing after the gun battle in the southern Brussels suburb of Forest, and that the national security council would meet on Wednesday.

Armed police came under fire as they carried out a daylight search on a property in the quiet suburb, sparking a series of gun battles that left children trapped in nearby schools.

"During what was believed to be a routine search, security forces were fired upon. That was followed by police operations which are ongoing," Michel told a press conference, adding that it was "linked to the attacks in Paris".

A French policewoman was among three officers wounded in the initial attack, while a fourth was hurt in an exchange of fire.

Michel thanked residents for their "composure" as bursts of gunfire erupted in the streets and dozens of heavily-armed police with balaclavas and sub-machineguns sealed off the area.

The dead person had not been identified but prosecutors said it was not Salah Abdeslam, a key suspect in the Paris massacre claimed by the Islamic State jihadi group, which killed 130 people and left 350 wounded.

"In this operation, one or several people opened fire on the police as they came through the door" of the property in an initial search, the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement on Tuesday night. "One suspect armed with a Kalashnikov-type assault rifle was killed in an assault by police about three hours later. Police were actively pursuing investigations, day and night," the statement said.

Eric Van Der Sypt, spokesman for the prosecutor's office, was quoted by the Belga news agency as saying: "A body was found during a search of a house...his identity has not been established yet but whatever the case, it is not Salah Abdeslam."

French police sources confirmed Abdeslam was not targeted in the raid.

AFP
Beijing: Praising India's decision to not to grant visa to a US commission on religious freedom, state-run Chinese media on Wednesday said New Delhi always accorded priority to national interest in its foreign policy and has the capability to resist US-led western "cultural infiltration".

"As a major power, New Delhi rarely plays up to other nations. This has been one of India's most significant features since it gained independence in 1947. National interest is always prioritised in New Delhi's foreign policies," it said.

"Given the independent and self-reliant stance of the Indian government, there is little likelihood for other powers to draw New Delhi over to their camps. Refusing visas to the US delegation is consistent to India's traditional way of handling its foreign relations," it said.

This is not the first time the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has been refused visas. The panel was denied access to India in 2009, an article in the state-run Global Times said.

"Cultural collision between the US and India will see an intensifying trend in the future. Although in the US, where religion is separated from politics, the USCIRF may not represent the governmental stance, it is part of the White House strategy to use its soft power, including religion, to influence and even subvert other regimes.

"The US will continue to infiltrate its system of values into India by all possible means, to which New Delhi will still firmly reject," it said. Accusing the US for attempting to use its soft power, especially its system of values, to influence the internal affairs of other nations, it said Washington is manipulating US smart power, a combination of hard power and soft power strategies, to influence others.

"However, to Washington's disappointment, New Delhi has the capability and determination to resist US-led Western cultural infiltration. While almost all the other civilised nations have been Westernised in many aspects of life, India has shown high confidence in its traditional culture," it said. "Compared with other nations, Western culture has exerted little influence on New Delhi.

Cultural confidence is a key driving factor for India to stick to its own religions, ideologies and customs," it said. "While Washington needs to draw New Delhi to its side to counter Beijing, the Indian government, which eyes the maximisation of its interests, will not back off in the interactions with the US. This is why India has flatly refused to grant visas to the US religious panel this time," it said.

PTI
Sydney: A piece of debris recently found on an Indian Ocean island where a wing fragment from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 had previously washed ashore is unlikely to be from the missing plane, Australian officials said on Wednesday.

The piece in question was discovered earlier this month on French-governed Reunion Island by Johnny Begue, the same man who found a wing fragment on Reunion last year that investigators confirmed was part of the vanished jet.

French authorities examining Begue's most recent find told the Australian agency directing the search for the plane off Australia's west coast that it is unlikely to be from Flight 370, said Dan O'Malley, spokesman for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Begue previously told AP that he found the latest piece of debris in nearly the same spot as the wing fragment, which is known as a flaperon. The flaperon remains the only confirmed debris from the Malaysian plane, which disappeared during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, with 239 people on board.

Two other pieces of debris recently discovered in Mozambique will be sent to Australia for examination by an international investigation team. Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai has cautioned against speculation that any of the recently found parts came from the missing plane, though he has suggested that one of the parts found in Mozambique looks promising. That part was discovered by an American man earlier this month.

A US official said photos of that piece appear to show that it is the fixed leading edge of the right-hand tail section of a Boeing 777. Flight 370 is the only missing 777. Liow also confirmed that the part appears to have come from the missing plane, tweeting that there is a "high possibility" it belongs to a 777.

AP
United Nations: India has called for strictly enforcing the Security Council sanctions on the Taliban and Al-Qaeda to combat the resurgent terrorist threat to Afghanistan.

India's Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin told the Council Tuesday that the effective implementation of the sanctions "will go a long way in imposing restrictions on the listed entities/individuals' movements, assets and arms embargo."

He was a speaking at a Council debate on UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA), which had its mandate renewed. The meeting heard a dire warning from Nicholas Haysom, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative for Afghanistan that in "2016, survival will be an achievement for the National Unity Government" as the nation "is being severely tested."

Cautioning against the Taliban expanding territorial reach, Akbaruddin said, "We urge the Security Council to look into the security situation and the means to contain it with a sense of urgency."

"The distress signals are unremitting-a worsening security situation; an increase in the tempo of insurgent activities; a greater toll of civilian casualities; and a deteriorating humanitarian situation," Akbaruddin said. "All point to the need for greater engagement by the international community."

For India's part, he said it "is working to support the Afghan government and people." New Delhi was ready to expand training programs for Afghan military and security forces at its institutions, he said.

On the economic front, Akbaruddin said Kabul would be able achieve its full potential if it is allowed the freedom of transit to major South Asian markets. "We are working with Afghanistan and Iran to develop trilateral transit and participation in the development of the Chabahar Port which will augment our connectivity with Afghanistan," he said. While cooperating with Iran in developing the port, New Delhi is building roads in Afghanistan to link to it.

He referred to the National Assembly Building built with Indian aid that was dedicated in December by Prime Minister Narendra Modi President Ashraf Ghani. "The Parliament complex is a symbol of the resolve of Afghanistan to shape its future through votes and debates and the belief that terror and violence cannot be the instrument to shape Afghanistan's future or dictate the choices the people of Afghanistan make," he said.

During the debate Afghanistan and Pakistan traded charges over cross-border terrorism. Afghanistan's Permanent Representative Mahmoud Saikal demanded an immediate end to incursions from across the Durand Line that marks their border.

There have been at least 56 instances of violation of Afghanistan's territory from across the border, he said adding, "This jeopardises Afghanistan-Pakistan relations at a time when making peace with Pakistan is essential to making peace with the Taliban."

Pakistani Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi responded that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists were coming in from Afghanistan. Asserting that "we have a long border which is not easy to control," she said that "there has been opposition to Pakistan's creation of border barriers."

Saikal sounded a warning about the threat from the Islamic State or Daesh, Al-Qaeda, and other violent extremist and terrorist groups, in addition to the Taliban. "Everything we cherish  equality, democracy, justice and human rights  is under attack from their daily onslaught of violence," he said.

He called on Islamabad to help facilitate the direct talks between the Taliban and the Afghanistan government citing Pakistan prime minister's foreign policy advisor's assertion that his government had "influence on the Taliban."

Lodhi claimed that "Pakistan condemns all terrorism" and said that there should be no "unrealistic" deadlines or preconditions for the talks between the Taliban and the government.

India along with most countries expressed support for talks. But Akbaruddin said participants in "the Afghan government-led reconciliation process" must respect the redlines" against violence and should accept the Constitution of Afghanistan."

Speaking to reporters after the Council session, Haysom said that so far Pakistan was cooperating with the Afghan peace process. Initial indications were that they were doing "some heavy lifting" to facilitate the talks, he said and added that Islamabad realises that it will be accountable.

IANS
Beijing: China's state-run newspaper daily on Wednesday said that India, a major power, rarely plays up to other nations, while noting that the national interest is always prioritised in New Delhi's foreign policies.

An opinion piece "US intervention resisted by Indian culture" in the Global Times on Wednesday said: "As a major power, New Delhi rarely plays up to other nations. This has been one of India's most significant features since it gained independence in 1947. National interest is always prioritised in New Delhi's foreign policies."

The US was "disappointed" over India's decision not to issue visas to members of a US commission that reviews violations of religious freedom around the world, US State Department spokesperson John Kirby said last week.

"As the White House is attaching more importance to its ties with New Delhi in recent years, how the visa refusal will affect the US-India relationship is worth exploring," said the article by Zhuang Guotu, professor at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Xiamen University.

The article said this is not the first time the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has been refused visas. The panel was denied access to India in 2009 also.

"Given the independent and self-reliant stance of the Indian government, there is little likelihood for other powers to draw New Delhi over to their camps. Refusing visas to the US delegation is consistent to India's traditional way of handling its foreign relations," it said.

The article noted that the US has long been attempting to use its soft power, especially its system of values, to influence the internal affairs of other nations.

"Since US President Barack Obama came into office, the White House has attached great significance to manipulating US smart power, a combination of hard power and soft power strategies, to influence others."

It added: "However, to Washington's disappointment, New Delhi has the capability and determination to resist US-led Western cultural infiltration. While almost all the other civilized nations have been Westernised in many aspects of life, India has shown high confidence in its traditional culture."

"Compared with other nations, Western culture has exerted little influence on New Delhi."

The article observed that cultural confidence is a key driving factor for India to stick to its own religions, ideologies and customs.

It went on to say that judging from the current situation, "the White House is attaching increasing importance to its relationship with India".

"Following the rise of East Asia and South Asia, the whole of Asia is carrying more weight in the international system. As a major state that can reshape Asia's power pattern, India is becoming increasingly vital to the White House."

"While Washington needs to draw New Delhi to its side to counter Beijing, the Indian government, which eyes the maximization of its interests, will not back off in the interactions with the US. This is why India has flatly refused to grant visas to the US religious panel this time."

The professor wrote that the visa refusal may be a retaliatory measure to an unpleasant incident that happened in 2010 as well.

"Then Indian ambassador to the US Meera Shankar was singled out and frisked by a security agent at US airport, allegedly because she was wearing a sari. This was unacceptable to India, which later strongly protested to the US," the article recalled.

"The principle of reciprocity is honoured in Indian diplomatic activities. It is unsurprising for India to retaliate over this unpleasant incident six years later."

The article predicted that cultural collision between the US and India will see an intensifying trend in the future.

"The US will continue to infiltrate its system of values into India by all possible means, to which New Delhi will still firmly reject," it said.

It added: "The ruling BJP is a Hindu nationalist party. Denying visa to religious panels reflects the determination of the administration of Narendra Modi to protect local cultures and religions. Tougher US intervention will see firmer resistance from India."

IANS
Athens: Greek Socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos will make a last- ditch attempt to form a government on Thursday and avoid a new election after voters rejected a bailout deal and pushed Greece into a political crisis.

Chances are slim Venizelos can clinch a deal after both the conservatives and leftists tried and failed to cobble together a coalition in three days of talks following Sunday's election, when voters spurned big parties and their austerity policies.

The political deadlock prompted European threats to eject Greece from the euro, while impatient governments withheld part of the latest tranche of rescue funds to be paid to Greece on Thursday.

New elections in 3-4 weeks loom as Athens, due to run out of cash in June, needs to impose fresh measures in exchange for funds.

"I will continue the effort because it is in the nation's interest," Venizelos told reporters. "Prolonging this uncertainty only hurts the country and its economy, and in the end, the weakest and the unemployed."

But the mood was sombre when radical Left Coalition leader Alexis Tsipras abandoned his efforts after meeting main political leaders and a raft of new groups propelled into parliament by public anger at mainstream parties. The biggest party, New Democracy, tried and failed to form a workable coalition within hours on Monday and there seemed to be little ground for compromise between the pro- and anti-bailout parties, split almost down the middle in the new parliament.

Tsipras demanded that New Democracy and PASOK, which ruled Greece for decades and were ravaged in Sunday's poll, tear up the pledges they made in return for the bailout, which they rejected out of hand.

DIRE WARNINGS

European Central Bank policymaker Ewald Nowotny, said Greece could not be helped if it would not help itself, in a stern warning that euro exit was in the cards.

Most Greeks may oppose the tough terms of a 130 billion euro IMF/EU bailout agreed in February but want to stay in the euro.

European governments kept the country solvent for the moment by agreeing to make a 4.2 billion euros payment on Thursday from the region's bailout fund to enable Athens to meet short term bond redemptions. But, in a sign of growing displeasure at the impasse in Athens, a further 1 billion euros was withheld, probably until next month.

Angela Merkel, leader of euro zone paymaster Germany, said in a newspaper interview that she wanted Greece to stay in the common currency but it must stick to the terms of the bailout.

Many Greeks seemed unfazed by the crisis created by the election, but some expressed alarm.

"People voted with anger not with reason," said 51-year-old widow Maria Savelona. "Tsipras lives in his own world. God help us, what is this? I'm afraid we will be kicked out of the euro and he thinks he is our saviour?"

Greece's turmoil, and the prospect that it could revive the euro zone debt crisis, helped drive the euro towards a three-month low and pushed down global shares.

Reuters
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has used an unrivalled network of tribal and family connections to infiltrate Islamist militant strongholds in Yemen, enabling it to help thwart a bomb plot against the United States, say Gulf officials and former diplomats.

Deploying agents against an Al Qaeda target that has learnt to shun electronic communications allowed Saudi security services to disrupt a third would-be attack in 30 months, a regional security official said on Wednesday.

Asked about reports the world's top oil exporter and Washington's chief Gulf ally had run the operation, the official replied: "It's absolutely true".

Tip-offs from Riyadh helped foil a planned suicide bomb attack on a plane over Detroit in 2009 and revealed a bomb disguised as a printer cartridge loaded in Dubai onto a plane bound for Chicago in October 2010. The latest alleged plot involved a suicide bomber, apparently a double agent, charged to conceal explosives in underwear and bring down a US airliner.

US officials faulted Saudi Arabia for a slow response to the Al Qaeda threat after the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States; but much changed after bombers hit targets in Riyadh in 2003, prompting a joint campaign that drove al Qaeda from the kingdom.

Intelligence cooperation between the United States, Saudi Arabia and Yemen is now "very effective" said Robert Jordan, who was US ambassador to Riyadh from 2001 to 2003.

"By May 2003 they realised Al Qaeda were as much a threat against the regime and royal family as they were to the westerners. They began truly infiltrating the cells," he said.

Saudi recruits are present at all levels in Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), now seen as the most dangerous wing of the militant group.

That has helped Riyadh to penetrate a regional movement that migrated to Yemen after it was driven from the kingdom in 2006 and has sworn to bring down the kingdom's Al Saud ruling family.

Saudi security is able to put pressure on AQAP through their family members still inside Saudi Arabia and has previously deployed former militants who defected to the government when under arrest.

It also uses ties between Saudi royals and some of the Yemeni tribes that have sheltered AQAP, ties that have been strengthened over decades by lavish displays of patronage.

"Senior princes are close to different tribes and can get cooperation with them," said Jordan.

Double-agent

Although the security official did not specify which Saudi security branch handled the agent, who passed investigators a state-of-the-art bomb last month, independent experts say it was probably the Interior Ministry's counter terrorism unit.

"The ministry considers Yemen the first line of defence in its confrontation with al Qaeda and it has moved its counter-terrorism operations heavily into Yemen, setting up its own offices there," said Mustafa Alani, a Gulf security analyst with good connections to regional governments.

The counter terrorism unit has arrested a number of people inside Saudi Arabia in recent days, emphasising the cross-border nature of the militant threat it is battling.

"In the past few days (we) have arrested a few people who wanted to execute an operation," said Lt-Col Sultan Mohammed, a section head at the unit. He told a group of visiting reporters that he had no information on whether those detained in Saudi Arabia were linked to the alleged bomb plot against U.S targets.

That Yemen's militants are watched by the kingdom's Interior Ministry instead of its foreign espionage service, the General Intelligence Presidency (GIP), shows how far Riyadh views Al Qaeda in the Arabian Pensinsula as its biggest domestic menace.

"Internal has an external head," the GIP chief Prince Muqrin, the youngest surviving son of the kingdom's founder Ibn Saud, explained to US diplomats in 2009, according to a Riyadh embassy cable released by WikiLeaks.

Prince Muqrin went on to tell how he had made numerous trips to Yemen with Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, son of the current crown prince and head of the Interior Ministry's counter terrorism unit.

"These sorts of operations are probably going on on a daily basis and we never read a word about them nor should we read about them," said Nick Pratt, Professor of Strategy and International Politics at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Germany.

"It takes a lot of information to get into the system to turn into actionable intelligence, and in this case it would have taken coordination between at least two and possibly four intelligence services," he added.

Prince Mohammed, who has earned praise from foreign diplomats for his department's campaign against militants, was himself the target of a 2009 assassination plot when a would-be al Qaeda defector arrived at a meeting wearing a concealed bomb.

That device - like those aimed by AQAP at airliners - was built by Yemen-based Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri, one of the most influential Saudis in the movement.

Reuters
RMEILAN, Syria/GENEVA Kurdish-controlled areas of northern Syria are expected to declare a federal system on Thursday, a move likely to further complicate peace talks in Geneva on ending more than five years of war.

Russia pulled more warplanes out of Syria, a new delivery of humanitarian aid reached northern Aleppo province and U.N. mediator Staffan de Mistura named a Russian academic to his team of advisers in a nod to Russia's importance in ending fighting.

But despite a more than two-week-old "cessation of hostilities" and President Vladimir Putin's decision to pull out of Syria some of the Russian forces that have tipped the balance of the war in President Bashar al-Assad's favour, any hopes of a breakthrough at the peace talks in Geneva remain slim.

Russia's defence ministry on Wednesday reported 10 new ceasefire violations and the Kurds appeared to be taking matters into their own hands after being excluded from the talks in Geneva, by drawing up plans to combine three Kurdish-led areas of northern Syrian into a federal arrangement.

The three areas already have de facto autonomy and, while it was unclear what the new system would entail, there was no indication it would involve a separation from Syria.

The new arrangement, which a conference in the Kurdish-controlled town of Rmeilan agreed would be announced on Thursday, would alarm neighbouring Turkey, which fears growing Kurdish sway in Syria is fuelling separatism among its own Kurdish minority.

"Syria's national unity and territorial integrity is fundamental for us. Outside of this, unilateral decisions cannot have validity," a Turkish Foreign Ministry official said.

The Syrian Kurdish YPG militia have been an important ally in the U.S.-led military campaign against Islamic State in Syria, and this has also been a point of friction between the United States and its NATO ally Turkey.

In Geneva, Bashar Ja'afari, head of the Syrian delegation in Geneva, also rejected any talk of a federal model for Syria and ruled out direct talks with the main opposition delegation. The main opposition group's chief negotiator, Mohamad Alloush, said it had not yet decided whether it would hold direct negotiations with "the regime delegation".

Ja'afari also said Putin's announcement of a partial withdrawal of his armed forces on Monday had come as no surprise to the Syrian government, describing it as "common decision, taken both by President Putin and President Assad".

SYRIA POSITION UNCHANGED

Some Western officials and commentators speculated Putin intended the partial withdrawal to force the Syrian government to soften its position at the talks to improve chances of progress, but Ja'afari signalled no change in its stance.

Putin's announcement surprised the West. He cited Russian military success in Syria as the reason for the draw-down but his belief that the intervention delivered him a seat at the top table of world affairs may have tipped his hand.

De Mistura's appointment of Vitaly Naumkin plays into this narrative. A former Soviet army officer, Naumkin is an expert on Islam and the Arab world and served as a moderator at earlier peace talks on Syria that were held in Moscow.

But, talking about the latest round of talks last week, Naumkin told Russia's RIA news agency: "There are no expectations. It is a difficult, complicated negotiation process."

The Geneva talks are part of a diplomatic push launched with U.S.-Russian support to end a conflict that has killed more than 250,000 people, created the world's worst refugee crisis, and allowed for the rise of Islamic State.

U.S.-Russian cooperation has already brought about a lull in the war via the "cessation of hostilities agreement", though many violations have been reported.

The Russian defence ministry said on Wednesday that in the preceding 24 hours there had been four violations in Aleppo province, three in Latakia and one each in Idlib, Homs and Hama.

Opening the indirect talks on Monday, de Mistura said Syria faced a "moment of truth", and he has described Putin's decision to withdraw some Russian forces as a "significant development".

Regional foes Saudi Arabia and Iran, which are deeply at odds over Syria, welcomed Putin's move and the Arab League said it would help the U.N.-mediated talks to end the conflict.

Just under half of Russia's fixed-wing strike force based in Syria has flown out in the past two days, according to Reuters calculations based on state television footage.

The precise number of planes that Russia kept at its Hmeymim base in Syria's Latakia province is secret. But analysis of satellite imagery, air strikes and defence ministry statements suggested it had about 36 fixed-wing military warplanes there.

At least 15 of those planes have been seen on television flying out in the past two days, including Su-24, Su-25, Su-30 and Su-34 jets though Reuters could not independently verify the movements of the aircraft.

RUSSIAN JETS IN ACTION

Despite the partial withdrawal, Russian warplanes have been carrying out new sorties against positions belonging to Islamic State, which is not covered by the cessation of hostilities.

RIA said Russia had also started supplying weapons to Iraqi Kurds including five Zu-23-2 anti-aircraft cannons and 20,000 shells for the cannons.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said his country was not sure Putin's draw-down announcement was genuine.

"We've seen before, in Ukraine, Russia talking about a withdrawal, and then it turned out to be merely a rotation of forces," he said during a visit to Baghdad, and said he could not foresee "enduring peace" with Assad in power.

Moscow has rejected calls for Assad to be forced to step aside. He also still enjoys military backing from Iran, which has sent forces to Syria along with Lebanon's Hezbollah.

The United States has also been carrying out air strikes in Syria. An Islamic State-linked website said the jihadist group had shot down a military plane near Kirkuk in Iraq, but U.S. officials said they knew nothing of such reports.

Under the cessation of hostilities, fresh humanitarian aid has reached areas hit by recent fighting. A new convoy of 26 trucks brought aid to about 13,000 families in northern Aleppo province, the Red Cross said.

The delivery by the Syrian Red Crescent to towns including Azaz, Afrin and Tal Rifaat was the largest in the area for weeks, Red Cross spokesman Pawel Krzysiek said. Clinics had been resupplied in the meantime, he said.

On the second day of talks in Geneva on Tuesday, opposition negotiators demanded that the government detail its thoughts on a political transition in Syria and said there had been no progress on freeing detainees.

The moves at the conference in Rmeilan, which was discussing a "Democratic Federal System for Rojava - Northern Syria", further complicated hopes of progress in Geneva. Rojava is the Kurdish name for northern Syria.

Syrian Kurds effectively control an uninterrupted stretch of 400 km (250 miles) along the Syrian-Turkish border from the Euphrates river to the frontier with Iraq, where Iraqi Kurds have enjoyed autonomy since the early 1990s. They also hold a separate section of the northwestern border in the Afrin area.

(Additional reporting by John Davison and Dominic Evans, Tom Perry, Rodi Said in Rmeilan, Syria, Tom Miles in Geneva, Angus MacDowall in Riyadh, Mostafa Hashem in Cairo, Tulay Karadeniz in Istanbul, Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in Dubai and Andrew Osborn in Moscow; Writing by Timothy Heritage; Editing by Peter Millership and Pravin Char)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
New Delhi: Veteran Pakistani politician and former minister Syeda Abida Hussain, who has also served as her country's ambassador to the US, feels that India-Pakistan relations are unlikely to improve any time soon as Modi "would lose his hardcore supporters if he makes gestures of friendliness" towards Pakistan.

"Modi stands for Hindutva and he is a right wing hardliner. It is unlikely that India-Pakistan relations will improve in any meaningful way. Though Sharif is quite genuine in seeking better relations with India, it is not reciprocal," Hussain said in an interview to IANS here.

Abida Hussain, who served as a minister in the Nawaz Sharif government from 1996 to 1999, also dismissed proposals like joint governance in Kashmir, put forward by former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri in his recent book.

"It's a ridiculous proposal to try joint governance in Kashmir which has not been tried anywhere in the world and it's not feasible at all," said Hussain , who quit the Sharif government in 1999 after allegations involving power theft.

Hussain asserted that Pakistan's reaction to the Pathankot attack was kneejerk. "Our reaction to Pathankot was hasty and we almost said that we were behind it. Now, inquiries found that we had nothing to do with it. We should have maintained it from the beginning," she claimed adding that Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Mazood Azhar, whom India accused as the mastermind was never a free man.

"Azhar is not a free man. Wherever he is, he is in custody of the authorities," she said.

India has maintained that the attack was carried out by militants who came across the border and that Pakistan has not done enough to rein in Azhar.

The former minister also scoffs at India's opposition to Washington selling eight F16 jets to Pakistan."Why is India worried about US selling F16 to us? India is a leading buyer of hardware in the world. Why should India protest, while we never opposed India buying weapons?" she asked.

She was here to release her book 'Power Failure: The political Odyssey of a Pakistani Woman,' which traces 45 years of her political journey. Hussain also has the distinction of being the first woman to chair the district council of Jhang.

Hussain also admits that though she had an aristocratic background and family support, she had to push boundaries to hold her place in Pakistan politics as a woman. "There were several hurdles but I have managed to take it in my stride. However, politics is all about opposition, it's a chunk of life and it was challenging." says Hussain, daughter of late Syed Abid Hussain, a prominent name in Pakistan politics.

While the book gives an insider view into the tumultuous political events in Pakistan from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's rule from early 1970s to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in 2007, Hussain describes the book as a narrative of missed opportunities.

"Starting from Bhutto, Pakistan had several missed opportunities. If Bhutto had ordered repolls in 1977, we could have avoided a military intervention. It was a missed chance when Prime Minister Junejo took on Zia ul Haq prematurely which led to dissolution of the Assembly in 1985," she said adding that Benazir Bhutto failed to deliver good governance and the country suffered again when Nawaz Sharif failed to handle military succession.

Hussain, who is a member of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) since 2006 having rejoined after leaving it in the 1970s, says that she quit PPP when she wasn't given a seat in general elections.

"Bhutto said that he didn't want a seat to be wasted on women, I found it as a gender bias. Eventually, I came back to PPP when Benazir returned," she says.

She also foresees the resurgence of PPP in five to seven years. "If Bilawal (son of Benazir) works hard, PPP will return to power. He has to grow out from the shadow of his father and reach out to the masses," she says.

IANS
Pyongyang: The highest court in North Korea has sentenced an American tourist who allegedly attempted to steal a propaganda banner from a restricted area of his hotel to 15 years of hard labour in prison.

Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate student, was convicted and sentenced in a one-hour trial Wednesday morning at the North's Supreme Court. He was charged with subversion.

He was charged with subversion under Article 60 of North Korea's criminal code. The court held that he had committed a crime "pursuant to the U.S. government's hostile policy toward (the North), in a bid to impair the unity of its people after entering it as a tourist."

Before the trial, the 21-year-old from Wyoming, Ohio, said he had tried to steal a propaganda banner as a trophy for an acquaintance who wanted to hang it in her church. That would be grounds in North Korea for a subversion charge.

Trials for foreigners facing similar charges in North Korea are generally short and punishments severe. Warmbier was arrested as he tried to leave the country in early January. He was in North Korea with a New Year's tour group.

US tourism to North Korea is legal. Arrests of tourists are rare but the US State Department strongly advises against it.

North Korea announced Warmbier's arrest in late January, saying he committed an anti-state crime with "the tacit connivance of the US government and under its manipulation." It remains unclear how the US government was allegedly connected to Warmbier's actions.

Warmbier had been staying at the Yanggakdo International Hotel. It is common for sections of tourist hotels to be reserved for North Korean staff and off-limits to foreigners.

In a tearful statement made before his trial, Warmbier told a gathering of reporters in Pyongyang he tried to take the banner as a trophy for the mother of a friend who said she wanted to put it up in her church.

He said he was offered a used car worth $10,000 if he could get a banner and was also told that if he was detained and didn't return, $200,000 would be paid to his mother in the form of a charitable donation.

Warmbier said he accepted the offer because his family was "suffering from very severe financial difficulties."

Warmbier also said he had been encouraged by the university's "Z Society," which he said he was trying to join. The magazine of the university's alumni association describes the Z Society as a "semi-secret ring society" founded in 1892 that conducts philanthropy, puts on honorary dinners and grants academic awards.

In previous cases, people who have been detained in North Korea and made a public confession often recant those statements after their release.

North Korea regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow its government to enable the US-backed South Korean government to take control of the Korean Peninsula.

Tensions are particularly high following North Korea's recent nuclear test and rocket launch, and massive joint military exercises now underway between the US and South Korea that the North sees as a dress rehearsal for invasion.

Further complicating matters, Washington and Pyongyang do not have diplomatic relations. The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang acts as a go-between in consular issues when US citizens run afoul of North Korean authorities.

In the past, North Korea has held out until senior US officials or statesmen came to personally bail out detainees, all the way up to former President Bill Clinton, whose visit in 2009 secured the freedom of American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling.

In November 2014, US spy chief James Clapper went to Pyongyang to bring home Matthew Miller, who had ripped up his visa when entering the country, and Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who had been incarcerated since November 2012.

Jeffrey Fowle, another US tourist from Ohio detained for six months at about the same time as Miller, was released just before that and sent home on a U.S. government plane.

Fowle left a Bible in a local club hoping a North Korean would find it, which is considered a criminal offense in North Korea.

AP
Kabul: At least 10 militants were killed by the Afghan National Army (ANA) during an operation in eastern province of Kunar in Afghanistan, an army source said on Wednesday.

"The ANA conducted a clean-up operation in surrounding areas of Asmar and Ghazi Abad district on Tuesday. So far, 10 militants have been killed and three injured," Xinhua quoted an army spokesman in the region as saying.

One army personnel was also killed and two injured during the ongoing operation, the official said.

"The raid will continue before the area is cleared of the militants and army will spare no efforts to provide security and assistance to villagers in the two districts in the mountainous province," he said.

Afghan security forces have pressed on clearing the militants in restive provinces as Taliban militants have been attempting to take territory and consolidate their positions during the winter in the Asian country.

The Taliban militant group has yet to make comments.

IANS
Islamabad: Pakistan Army chief General Raheel Sharif on Tuesday confirmed the death sentence for 13 "hardcore terrorists", who were involved in heinous offences related to terrorism.

The convicts, who belonged to the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, were tried by military courts, an army statement said.

One of the convicts, Irfanullah, was behind the killing of 10 foreign tourists in the country's northern areas in 2013.

The other convicts were involved in attacks at the airport in the northwestern Swat valley, destruction of schools, attacks on armed forces, law enforcement agencies and civilians, said a statement from the army's Inter-Services Intelligence.

The statement said all convicts confessed to their crimes. The army courts were set up after the terrorist attack on an army school in December 2014 for the speedy trial of terrorism accused.

IANS
Ankara: Sunday's suicide car bombing in Ankara has raised fears of an escalation in Turkey's long-running Kurdish conflict, as the country grapples with the Islamic State threat while relying on a security system weakened by a political crackdown, analysts say.

No-one has claimed responsibility for the blast which killed 35 people in the heart of the Turkish capital, but the government has pointed the finger at the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), against which Ankara has waged a relentless assault since late last year.

The government said one of the bombers was a woman in her mid-20s affiliated with the PKK and trained in Syria by the People's Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish militia group the Turkish military shelled for several days in February.

The PKK launched a bloody insurgency against the Turkish state in 1984 for greater autonomy for Kurds, a conflict that has claimed some 40,000 lives and flared up again last year after a two-year ceasefire collapsed.

Sunday's attack came three weeks after a similar car bombing in Ankara killed 29 people, claimed by a dissident PKK faction called the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK).

"If confirmed that the attack was conducted by TAK or the PKK, it would mark a significant shift in tactics from targeting security force personnel," said Otso Iho, an analyst at IHS Jane's Terrorism and Insurgency Centre.

Since clashes restarted last year, alongside more traditional attacks targeting police and soldiers, the PKK ordered local "uprisings" in towns in the southeast, seeking to follow the methods of Kurds in Syria who have successfully fought IS jihadists.

But Can Acun, an analyst with Turkish think tank SETA, told AFP the "uprisings" had not worked and the PKK seemed to have been driven to more extreme actions.

'Fighting everywhere'

The current head of the PKK told Britain's Times newspaper that Ankara should expect payback for the military offensive, saying his fighters would take the conflict to Turkish towns - and no target was off limits.

"Until recently the war with the Turkish army occurred just in the mountains. Then it moved to towns and cities. Now there will be fighting everywhere," Cemil Bayik told the Times just days before the Ankara blast.

The TAK - seen by Ankara and some analysts as simply a deniable front for the PKK - has threatened to strike tourist areas, targeting an important part of Turkey's economy.

But Max Abrahms, professor of political science at Northeastern University in Boston, said it would be "folly" for the PKK to target civilians in Turkey.

"Doing so will only strengthen (President Recep Tayyip) Erdogan's hand to fight Kurds and will erode international support for the Kurdish cause," Abrahms told AFP.

Crackdown backfires?

Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) won parliamentary elections in November promising to wipe out the PKK and casting itself as the country's only defence against "chaos".

But five major bombings since July last year, killing more than 200 people, including two in Ankara in less than a month, have led some to doubt the government -- and damaged the country's image as a stable bridge between Europe and the Middle East.

Continuing civilian deaths in major cities also undermine Erdogan's claims that his strong - critics would say increasingly authoritarian - leadership is proving effective in tackling the terror threat.

In recent months Ankara has launched a crackdown which has seen journalists and academics detained and dissident media outlets muzzled or shut down, prompting European allies to worry Turkey is backsliding on democratic standards just as it seeks accelerated EU membership.

But the sweep has also hit senior police officers and judiciary - and analysts say this has weakened the state's security services at a time when they are badly needed.

"This loss of expertise can be seen as a key reason for Turkey's security and intelligence failures," Aykan Erdemir, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told AFP.

Nihat Ali Ozcan, professor of international relations at Ankara's TOBB University of Economics and Technology, agreed, saying the security apparatus had been weakened at a period of "unprecedented" threat.

And there may be worse to come, Erdemir warned, saying more attacks in western Turkey could lead Ankara into further armed confrontations with Kurdish rebels in Syria and Iraq.

AFP
Bekaa Valley: Hollywood star and UN refugee agency envoy Angelina Jolie on Tuesday met Syrian refugee families living in squalid conditions in Lebanon, on the fifth anniversary of the Syrian war.

"We should never forget that for all the focus on the refugee situation in Europe at this time, the greatest pressure is still being felt in the Middle East and North Africa, as it has for each of the last five years," she said.

Jolie met Khulud, a 38-year-old mother of four now living in a tent in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, who was left paralysed three years ago by a sniper in Syria, according to the UN refugee agency.

"Never once during our discussion did she ask for anything, did she stop smiling, or talk of anything other than her desire for her children to have the chance to go to school and have a better life," the actress and activist said.

"When I saw her beautiful smile, and her dedicated husband and children looking after her, I was in awe of them. They are heroes to me. And I ask myself, what have we come to when such survivors are made to feel like beggars?"

Jolie later visited Beirut "where she met a group of women living in poor conditions, a damp collective shelter, that left them and their families exposed to sickness," said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

The star, who has visited Syrian refugees in Lebanon before, appealed to governments around the world to step up their assistance to the nearly five million people who have been forced by war to flee their country.

'Reason, calm, foresight'

Jolie called for "reason and calm and foresight" in response to the international migrant crisis, which in 2015 saw more than one million asylum-seekers reach Europe's shores.

"We must not let fears get the better of us," she said, noting that tiny Lebanon alone has seen more than one million Syrians flow across the border since war erupted in 2011.

"We must not let fear stand in the way of an effective response that is in our long-term interests," she said.

"My plea today is that we need governments around the world to show leadership: to analyse the situation and understand exactly what their country can do... to explain this to their citizens and address fears -- based not on emotion but on a measured assessment of what can and must be done to share the responsibility and get on top of this situation."

Syria's war began as a peaceful pro-democracy movement that faced a brutal government crackdown in 2011.

It has since evolved into a brutal war that has pushed nearly five million people out of the country, and left 6.5 million others displaced inside it.

AFP
Google Maps is expanding integration of five new ride hailing services across the world into its apps. The service is adding Ola Cabs in India, 99Taxis in Brazil, Hailo in the UK and Spain, mytaxi in Germany and Spain, and Gett in the UK.

Users will now see a new ride sharing tab at the top of the app, next to the current car, transit, walking, and biking direction options. This will allow users to compare fares of the various cab services and choose the best option without opening multiple apps. Google Maps already shows Uber rides in its app and hence this will offer users more options. The app will now show fare estimates and pick up times if a car is available near you, provided you have the providers app installed in your mobile device. After selecting a service it will take you directly to their app to book a ride with one tap.

Google Maps will also show ride service availability when viewing the map in walking and transit directions and multiple ride services options for each provider. Google says the feature will start rolling out to Android users over the next few days and will soon come to iOS.
Uber has launched a new standalone online food delivery mobile app on Android and iOS. Dubbed as UberEATS, the service is currently available in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Toronto while it will soon come to Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Melbourne, New York, Paris, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

Users in the aforementioned cities will be able to order from local restaurants, seven days a week. They can order food instantly via its Instant Delivery menus. In addition, they can even browse the most popular dishes from each local restaurant or search by cuisine via the UberEATS app. The app will show you estimated delivery time for your order.

Jason Droege, Head of UberEVERYTHING said in a blog post,

Matching you with the perfect meal is a complex endeavor. With the launch of the UberEATS app, were providing an experience completely tailored to food to help you get that perfect meal. In the same way Uber makes it easy to get from A to B, UberEATS makes it easy to get food from the best restaurants in your city. Because an Uber driver-partner is never more than a few minutes away, as soon as the foods ready its on its way.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Google is in talks with Indian telecom operators to pilot Project Loon. However, it looks like there will be further delay piloting this project in the country.

The government of India has asked IT giant Google to submit fresh proposal for testing its high altitude balloons under the Loon Project following objections to the use of spectrum band it had proposed earlier, according to a latest report from PTI. Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Google India has approached the Department of Electronics and Information Technology to conduct pilot test of Project Loon in India.

The matter was discussed with all stakeholders and it was concluded that frequency band 700-900 Mhz to be used in the pilot test of Project Loon is being used by cellular operators and if the pilot is carried out it will lead to interference with cellular transmissions, Prasad told the agency. He added that revised proposal form Google India with change of frequency band has not been received yet.

Project Loon is Googles program where it beams high-speed WiFi internet via balloons down to remote areas in developing countries. As per Google, each balloon can provide connectivity to a ground area about 40 km in diameter using 4G LTE. Rajan Anandan, Googles Managing Director for South East Asia and India had earlier mentioned that the government has been very supportive with this initiative. So the latest news about authorities asking to resubmit a fresh proposal comes as a surprise.
Research by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) reveals that 31% of respondents changed their diet in the past two years due to environmental reasons. According to the... Read More
Poke is the new salad craze taking the streets of Los Angeles by storm. Poke originated in Hawaii and now has reached the US. The nation's love for raw fish enabled the well-loved Japanese sushi to captured the pallet of the world, that's why it wouldn't be a surprise if poke or the raw fish salad becomes as popular as the sushi worldwide. This new food craze is expected to flourish this year due to the consumers demand a healthier fast food alternative.

According to a Honolulu magazine, "poke" means cutting into pieces. It has evolved however to what most people know today as poke salad or raw fish salad. And as a nation of food lovers, restaurants has already started offering poke salads into their menu and poke bars are sprouting one by one in the streets of Los Angeles and New York. According to Business Insider, raw fish lovers can expect more of poke bars this year.

Gothamist reported that New York City is in the midst of poke-sanity, they said Poke or raw salad can be compared to tartare or ceviche but less acidic. The most common fish for poke is tuna, although other fish fit fir raw consumption can be used for this purpose such as salmon.

One of the most popular poke places in New York is Wisefish Poke, located at 8th Avenue. Some ready made poke bowls are made of tuna, salmon and tofu. For picky eaters, they can make their own salad bowl as well.

Compared to sushi meals the poke salad is expected to sell as fast or maybe even more than the well-loved Japanese original. This may be true because of the fast-paced life in New York or anywhere for that matter, people are looking for a healthier and tastier alternative to the fast food meals in the market today.
24-hour meat access is now available for the Parisians, thanks to the newly installed meat vending machine in L'Ami Txulette, Paris.

According to Independent UK, this meat vending machine was installed on the first week of February outside a butcher's shop, where most of the November attacks took place according to the Telegraph. It was also mentioned there that it's the fifth meat vending machine in France and cost nearly 10,000 euros.

Florence Pouzol, the owner of L'Ami Txulette said that the vending machine offers a wide variety of meat products which are prepared and packed by them. They aim to give an additional service to its customers when the shop is closed for they observed that they're still people who pass by to buy meat products but unfortunately end up standing in front to a closed shop.

Local media report the machine sells products at market prices - with the cost of two pork chops around 3.85.accepts - and accepts credit and debit cards. Other than that, steaks, sausages and ham are also the meat vending machine packed products which are offered with market prices.

Though the community people view this abundant opportunity positively, there are still those traditional ones that are opposed to the rise of these vending machines.

"I oppose these machines because they stop people coming into our shops," said Emmanuel Gripon, an official of the French Bakers' Federation to the Telegraph. "It's contributing to the desertification of the countryside and it harms the social life of communities."

Another local said that buying meat products in a machine is a bit off-putting. It's impersonal and has a chance of refrigeration system failing, the Telegraph reports.

However, a large population in the country says that the meat vending machines are effective and the most convenient way to get meat on their ways of life.
Bakery Chain Great Harvest Co, which has been famous for its fresh bakery products, has sued Panera, for allegedly infringing the trademark for a confusingly similar advertising slogan.

Last Thursday, Great Harvest Co. filed a lawsuit in federal court of Charlotte, North Carolina against Panera Bread.

The suit, filed on behalf of Great Harvest's more than 200 owner-operated stores, claims the company received a trademark in October 2014 for its mantra, ''Bread. The Way it ought to be,'' according to Boston Business.

Great Harvest received a trademark in October 2014 for the phrase "Bread. The way it ought to be," reports the Associated Press. Only eight months later in June 2015, Panera debuted an advertising campaign with the slogan "Food as it should be," which was too similar according to Great Harvest.

''We need to protect the investment being made by our individual small business owners from being drowned out or overrun by a multi-million dollar national advertising campaign,'' Great Harvest president Eric Keshin said in a statement.

According to a spokesperson for Great Harvest, the suit was filed in North Carolina because the local franchises were concerned about the alleged trademark infringement.

Notably, Great Harvest specializes in handcrafted breads with whole wheat, which has been purchased from family owned farms.

On the other hand, Panera Baking operates with nearly 2,600 bakery cafes in 46 states in Ontario, Canada, under the names of Panera Bread, St Louis Bread Co., Paradise Bakery & Cafe.

With the filed lawsuit, Great Harvest has asked Panera Bakery to suspend any advertising promotion using the phrase and the slogan.

Notably, Panera Bread did not respond to a request for comment, but sources suggest that they will be taking active steps to trademark their slogan "Food as it should be", to avoid any future lawsuits, and claims of similar slogans.
Some people with high levels of supposedly "good" cholesterol are at much greater risk of heart disease, a study suggests.

The Telegraph reported that the new study from Cambridge University, published in the journal Science, has contradicted to earlier research that recommended HDL cholesterol as protection to the heart. The researchers found that some people with high levels of HDL cholesterol are at much greater risk of heart disease. The researchers have discovered that one-in-1,700 people suffer a mutation in a gene called SCARB1. But they also had an 80% increased risk of heart disease - that is roughly the same increased risk as for smoking.

Prof Adam Butterworth, one of the researchers from the University of Cambridge, told the BBC News website: "This is significant because we had always believed that good cholesterol is associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

"This is one of the first studies to show that some people that have high levels of 'good' cholesterol actually have a higher risk of heart disease so it challenges our conventional wisdom about whether 'good' cholesterol is protecting people from heart disease or not."

There have been huge efforts put into drugs to raise HDL in the hope they have the same impact as statins, which lower the bad cholesterol.

Prof Butterworth warned that drugs aimed simply at "trying to raise HDL may not be that useful".

According to Parent Herald, he also said that the size of different HDL particles or how good they are at transporting may be more important than the overall levels. And that may be a more productive avenue of research.

While the researchers have questioned the importance of boosting levels of HDL cholesterol, they insist it still remains a valuable tool for predicting the risk of a heart attack.

Although fellow researcher Dr Daniel Rader, from the University of Pennsylvania, added: "Eventually we may want to perform genetic testing in persons with high HDL to make sure they don't have mutations, like this one, that raise HDL but don't protect against, or may even increase, risk for heart disease."

Prof Peter Weissberg, the medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "This is an important study that sheds light on one of the major puzzles relating to cholesterol and heart disease.
The Time Out Bar candy is forever out if a report from its manufacturer, Cadbury, is to believed.

The spokesperson of the Cadbury told that the original Time Out - which consisted of rippled milk chocolate between two wafers, coated in Dairy Milk milk chocolate - is no longer in production and will soon disappear from shelves. But one thing is for sure, the Time Out Bar will be replaced with a promising new version of the candy, in accordance also with the Cadbury Spoke person.

The recall of the candies from the market starts on February though the sales of Time Out Bar candies had actually declined for some time since its introduction in 1992.

According to the Telegraph, back in 2010, this bar was given a makeover since it failed to take off with the public. With its lighter blue packaging, the bar had a slogan saying "Everybody needs a Time Out". It failed to get a good impression to the public so the original packaging had a comeback just months later.

The Cadbury Company was taken over by American confectionary giant Kraft in 2010 which made unpopular changes to its many products ever since.

Metro UK reports that last 2015, there was a huge public outrage when the consumers found out that Dairy Milk Chocolate was no longer being used for the shell of creme eggs. In 2014, another controversy erupted when the decision to ditch the Bournville chocolate from the Heroes tub, in favour of Toblerone happened.

The editor of Kennedy's Confection magazine, Angus Kennedy, told the Daily Mail at the time: "To replace Bourneville with Toblerone is unpatriotic. It's like replacing the fish in fish and chips with mussels."

A single-finger version called "Time Out Wafer" is being tried in some markets to replace the Time Out Bar.
McDonald's Restaurants of Ireland will be bringing back limited edition of McMor burger, which will be available in all 89 McDonald's restaurants across Ireland, starting from Tuesday, March 15, for a limited period of six weeks.

With the reputation of being the best Irish bun, McDonald's McMor is composed of Irish beef and bacon provided by Dawn Meats and Dew Valley, and is layered with shredded cabbage, whole baby leaf kale along with Charleville Cheddar and Ballymaloe Relish nestled inside a potato flaked bun.

This locally developed burger was first introduced by McDonald's Ireland last year making it viral among the Irish customers of McDonald's, according to reports from Breaking News.

Commenting on the announcement, McDonald's Ireland MD Adrian Crean said: "We were blown away by the huge demand for The McMor when it was launched last year. It's clear that our customers loved the combination of classic Irish flavors as well as our firm commitment to 100% Irish beef, sourced from Dawn Meats and 100% Irish bacon, sourced by Dew Valley which is why we're delighted to announce the return of McMor for another limited period."

Additionally, McDonald's have urged their burger lovers to share their experiences with McDonalds using the hashtag #McMor.

According to reports from Beat, McDonald's has announced the return of McMor to celebrate Paddy's Day, however, no reports have been found supporting this claim.

McDonald's has been known to create unique menus to provide their customers with the best experience.

Just a few days earlier, McDonald's announced that they will be bringing back Creme Egg McFlurry for this Easter and several other new items. It seems the relaunch of McMor is also along similar lines.

Thus, it is yet to be seen if the relaunch of McMor will yield the specific results for McDonald's Irish market, but burger lovers can definitely rejoice with this uniquely delicious news.
In Slovenia, Easter celebration is greeted with what they call a Cheese Sunday where traditional recipes made up of special cheeses are prepared and enjoyed by the family to jump-start their celebration.

According to NDTV, this is traditional holiday feast in Slovakia which started right after World War II. Their people are very mindful of the dishes prepared during every festivals and occasions following the Orthodox Calendar. Based on their pre-Christian traditions, there are preferred food or heirloom recipes for every known celebration.

Slovak Easter celebrations were highly influenced by the Pagan times. If modern Catholics are familiar with the widely popular Easter egg traditions, Slovaks celebrate in a more flavorsome way with their decade-old tradition of preparing cheese dishes.

They have a special Cheese Sunday recipe called Chicken Kiev which is made with sheep's cheese and glazed with the special tartare sauce. The sheep's cheese is dried to make it tastier. The tartare sauce is comprised of egg yolks, sour cream, wine, salt, sugar, lemon, mustard, thick cream and vegetable oil. Cheese Kievs are more elaborately prepared and is made up of mostly dried-out cheese, flour and other spices. This this is deep-fried.

But aside from Cheese Kievs, the Slovaks sure love their cheese, as the have other Cheese Sunday Recipes just like the Sweet Egg Cheese which is also served during this time of the year. It is known as Hrudka, cirak, sirok and sirecz. According to Eastern European Food, it is a ball of eggs and milk which has been cooked in such a way where proteins separate into curds and the liquid separates into whey. One interesting thing, though, Egg Cheese are supposed to be blessed during Holy Saturday and can only be eaten on Easter Sunday.

For those interested to experience the Slovenian's cheesy Easter celebration, here's one detailed recipe of the Easter Cheese.
U.S. Senate will vote today whether or not the government should require mandatory labeling on foods containing genetically engineered ingredients. This will put an end to the controversial issue that divides American on GMO food labeling in the whole country.

The Senate is set to vote on a measure that would create voluntary national standards for labeling food with genetically modified ingredients. The bill would prevent states from mandating labels just before Vermont was set to become the first in the nation to impose such requirements.

"State-by-state GMO labeling is simply not an option, as testimony at this and earlier hearings has shown. A better approach is federal legislation endorsed by NMPF that would set up voluntary regulations for labeling foods with GMO ingredients" said Jim Mulhern, National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO.

On the one hand, the Grocery Manufacturer's Association (GMA) backs up anti-GMO labeling campaigns when it violated Washington campaign finance disclosure laws by shielding the identities of major corporate donors funding efforts to defeat a food labeling initiative in Washington. Huge food industries put their money to eliminate mandatory GMO labeling.

There's so much money placed to kill the GMO labeling bill all over America. On the other hand, protesters of anti-GMO labeling are also determined that they have the right to know what's in their food. There are lobbyists that help the cause of those who are pro-GMO labeling. One of them is Michele Simon, a D.C.lobbyist for plant-based food business who founded the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA). These two major players of the anti-GMO labeling and the rallyists of pro-GMO labeling are intensively waiting as to the future of America when it comes to food safety.

The Senate will surely be scrutinized on how they will cast their vote on the GMO labeling issue.
Cooking methods are no longer a preference as one of them may be better than the others in terms of preserving nutrients and antioxidant level. A study published by Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) found that cooking with no oil, steaming and microwaving maintain the highest nutrient levels. If you think cauliflower is best when boiled, you may be cooking the wrong way!

Vegetables contain pectin - a cell wall that breaks down with heat. Thus, when you're cooking leafy greens, pectin releases cell bonds - causing the veggies to soften. This breakdown process also causes vitamins to 'evaporate' soon, especially when boiled.

Cooking method matters, whether you steam, microwave, fry or boil. Other factors such as the type of vegetables, the time and temperature make a big difference on how many nutrients you obtain. A study in the University of Murcia experimented with various methods of cooking that might have an impact on the antioxidant levels. There are 6 cooking methods tested, which are, pressure cooking, boiling, frying, griddling, and microwaving.

The research found that cauliflower lost its antioxidant when boiled or microwaved. It goes the same with boiled peas and zucchini. Whereas beets, green beans, and garlic still conserve the nutrients after any cooking method. Celery, tomatoes and carrots were said to increase the antioxidant levels after they're cooked.

The journal report showed that frying is the worst when it comes to conserving nutrients. The high heat is responsible for the loss of antioxidant property in vegetables. The next one would be boiling because the nutrient loss may be up to 50 percent or less. Steaming is the best way to avoid the antioxidant loss and it is much similar to microwaving.

Rui Hai Liu, food science professor at the Cornell University told the Washington Post that some foods produce a high level of nutrients when cooked because they become more absorbable by our body. Some of those vegetables are:

- Tomato

Tomatoes when fried or baked, can release lycopene - a property that lowers down cancer risk.

- Spinach

The greens contain oxalic acid that actually block the calcium and iron absorption but it breaks down when cooked at high temperature. This means cooking reduces the oxalate that enables our body absorbs the nutrients better.

- Carrots

Carrots conserve the highest nutrient when boiled before slicing. Food Chemistry reported that boiling boosts carotenoid up to 14% and frying boosts it up to 13 percent.
USA Today with the help of wine connoisseurs taste test some of Donald Trump's beverage from Trump's Winery. And the result is surprising. They found the wines quite nice. However, a playful and smiling President Obama said, Trump's wine is overpriced and should only carry a $5 price tag.

According to Forbes, success in the wine industry is a sure economic indicator. Wine industry's role in economic growth is undeniable in any first world country. That's why it is not surprising that a business tycoon such as Donald Trump has invested in the wine industry as well.

New York-based wine consultant Lisa Carley was tasked to judge Trump's wine and she was quoted saying "As a whole, they're perfectly fine," after trying out different wines from Trumps Winery. "They're lovely examples of wine from Virginia".

USA today said , "We imagined our tasting notes being full of cheeky digs at the brassy mogul now leading the pack in the GOP presidential race." But the Virginia-produced wine looks like they stood up to the challenge. Wine experts were quoted using the words brash, blustery or bombastic to describe the wines they have sampled. This shows that their opinions weren't driven by the influential winery brand owner and GOP Presidential candidate. Sampled wines were 2009 Sparkling Blanc de Blanc worth $24, 2014 Chardonnay worth $16, 2014 Meritage worth $20 and a 2013 New World Reserve worth $30. Lisa added, "As a whole, they're perfectly fine," she said. "They're lovely examples of wine from Virginia,".

President Barack Obama, however, is not at all impressed. Daily News quoted a playful and laughing President Obama, saying "Has anybody bought that wine? I want to know what that wine tastes like...I mean, come on. You know that's like some $5 wine. They slap a label on it. They charge you $50 and say it's the greatest wine ever."

With Obama's remark, Republicans and Democrats have a lot more topics to debate upon. But for food and wine lovers, it doesn't matter who owns it, as long it tastes good. Also, respect to Virginia wine makers who are the people behind the wine production. The trump winery offers a number of beverages to choose from.

For people who want to find out the truth about the taste of Trump's wine, they will have to buy and see for themselves.
Ring, the interactive doorbell company, is reeling in several of the smartest and most deep pocketed investment minds in the world.

On Wednesday, venture capitalist firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers announced it will join billionaire Sir Richard Branson, an existing Ring investor, in raising $61.2 million in Series C funding. This stage of funding is reserved for companies that have proven their worth to those investors who believe they can earn decent returns. KPCP helped launch companies including Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL).

They really understand we are building our business for a different reasonbeyond finances, said Ring Founder Jamie Siminoff during an interview with FOXBusiness.com. KPCP partner Mary Meeker, a former Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) tech analyst who rose to stardom for her tech prowess, is Rings point person right now as they decide how to fill the board seat that comes with the firms investment. As for Branson, who first invested in Ring last year, he committed more than his pro-rata, more simply known as the initial agreement.

Ring makes video doorbells that allow homeowners to keep an eye on their property remotely via a mobile device. The company also touts its security capabilities including preventing potential burglaries. It is not about catching every criminal in the act, it is about creating the presence of being home, notes Siminoff, who is also rolling out Rings Video Doorbell Pro, which has advanced imaging capabilities. The new device will begin shipping next month. Siminoff sees a greater collaboration between Ring and law enforcement agencies in reducing crime. Ring has an ongoing crime prevention project with the Los Angeles Police Department.

This latest round of fresh capital is key for Rings future growth, including hiring. It also may accelerate the path to becoming a public company. My hope is within 12 to 18 months [to IPO], says Siminoff, who is also aiming to have over $1 billion in sales b y 2018.

As for Bransons role at Ring, Siminoff says he has been instrumental as a long-term visionary for the company advising on what works branding wise as well as providing guidance on expanding internationally.

Outside the U.S., Ring is targeting the U.K, Europe, Australia and New Zealand to name a few.
Uber wants to deliver your dinner even if they dont typically give you a ride.

UberEATS, a standalone app, is now available in five cities and evolved from the companys early ride app which also offers limited food delivery.

We learned quickly that requesting a ride and ordering a meal are two very different experiences. They each deserve their own home, UberEATS Product Manager Chetan Narain said in a press release.

Now, with the UberEATS app, consumers will have access to many more restaurants throughout the day, though the Instant Delivery menu is still available.

The app was first released in Toronto in December 2015, and a small test market followed suit in Los Angeles. Expanded service through the UberEATS app was announced on Tuesday in Chicago, Houston and San Francisco.

The app will be available for download in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Melbourne, New York, Paris, Seattle and Washington, D.C. in the coming weeks.

UberEATS joins a list of apps that center around food delivery, a market that continues to grow at a rapid pace. According to research by NPD Group, delivery traffic outside of pizza  a delivery staple  is up 33% since 2012.

For so long, we didnt have many options available to us in terms of delivery much beyond pizza and Asian, Bonnie Riggs, NPDs restaurant industry analyst, told FOXBusiness.com.

An evolution is underway: Its a win for the consumer who now has a lot more options available to them, its a win for the restaurant operator because they now have another venue to move their food and they dont have to incur all of the additional expenses, and its a win for the driver who gets another ride so to speak, says Riggs.

She also notes that Americans make 61 billion visits to restaurants each year, but that number is not growing. The key now is to find opportunities within the industry that meet the needs of todays consumer, which include saving time and being in the comfort of their own home.

How, though, can UberEATS set itself apart from well-established competitors like Seamless, which is owned by GrubHub (NYSE:GRUB), and Eat24, which is owned by Yelp (NYSE:YELP)?

Everybody takes different approaches to delivery; Ours is that we want to represent the restaurants really well and work with them, Uber spokeswoman Sarah Maxwell told FOXBusiness.com.

In the new app, theres a lot of really beautiful food photography and thats something we figured out pretty early on  that people really enjoy that visual aspect and they eat with their eyes so to speak.

Maxwell adds that Uber utilizes its expansive logistics network, which has proved highly successful for its ride-hailing app, to run UberEATS.

Were able to send a driver for pickup when [the food] is almost ready so theres very little downtime in between when the food is ready and when someone is coming to get it...Were really great at getting things to people quickly.
Image source: BHP Billiton.

When BHP Billiton released its fiscal first-half earnings, CEO Andrew Mackenzie commented on the commodity downturn: "it's the speed and the quantum and the synchronized nature of those declines that have been more than we, or frankly anyone else in the industry, could have expected." That was the setup for some bad news, but also the backdrop for important improvements. Here are five things BHP Billiton's management wants you to know.

1. The dividend is different nowOne of the big questions going into the semiannual update was the dividend. Would it survive as is, or would the downturn lead to a dividend cut, as it had at giant competitors Rio Tinto and Vale ? Few were surprised by the answer. According to the CEO, "To match the economic conditions that we face today and expect to face in the future, the board has now adopted a dividend pay out policy equivalent to a minimum of 50% of underlying attributable profit." In other words, BHP is cutting the dividend.

That, however, is much better than the news at Vale, which eliminated its dividend earlier this year because of the commodity downturn. Rio Tinto, meanwhile, is still planning a dividend, but, like BHP, it's going to be lower than it has been. Although this might be a difficult pill for dividend-focused investors to swallow, all three companies are simply doing what's necessary to ensure they are positioned for the world that exists today.

2. Samarco is on our mindsAnother big topic of interest for investors is the Samarco disaster, in which mine waste broke through a storage area and flooded several towns, taking human lives along the way. Samarco is a 50/50 joint venture with Vale. At the time of the call, Mackenzie said, that "discussions are also ongoing with the Brazilian government as well as the state government of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo" about how to manage and fund the cleanup effort.

BHP and Vale have since come to an agreement with Brazil on cleanup costs, and how much each has to pay. The numbers are pretty big -- $1.1 billion each. But that's really just the starting point, because the miners still may face civil and criminal cases arising from the disaster. The takeaway here is that BHP has taken major steps in the right direction, but you'll want to keep listening for Samarco updates for a while.

3. We're doing OKWith the ugly stuff out of the way, CFO Peter Beaven highlighted some positives from the first six months of the year, including these:

"We generated net operating cash flows of $5.3 billion, and free cash flow in every one of our businesses."

"Our 40% EBITDA margin is significantly higher than our closest peer at only 29%."

"We maintained our strong balance sheet holding net debt broadly stable over the last 12 months, despite substantially weaker prices and significant dividend payments."

That's a lot of information at once, but the point is that BHP is surviving the downturn fairly well -- in fact, better than many of its peers. So despite the bad news, BHP is still one of the cleanest shirts in the mining industry.

Capital spending heads down. Image source: BHP Billiton.

4. We're spending wiselyThe dividend cut, however, is really part of a bigger issue, and that's how BHP plans on using cash. It wants to put cash to work where it will do the most good and, at the same time, preserve its financial strength. And on that score, the CFO noted that the miner plans "to invest $7 billion in the 2016 financial year and $5 billion in 2017."

That level of capital spending is down from nearly $15 billion in 2014, so BHP is tightening the belt pretty hard. But Beaven assured investors that "all projects that deserve to get capital are included in our funding plan." Put a different way, BHP is cutting back, but it isn't (and can't) stop spending. It's just making sure the money it spends is spent wisely.

So what kind of spending is going to take place at BHP? According to the CEO, "Capital efficient projects that leverage existing infrastructure and release latent capacity continue to present attractive near-term opportunities, even at current prices," and those are the first priority. Basically, these are projects that allow BHP to do more with less.

5. Here's a wild card to watchThat brings up another issue related to spending. When pushed on the topic of investing in current operations or buying assets, the CEO said, "This is an environment where, in many respects, buy, rather than build, is more attractive." Backing this claim up is the company's investment-grade debt rating and strong cash flow. In fact, unlike some miners that are simply looking to survive, BHP appears to have the capacity to do some deals.

Spending on internal projects simply increases the supply/demand imbalance that's hurting commodity prices. So even though BHP may be avoiding big internal projects, don't think it isn't looking to increase production in other ways. And if the commodity markets remain moribund, there could be some compelling opportunities that BHP is uniquely positioned to act upon.

Half full/half empty?It would hard to say that BHP's earnings and conference call were filled with good news. BHP is suffering through a very difficult period. But if you look past the bad, there is a lot to like about this giant and globally diversified miner. And BHP really is surviving the downturn better than many of its peers, despite what the high-profile Samarco disaster might suggest. BHP, then, remains a good option for more conservative investors looking to step into the mining space. That's doubly true if you think consolidation is in the cards, since BHP, with a strong balance sheet, is likely to be on the buying side there.

The article 5 Things BHP Billiton's Management Wants You to Know originally appeared on Fool.com.

Reuben Brewer has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Companhia Vale Ads. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Image source: Cobalt International Energy.

Cobalt International Energy isn't like your average oil company. In fact, it shares more similarities to a developmental-stage biotechnology company than an oil and gas company because, up until this January, it didn't produce a drop of oil. Instead, it spent the past few years investing only to develop offshore oil and gas resources in the Gulf of Mexico and West Africa. It's a riskier business model, which could prove to be problematic for investors until a few more of its projects start producing.

The sole focusIn building the company around offshore oil and gas projects, Cobalt is opening itself up to both pitfalls and promise. The pitfalls are the high development costs and long lead times needed to bring these projects from discovery to production. Take, for example, the recently completed Heidelberg project in the Gulf of Mexico, which is operated by Anadarko Petroleum and counts Freeport-McMoRan among the seven joint venture partners that also include Cobalt. Discovered in 2009, the $3 billion project wasn't given the green light until 2012 and didn't deliver first oil until this past January. Over that time frame, oil prices did this:

Brent crude oil spot price data by YCharts.

In other words, the project was sanctioned when oil prices were at their highest level, but it didn't start producing oil until its price had crashed. Needless to say, expected returns have fallen alongside the price of oil.

Having said that, the promise is pretty compelling, with Heidelberg estimated to hold recoverable resources of between 200 million to 400 million barrels of oil equivalent. Furthermore, the initial production from the field is a very meaningful 80,000 barrels of oil per day and 80 MMCF/d of natural gas, which the partners share proportionally based on their stake in the project. Also, should oil prices skyrocket, the cash flow from the field will follow suit.

Image source: Anadarko Petroleum.

Cash is kingBecause offshore projects are so expensive and take a long time to develop, it can drain an oil company's resources. That's a problem that has befallen Freeport-McMoRan in recent years, with the crash in crude prices taking a huge chunk of its expected cash flows, leaving it scrambling for cash to fund its offshore developments. It's an even greater potential problem for a company like Cobalt International Energy because until Heidelberg came online it didn't generate any operational cash flow. Instead, it's only source of cash was the capital markets, with the company selling equity and convertible notes to fund its development projects.

Now that some of its projects are past the stage of promise and have some meaningful value, the company has decided to cash in, with it recently announcing the sale of its offshore assets in Angola in order to raise cash to pay for its development projects in the Gulf of Mexico. However, despite that big cash windfall, the company needs to be very mindful of its cash position, which is why it has had to cut its spending plans in order to preserve cash amid the downturn in the oil market. After planning to invest $1 billion per year through 2018 to develop its offshore discoveries, it has had to cut back to just $500 million to $600 million in annual investments in order to make sure its cash lasts.

Another potential problem with its business model is the risk/reward of working with partners. Because offshore developments are so expensive, most oil companies work together to develop these projects to reduce financial and operational risks. However, these arrangements add a new risk, which the company lays out in its annual report, noting that it "will not be able to control the timing of exploration or development efforts, associated costs, or the rate of production of any non-operated and to an extent, any non-wholly owned, assets." In other words, it might be forced to invest in a project that it doesn't have the cash to fund or is designed using a costlier technique that it would have employed. For example, Anadarko Petroleum is the operator of not only Heidelberg but Shenandoah, a major oil discovery in the Gulf. If Anadarko plans to push forward the time frame on Shenandoah and turn it into a major development, it could force Cobalt to commit capital to a project that might not be in its best interest at this time.

Investor takeawayCobalt International Energy is riskier than the average oil company because it is still in the early stages of the development of costly and time-consuming offshore oil and gas projects. That's a potential problem because the company needs to rely on outside sources of cash to fund these projects instead of internally generated cash flow, and it's not always in control of the timing nor the costs of these projects. It's a problem that could force the company to make decisions that aren't always in the best interests of shareholders, which is an extra risk that investors need to keep in mind.

The article The Biggest Problem With Cobalt International Energy, Inc. Stock originally appeared on Fool.com.

Matt DiLallo has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Kandi K17 electric vehicle. Image source: Kandi Technologies Group.

Kandi Technologies Group reported fourth-quarter results on March 14. The auto-parts manufacturer is enjoying surging demand for its products as the nascent -- yet potentially massive -- electric vehicle market in China expands rapidly.

The raw numbers

Metric Q4 2015 Q4 2014 Growth (YOY) Revenue $58.8 million $52.9 million 11.2% Gross profit $28.4 million $23.4 million 21.4% Non-GAAP EPS $0.30 $0.09 233.3%

Data source: Kandi Technologies Q4 2015 earnings press release.

What happened with Kandi Technologies this quarter?

Total revenues grew 11.2% to $58.8 million, boosted by a 51.6% jump in electric vehicle (EV) parts sales to $57.5 million.

Kandi Electric Vehicles Group Co. -- a joint venture in which Kandi Technologies Group has a 50% stake -- sold 12,100 EV products in the fourth quarter, a 231% increase compared to the year-ago period.

Gross margin improved to 14.4% from 11% in Q4 2014, mainly due to lower costs in Kandi's battery-packing production.

Operating margin, however, declined to negative 9.2% from 5.4% in the fourth quarter of 2014, as total operating expenses ballooned 367.4% to $13.9 million, with most of the increase coming from higher stock compensation expense. Excluding stock compensation, adjusted operating expenses were $4 million, compared with $1 million in the year-ago quarter, primarily due to higher research and development costs for new EV product models and battery packs.

All told, non-GAAP adjusted net income, which excludes stock award expenses and other special items, surged 250.9% to $13.9 million.

What did management have to say?In Kandi's fourth-quarter press release, Chairman and CEO Xiaoming Hu highlighted the strong performance of the Kandi Electric Vehicles Group joint venture:

Additionally, Hu praised the early success of Kandi's new direct sales program and suggested that this segment will continue to fuel the company's growth in the years ahead:

Importantly, Hu noted that government incentives should also continue to bolster Kandi's growth:

Looking forwardKandi expects first-quarter revenue to be between $46 million and $48 million, with gross margin in the range of 13.5% to 14.5%.

For the full year, the company anticipates 2016 net revenues in the range of $270 million to $300 million. In addition, management projects that Kandi Electric Vehicles Group will deliver at least 35,000 EV products during the year.

"By focusing on our unique growth engines, which are the rapid expansion of the Micro Public Transportation program and the direct sales program through the distribution channel, we look forward to leading the growth of China's EV industry in 2016," added Hu.

The article Kandi Technologies Group, Inc. Earnings Soar as China's EV Market Ramps Up originally appeared on Fool.com.

Joe Tenebruso has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Kandi Technologies. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries are planning to meet with Russian energy officials and other oil producers in Doha on April 17 to hash out an agreement to limit output, the Qatari oil ministry said Wednesday.

Talks have been going on for weeks to set up a meeting between OPEC members like Saudi Arabia and Venezuela and big producers outside the group like Russia. Saudi Arabia, Russia, Venezuela and Qatar had already agreed on Feb. 16 to limit their oil production to January levels, as long as other big producers like Iran follow suit.

A Qatari oil ministry news release called that agreement the "Doha initiative" and credited it with changing the sentiment of the oil market. Crude prices have rallied in recent weeks to nearly $40 a barrel since sinking to less than $27 a barrel in January, the lowest levels in more than a decade and down almost three quarters since June 2014.

The Doha initiative "put a floor under the oil price," said the Qatari news release. "This has triggered a broad and intensive dialogue between all oil producers out of the conviction that current oil prices aren't sustainable."

Qatar holds the rotating presidency of OPEC this year and has been coordinating the effort.

The Qatari oil ministry said 15 OPEC and non-OPEC producers supported the Doha initiative, accounting for 73% of global oil output. The Qataris didn't say which members would attend the April 17 meeting, and officials in several countries involved said they hadn't been notified formally of the meeting.

The Qataris called the meeting a follow up to the Feb. 16 agreement, and OPEC delegates said the purpose was to bring more producers into the fold.

The Qatari news release said low prices had caused an "unprecedented drop in investment in the oil industry, which has indeed started to affect oil production world-wide." Recent oil production declines seen across the world are "likely to continue."

"This drastic reduction in investment is already taking its toll on the oil industry," the Qatari oil ministry said.
Ohio Governor John Kasich is riding high after securing a win in his home states primary contest on Tuesday. This is Kasichs first win after placing second in the New Hampshire primary last month.

The Kasich campaign took to Twitter (NYSE:TWTR) on Wednesday to share a behind the scenes celebration video after he captured the winner-take-all state: That moment when you win a major primary state and everything changes.

That moment when you win a major primary state and everything changes.https://t.co/HughbQTlHo  John Kasich (@JohnKasich) March 16, 2016

The excitement of victory is fading fast, though. Kasich must use his new momentum to secure more delegates in order to beat his remaining GOP rivals, businessman Donald Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz. In the latest count, Trump holds 673 delegates, Cruz has 411 and Kasich has so far grabbed 143. For a candidate to win the Republican nomination, he must have 1,237 delegates.

David Cohen, a political science professor at the University of Akron said the Kasich campaign will now be targeting Pennsylvania, which is not only the state where the candidate grew up, but one also similar to Ohio demographically. Cohen said besides working on a state-by-state game plan, Kasich must garner big-dollar donations.

With Marco Rubio dropping out, I think the establishment money is really going to start flowing to Kasich. It shouldve flowed to him when Jeb Bush got out, but it didnt because the establishment was betting on Rubio. I think with the new found money its really going to be a boost to his campaign, he said.

In comparison to Cruz, Cohen said the Ohio Governor would be a much better general-election candidate when facing either Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Ted Cruz is probably as widely disliked as Donald Trump and Trump is a more controversial candidate but nobody in the Republican party likes Cruz. They feel his politics are way too far to the right of many, and Kasich is more in line with the Republican establishment, Cohen said.

The strategy for Kasichs campaign all along has been a brokered convention. Cohen said this is what he has been counting on ever since the New Hampshire primary results where Trump won with 35% support, while Kasich grabbed 15% of the vote.

Kasich has been targeting Ohio thinking by winning Ohio and by Cruz picking off enough delegates from here until the convention that Trump is going to be denied a majority of those delegates and its going to be a brokered convention in Cleveland, Ohio Kasichs home state and the campaign feel he has a good shot at becoming the nominee that way, Cohen said.

Since the 1800s there have been eight contested Republican conventions, in five of them the eventual winner did not go into the convention with a majority of delegates.

Past Contested Republican Conventions:

*1880  Convention was contested, James Garfield won 1884  Convention was contested, James G. Blaine won *1888 - Convention was contested, Benjamin Harrison won *1912 -- Convention was contested, William Taft won 1916 -- Convention was contested, Charles Hughes won *1920 - Convention was contested, Warren Harding won *1940 - Convention was contested, Wendell Willkie won 1948 -- Convention was contested, Thomas Dewey won*The winner went into the convention without a delegate lead.

In the modern era we live in, a brokered convention is unprecedented. Republicans havent had one since 1948. Most people have not witnessed something like that, Cohen said.

When it comes to beating out Trump for the nomination, Cohen says there is no doubt Cruz and Kasich split the anti-Trump voters. However, he said Kasichs candidacy can reach farther into the electorate than Cruz.

Kasich really appeals to a lot more moderates to liberals, real Republicans, many independents and even some Democrats. I think he is going to be drawing more from that crowd going forward and hes going to be setting himself up as a real alternative to the divisive campaigns of both Trump and Cruz, Cohen said.
Amid the already heated political debate surrounding the open Supreme Court seat, President Obama has nominated Judge Merrick Garland to replace Justice Antonin Scalia, who died last month.

It sounded like an emotional plea for the propriety of his nomination. Obviously it was something the White House wrote or the White House approved. It is highly unusual for the nominee him or herself to engage in any type of public lobbying and really should be reserved for behind-the-scenes with the members of the Senate. FNC senior judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano told the FOX Business Networks Stuart Varney.

Napolitano continued, It is extremely unusual for a sitting judge who is regulated by what we call the cannons of judicial ethics about what he or she may say in public and may not say in public.

Napolitano then compared it to Scalias nomination by President Reagan.

Could you imagine Ronald Reagan calling Justice Scalia, Antonin and saying, okay, the microphone is yours? A different era, a different president, different morals, different values; but this was most unusual what we just saw.

More on this... Former A.G. Mukasey on the process of filling the vacant Supreme Court seat

Napolitano weighed in on the potential fallout from Obamas nomination of Garland.

He has taken a good and decent man, nearly universally respected in the legal and judicial community and put him out there as a pinata.
President Barack Obama nominated veteran appellate court judge Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, setting up a potentially ferocious political showdown with Senate Republicans who have vowed to block any Obama nominee.

Considered a moderate, Garland, 63, is currently chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. He was picked to replace long-serving conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, who died on Feb. 13.

More on this... Napolitano: Highly Unusual for Nominee to Engage in Public Lobbying

"I've selected a nominee who is widely recognized not only as one of America's sharpest legal minds but someone who brings to his work a spirit of decency, modesty, integrity, even-handedness and excellence," Obama said in the White House Rose Garden.

"These qualities and his long commitment to public service have earned him the respect and admiration of leaders from both sides of the aisle (Democrats and Republicans). He will ultimately bring that same character to bear on the Supreme Court, an institution in which he is uniquely prepared to serve immediately," Obama added.

Senate confirmation is required for any nominee to join the bench and Senate Republicans have vowed not to hold confirmation hearings or a vote on any nominee picked by the Democratic president for the lifetime position on the court.

Republicans are demanding that Obama leave the seat vacant and let the next president, to be elected in November and sworn in next January, make the selection.

More on this... Napolitano: Highly Unusual for Nominee to Engage in Public Lobbying

Garland, is a long-time appellate judge and former prosecutor who Obama also considered when he filled two previous Supreme Court vacancies.

Federal appeals court judge Sri Srinivasan had also been a finalist for the nomination.

In a foreshadowing of the pressure campaign the White House and its allies plan to wage in the coming weeks, the White House noted that seven current Republican U.S. senators voted to confirm Garland to the DC Circuit court in 1997.

PRAISE FROM BOTH PARTIES

Garland, who has earned praise from lawmakers of both parties in the past, was named to his current job by Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1997, winning Senate confirmation in a 76-23 vote. Prior to that, he worked in the Justice Department during the Clinton administration.

Without Scalia, the nine-member Supreme Court is evenly split with four liberals and four conservative justices. Obama's nominee could tilt the court to the left for the first time in decades.

Republicans, hoping a candidate from their party wins the Nov. 8 presidential election, want the next president to make the selection.

Billionaire Donald Trump is the leading Republican presidential candidate. Obama's former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, is the front-runner on the Democratic side.

Republicans and their allies already have geared up to fight Obama's nominee. The Republican National Committee on Monday announced the formation of a task force that will work with an outside conservative group to spearhead attack ads and other ways of pushing back against Obama's choice.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has served as a springboard to the Supreme Court for several justices including Scalia in recent decades.

Obama may have been looking for a nominee who could convince the Republicans to change course. Garland could fit that bill with his moderate record, background as a prosecutor and history of drawing Republican support.

Garland was under consideration by Obama when he filled two prior high court vacancies. Obama, in office since 2009, has already named two justices to the Supreme Court: Sonia Sotomayor, who at 55 became the first Hispanic justice in 2009, and Elena Kagan, who was 50 when she became the fourth woman ever to serve on the court in 2010.

Presidents tend to pick nominees younger than Garland, so they can serve for decades and extend a president's legacy. But Obama may reason that the choice of an older nominee might also entice Senate Republicans into considering Obama's selection.

Trump, speaking on ABC's "Good Morning America" program, said it was critical for Republicans to take back the White House to avoid Democrats shaping the Supreme Court.

"You have four Supreme Court judgeships coming up, and that would mean they would take over, that would mean for 50 years, probably, this country will never be the same," Trump said.

"The Republicans should do exactly what they are doing. I think they should wait till the next president and let the next president pick," Trump said.

(Reporting by Julia Edwards, Jeff Mason, Richard Cowan and Joan Biskupic; Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by Howard Goller and Frances Kerry)
Airplane tray tables, bathroom toilets, gas pump handles: Some items you know are dirty.

But these 6 supposedly clean things may be teeming with germs, too.

(For more cool science you can useincluding 2,000+ simple ways to live a healthier, happier lifecheck out The Better Man Project.)

CLEAN LAUNDRY

Your used underwear is dirtybut so is everything you wash after them, according to research from Charles Gerba, Ph.D., a microbiology professor at the University of Arizona.

One load of underwear could leave 100 million E. coli behind in your washing machine, contaminating your next cycle.

The fix isnt a stronger detergent, though. Crank up the water in your washing machine to between 140 and 150 degrees to kill the germs.

THE LEMON WEDGE IN YOUR DRINK

Lemons may have antibacterial properties, but the wedges in your water glass are covered in germs. Of 76 wedges swabbed from 21 restaurants, 70 percent contained disease-causing microbes, according to a study in the Journal of Environmental Health.

Other research by ABC News and New York University found half of lemon wedges collected tested positive for human fecal matter.

The likely culprits behind the germs: employees improperly handling the fruit or contamination from uncooked meat.

YOUR CARS WINDSHIELD

A clean car windshield could endanger your health.

Arizona State researchers who sampled washer fluid reservoirs found high levels of Legionella, bacteria that can cause a serious form of pneumonia. The vapor from tainted fluid could enter your cars air vents and then your lungs.

Use a solution with methanol since it has antibacterial properties.

Related: Are You Driving One Of These 10 Deadly Cars?

YOUR NEW CLOTHES

You might be paying for poop.

When Philip Tierno, Ph.D., the director of microbiology and immunology at New York University tested recently purchased clothing items from stores, he found evidence of skin flora, feces, and respiratory secretions.

Wash your new purchases in hot water before wearing themand wash your hands after shopping.

Related: Why Scoring a Good Deal Feels As Good As an Orgasm, According to Science

YOUR CARS DASHBOARD

When Gerba tested 100 automobiles for bacteria, he found that the dashboard is the second germiest spot in your carright after food spills.

Thats because the air conditioning and heater blow microscopic germs into your car, he says. They come to rest on the untouched dashboard, where they bake and breed under the heat from the sun.

Youll have to touch it to clean it: Wipe the dashboard weekly with a disinfectant.

CONTACT LENS CASES

Research from China suggests 34 percent of contact lens cases examined were packed with germs like Serratia and Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause keratitisan inflammatory eye disease that damages your cornea and can even cause blindness.

Related: 4 Ways You Use Your Contact Lenses Wrong

Keep your eyes safe by pouring out used solution, rinsing your case in hot water daily, and replacing it every three months.

Buy new solution every eight weeks, too: Multipurpose solutions lose a lot of their ability to kill germs after two months, finds other Chinese research.

This article originally appeared on MensHealth.com.
Prescription painkillers should not be a first choice for treating common ailments like back pain and arthritis, according to new federal guidelines designed to reshape how doctors prescribe drugs like OxyContin and Vicodin.

Amid an epidemic of addiction and abuse tied to these powerful opioids drugs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging primary care doctors to try physical therapy, exercise and over-the-counter pain medications before turning to painkillers for chronic pain. Opioid drugs include medications like morphine and oxycodone as well as illegal narcotics like heroin.

The new recommendations  which doctors do not have to follow  represent an effort to reverse nearly two decades of rising painkiller use, which public health officials blame for a more than four-fold increase in overdose deaths tied to the drugs. In 2014, U.S. doctors wrote nearly 200 million prescriptions for opioid painkillers, while deaths linked to the drugs climbed to roughly 19,000  the highest number on record.

"We're trying to chart a safer and more effective course for dealing with chronic pain," Dr. Tom Frieden, the CDC's director, said in an interview with the Associated Press. "The risks of addiction and death are very well documented for these medications."

More than 40 Americans die every day from painkiller overdoses, a staggering rate that Frieden said is "doctor driven."

Under the new guidelines, doctors would prescribe painkillers only after considering non-addictive pain relievers, behavioral changes and other options. The CDC also wants doctors to prescribe the lowest effective dose possible. And doctors should only continue prescribing the drugs if patients show significant improvement.

For short-term pain, the CDC recommends limiting opioids to three days of treatment, when possible.

The guidelines do not apply to doctors who specialize in treating severe pain due to cancer and other debilitating diseases.

Though the guidelines are voluntary, they could be widely adopted by hospitals, insurers and state and federal health systems.

Government officials have already tried multiple approaches to tackling painkiller abuse. The Food and Drug Administration restricted some widely-prescribed painkillers to limit refills. States like Florida and New York have cracked down on "pill mills" using databases to monitor what doctors are prescribing. And this week, Massachusetts signed into law a seven-day limit on first-time prescriptions for opioids  the first of its kind in the nation.

"Changing medical practice isn't quick and it isn't easy," Frieden said. "But we think the pendulum on pain management swung way too far toward the ready use of opioids."

The CDC rarely advises physicians on how to prescribe medications  a role typically delegated to professional societies and drug regulators.

FDA labeling for the drugs is broad, listing uses like "relief of moderate to severe pain." Guidelines by pain specialists provide more detail, but focus less on risks. The CDC guidelines put such warnings upfront: "Opioids are not first-line therapy," states the agency's first recommendation.

Local health authorities applauded the CDC for weighing in on the problem they face in their communities.

"The CDC is a respected source of information. Their guidelines carry weight," said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen.

But some leading medical groups stopped short of embracing the recommendations. The American Medical Association, the largest professional group for physicians, cautioned that the guidelines could create problems if they steer patients toward pain treatments that aren't accessible or covered by insurance.

"If they produce unintended consequences, we will need to mitigate them" said Dr. Patrice Harris, in a statement. "They are not the final word."

In many ways, the guidelines are a return to older medical practice. Physicians trained in the 1960s and 1970s  amid a wave of urban heroin use  were taught to reserve opioids for the most severe forms of pain, such as cancer or end-of-life care. That approach remains accepted.

But in 1990s, some specialists argued that doctors were undertreating common forms of pain that could benefit from opioids, such as backaches and joint pain. The message was amplified by multimillion-dollar promotional campaigns for new, long-acting drugs like OxyContin, which was promoted as less addictive.

OxyContin's maker, Purdue Pharma, later agreed to plead guilty for misleading the public about the drug's risks.

"A whole generation of physicians grew up thinking they could use opiates pretty liberally," said Dr. Bruce Psaty, a professor at the University of Washington who also advises the FDA. "We are now in the process of re-educating ourselves and our patients."

Physicians must now find a "comfortable balance," Psaty said, using opioids carefully while making sure patients don't go untreated.

The CDC delayed its guidelines earlier this year following criticism from pain specialists, drugmakers and others.

Critics complained that the recommendations went too far and had mostly been developed behind closed doors by physicians who are biased against drug therapy. Instead of releasing the guidelines in January, as originally planned, the CDC agreed to re-open them to public input, receiving more than 4,000 comments over a 30-day period.

Critics said the proposal could block patient access to medications if adopted by health providers, insurers and hospitals. Such organizations often look to the federal government for health care policies.

Last week, an early sign of the guideline's impact surfaced in the Senate. Lawmakers there overwhelmingly passed a bill designed to combat opioid abuse, including a provision requiring the Veterans Administration to adopt the CDC recommendations.
Stem cells could help treat people with cataracts and even some who are blind by regenerating eye tissue and replacing flawed lenses, according to new experiments in children and rabbits.

In order for people to see properly, both the lens of the eye and the cornea  the layer of tissue that covers the eye in front of the lens  must be transparent. Current treatments for people who have clouding in the lens or cornea involve artificial implants or donor transplants, respectively, but these surgical procedures can be risky, researchers said.

In the new research, scientists performed minimally invasive surgeries on 12 infants under age 2 who all had congenital cataracts  a major cause of childhood blindness. They removed the children's cataracts, but carefully spared certain cells in their eyes, called lens epithelial stem/progenitor cells (LECs), which could then go on to regenerate lenses.

They found that the infants' incisions healed within one month, and the transparency of their line of vision was more than 20 times better, compared to infants with congenital cataracts who received the current, standard treatment. [5 Amazing Technologies That Are Revolutionizing Biotech]

The finding shows that "we can harness our own stem cells to regenerate a tissue or organ," Dr. Kang Zhang, who led the study and is an ophthalmologist at the University of California, San Diego, told Live Science.

Researchers had not previously shown that LECs could be used to regenerate human lenses.

Cataracts involve clouding of the lens, and are the leading cause of blindness worldwide. The current treatment for cataracts involves surgically removing the clouded lens of the eye from its supporting capsule and replacing it with an artificial lens. More than 20 million cataract patients worldwide now undergo this procedure each year.

Zhang noted that only 4 in 10,000 cataract patients are infants. Still, "in principle, this approach should work for any age, because lens stem cells are present through life," he said. The stem cells of older patients may need a bit of a boost to regenerate lenses, he added.

The current treatment for cataracts is artificial lens implantation, which requires a cut about 6 millimeters wide to the lens capsule. The treatment can lead to inflammation and the destruction of the LECs, which normally help protect the lens from damage. Moreover, this surgery can lead to scars or the abnormal growth of lens cells  either of which can result in cloudiness in a patient's line of vision.

In early experiments, Zhang and his colleagues showed they could isolate LECs from mice, and that these cells could form transparent, lenslike structures. The scientists reasoned that minimally invasive surgeries, involving cuts of only 1 to 1.5 millimeters wide, could remove cataracts while also preserving LECs that could then go on to regenerate lenses, Zhang said. They achieved successful lens regeneration in rabbits and monkeys, before attempting the procedure in children.

In the study, the infants' surgical wounds were only about 4.3 percent the size of those created by the current method. The scientists also moved the site of the incision to the periphery of the lens rather than its center, according to the findings published online March 9 in the journal Nature. [Top 3 Techniques for Creating Organs in the Lab]

The researchers noted that they only tested a small number of patients with their new method. They will need "much larger and longer-term clinical trials to show its safety and efficacy," Zhang said.

When it comes to treating blindness due to problems with the cornea, the gold-standard treatment involves corneal transplants from donors. However, the immune systems of recipients can reject a transplanted cornea.

In a separate finding, also published March 9 in Nature, researchers tested out a promising strategy for avoiding such rejection that involves growing corneas from the cells of patients.

Researcher Kohji Nishida at Osaka University in Japan and his colleagues used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are mature cells that are chemically reprogrammed with the ability to become any tissue in the body, to grow new corneas.

During embryonic development, eye tissue is formed from three layers, and the cornea and lens emerge from the topmost layer. In the experiments, the scientists grew human iPSCs with a chemical that promoted the creation of a structure that resembled the developing eye. The researchers harvested stem cells from this structure, which generated molecules one might expect of the cornea. They grew sheets of corneal tissue from these cells, and found they could restore vision in rabbits that had corneal blindness.

It seems unlikely that growing a structure mimicking the embryonic eye is an economically viable strategy for treating corneal blindness, noted Julie Daniels, a professor of regenerative medicine and cellular therapy at the University of College London Institute of Ophthalmology, who was not involved in the study.

The real value of this research is how experiments with this kind of structure will help better understand eye development, and "such an understanding might eventually enable in situ manipulation of stem-cell populations throughout the eye" as Zhang and his colleagues accomplished, Daniels wrote in a commentary on this research.

Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A medical advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday recommended approval of a first-of-its-kind heart stent from Abbott Laboratories that dissolves after it is implanted.

The panel, by a vote of 9-0, supported use of the stent, called Absorb, which is designed to dissolve within three years of implantation, after restoring blood flow to a blocked artery.

The FDA usually, but not always, follows the advice of its advisory panels.

The independent panel determined that the benefits of Absorb outweigh the risks. The panel also voted positively on safety and effectiveness.

Abbott shares dipped 1.5 percent to close at $39.90 on Tuesday.
A Midwest Texas mother is speaking out about a rare condition plaguing her son to raise awareness among other parents who may miss the signs.

Marissa Davis, of Abilene, Texas, is mom to 5-month old Kamden, who suffers from sagittal craniosynostosis, Big Country Homepage reported. The condition occurs when joints in the skull develop prematurely, outpacing the growth of the brain, according to the Mayo Clinic. Effects may include a misshapen skull and a soft spot on the front of the babys skull, as well as slow growth of the head compared to the rest of the body, and increased pressure in the skull.

"I noticed a ridge on [Kamdens] head, and I also noticed that his head was growing only longwise, elongated," Davis told the news website.

Davis caught the condition early by Googling her sons symptomsa discovery she said helped him avoid CVR surgery, which would have required rebuilding his entire skull. Instead, he underwent an endoscopic procedure. However, he will still have to wear helmets to protect his head until he is 18 months old.

The helmets cost about $3,700 each, and Kamden will need about seven as he grows, said his mother, who is holding a garage sale fundraiser at a local church to help cover the expense.

Davis encouraged other parents who think their children may have an abnormally shaped head to see their pediatrician immediately.

A lot of these kids go undiagnosed for many years, she told Big Country Homepage. Just ask questions. Be an advocate for your child.
Vladimir Putin is not pulling all of his forces out of Syria or ending his military support to the Assad regime. His just-announced withdrawal serves political, military operational, diplomatic, and possibly strategic purposes, but its actual significance for operations in Syria is minimal.

Its significance for the long-term correlation of forces in the Mediterranean, however, is dire.

The intensity of Russias air campaign in Syria dropped markedly after the United Nations sponsored cessation of hostilities began on February 27, 2016. But Russian airstrikes are still hitting opposition groups that have received U.S. support throughout Syria, along with ISIS and Al Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al Nusra.

These strikes will likely persist for some time, since Russian officials say that counter-terrorism operations will continue, and negotiations in Geneva will not end the fighting on the ground. The Syrian regime is actually readying offensive operations against ISIS-held Palmyra, and Russian airstrikes have begun to hit areas near Palmyra in recent days.

Putin has ordered his military to maintain operations at the naval base of Tartus and an airbase at Latakia and to defend them against air, sea, and ground threats, according to a transcript of Putins meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov published by the Kremlin on March 14.

Putins itemization of threats indicates his intention to keep the advanced S-400 air defense system in Syria, something a senior Russian parliamentarian has confirmed. Those missiles range well into Turkish airspace, allowing Putin to interdict NATO air operations in Turkey without having to use aircraft.

The language about defenses against seaborne attack suggests Putin may be planning to deploy anti-shipping missiles on the Syrian coast. Doing so would significantly improve his ability to create an area-denial envelope in the Eastern Mediterranean that would force a fundamental reevaluation of American and European naval and air requirements.

The withdrawal of Russian aircraft from Syria is more like sleight-of-hand.

Putin has been using a mix of long-range bombers like the Blackjack and Backfire; medium-range fighter-bombers like the Su-30, Su-34, and Su-35; and short-range attack planes like the Su-25. The long range bombers can hit targets in Syria from bases in Russia. If they can land, rest, and refuel at Latakia, their ability to operate in Syria is unchanged.

The Su-30s, Su-34s, and Su-35s can fly unarmed from bases in Russia to Latakia, refuel and load ammunition stored there, and start bombing runs within 24-48 hours.

The Su-25s have a shorter range, and might take a little longer to become operational. But the Russian air force could likely increase airstrikes back to the pre-ceasefire rate within 72 hours in the conditions he is describing.

The withdrawal of Russias special forces troops, SPETSNAZ, is superficially more interesting because they are ground forces. But in reality this is not meaningful.

SPETSNAZ are capable of very rapid deployment. They can be airdropped into Syria directly from Russia, for example, or rapidly ferried to Latakia and then moved by helicopter. They could return to the front lines in days, if not hours.

The only systems difficult to move rapidly back into Syria are those Putin is not movingair defense systems like the S-400 and unmanned aerial vehicles (Defense Minister Shoigu said that Russia had 70 drones operating in Syria). Putin has a simpler solution: announcing that they are needed both to protect his Syrian bases and to observe and control the ceasefire and the peace process.

There are excellent operational reasons for Putins move. Keeping aircraft and troops at overseas bases is expensive, since fuel, ammunition, spare parts, and provisions have to be moved from Russia to Syria.

Moving back to home base saves money, and Putin cannot afford to be profligate. Months of hard flying have probably taken a toll on his aircraft, making it desirable to bring them home to service and refit them. The relative lull in air operations during the cessation of hostilities is a great opportunity to do so.

This withdrawal is therefore eyewash. It will last exactly as long as the ceasefire holds and operations continue at the current levelsor until one or more of the various opposition groups starts to make serious gains against pro-regime forces.

At that point, Putin will likely declare himself compelled to respond to the provocations of the terrorists and their supportersmeaning the U.S., Turkey, and NATOand regroup offensively.

In the meantime, he will still be consolidating Russias first permanent air-sea stronghold in the Mediterranean since the 18th Century.

The U.S. and the West should be paying far more attention to the geostrategic implications of that reality than to Putins withdrawal mirage.
The United States has a generous refugee resettlement program. However, revelations about fraud, security gaps, and lack of oversight have demonstrated that the program is not working in the best interest of our country. We should continue to accept and resettle vulnerable populations from around the world but its clear that reforms are needed.

All too often we hear about fraud in the refugee program and bad actors seeking to exploit our kindness. Just like other immigration benefit programs, unscrupulous individuals try to game the system to enter the United States. Federal immigration officers often encounter fraud in refugee applications, including the use of a false identity, fake documents, or lying about eligibility. For example, an Ethiopian prison guard, Kefelgn Alemu Worku, tortured and killed political prisoners in Ethiopia but was able to come to the U.S. as a refugee in 2004 after he lied about his past and stole someones identity. Almost a decade later and after he became a U.S. citizen, he was convicted on several charges, including making false statements on immigration documents and using a false identity.

Several refugees have also been arrested on federal terrorism charges. For example, two Iraqi refugees admitted to the United States in 2009 Mohanad Shareef Hammadi and Waad Ramadan Alwan  confessed to using improvised explosive devices against U.S. soldiers in Iraq and sending weapons and money to al Qaeda in Iraq for the purpose of killing American soldiers. And in January of this year, two refugees from Iraq  Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan and Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab  were arrested for attempting to provide material support to ISIS and for lying to U.S. immigration officials about their alleged ties to terrorist organizations. With ISIS terrorists vowing to infiltrate Western countries through the refugee system, existing security gaps only increase their chances of coming to our shores.

The American people currently have little say about the program since their elected representatives closest to them do not have any authority over the number of refugees admitted to the U.S. as well as where they are resettled. Although the Constitution gives Congress the express authority to write our nations immigration laws, the President of the United States  not the Peoples duly elected representatives in Congress  has the sole power under current law to determine how many refugees come each year and where they are resettled.

When concerns about the lack of vetting for Syrian refugees erupted late last year, over half of our governors said they were opposed to letting them into their states. This opposition tracked with the American people, as poll after poll showing a majority had concerns about accepting Syrian refugees. While the Obama Administration claims to work with communities that express concern about refugee resettlement within their jurisdictions, it generally continues to resettle refugees in these communities despite their concerns.

These and other problems prompted us to introduce the Refugee Program Integrity Restoration Act. Our bill contains a number of targeted, commonsense reforms that will improve our nations refugee program while maintaining our nations generosity to people around the globe fleeing persecution.

The bill takes several steps to enhance the integrity of the refugee program, curb fraud, and protect national security. Notably, it requires the implementation of a fraudulent document detection program and the creation of a searchable database of scanned documents to help federal immigration officers detect fraud trends in the processing of refugee applications. It also requires federal immigration officers to review open source Internet postings, including social media, for each applicant, which will help aid in determining if the applicant is who they say they are.

While the bill increases our frontline defenses for the refugee program, it also creates a second line of defense once the refugee is admitted to the United States by allowing regular security vetting of each admitted refugee until they change their immigration status. It also requires the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office to issue a report on the security of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, the number of refugees who have been convicted of terrorism-related offenses, and the use of federally-funded benefit programs by refugees resettled in the United States.

Importantly, our bill brings power back to the American people by allowing their elected officials to make decisions about the refugee program. The Refugee Program Integrity Restoration Act sets the refugee ceiling at 60,000 each year  down from the 85,000 set by President Obama this year -- and places any changes to the limit in Congress hands. No longer will the President unilaterally decide how many refugees come to the U.S. each year. This change ensures uniformity, with Congress setting annual limits, as is the case for all other immigration programs that have annual limits. Additionally, the bill empowers state and local governments to decide if resettling refugees within their jurisdictions is best for their communities.

The United States and the American people are compassionate and generous towards the worlds refugees but we must not allow bad actors to take advantage of our benevolence. The Refugee Program Integrity Restoration Act makes meaningful reforms to the refugee program which maintains our nations proud history of welcoming those in need of a safe home and the integrity of our immigration system.
Wednesday morning Barack Obama chose Merrick Garland to replace the late Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. Republican Party Senators continue to assert that they will not fulfill their constitutional duty to advise and consent on Garland's nomination.

The obstinate behavior of the GOP-controlled Senate is unprecedented. There has never been a case in which the Senate refused to even consider holding a hearing on a nominee. This is a historic moment.

Data curated by InsideGov

This debate is yet another example of the longstanding power that politics has held over American life. Senators who have built their political reputations on defending the words of the Constitution are now forced to ignore those very words.

Take, for example, Texas Senator Ted Cruz. He has argued on the campaign trail that Scalias replacement should be nominated by the next President. In doing so, he is suggesting that Article II, Section 2 of the Constitutionthe section that requires the President to nominate Supreme Court justices and the Senate to advise and consentshould not be taken seriously.

Cruz has been anxious about a potential Obama appointee who will undermine religious liberty, defend same-sex marriage, and support abortion. These are the issues that drive his campaign. It thus behooves him to play and fast loose with the Constitution in order to advance his political and moral agenda for the country.

Data curated by InsideGov

On the other hand, Barack Obama has sent a nominee to the Senate that will embarrass the GOP politically if its members decide not to afford Merrick Garland a hearing. Garland is qualified, experienced, well-liked, has received support from GOP Senators in the past, and is a judicial moderate.

If this nominee does not get a hearing, the White House will do everything in its power to make sure the GOP suffers in the November 2016 elections.

Of course if the situation was reversed, and a GOP President was trying to get a Democratic-controlled Senate to support a nominee, it is likely that we would be faced with an identical impasse.

We are witnessing political partisanship at its worst.

I am reflecting on this Supreme Court nomination controversy from Mount Vernon, Virginia, where I have spent the last month as a visiting scholar at the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington. During my stay here I took some time to re-readWashingtons 1796 farewell address to the American people. I encourage you to read it as well.

As Washington left office, he reminded his fellow Americans about the values and ideals that would keep the republic strong. He also warned them about the prevailing threats that would undermine it.

One of those threats was political partisanship.

Here is just a taste of what Washington wrote:

[Political partisanship] serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.

There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably trueBut in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.

Nearly ten years before Washington wrote these words he presided over the writing of the United States Constitution in Philadelphiaa document that begins with that oft-quoted phrase, We the People.

Washington worried that political factionssuch as todays Republican and Democratic partiesweakened Americans commitment to the common good. Political partisanship, he believed, promoted the worst forms of selfishness. It undermined the we in We the People.

As we witness this embarrassing partisan debate over the next Supreme Court justice and the blatant attempt to privilege politics over Washingtons Constitution, we are reminded that we have still not learned the lesson that the Mount Vernon farmer was trying to teach us in 1796.
A string of Donald Trump primary victories Tuesday night, including a knockout win against Marco Rubio in Florida, as well as a first win by John Kasich in his home state of Ohio did little to change the direction of the Republican presidential race  except to add more uncertainty and speculation.

Trump kept his substantial delegate lead by winning at least three contests. In defeating Rubio in the senators home state of Florida and pushing him out of the race, Trump won the biggest prize on the map, including all 99 of its delegates. He also won primaries in Illinois and North Carolina.

Were going to go forward, and were going to win, Trump told supporters in Palm Beach, Fla. But more importantly, were going to win for the country.

Yet Kasich vowed to stay in the race, buoyed by his Ohio victory, and Cruz showed no signs of slowing down -- as Kasich in particular banks on the prospect of a contested convention in July, leaving it unclear when the raucous GOP primary race might draw to a close.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton further cemented her lead on Tuesday. She defeated Bernie Sanders in the hard-fought Ohio primary, as well as in Illinois, North Carolina and Florida, the last two victories completing her sweep of the Southern state contests.

The Republican and Democratic primaries in Missouri remained too close to call as of Wednesday morning. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Trump and Clinton led Cruz and Sanders by 0.2 percentge points in their respective races.

This was another Super Tuesday for our campaign, Clinton said at a victory party in West Palm Beach, Fla., while claiming she is now very close to winning the Democratic Party nomination.

Sanders, though, predicted hed win next week in Arizona, as he rallied supporters during an hour-long speech in Phoenix.

By the end of what was dubbed Super Tuesday II, both Clinton and Trump had further solidified their front-runner status following recent campaign trail hiccups.

But the underdogs saw silver linings all the same.

At a late-night rally in Houston, Cruz said hed gain delegates out of the days contests and suggested Rubios exit only crystallizes the choice for voters  between him and Trump.

Nobody else has any mathematical possibility whatsoever, Cruz said. Only one campaign has beaten Donald Trump over and over and over again.

Yet Ohio Gov. Kasich is not necessarily looking to beat Trump -- not before the convention, anyway.

He had effectively staked his campaign's survival on a victory in his home state, and his win there will deliver him all of the Buckeye State's 66 delegates. Kasich made clear at his election night party in Berea, Ohio, that he will press on, heading next to Pennsylvania and vowing to keep running a positive campaign.

I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land, he said. "We are going to go all the way to Cleveland and secure the Republican nomination.

Even with his Tuesday haul, Kasich remains in fourth place in the GOP delegate count and faces the toughest path to the nomination of the remaining candidates. He has openly said, however, that his hope is to deny Trump the requisite delegates to clinch the nomination before the July convention in Cleveland.

While Kasich presses on, Florida Sen. Rubio suspended his campaign Tuesday after losing his home state convincingly to Trump. He made the announcement to disappointed supporters at a rally in Miami, ending a campaign that began with great promise and recently had picked up support from a wide range of Republican lawmakers. But Rubio trailed in the delegate count, having won only three contests so far.

It is clear that while we are on the right side this year, we will not be on the winning side, Rubio told supporters in Miami, adding: My campaign is suspended.

Rubio declined to endorse anybody as he suspended his campaign, lamenting what he described as the politics of resentment.

While this may not have been the year for a hopeful and optimistic message about our future, I still remain hopeful and optimistic about America, Rubio said, in remarks heavy on his personal faith.

For both Kasich and Rubio, a win in their home states was considered critical Tuesday night, as Trump and Cruz have been pressuring both candidates to get out for weeks  hoping Tuesdays primaries might be the final blow for their underdog bids.

But as Rubio leaves the trail, Kasich could continue to draw delegates and help prevent any candidate from clinching the nomination before the convention. Kasich also said earlier Tuesday that he'll be forced, going forward, to talk about some of the deep concerns he has about Trump's campaign.

Tuesdays balloting constituted one of the most delegate-rich primary days on the calendar to date. There were 691 delegates at stake on the Democratic side, and 367 at stake on the GOP side.

Trump also scored a win Tuesday in the Northern Mariana Islands' GOP caucus, gaining all nine delegates from the U.S. territory.

As of Tuesday night, Trump had 621 total delegates; Cruz had 396; and Kasich had 138. Rubio left the race with 168.

It takes 1,237 delegates to win the GOP nomination.
President Barack Obama decried what he called the "vicious atmosphere" of national politics and the presidential campaign in a speech Tuesday that included several swipes at Republican front-runner Donald Trump.

Without mentioning the GOP candidate by name, Obama used a luncheon at the Capitol to express his concern about the nation's political discourse and the protests that have escalated to violence at several of Trump's rallies.

"We have heard vulgar and divisive rhetoric aimed at women and minorities, and Americans that don't look like us or pray like us or vote like we do," said Obama, who added that political leaders could either condone "this race to the bottom" or reject it.

Obama also emphasized that efforts to shut down free speech were "misguided." Protesters forced Trump to cancel a rally in Chicago on Friday. The president said he rejected "any effort to spread fear or encourage violence or shut people down while they are trying to speak."

"We live in a country where free speech is one of the most important rights that we hold. In response to those events we've seen actual violence, and we've heard silence from too many of our leaders," Obama said.

Trump's political rivals and others blame him for sowing division, rather than unity, across the country. Trump says he's done no such thing and calls himself a "uniter."

Obama said that while some may bear more of the blame for the ugly political climate, everyone bears responsibility for reversing it.

"It is a cycle that is not an accurate reflection of America. It has to stop," Obama said. "And I say that not as a matter of political correctness, it's about the way that corrosive behavior can undermine our democracy and our society and even our economy."

The president reminded the audience of Republicans and Democrats, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., that the world is watching the U.S. candidates and what they say.

"In America there aren't laws that say we have to be nice to each other ... But there are norms, there are customs, there are values that our parents taught us and that we try to teach to our children," the president said.

Ryan said earlier Tuesday that all candidates have an obligation to do what they can to provide an atmosphere of harmony at campaign events and not incite violence.

Obama said he appreciated Ryan's comments. And he said that even though the two men disagree on politics, he would not insult the House speaker "as a man."

"The point is we can have political debates without turning on one another," Obama said. "We can disagree without assuming it is motivated by malice."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. said he spoke to Trump on Tuesday and asked him to condemn violence, no matter who is responsible. It was the first time the two men have spoken since December.

"I appreciate his call, and I took the opportunity to recommend to him that no matter who may be triggering these violent expressions or conflicts that we have been seeing at some of these rallies, it might be a good idea to condemn that and discourage it no matter what the source of it is," McConnell said.

Obama received a standing ovation at the conclusion of his remarks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio suspended his campaign for the Republican nomination Tuesday night after a convincing loss to Donald Trump in Rubio's home state primary.

Rubio made the announcement to disappointed supporters at a rally in Miami, ending a campaign that began with great promise and had attracted support from several Republican lawmakers. But he badly trailed in the delegate count, having won just three contests so far.

It is clear that while we are on the right side this year, we will not be on the winning side, Rubio said in remarks that emphasized his personal faith.

Rubio declined to endorse another Republican candidate in his concession speech as he lamented what he described as the politics of resentment", which he said would "not just leave us a fractured [Republican] party, they are going to leave us a fractured nation.

"They are going to leave us as a nation where people literally hate each other because they have different political opinions."

At one point, Rubio's speech was interrupted by a heckler. Rubio shrugged off the disruption, saying the man would "not get beat up" at his rally, a swipe at the recent disturbances at some of Trump's rallies.

"Americas in the middle of a real political storm, a real tsunami," Rubio said, "and we should have seen this coming. He criticized the political establishment that he claimed "has looked down at conservatives as simple-minded people ... as simply bomb-throwers.

"The political establishment that for far too long has taken the votes of conservatives for granted and a political establishment that has grown to confuse cronyism for capitalism."

While this may not have been the year for a hopeful and optimistic message about our future, I still remain hopeful and optimistic about America, Rubio added.

Rubio, 44, gained attention in national political circles after he was elected to the Senate in 2010, defeating then-Florida Gov. Charlie Crist in the Republican primary thanks to a wave of Tea Party support. He was marked as a 2016 contender early in the campaign cycle, with Time magazine dubbing him the "Republican Savior" on its cover in 2013.

When he announced his campaign last March, Rubio's toughest challenge appeared to be his one-time political mentor, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. But the rise of Trump in the polls over the summer reduced the Floridians' personal rivalry to a sideshow. Bush dropped out of the race after last month's South Carolina primary.

Rubio's campaign appeared to be on track after a strong third place finish in the Iowa caucus. But issues with repetition during a debate in New Hampshire helped doom him to a fifth-place finish in the primary and his campaign never completely recovered.

Despite his intense rivalry with Trump, Rubio only indirectly criticized him during much of the campaign. He pivoted to an all-out assault on the businessman's character and ethics after a dismal March 1 Super Tuesday performance when he clinched only one of the 11 contests.

In recent weeks, the attacks deviated from policy to personal. At one point, Rubio equated Trump's small hands with his manhood. Trump began regularly referring to the senator as "little Marco." But the strategy backfired with voters and donors and Rubio later said he regretted the attacks.

In a debate last week, Rubio pledged to support the eventual Republican nominee, even if it was Trump. However, he has shown signs of reconsidering that pledge in recent days.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Cumberland County Sheriffs office announced Wednesday it disciplined five deputies who it says watched and did nothing when a protester being escorted from a Fayetteville, North Carolina Donald Trump rally was punched by a Trump supporter.

Three of the deputies were demoted and were also suspended without pay for five days while the other two were suspended without pay for three days, the sheriffs office said in a statement. All five deputies face one year of probation.

In a statement, Sheriff Earl Moose Butler said the deputies faced disciplinary action for "unsatisfactory performance and failing to discharge the duties and policies of the office of the sheriff."

"The actions of the deputies and their failures to act in situations such as that which occurred during the Trump rally at the Crown Coliseum have never been and will never be tolerated under the policies of this office," he said.

Several of the disciplined deputies were involved with the confrontation of a man who went on a deadly shooting spree killing family members and assaulting deputies with an assault rifle in July 2014.

The sheriffs office said their actions in that situation factored into their punishment.

"I have taken into account the past bravery and exemplary conduct, including the life-saving and other actions of these deputies in assessing the discipline, and in imposing the sanctions," Butler said. "We regret that any of the circumstances at the Trump rally occurred, and we regret that we have had to investigate all of these matters."

On Monday, authorities said there wasnt enough evidence to press charges against Trump for his behavior in connection with the violent altercation.

In a statement issued Monday night, the sheriffs office said legal counsel advised and Butler agreed that the evidence doesn't meet the requisites of North Carolina law to support a conviction for inciting a riot.

Authorities have already charged a rally attendee with assault, disorderly conduct and communicating threats after he was caught on video hitting a man being led out by deputies at the event in Fayetteville.

At one point during the rally, Trump described a previous event in which a protester traded punches with his supporters. Trump told the audience: "They started punching back. It was a beautiful thing."

In a statement, Trump's campaign said, "the arena was rented for a private event, paid for by the campaign and these people attended with the intent to cause trouble.

They were only there to agitate and anger the crowd. It is the protesters and agitators who are in violation, not Mr. Trump or the campaign."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Former House Speaker John Boehner says he would back successor Rep. Paul Ryan to be Republicans' presidential nominee if the party cannot settle on one from the remaining field of three during its July convention, Fox News confirmed Wednesday.

Boehner, who resigned in September 2015, voted Tuesday in the Ohio GOP primary for Gov. John Kasich and backs him for president right now.

But Boehner, a former Ohio congressman, said at a Futures Industry Association conference in Florida: If we don't have a nominee who can win on the first ballot, I'm for none of the above. So I'm for none of the above. I'm for Paul Ryan to be our nominee," as reported first by Politico.

Ryan, the Wisconsin lawmaker who succeeded Boehner, was the partys 2012 vice presidential candidate. And he is frequently mentioned as the GOP establishments last, best-possible hope toward keeping outsider candidate Donald Trump from securing the party nomination.

The other remaining candidate in the GOP race is Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.



Boehner spokesman Dave Schnittger says the former speakers comments were off the cuff comments and about a hypothetical scenario in which none of the current candidates are able to secure the nomination at the convention.

Ryan has said repeatedly he wouldn't seek the presidency and reiterated that Wednesday on CNBC.

Fox News' Chad Pergram contributed to this report.




Hillary Clinton cemented her front-runner status and moved ever-closer to the Democratic nomination on Tuesday with wins over Sen. Bernie Sanders in at least four delegate-rich states -- including the hard-fought Ohio primary.

The former secretary of state also swept to victory in Florida and North Carolina and held off Sanders in Illinois, helping her recover after Sanders upset win in Michigan last week. She also led Sanders by just over 1,500 votes with 99 percent of precincts reporting in the Missouri primary Wednesday morning, but that race was too close to call.

This was another Super Tuesday for our campaign, Clinton said at a victory party in West Palm Beach, Fla. Thank you, Florida. Thank you, North Carolina. Thank you, Ohio.

Clinton predicted that she would pick up roughly 300 delegates by the end of the night.

We are very close to winning the Democratic Party nomination and winning the election in November, she said.

The Democratic candidates were competing Tuesday for a total of 691 delegates across the five states. Florida was the biggest prize with 214 delegates, followed by Illinois with 156, Ohio with 143, North Carolina with 107 and Missouri with 71.

Clintons Florida and North Carolina wins completed her sweep of Southern states.

Sanders gave no indication that he would leave the race despite Tuesdays losses. He had hoped for a Michigan-style upset in Ohio after several polls showed him narrowly trailing in the Buckeye State.

In the days before the voting, Sanders touted his support for free trade, while hitting Clinton for supporting NAFTA, or the North American Free Trade Agreement, of the 1990s. More than half of Democratic and Republican voters in Michigan said free trade takes away jobs, according to exit polls.

"The result is the loss of millions of decent paying jobs and a race to the bottom," Sanders said during a recent campaign stop in Cleveland.

We have come a long way, Sanders said at an hour-long rally in Phoenix, where he continued to spread his message of prosperity and inclusiveness. We have done something very radical in American politics. We have told the truth.

Sanders touted a plan that includes free universal health care, increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and citizenship for illegal immigrants. And he vowed to use executive authority to bypass Congress if elected president.

Sanders also continued his attacks on Clinton, portraying her as Wall Streets preferred candidate. And he declared that Republican frontrunner Donald Trump will never be president.

Clinton has been the Democratic front-runner since she entered the race about a year ago. After Tuesday's results, she has 1,488 delegates, compared to 704 for Sanders, with 2,383 needed to secure the party nomination. Clinton has won 15 primaries or caucuses compared to seven for Sanders.

However, the Vermont senator and self-described Democratic socialist has mounted an enduring insurgent campaign based on a populist message that has painted Clinton as a Wall Street and Washington insider.

In her victory speech, Clinton also hammered home her core agenda, including equal pay for women and national security, while embracing the issues that appear most important to voters -- including a free college education, free trade, reining in Wall Street and more and better jobs as a ticket to the middle class.

Clinton also continued to turn her focus toward the general election and a potential contest against Trump.

Our next president of the United States must defend our country, not embarrass it, Clinton said, in an apparent reference to Trumps occasionally unfiltered rhetoric. Theres nothing we cant accomplish.
President Obama named federal appeals judge Merrick Garland on Wednesday as his pick to succeed Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court  setting up a showdown with Republicans who have vowed to block the choice.

Obama, who said he went through a rigorous and comprehensive screening process, said Garland would bring integrity, modesty and an even-handedness to the Supreme Court.

I said I would take this process seriously, and I did, Obama said at the Rose Garden ceremony.

Yet within minutes, Republicans doubled down on their opposition to confirming any nominee in an election year, insisting that the vacant seat not be filled until a new president is sworn in.

It is a presidents constitutional right to nominate a Supreme Court justice and it is the Senates constitutional right to act as a check on a president and withhold its consent, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor.

Obama, anticipating the swift resistance, urged Republicans to reconsider, adding it would be unprecedented for Garland not to at least get a hearing.

I hope theyre fair. Thats all, Obama said. To give him a fair hearing and up or down vote.

Obama said earlier Wednesday that it was both his constitutional duty to nominate a justice and one of the most important decisions that I  or any president  will make.

He added, Im doing my job. I hope that our senators will do their jobs, and move quickly to consider my nominee.

A Senate confirmation is required for any nominee to join the bench.

Before the announcement, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, also told Fox News that neither he nor his GOP colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee would back down and declared once more he would stop the nomination from going forward.

Data curated by InsideGov

Weve been clear, Lee said of his plan to reject Garlands nomination.

Garland has served under both Republicans and Democrats. He clerked for the courts liberal icon, Justice William J. Brennan Jr. In 1997, 32 Republicans voted in favor of his nomination, including seven who are still members of the Senate.

Garland was mentioned as a possible nominee when Justice Paul Stevens retired in 2010.

The vacancy ultimately went to Justice Elena Kagan.

Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the No. 3 Democratic leader, called Garland's section, "a bipartisan choice," adding: "If the Republicans can't support him, who can they support?"

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, who spoke to Obama Wednesday morning, said in brief remarks on the Senate floor that Republicans must act on the president's choice. "He's doing his job this morning, they should do theirs," said the Nevada Democrat.

If confirmed, Garland would be expected to align with the more liberal members, but he is not viewed as down-the-line liberal. Particularly on criminal defense and national security cases, he's earned a reputation as centrist, and one of the few Democratic-appointed judges Republicans might have fast-tracked to confirmation -- under other circumstances.

But in the current climate, Garland remains a tough sell. Republicans control the Senate, which must confirm any nominee, and GOP leaders want to leave the choice to the next president, denying Obama a chance to alter the ideological balance of the court before he leaves office next January. Republicans contend that a confirmation fight in an election year would be too politicized.

Ahead of Obama's announcement, the Republican Party set up a task force that will orchestrate attack ads, petitions and media outreach. The aim is to bolster Senate Republicans' strategy of denying consideration of Obama's nominee. The party's chairman, Reince Priebus, described it as the GOP's most comprehensive judicial response effort ever.

On the other side, Obama allies have been drafted to run a Democratic effort that will involve liberal groups that hope an Obama nominee could pull the high court's ideological balance to the left. The effort would target states where activists believe Republicans will feel political heat for opposing hearings once Obama announced his nominee.

For Obama, Garland represents a significant departure from his past two Supreme Court choices. In nominating Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, the president eagerly seized the chance to broaden the court's diversity and rebalance the overwhelming male institution. Sotomayor was the first Hispanic confirmed to the court, Kagan only the fourth woman.

Garland -- a white, male jurist with an Ivy League pedigree and career spent largely in the upper echelon of the Washington's legal elite -- breaks no barriers. At 63 years old, he would be the oldest Supreme Court nominee since Lewis Powell, who was 64 when he was confirmed in late 1971.

Presidents tend to appoint young judges with the hope they will shape the court's direction for as long as possible.

Those factors had, until now, made Garland something of a perpetual bridesmaid, repeatedly on Obama's Supreme Court lists, but never chosen.

But Garland found his moment at time when Democrats are seeking to apply maximum pressure on Republicans. A key part of their strategy is casting Republicans as knee-jerk obstructionists ready to shoot down a nominee that many in their own ranks once considered a consensus candidate. In 2010, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch called Garland "terrific" and said he could be confirmed "virtually unanimously."

The White House planned to highlight Hatch's past support, as well as other glowing comments about Garland from conservatives.

A native of Chicago and graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Garland clerked for two appointees of Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower -- the liberal U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Brennan Jr. and Judge Henry J. Friendly, for whom Chief Justice John Roberts also clerked.

In 1988, he gave up a plush partner's office in a powerhouse law firms to cut his teeth in criminal cases. As an assistant U.S. attorney, he joined the team prosecuting a Reagan White House aide charged with illegal lobbying and did early work on the drug case against then-D.C. Mayor Marion Barry. He held a top-ranking post in the Justice Department when he was dispatched to Oklahoma City the day after bombing at the federal courthouse to supervise the investigation. The case made his career and his reputation. He oversaw the convictions of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, and went on to supervise the investigation into Unabomber Ted Kaczynski.

President Bill Clinton first nominated him to the D.C. Circuit in 1995.

His prolonged confirmation process may prove to have prepared him for the one ahead. Garland waited 2 1/2 years to win confirmation to the appeals court. Then, as now, one of the man blocking path was Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, argued he had no quarrel with Garland's credentials, but a beef with the notion of a Democratic president trying to fill a court he argued had too many seats.

Grassley ultimately relented, although he was not one of the 32 Republicans who voted in favor of Garland's confirmation. Nor was Sen. Mitch McConnell, the other major hurdle for Garland now. The Republicans who voted in favor of confirmation are Sen. Dan Coats, Sen. Thad Cochran, Sen. Susan Collins, Sen. Orrin Hatch, Sen. Jim Inhofe, Sen. John McCain, and Sen. Pat Roberts.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The NRA and other pro-Second Amendment groups came out strongly Wednesday against President Obamas Supreme Court nominee, warning that Judge Merrick Garland would threaten gun rights while citing his role in a landmark firearms case.

President Obama has nothing but contempt for the Second Amendment and law-abiding gun owners, Chris Cox, head of the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement.

Senate Republican leaders already have said they don't plan to consider Garland's or any nomination. But conservative groups pressuring lawmakers to hold the line largely are focusing on the D.C. appeals court judge's votes related to the 2008 Supreme Court case District of Columbia v. Heller, which weighed D.C. residents right to keep handguns in their homes.

The case reached the high court after a three-judge panel of the Districts U.S. Court of Appeals struck down parts of D.C.s handgun ban.

The heavily Democratic D.C. government opposed the decision and asked the full appeals court to reconsider. But the request was denied in a 6-4 vote. Merrick was among the four on the full court who voted to re-hear the case, though he took no formal position on the merits.

The Supreme Court ultimately upheld the individual right to self-defense, in an opinion delivered by the late Justice Antonin Scalia, whom Garland is seeking to replace. Still, critics saw Garlands earlier vote to re-hear as a signal that Garland backed the D.C. gun restrictions.

Cox said his group strongly opposes the Garland nomination on behalf of our five million members and tens of millions of supporters across the country.

There is no longer a majority of support among the justices for the fundamental, individual right to own a firearm for self-defense. Four justices believe law-abiding Americans have that right and four justices do not, Cox also said.

Carrie Severino, chief counsel for the Judicial Crisis Network, argued Wednesday that Garlands roughly 19-year record as a judge supports the conclusion that he would vote to reverse one of Scalias most important opinions.

Beyond Garlands 2007 vote on D.C. gun ownership, Severino points to his 2000 vote on the appeals court to allow the FBI to continue to retain gun-sale records to help with criminal background checks on firearms sales.

The decision was a defeat for the powerful NRA, which filed the lawsuit.

Severino argued Wednesday that while two cases might appear like too small of a sample, such gun cases rarely reach the D.C. court.

They are two good indicators, telling examples and adequate evidence, she told FoxNews.com. Its impressive enough to have two cases that squarely address the Second Amendment.

Severinos group says it will spend at least $2 million on advertising to oppose the 63-year-old Garlands nomination, whom it says has a very liberal view of gun rights.

Other conservative-leaning groups also have joined in opposing the appointment of Garland, who was appointed to the appeals court by President Clinton, then served during the Bush and Obama administrations.

We are one liberal Justice away from seeing gun rights restricted, said Michael Needham, chief executive for Heritage Action.

The group, the policy advocacy group for the influential Washington think tank the Heritage Foundation, is also backing the GOP-led Senates decision to hold no confirmation hearing.

He argues that Americans in just seven months will pick a new president, who should make the decision about replacing Scalia, a leading conservative voice on the high court.

Brian Rogers, executive director for the group America Rising Squared and a former spokesman for Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain, said Garlands vote to re-hear the D.C. gun law case is deeply concerning to all who care about our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

Obama, meanwhile, urged Republicans to reconsider their opposition.

I hope theyre fair. Thats all, Obama said Wednesday. To give him a fair hearing and up or down vote.
The State Department will miss a congressionally mandated deadline to decide whether to call ISIS atrocities against Christians and other religious minorities a genocide, a spokesman said Wednesday.

The March 17 deadline was set as part of the 2015 omnibus government spending bill. A resolution passed the House Monday with a unanimous vote of 383-0 on Monday saying ISIS is committing genocide. However, the State Department says Secretary John Kerry needs more time.

Determining these kinds of legal definitions such as genocide, crimes against humanity, requires a very detailed, rigorous legal analysis, spokesman Mark Toner said.

He just wants to be able to make or base his decision on the best evidence available and he has requested additional evidence, information in order to [make that decision]," Toner said.

It is not clear what legal recourse Congress may have to enforce the deadline. A spokesman for Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told FoxNews.com that Ryan will address the issue at a press conference Thursday.

Last week, ISIS militants killed 16 people, including four Catholic nuns, at a retirement home in southern Yemen, Ryan said in a statement Monday. This is the latest in a string of brutal attacks committed by ISIS against Christian and other minorities. Yet the administration has still not called this what it is: A genocide.

We want to label what this is so this never happens and should not happen, and someone has to stand up, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told Fox News Bill Hemmer Monday.

"For four months now, the House has been pressing the administration to acknowledge that ISIS is committing acts of genocide. And for four months, weve been told an announcement is coming shortly," House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, R-Calif., said of the process.

When asked on March 1 why the administration has yet to make the determination, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the word genocide involves a very specific legal determination that has, at this point, not been reached.

A declaration of genocide has been supported by presidential candidates, including Sen. Ted Cruz and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

FoxNews.com's Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
The Justice Departments chief national security prosecutor said Wednesday that the Islamic State is actively attempting to possess destructive cyberattack capabilities, adding that the group is intent on causing major damage via cyber means.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Carlin made the comments during the Financial Times Cyber Security Summit at the National Press Club in Washington. Carlin did note that there is no evidence to suggest ISIS yet has the ability to wage destructive hack attacks because, as he put it, if they had the capability theyd use it.

But speaking more broadly to ISIS cyber ambitions, Carlin touched on an ongoing case involving data theft when acknowledging the so-called caliphates less sophisticated capability.

Kosovo citizen Ardit Ferizi, who was extradited to the United States from Malaysia in January, faces federal charges tied to his alleged hacking of a U.S. company for the purposes of stealing personally identifiable information on U.S. military and federal personnel and then turning that information over to ISIS. That information was later distributed by British-born ISIS operative Junaid Hussain in a social media campaign that urged the groups followers to target the individuals whose information was stolen.

Hussain was killed in a U.S. drone strike last summer.

In a nod to ISIS strategic success in its use of social media as a recruitment tool, Carlin noted the terror groups ability to target American youth through what he called a Madison Avenue-quality propaganda campaign. As Fox News has reported, of the terrorism-related prosecutions the Justice Department has undertaken over the last year, nearly every case involves some social media component.

Just last month the Justice Department convened a summit attended by U.S. national security leaders, academics, as well as executives in the technology, advertising and media industries to discuss terrorist recruitment and propaganda distribution via the Internet.

The gathering was described to Fox News as a brainstorm intended to give the attending organizations the opportunity to contribute their respective talents in the digital countering violent extremism movement.
A historian in the U.K. has discovered secret notes hidden in the text of Englands first printed bible.

Recent analysis of the Latin Bible, which was published in 1535 by Henry VIIIs printer, has revealed fascinating English annotations made during the 16th-century Reformation. The Reformation was a period of immense upheaval in England, which saw the Church of England break away from the authority of the Catholic Church in Rome.

Housed in the library of Lambeth Palace, which is the official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bible is one of just seven surviving copies.

Related: Shakespeare begs for refugees' mercy in his own hand

We know virtually nothing about this unique Bible  whose preface was written by Henry himself  outside of the surviving copies, said Eyal Poleg, a historian at Queen Mary University of London, in a press release.

Close inspection revealed that heavy paper had been pasted over blank parts of the Bible. The challenge was how to uncover the annotations without damaging the book, explained Poleg.

The historian brought in Graham Davis, a specialist in 3D x-ray imaging at the universitys School of Dentistry. The experts took two images in long exposure. For one image, a light sheet slid beneath the pages was turned on, for another, it was turned off.

Related: Site of 1503 shipwreck tied to Vasco da Gama found off Oman

The first image revealed all the annotations, scrambled with the printed text, while the second picture showed only the printed text. Davis wrote a piece of software to subtract the second image from the first, revealing a clear picture of the annotations, which are written in English.

The annotations are copied from the famous Great Bible of Thomas Cromwell, seen as the epitome of the English Reformation, explained the university, in its press release. Written between 1539 and 1549, they were covered and disguised with thick paper in 1600.

Poleg said that the annotations support the idea that the Reformation was a gradual process. Until recently, it was widely assumed that the Reformation caused a complete break, a Rubicon moment when people stopped being Catholics and accepted Protestantism, rejected saints, and replaced Latin with English, he explained. This Bible is a unique witness to a time when the conservative Latin and the reformist English were used together, showing that the Reformation was a slow, complex, and gradual process.

Related: Botched castle restoration is deemed a 'heritage massacre'

Polegs research also uncovered a handwritten transaction between two men on the back page of the book. The transaction states that James Elys Cutpurse of London promised to pay William Cheffyn of Calais 20 shillings, or would go to the notorious Marshalsea prison. Subsequent research conducted by Poleg revealed that Cutpurse was hanged in July 1152.

In medieval English, Cutpurse means pickpocket.

Beyond Mr Cutpurses illustrious occupation, the fact that we know when he died is significant," said Poleg. "It allows us to date and trace the journey of the book with remarkable accuracy  the transaction obviously couldnt have taken place after his death."

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
When Donald Trump talks, he doesn't sound like an ordinary presidential candidate. His sentences are fragmented. He jumps around. On paper, his words appear garbled.

But there may be a good reason why this seeming incoherence hasn't hurt Trump in the Republican run for the presidential nomination: Trump's talk mirrors typical conversation, bolstering his status as an honest outsider.

"[Trump's] unique rhetorical style may come off as incoherent and unintelligible when we compare it with the organized structure of other candidates' answers," Georgetown University linguist Jennifer Sclafani told Live Science. "On the other hand, his conversational style may also help construct an identity for him as authentic, relatable and trustworthy, which are qualities that voters look for in a presidential candidate." [Quiz: Bizarre Presidential Elections]

Talking Trump

Trump's style is different from that of most modern public speakers. He has an especially repetitive style, University of Pennsylvania linguist Mark Liberman has pointed out on the blog Language Log. In a December post, Liberman excerpted a sample of an interview with Trump in which he was asked how to defeat the Islamic State group. Trump's response included variations of the phrase "bomb all these sites" three times in quick succession:
Do we really need invisibility cloaks like the one Harry Potter uses at Hogwarts to move around undetected? Apparently, we do. At least two projects are studying materials that can hide the objects they're placed on, though these newfound technologies won't fool the human eye just yet. Instead, invisibility cloaks could conceal objects from cameras and from radar.

DON'T MISS: Our first look at the iPhone 7 couldn't be less exciting (and why that's OK)

Researchers from the Iowa State University recently published a paper in Nature that describes a new material that can suppress radar waves up to 75%. The scientists embedded split ring resonators containing Galinstan in silicon sheets (image above), creating this invisibility cloak that is capable of hiding a fighter jet from radar, at least in theory.

Galinstan is a metal alloy that becomes liquid at room temperature and isn't as toxic as mercury, which acts similarly, Everything RF explains. The rings create electric inductors and the gaps create electric capacitors, resulting a resonator is capable of trapping and suppressing radar waves.

When an object is covered in this material, radar waves are suppressed from all angles and directions, though it's not a technology that's 100% effective just yet.

Meanwhile, Berkeley scientists are working on a type of "invisibility cloak" that reflects light to keep an object hidden from sight (image above). The technology relies on gold nanoantennas that are capable of "rerouting reflected light waves" as soon as the gold's polarization is switched on.

The video embedded below explains this exciting new technology.

This new tech doesn't function on a large scale just yet, so it's not exactly capable of hiding sorcerers for the time being. It has been shown to work effectively on a microscopic scale though, capable of completely cloaking minuscule objects.
Most Democratic voters in the five states heading to the polls Tuesday say they're satisfied with either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders as their presidential nominee  both candidates with long political resumes.

But about half of Republican voters in Florida, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois and North Carolina say they're looking for a political outsider to inhabit the White House. And an overwhelming majority of GOP voters say they're unhappy with the direction of the federal government.

According to early results of exit polls conducted for The Associated Press and television networks by Edison Research, Democratic minority voters were poised to have a big impact in all five states.

On the GOP side, about 2 in 3 voters in all five states support a temporary ban on non-citizen Muslims entering the U.S., while majorities say people living illegally in the country already should have a chance to stay.

Other highlights from the exit polls:

DEMS SATISFIED WITH EITHER

Majorities of Democratic voters say they would be satisfied with either Clinton or Sanders as the nominee. And most voters describe both as honest. But Sanders edges Clinton on the question of honesty while voters are more likely to describe Clinton's policies as realistic.

At least half of voters in each state say each of the two candidates' positions on the issues are "about right," though voters are generally more likely to say Sanders' policies are too liberal than not liberal enough and to say the opposite about Clinton.

Democratic voters in all five states see Clinton as the candidate with the better chance to beat Donald Trump if he is the Republican nominee in November.

___

ANGER, BETRAYAL, OUTSIDERS

About 9 in 10 GOP primary voters in the five primary states are unhappy with the direction of the federal government, and on average about 4 in 10 are angry.

Majorities of Republican primary voters in all five states say they feel betrayed by politicians from the Republican Party, according to the exit polls. In each of the five states, about half of voters say they prefer a candidate who's an outsider, while about 4 in 10 want one with political experience.

___

IMMIGRATION

About two-thirds of Republican primary voters support temporarily banning non-citizen Muslims from entering the United States, but majorities in all five states say they want immigrants already in the United States illegally to be allowed a chance to stay.

Only about 4 in 10 Republican voters in each state want all immigrants in the country illegally to be deported. The proportion of GOP primary voters saying they want a ban on non-citizen Muslims entering the United States is as high as three-quarters in Missouri.

___

MINORITY VOTERS

White voters make up the majority of Democratic voters in four of five states going to the polls, but all five states included large enough percentages of minority voters to potentially affect the results.

Black voters make up at least about one-fifth of the Democratic electorate in each state, and in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina nearly 3 in 10 Democratic primary voters are black.

Black voters have formed an important part of Clinton's coalition in earlier states, supporting her by about a 67 percentage point margin across 15 earlier contests where entrance or exit polls were conducted. But in Michigan a week ago, they supported her by a smaller 40 percentage point margin.

In Florida, Hispanics made up about 2 in 10 Democratic and Republican primary voters. That includes about 1 in 10 GOP primary voters who are of Cuban descent.

___

The surveys were conducted for The Associated Press and television networks by Edison Research as voters left their polling places at 30 to 40 randomly selected sites in five states holding primary elections Tuesday.

Preliminary results include interviews with 542 to 1,399 Democratic primary voters and 579 to 1,819 Republican primary voters in each state. In Florida, North Carolina and Ohio, the results also include telephone interviews with early and absentee voters.

The results among all those voting in each contest have a margin of sampling error ranging of either plus or minus 4 percentage points or plus or minus 5 percentage points.

___

Follow on Twitter: Chad Day at https://twitter.com/chadsday and Emily Swanson at http://twitter.com/EL_Swan
A San Francisco homeless man who pointed out two fugitive Orange County jail inmates to police will get $100,000 in reward money.

Jean Pasco, a county spokeswoman, says the Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to award Matthew Hay-Chapman two-thirds of the $150,000 reward.

Hay-Chapman spotted fugitives Hossein Nayeri and Jonathan Tieu near a grocery store parking lot after seeing their mug shots in the news.

Two Target employees and a man whose white van was stolen by Nayeri, Tieu and the third inmate, Bac Duong, will split the remaining $50,000.

The fugitives broke out of the Central Men's Jail in Orange County on Jan. 22.

Duong surrendered to authorities on Jan. 27.

Hay-Chapman spotted Nayeri and Tieu the following day.
A civil rights group reportedly filed a lawsuit Wednesday alleging that police in a Missouri county have been making unconstitutional arrests.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the suit alleges that St. Louis County police officers are issuing electronic arrest warrants across the state instead of presenting sworn statements to a judicial officer and without obtaining a lawful arrest warrant.

ArchCity Defenders, a civil rights group based in St. Louis, alleges that police are arresting and holding alleged criminals for 24 hours rather than seek arrest warrants, according to the newspaper.

A similar practice was cited in the Justice Departments report on Ferguson last year. In the report, one veteran officer was quoted as saying he would issue a wanted if I do not have enough probable cause to arrest you.

Thomas Harvey, the co-founder of ArchCity Defenders, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch the lawful way to use wanteds is to get one from a judge as soon as the person is detained. He said police have been using that detention to get the probable cause they originally were seeking.

The practice is a tool for harassment for people who have exercised their right not to talk to the police, Harvey said.

The lawsuit is also seeking class-action status and is seeking to represent anyone who was arrested using this practice, which might hold hundreds.

Dwayne Furlow, 31, was arrested on a wanted after he declined to talk to St. Louis County police over the phone about a domestic assault allegation on Jan. 25. The paper reported the allegation was withdrawn the next day, but the wanted wasnt canceled.

Furlow was stopped on Jan. 28 in Jennings after failing to have a temporary license plate tag on the back of his vehicle. He was also driving on a suspended license but police werent going to arrest him for those violations, the Post-Dispatch reported.

He was arrested after the wanted was found, the suit alleges. Police refused to release Furlow even after a lawyer told officers the wanted was unlawful. Harvey said Furlow was released 24 hours later and the officer who issued the wanted never showed up to talk to Furlow.

Police Chief Jon Belmar and the officer who arrested Furlow are named in the suit. However, the officers last name and badge ID number are only mentioned in the suit.

The group is seeking damages for the unlawful seizure of Furlow and the violation of his civil rights, alleging that Furlow was only detained because he refused to talk to police over the domestic violence allegation.

Click for more from The St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The Washington, D.C., Metro subway system will stick to a planned reopening at 5 a.m. Thursday after an unprecedented 29-hour system-wide shutdown for emergency repairs that caused headaches for hundreds of thousands of commuters, the agency's general manager said Wednesday evening.

Capital-area highways were clogged with bumper-to-bumper traffic during rush hour Wednesday, inconveniencing hundreds of thousands of people, ranging from commuters to students.

The shutdown was announced so construction teams could make urgent inspections of electrical components.

"Before 5 a.m., we will finish the immediate repairs for all zones. We will open the system at 5 a.m.," Metro general manager Paul Wiederfeld said at an evening press conference.

In the event further issues were found overnight, Wiederfeld said the agency would institute single-tracking or bus shuttles localized to the area of attention.

Crews working underground since late Tuesday night found 26 areas where damaged "jumper cable" and "connector boot" electrical elements were found.

The drastic actions were taken in the wake of two major equipment-related incidents in the underground.

One woman was killed and dozens sickened in 2015 after smoke from an electrical malfunction filled a train car at the busy L'Enfant Plaza station. On Monday, an electrical fire involving the same type of component as the 2015 incident stymied morning rush hour train traffic at the McPherson Square station near the White House.

Throughout the day, crews also came across three of what Wiederfeld called "showstoppers," or problems that would have required immediate attention if they were found on an average day.

Earlier Tuesday, Wiedefeld said the closure was necessary to ensure rider safety.

"While the risk to the public is very low, I cannot rule out a potential life and safety issue here, and this is why we must take this action immediately," he said.

Roads were even busier than usual during rush hour. District Department of Transportation Deputy Director Greer Gillis told The Associated Press that she was seeing heavier-than-normal volume, particularly traffic coming from Maryland. She expects more traffic and a longer-than-usual rush hour, but traffic was still flowing.

Highways into Washington from northern Virginia also were more choked with traffic than a normal weekday, with bumper-to-bumper traffic on interstates 95, 295 and 395. Drivers with navigation apps avoided some of the highways and snaked slowly through the narrow streets of Old Town Alexandria and the Crystal City commercial district.

Even while avoiding the worst traffic, the 18-mile drive from Springfield, Virginia, to Washington's Union Station took about 90 minutes, and some downtown parking garages were full.

The federal government encouraged employees to take the day off or telecommute, children were allowed to miss school and some workers woke up early to take bus after bus, hail pricey taxis or slog through traffic, resigning themselves to a long day.

Michaun Jordan, 51, usually takes a commuter train, then Metro rail lines and a bus to get to her job as a finance officer for the federal government. But on Wednesday, she took a $15 taxi after her train, then waited at Rosslyn station in Virginia for a bus.

"At first I was a bit disappointed. Then I thought about it  it's best to be safe," she said.

The nation's second-busiest transit system was shut down at midnight Tuesday for a system-wide safety inspection of its third-rail power cables, prompted by a series of electrical fires. It will reopen at 5 a.m. Thursday unless inspectors find an immediate threat to passenger safety, which the system's general manager said was unlikely.

Ridership on Metro has dipped as the system's reliability has deteriorated, and gripes on social media occur daily.

Still, riders take more than 700,000 trips on Metro trains every day because it's still the best way to get downtown from Maryland, Virginia and the city's outer neighborhoods. On Wednesday, they didn't have that option.

"It's always slow, always crowded," Bob Jones, 26, of Arlington, Virginia, said of Metro.

But on Wednesday, as he waited for his normal bus to work but planned a walk of more than an hour home without his usual option of the subway, he said he wasn't too upset with the decision to close.

"Better that than, like, a fiery inferno," he said.

Lester Broughton, 71, and Glorious Broughton, 68, spent the night at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport rather than risk missing their Wednesday flight to Florida. They usually take Metro and considered Uber, a taxi or SuperShuttle but thought that could be expensive or crowded.

"I would've preferred to sleep in my bed last night," Glorious Broughton said. But she said she believes in the Serenity Prayer, which says "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change."

Despite the announcement Tuesday, not all would-be Metro riders got the message that the system would close. At Metro's Rosslyn station in Virginia, just over the Potomac River from Washington, Derya Demirci, 27, looked disbelievingly at a sign announcing the shutdown. She had hoped to take her normal train to her childcare job.

"I don't know what to do," she said. She settled on taking a picture of the sign ("Your safety is our highest priority," it read in part) and asked her husband to drive her to work.

Metro wasn't yet hearing reports of overcrowding on buses, spokeswoman Morgan Dye said by phone Wednesday morning. But many people were planning several buses instead of their usual, easy subway rides.

"I've got to catch five buses to get to Alexandria," Leander Talley, 52, said. "... It's like three and a half hours. It's crazy."

Talley then loaded his bicycle onto a bus on the Springfield Metro station. It's normally one of the busiest in northern Virginia, but the massive parking garage  where parking was free Wednesday  was mostly empty, and only a handful of people waited for buses at 7:45 a.m.

On Monday, a fire on the Metro rail tracks led to major delays throughout the system. The fire was caused by the same kind of electrical component that malfunctioned last year and caused a train to fill with smoke inside a downtown Washington tunnel, killing one passenger and sickening dozens.

D.C. Council member Jack Evans, the chairman of Metro's board, said that while the system had previously been closed for days for weather, including earlier this year, Wednesday was believed to be the first time the system would be shut down for mechanical reasons.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement that putting safety first is the right choice but Metro needs to get serious about fixing issues.

"I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it until the region takes real ownership of its safety oversight responsibilities: D.C., Maryland and Virginia need to stand up a permanent Metro safety office with real teeth. What are folks waiting for?" Foxx said.

Late Wednesday, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., called for an oversight meeting between Virginia and Maryland senators and Metro officials.

News of the closure exploded on social media, with some on Twitter dubbing the situation "#Metromageddon" or "#Metropocalypse."

Another population affected by the closure: students at the District's public schools. The city does not have traditional school buses and many students rely on Metro, which they are allowed to ride for free, to get to school. The school system announced that while schools would be open, absences and tardiness would be excused. D.C. Council member David Grosso said he was concerned about student safety.

"This is a significant disruption for many of our families," Grosso said.

Click for more from Fox5DC.com.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
An ex-stripper who went on to law school and later was elected a judge was found dead inside her Nevada home Sunday, The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

Her body was discovered during a welfare check, the report said, and authorities do not suspect foul play.

Municipal Judge Diana Hampton, who was 50, was known by colleagues as a hard worker and appeared to be the perfect picture of health. Her death shocked colleagues, one of whom told the paper he planned to have lunch with the judge this week.



Hampton, who served as a municipal judge for more than a decade, worked with youth in the community to discourage them from crime.

Hampton took an unusual route to her judgeship. She was criticized during her 2005 run for Henderson Department 3 for working as a stripper in Las Vegas prior to pursuing law school. It was a part of her past she did not disavow and reaffirmed that her past had nothing to do with how she would rule from the bench.

From the very beginning, she decided she was going to be a judge, said Joe Sciscento, a justice of the peace who knew Hampton for more than 20 years. She was dedicated to that. She was focused on that, and she wouldnt let things get in her way.
Police in a Massachusetts town are warning residents to be on the lookout for men challenging passers-by to rap battles.

Charlton police told WCVB-TV that a black SUV containing a group of men in their late teens or early 20s pulled up next to three teenage boys Saturday afternoon.

One of the men got out of the vehicle and started rapping. The other men then asked the teens if they wanted to "spit some bars" with them. When the boys declined, the men drove off.

Police say it doesn't appear to be an attempted abduction, but the boys were frightened.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Charlton's website says it's one of the 50 safest cities in Massachusetts.
The city's mayor and police are bracing for possible retaliation after last week's ambush shooting at a cookout in neighboring Wilkinsburg that killed five adults and an unborn child.

A funeral for one of the victims was held Monday and the four other victims will be laid to rest at funerals on Saturday and Tuesday.

"This is the time when we usually see retaliatory crimes," Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said when asked about the shootings Tuesday at an unrelated news conference. "It's during the funerals or right after the funerals that these different cells start to go back and forth and fight."

That's why Pittsburgh has beefed up patrols in some areas that border Wilkinsburg, especially the crime-ridden neighborhood of Homewood. Investigators have said, generally, that bad blood between individuals in Homewood and those in Wilkinsburg might have prompted the shootings, without being more specific.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. has said a victim who remained in critical condition Wednesday, Lamont Powell, might have been the intended target, though his family has denied knowing why that may be.

Three cousins of Powell's, all siblings, were killed in the shooting, Jerry Michael Shelton, 35, Brittany Powell, 27, and Chanetta Powell, 25, as well as another cousin of theirs, Tina Shelton, 37. Brittany Powell lived at the home and hosted the cookout. Chanetta Powell was nearly eight months pregnant and her unborn child also was killed.

Another cousin, Shada Mahone, 26, was killed and buried Monday. Funerals for Jerry Shelton and his siblings are scheduled for Tuesday. Tina Shelton's funeral is on Saturday.

Nobody has been charged. One gunman with a pistol fired from an alley at the backyard gathering prompting the cookout guests to run toward a house for cover, where they were mowed down by another gunman with an assault rifle, investigators said.

Peduto said the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Walli Hardy on Monday at a house in Homewood doesn't appear to be related to the cookout ambush, but that's yet to be ruled out.

Cmdr. Jason Lando, who heads officers who patrol Pittsburgh's violent Zone 5 bordering Wilkinsburg, said the increased patrols aren't the result of any specific threat.

"We'd much rather be prepared for any potential retaliations than hopeful that there won't be any," Lando said.
Soon, a team of education practitioners and advocates will spend at least a half-dozen eight-hour days at the U.S. Department of Education, hashing out the rules under the Every Student Succeeds Act for supplement-not-supplant (a spending issue that Andrew wrote about here ) and assessment (aka testing and tests).

The process, which is known as negotiated rulemaking, requires the department to sit down with folks in the education community and flesh out sometimes vague or unclear language in the law.

To be sure, assessment, and supplement-not-supplant are not the main events when it comes to ESSA regulation. In fact, if the new law is Thanksgiving dinner, these are the hot rolls and maybe the green bean casserole. Accountability, the turkey-and-stuffing of ESSA, will be dealt with through the regular rulemaking process.

So why is the department going through negotiated rulemaking on just these issues? Because it has to, under ESSA. The process is mandated in the law for supplement-not-supplant and assessment, but not for accountability. If the process of regulating on supplement-not-supplant and assessment fails, the department will use the normal regulatory process for those pieces of the lawit just has to try negotiated rulemaking first.

The negotiated rulemaking process, though, could become a big forum for civil rights groups, practitioners, and others to talk about the biggest issues in ESSA, even the ones that arent going to be on the table. Plus, even though the assessment questions the committee will consider arent as central to the law as many of the accountability provisions.



So what are some things to watch on assessment in the negotiated rulemaking?

1. The absence of some of the laws most interesting wrinkles on testing: Among the topics that wont be part of negotiated rulemaking are the brand-new innovative assessment pilot, in which select states can try out new kinds of tests in a handful districts, as New Hampshire is doing now, with the goal of these approaches eventually going statewide. If the department decides to regulate on that pilot, it will do so through the regular process. Also, not up for negotiation, opt-outs: ESSAs language on test participation is tough to wrap your mind around. The law keeps in place a requirement under the No Child Left Behind Act that 95 percent of students participate in standardized tests. But schools that miss this target arent seen as automatic failures, as they were under NCLB. Instead, states get to decide how test participation fits into their accountability systems. If the department decides to clarify that, which many folks want it to do, it will be done through another part of rulemaking.

2. "Nationally recognized test, a phrase that sounds cut-and-dried but actually isnt: While rules for the local assessment pilot wont be negotiated, rules for another local testing provision will be. Under ESSA, states can allow districts to use a nationally recognized test, instead of the states assessment, for accountability purposes. It seems that the ACT and SAT are likely to be viewed as nationally recognized testsbut what about other assessments, like the California Achievement Test or even the Measures of Academic Progress (which is an interim test, more on that below)? Could a large testing company come up with another high school test districts could opt for? This particular regulation could have big implications for the testing industry, as well as school districts.

3. Important provisions for special populations of students: The ESSA proposed regs will likely touch on testing issues for English-language learners and students in special education. For instance, the negotiators will have to figure out just how the new 1 percent statewide cap on tests for student with severe cognitive disabilities will workhow do you monitor that on a district-by-district level? Whats more, the department has asked regulators to consider how states could fulfill the requirement of making every effort to ensure they offer tests in a language other than English if a significant number of students in the state speak it. (One smart question posed by Marianne Perie, the director of the Center for Educational Testing and Evaluation at the University of Kansas, is how that requirement would jibe with English-only laws, which are on the books in Georgia and other states.)

4. Language on interim assessments: ESSA allows states to offer a series of interim assessments to count for accountability purposes, instead of one big summative test. That will be part of the negotiated rulemaking even though the department didnt put out a separate issue paper on it. The department suggested some language on this issueessentially it wants these assessments to be valid and reliable. Scott Marion, the executive director for the Center on Assessment, found the proposed regulations a bit vague. I hope they are planning on more detailed guidance to tell folks whats allowed and not!, he wrote in an email.

But Ellen Forte, the CEO of edCount, a Washington-based consulting firm, said she isnt sure states are going to be jumping up and down to use these. Curriculum in districts can vary significantly within a state, so it could be tough for all kids to be on the same page at the same time, she said.

5. Computer-adaptive testing could be key: The department wants to know if ESSA makes it clear that states will still need to report whether students taking these tests are meeting grade level standards. After all, if tests focus just on whether students are making some incremental progress, students could graduate from high school without being prepared for college or a job. This is one of the areas where the department offered proposed language, and its aimed at providing clarity on that issue. Perie, for one, is hoping that computer-adaptive tests will be able to pinpoint not just whether or not students are meeting grade level standards (for accountability purposes) but where exactly they are if they are not on grade level (for instructional purposes). The key is good information about ALL students, she wrote in an email.
A homeless man living in San Francisco will receive $100,000 after pointing police toward two Orange County fugitives, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors awarded Matthew Hay-Chapman $100,000 of the $150,000 reward that was set for the arrest of the two escaped prisoners, county spokeswoman Jean Pasco said. Two Target employees and a man whose van was stolen by the two escapees will split the remaining $50,000.

He said he had a duty to bring these individuals back into custody, Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer told SF Gate. That was really cool. A lot of people are afraid if they participate, they will get hurt.

Hossein Nayeri, Jonathan Tieu and Bac Duong escaped from Central Mens Jail in Santa Ana on Jan. 22 and were the subject of a nationwide manhunt for days. Hay-Chapman spotted Nayeri and Tieu on Jan. 28 in San Francisco and recognized their stolen GMC van from news reports. He pointed hem out to law enforcement in the area, leading to their arrest.

Duong had surrendered to police in Orange County a day before.

Armando Damian, of Los Angeles, called police to say that a man responding to a Craigslist ad had taken the van for a test drive on Jan. 23 and not returned. Damian will receive $20,000, officials said.

A Target store manager and a loss prevention officer will each receive $15,000.

Manager Hazel Javier noticed two men acting suspiciously on surveillance footage on the night of Jan. 22. She showed the video to loss prevention officer Jeffrey Arana and called police because he thought the men might be the fugitives.

A cab driver who was held hostage for a week by the three men did not receive any of the reward money.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Fort Worth police officer is in critical condition Wednesday after suffering life-threatening injuries in a shootout with a fugitive and his son that left one suspect dead, police say.

The shootout began Tuesday afternoon after Fort Worth police fugitive task force officers tried to apprehend 43-year-old Ed McIver Sr., who was with his 20-year-old son, Ed McIver Jr. The elder McIver was killed in the exchange of gunfire. His son eluded officers before being captured hours later with a rifle, authorities said.

McIver Sr. was wanted on three felony warrants  for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault/family violence and bail jumping, according to Fort Worth police spokeswoman Cpl. Tracey Knight.

The shooting took place in an open field off Texas Route 820 in Fort Worth at the end of a chase involving police and the suspects, according to Fox 4.

The elder McIver was driving when officers asked him to pull over his vehicle. He instead drove off. Father and son eventually abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot into a wooded area, according to authorities.

The wounded officer was identified as Matt Pearce, the Fort Worth Police Department said late Tuesday in a statement. Pearce, who has worked for the department since 2009, was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital and is listed in critical condition.

Pearce sustained multiple gunshot wounds, according to Matt Zavadsky, a spokesman for emergency responder MedStar. He has undergone surgery, Fox 4 reports.

"I would request everyone please pray," Fort Worth police spokeswoman Corporal Tracey Knight told Fox 4 on Tuesday.

A handgun was found near the elder McIver, who was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. His son was found after hundreds of law enforcement officers scoured a 2-square-mile perimeter in west Fort Worth.

Footage from news helicopters showed numerous police officers at the scene along with a medical helicopter.

Police say charges of criminal attempt of capital murder, evading arrest and unlawful carrying of a weapon are pending against McIver Jr.



Click for more from Fox 4.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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A resident in a Niger village says that 200 vehicles with soldiers from Chad and Niger have been seen crossing the border into Nigeria to fight Islamic extremists there.

Adam Boukarna, a resident of Bosso which in Niger across Nigeria's northeast border, said Monday that vehicles have been crossing since Saturday. He said after they all crossed into Nigeria loud detonations could be heard, signaling fighting against Boko Haram members.

Nigeria's neighbors are forming a multinational army to confront Boko Haram.

Niger's government has not publicly confirmed this ground assault. The Chadian military spokesman also declined to comment.

Boko Haram's Islamic uprising has killed about 12,000 people in the nearly 6-year-old Islamic uprising in northeastern Nigeria.
A US tourist has been arrested after spending the night in an historic cave below Jerusalem's Old City.

Reports said he may have been hunting for mythical buried treasure.

Zedekiah's cave, also known as Solomon's Quarries, covers a five-acre area beneath the Muslim quarter.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported the 19-year-old hid inside the attraction at closing time and dug a number of holes.

Several worthless limestone rocks were found in his backpack, police said.

Haaretz suggested the foray may have been linked to what is known as "Jerusalem Syndrome".

This is what some tourists experience when they visit the Holy Land and are overwhelmed by its religious significance.

Zedekiah's Cave is the remnant of what was once the largest quarry in Jerusalem dating back to the sixth century BC.

According to tradition, King Zedekiah tried to escape through it during the destruction of the First Jewish Temple in 586 BC.

Treasure is said to be buried in the cave, which has also served as a ceremonial site for Freemasons.

Click for more from Sky News.
A newscast on whether India had become intolerant of dissent quickly spiraled into something darker after a guest on the program referred to a pamphlet that called the Hindu goddess Durga a sex worker. Though the host did not make the remarks, she was accused of disparaging the deity and was bombarded with more than 2,500 threatening calls.

"Some called and said they would douse me with acid," Kerala journalist Sindhu Sooryakumar said. Six members of a militant group linked with India's Hindu nationalist ruling party have been arrested.

Sooryakumar is one of a growing number of Indian journalists who say they are increasingly facing a backlash for producing work that raises questions or criticisms of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government or his Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP. The crackdowns are happening as journalists try to cover a nationwide debate on how Indian patriotism should be defined  as Hindu or multicultural, devout or secular  and whether dissent should be tolerated.

Members of Modi's government have offered hard-line views on the issue, equating criticism of the government with criticism of the country. Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani said last month that "the nation can never tolerate an insult to Mother India," while Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted that anyone shouting anti-India slogans "will not be tolerated or spared."

Last week, one of India's best-recognized TV anchors, Barkha Dutt, filed a police report after allegedly receiving "anonymous abusive death threats." She had been reporting along with the rest of the capital's media on a university student's arrest for allegedly making anti-India statements. The student criticized the 2013 secret hanging  under a previous government  of a Kashmiri separatist convicted of an attack on Parliament.

Dutt told a conference organized by a women's group that, following her reports, she received calls threatening "rape, sexual abuse and even shooting me."

During that same student's court hearing on sedition charges last month, lawyers beat reporters and damaged cameras and recording equipment while demanding they not cover public protests against the student's arrest. Journalists from several broadcasters, newspapers and wire services were attacked, including an Associated Press photographer whose hand was bruised and camera lens broken.

The attacks "have heightened concerns about the state of press freedom in India," said a statement from the international Committee to Protect Journalists.

On Friday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley issued the first government comments condemning the violence surrounding the hearing, saying "it was a terrible exception, what happened. Normally people in a public place find media as their natural ally. The whole idea of getting the media dragged into contemporaneous controversy and then attacking it physically is absolutely unacceptable anywhere."

Journalists have never been entirely safe in India  11 have been killed since 2010, according to the CPJ. Most were working outside major cities, often covering small-town corruption, when they were killed.

The fact that journalists in major cities like New Delhi are now being hounded is relatively novel, after years during which they operated largely without fear of retribution thanks in part to the nation's educated, urban elite and the foreign media bearing noisy witness.

"As a journalist, you don't want to be the story yourself," said Swati Chaturvedi, a veteran print and TV journalist who filed a police report last year while she said she was receiving 300 to 400 threatening messages a day. "I'm actually very scared that, one of these days, this sort of thing will trigger a real riot."

Rahul Jalali, president of the Press Club of India in New Delhi, said he's noticed a creeping change for several years and worries the pressure on journalists could ultimately hurt their credibility.

"The moderate space, even politically, is sort of disappearing, even for journalists. Today, you're being forced to take sides," Jalali said. "There is a lot of self-censorship going on."

For the media, "it's disastrous, we're losing our objectivism," he said. But he hoped it was temporary, noting that India's media had endured previous crackdowns, including Indira Gandhi imposing a state of emergency and seizing powers in 1975-77.

After Sooryakumar, the Kerala news anchor, filed a police complaint about the threatening phone calls she received, police arrested six members of the militant Hindu organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or RSS  the ideological parent of the ruling BJP  for alleged harassment, including posting Sooryakumar's cellphone number to a social media group.

Sooryakumar said the group "exhorted members to call me and solicit my services as a sex worker."

When the six were released on bail earlier this month, a crowd of RSS members reportedly greeted them with cheers.

Kerala's BJP president and RSS member Kummanam Rajasekharan denied RSS involvement and said anyone who called the newscaster had "acted so of their own volition."

The head of Kerala's Union of Working Journalists said the problem was becoming big enough that journalists may need society to help them stand up for free speech.

"The Sindhu Sooryakumar incident is not isolated or a first of its kind," said C. Rahim. "Earlier, political parties would unequivocally condemn it and initiate action against perpetrators. Now there is an atmosphere of organizational support."

TV news channel Manorama correspondent Asha Javed said she felt the atmosphere was becoming less safe.

"We have reported about it (intolerance) for some time, and now we are experiencing it first-hand," Javed said.

In such a climate, it is becoming more difficult for journalists to cover the country's heated debates about whether people should be allowed to criticize the government, empathize with convicted terrorists, eat beef or make jokes about Hindu gods. Under Indian law, it is illegal to inflame communal tension or stoke violence. Prosecutors are increasingly applying that ban to anything deemed anti-Indian, though they have not targeted journalists.

The apparent increase in harassment, meanwhile, may be a sign of the times. India's enormous population of 1.25 billion is also the world's fastest-growing market for both Internet penetration and smartphone use. Interacting online is something new and exciting for long-isolated populations.

Chaturvedi, the reporter threatened last year, said the environment is one in which "you can't say anything against Modi."

"These people are inclined to attack if they don't like a story," she said. "It's a systematic sort of harassment and bullying which will eventually silence a lot of people who don't have the confidence to fight back."

That's the great fear that Jalali, the press club president, has for his profession.

"In India, the newspaper is read out loud in the village center, and everyone gathers to listen. And most still think what appears in print is gospel," he said. "But once they realize the news is filled with bias, or even lies, it will affect our democracy. We are the guarantors of free speech. If we don't have free speech, how will we guarantee it for others?"

___

Mathews reported from Thiruvananthapuram, India.

___

Follow Katy Daigle: twitter.com/katydaigle
The wife of a Kazakh banker-turned-dissident accused of embezzling billions urged French authorities to block his pending extradition to Russia.

Mukhtar Ablyazov, a former Kazakh energy minister who founded an opposition party, is accused of stealing billions from a bank he founded, BTA. He was arrested in France more than two years ago and is fighting extradition to Russia, which claims its citizens were defrauded in the collapse of the now-nationalized bank.

Ablyazov's wife, Alma Shabalayeva, told a press conference Wednesday that her husband would not get a fair trial in Russia.

Ablyazov's lawyers have asked France's Council of State to block his extradition, fearing that he would quickly be handed over to Kazakhstan.

Shabalayeva said "he doesn't have any chance to survive" in Kazakhstan.
Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik lodged a complaint this week that being locked up alone in a three-room suite with a treadmill, video games and his own kitchen violates his civil rights, but one American lawman says the Hitler-worshipping fiend is lucky to be alive.

Breivik, who killed 77 people in a shocking one-man massacre in 2011, and who gave the Nazi salute at a court appearance this week, has filed a lawsuit over being put in solitary confinement.

He should have been executed, said Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Its supposed to be prison. But it seems like it is more of a hotel.

Its supposed to be prison. But it seems like it is more of a hotel.  Sheriff Joe Arapaio

According to The New York Times, Breivik spends his days in a 340-square-foot cell at Skien Prison in southern Norway, where he has the use of a fridge, TV, DVD player, Sony PlayStation, a desk and a typewriter. He does his own cooking and even entered a baking contest last holiday season, the paper reported.

Breivik has been in the plush digs since 2013 after being transferred from Ila Prison, near Oslo.

Breivik, who threatened to go on a hunger strike in the past, claims the conditions violate the European Convention of Human Rights, according to the Times.

Arpaio was stunned to hear how Breivik, who is serving a 10 to 21-year sentence, lives day to day. The prison run by Arpaios department is known for Spartan conditions.

Their solitary confinement is probably a lot nicer than what I have in my jails, Arpaio said. You should never a live a better life in prison than on the outside.

They treat him like a hotel guest, he added.

Breivik, 37, was convicted of terrorism in 2012. While 21 years is the maximum sentence in Norway, he can be held for longer if it is determined that he is still a threat to society.

Norways criminal justice system has long emphasized rehabilitation over punishment.

I think most find these conditions acceptable, Fred Burton, a former law enforcement agent who is now vice president for intelligence at global firm Stratfor, told FoxNews.com. Because what has to be looked at here is any influence from him on other attacks.

Rehabilitation may not be working with Breivik: At a recent hearing for his motion to change his conditions, he gave a Nazi salute to the judge.

Among Breiviks complaints are that he is not allowed to leave the prison and was not allowed to attend his mothers funeral.

This case is not, as many believe, a case being run in order to get Breivik back into the limelight, Breiviks attorney, Oystein Storrvik, told the court during Tuesdays hearing. This is a case to determine the conditions for the remainder of his imprisonment.

It is a big responsibility a state takes upon it when it chooses not to use capital punishment, he added.
Card Connection Introduces Seasonal Sante!

March 16, 2016 // Franchising.com // Leading greeting card publisher and franchisor, Card Connection has extended its popular square Sante card format to complement its normal seasonal offering. New Mothers Day and Easter 2016 designs have been introduced and Card Connections in-house design team are also creating a similar Sante offering to supplement the Christmas 2016 range.

Being able to offer our network of franchisees and their valued retail customers fresh designs of greetings cards on a regular basis is essential to optimise sales, confirms Michael Johnson, managing director, Card Connection. Key dates in the calendar, like Valentines, Mothers Day, Easter and Christmas offer further seasonal opportunities and our latest introductions aim to capitalise on these.

Five new Mothers Day square Sante cards to support our existing selection have been launched and so far, feedback on sales has been excellent, continues Johnson. The mini-range was specifically created for a five card strip display option, helpful for outlets that are tight for space as this offers a viable, alternative way to display seasonal product alongside other linked sale items.

The separate Easter mini-range features five new blank cards, all with general spring based designs, explains Johnson. While none are Easter specific, they could all easily be sent as Easter cards. The designs will all then happily carry over after Easter to provide extra everyday sales too.

Card Connection franchisees place the card ranges in retail outlets on a consignment basis which is one step beyond sale or return, as the retailer never has to buy the stock initially, only paying for what they sell. This creates a win-win situation for both retailer and franchisee and the concept has proved particularly popular for more than two decades and Card Connection has helped hundreds of franchisees become self-employed, running their own successful businesses. As well as independent stores, franchisees supply national accounts including such as Costcutter, WH Smiths Motorway Services, NISA, BP and Spar. Last year Card Connection was a finalist for the British Franchisor of the Year award.

Card Connection is part of UK Greetings, which is a subsidiary of American Greetings Inc., one of the largest greeting card publishers in the world and has limited vacancies for franchisees that are keen to run an expanding business. Since the franchise network in the UK is complete, the available opportunities now consist of acquiring an already-established territory from an existing franchisee. These vary in price according to their level of development, but start at 7k + Stock + Card Connection fee with earnings potential in excess of 50k per annum.

Franchise territories currently available include: Leicester, Bath, Coventry, Northampton, Plymouth, Windsor, Brighton Liverpool, Ayr, Edinburgh and Ireland South. For further information about franchises for sale, please see: www.card-connection.co.uk

About Card Connection

Card Connection is one of the UKs most successful card publishers and is the market leader in the franchised distribution of greeting cards.

The company was established in 1992 and became a Full Member of the British Franchise Association in 1995. It now distributes greeting cards to around 13,000 outlets through its network of 67 franchisees. www.card-connection.co.uk

SOURCE Card Connection

Contact:

Mel Betts

Grapevine PR Ltd

01544 318546

melanie.betts@grapevinepr.com

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Granite Transformations Announces Franchise Opportunities In The Rapidly Expanding Home Remodeling Space

Franchise Opportunities Now Available With Global Home Remodeling Company Known For Their Revolutionary, Proprietary Resurfacing Process As A Result Of Continued Growth And Success

March 16, 2016 // Franchising.com // MIAMI, FL  Granite Transformations, a global full-service residential and commercial remodeling franchise known for their revolutionary, proprietary resurfacing process, is pleased to announce that franchise opportunities are now available throughout North America. With more than 20 years of franchising experience, the company offers a unique and thriving business model that has made its presence known in eight countries on four continents across the globe, with more than 150 franchise locations worldwide, including 74 North American locations. The home improvement business has seen continued growth and success over the past several years, and with a moderate entry-level investment, the opportunity proves to be an enticing venture for prospective franchise owners with a significant potential for profit and future growth.

The Granite Transformations story is a rich, centuries-old Italian heritage turned global entrepreneurial dream. The company presents time-challenged and quality-conscious homeowners a premium surface design solution without the demolition hassle of traditional kitchen and bath remodeling. Using an exclusive selection of the highest-quality granite, recycled glass and quartz countertops and mosaic tiles  all offering a lifetime warranty  its "over-the-top" installation process virtually eliminates the need for demolition, shortening a project timeline and easing the stress and mess of typical home renovations. The products versatility allows for a wide range of uses and brings added value and growth potential, appealing to both homeowners and commercial businesses alike looking to renovate or build new.

Granite Transformations offers one of the most dynamic and fulfilling franchise opportunities in the rapidly expanding home remodeling space, says Andrea Di Giuseppe, International Chief Executive Officer. Customers are looking to spend wisely and make a smart investment  they want the most attractive, quality, sustainable product, which is exactly what we offer coupled with the fastest install process available to immediately increase home value.

With renovations continually on the rise, franchise owners enjoy minimal risk and consistent demand no matter the state of the economy. Homeowners are choosing to renovate the key areas of their homes  kitchens and bathrooms  rather than build or buy new, and their recognition of the value of this important, long-term investment is an undeniable owner benefit.

Di Giuseppe continues, From the very beginning, Granite Transformations has stayed true to its artistic tradition, respect for natural resources and commitment to innovation, and the company is committed to the continuing expansion, growth and success of our franchise system.

For additional information on Granite Transformations franchise opportunities, please visit www.granitetransformationsfranchise.com.

About Granite Transformations

Granite Transformations is a global full-service home and business remodeling franchise, offering an impressive selection of luxurious and affordable alternatives to traditional countertops, mosaic tile backsplashes, cabinets, floors, and more through a revolutionary resurfacing process that is ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. The companys unique resurfacing process involves fitting countertops directly over existing ones, so theres no messy demolition and installation can be completed much faster  in as little as one day in many cases. For more information, please visit www.granitetransformations.com.

SOURCE Granite Transformations

Contact:

Jennifer Gutierrez

Senior Account Executive

T: 561.430.2612

E: Jgutierrez@rogersandcowan.com

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Minuteman Press Franchise in Williston Park Upgrades Center with Brand New Graphics and Equipment

The Minuteman Press franchise in Williston Park, N.Y. has completed upgrades for 2016 that gives the center an updated look and features the new slogan: We Design, Print & PromoteYOU! Upgrades include new window graphics and signage that give Minuteman Press a modern look that appeals to new and existing business customers, including young professionals.

March 16, 2016 // Franchising.com // WILLISTON PARK, N.Y. - Stephan Parmetts Minuteman Press franchise in Williston Park, N.Y. has completed upgrades for 2016 that gives the center a new look and features the new slogan: We Design, Print & PromoteYOU! The Williston Park franchise has been in the same location since 1975, and Stephan bought the center in 2000.

The completed upgrades include new Minuteman Press signage as well as graphics and slogan updates on the windows and the door of the center, as well as sample boards. In his production area, Stephan has also completed key equipment upgrades, adding new digital printing systems to increase his centers capacity. The next phase of updates will include the counter and the rest of the lobby.

Commenting on the new look of his Williston Park facility, Stephan Parmett says, I really like the new look. It gives us a much more updated feel and I think it will help us when we are going after younger professionals to do business with them. The new slogan really brings us up to date as well and its great to see.

Stephans business being in the same location for over 40 years is a great example of how we have built our business on service and quality, says Brian Sisti, Area Manager for Minuteman Press International. He adds, Whether its 1975 or 2016, we define ourselves on the service that we provide to our customers and our updated slogan and graphics reflect that desire to serve them. Stephan Parmett has taken hold of that concept as well as our overall franchise system and brought it to another level. He is well-known in Williston Park and surrounding areas and has earned a sterling business reputation. Stephan is also very active in the community and gives back by supporting several charitable organizations.

New Packaging

In addition to window graphics and lobby upgrades, Minuteman Press International has designed brand new packaging for all of its franchise locations to reflect the new slogan. Parmett appreciates the new packaging and his customers have noticed. Weve received an incredible response to the new boxes that we are now using for deliveries, says Parmett. He adds, I was surprised that so many customers even noticed the new packaging, and when we make deliveries people tell us how great they look. Thats been overwhelmingly positive.

Why franchising?

One of the reasons Stephan Parmett aligned with Minuteman Press in the first place was because he appreciated the hard work and credibility he saw with the Minuteman Press team. Parmett comments, After doing my due diligence, I found out what a credible franchise Minuteman Press is and after meeting key people in company, I realized what a great work ethic everyone had. It made me want to be a part of the team.

2016 Goals and Advice for Others

With the new signage and window/door graphics in place, Parmett wants to finish upgrading the facility immediately. As for the rest of 2016, Stephan has set the following goal, stating, We want to increase our volume by 20%.

As far as how to reach that goal and the advice he would impart to others, Stephan says, The number one thing I would tell every owner is DONT STOP MARKETING! He concludes, In terms of the new slogan and the new visual presentation of our center, I can say that more and more, we are dealing with young professionals. I am very happy with the new slogan and graphics as it really brings us more into the 21st Century and attracts modern customers.

Minuteman Press in Williston Park is located at 128 Hillside Ave; Williston Park, NY 11596. Call Stephan and his staff at 516-746-4280 or visit their website: www.willistonpark.minutemanpress.com.

About Minuteman Press

Serving the business community for over 40 years, Minuteman Press customer service driven business model provides digital print, design and promotional products and services to businesses from concept review through to completion. Today we are much more than just print; we can provide anything you can put a name, image or logo on! Our new slogan  We Design, Print & Promote YOU!  indicates the wide variety of products and services we offer that go beyond printing.

For more information about our products and services or to find your local Minuteman Press, visit www.minutemanpress.com.

About Minuteman Press International

Repeatedly ranked #1 in category by Entrepreneur Magazine, Minuteman Press International is a top rated business service franchise that offers world class training and unparalleled ongoing local support. Minuteman Press opened in 1973 and began franchising in 1975. Today, there are more than 900 locations worldwide including the U.S., Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Minuteman Press aims to grow to more than 1,000 franchises within the next three years. Prior experience is not necessary to own and operate a successful Minuteman Press franchise.

Learn more about Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at www.minutemanpressfranchise.com.

Like Us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MinutemanPressFranchise

Follow Us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MinutemanIntl

Join Us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/minuteman-press

SOURCE Minuteman Press

Contacts:

Al Sanders

Minuteman Press Franchise Opportunities

1-800-645-3006

Chris Biscuiti

Media Relations

cbiscuiti@mpihq.com

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Several education advocacy groups are asking Congress to add more money to Title I , the formula-grant program earmarked for students from low-income backgrounds, than the amount included in President Barack Obamas proposed fiscal 2017 budget .

The groups, including the AASA (the School Administrators Association), the American Federation of Teachers, and the National Rural Education Association, say lawmakers should fund Title I at $450 million above the presidents budget. That funding increase for the program will ensure that no school district gets less funding as districts implement the first year of the Every Student Succeeds Act, the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act signed by Obama in December, according to a letter sent by the groups on Tuesday.

Heres a portion of the letter:

The success of ESSA, as a bill that returns significant responsibility and authority back to the state and local level, will rely on the success of state and local education agencies. State and local education agencies will invest effort and cost in implementing ESSA, and it is all but certain that local school districts will face cuts in Title I should they implement ESSA as written, at the funding levels as proposed.

This issue may sound familiar. Earlier this month, we highlighted an analysis by the Congressional Research Service showing that districts in over 30 states could stand to lose some of their Title I funding under the presidents budget.

Obamas spending proposal for fiscal 2017 technically increases Title I spending by $450 million. But advocates note that ESSA also eliminated the $450 million federal School Improvement Grant program under Title I, and would fold that money into the overall Title I program. Therefore, some advocates say the presidents budget proposal isnt actually a boost for Title I at all in that respect.

At best, the groups state in their Tuesday letter, the presidents budget would result in a net $200 million loss for local allocations of Title I spending. Obamas budget, which faces a grim future before a Congress controlled by Republicans, proposes a $15.4 billion appropriation for Title I in fiscal 2017.

ESSA also suspended a requirement for the 2017-18 school year that districts be held harmless with respect to Title I funding. (That held harmless requirement was suspended in order to make room for a higher maximum set-aside of Title I funds states could use for school improvement activities from 4 percent to 7 percent of their Title I money.) And Obamas fiscal 2017 budget would largely go into effect for the 2017-18 school year, the first full year that ESSA will be in effect.

Read the full letter below:

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
Russos New York Pizzeria Opens New Location in Dubai

Prime Hospitality Brings Taste of Authentic New York-Style Pizza to Silicon Oasis

March 16, 2016 // Franchising.com // DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  The wait for Russos New York Pizzeria at Dubais Silicon Oasis is over.

Dubais loyal Russos fans, who have grown to love the brand since its first UAE location opened in 2013, can savor even more of the unmistakably authentic New York-style pizzeria. The well-known fast casual Italian restaurant that brings to life old-world charm and hospitality announced today that it will open next week at Dubais Silicon Oasis, the sleek and futuristic home of Dubais rising tech industry.

Whether customers enter a Russos New York Pizzeria in Texas or Dubai, they are getting a true slice of New York, said Henrik Andersen, director of Prime Hospitality, which owns and operates Russos New York Pizzeria in the UAE. The ingredients are fresh in every dish from the pizza and calzones to the pasta. Guests expect something special from these artfully-made Italian dishes, and were excited to deliver even more of it here in Dubai.

Russos has established an ever-growing presence in the UAE, with locations open across Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai. The newest Silicon Oasis location is one of 28 slated to open in the Middle East.

Russos Restaurants offers an exceptional franchise opportunity for entrepreneurs interested in proven brands that are entirely chef created, chef inspired and chef driven. Russos New York Pizzeria and Russos Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen offer the only authentic New York-style pizzeria franchise concept, tracing their origins to a tight-knit family where the kitchen was the center of all activity.

Every delicious dish on our menu offers something new for any palette and we have a growing team of successful, happy franchisees. Opening in Silicon Oasis is an important and exciting step for Russos Restaurants, said CEO Anthony Russo, a formally trained chef who opened his first Russos New York Pizzeria in 1992. We look forward to carrying on the Russos tradition in Dubai and doing so with a group with a track record as proven as Prime Hospitalitys. With their unmatched experience, Russos can look forward to a bright future in the UAE and the Middle East.

Chef Russo customizes the menu to adapt to the local trade area by creating recipes using local fresh ingredients and spices. Menu innovation is at the heart of Russos Restaurants successes. Blending generations of Russo family Italian recipes, Chef Anthonys handpicked ingredients and a commitment to research and development, the brands have continued to stay ahead of culinary trends. A prime example is the development of a full line of gluten-free pizzas and pastas  a sincere response to the request for the great-tasting gluten-free pizza from health conscious families and thousands living with Celiac disease worldwide.

About Russos Restaurants

Russos Restaurants is a 46-location national and international franchisor of the fast casual and casual dining brands Russos New York Pizzeria and Russos Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen. Based in Houston, Russos Restaurants are composed of a mix of corporate and franchised locations across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida and Hawaii. Russos has entered international markets as well, with locations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates. There are an additional 29-plus units in development both in the United States and internationally. Chef Anthony Russo has created his concepts from years of applying his unique, family recipes featuring New York-style pizza, along with a broad variety of handcrafted pasta creations, calzones, salads, sandwiches, soups and desserts, reflecting his commitment to his New York roots where food and family come first.

To learn more about Russos franchise development opportunities, visit www.nypizzeria.com. For International development, contact our international franchise development manager, Suzanne Boyadjian at suzanne@nypizzeria.com or for the U.S. contact Jim Carr, director of franchise development at j.carr@nypizzeria.com or by phone at (832) 980-6407.

SOURCE Russos Restaurants

Media Contact:

Jamie Izaks

All Points Public Relations

(847) 897-7480

jizaks@allpointspr.com

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Sotheby's International Realty Brand to Expand Luxury Brand Presence across Argentina

March 16, 2016 // Franchising.com // MADISON, N.J. and BUENOS AIRES - Sothebys International Realty Affiliates LLC today announced the brands existing affiliate brokerage in Argentina, Ginevra Sothebys International Realty, which is owned and operated by Mercedes Ginevra, will now provide residential real estate services throughout the country, focusing on key markets such as Puerto Madero, San Isidro, Mendoza, Salta, and La Patagonia.

Argentina is steeped in rich history with a varied terrain from the inland mountains to resort towns and imposing cliffs along the coast, catering to many different lifestyles, said Philip White, president and chief executive officer of Sothebys International Realty Affiliates LLC. Argentina has an important position in the South American luxury market and this expansion provides a wider footprint in one of the most diverse countries in the world.

We are so pleased to be a part of the prestigious Sotheby's International Realty brand, said Ginevra. The access and connections to offices around the world have been beneficial over that past few months and will be paramount to our team as we embark on our expansion throughout Argentina. We couldnt be more excited.

Ginevra Sothebys International Realty currently services the luxury residential real estate market in Buenos Aires along with Adriana Massa Sothebys International Realty, which is owned and managed by Adriana Massa. The two brokerage companies will continue to work cooperatively together to service customers needs in Buenos Aires.

The Sothebys International Realty network currently has more than 18,800 affiliated independent sales associates located in approximately 835 offices in 63 countries and territories worldwide. Ginevra Sothebys International Realty listings are marketed on thesothebysrealty.com global website. In addition to the referral opportunities and widened exposure generated from this source, the firms brokers and their clients will benefit from an association with the Sothebys auction house and worldwide Sothebys International Realty marketing programs. Each office is independently owned and operated.

About Sothebys International Realty Affiliates LLC

Founded in 1976 to provide independent brokerages with a powerful marketing and referral program for luxury listings, the Sothebys International Realty network was designed to connect the finest independent real estate companies to the most prestigious clientele in the world. Sothebys International Realty Affiliates LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), a global leader in real estate franchising and provider of real estate brokerage, relocation and settlement services. In February 2004, Realogy entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Sothebys, the operator of the auction house. The agreement provided for the licensing of the Sothebys International Realty name and the development of a full franchise system. Affiliations in the system are granted only to brokerages and individuals meeting strict qualifications. Sothebys International Realty Affiliates LLC supports its affiliates with a host of operational, marketing, recruiting, educational and business development resources. Franchise affiliates also benefit from an association with the venerable Sothebys auction house, established in 1744. For more information, visit www.sothebysrealty.com.

SOURCE Sothebys International Realty Affiliates LLC

Contact:

Daniela Frewa

Director, International Marketing & Servicing

Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC

+1(973) 407-5601

Daniela.Frewa@sothebysrealty.com

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WASHINGTONA man accused of shooting at a Maryland police station in an attempt to provoke police to kill hima shootout that left an officer dead from friendly firewas diagnosed as bipolar and was intermittently homeless after his mother kicked him out of the house at age 16, his legal guardian said.

Michael Ford, 22, remains hospitalized after he was shot during the gun battle with police on Sunday afternoon outside a station in Landover, a Washington suburb. Prince Georges County Detective Jacai Colson, who was wearing civilian clothes when he began firing back at Ford, was inadvertently killed by one of his fellow officers, the countys police chief said.

Fords two brothersMalik, 21, and Elijah, 18drove him to the police station and used cellphones to record video of the firefight, according to police. They also made a video of Michaels last will and testament minutes before the shooting started, police said.

A court document provided to The Associated Press on Tuesday by prosecutors said that during the shooting, officers asked Malik and Elijah Ford, who were sitting in a car, where the shooter was. The document said Malik Ford shouted he didnt know, even though video shows he could see his brother hiding behind a police van.

The three brothers face numerous charges including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Malik and Elijah were scheduled for bond review hearings on Wednesday. Michael has not been formally charged.

Prince Georges County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said he couldnt explain the frightening actions of the shooter or his brothers.

It doesnt make any sense, Stawinski said.

Hyacinth Tucker, 40, the owner of an event-planning business in Hyattsville, became Michael Fords legal guardian when he was 16 after his mother kicked him out, she said. Tucker told The Associated Press that Ford, who was a high school friend of her sons, received Social Security disability payments because of his bipolar disorder. She said his checks were sent to her house and that she helped him with doctor visits and other paperwork.

Hes been through some tough times, Tucker said. There were some times he didnt eat because he couldnt afford food, she said.

Tucker also hired a lawyer for him after he was charged with gun possession in neighboring Montgomery County in 2013, a charge that was later dropped.

Tucker said she spoke by phone with Ford last week and he told her he needed to see her in person, but she said she didnt have time to meet him. She said he stopped by her house on Saturday, the day before the shooting, but she wasnt home.
Retired Lt. Col. Kjeld Friis Christensen, 72, of Stafford County died at his home on Friday, March 11, 2016, following a brief illness.

Survivors include his loving wife of 46 years, Jerilyn of Stafford; brother Jan Christensen (Margie) of Marmora, N.J.; Candy Christensen (Alan, deceased) of West Wildwood, N.J.; sister-in-law Barbara Miller of Dublin, Ohio; nieces Lindsey Eibeler of Oceanport, N.J., Jerilyn Christensen of Marmora, N.J., Tracy Miller of Astoria, N.Y., and Kimberly Miller of Philadelphia, Pa.; and goddaughter Emma West of Great Falls.

Born in Randers, Denmark, he was the son of the late Kaj and Ebba Christensen. He came to the U.S. in 1948, at the age of 5 and spent his first five years living in South Dakota and the remainder of his childhood in Ocean City and Somers Point, N.J.

Kjeld served for 25 years in the U.S. Army. Seven of those years involved Foreign Service in Vietnam, Korea, Germany and the Sinai Desert with the Multinational Force and Observers. He was a graduate of the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course in Lawton, Okla., Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, Kan. and the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa.

During his Army career, Kjeld earned the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Metal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Vietnam Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

Kjeld was a graduate of Millersville State College where he earned a Bachelor of Education and the University of Missouri where he earned a Master of Public Administration and was inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Following his retirement from the Army, Kjeld served for five years as Vice President of McNeil Technologies, a provider of professional and technical services to the national security market. His final career as a teacher focused on making a difference for young people. Kjeld found great joy in teaching World History, Advance Placement European History and U.S. Government at Woodbridge Senior High School.

Travel was truly Kjelds passion. He and his wife had traveled to every continent. Just prior to his death, he had the good fortune of returning to Scandinavia where he was able to visit with relatives still remaining in Denmark.

Kjeld will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. The schedule for services and interment will be announced at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made toward bile duct cancer research in care of The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation.
In my nearly three years covering K-12 educational technology, Ive come to appreciate a central irony: Things move incredibly fast, but change incredibly slowly.

So every once in a while, it makes sense to take a step back and survey the state of the field, from the latest trends in devices and school purchasing and the buzziest buzzwords everyone seems to be talking about, to progress addressing infrastructure challenges, to the persistent concerns and on-the-ground challenges that so often seem to get overlooked.

Earlier this year, Education Week published Technology in Education , an overview of everything you need to know about personalized learning, 1-to-1 computing, online testing, and more. Its chock full of links to recent news stories and foundational research studieswe hope its worth a bookmark on your end.

And earlier this week, I talked about the state of digital learning with Radio Times, a public radio show produced at WHYY-Philadelphia. It was a great conversation that touched on everything from the ubiquity of Google Apps for Education to the promise of maker spaces to the disastrous recent research findings about full-time online charter schools. You can give a listen below, beginning at the 13:30 mark.

See also:


Moorestown NJ Custom Home Builder Celebrates Milestone at Newest Community

Announcing the final phase of Canton Custom Homes' community, The Landing. Moorestown, New Jersey's premier classic custom home neighborhood.

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It's been a big start to the year for award-winning Canton Custom Homes and their customers.

The South Jersey luxury home builder has reached the halfway mark at their newest community, The Landing, in Moorestown, NJ. Springtime promises to be big there.

Canton Custom Homes has attracted families who are looking for a classic custom home in a Williamsburg or New England style home. This beautiful and intimate neighborhood features 12 lots of about 1/3 acre each. The last phase of the project has begun on the six remaining lots. Prices for these custom luxury homes start in the mid-$500s.

Paul Canton, owner and founder of Canton Custom Homes, has been extremely excited by the growing momentum of Canton Custom Homes. Upon reaching this milestone, he had this to say about the The Landing, Moorestown's premier custom home neighborhood:

"We're thrilled about how this project is going. The Landing is in just the perfect location, close to schools and excellent employers with great shopping nearby. Moorestown is a fantastic place to raise a family. It's a beautiful setting and each of the homes features incredible detail. We're thrilled at how the first half of the project has gone. We're ready now to meet the next six discerning families who will love living at The Landing."

Canton is one of New Jersey's best home building companies, with over 30 years' experience in design/build, home additions, renovations, remodels, historic work, and more. With building experience all over New Jersey and the Philadelphia Area, Canton is proud to have helped so many people live in their dream homes.

Canton Custom Homes also recently launched a new website which features information about The Landing, as well as other custom construction projects by Canton. Find them at CantonCustomHomes.com, or phone them at (856) 235-7582.

For more information about us, please visit http://cantoncustomhomes.com

Contact Info:

Name: Peter Canton, Project Manager

Organization: Canton Custom Homes

Address: 234 W Main Street, Moorestown, NJ 08057

Phone: 1 856 235 7582

Release ID: 107076

For more information visit r



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Thermalabs New Dead Sea Scrub Ready in Six Weeks

Thermalabs has revealed that it's finalizing work on its new Dead Sea scrub.

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Thermalabs, a leading cosmetics brand that became known due to their top notch formulations for the self-tanning market, is set on releasing a brand new scrub in the coming weeks. According to the company's marketing co-coordinator, the new product will change how people scrub. The company reportedly decided to manufacture this product after a thorough market strategy that demonstrated a massive gap. Like all other of the company's releases, this particular product will be based on high-quality, natural or organic ingredients.

The new product will fall under Supremasea, a sub-brand established by the company in 2015. In the cosmetics market, Supremasea is understood to be Thermalabs private collection of Dead Sea mineral-based products. Supremasea's goal is to formulate and produce a collection of products that deliver the immense benefits of Dead Sea salts and minerals to the company's global audience. According to Ms. Kristina Meyers, Thermalabs brand manager for Supremasea, the new product will pack immense benefits not only for the skin but also for general health.

The Dead Sea is understood to contain tens of thousands of different types of salts, including the likes of Magnesium, Potassium, Bromide, Sulfur, Iodine, Sodium, Zinc, and Calcium. At least a dozen salts found in this lake cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Studies have established that Dead Sea salts have multiple benefits for the human body. For instance, they help nourish the skin and rejuvenate its inner and outer layers. This makes you appear healthier and younger. A selection of Dead Sea salts are also known to help with common skin conditions such as dandruff, acne, psoriasis, scabies, eczema and seborrhea. Psoriasis alone is said to affect up to 3% of the entire global population.

Thermalabs upcoming launch, the Dead Sea Scrub, will combine the immense benefits of these Dead Sea minerals with popular skincare ingredients whose benefits for the skin have been well studied. Previous products by the company have featured the likes of Aloe Vera leaf juice, Japanese green tea, and olive oil. Indeed, Thermalabs ability to consistently leverage top-notch ingredients to create products that are both healthy and effective is the major reason why the company has recorded tremendous growth worldwide. The company has not currently released a list of ingredients used in this product, but they'll likely do so in the weeks following the launch event.

Thermalabs is dedicated to a skin-cancer free world. The company creates natural and organic skincare formulations that get results within the confines of health. The American Cancer Foundation estimates that there are millions of skin cancer cases diagnosed in the US alone every year. A significant percentage of this diagnosis has been caused by over-exposure to the sun's harmful UV radiation. By relying on rather natural substances to create their organic tanners, Thermalabs helps reduce reliance on the sun for a beautiful tan. The company also contributes a tenth of its annual profits to charity, mostly nonprofits in the skincare industry. As the launch day for Dead Sea Scrub comes closer, it'll be interesting to see what Thermalabs has to offer in this new product!

For more information about us, please visit http://www.thermalabs.com

Contact Info:

Name: Hanna Tiram

Organization: Thermalabs



Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l6VB39jCsg

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/thermalabs-new-dead-sea-scrub-ready-in-six-weeks/107033

Release ID: 107033

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Homes For Sale In Albuquerque NM Radio Show Reaches #1 Position

Homes for sale in Albuquerque NM is the topic of a top-ranked local radio station show. Tego and Tracy Venturi host their Real Estate Talk Show with co-host Eddy Aragon.

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Houses for sale in Albuquerque NM is the topic of The Venturi Team - Keller Williams Realty radio show. The Tego and Tracy Venturi "Albuquerque Real Estate Talk" show is found on ABQ.FM AM1600/95.5 FM, a local radio station in #1 position in Albuquerque, NM. The show started out publishing their radio show on SoundCloud, but can now be heard at abq.fm on the "ABQ REAL ESTATE" station. The Venturi Team is a group of top New Mexico Realtors who work together to provide clients with an unparalleled experience when purchasing or selling New Mexico real estate.

The realty team combines high-tech tools with old-fashioned personal service and values. The Venturi Team of realtors focus on client satisfaction through top-ranked real estate brokerage services. With years of experience, Venturi Team has become experts in various areas including purchasing or selling property and the marketing required to get the job done. The agents act as the liaison for homebuyers and land sellers alike. The realty team covers the Albuquerque real estate market, including Rio Rancho, Los Lunas, Corrales, Placitas, Bernalillo, Tijeras, Sandia Park, Edgewood, Belen and other surrounding areas in New Mexico.

The market for real estate in Albuquerque has several property listings weekly, which is why the Venturi team has an Albuquerque MLS search tool right on their website. For homebuyers & sellers an ample amount of information is provided to help people through the process. Because the Venturi team has years of experience, they can provide recommendations to help guide you when make your decisions. The website and the radio show are designed to provide relevant information about the area, current market trends & advice. On the website, buyers have access to all of the area Homes for Sale from the Albuquerque MLS and more. There are multiple photos, maps and details about each of the listings.

Specialty property search pages provide listings for foreclosures, luxury homes, just listed homes, open houses, horse property, homes with pools, condo's for sale, and more. The website features a personal listing organizer to save listings to view later, and there are email alerts to get updates as new listing come onto the market. Previous home sellers have chosen the Venturi Team for its heavy marketing exposure and attention to details.

For more information about us, please visit http://www.welcomehomeabq.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Tego and Tracy Venturi

Organization: The Venturi Team - Keller Williams Realty

Address: 1119 Alameda Blvd NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87114

Phone: (505) 933-6881

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/homes-for-sale-in-albuquerque-nm-radio-show-reaches-1-position/107177

Release ID: 107177

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Packaging Printing Market Growing at 6.02% CAGR to 2020

The rapid growth of the packaging and labelling industry is driving the printing market for packaging globally. Packaging and labelling have become so much more than providing information about the price and name of the product.

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The global printing market for packaging is increasingly gaining importance and is experiencing a growing demand from emerging regions like APAC. This packaging market in APAC will experience the fastest growth during the forecast period. Two of the key drivers that are propelling the growth in the emerging regions are the increase in demand for manufactured goods and the increase in the disposable income of people worldwide.

Complete report on printing market for packaging spread across 53 pages, analyzing 6 major companies and providing 22 data exhibits is now available at http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/509013-global-printing-market-for-packaging-2016-2020.html .

The analysts forecast global printing market for packaging to grow at a CAGR of 6.02% during the period 2016-2020. The global printing market for packaging is increasingly gaining importance and is experiencing a growing demand from emerging regions like APAC. This packaging market in APAC will experience the fastest growth during the forecast period. Two of the key drivers that are propelling the growth in the emerging regions are the increase in demand for manufactured goods and the increase in the disposable income of people worldwide.

According to the report, the significance of packaging is increasing worldwide. Apart from providing information about the price and name of the product, packaging in terms of design, color, and ingredients plays a big role in attracting customers. In the highly cluttered markets, creating shelf appeal and visibility is the most important strategy for manufacturers. Hence, manufacturers focus on good packaging to create brand awareness and attract consumers. This also contributes to the growth of the packaging and labeling industry, thereby bringing growth to the printing market for packaging and labeling.

Order a copy of Global Printing Market for Packaging 2016-2020 report @ http://www.reportsnreports.com/purchase.aspx?name=509013 .

In this market research study, the analysts have estimated the Americas to be the largest printing market for packaging during the forecast period. Factors such as a developed economy and high standard of living will contribute to the growth of this market. Also, the increasing competition among vendors and growth of major industries in the Americas is expected to account to approximately USD 233 billion until the end of 2020.

The global printing market for packaging is highly fragmented due to the presence of numerous well-established vendors. The rapid technological advancements, intense competitions and frequent changes in consumer preferences will pose a threat to the market growth during the forecast period.

Key players in the Global Printing Market for Packaging are AB Graphic International, HP, Landa, RR Donnelley & Sons, Xeikon, and Xerox. Other Prominent Vendors in the market are: Anglia Labels, Cenveo Labels and Packaging Group, Dainippon Screen Group, EC Labels, Edwards Label, Flexo Image Graphics, Frontier Label, Graphix Labels, Harkwell Labels, Heidelberg Druckmaschinen, Lofton Label, Tonejet and Yerecic Label.

Further, the report states that high capital investment is needed for the digital printing equipment. The cost of digital printing is high because of the high average unit cost of printing. The huge investment requirements prevent the development of new technologies and are a major challenge for the growth of the market.

Check for Discount at http://www.reportsnreports.com/contacts/discount.aspx?name=509013

About Us:

ReportsnReports.com is your single source for all market research needs. Our database includes 500,000+ market research reports from over 100+ leading global publishers & in-depth market research studies of over 5000 micro markets. With comprehensive information about the publishers and the industries for which they publish market research reports, we help you in your purchase decision by mapping your information needs with our huge collection of reports.

For more information about us, please visit http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/509013-global-printing-market-for-packaging-2016-2020.html

Contact Info:

Name: Ritesh Tiwari

Email: sales@reportsandreports.com

Organization: ReportsnReports



Source: http://marketersmedia.com/packaging-printing-market-growing-at-6-02-cagr-to-2020/107014

Release ID: 107014

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Melbourne Nutritionist Healthy Apple Launches New Health-Focused YouTube Channel

Healthy Apple has today announced the launch of its new YouTube Channel, which will focus primarily on the subject of nutritional health. The channel and video content can be found at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj3JTCFeNjfIEaukQRhLb9w

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Healthy Apple, a nutritionist in Melbourne, has today announced the launch of its new YouTube Channel, which will focus primarily on the subject of nutritional health. The Channel is aimed at women and men in Melbourne who want to improve their health, with the hope of providing health education to adults throughout Australia.

Parents wanting help in raising healthy kids, men and women trying to lose weight unsuccessfully and people struggling from adrenal fatigue are invited to subscribe to the all-new YouTube channel by Healthy Apple. The channel promises to provide expert guidance and information on healthy eating, on a regular basis.

Healthy Apple already has several videos planned for airing:

Using Food as Medicine - How to eat well, lose weight and have more energy without the use of drugs.

Overcoming Common Women's Health Issues - How to address health problems such as bloating, PMS pain, infertility, weight gain and more.

How DNA Affects Health - Why some people can eat whatever they want & not gain weight, while others stay overweight despite watching every mouthful and counting calories all day.

The YouTube Channel launched in early 2016. Viewers and subscribers can view all the latest videos here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj3JTCFeNjfIEaukQRhLb9w

Cristina Vitellone, Nutritionist at Healthy Apple said: "It provides a platform for helping a brand new audience to discover how food can help them live healthier, happier lives. While it's early days, the upcoming videos will contain actionable steps people can take immediately to start looking and feeling better."

Fans and viewers are also encouraged to watch the videos, subscribe to the channel for regular updates and help spread the word through social media. Those interested in healthy eating and current Healthy Apple fans and supporters, can also visit their facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/Livinginhealth

Alternatively, interested parties are able to learn more about Healthy Apple directly at their website: http://www.healthyapple.com.au/about-us/

For more information about us, please visit http://www.healthyapple.com.au

Contact Info:

Name: Cristina Vitellone

Organization: Healthy Apple

Address: Suite 10/83-87 Main Street, Greensborough, VIC 3088

Phone: 0400 325 863

Release ID: 107154

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Java Planet Organic Coffee Earns Sustainable Business Award With New Policies

Java Planet Organic Coffee has a continuing commitment to sustainability, and has continued to improve its policies even after winning a Sustainable Business Award.

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The 7th Annual Sustainable Business Awards, a program sponsored by the Sustany Foundation, in conjunction with the Sustainable Business Coalition of Tampa Bay, Inc. and the University of Tampa Center for Ethics, honors Tampa Bay business that demonstrate stewardship of people, the planet and their profit. Java Planet Organic Coffee Roasters was a big winner at last year's awards, but has not taken the recognition for granted, striving for even better best practices throughout their business model, to give customers, staff and the earth a better experience from their business.

The company not only buys 100% fair trade coffee, but has now also insisted the coffee is shade grown for the best flavor maturation, and is bird friendly, with beans handpicked outside mating season so as not to destroy birds' natural habitats and nests. The coffee is also organic, never touched by chemicals or preservatives at any point in its lifespan.

Java Planet is also fully committed to carbon offsetting, and while they import beans from selected growers around the world, they ensure the footprint left behind by both importing and then shipping to customers is minimized. They have even taken their staff wellness policies further, with new flexible working to fit in around families and other important commitments.

A spokesperson for Java Planet Organic Coffee explained, "Java Planet was so thrilled and honored to receive recognition last year for where our business stood, but we immediately knew we could not afford to rest on our laurels. There is always more work to be done when creating a better future for our children's children, and that's why we are continually analysing our business practices and improving our policies to make sure we are not just economically profitable, but ecologically profitable, as well as being a kind and nurturing environment for staff."

About Java Planet Organic Coffee: Java Planet Organic Coffee Roasters is a family owned company based in Tampa Florida. The company is owned and operated by Jennifer and Mike Simmons, who founded Java Planet in 2009. The online store features a wide variety of beans from different growing regions. Java Planet provides 100% certified organic and fair trade coffee.

For more information about us, please visit https://jporganiccoffee.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Jennifer Simmons

Organization: Java Planet Organic Coffee Roasters

Phone: (813) 242-4805

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/java-planet-organic-coffee-earns-sustainable-business-award-with-new-policies/107186

Release ID: 107186

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VALiNTRY Named Among SIA 2016 Best Staffing Firms to Work For in North America

Florida-based staffing industry front runner's outstanding attributes stand out among 300 participants

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Globally recognized staffing and workforce solutions advisors, Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) recently announced its 2016 list of Best Staffing Firms to Work For. Winners were commemorated at the SIA's 25th annual Executive Forum, which took place February 22 through 25 in Phoenix. Locally-based VALiNTRY Services was appointed as a best staffing firm to work for honoree in the 10 to 20 internal employees category in North America.

SIA President Barry Asin commented, "All of the organizations included as winners this year should be congratulated as the best of the best. These companies are leading the way in championing the employee engagement and internal alignment essential for successful and sustainable businesses. Above all, each recognize the true value in their people and is bringing this forward in their practices across the workforce ecosystem."

VALiNTRY (VALiNTRY.com) was among more than 300 entrants participating in this year's program, a joint effort of SIA and Quantum Workplace. Participants are categorized based on number of employees and evaluated according to surveys completed by employees of each firm. Each survey features 40 questions geared toward 10 focal points, such as benefits, compensation, effectiveness of management, teamwork, trust in senior leaders and valuation of employees.

Though employees' individual responses are kept confidential, each organization receives feedback on the survey's overall results. Employees are not obligated to complete the questionnaire and are not compensated for their cooperation.

Jim Lanzalotto of Monster noted, "By celebrating excellence within the staffing industry, these awards recognize the importance of employee trust, brand growth, and effective leadership which is paramount to a successful and productive workplace. These are attributes Monster seeks out in its own business and for our customers every day." Monster Worldwide is a sponsor of the awards.

"We are proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts for our dedication to our Clients as well as our employees," said VALiNTRY President Joe Parris, "Information Technology, Healthcare, CPA and Accounting professionals and consultants who are interested in growing their career with VALiNTRY are encouraged to visit our website for information on available jobs with VALiNTRY. We intend to carry on our tradition of client satisfaction, employee empowerment and will continue to adhere to our Values and reputation of quality."

About VALiNTRY:

VALiNTRY is a values-based Technology and Marketing Consulting and Finance / Accounting Staffing firm based in Winter Park, Florida. Serving clients nationwide from offices in Florida, Tennessee and Texas, VALiNTRY uses a proprietary amalgamation of state-of-the-art software called the V-FITT system to intelligently source and screen consultant resumes, reducing time to fill a client's position from weeks to just a few days. Additional accolades for the company include Best Places to Work awards from the Orlando Business Journal.

For more information about us, please visit https://VALiNTRY.com

Contact Info:

Name: Brent Healy

Organization: VALiNTRY

Phone: (800) 360-1407

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/valintry-named-among-sia-2016-best-staffing-firms-to-work-for-in-north-america/107281

Release ID: 107281

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Driving instructor training for Driving instructors Starts 15/03/2016

Andy1st driving school announced the availability of their new Driving instructor training Service beginning 15/03/2016. More information can be found at http://www.andy1stdrivingschool.co.uk/franchise/driving-instructor-training/.

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Customers looking for the latest Driving instructor training Service will soon be able to get involved with Andy1st driving school. Today David Hart, Head of Marketing at Andy1st driving school releases details of the new Driving instructor training Service's development.

The Driving instructor training Service is designed to appeal specifically to Driving instructors and includes:

Pay as you go instructor training with Andy1st driving school- This feature was included because It will help the trainee be able to complete a full courses without large outlay. This is great news for the consumer as No big sums of money to spend. This is good for the customer as they do not have to get funding..

Local trainers - This was made part of the service, since Each area Andy1st driving school cover has local driving instructor trainers.. Customers who invest in the service should enjoy this feature because This is good for the customer as they will be able to commence their training without having to wait..

All trainers are grade A. - Andy1st driving school made sure to make this part of the Driving instructor training Service's development as It will massivley improve the likelihood of the trainee passing.. Customers of the Driving instructor training Service will likely appreciate this because This is good for the consumer as it will reduce the likelihood of them having to retake their tests..

David Hart, when asked about the Driving instructor training Service said:

"This type of instructor training is new to the Andy1st driving school business."

This is the latest offering from Andy1st driving school and David Hart is particularly excited about this launch because Trainee instructors have been asking if Andy1st driving school can do a pay as you go service as it will help them budget..

Those interested in learning more about Andy1st driving school and their Driving instructor training Service scan do so on the website at http://www.andy1stdrivingschool.co.uk/franchise/driving-instructor-training/

For more information about us, please visit http://www.andy1stdrivingschool.co.uk/

Contact Info:

Name: David Hart

Email: david@andy1stdrivingschool.co.uk

Organization: Andy1st driving school

Address: 4 Olton Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, B90 3NE

Phone: +44 121 778 4777

Release ID: 107202

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Lombardi Media Corporation Subsidiary Announces Jeff Russell as New Financial Writer

Lombardi Media Corporation subsidiary Lombardi Publishing Corporation strengthens its editorial team with the addition of new financial writer.

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Lombardi Media Corporation (www.LombardiMedia.com), a holding company that owns a group of businesses involved in financial and health publishing, digital media development, customer contact services, product fulfillment and direct marketing, is pleased to announce that Jeff Russell has joined the research team at Lombardi Publishing as a Financial Writer. A Lombard Media Corporation subsidiary, Lombardi Publishing Corporation is a 30-year-old financial publisher that has served over one million customers in 141 countries.

"I'm really proud and impressed by our writing team and excited to have Jeff join Lombardi Publishing Corporation as a financial writer," says Michael Lombardi, Founder. "This addition further strengthens our writing team and deepens our reporting in crucial areas such as U.S and Canadian equities, stock market trends, micro- and macroeconomics, the global economy, and personal finance."

Supporting the financial editorial team at Profit Confidential, Jeff joins Lombardi Publishing Corporation with a strong background in micro-, macro-, and labor economics. Before joining Lombardi Media Corporation, Jeff had been a writer and editor, covering personal finance topics, the stock market, and labor economics. Jeff received his Bachelor of Commerce from Ryerson University and a Master's Degree in Economics from York University.

"With talented, experienced writers like Jeff helping to expand the Profit Confidential editorial team, there's no doubt that our content will continue to deliver excellence," Lombardi concludes.

Founded in 1986 by entrepreneur Michael Lombardi, Lombardi Media Corporation owns a diverse group of businesses employing hundreds of people in the financial and health publishing, digital media development, customer contact services, product fulfillment and direct marketing industries. More information on Lombardi Media Corporation can be found at www. LombardiMedia.com.

For more information about us, please visit http://www.lombardimedia.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Wendy Potter

Organization: Lombardi Media Corporation

Address: 7000 Pine Valley Dr, Vaughan, ON L4L

Phone: 905-856-2022

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/lombardi-media-corporation-subsidiary-announces-jeff-russell-as-new-financial-writer/107276

Release ID: 107276

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XFIT Brands, INC Announces Their DWAC Eligible Status

This designation enables faster, easier, and lower cost transfer of shares in XFTB and is the next important step for investors in the newly-public XFit Brands, Inc., reports http://www.xfitbrands.com

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XFit Brands, Inc. (OTC: XFTB), a global supplier of fitness and MMA equipment sold at retail and fitness outlets worldwide whose brands include XFit Brands, Throwdown, and Transformations, today announced that Depository Trust Company's (the "DTC") has approved XFit's common stock for DWAC/FAST transfer.

The Depository Trust Company's (DTC) Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian (DWAC) service provides participants with the ability to make electronic book-entry deposits and withdrawals of eligible securities into and out of their DTC book-entry accounts using a Fast Automated Securities Transfer service (FAST) transfer agent as the distribution point. The FAST system eliminates the movement of physical securities certificates for transfers of securities registered in the name of DTC's nominee, Cede & Co, on the transfer agent's books. DTC and its FAST transfer agents reconcile the results of participants' deposit and withdrawal activities electronically on a daily basis. This newly approved stock transfer capability will enable XFit Brands Inc. shareholders to transfer their shares of XFTB stock electronically without the extra expense and delay associated with the processing and transfer of physical share certificates.

VStock Transfer's Vice-President of Sales, Lisa Loew stated, "We are very pleased to have supported XFit Brands, Inc. in this initiative to provide increased service and flexibility for their shareholders. VStock Transfer is always looking to assist its portfolio companies to bring greater efficiencies to investors and XFit hopes to accomplish that with the approval of DWAC/FAST share transfers. We believe this is an important step for XFit to build liquidity for its current shareholders and will enable XFit to continue to expand its shareholder base."

XFit Brands has been growing compound annually in excess of 40 percent over the past three years, and has built an attractive niche as a high value supplier to the growing health and fitness club channel. As a result, XFit has become an exclusive one-stop shop for major gym franchise operators and continues to expand its business worldwide. The Company became a public entity in September 2015 to enable it to access the capital markets to continue supporting the Company's growth.

Brent Willis, the Executive Chairman of XFit Brands and a former Division President at Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) and CCO at AB InBev (NYSE:BUD), commented, "Gaining DWAC eligibility is the next important step in building the XFit Brands new public entity. It makes it easy on shareowners, and is an important foundational component as we now begin to build awareness of a very good, high growth business."

About VStock Transfer:

VStock Transfer (www.VStocktransfer.com) is a NYC based stock transfer and registrar firm founded by experienced securities lawyers to provide cost savings, DTC Eligibility, DWAC services, dedicated account managers, FREE 24-7 Issuer access online to shareholder reports, and outstanding customer service that will impress the Issuer and shareholders.

About XFit Brands:

XFit Brands, Inc. is one of the leading suppliers of functional fitness brands, products, and equipment sold at retail and fitness outlets in more than 20 countries worldwide. The company provides a full portfolio of products and services spanning MMA, CrossFit, and other high and low impact fitness regimes and owns the trademarks XFIT for its Functional Fitness line, Throwdown for its MMA portfolio, and Transformations in programming. The Company's websites are www.XFitBrands.com and www.throwdown.com.

Safe Harbor Disclosure

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are any statement reflecting management's current expectations regarding future results of operations, economic performance, financial condition and achievements of XFit, including statements regarding XFit's expectation to see continued growth. The forward-looking statements are based on the assumption that operating performance and results will continue in line with historical results. Management believes these assumptions to be reasonable but there is no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements, specifically those concerning future performance are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. XFit competes in a rapidly growing and transforming industry, and other factors disclosed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission may affect the Company's operations. Unless required by applicable law, XFit undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements

For investor inquiries please contact:

Emma Mejia

Emma.mejia@Throwdown.com

(949) 916-9680

Lisa Loew

lisa@vstocktransfer.com

(212) 828-8436

Website:

www.XFitBrands.com

www.Throwdown.com

www.VStocktransfer.com

For more information about us, please visit http://www.xfitbrands.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Brent Willis

Organization: XFit Brands

Address: Lake Forest, CA 92630

Phone: (949) 916-9680

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/xfit-brands-inc-announces-their-dwac-eligible-status/107330

Release ID: 107330

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Its official: The three bills meant to raise South Dakota teacher salaries to an average of $48,500 and make it easier to recruit teachers were signed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard into law March 11.

The overhaul will send about $60 million to districts in the form of funding; They have to put at least 85 percent of that into salaries, or face a penalty. The current average teacher salary is about $40,600.

As I wrote for Education Week, the biggest hurdle was passing a sales-tax increase , the first in the state in more than 40 years. The two companion bills that followed on its heels changed up the states school finance formula.

Instead of being based on a per-pupil allocation, districts will get money keyed to a target student-teacher ratio (ranging from 12 to 1, to 15 to 1, depending on the size of the district). The state formula also gradually accounts for varying local sources of revenue, like wind-tax income, so that districts will be expected to put some of it towards schools before they get their cut of state aid.

The bills also establish a new mentoring program for teachers in their first two years in the classroom, direct the state education department to establish reciprocity procedures for recognizing teachers from out of state, and expand an e-learning center.

For more on South Dakotas overhaul:
A California lawmaker has proposed a bill that would require employers to give parents three paid days off a year to attend school-related activities.

Studies show that when a parent is involved in their childs education, this has a profound effect on that childs education, said Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) . Grades go up. Truancy goes down. Its almost impossible to quantify the value of a parent going down to the school site and being a parent helper.

Under California law, parents, grandparents, and legal guardians can already take 40 hours of unpaid time off for school-related activities or emergencies.

Gattos proposal would make 24 of those hours paid. Employers with 25 employees or less would be exempt. The Education Commission of the States reports this would make California the first state to mandate that employers provide workers paid time off to attend school-related activities. However, several states have school involvement leave policies, including North Carolina , Nevada and Rhode Island , which mandate that parents be allowed to take leave to attend school functions.

Gatto says more and more public schools are putting pressure on parents to participate in school activities, and that puts some parents at a disadvantage.

One feels a great deal of sympathy toward the parents who want to participate but who cant because they cant afford to take the time off unpaid, said Gatto. No parent should have to choose between putting food on the table and participating in their childs education.

Gatto says hes heard nothing but positive feedback on his bill from parents, but he expects a big fight over it in the California State Assembly.
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Donald Trump knocked Marco Rubio out of the Republican race by winning Florida and three more states, reinforcing his status as the partys frontrunner, but he lost to John Kasich in Ohio, complicating his path to the presidential nomination.

After a bruising loss in Michigan last week, Hillary Clinton posted a resounding comeback with four state primary wins, propelling her forward in the delegate count and pushing her much closer to clinching the Democratic nomination.

If Mr Trump gains a majority of delegates before July, Republican party fixers can still bend the rules to deny him the nomination, writes Ed Luce. Such a prospect would be incendiary. Yet the chances of an open Republican split cannot be ruled out. The divisions between Mr Trump and what remains of the Republican establishment are only growing as the primary season continues. (FT)

In the news

Deutsche Borse and LSE unveil merger deal Europes two largest exchanges are hoping regulators will bless the creation of a champion for European trading, based in London but with the German exchanges Carsten Kengeter as chief executive. The big uncertainty is whether Intercontinental Exchange, a US rival, will enter the bidding for the LSE. ICE, which owns the New York Stock Exchange, said earlier this month it was considering making an offer. Patrick Jenkins outlines the risks to the grand visions. (FT)

Renewables curb emissions Carbon pollution levels stayed flat last year even though the global economy kept growing, in a sign that efforts to tackle climate change may be bearing fruit faster than thought. A surge in renewable power around the world was the main reason energy-related emissions stalled, the International Energy Agency found, reflecting rising levels of investment that reached a record $328.9bn last year. (FT, Bloomberg)

Man charged in celebrity hacking case A 36-year-old has been charged with stealing celebrities' usernames and passwords via a phishing scam, enabling him to hack their Apple iCloud and Gmail accounts and steal nude photos and videos. Ryan Collins, who has agreed to plead guilty to the offence, faces a jail term of 18 months, although a judge could extend that to five years. (BBC)

N Korea sentences US student Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old American student who tearfully apologised for trying to steal a political propaganda poster in his hotel in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, has been sentenced to 15 years hard labour for subversion. The punishment is harsh compared with those given to foreigners in the past, reflecting high tensions between North Korea and the US. (NYT, BBC)

Philippine casinos probed Philippine authorities are investigating how $81m in stolen Bangladeshi central bank funds found their way from New York into a Philippine bank for laundering in local casinos. (NAR)

Brussels on alert The Belgian capital is on high alert amid a police operation linked to Novembers attacks in Paris. Last night four officers were wounded and a suspect armed with a Kalashnikov was shot dead. (BBC)

Its a big day for

Donald Tusk, who will send all 28 EU leaders a new draft of a refugee deal with Turkey that, in his own words, needs to be rebalanced. On the eve of another make-or-break EU summit, the former Polish prime minister is facing one of the biggest challenges of his 15-month tenure in trying to patch up the Merkel plan. (FT)

George Osborne The UK chancellor presents his Budget to parliament. Heres what you can expect. (FT)

Food for thought

Trump's castle A behind the scenes look at the billionaires sparkling Florida estate with the moguls longtime butler, Anthony Senecal. Gems include how to tell when the former reality TV star is in a bad mood and what to do about it. (Spoiler: it involves a bugler playing Hail to the Chief.) (NYT)

Storks' junk food habit The white stork that generations of children have been told is the creature that carried them into the world has developed a disturbing habit: an addiction to junk food. The birds passion for discarded hamburgers, leftover fish and other food waste from rubbish dumps is so profound that thousands no longer fly south to Africa in winter from Europe, a new study has shown. (FT)

Secret meetings of the US elite at risk The Blackstone deal could net the well-connected Chinese conglomerate Anbang Insurance more than 7,500 of the USs most expensive hotel rooms  common sites for sensitive business negotiations, diplomatic glad-handing, closed-door conferences, and maybe even the occasional illicit affair. And that should be terrifying to their long-time guests. (Quartz)

Scientists rebel Long publication delays that prevent scientists from showing off their most recent work have begun to look absurd against the expectations for speed and openness of the digital age. Several journals promised that scientists would not be penalised for immediately releasing their findings on the Zika virus, given the potential benefit for public health. Many are asking, why draw the line there? (NYT)

Service with a selfie Amazon has filed a patent for technology that would enable users to pay for items by taking a selfie. The company believes the move could improve cyber security as a selfie is far less likely to be hacked than a password. (Yahoo)

Video of the day

Chinas NPC approves latest 5-year plan The annual parliament in Beijing has approved the governments latest plan with unproductive mines to face reform, but there is still plenty of investment to come. The FT's Lucy Hornby reports from Beijing. (FT)
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Vladimir Putin ordered Russias armed forces to start pulling out of Syria, as peace talks resumed between the Assad regime and Syrian opposition forces in Geneva. The Kremlin said the Russian military would retain a presence in Syria for conducting air force flights to continue to monitor the ceasefire and ensure its implementation.

When it comes to Syrias future, the Russian presidents declaration of mission accomplished may be no more lasting than when a previous American president uttered those words after the beginning of the Iraq war in 2003, says Ivo Daalder. The relative quiet on the front lines, combined with the resumption of diplomacy, allows Mr Putin to pivot from war-maker to peacemaker, but Syria remains as deeply divided, politically and territorially, as ever.(FT, The Exchange blog)

In the news

Bangladesh bank chief resigns over $101m theft Cyber-thieves are believed to have deployed computer malware in a bid to clone authorisation codes and transfer about $1bn from Bangladesh Banks account with the New York Federal Reserve. The thieves had moved $101m to accounts in Sri Lanka and the Philippines when an intermediary bank spotted an error. Although about $20m was recovered, the heist remains one of the largest bank thefts in history. (FT)

Nato chief warns on Brexit If Britain votes to leave the EU it could have a negative impact on the Nato alliance, a senior US military commander has warned. Lt Gen Ben Hodges, head of the US Army in Europe, said he was "worried" the EU could unravel just when it needed to stand up to Russia. (BBC)

Suu Kyi aide elected Myanmar's parliament has elected Htin Kyaw, a trusted aide of National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, as the country's new president. Htin Kyaw is set to take office on April 1 as Myanmar moves towards democracy after more than half a century of rule by the military or a military-backed government. (NAR)

Sony buys out Jackson stake in publishing unit Michael Jackson earned more than any entertainer dead or alive in the first five years after his untimely passing. Today's sale of the Jackson estate's half of music publishing group Sony/ATV for $750m confirms the star's little-known business savvy. The deal consolidates Sonys ownership of the company, which represents 3m songs ranging from the Motown catalogue to hits by The Beatles and Taylor Swift. (Forbes)

Turkey polarised The government has launched a broad offensive against Kurdish militants after a car bombing in Ankara killed at least 37 people. Investigators suspect one of the bombers was a woman linked to the PKK militant group. Although there have been calls for national unity, Turkish society is profoundly polarised, and an increasing number of citizens have come to feel like refugees in their own land, writes Elif Shafak. (WSJ, FT)

Anbangs five-star buying spree The Chinese insurer put in a $13bn bid for Starwood Hotels & Resorts the day after it agreed to purchase Strategic Hotels & Resorts for $6.5bn, in a sign of corporate Chinas feverish pursuit of foreign assets. (FT)

Its a big day for

US primaries Today's votes could shore up the frontrunners or give their challengers new life. On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders will try to pull off more come-from-behind victories. For the GOP, Marco Rubio and John Kasich have both staked their candidacies on winning the primaries in their respective home states. Polls show Mr Kasich beating Republican frontrunner Donald Trump but Mr Rubio is far behind the property tycoon. (WaPo, FT)

Food for thought

Time for a universal income? Is the US economy reaching its Vietnam moment? It was only when middle class children were drafted that opinion swung decisively against that war. Globalisation has destroyed many blue-collar jobs but technological change is now threatening the professions. That makes it an opportune moment to look again at the practicalities and costs of a universal basic income. It is an old idea whose time may finally have come, writes John Thornhill. (FT)

Merkel power unravels This time last year, the German chancellor was at the peak of her power, but her authority is now unravelling with the erosion of prestige in both Germany and Europe feeding on each other. She gambled on the tolerance of the German public. And rather than seeking out the European middle ground, she took a position far to the left of almost all the other EU countries. (FT)

Brazil: caught up in a scandal Markets are betting on a new government restoring growth, but embattled President Dilma Rousseff looks up for a long fight. (FT)

The key to happiness at work In Sweden, workers are among the least stressed in the world and the secret lies in fika  a longstanding social ritual that involves taking short breaks throughout the day to unwind. (Quartz)

Pigeon power London's much-reviled pigeons are being put to work as air pollution monitors by Plume Labs' Pigeon Air Patrol project. Air quality sensors are strapped to the birds like tiny backpacks, providing instant information about air pollution wherever the pigeons are. The pigeons are on Twitter, allowing Londoners to tweet their area to@PigeonAir to get an instant air quality report. (Gizmodo)

Video of the day

Rubios final Florida push As one Republican contender after another falls by the wayside, what stands in the way of US presidential hopeful Donald Trump? The FT's Edward Luce reports. (FT)
UK mid-cap managers are turning their backs on a potential buying opportunity in Aberdeen Asset Management despite the firms relegation to the FTSE 250 index.

Emerging market-focused Aberdeen is to enter the mid-cap index next Monday after four years in the FTSE 100. The relegation follows a prolonged slump for developing markets, which led to major outflows and a 50 per cent tumble in the fund houses share price over the past 11 months alone.

But despite the first signs of a rebound for emerging markets, UK mid-cap managers  who have a limited ability to access the asset class via FTSE 250 stocks  are yet to take the plunge on Aberdeen.

Neptune UK Mid-Cap manager Mark Martin said the firm was under consideration, but emphasised he continued to find better opportunities elsewhere.

Although the valuation is more attractive than it was just a few months ago, it hasnt yet met our high criteria for inclusion in [the] fund, he said.

Jamie Forbes-Wilson, new co-manager on the Axa Distribution fund, said the portfolio continues to hold Aberdeen because of its commitment to continue paying out dividends, albeit as a static position.

The manager said his mid-cap colleagues would take a look at the stock, but similarly were not yet ready to buy.

The mid-cap managers remain cognisant of all the opportunities [in the FTSE 250]. They still have concerns on sentiment around emerging markets but with clarity on Chinas GDP targets, you can start to predict a more stable outlook. It is something they will be looking at, he said.

Emerging market equities are already starting to rally, meaning Aberdeens share price has risen 30 per cent since the four-year low reached on 11 February.

This has added weight to the suggestion that a demotion from the blue-chip index can often coincide with a turning point in a stocks fortunes.

Each company that falls into the FTSE 250 initially represents about 1 per cent of the index. Should an under-owned stock then outperform, it can do significant damage to a mid cap funds relative performance.

Derek Mitchell, manager of the Royal London UK Mid Cap Growth fund, highlighted the example of Morrisons, which was demoted to the FTSE 250 at the end of December after 15 years in the top tier. The stock then rose 38 per cent in the following two months.

As a result, it will reenter the FTSE 100 next week, but its sharp rise has caught out some mid-cap managers, according to Mr Mitchell.

However, in the case of Aberdeen, the manager said the fundamentals of the company still looked shaky. Mr Mitchell said he wouldnt go near it because of the possibility of a dividend cut, but retained an open mind as to the companys prospects.

It is all too easy not to own it because of the sentiment around emerging markets, he said.

We have recently seen flows back into emerging markets, and Aberdeen and Ashmore would be beneficiaries, but we would need to see flows over a longer period of time.
Fidelity European Values (FEV) has announced chairman Humphrey van der Klugt will step down at the companys AGM on 12 May and he will be succeeded by Vivian Bazalgette.

The investment trust made the announcement as part of its year-end results for 2015 which reported its net asset value (NAV) per share as 6.9 per cent, outperforming its benchmark index, the FTSE World Europe (ex UK) Index, which returned 5.3 per cent.

The share price total return over this period was 9.2 per cent, ahead of the NAV return, as a consequence of the level of discount (ex-income) narrowing from 4.6 per cent at the start of the year to 2.9 per cent at the year end.

As part of the investment trusts results, European equities rose in sterling terms over the 12-month period, with gains primarily driven by increasing evidence of a recovery in European economies.

These gains were partially reversed as markets fell sharply in the third quarter due to concerns about Chinas slowdown and its potential impact on the global economy, according to the report.

FEV has a very good portfolio. Paul Coffin

Looking ahead, the trusts managers said the recovery in the Eurozone remained intact but warned of potential risks on the horizon, with markets becoming increasingly concerned about a global economic slowdown and deflation.

Managers of the trust said they were also factoring in a possible Brexit, warning that this would have wide consequences for the UK and also for continental European countries.

Adviser View

Paul Coffin, chartered wealth manager at London-based Capital Financial Markets, said: The discount has widened in the last month or so to 11 per cent. The NAV is 1.84.

So while the results are alright, the discount has widened to 11 per cent so people might think it is time to go in. It has got a very good portfolio such as Nestle, Roche and UBS, which are excellent companies so you are buying some very good quality blue chip stock on a significant discount.
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) Group and Deutsche Borse have confirmed a merger of the two groups, a tie-up between two of the largest exchange companies in the world.

In an initial statement, the LSE had said the potential merger of equals remains conditional on agreement of other terms and final approval by the boards. However, the merger is now confirmed. Under the terms of the deal, LSE shareholders will own 45.6 per cent of the new holding company, while Deutsche Borse will own 54.4 per cent. The merger will continue to hold its headquarters in London and Frankfurt.

The merger will provide an opportunity for both companies to strengthen each other in an industry-defining combination, creating a European based global markets infrastructure group, the statement said.

This is the third attempt on the part of both exchanges to merge in 16 years. During the bidding process, Intercontinental Exchange (Ice), the owner of the New York Stock Exchange, also announced it was considering a potential counterbid.

Earlier this week, Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at spread betting platform CMC said he did not think the merger was a good idea, The Ice option makes better sense because it still preserves the two dual exchange model of London clearing house and Eurex.

Mr Hewson further argued that merging with a European Borse would mean a loss of competition and bring the risk of a monopolistic behaviour in the EU.

He also warned the merger may not be ideal looking at the risk of a UK exit from the EU, It does play into the Brexit debate and politics. Ultimately whether we get a Brexit is neither here nor there. For me the risk is over the longer term, the business will leak away from London into central Europe because European regulators are going to be very reluctant to allow euro-denominated transactions to take place outside the euro area, Mr Hewson added.

The LSE recently reported a 31 per cent rise in adjusted pre-tax profits to 643m, as revenues soared by 78 per cent to 2.3bn.

The Chart shows the performance of LSE over the past one-year.
The chancellors changes to commercial property taxes have been welcomed by self-invested pension providers but criticised by letting agents.

HM Treasurys Budget explanation document stated the existing slab system of stamp duty on non-residential property transactions creates distortions in the market and leads to large increases in the tax bill as transactions move into higher tax bands.

These rates will be reformed to a slice system, so that stamp duty is payable on the portion of the transaction value that falls within each tax band.

The new rates will be 0 per cent for the portion of the transaction value between zero and 150,000; 2 per cent between 150,000 and 250,000; and 5 per cent for property worth more than 250,000.

This means that all freehold and lease premium transactions below 1.05m will pay the same or less stamp duty.

The government will also introduce a new 2 per cent rate for leasehold rent transactions where the net present value is more than 5m.

These transactions are already taxed on a slice basis and all leasehold rent transactions up to 5m will remain unaffected.

These changes will take effect from midnight tonight (16 March).

For transactions which have already exchanged contracts but not completed when the changes come into force, transitional rules will ensure taxpayers will not lose out.

Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, commented: Over a decade ago, the government of that time decided to decouple the commercial and residential rates of SDLT recognising that the sectors were driven by very different factors and there was no logic in charging the same rates of SDLT on commercial and residential property.

We can only hope that todays announcement isnt any unravelling of that logic.

However, self-invested personal pension providers welcomed the move, with Dentons Pension Managements director of technical services Martin Tilley pointing out that it will make the purchase as investment of commercial property within both Sipps and Ssass less expensive.

Greg Kingston, head of marketing at Suffolk Life, agreed that it should raise awareness of the opportunity amongst investors.

Industry figures suggest that fewer than 3 per cent of all commercial property transactions are made by Sipps  this figure should now start to grow following this Budget.

Jeff Steedman, head of Sipp and Ssas business development, added: These changes to Stamp Duty will reduce the costs for clients selling their own premises to their pension plans or indeed purchasing new premises to expand and grow their businesses.

John Phillips, group operations director of Spicer Haart and Just Mortgages, pointed out that Mr Osborne also re-stated the residential stamp duty reforms that will come into force next month and confirmed that large investors with more than 15 properties in their portfolios will be covered.

However, until real measures are taken and building activity increases substantially, the long-term issue around demand for houses and the lack of housing supply means affordability will remain a significant challenge, he argued.
Provider Zurich has warned ahead of the Budget that savers on lower incomes would be disproportionately hit by a move to abolish salary sacrifice for pension contributions.

Chancellor George Osborne may use this afternoons (16 March)n Budget to announce a change to salary sacrifice arrangements.

But Zurich has warned basic rate taxpayers signed up to salary sacrifice schemes could be worse off if Mr Osborne scraps the benefit.

People use salary sacrifice schemes to minimise their income tax and national insurance payments.

Employers pay into their staffs pensions or other perks, and employees accept a lower salary in return.

Both employers and employees save on NI contributions and it can have tax benefits too.

Some estimates put the cost of salary sacrifice schemes to HM Treasury at 14bn a year.

For example, at present, it costs basic rate taxpayers 68 to save 100 into their pension, 58 for higher rate taxpayers and 53 for additional ratepayers.

However, if salary sacrifice was abolished, basic rate taxpayers would need to increase their contributions to 80 to save 100, while for higher and additional rate taxpayers this would only increase to 60 and 55.

Iain Mills, operational taxes director for Zurich UK Life, said what is key to note today is the chancellor may have postponed a root and branch reform of pension tax relief but he could still cut other valuable benefits.

Ending salary sacrifice would be a blow to people on all incomes but would disproportionately hit basic rate taxpayers who the government should be encouraging to save more.

Higher rate tax payers would still receive almost as much tax relief - 40 per cent rather than 42 per cent - whereas basic rate taxpayers would see their rate plummet from 32 per cent to 20 per cent. This would leave basic rate taxpayers 12 pence in every pound worse off.

Mr Mills said the government should be doing all it can to encourage employers to increase contributions into their employees pensions, thereby boosting employee engagement in saving, especially where there is a matching arrangement in place.

Removing salary sacrifice would place additional financial and administrative burdens on employers. Implementing any reforms would also be highly complex, especially as arrangements are written into many employment contracts, and could be difficult for HMRC to police.

Claire Trott, director and head of pensions technical at Talbot & Muir, said if salary sacrifice is abolished it will be a real detriment to savers and as they say, having to pay national insurance on these contributions will mean that those hit hardest will be basic rate tax payers.

Salary sacrifice is something that has been feared to be at risk for some time and the announcement that the major pension tax relief reforms are at least postponed may mean that its days are numbered.

She added the implications for employers who operate schemes on this basis are huge, with many of them having spent time and money building payroll systems to cope and have also started to give back some of their national insurance savings to the employees as additional contributions.
Dairy advisers have promised to break the taboo and help struggling farmers shake up their businesses  or quit the industry.

Addressing a Dairy Allied Industries Forum at Stoneleigh Park on Tuesday (15 March), AHDB Dairy strategy director Amanda Ball said leaving the industry had been a taboo subject, but was now the reality for more and more farmers.

She presented research showing about half of British dairy farms were financially vulnerable in December, meaning they could not cover their cash costs. This would likely have worsened in the first three months of 2016, she said.

Only 15% were classed as long-term sustainable, which meant they covered their full economic costs.

See also: Milk price pain hurting efficient dairy producers

One solution proposed by consultants, accountants and bankers attending the forum was to establish a hotline to point farmers towards the best professional advice.

They will also publish a list of 12 tough questions that would push farmers to reflect on whether they were fit to face the current crisis and keep dairying in the future.

Barclays head of agriculture Mark Suthern said farmers needed sensible realism. He said banks wanted to see a plan A, but also a plan B.

If you have been trading profitably for the past 20 years and this is just a blip, then we will continue to support you. But if you are making losses when the milk price is high, then where are you going to go?

All the industries represented said they were surprised at the lack of extra demand for advice, despite the brutal market conditions. The only ones to notice a major change were feed firms, who had extended their lines of credit.

Farm Community Network chief executive Charles Smith said there were psychological barriers to farmers making dramatic decisions about their future.

There is a fear of change and family pressure to keep going. Often they will not call [our helpline] until the bailiffs come down the road.
I met Sharon Davison a couple of years ago when she came to Harvest for a school visit before the America Achieves conference. Her passion for connecting with others was evident within the first minutes I met her and comes through clearly in this blog post. She leverages her decades of experience and value for new media to support deep learning and connection. Her work inspires and challenges me to think about how I am connecting in helpful ways with students, their families, and my colleagues. I hope it does the same for you. Regardless of how you feel after reading, be sure to connect via the comments or on Twitter. - JRTM

Why use social media? I say why not!

Social media has been instrumental in keeping my students and their families connected throughout the day. As an educator of young children, I want parentswho are important stakeholdersto be involved, have opportunities to connect with what their child is exploring, and understand how the learning happens. Social media offers invitations for conversations to emerge.

Recently I was away from my kindergarten classroom for professional development. When I am out of my classroom I am always trying to think of ways that I can still connect and have conversations with my students. While in Washington DC I was able to take photographs of the Peruvian Embassy and some other interesting activities that I was involved in. When I shared these photos on Twitter my students were able to see what I was seeing, and have opportunities to ask questions and share what they notice. We are exploring Peru, so Twitter was a great way to share the authentic learning experiences I was having with my students! This helps us learn together about a new culture.

Twitter has given me, my students, and their families opportunities to share and engage with ideas and make connections with things we are exploring. Twitter also lets my students and their families say hello during the school day, and ask questions about what we are exploring in class. This platform is an easy and fun way for students and parents to see how social media can be used safely to not only have conversations, but also to learn.

Families begin to use Twitter when they understand its value and the opportunities it offers. For example, in kindergarten this month, we are exploring where maple syrup comes from. Recently a family tweeted me a photo of their children exploring this lesson at home. One of my students made a connection to what we learned in class and what was learned at home, and then shared using social media. This is both enriching and powerful.

When one of my students is home ill they send our class a tweet saying they miss us and want to know what we are doing in kindergarten. I think about how wonderful it is that a five-year-old knows how to reach us and connectand even more importantly wants to know what she/he is missing. When my students and I explore and scan our class Twitter feed we are strengthening our literacy skills and making connections with other young learners we follow. We are beginning to connect and have conversations about what we are learning.

I teach my kindergarteners to use Twitter because:



Social media gives me opportunities to model how to be safe, kind and responsible when online. I am able to connect and have conversations alongside families and students when not in the classroom. Learning is enriched because my classroom is open to the world. We are able to explore the world because of how we are sharing and able to make connections.

Creating a map displays the richness, tools and platforms we use when having conversations globally.

Social media is everywhere and it is a part of our culture. I am thinking about ways to use platforms like Twitter to model explicitly alongside my students and their families how it can be used to enhance, engage, and enrich not only learning, but our conversations and our relationships. As a nation we know in the future that we are going to need to collaborate globally, use digital tools, and think critically to solve world problems. Why not begin in kindergarten?

Sharon Davison has been teaching for over 3 decades. She is presently a Kindergarten at the Allen Brook School in Vermont. She is also an online facilitator for the NEA Professional Practice Communities. She is passionate about learning and believes in creativity, innovation and collaboration. Sharon uses a variety of digital tools and platforms to connect, engage and enhance learning. She believes in wellness of mind and body and values family engagement.

She is @kkidsinvt on Twitter Kindergartenlife.wordpress.com is one of the blogs she has created for reflection.
Herd health and lameness are set to benefit from a body condition scoring (BCS) app farms can use to target management at cow and herd level and flag at risk cows.

It follows research showing an increase in cases of lameness after loss of BCS and the subsequent fat loss from the digital cushion in the hoof.

Calving down below a BCS of 2.5 increases the probability of lameness develo ping, a spokesman for Bayer Animal Health, the company behind the free app, told Farmers Weekly.

See also: How to get stocking rates and nutrition right

Similarly, the probability of lameness increases if cows lose 0.5 of a BCS.

The app is designed to save time spent gauging herd condition on farm by incorporating the AHDB Dairy BCS system and storing and translating scores into data to drive management considerations.

This is giving farms an easy way to build data giving a BCS history of the cow but without the paperwork, said the Bayer spokesman.

Herd level and cow level data can be managed and interpreted from your phone.

Based on the Penn State system, Bayer stresses the app is nothing new for farmers to learn.

Cow and herd level progress can be tracked to 0.25 of a condition score, with the app aiming to help all units but particularly those struggling to find time to BCS successfully.

Key body condition scoring times At calving

At peak yield

Halfway through lactation

Drying off

BCS cattle should be done at least four times each year and ideally as much as possible, the Bayer spokesman added.

Quarterly condition scoring really is not enough, it should be more often and the app can be used by anyone on the farm to offer a consistent result.

In addition to monitoring mature cows, Bayer underlines the importance of weighing youngstock to diagnose subclinical disease  the biggest problem in rearing animals.

Weighing young animals is important for the diseases at levels you cant see. The only way you pick up on these is being very sharp eyed or by weighing them as a first indicator that something is wrong, the spokesman said.
Turkey farmers caught up in the bird flu outbreak in the United States earlier this year displayed poor levels of biosecurity, according to a preliminary epidemiology report.

The United States Department of Agricultures Animal and Plant Health Inspection (Aphis) report found evidence that the farms were sharing feed trucks across facilities and that staff were failing to scrub footwear after exiting barns.

See also: Bird flu returns to hit US turkey flocks

Farms were also found to be using the same staff in different barns in the Indiana outbreak in January, when a single case of high-pathogenic H7N8 and eight cases of low-pathogenic H7N8 were confirmed.

As part of the report, all of the infected farms were asked to fill in a questionnaire to examine their biosecurity practices, employer and visitor, vehicle and equipment movements, litter handling and number and type of wild birds on the holdings.

The report found of the ten farms surveyed, nine reported having a gravel approach road to the turkey units, even though the presence of a gravel road was identified as a risk factor in the turkey control study associated with the HPAI outbreak in Minnesota last year.

Risk factors

Feed trucks and company personnel vehicles regularly approached the barns, even though a layer study in the 2015 Iowa outbreak found renderer and garbage vehicles approaching the barn to be a risk factor.

None of the AI-positive farms used different personnel in different barns; only three required employees to scrub footwear and only one required employees to stay off farm at least 24 hours after exposure to other poultry.

Visitors were not required to avoid visiting multiple farms on the same day, while all 10 farms shared company trucks and feed trucks during the 14 days prior to infection.

Eight farms reported that a company service person visited and entered a barn in the 14 days prior to infection and on seven farms they entered the infected barn.

Only three farms carried out cleaning and disinfecting on the barns hard surface entry, even though studies last year showed such action decrease the odds of a farm becoming infected.

Aphis said that, while some poor practices had been eliminated, farmers needed to remain vigilant in the upcoming month and maintain good biosecurity.
Massachusetts Judge's Son Charged in Illinois Hate Crime

Two young men were arrested this weekend for spray painting racial slurs and the name "Trump" in a non-denominational chapel in Illinois. The Northwestern University students were in court on a bond hearing, where the judge was vocal about her feelings, according to ABC News.

"These allegations are disgusting to me," Judge Peggy Chiampas told Anthony Morales, 19, and Matthew Kafker, 18, both of whom are charged with hate crimes. For many young teens, getting chided by a judge must be scary. But Kafker was raised by one -- he is the son of the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Court of Appeals, reports The Boston Globe.

The Charges

So far, the younger Kafker is not having an impressive freshman year. Kafker and Morales are out on a bond of $50,000 while awaiting prosecution for hate crimes. They allegedly spray-painted homophobic, racist, and anti-Semitic slurs on the walls of the Alice Millar Chapel, the chapel organ, and the office, as well as the name of Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump.

The chapel is non-denominational, meaning it is available for general contemplation and worship. Perhaps this is why the alleged teen vandals were so inclusive in their intolerance, extending their hate to almost everyone. Northwestern President Morton Schapiro issued a statement about the graffiti, saying, "This disgusting act of hatred violates the deepest values and core commitments of our University and is an affront to us all."

The Judge's Son

Both alleged teen vandals have been suspended from school and are barred from campus for the time being, according to Northwestern University officials. There has been no word from the Kafker father on the supposed antics of his son, the college freshman.

But you can bet dad's not happy about his son making national headlines in association with a hate crime. The Boston Globe reports that Scott L. Kafker was appointed just last year to helm the state appeals court. He was praised as "an esteemed jurist [with] the ability to lead this influential court in its mission of rendering thoughtful, well-reasoned appellate decisions timely and efficiently and treating all those who come before the court fairly and impartially."

The judge's son and his co-defendant, Morales, will be back in court again today.

Accused?

If you or someone you know has been accused of a crime, do not delay. Speak to a criminal defense attorney today. Many lawyers consult for free or a minimal fee and will be happy to assess your case.

Related Resources:
Top 5 Legal Tips for Minor Criminal Offenses

They may not seem like serious offenses, but even minor crimes can have major consequences. While misdemeanors are capped at one year in jail, any incarceration can have a serious impact on your life and even misdemeanor convictions can end up on your record.

Here are a few minor criminal offenses, along with some tips on how to deal with them before they become major criminal problems:

It's just a candy bar or a soda, right? But even the most minor shoplifting charges can result in criminal and civil penalties, and they could even affect your credit report. So make sure you've got a lawyer on your side who understands the criminal justice system.

Even if your child is underage, he or she could face time in a juvenile detention center for vandalism, and parents can be on the hook for expensive restitution costs. And although most juvenile records aren't public, juvenile convictions can be disclosed in certain circumstances.

The line between juvenile court and the adult justice system is not the same in every state, and is sometimes up to a judge's discretion. While some states have set minimum and maximum age limits, others allow juveniles to be tried as adults based on the seriousness of the offense.

There's a time and place for everything, and it's called college. While our university students may be the best and brightest, let's just say they don't always use their best judgment. From harmless pranks or using a fake ID to more serious offenses like theft, DUI, and revenge porn, the things you do in college can stick with you for life.

If you've been arrested or charged with any of the above crimes (or litany of other offenses) you will have mandatory court appearances. While these may seem like an inconvenient hassle to you, rest assured that prosecutors and courts take them very seriously and may issue fines or arrest warrants if you don't show up.

The best way to make sure a minor criminal offense doesn't have a major impact on your life is to discuss your case with an experienced criminal defense attorney near you.

Related Resources:


Top: U Htin Kyaw,

Bottom: U Henry Van Thio Top: U Htin Kyaw,Bottom: U Henry Van Thio

The military presidential nominee, U Myint Swe was elected as Vice President (1) and U Henry Van Thio, a Chin National and NLD Member of Parliament, was elected as Vice-President (2) in the same parliamentary session vote.

Out of 562 members of parliament that attended the session and voted for the president 360 voted for U Myint Swe, 213 voted for U Myint Swe and 79 voted for U Henry Van Thio.

The new president and vice presidents will take up their posts on 30 March 2016.

U Henry Van Thio will be the first Chin national to serve as Vice President.

Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
Bonn A school exchange program between partners in Germany and England brings eighth graders to Bonn.

Jamie (13) is in Germany for the first time. He likes the public transport system and the fact that it made it so easy to get to Cologne where the students visited the towering Cathedral. Honor (13) remarked that a lot of bread was eaten in Germany and she was enjoying the many different sorts as well as the brotchen (rolls). Its wonderful here. I like the landscape, the Rhine and the old buildings, remarked Maria (13). She added that she was excited for the German students to come to England and that the exchange was the best experience ever, lots of fun.
Ivory Coast attack: Facebook slammed for safety feature failure News oi -GizBot Bureau

In the latest controversy over the implementation of its Safety Check tool, users are questioning social media giant Facebook why it failed to turn on the feature after an attack in Cote d'Ivoire on March 14.

Built in the wake of the 2011 tsunami in Japan, the Safety Check location tool allows users to "check-in" and assure their contacts that they are safe in a disaster area. Dozens of people were killed in two separate terror attacks on March 14.

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While Turkey's capital Ankara was hit by a car explosion in which 37 people died, in Cote d'Ivoire, a gunmen killed 12 beachgoers in Grand Bassam -- a resort town near the country's capital city Abidjan.

Although Facebook activated its Safety Check feature for users in Ankara, it did not activate the tool for people in Abidjan, Quartz reported. Users started questioning Facebook after company COO Sheryl Sandberg posted that the tool had been activated for people in Ankara.

People asked whether the social media company turned on the feature for people stuck in Grand Bassam. Facebook, however, did not respond to questions regarding the non-activation of Safety Check feature in Cote d'Ivoire.

This is not the first time the company has come under fire for their selective use of the Safety Check tool. Last November, the networking site activated the feature for attacks in Paris in which more than 130 people died, the first time it did so for a terrorist event.

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But some questioned why the tool had been used for Paris and not Lebanon's capital city Beirut, which had been hit by suicide bombings the previous day that killed 43 people.

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[My friend Peter Sheridan is a Los Angeles-based correspondent for British national newspapers. He has covered revolutions, civil wars, riots, wildfires, and Hollywood celebrity misdeeds for longer than he cares to remember. As part of his job, he must read all the weekly tabloids. For the past couple of years, he's been posting terrific weekly tabloid recaps on Facebook and has graciously given us permission to run them on Boing Boing. Enjoy!  Mark]

The stars are just like us  they ride bikes, pump gasoline and shop for kitchenware.

It's a perennial conceit at Us magazine: celebrities are just regular folk like you and I/

It's why Us mag says in this week's cover story that Britain's Prince William and wife Kate are giving their two children "a normal childhood."

Because what could be more "normal" than escaping from your ten-bedroom English country mansion to vacation in the French Alps in a six-story, seven-bedroom rental home with a nanny, ski instructor and security squad? Nothing says "normal childhood" more than a holiday home's indoor pool, game room and movie theatre. If Prince George behaves well on outings with his mother, "Kate will usually buy him a small, inexpensive toy," because nothing is more "normal" than parental bribery. And when William and Kate travel to India next month, what could be more normal than dumping the kids on his in-laws, while the Prince and his Duchess tour the Taj Mahal and Mumbai?

What's "normal" for the stars?

As Us mag demonstrates, celebrities also go to jail (reality TV's Joe Giudice), come out as transexual (director Lilly Wachowski), and deny they are being held prisoner against their will (fitness guru Richard Simmons.)

People magazine devotes its cover to TV's polyamorous Bachelor star Ben Higgins, who dated 27 women simultaneously, slept with three of them, said "I love you" to two, and now says of new fiance Lauren Bushnell "She was always the one"  which makes one wonder if the entire show wasn't just a giant waste of everyone's time.

Fortunately we have this week's tabloids to show us what life is really like for the stars.

"Cancer ravaged" Michael Douglas is "close to death," claims the National Enquirer, based on the expert opinion of "a host of medical experts" who haven't actually treated the actor . . . or seen him . . . but have been shown photos of the 71-year-old. Says oncologist Dr Jerome Spunberg: "He looks gaunt and weak." Well, that certainly sounds like a recurrence of cancer to me, and I should know  like any good reporter I've watched several episodes of Grey's Anatomy and House.

The Enquirer's "medical team" has a field day with post-pregnancy Kim Kardashian, who is reportedly at risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, "and 63 other diseases"  more varieties than Heinz!  because she hasn't yet lost her baby weight. The Enquirer helpfully diagrams a photo of Mrs West with arrows pointing out her "saggy and baggy" stomach, "bulging backside," "bustin' out" chest, "thunder thighs" and "cankle cursed" ankles. All technical medical terms, I assume.

The Globe devotes a staggering 12-page hagiography to the death of Nancy Reagan, and the "inspiring untold story" of her love for Ron, mostly drawn from her memoir My Turn  which hardly makes it an "untold story." I expect to see future stories dedicated to the miracles performed in her name  perhaps prayers to Nancy will give Donald Trump a new head of hair  followed by demands for her canonization.

"Brain-eating cannibal going free!" is a great headline in the Examiner, but let's face it, David Allen Chapin has already served 38 years behind bars for his indiscretion  and he only ate "portions of his buddy's brain," the Examiner notes. In recent years society has grown to love Hannibal Lecter and brain-eating zombies, so perhaps the parole board will look kindly upon Chapin's bid for release. He could always pray to Saint Nancy, the patron saint of ignoring viral epidemics.

Speaking of epidemics, the Examiner also warns us about the "shocking global epidemic" of heavy drinkers spontaneously combusting, or as it neatly puts it: "Boozers Bursting Into Flames." There have allegedly been 200 cases worldwide in recent years, which may not exactly qualify as an epidemic, and may conceivably afflict known alcoholics simply because they have greater difficulties playing with matches. About a quarter of all burning deaths in the U.S. evidently result from cigarettes, cigars, crack pipes and joints not being safely extinguished  yet another good reason why you're better off shooting up, perhaps?

Thankfully we have Us magazine to tell us the real news: that Jessica Biel wore it best, actor John Goodman reveals his secret to losing 100 pounds  "I decided to stop stuffing food in my mouth every five minutes"  and actress Cecily Strong (Who she, Ed?) carries lip balm, perfume, candy, heartburn pills, cough drops, Aleve, an iPhone, pencil, makeup, a "lucky" necklace, Kind bars, deodorant, crossword puzzles, mints, and way, way too much crap in her handbag.

And Ted Cruz tells Us mag "25 things you don't know about me," including such gems as "I'm on level 350 of Candy Crush," "I wear cowboy boots almost every day," "I was once bitten by an octopus" (it was not in his boots, apparently) and "My favorite movie is The Princess Bride." Inconceivable.

Onwards and downwards . . .
Widow of Russian Ex-spy Calls His Poisoning 'State-sponsored Crime'

by Jonas Bernstein March 15, 2016

The widow of Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian intelligence officer who was poisoned in London in 2006, says a recent British public inquiry shows that the Russian state was behind his slaying, and that his probes into alleged Kremlin ties to organized crime may have played an important role in the decision to kill him.

Speaking Monday at the Voice of America's Washington offices, Marina Litvinenko stressed the importance of the British investigation, which was led by Robert Owen, a retired British High Court judge, and ended in January.

Owen, she said, did an 'incredible job.'

'He not only investigated all the facts of Sasha's [Alexander Litvinenko's] death,' she said, 'he found a connection of this murder with the Russian state. The Russian state sponsored this crime.'

Owen concluded there was a ' strong probability' the two men whom the British authorities accused of poisoning Litvinenko with radioactive polonium-210 at a London hotel in November 2006, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, were acting 'under the direction' of the Federal Security Service, or FSB, Russia's main security agency. Both men have denied involvement in Litvinenko's death.

The retired judge also concluded that Litvinenko's slaying was 'probably approved' by then-FSB head Nikolai Patrushev and President Vladimir Putin.

Government corruption

A veteran first of the KGB, the Soviet intelligence agency, and then the FSB, Litvinenko began speaking out against high-level Russian governmental corruption. He also made a number of accusations against Putin. He later gained asylum in Britain with his family.

Marina Litvinenko said her husband's investigation of alleged ties between the Kremlin and the Russian mafia might have triggered the decision to kill him.

'Of course, what Sasha touched [on], and what became his last drop [the last straw] when he was killed, is difficult to say,' she said. 'But it's obviously his ability to investigate the connection of the Kremlin to organized crime. It was very important.'

London has called for both Lugovoi, who was elected in 2007 to the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament, and Kovtun, a businessman, to be extradited, but Moscow has refused. Russia's constitution prohibits the extradition of citizens to stand trial abroad.

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Sequestration Poses Biggest Threat to Readiness, Military Leaders Say

By Lisa Ferdinando DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, March 15, 2016  The biggest challenge to the military's readiness is sequestration, military leaders said on Capitol Hill today.

Sequestration is a provision of the Budget Control Act of 2011 that imposes across-the-board spending cuts if Congress and the White House cannot agree on more targeted cuts aimed at reducing the budget deficit.

The uncertain and restrictive budget environment is forcing the Army to make tough choices, the vice chief of staff of the Army, Gen. Daniel B. Allyn, told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Allyn and his counterparts from the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps spoke at a hearing on the current state of readiness of U.S. forces.

'We must have  predictable and sustained funding to deliver the readiness that our combatant commanders require to meet the missions that continue to emerge,' Allyn said.

The Army is accepting considerable risk by reducing its end strength while deferring modernization programs and infrastructure investments, he said.

'For the United States Army, our No. 1 readiness risk is sequestration,' he said. The other service leaders echoed that sentiment about their respective branches.

Ripple Effect of Sequestration

The vice chief of naval operations, Navy Adm. Michelle Howard, said the Navy can maintain a ready fleet through a stable budget and being able to procure and maintain ships with certainty.

Howard said she was in the fleet during a round of sequestration. Deployments were canceled and maintenance periods were shifted, she noted.

'The ripple effect of that goes through the years," the admiral said. "You not only lose the maintenance time, but you lose qualification time for people, and that experience set can never be bought back.'

Howard said the fiscal year 2017 budget request provides the resources for deployed forces and supports continued readiness recovery efforts.

'This submission also contains the hard choices and tradeoffs we made to achieve future warfighting capability,' she said.

Marines Ready to Fight

For the Marine Corps, members are ready to fight and are forward deployed around the world for crisis response, the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps told the Senate panel. Maintaining that stance requires carefully allocating limited funds and working around budget limitations, Gen. John M. Paxton Jr. said.

'In our challenging fiscal environment we're struggling to maintain all of those balances,' he added.

The Marine Corps is no longer in a healthy position to generate current readiness and simultaneously reset all of its equipment while sustaining its facilities and modernizing to ensure future readiness, Paxton said. 'The strains on our personnel and equipment are showing in many areas," he told the senators, "particularly in aviation, in communications and intelligence.'

Investments Needed in Air Force

Sequestration was felt throughout the Air Force, the service's vice chief of staff, Gen. David L. Goldfein, said.

'We also broke faith with our airmen, especially our civilian airmen,' he said. 'When they were furloughed, we lost a number of them who decided that if the company was not invested in them, they were not going to stick with the company.'

The threat of sequestration must be removed, Goldfein said. Investments are needed in the service, he added, noting that the current Air Force is one of the smallest, oldest and least ready in its history.

'The fiscal year '17 budget reflects our best effort to balance capability, capacity and readiness under the topline we've received,' he said. 'We made difficult trades between readiness today and the critical investment required to modernize for the future against potential adversaries who continue to close the technological gap.'

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'Survival will be an achievement' for new Afghan Government, says UN envoy

15 March 2016  The new Afghan Government, formed through a power-sharing agreement, must manage its difficult transition in 2016 by overcoming political, economic and security challenges, the top United Nations official in that country told the Security Council today, as the 15-nation body extended the UN mission there for another year.

"In 2016, Afghanistan is being as severely tested as it was in 2015, by the task of managing its difficult transition with its interrelated political, economic and security challenges," said Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

He highlighted five major hurdles facing the National Unity Government, including a contracting economy, an intensifying insurgency, an increasingly divided political environment, significant medium-term financial demand, and the need to achieve progress towards a sustainable peace.

"For 2016, survival will be an achievement" for the Government, he said. "Some may criticize this benchmark as being low, but survival does not mean inaction, or merely 'treading water,' but it means active engagement in confronting the five challenges,' he added.

Low economic growth

On the economic front, there had been an assumption in 2012 that the economy will continue eight per cent annual growth and the exploitation of Afghanistan's abundant mineral resources would drive economic development.

"It is now clear however that neither would occur," Mr. Haysom said. The World Bank now expects low economic growth, off a low base, which in turn has resulted in high unemployment, with hundreds of thousands of young people entering the work force each year finding no jobs.

Security threats

Turning to the security situation, the Taliban, emboldened by its military successes in Kunduz and elsewhere, will continue to test the Afghan security forces across the country, he noted. Yet in this first year of independent command, the Afghan security forces have largely held their own in the face of continuing high rates of attrition, he added.

"The stakes are high, not least because the loss of a provincial capital, even if temporarily, would have significant repercussions for the National Unity Government's political standing," he said.

On a positive note, since his previous briefing, the presence of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) has been confined to a smaller area to the east of the country, following operations by Afghan security forces with support from the international military.

Divided political situation

On the political transition, the Government continues to be subject to criticism on account of the economic and security deterioration even though this is not of its own making. It is being challenged by fractious political elite, the erosion of a necessary sense of national unity, and consequentially that most precious political commodity, confidence in the future, he said.

In the face of calls for reviewing the current political framework, the United Nations and the international community have made it clear to all stakeholders that it stands firmly behind the new Government. Despite delays in effective decision-making, the Government has now appointed an Attorney General and a Minister of Interior. A number of key posts, however, remain to be filled.

With an election date of 15 October announced, electoral reform is important for the National Unity Government to indicate progress in democratisation. The Government has finally issued a decree establishing a new Selection Committee to nominate Independent Election Commissioners this week. Yet the urgency to complete preparations remains.

Medium-term funding needs

In the coming months, the international community will make critical decisions at Warsaw and Brussels on the level and type of assistance it will continue to provide to Afghanistan, Mr. Haysom said.

As the country continues to rely on external funding sources for 69 per cent of Government expenditures, failure by the international community to pledge a medium-term commitment to Afghanistan will have a devastating impact, both materially and on the levels of confidence of ordinary Afghans. Donor expectations of Afghanistan's reform agenda must be realistic, taking into account the formidable challenges facing the country.

Progress towards peace

The final hurdle is progress towards a sustainable peace. "Afghan's want peace, they deserve peace, but most importantly they need peace," he said. Without a peace process, the sustainability and viability of all of efforts, in Brussels, Warsaw, New York, and elsewhere to bring stability and prosperity to Afghanistan will be called into question.

The establishment of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group is a welcome development that has reinvigorated efforts to put a peace process on track, he said, acknowledging the efforts of Pakistan to assist in midwifing such talks. A successful peace process will require the support of neighbouring countries and the wider region.

He, however, called for direct talks between the Taliban and the Afghan Government, noting that he again met with the Taliban Political Commission last week and stressed the need for an intra-Afghan dialogue involving Taliban. They however reiterated that they were not yet ready to engage directly with the Government, he said.

He welcomed today's adoption by the Council of a resolution which renewed UNAMA's mandate until 17 March 2017 and reaffirmed its important supporting role, at the request of the Afghan Government.

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What Is Genocide?

by VOA News March 15, 2016

The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed a bipartisan resolution declaring that systemic violence committed by the Islamic State group against Christians, Yazidis, Kurds and other ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq and Syria constitutes genocide.

The vote comes just three days before a deadline set by Congress for Secretary of State John Kerry to deliver the Obama administration's decision on whether it will declare that IS atrocities in Iraq and Syria constitute genocide. The atrocities include mass murder, crucifixions, beheadings, rape, torture, enslavement, and the kidnapping of children.

What is genocide?

In 1948, the United Nations defined genocide  the word didn't exist prior to 1944 -- as any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such, by:

Killing members of the group;

Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;

Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;

Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;

Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

The U.N. decided the following acts shall be punishable:

Genocide;

Conspiracy to commit genocide;

Direct and public incitement to commit genocide;

Attempt to commit genocide;

Complicity in genocide.

Key Terms

Genocide: Violent crimes committed against a group with the intent to destroy the existence of the group. The specific "intent to destroy" particular groups is unique to genocide.

Crimes against humanity: A closely related category of international law, crimes against humanity, is defined as widespread or systematic attacks against civilians.

War crimes: Criminal acts committed during armed conflicts and referring to grave breaches of the rules of warfare.

Historical cases

Not all incidents listed below are genocide; some are instances of mass killings that have not been legally classified as genocide.

Holocaust: Between 1933-1945, the Nazi regime in Germany and its collaborators carried out the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of 6 million Jews.

Armenia: About 1.5 million Armenians living in Turkey were killed or forcibly removed from their homeland from 1915-1918.

Bosnia: Between 1992 and 1995, an estimated 100,000 people were killed, 80 percent of whom were Bosnian Muslims. As many as 8,000 male Bosnian Muslims from Srebrenica were killed in July 1995, counting as the largest massacre in Europe since the Holocaust.

Myanmar: Anti-Muslim violence has targeted the more than 1 million Rohingya, a Muslim minority group living in Myanmar. The Rohingya have no legal status in the country, and the U.N. and U.S. State Department have documented widespread hate speech, blocking of aid and restrictions of basic rights.

Cambodia: Between 1975 and 1979, nearly 2 million people died when Cambodia's Khmer Rouge subjected the country's citizens to forced labor, persecution and execution in the name of the regime's ruthless agrarian ideology.

Rwanda: From April to July 1994, Hutu radicals killed an estimated 800,000 people, most of them Tutsis.

Central African Republic: In 2013, Seleka fighters seized power in the majority-Christian nation, sparking reprisals by 'anti-balaka' Christian militias loyal to Bozize. Groups and individuals are now being targeted because of their Christian or Muslim identity.

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ongoing conflicts in North and South Kivu, Ituri province and north Katanga over the past two decades have killed more than 5 million civilians, and displaced millions more. Most have died from preventable diseases as a result of the collapse of infrastructure, lack of food and health care, and displacement.

Iraq: The Islamic State group targeted religious and ethnic minorities, including the Yazidis, in northern Iraq in September 2014. The campaign of violence forcibly displaced more than 800,000 people and resulted in the deaths of hundreds, if not thousands, of civilians.

Darfur, Sudan: General Omar al-Bashir took power in a coup in 1989. Conflicts increased between African farmers and many nomadic Arab tribes. In 2003, rebel groups took up arms against the Sudanese forces, leading al-Bashir's government to unleash the Janjaweed, Arab militias, who attacked hundreds of villages. The genocide in Darfur has claimed at least 400,000 lives and displaced more than 2.5 million people. In 2009, al-Bashir, became the first sitting president to be indicted by International Criminal Court for directing a campaign of mass killing, rape and pillage against civilians in Darfur.

Sudan: Sudan has experienced protracted social conflict and civil war. More than 2.5 million civilians have been killed in regional conflicts since the Arab-dominated government of Sudan began to impose its control over African minorities in the region. Continued clashes between government and rebel forces have killed tens of thousands of civilians and have displaced more than 2 million. A U.N. report said nearly 3 million people need humanitarian assistance.

Syria: A conflict arising from the Arab Spring has pitted the Syrian government with various rebel groups since March 2011. The fighting has killed more than 250,000 people and displaced millions more. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians are in refugee camps throughout the region and are fleeing to Europe, which is experiencing the largest migration crisis since World War Two.

Sources: U.S. Holocaust Museum, United Nations, United to End Genocide, CIA World Factbook

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Advocacy Groups: Sanctions, Arms Embargo, Tribunal Needed for S. Sudan

by Jill Craig March 15, 2016

War crimes, including killings, systematic rape, and forced disappearances remain daily occurrences in South Sudan, as highlighted in reports this month from the United Nations, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Some advocacy groups say sanctions and other targeted measures could make an impact where a peace deal has failed.

The situation in South Sudan rapidly deteriorated after fighting broke out in December 2013, resulting in "serious and systematic violence against civilians," according to the U.N.

Amnesty International found that government forces suffocated more than 60 men and boys to death in Unity State last October, and Human Rights Watch has found evidence of "grave abuses" in the Western Equatoria region.

Ian Schwab is the director of advocacy and impact strategy at the Enough Project, a Washington-based Africa advocacy group.

"What we see is a situation where there's gross violations of human rights, looting of state coffers and natural resources, and all the while, a total lack of accountability for any of these, you know, for any of these horrific crimes that are being reported," said Schwab.

Signatories to an August 2015 peace deal have yet to form a transitional national unity government, originally planned for November. President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar continue to disagree over the demilitarization of Juba, among other issues.

Violence has continued, and the country is in the grips of a full-fledged humanitarian crisis with more than two million people displaced and the U.N. warning of famine.

The Enough Project is recommending targeted sanctions.

"Well, we think the best places to start are to designate higher level officials that are involved in these crimes and to make sure that those sanctions designations are enforced. We're not talking about any sort of comprehensive sanctions that would impact the country. We're looking at particular individuals that have been complicit and directed these types of crimes and have been looting state resources," he said.

Arms embargo

Human Rights Watch senior Africa researcher Jehanne Henry suggests the U.N. impose a comprehensive arms embargo on South Sudan.

"We think that an arms embargo should have been applied a long time ago, the conflict started in December of 2013, and some of the worst episodes of fighting happened in the weeks and months that followed. We think that an arms embargo was appropriate back then, at the beginning, when it was so clear that that was a war that was being waged not between soldiers but against civilians," said Henry.

South Sudan has been free to engage in state-to-state transfers in arms, without restrictions from sellers. Ukraine, for example, has sold the government light and heavy machine guns, as well as attack helicopters.

Countries such as Britain and France support the idea of an embargo. The United States has argued that an arms embargo would give rebel forces an advantage, with Russia, China and Angola also opposed.

Human Rights Watch is also calling for the African Union to fast track plans to set up a hybrid court for South Sudan.

"It sends a message that people will be held responsible for allowing these abuses or for carrying them out," said Henry.

The peace deal briefly raised hopes the fighting and rights violations would come to an end. But seven months later, many observers are questioning the deal's value.

They say the time has come for the international community to take new steps to end the misery in South Sudan.

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Khmer Rouge Leader to Be Investigated as Case Progresses

by Pin Sisovann March 15, 2016

Another suspect appearing before the Khmer Rouge tribunal will be investigated, the U.N.-backed court said Tuesday.

International investigating judge Michael Bohlander has put Ao An, better known as Ta An, under investigation, though the decision was not supported by his Cambodian counterpart. A tribunal spokesman would not confirm whether there is a division between the two judges over the fourth case to be investigated, number 004.

Critics of the court say they doubt cases 003 and 004 will see trial, as they have been strongly opposed by Prime Minister Hun Sen and other senior government leaders.

Ta An appeared in court in March 2015, but will face more charges under the current investigation, the court said.

The announcement follows a court decision to separate the case of Khmer Rouge leader Im Chaem from case 004, which includes suspect Ta An and another leader, Ta Tith.

Alleged ties to atrocities

Prosecutors say Ta An oversaw a number of Khmer Rouge atrocities as he rose to deputy secretary of the Central Zone under the regime's political structure.

As such, he was second in command in the area, based in Kampong Cham province, where up to 150,000 people died under the regime, including a large number of Cham minorities.

The charges now include genocide against Muslims and crimes against humanity, including murder, extermination, enslavement, torture, and persecution against Lon Nol soldiers, Khmer Rouge cadres of the Central Zone, and people from the Eastern Zone. Other inhumane acts include forced marriage, rape, disappearances, physical abuse, forced labor, persecution against the Cham and Vietnamese people, and inhumane conditions at detention facilities.

In an exclusive interview with VOA Khmer in 2011, Ta An rejected the charges against him. He does not yet have a defense attorney.

Latt Ky, a tribunal monitor for the Phnom Penh-based rights group Adhoc, said although cases against Ta An and other leaders not in detention have taken too long, he supports Bohlander's decision to push forward.

'This is the kind of development that the public has awaited for a long time,' he said.

This report was produced in collaboration with VOA's Khmer Service.

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Library workers at Western University's Graduate Resource Centre in London, Ontario, had a workshop from Alison Macrina, the library organiser whose Library Freedom Project won a battle with the US DHS over a library in New Hampshire that was offering a Tor exit node as part of a global network that delivers privacy, censorship resistance, and anonymity to all comers.

Western's librarians were so taken by Macrina's presentation that they've turned on Canada's first library-based Tor node. There is no clear law in Canada about libraries and Tor, and Macrina and the Western library folks say they're spoiling for a fight.

Boing Boing's server is hosted in Toronto, where we operate our own Tor node. We've been repeatedly contacted by law enforcement regarding our Tor node  even got a US federal subpoena  but when we explained it was a Tor node we didn't control or keep records on, all the cops we dealt with said, OK, thanks, bye. End of story.

"It's great news to see more libraries and universities running Tor nodes," Ian Goldberg, a University of Waterloo professor and inventor of the popular OTR encryption protocol, who operates a Tor exit node at the school, wrote me in an email. Goldberg noted that a middle relay should have no issues, legally, although exit node operators often "get annoyed by people on the Internet contacting them to ask why they are attacking various websites, sending them [copyright] notices for sharing content (in the US), etc." Tor use has been raised in at least one criminal case involving child pornography in Canada. Toronto police also told Motherboard last year that the force has investigated people operating Tor exits in the past, particularly in cases involving child pornography. At the time, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) said they had "nothing to add" on the subject. When asked if the CCLA would support Western staff if Canadian law enforcement pressured them to shut their node down, however, spokesperson Jonah Kanter said, "In principle we are in favour of tools that protect privacy and will continue to research how Tor nodes can help accomplish that."

Canadian Librarians Must Be Ready to Fight the Feds on Running a Tor Node

[Jordan Pearson/Motherboard]

Library in FIMS joins global network fighting back against digital surveillance, censorship, and the obstruction of information [Western Fims]
Syria withdrawal: Which of Russia's forces are being pulled out?

Russia Beyond the Headlines

March 15, 2016 Nikolai Litovkin, RBTH

Russia is withdrawing more than half of its fighters and bombers from Syria, while leaving its missile defense systems and naval fleet in the Mediterranean, Russian military experts told RBTH. Despite the pullout, the Russian armed forces will continue to strike positions Moscow says are held by ISIS militants.

The Russian armed forces have begun to withdraw their troops from Syria following the surprise announcement by President Vladimir Putin on March 14 that Moscow was to pull out the majority of its forces involved in the Syrian campaign.

According to military analysts, the group of Russian aerospace forces in the region will be greatly reduced, but the operation that Moscow claims is directed against militants from Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front will continue.

'The number of sorties has dropped sharply, they are carried out mostly at night,' Viktor Murakhovsky, editor-in-chief of the Arsenal Otechestva (Arsenal of the Fatherland) magazine and a member of the Expert Council of the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation, told RBTH.

'But the truce in Syria does not apply to groups which are recognized by Russia and the U.S.-led international coalition forces as terrorist. The armed forces of the Russian Federation continue to carry out surgical strikes on the positions of ISIS militants,' he said.

What is being withdrawn?

On the morning of March 15, the first group of Russian fighters and bombers left Syria en route to their sites of permanent deployment, according to a statement on the website of the Russian Defense Ministry.

The flights are being carried out in groups led by military transport aircraft (Tu-154 or Il-76), which transport engineers and technicians, as well as material and technical equipment.

Pilots fly in such a group until reaching the Russian border, and then head for the airfields where they are permanently deployed.

'Of the 60 fighters and bombers, more than half will be withdrawn, maybe two thirds,' said Murakhovsky.

'At the same time, the number of our troops in Syria will be reduced only slightly; this is necessary to ensure the safety of the permanent Russian military bases at the Khmeimim airfield and the port of Tartus.'

What is staying behind?

According to Murakhovsky, helicopter units will remain in their entirety to carry out search and rescue missions and tactical transportation in Syria. Russia is also leaving its military advisers to help the Syrian leadership in the fight against Islamic State militants.

'Russia is leaving its air defense systems in Syria in their entirety  S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems as well as Buk-M3, Tor-M2 and Pantsyr S-1 air defense missile systems," Viktor Litovkin, a retired colonel and TASS military analyst, told RBTH.

"Also, Russian navy warships will continue to operate in the eastern part of the Mediterranean, to be rotated in the normal mode,' he said.

According to him, the navy is tasked not only with the control and surveillance of ISIS militants, but also with monitoring NATO warships, which come to the Black Sea with SM-3 and Tomahawk cruise missiles on board.

'Moscow is initiating the peace process and following the path of the United States in Afghanistan by leaving its strongholds and their means of defense,' Fyodor Lukyanov, editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs magazine, told RBTH.

'The pullout of the 'combat' part of the troops is also a signal to President [Bashar al-] Assad that Russia will not always solve Syrian problems in the international arena and that the current regime is now quite capable of independent political action.'

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Another group of Russian jets leave Syria: Moscow

Iran Press TV

Wed Mar 16, 2016 7:26AM

Russia's Defense Ministry says another group of Russian jets have left Syria and flown back to their home bases in line with Moscow's partial withdrawal from the war-hit country.

The ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that Su-25 jets and an Il-76 transport plane took off from Hmeimim airbase near Syria's southeastern city of Latakia.

On Tuesday, the first group of Russian aircraft, military equipment as well as soldiers left the Arab country. The planes included Ilyushin-76 transport aircraft and Su-34 fighter jets.

The planes were welcomed at a base near the Russian city of Voronezh.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the bulk of Syria-based Russian military forces to withdraw from the Arab country.

Putin hailed Russia's almost six-month-aerial campaign in Syria as a positive step, saying the withdrawal could serve as a stimulus for the ongoing peace talks aimed at resolving the five-year deadly crisis gripping Syria.

The Russian president, however, said Hmeimim base and the Russian naval facility in the western Syrian port of Tartus will remain operational.

Damascus says the withdrawal of Russian forces came in complete coordination with Syria and was "carefully and accurately studied."

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said Moscow's move was a 'significant development' which 'we hope will have a positive impact on the progress of the negotiations."

A fresh round of Syrian peace talks began in Geneva on Monday after the first round collapsed in early February as the the main Syrian opposition group, the so-called High Negotiations Committee (HNC), left the negotiations amid gains made by the Syrian army against militants on several fronts.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. According to a February report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people, injured 1.9 million others, and displaced nearly half of the country's pre-war population of about 23 million within or beyond its borders.

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Kerry to Meet with Putin on Moscow's Troop Withdrawal From Syria

by VOA News March 16, 2016

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry plans to travel to Moscow next week to discuss Russian President Vladimir Putin's troop withdrawal from Syria and the new push for peace in the war-torn country.

Kerry said he would talk with both Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about how to move forward with the process of bringing a political solution to the five-year conflict.

'This is a moment to seize, not waste,' he said Tuesday. 'We have at this moment the ability to finally take steps toward ending war and bloodshed.'

Fighting in Syria has drastically declined with a cessation of hostilities in place for about three weeks.

But Kerry also warned that lasting peace is impossible if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad remains in power.

The first Russian troops to leave Syria arrived back home Tuesday to cheering crowds. Putin made the surprise announcement Monday that the bulk of his forces will leave now that they have achieved their mission in Syria, which began in late September.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters Tuesday that early indications were that Russia was following through on Putin's order.

At the U.N.-led peace talks in Geneva, the main Syrian opposition cautiously greeted the withdrawal, saying it could lead to the end of the conflict and Assad's 'dictatorship and his crimes.'

The U.N. special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, called Putin's announcement a 'significant development' and said he hopes it will lead to 'a peaceful political transition in the country.'

France also expressed cautious optimism, with its foreign ministry saying that if the Russian troop reduction is 'followed up by concrete action, it would be a positive development.'

Despite the initial withdrawal, Russia plans to keep about 1,000 military personnel at air and naval bases in Syria. The United States has estimated that Moscow has had between 3,000 and 6,000 troops in Syria.

In Syria, deputy defense minister Nikolai Pankov told Russian news agencies, 'It is still too early to speak of victory over terrorism. The Russian air group has a task of continuing to strike terrorist targets.'

VOA State Department correspondent Pam Dockins contributed to this report.

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US House Passes Bill Backing Taiwan's Participation in Interpol

by Yang Chen March 15, 2016

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Monday in support of Taiwan's participation in the International Criminal Police Organization, or Interpol.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has embraced the bill, which the Senate passed March 8.

'These developments underscore the great importance Washington attaches to Taiwan's expanded participation in international organizations,' said a Taiwanese Foreign Ministry statement released to Taiwan Today. 'Such long-term bipartisan support also shows that Taiwan-U.S. relations are at their best state in 37 years.'

'At this time, Taiwan relies on delayed secondhand [information] from the U.S. about international criminals and criminal activities, making it vulnerable to security threats,' said Representative Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican who sponsored the bill. 'Likewise, Taiwan can't share the law enforcement information it gathers to the benefit of Interpol members.

'Taiwan's participation will benefit Interpol's reform,' he added. 'A number of authoritarian countries abuse the Interpol red notice system, not against criminals but to harass political dissidents in exile who are unable to travel internationally for fear they will be arrested and face extradition in their home country where they suffer persecution, imprisonment and even death.'

The bill, first introduced by Representative Matt Salmon, an Arizona Republican, in 2015 and sent to the Senate in November, will require President Barack Obama to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan in Interpol, a move that requires an official request, the urging of member states and a status report to Congress.

Interpol was designed to promote the widest possible mutual assistance among all criminal police authorities in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. From 1964 until 1984, Taiwan enjoyed full membership in Interpol, but was removed when the People's Republic of China applied for membership.

China opposes Taiwan's participation in any international organizations.

Taiwan is currently an observer at the World Health Assembly.

This report was produced in collaboration with VOA's Mandarin service.

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When Obama appointed Tom Wheeler, formerly the top lobbyist for both the cable industry and the mobile phone industry to run the FCC, many people (including me) were outraged at the idea of putting such an insider in charge of keeping his own former employers honest (it didn't help that AT&T and Comcast both issued triumphant press releases at the news).

Notoriously, John Oliver compared putting Wheeler in charge of Net Neutrality rules to hiring a dingo to babysit your kids (and expressed skepticism when Wheeler disavowed his dingoship).

But a funny thing happened on the way to the Lessigian Corruption Apocalypse: Wheeler handed down a Net Neutrality order that America could be proud of, and stood by it when the GOP's telcoms-water-carriers tried to kill it.

It's not just net neutrality: Wheeler killed Comcast's Time Warner acquisition; ended state laws prohibiting the creation of competitive municipal broadband networks; changed the definition of "broadband service" from 4Mbs to 25 Mbs; fought for cellphone unlocking; limited data roaming charges; and fought robocalling (and much more).

In an interview with Ars Technica's Jon Brodkin, Wheeler says he was misunderstood from the start. He says that he only lobbied for cable and mobile when they were scrappy upstarts, threatened by big, wealthy incumbents, and that he's always championed the underdog against the establishment.

He also credits reading Tim Wu's The Master Switch, an outstanding book on telcoms policy and competition by one of our best policy scholars.

Wheeler's probably got less than a year left in the job, and he's got a lot he plans on doing before he leaves.

Generally, FCC chairs are replaced with each new president, so Wheeler may have less than a year left on the job. The FCC already has an "enormous agenda between now and the end of the year," Feld noted. That includes finalizing new cable box competition rules; modernizing the Lifeline program to subsidize broadband for low-income people; overseeing a huge auction to shift spectrum from TV channels to wireless carriers and white space networks; freeing up new spectrum for 5G cellular and faster Wi-Fi; implementing new customer data privacy rules for broadband; finishing proceedings for the transition from traditional landline phone service to IP-based networks; and an investigation of the "special access" market in which wireless carriers purchase capacity from wireline providers. "If Wheeler gets done everything that's on his plate, he will probably have done more to transform the telecommunications industry than since the days that [former Chairman] Reed Hundt implemented the 1996 [Telecommunications] Act," Feld said. Wheeler will turn 70 years old on April 5. Because of his age, some observers have pointed out that Wheeler hasn't spent his time as FCC chairman "looking for his next job." (Both the CTIA and NCTA are currently led by former FCC commissioners who moved the other way through Washington's revolving door.)

How a former lobbyist became the broadband industry's worst nightmare

[Jon Brodkin/Ars Technica]





(Image: Jon Brodkin)
Tony from the Starshipsofa podcast writes, "This week I talk (MP3) to freelance science journalist Mark Zastrow about his visit to a controversial Korean lab, led by Woosuk Hwang who is cloning puppy dogs."

Mark Zastrow says "For the past few years, the lab has worked on cloning domestic dogs. Now the researchers plan move on to saving their wild relatives. They want to rescue some of the world's most endangered canids, including the Ethiopian wolf and the dhole, or Asiatic wild dog.

Although an international pariah, Woosuk Hwang still had supporters in South Korea, who funded the creation of a private lab, Sooam Biotech, in Seoul. There he turned to cloning canines  a verified accomplishment  charging bereaved dog owners to clone their recently deceased companions to the tune of $100,000 a pup."
New U.K. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt has reversed most of an economic package announced by the government just weeks ago, including a planned cut in income taxes. Hunt said Monday he was scrapping almost all the tax cuts announced last month by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, and also signaled that public spending cuts are on the way. It was a bid to soothe turbulent financial markets spooked by fears of excessive government borrowing. The move raises questions about how long the beleaguered prime minister can stay in office, though Truss insisted she has no plans to quit. She vowed to lead the Conservatives into the next general election, but many in the party want her gone.
Virginia Cooperative Extension, Danville Regional Foundation, the city of Danville and the Pittsylvania County Office of Agricultural Development are excited to announce a third three-part regional training series for local farmers to learn best practices for participating in farmers markets across the region. This series is a follow-up to the well-attended spring and fall series offered in April and November of 2015.

Beginning April 12, the trainings will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. and are designed to help farmers be successful at famers markets and other direct to consumer outlets. Thanks to sponsorship by Danville Regional Foundation, there is no cost to attend the training, but registration is required.

The trainings will cover Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce, GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), Food Safety with VDACS and VDH, Veterinary Feed Directive, Starting a Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA), Uninspected Meat Products, SNAP, WIC/(Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), and Grant Funding for farmers. Refreshments will be provided at each event, as well as time to network with other local farmers and farmers market vendors.

Farmers markets are growing in popularity in the Dan River Region and all across the country. In the last 20 years, the number of markets grew from 1,700 to more than 8,000 nationwide. Local communities now understand the important role that farmers markets play in supporting the local economy and the health and wellness of residents.

For every dollar spent at a conventional grocery store, 16 cents goes back into the local economy. However, when shopping at the farmers market, more than 60 cents of each dollar stays within the local economy and 99 cents stays within the state. In addition, those who have a farmers market in their community are more likely to consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, a key factor in reducing the risk of obesity and chronic disease.

With the goal of increasing business for local farmers and improving the health of our communities, a regional group formed in early 2015 to discuss ways to support local farmers and farmers markets. This training series is the third effort by this regional group. To register, contact Kenny Porzio at (434) 797-8961 or porziks@danvilleva.gov.

Training schedule

All trainings will be held at the Community Room in the Danville Community Market at 661 Craghead Street. They will begin at 4 p.m. and end at 7 p.m. There is no cost, but reservations are required.

Session 1: Tuesday, April 12

Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce

Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) - To Be or Not to Be?

Food Safety with VDACS and VDH

Session 2: Tuesday, April 19

Veterinary Feed Directive

Starting a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program

Uninspected Meat Products

Session 3: Tuesday, April 26

SNAP

WIC/SFMNP (Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program)

Grant Funding for Farmers
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 16, 2016) - Commander Resources Ltd. (TSXV: CMD) ("Commander") is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has appointed Robert Cameron, P.Geo., as President and Chief Executive Officer effective March 15, 2016 following the retirement of Eric Norton. Mr. Norton will remain engaged as an active member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Cameron had has been a director since, July 8, 2015.

Mr. Cameron has over 30 years of international experience in the mining industry including positions as President and CEO of Valley High Ventures and Bearing Resources Ltd. as well as Vice-President and Manager of exploration for Phelps Dodge Corp. of Canada Limited (a then subsidiary of Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc.). In addition he has extensive market and finance experience including a term as mining analyst for Research Capital. He is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia.

Mr. David Watkins, Chairman of Commander states "On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Eric for all of his hard work over the last six years. During his tenure the company has weathered the current downturn in the exploration sector and has positioned Commander to be in a strong position to grow as the sector revives. I am very pleased that he has agreed to remain a Director. I also enthusiastically welcome Rob in his new role with the Company and look forward to working with him in his new role."

Commander Resources is a Canadian focused exploration company that has leveraged its success in exploration through partnerships and sale of properties, while retaining equity and royalty interests. Commander has a large portfolio of base and precious metal projects across Canada and significant equity positions in Maritime Resources Corp. and Aston Bay Holdings. Commander also retains royalties from properties that have been partnered, optioned or sold.

As part of this renewed focus on prospect generation, the Company had previously announced that it was acquiring the mineral assets of Bearing Resources for 13 million common shares of Commander and $15,000 in cash as Bearing intended to pursue unrelated opportunities (see news release dated May 5, 2015). Commander hopes to complete this transaction in the coming quarter and has been working closely with Bearing, who has reiterated their intent in a news release dated March 14, 2016.

Stock Option Grants

The Board of Directors reports the grant of 4,000,000 incentive stock options to directors and officers of the Company under its stock option plan, in accordance with the Company's compensation policy. The options are exercisable for five years at a price of $0.05 per share, and are subject to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,



David Watkins

Chairman

For further information, please call:

Robert Cameron, President and CEO

Toll Free: 1-800-667-7866

info@commanderresources.com

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements in this press release, other than purely historical information, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in resource exploration and development. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
March 16, 2016 / TheNewswire / Vancouver, British Columbia- Nevada Energy Metals Inc. "the Company" TSX-V:BFF (OTC: SSMLF) (Frankfurt: A2AFBV) is pleased to announce that it is implementing an online marketing and awareness program through AGORACOM.

The Company will receive significant exposure through millions of content brand insertions on the AGORACOM network and extensive search engine marketing over the next 12 months. In addition, exclusive sponsorships of invaluable digital properties such as AGORACOM TV, the AGORACOM home page and the AGORACOM Twitter account will serve to significantly raise the brand awareness of the Company among small cap investors.

Harry Barr Chairman & CEO stated, "I previously have had the pleasure of working with the AGORACOM team and they have proven to be a leader in their space. We are delighted to have retained their services to expand our online presence."

Shares for Services Program

The Company intends to issue shares for services to AGORACOM in exchange for the online advertising, marketing and branding services ("Advertising Services"). Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the company will be issuing;

-$8,800 + HST in Shares for Advertising Services April 1, 2016 -$8,800 + HST in Shares for Advertising Services at end of Third Month June 16, 2016 -$8,800 + HST in Shares for Advertising Services at end of Sixth Month September 16, 2016 -$8,800 + HST in Shares for Advertising Services at end of Ninth Month December 16, 2016 -$8,800 + HST in Shares for Advertising Services at end of Twelfth Month March 16, 2017

The number of shares to be issued at the end of each period will be determined by using the closing price of the Shares of the Company on the TSX Venture Exchange on the first trading day following each period for which the Advertising Services were provided by AGORACOM.

The agreement/arrangement is subject to TSX-V approval.

The term of the Agreement is for 12 months effective immediately. The Company will issue a press release after the issuance of shares under the terms of the agreement.

About AGORACOM

AGORACOM is the pioneer of online investor relations, online conferences and online branding services to North American small and mid-cap public companies, with more than 250 companies served. More than just lip service, AGORACOM is the home of more than 808K investors that visited 5.6 million times and read 52.4 million pages of information every year (Average 2008 - 2015).

AGORACOM traffic ranks within the top 0.5% of all websites around the world. These traffic results are independently tracked and verified by Google analytics. AGORACOM traffic can be attributed to its strategy of maintaining the cleanest, moderated small-cap discussion as a result of implementing the first ever Investor Controlled Stock Discussion Forums.

AGORACOM Founder, George Tsiolis, publishes the leading blog on small to mid cap investor relations. His 50 Small-Cap CEO Lessons are a must read for CEO's looking to increase their education and knowledge about online investor relations.

About Nevada Energy Metals: http://nevadaenergymetals.com/

Nevada Energy Metals Inc. is a Canadian Based exploration and development company who's primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The company's main focuses are brine based lithium exploration targets located in the mining friendly state of Nevada. As of the 13th of January the company has completed a $900,000 CAD secondary funding to carry out an exploration program on the area known as Alkali Lake and Alkali Flats. This lithium target is located in Esmeralda County, Nevada, just 12km from Rockwood Lithium, the only brine based lithium producer in North America. Nevada Energy Metals must complete a one-time payment of shares, cash payments over three years and complete certain exploration milestones to earn its 60% interest. Nevada Energy Metals has acquired, by staking, 100 placer claims covering 200 acres (80.9 hectares) at Teels Marsh, Nevada. The property, called Teels Marsh West is a highly prospective Lithium exploration project, 100% owned without any royalties, located on the western part of a large evaporation pond.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Harry Barr Chairman & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



Copyright (c) 2016 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
VANCOUVER, BC / TheNewswire / March 16, 2016 - Novo Resources Corp. ("Novo" or the "Company") (TSX-V: NVO; OTCQX: NSRPF) is pleased to provide an update on activities at its flagship Beatons Creek gold project in Western Australia. With the completion of a recent private placement (please refer to the Company's news release dated March 8, 2016) and gold convertible debenture financing (please refer to the Company's news release dated March 10, 2016), Novo is in a strong position to undertake its planned trial mining program as well as continue to advance studies on a future commercial scale mine. As detailed in numerous news releases issued over the past eighteen months, Beatons Creek is host to sizeable shallow oxide gold resources that the Company plans to exploit in a cost effective free-digging, gravity recovery mine.

Trial Mining Program

Novo currently anticipates permitting for trial mining to be completed by mid-April 2016. Upon receipt of mining approvals, the Company plans to commence extraction of 30,000 tonnes of gold-bearing conglomerate from three test pits, each contributing approximately 10,000 tonnes. Processing of this material will be undertaken utilizing rock crushers and the Company's IGR3000 gold recovery plant.

Since the beginning of 2016, Novo has been commissioning its IGR3000 gold recovery plant at a gravel quarry near Perth (see Figure 1 below). Approximately 80 tonnes of conglomerate from Beatons Creek was shipped to the quarry in early January and crushed using a commercial horizontal impact crusher. Feeding the plant batches of crushed material has tested the IGR3000's operational parameters. Because the IGR3000 was designed for conventional alluvial gold processing, Novo has had to make several modifications so that the plant can process finely crushed Beatons Creek conglomerate material. A feeder conveyor has been added, hoppers redesigned, additional pumps installed and the Falcon feed system re-engineered. The plant's performance now appears well suited for the upcoming test-mining phase (see Figures 2 and 3 below). Novo has determined the IGR3000 operates at a rate of around 15-20 tonnes per hour when treating finely crushed material.

Over the next few weeks, Novo will focus on methods of crushing to optimize liberation of gold particles from rock matrix. While planned for a future commercial scale operation, finer grinding is impractical for the trial mining program. The Company anticipates potential recoveries of around +60% when rock is crushed to a targeted size of less than one millimeter. Another 80 tonne sample of Beatons Creek conglomerate is being shipped to Perth for further crushing test work next week. Novo plans to have the IGR3000, crushers and conveyance systems fully ready to move to site upon receipt of mining permits in April.

Commercial Scale Mine Study

In late 2015, Novo contracted West Perth-based DRA Pacific Pty Ltd to undertake an economic study on an approximately 500,000 tonne per year oxide mine at Beatons Creek. The main thrust of DRA's work is to produce detailed engineering for a gravity-only processing plant utilizing the following general scheme: 1) crushing to sub-millimeter, 2) gravity recovery of coarse gold 3) fine grinding to ~75 microns, and 4) gravity recovery of fine gold.

Over the past few months, Novo and DRA have identified various pieces of milling equipment and undertaken direct tests on them utilizing samples of Beatons Creek conglomerate. As an example, a high pressure grinding roll generated a crushed product 80% passing an 850 micron mesh screen (P80% -850 micron). A gravity recovery test on this product yielded 69% gold recovery. Tails from this gravity test were further ground to P65% -75 microns, and a further 18% of gold was recovered bringing overall gold recovery to 87%. While such test work has added to the timeline for completion of the upcoming economic study, Novo sees high value in performing such tests to ensure future success of the project. Novo anticipates completion of a preliminary economic assessment sometime within the next 6-8 weeks.

Once Novo's trial mine permit has been approved, the Company plans to advance permitting of a potential commercial scale mine. Submission of such permits is expected to commence over the next few months. The Company cautions that a reserve has not yet been defined on the project and there is no certainty that a reserve with demonstrated economic viability will be defined on the project.

Blue Spec Follow-Up Sampling

In a news release dated January 21, 2016, Novo announced high grade gold assays from surface rock chip samples collected at its Blue Spec gold-antimony project located approximately 20 km east of Beatons Creek. The Blue Spec project encompasses about 15 km of strike along the Blue Spec shear zone, an east-west trending corridor of steeply dipping structures cutting the 2.9 billion year old Mosquito Creek Formation and hosting high grade gold-antimony veins.

Beginning in mid-April, Novo plans to undertake systematic rock chip sampling to follow up on results from: 1) West Gold Spec where rock chip samples returned grades of 22.5-143.8 gpt Au and 0.1-2.5% Sb, 2) Middle Creek where a lone rock chip sample returned a grade of 47.7 gpt Au and 2.4% Sb, 3) Orange Spec where outcropping vein samples returned grades of 4.2-15.7 gpt Au, 4) Green Spec where outcropping vein samples returned grades of 2.5-38.6 gpt Au and 0.03-1.4% Sb, and 5) 20 Mile where vein samples returned grades of 3.0-15.8 gpt Au.

The goal of follow-up sampling will be to evaluate the continuity and strike length of veins as well as help define future drill targets. Given the robust grades in these five areas, Novo thinks there is good potential to discover near surface high grade shoots that might add significant resources to the Blue Spec project.

Elsie Jane

In a news release dated August 12, 2015, Novo announced it optioned three groups of tenements from ASX-listed Talga Resources Pty Ltd. One of these groups of tenements falls within the Mosquito Creek area where ASX-listed gold miner Millennium Minerals Ltd is currently mining orogenic lode gold mineralization from a number of small pits.

One of the optioned tenements, Elsie Jane, is situated between Millennium's Bartons and All Nations pits. Novo recently examined this area and found several historic reverse circulation drill pads with intact bags of drill cuttings. All holes appear to be shallow, less than 40 meters deep, and range from vertical to inclined at 45 degrees. Novo thinks these holes may have been drilled about 7-8 years ago by a previous landholder.

Novo was able to collect samples of cuttings from several holes. Significant gold results include:

--3 m @ 3.62 gpt Au from hole EJ01, 21-24 meters

--3 m @ 1.37 gpt Au from hole EJ03, 20-23 meters

--7 m @ 0.57 gpt Au from hole EJ04, 12-19 meters

--4 m @ 3.56 gpt Au from hole EJ05, 15-19 meters

--6 m @ 2.16 gpt Au from hole EJ06, 12-18 meters

--2 m @ 1.93 gpt Au from hole EJ23, 16-18 meters

Given that these holes all fall within 100 meters of the northeast end of the Bartons pit, it is presumed these gold intercepts are strike extensions of lode gold zones currently mined by Millennium Minerals. Novo is considering follow-up work at Elsie Jane sometime in the next few months.

"With our financing in place, we are in a strong position to undertake our trial mining program," commented Dr. Quinton Hennigh, President, CEO and director of Novo Resources Corp. "After modifications, our IGR3000 plant appears to be operating well. Our focus is now on developing a suitable crushing scheme by the time approvals are granted. Our study of a commercial scale mine is steadily progressing with solid data returning from processing equipment we have identified and tested. Last but not least, exciting new exploration targets at Blue Spec and Elsie Jane will make for interesting follow-up work over the next few months."

Reverse circulation drill cutting samples reported in this news were collected by Novo staff and submitted to Genalysis Laboratory, Perth, Australia. Samples were prepped by drying, crushing to -2 mm and pulverizing to -100 microns. Gold was analyzed by fire assay with a mass spectrometry finish.

Quinton Hennigh (Ph.D., P.Geo.) is the Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this news release. Dr. Hennigh is President, CEO and a Director of Novo Resources Corp..

About Novo Resources Corp.

Novo's focus is to evaluate, acquire and explore gold properties. Indirect subsidiaries of Novo hold a 100% interest in the core of the Beatons Creek gold project, a 70% interest in approximately 1,800 square kilometers surrounding Beatons Creek and at nearby Marble Bar, and a 100% interest in the Blue Spec gold-antimony project, all in the Pilbara region, Western Australia. For more information, please contact Leo Karabelas at (416) 543-3120 or e-mail leo@novoresources.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

Novo Resources Corp.

"Quinton Hennigh"

Quinton Hennigh

CEO and President

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-looking information

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation) including, without limitation, statements as to the expected receipt of results from various exploration and testing activities, the anticipated timing of the receipt of permits and the commencement of the Company's trial mining program, the anticipated timing of the completion of a preliminary economic assessment, and the anticipated timing of systematic rock chip sampling. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, customary risks of the mineral resource exploration industry as well as the speed of processing of Novo's permitting applications by the relevant government agency.



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(Figure 1: Novo's IGR3000 gold recovery plant being commissioned at a gravel quarry near Perth.)



Click Image To View Full Size

(Figure 2: Very fine to medium gold grains from concentrate produced during commissioning test work on the IGR3000 gold recovery plant. The coin is approximately 1.5 cm across.)



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Copyright (c) 2016 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Lemongrass and ginger panna cotta at The House of Louis Tan in Bondi. Photo: Christopher Pearce

Address Shop 15/178 Campbell Parade Bondi Beach, New South Wales 2026 View map Opening hours Mon Closed, Tue-Sat 6:00 PM  12:00 AM, Sun 12:00  10:00 PM Features Accepts bookings, Bar, Licensed, Wheelchair access, Family friendly, Gluten-free options, Vegetarian friendly, Outdoor seating Prices Moderate (mains $20-$40) Payments eftpos, Cash, Visa, Mastercard Phone 02 8021 8891

I can't think of two paired words that thrill me less than "fusion cuisine". "Rental inspection" maybe, or "low-salt". Some chefs nail it  Hamish Ingham is doing great things with "chucka" (Japanese-style Chinese dishes) at Bar H. But, for every bulgogi taco there are 10 more ramen burgers. Hence, when Luis Tan opened in July serving "Latin American street food with Asian accents", I didn't rush out and top up the Opal card for a Bondi mission.

This, as it turns out, was a mistake.

The restaurant and bar is located in the Campbell Parade site once home to Paper Planes. South American travel posters hang from most walls, tables spill into the arcade, vines cling to lanterns and everything is a late '70s shade of orange, black, yellow or red. On a Saturday night around seven, the place is chockers with upwardly mobile 30-year olds in surf T-shirts hoeing down on plantain chips with chipotle mayo ($9). There's a nice last-days-of-summer vibe here.

The House of Louis Tan turns up the late '70s colours. Photo: Christopher Pearce

You'll have to squint to find the Asian influence in a few dishes (like those chips) and even then, it's blurry. Not that it matters when provolone and kale croquettes (three for $15) are two-bite sized baubles of cheesy fun, or tomato-braised Black Angus short-ribs ($30) melt away with a fork's nudge and the cinnamon-scented beef has a grand time getting to know its chimichurri and black turtle bean plate-mates.

Albacore tuna ceviche ($20) is christened in tiger's milk (that's lime, chilli, onion and splash of fish juice) and roughly diced with grape tomatoes, avocado and cucumber. It's more chopped fish salad than ceviche and strikes the right balance of cream and kick.

"May I order another bowl of plantain chips to eat the ceviche with, please, barkeep? I'll have a couple more hunky, smoky chargrilled Venezuelan chicken skewers ($15.50) while you're at it, because the first two went down terrifically. Actually, no cancel that. We're saving ourselves for the lemongrass and ginger panna cotta ($14) with another pisco sour ($18) on the side."

Hunky, smoky, chargrilled Venezuelan chicken skewers. Photo: Christopher Pearce

The pisco sour. What a drink. It's a smacking blend of Peruvian brandy, lime juice, sugar syrup egg white and Angostura bitters served straight-up. The legend bartender offers two types of pisco for the sours. Both Encanto brands, one pisco is a lighter, muscat-based drop, while the other is a heavier, slightly chocolatey distillate of quebranta grapes. We conclude that both are delicious.

Meanwhile, it's always a pleasure to see Canada's favourite clam broth-infused tomato juice, Clamato, on a drinks list and here it appears in the Bloody Mary Tan ($19)  a Bloody Caesar riff also featuring Del Maguey mezcal and a zippy house-spice blend. If the surf hasn't cured your hangover, this romper-stomper will. Chase it down with a Grifter Pale Ale from the tap and you'll be laughing.

We leave The House of Luis and stop off to see Andy Penney for a lagerita at The Anchor and the best damn southside I've ever had on the east side. Or most places, for that matter. Capping the night off with a very safe and not at all intoxicated night swim, I'm left regretting I didn't catch the Bondi bus months ago.

The mighty pisco sour, which is served with two kinds of Encanto pisco here. Photo: Christopher Pearce

Go for a post-beach pisco sour.

Stay for costillas and chimichurri

Drink the Bloody Mary Tan.

And get a san choy taco into you at the "rum cha" sessions on Sunday arvo.
The government of Iran claims to have obtained "thousands of pages of information" from devices used by the U.S. Navy sailors briefly detained in January.

On Tuesday, Iranian state TV quoted Gen. Ali Razmjou, a naval commander in Iran's Revolutionary Guard, as saying that "information filling about 13,000 pages" was retrieved from laptops, GPS devices, and other gadgets.

"If only the Navy issued phones that were encrypted so even governments couldn't get in," quipped my Freedom of the Press Foundation colleague Trevor Timm.

This is also why we can't have good-guys-only backdoors.

And yes, it does appear that the government of Iran measures all of the extremely sensitive U.S. military data it steals as the spoils of war in total number of pages it takes to print the data out. Never change, Tehran. Never change.

From the Navy Times report:

He said the move falls within Iran's rights under international regulations, and that the information recovered could be used in "various fields." Iranian authorities returned all the devices taken from the Americans even though it had the right to confiscate them, he said. The Guard plans to publish a book on the incident based on international reactions and coverage of the event, Razmjou added.

Yep. A book.
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By Sid Miller

Today, March 15, marks National Agriculture Day 2016, and I couldn't be more excited to celebrate the bounty and great wealth that Texas agriculture brings to our lives, our state and our homes.

Many times a day, every single day of the year, our lives are touched by agriculture. Agriculture provides us with the food and fiber that sustains our lives, and we have our farmers and ranchers to thank for these blessings. That's why you always hear me say, Texas agriculture matters!

In the Lone Star State, we are blessed with a powerhouse agriculture industry that contributes $115 billion to our state's economy each year. One out of seven of our families, neighbors and friends work in jobs related to agriculture. Our children go to school each day and eat nutritious, locally grown food. And we're not just feeding ourselves, we are also feeding people around the world who don't have ready access to a safe food supply. The clothes we wear, the food we eat, the jobs we work  it's all thanks to Texas agriculture.

This year's Ag Day theme  Agriculture: Stewards of a Healthy Planet  resonates with me and the team here at the Texas Department of Agriculture, as well as the farmers and ranchers across the state who tend to the land every single day. These hardworking men and women are the original stewards of our land and work to ensure it is preserved for generations to come. They know better than anyone that without the land and water that support our agriculture industry, our lives would be incomplete and their livelihoods would be gone. Our farmers and ranchers are taking innovative approaches to conserving water, growing more food with fewer resources and keeping pests from harming the food that we all enjoy.

However, it's not just up to those of us who work in the agriculture industry to be good stewards of our planet. It is up to each and every one of us to be wise with our resources, conserve water and protect the land that produces our food and fiber. As you celebrate Ag Day, remember that we all have a part to play in ensuring our land is preserved for future generations.

I hope you'll join me in extending a tremendous amount of gratitude to our farmers and ranchers. Without their tireless work from sunrise to sunset, we would be without the food on our plates and the clothes on our backs. Thank you, Texas farmers and ranchers!

Be sure to stop by the Texas Department of Agriculture's Facebook page, as we'll be celebrating National Ag Day and Texas agriculture all week long. Today, and always, I hope you'll be a friend to Texas agriculture and spread the word that Texas agriculture matters.

Sid Miller is Texas Agriculture Commissioner.
SHARE Kenny Gully, surrounded by his family. Kenny Gully consults on a farming matter as he look out over his Tom Green County spread. Kenny Gully was named Conservation Farmer of the Year by the Tom Green S.W.C.D.

Tom Green S.W.C.D.

Kenneth Gully was named Conservation Farmer of the Year for Tom Green Soil and Water Conservation District and runner-up Conservation Farmer for Natural Resources Conservation Service Administrative Zone 2. Kenny grew up on a farm near San Angelo, and has lived and farmed in the Concho Valley all of his life.

Upon completing his B.B.A. from Angelo State University in 1979, Kenny started his own farming operation in the Lipan Flats east of San Angelo. Kenny and his wife, Linda, have four children, ages 10-15. Linda is a second-grade teacher at Wall Independent School District where the children also attend school.

The Gully farming operation encompasses nearly 2,000 acres around Eola, Van Court and Vick. Approximately 330 acres are irrigated using both drip and center pivot systems. Kenny's primary crop is cotton, with a wheat or grain sorghum rotation to aid in pest management and minimize soil erosion.

Irrigation water well levels on the Gully Farm fluctuate through out the year. To conserve his resources, Kenny only irrigates during key periods. Low energy drop nozzle type sprinkler systems and subsurface drip irrigation on other fields are designed to use water wisely and sparingly.

Conservation efforts also include limited tillage, contour farming and terraces. These practices are applied on both the dryland and irrigated acres. He minimizes tillage as much as possible to fit his management strategy. He prefers to plant row crops on a bed due to moisture considerations, which helps broaden his planting window. Some tillage is kept as an option because Kenny feels that relying on a few chemicals exclusively may increase the probability of herbicide resistant weeds.

Through a cooperative partnership between the Tom Green SWCD and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Kenny has applied erosion and irrigation improvements. A Water Quality Management Plan was implemented in 2004 and has provided a blueprint for water pollution prevention. For seven years, Kenny has also participated in AgriLife Extension Service cotton variety trials on both his irrigated and dryland. He has served as a director on the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation board since the program's inception in 1994.

Kenny believes strongly in giving back to his community and has been involved with activities beyond the boll weevil eradication program. He serves as secretary as the Mereta Cooperative Gin Company, serves on the board of directors for the Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association, St. Ambrose Catholic Church and the County FSA Committee.
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By Mike Conaway

America's farmers and ranchers are undeniably some of the most dedicated and humble individuals in this country. Without complaint, rain or shine, they simply wake up and work hard because that is what's needed to keep our country running.

But despite their best efforts, America's farmers and ranchers are facing real challenges today. Net farm income is estimated to fall 56 percent from 2013 to 2016, the largest three-year percentage drop since the Great Depression. The problem is even more pronounced in Texas, where we saw years of drought while other states were harvesting record yields at record prices.

Cotton producers have been hit especially hard the last few years. They were, in large part, met with very little support in the last farm bill in an effort to settle a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute with Brazil. The Chinese and Indian governments have taken advantage of this situation, stimulating massive overproduction of cotton in the process. China alone is now sitting on so much cotton that if you lined the bales up end to end, they would stretch around the earth twice. That's enough cotton to make 78.5 billion T-shirts. Their reckless actions have driven global cotton prices into the ground, making it that much more difficult for our cotton producers to stay afloat.

While our farmers and ranchers face markets that are neither free nor fair, they also put their livelihoods on the line every day in an industry where several factors are completely outside of their control. A single hailstorm, windstorm or flood can wipe out an entire year's income in a single day. While it is easy to take the bounty that our farmers and ranchers produce for granted, it is vital they have risk management tools available to mitigate the tremendous uncertainties they face.

To that end, when crop insurance came under attack in budget negotiations last fall  threatening the very existence of privately-delivered crop insurance  we stepped in to prevent those cuts from taking effect. The agricultural community has repeatedly done its part to contribute to deficit reduction. Protecting the remaining risk management tools available to our farmers and ranchers is one of my top priorities.

This national Ag Day reminds us of the importance of agriculture, to both rural and urban America. The state of the rural economy affects everyone, not just those in areas where most jobs are directly linked to production agriculture. I am proud to stand with America's hardworking farmers and ranchers today and every day.

Rep. Mike Conaway is the House of Representatives member for District 11 and chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
Aimee Blume / Special to The Courier & Press (evansville, ind.) It's a good time of year for beer-battered fish. This plate comes from Rafferty's in Evansville, Ind., where the batter is made with Sam Adams Boston Lager and the fries are twice-fried in peanut oil.

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Beer batter makes perfect, crispy pieces

By Aimee Blume, Special to the Courier & Press (Evansville, Ind.)

It's not like beer battered fish and excellent hand-cut chips aren't a wonderful thing to eat year round, but in March it's even more appropriate with it being both Lent and St. Patrick's season.

While not exactly good for your summer bikini body, this is a meal that offers incredible gustatory satisfaction. You have the softness and light sweetness of the fish inside the crunchy batter. Starchy, earthy potatoes with caramelized crunchy edges. Creamy, sweet-tangy tartar sauce  all kinds of fatty, rich and salty, but cut and complemented with liberal dribblings of lemon juice and/or malt vinegar.

If you're making beer battered fish at home, you can use any white fish you like. Cod is the classic. You may also use pollock or haddock. You could also use a mild freshwater fish such as tilapia or swai. Fry the fish just until the coating is brown and crisp and the interior is opaque and flaky. Overcooked fish will fall apart or become unfortunately rubbery.

It's important to use the right kind of potatoes for your chips. Always use a high-starch potato such as russet. Irish recipes sometimes call for "old" potatoes. When the potatoes have been aged a bit, the starch level increases so they are even crispier and fluffier. If you have russet potatoes just beginning to grow eyes, they are just right. British and Irish chippies always peel their potatoes. In the states, we often like them unpeeled. You make the choice.

Irish Beer Battered Monkfish

Serves 6-8

INGREDIENTS

2 pounds boneless monkfish* cleaned and cut into small to medium pieces

1 beaten egg

1 cup of beer, preferably a dry Irish stout

- salt to taste

1 cup of white flour

- frying oil

- salt for seasoning

DIRECTIONS

1 Mix the white flour, beaten egg and the beer in a bowl with salt to taste.

2 Take each piece of monkfish* and coat in the batter, ensuring they are completely covered.

3 Heat frying oil at least 6 inches deep in a deep fryer to 350 degrees. Add fish pieces in batches so the fryer is not crowded, and cook for 3-4 minutes each time. When the batter is brown, break the largest piece apart to ensure the center is cooked through. Remove the fish from the fryer and drain on paper towels.

4 Serve with a wedge of lemon, malt vinegar and chips.

*We can occasionally find monkfish in our area, but feel free to use any mild white fish for this recipe, such as cod.

Source: Adapted from Yourirish.com

Guinness Battered Fish

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

2 cups Guinness beer

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 egg

- all-purpose flour

8 3-ounce cutlets of pollock, cod or haddock, boneless, sliced on bias

DIRECTIONS

1 In a large mixing bowl, add beer, baking soda, salt, pepper and egg. Whisk to mix well.

2 With a whisk, slowly add enough flour until the batter is thick, not runny, and adheres to a wooden spoon.

3 Heat oil in a deep fryer or in a deep sided saute pan to 350 degrees. Dredge fish in flour, shaking off excess, and dip in batter, covering all sides of fish.

4 Holding battered fish, gently dip into hot oil, holding halfway in, wait 15 seconds and drop into oil. This will prevent the fish from sticking to the bottom. Flip fish over when brown on one side and cook altogether about 6-8 minutes, depending on the thickness of fillets.

5 The fish should be all one color all the way through or 140 degrees internal temperature.

Source: Adapted from Wine Enthusiast, from Sandy Ingber of Grand Central Oyster Bar in New York City

Chips

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

- vegetable or peanut oil, for deep frying

4 large russet potatoes

- malt vinegar, for serving

- tartar sauce

DIRECTIONS

1 Heat 3 inches of the oil in a deep fryer to 325 degrees. Alternately, heat 3 inches of oil in a deep pot.

2 Peel the potatoes and cut them into chips, about the size of your index finger. Put the potatoes in the oil. Fry the chips for 2 to 3 minutes; they should not be crisp or fully cooked at this point. Remove the chips with a spider strainer or slotted spoon, to a paper towel-lined platter to drain.

3 Crank the oil temperature up to 375 degrees.

4 Put the chips in the bottom of the fryer basket and carefully submerge in the hot oil. Fry the chips for 4 to 5 minutes until crispy and brown. Remove the basket and drain the chips on paper towels; season lightly with salt.

Source: Adapted from Tyler Florence
FILE  In this Dec. 21, 2015, file photo, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Michael Eakin arrives for a hearing about whether he should be suspended while a judicial ethics court decides if his email practices warrant discipline, at the Northampton County courthouse in Easton, Pa. Eakin's decision to step down was announced Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in a widening scandal over the exchange of raunchy and offensive emails among friends and lawyers. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

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By Angela Couloumbis, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

HARRISBURG, Pa.  Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice J. Michael Eakin has resigned his seat on the state's highest court, months after being charged with judicial ethics lapses for his involvement in a pornographic email scandal.

He is the second top jurist to step down amid revelations that prosecutors, judges and law enforcement officials for years exchanged pornographic and otherwise offensive emails, often using state computers.

"We have lost one of the finest jurists on the court," Eakin's lawyer, William Costopoulos, told reporters at a news conference Tuesday. "His opinions and writings will withstand the test of history."

Eakin's resignation was a dramatic development in the saga that has unfolded since Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane revealed in 2014 that her office had been a hub for the exchange of email messages containing pornography and jokes that mocked African-Americans, women, gays, lesbians and others.

Since then, more than a half dozen public officials have lost their jobs, including high-ranking members of former Gov. Tom Corbett's administration.

Former Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery, a Philadelphia Democrat, resigned soon after the scandal erupted.

Eakin was charged last year with violating judicial ethics rules for his involvement with offensive email messages. In bringing the charges, the state's Judicial Conduct Board said the justice he had tarnished the Supreme Court and his position on the bench by exchanging the emails.

The majority of Eakin's emails were exchanged with friends, and were sent or received on his private account. They were captured on state government servers because one of his friends was a prosecutor at the state attorney general's office and used his work email account.

Eakin, 67, a Republican from Cumberland County, has apologized for the messages. He has said they do not reflect his character, and that his judicial opinions over the last two decades were based on thoughtful reasoning and facts, not biases.

Through his lawyers, he has emphasized that he received, rather than sent, the majority of the offensive emails.

As Eakin awaited trial, the Court of Judicial Discipline had suspended him, saying his continued presence on the bench harmed the public's trust in the judiciary.
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The two leading candidates for the Republican presidential nomination held a spirited debate over foreign policy last week, and the differences were striking.

Donald Trump would cozy up to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he's praised as "a strong leader;" Texas Sen. Ted Cruz would escalate our new Cold War with Russia. Trump wants to renegotiate President Obama's nuclear deal with Iran; Cruz promises to "rip (the agreement) to shreds on Day 1." Trump says he'd try to broker a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians; Cruz says he's not interested in talks and would back Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the hilt.

See the pattern? Trump wants to make deals, and doesn't much mind who's across the table  Russian autocrat or Iranian mullah. Cruz doesn't want to negotiate, he wants to pick sides.

Those are the differences. But there are similarities too.

When it comes to Islamic State, Trump and Cruz are on the same page  and neither has much of a strategy to offer. They have both suggested that intensified U.S. bombing can win the war. (It can't.)

Trump says he'd aim to kill terrorists' families, which would be a war crime. Cruz says he'd "carpet bomb" Islamic State strongholds  a potential war crime, since it would needlessly kill civilians.

Neither cares much who rules Syria in the end, as long as it's not Islamic State. "We have no dog in the fight," Cruz has said. Trump says he'd let Putin sort it out.

And while they both do their best to sound ferocious, neither wants to deploy U.S. ground troops. In that sense, Trump and Cruz are rather minimalist  just like Obama.

The rise of the two "outsider" candidates has been bad news for Republican internationalists, the hawkish conservatives who have dominated GOP foreign policy since World War II.

Internationalists, who include such figures as former Gov. Mitt Romney and Sen. John McCain, think Obama has been too cautious about using U.S. power overseas. Many of them think the U.S. should be doing more in Syria  for example, setting up (and defending) "safe zones" for the opposition.

But that's not where most GOP voters are this year. The internationalists had two favorite candidates, former Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Marco Rubio, but the former's already out and the latter isn't faring too well.

"Much of the country is clearly not where Republican internationalists would like it to be," said Robert Kagan, a former adviser to Romney. "The American people, in both parties, are in a mood for retrenchment."

Want proof? Last month, Trump not only called the 2003 invasion of Iraq "a big fat mistake," he said the George W. Bush administration "lied" to sell the war to the public. Republican voters barely blinked.

Trump's foreign policy departs from GOP orthodoxy on a host of issues. He wants to demand that Germany, South Korea, Japan and Saudi Arabia increase payments to the U.S. for military protection, moves that would strain those traditional alliances. He wants to slap tariffs on goods imported from China and Mexico, which would almost surely set off an expensive trade war. And, of course, he says he'll force Mexico to pay for his wall on the border, although he's never explained how.

Cruz, too, has called the Iraq invasion a mistake. He hasn't accused Bush of lying, but he has accused "Washington neo-cons," shorthand for the GOP neoconservatives who backed the Iraq War, of indiscriminate "military interventionism."

His favorite example: the overthrow of Libyan dictator Moammar Kadafi in 2011. In Cruz's view, the United States shouldn't have helped topple Kadafi; it should have protected him.

"Kadafi was a bad man, he had a horrible human rights record. And yet  he had become a significant ally in fighting radical Islamic terrorism," Cruz argued last year.

Cruz believes the United States should relegate human rights concerns to a back burner, especially when it comes to the Middle East.

So if the GOP race comes down to a choice between Trump and Cruz, what's an internationalist-minded Republican to do? It looks like an unappetizing choice to me, but I'd say: Choose Cruz.

Cruz is scary, but Trump is dangerous. Cruz's soft spot for pro-American dictators would actually be a return to the conservative orthodoxy that prevailed before Ronald Reagan injected democracy promotion into GOP foreign policy.

But Trump, who has a distinct authoritarian streak, seems to admire autocrats such as Putin even when they're not pro-American.

Kagan, who is writing a history of U.S. diplomacy, agrees that Cruz is the better option.

"Trump is a throwback to the 1920s and 1930s view that the world can go to hell and it's not our problem," he said. "If Hitler were rampaging across Europe, Trump would say  as many said at the time  that he's someone we can do business with."

And if the choice is between Trump and likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton?

Kagan, who also worked in the Reagan administration, says he'd vote for Clinton.

Doyle McManus is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Contact him at doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com
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By Kevin Goldberg, Pam Fine, George Stanley and Joyce Terhaar

ASNE has watched with interest and concern the dispute between Apple and the Federal Bureau of Investigation over access to information on the iPhone of San Bernardino, California, shooter Syed Farook.

We understand the FBI's interest in learning as much as possible about the events that led Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, to kill 14 people last December. However, the precedents set in this case might have significant ramifications on First Amendment protections offered to journalists and other private citizens.

Our hope is that any resolution creates a clear standard that appropriately protects the constitutional rights of anyone involved, especially as such standards already exist in the law.

This case could set a dangerous precedent regarding when an individual or company can be forced by the government to act or speak in the future. Given that forcing someone to speak presents no less a constitutional concern than restricting his or her speech, the standard applied here should be appropriately high, not impossible to achieve but certainly difficult and only where a compelling government interest exists and the government does not act more broadly than necessary.

Individuals and companies should not become an extension of the government by being forced to speak or otherwise express themselves on the government's behalf. The government is asking a court to force Apple to write code to de-encrypt this iPhone. Our concern is how government agents might use such a precedent to seek future forced action and speech.

Journalists have a particular concern, also rooted in the First Amendment. They fear that if Apple loses this case, it could lead to the government asking courts to force reporters to open encrypted conversations with sources or otherwise compromise their First Amendment rights.

The ability of journalists to protect their sources is essential for an effective, credible and independent press that spotlights corruption, abuse of office, fraud, mismanagement and a host of other problems that powerful authorities have reason to hide from the public. These authorities might seek to punish whistleblowers and others who expose incompetence, wrongdoing and worse.

Perhaps unnoticed to many, as the dispute between Apple and the FBI was playing out in the United States, Brazilian law enforcement arrested a Facebook vice president based in Sao Paulo after the company refused to provide data contained on the company's "WhatsApp" messaging service. A similar issue was in play: Facebook refused to provide access to encrypted information relating to possible criminal activity (in this case, suspected drug trafficking). As a result, Facebook's Diego Dzodan spent 24 hours in jail before an appellate judge overturned the court order that led to his arrest.

Of course, Brazil is not the United States. Our rights to freedom of speech and due process should protect against similar arrests from occurring here. But decisions in the Apple-FBI case have the potential to erode Americans' constitutional rights and the ability of journalists to protect their sources in a way that exposes them to arbitrary actions by law enforcement.

Whether access is granted to the contents of this phone is not necessarily as important as how this case will affect future situations. That is why we hope the result offers an appropriately clear and high standard necessary to protect broader constitutional rights.

ASNE First Amendment Committee members Kevin Goldberg, Pam Fine, George Stanley and Joyce Terhaar contributed to this column.
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By Ross Ramsey

Want to know what the president thinks about voter turnout in Texas?

"The folks who are governing the good state of Texas aren't interested in having more people participate," Barack Obama told The Texas Tribune's Evan Smith on Friday at the South by Southwest Interactive festival.

Ouch.

It's not like Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, House Speaker Joe Straus and all the others have been running a vigorous voter registration and turnout drive.

Perhaps it's not in the best interests of the people now in office in Texas  whatever their party labels  to change the electoral setup that put them in office.

Voters do like competitive elections, and this year, they got them in both presidential primaries. But before you uncork a bottle of Champagne and start whooping it up, check the other stat: Among the states that have held elections instead of caucuses, only Louisiana had lower turnout than we did.

Texas is a low turnout state. In the Super Tuesday elections this month, turnout here rose to 2.8 million on the Republican side and 1.4 million on the Democratic side  the largest primary showing since 2008.

Put another way, 14.3 percent of Texas adults voted in the Republican primary and 7.3 percent voted in the Democratic primary. Flip that: Nearly four of every five adults in Texas didn't cast a ballot.

A change in the rules that encourages the people who do not now vote to change their ways would change the electorate.

At a minimum, it would make turnout bigger than it is now. Turnout might even get big enough to allow an elected official in Texas to say he or she represented the views of the majority of the state's residents. All those officials can say now is that they represent the majority of the minority that votes.

Growth in the voting population is not what gives the ruling class pause. What scares them to death, even if they won't let it out of their mouths, is the idea that a different electorate might put different people in office.

If you believe that the people now voting are really and truly representative of all of the state's citizens, a bigger turnout just means more people are participating. The only risk is that the voting lines might be longer, although a state interested in increased turnout would be able to do something about the long lines.

You won't find anyone who will say out loud that greater participation is a bad thing. Everybody is all for democracy and more of it.

The disruption is the thing.

The people at the top of a particular industry are not generally the people you can rely upon to disrupt that industry. Trial lawyers don't willingly unravel tort laws. Catholic clergy don't lead a purge of predatory priests until pressure is unbearable. Publishers don't remake newspapers until the Internet has gnawed away the pillars of subscriptions and advertising and made it easy for anyone to publish.

Politicians don't like big changes any more than electric utilities, bank tellers and cab companies.

And unlike those other targets and victims of disruption, the politicians are in charge of the rules.

They talk about vote security as if voting in Texas was as deeply corrupted as, say, campaign finance. The law requires you to give your name when you vote and makes it easy to catch you if you cheat, even without creating obstacles such as voter photo ID laws. On the money side, they're OK with a system where the players don't always have to reveal their names or the amounts they give.

They have the power to make it more difficult to hide the connections between candidates and their financial patrons  to give voters a chance to see, as the politicians themselves do, which fleas are riding which dogs.

Even without any changes to the laws that allow the money people to stay in the shadows, it would be relatively simple to let more voters in. Instead of looking for reasons to regulate voter behavior, they'd be trimming regulations and encouraging voters, acting like businesses do when they're after more customers.

Here's how you can tell the elected officials in state government don't want more people to vote  they're not doing anything to make it easier.

Ross Ramsey is executive editor of The Texas Tribune, where this article originally was published, at www.texastribune.org.
SHARE ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016 AND THEREAFTER - This undated photo provided by Gerry McIntyre on Thursday, March 10, 2016 shows Anders Gyllenhaal, vice president for news at McClatchy. During 2016's Sunshine Week in the U.S., when news organizations place a spotlight on the public's right to know and size up the state of government openness and access to public records, Gyllenhaal asks, "how will the First Amendment survive the dramatic changes in information technology?" (Gerry McIntyre via AP)

By Anders Gyllenhaal

As Apple tries to fend off government demands for access to encrypted iPhone content, the company is leaning on free speech arguments as a key part of its defense.

With no fewer than 10 lawsuits filed this year against net neutrality rules, both sides claim First Amendment support in this long-running dispute over the federal regulation of Internet service.

This is Sunshine Week in the U.S., when news organizations put a spotlight on the public's right to know and size up the state of government openness and access to public records.

This year, we should add a more sweeping question: How will the First Amendment navigate the dramatic changes in information technology?

Complicated disputes are popping up everywhere.

Cases moving through the courts range from whether Facebook "likes" and Twitter posts are protected speech (both are for the moment) to what speech rights businesses should have (they're expanding).

The mere definition of free speech is getting clouded: Are video games a kind of speech? And what about computer-driven content like searches and automated stories? Put another way, can iPhone's Siri claim First Amendment rights if she somehow libels you?

First Amendment laws shaped over decades are colliding with modern privacy concerns. On some campuses, students are protesting against free speech. There's growing support for "right to be forgotten'' laws that allow people to erase pieces of their past.

When a humorist gathered 50 signatures calling for repeal of the First Amendment as a joke last year at Yale, nobody should have been laughing.

Five key questions:

The First Amendment has survived plenty of change in 225 years as it has adapted to telegraph, print, radio and television. But those who follow the topic most closely say the information age is a whole new era.

Here are five questions likely to shape the future of the First Amendment:

How will the Internet alter free speech practices? There's a lot of unsettled law about how speech and expression play out in a Facebook world.

Scholars say rules taking shape generally extend existing standards to the Internet. The challenge will be figuring out when speech is altered by the Internet's speed and reach.

"The Internet amplifies everything,'' said Thomas Healy, a Seton Hall law professor. "It amplifies expression. It makes it more powerful, more dangerous, more offensive."

Early court decisions hold that data-driven communications, such as computer-assembled news and Google searches, are indeed protected forms of speech. So is computer code itself, which is the basis of the First Amendment argument Apple is making for refusing to crack open the iPhone of the San Bernardino mass shooter.

Who's advocating for the public's interest? We should watch which players step up as a changing of the media guard takes place.

The newspaper and broadcast companies that championed speech and press rulings of the 20th century don't have the power or financial strength they once did. The dominant technology companies have not shown that same kind of stewardship of the First Amendment.

"I worry,'' said John E. Finn, the Wesleyan government professor who taught the Great Courses series on the First Amendment, "about the lack of well-funded institutions advocating for openness.''

Who controls how information moves? Just as important as who creates content will be who distributes it, which is why net neutrality rules approved by the Federal Communications Commission last year are under withering attack.

The current rules say service levels and rates should be the same for all. Internet providers say that curbs business options, while content creators say reversing this would give the Internet's utilities too much power over the marketplace that would lead, for instance, to download speeds based on your willingness to pay.

What will expanding business rights mean? Corporations have turned to the First Amendment to free themselves from limits on advertising, ingredient listings and political contributions.

Some say that the expansion of any speech rights serves all comers. Others say this shift goes against the intent to protect the rights of citizens against powerful government and corporate interests.

And finally, where do you stand? Here the news is encouraging: The simple, 45 words covering religion, speech, press, petition and assembly is woven into our civil fabric.

Polls consistently find overwhelming support for the First Amendment. Unlike other topics in public life, those sentiments cut across political, ethnic, age and economic lines.

Two-thirds of the world lives without religion and press freedom, and many countries, from China to Cuba, are using technology to suppress rights. This makes the American model an even greater beacon if we succeed in using technology to extend freedoms.

"We have the gold standard,'' said Alberto Ibarguen, director of the Knight Foundation, which funds media innovation around the world. "It's our responsibility to make sure we maintain that.'"

The First Amendment did not find its place at the core of our rights without many struggles over two centuries. Sunshine Week is a good time to remember there are fresh battles ahead.

Anders Gyllenhaal is vice president for news at McClatchy and can be reached at Agyllenhaal@McClatchy.com.
An honest essay has numerous characteristics: original thinking, a good structure, balanced arguments, and plenty more.

But one aspect often overlooked is that an honest essay should be interesting. It should spark the readers curiosity, keep them absorbed, make them want to stay reading and learn more. An uneventful article risks losing the readers attention; whether or not the points you create are excellent, a flat style, or poor handling of a dry subject material can undermine the positive aspects of the essay. The matter is that a lot of students think that essays should be like this: they believe that a flat, dry style is suited to the needs of educational writing and dont even consider that the teacher reading their essay wants to search out the essay interesting. You might want to have online essay editor service to boost your confidence in writing with an error-free output. Academic writing doesnt need to be  and shouldnt be  bland. The excellent news is that there is much stuff you can do to create your essay more attractive, while youll be able only to do such a lot while remaining within the formal confines of educational writing. Lets study what theyre.

Have an interest in what youre writing about

Dont go overboard, but youll be able to let your passion for your subject show.

If theres one thing bound to inject interest into your writing, its being fascinated by what youre writing about. Passion for a subject matter comes across naturally in your essay, typically making it more lively and fascinating and infusing an infectious enthusiasm into your words  within the same way that its easy to talk knowledgeably to someone about something you discover fascinating.

Include fascinating details

Another factor that may make an essay boring maybe a dry material. Some topic areas are naturally dry, and it falls to you to form the article more interesting through your written style and by trying to seek out fascinating snippets of knowledge to incorporate, which will liven it up a small amount and make the data easier to relate to. A way of doing this with a dry subject is to create what youre talking about that seems relevant to the critical world, as this is often easier for the reader to relate to.

Emulate the fashion of writers you discover interesting

When you read lots, you subconsciously start emulating the fashion of the writers you have read. Reading benefits you a lot, as this exposes you to a spread of designs, and youll start to require the characteristics of these you discover interesting to read.

Borrow some creative writing techniques

Theres a limit to the quantity of actual story-telling youll do when youre writing an essay; in the end, essays should be objective, factual and balanced, which doesnt, initially glance, feel considerably like story-telling. However, youll apply a number of the principles of story-telling to create your writing more interesting.

consider your own opinion

Take the time to figure out what its that you think instead of regurgitating the opinions of others.

Cut the waffle

Rambling on and on is dull and almost bound to lose the interest of your reader. Youre in danger of waffling if youre not completely clear about what you wish to mention or havent thought carefully about how youre visiting structure your argument. Doing all your research correctly and writing an essay plan before you begin will help prevent this problem.

Editing is a vital part of the essay-writing process, so edit the waffle once youve done a primary draft. Read through your essay objectively and eliminate the bits that arent relevant to the argument or labor the purpose.

employing a thesaurus isnt always a decent thing

Avoid using unfamiliar words in an essay; theres too great a likelihood that youre misusing them.

You may think that employing a thesaurus to seek out more complicated words will make your writing more exciting or sound more academic, but using overly high-brow language can have the incorrect effect.

Avoid repetitive phrasing

Please avoid using the identical phrase structure again and again: its a recipe for dullness! Instead, use a variety of syntax that demonstrates your writing capabilities and makes your writing more interesting. Mix simple, compound, and complicated sentences to avoid your paper becoming predictable.

Use some figurative language

Using analogies with nature can often make concepts more accessible for readers to know.

As weve already seen, its easy to finish up rambling when youre explaining complex concepts  mainly after you dont know it yourself. One way of forcing yourself to think about a couple of pictures, present it more simply and engagingly is to form figurative language. This implies explaining something by comparing it with something else, as in an analogy.

Employ rhetorical questions

Anticipate the questions your reader might ask.

One of the ways ancient orators held the eye of their audiences and increased the dramatic effect of their speeches was by using the statement. A decent place to use a statement is at the top of a paragraph, to steer into the following one, or at the start of a replacement section to introduce a brand new area for exploration.

Proofread

Finally, you may write the top interesting essay an instructor has ever read. Still, youll undermine your good work if its plagued by errors, which distract the reader from the particular content and can probably annoy them.
Chalk up a win for Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan in his war with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.Madigan-backed Juliana Stratton on Tuesday easily defeated Rauner ally Rep. Ken Dunkin for the Democratic nomination in the city's 5th House District. Stratton's campaign was heavily funded by labor groups that oppose Rauner's pro-business, union-weakening agenda.The race was like none seen before in Illinois, with record-breaking spending, allegations of dirty campaign tactics and even an endorsement from a sitting president with Barack Obama cutting an ad for Stratton.Madigan also got to celebrate another victory: a primary win over challenger Jason Gonzales, who had been funded by many of Rauner's donors.With 88 percent of precincts reporting, Stratton led with 68 percent of the vote compared with 32 percent for Dunkin. In a reflection of the campaign's bitterness, Stratton refused to declare victory until Dunkin called to concede defeat.Stratton arrived at a community center in Bronzeville to cheers and hugs from well-wishers as supporters yelled "Julie! Julie!""This is an incredible journey and I'm so thankful for all of the support," she said. "Though he's not here in person, I know that President Barack Obama is here in spirit."More than an hour after Stratton left the stage, Dunkin emerged to say he had called Stratton to concede."Partisan politics is going to be the death knell of this state," Dunkin said, laying all of the blame for the state's record-breaking budget impasse fueled by the partisan battle at Madigan's feet.Madigan "is the lone wolf out there and the people are suffering," Dunkin added, saying a "perplexing" amount of money was spent on his race but that he had no regrets about how he had handled his office and the race.Combined, both sides poured more than $6 million into the contest. Dunkin received $1.3 million from the Illinois Opportunity Project alone, which is run by Dan Proft, a conservative radio talk show host. It has ties to the Illinois Policy Institute, a conservative think tank Rauner has donated more than $500,000 to over the years.Stratton received millions from labor and Democratic heavy hitters, including more than $25,000 in help from the 42nd Ward Democratic Organization, led by former Madigan aide Ald. Brendan Riley. The money was used for a mail piece featuring an old mug shot of Dunkin, highlighting his conviction for battery.Dunkin's campaign also was challenged by 3rd Ward Ald. Pat Dowell, a Stratton supporter who filed a complaint with the Cook County state's attorney alleging his workers were trying to buy votes for $50 apiece. Dunkin's camp said the accusations were "baseless" and contended the attacks from the Democratic establishment were punishment for bucking Madigan, whom he accused of "plantation politics" by taking advantage of black voters and lawmakers to maintain power.The attention-seeking Dunkin tried to paint himself as a hero for cutting a deal with Rauner in which he refused to vote with Democrats to try to overturn Rauner vetoes of bills to protect funding for child care and services for seniors and the disabled. Dunkin also missed an attempt by Democrats to overturn another Rauner veto of union-backed legislation to limit his options in contract talks with state workers. His defection earned him a public rebuke by Obama during a February speech on bipartisanship at the Illinois Capitol, and Dunkin said Obama's support of Stratton clearly swayed voters."Having the president of the free world to chime in on a local House race, one of the few in the nation, and not the U.S. presidency, not the Senate, not a congressman, not the state's attorney's office race -- but my race -- really spoke volumes," Dunkin said. "You know, it is what it is. He has a right to endorse whoever he wants to, and life goes on."I am not embittered by any stretch. The people of the 5th District, they spoke," Dunkin said. "They spoke when I defeated an incumbent 13 years ago ... they spoke now when they sent me home, and it's A-OK."Stratton, a former adviser to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on criminal justice issues, is now the director of the Center for Public Safety and Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has declined to say how she would have voted on the labor and child care issues but says her background as an administrative law judge and mediator for the city on employment issues ensures she can maintain independence despite heavy backing from unions.For his part, Madigan took no chances in his own race, filling mailboxes with fliers labeling Gonzales a career criminal. Gonzales said he did serve jail time for illegal credit card use as a teen but received a pardon for his crimes from former Gov. Pat Quinn. With 97 percent of the vote counted, Madigan had 65 percent to Gonzales' 27 percent.Standing before a group of about two dozen supporters, Gonzales said their efforts to unseat the long-standing speaker had not been in vain."To finally have somebody to stand up and say, 'Enough is enough.' That is historic," he said.
Donald Trump romped to victory Tuesday in Florida, chasing Marco Rubio from the race, but Ohio Gov. John Kasich won his home state, raising hopes for those seeking to stop Trump and settle the presidential contest on the floor of the Republican convention.Trump also won North Carolina and Illinois and was locked in a close fight with Sen. Ted Cruz in Missouri."I'm getting ready to rent a covered wagon, we're going to have a big sail and have the wind blow us to the Rocky Mountains and over the mountains to California," Kasich said at a jubilant rally outside Cleveland.That is just the sort of extended nominating fight the GOP establishment sought to avoid by stacking the political calendar with big early contests, capped by Tuesday night's winner-take-all primaries in Florida and Ohio. California votes on June 7, near the close of the primary season.Now, many of those same party types see an inconclusive nominating contest as the best and perhaps only chance of thwarting Trump, even if it threatens to shred the GOP in the process.The setback in Ohio, where Trump campaigned hard, was his most disappointing performance since he finished second to Cruz in February's Iowa caucuses.His unhappiness was evident as he addressed reporters at his posh Mar-a-Lago private club in Palm Beach, Fla., and complained about the miseries of running for president."Lies, deceipt, viciouness. Disgusting reporters. Horrible people," the Manhattan businessman and reality TV star said. "Some are nice."Cruz, speaking with 99 percent of the Missouri votes counted, once more insisted he was the only candidate who could defeat Trump."Starting tomorrow morning, every Republican has a clear choice. Only two campaigns have a plausible path to the nomination _ ours and Donald Trump's," Cruz told supporters in Houston. "Nobody else has any mathematical possibility whatsoever. Only one campaign has beaten Donald Trump over and over again."With his unmatched string of victories, no candidate is nearly as well positioned as Trump to win the nomination ahead of the July convention in Cleveland. He padded his overall delegate lead with Tuesday's victories, putting him ahead of Cruz and Kasich, who had not won a state before Ohio.But there were signs Tuesday that not just the establishment but rank-and-file Republicans have yet to rally around the party's polarizing front-runner.Nearly 3 in 10 Republican voters across the five states said they would not vote for Trump if he wins the party's nomination, according to exit poll interviews. Four in 10 said they would consider voting for a third-party candidate if the choice came down to Trump or the Democratic front-runner, Hillary Clinton.Defections of that magnitude could badly undermine Trump in the general election and that prospect will likely be stressed by his opponents going forward into next week's contests in Arizona and Utah.Rubio spoke to the controversy surrounding the GOP front-runner as he departed the race.In a Miami concession speech delivered less than half an hour after the polls closed, the freshman lawmaker congratulated Trump, wagging a finger and shushing members of the audience who booed his kind words. Rubio then devoted the bulk of his lengthy remarks to warn against succumbing to the anger and frustration that have fueled Trump's improbable rise."The politics of resentment against other people will not just leave us a fractured party," Rubio said, as disconsolate family members stood by onstage. "They're going to leave us a fractured nation" where people hate each other for their political views."Do not give in to the fear," Rubio said. "Do not give in to the frustration."The son of Cuban immigrants and, at age 44, the youngest candidate in the field, Rubio was seen as one of the GOP's rising stars, with a capacity to broaden the party's support among millennial voters and the nation's fast-growing Latino population.But he failed to win more than a handful of contests and was never seriously competitive in his home state. Trump captured 99 delegates in Florida's winner take-all-primary, more than a quarter of those at stake in Tuesday's balloting,The victory in winner-take-all Ohio gave Kasich 66 delegates, more than doubling his total but still leaving him well behind Trump. His goal is to build momentum with a series of wins positioning him as the strongest candidate heading into the Cleveland convention even if, as seems inevitable, Kasich is shy of the 1,237 delegates needed to win the nomination outright.Pennsylvania, where Kasich was born, is the next big target on April 26.The results Tuesday followed one of the oddest, most contentious weeks in a campaign that has been filled with strange and surreal moments.The precipitating event was a racially charged near-riot at a Trump rally Friday night in Chicago, which was canceled out of security concerns.Trump's opponents quickly seized on the moment and the violent imagery that played around the world to once more challenge his temperament and fitness to be president. They accused him of fomenting the unrest through belligerent remarks that seemed to egg his audiences into physically confronting dissenters.Trump denied any responsibility, blaming the violence on what he called professional agitators linked to Democratic hopeful Bernie Sanders. He said the protesters provoked his supporters and were stifling their rights to free speech and assembly."I don't condone violence," Trump said repeatedly, though he sympathized with backers who chose to "be effective" with protesters in the audience. (Previously he used more pugilistic language.)Trump said he might even pay the legal fees for a supporter who sucker-punched a demonstrator at a North Carolina rally, drawing widespread condemnation. He won the state anyway.Indeed, for weeks increasingly desperate Republican opponents have mounted an effort to stop Trump, to seemingly little effect.More than $10 million in negative ads blazed across the Florida airwaves in just the last week alone, attacking Trump for his ethics, the failings of his business empire and his all-over-the-map political ideology.Those meant nothing to Mark Owens, who stepped into the Miami Beach sunshine Tuesday and lit a cigar after casting a ballot for the political neophyte."We've trusted politicians for 200 years to run our country," Owens said. "It's time to give someone else a shot."With polls suggesting Florida was firmly in Trump's grasp, much of the campaign focused on Ohio, another traditional fall battleground.Trump laid on extra events, including an election-eve rally outside Youngstown in place of a planned Florida appearance, and he turned his attention to attacking Kasich after long ignoring the Ohio governor.He assailed him for his support as a congressman for the North American Free Trade Agreement, a pact with Canada and Mexico that, Trump said, devastated the state's economy. He also laid on personal insults in a bid to snatch a victory in Kasich's home state and clear the governor from the race.Kasich, whose strategy centered on staying above the salvos flying between other candidates, accused Trump of creating a "toxic" political atmosphere and, wrapping himself in the establishment mantle, spent Monday stumping alongside Mitt Romney, the party's 2012 nominee.With Kasich suddenly a factor in the GOP contest, the skirmishing here in Ohio seems a likely previewed of what is to come.While he pledged to take the high road at his victory party Tuesday night, Kasich sent a different message speaking to reporters earlier in the day.He said, "I will be ... forced, going forward to talk about some of the deep concerns I have about the way this campaign has been run by some others _ by one other in particular."There is no doubting who he had in mind.
Voting rights advocates and the state of Nevada settled a lawsuit today over the state's implementation of a federal law aimed at registering low-income voters.Under terms of the settlement, the state's Department of Health and Human Services will provide each of its clients a voter registration application, help them fill out the forms and send the applications to state election officials.The department administers benefit programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, cash assistance, Medicaid and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, to low-income Nevadans."Every step we take to assist all eligible Americans to become voters is a sound step," said Clarissa Martinez De Castro, deputy vice president of the National Council of La Raza. "That's what the (National Voter Registration Act) is all about, and today's agreement will help more Nevadans have access to registration and to the opportunity to make their voices heard in the voting booth."The lawsuit was brought by the National Council of La Raza and NAACP branches in Reno and Las Vegas in 2012.The groups sued the Nevada secretary of state and the Department of Health and Human Services, claiming the state was failing to register voters at public assistance agencies as required under federal law.The law -- the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 -- specifically targets low-income voters by requiring voter registration materials to be distributed at welfare offices.The plaintiffs in the case argued the state was not appropriately complying with that law. Data gathered by the parties in the lawsuit showed that, in 2002, welfare agencies in the state collected nearly 40,000 voter registration applications, compared to only 1,677 in the 2010 election cycle.The plaintiffs argued those numbers should have been higher, given the growing demand for public assistance during the recession."It's taken years of litigation and negotiation to get where we are today," said Scott Novakowski, an attorney at the liberal think tank Demos who worked on the case. "We're pleased that we were able to reach an agreement that ensures low-income Nevadans now have an equal opportunity to participate in the political process."The case was initially dismissed in 2012 by a District Court judge who said that the plaintiffs had not been directly harmed by the state's actions and, therefore, did not have grounds for a lawsuit. In September, a federal appeals court overturned the dismissal, and the case was reassigned to a different lower-court judge.Details of the settlement specify that the Department of Health and Human Services has to offer voter registration services no matter how they are interacting with a client -- in person, online or over the phone.It also requires the department, the Secretary of State's Office and each local office of the department to assign oversight of voter registration to one of their staff members and provide regular training to employees who work with clients.The department and the Secretary of State's Office will monitor compliance with the law through a system of data tracking and analysis, according to the settlement.In response to the settlement, the plaintiffs on Friday filed for a dismissal of the case in federal court, though they asked the judge, Miranda Du, to retain jurisdiction to resolve any disputes that arise over the settlement.The Secretary of State's Office and the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Though the lawsuit has been resolved, the Secretary of State's Office is still facing claims the state is violating a different part of the same federal law requiring voter registration at state Department of Motor Vehicles offices.Some of the same groups involved with this lawsuit sent a pre-litigation letter to the Secretary of State's Office and the state's DMV last week, claiming the state is requiring more work from voter registration applicants than the federal law allows. Under the law, driver's license applicants who want to register to vote are only supposed to be required to fill out one application instead of providing duplicate information on two separate forms.Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske said last week that her office is reviewing the information and has been communicating with the DMV for several months to establish a timeline to modernize the agency's voter registration system.
Lieutenant governors these days often come equipped with better qualifications than their peers in the past. Maybe thats why some of them are leaving.Three lieutenant governors are leaving or have left office recently for jobs in education policy. Joe Garcia, for example, will be stepping down as lieutenant governor of Colorado after the current legislative session ends to run the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. I can continue to work on the same policy priorities Ive had in my current job, but work on them across a broader range of Western states, he says.In Colorado, Garcias influence over higher education policy has been more than advisory. To entice him to run for the job, Gov. John Hickenlooper agreed to put Garcia in charge of the state Department of Higher Education. Garcia certainly knows the subject matter. Hed already served as president of a community college and a state university.Garcia is an example of a lieutenant governor who brings more to the position than ethnic, gender or geographic balance. There are still lieutenant governors who hang around the capitol with nothing to do, but fewer than there used to be. They dont all become agency heads like Garcia, but its not unusual for them to be handed some sort of broad, interagency portfolio.A decade ago, some lieutenant governors started overseeing homeland security operations, but lately a lot of them are working on state responses to rampant drug addiction problems. You want leadership from the top on an issue like that, as well as coordination across the branches of government, says Julia Grant, executive director of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA).Like some other lieutenant governors, Sue Ellspermann of Indiana has been heading up a workforce development task force for her boss. Now that its all over but the implementation, Ellspermann is up for the job of running a statewide network of community colleges known as Ivy Tech. Heres a perfect combination of Ellspermanns background, her Ph.D. and her ability to work with the administration, says Ed Feigenbaum, a former NLGA staffer and editor of the newsletterFeigenbaum might have gotten the ball rolling with an item last year suggesting Ellspermann would be a perfect fit for a top academic post. He also noted it would allow Gov. Mike Pence to pick a new partner whod speak to some potential political liabilities as he seeks re-election this fall. Ellspermanns move to Ivy Tech is not a done deal, but shes decided not to run. Pence has picked Eric Holcomb, a former chair of the state GOP, to replace her.In Montana, Lt. Gov. Angela McLean left at the start of the year to take a job as director of American Indian/Minority Achievement with the state higher education commission. That might sound like a step down for someone who used to chair the university systems board of regents. But publicly released emails suggest McLean was unhappy some initiatives had been stripped from her purview.This shows the conundrum governors now face. If they dont give their lieutenants any power, they wont be happy. On the other hand, if they offer them real responsibility, governors might find, like other employers, that its hard keeping good help. Some lieutenant governors may be content just to wait their turn, but not all of them.My primary ambition has never been to become governor, says Colorados Garcia. After getting into my second term as lieutenant governor, the only good reason to stay, frankly, was to continue the work Im doing and to run for governor. I didnt think that was going to be me.
The Ferguson City Council unanimously approved a proposal with the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday to overhaul the city's police department, an agreement the city effectively rejected six weeks ago, provoking a federal lawsuit.The decision was punctuated by cheers from the crowd and then a hug between Ferguson Mayor James Knowles III and Michael Brown Sr., the father of the 18-year-old whose death led to protests, federal investigations and now one of the most comprehensive agreements ever to reform a police department and municipal court."This is Mike Brown's legacy," said Brown Sr. of his son, Michael Brown Jr. who was fatally shot by a Ferguson police officer on Aug. 9, 2014.Although the vote was unanimous, one council member was out sick.The council's reversal has mostly been attributed to a March 4 letter from Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, which suggested the projected costs of the reforms had been overstated.Finance Director Jeffrey Blume had projected the costs of abiding by the agreement to be as high as $3.7 million in the first year alone.But that figure was based partly on a provision in the agreement that required Ferguson to offer police competitive salaries.Blume interpreted the provision to mean that officers and other employees must receive 25 percent pay increases.The figures triggered accusations that the city had inflated the numbers to stoke fear and provide certain council members a pretext to vote down the agreement, called a consent decree.Gupta's letter rebutted the conclusions drawn by Blume, arguing that the department had always made it clear that salary increases could come over time and that the agreement itself does not specify any particular percentage."Tonight, the city of Ferguson, Missouri, took an important step towards guaranteeing all of its citizens the protections of our Constitution," Gupta said in a statement on Tuesday. "We are pleased that they have approved the consent decree, a document designed to provide the framework needed to institute constitutional policing in Ferguson, and look forward to filing it in court in the coming days and beginning to work with them towards implementation."This week the city released revised estimates of the costs of the reforms, projected them to be between $1 million and $1.5 million in the first year, $782,500 and $882,300 in the second year and $682,092 and $754,350 every year there after.The city, which faces a $2.8 million budget deficit, is expected to operate under the agreement for three to five years.Knowles stressed the importance of residents supporting a economic development sales tax and property tax increase _ both proposals on the April ballot."Without passing this tax increase, it will be nearly impossible to meet the terms of that decree," Knowles said.The city has a $14.5 million operating budget.Although the officer who shot Brown was never charged, the teenager's death led to an investigation into the practices of the Ferguson Police Department.The Justice Department released the findings of that investigation more than a year ago, detailing numerous constitutional violations _ searches without reasonable suspicion, arrests without probable cause and force used unnecessarily.The DOJ also accused Ferguson of using its municipal court for revenue, not justice.The two parties negotiated for months. Then in January the city released the agreement, which contained extensive reforms _ new use-of-force policies for police, hours of additional training for officers, body camera requirements and a plan for community policing.Last month, the council voted to accept the decree, but only with certain conditions, one of which would have effectively diluted its power.The city sought to eliminate the so-called "poison pill" clause that made the decree apply to any other agency providing policing in Ferguson. The revision allowed Ferguson to circumvent most of the decree by disbanding its police department.The Justice Department sued the city the next day.But at that same meeting, council members also appointed Laverne Mitchom, a retired educator, to fill a council seat vacated when Brian Fletcher, a former mayor died of a heart attack in January.Fletcher had founded the "I love Ferguson" campaign and never passed up a chance to extol the city's virtues.Mitchom, on the other hand, had participated in the protests over Brown's death."We may not always agree on everything," Mitchom said Tuesday. "But this evening I feel very hopeful that one thing we agree on is that we must come together and do what's best for the overall good of all of us in this community."Over the past six weeks, the council's meetings have been marked by protest _ demonstrations that have been both quiet and loud.On Tuesday, activists arrived with shoeboxes full of symbolic gag gifts for city officials: pacifiers to keep them from whining, calculators to help them provide correct numbers and laxatives as a statement about what some leaders are full of."Some of the protesters have brought you all thank you gifts for finally taking this step," said activist Keith Rose. "We hope that you will accept them."He added that the protests have shown that "You can fight City Hall, but City Hall can't fight justice."Councilman Wesley Bell agreed with Rose, at least on one point.Approving the consent decree was "a step forward," Bell said. Hard work remains and the city needs to heal, he said."Ferguson has been the emotional ground zero of this issue," he said. "In many ways we are trying to repair a tear in the fabric of our city. ... The fact that the world is watching us gives us an opportunity to show what change can look like."
(TNS) -- Gov. Mark Dayton on Tuesday proposed nearly $700 million in new spending during the current two-year budget period, offering his own spending priorities as legislators debate how to carve up a $900 million projected budget surplus.Expanded high-speed Internet access in rural Minnesota, tax credits for education expenses and working families and racial equity programs received the largest requests for funding in Daytons budget proposal.When I took office in 2011, Minnesota faced a $6 billion budget deficit, and Minnesotas children, families, and communities suffered the consequences, Dayton said. The budget proposal would protect the financial stability of our state government, while making essential investments to continue to build a better Minnesota.The DFL governor proposed $100 million to boost high-speed Internet access in rural Minnesota, touting the goal in recent weeks as an economic development tool for businesses and entrepreneurs.Dayton is also requesting $100 million push to begin addressing racial economic disparities. These funds are not yet committed, but will be allocated based on input from communities during the 2016 legislative session, according to a budget plan released by Daytons office.Tax cuts contained in Daytons supplemental budget proposal totaled $117 million, a fraction of what House Republicans have proposed, setting up a likely showdown with the GOP.Daytons proposal will help frame the budget debate during the current legislative session. House Republican leaders, who have pushed for much deeper tax cuts, are likely to offer their own budget ideas in coming weeks.The governor has proposed expanding the child and dependent care tax credit, as well as raising eligible income levels for the K-12 education tax credit.His proposal for voluntary universal preschool has been dramatically scaled back, setting aside $25 million in new funding to school districts with higher poverty rates and that lack enough high quality child care programs in the area, according to budget materials released by Daytons office.Dayton has struck a more cautious tone on the budget after the February economic forecast lowered the projected surplus from $1.2 billion to $900 million, a dramatic reduction in only two months since the last budget snapshot.At a recent conference in Washington, D.C., economists told the nations governors that they are nearly certain the nation will slip into another recession by 2018.Daytons proposed budget leaves $202 million on the bottom line, a little cushion in case the next budget forecast further reduces the projected surplus.
With California and the federal government apparently heading in opposite directions when it comes to regulating self-driving cars, one state legislator is pushing to bring them closer together.After the California Department of Motor Vehicles announced a set of draft regulations in December that would prohibit cars from driving without humans around, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx said that he would work to put out guidelines for state regulation before the end of the year. Those guidelines would, in all likelihood, allow for cars with higher levels of autonomy.Now, California Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang, R-Diamond Bar, has filed Assembly Bill 2682 to require the state DMV to hold hearings on the adoption of any regulation applicable to the operation of an autonomous vehicle without the presence of a driver inside the vehicle. That would include model policies from the U.S. Department of Transportation.In a March 15 press release , Chang said shes concerned about companies working on autonomous vehicles going out of state to test their technology. Since the DMV proposed its regulations, Google and other companies have publicly pushed for the department to reconsider. Though most of its testing has been in the Bay Area, Google is also testing its autonomous vehicles in Austin, Texas, and Kirkland, Wash."We are competing with business-friendly states like Texas to keep the tech in California, so we need to make sure we dont lose another opportunity for keeping jobs in California  and potential federal funding, Chang said in the statement.Thats because the DOT is also pursuing $4 billion in funding for research and development of autonomous and connected vehicles.Meanwhile, a whole host of cities, states and universities have beefed up their efforts to attract companies working on autonomous vehicles. Michigan, in particular, is working on a deal to buy up an abandoned industrial site and convert it into a testing grounds for autonomous vehicles  this is on top of the existing MCity testing grounds at the University of Michigan.The DMV is not exactly known for being an incubator for high-tech, Chang said in the statement. This bill ensures that federal policies promoting this emerging technology are appropriately considered by Californias regulators.
San Francisco's Gigabit Decision The muni-fiber report for San Francisco shows that the cost of the network to the city would vary depending on partnerships chosen. A publicly funded broadband utility network would cost the city an estimated $867.3 million in construction costs plus an additional $231.7 million annually in maintenance costs. Accounting for subscriber revenue, the city could expect an annual deficit of $145 million. For this reason  and also to promote market competition  the report instead recommended a public-private partnership model wherein all homes and businesses would be charged a utility fee averaging $26 per month for baseline Internet access. Tiered pricing models based on service type or bandwidth use could offset operational costs and potentially lower the baseline fee.



The Municipal Fiber Advisory Panel, which will advise policymakers on how the network should expand, is co-chaired by CIO Miguel Gamino and Chief Innovation Officer Jay Nath.



San Franciscos examination of a citywide fiber network is founded on the digital divide, the disparity in access to technology between societal classes, and also a general lack of access to high-speed Internet. Less than 3 percent of people in San Francisco have access to gigabit connectivity, while more than 100,000 residents, or 12 percent of the population, do not have any Internet access at home. An additional 50,000 residents, or 6 percent of the population, only have access to dial-up speed Internet.





San Francisco is taking broadband seriously.Following the announcement of a city partnership with Google Fiber last month, the office of Supervisor Mark Farrell announced on March 15 the appointment of two officials to a Municipal Fiber Advisory Panel, and released a report that recommends the city pursue a public-private partnership to build an open-access fiber network that serves everyone in San Francisco.When you turn on the faucet, clean water comes out. When you turn on the light switch, the lights come on. And when you open your laptop, everyone should have access to a fast Internet connection  whether you live in Pacific Heights or the Bayview, Farrell said in a press release. Low-cost, high-speed Internet is the utility of the 21st century, and as the innovation capital of the world, San Franciscos leadership on this issue should be a no-brainer.The 103-page report compares two competing broadband philosophies: the demand-based model used by private-sector Internet service providers (ISPs), and the more expensive utility approach that ensures everyone will have access. Because the report concluded that everyone has the right to Internet access, it ruled out the demand-based approach.Past efforts to bring low-cost Internet access to the entire city have failed, and we have learned from those efforts," Farrell said in the release. "After this analysis, we are more committed than ever to bringing low-cost, Gigabit-speed Internet to everybody in San Francisco.The report, which recommended a public-private partnership model wherein all homes and businesses would be charged a utility fee averaging $26 per month for baseline Internet access, outlines San Francisco's examination of three success stories in municipal broadband: the famed gigabit network run by EPB in Chattanooga , Tenn.; the Google Fiber and Kansas City partnership ; and the Westminster, Md., partnership with broadband up-and-comer Ting that was announced late last year Each of these case studies represent a municipality with a unique population size, goal set and political environment. The diversity in municipal broadband projects that are represented in recent history indicate a trend of innovation. No longer content to wait for private industry, cities like San Francisco and smaller are building the kinds of networks and partnerships that serve the persistent demand for connectivity.And innovative partnerships like these are a boon to cities, said Christopher Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, because they provide an opportunity for government to focus on its area of expertise. Governments, he said, can manage physical things like digging holes, and leave the rapid progression of technology and challenges of building new customer-centric businesses to experienced private-sector partners. Though new, this trend is the realization of an old aspiration.I think for a long time, cities have wanted to build fiber networks where they would not have to offer services directly, Mitchell said. So the cities would basically create the fiber network, but lease it or make it open to one or more providers that would use it to compete."And that, he added, has been a challenge on multiple fronts, but largely because there werent always ISPs willing to use the municipal fiber network to compete."Certainly the large cable and telephone companies have refused," Mitchell said. "Now to have Google say that theyre doing that in Huntsville, Ala., and if they do it elsewhere, which I suspect they will, then it legitimizes the model where cities can build fiber networks just like they build roads and let other people use them as basic infrastructure.If the major incumbent broadband providers werent worried about a diminished market share a few years ago when fiber was first launching, then they are definitely paying attention now. Google Fiber started slow, but its name now reaches into 22 cities with projects at varying degrees of maturity.And the companys willingness to enter lease partnerships with cities like Huntsville, Atlanta and San Francisco demonstrates a willingness to adapt to local needs and new dynamics in the market. Googles bold entrepreneurism also makes a new market appear more approachable to smaller companies, so companies like Ting , which began as a cellular service provider leasing tower bandwidth from major providers, are testing the market in Charlottesville, Va., and Westminster, Md., while keeping an eye on Greater Sandpoint , Idaho, and Holly Springs , N.C.When the Federal Communication Commission classified broadband as a utility under Title II last year, the main headline pertained to issues of net neutrality, but the policy change, along with this administrations egalitarian leaning, had the side effect of subtly re-framing how people think Internet access should be considered. New models of municipal broadband emerged in parallel with the attitude that Internet is a service that everyone should be able to take for granted. That idea was more controversial five years ago than it is today.Google Fibers changing model is a good sign, Mitchell said, because it allows them to expand faster, but its also a little scary if cities dont open their networks to foster competition.I would like to live in a world where theres a lot of companies like Google that are doing this, not just one or two, Mitchell said. I dont want to see Google having 50 million subscribers. The fear in my mind is any company getting to large in this regard gives them too much power."When one company has that much market share, he said, it gives them outside power to influence legislation."We see this both in D.C. and state capitols," Mitchell added. "Google hasnt been one to abuse that to my knowledge yet, but you certainly see it from the cable companies and the telephone companies. So my worry would be that as Google becomes the only game in town for super-fast internet in a number of places, they would have more power. And thats a criticism I would have of any one entity having that kind of power.In Santa Cruz, Calif., an ISP called Cruzio is opening up the market through partnerships with the University of California, Santa Cruz; city and county government; and businesses and advocacy groups. Arrangements like these are precursors to Google Fibers work in Huntsville, Mitchell said, because they both follow to pattern where the city owns and manages the physical assets, but leases the fiber to other companies looking to upset the market and serve new customers.This isnt coming out of the blue, Mitchell said. Its an exclamation point of several other examples that give me reason to think were going to see more of this.
(TNS) -- Lawmakers dealt a fatal blow Tuesday to efforts to expand high-speed internet service to rural and suburban residents this year, deferring to next year bills that allowing public electric utilities to expand their broadband services outside their electric service areas.State Rep. Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland, blamed a phalanx of lobbying by large, commercial broadband companies."It's a testament to the power of lobbying against this bill and not listening to our electorate," Brooks said. "We have thousands of petitions signed (in support of the bill) and the voice of the people was not heard today."The House Business and Utilities Subcommittee killed his bill, even though Brooks had amended it down to a "pilot" program in which the city-owned Electric Power Board of Chattanooga could expand its nationally acclaimed broadband service outside its Hamilton County service area and into adjoining Bradley County. Current Tennessee law allows municipal electric utilities to provide Internet service only within the boundaries of their electric service.Supporters of rural broadband have tried for seven consecutive years to win approval of some form of legislation allowing local publicly owned electric utilities to expand their high-speed internet services outside of their immediate service areas but have been thwarted annually by lobbying by for-profit companies who have been slow to expand their high-speed telecommunications services into more sparsely populated  and less profitable  areas.Swann, chairman of the subcommittee and a supporter of efforts to expand broadband, said those efforts have "all been put on hold until we come back next year. I think we've got the attention of the industry finally and I think they're going to come to the table and start talking seriously about this rather than running continual delays and delays."Swann said he expects the issued will be studied by a legislative committee after the General Assembly adjourns, with a report back next year. In addition to the legislature, rural broadband availability is being examined by the state Department of Economic and Community Development and the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, a state and local government research agency.Rep. Dan Howell, R-Georgetown, said Brooks' bill was "a perfect opportunity" for a municipal broadband provider to prove the viability of expanding service outside its primary service area "but they wouldn't even let us do a pilot program."
NEW ORLEANS  Rattling off the citys long series of hardships, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu recalled the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina and its successors Rita, Ike and Gustav. He referred to the Great Recessions effects on unemployment and the BP oil spills lasting damage to the citys coasts. Then he underscored current challenges before offering the opinion that there might not be another place in the world thats been hit as hard or as much as the city of New Orleans.But near-death experiences clarify your thinking very, very quickly, Landrieu added, when you not only have to save yourself, but turn yourself around."It was on this thought of reversal and rebuilding that on March 15 the mayor opened the citys first Civic Innovation Summit, an event meant not only to revitalize the beleaguered city but also, with the help of civic technology and entrepreneurs, re-imagine how it solves long-standing challenges. The inaugural summit, part of New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) from March 11-18, brought in thought leadership from across the private and nonprofit worlds for input on latest practices.New Orleans officials detailed their efforts to answer resilience problems with an eye on analytics and data. They put innovative city projects under the spotlight and underscored potential opportunities for the startup and tech community to help drive progress via Resilient NOLA, the citys 2050 strategic plan to answer its most pressing issues.Landrieu has aggressively pursued tech sector solutions throughout his administration. A few of these initiatives have included a measure that reduced the citys notoriously high murder rate by applying predictive analytics to criminal networks , launching the data-driven performance program Nolalytics , and reaching out to the civic tech group Code for America to create a blight tracking app In an interview withLandrieu laid out a few of his thoughts about technologys impacts and what benefits he hopes the advancements will bring the Crescent City as it heads into its 300th anniversary on May 7, 2018.You know for some reason, some in Silicon Valley have fallen into this notion that you can only do tech in one geographic location in the country, and clearly that's not true. And it's especially not true in the creative economy that's developed all across America. It clearly doesn't matter where you are, and New Orleans has demonstrated in the last 10 years that we can become a hub for innovation and technology as well. A lot of the tax credits we have on the state level incentivize that, and one of the things I want people to do is to grow their companies here.You know there is economic growth and there's economic development. All mayors and governors want to go hustle companies to move to where they are, and that's important, but I also want them to help people from New Orleans learn how to innovate right here. Because we have great raw material, we have great raw talent, we have great intellectual capital and we need to learn how to take those things and add value to them here. We can become the manufacturer of those products.A couple days ago a reporter from another publication asked me the same thing, saying to me "You know, affordable housing is getting to be a real issue" and I said, "Yes, it is and it's a serious issue," and I don't mean to minimize it, but when you're a city like us  and you oppose Katrina  the bigger issue was everybody leaving, there was blighted housing nobody wants to live in and no jobs. That is a much worse problem to solve than where are you going to put all the people that want to live in your space and thats something that we know a lot about.Now, there are a lot of different ways that you can handle [affordable housing]  and I do think that it's important for cities to stand up and have policies, and at least the aspiration, that we want everybody to live here irrespective of race, creed, color or socio-economic status. There are a couple of different ways government can influence that  as opposed to control it. You can go on one side and have rent control like they have in New York, you can try the private-sector model where people just get shut out, or you can try to do something in between with tax subsidies and tax incentives, where, through your zoning codes you incentivize people who are building housing to make sure that it includes diverse opportunities for people. That's the approach we're taking here.In New Orleans, we have redeveloped all of our public housing projects into communities that have affordable housing in them. We've worked with government subsidies to create soft second mortgages to help people who couldn't normally afford those down payments. We're working really, really hard as we rebuild neighborhoods from a zoning perspective to make sure it's mixed use, and we want to continue to encourage people who are living in neighborhoods to live not in exclusive neighborhoods that have gates around them, but to live in communities. We help create bike paths, we help create ways that just incentivize people to live together.But having said that, it is better to have housing values going up rather than down and have more people moving in. It's just a challenge that we're going to have to work with over time.You know this might sound really simplistic, but the more you do it the better you get at it and the more people come to assist. It gains traction, it attracts like-minded people and they come to the table. I've tried to create in the city of New Orleans, to the extent that you can, an entrepreneurial mindset to where you can redesign systems. You don't have to do something just because that's the way we did it before. I've tried to create a place where [the city and entrepreneurs] can find the barriers to what's stopping us from being creative and then break them down.Eventually, the idea of government doesn't become this old tired debate about should government be big or should government be small. Whatever size it is, it should be innovative, it should be responsive, it should be entrepreneurial, it should be flexible and it should deliver really good services in whatever it chooses to deliver. In some instances [applying civic innovation] is almost a mechanical view about how the 'the car' is supposed to work. After the car works well, we can get into these philosophical discussions about how big it ought to be or how small it ought to be, but the car should just work really, really well. And it ought to work in partnership with the private sector and not against it. That doesn't mean it should beand lackadaisical. If you have regulations, they should be smart and they ought to be directly attuned to what the private sector needs. And the private sector ought to be respectful of what the public sector needs so you create that environment where that discussion can take place, while creating something that works.To a certain extent. I've been on record as saying technology is going to drive new ways of delivering old services. So the sharing economy, Airbnb, Lyft, Uber are all coming, but I have been critical, for example, of the owners of Uber because I think they've been disrespectful and overly aggressive and not showing the least bit of concern for who they're going to leave out of work. Theyve been reactionary and purposefully antagonistic to laws. That's not the right thing.When you want to come in and disrupt a regulatory system, you have to do so respectfully, and like every other American citizen you have to submit to the democratic form of government. So you have city councils, and legislators, and governors who have to work through all of this stuff. And sometimes it takes a little more time than what billionaires like, so they have to be patient, respectful and thoughtful.Eventually it will happen, but it ought to happen in a way where they aren't the only ones benefiting from [regulatory changes] but in a way everybody benefits. At the end of the day, customers are going to want to get to places quickly and cheaply  and to the extent that technology helps us do that  that's the way technology is going to move, but you don't have to roll over other people to do so. Early on that's what Uber did and I think they're learning a little bit more now and I think they're getting a little bit better, but I think they need to get better fast.I don't think there's one big push; I think the idea is to make sure that the city of New Orleans  in whatever its doing  is working with cutting-edge technology to help it solve old problems in new ways. For example, we're refitting all of the pipes underneath the city because we're bleeding about 40 percent of our water with pipes that were cracked as a result of Katrina. We need to fix that, which means we need to dig up our streets, and if we're doing that, we ought to be thinking about fiber-optic cable.In another example, when we're working through how communities communicate with the Mayor's Office, we should be looking into technology that can do that. So I'm asking my guys to look all over the country at the most innovative uses of technology that cities are using or things that we might just be able to adopt from the private sector. Palantir, for example, has been one of our partners in fighting crime that by using data helps us predict where crime is going to occur. All of this type of technology is really informative.It shouldn't just be the private sector that's on the cutting edge of technology. Governments ought to do it too. A lot of times it's a matter of cost, because it is expensive to rebuild infrastructure, but if you do it right  and you're thoughtful  you'll save people a lot of money and you'll deliver a better product to people.
The state of Hawaii is collaborating with its academic partners to reduce risks to their IT systems and save valuable taxpayer dollars.On Tuesday, March 15, Gov. David Ige and University of Hawaii President David Lassner signed a colocation memorandum of agreement at the institutions 2-year-old data center in Honolulu.Under the terms of the agreement, portions of the data housed within the Office of Enterprise Technology Services primary data center will be migrated to the universitys data center, where the systems will provide a resilient backup.This partnership really allows us, on behalf of the taxpayers of Hawaii, to really leverage the assets that state government has so that we can deliver better services to our community, Ige said at the signing.Officials touted the mutually beneficial collaboration as a means to address some of the states aging data center needs, which is housed in the Kalanimoku Building in downtown Honolulu, and has long been recognized as needing technological upgrades.By leveraging the UH data center, we are able to address some of our most critical systems while reducing duplicative spending, including costs associated with designing, building, maintaining, powering and staffing an entirely new data center," said CIO Todd Nacapuy in a press release This partnership between UH and the state of Hawaii will easily save us millions of dollars a year," he said at the signing. "We're not building an additional data center, we're not going outside and using other facilities. We're using a state facility to help us with this."According to the press release, officials were able to outline access, security and reliability issues within the agreement.Lassner said that when the university was initially requesting state funds for the center, it was made clear the educational institution was open to supporting the state program."This is a shared investment by the state of Hawaii and the University of Hawaii," he said. "This partnership really represents the same kind of approach that when the university and the entire state work together, we can achieve great things.
Home  Motorcycles & Bikes  Top 10 Best Motorcycle GPS Trackers Of 2022 Reviews & Buying Guide Motorcycles & Bikes Top 10 Best Motorcycle GPS Trackers Of 2022 Reviews & Buying Guide

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Motorcycles are excellent vehicles for travel and adventure both on and off-road. It is an investment you need to keep safe from those who would love to take that treasure off your hands. Wheel-locking systems may not be enough for those with enough mechanical ability to hot-wire it, and in some cases, one or two people could simply load it onto a truck without unlocking anything.

You dont want to wait months for the police to try to get it back. You want to know where it is right now.

A GPS tracking system is the perfect security investment for your motorcycle, and we have reviews of the best motorcycle GPS trackers here for you.

Top 10 Best Motorcycle GPS Trackers You Should Buy Of 2022 Reviews

1 AMERICALOC GL300W Mini Portable Real-Time GPS Tracker. XW Series

Leta start with this Americaloc mini portable GPS tracker. This is a mid-range GPS tracker both regarding cost and ability. It comes in about the size of a heavy keychain, so if you are looking for something tiny, this is not it. It is detectable by someone who knew what they were looking for but depending on where you attached it to your motorcycle, it may take them a bit of time to identify it.

There are diverse opinions in the reviews about its battery life. It appears that it will last at least 3-4 days, but there are sometimes problems when recharging it. Make sure to follow the instruction guide that comes with this tracker.

You also need to recognize that this service is run by a tech that is not as widespread as most cellphone GPS trackers. While is advertises real-time the reality is that it updates once per minute, thirty, or ten seconds  depending on your setting. This setting will affect battery life, and depending on where it is, the updates may not be entirely accurate. It is not a bad tracker, but you need to have realistic expectations for it.

Pros GPS Tracker for vehicles, people, assets

GPS Tracker for vehicles, people, assets This GPS tracker has the longest battery life version with extended multicarrier coverage. Battery life is measured in weeks.

This GPS tracker has the longest battery life version with extended multicarrier coverage. Battery life is measured in weeks. Alerts: movement, parked, speeding, device on/off, low battery, entering or leaving zones

Alerts: movement, parked, speeding, device on/off, low battery, entering or leaving zones Real-Time Tracking and 1 year of tracking history. Track from any computer, tablet or phone or just download our Android and iPhone APP.

Real-Time Tracking and 1 year of tracking history. Track from any computer, tablet or phone or just download our Android and iPhone APP. Works in the US, Canada, Europe and in almost every country in the world

Works in the US, Canada, Europe and in almost every country in the world 1-minute location updates while moving. Can be configured for location updates every 60, 30 or 10 seconds with no additional cost. Cons Slightly bigger than something described as mini.

Slightly bigger than something described as mini. Sometimes faces battery charging issues

Sometimes faces battery charging issues Behind cellphone GPS technology and occasionally is off a block or so in tracking

Behind cellphone GPS technology and occasionally is off a block or so in tracking No mobile app and website can be buggy

2 Spy Tec STI GL300 Mini Portable Real-Time Personal and Vehicle GPS Tracker

Spy Tecs GL300 GPS is about the same size as the Americaloc, but about half the price. As with most GPS devices, there is a monthly subscription fee that can quickly add up over time. In practice, this GPS seems to function a little more smoothly than others, with many short-term satisfied customers.

For this GPS to work well for you, you need three things. First, you need to be using it in an area covered by T-mobile, or else you may have accuracy problems. Second, you need to be able to recharge it every few days. Finally, this is a short-term solution. The charging cable seems to break down over months, not years, and the customer and tech service can be a pain to deal with. If you are looking for a long-term GPS, you may want to take a pass on Spy Tec.

Pros Perfect for tracking vehicles, people, or assets

Perfect for tracking vehicles, people, or assets Compact size can go anywhere

Compact size can go anywhere Tracks with Google Maps in real-time over the Internet

Tracks with Google Maps in real-time over the Internet Get text or email when a person leaves an area (geo-fencing) Cons Inconsistent customer service

Inconsistent customer service Works primarily in T-mobile coverage areas

Works primarily in T-mobile coverage areas Problems with charging cable

Problems with charging cable Short life span

3 Amcrest AM-GL300 V3 Portable Mini Real-Time GPS Tracker for Vehicles

Here is another low-end GPS tracker for your motorcycle. What makes this one of the best motorcycle GPS trackers is that it works with mobile apps from Google and Apple, so you can track your motorcycle from your phone and not just your computer or a webpage.

It comes with lots of tracking options as well. You can create zones and be alerted if your motorcycle moves outside of it. You can set speed alerts or other proximity alerts, which will be pushed to your phone via text and email. The Amcrest is a solid package for taking care of your needs, and there is no contract required to use it.

How you use it will determine the battery strength, and, like other devices in this low-cost range, the batteries are a weak point, particularly if not re-charged correctly. Also, it relies on 2G coverage and does not connect with all carriers. To get your moneys worth out of this motorcycle GPS tracker, make sure to inquire about coverage in your area and this tracker, and be sure to read the instructions about recharging your GPS.

Pros Works with apps from Google and Apple store

Works with apps from Google and Apple store This GPS device allows you to create zones that you specifically want to monitor, such as your home to you know when your loved one leaves or returns. Set maximum speed alerts and proximity alerts for your vehicles to suit your needs.

This GPS device allows you to create zones that you specifically want to monitor, such as your home to you know when your loved one leaves or returns. Set maximum speed alerts and proximity alerts for your vehicles to suit your needs. Receive text, push and email notifications straight to your personal device.

Receive text, push and email notifications straight to your personal device. Long-lasting  Stay connected with a longer battery life of 10-14 days on a full charge.

Long-lasting  Stay connected with a longer battery life of 10-14 days on a full charge. Access the reports from your GPS device from your PC, Mac or smartphone.

Access the reports from your GPS device from your PC, Mac or smartphone. No contract required Cons GPS Tracker is limited to 2G and will only work in areas where there is 2G coverage.

GPS Tracker is limited to 2G and will only work in areas where there is 2G coverage. Batteries can be faulty leading to short lifespan of the device

4 GPS Tracker  Optimus 2.0

This low-end tracker has a better performance record than some of the others, making it one of the best motorcycle GPS trackers on the market. This GPS has a monthly subscription fee but no contract required and it comes with apps you can use to track your motorcycle from your phone. There is no limit to how much data you can save on the secure databases, and so will update you every 30 seconds while your motorcycle is moving, or you can upgrade it to update you every 10 seconds.

Fortunately, there are only two reported issues from the reviews of this GPS tracker. It is slightly larger than some of the other models, making it a bit more challenging to hide securely. It also sends out false reports occasionally if the cell service is interrupted.

Pros No Contract

No Contract Adjustable position report frequency from 30 Seconds while moving.

Adjustable position report frequency from 30 Seconds while moving. iPhone and Android App

iPhone and Android App Email and Text Message notifications for Movement, Speeding, Leaving or Entering Areas, etc.

Email and Text Message notifications for Movement, Speeding, Leaving or Entering Areas, etc. Unlimited Tracking Data Saved During Service

Unlimited Tracking Data Saved During Service SIM Card and Data Plan all Included

SIM Card and Data Plan all Included Easy to install and use Cons Will occasionally send out false reports if it loses cell service

Will occasionally send out false reports if it loses cell service Slightly larger than other models

Which of the best motorcycle GPS trackers have the best batteries?

5 Trackmate Mini 3G H GPS Tracker for Vehicles

Unlike the previous models of the best motorcycle GPS trackers, the Trackmate does not rely on a rechargeable lithium battery. Instead, it is hardwired directly into the motorcycle battery itself. This has the benefit of preventing the GPS from turning off when the battery dies at inopportune times.

The downside of this setup is that installation is more difficult, and while the device is easily concealable, it also has wires running between it and the battery. This connection can cause your motorcycle battery to run down if you do not monitor it closely, causing both the device and motorcycle to fail to operate.

This is a 3G tracker and has better accuracy than the previous 2G GPS trackers, making this one of the best motorcycle GPS trackers on the market.

Pros On/Off Detection, Speed Indicator, and Live Map Tracking.

On/Off Detection, Speed Indicator, and Live Map Tracking. Numerous alerts such as low-battery, tampering and towing. Historical location reports available.

Numerous alerts such as low-battery, tampering and towing. Historical location reports available. All-Weather Resistant and Waterproof.

All-Weather Resistant and Waterproof. STAY IN TUNE: Unique system Tracks via AT&T and T-Mobile networks, simultaneously.

STAY IN TUNE: Unique system Tracks via AT&T and T-Mobile networks, simultaneously. EASILY CONCEALABLE: 3.4 X 1.75 X 0.50 , 2oz. No visible external light. Cons Can drain the motorcycle battery

Can drain the motorcycle battery Challenging to install since it is hardwired to the motorcycle battery

6 MotoSafety Mwaas1P1 Wired 3G GPS Car Tracker

The MotoSafety Mwaas1P1 is another hardwired GPS tracker that you can use on your motorcycle. It also uses 3G service and, as long as you are in the United States, typically does an excellent job of tracking through mobile apps. It sends detailed reports, particularly useful for tracking teen drivers, such as speeding, hard braking, and curfew notices. You must subscribe to a monthly fee, but there are no contracts.

Overall, this is one of the best motorcycle GPS trackers. There are about 10% of customers though who encounter significant issues trying to get this GPS to function properly. Many of these are being used in cars, rather than motorcycles. However, since this GPS is hardwired into the vehicle system, the fault seems to be a compatibility issue, between the GPS and the vehicle. There are no reports of which vehicles are incompatible or why.

You take a small risk with this GPS that it may not be compatible with your motorcycle. Otherwise, this is one of the best motorcycle GPS trackers.

Pros Monitor driving activity using Google Maps.

Monitor driving activity using Google Maps. Use GPS to review driving routes, set geofences around key locations and know when the vehicle is in use after curfew.

Use GPS to review driving routes, set geofences around key locations and know when the vehicle is in use after curfew. No contracts or cancellation fees.

No contracts or cancellation fees. Track anywhere with free GPS tracking mobile apps with real-time email & text message alerts. Cons Has some issues updating consistently

Has some issues updating consistently Only works in the United States

7 ATian Vehicle Car personal GPS/GSM/GPRS/SMS Tracker

The ATian GPS Tracker is one of the less expensive of the best motorcycle GPS trackers available. It comes with both a Lithium-ion battery and power supply to be installed to the motorcycle battery. Be warned though, that it will drain both rather quickly if you use it continuously. The lithium-ion battery, for example, is only rated up to 29 hours of continuous use, meaning you have to recharge it daily.

This GPS is not waterproof so some kind of external cover may be necessary to keep it working correctly. It comes with a remote control though, to turn it on and off without getting on the motorcycle yourself.

The biggest challenge with this GPS is that they do not provide a SIM card in it. Being foreign made, they have adapted to the global cellular service challenge by forcing you to get your own SIM card for it. This means that, although there is only a minimal service fee for using this GPS, you have to pay a cell service company to use it. With the frequent false alerts reported in the reviews on this GPS, that cell service bill can cost you a pretty penny.

Pros Single Locating

Single Locating Auto track continuously

Auto track continuously Track with limited times upon time interval, Smart track upon time and distance interval

Track with limited times upon time interval, Smart track upon time and distance interval The tracker will update the positions automatically to web server once the vehicle changing driving direction over preset angle value to form a smooth trajectory consistent with the actual road, this function works only in GPRS /GSM mode Cons Drains motorcycle battery

Drains motorcycle battery May often send false alerts

May often send false alerts Requires a SIM card and the additional cost of that cellular service.

Looking for a higher end GPS for your motorcycle?

8 AES RGT90 GPS Tracker

The difference (besides the price) between the AES RGT90 and some of the other best motorcycle GPS trackers that operate with a lithium-ion battery, is that the folks over at AES implemented a sleep mode into their device. That saves you hours and hours of battery use wasted when your motorcycle is simply sitting in your garage. That is how they are able to get 90 days worth of use out of their battery.

The other reason that this GPS tracker costs so much is that it has the broadest range of the best motorcycle GPS trackers  extending all through North America and over 100 other countries as well. By comparison, most other trackers have difficulty even covering the USA alone.

Pros Works Anywhere in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, plus over 100 other countries

Works Anywhere in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, plus over 100 other countries Internal battery Operates GPS tracker up to 90 days on a single charge. Recharges by Micro USB for better convenience. Charge using any USB Charger.

Internal battery Operates GPS tracker up to 90 days on a single charge. Recharges by Micro USB for better convenience. Charge using any USB Charger. Covert, Discrete, Waterproof Magnetic Case

Covert, Discrete, Waterproof Magnetic Case Goes to sleep when the vehicle is parked for 5 minutes or more. Displays the last location before going into Sleep Mode. Access anytime via text.

Goes to sleep when the vehicle is parked for 5 minutes or more. Displays the last location before going into Sleep Mode. Access anytime via text. Track on your phone or on the website. You can also receive GPS coordinates via SMS Text. Cons Phone app is not the easiest to use

Phone app is not the easiest to use Relies on magnetic attachment

What is the best reviewed of the best motorcycle GPS trackers?

9 Goome 3G/WCDMA/GSM/GPS GM36W

The Goome has the least amount of negative reviews of the best motorcycle GPS trackers on the market. It also has the fewest reviews in total, so take that with a grain of salt. Many of the reviews commented that they got more value than they expected from this GPS. It is easy to install and very accurate, and the company offers global service.

The only problem the reviews have reported is that the app associated with this tracker is in Chinese and can be difficult to navigate. Even so, most customers were able to use this GPS quite well directly through SMS communication between their phones and devices.

Pros Support 3G/WCDMA/GSM/ Network

Support 3G/WCDMA/GSM/ Network Waterproof features, level  IP67 will prevent water damage the inter electric components.

Waterproof features, level  IP67 will prevent water damage the inter electric components. Geo-fencing, playback history tracks, speeding alarm, low power &battery alerts, etc.

Geo-fencing, playback history tracks, speeding alarm, low power &battery alerts, etc. OTA Upgrade Program, Anti-theft

OTA Upgrade Program, Anti-theft One year free trial for North America customers Cons App is Chinese and hard to navigate

App is Chinese and hard to navigate Can be difficult to find to purchase

What is the least expensive best motorcycle GPS tracker on the market?

10 MOTOsafety OBD GPS Tracker Device

Here is the least expensive of the best motorcycle GPS trackers you can find. This GPS, like several of the others reviewed, was made with teen drivers in mind. It gives comprehensive reports on driving stats, but it is not meant to be long-lasting.

If you are looking for a short-term GPS tracker, and you are living in the US, this is an inexpensive option for you. If you are looking for a GPS for security reasons, you may want to see another option.

Pros Monitor driving activity using Google Maps.

Monitor driving activity using Google Maps. Get a complete driving report cards that score safe driving habits such as speeding, harsh braking, and rapid acceleration to improve driving habits.

Get a complete driving report cards that score safe driving habits such as speeding, harsh braking, and rapid acceleration to improve driving habits. 3G vehicle tracking coverage that updates every minute in the US, Canada, and Mexico

3G vehicle tracking coverage that updates every minute in the US, Canada, and Mexico Track anywhere with the free GPS tracking mobile apps and real-time email & text message alerts.

Track anywhere with the free GPS tracking mobile apps and real-time email & text message alerts. Use the GPS tracking to review reports such as driving routes, set geofences around key locations (school, home, or friends house) and know when the vehicle is in use after curfew. Cons Inconsistent updating

Inconsistent updating Only works in the US

So, how do these reviews line up?

Best Motorcycle GPS Trackers Buying Guide

Best Value

The MOTOSafety OBD GPS Tracker is the least expensive option if you are looking for a short-term tracker for your motorcycle. It is made for tracking the driving habits of teenage drivers.

The Trackmate is a more expensive device, but it has a lower monthly subscription cost and is hardwired into your motorcycle, so you dont have to worry about recharging the battery.

The ATian GPS tracker is inexpensive as well, but you may end up paying more for your SIM card (not included) usage.

Accuracy

The AES is the most expensive of the best motorcycle GPS trackers but can provide you with some of the best accuracy across the greatest number of countries. The ATian is one of the least expensive devices but can offer service in any country you can get a SIM card to use in it. The Goome GPS also provides excellent service if you can navigate the Chinese app or use SMS to connect to the device.

Durability

How long do the best motorcycle GPS trackers last?

The most durable of these trackers are the ones that are hardwired into your motorcycle battery. The lithium-ion battery is one of the earliest failing points on these devices, and if it doesnt have one, it lasts that much longer. You also want one that is waterproof, to prevent moisture from damaging the electronics.

The Trackmate is a great hardwired GPS that is recommended for motorcycles and is waterproof. It is one of the more durable of the best motorcycle GPS trackers.

There is one exception to the battery rule, and that is the AES RGT90 GPS tracker. This tracker, because of its sleep mode, causes less wear on the battery and ends up lasting much longer than any other GPS with a lithium-ion battery.



Conclusion You can get inexpensive GPS trackers if you are only interested in short-term use. If you want something to last longer, you need to spend a little more money. You also need to be able to install it to your motorcycle battery. It is also important to watch for the subscription costs. The device may be inexpensive, but most subscriptions are around $20 each month. Some may require cell phone contracts (although most do not). Also, the more expensive GPS trackers have better service (3G instead of 2G) and a much wider area of coverage. If youre looking for the best motorcycle GPS trackers, the reviews suggest checking out the AES RGT90 and the Trackmate Mini 3G H GPS Tracker.
Heikki Kovalainen thinks F1's new American team Haas will have a "very difficult" debut season.

Haas, however, has entered the sport with a lot of confidence.

"Generally, this race in Australia can throw up some surprises," team driver Romain Grosjean, who has switched from Lotus, told France's Auto Hebdo.

"I think overall, we are not far from playing in the middle of the grid.

"We will try to score points as quickly as possible," he also told a French-language AFP report, "and from then we will aim higher: top five, wins."

Kovalainen, a former McLaren and Caterham driver, admits Haas' Ferrari connections will help.

In contrast, he told the Russian source Championat, "Caterham started from scratch and it was a disaster!"

Kovalainen continued: "I don't know all the details about their programme but I think it will be very difficult. Starting in formula one is not easy if you do not have huge resources.

"Take Red Bull for example," he explained. "They had a lot of resources and it still took them years to put together the right team."

Kovalainen also commented on the latest safety innovation in F1, the so-called 'halo' concept, that could make its debut next year amid controversy.

"I don't like the look of it," admitted the Finn, "but I also do not like people dying.

"I think now is the right time to explore options, but this concept specifically, in my opinion, is not right.

"'Halo' looks bad and I'm not sure it is sufficient enough protection. Perhaps we should go for a closed cockpit, like jets. Or some kind of solution integrated in the chassis design," he added.

(GMM)
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Tata Motors has signed a contract to supply 25 Tata Starbus Diesel Series Hybrid Electric Buses with Full Low floor configuration with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA)the single largest order yet awarded for its hybrid electric vehicle technology. With these buses, the MMRDA will connect Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to the railways stations of Sion, Bandra and Kurla in the next one year, improving feeder services, to the fastest-growing business hub in Mumbai.

The series hybrid technology offers improved fuel savings on the order of 25-30%, reduction in emissions in comparison to conventional buses and can run on pure electric mode, for around 30-35% of the total travel distance.

The batteries can be re-charged by the diesel, as well as through regenerative braking. The bus also incorporates ITS (Intelligence Transport Systems) for public information, through GPS via electronic destination display boards, indicating expected time of arrival at bus stops and route announcements within the bus etc. Further, bucket type seats, softer suspension, tubeless tires and lower NVH (Noise, Vibration & Harshness) ensures that passengers are comfortable.

The vehicle also complies with all UBS-II (Urban Bus Specifications), AIS 052 (Automotive Industry Standards) and CMVR (Central Motor Vehicle Rules).

A fleet of 10 Tata Hybrid buses are already in operation in Madrid, Spain and together have covered more than 1,000,000 km (621,000 miles).

During the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Tata Motors introduced CNG-Electric Hybrid Busesthe first time that hybrid buses were used for public transportation in India. Tata Motors has also developed Full-Electric and Articulated buses to meet the future transport needs for envisaged Smart Cities.

(A hat-tip to Chris!)
Each time a business closes downtown, people tend to reminisce about all the good times they had there. This is especially true for restaurants because these tend to be places where people linger long after the meals are finished, while they socialize and make connections. Restaurants are where we have memorable special events like birthday parties and wedding receptions. Like an extension of the dinner table where family comes together, restaurants serve not only food but also community links. We have been lucky to have a few wonderful new restaurants arrive in downtown Green River in the...
GREENSBORO  Honda Aircraft said Wednesday that Mexican officials have granted type certification for the HondaJet, which clears the way to deliver the light jet in Mexico.

Greensboro-based Honda Aircraft said the certification by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Mexico paves the way to begin deliveries of jets in Mexico through Aerolinias Ejecutivas, the largest executive aviation company in Mexico.

Aerolinias Ejecutivas will also provide sales, service and support for customers in Mexico, according to a Honda Aircraft news release.

The company received type certification in the United States from the Federal Aviation Administration on Dec. 8, 2016, and delivered the first HondaJet on Dec. 23.

The jet is manufactured at the companys world headquarters at Piedmont Triad International Airport.

In late 2015 Honda employed about 1,700 people and made about four of the jets a month.

The jet, which is in the very light jet category of about 10,000 pounds, can seat up to seven people, including one or two pilots.

Honda Aircraft now has dealerships in North America, South America and Europe, and it has said for years that it has orders for more than 100 of the $4.5 million aircraft.
GREENSBORO  Gov. Pat McCrory said voters approval of a $2 billion bond package was a team win for all of the state agencies that worked to get it passed Tuesday.

McCrory, who also won his Republican primary for governor with more than 80 percent of the vote, deflected suggestions that he began his campaign with an appearance Wednesday at N.C. A&Ts Edward B. Forte Interdisciplinary Research Center. Hell face Attorney General Roy Cooper in the general election.

Im on this trip not for my political campaign but as governor of North Carolina, he told an audience that included university officials, students and business leaders. Ive got plenty of time between now and November.

McCrory was celebrating the bond approval that will let the state borrow to pay for improvements at state parks and universities, community colleges, National Guard armories and municipal water and sewer systems.

I thank the citizens of North Carolina who understand the importance of investing in the next generation and the generation after that, he said.

McCrory said A&T students, for example, can be the best of the best if not for aging and poorly maintained facilities impeding their progress.

Were going to deal with it now or were going to deal with it later, said McCrory, who was surrounded by officers from the North Carolina National Guard. And the longer we wait, the more expensive its going to get.
Autumn Driscoll / Autumn Driscoll

Connecticut is examining companies that charge fees to help Connecticut borrowers locate or process their student loans, according to the office of state Attorney General George Jepsen.

Jepsens office disclosed the inquiry in releasing a repayment guide for Connecticut borrowers, online at www.ct.gov/ag. According to the Institute for College Access & Success, Connecticut ranks seventh in the nation with an average student loan debt of $29,750 for those who graduated in 2014 from four-year colleges.
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NEW YORK (AP)  Before they say "I do," soon-to-be newlyweds are increasingly going online to ask, "Will you pay for our honeymoon?"

Crowdfunding websites such as Honeyfund, GoFundMe and Honeymoon Wishes make it easy to raise cash from family and friends for a post-wedding getaway. The sites charge fees for their services  as much as 10 percent of the total collected  but people are warming up to the idea, despite the cost.

As couples increasingly live together first and marry later, they already have toasters and towels, so traditional gift registries don't make as much sense. Honeymoon registries also provide a polite way of hinting to guests to give money instead, without breaking wedding etiquette.

"I didn't feel right saying, 'Hey, give me cash,'" says Nicole DePinto, who raised $2,900 on GoFundMe for an Icelandic honeymoon with her husband Anthony in December.

Sites that help couples raise cash for honeymoons have seen their popularity soar recently. Honeyfund users, for example, raised $90 million last year, a 50 percent jump from the year before, says co-founder and CEO Sara Margulis.

Last year, 22 percent of people using the Knot, a wedding planning site, said they also used honeymoon registries, according to a survey of 6,500 customers. That's the same as the year before, but up from 17 percent in 2013 and 13 percent in 2012.

The DePintos even crowdsourced the destination of their honeymoon, asking the 100 guests at their travel-themed October wedding reception to vote on Greece, Iceland or Japan. The save-the-dates came on postcards and the party favors were luggage tags.

"We did everything outside of the box," she said, and besides: "They're all places we wanted to go eventually."

The guests chose Iceland. In winter.

"Iceland is absolutely beautiful in December," she insisted, recalling the Christmas decorations, mulled wines, ice caves and northern lights. "I think our guests understand that we are not a super-traditional couple, so we wanted our honeymoon to be more adventure and less lounging on a beach."

Most guests gave the couple cash-stuffed envelopes at the wedding, but the 14 donations they got online covered their hotel and airline tickets, even after GoFundMe kept more than $230 in fees. The Union City, New Jersey, couple also had a registry at Target, but asked for just a few things there since they had lived together for three years.

"In that time we've acquired tons of pots, plates, towels, throw pillows and bedding," they explained on their GoFundMe page.

Asking for cash in the invitation is a wedding faux pas, says Kristen Maxwell Cooper, deputy editor at The Knot. But passing around a link to a honeymoon registry works, because couples can explain to guests exactly where the money will be spent, she says.

Couples have a few options to turn to.

Crowdfunding site GoFundMe has collected $2 billion to date for all sorts of personal campaigns, raising money for medical emergencies, crime victims and other local causes. But the site does have a weddings and honeymoons section where users have raised $4 million since GoFundMe was launched six years ago, says media director Kelsea Little.

Anyone can see a GoFundMe campaign, but don't expect strangers to hand over cash  only friends and family will likely donate, says Little.

"It's a common misconception," she says.

Honeyfund, meanwhile, is more focused on honeymoons. Couples can list exactly what the cash will pay for, from hotel rooms to sightseeing tours to massages.

Major resorts and cruise lines are jumping in, using Honeymoon Wishes to power honeymoon registries built into their sites.

At Carnival Cruise Line, for example, couples can ask wedding guests to pay for scuba diving excursions or horseback rides. The money goes straight to Carnival and couples can redeem the gifts on board, says Nancy Williams, the business development director at Honeymoon Wishes. Couples can also go to Honeymoon Wishes and build their own honeymoon, without being attached to a certain resort.

"It's now socially acceptable," says Williams.

___

Follow Joseph Pisani at http://twitter.com/josephpisani . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/author/joseph-pisani .
Does anyone have any cases?

Thanks to one courageous brewery, Illinois-based haters are able to protest the Republican front-runners unfortunate victory in the state by getting drunk in the comfort of their own homes. In anticipation of Tuesdays Illinois primary, Latino-owned brewery 5 Rabbit Cerveceria started bottling a limited run of its Chinga tu Pelo, a Latin-American insult that literally translates to fuck your hair.

The beer was originally known as Trump Golden Ale but was rebranded after founder Andres Araya realized he did not want to brew for the Chicago Trump Tower after Trumps inflammatory, racist comments about Mexican immigrants. There are other boozy ways to protest, too  like getting wasted on Ilegal Mezcal.

[Beer Street Journal]
If you recall, Lenovo was supposed to launch Windows 10 phones somewhere around mid last year. That, as we know, didn't happen, but the Chinese company hasn't given up the development of such devices. The proof came in the form of a Windows-powered Lenovo handset that just leaked.

Spotted at a Microsoft event in China today, the handset is clearly a phablet sporting a metal frame with rounded corners. The Lenovo branding is on the top-left and a button with Windows logo is at the bottom-center.

Sadly, nothing else - including the specs as well as pricing and availability - is currently known at this point.

Via
Several years ago before the adoption of smartphones exploded like the plague, carriers in the US used to make major bucks from text messaging plans and minutes while they gave data away in unlimited bundles for Blackberries to sip on, back when the demand for high-speed data was at a minimum.

US carriers noticed the change and gradually began focusing their revenue on data plans with unlimited calls and text messages. Unfortunately for other parts of the world that are starting to adopt smartphone use more and more as the network reliability improves, messaging services are able to easily replace outrageous calling and texting rates by simply using an app that transmits calls and messages via the internet.

Zimbabwe carriers are struggling with revenue since more and more users are flocking toward the cheaper alternatives of communicating via messaging apps along the likes of Skype, WhatsApp, and Viber. So in these desperate times of declining revenue, the carriers requested that the government regulates use of these apps in order for them to get the higher profits they once had.

Zimbabwes government said that as a progressive government, which promotes access to technology, we were [opposed] to the idea of stifling these technologies or banning them. Great economies are driven by innovation. So if these companies profits are suffering because of these apps, they need to either restructure their own plans, or sell a better product.

Rather than admitting defeat, Minister Mandiwanzira suggested to the operators that they should seek the opportunity to help young Zimbabweans to develop apps useful in local and international distribution to compete with other worldwide giants.

Source | Via
In recent weeks, the mainstream U.S. media has begun to address a problem that Haitians have raised for years: that Hillary Clinton and her husband Bill have a terrible track-record in Haiti, where they have meddled in elections, misdirected earthquake reconstruction funds, and undermined Haitian sovereignty. On Mar. 10, the Washington Post published an op-ed by Karen Attiah entitled Hillary Clinton needs to answer for her actions in Honduras and Haiti. Attiah noted that the Mar. 9 debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in Miami was a missed opportunity to ask Clinton serious questions about her actions and policies in Haiti, a country where she and her family have wielded immense power and influence over the course of the past two decades. Addressing Haitis 2010-11 elections, Attiah reviewed how Secretary of State Clinton pressured then-President Rene Preval with the loss of U.S. and international aid unless the election results were changed to fit the OASs recommendation, which was, in fact, her recommendation. This was how former President Michel Martelly came to power. On Mar. 14, the New York Times published a story by Yamiche Alcindor entitled High Hopes for Hillary Clinton, Then Disappointment in Haiti. The article outlines the deep anger and hostility many Haitians, both in Haiti and the U.S., feel toward the former Secretary of State. As Hillary Clinton seeks the worlds most powerful job and Haiti plunges into another political abyss, a loud segment of Haitians and Haitian-Americans is speaking of the Clintons with the same contempt they reserve for some of their past leaders, the article explains. Alcindors article also points to Ms. Clintons role in bringing Martelly to power, as well as the heavily criticized role the Clintons played in Haitis earthquake recovery efforts, among other complaints. Ms. Alcindor cites one of the many declassified emails off Hillary Clintons private server as particularly revealing. You do great elections, Cheryl Mills, Hillarys chief of staff wrote to U.S. Embassy officials on the night of the Mar. 20, 2011 run-off which brought Martelly to power. Saying she would soon take them to dinner, Mills quipped: We can discuss how the counting is going! Just kidding. Kinda. :) Such glimpses of the secret inner workings of the Clinton State Department are key to understanding Hillary Clintons political view and approach to power. However, the best look into these inner workings came from secret State Department cables provided by the media organization WikiLeaks to Haiti Liberte five years ago. In June 2011, Haiti Liberte, in partnership with The Nation magazine, began publishing a series analyzing about 2,000 WikiLeaked secret cables. The Jun. 15 article entitled U.S. Worried about International Criticism of Post-Quake Troop Deployment revealed that even before the Haitian government authorized it, Washington began deploying 22,000 troops to Haiti after the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake, despite U.S. Embassy officials saying there was no serious security problem. Furthermore, the earthquake-related cables show that Washington was very sensitive to international criticism of its response, and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton mobilized her diplomatic corps to ferret out irresponsible journalism worldwide and take action to get the narrative right. This resulted in U.S. diplomats browbeating editors around the globe who put out reports critical of the U.S.s militarized response. On Jun. 8, the article Washington Backed Famous Brand-name Contractors in Fight Against Haiti's Minimum Wage Increase explained how the Clinton State Department continued the policy of George W. Bushs government to work closely with factory owners contracted by Levi's, Hanes, and Fruit of the Loom to aggressively block a paltry minimum wage increase for Haitian assembly zone workers, the lowest paid in the hemisphere. In 2009, after Clinton had become Secretary of State, the State Departments Agency for International Development (USAID) was in complete agreement with the Association of Haitian Industry (ADIH), both of which funded studies which found (erroneously, history would later show) that a wage hike to $5 a day would make the assembly sector economically unviable and consequently force factories to shut down," a secret Jun. 9, 2009 U.S. Embassy cable revealed. The Clinton State Department instead pushed for, and won, a hike to only $3 a day instead. In December 2009, Hillary Clinton also allowed the U.S. Embassy in Haiti to support an election which dishonestly excluded Haitis largest party, the Lavalas Family (FL), because there was too much invested to pull out, another Jun. 8, 2011 Haiti Liberte article revealed. Although he went along with the European Union, Canada, and others to continue funding to the upcoming 2010 election, U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Merten had opposed the Lavalas Familys exclusion for a curious reason. He feared the party would come out looking like a martyr and Haitians will believe (correctly) that [then Haitian President Rene] Preval is manipulating the election, he wrote in a Dec. 4, 2009 secret cable. In a Jul. 28, 2011 article drawing largely on WikiLeaked cables, Haiti Liberte explained how Hillary Clintons State Department continued the Bush administrations policy of trying to keep former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide from returning to Haiti from exile. For example, a U.S. diplomat met with Vatican officials shortly after the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake and urged them to convey to the government of South Africa, where Aristide was living in exile, their opinion that Aristide's return [to Haiti] would be a disaster. Hillary Clintons recently declassified emails also show how State Department officials were trying to discourage Aristides Mar. 18, 2011 return. A Mar. 14, 2011 letter by States then Haiti Special Coordinator Thomas Adams reports on a discussion hed had with Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) that day. Waters wanted Aristides return to Haiti before the Mar. 20, 2011 election because she feared a likely Martelly victory would block Aristide in exile. She was not as hysterical as she has been on prior conversations, Adams smugly noted, and he told her that her fear was unfounded. She gave her own history of our [the U.S.] relationship with Aristide (the kidnapping, not allowing FL to register for this election, our unwillingness to provide him security upon his return, etc.) all of which I gently pushed back on, Adams wrote. I suggested she allow us to give her a classified briefing on all of this at some point in order to correct factual untruths related to this. One might think that as a fellow Democrat, Hillary Clinton would value the opinions and experience of Representative Waters, perhaps one of the U.S. lawmakers closest to Aristide and most involved with fighting injustice in Haiti. The Clinton emails show, however, that they saw her as a nuisance. The secret cables released by WikiLeaks and Clintons declassified emails all help people to better understand how a Clinton foreign policy would differ from that of her challenger Bernie Sanders, who has voiced a strong position in favor of non-intervention and respecting national sovereignty. The current situation is perhaps best summed up by the APs former Haiti correspondent Jonathan Katz. Hillary Clinton had wanted to make Haiti the proving ground for her vision of American power, he told the Washington Post. By now Id imagine she was expecting to constantly be pointing to Haiti on the campaign trail as one of the great successes of her diplomatic career. Instead its one of her biggest disappointments by nearly any measure, with the wreckage of the Martelly administration she played a larger role than anyone in installing being the biggest and latest example.






Haiti - Dominican Republic : Towards a commercial air conflict ?





The Dominican airline Air Century, who had announced the postponement of its inaugural flight scheduled for 15 February between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, because according to it, the socio-political instability in Haiti https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16614-haiti-tourism-instability-in-haiti-force-air-century-to-cancel-its-first-flight.html hid in fact a completely different reason.



Indeed, since July 2015 Air Century that has all the permits from the "Junta de Aviacion Civil" (JAC) of the Dominican Republic, waiting in vain for the National Office of Civil Aviation (OFNAC) of Haiti grant it the authorizations required to regularly operate the road Joaquin Balaguer-Port-au-Prince and vice versa to Santo Domingo.



According to the Dominican company "after many visits to Haiti and loss of their documents repeatedly to OFNAC" Air Century has never received any response from Haiti to apply for a permit for a route that is currently provided by the Haitian company Sunrise Airways.



Air Century stresses that it has recently made an investment of more than $ 4.5 million for the acquisition of two Saab 340B aircraft designed to launch regular operations in different international destinations of importance whose Haiti in priority. Note that Sunrise Airways has also late February commissioned an aircraft recently purchased... https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16714-haiti-economy-sunrise-airways-add-a-new-aircraft-to-its-fleet.html



Seeing in this situation an unacknowledged form of trade protectionism from Haiti, Air Century in a note, asking the JAC to require the OFNAC the application of the bilateral agreement of 20 November 2014 of the Joint Bilateral Commission, which in its fourth section agrees of the trade reciprocity between the two countries. The Dominican company asks in case of refusal, the suspension of all permits to the Haitian airlines operating in the Dominican Republic.



Faced with these new revelations, one wonders if the temporary suspension of flights of the Sunrise Airways by the JAC on March 1 and their resumption a few days later, was well founded or if it was a first retaliation against the Haitian company, in what could be the beginning of a commercial air conflict between the two countries.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16784-haiti-economy-sunrise-airways-resumes-flights-to-dominican-republic.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16784-haiti-economy-sunrise-airways-resumes-flights-to-dominican-republic.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16714-haiti-economy-sunrise-airways-add-a-new-aircraft-to-its-fleet.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16614-haiti-tourism-instability-in-haiti-force-air-century-to-cancel-its-first-flight.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-16516-icihaiti-tourism-business-air-century-announces-regular-flights-to-haiti.html



SL/ HaitiLibre




























Haiti - News : Zapping politics...





Daniel Supplice concerned that the international community imposes its solutions

Former Minister of MHAVE and sociologist Daniel Supplice expressed concern that the elections will not held next April 24 as provided in the agreement of February 5. He advocates a national dialogue and appealed to the patriotic conscience of each actor in order to prevent the international community imposes its solutions.



President a.i. Privert is passing the time

In response to the message to the Nation of President a.i. Privert, Renald Luberice spokesman of the PHTK estimated that Privert "is passing the time in order to stay in as long as possible in power," and that he is missing his mission for not yet formed a consensus government and ensures that the CEP is installed.



An opinion shared by former Senator Jean Hector Anacacis of party of Jude Celestin "Alternative League for Progress and the Haitian Empowerment" (LAPEH) "Name a Prime Minister [Jean Fritz Alphonse] which does has the unanimity, this is wasted time," affirming that "people who are in the president's entourage are not ready to organize elections in the immediate future." Anacacis requires compliance within 120 days of the agreement signed on February 6 February and awaits the election of a legitimate President May 14, 2016.



Fanmi Lavalas met its elected

On Monday, the Executive Committee of Fanmi Lavalas meet with parliamentarians elected of the party to adopt a common position on the current situation political situation of the country.



The Democracy according Privert...

An order given to Port-au-Prince on 7 Tuesday, 2016 and signed by the Prime Minsiter Fritz-Alphonse Jean and seen and approved by the President Jocelerme Privert, appointing members of the Ministerial Cabinet was published in Le Moniteur No. 45 Tuesday, March 8, 2016, while the general policy of the Prime Minister named Fritz-Alphonse Jean has not yet been approved by Parliament...



"Repons Peyizan" and "Viktwa" demanding the maintenance of Prime Minister Paul

Political platforms, "Repon Peyizan" and "Viktwa" demanding the maintenance to his position of Prime Minister Evans Paul and a reshuffle of the Ministerial Cabinet, saying it is not too late for President Privert to rectify the situation.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2016/03/15 | Source

Song Joong-ki is planning his Asia tour in the biggest scale since he debuted. During the course of the panning for his fan meetings, he has been getting worried about the possible victims caused by misrepresentation in regards to the fan meeting in China.

Advertisement

An associate with Song Joong-ki's agency told Newsen on March 14th, "We posted a notice about fan meetings in China a few days ago. Since then, we've been receiving a volley of questions about fan meetings in Korea as well as other international locations".

"This Asia tour will begin in Korea of course and then we are planning to continue the fan meetings in China, Japan and all other countries. However, since we received reports of misrepresentation cases regarding his fan meetings in China, we had to decide to post the notice about the fan meetings in China first".

Song Joong-ki's agency is currently discussing the details about renting the venue, the scale, and all other related issues regarding the domestic fan meeting in Korea thoroughly. They will release the confirmed information regarding the fan meeting in Korea as well as in other locations in Asia as soon as possible.

There were rumors that the fan meeting may begin in China first. But the assumption was because of the early notice about the fan meeting in China in order to protect fans from fraud caused by misrepresentation. Song Joong-ki is currently adjusting the specific details of the Asia tour, which will begin in April in Korea and continue in the international locations including China, Japan, Taiwan and other various countries.

Song Joong-ki is starring as Yoo Si-jin in KBS 2TV's Wednesday & Thursday drama, 'Descendants of the Sun' and enjoying his best days of his career since he debuted.
Harlow is a former New Town in Essex with a population of 86,000. Located in the upper Stort Valley, it was built in the decades after the Second World War to ease overcrowding and London and provide homes for people bombed out during the Blitz. It includes Britain's first pedestrian precinct and first modern residential tower block, The Lawn. Old Harlow, the historic part of the town, was mentioned in the Domesday Book. David and Victoria Beckham's former home, Rowneybury House, nicknamed 'Beckingham Palace', is nearby.

20:37, 21 OCT 2022
Fire system activation kills eight in Thai bank headquarters

A contractor hired to improve the fire extinguishing system at Siam Commercial Banks head office in Bangkok activated the system with staff inside on March 13, asphyxiating eight and injuring another seven staff. In a press statement , the SCB said the accident happened because a contractor activated a pyrogen aerosol fire suppressant system, which depleted oxygen and led to the deaths.

Local media reported thick smoke coming out of the basement of the banks head office on Ratchadaphisek Road while the rescue operation was delayed due to its security system.

From the preliminary investigation by the police, the incident may have been caused by the negligence of contractors who were hired to make additional improvements to the building's fire security system, the bank said, adding: The Bank would like to express our deep regret for those affected, especially those injured and those who lost their lives during this unfortunate incident. The Bank will provide initial assistance as deemed appropriate.



The bank announced on March 14 that the headquarters building was now operating as normal.


sham contracting;

underpayment or non-observance of provisions;

adverse action and discrimination; and

breaches of the National Employment Standards.



Diserio says HR professionals can conduct compliance audits of their organisations business dealings, however they first need to have a plan on how to deal with any issues that may emerge, to avoid being caught up in an accessorial liability claim.



He says HR professionals need to do their homework and conduct due diligence into the nature of the contractual arrangements between their company and its contracted workers.



He gives the example of a HR professional who is involved in a tender process where their company awards a contract to the lowest bidder.



The fee structure makes it clear that your business will pay $18.50 per hour of labour provided. The modern award requires that employees performing this type of work must be paid at least $18.22 per hour, Diserio says.



Some months later, it emerges that the cleaning company has been incorrectly characterising its workers as contractors and paying them less than the modern award base rate,



The Fair Work Ombudsman prosecutes the cleaning company and you as a person involved. What's the problem?



Diserio explains that in the above example, $18.50 is more than the award minimum but, given costs such as superannuation, payroll tax, and workers' compensation, its not enough even if no overtime and penalty rates ever become payable, and theres no profit to the contractor on these figures.



In this situation, HR would need to ask themselves if the contract was awarded to the lowest bidder without regard to how that company dealt with their staff, and if any assurance was sought about compliance with workplace laws  or if such a requirement was specified in the contract, he says.



As this example shows, an HR professional cannot be reckless as to the true nature of the contract or arrangement as this will not be a defence to accessorial liability, he says.



Nor is "turning a blind eye" to it. 



Diserio says the best position is to exercise sufficient diligence to avoid finding yourself in such a situation.



If you find yourself in such a situation, you should seek independent legal advice, he says.








pite multiple layoff announcements in an increasingly hostile energy sector, Peabody Energy has still managed to stay afloat while remaining the largest private sector coal company in the world.



Geoffrey Woodcroft, vice president of HR at Peabody Energy Australia, spoke to HRD about what it takes to downsize in such a tough environment and how his HR team managed to pull through during these difficult times.



One of the more challenging aspects of our repositioning effort is reducing our workforce, he said. No company ever wants to go down that path, but HR plays such a key role in planning for and executing workforce reductions.



How we treat our people as they exit the organisation speaks volumes about the company, and weve managed that process with respect and understanding and Im very proud of that.



Woodcroft notes that although the focus is often on talent acquisition and talent management, HR usually overlooks what happens to that talent during a downturn.



I would say nothing creates more credibility for an HR function than how well it plans for, and implements, a workforce reduction process, he said.



HR professionals who have yet to be involved in large-scale reductions cannot imagine what it is like to lead an HR team through tougher economic times, he added.



The organisation looks to HR to drive these processes, and when it is done well the business really sees the value that HR adds to such a difficult situation.



Throughout these turbulent times, Woodcroft and his team still maintained focus on developing supervisors and managers within the firm.



In tough times, the roles of these employees become even more demanding and stressful given the amount of change being experienced, he said. Weve looked closely at what we can do ourselves to add value to the business rather than outsourcing.



To do this, the firm has developed and facilitated its leadership training programs internally, focusing on key aspects of leadership development as well as a module on continuous improvement (CI).



Each participant is required to work on a CI project as part of their development journey, and these projects have delivered millions of dollars in savings and productivity improvements to the business, he said.


Negotiating a new salary or a pay rise is always a delicate situation, even for HR professionals who are often experienced in sitting on the other side of the fence in salary negoations.



New salary negotiations can be a challenging experience for many job candidates, as they are yet to have an opportunity to prove themselves and their worth to the company, says Lisa Morris, Senior Regional Director of Hays Human Resources.



In our experience, many people are unsure how to negotiate salary from the position of job applicant rather than an existing, proven and valued employee, Morris told HC Online.



In fact, the main reason that people run into trouble at offer stage is usually because they are unhappy with one or more aspect/s of the offer - typically the salary - but are uncertain how to proceed, she says.



The best time to open the floor to salary negotiations is when a job offer is made verbally, and before a formal written offer is received, Morris says.



As a job applicant, this verbal offer stage is the best time to negotiate, if the employer has not already raised the issue of salary, since you are now firmly positioned as the employers preferred candidate, Morris says.



She reminds HR professionals to keep the lines of communication open during their negotiations.



Tell your recruiter or the hiring manager that you are very interested in the position, but that you would like to negotiate, Morris says.



Discuss openly and professionally your opinion and desired outcome, and support your salary view with evidence from a Salary Guide to show that your expectations are aligned with current market rates,



Do not expect an immediate response; the hiring manager will need to gain approval from their manager for any revision to an offer. But once they respond, you should accept or reject the offer in a timely and professional manner.



When you are already an established employee and seeking a pay-rise, it is important to have a fall-back position, Morris says.



If your employer cannot afford to increase your salary, can you agree a date for another pay review in three or six months? What about additional annual leave, study or other benefits? she says.



Above all, HR professionals should ensure they use their accomplishments and the value they add to the organisation as the basis of their negotiation.



In this way, youll clearly demonstrate your worth and will be in a stronger position to secure the maximum of the salary increase on offer, Morris says.



Right now, HR professionals based in NSW, Victoria and QLD are in hottest demand across the construction, healthcare, technology, education and finance industries.



Salaries depend on location and job function, with NSW, ACT and Victoria leading the way.



In South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland salaries are remaining steady, with general national salary ranges (exclusive of superannuation) are as follows:


By Jessica Isaacs | [email protected]

Sometimes, laughter really is the best medicine. It can lighten our hearts, lift our spirits and cheer us up; but for local photographer Ellen Gwin, it makes the difference between a good shot and the perfect shot.

This Appalachian alumna and High Country native seeks to bring out the best in the world around her, always chasing natural light and the warm, candid moments that make lifes most important occasions so special.

When shes behind the camera, you can rest assured that something beautiful is in the works.

Back in Boone

Born in Boone and raised in Winston-Salem, Gwin grew up surrounded by creative minds, and she found her niche in photography by the time she was in middle school.

I come from a family of artists, and it was kind of the first thing I felt like I could use as a tool for expression, she said. Im not very good with a pencil or a pen, but I can do things with a camera.

After completing high school, she pursued a double major in photography and communications at Appalachian State University, where she once again found her home in the High Country and met the man who is now her husband.

I came to App, lived in Boone, met a boy and never left, said Gwin.

With dual bachelors degrees under her belt, the aspiring photographer jumped right in to the local art scene. She enjoyed the process of learning and growing as an artist, but eventually felt drawn to portrait photography, where she could exercise her communications skills and build relationships in the area.

After finishing college and staying in the Boone area, I did a lot more shows and exhibitions at first  a lot more alternative processes, landscapes and different things, she said. I happened into working with another photographer, Katie Langley, for about two years, and she was encouraging me to do my own thing.

I was already involved in the artistic world, so the natural progression was to go back to working with people. I craved working with people more, to have some of that energy and interaction.

By 2008, Gwin was shooting weddings and portraits as a photographer and an entrepreneur.

Behind the Camera

Today, Gwin shoots a variety of weddings and portrait sessions in the High Country throughout the year, not including other projects for local businesses.

Every year it varies, definitely. In good years, I have more than 10 weddings, she said. Portraits have really grown for me over the years, too.

She enjoys documenting moments and experiences for her clients throughout their lives, and many of them turn to her for every special occasion.

I do lots of families, babies, children, engagements, anniversaries, pregnancies and more, said Gwin. Weddings are often the first of many family things like that, so its really building relationships and friendships with a lot of people.

When shes behind the camera, Gwin is always on the hunt for the perfect shot. Shes always looking for the best natural light, and shes always looking for true happiness in every smile.

I guess you could say that laughter really inspires me, but also getting to know other professionals out there and looking at their work  seeing somebody who reminds you how to look at light and color in a certain way.

Even when shes putting her photography skills to work, Gwin is always incorporating her expertise in communications, too.

My communications major is part of what I use every day, too. Whether its body language or public speaking or working with people, I use that side of my skills, she said. Its a tough job decision to go out and try to do something you really want to do, but its rewarding.

Weddings in the High South

Although wedding photography can be a more demanding responsibility than other projects, Gwin said it comes with its own set of rewards.

Its a little more high intensity. The expectation and delivery of the wedding day is definitely more intense than your typical family portraits, but theyre all important, because theyre trying to capture the emotion in peoples lives, she said. At a wedding, theres a lot more energy, and I feed off of that, too. Theres more excitement and nerves, and youre trying to do more than just take a picture.

Youre helping a bridesmaid pin her dress, doing something for someone else and trying to make somebody laugh for a picture. Its definitely a job with many skills, and you really pull out your arsenal on a wedding day. Its also a constant drive for inspiration for me.

As the person responsible for documenting the momentous occasion on each wedding day, Gwin makes time to get to know each couple before the big event to make sure that what she captures is genuine and true to their personalities.

Typically, I do consultations with them, so we talk about the event and we work on a timeline. I like to know things about them, too, because were going to be spending intimate time together on a very important day, she said. Ill ask them a lot of things: What do you like to do? How did you meet? What do people know about you as couples and as individuals?

We spend a lot of time together on those days and you definitely make friends. Thats a pretty fun part of the business.

Ellen Gwin Photographer

Gwin certainly loves what she does, but says she couldnt do it without the support of her husband, her friends and her family.

They are the best support team I could ever ask for. Many of my friends do the same thing and we get to work together, so we get a great product because of that, she said. My husband is incredibly supporting and always encouraging me. When I dont feel as positive or I get myself down on what Im doing, hes confident in that, so its a real character builder.

She also finds support from her peers as a member of the High South Event Professionals network  a community of like-minded industry pros who work together to promote the mountains of western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee and southwestern Virginia as the premier special events destination in the Southeast.

It really makes you feel like youre part of a community. Its not an easy business, but youre in it together, she said. Theres stress and challenges and competition, but more than anything we should be here for each other  to learn from each other and to help each other. I always have a great resource for recommending other professionals.

Get to know High South Event Professionals and preferred local vendors at the High South Wedding Expo at the Boone Mall on Sunday, March 20.

Gwin cant make it to the expo, but shes ready to answer any questions you have about her work, which always incorporates the beautiful glow of natural light and honest, heartfelt smiles.

I love capturing the moments where I think people feel the most themselves  when people are laughing, feeling the most comfortable and truly enjoying something, she said. That is my goal.

Head over to ellengwin.com to check out her portfolio and say hello!

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By Jesse Wood

Statewide voter turnout in the 2016 North Carolina primary was 35 percent, which is about the same percentage for the turnout in the 2012 and 2008 presidential primaries. See the graphs below.

In Watauga County, 16,026 ballots were cast compared to 43,682 registered voters. This represents a voter turnout of nearly 37 percent, according to data provided by the State Board of Elections. This turnout roughly matches the 15,347 ballots cast in the 2012 primary, which featured the same-sex marriage amendment that was later found to be unconstitutional.

In Avery County, the voter turnout was even higher. More than 44 percent of the 11,489 registered voters cast a ballot during the 2016 primary. The Avery County primary featured local elections for the Avery County Board of Commissioners, where seven candidates were running for three spots, and Avery County Board of Education.

The higher turnout in Avery County is likely due to the fact that the primary usually decides local contests because of the vast majority of Republicans in the county. For example, no Democrats are running for commissioner in Avery County, so the Republican primary calls the commissioners race.

North Carolina Voter Turnout in 2016 Primary

Watauga County Voter Turnout in 2016 Primary

Avery County Voter Turnout in 2016 Primary



Statewide Stats for Turnout During Primary for Presidential Years

Now compare that to the general election during presidential election years. The turnout is nearly double.

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The following information is provided by local law enforcement agencies.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Compiled by Jessica Isaacs

The following were provided by the Watauga County Sheriffs Office.

March 7

ARREST: A male suspect, 56, of 500 Liberty Hill Road in Banner Elk, was charged with simple assault and is scheduled to appear in court on April 15.

ARREST: A male suspect, 42, of 11904 U.S. Highway 421 N in Zionville, was charged with DWI and is scheduled to appear in court on April 1.

March 8

INCIDENT: Breaking and entering and larceny  from buildings were reported at 116 Bethel Road in Vilas.

INCIDENT: Vandalism was reported at 443 George Hayes Road in Boone.

INCIDENT: Larceny of a firearm was reported at 307 Sunnybrook Lane in Boone.

INCIDENT: Vandalism was reported at 217 Rush Branch Road in Sugar Grove.

ARREST: A male suspect, 19, of 147 Sarah Lane in Blowing Rock, was charged with FTA. He was held under a $2,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court on April 5.

ARREST: A male suspect, 26, of Charlotte, was charged with order for arrest for failure to appear. He was held under a $5,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court on March 22.

ARREST: A male suspect, 44, of 1556 Redbrush Road in Mountain City, was charged with felony possession of stolen motor vehicle and misdemeanor order for arrest for failure to appear. He was held under a $10,500 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court on May 2.

ARREST: A female suspect, 51, of 125 Gragville Road in Boone, was charged with worthless checks and as scheduled to appear in court on March 9.

ARREST: A male suspect, 22, of 124 Quail Ridge Lane Apt. B in Boone, was charged with two counts of child abuse (non-assaultive). He was held under a $5,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court on April 15.

ARREST: A female suspect, 21, of 124 Quail Ridge Lane Apt. B in Boone, was charged with two counts of child abuse (non-assaultive). She was held under a $5,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court on April 15.

March 9

INCIDENT: Damage to property was reported at 126 Parkwood Circle in Boone.

INCIDENT: Drug violations/simple possession were reported at 100 Vannoy Lane in Boone.

INCIDENT: Larceny and vandalism were reported at 1760 Jakes Mountain Road in Deep Gap.

ARREST: A male suspect, 42, of 225 Linda Lain in Vilas, was charged with felony OFA. He was held under a $10,500 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court on May 2.

ARREST: A female suspect, 47, of 848 Slabtown Road in Zionville, was charged with two counts of fraud  worthless checks and is scheduled to appear in court on March 30.

ARREST: A male suspect, 34, of 140 William Hunt Road in Boone, was charged with contempt of court/perjury/court violations. He was held under a $370 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court on April 14.

March 10

INCIDENT: Damage to property and trespassing were reported at 1388 Old Bristol Road in Boone.

INCIDENT: Aggravated possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana paraphernalia were reported at 136 Margot Road in Boone.

INCIDENT: Fraud was reported at 174 Ruthies Road Unit 1 in Boone.

INCIDENT: Calls for service were reported at 243 Bamboo Road Apt. 9 in Boone.

ARREST: A male suspect, 25, of 1490 Tater Hill Road in Zionville, was charged with felony flee to elude. He was held under a $10,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court on April 15.

ARREST: A female suspect, 21, of 523 Blowing Rock Road Apt. 25 in Boone, was charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting injury. She was held under a $5,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court on May 16.

March 11

INCIDENT: Injury to real property was reported at 114 Wapiti Way in Boone.

INCIDENT: Obtaining money/property by false pretense was reported at 165 Summit Woods Drive Unit B1 in Blowing Rock.

INCIDENT: Calls for service were reported at 174 Horse Shoe Ridge Road E in Deep Gap.

INCIDENT: Larceny was reported at 191 Howards Creek Church Road in Boone.

INCIDENT: Drug violations and possession of marijuana were reported at Zippis 105 Exxon Food Mart, 2968 N.C. Highway 105 S.

INCIDENT: Defraud innkeeper and assault with deadly weapon were reported at Hilltop Drive-In, 2530 U.S. Highway 421 N in Boone.

ARREST: A female suspect, 22, of 6910 D Morgan Place Drive in Clemmons, was charged with order for arrest for failure to appear. She was held under a $1,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court on April 8.

ARREST: A male suspect, 38, of 553 Troy Norris Road in Todd, was charged with injury to real property and reckless driving to endanger and is scheduled to appear in court on April 1.

ARREST: a male suspect, 53, of 1386 Old Bristol Road in Boone, was charged with damage to property.

March 12

INCIDENT: A runaway was reported at 119 Fodder Stackridge in Boone.

INCIDENT: Calls for service and resist, obstruct, delay were reported at 184 Hodges Gap Road in Boone.

ARREST: A male suspect, 34, of 115 Long St. Apt. 4 in Boone, was charged with resisting public officer. He was held under a $750 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on April 15.

March 13

INCIDENT: Larceny was reported at 269 Farthing Hayes Road in Boone.

INCIDENT: Breaking and entering and felonious larceny were reported at 1255 Old Bristol Road Apt. 1 in Boone.

INCIDENT: Unattended DOA was reported at 5984 Old U.S. Highway 421 S in Deep Gap.

March 14

INCIDENT: Larceny was reported at 244 Devils Den Road in Banner Elk.

INCIDENT: A missing person was reported at 1092 Milton Moretz Road in Boone.

ARREST: A female suspect, 30, of 484 Little Horse Creek in Newland, was charged with fraud  worthless checks and is scheduled to appear in court on March 30.
Alexander Stubb (NCP), the Minister of Finance, estimates on his blog that the Government is a long way from being able to introduce the one billion euro tax concessions it has promised to labour market confederations in exchange for their efforts to boost the competitiveness of domestic industries.

Stubb acknowledges that the agreement ironed out by labour market confederations on the preliminary outlines of the so-called competitiveness pact is a leap in the right direction, but reminds that the outlines do not satisfy the conditions of the concessions.

The Government has been urged to introduce the tax concessions by, for example, a number of trade unions and the Finnish Commerce Federation.

It is problematic that, despite its undeniably positive effects, the agreement falls short of the target of bolstering the public economy by two billion euros, which is prescribed as a condition of the concessions in the government programme, writes Stubb.

In combination with the already challenging economic conditions, the additional austerity measures the Government will inevitably face in its framework session and the threat of excessive deficit procedure hanging over us, the Government has hardly an abundance of leeway to facilitate an agreement with various incentives.

Stubb drew attention to the economic realities also in his address at the annual event of the Taxpayers' Association of Finland on Tuesday.

The Government has admitted that the competitiveness pact would, contrary to the assurances it made in the government programme, effectively raise taxes on middle-income earners by a little more than one percentage point.

Stubb estimates that offsetting the effects of the competitiveness pact would necessitate income tax concessions worth roughly one billion euros by 2019.

Preliminary estimates indicate that compensating for employee contributions by means of income taxation even for next year would drive Finland close to the three per cent deficit threshold laid out in Stability and Growth Pact of the EU, he points out.

The Government, he assures, will nonetheless do its utmost to be able to introduce the income tax measures set forth in the government programme. I reiterate that the government programme clearly states that income taxes will rise for no one. We want to hold on to this promise, he stresses.

An agreement on how to promote local bargaining would according to him open the door for the tax concessions.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Vesa Moilanen  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
HSO announces Young Artist Competition winners

Thomas Gabriel Turner

Two young piano players and a cellist are winners of the 2016 Young Artist Competition, the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra announced.

The YAC affords highly accomplished young musicians in the Western North Carolina area the opportunity to pursue excellence through competition. Cash prizes are awarded to the top three contestants. The first prize winner will perform with the Hendersonville Symphony at the April 30 concert From Vienna to Cologne, with pianist Jorge Federico Osorio. All of the prize winners of the competition will perform at the HSO Youth Showcase at 6:30 pm, Sunday, April 10, at Carolina Village.

Winners of the 2016 competition are:

First Prize: Thomas Gabriel Turner, Piano

Second Prize: Christopher Tavernier, Piano

Third Prize: Cole Jenkins, Cello

Honorable Mentions: Joah Bickley, violin, and Kayla Guilliams, clarinet

Thomas Gabriel Turner is a sixteen-year-old junior at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, and a native of Ellenboro, North Carolina. He has studied piano for nine years, studying with Charlie Hopper for seven years and Dr. Cynthia Swicegood as well, for the past three years. Gabe has studied violin with Eben Mann for 6 years. He participates regularly in various musical activities at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy and Wild Roots Fine Arts Center located in Forest City, NC under the direction of Eben Mann. The Foothills Music Club of Tryon, North Carolina awarded Gabe with the Lesley Oakes Scholarship in 2014 and 2015. Gabe also enjoys playing the hammered dulcimer, bagpipe, tin whistle, clavichord, and virginal. He plans to continue studying piano performance, music theory, and composition in the future.

Christopher TravernierChristopher Tavernier made his orchestral debut with the Tar River Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of thirteen, performing Tchaikovskys Piano Concerto No. 1 on the opening concert of the Orchestras Fall 2013 Season at the Dunn Center for the Performing Arts in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Christopher began his piano studies at the age of six, and now at fifteen he has won several competitions, including the 2012 Appalachian Classical Music Associations Young Artists Competition in Johnson City, Tennessee, and in 2014 the junior division of the Charlotte Symphonys Concerto Competition, and the Concerto Competition of the Symphony Orchestra of Augusta Georgia. Additionally, he placed second in the National Elizabeth Harper Vaughn Concerto Competition in Kingsport, Tennessee. He was the youngest performer in the history of the competition, which admits contestants up to the age of twenty five. He performed Rachmaninoffs Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.

Christophers concerto repertoire includes concertos by Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev. He maintains a broad solo repertoire, including many works by his favorite composer, Franz Liszt. In addition, he has in his repertoire Liszts two operatic paraphrases for two pianos. Christophers pianistic lineage and training extends from Liszt through his teacher, Dr. John Cobb, who studied with Claudio Arrau, and whose teacher was a pupil of Franz Liszt. Christopher has played massive fundraising concerts to benefit Mission Foundation's fight against women's breast cancer. Christopher is also a dedicated chamber music player. In 2014 he performed, on both piano and harpsichord, the Bach Triple Concerto, BWV 1044, with the Rutherford Chamber Consort a professional chamber music ensemble headquartered in Western North Carolina. In 2015 he performed Schuberts Trout Quintet and a Suite by Milhaud with the group and was performed on Carolina Live NPR radio. This season he will be performing Brahms Piano Quartet in G minor, Op. 25 with the Rutherford Chamber Consort.

Christopher has been featured on ABC affiliate television station WLOS, and has performed on Carolina Live NPR radio and WCQS, Asheville, NC. He is the first International Perzina Artist in the companys 144 year history and has published recordings in DVD and CD formats, and is a member of the Asheville Area Piano Forum.

Cole JenkinsCole Jenkins is a sophomore honors student at Hendersonville High School. He is a member of the Hendersonville Symphony Youth Orchestra and is currently studying with Franklin Keel. Cole recently auditioned and made it into the Western Regionals honors orchestra, held this year at Appalachian State University. Cole is a past winner of the Hendersonville Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition and runner up in the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition.

Cole attended Cannon Music Camp at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC and held the principle cello position in the symphony orchestra last year. Cole played cello in the honors string quartet and played upright bass for the Jazz Ensemble as well as the Jazz Vocal Ensemble. In addition, he was chosen by the faculty of Cannon Music Camp to receive the Arthur Unsworth Award.

In addition to playing the cello, Cole enjoys singing and playing the mandolin, guitar, and upright bass. Cole is the son of Shane and Kristi Jenkins.
Edwards wins nomination for state Senate seat

Denise Riddle hands out campaign material for Chuck Edwards and Elise Wall handbills for Coty Ferguson on Tuesday at Flat Rock Village Hall.

Hendersonville businessman Chuck Edwards surged to victory in the Republican primary for the 48th state Senate District on Tuesday, turning back a spirited but underfunded challenge from Tea Party favorite Lisa Carpenter Baldwin.

Dennis Justice, a Fletcher resident who has run repeatedly over the past 20 years for the School Board, Board of Commissioners and Fletcher mayor, finished third. Edwards led 56 to 35 percent with 63 percent of precincts reporting.

Edwards, a self-made entrepreneur who started flipping hamburgers at age 16 at the Spartanburg Highway McDonalds and ended up owning seven of the franchises, ran as a nonpolitician who would bring practical experience and conservative values to Raleigh. If he wins in November Edwards would replace state Sen. Tom Apodaca, a 14-year veteran who rose to power with the Republican tide of 2010 and 2012 and serves as Senate Rules Committee chairman. Besides his McDonalds ownership, Edwards owns a self-storage business and real estate firm and serves on the board of Entegra Bank, the former Macon Bank.

Edwards will go into the November election a heavy favorite in a district that is overwhelmingly Republican and centered on Henderson County. He faces Democrat Norm Bossert, a Pisgah Forest resident and principal of Black Mountain Elementary School who lost a bid for the state House in 2014.

A resident of Fletcher, Baldwin wore her iconoclastic service on the Buncombe County School Board as a badge of honor  touting her battles against Common Core and what she derided as the liberal majority of her board peers. She had the support of the Blue Ridge Tea Party Patriots, a Hendersonville faction that also supported Cody Henson in the 113th state House District primary.

Using a war chest of $120,000, the Edwards campaign bombarded voters with slick mailers branding Baldwin as a politician who had failed to bring conservative change to Buncombe County and had served as bureaucrat in the federal government. She lacked Edwardss real-life experience in creating jobs, the mailers said. Instead her private sector experience consists of writing a newspaper column and blog.

In contrast, Chuck is NOT a politician, the campaign flier said. He has created 390 jobs at his restaurants. As a small business owner, Chuck was a trusted voice for tax reform in 2013.

Campaign finance report covering Jan. 1-Feb. 29 showed that Edwards had raised a total of $120,671  including $80,000 in personal loans he made to his camnpaign  and spent $92,014. Baldwin said she raised and spent about $7,500.

Edwards tapped a reliable well of Republican donors in Henderson County, raising $26,421. With the help of Apodaca, who hosted a fundraiser in Raleigh for the candidate he endorsed for his seat, Edwards took in $13,000 more from PACs.

Edwards, a former chairman of the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce and the recipient of $1,000 from the NC Chamber PAC, fought off charges from Baldwin that he had supported amnesty.

It is absolutely false that I have ever asked for amnesty, he said at a campaign event in February. What I was for is (a solution) when the farmers in this area came to the Chamber of Commerce and asked for our help because they saw many many states around us beginning to take care of this terrible immigration problem.

Apodaca delivered a strong endorsement of Edwards 10 days before the primary.

I know Chuck Edwards is a great businessman and a no-nonsense, principled conservative who will use decades of private-sector experience to fight for Western North Carolina and solve problems in Raleigh, he said. We

desperately need more leaders with Chucks mountain values and real-world leadership in public office. Lisa and I look forward to voting for Chuck Edwards on March 15.

While Edwards seemed to hold much of the Republican rank and file, Baldwin claimed the support of the Tea Party wing.



In his endorsement of Baldwin, former Henderson County GOP chairman Mike Scruggs called her a very bright, persistent and courageous lady who during her School Board tenure had proved to be a relentless and often hard-fighting advocate for sound academic and administrative policies.

Baldwin was not ready to say Tuesday night whether she plans another race in the future.

Im planning to keep fighting for Christian values, transparency in government and accountability, she said. No matter what, Im not going to change who I am. I would like to thank my supporters for the love they have shown. I will cherish the many new friends I made during the campaign and most of all I want to thank God for this opportunity to stand for Biblical values.



Henson wins House 113 primary

Cody Henson swept to an easy victory in the 113th state House District, defeating Coty James Ferguson for the Republican nomination for the seat held by Rep. Chris Whitmire.

A Whitmire protege, Henson credited his volunteers for the victory.

We had a lot of local support, he said. A lot of people who were very interested not only in our nation and state but also local races. I look forward to a good clean campaign in November to hopefully keep the seat for the Republicans. Were just going to keep spreading our Christian conservative message and let the voters of the 113th District decide.
Actor Robert Carrickford, best known for playing the role of Stephen Brennan in RTE's long-running television series Glenroe, has died.

He was 88 and he had been battling illness for a considerable time.

President Michael D Higgins led tributes last night to the popular actor.

A veteran of stage and television, Mr Carrickford had worked to enhance the pay and conditions of actors throughout Ireland when he held the position of president of Irish Actors Equity.

"It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of Robert Carrickford, the actor of Abbey Theatre and TV fame," said President Higgins.

"For many, Robert will forever be the face of 'Stephen Brennan' in the iconic Glenroe TV series, while others will fondly remember his long spell in various significant roles in the Abbey Theatre, as well as his performances in The Riordans and Bracken," said the President.

"In his capacity of president of the Irish Actors Equity, the trade union for stage actors and his contribution to the trade union movement, he left a lasting legacy for all those who perform in Ireland's theatres and screens.

"To his family and friends, Sabina and I send our deepest sympathies," he said.

Mr Carrickford is survived by his wife Mary, a daughter and two grandchildren.

He played several roles at the Abbey Theatre between 1969 and 1980.

His screen roles included Sinclair in Strumpet City, McCaffery in The Irish RM (1981) and Fogarty in The Ballroom of Romance (1982).
A Norwegian man given a suspended sentence for repeatedly raping his girlfriend while she slept has been re-sentenced to 15 months in jail after the Court of Appeal found his original term was "unduly lenient".

Magnus Meyer Hustveit (26) had pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault against his 28-year-old girlfriend between 2011 and 2012.

He was given a wholly suspended seven-year sentence by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on July 13, 2015.

Unusual

Hustveit - whose former partner waived her right to anonymity so that his identity could be published - returned to his native Norway after sentencing.

The Director of Public Prosecutions successfully sought a review of Hustveit's sentence yesterday.

Mr Justice Birmingham said it wasn't in dispute that this was an unusual case and "indeed an exceptional one".

Much of the offending behaviour occurred without the victim's knowledge and all of the offending was only known because of detailed admissions made by Hustveit in an email he sent to the victim following her request to find out what had happened to her.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the combination of a number of factors - Hustveit's cooperation, his voluntary return to Ireland to be charged, his previous good character, the positive life he was now leading in Norway - justified and required a sentence that would be appreciably less than would be normal in cases of multiple rapes.

However, Mr Justice Birmingham said the court could not agree that the case was so wholly exceptional as to warrant entirely non-custodial disposal and the sentencing judge "erred" in this regard.

It had been confirmed that Norway did not extradite its own citizens and considerable significance could be attached to the fact that Hustveit had returned voluntarily to face the review.

Mr Justice Birmingham said it would not have been possible for the lower court to require Hustveit to serve less than two-and-a-half years but now, at this stage, he would be required by the Court of Appeal to serve "half of that two-and-a-half year sentence".

Mr Justice Birmingham - who sat with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards - said the original seven-year sentence would remain and all but 15 months of it would be suspended.

Hustveit made no reaction to the court's decision.

He was told once again that he would be on the sex offenders register.

He was required to enter into a good behaviour bond for seven years. When asked if he undertook to be so bound, Hustveit said "I do".

His victim Niamh Ni Domhnaill was in court with friends and supporters.
John Dwan was born in 1893 and lived in a tenement building at Lower Gardiner Street in Dublin's north inner city.

He was educated in Richmond Street School and was later employed in the Inchicore Railway Works.

He was a member of the Irish Volunteers from its foundation in 1913. He was also a member of the Pioneer temperance association.

While John became involved in armed nationalsim his brother James Dwane enlisted with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, in 1914.

Members of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers were deployed against the rebels during Easter Week but James Dwane was stationed in France and Flanders at this time.

John Dwan was a member of F Company, 1st Battalion, Dublin Brigade.

During Easter Week he saw active service in the Four Courts garrison under Commandant Ned Daly.

Over the course of six days he served at different posts in the Four Courts, Church Street and North King Street areas.

On the final day of the Rising, Saturday April 29, during fierce fighting at a barricade on North King Street, John suffered serious gunshot wounds.

On seeing him fall his friend William Hogan lifted John on his shoulders and crawled back to the entrance of Coleraine Street, where he laid his friend down and stood guard until stretcher-bearers could be found to take him to hospital.

John died of his injuries the following day.

His remains were later identified by his mother Mary Dwan and father James Dwan in the Whitworth Hospital.

His mother arranged his funeral, which took place on May 4, 1916. He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery with his two sisters, Hannah (12) and Margaret (18), who died in 1906.

Details submitted by grand-niece Maria Dwane
MUCH has been written about the headline events of 1916 but it's worth examining how and why the Rising failed in purely military terms.

The Volunteers had the advantage of surprise but this faded as the days passed and the British gathered their forces.

On Easter Monday the GPO was seized, with rebels barricading buildings at the corners of North Earl Street, Henry Street, as well as Lower and Middle Abbey Street, ensuring a protective cordon around the GPO.

A strong defensive perimeter was established, allowing Volunteer forces to impede the movement of British forces as they responded and to engage them from strong defensive positions, that allowed for good all round observation.

There is no doubt that, in the early days, the Volunteers held the initiative.

The first shots of the Rising were fired that day, when Volunteers opened up on a rather harmless mounted party of local British army reservists, the 'Georgeous Rex' (or 'Gorgeous Wrecks' as they were known to the locals), at Northumberland Road, killing five.

A number of Volunteer battalions occupied key points in the city centre. Commandant Edward Daly occupied the Four Courts on Inns Quay and nearby streets. There was a defensive line established north of the Liffey running between the Four Courts garrison and Cabra, where Thomas Ashe commanded the 5th Battalion.

Citizen Army members under Sean Connolly attempted to advance into Dublin Castle, but did not exploit the element of surprise. Despite the guardroom not being manned, they were beaten back.

Reinforcements

They ended up occupying the adjacent City Hall, where heavy fighting ensued with British reinforcements the next day. The British took City Hall and martial law was declared on Tuesday. By that afternoon, they had established a line of posts from Kingsbridge Station (now Heuston) to Trinity College and from Parkgate to the North Wall.

At this point imbalances appear in the strategic and tactical appreciation of how to conduct operations effectively within the Volunteer forces.

For example, two of the most effective garrisons were the South Dublin Union and the Four Courts. The Volunteers at the former pinned down the assaulting British troops from nearby Richmond Barracks, at Inchicore. The South Dublin Union garrison under Eamonn Ceannt slowed down British forces into the city centre to assault the Four Courts.

Sean Heuston's small force at the Mendicity Institute on Usher's Quay held out long enough to buy time for the Four Courts garrison to build up their defences.

By Wednesday, April 26, the British were using their field guns deployed from Athlone as well as the gunship, The Helga, to soften up the Volunteer positions at the GPO and Boland's Mill. The idea was not to waste the lives of British infantry men assaulting well-defended Volunteer positions.

However, at Mount Street Bridge a small party of volunteers under the command of Michael Malone managed to pin down over British 1,000 troops and inflict casualties.

Urban

The battle at Mount Street bridge showed up weaknesses in the leadership on both the Irish and British side. The initial British response, probably due to lack of experience in urban warfare, was to continually try and assault across the bridge. This resulted in British casualties, despite the opposing force being quite small.

When they eventually realised that the gunfire was from the nearby Clanwilliam House, their weight of numbers led to victory.

However, the action of Malone's men at Mount Street Bridge delayed British reinforcements to the city centre.

Notwithstanding the early British tardiness at responding, the strategic pattern was set by the leadership of the Volunteers. This was to defend well but to yield up the strategic initiative to the British by not capitalising on earlier rebel victories and having an offensive or more mobile strategy.

For the Volunteers, it was hold and defend at all costs. When, as at Mount Street and South Dublin Union, numerically superior British forces were initially beaten back, the local leadership lacked the military vision to go on the offensive.

With such a strategic deficit in operational planning, it was small wonder that - militarily speaking - the Rising collapsed in defeat by Saturday, April 29.

Declan Power is a security analyst and former soldier
The Humane Society has pets who need a home. Will you open yours?
IHSAA football sectionals roundup: Scores, stats and more

It's the best time of year: The Indiana high school football state tournament. Sectionals get going tonight. We'll have you covered all night long.
Caldwell County middle school students spent their school day at the Education Center working side by side with Googlers during the Students@Work event sponsored locally by Google in support of the Carolina Business Committee for Education and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Google supports this initiative to give students a glimpse of some of the career paths inside the company and to excite students about the vast possibilities of career fields in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), said Enoch Moeller, Google site operations manager.

The eight middle schools in the district were represented by 52 students who began their school day identifying computer components, then installed an operating system, built four computer circuits and finished up with some programming lessons during the Students@Work event. They also had an opportunity to job shadow Google employees and become more aware of the intricacies of the STEM job market, while getting first-hand advice and hands-on experience.

Google provided all the resources for the workshop, including a Raspberry Pi (compact computer), keyboard, monitor and mouse for each participant. The same computer the students assembled and programmed went home with them at the end of the day.

I just like to learn, said Christian Mooney, eighth-grader at Gamewell Middle School. Id never seen the inside of a computer before. It was really cool.

The Students@Work initiative centers its efforts around middle school students because middle school is a crucial time for dropout prevention. The program helps to emphasize future career options as well as the importance of staying in school, before students enter high school.
Baton Rouge Community College student Cameron Salazar has been named the 2016 New Century Scholar for the state of Louisiana. Selection was based on the score he earned in the All-USA Community College Academic Team competition, which included more than 1,900 applications this year. Salazar was the top-scoring student in Louisiana.

It is an absolute blessing to receive this honor, Salazar said. This award is not one of simple recognition or money for college. It is a tool that will help me continue my dream; a dream of completing my college degree at a four-year university.

Salazar, 20, is a native of Knoxville, Tenn., but grew up in Detroit and in Hickory, N.C. He attended Hickory Christian Academy, a private high school. A full-time BRCC student, Salazar maintains a 3.9 GPA while serving as the president of the student government association. He is also a member of the mens basketball team, and a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. He will graduate in May with an associate degree in business.

For his achievement, Salazar will receive a $2,000 scholarship and certificate, and will be recognized in Chicago on April 12 during the American Association of Community Colleges Convention.

The Coca-Cola New Century Scholars program is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Foundation, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, the American Association of Community Colleges and Phi Theta Kappa.
Did you ever comprehend how difficult a place India is to do business? The World Banks 2016 edition of Doing Business (DB) analysed the health of 189 economies based on detailed diagnostics, measuring regulatory quality and efficiency. In overall Ease of Doing Business, India ranked 130th, a discernible improvement from 142 in the 2015 report. Even the 130th slot falls below some Saarc countries  Bhutan ranks 77th, Nepal 99th, Sri Lanka 107th. For starting a business, India takes 29 days on average and ranks 155th  New Zealand at the top of that table takes just half a day. Singapore takes 26 days to issue a construction permit  India takes 191.5. For obtaining an electric connection, South Korea takes 18 days, India takes over 90.

New Zealand, numero uno in registering property, takes one day; India, ranked 138th, takes 47 days. The average duration of bankruptcy proceedings in India is around 4.3 years  in Singapore it is just 9.5 months. For getting credit India ranks 42nd, for enforcing contracts it is 178th.

Read |India up 4 places in World Banks ease of doing business list

Enabling to do business with ease helps not only commercial and industrial enterprises but citizens interaction with myriad State agencies and functionaries, not to talk of instilling requisite confidence in foreign investors to prefer India among competitive suitors. Excessive time to obtain clearances, manifold inspections, multiplicity of forms and outdated and vague procedures sap their vitality. Business and industry have cried hoarse for having Indias DB regime simplified, pleading for far more action more quickly. Realising the importance of the issue, during the launch of Make in India in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre would push for Indias ease of DB ranking to be within the top 50.

There is a clear example of how a striking improvement in DB ranking can be achieved. Following Russian President Vladimir Putins May 2012 decree ordering Russian bureaucrats to strive towards improving the countrys DB ranking from 120th to 20th by 2018, Russia has moved from 120 in 2012 to 51 in the 2016 report. India has remained stuck at around 130.

Almost half of the appraised parameters lie within the purview of state governments. In India, local business regulations and their enforcement differ across locations. The implementation of 98-point action plan on ease of doing business, determined at a conclave of central and state mandarins, varies widely: Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh scored over 60%; Odisha, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Haryana performed between 40 and 60%; Delhi, Punjab, Kerala and Goa figured in the 20-40% range; and the others below 20%.

Read | Boeing will invest billions of dollars in India

No state has yet developed a comprehensive list of licences, NOCs and registrations required to set up and operate a business. Emphasising a need to bridge the gap between implementation on paper and on the ground, a Rajya Sabha sub-committee on ease of doing business has advocated an online single-window approval mechanism with enforceable timeline for each service, formulation of a common application form, a single post-construction completion and occupancy certificate, and auto approval based on certification of structural design and architectural drawings by recognised engineers and architects. The committee recommends a review of all applicable forms and rules for registration of an enterprise, providing for a single application form with a single-payment gateway and a unique business ID number, incorporating all information regarding a business, be taken as the sole reference for registration and other regulatory processes.

As there is a need to change the paradigm and implement the mantra of minimum government, maximum governance, the process to repeal archaic laws has to be accelerated. The much-avowed concept of single window has in reality been elusive. For trade across borders, a national single online application for getting all necessary certificates may be integrated as a National Trade Portal to include all trade-related information. Theres no need to persist with export documents such as packing list, foreign currency exchange form, terminal handling receipts, cargo release order and certified engineers report.

An elephant-sized bureaucracy makes things slow and clumsy, breeds parasitic activities as strikingly revealed in Herando De Sotos El Otro Sendoro, which describes Kafkaesque contortions in Peru, much like in India  inevitably lapsing into a maze of excessive regulation, high taxes, costly licences, bureaucratic inertia and rampant corruption.

Read | The ease of doing business comes from infrastructure

For very long swathes of Indian society have been made to wallow in regulatory morass. Having ruled the roost and maintained monopolistic hold on levers of power in central and state governments, the elite cadre has much to explain. They must seriously introspect, scale down, simplify and re-orient the structure, making it responsive in quick time to needs of people and industry. The important works in progress, as Union finance minister Arun Jaitley terms them, such as GST, insolvency and bankruptcy law, amendments in the companies Act 2013 and others, including easier tax compliance, time-definite waiver of penalty, etc, will hopefully be in place very soon.

To demonstrate some action, at the launch of Start Up India in January, a bevy of senior bureaucrats promised a regime of value creation  a 24-hour time limit for a company to be registered, the single-page registration form to be further simplified, no inspection for three years, self-certification for compliance with many labour and environment laws, 80% rebate on patent fees, easy exit for failed start ups, etc. Buffeted by long years of tyranny of the licence-permit raj, young entrepreneurs and venture capitalists listened with much cynicism. The prime minister must have grasped the imperative need to put the intractable governance machine on track and apply a surgeons scalpel to rid it of accumulated cancerous growth, contributing to the wanton web of red tape.

Raghu Dayal is a former chairman of ConCor

The views expressed are personal
In a parliamentary democracy like ours the reservation debate, in the light of the recent Jats agitation for OBC reservation in Haryana, unravels many unresolved questions. In 1990, the historical question of backwardness of castes marked a fundamental shift from earlier political languages. With the Mandal Commission recommending OBC reservation, caste identity became integral to affirmative action. The Jats then were not included in the OBC category. In 1997, they were not found backward by the National Commission for Backward Classes Act (NCBC), with the exception of Rajasthan Jats, who were included in the Central OBC List.

The recent agitation by Jats for OBC reservation in Haryana opens up important questions.

The first is the question of Jat identity. Historically, a heterogeneous community of peasant proprietors, with a base in the army, the Jats forged a strong sense of communitarian identity in colonial India. Their present assertions draw on their history of dissent and subordination. But their political language has undergone a decisive shift. So has the language of the State.

Read | Haryana: Jat leaders threaten to protest if FIRs not withdrawn

The second aspect relates to the new legal and political discourses debating the constitutionality of Jats demand for OBC reservation. A diversity of positions between the Supreme Court judgment and the Union of India, a disagreement between the judiciary and the executive, shows the irresolution and complexity of the question.

The Congress and BJP have both supported the Jats claim for OBC reservation. The UPA-II government gave them OBC reservation in 2014. But the Supreme Court judgment rejected their reservation in the Central List in 2015. This important judgment maintains that the NCBCs recommendations ought to be considered by the union government. The NCBC report states that the Jats were not socially backward, and were actually adequately represented in the armed forces, government services and educational institutions. The Supreme Court judgment observed that politically organized classes [such as Jats] cannot be included in the list of backward classes. The court discouraged the identification of a group as backward solely on the basis of caste. The NDA government, under pressure from the Jat community leaders, filed a review petition before the Supreme Court in 2015, which was dismissed.

The third point concerns the criteria of backwardness, defined by Article 16(4) of the Constitution, as social backwardness. Drawing on the Indra Sawhney vs. Union of India case, the Supreme Court judgment observes: Educational and economic backwardness may contribute to social backwardness. But social backwardness is a distinct concept having its own connotations.

Read | Jat quota row: Rohtak, Sonepat DCs among 10 IAS officers transferred

The picture becomes more complicated when we hear Jat agitators focusing on economic backwardness and undermining their social backwardness. The Jats say that their demand for employment opportunities via reservation is a result of problems faced by farmers from the 1990s such as fragmentation of holdings, government and corporate acquisition of land, womens proprietary rights and lack of employment opportunities.

Fourthly, the Jats language of protest centres around their sense of alienation and victimization by 35 castes in Haryana, but other castes feel insecure, threatened and marginalized. In asking for a quota in the 27% OBC category, the Jats claim to be on the same footing as the existing OBC castes like the Yadavs, Sainis, Gujjars and Lodhas. They do not accept the Supreme Courts observation that comparison cannot be a ground for inclusion in OBC.

Lastly, Jats across political parties are united on this demand. A caste-based affirmative action may mean a caste battle for power. A large-scale violence in the recent Jat agitation reveals how a caste with a history of subordination can turn aggressively dominant in contemporary times. There was looting and destruction of private and public spaces, an assertion of masculinity, a celebration of violence. There are many silences on this form of public violence.

The BJPs acquiescence to Jats OBC claim may lead to a bigger sinister game in times to come.

Nonica Datta is associate professor at the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

The views expressed are personal
Bollywood actor Athiya Shetty says celebrities do have the pressure to look good always, but its fine if they want to stay normal at times. Athiya, who made her Hindi film debut last year with Hero, said fans should understand that celebrities are also normal people like them. There is a pressure to look good always and look your best. But I think it is important to feel normal sometimes. Because people look up to us and they should also know we are normal. So, it is ok to have an off day. It is ok for celebrities to not look good always, said Athiya.

The 23-year-old actor is now looking forward to walking the ramp at Amazon India Fashion Week (AIFW) Autumn-Winter 2016 for Namrata Joshipura.

Read: Athiya Shetty talks on how she dealt with reactions on Hero

Read: Arjun Kapoor dating Suniel Shettys daughter Athiya?

Talking about her look at the fashion week, Athiya said it will be classy. I am really excited that I am walking for Namrata. I love her clothes. They are extremely young, vivacious and very New York. The look is a mixture of being both classy and sexy. I try and be my self and be confident when I am on ramp. I enjoy doing it.

Watch: Sooraj Pancholi, Athiya Shetty in Hero trailer

The newbie has mostly received positive reviews from the fashion police, but she feels making mistakes in your look improves your style sense. Fashion is an extension of you personality. Its ok to make mistakes in fashion because that is what it is all about. One should make mistakes and learn from the same, then it is fun. One has to be comfortable and dress according to the body type, she added.

Follow @htshowbiz for more.
State Bank of India, the lead lender in most consortiums and one of the most affected from the large corporate defaults seen recently, on Wednesday summoned the promoters of top steel companies, including Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL), Bhushan Steel, Essar Steel, Visa Steel and Adhunik Metals to Mumbai, to conduct a rare review of loan repayments and explore possible options of bringing in strategic investors.

The review, under the aegis of the joint lenders forum (JLF), was described as unprecedented by one of the promoters who attended the meeting. It comes in the wake of the furore over the default by Kingfisher Airlines and promoter Vijay Mallya, who left for the UK even as the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate initiated investigations into possible fraud.

The meetings are in line with the strategic debt restructuring being done by banks and encouraged by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which has set the deadline of March 2017 for banks to clean their books of bad loans.

Such meetings have happened in the past, too, but this time the urgency with which the meetings were convened and the frequency has not been seen before...meetings being scheduled one after the other and spread over 2-3 days, said the promoter. This time the banks are stressing on one thing - bring in an investor. This is not the way lenders should be interacting, he added.

This was a review of the stressed assets of the top 50 accounts. It was an opportunity to bring them to the table and find ways to resolve the large debt and look at options of recovering the money, said the head of one of the banks.

Bank of India will conduct an individual review on March 17.

A previous Financial Stability report by the RBI had said that five out of the top 10 private steel companies are under severe stress.

Steel, a key alloy used for making cars and consumer goods and in building houses, has seen a major drop in demand after China, the worlds largest consumer and producer of the material, hit a major slowdown.
The Allahabad high court has imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh on the Uttar Pradesh commercial tax department for wrongly attaching a bank account of online shopping company Flipkart in a purported attempt at tax recovery.

The department had also withdrawn Rs 49.8 crore from the companys account without any authority of law. The court, in its order, asked the department to refund the amount to the company with interest.

The high court bench, comprising Justice Tarun Agarwala and Justice VK Mishra, passed the order late last month while hearing a petition filed by Flipkart India Pvt Ltd against the assessment order of the commercial tax department and the attachment of its bank account.

The court gets an uncanny feeling that a deliberate attempt was made by the respondents to withdraw money from the petitioners bank account through dubious means, by passing ex-parte assessment orders and not allowing it to be served validly on the petitioner, the court said.

Read: Flipkart devaluation a global trend, say experts

The court observed that if the department continued to function in such a manner, big companies would find it difficult to operate in the state.

According to the petition, the commercial tax department had not issued any summons to Flipkart with regard to non-payment of funds. Though the company had shifted its office from Noida to Ghaziabad in 2013, tax department officials kept affixing notices on its old office building despite knowing that the address had changed, it added.

The bench said that as the summons were not served to the petitioner, the seizure of its bank account was illegal. Hence, the commercial tax department should pay for its illegal act by refunding the tax recovery along with the interest amount, it added.
NEW DELHI

India has revised the threshold levels for monitoring credit card spending and investment in instruments such as mutual funds and bonds as part of a wider strategy to encourage financial savings and wean people away from using cash as the dominant payment mode.

Under the new rules, annual credit card spending worth more than Rs 10 lakh will come under scrutiny, a five-fold increase from the earlier threshold of Rs2 lakh.

However, bulk purchases through credit cards worth more than Rs 2 lakh in a single transaction will come under tax scrutiny.

Only those bond and debenture purchases exceeding Rs 10 lakh annually will come under the tax departments scrutiny, up from the earlier threshold of Rs 5 lakh.

Likewise, the tax department will scrutinise an individuals investments in mutual funds if the annual value exceeds Rs 10 lakh representing a five-fold increase from the earlier threshold of Rs 2 lakh. The annual threshold tax scrutiny for investment in shares has been raised to Rs 10 lakh from Rs 1 lakh earlier.

Bank drafts, which were earlier not monitored for tax scrutiny, worth more than Rs 10 lakh will now come under the tax lens.

The threshold for purchase or sale of any immovable property and cash transactions remain at Rs 30 lakh and Rs 10 lakh respectively.

Last year, the tax department had changed norms for mandatory disclosure of permanent account number (PAN) to include most of the transactions under the tax net which came into effect from January 1, 2016.

The government feels that there was a need to revise these limits as a lot of earlier thresholds should now come under the PAN disclosure norms, an official, who did not wish to be identified, said.
The march taken out by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) on Tuesday was not only about the row at the varsity .

Representatives from other universities and organisations who had come to support the JNU students raised their own issues.

The protest march, Peoples March to Save Democracy, was taken out to demand justice for students embroiled in a row over alleged anti-national slogans raised on JNU campus. Senior Left politicians Sitaram Yechury and D Raja participated in the march along with author Arundhati Roy.

Teachers and students from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) said they had joined to march to say that the Centre was not releasing funds for the university.

Our vice chancellor has met the (HRD) minister but nothing has happened. Also governments policy on outsourcing is not right, said Professor Shamim Akhtar of AMU.

Students from Jamia Millia Islamia shouted slogans for the release of Delhi University professor SAR Geelani, who is in jail in another sedition case. Geelani was charged with sedition in connection with an event at the Press Club where anti-national slogans were shouted.

Allahabad University students alleged their university will be the next target of the Central government.

JNU is located in Delhi so it got the attention and the support. We are here so that our leader who has been attacked also get justice, said a JNU masters student, who did not want to be named.

Organisations working with school children also participated in the march.

I live in Bawana. There have been several attempts to disturb communal harmony in my area. This government is following a certain pattern and we are here to resist this government which wants to sow the seed of communalism in the country, said Mohammad Ansari, a member of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chhatra Naujawan Sabha.

JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar addressed the participants. Kumar, who is also facing sedition charges, is out on bail. Two other JNU students, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, also charged with sedition, are still in jail. The march was taken out a day after the University reportedly recommended the rustication of the students involved in the February 9 event at which alleged anti-national slogans were shouted.
The students union at Delhis Jawahalal Nehru University is likely to seek more time from the chief proctor to reply to showcause notices sent to 21 students, including president Kanhaiya Kumar and general secretary Rama Naga, as the deadline ended at 5pm Wednesday.

On Monday, the university administration had issued showcause notices to 21 students after a high-level inquiry committee submitted its report and recommendations on a February 9 event where anti-national slogans were allegedly shouted.

We will seek more time from proctor as we have not yet collected the report. We were all busy with the march on Tuesday, which they knew about and yet gave us only 48 hours to respond. JNUSU will hold a council meeting today to take a stand on the report of the committee, Naga told HT.

The students who have been served the notices are at the centre of a nationwide debate on free speech. Kumar, Naga and their fellow students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattarcharya have been charged with sedition for allegedly organising the February 9 event to commemorate 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

But the notices have triggered controversy. Some students who have received the notice are still contemplating about their reply and have sought suggestions from their teachers.

The notice is so vague and there no specific charges. I am confused as to what to reply. I am just going to meet my professors and friends to discuss this with them, said a student on condition of anonymity.

Based on the reply given by each student the chief proctor will decide about the quantum of punishment given to them.

A final decision on what punishment to give to each student will be taken based on the recommendation of the inquiry committee and the reply given by the students, sources from the proctor office said.

Sources said that the recommendation given by the committee varies from imposing fines to rusticating students.

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A 32-year-old man killed a 16-year-old boy and his mother at their house, before slitting his own throat in Southwest Delhis Palam area on Tuesday afternoon.

The victims, Prashant and Anju Devi, died and the accused Shyam Singh has been admitted to AIIMS. He is reportedly unfit to give a statement.

Joint commissioner of police (southwest) Dependra Pathak said a case of murder had been registered.

Police said Singh entered the house around 4:05 pm when Anju Devi had gone out to have a chat with a neighbour and Prashant was studying.

Singh, who was reportedly known to the family, went to the kitchen, picked a knife and stabbed Prashant seven times in the neck.

Anju Devi heard her son scream for help and ran to her house. Seeing her son lying in a pool of blood with Singh standing next to him, she raised an alarm. But Singh stabbed her eight times in the abdomen, police said.

Singh tried to escape but locals had gathered outside the house. He locked himself inside a room and slit his throat.

We received a PCR call from a local after which our team rushed to the spot. Prashant, Anju Devi and Singh were rushed to the hospital. While Prashant was declared dead on arrival, Anju succumbed to her injuries during treatment. Singh is under observation, a senior police officer said.

Both bodies have been sent for a postmortem examination. Anjus husband, Ramji, runs a computer shop in Nehru Place and her 18-year-old daughter is studying in Jaipur.

Investigators said Singh was known to the family and frequented their house. They belonged to the same village in Bihar. It appears to be a case of personal enmity. We have called Singhs wife and sister for questioning and recorded the statement of Anjus husband. We will soon find out the motive behind the murder, an investigator said.
The Delhi high court on Wednesday directed the citys three municipal corporations to ensure that all their employees are paid their last months salary by March 21.

A bench, comprising chief justice G Rohini and justice Jayant Nath, issued the direction after the counsel for the employees  including safai karamcharis  told the court that they had not been paid their salaries for February.

Meanwhile, the counsel for the corporations sought time to seek instructions in this regard. Displeased by their response, the court asked: What were you (corporations) doing? The matter was listed for today and now you are saying that you will seek instructions. Everyone is aware about it (non-payment of salary). There are newspaper reports.

The court then set March 21 as the deadline for paying the employees their salaries, and listed the next hearing for that date.

The court is hearing petitions filed by three different people. A PIL by Birender Sangwan had sought that garbage littered on the streets due to the safai karamchari strike be cleared because it was posing problems for the public.

Read: East MCD has little money but councillors seek fat pay

Another petition filed by DP Chandel, president of the Indian National Trade Union Congress, wanted the court to direct the Delhi government and the East Delhi Municipal Corporation to release arrears to employees of the civic body as per the Sixth Pay Commissions recommendations. The plea, co-filed by union general secretary Rakesh Vaid, also sought that the salaries be released in the first week of each month.

The third petitioner, Rahul Birla, moved the court in January-end, claiming that the civic authorities had not been paying MCD workers their salaries and arrears since 2003. He said workers of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, South Delhi Municipal Corporation and East Delhi Municipal Corporation had gone on strike last year too, leading to accumulation of garbage for many days, making the lives of city residents pathetic and miserable.

He said the situation will spark a major health crisis in the capital unless the court intervenes.
Given the Modi governments commitment to improving the lot of women, we would expect proactive attempts to ensure gender justice. But the parliamentary standing committee on home affairs in its latest report has steered clear of declaring marital rape a crime. In doing so, it has sidestepped the views of the Justice JS Verma Committee, which in the aftermath of the Delhi bus gang rape of 2012 recommended that marital rape should not be an exception in criminal justice.

The parliamentary panel, in stating that criminalising marital rape would put the entire family system under great stress, only echoes the governments views expressed by women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi last week when she said that marital rape as understood internationally cannot be applied in India on account of factors such as illiteracy, poverty, social customs, values and beliefs. Her words were a virtual copy of a similar ministerial statement made a year ago.

Read | Concept of marital rape cannot be suitably applied in India: Govt

Has nothing changed in the thinking process, we want to ask. The governments words fly in the face of UN recommendations, and spoil Indias chances of being a progressive global leader. Should our social reforms lag our excellence in digital technologies and scientific achievements? Criminalising marital rape will only extend the 2005 law against domestic violence. Not doing this is a missed opportunity in modernising the laws. Malaysia and Turkey, steeped in patriarchal cultures, are ahead of India in this curve. It must be said the previous Congress-led UPA government also saw a parliamentary panel saying virtually the same things lawmakers have said now.

Indias Constitution is a modern one that promises equality and social justice, and laws must lead social reform rather than be victims of the status quo that parliamentary panels seem to helplessly endorse. There may be legitimate reasons to apply safeguards against the abuse of a law that criminalises marital rape. Indias laws against dowry and domestic violence have been abused in divorce disputes, with widespread complaints of police cases and lawsuits being used to harass men. Courts have already spoken out on the issue and their logic may be extended to safeguard men from abuse of rape laws. However, that is not a case against criminalising marital rape. A UN survey said in 2014 that one in every five Indian women has suffered rape in an intimate partnership. Why should Indias lawmakers bury their heads in the sand like ostriches while paying lip service to justice for women? It is time the government acted.
The Central Board of Secondary Education promised remedial measures on Wednesday after an unusually tough and lengthy Class 12 mathematics paper drove millions of students to tears across the country and triggered a debate in Parliament.

The CBSE was flooded with online complaints about the daunting paper for the March 14 exam and faced flak too over a reported question leak in the Patna region.

A circular issued by the CBSE said feedback received from students, subject teachers and examiners will be placed before the committee of subject experts. Remedial measures could be in the form of lenient checking, board chairman YSK Seshukumar said.

Board officials said students will get marks for following correct steps to solve a problem even if they failed to get answer right. More than a million students in the country appeared for the exam.

Students complained that they had to do elaborate calculations even for a one-mark question. For four-mark questions, calculations ran into pages.

Sections B and C were particularly tough, it took me nearly a half-an-hour to answer one of the questions, said Shubhankar Mishra, a Class 12 student from Rajhans Vidyalaya in Mumbais Andheri. This is also the first time that I needed 45 pages to answer a maths paper. My friends said it was tougher than last year.

Read more: Students in tears after CBSE Class 12 math exam, call paper lengthy

The board had drawn criticism for setting a difficult maths paper in 2015 as well. The committee of subject experts reworked the marking scheme when answer-scripts were checked.

Students, who demanded a retest or grace marks to compensate for the difficulty level, said the 2016 paper was tougher than last years exam.

A high score in mathematics is imperative as it is expected to drive the overall percentage of marks obtained by the student and is crucial for college entrances, where cut-offs regularly touch 98-99%.

Parents complained that the paper was as difficult as the IIT entrance test. There is so much pressure on the kids because of Delhi Universitys abysmally high cut-offs, said Sonu Anand, a parent in New Delhi.

Moreover, kids planning to study abroad must have conditional marks. There will be suicides, depression, lack of confidence, and psychological problems.

.Read more | CBSE Class 12 exam: Students allege maths paper leak

The principal of Ahlcon International School in the Capital, Ashok Pandey, said he has written to the CBSE authorities. Testing students is fine but we should not test their nerves. These marks are going to affect their future.

The CBSE echoed prominently in Parliament too with the government promising an inquiry into the reported paper leak and complaints that the questions were extremely difficult.

Parliamentary affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the matter deserves an inquiry after members from different parties raised the topic in the Lok Sabha. An inquiry will be done and action will be taken, he said.

NK Premchandran from the RSP and Congresss KC Venugopal said most questions were very difficult and not from the syllabus.

Venegopal sought the Union human resource development ministers intervention, saying papers were leaked in north India while even many bright students in the southern parts found the questions tough.

The BJPs Ramesh Bidhuri blamed the previous government, alleging the UPA had set up a system that tries to suppress bright Indian students.

At this, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge wondered aloud why the BJP keeps blaming the UPA rule for everything even after two years in power.
Good news, you might live a bit longer, as a group of Canadian researchers claim to have identified certain chemicals from plant extracts that can slow the biological ageing process and increase lifespan.

The team from Concordia University and the Quebec-based biotech company Idunn Technologies uncovered plant extracts containing six groups of anti-aging molecules.

One of these groups of molecules is the most potent longevity-extending pharmacological intervention yet described in scientific literature  a specific extract of willow bark, the study said.

Read: Stop fighting it: Ageing begins even before you are born, says study

Willow bark was commonly used during the time of the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, when people were advised to chew on it to relieve pain and fever.

The study showed that it increases the average and maximum chronological lifespan of yeast by 475% and 369%, respectively.



A team from Concordia University and the Quebec-based biotech company Idunn Technologies has uncovered plant extracts containing six groups of anti-aging molecules. (Shutterstock)

This represents a much greater effect than rapamycin and metformin, the two best drugs known for their anti-aging effects, the researchers said.

The scientists pointed out that at the cellular level, ageing progresses similarly in both yeast and humans.

The findings were detailed in the journal Oncotarget.

For the study, the research team conducted more than 10,000 trials to screen for plant extracts that would increase the chronological lifespan of yeast.

Read: Ultherapy: Banish signs of ageing without creams, fillers or toxins

In total, we found six new groups of molecules that decelerate the chronological ageing of yeast, said studys senior author Vladimir Titorenko, professor at Concordia University in Montreal.

The researchers believe that the findings have important implications not only for slowing the ageing process, but also for preventing certain diseases associated with ageing, including cancer.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for more.
He has never been to India, but is no stranger to the countrys cinematic portfolio. Jon Favreau, a name to reckon with in Hollywood, feels Indian cinema is engulfed in a new movement wherein director-driven and independent films with a unique vision are coming up -- much like Hollywood during the 1970s.

Read: How Jon Favreau recreated Indias dreamlike magic in The Jungle Book

A still from Jon Favreaus upcoming Jungle Book.

The 1970s era is termed as the golden age of Hollywood (also refereed as New Hollywood era and the American New Wave) -- a time when the American film industry saw immense creativity, and when young filmmakers experimented with new subjects, and imbibed the social changes into films plot. The Godfather, Chinatown, Five Easy Pieces, The Deerhunter, Apocalypse Now and Being There are some of the marvels that came up during the period.

Favreau, known for projects like Iron Man and Chef, notes a similar development in India, specifically pointing out at Anurag Kashyaps Gangs Of Wasseypur, which grabbed audience attention when it was screened at the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival in 2012.

Robert Downey Jr with Jon Favreau in a still from Iron Man.

Cinema is transforming in India right now. You know, tremendously prolific movies and titles are coming out of there. The Bollywood system has done incredibly well, but there is a new movement that is more director-driven, more independent, has started to emerge and reminds me of what happened in the US in 1970s, Favreau said.

Favreau, whose new offering -- Disneys The Jungle Book -- will release in India on April 8, a week before it hits screens in the US, confessed that like many others in his country, he had misconceptions about Bollywood. But Gangs of Wasseypur -- a gritty drama set in Indian hinterlands -- broke them.

He said: The most recent I saw which felt different from anything will be Gangs of Wasseypur. I didnt know that this was going on... Before watching the film, I thought about Bollywood what America thinks -- Bollywood is big musical numbers, pageantry that feels like studio age of old Hollywood.

So I see that what has started to happen now... I know that it is exciting whenever there is a new interesting filmmaking going on... That has been going on in Hong Kong, Korea and now India seems to be emerging to have some unique voices in filmmaking.

To an extent, Favreau stands true. Movies like Masaan, Titli, Zubaan and Aligarh are part of the new wave, which is not just finding critical acclaim on foreign shores, but also finding takers at the home turf. Favreau, who has acted in films as well as television shows like Friends, noted that while the song-and-dance bit of Bollywood is still big, the countrys independent cinema is also emerging in an impressive way.

He stressed that while very few international films break through the American film market, but some of the best -- with a strong voice and unique vision -- do.
UN special envoy and Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie travelled to Greece on Wednesday to highlight the plight of war-fleeing families stuck in the country.

Jolie visited the temporary offices of U.N. refugee agency UNHCR at the main port of Piraeus near Athens, which has become a makeshift camp for some 4,000 refugees and migrants sleeping in tents on the docks.

A refugee takes a selfie with Jolie during her visit at the port of Piraeus, near Athens, Greece.

Scores of onlookers stood outside the agencys offices to see the Hollywood actor, clapping and cheering when she appeared.

Angelina Jolie speaks during a press conference under the rain as part of her visit at a Syrian refugee camp near the city of Zahle in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley on March 15. (AFP)

Jolie greeted children and asked the throng of reporters, cameramen and photographers to be more thoughtful as she tried to speak with them.

Im here to learn and speak with you and the agencies and the government to learn what is happening, ok?, Jolie told one boy. Try to stay strong.

Angelina Jolie, center, gestures in front of refugees and migrants during her visit at the port of Piraeus near Athens. (AP)

According to a UNHCR press release, Jolie is visiting Greece to reinforce efforts by UNHCR and the Greek government to step up the emergency response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation.

Tens of thousands of refugees and migrants are stuck in makeshift camps or reception centres in Greece, which has been struggling with the mass influx of migrants from the Middle East.

A handout picture made available by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) on March 15, 2016 shows UNHCR special envoy US actress Angelina Jolie meeting with Syrian refugees. (AFP)

On Wednesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the closing of the main migrant route through the Balkans had created a challenging situation for Greece that should concern all of Europe.

Jolie, whose visit comes ahead of a European Union summit with Turkey over the migrant crisis, was also set to meet with Greeces prime minister.

Read: Angelina Jolie calls for help for Syrian refugees in Turkey camps

During her trip to Lebanon, she urged world powers to do more to end the Syrian conflict and help the millions who have fled the fighting.
A mob beat up four Kashmiri students at a private university in Rajasthan over rumours that they were cooking beef inside their hostel rooms in a campus that is vegetarian by policy.

As reported in the Indian Express newspaper, the incident led to scuffles with Kashmiri students at Mewar University in Chittorgarh. There are around 800 Kashmiri students on campus.

Some mischief mongers spread rumours that the students were cooking beef. But prima facie it didnt look like beef. We have sent it for forensic testing just to be sure, Chittorgarh superintendent of police Prasanna Khamesara told Indian Express.

Some Hindu religious groups protested outside the campus and shouted slogans against the institutes administration but the police arrived soon after.

The incident comes days after reports that Kolkata police wrote to city college authorities, asking for details of Kashmiri students enrolled there.

The Mewar University administration said the issue was blown out of proportion by fringe elements.

We have students from all over the countryfrom 23 states. It is like a mini India. Sometimes, these small scuffles happen because people are from different socio-cultural backgrounds, University media liaison officer Harish Gurnani told Indian Express.
The Army recently directed civil authorities to stop laying a road in Chumar area of Ladakh along the line-of-actual control (LAC) after the Chinese army objected to the project. Following this, Leh district authorities wrote to the home ministry, seeking clarification on the matter.

"We were constructing a road under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) of the home ministry, but senior army officials told us to stop because the Chinese objected to it," a senior civic official said on the condition of anonymity.

"The BADP, which aims to ensure development along border areas, mandates construction of roads. However, the Army is objecting to it. It's a bit of contradiction, and we have written to the home ministry for clarification," he added.

As China does not view the LAC in Ladakh sector as clearly demarcated, it usually objects to construction activity along the same. In 2014, India had protested against the construction of a Chinese road link in the same area because it was reportedly being done in Indian territory.

"It's a 2.5-km road inside our territory; it does not even go in the direction of the border. We have taken up the matter with senior army officials and written to the defence minister," Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development (LAHDC) chief executive councillor Sonam Dawa told HT.

Read: Himachal govt irked over slow pace of work on border roads

The Army had asked the contractor to stop laying the road about four days ago, after which the matter was reported to the LAHDC. District administration authorities said that though local army officers welcomed the laying of roads in the border areas, this decision was taken by higher-ups.

The armies of the two countries had faced off at Chumar in 2014, when Peoples Liberation Army troops pitched tents in Indian territory and New Delhi rushed in military reinforcements to counter them.

Ladakh shares a 225-km Line of Control and a 955-km LAC with China. Sources said that the neighbouring countrys objections to development work along the border is likely to figure in talks during defence minister Manohar Parrikar's three-day visit to China in April.

Lt General DS Hooda, the General Officer Commanding-In-Chief of northern command, had recently said that China was way ahead of India in terms of infrastructural development along the LAC. He also said there was a massive push to upgrade roads in Ladakh.
The role of tainted godman Asaram Bapu in the murders of three witnesses in the rape case against him and his son has come under the scanner of the Ahmedabad police.

Police sources said that suspicion of the 74-year-old spiritual leaders involvement in the crime has arisen as Karthik Haldar  arrested by the Gujarat ATS in connection with the killings  had visited him at a Jodhpur jail.

Haldar had met Asaram between 2014 and 2015, the period during which he committed the murder, said an officer with the Ahmedabad crime branch.

Asaram and his son Narayan Sai are lodged in separate jails in Rajasthan and Gujarat, facing cases of rape and intimidation in Ahmedabad, Surat in Gujarat, and in Jodhpur (Rajasthan).

Haldar, an amateur shooter, is accused of eliminating three witnesses in these cases. He had also attempted to kill four others, allegedly at the behest of Asaram, sources said.

The shooter is a follower of Asaram. Haldar, who has no arms training, had attended a few discourses by Asaram before joining one of his ashrams.

He is suspected of shooting Amrut Prajapati, a former aide of Asaram and a key witness, at his Rajkot clinic, in June 2014. Kripal Singh, another witness, was attacked in June 2015 in Uttar Pradesh.
The BJP has defied the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (Ulfa-I) and fielded Bhaskar Sarma, a former member of the militant outfit, to contest polls from the Margherita assembly seat in eastern Assams Tinsukia district.

Sarma is accused of masterminding the systematic killing of friends, relatives and sympathisers of the banned group from 1997-2000. Last month, the Ulfa-I had asked the BJP to drop his name from the panel list for the Margherita assembly seat.

The organisation has retaliated by sending a team from Myanmar to Tinsukia district. Police said the subversive mission, timed with Ulfa-Is army day on Wednesday, could have been designed to destabilise the pre-poll atmosphere in Assam.

The secret (extra-judicial) killings were carried out during Prafulla Kumar Mahantas Asom Gana Parishad-led coalition government. It led to AGPs downfall, the Ulfa-I said, indicating the BJP would face the same fate if it fielded Sarma. The organisation has also imposed a ban on any electioneering activity of Sarma and has appealed to people to maintain a safe distance from him.

Meanwhile, a BJP spokesperson said, We chose our candidates on the basis of their popularity, not because this or that group wants or does not want him.

Investigations into the secret killings had culminated in the report of the KN Saikia Commission.

The report provided details about the killings, which were organised from the states corridor of power and executed by a section of surrendered Ulfa militants and the police, with cooperation from the army.

The ruling Congress has seized the opportunity to rake up the secret killings and make it a poll issue.

The BJP was at the Centre when the AGP government carried out that ghastly episode to snuff out the lives of 855 innocent people. We will tell people how the two have once again formed an unholy nexus to play with their lives, chief minister Tarun Gogoi said.

Sarma is a member of Sulfa, or Surrendered Ulfa, which mostly comprises those who bid farewell to arms in 1992.

Members of the two groups have attacked each other since. The biggest strike was when 15 Sulfa members were gunned down in eastern Assams Moran in June 2001.

In 2013, the Ulfa formally split into the pro-talks group led by chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and the anti-talks Ulfa-I led by commander-in-chief Paresh Barua.

Last year, the Ulfa-I forged a rebel alliance with other northeast outfits.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party government for having failed to arrest the outsiders who allegedly raised anti-national slogans at February 9 event at Jawahar Lal Nehru University.

BJP is most anti-national of all. Why is it shielding those who raised anti-national slogans?, tweeted Kejriwal on Wednesday.

The latest attack on BJP by Kejriwal comes following the finding of a report by a JNU panel that the provocative slogans at the controversial February 9 event on JNU campus were raised by a group of outsiders.

Three students including JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar are facing sedition charges in the case related to the incident. While the Delhi police arrested three students --- Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya --- in the sedition case involving the incident, critics have questioned the current dispensations at the Centre for not cracking down on outsiders who raised slogans demanding BJPs efforts to form government in Jammu & Kashmir with the PDP.

Along with several leaders including Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal has also been booked on sedition charges by Hyderabad police acting on an order of a court based on complaint filed by lawyer Janardhan Goud.
A national-level kabaddi player was shot dead by unidentified assailants when he was walking home from training on Tuesday evening in Rithal village of Haryanas Rohtak district.

The murder of 24-year-old Sukhvinder Singh was caught on a CCTV camera at a house near the spot. The footage shows him walking and speaking on his mobile phone when two men on a scooter approached from the opposite direction and fired five bullets from close range.

Watch: Kabaddi player killed in Rohtak

The assailants checked the body before escaping. Sukhvinder was declared dead on arrival at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS).

Sukhvinder was fatally attacked close to the village school ground where he used to train regularly.

His parents said he had no enemy. But his uncle, Vijender, alleged that Sukhvinder was in police custody for five days without a warrant prior to his death. He was allegedly picked up for a murder in the village and assaulted mercilessly in custody.

The SHO of Sadar police station, Vijay Singh, said an FIR was registered and the body returned to the family after autopsy. We have collected the CCTV footage. Raids are on to nab the culprits.
Rajya Sabha on Tuesday referred the controversial enemy property bill to a select committee for closer scrutiny, and there are clear hints that the bill to dilute the whistleblowers law could meet the same fate.

The bill  that seeks to replace an ordinance issued in January  proposes to empower the government to seize properties inherited or purchased from people who migrated to Pakistan or China nearly five decades ago.

Several opposition MPs had opposed the bill in the Lok Sabha last week.

It will create two types of Indian citizens, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor had warned. One, which can inherit properties and another, that will have their properties taken away by the State.

But the ruling alliance, which has a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, brushed aside their concerns.

It is not something that the government can do in the Rajya Sabha where it is in a minority.

A senior Congress leader told HT that the party wanted the whistleblowers bill to be sent to a committee of Rajya Sabha MPs too unless the government withdraws amendments that dilute the UPA-era whistleblowers protection law.

We have decided that the whistleblowers bill also should not be passed in its present form, he added, signalling that the opposition would not fight shy of flexing its muscles in the RS.

On a high after sending the enemy property bill to the select committee, a Congress leader said the opposition would try to amend the Aadhaar bill on Wednesday to make their point. We have serious concerns about invasion of privacy of individuals... Our amendments will reflect this sentiment, he said.

Since it is a money bill, Lok Sabha has the right to reject amendments accepted by the RS. But we would have made our point, he said.
A 23-year-old man and his 17- year- old wife allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison while in a Ranchi police station on Monday night.

The couple, from Bhanjpur village in Jharkhands Godda district, around 350km north of Ranchi, had eloped on January 15 after their families protested against their relationship, said police.

The boy was found lying in the lock-up and the girl in an adjacent detention room by a constable. They were rushed to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, investigating officer Vikas Chandra Srivastava said. They were declared broughtdead by doctors.

The girls family had lodged a kidnapping case at the Mahagama police station on January 17, based on which Argora police picked up t he couple on Monday from a slum and detained them.

Srivastava said the two were t o be handed over t o Godda police on Tuesday.

We suspect that the couple took poison inside their rooms, said Ranchi senior superintendent of police Kuldeep Dwivedi.

An official investigating the suicide, on condition of anonymity, said the two were held in separate but adjacent areas, and could speak to each other. Eyewitnesses too informed the investigators that the couple was without supervision, and had enough time to execute their allegedly planned suicide.

A woman police assistant subinspector and two constables were suspended for dereliction of duty and failure to frisk the couple. A police source said a magisterial i nquiry i nto t he suicide was likely.

In addition to the autopsy re port , police will study t he CCTV footage to determine how the couple was able to commit suicide in police presence.
Two JNU students accused of sedition will spend at least two more days in jail after a Delhi court said on Wednesday it will decide on March 18 whether to give them bail or not.

The two students -- Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya  are among six students slapped with sedition charges following a February 9 event at the university, sparking a debate over nationalism and free speech.

The JNU students union leader Kanhaiya Kumar, facing similar charges, was granted interim bail by the Delhi high court. Three others are yet to be arrested.

After hearing extensive arguments in the case, additional sessions judge Reeteesh Singh said he will give his decision the day after.

The advocates for Khalid and Bhattacharya argued that the two were being singled out while co-accused Kanhaiya Kumar was granted interim bail by the high court.

If there is a strong disagreement, going almost to hatred, divergence between sections that think these students are anti-national, and the students who think they have nothing wrong, this is a difference of opinion and not a question of criminal law, said advocate Trideep Pais representing Bhattacharya.

The lawyers said the police had but one piece of evidence against their clients -- a pro- Afzal Guru poster with their names on it.

Police say a section of students had shouted anti-national slogans during the event to mark the anniversary of the hanging of Guru, convicted in the 2001 Parliament attack. He was executed in 2013.

The lawyers said even the videos of the alleged anti-national sloganeering was in dispute at the present stage.

The prosecution, however, argued that besides the poster -- which was allegedly prepared by Bhattacharya and approved by Khalid  there were ten eye-witnesses whom they were relying on in the sedition case against the students.

I also have 10 witnesses including one student who has no affiliation with any political party, the public prosecutor said. He also read out the statement by one Akhilesh Pathak, a PhD student at JNU.

The prosecutor argued that the young men had attempted to incite disaffection towards the nation by organising the pro-Afzal event.

An attempt to incite disaffection meets the criteria of sedition. The slogans acted as incitement, he added.

Advocate Jawahar Raja contested the argument on sedition saying that everyone can take offence to what someone says.

Just because someone is protesting doesnt mean you (State) stop them. The State has a positive obligation to protect my right to say it, he added.
You may still find a bottle of Phensedyl, Corex or Benadryl in your medical box. They are household names for most Indians and are among the countrys top selling medicines.

But with the government banning around 350 fixed dose combination drugs, many popular cough syrups  that are almost sold like an over-the-counter product -- may go off shelves.

Read more: P&G to challenge Vicks 500 ban: All you should know about banned drugs

Thus, your trip to doctor on the next cough attack becomes almost certain. The hunt for new cough syrup has begun.

Consumers who already use herbal syrup will stick to it. But those consuming allopathic syrups may rethink their preferences after knowing it was alcohol, caffeine or codeine, among other ingredients, that make them feel better.

They will move either towards the herbal category or a product promoted via word-of-mouth publicity. Or go to the doctor to ask for an alternative.

Read more: India may ban 400 more drugs after crackdown on Vicks 500, Corex

A marketing head at a leading herbal drug making firm believes the governments action has boosted consumer awareness about the harmful contents of cough syrup.

The media headlines will make them worry about what they have been consuming till now. They may check the ingredients before making the purchase, this is where we will win, he said.

To catch this new consumer, companies will soon draft strategies and arm their medical representatives (MRs) with new pitches to push their non-codeine-based brands via doctors.

The companies to watch out for includes Dabur (Honitus), Patanjali (Kanti Herbal), Himalaya (Koflet), Glaxo SmithKline (Piriton) and Brozedex (Wockhardt).

Be ready for catchy jingles such as -- a codeine free syrup which tastes as yummy as strawberry, is fortified with minerals and vitamins, has no drowsiness and no side-effects.

Brand experts say companies are expected to launch more variants, so get ready to see more television commercials and banners with coughing kids and elders.

Only 13 of the 80-odd cough syrup brands available in the Indian market are over the counter, as per the latest Nielsen data.

The market is highly fragmented, where no brand including Phensedyl, Corex and Benadryl has more than 10% of market share. Popular herbal cough syrup, Honitus, commands 2% market share.

As per IMS Health, a research company, cough preparation was the highest selling therapeutic subgroup last year in value terms with significant growth of 35% on monthly basis.

The strategy of popular ones will be to protect the market share they have captured over the years. For others, it is an opportunity to wage war and gain market share.

Good luck to them.

However, they must not forget that Phensedyl and Corex both have received interim stay from the high court against the governments notifications and will continue to sell products until they lose the legal battle.

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The Narendra Modi-led government on Wednesday told Parliament that the sedition law was a broad-brush measure and needed a review, a month after the arrest of Jawaharlal Nehru University students union leader Kanhaiya Kumar on charges of treason, leading to a political outcry.

Anybody who speaks against the government can be booked under sedition law. Amendments have been suggested because the definition is very wide. That is why concerns have been raised, minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju said in the Rajya Sabha.

Home minister Rajnath Singh said the government would call a meeting of all parties to discuss the matter after the Law Commission, which is already reviewing the applicability of the sedition provision, submits its recommendations.

Opposition members said the sedition provision law needed to be thrown out. This law should go, Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav told the House. The Communist Party of Indias D Raja called the sedition provision a relic.

Read | JNUSU condemns February 9 slogans, to fight against sedition law

The Indian Penal Codes Section 124-A deals with sedition cases. It says whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Government can face a life term.

The Supreme Court has interpreted that only speech that amounts to incitement to imminent lawless action can be treated as seditious.

Read | The many interpretations of azadi on JNUs campus

Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said given its wide definition, half of the parties of the country will be anti-national if there is a ban on speaking against the government.

Singh agreed to an all-party discussion on the matter after the Law Commission, the top panel that reviews laws from time to time, submits its report. The government, however, rejected the Opposition charges that it was recklessly charging people with sedition.

Rijiju said the Law Commission, in its 42nd report, had said the sedition provision was defective. However, the panel did not recommend scrapping it.

We are in cent percent agreement with the view of the Leader of Opposition that there should be tough action against those creating communal divide. Standing in this House, I appeal to all state governments to take tough action against those trying to wage communal divides, the home minister said.

Read | Introducing a New Joke: Anti-National
Bhadra Sinha

bhadra.sinha@hindustantimes.com

A group of taxi owners have approached the Supreme Court seeking modification of its order directing commercial passenger vehicles to convert to CNG by March 31.

They said the order is discriminatory because it targets a small percentage of vehicles belonging to weaker sections and ignores a huge chunk of polluting private diesel cars.

They say conversion to CNG is technologically and financially not viable.

Already paying vehicle loan instalments to banks, the petitioners said the order will hit them financially. Conversion from diesel to CNG is expensive and will put additional burden on them, they said.

A bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur had on December 16 last year banned registration of diesel cars with engine capacity of 2000cc or more in the National Capital Region (NCR), including Delhi.

In a bid to bring down pollution in Delhi, it directed taxis, including those run by aggregators such as Ola and Uber, to convert to CNG by March 31, 2016.

Orders were issued to the petroleum ministry to ensure that 104 gas stations begin operations in NCR by then.

Diesel taxis were exempted from the Delhi governments road rationing scheme. Buoyed by the success of the 15-day trial in January, the government will roll out the second phase in April.

Due to the top courts order, the diesel taxis may not be exempted this time.

The taxi owners told the SC that the government failed to provide enough CNG filling stations. Conversion will be a wasteful exercise and will effectively deny the applicants their legitimate source of livelihood, the petition said.

If the court wants conversion of diesel vehicles, it should start with private ones first, the petition said.

Based on details under the Right to Information Act, the taxi owners said more than three lakh private diesel cars were registered between April 2010 and February 2016 against 28,174 commercial ones.

High court order:

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed Ola, Uber and the radio taxis association to give details, including registration numbers, of the cabs operators intend to phase out by March 31.

Justice JR Midha gave time till April 10 to submit the details along with an affidavit in a sealed cover and listed it for hearing on April 18.
The government came under fire in Parliament on Wednesday over its handling of the Pathankot airbase attack as the Opposition alleged the incident exposed a lack of coordination between the ministries of home and defence.

Congress, Trinamool Congress, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Left members in the Lok Sabha trained their guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his Lahore stopover a few days ahead of the January 2 strike. Attacking Modi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said, The PM lacks vision and runs international diplomacy according to his whims and fancies.

Seven security personnel, including a Lieutenant Colonel, and six terrorists were killed in the four-day gunfight that ensued.

The government said it was conducting a security audit to identify and fill gaps and asserted India wanted good relations with its neighbours, including Pakistan, but not at the cost of its pride, dignity and self-respect.

Congress chief whip Jyotiraditya Scindia said there was no coordination between ministries, pointing out the cabinet committee on security did not meet to discuss the situation.

It was more a show-off and less effective, he said. Sarkar ki kathni aur karni mei bahut antar hai (There is a difference in what the government says and does).

The home minister tweeted saying we have killed the terrorists, while the home secretary said the operation was still on. And then the tweets had to be deleted. The defence minister was in Goa attending addressing a conclave of party workers, Scindia said.

If the government knew about the presence of terrorists 48 hours before they struck, why were they allowed to roam for such a long time, Scindia asked. There was army of 20,000 infantry in Gurdaspur, air force, NSG and BSF. Still, there was no single point of contact.

Attacking Modi, the Congress leader said, When the Pathankot attack was taking place, the Prime Minister was in Karnataka, attending a yoga event and tweeting about it.

The BJDs Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo said it was a critical mistake to hand over the operation to the National Security Guard (NSG), a special anti-terror commando force raised in 1984. He claimed national security adviser Ajit Doval had usurped decision-making powers.

Intervening in the debate, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said the Pathankot attack was accumulation of asymmetric war. These are small attacks of weak forces on a stronger force. When the weak forces know themselves that they are not going to succeed in defeating the stronger force, they try to create disturbances and demoralise the strong force, he said.

In a veiled attack on the previous UPA government, Parrikar said, I can quote many instances when military intelligence has been sacrificed at the altar of political goals. The compromise made earlier is probably one of the reasons why we are suffering today.

He said certain organisations in Pakistan were making provocative statements and they should be taught a lesson. We are in the process to ensure that our enemies cannot go scot-free.

Home minister Rajnath Singh said different governments might have different action plans but nobody could say their strategy was foolproof. No one can point a finger on any governments intention when it comes to national security. When all political parties contribute only then can we ensure safety and security of the nation, he said.

When Parrikar was reminded that the home minister had tweeted on January 1 the operation was over, the defence minister said, Probably there was a small error which was immediately corrected. We totally foiled the terrorists attempt to make a big scenario.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar will explore the possibility of a grand alliance while maintaining a distance from the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh during his visit to Prime Minister Narendra Modis constituency Varanasi on April 10.

It would be Kumars first political foray in the temple town after the recent Bihar assembly polls in which the BJP was defeated. The Bihar chief minister recently shared the dais with the prime minister at a function in Bihar.

Kumars party the Janata Dal (United) JD (U) will maintain a distance from the Samajwadi Party in view of past experiences. Sri Nath Singh Patel, UP state vice president of the Janata Dal (U), said, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar will address a rally at Cutting Memorial Inter College ground on April 10. He will explore the possibility of bringing like-minded parties under one umbrella. But, the JD (U) will maintain a distance from the SP.

He said Rashtriya Lok Dal national president Chaudhary Ajit Singh would also attend the event along with the Bihar CM. The Janata Dal (United) will also approach like minded parties so that the grand alliance can take shape in UP, Patel said. Asked if the bonhomie between PM and Bihar CM could result change in a political equation, Patel said, No. Not all. Bonhomie is part of etiquette. Political ideologies of the BJP and JD (U) are entirely different, Patel said.

Bihar JD-U in-charge former MLA Satish Kumar and a large of number of party workers from across the state and adjoining districts of Bihar were likely to attend the event. He indicated that a few leaders of regional parties, especially active in eastern Uttar Pradesh, may meet the Bihar chief minister.
The NDA government has stepped up efforts to push the United Nations to identify people who use Pakistani territory to target India as terrorists and impose sanctions on them, sources said ahead of a meeting between the foreign ministers on Thursday.

The external affairs ministry has urged the ministry of home affairs and the National Investigation Agency to help build a watertight case against Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, with an expert committee examining a proposal to name him in the list.

India approached the United Nations Security Councils sanctions committee in February to act against Maulana Masood Azhar, who heads the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) group that is blamed for an attack on Pathankot airbase, this year.

The siege at the military facility in Punjabs Pathankot derailed proposed talks between the foreign secretaries, with India making it clear that the possibility of dialogue hinged on Islamabad clamping down on the attacks perpetrators.

Once they are listed, individuals and organisations will face asset freezing, travel ban, arms embargo and other penalties that would cripple their ability to carry out attacks.

The sanctions list contains the names of 253 individuals and 75 entities and was last updated in February.

Sources say Indian efforts this time are unprecedented, but the task is challenging because the country has never succeeded in getting anyone designated as a terrorist by the UN panel. Last time, China torpedoed its efforts to put Azhar in the sanctions list.

Indian officials said efforts to get 11 individuals and entities named could test other countries resolve to have concrete counterterrorism measures, which New Delhi hopes wouldnt fail.

If we succeed in some cases, it will have a global significance, said an official. Terrorism emanating from the region is not merely an India-Pakistan issue.

The naming process involves proving how these entities and individuals are associated with UN-proscribed organisations such as al Qaeda, Islamic State and Taliban.

Efforts are on to get credible and clinching evidence, sources said. Once the technical aspect is taken care of, India has to get the support of the sanctions committee, where each member nation has a veto.

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Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Choudhry exchanged pleasantries on the sidelines of the South Asian Association of Regional Conference (Saarc) meet underway in Nepal.

Both secretaries had a brief interaction on Tuesday evening after the conclusion of the meeting between the foreign secretaries of all eight Saarc member countries.

There were no structured or formal talks, but they interacted during the event and also exchanged pleasantries, a senior Indian embassy diplomat present at the venue in the resort town of Pokhara said.

Both senior diplomats were also together at a dinner meet along with other dignitaries.

This is the first time Jaishankar and Choudhry have come face to face since cancellation of the foreign secretary-level talks between both neighbours after the terror attack on the Pathankot airbase in January.

Though there were no talks between the two, a meeting between external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and Sartaj Aziz, the foreign affairs adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is expected on Thursday.

We are preparing the groundwork for the meeting by consulting with the Pakistani side and both Swaraj and Aziz are likely to hold talks after the meeting of Saarc foreign ministers, the embassy diplomat said.

Aziz is expected to hand over an invitation from Sharif for the 19th Saarc summit to be held later this year at Islamabad.

It will be the first ministerial engagement after the Pathankot attack derailed talks between the two neighbours.

Seven soldiers were killed when suspected Pakistani militants laid siege to the Indian Air Force facility in the border state of Punjab on January 2. Though Islamabad has registered a case, it has not given the dates for a visit by a Pakistani probe team, vital to the investigation as well as well as bilateral ties.

Foreign secretaries of all Saarc nations are meeting on Wednesday to discuss progress on plans prepared at the last summit in Kathmandu.

The four-day meet, which began on Monday, will conclude with a meeting of foreign ministers from member nations on Thursday.

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JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar Tuesday attacked the Modi government and took on the RSS but barely mentioned Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya in an hour-long speech that followed a march in support of the two students in custody on sedition charges.

Read more: JNU probe panel says masked outsiders shouted provocative slogans

A Delhi court extended to March 29 their custody as fellow students from Jawaharlal Nehru University marched from Mandi House to Parliament Street to express solidarity with the two, accused of organising an event on February 9 during which alleged anti-India slogans were shouted.

Kumar skipped the third peoples march to save democracy and came directly to Parliament Street in the city centre to address the gathering, his first campus outing after getting a six-month conditional bail on March 3 in the sedition case .

Read more: JNU row: Internal inquiry finds Umar, Anirban guilty on four counts

Modi ji you said that nobody can become a leader by giving speeches. If you are telling me this, same applies to you, as you did the same to the public of the country. Two years have passed, but na acche din na acche raat dikha (we are yet to see better days ), Kumar said, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modis poll promise of acche din.

The JNU Students Union president then targeted the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, the ideological parent of the ruling BJP. People who take years in getting from half pant to full pant can only divide the country ... Everyone is a part of India. Be it minorities, Dalits,  Kumar said . The RSS recently decided to dump its trademark khaki shorts in favour of brown trousers.

Read more: Replies to probe panels notices will decide fate of 21 JNU students

Kumar also denied accusations that the university and he were against the army. The government had turned army into a political issue. It was the government which was dividing people, he said.  Your (Modi) government was the one which lathi-charged soldiers demanding one rank, one pension , he told a cheering crowd.

Kumar also took digs at human resource development minister Smriti Irani. People who have never gone to a university are deciding on our future.

It was at the end of the speech that Kumar shouted, Umar, Anirban ko riha karo, sedition charges wapas lo (free Umar and Anirban, drop the sedition charge).

Read more: Deans of 5 JNU schools say they werent given details of panels report

A member of the All India Students Federation, the student wing of the Communist Party of India, Kumar had told HT in an interview after his release that his politics was different from that of Khalid though they were together in their fight against the Modi government .

Khalid and Bhattacharya were once members of the ultra-Left Democratic Students Union. A Delhi government probe panel while clearing Kumar of chanting anti-India slogans had said Khalids role needed to be investigated. Khalid was one of the organisers of the protest against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru

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A journalist accused of publishing a fictitious RTI reply has alleged abuse by police during questioning over the controversial report claiming that the BJP-led government has adopted a policy of not recruiting Muslims in the Ayush ministry.

The journalist Pushp Sharma was picked up on Tuesday evening and questioned at the Kotla Mubarakpur police station in Delhi over the report published in the Milli Gazette, Indias oldest Muslim community journal.

Police said he was not arrested but held for questioning.

Read More | No-Muslims policy: Journalist picked up over fake RTI reply

In a lengthy statement on his questioning, published online by the journal, Sharma said he explained his side of the story to the station house officer.

After listening this for a few minutes, I heard just abuses, and shouts and allegations, like: who is behind you and what is your motive? Sharma alleged.

Sharma said that his decision to publish any report is always journalistic and accused the system  apparently an euphemism for the government  of character assassination and arm-twisting.

The editor of the Milli Gazette, Zafarul-Islam Khan, said the questioning of the journalist is plain harassment of media and muzzling of free speech.

The report based on an RTI reply from the Ayush ministry had suggested the government has adopted a policy of not hiring any Muslim candidates as yoga trainers.

The report claimed the government in its reply said though 711 Muslim candidates had applied for short-term assignment of trainers and teachers for the World Yoga Day in 2015, no Muslim candidate was invited, selected or sent abroad as per government policy.

Read More | Ayush minister rejects RTI response of no-Muslim hire policy

The ministry termed the report as fabricated. In its clarification, the ministry said that in September, it replied to an RTI query from Sharma, which was forwarded to three agencies  the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy and International Cooperation wing of the ministry.

This is a simple forwarding letter under section 6(3) of RTI Act and therefore does not contain any reply to the queries. The same forwarding letter of the ministry has been used by a section of the media in this matter, but with a non-existent, fictitious Annexure-I, (which has never been issued by the ministry).

Police registered a case following a complaint by the ministry, formed to promote ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, unani, siddha and homeopathy.
New Delhi

What is common between the Congress and the Left? Pose this to a common man today and the answer may be Kanhaiya Kumar or Rohith Vemula.

The JNU students union president may be affiliated to the CPIs students wing, the AISF, but Congressmen are gushing over him. The same goes for late Vemula of Hyderabad University who was not known to have any political affiliation.

They have become the Congress poster boys in the forthcoming assembly elections in five states.

In poll-bound West Bengal, both the Left and the Congress -- which have entered into a tacit understanding on certain seats -- are working out plans to use Kumar and Vemula in their campaign.

Read More | Assembly polls: Bengal will miss Kanhaiya Kumar

The suspension of Vemula and the arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar (on sedition charges) are about depriving people of their fundamental rights and we cant seat idle. From rural to urban areas, we will carry out extensive campaigns to take on the BJP, says Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya.

CPI(M) leader Shyamal Chakraborty, too, said the party will organise movements across the state over the issues to expose the dark side of the BJP.

In Assam, Kumar and Vemula feature prominently in the Congress poster campaigns asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi when his achhe din (good days) will come.

Congressmen argue that Kanhaiya symbolises the struggling, underprivileged youth facing intolerance at every step while Rohith represents the oppressed Dalits.

In Kerala, which goes to the polls on May 16, the Congress-led coalition is pitted against the Left parties. And how they try to leverage the two poster boys could well make the difference.

Kanhaiya and Rohith are already icons on campuses, their photos dominating debates and T-shirts.

And the Left parties are trying to woo the student community though the CPI is worried over big brother CPI-M walking away with the honours by appropriating Kanhaiya and Vemula. Kanhaiya belongs to the AISF, the CPIs student outfit.

Left parties were in for a big shock when Vemulas brother and mother attended a rally of Muslim League two months back. CPI(M) sent feelers seeking their help in its fight against Sangh Parivar outfits.

For the first time, the BJP is posing a threat to key players.

Read More | Kanhaiya: Flash Gordon or a flash in the pan?

The Congress attempt to appropriate Kumar and Vemula exposes major fault lines within the grand old party. It was Rahul Gandhi who had, in 2008, set out to change the system and bring youth into political mainstream by introducing internal elections in the Indian Youth Congress. He wanted to end nomination culture in both the Youth Congress and the NSUI, the partys students wing.

About eight years hence, its ironic that the Congress vice-president is seen competing with Left leaders in extolling Kumar and the sacrifices of Vemula. It says a lot about his experiments in the youth Congress and the NSUI.

But, probably, the Congress is not left with any other options. The 2014 Lok Sabha elections showed an en masse shift of the youth towards Modi and the BJP, dashing the hopes of the Congress, which had projected Rahul as a leader of the youth.

According to the oppositions calculations, the BJPs attempt to use the JNU episode to whip up nationalistic fervour has got some response from its loyal constituencies and students and youth belonging to the upper castes, but has had little resonance in other sections of the society.

Drumming up support for Kanhaiya Kumar and projecting Vemula as a victim of the NDA government is part of a larger strategy to wean the youth away from the BJP.

Read More | Amit Shah leads BJP attack against Rahul for backing Kanhaiya Kumar

On May 19, when the assembly election results are declared, the country will know who got it right.

(with inputs from Avijit Ghosal in Kolkata)
The government introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday a bill to amend the mines and minerals act to include provisions of allowing transfer of captive mines allotted through procedures other than auction.

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2016, will also facilitate banks and financial institutions to liquidate stressed assets where a company or its captive mining lease is mortgaged.

The move will spur mergers and acquisitions in the sector.

Mines minister Narendra Singh Tomar said he had consulted different stakeholders, including State Bank of India and industry associations. Auction notices for 33 mines were issued. Of these, six were auctioned in three states and revenue of Rs 18,146 crore generated. He said similar notices for 42 more mines will be out in the second stage and the figure will soon touch 100.

With the transfer... suppose, if one industry is sick, (if not transferred), then it will lead to unemployment, the local economy will be hit, Tomar said.

The MMDR Act, passed by Parliament in March last year, only allowed transfer of mines acquired through auction. The mines ministry had later sought views from the public, states and industry on amending the law.
Union minister and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi sought the expulsion of the partys Uttarakhand MLA Ganesh Joshi who broke the leg of a police horse on Monday, drawing widespread condemnation after photos and videos of him swinging a stick at the animal went viral.

The entire BJP has come into disrepute because of this one mans actions. He should be expelled from the party without delay, the Women and Child Development minister said in a statement issued from New York where she is attending the United Nations meet on Womens Economic Empowerment.

Maneka is the chairperson of animal rights group People For Animals (PFA), which also lodged a formal complaint with the Uttarakhand police on Tuesday.

Joshi, however, found support from his party colleagues in Uttarakhand where the state assembly saw attempts at uproar for the second consecutive day on Wednesday.

Haridwar MLA Mandan Kaushik demanded from the speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal that the FIR registered Joshi be taken up for discussion by the house under rule 310 of house proceedings. Kaushik said that a case was filed against the BJP MLA on false charges and with intention to malign his image. This needs immediate attention of the house and as per our notification that discussion must be held under rule 310 said Kaushik who was also supported by his party colleagues Sanjay Gupta, Harbhajan Singh Cheema and Rajesh Shukla.
Rare family photographs, supposedly of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, tumbled out of two boxes owned by Gumnami Baba which were reopened in compliance with an Allahabad high court order in Faizabad.

The finding on Tuesday deepened the mystery about the personality of Gumnami Baba, who many believe was Bose in disguise. These boxes were earlier examined by the Justice MK Mukherjee Commission during 2001-06.

Besides photos, the boxes had hundreds of letters and books related to the Indian freedom movement and war affairs. The items were kept locked at the Faizabad treasury.

Officials started listing them on February 26 this year in compliance with the high court order of January 31, 2013, in order to keep Gumnami Babas belongings in the Ram Katha Sangrahalaya (Museum), Ayodhya, for public display. An inventory of the last two boxes is being prepared by an administrative committee that the Faizabad district magistrate has constituted.

A book on Netaji from the stock of Gumnami Baba

The items in the two boxes include many important documents indicating Gumnami Babas association with important figures in Boses Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj, and political personalities after Independence.

There were several books related to the freedom movement of India and post-freedom topics such as India: The Critical Years by Kuldeep Nayar, India China War by Naville Maxwell, India Wins Freedom by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Netaji and Bangabandhu by Samar Guha, Netaji through German Lens by Nanda Mukerjee, an acknowledgement of a registered post sent to Abdul Ghani Khan Chaudhary on July 7, 1980, a paper cutting of Sandesh Hindi News paper of June 11, 1947 describing the search operation of Indian and British army for Netajis treasure, a written note in Bangla to Devendra Sen .

A diagram of World War II fighter plane (HT Photo)

The note says, Had the incidents between Haripura and Wellington not taken place, the direction of life would have been different. There is also a paper cutting depicting the meeting of Netaji and Hitler with a photograph.

One of these photographs of Netajis childhood shows his parents Jankinath Bose and Prabhawati, says Shakti Singh, a BJP leader and member of the administrative committee.

A handmade map (HT Photo)

Other items include maps of India dated 1949 and 1972, including several handmade versions. There is also a map of Bangladesh and a labelled diagram of a World War II fighter plane. It is anticipated that other maps are related to the places where Baba used to stay for a long time. This assumption is supported by a map of Ayodhya showing the spots of Gurudwara Brahmkund and Lucknowa Hata. These are the places in Ayodhya where Baba spent a few months before shifting to Ram Bhawan near Faizabad bus station.

A paper cutting, displaying the snapshot of Netaji and Hitler (HT Photo)

Several letters from 1972 sent by the second RSS chief, Guru Golwalkar, to Baba shows his affinity with the Hindu right-wing organisation. In these letters, the RSS chief addressed the Baba as Vijayanand Maharaj. The box also has a handwritten document showing genealogy (family tree) of the INAs secret service chief, Pavitra Mohan Rai, along with other letters, written by Rai. In addition, it consists of a copy of a dissenting report by Suresh Chandra Bose, one of Netajis brothers. This was the document submitted by Suresh Bose when he disagreed with the findings of the Shah Nawaz Commission that was constituted by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to reveal the facts about Netajis yet-to-established death in a plane crash.

Shakti Singh, the owner of Ram Bhawan where the Baba spent the last years of his life, has demanded that the government disclose the Babas identity.
Pushp Sharma, a journalist who broke a story about the Ayush ministry allegedly admitting to a no-Muslim policy for hiring yoga trainers, said on Wednesday the Centre was targeting him to contain the damage to its avowed secular image.

Read more: Journalist alleges abuse by cops over report on no-Muslim hire policy

Police picked up Sharma on Tuesday evening for questioning after the ministry of Ayush -- Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy  filed a complaint, saying he fabricated a Right to Information reply from the Centre that admitted the anti-Muslim bias.

They cant politically accept they dont recruit Muslims as yoga trainers as they have to portray a secular image, but if you file an RTI and ask for numbers, there are no numbers to show, Sharma told HT.

Read more: No-Muslims policy: Journalist picked up over fake RTI reply

The police have registered a case of forgery against Sharma, who is to be questioned for a second time on Wednesday.

A freelance journalist, Sharma published a story in the Milli Gazette -- Indias oldest Muslim community journal  based on a ministry RTI reply that allegedly said none of the 3481 Muslim candidates who applied for a yoga trainers job was invited, selected or sent abroad as per per government policy

The story that was widely picked up by mainstream media triggered an avalanche of condemnation on social media with opposition parties holding it up as yet another example of the NDA regimes intolerance. This prompted the ministry to dismiss the report and deny it ever issued the RTI reply.

But Sharma told HT he stood by his story and had all documents to prove his innocence that he will submit to the police.

I have another yoga fraud story in the pipeline from the tourism ministry that will further expose this issue. Today I am going to the police with all the documents- there are postal envelopes in which I got the replies and detailed replies, said Sharma, as he drove to the Kotla Mubarakpur police station.

The journalist said someone in the ministry made a mistake, for which he was being targeted.

I have five documents with me where my qualification has been printed wrong. What do you say to that? I dont know who made the mistake whether a clerk or an IAS officer in the ministry but clearly there is something missing from their side, he said.

The 45-year-old said he worked as an investigative journalist in prominent papers and news channels in Delhi for over eight years. When asked a 2009 arrest for an alleged fake sting, Sharma said the case was still on and he hadnt been proven guilty yet.

In that case also I had submitted all the CDs to the police, proving my innocence. I was hired by a prominent paper known for its investigative stories after that sting story, but still I was arrested. I am an international award winning journalist, and will not go anywhere. They have some negative designs and I will fight, he said.

In an elaborate statement hours after the Milli Gazette report, the ministry had called the details factually incorrect with minister Sripad Naik dubbing the story bogus.

The contents regarding religion based data in the so-called Annexure- I are not only fabricated but factually incorrect also. The response of the International Cooperation Section of the Ministry clearly said that invitations were sent to yoga experts/enthusiasts without reference to their religion. The Ministry is initiating appropriate action in the matter, read the official statement from the ministry.

The contents regarding religion based data in the so-called Annexure- I are not only fabricated but factually incorrect also. The response of the International Cooperation Section of the Ministry clearly said that invitations were sent to yoga experts/enthusiasts without reference to their religion. The Ministry is initiating appropriate action in the matter, read the official statement from the ministry.

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Intelligence agencies and Gujarat police have dismissed purported home ministry official claims that three of 10 terrorists having infiltrated from Pakistan were killed in a western state on the basis of a March 5 tip-off by Pakistani national security adviser Naseer Janjua to his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.

Nine men initially suspected by investigators to be part of those infiltrators as they left behind suspicious articles at two Gujarat guest houses later turned out to be ATM thieves from Jharkhand.

The agencies maintain that not one of the so-called 10 terrorists has either been traced or eliminated even as border states are on alert. There has been no communication intercept or physical clue of any large-scale cross-border infiltration by jihadists belonging to either the Jaish-e-Mohammed or the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

On March 5 afternoon, Janjua called up Doval to share a disturbing input that 10 terrorists belonging to banned outfits had crossed over to India through the Gujarat border a day or two before. The input was taken up on priority, with Doval and intelligence agency chiefs working through the night to deploy 150 NSG commandos with two Mi-17 helicopters at their disposal in Gujarat.

Read: Could rare Pak alert open door for greater counter-terror cooperation?

As there was no trace of the 10 terrorists, all iconic buildings and previously identified Lashkar-e-Taiba targets in Mumbai, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh were placed on alert.

On March 15, Indian TV channels quoting a top home ministry official said three of the 10 terrorists had been eliminated somewhere in the western states. The leak giving credence to the Pakistani NSAs input came on the eve of an Indo-Pak foreign ministers meeting on the sidelines of a SAARC ministerial.

Investigations conducted by Hindustan Times revealed that following a high alert being sounded in Gujarat, nine men were found to be missing from two guest houses in Bhuj, Swagat and Sagaar, on March 5 and a nationwide manhunt was launched. The men had fled the guest houses without paying the rent or providing any forwarding address.

Counter-terror operatives along with the Bhuj police broke into the rooms occupied by the nine men and found suspicious equipment such as an acetylene gas cylinder and a gas cutter. Fearing the worst, the agencies under instructions from Delhi traced the whereabouts of these men through an identity card and mobile numbers.

The men were identified as Nadeem Naseem Siddiqi, Jayalu Majid Sheikh, Jamil Akhtar, Anarul Imtiaz Sheikh, Shahnawaz M Ansari, Mohammad Minarul Sheikh and Kabir Jadir Sheikh. Hailing from Pakur district in Jharkhand, all of them were absconders.

A team of Kutch police visited Pakur district and investigations have so far revealed that they were ATM thieves. Their modus operandi was to hijack the entire ATM machine and then use a gas cutter to recover money, Gujarat border range inspector general AK Jadeja told Hindustan Times on Wednesday.

Jadeja said following confirmation of their identities by Jharkhand police, prima facie it was ruled out that they were the suspected 10 militants who had entered Gujarat to carry out a 26/11-like attack. Bhuj police said all nine were also arrested by Arnala police of Palgarh district in September 2015 in connection with ATM theft.

One group had arrived in Bhuj on February 29 and another on March 3. They also had been to tourist places like Mandvi beach and had done camel riding for recreation. We are doing investigation if they were involved in any of the ATM thefts reported in the state, police said.

While the border states continue to be on alert on the basis of Janjuas input, intelligence agencies believe that in case a terror attack were to happen, the Pakistani government could deny its complicity and cite the fact that it had already alerted Indian authorities.
Government has banned common household medicines Crocin Cold and Flu, D-Cold Total, Sumo, Oflox, Gastrogyl, Chericof, Nimulid, Kofnil, Dolo Cold, Decoff, O2, paediatric syrup T-98 and TedyKoff, as part of its decision to stop the manufacture and sale of fixed dose combination drugs (FDCs).

A fixed dose combination contains two or more drugs combined in a fixed ratio of doses, available in a single dosage form. The health ministry, had, in a notification on March 12, banned nearly 350 FDCs with immediate effect, following recommendations of an expert committee formed to examine the efficacy of these drug combinations.

Read more: Dabur Honitus, Patanjali cough syrup may gain from govt drug ban

According to research firm AIOCD AWACS, the top five therapeutic categories to be impacted include anti-diabetic drugs, respiratory drugs, analgesics, anti-infective and gastro-intestinal drugs. Government has banned few critical drugs without giving a fair chance to industry. Taking such medicines off the shelf will surprise the consumer and the doctor said R.C Juneja, CEO of Mankind Pharma, which manufactures popular paediatric syrup T-98 and TedyKoff.

Read more: India may ban 400 more drugs after crackdown on Vicks 500, Corex

Market estimates reveal that the ban impacts over 2700 medicine brands. While Abbott Healthcare will be worst hit, with an annual loss of Rs 485 crore, other companies including Lupin, Sun Pharma, Glenmark, Wockhardt, Aristo and Intas would also bear the brunt.

Read more: Not just Vicks 500 and Corex: India has banned 344 drugs

While doctors say they are confused over the implementation of the ban, they plan on sticking to single formulation drugs instead of multiple combinations. The ban is on combination drugs. Hence we need to stick to single drug and not combos, said Anoop Misra, chairman, Fortis CDOC Hospital for Diabetes and Allied Sciences.

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Finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday that the Aadhaar Bill passed by the Lok Sabha last week has laid down strict measures to protect the privacy of citizens.

Social activists have criticised the Centre, saying the proposed legislation may be misused for mass surveillance.

Around 980 million citizens have been enrolled for the 12-digit biometric unique identification number called Aadhaar, a scheme conceived in 2009. By the end of 2016, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) aims to enrol all eligible 1.1 billion residents.

The previous UPA government had also brought a legislation on Aadhaar. In that bill, the purpose of the personal data and biometrics information collected through the exercise was not defined, Jaitley said while introducing the bill in the Rajya Sabha.

Compared to the UPA bill, the proposed law lays down a very strict procedure, the privacy law is much more tightened, he said.

Read: App ka Aadhaar: The new face of identification in India

The Aadhaar programme relies on biometrics, considered the best way to establish a unique identity. It uses the combination of fingerprints and retina scans, and accounts for situations where a resident may not have hands or eyes.

The new bill places restrictions on when and how the UIDAI can share data and notes that the biometric information - fingerprint and iris scans - will not be shared with anyone.

But the legislation gives the government sweeping powers to access the data for efficient, transparent and targeted delivery of subsidies, benefits and services, raising suspicions that the database could be used for surveillance.

Read: Aadhaar Bill: The NDA must not cut-and-paste UPAs bill

The Aadhaar scheme is expected to help the government deliver benefits of major central schemes to the people, and the Centre says it save thousands of crores rupees.

Both central and state governments give several subsidies to people. There are monetary assistances, cost rebates, subsidies etc. given which run into lakhs of crores of rupees. Now, these subsidies have to be quantified amounts given to identifiable sections, Jaitley said.

If subsidies are given as unquantified amounts to unidentified sections, then non-merit people will get subsidies and merit people will not get it... So, for people to get the benefit of subsidies, the production of UID or other alternative document has to be the pre-condition.

Jaitley said the UPAs bill was for the mere creation of a UID authority and that it was not a money bill, even though the Opposition has objected to the governments move of converting the Aadhaar Bill into a money bill.

The Rajya Sabha, where the government does not have the numbers, has no role in passing a money bill. Once passed by the Lok Sabha, it becomes a law even if the Upper House does not return it within 14 days.

Although the Upper House cant amend a money bill, it can recommend amendments, which can be accepted or rejected by the Lok Sabha.

In case amendments are recommended, the bill will remain pending unless the process is completed in the Lok Sabha.

Read: Aadhaar bill: For one citizen, one identity reality
The Narendra Modi-led government is set to wrap up the first part of Parliaments budget session on a high on Wednesday, salvaging a session that many feared would be a washout and passing key legislation that will touch the lives of millions.

In the 17 days that Parliament worked before breaking out for a recess on Wednesday, the government managed to get a bunch of key legislation through, most of it pending for several years.

This was no mean feat in a session that started under the shadow of a renewed intolerance debate following Hyderabad University scholar Rohith Vemulas suicide and the arrest of Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader Kanhaiya Kumar.

The bill to set up a real estate regulator to protect homebuyers from unscrupulous builders had been in the works for nearly a decade.

The Aadhaar bill, on the other hand, was drafted by the previous UPA government in 2011 but the coalition threw its hands up in despair when a parliamentary panel rejected its version.

Besides, Parliament also passed laws to develop 106 rivers across India into transport waterways and higher compensation to air travellers.

Of all the sessions of Parliament that we have had since our assumption of office in May 2014, this budget session has been the most significant and rewarding on several counts, an elated parliamentary affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu later told reporters.

The minister hinted that public opinion had played a role. Public was getting restive over the functioning of the highest legislature of the land. I am sure this has impact on the conduct of the concerned parties which ultimately is resulting into the smooth running of the house, he said.

Governments strategy

So what really worked? At first glance, it appears a realistic assessment of the pending legislation and some ingenuity did the trick with a campaign projecting the Congress as obstructionist clicking.

Rather than pitch market-friendly big-ticket legislation on which there was no consensus, the government figured it made sense to get legislation out of the way that even the Opposition would find difficult to oppose.

Real estate bill  the ploy that worked

The real estate bill is a prime example. The panel of MPs tasked to study the bill by the Rajya Sabha had given its recommendations but the government wasnt so sure if the Congress would play ball, or stall the bill on one excuse or another.

So rather than just persuade the Congress, the government let the associations of homebuyers do the talking. A meeting between representatives of these associations and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, sources said, did the trick. Gandhi promised them the Congresss support, particularly since the government had accepted the recommendations of the Rajya Sabha select committee set up on the opposition partys insistence.

Aadhaar  some ingenuity

The government figured the Aadhaar bill was going to be a different ball game altogether.

There have been privacy concerns about the bill all along, and the BJP had stalled a similar bill on one pretext or the other when the UPA proposed it. It was payback time for the Congress.

But bureaucratic ingenuity bailed the government out.

One of the eight panel of officers set up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to suggest do-able targets for the government  and show the way too  recommended converting the pending Aadhaar bill into a money bill.

A money bill is not dependent on support from the Rajya Sabha where the ruling alliance is in a minority. This meant once the bill was passed by the Lok Sabha, it was as good as a done deal.

Congress didnt want to be seen as obstructionist

A series of blistering attacks on the Congress helped put pressure on the party that ran the risk of being seen as obstructionist, rather than standing up to the government on issues that make a difference to people.

Congress leaders said there was no change in their tactics as the party never disrupted the sessions deliberately and whenever it did, the provocation came from the government.

But many leaders did argue in internal meetings that the party should try to corner the government on issues through debates and only stall those legislation that are not in public interest.

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Home minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament on Wednesday that a forensic report confirmed six attackers struck Punjabs Pathankot airbase in January, putting to rest a months-long dispute over the number of perpetrators.

While the National Security Guard (NSG) that was part of the counter-terror operation said it killed six gunmen, bodies of just four were found, triggering the controversy with ministers and security officials weighing in.

I want to inform the House that some charred remains were found (in the barracks at the airbase). A forensic report has come about them, which makes it clear that those who were hiding in the building were terrorists, said Singh while replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the deadly strike that killed seven soldiers.

Home ministry sources said scientists at the forensic laboratory in Chandigarh could not extract any DNA from the remains found at the military quarters.

The burnt mass belongs to human male. It was not possible to establish the identity of the burnt male remains, Singh quoted the report saying.

Doubts over the number of attackers had lingered as, apart from the four bodies, just four assault rifles belonging to the perpetrators were recovered from the site.

Before Rajnath Singh, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said in the Lok Sabha that security forces engaged in flushing out the attackers were shot at and targeted with grenades from the inside.

Security forces killed four of the gunmen on January 2, hours after the operation began. A second encounter took place with at least two more terrorists on the ground floor of a two-storey building known as the airmens barracks.

Airmen were evacuated from the upper floor of the structure, which was razed during the combat. Charred remains were discovered at two locations, but no body parts. The residue was sent for forensic tests.

Parrikar maintained that the army was in charge of the operation, rejecting reports of a tussle for control with the NSG and air force.

The government also said that a Rs 6.35-crore bill sent by the Centre to the Punjab government was for the deployment of central forces and was not linked to the Pathankot operation.

Minister of state for home Kiren Rijijus clarification came after Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia attacked the government over the move.
The Rashtrya Swayamsevak Sangh on Wednesday supported Indias peace talks with Pakistan and said the Centre should not give into provocation.

The RSS also ridiculed the separatists Syed Ali Geelani and Asiya Andrabi among others who have been invited by Pakistan for Pakistan Day function at its high commission in Delhi on March 23.

They (separatists) dont want us to be friendly with that country (Pakistan). We want good relations with our neighbours. We should continue on our aims and objectives rather than bothering about such silly people, Brig Suchet Singh, the regional convener of RSS Jammu and Kashmir chapter, told reporters in Jammu.

Such a provocation by inviting them should not matter. We should continue with the dialogue (Pakistan) and in a positive manner, he said

Besides Geelani and Andrabi, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik and Hurriyats moderate faction chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have also been called to attend the event, official sources said.

We should put up our point of view in a strong manner and let them (separatists) do whatever they want, Singh said.

Minister of state in Prime Ministers Office Jitendra Singh has also been invited to the function. However, sources said it is unlikely that he will attend the function.

Pakistan has been inviting separatist leaders every year to attend the Pakistan Day function.

Minister of state for external affairs VK Singh had represented the government at the Pakistan National Day reception last year.

The meetings of Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders with Pakistani establishments have always raised eyebrows here.

On August 23 last year, a controversy had erupted over the proposed meeting between Pakistans former National Security Adviser Sartaz Aziz and Hurriyat leaders ahead of NSA-level talks in India.

India had then advised Pakistan that it would not be appropriate for Aziz to meet Hurriyat representatives.

Pakistan had then called off the NSA talks between the two nations.
A Class 10 girl went into labour while heading to an examination centre at Sripur village in Dharmanagar sub-division, Tripura, on Monday.

Sources said the girl complained of severe abdominal pain to her friends, following which her mother admitted her to the Dharmanagar sub-divisional hospital. She gave birth to a baby on Tuesday morning.

Though the girls mother tried to keep the matter under wraps, local residents came to know about it. Subsequently, she lodged a complaint against Pratap Debnath, a youngster from the same village, with the Dharmanagar police.

Debnath was arrested and interrogated in this regard.

In another incident from the same area, a case was lodged against a 45-year-old man for molesting his niece  a minor studying in Class 4  during a wedding ceremony at Aalgapur village.

The accused, identified as Gobinda Debnath, is absconding.

Sources said the man allegedly lured the minor with chocolates and molested her. Later, she informed her parents, who approached the police.
It will soon be mandatory for college and university students enrolled in the National Social Service (NSS) to camp in villages and undertake social work there.

The human resource development ministry is likely to sign a memorandum of understanding with the ministry of youth affairs to involve the NSS in the implementation of its flagship programme Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) to uplift rural India.

The NSS is a large-scale community service programme meant for the youth to engage with social problems and is run by universities across the country. Delhi University, for instance, took up the programme in 1969. The number of hours that students will have to spend in rural areas will be finalised soon.

Association with the NSS is not only a welcome step but an essential one towards a strong Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, said Vijay P Bhatkar, architect of Indias first supercomputer and chairman of the UBA committee.

It is not mandatory for NSS volunteers at present to undertake work in rural areas. According to HRD ministry officials, NSS units in colleges and universities will be involved in village surveys, planning and other activities.

There are a number of universities that are either in rural areas or are close to villages. Their students will be taken first for providing help to the UBA. Universities that are in urban areas and have small hamlets in the outskirts can work there, a senior ministry official said.

One NSS unit in a college has roughly 100 volunteers and each is supposed to dedicate 120 hours for social work in a year. There are a total of 38,000 NSS units in the country. Thematic issues such as village planning, resource mapping, water, irrigation, and infrastructure improvement will be taken up for intervention by a group of 10-15 volunteers of an NSS unit that will camp in villages.

As part of the NSS we do teach at blind schools and work for NGOs. It is a good move to involve the youth in our villages. But transportation and lodging will have to be taken care of by the government, said Anushree Dutta, a Delhi University student.

The first phase of the UBA programme in selected districts is likely to be launched on Independence Day. A training kit will be prepared for UBA activities by mentoring institutes under the guidance of IIT Delhi. Districts are being selected while work on identification of NSS units will be over by April and training kits prepared by June.

Officials said 44 institutions and 89 districts had been identified for UBA implementation in the initial stage.

The UBA was launched by the ministry to enable higher educational institutions to work with rural people in identifying development challenges and creating solutions for accelerating sustainable growth.

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External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj is scheduled to meet Pakistans foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz on the sidelines of a meeting of SAARC foreign ministers in the Nepalese resort town of Pokhara on Thursday.

Swaraj flew to Pokhara, 200 km northwest of Kathmandu, on Wednesday afternoon in a Mi-17 helicopter via Gorakhpur, and was welcomed by Nepals deputy prime minister Kamal Thapa.

Swaraj and her counterparts from SAARC countries will take part in Thursdays meeting to discuss progress made on plans prepared at the last summit of the regional body at Kathmandu in 2014.

She is also scheduled to meet Aziz, the foreign affairs adviser of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on the margins of the meeting.

We are preparing groundwork for the meeting by consulting with the Pakistani side and Swaraj and Aziz are to hold talks after the meeting of the foreign ministers, a senior Indian diplomat told Hindustan Times.

Besides discussing bilateral issues, Aziz will hand over an invitation from Sharif for the 19th SAARC summit to be held in Islamabad later this year.

Aziz, who too reached Pokhara on Wednesday, told reporters that he will discuss all issues with Swaraj. He hoped that the meeting would go well.

Foreign secretaries of all SAARC states on Wednesday discussed ways to implement plans to improve connectivity, counter terrorism, and other issues.

Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry exchanged pleasantries on Tuesday on the sidelines of the formal meeting.

There were no structured or formal talks, but they interacted during the event and also exchanged pleasantries, he said.

This is the first time Jaishankar and Chaudhry came face to face since planned talks between the foreign secretaries were cancelled after the terrorist attack on Pathankot airbase in January.

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External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistans foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz met on Wednesday during a dinner hosted by Nepals Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli ahead of a meeting of SAARC foreign ministers at Pokhara.

The two exchanged pleasantries and sat next to each other during the dinner in the resort town located 200 km northwest of the capital Kathmandu.

Footage on television showed Swaraj and Aziz shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries. They then sat next to each other and spoke for some time.

Foreign secretary S Jaishankar sat with his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry at another table nearby.

Swaraj and Aziz reached Pokhara on Wednesday afternoon.

A formal meeting between Swaraj and Aziz is scheduled for Thursday after the conclusion of the SAARC meeting. The foreign ministers of the grouping will discuss progress made since the last SAARC summit held at Kathmandu in 2014.

WATCH: EAM Sushma Swaraj interacts with Sartaj Aziz (Advisor to Pak PM on Foreign Affairs) in Pokhara, Nepal.https://t.co/JCLGZAl24k  ANI (@ANI_news) March 16, 2016

The meeting between the external affairs minister and Aziz will take place on Thursday, soon after the SAARC meet, a senior Indian diplomat present at the venue told Hindustan Times.

Besides discussing bilateral issues, Aziz will hand over an invitation from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the next SAARC summit to be held in Islamabad later this year.

Aziz told reporters on his arrival in Pokhara that he would discuss all issues with Swaraj.

Swaraj flew from Gorakhpur to Pokhara in a Mi-17 helicopter and was welcomed by Nepals deputy prime minister Kamal Thapa.

Foreign secretaries of the SAARC states held discussions on Wednesday on ways to implement plans to improve connectivity and counter terrorism, as well as other issues.

Jaishankar and Chaudhry had exchanged pleasantries on the sidelines of a meeting on Tuesday. There were no structured or formal talks, but they interacted during the event and also exchanged pleasantries, a diplomat said.

This was the first time Jaishankar and Chaudhry came face to face since a planned meeting of the foreign secretaries was cancelled after the terrorist attack on Pathankot airbase, which was blamed on Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed.

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Congress president Sonia Gandhi left the party red-faced on Wednesday when she charged the UPA government, instead of the NDA, of not pushing forward the special status for Andhra Pradesh.

The party chief was reportedly addressing party representatives from Andhra Pradesh at the Congress headquarters, a day after the party pulled up the ruling BJP in the Rajya Sabha for not holding good on a government promise.

WATCH: Almost two years have passed, we have seen nothing,no effort from 'UPA Govt' says Sonia Gandhihttps://t.co/G4lyMfUuwy  ANI (@ANI_news) March 16, 2016

Almost two years have passed, we have seen nothing, no effort at all is being made by the UPA government, Gandhi said while addressing the audience, before criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not meeting representatives of the state.

I believe that you have also asked the Prime Minister for an appointment he seems to be scared even to meet you, she said to the audience where Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was also present.

The state of Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh during the Congress-led UPA II in 2014. Given the revenue loss, the government announced a five-year special status for Andhra, along with tax concessions. However, the status has yet to be implemented.
Richa Singh, sitting in the Allahabad University Students Union office, is rattled, but determined.

Three years after she began her doctoral course in globalisation and development studies, the university is investigating the validity of her admission.

The complaint -- she was admitted in defiance of reservation norms as only two general caste candidates were taken in. Her departments defence is that when there are less than four seats, these norms need not apply under legal opinion sought at the time. The university set up a committee that indicated there was a procedural flaw, and has now set up an even bigger committee to investigate the case further.

But no one in Allahabads political circles believes this is an innocuous, regular bureaucratic process, for Singh is the president of the students union.

This is not the first time that the first elected woman president of the university in its 128-year history -- and the face of anti-ABVP politics in Allahabad -- is facing a challenge on.

Richa Singhs story is an illustration of the rise of independent women voices in UPs universities, how they are navigating gender and caste in the current context, and also the limitations of operating without a party umbrella.

The rise of critical voices

Singh won the AUSU election as an independent candidate, albeit with the support of the Samajwadi Partys student wing as its candidate was disqualified at the last minute.

In the solely caste and muscle-dominated politics of east UP, her campaign came as a whiff of fresh air.

I raised issues of students who are not affiliated to parties and interested in academic work, of women who face a range of issues here, and Dalits whose voice is barely audible in the Brahman-Thakur-OBC dominant politics of universities. Till then, politics revolved around a group that was primarily anti-reservation and catered to students aspiring for civil services; SPs Samajwadi Chatra Sabha which relied on OBCs; and ABVP with its base of predominantly upper castes.

Singh represents a new constituency -- of women students in UP, who are acutely conscious of gender politics, who are not ideology-bound but have strong beliefs. This is particularly striking in a political context where dominant opinion is conformist. Take the issue around Kanhaiya Kumar in JNU.

Outside the Hindi department in Lucknow University, Sarita and Sukrit were reading a book. We asked them about their views on JNU. The government should try to understand why is someone saying something instead of locking them and beating them. In the case of Kanhaiya, there was no enquiry. Government should have thought more.

But what about the anti national slogans?

If anyone is mouthing slogans, it is ok. Even in US, it is allowed. Gandhi also said what is freedom if you are not free to make mistakes. The students said they had held a discussion on the issue and posted their views on the notice board in the department. They had been, they proudly said, influenced by their teacher, Ravikant, in the department.

It is early evening, and deep inside Banaras Hindu University campus, students are chatting in small groups over chai and samosa. Bells ring in a nearby temple.

We meet a group of five women students -- three from Bihar, one from UP and one from Jharkhand - in the final semester of their mass communication and journalism course.

They all feel that the government is intervening excessively in universities and cite as proof the appointment of a pro-BJP man as the vice chancellor at BHU. They also label him anti-women for seeking to regulate the movement of women students and impose curfews rather than provide security and freedom.

The students said there were many anti-JNU marches in the campus, and express their disagreement with it. But they are also skeptical of Kanhaiyas performance and opportunism in using the media after his release.

A student, Priyanka Singh, said a lot of the confusion and controversy is because of the media. The media has been an utter failure this time. It has tampered with videos; it has judged and not given us facts; it has relied on rumours. Do they still want to work in the media after finishing their course? A debate breaks out with two students saying they would like to join and make a change from within, while one says that there is no hope for reform.

Richas travails

It is precisely this assertion of women and of critical voices which is causing a disruption in established set-ups. Richa Singh and her travails symbolise that.

Her battles within the university began soon after taking over. Four other elected members of the union are from the ABVP. They unilaterally invited Mahant Adityanath, the rabid Gorakhpur MP, to inaugurate the union. Singh objected and said she would not allow it.

But should she not have given him space in the spirit of allowing different voices? This was not about free speech. He wasnt going to be here to give a lecture but inaugurate the student union, which is of thousands of students. At least, such a person should not be communal and anti-women. And the president has always had a say in determining who inaugurates. The ABVP threatened her. Singh claims they told her, in the presence of the VC, We will throw you out of the city. What will you do?

Adityanath could not come. The local administration backed Singh in the process, giving an early glimpse of how perhaps SPs state government saw an ally in the AUSU president.

In turn, ABVP decided it would not allow Richa Singh to organise a talk -- for which the university had given approval, with the VC himself agreeing to chair it -- by senior journalist Siddharth Varadarajan. The university backtracked; the event was held outside the campus premises; and when Varadarajan went to pay a visit to the VC, he was surrounded by ABVP cadres and faced belligerence and aggression.

When asked about the universitys stance, and backtracking at the cost of limiting freedom, its spokesperson, K N Uttam said, Our priority is the safety and security of our students, our faculty, the campus property, and residents around the university. If there is a possible threat to law and order, we cannot take a risk.

For Singh though, the incident was further proof of how the university administration is pliable to ABVP pressure. She has, by now, received five notices -- including one for defamation because she highlighted how key university officials are facing charges of sexual harassment and Dalit atrocities.

Singh sees all this as a deliberate attack because as a woman she has dared enter what was an exclusive male bastion.  They are harassing me mentally. They dont like the fact that a woman is asking so many questions in the university, is expressing solidarity with other movements. When women students protest, there is abuse and sexual taunts. The idea, as she sees it, is to discourage other women from entering this space at all.

In the process, Singh has spoken out on justice for Rohith Vemula and joined the march to Parliament. She has also come to be seen as close to the SP government -- an impression buttressed because the state government recently honoured her.

When asked about the association, she says, There are governments which are calling us anti-national and there are governments which are supporting us. And what about the fact that SP is deeply illiberal when it comes to gender? She smiled and says, We have to change all parties. She points out that MPs from across party lines, and even Mayawati recently came out in support. Right now, it is an anti-ABVP alliance.

Singh feels the big game-changer in student movements is social media and the fact it has enabled people to come together, exchange information and notes. From IIT to FTII to Hyderabad to JNU to Allahabad, people can connect. The other change is that students are now more vocal. BJP should remember youth stands with you quickly, but can leave you quickly too.

Whether they stay or leave, what is clear is that UPs women students are watching government actions closely. The young female voter cannot be taken for granted anymore.

(Views expressed are personal)

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A mother of four committed suicide on Monday night after a caste panchayat at a Madhya Pradesh village issued a diktat aimed at punishing her for allegedly having extra-marital relations with a Dalit man.

The body of the woman, 36- year- old Laxmi Pal ( name changed to protect identity), was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her residence in Bajarua Khari village, Tikamgarh district. She reportedly took the extreme step while her husband, Rakesh, was holding a liquor party outside the house at the behest of the caste panchayat.

Village elders from the caste panchayat instructed Laxmi and her family to perform several tasks  including paying a fine of Rs 5,000, bathing in the Ganga river, and holding a liquor party for around 30 residents of the village  to atone for her sin. Besides this, Laxmi was also told to roll all the way to the Kundeshwar Shiva temple, located 12km from the village, to obtain forgiveness.

Sources said it all began when a few villagers accused Laxmi of entering into an illicit relationship with Rakeshs co-worker, a Dalit youth from another village in the district.

A fortnight ago, she and her family were not invited to a wedding held at the house of another villager, Dhaniram Pal, because they believed she was tainted. Affronted, the family raised the matter before elders of the Pal community, and a meeting of the caste panchayat was conducted on Monday. BJP picks Bhaskar Sharma for Margherita seat in eastern Assam, Congress rakes up alleged secret killing by the former ULFA member.
The defence advocate in 26/11 terror attack case has sought that Tawahur Hussain Rana, the Pakistani-Canadian businessman, and Shazia Gilani, David Coleman Headleys wife, be made accused in the case for aiding and abetting the Lashkar-e-Taiba operative.

Headley is scheduled to be cross examined through video-conferencing in connection with the terror attacks from March 22 to 25 by the advocate of Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, one of the handlers, before the sessions judge Govind A Sanap.

Relying on the deposition of Headley recorded by the court from February 8 to 13, advocate for Ansari, Wahab Khan, on Wednesday, moved an application pleading that Rana and Gilani too should be made accused in the case.

Wahab said Rana had helped Headley in his task of gathering intelligence and conducted a recce at the behest of ISI officials major Sameer Ali and major Iqbal before the 26/11 terror attacks. He said Gilani had intentionally suppressed information about Headleys activities.

Headley, in his deposition, said that he had visited Mumbai on several occasion and was in touch with Rana. He had also stated that, on the instructions of his handlers and Rana, he opened an immigration and travel office, First World, owned by Rana.

The court is now scheduled to hear the application on Thursday.

It is alleged that Headley had played the role of key conspirator along with his other partner Pakistan-born businessman Rana. Rana was convicted US District Judge for providing material support to the Lashkar-e-Taiba but was acquitted from the charge of helping to plot the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Three out of every ten deaths in India are a result of living in a polluted environment, according to new estimates from the World Health Organisation (WHO). The agency estimated that 2.9 lakh Indians died of infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases and injuries that can be attributed to environmental pollution in 2012.

India, with 30% of its deaths caused by environmental factors, fared only marginally better than Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (North Korea) where 31% deaths were related to environment conditions. In contrast, only 10% of deaths in developed countries like Sweden and New Zealand were linked to environmental pollution

The report looked at pollution of air, water, soil and exposure to second-hand smoke because of tobacco. It also studied the effects of noise pollution and electromagnetic fields on deaths of healthy individuals.

Experts said that considering Indias population, it will record the most number of deaths as a result of environmental degradation compared to other countries in South-East Asia region. In the region, after India, Indonesia has the second highest burden of deaths attributed to environmental pollution. Doctors in Mumbai said that more studies are needed to understand the connection between environmental pollution and deaths. Any two areas in Mumbai are not identical when it comes to exposure to environmental pollutants. We need to compare Colaba and Chembur to understand the way pollution affects people with existing medical conditions such as diabetes and cardiac diseases, said Dr Rohini Chowghule, Indian Institute of Environmental Medicine.
All chikki samples collected and sent for testing in centrally-approved laboratories were found fit for consumption, said women and child development minister Pankaja Munde on Wednesday, giving a clean chit to her department in the alleged Rs206-crore chikki scam. The conclusive report has come from the Referral Food Laboratory of Ghaziabad, considered to be a final word on quality control as per food safety law, 2011.

Congress legislator Amin Patel asked whether Mundes department had admitted through an affidavit filed in the high court that the chikki submitted to tribal schools in four districts - Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Amravati and Nandurbar - was not fit for human consumption and what action had been taken by the government against the guilty contractor.

Munde refuted this, saying no such information had been put in the affidavit. We got only complaint of one of the chikki samples not being edible in Ahmednagar district. The distribution of the chikki was stopped immediately, even before it could be consumed. We also stopped payment to the contractor, said Munde. The chikkis were among the dry snacks distributed to tribal children from 14 districts.

Munde said while an initial lab report from a state-recognised laboratory in Pune had said the samples were not edible, the distributing agency had sought an appeal and the samples had been sent to the referral laboratory in Ghaziabad. The lab report had said the samples were edible, but two out of the three samples sent had not been labelled and branded properly. The minister also said following the controversy, the department had got 12 lab reports that had given a clean chit to the chikki.

However, the Opposition refused to accept this as a valid answer. The minister also got on the wrong foot by making some remarks against Opposition legislators, which were later expunged from the records.

The Congress has been aggressive on the chikki scam and has filed a complaint with the ACB, pointing out Mundes department handed out contracts worth Rs206 crore for chikkis, water filters, carpets for anganwadis on a single day without awarding tenders.

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The Dalit vote bank in Punjab came into sharp focus on Tuesday as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal sought to appropriate the legacy of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshi Ram with a visit to his birthplace in Rupnagar around noon.

In neighbouring SBS Nagar (Nawanshahr), speaking around two hours later at a rally held to mark Kanshi Rams birth anniversary, BSP supremo Mayawati appeared unfazed and declared that her party would have no alliance with any party for the assembly elections due early next year. Both leaders sought the Bharat Ratna for Kanshi Ram.

It also took personal turns as Kejriwal addressed his host, Kanshi Rams sister Swaran Kaur, as bhua (fathers sister), while Mayawati underlined that he is an upper caste Bania who has always worked against the Dalits. She said the people do not want to give further chance to the Congress, SAD and BJP, adding that Punjab had always seen a chief minister belonging to the upper castes.

In his address at PirthipurBunga Sahib village in Rupnagar, Kejriwal said that only the AAP can provide equal opportunity, rights and political share to the Dalits. Later, Kejriwal also visited Dera Sachkhand Ballan, headquarters of the Ravidassia Dalit sect, near Jalandhar, and another Balmiki community dera nearby.

Mayawati said the AAP convener was repeatedly visiting Punjab to use the weaker sections to realise his political ambitions.

Dalits constitute 32% of Punjabs population, proportion-wise the highest among all states.
A spurned teenaged lover threw acid on a girl and her four friends at Dera Baba Nanak on Wednesday.

While four girls escaped with minor burns, the one, who had turned down the boys advances, was rushed to an Amritsar hospital with serious burn injuries.

Police said around 3.30pm, the 18-year-old accused, along with his friend, started following the group of girls, all class VIII students of government high school, Singhpura, on a motorbike. The girls were returning home after their exam.

When the girl, whom the accused used to stalk, confronted him and asked as to why he was following her, the boy threw acid on her face. In the attack, her friends were also injured.

The girls were rushed to the Dera Baba Nanak civil hospital from where one of the girls was referred to Amritsar.

Batala senior superintendent of police (SSP) Daljinder Singh said: Teams have been formed to nab the accused. We are questioning his friends. He will be arrested soon.

Sources said the boy used to repeatedly trouble the girl, who had even narrated her plight to her family. The girls grandfather had recently scolded the boy who, in turn, vowed to take revenge on the girl.

The accused, a class-10 of the same school, was recently rusticated by the principal for nefarious activities.

Before being rusticated, he was severally reprimanded by the principal, who told him to stay away from the school premises.
Having failed to attract passengers from Bathinda alone, the Delhi-Bathinda Shatabdi Express train has now been extended to Ferozepur Cantonment from July 10. Earlier, the railways had hinted at discontinuation of the train due to its low occupancy, at less than 40%

Union minister for food processing industries and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, however, has said that Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu has given the nod for extension of the train, which would boost railway connectivity in the Malwa region.

The train would run twice a week, on Monday and Friday, at 4am from Ferozepur, and would return from New Delhi at 4:20am the next day. Three additional stoppages have been provided too  at Tohana in Haryana, and Kotkapura and Faridkot in Punjab, according to Harsimrat.

The residents had been demanding changes in its timings, besides increasing the frequency. At present the Shabatdi runs on Saturdays and Mondays, starting its journey to Delhi at 4.20pm.

She also divulged that experimental stoppage of the Kalka-Barmer Express at Bhucho station has also been granted.

It may be mentioned that fearing closure of this Shatabdi, Harsimrat had approached senior officials in the railway ministry, insisting on reforms so that the seat occupancy could be increased.
Unfazed by the flurry of failures that have consistently hit the Indo-Pak ties, filmmakers from both countries will use cinema as a major connect to revive the lost camaraderie.

In a first-of-its-kind effort, filmmakers from both countries have made 12 short feature films that will release this year on Independence Day of the two countries.

A Pakistani delegation of filmmakers that arrived at Attari on Tuesday and was received by their Indian counterparts stressed that cinema could play a pivotal role in bringing people closer. Indian filmmakers said it is unfortunate that Indians are deprived of seeing Pakistani films, and neither are the filmmakers allowed to go across the border to work. They said politicians from both countries had failed and now it is cinema and culture that could be a great unifier.

Reaching Sarhad, a restaurant near the border, the Pakistani and Indian filmmakers, who are in Amritsar to attend the 12th edition of SAANJH, the Amritsar-Lahore peace festival, talked about the peace initiative Zeal for Unity that has brought them together for an interactive session and cultural dialogue.

The Indian filmmakers included Ketan Mehta, Aparna Sen, Nikkhil Advani, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Tanuja Chandra and Bejoy Nambiar. Khalid Ahmed, Meenu Farjad, Mehreen Jabbar, Sabiha Sumar, Shahbaz Sumar and Siraj ul Haque represented Pakistan.

Advani said, Indians do not have access to Pakistani films; neither are Pakistani directors allowed to work in India. These boundaries must break. I feel the Indian government must allow the release of Pakistani films in India.

Dhulia said, The mistakes committed by our bureaucrats in the past should not be repeated. I feel my 50-minute-long film will be an apology to whatever has happened between the two countries in the past. It is high time both countries take cinema to a different level. Pakistani actors, filmmakers and aspirants must be allowed into India to flourish and vice-versa.

Aparna Sen said, We must not depend on political measures; it has to be a cohesive effort of civil society to bring the countries close. Cinema is a non-political platform and can establish a great sense of trust and bonhomie between people. Border lines must not be a restriction for artistes.

Pakistani filmmaker Siraj-ul-Haque said, Stories depicted through films give positive vibes whereas the news is negative. So a lot of thrust must be given to promotion of cinema at both places. Today, I dont find any difference standing in India and feel I am a filmmaker because I have always been motivated by films in India.

Ketan Mehta said cinema is a global medium, so India and Pakistan should embrace each other with its help.

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As the division of opinion over the economically weaker section (EWS) reservation in local minority schools continues between the UT and National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI), the minority body has called the Chandigarh director school education (DSE) to Delhi on March 22 after receiving complaints from two schools.

In two separate letters addressed to the UT administrative official, the minority commission had cited a clear violation of norms set by the minority commission, addressing the issues raised by St Kabir Public School, Sector 26, and New Public School, Sector 18.

DSE Rubinderjit Singh Brar said, I have not read the complete letter. We will address the issue.

In case of St Kabir Public School, the school authorities had raised an issue in February, post the regional conference of the NCMEI was held on February 26, about how the UT education department and estate office were repetitively issuing instructions to the said school to reserve seats. The school, which had applied for the minority status in 2012, and got the certificate in hand from the national minority commission, in 2014, maintained its stand that since the Right to Education (RTE) did not apply to minority institutes, they were not liable to reserve any seats be it economically weaker section or any other category, as was being instructed by the UT under the Lad Allotment Scheme.

Confirming the latest development, Gurpreet Bakshi, administrator, St Kabir Public School, said, As the affected party in this case, we have received a letter from the commission in this regard. We will be heading to Delhi to see what comes out of it, so that this doesnt keep coming up again and again.

In the case of New Public School, school principal RD Singh, who was concerned over the lack of reimbursement by the UT education department over the reservation of EWS seats, had written to the then director public instructions (DPI) in May 2015. Replying to which, the then DPI, Kamlesh Kumar, asked the principal as to under which clause was it cited that the school should be reimbursed for reserving EWS seats.

This was when Singh decided to take up the matter with senior authorities. He finally submitted a representation with members of the NCMEI on February 26 during their visit to Chandigarh. Reacting to the same, the minority commission had written to the current director school education, again, citing, violation of the minority rights and to address and resolve the issue amicably on March 22 in Delhi.

Confirming that he had submitted the representation in this matter, RD Singh said he had also been called by the commission.

Sources said he was perturbed by the repetitive letters being issued by the education department to submit estimate of reimbursement amount this year, as he had already submitted the data year after year, but failed to receive any reimbursement from government.

The school had not been reimbursed for students it had enrolled under the EWS quota even prior to that. Meanwhile, Singh also said the school still continued to enroll EWS children, especially kids of the schools Class-4 employees, but had not been reimbursed for that either.

Meanwhile, sources revealed that since the DSE had some meeting scheduled in UT on March 22, he was planning to send in a written reply to the minority body or request the members to set another date.

NCMEI secretary Rita Chatterjee said, We have called the DSE to hold a discussion and resolve their issues.

There are a lot of issues cropping up in UT over minority schools, and we fear that in the nxt five years, kids from the EWS wont know which schools to apply to with more and more schools here applying for minority status, she said.

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The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill. The bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha which envisages to amend 91-year-old Sikh Gurdwaras Act to exclude Sehajdhari Sikhs from voting in elections to Sikh religious bodies.

Also read: Centre clears way for Sehajdhari vote debarment, and SGPC chief Makkars exit

The Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 was a piece of legislation in British India, which legally defined Sikh identity and brought Sikh gurdwaras (houses of worship) under the control of an elected body of orthodox Sikhs.

The bill was introduced in the House by Union home minister Rajnath Singh. The bill proposes to remove the exception given to Sehajdhari Sikhs in 1944 to vote in the elections to select the members of the board and the committees constituted under the act.
Punjab finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa may have announced several perks for the agriculture sector, including provident funds for farmers, financial relief to families in which farmers committed suicides and medical insurance as part of the Budget 2016-17 for the state but several agricultural experts and farmers have pointed out all perks are futile without crop insurance.

They stressed that if crop of farmers are not insured by the state government, they will continue to face losses, get trapped in debts and eventually commit suicides.

MS Kang, former vice-chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and editor-in-chief of journal of crop improvement opined that introducing weather-based crop insurance is the first step to help farmers. Weather is the biggest challenge of agriculture today. Each year, farmers have to suffer huge losses when their crop gets affected due to inclement weather. So, having proper crop insurance is a must and I must say this insurance is need of the hour if we want to save agriculture and discourage suicides among farmers, said Kang.

He suggested that there should also be some law where farmer like business organisations should be allowed to declare him bankrupt as this can be another method to vanish the grave issue of suicides.

PPS Pangli, a progressive farmer and head of various farmer associations, including Borlaug Farmers Association for South Asia (BFASA) said, Each year Budget for agriculture get announced, but always without anything on crop insurance which is the reason that farmers today have become distressed. If Haryana and several other states of the country can have crop insurance plans then why cant Punjab? Agricultural experts have stressed a lot on crop insurance in different seminars and conference, but the state government seems to have given no importance to their views. Secondly, the Punjab government should allow farmers of the state to sell their produce in mandis of other states also.

Sardara Singh Johl, chancellor of Central University, Bathinda, and a noted agricultural economist of the country while stressing on the need of crop insurance added it is shocking that there was nothing on pension scheme for the farmers. Provident funds seem lucrative, but they will be misused either directly by the farmer or his family. After all, through this fund, one can withdraw money anytime and there may not be any saving whereas with pension scheme, future or old age of the farmers can be made secure. For `50, 000 medical insurance announced, I feel the state government should also make it clear as how farmers under what circumstances will be eligible for this insurance, he suggested.

Rajwinder Pal Singh Rana, a progressive fish farmer, who runs his own fish farm in Mandiani village near Ludhiana, and has been selling his fish in various Indian states lauded the state government announcing `18 crore for fisheries sector. For this announcement, I am personally thankful to Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal as I was part of the same meeting along with several other fish farmers where the CM had taken our suggestions on issues faced by us. Accordingly, he assured us that big amount will be announced in the budget for fisheries, shared Rana.

AS Nanda, vice-chancellor of GADVASU, also appreciated the state governments decision on announcing `18 crore for fisheries. He said with this amount, fisheries will get a big boost and there is huge scope of fisheries in Punjab.
A powerful bomb ripped through a bus carrying government employees in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Wednesday, killing 17 people and injuring 47 more.

The blast, which occurred near Sunehri Masjid, targeted a bus of the Civil Secretariat that was carrying employees from Mardan, a town located 50 km from Peshawar.

Lashkar-e-Islam, a militant group allied with the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility, saying the attack was carried out to avenge a military courts sentencing of 13 militants to death on Tuesday.

There were 40 to 50 people in the bus. Bomb disposal officials said a four-kilogram improvised explosive device filled with ball bearings had been planted near the buss gas cylinder.

Fear and panic spread among Peshawar residents after the explosion and the area was cordoned off. The injured were taken to the Lady Reading Hospital, where an emergency was declared.

Peshawar police chief Mubarak Zeb said the bus had begun its journey from Malakand, picking up government employees along the route. The bus, which is parked at a petrol pump during the night, leaves for duty after morning prayers.

He said the bus was privately operated and the government cannot ensure the security of such vehicles. It is the responsibility of the contractor and checks are usually carried out before the bus leaves its station, Ghani said.

This is not the first time that a bus from the Civil Secretariat has been targeted in Peshawar. Similar attacks in 2012 and 2013 killed at least 38 people.

Wednesdays attack came days after a blast hit Charsaddas Shabqadar area, an attack claimed by the Jamat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of the Taliban. The group said that attack was carried out to avenge the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri, the assassin of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer.

Peshawar has seen scores of attacks on civilians and law enforcement personnel. The city is also home to the XI Corps, an administrative corps of the Pakistan Army that manages all military activity in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and is currently engaged in a full-blown operation against militants in North Waziristan.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack. He expressed grief over the loss of precious lives in the attack.

These cowardly attacks cannot shatter our unflinching resolve against terrorism, Sharif said.

(With inputs from agencies)
Britain has initiated the first step towards lifting the 15-year-old ban on the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), a pro-Khalistan group previously involved in assassinations, bombings and kidnappings mainly directed at India and Indian interests.

The House of Commons on Tuesday night approved a draft of the Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2016, which removes ISYF from the list of organisations banned in Britain.

The ban imposed on the group in 2001 is to be lifted on March 18 after the House of Lords approves the draft on Thursday.

The decision is likely to raise hackles in India, where the organisation is also banned, besides Canada and other countries.

Minister for security John Hayes told the House there had been consultations with India and other countries before the decision was made to de-proscribe ISYF. Since there was no reason to continue the ban on ISYF, it will be lifted on March 18, he said.

Having reviewed, with other countries, what information is available about the current activities of the ISYF and after careful and appropriate consideration, the home secretary concluded that there is not sufficient evidence to support a reasonable belief that the ISYF is currently concerned with terrorism, as defined by section 3(5) of the Terrorism Act 2000, Hayes said.

The ISYF was launched in Britain in 1984 as the international branch of the All India Sikh Students Federation.

Andy Burnham, the shadow home secretary, wondered if diplomatic pressure from India was responsible for the ban continuing for so long. The move to lift the ban was supported by MPs, including senior Labour lawmaker Keith Vaz.

Labour MP Rob Marris, the chair of the all-party group on British Sikhs, welcomed the move but asked Hayes to explain why home secretary Theresa May insisted in July 2015 that ISYF continued to pose a threat and subsequently changed her mind in December 2015.

Marris also noted that the Home Office had recently issued a press statement saying: The British government has always been clear that the ISYF was a brutal terrorist organisation. He added, That may be the case, but things seem to have changed very quickly in a short period.

The explanatory memorandum on the statutory instrument says: An application was made to the secretary of state for the de-proscription of the International Sikh Youth Federation. The secretary of state has now decided that there is insufficient information to conclude that the group remains concerned in terrorism.

The lifting of the ban was sought through an appeal before the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission by Sikh Federation UK, which describes itself as an NGO that works with each of the main political parties to promote relevant Sikh issues.

Keith Vaz also sought a review of the ban on the LTTE. Some of the 7,000 members of the Tamil community in my constituencyare concerned about the fact that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is still proscribed. Even though that organisation was abolished and destroyed years ago, they still feel under a certain amount of pressure. It is time to review, he said.

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Chinas economy might be slowing but it will stay on track and not suffer a hard landing or the rapid decline from high growth to recession, Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday as the annual parliament drew to a close.

The National Peoples Congress (NPC) adopted the 13th five-year plan for the economy at the Great Hall of the People, with China gradually beginning to cope with slow growth  at 6.9% in 2015, the rate was the slowest in 25 years.

Addressing the annual news conference, a highly choreographed ritual, Li said the country has the financial ability to withstand upheavals in the economy and the market despite slow growth and market volatility.

Economics dominated the news conference but Li referred to regional issues, saying China is capable of ensuring regional stability despite differences with some neighbours.

Without naming any country, he said: It is natural that there are some differences between neighbours, but as long as we treat each other with sincerity and seek settlements with diplomatic and peaceful means, we are fully capable of maintaining regional stability.

The government, he said, was taking steps to adjust to inevitable changes in the economy  cutting red tape, streamlining mammoth state-owned-enterprises and reducing over-capacity.

Job losses in state enterprises will not mean mass retrenchment and the government will set aside billions of Yuan to rehabilitate workers who lose their jobs.

He did not give a figure but reports have said millions of Chinese will lose their jobs, mostly in the steel and coal sectors, as the worlds second largest economy makes the grinding shift from a manufacturing-based to a service-based economy.

Li said global economic growth had been sluggish and China has been affected by the weak performance. The country is also going through a transition and some deep-seated problems, which have built up over the years, have become more acute.

He added, All these have added to downward pressure on Chinas economic growth.

So long as we stay on the course of reform and opening up, Chinas economy will not suffer a hard landing, the premier said during the two-hour televised news conference.

Li took questions  vetted earlier by government officials  on a range of topics, including international relations and the regional security situation.

He said that China-U.S. relations will move forward no matter who will win the presidential election in the US. China and the US can cooperate in the Asia-Pacific region to maintain regional peace and regional stability, he added.

The US has never left the Asia-Pacific, we can cooperate in the Asia-Pacific region and properly handle our differences, he said.

The even had a touch of irony, with Li advising officials to freely interact with the media.

Whenever you encounter journalists, no longer wave your hand and take a quick leave. Rather you need to open your mouth and answer the questions, he said.

Clearly, such interactions would go even more smoothly if the questions are known beforehand.
The Dutch Parliament passed a bill on Tuesday calling for the government to halt weapon exports to Saudi Arabia, citing ongoing violations of humanitarian law in Yemen.

The Dutch vote effectively seeks to implement a decision in February by the European Parliament, which called on countries in the European Union to impose an arms embargo against Riyadh.

Around 6,000 people have been killed since Saudi-led troops entered the conflict in Yemen last March, almost half of them civilians, according to the United Nations.

The Dutch bill cited a UN report from January 22 by the Panel of Experts on Yemen and ongoing executions in Saudi Arabia as reasons for the ban.

It asked the government to strictly implement the weapons embargo and not to license dual-use exports that could be used to violate human rights.

Britain and France are the main European suppliers of arms to Saudi Arabia. Germany licensed arms exports of almost 200 million dollar to the Sunni kingdom in the first six months of 2015, the latest economy ministry data available. Dutch figures were not immediately available.
Pakistans parliament has passed a resolution moved by a Hindu lawmaker seeking holidays on festivals such as Holi, Diwali and Easter though the move is being seen as a cosmetic measure to appease religious minorities.

On Tuesday, Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, an MP from the PML-N elected from a seat reserved for minorities in Tharparkar district of Sindh, presented the resolution which said: This House is of the opinion that the government should take steps to declare Holi, Diwali and Easter as closed holidays for minorities.

Vankwani, who is also patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council, was of the view that such an announcement is inevitable for Pakistans good image since such holidays are being observed in the US and India.

The resolution, however, took cabinet ministers by surprise. Minister of state for religious affairs Pir Aminul Hasnat Shah was visibly confused when Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq asked him if he agreed with the resolution.

Shah said the interior ministry has the authority to notify such holidays and his ministry has nothing to do with the matter. He was hesitant to give a categorical reply when the Speaker asked him again if he opposed the resolution.

Information minister Pervaiz Rashid came to Shahs rescue and said minorities could be granted holiday by their employers. Rashid further said he would not oppose the resolution but suggested it should be reconsidered because Pakistan already has one of the highest rates of public holidays compared to the rest of the world.

What Rashid did not say was that the facility was already accorded to religious minorities under government rules.

Amarnath Motumal of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan described the resolution as a farce. We are already given these holidays in the public and private sector, he said.

Festivals such as Holi and Diwali were official holidays in Pakistan after the countrys independence but they were subsequently made optional. Large-scale celebrations of the festivals became rare after military ruler Zia-ul-Haq adopted his policy of Islamisation.
Fashion mixed with tradition as five British models sashayed down the catwalk to cheers at the Nehru Centre here, highlighting the organic, eco-friendly fabric of Ryndia from Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya.

The show on Tuesday evening featuring designs by Shillong-based entrepreneurs Daniel Syiem and Janessaline M Pyngrope was part of the Nehru Centres focus on northeast Indias culture, craft and music. It showcased a less-known aspect of contemporary India to a London audience.

We are using fashion as a platform to peek into my culture and tradition, taking my story to the world. The indigenous art of hand-weaving is passed down through generations. Our effort is to promote traditional fabrics and preserve a dying craft, Syiem said.

The sights and sounds of Meghalaya came alive in a documentary that detailed the production of Ryndia (eri silk), from rearing the silk worms, extracting silk from cocoons to spinning and reeling the silk, dying and finally weaving.

Syiem received a standing ovation at the end of the show that highlighted a range of chemical-free contemporary designs with clean lines, drapes, silhouettes, unique bows and distinctive necklines.

The Nehru Centres focus on northeast India includes an exhibition of textiles, songs and dances from the region, Birdoisila Bihu Gosthi to showcase the cultural evolution of Assam , a tribal war victory dance from Mizoram, Manini Radha dance from Manipur and cultural crafts and music from Meghalaya and Nagaland.

The Nehru Centre is the cultural wing of the Indian high commission in London.

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At least 22 people were killed on Wednesday when two women disguised as men blew themselves up during morning prayers at a mosque in Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria, rescue officials said.

The attack happened at about 5:30am (04:30 GMT) in the Molai district of the city, which has been repeatedly targeted in the past by Boko Haram insurgents.

Borno state emergency management agency spokesman Abdullahi Omar told AFP: There was an explosion in the mosque in Molai on the outskirts of the city.

Were waiting for our response team to be back and then give us the details before we can issue any statement.

But a source at the agency added: This morning just before prayers two women disguised as men came by the mosque.

One of them went in and joined the first row of the congregation and when the worshippers stood up for the prayers she detonated her explosives, killing several worshippers.

While the others were trying to flee, the second woman who stood outside the mosque rushed in and set off her explosives in their midst.

Rescue is still ongoing but so far 22 people have been confirmed dead and 35 others injured.

The source, who asked for anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to the media, said survivors of the attack and evidence from the rescue operation identified the bombers as women.

The attack bore all the hallmarks of Boko Haram Islamists, who have regularly hit soft civilian targets such as mosques, markets and bus stations, including with female suicide bombers.

Maiduguri, where the group was formed in 2002, has been relatively calm in recent months as a result of heavy security and a sustained counter-offensive against the militants last year.

Nigeria has said the rebels, whose insurgency has left at least 17,000 dead since 2009, have been technically defeated, despite continued attacks in Borno state and neighbouring Cameroon.

On January 31, at least 85 people were killed when insurgents attacked the village of Dalori, some 12 kilometres (seven miles) from Maiduguri.

The city itself was last attacked on November 22 last year when a female suicide bomber blew herself up among a crowd of women and children seeking sanctuary from the rural town of Dikwa.

Eight people were killed.

A twin suicide attack on a mosque in Molai on October 15 last year killed 30 and injured 32. The previous June 27, a suicide bomber left five dead in a blast outside a leprosy centre in the area.
Pakistans Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the governments two-year-old appeal against a courts decision to allow former military ruler Pervez Musharraf to travel abroad, brightening his chances of leaving the country.

Earlier this week, Musharraf had sought a one-time permission to leave the country on medical grounds. He has recently been treated for several medical conditions.

In June 2014, the government had challenged the Sindh high courts decision to remove Musharrafs name from the Exit Control List (ECL) in the Supreme Court. Anyone whose name figures in the ECL is barred from travelling out of the country. The list usually includes people who are facing court cases.

In its appeal, the government requested the apex court to suspend the high courts decision. It also asked the Supreme Court to stop Musharraf from travelling abroad.

During Wednesdays hearing, a five-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali allowed the government and a special court to take independent decisions regarding Musharrafs custody in a case of high treason filed against him for imposing emergency in November 2007.

Take your own decision about this matter, the Chief Justice told the attorney general. The top court added it has not put any restrictions on Musharraf travelling abroad.

The federal government had including Musharraf in the ECL because it feared he might try to abscond.

Earlier this week, Musharraf was admitted to a private hospital in Karachi after developing back pain. The former army chief was taken to hospital earlier for a check-up and discharged soon after.
President Barack Obama is likely to announce either Judge Sri Srinivasan or Judge Merrick Garland as his pick for US Supreme Court nominee and the announcement could come as early as Wednesday, a source familiar with the selection process said.

The team of advisers helping to vet candidates, line up their public supporters and answer the presidents questions had finished its work, the source said on Tuesday.

Obama is searching for a replacement for long-serving conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, who died on February 13. With Scalias death, the court is divided 4-4 between conservatives and liberals. Obamas nominee could move the court to the left for the first time in decades.

Republicans, who control the US Senate, have vowed not to hold confirmation hearings or an up-or-down vote on any nominee picked by the Democratic president for the lifetime position on the court. Senate confirmation is required for any nominee to join the bench.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has suggested there might be no point even in holding the traditional courtesy call meetings with whomever Obama nominates, infuriating Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and his fellow Democrats.

Republicans, hoping a candidate from their party wins the November 8 presidential election, want the next president, who takes office in January, to make the selection. Billionaire Donald Trump is the leading Republican presidential candidate; Obamas former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, is the front-runner on the Democratic side.

Without Scalia, the Supreme Court is evenly split with four liberals and four conservatives. An Obama appointment could tilt the court to the left for the first time in decades.

Both Srinivasan and Garland are seen as having unique attributes that could weigh heavily in Obamas decision.

Srinivasan, 49, and Garland, 63, serve together on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. That appeals court has served as a springboard to the Supreme Court for several justices including Scalia in recent decades.

Srinivasan, who was born in India and grew up in Kansas, would be the first Asian-American and first Hindu on the high court. Obama appointed him to the appeals court in 2013. The Senate confirmed him in a 97-0 vote.

Diversity an issue

He could appeal to the presidents long-declared interest in bringing more diversity to the bench.

Srinivasan has served in the Justice Department under Democratic and Republican presidents and worked as a clerk to the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court, Sandra Day OConnor, a Republican appointee.

Garland, who has earned praise from lawmakers of both parties, is the chief judge of the Washington appeals court, where he has served since being appointed by Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1997, winning confirmation in a 76-23 vote. Prior to that, he served in the Justice Department under Clinton.

With Senate Republicans vowing to turn their backs on anyone he picks to fill the vacancy, Obama may be looking for a nominee who could convince the Republicans to change course. Garland could fit that bill with moderate record, background as a prosecutor and a history of drawing Republican support.

Garland was under consideration in 2009 for Obamas first appointment but the new administration chose Sonia Sotomayor, attracted to her rise from a Bronx housing project to the elite corridors of Yale and the federal judiciary.

Yet they also regarded Garland as a future compromise choice if another vacancy opened in an election year with the Senate under Republican control, according to Obama advisers at the time and others weighing in on the current nomination.

That is the situation now confronting Obama.

Presidents tend to pick nominees younger than Garland, so they can serve for decades and extend a presidents legacy. But Obama may reason that the choice of an older nominee might also entice Senate Republicans into considering Obamas selection.

Obama already has named two justices to the Supreme Court: Sotomayor, who at 55 became the first Hispanic justice in 2009, and Elena Kagan, who was 50 when she became the fourth woman to ever serve on the court in 2010.

Last week, a source familiar with the selection process said the White House had narrowed the selection to three candidates: Srinivasan, Garland and Paul Watford, 48, a judge on the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals.

Watford is an African-American and the US Supreme Court has had only two black justices in its history.
Four months before her confidante Htin Kyaw was elected Myanmars first civilian president in decades, Aung San Suu Kyi made it clear who would be the real power in the countrys new democratic government.

Suu Kyi, herself barred from becoming president under a constitutional clause which states that anyone whose children are foreign nationals cannot hold the post, said in November a president will be appointed just to meet requirements of constitution.

He will have to understand this perfectly well that he will have no authority, that he will act in accordance with the decisions of the party, she told Channel NewsAsia in an interview.

She also told the BBC at the same time she would be making all the decisions as the leader of the National League for Democracy, which bagged two-thirds of the contested seats in the two houses of parliament in the general election held in November.

Htin Kyaws remarks soon after being elected by more than half the 652 votes cast in the two houses of parliament on Tuesday made it clear who the real boss is. Victory! This is sister Aung San Suu Kyis victory, he said.

Such an arrangement is not unusual or new in South Asian countries. While the UPA was power in India during 2004-2014, Congress president Sonia Gandhi was clearly the power behind Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Pakistan Peoples Party chief Asif Ali Zardari was clearly the person driving the decisions when his party was in power from 2008 to 2013.

The arrangement in Myanmar was worked out after Suu Kyi, 70, was unable to hammer out an understanding with the military that would allow her to become president. Both her sons are British citizens and the NLD, despite its sweeping victory, does not currently have the backing of 75% of the MPs that is needed to amend the Constitution.

In many ways, Htin Kyaw appears to be the perfect candidate for the role that Suu Kyi has in mind. The first civilian president after more than five decades of military rule is a soft-spoken, Britain-educated economist and scholar who has always kept a low profile.

A former classmate of Suu Kyi, 70-year-old Htin Kyaw is perceived as a trusted confidant of the NLD chief and sometimes drove her around, leading to exaggerated portrayals in the media as Suu Kyis driver.

Suu Kyi remains the most popular leader in Myanmar and is thus unlikely to face any real challenge from someone like Htin Kyaw.

Though Suu Kyi has clearly placed herself in the driving seat, she is confronted with formidable challenges.

The countrys economy has expanded at a robust pace  the International Monetary Fund has forecast an 8.4% increase in GDP for 2016 - but it could be hit by the global decline in prices of natural gas, a major export from Myanmar. The economic and financial infrastructure is outdated and the country has no credit rating.

Suu Kyi has faced considerable criticism for her handling of communal tensions between the majority Buddhist community and the minority Muslims, especially human rights abuses against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state. An estimated 100,000 Rohingyas have fled the country since the violence erupted four years ago.

Besides, the powerful military or Tatmadaw will continue to have a say in governance through its efforts to achieve what it refers to as a disciplined democracy. It wants, as one expert put it, a government with a civilian face while fully preserving its strong prerogatives.

Former military intelligence chief Myint Swe, a supporter of former junta leader Than Shwe who has been blacklisted by the US treasury department, was elected the vice president on Tuesday. The military will also nominate the home affairs, border affairs and defence ministers and have a majority in the National Defence and Security Council.

The military has also reserved for itself 25% of the seats in parliament, meaning no government can amend the Constitution without its approval.

All of which is bound to ensure that India will have to strike a cautious balance in dealing with the military, which has helped crack down on Indian militants hiding in Myanmar, and the Suu Kyis civilian government.

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Toddlers aged three or younger were involved in more shooting incidents than Islamic terrorists in the United Sates in 2015, US media reports suggest, lending support to the growing demand in the country for stricter gun control laws.

According to the Washington Post, there were 58 toddler-involved shootings in 2015. Out of these, toddlers accidentally shot and killed themselves in 19 cases, and in two other instances they killed two people. Meanwhile, a report in the Guardian said there were only three Islamic terrorist related shootings in 2015.

In May 2015, two ISIS gunmen opened fire outside a Muhammad art exhibit event at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas. This was followed by a lone gunman opening fire at two military installations in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Finally, two gunmen with links to ISIS opened fire at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California in December 2015.

A total of 19 people were killed in these three terrorist related shootings.

Thus, comparatively, these reports suggest that US toddlers shot and killed more people last year than Islamic terrorists.

An analysis by New York Times, of child shooting deaths, shows that about 71% of the times they happen in the shooter/victims home. This shows the callous attitude of adults when it comes to safe storage of arms and ammunition, the report adds.

On an average, 30 people die every day in the US, in gun related violence.

Note: The above data was collected from news paper reports as US authorities consider unintentional shootings by children as homicides or suicides and dont record them separately.
Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump won a crucial contest in Florida on Tuesday, knocking rival Marco Rubio out of the race, but lost Ohio to John Kasich in a mixed result that set the stage for a long, bitter nominating fight.

Trump, a businessman who hoped a sweep of five states would put him on the path to the nomination, now faces a three-way struggle with Kasich, the Ohio governor, and Ted Cruz, a conservative senator from Texas, that could lead to a showdown at the partys convention in Cleveland in July.

Kasichs win in Ohio gave new hope to establishment Republicans battling to deny Trump the nomination and block him from capturing the 1,237 delegates needed to win the nomination.

We have to bring our party together, a restrained Trump, 69, said in Palm Beach, Florida, as the results rolled in.

On the Democratic side, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, 68, won in Florida, Ohio and North Carolina, putting more distance between herself and rival Bernie Sanders, 74, a senator from Vermont.

The wins for Clinton added to her lead in pledged delegates over Sanders and gave her an almost insurmountable edge, burying the memory of her stunning loss in Michigan last week.

The Democratic races in Illinois and Missouri on Tuesday had yet to be decided. As she had after other primary wins, Clinton was thinking on Tuesday about a possible match-up in the November 8 presidential election with Trump.

We cant lose what made America great in the first place, and this isnt just about Donald Trump, Clinton told supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida. We cant just talk about economic inequality, we have to take on all forms of inequality and discrimination.

Trumps vows to deport 11 million illegal immigrants, impose protectionist trade policies and temporarily ban Muslims from entering the country have rattled the partys mainstream leaders and left them scrambling to block him.

Holding us together

Kasichs win in Ohio, his first in the nominating fight, makes him the candidate of choice for party leaders worried that Trumps rowdy campaign will lead Republicans to defeat not only in the presidential race, but in state and US congressional races.

Kasich, who has tried to emphasize the positive in a Republican race dominated by the pugnacious Trump, said his campaign was about holding us together, not pulling us apart. I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land, Kasich told supporters in Berea, Ohio. We are going to go all the way to Cleveland and secure the Republican nomination.

Trumps closest challenger is Cruz, 45, a favorite of the conservative Tea Party, who is second to Trump in delegates but has struggled in states where the electorate is not heavy on the strongly conservative evangelicals who have been Cruzs biggest base of support. By capturing Florida, Trump won all 99 of the states delegates, giving him a huge lift in his drive to the nomination. He also won Illinois and North Carolina, while no winner had emerged yet in Missouri.

Kasichs chief strategist, John Weaver, argued in a memo released after the Ohio result that no candidate was going to win the necessary delegates before the convention and Kasich would be the best Republican candidate to go up against Clinton.

Trump, 69, said early on Tuesday that his momentum was already drawing in establishment Republicans who had previously balked at his candidacy but now see him as the likely nominee. Theyre already calling, he told NBCs Today show, without naming names. The biggest people in the party are calling.
Sometimes it pays to be bad, and if you want be naughty and get paid, you're in luck. Google is offering $100,000 to the first person who is able to remotely hack a Chromebook or Chromebox machine through the Web.

Until March 14, Google's offer stood at $50,000. However, the reward for the "persistent compromise of a Chromebook in guest mode" has since doubled after two Chrome development staffers revealed that no one had submitted a valid entry.

"Since we introduced the $50,000 reward, we haven't had a successful submission," Google's Nathan Parker and Tim Willis wrote on the Google Security Blog. "That said, great research deserves great awards, so we're putting up a standing six-figure sum, available all year round with no quotas and no maximum reward pool."

"Persistence" is a hacker term, referring to the ability of the effects of a security breach to remain even after a system reboot. In this case, the goal would be to have the compromise achieve persistence on Chrome OS'd Guest Mode. This is an important caveat for Google, since unlike a regular user who signs in with a Google account, guest mode offers almost nothing to compromise. Not only are most browser extensions and apps disabled, but guest mode also blocks the retention of browsing histories and cookies.

The necessity to find an applicable hack is huge for Google. If it is possible for a hacker to compromise guest mode with persistence, then it would be a massive failure of Chrome OS security - hence why Google is so insistent on seeing if it's possible before someone with malicious intentions does it first.

This Chromebook bounty is just a larger part of Google's Security Reward Program which has been around in 2010. It covers not only Chromebook but Android-powered gadgets and Chrome's Safe Browsing download protection features - in short, essentially anything that Google has a stake in.

The program has been largely successful thus far, with Google awarding researchers more than $2 million in total last year for their discovery of various security flaws. In fact, one such reward went to a researcher who managed to buy Google.com for a minute.

The program is also a win-win for Google and its customers. If a researcher is successful in compromising the security of a Google product then they get paid while Google gets a chance to fix its product. On the other hand, if no one is successful then Google can proclaim that it employs superior security measures on its products.

Of course, such proclamations come with their own risks. There's the possibility that Google makes such a claim only to have a hacker publicly declare otherwise, or sell the intel to criminals or nation-state intelligence agencies, which only serves to keep Google in the dark about the whole affair.

If you think your hacking skills are up to snuff, then check out Google's Chrome Reward Program here.

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A couple years ago, Google integrated Uber as an option in its native Android navigation app, Google Maps. Through the integration, users were given the option to hail an Uber to get to their destination. On Tuesday, Google announced that the feature would expand with more ride-hailing options to be added to the list.

With the update, Google Maps will now have a dedicated tab just for ride-hailing services. Depending on where a user is, Google Maps would provide suggestions and estimated prices for ride-hailing options that are available.

The upgrade, which would be rolled out internationally, would include popular ride-hailing apps such as 99Taxis in Brazil, Ola Cabs in India, Hailo in the U.K. and Spain, Gett in the U.K. and mytaxi in Germany and Spain. Other ride-hailing services which cater to other countries are set to be added to the lineup as well.

For now, the upgrade to Google Maps will rolled out exclusively for Android devices. Google, however, stated that an iOS update would be coming "very soon."

For the tech giant, the integration of ride-hailing services to the company's navigation app is aimed at providing more convenience to its user base. Google engineer Holger Flier said that with the upgrade, users would be able to search for ride-hailing options in a more streamlined manner.

"When you're leaving work to meet a friend for dinner, you can easily compare your options to find the fastest way there, without having to open multiple apps," he said.

Of course, if a user decides to book an app, Google Maps would automatically open the selected ride-hailing service, allowing the user to book a ride.

Google's upgrade to its navigation service is seen by many as a means for the company not only to make user experience better but also as a means to help other emerging ride-hailing companies, as well.

For now, ride-hailing services do not seem to pay Google for including their service in Google Maps. In the long run, however, analysts believe that Google would integrate a revenue model for the on-demand transportation service as well, just like what the company did with its search engine.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Uber seems intent on expanding its services, as the popular ride-hailing app has announced that it is launching its standalone food delivery service, UberEATS, to a number of key U.S. cities on Tuesday. The company has decided to enter the American market after a successful run in Toronto, where the app made its initial debut.

Starting Tuesday, customers from Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Houston will be able to use the full suite of services offered by the company's UberEATS app, a dedicated food delivery service that is designed to offer all-day food delivery services from more than a hundred partner restaurants.

Susan Alban, general manager for Uber Everything in San Francisco, is optimistic about the dedicated app's launch, emphasizing that UberEATS gives users the convenience of being able to get good food just at the tap of a button.

"Just as you can get a ride with the tap of a button, now you can get great food at the tap of a button as well. We're leveraging our Uber network and think we can deliver as fast as 25, 30 or 40 minutes from the time the food is ordered," she said.

The dedicated UberEATS service is scheduled to expand to other key U.S. cities as well, with New York, Washington, Atlanta, Seattle and Dallas set to enjoy the service soon.

Paolo Lorenzoni, UberEATS general manager, has also stated that while the food delivery market is very competitive in areas such as Chicago, he believes that the company has a pretty good advantage over its competitors as a result of its established driver base and its direct relationship with restaurants.

Food deliveries ordered from the dedicated app would carry a flat rate of $5 per transaction. For now, however, the service is under a limited-time promotional period.

Since being launched in Toronto, the UberEATS service enjoyed much success, with the app reaching number 4 in the Food section on the same day it was launched. The services offered then were vastly limited compared to the full suite of offers that American consumers would receive.

Uber, now valued at an impressive $64.6 billion, has always promised its investors that the company would expand into new horizons, ultimately becoming a full-fledged logistics company.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In a short, 15-minute keynote speech in San Francisco on Tuesday, Sony Computer Entertainment President Andrew House made the virtual reality market much more interesting.

While the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive virtual reality headsets are being released this March and April, House announced that Sony's headset, the PSVR, will be released in October. Despite the relatively late release date, however, Sony just might have created the perfect formula to make its VR headset a clear winner.

According to House, the PSVR would be offered at the very competitive price of $399. That's right, seemingly stepping out of character, Sony has opted to price its product far cheaper than the competition's.

The Oculus Rift is currently priced at $599 and the HTC Vive is offered at $799, making the PSVR a third cheaper than the Oculus Rift and half the price of the HTC Vive.

Apart from the price, Sony also announced what is possibly the PSVR's killer feature - its compatibility.

Unlike the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive, which require a fully-fledged gaming rig in order to enjoy full support, Sony assured consumers that the PlayStation VR headset only requires a working PlayStation 4 for it to function optimally. Considering that there are about 36 million PlayStation 4s in the wild, the market for the PSVR is indeed very massive.

In a lot of ways, Sony's decision is quite ingenious, focusing on creating a device within the parameters of its current best-selling console rather than creating an extremely powerful, high-spec headset which the general gaming market would not be able to utilize. With its relatively low price, the PSVR, if any, seems designed to thrive within the PS4's hardware limitations.

Despite this, the PSVR is no low-end device, with a Field of View that is set at about 100 degrees, almost similar to the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive's rumored FoV of 100 to 110-degrees. The PSVR's FoV is also higher than the Gear VR, which has an FoV of 96 degrees.

The PSVR also operates at a constant 120hz refresh rate, which is actually higher than the 90hz refresh rate offered by the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive. A 5.7 OLED screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 is also installed in Sony's headset.

Sony also stated that it plans to have about 50 games ready for the PSVR by the end of 2016.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Canada's Toys "R" Us has hired Emile Burbridge for a very important job. The 12-year-old boy has been tasked as the companies new chief play officer (CPO) after a search among hundreds of "applicants."

Burbridge, who hails from Saint-Bruno in Quebec, will be expected to fill the role for a year, where he will help Toys "R" Us develop and test products, as well as offer recommendations to parents and adults looking for gifts for kids. He will also be expected to grace Toys "R" Us events around the country and speak with Canada's media. The young boy was chosen in part because he's fluent in both English and French.

"I feel like the luckiest kid in the country and still can't believe I was chosen as Toys 'R' Us, Canada's newest Chief Play Officer," the young executive said. "I was so excited when I found out I got the job and couldn't wait to get started. I know it's a very important role and will work hard to be the best CPO yet."

One of Burbridge's first tasks as CPO is to embark on a nationwide tour to show kids and parents his favorite toys from the store's selections. "I've already received toys and I've started testing them," the 12-year-old said. "I'm looking forward to the tour, it's going to be fun."

Burbridge, the fourth CPO to land the job, will assume the post that Alex Thorne left in December since the latter will focus on becoming a high school student. Toys "R" Us first hired the Ontario native for the job in August 2013 and he helped the company pick his replacement.

"The CPO position was created because, as Canada's toy authority, we know that kids are the experts in teaching parents and gift-givers about the hottest new toys," Toys "R" Us Canada's vice president of marketing Liz MacDonald said. Applicants were asked to submit their videos and then those who made the shortlist were then invited to meet with the company's executives.

But make no mistake, the job at hand might look like fun but it is still work. Check out how Thorne did during his first few months as the CPO in the video below:

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Amid the on-going tussle between Apple and the FBI over iPhones' encryption, Google has announced that traffic and searches conducted in its servers are at least 77 percent secure. What this means is that users can search and access information in encrypted queries over the web using Google's services without fear of governmental surveillance or hacker exploitation that aims to steal personal data.

The announcement is part of the company's transparency report, which offers a real-time data graph that tracks encrypted connections using Google's servers. The ultimate goal is for Google to achieve 100 percent encryption across all its platforms. Presently, only YouTube is not included in the encryption initiative. Google's core products are covered, including Advertising, Google Drive, Finance, Gmail, Maps and News.

Encrypted information is made possible through the use of the HTTPS technology. It is a browser or app mechanism introduced in 2014 that lets users securely connect with websites through the so-called SSL or TLS encryption certificates. "These web connections protect against eavesdroppers, man-in-the-middle attacks, and hijackers who attempt to spoof a trusted website," Google said in the report. "In other words, it thwarts interception of your information and ensures the integrity of information that you send and receive."

Traffic encryption has also been implemented in other countries. Mexico, for instance, has even higher percentage of encryption rate, posting 86 percent of encrypted requests. Google notes that the variations in encryption rates differ according to the devices used to carry out web access and the existence of software that can support the TLS connections. The company has cited that 100 percent implementation is specifically hindered by: older hardware and/or software that doesn't support modern encryption technologies; governments and organizations that might block or otherwise degrade HTTPS traffic; and organizations that might not have the desire or technical resources to implement HTTPS.

Google is currently aggressively pushing other websites to adopt HTTPS and its preferred encryption technologies. It is using its search service to force these third-party players to comply. Now, the policy is that websites get demoted in search result rankings if they do not have the required security certificates.

"Our aim with this project is to hold ourselves accountable and encourage others to encrypt so we can make the web even safer for everyone," Google said.

It is not yet clear whether the U.S. government will also oppose this move.

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A new study suggests that Europe's white storks are skipping their annual migration trip to their traditional wintering grounds in Africa, opting instead to feast year-round on "junk food" in the landfills of Spain and Portugal.

This activity indicates that storks have joined an expanding number of migratory species that have changed their biological behaviors due to human influences and global changes in the environment.

It has been known since the mid-1980s that storks are increasingly no longer migrating to Africa for the winter, but a new study is the first to establish that the large birds are now nesting and living close to landfill sites all year round.

"Portugal's stork population has grown 10 fold over the last 20 years. The country is now home to around 14,000 wintering birds, and numbers continue to grow," said study co-author Aldina Franco, a conservation ecologist from the University of East Anglia's School of Environmental Sciences.

"This study looked at the birds' reliance on landfill food, we found that the continuous availability of junk food from landfill has influenced nest use, daily travel distances, and foraging ranges," she explained.

In collaboration with the University of Lisbon and Porto and from the British Trust for Ornithology, Franco's research team followed 48 birds over several years using GPS tracking mechanisms that transmitted the birds' positions five times a day. The trackers also collected accelerometer information, providing detailed information about each bird's behavior.

The findings reveal lifestyles that revolve around garbage. Many storks live permanently in landfill nests, closely guarding these highly sought-after spots. Others live beyond landfills but visit frequently for feasting, sometimes flying distances of 30 miles (48 kilometers) in order to reach the trash, even in non-breeding season.

"These are exciting times to study animal migration. Several species, including the white stork... now have resident populations. We want to understand the causes and the mechanisms behind these changes in migratory behaviour," Franco said.

She noted that there might be benefits to skipping migration, mainly in terms of mating. Birds staying year-round could have a head start because they already have nests ready when the mating season commences.

Why some storks have taken this stay-at-home strategy while others continue to migrate to Africa remains to be researched. "This sort of pattern of migratory species becoming resident occurs rather frequently, and has occurred many times over the evolutionary history of birds," Franco explained, with such species including the turkey vulture and Canada goose in North America.

"It's clear migratory behaviors are quite plastic, in that the [storks] are adaptable and can change quickly," Andrew Farnsworth of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology added. "It's great to have increasingly detailed accounts of how birds are actually exploiting new resources."

At the same time, disrupting their natural avian rhythms could lead to problems in the near future, especially because the European Union intends to shut down open-air landfills by 2018 and the birds will be forced again to readjust.

The study was published in the March 15 issue of the journal Movement Ecology.

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Awareness about the illegal trade of elephant ivory has gained significant traction over the last decade, but that's not the case with ornamental plants such as wild orchids, which are being sold on black markets worldwide. What's worse is ornamental plant traders are continually finding new ways to advertise their collection, with social media as the latest emerging outlet.

A recent study led by Amy Hinsley and David Roberts of the University of Kent is the first large-scale global survey examining how wildlife trade operates through social media. The researchers chose to use orchid trade as a case study, since the iconic flowers account for up to 70 percent of the species listed on the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) - a listing that warrants a series of protections and restrictions regarding the international trade of them.

Even still, orchids are in high demand and some can sell on the black market for tens of thousands of pounds. This, researchers say, motivates illegal traders to bypass all and any rules aimed at preventing the species from going extinct. As a result, many traders have turned to social media to promote their flowers and sell them on the black market.

Researchers found wild orchids were being traded from all over the world, including species that are listed as critically endangered or federally protected in the country from which they were sold.

While the total number of trade posts are relatively small, the quantity of wild collected orchids for sale is proportionally high. It follows then that that social media needs to be better monitored for the illegal trade of plants and other wildlife.

When Hinsley and Roberts investigated the ornamental flower trade in previous studies they found hobbyists who purchase orchids on the Internet have a preference for rare species. Therefore, they warn that the sale of wild orchids on social media, if left unchecked, could put extra pressure on vulnerable wild populations.

Conservationists face great challenges when trying to mitigate the advertising and selling of wildlife via the Internet. It is becoming an increasing trend among wildlife traders, especially for those in niche markets. It is believed that increased regulation, such as eBay's ban on ivory sales in 2009, has encouraged wildlife traders to sell via social media.

The findings were recently published in the journal Conservation Biology.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Cities and neighborhoods with rat infestations should consider focusing on finding effective ways to control the rodent population, especially after a new study linked living with rats to an increased rate of depressive symptoms.

"Nobody likes living around rats," said study leader Danielle German, an assistant professor in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "This study provides very strong evidence that rats are an underappreciated stressor that affects how people feel about their lives in low-income neighborhoods. The good news is it's modifiable. If we can do something to reduce the number of rats in these neighborhoods, we can improve people's well-being."

Researchers at the Bloomberg School gathered data on 448 people who lived in low-income neighborhoods in Baltimore to assess depressive symptoms, such as anxiety. The sample was made up of mainly African-Americans and men with low incomes.

Overall, around 50 percent of the participants said they saw a rat on their block and 13 percent said they saw one inside of their homes on a weekly basis. The number of people who saw rats on a daily basis was slightly lower: 35 percent reported seeing rats on their block and 5 percent reported seeing them in their homes every day.

The researchers found that people who thought rats were a huge problem for their neighborhood were 72 percent more likely to have acute depressive symptoms in comparison to people who lived in similar areas but did not have as big of a rat problem. People who lived in rat-infested neighborhoods also had negative perceptions about rats that were similar to people who did not live in these neighborhoods.

"Those who live in areas where the perceived rat problem is the greatest are more pessimistic about their own ability to control rats, have less confidence in their neighbors' commitment to rat eradication and have relatively little faith that the city would act if called upon to address the rat problem," German said.

German added that even though eliminating or controlling the rat population can be a challenging task, city officials should work with its residents and try to handle the situation.

The study was published in the Journal of Community Psychology.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A considerable number of children suffering from urinary tract infections aren't being helped by traditional medicine because of the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance, according to a new study.

The latest research, conducted at the University of Bristol and Imperial College London, examined data from 58 observational studies involving more than 7,000 samples of Escherichia coli, which researchers say is responsible for 80 percent of all urinary tract infections in kids. Researchers also analyzed the links between previous exposure to antibiotics and subsequent resistance in the same child.

Study results revealed that 53.4 percent of the pediatric urinary tract infections within western nations were resistant to ampicillin (amoxicillin), 23.6 percent were resistant to trimethoprim, 8.2 percent were to co-amoxiclav, 2.1 percent were resistant to ciprofloxacin and 1.3 percent to nitrofurantoin.

"Prevalence of resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics in primary care in children with urinary tract infections caused by E coli is high, particularly in countries outside the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), where one possible explanation is the availability of antibiotics over the counter," researchers wrote in the study.

"This could render some antibiotics ineffective as first line treatments for urinary tract infection. Routine use of antibiotics in primary care contributes to antimicrobial resistance in children, which can persist for up to six months after treatment," they added.

Researchers said that latest findings are important because it highlights the consequences caused by overprescribing antibiotics. Previous studies reveal that nearly half of all antibiotics prescribed useless when it comes to treating common infections in adults.

Lead researcher Ashley Bryce of the University of Bristol said the latest findings show that the rise of antibiotic resistance isn't just affecting adults - it's also seriously endangering children.

"Prevalence of resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics in primary care in children with urinary tract infections caused by E coli is high, particularly in countries outside the OECD, where one possible explanation is the availability of antibiotics over the counter," Bryce said in a news release.

Grant Russell, a professor at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, writes that the latest study shows "compelling evidence of the need to reconsider current approaches to community based management of pediatric urinary tract infection," according to an accompanying editorial.

"While I have no doubt that clinical practice guidelines will quickly be able to accommodate the findings, I am less confident that there is the will and commitment to deal with what the WHO has called "the post-antibiotic era," he added.

The latest findings are published in The BMJ.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
As the curtain closes on the 19th International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) in Berlin, we reflect on the mood, key themes and trends throughout this year's event.

As has come to be expected, several prominent and significant deals were signed during the course of the event with new and exciting projects agreed. The ability to meet face to face, discuss, network and conduct business continues to be a driving force for many of the hotel investment community and their motivation for attending IHIF.

A capacity crowd gathered at the InterContinental Hotel Berlin for the three-day event packed with networking opportunities, insightful panels and presentations and an engaging exhibition showcasing companies from across the global hospitality industry.

The main topic mentioned across nearly every session was Brexit, the possible result of the referendum and the impact this would have on the hospitality sector. Providing the economic overview, Roger Bootle said "there is a serious, serious chance that we will leave" and several analysts and commentators voiced concern of the unknown impact a vote to leave would have on the rest of Europe.

Transactions are agreed to be slowing, as often seen towards the end of an investment cycle but there are still opportunities across Europe.

The ever popular CEO panel covered most of the significant subject areas including loyalty schemes with an admission that they have historically been overcomplicated and inefficient at adding value to guests. Most of the brands represented on stage pointed to improvements their loyalty schemes were undergoing to address this and the understanding that communicating the promise of a lowest rate guarantee via the brand.com is an essential part of their marketing strategy.

On the subject of Airbnb and other so called disruptors entering the industry, the prevailing sentiment seemed to be to remain true to the hospitality element of a hotels function and to deliver this proudly and to a high standard to all customers and in doing so differentiate from a lodging provider such as Airbnb.

Asian investors seem largely indifferent to whether the UK remains or leaves the EU as discussed during the session focussed on Asian investors and the increase of their investment in Europe. Also of importance in this session was the significant budgets many of the Asian investment companies still have available to spend on hotel opportunities across Europe.

The conversation continues throughout the year and you can join by following IHIF 2016 on Twitter @IHIF_News and use #IHIF2016 to stay up to date with the latest news from the leading annual meeting place for the industry. Also find us on Facebook and join our LinkedIn group for industry insight and discussion.

About Questex

Questex Hospitality Group, a division of Questex LLC, represents a senior audience of $650 billion in hotel assets, reaching one in two hotel owners and operators across the globe. With a portfolio of both media and live events, including Hospitality Insights , The Annual Hotel Conference (AHC) , The International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) , and The Resort & Residential Hospitality Forum (R&R) , Questex Hospitality Group brings together leaders in hospitality investment, development and operations to make the deals that shape recovery and growth in the sector.

Advisory Board members are consulted regularly to shape the content and direction of IHIF to keep it being the most productive and engaging event for hospitality investment. The IHIF 2022 Advisory Board features senior leaders from global hotel brands including Accor, IHG, Marriott, Radisson and Melia, alongside representatives from hospitality real estate and investment such as PPHE Hotel Group, Deutsche Hospitality, Invesco, Bain Capital Credit and BNP Paribas Real Estate.

To find out more about the IHIF 2022 Advisory Board, visit https://www.ihif.com/ihifcom/advisory-board

Emily Newman

Communications and Content Manager

+44 (0)7771 686202

Questex
LAUSANNE, the 7th Edition of the Young Hoteliers Summit 2016 started at the Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne and warmly welcomed over 80 motivated delegates, accompanied by their professors, as well as distinguished hospitality leaders from recognized companies all over the world. Launching with an exceptional Opening Ceremony, the two first days of the Global Summit included various workshops, focus groups, keynotes and panels, led and held by representatives of Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Dorchester Collection, DBRC Continental, Expedia, FRHI and The Leading Hotels of the World. The highlight within the first two days was the announcement of the challenge.

At 8:00 on Monday 14th March, over 120 people attended the successful Opening Ceremony of the 7th edition of the Young Hoteliers Summit, moderated by William Downey and Lee Koppel, the electric Masters of Ceremony. On this occasion, the results of the YHS Rankings were unveiled, with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts winning the prize of the most preferred employer among hospitality students. Following next, The Ritz-Carlton came in second place and W Hotels came in third for the category of Luxury & Upper Upscale hotels. For the Upscale & Upper Midscale hotels, Disneyland Hotels took the upper hand while Ibis Hotels were in first place for Midscale & Budget properties. In addition, YHS was very proud to introduce Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts as the challenge provider this year. Rachel Begbie, Regional Director of Human Resources EMEA at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, was invited on stage to present the company and give an exclusive insight to the challenge. The ceremony continued with the first speaker, Lorenzo Stoll, Head of Western Switzerland for SWISS International Airlines, who shared his vision on how the digital world will shape the future of competitive environments.

Delegates were given the unique chance to attend selected focus groups and workshops. These activities were the opportunity for delegates to get to know more about the companies present, sharing their experience with various hospitality experts in a more interpersonal environment and learn from their views of the hotel industry. In the evening, the first panel discussion took place, featuring a conversation about the generation issues within the working environment. The speakers of this panel were Heather Jacobs, Senior Vice President International and Corporate Human Resources of Four Seasons & Resorts; Eugenio Pirri, Vice President of People and Organizational Development at Dorchester Collection; Jerome Buhlmann, Director of Talent Management at FRHI and Pablo Alcacer, Director of Business Performance EMEA at The Leading Hotels of the World. The first day concluded with an exquisite gala dinner at the Hotel Royal Savoy.

On Tuesday, the summit continued with the second panel about the changes of the online distribution landscape. Genevieve Materne, Director of Distribution Strategy EMEA at Starwood Hotel & Resorts, Huda Malhas, Director of Marketing Communications for EMEA at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, and Kevin Mauffrey, Director of Market Management at Expedia, provided their expertise in this discussion. The panel covered the impact of Online Travel Agencies and their growing influence on the hospitality industry. In the afternoon, Simon Casson, Regional Vice President and General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Dubai at Jumeirah beach, took the stage to share his opinion about how technology has increasingly become a part of the hotel industry. At the same time, he managed to introduce and give an insight about Four Seasons' newest App. Mr. Casson believes that good service and technology can be combined: "Like a good marriage, they complement one another. But they are less one without the other. We cannot become an industry that relies solely on technology because we are a human business and I think the memorable moments and experiential part of our business will always be delivered by humans."

Last but not least, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts announced the challenge this Tuesday evening: "Create game changing career paths that go from University to G.M in nine years." Groups were formed and immediately started working to come up with a solution that will finally clear the issues of this exciting challenge. Stay tuned to find out about the ingenious ideas that the teams will present on Wednesday, where one of the many teams will be awarded a prize while providing Four Seasons Hotel & Resorts with a revolutionary solution.

About the Young Hoteliers Summit

The Young Hoteliers Summit (YHS) was founded in 2010 by five students of the Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne (EHL), who shared the vision of fostering innovation in the industry through insightful discussions between thought leaders and hospitality students. Today, YHS has become the largest student-run summit in the world, inviting over 30 speakers, 80 delegates and 20 partners to its event every year. During the summit, the delegates have to solve the YHS Challenge set by the summit's most esteemed partner, the Challenge Provider.

The team behind YHS consists of over 40 students from EHL Hospitality Business School, speaking over 25 languages and coming from 28 countries. They prepare the event for an entire year. The 2022 edition of the summit will be held virtually from the 7th to the 9th of March.

Leandra Kall Press Department

YHS Global
Iceland tourism and hotels are booming, but its hoteliers know that the pressure needs to be lifted off the countrys southwestern nexus of Keflavik International Airport and capital Reykjavik. The dramatic increase in tourism and the hospitality industry in Iceland in recent years is focused mostly on Reykjavik, with nearly all travelers arriving in Iceland via the countrys principal international airport 30 miles southwest of the capital, according to sources.

Read the full article at HotelNewsNow (part of CoStar)
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The Soft Landing for US Hoteliers Has Begun

Hotel room rates in the top-25 most popular U.S. destinations are averaging $197.08 this March, up from $179.17 in February, according to trivago hotel price indices (tHPI) released today. The U.S. online average daily rate (oADR), the industrys best analytic for competitive pricing, currently ranges among the top-25 destinations from a high of $321 to a low of $128 this March. Based on industry surveys, eforecasting.com estimates that in 2015 about 60% of all reservations are made online via brand websites and travel agent merchant websites, compared with only one-fourth eight years ago.

On year-over-year basis, the U.S. average online ADR is down (2.6%) in March from a year ago, lower than the previous month's year-over-year growth rate of . This March, trivago online room rates in Washington D.C., after rising (+4.9%) from last year, hit $321 a night, making the city the most expensive destination among the top-25 U.S. hotel markets. New York takes the second place in March with an online room rate of $278, after a drop of (6.4%) from a year ago. In Boston, the online room rate in March is shrinking (10.9%) from last year to $271 a night, ranking the city in the third place of the most expensive destinations in the United States.

At the bottom of the list, the three least expensive, or most affordable, cities to visit this March is Indianapolis recording a trivago online ADR of $134 a night after a (+8.1%) change from a year ago; San Antonio posts an online ADR of $132 following a (10.8%) change from last year; and lastly, the most affordable popular destination in the country is Salt Lake City with an online ADR of $128 after a nil change from a year ago. With a median online ADR of $181 amongst the top-25 most popular U.S. destinations, Atlanta is the country's average affordable city to visit this March.

Moving from data to hotel-biz-analytics, eforecasting.com's Smoothed Seasonally Adjusted (SSA) U.S. average online room rate has hit $195.65 in March. On a month-over-month basis - the hoteliers' analytic for tracking changes of what's now vs. what's happened in comparison to twelve months ago - SSA online ADR this March is down (1.4%) from the previous month, which is the same percent change as in the previous month. Looking at the top-25 hotel destinations, the month-to-month percent change in March ranges from a high of (+2.0%) in Phoenix to a low of (3.6%) in Atlanta. Amongst the top-25 destinations, the SSA online monthly room rate is growing in two cities; and is falling or staying flat in 23 cities.

"The latest US Monthly Hotel Forecast predicts profits per online room rates to decline on a year-over-year basis in the last three quarters of 2016," said Maria Sogard, CEO of eforecasting.com. For a complimentary copy of the full US Monthly Hotel Forecast with two-year predictions of occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, online ADR, costs per room, profitability and predictive analytics for investing in hotel properties, email us at info@e-forecasting.com with subject: USHOTfcast.

Looking at profitability, hoteliers' ultimate gauge for decision-making, profits per room are down (4.4%) on a year-over-year basis in March, since U.S. trivago's average online room rate has lost (2.6%) while eforecasting.com national unit (per room) cost index is up (+1.8%). For U.S. hoteliers, year-over-year profit margins posted a reading of (2.4%) in the previous month (February), compared to a mark of (+5.0%) a year ago (March 2015). Using trivago's online hotel room rates for the top-25 U.S. destinations and eforecasting.com's city-centric hotel unit (room) cost indices, year-over-year percent change in profits per room currently range from a high of (+10.2%) in Atlanta to a low of (13.4%) in New Orleans in March. Amongst the top-25 destinations, profits per room are up in 5 cities; they are down or are flat in 20 cities.

On tracking monthly the risk for business losses in providing services per room, the probability for U.S. hoteliers being in a negative profits (losses) phase of the industry's business cycle hit 100% in March, which is the same as in February. In the top-25 hotel destinations, the risk for hoteliers being in a period of losses per room in March ranging from a high of 100% in New York to a low of 4% in Phoenix. The probability of losses per room is above 50% in 20 cities; it is 50% or below in 5 cities.

About e-forecasting.com

Founded in Durham, NH in 1994, e-forecasting.com is a predictive intelligence consulting firm offering to clients customized solutions for whats next. For over 15 years, its hotel insights division has focused on hotel predictive analytics and forecasting products for the top destinations around the world to enhance its clients competitive advantage and improve their bottom line.

About trivago

Founded in Dusseldorf in 2005 with operations in 39 countries, trivago is the worlds largest online hotel search site, comparing room rates from over 700,000 hotels on over 200 booking sites worldwide. Each month, more than 45 million visitors use trivagos unique online technology, which compares 5 billion hotel deals a day - more than a trillion a year - and saves them an average of 35% per booking. Visit online http://www.trivago.com.
First Tru by Hilton Hotel Breaks Ground in Georgia

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) yesterday broke ground on its very first Tru by Hilton property located in McDonough, Georgia. The celebration marked the fastest brand announcement to groundbreaking in Hilton history, less than eight weeks after Trus public debut. Demonstrating Trus commitment to breaking the mold at every occasion, the milestone event tossed traditional hard hats and shovels aside, treating guests to an unveiling of 3D chalk paintings created of the hotels exterior and guest room design that allowed attendees to feel as though they were part of the hotel. In addition, attendees had some fun in an interactive photo booth that placed them right inside the lobby of the hotel.

The 98-room, 4-story hotel is located at 251 Avalon Court and is owned by McDonough Hotel Partners, LLC. It is expected to be completed in summer of 2017.

Tru is a disruptive brand, as evidenced by its statement-making entrance to the midscale category and now the Atlanta market, said Alexandra Jaritz, global head for Tru by Hilton. We know the brand will have broad appeal to Atlanta-area travelers who span generations but share a similar youthful mindset. At its core, Tru is value-engineered to provide guests with a contemporary, consistent and fresh experience in an affordable way, while at the same time being operationally efficient to our owners.

The value proposition continues to drive developer interest. Hilton Worldwide announced today that it has 189 Tru hotel deals in process to date, up from 130 hotels in January when the brand launched at The Americas Lodging Investment Summit.

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Todays groundbreaking in McDonough demonstrates Hiltons commitment to this new brand and, importantly, its owners, said Pete Patel, McDonough Hotel Partners LLC owner. Tru fills a massive void in the midscale category, and were delighted to be the first to bring this exciting new Hilton brand to life. It will add to the offerings in McDonough and provide a new option for travelers who believe that being cost conscious and having a great stay dont have to be mutually exclusive.

When completed, the new Tru by Hilton McDonough will provide guests with smart and efficiently designed guest rooms and reimagined public spaces, including an open lobby with four distinct zones for lounging, working, eating or playing. Designed to appeal cross-generationally, complimentary amenities will include breakfast, coffee and tea; mobile check-in and Digital Key available through the Hilton HHonors mobile app; a multifunctional fitness center; and segment-leading Wi-Fi bandwidth.

Sure to satisfy all taste buds and cravings, a Build Your Own breakfast will allow guests to customize their meal by choosing from a variety of bases, like hot oatmeal, and adding any of up to 30 sweet and savory items available at a toppings bar. A centrally located Command Center  a re-envisioned front desk  features a 24/7 market offering fun snacks and refreshments, single-serve wine and beer, healthy light meal options and sundries for purchase.

With Tru by Hilton, we are breaking through the clutter of undistinguished offerings in the midscale sector and delivering a hotel that travelers will want to go to rather than just through, said Matt Wehling, senior vice president of development  North America, Hilton Worldwide. Our fantastic partners within McDonough Hospitality Partners and Vision Hospitality are the first of many developers that see the opportunity Tru creates and will be breaking ground across the US in the coming months.

Tru by Hilton McDonough will participate in Hilton HHonors, the award-winning loyalty program serving more than 50 million members. Hilton HHonors offers members exclusive benefits and more ways to redeem points than any other guest loyalty program.

Tru by Hilton is a revolutionary midscale hotel brand providing a simplified and spirited approach that is grounded in value for business and leisure travelers. Disrupting the midscale hotel space, Tru by Hilton will offer modern and functional guest rooms and social connectivity with reimagined public spaces, including an open lobby comprised of four zones where guests can work, play, lounge and eat. Designed to appeal cross-generationally, guests will enjoy complimentary amenities including breakfast, coffee and tea; optional mobile check-in and Digital Key; a multifunctional fitness center; and high-speed Wi-Fi. Single-serve wine and beer, fun snacks and light meal options will be available for purchase at a 24/7 retail market. Tru by Hilton is the newest addition to Hilton Worldwides portfolio of market-leading brands.
The lead up to the release of Drakes Views From The Six has been short on details and long on rumors. Weve seen a number of social media posts from both Drake and his producer/friend Noah 40 Shebib suggesting that they are in the home stretch of recording.

Drake has lent credence to that timeline by sharing another Instagram photo of one of the many Views billboards that exist around Toronto. As usual, were short on description here, but Drakes one word is enough: April.

Weve seen billboards that hinted at an April release, but this is the first time we have anything official from Champagne Papi himself. Of course, we still dont know WHEN in April the album drops, but well have to be happy with what we get. It might be sooner rather than later, because Drake isnt even living in the studio or anywhere in Toronto right now  he appeared last night as a guest during Rihannas Anti tour in Miami.

Drake-April-Views
Four stops on the itinerary for Wexford-born star

Maverick Sabre has announced a quartet of Irish shows for May.

Billed as 'An Intimate Evening With Maverick Sabre' - steady on, ladies - the shows will be unplugged affairs, probably similar to the storming set he performed at a renewal of Bow St. Sessions earlier this year.

The tour kicks off at the Roisin Dubh on May 19, with visits to Project, Waterford (20), Live at St. Luke's in Cork (21) and Kilkenny's Set Theatre (22) also part of the most-welcome jaunt.

The Wexford-born, London-raised man released his second album, Innerstanding, to significant critical acclaim last year, furthering his claims as one of the most versatile and inventive artists around.
I saw a butterfly flutter by the other day.

Im not sure if it was out a bit early in the year, but seeing it made me wonder why such a beautiful creature would be named after a nasty one and a form of dairy product. So why butterfly?

Turns out its a very old word, and theories of its origin include the insects consuming butter or milk left uncovered, being most visible in the springtime when butter churning was going on or simply because the pale yellow color of many butterflies wings is similar to that of butter.

Whatever the case, when one flutters by, I will more appreciate its appearance than be concerned with butter.

ONE-NAME WONDERS

Not that it matters, but lots of well-known people go by just one name, and most other people dont know their whole names.

There are many examples of that in the music world. Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian and Bono is really Paul David Hewson.

Sting is Gordon Sumner (Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, to be exact) and Adele is Adele Adkins (or Adele Laurie Blue Adkins in its entirety).

Of course, theres Madonna, who is of Italian descent and was born Madonna Louise Ciccone, and multiple contestants on Season 18 of The Voice (which is going on now), including Chelle, Jules and CammWess.

Plenty of examples can be found elsewhere, too, like the most famous soccer player ever, Pele, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, and actor/comedian Sinbad, who was originally David Adkins.

Oh, and for the record, Dr. Phils last name is McGraw.

Like I said, not that it matters.

RHETORIC IS ALL AROUND

Having an odd sense of humor, I like hearing really good rhetoric.

I mean rhetoric in its best-known form, because the word is one of many in the English language that has multiple, opposing meanings.

The kind Im referring to is described in the words first definition listed by Dictionary.com: In writing or speech, the undue use of exaggeration or display; bombast. Other definitions less commonly associated with rhetoric include the ability to use language effectively, the study of the effective use of language and even the art of making persuasive speeches; oratory.

The rhetoric that most captures my attention (and tickles my funny bone) is the kind containing promises, proclamations or threats.

One virtually continuous source of juicy, ominous, but obviously rhetorical threats is North Korea, its capital city of Pyongyang and its supreme dunderhead (I mean leader) Jimmy John Nutcase (I mean, Kim Jong-un).

Pyongyang recently warned that its military personnel are holding tightly the arms to annihilate the enemies with towering hatred for them and are waiting for the dignified Supreme Command to issue an order to launch a preemptive strike of justice.

Ooh, doesnt that make you shudder and want to hunker down in your underground shelter, load your .38 special and .243 and heat up some freeze-dried scrambled eggs and potato flakes?

Actually, I think Kimmys personnel might be holding tight mostly to guns that jam when their triggers are pulled and any missiles launched by he and his henchmen/slaves might not make it very far past the walk-in closet that houses his collection of 50,000 DVDs before falling into the North Pacific.

Also right now, there is certainly no shortage of rhetorical promises and proclamations being thrown about thanks to the heavily political nature of 2020 in the U.S.

Yep, its time for everyone to come together because together, we can make a difference.

Its also time we keep America great and take back our country.

Yep, its good to know that everything will become hunky-dory once we all come together, right now, over you (I guess John Lennon knew what the heck that meant, but I sure dont).

Of course, a buttery fly might flutter by, too.

You know, sometimes I feel like I really would like to take back our country. Kind of like when my wife takes back a half-gallon of milk thats bad right off the shelf.

Doug Davison is a writer, photographer and newsroom assistant for the Houston Herald.

Email: ddavison@houstonherald.com.
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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-03-16 Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/> CONTENTS [01] Government, institutions still have many differences, says Economy minister [02] Alternate Migration Min Mouzalas estimates the refugee problem will not be solved in the next EU summit [03] Angelina Jolie's visit to Lesvos cancelled [04] "Ariadni" ferry with 600 refugees aboard docked at Piraeus port on Wednesday [01] Government, institutions still have many differences, says Economy minister The government and the heads of the institutions are approaching each other but there is still great distance between them on some issues, Economy Minister Giorgos Stathakis said after a meeting with the mission chiefs at the Hilton in central Athens. "There's an approach by the two sides but we still have a great distance to cover with the representatives of the institutions. There's a long road ahead for many issues, mainly for the loans of the small and medium-sized businesses and consumer loans," he said, but noted that there's a base for an approach on protecting the main residence from selling it to funds, without giving more details. The issues that remain open, according to information, will be discussed anew next Thursday. [02] Alternate Migration Min Mouzalas estimates the refugee problem will not be solved in the next EU summit Greek Alternate Minister for Migration Affairs Yiannis Mouzalas in an interview with Skai TV on Tuesday night estimated that the refugee issue will not be solved in the upcoming EU summit. "I will be happy if they set the basis for the solution of the problem (in the summit) and this has to do with the immediate relocation of refugees," Mouzalas underlined. Regarding Idomeni, he explained that the lack of state hosting facilities at the borders was both a political solution and a legal need. "We want to send the message that whoever goes to Idomeni, he goes with his own responsibility." Mouzalas also stressed that the refugees at Idomeni are unwilling to be transferred because they hope that the borders will open and estimated that the situation will have been improved in a month. [03] Angelina Jolie's visit to Lesvos cancelled The arrival of American actor Angelina Jolie to Lesvos has been cancelled, according to a UNHCR's statement. The Ministry for Migration Policy on Wednesday confirmed the news. Jolie, who acts as UNHCR's Goodwill Ambassador, was supposed to visit the refugee camps in Moria and Kara Tepe. [04] "Ariadni" ferry with 600 refugees aboard docked at Piraeus port on Wednesday "Ariadni" ferry with 600 refugees and migrants from Chios and Mytilene islands of the Northern Aegean Sea docked at the port of Piraeus early on Thursday morning. More specifically, the ferry carried 114 persons from Chios and another 486 refugees and migrants were embarked on Mytilene. According to the counting of the portuary authorities of Piraeus the number of the refugees and migrants hosted in the passengers stations and the stonewall warehouse at the port raised to 3,430 persons. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-03-16

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PM Tsipras meets Defence Min Kammenos [02] 3,930 refugees hosted at Piraeus port's passenger stations

[01] PM Tsipras meets Defence Min Kammenos

Kammenos had earlier asked for the resignation of Alternate Minister for Migration Policy Yiannis Mouzalas for referring to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) as "Macedonia" in an interview with Skai TV.

[02] 3,930 refugees hosted at Piraeus port's passenger stations
Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-03-16 Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/> CONTENTS [01] PM Tsipras discusses refugee crisis with UNHCR's Angelina Jolie [02] Merkel urges pan-European approach that does not abandon Greece [03] Greek central gov't cash balance shows 429-mln-euro surplus in Jan-Feb [01] PM Tsipras discusses refugee crisis with UNHCR's Angelina Jolie Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras met with American actress and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Special Envoy Angelina Jolie Pitt at Maximos Mansion on Wednesday, where they discussed the refugee crisis. Welcoming Jolie Pitt in Athens, Tsipras presented the refugee issue and noted the difficult situation which has been created at Greece's northern border. Earlier, Jolie Pitt paid a visit to some of the thousands of refugees and migrants temporarily housed in facilities in Piraeus port and the Elaionas refugee centre in central Athens. "The situation is very difficult especially on the northern border. I know that you visited reception centers in Piraeus. The situation there is better. We have 30,000 people who have been trapped in the Greek mainland due to actions of countries on the Balkan route," Tsipras told the UNHCR's special envoy. [02] Merkel urges pan-European approach that does not abandon Greece With a message to refugees at Idomeni to trust Greek authorities and move to the alternative accommodation prepared for them - but also a warning to European countries that the current temporary relief from refugee flows would not be without consequences - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday called for a pan-European approach that did not abandon Greece but reduced the number of refugees in all the countries. "At this time, without doubt we are benefiting in Germany from the fact that migration flows - due to the unilateral decisions of Austria and the countries along the Balkan Route - have stopped. But I cannot warn often enough that we must not be misled by this. Because this temporary relief that Germany and other member-states feel at this moment is one side, but the other side is the situation in Greece that must concern us all. Because this will not be without consequences for any of us in Europe," she said. Referring to Thursday's European summit during her speech to the Bundestag, and the discussion about opening new chapters in accession talks with Turkey, Merkel said that alot of work needed to be done and that Turkey's accession was not on the agenda in the short term. The real question, Merkel said, was how to reduce the number of refugees for all and to do so sustainably and permanently, without undermining Europe's basic achievements. Only a solution involving all of Europe would be able to prevent the refugee routes from shifting, due to the closure of internal borders, to new and more dangerous routes that will benefit only the traffickers, she added. Only such a pan-European approach will result in solutions that will not sacrifice the last member-state in the line, which in this case was Greece, she noted, pointing out that Germany only prospered sustainably when Europe prospered as a whole. She welcomed the European Commission's decision to provide assistance to Greece and said that Germany had also provided help on a bilateral level, while she was in close communication with the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, as were the German interior and foreign minister with their Greek counterparts. Merkel referred to Greece's obligations to set up fully operational hotspots and register all arriving refugees, saying that there had been significant progress in this area, as well as in providing reception facilities, since the autumn of 2015. She noted that Greece wants to handle the crisis in a humane way, providing safety, care and shelter, and that Germany was willing to assist with this, both financially and practically. Talking about the prospects of the refugees in Greece, the German chancellor clarified that they did not have the right to asylum in a specific country of their choosing but they did have a right to be treated in a humane way. "We are working on this with Greece... those now waiting in Idomeni must trust the Greek government, that the new accommodation in Greece is a great deal better than in Idomeni," she said. [03] Greek central gov't cash balance shows 429-mln-euro surplus in Jan-Feb Greece's central government cash balance recorded a surplus of 429 million euros in the January-February period this year, compared to a deficit of 920 million in the same period in 2015, the Bank of Greece said on Wednesday. The central bank, in a report, said that during this period, ordinary budget revenue amounted to 7,585 million euros, compared to 6,735 million in the corresponding period of last year. Revenue of 43 million euros from Securities Markets Programme (SMP) income transfers from the Bank of Greece is excluded. Ordinary budget expenditure amounted to 7,779 million euros, from 7,677 million in January-February 2015. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
uring a potential employee is the right cultural fit for your organization is a key part of many recruitment processes  but is it always the most important? Here, HRM spoke to two award-winning employers who said it trumped skills and capability any day.You can go to the marketplace and you can recruit for capability, particularly in a leadership role, but if you get the wrong cultural fit, they can destroy a lot of hard work very, very quickly, warned Leading Edges group CEO Struan Abernethy.Wed sooner recruit for the right profile than the right capability because you can develop capability, he continued. Of course we dont always get it right because its not 100 per cent science but we are very focussed on it.The sales organization has been identified a number of times as one of New Zealands best workplaces  as has facilities management company Recreational Services.Kim Ibberson is the HR manager at Recreational Services  she told HRM that the company has a specific cultural interview during the recruitment process.Its a pretty robust recruitment process so we do obviously look for the skills and knowledge but more importantly the directors really look for fit, she revealed.Because its a family-owned business, and has been now for 23 years, there really is that family-value so they want people that really fit with the values, she explained.Once a candidate has made it through the standard recruitment process, theyre then put through a cultural interview, which Ibberson says will be attended by at least one company director.They like to keep in touch, have their finger on the pulse and make sure that the right people are going into the right roles  thats just a part of that family culture, she added.
Edmonton parents waiting for their premature babies to leave intensive care at Royal Alexandra Hospital used to rely on stiff chairs for a good night's sleep.

That's all changed, now that the new Family Care Unit at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women has opened its doors.

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Premature babies are initially cared for in the NICU  which parents have 24-hour access to  then taken to the Family Care Unit as they grow stronger.

Once there, mom and dad can rest comfortably in one of nine semi-private rooms with full beds and breastfeeding chairs.

Jessica Pott and Jean-Michel Cyr were among the first parents to stay in the Family Care Unit after twins Olivia and Henry were born at 28 weeks in January, The Edmonton Journal reported.

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Pott told the newspaper that the centre feels like a hotel, "but with nurses."

"It's nice to be able to have a nap or a shower while the twins are sleeping," the mom said.

Parents David Marples and his wife Aya Fujiwara were also among the earliest families to stay in the Family Care Unit, after their twin girls were born prematurely.

The girls spent three weeks in the new centre before going home, and their parents had high praise for their care.

"The nurses went way beyond the call of duty," Marples said in a Royal Alexandra news release.

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Alaska Airlines just gave a big lesson in how to smooth things over with passengers this week.

Flight 800 was travelling from Sacramento to Seattle on Monday when a drunk passenger started disrupting the flight despite crew members' best efforts to calm him, said King 5 News.

The passenger eventually locked himself in a bathroom, and the flight was grounded in Portland so he could be handed over to police, KOIN 6 reported.

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The rest of the passengers eventually arrived in Seattle at around 1:15 a.m., over an hour behind schedule.

But Alaska Airlines had a perk for customers who were inconvenienced.

Twitter user @madisadventures tweeted the following on Tuesday:

That's one way to win them over!

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A BMO economist has harsh words for "scaremongers" guilty of making dire predictions about Canadian real estate for the past eight years.

"Hey, forecasting is hard," said Douglas Porter, the bank's chief economist, on Wednesday. "But let's not give a pass to some of these scaremongers who have been dead wrong."

Average housing prices have been defying the grim the portents analysts have been making since 2008, according to the report titled "Canada's Non-Goldilocks Housing Market and the 33 Bears."

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A chart shows prices steadily climbing over time, though with fluctuations.

Click for full size.

Porter notes that average Canadian home sale transaction prices hit an "all-time high of more than $500,000 last month," adding that it represents growth of over 60 per cent since the dark predictions began.

Porter was particularly harsh on predictions of a 25 per cent decline in Canadian housing prices.

"Try 35 per cent rise," he said.

But another BMO economist hasn't dismissed the possibility of a correction  saying it's already happening in some areas.

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Economist Robert Kavcic wrote in January that a real estate correction is taking place in areas linked to oil production, such as Calgary and Regina.

Calgary benchmark prices have declined by 2.3 per cent year over year, while Regina's are eight per cent below peak levels.

"In both cities, strong population flows and double-digit price gains fueled a significant jump in new housing starts," he said.

"But with unemployment on the rise and population growth set to cool, that new supply is coming onto an already-stagnant market."

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has suggested he doesn't deserve a pat on the back for calling himself a feminist. In fact, Trudeau says he'd prefer if there was no response at all.

"I'm going to keep saying loud and clearly that I am a feminist until it is met with a shrug," Trudeau said Wednesday during a discussion on gender equality at the United Nations in New York.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a meeting on gender equality at United Nations headquarters on March 16, 2016. (Photo: Jason Szenes/EPA via CP)

At an event hosted by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, executive director of UN Women, the prime minister was asked why he's comfortable using the term to describe himself. Trudeau said he didn't understand why the "Twitterverse explodes" and how it's a story every time he calls himself a feminist.

"It shouldn't be something that creates a reaction. It simply is saying, I believe in the equality between men and women and I believe that we still have an awful lot of work to get there," he said.

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"That's like saying the sky is blue and the grass is green."

The observation that using the word garners international interest suggests there's more work to be done, Trudeau said.

"It shouldn't be something that creates a reaction. It simply is saying, I believe in the equality between men and women."

At a World Economic Forum panel discussion in Davos, Switzerland in January, Trudeau sparked applause when he said people shouldn't "be afraid of the word 'feminist.'" Men and women should use it to describe themselves any time they want, he said.

Clips of Trudeau's remarks quickly went viral  a video posted to Al Jazeera's Facebook page has been viewed more than 13 million times.

And the Liberal Party of Canada also made sure to promote the moment online.

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But on Wednesday, the prime minister suggested he's just reflecting something his generation and those younger find rather obvious. Or, as he twice put it, "sort of duh."

"We should be standing up for women's rights and trying to create more equal societies. Duh," he said. "We should be respecting diversity and pushing back against racism? I mean, come on."

Trudeau also suggested the attention he's getting isn't related to a "specific exceptionalism" on his part, but a shift that comes with a new generation of leadership.

"I'm just one of the first of our generation to poke through and to take his face on the world stage," he said. "And any one of my generation might have done as well as I happen to be doing."

Trudeau also conceded that while his father Pierre was a "great guy" who promoted equality and fairness, he's uncertain if the former prime minister would have qualified as a feminist.

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A lot more work to do in Canadian politics

Though he received some kudos for his gender-balanced cabinet, Trudeau admitted that with female representation in the House of Commons at just 26 per cent, things are a "long way" from equal.

As he did at the WEF, Trudeau brought up that some pundits were unhappy with his pledge to appoint an equal number of men and women to cabinet, arguing the appointments should be based solely on merit.

"Men should be lucky I only made it a 50 per cent woman cabinet because it wouldn't be fair to go purely on merit-based, as we all know," he said.

He also opened up about his efforts to recruit women to run under his party's banner, particularly International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland. The prime minister said he had to ask Freeland, a former New York City-based journalist, a "whole bunch of times" to uproot her family and run in a 2013 byelection in Toronto.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau applauds International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland at a news conference in Toronto on Jan. 13, 2016. (Photo: Chris Young/CP)

Trudeau said the reaction was different when Liberals would recruit men.

"One of the things we saw, when you ask a man if he wants to run for politics, his first question is: 'So, when do I start?' If you ask a woman if she wants to run for politics, her first question is: 'why me?'" he said.

Trudeau added that if you have to ask a woman "on average 14 times" before she'll agree to run for politics, there's no time to waste.

Parliament designed for 'old, white guys'

The prime minister said his government is also looking at way to make Parliament more family-friendly as a way to encourage more women to run for office, especially those with young children. The institution, he said, was "designed for old, white guys."

Trudeau hinted that changes could be coming to the sitting hours and travel requirements for MPs.

The prime minister also encouraged fathers to take parental leave.

And he said businesses should do more to promote equality.

"One of the things that has shown effectiveness is just making people report explicitly on the gender balance within their organization, within their boards at the highest levels,'' Trudeau said. "That incentivizes positive behaviour in meaningful ways.''

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Later Thursday, Trudeau received a special commendation from Catalyst, a U.S. non-profit dedicated to the progress of women in the workforce. The group lauded Trudeau in January for "championing women's rights and bringing women into the broader political dialogue."

With files from The Canadian Press, previous files

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National Post columnist Chris Selley recently questioned Green Party Leader and MP Elizabeth May's support for VIA Rail's Toronto-Vancouver flagship train. Selley echoed the views of the Conservative-appointed Canada Transportation Act Review Committee, that the Canadian should not be subsidized.

Across its 4,440-km route, the Canadian provides an essential service to many communities without other public transportation options. It attracts large numbers of international tourists to the Canadian Rockies and communities like Jasper, Alberta. It is a globally-recognized symbol of Canada, and graces our $10 bank notes. Trains are also the most energy efficient form of land transport, with the lowest CO2 emissions.

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Canada is the only developed country in the world without a national rail strategy.

Rail critics apply different criteria for different kinds of transportation spending. Expecting rail to be 100-percent privately funded is an unfair double standard intended to shut down passenger rail. The United States went down this road and found it was a dead end.

Former Senator Hillary Clinton had this to say on the subject: "Passenger rail is an essential element of our transportation network that provides irreplaceable capacity and mobility. For nearly seven years, we have had to fight the (Bush) Administration's constant attempts to privatize and dismantle our nation's premier passenger rail service, Amtrak. Eliminating Amtrak service would be an economic disaster and an irresponsible policy... No country in the world has ever developed and maintained a successful passenger railroad system without assistance from their national government."

Canada is the only developed country in the world without a national rail strategy.

In Canada, passenger rail funding of about $300 million per year is less than one percent of the government subsidies to roads, air transport and marine terminals. Many call the latter "investments," while the inadequate supports provided to our passenger trains are often labelled "subsidies." Imagine what a trans-Canada flight would cost if you had to pay for air traffic control, airport security and oil subsidies.

Two reports by rail consultant Greg Gormick, one prepared for me as Thunder Bay-Superior North MP, compared VIA with the publicly owned Amtrak (Wedding Band of Confederation, and a 2015 report for Transport Action Ontario).

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Gormick shows clearly how increased public modernization investments boosted Amtrak's service nationwide, increased ridership, cut operating costs and increased revenues.

Gormick also compared VIA's Canadian with Amtrak's Empire Builder, which links Chicago, Seattle and Portland, Ore. (similarly, a vast distance with scattered populations). Modernized and operating daily, for roughly the same costs as the Canadian, the Empire Builder delivers triple the frequency and attracts five times as many passengers. VIA's Canadian uses antiquated 1950s equipment, runs only three times weekly in the summer and twice weekly the rest of the year. The Mulroney government foolishly ended the spectacular and popular Lake Superior North Shore route in 1990.

The Canadian urgently requires modernization, and investment in it would generate three to four times the capital cost through economic spin-offs and job creation. The operating cost reductions would allow a more frequent Canadian, yielding economic, social and environmental dividends for decades to come. The other desperate national problem is that the privatized CN Rail now gouges VIA customers with exorbitant trackage charges and allows oil trains too long to fit onto sidings to delay VIA's Canadian.

Hopefully, our new Liberal government will recognize the value of investing in the modernization of the Canadian and VIA's other services. The alternative would be to allow the Harper Conservatives to govern from the grave.

The Green Party of Canada is committed to the renewal of VIA. The Canadian is an integral part of our vision, and we call for its retention and modernization to restore this national treasure to its former glory.

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Kutay Tanir via Getty Images Flag of Canada

Employment opportunities for newcomers to Canada are as diverse as the Canadian landscape. Manufacturing, natural resources, government (or public service), financial, telecommunications and professional designations are just a few of the employment sectors to choose from.

However, immigrants can face unique challenges when looking for work in Canada. These could include developing a list of networking contracts from scratch or obtaining certification so skills and education are recognized here. Tackling these steps takes some planning and perseverance. There are plenty of support programs and information on how to prepare for work in Canada, and where to find immigrant services in your area. Several provinces across the country also have government-assisted programs to help connect employers with skilled immigrants.

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Before you set out to look for work in Canada, there are some things you should consider to help ensure success in your job search:

Get your credentials assessed

Newcomers often come to Canada with high levels of education and designations that may not be recognized here. There are programs available across the country to assess your international education. The assessments are valuable in helping you decide if you need to pursue further education, help you plan your career and job search, get professional recognition, licensing, and more.

Look for education 'bridging' programs

Research universities or colleges, such as Ryerson University in Toronto, that have programs to bridge the gap in your education and experience by providing Canadian designations or certifications. Many of these programs also help you network and make valuable connections with potential employers to gain Canadian experience.

Apply for internships

The government offers a Federal Internship for Newcomers (FIN) Program, which provides temporary Canadian work experience and training opportunities with federal government departments and private sector organizations. Also, consider approaching companies in your field of interest and ask about temporary volunteering or internship. It will give you an opportunity to demonstrate your skills and gain some Canadian work experience while making contacts in your industry.

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Start your own business

Do you prefer to be your own boss and have a new business idea? Or maybe you want to open the same business you once had? Most people don't realize that 20 per cent of newcomers will start a business in Canada. It's important to build a credit history in Canada, as your banking records from another country are not readily available to Canadian financial institutions.

There's no doubt that arriving to a new country, and the steps to establishing yourself, will be hard work. But like anything, it ultimately comes with its own rewards. Given that more than half of Canada's latest population growth is due to immigrants, there are many others who have experienced similar struggles. You can take heart and learn from some of their experiences -- and their advice to have faith in your future.

Are you a newcomer who has recently become employed in Canada? What have been your greatest challenges and successes, and what services have helped you the most? Share your comments below or on Twitter @RBC_Canada.

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Justin Trudeau's government made significant progress last week in bolstering Canada's vital relationship with the United States.

Managing that relationship successfully is every prime minister's largest foreign policy obligation. It had frayed in recent years and needed fresh attention. Hard work through our first four months in office helped to lay the foundation for Mr. Trudeau's truly remarkable visit to Washington -- the first in nearly 20 years.

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Canada and the United States share the longest and most lucrative unmilitarized border in the world.

Justin Trudeau came to office last November determined to reset the Canada-U.S. relationship.

It spans nearly 9,000 kilometres. There are 120 official crossings. Some 400,000 people move back-and-forth across that border every day. So does two-way trade valued at $2.4-billion every day. At one and the same time, we want the border to be safe and secure while trade across it remains a major source of economic growth and prosperity. If security concerns linger, the border thickens and the legitimate movement both of people and goods becomes more difficult.

As far back as 2011, the previous federal government entered into a security and trade initiative with the Obama administration known as "Beyond the Border." But over time, other things got in the way, momentum stalled, and it didn't get done.

Justin Trudeau came to office last November determined to reset the Canada-U.S. relationship. As his official visit and the State Dinner last week demonstrated, Canada has made significant progress in barely four months -- on international relations, economic issues, trade, the global battle against climate change, and a better-functioning border.

With respect to the border, we have three new arrangements to note:

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Expanding Preclearance

It's just so much more efficient and convenient for travellers to be able to clear U.S. customs and immigration BEFORE they cross the border. Lost time on arrival is eliminated. And airlines get direct access to a vast array of domestic airports in the U.S. that don't have local customs facilities.

Various forms of preclearance have existed in Canada for more than half a century. Currently eight large airports offer the service -- Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto Pearson, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax -- plus there are some informal sites serving rail and cruise-ship businesses on the west coast.

A new comprehensive framework for preclearance will not only provide more jurisdictional clarity, it will also pave the way for a major expansion -- first, in long sought-after facilities and routes like Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto and Jean Lesage Airport in Quebec City, the Rocky Mountaineer Railway in BC, and the train from Montreal to New York. Existing marine and rail operations on the West Coast will be regularized. The best ways to pre-clear cargo shipments will be pursued. And the door has been opened to future preclearance venues in locations like Regina/Saskatoon.

Closing A Border Loophole

Unlike most other countries, Canada does not now collect any information on people leaving our country. We get full details about arrivals, but not departures. So, at any given moment, we are not sure who exactly remains in this country or for how long. This is a clear security gap and we need to catch up to the rest of the world.

So, we've launched a new Canada-U.S. "exit" data arrangement. The data involved does not extend beyond the basic, non-intrusive facts that appear on Page-2 of everybody's passport which are currently required to enter into the United States or Canada (plus the location and date of departure). No new requirements will be imposed on the travelling public.

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For those who cross the border by land, the country into which they enter will simply send that passport information and departure details back to the country they just left -- by definition, one country's "entry" is the other country's "exit" and vice versa. For those travelling by air, no new exchange of data will be necessary because each country will collect what is currently available directly and independently from airline passenger manifests.

Having basic departure information will help us respond more accurately to Amber Alerts about missing children, human trafficking, terrorist travel, immigration proceedings and visa applications.

Enhancing Air Safety/Protecting Privacy

So-called "No-Fly" lists have long been a standard feature of both domestic and global air travel. Based on their own intelligence and security analyses, countries identify specific individuals who pose serious risks to transportation security or are likely to travel abroad for the purpose of engaging in terrorism, and they are consequently denied access to airplanes.

This has serious implications, so we have involved the federal Justice Department to ensure the approach to listing individuals respects the Charter of Canadian Rights and Freedoms. As well, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner was and remains engaged for advice about privacy issues.

To ensure coherence, avoid mistakes and better protect individual rights and privacy, Canada will insist on several safeguards applicable to the sharing of our No-Fly list with the Americans. The purpose must be strictly confined to preventing transportation security threats or travel for terrorist purposes. There will be a procedure for de-listing the names of those who should not be on the lists. And we'll have a joint process to better deal with situations in which innocent travelers are wrongly red-flagged as "false positives."

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Taken together, this is a significant set of initiatives in a strong, sensible border package that avoids "thickening," enhances the smooth flow of people and goods, and improves safety, while safeguarding rights and privacy.

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Alan Thornton via Getty Images Man lying in bed, with thermometer in mouth, close-up (Enhancement)

A food handler going to work with a cough, a parent sending their sick child to school or an emergency room nurse making snap decisions through the fog of a flu. It doesn't take a medical degree to appreciate the counterproductive consequences of these decisions, yet far too often, these are the stories of our patients and countless others like them. For far too many, struggling to make ends meet, afraid to lose even a day's pay -- going to work sick is the only choice they have.

Understanding why requires swapping stethoscopes for statutes and looking upstream for answers.

With the exception of Prince Edward Island, no province or territory guarantees a minimum number of paid sick days for employees. Across the country, young people, seniors and low-wage workers are the hardest hit. Less than half of young and older employees work in jobs that provide paid sick days. The lower an employee's pay, the less likely they are to be covered by a voluntary sick days policy.

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Even in Canada's single exception, the birthplace of Confederation, legislation is woefully inadequate. Prince Edward Islanders are entitled to a single day of paid sick leave - but only after five years of continuous service with the same employer. Worse still, not only do countless Canadians lack paid sick days, many are at risk of losing their job for unexpected illness. In Ontario alone, 1.6 million people cannot rely on any labour legislation for protection against losing their jobs for taking a sick day without pay.

The news is not all bad. San Francisco, a city many associate with high-tech start-ups and the innovation economy, has been a leader on using paid sick days to keep its residents healthy.

Since 2007, the Golden Gate City has mandated that all employers provide their workers with one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. After surveying more than 700 employers and nearly 1,200 employees, researchers found employees were better able to care for themselves and family members, including being able to stay home with a sick child. Even more encouraging, two-thirds of employers supported the new mandated policy and the vast majority reported that their profitability did not suffer.

Despite being eligible for five or nine paid sick days per year, the typical employee used only three, and a quarter used none.

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San Francisco's success should come as no surprise. Research has shown that paid sick days reduce the duration of sickness, the risk of worsening minor conditions and are associated with higher return to work rates from serious illnesses like a heart attack.

Though this has been a long-standing problem, calls for change are growing ever louder.

In Ontario, the provincial government has commissioned a review of the Employment Standards Act, legislation that has seen no major revisions since the end of the Second World War. There, a coalition of doctors, nurses, researchers and workers, have launched a campaign for change along the lines of the San Francisco model.

Across the country, other groups of health care providers and workers are starting to come together to push for change.

The phenomenon of presenteeism (people coming to work despite being sick) is endemic in our work culture and has been estimated to cost Canadian businesses $15-25 billion per year. Protecting sick time is part of sending a message to employers and employees to rethink our approach to work. When we take care of ourselves, and take the time needed to recover when ill, it improves the short and long-term health of workers, and the bottom line of the businesses that employ them.

It's high time we had policies guaranteeing sick time for Canadian workers.
In writing my guidebook on how to relocate abroad, I came across all sorts of statistics indicating that Melbourne was one of the top spots to make a big move.

As luck would have it, my brothers gifted a mini-break in the city for my 40th birthday. Already in New Zealand for the big one, it was an easy jump over the Tasman Sea and, with a few local recommendations (thank you @_itsbeautifulhere!), we were ready for a very full three-night visit.

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Upon arrival, our first stop was to check in at The Langham. Conveniently located with sweeping views over the Yarra river and Melbourne's bustling Central Business District. After a quick confirmation of treatments at the hotel's Chuan Spa, dinner was the next order of business. We hopped in a cab and directed the driver to Fitzroy and Marion Wine Bar. Go, obviously, for the wide range of vintages on offer, but be sure to order the whole flounder to share.

From that first evening out, our focus had shifted to food and here are a few more gems we discovered:

CBD

Mama's Buoi - Look no further for a place to recharge your shopping engines. Fresh Vietnamese salads with bbq chicken make for a satisfying lunch.

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Curry Vault - Casual curries in one of the cities laneways. Best onion banji!

LYGON STREET...Everything Italian!

Brunetti - This institution does a smaller outpost in the CBD, however the original is worth going the extra mile. And not just for the espresso; there's the pizza, pasta and pastries to fill your plate. La dolce vita, indeed.

Gelatissimo - They had me at dairy-free chocolate gelato, but others in my party enjoyed scoops of salted caramel and apple pie.

Tank - Another perfect lunch... This time it was grilled calamari salad.

BARS

Siglo (2/161 Spring St) - A classy rooftop patio with delicious bar snacks and creative cocktails.

Embla (122 Russell) St) - We literally stumbled across this spot on our walk from Siglo to the hotel. A diamond-in-the-rough wine bar that also does morning coffee.

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HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Colonial Tramcar Dinner - Don't make the mistake of thinking this is "too touristy". The ride is actually a very unique way to see a bit of the city; made all the more delightful by entertaining staff and lovely food.

Queen Victoria Market - I love a market, even when I can't take any of the fresh produce home with me. There's always bound to be cafes and shops around and, inside this one, we loaded up on products from Coconut Revolution.

A local tip is to hit the South Melbourne Market on the weekend.

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Australian Centre for the Moving Image - Never disappoints. The last time I was in the city (2011), I checked out an incredible Disney exhibition. This time, it was Julian Rosefeldt's fantastic Manifesto starring Cate Blanchett. The permanent exhibits are a cool hit of culture for all ages.

All said, Melbourne is a wonderful walking city and I can see (and taste!) why people are on the move here.

Images courtesy of the writer's Instagram. Her guidebook, How To Make Big Moves: Relocate Without Losing Your Mind, is now available on Amazon for Kindle.

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Queen snake (Photo by Joe Crowley)

For many of us, Saint Patrick is known as the protector of the rolling hills of Ireland. Every year North Americans join in celebrating his legendary story.

The green beer, shamrocks and other verdant regalia common of the current St. Paddy's Day are actually meant to celebrate the story of St. Patrick. Folklore has it that after 40 days of fasting and wearing a garment of green, he drove the snakes out of Ireland and chased them into the sea.

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To this day, the grassy landscapes of Ireland remain free of any snake species. And despite this popular tale, they always have.

According to scientists, there has never been any fossil evidence of snakes found on the island; proving no snake has ever slithered on Irish soil. It is believed snakes were unable to reach these lands due to the Ice Age, which kept Irish territory too cold for snakes to survive.

England, on the other hand, was colonized by three species of snakes: venomous adder, grass snake and smooth snake. This was possible by the land bridge connecting the country to Europe.

Ireland is one of five countries that are snake-free. The others are New Zealand, Iceland, Greenland and Antarctica.

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Although many staff and Conservation Volunteers at the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) may celebrate St. Patrick's Day, we like to keep our snakes on our lands. In fact, we're making conservation efforts to ensure they stay.

Blue racer (Photo by Jon Fife)

Snakes are an important part of ecosystems. As middle-order predators, they keep natural environments and food webs working.

There are 25 species of snakes in Canada, including the now-extirpated (locally extinct) timber rattlesnake. Twelve of these 25 snake species are considered endangered by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. One of these species is the blue racer; a snake exclusive to Peele Island, present on the more than one-kilometre stretch of land protected by NCC on the island.

"NCC's work to manage non-native invasive plants and plant succession in key areas provides a mosaic of sun and shade to keep the snake species on NCC properties happy," says Mhairi McFarlane, conservation science manager for NCC's Ontario Region.

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By eradicating most of the non-native common reed from an 800 metre stretch of shoreline on the island, NCC has recreated foraging, basking, nesting and hibernation sites for the blue racer and other snake species such as the eastern foxsnake that are present on Pelee Island.

Northern brown snake (Photo by Mike VanValen)

Snakes can be found on NCC's many properties across Canada, except on Newfoundland and Labrador. That said, in 2010 a pregnant garter snake was found in St. David's in southwestern Newfoundland. This species, despite being native to other Canadian regions, was considered an introduced species on the island.

For those of you who are like Indiana Jones and are afraid of snakes, you have nothing to fear. A common misconception of snakes and a reason why people develop a fear towards them is their presumed venomous bites. But in Canada, there are only three species of venomous snakes: the endangered Massasauga in Ontario; the western rattlesnake in southern British Columbia, southwestern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan; and the rare night snake in limited areas of southern BC.

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Eastern hog-nosed snake (Photo by Ben Lowe)

It is important to note: snakes are more afraid of you than you are of them. Much like any species, they generally will only bite if provoked. Bites from snake species in Canada are few and far between.

But this superficial fear of snakes (also known as ophidiophobia or ophiophobia) is one of the main reasons why many snakes are at risk. In addition to habitat loss and fragmentation, snakes face several human-posed risks such as harassment and needless killing.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is not only working to protect the species on our properties from coast to coast; we are also working to raise awareness about our slithery friends. So on this St. Patrick's Day, celebrate the Irish saint with your attire; not your mindset. While sporting green, help share the importance of these not-so-scary reptiles.

This post originally appeared onLand Lines and was written by Raechel Bonomo, communications assistant with the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
Easter comes early in 2016 meaning you won't want to get caught out by shop closures and shorter opening times over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Good Friday and Easter Monday are Bank Holidays, meaning a four day weekend for many of us and most schools will break until 10 April.

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Good Friday is on 25 March, Easter Sunday on 27 March and Easter Monday on the 28th.

Easter opening times to cater for all your shopping needs

Easter opening hours vary from store to store, with some outlets remaining 24 hours, but customers can check their local branch online at Asda.com.

A giant chocolate chicken is the star of Asda's new #Easter TV ad

The majority of Tesco Express stores will be open as normal throughout the Easter weekend.

Almost all the bigger stores will be open as normal on Good Friday, closed on Sunday and will have restricted hours on Bank Holiday Monday.

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Tesco customers will be able to check the opening hours for their local stores from the weekend at the store's online locator guide.

ALDI stores will be closed on Easter Sunday. Customers can check their local branches here for other days.

Most Local stores are open as usual over Easter, including Sunday. Use the online finder for store specific information.

Store specific, with the website to provide detailed information on some Sunday closures.

Good Friday - Majority of core branches will open between 8am and 8pm. Convenience stores between 7am and 10pm

Saturday -All branches will trade their normal hours

Easter Sunday: No core and convenience branches will trade

Easter Monday - Majority of core branches will open between 9am and 6pm, with some variations of 8am - 8pm and 10am - 4pm. The majority of convenience branches will trade as usual.

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For store specific information, visit the website.

Lidl stores will be closed on Easter Sunday and open as usual on other dates over the bank holiday period. Customers can check their local branch here.

Good Friday - All stores open at usual times, all stores close at 8pm

Easter Saturday - All stores open as usual

Easter Sunday - All stores in England, Wales and Northern Ireland closed. All stores in Scotland and Isle of Man open as usual

Easter Monday - All stores open at 7am, all stores close at 8pm

Further store specific information can be found here.

Good Friday - 6.30am - 9pm

Easter Saturday: 6.30am - 9pm

Easter Sunday: Closed, with Scottish stores opening from 10am - 4pm

Easter Monday: 6.30am - 9pm

Customers can use the chain's online store finder, although outlets will generally be open from 10am - 4pm on Easter Sunday and 8am - 8pm on Easter Monday.
The five things you need to know on Wednesday March 16, 2016

1) OS-BROWNS SCHOOL DAYS

The comparisons between George Osborne and Gordon Brown are by now well-worn, but the Chancellor still shows many of the traits of his predecessor. Today, hes taking a big step beyond his Treasury brief, sounding (dare I say it) like an acting Prime Minister as he puts his firm stamp on education policy.

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The big plan to turn every school into an academy is part of the overnight brief. Yes, it was trailed in the manifesto and the Tory conference. But its further evidence, if needed, that councils are seen as the enemy by this Government (though some educationalists say that ironically LEAs could actually keep control of admissions if all schools are academies). Councils may well feel yet more pain in new cuts later too.

The consumer angle however is the idea of ripping up the Victorian school day that ends at 3.30pm, and extending it by five hours a week. Some working parents will like this, but many others will loathe it as another step towards warehousing their kids, disrupting their after-school clubs and so on. Either way, its a bold reform.

Among the eve-of-Budget news stories are the FT pointing out Osborne will break yet another of his own rules (how very Gordon), this time on debt. The Times suggests hes looked at cutting capital gains on second homes to help unfreeze part of the housing market. The Guardian has his 100m homelessness fund. Weve done up the tampon tax - and how he could scrap it altogether.

John Healey has written us a blog on just how Osborne's going wrong. My colleague Graeme Demianyk reports that the 'Omnishambles' Budget of 2012 actually netted quite a lot of dosh.

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2) BUDGET FEAR

Will Osborne dare make the Budget part of Project Fear? Not explicitly, but the overriding message will be one of global certainty and dangers, all part of the narrative that its no time to take a leap in the dark.

Disproving those who think hes been muzzled by No.10-friendly proprietors, the Telegraphs Philip Johnston today says the Chancellor will signal that the last thing it needs is a shock to the system, even though the fundamentals have changed little since his rose-tinted Autumn Statement. He quotes one Euroscep Tory minister: I hadnt expected No 10 to run the Remain campaign itself or for the PM to be so heavily involved and in your face. Naive or what?

The Sun reveals former Cabinet minister David Jones has been tweeting anonymously under the BrexitInJune name (though his name and photo are on the account, now at least). Among his tweets are calls for Cameron to quit should he lose. After the PM suggested it would take 10 years to sort a Brexit trade deal, he tweeted: Clearly we need a new Tory leader to sort things out more quickly. He also warned Im a lifelong Tory; always will be. But if Cameron asks me to choose between loyalty to him, its country every time.

Ahead of the Budget, Michael Gove may finally be asked some straight questions on his Queen/EU conversations at the Justice Committee: hes up at 10.15am in the Grimond Room.

3) EVERLASTING GOP-STOPPER

The hot news overnight from the US is that Marco Rubio has finally given up the ghost. The GOPs establishment candidate was hammered in Florida by Trump, 46 percent to 27 percent. If you cant even win your home state - as Al Gore couldnt in the 2000 general election (a victory that would have made him President despite hanging chads) - you frankly dont deserve to be nominee, let alone get to the White House.

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Rubios loss says a lot of things: the way some young candidates are pushed too early for the top job, the awesome raw popularity of Trump, the inflexibility of party bigwigs. Announcing he was suspending his campaign (why dont they just say theyre ending their campaigns?), Rubio told his supporters do not give into the feardo not give into the frustration. That sounded like he was urging them not to vote Trump in November. Hillary marches on, meanwhile.

The gag in January was that The Republicans haven't got a single candidate who could survive a Willie Wonka factory tour. Well, Trump is proving the everlasting GOP-stopper. Aided in part by the 2bn in free airtime hes had from the US media.

With Ted Cruz still in second, Ohio-winner John Kasich desperately wants to be the Establishment candidate. Will we get that fabled brokered convention in the summer, if Trump fails to win the remaining 60% of delegates?

An outsider harnessing anger with the status quo, establishment candidates who did too little to see the tsunami heading their way, moves behind closed doors to stitch up the contest to oust the winner.now, which British political party does that remind you of?

Trump and Jeremy Corbyn are poles apart politically but maybe their teams can swap stories on how to defy expectations - and how to circle you wagons once youve won.

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BECAUSE YOUVE READ THIS FAR

Watch Trevor Kavanagh and Alastair Campbell fight over the role papers play in the EU referendum.

4) A PAINFUL LABOUR

Jeremy Corbyn faces a big test today with his first ever Budget response as leader of the Opposition (its the Shadow Chancellors job in the Autumn Statement). There will be no Little Red Book stunt from Corbyn, though you can expect Osborne to try to provoke him.

The Labour leader will probably not try to master the stats in the real Red Book, as Ed Balls used to, and will probably instead rattle off his main attack lines against the Tories. In the huddle-wars after the last Budget, then Shadow Chancellor Chris Leslie was impressively quick to spot the tax credits cuts. Will John McDonnell have as good an operation today?

Yet Labours own internal troubles have been painful of late, not least over anti-semitism. The Vicki Kirby row has proved a huge embarrassment and exposed failures in the Compliance Unit. The Sun now reports that Surrey cops have stepped in (Kirby lives in Woking) after a complaint from Labours police and crime commissioner candidate in Northamptonshire Kevin McKeever. The force says it is is reviewing her tweets. The Indy reveals Kirby was not just vice-chair of Woking Labour Party, and partner of the chairman, Barry Faulkner - she was its trade union liaison officer and communications and campaigns co-ordinator too.

But its not just anti-semitism that worries some in Labour HQ, its the mess of Bradford West Labour Party, where the NEC had to step in earlier this year to take control of some candidate selections for the May council elections. Naz Shah, the local MP, has written powerfully for HuffPost on the campaign against her by some Muslim party members. Its a shocking read. This is about a lot more than segregated meetings.

5) LOST IN POWERS

The Second Reading of the Investigatory Powers Bill was passed by 281 votes to 15 after a five-hour debate in the Commons. The Lib Dems were furious that Labour and the SNP abstained (and furious that Andy Burnham said that calling it a snoopers charter was an insult to the cops and spooks).

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But there were 49 Tory abstentions last night, including David Davis. And if they and Labour and the SNP team up on a common amendment on things like stronger legal frameworks, then the Government majority will be shot. Of course, not all the Tories who stayed away last night will rebel, and the Labour and SNP decision made it easier to sit on their hands. Yet the whips will be nervous. This one hasnt gone away.

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Britain First have released a divisive video of Muslims angrily reacting to their demonstrations in east London as the mayor of Tower Hamlets has called for far-right groups to be banned from the borough.

John Biggs met with senior police on Tuesday and urged the force to better manage any further "provocations" in the borough and to consider using bans and injunctions to stop Britain First returning after the group staged two protests there within a fortnight.

The call came after around 15 Britain First supporters carrying Union Jack flags, crosses and a banner paraded outside East London Mosque on Saturday. The demonstration came just days after members of the party chanted we want our country back while primary school pupils visited the mosque.

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Britain First have released a video showing east London muslims angrily reacting to their demonstration on Saturday

Britain First claim their members were attacked during their demonstration

***MUSLIMS IN EAST LONDON: VIOLENCE, RACISM, BIGOTRY AND HOOLI... ***MUSLIMS IN EAST LONDON: VIOLENCE, RACISM, BIGOTRY AND HOOLIGANISM***Britain First held a peaceful protest in East London and we were violently attacked by hundreds of Muslim extremists who caused serious disorder. Islamists threatened death. Muslim councillor refused to shake a woman's hand. Female activists were kicked and punched. Several Britain First activists were injured. Criminal damage inflected on our vehicles. Muslim racists attack innocent English lad. Posted by Britain First on Monday, March 14, 2016

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Britain First has released a video of their latest demonstration entitled 'Muslims in east London: Violence, racism, bigotry and hooligans'. - coupled with more historical footage - entitled 'Muslims in east London: Violence, racism, bigotry and hooligans'. In the video Britain First leader Paul Golding tells those opposing the demonstration that they are "an embarrassment".

A description under the video, which has been viewed over 1.5 million times on Britain First's Facebook page, reads: "Britain First held a peaceful protest in East London and we were violently attacked by hundreds of Muslim extremists who caused serious disorder.

"Islamists threatened death. Muslim councillor refused to shake a woman's hand. Female activists were kicked and punched. Several Britain First activists were injured. Criminal damage inflected on our vehicles. Muslim racists attack innocent English lad."

Golding and his deputy Jayda Fransen are already banned from entering Luton having breached an interim injunction Bedfordshire Police obtained last year. The pair wore "political uniforms" while carrying out their Christian Patrol in the town in January.

Biggs has demanded police investigate using legal powers to block further appearances outside the mosque and elsewhere in the borough by Britain First and to act quickly to break up future protests to "prevent violence coming to our streets".

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Since the appearance of Britain First on Saturday I have overseen the response of the council and partners, and unreservedly condemned these provocative acts, which are dressed up as a passive protest but are clearly designed to provoke a reaction, obstructing local people from going about their lawful and proper business and increasing the risk of violence," he said in a statement.

Tower Hamlets Mayor John Biggs has asked police to try and ban far-right group's like Britain First from the borough

I stand in solidarity with all residents of Tower Hamlets, and particularly our Muslim community, who feel threatened by these events.

"As mayor I am working with all of our different partners and services to address this threat properly and I have instructed our chief executive to determine what other actions are needed.

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"I am liaising with our Inter-Faith Network, and with opposition leaders, to see what other acts of solidarity and community leadership we can deploy to reassure and to give the unequivocal message that Britain First are not welcome in any corner of our borough. We must be vigilant, and we must maintain the higher ground, away from the gutter of provocation where these groups belong.

A police spokesperson said police do not have the "legal power" to ban static protests', like that held by Britain First on Saturday.

The spokesperson said an "appropriate amount" of officers attended the demonstration within nine minutes of being informed and remained there for just under two hours.

A Section 12 Public Order Act was put in place, the spokesperson said, to prevent Britain First from taking the protest from the mosque to Brick Lane.

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Britain First members protest outside the East London Mosque

"Police have a duty to safeguard the right to protest, and balance that right against the rights of all those impacted by a protest," the spokesperson said.

"Officers are mindful of the responses that can be stirred when those with conflicting views come together in the same area or when protests are held at religious or culturally significant sites.

"Disorder, crime and incitement to hatred will not be tolerated, not just during protest but at any time, and officers will take the most appropriate action if these occur."

The spokesperson would not comment on the Biggs' demands, but added: "Officers in Tower Hamlets listen carefully to all their communities and partners, to ensure they understand their concerns and in return always explain what their policing obligations are.

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"Tower Hamlets police have a proportionate, but robust, policing plan in place to respond to any future protests. This policing plan incorporates events that we are notified about as well as those that occur without prior consultation with the appropriate agencies.

"Officers will continue to inform and work with its partners on matters like this."

Britain First could not be reached for comment.

Reverend Prebendary Alan Green, an east London rector, stood in solidarity with his "Muslim friends" when their place of worship was picketed on Saturday and told Britain First supporters to "stop waving crosses around and making them a symbol of hate".
If you're passionate about supporting and promoting equality; believe culture is the strongest way to bring people together; and work in over 100 countries, I guess creating the world's biggest online LGBT film festival is the inevitable result. And so it was that the British Council, the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, joined forces with the British Film Institute to create fiveFilms4freedom.

fiveFilms4freedom is about showcasing some of our finest short film makers to help celebrate love and diversity through one of the world's most powerful and accessible cultural forms: film.

This year alongside our five films we're celebrating people who battle every day to promote equality. We're publishing our first fiveFilms4freedom Global List - 33 inspiring people we should all know about.

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Earlier this year we had a global public campaign to help us find people who were using culture to promote freedom and equality, who are provoking debate, and who are sometimes risking their lives to promote the rights of LGBT people in their communities, societies and countries. Hundreds of thousands of people saw the campaign and they helped us create this first Global List of LGBT influencers.

It's an incredible collection of 22 men and 11 women (we'll do better on this next time) from 23 countries from Sub-Saharan Africa; the Middle East; Europe, Russia, and Azerbaijan; and, Australia and the US.

Amongst others, we're celebrating: Geng Le - China's leading gay business man who set up Blued a gay dating app with 27 million subscribers; Mahmoud Hassino who created Syria's first online LGBT magazine, Mawaleh; Tiffany Mugo who set up Holaa! a site for gay African women; Bilge Tas the director and co-founder of Pink Life Queer Fest in Ankara; award-winning director Joko Anwar one of Indonesia's leading LGBT voices; and Pepe Onziema whose work with Sexual Minorities Uganda has twice lead to his arrest.

Millions of gay people continue to live in places that outlaw same-sex relationships and stigmatise them. The people on our Global List are challenging this. Every day they're challenging laws and beliefs, using culture to create safe spaces and inclusive visions of their societies and connecting with people around the world.

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The British Council and the British Film Institute set up fiveFilms4freedom because we believe in this role of culture to create positive change. So alongside being inspired by our List, please watch one of our five films. This year's films are from Brazil, Spain, the Philippines and the UK and Ireland. For the second year we haven't been able to find an LGBT short-film from an African film-maker. We want to fix this and we're hoping to launch a talent fund for LGBT film-makers in challenging places to complete their first film. We're raising money for this now.

fiveFilms4freedom is available online at www.britishcouncil.org from 17 - 27 March.
Though it's never yet been run, I wish somebody could start up a popularity contest to decide, once and for all, who is The Most Awful Brit Alive Today.

I first pondered this question a month ago, when The Night Manager started airing on Sunday nights - and when we were invited to believe that the scumbag Old Etonian Dicky Roper was Evil Incarnate.

But Dicky Roper is merely a dodgy arms dealer. And in my Most Awful Brit contest, Roper wouldn't even come close to the runaway winner - a man who has, in the last five years, effortlessly seen off all opposition.

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Talking to friends, colleagues, random passers-by, I have concluded that the stand-out winner as Most Awful Living Brit would have to be Tony Blair.

My guess is that Tony will be winning this competition for a long time yet.

The man attracts such visceral loathing that if he were to go into any busy pub in Britain today, then he would face an absolute volley of abuse.

Hard to put your finger on exactly why Tony is the most reviled human being in Britain today, but it's probably just the disappointment. That heady rush of first love that we all had in 1997 (me excepted). For a short while, we, well, believed he might be different. We thought he was the one. And then it dawns on us that he's just another shyster selling Westminster snake-oil.

It might now be timely to recall the almost mystical prescience of Tony's wife Cherie.

In 2008, Cherie deliciously took the time to reveal her predictions for the future - saying, amongst other things that Tony would go down "very well" in history, and, further to that, that "he'll be up there with Churchill."

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Well I don't know quite how long Cherie is prepared to wait before Tony starts going down "very well" in history, but I fancy she'll be long dead before Tony's ratings start to pick up.

Other contenders, then, for most Awful Living Briton? Well - arguably Cherie herself, and perhaps even Tony's loathsome side-kick Alastair Campbell. But though both Cherie and Campbell were pretty repellent, they were always just side-shows to the main event.

Gordon Brown is not overly popular at the moment, and nor is he ever likely to be - but the man's clinically deranged, and always has been, so he gets quite a large sympathy vote.

"Sir" Fred Goodwin might have won the title a few years back, but Fred The Shred was only a demented control freak who brought the British banking system to its knees. We Brits were never in love with him and so he's never had to face the corresponding backlash. Dear old Fred, tinkering around with his vintage cars, frothing at the mouth over RBS's pink biscuits: he wasn't really that bad. He was just carrying the can for the rest of the Fat Cat bankers.

It has been suggested that Jeremy Corbyn or George Osborne might be in the running - but these two guys do not meet the stringent standards needed to qualify for Most Awful Brit Alive. They're both politicians and so they're both hated by a large portion of the country. But, as with all politicians (Tony honourably excepted) they'll also have a lot of fans.

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There is one man who might, once, have given Tony a run for his money: the odious property magnate Nicholas van Hoogstraten. Whenever Van Hoogstraten gets mentioned in the news, he always gets a bucket-load of bile thrown at him. But Van Hoogstraten has sensibly decided to ship out of Britain - so we are not for ever being reminded of what a complete shit he is.

Ditto Earl Spencer.

Ditto Sir Mark Thatcher.

But Tony is different. Tony is the special one. Because even though Tony spends much of his life abroad, spreading peace in the Middle East, it seems as if not a week goes by without yet another reminder of his malign presence. We're sick of the sight of him - and yet we're never allowed to forget him.

So here is my BRILLIANT plan for what to do with The Most Awful Briton Alive Today. It's legal. It's humiliating. And it will add greatly to the national merriment.

So far, the only genuine outlet for the public's loathing of Blair has been the "Arrest Blair" campaign. You spot Blair and you go and try and arrest him for war crimes. All good clean fun, but there's no real embarrassment factor and you'll always be bubbled by his bodyguards.

Here's a better idea.

The scenario: you happen to be in a bar or swanky five-star restaurant - and there is Tony having a meal with his hangers-on.

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Then: you go to the bar and order a nice big drink - preferably a sticky one, like a Flaming Sambuca. If the sight of Tony is sufficiently enraging, then order a whole tray.

Next: the Norman Wisdom stumble. Norman Wisdom was a great comedian whose trademark gag was to trip himself up. I even saw him do it in Buckingham Palace when he was knighted by the Queen. It's very easy, only takes a few minutes practice - just catch your right toe behind your left ankle, and make like you've stumbled.

Walk past Tony's table, trip, and chuck your Flaming Sambuca over his shirt.

The Piece De Resistance, "Ohhh Tony, I'm so terribly, terribly sorry. Honest mistake - let me buy you a beer to make it up to you."

But if you are going to throw your drink over Tony, then please, please, please have a mate on hand to record all the fun.

PS. Apropos nothing at all: that sex scene in last Sunday's episode of The Night Manager.

1. Even if you've got Tom Hiddleston's buffed body, and even if you're wearing a bespoke suit, it's still a tricky look to carry off when you've got your trousers round your ankles. Like keeping your socks on.

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Le Bonheur de vivre (The Joy of Life), one of French post-impressionist artist Henri Matisse's most famous paintings, is housed in the Barnes collection in Philadelphia.

Nevertheless, veteran gallerist Bernard Jacobson has borrowed its title for an exhibition of 16 works featuring five of his favourite artists who convey that joy of living. They begin with Matisse whom he regards as the greatest artist of the 20th century, and incorporate those through whom he can detect a direct line of influence and inspiration.

There is a sub-text to the show, however. Jacobson, as we shall see, is making a personal statement about the current state of the art world.

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Matisse lies at the heart of Bonheur de Vivre and is represented by three paintings, featuring single female figures, that encapsulate the essence of the show - colour, light passion, beauty and joy.

Jeune fille a la mauresque (above) painted in 1921 exudes Mediterranean warmth, light and space as Matisse made colour the central force of his paintings. "It's with colour that you put down light of course," Matisse once said. "But of course you must feel this light, have it within yourself."

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Joan Miro might have been Spanish but Jacobson regards him as an "honarary Frenchman" in the way he evokes lightness and playfulness. Femme amoureuse de l'etoile filante (1966) (above) although a minuscule (13 x 12 cms) oil on canvas, takes Matisse further through reduced linear forms, in this case the semi-abstract depiction of a woman lying beneath the open sky.

The star is blue, the moon green, while a scarlet fire-burst explodes above the gold of the waning sun. It's a picture full of energy and playfulness told through a boldness of line and harmonious colour. It's one of five Miro pictures on sale.

The joy that these pictures display Jacobson believes has been wiped out by many of today's artists championed by the movers and shakers of the art business - the Howard Hodgkins, Charles Saatchis and Nicholas Serotas of this world. Now, it's all about power and money, he maintains, and he dismisses the work of such "self-promoters" as Ai Weiwei and Anish Kapoor as "garbage". It's a controversial view, certainly, but one which exercises Jacobson greatly.

"I think the fact that (art curator and historian) Norman Rosenthal said to me 'Bernie, you've got to understand the 20th century was completely led by Duchamp' scared the hell out of me."

Bonheur de Vivre is Bernard Jacobson saying this is the kind of work I believe in, that art went down the wrong path. He assures me that it is not a safe retreat into nostalgia but quotes the French expression that you have to go backwards to go forwards, to rediscover the place where, in his view, art took the wrong fork in the road.

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Coincidentally, it was Duchamp who christened as mobiles the hanging sculptures of the next artist featured, Alexander Calder. Red, yellow, white and black discs flicker in the manner of delicate ephemeral beings floating in the breeze.

One of three featured, Blue Flower, Perforated Red (above) is typical in its bold use of colour, fluid lines and use of space, and redolent of the painting technique of Matisse and Miro. Calder once said, "Above all, art should be happy and not lugubrious".

Bernard Jacobson has been dealing in art for 45 years. His career began in the 1960s working in a gallery during a stay in New York in which he mixed with the likes of Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, James Rosenquist, Frank Stella and Andy Warhol. His admiration for these post-war American modernists never left him. Yet, it was the only one of this group he never properly met, Robert Motherwell, whom he grew to love above all others including even Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. Indeed, Jacobson published a biography of Motherwell last year.

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Motherwell's 1962 collage U.S. Art New York N.Y. (above), has that same warm playfulness harking back to Matisse and Miro. Indeed, Motherwell once remarked that seeing Matisse "shot him to his heart like an arrow".

The piece depicts a beach scene with waves rolling into the shore and sand sent soaring into the air. In the middle is the trademark collage element of a scrunched up piece of brown packing paper, perhaps a banal reminder of reality to contrast with the vibrancy and romance of the painting.

The last of the artists featured is Sam Francis whom Jacobson represented for many years. Untitled, 1994 (above) is an explosion of colour and joy, a space to meditate in the abstract colour and texture. It drips with Miro and Matisse. Jacobson recalled how, when staying with Francis at his Santa Monica home, he slept under a Miro.

Bonheur de Vivre is more than a celebration of some of Bernard Jacobson's favourite painters. "It's very much my wanting people who I like to have a look at beauty. Basically, it's trying to say for God's sake stop telling me Ai Weiwei or Anish Kapoor or Jeff Koons or Damian Hirst are making art. I feel the music has to stop. I think if we're going to go on and on and on, where are we going to end up?"

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Bonheur de Vivre is showing at Bernard Jacobson Gallery, 28 Duke Street St James, London SW1Y 6AG, until 27 May.
George Osborne is right about one thing: the British economy is sailing dangerously close to another recession, insofar as it is likely to be swept up in the ever-increasing turmoil present within the global economy (of which Brexit, a headwind of the Conservative Party's own making, is a key dimension). It may result in the economic depression that Britain and the rest of the world only narrowly avoided after the financial crisis of 2008.

Yet he is entirely wrong to prescribe yet more austerity as the only way for Britain to mitigate the next crisis. In fact, the coalition and Conservative governments' decimation of the public sector, and reliance on regressive and largely ineffective monetary policy stimuli, is probably the main reason that, when the crisis hits, it will hit Britain harder than most. The British economy remains far too dependent on the housing market and finance sector, both of which are volatile at the best of times, let alone the worst. Today's budget had little of substance to say about Britain's productivity problem, despite reporting significant downwards revisions to productivity growth forecasts.

It is doubtful of course that even a full-on embrace of Keynesianism can save us now. It is a highly unlikely scenario anyway, given that Osborne has staked his reputation on the idea that the budget deficit is an inherently bad thing, and that only he can be trusted to tackle it. Government debt is George Osborne's raison d'etre - which explains why he has been so content, contrary to what he would like us to believe, to create so much of it. The budget announced that debt will remain close to 80 per cent of GDP by 2020 ; in 2010 he told us it would have fallen to 70 per cent by 2015.

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Austerity has always been a political agenda, not an economic necessity. Increasingly, however, as the wider political objectives of austerity around undermining the idea of the state and inculcating self-sufficiency at the individual level are achieved, the continuation of austerity seems to be driven now purely by Osborne's own political ambitions.

Today's budget saw Osborne focus on another of his pet projects, the Northern Powerhouse. While he announced various infrastructure projects in the North, in an attempt to put some flesh on the bones of this skeletal programme, overall the budget further reveals that the Northern Powerhouse agenda is rather hollow.

Firstly, the infrastructure spending announced is not necessarily new or additional investment. Obviously, governments spend money on upgrading infrastructure all the time. The genius of Osborne is such that he has fetishised a handful of fairly limited infrastructure projects - the kind of projects that are undertaken as a matter of routine in similar economies in North America, Western Europe and East Asia - in order to generate yet more photo-ops of Osborne adorning a hard hat and hi-vis jacket. But he is able to get away with this precisely because he has far so long starved most of the country of much-needed investment.

Secondly, virtually all of the major infrastructure projects announced today are connected to the Manchester city-region, representing a reward for the civic leaders in Greater Manchester most loyally toeing the Osborne line on the Northern Powerhouse. It is surely no coincidence that Osborne's own constituency is in Greater Manchester. His indifference to Yorkshire was revealed earlier this week in the memoirs of former coalition minister David Laws, who reported on how easy it was for Nick Clegg to convince Osborne to prioritise Sheffield (where Clegg's constituency is) within the early Northern Powerhouse agenda, at the expense of Leeds.

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Of course, the bigger picture is that London and the South East remain, by an enormous margin, the main recipients of government infrastructure investment. Divide and rule is alive and well.

Thirdly, the budget advances the Conservative quest to undermine local government in England, even as local government leaders are being encouraged to embrace the Northern Powerhouse agenda and the new expectation to produce above-average growth.

The budget announced that local authorities are to lose in entirety their responsibilities for primary and secondary education by 2022 (as many, perversely, take on more responsibility for further education), with all schools set to become academies, and therefore autonomous from local government. The drive to devolve healthcare provision to the local level might seem to suggest a counter-trend, yet in its current form, being taken forward by Greater Manchester, NHS decentralisation seems to involve devolution of all of the responsibilities for delivering healthcare to local authorities, with none of the powers needed for deciding how services should be designed. The agenda is in practice merely another step towards the marketisation of the NHS, occurring in tandem with efforts among local authorities to outsource more and more of their core functions.

Osborne today announced top-down cuts to business rates, barely mentioning that revenue from rates is set to become a key source of local authorities' income as central grants are increasingly withdrawn. Allowing local authorities to keep the revenue from business rates, but micro-managing the terms upon which it can be raised, is phoney decentralisation at its worst.

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These changes come on the back of the government allowing councils to spend more on adult social care services at the 2015 autumn statement, plugging care budgets that have been severely depleted, but only if they are prepared to raise council tax in order to fund the additional spending.

In my view, care services, which have already been thoroughly outsourced, should be funded by taxation, but the problem is that council tax is a highly regressive tax - which explains why Osborne is so fond of it. The budget announced significant income tax cuts for middle- and high-earners, as well as deepening cuts to corporation tax and capital gains tax, at the same time as raising and creating more regressive taxes by stealth, such as the insurance premium tax and the new sugar levy (assuming it is passed on to consumers).
Here in Uganda, the general attitude towards people living with a disability is negative. They are called "'Kateyemba'", meaning 'The Unable One', suggesting they can't help themselves. It's a nickname that instils a sense of hopelessness in a person.

In the African culture, if you bear a child with disability it seems like a curse. Parents ask, "What did I do to deserve such a child?"

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But if the situation is difficult for men with disabilities, the challenges are even greater for women. By far the worst is the prevalence of sexual abuse. Men take advantage of their vulnerability; they often come at night under the cover of dark to harass them, sometimes even impregnating them and providing no support.

I run a project that provides training, skills development and helps find internships and job placements for hundreds of young people with disabilities. One of my daughters in the project was raped during the night, became pregnant, and doesn't know who the father of her child is. At first she was afraid to tell me; I wish she had, we might have prevented her unwanted pregnancy.

Sadly, sometimes these girls don't recognise their treatment as abuse; they think the man loves them and has feelings for them, but to everyone else it's clearly abuse. None of the men ever marry these women. Instead, they impregnate them and leave them with responsibility for the child.

When we began the Connecting the dots project, we had several girls who we identified who were assessed, and given admission letters. But they'd fail to show up for the training, and we'd find out they were pregnant.

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Another great challenge for the women I work with is overprotective parents. One girl who's part of the project is 25 years old and unable to interact with other people, to express herself; her parents have hidden her away so much.

At first parents did not want to release their children to us to go for training. It has been known for people with disabilities to be killed in sacrificial rituals. So when we proposed to take young people away to board for three months while training, some parents naturally hesitated. And so the intake was low in year one.

Others would be too afraid to leave the home; we had three girls who were used to crawling and afraid to been seen by the wider community. (Many young people in Uganda with physical disabilities have never had access to a wheelchair so they're forced to get around by crawling.) We encouraged them, told them we'd provide wheelchairs, and that they'd be in the company of others who also crawled. It was almost always the women who faced the greatest challenges to attend the training. We've learned how to solve most of these now.

The programme I run is called Connecting the dots because youth with disabilities in our communities are like dots - they stand alone. But this project is connecting these dots; they become attached to one another, develop relationships and are one community.

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I'm so proud of the participants of my project - male and female. When I see them happy, their confidence growing as they open up and make friends, I thank God. They understand what the project is trying to achieve, for them as individuals and within the wider society.

It's only very recently that people have begun to see what people with disabilities can do, and so attitudes are beginning to change.

Generally, unemployment is a challenge in Uganda. And if it's a challenge even for able-bodied people, for those with disabilities, with the kind of attitudes people still hold, it's even worse.

The opportunity to demonstrate what they are capable of has been life-transforming to the young women I work with. For example, Sylvia joined us at a time when she felt hopeless after losing her sight. Her husband disowned her and took her two daughters from her. She had no belief in her own abilities when she joined us, but was willing to try.

In the short time Sylvia has been part of the project, there's been a great change. She's now a happy women, she's always cheerful because we've shown her she's a special person; that even when you've lost your sight you are important to other people.

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I am slowly beginning to see the attitude of the community changing. Employers are now accepting these youths to work for their businesses, where before they'd insist they were useless, and that is an attitude change. We spent time advising these employers on how to work with a person with disability and proving what they are capable of.

We have empowered these youth with skills, and knowledge on their rights. They now have a place in the community. When you are empowered with knowledge, you will never be vulnerable. This is especially important for young women with disabilities, who are doubly discriminated against because of their gender and their disability, and so are particularly vulnerable.

I want to see the policies, the sweet policies we have in Uganda, turn into reality. When you read the disability policy it is really wonderful but you see none of it implemented and translated into reality. If they were, all Ugandans would be equal, protected and valued. That's the change I wish to see.

For International Women's Day and throughout March Sightsavers is encouraging people to read and share the stories of my project participants so that their voices are amplified to a global level.

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As a Treasury Minister, apprehension always hung heavy in the air on Budget morning. Would centrepiece polices come across clearly? Would problems we wanted to downplay loom large? Would the Budget go down well with our MPs, with the media and above all with the public?

Today George Osborne has much to be apprehensive about.

Four months ago in the Spending Review he insisted that the economy was on the up and so "the savings we need are considerably smaller". This week he's been touring TV studios warning that "the storm clouds are clearly gathering" and that billions of pound of fresh cuts now need to be made.

It's a big about-turn, but what's changed? The GDP and public finance forecasts are now more pessimistic, and will be confirmed in the Budget. But as every undergraduate is taught, you shouldn't set your course by any single set of figures, as Osborne did in November. It was the Chancellor's desire for short-term political gain that led him to jump on upbeat forecasts then, from which he is set to row back now.

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The bigger change is that the consequences of the Chancellor's serial misjudgements are becoming clear.

I suspect that even those who thought Osborne was right over the last five years - and many who voted in the general election last May did - will now increasingly see the signs of a man making the wrong calls. A chop-and-change Chancellor interested in short-term fixes not the right long-term decisions for the country.

Since last year's election, his first big misjudgement was on tax credits - thinking the British public would accept him balancing the books on the backs of low and middle income workers whose incomes have been squeezed for years. The supposed u-turn in the Spending Review exposed the error in the minds of many - this was the Chancellor's political choice, and the wrong one.

His second and bigger misjudgement was a new deficit rule which has bundled in vital investment spending on new schools, roads and homes with day-to-day spending on salaries and running costs of public services. This will have the effect of dramatically restricting the amount we can invest for the future, when everyone from the OECD and IMF, to the government itself knows that wise public investment creates jobs and growth - and stimulates private investment too.

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In fact, it captures the essence of Osborne as a Chancellor. A rule that stops good fiscal planning for the long-term, focusing instead on the short-term cuts over this Parliament. Good politics for an ambitious Chancellor, bad economics for an ambitious country.

These major misjudgements should cause us to re-evaluate Osborne's record.

One widely held view which Labour has so far failed to shift is that he has put the economy back on a surer footing, even though families suffered with wage growth weak and household incomes stagnating. But a clear-eyed view of the last five years suggests that this is not the case.

Osborne didn't fix the foundations after the crash. Any right-wing finance minister can cut public spending. But George Osborne has dodged the tough decisions to re-new the economy and set the priorities for how we will pay our way and create good jobs and broad-based growth in the future.

Rather than invest in Britain's future, he cut back investment on the energy, roads and railways that secure our place in the world and the future welfare of our citizens. UK public infrastructure investment was halved in the last Parliament, while Osborne courted the Chinese to fund it for us.

Rather than helping British business sell to the world, Osborne has overseen our trade gap last year plunge to -80billion, a near-record low.

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Rather than reform the finance sector and bring on our manufacturing and construction base, we've seen major firms in strategic industries like steel and renewables forced out of business, while jobs in manufacturing are still almost 10% below pre-crisis levels.

Rather than investing in building new homes to fix Britain's broken housing market and cut housing benefit costs, Osborne slashed housing investment by 60% and housing benefit has risen by over 4billion a year in cash terms.

Rather than re-balancing the economy away from consumption and debt as he promised, household debt is forecast to top 160% of income by the end of the Parliament for the first time since 2009.

Labour's alternative budget rule would deal with the deficit but in a fairer, long-term way.

It bears strong resemblance to the Budget rule we operated when I was at the Treasury - tough on the deficit and paying down debt, with scope for prudent investment in the national interest. A far more balanced and centre-ground Budget rule than the Chancellor's new fiscal charter.

Today's Budget will amplify the question: if George Osborne got it so wrong in last four months, how can we trust him to get it right for the next four years? The Chancellor's short-term fixes and lack of long-term vision may yet be his undoing - and Labour's opportunity.

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This Wednesday, the Chancellor will present his budget for the year ahead. But it's not the only important thing happening that day: though it might not dominate the headlines, the government's controversial Trade Union Bill will reach its final stages in the House of Lords.

What it represents is a last chance for the Government to reconsider its position to ban unions from allowing members to vote online - a ban that no other civil society group faces.

Restricting members to postal voting whether for strike action or for internal elections is exceptionally out of touch with the way modern life is lived, i.e. smartphone in hand. The government is struggling to justify the Bill's restrictive approach (it makes no provision for secure online voting in any union election) given they are accompanied by new thresholds - 50% for ballots and 40% for strike action involving 'essential public services'.

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These bars will be unnecessarily hard to meet if postal voting is the only option unions can lawfully able offer their members. Postal-only ballots are also significantly more costly compared with on-line alternatives.

Established democracies can struggle to keep pace with social or technological change. The UK was the last modern democracy to switch from household to individual electoral registration, and it was only last year that the UK allowed online registration for public elections - something that was a huge success, with nearly half a million people registering in just one day before the 2015 general election). Digitally savvy younger people generations for whom online campaigning, banking, and shopping is the norm are particularly likely to see our pen-and-paper democracy as hopelessly old-fashioned.

Modernising public elections has genuine challenges, given the need to balance security and secrecy whilst maximising participation. For that reason, whilst postal voting has become established, online has been treated with far more caution - and rightly so. But private elections have seen more innovation, with a whole host of organisations combining electronic, postal and in-person ballots in an effort to maximise turnout.

Millions of people - members of professional bodies, campaign groups, political parties or private clubs - now habitually vote electronically. Political parties, NHS Foundation Trusts and other large organisations have found that by offering a mix of different voting methods, participation can be improved. Yet in all this, trade unions are an outlier, and if the Bill passes in its current form they'll be the only civil society organisation so heavily constrained by law in its methods of voting. That's some serious red tape.

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The Government is also wrong to put strike ballots and all other trade union ballots in the same regulatory box. Strike ballots have an obvious public interest which extend beyond the private interests of the unions themselves. But these fall under the same rules as internal union elections. In other words, there are just as many restrictions on the way union members vote for a candidate to become general secretary as there are for members to vote to strike. You have to ask whether this is fair, given almost no other private organisation - from the Bar Association to the Conservative Party and everything in between - is told by the government how to elect people to its own offices.

Politicians from all parties are rightly concerned about stubbornly low turnout in local and general elections, affecting the mandate of the government of the day. But if people are going to vote in these elections, they need every opportunity to exercise their democratic muscle. For union members, that means taking part not just in strike ballots but in internal elections as well. The more ways people have to vote, the more likely it is they will vote - that's a fairly reliable rule of thumb.

If the Government is serious about wanting higher turnout for strike ballots (the Bill's demands for high turnout thresholds would suggest as much), then a greater range of methods for voting should be available. From a democratic perspective, every possible avenue towards participation should be opened up.
I mean, you'd think it would be pretty obvious. Students' union - the clue is kind of right there in the name. And yet, there still seems to be considerable confusion on the part of some.

Given recent events, the rugged individualism which so defines both conservative values and our increasingly-marketised Higher Education system - that famous "I'm alright, Jack" mentality of looking out solely for oneself - perhaps ought to be renamed 'Lawlor's Rule' in tribute to the student columnist who famously suggested that because he's not a rapist, all measures to prevent sexual assault on campus are essentially now futile. In the furore that followed, many claimed they failed to see the relevance of the individual in question's oft-stated affiliation to his university's Conservative Society. But it is relevant, because Lawlor's article spoke directly to a self-centred worldview which says things are absolutely fine the way they are and nothing need ever change - when clearly the issues at stake may not affect or even apply to them.

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With SUs currently electing next year's Officer Teams, a fascinating backlash has now started to emerge: conservative students have decided that it's time to "take back" their SU from those "loony lefties" whose PC shenanigans and slap-happy boycotts seek to establish something approaching a more equitable society for all. They rail against such "ideological nonsense" in their own manifestos, despite intending to propagate just that if elected by deliberately downscaling their SU's ability to campaign on key issues. Cloaking themselves in veil of a non-partisanship, they state that SUs should focus "exclusively on services that benefit students". But hey, guess what? They do that already through advice centres, clubs and societies, academic representation, food & drink outlets and much more.

The point is, then, that both practically and politically, the campaigning element of students' unions don't really need to represent these people, since their own interests are already well-served. "We shouldn't campaign on fees!", say those who apparently consider a marketised university system to be entirely satisfactory - coincidentally because they are well-placed to afford it. They often rail against the steps SUs take to keep women safe on their campuses, to push back against investment from fossil fuel and arms companies, or - perhaps most ironically - to challenge curricula which fail to represent a diverse student body. Instead, they claim, we should be focusing on "real" issues for "real" students - though frankly, if sexism, racism, inequality and the environment aren't real issues, then I'm not entirely sure what are. (I guess when you've been brought up to believe that the universe bends exclusively to your will, your 'right' to ogle a pair of tits over breakfast on Page 3 really is a big deal.)

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Critics frequently decry the metrics by which the political stances of SUs are determined - namely, electoral turnouts. "Too low!", they cry; "Not enough people voted to make this legitimate!" (again, a fairly ironic criticism coming from those who are often happy for the Conservative Party to claim an electoral 'mandate' with less than a quarter of the population's support). But they should be reminded that these numbers remain broadly representative samples which capture a snapshot of general opinion. Non-participation in the process does not automatically denote acquiescence with either of the two opposing views.

"But lefty views are alienating to more conservative students!", I hear you bleat. Well, yes - in the same way that Conservative Party politics is alienating to practically everyone else. Frankly, this is the same blinkered logic that allows David Cameron to bemoan the prison/university ratio among young black Britons, yet fail to acknowledge or correct the structural issues underpinning such inequity. It's also the same double-standard that permits a public outcry when Bahar Mustafa sarcastically tweets a tongue-in-cheek hashtag during a debate on liberation politics, then ends up being threatened with prosecution for a Hate Crime. (Hey, man, under the rule of 'free speech', isn't she, like, entitled to that opinion...?)

Conservatives in general have a fascinating conception of what constitutes a meritocratic or level playing-field. It goes like this: a six-foot tall gig-goer takes their place in the crowd next to a wheelchair-user. Who gets to utilise the four-foot viewing platform that's been installed to even things up? Both, or neither at all: that, after all, represents true equality of opportunity.

Clearly, it doesn't feel too great when the shoe's on the other foot for these supposedly now 'disenfranchised' groups. However, such feelings of dislocation are the inevitable by-product of a system which has stubbornly ignored plurality for too long. If conservative students fail to see themselves reflected in the politics of SUs, I would suggest that this is precisely because their values are often antithetical to the principles of collective altruism which so define unions. Once again, the logic remains one-sided: just as they constantly berate left-wingers for not making enough of an effort to assimilate a wider range of viewpoints, so too do conservative students either need to start acknowledging their own positions of privilege or begin empathising with people outside of their immediate social circle.

If this doesn't happen, the result will inevitably be a stalemate - for it is the conservative's inability to see the world through the eyes of others which so often results in a failure to acknowledge that their interests are already represented. The people who speak for them walk the corridors of power. They constitute a social demographic which has - knowingly or otherwise - benefited for centuries from the existing way of things. Why, then, would they (or anyone else) ever need a union?
Historians like anniversaries. Every morning on Twitter I enjoy reading 'this day in history' tweets. Key anniversaries can also focus the mind: the current centenary of the First World War has prompted a burst of activity and public interest, and the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo last summer kept me very busy.

On Monday 21 March 2016, however, there is a key anniversary that nobody seems to be talking about. 240 years ago, the radical MP John Wilkes stood up in the House of Commons and made the first motion to reform the British electoral system.

In the eighteenth century, only a fraction of the population could vote. Women were excluded, as were the vast majority of men. Voting qualifications were very haphazard, in a system that was patently out of date and did not reflect where people actually lived. Tiny constituencies, where the population had dwindled almost to nothing, were easily controlled by the wealthy, whereas populous industrial towns like Manchester had no direct representation. Parliament was remote, unaccountable and easily corrupted, and many people believed that it was not governing for the general good.

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Wilkes had already challenged this. In the 1760s he had openly criticised the government and was persecuted for it. In 1768 he was elected for Middlesex on a popular platform, and when the government ejected him the county repeatedly re-elected him until the government gave in, conceding the principle that it is the electors should choose their MPs. He also stood up for printers who were illegally printing the proceedings of parliament, and thereafter what was said in the House was available for public scrutiny.

On 21 March 1776, however, he went a step further. Wilkes was inspired by the American rebels and - like many radicals in Britain - perceived that they had a common cause against an oppressive government that refused to give its subjects representation. (Indeed, the 250th anniversary of Wilkes's motion will doubtless get lost in the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, another good reason to celebrate it now.) Wilkes argued that, 'the present war is carried on contrary to the sense of the nation, by a ministerial junto, and an arbitrary faction, equally hostile to the rights of Englishmen, and the claims of Americans'. A parliament that reflected the will of the people would not be treating their brethren like this.

Wilkes's proposal was sweeping. He proposed giving the vote to 'every man', since even 'meanest mechanic, the poorest peasant and day-labourer' have rights and possessions that need protecting. He did not suggest giving the vote to women - it would be nearly a century before this issue was regularly debated in parliament - but this was a time when voting was seen as a male domain. His proposal was well ahead of the Victorian Reform Acts: men would not enjoy such an inclusive franchise until 1918.

In conclusion, Wilkes argued: 'We ought always to remember this important truth, acknowledged by every free state, that all government is instituted for the good of the people to be governed; that they are the original fountain of power, and even of revenue, and in all events the last resource.' His peers were not convinced, and the motion was rejected without a vote. But the campaign for parliamentary reform had begun in earnest.

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When Comic Relief asked me to visit Zambia last year, my initial feelings were a complete mix. I was excited to experience a culture and environment that I had never seen first-hand before, and I jumped at the opportunity to witness in person the life-changing work of Comic Relief.

Day one in Zambia gave me an immediate introduction to Zambian society, and local customs and culture, through the work of the MamaZ project. The project works to increase awareness and education around maternal and newborn health, and aims to tackle gender-based violence. Having just become an aunt to a gorgeous baby boy, born just a few days before my trip, I felt so strongly that the work of the MamaZ project was essential to protecting these precious, fragile lives. At home we have so much, we almost take it for granted- it is so different for the women in Zambia, but MamaZ's work is changing things for the better, and it is having a big impact. Hearing the stories of these women, and meeting in particular one young girl of 15 years old and her baby, whose lives were both saved by the courageous work and systems implemented by this project, had a profound effect on me. I don't have children yet but if I am fortunate enough to have a baby I will always remember the strength of this young mother.

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On my second day, I visited another project and saw two hospitals- the first in an urban slum, the second a rural medical health centre. The moment I stepped foot in the first of these hospitals, I was struck by the overwhelming quietness despite the huge number of patients in view. Hundreds of young women sat with their children waiting for hours, sometimes days, to be seen. The lack of noise seemed so disconcerting in a hospital full of children; illness and exhaustion were everywhere. I observed the consultation of a small child, eyes glazed and groaning in pain; he was clearly in desperate need of medical help. I was told that dehydration and diarrhoea were the most prominent issues, truly hitting home that clean water, and protection against water borne illnesses would save so many lives. I went into rooms which were serving as clinics to immunise and inoculate new-born babies against Polio. Again quiet was all around with babies resting patiently in their mothers' arms, many of whom would be sat there all day waiting for their turn. These babies were swaddled in thick, fleece layers in the sweltering heat as these young mothers had walked for many kilometres in the very early hours to reach the hospitals, in order to protect their children and give them a fighting chance at a healthy life. The visit was overwhelming and filled me with a sense of sadness and desperation, and time and time again, I realised how lucky we are. Since I have been home, I have not forgotten any of these moments and it has made me determined to help in any way I can. To be born in the UK means we are born into a society with resources, education, health-care systems and facilities to give our babies the best chance at a healthy future. Thanks to Comic Relief, Zambian society is finally being given the opportunity to provide the same for mothers and their babies. This experience made me realise how important it is that we fight for these basic but essential needs on behalf of these women.

Despite the enormous challenges these hospitals faced, there was also a palatable feeling of hope for the future here. The impact of the Comic Relief funded programmes was completely inspiring, saving sick babies, transforming the lives of pregnant women and tackling stigma towards people living with HIV. It was a life-changing day, and one that I will never forget, and it has made me so grateful and appreciative of just how lucky I am and how important it is we support these projects. Again, I couldn't help but be struck by the parallels of the situation for my sister-in-law and my new nephew.

My final day in Zambia involved visiting schools, guided by the organisation ZOCS, which aims to support community schools that are established and run by communities where no government schools are available or where children cannot afford the uniforms and other costs government schools incur. Without doubt, this was the most heart-warming and hopeful day of the trip, visiting classrooms filled with more than 60 children listening attentively and willingly to the volunteer, unpaid teachers. I was incredibly humbled and touched to see the love and attention given to each and every child, and seeing how those who have left other schools due to the stigma of HIV, were now being supported and educated on their disease. The highlight came when I joined in with a whole school of children dancing in the playground. It was truly the happiest moment of the trip, and a joy to see the children so happy, despite their circumstances. Another moment that will never leave me was experiencing the classroom for the deaf and disabled children. The love and respect for their teacher and the kindness and care she had for her students was clear. This was the moment I couldn't hold my tears in at the immense difficulties these children face, and the incredible hope for the future these communities embrace.

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I took so many things away from my trip to Zambia. Not only did it make me reassess my own life and how fortunate I am, but it made me committed to help and participate in the work Comic Relief does, which makes a huge difference. The opportunity, hope and drive these projects instil throughout the various communities in Zambia means that these wonderful people can have the basic rights of clean water, food, medicine and education, something I for one, want to fight for.
All images  Vian Dakhil

I spent last weekend at the WOW Festival and realised I hadn't fulfilled a promise to myself. Women of the World is an annual event in London at the Southbank Centre. It's been running for six years and is the brainchild of Jude Kelly, the Artistic Director. She had a dream to bring women together and give them a platform to discuss their experiences good and bad. It kicks off around International Women's Day and is a heady mix of great fun, inspiration, lots of serious debate, and some talks so sad they can move you to tears.

I was a WOW virgin so everything was new and exciting. There were many things that stood out for me. I'd seen it advertised in the past but never got round to going. This year it was firmly in my diary. I hoped there would be lots of potential recruits for The Mutton Club, my online magazine. Lots of interesting women to profile. But when it came to it, I couldn't bring myself to hand out too many of my little red Mutton Club flyers. It seemed inappropriate given the gravity of many of the topics being discussed.

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The most serious of those reminded me I'd been planning to write about the genocide of the Yazidi people for some time. I heard it discussed at Tina Brown's Women in the World Summit in October 2015. I heard Vian Dakhil, the only female Yazidi member of the Iraqi parliament, speak about her people. They are being systematically destroyed by ISIS and Yazidi women are suffering the worst. I made a note then that I wanted to write about their plight. But they remained an item on my to-do list. I didn't write. At WOW, Vian was speaking again. During the panel discussion on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, she made another plea for help and urged everyone to share the story of the Yazidis. So I am putting fingers to keyboard now.

We are beginning to know more about the travesty of female genital mutilation (FGM) and

about the horror of child marriage, otherwise known as child rape. But most are still unaware of the systematic genocide of the Yazidis by ISIS. The Yazidis seem to be experiencing hatred many more times that of other ethnic or religious groups. They will soon be extinct.

The Yazidis are an old people, predominantly ethnically Kurdish, who took elements from Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism to form their own religion. They kept this religion alive for centuries despite previous oppression and the threat of extermination. Now their men are killed and their women kidnapped by ISIS. The 'forced conversion campaign' of the Yazidis in Northern Iraq by ISIS began in 2014. It is nearly two years since Vian made her desperate televised plea for help from the Iraqi parliament.

Vian told us of a man whose daughter had been taken by ISIS. She had been raped and sold repeatedly and now her captors were demanding money for her return from sexual slavery. Vian told us this girl was one of many for whom she was trying to raise enough money to buy them back. She had already bought back many women and girls.

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IT IS 2016 AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BUYING AND SELLING OF WOMEN AND GIRLS!

In another talk at WOW, I was moved to tears by anti FGM campaigner Hibo Wardere reading a personal account of FGM as recorded in the posthumous book written by Sue Lloyd-Roberts, The War on Women, out in August. Girls are having their genitals cut with razors so they will be 'clean' for their future husbands. We were told that 95% of women in Egypt have suffered FGM and British girls are being mutilated too. I already knew about this practice, but to hear it described so graphically was heart-breaking.

And to hear Vian Dakhil talk about children of 6,7,8 being systematically raped in the name of religion made my blood run cold. I sat in the comfy surroundings of the Southbank Centre and decided this time I would write. I would add my voice to those calling for action for the Yazidi woman and girls. Vian asked everyone to write about the Yazidis' plight. That we take to social media to talk about this travesty. That we write to our MPs and ask them to prioritise action against this genocide. If we do not act quickly there will be no Yazidis. It won't just be national heritage sites that ISIS has destroyed, but a whole people. Their only crime was to be different.

Do you remember the nearly 300 Nigerian school girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014? Over 200 are still missing. But there are no more Bring Back Our Girls signs. We have forgotten them. Their plight has fallen off the media agenda. But they are still waiting to be rescued. We all got excited for a week or two. We thought we were making a difference by changing our social media profile picture. But we moved on and changed our pictures back.

The Yazidis, the Nigerian schoolgirls and the victims of FGM cannot afford for us to move on. Vian Dakhil is travelling the world pleading for people to listen and care about the massacre of her people. Yazidi men have been lined up and shot in the back of the head and buried in mass graves, the women kidnapped, raped and sold. Impossible as it may seem, their plight continues to worsen.

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Vian has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year. I can think of no more deserving recipient of this award. And her people need the global awareness the award could bring. Maybe then the world will care enough to demand action.
There has been much hysteria over Top Gear's latest 'offensive' bit of filming. In case you missed it, over the weekend Matt LeBlanc (yep the guy from Friends) and a co-driver - presumably the new stig - performed doughnuts around the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

The film footage and noise generated around the filming has made it all sound rather audacious. Opponents have denounced the images as 'terrible' and 'disrespectful'. Col Richard Kemp, former commander of UK forces in Afghanistan, said of the scenes: "It's worse than doing a stunt in a cemetery and screaming round people's graves. It's a shocking desecration of one of our most sacred sites. The BBC should apologise." MPs are equally up in arms.

This reaction, driven (pardon the pun) largely by The Sun - FRONT PAGE! - has generated an almighty media-backlash, including wall-to-wall coverage across much of the print, online and broadcast news.

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Even the Chancellor George Osborne has a view. Preparing for tomorrow's Budget from within in the Treasury - which is just at the end of Whitehall - he tweeted:

"Trying to write my Budget,despite noisy episode of @BBC_TopGear being filmed outside on Horseguards Parade. Keep it down please @achrisevans"

Chris Evans was wheeled out to explain how 'mortified' he and his crew were over the reaction and apologised on his Radio 2 show unreservedly for any offense. Senior executives at the Beeb even pulled out the full details of discussions with the Metropolitan Police film unit and the special events unit of Westminster City Council over the "large-scale, complex shoot, prepared over a period of four months".

So far. So bad. And yet, surely this was all a brilliantly executed PR stunt?

It is no secret that Jeremy Clarkson's departure from the team has left the programme needing to find its cutting edge. The BBC would never admit it but its biggest grossing programme became so successful because of the ridiculous issues its presenters got it into. Bad news is really good publicity. Honest.

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Working at a corporate communication agency we are always trying to come up with ingenious ways to grab the headlines and generate noise for the brands we work with. People call it 'disruptive'. How to take an issue and make people stop, think, share and talk about it. Before the weekend I bet very few people were that excited about the new series of Top Gear. This latest stunt might have changed a quite few people's minds.
The purposeful advance briefing of an announcement, to be meshed into the budget that all schools must convert to academies should cause hearts to sink. Not because of the partisan, blunt and blanket nature of the instruction - but on account of the contradictions and short-comings of the policy.

The key criterion -surely - is academic prowess. But academies do not automatically make successful schools. Ironically given that the first wave of academies was directly aimed at rescuing failing institutions, it seems increasing numbers of that academies are under-performing. But local authority schools rated by Ofsted as Outstanding are prevalent, which is not bad for an organisational model allegedly so irreparably flawed.

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What other advantages will mass conversion bring? Academies do not have to follow the national curriculum . This is the same national curriculum introduced to raise basic standards. I readily acknowledge the risk of concentrating so much on data that teaching can suffer - but surely we need some measurement, some national yardstick to see if the education system is delivering against key performance indicators - how will we do that in a n entirely fragmented system?

There is also a contradiction and perhaps deception here too. What will happen to the government's currently much-vaunted standards-raising talisman, the EBACC, which schools have been heavily encouraged to adopt as a standard suite of GCSCE subjects. Admittedly there would seem to be few tears to be shed if this is to be its demise - but will non-EBACC subjects be regarded as inferior qualifications? If such a situation does arise, the government will be guiltily of willing the ends but not the means.

And mass conversion is reportedly to mean the end of national pay bargaining, and fairly universal terms and conditions. Really? Has anyone costed the new reality - thousands of localised pay negotiations? Resources of both employers and unions bogged down in the process instead of focussing on make schools netter and working collaboratively to meet the many other challenges they have - from Prevent to crumbling school estates.

This is a key practical argument in my view. Money is tight. Time is also at a premium according to teachers I talk to. But the conversion process will be ravenous in resource terms - from the national political row to the local tricky detailed negations. Given the benefits - described above - are so much in doubt, how can this be justified?

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The pre-budget briefing talks about academies being free to join the "chains" that have already been formed (we are due to have three institutions run by the same group in my borough alone). You can see the logic in terms of providing common back-office functions like HR, finance and facilities management. Hmm - just like local authorities do at present.

But I also see a strong likelihood that in the near future, compulsorily converted schools who are struggling with their new "independence" will be forced to seek refuge and rescue by being joined to such chains.

What the price autonomy then? And, some chains make it clear that they have a particular philosophical viewpoint - one that is not to everyone's taste. So forced unions would be hugely problematic.

And here's the problem. The government's plans are, in reality, a straight transfer of resources and responsibility. These move away from local authorities, and the democratic control that they are subject to, in favour, ultimately, of private organisations who are not accountable in anything like the same way. And who must as a reason to continue to exist, turn in a profit.
DIYARBAKIR, TURKEY - MARCH 15: A military vehicle inspects the streets after fighting between members of the PKK and the police on March 15, 2016 in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Heavy fighting between members of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and Police forces have left at least three people dead and several injured. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed a crackdown on the PKK following Sunday's suicide bomb attack in Ankara, which has been widely blamed on the Kurdish separatist group. (Photo by Awakening/Getty Images)

With the U.S. presidential election and ongoing turmoil in the Middle East filling news cycles, scant attention is paid to inimitable U.S. ally and key NATO member -- Turkey. The country, which bridges Europe and Asia, is essential to security in the Middle East, the Balkans, the Black Sea, and the Caucasus, by virtue of its geography and Western orientation. Today, Ankara is fighting a three-pronged war -- with scarce support from the U.S.

The flood of Syrian refugees is putting enormous economic and security strains on Turkey. Coupled with ongoing terrorist attacks by ISIS and radical Kurdish nationalists, there is a growing threat to the stability of a key U.S. ally in a region beset with chaos. Perhaps most sinister among its security threats is the infiltration of radical Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen's movement into the fabric of Turkey's government and society in an attempt to usurp the democratically elected government and to impose a Shar'ia Law-inspired system on a moderate state. The Gulen Movement, officially designated as a terrorist organization, possesses a vast network of schools, nonprofit organizations, media outlets, and businesses in Turkey, the U.S., Germany and other nations.

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Just this week, a Turkish court took steps against the Gulen Movement when it ruled that impartial administrators be appointed to take over the operations of the Gulen's media juggernaut, including the flagship Zaman newspaper, which engaged in unacceptable media practices and promoted Gulen's Islamist policies.

With the goal of undermining constitutional order in Turkey, Gulen has spent vast sums of his fortune, estimated at $25 billion to infiltrate government, media, schools, business, law enforcement and the judiciary system with his disciples. Simultaneously, he targeted officials who have failed to follow his strict religious line, and has inserted itself into Turkey's education system by running hundreds of schools and 17 universities with the intent of radicalizing children.

Gulen's ambitions, however, go beyond his homeland. He now controls a network of schools in over 100 countries, including the largest network of charter schools in the U.S. Resulting from accusations of tax payer fraud and financial malfeasance, the Gulen movement and schools are under investigation by 22 states and the FBI.

According to U.S. government reports published by WikiLeaks, "Deep and widespread doubts remain, however, about his (Gulen) movement's ultimate intentions. We have anecdotal evidence of the pressure that the various circles of his movement put on people they have drawn in, for instance severe pressure on businessmen to continue to give money to support Gulenist schools or other activities. . . Gulenists use their school network (including dozens of schools in the U.S.) to cherry-pick students they think are susceptible to being molded as proselytizers and we have steadily heard reports about how the schools indoctrinate boarding students."

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While the Government of Turkey has declared the Gulen Movement a terrorist organization, Gulen has turned his sights on U.S. military bases, having already opened a schools on one U.S. Air Force base and is currently negotiating to open another.

At a March 1st Congressional hearing on terror financing, Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) asked witnesses if they've heard of "any unlawful schemes where educational groups may be funneling federal dollars through their non-profit organizations into so-called religious movements?" One witness, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for international Affairs, Clay Lowery, now of the Center for Global Development, had in fact heard such things. It is broadly recognized that he was referring, at least in part, to Gulen and his operations.

Adding to the intrigue are U.S. Embassy Turkey concerns, as WikiLeaks reported "...we are concerned by the link with charter schools in the U.S. that have petitioned for marginally-qualified H1B candidates . . . and our posts in Turkey have started compiling a list of these Gulenist charter schools in the U.S. for use in visa adjudication." The obvious questions remain, who are these men and why is the Gulen Movement spending so much time, effort and money on bringing them to the U.S.?



A Congressional investigation is underway looking into Gulen's purported illegal campaign contributions. That investigation expanded into Gulen Movement illegally-funded lavish trips to Turkey for Members of Congress and their staffs through his network of non-profits. Investigators are looking into millions of dollars to congressional and presidential candidates, including huge donations to the Clinton Foundation. It appears that Gulen's manipulation and corruption rule book has crossed the Atlantic and is now undermining the US political system.

To stop this, the Obama Administration must show leadership before it's too late, expanding the investigation of the Gulen Movement. Concurrently, Congress should pay greater attention to Turkish security. Turkey must maintain its role and promise of a reliable, democratic, and prosperous regional leader -- and a key U.S. ally.
Merrick Garland is an excellent choice to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. He is unquestionably qualified for the position, having served for 19 years as a judge on the federal Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit -- the court just below the Supreme Court. On the bench, he has earned a stellar reputation as a moderate judge who applied the law, not his personal preferences, to decide cases. The Senate should confirm him easily -- if Republicans don't refuse to do their constitutionally mandated job of considering his nomination.

Garland has what some might call the ideal background for a Supreme Court justice. A graduate of Harvard Law School and former Supreme Court clerk to William Brennan, Garland worked in the Department of Justice under the first Bush administration as a prosecutor before taking his current seat on the bench. At Justice, he led the prosecution of terrorists like the Oklahoma City bomber and the "Unabomber."

On the bench, he has carried over that toughness. He's voted against allowing terrorists to challenge their confinement in Guantanamo and been tough on crime. That's partly why Republicans like Orrin Hatch have previously praised Garland, saying "his intelligence and scholarship cannot be questioned."

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No one can say that Garland is a political pick. He does not have a notably liberal record, and as a white male he does not appeal to die-hard liberals. Obama didn't pick him to motivate voters. He picked him because he is a bipartisan choice who is undoubtedly qualified for the position.

Will that be enough for the Senate to confirm him? Garland is the type of pick that makes it especially hard for Republicans to carry through their unprecedented refusal to hold hearings. The last time Garland was up for a Senate vote, Sen. Hatch accused Republicans who didn't support him of playing politics with the nomination process. His track record of consensus and moderation defies the inevitable claims that he is some radical.

A refusal by the Senate to even consider Garland would set a new standard for obstructionism. Nearly one in every three presidents has had a Supreme Court justice nominee confirmed during an election year. Yet Republicans say we should let the people decide. Of course, the people did decide who would nominate Supreme Court justices--back in 2012. One reason Republicans don't want to hold hearings is because someone like Garland is so clearly qualified that he's hard to vote against.

The president has done his job by identifying and nominating a qualified person to serve on the Supreme Court. Now the Senate should do its job.
ATTENDANCE AT ADVERTISING WEEK EUROPE TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS CPD ACCREDITATION

Advertising Week Europe, the continents largest annual gathering of marketing and communication leaders, has announced it has joined the IPAs Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme, a scheme that encourages IPA member agencies to provide development opportunities for staff, across departments and disciplines.

As part of the programme, each seminar or workshop at this years Advertising Week Europe attended by practitioners from IPA member agencies will count towards one hour of the IPA CPD. With companies such as Google, ITV and Microsoft taking part at this years event, members can learn from the most successful in the industry.

Annual accreditation towards CPD certification is mandatory for all member agencies, who must complete a minimum of 24 hours learning per person every year. Upon entering a workshop or seminar, the Advertising Week Europe badge will be scanned and used to track which sessions members have attended during the week. At the end of the event, members will be emailed their proof of attendance to be used to update their personal online diary and build their profile as an industry professional.

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By fulfilling personal CPD requirements, it provides members with the opportunity to enhance career development and add value to their business, whilst developing valuable practitioner skills to drive client satisfaction. The scheme also allows member agencies to reinforce their commitment to IPA Continuous Professional Development and gain greater client confidence and retention.

Matt Scheckner, Chief Executive of Advertising Week Europe, said: With over 200 seminars and workshops to choose from, the agenda for this years Advertising Week Europe is set to be the biggest yet.

This is a fantastic initiative and we are proud to be able to provide member agencies with the opportunity to build up their learning hours, while hearing from some of the industrys brightest minds.

Paul Bainsfair, Director General of IPA, commented: Advertising Week Europe is one of the most important events for agencies in the media and advertising industry, with a full line-up of leading expertise across one week.

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This initiative will help members build their CPD accreditation over the course of the year and is another big step in furthering our members skills and development, taking direction from the most inspiring talent our industry has to offer.

Advertising Week Europe 2016 returns to London for the fourth year from April 18-22, and registration is now open. Last year, the event attracted over 28,000 attendees, more than 10,000 delegates and over 700 speakers from across the advertising and creative industries.

To register for the event and find out more information, please visit www.advertisingweek.eu

To join the conversation year-round, visit The Advertising Week Social Club, which delivers unique content, insights and perspective at www.theawsc.com.

ABOUT ADVERTISING WEEK EUROPE:

Now in its fourth year, Advertising Week Europe is the continents largest annual gathering uniting the advertising, ad tech, client, creative, marketing, and media ecosystems. The week-long series of events combine inspiring thought leadership seminars, engaging debate on the most challenging areas of opportunity, and a series of hand-crafted evening experiences at some of Londons most iconic venues targeting industry leaders of today and tomorrow. The origin of The Week ties London and New York City together  Advertising Week began in New York in 2004. The 13 edition of Advertising Week in New York City is September 26  30, 2016. Also launching in 2016 is Advertising Week Asia in Tokyo, May 30  June 2.

ABOUT THE IPA:

The IPA is widely recognised as the worlds most influential professional body for practitioners in advertising and marketing communications. It has a well-earned reputation for thought leadership, best practice and continuous professional development and also provides core support and advisory services for its corporate and individual members. Based in the United Kingdom for nearly 100 years, IPA programmers can be found in more than 60 countries worldwide.
DIYARBAKIR, TURKEY - MARCH 15: A woman walks through the streets after fighting between members of the PKK and the police on March 15, 2016 in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Heavy fighting between members of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and Police forces have left at least three people dead and several injured. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed a crackdown on the PKK following Sunday's suicide bomb attack in Ankara, which has been widely blamed on the Kurdish separatist group. (Photo by Awakening/Getty Images)

The Turkish capital, Ankara, is rocked with bombs yet again. The details of the attack on March 11 such as the perpetrators and their motive are important and intriguing to know, yet this latest terror attack reveals a more structural problem for Turkey. The country is becoming a hotbed of terror attacks.

Increasingly, Turkey is being viewed "as part of the Middle East rather an island of security outside of it." The phrase, "Pakistanization of Turkey", has been frequently invoked in the recent past, particularly within the context of Turkey's relationship with jihadist groups in Syria. In most cases, such invocation served to point to a hypothetical possibility rather than what was happening on the ground. This is no longer the case. The Turkish capital, Ankara, faced its third major terror attack in the last five months. The total number of lives lost stands tentatively around 200 and many more injured (10 October, 2015 - 128 deaths, 17 February 2016 - 29 deaths, March 13, 2016 - 37 deaths).

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Pakistanization of Turkey refers to the increasing ability of extremist and armed groups (often times supported by Turkey) to export violence into Turkey's borders. Such groups can openly propagate violence and radicalism and face, subsequently, minimal repercussions. This is a symptom of weakening governmental authority and poor decision making. The central government is either unwilling or incapable of dealing effectively with such threats to its citizens and to the state authority.

Crucially, the effects of such a development do not remain within the borders of Turkey; by contrast, we observe, as in Pakistan's case, that such a country becomes a breeding ground of radicalization itself and eventually undermines neighboring countries.

What's Happening in Turkey? This latest episode of terrorism in Ankara underscores several major problems as far as the Turkish government is concerned. Despite successive shows of "determination", Turkish security forces suffer from serious weaknesses. Not only Ankara and its presumably most secure areas, but also different parts of the country have been subject to major terror attacks recently (i.e. Istanbul, Diyarbakir, Suruc).

These attacks have increasingly become part of the daily routine, and public opinion, consequently, is desensitized. Minister of Interior Efkan Ala, for example, explains such attacks as being "impossible to prevent 100%", while pro-government journalists urge people to "get used to living with terrorism", a sentiment shared by the chief justice of high court of appeal.

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Ironically, the primary concern of a pro-government daily remained Erdogan's presidential aspirations rather than the attacks. These are hardly signs of good governance. The American Embassy in Ankara, by contrast, warned its citizens to stay clear of parts of Ankara two days before the attack on Sunday.

On a related note, no public official has been held accountable for any of the attacks, reinforcing the conviction among critics that the government sees no problems with the way terrorism is handled, although gag orders and social media bans imposed after each terror attack leads to suspicions that the government systematically tries to evade responsibility by minimizing public discussion of such attacks. Moreover, the public witnessed virtually no state backlash against the organizations behind these attacks; typically the government's response has been a muted one and statements such as this one by a government minister justifies the fatalism: "Rather than the perpetrators of the attack, I curse this mentality. The perpetrators of the attack already went where they will."

Public perception of security and safety in Turkey has also taken a major toll. The sharp decline in tourism in Turkey is an indicator of this trend.

A closer look at recent waves of instability and insecurity in Turkey reveals that the common denominator is Turkey's security and foreign policies do not reflect the interests of the country. Instead, they are subservient to President Erdogan and his AKP's own interests. For example: Syria. The AKP government has been arguably the most vocal opponent of Syria's Assad since 2011. In order to facilitate a regime change, the Turkish government under Erdogan's leadership supplied various Syrian opposition groups with weapons, ammunition, and other logistical support. Most of such support went to globally-recognized terror groups. While the Turkish government supplied Syrian opposition, it was impervious to potential ramifications of its Syrian policy within its borders.

Russia and Iraq grew increasingly hostile to Turkey in recent months thanks to inconsistent and hostile Turkish policies such that Russia is going after the Erdogan family.

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Islamic State (ISIS). Despite its rhetorical opposition to ISIS, Turkey has not taken serious action against the group to this day. Turkey became a recruiting ground for ISIS where domestic groups supporting the group met no scrutiny from security forces or the government. Likewise, Turkey served as a conduit between ISIS recruits from around the world and Syria. Serious allegations surfaced, accusing a close network of top Turkish officials of facilitating ISIS' oil trade beyond Syria. Moreover, despite reports that ISIS undertook multiple violent terror attacks on Turkish soil, no action has been taken against the group besides sporadic air attacks. Turkey's participation in the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS is in name only.

Kurds. Turkish officials continue expressing their determination and intention to eradicate PKK terror at all costs. What they refer to is the latest surge in PKK attacks within Turkey since the summer of 2015. What is missing from such characterization of recent developments is that Erdogan personally holds Kurds and the Kurdish party HDP accountable for preventing him from assuming even greater control of the country in the June 7, 2015 election. The extensive security operations in southeast Turkey targeting both PKK militants and Kurdish civilians in cities such as Sur, Cizre, and Diyarbakir are a form of payback. This zeal for retribution also undermines Syrian Kurdish groups' involvement in the coalition against ISIS.

Syrian refugees. While Turkey has done its fair share for the refugee problem, it is worth noting that President Erdogan has been manipulating this issue tirelessly as leverage in Turkey's relations with the EU. First, the refugee deal pushed to delay the announcement of 2015 Turkey Progress Report, which included serious criticisms of Erdogan and the AKP. Later, refugees were used to seek various benefits for Turkey such as visa-free travel to EU and resuming the EU accession process in the most recent agreement between the parties.

Purge of opposition. Erdogan's efforts to reinforce his power domestically rest increasingly on suppressing various opposition groups, especially in the aftermath of the infamous 2013 graft scandal in which he was involved. Media groups have been taken over by the government, more than 1,800 Erdogan insult cases are making their way through the Turkish legal system, journalists are regularly prosecuted and jailed, schools are raided, and protests violently suppressed. Most importantly, it is becoming clearer by the day how the AKP's campaign against police officers alleged to be Gulen-sympathizers hurt the country's own security.

As part of this purge, many counter-terrorism experts have been dismissed, creating a major security lapse despite the government's statements to the contrary, according to reports. Inexplicably, in a city that witnessed two major terror attacks since the October 10 bombings, the key position of Ankara chief of police has been filled only on an interim basis.

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What Happens in Turkey Doesn't Stay in TurkeyFor a long time, the international community displayed, what we can call, a disinterested concern for developments within Turkey's borders. Suppression of domestic groups was one that wrought some suffering but ultimately it was regarded as an internal problem. It did not carry international implications. We can no longer make this assumption. What happens inside Turkey does not stay within Turkey's borders.

The Turkish government's war against various domestic opposition groups such as the PKK and Kurds or the Gulen Movement affects vital regional issues; they have important ramifications beyond its border that can no longer be contained.
All the money growing sugarcane, all the political money spread like fertilizer across the electoral landscape, all the public relations and message machinery, all aims to one result: predictable profits for one of the nation's fattest recipients of corporate welfare: Big Sugar.

To achieve maximum profitability Big Sugar needs to control outcomes -- first in elections, then the Florida legislature, Congress, and the White House, then in environmental agencies controlled by politics -- and finally, predictable rainfall on 450,000 acres of the Everglades Agricultural Area south of Lake Okeechobee.

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Remarkably, in Florida -- the nation's center of sugar production -- Big Sugar had two native sons who failed to advance through the GOP presidential primary. Jeb Bush was the insider's choice. He had earned Big Sugar's confidence while governor, but according to a source, Jeb made an early decision to stand arm's length from sugar's sticky embrace. When his campaign finally sputtered on fumes, Jeb half-heartedly said the unmentionable: that he would not support the continued sugar subsidy in the Farm Bill. Marco Rubio, on the other hand, was unequivocally supportive of sugar subsidies. The Fanjul billionaires -- went "all in" with Marquito.

Last night, when Donald Trump smashed Rubio in the Florida's GOP primary, Big Sugar found itself in an extraordinary position; both of the GOP presidential candidates it supported failed to carry Florida.

There is more bad news for Big Sugar. For the first-time civic opposition on the west coast of Florida and east coast -- afflicted by pollution spewing from Lake Okeechobee -- linked through social media to raise a ruckus that carried at the primary polls.

Rubio's defeat can be attributed, in part, to an uprising against the GOP establishment and, particularly, against Big Sugar. For one of its own -- Marco Rubio -- to flame out so spectacularly at the top of the political pyramid introduces uncertainty to an industry that has never faltered in pressing its influence, whether through state or local county politics or through local county business groups, "respected" trade associations like the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida.

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In this primary season, not even rainfall cooperated. Five times rain averages fell in Lake Okeechobee watersheds during January. Republican voters in Florida were outraged that only Big Sugar in the Everglades Agricultural Area remained untouched by heavy flooding and polluted runoff scouring the two main estuaries used to dump excess water: the Caloosahatchee, spreading foul water down the southwest and heavily Republican coast of Florida and to the east, through the St. Lucie, also coating Republican voters in toxic water.

Groups like Bullsugar.org, reached across the middle of the state, generating hundreds of thousands of viewers and voters, pressing the case that they -- Republican AND Democratic voters -- would no longer tolerate the state of Florida using individual property, small tourism-dependent businesses, and natural resources as sacrifice zones.

In recent days, Big Sugar launched a multi-pronged counterattack. First, water managers agreed to lessen damaging outflows from Lake Okeechobee. Big Sugar and its allies in state environmental agencies are betting against the resumption of record rainfall, expecting people will go back to being 'sheeple.' That is how it always worked for Big Sugar in the past.

Second, Big Sugar unleashed a barrage of publicity reinforcing a theme it has pressed through local councils and state government: that it is not the culprit for Lake O pollution: taxpayers with bad septic systems are. Dairy farms north of Lake Okeechobee are. Big Sugar, at the same time, trumpets how they are just hard-working farmers discouraged by misinformed environmental extremists.

In the Naples Daily News, "U.S. Sugar's Judy Sanchez said the Sierra Club held a public roundtable discussion last week where it falsely blamed her company for pollution in Lake Okeechobee. "We were flabbergasted when we saw they were making claims that any farmers were pumping water into Lake Okeechobee," Sanchez said. "We don't have the ability to pump water into the lake. Only the government has that ability."

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It sounds like a reasonable point except that in an on-going Clean Water Act litigation, a federal judge already decided against US Sugar and the sugar industry for the very practices it claims to have no part in. Moreover, focusing on the practice of emptying flooded sugar fields into Lake Okeechobee (ie. "back pumping") is a grand form of misdirection. What citizens want is what science and experts state is necessary to solve the Lake Okeechobee pollution once and for all: the public acquisition of Big Sugar lands adequate to the purpose of cleansing marshes. In other words, put people -- not billionaire recipients of corporate welfare like the Fanjuls (Flo Sun and Florida Crystals) and the Mott family (US Sugar Corporation), first.

Big Sugar attacks the inaccuracy of its critics in comparison to data it claims to show what a great job the industry has done of cleaning up its pollution. Politicians it supports -- like Gov. Rick Scott and Agriculture Secretary Adam Putnam, Senate President Joe Negron and Representative Matt Caldwell -- all toe Big Sugar's line. Newspapers and TV news reports pick up the industry's talking points, neatly wrapped in bows and gift baskets. For example, US Sugar Corporation is now pushing out press statements and presented its "facts" in carefully orchestrated public meetings: it does not "backpump" its filthy runoff into Lake Okeechobee. What it doesn't say: the corporation remains an active defendant and intervenor in federal court Clean Water Act litigation.

In other words, the same obstructionism the industry has always shown remains at the core of its strategy: marginalize critics, shift costs to taxpayers, and extract maximum profit. Big Sugar still dominates the Florida legislature and local county commissions. Big Sugar's gets what it wants, when it wants, but yesterday's primary result showed a crack in the armor.
Let's not get controversial right from the outset. This isn't a story of politics or labor; I am going to tell you about an eye-opening and breathtaking experience unlike one that I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying.

To celebrate my final year at the University of Florida and final college spring break, I decided to enroll in a program with Volunteers for Israel, a partner of the main organization, Sar-El. This American-Israeli partnership allows for men and women from the United States and other countries around the world to take part in one, two, and three week ventures as volunteers for an organization that works with the Internal Defense Force of Israel.

I joined an interfaith group of college students on a journey halfway across the world to the Holy Land, a site of unparalleled beauties and contention alike. After a night in Tel Aviv, we met in the Savidor Central Railway Station with Patricia, our group's official contact and representative. She introduced us to our madeer, the man charged with taking care of us during our stay, Jonathan Ezra, or Youval.

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Youval is a early in his 20s who showed us the Israeli way and became our first and most memorable friend of the trip. He stuck with us throughout the entire trip and saw us off with a promise to reunite during the summer in New Orleans. Leaving the Central Station early, we made northward towards Haifa, passing through Caesarea and stopping at the franchise Moses before continuing onward. At the gas station beside restaurant, I bought a few chocolate bars of Elite, the famous Israeli pop rocks chocolate.

After a quick two hour drive, we arrived at our base in the North, a gorgeous landscape neighbored by a scenery of hills and mountains. Upon our arrival, we were presented the barracks that would be accommodating us, along with a civilian uniform resembling those of the IDF soldiers. Ours were tagged with blue ribbons on the shoulders that read, "Sar-El" in English and Hebrew.

We were given a tour of the base and made friends with some soldiers before heading to a daily early dinner between 6 and 6:30 PM. After enjoying dinner of army pasta and surprisingly delicious pastries, we headed back and continued getting to know the soldiers that we would be sharing a home with for the next couple of days. The meals over the next couple days were substantial and enjoyable, introducing us to the very basics of Israeli cuisine such as a standard daily breakfast and Malawach.

Among them were two soldiers that I became particularly good friends with, Ivan and Yonael. Ivan is a Russian-Israeli that spoke with a stereotypically thick accent and Yonael a large Israeli native with a kind heart from Nahariya, a village in the North near Haifa. Both soldiers count the days until their time in the service is up with zealotry, as do most Israeli soldiers.

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The mandatory service demands for all 18 year olds to serve in the Israeli Defense Forces, signifying that most soldiers, with the exception of commanders and those with military careers, are just around my age, a college student of 21 years. Their livelihood and high spirits could be felt through their interactions with us, a group of young Americans that attend a school famous for its social and night life. The classic attitude of young guys trying to pick up a foreigner was not lost on them; this was something regularly practiced throughout the trip, albeit with no success.

Over the next couple of days, I worked with the some soldiers in the Armored Corp, storing away vehicles that had remained out in the open since their return from Gaza nearly two years ago. We toiled in the sun, taking frequent breaks in order to sustain the soldiers' constant cigarette smoking. Our duties mostly consisted of moving, storing, and cleaning the enormous pull-over bags that contained armored personnel carriers and trucks. While usually mundane work, it felt good to be out in the spectacular Israeli "winter" of 79F, energized by the mountain wind and glowing sun overhead.

During these hours of work was usually when I had the most interesting conversations with a young solider, Omer, an Orthodox Jew and chain smoker who had the most serene attitude of anyone on-base. Our discussions involved the differences between our lives in Israel and the U.S., his time in the army, and what I did back home as well as music and politics. Our diverse talks and the insight gained from them was one of the most enjoyable aspects of my journey.

The experience was one of pure exceptional enjoyment I would never have had the pleasure of participating in had I not heard of Sar-El and VFI from University of Florida Hillel. I also had the chance to wander around Israel after my days in the army, visiting Tiberius, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, and Tel Aviv. Those days contributed to my encounter with the Holy Land's extensive beauty and the daily experience of local Israelis and Palestinians.

The program is certain to attract criticism given some people's judgement of the state of Israel, and it is their right to do so. I respond by simply stating that I am obligated to return once again to the Holy Land, to reencounter the Land of Palestine and Islamic treasures of Jerusalem. For the time being however, I reflect on how this alternative spring break opened my eyes to a small portion of the Middle East and Israel. I would undoubtedly consider making the trip once again, if nothing else, to have a second chance of gaining a deeper insight into what the life of an IDF soldier consists of.

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Sufficiency Economy Chili plantation agriculture in thailand

Good nutrition doesn't just fuel the mind and body. It's also one of the most crucial foundations for a healthy economy--and one of the most overlooked.

The connection between hunger and poverty is often misunderstood. So let's start with the obvious: Poverty causes hunger. When a family can't afford food, they don't eat. But the reverse is also true: Hunger causes poverty. That's because chronic malnutrition often leaves people too sick, too weak or too impaired to work.

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The consequences of global hunger are especially devastating for low-income families. Without economic assets like land, property or financial resources, poor people are left with only their physical ability to work--often in manual labor--and their mental capacity to learn new skills or trades. Put simply: They rely on only their bodies and brains to generate income, both of which depend on good nutrition to function properly.

Chronic hunger has an even more ruinous effect on children, particularly during their first two years of life. Bouts of malnutrition during this window cause irreversible damage to a child's mind and body, leaving her with a diminished capacity to learn and a greater susceptibility to infection. Her body will be weaker than her peers and, as an adult, she will face a lifetime of lower earnings, poor health and unrealized potential. A malnourished person is also more likely to have less healthy children, thus propagating a cycle of hunger and poverty that can trap families for generations. These repercussions, in turn, ripple out into the community.

A study conducted in Malawi last year revealed that child undernutrition had cost the country's economy nearly $600 million. And that's just one country. Multiply that by 795 million--the number of people worldwide who suffer from undernourishment--and you have a huge drain on the global economy. In fact, research shows that undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies can siphon off as much as 3 percent of the global GDP. That's $2.1 trillion each year.

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Good nutrition, on the other hand, fuels economic prosperity. Studies have shown that just $1 invested in nutrition can lead to as much as $138 in reduced health care costs and enhanced productivity over time. According to a Cost of Hunger in Africa Study, ending child undernutrition could increase a developing country's GDP by 16.5 percent.

That's why food assistance from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is so crucial for economic growth in the developing world.

As the planet's largest supplier of school meals, WFP is nurturing the development of the world's most valuable resource: Children. The agency's school feeding program boosts literacy and education rates among boys and girls in the most impoverished regions. By easing the burden of putting food on the table, school meals encourage poor families to keep their kids in school, especially when combined with take-home rations.This vital nutrition doesn't just support their physical and mental development, it also helps students succeed in the classroom by enabling them to stay focused on their teachers instead of their stomachs. For many of these students, fortified food from WFP is the only meal they can rely on.

School meals are especially effective at boosting attendance and graduation rates among girls. Without school meals as an incentive, girls in low-income countries are often married at a young age, kept at home to care for relatives or forced to do menial labor to provide for the household.

WFP also works to prevent the transfer of poverty to future generations by focusing its nutrition efforts on mothers and young children in need. Through fortified foods, nutritional monitoring, immunization and education on healthy practices like breastfeeding and proper sanitation, WFP is giving vulnerable families a healthy start to life. Getting the right food at the right time can boost a person's lifetime earnings by as much as 50 percent.

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By investing in nutrition for the world's hungry, we can help families free themselves from the poverty trap that hunger causes--and harness the brainpower and productivity of 795 million people across the globe.

That's just smart economics.

Allan Jury is the Vice President of Public Policy for World Food Program USA, where he works with lawmakers and advocates to shape U.S. food and agriculture policies. Before joining World Food Program USA, he worked as the director of the the U.N. World Food Programme's U.S. relations office in Washington D.C. From 2004 to 2008, he served as WFP's director of external relations in Rome. He joined WFP in 2001 following a 25-year career with the U.S. Department of State.
Innovation drives everything. From science and technology to art, it is the essential element that pushes businesses into the future. But why does it seem like truly innovative companies are hard to find these days?

The problem is not experience and know-how. It's the lack of a bold, agile and flexible way of thinking.

The Slow Death of Innovation

The overarching issue is that major corporations--who were once thought of as innovation leaders--are not set up to consistently innovate. They have reached the top by solving problems for consumers, but are now focused on stability and consistent profit. After all, that's what pleases shareholders.



Taking risks on innovative endeavours is not the center piece of growth for large-scale firms. Instead, it's commonly a separate initiative that's not an integral part of day-to-day operations.

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Ironically, this type of thinking can and will ultimately lead to declining revenue. When new innovators disrupt the industry, large companies aren't ready for a transformation. And they get left behind.

The key to staying in front is staying innovative. Here are four strategies for big companies to spark start-up like innovation:

1. Engage More External Talent

Silos limit productivity, slow the decision-making process, and cripple the development of transformative ideas. When information sharing isn't encouraged and collaboration with outside organizations or departments isn't possible, decadence is the result.

A proven way to come up with new ideas is to engage external talent. Your employees would agree with me. More than 60 percent of workers believe collaborative thinking is the best way to spark innovation.

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Most large-scale businesses have the resources to form partnerships, work with consultants, and even start entrepreneur residency programs. Why not try something similar?

There are all sorts of ways to stimulate innovation. To spearhead a mindset change amongst employees, DBS collaborated with startups to tackle business and societal challenge. DBS Bank in Singapore hosts hackathons in an effort to make banking services more accessible, secure and efficient.

These events allow startups and other external talent to work with internal project teams. This friendly collaboration results in the emergence of a startup culture that would not have been possible within the organization alone.



2. Rethink Hierarchies

Brilliant ideas can come from anywhere. Big companies need to know innovation is not limited to a meeting room filled with C-levels.

The goal of managers and executives should be to build the right environment for innovation. As Li Ka-shing, a Hong Kong business leader, states:

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"A leader inspires others to greatness. A boss dominates his subordinates and makes them feel small."



Instead of top-down command (and payroll) structures, companies should embrace an atmosphere where all workers have an equal say when it comes to developing big ideas. Teamwork and an all-hands-on deck approach should drive decisions and product development--not directions being handed down the ladder.

To do this, empower your employees. When workers' ideas are being heard, they are more likely to feel as if they can accomplish something great. And that's when something great can actually happen.

The methods for getting creative ideas from employees are endless. Mumbai-based Tata Consultancy Services does a good job of encouraging innovation at its office. The company utilizes a social innovation platform called IdeaMax to encourage the expression, sharing and development of creative ideas and solutions among its consultants.

3. Encourage 20% Time

A company can really unleash the potential of its rock star talent when it gives those employees space to think. As IDEO's Tim Brown noted, "serious play" gives brilliant and innovative ideas a place to grow. Not allowing employees the freedom to spend a portion of their time working on projects outside of normal tasks can stifle innovation--and may even lead to a brain drain.

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A survey of the world's eight largest economies (America, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Mexico, United Kingdom, and Japan) highlights some interesting reasons why workers leave a company. 71% cite teamwork not being encouraged as a reason, and 65% cite the lack of flexibility in their work schedule as a reason.

To keep your best and brightest, you must give them freedom and encourage collaboration. This will make them happy--and lead to "aha" moments.

Google is famous for its 20%-time policy, which allows workers to use one-fifth of their working time on their own projects. Even though this policy has been ousted as not really existing anymore at Google, the idea of offering employees "serious playtime" is incredible. The company states that this free time led to the creation of Gmail and Google News. Clearly, allowing its employees to work on their own thing has benefited Google tremendously.

20% time at your company doesn't need to be organized or receive formal oversight. Simply give employees space to work on projects they think can benefit the company. When the impact of the project is demonstrated, start adding more resources to it.

4. Be Audacious

Many large companies ascend to the top by cornering a niche at the right time. The problem is that the value prop that led them there won't work forever. The niche and the demand will both change over time. If companies don't respond to those changes, they will be left in the dust.

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To stay on top, deliberate and methodical research, development and testing is needed. This way, new products that satisfy evolving consumer needs are consistently made.

For such continuous innovation to be successful, audacity is crucial. Think big--or go home. When you get an idea, take it all the way and see if it works. Only then will you know if something can propel your company to a sustained rise.

When it comes to large firms, sometimes innovation involves shedding an image, too. General Motors was on the brink of bankruptcy before taking a chance and reinventing itself in the East. In China, General Motors transformed Buick--which was once an outdated grandpa car--into a vehicle designed for the young, performance-oriented driver. The company's success in Asia has helped it once again become one of the most profitable automakers worldwide.

The long-term success of a company hinges on the ability to continually innovate. For direction, look to big companies that thrive at innovation, like Amazon, Apple, and Facebook. These giants operate labs as incubators of innovation, enabling them to predict and shape the future of their markets. This is the only guarantee for long-term success.

What are you doing to innovate at your company and ensure sustainable growth?

-----------------------

Alvin Chia is the Innovation Program Lead of DBS Bank. Outside of work, Alvin lectures as an Adjunct Faculty and is completing his doctoral dissertation with Delft University of Technology.

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ALEPPO, SYRIA - MARCH 16: A Syrian kid holds a Syrian flag during a protest against Assad Regime at Old city of Alleppo in Syria on March 16, 2016. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Five years ago, we were told not to have high expectations or ambitions in Syria. It seemed that we had a roof over our heads to remind us where our place was. We were living without even having the chance of hearing our own voices or realizing our dreams.

Looking at life in Syria back then seemed normal on the outside, but within we had detention chambers drowned in darkness. Places that might reach ten floors under the ground.

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You were safe if you lived without thinking, but if we thought and then dared speak our minds, you'll be lost in darkness. So, yes it was a normal life on the surface!

For 45 years, everything in Syria was under the control of one family. We had Assad, both father and then son. The suppression was increasing and people out of Syria thought that the severe oppression would prevent Syrians from making demands.

But one day, we witnessed Egypt toppling the regime of Mubarak which ruled Egypt for almost three decades. I still remember that day clearly, the February 11, 2011. The people of Egypt succeeded in overthrowing the regime that held it for three decades.

The windows in our house were closed that day by my mom; she was fearful like any other parent in Syria. My mom always told us not to have any political discussion with anybody out of the walls of our place. My mom closed the windows and started dancing, clapping and ululating. In Arab countries ululation is commonly used to express celebration - that day we celebrated the feeling of freedom in our house for the first time.

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Many people thought at the beginning that the Syrian revolution is a copy of the other revolutions in the Arab world, but this is false. Syria was a very specific situation which pushed the people to be unintentionally ready for a change which was demanded years ago. People had been fed up with injustice and all the regime needed to do is make one more mistake.

The regime's intelligence branch in Dara'a, Syria, arrested a group of young school students who wrote on the wall of their school similar slogans to the ones previously used in Egypt and Tunisia demonstrations.

Despite the fact that they were children, the regime's intelligence members are not the right people to show some mercy. The children's bodies were burnt in some parts and their nails were uprooted.

The revolution started since then and the Syrian people were clear with their demands. They said it out loud and clear " Enough with Assad " in hundreds and hundreds of demonstrations around Syria. The peaceful demonstrations were responded with live ammunition from the regime and hundreds were arrested in the first four months and dozens killed.

The road was severely tiring and long for Syrians but the expectations were extremely high in the first year. Syrian people thought that the regime will be under the international community pressure to leave after seeing nearly one million demonstrators demanding for change.

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Kafernabel, March 15, 2016

As time passed, the regime had almost the complete comfort to react violently to the peaceful chants. The regime's brutality increased and many massacres were committed in different Syrian cities and towns.

The number of political detainees reached unbelievable numbers. Syrians raised their voices again and again but the international community did nothing serious to stop the bloodshed. Some Syrians lost hope in getting any international support, so the Free Syrian Army was established by officers who quit the regime's army, the ones who refused to join the regime that was committing war crimes.

Since the middle of 2012, the regime was even more creative with human rights violations, so the regime put many areas under siege and the starvation was used as a weapon of war, barrel bombs and all different kinds of aerial shelling were used and nobody could imagine that things could get worse, but then the chemical massacre happened about 7 kilometers away from the middle of capital.

More Syrians were killed by the coalition, which was established to fight ISIS and extremism. Then more were killed by the Russian airstrikes and openly Iran and Hezbollah were there to support Assad from the very beginning in 2011.

Five years have passed and everybody is trying to cover up what really happened and is still happening in Syria. They want Syria to turn into black and then they can be satisfied with their scenarios about extremism and Syria being a field for a civil war, but they are not going to be able to hide the truth which is as clear as the sun.

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Syrians, in their long journey to get their rights have witnessed disappointments, loss, and a lot more. Syrians have got the chance to know each other and they have seen the good parts in them and on the other hand, they were able to see the real faces of the world.

Syrians are not the victims that everybody wants to take over and manipulate their fate. They are not only the people who are being killed to be dealt with as numbers like "the number of people [who] were killed by shelling, the number of Syrian refugees [who] drowned in the sea and the number of detainees." Syrians are still alive and they still want what they have asked for in 2011.

Syrians are the doctors in the field hospitals who are keeping Syrians alive. They are the Syrian civil defense workers who are risking their lives to protect others and they are the citizen journalists and reporters who are doing their best to highlight the truth.

Syrians are the civilians who are sharing their last amount of food under siege and shelling. Syrians are the teachers who are volunteering to teach the children under siege and doing their best to feed their minds even though they can't feed their stomachs. They are the refugees who are still holding Syria inside their hearts wherever they are going and trying to show the best in them to the whole world. They are all still believing in peaceful resistance after all the violence they were forced to witness. The Syrian people who needed to get their chance, the chance that they have never had.

Two weeks ago and under the ceasefire, the demonstrations shouted out from underneath the rubble all over again. The aerial shelling stopped even though the regime violated the ceasefire in different areas multiple times. But that didn't prevent people from chanting all over again for dignity and freedom.

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The revolution flag was all over Syria for the last two Fridays, and the black flags that the regime and regime's supporting entities wanted to look like as if they belong to the revolutionaries just disappeared!

The color that they tried to make Syria stick to for the last 3 years was demolished in two days and by hundreds of peaceful demonstrations. The Syrian revolution is still alive against all the faces of oppression in Syria. And if you are not able to see it after all, that would be because you don't want to.

The article is available in German here.

Bustan Al-Qaser 11 March

Al-wa'aer, Homs 11 March

Ma'aret Al-Numan, Idleb 11 March
Black mother and daughter holding bouquet of flowers

When I refer to Jewish mothers I need to clarify that a Jewish mother is not simply a woman who is of a Semitic background and is raising her kids in a very emotional and involved manner. A Jewish mother can also be a Puerto Rican father, a Black mother or a parent of any sex, religion or color. What I am going to talk to you about today are the most desirable characteristics of a Jewish mother and what her kids should appreciate about her. Let's face it, when we think about a Jewish mother we think of someone who is willing to steamroll or mow down anyone in her path in her effort to assist her child in any arena of the child's life. The Jewish mother stereotypes are fraught with images of moms chasing their kids around with food while expressing their anxiety about all things that she can do to help her kid avoid real or existing problems. When individuals in therapy refer to their parent or parents as behaving like Jewish mothers (and by the way many of them are neither Jewish nor mothers) I know that they are about to tell me about the problems associated with having such a figure in their lives.

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Well, today we are going to spend a considerable amount of time discussing the desirable characteristics of such mothers. A quick disclaimer -- these characteristics do not apply to all Jewish mamas and they are a bit stereotypical but let's have a little fun today praising the often critiqued. Everyone deserves their day, right?

Consider the following wonderful qualities of a Jewish mother and let me know what you think:

1. Jewish mothers are not afraid to express their love and other emotions. They are rarely cold and withholding. If they are they are probably hurt or perhaps not feeling well. You will always know where you stand with her emotionally.

2. You will rarely be hungry around your Jewish mother. She will frequently check on the status of your appetite. The thought of her child lacking food and energy is anathema to her. She will serve you more than enough food but also keep in mind that she does not want you to become overweight.

3. This type of mother will frequently offer advice and will consistently offer to be involved in your life. You will rarely have to complain about this mother being less than involved. When it comes to her child she will leave any activity or meeting to attend to your needs even if it involves simply listening to the minutiae of your day. She cares. She is interested.

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4. Emotional warmth comes easy to these types. They will bathe their children and their children's friends in a comforting bath of sunshine. They don't even understand what it means to be emotionally detached. That is for other people.

5. These parentals encourage their kids to ask questions rather than to follow rules blindly. They encourage their kids to search for the truth and the right things to do which are not always incorporated in existing rule sets.

6. Jewish mothers encourage the value of a good and solid education for both their male AND female children. In fact, education is of the utmost important in such a household.

7. It is important for all of us to learn the importance of laughing at ourselves. Jewish mothers will teach you this by modeling self-effacing behavior. Levity is an excellent coping skill.

8. The needs of the family are highly valued. This mother is unlikely to be missing in action. Family is first and food is second.

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9. Physical ailments will always be attended to. Chicken soup is often used to remedy most physical problems or even the slightest hint of their onset.

10. Emotional problems will also be attended to in a consistent manner. Talking is encouraged, suggestions will be offered and any sort of help needed will be offered often in the form of therapy with a highly-recommended therapist.

11. All professionals involved in the child's life will be highly researched and will be experts and specialists in their particular area. The Jewish mother, of course, is very concerned about credentials.

12. This parent is very detail-oriented. It is unlikely that she will forget dates or appointments. She is very fond of taking notes and keeping lists.

13. The Jewish mother would detest being accused of neglect. Hence, she is very vigilant and knows a great deal about her child's life.

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14. Shyness is a rare trait in this mother's personality description. Even if she is naturally shy she will push through it for the sake of helping the children. After all, how could she look into the best activities, schools and even tutors if she allowed her shyness to interfere. Passivity is rarely modeled for the kids.

15. Jewish mothers will teach their kids about being charitable. Most importantly, no one should ever have to be hungry or cold.

16. This mother will make many sacrifices for you. She would rather spend her time and other resources on you. She will find a way to get her kids needs met. Trust me on this one.

17. These parents are natural teachers. Just as they value education they value educating themselves about all of the important issues that might somehow affect their children.

18. Jewish mothers are rarely conversation-stealers when it comes to their kids. If a child wants to talk about something this mother will rarely make the conversation about herself unless she is somehow not on top of her game from perhaps too much worrying and and a resulting lack of sleep.

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19. This sort of mother will occasionally break the rules for her kids when she sees fit. Yes, she will allow her child to have a mental-health day and miss a day of school to catch up on their rest because they understand how important sleep is for the overall well-being of their children.

AND

20. Contrary to popular and unflattering stereotypes these mothers are extremely generous with their children.

So, I leave you with 20 thoughts here. Please share yours...
Gambel Communications has a great office space. When guests enter, their first reaction is how much the setting reflects who we are: bright and inviting, sharp and contemporary, stylish and accessible. Our office is truly a personification of our employees and company philosophy. Located above a coffee shop, spa, dress shop and shoe store, Gambel Communications could not ask for more perfect neighbors for its all-female staff.

So when we found ourselves outgrowing this space, we resisted moving. At twenty minutes tops from anywhere in New Orleans, we are spoiled. But the challenge remained. Ten women in 1,000 square feet is a bit cozy. And even though we are all rarely here at the same time, the constant phone calls, desk chats and "newsroom" environment left little "think" time. We needed at least occasional access to peace and quiet.

So the hunt was on. Do we move to larger quarters? Do we consider an annex in New Orleans? Do we open a satellite office? We rather quickly ruled out the first two after referring to our business growth plan which positioned us as a regional public relations firm. So now geography became an issue. With clients from Houston across the Gulf States to the Florida panhandle, what made the most sense?

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We surely had to consider our company culture. The Gambel Girls really are a team, counting on each other for advice, second opinions, media and community contacts, and even what to wear. It amazes people how collegial we are. Never a cross word, exuding harmony to rival the Dalai Lama - we get our mojo from our peers. Breaking up the team did not feel right. But as comfortable with each other as we are, the request I heard most was the need for quiet time.

Photo Credit: LouisianaNorthshore.com

That's when we decided to kill two birds with one stone. We found the perfect space just 30 minutes north from our office, across Lake Pontchartrain's iconic Causeway, the longest continuous bridge over water in the world. Mandeville, Louisiana, is far enough away for us to penetrate a new market but close enough to allow everyone a short commute. Situated on the banks of the lake, and across the street from a marina, the setting is green and serene, the ideal quiet place!

Thus were born Serenity Days. With a Northshore strategist manning the second office, everyone else rotates to the Northshore for a Serenity Day once a week. This schedule relieves the congestion of the New Orleans office while providing solitude, which, according to many experts, is the number one habit of highly creative people. Indeed, Einstein, Picasso, Mozart and Sandburg all embraced solitude.

The results so far have been positive. Reports of stress melting away while making the 24-mile car trip across the lake are frequent, productivity has surged, and creative ideas have enhanced strategic plans. And since our new office is near the convergence of three major interstate highways, new business and travel opportunities abound.

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My challenge to my staff is to be thought leaders. Serenity Days afford them the opportunity to think out of the box, to study client industries, and to really participate in the world around them. Existential psychologist Rolly May says, "In order to be open to creativity, one must have the capacity for constructive use of solitude. One must overcome the fear of being alone."

Our busy New Orleans office serves us well. Now with a second location, we have opened the doors for solitude and serenity to boost our creativity.

On Solitude and Creativity:

"... I take time to go for long walks on the beach so that I can listen to what is going on inside my head. If my work isn't going well, I lie down in the middle of a workday and gaze at the ceiling while I listen and visualize what goes on in my imagination." -- Einstein

"Without great solitude no serious work is possible." -- Picasso

"When I am, as it were, completely myself, entirely alone, and of good cheer - say, traveling in a carriage or walking after a good meal or during the night when I cannot sleep - it is on such occasions that my ideas flow best and most abundantly." -- Mozart

"One of the greatest necessities in America is to discover creative solitude." -- Sandburg
This article first appeared in the Portfolio of Perspectives series created by Olam.

Disruption, innovation, inclusion. These days, there is a multitude of business school jargon used to discuss development, both in the realm of the public and private sector. But here is another one for you: contextual intelligence, achieved through innovation and inclusion.

Contextual intelligence is the ability to understand the limits of our knowledge and to adapt that knowledge to an environment different from the one in which it was developed. It is important because it is the only way businesses can perform competitively on a global scale, and especially in emerging markets, which are radically different from the developed markets where our business school classes are taught. Moreover, emerging markets offer an incredible growth opportunity. By 2025, McKinsey has predicted that annual consumption in emerging markets will reach $30 trillion. Consequently, we need to grasp the significance of innovation and inclusion and how they translate into contextual intelligence right from the start in business schools and prepare our future business leaders for the various contexts in which they'll operate and where they'll encounter the highest growth.

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Let's take innovation as the first element of contextual intelligence. For most business leaders, this still means product innovation. For them, it comes down to how it's going to grow sales and satisfy shareholders. There are some holistic and enlightened leaders who think about innovation in a broader sense of the term, but they are very much a minority. These people embrace the idea that innovation could involve doing something radical in terms of how businesses include society and the context in which they operate.

Unilever, for example, innovate their products so that they can be used in the context in which they are sold, such as concentrated detergents where there is little available water. Olam, on the other hand, innovates by reaching out to a wider community and working with governments, helping them to develop infrastructure that is necessary to transport commodities. These companies innovate in different ways and are equally creative.

The other part of contextual intelligence involves inclusion. Inclusion benefits not only shareholders, but also stakeholders in the communities in which a business operates. It is hard to find unmet needs in the developed world, but if you look towards the developing world there is plenty of scope for businesses to solve real problems there. The developing world is also where the bulk of the growth is, whether you're a consumer, agribusiness, healthcare business or technology products company.

Business leaders in developing countries have to think way ahead. They need to recognise that there is very a large segment of the population that currently can't afford their product, but with the right investments made today, may be able to do so in the future.

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This vision of inclusive growth means that investments have to be made not only downstream for seemingly unprofitable consumers, but also upstream, closing the gaps in the supply chain and in the wider context. In a lot of these countries, there is a weak political system and a lack of transparency in ethical and intellectual property standards. Companies need to invest in these areas to close the gaps, whether through partnerships with other companies and public sector institutions or international institutions.

This holistic business model can sometimes just seem like a list of unattractive investments. However, if we don't use the right strategies to operate in emerging markets we will not be able to reap the maximum benefits possible as those markets develop and opportunities and incomes increase.

So far contextual intelligence - these broad concepts of innovation and inclusion - has not reached our business schools. Business schools tend to like linear, formulaic approaches, yet businesses don't in reality operate in a vacuum, they need to be embedded in a wider context.

Societies and economies are undergoing rapid transformations and we need to examine a wider social, political and economic context to incorporate a global outlook in these classes. Too often we push these things into the background, whereas in fact they need to become the core of business school education. Our faith in technologically and algorithmically-led business has collapsed.

Business education has not yet caught up with reality. We have to fundamentally rethink the way we teach competitive strategy and the way we think about investments and marketing. There is a lot of talk about ethics, leadership and corporate and social responsibility, but ultimately these are pushed to the periphery of education. Contextual intelligence should be at the core, where business leaders understand the context in which they need to compete and survive. This includes issues to do with politics, culture and history, which we seldom talk about.

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Businesses need to be increasingly comfortable with the idea that doing well for the societies and environments in which they operate is good for them too. Being able to make the link between innovation and inclusion is crucial for this. There are many similar characteristics between the two: investments in innovation today will only pay off over time. That payoff is somewhat uncertain, shareholders will not see an immediate benefit, and Wall Street analysts will complain because they will want returns straight away.
Donald Trump, president and chief executive of Trump Organization Inc. and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, smiles while speaking during a news conference at the Mar-A-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., on Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Billionaire Trump fell short of his goal of winning the two key states he needed to clear most of the Republican presidential field, securing a huge victory in Florida to knock out Senator Marco Rubio while losing Ohio to Governor John Kasich. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Trump's the symptom, not the disease. The Republican establishment has been infecting the body politic for years.

From their "Dark Money" bagman Karl Rove to their philosophical guru David Brooks, the GOP elites are in a tizzy over saving the Republican Party from Donald Trump and the other intruders, extremists and crackpots who have fallen in behind Trump as if he were the Pied Piper of Hamelin. But who will save the party from the elites?



Look around at just some of the other sheer lunacy their party perpetrates when it's not trying to shut government down, redistribute wealth upward, and prevent the president of the United States (who, the last time we looked, has the constitutional right and mandate) from filling a vacancy on the Supreme Court.



The Republicans in southern California just got a 7-6 majority on the region's air quality board and have set out to reverse all of its safeguards, "reaffirming new smog rules backed by oil refineries and other major polluters," according to the Los Angeles Times.



Mary Lou Bruner, a Republican crank in Texas who claimed that a young Barack Obama had worked as a black male prostitute, is on track to become a key vote on the state's board of education, the group that, as Matt Levin at the Houston Chronicle writes, is, "already drawing intense criticism for textbooks that, among other issues, downplayed slavery and racial segregation."



That's important because the school board is such a major buyer of books its decisions affect editorial content in texts all over the country. So remember that Bruner is an eccentric whose Facebook declarations include "School shootings started after the schools started teaching evolution" and "The dinosaurs on the ark may have been babies and not able to reproduce. It might make sense to take the small dinosaurs onto the ark instead of the ones bigger than a bus." Huh? Yet Republican elites seem quite satisfied to have a Mary Lou Bruner as the arbiter of what their children read in schools.



And while we're talking about education, travel over to Texas neighbor Louisiana and look at the legacy that former Republican governor and presidential candidate Bobby Jindal has left behind for his Democratic successor, John Bel Edwards.



At The Washington Post, Chico Harlan reported:

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"Louisiana stands at the brink of economic disaster. Without sharp and painful tax increases in the coming weeks, the government will cease to offer many of its vital services, including education opportunities... A few universities will shut down and declare bankruptcy. Graduations will be canceled. Students will lose scholarships... Since the 2007-08 school year, Louisiana has cut funding for higher education by 44 percent, the sharpest pullback in the nation."

Part of this can be attributed to the precipitous drop in oil and gas prices and loss of fossil fuel industry revenue crucial to the state's economy. But the real problem, according to the Associated Press, is that:

"Jindal, burnishing his fiscal conservative credentials for his failed presidential campaign, refused to hike taxes or approve any action that even resembled a tax hike, including trimming expensive business tax credits, even amid an economic downturn... Legislators are hearing that cuts described by the Jindal administration as 'efficiencies' actually went much deeper, striking at services. They've learned about borrowing practices that increased state debts and about threats to Louisiana's cash flow because it spent down reserves."

The result? A calamitous budget crisis in the second most impoverished state in the country, a $900 million shortfall that has to be fixed by June 30 and another amounting to around two billion that will need to be closed next year.



So that's how you govern when you have the power. Thanks, Republicans!



"This is the party whose elites deceived America into war after cutting taxes on the wealthy so they wouldn't have to pay for it."


"In the beginning was the Word," according to the Bible. God's words created the universe; He spoke us into being. Words created our world - literally. Words have power -- to uplift or to tear down -- to inspire or to incite -- to heal or to hurt -- to create or destroy. Words define our reality -- for better or for worse.

In light of the escalating violence at Trump rallies, it's time we examine the role of words in our politics and in our society. Those -- including Trump -- who defensively insist that his vicious verbal attacks on Mexicans, Muslims, women and others, have nothing to do with near-riots at his speaking events are fooling themselves.

We all understand the power of words. Words shape our perception of the world; words trigger emotions; words wound; words have consequences. Those who write books and blogs understand the power of words; those who work in advertising and sales know the power of words; those in the media are savvy about the power of words; and political leaders know all-too-well the power of words.

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Words call us to action: to buy things, to vote a certain way, to hate those who are different from us, to eat certain foods and wear specific brands of clothes ... and yes, even to kill.

America was established by words -- the Declaration of Independence. Our rights and responsibilities are secured by words -- the Constitution. Words commemorate significant events in history -- the Gettysburg Address. Words capture the hopes and dreams of a people -- Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. We memorize those words; we recite those words; we refer to those words; we call on those words to define who we are and what we stand for as a nation.

Those who pooh-pooh the lethal power of words are forgetting the horrific results of deadly orators such as Hitler and Mussolini. History is replete with examples of political leaders who used their words to incite hatred, start wars, and lead their people to commit genocide.

Jesus was not the only one who taught us about the power of words. Throughout human history, many great spiritual teachers have all preached a similar message. For instance, Buddhist teachings caution:

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"Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words.

Be careful of your words, for your words become your actions.

Be careful of your actions, for your actions become your habits.

Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character.

Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny."

(paraphrased from The Dhammapada)

Buddha wasn't just talking to politicians and pundits -- he was talking to all of us. He pointed out that our words can break lives or save them; words can make enemies or make friends; words can start war or create peace.

So, what about Donald Trump's words? Is he guilty of verbal violence? Let's consider his recent statements:

"Knock the crap out of him will you? Seriously, OK, just knock the hell. I promise you I will pay for the legal fees. I promise, I promise."

"We're not allowed to punch back anymore. I love the old days -- you know what they used to do to guys like that when they were in a place like this? They'd be carried out on a stretcher, folks."

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"I'd like to punch him in the face! In the good ole days, we would rip him out of his seat so fast."

"In the good ole days we would treat them rough."

"That's part of the problem. Our country has to toughen up."

The answer seems clear: Trump is guilty of verbal violence. His words condone and encourage physical violence. No one -- especially Trump -- should be surprised that his political rallies are growing increasingly dangerous.

What Jesus would say about Trump? I think he'd say "Ye shall know them by their fruits. ... a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." (Matthew 16-17)



Photo: Peacock Productions

But Jesus (and other spiritual prophets and teachers) would caution us against singling out Trump to blame for political violence. To do so is to overlook our own responsibility in all this. We must ask ourselves: "How do my words contribute to violence in the world? In what ways do I participate in a social and political culture of intolerance, hate, and/or violence? How do I behave on social media? How do I behave in conversations with friends, neighbors, family, and others?"

As long as we point fingers of blame only at Trump, we fail to see our own culpability. "And why behold you the mote that is in your brother's eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own?" the Bible chastises us (Matthew 7:3-5).

Every time we yell at someone who cuts us off in traffic, we are being verbally violent. Each time we call someone an "idiot" or "moron," we are guilty of wrong speech. If in exasperation we blurt out, "If you do that I'll kill you!" to our spouses, our words are an attack. When we lose our tempers and drop the F-bomb on someone who angers us, that F-bomb really is a bomb. It does damage.

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Idle threats are not idle -- they are seeds we plant in our psychic and cultural soil, seeds that take root and later blossom into violent acts. We reap as we sow.

If we want more civil discourse, we must start with ourselves. If we want less violence in our country, we must stop committing violence with our words.

Change doesn't start on the election trail -- it starts with each and every one of us, where we live and work. Gandhi taught us, "We must be the change we wish to see in the world."

And the Christian hymn echoes: "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me."
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 13: Revellers take part in the St Patrick's Day parade through central London on March 13, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)

As a kid, I never understood the purpose of the St. Patrick's Day parade. It always seemed an excruciatingly boring experience: no floats, no balloons, just firefighters not fighting fires, police not fighting crime, and a bunch of random strangers who looked vaguely like they could be related to me. Of course there was more -- marching bands, fire engines, bagpipes -- but it all seemed like senseless noise amid an enormous, obnoxious crowd. It was ostensibly about Irish pride, but I could never figure what everyone was so proud about.

For many Americans, the St. Patrick's day parade represents some generic version of what it means to be Irish, or of Irish descent. In recent decades, controversy has erupted over organizers' policy of excluding certain groups, and in particular Irish LGBT identity groups, from marching in the Fifth Avenue parade. Even last year's inclusion of a token LGBT group from NBC (to ensure the network would televise the parade and to appease sponsors), the parade reinforced an image of Irish Americans as intolerant, homophobic and stubborn. While this might remind you of Archie Bunker, the parade controversies made me think of my father.

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My father, was Irish, American, deaf and gay. He was also a devout Catholic for his entire life. Born in 1945 in Brooklyn to parents who had emigrated from the West of Ireland in the 1920s, and living in the community he did, no one had a problem with the Irish Catholic part of his resume. His deafness was accepted as a trial, perhaps some version of God working in mysterious ways. But even after he "came out," my father always seemed ashamed of his homosexuality. He had grown up in a society where this was something to be denied, or at the very least hidden, ideas he had internalized thoroughly.

As a result, he was not very comfortable expressing pride in his identity, at least not in public. The one exception I witnessed was the 1994 Pride parade in New York.

My sister and I met my father and his friends in front of Tiffany's on 57th Street, and the parade was overwhelming (the parade was larger than usual because it marked the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Riot). Hundreds of thousands of people from all over, with groups representing nearly every country and many different co-identities, and when the deaf contingent came past, we joined the parade.

Although my father had gone to other pride events, I had never gone with him. In fact, for a long time I thought the '94 parade was the only one he attended, because we never spoke of his gay identity, or of politics. (Whenever I tried to breach those subjects, he ignored or deflected my questions. Had I been deaf or gay, perhaps I would have pressed him further to talk about these things, though I doubt the outcome would have been different.)

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But at that parade, on a beautiful sunlit June day in 1994, I saw my father happy and proud, smiling and waving to the cheering throng. He flashed the sign for "I love you," index and pinky fingers raised with thumb extended out.

I will always cherish that memory because it is one of the few moments when he seemed demonstrably and genuinely comfortable with himself -- and in public, to boot. He was welcome, he belonged, and he was happy. For that moment his identity, or rather his identities, were not a burden.

With the changes that have come so quickly in recent years, it may be easy to forget what a long struggle preceded the attainment of acceptance (as opposed to tooth-gritting "tolerance"), and what effect this has on the real lives of people around the country. The cultural forces that allowed the Fifth Avenue parade organizers to keep gay groups out still exist, but they are no longer prevalent. This year, thanks to the dedication and hard work of activists (involving protests, civil disobedience and arrests), Irish gay groups are being included in the "official" St. Patrick's Day parade. Some of those activists and supporters started a separate event, for all of the groups that had been excluded. The St. Pat's for All just had its 17th annual event in Sunnyside and Woodside, Queens.

And while it would be ridiculous to say that the fact of the parade's restrictive and exclusionary policy was in some way the cause of my father's internalized self-loathing, I can't help but wonder how different his life would have been if the attitudes that fueled the official parade's ban on LGBT and other groups had dissipated sooner. Or if the attitude evinced by St. Pat's for All had been more present in New York (as it is in Ireland), perhaps he would have been a little less tortured about himself and his identity.

My father died almost 12 years ago, but I'm not sure if he would have celebrated the recent changes, or whether he would care to march in either the Manhattan parade or in St. Pat's for All in Queens. But on his behalf, and in his memory, I congratulate the activists on their hard-fought victory, and I applaud the organizers of the alternative parade for continuing their event in years to come. Though the Fifth Avenue parade has become more inclusive, St. Pat's for All has a vibrant and joyful spirit of its own, and is enthusiastically supported by the local community.

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It looks like the new Sacha Baron Cohen comedy, The Brothers Grimsby is a flop. You may recall the controversy over a plot point in the film in which Donald Trump is infected with AIDS. At the film's London premiere audience members reportedly cheered when it happened. Presumably, they thought that Trump had it coming.

I haven't seen the movie (apparently I have plenty of company in that respect) so I'm not going to critique it or even condemn it. Nor will I use this as a platform to give the campaign Donald Trump has been running for U.S. president any more coverage than it deserves. What I want to focus on is the fact that the 1.2 million people living with HIV and AIDS in the United States -- over 40 percent of them African American -- are not the recipients of karmic retribution or divine punishment for supposed sins.

That terrible notion dates back to the 1980s when the first AIDS cases were reported. In those days the term Gay-Related Immune Deficiency (GRID) was coined for the disease because many of the early infections were found in gay men. Then as now, being gay bore a stigma and that gave rise to the idea that the victims of a deadly, sexually-transmitted disease (for which there was no treatment at the time) were being punished for their actions.

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The concept was embodied in remarks made by Rev. Jerry Falwell in 1983:

I believe that when one breaks the laws of nature and the laws of moral decency -- and I do believe homosexuality is moral perversion -- when we go against nature -- and God, of course, is the creator of nature -- we therefore pay the prices for that. We do reap it in our flesh when we violate the laws of God.

In other words, AIDS is supposed to be the price paid for the alleged sin of homosexual acts. Others have made that point in the decades since, and anti-gay stigma has complicated efforts to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic to this day.

Of course, "AIDS as punishment" concept is wrong, and it is crucial to note that not all members of the faith-based community hold that view. In fact, the organization of which I am president and CEO, the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NBLCA), most certainly does not hold that view, and has several pastors on its board, including board president W. James Favorite, PhD, who is Senior Pastor of Beulah Baptist Institutional in Tampa, Florida.

The current controversy over Cohen's film lacks an association between AIDS and being gay, or even sexual transmission. Instead (and very problematically), Donald Trump and a character played by Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe are infected by non-sexual contact with the blood of an HIV-infected African boy. This plays into the current intersections of stigma and racism that both reflect and perpetuate the fact that people of African descent have been hardest hit by the epidemic.

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Regardless of what one thinks of Donald Trump and the displays of religious intolerance, xenophobia, racism and sexism shown throughout his bid for the White House, to suggest that he deserves AIDS only perpetuates the dangerous stigma against the disease and people living with it. I say dangerous, because as I have stated before, the stigma associated with HIV infection deters too many people from being tested or treated. Lives are affected or lost needlessly because of this.

NBLCA is focusing its attention in the coming weeks on fighting the topic of stigma, whether it be stigma faced by members of the LGBTQ community, African Americans or those living with HIV/AIDS. In New York on March 19 we're inviting members of the public to share their stories of stigma to be featured in our upcoming "Breaking the Stigma" campaign.
This year, more than 100,000 people have climbed into inflatable dinghies and unseaworthy boats in a desperate attempt to reach Europe. Most of them are from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, all countries beset by instability and civil war. Among them, 400 people, many of them children, drowned while trying to make the dangerous sea crossing.

All of this follows a year in which more than one million refugees and migrants made the same journey through Europe seeking asylum. This mass migration is a symbol of a wider displacement crisis in which 60 million people around the world have been forced from their homes, mostly as a result of armed conflict.

International Medical Corps is working with local partner organizations in Serbia and Greece to deliver first aid and primary health care services, distribute essential supplies, offer psychosocial support, and provide other essential services to the thousands of people striving to find safety and stability in Europe.

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Here are some of their stories.

Asha, Iraq

By the time they reached Samos, Greece, Asha and her family had been traveling for 25 days straight. The trip took Asha, her husband, and their one-year-old daughter through Turkey to the shores of the Aegean Sea, where they climbed aboard an inflatable dinghy in the middle of the night and headed west towards the nearest Greek island.

Just a few days before, 26 refugees and migrants drowned between Turkey and Samos. For Asha, the crossing was particularly dangerous: she is expecting her second child any day. "There were waves when we were in the boat," says Asha. "I am usually not afraid. I get tired sometimes and have abdominal and back pain."

The family reached Samos unscathed, but before traveling onto Athens by ferry, Asha visited the mobile medical unit that Praksis, a Greek non-governmental organization (NGO) and International Medical Corps, run seven days a week beside the transit site for Syrian and Iraqi families.

Her daughter was suffering from a diaper rash, for which the clinic staff provided cream. But the one they were most concerned about was Asha. Because she spent the past month in transit, Asha was not sure when she should expect to deliver her second child.

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The mobile medical unit team helped Asha get to the hospital for tests so Asha and her husband could decide whether to wait in Samos or carry onto Athens, the next stop before they begin their long land journey west through Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and then finally Germany.

Hazam, Syria

Hazam, 35, could no longer see a future for himself and his family in Deir al-Zour, a city that has been a flashpoint in the country's five-year-long civil war. A physical fitness teacher, Hazam could no longer work, while his wife was pregnant with their fourth child. The airstrikes relentless and schools shuttered, he decided that it was far more treacherous to stay in Syria than try and reach Europe.

The journey took them through Turkey to the edge of the Aegean Sea, where they paid a smuggler for seats in an inflatable dinghy that took them to Greece. "The way by the boat was so dangerous," Hazam says, holding his youngest child, two-year-old Wesam, on his shoulders.

They then took a ferry onto Athens, a bus through mainland Greece, and a train through Macedonia. By the time they reached Sid, a town in Serbia on the Croatian border, they had been traveling for two months straight. His wife Lana, now seven months pregnant, is exhausted, while their three children are worn down from having to constantly be on the move.

"I want to reach Germany quickly," Hazam says. "I am worried about my wife."

While in Sid, Hazam took his children to the primary health care clinic run by the Serbian organization IAN with support from International Medical Corps. The family then boarded a train onto Croatia, the next country on their long journey into Europe. They will then move onto Slovenia and, finally, Germany, where Hazam hopes to carve out a new life for his family far from the bombings and bloodshed that still grip Deir al-Zour.

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"I want to teach," he says. "But first I want to save my children from war."

Hedye, Afghanistan

Sixteen-year-old Hedye, whose name means 'gift' in Farsi, crossed five countries with her mother, father, and brother over two weeks to reach Sid, the train station just a few kilometers from the Croatian border.

Originally from Kabul, Afghanistan, their dream to start a new life in Europe sent them walking through the snow in the mountains between Iran and Turkey and into a raft with dozens of other families to cross the Aegean Sea to Greece. They left with whatever savings they had and the clothes on their backs.

"[The journey] has been so hard," says Hedye. "I'm sick. My mother's sick and my brother, too."

By the time they reached Sid, the entire family was suffering from flu-like symptoms. The family of four visited the primary health care clinic run by International Medical Corps' local partner, IAN, at the train station to get medicine before boarding the next train onto Croatia, the sixth country that they need to cross before they reach Germany.
Okay, I confess: FX's The Americans has maintained its death-defying tension longer and better than I thought it could.

This tale of two embedded Soviet KGB agents in 1980s Washington, which launches its fourth season Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, has never let its characters drift more than one good wave away from getting washed over the falls.

It's a familiar game and on most shows it's a short one. By the end of a couple of seasons, we've seen all the moves and it's time to abandon ship.

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The Americans has kept us on board.

Philip Jennings (Matthew Rhys) and his wife Elizabeth (Keri Russell), above, were Soviet intelligence recruits sent to the U.S. in 1965 to start acting normal. Years later, when they had built an unsuspicious backstory, they started being useful to the KGB.

Meanwhile, they had two children who were raised as Americans and shielded from what Mom and Dad did for a living.

Creator Joe Weisberg, a former CIA agent, has always said The Americans is a show about family, with espionage simply a backdrop to the challenges that, really, every family faces.

He may be underestimating here. Finding out as a teenager that your mother was suspended in high school for wearing a miniskirt isn't in the same league with finding out Mom sometimes had to kill people to keep stealing American military secrets.

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In any case, the spy part generates the show's adrenalin, and it doesn't abate in the opening episodes of Season 4.

As we rejoin the Jennings family, Philip and Elizabeth have told some of the truth to their daughter Paige (Holly Taylor), above. They left out the murders, but did 'fess up about the spying, which at least helped explain their weird hours.

Dropping this on Paige opens up a fresh new storyline, and Weisberg's team makes it hum, even as it threatens to blow the whole espionage mission open. Again.

From the first episodes of Season 1, Philip and Elizabeth have been in constant danger of exposure, repeatedly bobbing right up to the falls.

For starters, their neighbor Stan Beeman (Noah Emmerich) is an FBI agent and not a stupid one. Somehow Stan has never connected any suspicious dots.

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It's eerily reminiscent of Hank Schrader, Walter White's brother-in-law on Breaking Bad. For years Hank, who also wasn't stupid, never caught the clues that Walter was the guy he was desperately trying to bust.

In any case, Stan (above) is hardly the only threat Philip and Elizabeth have had to parry. Like Walter White, they always find a way.

They kill people and either cover it up or shift the blame. They silence anyone who could threaten them with exposure. When there's a potential leak they always have the right piece of chewing gum to plug it up.

They out-politic their own handlers. Philip convinces Martha Hansen (Alison Wright), who works at the FBI, to marry him and start telling him office secrets, even though little about the logistics of their "marriage" would seem credible outside Wonderland.

Meanwhile, over 16-plus years, the Jenningses have somehow never made any slip or left any clue that would cause their children or friends to think they are anything other than Mr. and Mrs. Suburban America.

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Heroes, or anti-heroes, can escape the brink only so many times on most shows before dramatic fatigue sets in - even on a show as good as, say, Homeland, which felt it in Season 3.

The justly revered Sopranos had some, frankly, very ordinary episodes in its last couple of seasons.

Exceptions are few. Breaking Bad. Sons of Anarchy. On a less lethal level, Mad Men. All those shows, significantly, wrapped when their creators felt they had covered all the fresh turf.

Fans of The Americans, and FX too, would doubtless love to see this show run until the Soviet Union and the Berlin Wall crumble.

That feels like a lot to ask. But it's also true that any time The Americans has seemed like it could spring a leak so far, it has stayed sturdily afloat.

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Startup Insider is a series of articles with the goal of helping aspiring founders and entrepreneurs understand the ins and outs of starting a startup. I recently got the chance to interview multiple startup companies that have gone through the Dreamit Ventures Accelerator program. You can sign up to stay up to date with this series here.



The first company I got a chance to interview through this feature series collaboration with Dreamit Ventures was Haystack Informatics. Haystack Informatics is a visual analytics platform that helps hospitals detect, investigate and report patient privacy breaches by insiders. Haystack was born out of a collaboration between The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Dreamit Health.

I got a chance to speak with the two co-founders of Haystack: serial entrepreneur Adrian Talapan and CHOP's Chief Medical Informatics Officer Bimal Desai on how everything started for Haystack.

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The Haystack Informatics team during their launch

Q: What was the inspiration behind your idea?



Bimal: It basically started with a discussion I had with the privacy officer at CHOP. A patient's right to privacy is protected by federal law, so in a hospital, this means we have to monitor whoever accesses paper and electronic records. Hospitals typically split this task across the groups charged with information security and privacy/compliance, and every hospital in the country faces a huge challenge when monitoring privacy of electronic health records (EHR) since it's extremely hard to track all the different access events.

This is why we designed Haystack. I was experimenting with some open source visualization tools and it became very clear that you could analyze access log data to basically determine inappropriate behavior. When you analyze EHR access log records, the data organize into social networks. Patients and providers in these clusters of activity tend to work together, as you would expect in a care team. Our bet was that we could get enough information from EHR access logs to discern if a trusted insider was trying to snoop on a patient's record, if people were trying to commit medical fraud, or if people were trying to commit medical identity theft.

The entire application is very intuitive, very visual. It helps privacy officers detect and report privacy breaches a lot better than other tools for this.

Q: How did you guys meet each other?



Bimal: Adrian and I were introduced through Dreamit Health Philadelphia. Adrian has a very analytical and technical mind and is a fantastic entrepreneur. I am a practicing pediatrician and have a masters degree in biomedical informatics, with a decade of domain expertise dealing with healthcare data structures. We very quickly had a prototype and wireframe diagrams setup. Adrian and I hit it off pretty quickly. We had a similar vision that this had to be dead simple for the privacy officers. The two of us delved into this whole idea of robust visual analytics and this idea of taking very, very complex data and turning it into something that was intuitive, streamlined, and useful.

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Adrian: Before I met Bimal, I was helping Dreamit look at possible ideas coming out of CHOP that could be turned into separate commercial entities. CHOP had an internal competition to surface potential ideas that could be turned into actual products. The premise was that there are so many world-class people and researchers at CHOP but a lot of their research is understood in that specific academic environment. But what if there was something we could do and commercialize quickly, using a "start-up" mentality, so when we looked at these ideas, that's when I got to meet Bimal.

He had already started on the idea and he had a very slick Powerpoint deck that was very convincing on the topic of privacy. Up until that point, I didn't really think about that aspect of healthcare. But if you think about it, you go to a hospital now and your health data is basically open for any employee to see. The law says there should be protections in place, but that's hard to do.



The Haystack Informatics Platform



Q: What are some of the milestones and memorable moments you guys have had?



Adrian: The first time we saw our product working, that was incredible. It was one of the first milestones. Then obviously, getting the first customer. Reaching a billion records was also very exciting. Graduating from Dreamit was also a milestone in itself.

Bimal: The first time we completed a cloud installation was very exciting. One of the early validations we had was when I made a few dozen calls to privacy officers around the country to get feedback on our wireframe mockups and to see if they might want to be pilot sites. I remember I was talking to one of them, and at the end of my presentation, I asked what do you think? And she told me "when I saw those wireframes, I was jumping out of my seat!" It was so compelling for her that somebody finally understood her specific information needs as a privacy officer and was able to address it in a very thoughtful way. That showed me that we were on to something.

Q: What are some of the biggest lessons you guys have learned?



Bimal: You have to identify a real problem to solve in healthcare. You have to find something that is a real sore spot, whether on the patient care or administrative side, then you have to apply some insight on how it can be done differently.



You also have to be really careful in healthcare where to draw the line, where to say "no, we need to slow down because healthcare is different". One of the pieces of advice that most start-up entrepreneurs give is to launch and iterate. Even if your first release is a catastrophic failure, it's okay since you can iterate. However, the problem is that in healthcare, you're dealing with real patients and real issues. You can't just launch and iterate. For example, there have been cases of patient harm due to software errors. If you're talking about a medical device or something that's mission critical, it has to work 100% of the time. So it's a balance between being nimble and being appropriately cautious.

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Adrian: I think from my perspective, the reason why we were able to get Haystack moving quickly was that we were able to combine a start-up's agility with Bimal's deep expertise in healthcare. Startups could make hospitals really nervous, but the fact that we could bring innovation from outside as part of Dreamit and work with people like Bimal, who has the sufficient level of knowledge and influence to actually help the project move forward, was very effective.

We also had top-down support from executives and the Privacy and Compliance Office at CHOP. That worked really well. Without that, it would have been very difficult to get the data and the level of commitment from CHOP to do what we needed to do.

You can learn more about Haystack Informatics here.



The Haystack Informatics team at work

---About the Author---
Conventional wisdom in the United States holds that Saudi Arabia and Turkey are right to enter the chaos defining Syria's civil war. After all, this is their region of the world, not ours. Yet the fallout could have dangerous implications for NATO, of which the United States is the dominant member.

Saudi Arabia has already sent troops and weapons, including fighter jets, to NATO-member Turkey's Incirlik air base. While the move highlights Saudis' anxiety over what's taking place on the ground in Syria, the desert kingdom's military leaders fail to grasp the perils ahead. Saudi Arabia and Turkey could easily provoke Russian military resistance, given Russia's own extensive military involvement in war-torn Syria.

I'm convinced Russia would escalate tensions if and when its fighter jets come under attack from advanced weapons purchased by Saudis from the United States, including surface-to-air missiles. Worse, if Turkey is supplying weapons and sanctuary for Saudi fighters, it could spark a full-scale NATO-Russia confrontation, embroiling yet other nations.

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Such provocation by Saudi Arabia and Turkey -- both Sunni-led nations -- provides Russia some justification for deploying, if it hasn't already, far more sophisticated weapons, including its fifth generation fighter jets, advanced S-500 missile defense systems, and other high powered weaponry. Result: Syria becomes the battleground of a war pitting NATO powers against Russia. Imagine the toll in this horrifying scenario.

Let's look deeper at Russia's geopolitical motives, shall we? Russia's involvement in Syria goes beyond supporting Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad or fighting ISIS terrorists. Rather, it aims at dividing NATO and destroying Syrian rebels supported not only by the United States but also by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. And don't discount the role Iran, a Shiite power, plays in all this. It provides fighters and military leaders on the ground in Syria to plan attacks against the rag-tag rebels seeking Assad's overthrow.

Of note: Iran recently purchased advanced Russian fighter jets and missile defense systems; all the reasons why the Saudis and Turks' military engagement in Syria will only result in more causalities and collateral damage, but no decisive winner.

With Turkey and Saudi Arabia expressing their intention of getting involved in this bloodbath, Russia and Iran will seize the opportunity to cement their alliance and further their own objectives, despite opposite trajectories. Are the Saudis and Turks biting off more than they can chew? Are they foolishly betting that Russia will suffer the same fate it had in Afghanistan in the 1980s?

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Or are the Saudis and Turks being drawn into a trap with no way out? The answer to these questions depends on who you ask from both sides of the Atlantic.

Conversations swirling in Brussels and other Western capitals pivot on whether Turkey is actually pursuing yet another agenda -- targeting the neighboring Kurds -- rather than bolstering NATO interests such as limiting Russia's expansion and fighting ISIS terrorism. NATO leadership fears that whatever Turkey's motives are, it could trigger a major confrontation with Russia. Meanwhile, Russia is moving forward with its own plans targeting Syrian rebels.

One thing you can bet on: Russia will not withdraw from Syria until a political settlement regarding the future of Syria is achieved to its own satisfaction.

One must wonder what truly motivates Saudi Arabia and Turkey to embark on such a risky military venture that could (and would) soon turn into a bloody war without easy end. The Saudis and Turks want to ensure that Sunni rebels prevail (which I do not foresee) while at the same time sending a message to Iran that they will challenge Tehran's geopolitical aspirations.

In any case, this alliance between Turkey and Saudi Arabia will probably be short-lived. If history is any guide, Arab leaders talk more and act less; their sabre-rattling summits and conferences seldom amount to much. But all are mistaken if they think Russia will stand by and watch as Saudi and Turk ground troops march toward Damascus.

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Of note: Mr. Putin threatens to use tactical nuclear weapons against Turkey if it launches a ground invasion of Syria.

This leads me to ask one specific question: Is Turkey, a NATO member, supposed military adventure in Syria aim at achieving its Sunni sectarian objectives? If so, could this explain why the Saudis are willing to sacrifice their own troops (unusual approach given its history of taking the back seat while letting US troops do the fighting for it) in support of this objective? The answer is yes to both questions.

One thing is certain: the quagmire in Syria could quickly turn into a global war. For now, I argue that both Saudi Arabia and Turkey want to get involved for different reasons. For the former, it's an ideological spat against Iran to avoid the expansion of Shi'ism. For the latter, it's the targeting of the Kurds once for all.
Branko Milanovic is one of the world's leading experts on inequality, having spent decades at the World Bank studying patterns within and between countries, before recently joining the Luxemburg Income Studies Center team at City University in New York. He therefore brings an enormous scope of knowledge of recent and past income trends to his new book Global Inequality: A New Approach for the Age of Globalization (Harvard University Press).

The data assembled in the book are incredibly useful and will be eye-opening to most readers. The world has changed enormously in the last few decades in ways that most people in the United States probably do not recognize. The main factoid that jumps out from this book is the enormous gains in living standards in the developing world, most importantly China, in the last three decades coupled with the stagnation in living standards for large sections of the middle class/working class in rich countries. Clearly these two events were linked, most obviously by the loss of millions of relatively well-paying manufacturing jobs to the developing world.

Milanovic presents this as the central moral dilemma of his book. It is impossible not to applaud the enormous improvement in living standards over the last three decades for hundreds of millions of people in China, India, and other developing countries. Unlike their parents, these people can count on decent housing health care, a good education for their children, and need never fear going hungry. However is it fair to ask the middle class and working class in wealthy countries to pay the price for these gains?

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I will take some issue with the framing of the question, but first I want to raise an issue of measurement. Milanovic's main measure of well-being throughout the book is per capita income. While I am a big fan of GDP as a basic, albeit far from exhaustive, measure of well-being, there is a serious problem in its use in the sort of comparisons Milanovic has in this book. Between 1980 and the present there was a sharp divergence in the path of average hours worked per year between the countries of Western Europe and the United States. The West European countries deliberately opted for more leisure time in the form of mandated paid vacations, family leave, and shorter workweeks. As a result, the standard work year in the United States has more than 20 percent more hours than in countries like Germany and the Netherlands, according to OECD data. (The OECD does warn against making cross country comparisons with its data, but these gaps are unlikely to go away with different measures.)

This matters because if we focus on income growth, it looks like the United States got more of a growth dividend for its high inequality than is in fact the case. There is no economic reason why we should prefer that countries take the benefits of productivity growth in income rather than leisure, but the exclusive focus on income levels misses the value of the extra leisure gained by people in Western Europe.

I raise this point not to pick on Milanovic, but rather as a strong proponent of policies to promote more leisure in the United States. It is more than a bit absurd that many intellectual types are running around worried that the robots will take all the jobs (when they aren't worried about the demographic crisis creating a shortage of workers) when the "problem" can be easily solved by reducing work hours.

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But this issue actually segues nicely into my more fundamental criticism of the book. While it does not outright say this anywhere, many readers will likely believe that the harm to the middle class and working class in rich countries was a necessary price for the gains in the developing world. This is a huge leap which certainly does not follow from standard economic theory.

At the most basic level, an implicit point in the necessary price story is that the main problem facing the world is a shortage of demand, not supply. The argument is that we had to displace the manufacturing workers in rich countries in order for the manufacturing workers in poor countries to have jobs. This means that we think that demand is limited for some reason; otherwise we could envision a scenario in which manufacturing workers in poor countries produce goods that don't displace manufacturing workers in rich countries. For example, they could produce manufactured goods for people in poor countries, thereby leading to more rapid increases in living standards for people in poor countries.

One of the absurdities of the path to development that we saw over this period is that most of the fastest growing countries had large trade surpluses through most of this period, with China at the top of the list in both growth and trade surpluses. This should seriously bother economists since it is 180 degrees at odds with the textbook story in which fast growing countries are supposed to be running trade deficits and borrowing capital from the rich countries.

Of course if the growth in the developing world had followed the textbook story then we would not have seen the massive displacement of manufacturing workers in rich countries. The rich countries would have been running large trade surpluses rather than deficits. To imagine that we could have seen comparable growth in the poor countries without the suffering of the working class in rich countries we just have to believe that there is some sense to the textbook economics that is taught in economics classes.

But the problems for those seeking to argue that the losses for rich country workers were a necessary price go even deeper. It was not pre-ordained that we would only import manufactured goods from developing countries. There are millions of bright ambitious people in the developing world who would be delighted to work as doctors, lawyers, and other professionals in the rich countries, and generally for much lower pay than the incumbents receive.

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While there has been some flow of professionals from developing countries to rich countries, if we had focused trade deals on facilitating these flows, they could almost certainly be an order of magnitude larger. This could have led to enormous gains for both rich countries in lower costs for health care and other professional services and also the professionals from poor countries.

And just to be clear, the flows of manufactured goods from developing countries to rich countries did not just happen. Our trade deals were quite explicitly designed for this purpose. In other words, our trade deals were about protecting the most highly educated workers, while exposing less-educated workers to competition with their low-paid counterparts in the developing world.

There is also the question of intellectual property rights, which Milanovic frustratingly treats as a fact of nature. Again, one of the great absurdities of debates on inequality is that we have people wringing their hands over how we can reverse the upward redistribution of income, while we constantly write new laws and trade agreements that make patent and copyright protection longer and stronger. Instead of deliberately designing policies that promote upward redistribution, we could instead look to alternative mechanisms to finance innovation and creative work. Milanovic discusses rewards to jobs that are "scalable," meaning more consumers can benefit from the same amount of a worker's work. The better question is whether the work is "salable", meaning whether governments enforce laws that force people to pay to get the benefit of the work. This is a question of the political power of the worker, not the intrinsic nature of the work.

This issue of intellectual property claims is especially important in the case of drugs in the developing world. Drugs are almost always cheap to produce. They become expensive because patent monopolies and other forms of market exclusivity allow companies to charge prices that are several thousand percent above the cost of production. As a result, hundreds of millions of people in the developing world can find themselves unable to pay for lifesaving drugs that would be relatively cheap in a free market. (This gives us the absurdity of Bill Gates and Bill Clinton flying around the world to help make drugs available to people in the developing world, when paying for these drugs may not have been a big problem were it not for the TRIPS provisions that Bill Clinton put into the Uruguay Round of the WTO.)
Lisa Allen, a former TV reporter, has been instrumental in Arpaio's obtaining celebrity status by orchestrating media stunts, garnering media from across the globe, mitigating negative stories, and blocking journalists who have not toed the MCSO's party line.

... "[Sheriff Arpaio] is referred to as a media hog," she said. "He is referred to as a media whore. But there has always been a reason for it."

... In a meeting captured by Murray for the documentary, Allen mocks Arpaio's birther obsession, even as Arpaio crows about how much money the investigation will bring in donations from wingnuts around the country.
With summer creeping up around the corner, it's time to start thinking about your upcoming travel plans!

After visiting 75+ countries since 2012, I have discovered some amazing destinations around the world that might not be on your radar to visit... but they definitely won't disappoint you!

The countries that you'll find on this list are more off-the-beaten path, and won't commonly be seen in your average travel guidebook. I've decided to write this article because these locations deserve some extra attention.

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I can assure you that visiting one of these countries will leave you with countless memories and stories to share in the future.

Here are 5 Offbeat Countries to Visit in 2016:

1) Philippines

I'm currently only 5th visit to this magical land of 7,106 islands. I simply can't get enough if the kind hospitality, affordable prices, friendly people and beautiful beaches!

Can you imagine drinking a fresh coconut on the beach, while getting a $5 body massage and listening to the sound of the crashing waves hit the shore? That's explains this Southeast Asian country in a nutshell.

If you ever find yourself planning a trip to this region of the world, then you need to visit The Philippines (and you'll thank me later).

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For more inspiration, read "50 Reasons Why Life is Better in the Philippines."

Recommended paces to visit: Palawan, Boracay, Legazpi, Bohol

2) Ukraine

You might naturally be intimidated when you hear the word "Ukraine," given the country's recent turmoil, but I'm here to tell you that Ukraine is very safe and completely eye-opening.

I visited Ukraine last summer for a week, and I had a great time exploring around the capital city of Kiev. I enjoyed that there was virtually no tourists around; it made for a more interesting experience. As you walk around the city, you'll be impressed by the savvy architecture of the churches and castles.

The nightlife in Kiev is vibrant, with a young energetic vibe, and the prices in this city are cheaper than anywhere you'll find in Europe. Lastly, I recommend learning a bit of Russian to get by, because English is not commonly spoken or understood.

Read More - 10 Reasons Why I Fell in Love with Kiev

Recommended paces to visit: Kiev, Odessa, Lviv

3) Myanmar

One of my favorite countries in the world is Myanmar (Burma). I had the chance to visit for 2 weeks in early 2015, and I am already planning a trip back.

The country recently opened up its borders to tourism a few years back, so you can now get a visa upon arrival at Yangon International airport. My advice to you is to go NOW, while the country is still authentic and cheap. I have a feeling that it's going to turn into the next Thailand with too many tourists and overly commercialized.

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Read More - an Ultimate Travel Guide to Myanmar

Recommended paces to visit: Bagan, Inle Lake, Yangon

4) South Korea

It's a shame that South Korea is often overshadowed by its neighboring country of Japan as a tourism destination. The tech-savvy, futuristic and urban lifestyle of Seoul will completely blow your mind. Korea is one of the safest countries on earth because Korean culture heavily relies on respect within one another.

Korean food is cheap and tasty (Korean BBQ is the bomb), and the nightlife in Seoul is the best in the world! Get you hands on a bottle of soju (a popular rice liquor) for $1USD and head to a world famous nightclub and do the Gangnam Style!

Read More - Seoul Nightlife Guide

Recommended paces to visit: Seoul, Busan, Gwangju, Jeju

5) Botswana

Image credit: Jao Camp, Botswana

Last but not least is the African nation of Botswana. This peaceful country has some of the friendliest people around, and is most famous for it's wildlife and beautiful landscapes. Join a Botswana safari (year round) to see some hippos, crocodiles, lions, leopards, rhinos, zebras and more!

You might be surprised to hear that 17% of Botswana is made up of national parks which are home to the largest elephant herds on earth, not to mention a diverse range of wildlife species including hippos, crocodiles, lions, leopards and rhinos!

This peaceful country has some of the friendliest people around, and is famous for it's stunning beautiful landscapes (amazing sunset photos).

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Something else that I love about Botswana its strong commitment to conserve its environment, wildlife, and cultural heritage - with a whopping 38% of land protected for wildlife and nature conservation. How amazing is that?

Recommended paces to visit: Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, Nxai Pan National Park

Thank you for reading my list of places to visit, and I hope that some of you feel inspired to travel off the beaten path!

Also on HuffPost:
March 13 marked the 37th anniversary of the revolution in Grenada that brought Maurice Bishop into power. The revolutionary government of Grenada was at odds with America at the time for a number of reasons. The new government suspended elections. Grenada's revolutionary government also maintained close ties with Cuba and the Soviet Union, while espousing the ideology of Marxist-Leninism. The strained relationship between Grenada and America at the time has sometimes overshadowed the popular appeal that the revolution had among many African-Americans.

Some of the American critics of the revolution in Grenada were afraid of the revolution's potential appeal to African-Americans. This was a socialist revolution in an English-speaking nation that was made up of over 90% black people. This was something that Maurice Bishop pointed out when he addressed an American audience at Hunter College in New York:

They said that 95 percent of our population is Black -- and they had the correct statistic -- and if we have 95 percent of predominantly African origin in our country, then we can have a dangerous appeal to 30 million Black people in the United States.



Given the historical oppression that African-Americans have undergone in America, African-Americans have often found encouragement through the successes of African people elsewhere. Events such as the Haitian Revolution or Ethiopia's defeat of Italy, for example, held particular significance for African-Americans. Grenada was yet another example of this.

In In Nobody's Backyard, Tony Martin compiled articles from Grenadian news sources during the revolution. The second volume of this work includes a chapter titled "Afro-America and Afro-Britain," which contains articles on the influence that Grenada's revolution had on African Americans. One member of a delegation that visited Grenada said:

Grenada is an inspiration to us. We need a victory every now and then, and this is definitely one. When more black people in the U.S. learn the truth about the process being built here and, even better, come to see for themselves, they will be strengthened in their own work and see what is possible more clearly.

Maurice Bishop was invited by TransAfrica (a D.C. based organization that lobbies on behalf of African and Caribbean countries) to address their sixth annual dinner in 1983. Bishop's visit on this occasion was also cosponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus.

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In addressing the dinner, Bishop spoke to the historical links between the black people of Grenada and black people in America:

The links between our people and the 30 million Black people of America go far back into the chronicles of the European assault on our ancestral land and our common struggle against racist oppression and the enforced transportation of our ancestors to the Americas.

In the same speech, Bishop also spoke of the many notable figures in American history that were from the Caribbean or had Caribbean parentage, such as Marcus Garvey, Kwame Ture, and Malcolm X, whose mother was born in Grenada. As people in the Caribbean remember the revolution, and its significance to Caribbean politics, I think it is also worth remembering the impact that Grenada's revolution also had among African-Americans who found much inspiration in the successes of the revolution. For this reason the revolution stands as a reminder of the historical connection between the struggles of people of African descent in the Caribbean and in America.

--
By: Terrence Chappell

Although Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump hails from Queens, NY, his politics mirrors the Southern strategy where Republican Party candidates leveraged racism against African Americans to gain political support.

Trump's rallies are now more infamous for their violence and mistreatment of protestors, specifically protesters of African descent, than his presidential platform. A man who attended Trump's rally in North Carolina was arrested and charged with assault after sucker-punching a Black protester. According to CNN, the assailant later said, "The next time we see him, we might have to kill him."

Earlier this month, another African American protester was shoved out of a Super Tuesday rally in Louisville, Kentucky. According to University of Louisville student, Shiya Nwanguma, several men pushed her while calling her a "c*nt" and "n*gger." Just last December, a Black Lives Matter demonstrator was dragged out a Trump rally as people yelled, "light the motherf***er on fire" and "kick his ass."

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Needless to say, the Source Awards have flowed more peacefully than a Trump rally. The presidential candidate is usually front and center at his podium inciting the violence, arguably his presidential platform, which polarizes America. So much to the point where he might be facing criminal charges for his behavior.

Trump's racist rhetoric is nothing new to the political landscape. The only difference is that now his Southern strategy has evolved to include Mexicans and Muslims.

Historically, the Southern strategy existed to counter the success of the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s. When The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed, African Americans now had lesser barriers to vote and could elect candidates who had their best interests in mind. Racist white politicians weren't having it because it threatened their power; hence, the emergence of the Southern strategy to garner the votes of racist white Southerners.

Fast-forward to Obama's first presidential inauguration in 2009. The Tea Party was developed with the sole purpose of undermining Obama's agenda. According to Gallup.com, 24% of Americans support the Tea Party.

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Trump isn't the first Republican presidential candidate to play upon racist fears. Nixon's political strategist, Kevin Philips, is noted for popularizing the term, "Southern strategy." In a 1970 New York Times article, Philips stated:

"From now on, the Republicans are never going to get more than 10 to 20 percent of the Negro vote and they don't need any more than that...but Republicans would be short-sighted if they weakened enforcement of The Voting Rights Act. The more Negroes who register as Democrats in the South, the sooner the Negrophobe whites will quit the Democrats and become Republicans. That's where the votes are. Without that prodding from the Blacks, the whites will backslide into their old comfortable arrangement with the local Democrats."

In essence, Philips acknowledged that there is political profit in appealing to racists. Nixon would later win re-election for the presidency in 1972, and resign in 1974 after the Watergate scandal. Trump is cashing in on racism.

According to the Associated Press, for the Republican Party Trump won the following states in Super Tuesday: Alabama (43.4%), Arkansas (32.8%), Georgia (38.8%), Hawaii (42.4%), Kentucky (35.9%), Louisiana (41.4%), Massachusetts (49.3%), Michigan (36.5%), Mississippi (47.3%), Nevada (45.9%), New Hampshire (35.3%), South Carolina (32.5%), Tennessee (38.9%), Vermont (32.7%), and Virginia (34.7%). Trump's supporters are largely whites with less education, religious, and who have a median household income of about $50,000, according to USnews.com.

During the 1972 presidential primaries, Nixon also won Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vermont, and Virginia. Nixon and Trump's similarities aren't serendipitous; they're strategic.

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Nixon's supporters, known as the silent majority, were mostly blue collar white people who weren't politically active. Nixon executed divide and conquer tactics and promoted "positive polarization" to mobilize his voters. He echoed the fears of his constituents, that being the erosion of American society. For Trump, it's, "Make American great again."

This fear that the country is being overtaken by Mexicans, Muslims, lions and tigers and bears, oh stop it. Black Lives Matter supporters, and anyone who cares about fellow humans regardless of their race, are finding themselves in the same shoes as their parents and their grandparents.

History repeating itself isn't just an adage; it's a formality of fate. Scenes of Black and brown bodies being manhandled at Trump's rallies hold an eerie similarity to those of the desegregation efforts in the South during the 1960s. Trump's "white fear" political strategy parallels Nixon's Southern strategy. Both Republican presidential candidates are practically winning identical states with the exception of Massachusetts. Nixon lost Massachusetts, Trump won. Just on the tail-end of the first Black president's term, a racist presidential candidate is gaining notoriety and even more dangerous, votes. Southern strategy wasn't put into practice until Blacks acquired the right to vote.

It's uncomfortably clear that the legacy of racism isn't done with America, but like any legacy, it can be stopped with a generation.
Decades ago I wrote for a magazine whose publisher had difficulty paying his writers - specifically, paying them in cash. He was, however, good at bartering advertising space for goods and services and passing the swag on to those of us who were willing to accept payment in kind. This system enabled Jackie and me to stay in hotels we could never have afforded, such as the Dorchester in London, the Imperial in Tokyo and the George V in Paris (where, unforgettably, our bill for extras - presented with a smile - came to exactly one franc: for a phone call).

We also got to stay at the Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong (the first of the group's hotels). I still remember the almost instantaneous room service and the elegance of the principal restaurant, Man Wah: such a contrast to the rough and ready joints in which we avidly ate most nights.

In February, we returned to the Mandarin Oriental for five nights on our way to Japan. It had been 23 years since our previous visit to Hong Kong, well before it reverted to China in 1997 after more than 150 years as a British possession. I can't say the city is unrecognizable - happily, those rough and ready eating places continue to do land-office business on packed but non-intimidating streets - but it has certainly changed. When it was built in the 1960s, the Mandarin Oriental (then The Mandarin) was the tallest building on the island; that was no longer true in the 1990s, but now its 25-story height seems almost quaint.



So, yes: Since our last stay the hotel has been transformed, notably in the past ten years. In 1993, for one thing, it didn't have its sleek two-story spa/gym complex - and it certainly didn't face the kind of competition it does today from brand new hotels housed in spectacular skyscrapers. It continues to have a great deal going for it. Its lobby may not sprawl over what seems like acres, as at some of the newcomers, but on comfort and service it continues to excel. It is also in a far better location for those of us who still like to walk around a city: Newer properties tend to be away from the core of the town and attached to mixed use developments, while the Mandarin Oriental is on a real street, a few minutes' walk from the pre-skyscraper Hong Kong that's so interesting to wander in. That may not matter to travelers who are going to take taxis everywhere, but for Jackie and me it's kind of important.

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Our room had a picture-window view of the harbor from a desk and sofa area - almost an enclosed porch - that was decorated in a pale-painted nod to colonial style, as was the entrance area. The honey-colored wood-paneled bedroom lay in between, the three sections separated by taffeta curtains that created a warm and cozy sleeping place. It had a tea kettle and a Nespresso coffee machine (almost de rigueur nowadays) and uncommonly efficient air conditioning/heating which altered the air temperature in a matter of minutes. Just as in the old days, it had a valet box: leave your laundry in it, press the pickup button, and it is taken away through a little door in the corridor (and it comes back in a matter of hours, beautifully washed, pressed and packed up).

Here are some other things we liked about our stay:

Our limousine pickup at the airport. It may sound expensive at about $135, but it was a lovely way to emerge from an airplane after a fifteen-hour flight. We were met not at the arrivals exit, but at the gate: we got a ride on an electric buggy to immigration; our greeter picked us up again beyond passport control and took us to baggage claim, where he dealt with our suitcases. He then passed us on to a hotel representative, who guided us to the waiting car (which had refreshing moist towels - and wi-fi). When we arrived at the hotel there was no need to approach a reception desk: we were scooped up on the doorstep by a staff member who took us to our room and brought us tea. Not unique in an Asian hotel, but impeccably executed.

The top-floor sky-lit swimming pool and the way a pool attendant brought me a towel as I climbed out of the water - and the way he and his colleagues continually squeegeed the stone deck to minimize slipperiness. And the excellent, delicate butter cookies placed by each poolside chaise longue (along with a couple of apples for those who find swimming and cookies incongruous).

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The little Velcro bands with which the housekeepers tidied our tangle of computer/phone cables.

The large number of ever-replenished bottles of water scattered around the room: By the bed, in the bathroom and next to the Nespresso machine and the tea kettle.

The stylish cards that replaced the usual note pads near the telephones.

The breakfast buffet, which included a daily selection of creditable dim-sum and a noodle station, in addition to everything you'd expect. The coffee was particularly good.

The spa. Jackie and I both got ourselves massaged by powerful, skilful women, with gorgeous aromas in the air (there was a choice of massage oil scents, and the session began with the inhalation of vapor from a bowl of steaming aromatized water). I only wish there had been a post-massage visit to a relaxation room.

The large staff and the solicitous, lightning-quick service it provides.

There is something very Hong Kong about the Mandarin Oriental because of its history and its location in the fabric of the city. If it didn't work hard to maintain standards and retain the loyalty of its clientele, that wouldn't matter except to an intense nostalgiac. But it does, and it continues to be a top choice for any business or leisure traveler with a fondness for this fascinating place.

Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong. 5 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong; +852 2522 0111; mohkg-reservations@mohg.co; http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hongkong/. Double rooms start at around $400 depending on date and availability, but prices are typically higher.

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Wednesday, March 16, 2016 marks 13 years since American peace activist Rachel Corrie was killed by the Israeli military in the Palestinian city of Rafah.

When Corrie stood in front of a Caterpillar bulldozer that was preparing to demolish the home of her host family, she thought her American citizenship could protect her and, by extension, the home, from the Israeli military. She was wrong.

For Rochelle Gause and Serena Becker, the event would change and reshape their lives. I talked to the two women to get their perspectives on the effects of Corrie's death, the Israel-Palestine conflict from 2003- today, and their reflections on the potential of a life cut short.

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Rachel Corrie was born in Olympia, Washington, on April 10, 1979. She grew up in the city's community, and was an enthusiastic and skilled writer and artist from an early age. Her diaries show a precocious and bright young woman with strong and principled ideas of peace and justice.

Corrie attended The Evergreen State College in her native Olympia in the early 2000s where she had a political awakening, working with a number of social justice movements and eventually joining the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). As an independent study project in her senior year in early 2003, she made the trip to Rafah to establish a sister city project with her native Olympia and work in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Corrie and her fellow activists from ISM had been using their bodies as protection for homes in the city of Rafah, on the southern tip of the Gaza Strip. The practice had had some previous success for the ISM activists, so Corrie's action on March 16 was not unique.

It would prove lethal.

The Israeli military bulldozer ran Corrie over, pushing her backwards and under the treads. She died from suffocation less than an hour later.

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When the news of Corrie's death reached Olympia it had a profound effect on Gause and Becker. Both women were already involved in political activism in the city surrounding peace and justice and Corrie's death would turn that activism into a consuming passion.

"In the immediate aftermath, her death affected me in the sense that I got deeper into the issue of the occupation," Becker said. "I got more active in the organizing that I did in respect to Palestine."

Becker traveled to the Occupied Territories in 2002 where she "witnessed the facets of the occupation firsthand" and returned to the US with a more radicalized and critical approach to politics.

The Israel-Palestine conflict provided Becker with her first introduction to radical politics. It prompted her to deconstruct the mainstream media narratives of popular struggles and oppression.

Becker and Corrie both attended Evergreen at the same time in the early 2000s. They would have graduated together in June of 2003. Although the two women "weren't incredibly close," their shared politics and concern for the Palestinian people made Corrie's death especially personal for Becker.

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Becker worked to keep Corrie's legacy alive by helping to form the Olympia-Rafah Sister City Project. The cultural exchange was a dream of Corrie's, and one of the reasons for her trip to Gaza. Becker also worked for the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice, which was founded by Corrie's parents after her death.

Becker has returned to Palestine twice since 2002, once in 2005 and once in 2009 when she led a delegation of 15 people to Gaza as a representative of The Rachel Corrie Foundation. The delegation included members of a range of civil society groups, human rights groups, and journalists.

The trip aimed to educate the participants on the complexities of the Palestinian struggle. Becker believes it was successful.

"They brought what they learned into their work here [in the west]," she said. "They've taken their newfound knowledge and are applying it to their field."

Corrie's death was also a pivotal moment for Rochelle Gause.

"Her death completely rerouted my life," she said, "I was doing community organizing in Olympia after 9/11 trying to stop the imminent war with Afghanistan. That was how [I met Rachel in the first place]. I knew very little about Palestine."

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That all changed in March of 2003. Philosophically, it was a wake-up call.

"It opened my eyes to a huge reality that I was clueless about. I had no idea how large of a role we as average Americans play in the life of Palestinians," Gause said. "And I think that's sad in its own way, because at the time she was killed Palestinians were being killed daily and I paid no attention."

She's been paying attention ever since.

Gause has traveled to Palestine repeatedly over the intervening 13 years doing solidarity work across the territories.

"Each time I have gone I have spent most of my time in a new place," she said.

Most recently, in August of 2015, she worked in Silwan, a neighborhood in East Jerusalem. She helped paint a mural in the neighborhood as part of her work with Art Forces, a solidarity organization that worked with The Rachel Corrie Foundation to erect a mural in downtown Olympia.

Silwan's community faces "so many forms of dispossession," Gause said. She described routine harassment and arrest from Israeli security forces and settlers.

"It's so outrageous and intense," she said. "And yet the community remains committed to remaining there."

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That bravery is humbling for Gause, and inspires her to continue her work. She has been actively involved in the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, which seeks to isolate Israel from the international community until the nation ends certain policies that BDS terms as apartheid.

Despite the increasing success of BDS, the challenges the region faces are daunting. And things have only gotten more difficult over the past 13 years.

"The situation has worsened significantly," Gause said. She pointed to increased violence, oppression, and dispossession of Palestinians by the occupation as indicators of a more brutal colonization project.

Becker concurs. The continuing lurch by the Israeli government to more and more right wing policies and parties has led to "ramped up political rhetoric" which dehumanizes Palestinians both in Israel and in the Occupied Territories.

"There are deep divisions and fear there," Becker said. "And as the occupation and its rhetoric become more and more normalized in Israel, and as Israeli violence and oppression impact Palestinians day after day the situation escalates. And political leaders manipulate it with their language."

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Their language has had an effect, especially on younger Israelis. Recent polling shows that young Israelis admit to having ethno-nationalist, racial supremacist views, with almost half endorsing ejecting Arabs from all Israeli controlled territories. An already dire situation promises to only become more polarized and tense as neo-fascist ideas such as these move into the Israeli mainstream and the Palestinian population outstrips the Israeli population in growth.

For the Palestinian youth, radicalization has taken a different form.

"The resistance continues. It shifts forms, but it remains strong," said Gause. She continues to feel hope for the Palestinian people and their struggle. Her faith in the new generation is clear.

"Some of the local people in Silwan explained to me that this generation is different," Gause said. "That the grandparents, the first generation living under occupation, were in disbelief. And the next generation was afraid, because they saw such extreme violence and oppression and destruction for their communities.

But this new generation is tough, they don't have fear, they have known nothing but living under the abuses and injustice. So when the police jeeps drive through Silwan, the men used to enter their homes to avoid confrontation. But now the young men today they come out of their homes. What do they have to lose?"

Becker sees a future of shared resistance across the west.

"We're looking at connections between struggles against oppression now. There are groups like Black Lives Matter making connections, traveling to Palestine. The two movements are becoming linked."

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"Groups across boundaries are coming together."

"Rachel was an incredible writer, spectacularly creative and saw beauty in the awkward and difficult. I have no doubt she would have made an even larger impact had her life not been stolen."

Gause was silent for a moment, gathering her thoughts.

"And yet, since right after she died, I have always felt very uncomfortable when people hold her up too high, because it makes the depth of her compassion and commitment to act for others seem unattainable to the majority of us. That is simply not true. Rachel was so very human."

Corrie's humanity is what motivated her to stand in front of a massive, military machine. It's what makes her sacrifice so important, Gause believes. By making a stand for justice, and using her privilege as a revolutionary weapon, she rejected the "individualism of our society and the erasure of our collective histories of standing against injustice." Corrie's decision to stand up against the militarized wing of an unjust occupation was a product of her flawed, beautiful, complete humanity.

"If she were alive today, Rachel would be continuing to work for justice in whatever area she would feel was most effective," Becker opined. "I think she would be very active in working to solve today's social issues."

"Rachel was someone who always found hope and inspiration in people's resistance," Becker continued, "and I think she would be using her art to find hope in spite of tragedy. She wasn't someone who would let despair drag her down."

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Gause finds herself holding onto that same hope.

"Having worked on this issue for over a decade and having travelled there several times, I have relationships with many Palestinians. I only wish all Americans could have that same kind of intimate connection and that they could recognize how our realities and our liberations are intertwined and choose to act."

It's a sentiment that Corrie shared.

"Maybe if people stopped thinking of themselves, and started thinking of the other sides of things, people wouldn't hurt each other," she wrote in 1991. The sentiment is just as true - and hopeful- today.
Tens of millions of people have died of AIDS-related causes since the beginning of the epidemic. As the most serious epidemic in living memory, AIDS has necessarily been a campaign platform in presidential races for the last 20 years. The US plays the most crucial role in funding the response to the global pandemic, and with current available treatments, the next president of the United States has a historic opportunity to be the one who ends the AIDS pandemic. And yet, until last weekend, not a single presidential candidate had an official strategy for the global AIDS response.

This past Friday, Hillary Clinton caused an uproar when she miscredited Nancy Reagan as a "very low-key, effective" advocate, claiming the Reagans had started the public conversation about AIDS in the 1980s. Although Clinton apologized immediately, her mistake has illuminated something much more concerning -- presidential candidates weren't making plans to end AIDS.

On Sunday, Bernie Sanders became the first candidate to offer a policy plan entirely focused on HIV/AIDS, both on the domestic and global epidemics. Before that, the only mention of HIV existed as an entirely domestic and underwhelming nod in Clinton's LGBT policy plan. Not a single Republican has discussed it.

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The AIDS crisis is far from over -- today, nearly 37 million people are HIV-positive, and only 15.8 million are currently on treatment. Antiretroviral treatment dramatically extends the lifespan of people living with HIV and effectively prevents HIV transmission to uninfected partners. And yet, there were 2 million new HIV infections in 2015, and over one million people died of AIDS.

The World Health Organizations and UNAIDS have shown that if we close the gap in treatment access, and double the number of people on HIV treatment by 2020, we will stop new infections by 2030. If we don't scale-up to this level, the AIDS epidemic will continue to outrun our response. Without scale-up, we will increase the long-term need for HIV treatment, increase future costs to health systems, and most importantly, countless people will die.

What will it take to scale-up access to HIV treatment and care to this level? For starters, it will take leadership from the United States. The US is by far the largest donor to global AIDS programs. Although over half of AIDS treatment budgets now come from African countries, an increase in funding from donor countries is necessary to achieve the end of this crisis.

For the US, this means providing an estimated annual increase of $450 million per year for our bilateral HIV programs for the next 4 years. These programs have been flat-funded since 2011, resulting in decreased expansion of critical lifesaving programming. To make this happen, we need visionary leadership in the White House that is committed to ending AIDS.

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So how do the candidates stack up on the global AIDS response?

To date, none of the republican candidates have presented a plan for ending AIDS. In fact, none of them bothered to answer the two surveys about AIDS that have been sent to them from leading HIV/AIDS organizations. Republicans have long been champions of the global AIDS response - President George W. Bush started PEPFAR, the U.S.-funded global AIDS program, and global AIDS efforts have long had bipartisan support. This partisan stonewalling of HIV is not typical, and it is absolutely egregious.

Currently, Hillary Clinton has a minimal commitment to HIV in her LGBT policy plan, which is focused entirely on the domestic epidemic. The day after her remarks on the Reagans, she published a more involved apology in which she stated, "We should increase global funding for HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment," falling short of making a solid promise. Clinton also belatedly responded to a survey from AIDS advocacy organizations in the United States that Sanders had already responded to. You can read Clinton's and Sanders' full answers here. When asked, "will you commit to ensuring the necessary funding to double the number of people directly supported by the U.S. on life-saving HIV medicine by 2020?", Secretary Clinton talked at length on her record, but did not address the 11% drop in PEPFAR funding that occurred when she was Secretary of State, and failed to actually make a campaign promise.

Concerning access to medicines issues relating to trade and intellectual property rules, Clinton has been silent. Although she has opposed the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), she has not cited access to medicines as a reason behind her opposition.

Senator Sanders on the other hand responded to community calls over the weekend to present a plan on AIDS. Among his commitments to the global AIDS response, he officially committed to double the number of people on HIV treatment globally by 2020 by increasing support for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Sanders also cites his opposition to the TPP as part of his AIDS platform, saying, "a major reason why Bernie is leading the fight against the disastrous Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is because it would significantly increase prices for HIV/AIDS drugs for some of the most desperate people in the world. At a time when prescription drug prices are skyrocketing, the TPP would make a bad situation even worse by granting new monopoly rights to big pharmaceutical companies to deny access to lower cost generic drugs to millions of people."

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Inclusivity is powerful. Much more than being just the opposite of exclusivity, it's a distinct way of looking at the world. Its power has been revealed to me over and over in the internet business, in political campaigns, and from living in my adopted hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.

Inclusivity is about recognizing that the most valuable commodity in an organization, community, or an economy is a person's voluntary motivation to engage - that inner spark of energy and will to act. It's the energy of high productivity, inspiration, and personal investment. That is what drives growth and prosperity.

Inclusive leadership does everything in its power to inspire, identify, and increase that energy. It recognizes that innovation doesn't come from the top down in hierarchies, but from the outside in (and out and in again) through networks. The challenge is to lower the barriers to getting involved, raise the sense of possibility, and harness all available energy to move the enterprise forward.

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It is all too clear in the United States right now that one of the biggest barriers to a dynamic, inclusive economy is excessive inequality. This is why President Obama has made addressing this issue his highest priority.

Economists such as Alan B. Krueger, former Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, have explained that as inequality has increased, economic mobility has decreased. Countries with high inequality have lower economic mobility across generations. And President Obama has pointed out that, "When middle class families can no longer afford to buy the goods and services that businesses are selling, it drags down the entire economy, from top to bottom."

While many forces affect inequality, public policy has had a strong effect. The wealthiest Americans are paying some of the lowest tax rates in history. Average tax rates for the top 0.1 percent have been decreasing for many years. (The notable exception was from 1992 to 2000, when growth with tax policy changes, including a more progressive income tax, raised all income groups.)

President Obama has sought to address inequality from all sides. Critically, he ushered the U.S. out of the Great Recession and has helped businesses to create millions of jobs. As he said in December 2013 remarks about inequality, "In today's economy, growth alone does not guarantee higher wages and incomes...but we can't tackle inequality if the economic pie is shrinking or stagnant."

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With growth established, the administration led the passage of the Affordable Care Act, giving new economic security to millions. It has protected Social Security and Medicare, critical for older Americans. It has pushed hard for a trade agenda that benefits working Americans. It has been a relentless advocate for a higher minimum wage. And it has vastly increased access to higher education.
A couple of weeks ago I got a private Facebook message from a former colleague.

He suggested that posting anything about politics or religion on social media might not bode well for my business.

The closest I've ever gotten to posting about religion is if I get my eggs dyed the perfect shade of red for Greek Easter. This meant his very polite remark must have to do with something I posted about politics. Since I hold a great deal of respect for this person, I checked my social media posts.

There was an essay in Salon by a Gen X woman explaining how she had resolved her issue with Hillary Clinton. The one before that was an editorial in the Los Angeles Times suggesting Donald Trump was not fit to be president. There was little commentary from me in each share and I had purposely ignored the comment from someone who labeled Hillary a criminal. I wasn't spewing. I wasn't ranting. I hadn't exposed some dark and sinister side of me. I had read and vetted each article. I was doing what we do on social media. I was sharing. And this was Facebook. Not LinkedIn.

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But his comments derailed me.

I advise authenticity online. I advise letting your voice be heard. I advise being yourself -- smartly and with skill and diplomacy. I advise thinking before you tweet and not posting pictures of yourself in compromising situations. But his remark struck a chord. Maybe I was slipping on my taking a breath before I post and think it through philosophy.

His position was one I have always agreed with.

I certainly didn't want to lose a potential short or long term business opportunity because I shared a clip of Jimmy Kimmel's parody of The Producers on Facebook. At least I didn't think I did.

Generally I refrain from sharing my political views on social media. But I knew going into this year, given the unprecedented state of the U.S. political system it wasn't going to be easy. In fact, I warned in my very first post of the year that I might break that rule.

My knee jerk reaction was to stop.

I wouldn't share anything that even remotely looks controversial.

Then I remembered the people who wanted to get into arguments with me because I complimented Beyonce after her Super Bowl performance.

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It occurred to me that if I wasn't going to share anything close to controversial in our always on/always connected world, I might be sharing nothing.

I wasn't sure that was possible.

So I experimented and have been keeping a relatively low profile as I've been digesting the advice of my friend. I've liked and commented on links that indicated my personal beliefs but have left my sharing to benign posts promoting my course or offering advice on building your personal brand.

I spent most of my time lurking and listening. I noticed that pretty much anything being posted -- even something that had nothing to do with religion or politics -- could find at least one hater.

Then I heard a damn breaking.

It coincided with the Republican debate in Detroit, the one that seemed to hit a new low with a discussion about the size of the candidate's body parts.

The reality of who might be the Republican choice for President hit people from both sides of the aisle squarely between the eyes. Even John Oliver who had vowed not to mention a certain candidate on his show could not contain himself.

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As one friend so aptly put it "How am I supposed to keep my mouth shout?"

The answer got clear for me.

I won't always be able to. Nor will you or should you.

That doesn't mean I'm going to rant or engage in social media threads that get nowhere. It doesn't mean I won't think before I post or vet what I'm sharing first. Nor will this be turning into a blog on political commentary.

But it does mean I will share stuff I think is worth sharing and that stuff might sometimes be more controversial than my personal branding tip of the day or who I'm rooting for on Dancing With The Stars this season.

As the high school girl behind me on line at the post office last week smartly reminded me, this is a really scary time in U.S. history. To sit and simply be quiet when hatred and violence is being condoned and encouraged is not something I can live with.

I hope I don't lose a business opportunity because of it. But I suppose if I do, it wasn't a very good match anyway.
School children raising their hands in class

There is so much bad news about education these days that I decided to post a positive story about a class of students, most all minority, whom I observed at the Picasso sculpture exhibit at MOMA several weeks ago. The guest author of this blog, Sasha Silverstein, an art teacher at PS 302-303, in New York City, wrote the following description of the lesson she gave to these young learners prior to their visit to the Museum. This is followed by student responses to their experience at the exhibition. Not incidentally, the students were well-behaved, engaged and very responsive to what they saw.

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I found the methods used by Ms Silverstein an example of "active learning" which I would only hope is being used as an effective learning approach in many other schools. Moreover, by using the arts as a medium of instruction for critical thinking, Ms. Silverstein demonstrates the positive reaction the students had to their visit at a time in which such programs are being cut back in order to expand "critical thinking" in other disciplines. I hope the irony of this attack on the arts should be self-evident.

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ABSTRACTION OF A GUITAR, INFLUENCED BY PABLO PICASSO, BY THE THIRD GRADE

The third grade classes were taught by their classroom teachers and Ms. Silverstein about Picasso and his various periods and great career. In Art, we focused on Cubism, a period of art brought about by Picasso and another great artist, Braque. Cubism is about abstracting reality, what you see, into something else, including different sides, planes or angles (think of his faces with two eyes, yet the nose is on the side of the face, as if we are looking at the side and front of the face at once.) We add and subtract different shapes to make it into something new. NOT EASY!!!! Students learned to draw a real guitar, then an example of Picasso's Cubist guitars called "Maquette for Guitar," including different shades of gray (shading or value). Maquette means model. Then they drew ideas for their abstract guitar, in the "accordion"-style books.. (Get the connection...accordion??)

Next we went to see these sculptures in person at the Museum of Modern Art on a field trip! Students drew in another book there, copying Picasso's guitars, violins and mandolin. They answered questions such as: What are these sculptures made of? How do they stay together? and wrote other comments and questions they had.

Finally the artists started turning shoe boxes and other cardboard and recycled materials into abstract guitars!

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Some needed paint, but most could just accept the neutral color of the cardboard. Details were added for strings and tuning knobs. Talk about high level thinking!!!!

Class #1 CONVERSATION ABOUT PICASSO'S CUBIST GUITARS

Student #1: It looks like a real guitar but not the whole thing.

Ms. S.: Yes, certain lines are suggested.

#2: It looks like the edges of the holes come out.

#3: He added lines and shapes that aren't there.

#4 I see overlapping.

#5 And shading.

#6: They are 3D.

#7 The design is beautiful.

Ms S. What [materials] will we need?

Class #2

Studenrt#1 cardboard

#2: tissue rolls

#3: tissue boxes

#4: rubber bands

#5: string

#6i tape (tan) masking

#7 scissors

#8 paint



Ms. S: So they are mostly recycled things.

Class#1 Discussion about Picasso's "Maquette for Guitar"

Student #1: It is realistic and abstract. It is not a real guitar, with real strings.

Student #2: it's like it is broken; there are no rectangles on the side of a real guitar.

Student #3: It is Cubist. The rectangle of the neck is curved. It doesn't have turning knobs. In the shapes, you can see part of the guitar, the back, front, sides.

Student #4: A real guitar is more curvy.

Student #5: The neck would be longer on a real guitar.

Student #6: The brown color is realistic.

Student #7: Maybe the materials are recycled. The strings could be of string or yarn. Cardboard would make a good abstract guitar.

Student #8 Maybe for the strings, we could use stretchy hairbands.
The British eco-conscious designer Tom Cridland is about to launch his eponymous brand in the U.S. market.

The company has gained fame for producing durable products that promise to last at least 30 years. This philosophy quickly caught on with celebrities such as Ben Stiller and Daniel Craig, who have been seen in the company's chino pants.



Daniel Craig in Tom Cridland's chinos. (Photo: Daily Mail)

The 25-year-old designer founded his company with a 6,000 ($9,000) government loan six months after he graduated from University of Bristol in England, where he majored in French and Portuguese. He started with chino pants, which were intended to be the company's signature item, and then launched "The 30 Year Sweatshirt," which the company guarantees will last 30 years.

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"I wanted to create a fashion label invoking a bygone era when clothing was made with exquisite care and taste, and that had a strong focus on sustainability too," Cridland explained in an interview at his London pop-up store.

He chose the sweatshirt as the garment to guarantee to last for three decades because it had to be something practical that consumers would actually want to wear for that long. A sweatshirt an essential casual item in many people's wardrobe.



The "30 Year Sweatshirt"

How does he make sure that it actually will last for 30 years? It starts with the quality of the material. He uses 360-grams-per-meter cotton and adds a small amount of polyester to ensure comfort and mobility. The double reinforced stitching prevents deterioration.

He developed the initial design working closely with artisans in Portugal but is in the process of moving production to Italy with the intention of bringing the quality to an even higher level by using Italian fabrics and craftsmanship.

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The 30 Year Sweatshirt comes in nine cheerful colors: Chilli Red, Classic Navy, Dove White, Electric Blue, Green Goblin, Grey Seal, Seville Orange, Sherbet Lemon and Sunset Bluelevard (it's actually turquoise).

At the moment, the collection is limited to men's sweatshirts, T-shirts, jackets and trousers but Cridland is planning to expand into women's clothes and add more varieties as well as "limited editions." He doesn't want to rush, though.

"I didn't want to rush into creating a full collection," Cridland said. "Instead, every single product, no matter how simple, should be developed as meticulously as a full collection normally would be. Importantly, we have always shipped all over the world, as I wanted Tom Cridland to be a truly international brand."

This earnest and eco-conscious approach to clothing production which is the world's second least environmentally friendly industry (after oil), has earned popularity among celebrities. Apart from Ben Stiller and Daniel Craig, his designs have been seen on Leonardo DiCaprio, Hugh Grant, Jeremy Piven, Rod Stewart, Frankie Valli, among others. He also custom designed a jacket for Nigel Olsson -- Elton John's drummer for over 45 years -- for Elton's Wonderful Crazy Night Tour in Los Angeles.

This month, with the official U.S. launching, Cridland will be touring the country starting with New York and Los Angeles. He's planning to spend one-third of his time in Los Angeles from now on. After all, the city is the capital of "luxury casual." Cridland will be appearing in the press and is already engaged in lecturing commitments at universities to give speeches on his entrepreneurial trajectory.

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Tom Cridland

-The 30 Year Sweatshirt is 65 ($90) and the 30 Year Jacket are available from 199 ($280). They're available worldwide from tomcridland.co.uk, with flat rate shipping.

Also on HuffPost:
I've become afraid I might have nothing to show my future children if they ask what I was doing to fight against a demagogue while he was approaching the presidency. Earlier today, I wrote these imaginary children a 5,000-word missive explaining my strategy. Since then, I have been given the absolute honor and privilege to have a HuffPost Blogger account - and I'm thrilled. However, HuffPost readers want much shorter posts! So, I begin my contributions with a series of bite-sized pieces of the full post, How to Trump Trump and Make American Greater Than Ever. Peek ahead, or take your first bite below.

Part 1: Civil Discourse is Honorable - and It's the Enemy



This is mostly a letter to my kids or grandkids. I don't have kids or grandkids, and am not married. So I don't know exactly to whom I'm writing yet. But, I want to tell them what their dad or granddad was thinking and doing at the time uncivil discourse was rampant in American society and a demagogue was approaching the presidency. More importantly, I want them to understand my commitment to contribute to a solution. Especially because what I'm about to say is counterintuitive: the solution to uncivil discourse is not civil discourse.

This is March 2016. Gerrymandered voting districts and lack of term limits have contributed to a polarized and unaccountable Congress. Decades of biased media and spokespeople have fanned the flames of partisanship. People's belief in the effectiveness of government is at an all time low. And now, the incivility and brazen rhetoric of a vocal minority in the Republican party is rising to a boil in the highest stage of American politics: the race for President of the United States. Donald Trump is currently the leading and presumptive Republican presidential candidate while calling for a wall between the USA and Mexico, saying Mexican immigrants racists and murderers, arguing to keep out all Muslims, and stating he'd like to punch protesters (and cover the legal fees of any supporters who would). Trump is so secure in his support he's said he could shoot someone in the middle of 5th Avenue in New York and not lose any voters.

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To some usually-partisan leaders' credit, calls for denying Trump's candidacy are mounting. It's obvious, expected, and good that Democrats and many non-Republicans are speaking out against Trump. But many Republicans are as well. Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham are just two, joined by former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. A major faction of the responsible Republican base is working against Trump's nomination, including 22 conservatives who wrote essays against Trump in one issue of the conservative National Review. I applaud these people.

With Republican leaders and spokespeople on the frontline, there is a diverse, multi-partisan coalition of thought forming around one shared belief: the best of American values is not represented by the Trump campaign. This coalition is united in this single thought, and not united in shared action at this point. Some are protesting at Trump rallies, some are funding anti-Trump Super PACs, some are avidly supporting their alternative presidential candidate(s). One refrain, though, is becoming more and more common from the coalition's membership: the uncivil dialogue must stop, i.e. we must commit to a more civil discourse. There are calls almost hourly for civil discourse, and tamping down the rhetoric, for fear it will boil over.

This isn't a new refrain - there have been advocates for civil discourse for as long as there as been uncivil discourse, which is probably close to as long as humans have existed. I believe in the refrain. For my part, since 2003, I've personally coordinated and moderated over 300 community forums aimed at creating this civil discourse. I also became mayor of Harrisonburg and am finishing my eighth year on city council, having run local campaigns in hopes of contributing to a more civil discourse in local government. I learned of the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation, and their 2000-person network working on civil discourse in communities, business, education, and government. Through NCDD, I am aware of many thoughtful civil discourse advocates who have nuanced and expansive understandings of the term civil discourse. These people, though, understand a different kind of civil discourse than the simplified type being called for by well-meaning leaders, media personalities, and everyday Americans.

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Civil discourse, in response to Trump, generally means, "Don't be mean, don't say racist things, don't call people names, don't interrupt, don't punch people, don't yell, don't show emotion, and don't make people uncomfortable." In short, civil discourse, for many, means, "Speak politely." Speaking politely is certainly a noble pursuit, and politeness would indeed be a refreshing departure from the rhetoric in our politics in general and in the Republican debates specifically. Politeness can contribute to respect, trust, and even resolution to some conflicts. There are actually plenty of examples of polite speaking while disagreeing. Every Sunday morning ABC's This Week, NBC's Meet the Press, CBS' Face the Nation, CNN's State of the Union, and Fox's Fox News Sunday feature people with disagreements stating their opinions rather politely. Add to that NPR and PBS, and there's actually plenty of polite talk out there.

But asking for more polite speaking doesn't seem to be motivating anyone. In fact, the more uncivil Trump and his crowds are, and the more calls for civility are made, the more fervent his supporters get. Speaking politely, it seems, is not an inspiring request to the frustrated Trump supporters. To better understand this, consider another term that is very close to "civil discourse," and notice its similarity to Trump's very justification for his candidacy: "political correctness."

Political correctness is laughed at (literally at Trump rallies) by millions of people in America. It's perceived to be weak, ineffective, and soft. But more, many conservatives don't just dismiss political correctness as annoying - they hate it. Political correctness is perceived as a threat to their own God-given and constitutionally-secured right to their freedom of speech. Political correctness, i.e. speaking politely, is not perceived as a solution to anything. It's experienced as the very essence of the problem in America. As Trump says, the time for political correctness as a way to create solutions is over. People are offended too easily, and political correctness - civil discourse - is in the way of getting real, getting down to business, getting to solutions, getting things done, and, of course, making America great again.

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But why is there such a negative reaction to being asked to speak politely and be politically correct? To understand this, we need to examine what speech actually is, which I do in my next post.
Panama has more than 1,400 islands, and, just like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike.

Some are Caribbean, some Pacific, and some jut above the ocean's surface near the entrance to the Panama Canal...

Most all are blessed with white-sand beaches. Some also boast coral reefs just offshore...

Some are comfortable, even luxury standard, well developed for tourism, while others are wholly uninhabited...

Some are dense with jungle vegetation, others home to centuries-old towns...

The "perfect" Panamanian island for you depends on what you're looking for. Here are a few recommendations...

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Isla Taboga: Most Accessible

Isla Taboga is a good first-time island escape in Panama, especially if you're in the country only for a few days. Isla Taboga sits just 20 kilometers offshore from Panama City and is reached by a daily 45-minute ferry.

Also known as the Island of the Flowers, Isla Taboga is covered in part by rain forest, meaning orchids, ferns, lianas, and bromeliads all around.

No more than a couple of thousand people live on Isla Taboga, and major development has been kept at bay. Thanks to the island's eight miles of coastline, the primary occupation is beach bumming. There's also hiking (to Cerro Vigia or Cerro de la Cruz, the island's two highest points), whale watching, fishing (for black marlin, blue marlin, pacific sailfish, yellow fin tuna, roosterfish, wahoo, cubera snapper, corvina, and amberjack), snorkeling, and diving (1,000 pieces of 17th-century silver were discovered by divers offshore Isla Taboga in 1998).

Taboga's only town, San Pedro, started life as a fishing village. Its church is said to be the second oldest in the Americas. Bunkers remain from the U.S. presence on the island during World War II (which also attracted a failed Japanese spy plot), and a hotel on the island was used by the United States as an internment camp for Germans during World War I.

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The Pearl Islands: Most Famous

When the cast and crew of TV's hit reality show "Survivor" came to the Pearl Islands in 2003, the world took notice. In fact, the location proved so successful for the show that it returned to Panama for two more seasons.

The Pearl Islands are made up of more than 200 islands about 50 kilometers off the coast of Panama City. Isla Contadora is the best known among them and the archipelago's main tourist center.

"Contadora" means "the one who counts." Isla Contadora was where Spanish conquistadors and natives counted and traded the pearls they harvested from the nearby waters.

Like Taboga, Isla Contadora has a link to U.S. history. After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, when the Ayatollahs took over, the Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi fled to Panama. He lived in exile on Isla Contadora for a few months before moving on to Egypt.

Isla Coiba: A Fisherman's Paradise

With more than 750 species of fish recorded in the area, Isla Coiba is recognized by many as Panama's top fishing spot.

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A few miles west of the island lies the Hannibal Bank, where the continental shelf drops thousands of feet, creating a hotspot for both inland and offshore fish. You can fish here year-round for black marlin, roosterfish, cubera snapper, and yellow fin tuna weighing hundreds of pounds. Marlin catches reach up to 1,000 pounds.

Isla Coiba is a national park as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute recognizes the island as an unparalleled destination for discovering new species.

Guna Yala (San Blas Islands): Most Naturally Beautiful

Hands down, Panama's San Blas Islands qualify as the best of the best for an escape-from-it-all island vacation, not only in Panama, but anywhere in the entire Caribbean and maybe the world.

Just don't come expecting a five-star resort with all-inclusive buffets and bars. The San Blas are Mother Nature at her best and completely untouched by human development.

The San Blas Islands form part of Guna Yala, a comarca (province) stretching along Panama's Atlantic coast. The comarca is home to the indigenous Guna people and is unique in that it is recognized as such (sort of like if a U.S. native reservation were given the powers of a state). This autonomy is a result of a revolution in 1925, when the Guna people sought separation from Panama. The local control has brought a quality of life and preservation of culture that otherwise likely would have been unachievable.

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Because of the status of Guna Yala, the San Blas Islands are strictly a tourist destination. No chance of purchasing a piece of land or a condo or importing a business here. The restrictions even exclude other Panamanian nationals. Some outsiders scoff at what they see as an affront to free enterprise and market economics. But to the Guna, the strict controls an expression of their freedom. This is Guna territory, and they intend to keep it that way.

The Islands Of Bocas Del Toro: Most Livable

The islands of Bocas del Toro have become Panama's top Caribbean destination. One could argue that the San Blas islands are more pristinely beautiful. On the other hand, the islands of Bocas del Toro provide much more in the way of infrastructure and convenience.

Plus, unlike the Guna Yala comarca, where the San Blas are located, the province of Bocas del Toro doesn't prohibit residency or property ownership. For anyone looking for more than a short vacation, the island lifestyle in Bocas del Toro is unmatched in Panama.

Bocas del Toro is distinctly Caribbean in its culture, thanks to the banana boom that took place here in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Workers were brought in from Jamaica and other English colonies across the Caribbean to work the plantations. As a result, English is widely understood.

Bananas are still a big contributor to the province's economy, with some 750,000 tons of banana exports annually. In the past decade, though, tourism has become the most important part of this island economy.

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The main center of activity in the province of Bocas del Toro is Bocas Town, located on Isla Colon. Bocas Town is busier than it looks on first glance; the town of about 17,000 sees around 150,000 tourists per year (and growing).

If you don't mind the tourists and enjoy the social buzz around the main strip, Bocas Town is the place to be. At least a dozen restaurants, cafes, hostels, hotels, bed and breakfasts, and bars line the main street. Live music from the various bars mixes and fades as you walk among the backpackers, expats, and locals congregating outside the various hot spots every evening.

Bamboo Bocas is one of the mainstays, located front and center in the middle of the strip. The live reggae tunes carry from the patio to the street. A little off the end of the busy strip is Loco Dave's, a rock-and-roll bar slash arcade slash library that also offers tattoos. Loco Dave's really is truly a loco place.

If bars aren't your thing, relax and enjoy a movie at Cine Cafe Bocas, a small theater that shows both English and Spanish second-run Hollywood films. The two small theaters have beanbag chairs and sofas with room for about a dozen people each. Tickets and snacks for two cost about $13.



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Earlier on Huff/Post50:
Over half (56%) of all Americans dream of starting their own business but only a few people ever make the leap to this fundamental aspiration.

According to authors of book, Now, Discover Your Strengths, Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton said, "the real tragedy in life is not that each of us don't have enough strengths, it's that we fail to use the ones we have."

Successful startups do not have this problem as they have figured out how to structure their business as systems that allow them to spend far more of their time on the meaningful, productive activities that take advantage of their greatest strengths.

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Forbes defines a startup as a company working to solve a problem where the solution is not obvious and success is not guaranteed.

Once a startup has launched its product or service offering, it becomes crucial to keep a consistent watch on key metrics and scale innovation to ensure that the life time of the startup is not short-lived.

Some rules matter more than others and these rules, if adhered to by successful startups will ensure that the startup is on its way to sustaining its fast track growth.

These are five things a fast growing startup needs to sustain its fast growth business.

1. Outsource Majority of your Work.

The idea of the virtual corporation is a myth. The idea of the extraordinarily focused business is the important reality.

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Every successful startup entrepreneur has a range of skills that vary from on expertise in internet marketing, to an expertise in using specific software, to a talent for routinizing complex activities.

What distinguishes fast growth startups from the rest is that fast growth startups have figured out a way to focus their efforts almost entirely around their individual skills, around what they do best.

The startups outsource all other business functions to people in their team (or outside of their teams) who can provide them better or more cost effectively.

It is easy for the startup entrepreneur to get mired up in the day to day operations of running the business simply because they want to save cash.

Successful, fast growth startups put a talented team together, delegate all other business functions except the core functions to members of their team who can do them better which leaves the startup owners time - one of the most valuable assets of the startup entrepreneur - to focus on planning for the future of the business.

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Having too many tasks even if you have the time to do them are all distractions that can radically decrease your effectiveness and truncate the business growth.

2. Automate Every Part of The Business.

Why it's good to outsource work to teams (both those within and those outside), it's also imperative to automate the processes of running that business as a whole.

Once a startup starts to gain massive momentum, a lot of responsibilities grow out from nowhere. And trying to work those positions 100% might drag your attention away from the crucial ones you should focus on. That's where the need to automate those time tasking processes comes into play.

Get a time and attendance management system that can help automate the normal everyday tasks such as recording employee inputs, managing break periods, calculating payroll, and monitoring the overall day-to-day activities of the business.

You automating these processes will give you more time to focus on the future of the startup and also help you find time to create strategies to sustain the current growth.

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3. Focus On The Bigger Picture.



One of the most serious mistakes startups make is losing sight of the things that deliver value.

Startups have to stay focused on the bigger picture because it is easy to get side-tracked by shining new opportunities.

Keep your startup's core mission in mind. Work out what your customers want from you, the value you want your startup to provide, and do not steer too far from it.

4. Keep providing a great customer experience.

You have probably heard of Deliveroo, a fast growth restaurant delivery service based in the UK.

It works with a number of high profile chains such as Carluccio's and Gourmet Burger Kitchen and has raised over $100m in venture capital investment with a presence in 35 UK cities and 40 cities internationally in only 3 years.

Not bad for a startup.

Deliveroo, the multi million pound business is the brainchild of former investment banker Will Shu and ex-software developer Greg Orlowski.

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Their inspiration for the business came because of their dissatisfaction with the poor delivery and customer service of a similar food delivery business so they decided to do something about it. Now they are competitors.

If you don't want your competition to eat your business for lunch, always deliver on what you promise and provide a stellar customer experience that'll keep customers on repeat business.

5. Be Laser Focused On Sustaining the Revenue.

Revenue sometimes work like thermometer. They fluctuate greatly.

And as a fast rising startup, the best thing to pay attention to - is how to sustain the current revenue and how to increase it over time.

Focus on acquiring customers from the beginning, retaining old customers and develop strategies to attract new customers and keeping them.

Doing this will ensure that there is always cash to run the business and eliminate the need for external investment.

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And if later, you do decide to go down the investor route, then you should be able to prove your startup is a revenue generating business - which is very attractive to potential investors.

By taking these actions, the fast growing startup will be able to sustain its fast growth over time.
Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks at a campaign rally at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo)

To say the results of Super Tuesday were disappointing for Bernie supporters would be an understatement. Four out of five states were lost. The tie in Missouri was no consolation either. While the defeats in the Southeast were expected the ones in the industrial Midwestern states of Illinois and Ohio hurt -- and hurt bad.

According to the latest delegate count, Hillary Clinton now has more than twice the number of delegates Bernie Sanders has and an overall lead in excess of 800 delegates. The battle is uphill all the way from here for the Bernie Sanders campaign.

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Is there some disillusion at the low turnouts, especially among the 18-30 age demographic that heavily favors Bernie? Yes.

Is there anxiety about the numbers game? Yes.

But here's the thing:

Twenty-six states as well as Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and the District are still to be contested. Half the delegates are still up for grabs. Hillary still needs more than 800 delegates to win the nomination. Some, most, or all of the 712 super delegates can still switch sides. The Southern states and the more conservative red states in the Midwest where Bernie was polling lowest are all but done voting.

These have traditionally been states that have supported fewer regulations on Wall Street and wholeheartedly espoused the Chicago School-Milton Friedman brand of capitalism. The word "Socialism" is anathema in these parts. In other words, the worst is over.

The math is most definitely tough for Sanders -- but not impossible. What is certain is that he can absolutely not afford to lose the two states with the highest delegate counts (California and New York) and will need to win a few states in the north and northwest, where he is polling best, by large margins.

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And here's what's more. Taking the liberty of speaking for all Bernie Sanders supporters:

This is not a sporting contest, this is our future. We will not let our future fall into the hands of dynasty politicians like Hillary Clinton or megalomaniacal demagogues like Donald Trump without a fight.

Bernie is the only candidate we believe in and the only candidate we trust. He is the only candidate who cares about the people of this country and whose compassion has come through in every word, every action and every legislation vote. From his arrest in a civil rights protest in 1963 to his participation in a Pride Parade as Mayor of Vermont in 1983 to his relentless war on crony capitalism and corporate influence in politics, Bernie Sanders has been a hero.

We are with him to the bitter end.

To quote one of my favorite movie lines:
Varanasi, otherwise known as Benaras or Banaras, is like no other city in the world, I'm sure of it. According to legend, it was founded by the Hindu deity Lord Shiva 5,000 years ago, though modern scholars view it to be around 3,000 years old. Either way, it is one of the oldest cities in the world. Situated on the west bank of the River Ganges, it is believed to have the power of washing away all of one's sins simply because in the Hindu mythology, water is the source of life and creation. It is the most popular pilgrimage point for the Hindus as those who die and are cremated here get an instant gateway to liberation from the cycle of births and re-births. The city has been a symbol of spiritualism, philosophy and mysticism for thousands of years and has produced great saints and personalities including the one and only, Guatama Buddha. Yes, Buddha. The actual person who started Buddhism. Not like Santa Claus who doesn't exist, Buddha did exist.

In 1896, Mark Twain put it perfectly when he said "Banaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together".

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We arrived in Varanasi on a Monday around 2:30pm from Delhi. It was a super easy, smooth flight which was very much appreciated as I heard traveling throughout India can be a headache in itself. Our homestay arranged for a car to pick us up at the airport which relieved any stress of finding a cab, negotiating a price, trying to communicate where we are going, etc. It cost us around 800 rupees with tip, or about $12, for a 40 minute drive and was worth every penny. We were staying at a place called Granny's Inn, which is run by two Indian Granny's. The nightly rate was 3,000 Rupees, or around $44.

And just as an FYI, you will see a swastika like symbol in a lot of these photos (temples, buses, taxis, buildings, books, etc.) but please know it does not have the same negative meaning that we are used to. For the Hindus and Buddhists in India and other Asian countries, it is an ancient symbol meaning good fortune, good luck and well-being, deriving from the Sanskrit word svasktika. It is disheartening that a symbol of life and eternity that was considered sacred for thousands of years in some parts of the world has become a symbol of such hatred in other parts of the world.

Mayur, the homestay's host, greeted us at the door. Such a lovely young man who speaks very good English. He checked us in, showed us to our room, brought us Masala tea and gave us a handful of recommendations to do throughout the city. So very helpful and insightful.

It was starting to rain a little, which was unfortunate since it's predominately a walking city. Oh well, sunshine and rainbows can't follow us everywhere I guess (wahhhhhh). After about 5 minutes of settling into our new room for the next four nights, our lights went out. We figured the bulbs needed to be changed so we asked Mayur if he had any spares. He said the bulbs didn't go out but when it rains, the city shuts down the power. Want to know why? Wait for it, wait for it. They shut down the power so the monkeys that jump from building to building don't get electrocuted. Yes, you heard that right. We are in a city that is being controlled by monkeys? Where are we? I asked when we could expect power again and his response was "This is Varanasi, there are no answers to anything". I took a deep breath and reminded myself, this is all part of the experience. Enjoy it, laugh with it, appreciate it, reflect on it.

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Later, we saw the monkeys for ourselves...

After about 20 minutes, the power went back on and we decided to take a stroll around town. Keep in mind this isn't like strolling the streets of Paris or Rome or even New York. This in India, this is Varanasi. Not peaceful, not clean, not beautiful - yet absolutely incredible in its own way. Right when we walked outside, we saw a baby cow literally getting milk straight from its mom's utters. Doesn't get any fresher than that. "I've got nipples Focker, can you milk me?" - Meet The Parents.

And a Mamma dog with her pups...

It was starting to get dark since its was close to 5pm and drizzling so we really only wanted to be out for a little. As we continuously looked around, we couldn't help but think we were on the backlot of Sony Pictures or Universal Studios. Everything about this place seems fake but it's obviously not (duh, Kim). There are 2 lanes only and cars are having to swerve around cows that decided to take a nap in the middle of the road or trying to eat whatever vegetables might have fallen from someones cart. It's all just so surreal.

Our homestay offers a home cooked dinner for 200 rupees each, which equals to about $3 per person (yes please!). We definitely took them up on that offer and the food was delicious. Kashi is the cook and he sure knows how to add spice and flavor to every dish. My taste buds were dancing as if it was an Indian wedding inside my mouth. While at the dinner table, we were able to meet a wonderful young couple from Russia (Alex and Maria) and a jolly woman from Ireland (Jackie). Both were lovely. One of the greatest things about traveling is meeting people from all over the world. Luckily for us, English is always the common language so communicating makes it easy. I couldn't imagine being from China or Germany or Argentina and not being able to understand the words around me.
This post previously appeared in The Hill.

When I read about the Chicago protesters last week cheering after Donald Trump canceled his campaign rally as a result of their efforts, I knew a lot of anti-Trump Democrats were also happy. But my first reaction? "Ouch."

As these protests against Trump inevitably continue, I believe those of us who are progressives and are offended by the GOP front-runner's bigoted and hateful language should worry about conduct that ends up thwarting First Amendment rights -- his as well as that of his audiences. I especially fear that attempts to disrupt or shut down Trump's rallies could end up achieving the near impossible: making Trump look sympathetic.

There is no doubt that Trump has often condoned, even encouraged, the violence exhibited by some of the thugs who attend his rallies. Just this past Sunday, on Meet the Press, he actually defended the sucker punch thrown by one of his supporters to the face of a protester who was being escorted out of the rally. He said that he might pay for the puncher's legal fees, recalling fondly the days when a protester would be "carried out on a stretcher" and saying he'd "like to punch him in the face." Just recently he urged his supporters to raise their right hands and "solemnly swear" to vote for him. When people made the inevitable comparison to Hitler's "Sieg Heil" salute, he said that was "ridiculous" and it was all in "fun."

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This past Sunday, Trump's remaining three opponents on the Republican side, while condemning the conduct of any protesters who would try to break up the Trump rally, all repudiated the billionaire's words condoning this violence. Ted Cruz said the responsibility for the violence "starts at the top." Marco Rubio said that "all the gates of civility have been blown apart by Trump," adding that it is getting harder to stick to his pledge to support Trump if he wins the nomination. John Kasich said that Trump "has created a toxic environment."

I am glad they finally challenged his reckless language encouraging violence. But where are all the other elected leaders of the Republican Party in Congress, in the state houses, in the national party? Why do they remain silent, as many did when Trump first disparaged a war hero, Arizona Sen. John McCain, as being weak for getting caught as a prisoner of war in Vietnam? Or when he used the stereotypical words of a classic bigot in saying all Mexicans crossing our border are "rapists" and criminals? How about when he says all foreign Muslims are so dangerous he would ban them all, based solely on their religion, from coming to the United States, or when he questions the patriotism -- and just a few years ago, the citizenship -- of President Obama?

Trump has crossed the line dividing civilized people from non-civilized people, using reckless words that condone and encourage violence against those who oppose him; misogynistic words attacking Megyn Kelly and other women; vitriol when he mocks and insults his fellow Republican presidential candidates and anyone else who challenges him. Hasn't the time come for all thoughtful Republicans to say one word, publicly?

Enough.

As for our side, progressive and mainstream Democrats, we too have a responsibility.

We must be careful not to create sympathy for Trump by acting as if the First Amendment should be suspended when it comes to him and his supporters, regardless of how repulsive their words and actions are.

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Of course I support people going to Trump rallies with signs that challenge him peacefully. But let's avoid any organized effort to prevent him from speaking. And for goodness sake, let's not cheer when we hear that his rally has been canceled because of disruptive protests.

In fact, our attitude should be: The more people hear him, the better it is.

The more people hear him, the greater will be the margin of his defeat in the general election, when America will repudiate him and all he stands for by a historic landslide margin so large that he and the likes of him will not return again to run for president for generations to come.

# # # #

Mr. Davis is a weekly columnist for The Hill newspaper, writing under the name, "Purple Nation." This column appears first and weekly in The Hill and the Hill.com.
The Southwest was once a part of Mexico, but that doesn't mean that Mexicans have always felt welcome there. Land disputes led to segregation, discrimination and even state-sanctioned violence. Latino USA looks into the history of resistance leaders like Juan Cortina and Reies Lopez Tijerina, the dark side of the Texas Rangers and school segregation in an episode dedicated to the often untold history of blood and betrayal in the Southwest.
ST PETERSBURG, FL - MARCH 08: NY POST OUT Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan, testifies in court during his trial against Gawker Media at the Pinellas County Courthouse on March 8, 2016 in St Petersburg, Florida. Bollea is taking legal action against Gawker in a USD 100 million lawsuit for releasing a video of him having sex with his best friends wife. (Photo by John Pendygraft-Pool/Getty Images)

You probably know that former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan is suing Gawker for $100 million for posting a video that included a brief snippet of him having sex with a friend's wife. And the fact that you probably know this helps explain why this is an important case and why Hulk Hogan has no claim.

Most civil trials are not very intriguing and they do not receive much media attention. The cases that draw the greatest public interest tend to be criminal, like the notorious O.J. Simpson murder trial. We understand why: a lot is at stake in most criminal cases.

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That the media and public have little interest in civil cases became clear to me in the 1990s, when I served on a local advisory committee to an experimental program that allowed cameras into federal courtrooms. The program yielded few media requests to bring cameras into trials for a simple reason: it was limited to civil cases. It turned out that the media had no burning desire to monitor litigation about patents, social security claims, or the Railway Labor Act.

But Hulk Hogan's lawsuit is different. As of the writing of this op-ed the New York Times has published more than half-a-dozen articles about the trial. Every major media entity appears to be covering it, many quite closely.

Why the difference? Because the trial is about Hulk Hogan, a champion not only of throws and chokeholds but of providing us with too much information about his sex life. For example, Hogan has chatted with Howard Stern about such matters--with all the subtlety and nuance you might expect in that context.

Now, here's where things get metaphysical. For purposes of this lawsuit, Hogan claims that he is not the guy who said those things. Rather, he argues, the guy who said those things is the character he portrays.

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Or, to put it differently, Hogan wants to persuade the jury that he is not the loud, boastful, flamboyant, over-the-top character that the public came to know and love and laugh with. No, he is just some guy who slept with his friend's wife.

In most instances this would be an unusual way to try to claim the moral high ground. But Hogan's case depends upon this strategy. After all, it is hard--if not impossible--for someone who has spent time inviting the public into his bedroom to say that it has no business there. Hogan's best shot is therefore to contend that he isn't the person who did the inviting.

This seems like a tough sell. Indeed, one of the striking things about the Stern interview is that Hogan is decidedly not "in character." He's not some wrestler geared up in a costume, waving his arms around madly, screaming at the top of his lungs. He's a guy in a t-shirt and jeans talking about his back injury and his personal finances--and his sexual practices.

This does not mean that celebrities can never have invasion of privacy claims; they can. It does not even mean that Hulk Hogan cannot have one; surely, like all of us, he has things he has kept to himself. But, having effectively invited the public to become voyeurs of this part of his life, it seems oddly disingenuous for him to express outrage that Gawker looked through the window.

We could dismiss the case as an odd and unimportant one-off curiosity but for two deeply unsettling concerns that it raises.

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First, the magnitude of Hogan's $100 million damage claim could have a serious chilling effect on all media who report on public figures and their lifestyles. As the Supreme Court has recognized, the threat of large tort verdicts against the media can inhibit free speech every bit as effectively as government censorship.

Second, and in my view more importantly, Hogan's case could create a dangerous precedent within privacy law. If he is successful, his case could inspire a strategy of privacy-bait-and-switch, where a celebrity lures the media into reporting on a presumptively private topic and then ambushes them with a lawsuit seeking millions of dollars when they do so.

In the contest between privacy and free speech interests, that's not a fair fight. It's a grabbed-from-behind body slam.

And it could leave the First Amendment gravely--perhaps irretrievably--injured.
I grew up watching Gore Vidal on TV and enjoying his wit. He was a liberal version of William F. Buckley, Jr.: witty, insanely well-read, cosmopolitan, and delightfully snide. But like Buckley, he oozed privilege and contempt, and his act could wear thin.

I think that's why he's never been a favorite writer of mine. Though I've read a handful of his novels over the years and his memoir Palimpsest, none of his books made that great an impression on me. I do remember him wafting through Anais Nin's Diaries where he seemed fascinating and somewhat creepy, a young man on the make. Nin's view of him was much more interesting than Vidal himself.

A writer friend recently recommended that I read Jay Parini's new Vidal biography just as I'd finished reading a review essay about it in the New Yorker. That piece offered me an insight into Vidal I'd never expected. In the late 70s, Vidal told the novelist Martin Amis that he'd been reading D. H. Lawrence and this is what Vidal said about the experience:

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"Every page I think, Jesus, what a fag. Jesus, what a faggot this guy sounds."



Where do you start to unpack lines like that? Despite his attempts to blur the question, Vidal was gay, lived with a man and only had sex with men. And here he was, using "faggot" as invective. But putting that aside, what in Lawrence's prose or themes could have evoked so much contempt? Vidal comes across in that bizarre outburst as an anti-intellectual boob, a yahoo, a bigot.

Unless he was simply jealous. Because Lawrence reached artistic heights Vidal couldn't even approach. Lawrence is one of the 20th century's greatest writers. Can Vidal even compare? Has he written anything as profound or beautiful as Women in Love?

I've been reading and re-reading Lawrence for years. He can be excessive and melodramatic, but his soaring prose always moves me, as does his grasp of human psychology and his understanding of how passion can shipwreck us. His depth of feeling, his imagery, and his rhapsodic voice always blow me away when I return to his fiction.

I've never revisited any book of Vidal's and I've never wanted to. The New Yorker piece quotes some of Vidal's work, but it left me as cold as the anecdotes of his studied hauteur. I'd happily read a new biography of Lawrence, though. And it's probably time for me to go back to Women in Love, which I've read a handful of times. Or perhaps some of his wonderful short fiction. Or his pungent, quirky Studies in American Literature. Or The Fox. So many terrific choices....

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Brexit: Boris Johnson (left): "out." David Cameron: "in."

England's problem is English: the language it gave to the world.

In particular, it's a problem because so many people in the world speak English and would like to live in England, maybe hundreds of millions of them. "We are here because you were there," says a sign held by an India-born woman at a demonstration. The British Empire isn't all wound up.

The immigrant stream into England has two principal sources. One stream is from former British possessions, like India, Nigeria and Pakistan. These immigrants are English speakers. In England, they'll have medical care, welfare, and law and order -- and it's where they feel entitled by history.

The other immigrant stream is from Eastern Europe. These immigrants enter England under the terms of the United Kingdom's membership in the European Union. They want to live and work in England for economic reasons. Once there, they tend to stay and live in expatriate communities.

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London, the great sprawling metropolis along the Thames River, is now home to 50 expatriate communities, each with more than 10,000 members. More than 300 languages are spoken in London. According to the 2011 census, 37 percent of the city's population wasn't born in Britain. If the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries was a melting pot, London is that and even more so today.

The UK immigration problem is primarily an English problem. It's not a Scottish, nor a Welsh, nor a Northern Irish one. England and London are where the immigrants head. Accommodation is at a premium in London, and the situation is getting worse with property speculation an industry in itself.

But immigrants nesting in London isn't just a problem of migration. It's also a problem of population density for England. The capital bursts at the seams as the north of the country languishes. Think booming Washington D.C. and hurting West Virginia, so close and so faraway.

The immigration problem is one of two issues that dominate the run-up to a June 23 referendum on whether Britain should stay in the EU. The second issue is of sovereignty, and the belief in Britain -- mostly England - that Brussels, the seat of the European administration, is setting up rules and regulations that are untenable.

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British Prime Minister David Cameron favors Britain staying in Europe with greater control of its borders and freedom from some Europe-wide mandates. Many members of his Conservative Party want out, including about half of his cabinet. Industry wants in by and large, as do professional groups and the important financial sector.

But the desire to leave Europe, known as "Brexit," may be gaining with the support of Boris Johnson, London's popular mayor. Polls have "in" just ahead of "out" and closing.

Pulling out has ramifications for the very integrity of the United Kingdom. Feeling against Europe is very much an English phenomenon and isn't shared in Scotland, where calls for new referendum on its future as part of the United Kingdom will surely follow a vote for Britain to quit Europe. The last vote in September 2014 went against Scottish independence, 55.3 percent to 44.7 percent. Since then, the nationalistic feeling in Scotland has grown, and Scottish nationalists favor membership in Europe. Wales seems to want in.

Britain's immigrant problem is more severe than ours in the United States. The population stands at 64.9 million and is rising. The island is 600-miles-long and 271-miles-long at its widest point.
If you have 17 + hours to spare and want to travel on the longest commercial flight, here's the ticket.

This post originally appeared on Map Happy.

Emirates currently holds the record for the world's current longest active commercial flight. Airways News reports that the flight, which runs non-stop from Dubai UAE to Auckland in New Zealand touched down on the first after a 8,824 mile journey. Here's the thing: airlines have been vaunting for this title for years, often with no clear definition as to what "longest flight" means.

This new flight is a full 246 miles and 25 minutes longer (17 hours and 15 minutes when flying eastbound) than the previous record holder. Qantas, with its non-stop 8,578-mile Dallas to Sydney flight taking 16 hours and 50 minutes, now sits in second place.

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Emirates even planned to outdo itself by the end of the month. They were scheduled to operate a flight from Dubai to Panama City starting March 31. However, days after the Dubai-Auckland flight was announced, travel blog One Mile at a Time reported the Panama-bound route has been canceled. Had it run, the flight would have covered a distance of 8,588 miles with a flight time of 17 hours 35 minutes--making it the longest flight by duration.

This brings up an interesting question. Should we gauge the longest flight by distance traveled, or by time spent in the air? Different metrics give us different results. Sort of.

Ten Longest Flights by Distance

Ten Longest Flights by Time

Emirates has the longest flight by either measure. Middle Eastern carriers and airports make up a majority of the top 10, with Los Angeles occupying the top spot by destination. Sixteen-plus hours in the air, and then Disneyland is less than an hour away by car. Score!

But, none of these flights compare to the longest ever commercial route: the discontinued Newark to Singapore flight on Singapore Airlines. With a distance of 9,535 miles and a scheduled flight time of 18 hours and 50 minutes, none of the current longest flight records come close.

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In fact, many of the world's longest flights by both distance and time are now discontinued. A majority of those flights were discontinued between 2008 and 2014 because they weren't profitable (presumably because of fuel prices at the time). Singapore Airlines also flew from L.A. to Singapore in just over 18 hours. Delta Airlines once flew Mumbai to Atlanta in 17 hours and 55 minutes.

But it seems ultra long-haul flights are ready to make a comeback. United Airlines plans to open up a route between San Francisco and Singapore effective June 1, 2016. The Guardian also reports that Qatar Airways plans to start a 9,034-mile-long route between Doha and Auckland.

What's with the resurgence? Aside from a good ol' fashioned "mine's bigger than yours" competition, odds favor low oil prices. (There might an increase in consumer demand as well, but oil seems more likely.) If prices stay around where they are, expect to see more airlines rolling out new ultra-long haul routes in the next year or two.

If airlines keep competing for the world's longest flight, what's the farthest they can possibly go given the aircraft models in use today? Turns out we are pretty close to maxing out our current technology. The commercial airliner with the longest range is the Boeing 777-200LR. It has a maximum estimated flight distance of 9,285 nautical miles (10,685 regular miles) when fully loaded.

Remember--any journey longer than 12,441 miles can be made shorter by going in another direction. We do live on a sphere and all.

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Sam Wright Fairbanks is an editorial fellow at Map Happy.

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It's been a long, long time coming

But I know a change gonna come

Oh, yes it will

-- Sam Cooke

When President Barack Obama visits Havana next week, his will be the first and only visit to the island by a sitting U.S. president since Calvin Coolidge came here during the roaring twenties, just a year before the stock market crash in 1929.

At that time, Cuba was a country right out of a Fitzgerald novel -- the days of Gatsby; beauty, glamour, lots of money, lots of wealth, Lalique, Paris, la belle epoque, feathers, pearls, palazzos, the Ritz, oysters and wine.

The aristocracy in Havana, the capitol, and in Santiago de Cuba, the island's second largest city, was flourishing in the newly formed nation. After all, Cuba was barely in her twenties herself, only just having achieved independence from Spain at the turn of the century.

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But, for all its outward charm, there was another, darker side to the island located just 90 miles from the U.S.

A tyrant and a crook by most accounts, Gerardo Machado was president of Cuba then. Thought to be one of the worst heads-of-state Cuba ever had, Machado was ousted by the people he ruled with an iron fist and who hated him with a passion.

Under his draconian control, the country had become divided with the haves and have-nots -- those with extreme wealth living side by side with those suffering from extreme poverty.

Sugar barons formed a huge aristocracy and flourished as a bourgeoisie that had no comparison in the Americas of the day. Cuba was quite possibly the first in the region to truly be representative of the disparity we now see occurring in the U.S. where much of the nation's wealth is in the hands of the infamous 1%.

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When President Obama arrives here, the Cuba he will see is no longer in its twenties and no longer does it roar. You see, those years of extreme wealth bordering on decadence lasted well into the first half of the twentieth century and brought the island to its knees with bloodshed, tyranny, social injustice and extreme poverty. Cuba had to undergo a civil war in order to find its way in the proverbial sea that surrounds her. Young men and woman from all over the country and from every walk of life were part of this struggle.

There is a misconstrued idea that the Cuban Revolution was conducted and brought about by uncultured barbarians. I am sorry to burst that odious bubble but that was not the case at all. Many young people who gave their lives and put themselves in extreme peril were actually economically and socially well off. They just couldn't tolerate the idea of their homeland being subjected to total devastation any longer.

And so it was in early January of 1959, a few years before President Obama was born, that change came about, a change that has yet to be fully understood by many living outside and within the island.

Was this change for the better? Was it a necessary evil in order to set the sails for the desperately needed winds of change? Did Cuba win or lose? More so, will Mr. Obama be able to find answers to what I am sure are these and many other questions?

In spite of a vicious economic blockade imposed by the U.S., Michelle Obama, who will accompany her husband, will not see girls going without schools and a fine education, or young women not being permitted to go to college -- all paid for by the state.

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Here, Mr. Obama will find out how his so-called Obamacare compares to our exemplary universal health care system. He will learn how we have been able to make certain dreams come true.

Mr. Obama may be surprised to find our Ministry of Culture with millions in government support more than equals the work of America's National Endowment of the Arts. Much of the cultural heritage of the nation will be visible, albeit not as splendorous as in the past, but visible none the less. For you see, the Cuban Revolution never really intended to destroy the glories of yesteryear; it just wanted to spread the wealth as far and wide along the island as possible.

It's true that much was, in the end, spread too thin and some of it got lost along the way, and some of that richness of spirit was misunderstood, but the noble intent was there.

Michelle and Barack will be able to see a society where solidarity is spoken in many languages, where somehow many wrongs have managed to create a whole lot of right (left).

We can only hope the president, this president, will be able to see past the dilapidation of some of the older buildings, the lack of decent paint jobs and crumbling facades; the absence of adequate vegetation in town and the potholes -- see past all of that, and understand (which I think he does), that we've done way more than most could have under the same strenuous conditions of isolation and punishment.

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This sitting president and his entourage will visit a country full of problems, so many that it would take more than a mere 48 hours to actually see. What he won't see are guns in the hands of children, hunger in the face of multitudes, fear, loathing, dismay or a lack of sovereignty.
My father was an Episcopal minister in the Midwest and, for my money, the best preacher I've ever seen in a pulpit. He was a masterful storyteller and charming in the way he made the Bible relevant and commanded his audience's attention. He had a charisma that reached the back of the church on Sunday mornings, but also had the power to motivate individuals. I wasn't always the ideal listener--my sister and I perfected the ability to quietly kick each other in the shins while sitting in the front pew--but I witnessed the power my father had to influence people for good, and those lessons have stayed with me to this day.

We are different people in many ways, my father and I, and have obviously followed very different career paths. But as the company I lead has expanded and experienced growing pains over the past few years and I've come to crossroads and dealt with unfamiliar situations as its CEO, I've realized that Midwestern minister taught me a lot me about being a leader.

Get People on Board

Within the church, my father was a change agent; he was somebody who would go into a problem organization, recognize what was wrong, and get it fixed. So he was sent to churches that were having difficulties--maybe the current minister was having personal issues, or the church had fiscal problems, or it was new and needed to transition from mission level into a full-fledged church.

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As we've tackled our own transitions and reassessed our goals at my company, I remembered how my dad would go right to work when we arrived in a new church. He opened lines of communication with the whole congregation from the pulpit, and he was an amazing motivator one-on-one. Whether it was a donation he really needed to pursue a program, or an important deacon whose thinking he needed to influence to support a change, each of those individual conversations added up. Sometimes enlisting individual supporters is important to rallying a team to carry a leader's plans forward.

Get Your Game Face On

Once my dad put a church on solid footing, he was always asked to go fix the next one. We never actually lived in a place for more than about two years, which turned out to be pretty good training for corporate life in itself, when you have to be willing to move around and start over in a new place.

But the lessons only began there: When you are a minister's kid, especially in the small towns where we mostly lived, you are very much in the public eye. There's a kind of perfection expected of minister's kids that may not exist in reality--I know it didn't in my case--but you are aware that you are being held to a standard that other kids may not experience.

That was strong training for corporate life, too. There are mornings, not many thankfully, but they happen, when I head to work knowing it's going to be a rough day. When you're the leader, everyone is looking at you--and --looking to you. No matter how you feel inside, those are the days when you give your shoes an extra polish, pull your tie up straight, and hold your shoulders high, a corporate version of our "Sunday best."

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Have a Vision and Stick to It

The biggest challenge of my dad's career before he retired was a project in Chicago, a massive church on the South Shore that was very well endowed and economically sound. It owned an office building, and the church itself was on the fifth floor; it basically ministered to the office workers. My dad, always a disrupter, had a completely different vision for expanding the mission of church outside those four walls. In fact, in a bold move, he sold the office building and moved the church into the Printer's Row area of Chicago, which while transformed now, in the 1980s, was a dicey neighborhood. My dad's vision was to create a new, more open physical structure that would engage new parishioners in that area, and he did it. He created an award-winning loft-style building with a vibrant community of members.

The church's trustees weren't all behind the project at the beginning, but they had to be in agreement to get the office building sold. It took a lot for my dad to convince everybody, and it did not happen overnight. During this time, I saw in my dad this unwavering conviction and belief in the mission. At that point, I was old enough to understand all the side conversations and twists and turns it took to get the job done and how much dad needed to stick to his dream and vision to be able to persuade others.

My dad had such conviction that the setbacks he suffered didn't really set him back much at all. His attitude was more about "How do I work harder?" That resilience became a really important lesson for me. Another was that when it's time to make big changes a leader had better truly understand his or her vision to be able to articulate it and influence others.

Leadership Lessons that Last

Coincidentally, I work with a number of PKs--preacher's kids--and while we didn't all share exactly the same experiences, there was certainly something formative about that particular upbringing that has influenced most of us throughout our lives. The standards I was raised with are with me today, in my understanding of the importance of buy-in and reaching alignment, in the way I view my responsibility to represent our company and its stakeholders well, and in my absolute conviction that leading with mission and purpose is the best way to get to the right outcome for all.

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India is expected to eclipse China as the world's fastest growing economy in 2016, placing the country at a critical juncture. With investment in India's energy infrastructure at a record high and with what will soon be the world's largest population, India is integrating new strategies to ensure energy access and security. Demographically, India is in the midst of a significant transition: By 2050, the population is expected to surpass 1.6 billion, and in the next decade there will be 100 million new high school graduates. Resultantly, India's population needs a cost-effective and sustainable approach to meet the country's growing energy demands while also employing the next generation. One dimension of the answer comes from the Indian government, which has adopted a national bioethanol mandate to revitalize struggling rural economies and address urban pollution concerns. This mandate, which doubles its target of blending ethanol with gasoline, capitalizes on abundantly available resources throughout the country. Bioethanol creates additional profit in the agricultural supply chain by placing market value on crop residues for ethanol production, and ultimately stimulates domestic growth while improving local air quality.

Given India's current development paradigm, a domestically grown bio-strategy is highly complimentary to larger energy plans that target a 40% utilization rate of non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, which Prime Minister Modi established at last year's COP 21. It is also consistent with well-established principles upon which modern India was built. Swadeshi politics - emphasizing economic self-sufficiency that leverage national resources and talent - was proven as effective in principal and practice for helping end British rule. In a modern interpretation of swadeshi politics, the "Make in India" initiative is an overarching strategy that prioritizes domestic industrial production and includes energy. More concrete policies are in line with this and Prime Minister Modi has placed renewable fuels as a key strategy to India's energy approach. Notably, the National Biofuels policy targets a 20 percent blend rate by 2017 with the explicit goals of reducing foreign imports to ensure energy security, revitalizing rural unemployment, improving stagnated wages and producing bioenergy.

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Most concretely, India's oil marketing companies (OMCs) have placed bioethanol as a core component of their renewed energy efforts, the three biggest - Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation - pledging to produce over 220 million gallons of biodiesel from local manufacturers before November of this year.

Economies in rural India are predominately agricultural, which employ nearly 50 percent of the country according to World Bank data. Low commodity prices, a volatile agricultural market, and uncertain growing conditions are converging, upending growers' livelihoods and threatening the economy. Just as the United States' Renewable Fuel Standard has spurred economic growth in rural America, a biobased Bharat offers a similar promise for India's villages. While programs like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) have been posited as the savior for rural economies, the more concerted and industry-wide approaches, like the National Biofuels Policy, are expected to catalyze economic growth throughout the bio-industry and build sustainable sector growth. Already, growers in Odisha are reaping the fruits of bioethanol production, and the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, cited that growers producing biofuels from rice residues could earn over $10.9 million. The state, which produces over 3 million tons of rice crops per year, could translate this agriculture prowess into over 30 million liters of ethanol, making the economic upside profound.

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Well endowed with crops--from rice regions in West Bengal, to wheat regions in India's Northwest Punjab states through to Tamil Nadu's sugarcane operations in the South--the opportunities to convert crop residues into higher yield returning products, including bioethanol, is vast. Complimentary to these feedstocks is an already well-developed sugar mill industry. Recently, the sugar industry has been in decline with over 100 mills closing operations in 2015. Rather than let the country's robust network of sugar mills and mill-supported communities idle, the existing infrastructure makes them ideally situated to be reused in new and more lucrative ways as biorefineries, tapping into local resources. As sugar mills are reinvigorated and repurposed to make bioethanol, the surrounding rural populations will benefit from job creation, alleviating distressed rural economies.

Furthermore, bioethanol can be a drop-in replacement for high-polluting fuels. In cities like Delhi, where air pollution levels can reach 128 parts-per million, there is significant potential to improve urban conditions for over 10 million residents. Taking into account the country's other cities - from Raipur to Ahmedabad - the positive possibilities available in replacing even just a fraction of the power generation with bioenergy multiply. In this way, bioethanol becomes a tool to combat particulate pollution making the environmental and health benefits of bioenergy profound.
Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump speaks, as Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, listens, during the Republican presidential debate sponsored by CNN, Salem Media Group and the Washington Times at the University of Miami, Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

The Republican Party establishment was officially slain by Donald Trump Tuesday night, as he defeated Florida native Senator Marco Rubio in that state's presidential primary contest. Rubio's path forward after losing his home state was completely erased and he promptly dropped out of the race after conceding to Trump.

This leaves Republican voters with only two choices remaining for their 2016 standard bearer, Senator Ted Cruz and Donald Trump. Moderate Republican John Kasich remained in the race after finally winning his first contest of the 2016 nominating cycle. However, because of his lack of delegates in comparison to Trump and Cruz, there is no mathematically feasible path for the Ohio Governor to win the nomination before the July nominating convention.

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The choice between Cruz and Trump that now lies before Republican Party insiders is one they have loathed the thought of for months. Neither candidate has ever received backing from prominent Party leaders outside of New Jersey Governor and former presidential candidate Chris Christie's surprise endorsement of Trump back in February.

The reason for this is that neither man has the profile of a traditionally strong candidate in a presidential election. Although together they've dominated the Republican primary calendar, losing only two states to Kasich and Rubio, both Cruz and Trump poll poorly compared to their more establishment friendly rivals, particularly Trump, who consistently trails both Hillary Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in hypothetical November matchups.

Trump has alienated so many key demographics with controversial statements it's difficult to keep count. At this point, his viability with Latino's, women, young voters and well educated voters appears dubious at best in a general election. Trump's domination with the demographic he himself referred to as the "poorly educated" has sprung him to a lead in the Republican primaries, with only Cruz or a brokered nominating convention remaining in his way of total victory.

For his part, Cruz has made himself the movement conservative, evangelical Christian candidate in the vain of less successful campaigns by former presidential candidates Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee.

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The problem for the Republican Party is that neither of these two candidates represent the direction they need to take to remain viable on the national stage. After performing what Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus referred to as an "autopsy" of the party's strategy in 2012, a third straight loss in presidential elections could represent the destruction of the party's brand by ideologically extreme and in some cases downright offensive candidates. In 2016, one of the United States' two major political parties is staring into what can only be described as an electoral abyss.

It's particularly difficult to see how Republicans rebound from a Trump nomination. Trump is so unpopular outside of his "poorly educated" vastly older, white fan base that the image of him accepting the GOP's nomination and being their official standard bearer might just destroy any credibility the party has left with crucial general election voting blocs.

His unpopularity with young voters and Latinos should prove particularly troubling for Republicans. High Latino turnout delivers multiple swing states to Democrats including Nevada, Colorado and possibly the huge 29 Electoral College vote prize of Florida. Mathematically speaking, Republicans cannot win the Electoral College without any of those states.

Young voters are already skewing decidedly more liberal than previous generations and Trump's candidacy may permanently damage their image of the Republican Party as they grow older and become a larger voting bloc. Currently, young voters have consistently low turnout in elections at every level of government. However, a Trump candidacy might just inspire young people to come out en masse to oppose him and vote Democratic in the 2016 election, possibly creating a new generation of progressive Democrats.
Challenger Juliana Stratton won a landslide victory over Rep. Ken Dunkin in the Democratic primary in the 5th Illinois House District Tuesday.

Stratton won with 68 percent of the vote to Dunkin's 32 percent.

Stratton's victory came with heavy financial backing from unions and despite record-breaking spending by a Super PAC against her. Stratton's victory was a sharp rebuke to the seven-term incumbent Dunkin, who this session had staged an extended rebellion against House Speaker Michael Madigan and his fellow Democrats in the House.

The Dunkin-Stratton race was of particular interest and import because it directly matched Madigan against Gov. Bruce Rauner over the makeup of the Democratic caucus in the House. (Rauner's political muscle also was tested in a downstate Senate race in which he sought to oust a Republican incumbent. More on that race here.)

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The House currently has 71 Democrats, which is the exact number needed to override a gubernatorial veto. While two other Democrats -- Scott Drury of Highwood and Jack Franks of Marengo -- regularly have not supported issues favored by Madigan, generally on tax increases, Dunkin had become particularly antagonistic toward Madigan since Rauner's arrival last year and amid the state budget impasse that has played out since July 1.

Dunkin first crossed Madigan in September, when he was absent for votes on overriding Rauner's veto of a controversial union arbitration bill and restoring cuts Rauner had made to the state's Child Care Assistance Program, which provides subsidized day care for children of low-income working parents. Those efforts failed because of Dunkin's absence.

Dunkin used racially charged language in criticizing Madigan during a Jan. 27 press conference.

"The fact is, this is Month 7 and we're waiting on Speaker Madigan to move. We don't do anything else unless he moves," Dunkin said. "That's a plantation mentality to me... That word is offensive, but what is even more atrocious is us not having a state budget and disrespecting every single citizen..."

While Rauner didn't donate directly to Dunkin, his supporters did. The Illinois Opportunity Project, a libertarian non-profit operated by Rauner ally Dan Proft, gave a total of $1.3 million to Dunkin in three donations between Feb. 1 and March 14. As a 501(c)(4) organization, IOP is allowed to donate directly to candidates. It's not required to disclose the source of its own funding.

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Dunkin also benefited from IllinoisGO, a prominent Super PAC aligned with Rauner. Super PACs are not allowed to donate to or coordinate with candidates, but they can spend unlimited amounts in support of or opposition to any candidate or cause. IllinoisGO reported spending $588,000 in support of Dunkin and $994,000 against Stratton.
This post was written by TheToolbox.org editor and UNESCO Ambassador, Madison Salters, and was originally published on TheToolbox.org.

"These black women, they're f**king horrible, mate."

A guard at Yarl's Wood Immigration Center is overheard saying this on the shaky-cam footage taken by Jackie Long's undercover team for the documentary Inside Yarl's Wood. Located in Bedfordshire, the "removal" center houses migrant women and children considered undesirable to the United Kingdom. Vitriolic temperament is epidemic among guards.

"Headbutt the b*tch."

"They're animals. They're beasties. ...Take a stick in with you and beat them."

"Let them slash their wrists."

"They're never slim and petite and pretty."

This exposed reality exists just 50 miles north of London, and it became the reality of Mariam Ibrahim Yusuf, who fled Al Shabaab's terror regime in Somalia to arrive in the UK in 2008. The perilous journey on foot separated her from her children. Six years navigating the UK's complex asylum-seeking process began with Yarl's Wood. "I asked [another detainee] 'Is this a safe place?' 'No, this is jail.' 'I have committed no crime, why am I in jail?'"

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Mariam and Jackie were brought together to be honored at last Friday's annual Woman On the Move Awards. The evening celebrated inspirational leadership among refugee women in the UK, their contributions and their allies. Held in conjunction with the Women of the World festival, which broadly highlights global gender issues, the event was organized with the support of UNHCR. Mariam, now a championing voice for victims of female genital mutilation, was awarded Woman of the Year.

WOMA reinforces that refugees are not seeking British benefits. Many dream of returning to once-peaceful homelands, where they'd built businesses and raised children. They wish to integrate into UK society with dignity, to lead lives of purpose that have futures.

Seada Fekadu, winner of the Young Woman of the Year Award, exemplifies this. While the NHS faces staff shortages, she hopes to become a surgeon. Her unbridled passion for helping people and her optimism for the future reflects her journey from East Africa. At just 16, she traveled unaccompanied to UK, braving the Calais Jungle in France. Obliged to learn English quickly so she could enroll in college, Seada shows no trace of frustration, when many of us resent much thinner inconveniences: a botched coffee order or delayed train. Her unbreakable resolve and willingness to fill in much-needed gaps is not rare among refugees, but it's often left out of the discussion. Refugees are prejudicially branded as a drain on economic resources and a plague to the labour market.

But Seada, now 18 and graduating with distinction, has a wide heart and iron will informed by her experiences.

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"The hardest [memories], I let them go, because I want the space for good things. ... I want to become a doctor, because I want help people. ...I know saving a human life is not easy, it takes dedication and time and I am willing to do that."

She was awarded for her work with Young Roots, a migrant youth group that helps refugees acclimate to the UK through peer activities and support schemes. Once a member herself, Seada now sits on the Board, where she "brings a voice of experience to [their] internal work... [through] incredible energy and drive to help other young asylum seekers." These young people face "many challenges, including language barriers, lack of education, social isolation, economic hardship and navigating complex legal and care systems." But, Seada says they take it on because, "Their common goal is to be safe and live their lives."

Young people are especially at-risk on migrant journeys. Over 10,000 minors have gone missing in recent years-- 5,000 in Sweden alone, another 1,000 in Italy. Many of them are thought to be trafficked or sold into slave-labour by European criminal gangs.

These are difficult truths. But awareness of Europe's own abuses, as close to home as Yarl's Wood, can help us understand why the continent is a last-ditch effort for refugees, not a first resort.

Fear-mongering political focus on the dangers asylum seekers bring to Europe rarely addressed the menace refugees themselves face upon arrival. Ultimately, the risk is worth the reward: an opportunity for growth, not stagnation, and not freebies. The journey of hundreds of miles stands testament to refugees' willingness to achieve, and inherently rejects "lazy migrant" rhetoric.

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But, as WOMA's Zrinka Bralo points out, change in that narrative may be on the horizon. "Refugees Welcome. We've got a hashtag, we've got a tee shirt. And we're not going away. ...[We're] inspiring our government to think beyond barbed wire."

The journey towards humanising migrants begins by exposing current human rights violations, and ultimately ends with the celebration of successes like that of Seada and Mariam. They don't want handouts -- they want lives of dignity, as "survivors, not victims."
"What can I say about life? It turned out to grow old before us." "The world was made without a purpose..and if there is one, it wasn't us."

Those are lovely words, ones you might expect to read in a short volume, hear recited at a San Francisco book store, or see performed at an open- mic nightspot. But no, they are being recited (in Russian, mind you) by Mikhail Baryshnikov in an unusual theatre piece in New York's Chelsea district. He is not alone in the idea of putting prose on stage these days.

Over in Brooklyn, at the highly innovative St. Ann's Warehouse, Nice Fish features the words of poet Louis Jenkins, enacted by his diehard fan, the great stage actor and recent Oscar winner Mark Rylance. (You may recall that upon winning his first Tony, Rylance's entire speech was reading a Jenkins poem) One of the country's hottest playwrights, Sarah Ruhl, has crafted a lovely piece comprised of two actors portraying poets Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell.

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Off-Broadway's prestigious Primary Stages company has just announced that

Citizen, an adaptation of Claudia Rankine's poetry collection, will open its next season. And of course, you can't write about theater now without mentioning Hamilton .Let us not forget that Lin Manuel-Miranda's brilliant musical tells the story of the Founding Fathers entirely through rhyming rap.

These poetic musings are all performed in different ways, of course. In the production called Brodsky/Baryshnikov, we listen to the Nobel Laureate Joseph Brodsky's words, taken from his works over 40 years. They are all in Russian--either spoken by the lone performer on stage, or on tape, so the projected super-titles are necessary. (If a bit distracting) Fortunately, Mikhail Baryshnikov, who emerges from a glass gazebo, suitcase in hand, and dons various levels of clothing throughout the show's 90 minutes, has not lost an ounce of charisma. Even the tiniest pose and occasional twirl is a reminder of how beautifully he danced.

This theatrical peek inside Brodsky's mind is directed by Alvis Hermanis, who comes from Latvia and has become one of Europe's most important creative figures. The piece must be considered a labor of love and memory: Brodsky and Baryshnikov, who both made new and prosperous lives in America, (The dancer defected, the poet's was a forced departure) were close friends in the decades before Brodsky died. The fact that Baryshnikov is presenting this unusual tribute to this old friend is almost ironic: In 1975, one of Brodsky's poems described ballet as "the art of better days."

Is this traditional theatre? Well, it's not a typical narrative but somehow we begin to put together the expressiveness of Baryshnikov's face and body with the poet's thoughts. New York's stages these days are filled not only with poetry, but with more unusual versions of "theatre" than ever before. Even the stages themselves have been transformed and can be anywhere. Right now, one of the most popular shows in the city, an adaptation of Sense and Sensibility is in a church gymnasium. What would Jane Austen have thought? For that matter, would the country's first Treasury Secretary have imagined his entire early life would be summed up in a four-line rap?

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My daughter is barely 4 years old. More often than not lately, I feel the need to talk to her about her body and about how other people may want to violate boundaries regarding her body.

I've covered the basics already such as explaining that certain body parts are private. But I feel I need to cover more territory. Territory she's not ready for yet. Territory I'm not ready for yet. Territory that may physically reach her before any of us are ready.

There's that voice in my head telling me she's too young. But then again, have you watched the news or spoken to people who have had their children touched by sexual assault at a young age? It's happening.

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Whether there's just more media coverage on the subject of sexual predators or if they are indeed increasing in numbers, I don't know.

But I do know I need to arm my daughter with the knowledge with which to protect herself when I'm not around.

We live in a town where pedophiles are rampant. You probably do too. As many people already know, "Megan's Law" was enacted in the '90s in response to the rape and murder of 7 year old Megan Kanka. Her murderer lived across the street from Megan and had been convicted of sexual crimes against young children twice previously. Her family had no idea.

Megan's parents fought to create this law that would let communities know when there is a sex offender living in their midst. You can imagine how you might feel finding out this information after your child was assaulted and murdered.

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"Megan's Law" is a federal law that requires every state to provide information via law enforcement regarding registered sex offenders. The laws vary from state to state.

Though research is slim and mixed, it seems to indicate that this law has not affected or decreased sex offenses against children.

This means our children are still vulnerable.

We live in a state where we are able to view the general location of registered sex offenders on a map. All I can say is that when we looked up this information, we were shocked. Registered sex offenders are all around us and all around most of the neighborhoods in this town.

But the more frightening part of this is that many sex offenders will commit numerous sex crimes against children before they are ever caught so they are not in the system yet. That could be your child, or mine.

A teacher at an elementary school close to us was allegedly watching child pornography on their computer in the classroom. Every week in the local newspaper there's another story about either an attempted or completed sexual assault on a young girl.

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These crimes are not just committed by scary strangers. They are committed by teachers, community leaders, and neighbors. No one wants to think about it, but it's an unnerving reality.

This is why I feel we need to teach our children about sex and how to protect themselves from predators at an even younger age than we parents may want to. The age at which children are being assaulted is horrifyingly young. It happens to girls and to boys.

It might feel awkward and unnecessary to talk to a toddler or child about their bodies and sex, but they need to be aware that it's not okay for anyone to talk to them or touch them in an inappropriate way.



We need to give our children the power to maintain control over their own bodies.

How do you talk to a very young child about sex? It's not easy. It's uncomfortable. There's always a concern about being too graphic or giving too much information.

There's the worry you'll get a phone call from a preschool or elementary school teacher telling you your child is talking about sex. This may happen. But it's better than waiting until it's too late to educate your child.

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There's no real "right" way to talk to your child about this. You just need to let your child know that their bodies should never be touched by an adult (or an older child) under any circumstances.

You can teach your child that certain body parts are used by adults to make babies and when they grow up they can explore that. Let them know that kind of activity is off limits for children no matter what an adult tells them or gives them.

How far you take the conversation and whether you want to broach the subject of how babies are made is up to you as a parent.

Trying to prevent your child from being vulnerable to predators is more of a priority than worrying about what other parents or schools may think. As far as religious beliefs that tell you this is a forbidden subject, I make no apologies.

Every parent can find their own way to talk to their child about sexual predators and how to be in charge of their own bodies. It's not pleasant and some people won't like it.

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But it's a lot better than the alternative.



More from Michelle: "Helicopter Parenting and Beyond: Rising Above the Labels""Helicopter Parenting and Beyond: Rising Above the Labels"

Originally a Vancouver Island native, Michelle now resides in California.

Michelle's blogs discuss a wide variety of topics including domestic abuse, adultery, relationships, marriage, parenting, step-parenting, beauty, health, and more.
I am standing in the back of a bus in San Miguel de Allende, just beginning to exit, when I notice a short, heavy-set woman behind me, her long grey hair tied in a bun and a smile that explained a thousand years of Mexican fiestas. How could I not let her pass?

So I take a step to the side and, with a downward sweep of my hand, indicate she should pass me -- that indeed, it would be my pleasure if she did. And so she does, her eyes opening wider, the many laugh lines around her dark eyes, deepening.

I have the impulse to follow, to exit next, especially since I had just given up my place in line, but the boy behind her is obviously on his way somewhere and his need to exit seems to be greater than mine and since I am already standing off to the side, I let the young muchacho do his young muchacho thing.

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A man with a guitar passes me, as do two small children.

I look to my left and see a lot of people standing up and starting to make their way to the back of the bus, me now feeling like an usher, perfectly placed to make their exit just a little happier today.

A dark-skinned man with fringes on his jacket passes by, as does a woman behind him whom I imagine to be his wife. She looks tired, like there are many chores waiting for her at the end of the day -- the same chores her mother and her grandmother still perform daily as an act of worship to a Jesus whose image hangs from the rear view mirror of her husband's 1973 Chevy, along with the rosary beads and dice.

Each of these people pass me and, as they do, I notice that more people are getting on the bus -- the same number, mas o menos, as those who have just gotten off.

So I continue standing there, making way, and bowing to those who seem to be open to more than just a smile or nod. And then, it dawns on me. This is my work. This is what I was born for -- what my Buddhist friends like to refer to as "right livelihood" -- though I, in this moment, could not figure out how the universe could possibly compensate me for my service.

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I didn't need to think about it for long.

Thirty minutes later, a woman with a turquoise barrette in her hair, brings me a grilled chicken in a plastic bag. Hot. Crispy. Ready to eat. And a 7-Up too, perfectly chilled.
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (L) shakes hands with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu before their meeting November 11, 2010 in New York. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed to find a 'way forward' on the stalled Middle East peace process as she began a crunch meeting Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. AFP PHOTO/Stan Honda (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Next week Hillary Clinton will be delivering an address to the main cog in the Israel lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). This won't be her first AIPAC speech but it is, by far, her most important.

It is not important in terms of her solidifying support in the pro-Israel community or with Jewish donors. She is, and always has been, popular with both. And, running against Donald Trump, as unpopular with the community as she is popular, she has nothing to worry about.

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Not since Barry Goldwater, who scored a grand total of 10% of Jews against Lyndon Johnson, has there been any candidate who makes Jews as uneasy as Trump does.

The bottom line is that Clinton does not have to prove anything to AIPAC. Its constituency is solidly in her corner.

And that is why the AIPAC speech provides her with a real opportunity.

First, let me say that I support Clinton and have since the campaign began. I do not consider her inflexibly hawkish on Middle East issues. In fact, I believe that as president she will go farther than President Obama has in opposing the positions of the Israeli government when they conflict with our own interests (as he demonstrated when he beat AIPAC and the Netanyahu government on the Iran nuclear deal.) Her very popularity in the community, and with AIPAC and in Israel itself, gives her latitude President Obama did not have,

Clinton's Middle East problem lies not with the lobby camp but with those who consider her a neocon, firmly in Prime Minister Netanyahu's pocket. The people who feel that way tend to be young people (including young Jews) and people of all ages who support Bernie Sanders.

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In fact, I constantly face criticism from those who ask "how can you support a pro-Netanyahu hawk like Hillary Clinton?" Some go so far as to say they won't vote for her in November, which would be a terrible mistake but nontheless that is how strongly many feel. (After all, we are all still angry about her Iraq war vote).

That is why she needs to use the AIPAC speech not to nail down her AIPAC support but to nail down support among progressives. A strong speech to AIPAC can do that.

That speech would include empathy for Israel and her support for a safe and secure Jewish state. But it would segue from there to a promise to pursue a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians that would guarantee the security of both peoples. It would also include a pledge to help facilitate negotiations not as, what former negotiator Aaron Miller called "Israel's lawyer" but as an honest broker. It would include condemnation of both terrorism and the occupation. It would empathize with Palestinians and Israelis both. While stating her determination that Iran observe fully the terms of the nuclear deal, it will avoid the threatening rhetoric she has employed in the past.

In short, she should deliver a peace speech, one directed not at the audience in the hall but the audience outside of it--particularly younger Democrats and Sanders voters. There is a new reality out there that Clinton needs to address. The Democratic base, the base she needs to energize in November, does not share the "Israel, rght or wrong" approach of previous generations. It is not anti-Israel but it does not reflexively support it either.

Hillary can send the base a message that she is not the hawk and neocon that many think she is. Or she can confirm their view by telling the most powerful foreign policy special interest what they want to hear and pay the price for it with everyone else.

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Dr. Gardner told us that all across the country recruiting continues to accelerate, especially for graduates who are able to demonstrate that they can respond effectively to the constant disruptions in today's global economy. (I am proud to note that Dr. Gardner graduated from Whitman College, a private liberal arts college in Walla Walla, Washington, where I work.)

Walla Walla is a beautiful small community roughly equidistant to Seattle, Portland and Boise. Whitman graduates flock to these three (and other) vibrant metropolitan areas for economic opportunities, proximity to natural recreation options, and energizing cultural and night life. There they find satisfying roles in technology, government, social service, business, teaching, and the non-profit sector that let them put their education to service in the world.

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As I've written, our small city offers countless opportunities for Whitman students to engage with the communities around campus in ways that are personally, academically, and professionally significant.

Yet, despite the energized recruiting trends Dr. Gardner described, the reality is that there aren't hundreds of recruiters from urban locations flying out to rural Walla Walla every year to meet our students. It may be surprising then, that from our somewhat remote location we've been able to support our graduates in achieving the kinds of professional successes that I mentioned.

How have we done that?

In short, we decided that distance cannot be a barrier for our students to learn about and connect with future employers and mentors. Using a variety of technologies we have been able to connect with recruiters so that our students can learn about their organizations and make contacts, and do so without the need for expensive and carbon-intensive travel.

First, we tested the waters by arranging a series of Google+ Hangout events with alumni to give our students an expansive look at employment options they might consider (Dr. Gardner '69 even helped us with one of these, which was titled "From College and Graduate School to the Professional World").

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Then, after we saw the amazing turnout at these sessions we decided to go one step further, to not only inform our students about professional realms but to also put them in touch with individuals who have the power to bring them into organizations.

Under the leadership of our Director for Business Engagement, Kim Rolfe, a year ago we established a new recruiting effort which has been highly popular with both students and employers. These virtual sessions are supplemented by follow-up notes from us containing contact information, recruiting timelines, and alumni employee contacts as well as by adding postings into iEngage, our internship and job database where recruiters can then make their opportunities available to participants in their information sessions as well as other students.

And we're not just working with recruiters in Seattle, Portland and Boise. Rather, we've connected with organizations up and down the West and East coasts as well as with employers outside the United States. (To be clear, we do have recruiters who come to campus. This academic year we're at close to a 50-50 split between in-person and virtual sessions.)

Moreover, and reinforcing our connection with Dr. Gardner, we concentrate on inviting our graduates, and especially our recent graduates, to host these virtual information sessions so they can share stories with current students across the enormously wide range of industries they might choose from.

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While I've argued that rural colleges offer their students unparalleled opportunities for access and experience, through resources like our new virtual recruiting initiative we also help them connect with professional contacts around the planet.

As we look ahead into the next academic year, we are focusing on three significant ways to enhance this initiative to support even more of our students and serve our employers who want to hire them: increasing our outreach to recent graduates about resources to help their organization recruit at Whitman; expanding the schedule for these types of events; and publishing a structured recruiting calendar focused on key industry recruiting timelines to keep students informed.
We were almost through with our unit on the best selling memoir, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, when Ismael Beah began to describe being rescued by UNICEF. I'd warn with a spoiler alert, but we've heard it all before: another third world child soldier story. Same in gruesomeness, different only in region. Separated from his family at the vulnerable age of twelve, he had spent months hiding from the rebels, scouring the jungles of Sierra Leone for food until he was finally captured by the government's army for two years, where he became addicted to drugs, forced to mercilessly kill other boys his age at point blank range, and was fed a constant stream of manipulative, egotistical puffery, warping his acts of barbarity for acts of valor.

While in rehabilitation, as one might imagine, his UNICEF attendants had much on their plates. These nurses and service workers had the daunting task of restoring not only their war-torn bodies back to health, but their minds as well; both bullets and distorted ideologies had to be removed. As to be expected, these soldiers made it difficult to assist them. Despite the fact that the UNICEF workers were feeding them, clothing them, and giving them safe shelter, the former child soldiers spat at them, fought them and cursed at them for being merely civilians, untrustworthy individuals to whom they should never take orders from. The attendants helped them still, and even managed to do so with a smile.

"Why can't all teachers be that way with us when we wild out? We deserve a pass too," a girl in my class inquired. She had been suspended numerous times for her behavior, and although she appeared to be indifferent about it, her comment revealed otherwise.

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Of course my initial reaction was bewilderment. Did my student, who lives in the United States of America, just compare herself to a boy soldier from the small village of Mogbwemo in Sierra Leone? Letting the magnitude of those words sink in, I considered it once more but this time with new eyes: My student, who lives in the United States of America, just compared herself to a boy soldier from the village of Mogbwemo in Sierra Leone. I knew we expected our students to make text-to-self connections, but damn.

Why was this so alarming? I knew the statistics. Many of our kids had survived a war of sorts. Many were living in shelters, had a parent or relative who was incarcerated, had been molested, neglected or physically abused. Many of them had lost family members to gun violence or drugs. As a result, many students were suffering mental wounds. Many had been diagnosed with depression, exhibited symptoms of PTSD, were self medicating or experienced some level of suicidal ideation.

It was also evident that many students were entering our classrooms with preconceived notions about education and their teachers from their communities, the media and/or previous negative experiences with teachers who should've never taught in the hood. It probably didn't help that they had witnessed their teachers being micromanaged and excessively evaluated by administrators their entire school careers. In short, many children were falsely under the impression that education was a waste of time, and were resistant to learning from people they deemed low on the totem pole and to whom they didn't trust.

My revelation prompted a slew of additional questions for me to reflect on. What kind of education did these soldiers receive in order to reverse the psychological damage they had suffered? Did UNICEF rehabilitation specialists receive some kind of tolerance training to be able to handle the abuse they experienced from the child soldiers? Who were these UNICEF attendants who were able to smile even with a child's spit on their faces? Were they outsiders or people from the community in which they served?

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Immediately, I began googling, "UNICEF war relief for children" and got my answers. As I had suspected, UNICEF employees received extensive tolerance training in their field. It also appeared that some children who were severely psychologically damaged did not immediately reenroll into traditional schools, but instead were placed in transition camps to help them "adjust to peace." And although UNICEF had first employed Western outsiders to assist in this process, it soon became clear that developing a community-based approach that trained local residents of villages affected by war was more effective in being able to handle and relate to the experiences of these suffering children.
Do I believe in UFOs? That's not the point. I was drowning in Trump mania and decided to escape to the more benign craziness of believers in aliens from outer space.

So there I was at the We-Ko-Pa Resort and Conference Center in Fountain Hills, Arizona, for the International UFO Congress, the largest UFO-related gathering in the country. The hundreds of mostly middle-aged white attendees in jeans and t-shirts looked ordinary enough -- no tin-foil hats or anti-gravity boots. What a relief to see so many Americans gathered together for a more level-headed purpose than politics!

We heard lectures including, "Marilyn Monroe, the CIA and UFOs" and "Ancient Aliens and Megalithic Construction." I figured that if I could fill my brain with Marilyn Monroe and UFOs, then throw in a few megaliths, there would be no room left for my hysteria about the Trumpapocalypse.

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I was wrong. I soon discovered who the hundreds of avid listeners around me saw as the enemy. One lecture spelled it out: "Inside the Black Vault: A Two-Decade Journey into Government Secrecy." The monster that this legion of UFO believers loathed wasn't some slimy, bug-eyed alien, but the even more slippery U.S. government and the multi-tentacled media.

At the UFO Congress, I found myself swimming in the same gumbo of mistrust and resentment of the Establishment that spews out at every Trump rally. Looking around me at the sullen, white, largely blue-collar men and women, I knew which earthling they would vote for.

I could hear the thump of Trump, smell the creature panting and salivating. I had to escape.

I fled down the hall to a support group for victims whom I was sure would be too traumatized to worry about earthly politics. It could have been called "AA" for Abductees Anonymous. On the door a sign warned, "No press or media allowed."

"Does anyone have something they want to share?" The cheerful hypnotherapist running the abduction support group gently nudged. "You are safe here."

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Earlier that morning, I had learned how the abduction thing works: snatched and taken aboard a spacecraft, humans undergo examination and surgery performed by their alien captors known as "grays," "reptilians" and "insectilians." Often, the humans are injected with alien DNA, which makes them give birth to "hybrids." Now a handful of abductees stood up, one by one, and as they put it, "came out."

"I had an encounter with a gray, its skin like a reptile. I wanted to shake its hand but I couldn't. It only had three fingers..."

"I was abducted. I have alien children..."

"I woke up with orange orbs floating in my room. They took out a big needle..."

"I saw a being come through the wall. The ship was parked above a tree like a soap bubble..."

"They watched me. I had the feeling of being turned into one of them. I felt feelers on top of my head!"



Okay, on the face of it, the abductees' stories sounded less than credible. But crazy or not, one common thread ran through them: the alien abduction they experienced was nothing short of wondrous. Transcendent.

I had expected the gleam of terror in their eyes. Instead, I found pride. For a reason they did not understand, they had been chosen, blessed to be in the thrall of beings more all-knowing and all-powerful than mere mortals.

We broke for lunch. Dazed, I stepped out onto a sunlit patio and sat down next to an elderly lady in green velour, with bright red hair. She clutched a three-ring binder crammed with hundreds of pages. The volume had been entrusted to her by an alien, she explained, and was written in the alien's language. Whether or not she understood the book's jumbled hieroglyphics didn't seem to matter. Simply holding the book in her hands made her feel that she possessed wisdom that was more than human. No wonder she seemed so serene: An alien being found order and meaning where human eyes saw only chaos!



She watched the other UFO enthusiasts around her fueling up on tacos and Dr. Peppers, and turned to me with a triumphant smile: "How nice to finally be among normal people!"

She was right. This is the New Normal. Maddened by a frustrating, brutal, overheated existence, Americans are ready to surrender our pitiful planet. It's the new normal to pin our hopes on an Alien Overlord, a Master of the Universe who, with a wave of his hand, really can conjure a thousand-mile wall out of thin air, zap ISIS with a death ray, and vaporize eleven million "Mexican rapists;" a billionaire with the mojo to defy all earthly laws of logic, physics -- and human decency!

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After multiple urinal related altercations in restrooms across the U.S. and parts of Canada, the National Society for Bathroom Etiquette released the following list of things not to say to the person standing next to you:

You know how to whistle, don't you...?

So, you just did the ALS ice bucket challenge?

You're that New York Congressman who took the selfies.

Can you hold this while I make a phone call?

Asparagus, right?

You should do something about that birthmark.

I have a pair just like that.

I see you can't write your name in the snow, you only scribble.

Rabbi Schmulie, right? I'd recognize his work anywhere.




The construction site of the Agua Zarca Dam in Honduras (COPINH)

On March 15, Nelson Garcia, an activist of COPINH, the Honduran organization Berta Caceres had founded, was shot and killed when he helped a group of poor families resist a land grab in the small town of Rio Lindo. The brazen murder was not directly related to the conflict around the Agua Zarca Dam, but it showed that even under the international spotlight, powerful circles in Honduras have no respect for the lives of people who stand in the way of their economic interests.



In response to this "shocking news," FMO, the Dutch development financier, decided to "suspend all activities in Honduras, effective immediately. This means," FMO said in a statement, "that we will not engage in new projects or commitments and that no disbursements will be made, including the Agua Zarca project." Finnfund, the second European financier involved in Agua Zarca, suspended its support as well.

With the withdrawal of FMO and Finnfund, the pressure is on the Central-American Bank for Economic Integration to suspend all support for Agua Zarca. With $24 million, CABEI extended the biggest loan for the dam project, and has expressed confidence "that the facts surrounding the death of Mrs. Caceres will be investigated and cleared by the corresponding authorities."

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In a joint statement, the civil society groups who coordinated the international response to the murder in Honduras, including BankTrack, Both Ends and International Rivers, welcomed the decisions by FMO and Finnfund. They also reiterated their "demand to FMO, Finnfund and CABEI that, following the murder of Berta Caceres after years of violence and intimidation in relation to the Agua Zarca project, they fully and permanently withdraw from the project."

If civil society networks keep up their pressure, the suspension of support by European funders must surely be the beginning of the end of the ill-fated and violent Agua Zarca Project. But this doesn't mean that this tragic chapter can be closed:

All involved parties must continue to press for the safe release and return of Mexican activist Gustavo Castro, the sole witness of Berta's murder who is still kept in Honduras against his will. They must press for an independent international investigation of the murder. COPINH has called on the Dutch and Finnish governments to visit the Agua Zarca site. It is also high time for the US government to end its aid to a Honduran military which has frequently been associated with the human rights abuses in the country.

Indigenous peoples are disproportionally affected by dams, plantations and other resource extraction projects and by the violence which is often part of such projects. FMO and other development financiers have a long and sorry history of projects that have engendered violence against indigenous peoples, including the Agua Zarca, Barro Blanco and Santa Rita dams in Central America. FMO, Finnfund and other financiers must unequivocally recognize the right of indigenous peoples to free, prior informed consent regarding projects on their territories. The world's governments have recognized this right in a UN declaration, and it cannot be watered down to some kind of consultation in which the final decision rests with the investor.

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Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton arrives at a campaign rally, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

The second super-Tuesday primaries have come and gone. Five wins for Hillary including Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri have increased her pledged delegate lead to over 300. Realistically that signals the end of Bernie Sanders chance at the nomination. The lead is even bigger than it looks as explained by Philip Bump in the Washington Post. Add to that her tremendous lead in superdelegates and Bernie Sanders has close to zero chance of being the Democratic nominee. Voters have shown they understand the man who says he only ran as a Democrat for the media attention and because it was affordable wouldn't make a good standard bearer for the Party.

Whether or not he ends his Don Quixote like quest for the nomination will be something for him to decide. If he continues to campaign, which is likely, he will hopefully focus on issues and stop attacking Hillary and doing the work of Republicans.



Democrats, including those who have been supporting Hillary, should thank Senator Sanders for his campaign on the issues. He has crystalized in many minds why we need to deal with the issue of economic inequality and by doing so has made Hillary a stronger candidate. Hillary has always been strong but one can clearly see she has gotten better and better in the both the debates and town halls she participates in. She has a clear vision for the nation's future and a comprehensive set of policies and position statements outlining the kind of a President she will be. A great one!

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While Republicans will continue to bring up issues like Benghazi she has effectively answered their lies on this and shown she and President Obama acted correctly. Her grief over the death of those four great Americans will lead her to work to do everything possible so it never happens again.



She has a comprehensive program to deal with Wall Street supported by progressives including economist Paul Krugman. She has earned the support of labor and women's organizations; of the Equality Caucus, Latino Caucus and Congressional Black Caucus in Congress. The Hillary for America campaign has used their time to build a network of supporters across the nation who will help to unite the Democratic Party and stand with her in the general election.

Her campaign led by Robby Mook and John Podesta put together an amazing young, diverse and effective operation. Men, women, gay, straight, transgender, Latino, African American, White, Asian, people with disabilities, and others from every ethnic group. Hillary has shown everyone she learns from her mistakes and no one, even someone as brilliant as Hillary, can live life without making some. She clearly learned from her loss in 2008 what she had to do to win in 2016.



In 2008 Hillary continued to campaign straight through June winning primaries and amassing votes which she so eloquently said were "18 million cracks in the glass ceiling". But she could never catch Barack Obama in delegates. Today Bernie Sanders is in a similar position even further behind in delegates. If he continues in the race and wins some primaries he will not be able to catch her in delegates needed for the nomination. Some Sanders supporters whine about superdelegates. Their candidate knew the rules when he decided to run in the Democratic primary and hopefully he shares that knowledge with his supporters. Hillary may not need them but when in 2008 Barack Obama needed superdelegates to secure the nomination Hillary Clinton didn't whine. She stood tall, thanked all 18 million who voted for her, accepted her loss and turned around and helped Barack Obama to become President. That is who Hillary Clinton is.

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Every time I visit Israel, I'm struck by how much Israelis misunderstand about Jewish life in North America - specifically, many Israelis seem to believe that Jewish life here is on its last leg. As Simon Rawidowicz famously wrote in his classic Israel: The Ever-Dying People, "The world makes many images of Israel, but Israel makes only one image of itself: That of being constantly on the verge of ceasing to be, of disappearing."

The reality is quite different. North American Jews live in perhaps the most vibrant, diverse, and engaged Jewish community in our history. Still, it is understandably difficult for Israelis to fully understand North American Jewry, given that Israel's progressive Jewish movements make up nearly 90% of the country's Jewish population but play quite a much smaller (albeit growing) role.

A few weeks ago, for neither the first nor the last time, an Israeli official disparaged the largest movement in Jewish life. This time, it was Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, who said, "The Reform Jews in the U.S. are a waning world. The assimilation there is of enormous extent."

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It would be one thing if Mr. Levin had spent serious time learning about our community - but he hasn't. There are, of course, challenges to maintaining Jewish identity in today's society, but if Mr. Levin and others would stop accusing us of being the cause of assimilation and instead look more closely, they would see: Most often, we are the doorway leading people into Jewish life, not out of it.



Thankfully, more and more Israelis are learning that lesson. In recent years, for example, thousands of Israeli Shlichim have spent time in Reform overnight camps, crossing the ocean to share their incredible love of Israel with our young people. But a surprising thing happens during their time with us. As they experience Reform Judaism, they discover - many for the first time - prayer that is creative, egalitarian, and spiritually uplifting and a Shabbat that is both joyful and rejuvenating. They arrive thinking they will be givers, but they also receive much in return.

On the governmental level, I've had the privilege, during the past four years, of meeting with delegations of new members of Israel's Knesset when they visit North America via the Ruderman Family Foundation. From all but the ultra-Orthodox parties, these MKs hear presentations by leaders of our diverse Jewish community that are eye-opening to them. They see firsthand that in the U.S., Orthodox leaders and Reform leaders are not only respectful of one another but work in close partnership.

And then there are the journalists. The Ruderman Family Foundation has also brought to the U.S. three delegations of journalists and editors from various Israeli media outlets. Their questions are tough and insightful as they grill Jewish scholars and communal leaders who explain the many layers of our complex, vibrant Diaspora community.

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Rather than belabor the worn trope that we are an ever-dying people, the plain truth is that, in the free marketplace of Diaspora Jewish life, Orthodoxy and liberal Judaism are both flourishing. Why be afraid of affirming the legitimacy of multiple authentic Jewish paths? Worldwide, young Jews are searching for answers. How they ultimately define their Jewish identities should be a choice of conscience of each Jew and a source of renewal for the Jewish state.

It's no surprise that when our young people spend time in Israel - whether on congregational trips, teen service learning trips, or Birthright trips - they fall in love with the complicated but inspiring Jewish State. Israel has a powerful experience to share with Diaspora Jews, and we've proven that we, too, have something extraordinary to share with Israelis.

This is a healthy dynamic - but a little humility goes a long way.

It would be presumptuous, for example, for most North American Jews to assume they know the details of how Israel should absorb Russian or Ethiopian Jews; so, too, is the idea that Israelis can show up on a North American college campus and know how to navigate the complex social/political/religious dynamics here.

The truth is that we need to know each other's communities much better.

The bonds that link Israel and the Diaspora are mutually strengthening but must grow even deeper. It's time for a new conversation between us based on mutual respect and real knowledge.

The Jewish State was created by extraordinary leaders: believers, atheists, mizrachim, Ashkenazim, rich, poor, socialists, capitalists, kibbutznikim, and urban-dwellers. They found strength in their diversity, and so must we. Today, thanks in large part to the Ruderman Family Foundation, a growing number of Israeli leaders and journalists are increasingly knowledgeable about the strength, vitality, and challenges of North American Jewish life - and now, we must go even further.

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Our two communities have both strengths and challenges, but it's clear that we need each other - and that we can strengthen each other, if we only change the old, broken paradigm. With education, a shared vision, and a bit of humility, a new chapter in the Israel/Diaspora relationship can begin today.
Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President Htin Kyaw

Emails have been flowing in fast from friends in Myanmar. "The first civilian president in my lifetime!!" said one. "Htin Kyaw is a good man," said another. "He will do his best."

I heartily agreed. I met Htin Kyaw several times during trips to Myanmar (also called Burma). The tall, humble man elected by Parliament this week as the first non-military president in 62 years was a good choice for many reasons.

Primarily, Htin Kyaw (pronounced tin chaw) was endorsed by Aung San Suu Kyi to run in her stead. Suu Kyi is barred from the presidency by a clause in the military-drafted Constitution that forbids people with foreign relatives from holding the office. Her two sons are British, as was her late husband.

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The generals still clinging to power refused to change the clause during weeks of negotiations. They made impossible demands - such as giving them more influential cabinet positions. Suu Kyi wisely said no.

Instead, as head of the party that swept general elections in November, the Nobel Peace Prize winner turned to Htin Kyaw to be her trusted proxy.

His response after being elected was typically modest. "This is the good will and loving kindness of the people. This is a victory of the people," he said, adding, "This is sister Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's victory."

Well played so far, I thought, well played.

I first met Htin Kyaw during the heady months after Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest in 2010. She was holding back-to-back meetings all day at her house on University Avenue. I was waiting my turn on the lawn. Htin Kyaw was trying to keep the process on track and pleasant. We stood for some time in the shade of a tree and talked.

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He told me he had volunteered to help because Suu Kyi was a childhood friend. They both attended the Methodist English High School in Rangoon, a missionary school considered the best in the country for many years.

He went on to get degrees in economics with emphasis on statistics and computer science at Rangoon University. And like Suu Kyi, he studied in England. His English is flawless.

Htin Kyaw is no stranger to government. He was an official at the Trade Ministry and the Foreign Ministry before being forced out in 1992 when military rulers expelled democracy advocates. Though not well known outside the country, he has been a democracy stalwart. When Suu Kyi was accosted by military forces as she tried to travel by train, Htin Kyaw, who had driven her to the station, waited for her despite the danger. He was arrested and held in prison for four months. When Suu Kyi was occasionally allowed to speak from the gate of her house, Htin Kyaw, with his distinctive silver hair, could be seen close by. He now is a senior executive at a charity founded by Suu Kyi.

His wife, Su Su Lwin, also is a trusted ally. Her father was one of the founders of the NLD. She ran for Parliament when the "Burma Spring" began in 2010. I met her during another visit, when Aung San Suu Kyi was called away and our meeting was cancelled. In a typical gentlemanly gesture, Htin Kyaw came to my hotel to apologize in person and brought his wife to reinforce the message of sincere regrets. I could not help wondering, how many White House officials would do the same?

To be sure, Htin Kyaw and Suu Kyi have daunting difficulties ahead. Much of the country still lacks electricity. Schools are woefully inadequate. Corruption is rampant. And there's a 60-year-old civil war to resolve.

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The military leaders have signaled they have no intention of playing nice and helping. They named a former general with ties to former dictator Than Shwe as their candidate for President. Myint Swe was in charge of security forces when monks were beaten down in the 2007 Saffron Revolution. He currently is on the U.S. Treasury sanctions list for his role in the brutal former regime. Because he finished second in the balloting - thanks to support from the army bloc in Parliament - Myint Swe will become First Vice President. He is sure to be a thorn in the side of the democracy forces.

So there won't be much of a honeymoon for the new president. But it is worth noting that Htin Kyaw is also a poet and writer. He has witnessed much and still values truth and kindness. He has put his country and his friend Suu Kyi ahead of his own interests for many years. His peers consider him a man of impeccable character. Not bad credentials for a leader.
My friend, Iranian-American consultant Siamak Namazi, has been in Tehran's Evin prison for five months. His 80-year old father, Baquer Namazi - a former senior UNICEF official - was imprisoned three weeks ago. The motives behind these arrests have been lucidly explained, but news of detained Iranian Americans dies when there are no developments on the ground. It's likely that Siamak's captors know this, so I'd like to help keep his story alive by humanizing the name you see in the headlines. In a world filled with diaspora Iranians, Siamak is among the best of us. Allow me to explain.

Siamak has always been different from most dual nationals, and that's a big part of what makes him special. He returned to Iran in 1993 after living abroad for a decade. Most people in his shoes would quickly buy an exemption from their compulsory military service and proceed to live a fairly privileged life in Tehran. Not Siamak. He served in the army as a way to reconnect with the country of his birth and its people.

After finishing his graduate studies abroad, he again returned to Iran in 1999, this time as a consultant. Most people in his shoes returned to try and make a quick buck as a big fish in a small pond. Not Siamak. He helped run a world-renowned consulting firm - staffed predominantly with Iranian-born citizens - that facilitated badly-needed foreign investment from blue-chip multinational corporations.

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Neither money nor power was ever a driving force behind Siamak's work. It was the indigenous development of his motherland that motivated him. Siamak wanted Iran to live up to its vast potential, and he was at the forefront of teaching international best practices and standards in business and management to scores of young Iranians. The pride on his face was always evident when his employees would move on to successful careers across a variety of fields in Iran.

After nearly a decade of giving back to his native country, Siamak made the personal decision leave Iran and cease all related work in 2007. He shifted gears to focus on energy-related business endeavors in the UAE, but make no mistake: When Siamak was working on Iran-related issues, there wasn't a better mind in the business. As my career was getting started, he was in his prime, and watching him in action was inspiring.

For those that didn't have the pleasure, you should have seen Siamak thunder away at people in the Washington DC establishment - including some of his friends - who were less than honest when talking about Iran. He was justifiably confident, and he would destroy you if your ideas were half-baked. Between 1999 and 2007, nobody - and I mean nobody - working on Iran kept it 100 like Siamak: He was intellectually honest; true to himself and the people he cared about; unapologetic but respectful at the same time; and the best at what he did.

The one exception to Siamak's departure from Iran-related work came in February 2013. As U.S. sanctions were causing medical supply shortages in Iran, he independently researched and published what became the authoritative literature on the subject. I was in the audience when he presented his findings in Washington DC. As Siamak began to describe the disastrous impact of sanctions on innocent Iranians, he choked up, paused for a moment, composed himself, and then proceeded to finish his presentation. That's how much he loves the country that is currently keeping him in prison.

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It might surprise Siamak's captors to know that he actively discouraged me from getting involved in politics. After sparring over the pros and cons of such a career, I matter-of-factly told him that I truly believe in making the world a better place. He leaned back in his chair, smirked, and told me: There are plenty of ways to make the world a better place without making yourself a target in Washington and Tehran. Hardly the advice of a man who was "collaborating with enemy states" and "heading a political, economic, and cultural mafia gang."
Harry Emerson Fosdick was an American pastor. He was a central figure in the Modernist-Fundamentalist controversy of the 1920-30's. He was a very popular preacher on human issues, The Riverside Church in New York was built and endowed so that he might have a pulpit that was free from the power of the fundamental leaders of his denomination.

Fosdick dealt with a number of modern issues. The story is told that one afternoon a angry middle age man came into Dr. Fosdick's office declaring forcefully that he did not believe in God. Dr. Fosdick did not react very much and he calmly asked the man to describe the kind of God that he did not believe in. The man took a moment to think and then described the God he did not believe in. After the man finished Dr. Fosdick replied, well, that is a relief because I don't believe in that God either.

After forty years in ministry, forty years of reading the Scriptures, after 40 years of making my way through the Bible completely every year, after 40 years of preaching, and wrestling with the issues of faith and doubt, the current events in our society make me want to have a long discussion with the Christian evangelical, conservative preachers and ask them the same question differently. Tell me about the character and personality of the God you believe in.

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Tell me about the God you worship whom you believe wants America to be greater than other nations. Tell me about the God you seem to worship that believes that military might and the necessity of gun ownership is important for disciples. Describe to me the aspects of the God you worship that encourages your members to want to exclude from this nation people from other countries. What have you found in your God that suggests that he has changed his mind when he told his people to be good to the stranger in their midst because his chosen people had been strangers and immigrants in Egypt.



What is there in the God you preach that permits you to treat half of his creation as second class citizens? When the early church began it found a way to attract people to it because of the way it loved and shared their lives. The plurality of gods and worship, the Roman gods and goddesses, the Greek gods and goddesses, the Emperor claiming to be god, and yet the early church did not try to outlaw or ban all those other religions. That only happened when the Church got into politics.
The ability to have quality shelter continues to be a global problem that shows no signs of slowing. According to statistics gathered by Habitat for Humanity for World Habitat Day 2015, key housing facts show that 1.6 billion people still have inadequate shelter.

Of this figure, there are deeper issues within the numbers:

One billion live in informal settlements while more than 100 million people have no type of settlement or shelter.

Approximately one in four people live in conditions that are considered unsafe and unhealthy.

By 2030, UN-HABITAT has estimated that nearly three billion more people, which is about 40 per cent of the world's population, will need assistance in order to have quality housing.

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Business Intervenes in Global Social Issues

With this grim future prospect for many around the world, this is the time for those who have the power and influence to step up and enact the necessary social and economic changes to solve world homelessness. This includes those from the technology industry that are becoming more involved in global social issues. As a CNET article noted:

Top tech executives are discovering they can use their considerable influence to promote a cause and demand political reform. In the last week alone, tech leaders have threatened to cancel travel, reduce investment, relocate employees and remove millions of dollars from the economies of states passing laws they disagree with.

While there is the strategy of negative reinforcement, others in technology and business see a way to positively effect global social change.

Effecting Positive Strategies for Social Change

For example, Business Rocks 2016, Manchester's global tech, music, and investment summit, will host a global "hackathon" in a bid to help solve the ever-growing problem of homelessness through technology.

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While there will be many opportunities to see top developers, investors, and headliners like Steve Wozniak and Brian Fanzo speak, the real highlight is the summit's charity endeavors, including the hackathon and charity partners like World Science Aid and Forever Manchester as well as The Community Foundation for Greater Manchester.

Surrounded by Homelessness in the UK

Hosting this event in Manchester couldn't be more relevant given the homelessness crisis in the surrounding area and across the UK. According to The Guardian's Diane Taylor, "Homelessness in Manchester has risen by 150 percent in recent years."

According to the latest statistics published by Crisis, 280 thousand people in England approached councils last year seeking assistance, while 7,581 slept rough on the streets of London, a 16 per cent increase from the previous year. The latest figures released by the Empty Homes Agency noted that there are currently 610,000 empty homes across the country.

The upcoming two-day hacking event will educate some of the sharpest and brightest minds about the dangers, challenges, and needs of the vulnerable. A panel that includes the homeless from Gary Neville's Stock Exchange project, scientists, developers, technologists and experts on social housing and the current migrant crisis will tackle the "tech for good" challenge.

One of the participants in Business Rocks 2016 is Murray Newlands, Co-Founder of Due.com as well as an advisor at Network Of Things Fund, a vehicle of Draper Nexus Ventures. As a UK native, Newlands is particularly excited about pitching in to help his home country. "Homelessness is a growing problem that is encompasses many walks of life," explains Newlands. "This project is one that is driven by the homeless, taking their ideas and opinions and making the world into a better place."

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Newlands, a Pitch Camp "Jedi" for Business Rocks 2016, said, "I am more than proud to be a panel expert for a summit that is not only generating innovative ideas in the tech space, but it is one that is also giving back to the surrounding community through charity ventures like the hackathon. There is nothing more important than recognizing and helping our fellow man."
The Constitution of the United States is clear: Article II Section 2 says the President "shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ... judges to the Supreme Court."

It doesn't say the President can't appoint in the final year of his term of office. In fact, a third of all U.S. presidents have appointed a Supreme Court justice in an election year. Yet many Republicans argue that no appointment can be made in the election year.

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And the Constitution doesn't give the Senate leader the right to delay and obstruct the rest of the Senate fro voting on a President's nominee. Yet this is what the current Republican leadership argues.

In refusing to vote or even hold a hearing on the President's nominee to the Supreme Court, the GOP is abdicating its constitutional responsibility. It's not doing its job.

Senate Republicans are trying to justify their refusal by referring to a comment Joe Biden made when he chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1992, urging then-President Bush to hold off on nominating a Supreme Court justice until after the election. But Biden was speaking hypothetically - there was no nominee before the Senate at that time -- and he concluded by saying that if the President were to nominate someone he was sure the Senate and the President could come to an agreement.

This fight has huge implications. A new Supreme Court justice might be able to reverse Citizens United and remove the poison of big money from our democracy. It might reverse Shelby v. Holder, and resurrect the Voting Rights Act.

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And think of the cases coming up - on retaining a woman's right to choose, on the rights of teachers and other public employees to unionize, on the President's authority to fight climate change, and the rights of countless Americans with little or no power in a system where more and more power is going to the top. That's the traditional role of the Supreme Court -- to protect the powerless from the powerful.

Which is exactly why the Republicans don't want to fulfill their constitutional responsibility and allow a vote on the President's nominee.

So what can you do? There's only one response -- the same response you made when Republicans shut down the government because they didn't get their way over the debt ceiling: You let them know they'll be held accountable.

Public pressure is the only way to get GOP senators to release their choke hold on the Supreme Court. Public pressure is up to you. Call your senators now, and tell them you want them to do their job.

ROBERT B. REICH's new book, "Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few," is now out. His film "Inequality for All" is now available on DVD and blu-ray, and on Netflix. Watch the trailer below:
Well, we've been dating for over four years. Moved into our new place last July. Things were great. Then she got new friends, and started going to bars a lot. Very sneaky. I took a new job 45 minutes away. I didn't do well, and struggled with money. I found she was texting multiple different guys. She became very distant. I was suspicious and looked at her phone and set it up so her texts were coming to my phone and I was the one texting other guys as her. And she then apologized to THEM not me, for what I did... and this was in January.

Since then we got back and started to be good again. First Sunday of March was totally fine. Monday it was over. She moved all of her stuff out never when I was home like she can't face me. This all came about when she started hanging out with one girl. She can't see it. These four years have been the greatest years of my life. I was supposed to ask her to marry me in February but canceled our trip to Mexico because of the January incident. She doesn't even respond to anything I do, flowers, hand written notes, texts, calls. Does she just need time? To see what this "bar" life is all about... I love her to much and she does to. I just don't know what to do. Been a week since I have talked to her...
Woman standing on city street looking away

Five years ago I was at a crossroads. I packed up my life into suitcases, boxes and plastic storage bins and bid the University of Michigan farewell. I left art school behind for a paid fashion design internship in New York City and I moved back in with my mom in Livingston, New Jersey. The night I arrived home, I stood in a Shop Rite, hysterically crying, thinking: What the hell happens next?

My whole life was head of me and I was scared shitless.

Three apartments, three jobs and over 30 dates later, I'm back at Michigan, sharing my learnings with current art students. As I look around the room, I see many different versions of my younger self.

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"What do you wish you knew then that you know now?" asks the school's career advisor.

The thing is, I'm still learning how to navigate my 20s, despite having only three years 'til I turn 30. Note to self, you never really stop learning how to navigate life.

But what would I tell my younger self?

Own your quirks; they make you you. Being strange is a damn good thing. Not everyone will understand you, so surround yourself with people you can feel normally weird around. If you don't feel comfortable in your own skin, it's not you; it's the wrong environment for you.

Be kind and compassionate towards everyone you come into contact with. Talk to strangers (within reason), especially when you travel. Make connections and pen pals across the globe. It will expand your network and your perspective.

Art is a tool that helps us understand our experiences and the world around us. Being a creative person is a gift, so don't take it for granted. Use it! But know that your artistic voice is a constant work in progress. The more you use it, the stronger AND louder it gets. The more you use it, the more you will be heard.

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Putting yourself out there gets easier as you go. Be fearless in your pursuit of the things you love. Instead of wishing for things, work for them. Make shit happen. But cut yourself some slack: Give yourself time, love and attention. Don't put pressure on yourself to have all the answers now; you'll figure it out as you go.

Don't apologize for being an ambitious, powerful female. You may feel misunderstood, so befriend other powerful females and create your own girl gang/cheer squad. Celebrate each other's passions and hard work every day.

Be proud of your singledom. Learn to love being alone. Learn to love yourself. See every date as a learning experience about who you are and who you want to surround yourself with day in and day out. Guys who take you for granted aren't worth your time, energy or effort. Stay on the lookout for a dude who's respectful, kind and equally ambitious. But in the meantime, experiment and focus on having fun.

It's OK to mess up once in a while. Don't stress yourself out. Find the learnings, embrace your mistakes and concentrate on how to find solutions. Struggles make us fiercer versions of ourselves. Using your vulnerability as artistic inspiration actually makes your voice stronger.

Life is much too short to do stuff you don't want to do. Learn how to say no to things, and don't feel bad about saying no. Also, use "sorry" sparingly.

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Democratic presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, shakes hands before the start of the Univision, Washington Post Democratic presidential debate at Miami-Dade College, Wednesday, March 9, 2016, in Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

There are two nomination processes currently underway in the Democratic Party.

In the first -- the official nominating process to be the Democratic candidate for president -- Hillary Clinton has a commanding lead. Indeed, in the first half of this nomination process, Clinton has won 58.5 percent of the pledged delegates. This means that Sanders would need to win slightly more than 59 percent of the remaining pledged delegates -- admittedly, in states much more favorable to him than those that have already voted -- to win the pledged delegate battle. It's a very, very steep mountain to climb.

Still, it's been a competitive enough primary that we can say this much: The last time the Republican Party had a primary this competitive was 40 years ago. And the last time the GOP saw a race this close that didn't involve Ronald Reagan was 1952.

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The second nomination currently under contention involves an unofficial nominating process -- the process by which Hillary Clinton, the likely if not certain Democratic nominee, will choose her running mate. In 2008, a hotly contested nominating season led to President Obama making Clinton the second most-powerful person in his administration; in 2016, the Clintons are implying that if Sanders continues to win about 42% of all Democratic votes they will give him a favorable speaking slot at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this summer.

That's not going to be sufficient.

While Bernie Sanders is not likely to be the Democratic nominee for president, the question of whether he can force Hillary Clinton to make him her vice presidential nominee, thereby keeping his agenda at the forefront of American democracy, is still very much an open one.

The open question, of course, is whether Sanders can win enough votes, and delegates, between now and the Democratic National Convention to force Clinton to rethink her present preferences for vice president, as typified by Cory Booker and Julian Castro. In what is likely to be a "base election" -- one in which both parties attempt to whip their bases into a frenzy to get them to the polls -- Sanders can only make a case to be vice president if his coalition of voters appears to be a) extremely large, and b) one that Clinton herself has not yet been able to reach. Clinton's popularity with African-American and Latino voters has thus far been beyond reproach, yet it's unclear whether she has any hope of winning over young voters, Independents, white men, or working-class voters in November.

Bernie Sanders could be critical to Clinton winning those demographics -- but will only appear to be so if his own candidacy for president continues to gather steam. At first blush, the election results from last night (popularly termed "Super Tuesday 3") would seem to have done significant damage to that critical premise.

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In fact, if you stopped watching election-night coverage of Super Tuesday 3 at 8:30 PM ET, you probably went to bed believing that Clinton had routed Sanders in all five of the states that voted yesterday, and thereby had wrapped up the Democratic nomination for president.

At 8:30 PM, the only three states to be called on the Democratic side -- Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina -- had all been called for Clinton. And the margins of victory looked staggeringly large. At 8:30 PM, Clinton was leading in Ohio by 30 points, in Florida by 35, and in North Carolina by 25. Indeed it was blowouts across the board, as even in Missouri (which at that point had not yet been called) Sanders was down by 25 points. In his "strongest" state, Illinois, Sanders was down by double-digits.

Things looked very different by 10:30 PM ET.

And no, I'm not speaking of the fact that (according to the pundits) all of Bernie Sanders' strongest states are to come, and that Clinton might not win a single primary or caucus between now and April 19.

What I'm referring to is what actually ended up happening in the five states that voted last night. Let's take a look:

Illinois. One week ago, Hillary Clinton was leading in her home state -- to repeat, her home state -- by 42 points, per The Chicago Tribune. Last night she won Illinois 50 percent to 49 percent. It's difficult to call a 41-point swing in seven days a "win," but Clinton boosters on CNN and elsewhere gamely found a way to do so last night. If Sanders supporters aren't buying it, it's not because they're unrealistic; rather, it's merely that they're looking at the same thing -- math -- that Clinton has emphasized in every one of her victory speeches. The math says that Hillary Clinton won 50.4 percent of the vote in a two-person race in her home state. That's embarrassing, given that Sanders won his own home state with more than 86 percent of the vote. Looking at it another way, Hillary netted 2 delegates in Illinois; Sanders netted 800 percent more than that in Vermont.

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In Illinois, as in Missouri and North Carolina, the math for Clinton last night was very bad. It suggests that while these states may have helped Clinton in her bid to be the Democratic nominee for president, they also underscored that she is a weak candidate who would likely not be beating Bernie Sanders in the delegate count if he hadn't started this nomination process with no name recognition anywhere and -- if you can believe it -- more than 55 points behind his rival.

In other words, Clinton supporters are crowing about victories that should be deeply embarrassing to them.

Last night, Clinton cleaned up in Florida -- and topped out at around 55 percent in the other four states (in two of these, she only managed 50 percent in a two-person race). If this somehow confirms for you that Clinton is a strong general-election candidate, you probably are a child or relative of the Clintons.

Of course, you wouldn't have known that things weren't looking so good for Clinton in her home state at 8:30 PM ET, when CNN erroneously reported that a third of the Illinois vote had already been counted (in fact, less than 10% had; all night, the "early voting" that heavily favored Clinton was tallied first, which both messed up cable news' "precinct counts" and gave cable-watchers a false impression of what was really happening). The result? The 10 percent lead Clinton had at 8:30 PM was down to 1.8 percent by the end of the night.

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North Carolina. Prior to Super Tuesday 3, Here's how Hillary Clinton had performed in the four states abutting North Carolina: in South Carolina, Clinton beat Sanders by 46.5 percent; in Virginia, she beat him by 29.1 percent; in Tennessee, by 33.7 percent; in Georgia, by 43.1 percent.

Yesterday, Clinton defeated Sanders in North Carolina by a mere 13.8 percent -- so strong a performance by Sanders relative to any other state in the South that it suggested a sea change in the Senator's ability to attract votes from demographics he'd never before been able to reach.

So whereas at 8:30 PM ET, Clinton was up in North Carolina by 25 percent, making the state look like a mere continuation of her Southern dominance, less than two hours later it was clear that Sanders had outperformed nearly every poll taken in the Tar Heel State and -- moreover -- had outperformed his percentage of the vote in every other Southern state.

Missouri. At 8:30 PM ET, Clinton was "leading" Sanders by more than 20 points in Missouri, with about a sixth of the vote counted -- or so CNN said. In fact, per the Associated Press less than 1 percent of the state's votes had been counted and by 1AM ET Sanders and Clinton were locked in a virtual tie. At the end of the night, more residents of Missouri voted against Clinton than for her, and she and Sanders split the Show-Me State's delegates. The unofficial margin of victory for Clinton was 0.2 percent.

The most recent poll in Missouri before Super Tuesday 3 had shown Clinton leading Sanders by 7 points.

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Florida. Florida is the only state in which Clinton met expectations last night, and we already know the reason -- per exit polling, more than 80 percent of Florida voters were "beyond persuasion," meaning that they'd made up their mind about who to vote for before the candidates had even begun campaigning actively in the state. To call these "low-information voters" is not a slur; it simply means that name recognition was much more likely to determine who these voters cast a ballot for than anything the candidates actually said while campaigning in the state. Notably, the same percentage of voters were "beyond persuasion" in nearly every Southern state Clinton won.

Ohio. Ohio has been the most-polled state this month. Four polls taken in the first ten days of March showed an average Clinton lead, in Ohio, of 20 points; five polls taken in the last 96 hours showed Clinton's lead eroding to an average of 8 points, with an average margin of error of 5 percent -- meaning that, on Super Tuesday 3, one would have expected a Clinton win of anywhere from 3 to 13 points.

At 8:30 PM, Clinton was up on Sanders in Ohio by 30 points -- a shocking result which, had it stood, would have been a profound under-performance by Sanders, in fact one of the worst under-performances of any candidate this election season (a 22-point shortfall).

Ultimately, Sanders lost Ohio by 13.8 percent, just a hair outside the range of what this week's polls predicted, and well ahead of what last week's polling was telling us.

Simply meeting expectations would seem like a disappointment for Sanders, until we consider what the polling landscape in Ohio looked like for Sanders in the eight months after he declared his candidacy for president: throughout 2015, the Vermont Senator was consistently between 35 and 50 points behind Clinton in the Buckeye State. Consequently, though no one in the Sanders campaign could be satisfied by losing Ohio by 13 points, that margin -- coupled with Sanders' wins in Michigan, Minnesota, Kansas, and Nebraska; Clinton getting no better than a tie in Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois; and Sanders' current lead in Wisconsin polling -- emphasizes that Sanders is in fact unusually strong in the Midwest, an area of the country the Democratic candidate will absolutely have to win (perhaps even sweep) to win the general election in November.

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If Clinton consistently winning African-American and Latino voters by margins of between 30 and 75 points means that these are voter groups she can feel confident about carrying in the fall, what does tying or losing nearly every Midwestern state to an unlikely competitor say about her ability to win there?

Some will say that none of the above means much in light of Clinton's commanding lead in pledged delegates, and this may well be true.

However, as already noted, various political pundits have said that Hillary Clinton could easily go the next month without winning a primary -- as the next twelve to fifteen primaries and caucuses are in states whose demographics favor Bernie Sanders.

Moreover, the way Clinton has run her campaign has alienated many Sanders voters, raising the possibility that supporters of the man who's won 42 percent of all Democratic primary votes could stay home in November. Would Cory Booker, largely unknown to national Democrats, solve that problem? Or Julian Castro, a complete unknown?

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It's not yet time for Sanders voters to pray for a vice presidential nod, but it's also not too early to start making the case that, even on nights in which Clinton extends her delegate lead, she isn't, in fact, doing so in a way that suggests she's a strong general election candidate. For instance, in remains the case that Bernie Sanders performs better against Trump than Clinton does in ten of the eleven blue, purple, and light-red states in which general-election head-to-head polling is available.

Nor is it too early to note that, in Missouri, Clinton lost independents by 31 points. Or that in Illinois, Clinton lost independents by 43 points. Or that, overall, Clinton is losing the Midwest badly to Sanders, and is projected to lose much of the West to him. Indeed, the only states Clinton has won comfortably this election cycle which the Democrats have any chance of winning in November are Virginia and North Carolina -- and as we've seen, in the second of these states Clinton's longstanding demographic coalition appeared to show substantial cracks.

The white-male, working-class, young, and independent voters Sanders is performing well among are the very voters Trump will be trying to steal from the Democrats in November -- not the African-American, Latino, and female voters Clinton has already been successfully courting in large numbers. So while Sanders didn't have the "Super Tuesday 3" he'd hoped to have, what he did do was underscore a) how close this race is in historical terms, b) that the demographics he appeals to most are different from those that Clinton performs best among, c) that Clinton's "victories" are short-term successes that actually prove her weaknesses to be near-fatal, d) that he continues to be more electable than Clinton (in general-election terms) in swing-states and the Midwest generally, e) that Clinton's other possible picks for veep represent demographics she's already comfortable will come out to vote for her in November, f) that in nearly every state, Clinton is under-performing the polls and over-performing among low-information voters, suggesting that her appeal wanes with voters over time, and g) that he is entitled to, prospectively, the same sort of post-primary deal that Clinton herself got when president Obama was elected, that being receipt of one of the two most visible positions in a Clinton Administration (either vice president or Secretary of State, only the first of which is Sanders well-suited to).

In short, Clinton has a habit -- with her emails; with her handling of the Obama and Sanders insurgencies; with her response to requests that she release her Wall Street speeches -- of taking things for granted, and it's not a good look on her or any presidential candidate. She appears set to take for granted that Sanders voters will come flocking to her, instead of voting for Donald Trump or staying at home once (or if) she permanently vanquishes Bernie Sanders. And she appears to believe the hype her hangers-on are pushing, which is that dramatically disappointing under-performances in her home state, North Carolina, and Missouri were in fact perfectly terrific.

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Hubris of this sort could ultimately cost the Democrats the presidency.

Failing to understand Sanders' continued appeal is a "proxy failure" of sorts -- that is, it stands in for a failure to understand the outsider, rough-edged, populist, anti-Establishment appeal of Donald Trump, the inevitable Republican nominee.

It's for this reason that I had to smile a bit when Jake Tapper of CNN observed, at 10:30 PM ET, that it was "not a great night for Bernie Sanders." That's true, if the question is whether Sanders is in a deep delegate hole going into twenty-five primaries and caucuses he has a legitimate chance to win and by decent margins. But if the question is whether a man whose campaign was at 3% nationally less than a year ago is making an airtight case to be the vice presidential nominee for the Democratic Party, last night was -- in fact -- a very good night for Bernie Sanders.
Last week, while the EU foreign ministers were getting together to discuss how they can pursue an agreement on trade with Iran, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran announced that almost 1000 people were executed in Iran last year; the highest number of using death penalty per capita in the World.

However, the astonishing number of executions as well as deterioration of the situation of journalists, human rights defenders, political prisoners and Baha'i citizens did not seem to concern the EU diplomats at all. As the Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, cheered the beginning of the EU's new journey with Iran towards signing billions of Euros-worth of deals in a range of sectors, the EU policy on Iran's human rights shifted dramatically but quietly.

Historically and despite all its ups and downs, for over three decades, the European Union's policy towards the situation of human rights in Iran had been a mixture of condemnation and dialogue or carrots and sticks, which had worked to some extent.

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In 2011 and as a result of enormous efforts by the human rights community the EU Council finally adopted certain regulations subjecting the perpetrators of serious human rights violations in Iran to measures such as visa bans and assets freeze. The efforts had followed the mass crackdown on dissidents, journalists, lawyers and writers after the contested presidential election of 2009.

In applying the new regulation, from 2011 to 2013, a total of 87 individuals and one entity were added to the list of human rights sanctions. Nevertheless, this period proved to be no more than an interim period of adopting exceptional temporary public policy.

In 2013 soon after the new Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, came to power promising nuclear negotiations, the EU seems to have eased the implementation of its adopted policy, reducing the use of effective tools such as public statements and human rights restrictive measures.

The chart below shows how the number of EU public statements on the situation of human rights in Iran have plummeted over the past two years. Whereas in 2011 there were 18 public statements over issues such as death penalty, political prisoners, religious persecution and access to information, this number has been reduced to only one statement in 2014 on death penalty.

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One example amongst many is that in 2011, the EU High Representative expressed serious concerns over the wave of arrests of Baha'i citizens. Last month, 24 Baha'i citizens were sentenced to long terms of imprisonment ranging from 5 to 11 years but the EU chose to remain silent on this issue.

The impact of the policy shift on restrictive measures has been even worse. Not only one single name has not been added to the list of human rights sanctions, but also in April 2015, the EU Council removed the names of two individuals without providing any reason or justification.

More outrageously, European ministries of foreign affairs which used to ask NGOs like Justice for Iran to submit proposals to add new names to the list of human rights violators; is now increasingly asking for the name of those who should be delisted. Therefore, it is quite feasible that this year in April, when the EU Council is supposed to revise the human rights sanctions list, many more perpetrators who have been involved in serious human rights abuses, will be delisted. It will be coincident with the planned visit of the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to Tehran who, unlike her predecessors, has been completely silent on Iran's human rights record.

Before the Iran deal was finalised, the EU argued that it did not wish to jearpodise the chances of reaching a deal by stressing on Iran's human rights record. Now, however, that the deal has been achieved, there is no justification for continuing with this reckless policy of indifferent.

Some have argued that in the post-Iran-deal-era, the EU would prefer to engage Tehran with human rights dialogue rather than adopting aggressive strategies such as public statement or human rights sanctions. Yet, there is not a single piece of evidence to show such engagement.

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Official delegations from multiple European countries have been queuing to visit Tehran while, not a single one of these officials has indicated that they even had any talks with Tehran over the human rights issues. They all seem to follow an unwritten but well-understood rule: as long as human rights is not on the table, the Iranian officials will be willing to negotiate or sign off financial deal.

Moreover, historically we have learned from the behavior of the Islamic Republic that human rights dialogue alone does not alter their attitude unless it is substituted with international pressure.

These are all happening while there has not been any meaningful change in the internal policy of Rouhani's government in terms of respecting and promoting internationally recognized rights. All these facts are occurring while the listed and unlisted perpetrators enjoy absolute impunity and continue to commit egregious crimes.

"We ... reassure the people of Iran that they have not been forgotten," said Catherine Ashton, the former EU High Representative. "EU will continue to speak out and to call on the Iranian authorities to respect the rights of their citizens in accordance with the international obligations to which they have committed," she said.

Today, that promise seems to be all but lost. In fact, the EU policy towards Iran's human rights situation has not been transparent, consistent, or honest and it cannot therefore, be regarded as effective.

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While the expedition of financial deals is submerging using human rights tools, the trust between the EU and the victims and survivors of violations will become lost unless the EU reaffirms its stand on promoting universal rules of human rights.
This ship is built for the journey. The waters are shallow here on Myanmar's upper Irrawaddy River, and ever-shifting sandbars constantly reinvent the wending path downstream. Only fishing boats, barges, and a few small ships designed for shallow-water sailing ply these waters. Built locally, the Avalon Myanmar is one such ship.

As a guest aboard the ship on one of its first journeys downriver, I got a rare peek into this little-known stretch of the world's second-most isolated country. These are hard places to get to. The roads are challenging, the airports few; but the river weaves a story of place, offering a look at a world thatfor better and worsewon't remain the same much longer. Here's what makes it an exceptional journey right now.

The River Less Traveled

Even in off-the-beaten path Myanmar, there's a tourist circuit. This isn't it. The northernmost point on the Avalon Myanmar's itinerary is Bhamo, a small town near the China border. Embarking this far north, along a wild stretch of the river, gives you the chance to see a wonder few outsiders have ever witnessed: the Irrawaddy's Second Defile, a dramatic passage between soaring limestone cliffs, past hillside monasteries, and along vast swaths of undisturbed forests.

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The treasure-chest of untraveled wonders continues as the ship heads downstreamto riverside villages, where the small group mingles with locals; and into farming communities, jungles, and monastic settlements. It's only once the ship reaches Mandalay that you start to notice other visitors, those who have come from around the world to see famous attractions like the long teak U Bein Bridge and the ancient capital of Bagan. And while Myanmar's best-known sites are definitely worth a visit, it turns out to be the modest momentsstanding in a bustling village market or watching a line of monks collect alms on a dusty road at sunrisethat are its most enduring keepsakes.

A Small Ship

With just 18 staterooms built for 36 guests, the Avalon Myanmar is one of the world's smallest commercial river shipsand that suits the environs perfectly, because when you get off the ship you're not heading into a capital city or even a bustling port. You're walking a narrow gangplank over a muddy shore, and then ascending a sandy riverbank to discover a tiny village or a vibrant town full of people who are thinking about daily life, not tourism.

To be part of a small group is to find yourself in a singalong with kindergarteners in a one-room schoolhouse, or visiting with a grandmother musing about village life as she hangs laundry and tends her newborn granddaughter. Around here, a small group is like a small ship: It offers access to places the bigger ones can't go.

Life on the Irrawaddy

The Irrawaddy is a demanding river, especially in the dry season when shallow water levels expose ever-shifting sand bars. Along particularly tricky stretches of the river, you can hear the recitation of river depths as crew members on the lower deck prod the river bed with long measuring sticks and relay the numbers in a meditative chant. Local pilots join the crew at points along the river, and after a day or two, you get a sense that to be on the Irrawaddy is to be, by necessity, constantly present and completely in touch with your surroundings.

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Each evening, the ship pauses for the night. Watching the crew toss the heavy rope onto a sandy bank and scramble into the shallows becomes the dusk routine. Sailing during the day offers a gentle unspooling of river life and the rich chorus of rural Myanmarmonks chanting, children playing, motorcycles revvingas it drifts across the water.

Rare Creatures

The Irrawaddy River dolphin is headed toward extinction. Fewer than 100 of these creatureswhich resemble the love child of a beluga whale and a stuffed animal remain in the river. But the remaining few dolphins have forged relationships with the local fishermen, helping them to round up fish into nets in exchange for a cut of the piscine profits.

The dolphins are elusive, but just knowing they're out there keeps the crew and passengers scanning the horizon. Word of a sighting spreads quicklythe ship will often stop to give people a better chance at a glimpse of the silver shimmer of wet skin as it arches through the surface.

To see a dolphin is to strike that first connection with the river, to understand it not just as an artery but as the true lifeblood of this region: a source of food, of water, of livelihood and, in the case of the dolphin, of a fading magic that lies beneath its waters.

RELATED: 8 Reasons Why You Should Go on a River Cruise

A Sunrise Culture

There are early risers, and then there are the people of Myanmar. Particularly in smaller towns, life here starts as early as 4:30 a.m. For North Americans, the extreme time change is an easy gateway to this sunrise culture. It's certainly one worth dragging yourself out of bed for. For it's these early morning excursions that yield incredible moments like watching the dawn almsgiving to a silent procession of burgundy-robe clad monks, or catching what has to be one of the world's best sunrises in Bagan, where the darkness lifts to reveal a landscape of delicate silhouettes and a sky full of hot air balloons.

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Local Economies

When, in 2011, Myanmar's National League for Democracy and party leader Aung San Suu Kyi declared an end to the longstanding unofficial ban on tourism, they did so to encourage responsible travel that connected travelers to the people rather than the government. Aboard the Avalon Myanmar, this idea plays out in many ways each day. At each stop, the local crew of this Myanmar-built ship buys fresh provisions; it also donates food alms to local monasteries along the way.

The crew maintains strong relationships with the villages and offers monetary donations to local schools and communities at each stop. There's a clear and constant effort to help villages benefit from micro-scale tourism without putting undue pressure on the traditional rhythms of life. And as the days go on and you grow more attached to the people of Myanmar, this becomes a vital distinction.

The World Beyond the Internet

Unsurprisingly, the world's second-most isolated country is not a world leader in Internet access. While you can find a decent connection in an increasing number of hotel lobbies (especially in capital city Yangon), access in the rest of Myanmar is spotty at best.

Aboard the Avalon Myanmar, you may go four or five days utterly disconnected from Wi-Fi unless you've got the world's best phone plan (and even then  ). After a day or two, though, most people aboard start to realize that this isn't the time before Internet, it's simply life outside of it.

Which really frees up time to scout for river dolphins.

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This article is dedicated to all the souls who've lost their identities.

I am lost--on many levels. Starting with my name. My family calls me Latha. My husband's family calls me Srilatha. Several of my friends, especially of the white kind, call me Sri. My kids call me Satan and/or Damien (after the evil character in the Omen series--my daughter has this as my caller id on her cellphone), ma, amma, mom, dawg (this from my daughter when she really wants something and wants me to think she thinks I'm cool).

With the Americans, it's a different story. At work, they struggled with my name and I with my reaction until I hit upon the brilliant shorthand of Sri that made all the parties happy. Until then, I was Sri-laah-thaa (the emphasis being on the second syllable) or worse, Sri-lay-tha.

I had a client who always called me Sri Lanka--yes, like the country. Didn't pause or hesitate, and confidently invoked a small country every time we spoke on the phone. I never had the opportunity to correct her because a call from her always meant some fire had to be put out. And I wasn't going to be picky about how she said my name.

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On a recent trip to Mexico, my name became Suri.

If that sums up all the names I was called, the written form of my name has seen even more mutilations.

As if all this is not enough, I got an American Express card from Costco in 2011. I wasn't there when my husband got the cards and went to have the picture taken for the card. So Costco simply decided to put some random woman's picture on my card. Not just some random woman, but a random WHITE woman. So every time I used it, I got asked for my id. I would ask for an id too, if a brown-skinned woman who clearly looks like she could be possibly of Hispanic or Asian origin, with a name like Srilatha, hands me a credit card carrying the picture of a white woman. It was amusing the first couple of times.

But wait...this article is not just about my name--although I could go on about it. It's also about my 'cultural' identity.

To my American friends, I am Indian. How much ever I assimilate, I have too much Indian in me to be an American. They would totally go for my kids as being American, brown skin notwithstanding. They have no trace of an accent, no tell-tale signs of infamous, horizontal head-shaking slipping in accidentally.

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To the hard core *desis on the other hand, I am too westernized--I am not Indian enough. I speak too much English, watch too many English movies, have too many American friends, eat my dinner too early at 6 pm when an Indian would be just having his evening tea...and the list of things an Indian wouldn't, shouldn't and couldn't do goes on.

I also have these moments when my brain plays tricks on me. Once, I was sitting in a van with my friend Suneeta, outside an Indian restaurant, waiting for my husband who was picking up a few things from the Indian grocery store. We were people-watching. We saw a number of Americans entering the restaurant and I said: "Look at all the foreigners going into that restaurant". It wasn't until my friend started to laugh that I realized what I'd said. For one brief crazy moment, I was the native while the natives were the foreigners.

Honestly, I don't know if I really fit in with the Indians back home anymore. I, with the rest of the "desi" diaspora, am forever locked into that frozen state of "desihood" we were in when we got on that Pan Am flight, had the first sip of Coke, and took that first leap across the oceans to make this country our adopted home.

Sure, we make the required trip back to India every two or three years. But every trip underscores the widening chasm between the old, pre-90s India and the current India that's global in every sense of the word. India as I knew her 20+ years ago, doesn't exist anymore.

I am completely lost in the current India. As lost as I felt when I first landed in New York in 1990, and received my first cross-cultural shock when I gawked at a man and a woman kissing in public. Coming from the ultra conservative Chennai, where a boy and girl talking in public was cause for a minor scandal, this was a shock.

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This is a true fact: Until very recently, kissing on the mouth was taboo in Indian movies. They would normally show the hero and the heroine ducking behind two flowers swaying in the wind towards each other, or go behind a tree to indicate kissing.

Something tells me that the day when I will face a reverse culture shock in India is not far away. Or maybe it's already happened and I missed it.

There were invariably days following these pilgrimages back to India when I would feel sad for the loss of a sense of belonging in my home country. On those days I craved the sights, the sounds, the smells and the bustle of Madras (Chennai as it's currently known--another change all non-resident Indians have difficulty getting used to.)

All it took was the scent of jasmine wafting in the breeze, a line from an old song, or the unique smell of rain drops on earth. On those days I questioned our decision to live and raise our children here, but those days are becoming few and far between.

I don't know if all *NRIs feel this way--as if they belong nowhere and everywhere all at the same time.

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Sometimes it makes me sad, but most days I think I'm fine with not knowing. Or knowing I belong to a new breed--a curious mix of a lost generation of Indian and 1st generation American immigrant, a sort of global citizen. This process has taken several years.

The separation from my country of birth hit me hard when I became a naturalized citizen of America. I felt a curious sense of being uprooted I hadn't felt during the thirteen or so years before that, when we lived, worked and raised our young family in this country, when the singular focus was to get that green card followed by the citizenship.

The days following the citizenship ceremony were a mixed bag. I never knew what was coming out of the bag any given day: pride (for my adopted home) or sadness, a tremendous sense of belonging and acceptance or abandonment.

But it went away as the months passed, and as we made more trips back to India, I longed to be home after three weeks. I am finally at peace with my decision to be a transplant. Every time we come back from another country, even in the western hemisphere, it's a sweet sight to see those immigration officers and hear the words "Welcome home!"

This is truly home now.
Neville Crawley is the CEO of Quid, a platform that searches, analyzes and visualizes the world's collective intelligence to help answer strategic questions. Unlike typical bay area CEOs or Founders, UK-born Neville has an extremely fascinating background. We talk to this former McKinsey consultant about his journey, a journey that began in the most unlikely of places - night clubs of London, where he was DJ, video director and producer.

S: What inspired you to study the fine arts?

N: I started painting seriously when I was 13 or 14 as a way to process my experiences and the world around me. I was big into partying, so I went out all weekend to raves in and around London, then painted every day during the week to try to capture the 'kairos' - the supreme moment.

It was a very pure and naive motivation. Later I discovered the great, painterly abstract expressionists (De Kooning, Pollock and others) and fell very much under their spell.

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S: Why didn't you pursue a career in this area after graduation?

N: From 16 to 21, I did nothing but visual arts and music around the clock: first painting, then producing music, then directing pop videos and doing visuals at night clubs.

It was a blast to have success at such a young age, but I was also just really curious about the world out there and its many facets, including the world of commerce and other languages and cultures. When I was 21, I walked out of my studio, got myself a backpack and a one-way ticket to China and set off to explore the world.

At the time I think my friends thought I was crazy to walk away from a record deal and all that stuff, but I was just ready for new experiences and wasn't thinking about career at all.

S: What were you doing in China?

N: Ha. Well, looking back it seems like a really funny story.

When I landed in China, I first got a gig teaching catwalk models English - a tough break, right?

Then I started bringing DJs from the UK to play in Shanghai nightclubs. This was around 2000, 2001, so way early on. Nightclubs in China were wild then - people had freedom and money for the first time in generations and really there were no limits.

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Then I ended up running a publishing business that became pretty sizable, reporting finance and economic news. I ran that for 4 years and, looking back, doing some pretty groundbreaking things.

Crawley in a Chinese military uniform soon after landing in the country in 2001.

S: How did you end up there?

N: Really, I just got on a plane, landed, rented a $100-a-month room with no running water from a Chinese military guy, and figured it out.

You've got to remember that this was only 3 years after the Asian financial crisis, when Soros crushed the Malaysian Ringgit, and before China had joined the WTO. It was not obvious at all that China would emerge the way it has. There were hardly any foreigners in China at that time, so it was an incredibly open field.

Outside Park 97, one of China's first contemporary nightclubs post cultural revolution.

S: How did you end up at Quid?

N: After I left China I decided I wanted to study finance. I made my way back to the UK and into London Business School and then into McKinsey, the management consultancy, to work with Middle East governments on financial restructuring through the sovereign debt crisis.

That was an extraordinary experience which I loved every minute of - living in Dubai, and getting to work directly with senior finance ministers. But given my 'non-traditional' background and the unusual nature of the work, I kept needing to learn about new things fast. I discovered a service called GLG, which will hook you up for a one-hour phone call with an expert on anything for about $1,000 per hour.

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I truly loved GLG, so after 4 years of living on a plane with McKinsey, I moved to New York to work with GLG directly.

I learned many things at GLG, but one of the biggest 'aha' moments for me was figuring out that a lot of the human intervention of matching questions to experts is essentially a graph / NLP (natural language processing) problem. So, I went out looking for companies that I believed had solved this technology problem and found Quid.

Originally I thought Quid could be a great acquisition for GLG. But as I got to know them I realized that Quid could be transformational for gathering and processing information on a Google-level scale, and so the acquisition went the other way and I joined Quid.

S: What were your most seminal experiences?

N: I think my seminal experiences have all been about technology and empowerment to create.

I still recall as a kid the first time I got a drum loop going on an Atari computer, overlayed a bassline with it and realized: 'Oh my, I can create professional music in my bedroom and I don't need anyone or anything else to do that'. It's like the whole punk DIY thing; that feeling blew my mind and really changed the course of my life.

Later I had the same feeling directing videos and editing on Premier, laying out the Chinese magazines on Pagemaker, and building those big financial models in Excel at McKinsey.

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A friend of mine, Michael Rubin, at Adobe describes this empowerment from technology as 'democratizing creativity.' I really like that expression.

This is what we are trying to do at Quid, to develop technology to give creative superpowers to a new generation of thinkers and creators.

S: Your most influential book and why

N: Jeez, don't get me started on this one! I read a lot, so this could be a long list. At various points, I would have said books by Hesse, Mo Yan, Murakami, Camus, Vonnegut, Chodron, Asimov and Orwell. They all seem to me to cut to something very core but also expansive about the human condition.

Right now I'm re-reading for the 50th time 'Everyday Zen' by Charlotte Joko Beck. I'm finding it more deeply affecting every time I read it, so I guess this is ultimately the most influential. It's basically a transcript of a bunch of Dharma lectures by Joko Beck, an American woman who took up Zen meditation in her 40s and developed a kind of indigenous American Zen.

S: Do you have any life hacks? If so, what, why?

N: I think one of the good things about getting older is you get to know yourself a bit better. I used to punish myself by pushing all the time, but now I try and listen to my body and kind of live like a grandma: fresh veggies, time with the family, regular sleep, regular vacations.

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The only 'hack' I employ is meditation. I try to mediate every day and go on a silent retreat from time to time. I don't really consider it a hack though as, to me, meditation is basically about becoming sane, about functioning moment-to-moment in reality. Although I'm constantly amazed by how hard that is.

S: What do people never ask you that you wish they did?

N: That's a really good question. In general, I'm amazed that people don't ask 'why?' more. I meet with a lot of VCs and investors and press these days and everyone asks about Quid's technology and customers and use cases and so on, which is great. But hardly anyone asks 'Why are you building this?', which I think is the most important question - the mission. It links back to what I was saying before about democratizing creativity.

S: You're a guest speaker at a college graduation ceremony. What are the four things you'll tell your audience?

N: As someone who barely graduated and has never been invited back to an alumni event, the audience should take this with a large pinch of salt.

i) Follow your passion and your instincts - What I mean by this is: If you are curious about Iran, go live in Iran. If you get deep meaning and fulfillment from drawing cartoons, draw cartoons. If you feel you have a book in you, write the book. The future is evolving so fast I really don't believe in trying to 'game the system' by catching the current wave. When I graduated from grad school, a bunch of my friends went into bond trading because it was the thing to do at the time but most have bounced out by now as they found it fundamentally boring. Besides, the debt desks are all cutting staff and pay as trading goes algorithmic and they deleverage.

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ii) Stay curious and bury your ego - I believe there is no more positive force than curiosity, asking the basic 'How does that work?' or 'Why is that so?' question and then going really deep to figure it out. But figuring out something new can be so bruising to the ego. I recall sitting in my first few finance classes as someone who hadn't studied math past 10th grade and wanting to curl up and die. Then I moved from a high-paying New York job in a big prestigious firm to a little startup in San Francisco - these things were jarring, but only to the ego, and the payback has been worth a thousand times the pain.

iii) If you have it in you, get directly involved in public service - This horrible election cycle has probably been more of a turn-off than ever for folks considering heeding the call to serve their country, whether in a public servant or elected official position. But I truly believe this is the wrong response. We need the next generation of leaders to be better than the current generation, and that means the best, the brightest, the most honest people getting involved and winning key positions. This is the only way that the really big issues are going to get solved.
Spring is finally on its way, baby! The weather this week was finally more inviting here in the Northeast, and I found my mood initially rising with the surging outdoor temperature. There is something about leaving the winter coats behind as we swing out the front door in the mornings that's an immediate morale-booster.

Returning home, however, quickly plunged me into the overwhelming morass of tasks yet to be done. As I took in our kitchen sink overflowing with dishes, the tangles of dirty laundry awaiting, and a massive pile of unpaid bills -- all of it demanding attention in the midst of the childrens' needs -- it plagued my sense of peace. Suddenly, there's that internal tug to do "more-more-more", to attempt to triage the multitude of responsibilities that all seem to descend on my already cluttered mind at once, jockeying for priority.

Suffice to say, the school day passed by quickly. It was an exceptionally busy day. I spent the majority of it sifting through health insurance paperwork, struggling to devise a comprehensive family budget, and nursing the silent anxiety that these tasks generally produce for those living paycheck to paycheck.

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The closest I came to enjoying the balmy spring air was when sighed as I jammed my unplanted pansies into their new window box homes, rushing through the task because it was one in a string of many. Even in a moment that should have been one of calm -- one of appreciation for the warmth of a beautiful day- I wouldn't allow myself to receive it. Even as my hands sifted through the soil, my mind was a million miles away, fretting over our latest financial stress and what tasks the day ahead still required.

As a result, I was generally oblivious to the beautiful weather, lost in my own worries. Until, that is, I witnessed a short but glorious illustration of just how wonderful spring can be for the spirit.

I was parked outside of the elementary school, waiting for one of my daughters to emerge from her Girl Scout meeting. The late afternoon sunshine was streaming through my car windshield, but I was fixated on my internal concerns, and didn't notice.

But then my daughter emerged out of the school's front door, flanked by her fellow Girl Scouts. Once the girls spot their parents' cars, they are free to leave. Some walk, some amble, some run.

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My daughter broke into a trot. As she crossed the school's front yard, the trot morphed into a skip. The skip was then transformed into a giddy jump-kick into the air, with a fist raised and a raucous, "whoo!" blurted into the air.

I burst out laughing, because I LOVED IT. And I knew exactly what it represented. My daughter was fully IN the moment; the sun was shining, it was warm, it was that perfect time of day and she felt it. She was overjoyed and went with it. The feeling inside over something so simple was just too good for her to contain, and she could care less who witnessed it.

As she tumbled into the car, I kissed her through my tears of laughter, and told her how much I loved what I had seen. She turned to me with a impish grin and said, "I knew you would, because you get it -- you're just like me!"

And she's right.

In the midst of my very adult problems and tasks to manage and complete, there is that very same part of me that still has childish joy. There is the part of me that knows the incalculable value of being in the moment, and appreciates the simple, perfect beauty of lovely spring day.

There is the part of me that often lies dormant as of late- the silly, impulsive and fun side that immediately understood my daughter's joy and probably would have done the very same thing. I was able to clear my own mental clutter long enough to laugh with my daughter, and to appreciate the little gift I'd been given through watching the innocent, infectious joy of a child.

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Did I figure out our budget that evening? Not entirely. Did the laundry all get washed and folded? Unfortunately, no; some stacks still remained. But instead of consuming me with gloom and worry, I was able to peel my mind away from the oppressive hold those tasks had on me for a time, and to enjoy the moment with my girl. Those tasks will still get done, of course, but the gift was in giving myself permission to enjoy the moment instead of wasting it with false guilt about not doing "enough". Like a child, it was thrilling to spend time enjoying the moment without feeling self-conscious or guilty- mindfulness at it's best.
An Open Letter to America

My fellow Americans,

As a Republican, I'm sorry. We have failed you, as a party, and as individuals.

We didn't see this coming, and we absolutely should have. We should have been able to see what the instigators of frustration and outrage were fomenting within our base. We should have understood the implications of the last eight years, the rise of the Tea Party, and that its foundational frustration and obstinacy towards progress would lead to a monster of our own creation. We didn't, and now it's here.

But please believe me when I tell you that it is not what we stand for as a party, no matter how it may seem on the surface. This is not what I was raised to be a part of, and it embarrasses me to see what our public face has become today.

The Republican Party I know and belong to is not xenophobic.

We don't want to build a wall, or believe that all Mexicans are drug dealers or rapists. We don't believe that all Muslims are terrorists or want to ban them from our country. These are ridiculous concepts belched forth from the mouth of a man playing on the fears and frustrations of a segment of America that's sick and tired of government not working as it was originally designed.

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This country was founded as a haven for immigrants fleeing from religious persecution. We have a long and mostly proud history of welcoming the worlds' tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free. American culture is the sum of many cultures that came here seeking freedom and opportunity, and that came together over time as one to make up what we know and love as this nation. That cycle doesn't have to stop. It shouldn't stop. We aren't full. The Statue of Liberty still bears the words of 'New Colossus' at her foot in New York Harbor.

The Republican Party I know and belong to is not hateful and brutal.

We do not endorse war crimes -- namely, the wanton killing of civilians solely for the misfortune of being related to terrorists. Those are the actions of petty and unjust leaders, and we abhor its suggestion. War is never the ideal outcome, and when it is, the inevitable civilian casualties are extremely regrettable. But to actively target the families of terror suspects is vicious rhetoric designed to fan the flames of hate fueled by the very terror we're fighting.

We should be better than this as a country. Allowing ourselves to be consumed with hatred for people that look and pray the same way as those that have attacked us may be emotionally convenient. But in the end, it gives the terrorists what they want -- your fear.

The Republican Party I know and belong to is not violent.

We do not incite assault against those who disagree with us. We do not offer to pay the legal bills if someone commits a crime on our behalf. We are on the side of the rule of law and seek to obey it and support those in our law enforcement community.

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The Republican Party I know and belong to is not undignified.

We do not stoop to discussions about the size of our hands on the debate stage with references to our genitals. We do not insist on perpetuating accusations about the citizenship of public officials when they have publically been proven false. We stand in the tradition of such great orators and statesmen as Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Reagan. They are our lineage, and we should look to them for guidance in our present and future.

The Republican Party we need to rebuild stands for limited and efficient government.

This is as defined by the Constitution: our principles of individual liberty coupled with an acceptance of personal responsibility. The founders of this great nation put in place freedoms and liberties that we as a party must fight to uphold and expand to all citizens.

The Republican Party we need to rebuild respects the rule of law, not shout "foul" when it doesn't go our way.

We have to learn to accept the Supreme Court's role in governance, even when we don't agree with it. The court has provided plenty of controversial decisions that have sometimes been overturned, but rarely to a more "socially conservative" interpretation. We should embrace decisions that extend liberties to a broader population, not decry them because they don't fit our personal moral code.

The Republican Party we need to rebuild does not deny rights to those we may disagree with.

We are all United States citizens and thus have the same rights under the Constitution. As a Party, we have to understand that just because something is legal doesn't mean you have to participate in it, and just because you think something is immoral doesn't mean no one else can do it. In that vein, when we do find things immoral in the public realm, it is important to discuss them with the respect due to others, realizing they may not share our morals, but would like to freely debate the issues. It is, in fact, an elevated and better nation when we are all able to exercise our freedoms without infringing on the rights of others.

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The Republican Party we need to rebuild works together with the opposition party for the betterment of the nation.

Both sides of the aisle have similar goals for America. We want to see our nation thrive domestically and in today's global economy. We want to see this country band together as Americans and be our best selves. We come at the issue from different angles, with different solutions, and because of this we must all learn to compromise and work together with those we disagree with. It is essential for our government to operate as intended for both sides to come to the table as honest brokers willing to negotiate, compromise, and accomplish both short- and long-term goals.

The Republican Party we need to rebuild is an inclusive group, not exclusive.

We don't care what color you are, what you call yourself, or who you worship. If you're willing to work hard and uphold the values of personal responsibility and liberty, you are welcome to share in our vision of the future. We are not hateful, fearful, or violent, but strident in our goal to extend liberty to all Americans and our partners in the international community.

We are Republicans. It is our duty as a party to look to the future, not the past. We must take up the mantle that has clearly fallen from the shoulders of those who went before us, and carry it forward so that our ideals may continue to shape our great nation for the betterment of all citizens.

This is our Republican Party.
Ms. Lewis is accurate when she starts by stating that this story is a "love story." The totality of this story takes us across a journey from the streets of the Bronx, to Fordham University, to the New York Teaching Fellows and finally into her own classroom. I found her narrative to be told in such a beautiful way that I sometimes wanted her to make the narrative match the grittiness and difficulty of the struggle. That Ms. Lewis presents this story, a story of struggling through college as a woman of color, coming from the projects of the Bronx and being in a teaching program with very few persons of color, as a love story speaks to her maturity not just as an educator but as a writer as well.

In the first chapter of the book, she describes her self as "an educated sister from the hood" and she never wavers from that narrative. Her account is, as Gilberto Conchas describes, "one part streetsmarts and one part booksmarts." Her combination of street and academia is what makes her such an effective educator, and this a must read tome. Her ability to fluidly transition and code switch between the narratives of students and faculty is of critical importance. Most significantly, what makes her streetsmarts critical to her success is how she is able to swiftly draw conclusions about her students that most young educators her age simply are not able to conclude because of their age or lack of experience. Her awareness of the lived experiences of her students adds years of experience to her resume and highlights a blind spot that many educators never reach.

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Those of us in higher education wish we could teach what Ms. Lewis intuitively knows about her students, because as she says "I must admit that my kids "got me" more than they got their other teachers because I was them...that is if they didn't get caught up in the realities of 'hood living." Being able to understand the cultural experiences and personal narratives of students of color in urban environments is not something that is easily ingested by many students in teacher training programs. Many young, would-be teachers feel as if they are already "down" simply by being familiar with a particular pop or hip-hop artist, current film, or speaking the latest urban vernacular. While those things are important, and are entry points into learning about urban students cultural background and lived experiences, they are just that, an entry point. Too many educators, both veteran as well as novice, end with being comfortable using students vernacular or knowing the latest musical artist. Ms. Lewis starts there and zooms past that marker with ease.

While Ms. Lewis highlights that her story is a love story, she doesn't shy away from the struggles of being a pre-service and in-service teacher. Her articulation of the challenges she had with professors while in college resonates to those doing work focusing on culture and diversity, particularly focusing on microaggressions. She was fortunate enough to find a professor who gave voice to her negative experiences, and in many ways gave her hope. Her ability to reach out for assistance and to go to another professor, one who is a white male, speaks to her deeper understanding that not everyone who is of the same race, or gender, shares the same experiences. Dr. Mark Naison, a Professor of African and African-American studies at Fordham University, eloquently describes Ms. Lewis' circumstance as "aversive racism." His articulation led her to see a bigger picture, many young future educators simply do not see. She goes on to state that because of her problematic collegiate experience she "realized that the entire public school system was an aversively racist institution" meaning that students of color in urban school districts across the country are not overtly denied rights, but rather are covertly denied access and opportunity based on where they live.

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When Ms. Lewis describes her first time entering her own school classroom and meeting her students, you can see how this is a love story. Many fear urban classrooms full of Black and Brown students, and in her case Special Education students, but she ran towards them. Many see "these students" as deficits; Ms. Lewis saw their potential and abilities. As she succinctly articulates about one of her most challenging students, all he needed was "love and respect." Too few teachers, no matter their color, age or experience level enter their classrooms with this type of reverence, or humility. There is ample room for classroom management to include love, trust and respect.

This book, Teaching While Black: A New Voice on Race and Education in New York City, highlights relationships not just between Ms. Lewis and her students, but also her colleagues, most of whom are significantly older. Her descriptions of the culture of the school are some of the most well written prose concerning this issue. Her juxtaposition of understanding the landscape of public education as an entry-level non-tenured teacher is spot on. Ms. Lewis seeing the totality of the situation, not in an exclusively negative light, like many teachers who end up leaving the profession, but rather as a challenge, speaks to her urban grit and resilience. She is extremely open to being mentored by her colleagues and has a wonderful relationship with her Principal. However, she is also pragmatic and authentic when it comes to the multitude of inequities and ineptitude that is taking place at the school site level to her students, and in the school.
Held in partnership with the Freedom Center for Social Justice, a day-long SAGE storytelling training in North Carolina recently convened LGBTQ activists, aging service providers, movement builders and faith leaders. SAGEs Susan Herr sat down with Bishop Tonyia Rawls to talk about the social justice mission of the Freedom Center, founding a church, and becoming an elder in a community of faith.

SH: The Freedom Center has partnered with SAGE for three years as part of the SAGE Story project. Lets start by talking about the work of the Freedom Center.

BR: The Freedom Center for Social Justice works at the intersection of race, faith, gender identity/expression and social justice. We are committed to the growth, safety and empowerment of the LGBTQ community. Our mission is accomplished through education, programs, partnerships and advocacy. We have three major programs.

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The first is the Do No Harm campaign which asks clergy, public officials and small business owners to sign the Do No Harm Pledge promising that they wont use religion or religious text to create un- safe spaces or violate the law.

Second is the Transgender Faith and Action Network, which is a social network for trans people of faith and allies. It is currently in the testing stage and will have its national launch in spring 2016. The network will provide resources, research, opportunities for connection and tools to build stronger trans-affirming spaces on the ground. We also host an annual transgender retreat that offers an opportunity for refreshing, learning and strategizing.

Finally, we work with key partners like SAGE, NAACP, Southerners on New Ground, Campus Pride and others who share our vision of a world where equal protections and opportunities exist for all.

SH: I was lucky enough to meet you and to learn more about the Freedom Center at this years Storytelling Summit in Charlotte. Tell me about the SAGEStory partnership between Freedom Center and SAGE.

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BR: We have captured the stories of more than 30 LGBTQ seniors through these summits, many of which we included in a mini documentary produced by the Freedom Center organizer AJ Williams called Quiet As Its Kept. The majority of participants are people of color. However, the group is diverse. The 2014 and 2015 cohorts went through a 6-week training period and learned the skills needed to not just tell their stories, but to turn those stories into positive change and power.

SH: The keynote speaker for this years event was the Reverend Nelson Johnson, Pastor of the Faith Community Church. He described his decades-long journey from homophobia to the leadership role he now uses to counter oppression of LGBT people in some Christian denominations. As a recovering fundamentalist myself, I was moved to tears by his story. Why did you invite him to be the keynote speaker?

BR: One of the things we are committed to is not working in silos. While we are unapologetic about our work with and for LGBTQ people, our general concerns are bigger than that. He may be a Black preacher who once held fundamentalist anti-gay views, but he is also an elder who lives in the South. We have far more in common than not. The only way we can cross those bridges to one another is to be willing to let ours down. Reverend Johnson is committed to justice, period. He is a long-time civil rights activist and has been willing to do the often hard work of self-reflection. I honor that part of him, which is why we invited him to share his journey.

SH: You and your wife Gwen moved to Charlotte from D.C. in 2014 to establish Unity Fellowship Church Movements first flock there. The denomination, founded in 1982, was born from a need to minister primarily to LGBT Black people during the height of the AIDS crisis. How is the genesis of Unity Fellowship alive in your church today?

BR: Unity Fellowship Church Charlotte was the first church in the denomination to be established in the Bible Belt. The Founder, Archbishop Carl Bean, established a phrase that God is Love and Love is For Everyone. In 2014, I founded Sacred Souls Community Church, which is now entering the United Church of Christ. We have been able to expand our reach to all of the members of our community in a way that looks beyond race, class, land of native birth and any other measure that keeps people marginalized and oppressed.

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SH: Do elders play as powerful a role in your church as they do in other faith communities?

BR: Elders are those 45 and older who play a vital role in every aspect of our ministry. In addition to their experience and spiritual depth, they have skills that can come only with time. I have grown to depend on them as a pastor and they are some of our strongest advocates for spiritual and social justice for all.

SH: Do you consider yourself an elder?

BR: My mom died at 58 years old and my grandmother at 56. They were both amazing women who impacted not only my life but the life of so many others who looked to them for wisdom, guidance and support. At 57, I find myself functioning in a similar role. I celebrate my life and appreciate the opportunity I have been given to share my experiences, resources and support to those coming along. I view this role as an elder as one of the highest honors one can hold. I believe the world needs us.

SH: SAGE works to ensure that LGBT older people are represented in a wide array of anti-discrimination efforts across the country. North Carolina, where SAGE has two affiliates in addition to our partnership with the Freedom Center, is one of the states where we have focused our efforts. Do you feel hopeful about North Carolinas ability to advance policies that protect LGBT people of all ages?
A taxi driving a classic American car passes a billboard that reads in Spanish: "Long live free Cuba" in Havana, Cuba, Monday, March 14, 2016. U.S. President Barack Obama will travel to Cuba on March 20. The trip will mark a watershed moment in U.S.-Cuba relations, making Obama the first sitting U.S. president to set foot on the island in nearly seven decades. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan)

Co-authored by Richard E. Feinberg.

President Obama's decision to make a historic visit to Cuba later this month is about more than U.S. politics or business opportunities on the island. It's a bold bet that presidential diplomacy can secure a new normal in U.S.-Cuba relations after over five decades of hostilities, embargoes and gridlock.

Based on our years of analysis and policymaking in and out of government, we believe the odds of wringing short-term concessions from Cuba's proud and nationalist leaders are stacked against Obama. We also believe, however, that that is the wrong metric. Rather, this trip should be judged by its ability to expand constituencies in both countries who want a more open and prosperous Cuba.

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To that end, Obama should draw on his extraordinary rhetorical skills to paint a vision for both Cubans and Americans of a future attractive enough to persuade the island's citizens, especially its ambitious and talented millennials to remain on the island and for the resourceful Cuban American diaspora to invest in that vision. This promise of a Cuban renaissance should include one where citizens freely exercise their chosen professions, engage directly with a transparent and accountable government, have access to the global internet, and travel abroad routinely for family and business purposes.

To help shape such a future, the U.S. delegation should engage not only with Cuba's historic revolutionaries but also with its next generations of public and private leaders from across Cuban society. The White House can also use the visit to leverage Obama's immense popularity on the island to speak directly to the Cuban people about their aspirations for a brighter future.

Given the longstanding feuds between our two countries, however, it will take longer than a year or two to unwind the accumulated distrust and build support for this new normalcy. On the U.S. side, major sectors have swung clearly in favor of normalization - business and agricultural interests, human rights and religious groups, and the broad swath of U.S. citizens keen to know Cuba after decades of isolation. Even majorities of Cuban-Americans and Hispanic voters favor engagement over the embargo.

These constituencies, however, are not yet strong enough to persuade Congress to lift the embargo. And Havana has done little so far to address the major sticking points in Washington's list of legitimate grievances, particularly in the key areas of human rights and economic reforms.

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On the Cuban side, Raul Castro recognizes that Cuba's ability to protect the social gains of the revolution depends on normalizing its participation in the global economy. Its economy badly needs the injection of U.S. commerce, professional exchanges and tourism that would flow readily once the embargo is lifted. Family-run businesses, farmers, young people and professionals in sectors like software and biotechnology also stand to gain from these changes.

Notably, many of those fighting for a more pluralistic Cuba applaud Obama's decision to declaw the embargo as a political shield for government hard-liners; it helps their cause for a more honest debate at home about how to reform Cuba's outdated model of state-centric development and to make government more accountable to its citizens.

The visit offers both presidents a rare opportunity to demonstrate to these various stakeholders that change is not one-sided but a mutual accommodation. There is nothing like a presidential visit to move bureaucracies and catalyze action.

For example, the visit could accelerate progress toward easing the embargo. Already, new rules encourage trade with the emerging private sector and with some state-owned enterprises. Cuba should now take steps to facilitate such commerce and stop insisting that all sanctions be lifted first.

As important, the two sides should expedite resolution of outstanding U.S. property claims dating back to the early 1960s, a key congressional condition for lifting sanctions. Prompt resolution of these cases would automatically create powerful constituencies in the United States for repealing the embargo and signal to foreign investors that Cuba is prepared to respect property rights and the rule of law. They could also demonstrate a willingness to resolve longstanding claims for compensation for citizens killed in hostilities during the Cold War.

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In anticipation of next month's Cuban Communist Party Congress, President Castro can detail his plans to decentralize power, empower the legislature and reform the electoral system.
Compared to China or India, Brazil is a relatively small player in development aid. Yet it has managed to make a mark in Africa and globally, especially under the leadership of charismatic Lula da Silva.

From 2003 to 2010 Lula led an unprecedented shift in the country's foreign policy towards the global South. He also helped elevate Brazil to the status of a global player.

Back in 2010 the outlook was promising yet cautious. Brazil's aid programme was dubbed a "global model in waiting". Its potential was acknowledged but there were some tangible (institutional and operational) issues to address to fulfil its ambitions. But, six years on, the expectant waiting has turned into tired disillusionment.

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An unrealised dream

Brazil, it seems, is vanishing from the international development cooperation scene. This is happening before it has proved its South-South promise to be more than rhetorical hype. Many may never have been convinced by the South-South euphoria. Others may regard Brazil's premature retreat as a missed opportunity. This article sways towards the missed opportunity view.

A comeback is needed. Yet, the omens do not look favourable. For the last couple of years, Brazil has been wrestling with major economic and political turmoil at home. This has severely hampered its engagement abroad.

The country is preparing to host the Olympic Games in a few months amid concerns about overpriced infrastructures and unfitting venues. The Zika epidemic and strikes add further strain.

And then the news of Lula's alleged connections to a mega corruption scandal. This is a major blow to the image of success that Lula had so skillfully cultivated internationally. This is now on the verge of being irremediably tainted.

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The "golden age" of Brazil's South-South cooperation that marked Lula's years in power is over, as suggested by researcher Laura Waisbich at a recent conference on the rising powers and global development at the Institute of Development Studies in the UK.

The myth behind Brazil's affinity with Africa

On President Dilma Rousseff's watch Brazilian cooperation has, for the last couple of years, gradually receded to the backstage.

It is time to take stock of what happened. Several of the rhetorical claims of Brazilian cooperation need to be challenged. Brazilian actors need to be forced into a more self-critical and less self-centred attitude.

The myth of Brazil-Africa affinities based on common history, culture and racial kinship needs deconstructing. Ethnographic research by Susanne Ress, a postdoctoral researcher at Humboldt University of Berlin's Center for Comparative and International Education, gives an account of the difficulties of striking the envisioned interaction and integration, not least because of the gap that separates Brazilians' imaginaries of Africa and contemporary Africa. Afro-Brazilians and Africans are separated by different struggles and interests.

Also, the forthcoming work by Katia Taela, a doctoral researcher at Institute of Development Studies, exposes the myth of 'sisterhood' and 'brotherhood' by Brazilian aid workers towards their Mozambican counterparts. She also challenges claims of mutual learning.

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My own research shows that Brazilian researchers working on development projects in Mozambique are able to engage fruitfully with local counterparts more because of an individual's personal attributes and attitudes than on presumed affinities and South-South credentials.

Recipes that don't translate

There is also the questionable claim that Brazil's recipes can fit in African contexts.

This is particularly noticeable in agriculture. Landscape-based similarity claims have been a particularly strong feature of Brazil in Mozambique. This has led to parallels being drawn between Brazilian and African countries' tropical geography which has justified the deployment of Brazil's "tropical technology".

Other parallels have been drawn. For example, the presumed relevance of Brazilian concepts such as family farming and social struggles against agribusiness and modernisation.

Yet when they arrive in Africa, Brazilian imaginaries, technology, policy templates and political struggles land in a different context. They get reinterpreted and often reconfigured.

The impact of Brazilian cooperation on the lives of those it was supposed to benefit has yet to be assessed. In the meantime, its impact on local politics and state-society interactions has already been significant.

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Natacha Bruna, a researcher from Observatorio do Meio Rural, a Mozambican NGO, shared a critical view of Brazilian cooperation's footprint in her country. It shows how ProSAVANA - a trilateral initiative between the governments of Brazil, Japan and Mozambique - is regarded as a threat to local communities.

But there is still potential

Yet, there are many exciting elements in the Brazilian development trajectory that deserve being more effectively incorporated into international development cooperation. These include policy interventions that tackle different development challenges in an integrated fashion. Examples include:

The Bolsa Familia, a conditional cash-transfers programme that tackles income poverty as well as education and health issues.

The practice of the "industrial-health complex" whereby local health care industries are supported to develop national health systems.

The More Food programme that aims to boost the farming machinery industry, while raising family farmers' productivity, increasing food production, and keeping youth in rural areas.

The problem is that these complex policy experiences have been tremendously simplified into transferable recipes where only certain components get through.

Take agriculture. Agribusiness clusters, family farming mechanisation, peasant farming resistance, agroecological systems are all part of the mix. Yet they don't arrive with the same weight in Africa. A predisposition towards modernisation and Green Revolution-type of interventions is also a factor. The Africa version of the More Food programme, for example, has largely promoted four-wheel tractors, overshadowing alternatives such as small-scale mechanisation solutions. This is an area where Brazil has plenty of experience that has apparently failed to permeate development cooperation.

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So, yes, Brazilian cooperation has disappointed in many ways and its brand is under stress. But let's not prematurely dismiss Brazil from international development cooperation on the basis of its exuberant rhetoric and sloppy performance. Brazilian actors have a meaningful role to play in sharing the country's rich and complex experiences.

The challenge, of course, is avoiding ready-made recipes, marketed as tropical silver bullets, and focusing more on processes or ways of developing policies that suit local contexts. This approach is less amenable to quick wins and requires the sort of enduring engagement on the ground that Brazil is still far from delivering. And so the waiting continues.


Credit: Patryk Kosmider/Shutterstock

You're one Seamless order away from insolvency, yet the travel bug continues to nibble. So how to wander the planet without worrying about the bottom line? Believe it or not, there are still plenty of global destinations where you can get by on $25 a day or less -- and yes, we're talking both accommodations and food (lunch and dinner, since a lot of hotels and hostels will feed you breakfast).

Sometimes you have to be creative and sometimes you just have to follow the strength of the USD. But if you're willing to use your room as a lily pad rather than a crash pad and forgo your trendy bougie resto proclivities, you can stretch your dollar to illogical extremes. Just try to use points to fly there.



Credit: Akarat Phasura/Shutterstock

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Cheapest night accommodation: $3

Cheapest daily food cost: $10

As a country, Cambodia is shockingly cheap, even by Southeast Asia standards -- we're talking cheap cheap. Luckily, the country once synonymous with the Killing Fields under the 1970s Khmer Rouge regime is now quite safe -- well, safe enough -- and fascinating, as well. The capital city is a sensory assault: stunning architecture, including the Royal Palace; bustling markets; and speeding vehicles aplenty. Soaking in the atmosphere is free of charge, but simple pleasures should include a sampling of the local delicacy: deep-fried tarantula, chased with one of the cheapest beers in the world. To learn more about the country's dark history, you can take a Killing Fields tour, including a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, and then attend one of the daily screenings of, yes, The Killing Fields at the Empire Movie House. (A new memorial and museum dedicated to the country's dark history opens in 2017.)

But what's it gonna cost to get there? $630 roundtrip from LAX

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Kampala, Uganda

Cheapest night accommodation: $16

Cheapest daily food cost: $3

Kampala is a passed-over African capital for one obvious reason: President Idi Amin Dada, aka Forest Whitaker at his most terrifying. But the hilly city abutting Lake Victoria continues to come into its own, especially culturally. New clubs, theaters, and restaurants keep cropping up, although when it comes to eating, you'll want to investigate the mysterious entity known as the "pork joint."

Once you've gotten your bearings, Kampala also serves as a strong jumping-off point to other adventures: touring the Nile, taking a safari, hitting a Lake Victoria beach, or our favorite: a trek to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, where -- ye gods -- you can spend a day feeding and caring for the little (ch)imps. Yes, this will break your budget. Yes, this is what budget travel is sometimes for: the singular splurge.

But what's it gonna cost to get there? $790 round trip from NYC



Credit: Rob Hainer/Shutterstock

Panama City, Panama

Cheapest night accommodation: $13

Cheapest daily food cost: $8

Central America attracts a lot of budget travelers, most of whom cluster around the beaches of Costa Rica. But far cheaper and less-explored spots abound, among them Panama City. Here you get city and beach (via day trip), history and modernity, and you get it all for a low-low price (if you're looking). Yes, there's a Miami/Dubai feel about the city center, and yes, chichi wine bars abound, but head to the older colonial area of Casco Viejo for the cheap dining and shopping and free people watching. To get your nature fix, stroll through the central Parque Recreativo Omar, then take a day trip to Taboga Island for your vitamin sand and sea.

But what's it gonna cost to get there? $290 roundtrip from NYC

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Fiji

Cheapest night accommodation: $6

Cheapest daily food cost: $12

Can anyone afford to stay in Fiji? Actually, almost anyone can do it if you're truly committed. You won't get to island hop, you'll have to settle for a dorm room, and you'll be amongst the party set, but it absolutely can be done. (We learned this during a semester abroad to Australia years ago, when students would use their return-trip layover to hit the beach for a week.) The cheapest method is to stay in a hostel on the main island of Nadi and to nab meals from snack stands lining the roads. Bring your books, find a chair or a hammock, and commit to doing as little as possible. And remember that just like J. Lo's love, sunsets and swims don't cost a thing.

But what's it gonna cost to get there? $1,070 roundtrip from LAX

Santorini, Greece

Cheapest night accommodation: $15

Cheapest daily food cost: $10

Yeah, it feels kind of dirty to exploit Greece's economic crisis. On the other hand, tourism dollars have never been more important. See? Guilt solved. Hostels aren't always the cheapest option here; instead, look for pensions, room rentals, and tiny hotels. Eating on the cheap means gyros galore (you'll survive), and alcohol might be confined to a tasting at one of the Santorini vineyards. But why does everyone come to Santorini, in the end? For everything that's free, from the views to the architecture to the dark sand beaches to the sunsets. Hike the caldera path, photograph the doors, check out the Tomato Industrial Museum (totally a thing), and otherwise soak in the fact that the Tomb Raider sequel was filmed here.

But what's it gonna cost to get there? $1,140 roundtrip from NYC

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Woman meditates on a mountain top at sunset at White Rock Mountain in Arkansas.

The roots of "mindfulness"

Mindfulness seems to be just about everywhere these days -- from hospitals to schools, from high-brow news outlets to glossy celebrity magazines. But where does the word 'mindfulness' itself actually come from? In my recent efforts to collect 'untranslatable' words relating to wellbeing, I've come to appreciate what a tricky business translation can be. Even with seemingly straightforward words, it can be all too easy for meanings and nuances to get lost somewhere along the way. But what about 'mindfulness'? Essentially, it is a translation of sati, a word in the Pali language of ancient India - in which many original Buddhist texts were written - that can roughly be translated as 'awareness.' However, in researching the way Buddhism has been transmitted to the West, I've come to wonder whether 'mindfulness' is really the best word we could have chosen.

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What does "sati" mean?

In its original Buddhist context, sati is used to capture a kind of present-moment awareness. We see this usage in what is arguably the seminal text on mindfulness in the Buddhist teachings, the satipatthana sutta. This includes instructions that will ring a bell with anyone who has ever sat in a meditation class, such as: 'Establishing present-moment recollection right where you are, simply breathe in, simply aware, then breathe out, simply aware.' So what does sati mean here? In simple terms, sati denotes 'remembrance' and 'recollection.' However, when used within a meditative context - as in this teaching - it doesn't refer to historical memory per se, but to a mental state in which one recollects/remembers the activity that "one is engaged in, in the present moment," as John Peacock puts it. Similarly, the Buddhist teacher Analayo explains that sati involves remembering to focus on "what is otherwise too easily forgotten: the present moment."

Why was "mindfulness" chosen as a translation?

Ok, fair enough. But then, the question arises, why was 'mindfulness' picked as a translation for sati? The term was first coined by the great Buddhist scholar T. W. Rhys Davids at the dawn of the 20th Century. Interestingly though, Rhys Davids deliberated among various terms before settling on mindfulness. In his 1881 publication of Buddhist suttas, sati was rendered as 'mental activity,' and even simply as 'thought.' It was then only with Rhys Davids' 1910 work that he settled on the term mindfulness. The word was then later picked up and embraced by Jon Kabat-Zinn when he created his Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programme, which was so influential in bringing mindfulness to the West. And, he does indeed seem to capture the 'flavour' of sati in his influential definition of mindfulness, namely "the awareness that arises through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment."

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Is "mindfulness" really the best word we can find?
It seems every time I turn the TV on, news channels are reporting about a mass murderer or giving attention to the negative events going on in the world. It's not to say that keeping us informed with such events are unnecessary, however by consistently reporting about these situations and only covering the negative side of the world is affecting all of us in a negative way.



I personally, don't watch the news because of the negativity that is brought to light. But, even being a person that doesn't watch the news, I still hear about these tragic events through the radio, internet, Facebook, news infomercials, other people etc. It's almost as if you can't get away from it.

Below, I have listed a few ways the news is negatively affecting the world and how we can change that:



1. It is slowly turning races against each other

Unfortunately, I believe racism is still alive in this day and age. Racism should be a thing of the past but certain things are happening every day that keep it relevant. In my opinion, news outlets and media coverage on the negative events that occur, are keeping racism at the forefront. They shine the light on the race of the individual that chose to partake in the events.

Why is it necessary to focus on the religion or the color of someone's skin when tragedies happen? Why don't we explore the issue a little deeper into the beliefs and values of the individual instead of the race or religion as a whole? Instead of focusing on the race of the individual or group and turning humanity against each other, they should focus on the unity of humanity and try bringing everyone together when a tragedy happens.

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This can be fixed but we have to take steps in the right direction and stop turning on a certain race or religion when something bad happens.

"We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference." - Nelson Mandela



2. It is making us subconsciously judge people

The way these events are being broadcasted is subconsciously making us judge other individuals. When an individual or group that has a certain religion or race, does something to harm people, the media outlets are quick to put the spotlight on the race or religion of the attacker. Which in turn makes a lot of people look at this race or religion in a different way.

I did this for a long time as well. I am guilty of judging a race when I saw them but knowing what I know now, I have changed how I look at people. Just because I see a certain race in an airport or on the side of a road, I don't automatically assume they are the same as the crazy attacker that is getting the national spotlight.



3. It is making people think there is no good left in this world

Pick any night of the week and sit down and watch the news for an hour and see how you feel afterwards. I am willing to bet that the news made you feel sorry for humanity and made you feel that there is no good left in this world.

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There are times where the news broadcasts positive things but the ratio of positive to negative is awfully high in favor of the negative side. If we were to focus more on the positive side of things, the world wouldn't be in the situation that it's in right now. Together, we can make this happen and put the spotlight on the positivity in the world but it's something that has to be done together.



4. It is altering the mindset of people without them realizing it

The mindset of a person is where it all starts. This is where the thoughts and ideas get planted into your mind and you start seeing it the same way as it is being portrayed to you. This is where the media outlets get into our heads.

They will continue to cover and keep the story at the front of your mind. After a few days of this, your mindset starts to change and it starts making you change your opinion on the world. It starts making you have less confidence in humanity and starts changing your attitude about life in general. The way to stop this is to stop tuning into the news.

Try taking a break from the news for a week and see how you feel after not witnessing the negativity in the world. From my experience, you will see just how much happier you are when you cut that negativity out.

"With one kind gesture you can change a life. One person at a time you can change the world. One day at a time we can change everything." - Dr. Steve Maraboli



I honestly don't believe the news is purposely trying to negatively affect us. I completely understand that news outlets want to stay relevant and stay at the top of the news source by having the breaking story but negatively affecting humanity and the world isn't going to make this world a better or safer place.

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Hindustan Times via Getty Images DEHRADUN, INDIA - MARCH 14: Police horse Shaktimaan got his leg fracture after allegedly beaten by BJP MLA during a BJP rally at Vidhansabha, on March 14, 2016 in Dehradun, India. (Photo by Vinay Santosh Kumar/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

NEW DELHI -- Here's some great news for those who are losing sleep over Shaktimaan, the beautiful horse of the Uttarakhand Police force.

Shaktimaan, injured during a huge protest in Dehradun on Monday, is doing fine and won't need amputation.

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The 14-year-old horse is expected to walk by April, and even run, The Economic Times reported today.

Shaktimaan, bought for Rs95,000, has served in the Uttarakhand Police force for the past ten years. The 5'8 horse enjoys pride of place on Republic Day and Independence Day parades, and is also part of the state's Kedarnath Yatra programme.

Arup Kumar, who is overseeing Shaktimaan's treatment, said that the horse had suffered an "open comminuted fracture." "We will assess after six weeks and I'm sure it will be able to walk and even run again. It all depends on the attitude and morale of the animal," he told ET.

Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker Ganesh Joshi, accused of attacking Shaktimaan and breaking his leg during the protest on Monday, has been booked for cruelty.

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But Joshi has said that he never touched Shaktimaan , and the BJP leader has offered to pay for the horse's treatment.

"I never touched the horse. I hit the road with a baton to push the horse back as another horse ran over our activist who is now in ICU. I am an animal lover. I have a street dog at home," he said.

Gauri Maulekhi, who works with the Uttarakhand unit of People for Animals, an animal rights organization, had a more somber assessment of the situation.

"Shaktimaan will never be the same again. The team of vets have indicated extremely poor prognosis," Maulekhi wrote in a Facebook post.

"PFA Uttarakhand runs the only equine shelter in Uttarakhand and has offered to keep Shaktimaan and care for it for the remainder of its natural life," she wrote.

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Rejecting Rajya Sabha's five amendments and opposition's appeal not to make "haste", the Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the legislation that aims at better targeting of subsidies through the Aadhaar unique identity number within hours of the Upper Housing returning it.

Just moments before it was adjourned for more than a month-long recess for scrutiny of budget, the Lok Sabha adopted the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other subsidies, benefits and services) Bill, 2016, by a voice vote after rejecting the recommendations for five amendments made by the Upper House earlier in the evening.

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Armed with the Speaker's certificate that it was a money bill, the government rushed it through the Rajya Sabha, which cannot amend it but only make recommendations for amendment to the Lok Sabha.

Once the Lok Sabha passes a money bill with or without amendments recommended by the Rajya Sabha, it is deemed to have been passed by both the Houses.

Showing urgency in getting the law through, the government, which enjoys a comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha, brought the measure to the lower house within an hour of being returned by the Rajya Sabha.

The government considers the Aadhaar bill as a significant instrument for implementing its Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes by better targeting of beneficiaries but the Opposition attacked the government saying it was violating the Supreme Court direction that Aadhaar card cannot be made mandatory but should only be voluntary.

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Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who moved the bill and piloted them in both the Houses, also turned down opposition argument that Parliament cannot legislate since the matter is before Supreme Court.

Parliament cannot abdicate its duty under the Constitutional which clearly separates powers among various institutions, he said.

In last-ditch attempts, Opposition members including those from Trinamool, CPI(M) and BJD appealed to the government to respect the "wisdom" of the house of elders and accept their amendments in a democratic spirit and not to reject them on "ego".

The Lok Sabha rejected the amendments proposed by the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote amid walk out by opposition parties including Trinamool Congress, BJD and CPM. Congress members were conspicuous by their absence.

Opposition members Saugata Bose (TMC), Mohd Salim (CPI-M) and Tataghat Satpathy (BJD) told the government of the wisdom of the Constitution's founding fathers in creating a bicameral legislature of which Rajya Sabha forms an important part.

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They asked the government accept Rajya Sabha's recommendations on issues provisions relating to description of "national security", "public safety", inclusion of CVC and CAG in the oversight committee and penal provisions so that the privacy of individuals is not violated.

Giving reasons for not accepting the amendments, Jaitley said "these amendments have dangerous consequences as they gave wide power to the government to share information."

He was responding to the amendments proposed by former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and passed by the Upper House in a division pressed by the Congress leader.

Ramesh wanted the words 'national security' to be replaced by "public emergency and public safety" for sharing the bio-metric details.

Jaitley further said while "national security" is a defined phrase and is mentioned in the Constitution, terms public emergency and public safety can be subject to wide interpretation.

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He said he has tightened the provision envisaged in the UPA Bill with regard to protecting the privacy of individuals.

The minister said that opposition to the Aadhaar Bill was with a "political motive" and most of the amendments were not part of the UPA Bill.

Referring to the other amendment with regard to engaging Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) for the purpose of disclosing bio-metric details, Jaitley said, the issues concerning "national security cannot be handled by public auditors or anti-corruption authority."

It has to be handled by Home Secretary, Defence Secretary or Cabinet Secretary, he said.

Under the Bill one authority is created in Delhi will decide on sharing of information and the decision of the authority can be reviewed by a committee headed by Cabinet Secretary in three months.

Jaitley further said that the some personal information can be shared with the consent of individual but core bio-metric details cannot be shared even with the consent of individual.

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Taking a dig at the CPM which walked out of the House, he said, the left party has entered into relationship in West Bengal "but don't kill youth Congress leader in Kerala...you are romancing in West Bengal and murdering each other in Kerala." .

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Hindustan Times via Getty Images BHOPAL, INDIA - MARCH 1: Students appear for the CBSE class 12th examinations at Govt. Subhash School of Excellence on March 1, 2016 in Bhopal, India. CBSE class X and XII board exams have begun from today and will end on March 28 and April 22, respectively. This year, over 25 lakh students has registered for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exams, around 6.3 per cent more than last year's total. Nearly 15 lakh students are expected to appear for 10th and over 10.5 lakh for the 12th exams. The exams for class 10th will continue till March 28th and class 12th exams will end on April 22nd. (Photo by Mujeeb Faruqui/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Students of 12th standard appearing for their Boards were in for a shock on the day of their Mathematics examination this year. According to The News Minute, over 115 petitions were filed on Change.org in the last 24 hours by students and parents requesting leniency in the evaluation as the paper was so tough it reportedly made students cry.

The issue was also raised in the Lok Sabha by Congress' KC Venugopal who, during Zero Hour, said, "It was very lengthy. Maximum questions were from outside the syllabus. It was reported that questions were tricky...students found it difficult to complete the exam on time."

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Joining him, AIADMK's SR Vijayakumar added, "I request the Human Resource Minister to look at the issue and tell the CBSE to be liberal in valuation."

The mathematics paper was traumatic for the parents as well. What are you trying to judge in a teenager by giving them such papers? The questions were not at all from NCERT. We made our daughter practice question papers for the last five to six years of different regions in the country. It actually pains that the efforts of two years of Class XI and Class XII are ending this way, a parent of a Class 12 student from Chennai said.

N K Premchandran of RSP said tens of thousands of CBSE students were "adversely affected" by the mathematics paper as 80 per cent of the questions were very difficult and also out of syllabus. Ramesh Bidhuri (BJP) blamed the UPA government, saying they have set up a system which tries to "suppress bright Indian students".

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Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said such an issue has "nothing to do with this side or that side. The matter deserves enquiry," he said, adding that he would refer the matter to the HRD Ministry.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Yuri_Arcurs via Getty Images Shot of a young gamer focused on his game - this is an alternative version to iStock file 43952150 - ALL screen content on this image is created from scratch by Yuri Arcurs' team of professionals for this particular photo shoothttp://195.154.178.81/DATA/i_collage/pi/shoots/783867.jpg

Google has removed the android app SmeshApp from the Google play store after CNN-IBN published a report on how Pakistani spy agencies used it to snoop on Indian Army.

It is reported that the app was used to get tactical as well as personal information of the army personnel. Almost 200 top officers were targeted through the spyware. The report said that fake facebook profiles were used to honeytrap the officers. First officers were sent the friend request through the fake profiles and then they chatted with them. Then they were prompted to download the SmeshApp.

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The app was a spyware in the disguise of a calling and chat app. Once installed on the phone it collected data from the phone and sent it to the server situated in Germany. The service was hosted by a man based out Karachi named Sajid Rana. The information was tracked down by IBN using the Whois service which gives out information of the server based on the URL.

The archived images taken from Google play store suggests that the website mentioned in the privacy policy Smeshapp.com is also hosted by the same person. The website is not accessible at the moment. Apart from displaying the number of call and SMS made the app could even access the content on the phone. Security experts even believe that the location details and photographs might have been compromised.

India's communication minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told in an interview, "I will get my officers to check how the spying was done through the app and what were the gaps in the security measures. We will take a follow-up action once we get the details". He added that "Tech companies like Google have to be alive to India's security concerns".

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It is interesting that Google earlier used to scan apps through an automated program but recently the play store started manually reviewing apps last year to avoid low quality or spyware apps. And screenshots suggest that SmeshApp was released somewhere around last year.

The history is Pakistani hackers attacking Indian websites or services is not new. Back in 2010 CBI website was attacked, in 2015 Kerala government website, In 2014 Indian Revenue services website were hacked. Last year 'Pakistani Cyber Army' even took down 22 goverment portals in a hack. In the most recent attack they defaced the AIIMS Raipur website.

Government is issuing new advisories of the use of the social media to the Army. They have forbidden the use of chat apps such as WeChat and Lime. Apart from that they have told the officers not to reveal designation or posting location on the social media, not to put profile pictures with uniform or any military background and not to accept friend requests from unknown people. The growing attacks through the technology suggests that Indian government needs to tighten the security on the cyber front.
PUNIT PARANJPE via Getty Images New Zealand bowler Nathan McCullum (4th R) celebrates with team mates after the wicket of India's batsman Shikhar Dhawan (R) during the World T20 cricket tournament match between India and New Zealand at The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on March 15, 2016. / AFP / PUNIT PARANJPE (Photo credit should read PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images)

NAGPUR -- Title favourites India capitulated to a shocking 47-run defeat against a spirited New Zealand in a low-scoring game as the hosts launched their ICC World Twenty20 campaign in the most ignominious manner, here tonight.

After restricting New Zealand 126 for seven, India put up a pathetic batting display to be bundled out 79 in 18.1 overs, their second lowest Twenty20 total, on a turning track at a jam-packed VCA Stadium in Jamtha.

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It was a horrendous performance from India, ranked world no 1 in the Twenty20 format, as the famed batting line-up showed poor skills and application to lose their fifth successive match against the Kiwis.

With impressive figures of 4-0-11-4, young left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner turned out to be the star performer with the ball for New Zealand, recording the best bowling figures by a Kiwi tweaker in India.

The home team now proceed to Kolkata to take on arch-foes Pakistan in their second game on March 19 while New Zealand travel to Dharamsala to clash against Trans-Tasman rivals Australia a day earlier.

India's jinx in the T20 format against the Kiwis, thus, continued as the home team's batting department came a cropper against the Kiwi spin trio of Nathan McCullum, Santner and Ish Sodhi.

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Among the top five batsmen, only Virat Kohli reached double figures by making 23 off 22 balls with two fours while captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who made a run-a-ball 30 with one six and as many four, and Ravichandran Ashwin (10) were the only others to do so.

Dhoni prolonged India's innings which looked a totally lost cause with the hosts staggering at 43 for seven that improved marginally to 61 for seven after the 15th over and was ninth batsmen to be dismissed, caught at long on off Santner after striking Sodhi for a huge straight six a little while earlier.

Nine of India's 10 wickets fell to the Kiwi spin trio while last man Ashish Nehra was castled by pacer Adam Milne to complete the rout.

Santner captured a stunning 4 for 11, Sodhi grabbed 3 for 18 while McCullum, the senior-most spinner, took 2 for 15.

India commenced their modest chase on a shocking note by losing four wickets for 26 inside the powerplay and then lost their most in-form batsman Kohli at 39 in the ninth over.

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The procession started when Shikhar Dhawan tried a sweep a McCullum delivery and was trapped plumb in front off the fifth ball.

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Confinement and denial of rights are a longstanding problem for millions of migrant workers employed in Saudi Arabia. The country has been a popular destination for skilled and unskilled workers soon after oil was discovered in the late 1930s. But poor working conditions, including isolation and brutality, has changed the mindset of Indians, despite the monetary benefits.

An Indian truck driver from Karnataka has appealed for help, accusing his Saudi employer of violating his rights.

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In the video shared by the social activist and entrepreneur Kundan Srivastava, one Abdul Sattar Makandar who works for AL Suroor United Group, tearfully says that his employers were not letting him go home.

"I have been in Saudi Arabia for the last 23 months, and have applied for a leave to come home over five months ago. But my employer is not letting me go home... My employer doesn't give me proper salary, neither does he give me money for food," says Makandar with tears freely flowing from his eyes.

Srivastava, founder of Be In Humanity Foundation, shared the video on his Facebook wall. He has tagged Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs, and requested her for help.

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Swaraj had taken up the matter with the Saudi Foreign Office and asked for strict action when a Saudi sponsor chopped off an Indian maid's hand in October 2015.

In 2014, Saudi Arabia signed a new agreement with India, promising a standard contract that includes a minimum wage and weekly off. But Vani Saraswathi, an associate editor and strategic adviser at Migrant-Rights.org, said the contract does not address other key human rights issues including mobility, minimum work hours and private access to communication.

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Hindustan Times via Getty Images NEW DELHI, INDIA - MARCH 15: JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar speaks the gathering after the march from Mandi House to Parliament today to demand the release of Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya on March 15, 2016 in New Delhi, India. The JNU or Jawaharlal Nehru University has sent notice to 21 students including Kanhaiya Kumar over a controversial February 9 event in support of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, in which anti-India slogans were raised. Kanhaiya Kumar, charged with sedition for his alleged role in the event, was released from jail earlier this month after three weeks in jail. Two others, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, are still in jail.(Photo by Vipin Kumar/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

A high-level inquiry committee set up by the Jawaharlal Nehru University has found that alleged anti-national slogans were raised on February 9 by a group outsiders who had their faces covered with cloth, according to reports. The Indian Express reported that security staff and eyewitnesses present on the campus verified their presence.

The committee also observed that it was "unfortunate" that the students of JNU allowed that to happen and that holding the event despite cancellation of permission was an act of "willful defiance".

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The panel has also pointed out lapses on part of the university's security unit, saying it did not make any efforts to stop outsiders from shouting provocative slogans and stop them from leaving the campus.

"The organisers disobeyed the instructions from the administration about not holding the event. This amounts to willful defiance. It is most unfortunate that the organisers allowed the event to be taken over by a group of outsiders who created a charged atmosphere by raising provocative slogans.

This act by outsiders has brought disrepute to the entire JNU community.

"This act by outsiders has brought disrepute to the entire JNU community," the report of the five-member panel said.

"The committee also notes that none of the JNUSU office-bearers acted with due responsibility. The office-bearers had to behave with even more restraint and caution befitting the position they hold. They need to rise above the politics and other differences as they represent the student community. It is unbecoming of student representatives that they should be found engaging in disorderly conduct or condoning it," it added.

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The report has two sections -- findings and recommendations.

The section of findings has been shared by the university with 21 students who have been issued a show-cause notice in this connection, the recommendations have been kept out of public domain.

Highly-placed sources in the university told PTI that the panel, which submitted its report on March 11, has recommended rustication of five students including JNU Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya who are facing sedition charge.

While the panel has identified a few students guilty of procuring permission from the university on false pretext, it has also noted that the Dean of Students (DoS) should have withdrawn the permission in writing and not by sending text message to the Chief Security Officer.

The Dean's office was not vigilant enough to anticipate and prevent this event. Security did not make any efforts to stop outsiders from shouting provocative slogans and prevent them from leaving the campus.

"It has to be noted that since the event had taken place in 2015 as well, the Dean's office was not vigilant enough to anticipate and prevent this event. Security did not make any efforts to stop outsiders from shouting provocative slogans and prevent them from leaving the campus," the report said.

The Express report quoted OP Yadav, operations manager of G4S security, as having told the panel that the students reached Sabarmati around 4:45 pm. Khalid and Anirban put up posters, set up a public address system and started addressing the gathered students. Soon slogans of Kashmir ke log sangharsh karo, hum tumhare saath hain, Afzal Guru zindabad, Manipur maange azadi, Nagaland maange azadi, Kashmir maange azadi were raised.

A meeting of the university's top brass, chaired by the Vice Chancellor, today discussed the report following which the varsity issued show-cause notice to 21 students including Kanhaiya and Umar, who were found guilty of having violated university rules and discipline norms.

The committee was formed on February 10 to probe the event organised to protest hanging of Afzal Guru, the Parliament attack convict. Kanhaiya, Umar and Anirban were arrested on charges of sedition in connection with the programme.

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Kanhaiya was released on bail from Tihar on March 3 while Umar and Anirban are still in judicial custody.

The university had on March 11 revoked the academic suspension of eight students including Kanhaiya after completion of the probe by the five-member panel. It was decided to keep them under suspension from academic activities till the inquiry was over. However, they were allowed to stay in the hostels.

The panel, which was granted three extensions before it finally submitted its report, also faced difficulties in the probe as students refused to depose before it demanding that the inquiry be constituted afresh.

The varsity, however, turned down the demand and maintained that the students will be given three chances to appear before the disciplinary committee and, if they fail to do so, the panel will finalise its recommendations on the basis of evidence available.

The university authorities maintained that a final decision regarding the "quantum of punishment" will be taken on basis of the reply sent by students to show-cause notices by tomorrow evening.

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(Inputs from PTI)

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Hindustan Times via Getty Images DEHRADUN, INDIA - MARCH 14: MLA Ganesh Joshi beating a horse during a BJP rally at Vidhansabha, on March 14, 2016 in Dehradun, India. (Photo by Vinay Santosh Kumar/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Union minister Maneka Gandhi, who is also the founder of India's largest animal rights group 'People for Animals', has called for immediate expulsion of BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi from the party for allegedly attacking a police horse which suffered severe injuries in one of its hind legs, leading to nationwide outrage from animal lovers. The MLA has said he is ready to face penalties if charges against him are proven.

"The entire BJP has come to disrepute because of this one man's actions. He should be expelled from the party without delay", said Gandhi.

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The entire BJP has come to disrepute because of this one man's actions. He should be expelled from the party without delay.

Meanwhile, a Change.org petition urged Gandhi to make sure that a prosthetic leg is provided to the horse which requires surgery and amputation of the injured leg for it to survive, according to veterinary doctors.

"The maimed horse should be provided with a prosthetic leg and transferred to animal shelter so it could lead the rest of its life in peace," the petition said.

People for Animals, Uttarakhand, has said it will be happy to assist in arranging expert equine veterinarians or to shelter the disabled animal at the equine shelter run by PFA in Sahaspur, Dehradun. A complaint letter from trustee Gauri Maulekhi to the Director General of Police, Uttarakhand, has also called for stringent action against the culprit.

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JOSHI'S DEFENCE

Joshi initially said he wasn't present during the protest on Monday during which the brutal incident happened. But on Tuesday he changed his stand and said he was ready to face penalty if found guilty.

He told India Today Television that the CCTV footage is misleading.

"When I saw that my party workers were being attacked by the police, I took the lathi from one of the cops and hit it on the ground. I did this to save my people. I did not hit the horse. In the video footage that is being circulated, you can clearly see that there is sufficient distance between me and the horse... I allow animal activists to take action against me if the charges against me are proven. Chop off my leg if am proven guilty," he told the channel.

Several videos were being circulated on the Internet. From one angle the MLA is seen beating the stick on the ground. The startled horse, when it tried to back away from the attack, falls on its hind leg. In most photos available of the incident, Joshi is seen with a stick raised.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi lies down on a mat as he performs yoga along with thousands of Indians on Rajpath, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, June 21, 2015. Millions of yoga enthusiasts are bending their bodies in complex postures across India as they take part in a mass yoga program to mark the first International Yoga Day.(AP Photo/Saurabh Das)

NEW DELHI -- Delhi police has registered a case and interrogated journalist Pushp Sharma about a story that he published recently, saying the government had said in a Right to Information response that it was against policy to hire Muslims as trainers for International Yoga Day events.

Sharma was picked up by Delhi Police Tuesday night for interrogation and let off after four hours of questioning. He has been asked to return to the Kotla Mubarakpur police station today morning with documents. His report first appeared in Milli Gazette.

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An FIR under sections 468 (forgery), 471 (using a forged document), & 153A (promoting enmity between different religions) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered on the complaint of the AYUSH Ministry, deputy commissioner of police Prem Nath told HuffPost India, while acknowledging that Sharma was interrogated.

"We have registered an FIR yesterday based on a complaint by the AYUSH ministry," the DCP said. "The interrogation can take place every day if required, since the investigation is ongoing." Sharma has not yet been named as accused in the FIR, according to police sources.

The contentious issue in the case is a document called Annexure I that the government says it never released and Sharma says he received as a response to a Right to Information query. The document contains a line that says "As per government policy, no Muslim candidate was invited, selected or sent abroad."

In its denial, the government says it has never provided this document as part of an RTI response. But it has not said whether the information contained in it, which includes the number of Muslim candidates who applied and the number and names of trainers who were selected and sent overseas, were true. In its denial, the government has said that in inviting delegates from overseas for Yoga Day, their religion was not considered. But as Milli Gazette pointed out, that was never the question. The contention is about those who were selected to be sent overseas as trainers.

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Sharma told The Wire that cops accused him of fabricating the report, and closely questioned him on who was "behind" the report, and who was "funding" Sharma.

They claimed that they are in possession of a complaint from the ministry, but never showed it to me. All they had as supporting documents was just one RTI query with some replies," said Sharma. "They insisted that I had fabricated a reply and asked me who was behind me and who was funding me. They only mellowed down after I told them that I have been filing RTI applications for the past 10 years and have been regularly doing stories on that basis.

As for the story on the International Yoga Day, I told them that it too was based on an RTI reply and I have documents to support my claims. Then later at night they asked me to go and return with all the RTI applications and replies which I possess. I have been asked to be at the police station again at 11 am on Wednesday.

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Election Commission of India

KOLKATA -- The Central Election Commission yesterday said it had received representations from political parties on the sting video purportedly showing TMC leaders accepting money to help a fictitious private firm and that the matter will be examined.

"The point was made by representatives of political parties and the matter will be examined. We can't say anything immediately as we haven't seen anything as of now. The matter will be examined," Election Commissioner A K Joti said.

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He was asked by reporters what action the EC was planning to take in regard to the sting operation.

Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi, who was also present, said, "This will be passed on to appropriate authorities now."

The full bench of the Election Commission, led by CEC Nasim Zaidi, is in the city since last Monday to examine poll preparedness for the upcoming Assembly elections.

The EC had last night met representatives of various political parties and today they met SPs, DMs, senior bureaucrats and police officials.

Zaidi said the EC would also look into the appointment of a special observer for the state, adding it would take a serious view of incidents of laxity in the enforcement of the model code of conduct and lack of neutrality on the part of officials.

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"Many political parties have informed us about the lack of neutrality of certain officials and have asked us to take appropriate action. We cannot tell you who they are, we have taken note of that. We have independent sources also. We will asses it and an appropriate decision will be taken soon," Zaidi said.

Zaidi said the EC was committed to conduct the poll in a free and fair manner and will place police observers, general observers, expenditure observers and voter awareness observers.

Zaidi said that all political parties expressed satisfaction over the electoral roll.

On the voting process in the border enclaves, Zaidi said notification of delimitation would be issued on Tuesday or Wednesday.

"We have asked the district magistrate of Cooch Behar to immediately undertake the process of enrolling persons who have become Indian citizens. Their number stands at 16,000. And we hope that this entire process will be completed by 10-15 April," the CEC said.

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Reno County sees a spike in drug and alcohol overdoses during October

The 27 overdoses through Oct. 21 is an average of more than one a day, the highet average since officials began tracking the data real time.
Darius Van Arman Of Secretly Group On Music Industry Equality, Transparency

[UPDATED] In this interview major music industry player Darius Van Arman (Secret Group, For William Management) discusses the value of industry equality, why transparency is so important, and why he believes the music industry can be bigger and better than ever.

_____________________________

Guest post by Songspace

Darius Van Arman has a lot on his plate. The music business visionary is one of the co-founders and co-owners of the Secretly Group, which consists of influential indie labels Jagjaguwar (started by Van Arman in 1996), Secretly Canadian, and Dead Oceans, as well as the respected reissue house, The Numero Group, and a publishing arm, Secretly Publishing. Collectively, the group has helped launch artists such as Bon Iver, Sharon Van Etten, Phosphorescent, Angel Olsen, and Foxygen. Van Arman is also a co-founder and co-owner of Fort William Management, a firm that manages the likes of The War on Drugs, Grizzly Bear, Beirut and Grouplove. In case that all wasnt enough, last year, Van Arman and the Secretly Group partnered with Dave Hansen, the GM of Epitaph Records, to start Independent Record Pressing, a vinyl record manufacturing plant in Bordertown, New Jersey.

In his spare time, Van Arman sits on the board of directors for Merlin, SoundExchange, and A2IM, three of the leading advocacy groups for independent labels and artists. In June of 2014, he traveled to Washington, DC to speak to Congress on behalf of A2IM. In the end, he wrote in an essay that Billboard published a day before his testimony, all the independent sector wants is a free market with a level playing field. A few weeks later, the WIN Fair Digital Deals Declaration was released. Van Arman co-authored the decree, which outlined a collective plan for transparent accounting related to digital transactions. Over 700 labels, including Beggars Group, Sub Pop, Domino, Tommy Boy, and Epitaph, signed it. Equality and transparency. Its the same message a group of Grammy luncheon attendees heard last month, nearly two years later, from Van Arman and his main advocacy cohort, Beggars Group head Martin Mills. [Artists] deserve fair and equitable trading terms and transparent accounting. The man is consistent.

Its easy to find inspiration in Van Armans work ethic and his positivity. I do truly believe, he wrote to us last week, that sometime soon we will have a bigger music industry than what we had in the heyday of the 90s and early 2000s. Read on to find out why he thinks thats a possibility.

The War on Drugs found success working with both Secretly Canadian and Fort William.

SONGSPACE: Its clear that you believe the odds are stacked against the independents due to what you describe as the anti-competitive market influence that scale provides the majors. Whats the most illustrative example of this you can point to? If it were up to you, how would you go about leveling the playing field?

VAN ARMAN: Scale advantage can be good. It can increase efficiencies and brings down prices for consumers. A healthy market has plenty of participants doing what they can to obtain scale advantage, because it can make them more competitive. However, scale advantage can be abused, and thats when markets become distorted, which is not good for anyone.

For example, when a big distributor tells a retail store that they can order its product only if the store agrees to give forty percent of its floor space over to the distributor, thats an abuse of scale advantage. It doesnt serve consumers, as the floor space doesnt reflect actual demand in the marketplace for the products. And it creates costly inefficiencies, as a lot of that floor space would be wasted by the mismatched demand. That kind of behavior indirectly increases prices, and it stymies the otherwise competitive offerings of smaller distributors.

Thats just one example. In the digital streaming market, there are many sophisticated ways a company can abuse its scale advantage, many of which would not be transparent to other companies or consumers.

What can the independents do to level the playing field (and get in the way of the abuse of scale advantage)? I think the most effective way is to participate in collective licensing. Indies getting together, like a strong bundle of sticks, and achieving better market rates (and better market conditions) for themselves is a great counter-balance to the weight that a few, overly-concentrated companies can throw around.

Is it possible to achieve true transparency given all of the entrenched interests that benefit from the status quo? What steps do you think artists, songwriters and managers can take to push the ball forward?

The current culture of the music industry is not comfortable with true transparency yet, even on the artist, songwriter or manager side. But were moving in the right direction. Weve already gotten the ball rolling, as independents, by openly and loudly communicating standards of transparency that all of us should be striving for. I was a co-author of the WIN Fair Digital Deals Declaration, which was the first of its kind to establish a fair trading standard for the whole music industry. Our thinking: set the standard, then watch the market volunteer to move towards it, because it unlocks value for everyone. Artists, songwriters and managers are all part of the independent movement. Hopefully they will help carry the same flag forward. Or maybe it is time for all of us  labels, artists, songwriters, managers, publishers, producers  to sit down together to co-author new standards.

Does streaming have the capacity to create better outcomes for artists and creators than in the record industrys heyday of the 90s and early 2000s?

There will be winners and losers. The change in the music marketplace is a fundamental one. Companies and artists are now earning their bread off of music consumption, not music sales. And some artists make music that wont be listened to over and over again. I do truly believe that sometime soon we will have a bigger music industry than what we had in the heyday of the 90s and early 2000s. On the aggregate, labels and artists will be richer. However, this story wont be true for every artist or every label because of the more direct connection in the new music economy between compensation and actual consumption of music by music consumers.

Justin Vernon announced last week that Bon Iver was no longer winding down. The last album came out in 2011, when Spotify was just getting rolling in the States. Say Bon Iver was to release a new record, how would the development of streaming affect the marketing strategy?

Not at all, as our goals will be the same as when we released music by Justin in 2008 or 2011 or any other time. Let the music speak for itself, and help make it as accessible to as many people as possible without sacrificing any of the dignity that Justin brings to his work.

In the early days of your career, you launched a small record label to put out your friends bands first record. 20 years later, you are involved in a label group, a management company, and now a vinyl pressing plant. Is that sort of diversity necessary for a 2016 independent music business? What would you say to a current college student looking for advice on starting a label?

I am a big believer in starting small, and I think there are many examples of companies who have remained focused and are just a label (or just a publisher, or just a management business, etc.) and have not diversified, and are doing quite well. So I dont believe you have to diversify to survive or flourish. Just do what you do well, work hard and be nice to people! The rest usually sorts itself out.

The last 15 years have been a wild ride, but the dust is finally starting to settle, and were on the brink of a more efficient, transparent, and sustainable music business. All Together Now is a series of Q&As with some of the best and brightest minds in the music business regarding the changes they are experiencing and the steps they are taking to adapt. We interview influential artists and songwriters, as well as leaders from labels, management teams, publishers, and streaming services to hear what they think it takes for us to come together to build a faster, smarter music industry. All together now.

Subscribe here to receive our roundup of notable music business news and ideas  delivered by email weekly.

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Ensuring that our global network maintains its outstanding safety and efficiency metrics is the best way to assure that modern air services continue to be invaluable to global trade flows and the many industries and sectors which rely on aircraft to get their products from A to B. highlighted Dr. Liu.



Worldwide, modern air transport is essential for enabling global connectivity. In terms of direct and indirect impacts it supports over 58 million jobs and generates more than $2.4 trillion in economic activity. Last year, planes transported only half of one per cent of the total volume of goods traded internationally, however this small volume also translated into 35 per cent of the total value of all goods shipped via all transport solutions.

Recognizing the scale of air transports economic contributions, as well as the UNs long-term objectives, Dr. Liu stressed to the IATA Symposium audience that ICAO is working with great determination across all platforms to help assure broader social economic prosperity for all through the effective implementation of ICAOs Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and policies, in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for all the Member States in the world, and the value of air cargo trade offers a fantastic opportunity to facilitate economic and social development.

Dr. Liu also pointed to ICAOs ongoing No Country Left Behind initiative, noting that it seeks to ensure every State has the assistance and capacity-building required to effectively implement ICAO standards and policies. In so doing, these same States and Regions can then begin to realize aviations global connectivity benefits, and its extensive socio-economic impacts, she added.

Dr. Liu raised the point that liberalization can greatly mitigate fragmentation impacts, pointing to the successes being seen today in the European and ASEAN air transport markets. She also emphasized that screening procedures can be streamlined without adversely affecting already-strong security levels, and the need for infrastructure modernization across the board.

The full benefits of air cargo transport cannot be achieved without the modernization and expansion of infrastructure, including intermodal integration and seamless airport facilities, she commented. Governments have remained the primary sources for related funding, but privatization and Public-Private Partnerships can also be useful options to consider. In this regard, Dr. Liu urged States to include aviation in their national development plans as a strategic priority for sustainable State development.
We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector
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travel | forty eight hours in rome, italy

first things first, a disclaimer: i have never been interested in going to italy. i've never been interest in italian history, paid particular attention to the country's art or culture, and never really been a big fan of italian food (except pizza, because: pizza). i went to school with a big italian community of kids whose lives were all very "my big fat italian wedding" with their little house dress-wearing nonnas and tomato-growing uncles and packs of cousins causing havoc in the school yard, and so my initial awareness of the country was ~that. hardly the stuff holiday planning is made of, right? also: very naive, i will give you that. but: australia, so.

but similarly, i grew up in the catholic school system. sunday mass and easter vigil and all that jazz, so i've always had an "interest" in the vatican city and the papal residence and st. peter's basilica and - of course, the sistine chapel. so, while there we minimal interest in the country's capital, there was much interest in the vatican city, and so when i came across a package deal on travel zoo for two nights in rome, two nights in venice, flights and transfers between cities all for the low-low price of 199, i basically decided on a whim to go. and then i basically convinced charley to come with me. and this is what happened next...



the flight was early doors. we jumped on the bus from stratford just after 6:30am (amid a wave of humans who hadn't bought their tickets in advance like us and just ~hoped they'd be able to jump on board. note to all: plan better). the flight was mainly uneventful save for the ~freaken alps which were snowed up to the max and the most gorgeous ~freaken sight i'd ever ~freaken seen! we landed, we got a bus, very blah blah blah after that. a wee power nap on the plane left us ready to get out and see some sights, but we landed about an hour late which meant that by the time we reached our destination - almost another half an hour from the airport, it was about 2pm.

map in hand we headed to the closest ~thing on the map: the colosseum. except: we suck at reading maps so got pretty waylaid by way of being, uhm well, lost. for about half an hour, where we thought we were on one oranged-buildinged, blossom-lined road but we were on another oranged-buildinged, blossom-lined road. we reached our destination about an hour later (not even kidding), by which point we were a bit exhausted, a lot hungry, and well, not really in the mood for looking at a big pile of rubble that neither of us really knew anything about. we did the very british thing of "joining the queue" and took photos of the thing even though we didn't know why, then realised our own ridiculousness and went in search of food; we hoped feeding the humans might placate the hangriness, and make the ruins seems less...ruined.

unfortunately, i don't think it worked. thanks to wiki though, we learned everything we needed to over our first pizza and pasta (and red peroni) of the trip, which we decided would ~need to become a holiday ritual; the three pees: pizza, pasta, and peroni (or, prosecco, if the mood allowed). stuffed to the brim and totally satisfied with our late-lunch decision, we watched some unwanted grey clouds roll in, the heavens open up, and totally ruin the chance to see some more sights on our first day. instead, we headed to the metro and tried to figure ~that out, so we could get to our hotel before we lost more light.

the ars hotel was ~gorgeous to say the least. it wasn't super central - about 20 mins by metro, a short stroll, and one giant set of colourful steps from the colosseum, but easy enough to find, and in a really pretty and colourful part of the city that wasn't littered with tourists and seemed a lot more "us" than the centre was. we were buzzing! by six, we'd checked in, lay down to rest our weary feet, and managed to spam our friends and family very thoroughly on instagram. our room had its own terrace that came off it that offered absolutely ~incredible views of the city - how lucky were we!

well, except for the fact that the room was directly next to the only elevator in the whole hotel, meaning that whenever any of the guests used it, we were very, very aware. it rattled the walls, and was incredibly loud. i'm a light sleeper as it is, and i instantly panicked that i wouldn't be able to sleep in that room. even if the noise stopped by a certain time, my brain would ~know that it could start up again, and i'd be ridiculously anxious all night. there was no way i was having that. i went to speak to the front desk who were deeply apologetic (but not all that shocked, telling me they get this problem a lot) as there were no other rooms available to move us to, but there would be the next day. it was thursday - could we last one night in the noisy room? we'd have to, there was no other option.

weirdly, i had the best nights sleep of my life. probably the 5am start, the many, many hours of travelling plus the carb coma tipped off with exceptional gelato from nearby domus ice made it happen, but i also have the fan that i ran all night long to thank for it, though waking up in the hottest room i've ever been in was not a great way to start a new day. once we were showered, we popped out to the roof terrace to amaze the locals with our excellent outfit-post photo-taking skills, before hitting the breakfast bar ~hard and loading up on delicious pastries for the big day ahead. the sun was shining and we were expecting zero-to-little rain, so we headed out early to maximise our only full-day in rome.

our first stop was the vatican city (which i will write about separately otherwise this post will never end), where we managed to spend a good few hours wandering through st. peter's and around the city walls, before getting lost inside the maze that is the sistine chapel. honestly, a maze. we had to stop half way through at the cafe as we weren't sure we'd ever make it out and see the light of day - let alone another carb, again. from the vatican museum we headed across ponte san angelo by castel, into piazza navona - it was lunch time, and after the long-ass morning we'd had, we needed a drink.


U.S. Marines with the explosive ordnance disposal teams of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and 31st MEU swept Suseongri live-fire range to find, identify, approach, and then dispose of it in place or safely transport and dispose of it then during Exercise Ssang Yong 16 in Pohang, South Korea, Mar. 13, 2016.

Ssang Yong is a biennial combined amphibious exercise conducted by U.S. forces with the Republic of Korea Navy and Marine Corps, Australian Army and Royal New Zealand Army Forces in order to strengthen interoperability and working relationships across a wide range of military operations.

Our original mission was to sweep the range of unexploded ordnance (UXO) so two infantry companies could safely maneuver the range without worry of UXOs, said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Timothy Harrison, an officer in charge of the explosive ordnance disposal team with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Then we pushed further into an impact area to conduct training on identifying, transporting and disposing of foreign unexploded ordnance.

The EOD technicians with 13th MEU were able to exercise their capabilities to locate, identify and safely dispose of foreign UXOs.

We displayed our ability to go out and take foreign or U.S. unexploded ordnance, safely identify them, safely approach them, decide to transport it or decide its safe where it is and dispose of it where its at, Harrison said.

The EOD technicians had to complete their sweep so two separate MEU battalion landing teams could conduct a live-fire range.

We were clearing the training area of unexploded ordnance so that battalion landing team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment and 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment would be able to conduct a live-fire range as well as getting real world training on UXO clearance in case we run into it further down the road, said Staff Sgt. Zachary Rubemeyer, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

With such a small community EOD technicians rarely come together in large groups, but Exercise Ssang Yong 16 created the opportunity.

My most memorable experience during the training evolution was getting to work hand-in-hand with the other EOD technicians while seeing the difference in experiences and knowledge, Rubemeyer said. Very seldom do we have that many techs coming out to one range with one common goal. Its a great opportunity to create relations with them.

Altogether the Marines found more than 200 pounds of explosives and, in a series of controlled detonations, disposed of it properly to allow their battalion landing teams to begin their training safely.
Press Release: IMF Staff Completes 2016 Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) Mission to Ireland

End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMFs Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF's Executive Board for discussion and decision.

Press Release No. 16/113

March 16, 2016

In jurisdictions with financial sectors deemed by the IMF to be systemically important, including Ireland, financial stability assessments under the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) are a mandatory part of Article IV surveillance , and are supposed to take place every five years. IMF FSAPs are currently being conducted in a number of Euro area countries including Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, headed by Daniel Hardy, visited Ireland during December 2015 and March 2016 to conduct an assessment under the FSAP. The mission held discussions with the Central Bank of Ireland (Central Bank); the Department of Finance; representatives of other government agencies; and representatives of the non-government financial and nonfinancial sectors. It held discussions also with the European Central Bank;1 the European Banking Authority; the European Insurance and Occupational Pension Authority; and the European Systemic Risk Board. It is anticipated that a final report will be presented to the IMFs Executive Board in late July.

The context is of an Irish economy that is clearly rebounding. Since the crisis that began in 2008, the banking system has consolidated and shrunk. Over the same period, the internationally-oriented funds management sector has grown significantly. The regulatory and supervisory environment has been transformed by post-crisis reforms, notably the establishment of the European Banking Union.

Financial sector stability

The vulnerabilities of the Irish financial system reflect in large part the significant openness of the sector and the economy in general. Recent indicators of economic slowdown in some major countries must be of concern to a country such as Ireland that is dependent on trade in goods and services, and foreign direct investment. In particular, the tight linkages with the U.K. financial system warrant the ongoing attention of the authorities. The crisis legacies of heavy private and public debt burdens (especially for households with high loan-to-value ratios), a persistent stock of impaired loans, and high albeit declining unemployment mean that a large negative external shock could have a significant impact on the financial system. Purely domestic risks are, for the moment, contained, but there may be pockets of vulnerabilities: commercial real estate prices have been rising rapidly, though the prevalence of funding by foreign investors reduces domestic financial linkages. Domestic risks could regain importance if an economic boom accelerates.

The IMF FSAP team worked with the Central Bank to study aspects of the Irish funds management industry, which is of global scale. The analysis supports the notion that the international funds management industry is not closely linked to the rest of the Irish financial system and economy, but interconnections with the rest of the global financial system pose reputational risk. Also, money market and bond funds (based on a sample of larger funds) appear to have sufficient liquidity to enable them to meet a sharp increase in redemptions without disrupting underlying markets or resorting to redemption gates. Nonetheless, the activities of the sector should continue to be monitored closely, particularly with respect to the use of leverage in hedge and bond funds. Moreover, while recognizing the work undertaken to address data gaps to date, the authorities are encouraged to continue stepping up oversight of special purpose vehicles.

Prudential regulation and supervision

The FSAP focuses on Ireland-specific issues, with an emphasis on the effectiveness of supervisory practice. The authorities have been effective and vigorous in strengthening prudential regulation and supervision. Besides the introduction of new European and local regulations, the Central Bank has increased its resources and deployed them in on- and off-site supervision that is more pro-active than in the past, and innovative (for example, in looking at cyber-risks). In the banking area, the shift was partly occasioned by the advent of the Single Supervisory Mechanism, which has fundamentally changed the supervision of Irish banks both large and small. In the insurance area, the application of the Solvency II regulation from the start of 2016 represents a structural change that imposes new demands on insurers.

The Central Bank, with its European partners, has been developing new ways to spot emerging threats to the system as a whole, and introducing new macroprudential tools; Irelands boom-bust experience amply demonstrates the need for forward-looking action to head off incipient financial problems. The recently introduced limits on loan-to-value and loan-to-income ratios on residential mortgages should be seen in this light. There is some evidence that these tools have had a stabilizing effect on house prices and house price expectations. The measures, however, are still very new; more information is needed before trying to refine their calibration.

Financial safety nets

The FSAP included a focus on the crisis management framework for credit institutions. Significant progress is being made to ensure that problems, even in a large bank, can be corrected early on, and, if need be, it can be dealt with through the recently established Single Resolution Mechanism. The Single Resolution Mechanism has only just been launched, and some effort will be required to build up its operational efficiency.

Background

The FSAP is a key instrument of the IMFs surveillance and provides input to the Article IV consultation. It is a comprehensive and in-depth assessment of a countrys financial sector. FSAPs analyze the resilience of the financial sector, the quality of the regulatory and supervisory framework, and the capacity to manage and resolve financial crises. Based on its findings, FSAPs produce recommendations of a micro- and macro-prudential nature, tailored to country-specific circumstances.

For more information on the FSAP, please see http://www.imf.org/external/np/fsap/fssa.aspx.

1 Following the establishment of the Single Supervisory Mechanism, the ECB is responsible for the supervision of credit institutions in Ireland, in co-operation with the Central Bank.
IMF Survey : Conference Highlights Asias Advancing Role in the Global Economy

Asia has shown remarkable resilience and remains a key growth center

Bold reforms tailored to country circumstances needed to unlock Asias potential

Region welcomes expansion of IMF capacity building activities

Maintaining high growth, boosting job creation, and making further gains in reducing poverty are top policy priorities, Asian policymakers declared at a conference in New Delhi, India.

CONFERENCE IN INDIA

The regions dynamism presents an historic opportunity to invest now for the futureand to advance Asia, said IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde in opening remarks. Doing so will not only put Asia on the path to sustained growth, but also strengthen its role in the global economy, she noted.

Asia is a ray of hope for global economic recovery, added Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi. The twenty-first century is, and will be, the Asian Century.

Over the past 15 years, economies in Asia have become strongerthe region accounts for 40 percent of the global economy and contributes about two-thirds of global GDP growthand social progress and poverty reduction have seen significant improvements.

While Asia remains the most dynamic part of the world economy, its growth momentum has cooled, reflecting among other things a more challenging global environment. Participants at the three-day conference Advancing Asia: Investing of the Future examined the main economic and social challenges facing the region, and looked at ways that economic policy can boost potential output and advance employment growth and social progress more widely.

The March 11-13 conference, held in New Delhi, India, and jointly sponsored by the IMF and the Ministry of Finance of India, brought together over 400 people from 30 countries spanning Asia and the Pacific, and included senior officials, policy makers, prominent academics, opinion leaders, financial sector executives, and civil society representatives to discuss the future of the region.

New push to build capacity

During the opening session of the conference, the IMF and Government of India also announced the opening of the South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC) in New Delhi next year. The new center will offer a fully integrated training and technical assistance center serving Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

In announcing the SARTTAC, Prime Minister Modi said: The Fund has built up an immense stock of economic expertise. All its members should take advantage of this. All of us need to pursue policies that provide a stable macroeconomy, enhance growth and further inclusion. The Fund can be of great assistance in this. Apart from advice, the IMF can help in building capacity for policy making.

Despite the decade of strong growth in the region, millions of people in Asia continue to live in poverty, and labor force participation by women and youth remains low in many countries. Conference panelists discussed ways to share the regions wealth more equally, and to encourage increased labor force participation by women and youth.

Harnessing the regions potential

Some unique measures to overcome inequality in the region were discussed, including a scheme in the Maldives to concentrate populations across some 180 islands into central areas in order to ensure provision of basic services such as health and education. Azeema Adam, Governor of the Central Bank of Maldives, also noted that lack of financing for investment in basic infrastructure is a challenge for the Maldives.

Access to education, especially basic primary education, was seen as critical to achieving inclusive growth. The solution to overcoming poverty is giving everyone the chance to finish at least a basic education, said Milwida Guevara, CEO of Synergeia Foundation in the Philippines. Educational systems also need to be innovative and tailored to the needs of local communities.

Fazle Hasan Abed, Founder and Chairperson of BRAC Bank, Bangladesh, noted that access to financial services is an essential element of poverty reduction. Financial services drive social and economic progress. They facilitate peoples ability to enter the job market, access health care, and pay school fees. To encourage increased access, financial services need to be tailored to the needs of different income groups, from basic savings to providing loans for startup companies.

In her keynote remarks, Melinda Gates, co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, also underscored the importance of increased access to basic health and financial services, especially for women and girls. Harnessing the potential of women and girlsthe regions greatest natural resourceis the most effective means of securing sustainable, inclusive growth. Empowering women and girls is not only the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do, she said.

Cleaning up the environment

The economic consequences of climate change are increasingly coming to bear on the regionboth by raising their proclivity to experience natural disasters and in the deterioration of living standards and environmental conditions. Water resources and flooding, vulnerable coastal zones, heat waves, and increasingly volatile conditions for agriculture are just some of the problems to which countries in the region must adapt in the coming years. Panelists discussed the need to both adapt to and mitigate natural disasters.

Innovative measures to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change are taking place across the region, including project to finance green garment industries, organic fertilizer production, and solar homes and plants, participants observed. President Takehiko Nakao said that the Asian Development is increasingly focusing its financing on energy efficient projects, including renewable energies and public transportation projects.

At the same time, the Attorney General and Minister of Finance of Fiji, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, stressed the importance of adaption, especially for Pacific Island economies. He noted that Fiji, and most Pacific Island countries, already have low carbon footprints, but they face challenges to adapt their infrastructure to make them more resilient to natural disasters. This will be an important consideration as Fiji rebuilds form the recent devastation from Cyclone Winston.

Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Program, reiterated that addressing climate change requires action to both reduce carbon emissions and help vulnerable countries adapt, including through investing in disaster resilient infrastructure and climate smart agriculture.

Managing capital flows

Conference participants also discussed the challenges in the region associated with the normalization of U.S. and other advanced economy monetary conditions, in particular ongoing and possible financial volatility in the region. Panelists saw a role for both macroprudential as well as capital controls in managing capital flows. Sukudhew Singh, Deputy Governor, Bank Negara Malaysia, saw the need to use the full spectrum of tools, including capital controls, but policymakers would achieve the best outcomes by working on their own fundamentals.

There was also discussion of possible role for international policy coordination in ameliorating the negative impact of volatile capital flows. In a keynote address, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan noted that the larger economies needed to be more aware of the risks involving their monetary policies, which almost always focus inwards and tend to overlook the spillover effects on smaller economies. "Given the importance of spillovers from monetary policies, it is important we start building a global consensus on how to get better outcomes for the world," Rajan said.
Imperial Valley News Center

Secretary of State John Kerry Launches U.S. Global Strategy To Empower Adolescent Girls

Washington, DC - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced $47 million in new initiatives during the launch of the U.S. Global Strategy to Empower Adolescent Girls at the Department of State today.

In his remarks, Secretary Kerry said that $40 million from PEPFARs $85 million DREAMS Innovation Challenge will help girls access and remain in secondary school. This is an important part of PEPFARs work to prevent HIV/AIDS in adolescent girls and young women, since access to education can decrease the likelihood of infection.



The remaining $7 million will go to empowering adolescent girls in Afghanistan, where the United States will fund efforts to change perceptions about early and forced marriage at the district and community level. The Afghanistan initiative will also increase adolescent girls education through grants for girls to go to school and support for counseling, networks for girls, and training on life and vocational skills. These efforts are part of the Afghan Women Leadership Initiative, a United States government program working to empower Afghan women and girls to fully participate in their communities.



The strategy launched by the Secretary is the first U.S. strategy to focus on this age group. It brings together four government agenciesthe Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Peace Corps, the State Department, and United States Agency for International Developmentto address challenges related to adolescent girls safety, health, and education.

To implement the strategy, the Department will focus on three priorities: legal and policy frameworks that protect adolescent girls rights, including access to education; early and forced marriage and its consequences for married girls; and female genital mutilation/ cutting (FGM/C). These priorities also reflect the Departments commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Imperial Valley News Center

White House on the Publication of New Regulatory Changes for Cuba Sanctions

Washington, DC - As President Obama said in his State of the Union address, we have sought ways to increase opportunity for Americans and improve the lives of the Cuban people, including by opening the door to increased travel and commerce between our two countries. Among other changes, today the Departments of the Treasury and Commerce announced significant regulatory changes to make it easier for Americans to travel to Cuba, expand access to U.S. financial institutions and the U.S. dollar from Cuba, and expand the ability for Cubans living in the U.S. to earn a salary.

These changes, coupled with the arrangement recently announced by the Departments of State and Transportation allowing up to 110 non-stop flights daily between the United States and Cuba, will significantly increase the ability of U.S. Citizens to travel to Cuba to directly engage with the Cuban people.

The goal of the President's policy with Cuba is simple: to improve the lives of Cubans and to advance the interests of the United States. The President fundamentally believes that the best way to achieve that goal is by facilitating more interaction between the Cuban and American people, including through travel and commercial opportunities, and through more access to information.

Engagement and purposeful changes like those announced today will continue to empower the Cuban people and advance our enduring objectives of supporting human rights, improving the lives of the Cuban people, and promoting closer ties between our peoples. We have great confidence that this engagement will lead to a better future for both the American and Cuban people.
Another win for renewable energy in California

Imperial, California - The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors approved a lease agreement with Controlled Thermal Resources today that will allow for the development of a new centralized geothermal power plant in the Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area located in Southern California.

Once built, the new facility is expected to produce up to 250* megawatts of renewable energy per year and has the capacity to expand operations to 375 megawatts in future phases. On-ground drilling is expected to commence by the last quarter of 2016 with the power plant expected to be operational by 2020. The development schedule for this project will coincide with Californias renewable portfolio standard requirement that 50 percent of all energy procured by utilities must be derived from renewable resources by 2030.

Controlled Thermal Resources CEO, Rod Colwell praised the action saying the agreement with the Imperial Irrigation District signals a new era for geothermal energy production in the region. Geothermal power has the capacity to provide baseload electricity 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is fast becoming directly competitive with conventional fossil fuel plants, Colwell said.

Under the agreement, Controlled Thermal Resources will lease approximately 1,880 acres of district-owned land for as many as 50 years, assuming specific development milestones are met. In return, the district will receive rent and generation royalties.

We will be developing the worlds first technology to provide utility grade energy that is clean, safe and economically viable, with or without government incentives or subsidies, Colwell said. With the worlds focus now firmly set on renewable energy targets, projects like this one are imperative.

According to reports from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Outlook 2015, geothermal energy offers the highest baseload (24 /7) power supply capacity in the renewable resource sector. Geothermal energy is reported to produce power at 92 percent capacity compared to wind (38 percent capacity), solar (25 percent capacity), conventional coal (85 percent capacity) and advanced nuclear (90 percent capacity).

Imperial Irrigation District General Manager Kevin Kelley said the agreement falls in line with efforts made by the district to facilitate public-private partnerships that will drive renewable energy growth in the region, The Salton Sea represents one of the most abundant and underutilized sources of renewable energy in the state, including one of the most prolific geothermal areas of the world.

Imperial Irrigation District recently teamed up with Imperial County to launch the Salton Sea Restoration and Renewable Energy Initiative, which calls for restoration and habitat creation as a means to avert a public health crisis while at the same time promoting development of renewable energy in the Salton Sea region.

* One megawatt is enough energy to power approximately 750 homes.

About Controlled Thermal Resources (US) Inc. www.cthermal.com

Controlled Thermal Resources (US) Inc. is a multi-faceted Electricity Generation and Minerals Extraction Corporation that is developing a diverse Utility Scale Renewable Energy & Extraction Project located at the Salton Sea, Southern California, USA. CTR operate in the United States and Australia.

About Imperial Irrigation District www.iid.com

The third largest public power provider in California, IID manages more than 1,000 MW of energy derived from a diverse portfolio of resources, including solar, geothermal, biomass small hydro and natural gas.
United States and Colombia Extend Memorandum of Understanding to Protect the Cultural Heritage of Colombia

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce the extension of the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Colombia Concerning the Imposition of Import Restrictions on Archaeological Materials from the Pre-Columbian Cultures and Certain Ecclesiastical Material from the Colonial Period of Colombia (the MOU), effective March 15, 2016, for a period of five years. The agreement will enhance opportunities for cultural, educational, and scientific exchange.

With the ongoing threat to Colombias archaeological and colonial heritage, the MOU provides a framework for our countries to work together to protect and preserve Colombias rich cultural heritage. The State Department took into account recommendations by the Cultural Property Advisory Committee in extending the agreement.

The Government of Colombia requested this MOU under Article 9 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. The MOU with Colombia first entered into force on March 15, 2006. With this extension, Colombias archaeological and Colonial period ecclesiastical cultural heritage continues to be protected.

Under the terms of the amended MOU and accompanying import restriction, a restricted object may enter the United States under certain circumstances, as long as no other applicable U.S. laws are violated. The restriction allows importation of an object accompanied by (a) documentation of lawful exportation issued by the Government of Colombia or (b) evidence that the object left Colombia prior to March 15, 2006, or at least ten years before it entered the United States. The Designated List of restricted types of objects, published by Customs and Border Protection, and information about the MOU can be found on the Cultural Heritage Center website.
Trading Places

Cambridge, Massachusetts - Tennessee has abundant hardwood forests, and business sectors related to them thrived for many years. Yet the states employment levels in the flooring, furniture-making, and cabinetry industries have cratered - down by 72 percent, 50 percent, and 50 percent, respectively, from 2005 to 2009.

What happened? The economic slump in the U.S. certainly hurt those trades. But also: China happened. As some economists now recognize, the formal trade relationship between the U.S. and China, established in the 1990s and solidified with a World Trade Organization agreement in 2001, dramatically affected a large number of labor-intensive industries in the U.S. In those fields, jobs moved en masse to China, where workers are available at even lower wages.

That relatively sudden shift, research has shown, comes with a heavy cost to U.S. workers. When jobs vanish, the better-trained workers may bounce back, but many blue-collar workers do not. And entire communities have been punished economically as well. These findings run against the bullish assumptions many economists have made about international trade in recent decades. But now a paper co-authored by MIT economist David Autor analyzes the data and makes clear how significant that impact has been.

Among the most skilled workers, weve seen lots of [job] reallocation without any dire consequences, says Autor. But for the lower-skilled [workers], we just see more scarring. Their wages fall regardless of what theyre doing. Theyre just on a permanently lower trajectory.

Consider: From 1999 through 2011, as the new work by Autor and his colleagues shows, import growth from China cost the U.S. about 2.4 million jobs. In turn, about 985,000 of those were in manufacturing  a large portion of the 5.8 million manufacturing jobs that the U.S. lost in total in that time. Of course, as Autor notes, trade also creates employment. For instance, he observes, it is hard to conceive of Apples monumental growth without the firm using China as its workshop. But evidence that the U.S. has experienced large job gains that counter the employment losses in sectors that compete with imports has been decidedly elusive so far.

The net impact on workers in U.S. regions heavily affected by competition from China has been particularly serious. Autor and his colleagues have evaluated the direct impact of low-wage Chinese industry on incomes in the more than 700 Commuting Zones (CZs), or urban areas, in the U.S. Comparing workers in CZs at the 75th percentile of exposure to Chinese competition (those strongly affected) with workers in CZs at the 25th percentile, they see a reduction in annual income of $549 per adult, while per-capita income from federal assistance only rises by $58.

All told, the paper states, international trade tends to make low-skilled workers in the U.S. worse off  not just temporarily, but on a sustained basis.

The paper, The China Shock: Learning from Labor Market Adjustment to Large Changes in Trade, will be published in the Annual Review of Economics. The co-authors are Autor; David Dorn of the University of Zurich in Switzerland, and Gordon Hanson of the University of California at San Diego.

Tennessee vs. Alabama

The idea that global trade benefits all countries has been inscribed into economic literature for decades  or centuries, even, dating back to David Ricardo in the early 1800s and Adam Smith in the 1770s. It was also reinforced by the relatively minor effects international trade appeared to have in the first decades after World War II, under terms settled at the Bretton Woods agreement of 1944.

I think that a lot of peoples priors, or expectations, had come from the Bretton Woods era of trade, Autor says. A lot of that was rich country-to-rich country trade: We buy cheese from France and we sell them aircraft engines. But more recently, Autor points out, China has functioned as a new low-cost producer of labor-intensive goods, and everything thats labor-intensive were no longer competitive in. Its just going to shut down. Thats probably why [global trade] was so much more disruptive than people had anticipated.

After all, mainstream economics has held that the benefits of trade  mostly lower prices on imported goods  should compensate for disappearing jobs, on aggregate. But the current data shows how unevenly distributed those benefits and costs are.

It certainly is the case that trade contributes to certain lower-priced goods and services, and on the average, that lowers the cost of living, Autor notes. But for displaced workers, the fact that things are 10 percent cheaper at Walmart is just not making up for the fact that theyre not employed.

Autor adds: Trade should increase GDP on aggregate, but its going to produce winners and losers.

For instance: Alabama, which neighbors Tennessee to the south, also has considerable manufacturing. But little of it involves industries in which China has invested. So while at least half of Tennessee is in the highest quartile of areas exposed to Chinese competition, only a couple of patches of Alabama are in the same category.

Tennessee, owing largely to its concentration of furniture producers, is far more exposed to trade with China than is Alabama, which has agglomerations of relatively heavy industry, the paper states.

Robert Feenstra, an economist at the University of California at Davis, says the research has advanced the state of knowledge among trade and labor economists.

They have very good data, Feenstra says. They just got bigger numbers than anybody thought, in terms of the impact of trade with China on the U.S. job market.

Feenstra suggests that continuing research will be needed to assess the complete impact of trade policy agreements on the U.S., including additional study on the export side, that is, the extent to which trade deals have opened up new manufacturing opportunities for U.S. firms that are exporting goods.

The new research agenda

To be sure, as free-trade advocates like to point out, international agreements have also improved conditions for workers in the developing world. Chinese wages have risen dramatically and the countrys share of world manufacturing value added has risen from about 4 percent in 1991 to 24 percent in 2012.

Still, concerned policymakers in the U.S. are left wondering what kinds of programs, from trade adjustment assistance to job retraining and more, can help workers in their own country. And as Autor notes, the general acceptance of trades value means that trade adjustment policy has been a total orphan policy for a long time.

So Autors current work on trade has two practical aspects. He is trying to spread the recent empirical findings around academia, while undertaking studies that dive into the broader social effects of trade, beyond employment outcomes.

Among his ongoing studies are one examining the effects of trade shocks on political polarization; another looking at the effects of trade on earnings and research and development investment among U.S. companies; and a third that looks at underemployment, family structure, and the disintegration of two-parent households.

Work is really wrapped up with identity, Autor observes. Work is not just money for most people. They dont fare as well when they dont feel they have a meaningful thing to apply themselves to.

All of this research, Autor adds, is meant to speak to interested policymakers and reinforce the idea that trade policy is not just an issue that stands apart from larger issues concerning the social fabric of America.

If were now in the era where were going to say we now recognize that trade has very strong disruptive effects, Autor says, then what do we do about it? What is the right policy?
Wristband detects and alerts for seizures, monitors stress

Cambridge, Massachusetts - People with epilepsy suffer from recurrent, unprovoked seizures that can cause injury and even death from sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), a condition that occurs minutes after a seizure ends.

Now Empatica, co-founded by MIT professor and wearables pioneer Rosalind Picard, has developed a medical-quality consumer wristband, called Embrace, that monitors stress signals to detect potentially deadly seizures and alert wearers and caregivers, so they can intervene.

Researchers worldwide are using a scientific version of the wristband, called the E4, which also measures other signals, to study epilepsy and other neurological and psychiatric conditions. Numerous academic papers are now published, showing that the combined electrodermal activity (EDA), also known as skin conductance, and motion data collected from the wrist improve the accuracy of seizure detection over using only motion data.

Now Empatica is prepping to release Embrace, a consumer-looking, but medical-quality device for monitoring stress and seizures, says Picard, a professor of media arts and sciences in the MIT Media Lab and Empaticas chief scientist. After a successful Indiegogo campaign last year, the beta version of Embrace shipped to backers last Friday.

Apart from detecting seizures, anyone can also use the wristbands to monitor stress levels  which is important for good health, Picard says. Chronic stress has been linked to numerous health issues such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Stress signals reach every organ of your body, so these stress signals are potentially influencing everything, Picard says. Sometimes you dont realize [youre stressed] until you get that just-in-time notice.

Better stress detection for all

According to the World Health Organization, roughly 50 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about one in every 1,000 people with epilepsy die annually from SUDEP, a possible result of suffocation from impaired breathing, fluid in the lungs, or seizing while sleeping face down. Rates are significantly higher for people who have had at least one grand mal seizure  one of the most dangerous types of seizures  in the past year, Picard says.

With Embrace, Empatica aims to aid people suffering from epilepsy by helping them better alert loved ones, Picard says. An app that comes with Embrace lets wearers and others monitor when the person might be having a grand mal seizure.

The wristbands resemble watches but have a solid silver or black face. Sensors underneath the face track pulse, body motion, temperature, and EDA, which involves subtle electrical changes across the skin. Boosts in EDA, without accompanying changes in motion, can signal stress. In people with epilepsy, a sharp rise in both signals could indicate a severe, potentially life-threatening seizure.

When the wristband detects a seizure, it vibrates, and the wearer can respond. If the wearer becomes unconscious, which happens with the most dangerous seizures, and doesnt respond quickly, the app sends an alert to a designated individual.

If somebody goes to check on a person during or after they have had a grand mal seizure, then they are less likely to die, Picard says. In some cases, simply saying the persons name or turning them over (gentle stimulation) might save their life. Anybody could do this potentially life-saving action, they just need to know to go check on the person  dont leave them alone right after a seizure.

Additionally, teachers and parents may want to monitor the stress levels of a child with emotion regulation issues or autism. The device may determine, for instance, if a child is experiencing a fight-or-flight response, and can be set to vibrate to alert parents or teachers. You can see if the child lying on the floor or on the ground in the playground might be about to have a meltdown  even though they may look calm outwardly, she says. Several teens with autism told us they often cant tell theyre about to explode until its too late. Maybe this could help some of them get an alert while theyre still in control.

For epilepsy researchers, Picard says, the E4 wristband has made it possible to gather real-time data from patients going about their daily lives. Empaticas website now lists around 20 academic papers that use E4 in studies on subjects ranging from autism to resuscitation after a heart attack.

In 2012, Picard and researchers published a paper in Neurology that correlated greater responses on the wrist with longer suppression of brain waves on the scalp. This meant certain regions of the brain were experiencing hyperactivity while the cortex, which is near the scalp, was shutting down  a phenomenon observed in all SUDEP cases. (This has now become an important biomarker for SUDEP.) Other results have identified a critical window when someone may stop breathing after having a seizure.

Importantly for research, Picard says, the device specifically detects stress signals from the sympathetic response of the autonomic nervous system, which is commonly associated with the fight-or-flight responses indicative of stress and seizures. When we measure the skin response, we are seeing signals that originate deep in the brain, from regions so far under the scalp that a traditional EEG cannot pick them up, Picard says.

In that way, the E4 is also valuable in studying other neurological conditions such as autism, anxiety, depression, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Picard adds. A PTSD researcher, for instance, may use the device to more accurately study why and how a patient may experience heightened flight-or-fight responses, she says.

Staying in the medical space

Empaticas core technology traces back to 2007, when Picard and researchers developed iCalm, a similar EDA-measuring wristband. In 2009, Picard and former postdoc Rana el Kaliouby co-founded Affectiva to commercialize the wearable device, then called the Q Sensor, to be used for measuring stress associated with autism.

Then one day when a student borrowed two wristbands to monitor the stress levels of his little brother with autism. He put one wristband on each wrist. When Picard checked the data remotely from her computer, she noticed a whopper of a response on one side and nothing on the other, she says. It was such a big response, I didnt believe it was real.

Nothing she did in her lab could reproduce such a response. However, the student had kept a diary and, sure enough, on the exact date and time of the whopper response, the brother had had a seizure. As it turns out, minutes before someone has a seizure, the hair on one arm may stand on end.

But Affectiva soon changed course and began developing software that monitored and quantified peoples emotions for market research. So Picard founded another startup, Physiio, to help the technology grow in the medical space, Picard says. This caught the attention of a small, Italian, stress-tracking-wearable startup co-founded by Matteo Lai and Simone Tognetti. In 2014, the two companies merged to form Empatica, with Lai as CEO and Tognetti as chief technology officer.

Since then, Empatica has produced several iterations of the E4 for clinical use, with the most recent version released last year. But now the startup is laser-focused on bringing the Embrace to consumers, Picard says.

So does Picard  the consumer  use her own device? Yes, and she says the wristband has revealed interesting things about her own life. The first time I wore this, Im driving home and its going off, and I think, I guess Im letting myself get a little bent out of shape here, Picard says. Ive found it fabulous to learn about whats going on with myself.
Ambassador Russell Travel to New York

Washington, DC - Ambassador-at-Large for Global Womens Issues Catherine Russell is on travel to New York, where she will co-head the U.S. delegation attending the 60th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held March 1424 at UN Headquarters.

During her time in New York, Ambassador Russell will attend bilateral meetings and a variety of events on the sidelines of the CSW.

On Tuesday, March 15, Ambassador Russell will speak at an Equal Futures Partnership event. On Wednesday, March 16, she will open the two-day Lower Mekong Initiative Gender Equality and Womens Empowerment Dialogue. In the evening, she will deliver remarks at two events focused on gender-based violence. On Thursday, March 17, Ambassador Russell will deliver remarks at an event on girls empowerment and sustainable development and an event on gender parity in international representation. She will also moderate a panel discussion about global perspectives on violence against women in politics.
Lloyd Mudiwa hears that a number of cases are awaiting a ruling by the Supreme Court on a legal challenge on whether the Medical Practitioners Act is ulta vires, by not allowing a doctor a right of appeal to a negative FTP finding.

The Medical Practitioners Act (MPA), 2007, has been described as ultra vires, or beyond the powers of the Irish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), and this could have implications for healthcare regulators in the handling of complaints about doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other professionals.

According to Senior Counsel (SC) Eileen Barrington, this argument is the subject of legal challenge currently before the Supreme Court and has been made in a number of cases that are now starting to stack up awaiting the outcome of the decision in this case.

The case involves Dr Anthony Enobo Akpekpe, a medical practitioner and fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, who in September, 2010 was employed by Mediserve Ireland, an out-of-hours medical service for GPs operating in Dublin, versus the Irish Medical Council (IMC) and the Attorney General.

These arguments were unsuccessful before former High Court President Nicholas Kearns, who dismissed the application on February 1, 2013, but are now subject to an appeal pending before the Supreme Court.

Dr Akpekpe was advised as to his performance on the basis that it was at the lower end of poor professional performance (PPP) in 2012.

He is seeking a declaration that the provisions of Part 8 and Part 9 of the MPA 2007, insofar as they deny the applicant a right of appeal from a decision or finding of the Fitness to Practise (FTP) Committee into the guilt of the applicant of an allegation of PPP, constitutes a denial of fair procedures, and a breach of the applicants rights enshrined in the Constitution and the ECHR and Fundamental Freedoms and is contrary to the principles of constitutional and natural justice.

The applicant also wants a declaration that section 75(1) of the Act, insofar as it denies the applicant a right to appeal against the imposition of a sanction and/or against the making of a finding by the IMC and/or its FTP Committee, is repugnant to the provisions of Bunreacht na hEireann and is void. Section 71(a) of the MPA is the only disciplinary provision of the section that does not allow for an appeal and the applicant contends that his equality rights are thereby infringed, in that he lacks a range of remedies available to other medical practitioners who suffer more grievous findings and sanctions imposed under other limbs of the section.

He is contending that even the relatively modest findings made against him in this case have nonetheless extremely serious adverse consequences in terms of his professional reputation, which warrant the existence and availability to him of some form of appeal mechanism.

SC Barrington represented Consultant Paediatrician Prof Martin Corbally, who first raised these questions, in his landmark case against the IMC, which set a new threshold of seriousness for PPP.

Unconstitutional

Prof Corbally had also claimed that Part 8 of the MPA was unconstitutional in that it failed to provide him with an appeal from the Councils decision and from its FTP Committee, and was incompatible with Section 5 of the ECHR Act, 2003. For the same reason, that part of the MPA was also incompatible with the States obligation pursuant to Article 6(1) of the Convention itself, he claimed.

By agreement with Kingram House, Prof Corballys constitutional challenge had in 2014 been deferred pending the outcome of the Councils priority appeal against a 2013 judicial review of the High Court quashing the Councils admonishment for PPP against him after an incorrect tongue-tie procedure was carried out on a young patient of his by another doctor.

Prof Corbally had not proceeded with the constitutionality challenge after the Supreme Court upheld the lower courts decision.

SC Barrington last Friday told BLMs Reform and Innovation: The future of healthcare regulation and claims in Ireland conference that the controversial issue at the moment was what happened where the sanction that had been imposed was one of the lesser sanctions, of advice or admonishment, because in those circumstances there was no entitlement of appeal.

In Prof Corballys case, for example, notwithstanding all of the publicity, he had no entitlement to appeal because the ultimate sanction that was imposed was that of advice, she added. But in the end of the day if you had been the subject of that much publicity and you had been at the wrong end of a finding of PPP or professional misconduct, you dont really care whether the sanction is advice or censure, which is really quite theoretical anyway.

You care about the finding and it does seem quite difficult not to allow for an appeal, and the absence of an appeal has itself been the subject of a constitutional challenge and also an argument that the system in so far as it doesnt provide for an appeal is a breach of the ECHR.
Ireland needs to have a vigorous debate on assisted human reproduction therapy, the Master for the National Maternity Hospital Dr Rhona Mahony believes, as technology threatens to run beyond our understanding of the safety, legal and ethical implications of IVF. Lloyd Mudiwa reports.

Just a year before Pope John Paul II came to Ireland in 1979 and encouraged Irish Catholics to go forth and multiply, resulting in a big spike in birth figures with deliveries of about 80,000 babies in 1980, the worlds first test-tube arrival, Louise Brown, was born, and firmly placed in vitro fertilisation (IVF) on the agenda. The technology has been rapidly advancing ever since, but there is still very little regulation of the field, the Mater of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) at Holles Street believes.

We can take one almost perfect sperm; and wash, clean, prepare and inject it into one perfect egg and hope it will take, Dr Rhona Mahony elaborated. And then we can grow this developing embryo for a few days in a special embryoscope where we can have a look at how the development is going, and we can make separate embryos, put them back into the maternal uterus, and achieve pregnancy.

In fact, the pregnancy rates now are getting better and better, although theres no one doing reports on them, and the treatment is getting more sophisticated all the time, and that is a good thing for the couple who are affected by infertility.

You can now buy an egg  in order to donate an egg a woman will need to go through a series of stimulation, or these drugs will have side-effects and you will have issues  you can buy sperm, all on sale on the market, she told those attending BLMs Reform and Innovation: The future of healthcare regulation and claims in Ireland conference held at the Marker Hotel in Dublins Docklands earlier this month (March 4).

Regulation

However, assisted reproduction therapy (ART) came with the need for medical practitioners to provide care that was good, responsible and ethical, stressed the consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, while citing the Report of the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction, which raised the requirement for regulation as far back as 2005.

Little has happened since, and the Holles Street Master believes there are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, there was the view that IVF should not be a topic for debate, as it was not funded publicly in any of the HSE hospitals, but left to the private sector, which she accepted was not necessarily a bad thing. But this means that the entire cost of ART is borne by patients, aside from State support for drug expenses and tax relief, Dr Mahony explained. Thats problem number one.

But it also means that it is occurring in an environment that has a very commercial context with a group of women who are very vulnerable. And access is also an issue: is it only those who can afford this treatment that should have access?

On the lack of regulation, Dr Mahony questioned the commercial drivers behind IVF. This, for me, is the huge concern  when you see some of the ads and when you see some of the descriptions of whats going on and meet some of the patients who have been through what I think is at times unethical treatment.



Multiple pregnancies

Outlining some of the problems associated with IVF and ART, Dr Mahony firstly broached the controversial issue of octuplets.

We all remember that famous case a few years ago of a lady in America who seemed to already have maternal children, most of them in care, and now had octuplets, and everybody kept saying: Wow, thats amazing. Eight babies in one go! Thats not amazing.

Dr Mahony said the rate of pre-term birth in such pregnancies was really high and the rate of cerebral palsy also went up by multiples to twins, to triplets and to quads. So the potential cost to the State for caring for these children is enormous.

The potential collateral for these children is also enormous.

Its highly irresponsible, she added. This is an absolute failure of ethical treatment because not only will these babies struggle, it is also life-threatening almost to the mother to bear a pregnancy of eight children. The risks are huge maternally as well.

She continued: So there needs to be a big debate. Even at the most basic level we understand we have a high risk of multiple pregnancy coming from ART and yet we dont regulate for single-embryo transfer in this country, even though in a majority of cases the pregnancy outcome will just be as successful with single-embryo transfer  [yet] parents will feel if I put in two embryos I have a better chance of getting pregnant.

We have got to give people honest information because its not alright to have an unplanned multiple pregnancy, and the rate of a pre-term birth that goes with it and all the attendant complications. This is something that really needs to be dealt with. It needs to be regulated. But at the moment in Ireland if you wanted to, you could put back 12 embryos into a maternal uterus.

Global business

Another difficulty that Dr Mahony has with ART is that it is also a global business, because many women are now travelling privately to get access in private clinics for their assisted reproduction. This happens sometimes because it is too expensive in Ireland and there are cheaper deals available abroad.

Again, ethics come into it, she said. We have had many experiences in the hospital where women are returning to us who have very serious co-morbidities who are now pregnant with significant risk to their health and significant risk for pre-term birth.

Seven per cent of the pregnant population in Holles Street was currently older than 40 years of age, and about 2 to 3 per cent are over 44, and many of these women will have various problems with assisted human reproduction, according to Dr Mahony.

The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of the RCPI has recommended that an ethical professional must advise on the safety, legality and ethical considerations about the new assisted reproduction innovation. Maybe its entirely appropriate and its fantastic when its a good news story, but not in all cases and we need to be careful because the risks are bigger.

Egg freezing

Not only can we do IVF, but now we can say to young women that if you are not ready to have a baby yet, why dont you work away, we can freeze your eggs and then when you are ready at 45 you can go and have a baby, and your eggs will be waiting for you, Dr Mahony continued, in reference to Apple and Facebooks new benefit, offering to pay for female employees to freeze their eggs. You can have young eggs, which is different to being 45 if you wait that long to have your baby.

But this, I think, is a fascinating reflection on our society: the whole idea that companies and institutions would offer their young women free freezing of their eggs so, I presume, they could work harder over that particular time. Or perhaps its a good thing: perhaps youre giving women a reproductive choice.

However, she added that this was a highly commercial activity and that there was no guarantee at 45 when the female employee went to use their eggs that the IVF would be successful, plus there was still going to be an increased risk of miscarriage. We need to have a really honest conversation about where this sits, she suggested.

Pre-genetic implantation

The pre-genetic implantation technology, Dr Mahony added, was also forging ahead. Twenty years ago the genome project started and people said wouldnt it be amazing if people could actually characterise the entire human genome because now we can really get down and look at all of our genes and how they are made. We can characterise the genome, she explained.

Whats that going tell us? We have a lot of work to understand what the genome means? What would be my likelihood to develop a genetic disease, and how do I get insured? There are a whole lot of issues that come up about who you are and who you will be.

But what about when people started choosing babies, the Master wondered, as it was now possible to take a cell in an embryo, examine its content genetically and decide whether to go ahead with that baby or not. Thats tremendous, where you have maybe single-gene disorders and we use that and are able to not go ahead with an embryo that is affected. But if you were to extend that capability, moving on to the day where you can say I want a blue-eyed baby.

In fact on Ryan Tubridy [radio programme] this morning, there was a whole feature on women travelling to clinics in America to choose sex and looking for particular characteristics in their babies using assisted reproduction. There is a whole rift thats opening up and technology is running way ahead of us, and I dont know if, as a society, we have even thought about how we are going to regulate it. But we need to start thinking soon because just as it brings up many solutions to problems, it brings up many questions with it too.

Surrogacy

Surrogacy was another issue that was coming down the line, in Dr Mahonys view. Weve had really interesting cases, and you know more than me the legalities of it, she told her legal audience.

I think its very interesting between the birth mothers, the mothers who donated the uteruses or whatever. It can all get very complicated now, and of course a baby now can get several parents if you consider donated eggs and sperms etc. We need to start thinking about this too.
Inflatable Halloween Pumpkin Twice the Size of a House Rings in Spooky Season
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It's the news every Indiana Jones fan has been waiting to hear: Harrison Ford is to return to the role of everyone's favourite fedora-sporting, whip-cracking adventurer in a new instalment directed by Steven Spielberg himself. But there's also news no one really ever wanted to hear: Star Wars and Indy creator George Lucas is returning as a producer, and no one has yet categorically ruled out the possibility of him mucking the whole thing up again.

As any number of Indy's late fellow adventurers would have been able to tell you, had they not been unceremoniously spiked through the brain, fatal booby traps and horrific tortures lie in wait for the fool who rushes in. So here's some polite advice for Spielberg as he prepares to bring our archeological adventuring, Nazi-baiting hero back to the big screen for the final time.

Don't nuke the fridge

The last Indy entry, 2008's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, is a deeply flawed movie. But there are many films which manage to be unutterably execrable without coining a phrase that will still be used to describe beyond-the-pale film-making wrong turns for decades to come. Thanks to Lucas' plan to have Indy survive a nuclear explosion by sheltering in a plain old household cold storage unit, the phrase "nuking the fridge" has now joined the Fonzie-riffing "jump the shark" in the lexicon. Just this year, a fan theory suggested the archeologist's remarkable durability might be explained away by events in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, in which our hero drank from the immortality-bestowing Holy Grail. To whoever came up with this idea: Hey dummy... If Indy can't be killed, why should anyone in the audience be remotely frightened by the prospect of him being hit by the next giant, rolling boulder?

Keep Indy alive at all costs

Frankly, we just couldn't handle another death. When Ford took a lightsaber through the chest and tumbled into space in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, a million voices cried out - and were suddenly silenced by the realisation that JJ Abrams might actually have pulled this thing off. But that doesn't mean moviegoers want to see Hollywood's best-loved wonky-grinned alpha male murdered in cold blood for a second time, even if we can't quite imagine the thought of Indy in quiet retirement spending quality family time with Marion and Mutt.

Find some way to bring back the Nazis

There have been suggestions Disney might consider splitting the narrative for Indy V into two distinct periods, with Ford playing the older adventurer in his twilight years while a younger version (portrayed by a different actor) got most of the heavy stunt work. This makes a certain sort of sense, if only because a 78-year-old Indy would be operating in the mid-60s, long after Hitler and his evil cohorts fell from power. And our hero was always at his best when fighting Nazi scum.

Even with Cate Blanchett as the gorgeously demented Irina Spalko, the Soviets never quite lived up to the mantle of their dastardly predecessors in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, partly because Hitler and his chums really did believe in the kind of mystical mumbo jumbo upon which Indy stories thrive. On the other hand, the "young Indy" route has its obvious drawbacks, and nobody wants to start down the time travel or CGI regeneration roads. Perhaps a Boys From Brazil-style subplot, via which a band of surviving Nazis are discovered alive and well (and cooking up mischief) in some remote and exotic ancient location, could be the way to go.

Keep the CGI (and George Lucas's involvement) to a minimum

The digital gopher which turned up in the opening frames of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull may not be as preposterously incongruous as some of Lucas's monstrous CGI insertions for the 1997 "Special Edition" versions of the original Star Wars trilogy, but it certainly rubber-stamped the film-maker's inability to learn lessons despite a decade's worth of fan derision. According to reports, Lucas is back as a producer on Indy V despite having been sidelined by Disney for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which spells obvious danger to anyone who suspects period settings and video game style effects are not the best match. This is a film-maker, after all, who has admitted his own tinkering tendencies. "They werent that keen to have me involved anyway, but if I get in there, Im just going to cause trouble, because theyre not going to do what I want them to do," he told Charlie Rose in December after Disney politely asked him to leave The Force Awakens to JJ Abrams. "And I dont have the control to do that anymore, and all I would do is muck everything up." Lucas has also said he's largely retired, so fingers crossed he's just there to nod quiet encouragement from the sidelines.

Spare us from any more unexpected Indy offspring (and aliens)

One of Indy V's challenges will be to explain what's up these days with Karen Allen's Marion Ravenwood, who our hero married at the end of Crystal Skull, and Shia LaBeouf's Mutt, who he discovered was his long lost son. The return of Ravenwood, three decades or so after we first met her in Raiders of the Lost Ark, was generally welcomed by fans. But Mutt has to go down as one of the least popular movie characters in Hollywood history.

As mentioned previously, Indy V needs to avoid father and son storylines like the plague. And while LaBeouf has forged an entirely new career as indie character actor and intriguing performance art oddity since departing the role, clamour for the former teen idol to pull on the Brandoesque leathers and rock up once more on his fancy motorbike is currently about as loud as calls for Ja Ja Binks to pop up as an ageing Trade Federation ambassador in Star Wars: Episode VIII. Speaking of which, please leave all extra-terrestrial related plotlines out this time around.
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The house at 2055 S Joshua Tree Place, Palm Springs, was built in 1969 and has had just one other owner since then, who decided to leave the decorations and furnishings untouched.

As such, it looks like something out of Boogie Nights or a Scorsese period film, complete with shag pile carpets, garish, patterned furnishings, regal drapes and a pool flanked by palm trees.

You can just imagine vacationing city types doing cannonballs into the pool, starlets draped on the table and a DiCaprionian party host wandering around greeting people.

"Its in incredible condition," listing agent Lucio Bernal told Jezebel. "To re-create that stuff today would be pretty expensive."

2055 S Joshua Tree Place, Palm Springs CA, 92264 Show all 6 1 /6 2055 S Joshua Tree Place, Palm Springs CA, 92264 2055 S Joshua Tree Place, Palm Springs CA, 92264 2055 S Joshua Tree Place, Palm Springs CA, 92264 2055 S Joshua Tree Place, Palm Springs CA, 92264 2055 S Joshua Tree Place, Palm Springs CA, 92264 2055 S Joshua Tree Place, Palm Springs CA, 92264 2055 S Joshua Tree Place, Palm Springs CA, 92264

Heres the full description from the estate agents, in their inimitable style:

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK. Take a stroll down memory lane in this meticulously preserved Twin Palms Masterpiece. This one-of-a-kind timecapsule will leave you feeling as though you've been plucked from reality and transported to a time of Cocktail Parties and Hollywood Weekend Retreats. This stunning home truly represents the epitome of Modernism and the essence Palm Springs. From the Moire wallpaper and draperies to the gold crystal chandeliers throughout, this fully furnished blast from the past will leave you asking only one question: Shaken or Stirred? Home features, a dramatic gated entry, terrazzo floors in the hallways, custom drapes, custom furniture, den with bar and custom bar stools, a fireplace, pool, spa, views of San Jacinto mountains, two car garage, and countless details and features to enhance your experience and lifestyle.

The 3,350 square-foot property has three bedrooms and is on the market for $850,000.
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A DJ has been charged with disorderly conduct for playing NWA.'s classic 'F*ck tha Police' while cops attempted to clear an overcrowded bar.

MassLive reports the incident occurred as police officers in Westfield, Massachusetts were called to dispel the 350 people who had packed into the 160-capacity establishment, Shenanigans Pub. That's when Kashawn Harris, AKA DJ Boogy, started to play the song; which resulted in one of the officers penning the 25-year-old a summons for disorderly conduct.

"I believed at that time the combination of alcohol, the excessive amount of people in the bar and the song that the DJ chose to play at that time was an intentional act by the DJ to incite the crowd which showed a reckless disregard for public safety," wrote Officer Juanita Mejias in her report.

Mejias states a fire marshal had requested police to clear a path into the bar and get the crowd to leave, though they found it difficult due to the loud music being played. It was then she asked Harris to shut off the music, which is when Harris then allegedly started playing the N.W.A. track.

Harris has responded that the song was cued up before the police arrived and a snippet was played before the music was shut down; he stated the bar was emptied shortly after police entered, and that his side of the bar had already been cleared of people by the time he started playing the song.

The most controversial music performances Show all 11 1 /11 The most controversial music performances The most controversial music performances 1. Kanye West at Glastonbury Mr West's caused a fair bit of controversy with a number of his performances  20 minute rants, storming off, smashing mics  but none were as notable as his headline slot at Worthy Farm. Not only was there a massive petition to get him off the bill, half way through comedian Lee Nelson invaded the stage and then Kanye was lifted into the sky via a crane. Getty Images The most controversial music performances 3. Madonna and Britney Spears kiss on stage Madge has made headlines a number of times for her on-stage antics but her 2003 MTV Video Award performance grabbed more than any other. During the live-broadcast show she took star-of-the-moment Britney Spears chin and pulled her in for a big kiss. The cameras turned to an unimpressed Justin Timberlake very quickly. AP The most controversial music performances 4. Miley Cyrus Twerking at MTV VMAs You couldnt really have a controversial music performance list without Miley? In 2013 she made headlines for twerking all over Robin Thicke during a performance of the controversial blurred lines. There was outrage across America. Getty Images The most controversial music performances 5. Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake at 2004 super bowl The super bowl half-time is one of the most sort-after performance slots in the world but has often been plagued with controversy. Notably, in 2004, a young Justin Timberlake exposed Janet Jacksons nipple, leading to a backlash against the female singer and the term Nipplegate making regular headlines. Getty Images The most controversial music performances 7. Tupac hologram at Coachella 2012 Since 2012 a number of celebrities have been brought back to life through holograms but Tupac was the first to get the digital treatment for a Coachella show alongside Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. Getty Images The most controversial music performances 8. Jennifer Lopez performing for leader of Turkmenistan J-Lo was highly criticised for a corporate performance for the leader of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, a man accused of human right violations. Getty Images The most controversial music performances 9. Rolling Stones Altamont gig The Altamont concert was once called 'rocknrolls all time worst day' by Rolling Stone magazine, and for good reason. Throughout the day there was increasing violence, leading to the infamous death of 18-year-old Meredith Hunter at the hands of a Hells Angel. Getty Images The most controversial music performances 10. Elvis on Ed Sullivan show Elvis was a revolutionary of his time, but the moment that defined him as a counter-culture icon was on the Ed Sulivan show when, while performing Hound Dog, began shaking his hips. It was broadcast to 60 million people and was greatly criticised for its apparent 'vulgarity'. Getty Images The most controversial music performances 11. Sinhead OConner ripping up photo of pope Sinhead OConner was another performer to use her airtime to cause controversy. At the end of her SNL performance she picked up a picture of Pope John Paul II and ripped it in half, telling the audience to fight the real enemy. YouTube The most controversial music performances 12. Ozzy Osbourne bites head of a bat Before a reality TV show, Ozzy was only known as the prince of darkness and, in 1982, only added to the image by biting off the head of a dead bat live on stage. Apparently he didnt realise it was actually a real bat. YouTube The most controversial music performances 13. L7 took her tampon out and threw it into the crowd Technical difficulties caused all girl metal band L7 to have mud thrown at them during a performance at Reading festival. Instead of walking off, the band decided to get angry and the lead singer took out her tampon and threw it at the crowd. YouTube

"I had no intention of inciting a riot, it was just college kids having fun," Harris said in an interview. "For them to even think I was trying to start riots was frustrating for me. That's not my kind of background, that's not where I come from."

He only realised he was being charged when he received a court summons a month later; he was found responsible for disorderly conduct and ordered to pay a $50 fine.

Harris usually performs as DJ Boogy at weddings, college events, and at Club Zone in neighbouring Springfield; he had been invited by an alumnus of Westfield State University to DJ the homecoming weekend party.
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The centenary of the Easter Rising next week will no doubt be marked by many articles, columns and programmes but few will be more heartfelt than Brendan O'Carroll's retelling of his family history.

O'Carroll is best known as the bawdy, brash creator of that slapstick-ridden hymn to sitcoms gone-by, Mrs Brown's Boys, but away from the drag and broad jokes he proved a solid narrator with an eye for a good line and a nice way with a haunting image. There was plenty of standard Oirishness too, smoky pubs stuffed full of fiddle players and "The Foggy Dew" playing us in at the start, but O'Carroll had an interesting story to tell and, while clearly partisan, he did so with clarity and an admirable even-handedness.

Three of his uncles fought in the uprising, one of them barely out of his teens, and the story was at its best when O'Carroll allowed his discomfort with that situation to shine through. "I just can't imagine standing at the door to wave them off to fight," he remarked at one point, adding that he would never have let his own sons stride out to possible death that sunny morning. He was sympathetic too to the naive young British soldiers who had believed they would be sent to Germany to fight in the First World War and instead found themselves dying on Dublin's Mount Street bridge.

Culture news in pictures Show all 33 1 /33 Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures 30 September 2016 An employee hangs works of art with "Grand Teatro" by Marino Marini (R) and bronze sculpture "Sfera N.3" by Arnaldo Pomodoro seen ahead of a Contemporary Art auction on 7 October, at Sotheby's in London REUTERS Culture news in pictures 29 September 2016 Street art by Portuguese artist Odeith is seen in Dresden, during an exhibition "Magic City - art of the streets" AFP/Getty Images Culture news in pictures 28 September 2016 Dancers attend a photocall for the new "THE ONE Grand Show" at Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin, Germany REUTERS Culture news in pictures 28 September 2016 With an array of thrift store china, humorous souvenirs and handmade tile adorning its walls and floors, the Mosaic Tile House in Venice stands as a monument to two decades of artistic collaboration between Cheri Pann and husband Gonzalo Duran REUTERS Culture news in pictures 27 September 2016 A gallery assistant poses amongst work by Anthea Hamilton from her nominated show "Lichen! Libido!(London!) Chastity!" at a preview of the Turner Prize in London REUTERS Culture news in pictures 27 September 2016 A technician wearing virtual reality glasses checks his installation in three British public telephone booths, set up outside the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, Netherlands. The installation allows visitors a 3-D look into the museum which has twenty-two paintings belonging to the British Royal Collection, on loan for an exhibit from 29 September 2016 till 8 January 2017 AP Culture news in pictures 26 September 2016 An Indian artist dressed as Hindu god Shiva performs on a chariot as he participates in a religious procession 'Ravan ki Barat' held to mark the forthcoming Dussehra festival in Allahabad AFP/Getty Images Culture news in pictures 26 September 2016 Jean-Michel Basquiat's 'Air Power', 1984, is displayed at the Bowie/Collector media preview at Sotheby's in New York AFP/Getty Culture news in pictures 25 September 2016 A woman looks at an untitled painting by Albert Oehlen during the opening of an exhibition of works by German artists Georg Baselitz and Albert Oehlen in Reutlingen, Germany. The exhibition runs at the Kunstverein (art society) Reutlingen until 15 January 2017 EPA Culture news in pictures 24 September 2016 Fan BingBing (C) attends the closing ceremony of the 64th San Sebastian Film Festival at Kursaal in San Sebastian, Spain Getty Images Culture news in pictures 23 September 2016 A view of the artwork 'You Are Metamorphosing' (1964) as part of the exhibition 'Retrospektive' of Japanese artist Tetsumi Kudo at Fridericianum in Kassel, Germany. The exhibition runs from 25 September 2016 to 1 January 2017 EPA Culture news in pictures 22 September 2016 Jo Applin from the Courtauld Institute of Art looks at Green Tilework in Live Flesh by Adriana Vareja, which features in a new exhibition, Flesh, at York Art Gallery. The new exhibition features works by Degas, Chardin, Francis Bacon and Sarah Lucas, showing how flesh has been portrayed by artists over the last 600 years PA Culture news in pictures 21 September 2016 Performers Sean Atkins and Sally Miller standing in for the characters played by Asa Butterfield and Ella Purnell during a photocall for Tim Burton's "Miss Peregrines Home For Peculiar Children" at Potters Field Park in London Getty Images Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A detail from the blanket 'Alpine Cattle Drive' from 1926 by artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner is displayed at the 'Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum for Contemporary Arts' in Berlin. The exhibition named 'Ernst Ludwig Kirchner - Hieroglyphen' showing the complete collection of Berlin's Nationalgallerie works of the German artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and will run from 23 September 2016 until 26 February 2017 AP Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A man looks at portrait photos by US photographer Bruce Gilden in the exhibition 'Masters of Photography' at the photokina in Cologne, Germany. The trade fair on photography, photokina, schowcases some 1,000 exhibitors from 40 countries and runs from 20 to 25 September. The event also features various photo exhibitions EPA Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A woman looks at 'Blue Poles', 1952 by Jackson Pollock during a photocall at the Royal Academy of Arts, London PA Culture news in pictures 19 September 2016 Art installation The Refusal of Time, a collaboration with Philip Miller, Catherine Meyburgh and Peter Galison, which features as part of the William Kentridge exhibition Thick Time, showing from 21 September to 15 January at the Whitechapel Gallery in London PA Culture news in pictures 18 September 2016 Artists creating one off designs at the Mm6 Maison Margiela presentation during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer collections 2017 in London Getty Images Culture news in pictures 18 September 2016 Bethenny Frankel attends the special screening of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" to celebrate the 25th Anniversary Edition release on Blu-Ray and DVD in New York City Getty Images for Walt Disney Stu Culture news in pictures 17 September 2016 Visitors attend the 2016 Oktoberfest beer festival at Theresienwiese in Munich, Germany Getty Images Culture news in pictures 16 September 2016 Visitors looks at British artist Damien Hirst work of art 'The Incomplete Truth', during the 13th Yalta Annual Meeting entitled 'The World, Europe and Ukraine: storms of changes', organised by the Yalta European Strategy (YES) in partnership with the Victor Pinchuk Foundation at the Mystetsky Arsenal Art Center in Kiev AP Culture news in pictures 16 September 2016 Tracey Emin's "My Bed" is exhibited at the Tate Liverpool as part of the exhibition Tracey Emin And William Blake In Focus, which highlights surprising links between the two artists Getty Images Culture news in pictures 15 September 2016 Musician Dave Grohl (L) joins musician Tom Morello of Prophets of Rage onstage at the Forum in Inglewood, California Getty Images Culture news in pictures 14 September 2016 Model feebee poses as part of art installation "Narcissism : Dazzle room" made by artist Shigeki Matsuyama at rooms33 fashion and design exhibition in Tokyo. Matsuyama's installation features a strong contrast of black and white, which he learned from dazzle camouflage used mainly in World War I AP Culture news in pictures 13 September 2016 Visitors look at artworks by Chinese painter Cui Ruzhuo during the exhibition 'Glossiness of Uncarved Jade' held at the exhibition hall 'Manezh' in St. Petersburg, Russia. More than 200 paintings by the Chinese artist are presented until 25 September EPA Culture news in pictures 12 September 2016 A visitor looks at Raphael's painting 'Extase de Sainte Cecile', 1515, from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence during the opening of a Raphael exhibition at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow, Russia. The first Russian exhibition of the works of the Italian Renaissance artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino includes eight paintings and three drawings which come from Italy. Th exhibit opens to the public from 13 September to 11 December EPA Culture news in pictures 11 September 2016 Steve Cropper and Eddie Floyd perform during Otis Redding 75th Birthday Celebration - Rehearsals at the Macon City Auditorium in Macon, Georgia Getty Images for Otis Redding 75 Culture news in pictures 10 September 2016 Sakari Oramo conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Chorus and the BBC Singers at the Last Night of the Proms 2016 at the Royal Albert Hall in London PA Culture news in pictures 9 September 2016 A visitor walks past a piece entitled "Fruitcake" by Joana Vasconcelo, during the Beyond Limits selling exhibition at Chatsworth House near Bakewell REUTERS Culture news in pictures 8 September 2016 A sculpture of a crescent standing on the 2,140 meters high mountain 'Freiheit' (German for 'freedom'), in the Alpstein region of the Appenzell alps, eastern Switzerland. The sculpture is lighted during the nights by means of solar panels. The 38-year-old Swiss artist and atheist Christian Meier set the crescent on the peak to start a debate on the meaning of religious symbols - as summit crosses - on mountains. 'Because so many peaks have crosses on them, it struck me as a great idea to put up an equally absurd contrast'. 'Naturally I wanted to provoke in a fun way. But it goes beyond that. The actions of an artist should be food for thought, both visually and in content' EPA Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures

Most of all though this was a fascinating look at just how much went wrong on both sides. The rebels were riven with internal conflict, with Eoin MacNeill, the chief of staff of the Irish Volunteer Force, vehemently opposed to an armed rebellion he was thought was doomed to failure and Padraig Pearse equally determined that revolt should go ahead. On the fateful Easter Sunday, MacNeill placed an advert in the Sunday Independent telling volunteers not to parade. Only a third turned up to fight  O'Carroll's uncles among them. Their bravery brought little reward. Instead crowds lined the Dublin streets to jeer at them as the rising stuttered and collapsed.

Things were no better on the other side where the heavy-handed British response, which included executions and internments, helped swing popular support behind the idea of a free Ireland. Standing in a field in Wales near where the surviving Irish political prisoners, his uncles among them, had been imprisoned, O'Carroll concluded his tale with a clear-eyed assessment of how the British themselves helped first radicalise and then create a nation. "When will they ever learn?" he remarked. The depressing answer is probably not any time soon.

From the immortality conferred by martyrdom to dreams of life everlasting as Horizon followed Russian internet millionaire Dmitry Itskov on his quest to literally live forever. Like most insanely wealthy people Itskov had a lot of time and money to spend on attempting to achieve his heart's desire. He funded conferences, talked to scientists, discussed whether it might be eventually possible to transform people's "personalities into machines".

It made for fascinating viewing in the way watching an obsession in full flight always does, but it was hard to understand just why Itskov was so determined to stay alive. "If there's no immortality technology I'll be dead within 35 years," he said, the horror at this dreadful fate clearly etched on his face. Well, yes, but isn't that what makes us truly human? The recognition that death, that great leveller, eventually comes for us all.
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Sony appears to have suggested that it could team up with Microsoft to finally allow Xbox and PlayStation 4 gamers to play together.

Microsoft said this week that it was extending an invite to owners of other platforms to allow them to play with Xbox gamers. The partnership would begin between PC and Xbox players, it said, though developers would have to build the functionality into their games.

Now Sony has responded to Microsofts call  which didnt mention its rival explicitly, but made the PlayStation notable in its absence  and does not seem to be rejecting the idea. But the company also managed a small dig at Microsoft, arguing that it had made the same move years ago.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

"PlayStation has been supporting cross-platform play between PC on several software titles starting with Final Fantasy 11 on PS2 and PC back in 2002," Sony told GameSpot. "We would be happy to have the conversation with any publishers or developers who are interested in cross platform play."

Microsofts plan for cross-network play will require both the owners of the networks and the developer of each game to integrate it into their products. It will initially be available in Rocket League and will allow people with PCs and Xboxes to play together, the company said, and more games are expected to be announced at E3 in June.
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Amazon is under investigation in Italy for alleged tax evasion, its Italian boss said in an interview on Tuesday.

Francois Nuyts, the companys chief executive in Italy and Spain, did not give any more detail about the probe but he told Bloomberg the company was cooperating with authorities.

Amazon pays all applicable taxes in every jurisdiction where we operate, including Italy. We are cooperating fully with the Italian authorities, Conor Sweeney, Amazon spokesman, said in a statement.

Amazon is one of three US tech companies together with Google and Apple that have faced tax allegations in the country, according to the report.

Tax officials were investigating Alphabet 's Google in Italy in January over allegations the firm failed to pay taxes worth 227 million ($257 million) between 2009 and 2013, according to sources.

Apple agreed to pay Italy's tax office 318 million in December to settle a dispute over allegations it failed to pay taxes for six years, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said.

In the UK, Facebook became the latest in a long line of multinational firms to be criticised over the size of their UK tax bills. Google, Starbucks and Amazon also came under fire.

Biggest business scandals in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Biggest business scandals in pictures Biggest business scandals in pictures Volkswagen emissions scandal VW admitted to rigging its US emission tests so that diesel-powered cars would looks like they were emitting less nitrous oxide, which can damage the ozone layer and contribute to respiratory diseases. Around 11 million cars worldwide were affected. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Martin Shkreli and Turing Pharmaceuticals Martin Shkreli became known as the most hated man in the world after his drug company, Turing, increased the price of a 62-year-old drug that treated HIV patients by 5,000% to $750 a pill. He was charged with illegally taking stock from Retrophin, a biotechnology firm he started in 2011, and using it pay off debts from unrelated business dealings. Shkreli, who maintains he is innocent, and says there is little evidence of fraud because his investors didn't lose money. Biggest business scandals in pictures Panama Papers: Millions of leaked documents expose how worlds rich and powerful hid money - April 2016 Millions of confidential documents have been leaked from one of the worlds most secretive law firms, exposing how the rich and powerful have hidden their money. Dictators and other heads of state have been accused of laundering money, avoiding sanctions and evading tax, according to the unprecedented cache of papers that show the inner workings of the law firm Mossack Fonseca, which is based in Panama. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Google's tax avoidance Google reached a deal with the HM Revenue and Customs to pay back 130 million in so-called back-taxes that have been due since 2005. George Osborne championed the deal as a major success. But European MEPs have since called for the Chancellor to appear in front of the committee on tax rulings to explain the tax deal. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Rogue trader A French court cut the damages owed by rogue trader Jerome Kerviel from 4.9bn (4.2bn) to just 1m (860,000). The court ruled on that Kerviel was partly responsible for massive losses suffered in 2008 by his former employer Societe Generale through his reckless trades. Kerviel has consistently maintained that bosses at the French bank knew what he was doing all along. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Barclays CEO under investigation for trying to identify whistleblower - Monday Paril 10 Authorities have launched an investigation into Barclays chief executive officer Jes Staley for trying to identify a whistleblower, the bank said on Monday. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are both investigating Mr Staley after the bank notified them that Mr Staley had tried to identify the author of two anonymous letters, which were sent to the board and a senior executive in June 2016. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures UK to crack down on bank money laundering after reports of 65bn Russian scam, City minister says - March 2017 The Economic Secretary to the Treasury has vowed that the Government will crack down on money laundering practices, after several of the UK's biggest banks were accused of processing money from a Russian scam, believed to involve up to $80bn (65bn). Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former HBOS bankers convicted of bribery and fraud over 245m loan scam - February 2017 Two former HBOS bankers were among six people found guilty of bribery and fraud that cost customers and shareholders hundreds of millions of pounds, the BBC reports. Lynden Scourfield, 54, a manager at HBOS, forced struggling clients to use the services of his friends David Mills, 60, and Michael Bancroft, 73. In return, the two businessmen arranged sex parties, cash and lavish gifts. On Monday, the three were convicted at Southwark Crown Court on accounts including bribery, fraud and money laundering. Mark Dobson, another manager at HBOS, Alison Mills, and John Cartwright were also convicted. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Lloyds chief apologises for damage caused by affair allegations - August 2016 Antonio Horta-Osorio, the chief executive of Lloyds Bank, has broken his silence over allegations about his private life admitting he regrets any "damage done to the group's reputation". In a message sent to the bank's 75,000 employees, the banker said that anyone can make mistakes while insisting that staff had to maintain the highest professional standards. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Christine Lagarde faces court over 340m Bernard Tapie payment - July 2016 The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, must stand trial in France over a payment of 403 million (now 340m, then 290m) to tycoon Bernard Tapie, a France's highest appeals court has ruled. The court rejected Ms Lagarde's appeal against a judge's order in December for her to stand trial over allegations of negligence in her handling of the affair. Ms Lagarde could risk a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of 15,000 euros if convicted. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures HSBC senior manager arrested in FX rigging investigation at JFK airport in New York - July 2016 A senior executive at HSBC has been arrested at New York's JFK airport for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to rig currency benchmarks, according to reports. Mark Johnson, global head of foreign exchange cash trading in London, was reportedly arrested on Tuesday. He will appear before a federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Bloomberg said. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Former PwC employees found guilty in 'Luxleaks' tax scandal - June 2016 Two ex- PricewaterhouseCoopers staffers were found guilty in Luxembourg of stealing confidential tax files that helped unleash a global scandal over generous fiscal deals for hundreds of international companies. Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet face suspended sentences of 12 months and 9 months and were ordered to pay fines of 1,500 (1,230) and 1,000 (822) for their role in the so-called LuxLeaks scandal. Despite the minimal sentences, the ruling was described by Deltours lawyer as shocking and a terrible anomaly. The ruling puts on guard future whistle-blowers, Deltour told reporters.The LuxLeaks revelations sped beyond Luxembourg, causing European Union regulators to expand a tax-subsidy probe and propose new laws to fight corporate tax dodging, while EU lawmakers created a special committee to probe fiscal deals across the 28-nation bloc. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Goldman Sachs dealmakers lavished Libyan officials with prostitutes to win contract - June 2016 A former Goldman Sachs dealmaker trying to persuade Gadaffi-era Libya to invest $1 billion with the investment bank procured prostitutes and invited Libyan officials to lavish parties in the hope of winning the business, the High Court heard on Monday June 13.The Libyan Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund is suing Goldman Sachs for inappropriately coercing its naive staff into giving its sovereign wealth fund cash to the bank to invest in products they did not understand. The products were designed to generate big profits for Goldman, the LIA claims.Goldman denies wrongdoing and says the LIA was treated as an arms-length customer Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former boss of BHS said his life was threatened - June 2016 Darren Topp, the former boss of BHS, has said former owner Dominic Chappell threatened to kill him when he challenged him over a 1.5 million transfer out of the business. MPs on the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee asked Mr Topp about a 1.5 million transfer Mr Chappell made from BHS to a company called BHS Sweden. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley admits paying workers below the minimum wage - June 2016 Mike Ashley admitted paying Sports Direct employees below the minimum wage at a hearing in front of MPs. The company founder said that workers were paid less than the statutory minimum because of bottlenecks at security in an admission that could result in sanctions from HMRC. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Mitsubishi admits improper fuel tests - April 2016 Mitsubishi has admitted to using false fuel methods dating back to 1991. The scale of the scandal is only just coming to light after it was revealed in April that data was falsified in the testing of four types of cars, including two Nissan cars. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Quindell, the scandal-ridden insurance firm Quindell was once a darling of AIM but its share price fell in April 2014 when its accounting practices were attacked in a stinging research note by US short seller Gotham City. In August the group was forced to disclose that the 107 million pre-tax profit it had reported for 2013 was incorrect, and it had in fact suffered a 64million loss. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Toshiba Accounting Scandal The boss of Toshiba, the Japanese technology giant, resigned in disgrace in the wake of one of the countrys biggest ever accounting scandals. His exit came two months after the company revealed that it was investigating accounting irregularities. An independent investigatory panel said that Toshibas management had inflated its reported profits by up to 152 billion yen (780m) between 2008 and 2014. Biggest business scandals in pictures FIFA Corruption Scandal Fifa, football's world governing body, has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption since the summer of 2015, when the US Department of Justice indicted several top executives. It has now claimed the careers of two of the most powerful men in football, Fifa President Sepp Blatter and Uefa President Michel Platini, after they were banned for eight years from all football-related activities by Fifa's ethics committee. A Swiss criminal investigation into the pair is ongoing. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Libor fraudster City trader Tom Hayes, 35, has become the first person to be convicted of rigging Libor rates following a trial at London's Southwark Crown Court. Hayes worked as a trader in yen derivatives at UBS before joining the American bank Citigroup in Tokyo. He was fired from Citigroup following an investigation into his trading methods. He returned to the UK in December 2012 and was arrested following a two-and-a-half year criminal investigation by the SFO. Getty

The Chancellor, George Osborne, pledged to crackdown on tax avoidance by introducing a diverted profits tax to penalise companies that move their profits outside of the UK to countries with lower corporation tax rates in order to pay less to the Treasury.

Facebook has agreed to pay millions more in taxes to the British Government after criticism over its arrangements.

A spokesperson for Facebook told the Independent the changes announced on March 4 aimed to increase transparency and fall in line with tax changes made by the current Government.

Additional reporting by Reuters.
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Billions spent by the insurance industry to comply with new EU-wide capital rules have been a waste of money, the chief executive of Legal & General has said.

Nigel Wilson said most of the sums spent complying with the Solvency II regime would have been better spent on British infrastructure. The UK has spent 4bn to 5bn on Solvency II, and 80 per cent of that has been a waste, Mr Wilson said, That should have gone into houses and roads.

His comments are the strongest rebuke yet to Solvency II, which has come under scrutiny over the cost and time needed to implement the initiative.

L&G is one of the biggest infrastructure investors in the UK. Through Legal & General Capita, it invests in housebuilding and energy projects, and has promised to spend 15bn over the next few years.

But insurers have been distracted by the solvency requirements, which have cost thousands of man hours and millions of pounds.

L&G spent 170m alone between 2009 and 2015 working to comply with the rules, which came into force on 1 January.

Rival insurance giant Prudential reported 70m of implementation costs between 2013 and 2015.

L&G said that it had a 5.5bn surplus, giving it a solvency ratio of 169 per cent. A ratio of 100 per cent shows the company has enough capital to withstand big shocks in underwriting and investment.

Aviva reported a ratio of 180 per cent last week while RSA had 143 per cent, Prudential 193 per cent and Standard Life a 163 per cent ratio.

However, the figures have been met with a shrug of the shoulder by many in the industry, who say they add little to their understanding of the businesses. The industrys own regulator, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) chief Andrew Bailey, has criticised the rules, calling them vastly expensive.

He also hinted at a tweak to the rules in future. PRA insurance head Sam Woods also admitted that the UK interpreted the rules too strongly, while Treasury Select Committee chair Andrew Tyrie dubbed Solvency II an object lesson in how not to make law.

L&G boosted its dividend by 19 per cent to 13.4p but Mr Wilson acknowledged it would take investors a while to forget a 2009 dividend cut that scarred many L&G backers.
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Amal Clooney has described how her family were forced to flee to Europe as their homeland was ravaged by civil war during a meeting with Syrian refugees.

Amal and her husband George Clooney met with Syrian refugees living in Berlin to mark the fifth anniversary of the Syrian conflict, which has displaced at least 4.8 million people internationally and six million internally. They have repeatedly urged Western governments to act in the crisis and met with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel in February to back her open door policy on refugees.

In a video of their meeting, which was released by the International Rescue Committee, they spoke to one refugee who said he was detained as a political prisoner and tortured with electricity. Others described how they had escaped shootings with their children and feared for their lives.

Amal, a leading human rights lawyer, recalled how her own family were forced to flee violence when she was three, leaving their home in Beirut, in Lebanon, behind.

My own family is from Lebanon, she said. "They also ran away from a war and was lucky enough to be accepted by a European country in 1982 when the violence there was really bad. Many years later, my family is doing well. My father has returned to Beirut.

Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily.

I hope you will be able to go back to a safe and free Syria.

George also explained how his family were Irish descendants and criticised the US for forgetting who we are.

I'm of Irish descent and in America, 100 years ago, we were refugees, my family. Irish were treated terribly in America for a period of time and not accepted, and America learned to accept all of these ideas. Its what our country is, a country of immigrants.

Speaking directly about the Syrian crisis, he went on: You forget that these are people who didn't just leave their country for no reason at all. These are people who left because a terrible tragedy.

'We always look around at the end of these tragedies and say if we knew, we would have done something and the reality is, of course we know.

'What is shocking to me is not that it happened but its continuing to happen for five years."
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Angelina Jolie has added her voice to the growing concern surrounding the plight of millions of Syrian refugees who are flooding into Europe, forced from their homes due to the violence of their own government and rebel forces.

The actress, speaking to the press during heavy rain at a refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, said there are 4.8 million Syrian refugees in this region and 6.5 million people displaced inside Syria.

Ms Jolie spoke of her wish to help the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and enable displaced families to return to their homeland.

Ms Jolie has worked with the organisation for years and has been the voice of the desperate struggles of families.

On this day, the fifth anniversary of the Syria conflict, that is where Id hoped to be - in Syria, helping the UNHCR with returns and watching families I have come to know to be able to go home, she said. It is tragic and shameful that we seem still so far from that point.

Ms Jolie stressed the need for diplomatic solutions to the crisis and for no refugees to be excluded or discriminated against when it came to receiving help.

We cannot discuss this as if it were a problem confined to the situations of tens of thousands of refugees in Europe, she said. We cannot improve this reality by partial responses or by responding to some crises and not others, or by helping some refugees and not others, or by excluding Afghan refugees among others or by making a distinction between refugees on the grounds of religion.

Her comments come in the same week that German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has let in one million refugees since the crisis began, suffered a crushing defeat in regional election polls, suggesting that the right-wing and anti-refugee Alternative fur Deutschland party could gain power. Ms Merkel has insisted that Germans look at the long-term bigger picture and has stuck by her pro-refugee policy.

This week more than 1,000 refugees were barred entry into Macedonia as people tried to flee the overcrowded camps in north Greece, and many were forced to cross the river along the border instead. Three people drowned as a result.

Other celebrities have spoken out about the refugee crisis, including actress Susan Sarandon, who visited the Greek island of Lesbos last year. Edward Nortion and UK actors Benedict Cumberbatch and David Morrissey have also spoken out.

According to the UNHCR, more than one million migrants and refugees reached Europe in 2015.
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The Duke of Cambridge has been criticised by a conservation charity for arguing the trophy hunting of animals is justifiable in some circumstances.

In an interview with ITV News, the heir to the throne said commercial hunting could, in fact, help to save some endangered species.

There is a place for commercial hunting in Africa as there is around the world, he said. Its not everyones cup of tea, but the arguments for regulated, properly controlled commercial hunting is that the money that goes from shooting a very old infirm animal goes back into the protection of the other species.

 Prince William talks poaching

Prince William, who is president of United for Wildlife and patron of the Tusk Trust, explained that other eminent conservationists agreed with this viewpoint but added that attention needed to be paid to the regulation of the hunting industry.

So when one is infertile, hes at the end of his life, if somebody out there wants to pay that money - and it wouldnt be me - but if somebody did, then as long as that money goes back into protection of the species then it is a justifiable means of conserving species that are under serious threat, he added.

The most controversial animal killings Show all 6 1 /6 The most controversial animal killings The most controversial animal killings Cincinnati Zoo worker shots and kills Harambe, the 17-year-old gorilla Harambe, a 17-year-old gorilla was shot and killed by a Cincinnati Zoo worker after a three-year-old boy climbed into a gorilla enclosure and was grabbed and dragged by Harambe. The incident was recorded on video and received broad international coverage and commentary, including controversy over the choice to kill Harambe. A number of primatologists and conservationists wrote later that the zoo had no other choice under the circumstances, and that it highlighted the danger of zoo animals in close proximity to humans and the need for better standards of care Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden The most controversial animal killings Walt Palmer (left), from Minnesota, who killed Cecil, the Zimbabwean lion (pictured here with another lion shot in Africa) Walter James Palmer has been named by Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force as the shooter of Cecil, a 13-year-old prized lion. He is now wanted by Zimbabwe officials on poaching charges. The lion was protected and the subject of a decade long study by the Wildlife Unit of Oxford University in the UK. He was outfitted with a GPS collar and was killed in Hwange National Park. The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority and the Safari Operators Association said that two men were charged with poaching in connection to Mr Palmer The most controversial animal killings Kendall Jones hunting images Kendall Jones, a 19-year-old Texas Tech university student, has provoked worldwide fury after posting pictures of herself smiling next to animals she hunted, including a lion, rhinoceros, antelope, leopard, elephant, zebra and hippopotamus The most controversial animal killings Rebecca Francis hunting images Rebecca Francis, a huntress who has killed dozens of wild animals has been sent death wishes by furious social media users after a picture showing her lying down next to a dead giraffe was circulated. Rebecca Francis has a website and Facebook page dedicated to the animals she has killed in hunts across Africa and America. Francis, a prolific hunter who has also co-hosted the television show Eye of the Hunter, regularly posts pictures of herself posing next to dead bears, giraffes, buffaloes and zebras, among other animals. She uses a bow and arrow to kill her prey The most controversial animal killings The slaughter of Marius, an 18-month-old healthy giraffe in Copenhagen Zoo Copenhagen Zoo made the controversial decision to euthanise a healthy giraffe named Marius, which was later dissected and fed to lions as visitors watched. The slaughter sparked a furious backlash from social media users and zoo staff have received death threats by phone and email. Soon after the incident, Copenhagen Zoo faced an international outcry once again after four healthy lions were put down The most controversial animal killings Swiss Dahlholzli zoo kills healthy brown bear cub A Switzerland zoo faced heavy criticism from animal rights groups, after keepers put down a healthy brown bear cub to spare it from being bullied by its dominant male father. The 360 kg male bear Misha had already killed one of his 11-week old cubs in public and was bullying the second, staff at the zoo said, because he was jealous of the attention the cubs were receiving from their mother, Masha. Both adult brown bears had been donated to Berns Dahlholzli zoo in 2009. Campaigners condemned staff there for not separating the cubs, who are being referred to as Baby Bear Two and Baby Bear Three, and their mother from Misha after their birth in January Facebook

His comments coincide with his declaration that he will fight smugglers trafficking endangered animals parts to make money at Buckingham Palace.

In the televised interview, he also said there was a link between poaching and terrorism, calling for urgent action to end the corruption. In certain areas there is potential evidence and links that I cant go into myself but I know of that are of a concern that I think we should be taking more urgent action, he added.

The UK-based charity Lion Aid said it was saddened to hear the Prince's remarks. The director, Dr Pieter Kat, told The Independent they were very sad to hear Prince William state that 'there is a place for commercial hunting in Africa as there is around the world'.

With likely less than 15,000 wild lions left in Africa there is NO place for commercial hunting of lions. With an estimated 1,500 wild male lions in existence and with current offtake for trophy hunting of 300 per annum, continued trophy hunting cannot be deemed as sustainable. A lion of six years of age is not 'post reproduction' in fact it is just coming into his maturity, yet it is at this age most African Countries offer these prime males as trophy, Dr Kat added.

Prince William's comments also sparked anger on Twitter.

In 2014, Prince William came under fire for going on a deer and wild boar hunting holiday on a Spanish estate just days before he launched a high-profile appeal to put a stop to the illegal hunting of wildlife. His remarks about trophy hunting are likely to be taken as evidence of hypocrisy by his critics.
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Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, whose feast day is celebrated every 17 March.

Little is known about the figure, but according to Irish folklore, he was probably born in Wales around 387 before being kidnapped and stolen by Irish pirates during a raid to be an enslaved pig and sheep herder in Ireland. Legend has it that he was 14-years-old when he was stolen and taken to Slemish Mountain, where he remained until he turned 20 and was finally returned home by some kind sailors.

A few years after returning to his homeland, he had a divine vision in which he felt God call him to be the Voice of Ireland. He subsequently returned to the country as a free man and spread his Christian faith around the pagan country, converting thousands and establishing many churches in the process.

According to folklore, St Patrick was stolen by Irish pirates and taken to Mount Slemish, pictured, to tend sheep and pigs (Wikipedia)

He apparently used the three leaves contained in shamrock flowers as a metaphor for the holy trinity throughout his teaching. To this day, the shamrock is one of the symbols most associated with Ireland.

In the present day, Ireland celebrates Saint Patrick every 17 March. Many Catholics attend mass and sing hymns in Gaelic or wear sprigs of shamrocks on their lapels. During the day, many towns and cities hold parades celebrating Irish culture, with flamboyant floats, live music and dancers. Others mark the day with a celebratory glass of Guinness. Some travel to Mount Slemish to see where Patrick was enslaved as a sheep herder and climb to the top of the mountain.

A marching band celebrates at a London parade for Saint Patrick's Day (Getty)

This year is a particularly historic one as Ireland celebrates the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, a key event in the countrys history.

New York and Dublin hold the biggest parades in the world. Half a million people are expected to line the streets for the Dublin parade, while around 150,000 revellers will attend the New York display.
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The enigmatic circles of sand  burnt orange, almost impeccably round and rimmed by a fringe of tall grass  are spaced at surprisingly regular intervals across the otherwise barren landscape. Over the course of decades, they appear, expand and then fade, almost as if they had a life cycle of their own.

And, viewed from above, they seem so perfect and improbable their existence can only be ascribed to something not of this world. Perhaps they are the footprints of a god, as the Himba bushmen who live in the Namib desert have long believed. Or maybe the bare patches have been poisoned by the breath of a malicious dragon that dwells underground.

Or else theyre the work of aliens who thought it might be fun to mess with the Earthlings by scratching out some circles in the grass and leaving us to puzzle over them for centuries. Hardly less fanciful though far more grounded in fact  was this suggestion from a German scientist in 2013: After finding sand termites in every fairy circle he sampled, he concluded that the industrious insects might be geoengineering their harsh environment, burrowing out bare spots in ever-broader concentric circles in order to capture some of the deserts scarce water for themselves.

Whatever their cause, the fairy circles have brought countless scientists, mystics and conspiracy theorists to remote swath of southern African desert that was long thought to be the only place they could be seen.

Those people didnt know about Newman, Australia.

Science news in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Science news in pictures Science news in pictures Pluto has 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen Pluto has a 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen that is doing strange things to its surface, Nasa has found. The mysterious core seems to be the cause of features on its surface that have fascinated scientists since they were spotted by Nasa's New Horizons mission. "Before New Horizons, everyone thought Pluto was going to be a netball - completely flat, almost no diversity," said Tanguy Bertrand, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center and the lead author on the new study. "But it's completely different. It has a lot of different landscapes and we are trying to understand what's going on there." Getty Science news in pictures Over 400 species discovered this year by Natural History Museum The ancient invertabrate worm-like species rhenopyrgus viviani (pictured) is one of over 400 species previously unknown to science that were discovered by experts at the Natural History Museum this year PA Science news in pictures Jackdaws can identify 'dangerous' humans Jackdaws can identify dangerous humans from listening to each others warning calls, scientists say. The highly social birds will also remember that person if they come near their nests again, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. In the study, a person unknown to the wild jackdaws approached their nest. At the same time scientists played a recording of a warning call (threatening) or contact calls (non-threatening). The next time jackdaws saw this same person, the birds that had previously heard the warning call were defensive and returned to their nests more than twice as quickly on average. Getty Science news in pictures Turtle embryos influence sex by shaking The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperatures at which they are incubated. Warm temperatures favour females. But by wiggling around the egg, embryos can find the Goldilocks Zone which means they are able to shield themselves against extreme thermal conditions and produce a balanced sex ratio, according to the new study published in Current Biology journal Ye et al/Current Biology Science news in pictures Elephant poaching rates drop in Africa African elephant poaching rates have dropped by 60 per cent in six years, an international study has found. It is thought the decline could be associated with the ivory trade ban introduced in China in 2017. Reuters Science news in pictures Ancient four-legged whale discovered in Peru Scientists have identified a four-legged creature with webbed feet to be an ancestor of the whale. Fossils unearthed in Peru have led scientists to conclude that the enormous creatures that traverse the planets oceans today are descended from small hoofed ancestors that lived in south Asia 50 million years ago A. Gennari Science news in pictures Animal with transient anus discovered A scientist has stumbled upon a creature with a transient anus that appears only when it is needed, before vanishing completely. Dr Sidney Tamm of the Marine Biological Laboratory could not initially find any trace of an anus on the species. However, as the animal gets full, a pore opens up to dispose of waste Steven G Johnson Science news in pictures Giant bee spotted Feared extinct, the Wallace's Giant bee has been spotted for the first time in nearly 40 years. An international team of conservationists spotted the bee, that is four times the size of a typical honeybee, on an expedition to a group of Indonesian Islands Clay Bolt Science news in pictures New mammal species found inside crocodile Fossilised bones digested by crocodiles have revealed the existence of three new mammal species that roamed the Cayman Islands 300 years ago. The bones belonged to two large rodent species and a small shrew-like animal New Mexico Museum of Natural History Science news in pictures Fabric that changes according to temperature created Scientists at the University of Maryland have created a fabric that adapts to heat, expanding to allow more heat to escape the body when warm and compacting to retain more heat when cold Faye Levine, University of Maryland Science news in pictures Baby mice tears could be used in pest control A study from the University of Tokyo has found that the tears of baby mice cause female mice to be less interested in the sexual advances of males Getty Science news in pictures Final warning to limit "climate catastrophe" The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued a report which projects the impact of a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius and warns against a higher increase Getty Science news in pictures Nobel prize for evolution chemists The nobel prize for chemistry has been awarded to three chemists working with evolution. Frances Smith is being awarded the prize for her work on directing the evolution of enzymes, while Gregory Winter and George Smith take the prize for their work on phage display of peptides and antibodies Getty/AFP Science news in pictures Nobel prize for laser physicists The nobel prize for physics has been awarded to three physicists working with lasers. Arthur Ashkin (L) was awarded for his "optical tweezers" which use lasers to grab particles, atoms, viruses and other living cells. Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou were jointly awarded the prize for developing chirped-pulse amplification of lasers Reuters/AP Science news in pictures Discovery of a new species of dinosaur The Ledumahadi Mafube roamed around 200 million years ago in what is now South Africa. Recently discovered by a team of international scientists, it was the largest land animal of its time, weighing 12 tons and standing at 13 feet. In Sesotho, the South African language of the region in which the dinosaur was discovered, its name means "a giant thunderclap at dawn" Viktor Radermacher / SWNS Science news in pictures Birth of a planet Scientists have witnessed the birth of a planet for the first time ever. This spectacular image from the SPHERE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope is the first clear image of a planet caught in the very act of formation around the dwarf star PDS 70. The planet stands clearly out, visible as a bright point to the right of the center of the image, which is blacked out by the coronagraph mask used to block the blinding light of the central star. ESO/A. Muller et al Science news in pictures New human organ discovered that was previously missed by scientists Layers long thought to be dense, connective tissue are actually a series of fluid-filled compartments researchers have termed the interstitium. These compartments are found beneath the skin, as well as lining the gut, lungs, blood vessels and muscles, and join together to form a network supported by a mesh of strong, flexible proteins Getty Science news in pictures Previously unknown society lived in Amazon rainforest before Europeans arrived, say archaeologists Working in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, a team led by archaeologists at the University of Exeter unearthed hundreds of villages hidden in the depths of the rainforest. These excavations included evidence of fortifications and mysterious earthworks called geoglyphs Jose Iriarte Science news in pictures One in 10 people have traces of cocaine or heroin on fingerprints, study finds More than one in 10 people were found to have traces of class A drugs on their fingers by scientists developing a new fingerprint-based drug test. Using sensitive analysis of the chemical composition of sweat, researchers were able to tell the difference between those who had been directly exposed to heroin and cocaine, and those who had encountered it indirectly. Getty Science news in pictures Nasa releases stunning images of Jupiter's great red spot The storm bigger than the Earth, has been swhirling for 350 years. The image's colours have been enhanced after it was sent back to Earth. Pictures by: Tom Momary

Unbeknownst to almost anyone outside the small mining town, the same strange phenomenon that so captivated people in the Namib also occurs in Australias outback. Not only that, but a comparison of the two types of fairy circles could help solve the centuries-old mystery of whats creating them.

Its not gods, scientists said in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and its not dragons or bugs.

Its the plants themselves. Theyve self-organized.

This is not an entirely new theory. South African biologist Michael Cramer suggested it in a paper in 2013, and a year later the lead author of the PNAS study, Stephan Getzin, conducted his own analysis of aerial images of the Namibian circles to develop a computer model that could explain how plants  which lack central nervous systems, and, you know, an understanding of the notion circle  could coordinate themselves in this way.

Their motive for doing so  if plants can really be ascribed a motive  is pretty simple: In a desert environment where water is scarce, the land can only sustain so much vegetation. Attempting to carpet the entire earth with grass would be a recipe for mutually assured destruction, so instead the plants organize into clumps. Covered areas soak up the water from bare areas, and everyone drinks, even when its been months since the last rainfall. Thats how the area around the fairy circles can sustain full-time vegetation when the rest of the Namib desert is desolate except for right after a rain.

Norbert Juergen, the German scientist who most recently proposed the termite theory (though hes far from its only proponent) suggested that its extremely clandestine sand termites that make this happen. The bugs chomp away at grass roots underground, forming a small bare patch of sand through which water can sink to reach them. The plants on the rim also benefit from the extra moisture in from this water sink, explaining how they can grow so large. And as the termites chomp away at more and more grass, the circle expands.

Fairy circles seem too perfect to be of this world when viewed from above (Thorsten Becker)

But other researchers wanted more evidence. Walter Tschinkel, the biologist at Florida State University in Tallahassee who authored a much-cited PLOS One study on the life cycles of fairy circles in 2012, told Science magazine that Juergen may have found sand termites in the circles, but he hadnt done anything to prove that the termites were in fact attacking the plants.

Juergens has made the common scientific error of confusing correlation  even very strong correlation  with causation, Tschinkel said just after the Juergen paper came out.

Thats where the self-organization theory comes in. Maybe, as Getzin and other researchers suggested, the plants didnt need bugs to help them form circles. Maybe they could do it on their own.

On the other side of the globe, Bronwyn Bell, an environmental manager for the Australian mining company Rio Tinto, read Getzins 2014 paper on the Namibian circles with interest. The phenomenon he described sounded just like one shed seen in her own county. People in the Pilbara, a dry, thinly-populated part of western Australia, had talked about their own fairy circles for years. But no one had the resources or the expertise to investigate them more thoroughly.

Three days [after publishing the 2014 paper], I had in my letterbox something that looked identical to the Namibian fairy circles, Getzin told Smithsonian Magazine. We couldnt believe it  the Namibia fairy circles are supposed to be the only ones in the world.

Next thing he knew, he and his colleagues were on a plane to the outback.

The circles there are a lot like the Namibian ones, co-author Todd Erickson, a biologist at the University of Western Australia, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Each is about a dozen feet in diameter and 30 feet from the next nearest circle. Standing inside one, you cant tell youre in the middle of a pattern at all. But from above, the arrangement becomes clear: hundreds of fairy circles grouped in hexagon-like formations.

Unlike in Namibia, the locations of these circles didnt seem to correlate to any kind of termite activity  pretty much putting the kibosh on Juergens theory. Instead, the pattern matched Getzins computer model for self-organization.

The principle of self-organization is an old one: Simply put, it describes how an unstructured and chaotic group can transform into an organized system without any kind of central coordination. Alan Turing proposed it to explain patterns like zebra stripes and dalmatian spots that appear on animals skin (you can even watch it happen here). Its also been used to explain flocking behavior  how birds that are just looking to move in the same direction without bumping into one another are able to fly in complicated formations. Self-organization is said to be the driving principle behind phenomena from crystal formation to herd behavior to the market economy.

A combination of math and the researchers own observations explains how this might form a fairy circle.

The way I look at it is, its like drying mud, Tschinkel, who was not involved in the PNAS study, told Smithsonian.

After a rain, the scant water is pulled in all directions by the Australian deserts thirsty plants. Depending on how those plants are distributed, some spots inevitably become drier than others. Nothing grows there, so the clay becomes hard and impermeable. And the next time rain falls, it skims over the surface of the crusty clay until it reaches an area where plants are growing. Those plants soak it up, then put down bigger roots, so that when the next rain comes theyre able to pull it away from their neighbors  killing them off and making the bare spot even bigger.

In Namibia, the circles form slightly differently: Instead of washing into the waiting roots of nearby plants, water sinks into the porous sand in the Namib desert, turning the bare fairy circles into a reservoir for thirsty plants during long dry periods.

But in both places, the researchers say, the mechanism and the result are the same: Uncoordinated competition between individual plants fighting over water can lead to a pattern that repeats itself across a vast landscape.

The find in Australia, is pretty good evidence for the self-organizing theory, Cramer said in an interview with the New Scientist. There is still a long way to go to make it conclusive, but I think the evidence is mounting.

Tschinkel, on the other hand, had the same warning for authors of the PNAS paper that he gave Juergens: Correlation between a computed model and nature is still not proof of causation, no matter how nicely the output mimics nature, he told the Atlantic. It will take an experiment in which scientists artificially create the circles by manipulating water and soil to truly prove the self-organization theory.

Still, at the very least, the find in Australia has doubled the number of studied fairy circle sites around the globe. And based on his computer models, Getzin believes are probably at least a few more like them in deserts around the world, waiting to be found. The fairy circle enigma is far from over.

You should never claim to put an end to the mystery, he told the New Scientist. Weve just made one significant step forward in solving the problem.

 Washington Post
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The Madagascan fat-tailed dwarf lemur could hold the secret to human hibernation and mankinds chances of exploring the deepest reaches of the known universe, according to a team of top neuroscientists.

Vladyslav Vyazovskiy, a Ukrainian neuroscientist, says harnessing the power of hibernation is vital if humans are to venture beyond our solar system.

Interest in suspended animation, the ability to set biological processes on hold, peaked in the 1950s as Nasa poured money into biological research. The hope was that sleeping your way to the stars would mean spacecraft could carry far less food, water and oxygen, making long-haul flights to distant planets more practical. It would also save astronauts from years of deep-space boredom.

Nasas interest died at the end of the space race, but Mr Vyazovskiy and his team of researchers at the University of Oxford are now exploring ways to put astronauts into stasis, using knowledge gained from mammals, including bears and dwarf lemurs.

A journey to our nearest planet, Mars, would take around eight months using current technology. If we one day hope to visit another star system, even if we could travel at the speed of light, the journey would take years. Being able to go into a state of long-term torpor would make such distances considerably less tedious for the astronauts and conserve vital resources, said Mr Vyazovskiy.

Science news in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Science news in pictures Science news in pictures Pluto has 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen Pluto has a 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen that is doing strange things to its surface, Nasa has found. The mysterious core seems to be the cause of features on its surface that have fascinated scientists since they were spotted by Nasa's New Horizons mission. "Before New Horizons, everyone thought Pluto was going to be a netball - completely flat, almost no diversity," said Tanguy Bertrand, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center and the lead author on the new study. "But it's completely different. It has a lot of different landscapes and we are trying to understand what's going on there." Getty Science news in pictures Over 400 species discovered this year by Natural History Museum The ancient invertabrate worm-like species rhenopyrgus viviani (pictured) is one of over 400 species previously unknown to science that were discovered by experts at the Natural History Museum this year PA Science news in pictures Jackdaws can identify 'dangerous' humans Jackdaws can identify dangerous humans from listening to each others warning calls, scientists say. The highly social birds will also remember that person if they come near their nests again, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. In the study, a person unknown to the wild jackdaws approached their nest. At the same time scientists played a recording of a warning call (threatening) or contact calls (non-threatening). The next time jackdaws saw this same person, the birds that had previously heard the warning call were defensive and returned to their nests more than twice as quickly on average. Getty Science news in pictures Turtle embryos influence sex by shaking The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperatures at which they are incubated. Warm temperatures favour females. But by wiggling around the egg, embryos can find the Goldilocks Zone which means they are able to shield themselves against extreme thermal conditions and produce a balanced sex ratio, according to the new study published in Current Biology journal Ye et al/Current Biology Science news in pictures Elephant poaching rates drop in Africa African elephant poaching rates have dropped by 60 per cent in six years, an international study has found. It is thought the decline could be associated with the ivory trade ban introduced in China in 2017. Reuters Science news in pictures Ancient four-legged whale discovered in Peru Scientists have identified a four-legged creature with webbed feet to be an ancestor of the whale. Fossils unearthed in Peru have led scientists to conclude that the enormous creatures that traverse the planets oceans today are descended from small hoofed ancestors that lived in south Asia 50 million years ago A. Gennari Science news in pictures Animal with transient anus discovered A scientist has stumbled upon a creature with a transient anus that appears only when it is needed, before vanishing completely. Dr Sidney Tamm of the Marine Biological Laboratory could not initially find any trace of an anus on the species. However, as the animal gets full, a pore opens up to dispose of waste Steven G Johnson Science news in pictures Giant bee spotted Feared extinct, the Wallace's Giant bee has been spotted for the first time in nearly 40 years. An international team of conservationists spotted the bee, that is four times the size of a typical honeybee, on an expedition to a group of Indonesian Islands Clay Bolt Science news in pictures New mammal species found inside crocodile Fossilised bones digested by crocodiles have revealed the existence of three new mammal species that roamed the Cayman Islands 300 years ago. The bones belonged to two large rodent species and a small shrew-like animal New Mexico Museum of Natural History Science news in pictures Fabric that changes according to temperature created Scientists at the University of Maryland have created a fabric that adapts to heat, expanding to allow more heat to escape the body when warm and compacting to retain more heat when cold Faye Levine, University of Maryland Science news in pictures Baby mice tears could be used in pest control A study from the University of Tokyo has found that the tears of baby mice cause female mice to be less interested in the sexual advances of males Getty Science news in pictures Final warning to limit "climate catastrophe" The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued a report which projects the impact of a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius and warns against a higher increase Getty Science news in pictures Nobel prize for evolution chemists The nobel prize for chemistry has been awarded to three chemists working with evolution. Frances Smith is being awarded the prize for her work on directing the evolution of enzymes, while Gregory Winter and George Smith take the prize for their work on phage display of peptides and antibodies Getty/AFP Science news in pictures Nobel prize for laser physicists The nobel prize for physics has been awarded to three physicists working with lasers. Arthur Ashkin (L) was awarded for his "optical tweezers" which use lasers to grab particles, atoms, viruses and other living cells. Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou were jointly awarded the prize for developing chirped-pulse amplification of lasers Reuters/AP Science news in pictures Discovery of a new species of dinosaur The Ledumahadi Mafube roamed around 200 million years ago in what is now South Africa. Recently discovered by a team of international scientists, it was the largest land animal of its time, weighing 12 tons and standing at 13 feet. In Sesotho, the South African language of the region in which the dinosaur was discovered, its name means "a giant thunderclap at dawn" Viktor Radermacher / SWNS Science news in pictures Birth of a planet Scientists have witnessed the birth of a planet for the first time ever. This spectacular image from the SPHERE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope is the first clear image of a planet caught in the very act of formation around the dwarf star PDS 70. The planet stands clearly out, visible as a bright point to the right of the center of the image, which is blacked out by the coronagraph mask used to block the blinding light of the central star. ESO/A. Muller et al Science news in pictures New human organ discovered that was previously missed by scientists Layers long thought to be dense, connective tissue are actually a series of fluid-filled compartments researchers have termed the interstitium. These compartments are found beneath the skin, as well as lining the gut, lungs, blood vessels and muscles, and join together to form a network supported by a mesh of strong, flexible proteins Getty Science news in pictures Previously unknown society lived in Amazon rainforest before Europeans arrived, say archaeologists Working in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, a team led by archaeologists at the University of Exeter unearthed hundreds of villages hidden in the depths of the rainforest. These excavations included evidence of fortifications and mysterious earthworks called geoglyphs Jose Iriarte Science news in pictures One in 10 people have traces of cocaine or heroin on fingerprints, study finds More than one in 10 people were found to have traces of class A drugs on their fingers by scientists developing a new fingerprint-based drug test. Using sensitive analysis of the chemical composition of sweat, researchers were able to tell the difference between those who had been directly exposed to heroin and cocaine, and those who had encountered it indirectly. Getty Science news in pictures Nasa releases stunning images of Jupiter's great red spot The storm bigger than the Earth, has been swhirling for 350 years. The image's colours have been enhanced after it was sent back to Earth. Pictures by: Tom Momary

The fact that large mammals such as bears and even primates, such as the fat-tailed dwarf lemur of Madagascar, can hibernate means that theoretically humans arent too big or energy-hungry to enter torpor.

Mr Vyazovskiys team, part of a European Space Agency programme, say that despite some open questions over human hibernation it is theoretically possible to put astronauts in stasis for long periods. They point to the wide use of controlled hypothermia and slowed metabolism in medicine, including during cardiac surgery when the body is cooled below its normal temperature, as a possible avenue to perfecting the technology.

However, to take hibernation to the stars they admit they will need to better understand how and why animals spontaneously hibernate for a few hours or many months. Animals seem to know how to hibernate safely.

Scientists also need to overcome the devastating effect of cold on the brains ability to retain memories. Research in animals such as bats shows that most memories are preserved even after many months in a state of almost complete neuronal depression. But some memories seem to be taken better care of than others, such as the ability to remember close kin, said Mr Vyazovskiy, in an article for The Conversation website.

Dr Lewis Darnell, an astrobiologist at the University of Kent who is funded by the UK Space Agency, told The Independent: The genes for hibernation exist in the mammalian body; the trick for researchers is to learn how to reprogramme the human body to access this capability.

Hibernation habits: What animals can do

Many hibernating animals eat a lot during the summer, creating fat stores that will last throughout the winter.

Bats remember far more than other animals after hibernation, due to an unknown neuroprotective mechanism.

After hibernation, animals are more likely to recognise family members than familiar, unrelated animals.

The arctic ground squirrel sets its internal temperature to 0C when it hibernates.

Bears neither urinate nor defecate during hibernation, but recycle nutrients from their waste. Their heart rates drop from 55 beats a minute to as low as nine. A female can give birth, the cubs feeding on her milk till she wakes.
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The most "dangerous" place to live in England and Wales has reportedly been revealed as George Osborne signals fresh public spending cuts that could have particular significance for police and council budgets.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, London remained the place where people were "most likely" to suffer a violent attack, with 2.08 assaults for every 100 people who live there.

But according to the study conducted by The Mirror, Cleveland was found to have higher rates of victim-based crime than London, West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester, with 7.49 crimes per 100 people.

The countys criminal damage and arson rates were reported to be higher than any other, and was also in the top five for violent assaults and theft offences.

Mike Penning, Minister for Policing, Fire and Criminal Justice and Victims, told The Mirror: "Police reform is working and crime has fallen by more than a quarter since 2010.

"The ONS has been clear that increases in police-recorded crime are largely down to better recording by the police and increased reporting by victims."

In February, a study of cities around the world found that Vienna was the best to live in for quality of life, while capital cities London, New York and Paris failed to make the top 10.

The 20 best cities to live in the world for quality of life Show all 12 1 /12 The 20 best cities to live in the world for quality of life The 20 best cities to live in the world for quality of life 1. Vienna The 20 best cities to live in the world for quality of life 2. Zurich The 20 best cities to live in the world for quality of life 3. Auckland The 20 best cities to live in the world for quality of life 4. Munich The 20 best cities to live in the world for quality of life 5. Vancouver The 20 best cities to live in the world for quality of life 6. Dusselfdorf The 20 best cities to live in the world for quality of life 7. Frankfurt The 20 best cities to live in the world for quality of life 8. Geneva The 20 best cities to live in the world for quality of life 9. Copenhagen The 20 best cities to live in the world for quality of life 10. Sydney The 20 best cities to live in the world for quality of life 11. Amsterdam The 20 best cities to live in the world for quality of life 12. Wellington

The list included a personal safety ranking based on internal stability, crime levels, and the home countrys relationship with other countries  as well as the socioeconomic conditions of the city.

While Luxembourg, Bern, Helsinki and Zurich topped the personal safety list; Paris, London, Madrid and Athens all ranked in the 70s or below as many suffered either terrorist attacks or social unrest in the last few years.
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Britain is to become one of the first countries in the world to introduce a tax on sugary drinks in an eye-catching budget initiative accompanied by some of the gloomiest economic news of George Osbornes Chancellorship.

In a surprise announcement that delighted health campaigners, Mr Osborne unveiled plans for a new 24p-a-litre tax on drinks such a Coca Cola, Iron Bru and Ribena that contain the highest concentrations of sugar. Tonic water and lower sugar fizzy drinks such as Fanta will face an 18p a litre rate when the tax comes into force in two years time.

The new levy, which Mr Osborne predicted would reduce childhood obesity and put the next generation first, will raise around 500 million that will go towards investment in school sports.

But Mr Osbornes centrepiece announcement could do little to deflect from the grim economic news that accompanied the Budget.

The Chancellor was forced to admit that the economy was now materially weaker than it was just four months ago  with GDP growth, productivity and wages all expected to be significantly lower than was predicted in November.

As a result Mr Osborne now faces a 55 billion black hole in the public finances and will be forced to impose further swinging public sector spending cuts or tax rises if he is to fulfill his pledge to eliminate the deficit by 2020. This compares to a 27 billion fiscal windfall that Mr Osborne trumpeted in November.

 Osborne announces sugar tax

But in a high-risk strategy the Chancellor effectively ignored warnings from the independent Office of Budget Responsibility that the deteriorating economic outlook meant that he needed to reassess his tax and spending plans.

Instead he pushed back the pain  penciling in plans to cut Government spending by 5 billion in a single year at the end of the decade to balance the books if the economy doesnt improve. Such a move could prove politically disastrous so close to the next election.

Among other initiatives, Mr Osborne announced:

 Personal tax allowance will rise to 11,500 next year and the higher 40p rate will go up to 45,000.

 Fuel duty will be frozen for the sixth year in a row while beer duty has also been put on hold.

 A new lifetime ISA for the under-40s with the Government contributing 1 to every 4 set aside by those saving towards a house or a pension.

 There will also be a new 0.5 per cent increase to insurance premium tax  paid on home, car and holiday insurance - that will generate 700 million to boost flood defenses.

In the wake of the Google tax bill row Mr Osborne also announced a fresh 12 billion crackdown on tax dodging by firms and individuals. Small business were big winners with plans to exempt over 600,000 shops and firms from paying any local business rates whatsoever.

Public health experts and campaigners hailed the move as a radical intervention that would protect children from diabetes, cancer and other health conditions linked to obesity. (PA)

But other than the dire economic news the budget is likely to be remembered as a landmark moment when sugar joined other vices such as smoking and drinking as a target for punitive Government taxation.

While the Chancellor said he hoped the tax would force manufacturers to cut the amount of sugar in their products, the independent Office for Budget Responsibility said it expected the cost to be passed entirely onto the price paid by consumers.

Public health experts and campaigners hailed the move as a radical intervention that would protect children from diabetes, cancer and other health conditions linked to obesity.

Jamie Oliver, who has lobbied the Government over the sugar tax, said it was a profound move that will ripple around the world. I never thought we were going to get this, he said.

The tax, which will be introduced from 2018, is expected to raise 520m in its first year. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

But Ian Wright, director general of the Food and Drink Federation, said the levy would result less innovation and product reformulation and could cost jobs.

We are extremely disappointed by todays announcement of a new tax on some of the UKs most successful and innovative companies. For nearly a year we have waited for an holistic strategy to tackle obesity. What weve got today instead is a piece of political theatre, he said.

Announcing the new measure in the Budget statement Mr Osborne said that experts predicted half of boys and 70 per cent of girls would be overweight or obese within a generation, and that sugary drinks were on of the biggest contributors.

I am not prepared to look back at my time here in this Parliament, doing this job, and say to my childrens generation, Im sorry. We knew there was a problem with sugary drinks. We knew it caused disease, but we ducked the difficult decisions and we did nothing, he told MPs.

The tax, which will be introduced from 2018, is expected to raise 520m in its first year, a figure which the OBR predicts will fall over subsequent years as manufacturers reformulate their products to contain less sugar.

It will affect all sugary drinks manufactured or imported for UK consumption. Pure fruit juices and milk-based drinks will be exempt but any other product containing more than 5g of sugar per 100ml could be subject to the levy.

The announcement took the House of Commons by surprise, and risks opposition by many Conservative MPs who opposed previous calls for a sugar tax. There will be fears that the measure could become a tax on the poor if the costs are passed on by the industry.

England chief executive Simon Stevens said the bold move was a major first step to what must be a comprehensive childhood obesity strategy that will help us shed pounds off our waistlines, and save pounds on future NHS costs.
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A number of high-profile Conservative MPs have been criticised for voting in support of the governments disability benefit cuts  some in spite of themselves being patrons of disability charities.

Kit Malthouse, the MP for North West Hampshire, was forced to resign from his position as patron of the Multiple Sclerosis Society after its members said his voting position prevented him from being an effective patron.

The cuts to Employment Support Allowance (ESA) will see claimants losing 30 a week if they are judged to be disabled but fit enough for work-related activity. You can see whether your MP voted in favour of the measure here.

Recommended Read more Commons could be forced to debate disability cuts after petition

Zac Goldsmith, the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London, was another Tory MP to vote for the cuts in spite of his position as patron of a disability charity.

Richmond AID said it was shocked and disappointed at Mr Goldsmiths actions, but stopped short of calling for him to resign. Lucy Byrne, the charitys chief executive, said the MP had been invited to its office to explain their decision.

The Commons could be forced to hold an emergency debate on the matter after a snap petition, set up on the 9 March, received more than 100,000 signatures in just a week.

And under the hashtag #ESAcuts, members of the public have been naming and shaming MPs who voted for the cuts online  often alongside unverified claims about their own expenses.

A coalition of 60 national disability charities has condemned the ESA cuts, saying they mark a step backwards for disabled people and their families many of whom live in poverty and struggle to make ends meet.

In a statement on his website, Mr Malthouse said he was sorry to hear that Andover MS Society do not want me to continue as patron [they] undertake incredibly important support and outreach work and I will remain a strong supporter.

He said current ESA claimants would not be affected by the cuts, which he described as sensible since having a job is surely the best therapy of all.

7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Show all 7 1 /7 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Closing Remploy factories The Work and Pensions Secretary called time on Britains system of Remploy factories, which provided subsidised and sheltered employment to disabled people. People employed at the factories protested against their closure and said they provided gainful work. Is it a kindness to stick people in some factory where they are not doing any work at all? Just making cups of coffee? Mr Duncan Smith said at the time, defending the decision. I promise you this is better. The Remploy organisation was privatised and sold to American workfare provider Maximus, with the majority of the organisations factories closed. The future of the remaining sites is unclear 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Scrapping the Independent Living Fund The 320m Independent Living Fund was established in 1988 to give financial support to people with disabilities. It was scrapped on July 1 2015, with 18,000 often severely disabled people losing out by an average of 300 a week. The money was generally used to help pay for carers so people could live in communities rather than institutions. Councils will get a boost in funding to compensate but it will not cover the whole cost of the fund. This new cash also doesnt have to be spent on the disabled 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Cut payments for the disabled Access To Work scheme Iain Duncan Smith is bringing forward a policy that will reduce payments to some disabled people from a scheme designed to help them into work. The 108m scheme, which helps 35,540 people, will be capped on a per-used basis, potentially hitting those with the more serious disabilities who currently receive the most help. The single biggest users of the fund are people who have difficulty seeing and hearing. The cut will come in from October 2015. The charity Disability UK says the scheme actually makes the Government money because the people who gain access to work tend pay tax that more than covers its cost. The DWP does not describe the reduction as a cut and says it will be able to spread the money more thinly and cover more people 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Cut Employment and Support Allowance The latest Budget included a 30 a week cut in disability benefits for some new claimants of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). The Government says it is equalising the rate of disability benefits with Jobseekers Allowance because giving disabled people more help is a perverse incentive. The people affected by this cut are those assessed as having a limited capability for work but as being capable of some work-related activity. A group of prominent Catholics wrote to Mr Duncan Smith to say there was no justification for this cut. Mental health charity Mind, said the cut was insulting and misguided 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Risk homelessness with a sharp increase disability benefit sanctions Official figures in the first quarter of 2014 found a huge increase in sanctions against people reliant on ESA sickness benefit. The 15,955 sanctions were handed out in that period compared to 3,574 in the same period the year before, 2013  a 4.5 times increase. The homelessness charity Crisis warned at the time that the sharp rise in temporary benefit cuts was cruel and can leave people utterly destitute  without money even for food and at severe risk of homelessness. It is difficult to see how they are meant to help people prepare for work, Matt Downie, director of policy at the charity added 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Sending sick people to work because of broken fitness to work tests In 2012 a government advisor appointed to review the Governments Work Capability Assessment said the tests causing suffering by sending sick people back to work inappropriately. There are certainly areas where it's still not working and I am sorry there are people going through a system which I think still needs improvement, Professor Malcolm Harrington concluded. The tests are said to have improved since then, but as recently as this summer they are still coming in for criticism. In June the British Psychological Society said there was now significant body of evidence that the WCA is failing to assess peoples fitness for work accurately and appropriately. It called for a full overhaul of the way the tests are carried out. The WCA appeals system has also been fraught with controversy with a very high rate of overturns and delays lasting months and blamed for hardship 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people The bedroom tax The Governments benefit cut for people who it says are under-occupying their homes disproportionately affects disabled people. Statistics released last year show that around two-thirds of those affected by the under-occupancy penalty, widely known as the bedroom tax, are disabled. There have been a number of high profile cases of disabled people being moved out of specially adapted homes by the policy. In one case publicised by the Sunday People last week, a 48 year old man with cerebral palsy was forced to bathe in a paddling pool after the tax moved him out of his home with a walk-in shower. The Government says it has provided councils with a discretionary fund to help reduce the policys impact on disabled people, but cases continue to arise

Mr Goldsmiths campaign declined to comment when approached by the Independent last week.
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Charities have hit out at George Osbornes latest Budget, accusing the Chancellor of lavishing money on big business while ignoring poor children, domestic violence victims, and disabled people.

Wednesdays spending statement saw Mr Osborne unveil further cuts to corporation tax, business rates, and a tax cut for higher earners  but provide little in the way of relief for the most vulnerable.

Though Mr Osborne claimed he had put the next generation first, Alison Garnham, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, said children had lost out at the expense of business groups.

This Budget puts the next generation last and set to be the poorest generation for decades, she said.

The Child Poverty Action Group accused the Chancellor of ignoring children (Getty)

The Chancellor ignored both the 3.7m children in poverty now and the fact that according to IFS projections we face the biggest increase in child poverty in a generation.

The Chancellor delivered some big investments for the better off but there was little here for hard-up parents trying to get better off by earning more. Children were prioritised behind business groups who got costly tax cuts.

National deaf-blind charity Sense said the Budget was a bleak day for disabled people and accused the Chancellor or ignoring them, while United Response, which provides disability support services, argued the Budget does nothing but compound the uncertainty already facing people with disabilities.

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of the MS Society, said the confirmation of a further benefit cut to Personal Independence Payment disability benefit would cause sufferers of multiple sclerosis anxiety and fears.

Recommended Read more Government plans to cut adapted equipment support for disabled

The Chancellors Budget included a further cut in corporation tax to 17 per cent, an extension of small business tax breaks on business rates, and cuts to capital gains tax.

Mr Osborne also increased the level at which the higher 40p rate of income tax kicked in  effectively a tax cut for the highest 15 per cent of earners  and announced 3.5 billion of further cuts in public spending by 2020.

The Government in the last month enacted cuts to Employment and Support Allowance and tax credits. It is also pushing ahead with cuts to the Personal Independent Payment.

The one area hailed as positive charities was new funding to house rough sleepers. Crisis and the YMCA welcomed this development.

Vivienne Hayes, chef executive of the Womens Resource Centre, said she was encouraged that women charities had received investment from the tampon tax fund, but warned they were still chronically underfunded and that women were being impoverished by wider economic policy decisions.

George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance Show all 8 1 /8 George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance Debt forecasts up, growth forecasts down The OBRs new forecasts have downgraded growth in all of the next five years to 2020. The watchdog says the economy will only grow by 2 per cent in 2016, as opposed to the anticipated 2.4 per cent. Borrowing and productivity growth are also down  with forecast borrowing in 2018-198 16 billion higher George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance New tax on sugary drinks The Chancellor announced a new tax on sugary soft drinks, which is projected to raise 520 million. At least some of the money will be spent on doubling funding for school sport, the Chancellor says. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn welcomed the levy George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance Tax cut for higher earners paying the 40p rate The Chancellor has raised the threshold for paying the higher rate of income tax to 45,000. The higher rate is paid by roughly the richest 15 per cent, currently people earning over 42,386 George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance Increase in tax-free income tax threshold The tax-free allowance increase to 11,500 in April 2017  up from 10,600 now. The Chancellor previously raised the allowance from 6,475 in coalition with the Liberal Democrats. The Conservative manifesto pledges to put the allowance up to 12,500 by the end of the Parliament George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance New devolution for counties and powers for London and Manchester The West of England, the East of England and Greater Lincolnshire will all get elected mayor-led combined authorities with new powers. The Chancellor says they are backed by 1 billion new funding. Greater Manchester will get new powers of criminal justice while London will keep its business rates  giving whoever is elected Mayor a lot more spending power George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance Fuel duty frozen for sixth year running The Chancellor had planned to end the fuel duty freeze he had put in place for the whole previous parliament. In the event, he has announced a freeze for another year George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance All schools to become academies As reported yesterday the Chancellor unveiled legislation to turn all schools into academies. He said all schools would either be academies or on their way to being academies by 2020, and that funding had been set aside to fund the change George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance Lifetime ISA The Chancellor announced a new savings account to encourage under-40s to save for retirement  for every 4 saved, the Government will top this up by 1 up to the value of 4,000 a year. Tax-free ISAs will also be increased from 15,000 to 20,000

In his statement to Parliament, the Chancellor said: In this Budget we choose the long term; we choose to put the next generation first. Sound public finances to deliver security, lower taxes on business and enterprise to create jobs. Reform to improve schools, investment to build homes and infrastructure  because we know thats the only way to deliver real opportunity and social mobility.

And we know that the best way we can help working people is to help them to save and let them keep more of the money they earn. That is the path we followed over the past five years. And its given us one of the strongest economies in the world. And that is the path we will follow in the years ahead.
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Moves to force every English state school to leave council control and become an academy within six years will be set out by George Osborne in a Budget designed to put the next generation first.

The Chancellor will also announce an initiative to enable thousands of head teachers to scrap schools traditional home time of 3.30pm and stay open longer.

He is expected to present a cautious Budget package because of the growing strains on the public finances, but he is also determined to show ministers retain a zeal for reform and are not paralysed by the uncertainty over Brexit.

 English State schools to become academies by 2022

Mr Osborne will tell MPs the Government is pressing ahead with its promise to remove all schools from local authority control. Draft legislation could be published as early as this week by the Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan.

The plans were strongly condemned by unions, council leaders and the Labour Party. The Chancellor was accused by the National Union of Teachers of undoing over 50 years of comprehensive public education at a stroke.

Under his timetable, schools will be required to become academies by 2020 or have an academy order in place committing them to change by 2022. Where they refuse to switch status, ministers will be given new powers to force them to convert.

10 best primaries and secondary schools Show all 20 1 /20 10 best primaries and secondary schools 10 best primaries and secondary schools Bousfield Primary, London SW5 (Primary school) 10 best primaries and secondary schools Fox Primary, London W8 (Primary school) 10 best primaries and secondary schools West London Free School Primary, London W6 (Primary school) 10 best primaries and secondary schools William Tyndale Primary School, London (Primary school) 10 best primaries and secondary schools St Peters Catholic Primary School, Hampshire (Primary school) 10 best primaries and secondary schools St Stephen's Church of England Primary School, Bath (Primary school) 10 best primaries and secondary schools Trinity Church of England, Gloucestershire (Primary school) 10 best primaries and secondary schools Meadowside Primary School, North Yorkshire (Primary school) 10 best primaries and secondary schools Bourne Abbey Church of England Primary School, Lincolnshire (Primary school) 10 best primaries and secondary schools South Morningside Primary School, Edinburgh (Primary school) 10 best primaries and secondary schools The Grey Coat Hospital, London SW1 (Secondary school) 10 best primaries and secondary schools Highbury Grove, London N5 (Secondary school) 10 best primaries and secondary schools Holland Park School, London (Secondary school) 10 best primaries and secondary schools Dame Alice Owens, Hertfordshire (Secondary school) 10 best primaries and secondary schools Cherwell School, Oxford 10 best primaries and secondary schools Cranbrook School, Kent 10 best primaries and secondary schools Kings School, Hampshire (Secondary school) 10 best primaries and secondary schools Bishop Wordsworth's School, Wiltshire (Secondary school) 10 best primaries and secondary schools Sexeys School, Somerset (Secondary school) 10 best primaries and secondary schools James Gillespies High School, Edinburgh (Secondary school)

Under the academy model, head teachers are given greater powers over budgets, pay and staffing and have more flexibility over their curriculum.

Mr Osborne will tell MPs he is allocating an extra 1.5bn in the Budget to increase classroom standards to help pupils match the levels of their international counterparts.

English secondary schools will be invited to bid for a slice of that money to enable them to stay open after 3.30pm, offering up to five hours a week of additional classes or extra-curricular activities. The cash will enable around a quarter of secondaries to be open later.

Mr Osborne said: The Budget Ill deliver will put the next generation first. And at its heart will be a bold plan to make sure that every child gets the best start in life.

It is simply unacceptable that Britain continues to sit too low down the global league tables for education. So Im going to get on with finishing the job we started five years ago, to drive up standards.

Lucy Powell, the shadow Education Secretary, said: There is no evidence to suggest that academisation in and of itself leads to school improvement.

Worries over the global economy will cast a shadow over the Budget in which Mr Osborne will confirm moves to trim 4bn more from public spending by 2019.

He will place heavy emphasis on promised improvements to Britains infrastructure, and has already confirmed moves to press ahead with the rail construction schemes Crossrail 2 in London and HS3, connecting Manchester and Leeds.

Much attention will focus on whether Mr Osborne decides he has enough leeway to start raising income thresholds for 20p and 40p rates of income tax. He also faces a tricky decision over whether to take advantage of lower prices at the pumps to increase fuel duty.

Writing in The Independent, the shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, attacks him for pressing ahead with an irresponsible strategy.

He says: There is no economic justification for the Chancellors cuts. He has made a political choice to impose them. That has meant putting his own ambitions on the Tory leadership ahead of what is good for the country.

Mr McDonnell charges him with targeting the most vulnerable in his attempt to plug the holes in his economic plans.

This constitutes a new low. Labour will insist that he steps back from the brink, he said.
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Iain Duncan Smith has been asked "how he sleeps at night" after imposing cuts to disability support.

The Work and Pensions Secretary was asked by his opposition counterpart, the Labour Party's Owen Smith, how he could justify taking 1.2 billion out of the welfare budget for disabled people.

The shadow secretary said in a Commons debate on welfare reform: "I asked disabled people what question they would like to put to the secretary of state, and one answer stood out, and it was quite simply, 'how does he sleep at night?'"

Mr Duncan Smith replied: "Under this government spending on sickness and disability benefits has risen every year.

"We spend over 50 billion, which is more than any other OECD country of our equivalent size, such as Germany. I am proud of that."

He also said the changes to the Government's Personal Independence Payment scheme (PIP) improved funds for "those who most need it."

But his counterpart accused him of raiding welfare funding to allow a tax break for middle-income earners.

Mr Smith said : "This past weekend, we saw the values and priorities of the current government laid bare in their decision to implement a so-called welfare reform that will see 1.2 billion cut from the incomes of disabled people to pay for, we are told, a tax cut for top-rate taxpayers."

The shadow secretary was referring to accusations George Osborne is making cuts to PIP for disabled people while reportedly planning a tax cut for middle-income earners in the forthcoming Budget.

The Chancellor plans to accelerate progress towards the Conservative manifesto pledge of raising the threshold to 50,000 at which people start paying 40p tax - a move labelled "truly obscene" by Mr Smith in light of disability benefits cuts.

Cuts to PIP are expected to affect 640,000 people over the next four years, the Government has said.

Current rules rate people with disabilities on a sliding scale of "points", with eight needed to get the standard rate of PIP, and 12 needed to get the enhanced PIP.

In 2013 people protested in London over changes to disability benefits (Getty) (Getty Images)

Whereas people previously earned two points if they needed a handrail or walking stick to get dressed or use the toilet, this will now only amount to one point.

7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Show all 7 1 /7 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Closing Remploy factories The Work and Pensions Secretary called time on Britains system of Remploy factories, which provided subsidised and sheltered employment to disabled people. People employed at the factories protested against their closure and said they provided gainful work. Is it a kindness to stick people in some factory where they are not doing any work at all? Just making cups of coffee? Mr Duncan Smith said at the time, defending the decision. I promise you this is better. The Remploy organisation was privatised and sold to American workfare provider Maximus, with the majority of the organisations factories closed. The future of the remaining sites is unclear 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Scrapping the Independent Living Fund The 320m Independent Living Fund was established in 1988 to give financial support to people with disabilities. It was scrapped on July 1 2015, with 18,000 often severely disabled people losing out by an average of 300 a week. The money was generally used to help pay for carers so people could live in communities rather than institutions. Councils will get a boost in funding to compensate but it will not cover the whole cost of the fund. This new cash also doesnt have to be spent on the disabled 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Cut payments for the disabled Access To Work scheme Iain Duncan Smith is bringing forward a policy that will reduce payments to some disabled people from a scheme designed to help them into work. The 108m scheme, which helps 35,540 people, will be capped on a per-used basis, potentially hitting those with the more serious disabilities who currently receive the most help. The single biggest users of the fund are people who have difficulty seeing and hearing. The cut will come in from October 2015. The charity Disability UK says the scheme actually makes the Government money because the people who gain access to work tend pay tax that more than covers its cost. The DWP does not describe the reduction as a cut and says it will be able to spread the money more thinly and cover more people 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Cut Employment and Support Allowance The latest Budget included a 30 a week cut in disability benefits for some new claimants of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). The Government says it is equalising the rate of disability benefits with Jobseekers Allowance because giving disabled people more help is a perverse incentive. The people affected by this cut are those assessed as having a limited capability for work but as being capable of some work-related activity. A group of prominent Catholics wrote to Mr Duncan Smith to say there was no justification for this cut. Mental health charity Mind, said the cut was insulting and misguided 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Risk homelessness with a sharp increase disability benefit sanctions Official figures in the first quarter of 2014 found a huge increase in sanctions against people reliant on ESA sickness benefit. The 15,955 sanctions were handed out in that period compared to 3,574 in the same period the year before, 2013  a 4.5 times increase. The homelessness charity Crisis warned at the time that the sharp rise in temporary benefit cuts was cruel and can leave people utterly destitute  without money even for food and at severe risk of homelessness. It is difficult to see how they are meant to help people prepare for work, Matt Downie, director of policy at the charity added 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people Sending sick people to work because of broken fitness to work tests In 2012 a government advisor appointed to review the Governments Work Capability Assessment said the tests causing suffering by sending sick people back to work inappropriately. There are certainly areas where it's still not working and I am sorry there are people going through a system which I think still needs improvement, Professor Malcolm Harrington concluded. The tests are said to have improved since then, but as recently as this summer they are still coming in for criticism. In June the British Psychological Society said there was now significant body of evidence that the WCA is failing to assess peoples fitness for work accurately and appropriately. It called for a full overhaul of the way the tests are carried out. The WCA appeals system has also been fraught with controversy with a very high rate of overturns and delays lasting months and blamed for hardship 7 ways the Tories have helped disabled people The bedroom tax The Governments benefit cut for people who it says are under-occupying their homes disproportionately affects disabled people. Statistics released last year show that around two-thirds of those affected by the under-occupancy penalty, widely known as the bedroom tax, are disabled. There have been a number of high profile cases of disabled people being moved out of specially adapted homes by the policy. In one case publicised by the Sunday People last week, a 48 year old man with cerebral palsy was forced to bathe in a paddling pool after the tax moved him out of his home with a walk-in shower. The Government says it has provided councils with a discretionary fund to help reduce the policys impact on disabled people, but cases continue to arise

PIP was forecast to amount to 15.4 bilion in 2015-16, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility.

The state pension, meanwhile, costs taxpayers 92.1 billion annually.
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Jeremy Corbyn has made light of the Government for continuously re-announcing its plans to build a new town at Ebbsfleet.

The Labour leader told the House of Commons that the Government had put out a dozen press releases about the development zone  but built less than 300 homes out of the targeted 15,000.

Theyve made 30 Ebbsfleet announcements and theyve managed to build 368 homes  its 12 homes for every press release! he told MPs in the House of Commons

Recommended Read more Government plans to cut adapted equipment support for disabled

We need, obviously, a vast increase in press releases in order to get any homes built in Ebbsfleet or indeed anywhere else , he joked.

Ebbsfleet is a development area in Kent, and is connected to central London by high speed rail, which opened in 2007.

The emerging town has a station, located is 10 miles outside Great London, with trains running on the HS1 line taking under 20 minutes to St Pancras station.

In early 2014 the Government announced its intention to build 15,000 homes on the site, with the Chancellor fronting 300 million of funding.

Mr Corbyn made his comments in response to George Osbornes Budget statement on Wednesday.

George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance Show all 8 1 /8 George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance Debt forecasts up, growth forecasts down The OBRs new forecasts have downgraded growth in all of the next five years to 2020. The watchdog says the economy will only grow by 2 per cent in 2016, as opposed to the anticipated 2.4 per cent. Borrowing and productivity growth are also down  with forecast borrowing in 2018-198 16 billion higher George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance New tax on sugary drinks The Chancellor announced a new tax on sugary soft drinks, which is projected to raise 520 million. At least some of the money will be spent on doubling funding for school sport, the Chancellor says. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn welcomed the levy George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance Tax cut for higher earners paying the 40p rate The Chancellor has raised the threshold for paying the higher rate of income tax to 45,000. The higher rate is paid by roughly the richest 15 per cent, currently people earning over 42,386 George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance Increase in tax-free income tax threshold The tax-free allowance increase to 11,500 in April 2017  up from 10,600 now. The Chancellor previously raised the allowance from 6,475 in coalition with the Liberal Democrats. The Conservative manifesto pledges to put the allowance up to 12,500 by the end of the Parliament George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance New devolution for counties and powers for London and Manchester The West of England, the East of England and Greater Lincolnshire will all get elected mayor-led combined authorities with new powers. The Chancellor says they are backed by 1 billion new funding. Greater Manchester will get new powers of criminal justice while London will keep its business rates  giving whoever is elected Mayor a lot more spending power George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance Fuel duty frozen for sixth year running The Chancellor had planned to end the fuel duty freeze he had put in place for the whole previous parliament. In the event, he has announced a freeze for another year George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance All schools to become academies As reported yesterday the Chancellor unveiled legislation to turn all schools into academies. He said all schools would either be academies or on their way to being academies by 2020, and that funding had been set aside to fund the change George Osborne 2016 budget at a glance Lifetime ISA The Chancellor announced a new savings account to encourage under-40s to save for retirement  for every 4 saved, the Government will top this up by 1 up to the value of 4,000 a year. Tax-free ISAs will also be increased from 15,000 to 20,000

The Chancellor did not mention the town in his speech  though Mr Corbyn may have been banking on him doing so when he prepared his response, on the basis of the frequency of previous mentions.

Mr Osborne had little to say on the subject of housing in his Budget, but said would set out measures to speed up our planning system, zone housing [and] development.
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MPs will sit in the House of Commons for less than 30 days during the summer.

Commenting on the possibility of MPs only working for 27 days in the 92 that make up June, July and August, Labour MP John Mann said parliament had become "part-time".

Following the Whitsun recess which begins on 26 May, MPs will return to the House of Commons six days into summer on 6 June.

But due to the upcoming EU referendum, MPs will also be on recess from 15 June until 27 June, the Evening Standard reported.

They will then leave for summer on 21 July and return on 5 September.

In 2015, the House of Commons summer recess began on 21 July and ended on 7 September.

In a statement, Labour MP John Mann said: Its become a part-time parliament, leaving the government free of any democratic accountability.

The reason for the longer recess this summer is due to a break coinciding with the EU referendum. On Thursday 23 June, Britain will decide whether or not to continue being a part of the 28-member European Union.

British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens over the age of 18, who are residents of the UK, will answer the following question: Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?
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Poppers are so harmless and have such limited effects they do not actually fall under the Governments ban on legal highs, the Governments top statutory authority on the regulation of drugs has said.

Ministers believed they had banned poppers as part of their Psychoactive Substances Act, but later said they would consider unbanning them after an outcry by parts of the gay community.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs however said that despite what ministers believed when they passed the new law, they had not banned poppers.

The ACMDs consensus view is that a psychoactive substance has a direct action on the brain and that substances having peripheral effects, such as those caused by alkyl nitrites, do not directly stimulate or depress the central nervous system, the council said in a report to ministers.

In the ACMDs view, alkyl nitrites (poppers) do not fall within the scope of the current definition of a psychoactive substance in the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.

Consequently, the ACMD does not see a need for an exemption under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.

The council also restated its 2011 assessment that Poppers misuse, within the terms of section 1 of the Act, is not seen to be capable of having harmful effects sufficient to constitute a social problem.

The Council was commissioned by the Government to look at the substances relationship to the Psychoactive Substances Act in February. The ACMD is established in law as the main Government authority on drugs.

In January of this year Home Office minister Mike Penning said that the Government recognises that representations have been made to the effect that poppers have a beneficial health and relationship effect in enabling anal sex for some men who have sex with men, amid concern about the impact of the ban on these men.

He said the Home Office would consider whether there is evidence to support these claims and, if so, whether it is sufficient to justify exempting the alkyl nitrites group.

Crispin Blunt said a ban would be 'manifestly stupid' (PA)

Both the Home Affairs Select Committee and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs had previously told the Government the drug should be exempt from the ban.

 Blunt on using poppers

During a debate in the House of Commons earlier this year Tory MP Crispin Blunt said he believed a proposed ban on the substance would be manifestly stupid.

There are sometimes when something is proposed which becomes personal to you and you realise the government is about to do something fantastically stupid. In those circumstances one has a duty to speak up, Mr Blunt said.

I use poppers. I out myself as a popper user and would be directly affected by this legislation and I am astonished to find it is proposing to be banned, so would very many other gay men.

World's 10 deadliest street drugs Show all 10 1 /10 World's 10 deadliest street drugs World's 10 deadliest street drugs Whoonga Whoonga is a combination of antiretroviral drugs, used to treat HIV, and various cutting agents such as detergents and poisons. The drug is widely available in South Africa due to South Africas high rate of HIV sufferers, and is believed to be popular due to how cheap it is when compared to prescribed antiretrovirals. The drug is highly addictive and can cause major health issues such as internal bleeding, stomach ulcers and ultimately death Getty World's 10 deadliest street drugs Scopolamine Scopolamine is a derivative from the nightshade plant found in the Northern Indian region of South America (Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela). It is generally found in a refined powder form, but can also be found as a tea. The drug is more often used by criminals due its high toxicity level (one gram is believed to be able to kill up to 20 people) making it a strong poison. However, it is also believed that the drug is blown into the faces of unexpecting victims, later causing them to lose all sense of self-control and becoming incapable of forming memories during the time they are under the influence of the drug. This tactic has reportedly been used by gangs in Colombia where there have been reports of people using scopolamine as way to convince victims to rob their own homes World's 10 deadliest street drugs Heroin Founded in 1874 by C. R. Alder Wright, heroin is one of the worlds oldest drugs. Originally it was prescribed as a strong painkiller used to treat chronic pain and physical trauma. However in 1971 it was made illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Since then it has become one of the most destructive substances in the world, tearing apart communities and destroying families. The side effects of heroin include inflammation of the gums, cold sweats, a weak immune system, muscular weakness and insomnia. It can also damage blood vessels which can later cause gangrene if left untreated World's 10 deadliest street drugs Crack cocaine Crack cocaine first came about in the 1980s when cocaine became a widespread commodity within the drug trafficking world. Originally cocaine would have attracted a high price tag due to its rarity and difficulty to produce, but once it became more widespread the price dropped significantly. This resulted in drug dealers forming their cocaine into rock like shapes by using baking soda as a way of distilling the powder down into rock form. People were doing this because it allowed for them to sell cocaine at a lower quantity and to a higher number of people. The side effects of crack cocaine include liver, kidney and lung damage, as well as permanent damage to blood vessels, which can often lead to heart attacks, strokes, and ultimately death World's 10 deadliest street drugs Crystal meth Not just famous because of a certain Walter H White, but also because it is one of the most destructive drugs in the world. First developed in 1887, it became widely used during the Second World War when both sides would give it to their troops to keep them awake. It is also believed that the Japanese gave it to their Kamikaze pilots before their suicide missions. After the war crystal meth was prescribed as a diet aid and remained legal until the 1970s. Since then it has fallen into the hands of Mexican gangs and has become a worldwide phenomenon, spreading throughout Europe and Asia. The effects of crystal meth are devastating. In the short-term users will become sleep depraved and anxious, and in the long-term it will cause their flesh to sink, as well as brain damage and damage of the blood vessels World's 10 deadliest street drugs AH-7921 AH-7921 is a synthetic opioid that was previously available to legally purchase online from vendors until it became a Class A in January 2015. The drug is believed to have 80% of the potency of morphine, and became known as the legal heroin. While there has only been one death related to AH-7921 in the UK, it is believed to be highly dangerous and capable of causing respiratory arrest and gangrene World's 10 deadliest street drugs Flakka Flakka is a stimulant with a similar chemical make-up to the amphetamine-like drug found in bath salts. While the drug was originally marketed as a legal high alternative to ecstasy, the effects are significantly different. The user will feel an elevated heart rate, enhanced emotions, and, if enough is digested, strong hallucinations. The drug can cause permanent psychological damage due to it affecting the mood regulating neurons that keep the minds serotonin and dopamine in check, as well as possibly causing heart failure World's 10 deadliest street drugs Bath salts Bath salts are a synthetic crystalline drug that is prevalent in the US. While they may sound harmless, they certainly arent the sort of salts you drop into a warm bath when having a relaxing night in, they are most similar to mephedrone, and have recently been featured throughout social media due to the zombification of its. The name comes from the fact that the drug was originally sold online, and widely disguised as bath salts. The side effects include unusual psychiatric behaviour, psychosis, panic attacks and violent behaviour, as well as the possibility of a heart attack and an elevated body temperature World's 10 deadliest street drugs Purple Drank One of the more unusual drugs around at the moment, purple drank was popularised in 90s hip hop culture, with the likes of Jay Z and Big Moe all mentioning it in their songs. It is a concoction of soda water, sweets and cold medicine, and is drunk due to cold medicines high codeine content, which gives the user a woozy feeling. However it can also cause respiratory issues and heart failure World's 10 deadliest street drugs Krokodil Krokodil is Russias secret addiction. It is believed that over one million Russians are addicted to the drug. Users of krokodil are attracted to the drug due to its low price; it is sold at 20 a gram while heroin is sold for 60. However, krokodil is considered more dangerous than heroin because it is often homemade, with ingredients including painkillers, iodine, lighter fluid and industrial cleaning agents. This chemical make-up makes the drug highly dangerous and likely to cause gangrene, and eventually rotting of the flesh

Mr Blunt added that the new rule would simply serves to bring the whole law into disrepute and said it was manifestly stupid to go down the path were going.

Poppers physical effects, which include a short-live high and the loosening of muscles, have been known to improve anal sex. The drugs are not thought to have significant adverse health effects.

The Government brought forward the Psychoactive Substances Act in order to ban the new generation of psychoactive drugs.

The new law makes it an offence to produce, supply or possess any substance meant for human consumption that is capable of producing a psychoactive effect.

The Act contains explicit exclusions for food, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, and medical products.
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A suspected Boko Haram suicide bomb attack has killed at least 22 Muslim worshippers at a mosque in Maiduguri in north-east Nigeria.

Rescue officials said two female suicide bombers were believed to have carried out the attack, which saw 17 other people injured.

One bomber blew herself up inside the mosque and the second did so outside as survivors of the first blast tried to flee.

Umar Usman, a worshipper who avoided the blast because he was late arriving to pray, told the Associated Press: "We were just a few meters away from the mosque when a loud bang erupted and all we could see was dark smoke and bodies littered around."

Co-ordinator Abba Aji, of the civilian self-defence Vigilante Group, said the mosque was in Umarari on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the command centre for the Nigerian army's military campaign against the Boko Haram group.

The insurgency is known for its use of female suicide bombers, and several suicide bombers have blown themselves up in recent months at roadblocks near the city.

Those attacks suggest the authorities have until today been successful in keeping militants away from crowded areas.

The last major Boko Haram assault on Maiduguri took place on 28 December, when Islamists armed with rocket-propelled grenades and multiple suicide bombers attacked indiscriminately, killing at least 50 people.

According to a report from the Insitute for Economics and Peace at the end of last year, Boko Haram overtook Isis to become the deadliest insurgent group in the world in 2014.

The band of Islamists has sworn loyalty to Isis and wants to extend its writ across West Africa - yet President Muhammadu Buhari has previously described the group as "beaten".

Despite a largely successful Nigerian army offensive last year, Boko Haram continues to hold sway in the far northeast of the country and across the borders into Cameroon, Niger and Chad. Its continued ability to carry out isolated terror attacks represents an ongoing embarrassment for the government.
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Over the weekend, President Obama weighed in on one of the pressing issues in the campaign for the Republican nomination to succeed him in the White House.

No, not how to stop Donald Trump  but whether the wine that bears his name is any good. "Has anybody bought that wine? I want to know what that wine tastes like," Obama said at a fundraiser in Dallas on Saturday. "I mean, come on. You know that's like some $5 wine. They slap a label on it. They charge you $50 and say it's the greatest wine ever."

As those of us who live near Trump's vineyards know, though, the real shame about Trump Winery is not that its wines are not good  it's that some of them actually are. But these days, their association with the GOP frontrunner is likely to keep them off the wine lists on which they otherwise belong.

Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Show all 14 1 /14 Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Isis: "Some of the candidates, they went in and didnt know the air conditioner didnt work and sweated like dogs, and they didnt know the room was too big because they didnt have anybody there. How are they going to beat ISIS?" Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On immigration: "I will build a great wall  and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me and Ill build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Free Trade: "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." PAUL J. RICHARDS | AFP | Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Mexicans: "When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best. Theyre sending people that have lots of problems. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists." Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On China: "I just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?... I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On work: "If you're interested in 'balancing' work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable." AP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On success: "What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate." Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On life: "Everything in life is luck." AFP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On ambition: "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?" Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On his opponents: "Bush is totally in favour of Common Core. I don't see how he can possibly get the nomination. He's weak on immigration. He's in favour of Common Core. How the hell can you vote for this guy? You just can't do it." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Obamacare: "You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high. It's virtually useless. And remember the $5 billion web site?... I have so many web sites, I have them all over the place. I hire people, they do a web site. It costs me $3." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Barack Obama: "Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him. I have the best courses in the world. I have one right next to the White House." PA Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On himself: "Love him or hate him, Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred. Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On America: "The American Dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again." GETTY

I work in the restaurant business in Charlottesville, Virginia, a short distance from the winery and I've made a conscious decision not to carry the Trump brand. While the election might take over your dinner conversation, a welcome table is not one that pours liquid politics down your throat. (For the same reason, if other candidates got into the beverage industry, I wouldn't be serving Clinton Chardonnay or Bernie Beer, either.)

Those Trump wines Obama was joking about, however, have a longer history in this area. In 1999, the first vines went in the ground under the Kluge Estate name and set the tone for what would become Trump Winery in 2011. Under the Kluge label, the vineyard's wines have been served at the White House and even at Chelsea Clinton's wedding rehearsal dinner. Trump's son, Eric, supervises the winery now, and its labels have evolved from "Kluge" to "Trump" to today's all-capital-letters "TRUMP," in a font that evokes US currency.

Trump Winery is one of the few "estate" wineries in the area that focuses on growing its own fruit as opposed to buying it. And it's an operation headed up by a serious vintner, Jonathan Wheeler, who makes a full spectrum of wines: sparkling, white, rose, red and dessert. He has 200 vineyard acres to play with, and he stands in a key position to influence the direction of the entire region.

It's not the only wine that might prick your interest in a blind tasting, though. The recently bottled 2015 Chardonnay and the Viognier, now available for sale, come from one of the greatest Virginia white wine vintages in recent memory. Wheeler made his Chardonnay in steel and oak, and it's a balanced example of the vintage. The Viognier is a classic example of that varietal, too.

The reds are Bordeaux-style blends, usually based on a majority of Merlot, which does well in Virginia as an early ripener. They are lush, bold reds that have a little bit of ageing potential, but you would mostly want to drink them on release. Wheeler also makes a unique dessert wine from fortified Chardonnay, aged in old Bourbon barrels.

I've been watching and tasting these from a distance for quite some time. On taste alone, there are a few bottlings that I'd like to support, but I'm sure Obama would agree: the intense branding makes the stuff hard to swallow.

Boxes from Trump Winery stacked up ahead of a press conference held by Donald Trump earlier this month (Getty) (Getty Images)

Some of that hesitation predates Trump's involvement in politics. As a general rule, I disdain wine brands. When the strength of a wine's brand eclipses the actual product, the focus goes away from the wine itself, onto the brand and what that brand represents.

Branding is easy, if you know how to do it. Winemaking is hard work and it changes year by year. When a branded winery experiences mass popularity, the wine and the hard work of the winery team become disembodied from the brand, in this case reduced to a side note as the wine's meaning becomes less about terroir and more about Trump.

Does it matter why someone drinks a wine? Is it a shame that much of this carefully grown and made wine will be consumed in symbolic solidarity by fervent supporters of a candidate who, ironically, does not drink alcohol? Will Virginia's special 2015 white wine vintage be appreciated at all in the frenzy of 2016?

Trump Winery is certainly doing fine without my business (several wines are sold out), and I am doing fine without them. But as these wines switch gears from beverage to propaganda, I worry that what could be an important part of our emerging wine legacy will be lost.

A century from now, how will Trump's politics have affected the wine trade? Objectively, I want to appreciate some of these wines. Unfortunately, now that the label talks so loudly, what's in the bottle has lost its voice.

 Washington Post
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency has again denied a request from Michigan Governor Rick Snyder for additional federal funds to help combat the lead poisoning in Flint, Michigan's water supply.

FEMA sent a letter to Mr Snyder's office on Monday rejecting his appeal of a previous denial of federal funds for Flint, Reuters reported. The agency said the funds he requested were not correct for this situation.

Recommended Read more Resigned EPA official defends actions in Flint water crisis

"It is recognized that substantial costs have been incurred at the state and local levels in responding to the health concerns associated with the water contamination," Elizabeth Zimmerman, FEMA associate administrator, said in the letter. "The assistance FEMA has provided and continues to provide is intended to address the immediate emergency needs."

Governor Snyder, who has taken a lot of heat as the Flint situation has unfolded, said he is disappointed with FEMA's decision. He will speak in front of a congressional panel about the crisis on Thursday.

The lead contamination began after Flint switched its water source from Detroit's system to the Flint River in 2014 to save the impoverished city money. Water from the Flint River had not been properly treated and it leached lead from antiquated pipes, bringing the poisoned water into homes and businesses in the city.

Many of the children in Flint who have been tested have shown elevated levels of lead in their blood, which can cause learning disabilities and other problems. Flint residents have been required to use bottled water to cook, drink and bathe since the contamination was made public.

Follow @PaytonGuion on Twitter.
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Michelle Obama kicked off South By Southwest Music 2016 on Tuesday by gathering a star-studded panel to discuss diversity, activism and to explain why she won't be running for president.

Im going to continue to work with our young people all over the world. Not as president. I will not run for president," The First Lady told Queen Latifah on Tuesday. "One of the reasons why, because Ive got these two young people at home. And being the daughters of the president, just think of that? Theyve handled it with grace and with poise.

And also there are so many ways to impact the world," she added. "You dont have to be the president of the United States to do wonderful, marvelous things."

Obama and Latifah were joined by Missy Elliot, Sophia Bush and Diane Warren for the discussion that highlighted the lack of opportunities for the 62 million girls across the globe who aren't enrolled in school.

When I was younger, it was always the doubters, Obama said. Growing up as a black girl in the South Side of Chicago, where the expectations were limited, there were always people around telling me what I couldnt do. Always telling me how far I should dream. My reaction to that was to prove the doubters wrong.

Neilson Barnard/Getty (Neilson Barnard/Getty)

Obama also called on men to step up and help inspire change.

When you have a seat at the table and you have access to power, the question you can ask yourselves: Is there diversity around the table? she said. If youre a man at the table and there are only men at the table, you should ask yourself: How can I do better?
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Three major corporations are reportedly gearing up to challenge a possible ban on plastic water bottles in Montreal.

The move came amid signs that the Mayor of Montreal Denis Coderre is considering a ban on plastic water bottles in the Canadian city. He has already announced that lightweight plastic bags would be banned and then eventually phased out from 2018.

The Canadian Beverage Association, which represents a coalition of more than 60 brands include Coke, Pepsi and Nestle, signed on to Qubecs registry of lobbyists in March, according to Radio-Canada.

In a document submitted to the lobby registry on March 8, the association wrote that bottles are safe and convenient for consumers, and that banning them would restrict their right to choose.

"We want the City of Montreal to reject the proposal to ban water bottles on its territory," the association wrote, adding the bottles are 100 per cent recyclable across Quebec.

Responding to the coalition of opposition, Mr Coderre, according to CBC News, said: "We spoke about plastic bags and now we're onto plastic bottlesthe reality of plastic in our environment is a problem."

In pictures: Plastic pollution around the world Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Plastic pollution around the world In pictures: Plastic pollution around the world Plastic pollution Plastic trashes drifting on the sea surface in Marseille's islands In pictures: Plastic pollution around the world Plastic pollution The Bishnumati river running through Kathmandu in Nepal. The river is full of litter and raw sewage which is emptied into the river. The local people see the river as a rubbish collection service In pictures: Plastic pollution around the world Plastic pollution Garbage in the harbour of Tripoli, Libya In pictures: Plastic pollution around the world Plastic pollution Plastic and other undissolvable wastes float over the polluted Vrishabhavathi River, which a few years back use to supply drinking water to Bangalore 48 km to the north, in Kundanahalli village, Ramnagaram district, India In pictures: Plastic pollution around the world Plastic pollution Children collect plastic to be sold and recycled at a polluted river in suburban Manila In pictures: Plastic pollution around the world Plastic pollution Plastic bags and other rubbish are collected from the waters of Manila Bay during a campaign by environmental activists earlier this year Getty Images In pictures: Plastic pollution around the world Plastic pollution A man collects plastic bags and other rubbish from the waters of Manila Bay In pictures: Plastic pollution around the world Plastic pollution A woman throws out a doll while she selects recyclable plastic bottles, along Tiete river where floating foam blocks emit harmful gasses, in Pirapora de Bom Jesus, 60 Km north of Sao Paulo, Brazil In pictures: Plastic pollution around the world Plastic pollution Baby sea otter pup chews on a plastic cookie wrapper In pictures: Plastic pollution around the world Plastic pollution Bin overflowing with plastic rubbish, central London

The Mayor said he was taking an inclusive approach to the issue, adding: "I'm not dogmatic, I'm very pragmatic in the approach it's a cultural shift."

Speaking to USA Today earlier this week, he said that 700 million single-use bottles filled up landfill sites in Quebec every year and were an environmental nuisance.

Dimitri Fraeys, of the Quebec Bottled Water Association, said increasing recycling was a more practical alternative to banning water bottles.
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The state of Idaho has been gripped by a mounting row after a senior police officer claimed politicians should not have got involved in creating a statewide system for tracking rape kits because many accusations are false.

Rape kits contain samples of semen, saliva or blood taken from a victim during an examination. A bill passed by the state assembly now requires medical clinics to use such kits and send the evidence for DNA testing. the only exception would be unless the victim requests otherwise or law enforcement agencies get prosecutors' approval to not test the kits. The bill has been sent to the state's governor to be signed.

Yet a senior law enforcement official, Bingham County Sheriff Craig Rowland, told local media that the legislature should not have become involved in the issue.

Rape kits contain samples of semen, saliva or blood (YouTube)

The majority of our rapes - not to say that we dont have rapes, we do - but the majority of our rapes that are called in are actually consensual sex, he told Idaho Falls TV station KIDK shortly before the bill was passed.

The sheriffs comments have been roundly condemned, the criticism led by the state politician who introduced the bill, according to the Associated Press.

Melissa Wintrow, a Democrat from Boise, said the sheriff's remarks were harmful to women.

Many times people are focused on a woman's behavior, and the victim's response, she said.

We should be thinking about what are we teaching men in this society. What are we teaching young boys and men about how we should not initiate or cross any physical boundary without consent.

Ilse Knecht, policy and advocacy director for the Joyful Heart Foundation, said the officers comments were part of a larger problem of law enforcement harbouring unfair skepticism of victims of rape more so than other crimes.

Its hard to know if a claim is false if the kits dont get tested, she said. Each one of these kits represents a survivor. We need to take their claim seriously, treat them with respect and use the evidence.
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In a city where people clamour to visit cat cafes, not all the cats are treated kindly.

Recommended Read more Woman accused of cruelty Paris apartment with more than 100 cats accus

A suitcase full of kittens was thrown over a fence in Brooklyn this week before the animals were rescued by police.

Two police officers came to retrieve the seven tiny grey kittens, who were just one or two weeks old, after they were found by a woman in a car park in Williamsburg.

The woman told police she found the suitcase half open at about 7.30am.

One of the rescued kittens NYPD / Twitter (NYPD / Twitter)

Surveillance footage shows someone throwing the suitcase over a nearby fence about six hours beforehand, as reported by AM New York.

One cat died, all were food-deprived and one was bleeding from the ear.

The New York Police Department posted pictures of the rescued cats and appealed to the public for any information on the lil guys.

The animals were taken to the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition, before being transferred to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The case is being investigated by the NYPDs Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad.

New York City, Williamsburg and neighbouring region Greenpoint have long been overrun by stray cats, with posters advertising for people to join local cat-feeding groups. Many feral cats are trapped, neutered and returned (TNR) to the outdoors, as part of an initiative by the New York City Mayor's office.

Every weekend animal charities gather in Manhattans Union Square to offer stray cats that have been neutered and vaccinated and are ready for adoption.

Manhattans corner stores - or bodegas - often adopt a stray cat which has wandered in and never left, prompting the popular Instagram account bodega cats.
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He did not talk of defeat.

He talked still of victory, of changing the status quo.

But as Bernie Sanders put a brave face on a sad night and promised that his battle to make it to the White House would continue, he was aware that he now faces a huge struggle to fulfill his dreams, and those of his supporters.

After securing a stunning, surprise victory a week earlier in Michigan, there had been excitement and anticipation among his team that he could perform a similar insurgent win in such states as Ohio and Illinois.

But on an evening when the bight blue graphics on television screens showed several of the battles between him and Hillary Clinton to be be agonisingly close, he came away without a single victory. The closest, and perhaps most painful, was the last race to be called, when the former secretary of state secured the contest in Missouri by less than half a percentage point.

While delegates in all of the Democratic contests are awarded on a proportional basis, Ms Clinton now has a haul of 1,599, of which 467 are so-called super delegates, party officials that are not obliged to vote for a particular candidate. Mr Sanders has 844, of which just 26 are super delegates.

To reach the threshold of 2,383 delegates required to claim the nomination, Ms Clinton now needs to win just a third of those remaining. Mr Sanders would have to win at a level he has not managed since his heady days in New Hampshire in February.

On Tuesday night, Mr Sanders did not talk about the terrible night he had suffered. Rather, speaking in Phoenix, Arizona, he continued to talk of the revolution he was trying to lead.

Dont settle for the status quo when the status quo is broken, he said, in a speech that lasted for around an hour.

Are you ready for a political revolution? Are you tired of a handful of billionaires running our country? The people of our country will not tolerate oligarchy. Were going to create an economy that works for all of us, not just the one percent.

Mr Sanders campaign insists there is still a way for him to win the nomination.

Our plan on this is weve got a long way to go, and weve got to demonstrate that Bernies the strongest candidate, strategist Tad Devine told Politico.We believe that slowly we can win support for people who arent for someone, or who are softly for her, and then we can reach out more.

In a statement issued in the early hours of Wednesday, Mr Sanders added: With more than half the delegates yet to be chosen and a calendar that favours us in the weeks and months to come, we remain confident that our campaign is on a path to win the nomination.

But Ms Clinton and her supporters are already looking to the general election, apparently relishing the prospect of a showdown with Mr Trump.

We cant lose what made America great in the first place, and this isn't just about Donald Trump, Ms Clinton told supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida.

We cant just talk about economic inequality, we have to take on all forms of inequality and discrimination.

She added: We are moving closer to securing the Democratic Party nomination and winning this election in November.
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Hillary Clinton has reasserted her dominance of the Democratic presidential race with wins in all five of yesterdays primaries, settling her campaigns lingering nerves after a shock defeat to Bernie Sanders in Michigan last week.

The former Secretary of State continued her clean sweep of the South, claiming the delegate-rich Florida by a margin of almost two to one, as well as North Carolina. But her most surprising win was the last of the evening, as she squeaked past Mr Sanders to secure victory in Missouri  by less than 0.5 per cent.

Mr Sanders shock win in Michigan on 8 March, for which he overcame a 20-point poll deficit, had suggested the race might swing his way in the rest of the industrial Rust Belt, where Ms Clintons historical support for free trade policies and her cosy relationship with Wall Street could have cost her many working class votes.

 Clinton and Trump take the lead in key primary wins from 'Mega Tuesday'

But the frontrunner managed to hold firm across the Midwest, prevailing in Ohio and in another closely fought contest in Illinois. Both are major states in the Democrat race, with hauls of 159 and 182 delegates respectively. Ms Clinton, who was born and grew up in Illinois, lost there in a landslide to Barack Obama during the 2008 Democratic primaries. Her victory in the Prairie State yesterday was slim but nonetheless significant.

Super Tuesday - in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Super Tuesday - in pictures Super Tuesday - in pictures Democratic presidential candidate former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton greets supporters during her Super Tuesday evening gathering Stage One Ice Studios in Miami, Florida. Latest results have Hillary Clinton as the projected winner of six states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia Getty Images Super Tuesday - in pictures Republican Presidential front runner Donald Trump speaks to the media at the Mar-A-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump held the press conference after the closing of Super Tuesday polls in a dozen states Getty Images Super Tuesday - in pictures Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz celebrates at a Super Tuesday watch party at the Redneck Country Club in Stafford, Texas. Cruz won the Texas and Florida primaries Getty Images Super Tuesday - in pictures Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks to supporters after winning the Vermont primary on Super Tuesday in Essex Junction, Vermont 2016 Getty Images Super Tuesday - in pictures People cheer as Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks after winning the Vermont primary on Super Tuesday in Essex Junction, Vermont. Thirteen states and one territory are participating in today's Super Tuesday: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming and American Samoa Getty Images Super Tuesday - in pictures Republican candidate Dr. Ben Carson speaks to supporters at his campaign at his Super Tuesday election party at the Grand Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland. Despite trailing the other Republican candidates on the most significant night of primary voting, Dr. Carson vowed to continue his campaign and remain in the running Getty Images Super Tuesday - in pictures Republican presidential candidate Ohio John Kasich addresses a town hall-style meeting in the Hazel Hall Atrium at the George Mason University Law School on Super Tuesday in Fairfax, Virginia. Officials are expecting a record turnout of voters in Virginia, one of a dozen states holding presidential primaries or caucuses Getty Images Super Tuesday - in pictures Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio greets supporters during a rally at Tropical Park in Miami, Florida. Eyeing a must-win in March 15 primary in his home state of Florida, Rubio held his Super Tuesday night event in Miami Getty Images Super Tuesday - in pictures Precinct 5 Democratic Farm Labor Party voters register to take part in Super Tuesday caucusing for delegates at the Folwell Community Center Democratic caucus location in Minneapolis, Minnesota Reuters Super Tuesday - in pictures Voters crowd in to check with precinct captains at a Democratic caucus late Tuesday in Denver. Colorado is one of 12 states casting votes for party nominees on Super Tuesday, which offers candidates the chance to garner the biggest single-day delegate haul of the nomination contests AP Super Tuesday - in pictures A U.S. citizen living in Mexico (R) registers to cast his vote from abroad, for a Democratic candidate during Super Tuesday elections in Mexico City, Mexico Reuters Super Tuesday - in pictures Republican U.S. presidential candidate Senator Marco Rubio holds a cutout of his head in front of his face as he greets supporters after speaking about the Super Tuesday primary and caucus voting results at a campaign rally in Miami, Florida Reuters Super Tuesday - in pictures Supporters cheer as Republican 2016 US presidential candidate Florida Senator Marco Rubio addresses the crowd during a Super Tuesday primary election night rally at Tropical Park in Miami, Florida EPA Super Tuesday - in pictures Democratic presidential candidate former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during her Super Tuesday evening gathering Stage One Ice Studios in Miami, Florida Getty Images Super Tuesday - in pictures Supporters of Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who came to her rally in costume as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (L) and as Mrs. Clinton (R), attend her Super Tuesday night party in Miami, Florida Reuters

Ms Clinton delivered her victory speech to supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Centre in Florida, less than four miles from where her likely general election rival was toasting his own triumph at his Mar-a-Lago Club. And it was Donald Trump, not Mr Sanders, who was the focus of her rhetoric. Our commander in chief has to be able to defend our country, not embarrass it. Engage our allies, not alienate them. Defeat our adversaries, not embolden them, she said.

When we hear a candidate for president call for rounding up 12 million immigrants, banning all Muslims from entering United States, when he embraces torture, that doesn't make him strong, it makes him wrong, she went on. We should be breaking down barriers, not building walls. Were not going to succeed by dividing this country between us and them. You know, to be great, we can't be small.

With Ms Clintons delegate lead growing to around 300, Mr Sanders looks more and more like the protest candidate he was when he first entered the race last April. But if his objective then was to drag the Democratic conversation to the left, he has vastly overachieved. Ms Clinton will now likely fight the general election against Mr Trump on a significantly more progressive platform than she would have done, had the Democratic primary been the coronation many expected.

Addressing supporters in Phoenix, Arizona, Mr Sanders again demanded the former Secretary of State release the transcripts of her recent lucrative speeches to executives at Goldman Sachs. Campaigning in the Grand Canyon State, which goes to the polls next week, the Vermont Senator vowed to fight on. While the arithmetic is against him, he most likely has sufficient delegates to stay in the race, until California  the last and biggest state of all  votes on 7 June.
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He called himself the grown up. In a season of shouting and theatrics, he was the candidate who stood on stage during the debates and answered questions calmly.

And in a time when the public appeared to turn its back on the establishment candidates, he was the unabashed Washington insider, a man ready to make deals with both sides.

On Tuesday night, such caution and calmness appeared to have paid off, as John Kasich halted Donald Trump in his desire to secure a clean sweep in the five primaries when he won his home state of Ohio.

Mr Kasich secured 46 per cent of the vote, with Mr Trump on 36, Ted Cruz on 13 and Marco Rubio on 2. For the Democrats, Hillary Clinton was declared to have won the state, easily beating her rival Bernie Sanders 56-42.

John Kasich has worked hard to court votes in his home state (AP)

Mr Kasich, 63, appeared with his family at a victory rally, where he smiled at beamed. While he had a huge advantage over the other candidates in his home state, Mr Trump had made him work hard for the win and he was going to make sure he enjoyed his moment of victory.

I represent you, he said to loud cheers, Its my job to listen to your problems and then go and fix them. Its been my intention to make you proud.

Mr Kasichs win in the Buckeye State where there are 66 delegates awarded on a winner takes all basis, could be one of the most important of the primary season; it means that it is now very difficult for Mr Trump to secure the majority of delegates that would give him the nomination ahead of the partys July convention. To do so, he would need to win at least 60 per cent of all the remaining delegates. So far, he has not won at a rate of more than 50 per cent.

In pictures: US Elections 2016 Show all 15 1 /15 In pictures: US Elections 2016 In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks to supporters after rival candidate Hillary Clinton was projected as the winner in the Nevada Democratic caucuses Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton takes photos with workers at her campaign office in Des Moines, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, second from left, prays before lunch with supporters at Drake Diner in Des Moines, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former Maryland Governor. Martin O'Malley, speaks during a campaign stop in Waterloo, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks, as his wife Jane OMeara Sanders looks on, at a campaign event at Iowa State University Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio speaks at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson speaks at a campaign event at Fireside Pub and Steak House in Manchester, Iowa. Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum visiting supporters at a house party in West Des Moines, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican candidate Ted Cruz campaigns at Greene County Community Centre in Jefferson, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Senator Rand Paul speaks during a Caucus rally at his Des Moines headquarters in Iowa Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican candidate Jeb Bush speaks at a campaign event in Des Moines, Iowa AFP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin introducing the arrival of Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 A portrait of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders at his campaign headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Campaign badges on sale ahead of a Trump rally at the Ramada Waterloo Hotel and Convention Centre in Waterloo, Iowa Getty

If he fails that, given the opposition to the billionaire among the partys establishment, it is likely he could face a bitter challenge at the convention in Cleveland, something that has not happened since 1976.

At Mr Kasichs rally at Baldwin Wallace University on the edge of Cleveland, when television channels called the race for him, the news was met with loud cheers.

He has been a gentleman throughout, said Janet Leonard, a human resources official. "He has done a good job for us in Ohio and I think he will do well as president."

On a dramatic and sometimes nail-biting night, Mr Trump won Florida, Illinois, North Carolina and was poised to win Missouri. Hillary Clinton, however, won all five states from Bernie Sanders. For the Democrats, the battle was slightly less do-or-die given that the delegates were awarded on a proportional basis.
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Flushed with success after more primary wins, Donald Trump has predicted riots if he goes to the Republican convention with the greatest number  but not a simple majority  of pledged delegates and an attempt is made to deny him the partys presidential nomination.

While both Mr Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton went significant distances in voting across five major states on Tuesday to consolidate their front-runner positions in each partys contests, the Republican outlook was one of possibly even greater turbulence as chatter grew of a contested convention in Cleveland.

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The New York billionaire is now closer to reaching the 1,237 delegates needed for the simple majority needed to lock up the nomination, following wins on Tuesday in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina. Senator Marco Rubio, after a drubbing in Florida  his own state  dropped out, making it a three-way contest with Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Governor John Kasich of Ohio.

But securing a clean majority becomes more difficult for Mr Trump after his failure to pocket the 66 delegates offered by Ohio  that winner-takes-all contest was won by Mr Kasich. That leaves the door ajar for party elders to manipulate the arcane convention rules to block his path and potentially draft a different nominee  possibly not someone actually competing in the primaries.

As if the race wasnt volatile enough, Mr Trump injected a warning of violence if his claim on the nomination were to be challenged at the convention. I dont think you can say that we dont get it automatically. I think youd have riots, he told CNN. Im representing many, many millions of people.

In response, the Republican party tried to play down Mr Trumps comments. First of all, I assume he is speaking figuratively. If we go into a convention, whoever gets 1,237 delegates becomes the nominee. Its plain and simple, Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer told CNN.

In comments likely to raise more concern in the Republican establishment about Mr Trumps temperament, he also said he was for the most part his own foreign affairs adviser. Im speaking with myself, number one, because I have a very good brain, he told MSNBCs Morning Joe show. I know what Im doing. My primary consultant is myself.

The convention was not the only source of Mr Trumps ire. In pugnacious form, he also declared that he would skip a Republican debate scheduled for next Monday by Fox News, promising to deliver a speech instead to the influential pro-Israel advocacy group Aipac. How many times can the same people ask you the same questions? he asked. I wont be there. The event is set to be cancelled in its entirety.

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At Mar-A-Lago, his palatial beach club in Palm Beach, Mr Trump again appealed to the Republican Party to acknowledge his success in fuelling sometimes record turn-out levels in the states that have already voted and unite behind him. Something is happening inside the party, he told a lavish ballroom of guests, mostly members of the club, and it was being noticed all over the world.

But Mr Cruz and Mr Kasich will not want to see that outcome. With Mr Rubio, briefly the great hope of the stop-Trump movement, now gone, a scramble will begin to attract his pledged delegates and his supporters in the states that have yet to vote. The stakes are especially high for Senator Cruz, who remains the only credible rival in the delegate count. He and Mr Trump were neck-and-neck in Missouri primary, which after Tuesdays vote remained too close to call.

But Mr Cruz, whose base is evangelical Christians, faces a more complicated task, thanks to a commitment by Mr Kasich to stay in the race to the end, even though his own Ohio is the only state in which he has prevailed so far. With no chance now of reaching a delegate majority himself, Mr Kasich sees a brokered convention as his sole means of winning the nomination.

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Blocking Mr Trumps path is not his rationale for carrying on, Mr Kasich, the last establishment candidate running, asserted, while admitting his Ohio victory may have that effect. Im out there running to be President. Im not out to stop Donald Trump or anybody else, he said. By winning yesterday in Ohio, Ive dealt him a very big blow to being able to have the number of delegates.

The deep schisms now wracking the Republican Party extend to whether a brokered convention is feasible or even wise. There is nobody to broker a convention, Haley Barbour, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, told Yahoo News. Theres not some group of wise men in a back room.

Another influential voice, Rush Limbaugh, the conservative radio talk show host, warned his listeners that the party was preparing to use a contested convention to draft former Florida Governor Jeb Bush as a replacement nominee, never mind that his poor showings forced him out of the primary contests. Another name in the ether is Paul Ryan, the House speaker and the vice-presidential candidate last time around. But a spokesperson for Mr Ryan said he would not accept a nomination.

That he can still catch up with Mr Trump remains the hope of Mr Cruz, who is fully aware that a brokered convention would be unlikely to help him either.

There are many in the Washington establishment who are having fevered dreams about a brokered convention, about a deadlocked convention where they parachute in an establishment candidate, he told CNN. I think that would be a disaster. The people would quite rightly revolt.
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North Korea has sentenced an American student to 15 years' hard labour for trying to steal a propaganda banner from his hotel.

Otto Warmbier was convicted on charges of subversion, in a move which has showcased the secretive and unforgiving North Korean regime and futher deteriorated relations with Washington.

The student, from Ohio, admitted trying to steal a North Korean banner with a political slogan on that had been hanging from the walls of his Pyongyang hotel, according to CNN.

North Korea's highest court sentenced Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate student, from Wyoming, Ohio, to 15 years in prison with hard labour (Associated Press)

In a statement to a press conference in February, Mr Warmbier said: "I committed the crime of taking down a political slogan from the staff holding area of the Yanggakdo International Hotel.

"I apologise to each and every one of the millions of the Korean people, and I beg that you see how I was used and manipulated."

Crying in a broadcast video, he said he had been "lured by the United States administration to commit a crime in this country."

North Korea's worst human rights abuses Show all 11 1 /11 North Korea's worst human rights abuses North Korea's worst human rights abuses Starvation A UN report said that policies leading to mass starvation in North Korea amounted to crimes against humanity. Deaths peaked during the 1990s North Korean famine. Al Jazeera North Korea's worst human rights abuses Executions Defence minister Hyon Yong Chol is believed to be the latest official executed after falling foul of Kim Jong-un. As well as gruesome public executions, thousands of people have been killed in state 'purges' and for alleged anti-state crimes Getty North Korea's worst human rights abuses Torture Torture is prevalent in prison camps, as well as in police and security service custody. AP North Korea's worst human rights abuses Freedom of religion American missionary Kenneth Bae was one of the many people detained after trying to practice their religion. The DPRK Constitution claims to protect freedom of religion but not if it as alleged of being used a a pretext for 'drawing in foreign forces or for harming the state and social order'. Christianity is frequently considered a political crime North Korea's worst human rights abuses Freedom of expression All media is tightly-state controlled and expressing facts of opinions critical of the government or Juche ideology can lead to arrest and imprisonment. As well as being under extensive surveillance, people are encouraged to 'inform' on friends and neighbours Getty North Korea's worst human rights abuses Freedom of thought A UN report found that the 'DPRK operates an all-encompassing indoctrination machine which takes root from childhood to propagate an official personality cult and to manufacture absolute obedience to the Supreme Leader, effectively to the exclusion of any independent thought from the official ideology and state propaganda' Reuters North Korea's worst human rights abuses Forced labour Prisoners are subjected to forced labour in camps, including children as young as five. Some workers are also reportedly being sent abroad to fund the government's projects AFP North Korea's worst human rights abuses Sexual discrimination Although women are permitted to serve in the military, their role is restrained by the Juche ideology and the UN reports that 'discrimination against women remains pervasive in all aspects of society' AP North Korea's worst human rights abuses Freedom of movement Freedom of movement is severely restricted within North Korea and very few citizens are allowed to leave the country. Immigrants found in China can be forcible repatriated and punished on their return. The right for foreigners to enter is also severely restricted. Reuters North Korea's worst human rights abuses Prison camps Many of the worst abuses reported take place at prison camps, some specifically for political crimes. The camps officially do not exist but have been photographed using satellite. Inmates are 'forcibly disappeared' and usually imprisoned until death REUTERS North Korea's worst human rights abuses Reproductive rights Forced abortions have been reported for imprisoned women, often after being raped by guards. Mothers and babies frequently die in childbirth because of a lack of adequate care, often delivering babies unaided at home. AP

It is not known whether he was coerced into giving the statement. He said he had wanted a banner from the totalitarian regime in east Asia "as a trophy" for a member of a church group he attends.

According to an official who spoke to CNN, the church member allegedly encouraged Warmbier to take the poster so as to "weaken the ideological unity and motivation of the North Koreans", promising him a car in return for his efforts.

But no evidence of such a church group or member has emerged.

The issue has raised questions around the risk to American tourists travelling in the country of being used as political pawns by the regime.

Tensions with Washington further escalated this week after leader Kim Jong Un warned his country had a long-range missile capable of obliterating Manhattan in New York City.

"If this H-bomb were to be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile and fall on Manhattan in New York City, all the people there would be killed immediately and the city would burn down to ashes," reported state-run outlet DPRK Today.

The UN Security Council voted unanimously in early March to implement harsher sanctions against North Korea to starve it of money for its nuclear weapons programme.
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Two weeks after Chinas President toured state media offices and called for absolute loyalty from the press, a website with links to the government published an explosive letter asking him to resign for the future of the country and the people.

The letter was reportedly posted in the early hours of March 4 by a website called Wujie News, which is jointly owned by SEEC Media Group, Alibaba and the government of Xinjiang, in China's far northwest. The Washington Post found a cached version of the document that shows the post live on the site.

The letter, signed "loyal Communist Party members," lambasts China's president for "abandoning the principle of collective leadership," for concentrating power in his own hands and "indulging" flatterers. Xi's declaration that the press should serve the party, not the people "dismayed the whole nation," it charges.

The strident but anonymous critique was printed amid a string of three other high-profile rebukes of the Xi and his media policy. Taken together these incidents hint at anger and frustration within China's elite  and show a willingness to speak out despite the risks.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. 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Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Their message to the government: We won't go quietly.

Questions about Xis press policy surfaced soon after his inspection tour of China Central Television (CCTV) and Peoples Daily last month. While visiting the outlets, Xi said the media ought to reflect the will of the Party, mirror the views of the Party, preserve the authority of the Party, preserve the unity of the Party and achieve love of the Party, protection of the Party and acting for the Party.

A retired property developer and blogger named Ren Zhiqiang was not impressed. When did the Peoples Government turn into the Partys Government? he asked.

Once all the media is part of one family and stops representing the interests of the people, then the people will be cast aside and left in some forgotten corner.

Rens comments made a splash online but were quickly purged from the Web. Party-backed media soon swarmed, lambasting him as an ungrateful and treacherous advocate for capitalism with vicious motives, in a smear campaign that some compared to Cultural Revolution-style public shaming.

Undeterred by the attack on Ren, the website of one of Chinas most respected magazines, Caixin, last week blasted government censors for asking them to remove an article in which an academic called for the government to heed a greater variety of views.

In the article , an academic named Jiang Hong said people like him should be free to give Communist party and government agencies suggestions on economic, political, cultural and societal issues.

Should be, perhaps, but are clearly not: In an English-language follow-up headlined Story about Advisers Free Speech Comments Removed from Caixin Website, Caixin reported that government censors called the first piece illegal content, and ordered them to take it down.

In the second piece, Caixin re-interviewed Jiang, who went on the record about the terrible and bewildering act of censorship. I examined [the article] in all respects, but I couldnt see anything illegal, he told Caixin.

As if to emphasize the absurd circularity of it all, the second post was also pulled.

A man who identified himself as an employee at Chinas Party-controlled newswire, Xinhua, on March 7 published an open letter on his Weibo account calling on Chinese authorities to investigate an China's censorship body for infringing on the right to free speech.

The letter included his name, Zhou Fang, his government ID and his phone number, and listed his place of work as Xinhua. A man reached at that number said he was indeed Zhou Fang and said he did not deny writing the letter.

The since-pulled post was a detailed critique of China's approach to digital censorship that compares Xi-era Internet policing to the Cultural Revolution. The letter mentions the case of Ren Zhiqiang and says that the crackdown on Party critics is causing people to lose confidence in the central government.

The March 4 letter was even more strident in tone. Whereas Zhou called on the government to investigate the censors, the short-lived open letter signed "loyal Communist Party members" took it a step further, taking aim at Xi's handling of the anti-corruption campaign, picking apart his handling of the economy and foreign affairs.

"Your indulgence in a personality cult and silencing 'improper discussion of the center' has made those of us who have been through the cultural revolution concerned. Our Party, our country, and our people can not afford another 10 years of turmoil."

If Xi and his Party is worried about the backlash, they are not saying so  or not directly, anyway. A top official, Yu Zhengsheng, this week praised the press for its loyalty, thanking journalists for their "productive," "constructive" and "inspirational" coverage of China's annual legislative meetings.

"The media has maintained the correct political stance," he said, "And spread positive energy."

 Washington Post
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An American student has been sentenced to 15 years hard labour in North Korea for pocketing a propaganda sign from his hotel during a trip to Pyongyang. Otto Warmbier, 21, was accused of subversion and convicted by the countrys Supreme Court.

Mr Warmbier, a student at the University of Virginia, was arrested on 2 January as he tried to leave the country after a five-day trip organised by Young Pioneer Tours.

The state news agency, KCNA, said at the time that he had been manipulated by the US government to commit hostile acts against North Korea.

Recommended Read more North Korea sentences US student to 15 years hard labour

The accused confessed to the serious offence he had committed against the DPRK [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea], pursuant to the US governments hostile policy toward it, in a bid to impair the unity of its people, the agency reported.

Western detainees Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim, 60, born in South Korea, was sentenced to a lifetime of hard labour last December after confessing to having rashly defamed and insulted the DPRK. Many prisoners recant such confessions after their release. One Korean-American and three South Korean nationals are also being held by the regime. In late 2014, the regime released three Americans, including Matthew Miller, 23, who had torn up his visa upon arrival in North Korea, claiming he wished to seek asylum. In March 2009, US journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling were detained in North Korea after crossing into the country from China without visas. Five months later, former President Bill Clinton secured their release.

The sentencing, after a one-hour trial on Tuesday, comes shortly after the UN imposed some of its toughest sanctions yet on the isolated Asian nation, in response to the Pyongyang regimes recent nuclear and rocket tests. Tensions between the regime and the US have also been exacerbated by a major joint military exercise being carried out by the US and South Korea, which the North considers a dry run for an invasion.

The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, said this week that his military would soon test a nuclear warhead, though experts remain sceptical of the regimes ability to launch a nuclear attack.

Mr Warmbier, who reportedly studies economics and global sustainability, was paraded at a press conference in February, where he said he had confessed to taking down a political slogan from the staff holding area of the Yanggakdo International Hotel, saying he had promised to bring back a trophy for a friend in the US. It was, he added tearfully, the worst mistake of his life.

Around 6,000 Westerners travel to North Korea each year. Though it is legal for American tourists to visit the DPRK, the US State Department strongly advises against it, precisely because the regime has a history of detaining foreigners.

Yet prisoners such as Mr Warmbier rarely serve out their full sentence, and are instead employed as leverage in international negotiations. Mr Warmbiers brief trial came just a day after Bill Richardson, the former Governor of New Mexico and a veteran of US-Korean diplomacy, met DPRK officials at the UN in New York to urge his release.

Mr Warmbier is originally from the town of Wyoming in Ohio. In a statement, the states Governor, John Kasich, called on Pyongyang to free the 21-year-old.

His detention was completely unjustified and the sentence North Korea imposed on him is an affront to concepts of justice, he said.
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The man who murdered 77 people in a bomb and gun attack in Norway claims to be surviving prison and isolation because of his Nazi principles.

Anders Breivik, who was imprisoned in 2011 after conducting the country's deadliest attack since the Second World War, claims prison staff are attempting to drive him to death by keeping him in solitary confinement.

The 37-year-old claims he is only able to survive the torture due to the things he has learned from reading Adolf Hitlers book, Mein Kampf.

These principles are the only reasons I am alive today, he told the court hearing.

It would have been more humane to shoot me than to treat me like an animal."

The killer is suing the Norwegian government for his treatment while in Skien prison, southwest of Oslo, where he has spent time in isolation. He says this has violated the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Government has rejected Breiviks claims and said he has been treated humanely and with dignity, despite the severity of his crimes.

Skien Prison: Where Anders Breivik is incarcerated Show all 5 1 /5 Skien Prison: Where Anders Breivik is incarcerated Skien Prison: Where Anders Breivik is incarcerated Skien prison south of the Norwegian capital, Oslo Reuters Skien Prison: Where Anders Breivik is incarcerated The gym at Skien prison which was turned into a courtroom for Breivik's appeal Reuters Skien Prison: Where Anders Breivik is incarcerated Viewing through the door into a cell inside Skien prison Reuters Skien Prison: Where Anders Breivik is incarcerated A bedroom study with computer(no internet access) in Skien prison similar to the one Breivik is housed in Reuters Skien Prison: Where Anders Breivik is incarcerated Two connecting cell rooms in Skien prison similar to the three rooms Breivik is kept in Reuters

The isolation is making him apathetic and depressed, giving him headaches and difficulty sleeping, he said.

In Breiviks 1,500 page manifesto, 2083: A European Declaration of Independence, he described prisons as the ideal place to recruit followers, which lawyers have said is a legitimate reason for him to be kept in solitude.

Other complaints included having to use plastic cutlery and eating TV dinners, some which are served twice in the same day.

 Anders Breivik returns to court with a Nazi salute

He also has his incoming and outgoing post censored and has not been allowed to receive 600 letters sent to him, which authorities say is to prevent him inciting any extreme-right winged violence outside the prison.

After writing two books, The Breivik Diaries and The Nordic State, Breivik claims he is the only inmate not allowed to publish his work.

(Getty Images)

Lawyers voiced fears Breivik could spread his ideology if he had access to a small circle of friends, as he has requested.

Except for prison staff and health professionals, the only person to visit him since he was jailed was his mother, who has since died.

After entering the court, Breivik conducted a Nazi salute on Tuesday. Critics fear he is using his court appearance to further his extremist ideology, as it is the first time he has been seen in public since his imprisonment in 2012.

The proceedings were aired on Norwegian television, but Breikviks testimony was not broadcast out of respect of the victims.

The killer was sentenced to 21 years in prison, the maximum sentence possible under Norwegian law. It can be lengthened if he is still considered a threat to society at the end of his sentence.

The trial is being held in a contemporary court room in the gymnasium of the prison for security reasons. He did not repeat the salute when he appeared in court on Wednesday. The trial is expected to last until Friday.
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An Isis flag, a book on Salafism and a Kalashnikov submachine gun with spare 11 cartridges were found near the body of the Algerian gunman killed during a six-hour police battle in Brussels.

The gunman was identified as Mohamed Belkaid, 35, barely known to police apart from a case of theft in 2014, officials said.

After a shoot-out he was neutralised by a special forces sniper when he tried to open fire from the window of the flat, said Thierry Werts from the Belgian federal prosecutors office.

The house search was one of more than 100 made since the November Paris massacre claimed by Isis in which 130 people died. Some 58 people have been arrested by Brussels police, and 11 charged.

Brussels police said two other suspects were still at large, after slipping away during the counter-terror raid in the quiet southern neighborhood of Forest. Mr Werts said their identities were unknown, but a local paper, La Derniere Heure, said they were likely to be brothers Khalid and Ibrahim El Bakraoui, who had already had run-ins with police over car-jackings and shootings.

Charles Michel, the Belgian Prime Minister, said that the risk of a terrorist attack remains serious and probable, but the national terror threat level would stay at three, the second-highest. Belgium raised the alert to the top level of four because of a terror threat shortly after Novembers attacks in Paris, but lowered it to three two weeks later.

Tuesdays battle erupted as police approached the residence, which they thought to be empty. Four officers sustained minor injuries during the shooting.
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A gunman linked to last years Paris attacks has been shot dead by police, while two others were on the run after a house raid in Brussels that went wrong, leaving four police officers injured.

Although police have yet to identify the body, they said it was not the fugitive terrorist Salah Abdeslam, 26, who fled to Brussels after failing to detonate his suicide belt during the Paris attacks last November. They gave no information on the likely identity of the fugitives.

A body was found during the search of a house on Rue du Dries, said Eric Van Der Sypt, spokesman for the Belgian federal prosecutor. His identity is not yet known, but in any case, it is not Salah Abdeslam.

The raid was part of a joint Belgian-French anti-terrorism operation that began at 2pm in the southern Brussels district of Forest. Armed police locked down a wide neighbourhood as soon as shooting broke out.

The house was identified as part of the polices continuing investigation into the massacre of 130 people in the French capital on 13 November, for which Isis claimed responsibility and which were largely plotted in Brussels by Belgian and French nationals.

Most of the terrorists directly involved died at the time or were killed soon after, but Abdeslam became the subject of a massive European manhunt.

In pictures: Brussels shooting Show all 9 1 /9 In pictures: Brussels shooting In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting Police secure an area in Brussels followinf the anti-terror raid linked to last year's Paris attack AP In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting An armed police officer runs on top of a roof during a police operation on the site of a shooting in the rue du Dries in Forest, Brussels EPA In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting Police officers take position on a rooftop during a police raid in Forest, Brussels EPA In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting Police at the scene where shots were fired during a police search of a house in the suburb of Forest near Brussels, Belgium Reuters In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting Police at the scene where shots were fired during a police search of a house in the suburb of Forest near Brussels, Belgium Reuters In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting Police at the scene where shots were fired during a police search of a house in the suburb of Forest near Brussels, Belgium Reuters In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting A victim is removed from the scene where shots were fired during a police search of a house in the suburb of Forest near Brussels, Belgium Reuters In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting A victim is removed from the scene where shots were fired during a police search of a house in the suburb of Forest near Brussels, Belgium Reuters In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting Police at the scene where shots were fired during a police search of a house in the suburb of Forest near Brussels, Belgium Reuters

Belgian prosecutors have charged 11 men in connection with the killings, all said to have assisted the attackers in some way, and a further eight suspects are in detention awaiting charges.

The house in Rue du Dries is four miles south of Molenbeek, the Brussels commune where many of the Paris attackers lived. Police were preparing to search what they had thought was an empty flat when they unexpectedly came under heavy fire through its door, and two suspects apparently escaped over rooftops.

Police, elite commandoes, and fire engines poured into the area, while helicopters hovered overhead. Security services blocked roads and told residents to stay indoors. One suspect was thought to be armed with a Kalashnikov sub-machine gun. Another was seen fleeing into wasteland near the house; a police dog with a mounted camera was sent after him, but ran back when the man began firing at it.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said: During the course of a search, a team of French and Belgian police officers came under fire, clearly from heavy weapons.

One of the officers was said to be in a serious condition after being shot in the head. Staff and children at nearby schools and day-care centres that were within the initial police perimeter were told to stay indoors before being able to evacuate.

Employees at the nearby Audi assembly plant were told to stay put while police marksmen climbed on the factory roof. The Audi factory is located alongside the rail line taken by Eurostar trains to London, and trains to Paris.

 Manhunt in Brussels

Although the police were armed and wearing bullet-proof jackets, they had not anticipated resistance when they raided the address. Officials said they expected it to be empty, like the apartment in Schaerbeek, in eastern Brussels, where Abdeslams prints were found, along with three handmade belts for possible use in suicide attacks and traces of explosives.

Brussels was locked down for four days after the Paris attacks  with schools, metros and shopping centres closed  as officials warned that the city was at risk of major terrorist incident.

While officials said there was no need to consider another lockdown after the raid on 15 March, they asked journalists and the public not to publish details of the operation on social media.

Brussels has maintained a high state of security alert since last November, with soldiers on guard around key buildings and military patrols.

The suspected ringleader of the attacks was a Brussels resident, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, 28, who was killed in a raid in St Denis, five days after the Paris attacks. Another, Bilal Hadfi, 20, who blew himself up outside the Stade de France, was said to have lived for a time in the Forest area.
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An Isis flag and jihadist manual were found next to a terror suspect killed during a shootout with Brussels police.

The man, who has been identified as an Algerian national called Mohammed Belkaid, was killed after opening fire on police during the raid on his apartment in the suburb of Forest. It is understood that he was 35 years old and did not have a criminal record beyond one case of robbery.

Police say that two people are in custody in relation to the attackl including one man who was found in an overnight house search and another who reportedly broke his leg in the raid. Officers continue to hunt for two more suspects who have not been identified.

The raid is linked to the Paris attacks in November last year. On 13 Novemember, 130 people died in a number of suicide bombings and mass shootings at cafes, restaurants and a concert hall in the French capital. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

Four police officers were wounded in yesterday's attack. Federal prosecutors have said they believe the man who was shot dead was in Belgium illegally.

It is understood that police entered a property as part of an anti-terrorism raid in the south Brussels suburb of Forest. They expected to find the property empty but instead were met with armed attackers who fired at police.

Eric Van Der Sypt, a spokesperson for the Belgian federal prosecutor, said that the search had been: "linked to the Paris attacks investigation." However, he said that the deceased was not Salah Abdeslam, a key suspect in the Novermber Paris massacre. He said: "A body was found during a search of a house... his identity has not been established yet but whatever the case, it is not Salah Abdeslam."

In pictures: Brussels shooting Show all 9 1 /9 In pictures: Brussels shooting In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting Police secure an area in Brussels followinf the anti-terror raid linked to last year's Paris attack AP In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting An armed police officer runs on top of a roof during a police operation on the site of a shooting in the rue du Dries in Forest, Brussels EPA In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting Police officers take position on a rooftop during a police raid in Forest, Brussels EPA In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting Police at the scene where shots were fired during a police search of a house in the suburb of Forest near Brussels, Belgium Reuters In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting Police at the scene where shots were fired during a police search of a house in the suburb of Forest near Brussels, Belgium Reuters In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting Police at the scene where shots were fired during a police search of a house in the suburb of Forest near Brussels, Belgium Reuters In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting A victim is removed from the scene where shots were fired during a police search of a house in the suburb of Forest near Brussels, Belgium Reuters In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting A victim is removed from the scene where shots were fired during a police search of a house in the suburb of Forest near Brussels, Belgium Reuters In pictures: Brussels shooting Brussels shooting Police at the scene where shots were fired during a police search of a house in the suburb of Forest near Brussels, Belgium Reuters

A heightened terror alert remains in place in the city.

Prime Minister Charles Michel said that police are planning further operations in the coming hours and days. He told local media: "the threat remains."
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For many it is the ultimate battle of man against beast, even if the result is largely a foregone conclusion. But in future, if new proposals are accepted, all bullfights in Spain may end in a score draw.

For several years, animal-rights protesters have argued that bullfighting is little more than a cruel indulgence. Several towns and regions, notably Catalonia, have banned the spectacle altogether, prompting a backlash from traditionalists who argue that the pastime is a bedrock of Spanish culture.

The new leftist Mayor of Valencia, Joan Ribo, has proposed a third way, in which the bull is spared, rather than being stabbed in the back of the neck  the usual end to a contest. There are more and more people understanding that mistreating animals is a practice that must be eradicated from our society, Mr Ribo said. I think it could be interesting if we in Spain could find a way in which the bulls did not get that final treatment [in the ring].

The Mayor was commenting after a pro-bullfighting demonstration in his city, which reportedly attracted 10,000 people.

Whether Mr Ribos bullfighting lite, as it has been nicknamed, will quell passions on both sides of the debate remains to be seen. The demonstration attracted a number of famous matadors and others who want to preserve the bouts. The bullfighting world is aware of the problem and maltreatment we are suffering at the hands of a part of the political class, Jose Antonio Morante Camacho, a well-known matador, told the crowd. We are here to say, this is our life, its a tradition.

The political winds in Spain may be against those such as Mr Morante Camacho, however. The caretaker government of the centre-right Partido Popular lost its parliamentary majority in last Decembers general election. It has argued that bullfighting should be afforded special protection, as part of Spains cultural identity. Such a move would reverse the decision of several town halls and municipal governments, which have moved to cut public funding for these events.

Recommended Read more How Spanish bullfighting could be forced out of major cities for good

Mr Ribo cites Portuguese bullfights, corridas de touros, which are not fatal to either party. The Mayor is from the Compromis party, the Valencian affiliate of Podemos, which has vowed to sweep away privileges enjoyed by elites in Spanish society.

But even his proposals are unlikely to assuage animal-rights activists who argue that corridas de touros are simply a less graphic version of the Spanish bullfight.

The Mayor fails to recognise that the bulls are still stabbed with the barbed darts before being eventually killed out of sight of the public, thus prolonging their agony, Pacma, an animal-rights group, said.
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People who live in Denmark are the happiest in the world, according to a study.

Residents said the reason behind their nation clinching the top spot in the list of 156 countries, ranked by independent experts ahead of the United Nations (UN) World Happiness Day on 20 March, was because they had no worries.

In the fourth World Happiness Report since 2012, the levels of happiness of people in countries across the world have been rated by taking into account factors such as per capita gross domestic product, healthy years of life expectancy, trust and perceived freedom to make life choices.

The chart below, created for the Independent by statistics portal Statista, shows the top 15 happiest nation:

(UN Happiness Report/Statista)

The UK was number 23 in the report, which was released on Wednesday in Rome.

The US ranked at number 13, leading Professor Jeffrey Sachs, special advisor to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and one of the reports authors, to say: The message for the United States is clear. For a society that just chases money, we are chasing the wrong things."

"Our social fabric is deteriorating, social trust is deteriorating, faith in government is deteriorating, he said.

The report said: When countries single-mindedly pursue individual objectives, such as economic development to the neglect of social and environmental objectives, the results can be highly adverse for human wellbeing, even dangerous for survival.

Although Denmark ranked in third place in 2015, this is the third year the Scandinavian country has claimed the number one position.

Knud Christensen, a 39-year-old social worker from Copenhagen, explained why he thought the people in his country were so happy: We have no worries. And if we do worry, its about the weather. Will it rain today, or remain grey, or will it be cold?

The world's top 10 countries to raise kids Show all 10 1 /10 The world's top 10 countries to raise kids The world's top 10 countries to raise kids 10 - Luxembourg The world's top 10 countries to raise kids 9 - United Kingdom The world's top 10 countries to raise kids 8 - Ireland The world's top 10 countries to raise kids 7 - Austria Getty The world's top 10 countries to raise kids 6 - New Zealand The world's top 10 countries to raise kids 5 - Australia Getty The world's top 10 countries to raise kids 4 - Netherlands The world's top 10 countries to raise kids 3 - Canada World Vision Canada (image grab from YouTube) The world's top 10 countries to raise kids 2 - Denmark The world's top 10 countries to raise kids 1 - Sweden

University professor Kaare Christensen said Danes were happy with what they [got].

Danes have no great expectations about what they do or what happens to them, she added.

According to the list, people in Burundi, Africa, were the least happy. Other countries in the bottom 10 included Syria, Afghanistan, Rwanda, Benin and Liberia.

Additional reporting by agencies
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German law makers have moved to tighten the countrys rape laws in light of the Cologne attacks, it has been reported.

Currently, Germanys rape laws only include attacks where a victim can prove that they physically resisted and also verbally said no. If a victim freezes out of fear, is unable to consent due to drink or drug intake, or resisted but cannot prove that they did so, their attack does not meet burden of proof standards in the German legal system.

However, in light of national outrage at the Cologne attacks, the government has approved an amendment which no longer requires physical refusal. Chancellor Angela Merkels cabinet has signed off on the change, which will now go to the parliament for approval before being passed into law, The Local reports.

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The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. 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In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. 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A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

In a statement, Justice Minister Heiko Maas said that the existing law amounted to an unacceptable gap in protection. He said: Its high time that changes. We owe it to the victims.

Mr Maas added that the amendment represented an important step toward strengthening sexual self-determination and that the law would now cover the actual situations in which most attacks occur.

On New Years Eve, as many as 1,000 women were reportedly sexually assaulted in a gang attack at a central train station in the city. Women described their horror at being trapped by men, isolated from their friends and then robbed, violently attacked and sexually humiliated. The attacks shocked Germany and sparked intense debate about immigration after it was alleged that some of the men were refugees or immigrants. However, German police investigating the attacks said that of the 58 men who they arrested in relation to the attacks, just three were refugees from Syria or Iraq.
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An increase in the number of immigrant children has been blamed for Sweden's lower test score results in education league tables.

A report by the government-run Swedish Education Agency said more resources were needed for schools with large numbers of pupils who are immigrants or who have two immigrant parents.

It said immigrant children were 85 per cent accountable for a four-per-cent increase in the number of children failing to get good enough grades in the final years of school, according to AFP.

Anna Ekstrom, the agency's director, said the new report showed immigration was "not an insignificant" factor in the country's overall decline in education league tables.

"We already know that immigrant students on average have lower performance in school. Now we know more about how much the increasing proportion of immigrant students has affected overall performance," she said, according to AFP.

"We need more teachers, teachers in their native language, interpreters etc in a situation already marked by the shortage."

Official figures suggest there are five per cent more immigrant children in Sweden now than there were in 2006, with 43 per cent of the 163,000 asylum seekers who arrived in 2015 being minors.

Over that period, the country has seen its reading and science test scores drop by more than 20 per cent, while mathematics results have dropped by 15 per cent.

Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily.

The percentage of students failing to get the grades needed to move into the final three years of school has also increased from 10 to 14 per cent since 2006, with older students in particular struggling, said the report.

Gustav Fridolin, Sweden's education minister, told The Local that his country's schools needed to provide better support for newcomers.

"We need to put our focus on building equality into the system and we need to focus on schools," he said.

"It is one of the most important things we can do in Sweden in order to be sustainable as a country."

Gustav Fridolin, the education minister for Stockholm, said more support needs to be given to children of asylum seekers (Rex Features)

According to the OECDs Pisa survey, Sweden has "declined over the past decade from around average to significantly below average."

It said: "No other country taking part in Pisa has seen a steeper fall."

In the most recent test in 2012, Sweden ranked 28th among the 34 OECD countries in mathematics, 27th in reading and 27th in science.
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The Dutch parliament has voted to ban arms exports to Saudi Arabia in protest against the kingdom's humanitarian and rights violations.

It sees the Netherlands become the first EU country to put in practice a motion by the European Parliament in February urging a bloc-wide Saudi arms embargo.

The bill, voted through by Dutch MPs on Tuesday, quoted UN figures which suggest almost 6,000 people - half of them civilians - have been killed since Saudi-led troops entered the conflict in Yemen.

It also cited the mass execution of 47 people, largely political dissidents, ordered by the Saudi judiciary on 2 January this year.

According to Reuters, the Dutch bill asks the government to implement a strict weapons embargo that includes dual-use exports which could potentially be used to violate human rights.

The vote adds to the growing pressure on Britain, one of the main arms suppliers to Riyadh, to reconsider its stance.

 Cameron on arms trading with Saudi Arabia.mp4

Andrew Smith, a spokesman for Campaign Against Arms Trade, told The Independent: "The Dutch parliament has set an important precedent and it's time for other arms dealing governments to do the same. The decision can't just be temporary though, it must be permanent.

"Saudi Arabia has a terrible human rights record and governments like the UK must stop supporting it. The bombardment of Yemen has lasted almost a year now and the humanitarian situation is desperate."

According to updated Campaign Against Arms Trade figures, the UK has now sold more than 6.7 billion worth of weapons to the Saudi government under David Cameron - 2.8 billion in deals since the bombing in Yemen began.

10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Show all 10 1 /10 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In October 2014, three lawyers, Dr Abdulrahman al-Subaihi, Bander al-Nogaithan and Abdulrahman al-Rumaih , were sentenced to up to eight years in prison for using Twitter to criticize the Ministry of Justice. AFP/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2015, Yemens Sunni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was forced into exile after a Shia-led insurgency. A Saudi Arabia-led coalition has responded with air strikes in order to reinstate Mr Hadi. It has since been accused of committing war crimes in the country. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Women who supported the Women2Drive campaign, launched in 2011 to challenge the ban on women driving vehicles, faced harassment and intimidation by the authorities. The government warned that women drivers would face arrest. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Members of the Kingdoms Shia minority, most of whom live in the oil-rich Eastern Province, continue to face discrimination that limits their access to government services and employment. Activists have received death sentences or long prison terms for their alleged participation in protests in 2011 and 2012. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses All public gatherings are prohibited under an order issued by the Interior Ministry in 2011. Those defy the ban face arrest, prosecution and imprisonment on charges such as inciting people against the authorities. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2014, the Interior Ministry stated that authorities had deported over 370,000 foreign migrants and that 18,000 others were in detention. Thousands of workers were returned to Somalia and other states where they were at risk of human rights abuses, with large numbers also returned to Yemen, in order to open more jobs to Saudi Arabians. Many migrants reported that prior to their deportation they had been packed into overcrowded makeshift detention facilities where they received little food and water and were abused by guards. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses The Saudi Arabian authorities continue to deny access to independent human rights organisations like Amnesty International, and they have been known to take punitive action, including through the courts, against activists and family members of victims who contact Amnesty. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison for using his liberal blog to criticise Saudi Arabias clerics. He has already received 50 lashes, which have reportedly left him in poor health. Carsten Koall/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Dawood al-Marhoon was arrested aged 17 for participating in an anti-government protest. After refusing to spy on his fellow protestors, he was tortured and forced to sign a blank document that would later contain his confession. At Dawoods trial, the prosecution requested death by crucifixion while refusing him a lawyer. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was arrested in 2012 aged either 16 or 17 for participating in protests during the Arab spring. His sentence includes beheading and crucifixion. The international community has spoken out against the punishment and has called on Saudi Arabia to stop. He is the nephew of a prominent government dissident. Getty

France is the other major European supplier of arms to the Saudi kingdom. Germany's exports amounted to almost 140 million in the first six months of 2015, while figures for the Netherlands itself were not available.

Additional reporting by agencies
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French anti-terrorism police arrested a small group of people with Islamist militant ties, suspecting one of them may have been planning an attack in Paris, Frances interior minister has said.

"We have information about one person that suggests that he could undertake violent actions in France," Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told Reuters, adding the man was thought to have ties with the Islamic State in Syria.

"This person was arrested this morning along with people linked with him," Cazeneuve said, warning however against jumping to the conclusion that an attack was imminent as checks were underway.

Earlier TF1 television reported that three men and one women were arrested at dawn in Paris and at the nearby northern suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis on suspicions they were planning an imminent attack.

Police also seized an unused cartridge for an automatic rifle and computer equipment, TF1 said on its web site.

The arrests took place this morning, it was reported, in the 18th arrondissement  the location of an attack on a police station in early January, and the 93rd  the department of Saint-Denis, where a long siege ended in the death of the Paris attacks mastermind last year.

The French capital remains on high alert after jihadists massacred 130 people in November 2015, in a number of suicide bombings and mass shooting at cafes, restaurants and the Bataclan concert hall near Place de la Republique.

On Tuesday, a man was shot dead during an anti-terror raid, in Brussels, Belgium, linked to the investigation into the deadly shootings and bombings last year.

The man, who has been identified as an Algerian national called Mohammed Belkaid, was killed after opening fire on police during the raid on his apartment in the suburb of Forest. It is understood that he was 35 years old and did not have a criminal record beyond one case of robbery.

An Islamic State flag and jihadist manual were found next to the dead terror suspect.
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A Kurdish woman has been shot dead in Germany after refusing an arranged marriage with her cousin, it has been reported.

Images have been posted on Facebook by a man claiming to be the girls father and depicting her lying on the ground in a pool of blood, surrounded by distraught wedding guests. In an accompanying message he writes that his 21-year-old daughter was an aspiring engineer who had refused attempts by members of her extended family to agree to a marriage with her cousin.

He writes that: This murderer would not accept that! They decided to take revenge, to continue the tradition. At 10am on 13 March, she was killed with 3 shots to the head by her own cousin.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

German media outlet, Bild, reports that German police have confirmed that a young woman was shot dead earlier this week and that they are investigating her death as a homicide. They have reportedly recovered the gun which was used as a murder weapon but the murder suspect is allegedly on the run.

Due to stigma and fear about speaking out, it is unknown precisely how many women are intimidated into arranged marriages every year. However, at least 3,500 women seek counselling and support services for the issue every year in Germany.
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A British academic has been deported from Turkey after being accused of making terrorist propaganda for allegedly handing out Kurdish leaflets.

Chris Stephenson, whose wife is a Turkish citizen, told the Associated Press before boarding a flight that there was "no offence, no trial, just an administrative decision to deport me after 25 years of residency in Turkey.

The timing is deeply embarrassing for European Union leaders, who will meet on Thursday in Brussels to cement a controversial deal with Turkey aimed at tackling the refugee crisis.

Recommended Read more Turkish military eases curfew after assault on PKK rebels in Cizre

It comes amid a wider crackdown on academics, journalists and lawyers in the name of combating terrorism, prompting critics to warn the EU against striking a deal with Ankara at a time of growing human rights concerns.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the Turkish parliament to move swiftly to broaden anti-terror laws. The state argues that such measures are necessary to protect national security, but human rights groups fear they will be used to stifle debate about a recent flare-up in the long-running conflict between Kurdish militias and the Turkish state.

Mr Stephenson, who worked as a computer sciences lecturer at Istanbuls Bilgi University, was detained on Tuesday while attending a court hearing to support three fellow academics accused of spreading terrorist propaganda. They had added their names to a petition that strongly criticised a Turkish government operation to crush Kurdish militias in the south-east of the country.

Recommended Read more Turkey launches air strikes on Kurdish positions after Ankara bombing

Mr Stephenson was accused of distributing propaganda for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). He disputed this, saying that security guards simply leaflets in his bag that were issued by a Kurdish-rooted political party and invited people to a Kurdish festival. He said that a reference to Kurdish self-determination and a small picture of a barricade were deemed to constitute terror propaganda.

He was briefly released, but a prosecutor demanded his deportation. Mr Stephenson said that wife and teenage daughter both remained in Turkey and described his treatment as very scary and wrong. His lawyer said he planned to appeal. The three academics whom Mr Stephenson was supporting remained in custody.

European leaders have already come under fire for putting Turkey at the heart of its efforts to slash the numbers of refugees and migrants arriving on their shores. Under a draft deal set out last week, Ankara agreed to allow everyone who travelled illegally to Greece from Turkey to be sent back. In exchange, EU countries would relocate one Syrian for each one accepted by Turkey.

Billions of pounds in aid money would be granted to support the 2.7 million Syrians already registered in Turkey. Ankara would be granted a speedier timetable for both visa-free travel for Turkish citizens to the Schengen Zone and its bid for EU accession.

European Council President Donald Tusk, who will chair the EU summit, said there was still a lot to do over the deal, and success could hinge on Ankara acting to support peace talks in Cyprus, an EU member. Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades has threatened to veto any progress in Turkeys accession talks.

Russias withdrawal: Syria responds

Russias withdrawal from Syria did not come as a surprise, the head of the Syrian government delegation has claimed at peace talks in Geneva.

Many viewed the decision as a sign that Vladimir Putin no longer saw Mr Assad as indispensable. But Bashar Jaafari, head of the Syrian delegation, said: The Russian decision to withdraw partially from Syria was taken jointly It wasnt a surprise.

Mr Jaafari rejected Kurdish talk of a federal model for Syria. What we talking about here is how to keep the unity of Syria, he said.

Reuters
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"Benjamin Netanyahu and the anti-Semites need each other: they supply each other with what they need  intolerance and hatred." This is the vehemently held view of Ciamak Morsadegh, a newly elected Iranian parliamentarian. "It is an unspoken alliance which suits them, but it causes great harm to the rest of us." The MP is Jewish, representing the largest Jewish community in the Middle East outside Israel, one that is growing in size while those in almost all other Muslim countries in the region have shrunk severely or disappeared altogether  largely due to persecution.

Israel has long portrayed Iran as an implacable enemy, an existential threat, even. In recent years, Netanyahu's government mobilised its international backers in the US Congress and elsewhere to lobby fiercely against the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, with dire warnings about a dangerous regime acquiring weapons of mass destruction. The campaign failed. The nuclear agreement was signed. And the resultant easing of international sanctions  providing a road to recovery for the country's ailing economy  was a key factor in the sweeping gains by the reformists and their allies in the recent elections; a victory that should pave the way for great changes in Iranian politics and history.

Morsadegh, a 50-year-old hospital surgeon, is one of the candidates who benefited in the liberal swing to get re-elected. He is the only Jew in the Iranian parliament, the Majlis, winning the seat reserved for the Jewish community against two other candidates. "The fact is, Iran is a place where Jews feel secure and we are happy to be here," he says. "We are proud to be Iranian. I know this doesn't follow the Zionist script, but this is the reality."

But are his expressions of patriotism and castigation of Israel intended to ensure self-preservation in the Islamic Republic? "No one forces the Jews to stay here," says Morsadegh, a large figure, full of energy, at his office in the Sapir Medical Centre in Tehran. "The Israelis offer money to Jewish people to emigrate to Israel, but we choose to stay. My view is that the actions of Netanyahu and his government, the way they behave towards the Palestinians, cause problems for Jews everywhere. I am not the only one holding these views. Am I not allowed to say it because I am a Jew? " He waves his arms amid a haze of smoke from his constant chain of Winston cigarettes.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. 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Is he claiming, then, that there were absolutely no disadvantages faced by Jews in Iran? The MP concedes there are a " few things" under the current law that discriminate against the community  for example, the amount of financial compensation, or "blood money", paid to the families of victims of violence by the perpetrator in lieu of formal prosecutions but, he adds: " We are working on that."

And working with the government. Morsadegh accompanied Hassan Rouhani, Iran's reformist President, to New York during the negotiations on the country's nuclear programme, and the MP's interests and influence lie beyond the religious field. But why are there no other Jews in the Majlis from non-Jewish constituencies? "Traditionally, the Jewish community here has been in medicine and pharmacy, while in the West they have been a lot in finance. They do very well in these fields and other professions as well; there isn't that much interest in politics," he replies. "We have been left to get on with our lives. We haven't had the terrible pogroms that happened in the West  which were due to Christian intolerance  and even now we can see the situation is dangerous for Jews in Europe. Synagogues need to be guarded there because of attacks. There is no need for any of that here."

There are around 60 synagogues across Iran  six of them in Tehran  for a population that numbers between 10,000 and 20,000. Community members may be quick to state they are not Zionists, but there is pride in the purity of the stock and the fact that it is growing. As Morsadegh says: "Intermarriage to other communities is very low here, just 0.1 per cent of the population; it's 40 per cent in the UK, I think, and 20 per cent even in Israel, so you see the difference. The numbers are going up because the birth rate is quite high among our people, but it is by a very small amount."

The community will also grow, it is believed, when more of the Iranian-Jewish diaspora come back from abroad  people such as Arik's brother. Sitting in Tehran's upmarket Espinas Hotel, Arik is very keen to discuss the security situation at home and abroad, but cautious about revealing his identity. Not because of possible repercussions in Iran, says the 36-year-old electrical-goods supplier, but because of the situation in France and the risks to his brother and his family. "They are in Paris and the situation has become really bad for them," he says. "You have white racists harassing them, but also Muslim gangs, and that's becoming worse and worse.

"These gangs are Sunni Muslims, not Shias, as we have in Iran. They have become extremists because of Wahabi propaganda from Saudi Arabia  look at the attacks on the journalists on that magazine [Charlie Hebdo] and then the terrible massacre a few months ago. My brother is active in the Jewish groups in his area, so I need to disguise his identity. They have to organise security patrols to protect their synagogues, even their homes, every day and night."

Netanyahu visited France after the Charlie Hebdo murders. I watched and listened at the Grand Synagogue in Paris as he urged Jews to emigrate to Israel: France, and Western Europe, he warned, was unsafe for them. The invitation was strongly criticised by the French government. Manuel Valls, the Prime Minister  whose wife, the violinist Anne Gravoin, is Jewish  stated: "France without Jews is not France If 100,000 Jews leave, the Republic will be judged a failure."

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a press conference (AFP/Getty Images) (AFP/Getty)

Nonetheless, there has been a significant rise in emigration to Israel, sharply accelerated after last November's Paris attacks. Revisiting the Grand Synagogue at the time, I found the mood ever more pessimistic. The general view was that there will be further terrible attacks. On a recent visit to Israel I came across estate agents in Tel Aviv specialising in properties for French and other Western European Jews who are on their way. But Arik wants to point out that Israel is hardly a safe place. "My brother is thinking of leaving France. I ask him: 'Why go to Israel?' They have wars in Gaza regularly, and there are killings every week with the stabbings and shootings. I have asked him to come here. There are good Jewish schools for the children, there are synagogues and there will also be lots of business opportunities with the sanctions being lifted."

Arik, in a shiny grey suit, with his thick black hair slicked back, is at the Espinas to pursue these opportunities, meeting foreign businessmen who are now steadily beating a path to Tehran. (Last month, there were seven foreign commercial delegations at the hotel just in the 10 days I stayed there covering the elections.) His business aims, however, are not in his trade. "I've got some money saved and I'm thinking about investing in tourism. Why not? Foreign tourists aren't going to Egypt, Tunisia or Turkey because of terrorist attacks. Iran is a very safe place, we don't have terrorist attacks. Sure, we need to invest in infrastructure, but there is so much to see here; so much history  Jewish history as well, we have been here for centuries."

There are different chronologies of the Jewish presence in what is now Iran. It began, it is believed, in 722BC, when the Assyrian king Shalmaneser V conquered Israel and sent the 10 "lost tribes" into exile. There was another wave in 586BC, when the people of Judaea were expelled by the Babylonians. An exodus to Israel took place when the Jewish state was created in 1947  but more than 100,000 were still there during the Shah's rule in the 1970s. At the time, Iran, seen as an anti-Communist bulwark by the West, had close relations with Israel, especially in the field of security, with Mossad helping to set up Savak, the Shah's secret police, which became notorious for human-rights abuses.

Israel sold $75m of weapons to Iran during the war with Iraq. Iran, in turn, supplied Israel with a sizeable portion of its oil needs following the Six Day War: Iranian oil was shipped to European markets through the jointly run Eilat Ashkelon pipeline. El Al flew direct flights between Tel Aviv and Tehran. The Jewish community was secure and prosperous. And while, as discontent spread against the Shah, there were accusations of complicity with the government levelled against some prominent Jewish figures by the opposition, several thousand politically active members of the community took part in the protests  many being arrested by the security forces.

After the 1979 revolution and the return of Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran broke off all diplomatic and commercial ties with Israel. The Israeli embassy building in Tehran was handed over to the Palestine Liberation Organisation. Israel refused to pay back money it owed Iran from the pipeline venture and still refuses to do so. Even though, in May last year, a European court ordered that $1.1bn should be repaid, Netanyahu's government rejected the judgment, saying it considered Iran an enemy state.

Some Jewish activists were arrested after the revolution, this time by the newly founded Islamic Republic. Then an event occurred that sent a shockwave through the community. Habib Elghanian, a well-known Jewish industrialist, was arrested on charges of spying for Israel. He was convicted after a swift trial and placed before a firing squad. An emergency meeting was held by the elders. Two rabbis and four young political activists set off from Tehran for Qom, the centre of Iranian Shia theocracy, to see Ayatollah Khomeini, and there was trepidation about how the Supreme Leader would react. But in the event, after a long meeting followed by dinner, the Ayatollah proclaimed that as a "people of the book" and loyal Iranians rather than Iranian Zionists, the Jews were welcome to stay in the country.

Iranian Jewish MP Siamak Morsadegh takes part in a protest outside the United Nations headquarters in Tehran (AFP/Getty)

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency (2005-13) was another time of anxiety. Early in his term, he questioned the Holocaust and there was apprehension that this would be followed by measures against the community. The head of Iran's Jewish Committee, Haroun Yashayaei, wrote to Ahmadinejad saying that to challenge "one of the most obvious and saddening events of the 20th-century humanity has created astonishment among the people of the world and spread fear among the small Jewish community in Iran". The former President Mohammad Khatami, who sponsored the reformists in the last elections, and Ali Akbar Velayati, the chief foreign-policy adviser to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were among public figures who disowned Ahmadinejad's comments.

The matter, Yashayaei said, was "defused". As it clearly is at the Fatima Masumeh shrine in Qom, where the senior cleric Imam Husseini insists: "There is no question of Jews not belonging here. Look at that"  he points at an edict on the wall  " there are the names of Moses and Jesus in there. You cannot believe in the Prophet Mohamed if you don't believe in the parts played by Moses and Jesus. We don't want to stop the Jewish people here from observing religion; observing religion makes someone a better person. It is lack of knowing about religion which leads people to become like Daesh [Isis]."

Certainly, the congregation at the Abdullah Zadeh synagogue has been growing in numbers over the years  "and this is the case with all the others as well," the caretaker says. "There were a lot more Jews here in the Shah's time, but a much smaller percentage used to pray regularly. I think so many more are praying now because we live in the Islamic Republic, a religious country. Very few focus on politics; they focus on religion  that is safer."

The 65-year-old caretaker, who did not want to be named, used to work in film production. He went on a course to Italy 35 years ago, but returned early when the war with Iraq broke out. "I came back because in case my country needed me," he says. "I haven't been to a foreign country since and I don't feel any need to go. We are settled here, there is no need for change; change is for young people."

Half a mile away at the Tapo restaurant, the 29-year-old manager, David Shoumer, has no plans to leave Iran, but he does have plans for changes. I have my last supper in Tehran there, tasting the house specialities: kebab kubideh, grilled lambs on skewers; and ghormeh sabzi, a stew of dried lemons, kidney beans and herbs. It's fine, but the dishes are mainstream Iranian rather than intrinsically Jewish.

"That's right, it is all Iranian," Shoumer says. "The only difference is that the meat is kosher. My father and uncle started the restaurant 30 years ago and we have been serving similar food without complaint. But we need to change the menu if there are a lot of tourists coming to Iran. I worked in Istanbul in a restaurant 10 years ago, but I have not been away since. Now I think I have to go to a few countries and see what kosher restaurants are doing there. We need to show visitors we are Jews; we need to meet the expectations of the foreigners about our Jewishness."
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Turkeys President Tayyip Erdogan has claimed the definition of a terrorist should be changed to include their "supporters" - such as MPs, civil activists and journalists.

It comes after three academics were arrested on charges of terrorist propaganda after publicly reading out a declaration that reiterated a call to end security operations in the south-east of Turkey, a predominantly Kurdish area.

Mr Erdogan has said the academics will pay a price for their treachery.

A British national was also detained on Tuesday despite having ordered the arrests, after he was found with pamphlets printed by the Kurdish linked Peoples Democratic Party (HDP).

It is not only the person who pulls the trigger, but those who made that possible who should also be defined as terrorists, regardless of their title, President Erdogan said on Monday, adding that this could be a journalist, an MP or a civil activist.

His comments came the day after a suicide bomb attack in the countrys capital of Ankara killed at least 34 people and wounded 125 others when a car bomb was detonated near a main square in the Kizilay neighbourhood.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes Show all 8 1 /8 Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Just a week before he was elected President, he called Erdogan Amberin Zaman, the Turkey correspondent for 'The Economist', a "shameless militant woman disguised under the name of a journalist" after she had asked an opposition leader whether "Muslim society is able to question" the authorities. "Know your place," Erdogan said. "They gave you a pen and you are writing a column in a newspaper. "And then they invite you to a TV channel owned by Dogan media group and you insult at a society of 99 per cent Muslims," he said he said according to Today's Zaman newspaper. Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Turkish people are pictured chanting slogans during an anti-government protest on Taksim square in Istanbul, on 29 June, 2013. The protests were sparked by brutal police action against a local conservation battle to save Istanbul's Gezi Park, and soon turned into nationwide demonstrations against the government. Amid the protests - the worst in Turkey for years - Erdogan accused demonstrators of being "arm-in-arm with terrorism," according to Reuters. "This is a protest organized by extremist elements. We will not give away anything to those who live arm-in-arm with terrorism," he said. GURCAN OZTURK/AFP/Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes During last years protests, activists used social media to organise and disseminate information. Several dozen tweeters were arrested following the protests, according to local media reports. Erdogan responded by calling the technology a "menace". "There is now a menace which is called Twitter," Erdogan said. "The best examples of lies can be found there. To me, social media is the worst menace to society," BBC New reported. Vladimir Astapkovich/RIA Novosti via Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Not helping to allay accusations of authoritarianism, after Turkish police detained 49 people, including well-known business people and those close to the ruling party, Erdeogan ominously told reporter that Turkey "is not a banana republic" that can be affected by unnamed "operations", according to Today's Zaman newspaper. People who are backed by the media and certain funders cannot change this country," he said. "People backed by certain dark gangs both inside and outside Turkey cannot mess with the country's path. They cannot change conditions in Turkey. Turkey is not a country that anyone can launch an operation into. The [Turkish] nation will not allow that. The AK Party, which is governing this nation, will not allow this." Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Friends and relatives of the miners who died in an explosion at the Soma mine are pictured praying following the burial in Soma cemetery of the last body to be recovered from the mine in May 2014. At the time, the then-Prime Minister badly misjudged the Soma mining disaster, in which 301 workers died. He told the relatives of dead and dying miners that "these types of incidents are ordinary things", following allegations that the government had ignored safety concerns about the privately owned mine, the Guardian reported. In his defence, Erdogan recounted in a separate speech a list of mining disasters which occurred abroad, including a British disaster in 1862, and one in America "which has every kind of technology". Oli Scarff/Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Palestinians pictured attending Friday noon prayers in a destroyed mosque that was hit by Israeli strikes, in Gaza City. As Prime Minister, Erdogan has condemned Israel, accusing it of deliberately killing Palestinian mothers and warned that the it would "drown in the blood it sheds." Speaking to thousands of supporters during a rally in Istanbul ahead of the 10 August election, Reuters reported him as saying: "Just like Hitler, who sought to establish a race free of all faults, Israel is chasing after the same target." "They kill women so that they will not give birth to Palestinians; they kill babies so that they won't grow up; they kill men so they can't defend their country ... They will drown in the blood they shed," he said. AP Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Amid the worst protests in Turkey for years which had spread across dozens of cities last June, Erdogan accused demonstrators of being "arm-in-arm with terrorism," according to Reuters. A demonstration to halt construction in a park in an Istanbul square grew into mass protests against a heavy-handed police crackdown and what opponents called Erdogan's authoritarian policies. "This is a protest organized by extremist elements," Erdogan said before departing on a trip to North Africa. "We will not give away anything to those who live arm-in-arm with terrorism," he said. Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes In March 2014, Erdogan accused a 15-year-old boy who died from injuries sustained in last year's anti-government protests of being linked to terrorism. Berkin Elvan, who became a symbol of anti-government protests, had gone to pick up bread when he was hit with a teargas canister - sending him into a nine-month coma before he passed away. In a speech broadcast on state TV, Erdogan said of Berkin: "This kid with steel marbles in his pockets, with a slingshot in his hand, his face covered with a scarf, who had been taken up into terror organisations, was unfortunately subjected to pepper gas. How could the police determine how old that person was who had a scarf on his face and was hurling steel marbles with a slingshot in his hand? ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images

Violent action between the government and the PKK  which is being blamed by authorities for the Ankara bombing  has reached its worst level for 20 years since fighting restarted last July. Hundreds of civilians, militants and security forces have been killed since the summer.

 Ankara attack

President Erdogan has already threatened the future of Turkeys highest court after it ruled that holding two journalists in pre-trial detention was a violation of their rights to freedom of expression.

The journalists, Cumhuriyet newspaper editor Can Dundar and Ankara bureau chief Erdem Gul, were arrested on charges of revealing state secrets and attempting to overthrow the government. They reportedly face calls for multiple life sentences from prosecutors and will stand trial later in March.

Additional reporting by Reuters News Agency
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A horse could have its leg amputated after it was allegedly assaulted by a politician in the middle of an anti-government protest.

Ganesh Joshi, from the ruling BJP party, is accused of attacking the horse, named Shaktimaan, with a stick on Monday during a political protest in the north of the country.

The animal suffered multiple fractures which could lead to a leg amputation, according to the horses vet.

Shaktimaan has suffered multiple fractures, including a compound fracture and has been taken to a veterinary hospital.

There is virtually no hope for him to do police work in future. Now, our aim is to ensure a painless life for him.

In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 Show all 20 1 /20 In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 Indian army soldiers rescue a man from flood waters in Chennai AP In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 People use a water tank for flotation as they wade through flood waters in Chennai AP In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 People travel on a boat as they move to safer places through a flooded road in Chennai Reuters In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 A car is seen in the flood waters at a neighbourhood in Chennai Reuters In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 A woman stands at a fenced gate of a partially submerged temple in Chennai Reuters In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 People walk in flood waters in Chennai EPA In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 People stranded on a temple wait to be rescued from flood waters in Chennai EPA In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 Indian policemen rescue people from flood waters in Chennai EPA In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 The heaviest rainfall in more than 100 years has devastated swathes of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with thousands forced to leave their submerged homes, schools and offices AP In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 Displaced residents wade through a flooded street besides a flooded railway track in the flood-affected areas Chennai Reuters In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 A man sits in an auto-rickshaw Reuters In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 Displaced residents cook their meal on a flooded roadside Reuters In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 National Disaster Response Force personnel rescue flood victims AP In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 An aerial view of a partially submerged airplane is pictured in a flood affected area in Chennai Reuters In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 An aerial view shows a flood affected area in Chennai Reuters In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 Flood affected people queue up for food AP In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 Indian army soldiers rescue flood affected people in Chennai AP In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 Volunteers rescue flood affected people on a country boat from a residential area in Chennai AP In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 People carry children on their shoulders and wade through flood waters in Chennai AP In pictures: Severe flooding hits India 2015 Houses are submerged in flood waters in Chennai AP

The leg will have to be amputated and we are just hoping that he recovers, officer Sadanand Date told the Times of India.

Police have lodged a complaint against Mr Joshi for cruelty to animals.

Mr Joshi said the charge against him was politically motivated.

The footage which the electronic media is showing by linking with an old clip  in which I am lifting a stick in front of the horse  has no connection at all, the told the BBC.

The horse fell down when someone pulled its saddle and the animal sustained a fracture on its leg, he added.

The incident has caused outrage in India, where many have taken to social media, using the hashtag Is a horse anti national, in reference to the arrests of university students who allegedly shouted anti-India slogans.

BJP members were protesting against the Harish Rawat government in Dehradun, reports the Times of India.

The incident took place in the northern state of Uttarakhans capital Dehradun.

Shaktimaan has served for almost ten years with the Uttarakhand police.
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How do we solve a problem like Google? Even today, we do not know how a company so large, with thousands of UK staff and five offices, and global revenues of $74 billion in 2015, paid just 130million in UK back taxes after a six year investigation into what it should have paid over ten years.

The problem is not confined to Google. Facebook with a mere $17.9billion global revenues in 2015, paid only 4,327 tax to HM Revenue & Customs in 2014, despite paying out 35million in bonuses to UK staff. AstraZeneca paid no UK corporation tax in 14/15, yet 2014 was a remarkable year for AstraZeneca according to its CEO. It did, after all, have full year revenues of over $26billion. Vodafone, British American Tobacco, the list of corporate giants with light UK tax bills goes on.

We may not like it but these companies havent acted illegally. They are planning taxes to pay less by exploiting different tax rules in different countries.

I want successful companies here in the UK but I want them to pay fair taxes and be open about it.

Recommended Read more Google has a spiritual obligation to pay as little tax as possible

Yesterday I tabled a Bill  the Multinational Enterprises (Financial Transparency) Bill  to ensure that important information about large companies revenues and tax planning is published. And Im delighted to have cross-party support, and backing from fair tax and international development organisations.

Thanks to international pressure, the G20 countries and the OECD are already drawing up an action plan to share key information about large multinationals (those with a revenue of over 600million), such as what tax they paid, their revenues, and their tax planning between different Governments tax authorities.

My Bill provides for this information to be made public.

The problem every country is struggling with, but no one country can solve, is profit shifting by multinationals. A company doing lots of business in the USA or UK, can transfer profits to a low tax domain like Ireland, where corporation tax is 12.5% or Bermuda where it is zero.

In 2010, the total company profits reported as coming from Bermuda was 1643% the size of the countrys GDP. And if multinationals trading in the UK are paying much lower corporation taxes by transferring profits that gives them an advantage over domestic businesses that pay 20% corporation tax in the UK.

Legal or not, it just doesnt pass muster.

This Bill has been nicknamed the Google Bill. But this is not about Google alone, or even online businesses, we know the problems extends to coffee chains, oil companies, drinks companies, pharmaceuticals. What they all have in common is they are multinationals.

For many years, development organisations have felt there was an injustice if a firm was mining or producing oil in Africa, but paying no tax there. This Bill helps to shine a light on what these companies are doing.

The Government is bringing in regulations to ensure reporting on taxes, revenues and employment, including in other countries, are shared with our revenue and customs. The Governments proposals would make about 400 companies share some or all of their activity worldwide.

The Chancellor has even said he supports this being published.

What is the 'Google tax'?

My Bill does this. Why wait for everyone in the G20 to agree?

The data published is not commercially sensitive. We are not asking for their whole tax return or future business plans. The principle here is that by publishing, everyone gets to see the bigger picture.

We have seen Facebook announce that it is going to declare more of its revenue as UK-based in future, and pay tax on it here. I welcome that, but publishing information on revenues, profits and tax paid may persuade many more companies to play it straight; and pay taxes where they are really doing the business.

The tide is turning against secrecy. Organisations like Fair Tax Mark encourages companies to declare that they pay fair taxes and dont use tax havens. I want every large company to be able to meet that test.

Last week I wrote to George Osborne seeking his support for my Bill. Sadly, no mention in the Budget today. But shortly, a new Finance Bill will be published which I can seek to amend if the Government does not adopt the measures in my Bill. I hope they will.



Caroline Flint is MP for Don Valley
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The Conservatives have overseen the highest fall in living standards since 1870. Striking doctors, disabled people pushed to the brink, rising homelessness, zero-hour contracts, a reliance on food banks  all have become sudden norms of British life under Tory rule.

Today, like every day since Corbyn became leader, there is much to oppose. Osbornes budget saw a further ideological war and reshaping of Britain thats defined this Tory Government.

In announcing further cuts that will affect the most vulnerable, Osborne has stripped people of their independence  vital life lines to social engagement. Through a progressive course of cuts and gruelling term changes, the Government has caused stress, anxiety and despair across Britain. Harrowing tales of under-funded services, and people dehumanised is against everything we strive to achieve as a society; as a nation.

While Osborne today announced plans for a further 3.5bn of savings in 2019/20, he also gifted businesses with a corporation tax falling to 17 per cent from April 2020. To have such breaks for the worlds richest alongside cuts to the most vulnerable shows how little Osborne cares about the deep inequalities between Britons.

With the bleak national picture of NHS privatisation, doubling of debt and stifled wages all underpinned by a fresh dose of cuts, the narrative of Corbyn as antidote should already be written. Within the hopes and desires of the British people is an energy waiting to be tapped into.

That the Conservatives are failing on one of their biggest promises should make Corbyns attacks sustained, targeted and vicious. John McDonnell wrote today that the deficit remains around 70bn over the original target. Meanwhile debt has risen from 53.5 per cent to more than 80 per cent of GDP under Osborne.

The fact that much of the Conservative argument is based on a record of mass failures should be exposed, highlighted and drummed into the British people constantly.

A snapshot of British life shows a troubled scene crying out for new direction. Take travel. The TUC released figures earlier this year highlighting a typical British commute cost 17 per cent of ones salary, compared to 6 per cent in Spain and Italy.

On housing, the largely unregulated private rented sector continues to grow, with many living in overpriced, unfit dwellings. On top of this we have student fees that favour the elite, and zero-hour contracts that trap the poor.

Now is the time for Corbyn to join up these troubled dots with one clear message. But Corbyn  though strong-minded and principled  often picks at detail expertly, without pushing the big picture needed to sell a new vision of Britain so vital to inspiring success.

At PMQs, Corbyn has often frustrated with his style and approach. Too often he jumps from question to question, creating a fragmented attack. In regularly seeking assurance as opposed to laying planned, continued blows he allows Cameron to blurt out comfortable party lines without being challenged.

But todays appearance saw a fired-up Corbyn drum home Tory shortcomings on housing policy in a performance both stirring and bold. Its this clear, passionate language thats regularly needed for gains.

 Corbyn attacks Budget

These days, Camerons pre-2010 facade of a homely, bread-baking Smiths fan are long gone. In the moments when Corbyn and Labour have struck home theyve revealed a sweating, flustered Cameron so distant from those calm, compassionate media images.

Corbyn needs to remove Camerons shiny, polished mask on a weekly basis  exposing that red, panting face so at odds with the nation.

While Corbyn battles on in Parliament, a whole underground movement rattles on around us. The Jeremy Corbyn for PM event, which hit Croydon last week and Newcastle last night, hopes to keep his leadership campaign buzz up until election.

We dont yet know the significance of this underground movement. We do know, however, that almost 400,000 new members have joined the Party in almost a year. Such an army will be vital in Corbyns first real test in May up against a Conservative Party with a vastly heftier financial arsenal.

Despite this impressive surge of underground activity, Corbyn needs to reach out way beyond town halls, churches and function rooms. He needs to relate the crucial issues he attacks into a bigger picture directly relatable to the public. Only then will his tireless scrutiny and spirited campaigning create that mass movement needed for success.

These storm clouds wont shift without it.
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We asked four teachers for their thoughts on the government's controversial measure to make all English state schools academies. They were less than impressed.

Vanessa Casey

Yet again the government has decided to pursue a red herring in the name of improving education. It thinks that by forcing every school to become an academy all will be wonderful, while completely failing to notice that teacher morale is at an all time low and teacher recruitment is in crisis.

There is no real evidence to show that turning a school into an academy will automatically raise standards. Academies have only been in existence since 2002. I have been teaching in the maintained sector for 25 years and, sadly, all I have seen is smoke and mirrors. As long as we have an apartheid education system based on class and wealth, we will never make real progress. The recent Pisa tables show how worryingly far behind we are.

The underlying problem is not who governs our state schools, but the fact that we have two systems operating alongside one another. I was educated at private school, but I realise that until we understand how skewed our education system is we will not move forward. As long as middle class parents are either wealthy enough to send their children to independent schools or canny enough to ensure they are in the right catchment area for a good state school - which means a school full of other middle class - children there will still continue to be struggling schools, no matter what we call them. The majority of academies have been set up in poor deprived neighbourhoods and we now have an even greater apartheid system within the academies. How many government ministers are prepared to send their children to these academies?

 English State schools to become academies by 2022

Sean McWeeney

The news that all schools will be forced to become academies really needs to be unpicked to show the level of callous market-driven and profit-making motives that lie behind it.

The think tank Policy Exchange first advised the conversion of all schools to academies. Policy Exchange was setup in 2002 by justice secretary Michael Gove, previously the education secretary, and describes itself as "an independent, non-partisan educational charity seeking free market and localist solutions to public policy." It looks to 'free market' solutions to education - that's not charities or non-profit solutions but free market solutions, essentially private companies.

There is no empirical evidence that academies do better than local authority school. In fact, looking at the top 10 Academy Trusts and Local Authority 'Valued Added' scores, eight out of the top 10 are Local Authorities and only 2 are academies.

Some of the chief executives of these 'non-profit' Academy Trusts that are already running hundreds of school are paid huge salaries. The OFSTED Chief Inspector has said, that "salary levels for the chief executives...do not appear to be commensurate with the level of performance.The average pay of the chief executives in these seven trusts is higher than the prime minister's salary, with one chief executive's salary reaching 225,000. This poor use of public money is compounded by some trusts holding very large cash reserves that are not being spent on raising standards. These seven trusts had total cash in the bank of 111m...and spent at least 8.5m on education consultancy in 2014-15 alone."

Why is this happening? Quite simply it is to set off the wholesale privatisation of the education system.

Jon OConnor

It is worth recognising that this new world has no fewer imperfections than the last, in return for increasing incidences of financial fiasco and disruption of normal service. Ofsteds outgoing Chief Inspector has recently named several major player academy failures in his final salvo as head of an independent Inspectorate.

Twitter this evening shows the slow stirrings of resignation. Until this week, professionals could choose how best to deliver outstanding education. For those who felt that the academy model was right, they could make this work. For those who saw benefits in a larger learning community, that choice remained. Leaders who cannot lead as they wish followed by governors, who can no longer govern. The meagre supply of new teachers may well dry up further. Many will of course remain in service and loyally try to create the New Order.

Jon has worked in education for over 40 years as Head Teacher, LA officer and Education Partnership Director

But it is for the business community that real opportunity knocks. The enforcing legislation also open the school gate further to a growing private sector. Self-interest is becoming stronger than public interest.

So for now it is for the profession and for our children and families to weigh up carefully if this is really the way to shape the future of our country. Public service education is something we should be proud of, not something we are forced into against our will.

Anonymous

I work in a Sixth Form College and academisation seems inevitable. While it is not yet mandatory in our sector, sixth forms are extremely underfunded and ours would benefit from the extra VAT savings as an academy trust.

My main concern is that we would lose much of our autonomy and become a less desirable place to work. There are already acute teacher shortages in my area (I teach A-level English in London) and eradication of teachers pay scales will exacerbate the situation.

The school day can also be far longer in an academy school, meaning that teachers will have less time to plan high quality lessons and mark students work.

There are already far too many unqualified teachers in our schools working as cover supervisors and children being taught by adults without the requisite qualifications. Academies will make this situation worse.

All young people deserve access to high quality education and the best possible start in life. Can academies really guarantee anything of the sort?
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President Putins decision not to prolong Russian military presence in war-torn Syria is welcome but will not change facts on the ground in the short term.

Violent terrorists still occupy large swathes of Syria and Iraq. Their savage public beheadings, kidnapping and mass murder had been exported to other parts of the world such as Libya, France, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Mali, causing an exodus of refugees and heralding instability and social disaster.

The logic of confrontation that prevailed during the Cold War should be replaced with the logic of co-operation and good neighbourliness. As a member of the Quartet, Russia could help in solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that remains a constant threat to international peace and security. Russia is also vital in maintaining Ukraines national unity, integrity and sovereignty. It could also help in preventing the disintegration of Libya, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

More importantly, Russia is in Europe and it could help in addressing the real challenges of migration crisis, collaborating on addressing the global challenges of human rights, climate change, terrorism and the prevention of the spread of pandemic diseases that afflict us all. It is a mistake not to co-operate with Russia.

Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob

London NW2

I was fascinated by Leonard Powells argument that the UK should leave the EU before it is overwhelmed and collapses under the exodus of refugees from Syria and the surrounding region (letter, 16 March).

I hope that I misunderstand him, but he appears to be arguing that after bombing the unarguably brutal, but secular societies and economies of Iraq, Syria and Libya back to the Dark Ages without any follow-up plans, the UK has no responsibility for the consequences.

The Greeks and Italians have behaved in a commendably humanitarian manner in rescuing the refugees whose lives have been destroyed, not by Greece and Italy, but by the UK, the US and, in the case of Libya, France.

The refugees are to a significant degree the UKs creation. Basic morality demands that we owe them our care. Basic logic suggests that they be allocated to the constituencies of those MPs most responsible for their plight.

Aidan Harrison

Morpeth, Nothumberland

If all schools become academies, then what?

If the Government makes it mandatory for all schools to become academies, can someone please explain what ramifications that would have for both the National Curriculum and the role for Ofsted?

As a teacher, now retired, I had no great love for many aspects of the National Curriculum, especially the National Literacy Strategy, but at least they provided a foundation upon which pupil assessments could be made and Ofsted could gauge its judgments about schools and progress. But one principle behind Academies is that schools can choose their own paths and curricula  so is this the death knell for both the National Curriculum and Ofsted?

How then will this or any future government be able to say or prove that the quality of education in this country is improving?

Isnt it time for education to be removed from the sphere and interference of political ideology and placed in the hands of a cross-cultural body of educationalists who make decisions on the basis of sound educational principles and practices?

Alan Sturgess

Gargrave, North Yorkshire

Following the announcement that schools are to be funded to stay open later than 3:30pm, I assume the DfE have already checked this out with the bus companies who will need to provide an extra fleet of buses to run during the rush-hour?

The reason the school day traditionally ends at 3:30 is simple: its all to do with the bus companies only being able to supply a school service at that time. Meanwhile, as the funding will only be for 25 per cent of schools, one wonders how the DfE is going to choose which ones will remain open later. Those closest to railway stations perhaps?

Tristram Shepard

Canterbury

Ketamine does more good than harm

As the 59th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) meets this week in Vienna we would like to draw attention to ketamines real value. The CND is likely to be asked to vote on whether ketamine should be placed under international control.

Ketamine is often considered to be just a recreational drug. In reality it is an essential medicine. It is the only anaesthetic suitable for use in low- and middle-income countries. It is a remarkably safe anaesthetic which has been used worldwide for more than 50 years, in both medical and veterinary practice.

It does not depress respiration or the circulation. It can be used without oxygen, ventilators or an electricity supply.

Ketamine has particular value in the field  for trauma, traffic and sporting injuries, in natural disasters and in zones of conflict. In high-income countries ketamine is also increasingly used to treat depression and chronic pain.

At the previous CND in 2015, Chinas proposal that ketamine should be placed under international control was deferred, but it is likely to be proposed again this year.

The World Health Organisations Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) states that ketamine is an essential medicine and does not pose a global public health threat.

WHOs opinion is not universal because ketamine is also used as a recreational drug. The side effects of bladder damage from chronic ketamine misuse are extremely serious, but affect only a few who take very high doses. Most recreational users suffer few ill effects.

Ketamine has a much, much greater positive impact on the world as a therapeutic agent than its negative impact as a drug of abuse.

Dr Polly Taylor MRCVS

Independent Consultant in Veterinary Anaesthesia, Ely, Cambridgeshire

Prof David Nutt FMedSci

Edmond J Safra Chair in Neuropsychopharmacology, Imperial College, London

Val Curran

Professor of Psychopharmacology, University College, London

Rudi Fortson QC

Visiting Professor of Law, Queen Mary University of London.

Graeme Henderson

Professor of Pharmacology, University of Bristol

Dr Adam R Winstock

Consultant Psychiatrist

Prof John Ramsay

Emeritus Director, TICTAC Communications, St. Georges University of London

Dr Rupert McShane

(RNU) Oxford Health

Prof Ilana Crome

Emeritus Professor of Addiction Psychiatry, Keele University

Steve Rolles

Senior Policy Analyst, Transform Drug Policy Foundation

Prof Fiona Measham

Durham University

Patrick Hargreaves

Independent Education Consultant

Dr Rhys Ponton

Pharmacist (UK/NZ)

Prof Barry Everitt FRS

University of Cambridge

Only sure bet is that horses will die

Tuesday saw the sad but very predictable death of three horses at the Cheltenham Festival. More than 400 horses die racing in the UK every year, but many people, dazzled by the glitz and the glamour, prefer to focus on the hats, ignoring the fact that the only sure bet at these races is that magnificent horses will lose their lives. Just how many more must die before horse racing is put out to pasture?

Jennifer White

London N1

The lack of good career advice

There is a reason why people do not get much advice about apprenticeships from careers advisers (letter, 15 March). There arent many careers advisers.

Under New Labour, the focus of Connexions was helping the excluded, presumably with the implicit and misguided notion that ordinary people did not need careers guidance. Then the Coalition placed responsibility for providing careers guidance on to schools.

As headteachers understandably prefer to spend their money on the academic subjects which affect the standing of their schools, they dont tend to have qualified, well-informed advisers. I gather that receptionists do the job, or that students are told to pay for guidance services, thus ensuring that guidance is even less likely to be taken up by ordinary people.

Cole Davis

London NW2

Easy answer to the pensions crisis

Is it surprising that pension credit cuts are being linked to an increase in death rates among over-85s. Only someone who cannot see beyond figures would fail to be aware that extending the age at which pensions are paid will reverse the present trend of people living longer.

Perhaps that is the idea? Natural wastage and increased pension age and, hey presto, the books balance in double-quick time.

Margaret Cook

Seaford, East Sussex

Do you want jargon with your eggs?

Geoff Baguley (letter, 16 March) brings us almost to likely total accuracy on the students breakfast order. However, surely it would have begun with So, can I get like three eggs?

Andrew Jackson

Cardiff
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Back in September 30 2015, when Vladimir Putin unexpectedly announced the deployment of the Russian air force in Syria, the consensus was that this would prove to be a costly mistake. Critics argued that airstrikes alone would not make any tangible difference to the facts on the ground.

The seemingly endless US-led air campaign against Islamic State (IS) was often cited as proof of this fact  US president, Barack Obama, reiterated this belief in a recent interview The Atlantic, when he said that Russia had overextended  Theyre bleeding. And their economy has contracted for three years in a row, drastically.

No doubt Americas traumatic experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan were weighing heavily on Obamas mind when he made this assessment.

Yet, as if to prove his critics wrong, on March 14, Putin abruptly announced his decision to withdraw the main military force from Syria, claiming to have achieved his main objectives there.

In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Show all 19 1 /19 In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Syrian boys cry following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Aleppo Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian defense ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov speaks to the media in Moscow, Russia. Konashenkov strongly warned the United States against striking Syrian government forces and issued a thinly-veiled threat to use Russian air defense assets to protect them AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Syrians wait to receive treatment at a hospital following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Alepp Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov speaks at a briefing in the Defense Ministry in Moscow, Russia. Antonov said the Russian air strikes in Syria have killed about 35,000 militants, including about 2,700 residents of Russia AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Jameel Mustafa Habboush, receives oxygen from civil defence volunteers, known as the white helmets, as they rescue him from under the rubble of a building following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Aleppo Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civil defence members rest amidst rubble in a site hit by what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A girl carrying a baby inspects damage in a site hit by what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civilians and civil defence members look for survivors at a site damaged after Russian air strikes on the Syrian rebel-held city of Idlib, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civilians and civil defence members carry an injured woman on a stretcher at a site damaged after Russian air strikes on the Syrian rebel-held city of Idlib, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Volunteers from Syria Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, help civilians after Russia carried out its first airstrikes in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria The aftermath of Russian airstrike in Talbiseh, Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Smoke billows from buildings in Talbiseh, in Homs province, western Syria, after airstrikes by Russian warplanes AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian Air Forces carry out an air strike in the ISIS controlled Al-Raqqah Governorate. Russia's KAB-500s bombs completely destroy the Liwa al-Haqq command unit In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria A TASS/ITAR-TASS Photo/Corbis In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russia claimed it hit eight Isis targets, including a "terrorist HQ and co-ordination centre" that was completely destroyed In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A video grab taken from the footage made available on the Russian Defence Ministry's official website, purporting to show an airstrike in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A release from the Russian defence ministry purportedly showing targets in Syria being hit In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russia launched air strikes in war-torn Syria, its first military engagement outside the former Soviet Union since the occupation of Afghanistan in 1979. Russian warplanes carried out strikes in three Syrian provinces along with regime aircraft as Putin seeks to steal US President Barack Obama's thunder by pushing a rival plan to defeat Isis militants in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria, a thousand kilometres away. The targets include ammunition factories, ammunition and fuel depots, command centres, and training camps A TASS/ITAR-TASS Photo/Corbis

Aiming high

From the start, the Kremlin had a minimal set of aims and a maximum one. Minimal objectives were to stabilise the Assad regime which was losing badly at the time. The Kremlin also angled to be recognised as a pivotal player in the Middle East and a global power equal to the US.

Putins maximum objective was, however, to transform Russias relations with the West after they had been destroyed by the Ukraine crisis. The Kremlin hoped that the common danger from Isis would prompt the West to overcome its scruples at dealing with the invader of Ukraine and form a new anti-Isis alliance. This was the subject of Putins speech to the United Nations on the eve of the opening of Russias air campaign in Syria in which he drew a parallel with the anti-Nazi coalition during World War II.

Working relationship

Militarily, Russia closely coordinated its air campaign with the Syrian Army and its allies  including Iran and Hezbollah. The decades-long links between the Russian and Syrian militaries helped  up to 10,000 Syrian officers had trained at Russian and even Soviet-era military academies.

Military progress was at first slow, but the Russians settled on the longer-term objective of disrupting supply routes, storage depots and other rebel infrastructure.

After several months of intense bombing this bore results. Even the weakened and undermanned Syrian Army, along with its Iranian allies and Hezbollah, was able to take advantage and launch a series of successful offensives. In February 2016 they cut off Aleppo rebels from direct supplies in Turkey. They enjoyed similar successes around Homs, in the south towards Darrea (where the anti-Assad rebellion started in 2011) and in Latakia, where the Russians established an air base.

 Russia begins withdrawal of forces from Syria

Russian intervention to date has stabilised the Syrian regime militarily and entrenched its position over the core populated areas in western Syria. Its intervention there also dispelled any illusions among opposition groups in Syria and the watching foreign powers that the Assad regime could be removed by military means.

Talking shop

At the same time, a diplomatic process was restarted, aimed at splitting the opposition into two large camps  those admitted to the negotiation table, and those (including Isisand al-Qaeda) who werent.

A great deal of preliminary negotiation with the US was devoted to drawing up a list of opposition groups and their locations. When the cessation of hostilities was finally announced, both Russians and Americans had a clear idea of who was covered by the ceasefire and where they were.

Recommended Read more Osborne has achieved almost nothing of what he promised in 2010

The final piece of the jigsaw was for Putin to decide how to deal with Bashar al-Assad. Even as the Russian and American diplomats negotiated the ceasefire deal in February 2016, Assad went off message by restating in an interview his intention to reconquer the whole of Syria. This prompted a polite rebuke from Russian diplomats. The announcement of Russias military withdrawal from Syria will help to drive home the Kremlins point that Assad doesnt have a blank cheque from the Russians and will have to take the peace talks seriously.

A broader perspective

By formally quitting during a ceasefire he himself masterminded  and on the back of significant military gains  Putin can leave with his head held high. Having proven his critics wrong and demonstrated the capability of Russias military (and its new weapons  a splendid advert to any buyers of Russian arms), Putin can now concentrate on the diplomatic aspect of the peace process, something at which Moscow usually excels.

At the same time, Moscow has made clear it is keeping its old naval facility in Tartous, to the west of Homs, and the new air base at Khmeimim, which would allow it a quick redeployment if necessary. The Russians are also leaving the Syrian Army with new weapons (including anti-aircraft missiles and new battle tanks such as the formidable T90s) as well as numerous military advisers.

Russias intervention in Syria has helped with its goal of making the peace talks meaningfully international. From Moscows point of view, Western interventionism in the Middle East only destabilises, because it is based on a misguided view that Western values are global values. Instead, it would contend, Russia promotes a pluralist view of international society, the key to which is preservation of the state, any state, as the principal sovereign unit. This is particularly important in the Middle East, where regime change often brings state collapse  as it did in Libya or Iraq.

Russia has not won much love by getting involved in Syria. The intense military campaign led to repeated accusations of non-combatant deaths and destruction of vital civilian infrastructure.

But thus far, Russia has emerged from the Syrian adventure in a stronger role. It is now a pivotal power in the Middle East and has put to rest the notion, popular in Washington, that Russia can be diplomatically isolated in the wake of the Ukraine crisis.

This article first appeared in The Conversation.
Evidence has been presented to the European Parliament in the case of eight Irish farmers who have been left out of pocket by up to 30,000 following Department of Agriculture findings on the grazing quality of their commonage.

The eight farmers have shareholdings in the Keelderry commonage in Slieve Aughty, Co Galway.

MEP Luke Ming Flanagan said it was "deeply unfair and counterproductive" to penalise landowners who complied in good faith with previous regulations.

"This issue highlights more than ever the need for an independent appeals process in relation to CAP payments, a process in which farmers can have full confidence that their appeals will be treated in a fair and timely manner," he said about the case which was brought before the Petitions Committee in the European Parliament yesterday.

One of the affected farmers told how he had retired from farming completely in frustration with the long-running case.

Another told of the stress suffered after payments were withheld while he had three children in college. His payments were paid after he went to the High Court to secure the monies.

Barrister Theresa Murphy told MEPS that the commonage farmers had suffered an extreme delay which deprived them of any "meaningful access to justice" in Ireland.

The farmers brought the case back before the Petitions Committee for a second time after it previously recommended an independent review be carried out.

Penalties

However, the farmers say a review by the Department of Agriculture was carried out by a number of officials who were previously involved in the case.

Ms Murphy said some of the farmers were not informed of the findings and penalties for up to three years after the payments were due.

The farmers had their 2011 and 2012 Single Farm Payment and DAS payments withheld after Department officials reported in October 2010 that the commonage had no forage to graze.

However, the officials did report there were horses grazing on the land on the day of inspection.

It had previously been considered 90pc forage and adjoining commonages had continued to be considered to be as much as 95pc forage.

In 2011, the Department declared that the Keelderry land consisted of 10pc forage. Some shareholders since received a payment on the smaller acreage.

Ms Murphy added that the case could have potential impacts for other commonages.
Heated contributions on the issue surrounding 'forgotten farmers' led to a walk-out during a packed IFA hustings in Roscommon last week.

Several members of the audience abandoned the meeting in protest over limits on the number of questions they were allowed to ask of the candidates.

Attendees claimed that forgotten farmers had been ignored by the IFA.

It was one of a number of issues raised by nearly 300 farmers who attended the Abbey Hotel in Roscommon to hear the candidates for the IFA's deputy and presidential election.

Flooding, the beef genomics scheme, the lack of transparency in IFA headquarters, and access to British markets dominated.

Chairman John Hanley allowed each of the deputy president candidates five minutes to set out their stalls, while the presidential hopefuls got 10 minutes each before taking questions from the floor.

Each of the candidates emphasised their farming experience and ability to negotiate with the "big boys in Brussels".

All called for the dredging of the Shannon and insisted that flora and fauna cannot be put before people, which went down well with the midlands audience.

Chairman Mr Hanley raised the issue of access to the Northern Irish Markets for cattle.

Joe Healy declared the failure by IFA to make progress on access to the lucrative Northern Irish market was "sad" and branded the use of the term 'nomads' for high quality Irish cattle "an insult".

Henry Burns said the refusal by the UK to use the EU label which identifies Irish cattle was effectively denying Ireland a Single EU market and that a case would have to go to Brussels.

"There is an EU label that we can use, the reality is there is a mandatory label, the one place we can't use it is in the UK," he said.

Flor McCarthy focussed on the need to rid the market of the cartel that had control of the industry.

"The three big players dominating the sector is not acceptable, I will take them on. We need unity within the organisation," he said.

All three promised to deliver a 200 per cow and 20 per ewe payment, with Mr Burns claiming that he had fought for the right to couple payments.

Mr Healy insisted that the suckler cow scheme was "one of the best schemes that we had", but expressed fears that the dairy herd will have too much influence on the beef market because of the way the star ratings are linked into the scheme.

The final question from the floor claimed that a lack of transparency in the IFA had precipitated these elections. But all three candidates assured the crowd that the organisation would be strong once more.
Not long ago, the right person could fix anything with a vice grips. Now, the first tool on the scene is often the laptop. Even basic machinery is adorned with sensors, digital displays and circuit boards of all descriptions. The last decade has seen huge advances in agriculture.

Talk of measuring your grass, and having a robot milk your cows seemed far-fetched 10 years ago, but these are common practices nowadays.

Agricultural machinery is moving at an even faster rate, and the day of a mechanic fixing your problems with a lump hammer have well passed.

Most modern agricultural equipment, particularly free standing items such as tractors and harvesters, are equipped with sophisticated Electronic Control Units (ECUs), controlling everything from the suspension to the exact nanosecond an injector opens in a common rail fuel arrangement.

These systems receive an array of information from inputs such as sensors and radar, then go on to compute the results instantaneously, and cause the machine to perform in a certain manner as a result.

While the advances have proven their worth time and again in all aspects of operability - from driver comfort to hugely increased output and efficiency - they are not without their downfall.

Despite the basic operating principles of the internal combustion engine and hydraulic systems not changing a whole lot since the invention of the tractor, the systems governing and controlling them are becoming more and more sophisticated as each new model is produced.

So against this backdrop, what are we doing to ensure that our recently graduated mechanics and technicians are up to the task of diagnosing, resolving and preventing mechanical, electrical and technical issues on machinery with an ever increasing appetite for electronics?

To find out, I spoke to some of the main stakeholders in the industry.

Up until September 2015, there was just one avenue for anybody wishing to pursue a career as an agricultural mechanic with a recognised qualification.

This was to go down the route of an apprenticeship under SOLAS (formerly FAS). The apprenticeship scheme had a duration of four years, and saw participants spend their time between a working garage, training centres and college (IT Tralee).

They then graduated with a Level 6 NFQ (National Framework of Qualifications) qualification. This scheme had been running successfully since 1981, but in recent years many felt it had become outdated.

A few years ago FTMTA members realised there was a large disparity emerging between the only available training course for agricultural mechanics in Ireland and what was wanted and required by the industry.

As a result, both industry and educational stakeholders came together to develop a new course they felt better serves the needs of industry and produces a highly skilled graduate capable of dealing with the pace of change in modern machinery.

FTMTA chief executive Gary Ryan explains: "To be fair, for a long period of time the old SOLAS apprenticeship sufficiently met the needs of industry.

"However, in recent years it began to lag behind and really we felt it just failed to keep abreast of technical advancements in modern farm tractors and machinery.

"As happens in a lot of courses that are not changed to reflect modern times, the syllabus and curriculum just became outdated very quickly.

"To give an example, we heard of cases where recent graduates were on further training courses overseas, but were shown up to not even understand the basics of some systems, even though they had passed all exams and graduated.

"That's neither a good situation to be in for the graduate nor the industry as a whole.

"At the FTMTA we also had heard of some dealers making it compulsory for their mechanics to train in the UK instead of Ireland - again, something that seemed completely unnecessary for a country that prides itself on having such a talented workforce and being able to boast some world-renowned names in farm machinery like McHale and Keenan."

In an effort to address the skills' shortage, the FTMTA approached SOLAS around four years ago with a view to significantly updating and modernising the taught syllabus of the apprenticeship course.

Some productive meetings were held, but the FTMTA eventually decided to go down a different route.

"We approached the Institute of Technology Tralee with a view to designing a brand new third level course from the ground up," says Mr Ryan.

"Conor Breen (president of FTMTA at the time) approached Dr Joseph Walsh, head of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in the Institute of Tralee, to develop a new third level course.

"After agreeing over the need in the first instance, the course was developed with constant input from industry and educational stakeholders. Aside from teaching the mechanical principles of agricultural machinery, it focused heavily on the technical aspects of modern equipment repair.

"At all times in coming up with the new syllabus we said the aim was not to produce a mechanic, but rather a technician whose interest in learning does not cease upon graduation."

Having agreed upon a syllabus, the first batch of students enrolled in the course in September 2015, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Mechanisation (Level 7 NFQ) in August 2018. So what is the feedback almost a year in?

Fergal O' Sullivan, head lecturer in agricultural mechanisation, is the main man charged with delivering the course in IT Tralee.

He says the college's intake and output expectations are very high.

"We're looking to enrol a student who is interested in learning and interested in working as part of a team," he said.

"While students will certainly learn about the fundamentals of agricultural mechanisation, this course also looks to delve much deeper into the technical aspects of modern agricultural equipment.
Thousands of farmers could be seriously disrupted or even forced out of business because of plans to build a pipeline to channel water from the lower Shannon to Dublin, it has been claimed.

The farms are located along a belt of land which has been earmarked for the pipe line on the Eastern and Midlands Water Project.

It is expected to be up to six months before the final route selection is clarified.

Between 1,000 and 1,250 farmers could have their worst fears confirmed when the route selection is announced later this year.

Hundreds of concerned land owners voiced their serious concerns at meetings in counties Kildare, Offaly, Tipperary and Clare over the past week, when many land owners first became aware that their holdings are under consideration for the pipe line.

The outline timetable for the project is that the Environmental Impact Assessment should be completed by late Summer 2016. The planning application to Bord Pleanala is scheduled for the third quarter of 2017 and the oral hearings on the application are scheduled for mid 2018. If approved, the project would be constructed between 2018 and 2022.

IFA environment chairman, Harold Kingston described the planned pipeline as being "of serious concern to farmers because of the major disruption it is going to cause to farming" during construction.

He said that the two-metre wide pipe will require permanent way-leave rights being registered on the land by Ervia.

While the land will return to normal use for most types of farming when construction is completed, there will be some permanent restrictions on land use for development and, in particular, forestry.

One of the big issues with the reinstatement of the land is drainage, he said, describing drainage experiences on some previous schemes as "quite outrageous".

He said that sites will also be acquired for a number of pumping stations. The pipe line is planned to serve several major towns across the country.

Alternative

Farmers attending the meetings threatened to oppose the development "all the way" when it comes to planning stage .

Some insisted that the extraction of sea water close to Dublin should be pursued as an alternative.

"My farm has been cut in two by a motorway and if this project goes ahead the land will be cut in four. It will be worthless", one farmer declared.

"I will be out of milking cows for years. I can't settle for compensation. I will oppose planning for the scheme because it will put me out of business," he added.

Many farmers said that the first they knew that their farms were on the route was when officials came to walk the land. There were calls for "unity to keep officials out" until the situation for farmers is clarified.
Politicians have been urged to prioritise efforts to gain access for manufacturing beef into the US and for full beef trade with China, writes Louise Hogan.

There is good potential for beef exports in the short to medium term in the new markets, said Cormac Healy, from Meat Industry Ireland (MII). "Right across EU markets, a combination of strong supplies and weaker demand, together with increasing pressure to favour domestic product, particularly in the UK and France, has created a more challenging trading environment for Irish exporters," he said.
Des Morrison was a busy man last week. He spent his days at the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) in Letterkenny where he sits as part of the IBEC panel and his evenings catching up with the routine chores on the family farm.

Des and his wife Mary run a Holstein dairy herd on "twelve acres around the parlour" and supply 400,000 litres of milk to Aurivo with the winter milk going to Killygordon in Donegal. The couple also finish some cattle on their fragmented 100ac farm.

"I call Mary 'management'," says Des.

It's very much a joint enterprise and given the amount of time which Des spends at employment appeals to say nothing of his work as a cattle valuer, his description of his wife's role could be an understatement.

His work with the EAT and his cattle valuing across Connacht, the border counties and Donegal gives him an unique insight into how things actually are in rural Ireland.

His assessment of the current situation is stark. "Rural Ireland has been deserted by official Ireland who seem to think that Ireland ends at the Spa Hotel in Lucan and the Red Cow in Clondalkin," he said.

"It's as though rural Ireland is just an inconvenient address for those running official Ireland."

"The people forming a Government in Dublin and celebrating 1916 at the moment should remember the Proclamation and what it says about equality as well as social, moral and statutory rights," he says with some passion.

"And they should remember the amount of Dail seats which represent rural Ireland, and they should remember it every day until the next general election," he adds.

Des doesn't claim to have all the solutions to the urban-rural divide in fortunes in modern Ireland, but says the new government should start with a fairer nationwide distribution of new jobs.

"I am not saying that every village in rural Ireland should have an industrial estate but hubs for rural employment should be created," he says.

He also believes that simple measures like re-instating the live cattle export trade to the north and Britain would be helpful as it would reinvigorate the rural marts and introduce another layer of competition when it comes to cattle prices.

And a reinvigorated rural Ireland would have other benefits not least in tackling rural loneliness, depression and suicide.

Mental health should be given an urgent priority by the new government as should rural security, he says: "I know of farmers who keep the lights on in their houses throughout the night because they fear they will be robbed."

On the upside, his workload on farms affected or restricted by animal disease outbreaks has reduced considerably. "We have no BSE now thanks be to God or Brucellosis but we still have to deal with TB."

So apart from managing the home farm, hearing employment appeals and valuing restricted cattle, what does he like to do when some free time comes his way?

"I go to the local pub and I follow the local GAA team. I have an interest in the law though the only time I appeared in a court room was in Roscommon when the Employment Appeals Tribunal held a sitting there. And I like to go racing to Leopardstown, Fairyhouse and Punchestown when I get the time," he says.
If either Annie Power or Identity Thief can land the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham this afternoon, Cathal Ennis will still be a happy man.

As a proud breeder of Identity Thief he has watched the son of Kayf Tara grow and mature in recent years, but Mr Ennis has also followed with great interest Annie Power's rise to fame from the days when she grazed his Westmeath paddocks as a foal eight years ago.

"I tried to buy Annie Power's dam Anno Luce when she was in foal to Shirocco but lost out as under-bidder to Eamon Cleary," he explained. "When I made some money on another horse I put in an offer on her again and finally secured her, but only on one condition, that Eamon got the foal after it was born."

"That foal turned out to be Annie Power and I must admit that it was hard to watch her first few races knowing she was going to be something special, but wasn't mine."

From Shirocco's first crop, the mare is unbeaten in all but two starts and looked set to win the Grade 1 OLBG Mares' Hurdle 12 months ago before falling at the last under Ruby Walsh. She has run twice since then, winning her Mares' Hurdle contests at Punchestown with ease, and could be a wise late entry for the Champion Hurdle for trainer Willie Mullins and owners Susannah and Rich Ricci following the withdrawal of Faugheen, also owned by the Riccis and winner in 2015, and other stablemate Arctic Fire.

Anno Luce later went on to breed a further three foals for her new owner, but sadly died from colic just as Annie Power began her rise to prominence.

"I had already sold her half-sister by Hernando to France, but when Annie started winning it was impossible to buy her back."

While the breeder often regrets leaving Annie Power slip through the net, he is delighted that the family of Identity Thief is still very much part of his breeding operation at Quill Farm near Kilbeggan.

Mr Ennis bought his dam Miss Arteea as a three-year-old at the Land Rover Sale. Well-bred as a half-brother to the good chaser Arteea, the daughter of Flemensfirth never raced due to injury but has proven to be a worthy broodmare over the years, with the success of Identity Thief only adding to the value of her offspring as times passes.

"I paid a lot for the mare at the time," Mr Ennis commented, "but she has done well for us breeding. We have about 15 mares here at the moment," commented the advertising executive with The Sunday Business Post. "I also had Papoose, the dam of the 2011 Grand National hero Ballabriggs, and bred a few winners from her too but sadly she died on us last year."

Her other offspring include Queen of Mantua, by Old Vic and a winner of two races in the UK for trainer Fergal O'Brien.

Among Miss Arteea's other progeny is the seven-year-old Oscar gelding Oscarteea, trained in the UK by Neil Mulholland and entered for the Coral Cup on Wednesday. Another five-year-old by King's Theatre is in training with David Pipe, while the breeder has retained a two-year-old filly by Oscar and a three-year-old by Milan.

"The three-year-old got injured so we have just covered her with Robin De Champs.

"Miss Arteea herself is due to foal to Milan later in the spring and will hopefully go back to Kayf Tara after that."

Sold by his breeder as a foal during the November NH Sale, Identity Thief was snapped up by Ian Ferguson for a modest sum of 15,000.

Three years later he returned to Tattersalls when consigned by Hardwood Stud and was spotted by trainer Gordon Elliott, who went to 40,000 to secure him on behalf of current owners Gigginstown Stud.

Winning streak

Boasting the world-recognised maroon and white colours the gelding impressed right from the start with Henry De Bromhead, winning his first two races on the track as a four-year-old in good style at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown.

It would be 10 months before he would win again, this time in Down Royal last October, but he continued his winning streak in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle a month later before finishing an impressive second to Nichols Canyon in the Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Given a break since then, the six-year-old is back in top form, with the trainer excited about his prospects with Faugheen no longer in contention.

"He's in really good form and I'm delighted with him," said De Bromhead.

"The race has opened up (with Faugheen out). I'm delighted with him at home and he seems in good form. Hopefully we'll get there and we'll see how we go.

"He had his three runs up to Christmas and had a tough race at Christmas. It was nice to back off him for a few weeks. He looks well and seems well.

"The day he won in Down Royal it was pretty nice ground and presumably we'll get that, although it's been a different year this year," said the trainers.

"When he won his bumper it was good ground and he was very impressive that day."

When told that Paul Nicholls had flagged Identity Thief up as the one to beat at a Cheltenham preview after racing at Ascot, he said: "That's always nice to hear. He knows his stuff."

As for the horse's breeder, Cathal Ennis says: "It's very exciting and I'm really looking forward to the race now."

Annie bids to emulate Dawn Run

Only three mares have won the prestigious Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham since its first running in 1927 - African Sister (1939), Dawn Run (1984) and Flakey Dove in 1994.

A daughter of the highly successful National Hunt sire Deep Run, Dawn Run was bought for a mere 5,800 guineas as an unbroken three-year-old. Over a career which spanned just four years she not only won the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in 1984 but also the Gold Cup two years later.

She remains the only horse to have completed this double at the Festival and one of only four mares who have won the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Dawn Run's famous victory for trainer Paddy Mullins, owner Charmaine Hill and jockey Jonjo O'Neill will long be remembered as one of the most memorable in Irish racing, but now the Mullins family will bid to add their name to the hall of fame once again as race favourite Annie Power (pictured top right) takes on some of her most formidable rivals in this afternoon's 400,000 contest.

Willie Mullins had initially intended to run the eight-year-old in the OLBG Mare' Hurdle, from which she made a spectacular exit when falling at the last fence in 2015.

However, with 2015 Champion Hurdle winner Faugheen and Arctic Fire both withdrawn through injuries, and Annie Power scoring a fine win in the Mares' Hurdle in Punchestown last month, her connections wisely decided to supplement her late entry for the opening day's feature race at a cost of 20,000.
The Irish Aviation Authority is deferring to the commercial and political aims of Scandinavian airline Norwegian and interfering in issues that don't concern it, the president of the Irish Airline Pilots' Association (IALPA) has claimed.

Evan Cullen, the president of IALPA has also accused both the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), and Norwegian Air International (NAI) of personally attacking him in recent letters sent by both organisations to west Cork TD Jim Daly.

The correspondence between the parties comes as President Obama signalled yesterday in a meeting with acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny that he expects NAI will be in a position soon to start flying from Ireland to the United States.

NAI, a subsidiary of Norwegian Air Shuttle, is based in Dublin Airport, and has an Irish air operator's certificate (AOC). However, there has been a two-year wait so far in its application for a foreign carrier permit being decided upon by US officials. It had hoped to launch a service from Cork to Boston this summer.

"In a rare departure from normal practice, each of the letters (from the IAA and NAI) advance personalised positions," Mr Cullen wrote in a letter seen by the Irish Independent which was sent to Mr Daly this week.

Mr Cullen dismissed allegations by the IAA that he and IALPA are opposed to competition on transatlantic air routes out of Ireland.

"What we oppose is unfair competition and the use of methods that hide the reality of employment practices," he said in his letter.

"In actual fact, IALPA very much supports a vibrant and competitive Irish aviation industry," he added.

Mr Cullen also told Mr Daly that it is a "concern" that the IAA, a government body charged with safety regulation has taken it on itself to enter a debate on employment matters "which have no direct bearing on safety".

"The unsolicited intervention of the IAA is akin to the Health and Safety Authority intervening in the Luas industrial dispute on drivers' pay," he wrote.

A spokesman for the IAA told the Irish Independent that its letter to Mr Daly was written to "correct the facts".

"The letter to Deputy Daly was the official IAA position in order to protect the AOC and no issue of personalised positions arises", he said. "We do not wish to engage in a public spat with IALPA and we are happy to explain any matter to them they require."

Mr Kenny confirmed he had raised the Norwegian Air International matter with President Obama in the White House yesterday during their St Patrick's Day meeting.

Mr Kenny claimed the additional air links from Ireland to the US would have "major implications for reducing fares".

Yesterday, the chief executive of the DAA, Kevin Toland, welcomed President Obama's comments regarding progress on NAI's application.
Staff at Davy Stockbrokers have been briefed by management of director changes that will result in a majority of board positions being held by external non-executives.

Davy, the country's biggest wealth management and capital markets business is appointing Patrice McDonald and Ronan Murphy as new non-executive directors from March 16, according to an internal memo circulated to staff yesterday.

Staff were told the appointments are part of a broader evolution of the board over the past 18 months, which had already seen a reduction in the number of directors and the appointment of outside chairman John Corrigan, the former chief executive officer at the National Treasury Management Agency, as well as of Ronan Molony, a partner at McCann FitzGerald, as a non-executive director.

The appointments are set to be confirmed over the coming days.

Following the latest appointments the Davy Board will comprise: John Corrigan (chairman), Patrice McDonald, Ronan Molony, Ronan Murphy, Davy chief executive Brian McKiernan, Kyran McLaughlin and Peter Newman.

Patrice McDonald is a former chief risk officer and head of governance at Barclays Wealth and Barclays Capital. She is the non-executive chairman of TD Bank Europe.

She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and previously held senior roles in the financial services industry - in Strategy, Corporate Governance, Risk, Technology and major Programme Management and regulatory change.

Ronan Murphy is a former partner at PwC, where he was senior partner from 2007 to mid-2015. He is a founding board member of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce.

The new appointments will follow the retirement of directors Pat Ryan and Chris Cullen.
Former Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson has claimed that campaigners in favour of a British exit from the European Union are trying to drown out debate.

The ex-Labour Party minister has insisted that the Irish Government should be involved in the discussion ahead of the referendum later this year.

Mr Mandelson said it would be "odd" if people like Taoiseach Enda Kenny were not making their view known publicly, and criticised the Mayor of London Boris Johnson for trying to block differing opinions.

"People don't want other points to be heard, whether it's coming from the Taoiseach of Ireland, President Obama or a business person large or small," he said.

At an event organised by the British Irish Chamber of Commerce in London yesterday, Mr Mandelson warned that a Brexit would result in "a hard Irish border between North and south".

He said that could lead to "renewed sectarianism".

Speaking afterwards to the Irish Independent, he said: "Britain and Ireland have a close relationship. We are joint members of the European Union. We share an island of Ireland and we are both guarantors of the Northern Ireland peace process."

He said that was reason enough for Irish voices to be heard over the coming months.

"It would be odd not to hear from the Irish Government on something that affects them."

Mr Mandelson, who was Northern Secretary between 1999 and 2001, said: "Economic opportunities underpin the peaceful relations and good politics in Northern Ireland.

"If we were to throw a spanner in the economic works, it would have a huge impact on trade and that would have a huge impact on Northern Ireland."

He added: "Some argue that separation is a good thing. The more separate identities, and separate lives and the further apart we are, the better. That sort of attitude feeds sectarianism."

He declined to criticise British Prime Minister David Cameron for allowing a referendum, saying: "It doesn't matter how we got here."

However, he added that there is "a right and an obligation" for people in his position to speak out about the risk of leaving the union.

"Boris Johnson and the other Brexiters would dearly love to drown us out," he said.

Asked why Britain has such a dim view of the EU compared with Ireland, he replied: "Because for the last 20 years we've been told by the big circulation newspapers that Europe is bad and it's going to hell in handcart and taking us with it."
ESRI said the economy will grow by about 4.8pc this year and 4.1pc in 2017

The new Government may have to run a budget surplus next year to avoid the economy overheating, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has said.

The think tank said the economy will grow by about 4.8pc this year and 4.1pc in 2017, narrowing the deficit to about 1pc at the end of 2016 and achieving a near balanced budget next year.

But ESRI associate professor Kieran McQuinn said if this strong growth does occur, the Government will need to take action to ensure the economy doesn't bubble over, as it will be at or near its potential level by the end of 2016. In fact, the ESRI is forecasting the economy will grow marginally stronger than its potential growth rate in 2017.

"Given that the output gap is closing, we may well reach the stage next year where we need to target a surplus just to ensure that the economy doesn't overheat," he said.

In its latest economic update, the think tank said unemployment is expected to fall to 8.7pc by the end of the year and below 7.5pc by the end of 2017.

The update comes as Moody's Investor Service gave an upbeat assessment of Ireland's economy in the wake of last week's strong GDP figures, saying it was upgrading its growth forecast for this year to 5pc.

The Irish economy last year grew by 7.8pc, which was much faster than many economists were expecting.

Moody's said it now expects a rapid decline in Ireland's public debt ratio, which it described as a "credit positive".

The New York-based agency said it has revised its growth rate to 5pc for this year - half a percentage point higher that just a few months ago - and moderating to 4pc in 2017.

Moody's said growth has become increasingly broad based and was also supported by domestic demand, which it also described as a credit positive.

"The strong recovery allows for a very rapid improvement of Ireland's public finances," the agency said.

"We expect the public debt ratio to have been 94.5pc of GDP in 2015, declining to less than 90pc of GDP this year. Our expectations for the debt ratio are now generally five or six percentage points of GDP lower than just a few months ago."

Meanwhile, data from the Central Statistics Office showed that the trade surplus has hit the highest level on record. Preliminary figures for January revealed that seasonally adjusted goods exports fell by 624 million, or 6pc, to 9.6bn. Seasonally adjusted goods imports decreased by 1.7bn or 27pc to 4.6bn leading to an increase of 1.1bn or 28pc in the trade surplus to 4.9bn.

Alan McQuaid of Merrion Stockbrokers said the 4.9bn figurre beat the previous all-time high of 4.7bn posted in August 2012.

"Despite concerns over exports to the UK, we still think the overall trade surplus this year will be higher than in 2015. We are now projecting a positive trade balance of 50bn plus," he said.
Here are the main business stories from this morning's papers:

Irish Independent

* Thousands of homes will be included in a massive Nama sell-off of property loans worth nearly 5bn.

A host of international funds are set to swoop for the two portfolios of loans, which have a face value of 4.7bn.

The residential properties in the mammoth sale are understood to include apartment blocks, mostly around Dublin.

* The Irish Aviation Authority is deferring to the commercial and political aims of Scandinavian airline Norwegian and interfering in issues that don't concern it, the president of the Irish Airline Pilots' Association (IALPA) has claimed.

Evan Cullen, the president of IALPA has also accused both the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), and Norwegian Air International (NAI) of personally attacking him in recent letters sent by both organisations to west Cork TD Jim Daly.

The correspondence between the parties comes as President Obama signalled yesterday in a meeting with acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny that he expects NAI will be in a position soon to start flying from Ireland to the United States.

* Sean Mulryan's property group Ballymore has secured 250m in funding from UK investment group M&G Real Estate to fund the construction of Three Snowhill, a 420,000 square foot office development in Birmingham city centre.

Ballymore said the scheme will be the largest ever speculative city centre development built outside of London.

The Snowhill area of the West Midlands city has been dubbed Birmingham's Canary Wharf. Three Snowhill consists of 385,000 square feet of office space and 35,000 square feet of retail and leisure, housing nearly 4,000 workers.

The Irish Times

* The number of Irish households in negative equity has fallen below 100,000 for the first time since 2008.

According to new research from the Economic and Social Research Institute, three years of property price growth has brought the number down from 314,000 in 2012.

The ESRI predicts that all houses will be free of negative equity by the end of 2019 if property prices continue to rise at 6pc per year.

* The European Commission is seeking more details of Apple's tax arrangements in Ireland from Irish tax authorities.

Representatives from the Commission wrote to Irish authorities last week looking for more details about the case.

The request for more information follows a submission by Revenue to the Commission in January.

* Consumers optimism was at a five-year high over Government policies on saving in the run up to the general election.

According the the Nationwide UK (Ireland)/ESRI Savings Index overall sentiment was unchanged in February month on month at 122 points.

There has also been a rise in the number of younger people that say Government policies are encouraging them to save.

Irish Examiner

* US management software firm Ipswitch will open a new Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) support centre in Galway, creating around 60 new jobs over five years.

Ipswitch's new office will house research and development, sales, and technical support teams.

Ipswitch head of customer services Rich Welch said the new Galway unit will improve his company's understanding of its customers.

* Allied Irish Banks has joined a number of objectors in opposition of a new 200m office block in Dublin 4.

According to a report in the Irish Examiner, the bank is objecting against property developer Johnny Ronan's new six storey office block close to AIB's Bankcentre building.

The four-acre site had been previously sold by a receiver for both Nama and Ulster Bank.

* Irish financial services firm Fexco has acquired UK rival CEC as part of its largest ever corporate transaction in the UK.

The deal will see CEC's 36 London branches become part of Fexco's operation.

The acquisition makes Fexco the owner of the UK's largest independent foreign exchange business.
A blame game has erupted between two government departments over who is responsible for addressing the plight of the Tyrellstown residents.

Outgoing Environment Minister Alan Kelly is coming under major pressure amid concerns that further families are at risk.

But his officials have claimed the responsibility for issues in the West Dublin estate rests with the Department of Finance and the Central Bank.

In correspondence seen by the Irish Independent, the Department of the Environment insists that the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) has drafted a code of conduct to deal with situations whereby tenants find themselves at the centre of receivership or repossession proceedings.

However, it has also emerged that several of the country's financial institutions have not signed up to the PRTB code, which remains in draft form.

Mr Kelly's officials say the Department of Finance and the Central Bank should put pressure on banks to comply.

"It is important that where properties are the subject of impending proceedings, that tenants are given proper 'Notice of Termination' so that they can look for new rented accommodation; that security deposits are returned to enable tenants to move on, thus reducing the risk of such tenants ending up in crisis/emergency accommodation," the correspondence states.

"Ultimately, however, the primary regulatory relationship governing the operations of these types of investment funds comes under the remit of the Central Bank and the Minister for Finance," it adds.

A spokesman for Michael Noonan rejected the claims.

"I understand the Central Bank are not involved in this matter as it is a matter between tenants and landlords and the (Department of) Environment is the lead there," he said

The spokesman added that the Department of Finance had "moved to protect those whose loans may be sold to funds or persons other than the originator".
Residents of an apartment complex in Cork have been told by a receiver to vacate their rented properties by Friday.

But the local council was prevented in 2010 from purchasing the same complex for use as social and affordable housing.

Cork City Council was refused permission by the then-Government to purchase the Eden complex in Blackrock at a knock-down price after Ireland's property market crash. It was instead told to use portions of it on long-term lease agreement.

The revelation came as 35 tenants at Eden have now been told by a receiver to vacate their rented properties.

The majority are single professionals working in technology and service firms in the Blackrock and Mahon areas.

It is understood about 10 families are involved in total.

Lord Mayor of Cork Councillor Chris O'Leary expressed "grave concern" at the move and warned that it is clear proof the crisis over the Tyrellstown properties in Dublin is now being mirrored across other Irish cities and towns.

"What makes this so tragic is that it could easily have been avoided," he said. "Cork City Council wanted to purchase this complex in 2010 because it was available at an exceptionally good price. It would have gone a long way towards addressing the issues of social and affordable housing."

The receiver for some Eden properties, Grant Thornton, indicated to residents the landlord intends to sell-off apartments.

Several residents, including Brazilian father-of-two Celso Lomas, were served with 'notice to quit' letters on January 21.

Residents were paying an average of 1,250 per month for two-bedroom apartments.

Mr Lomas said both single residents and families face a headache to find comparable accommodation locally.

"I was told I had to leave. I got a letter in mid-January. We were given eight weeks to leave.

"There wasn't much negotiation," he told RTE.

"It was just a letter saying 'please leave by March 18'. Everything seemed to be going as normal before that. I had received a letter about a rise in the rent in mid-2015 - it went up by 25pc."

Up to 40 properties will now be disposed of - but a further 87 may also be offered for sale.

A letter from Grant Thornton, seen by the Irish Independent, confirmed to one resident that, under Section 34 of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2004, the landlord now intends to dispose of the properties.

A spokesperson for Grant Thornton was unavailable for comment.

Eden was developed on the former Ursuline Convent site.
The Larkin family home at Dollys Grove at Staffordstown near Dunboyne Co Meath. Photo: Steve Humphreys

The runway at the Larkin family home at Dollys Grove at Staffordstown near Dunboyne, Co Meath. Photo: Steve Humphreys

One of the developers at the centre of the Tyrellstown controversy has a 700m private airstrip at his family home.

Brothers Richard (31) and Michael (34) Larkin are in the spotlight after it emerged that their company sent letters to residents of Cruise Park estate in Tyrellstown, telling them their leases would not be renewed.

Richard Larkin listed his address with the Company Records Office (CRO) as Dolly's Grove, in Staffordstown, Dunboyne, Co Meath. He shares the 62-acre country pile with father Eugene Larkin (58), who was also involved in the Tyrellstown project through family-owned development and investment companies.

Three aircraft are next to the landing strip, including what appears to be a British RAF Harrier Jump Jet. However, it is understood the aircraft are not airworthy and are for aesthetic purposes only. Locals said that the landing strip was sometimes used by the Larkins to test high-powered cars and motorbikes.

The Larkin family built the airstrip without planning permission. Planning authorities discovered the illegal construction too late to issue proceedings for the removal of the airstrip.

Meath County Council confirmed that there was no planning application for the runway that lies to the rear of the Georgian home on the property.

A planning application submitted in 2002 referenced a new driveway, among other works. However, it was not until 2012 that planning officials noticed from aerial photography that a runway had been built. The images dated from 2005.

"The development was deemed to be immune from enforcement action, having been in place for seven or more years," a statement said.

The Larkins declined to comment when contacted.
Thousands of homes will be included in a massive Nama sell-off of property loans worth nearly 5bn.

A host of international funds are set to bid on two portfolios of loans being sold by Nama which have a face value of 4.7bn.

The residential properties in the mammoth sale are understood to include apartment blocks, mostly located around Dublin.

It comes amid allegations that tenants have been forced out of their housing estate in Dublin following an overseas investor buying loans tied to their homes.

Nama is mandated by law to attain the best price available for its assets. Up to now, big US investment funds have been the buyers with the deepest pockets and will again be expected to buy these new loans.

But while the loans have a par value of 4.7bn, they will be sold for significantly less than that.

Nama formally kicked off the sale process of the portfolios yesterday, only days after tenants in Tyrellstown, west Dublin, were informed their leases would not be renewed.

The loans tied to the properties in Tyrellstown have been bought by a company controlled by the US investment bank Goldman Sachs.

Goldman Sachs is not believed to have played any role in the Tyrellstown controversy, and those loans were not sold by Nama.

But the row in Tyrellstown comes at the worst possible time for Nama, as it seeks to complete one of its biggest loan sales to date.

Project Ruby and Project Emerald, as the portfolios are known, contain loans tied to apartments, as well as commercial property, development land and hotels.

Project Emerald is made up of loans with a par value of 2.5bn from 16 borrowers. Those loans are secured against 236 properties.

While most of the loans in Project Emerald are related to commercial property, more than a fifth of the underlying properties are residential.

By value, just over a fifth of the properties are in Dublin, while about half are in the rest of Ireland. The remainder are located in Europe.

Project Ruby, meanwhile, involves loans that have a face value of 2.2bn tied to 15 borrowers. The debts are secured against 253 properties.

Just over 11pc of the portfolio is residential, with the vast majority of the portfolio being made up of commercial properties. More than 97pc of the properties are in Ireland.

Crisis

The portfolios will attract the interest of numerous international players, mostly from the US. The likes of Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, Kennedy Wilson, and others have been among the biggest buyers of Irish property since the financial crisis.

Many of them bought property and loans at the bottom of the market and are sitting on profits of tens of millions of euro. Cushman and Wakefield is managing the sale.

Nama is quickly selling off its remaining assets.

Specialist bank Investec has said it believes that Nama's forecast of 2bn surplus is "conservative" and said it will likely exceed 3bn.

Nama has said it will meet its target of redeeming 80pc of its senior debt nine months ahead of target.
The hacker group known as Anonymous has had Donald Trump in its sights for some time and plans another strike against him on April 1.

Hacker group Anonymous has declared total war on Donald Trump and plans to strike next on April 1st.

In a call-to-arms video posted on YouTube, a masked member of the group says that its time to take Trump down by taking his websites offline and by revealing what he doesn't want the public to know."

On April 1st, Anonymous plans to target the website for Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago with a DDoS attack. In the video, the person says that anyone with a computer can get involved; a DDoS attack simply involves flooding the site with requests, which means that supporters can contribute to the effort just by visiting the website.

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In December, the group took down the Trump Towers NY site as a response to Trumps call for a ban on Muslims entering the US. The group took the site offline as a "statement against racism and hatred, and warned that Trump should think twice about his stance.

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Earlier this month, the group allegedly hacked Trumps voicemail leaking messages from 2012. These messages seemingly featured prominent members in the US media thanking Trump for his financial support.

The next operation in the war on Trump seems less drastic than previous actions, but many will be watching to see what unfolds on April 1st.
A man responsible for phishing information regarding celebrity iCloud and Gmail accounts faces a stint in prison as he's expected to plead guilty.

Ryan Collins (36), of Pennsylvania, will plead guilty to violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act after breaching a number of iCloud and Gmail accounts belonging to celebrities. He could face up to five years in prison.

However, it is likely that hell serve less. Its reported that parties have agreed to recommend a prison term of 18 months, according to Gawker, but the sentencing judge isnt bound to this.

The Department of Justice maintains that Collins gained access to more than 100 accounts. He did so by sending phishing mails to celebrities that posed as official security dispatches from Apple and Google. Once he had their account details, he downloaded complete backups of their devices.

The result of this breach of security saw nude photos of celebrities leaked onto internet forums. However, there is no evidence linking Collins to the leaks themselves or indicating that he uploaded or shared the information that he obtained.

The investigation surrounding who actually leaked the content is still ongoing.
An Irish TV crew filming at the New York St Patricks Day parade. This years parade will be broadcast live for the first time by Irish TV from 3-7pm (GMT) on March 17 on Sky 191, Freesat 400, eVision 191, all free-to-air boxes and online at www.irishtv.com.

The historic New York City St Patricks Day parade will be broadcast live for the first time in Ireland and the UK by Irelands first international channel Irish TV.

This 255th New York St Patricks Day parade takes on a special significance this year, as it is the first time that members of the citys LGBT community will be allowed to march openly in the parade.

As a result, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that he will end his two-year boycott of the parade and will march not once, but twice at this years event.

The parade celebrates the centenary of the Easter Rising and will be led by legendary peacemaker and former US Senator George Mitchell, the architect of the Good Friday agreement.

The programme will be broadcast live by Irish TV from 3-7pm (GMT) on March 17 on Sky 191, Freesat 400, eVision 191, all free-to-air boxes and online at www.irishtv.com.



We are honoured that Irish TV allows us to share this great celebration of St Patrick and our Irish-American traditions and values with the people of Ireland, said St Patricks Day Parade Board Chairman John Lahey.

As we march behind Senator George Mitchell, our grand marshal and a man respected and beloved in Ireland, we will mark the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising and send a message of unity back to our brothers and sisters in Ireland.

Irish TVs live coverage of the parade will be anchored by the husband and wife team of ESPNs Tommy Smyth, originally from Co Louth, and New York broadcaster Treasa Goodwin Smyth.

The parade will feature New Yorks traditional Irish-American organisations like the 49 Ancient Order of Hibernians, as well as the pipe bands of the NYPD and the FDNY.

When you think about the history of the parade since 1762, its such an iconic celebration of all things Irish, said Eamonn Donlyn VP of Irish TV America.

As we get set to launch Irish TV across the US, it is great for us to be able to connect Irish communities on both sides of the ocean with this live broadcast, which is exactly the premise of Irish TV.

New York has always had a strong connection with Ireland and we are excited to transport our viewers to the Big Apple for one of the biggest and best St Patricks Day events on the planet.

Irish TV will also have live coverage of the Armagh city parade from 1.30-3pm, building on the channel's successful live broadcast from the same city last year.
St. Patrick, pictured with Gavin Hodson (left) and Aisling Williams from the Artane Band along with John an Lynsay Kearns from the Clondalkin Marching Band as the Saint arrived in Dublin, climbing the steps of the capitals iconic Mansion House.Pic. Robbie Reynolds

Here are 17 things you may not know about Ireland's patron saint, St Patrick.

1 Patrick had been a teenage atheist. In his famous 'Confession', he actually says he was an atheist from childhood. He got religion in Ireland, tending sheep as a slave, at Slemish, Co. Antrim.

2 There were some Christians in Ireland before Patrick got here in 432, evangelised by Palladius. We could be celebrating St Palladius's day on July 7.

3 But most of the Irish were pagans who worshipped a number of different gods. Dagda, Aengus and Ogma were popular but the favourite seems to have been Lug, after whom Lughnasa - August - is named. Brian Friel's play Dancing at Lughnasa has a sub-text of celebrating old Lug at harvest time.

4 Patrick was born in Bannaventa Berniae, which is supposed to be somewhere on the west coast of Britain, between the Clyde and the Severn. Some scholars have recently suggested that actually, he was born in Brittany in France, not in Britain.

5 And there is an established French connection, since he trained for the priesthood at Auxerre, in the heart of Burgundy. Patrick was two years in this exquisite centre gastronomique before returning to the cold and windy shores of Hibernia.

6 His mother was called Concessa. Patrick was originally called Sochet, as a child. Ultan, Bishop of Connor, also referred to Patrick as "Holy Magonus".

7 He never claimed to have banished the snakes from Ireland. Neither was he historically associated with the colour green.

8 However, he did quickly see that the Celts were nature-worshippers, and nature is always associated with green. Yet even in the 1900s, country Irish folk considered green an "unlucky" colour. Parnell wouldn't have green near him for reasons of legendary superstition.

9 Patrick was very attached to the Holy Trinity, which he mentions frequently in his writings, and the shamrock, surely one of the world's most successful "brands", is a fine visual metaphor of the doctrine of the Trinity, of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

10 Irish women were early devotees of Patrick's evangelisation. Wealthy ladies laid their jewels on his altar, but he returned these gifts as he didn't want to be accused of being corrupt.

11 Patrick also said that "a Christian must pay his debts" (according to the Harvard scholar Philip Freeman in The World of Saint Patrick.) So maybe he would have supported fiscal austerity.

Video of the Day

12 Did St Patrick speak in Irish? Latin was the common language of Christianity in his time, but as a successful evangelist he must have mastered the lingo of the people.

13 In his first episcopal synod, he condemned the Celts' "belief in vampires". Maybe Bram Stoker picked up that Dracula story from some ancient Celtic collective unconscious.

14 Patrick brought the Irish to Christianity peacefully. But it was a close-run thing when he came up against the High King Loiguire, (or Laoghaire) at Tara who threatened to have Patrick slain. St Pat must have had some powers of persuasion because he won the confrontation, silenced the druid priests, and found some sympathetic support from the High Queen.

15 Patrick's episcopal see at Armagh was established in 444, the year before his death - helped by St Secundinus (Sechnall), who was slightly written out of the story. It's a city of stunning cathedrals, beautiful town architecture, and lovely bakeries. Patrick is an ecumenical saint - always embraced by the Protestant tradition, as much as the Catholic one, in Ireland.

16 Patrick's Day has been marked for centuries but only became a national holiday in 1903, thanks to British legislation about bank holidays - although its growth in popularity was greatly helped by the Irish diaspora, especially in America.

17 In each era Paddy's Day reflects the spirit of the age. In recent years, the emphasis has been on "inclusiveness" in the various parades, and the politicians now see it as an opportunity to obtain business for Ireland. March 17th's ability to change and adapt is probably part of the unique success of St Patrick's Day.
All you need to know about the St Patrick's Day parades in Dublin, Cork City, Galway, Limerick City, Waterford and Belfast.

More than 112,000 visitors from all over the world are in Ireland for St Patrick's day, and as the country gears up to celebrate the national feast day, there is no shortage of celebrations to be had.

Dublin

Expand Close St. Patrick, pictured being welcomed by Ardmheara Bhaile Atha Cliath / Lord Mayor of Dublin, Criona Ni Dhalaigh to her residence on Dawson Street as the Saint arrived in Dublin, climbing the steps of the capitals iconic Mansion House. Pic. Robbie Reynolds / Facebook

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Whatsapp St. Patrick, pictured being welcomed by Ardmheara Bhaile Atha Cliath / Lord Mayor of Dublin, Criona Ni Dhalaigh to her residence on Dawson Street as the Saint arrived in Dublin, climbing the steps of the capitals iconic Mansion House. Pic. Robbie Reynolds

Start time: 12nooon, from Parnell Square North to St Patricks Cathedral.

Route: The 2.5 kilometres long parade leads from Parnell Square on the city's Northside down O'Connell Street, over the River Liffey via O'Connell Bridge into Westmoreland Street. It then snakes past Trinity College at College Green and on to Dame Street.

The parade turns left at Christchurch Cathedral into Lord Edward Street, Nicholas Street and Patrick Street before finishing at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Theme: 'Imagine If'... the theme for the Festival Parade is inspired by the imagination of the youth of Ireland as they artistically conjure up the future. As Ireland celebrates the centenary of 1916, the parade looks to the next 100 years with futuristic floats, spectacular pageantry and dazzling performance.

Cork City

Expand Close CMK17032014 REPRO FREE NO FEE Gillian and Rachel Spiller and dog fredie pictured at the Cork St. Patricks Day Parade. Cork St Patricks Day Parade, highlight event of 3 days of family fun Cork St Patricks Festival organised by Cork City Council, with support from Cork Airport and Barrys Tea. This years parade, themed Legends was led by Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Catherine Clancy and Grand Marshall, Michael Flatley. Featured hundreds of colourful entries including large street art by Cork Community Artlink, Dowtcha, Bui Bolg and Luxe, members of the armed forces, marching bands and community groups and streamed online to a global audience this years festival and parade were bigger and better than ever before. For further information see www.corkstpatricksfestival.ie, Facebook corkstpatricksfestival, or Twitter #corkpaddysfest Picture Clare Keogh Niamh Sullivan | DirectorTel: 021 4272200 | Mobile: 087 0617705 www.hopkinscommunications.ie / Facebook

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Whatsapp CMK17032014 REPRO FREE NO FEE Gillian and Rachel Spiller and dog fredie pictured at the Cork St. Patricks Day Parade. Cork St Patricks Day Parade, highlight event of 3 days of family fun Cork St Patricks Festival organised by Cork City Council, with support from Cork Airport and Barrys Tea. This years parade, themed Legends was led by Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Catherine Clancy and Grand Marshall, Michael Flatley. Featured hundreds of colourful entries including large street art by Cork Community Artlink, Dowtcha, Bui Bolg and Luxe, members of the armed forces, marching bands and community groups and streamed online to a global audience this years festival and parade were bigger and better than ever before. For further information see www.corkstpatricksfestival.ie, Facebook corkstpatricksfestival, or Twitter #corkpaddysfest Picture Clare Keogh Niamh Sullivan | DirectorTel: 021 4272200 | Mobile: 087 0617705 www.hopkinscommunications.ie

Start time: 1pm, from South Mall.

Route: The parade runs from the South Mall to the Grand Parade, along St. Patricks Street and finishes at Merchants Quay.

Video of the Day

Theme: Commemorations is the theme of the parade as the Rebel County remembers the Easter Rising.Actors playing the leaders of 1916 will lead the parade and re-enact scenes from 1916, performing extracts from the Proclamation along the way.

Galway

Expand Close St Patrick's Day Parade in Galway / Facebook

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Start time: 11.30am, from Dominick Street.

Route: The parade kicks off on Dominick Street and runs through Bridge Street, Mainguard Street, Shop Street, William Street and Eyre Square before winding up at Prospect Hill.

Theme: Supporters of Galways bid to become Capital of Culture in 2020 will use the occasion of their 113th St Patricks Day parade as an opportunity to showcase the host of creative talent on offer in the City of the Tribe.

Limerick City

Expand Close Failte Ireland expects a significant increase in travellers from abroad for the festivities, and says a price tag cannot be put on the economic impact made from the publicity the country will receive for both St Patrick's Day and the Easter Rising Commemorations the following week. Picture: Alan Place/FusionShooters. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Failte Ireland expects a significant increase in travellers from abroad for the festivities, and says a price tag cannot be put on the economic impact made from the publicity the country will receive for both St Patrick's Day and the Easter Rising Commemorations the following week. Picture: Alan Place/FusionShooters.

Start time: 12noon from Pery Square.

Route: The Shannonside parade will run through OConnell Street, passing the viewing stand outside Penney's, before finishing up at Arthur's Quar.

Theme: The theme of this year's parade is Commemorate which seeks to promote Limerick's legacy, its peoples and its places. The streets will play host to 4,000 performers from local groups as well as the Fanzini Brothers. Jedward will also make a guest appearance. A 280-strong marching band from the University of Missouri will be among the 1,200 musicians taking to the streets of Limerick.

Waterford

Expand Close WATERFORD. The Spraoi float with Eve Phelan and "The Waves" at the parade in Waterford. Picture: Patrick Browne / Facebook

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Whatsapp WATERFORD. The Spraoi float with Eve Phelan and "The Waves" at the parade in Waterford. Picture: Patrick Browne

Start time: 1pm on the Quays.

Route: The parade will run from the Bus Station on the Quays, onto The Mall and ending at the junction of The Mall and Parnell Street.

Theme: The Three Sisters 2020  Celebrating Waterfords Diverse Culture. The parade will celebrate the people, culture, and heritage of Waterford, past and present. Local street theatre company Spraoi will feature, and extra events such as a music stage in John Roberts Square, a play area for the young, and a treasure hunt will follow the parade.

Belfast

Expand Close Pedal power: Colourful characters in the St Patrick's Day Parade in Belfast. Photo: Alan Lewis / Facebook

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Whatsapp Pedal power: Colourful characters in the St Patrick's Day Parade in Belfast. Photo: Alan Lewis

Start time: 12noon at City Hall.

Route: The parade will make its way from City Hall across Donegall Square North, down Donegall Place, Royal Avenue, turns right onto Donegall Street, onto Bridge Street, left onto High Street and ends at Custom House Square where a free concert will be held.

Theme: This year's theme is 'Rainbow' and will feature community groups from across the cultural spectrum alongside professional and amateur performers, musicians and dancers. Former X Factor winner Ben Haenow and ex-Westlife member Brian McFadden will headline the free concert.
Aidan Turner with the award for Best Drama Performance (Poldark) pictured backstage at the Nation Television Awards 2016, at the O2 Arena, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday January 20, 2016

Aidan Turner is rumoured to be in talks with James Bond producers to play the lead role in the 007 franchise.

It's been reported that Irish actor Aidan Turner is in talks to play the next James Bond.

The Dublin actor has won a legion of fans playing the hunky character Ross Poldark in the BBC period drama.

Expand Close Aidan Turner is rumoured to be in talks with James Bond producers to play the lead role in the 007 franchise. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Aidan Turner is rumoured to be in talks with James Bond producers to play the lead role in the 007 franchise.

However, it looks like his star is set to rise as it's reported that the 34-year-old is in talks with James Bond producers about playing the spy in the 007 franchise.

"Aidan has held preliminary talks with Bond producers and being in LA will give him a further chance to discuss the role," a source told The Sun.

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He faces stiff competition in the form of Luther and The Wire star Idris Elba and Legend actor Tom Hardy.

Thor's Tom Hiddleston is also rumoured to be in the running for the starring role.

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Aidan's Poldark producer Karen Thrussell also set tongues wagging about his future as the new spy when she picked up his Breakthrough Award on his behalf at the Broadcasting Press Guild awards in London last week.

She teased his absence for the ceremony: "I am sure it is nothing to do with James Bond, but we will see..."

If he wins the part, Aidan will be the second Irish actor to play James Bond after Pierce Brosnan's turn as the charming secret spy in Goldeneye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999) and Die Another Day (2002).

British actor Daniel Craig has helmed the franchise for 10 years since 2006's Casino Royale and made no secret in the past of his desire to quit Bond, telling Time Out magazine in October that he would rather "slash my wrists" than play the role again.
Liam Neeson as Michael Collins in the Neil Jordan movie

Neil Jordan's historical biopic Michael Collins is set to hit the cinema screens... again.

The 1996 film will be back in Irish cinemas for a limited period to mark its 20th anniversary.

The film, starring Liam Neeson, Julia Roberts and Alan Rickman, will be released in a new digital format and will screen in 60 cinemas across Ireland.

The cast also includes Brendan Gleeson, Charles Dance, Ian Hart and Stephen Rea, a score featuring Sinead OConnor and camerawork by Chris Menges.

Expand Close MICHAEL COLLINS, Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson, Aiden Quinn, 1996 / Facebook

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Whatsapp MICHAEL COLLINS, Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson, Aiden Quinn, 1996

The Oscar and BAFTA-nominated film tells the powerful, turbulent story of one of Ireland's most controversial patriots and revolutionary heroes, Michael Collins, who leads his countrymen in their fight for independence.

Set in the early 20th Century, when a monumental history of oppression and bloodshed had divided Ireland and its people, the film covers the bloody 1916 Easter Uprising, when Irish revolutionaries surrendered to the overwhelming military power of the British forces and Collins was arrested.

Expand Close Actors in the Michael Collins film, Aidan Quinn, Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson, and Alan Rickman. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Actors in the Michael Collins film, Aidan Quinn, Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson, and Alan Rickman.

Upon his release, he takes leadership of the Irish independence movement.

The film will hit cinema screens this Friday, March 18th.

Expand Close BEVERLY HILLS, UNITED STATES: Actor Liam Neeson (C) poses with co-star Aidan Quinn (R) and director Neil Jordan at the Los Angeles premiere of their film "Michael Collins." Neeson stars in the title role about the legendary Irish patriot. AFP PHOTO Vince BUCCI (Photo credit should read Vince Bucci/AFP/Getty Images) / Facebook

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Whatsapp BEVERLY HILLS, UNITED STATES: Actor Liam Neeson (C) poses with co-star Aidan Quinn (R) and director Neil Jordan at the Los Angeles premiere of their film "Michael Collins." Neeson stars in the title role about the legendary Irish patriot. AFP PHOTO Vince BUCCI (Photo credit should read Vince Bucci/AFP/Getty Images)

Is it showing in a cinema near you? Check the list below here:

Dublin

Light House Cinema

Rathmines Omniplex

Movies @ Swords

Movies @ Dundrum

Odeon Blanchardstown

Odeon Coolock

Odeon Stillorgan

Odeon Charlestown

Dublin Savoy

Other (list in alphabetical order of placename)

Video of the Day
Popular Irish band The Eskies have been robbed at the start of their Italian tour, losing 10k worth of equipment and earnings from their concerts.

They had just completed a nine-day tour of the UK before arriving in Italy to treat Italian audiences to their unique blend of 'sea-soaked gypsy rock'.

The band - featuring Ian Bermingham, Tim George, Steven Kearney, Robert Murphy and Sean O'Rielly - lost their Italian concert earnings, as well as 10,000 worth of equipment in the robbery.



On a Facebook post, the revealed that the equipment and cash had been stolen from their van as they checked out of their hotel in Milan.

The incident was recorded on the hotel's CCTV and sees thieves make off with The Eskies' money, MacBook, Zoom recorder, GoPro camera and tour planner.



"Having stayed in Milan last night we woke up this morning and loaded the van, went back inside to leave off the room keys and in the space of the ten minutes we were inside had our van broken into right outside the front door," they wrote on Facebook.



"They took a bag with the money from all of the tickets, fees and merch from our ENTIRE UK tour. as well as a MacBook, Zoom recorder, GoPro camera and our tour planner.



"We have the whole thing on CCTV but whether or not that means anything in the long run remains to be seen.



"To say we are all feeling fairly gutted right now is an understatement, spirits are after taking a bit of a hammering but we've a day off in Padova today and then tomorrow we start a run of five straight gigs so it's on and up."

The Eskies also requested that anyone with information or a kind word can contact them.



!On the longest of long shots, if anyone has any information, ideas or even just wants to say something nice you can contact us on here or at eskiesmusic@gmail.com," they posted.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe fundraiser account has been set up to help the band cover some of the costs of their stolen equipment and earnings. To date, 1,960 has been raised out of a total goal of 5,000.
Simon Delaney and Anna Daly pictured on set at the TV3 HD Studio: Saturday and Sunday mornings are about to get a whole lot more entertaining on Tv3 with the arrival of Saturday: AM and Sunday: AM.

Anna Daly has revealed how she begged TV3 bosses for her own show  and shes delighted the gamble has paid off.

The busy mum-of-two has had to sacrifice her weekends for the opportunity to front Saturday and Sunday AM, but she said that its all worth it.

Initially, when I suggested a weekend show, it was a something for the weekend style show because I love those kinds of shows. And they told me, weekend telly is really expensive, she told the Diary.

So I had assumed that it was never going to happen because TV3 are all about costs and budgets and keeping things lean, but theyve obviously changed their tune.

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Im really enjoying it, its going really well. I begged them to give me that opportunity so I have to grab it. Its a little bit of adjustment, but a really nice one, and it gives me a little bit of balance at home early in the week and into work later in the week.

But she admits that there is a sacrifice when it comes to her social life.

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On a Friday and Saturday night when people are in the space of Whos coming on the p**s?, thats not an option for me unless theres a big occasion. In saying that, I can have a glass of wine. Its not Ireland AM hours. The kids are up on a Saturday morning when Im leaving anyway, so the world is alive.

I feel different to the way I would have on Ireland AM, where youre leaving in the middle of the night.

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The bubbly presenter, who has children Euan (2) and James (4) with hubby Ben, recently moved into a new place in Greystones after two years renting locally as they waited for the right house to come up.

We were happy enough there, the kids still go to the creche there. It was all working, but we were panicking day-to-day  worried that the landlord could have changed the rent at any given moment, she said.

So I totally get that fear of people renting and not knowing where they stand and having to budget. So I feel theres more in the property thing. Its what people are talking about.

She has also started a new property slot on the show, which gives viewers a juicy look into multi-million euro homes. She said its a hit with viewers.

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Its all about going into homes that you could only dream about affording, the 2m, 3m-plus kind of homes. Weve done three or four of those, she said.

Theres a big appetite for property shows at the moment, even if it is the totally impractical: Jaysus would you look at how the 1pc of society live.
Actor Robert Carrickford, best known for playing the role of Stephen Brennan in RTE's long-running television series 'Glenroe', has died.

He was 88 and he had been battling illness for a long time.

President Michael D Higgins last night led tributes to the popular actor.

A veteran of stage and television, Mr Carrickford had worked to enhance the pay and conditions of actors throughout Ireland when he held the position of president of Irish Actors Equity.

Last night, Mr Higgins said: "It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of Robert Carrickford, the actor of Abbey Theatre and TV fame.

"For many, Robert will forever be the face of Stephen Brennan in the iconic 'Glenroe' TV series, while others will fondly remember his long spell in various significant roles in the Abbey Theatre, as well as his performances in 'The Riordans' and 'Bracken'.

"In his capacity as president of the Irish Actors Equity, the trade union for stage actors, and his contribution to the trade union movement, he left a lasting legacy for all those who perform in Ireland's theatres and screens.

"To his family and friends, Sabina and I send our deepest sympathies," he said.

Mr Carrickford is survived by his wife Mary, a daughter and two grandchildren.

He played several roles at the Abbey Theatre between 1969 and 1980.

Mr Carrickford's screen roles included Sinclair in 'Strumpet City', McCaffery in 'The Irish RM' (1981) and Fogarty in 'The Ballroom of Romance' (1982).

He appeared in 'Glenroe' for 18 years until the series ended in 2001.
'As the body of Ned Daly went limp in death in the high-walled yard of Kilmainham his execution enshrined his name in Irish history." So recalled Piaras Beaslai, vice-commandant of 1st Battalion, after his comrade Daly was executed on 4 May 1916. Although not a signatory of the Proclamation, Edward 'Ned' Daly was Commandant of 1st Battalion stationed at the Four Courts during the Rising. At 25, he was the youngest person to be executed for his role in the Rising.

The only son and youngest of 10 children, Ned was born in Limerick to Catherine (nee O'Mara) and Edward Daly. His father, who died five months before his son's birth, was a Fenian, having taken part in the 1867 rebellion along with his brother, John, who was imprisoned.

Ned was educated by the Presentation Sisters, the Christian Brothers, and at Leamy's commercial college. Following a brief period as a baker's apprentice in Glasgow, he returned to Limerick and was employed as a clerk in Spaight's timber yard. In 1912 Ned moved to Dublin, working in a builders' providers and a wholesale chemists, May Roberts and Company. He lived in Fairview with his sister, Kathleen, and her husband, Tom Clarke, who had been imprisoned with their uncle.

Daly was one of the first to join the Irish Volunteers. Kathleen wrote that she "never saw a happier young man than he was the night he joined. He told me it was what he had always been wishing for". Ned, who had an avid interest in military tactics, initially joined the Volunteers as a private in B Company, 1st Battalion. By early 1914 he was captain of B Company, and his promotion to Commandant of 1st Battalion by Patrick Pearse in March 1915 was almost certainly a result of his impressive actions during the Howth Gun-running.

On Easter Monday, Daly was charged with occupying the area from the Four Courts to Cabra. However, when he mobilised 1st Battalion shortly before noon, Ned was disappointed that only 150 of the expected 400 men presented. The Battalion's full plans could not be achieved. Nonetheless, it held a strategic position on the Liffey. Buildings on Church Street and North King Street, along with the Four Courts, were occupied, meaning that fighting spread out to residential streets.

Ned's men therefore manned barricades at strategic intersections, escorting civilians to the shops and bakery which remained open. However, by April 27 the South Staffordshires and Sherwood Foresters battalions had surrounded the district, and were supported from one of the few armoured cars available in Dublin.

Ned's 1st Battalion resisted defeat and the British forces were unable to advance more than 150 yards between the morning of April 28 and 2pm on April 29, when he received Pearse's order to surrender.

According to Piaras Beaslai, Ned's "eyes filled with tears" when he saw the order. Notwithstanding his disappointment, Ned suppressed suggestions Pearse's orders be disobeyed.

"He impressed the British officers with his dignity. They permitted him to march at the head of his men as they brought us through the empty streets (where the few people we saw were those who cursed us) to where the other bodies of prisoners were assembled... And when the British General asked one of his own officers: 'Who is in charge of these men?', Daly proudly answered: 'I am. At all events I was', a remark which, he must have known, would sign his death-warrant."

Ned was arrested and court-martialled. Despite pleading innocent, he was found guilty. Following a visit from three of his sisters, Ned was executed on 4 May 1916, having, in the words of Tom Clarke, "proved himself a fine soldier and hero".

Dr Emma Lyons' (UCD School of History) research focuses on the experience of Irishwomen during World War I and Catholic landownership and education in 17th and 18th-century Ireland

snapshot

Edward 'NEd' Daly

Born: 28 February 1891, Limerick

Educated: Sexton St convent, CBS Roxboro Rd, Leamy's Commercial College.

Affiliation: IRB/Irish Volunteers

Career: Worked in wholesale chemist's

Died: 4 May 1916, Kilmainham Jail
Failte Ireland expects a significant increase in travellers from abroad for the festivities, and says a price tag cannot be put on the economic impact made from the publicity the country will receive for both St Patrick's Day and the Easter Rising Commemorations the following week. Picture: Alan Place/FusionShooters.

Ireland will be "front and centre" across the globe over the next two weeks with more than 370,000 people expected to descend on the country for the St Patrick's Festival alone.

Failte Ireland expects a significant increase in travellers from abroad for the festivities, and says a price tag cannot be put on the economic impact made from the publicity the country will receive for both St Patrick's Day and the Easter Rising Commemorations the following week.

Some 125,000 tourists are anticipated to arrive into the country, with another 250,000 Irish coming home for the weekend.

Among the droves of visitors will be close to 150,000 adults, according to estimates by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

This would bring at least 100m to the economy but could reach as high as 150m, a spokesman for the chamber told the Irish Independent.

"There's a fantastic mix with the weather, Scotland coming over for the rugby, and the Easter Rising commemorations, so it'd be a very good couple of weeks without factoring in Paddy's Day," he said.

"A conservative estimate would be 100m - but having a look at recent years, there will be 150,000 adults in the country and they're probably going to spend an average of 700 while they're here.

"It's pretty good numbers and it's good for the economy. It's going to be a bumper couple of weeks," he added.

The visitor spend will spread across hotels, pubs, shops and tourists attractions such as the Guinness Storehouse and Kilmainham Gaol.

Failte Ireland's Alex Connolly told the Irish Independent that the Emerald Isle would be the "envy of the world" over the coming weeks.

"Ireland is going to be front and centre across the world," Mr Connolly said.

"It's going to be an intense few weeks of tourism, with a very large footfall coming in from overseas.

"Paddy's Day is a global calling card and I don't think any country in the world has a day like this - everybody has an aspiration to be Irish.

"However, it's impossible to quantify the impact of the commemorations because it's never happened before."

It is expected that close to 650,000 people will line Dublin's streets for the centrepiece of the festival, tomorrow's parade.
The Court of Appeal has quashed the convictions of two former Anglo Irish Bank executives jailed for furnishing false information to the Revenue Commissioners and conspiring to delete bank accounts.

Tiarnan O'Mahoney (56) and Bernard Daly (67) had both been sentenced to prison terms by Judge Patrick McCartan on July 31, 2015, following a trial at Dublin district Court.

But the Court of Appeal quashed the former executives' convictions yesterday on a number of grounds.

Mr Justice George Birmingham said they "should not have had to stand trial" on the charge of furnishing false information, because proceedings were not brought within 10 years.

Also, a decision to reformulate charges was made - because of this, the proceedings for which Mr Daly and Mr O'Mahoney stood trial were not commenced within the time limit. It was also contended that a number of documents were wrongly admitted in evidence.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the documents, which the trial judge ruled admissible, were "vital to the prosecution case".

These documents allowed a witness - fraud investigator Patrick Peake - to explain how Anglo accounts were opened, kept and ownership designated.

The jury was also shown how funds were sourced, moved between different accounts and how the names of different accounts were changed or redesignated at various times.

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Furthermore, the court held that conspiracy allegations against Mr Daly ought to have been withdrawn from the jury.

Sean Guerin SC, for Mr Daly, said the prosecution case against his client rested "almost entirely" on the bank's former head of compliance, Brian Gillespie. During the trial, Mr Gillespie described a conversation in which Mr Daly asked if he could delete a name from the list to be provided to authorities, and Mr Gillespie said 'no'.

Mr Justice Birmingham said there had to be strong suspicion that Mr Daly was involved in further impropriety, and this contention went further than was justified, the judge said.

Mr Justice Birmingham, who sat with Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and Mr Justice John Edwards, said the conclusions reached meant the convictions "must be quashed".

Retrial

The question of a retrial did not arise for Mr Daly because there was insufficient evidence to go before the jury, he said.

Mr O'Mahoney was released on bail until April 14 next, when the court will hear submissions on whether he should face a retrial. He was released on bail.

A statement by Mr Daly last night said he was "delighted with the success of the appeal".

It added: "He stresses that, since 2013, he has consistently maintained his innocence of the serious charges against him."

During the original trial, Mr O'Mahoney (56), of Glen Pines, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, and Mr Daly (67), of Collins Avenue, Dublin, had denied knowingly furnishing false information and conspiring to defraud the Revenue - as well as conspiring to have accounts deleted from the bank's internal system.

Judge Patrick McCartan had jailed Mr O'Mahoney for three years and Mr Daly for two years.
A pensioner who became irate at motorists parking outside her house "took the law into her own hands" and used a corkscrew to scrape their cars, a court has heard.

Eileen Keohane (74), a retired public servant, acted "irrationally" and caused 1,000 worth of damage to two cars.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy struck her case out at Dublin District Court after she paid compensation.

Keohane pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage to cars outside her home at Bellevue Copse, Booterstown, on January 29 and February 10 this year.

She also admitted possession of a three-inch metal corkscrew with intent to damage.

Dublin District Court heard Keohane damaged an Audi A3 in the first incident and a Skoda Octavia in the second.

Garda Derek McGrath said the damage was caused to a front driver's door and a rear passenger door.

Keohane had no previous convictions, had worked in the public service for many years and was now retired, her solicitor Michael Kelleher said.

dumping

There was a parking issue and she had written to Dublin City Council. Other people had been "abusing" the roadway by leaving their cars there for the day to avoid parking fees.

"It became an enormous thing for her that these people were parked there and she felt everybody was ignoring her, and she took the law into her own hands," Mr Kelleher said.

"It was incredibly foolish for somebody who has been law-abiding all her life. She accepts entirely that she acted irrationally. It is bizarre that somebody from her background and of her disposition would do something like this at a very late stage in her life."

Judge McCarthy asked if Keohane had learned her lesson.

Gda McGrath said "the importance had been stressed" to Keohane "in very clear terms" that there must be no further incidents.

She had paid full compensation and had not sought to be legally aided in the case.

Keohane declined to comment on the matter when approached by the Herald.
A Norwegian man who was given a wholly suspended sentence for raping his girlfriend multiple times while she slept has been resentenced to 15 months' imprisonment after the Court of Appeal found his original term was "unduly lenient".

Magnus Meyer Hustveit (26) had pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault committed against his girlfriend (28) between 2011 and 2012. He was given a wholly suspended seven-year sentence by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on July 13, 2015.

Hustveit - whose former partner Niamh Ni Dhomhnaill waived her right to anonymity so that his identity could be published - returned to his native Norway after sentencing.

The Director of Public Prosecutions successfully sought a review of Hustveit's sentence yesterday on grounds that it was "unduly lenient".

Giving judgment, Mr Justice George Birmingham said the victim had woken to find herself covered in semen with no knowledge of having engaged in any sexual activity. A few days later she awoke to find she had been penetrated - but, again, she was unclear how.

Mr Justice Birmingham said it wasn't in dispute that this was an unusual case - and "indeed an exceptional one".

Much of the offending behaviour occurred without the victim's knowledge and all of the acts were only known because of detailed admissions made by Hustveit in an email he sent to the victim, following her request to find out what had happened to her.

Sentence

Mr Justice Birmingham said the combination of a number of factors - Hustveit's co-operation, his voluntary return to Ireland to be charged, his previous good character, the positive life he was now leading in Norway - justified and required a sentence that would be appreciably less than would be normal in cases of multiple rapes.

However, Mr Justice Birmingham said the court could not agree that the case was wholly exceptional as to warrant entirely non-custodial disposal, and that the sentencing judge "erred" in this regard.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the court was required to resentence someone who had been told he wouldn't be serving time in jail, had returned to his native homeland and had then been told that his sentence was facing a review.

It had long been recognised, the judge said, that taking away from someone a chance they had been given must be particularly burdensome and difficult. He said considerable significance could be attached to the fact that Hustveit had returned to Ireland voluntarily to face the review.

Mr Justice Birmingham, who sat with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, said the original seven-year sentence would remain - and all but 15 months of it would be suspended.

Hustveit made no reaction to the court's decision when it was read out. He was told once again that he will be on the sex offenders' register and there were certain implications he would be required to abide by.
A man applying to withdraw his guilty murder plea on grounds that he was suffering from panic attacks at the time was not sophisticated enough to lie about the attacks, the Central Criminal Court has heard.

Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist Paul OConnell was being cross examined by the State in the case of the 28-year-old, who now wants to change his plea back to not guilty to murdering a mentally challenged man.

Kenneth Cummins of Ringsend Park in Dublin had denied murdering Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend on January 6, 2014. A post-mortem examination showed that he had head, neck and chest injuries consistent with a severe beating.

Mr Cummins and his sister, Sabrina Cummins, went on trial last year, but several weeks in he changed his plea to guilty and Mr Justice Tony Hunt dismissed his jury.

His sister was handed down a life sentence for the murder of Thomas Horan a week later, by which time her brother was applying to vacate his guilty plea.

His barrister, Pauline Walley SC, last week told Justice Hunt that it was a legal issue as to whether the plea should have been taken that afternoon or put off to the next morning.

She noted that the judge was already charging the jury when her client had changed his plea and that his legal team had informed him that a manslaughter verdict was a possibility.

However, contrary to legal advice, Mr Cummins had said that he wanted to get it over with and get out of here.

She said that Mr Cummins had been complaining of panic attacks, stress and a lack of medical attention at the time and that this was known to the court.

Dr OConnell testified last week that Mr Cummins had reported having no recollection of his change of plea the following morning.

Mr Cummins had said he had started having panic attacks on the first day of the trial.

The court heard about Mr Cumminss deprived childhood during which he lived in more than a dozen foster homes and attended several schools.

Asked about his change of plea, he had said that he had done life outside, thought that he would die young and that his quality of life would be better in prison.

Dr Farrell was cross examined by Remy Farrell SC, for the State, today.

He said that the amnesia claim did not make clinical sense in the context of panic attacks.

Its probable he lied about that, he said.

He said that he was not aware that there had been an application to the court for separate trials for the sister and brother or that Mr Cummins had been described as forensically aware during the trial.

Mr Farrell put to the doctor that, if successful in the application to withdraw his plea, he would procure a trial on his own without his sister giving damning evidence against him.

Id be very surprised that Mr Cummins would have that level of sophistication, he replied, noting psychological assessments of his intellect.

Where it is a lie about the panic attacks, then it is a sophisticated ruse, he said.

Under reexamination by Ms Walley, he said that Mr Cummins probably was experiencing panic attacks throughout the trial.

I think that the particular vulnerabilities displayed persuade me that such a sophisticated ruse is unlikely, he said

Both sides will make their submissions to the court after Easter.
The latest haul by the Revenue Commissioners from tax defaulters has reaped 16.6m, with pub firms, hoteliers and builders among those caught in the net

The latest haul by the Revenue Commissioners from tax defaulters has reaped 16.6m, with pub firms, hoteliers and builders among those caught in the net.

The single biggest settlement in the latest trawl by the taxman was for 2.3m. It was made by Colm Redmond (61), the owner of the highly-regarded Zetland County House Hotel, on the edge of Cashel Bay, in Connemara.

That settlement with the Revenue was for the under-declaration of income tax, VAT and capital gains tax. It included 1.1m in unpaid tax, 863,000 in interest, and 332,000 in penalties.

The next biggest settlement was for 1.7m. It was made by Michael Holland, a building contractor of Mill Road, Durrow, Co Laois. That was for the under-declaration of income tax and VAT and the sum included 413,000 in penalties.

Catherine O'Hanlon, a director of Waterford-based firm Bilberry Shipping & Stevedores, was hit for a total of 332,000. That was for the under-declaration of income tax, and was a result of an offshore assets investigation.

Wan Ping Ngai, a restaurant owner in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, has settled with the Revenue for almost 772,000 for the under-declaration of income tax and VAT.

The Revenue Commissioners said that in the three-month period to the end of last December, a total of 107 settlements were made.

A total of 46 of the settlements were for more than 100,000, and of those four were for more than 500,000, and of those two were for more than 1m.

Three of the settlements related to investigations into offshore assets or funds.

Settlements with the Revenue are only published when extensive voluntary disclosure options are not availed of and the default is as a result of careless or deliberate behaviour.

Other settlements included one for 86,000 by Macken's Bar Ltd, at the Bullring in Wexford town. That was for the under-declaration of PAYE/PRSI, corporation tax and VAT.

Meanwhile, Kevin Daly, an accountant with an address at Rathfarnham Wood in Rathfarnham, Dublin, made a settlement of 500,000.

That was on foot of a penalty determination by the courts in relation to the under-declaration of income tax and VAT.

Retired disco operator Donal Bolger of Seacourt, Clontarf, Dublin, made a 408,000 settlement.
Judge McCartan suspended a three year sentence today after hearing Murphy's family had raised the full amount to compensate for the theft

A travel agent who set up a charity which sent terminally ill children to Lapland has been given a suspended sentence for stealing over 18,000 from the organisation.

John, also known as Con Murphy (66), received the non-custodial sentence despite Judge Patrick McCartan expressing concerns that Murphy is involved in similar behaviour with a new charity he set up called the Make it Happen Foundation.

Judge McCartan suspended a three year sentence today after hearing Murphy's family had raised the full amount to compensate for the theft. He also took into account Murphy's age and poor health and said the sentence recognises the breach of trust and goodwill.

The Children to Lapland Appeal has since gone into liquidation so the money will be split between Crumlin Children's Hospital and Barretstown camp for children, a charity which is dear to my heart and close to where I reside, the judge said.

Murphy of Church Road, Killiney, Dublin was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a two day trial and 42 minutes of jury deliberation.

The charity was founded by Murphy in 1987. It raised money from donations to bring terminally ill children on trips to see Santa Claus in Lapland. Murphy also operated United Travel, a travel agent based in Stillorgan before it went out of business in 2012.

Murphy had pleaded not guilty to four counts of theft between June and July 2010 in the Dublin area totalling 18,643.

At sentencing today, Detective Garda Brian Daveron said since the trial he has made enquires with the Make it Happen Foundation which sends sick children on day trips around the country.

The charity was set up in 2012 after the Children to Lapland Appeal ceased operating. The detective said he spoke to the directors who said they were directors in name only and that Murphy effectively ran the foundation.

The two directors said they have since distanced themselves from it because of concerns over the way the finances were being handled.

Judge McCartan said he had very grave misgivings about this behaviour. He said it appeared Murphy had wound down one charity and started up another and that the concern is that he's up to the same thing again.

The judge said he couldn't take this into account when sentencing but banned Murphy from engaging in fundraising for three years as part of the terms of his suspended sentence.

Your client needs to be on notice that he's under the microscope, the judge told Patrick Reynolds BL, defending.

Mr Reynolds submitted that The Make it Happen Foundation was dissolved in January of this year.

He said Murphy had no access to the bank accounts and that money was raised through packing bags in Tesco. He said he was not aware there were concerns about the foundation.

Det Gda Daveron previously told Garrett McCormack BL, prosecuting, he began investigating the Children to Lapland Appeal after a complaint about how it was being run. He obtained court orders for access to the charity's account and Murphy's personal accounts.

He discovered four cheques had been written from the charity's account and lodged in Murphy's personal account.

During the trial Murphy's defence counsel claimed that the charity owed him money and it was normal for money to travel back and forth between the accounts. The prosecution characterised this position as The Father Ted defence. To quote Dermot Morgan, they're trying to say 'the money was simply resting in my account, Mr McCormack said.

In mitigation Mr Reynolds said his client was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2010. Murphy currently lives with his sister who is also in bad health.

Mr Reynolds said it wasn't a sophisticated or covert crime. He also pointed out that some money went back from Murphy's account into the charity's account after the 18,000 was stolen
TWO men caught who were caught red handed with loaded guns and a can of petrol with an intent to endanger life have been jailed for 12 and 10 years.

Anthony Callaghan (45) and Paul Zambra (39) were caught following a three day surveillance operation by specialist gardai.

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Callaghan, of Millrace Road, Phoenix Park Racecourse, Dublin and Zambra, of Inagh Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin both pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a Ruger Revolver and semi-automatic pistol with intent to endanger life at Clonshaugh Avenue, Coolock on May 29, 2015.

The men were stopped by gardai who mounted a surveillance operation in the Coolock area and a search of the BMW driven by Zambra yielded two firearms and a full petrol can.

Callaghan's previous convictions include attempted robbery and possession of a firearm. Zambra has convictions for robbery, larceny and road traffic offences

Judge Melanie Greally said the men were caught red handed and although she accepted that they pleaded guilty, she described the evidence against the men as overwhelming.

Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close One of the guns and bullets Pic: Courtpix Pic shows: One of the guns and bullets Pic: Courtpix Paul Zambra / Facebook

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She said Zambra was a man with a history of violent crime and that Callaghan has previously been jailed for firearm offences connected with a robbery.

Judge Greally said guns when discovered by gardai were optimal readiness for use and their capacity to endanger life was considerable.

She accepted there was no evidence as to why the men had the weapons but added the venture for their intended use was imminent.

Judge Greally sentenced Callaghan to 12 years in prison and Zambra to 10 years after commenting that there was a significant public interest in deterring firearm offences.

Detective Garda Glen Somers told Vincent Heneghan BL, prosecuting, that gardai acting on confidential information mounted a surveillance operation over several days on the movements and activities surrounding a number of vehicles driven variously by Callaghan and Zambra.

On May 29, 2015 gardai became aware that a white Nissan van driven by Callaghan with Zambra as a front seat passenger was on its way to Coolock. Zambra was dropped off at Clonshaugh Crescent where a blue BMW estate was parked.

Zambra got into the BMW and drove onto Clonshaugh Avenue, in a direction which was in close proximity to the Riverside Estate. Callaghan drove off onto Clonshaugh Road.

Gardai made tactical stops of both vehicles at about 12.15pm and arrested the men.

Zambra had attempted to drive off after being directed to get out of the car but was boxed in by a squad car. Inside the BMW gardai recovered a full 5 litre petrol container, a semi-automatic pistol wrapped in newspapers and a revolver wrapped inside a neck warmer.

The semi-automatic pistol had a silencer attached and its safety catch was off. The Ruger Revolver was loaded with five rounds and had its serial numbers drilled off.

Both men exercised their right to silence during garda questioning. Gardai recovered CCTV from Topaz in Mulhuddart and identified Zambra as the person purchasing the petrol. Both vehicles seized were registered under false names and addresses.

Gda Somers agreed with Sean Guerin SC, defending Callaghan, that when his client was stopped he was driving away from the Riverside area. He agreed that there were no other outstanding matters in which Callaghan was a suspect.

Mr Guerin submitted there was case law outlining a clear distinction between an intent to endanger life and intent to kill. He asked the court to also take into account his clients early guilty plea.

He said that whatever had been afoot, Callaghan had been driving away from the scene when he was stopped by gardai and there was no evidence of evasive manoeuvres.

Michael O'Higgins SC, defending Zambra, said his client was a father of one who was separated from his partner. He had a fairly serious drug problem since he was 16-years old but there was no suggestion his involvement in this offence was due to his drug history.

He submitted that while the court might infer from the sightings of the vehicles in the area that there was an intent to endanger life in the environs this was different from an intent to seriously injure or kill.

Mr O'Higgins said Zambra has applied himself well while in custody and asked the court to take into account his prompt guilty plea.

Superintendent Tony Howard speaking to reporters outside the CCJ

This is one of the most significant convictions in quite some time. These are two very dangerous criminals who have been removed from society for a number of years and we would believe yes it was one of the most significant operations.

"You only have to think back a number of weeks ago when we had a serious incident in the north side of the city so we would see any operation that takes firearms off the streets and takes criminals of the calibre of the people we have convicted today, that's a significant day.

"This was a major operation which was planned. It was conducted by a number of specialised units but primarily by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. It took place over three days. There was a huge amount of assets and resources deployed... in terms of the evidence we had....there was two loaded firearms one of which had a silencer, there was petrol also recovered in the car, the car had false plates.

"This was a professional operation and there is no doubt that somebodys life was in imminent danger.

"The safety catches had been removed off the firearms, they were in readiness for a major incident and a tactical decision was made. Preservation of life is more important than anything else in any of these operation and thankfully no garda was injured or no member of the public was injured.

"I think the public need to know that this type of operation is on-going almost every day but the public arent aware of what we do.

"The public should be satisfied and happy that they have an organisation that have both the capacity and capability to tackle organised crime and I know I have been quoted before as saying no criminal should think that they are untouchable.

When asked by reporters what he thought of the sentence handed down Superintendent Howard replied:

Well obviously a decision has been made by a senior member of the judiciary. We will be talking among ourselves but a significant sentence has been handed down by the courts based on the facts and the evidence that has been presented.

When asked if the two men had been known to the gardai for a number of years, he replied: These two individuals have been arrested on a number occasion for firearms, drugs and serious assault type offences. These two individuals are what I would deem to be career criminals.
A talented musician who had surgery for cancer at St James' Hospital, Dublin but later had a heart attack and slipped into a coma has settled his High Court action for 550,000.

Mr Justice Kevin Cross was told that Robert Bolton almost five years later is still in a coma, cannot speak or communicate and has no reaction to the presence of family members.

His wife Angela Bolton, who blogs about their life since her husband went in to a coma, welcomed the settlement but said nothing would compensate for the condition of her husband.

"Thirty years being with the same man and I go home on my own. Nothing really compensates for that but weve done our best,"she said.

She added: "All we wanted to find out was what happened and I think we found that out as much as we could. Robert was an incredible gentleman. A musician for life, a bass player, He got his degree from Trinity as a mature student. He was an incredibly fit, well person and the apple of my eye and hes been an inspiration to me all years. The one who kept me going. Hes an incredible man."

Robert Bolton now aged 71 had thought his wife Anglea Bolton of Aungier Street,Dublin sued St James' Hospital for alleged negligence arising from his treatment in October 2011 when he underwent surgery to the oesophagus and was transferred to ICU where it was claimed over 24 hours he deteriorated.

His counsel, Desmond O'Neill SC, told the court Mr Bolton developed respiratory failure and early sepsis and had a heart attack on October 4, 2011, suffered a hypoxic ischaemic brain injury and has been in a coma ever since.

It was claimed there was an alleged failure to have regard to the fact that from the morning of October 4, Mr Bolton's condition met the generally accepted criteria for a systemic inflammatory response and sepsis and there was an alleged failure to have regard to the fact that Mr Bolton was developing early sepsis related organ failures.

The claims were denied by the defendant but the court heard there was a partial admission on liability in relation to a certain aspect of the case.

Approving the settlement Mr Justice Kevin Cross said it was a good settlement. He said Mrs Bolton could be happy in the knowledge that the best possible arrangement had been made on behalf of Mr Bolton.

Outside court, solicitor David O'Malley said no ruling could ever address the emotionally repugnant state Mr Bolton had been left in.

He had lost the one thing he cherished most - his power of expression. But he said the hard work and courage of his wife and family had given Mr Bolton a voice to determine what happened to him.

Mr OMalley said the family also had the small comfort of knowing his care had been provided for.
A Dublin mother who agreed to cash stolen cheques has received a 12-month suspended sentence and must complete 150 hours of community service within two years.

Gardai accepted that Shineen Mulhall (31) was a pawn in the operation during which two cheques, totalling over 21,500, were lodged into her account. She later withdrew the cash over a number of days under instructions from a man named in court as Kai.

Mulhall of Forest Park, Kingswood, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing 16,885 from Oaklee Housing Trust on February 4, 2013 and stealing 5,564 from the Irish College of General Practitioners on March 3, 2013. She has 19 previous convictions for road traffic offences.

Judge Catherine Murphy noted that Mulhall had not come to adverse garda attention and had co-operated fully.

Garda Mark Bennett told Fionnuala OSullivan BL, prosecuting, that the cheque for 5,564 had originally been made out for 500 and written in favour of a doctor. It was later altered and lodged into Mulhalls account.

Gardai arrested Mulhall after they viewed CCTV footage showing her lodging the cheque and confirmed her identity from documentation used to open the account.

During her garda interview in October 2013 she admitted that she had also lodged a cheque for 16,885 into her account after she had been given the cheque by Kai.

Oaklee Housing Trust later confirmed that a cheque they made out for payment had never been received by the intended recipient although it had been cashed.

Gda Bennett confirmed that although gardai accept that Mulhall was cashing the cheques on behalf of another man, no one else had been charged.

He agreed with Keith Spencer BL, defending, that Mulhall had been using cannabis at the time and was preyed upon when she admitted to someone else that she had financial difficulties.

Mulhall initially agreed to accept a phone being delivered to her home and was paid 80 for this role. She then agreed to cash these cheques and said she was paid 1,100 when she lodged the bigger cheque.

Mr Spencer said his client was also getting cannabis on tick at the time and had built up a 240 debt.

Gda Bennett agreed with counsel that there were veiled threats issued by this other man against his client and he had indicated to her that he knew where her children went to school.

Mulhall managed to get away from the man on one trip to the bank and she had no further dealings with him.

Mr Spencer said his clients partner and father of her three children died a number of years ago and she had never fully come to terms with his death.

She started smoking cannabis, spending 100 per week on the drug in an effort to deal with her grief.

Counsel said Mulhall regretted the situation she had got herself in and exposed her children to.
The "mocks" often act as a wake-up call for exam students and some will be stressed out about how they are going to fare in June.

While it is vital that Leaving Certificate students, in particular, use their remaining study time as effectively as possible, the key thing is not to panic according to teachers spoken to by the Irish Independent.

Elaine Dobbyn, a teacher in St Joseph's Patrician College, Galway, believes that even now, new study habits can still be formed, giving worried students time to turn things around.

"Lots of schools lay on study skills classes at this time of year either within careers' class or on an extra-curricular basis. These classes will be full of strategies for time management, improving memory and maximising marks in exams."

Dobbyn also advises students to switch off - with a digital curfew. "Remove yourself from social media sites and exercise extreme discipline with your phone, ie turn it off completely while at school, during study sessions and at night. There is much research to demonstrate that smartphones are ruining people's concentration, memory and sleep cycles - all of which you need to be tip top for the Leaving Cert."

A calm head is what's needed, says Conor Murphy, a teacher at Rossa College in Skibbereen, Co Cork. "It's important to remember the mocks are not the real thing. Take a deep breath. It has no substantive bearing on your life.

"There are over two months left before the real Leaving Cert. The mocks are only a practice, like a training session, a challenge match, a not-very-friendly friendly. You should see them as a guide to show what you know and to highlight where you need to improve.

"Review the papers. Many of the mistakes you made are down to your own 'study' and gaps within that study, some may be due to parts of the curriculum that have yet to be covered, others may be down to misunderstandings.

"If you can't see where your mistakes are then ask your teacher to go over the exam with you. Find those gaps and come up with a study plan to help fill them in. Just don't forget to continue to study those areas where you did well.

"Test yourself regularly on your various subjects. Reading isn't learning. Testing yourself is the only way to find out if you know something. Don't test yourself straight after studying the topic. Give it a few hours, or even a day, and then answer those questions. Only then will you know if you have 'learned' the topic at hand."

Luke Saunders, a second-level teacher in Sligo also runs Studyclix, a website that aims to simplify the learning process for students.

Studyclix breaks each subject into topics and allows learners to test themselves on that specific topic.

"You might be feeling one of many things: surprised, disappointed, elated, relieved. Whatever the emotion, you should be realising that the time is ticking and now that your mocks are over, the next step is the real deal," says Saunders.

"But this is no reason to panic; just a reason to get serious, to put the head down and start working to achieve the best results."

Unfortunately, there are no short cuts between now and June - but there are ways to help you study more effectively.

First of all, he says, you need to get your study area right -and preferably not locate it in your bedroom or kitchen.

"The problem with this is that your brain associates these places with activities other than studying. So when you're in your bedroom, all you want to do is sleep.

"If you must study in your bedroom then try and turn your desk away from your bed. Also try to minimise distractions by staying off any social media and your phone while you are studying. Instead use your breaks as a chance to catch up with your friends online," says Saunders.

Many students also think that the best way to study is to spend longer at it, but Saunders is adamant that this is not the case.

"If you've ever had the feeling of drifting off in the middle of studying, it's because you are studying for too long at a time

"The human brain typically can only concentrate for 25 minutes at a time. You are best to study for 30-minute blocks broken up by a reward of a five-minute break between each."

Another essential element to the study process is getting enough sleep.

"Psychologists have shown that our brain forms memory during REM sleep. There's no point in studying more hours at the expense of less sleep as this will give your brain less chance to sort and file the information," says Saunders, adding that teenagers should be getting between seven and nine hours sleep per night.

Even if you feel you are doing everything right, it can be really hard to know whether your study is paying off and you are making progress.

"One of the best ways you can do this is by constantly testing yourself with past exam questions".

Studyclix gives past exam questions and the marking schemes in each topic.

The whole point of Studyclix, says Saunders, is that students engage with what they are learning by constantly self-assessing.

"One of my main pieces of advice for students at this point in the year is to try to become really self-aware when it comes to study and where they are at in each of their subjects. They should be always questioning themselves, but in a positive way.

"Some of the questions they should be asking themselves are: What are my weakest subjects? Where did I go wrong/lose marks in my mocks? What changes would I make if I was to do this exam again? What did I achieve in my study today? Am I studying as effectively as I could be?"

Studylclix offers a limited service for free and full access to all subjects for one year for 25, with discounts available.

l Preparations for the Leaving Certificate are fresh in the minds of Danny Hobbs and James Eggers who sat the exam in 2013 and who have since set up an online service, betterexaminations.ie, that enables students and teachers quickly to locate past exam materials. It include exam papers and marking schemes in both the Leaving and Junior certificates and currently has over 10,000 users.

The duo are both studying at Trinity College Dublin - James is doing Computer Software and Daniel, Business Economics and Social Studies (BESS) - and set up this business after meeting at the BT Young Scientist Business Bootcamp, which aims to help students and bring their inventions to market. An account with them is 4 per year with discounts available.

* A new series of video resources has been developed by Marino Institute of Education to support students in their preparation for their Leaving Certificate Irish exams.

The JAMIE (Jump-start at Marino Institute of Education) initiative features videos that focus on different elements of the exams. A new video is being uploaded each week in the run up to the exams.

Tips to help you make progress with your studying

Make a plan

At the start of each week make a plan that outlines all the things you want to get done. This will help you stay focused and will show you that you are making progress.

Try the Pomodoro technique

This involves setting a timer for 25 minutes and studying as hard as you can on a chosen task for that time. When the time is up take a five-minute break.

Use distraction blockers

With text, tweets and Facebook updates coming in on phones, laptops and tablets, it's easy to see how study time can get eaten up. There are loads of freely available website blockers that will help you stay off certain websites.

Keep testing yourself

Constantly testing yourself is the key to figuring out what you don't know. Try some past exam questions on the topics you are studying to find the gaps in your knowledge.

Stay positive

Remind yourself of just how much you have done already. Self confidence is one of the most important ingredients for doing well.

www.studyclix.ie
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan has accused Fianna Fail of game playing as the deadlock around forming a government continues.

Mr Flanagan upped the ante on Fianna Fail during his St Patricks Day State visit to the US and accused the party of acting like they won the election.

The comments follow Taoiseach Enda Kenny challenging Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin to begin talks on forming a government after the General Election resulted in a hung Dail.

Mr Flanagan said the Taoiseach has the solemn responsibility and duty as leader of the largest party to engage fully in the talks process.

'Fianna Fail are currently engaged in game playing and their swashbuckling approach suggests that they have won the election which clearly they have not, he added.

I respect the will of the people through the ballot box. The fact remains Fine Gael with 50 seats is the largest party and every effort will be made on behalf of Enda Kenny and Fine Gael to form a stable government.

I believe any prolonged period of uncertainty will give rise to instability and put at risk much of the hard won economic successes of recent years and it is important that all parties engage in a process and a government be elected.

Mr Flanagan also defended Mr Kennys comments at an event in Washington hosted by the Irish Embassy last night

Mr Kenny joked that his day in Washington had "gone very well" before adding: "Bejaysus, I wish I didn't have to go back and face what I have to face but c'est la vie".

Speaking at an economic lunch in Washington, Mr Flanagan said: "I was present when the Taoiseach made a lighthearted comment and I'm disappointed that his comment has been misinterpreted (and) misunderstood."

He also said the prospect of Britain leaving the European Union posed risks for Ireland and insisted the Government was working to ensure Prime Minister David Cameron reached a settlement with the EU which would prevent a Brexit.

Ultimately, the decision on the UKs future relationship with the EU lies with the British people and we must all fully respect that fact, he said.

However I want to emphasise that whatever decision is taken by our neighbour, Irelands commitment to the EU and to membership of the Eurozone remains undimmed, he added.
'Why do elected representatives like Wallace and his fellow Independent TD Clare Daly decide that they get to be the referee while simultaneously refusing to play by the rule?'

There are two ways of viewing the inevitable: either it's something that is certain to happen or it's something you are unable to prevent. A few weeks ago we were told by Enda Kenny and Micheal Martin that there was no way they could ever work together.

Their rivals warned us that it would be a nightmare scenario if the 'establishment' parties broke bread and the only way to stop it was to vote outside the big two.

But elections can sometimes make the impossible a reality and now all of a sudden the political 'non-establishment' believes it's in the national interest for Fine Gael and Fianna Fail to pair off.

Their merger is so inevitable that many, including Sinn Fein, are not even going to try prevent it.

Last night the Social Democrats said they would take no further part in talks about a government.

And Independent TD Mick Wallace said he'd rather "walk from politics" than even talk to Mr Kenny and Mr Martin.

Fair enough - it is extremely unlikely the Wexford TD, tax cheat and former developer would strike a deal to back a Kenny government but these are exceptional times that open up every possibility.

At the same time, Mr Wallace said he would "talk to any scumbag" and dreams of being the Minister for Housing. He wants the influence without any real responsibility.

The basic idea of democracy is that people vote to elect a government - but in Ireland some on the ballot paper only had intentions of being in opposition.

Why do elected representatives like Wallace and his fellow Independent TD Clare Daly decide that they get to be the referee while simultaneously refusing to play by the rule? It is true that they did sterling work exposing the penalty points scandals, and Wallace has done the State some service with his investigations into Nama.

If that's what can be achieved from the sidelines, surely he should try to muscle his way onto the pitch.

It might seem inevitable that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail will have to come to form some sort of 'temporary little arrangement'.

However, this election showered the Independents and smaller parties with the opportunity to have real influence.

Perhaps the most inevitable thing here is that they were never going to take it up.
President Barack Obama with Vice President Joe Biden, and Enda Kenny with his wife Fionnuala Kenny, hold up a bowl of shamrocks during a reception in honor of St. Patrick's Day in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has joked he does not want to return to Ireland to face a fresh round of government formation talks after an enjoyable State visit to Washington.

Speaking at an event organised by the Irish Embassy in Washington, Mr Kenny listed off the events he attend today as part of his St Patrick's Day visit.

This included breakfast with Vice President Joe Biden who told Mr Kenny he would get 80pc of the vote if he ran in America, and lunch with President Barack Obama on Capitol Hill.

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Mr Kenny joked that his day in Washington had "gone very well" before adding: "Bejaysus, I wish I didn't have to go back and face what I have to face but c'est le vie".

Mr Kenny also joked that Sinn Fein deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald, who was also at the event, and he were "like minded" politicians.
Ms Murphy, who is co-leader of the party, said following discussions with her colleagues Roisin Shortall and Stephen Donnelly, they decided to end all engagements with Enda Kenny and Micheal Martin

The Social Democrats have pulled out of any further talks with Fine Gael or Fianna Fail about forming a government.

Dealing a blow to both parties' hopes of being able compile the numbers for a minority government, Catherine Murphy said last night they were "only postponing the inevitable".

Ms Murphy, who is co-leader of the party, said following discussions with her colleagues Roisin Shortall and Stephen Donnelly, they decided to end all engagements with Enda Kenny and Micheal Martin.

"It is clear there is no possibility of either a majority or a minority government without some agreement between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and we would actively encourage the two parties to accept that reality," Ms Murphy said.

"Any discussions regarding policies are meaningless until Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have made a decision about whether or not they can work together in some form of arrangement."

The Social Democrats made the announcement just hours after meeting with Fianna Fail's negotiating team of Michael McGrath, Barry Cowen, Charlie McConalogue and Jim O'Callaghan.

Fianna Fail also held talks with the Green Party yesterday, who said afterwards that they intend to continue the dialogue.

Green leader Eamon Ryan told the Irish Independent the discussions were useful but didn't lead to any major breakthroughs.

"It was really just a general chat around the economic situation and looking at the various issues that will face the next government," he said.

Mr Ryan added that all parties should engage in talks about how to form a stable government, although he's "still no wiser as to how that might happen".

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney was meeting rural members of the Independent Alliance in Athlone on behalf of Fine Gael.

Mr Coveney also met with independents Denis Naughten, Mattie McGrath, Noel Grealish, Michael Harty and Michael Collins.

Mr Naughten described it as a "constructive" meeting but stressed that the five are not a grouping.

"We did meet in the one room at the same time but we're all still independents," he said.

The Roscommon TD added that he told the minister he is "in the process to try to bring about a stable government".

From Washington, Enda Kenny sought to put pressure onto Fianna Fail, saying each TD in that party had a responsibility to try and form a government.

The Fine Gael leader said he has not spoken to Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin but said he invited all "like-minded" parties to speak with him about establishing a government ahead of the Dail sitting on March 22.

"I invited all parties publicly in the Dail the other evening to work with us to put together a lasting, working government for the people and that includes all like-minded parties," he said.

"Obviously, Fianna Fail as one party has responsibilities, each of their deputies have to work in the regard. But I make the point, as the largest party with the largest vote in the Dail, we have got a mandate and responsibility to work towards putting that government together," he added.

He said Fine Gael expect to finish initial talks with independents and smaller parties next week and should then have "the basis for negotiations and discussions about putting a government together".

The Social Democrats do intend to continue working with the proposed all-party committee on political reform which is due to meet and bring proposals to the Dail in the coming weeks.

They said this initiative offers the potential "for a high level of cooperation" among all TDs and propose a similar approach to tackling the areas of housing, health and child poverty.
The residential properties in the mammoth sale are understood to include apartment blocks, mostly located around Dublin.

Thousands of homes will be included in a massive Nama sell-off of property loans worth nearly 5bn.

A host of international funds are set to swoop for the two portfolios of loans, which have a face value of 4.7bn.

The residential properties in the mammoth sale are understood to include apartment blocks, mostly around Dublin.

It comes amid allegations that tenants have been forced out of their housing estate in Dublin following an overseas investor buying loans tied to their homes,

Nama formally kicked off the sale process of the portfolios yesterday only days after tenants in Tyrellstown, west Dublin, were informed their leases would not be renewed.

The loans tied to the properties in Tyrellstown have been bought by a company controlled by the US investment bank Goldman Sachs.

Goldman Sachs is not believed to have played any role in the Tyrellstown controversy, and those loans were not sold by Nama. But the row in Tyrellstown comes at the worst possible time for Nama, as it seeks to complete one of its biggest loan sales to date.

Nama is mandated by law to achieve the best price available for its assets. But while the loans have a par value of 4.7bn, they will be sold for significantly less than that.
From Tuam to Taipei, Darkness Into Light is getting ready for its biggest year yet with 120 venues set to host the event.

The annual fundraising and awareness run for Pieta House will take place on Saturday, May 7 2016.

As part of the charity run, participants gather simultaneously at multiple locations around the world to walk or run into dawn.

Christchurch, New Zealand and Taipei, Taiwan are amongst the new venues that will host the dawn walk in 2016.

Were very grateful to the communities across Ireland and abroad for your continued support to Pieta House said Pieta House founder Joan Freeman.

Your courage, vision and generosity have contributed to bringing hope to thousands of people every year and has led to the phenomenal success that is Darkness Into Light.

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"As Pieta House celebrates its tenth year, you can be very proud of what you have achieved she added.

Now in its eighth year, Darkness Into Light will happen in over 100 venues across Ireland and abroad and organisers are expecting over 120,000 people to participate.

The event, supported by Electric Ireland, has been described as "so much more than a fundraiser".

Darkness Into Light and its important message has truly captured the imagination and support of the Irish nation said Electric Ireland executive director, Jim Dollard.

The event is so much more than a fundraiser, just as importantly it is successfully driving conversations around suicide and self-harm while representing hope and solidarity for those whose lives have been impacted by these issues.

Over the last decade, more than 20,000 people have come through the doors of Pieta House, with over 5,000 of those seeking help in 2015.

Pieta House is a suicide and self-harm crisis centre founded in Lucan, Co. Dublin in 2006 and now has nine centres throughout Ireland.

Registration for Darkness into Light is available online now at www.darknessintolight.ie
Gardai were last night continuing to question two men who were arrested in dawn raids by officers investigating the gangland murder of dissident republican Vinnie Ryan (29).

As part of yesterday's operation, gardai raided a number of properties in the Ballyfermot and Finglas areas and seized items including phones.

The two arrested men, both in their 30s, were being detained at Finglas and Blanchardstown Garda Stations.

One of the suspects was being held for withholding information about Ryan's murder.

But the other arrested man, a 33-year-old with an address in Finglas, is suspected of being directly involved in the fatal shooting incident.

He was formerly a member of the mob which was led by slain gang boss Eamon 'The Don' Dunne and has served a number of lengthy prison sentences. He also has almost 100 previous criminal convictions.

His previous convictions include possession of drugs and weapons as well as fraud offences, and he was part of an armed robbery gang which were busted in a high-profile operation a number of years ago.

Vinnie Ryan was shot three times in front of his distraught partner, Kelly Smyth, on the afternoon of February 29.

Ms Smyth had previously witnessed Vinnie being savagely stabbed in the face last October, when she was heavily pregnant with their child.

It is understood that gardai have also been investigating whether the stab attack was carried out on the orders of the 'Mr Big' gang, who are also suspected of murdering his older brother, Alan, in September, 2012.

It emerged at Ryan's funeral last week that the last conversation with his partner was about getting married.

Ms Smyth, the mother of his six-week-old baby, told mourners at the service that they were best friends.

"You weren't only my boyfriend, you were my best friend, my soulmate and father to our little girl, Phoenix. I have now lost all of that," she said.
The Kinahan and Hutch gangs, the two rival factions at the heart of Dublins ongoing gangland feud, are currently in negotiations, according to a BBC Northern Ireland documentary.

A Spotlight Northern Ireland documentary aired this evening which included a statement issued by a Kinahan associate.

The Kinahan source said the feared cartel will guarantee balance and fairness as the feud continues.

BBC Spotlight reporter Jennifer OLeary said she contacted various people who she knew to be associates of Daniel Kinahan and was told he didnt want to speak to the programme.

However, on her last evening in Spain  where she was investigating the Kinahan cartel - Ms OLeary got a call from an intermediary for the Kinahan family who wanted to meet in a Marbella bar with no cameras.

The programme met with the intermediary and what appeared to be several other gang members.

The source told the Spotlight programme that negotiations are currently in process between the two rival factions.

The source is close to Daniel Kinahan and described him as being as strong as an ox.

Spotlight said that Daniel Kinahan would not meet with the programme and that the remarks are ambiguous and could be interpreted as conciliatory or in a more threatening way.

Gardai believe close associates of slain gangster Gary Hutch, who was murdered in Spain last September, were behind the brutal Regency Hotel shootings in which David Byrne was murdered.

The Kinahan cartel hit back and murdered innocent taxi driver Eddie Hutch, the brother of Gerry The Monk Hutch.
An elderly woman was threatened and robbed in broad daylight as she visited a south Dublin cemetery.

Two younger women approached the victim, threatened her, and stole a sum of money from the terrified woman.

The shocking incident occurred shortly after 2pm last Friday afternoon at Bohernabreena Cemetery.

The assailants left the scene in a gold coloured car.

Gardai have launched an investigation into the aggravated robbery.

The theft was one of a number of incidents which has occurred at the graveyard in the last year, according to local councillor Cathal King.

"Women have been attacking other women there, and using kids to distract them," Mr King told independent.ie.

"It has mostly involved rummaging through people's cars and robbing handbags, but this incident is a bit of an escalation.

"A knife was used to threaten this woman who made it her business to visit the cemetery after travelling up from Wexford. It's a disgrace."

Mr King - who has been a Sinn Fein councillor for Tallaght South since 2003 - has lobbied for extra funding in the South Dublin County Council's annual budget to help bereaved families visiting their loved ones' graves "feel more secure".

"At the moment, tenders are being prepared to have CCTV footage installed at the entrance of the graveyard and in the carpark."

An increased garda presence has been present around the Bohernabreena Cemetery since last week's incident.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses to contact Tallaght Garda Station at 01-666-6000
An Irish woman has been reunited with the daughter who was snatched as a baby by her dad 24 years ago.

Dorothy Fowler never gave up hope of seeing Shaymaa once more.

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She said: "Now I am whole again.

"It is a dream come true. It has taken me 24 years to find her and I never, ever want to let her go again."

Dorothy was just 18 and working in Greece as a nanny when she fell in love with an Egyptian man 12 years older. She quickly fell pregnant but the relationship became abusive. Despite the trauma Dorothy stayed with him and the pair later married.

She had Shaymaa in May 1989, but when it became clear her husband would not change she got a one-way ticket home to Ireland when the baby was a few weeks old.

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Dorothy tried to move on but her ex tracked her down to Omagh and persuaded her to give their marriage another chance.

Still just 20 and the baby 18 months old, and not wanting to deprive her of a father, she eventually agreed and they flew back to Greece. But within days Dorothy knew it was a mistake. She said: "He hadn't changed, if anything he was more violent."

Dorothy told him she was leaving again. But days later she says a group of his friends arrived and told her if she went she would be going alone. She added: "I told them I wasn't leaving without my daughter but they said if I tried to take her they would cut her head off. I was petrified."

The terrified mum was then frog-marched outside, put into a car and driven to the airport screaming for her daughter.

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Dorothy said: "I couldn't take it in, I was in shock, my baby had been kidnapped but I was terrified that he would kill her if I went back. I was in a state but convinced myself that once I was in the UK and safe I could get my baby back through the courts. I sat numb in shock unable to take it in. All of my family were waiting for us at the airport but I was too upset to even explain what had happened initially. I locked myself in my flat and cried."

Dorothy was in for another shock. She had no money and did not qualify for legal aid. She contacted the British Embassy in Athens and staff searched for Shaymaa, but she was already gone. They suspected her dad had fled to Cairo, taking the baby with him.

Every legal route she took drew a blank because her daughter was out of the jurisdiction. All she had left were some clothes and photographs. She was left with no choice but to try to build a new life.

Dorothy had three more children: Dean (22), Charlene (20) and Dwayne (17). She said: "I loved them dearly but, of course, they didn't replace my daughter."

Then, in 2004, she got a call from the British Embassy telling her there had been a sighting of her now 15-year-old daughter in Cairo.

With renewed hope Dorothy appealed in the UK Press for help and raised 15,000 by taking out loans and credit cards to fly back to search for her.

She explained: "It was my first ray of hope in 13 years. I would have done anything to get there." Dorothy spent day and night searching the streets with staff from the Embassy but there was no news of Shaymaa.

For 10 years she had no choice but to live her life. She had daughter Miriam (5) with another partner, but the relationship failed.

Then last August, just as she was giving up hope of ever seeing Shaymaa again, the phone rang. It was her girl's father. He said he would tell her where to find their daughter if she helped him get a British passport.

Dorothy added: "I knew I couldn't do that but decided to play along in the hope that I might get information." The pair spoke daily for weeks before he gave out the number in October.

When Dorothy and her daughter had that first, very emotional conversation, Shaymaa told her she lived in Egypt with her husband and three sons and had nothing to do with her father.

She said he had taken her there as a baby and dumped her to be raised by his sister. Shaymaa had not seen her father for 24 years. Dorothy said: "We laughed and we cried and talked, the bond was there instantly. She did not blame me, there was no anger. Her English was quite good."

Weeks later Dorothy flew to Egypt with Charlene and Miriam. They were driven to a house in a village. Shaymaa came outside and ran towards it and the women hugged for the first time. Dorothy said: "We were both crying. I was shaking. It was overwhelming. She looked just like me."

Over the next few days they got to know each other better and after three weeks the mum flew home. Dorothy said: "I have been denied that for so many years and I am determined to make up for it."
50th Infantry Group, currently based in Camp Ziouani in the Golan Heights Close

Spare a thought for the 415 Irish soldiers who will spend St Patricks Day overseas.

On Thursday the troops will be deployed to 15 countries on 14 different peace support missions across the globe.

From Mali to Kosovo, Lebanon to The Democratic Republic of Congo, Irish Troops will celebrate our National Day with a mix of military and cultural traditions.

On Wednesday the 135 Irish Soldiers of the 50th Infantry Group, currently based in Camp Ziouani in the Golan Heights received their hard earned United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) Medal.

The awards were presented by the Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM, The Irish Ambassador to Israel, Her Excellency Alison Kelly, UNDOF Force Commander, Major General Jai Shenkor Menon and Deputy Force Commander Brigadier General Anthony Hanlon

Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM said: "It's a privilege to present medals to the men and women of the 50th Infantry Group UNDOF as we approach St Patrick's Day.

Their work in the cause of peace reflects the best traditions of Oglaigh na hEireann which is currently contributing to peace and security on some 14 missions around the world. In that regard I wish to acknowledge the service of our 415 personnel currently deployed abroad."

Irish troops were first deployed to the Golan Heights on the border with Syria in September 2013.

As part of UNDOF the Irish defence forces maintain an area of separation which is over 75 kilometres long and varies in width between approximately 10 kilometres in the centre to 200 metres in the extreme south.

The terrain is mountainous and is dominated in the north by Mount Hermon, which is the location of the highest permanently manned United Nations position at an altitude of 2,814 metres.

The 50th Infantry Group are the fifth Irish contingent to constitute the Force Reserve Company of an overall UNDOF Mission strength of 789 troops.
US President Barack Obama turned to acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny and apologised for breaking from St Patrick's Day customs to discuss domestic issues.

The crowd of American and foreign dignitaries, who had gathered for the Speaker of the House's annual lunch for the Taoiseach in Capitol Hill, fell silent.

With Republican Speaker Paul Ryan looking on from his seat beside Mr Kenny, the president launched into his strongest attack to date on the increasingly divisive presidential candidate Donald Trump.

"We have heard vulgar and divisive rhetoric aimed at women and minorities, and Americans that don't look like us or pray like us or vote like we do," he said.

During his address, Mr Obama highlighted the years of violence in Northern Ireland to highlight the "damage that can be done" when politics is allowed go into "dark places".

Mr Kenny was one of the first on his feet for the standing ovation that the President received after his speech.

He was joined by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and First Minister Arlene Foster - who were also invited to the lunch with America's political elite. Actor Richard Gere, Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice President Joe Biden also attended one of the annual highlights of St Patrick's week.

Domestic issues aside, there was plenty of time for jokes about the President's Irish ancestry in Moneygall, Co Offaly, and Paul Ryan's links to Graiguenamanagh in Kilkenny.

Mr Kenny suggested the political rivals could meet in a location halfway between the two counties to discuss the deadlock in the US over appointing a Supreme Court judge. Mr Ryan laughed at his table and said "it's not that easy".

Earlier, the Republican joked that Ireland's recovery was not down to policy decisions - but rather the excellent quality of Guinness.

The lunch was a welcome break from the political instability weighing on Mr Kenny's head, as his ministers scramble to form a government back on Irish soil. His detractors in Leinster House may disagree - but Mr Biden insisted the caretaker Taoiseach is the "most popular guy" in Ireland despite the huge number of seats he lost when the country went to the polls.

"I can assure you, if you ran in America, you would get 80pc (of the vote)," Mr Biden joked.

He also revealed that Mr Kenny confided in him about the general election outcome before sitting down to breakfast in the Vice President's residence, the Naval Observatory. Mr Biden said the Fine Gael leader told him three times "it is going to work out" when they discussed the formation of the next government.

During his address, Mr Kenny blamed the political quagmire in Ireland on anti-austerity parties which "run from responsibility" and do not have the "courage to be decisive and make decisions in the interest of the country".

"My belief is that our country, over the next period ahead, we will be able to put together a stable government," he added.

Mr Obama also warned of the volatility in Ireland after the general election - but Mr Kenny said the President did not offer him any guidance ahead of talks on forming a government later this week.

He did, however, throw down the gauntlet to Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, who he insisted should take up the responsibility to help form a government.

Talks have not begun but Mr Kenny assured reporters outside the White House that the invitation was there if Mr Martin wanted to sit down and talk. An invitation was also extended to the President and the First Lady Michelle Obama to return to Ireland after their time in office at the official shamrock presenting ceremony.

For much of his one-day State visit to Washington yesterday, Mr Kenny seemed to be overcome with emotion from what is more than likely his final trip to America as Taoiseach. After his press conference outside the White House, with doubts hanging over his political future, Mr Kenny was asked does he hope to return for the event next year. He simply replied: "I hope so."

Meanwhile, at an Irish Embassy event last night, Mr Kenny joked that he wished he didn't have to return home to face government talks.

"Bejaysus, I wish I didn't have to go back and face what I have to face," he said.
GERRY ADAMS has launched a blistering attack on the White House after he was refused entry to a St Patrick's Day event hosted by US President Barack Obama.

In a statement, Mr Adams said there were "some in the US administration" who want to treat Sinn Fein differently and said his party will not "sit at the back of the bus for anyone".

Mr Adams left the White House yesterday after he was delayed for 90 minutes for an additional security check on his arrival.

Sinn Fein deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald and Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness did pass security and attended the event.

I had received my usual invitation to attend the St. Patricks Day celebrations in the White House and was pleased to accept," Mr Adams said

"When I arrived the staff at the White House informed me that there was an issue of security. After two decades of travelling back and forth to the USA and countless meetings in the White House with successive US Presidents, this is an unacceptable development.

"It is obvious that there remain some within the US administration who seek to treat Sinn Fein differently.

"Some of our political representatives have been denied access to the USA while others, including myself, have to regularly go through additional searches and scrutiny when we travel to and from the USA.

"Last year the State Department initially refused to meet me as part of a transparent effort to pressurise Sinn Fein during negotiations at Stormont.

"That meeting did take place after protests from US political leaders. Efforts to pressurise us in the negotiations failed.

"This morning Martin McGuinness, Mary Lou McDonald and I met with the Congressional Friends of Ireland. They too shared our grave disappointment at the White House situation and expressed their determination to have this issue resolved.

"Sinn Fein will not sit at the back of the bus for anyone. We are elected to represent citizens and we will do this. I am hopeful that the controversy around my White House invitation will help lead to a resolution of all these matters,"he added.
Gardai have launched a major international investigation into the activities of an organised crime gang which specialises in the theft and sale of commercial vehicles between the UK and Ireland.

Officers seized 14 vans and camper vans in a series of pre-planned swoops.

The vehicles were recovered when gardai searched seven locations in Granard and Longford as part of a joint operation involving local gardai and Scotland Yard's Stolen Car Squad.

The Irish Independent has learned that most of the vehicles have been confirmed as stolen from several locations in England - including Manchester and London.

According to senior sources, the operation has uncovered a "major international criminal racket" and further raids are being planned.

Investigators believe that the crime gang has been using a network of thieves across the UK to specifically steal commercial vans and campers. The vehicles were then transported to Ireland for storage at a number of locations in Longford for resale to unsuspecting buyers here.

Gardai are expected to broaden their search operation to include other Midland counties where members of the gang have known associates and families.

As a result of Monday's seizures, local gardai have now called in the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and the Garda Stolen Car Squad in Dublin.

Seized

"This is a major international criminal racket, and the value of what has been seized so far is at least 150,000 - but this is only the beginning," a security source told the Irish Independent last night.

"The intelligence is worth many times more than that figure. Most of the vehicles seized so far have been confirmed as having been stolen in the UK, while the details of the remainder are still being cross-referenced with Scotland Yard to confirm that they are also stolen.

"This operation began as a result of information received from Scotland Yard's Stolen Car Squad. It has now mushroomed into a major international investigation which requires the assistance of CAB and other national units.

"An Irish gang has been operating a network which specialises in the theft of vans across the UK," the source added.

Detectives from Longford are working with UK colleagues to identify those involved in the operation.
Premium

Ian O'Doherty Opinion For once, the UN is right  were standing on the edge of a deadly nuclear precipice

For those of us of a certain age, the last few months have felt as if we have somehow time-warped back to the 1980s. Stranger Things, which is set in that decade, has been the biggest show on TV. Kate Bush  thanks, incidentally, to Stranger Things  is now regularly played on the radio and she has reached number one in 2022 with the re-release of her 1985 hit, Running Up That Hill.
Padraig Pearses ideals should now be interpreted according to the realities of modern Ireland

Padraig Pearse's stirring declaration at the grave of O'Donovan Rossa that "Ireland unfree shall never be at peace" should now be interpreted according to the realities of today's Ireland.

We persist in equating freedom with severance from England when far too many of our people cry out to be freed from the shackles of poverty.

Our politicians continue to suffer from creeping myopia as they fail to take seriously the depth of poverty in which many people find themselves.

The freedom that Ireland now cries out for is the freedom of opportunity for all to participate in a way of life that befits them as human beings.

The deprivation of so many of our citizens does not arise, as is sometimes suggested, because Ireland has far too many people - but because a minority grab far too much for themselves.

While the Easter Rising transformed Irish-English relations, it had little significant impact on the class nature of Irish life.

In the years following the creation of the Free State, many carved out lucrative careers in politics as many others were left impoverished. Bribery and corruption became the lifeblood of Irish politics.

Our legal system tends to prosecute the poor for low-level breaches of social security law, but fails to engage with the same enthusiasm in pursuing the vast sums stolen through tax evasion.

We have regular triumphal announcements about the steadily improving economic growth rate but remain in the dark about the precise beneficiaries of this good fortune.

What seems obvious in Ireland is that the rich start rich while the poor start and end poor.

The lottery, the poor man's tax, is the modern equivalent of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, providing the bogus comfort of a forlorn hope that pennies will fall from heaven.

Philip O'Neill

Oxford, UK

Two-tier pay in teaching

Alison Hayes' article (Irish Independent, March 9) on the two-tier pay problem in teaching - whereby teachers who started after 2011 are paid significantly less than those who started before then - particularly resonated with me, as I am a post-primary student teacher set to qualify in 2017.

Ms Hayes says "I was discriminated against, simply because of my age", and I believe she is entirely correct.

According to Ireland's Employment Equality Act 1998, two employees who do "like work" - or "the same work under the same or similar conditions" - cannot be discriminated against on any of its nine discriminatory grounds, one of these being age. Since, technically speaking, the two-tier pay system does not discriminate on grounds of age, it is safe from legal challenges.

However, dividing a profession into two groups - effectively by age since the majority of the post-2011 group are younger - is blatant discrimination to anyone who is reading the overall moral thrust of the Act, the self-proclaimed purpose of which is "to make further provision for the promotion of equality between employed persons".

I challenge our new government to adhere to the moral essence of its own Employment Equality Act, and to pay those who do "like work" a "like salary". Just because something is legal, it doesn't make it right.

Sinead O'Loghlin

Dalkey, Co Dublin

I find myself in full agreement with Paddy Murray (Irish Independent, Letters, March 11) when he says that younger teachers are being discriminated against in terms of their pay and working conditions.

In 2010, the Government cut the pay of all public servants by an average of 14pc, and then on top of that it cut the pay for new teachers by a further 14pc.

This means that in staffrooms all over the country we have a dual pay structure where younger teachers are doing exactly the same job as their older colleagues but being paid substantially less.

Unfortunately, the disadvantages faced by our younger educators stretch far beyond this two-tier pay scale.

Simply obtaining a permanent and pensionable job is becoming a rarity, rather than the norm, and the lack of full-time jobs for recently qualified teachers is damaging education and creating instability in the classroom.

Where once teachers applied for full-time, permanent positions, now most apply for fragments of jobs with no guarantee of employment from year to year.

The implications for teaching and learning in our classrooms are obvious. Schools will have to deal with a high turnover of teachers and the difficulties with continuity that this will inevitably cause for the students. Highly qualified teachers will take their abilities elsewhere and new graduates will be less likely to consider teaching as a career.

Kevin P McCarthy

Killarney, Co Kerry

Sugar levels in energy drinks

I see that Safefood research has found that some energy drinks contain up to 16.5 teaspoons of sugar.

At this rate, it will soon become the norm for parents to check their children's blood sugar levels each morning.

Damien Carroll

Kingswood, Dublin 24

Nama land sales

Finance Minister Michael Noonan tells Nama to speed up land sales in a bid to boost housing. Six months ago, he was warning the banks that they would have to lower mortgage rates.

How much longer will it take Mr Noonan to work out that nobody is listening to him?

Seamus McLoughlin

Keshcarrigan, Co Leitrim

Water solution

To solve the water issue, we should install a top-of-the-range water pump, shower and toilet at the end of every street, and in every village across Ireland. These would be kept in pristine condition by the county council with regular cleaning.

Property owners who didn't wish to pay for services directly to their homes could avail of free water and sewage disposal at the end of the road.

The homeless would be delighted.

Alison Hackett

Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin

St Patrick vs the snakes

I write in reference to Aidan McMeel's very informative letter reminding us all that St Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland (Irish Independent, March 15).

Lest we forget, St Patrick also banished the snakes from Ireland. Because, if we are determined to peddle the myths and legends associated with St Patrick, let's not pick and choose.

All hail St Patrick, the patron saint of ophidiophobes.

Gary J Byrne

IFSC, Dublin 1
Kreativ Dental Clinic, Budapest has been crowned the best dental clinic in Europe and the second best in the world at the IMTJ Medical Travel Awards.

The commendation was presented to Attila Knott, Owner and Managing Director of Kreativ Dental at the International Dental Summit organised by International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ) in London. There were 15 jurors present and Kreativ Dental secured a place at the top, ahead of many world-renowned practices.

Mr Knott said: "We have served patients and built this industry relentlessly for the last 18 years and we are proud to receive this prestigious recognition in dental tourism."

Chairman of the judging panel and Managing Editor of IMTJ Keith Pollard says the awards celebrate the best providers in the industry and aim to encourage others to strive to match them.

"Medical travel is an exciting and growing global industry, with many providers delivering excellence in both medical care and customer service. The IMTJ Medical Travel Awards are the first independent awards to recognise those who are the best of the best and to encourage others to emulate them. The judges wanted to reward innovation and excellence.

Based in Budapest, Kreativ Dental is the leading dental practice in Europe and attracts customers from all over the continent who choose to travel abroad for their dental treatment. In fact, they treat over 200 patients a month from the UK and Ireland, and that figure is expected to grow in the coming years.

So why are so many people choosing to travel to Kreativ Dental for their dental care?

According to Mary Flanagan, Kreativ Dentals Irish representative, the reason is simple. Its all down to the excellence of their dental specialists, superior quality products used and the guarantee provided is the strongest one , you will find anywhere in the world. Mary Flanagan the Irish representative provides a hands on service before during and after treatment, when a patient returns home, if required we have a panel of aftercare dentists in Ireland. We strive to make the whole experience as comfortable, caring for our patients needs and efficient as possible

High quality dentistry is the most important element combined with prices that are 60% to 70% less than Irish prices. Tax back may be claimed similar to visiting an Irish dentist.

Budapest is the centre of excellence for dentistry in Europe. All of our dentists are experts in their own respective fields of dentistry, including oral surgeons, a maxilla facial surgeon, endodontist and periodontist., cosmetic specialists. I would advise people considering dental treatment abroad, at Kreativ Dental Clinic to read the independent reviews on Google and to check out our patient testimonial reviews on YouTube. They really do speak for themselves.

And Marys talking from experience.

At 25, she began having problems with her teeth, so she sought treatment in Ireland. Over the space of 10 years had many root canal treatments, crowns fitted which later fell out, followed by eight teeth being extracted due to failure of root canals, needless to say she still didnt have the smile she had dreamed of.

At 35 Mary was told by one Irish dentist that her only option was dentures. Another told her he could do the work but it would cost up to 60,000. It was at this point that a friends uncle, who happened to be a retired Irish dentist, recommended she visit the experts at Kreativ Dental in Budapest.

I had had so many problems with dentists over the years that I was apprehensive before making the journey to Budapest but Im so glad I did.

Mary ended up having eight implants and 26 porcelain crowns fitted at the much lower price-tag of 12,000 plus 400 for her flights.

It was absolutely brilliant. I finally got my confidence back and I can eat food I couldnt eat before. I couldnt be happier with my teeth.

Five star service

Kreativ Dental is a five star purpose-built ultramodern clinic comprising of six surgeries, a laboratory, digital X-ray machines, CAT scan machine, its own on-site laboratory and even a rooftop cafe. Due to the phenomenal growth in business, Kreativ Dental are in the process of building an additional clinic beside their existing premises.

The clinic employs a range of dental specialists and offers a suite of treatments including dental implants, porcelain crowns and bridges, dentures, periodontal surgery, root canal treatment, gnathological treatment and tooth whitening.

Mary is also on hand to offer support and advice to those thinking of undergoing treatment at the clinic. Mary even travels to Budapest with patients who are nervous. The clinic is unique in Ireland with offering this service.

I travel on the plane with people, stay in the same hotel and accompany them to the clinic. For some people, this can be very reassuring.

Ive been through the process myself so I know how nervous people can be, but I also know how brilliant it feels to be finally able to smile, eat all foods, which I could not do and be happy in the knowledge that my oral health is 100% perfect. Our oral health is an integral part of our whole body

For more information on Kreativ Dental clinic, log onto kreativdentalclinic.eu

or call Mary on (01) 8055526 or 086 0299998.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends the St Patrick's Day parade at Mons Barracks on March 17, 2014

Kate Middleton during the St Patrick's Day parade at Mons Barracks in Aldershot

The Duchess of Cambridge presents a shamrock to the Irish Guards mascot Domhnall at their barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, as the regiment marks St Patrick's Day

Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (R) , and Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge walk across the parade ground while visiting the Irish Guards during a St Patrick's Day parade in Mons Barracks in Aldershot on March 17, 2014

Kate Middleton will miss St Patrick's Day celebrations for the first time in five years in order to "focus on her family."

The Duchess of Cambridge has handed out shamrocks to the Irish Guards every year since 2011 and her presence has become one of the most anticipated appearances of the year.

This year, she will be staying at her Amner Hall estate in Norfolk instead this year, according to The Telegraph's chief reporter Gordon Rayner, where she will be focusing on spending time with her children Prince George (two) and Princess Charlotte (10 months).

Prince William, her husband of five years, will be attending in her place this year. It's reported Kate wants to spend as much time as possible with the children before embarking on a week long trip to India on April 10.

Expand Close Kate Middleton during the St Patrick's Day parade at Mons Barracks in Aldershot / Facebook

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According to the Daily Mail, "Irish Guards officers are deflated" since hearing the news.

A Kensington Palace spokesman issued a statement, saying: "The Duchess has very much enjoyed the occasions when she has been able to attend, but the Duke is the Colonel of the Regiment and is looking forward to presenting the Irish Guards with their Shamrock.

"The Duchess looks forward to marking St Patrick's Day with the Irish Guards many times in the future."

Meanwhile, William has been forced to defend his recent depiction as a "work shy" royal, describing it as "part of the job" in an interview with ITV News.

Expand Close Kate Middleton and Prince William, attend a St Patrick's Day Parade at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, southern England March 17. / Facebook

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"Its part of the job Mark," he said. "Today is more about talking about the poaching crisis."
The Royal Shakespeare Company's artistic director said underfunding access to Shakespeare was "denying children their birthright".

Gregory Doran, who was appointed in 2012, described the impact of the RSC's education programme and committed to prioritising it further as he delivered the annual Richard Dimbleby Lecture in the Bard's 400th anniversary year.

He said: "In Shakespeare's jubilee year, it's one of my priorities as artistic director of the RSC to see that I can do all that I can so children at school today are given access (to see Shakespeare).

"As well as bringing our productions to new audiences in China and across the world, we are keen to extend the reach of Shakespeare into our own communities at home here in the UK, and it is one of the aspects of our work of which I am most proud.

"Our provision of access to Shakespeare, to drama, to literature, to music, to art, to culture, is an index by which we judge ourselves to be civilised, to deny that, to disregard that, to under-fund that, is to cheat ourselves and our children and deny them their birthright."

The RSC provides free screenings of filmed performances to schools and he described its partnership with King Ethe lbert School in Margate, formerly one of the worst performing schools in the country, as a "witness of the power of Shakespeare to transform lives".

Doran told the story of one mother who called the school to say that her son could not go on a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon to see The Merchant of Venice "because he didn't have a passport".

But he said the child "loved" the performance and had even persuaded his mother to take him back to see it again.

"Afterwards, the mum rang Kate (Grieg, the headteacher) and said, 'Now I get it!'"

He said "the shift in the level of aspiration of the whole school community has been massive" since the partnership began.

Video of the Day

King Ethelbert's will take part in the RSC's touring production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, where schoolchildren will play queen Titania's fairy train and the parts of Bottom and the mechanicals will go to local amateur actors.

Doran, who has just presented Henry IV and Henry V for the first time in China, spoke of the impact that Shakespeare had on his own life.

He begins rehearsals for a new production of King Lear in three month's time but admitted it was "a play I could not watch for over a decade as, before he died, my own father declined into dementia".

He said: "It was too painful, too accurate, too damn true.

"We start rehearsals in three months' time ... a thought-provoking and nerve-wracking thought, thrilling too."

Doran joins a list of eminent names including Baroness Lane-Fox, Bill Gates, Sir Terry Pratchett and the Prince of Wales to deliver the lecture in honour of the veteran broadcaster.

The Richard Dimbleby Lecture 2016 airs on BBC One at 10.45pm.
Rescuers say at least 22 people have been killed in the attack

Two female suicide bombers have killed at least 24 worshippers and wounded 23 others in an attack during dawn prayers at a mosque on the outskirts of the Nigerian city of Maiduguri

One bomber blew up inside the mosque and the second waited outside to detonate as survivors tried to escape, said coordinator Abba Aji of the civilian self-defence Vigilante Group.

The toll rose when rescuers digging through rubble discovered five more injured people and recovered four more bodies, including the bombers, according to emergency official Mohammed Chullu.

Umar Usman said he escaped because he was late to worship. "We were just a few meters away from the mosque when a loud bang erupted and all we could see was dark smoke and bodies littered around," he added.

A hospital official said 13 bodies already have been claimed for the speedy burials required by Muslim tradition.

The Umarari mosque is on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the city that is the military command centre of the war against Boko Haram Islamic insurgents.

Reports that Umarari is a Boko Haram stronghold were incorrect, officials said.

Several suicide bombers have exploded in recent months at roadblocks leading into the city, indicating success in preventing attackers from reaching crowded areas.

It is the first attack on Maiduguri since December 28, when rocket-propelled grenades and multiple suicide bombers killed 50 people including refugees from the war.

The military said dozens of emaciated extremists surrendered this month, indicating success in cutting supply routes, including from neighbouring countries to which the insurgency has spread.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has claimed that the military has forced Boko Haram out of all towns.

But the general in charge of US Africa Command said they still hold "significant" territory and north eastern officials said that includes three border towns.
Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump stands between his campaign manager Corey Lewandowski (L) and his son Eric (R) as he speaks about the results of the Florida, Ohio, North Carolina

Donald Trump has scored victories in three states, including the big prize of Florida, but lost Ohio to state governor John Kasich as the billionaire's rivals desperately tried to stop his march to the Republican presidential nomination.

Marco Rubio, the Florida senator who staked his once-promising campaign on winning in his home state, dropped out of the presidential race shortly after the polls closed, leaving Mr Kasich as the last true establishment candidate running against Mr Trump and arch-conservative Ted Cruz.

Hillary Clinton won at least four states, dealing a severe blow to the bid by Bernie Sanders to slow her march towards the Democratic nomination.

Mr Trump, the controversial reality TV star, has upended the political establishment by winning most of the state-by-state competitions for delegates who will choose the Republican nominee. He has seized on Americans' anger with Washington politicians, attracting voters with his simply worded promise to make America great again.

Tuesday's votes in five states had been viewed as a pivotal moment in the Republican campaign. For the first time, two states - Ohio and Florida - had winner-take-all contests.

A Trump sweep could have given him an insurmountable lead in the delegate count, but the contests brought little clarity. He won the biggest prize - all 99 Florida delegates - as well as winning North Carolina and Illinois, and was locked in a tight race with Mr Cruz in Missouri. He told a victory rally in Florida: "This was an amazing night."

But Mr Kasich's win, capturing all of Ohio's 66 delegates, was crucial to keeping alive the hopes of those trying to stop Mr Trump.

Both the Republican and Democratic primaries in Missouri were too close to call on Wednesday morning.

While the New Yorker had amassed the most delegates going into Tuesday, he is winning 46% of those awarded so far. If that pace continued, he would fall short of the majority he would need to assure him the nomination at the party's convention in July. The result could be a contested convention, creating an unpredictable outcome.

This was the first victory for Mr Kasich, whose upbeat message and long record of government service has had little resonance as his rivals seized on voter anxiety and disdain for Washington. While he could benefit from Mr Rubio dropping out, he remains a long shot for the nomination. He is unlikely to overtake Mr Trump, though he could help keep him below the 50% threshold.

Mr Cruz said at a Houston rally that the battle for the Republican presidential nomination battle was a "two-person race".

Mr Trump now has 621 delegates, while Mr Cruz has 396, Mr Kasich 138 and Mr Rubio left the race with 168. It takes 1,237 delegates to win the Republican nomination for president.

In the Democratic race, Ms Clinton scored victories in Florida, Ohio, Illinois and North Carolina. Mr Sanders, a Vermont senator and self-described democratic socialist, is unlikely to overtake her in the delegate count, but his victory last week in Michigan underscored the unease many party voters have about her candidacy.

Her wins on Tuesday put Ms Clinton in a commanding position to become the first woman in US history to win a major party nomination.

Overall, she has at least 1,561 total delegates including superdelegates, who are elected officials and party leaders free to support the candidate of their choice. Mr Sanders has at least 800 delegates when the count includes superdelegates. It takes 2,383 to win the Democratic nomination.

In Missouri, the margins between Mr Trump and Mr Cruz and between Ms Clinton and Mr Sanders were less than 0.5%, meaning the losing candidate can request a recount.

At a victory rally in West Palm Beach, Florida, Ms Clinton moved quickly to the November election by assailing Mr Trump's hardline immigration positions and support for torture. "Our commander-in-chief has to be able to defend our country, not embarrass it," she said.

Mr Trump has alienated many Republicans and Democrats with his disparaging remarks about Mexicans, Muslims and women, among others. He entered Tuesday's primaries embroiled in one of the biggest controversies of his campaign. He has encouraged supporters to confront protesters at his events and is facing accusations of encouraging violence after skirmishes at a rally last week in Chicago that he ended up cancelling.

"I don't think I should be toning it down because I've had the biggest rallies of anybody probably ever," Mr Trump said on ABC's Good Morning America. ''We have had very, very little difficultly."

Mr Rubio and Mr Kasich have suggested they might not support Mr Trump if he is the nominee.

Mr Rubio implicitly rebuked the front-runner throughout a speech in Miami announcing he was dropping out of the race, imploring Americans to "not give in to the fear, do not give in to the frustration".

Now thrust into the centre of a campaign that has been bitingly personal, Mr Kasich vowed to cheering supporters in Berea, Ohio, that he would "not take the low road to the highest office in the land".
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton won their respective presidential primaries in Florida last night, further solidifying their leads in the hotly contested races for the Republican and Democratic nominations.

For Trump, the Republican front-runner, Florida's all-or-nothing contest represents a momentous win, giving him 99 additional delegates - the largest in the quintet of contests taking place yesterday.

His victory deals a devastating blow to Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who many in the Republican establishment had backed in the hope of derailing Trump's dash to the nomination.

Clinton will be awarded delegates proportionally in keeping with Democratic regulations, but the win still catapults her ahead of rival Bernie Sanders, who came into yesterday's contests with fresh momentum after scoring a big victory in Michigan last week.

Trump was also locked in a tight race with John Kasich in the Ohio governor's home-state last night. Polls had closed in Ohio and North Carolina, but the races in both parties were either too close or too early to call.

Trump entered the primaries facing accusations of encouraging violence after skirmishes at a rally last week in Chicago.

"I don't think I should be toning it down because I've had the biggest rallies of anybody probably ever," Trump said yesterday on ABC's 'Good Morning America'. "We have had very, very little difficultly."
Robyn Mercer, 50, a silverware expert, was found face down in a pool of blood on her front lawn

Detectives are investigating the recent financial dealings of a suspect arrested over the murder of a Mayfair antiques dealer.

Robyn Mercer, 50, a silverware expert, was found face down in a pool of blood on her front lawn with injuries were so severe that police thought she had been shot.

The victim was found by a neighbour on their way to work. It is believed her body may have lain outside the house in Surrey for much of the night.

Officers were called to her 700,000 (890,000) semi-detached house in West Molesey, Surrey, at 8am on Monday.

Ms Mercer, whose father died last October, had joint-owned the home close to the Thames and Hampton Court Palace with partner Robert Webb, 52.

The couple are understood to have taken out a new mortgage on the property in 2012.

Detectives were last night continuing to question a 52-year-old man, understood to be known to Ms Mercer, on suspicion of murder.

She lived in the property with Mr Webb and her two teenage children, who are understood to be staying with relatives.

One friend revealed she was recently seen with an injured wrist but had been in good spirits in the days before she was killed.

Ms Mercer's niece, Claudia Spickernell, speaking from South Africa, told the Evening Standard: "We have just heard the news. We are all a bit in the dark. Everyone is still just trying to get a grip of everything."

Ms Mercer worked at one of London's most prestigious independent antique dealers  J H Bourdon-Smith in Masons Yard, St James's. She was a respected expert in antique silver who had contributed to studies of 16th century silver spoons.

Art specialist Paul Crane, 40, from the neighbouring Brian Haughton Gallery, had known Ms Mercer for more than 20 years. He said: "She was full of the most golden energy. She was so polite it was unbelievable. She was just full of kindness."

A colleague at her company said: "We are in shock at the moment. It's a tragedy and we are just trying to come to terms with it."

Ms Mercer, a keen rower, was a member of Walton Rowing club. A spokeswoman for the club said: "She was an absolutely lovely woman. She would go the extra mile for anyone. She would help behind the bar and anyone around the club. I spoke to her only on Saturday and she seemed fine."

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
A Syrian refugee covers himself with a blanket at a makeshift camp for refugees and migrants at the Greek-Macedonian border

Macedonia has sent back hundreds of refugees to Greece, a day after they bypassed a border fence to head further north into Europe - a move Greece blamed on "criminal misinformation" possibly spread by volunteers working with them.

About 1,500 people, frustrated at being stuck for weeks in a waterlogged tent city outside the closed crossing of Idomeni, pushed their way into Macedonia on Monday through an unguarded section of the border. They walked about 5km and crossed a swollen stream near the Greek village of Hamilo.

A Macedonian official said 700 migrants who had been detained overnight were deported to Greece through the same location they entered. The official also said about 50 journalists and volunteers detained with the migrants were released after paying fines of 250 for illegally entering Macedonia.

Greek police said groups of migrants were seen coming back to Greece from unguarded sections of the border east and west of Idomeni - although Greece says it received no official notification or repatriation request from Macedonia.

About 200 people who had camped overnight near Hamilo went back to Idomeni yesterday, while Macedonian police guarded the area.

Despite repeated Greek appeals for them to move to available organised shelters, about 14,000 people are stuck in the Idomeni tent city in swampy conditions after days of heavy rain.

"As long as (refugees) still believe that there is a chance of getting through (to Macedonia), this will continue," immigration minister Ioannis Mouzalas said. "There is no way the border will open."

For months, hundreds of thousands of people from the Middle East and Africa flowed through Idomeni, on their way to seek asylum in central Europe. But a tightening in border controls that started in Austria and extended down the Balkan migration route ended in a total border closure last week. Now, about 44,000 people are stranded in Greece.

Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras blamed Monday's mass move to circumvent the border fence on misleading leaflets distributed at Idomeni, which encouraged the refugees to make a concerted push north.

"This is criminal behaviour towards people who face great hardship," Mr Tsipras said.
Mass killer Anders Behring Breivik made a Nazi salute yesterday on the opening day of his lawsuit against the Norwegian government to improve his prison conditions.

He was appearing in the public eye for the first time since his conviction nearly four years ago for massacring 77 people in bomb and gun attacks.

The 37-year-old Norwegian and his lawyers are trying to convince a judge that his prison conditions in isolation are "inhuman" and violate the European Convention on Human Rights.

The government has rejected his claims, saying he is being treated humanely and with dignity despite the severity of his crimes.

Breivik is the only inmate in a high-security wing of Skien prison, 100km southwest of Oslo. His mail correspondence is strictly controlled and he's not allowed to communicate with other right-wing extremists. But he has three cells at his disposal, one for sleeping, one for studying and one for working out, and daily access to an exercise yard, authorities said.

In violence that stunned Norway on July 22, 2011, Breivik set off a bomb in Oslo's government district and then carried out a shooting massacre at the summer camp of the left-wing Labour Party's youth organization on Utoya island. He was sentenced to 21 years in prison, the maximum under Norwegian law, but his term can be extended as long as he's considered a danger to society.

Even his lawyer admitted yesterday that Breivik is likely to be imprisoned for the rest of his life.

Lawyer Oystein Storrvik said the goal of the case was to improve Breivik's prison conditions, including allowing to him to interact with other prisoners and removing some restrictions on his mail correspondence.

Government lawyers said of about 4,000 letters written by Breivik or addressed to him, 600 were stopped. They included letters Breivik wrote to right-wing extremists imprisoned in other countries, including members of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang in the United States.

Government attorney Marius Emberland said prison officials are trying to mitigate Breivik's isolation by having him take part in activities with prison staff such as playing chess. Breivik has declined many of those offers, though he did build a gingerbread house as part of a prison competition, he said.

"The plaintiff has not shown any sign of remorse," Mr Emberland noted. "Breivik is a very dangerous man."

Norwegian authorities say the restrictions are well within the European Convention of Human Rights and are needed to make sure Breivik isn't able to build militant extremist networks from prison. Still, they stress that Breivik has the same rights as any other inmate to challenge his imprisonment conditions.

Breivik is due to address the court today.
Police inspect the wreckage of the Volkswagen car after it exploded in Bismarckstrasse in Berlin

Police have ruled out terrorism after a known drug dealer was assassinated with a car bomb in the middle of Berlin's rush-hour traffic yesterday morning.

Authorities said the 43-year-old man who died was a Turkish citizen with links to drug rings and other organised crime.

Murder investigators blocked off a section of Bismarckstrasse, a major thoroughfare lined with shops and restaurants, after the VW Passat estate exploded at about 8am.

The incident took place in the residential Charlottenburg district not far from the Deutsche Oper, one of the city's three opera houses.

Shocked onlookers watched as the vehicle suddenly exploded while moving, travelling another 100 metres before colliding with a parked car.

Photos of the scene show the vehicle surrounded by debris in the middle of the street with its doors open and windows blown out, with no damage visible to surrounding buildings or parked cars.

Investigators believe the blast was caused by an explosive device and initially urged people to stay off balconies in buildings along the street.

Around noon, police gave residents the all-clear after explosives experts inspected the wreckage.

"There's no indication of a terrorist background," said Martin Steltner, a spokesman for Berlin prosecutors.

"(The) explosion occurred inside or on the vehicle," said Carsten Mueller, deputy chief spokesman for Berlin police.

"Our investigators are working on the assumption that it was an explosive device that caused this," Mr Mueller said.

Nobody else was injured in the blast despite heavy traffic, he said.

The city has seen a spate of violence linked to biker gangs involved in the drugs trade in recent years.

Yunus Ozkan said he was driving to school when two cars in front of him braked suddenly, followed by an explosion and smoke cloud. "I stopped my car, I was scared," the 18-year-old student said near the scene of the incident.

"I thought the whole street would explode."
US student Otto Warmbier speaking to reporters in Pyongyang in February (AP)

North Korea's highest court has sentenced an American tourist who allegedly attempted to steal a propaganda banner from a restricted area of his hotel to 15 years of hard labour in prison.

Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate student, was convicted of subversion and sentenced in a one-hour trial at the Supreme Court.

Mr Warmbier was arrested in early January as he tried to leave the country after visiting as a tourist with a new year tour group.

In a statement before his trial, he told a gathering of reporters in Pyongyang he wanted the banner "as a trophy" for the mother of a friend.

North Korea announced the arrest in late January, saying Mr Warmbier committed an anti-state crime with "the tacit connivance of the US government and under its manipulation".

He had been staying at the Yanggakdo International Hotel, which is on an island in a river that runs through Pyongyang, the capital. It is common for sections of tourist hotels to be reserved for North Korean staff and off-limits to foreigners.

In his comments, Mr Warmbier said he was offered a used car worth 10,000 dollars by a member of the church for the banner. He said the church member told him the slogan would be hung on its wall as a trophy.

He also said he was told that if he was detained and did not return, 200,000 dollars would be paid to his mother in the form of a charitable donation.

Mr Warmbier, from Wyoming, Ohio, said he accepted the offer of money because his family is "suffering from very severe financial difficulties".

In previous cases, people who have been detained in North Korea and made a public confession often recant those statements after their release.

North Korea regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow its government to enable the US-backed South Korean government to control the Korean peninsula.

US tourism to North Korea is legal, but the US State Department strongly advises against it.
She was once an unkown nun working in Ireland - now Mother Teresa will be made a saint on September 4.

Pope Francis set the date and paved the way for the nun who cared for the poorest of the poor to become the centrepiece of his year-long focus on the Catholic Church's merciful side.

The Vatican ceremony will draw tens of thousands to honour the tiny, stooped nun who was fast-tracked for sainthood just a year after she died in 1997.

The canonisation announcement was expected, after Francis in December approved a second miracle attributed to Mother Teresa's intercession - the final hurdle to make her a saint.

The actual date falls on the eve of the 19th anniversary of her death.

In Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), the eastern Indian city where Mother Teresa spent decades caring for the sick and homeless, there were joyous celebrations at a school and orphanage founded by her in 1949.

"The news of Mother's sainthood is a matter for joy. But Mother Teresa is already like God to us," said Jyotsna Patra, one of the early students of the school.

Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, welcomed the "wonderful news". "Blessed Mother Teresa is much loved in Ireland having been a frequent visitor to our country during her lifetime."

At the age of 18, she came to study English and begin her life as a nun with the Loreto Sisters of Dublin.

She also spent time in Belfast and Archbishop Martin thanked the Missionaries of Charity, the religious congregation founded by Mother Teresa, for their "selfless outreach" in the Archdiocese of Armagh.

St John Paul II, who was Mother Teresa's greatest champion, beatified her before a crowd of 300,000 in St Peter's Square in 2003.

Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her work with Kolkata's destitute and ill - work which continued even after she herself became sick.

She died on September 5, 1997, aged 87.
Police officers speak to each other during an apartment raid in Brussels (AP)

Belgian investigators are hunting two suspects who fled an apartment linked to the terror attacks in Paris.

The nationwide search was launched after a police sniper killed a gunman holed up inside the Brussels apartment where authorities also found a stock of ammunition and an Islamic State flag, officials said.

Four officers were wounded in Tuesday's joint French-Belgian raid after unexpectedly coming under fire from an apartment they believed was empty.

Prosecutors on Wednesday released without charge two men they detained in the wake of the raid, leaving the hunt on for two suspects who have not been identified.

The dead man was identified as an Algerian man living illegally in Belgium, Mohamed Belkaid, whose only contact with authorities appeared to be a two-year-old theft charge, said Thierry Werts, a Belgian prosecutor.

Belkaid, 35, was shot dead by a police sniper as he prepared to fire on police from a window, Mr Werts said. A Kalashnikov rifle was found by his body, as well as a book on Salafism, an ultraconservative strain of Islam.

Inside the apartment in the Forest region of Brussels, police found the banner of the Islamic State extremist group as well as 11 Kalashnikov loaders and a large quantity of ammunition, the prosecutor said.

"We were not expecting a violent armed reaction," Prime Minister Charles Michel told Belgium's RTL radio.

The anti-terror raid was linked to the November 13 gun-and-bomb attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks, in which Belgian citizens played key roles.

Among the fugitives is Belgian Salah Abdeslam, who fled the Paris attacks that night, slipped through a dragnet into Brussels and has not been seen since.

On Tuesday, four Belgian and two French police officers unexpectedly came under fire by at least two people armed with a Kalashnikov and a riot gun as soon as they opened the door to the Forest apartment, according to a statement from the Belgian prosecutors.

Four officers, including a French policewoman, were slightly wounded.

The search of another Forest residence on Tuesday night turned up another Kalashnikov as well as two loaded magazines, Belgian officials said.

In France, four people were arrested at dawn on Wednesday amid fears of a separate planned attack. Those arrests were not linked to the Belgian investigation.
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By Gloria Fleming

John S. Mibiti, the author of "African Religions and Philosophies," says that "Africans are notoriously religious, and each society has its own religious system with a set of beliefs and practices, with it germs of beliefs, ceremonies, rituals and religious officiants, and philosophy."

African Traditional Religion has no sacred texts, and all the tenets of the religion are handed down orally. Religion saturates into all parts of their lives so fully that it is not easy or possible always to isolate it. However, for some time the people of Africa have been influenced by a cosmology inherited from the West: the mechanistic perspective that views all things as lifeless commodities to be understood scientifically and to be used for human ends.

There are two primary concepts in African religion: God and Time. The term God is not greatly explored at first, except as a stand-in for "Supreme Being," in terms largely familiar to Europeans and Americans. Time is discussed as an aspect of African verbal. By analyzing verb tenses from different language groups, Mibiti claims that African forms of time are different from other human ideas of time. He establishes two kinds of time ? Sasa and Samani.

Sasa is understood as "small time," or time that is located close to the present moment. Samani is time that takes place distantly from the present moment.

Mibiti presents a theological discussion in terms that would be familiar to any Western scholar of religion. He examines categories such as the nature of God, the works of God, God's relationship to the natural world, God's manifestations in ritual and the existence of Spirit, or lesser divinities. His primary goal is to illustrate that the God of the African People is the same as the Western God, although the African experience of God is unique.

Mibiti says the African people regard the universe as a religious universe, and this attitude is fully illustrated by the way they read God into various objects and phenomena. It is generally assumed that God created the heavens and the earth. Heaven is the counterpart of the earth, and the African people consider it the dwelling place of God. He articulates that the African practice of assigning names for God is a form of simple predication, the same way such names are employed in Christianity and Islam. Africans have names like Great One of the Sky, God in the Sky or The One Above. They regard nature and objects as sacred. Also, most African people have rites and ceremonies to mark great changes and experiences in their lives.

"It is unfortunate that foreign writers, through ignorance, have failed to understand deep religious insight of the African people and have often ridiculed it, or naively presented it as a nature worship or animism," Mibiti says. "Traditional African societies have been neither deaf nor blind to the spiritual dimension of existence, which is so deep, so rich and so beautiful."

Gloria Fleming is the pastor of Mt. Carmel CME Church in Anderson.
SHARE Clockwise from top left: Devin Cantoni, Antonio Patterson, Donkevius Martin and Amanda Rose Harrison. Antonio Raquan Patterson Devin Matthew Cantoni Donkevius Martin

By Independent Mail

864-260-1277

Anderson County sheriff's investigators have found three of four teens accused of robbing a gas station and shooting a store clerk in the chest with a shotgun last month.

Authorities want the public's help to find the one suspect still at large, Antonio Raquan Patterson, an 18-year-old from Anderson.

Patterson was identified by investigators as being in the car used to flee the scene, said Lt. Sheila Cole of the Anderson County Sheriff's Office.

Cole said 19-year-old Donkevius Euquon Martin of Anderson is thought by investigators to have been the one who shot the clerk.

The 7-Eleven was robbed at 2:12 a.m. on Feb. 17. It is located just off Interstate 85 at Exit 14.

Surveillance footage of the robbery shows two people entering, both hidden behind red bandannas.

As they leave, one of the men shoots the clerk. The clerk is expected to fully recover, Cole said.

Cole said 18-year-old Townville resident Devin Matthew Cantoni is believed to be the man who jumped the counter.

Cantoni turned himself in Tuesday to Anderson County authorities.

In addition to Patterson, 17-year-old Amanda Rose Harrison of Pelzer, is believed to have been also in the car, according to warrants.

Martin and Harrison are in custody in a detention center in Whitfield County, Georgia.

Martin was being held on a marijuana charge. Harrison was arrested in Whitfield County after authorities there were contacted by Anderson County investigators.

Martin was previously charged with two counts of attempted murder in 2014 but the charges were dropped after a co-defendant took responsibility for the crimes.

All four of the teens will be charged with armed robbery and attempted murder, Cole said.

Cantoni has been charged and charges will be filed against the others once Patterson is found and once the others are extradited to South Carolina, Cole said.

Patterson, the man still sought by investigators, is described as being 5 foot 10 inches with black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call Anderson County Sheriff's Office investigator Grady Epps at 864-260-4410 or GMEpps@andersonsheriff.com. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers at 888-CRIME-SC (888-274-6372).

Independent Mail reporter Mike Eads contributed to this story.

Follow Mike Ellis on Twitter @MikeEllis_AIM
KEN RUINARD/INDEPENDENT MAIL Neil Maes (left) of Belton, standing with his mother Christy Maes, won the Independent Mail Regional Spelling Bee on March 5 and is going to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, May 22-May 27, in National Harbor, Maryland.

By Frances Parrish of the Independent Mail

Christy Maes waited 12 months for her son to hear her say "I love you" for the first time, and now she's waiting to hear him stand on stage spelling words in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.

Neil Maes was born deaf, and when he was 6 weeks old he was diagnosed with profound sensorineural hearing loss. His anatomy in his ear was perfect, but his brain couldn't interpret sounds. At 11 months old, he had his first cochlear implant, and a month later they turned on his transmitters so he could hear.

Both his parents are carriers of the recessive gene that leads to the deafness. His younger sister can hear, but his youngest sister, Erin, is also deaf and has bilateral implants.

For 10 years, Neil went to speech therapy, and in January he graduated from the program at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

"We lived therapy at home," Maes said. "We had goal-directed play. He had to assign meaning to the sounds. It's not like a normal hearing aid that you turn on and you automatically hear."

Instead of going to Charleston every few months, he now visits the hospital once a year to get his implants, or helpers as his mother calls them, programmed and adjusted.

The fact that his was born deaf isn't a big deal to him because it's all he's ever known. Neil and his family see him as a typical 11-year-old who loves to read, shoot hoops and play the piano.

"I've always held him to high expectations," Maes said. "His hearing has never been an excuse."

At the March 5 Independent Mail Regional Spelling Bee at Anderson University, his hearing wasn't an excuse as he won first place.

Every day he studied for the bee, memorizing more than 2,000 words and definitions. When Neil competed, the announcer wore a transmitter system around her neck so Neil could hear her voice above any background noise. He had to ask the definition for each word because he can misinterpret words such scow and scowl.

His winning word was ecru.

"When she called out the last word, I thought I knew that word," Neil said. "I'm excited. It's going to be exciting being there (in Washington, D.C.)."

Neil was able to check off a goal when he won the regional bee. In 2014, he competed and won second place, but didn't qualify the next year.

"Two years ago, I wrote a goal," Neil said, "'I want to win the regional spelling bee,' but I misspelled regional."

When he returned to school that Monday, a crowd of cheering students welcomed him in the halls. Belton Elementary School hosted a special pep rally in honor of Neil, with a re-creation of the trophy presentation.

Since winning the regional bee, residents from Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties have reached out to congratulate him, sending letters in the mail or posting on social media. The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has reached out to Maes to tell her and her son's story for its publication. Cochlear Limited, an implant company based in Australia that makes Neil's devices, has also reached out to talk to her and Neil about their experience with speech therapy and the implants. The speech therapists at MUSC also showed the video of Neil winning the bee to kids just starting the process, Maes said.

"I want it to be an inspiration to other kids with challenges," Maes said.

Not only are his sisters and parents helping him study for the national spelling bee, but also his classmates. Students in his English class have formed spelling teams. Each group member will call out words to Neil for him to practice.

"We're helping him get study time at school," said Kerry Anderson, Neil's English teacher. "They (his classmates) are tickled to death to support him. They plan to wear black and gold to support him in spirit those two days of competition."

Anderson was there cheering him on at the regional spelling bee and said she plans to be there for the national competition as well.

"I couldn't be more proud of him," Anderson said. "I know the hours and hours of work he put in. It was just another goal on his list. He never gives anything less than his best."

Follow Frances Parrish on Twitter @frances_AIM
Abby Wooten (center), wife of Craig Wooten, waits with the couple's boys Baylor (left) and Brooks, both 2, outside the Anderson County Registration and Elections Office on Wednesday. Craig Wooten filed to run for the Anderson County Council District 1 seat.

SHARE Carrie Brown (left) helps Don Bowen file as a candidate for the S.C. House of Representatives District 8 seat. Bowen was among the first in line to file at the Anderson County Voter Registration and Elections Office. Anderson County Councilmen Tommy Dunn (left) and Ken Waters file as candidates for re-election. Ken Waters (left), Tommy Dunn (middle) and J. Mitchell Cole, all Anderson County Council members, file to seek re-election.

By Nikie Mayo and Kirk Brown

Don Bowen hopes to reclaim his old seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

Bowen, 70, held the House District 8 seat for four terms until he lost it in 2014 to freshman Rep. Jonathon Hill. When the candidate filing period opened Wednesday, Bowen was among the first in line, determining that two years was enough of a break from public office.

Bowen was among 10 candidates who submitted their paperwork Wednesday afternoon at the Anderson County Registration and Elections office. Candidate filing is open until noon March 30.

Three Anderson County Council incumbents filed for re-election.

Tommy Dunn, the council chairman, is seeking a fifth term.

"I don't plan to make a career out of this, but I've got some things I want to finish," he said.

Ken Waters wants a fourth term. J. Mitchell Cole, who bested Eddie Moore in the 2014 Republican primary, hopes to return for a second term.

"Nobody shot me, so I decided to keep going," Cole said.

The only newcomer to the County Council race was Craig Wooten, who is seeking the District 1 seat now held by Francis Crowder.

Wooten brought his wife, Abby, and twin 2-year-old sons, Baylor and Brooks, with him when he filed. The boys held a sign that read #TeamWooten as they waited for their dad to file  and for their nap time to come.

"We're all excited," Abby Wooten said. "We think this is the right time for this for our family and for Anderson County."

W. Wilson Burr, who is running for 10th Judicial Circuit Solicitor, also filed. That office will be filled by a new person, as Solicitor Chrissy Adams has already said she will not seek the job because of her health. The 10th Circuit covers Anderson and Oconee counties.

Auditor Jacky Hunter, Clerk of Court Richard Shirley, Sheriff John Skipper and Treasurer Jason Phillips all filed for re-election in Anderson County.

As he filled out his paperwork Wednesday, Skipper didn't pass up the opportunity to lobby Cole, Dunn and Waters for money to hire more deputies.

"We can clearly document the calls for service, the increasing calls for service, and what you need to do to cover that," he told the three council members.

Four candidates filed Wednesday afternoon in Pickens County, including Sheriff Rick Clark and his challenger, former Chief Deputy Tim Morgan. Six candidates, including Burr, filed to seek offices in Oconee County.

All the candidates who filed in the three counties are Republicans.

Bowen said is looking forward to a rematch with Hill, 31. House District 8 covers western Anderson County.

"I had a lot of people call me, and better than that, I had a lot of people volunteer to help me this time," Bowen said.

Bowen said he will focus on education and how issues involving Lake Hartwell have been overlooked since he left office.

He said it will be harder to campaign this time without his wife, Tomilyn Forrester Bowen, who died Jan. 14.

"She was 50 percent of my workforce," he said.

Follow Nikie Mayo and Kirk Brown on Twitter @NikieMayo and @KirkBrown_AIM
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By Nikie Mayo of the Independent Mail

Areas along the East-West Parkway that are used by bicyclists and pedestrians in Anderson will soon be illuminated by solar-powered lights.

The Anderson County Council on Tuesday night approved spending up to $32,000 on the lighting. That will pay for seven tall, solar-powered lights that "eliminate the carbon footprint of traditional utility light poles," according to bid documents provided to the council by ClearWorld LLC.

Councilman Francis Crowder, whose district includes the parkway, pushed for the project, saying he has received "numerous requests" from people who want more lighting near the areas for walking and biking.

Land along the 3-mile road that connects S.C. 81 with Clemson Boulevard in Anderson is used daily by walkers, joggers, cyclists and pet owners. Many of them were using the property even before the $21.5 million highway opened to the public in 2013.

"These lights will be placed near the benches along the parkway so that you'll have kind of a safety island in each area," Crowder said.

The overall system will be under warranty for 10 years, and the solar panels each come with a 25-year warranty.

The money for the lighting will come out of Crowder's district paving account. Each council member's district paving account is generally reserved only for roadwork.

Councilwoman Gracie Floyd asked County Administrator Rusty Burns if officials were setting a dangerous precedent Tuesday by allowing the paving money to be spent on something other than roads. Burns said there was no problem with the expenditure.

Burns said after the meeting that the parkway lighting is considered "transportation-related." He said any future spending of paving money that does not go directly for roads would again require approval of the council.

ClearWorld, the company awarded the lighting contract, is based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans.

"We hope to be able to get this done quickly," Burns said. "We believe the lighting will provide a sense of safety to the many people who use the parkway for recreation."

Follow Nikie Mayo on Twitter @NikieMayo
SHARE Father David Randolph (left), Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in Anderson, gets information from Meredith Durham of SCWorks, at one of the booths at the Civic Center of Anderson. Francis Crowder (left) talks with the Rev. Don Cox of Concord Baptist Church in Anderson. Burriss Nelson, Anderson County economics development director, talks during a jobs event at the Civic Center of Anderson. Rev. James Clark (left) of Wilson Calvary Baptist Church in Anderson, picks up information near Renee Murdock of the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department.

By Nikie Mayo of the Independent Mail

In leading his congregation, the Rev. Larry Brown says he sometimes get asked tough questions. One always weighs on him: "Can you help me find a job?"

Brown is the pastor of Mount Carmel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church on Cleveland Avenue in Anderson. He said that members of his congregation regularly reach out to him seeking job help for themselves or their family members. And he wants to help them all.

"They look you in the eye and they say: 'I need work' or 'My sister needs work' or 'My husband needs work,'" Brown said Wednesday. "And you want to have a job for them all. You want to be able to point them to a place where they can gain employment, provide for themselves and their families."

Because of ministers like Brown, Anderson County officials presented an event Wednesday to equip them with information for job seekers. Councilman Francis Crowder, who attends Concord Baptist Church, said he asked the county's economic development staff for help with the event after hearing through his church several troubling stories about people looking for jobs.

"One man who couldn't find work unfortunately committed suicide," Crowder said. "That's the ultimate price to pay when someone feels like they can't provide for themselves or their families. We don't want that to happen."

Pastors attending the event at the Civic Center of Anderson heard representatives from at least nine different agencies that can help job seekers. Among the agencies participating in the event were the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, SCWorks, Anderson Adult Education Center, South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department and Anderson-Oconee-Pickens Mental Health Center.

Idaly Partridge, a career development services representative from Goodwill Industries, said the organization's Job Connection can help prospective workers sharpen their skills. She said the agency can help would-be workers find job leads and hone their skills. The agency also offers financial-stability classes, she said.

Jenai Kelley Brown of Tri-County Technical College said the school is offering a certification course in entry-level welding. She said the course is worth $5,230, but scholarships are available for a limited time, making the classes free. The classes are offered on weekdays, for four hours each day. Participants who complete the 15-week course will have 300 hours of training in welding.

AIM, formerly known as Anderson Interfaith Ministries, also offers classes for people wishing to get their GED certificates.

"We may be able to offer something to people who would shy away from traditional classroom settings," said Kristi King-Brock, the charity's executive director. "They may come to us first for our food pantry. They find out we are a safe place."

Joe Perry works with the AARP Foundation senior community service employment program in the Upstate.

"It can be difficult for older workers if they suddenly find themselves without a job," Perry said. "If you've done the same job for 30 years and suddenly it is not there anymore, that's an adjustment. But if you are 55 or older, we have great resources that can help you navigate and find work."

Pastors were also able to ask questions and pick up job-related materials to take back to their congregations.

Bill Rigsby, the pastor at North Anderson Baptist Church, said he found the event informative and helpful.

"As a minister, you always want to be able to help members of your flock that come to you with needs, no matter what they are," he said. "This helps give us tools and directions to point our congregations in when people are looking for work."
Anderson Police Capt. Michael Bracone dumps a cooler of shredded paper over the head of Anderson City Councilwoman Bea Thompson, whose community group has recently been awarded state recognition for helping public safety.

SHARE Devin Jeffries, a 16-year-old Westside High School sophomore, asked a group of Anderson leaders if there is anything they could do to help him when he fees profiled by store security workers in Anderson.

By Mike Ellis of the Independent Mail

Sneaking up behind Anderson City Councilwoman Bea Thompson with a water cooler, Anderson Police Capt. Michael Bracone dumped shredded paper from the cooler onto her head.

The paper dangled from Thompson's hair and piled on her purse at an event Tuesday at the Anderson Five Career Campus. She was all smiles.

A group she started, after waking from a dream about Anderson's future, has been recognized by state leaders as being the best municipal public safety effort in the state.

The award is for the grass-roots group Law Enforcement and Community Relations Task Force, one of several groups  including a mentorship initiative  Thompson launched after her dream.

She calls the whole project the Dream Team.

The Municipal Association of South Carolina picked Thompson's group above other efforts including Myrtle Beach's Bike Week changes and North Charleston's handling of a fatal shooting by a law enforcement officer. The award will be presented at July meeting of the Municipal Association.

"I wanted people to say, 'Let's become friends at least. And let's understand each other,'" Thompson said.

The group had thousands of people come to 63 events in less than a year. Group members reached out using ice cream snacks with police officers, forums with students at schools, church festivals and Bible schools, setting up public meetings and doing projects to aid people in need.

But even with all the action, the dream is just taking shape, Thompson said.

She woke up a little more than a year ago with civil unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, on her mind and concerned about what would happen in Anderson if there were riots and protests.

"I knew this kind of thing could spread across our nation and even in Anderson," Thompson said.

Her dream was to reach out to young people in minority groups so established leaders such as herself would not only know what's happening but also have relationships before any problems happened.

"The last thing we want is to wake up in the morning and something bad has happened," Thompson said. "And now we're having to figure it all out."

The group of 25 includes ministers and community leaders, including Thompson and Anderson Police Chief Jim Stewart, as well as a former convict and leaders of small charitable and mentoring organizations. Several senior city police officers are members, as are people from the Anderson School District 5 staff, the 10th Judicial Circuit and the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Trez Floyd, a 16-year-old Westside High School sophomore, asked the leaders Tuesday to avoid saying kids should be whooped.

"I was whooped all the time," he said.

His parent's generation bears much of the blame for not raising his generation right, Floyd said.

"That wasn't us," he said.

Trez, his friend Devin Jeffries and other students arrived at the same word as the adults: respect.

They want it from police officers, and the students said their own generation doesn't give enough respect to authority figures.

That's the kind of reaction Thompson wants to hear, she said.

"It's about building connections; if they feel they can talk to us, that's the goal," she said.

Follow Mike Ellis on Twitter @MikeEllis_AIM
EPF NPS

Know What Keyword: Mandatory



Governed by Employees Provident Fund Organization to help organised sector employees build post-retirement financial security



Mandatory for employees with basic salary up to Rs. 15,000



Optional for employees with basic salary above Rs. 15,000



Scheme runs till retirement or till employee opts out of it, account is transferable from one employer to another in case employee joins another



Employee can nominate one or more family members  in case of no family, employee can nominate person of choice but on acquiring family after that, the earlier nomination would be rendered invalid and a fresh nomination of family member would have to be made.



EPF investments are made in government securities and government-owned corporate bonds.



The CBDT allowed EPFO to invest in equity markets from august last year. As an aside, EPFO earned a negative return of 9.54 per cent on its ETF investments of Rs 5,920 crore since then. Keyword: Voluntary



Governed by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority for all citizens aged 18 and above but below 60 years. Scheme maturity is 60 years.



One can enrol for the scheme at authorised Points of Presence (POP), private and public sector banks and many financial institutions.



Transferable within geographies and between POPs



Tier-1 (limited withdrawable pension account with substantial tax benefits) minimum contribution Rs 500 aggregating Rs. 6,000 per year.



Tier-II (unlimited withdrawal saving & investment account with no tax benefit) minimum annual contribution Rs 2000. No cap on maximum investment.



On retirement, while a subscriber can opt out of NPS, he/she must invest minimum 40 per cent of accumulated savings in life annuities.



In the event of subscribers death, the nominee receives 100 per cent of the NPS pension fund.

Know How Employee contributes 12 per cent of basic salary and employer contributes equal amount (employer contributes 12 per cent for all employees, even those who have not opted for EPF)



The employers component is split into EPF (3.67%) and the Employees Pension Scheme (8.33%)



The return on EPF is decided by the government every year.



Ensures good returns (8.8 per cent for 2015-16)



Loans & withdrawals allowed for medical emergencies and occasions/needs like marriage, childrens education/house construction subject to conditions:

For events other than medical emergencies & house construction:

Minimum service span 7 years (exempt for medical emergencies)

Maximum 3 withdrawals

Maximum aggregate withdrawal 50% of total employee contribution For medical emergencies

No minimum service period stipulation

Maximum withdrawal 6 times basic salary

Proof of hospitalisation mandatory For house construction





Available once in employees work tenure

Minimum service span 5 years

Maximum withdrawable amount 36 times total salary for property construction and 24 times total salary for property purchase Subscriber has two investment choices :



Active choice - Individual Funds (E, C and G Asset classes)

Subscriber will have the option to actively decide as to how your NPS pension wealth is to be invested in the following three options:



E - "High return, High risk" - investments mainly in equity instruments



C - "Medium return, Medium risk" - investments mainly in fixed income instruments



G - "Low return, Low risk" - investments purely in fixed income instruments.



Subscriber can invest entire pension wealth in C or G asset classes up to a maximum of 50% in equity (Asset class E). One can also allocate funds across E, C and G asset classes, subject to PFRDA stipulations.



Subscriber needs to mandatorily convey Pension chosen Fund from among the seven PFRDA-appointed Pension Fund Managers.



Auto choice - Lifecycle Fund



This is for those unsure or incapable of managing NPS investments on their own. Also, this is the default option if subscriber fails to exercise any choice.



Investments are made into a life-cycle fund and fraction of funds invested across three asset classes is determined by a pre-defined portfolio.



At the lowest entry age (18 years), auto choice entails investment of 50% of pension funds in "E" Class, 30% in "C" Class and 20% in "G" Class.



These ratios of investment remains fixed for all contributions until the participant turns 36.

From age 36 onwards, the weight in "E" and "C" asset class decreases annually and the weight in "G" class increases annually till it reaches 10% in "E", 10% in "C" and 80% in "G" class at age 55.



Subscriber must mandatorily choose one PFM under auto choice.
WorkIndia, a marketplace that enables blue and grey collar employees find a job based on their skills, has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from BEENEXT, a Singapore-based early stage technology fund. Incepted in 2015, WorkIndia aims to organize the blue /grey collar sector in a way that employers can connect to the right employees, and that every employee can get a suitable job. (IAW)Accel Partners has managed to raise two really huge funds with a net worth of $2 Billion. This has a special significance in the current condition when investors across the world are tightening their purse strings. The company also managed to raise the money at a breakneck speed  barely two months after it began. It has also managed to top its last attempt at fundraising, by almost half a billion dollars. (KS)Cross-border payments company InstaReM announced receiving an investment of $5 million in Series A, led by US-based Vertex Ventures. Fullerton Financial Holdings and Global Founders Capital were the other investors. The investment will be used for licencing, geographic expansion, scaling the product, technical teams and marketing of the company that mainly serves Asia. (YS)Bangalore-based edtech startup Avagmah has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Kris Gopalakrishnan (co-founder & former CEO of Infosys) and Atul Nishar (founder of Hexaware & Aptech Computer Education). The startup will use the latest investment on enhancing technology to acquire new Indian university clients. It currently works with three universities that include Pondicherry University, Bharathidasan University and Los Angeles-based UCLA Extension. (INC42)CrowdStreet, a leading real estate investor acquisition and management platform, today announced that it has raised $3.5 million in Series A funding. Rally Ventures led the round with participation from seed investors Green Visor Capital, Seven Peaks Ventures and Portland Seed Fund. (MW)Prenetics, a Hong Kong-based medical technology company, has raised a $10 million Series A round for its DNA testing technology that helps doctors provide more accurate diagnoses and better understand their patients. (TC)TradeSocio, a fintech company catering to a variety of channels through its disruptive analytics and big data suite, has raised a sum of $1.25 million in a seed funding round led by Singapore-based investment holding group, Octava. (FM)
India's new price formula and calibrated marketing freedom for gas produced from fields in difficult terrain could help attract investments in the country's oil and gas sector, said Standard & Poor's Ratings Services. The government also simplified the future auction process, proposing a revenue sharing model to replace the current profit sharing model. In addition, all exploration and production (E&P) activities will require just a single license, and bidders will be free to choose areas for exploration from among the fields up for auction."The new policies are credit positive for Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd. (ONGC) and Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL), but meaningful cash flows are a few years away," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Vishal Kulkarni. "This is because, while we expect the investments in the difficult fields to increase gradually, meaningful production from such fields will take much longer."Some of the difficult fields are green field projects and many discoveries will need approvals for capital outlays and time to implement. Therefore, it will take at least three years for these fields to start production. Still, the attractive pricing could help accelerate investment decisions in these fields, in our view. The Indian government estimates that the new pricing could help monetize more than US$25 billion of reserves that are still to be put to production from about 38 fields.Under the new formula, gas prices would be capped at the lowest of the imported cost of fuel oil, landed price of liquefied natural gas (LNG), or weighted average of imported price of coal, fuel oil, and naphtha. These prices will be reset semiannually and will be applicable for future discoveries and existing discoveries that are yet to start commercial production.We believe the new policy is credit positive for ONGC (BBB-/Stable/--) over the long term. However, our rating on the company remains unaffected, given the time lag in the expected boost to cash flows and the financial burden of the possibly high budgeted capital expenditure for extraction from difficult fields. ONGC plans to invest about Indian rupee (INR) 400 billion in its deep water field in the Krishna Godavari basin. The expected increase in prices under the new mechanism could prompt ONGC to speed this up, with production expected to start in fiscal 2019. Our base-case projections for the company include this spending.We expect RIL (BBB+/Stable/--) to make the investments in difficult gas fields relatively later, given its current investment focus on the non-gas business. Also, the gas business is not a substantial contributor to the company's cash flows, a scenario that is unlikely to change significantly over the next two to three years. RIL may also need to withdraw litigation over certain ongoing pricing-related disputes with the government to benefit from the new pricing mechanism. We do not expect the new gas pricing to affect the rating on RIL.We expect the pricing formula to almost double the prices of domestic gas from difficult fields to about US$7 per million British thermal units (mmbtu), from the current US$3.8 an mmbtu. This is because the new formula is only applicable to gas produced from high-pressure, high-temperature, deep-water, and ultra deep-sea areas. At present, domestic gas prices are determined by a formula of average gas prices in gas surplus geographies. Given India's gas production deficit and emerging gas transport infrastructure, prices under the new formula will be closer to that of regional peers. For example, natural gas prices in Thailand and Indonesia are about US$8 an mmbtu."The higher gas prices could augment India's domestic gas production by about 35% over the next few years," said Mr. Kulkarni. "However, healthy alternative fuel prices and a transparent and sustainable pricing policy will be necessary to stimulate private sector participation."Alternative fuel prices, to which India's gas prices are indexed, should stay healthy for the derived gas prices to remain attractive and support new investments in the sector. Given the large capital commitments and long gestation period of the logistically and operationally difficult hydrocarbon E&P projects, investors will like to see policy transparency and sustainability through the cycle.Overall, the gas pricing framework in India remains somewhat complex with at least four different pricing mechanisms: gas prices for normal fields; gas prices for marginal fields; new price formula for gas from difficult fields; and prices for imported gas. The new policies will increase investments in the difficult fields but prices of gas from normal fields will still stay subdued, discouraging investments in that segment.The government's new policy approvals in hydrocarbon E&P could help bring in transparency and lower administrative complexities in the sector. Its proposal to replace the current production sharing contract mechanism with a revenue sharing model and a single license for all hydrocarbon exploration could boost investment sentiment.The proposed revenue sharing model for future field auctions could also lower the investment delays due the differences between contactors and government. These differences are with respect to the E&P costs, on the complete recovery of which the government is entitled to profit sharing from hydrocarbons produced. In the past, these differences have resulted in prolonged litigations, deterred new investments, and delayed new production.Similarly, the new policy of issuing one license to allow E&P of all forms of hydrocarbons and allowing bidders to choose areas from designated blocks could smoothen field auctions. A single license to explore and produce conventional oil and gas as well as unconventional shale oil and gas and coal-bed methane improves upon the existing policy of separate licenses for each.The government also extended contracts for some small and midsize discovered fields to help contractors recover hydrocarbons that otherwise would not be recoverable during the remaining period of contract.
Attracting a consortium of strategic investors to participate in the Taas-Yuryakh Neftegasodobycha Project, the Russian Oil major legally binding share sale agreement Rosneft has signed with three of Indian oil biggies for selling 29.9% stake. The deal is valued at US$ 3.1 billion.At the agreement signing ceremony, the document was signed by Igor Sechin, Chairman of the Management Board at Rosneft, Upendra Singh, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Oil India, Balasubramanian Ashok, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Indian Oil Corporation and Raji Kumar, MD of Bharat Petroresources. The ceremony took place in the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India.The document provides for the entry of the Indian companies' consortium into the joint venture (JV) established by Rosneft and BP on the basis of Taas-Yuryakh Neftegasodobycha. Price parameters of the transaction with Indian companies are similar to the terms of the agreement with BP signed at the St-Petersburg Economic Forum in June 2015. Rosneft will retain a majority stake in the JV. The transaction will be closed after set of condition precedents are accomplished and Rosnefts Board of Directors approval is obtained.Attracting strategic investors will give additional momentum to the development of Srednebotuobinskoye field, one of the largest oil and gas condensate fields in East Siberia, currently producing about 20 thousand barrels of oil per day. The JV is planning to create the infrastructure for further exploration and development of the reserves in the region.Commenting on the agreement signed, Igor Sechin said, "The joint venture with our Indian and British partners allows to make the most of the technological, resource and commercial potential of all of the JVs participants. Joined efforts of Rosneft, BP, Oil India, Indian Oil and Bharat Petroresources allow a significant acceleration of the Upstream projects implementation by virtue of increasing JV financial potential as well as open new prospects for marketing the East Siberian hydrocarbons".Russia is a longstanding and time-tested partner of India. I am happy, that India and Russia have high levels of understanding and cooperation in almost all areas of the bilateral relationship. We are committed to work together to further strengthen the India-Russia relations in the hydrocarbon sector, said Dharmendra Pradhan.
IBM is, reportedly, struggling to renew the $1-billion IT outsourcing contract of Vodafone India, which is set to expire in 3 months. The contract, expiring in last week of June is considered one of the largest telecom contracts in Asia.Vodafone has exploring options to hand over a bigger chunk of its outsourcing business to other technology vendors by reducing its reliance on IBM according to earlier reports. Ahead of the expiry, the telecom operator is said to initiate the process of negotiating the extension of the $1-billion contract with the software giant.The diversion of Vodafone's interest could be a major blow to IBM, in light of which the IT firm has been, reportedly, fighting hard against its domestic and international rivals to retrieve its share in Vodafone's outsourcing business.Reports strike a comparison between a similar contract with the country's largest telco Bharti Airtel, wherein IBM had a monopoly over the operators outsourcing business. However, renewal of the contract reduced IBM's share to $100 million of Airtel's annual outsourcing business.
Finally BSE Sensex ended with a gain of 131 points at 24,628. The BSE Sensex opened at 24,537 touched an intra-day high of 24,706 and low of 24,355.The NSE Nifty closed with a gain of 38 points at 7,499. The NSE Nifty opened at 7,457 hitting a high of 7,508 and low of 7,405.The India VIX (Volatility) index was down 2.74% to 17.1150.The Indian Rupee was trading up by 17 paise at 67.40 per US dollar.On the global front, China's Shanghai Composite index ended marginally higher 0.21% and Hang Seng closed down.In Europe, the FTSE 100 marginally up 0.12%. On the other hand, DAX and the CAC 40 were trading up 0.3% each.ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ITC, Cipla, Infosys, Axis Bank and Tech Mahindra were among the gainers on NSE, whereas Hindalco, Vedanta, Asian Paints, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Yes Bank, Cairn India, Idea Cellular were among the losers today.
Ministry of Finance plans to hold a meeting of senior recovery officer by next week to tackle the damage of loan default cases in public sector banks. Such a move is an effort to retrieve loans granted to large borrowers.



The ministry has sent letters seeking informations on Kingfisher Airlines by Enforcement Directorate. MoF stated that banks should be proactive and if required, take necessary steps to avoid such situations, according to reports.



Major defaulter cases that may arise for discussion includes Winsome Diamond & Jewellery, Zoom Developers, Electrotherm India and S Kumars Nationwide.



FM Arun Jaitley acknowledged the banks stating that they should have acted earlier to stop Mallya from going abroad. He added let the bankers take all steps to recover their money. If somebody is responsible for inaction or any other matter of this kind coming to our notice, we will certainly look into that and take appropriate action.



The government might also ask investigating agencies, including the Central Vigilance Commission, to consider the accountability of other professionals enrolled by banks during the loan sanction process.
Den Networks Ltd stock was higher by 18% at Rs. 97.Report says that the company is planning to sell 50% stake in Star Den for Rs.40.3 crore.Shares of Ricoh India nosedived by 9.42% to Rs. 517 after India Ratings downgraded the companys long-term rating of 'IND AA-' on watch negative, outlook stable. The downgrade rating is attributed to a delay in publishing Q2 FY16, Q3 FY16 financial results by the company.Alok Industries rallied 9.4% to Rs.4.43 on BSE. As per media reports, PE funds and few textile majors are in race to buy the company. The company experienced a spurt in volumes by more than 1.53 times.



Lux Industries jumped 14.9% to Rs.3452.50 on BSE. The company is going to consider sub division of its equity shares. The meeting of the board of directors of the company will be held on April 12, 2016, to consider and approve the sub division of equity shares of the company. It will also consider alteration of memorandum of association of the company. Rajesh Exports Ltd stock was down 9.5% at Rs. 586.80. The company announced that a meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on March 21, 2016 to propose and declare interim Dividend on the paid up equity share capital of the company for the financial year 2015-16 and to consider and discuss certain business propositions. Cairn India dipped 1% to Rs.148.30 after the Income Tax Department has slapped on UK's Cairn Energy plc a tax demand notice of over Rs 29,000 crore, including Rs. 18,800 crore in back dated interest, according to reports.gained 2.3% to Rs.35.90 after the company said it decided the opening of the Global Depository Receipts Issue on 18 March.Shares of Sequent Scientific are trading 0.39% lower at Rs. 170.40 on BSE after the company told ET Now that it is looking at investments in Brazil over the next 12 months.

Adani Enterprises slipped 1.4% to Rs.65.40 on BSE. The Parliament in the Australian state of Queensland agreed on Tuesday that the company should be granted "all state government approvals" to build one of the world's biggest coal mines, state mining minister Anthony Lynham said.Shares ofare currently trading 2.46% higher at Rs. 209.50 after the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines (EDQM) Ad Hoc Committee suspended he certificate of suitability for three of the companys drugs. RPP Infra Projects jumped 3.2% to Rs.109.20 after the company has announced that it has bagged an order worth Rs. 309mn from Karnataka State Police Housing & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.Shares of two-wheeler manufacturers like Bajaj Auto and Hero MotoCorp are trading lower after registration of BS III new models of two-wheelers coming to a halt in Delhi.

DLF stock trading down 0.28% at Rs.105.40. Sebi allowed foreign portfolio investors to invest in newly launched products -- REITs, InvITs and AIFs and permitted them to acquire corporate bonds under default. Crompton Greaves Ltd stock was higher by 4% at Rs. 46.50. The stock was trading lower yesterday because the proposed demerger plan of the consumer products business came into effect.The Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, yesterday made it compulsory for the fertilizer companies to print the MRP and available subsidy on each bag of P&K fertilizers. Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers, yesterday informed the Lok Sabha.Following the move, shares of fertilizers companies are trading on a mixed note. Stocks of 11 companies are trading in the red.Among the losers, Dharamsi Morarji is trading at Rs. 54.75 (-2.58%), JK Agri Teck at Rs. 380 (-2.06%), GNFC at Rs. 81.30 (-1.87%), Mangalore Chemicals at Rs. 37.35 (-2.99%), Shree Pushkar Chemicals at Rs. 113.70 (-1.04%). Among the gainers, Madras Fertilizers is trading at Rs. 11.96 (2.75%), Khaitan Chemicals at Rs. 8.49 (3.42%) and Coromandel International at Rs. 172.40 (0.82%).Alphageo (India) gained 1.5% to Rs.584 on BSE. The company said that it has received a contract from Oil India for provision of 2D seismic acquisition services in the areas covering parts of Assam & Arunachal Pradesh for an estimated contract value of Rs. 102.42 crore. The contract is to be executed by November 2018. This contract is under National Seismic Program for acquisition of 2D Seismic Data in unappraised areas of North East India entrusted to Oil India.
Though the American pharma majors Indian arm was granted interim relief from the Delhi High Court on March 15, shareholders of Pfizer Ltd continue to feel the pinch on Dalal Street.Pfizers stock tumbled to a fresh 52-week low of Rs. 1,676 during the session.On March 10, 2016, the government banned nearly 300 drugs in India which are sold illegally and Pfizers Corex - a codeine-based cough syrup is one of them. It is pertinent to note that Corex is one of the largest selling drugs in India.Since the governments decision to ban Corex, Pfizers stock has plunged 12.79% in three trading sessions. Besides, the market cap of the company has eroded by a whopping Rs. 1,534.23 crore (till 1:12 am, March 16).Pfizer Ltd is currently trading at Rs. 1681.1, down by Rs. 24.2 or 1.42% from its previous closing of Rs. 1705.3 on the BSE.The scrip opened at Rs. 1727 and has touched a high and low of Rs. 1727 and Rs. 1676 respectively. So far 80824(NSE+BSE) shares were traded on the counter. The current market cap of the company is Rs. 7801.36 crore.The BSE group 'A' stock of face value Rs. 10 has touched a 52 week high of Rs. 2724 on 22-Sep-2015 and a 52 week low of Rs. 1693.6 on 15-Mar-2016. Last one week high and low of the scrip stood at Rs. 1945 and Rs. 1693.6 respectively.The promoters holding in the company stood at 63.92 % while Institutions and Non-Institutions held 12.86 % and 23.22 % respectively.The stock is currently trading above its 200 DMA.
VST Tillers Tractors Ltd ended at Rs. 1482.75, up by Rs. 6 or 0.41% from its previous closing of Rs. 1476.75 on the BSE.

The scrip opened at Rs. 1484 and touched a high and low of Rs. 1504 and Rs. 1454.5 respectively. A total of 3577(NSE+BSE) shares were traded on the counter. The current market cap of the company is Rs. 1275.84 crore.

The BSE group 'B' stock of face value Rs. 10 touched a 52 week high of Rs. 1660 on 07-Jul-2015 and a 52 week low of Rs. 1221 on 27-Mar-2015. Last one week high and low of the scrip stood at Rs. 1493 and Rs. 1422.25 respectively.

The promoters holding in the company stood at 53.99 % while Institutions and Non-Institutions held 18.85 % and 27.17 % respectively.

The stock traded below its 50 DMA.

VST Tillers Tractors Ltd has announced that it has signed MoU with Karnataka Government.
Authored by Speaker of the Indiana House, Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, HEA 1002 will create a scholarship fund for Hoosier high school students who aspire to be teachers. High students ranking in the top 20 percent of their graduating class could be eligible to receive up to $7,500 per year to help pay for four years of (in-state) college. To be eligible to receive the funds, students must agree to stay and teach in Indiana schools for five years after they graduate college and become teachers.

According to not-for-profit education advocacy group Stand for Children Indiana, the bills effectiveness will depend on the legislatures future commitment to funding these scholarships in the near and long term. Legislators must follow through in the longer 2017 budget session by adding necessary funding to before the program could make a measurable impact. Currently, no funding is in place, and the first potential recipient of a teaching scholarship would be June of 2017.

According to an interview with Bosma earlier in the legislative session, 200 students would benefit in the first year of the program, at a cost of $1.5 million. Eventually, 800 students will benefit, at a cost of $6 million per year. The first four years of the programs enactment will cost the state $15.2 million.

In Indiana, and across the country, teaching has tragically fallen from the ranks of top professions, despite the fact our educators are the most important people in shaping future leaders and building a great workforce, said Stand for Children Indianas Executive Director Justin Ohlemiller.

Critics of the legislation argue that while a beneficial piece of legislation, it may not go far enough. Nothing has been done to address loan forgiveness of current educators, nor does this bill help anyone who is presently in college pursuing a degree in education.

Loan forgiveness was not included in HEA 1002. However, this will remain one of Stand Indianas top priorities moving forward. Everything from significantly bolstering salaries to improving teacher preparation to offering loan forgiveness to educators needs to be on the table if were going to truly raise up the teaching profession, said Stand for Children Indiana communications and marketing director, Kate Shepherd. Teaching is one of the most important jobs in our society and most members of the profession say it is a calling. The more attractive we can make it for people to answer that call, and the more we can do to elevate the profession, the better. The majority of teachers are extremely dedicated to their students. Its a difficult job, but Stand Indiana is confident that Hoosiers will continue to enter this incredibly rewarding profession. 

The Indiana General Assembly reconvenes in January, 2017 to draw up a new two-year budget for the State, and appropriate funding to programs like the teaching scholarship fund.
They fought for integration, equal education and voter registration.

There were Freedom Rides, a march on Washington and mayhem on Selmas Edmund Pettus Bridge. There were sit-ins, brutal attacks and stands against violence.

In the end, freedom was achieved  at least in part.

There is no question that the Civil Rights Movement was a defining time in American history  said Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League. It significantly changed the landscape of the country.

It has been chronicled in countless news stories and books. Most people who participated, watched it unfold, or learned about it later agree that it was the seminal protest crusade in U.S. history.

But they disagree on when it started, when it ended and how it should be identified: Was it the civil rights movement or the Civil Rights Movement?

Sixty years after the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the story of the Civil Rights Movement still is being written, historians and activists say. Some consider it a historic era. They believe that referring to the movement informally or generally  in the lowercase  minimizes its importance. One-hundred years from now, Civil Rights Movement will indicate that something monumental happened.

But others say the movement was a series of events that started when enslaved people began to run away  soon after the first ships delivered their human cargo  and the abolitionists demanded their freedom, said Library of Congress historian Adrienne Cannon.

The thinking is that its a civil rights struggle, and that it extends over a period of centuries and has different phases to it, Cannon said. Thats much different from the more standard chronological paradigm.

Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad, director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, agreed. One of the challenges with capitalizing it is determining when it began and ended, Muhammad said. Historians dont agree on that. The question then becomes: When was the Civil Rights Movement?

Dorie Ladner, a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) member who was with Medgar Evers just hours before his assassination in Mississippi in 1963, said invoking the movement informally trivializes the struggle.

It doesnt matter when you think it started  with the Dred Scott decision in 1857, when the Supreme Court decided that a black person wasnt a whole person, or with the courts decision in the Brown school desegregation case in 1954  it should be referred to with capital letters, said Ladner, of Washington, D.C.

University of California, Riverside history professor V.P. Franklin, editor of the Journal of African American History, said he and the Journal use the formal reference. The Journal was founded by black historian Carter G. Woodson in 1915.

Franklin said the movement spanned from the Brown case to the founding of the Black Panther Party in 1966, and was characterized by related social, political and cultural activities.

Theres an evolution that goes from events to campaigns to a movement, Franklin said. A movement, such as the Civil Rights Movement, is an historic era, the same as the Progressive Movement and the Womens Liberation Movement.

Many publications and websites geared to black audiences, such as Black Enterprise and Ebony, follow the Journals example. Not so, for many mainstream publications.

The Associated Press spokesman Paul Colford said via email that the news agency, the style guide for many news organizations, follows Websters example.

Merriam-Webster editor Peter Sokolowski said the company make(s) every attempt to reflect actual current usage.

A quick check on the phrase civil rights movement shows that lower-case styling is overwhelmingly preferred by newspapers and magazines including the AP, The New York Times  the Chicago Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Guardian, he said.

Professor Franklin said historians ultimately will decide how to record the Civil Rights Movement. He said the mainstream media often are slow to update references to blacks.

A lot of publications have changed it  Its a matter of pointing out to them that using the lowercase is outdated and  denigrating, he said. Its a matter of putting pressure on them to adopt it 

Capital Press Club President Barbara Arnwine, the former head of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, said the magnitude of the Civil Rights Movement has yet to be measured.

Show me another era that had the same impact that this one had, she said. They were responsible for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. None of those accomplishments would have occurred had it not been for that movement.
A man approached her on the street asking for directions. Since the destination was in the vicinity, she helped him out. They had a juice together. Moments later, she takes the man home and helps him gather all her belongings, including her savings, and hands it over to him.

A few hundred kilometres away, a man woke up to a completely empty apartment. Bewildered about what might have happened, he went and enquired with the building guard about his belongings. The guard recalled him carrying out his furniture among other things with his "friends" the night before and loading it all on a truck. "Why didn't you stop me when you could see I was doing something stupid?"

The guard quipped, "Because you told me not to interfere."

Guardian

The world's most dangerous drug

What would an appropriate reaction be in this case? Do you respond with shock and fear, or should one be thankful thinking it could've easily been something much worse? The drug is burandanga, or scopolamine, also commonly known as 'The Devil's Breath'. A drug that attacks your free will more than anything else. A drug that can kill you, or make you kill. You could actually find countless stories like the one mentioned above of how criminals in Columbia and Ecuador use the drug on unsuspecting people, mainly travellers, taking away the victim's free will and then assaulting them or robbing them blind.

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What urban legends say

Scopolamine is up one level from roofies. The hypnotic drug found in powder form is blown into strangers' faces turning them into coherent zombies completely at the mercy of the other person. Even after the drug wears off, the person will have no recollection of what might have taken place in eight hours prior. During these eight hours, anything could happen, and you're really at the mercy of the one who's drugged you. A lot of urban legends surround the drug with accounts of some people recalling horror stories of how, in a zombie-like state, the victims run the risk of having all their savings taken away from them, getting their homes robbed, having their organs stolen, being raped, murdered, or even made to commit a heinous crime.

Vice/Youtube

Roots

Devil's Breath is made from the flower and the seeds of the "borrachero" shrub commonly found in Colombia. Containing a chemical compound known as "burandanga", the drug has been used by many natives of South America for their spiritual rituals. The compound is known to induce hallucinations, frightening images and a lack of free will. Amnesia is the worst bit though, leaving the victim clueless about what happened just a few hours back or making them unable to identify the perpetrators. In a large dose, it can also lead to death from respiratory failure.

According to an unofficial estimate, there are over 50,000 incidents with scopolomine every year, most of them occurring in clubs and bars, on foreigners. But if you go by things going on in the streets of Colombia, it's the men who look like they come from well-to do families who are often targeted by attractive young women looking to make a quick buck, and not the other way round.

But incidents involving the Devil's Breath have not only been restricted to South America. In Paris, last year, a gang of five Chinese nationals were arrested for running a racket at the airport and some of the other popular hubs of the town.

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History

Is it a new find? Not at all. It's one of the first drugs to be used during interrogations in the 20th century. The erstwhile Soviet Union and the CIA are known to have been using it as the truth serum during the Cold War. Joseph Mengeles, a Nazi physician who dubbed it as the Angel of Death, had admitted to having imported the drug from Colombia to use in Nazi interrogations. Some doctors even prescribed it for patients kept under observation as a relief drug. Patients were given small doses to make them forget the pain they were in. It was also given to pregnant women going through labour in some countries. Back in the day, Colombian mistresses of dead Colombian leaders were given the drug before being willingly led to their master's grave and buried alive.

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The world still doesn't know everything about it

Thankfully, it's not a drug that's easy to acquire because it's not something you'd take for any pleasurable purpose. It's quite a horrible experience, in fact. It makes your mouth dry, and your pupils constrict. There are some positives, with some claiming it can help treat motion sickness and being effective against certain forms of severe depression, if given in the right doses. Having said that, it still remains a very mystic compound, and researchers still aren't a hundred percent sure about what it actually does to the human body. Experts are still researching about the reason behind the rise of scopolamine-related incidents in Colombia. But it goes without saying that one needs to be aware and prepared in South America for incidents of such a kind because, as Dementia Black, a scopolamine drug dealer speaking to Vice, puts it, It works in a flash. You wait for a minute for it to kick in and then you know you own that person. You can guide them wherever you want. Its like theyre a child.





With inputs from Vice, Guardian, Telegraph and Drugs.com
India has one of the largest armies in the world, and for the longest time it had women only in medical and educational roles. It was in 1992 when the Army opened all its doors for women, and since then, the number of women in the Army has been on the rise. Now, women are offered diverse and lucrative roles in the Armed Forces suggesting that this is probably the best time to join. Read on as we tell you why.

1. Unlike the private sector, there is no disparity in pay.

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Its true. All the officers of the same rank get the same salary. Inconsistency in salaries is still a common problem in several fields elsewhere, but that's not the case with the Armed Forces.

2. Every officer gets equal opportunity to succeed.

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Theres a straight way to rise up the ladder, and everybody has to clear tests at regular intervals. These determine your future, nothing else.

3. Women can now fly fighter planes, and take up other combat roles.

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Recently, President Pranab Mukherjee announced that women will be allowed in combat roles, dismissing the longest running debate in the history of the Armed Forces. He said, My government has approved the induction of women as short-service commission officers and as fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force. In the future, my government will induct women in all the fighter streams of our armed forces. That is certainly progressive, and will make us a part of a handful of countries that allow women in combat roles including New Zealand, Germany, Israel and the United States.

4. The military nursing service is a highly reputed branch of the Army, and a great place to work for women.

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Its literally the department that keeps the army going. This is the department that cures people and takes care of them.

5. In fact, if teaching is your passion the Army Education Core has women employees that are involved in training.

6. All officers, men and women, get to lead and manage massive troops.

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Leading a big troop is the best way to imbibe a team spirit and leadership values. The Armed Forces is the avenue that will teach you these skills like no other place in the world.

7. Armed forces are the only government entity where youre assured a pension on retirement.

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Earlier women joined the Army for a short period of time in which pension and other benefits were unavailable. But, in 2010, the Delhi High Court granted women permanent commission in the Army which includes added benefits. Well, thats good news since your finances even after retirement are secured.

8. The A rmed Forces allow you to continue your studies while serving the Army.

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Now thats a win-win for sure. For those of you who want to get another degree or further their career after the Army, the Armed Forces is a great option. You have options to opt for courses, or take a study leave if you wish to.

9. Women leading contingents are making headlines everywhere, so you know the opportunities are spread far and wide.

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10. And arent the uniforms just classy?

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11. T he respect youll command in and outside the forces will be priceless.

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Ladies, are you listening? It's time to conquer the world!
The world of showbiz attracts almost everyone. Come to think of it, what's not to like? It has glamour, luxury and the best of all money! But do you ever wonder what lies behind this stunning scenario? Dont we read a lot of cases of models, actors and fashion designers not being able to cope with failures and committing suicide or declaring bankruptcy? Many resort to dependency on drugs and alcohol to cope with the pressure. The picture doesnt seem as rosy now, does it?

I became acquainted with one such case when I read about Nikki DuBose. A former model-turned-mental-health-activist, DuBose reached out to Indiatimes with her life story - one that can make even the toughest person shudder.

After an early start as a model at the tender age of 15, DuBose faced body shaming, an eating disorder, and drug and alcohol abuse.

Early Life

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Nikkis struggle with life began at a very early age. Talking about it, she said:

For most of my life I remained silent. Silent about being physically abused as a child. Silent about being sexually victimized, having eating disorders, depression, body dysmorphic disorder, self-harming, and watching my mother drink herself to her actual death as a result of being a victim of domestic violence.

Life as a model

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Talking about her many experiences as a top model, she said, During my career as a fashion and swimsuit model, I carried all of my mental health issues with me, and believed that I had no voice, no worth, no value. I landed in a career that oftentimes mirrored my childhood  it was psychologically damaging. Many of the agents, clients, casting directors and photographers would tell me that I was beautiful one minute, then put me down the next and tell me that I needed to lose inches and pounds in order to secure jobs. And I heard that nearly every day for years; after a while, it took a toll on my overall health. After struggling with bulimia nervosa I stopped eating altogether and developed anorexia nervosa in an effort to please my superiors, look "good enough" for the industry and earn as much money as I could.

Handling the pressure

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There was a point in her career when she was dealing with a lot of career pressure. That is when a tragic incident took place that changed her life forever.

Then there were the other looming issues that no one seemed to want to talk about  the pressure to sleep around in order to "boost" your public profile and get better bookings, and the sexual harassment that circled around. Some photographers were a bit creepy on shoots, but most were professional and I always felt in control. However, the unwanted advances came from the director of my agency. There was flirting, invites to "model dinners" which involved select models, the director, his friends and the owner of the agency, and then I was asked back to the director's house on multiple occasions. He had a girlfriend  also another model - and he was always booking her on long shoots far away. I always wondered if she knew about his ways.

Life post-rape

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We cannot even imagine the extent of pain and agony that a rape survivor goes through. Following the incident, her life went for a toss, and that is when she decided to stand up for herself.

At the time I felt pressured to do what I did, and to not use my voice. Now things are different because I've dealt with the issues from my childhood and know how to say "NO." However back then I was a people-pleaser and felt that I had to give in to pressures because I had no self-esteem. I was so used to being abused and letting others control me that I allowed those situations to continue. And letting others abuse me eventually got me into serious trouble.

All of this led to being drugged and raped. Raped by a photographer at a lunch that was organized by the director of my agency. Where did this rape occur? At the director's very own house in Miami. Later, when I confronted the director about what had happened, I was shot down and made to feel as though I was crazy.

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Unfortunately, this is such a common occurrence - victim is raped. Perpetrator gets away and walks around in society, unscathed. Society tends to blame or not believe the victim, therefore allowing the cycle of abuse to continue. And this attitude trickles into many areas  child abuse, sexual victimisation, eating disorders, the modeling industry, rape, on and on. We, as a society have an issue with denial. Yes, it is true that victims must learn to use their voices and the importance of personal responsibility, however difficult. However, society must also take responsibility and learn that no one deserves to be raped, no one deserves to be abused. Even if someone is naked, drunk, that is not an invitation for another person to violate their personal space. We have a responsibility as a society and as individuals, to love one another.

Here's the video of her documentary in alliance with 'Real Women Real Stories':

Her memoir Washed Away: From Darkness To Light talks about her full story and how she recovered from abuse, rape, eating disorders and the darker side of the modeling industry.
indicine

Sidharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt are our favourite "rumoured" Bollywood couple. While rumor mills have been abuzz with their growing romance, it seems that they have no qualms about indulging in PDA and speaking at length about each other. Those who have seen them will agree when we say that their real life natural ease and candid vibe speak oodles about what they feel for each other. Moreover, they've been dropping hints for ages!

And then there's this list of things that Alia said about Sid.

1. "I am very comfortable with Sid, which is the best thing about working with him. The bad thing is that he is so gorgeous that I can easily get lost in his eyes. So he is a big distraction for me."

Like a little girl, Alia chuckles in the presence of Sid. On and off she has even been caught looking straight into his eyes. Well, now we know why.

2. "We'll miss each other!"

The duo recently gave us more reason to believe in their rumoured relationship. Alia answered that the two would miss each other when asked about what she'd miss after their latest film Kapoor And Sons releases. We'll miss them onscreen too! May the fondness only grow.

3. "Three words are not enough to describe Sidharth."

Alia and Sidharth might have chosen to go the "neither admitting nor denying" way, but buzz around their alleged love-life doesn't escape the prying eyes of their fans. During an interview, Alia found three words too little to describe the hunk. Let's hope she's willing to speak about him in detail soon.

4. "Sidharth is like family."

Since Delhi boy Sid stays alone in Mumbai, he regularly visits Alia, who lives with her mother and sister to spend time with her family. The alleged couple had grown closer after spending New Year's eve in the US last year. It was even heard that Alia spent time with Sid's parents when they came to Mumbai. The fact that the two have moved on from 'shying away from the media' to 'openly expressing their affection' is only adding fuel to the fire.

5. "I don't think I understood the value of relationships or of maintaining them earlier."

Alia said that since their debut in Student Of The Year, both of them have become more mature and understanding towards each other.

6. "Happy birthday, you beautiful person."

On Sidharth's birthday in January, Alia took to Twitter to wish him. Sid in turn replied to her in a cute way - "Thank you love, big hug." Well, with so many rumours surrounding their affair, don't blame us for reading between the lines.

The two are frequently spotted together at film screenings and award functions. Even their entry and exit at parties is coordinated. Sidharth had gifted Alia a high-end camera imported from the US last year. He was heard saying that he wanted to ensure that Alia had the best and latest equipment to fulfill her photography aspirations.

According to a report, Sidharth had agreed that he was indeed seeing Alia during the shooting of one of their films! Moreover, the very fact that Sid reacted to rude comments made by KRK about Alia speaks volumes about his protective attitude towards her.

Let's hope they confirm their togetherness soon :)
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The buzz around Tamil action movie '2.0', sequel to the blockbuster Enthiran, is getting bigger and better by the day. Now we hear that lead actor Rajinikanth and the film's antagonist Akshay Kumar will indulge in some high octane action in the film. And the exciting part is some of its important portions will be shot at Delhi' Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium from tomorrow.

"Some high-octane action sequences will be shot in this schedule, which will last for over a month. Some key portions will be shot at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the rest will be shot in and around the city. The team has erected massive and expensive sets to shoot this action portion. " - says an unnamed source from the unit of the movie.

catchnews

(Read: 7 Times Akshay Kumar Gushed About Working With South Megastar Rajinikanth!)

Directed by Shankar, the film also stars Amy Jackson and it being shot in 3D. Akshay who replaced Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger, is apparently very excited about signing the project. AR Rahman and Resul Pookutty (both Oscar winners for Slumdog Millionaire) are composing and sound designing for the film respectively.

Considering the JLN Stadium is also hosting the Amazon India Fashion Week Autumn-Winter 2016, it needs to be seen how big the film's shoot will turn out to be. But all said and done, Delhi is set to beam with excitement for the next one month. Yay!
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A while ago we had told you about how Nana Patekar is helping out families of Maharashtra farmers who committed suicide. Along with his partner Makarand Anaspure, Patekar adopted a number of Maharashtra villages and provided monetary aid to the farmers' families. They even have an NGO, NAAM Foundation, which provides all kinds of help to the affected farmers and their families.

Nana Patekar was recently spotted helping out the widows of farmers who committed suicide, and distributing them sewing machines so that they can earn their livelihood.

The event attracted no media attention and wasn't talked about all over the internet, yet that did not deter Patekar to do his bit. A facebook user, Amit Bajpai, posted these pictures from the event, and they tell the entire tale. You can clearly see Nana consoling the women as they break into tears.

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Nana Patekar has indeed managed to set up an example for the entire industry out there. You don't always need all the media attention and the limelight on you to do charity and help out those in need. He surely proves that if you have the correct intent, you can definitely make a difference in the society, with or without all the media glare.
Police in Aland taluk of Kalaburagi district, north Karnataka, have created a record of sorts by catching a man accused of stealing lemons 40 years ago.

TOI

The lemons that were stolen from a farm on November 16, 1976, were then worth Rs 300. The accused, Dasharatha Paradi, 57, is a labourer from a nomadic tribe.

"Paradi had stolen lemons stored in gunny bags and kept at a farm in Gola village near Kalaburagi. The lemon farm belonged to Shankara Gowda Patil and the complainant was lodged by Pandu Gundu Chowhan, who also worked in the same farm," police said.In his statement, Chowhan, who died recently, had said he suspected Dasharatha Paradi of stealing the lemons. However, Paradi went missing and police efforts to track him went in vain.

In January, Kalaburagi police decided to take a relook at some long-pending cases and department seniors announced a cash reward for cracking them. One of the cases selected was that of Paradi's. A special police team led by MV Suryawanshi, DySP Aland circle, was formed. Sub-inspector of Narona Shivashankar Sahu was appointed the investigating officer to track Paradi.

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"Aware of the tribe's lifestyle, we started gathering information on nomadic families in and around north Karnataka. After two months of search, we came across a man by the same name at Taj Sultanpur, a village 30km from Kalaburagi," said DySP Suryawanshi.

Sahu and his team visited Paradi's family in the guise of government officials. Soon they began questioning the man who said he was living at Gola village in 1976. Sahu eventually revealed that they were cops and had come in search of the lemon thief. To their surprise, Paradi confessed to the crime and he was arrested immediately. Paradi also disclosed that he had sold the lemons at a fair in nearby Afzalpur.

A bachelor when he committed the offence, Paradi is now father of four children and sells scrap materials for a living. He was produced before a local court in Aland which remanded him in judicial custody and sent him to Kalaburagi prison.
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In a really shocking incident, a TV anchor in Hyderabad, Nirosha, committed suicide while she was on a Skype call with a friend. She was a Telugu television anchor for a music channel and was all of 23 years. She killed herself by hanging herself at a hostel in Hyderabad today.

According to the reports, she apparently fought with her male friend on the Skype call and started tying herself to the ceiling fan while still on the call! The friend, who is based in Canada, called the police around midnight in a desperate attempt to save her. But sadly by the time the police reached her hostel she was already dead. The police have registered a case under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Nirosha was an anchor with Telugu music channel Gemini and has earlier worked with other news channels as well. Further details are awaited.
If you thought it was only the Sparrows of Delhi and Tigers of Sunderbans on red alert list for extinction, you may be unpleasantly surprised to know that such is not the case. In fact, out of 96,000 animal species in the country, more than 50 have been assessed as "critically endangered" and 310 as "endangered", the Rajya Sabha was informed on Monday.

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"Studies conducted by Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have recorded 96,000 species of animals from India. Among these, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed 18 species of amphibians, 14 varieties of fish, 13 birds and 10 mammals as critically endangered and 310 species as endangered, including 69 fish, 38 mammals and 32 amphibians," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply.

He said as per the data available with Botanical Survey of India (BSI), out of 19,156 species of vascular plants, 1,236 species belong to different threatened categories like critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable.

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He said towards conservation of threatened species, the government has established 730 Protected Areas, including 103 national parks, 535 wildlife sanctuaries, 26 community reserves and 66 conservation reserves, which primarily cover habitats of threatened mega-fauna such as tiger, rhino, elephant and others.

"Moreover, nine of the 18 biosphere reserves in India are part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO," Javadekar said.

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He said the National CAMPA Advisory Council has approved the funding for recovery programme of various endangered species.

These include Dugong with a budget of Rs 23.58 crore, Gangetic River Dolphin with Rs 23 crore, Great Indian Bustard with Rs 108.25 crore, Manipur Brow Antlered deer with budgetary support of Rs 99.95 crore and wild Buffalo with Rs 2 crore.
A thick silence suffocates Pandoli village. The villagers have not got over the shock of finding that 13 men from the village had sold their kidneys illegally to fulfil their basic needs for food, medicines and security.

What is worse is that there could be more victims of the kidney scam from the village.

The village has a population of 15,204 residents, and about 4,000 families live below poverty line. Making a mockery of the Gujarat development model, the village falls in Anand district which lies in the affluent NRG-rich belt of Charotar.

The victims are mostly debt-ridden farmers and daily wage workers who allegedly sold their kidneys to hospitals in New Delhi and Sri Lanka.

The racket, which has been reportedly running for over 15 years since 2001, came to light on Monday after police receiving a tip-off that around 80 villagers had sold their kidneys.

Police rounded up 13 people who had allegedly willingly sold their kidney to two local agents identified as brothers Rafiq Vora and Riyaz Vora. They were taken to Lalji Mulji Charitable Trust in Nadiad, where a sonography revealed they did not have a kidney.

The men were then brought to Ahmedabad B J Medical College for a complete medical checkup on Tuesday.

When we met the victims' families, they revealed repaying debts, paying medical bills, getting daughters married, and securing the future of their children as some of the reasons why the men "donated" their kidneys.

Most of the men reportedly slip away for a few days, sell their kidney and come back without anyone being wiser

Harshad Solanki's family lives in abject poverty. The family of six live in acrumbling hut. Harsh (25) is a farm worker and the sole bread-earner.

About six to seven months ago, Harshad's wife Sitaben became pregnant and went to her parent's house.

At the time, he left for Delhi and gave away his kidney for money. "Harshad earns Rs 100 as daily wage which is not even enough to feed the family properly.

He performed other menial jobs when not working at the farm or borrowed money to support the family," said his father Kanubhai, 46, who suffers from tuberculosis and cannot work. His wife suffers from several health problems, too. "We did not know that he had gone to Delhi to sell his kidneys. He complained of pain and exhaustion after returning, but it was only when the police came that we found the truth," he added. Detained Sagar Rathod, 45, said, "I had no land or money.

I wanted to get my daughter married and tried everything to get a loan. Nothing worked out. Then, I came across an agent who promised to get me Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh if I sold a kidney. I agreed."

Father-son duo Poonambhai Solanki, 45, and son Narendra, 22,who have been detained along with Rathod, were not even aware of that they had each sold their kidney illegally.

Poonambhai had sold off his kidney years ago to take care of his three young sons.

Narendra, who had no knowledge of this, left for Sri Lanka for 10 days three years ago. The roof builder did not tell anyone about his destination or the purpose of the visit.

His mother Manguben Solanki, 42, said, "He came back and used Rs 50,000 to buy his bride Oogiben three years ago. Six months ago, she returned to her parents." Manguben believes Oogiben's parents will now marry her off to someone else again, for money."

Amir Malek, 27, does not even have a hut to call his own. He and his parents live in a hut rigged out of dried sticks, discarded corrugated sheets and torn clothes. In February, Amir left his parents with Rafiq, 36, of the same village to go to Delhi.

Malek owns livestock and has two bighas of agricultural land but had incurred debt of several thousands of rupees. When he came back 12 days later, he paid off his debt and invested Rs 1.30 lakh in the name of his two daughters to secure their future.

Scam Exposed

According to villagers, the scam was exposed after a dispute arose between to a dispute between Amir and Rafiq, who is believed to have become an agent after he donated his kidney.

His brother went to Delhi a year ago to sell his kidney but could not, as he weighed only 45 kg. "Amir had been promised Rs 3.5 lakh but he was given only Rs 2.3 lakh," said a villager, refusing to be named. Amir's father Bannubhai tells, "My son had told Riyaz about our financial problems. The brothers lured Amir to Delhi. We learnt about it when my friend asked Amir where he had disappeared too for such a long time."

However, denying all allegations, Rafiq's wife Zaheda, 34, claimed it was Amir and his family who had been harassing her husband to help them out of their financial crunch. "Amir's family is lying. They were the ones to approach my husband," she claimed.

Leading Clues

Former village sarpanch and taluka panchayat member Jagdish Solanki got wind of the scam and blew the lid off it. Jagdishbhai told , "Though the racket had been thriving for years, we only recently began noticing the clues. Some downtrodden villagers would suddenly disappear and return after a while with a lot of money. We are a population of 15,000 and 80 per cent of the villagers are paupers or daily labourers. People with money stand out here."

"I overheard some villagers discuss the money they were paid but could not figure out what they were talking about. Then, a month ago, a quarrel took place between some villagers with one accusing the other of paying him less. I found that Rafiq and Riyaz were luring villagers to sell their kidneys for cash. We also found passports of four villagers that were had Sri Lanka entry and exit stamps. We realised they villagers were unwittingly part of an international organ sale racket and informed the police." He believes that around 70-80 villagers have sold their kidneys.

Was Their Another Agent?

Sources said Rafiq, who had sold off his kidney earlier, became an agent and lured vulnerable people from the village by promising to take care of their financial woes. He is reportedly the pointperson for Javed Khan, an agent for all kidneys sold in Delhi. Those lured to Sri Lanka have been done so by registered medical practitioner Dr Mukesh Chaudhary, sources said.

It is believed there is another agent who operates from Ahmedabad and is known as 'Sheru'

Superintendent of Police (Anand) Ashok Kumar Yadav has formed a 50-member special investigative team (SIT) led by Petlad DySP Mahesh Gupta and three PIs. The team comprises local police and Crime Branch officials. Yadav did not confirm the names of agents that the victims identified.

However, he told, "We detained 13 people with surgical marks on their abdomen. When the sonography revealed that they were missing a kidney, they confessed to have sold it for lakhs of rupees. While some say their kidney was removed in Delhi, other said they were taken via Chennai to Colombo in Sri Lanka. The kidneys fetched between Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3.25 lakh depending on the blood group. The scam seems widespread. We expect more people to come forward now."

The SP added, "It is not just poverty that drove them to do the deed. Some of the youths sold their kidney to buy TVs, motorcycles and enjoy a better life. Not all of them are poor. We will initiate action against those who sold their kidneys under the Transplantation of Organ Act 1994."

Under this Act, illegal donors and receivers are liable to face maximum imprisonment of seven years. In case the organ receiver is a foreign national and wishes to get a transplant done in India, they needed to acquire permission from their respective embassy.

Panel Of 7 Doctors Formed

Dean (B J Medical) Bharat J Shah said, "We have formed a panel of seven doctors to probe the trust's report on the 13 kidney sellers and conduct further tests. Our team will prepare a report and submit it to the government health department, police department and the SIT probing the racket."

Dr Shah added, "When we began conducting tests, the villagers were unwilling to cooperate. There was no sign of remorse on their face. As per preliminary tests, their kidney seems to have been removed by an expert surgeon. In all probability, the kidney was removed and transplanted in the receiver in the same hospital.

A kidney, once removed, has to be transplanted within a couple of hours. Following this, a donor requires regular check-ups and 21 to 90 days to recover. Most of these men did not bother to undergo regular check-ups which may have endangered their lives." A medical expert, refusing to be named, said, "The 13 kidney sellers are aged between 24 and 45 years.

Most of them are addicted to tobacco and smoking. They are prone to various diseases.

The surgery exposes them to various kidney infections which may restrict their life to another 7-8 years. A kidney transplant operation requires a team of around 30-35 medical experts and can be conducted only in well-equipped hospitals. A kidney is generally sold to a recipient for a minimum of Rs 25 lakh. The cost goes up in case of rare blood group."
Denmark overtook Switzerland as the worlds happiest place, according to a report on Wednesday that urged nations regardless of wealth to tackle inequality and the environment.

The report, prepared by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Earth Institute at Columbia University, showed Syria, Afghanistan and eight sub-Saharan countries as the 10 least happy places on earth to live.

The top 10, and the least happiest places

The top 10 this year were Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, and Sweden. Denmark was in third place last year, behind Switzerland and Iceland. The bottom 10 were Madagascar, Tanzania, Liberia, Guinea, Rwanda, Benin, Afghanistan, Togo, Syria, and Burundi.

The United States came in at 13, the United Kingdom at 23, France at 32, and Italy at 50

There is a very strong message for my country, the United States, which is very rich, has gotten a lot richer over the last 50 years, but has gotten no happier, said Professor Jeffrey Sachs, head of the SDSN and special advisor to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

India vs. Pakistan

Pakistan manages to make it to the top 100 (at 92), while India came in at 118! In fact, even the reports authors seemed surprised: The largest regional drop (-0.6 points) was in South Asia, in which India has by far the largest population share, and is unexplained by the model, which shows an expected gain based on improvements in five of the six variables, offset by a drop in social support.

What led to falling happiness

The 10 countries with the largest declines in average life evaluations typically suffered some combination of economic, political and social stresses. Three of the countries (Greece, Italy and Spain) were among the four hard-hit eurozone countries whose post-crisis experience was analyzed in detail in World Happiness Report 2013. A series of recent annual declines has now pushed Ukraine into the group of 10 largest happiness declines, joining India, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, two North African countries, Egypt and Yemen, and Botswana. While the differences between countries where people are happy and those where they are not could be scientifically measured, we can understand why and do something about it, Sachs, one of the reports authors, told Reuters in an interview in Rome.

How happiness is ranked

Aiming to survey the scientific underpinnings of measuring and understanding subjective well-being, the report, now in its fourth edition, ranks 157 countries by happiness levels using factors such as per capita gross domestic product (GDP) and healthy years of life expectancy. It also rates having someone to count on in times of trouble and freedom from corruption in government and business. When countries single-mindedly pursue individual objectives, such as economic development to the neglect of social and environmental objectives, the results can be highly adverse for human wellbeing, even dangerous for survival, it said.

Many countries in recent years have achieved economic growth at the cost of sharply rising inequality, entrenched social exclusion, and grave damage to the natural environment.

Yardstick For Happiness

The first report was issued in 2012 to support a U.N. meeting on happiness and well-being. Five countriesBhutan, Ecuador, Scotland, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuelanow have appointed Ministers of Happiness charged with promoting it as a goal of public policy. The 2016 survey showed that three countries in particular, Ireland, Iceland and Japan, were able to maintain their happiness levels despite external shocks such as the post-2007 economic crisis and the 2011 earthquake because of social support and solidarity. Sachs pointed to Costa Rica, which came in 14th and ahead of many wealthier countries, as an example of a healthy, happy society although it is not an economic powerhouse.
At a time when there is a growing awareness about the use of toilets and personal hygiene, a village in Kerala has come up with a model that could revolutionise the way toilet waste is processed.

Eram

Pulluvila, a village in Thiruvananthapuram district has the world's first e-toilet which uses technology that turns waste into fertiliser, generates power and even makes potable water.

The initiative was developed by a local firm called Eram Scientific Solutions using a Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation grant.

It also received technical support from University of South Florida (USF) called NEWgenerator, which is also supported by the Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation.

The eToilet see the convergence of electronics, mechanical, web-mobile technologies to control the entry, usage, cleaning, exit and remote monitoring of the toilet. And NEWgen is a machine in a box that recycles water, harvests energy, creates fertilizers and, ultimately, turns waste into profit.

Earm

In simple terms, said Anvar Sadath, CEO of Eram, what NEWGen does is to process the entire waste from the two eToilets.

The water that comes out as waste from the toilets is recycled and goes back in and is used for flushing, while the solid waste is converted into nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which can be stored and used as fertilizers. The gas from waste is converted into methane and can be used for burning, Sadath added.

Were mimicking what nature does very efficiently, but in a very compact, engineered system, so nothing goes waste and everything is re-purposed,Daniel H. Yeh, associate professor at USFs Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, who first came up with the idea of a resource-recovery machine said.

The eToilet itself is revolutionary. A coin opens the door for the user and switches on a light, thus saving energy and directs the person with audio commands. It is programmed to flush 1.5 litres of water after three minutes of usage or 4.5 litres if usage is longer. They are also programmed to clean the platform with a complete wash down after 10 or so uses.

Eram is the sole manufacturer of eToilets in India and has set up more than 1,600 eToilets in around 19 states.

The pilot project was launched in January, at a local church-run school where over 150 students use two eToilets.
In Ireland, this seal named Sammy doesnt believe in hunting fish. Hes got a better way to get at them - namely, at a restaurant!

Like humans, Sammy likes going to a restaurant to satiate his appetite. Recently, Sammy was caught on video, crawling out of a harbor and crossing a two-lane street heading to the Lighthouse Seafood Restaurant in Wicklow, Ireland. The best part? The little smarty does this everyday.

Sammy seems to love the menu at the restaurant. In fact, an employee at the Lighthouse Seafood Restaurant tried to shoo away the loyal client with a chair, but failed miserably. He gave up and tossed a fish into the harbor. The seal rushed after it in not time, and now this cycle continues.

This is Sammy.

youtube

This is what can only be described as his favourite restaurant.

youtube

This is Sammy crossing the two-lane street. What determination!

Youtube

Here's the restaurant employee shooing away this client!

Youtube

But Sammy won't listen. Watch full video here.
For the first time in its 68 year history minority communities in Pakistan including Hindus and Christians will have a national holiday observed on their important festivals.

Pakistan Today/ Representational Image

This, after the Pakistan Parliament on Tuesday adopted a resolution to take steps to declare Holi, Diwali and Easter as holidays for minorities.

The resolution was moved by Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, an elected Hindu lawmaker of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League from Sindh.

Dawn

Vankwani, who is also patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council, was of the view that the announcement was inevitable for the good image of Pakistan as such holidays were also being observed in the United States on Eid, and in India on Muharram.

There are about 3 million Hindus in Pakistan and makes up around 2 per cent of the country's population.

lightgalleries

The total number of Christians in Pakistan were estimated at 2.5 million in 2005, which is around 1.6 per cent of the population.
Global hacking collective, Anonymous has promised a total war against Donald Trump.

YouTube

Making the announcement, the masked cyber activist called up on fellow hacktivists to unite with them in an attack against all of his websites on April Fools Day. This time the target is Trumps Chicago site, trumpchicago.com . The operation has been named #OpTrump.

They also released a new video addressing the controversial Republican candidate directly.

Earlier this month, Anonymous had leaked some of Trumps voicemail messages which revealed the relationship between him and some members of the media.

Anonymous in the past have also targeted individuals, groups and governments by using distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS) to flood the targeted system with bogus internet traffic.

Here is a list of some high profile wars Anonymous has fought in the recent years.

Anonymous vs Turkey

In December Anonymous declared war against Turkey over the country's alleged support for the Islamic State terrorist group in Iraq and Syria. They unleashed a massive cyber attacks on Turkey's Internet from Dec. 14 through Dec. 21, taking down about 400,000 websites.

HackRed

The group employed Distributed Denial of Service attacks, resulting in the disruption of online services and transactions. They warned that if the Turkish government is not going to stop supporting ISIS, it will continue to attack the country's Internet, root DNS, banks, and even government sites.

Anonymous vs ISIS

Following the Paris terror attacks last year, for which the ISIS claimed responsibility the hacktvists declared cyber war on the Islamic state.

YouTube

The warfare included taking down pro-ISIS twitter handles and websites. They even hacked and posted a Viagra ad on an alleged ISIS recruiting site. They even mocked Islamic State by photoshoping the faces of IS fighters with rubber ducks.

Anonymous vs Lizard Squad

This one could have been the most bizarre war Anonymous have fought. In December 2014, they declared a war against Lizard Squad, another group of cyber hackers. The reason? Lizard Squad has claimed responsibility for the hack of Sony and PlayStations online gaming services.

Mirror

The gaming networks returned thanks to Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom, who offered the Lizard Squad 3,000 premium lifetime vouchers for his relaunched MegaPrivacy service. In retaliation Anonymous even took down the website of Lizard Squad.

Anonymous vs Hong Kong Police

Anonymous announce a cyber war on Hong Kong Police in October 2014 following the police crackdown on protesters there.

SCMP

Like any other Anonymous war, they took down thousands of websites and hacked into a number of government websites.

Anonymous vs Syrian Government

Back in November 2012, before the start of the Syrian civil war, the Bashar al-Assad government was cracking down heavily on opposition in an effort to silence them.

smpalestine

Anonymous responded to it by taking shutting down Syrian government websites around the world. The government termed it a "terror attack".

Anonymous vs Church of Scientology

Probably the most high profile encounter that Anonymous ever had was with the Church of Scientology. Many believe, it was the confrontation with Church of Scientology that put Anonymous on the map as we know it today. It happened in 2008 after Church of Scientology forced a video to be taken down from youtube.

Anon

The video, in which Tom Cruise proclaims, in part, that Scientologists are the only experts on the mind, was pulled by YouTube at the request of the Church of Scientology as part of a long-standing effort to keep copyrighted material from appearing on the Internet.

In response to the take-down Anonymous took down a number of Scientology websites. If that wasn't enough they spammed Scientology offices with mails and even booked Pizzas and Burgers to be delivered at these offices.
Were excited to announce that indmin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com.

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Look Before You Leap in North Korea By Eric Margolis March 15, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - Happiness is having your very own atomic bomb. This week we saw pictures of beaming North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, examining either a nuclear model or maybe even the real warhead of a miniaturized nuclear weapon. Having a nuclear warhead is not, however, enough to scare your enemies and neighbors. Youve got to have a fast, reliable delivery system. On his last birthday, a joyous Kim revealed what may be a submarine-launched missile believed capable of carrying a nuclear weapon. Added to Kims new intercontinental ballistic missile (which may or may not work), the sub-launched strategic missile gave the South Koreans, Japanese and Americans apoplexy. China was not far behind in blasting the impudent North Koreans. Meanwhile, a hugely provocative military exercise is underway, involving 15,000 US troops, 300,000 South Koreans, and an armada of US warplanes and warships. These war games are an annual event that enrages North Korea because they are obviously rehearsing an invasion of the North, and the decapitation of its leadership  namely Kim Jong-un. Predictably, Kim threatened blood-curdling revenge on the US and its South Korean and Japanese lackeys. He ordered North Koreas limited nuclear forces onto red alert. Whether pure bluff or not remained unknown. American generals claimed Kims ICBMs can now hit the US West Coast. But the Pentagon also warned of Iraqs non-existent weapons of mass destruction. What we are really witnessing is North Asian Kabuki: a highly stylized mock confrontation that pleases all sides. It gives the US a perfect excuse to keep a powerful garrison in South Korea and the region, and to add reinforcements as part of President Barack Obamas pivot to Asia. Chinas angry responses are to be ignored. North Koreas threats are also allowing the US to go ahead with implanting a new THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea. High altitude THAAD will be of little use to defend South Korea. Any North Korean missile attack will come at low altitude and very short range- Seoul is only 40 km from North Koreas border. THAAD is really designed to intercept any missile launches from China against the US or Japan (including Okinawa). Beijing is fit to be tied over THAAD  just as Moscow was over the foolish plan to put a US antimissile system in Bulgaria and Romania. Russia is glowering. Beating war drums helps keep Kim and his military-dominated regime in power in spite of economic hardship. Japan and South Korea will get more military aid from the US. China, by contrast, gets the short end of the stick: it is forced to reluctantly tighten sanctions on an old ally, North Korea, while seeing new US military forces emplace themselves in its strategic and vulnerable Northeast. Discount, or even ignore, all the howling about the danger of Kims North Korea. His sabre rattling and nuclear arms are defensive. They are the result of Washingtons refusal to recognize the Pyongyang regime and crushing sanctions against the North. A non-aggression pact would likely end Kims nuclear program. But theres a far larger risk from North Korea that is hardly ever discussed: the potential collapse of the Kim dynasty and North Koreas descent into chaos. First, there will be a mass exodus of millions of starving North Koreans to South Korea that Seoul calls, unexpected reunification. An even larger danger would be caused by any political/military vacuum in the North. This would quickly create a dangerous confrontation between US Asian forces, South Korea, Japan and neighboring China. A vacuum in such a strategic location must draw in all regional powers, including Russia  Vladivostok is just up the coast. China needs a friendly North Korea as a buffer state to protect its vital Northeast region that was the site of the first Japanese-China War in 1894 and the bloody, 1904 Russo-Japanese War. Beijing cannot allow the US to turn North Korea into a second South Korea  a useful vassal state occupied by American, South Korean and possibly Japanese troops. Its only a mere 3.5 hour drive from North Koreas Yalu River border to Chinas key northern port of Dalian, gateway to the Beijing heartland. Objectionable and cruel though it is, the Kim regime in Pyongyang is the cork that keeps this scary genii in its bottle. Any change in North Koreas equilibrium could plunge North Asia into the gravest crisis at a time when the region is also seething with tensions over Chinas attempts to dominate the South China Sea. After foolishly overthrowing Libyas Col. Muammar Khadaffi, and thus unleashing waves of jihadism against North Africa, the Sahara and West Africa, one would think the West had learned a valuable lesson about being short-sighted and uneducated. But it seems here we go again in North Asia. The US just cant abstain from mixing in other peoples local conflicts. Why else would US troops be scattered across West and East Africa? Caution is advised. The Kim we know will always be preferable to the Kim we dont. Eric S. Margolis is an award-winning, internationally syndicated columnist. His articles have appeared in the New York Times, the International Herald Tribune the Los Angeles Times, Times of London, the Gulf Times, the Khaleej Times, Nation  Pakistan, Hurriyet,  Turkey, Sun Times Malaysia and other news sites in Asia. Copyright Eric S. Margolis 2016
I Bought Four Syrian Children





By Franklin Lamb

March 15, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - I confess to having purchased four children near Ramlet el Baida beach recently from a stressed-out Syrian woman. I am not sure if she was as she appeared to be or was from one of human trafficking gangs which operate widely these days in Lebanon as they market Syrian children or vulnerable adult women. The vendor woman claimed to have been the four childrens neighbor in Aleppo and that they (two five year old twin girls, a boy about one year and a few months and his bigger brother eight years old-shown in the photo below on this observers motorbike a few days after he bought them) lost their parents in the war.

She and they ended up in Lebanon but she explained to me that she was afraid to register with the UNHCR because she is an illegal and has no ID. The woman told me that she could no longer take care of the shivering children, did not want to just leave them on the street and would give them all to me for $ 1000 or I could pick and choose from the siblings for $ 250 each.

Completely shocked, I started to get on my motorbike and said disgustingly khalas! [enough!] and looked around for a police car. I looked backed over my shoulder and saw that the children were very frightened, soaked from the rain, very cold and appeared hungry. Without thinking, I instantly offered the seller $600 for all four brothers and sisters and she took it, saying she was going to Turkey and would try to get to Lebos Island, off Greece.

The lady gave me ten minutes to go to an ATM and get the $600 cash. She demanded dollars not Lebanese currency. The children seemed to understand what was happening and their eyes fixated on me.

What was racing through my mind as I mounted my motorbike and searched for an ATM were the expressions on the faces of these angels as their caregiver bargained their fate.

Also I was acutely mindful of statistics that are well known around here these days. That nearly 14 million in Syria are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. More than half are children who are at risk of becoming ill from malnourishment or, abused and exploited. Most of us here know of many horror stories from all over Syria and the villages just an hours drive from the Lebanon border, such as Madaya and Zabadani where children under vicious siege were forced to survive on animal feed and soup made of whatever weeds could be found. We read the media reports that more than 20 died of starvation in during 2015 and a dozen reported cases of babies dying because their mothers were too ill and weak to produce milk for them or if there was a local clinic it lacked, baby formula or ran out of infant IVs. In Moadamiyeh, just a few miles from the capital Damascus, three newborn babies died last month after medical staff ran out of IV bags.

I thought about the scale of exploitation faced by Syrian refugee children in Lebanon, of the tens of thousands sleeping rough through these frigid nights and the countless thousands who every day are easy prey for abuse. I thought about the fact that Refugee relief efforts in Lebanon are chronically underfunded and that even UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) has been forced to cut aid from all but the neediest of refugees due to insufficient funds.

I thought of that recent Save the Children report of their survey showing that more than a third of the 126 residents they interviewed reported that their children often go without a single meal a day and a quarter have seen children in their towns dying because of lack of food.

I thought about the intense, vicious anti-refugee harangues from some Lebanese politicians that Syrian refugees pose a threat to the countrys security and economic stability even though the menial jobs they do find are not likely to replace many if any Lebanese job holders. Many fear-mongering Lebanese politicians even make The Donald appear somehow compassionate.

I thought about the Syrian children I see daily begging as they wander Beiruts streets selling chewing gum, flowers, or shining shoes. And I thought about the 11 and 12 year old girls, some of whom I have come to be acquainted with from my visits to the beach where I like to go to take a break and stare into the Mediterranean and just think about life and talk to those anti-social fiddler crabs who pop up from their homes along the beach, grab something and disappear quick.

These beautiful innocent children skip along or pace the Ramlet el Baida corniche waiting for cars with blackened windows to pull up. And they do regularly. Then the pedophiles molest the children for a few dollars before pulling off and disappearing into the traffic. Sometimes keeping the children with them. This observer has given the local police photos of some of their license plates but one supervisor at the Hamra police station regretted that the cops are too overwhelmed with other matters to get very involved in these cases. More than once I was given a shoulder shrug and upturned palms in reference to the case of a young girl Leila that I have reported more than once. One female police officer told me: Well, at least she is earning some money for her family.

I recently wrote some friends about the same Leila a twelve year old sweetheart who worked the Ramlet el Baida beach strip. Her friends on the strip have since reported to me that Leila never returned from work last week and they have no idea what has become of her.

Approximately one half of the Syrian women with children who have been forced to flee to Lebanon have lost their husbands and often their adult sons to the war. Most not having held jobs outside the home before being displaced are now forced, besides their role of working mother, into the additional roles of father, big sister, big brother, and best friend for her children. Manar, a Palestinian social worker in Shatila camp reports that the mothers have become their childrens everything.

Many Syria women who are able to find work are subjected to regular sexual harassment by employers and fellow male workers and sometimes deny to employers that there is no male in their household who would offer protection if she reported sexual abuse. Some less strong Syrian refugee women simply prostitute themselves for money and aid. It is estimated by a social worker at Shatila camp that women can earn on average $36 per day as a sex worker as compared to $8-10 for a 12-14 hour manual labor work day.

A social worker with ABAAD, a Lebanese NGO that challenges men to stop violence against women, reports that many widowed Syrian women encourage their children to perform child labor or marry (sell) their teenage daughters off to collect their muqaddam, (dowry) that the groom is supposed, but often fails, to provide to the brides parents.

Without legal status under Lebanese law, or without any legal papers due to Kafkaesque, nearly impossible visa renewal requirements, many women describe to the few NGOs here who may want to help them, repeated assaults against them that they have not reported to the authorities. They do not report them due to lack of confidence that the police authorities would take action and the Syrian women fear reprisals by the abusers or arrest for not having a valid residency permit.

Meanwhile, while desperate Syrian refugees are being denied visas, this observer, a no-account over the hill American who has ample reason to daily hang his head in shame over his countrys more than a dozen years of criminal wars in this region and the deaths of more than a million people his government has contributed to, and its deeply immoral policy toward Palestine, has no such problem. He is able to show up at the local police station (General Security) near the Burj al Barajneh Palestinan camp, (which also houses hundreds of Syrian refugees these days) as he did this week, apply for and receive, because he is American and not a Syrian, another three-year resident visa. And by paying a $65 bribe he can get it the same day, rather than wait weeks or months. There is something very wrong with this picture.

I took the children to my flat and my friend from Addis Ababa, a lovely domestic worker, herself exploited, agreed to stay at home and help care for them until we could get them some help, a proper home and the older boy Khaled in school. Over the next few hours and the next day I made several calls to get help for the children but other than promises to return calls and try to find some organization to help nothing useful for the children came of my efforts for nearly one week. Most of the calls were never returned.

The children were well taken care of by my friend and I and they were soon cooking and eating American cuisine including baking fudge brownies, chocolate chip cookies, enjoying my country style home made Macaroni & Cheese, homemade banana pancakes with (fake) Aunt Jemima maple syrup from the local supermarket, and my chicken vegetable soup not to mention some very delicious Ethiopian food which they helped my friend make. They also became expert at playing hide & seek and met some Syrian kids from the neighborhood. The effect of meeting fellow Syrians and hearing their accents brought the darlings sheer joy and they soon were chatting and playing like those wild chipmunks, Walt Disneys Chip n Dale.

I often receives emails asking his opinion of events in this region, posing various questions or even asking his 2-cents worth of advice about academic subjects a student somewhere might be engaged in or is contemplating.

To date never has he been asked about buying Syrian refugee children in Lebanon.

If and when this observer is asked, and if the facts were similar to those I happened across recently near Ramlet el Baida beach in Beirut, with the priceless four sibling beauties, for whom I am now deeply honored to be their American uncle, without doubt or fear of possible legal ramifications for encouraging what some may consider a felony of sorts, I would strongly urge good Samaritans to take the following steps.

To investigate as best they can on the scene and depending on how dire the situation appears to be, and if they judge the children to be in immediate grave danger to price bargain and buy the children from the trafficker on the spot. I would counsel the Samaritan to discretely photograph the seller with their smart phone. In my case having only a $10 used old Nokia dumb phone which, truth told, does for me all that I need done  it dials and answers calls  I gave the police only a physical description of the woman as I keep an eye out for her along the beach or when I am in Hamra.

All of us must do what we can to get these children from Syria a safe environment, a chance to play and to be children. Dear reader, if you happen to be in this area and by chance come upon a need such as I did, please make these angels feel protected and safe, make them warm, get them clean clothes, feed them, get them a medical examinations, contact authorities or NGOs for help. And buy them a doll to love. Knowing you may not get immediate assistance, inquire about schooling,

And most importantly, dear reader, find them a mother. And hopefully before long they will be in a loving home until the hell next door ends and they, as their countrys future, can return home, grace it, and soon help restore and eventually rebuild Syria.

Franklin Lamb, former Assistant Counsel, US House Judiciary Committee, earned his Law Degree at Boston University and his LLM, M.Phil., and PhD degrees at the London School of Economics. Following three years at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Lamb was visiting fellow at the Harvard Law Schools East Asian Legal Studies Center.
Saudi Prince Slams Obama's 'Free Riders' Comment





Prince Turki Al Faisal criticised the President of the United States as "petulant" in a scathing open letter



By Neil King

March 15, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Gulf Business "- Saudi Arabia's Prince Turki Al Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has launched a stinging attack on the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.

In a 615-word open letter published in local media, the former ambassador to the United States slammed the President for labelling Saudi Arabia as "free riders" during a series of interviews with The Atlantic magazine.

Obama is reported as saying that a number of American allies in the Gulf and in Europe are "free riders" who are keen to draw the United States into regional conflicts that sometimes have little to do with American interests.

Referring to the US nuclear deal with Iran, and addressing the kingdom directly, Obama told the magazine that Saudis "need to find an effective way to share the neighborhood and institute some sort of cold peace".

He added that backing Saudi Arabia against Iran "would mean that we have to start coming in and using our military power to settle scores. And that would be in the interest neither of the United States nor of the Middle East.

Reacting to Obama's comments, Prince Turki opened his response with: "No, Mr Obama. We are not "free riders". We shared with you our intelligence that prevented deadly terrorists on America.

"We initiated the meetings that led to the coalition that is fighting Fahish (ISIL), and we train and fund the Syrian freedom fighters, who fight the biggest terrorist, Bashar Assad and the other terrorists, Al-Nusrah and Fahish (ISIL). We offered boots on the ground to make that coalition more effective in eliminating the terrorists."

He went on to highlight Saudi Arabia's role in initiating "the support  military, political and humanitarian  that is helping the Yemeni people reclaim their country" without calling for American forces; instead establishing a coalition of "more than 30 Muslim countries to fight all shades of terrorism in the world".

Also in the letter, Prince Turki points to the kingdom's contribution to humanitarian relief efforts to help refugees from Syria, Yemen and Iraq, as well as the country's funding of the United Nations Counter-terrorism Centre.

Knowledge exchange, economic support and bilateral cooperation are also alluded to, with the prince reminding Obama "You noted "the Kingdom's leadership role in the Arab and Islamic world".

He added: "Now you throw us a curve ball. You accuse us of fomenting sectarian strife in Syria, Yemen and Iraq. You add insult to injury by telling us to share our world with Iran, a country that you describe as a supporter of terrorism and which you promised to counter its "destabilising activities"."

The letter also called Obama "petulant" before concluding: "No, Mr Obama. We are not the "free riders" to whom you refer. We lead from the front and we accept our mistakes and rectify them.

"We will continue to hold the American people as our ally and dont forget that when the chips were down, and George Herbert Walker Bush sent American soldiers to repel with our troops Saddams aggression against Kuwait, soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder with soldiers.

"Mr. Obama, that is who we are."
Hillary Finally Admits Her Funders Get What They Pay For



By David Swanson



March 15, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - Hillary Clinton has finally admitted that she creates public policy, deciding life and death for thousands, based on favors that have been done for her. I know you believed that when Saudi Arabia and Boeing put millions into the Clinton Foundation that had zero impact on her crusade to put through major weapons sales by Boeing to Saudi Arabia. I know her secret speeches to Goldman Sachs can't possibly have hinted at her providing any services in return for the big checks. But Hillary herself now says otherwise. Hillary voted for the 2003 war on Iraq, she explains, because George W. Bush gave her $20 billion to rebuild New York. Hillary pushed hard for a war on Libya in 2011 because, she claims, the Europeans wanted it, and they had been helping out with the U.S. led project of killing people in Afghanistan. Hillary made these comments in the midst of a bunch of eye-catching lies, but don't be distracted. Yes it's outrageous that she lies that Saddam Hussein wouldn't give inspectors free rein, and does so just moments before she excuses her promotion of the war by claiming that if Bush had let the inspectors continue their work they would have proven that no weapons existed. Sure it's outlandish that she's still pushing the lie about Qadaffi's plan to "murder his own people." Of course it's disgusting that she suggests Libya is doing all right now. It's perverse that when asked about her fondness for overthrowing governments she shouts "9/11" and "Hitler" and "Rwanda"! But don't miss the main point. Hillary is confessing that her decisions are based on personal favors, and the world be damned. David Swanson is an American activist, blogger and author. http://davidswanson.org
The Global Refugee Crisis

Humanity's Last Call for a Culture of Sharing and Cooperation The real crisis is not the influx of refugees to Europe per se but a toxic combination of destabilising foreign policy agendas, economic austerity and the rise of right-wing nationalism, which is likely to push the world further into social and political chaos in the months ahead. - See more at: http://www.sharing.org/information-centre/articles/global-refugee-crisis-humanitys-last-call-culture-sharing-and#sthash.iTpFLniu.dpuf The real crisis is not the influx of refugees to Europe per se but a toxic combination of destabilising foreign policy agendas, economic austerity and the rise of right-wing nationalism, which is likely to push the world further into social and political chaos in the months ahead By Rajesh Makwana March 15, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Sharing.org "- Razor-wire fences, detention centres, xenophobic rhetoric and political disarray; nothing illustrates the tendency of governments to aggressively pursue nationalistic interests more starkly than their inhumane response to refugees fleeing conflict and war. With record numbers of asylum seekers predicted to reach Europe this year and a morally acceptable humanitarian response nowhere in sight, the immediate problem is more apparent than ever: the abject failure of the international community to share the responsibility, burden and resources needed to safeguard the basic rights of asylum seekers in accordance with international law. Of immediate concern across the European Union, however, is the mounting pressure that policymakers are under from the far-right and anti-immigration groups, whose influence is skewing the public debate on the divisive issue of how governments should deal with refugees and immigrants. With racial intolerance steadily growing among citizens, the traditionally liberal attitude of European states is fast diminishing and governments are increasingly adopting a cynical interpretation of international refugee law that lacks any sense of justice or compassion. The 1951 Refugee Convention, which was implemented in response to Europes last major refugee crisis during World War II, states that governments need only safeguard the human rights of asylum seekers when they are inside their territory. In violation of the spirit of this landmark human rights legislation, the response from most European governments has been to prevent rather than facilitate the arrival of refugees in order to minimise their legal responsibility towards them. In order to achieve their aim, the EU has even gone so far as making a flawed and legally questionable deal with President Erdogan to intercept migrant families crossing the Aegean Sea and return them to Turkey against their will. Instead of providing safe and legal routes to refugees, a growing number of countries on the migration path from Greece to Western Europe are adopting the Donald Trump solution of building walls, militarising boarders and constructing barbed wire barriers to stop people entering their country. Undocumented refugees (a majority of them women and children) who are trying to pass through Europes no-longer borderless Schengen area are at times subjected to humiliation and violence or are detained in rudimentary camps with minimal access to the essentials they need to survive. Unable to travel to their desired destination, tens of thousands of refugees have been bottlenecked in Greece which has become a warehouse for abandoned souls in a country on the brink of its own humanitarian crisis. Ostensibly, the extreme reaction of many EU member states to those risking their lives to escape armed conflict is tantamount to officially sanctioned racial discrimination. Unsurprisingly, this unwarranted government response has been welcomed by nationalist parties who are now polling favourably among voters in the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Poland. The same is true in Hungary, where the government has even agreed Nazi-era demands to confiscate cash and jewellery from refugees to fund their anti-humanitarian efforts. There can be little doubt that the European response to refugees has been discriminatory, morally objectionable and politically dangerous. Its also self-defeating since curtailing civil liberties and discarding long-held social values has the potential to destabilise Europe far more than simply providing the assistance guaranteed to refugees under the UN convention. Albeit unwittingly, the reactionary attitude of governments also plays directly into the hands of Islamic State and other jihadi groups whose broader intentions include inciting Islamophobia, provoking instability and conflict within western countries, and recruiting support for terrorism in the Middle East and across Europe . Dispelling nationalist myths of the far-right With the public increasingly divided about how governments should respond to the influx of people escaping violent conflict, its crucial that the pervasive myths peddled by right-wing extremists are exposed for what they are: bigotry, hyperbole and outright lies designed to exacerbate fear and discord within society. Forced migration is a global phenomenon and, compared with other continents, Europe is not being subjected to the invasion of refugees widely portrayed in the mainstream media. Of the worlds 60 million refugees, nine out of ten are not seeking asylum in the EU, and the vast majority remain displaced within their own countries. Most of those that do settle in Europe will return to their country of origin when they are no longer at risk (as happened at the end of the Balkan Wars of the 1990s when 70% of refugees who had fled to Germany returned to Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Albania and Slovenia). The real emergency is taking place outside of Europe, where there is a desperate need for more assistance from the international community. For example, Turkey is now home to over 3 million refugees; Jordan hosts 2.7 million refugees  a staggering 41 percent of its population; and Lebanon has 1.5 million Syrian refugees who make up a third of its population. Unsurprisingly, social and economic systems are under severe strain in these and the other countries that host the majority of global refugees  especially since they are mainly based in developing countries with soaring unemployment rates, inadequate welfare systems and high levels of social unrest. In stark comparison (and with the notable exception of Germany), the 28 relatively prosperous EU member states have collectively pledged to resettle a mere 160,000 of the one million refugees that entered Europe in 2015. Not only does this amount to less than 0.25% of their combined population, governments have only relocated a few hundred have so far. The spurious claim that there are insufficient resources available to share with those seeking asylum in the EU or that asylum seekers will take our homes, our jobs and our welfare services is little more than a justification for racial discrimination. Aside from the overriding moral and legal obligation for states to provide emergency assistance to anyone fleeing war or persecution, the economic rationale for resettling asylum seekers throughout Europe (and globally) is sound: in countries experiencing declining birth rates and ageing populations  as is the case across the EU as a whole  migration levels need to be significantly increased in order to continue financing systems of state welfare. The facts are incontrovertible: evidence from OECD countries demonstrates that immigrant households contribute $2,800 more to the economy in taxes alone than they receive in public provision. In the UK, non-European immigrants contributed 5 billion ($7.15 billion) in taxes between 2000 and 2011. They are also less likely to receive state benefits than the rest of the population, more likely to start businesses, and less likely to commit serious crimes than natives. Overall, economists at the European Commission calculate that the influx of people from conflict zones will have a positive effect on employment rates and long-term public finances in the most affected countries. A common agenda to end austerity If migrant families contribute significantly to society and many European countries with low birth rates actually need them in greater numbers, why are governments and a growing sector of the population so reluctant to honour international commitments and assist refugees in need? The widely held belief that public resources are too scarce to share with asylum seekers is most likely born of fear and insecurity in an age of economic austerity, when many European citizens are struggling to make ends meet. Just as the number of people forcibly displaced from developing countries begins to surge, economic conditions in most European countries have made it politically unfeasible to provide incoming refugees with shelter and basic welfare. Voluntary and compulsory austerity measures adopted by governments after spending trillions of dollars bailing out the banks in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis have resulted in deep spending cuts to essential public services such as healthcare, education and pensions schemes. The resulting economic crisis has led to rising unemployment, social discontent, growing levels of inequality and public services that are being stretched to breaking point. The same neoliberal ideology that underpins austerity in Europe is also responsible for creating widespread economic insecurity across the Global South and facilitating an exodus of so-called economic migrants, many of who are also making their way to Europe. Economic austerity has been central to the development policies foisted onto low-income countries for decades by the IMF and World Bank in exchange for loans and international aid. They constitute a modern form of economic colonialism that in many cases has decimated essential public services, thwarted poverty reduction programmes and increased the likelihood of social unrest, sectarian violence and civil war. By prioritising international loan repayments over the basic welfare of citizens, these neoliberal policies are directly responsible for creating a steady flow of refugees from globalisation who are in search of basic economic security in an increasingly unequal world. Instead of pointing the finger of blame at governments for mismanaging the economy, public anger across Europe is being wrongly directed at a far easier target: refugees from foreign lands who have become societys collective scapegoats at a time of grinding austerity. It's high time that people in both rich and poor countries recognise that their hardship stems from a parallel set of neoliberal policies that have prioritised market forces above social needs. By emphasising this mutual cause and promoting solidarity between people and nations, citizens can begin overturning prejudiced attitudes and supporting progressive agendas geared towards safeguarding the common good of all humanity. From a culture of war to conflict resolution Its also clear that any significant change in the substance and direction of economic policy must go hand-in-hand with a dramatic shift away from aggressive foreign policy agendas that are overtly based on securing national interests at all costs  such as appropriating the planets increasingly scarce natural resources. Indeed, it will remain impossible to address the root causes of the refugee crisis until the UK, US, France and other NATO countries fully accept that their misguided foreign policies are largely responsible for the current predicament. Not only are many western powers responsible for selling arms to abusive regimes in the Middle East, their wider foreign policy objectives and military ambitions have displaced large swathes of the worlds population, particularly as a consequence of the illegal occupation of Iraq, the war in Afghanistan and the ill-conceived invasion of Libya. The connection between the military interventions of recent years, the perpetuation of terrorism and the plight of refugees across the Middle East and North Africa has been succinctly explained by Professor Noam Chomsky: the US-UK invasion of Iraq  dealt a nearly lethal blow to a country that had already been devastated by a massive military attack twenty years earlier followed by virtually genocidal US-UK sanctions. The invasion displaced millions of people, many of whom fled and were absorbed in the neighboring countries, poor countries that are left to deal somehow with the detritus of our crimes. One outgrowth of the invasion is the ISIS/Daesh monstrosity, which is contributing to the horrifying Syrian catastrophe. Again, the neighboring countries have been absorbing the flow of refugees. The second sledgehammer blow destroyed Libya, now a chaos of warring groups, an ISIS base, a rich source of jihadis and weapons from West Africa to the Middle East, and a funnel for flow of refugees from Africa. After this series of blundered invasions by the US and NATO forces, which continue to destabilise an entire region, one might think that militarily powerful nations would finally accept the need for a very different foreign policy framework. No longer can governments ignore the imperative to engender trust between nations and replace the prevailing culture of war with one of peace and nonviolent means of conflict resolution. In the immediate future, the priority for states must be to deescalate emerging cold war tensions and diffuse what is essentially a proxy war in the Middle East being played out in Syria. Yet this remains a huge challenge at a time when military intervention is still favoured over compromise and diplomacy, even when common sense and experience tells us that this outdated approach only exacerbates violent conflict and causes further geopolitical instability. Sharing the burden, responsibility and resources Given the deplorably inadequate response from most EU governments to the global exodus of refugees thus far, the stage is set for a rapid escalation of the crisis in 2016 and beyond. Some ten million refugees are expected to make their way to Europe in 2016 alone, and this figure is likely to rise substantially with population growth in developing countries over the coming decades. But it's climate change that will bring the real emergency, with far higher migration levels accompanied by floods, droughts and sudden hikes in global food prices. Although largely overlooked by politicians and the mainstream media, the number of people fleeing conflict is already dwarfed by environmental refugees displaced by severe ecological conditions  whose numbers could rise to 200 million by 2050. Its clear that unless nations collectively pursue a radically different approach to managing forced displacement, international discord and social tensions will continue to mount and millions of additional refugees will be condemned to oversized and inhumane camps on the outer edges of civilisation. The fundamentals of an effective and morally acceptable response to the crisis are already articulated in the Refugee Convention, which sets out the core responsibilities that states have towards those seeking asylum  even though governments have interpreted the treaty erroneously and failed to implement it effectively. In the short term, its evident that governments must mobilise the resources needed to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to those escaping war, regardless of where in the world they have been displaced. Like the Marshall Plan that was initiated after the Second World War, a globally coordinated emergency response to the refugee crisis will require a significant redistribution of finance from the worlds richest countries to those most in need  which should be provided on the basis of enlightened self-interest if not from a genuine sense of compassion and altruism. Immediate humanitarian interventions would have to be accompanied by a new and more effective system for administrating the protection of refugees in a way that is commensurate with international refugee law. In simple terms, such a mechanism could be coordinated by a reformed and revitalised UN Refugee Agency (the UNHCR) which would ensure that both the responsibility and resources needed to protect refugees is shared fairly among nations. A mechanism for sharing global responsibility would also mean that states only provide assistance in accordance with their individual capacity and circumstances, which would prevent less developed nations from shouldering the greatest burden of refugees as is currently the case. Even though the UNs refugee convention has already been agreed by 145 nations, policymakers in the EU seem incapable and unwilling to demonstrate any real leadership in tackling this or indeed any other pressing transnational issue. Not only does the resulting refugee fiasco demonstrate the extent to which self-interest dominates the political status quo across the European Union, it confirms the suspicion that the union as a whole is increasingly devoid of social conscience and in urgent need of reform. Thankfully, ordinary citizens are leading the way on this critical issue and putting elected representatives to shame by providing urgent support to refugee families in immediate need of help. In their thousands, volunteers stationed along Europes boarders have been welcoming asylum seekers by providing much needed food, shelter and clothing, and have even provided search and rescue services for those who have risked their lives being trafficked into Europe in rubber dinghies. Nowhere is this spirit of compassion and generosity more apparent than on Lesbos and other Geek islands, where residents have been collectively nominated for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for their humanitarian efforts. The selfless actions of these dedicated volunteers should remind the world that people have a responsibility and a natural inclination to serve one another in times of need  regardless of differences in race, religion and nationality. Instead of building militarised borders and ignoring popular calls for a just and humanitarian response to the refugee crisis, governments should take the lead from these people of goodwill and prioritise the needs of the worlds most vulnerable above all other concerns. For European leaders and policymakers in all countries, its this instinctively humane response to the refugee crisis  which is based firmly on the principle of sharing  that holds the key to addressing the whole spectrum of interconnected social, economic and environmental challenges in the critical period ahead.
Syrian War: West Failed to Factor in Bashar al-Assad's Iranian Backers as the Conflict Developed



Five years ago, we were high on Arab revolutions, and journalists were growing used to 'liberating' Arab capitals



By Robert Fisk March 15, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " The Independent "- Just before I left Syria last month, a tall and eloquent Franco-Lebanese man walked up to me in a Damascus coffee shop and introduced himself as President Bashar al-Assads architect. It was his task, he led me to understand, to design the reconstructed cities of Syria. Who would have believed it? Five years after the start of Syrias tragedy  and within six months of this, remember, the regime itself trembled and the Western powers, flush with dangerous pride after destroying Gaddafi, predicted the imminent fall of the Assad dynasty  the Syrian government is preparing to rebuild its towns and cities. Its worth taking that embarrassing trip down memory lane to the early spring and summer of 2011. The US and French ambassadors visited Homs to sit amid tens of thousands of peaceful demonstrators calling for the overthrow of the Assad government. EU diplomats were telling the political opposition not to negotiate with Assad  a fatal mistake, since the advice was based on the false assumption that he was about to be overthrown  and journalists were gathering with rebels in eastern Aleppo for the inevitable march of liberation on Damascus. The Assad regime, came the message from the Washington think-tanks and mountebank experts, had reached  a cliche we should all beware of  the tipping point. La Clinton announced that Assad had to go. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius declared that Assad did not deserve to live on this planet  although he failed to name the galaxy to which the Syrian President might retire. And I complied with an Independent request to write Assads obituary  for future use, you understand  and still it moulders in the papers archives. Looking back, its not difficult to see where we all got it wrong. We were high on Arab revolutions  Tunisia, then Egypt and then Libya  and journalists were growing used to liberating Arab capitals. We forgot that their dictators were all Sunni Muslims, that they had no regional super-power support  the Saudis could not save Hosni Mubarak in Egypt but Shia Iran was not going to allow its only Arab ally, Alawite-Shia-led Syria, to fall. At first, the Syrian Baath party and the regimes internal security agents behaved with their usual inane brutality. Teenagers who wrote anti-Assad graffiti on the walls of Deraa were tortured, the local tribal leaders abused  and a deputy minister dispatched to apologise for the governments errors. But torture was so much an instrument of state power that the intelligence apparatus knew no other way to resolve this unprecedented challenge to the regimes authority. The government army was ordered to shoot down demonstrators. Hence the brief but ultimately hopeless dawn of the Free Syrian Army, many of them deserters who are now slowly returning to the ranks or drifting off home with the regimes tacit permission. But there were signs from the very start that armed groups were involved in this latest manifestation of the Arab awakening. In May 2011, an Al Jazeera crew filmed armed men shooting at Syrian troops a few hundred metres from the northern border with Lebanon but the channel declined to air the footage, which their reporter later showed to me. A Syrian television crew, working for the government, produced a tape showing men with pistols and Kalashnikovs in a Deraa demonstration in the very early days of the rising. This did not prove the Gulf-Turkish terrorist conspiracy which the Syrian regime now revealed to the world. But it did demonstrate that from the start  when ordinary Syrian families felt it necessary to defend their families with firearms  guns were available to the opposition. And once the governments own loyal militias were given free rein to attack the regimes enemies, the massacres began. In one Sunni village east of Latakia, a Western news agency reporter discovered that almost every civilian had been slaughtered. The Assad regime, came the message from the Washington think-tanks and mountebank experts, had reached  a cliche we should all beware of  the tipping point The sectarian nature of Middle East civil wars has always been manipulated. For 100 years, the West has used the confessional nature of society in the region to set up national governments which were, by nature, sectarian  in Palestine after the 1914-18 war, in Cyprus, in Lebanon, in Syria  where the French used Alawites as their force speciale  and, after 2003, in Iraq. This not only allowed us to portray Middle Eastern people as essentially sectarian in nature but permitted us to forget the degree to which minorities would naturally lend their support to local dictators  not least the Christians (Maronites, Orthodox, Armenian Catholic, Melkite, and so on) of Syria. And by constantly reminding readers and viewers of the Alawite domination of Assad, we journalists ourselves fell victim to our own reporting. We forgot  or did not care  that perhaps 80 per cent of the Syrian government army were Sunni Muslims who would, over the next four years, be fighting their co-religionists in the opposition militias and  by 2014  struggling against them in the al-Qaeda/Nusra alliance and in Isis. Residents of Damascus taking advantage of the ceasefire between the Syrian army and rebels In Lebanon, the Syrian army was a deeply corrupting influence, its soldiers indisciplined, its officers often involved in dodgy business and real estate deals. But the Syrian army that found itself fighting for its life after 2012, especially when the Nusra and Isis suicide squads began to cut into their ranks  ritually chopping off the heads of their military prisoners by the dozen  became a different creature. As ruthless as ever, its soldiers fought to survive  I suspect they even began to like fighting  and many of their frontline generals, when I met them, turned out to be Sunni Muslims as well as Alawites. In other words, the real backbone of the one institution which could save the Syrian state  was not an Alawite-Christian alliance but a Sunni-Alawite-Christian military force  out-gunned and out-manned after 60,000 dead, to be sure, but still capable of holding the line if it was reinforced with new armour and air power. In pictures: The rise of Isis Enter Vladimir Putin. The Syrians within Assads current frontiers  less than half of the land mass, but including well over 60 per cent of the Syrian people  have adopted a phlegmatic approach to the Russians. Their Sukhoi jets strike at villages and towns beyond the front line  and Moscow has adopted exactly the same tactic of denying civilian casualties in air strikes that the Americans and British and French have for so long been using in their own anti-terror war in Syria and Iraq. All civil wars generate their own special propaganda. When the Sunnis of Madaya were starving under siege by Syrian troops, the fact that their village was held by armed opposition groups was largely deleted from our stories. When Shia villages like Zahra and Nubl, both defended by government militiamen, were besieged by al-Nusra for three-and-a-half years, their liberation was scarcely mentioned. And then there are the red lines. Assad used gas on his own people in Damascus, we all believe  after all, the UN report said so. But in fact the UN conclusions did not say that. This does not mean that the Syrian government did not use gas, or would not be prepared to use gas  there are no good guys in civil wars  but that UN proof was ultimately lacking. Today, there are only two serious military forces with boots on the ground to fight Isis and al-Nusra and the other Islamist gangs: the Kurds and the Syrian army. And the latter, reinforced by Russian air power, are now  for the moment at least  winning. Ive even seen a new poster on the streets of Syrian cities. It shows Bashar al-Assad and, right alongside him, the face of Colonel Suheil al-Hassan, the Tiger as the army call him, the countrys most successful military commander, the Rommel of Syria. He is also a ruthless man  Ive met him  but now we find his image, that of a Syrian officer, alongside that of Assad. We should pay attention to these phenomena. The army expresses its loyalty for Assad. But, every time Assad speaks, he shrewdly begins with praise for the martyrs of the Syrian army. Is that why French and American intelligence officers are now reaching out again  from Beirut, of course  to their former contacts in the Syrian intelligence service? Is that why US Secretary of State John Kerry now suggests that the Americans may talk to Assad again? On principle, I dont like armies  whomever they work for. But that doesnt mean we can disregard them. Nor can Assad.
Analysis Of The Russian Military Pullout From Syria



By The Saker March 15, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " The Saker "- Vladimir Putin has just ordered the withdrawal of the Russian forces in Syria: I consider the objectives that have been set for the Defense Ministry to be generally accomplished. That is why I order to start withdrawal of the main part of our military group from the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic starting from tomorrow, Putin said on Monday during a meeting with Shoigu and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. In a short period of time Russia has created a small but very effective military group in Syria. The effective work of our military forces allowed the peace process to begin, Putin said, adding that Russian government troops and [Syrias] patriotic forces have changed the situation in the fight with international terrorism and have ceased the initiative. The first question which needs to be asked is whether this is correct: have the Russians achieved their objective or not? To answer this question, we need to look at what the initial Russian objectives were. I did that in my article Week Thirteen of the Russian Intervention in Syria: debunking the lies where I wrote: (emphasis added) The key issue here is what criteria to use to measure success. And that, in turns, begs the question of what the Russians had hoped to achieve with their intervention in the first place. It turns out that Putin clearly and officially spelled out what the purpose of the Russian intervention was. On October 11th, he declared the following in an interview with Vladimir Soloviev on the TV channel Russia 1: Our objective is to stabilize the legitimate authority and create conditions for a political compromise Thats it. He did not say that Russia would single-handedly change the course of the war, much less so win the war. And while some saw the Russian intervention as a total game changer which would mark the end of Daesh, I never believed that. Here is what I wrote exactly one day before Putin make the statement above: Make no mistake here, the Russian force in Syria is a small one , at least for the time being, and it does not even remotely resemble what the rumors had predicted () There is no way that the very limited Russian intervention can really change the tide of the war, at least not by itself. Yes, I do insist that the Russian intervention is a very limited one. 12 SU-24M, 12 SU-25SM, 6 SU-34 and 4 SU-30SM are not a big force, not even backed by helicopters and cruise missiles. Yes, the Russian force has been very effective to relieve the pressure on the northwestern front and to allow for a Syrian Army counter-offensive, but that will not, by itself, end the war. I was harshly criticized at that time for minimizing the scope and potential of the Russian operation, but I chose to ignore these criticisms since I knew that time would prove me right. Todays declaration finally puts to rest the most anticipated showdown and other game changer theories. At least I hope so :-) The Russian intervention is a stunning success, that is indisputable. Vladimir Putin and the Russian military ought to be particularly praised for having set goals fully commensurate with their real capabilities. The Russians went in with a small force and they achieved limited goals: the legitimate authority of the Syrian government has been stabilized and the conditions for a political compromise have been created. That is not an opinion, but the facts on the ground. Not even the worst Putin-haters can dispute that. Todays declaration shows that the Russians are also sticking to their initial exit strategy and are now confident enough to withdraw their forces. That is nothing short of superb (when is the last time the USA did that?). Still, this leaves many unanswered questions. A partition of Syria? By withdrawing their forces the Russians could be giving the signal to the USA that they are free to have their little victorious war against Daesh. But this could also be a trap. If you consider the complete failure of the US military in Afghanistan and Iraq, you could wonder why they would suddenly do so much better in Syria, especially considering that besides Daesh they might also come face to face with Iranians and Hezbollah fighters. Furthermore, unlike the Russian Aerospace forces, the Americans will be committing ground forces and these have a much bigger tendency to get bogged down in long counter-insurgency operations. If I was a US military advisor I would caution my commanders against a ground operation in Syria even if the Russians are gone. Still, what if the Americans are successful? After all, Daesh has taken a bad beating any maybe they can be at least pushed out of Raqqa? Maybe. But if that happens then the question will become whether the Americans will try to achieve a de facto partition of Syria (de jure they cannot, since a UNSC Resolution specifically called for a unitary state). Partitioning Syria has been, and still is, the longterm Israeli goal. Considering the immense power of the Neocons today (nevermind a Hillary Presidency!) the chances that the US will be trying to partition Syria are immense. And what if the Americans either fail or dont even take the bait and stay out of Syria? Does the Russian withdrawal not risk leaving eastern Syria in Daesh hands? Would that not be just another de facto partition of the country? Maybe. Again, this is a real risk. Finally, if the Turks and their Saudi allies do invade, that would almost certainly result in a partition of Syria as it is doubtful that the Syrian government could take on Daesh and Turkey and the Saudis at the same time. Iran, of course, might, but this would result in a major escalation threatening the entire region. I think that the risk of a partition of Syria is, alas, very real. However, that being said, I would like to remind everybody that Russia does not have any moral or legal obligation to single-handedly preserve the territorial integrity of Syria. In purely legal terms, this is an obligation of every single country on earth (because of the UN Charter and the recent UNSC Resolution) and in moral terms, this is first and foremost the obligation of the Syrian people themselves. I think that it would be praiseworthy for Russia to do everything she can to prevent a partition of Syria,and I am confident that Russia will do her utmost, but that does not mean that this is a Russian obligation. Future Russian options and operations? I want to draw your attention to the following words by Putin: I consider the objectives that have been set for the Defense Ministry to be generally accomplished. For those unfamiliar with the context (evaluation of a military operation) this might sound like a total approval. It is not. In Russian military terminology generally accomplished is better than satisfactory and roughly equivalent to good but not excellent. Putin is not saying that the performance of the Russian forces was less than perfect, but what he is saying is that the goals set out initially have not been fully/perfectly reached. In other words, this leaves the door open for a objectives completion operation. The second interesting moment in todays statement is that Putin added that to control the observation of ceasefire agreements in the region, Moscow will keep its Khmeimim airbase in Latakia province and a base at the port of Tartus. To me the combination of these two statements points to the high probability that the Russians are keeping their options open. First, they will continue to supply the Syrians with hardware, training, intelligence and special operations and, second, they will retain the option of using military power if/when needed. Not only will Russia retain the capability to strike from the Caspian, the Mediterranean or with her long-range bombers, but she is likely to leave enough pre-positioned supplies and personnel in Tartus, Khmeimim and elsewhere in Syria to be ready to intervene at very short notice (say in case of a Turkish attack towards Latakia, for example). Finally, I am confident that when speaking to the (newly created) moderate opposition the Russians will carefully but regularly drop hints about the need to achieve a negotiated agreement with the Syrian government lest the war resume again with a new intensity (or something along these lines). Keep in mind that, unlike their US counterparts, the Russian diplomats and intelligence officers truly understand their counterparts, not only because they are fluent in the local languages and understand the culture, but because the single important quality expected from a Russian diplomat or intelligence officer is the ability to understand the real, profound, motives of the person you are speaking to, to put yourself into his/her shoes. I have had enough personal experience with Russian diplomats and intelligence officers to be sure that they are already patiently talking to all the key figures in positions of power inside the so-called moderate resistance to maximize the stake each one of them might have in a negotiated solution. Oh sure, there will be beautiful speeches in the plenary meetings and conferences, but they key effort will be made in informal conversations happening in restaurants, back-rooms and various hotels where the Russians will make darn sure they convey to their interlocutors that he/she have a very personal interest in a successful negotiation. There will be a lot of bargaining involving promises and hinted threats and while some will, of course, resist such gentle pressures, the cumulative effect of such informal meetings will be crucial. And if that means preparing 500 different approaches and negotiation techniques for 500 different contacts, the Russians will put the manpower, time and effort to make it happen. Evaluation It is way too early right now to give a categorical evaluation of the timing and consequences of the Russian withdrawal from Syria. Let us also keep in mind that there is a lot we dont know. What we do know is that Sergei Lavrov has had an absolutely crazy schedule over the past month or so and that Russian diplomats have been holding intense negotiations with all the regional powers. I am confident that the Russians planned their withdrawal at least as carefully as the planned their intervention and that they have left as many open options as possible. By the way, the big advantage of a unilateral decision is that, unlike one taken as part of an agreement with other parties, it can be unilaterally rescinded too. It took the Russian just days to launch their initial operation even though they had to execute it all in difficult conditions and under the cloak of secrecy. How long would it take them to move back into Syria if needed? When all is said and done, I simply trust Vladimir Putin. No, no just because I am a Putin fanboy (which, of course, I am!), but because of his record of being right and taking difficult, even risky, decisions which eventually yielded Russia yet another unforeseen success. Like any good chess player, Putin knows that one of the key factors in any war is time and so far Putin has timed his every move superbly. Yes, there were times in the past when I got really worried about what looked to me as either too much waiting or as dangerous risk-taking, but every single time my fears ended up being unfounded. And yes, I can easily muster up a long list of potentially catastrophic scenarios for Syria, but I think that this would only make sense if Putin had, like Obama, a long and impressive list of failures, disasters, miscalculations and embarrassing defeats on his record. But he does not. In fact, what I see is an amazing list of successes achieved against very difficult odds. And they key to Putins success might well be that he is a hardcore realist. Russia is still weak. Yes, she is stronger than in the past and she is rising up very fast, but she still is weak, especially in comparison to the still immense AngloZionist Empire whose resources simply dwarf Russias in most categories. However, this comparative weakness also forces the Kremlin to be very careful. When an empire is rich and powerful being arrogant and over-estimating your own capabilities is not nearly as bad as when a much weaker country does it. Just look at the USA under Obama: they went from one humiliating and costly defeat to another  yet they are still here and still powerful, almost as powerful as they used to be 10 years ago. While in the long run the kind of hubris and gross incompetence we nowadays observe in US decision-makers will result in the inevitable collapse of the Empire, in the medium to short term there is no truly painful price to pay for failure. Just one example: just think of the US military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq. They are absolute and total failures, abject disasters of incalculable magnitude. They will go down in history as amongst the worst foreign policy failures ever. And yet, walking around in downtown New York or San Fransisco you would never think that you are visiting a country which just lost two major and long wars. Russia does not have such a luxury of power, she has to make every bit count and she has to plan each move with utmost precision. Just like a tightrope walker with no safety harness, Putin knows that a single misstep can have catastrophic consequences. To withdraw the bulk of the Russian military task force in Syria right now is a gutsy and potentially risky move for sure, but I am confident that it is also the right one. But only time will tell if my confidence is warranted or not. The Essential Saker : from the trenches of the emerging multipolar world
AIPAC Is Coming to Town





The annual grovel begins next week



By Philip Giraldi



March 15, 2016 "

Information Clearing House

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I am reluctant to write two weeks in a row about Israels malignant influence over the United States but as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is meeting in Washington for its annual Summit beginning next Sunday some commentary would seem desirable. AIPACs website claims that its mission is to strengthen, protect and promote the U.S.-Israel relationship in ways that enhance the security of Israel and the United States. Our staff and citizen activists educate decision makers about the bonds that unite the United States and Israel and how it is in Americas best interest to help ensure that Israel is safe, strong and secure.

That is, of course, a self-serving bit of nonsense. U.S. national security would be best enhanced by telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take a hike and never come back. AIPAC is a political pressure group, not an educational foundation, which is purely a pretext exploited to secure it tax exemption. It uses every means, fair and foul, to influence and even intimidate the U.S. government and media to maintain the fiction that Israel is somehow Americas best friend and closest ally even though it is neither. Its objective is to maintain the flow of U.S. dollars from the U.S. Treasury while keeping the firewall of political protection in place to insulate Israeli politicians from the consequences of their own actions.

This year AIPAC, which has an annual budget of $70 million and more than 200 employees, is expecting 16,000 supporters and two thirds of Congress. It will be featuring a keynote speech by Hillary Clinton, which should be fascinating. As Hillary and her husband Bill already constitute a fully owned subsidiary of the Israel Lobby and New York financial services interests, which often amount to the same thing, her attendance might be regarded as de rigueur. And she has already pledged to invite Netanyahu to the White House during her first month in office while also promising to move the Israeli relationship to a new level, a concept that is both difficult to imagine and positively frightening in terms of what it might portend. Will she move the entire U.S. government to Jerusalem? Or only the Treasury Department?

Donald Trump will also be speaking at AIPAC, for the first time. Trump has rattled Israels friends in the U.S. by calling for an even handed role by Washington in Middle East peace negotiations and through his insistence that he does not need the money from Jewish mega-donors to run his campaign and cant be bought. But he has also said First of all, theres nobodythats more pro-Israel than I am. OK. Theres nobody. I am pro-Israel. I was the Grand Marshall, not so long ago, of the Israeli Day Parade down 5th avenue. Ive made massive contributions to Israel. I have a lot of  I have tremendous love for Israel. I happen to have a son-in-law and a daughter that are Jewish, OK? And two grandchildren that are Jewish. So one should assume that he will talk fulsomely about his love of Israel but at the same time it has to be hoped that he will assert his independence when it comes to policy affecting the United States.

Netanyahu also regularly appears at AIPAC. Last year he used the platform provided to harangue the American public and the inside the beltway chattering class about the dangers posed by Iran while also exploiting the opportunity to do some serious fundraising in New York. The visits also frequently provide an opportunity to meet with and scold the President of the United States or to address Congress on how the U.S. should conduct its foreign policy. It is a given in Washington that Netanyahu will show up in the nations capital personally to kick some butt at least twice a year but it is also understood that Bibi will not fail to dish out some harsh criticism the rest of the time by way of the media, his own patented form of international extortion.

Nothing illustrates the unbridgeable abyss between the media/talking head vision of Israel promoted by the Israel Lobby and folks like Hillary and the real thing more than the recent embarrassments and indignities being delivered by the Netanyahu government, which AIPAC really represents. Benjamin Netanyahu is, to everyones surprise, not coming to AIPAC this year but will instead address the conference by video link. The visit was planned but canceled at the last moment and, per Netanyahu, the fault is that of the president of the United States who had reportedly said that he would not be available for a meeting due to the upcoming trip to Cuba.

The Obama Administration was genuinely puzzled, partly due to the fact that it first learned of the cancellation through a newspaper story rather than from the Israeli Embassy or Foreign Ministry. It was also astonished by the explanation given as it had indeed set up a presidential meeting at Netanyahus request in spite of a very tight schedule. The White House did not complain openly about the deliberate snub, but it was clear to everyone involved that Netanyahu was yet again sending a message to the Administration regarding who was in charge.

Netanyahu benefits from the fact that his tendency to ridicule critics makes many in the media reluctant to challenge his behavior, but when it became embarrassingly clear that he had been fibbing about why he was not coming to Washington he immediately resorted to Plan B, stating that he did not want to interfere in the presidential primaries currently underway. No one believed that argument either as Netanyahu has not hesitated to interfere in American politics in the past, notably when he made clear that he would prefer a Republican president in 2012 and appeared in ads in Florida endorsing Mitt Romney.

The White House meanwhile resorted to its own Plan B when confronted by a truculent Netanyahu. It first groveled a bit about how much it loves Israel and then expressed hope that Vice President Joe Biden, who was in the air on his way to Tel Aviv, would be able to calm the situation. Indeed, the original objective of the Biden trip turned out to be the real reason for the contretemps with Netanyahu. Netanyahu was miffed because the United States has hesitated to provide him with a no-strings-attached long term agreement to give Israel at least $5 billion dollars per year in military assistance, up from the current $3 billion.

To be fair to Netanyahu, the demand for more assistance was no secret. The Israelis had made it clear since they failed to stop the Iran nuclear deal that they would feel a whole lot better if Washington were to give them a lot more money. And it would have to be guaranteed cash, tied to a security package that would run for at least ten years.

Biden had been sent to help negotiate an agreement over the assistance, which had been stalled due in part to Israeli expectations that they might do better with a GOP Administration or Hillary if they wait a few months. Obamas insistence that any deal would require the Israeli government to forego lobbying directly to congress for more cash also was a stumbling block. The President of the United States has thereby found himself in a situation engineered by Netanyahu in which he has to beg Israel to take more money with the only condition being that it not make trouble with the nations legislature. In return for the largesse, Israel would not be committed to do anything that would directly benefit the United States.

In the event, Bidens role as a negotiating intermediary was unsuccessful and he wound up looking foolish so he too has decided to speak at AIPAC where he will undoubtedly say many unctuous things that no one will believe.

There are several things that can be done to address the wildly asymmetrical situation with Benjamin Netanyahu and AIPAC. First, it must be recognized that the United States and Israel are actually two separate countries with very little in the way of common interests. The notion that they have many mutual concerns is largely a myth. AIPAC, the principal purveyor of the myth, is an agent of Israel and should be compelled to register with the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, which would require it to maintain transparency in terms of who funds it. It should also be stripped of its tax exemption as it is demonstrably not an educational foundation. Taking those two steps would enable the American public to understand just exactly what AIPAC represents.

Second, President Obama should cut off aid to Israel completely since it is uninterested in there being any quid pro quo for the billions that it receives. If Obama wants to be gracious, he can consider renewing the subsidy if and when Israel rolls back its illegal settlements in Jerusalem and on the Palestinian West Bank. If Israel is not interested in peace and not willing to reverse policies that many believe constitute war crimes then it will not receive any support of any kind from the United States.
The Nigerian Army has confirmed that Wednesday mornings attack on a mosque in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital in which 22 people were killed and 18 others injured, was carried out by two suicide bombers.

According to reports, the attack in Umarari Village, about 5km south of Maiduguri, occurred during early morning prayers.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Sani Usman, said in a statement that the first attack targeted a mosque while the second occurred about 50 metres away, and few minutes later.

This is to confirm that there were twin person-borne improvised explosive attack carried out by two female carriers in Ummarari village near Molai, outskirts of Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State, this morning, the statement said.

Sadly, 22 people were killed and 18 others sustained various degrees of injuries.

Troops, security agents and care givers have been mobilized to scene, while the wounded have been evacuated to Molai General Hospital for treatment.

The troops, security agents and the Civilian JTF have secured the area and are combing the environment for possible clues.

Sani, a Colonel, who commiserated with the families of the victims of this dastardly act, reassured the public of the Nigerian Armys resolve to continue to rout the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists wherever they may be hiding.

We will not rest on our oars until all those that masterminded this latest heinous and other similar crimes are apprehended and brought to justice, the army spokesman vowed.

Meanwhile, we implore the members of the public to be more security conscious, cooperate with the troops and security agencies. They should also please report any suspicious persons, objects or happenings to troops or security agencies at all times, the statement said.
The rift between former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso and his successor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, appears to have taken a turn for the worse with members of the House of Assembly pitching their tent with the incumbent.

Ganduje was Kwankwasos deputy when the latter was governor and they seemed to enjoy a cordial relationship until recently, when the former governor, now senator, accused his successor of attempting to split the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state following plans to sanction him.

The Kano State lawmakers, who paid a solidarity visit to Governor Ganduje, to express loyalty, wore different attires and caps, a radical departure from the dominant red cap, an identity of the Kwankwasiyya movement, propagated by the former governor.

The visit, led by the Speaker, Kabiru Rurum, surprised Ganduje.

The lawmakers, it was learnt, dumped the red cap in solidarity with the Gandujiyya Akida belief.

Also, the 44 local government chairmen dumped the red cap in support of the Gandujiyya Akida.

Most of the Kwankwasiyya group members in solidarity also dumped the red cap to identify with Gandujiyya Akida.

A lawmaker, who preferred anonymity, said: As you can see, the Speaker and members came here for a solidarity visit and to reassure the governor that we are behind him.

We have dumped the red cap and joined the Gandujiyya Akida Movement. We promise to ensure its success.

Governor Ganduje had accused his former boss of encouraging and promoting political thuggery.

The governor, who inspected work at Zango-Bale Road in Dakata quarters, said his administration did not encourage use of weapons whenever they embarked on trips, unlike his predecessor.

He said: Our administration is determined to ensure that the dividends of democracy are delivered to the people. We are ready to work for it without fear or favour.
A youth group has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to put the All Progressive Congress (APCs) house in order by intervening to stop the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The youth, under the aegis of Katsina Youth Awareness Forum, said they believe the trial of Mr. Saraki is politically motivated.

The Senate president is standing trial at the CCT on charges related with money laundering and false declaration of assets when he was governor of Kwara State.

The Supreme Court last month gave the tribunal the go-ahead to continue with the trial, dismissing an appeal filed by Mr. Saraki to stop same.

In a statement issued yesterday at the end of its meeting in Katsina and signed by its National Coordinator Engr. Ibrahim Salisu Dutsinma, the forum said Buhari should apply a political solution to resolve the issue rather than allow it to linger longer, which may not help the APC as a party and the nation at large.

The statement said Mr. Saraki has shown enough loyalty in many instances on his relationship with the president, citing the ministerial screening as example.

We urge the president to as a matter of urgency call on the APC leadership to put behind them what happen during the election of the Senate president and forge ahead with the policies that benefit the Nigeria masses, the statement said.

We as group of youths from the presidents home state of Kastina remain steadfast to the course of unity, peace and development of our country on which democratic sustainability is built. We shall always uphold the sanctity of truth and justice like in the case of Senator Bukola Sariki because he was elected by his colleagues, it added.
Prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Uche, has denied reports credited to him in the media that he accused President Muhammadu Buhari of a grand plot to Islamize Nigeria.

It would be recalled that the Prelate, who spoke on Sunday at Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State during the enthronement of Rt Rev Jacob Ibikunle as the Bishop of Okun Diocese, was widely reported as alleging that the Buhari administration was using Fulani herdsmen to carry out an invasion of Christian-dominated communities in the North-Central, insisting that such plan would be resisted by Christians.

He also faulted the cold silence of the Buhari administration to the threat posed by Fulani herdsmen, claiming that the president had refused to address the mass killing of people and burning of their property by the herdsmen.

According to him: We are closely watching this government because we are aware there is a gameplan to Islamise Nigeria, and they are using the Fulani herdsmen to initiate it before they fully launch it out. But I tell you there is going to be serious resistance from Christians. If they think they can use the Fulanis to exterminate us, then they have failed. Look at what is happening in Benue State and all over Nigeria, the herdsmen will just invade a community and wipe out every living creature there before they set the place ablaze. Infact, the issue of Fulani herdsmen is now worse than Boko Haram.

We cannot fold our arms and watch these herdsmen continue killing our people like this. The activities of Fulani herdsmen have never been so pronounced like under this government.

The issue of insecurity is so alarming and growing worst every day, innocent people and even men of God are being kidnapped at will on daily basis and ransom collected with little or no challenge from anywhere.

But in a statement Tuesday, the Prelate described the reports as a misrepresentation of facts.

He said: President Muhammadu Buhari was never accused of planning to Islamise Nigeria, rather, I said that the militant sect of the Fulani herdsmen with their Boko Haram collaborators think that they can Islamize Nigeria, their efforts will always be resisted.
Vanguard

Cross River State Government has defended the foreign trip embarked upon by the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade, saying he has not violated the constitution by travelling out of the country without writing to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

Thisday

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, spoke for the first time on the recent political violence in Rivers State and vowed to deal with the sponsors of the violence decisively.

The Sun

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to pay more attention to security and economic issues affecting Nigeria instead of focusing on other countries and persecuting perceived political enemies.

Daily Times

The Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has condemned last weekends cult violence in the Abia State University, Uturu which led to the beheading of two students.

Guardian

The House of Representatives has mandated its committees on Public Procurement and Niger Delta to investigate over N400 billion allegedly expended by the Presidential Amnesty Programme through fictitious contract awards.

Daily Trust

The group of 15 in the Kogi State House Assembly, led by embattled Speaker Momoh Jimoh Lawal, yesterday insisted that Governor Yahaya Bello was the brain behind the lingering impasse in the state House of Assembly.

National Mirror

The embattled immediate past National Security Adviser, NSA, Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd), has dragged the Federal Government before the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Court of Justice over his continued detention without trial since December 2015.

Leadership

Backlash and Lashback this week examines the unending political war between a political godfather, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and his estranged godson, Kano State governor Abdullahi Ganduje, over an alleged political thuggery in the state.

The Nation

SOME candidates, who wrote the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculations Examination (UTME) Computer Based Test (CBT), took their grievances to the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa, Lagos yesterday.

Tribune

SENATORS, on Tuesday, voted against a bill seeking to eliminate all forms of discrimination against womenfolk.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has blown the lid off a plot by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and national commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mrs Amina Zakari to swap authentic results from polling units with fake results on March 19, 2016.

The National and State Assembly re-run elections in Rivers is slated for this Saturday.

Speaking during the grand finale of the Rivers East Senatorial District Campaign Rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at Elele in Ikwerre LGA, Governor Wike said: All those who plan to swap result sheets, may their souls rest in peace. Nobody will rig in Rivers State.

Anybody who thinks Amaechi will give them result sheets to swap, should be ready to swap their dead bodies. I have told the REC, you were here before, you cant play games with me.

The governor said it is his responsibility to take steps to stop politicians plotting to rig elections in the state with the connivance of the INEC national commissioner.

He also alleged that the Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt was compelled by the minister and leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to draw up a list of INEC ad-hoc staff dominated by former APC caretaker committee chairmen and confirmed APC members to organise the rerun elections.

Wike reeled out names of the APC leaders purportedly on the INEC ad-hoc staff list.

The governor also said that he had written a formal letter with proof and details to INEC National Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, complaining of the issue.

Gov. Wike also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on Amaechi, a former governor of the state, not to cause crisis in the state because of his personal interest.

In his remarks, National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff stated that Rivers State is a PDP state where the people are satisfied with the performance of the PDP government led by Wike.

The Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, in his remarks, described Amaechi as a confirmed thief who stole Rivers monies, which he claimed the former governor used to finance APC national campaigns.

The Rivers PDP chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah, labeled Amaechi the chief sponsor of cultism in the state.
Russia is looking to purchase five bottlenose dolphins for military purposes in a contract worth 1.75 million rubles ($25,000), according to a notice posted by the Defense Ministry on the governments procurement website. According to the tender, the contractor must catch three male and two female dolphins between the ages of 3 and 5 by Aug. 1. The length of the dolphins bodies should not exceed 2.7 meters (the average size for this species).

The specific objectives for the use of dolphins were not disclosed. It is possible that Russia is resuming a large-scale training program for marine saboteurs. An RBTH source in the Defense Ministry familiar with the situation said that the oceanarium is simultaneously being supplied with manpower, including the transfer of some troops from Moscow military units to Sevastopol.

Until the collapse of the USSR, dolphins had been intensively trained at the researchoceanarium in Cossack Bay in for underwater operations, including demining, mining, anti-saboteur missions and reconnaissance. However, with the disappearance of the Soviet Union in 1991, the oceanarium in Sevastopol came under the jurisdiction of Ukraine, and the number of marine animals (bottlenose dolphins, beluga whales and sea lions) dropped drastically.

The remaining dolphins were used for dolphin therapy for children and adults with neurological disorders and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. In March 2014, the Russian media reported that the animals, which were commandeered by the Russian military following the takeover of Crimea, would serve the interests of the Russian Navy. At the same time, employees of the dolphinarium expressed hope that Russia would allocate money to finance this unique scientific institute, and developments in the field of research of abilities of dolphins would not be lost.

UPI.
So you did your best  you went, saw and conquered but could only manage to graduate with a 3rd class. Illness, indolence, inability or fate might have played a trick on you. Your parents were mad as hell, when you finally summoned the courage to tell them the grade you came out with but there was no need reminding them that it isnt the end of the world. Especially with the common knowledge that most big firms in Nigeria dont recruit graduates with less than a 2.1. Many graduates with 2.2 or lower are not even given the chance to prove themselves, even though some of them may be better than some graduates with higher grades. With a whole lot of Nigerians daily facing this predicament, INFORMATION NIGERIA has thought it right to put together 5 things those people who graduated with a 3rd class face more often than not

People see you as dull: The first impression you make to anyone who hears of your grade is that youre not smart. Financial pressures, playfulness, sickness, victimization, missing exam sheets, family issues, disillusion or influence of bad friends could have aided the outcome of your grade but no one has time to consider those factors.

People perceive you as a failure: Although grades have no way of deciding how well a person would succeed in life and career, but with a 3rd class degree many already perceive you as a failure.

Proving yourself over again: Simply because you graduated with a 3rd class, it becomes your life duty to prove yourself to anyone and everyone. It somewhat looks like you would everyday have to explain yourself especially to an employer who has taken the risk to employ you against all odds.

Your certificate feels like crap: On your own, you do everything to avoid a situation where you have to rely on your certificate to save your life. Therefore, you quickly learn a trade, acquire a skill or get a post graduate. Something to cover you up.

Inability to get a job: It feels almost impossible to get a job as many Nigerian companies almost never advertise vacancies that require 3rd class. This for a start kills your confidence to apply. Even when you convince yourself, the chances youd be picked are very slim.

Do you have an experience of your own???
The Senate on Tuesday approved N10 billion for the relocation and resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

The approval of the fund came on the heels of a motion titled, Interim financial and material support/assistance to IDPs returnees in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States and sponsored by Senate Leader, Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) and eight others.

In moving the motion, Ndume said most of the local government areas and towns that were hitherto occupied by the insurgents have been recaptured and secured by the Nigerian security forces.

He, however, lamented that the IDPs from these states ran away from their various homes leaving everything they owned behind with the hope of returning within the shortest possible time but ended up losing everything to the Boko Haram insurgents.

The Senate leader also noted that for the IDPs to return home, they need immediate and interim financial and material assistance in term of cash transfer and food relief to start their lives afresh before the intervention from the proposed North East Development Commission (NEDC).

In contributing to the motion, Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC, Nasarawa West) said the provision of the N10bn would address the immediate primary concerns of the IDPs, stressing that poverty played key role in the escalation of the crisis.

We are going into this years farming season, 90 percent of the IDPs are farmers and if they miss the essential time of this season, it will be very difficult for them to meet up even next year, he said.

In passing resolutions on the motion, the Senate directed its committee on Appropriation to allocate N10bn under the service wide vote for the IDPs.

Senate also called on the Federal Government to release grains from the strategic grain reserve to the affected states.

The senators also passed resolution urging the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and refugees commission to make special arrangement for the repatriation and resettlement of Nigerian refugees in Cameroon, Niger and Chad Republic.

In his remarks, Senate President Bukola Saraki said the success of the security agencies in the Northeast made it possible for the IDPs to return back to their respective villages.

We must commend the efforts of security forces, because without them we will not be talking about the relocation of the IDPs, he said.
Syrian flags fluttered against the grey afternoon sky as a steady line of protesters gathered under Brandenburg Gate in the German capital to mark the fifth anniversay of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assads government. About 500 Syrian activists and refugees gathered on Tuesday chanting: Long live Syria and down with Assad.

Sitting on a fellow protesters shoulders, one man addressed the crowd in Arabic: Five years later and the revolution lives inside us stronger than ever. From the square, the crowd marched in columns to the nearby Russian embassy, chanting in unison against Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Want to stop the refugee wave? Stop Assad and Putin in Syria, one banner read. A close ally of the Assad government, Russia expanded its role in the Syrian conflict when it began carrying out air strikes across the country five and a half months ago. This is the birthday of the Syrian revolution, Louai al-Hamedi, a 22-year-old Syrian who came to Germany a year ago, told Al Jazeera.

Originally from Raqqa, he argued that protests will continue inside and outside Syria until the Assad government is gone. Our revolution was peaceful from the beginning, Hamedi said. We never wanted an armed revolution, but the regime made it an armed [conflict]. The Syrian conflict started as a largely unarmed uprising in March 2011 before launching into an armed conflict that has claimed the lives of more than 260,000 people, according to the UN.
On this day in 1947, Nigerian journalist, editor and founder of Newswatch magazine, Dele Giwa was born to a poor family working in the palace of Oba Adesoji Aderemi, the Ooni of Ife

He attended local Authority Modern School in Lagere, Ile-lfe. When his father moved to Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife as a laundry man, he gained admission to that school. He later traveled to the USA for his higher education, earning a BA in English from Brooklyn College in 1977 and enrolled for a Graduate program at Fordham University.

He worked with the New York Times as a news assistant for four years after which he relocated to Nigeria to work with Daily Times and in 1984, with fellow journalists Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese and Yakubu Mohammed founded Newswatch.

Dele Giwa was killed by a mail bomb in his Lagos home on 19 October 1986. The assassination occurred two days after he had been interviewed by State Security Service (SSS) officials. On the fateful day, a package was delivered to Giwas guard and when Giwa received the package, he was with Kayode Soyinka (London Bureau Chief of Newswatch). The package exploded, mortally wounded Giwa and temporarily deafening Soyinka, who had excused himself to the rest room shortly before Giwa was supposed to have attempted opening the package. Giwa was rushed to the hospital where he eventually died from his wounds.
Minister of Transportation and immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has accused his successor, Governor Nyesom Wike of shielding wanted militants and cultists by hiding them in Government House, Port Harcourt.

The ex-governor made the allegation yesterday when he appeared as a guest on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television breakfast programme.

Amaechi further alleged that the 23 caretaker committee chairmen were known militants.

The minister, who said he parted ways with Wike, his Chief of Staff between 2007 and 2011, because of violence and corruption, predicted that Saturdays National and State Assembly re-run elections in the state would be peaceful in view of the assurances given by security agencies.

According to Amaechi: Wike is protecting killers; all his caretaker chairmen are known militants. The police recovered arms and ammunition from the home of Soboma Jackrich (chairman of Asari-Toru Council) and Jackrich is now living in the Government House.

Wike must stop supporting violence by not encouraging the criminals, especially cultists and militants. Wike must allow persons who break the law to be punished. My relationship with Wike became sour, as my Chief of Staff, because of his violence and corruption.

If a governor wines and dines with cultists and militants, he will embolden the criminals. As Rivers governor, I never sat down with cultists and militants. I did not support the Federal Governments amnesty offer to repentant militants because you do not compensate criminals.

Chief Godspower Ake (former Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party) begged me to manage Wike as my Chief of Staff so people wont notice there was a problem. Chuma Chinye (ex-Commissioner for Commerce and Industry) begged me to recommend Wike for a ministerial appointment in 2011. I accepted so as not to appear stubborn and thats the worse decision I have made in my life.

The minister lamented that the people were helpless in view of the deteriorating security situation in the state, even as he accused Wike of failing to protect lives and property, which he swore on oath to do.

Amaechi maintained that cultism could never be attributed to members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), whom he described as God-fearing, insisting that only APC members were being killed.

He challenged Gov. Wike to show Nigerians any PDP member killed in the recent violence bedeviling Rivers State.

He also denied harassing a policeman, a claim that was corroborated by the Rivers Police Command spokesperson, Muhammad Ahmad.

Ahmad said: The attention of Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to the news making the rounds that Chibuike R. Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, on March 12, along Port Harcourt-Omagwa Road, arrested and manhandled a policeman.

The command wishes to state that the story is untrue and the act did not happen.

Meanwhile, the Rivers Government has slammed Mr. Amaechi over his allegation against Governor Wike, saying the former governor ran a failed and dizzyingly-corrupt government for eight years.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr. Austin Tam-George, who spoke on behalf of Mr. Wike, alleged that Amaechi has been indicted for stealing public fund by a court-approved Judicial Commission of Inquiry in Rivers State.

His antics are a diversionary campaign to evade justice, through the rigging of the rerun legislative polls this weekend, but he will be defeated and brought to account.

Gov. Wike added that his predecessor was fighting for his political life right now, saying he understood his deadly desperation.
Racial diversity in film was the issue that got all the attention during Oscar season, but the movie industry also faces a huge challenge when it comes to gender.

Prestigious Hollywood power couple Will and Jada Smith are famously tuned in to the race problem, since they famously boycotted the Oscars, but they are also very much aware of the dearth of female professionals in the industry. And so their strategy for changing this dichotomy is a simple one: Get them while they're young.

The Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation just awarded a grant to NYUs Tisch School of the Art's Fusion Film Festival. Funds to the student-run film festival, which is designed to promote the work of women directors, writers, cinematographers and producers, will support up to five women filmmakers whose work has been submitted to the festival. Awards totaling $10,000 will go to Fusion Festival winners.

The lack of female representation in cinema is obvious. While looking at Sundance's efforts to promote gender equality in American cinema, we noted that just 6 percent of the 250 top-grossing films last year were directed by women. (That's 15 films for those keeping track at home.) And so other grantmakers like the Adrienne Shelly Foundation and New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT) have made boosting gender equity in American cinema a huge priority.

These grantmakers primarily support experienced filmmakers  the NYWIFT Ravenal Foundation Grant, for example, supports a second-time feature film director who is over 40. But the Smith Family Foundation grant aims to raise awareness around female filmmakers at the college level.

The foundation will also allocate $20,000 to finance two student-created pilots developed through the Tisch Advanced TV Production class. The three-semester class assigns students to create and write original pilots of 30 minutes or less in the spring semester, of which two will be selected to receive grants.

In our funder profile on the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation, we noted that their primary funding areas included education, racial equity and black causes, health, and religious outfits. We also mentioned that their brief one-page web site didn't give viewers much insight into their funding priorities. But some simple web sleuthing reveals that they're pretty generous. In 2006, Jada donated $1 million to the Baltimore School for the Arts, which she attended with the rapper Tupac Shakur. The money was earmarked for a $30 million expansion program.

In other words, don't let their minimal web presence or their seemingly paltry $30,000 Tisch gift fool you. This is a couple with a lot of money that's serious about philanthropy, and they have been ramping things up.

Related:
Here's a surprising fact: The Atlanta BeltLine, a new transportation and economic development effort that brings together railways, trails, greenspace, housing and art, began as a master's thesis project in the late 1990s. A recent New York Times article titled "What Happened to the Great Urban Design Projects?" notes that former Georgia Tech student Ryan Gravel mentioned his thesis during an office meeting at an architecture firm. The idea gained traction and the rest is history.

That Times article held up the Atlanta BeltLine as a shining example of urban planning done right in a field that is no longer as groundbreaking as it once was. America's infrastructure is lagging behind and our confidence in government to solve these problems has waned as well. And while urban planning programs were often hotspots on campus in earlier times, that hasn't seemed so true lately. Certainly, we haven't seen these programs attracting the attention of many deep-pocketed donors.

But this might be changing. Maybe with some new resources, campus urban programs can once again operate at the cutting edge.

Now there's news of a $35 million gift to University of Chicago by alumni couple Joe and Rika Mansueto. The money will launch the Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation, "bring[ing] together programs in the social, natural, and computational sciences and in the humanities to enhance the Universitys strengths in urban scholarship and education."

Morningstar CEO Joe Mansueto and his wife Rika are strong patrons of their alma mater, previously giving $25 million to support construction of a library bearing their name. More broadly, as we've reported before, this billionaire couple has stepped up their philanthropy in recent years. Much of that giving has focused in Chicago so far, but this is a couple with wide interests.

Related: A Quick Rundown of the Mansueto Foundation's Chicago Philanthropy

As for the latest big gift, Joe Mansueto had this to say: The dramatic rise in large cities over the past 50 years has created some of societys most difficult problems and most promising opportunities. Rika and I want to put some of our resources towards addressing these issues."

The institute will tackle a range of problems, including healthcare, housing policy, and even reducing violence. This broad, interdisciplinary approach is noteworthy. Going back to that Times article for a moment, it cautions against engineers and planners who only crunch numbers and focus on metrics. At the end of the day, cities only work if people are happy. I learned that in SimCity.

It's about time that campus urban programs got some serious love from donors. After all, cities comprise a red-hot funding area right now among a lot of foundations, as we often report. We wouldn't be surprised to see more individual donors follow Joe and Rika Mansueto into this space, looking to universities they know as a venue for interesting work.
A Seattle self-storage project proposed by Dallas-based developer Baranof Holdings would displace several local businesses, including an E-Z Mini Storage facility. An Early Design Guidance packet submitted by architecture firm Mackenzie Engineering Inc. indicates the project at 1634 15th Ave. W. would feature two four-story buildings comprising 207,108 square feet of storage space and 76 parking spaces. Renderings included in the packet indicate Extra Space Storage branding.

The project would require the demolition of several buildings, causing concern among local businesses. In addition to the E-Z self-storage facility, the project would displace Bedrock Industries, a manufacturer that recycles and repurposes glass into home-decor items, as well as a distillery, a furniture store and the Center for Sex Positive Culture, a nonprofit community center focused on human sexuality. Several local artists would also lose their workspace, according to the source.

Bedrock Industries owner Maria Ruano told the source she isnt sure her business could survive another relocation. She moved the operation across the street a year ago and is still trying to offset the $50,000 cost. She also believes the project would negatively impact the character of the area.

I dont think its appropriate for anyone to tell a property owner what to do with their property. If someone wants to pay them the money, and they get their permits to do it, thats the way it goes, Ruano said. But at the same time, from a human standpoint, theres very little area now for a business like mine to be.

The site is just north of the Magnolia Bridge between West Blaine and West Garfield Streets. The area itself as an industrial/commercial zone is suited to the use, and the development additionally allows increased density and infill along 15th Avenue West, Mackenzie officials wrote in the guidance packet. The goal of this project is to serve the growing need for inner-city storage demands while providing a contextual facility that blends with the growing and transitioning Interbay area. Its location offers ease of access from residents within the urban core.

The listed sale price for the property was $7.8 million, according to the source.

Baranof Holdings has also submitted self-storage development proposals in Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash., the source reported.
Entrepreneurs and investors gathered in New York in early March to test their appetite for agriculture technology  and for eco-friendly hors doeuvres like vegan salmon. Hosted by Netherlands-based Rabobank, the inaugural Brooklyn edition of the FoodBytes! networking event focused on food companies with a bent toward sustainability. But one of the days first speakers was Gabriel Wilmoth, investment director at Syngenta Ventures, the venture arm of the Swiss agrochemical giant.

Big Agriculture has a place in the sustainable conversation, said Wilmoth, who worked at several major production farms and with early-stage tech companies before joining Syngenta. Farmers dont have the capacity to take on a lot of the risk thats required to meet changing agricultural needs, he explained, but Big Ag does. Everyone knows were going to have more mouths to feed, Wilmoth added. The question is how to address that, and big companies need to adapt.

As the worlds population keeps expanding and the climate warms, growing food, finding water and managing their processing and distribution present new challenges. China National Chemical Corp. is bidding $43 billion for Syngenta to gain access to its ag tech, which it sees as vital to China's food security. Many investors that have concentrated on agriculture for decades are making changes to keep up  and turning their attention to a slew of technology-driven start-ups.

Though Syngenta, Monsanto Co. and other major seed makers are still the biggest players in agriculture technology, the sector is diversifying. Online food sales is the biggest piece of the ag tech pie: In 2015 it saw $1.65 billion worth of investment globally, according to a recent report by AgFunder, a web-based agriculture investment marketplace. The rest of the industry, which includes sustainable protein, irrigation and water, drones and other robotics, and data analysis, pulled in $2.9 billion, a surge from 2014, when investments outside of food totaled $1.9 billion.

Venture capital financing of agriculture technologies jumped 78 percent in 2014 and another 44 percent last year. Sovereign wealth funds such as Singapores Temasek Holdings and Khazanah Nasional, the strategic investment vehicle of the Malaysian government, have recently boosted their agriculture plays, devoting more attention to investment targets that take advantage of innovative technologies.

Rabobank, one of the worlds largest banks and a major food and agribusiness lender, has long been at the forefront of the industry but recently began putting more effort into promoting ag tech entrepreneurs and connecting them with investors. FoodBytes! launched in 2015 through a partnership with SF New Tech, a monthly San Francisco mixer for entrepreneurs and investors. The recent Brooklyn event, whose attendees included bankers, venture capitalists and other institutional investors, showcased ten of the roughly 200 businesses that applied.

Exhibitor Arable, a crop data analytics outfit founded by agronomist Adam Wolf, is beta testing a product to deliver personalized analyses to farmers. Known as the Pulsepod, the product  designed with the help of engineers who also worked on the Fitbit activity tracker  measures rainfall, crop water demand and other information and connects to Wi-Fi to send data streams to analytics software.

But with mobile technology now ubiquitous, competing for investors is becoming increasingly difficult for companies like Princeton, New Jerseybased Arable, notes Manuel Gonzalez, Rabobanks West Coast head of corporate clients in San Francisco.

Arable is a very interesting company, and there are others that do the same, Gonzalez says. Its going to be a tough market for a little while until they get a few really big accounts and become a bit of a standard.

This air of disruption and competition exists outside Silicon Valley and Silicon Alley too. In Durham, North Carolina, Research Triangle Park has become a hub for life sciences and agriculture, and the overlap between those sectors is helping to fund more ag tech innovation in the region. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, a Pasadena, Californiabased real estate investment trust that focuses exclusively on science and technology clusters, or campuses, is developing 1 million square feet at RTP for the Alexandria Center for Science, Technology and Agriculture, whose second phase will include the first such ag tech accelerator for early-stage firms. The first phase, launched in November, focuses on biotechnology and life sciences.

Alexandria, which already owns and operates about 1 million square feet of office, lab and greenhouse space in the Triangle region, will provide the same type of facilities to accelerator tenants. The firm also plans to back accelerator companies through its Alexandria Venture Investments division. The location will put ag tech start-ups close to giants like Syngenta, Monsanto, Bayer CropScience and BASF Plant Science, as well as agriculture and technology experts at North Carolina State University.

RTP has been evolving from a Big Pharma cluster into one with a big ag tech component, notes Alexandria founder, chair and CEO Joel Marcus: Were seeing a lot of mainstream health care venture guys diversifying into agriculture, and we think, over the next decade or two or three, its going to be a huge opportunity.

Follow Kaitlin Ugolik on Twitter at @kaitlinugolik.
Zia Gbau, who came to Vermont as a refugee from the Republic of Congo, suffered a serious stroke last year and was unable to work for several months. Without money, his truck fell into disrepair, and he got two tickets for an expired inspection sticker.

The 33-year-old couldnt pay the $500 fine, and that put him in the position of driving with a suspended license. I have a daughter I have to drop at daycare, said Gbau, who lives in Colchester, Vermont.

Vermont has been trying to slow down the traffic ticket treadmill on which people like Gbau can find themselves. A pilot project to let suspended drivers pay off reduced fines over time and get their licenses back was launched in a few counties a year ago, and legislation up in the House this week would take it statewide.

California and Washington state have run similar programs. Kansas gave suspended drivers a chance in December to sign up for restricted licenses, which would allow them to drive to work, school, medical and other necessary appointments.

The treadmill speeds up when the driver starts piling up tickets for driving with a suspended license, a common phenomenon in a rural state like Vermont, where public transit is limited and people need to get to work.

People who cant comply with the law are getting deeper and deeper into trouble with fines, interest on fines, all sorts of stuff, said Margaret Stapleton, a lawyer with the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, based in Chicago. A police stop for driving with a suspended license can land people in jail easily, she said.

On the driver restoration days, in Vermont so far, people in Gbaus situation can report to a state office, have their fines reduced, get on a payment plan and get their licenses restored.

The Vermont House bill calls for a one-time driver restoration period from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30. But if it gets over to the Senate, it likely will run into a key lawmaker who has big reservations about it.

Sen. Richard Sears, D-Bennington and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he had been hearing from prosecutors, police chiefs and town officials in his district that they dont like the driver amnesty idea.

I have real concerns about the state jumping in and telling our states attorneys, our local law enforcement, you know, what to do, rather than them making the decision, Sears said in an interview.

One question Sears said he had been hearing: Is this fair to those that are paying off those fines and working through the problem?

Valerio said reducing fines and putting people on payment plans actually improves revenue collection in places where the techniques have been tried. Partial collection is better than none, he said.

The House bill also takes aim at another part of the ticket treadmill: getting charged with driving with a suspended license when the underlying cause of the suspension had nothing to do with driving.

The House Judiciary Committee heard from one 27-year-old woman who had never been able to get a drivers license in Vermont because she had failed to pay a fine for underage tobacco use when she was 13.

Allen Gilbert, executive director of the Vermont chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said young people from low-income backgrounds are especially vulnerable to having fines compound and stay on the books unpaid for years.

For you and me if you get a $300 ticket we dont like it, but if youre 16 and you get a $300 ticket, it might as well be $300,000, Gilbert said.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Vermont
The American Insurance Association (AIA) lauded Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker for signing comprehensive opioid abuse legislation (H 4046) Monday.

Opioids are synthetic versions of opium-derived drugs, many of which were initially developed to treat end-stage cancers and now are increasingly used to relieve chronic pain.

AIA said opioid abuse is one of the most urgent issues facing the workers compensation system. The increasing cost associated with opioids, both human and economic, has made opioid abuse a national epidemic, according to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

To combat opioid abuse, H 4046 will:

Limit first time prescriptions of opioids to a seven-day supply;

Allow patients to request that only a portion of their opioid prescription be filled in order to discourage overuse of painkillers;

Change the requirements for the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) to require registered participants to utilize the program each time a prescription is issued for Schedule II or III narcotics;

Set guidelines that practitioners must follow when prescribing opioids; and

Require additional training for medical licenses and law enforcement and include additional measures relating to treatment and prevention of substance use disorders.

AIAs Northeast Region Vice President Alison Cooper said AIA applauds Baker for signing H 4046 as well as the leadership of policymakers in both the House and Senate for recognizing and addressing the issue of opioid abuse. Cooper said insurers are committed to combating this epidemic because the societal cost is simply too high.

This legislation contains significant measures that have proven to be effective in reducing dependence on opioids, Cooper said. These include strengthening Massachusetts existing Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, setting guidelines for practitioners who dispense opioids and providing additional resources for the training and prevention of opioid abuse.

We remain committed to working with the governors office, legislators and the Division of Insurance in the fight against opioid abuse, Cooper said.

AIA is a property/casualty insurance trade organization, representing approximately 325 insurers that write more than $127 billion in premiums each year.

Topics Legislation Massachusetts Drugs
XL Catlins insurance segment announced that it has restructured its Southern Europe operations to include France alongside Italy and Iberia.

Southern Europe is led by Regional Manager Bruno Laval, who takes on an additional role as country manager, France. XL Catlin also announced the promotion of Simona Fumagalli to country manager, Italy, and of Jose Ramon Morales to country manager, Iberia. All appointments are effective immediately.

A French national who started his career with AXA, Laval has over 24 years experience in the insurance industry. He joined XL in 2001 and established the companys successful presence in Iberia. As regional manager, Iberia and Latin America, from 2010, he built up the insurance operations in Brazil and Mexico to serve that region.

He was appointed XL Catlins regional manager, Southern Europe and Latin America, in 2015. In his dual role as country manager, France, he succeeds Kadidja Sinz, who is leaving XL Catlin by mutual agreement.

Simona Fumagalli joined XL in 2014 from Zurich Insurance as chief underwriting officer, Professional Indemnity, within International Financial Lines. She is retaining this position in addition to her new role. Previously in her career she held underwriting management roles at ACE and Marsh. As country manager, Italy, she succeeds Maurizio Castelli, who stepped down from the position and has left the company.

Jose Ramon Morales joined XL in 2012 as Iberia Client & Distribution leader. In 2014 he was promoted to deputy country manager, Iberia. Prior to joining XL he was with AXA, where he was head of commercial lines, responsible for the Mediterranean  Latin American region. Before that he held different management and underwriting roles with QBE Insurance, Aon Re and Gen Re.

Bruno Laval has an excellent track record of building and developing successful businesses within our group, commented Kelly Lyles, chief regional officer and deputy chair of XL Catlins insurance leadership team. Thats why were confident in his ability to lead the expanded region of Southern Europe while also directly managing our important operation in France, with about 120 insurance colleagues based in Paris and Lyon, Lyles added.

Commenting on Fumagallis and Morales appointments, Ralf Tillenburg, the insurance segments chief executive EMEA, said: Both Simona and Jose Ramon bring to their new roles an in-depth knowledge of the markets they serve combined with an energetic management style. Under their leadership, I expect to see our Italy and Iberia operations continue on a strong trajectory, delivering relevant products and services to our clients and brokers.

Source: XL Catlin

Topics Europe AXA XL France
Specialist Lloyds underwriter Marketform announced it has transferred its international medical malpractice insurance business to Dale Underwriting Partners, the Lloyds licensed underwriter.

Marketform said the decision follows a comprehensive review of the business line, and Marketform immediately will cease to write international medical malpractice insurance business.

Marketform will continue to manage existing international medical malpractice claims, as well as any new claims arising from policies currently underwritten by Marketform, the company said in a statement.

The decision was taken in conjunction with Marketforms shareholder, American Financial Group, and is part of a broader strategic review of the group launched under new Chief Executive Officer Martin Reith.

As part of the transaction, a team of four underwriting professionals, led by Andrew Hornsblow, will join Dale Underwriting Partners on Thursday March 17 2016. Other members of the team are Thomas Wagstaff, Benjamin Wilson and Amy Everingham.

Hornsblow has more than 30 years industry experience and is a highly regarded medical malpractice underwriter, according to Dale Underwriting in a statement issued about the four new members of its casualty team in London. Prior to Marketform, Hornsblow held senior underwriting roles with Barbican Syndicate 1955 and Chaucer Syndicate 1084.

Martin Reith, CEO, Marketform Managing Agency Ltd., commented: I would like to thank Andrew and his team for their commitment and contribution to Marketform over the years and for their patience in recent months. We wish them all the best for a successful future with Dale Underwriting.

Welcoming the new team, Duncan Dale, chief executive, Dale Underwriting Partners, said: Expenditure on healthcare is a growing percentage of GDP in many areas of the world, with complex liabilities and evolving insurance requirements. The expertise and experience of this team will be incredibly valuable as we look to develop our international healthcare offering. I look forward to working with them.

About Dale Underwriting Partners

Dale Underwriting Partners is an independent, owner-managed Lloyds syndicate that began trading on Jan. 1, 2014 and has a stamp capacity of 90 million ($128 million) for the 2016 year of account. Dale Underwriting is one of eight syndicates managed on a turnkey basis by Asta Managing Agency Ltd., the third-party managing agent at Lloyds which manages approximately 1 billion ($1.4 billion) of capacity.

Source: Marketform and Dale Underwriting Partners

Related:

Topics Underwriting Lloyd's Human Resources
A printer error first tipped off Bangladeshs central bank to one of the biggest cyber heists in recent history, according to a complaint filed to police that provided new details on the attempted theft of nearly $1 billion.

Zubair Bin Huda, a joint director of Bangladesh Bank, found the printer tray empty when he looked on the morning of Feb. 5 for confirmations of SWIFT financial transactions that are normally printed automatically overnight. He then tried and failed to print out the messages manually from the SWIFT system, according to his complaint to police, the first step needed to start an official investigation.

We thought it was a common problem just like any other day, Huda said in the complaint.

Because it was a Friday  a weekend in Muslim-majority Bangladesh  Huda left the office around 11:15 a.m. and asked his colleagues to help fix the problem. It took them more than 24 hours before they could manually print the receipts, which revealed dozens of questionable transactions that sent the bank racing to stop cash from leaving its account with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to the Philippines, Sri Lanka and beyond.

The case has prompted central banks around the globe to examine cyber security measures. It has also led to the resignation of Bangladeshs central bank governor and put money laundering in the Philippines under scrutiny.

File is Missing

Proloy Kumar Saha, an inspector of Motijheel Police Station where the complaint was filed, confirmed the details and said it was being transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department. Huda is not a suspect in the case and didnt accuse anyone of wrongdoing in the document, known as a First Information Report. He didnt respond to multiple phone calls.

On Saturday, Feb. 6, Huda noticed that the software on the terminal connecting to the SWIFT system wasnt responding. When an attempt was made to restart the terminal, a message flashed: A file is missing or changed, according to the complaint.

By 12.30 p.m., Huda and his team had managed to get the terminal started. While the automatic printing system still didnt work, they managed to print them manually. What they found surprised them: The receipts show the Federal Reserve Bank of New York sent back queries to Bangladesh Bank against 46 payment orders in different messages, according to the complaint.

Weekend Phone Calls

At our end, we did not find any debit confirmation in our system against those payment orders, Huda said.

Sensing a much bigger problem than a computer glitch, Bangladesh Bank contacted SWIFT to help them analyze the transactions. It also e-mailed and faxed the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where it kept an account, with a stop order for all unauthorized payments until further notice, Huda told police.

Over Saturday and Sunday, Bangladesh Bank failed to reach officials in New York by phone. But by that time it was also a weekend in the U.S., and nobody was available.

By Monday, Feb. 8, the central banks connection to the SWIFT system was back up and running. Bank officials then discovered that four unauthorized SWIFT messages were sent indicating that $101 million was transferred to the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

Frantic Messages

Bangladesh Bank then frantically sent stop payment orders via the SWIFT system to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Bank of New York Mellon, Citigroup Inc., Wells Fargo & Co. and Pan Asian Banking Corp. in Sri Lanka.

Huda said in the complaint that $81 million was sent to Rizal Bank via four messages and $20 million was sent to Pan Asia Banking via one message  all from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Another $850 million in transactions were halted.

On request from Bangladesh Bank, Pan Asia Banking canceled the payment of $20 million to its beneficiary and routed the funds back to Bangladeshs account with the Fed in New York. But the $81 million that entered the Philippine banking system was credited to beneficiary accounts with Rizal Bank and eventually withdrawn.

The $20 million transfer to Pan Asia Banking raised alarms because of its size and a typo in the beneficiarys name, according to Nalaka Wijayawardana, deputy general manager of marketing at the bank. Pan Asia Banking then remitted the funds back to Bangladesh Banks account in New York via Deutsche Bank around Feb. 17, he said.

Philippine Suspect

We cannot divulge the beneficiary due to confidentiality policy, but we will support any investigation, Wijayawardana said.

Most of the $81 million in the Philippines is missing. Maia Santos Deguito, the manager at Rizal Banks branch in the Philippine financial district accused of allowing the withdrawal of the funds, invoked her right against self-incrimination in a hearing on Tuesday.

The Philippine anti-money laundering agency said Deguito allowed the funds to be withdrawn on Feb. 5 and 9 despite requests from Bangladesh to stop the transfers. Only $68,305 of the funds remained when Rizal Bank put the accounts on hold, according to the complaint.

SWIFT Response

Deguitos lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, who was with her at the hearing, declined to comment, saying he hasnt seen a copy of the complaint.

SWIFT said it was working with Bangladesh to resolve an internal operational issue at the central bank, according to a statement last week. SWIFTs core messaging services were not impacted by the issue and continued to work as normal.

A Citigroup spokesman in Hong Kong had no immediate comment. Amy Chang, a spokeswoman at Deutsche Bank, declined to comment. Calls and e-mails to BNY Mellon and Wells Fargo werent immediately returned.

Malware Installed

Malicious software code, known as malware, had been introduced into Bangladesh Banks systems in January without the knowledge of the banks information systems staff, according to an official familiar with the Bangladesh Bank investigation. The hackers struck the systems on Feb. 4, said the official, who asked not to be named because hes not authorized to speak about the probe.

Atiur Rahman resigned as Bangladeshs central bank governor on Tuesday, saying he took moral responsibility after failing to immediately inform the Finance Ministry of the theft. He denied any wrongdoing, and said he had notified intelligence agencies of the crime. Two of his deputies were also removed. Bangladesh on Wednesday appointed career bureaucrat Fazle Kabir as his replacement.

Mohammed Farashuddin, former governor of Bangladesh Bank, will lead a three-member team to investigate the heist, Bangladeshs Finance Ministry says in a notice on Tuesday. It will investigate how the funds where stolen, who received the cash and why the central bank waited to inform the government. They will have to submit an interim report in 30 days and a full report in 75 days, it said.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Cyber New York
A spike in burglaries in Minot, N.D. last year has continued into this year, and police say the rash of break-ins has become almost overwhelming.

Authorities are investigating 16 burglaries in seven days, including four that occurred late Sunday or early Monday. Its likely the highest count in a week in recent memory, police told the Minot Daily News.

Its almost overwhelming with the structures being broken into and the amount of stuff being stolen, police Capt. John Klug said. Its taxing on everybody.

Burglaries in Minot last year increased about 50 percent from the previous year, to more than 300, and break-ins of businesses, homes, churches and storage units have continued at a steady pace early this year. Police have said the increase might be tied to the illegal drug trade.

Some with addictions have a $100-plus daily habit, Klug said. They are not going to make that kind of money and make a living on top of it. This sheds some light on that portion of the community. Narcotics are on the rise. Burglaries are on the rise. Thefts are on the rise.

Police officers have increased patrols aimed at detecting suspicious activity near businesses, and some businesses that didnt have security systems are installing them. The police department is encouraging businesses to record serial numbers of valuables, and telling residents to be extra vigilant and report anything suspicious.

People and businesses are getting frustrated with it, Klug said. Every day it gets a little bit more intense.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Law Enforcement
Attorneys for customers suing General Motors Co. over faulty ignition switches urged a U.S. appeals court on Tuesday to throw out bankruptcy court rulings that they say shield the company from lawsuits potentially worth billions of dollars.

A panel of three judges on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did not clearly indicate during oral arguments how they might rule. A decision is expected within several months.

The judges pressed lawyers for both the plaintiffs and GM over what the No. 1 U.S. automaker knew about the switch problems during the automakers 2009 bankruptcy proceedings.

Judge Denny Chin said what GM knew was a pretty important question for determining whether the company had an obligation during the bankruptcy to notify vehicle owners about their potential claims. The plaintiffs say that since they were not properly notified, they were denied their right to participate in the proceedings.

Steve Berman, a lawyer for some of the plaintiffs, said GM did know enough about the switch defect because the issue had been raised as early as 2004.

GMs lawyer, Arthur Steinberg, countered that while some switch-related incidents had been investigated over the years, employees didnt make a connection between those events and a broader safety issue until after the bankruptcy.

The companys bankruptcy created New GM to contain the companys valuable assets while leaving behind most of its burdensome liabilities with Old GM.

Last year, the judge who oversaw that process said New GM was shielded from liability over Old GMs pre-bankruptcy actions but did allow independent claims based solely on New GMs conduct to proceed.

Some GM customers say New GM should not be shielded because of its years-long concealment of the switch defect.

GM has also appealed, saying that allowing for independent claims retroactively alters the sale agreement that created New GM.

GM has been hit with hundreds of lawsuits since it announced in 2014 that it was recalling 2.6 million vehicles with the part, which can slip out of place, causing engine stalls and cutting power to steering, air bags and brakes.

The bankruptcy decisions primarily affect cases involving accidents that occurred before New GM was created, and proposed class actions brought on behalf of millions of customers who claim their vehicles lost value because of the recalls involving the ignition switch and other related safety issues. Plaintiffs have estimated the value of those claims to range from $7 billion to $10 billion.

(Reporting by Jessica Dye; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, David Ingram and David Gregorio)

Related:

Topics USA
A Texas jury ordered Volkswagen AGs Audi unit to pay $124.5 million to an 11-year-old boy who was left brain damaged in a 2012 rear-end collision.

The parents of Jesse Rivera Jr. claimed the seat back of the 2005 Audi A4 was too weak to withstand a rear-end crash. The front seat collapsed, and the driver, the boys father, slid backwards hitting his head on his sons in the back seat, said the familys attorney, Jeff Wigington.

Audi denied any defects or fault for the boys injuries. Audi is not pleased with the verdict and we will evaluate the next steps to be taken, Mark Clothier, a company spokesman, said in an e-mail.

Its worth noting that neither the driver nor the injured boy were wearing seat belts, nor was the boy seated in a booster seat, Clothier said.

The San Antonio jury found Audi 55 percent responsible, assigning 25 percent blame to the driver who rear-ended Rivera, and 20 percent to the father. Audi would be liable for the whole award under Texas law, Wigington said in an interview. He said both Riveras wore seat belts.

Jesse Rivera Jr. was also left partially paralyzed and blind in his right eye, Wigington said. The accident occurred as Jesse Rivera Sr. stopped for a school bus, he said. The father wasnt injured in the crash.

The verdict doesnt include punitive damages.

The case is Rivera v. Cordova, 2013-CI-00118, Texas District Court, Bexar County (San Antonio).

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Texas
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Bomford, Couch & Wilson Inc. in Miami, Okla.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Established in 1904, Bomford, Couch & Wilson (BCW) is a retail insurance broker providing commercial property/casualty, risk management consulting, employee benefits and personal lines insurance services to small and middle-market clients throughout the four corners area of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. The firm specializes in providing insurance coverage for religious, agricultural and pharmaceutical clients.

Jim Couch and his associates will continue to operate under the direction of Jay Eshelman, head of Gallaghers central region retail property/casualty brokerage operations.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. is headquartered in Itasca, Ill.

Source: Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions A.J. Gallagher Oklahoma
Jackie Hisle Jr.s voice cracked through the jailhouse phone Monday as he struggled to explain how smoking near his oxygen tank might have ignited a massive blaze at his apartment building that killed his son and two others.

I regret it all, especially my son, he said in a telephone interview from jail three days after the fire. I loved him dearly. The other two people, they were my good neighbors. I wish to God it hadnt happened but it did.

Hisle, 55, is now charged with three counts of manslaughter and held on a $1 million bond. He pleaded not guilty at his initial court appearance Monday.

The overnight fire Friday injured at least five people. Eyewitnesses said they saw flames, 25-feet tall, consuming the building as residents jumped from second-story windows to escape.

Hisles 36-year-old son, Donald Hisle, was among the three people who died. His son was his best buddy, Hisle said Monday. They fished, camped and watched TV Westerns together, he said.

The other two fire victims were 29-year-old Tina Reynolds and 71-year-old Dixie Everman, according to Clark County Deputy Coroner Sarah Crews.

Reynolds and Hisle died of smoke inhalation. The cause of Evermans death is still undetermined because she had both smoke inhalation and blunt-force trauma, Crews said. Everman was among those who jumped from the second story to escape the fire and sustained injuries from the fall.

Hisle said he was on his living room couch when the fire ignited. His oxygen tank was in the bathroom, with a hose reaching into the living room, he said.

I put my oxygen on and somehow it caught on fire, he said.

Hisle, a former construction worker who is on oxygen due to a lung condition, said he wasnt sure if the fire might have been sparked by a lit cigarette or a smoldering cigarette in an ash tray.

I thought the cigarettes were out in the ashtray, he said.

Hisle said he tried to smother the fire with a pillow and then a blanket. He then tried to turn off the oxygen tank in the bathroom, but the flames and smoke were too intense, he said.

Hisle said his son, who lived with him off and on, was in the bedroom when the fire broke out. He said he hollered at him, trying to alert him, but never heard his son call out. He said he tried to get to his son but the smoke was too intense.

I was hoping to God that maybe he was trying to get out the window, Hisle said.

Hisle said he drank two or three beers the night of the fire, but said he wasnt intoxicated.

Hisle acknowledged he had been warned by neighbors and friends about smoking near the oxygen tank.

Everybody here has told him, `One of these days, youre going to blow yourself up,' Johnny Hill, 28, of Winchester, told the Lexington Herald-Leader. Anybody with common sense knows you dont smoke around oxygen. He knew it because everybody in this complex told him.

Hill was visiting friends in an apartment building next to the one that burned when he heard a loud boom, smelled smoke and saw the fire about 1:15 a.m. Friday, the Lexington paper reported.

Hisle is to be represented by a public defender. His next court appearance is set for March 23.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Kentucky
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin announced the arrest of Dale McKinley Montford, 55, of Jacksonville; he is charged with two counts of insurance fraud and one count each of obtaining property by false pretense, attempting to obtain property by false pretense, making a false report to police and rate evasion.

NCDOI criminal investigators accuse Montford of attempting to fraudulently obtain payment by filing a false claim with National General Insurance Co. on Nov. 16, 2015, that his trailer was stolen from a construction site. Investigators allege Montford provided false information about the purchase and value of the trailer, his location at the time of the alleged loss and his prior claims history. Investigators also accuse Montford of rate evasion for failing to disclose to the insurance company that he frequently traveled beyond a 50-mile radius from his home for business.

Investigators allege Montford fraudulently obtained $3,600 from National General Insurance Co. in January 2015 after making a false claim of vandalism to a vehicle.

Montford was arrested on March 9 in Onslow County and placed under a $3,000 bond.

The Department of Insurance employs 20 sworn state law enforcement officers dedicated to investigating and prosecuting claims of insurance and bail bonding fraud. Since Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin took office in 2009, criminal investigators have made more than 1,500 arrests, resulting in more than 750 criminal convictions with more than 250 cases currently pending court. These efforts have delivered more than $72.1 million in restitution and recoveries for victims.

Source: North Carolina Department of Insurance

Topics Fraud North Carolina
Farmers Insurance will be presented with the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundations Golden Horizon Award at the organizations annual Horizon Award Gala on March 16 at the Alexandria Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, Calif.

Accepting the IICF award on behalf of Farmers Insurance will be CEO Jeff Dailey.

The award is for the insurer groups efforts in helping rebuild the communities of Joplin, Mo., and Sea Bright, N.J., following the weather events that struck those communities. In addition to donating thousands of volunteer hours and making financial contributions to support recovery efforts, Farmers led the creation of the Disaster Recovery Playbook, which compiles best practices for municipalities and communities in preparing for, responding to and recovering from disaster.

For more than 80 years, Farmers has been committed to helping people and communities in need, and I am proud to accept the IICF Golden Horizon Award on behalf of the thousands of Farmers employees and agents whose volunteer efforts and work as insurance professionals has helped people across the country, Dailey said in a statement.

This years Horizon Award Gala (formerly known as the Club100 Dinner) will bring together insurance professionals from dozens of leading companies to support local nonprofits as part of IICFs Western Division Community Grants program. Event proceeds will go to benefit local nonprofits with targeted programs in child abuse prevention, disaster preparedness, education, and health and human services.

Through its grant program, IICF reinvests funds raised by a region back into that same region and its communities. IICF was established in 1994 and is directed and funded by the insurance industry.

Topics Agribusiness
Five Lyft drivers and the Teamsters union will object to a proposed class action settlement, saying it would shortchange drivers by keeping them as independent contractors instead of employees, a union spokesman said on Tuesday.

Lyft and larger rival Uber face separate lawsuits brought on behalf of drivers who contend they are employees and entitled to reimbursement for expenses including gas and vehicle maintenance. The drivers currently pay those costs.

Employment status is a critical one for the so-called sharing economy technology companies. The Uber and Lyft cases have been closely followed because a determination that the workers are employees rather than contractors could affect the valuations of other startups that rely on large networks of individuals to services.

The proposed Lyft settlement, filed in San Francisco federal court in January, provides for Lyft to pay $12.25 million, as well as give drivers notice if they are to be deactivated from the platform and other benefits.

But the deal, which would have to be approved by a San Francisco federal judge, would not classify drivers as employees. The driver objections on Tuesday could lead the judge to scrutinize the settlement.

The five drivers along with the Teamsters Union plan to criticize the settlement which would pay drivers an average of less than $60, the union said on Tuesday. That is much less than what they are owed as employees, they said.

This settlement will leave Lyfts business model intact, said Rome Aloise, president of Teamsters Joint Council 7.

A Lyft representative declined to comment. Plaintiff attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan said she had not seen the union objections, but in the past has defended the deal, saying it provided significant benefits for drivers.

The Teamsters also said it filed an unfair labor practice charge at the National Labor Relations Board, alleging Lyfts business practices deprive drivers of the right to join a union.

(Reporting by Levine and Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Ted Kerr and Cynthia Osterman)

Related:

Topics Lawsuits Personal Auto
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones wants California drivers know about the departments online tool that helps consumers shop for different insurers based on price.

The tool is now being launched by the California Department of Insurance is designed to enable consumers to quickly and easily make apple to apple comparisons of average premium rates from both national and local auto insurance companies, a statement from CDI reads.

Consumers can use this tool to identify insurers with the lowest average premium and then contact the company directly for a quote.

Consumers know the insurers that advertise on television and radio, but they may not know about the companies that serve their neighborhood and may offer a lower price, Jones said in a statemment. The auto rate price comparison tool shows consumers all the insurers that write policies in the area and the average premium prices. Consumers can identify the lowest prices and contact the company for a quote. Often, it pays to shop around.

An anecdote CDI offered:

A Santa Monica-area married couple using the tool to shop for standard insurance might find that their average premium options range from $2,762 to $10,036 annually. That is a price difference of more than $7,200. In Sacramento a single female shopping for standard insurance might find-after providing relevant data-that her average premium options range from $1,639 to $11,008 annually, a price difference of $9,369.

The prices on the comparison tool do not include the consumers available credits or discounts, but it has a discounts tab allowing access to review discounts offered by each insurer, based on the consumers specific profile. The tool also has a complaint page where consumers may view complaints about each insurer over the last three years.

While this tool does not provide actual premium quotes, each companys average premium is followed by a toll-free number for consumers to contact an insurance agent, ask questions about available discounts or credits and receive an actual premium quote.

Related:

Topics Carriers California
The New Mexico Supreme Court affirmed this week that a private prison operator may be held liable to pay damages to three female inmates who were raped by a guard.

The opinion could influence the final outcome of an appeal of a judgment against the Corrections Corporation of America to pay damages that is before the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.

A federal jury in 2012 awarded more than $3 million in damages to three former inmates at the Camino Nuevo Womens Correctional Facility. The minimum-security prison was run by Nashville, Tennessee-based Corrections Corporation of America before closing in 2008 as the prisoner population declined. A spokesman for the company said its legal team is studying the state courts opinion.

In response to a request from the federal appeals court, the New Mexico Supreme Court affirmed that the prison operator can be held liable because private corrections officer Anthony Townes was aided in the sexual assaults by his job position.

Townes is serving a 16-year state prison sentence for criminal sexual penetration and false imprisonment in connection with assaults on female inmates at Camino Nuevo.

The state Supreme Court found that prison company policies allowed male corrections officers to escort female inmates around the facility alone and that rules were not enforced for maintaining a physical distance between guards and prisoners.

The court, in an unopposed opinion by Justice Charles Daniels, said a former warden at the prison also can be found liable for damages.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Legislation Mexico New Mexico
A Utah judge this week tossed out part of a lawsuit filed by a family who says they were beaten by drunken revelers at a ski resorts Oktoberfest celebration because the event has turned into a booze-fueled Rocky Mountain spring break.

Snowbird ski resort officials who have also been under scrutiny by the state liquor board say they have never been cited for breaking alcohol rules at the German-themed festival, and the 2014 incident was the only one of its kind in more than 40 years.

We feel like the safety record at Oktoberfest speaks for itself, said Dave Fields, vice president of resort operations at Snowbird.

The family initially sued for unlimited damages, arguing that Snowbird let the men get too drunk and didnt do enough to protect the family from the attack that happened after they took a tram to a relatively isolated stop on the mountain.

Judge Heather Brereton ruled that the family can only sue under a Utah law that makes bars liable for up to $1 million a person and $2 million per incident if patrons get too drunk and hurt someone.

She dismissed claims that the resort didnt have enough security to protect people.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs  Brent Anderson, his wife, Laura, and their stepson Thadius Grzeskiewicz  say the lawsuit will still move forward.

They say they were on the tram when a group of drunken men got on board and started singing explicit versions of a Mormon childrens song. When Anderson asked the men to quiet down, they attacked the family, punching Anderson several times and threatening Grzeskiewicz along with his wife and baby, according to the lawsuit.

Three of the men were arrested and later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges including assault and riot.

The familys lawyers say the attack was a symptom of a larger problem at the event that has gotten out of hand and become a kind of Rocky Mountain spring break.

Lead attorney Jim McConkie said an undercover agent they hired has seen people passed out and drivers weaving down a canyon road on the way home.

Its not that were trying to stop people from having a good time. But if theyre going to serve liquor up a canyon, thats the worst place do it, McConkie said in an interview.

The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control considered denying Snowbird a permit in 2014 for the event, but authorities changed their minds after a backlash against the move that critics said would torpedo a popular event and put the states staunchly sober image in an unflattering light.

This year, Utah lawmakers passed legislation aimed at avoiding a repeat of the situation by requiring the liquor board to sign off on an event such as Oktoberfest if it meets the permit requirements. The measure is awaiting approval from Gov. Gary Herbert.

The resorts Oktoberfest runs from August through October and attracts about 60,000 people.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Legislation
Competition from outsiders such as Google is causing insurers to take notice of the broader potential in advanced analytics. Insurers have all the data they need to improve the customer experience, and with the right data and tools at their disposal, they can obtain instant customer feedback the way a company like Uber does.

Those were but some of the opinions presenters from Allstate, IBM, and more imparted to an audience of insurance executives at this weeks Insurance Analytics USA Summit in Chicago.

As insurers realize the return on using analytics to provide customer value, demand for data scientists will increase, says Eric Huls, SVP, quantitative research and analytics for Allstate. Right now, however, insurers are aware of whats going on, and interested in how analytics work, he added, but they are not connecting the dots.

Huls pointed to both Amazon and Netflix as an example of companies creating predictive analytics models that use data from past transactions to intuitively calculate and suggest what the customer may want next.

Companies like Amazon, Netflix and Apple are really our competitors, said Huls, because they have set the bar as to what the typical consumer expects.

Like other large carriers, Allstate takes a formal approach to its data analytics efforts, Huls said, noting that beyond underwriting and risk selection, its used heavily for claims fraud, and also in play for agent location and tech support recommendations, as well as for telematics with the companys connected car efforts.

As an industry we are starting to use analytics to solve more complex problems than in the past, Huls said, but although insurers are evolving quickly, they are not evolving as quickly as the rest of the world.

Barry Powers, director of Cognitive Insurance Solutions for IBM, agreed that big changes are happening outside the industry, which makes it even more important for insurers to be able to interact with their customers in real time -- or risk losing them.

I used to think that price was a game-changer, Powers said, but our research told us that the number-one reason a customer leaves his/her insurer is because they believe their insurance company did not understand what they wanted.

Powers agreed that the industry has yet to fully leverage data the way the Amazons of the world do, but noted that some of the larger carriers have overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges on their journey to using analytics to improve business outcomes. Using Nationwide as an example of one insurers successful application of analytics to improve customer retention, Powers noted that the carrier started with approximately 50 Web interfaces and 27 disjointed backend systems.

Nationwide decided to create a single customer data management system (using master data management), then married that system with predictive analytics to find out what their customers intent was. Once intent was analyzed and established, the carrier began personalizing all customer interactions, said Powers.

Thanks to that personalized approach, Nationwide quickly saw a 43-times increase in online completion rates, and an 8.3% increase in customer satisfaction, reported Powers.

As one of many third-party data partners to insurers, IBM has established data relationships with Twitter, Apple, and The Weather Company (which it acquired in January), noted Powers. IBMs behavioral-based customer insights program helps insurers identify at-risk policyholders, determine profitable segments and create personalized tactics for each customer interaction.

For Tom Shirkey, director of data integration at Auto Club Group (AAA), looking outside the industry for data analytics application ideas is important. His companys members rely on AAA and its affiliates for travel, insurance and financial services offerings. As a result, AAAs data analytics opportunities are more in line with the direct-to-consumer efforts of company such as Amazon, and the company is focused fully not just on attraction and retention but on up-selling and cross-selling other value-add products to its insurance members.

Why is it so hard, with all the data and tools we have, to get marketing messages out there that are relevant? asked Shirkey.

In Shirkeys view, data is a means to an end. His team collects information during all inbound and outbound contacts, and uses it to have further relevant interactions with the customer.

We know the members who are high spenders on travel, but not on insurance, he says. So by using transaction triggers and behavioral models to improve communications, the company can create highly targeted content marketing messages that are relevant to that member.

The end, or the goal, obviously, is to increase membership and increase member engagement. All interactions are opportunities to collect data, he says.

For the life industry, which has seen relatively flat sales and a drop in brokers, attraction is the issue, so there is a stronger focus on applying analytics to the buying process, Rahim Rajpar, John Hancocks AVP of Strategy and Business Development, told the group. As part of John Hancocks customer analytics initiative, the company collects data on its current and prospective customers world view, including lifestyle, payment tolerances and preferences, etc., which is combined with third-party research data and funneled into individual personas (profiles) that are then segmented based on want, need and desire.

John Hancock uses big data and a specific analytics strategy to determine these precise customer nuances, because, says Rajpar, targeted prospect selection is paramount: The last thing I want to do is invite a prospect to apply for life insurance only to have to reject them, he said.

The company routinely conducts A/B testing, and uses response analytics to measure such things as open rates, Rajpar said. Within the companys purchase analytics area, take rates, average purchase size and specific product selection for an individual prospect are also determined.

These efforts all contribute to ROI, said Rajpar, but it comes down to sending the right message to the right person at the right time.

Allstates Huls pointed to two trends that take a more positive view of the industrys ability to step up: 1) more analytics will be leveraged across all insurance business functions, and 2) insurers will eventually start massively customizing everything: auto, homeowners, and customized pricing based on up to 50 pieces of information about each customer.

To get there as an industry, Huls said, We really need to shift our culture toward analytics.
Nella capitale vicini Michetti e Gualtieri. A Siena e a Roma si vota anche per le elezioni suppletive alla Camera dei deputati

Si sono chiusi alle 15 i seggi per le consultazioni elettorali che si sono tenute domenica 3 e lunedi 4 ottobre, che hanno chiamato a esprimersi oltre 12 milioni di elettori. Si e votato per il rinnovo di 1.192 amministrazioni comunali, per le suppletive della Camera dei deputati nella XII circoscrizione Toscana, collegio uninominale 12  Siena e nella circoscrizione XV Lazio 1, collegio uninominale 11  Roma  Quartiere Primavalle, e per le regionali in Calabria. Alle 15, con 621 comuni campionati su un totale di 1.153, il Viminale rende noto che laffluenza e pari al 59,79%, quando nel 2016 il dato era stato 65,98%, anche se in quelloccasione si era votato un solo giorno. Ecco i primi exit poll effettuati dal consorzio Opinio Italia per la Rai.

Roma

A Roma il candidato del centrodestra Enrico Michetti raggiunge una forchetta del 27-31%, seguito dallex ministro Roberto Gualtieri, candidato del centrosinistra, con il 26,5-30,5%. In una forchetta tra il 16,5 e il 20,5% Carlo Calenda e la sindaca uscente Virginia Raggi.

Milano

Alle comunali a Milano il candidato del centrosinistra e sindaco uscente Giuseppe Sala raggiunge una forchetta del 54-58%, dietro di lui Luca Bernardo (centrodestra) con il 32-36%, mentre Layla Pavone e Gianluigi Paragone in una forchetta tra il 2 e il 4%.

Napoli

Calo dellaffluenza nel capoluogo campano, con il dato definitivo al 47,19%, quando alla tornata del 2016  ma in quelloccasione si votava in un solo giorno  al primo turno si reco il 54,12%. In base al primo exit poll del consorzio Opinio Italia per la Rai, il candidato del centrosinistra e Movimento 5 Stella Gaetano Manfredi raggiunge una forchetta del 57-61%. Dietro lui Catello Maresca (centrodestra) con il 19-23%; Antonio Bassolino (9-13%) e Alessandra Clemente (5,5-7,5%).

Torino

Affluenza sotto il 50% a Torino, dove si e presentato alle urne il 48,06% degli aventi diritto: peggior risultato della storia nel capoluogo piemontese. Il candidato del centrosinistra Stefano Lo Russo raggiunge una forchetta del 44-48%, seguito da Paolo Damilano del centrodestra con il 36,5-40,5%, Valentina Sganga, tra il 7 e il 9%, e Angelo DOrsi (1,5-3,5%).

Trieste

A Trieste il candidato Roberto Dipiazza, del centrodestra, raggiunge una forchetta del 46-50%, seguito da Francesco Russo del centrosinistra tra il 29 e il 33%. Poi Riccardo Laterza (9-13%) e Alessandra Richetti (2-4%).

Notizia in aggiornamento
Noi siamo fiduciosi del fatto che la Clinton comprenda il ruolo degli Stati Uniti nel mondo, non abbiamo dubbi che lei affrontera in modo assiduo i problemi che il nostro Paese deve affrontare, e lei ha dimostrato la sua disposizione allanalisi ed al duro impegno. E un estratto delleditoriale con cui il magazine The Atlantic ha palesato il suo appoggio alla candidata democratica alle elezioni presidenziali, Hillary Clinton.

Il magazine ha deciso di dare il suo endorsment alla Clinton definendola uno dei candidati piu preparati di sempre e, inoltre, ha bollato Donald Trump come demagogo, xenofobo, sessista, uno che non sa niente ed e un bugiardo, specificandolo che lo considera il candidato piu dichiaratamente non qualificato nei 227 anni della storia della presidenza americana e che sarebbe una minaccia esistenziale per la Repubblica.

Fondata nel 1857, la prestigiosa e storica rivista solo in altre due occasioni si era apertamente schierata a favore di un candidato alla Casa Bianca: nel 1860 con Abraham Lincoln e nel 1964 con Lyndon B. Johnson. A sottolineare limportanza e leccezionalita della decisione e il direttore di The Atlantic, Scott Stossel, che paragona la scelta di sostenere la Clinton a quella fatta nel 1964 a favore di Johnson che si scontrava con il repubblicano Barry Goldwater.
You've probably heard of the term private equity (PE). Roughly $3.9 trillion in assets were held by private equity (PE) firms as of 2019, and that was up 12.2 percent from the year before.

Investors seek out private equity (PE) funds to earn returns that are better than what can be achieved in public equity markets. But there may be a few things you don't understand about the industry. Read on to find out more about private equity (PE), including how it creates value and some of its key strategies.

Key Takeaways Private equity (PE) refers to capital investment made into companies that are not publicly traded.

Most PE firms are open to accredited investors or those who are deemed high-net-worth, and successful PE managers can earn millions of dollars a year.

Leveraged buyouts (LBOs) and venture capital (VC) investments are two key PE investment sub-fields.

What Is Private Equity (PE)?

Private equity (PE) is ownership or interest in an entity that is not publicly listed or traded. A source of investment capital, private equity (PE) comes from high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) and firms that purchase stakes in private companies or acquire control of public companies with plans to take them private and delist them from stock exchanges.

The private equity (PE) industry is comprised of institutional investors such as pension funds, and large private equity (PE) firms funded by accredited investors. Because private equity (PE) entails direct investmentoften to gain influence or control over a company's operationsa significant capital outlay is required, which is why funds with deep pockets dominate the industry.

The minimum amount of capital required for accredited investors can vary depending on the firm and fund. Some funds have a $250,000 minimum entry requirement, while others can require millions more.

The underlying motivation for such commitments is the pursuit of achieving a positive return on investment (ROI). Partners at private equity (PE) firms raise funds and manage these monies to yield favorable returns for shareholders, typically with an investment horizon of between four and seven years.

2:10 Private Equity Fundamentals

The Private Equity (PE) Profession

The private equity (PE) business attracts the best and brightest in corporate America, including top performers from Fortune 500 companies and elite management consulting firms. Law firms can also be recruiting grounds for private equity (PE) hires, as accounting and legal skills are necessary to complete deals and transactions are highly sought after.

The fee structure for private equity (PE) firms varies but typically consists of a management and performance fee. A yearly management fee of 2% of assets and 20% of gross profits upon sale of the company is common, though incentive structures can differ considerably.

Given that a private-equity (PE) firm with $1 billion of assets under management (AUM) might have no more than two dozen investment professionals, and that 20% of gross profits can generate tens of millions of dollars in fees, it is easy to see why the industry attracts top talent.

At the middle market level$50 million to $500 million in deal valueassociates can earn low six figures in salary and bonuses, while vice presidents can earn approximately half a million dollars. Principals, on the other hand, can earn more than $1 million in (realized and unrealized) compensation per year.

Types of Private Equity (PE) Firms

Private equity (PE) firms have a range of investment preferences. Some are strict financiers or passive investors wholly dependent on management to grow the company and generate returns. Because sellers typically see this as a commoditized approach, other private equity (PE) firms consider themselves active investors. That is, they provide operational support to management to help build and grow a better company.

Active private equity (PE) firms may have an extensive contact list and C-level relationships, such as CEOs and CFOs within a given industry, which can help increase revenue. They might also be experts in realizing operational efficiencies and synergies. If an investor can bring in something special to a deal that will enhance the company's value over time, they are more likely to be viewed favorably by sellers.

Investment banks compete with private equity (PE) firms, also known as private equity funds, to buy good companies and to finance nascent ones. Unsurprisingly, the largest investment-banking entities such as Goldman Sachs (GS), JPMorgan Chase (JPM), and Citigroup (C) often facilitate the largest deals.

In the case of private equity (PE) firms, the funds they offer are only accessible to accredited investors and may only allow a limited number of investors, while the fund's founders will usually take a rather large stake in the firm as well.

That said, some of the largest and most prestigious private equity (PE) funds trade their shares publicly. For instance, the Blackstone Group (BX), which has been involved in the buyouts of companies such as Hilton Hotels and MagicLab, trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

How Private Equity (PE) Creates Value

Private-equity (PE) firms perform two critical functions:

Deal origination/transaction execution

Portfolio oversight

Deal origination involves creating, maintaining, and developing relationships with mergers and acquisitions (M&A) intermediaries, investment banks, and similar transaction professionals to secure both high-quantity and high-quality deal flow: prospective acquisition candidates referred to private equity (PE) professionals for investment review. Some firms hire internal staff to proactively identify and reach out to company owners to generate transaction leads. In a competitive M&A landscape, sourcing proprietary deals can help ensure that funds raised are successfully deployed and invested.

Additionally, internal sourcing efforts can reduce transaction-related costs by cutting out the investment banking middleman's fees. When financial services professionals represent the seller, they usually run a full auction process that can diminish the buyer's chances of successfully acquiring a particular company. As such, deal origination professionals attempt to establish a strong rapport with transaction professionals to get an early introduction to a deal.

It is important to note that investment banks often raise their own funds, and therefore may not only be a deal referral, but also a competing bidder. In other words, some investment banks compete with private equity (PE) firms in buying up good companies.

Transaction execution involves assessing management, the industry, historical financials and forecasts, and conducting valuation analyses. After the investment committee signs off to pursue a target acquisition candidate, the deal professionals submit an offer to the seller.

If both parties decide to move forward, the deal professionals work with various transaction advisors, including investment bankers, accountants, lawyers, and consultants, to execute the due diligence phase. Due diligence includes validating management's stated operational and financial figures. This part of the process is critical, as consultants can uncover deal-killers, such as significant and previously undisclosed liabilities and risks.

Private Equity (PE) Investment Strategies

There are plenty of private equity (PE) investment strategies. Two of the most common are leveraged buyouts (LBOs) and venture capital (VC) investments.

Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs)

LBOs are exactly how they sound. A company is bought out by a private equity (PE) firm, and the purchase is financed through debt, which is collateralized by the targets operations and assets.

The acquirer (the PE firm) seeks to purchase the target with funds acquired through the use of the target as a sort of collateral. In an LBO, acquiring private equity (PE) firms are able to assume control of companies while only putting up a fraction of the purchase price. By leveraging the investment, PE firms aim to maximize their potential return.

Venture Capital (VC)

VC is a more general term, frequently used in relation to taking an equity investment in a young company in a less mature industrythink internet companies in the early to mid-1990s. Private equity (PE) firms will often see that potential exists in the industry and more importantly in the target firm itself, noting that its being held back, say, by a lack of revenues, cash flow, and debt financing.

Private equity (PE) firms are able to take significant stakes in such companies in the hopes that the target will evolve into a powerhouse in its growing industry. Additionally, by guiding the targets often inexperienced management along the way, private-equity (PE) firms add value to the firm in a less quantifiable manner as well.

Oversight and Management

Oversight and management make up the second important function of private equity (PE) professionals. Among other support work, they can walk a young company's executive staff through best practices in strategic planning and financial management. Additionally, they can help institutionalize new accounting, procurement, and IT systems to increase the value of their investment.

When it comes to more established companies, private-equity (PE) firms believe they have the ability and expertise to take underperforming businesses and turn them into stronger ones by increasing operational efficiencies, and with it earnings. This is the primary source of value creation in private equity (PE), though private equity (PE) firms also create value by aiming to align the interests of company management with those of the firm and its investors.

By taking public companies private, private equity (PE) firms remove the constant public scrutiny of quarterly earnings and reporting requirements, which then allows them and the acquired firm's management to take a longer-term approach in bettering the fortunes of the company.

Management compensation is also frequently tied more closely to the firm's performance, thus adding accountability and incentive to management's efforts. This, along with other mechanisms popular in the private equity (PE) industry, eventually lead to the acquired company's valuation increasing substantially in value from the time it was purchased, creating a profitable exit strategy for the private equity (PE) firmwhether that's a resale, an initial public offering (IPO), or an alternative option.

Investing in Upside

One popular exit strategy for private equity (PE) involves growing and improving a middle-market company and selling it to a large corporation for a hefty profit. The big investment banking professionals cited above typically focus their efforts on deals with enterprise values (EVs) worth billions of dollars. However, the vast majority of transactions reside in the middle market at the $100 million to $500 million range, and the lower-middle market below $100 million.

Because the best gravitate toward the larger deals, the middle market is a significantly underserved market. There are more sellers than there are highly seasoned and positioned finance professionals with extensive buyer networks and resources to manage a deal.

The middle market is a significantly underserved market with more sellers than there are buyers.

Flying below the radar of large multinational corporations, many of these small companies often provide higher-quality customer service, and/or niche products and services that are not being offered by the large conglomerates. Such upsides attract the interest of private-equity firms (PE), as they possess the insights and savvy to exploit such opportunities and take the company to the next level.

For instance, a small company selling products within a particular region may grow significantly by cultivating international sales channels. Alternatively, a highly fragmented industry can undergo consolidation to create fewer, larger playerslarger companies typically command higher valuations than smaller companies.

An important company metric for these investors is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). When a private-equity firm (PE) acquires a company, they work together with management to significantly increase EBITDA during its investment horizon. A good portfolio company can typically increase its EBITDA both organically and by acquisitions.

Private equity (PE) investors must have reliable, capable, and dependable management in place. Most managers at portfolio companies are given equity and bonus compensation structures that reward them for hitting their financial targets. Such alignment of goals is typically required before a deal gets done.

Investing in Private Equity (PE)

Private equity (PE) is often out of the equation for people who can't invest millions of dollars, but it shouldn't be. Though most private equity (PE) investment opportunities require steep initial investments, there are still some ways for smaller, less wealthy players to get in on the action.

There are several private equity (PE) investment firmsalso called business development companies (BDCs)that offer publicly traded stock, giving average investors the opportunity to own a slice of the private equity (PE) pie. Along with the Blackstone Group, there is Apollo Global Management (APO), Carlyle Group (CG), and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), best known for its massive leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco in 1989.

Mutual funds have restrictions in terms of buying private equity (PE) due to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules regarding illiquid securities holdings, but they can invest indirectly by buying these publicly listed private equity (PE) companies. These mutual funds are typically referred to as funds of funds.

Average investors can also purchase units in an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that holds shares of private equity (PE) firms, such as ProShares Global Listed Private Equity ETF (PEX).

Private Equity and Crowdfunding

Private equity crowdfunding allows companies or entrepreneurs to obtain financing. The investor is offered debt or equity in exchange for partial ownership of the business. Oftentimes, private equity crowdfunding is shortened to the term equity crowdfunding.

Crowdfunding can be used by companies to raise money, similar to how individuals can raise money for causes via GoFundMe. Examples of online platforms for equity crowdfunding include Wefunder, AngelList, Crowdfunder, SeedInvest, and CircleUp. With private equity crowdfunding, however, entrepreneurs and businesses generally have to give up equity to get the investment.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has created regulations to allow companies to access capital. There are regulations, such as limits on the aggregate amount of money and on the number of non-accredited investors.

The Bottom Line

With funds under management already in the trillions, private equity (PE) firms have become attractive investment vehicles for wealthy individuals and institutions. Understanding what private equity (PE) exactly entails and how its value is created in such investments are the first steps in entering an asset class that is gradually becoming more accessible to individual investors.

As the industry attracts the best and brightest in corporate America, the professionals at private-equity (PE) firms are usually successful in deploying investment capital and in increasing the values of their portfolio companies. However, there is also fierce competition in the M&A marketplace for good companies to buy. As such, it is imperative that these firms develop strong relationships with transaction and services professionals to secure a strong deal flow.
Investors are often attracted to the low costs and ease of trading of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These funds represent a basket of securities that track an underlying index, giving investors exposure to many different companies with specific characteristics. These companies are commonly related by asset class, company size, or industry.

As such, gold ETFs provide investors with exposure to the gold market without the need to purchase the physical metal or stocks of various gold companies. Only a handful of the available gold ETFs offers the bonus of paying dividends. Dividends are only available with equity-based gold ETFs that invest in the stocks of companies engaged in the gold industry.

ETFs that pay dividends offer some risk protection, especially in volatile markets, by providing investors additional investment cash flow. Even if an index is performing poorly, an investor may receive distributions of profit though quarterly or annual dividends.

Here's a look at four of the ETF names that track gold and pay dividends. All information is current as of May 6, 2022, unless otherwise indicated.

Key Takeaways Gold ETFs provide investors with exposure to the gold market without having to purchase physical gold or specific gold stocks.

Sprott Gold Miners ETF has a dividend yield of 1.22%, though it only holds 33 different companies.

The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF holds 56 different companies and has a dividend yield of 1.15%.

The iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF has the highest distribution yield within article with a current yield of 2.08%.

The VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF tracks the performance of small- and mid-cap companies and issues dividends twice a year.

1. Sprott Gold Miners ETF (SGDM)

The Sprott Gold Miners ETF (SGDM) was launched in 2014. The ETF current holds equity in 33 different companies with each of these companies representing major names in gold and silver mining.

The market capitalization of the fund is just under $269 million. The ETF is strategically designed to mirror the performance of the Solactive Gold Miners Custom Factors Index TR. The benchmark index is also made up of 32 different precious metals companies.

The fund's annual operating expenses is 0.52%, though 0.02% of this is waived by the investment advisor of the fund resulting in a net fund fee of 0.50%. It offers a dividend yield of 1.22% and has paid a divided every year since 2018. The ETF last paid a dividend of $0.36 per share to investors on Dec. 22, 2021.

2. VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX)

The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX), launched by Van Eck in 2006, has approximately $14.3 bllion in net assets, making it one of the largest and most widely traded gold ETFs. It trades on the NYSE Arca Exchange.

The ETF's portfolio is made up of 56 holdings, many of which are some of the world's largest gold companies. Companies are chosen based on market cap with a minimum of $750 million. Holdings include Newmont, Barrick Gold, and Franco-Nevada. The fund tracks the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index.

The fund carries an expense ratio of 0.52%. With a dividend yield of 1.15%, GDX pays distributions annually. On Dec. 27, 2021, GDX distributed its most recent dividend of $0.5348 per share. The fund has issued a dividend every year since its 2006 inception except for 2008.

Gold ETFs that hold the physical precious metal or that hold gold futures contracts do not offer dividend yields.

3. iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (RING)

The iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (RING) was launched in 2012 by BlackRock. With $577 million in net assets, this ETF tracks the MSCI ACWI Select Gold Miners Investable Market Index. As such, it follows the performance of companies in both developed and emerging market economies whose primary revenue source is gold mining.

A total of 38 companies make up its portfolio. Its top three holdings include Newmont, Barrick Gold, and Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. Together, they make up roughly half of the ETF's portfolio.

The fund has a dividend yield is 2.08% and offers a low expense ratio of 0.39%. The fund awards semi-annual distributions. Prior to issuing a $0.33 distribution per share on Dec. 17, 2021, RING issued a $0.31 distribution on June 16, 2021.

4. VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ)

The VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) was launched by Van Eck in 2009 and has approximately $4.4 billion in net assets. This complementary offering to Van Eck's larger GDX ETF offers exposure to gold mining firms with lower market cap values.

The fund aims to mirror the Market Vectors Global Junior Gold Miners Index, which was designed to reflect the performance of small- and mid-cap companies that derive the majority of their revenue from gold and silver mining. The fund has 100 holdings with its largest position representing less than 6% of the total portfolio's value.

Major portfolio holdings include Pan-American Silver, Evolution Mining, and Yamana Gold. Unlike the larger funds, the concentration of the portfolio is much more diversified, with the top 10 holdings only making up less than 40% of the portfolio's assets.

The expense ratio for the fund is 0.52%, and the dividend yield is 1.76%. On Dec. 27, 2021, GDXJ issued its last dividend, distributing $0.7454 per share. The fund has issued a distribution in 11 of the 13 years since the fund's inception.

Do Gold ETFs Pay Dividends? Some Gold ETFs pay dividends, such as the ones listed in this article. It is important to note dividend yields often change over time. In addition, companies and ETFs may elect to not distribute any dividends for a given distribution period, often a result of poor financial performance.

What ETF Pays the Highest Dividends? The gold mining ETF that pays the highest dividend in this article is the iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (RING).

Does Vanguard Have a Gold ETF? Vanguard does not current offer a gold mining ETF.

Which Gold ETF Is the Safest? The gold ETF that is the safest will depend on individual risk tolerance and investing style. ETFs are generally safer than individual stocks due to their diversified nature. However, ETFs are also highly centralized within a specific industry or asset class. The risk level across all gold ETFs will be fairly similar.

The Bottom Line

There's a diverse offering of gold ETFs that range in assets under management size, number of companies held, and fund management expense. These funds also differ in their timing of distributions and dividend yields.
The year 2018 has been a downer for gold prices, and the only good thing to say about it is that 2019 might be better. Gold prices should rebound from about $1,225 in mid-October 2018 to as much as $1,400 in 2019 if the U.S. dollar weakens, according to Bloomberg. That would be a price level last seen in 2013.

You dont have to stash away a Canadian Maple Leaf or a South African Krugerrand to dabble in gold investing. There are mutual funds that invest in foreign and domestic gold-mining stocks, physical gold and any security linked to the underlying metal's price.

The Toqueville Gold Fund (TGLDX)

The Tocqueville Gold Fund ("TGLDX) has been a consistent top performer in its category. It is one of few that invest a large portion of their assets directly in physical gold, which has less price volatility than the stocks of gold mining companies. As of Dec. 31, 2015, the fund has 73% of its assets in foreign stocks, 6% in domestic stocks and nearly 15% in gold bullion. Its top holding as of late 2018 was in gold bars, accounting for nearly 15 percent of the fund.

TGLDX was having a bad year in 2018, dropping from $39.36 at the start of the year to $29.60 as of Oct. 11, 2018. Over five years, it dropped about 25 percent.

It has no sales load, but its 1.43% expense ratio is above average for its category.

The Vanguard Global Capital Cycles Fund Investor Shares (VGPMX)

Formerly called the Vanguard Precious Metals and Mining Fund ("VGPMX"), this should be considered a top choice in its category because of its extremely low expense ratio. Its assets are diversified well beyond gold-related securities, with holdings in companies engaged in the exploration, mining and processing of gold, silver, diamonds, platinum and other precious metals or minerals. The fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in foreign securities.

Its top holdings as of late 2018 included Aqnico Eagle Mines (NYSE: AEM), Newmont Mining (NYSE:NEM) and B2Gold Corp (NYSEAMERICAN:BTG).

It is a no-load fund with one of the lowest expense ratios for its category at 0.35%.

VGPMX sank in 2018, from $10.87 at start of year to $7.97 in mid-October. Over five years, it was practically flat.

Fidelity Select Gold Portfolio (FSAGX)

Although its primary focus is on gold-related securities, the Fidelity Select Gold Portfolio ("FSAGX") is diversified into other precious metals and minerals, such as silver, platinum and diamonds. It invests a minimum 80% of its assets in gold-related securities as well as physical gold. Its top holdings in mid-October 2018 included Newmont Mining (NYSE:NEM), Randgold Resources (NASDAQ:GOLD) and B2GoldCorp (NYSEAMERICAN:BTG).

The fund has an expense ratio of 0.93%.

FSAGX started 2018 at $20.92 and dropped to $16.25. For the five-year period it was down about 20 percent.

U.S. Global Investors Gold & Precious Metals Fund (USERX)

U.S. Global Investors introduced the nations first no-load gold fund in 1974 and it has been a consistent top performer since.

The U.S. Global Investors Gold & Precious Metals Fund ("USERX") was one of the best-performing gold-focused funds of 2015, losing only 14.66%. The fund invests primarily in companies engaged in the mining, fabrication and processing of precious metals and minerals including gold, silver, platinum and diamonds. It actively seeks opportunities in emerging markets that offer greater upside potential.

As of Sept. 30, 2015, it held 79% of its assets in foreign securities, 6% in domestic securities and 9% in cash. Among its top holdings as of mid-October 2018 were St Barbara Ltd (OTC:STBMY), Klondex Mines Ltd (OTC:HAVXF) and Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. (OTC:WDOFF).

It has a 2.05% expense ratio, which is high for its category.

USERX started 2018 at $8.03 and fell to $6.54 by mid-October. For the five-year period, it was down a fraction of a percent.
Investment Banking vs. Investment Management: An Overview

Plenty of undergraduate finance majors and master of business administration (MBA) students consider pursuing a career in investment banking or investment management, two intensely competitive fields in the finance industry, after receiving their degrees. These professions offer some of the highest starting salaries in the field, and there's plenty of room for growth for those who are talented and ambitious enough to land one of these spots.

If you take away all of the industry terminologies and boil these jobs down to their basic elements, investment bankers and investment managers (sometimes called asset managers or fund managers in the U.K.) are primarily responsible for channeling money from investors to companies that need capital. Some of the top experts in the investment world can be found in these positions.

Investment management is all about investment decisions and asset allocation. This means coming up with investment strategies and directing funds to property, equities, or debt securities on behalf of clients. Investment bankers, by contrast, are deal-makers. They work as high-level consultants and analysts for large companies to help with capital raising strategies.

Key Takeaways Investment managers help clients by managing their money. Clients can include individuals, educational institutions, insurance companies, and pension funds.

Investment managers perform financial analysis, portfolio allocation between bonds and stocks, equity research, and issue buy and sell recommendations.

Investment bankers help with corporate finance needs, such as raising funds or capital. Companies and governments hire investment bankers to facilitate mergers and acquisitions as well as IPOs, and new debt issuance such as a bond offering.

Investment Management

Investment managers help clients reach their investment goals by managing their money. Clients of investment managers can include individual investors as well as institutional investors such as educational institutions, insurance companies, pension funds, retirement plans, and governments. Investment managers can work with equities, bonds, and commodities, including precious metals like gold and silver.

Investment managers can have varied roles and responsibilities, depending on the firm, which can include:

Financial statement analysis

Portfolio allocation such as a proper mix of bonds and stocks

Equity research and buy and sell recommendations

Financial planning and advising

Estate and retirement planning as well as asset distribution

Investment Banking

Investment bankers help with corporate finance needs, such as raising funds or capital. Companies and governments hire investment bankers to facilitate complicated financial transactions, including:

Debt issuance such as a bond offering

New securities underwriting

Mergers and acquisitions

Initial public offerings (IPOs)

Investment banking can involve equity and security research and making buy, sell, and hold recommendations. Investment banking firms are also market makers, which provide liquidity or connect buyers and sellers to "make" the market.

Almost every investment banker starts out as an associate or analyst and hopes to put in enough years to reach a role as a vice president or managing director.

Special Considerations

Education and Skills

Competition for both careers is notoriously stiff. Investment banking firms are usually only interested in candidates who have graduated from top schools and who have worked previously with major corporate players. It's virtually impossible to find an investment banking associate position without an MBA and strong recommendations from respected professionals in the field. Investment management positions aren't quite as crowded by top applicants, but it's still very difficult to break into major firms.

Networking is very important and sometimes matters more than experience or academic bona fides. Many firms use internships as extensive application processes; in fact, some investment management and banking internships are more competitive than entry-level positions for corporate finance or research analyst positions.

Undergraduate degrees are preferred in business disciplines, such as finance, economics, accounting, or investment analysis, although degrees from other fields are considered. Some banks look for demonstrated analytical proficiency in specific sectors, like healthcare or pharmaceuticals.

Firms are generally looking a strong combination of the following skills and characteristics:

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Demonstrated independence and responsibility

Responsiveness and attention to detail

Negotiation and client management skills

Knowledge of investments, corporate finance and business negotiations (practical commercial expertise)

Advanced mathematical and technical skills

An ambitious, eager, get-it-done attitude

Salary

Investment banking and investment management jobs have attractive salaries and bonuses. Even the lowest-level investment banking analyst at a smaller firm can expect a first-year salary of $65,000 to $95,000 and a hefty signing bonus.

The average base pay for investment managers is $95,829 with salaries that can be as high as $180,000, according to glassdoor.com. Additional compensation averages $14,900, which includes commissions and bonuses.

The average base pay for investment bankers is $119,110 with salaries that can be as high as $235,000, according to glassdoor.com. Investment banking analysts make anywhere from $73,000 to 108,000.

Work-Life Balance

High-level investment jobs are highly concentrated in New York, London, and Tokyo. Even though there is some evidence of geographical shifts as the 21st century marches forward, it is still probable that a career in investment banking or investment management means moving to one of these three global financial hubs.

Workloads for investment managers vary. Those employed by mutual funds or hedge funds work when the stock market opens and closes. This can be a relatively short time if the firm is only active in one market, but those active in all three major exchanges can have very irregular. Private equity firms average much longer workdays, sometimes as many as 65 to 70 hours per week.

Investment bankers sometimes joke that they enjoy a nice "work-work" balance. Very few careers demand as much time and energy as investment banking; it's not uncommon to work 12- to 14-hour days for six or seven days a week. Despite the high salary and prestige afforded to an associate or analyst, many burn out and suffer physically and emotionally after a few years on the job. These roles are for career-minded people who may have little time for relaxing on weekends and spending time with family.

Occupational Outlook

These are very prestigious careers with huge salaries, so competition should remain very high for the foreseeable future. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that financial jobs such as analysts, bankers, and financial managers will experience 15% job growth between 2019 and 2029.

In all likelihood, a prospective banker or manager must decide on a firm-by-firm basis. Pay structures and workloads can vary, and the choice may hinge on the specifics of the role and the career goals of the individual.
The hotel industry provides short-term lodging facilities, such as hotels and motels, as well as accommodation-related services. It is divided into two main types of companies: C corporation hotels and hotel real estate investment trusts (REITs). C-corp hotels offer hotel management, branding and marketing, and franchise licensing. Hotel REITs focus on the acquisition, ownership, and operation of hotel real estate. The list below includes both types.

These are the 10 biggest hotel companies by 12-month trailing (TTM) revenue. Some companies outside the U.S. report profits semi-annually instead of quarterly, so the 12-month trailing data may be older than it is for companies that report quarterly. This list is limited to companies that are publicly traded in the U.S. or Canada, either directly or through ADRs. Data source: YCharts.com. TTM figures are as of December 31, 2021. One-year total return (daily) figures are as of April 12, 2022. Market capitalization figures are as of April 13, 2022.

Key Takeaways The hotel industry provides short-term lodging and accommodation-related services.

The industry primarily consists of C corporation hotels and hotel REITs.

C-corp hotels offer hotel management, branding and marketing, and franchise licensing.

Hotel REITs focus on acquisition, ownership, and operation of hotel properties.

Our list's biggest by 12-month trailing revenue is TBD.

Revenue (TTM): $10.6 billion

Net Income (TTM): -$267.0 million

Market Cap: $49.4 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: 114.8%

Exchange: NASDAQ

Marriott International is a global C-corp company engaged in the management, franchising, and licensing of hotel, residential, and timeshare properties under numerous brand names. Its portfolio of brands includes Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westin, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance Hotels, Fairfield by Marriott, and more.

Revenue (TTM): $4.3 billion

Net Income (TTM): -$715.0 million

Market Cap: $35.2 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: 98.5%

Exchange: New York Stock Exchange

Hilton Worldwide is a C-corp company that provides hospitality services throughout the world. It engages in the management, franchising, and ownership of hotel properties under various brand names. Its portfolio includes Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, and more.

Revenue (TTM): $2.4 billion

Net Income (TTM): -$260.0 million

Market Cap: $13.1 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: 80.6%

Exchange: New York Stock Exchange

The hotel industry has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions. The 12-month trailing revenue and net income figures reported below for each company reflect that impact.

InterContinental Hotels is a U.K.-based C-corp company that owns and operates hotel properties worldwide. It is primarily engaged in the management and franchising of hotels under different brand names. The company's portfolio includes IHG Hotels & Resorts, Regent, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Candlewood Suites, and more.

Revenue (TTM): $2.1 billion

Net Income (TTM): -$703.0 million

Market Cap: $8.7 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: 85.4%

Exchange: New York Stock Exchange

Hyatt Hotels is a C-corp company offering global hospitality services. It engages in the development, franchising, leasing, and management of resort and hotel chains under various brand names. The company's portfolio includes Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Thompson Hotels, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Hyatt House, and more.

Revenue (TTM): $1.6 billion

Net Income (TTM): -$732.0 million

Market Cap: $12.2 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: 66.3%

Exchange: NASDAQ

Host Hotels & Resorts is a self-managed and self-administered REIT with a geographically diverse portfolio of luxury and upper upscale hotels. The majority of its properties are located in the U.S., but it also owns properties in Brazil and Canada. Its properties are operated under internationally recognized brand names that includes Marriott, Westin, Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt, and Hilton.

Revenue (TTM): $1.5 billion

Net Income (TTM): -$307.7 million

Market Cap: $18.2 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: 94.3%

Exchange: NASDAQ

Huazhu is a China-based C-corp company with international operations. It operates under leased and owned, manachised (i.e. managed but not owned or leased), and franchised models. The company's brands include HanTing Hotel, Starway Hotel, Crystal Orange Hotel, Blossom Hill Hotels & Resorts, Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts, and more.

Revenue (TTM): $1.3 billion

Net Income (TTM): -$132.0 million

Market Cap: $6.8 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: 145.3%

Exchange: New York Stock Exchange

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is a C-corp company that provides hotel franchising and management services. It operates a global network of hotel properties under various brand names. The company's portfolio includes Wyndham Grand, Dazzler, Ramada, Super 8, Howard Johnson, and more.

Revenue (TTM): $1.3 billion

Net Income (TTM): -$311.4 million

Market Cap: $2.0 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: 162.6%

Exchange: NASDAQ

Service Properties Trust is a REIT that owns hotel properties and provides hospitality and travel services. Its properties are located throughout the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico and are operated under internationally recognized brand names, including Marriott, Hyatt, Radisson, InterContinental, and Sonesta.

Revenue (TTM): $1.0 billion

Net Income (TTM): $23.3 million

Market Cap: $3.5 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: 192.7%

Exchange: NASDAQ

Extended Stay America is a C-corp company that owns and operates mid-priced extended-stay lodgings throughout North America. Its subsidiary, ESH Hospitality Inc., is a lodging REIT. The company manages the properties owned by ESH and also franchises additional hotels under its own Extended Stay America brand name. Its lodgings cater to guests seeking accommodations for a week or longer.

Revenue (TTM): $852.0 million

Net Income (TTM): -$1.4 billion

Market Cap: $5.2 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: 203.5%

Exchange: New York Stock Exchange

Park Hotels & Resorts is a REIT that owns a diverse portfolio of hotels and resorts. The company caters to the luxury and upper upscale segments of the hotel industry. Its properties are operated under internationally recognized brand names, including Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, Hampton Inn & Suites, and more.

Which Hotel Brand Has the Most Hotels? Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. It has 9,300 hotels in 75 countries.

What Is a Real Estate Investment Trust? A REIT is a publicly traded company that pools investor funds to buy, operate, or finance real estate that generates income. Investors can receive a stream of income without having to invest directly in the underlying properties. REITs are highly liquid investments.
A leveraged buyout refers to the acquisition or takeover of a company where a significant amount of money is borrowed to meet the acquisition cost. Leveraged buyouts, popularly known as LBOs, are commonly carried out by private equity firms. Since the company making the purchase can finance almost 90% of the deal value, it makes large acquisitions possible even if the acquirer has little capital to commit.

The target companys assets usually act as collateral for raising the loan. Once the deal is done, the future cash flow from the newly acquired company helps to repay the debt. In some cases, the debt is repaid by selling off some assets of the acquired firm. Such deals work out profitable in cases where the return generated by the acquired firm outweighs the cost of debt. (For more, read: "Understanding Leveraged Buyout Secnarios")

Leveraged buyouts witnessed massive popularity in the 1980s, which was followed by a lull phase in the 1990s. Activity picked up again in the early 2000s thanks to the low interest rates, the availability of debt financing and easy lending policies.

Some well-known private equity firms in the business of doing LBOs are Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (NYSE: KKR), Blackstone Group LP (NYSE: BX), Carlyle Group LP (NASDAQ: CG), Texas Pacific Group (TPG Capital), Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs Private Equity.

Here are seven of the largest and most famous leveraged buyouts ever (in no specific order):

Alltel Corp

Alltel was hand-picked by Goldman Sachs (GS) private equity wing and Texas Pacific Group (TPG Capital) in 2007 for about $27.5 billion. The leveraged buyout of Alltel, the fifth-largest wireless-phone carrier then, was the largest buyout in the U.S. telecommunication space. Alltel was rated amongst the best-run companies and was thus seen as an attractive target. Goldman Sachs and Texas Pacific Group did not keep Alltel for long, selling it to Verizon Wireless, which was a joint venture between Vodafone (NASDAQ: VOD) and Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ).

Hospital Corporation of America, founded in 1968, was acquired by HCA founder Dr. Thomas F. Frist Jr., Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co, Bain Capital and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity. The deal, announced in 2006, had a total transaction cost of $33 billion, making it the largest buyout deal of that time. Hospital Corporation of America, simply known as HCA Healthcare Inc, went public yet again in 2011 and trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Of note, Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity was acquired by Bank of America Corporation as a result of the acquisition of Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. in January 2009.

TXU Corp

The announcement of the plan to acquire the Texas power company TXU Corp, now Energy Future Holdings Corp, was made in 2007 by a group of private equity firms. The $45 billion acquisition made it the largest buyout in the history. TXUs leveraged buyout was considered huge. The deal looked so promising, that it even lured in investment banks like Citigroup (C) and Lehman Brothers to be a part of the deal along with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co, Texas Pacific Group (TPG Capital) and Goldman Sachs. 

First Data Corp

The leveraged buyout of First Data Corp in 2007 by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co is still one of the largest private equity technology deals. The deal was carried out with a provision attached to it, known as go-shop period that allowed a company to solicit other proposals for a period of 50 days. The deal valued at $29 billion included costs of restricted shares, stock options, and debt. First Data Corp is a leading electronic transition processing firm. In 2014, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co helped the payment processing company to reduce its debt burden through a $3.5 billion private placement.

The 2006 buyout of Harrahs Entertainment is one the biggest private equity acquisitions in the gambling industry. The largest casino company accepted the buyout offer by two private equity companies, Apollo Global Management (NYSE: APO) and Texas Pacific Group (TPG Capital) for $27.8 billion (including debt of $10.7 billion). The companys changed its name from Harrahs Entertainment Inc to Caesars Entertainment Corp in 2010 with Harrahs continuing as one of its brands.

Equity Office Properties

The buyout of Equity Office Properties Trust was won by Blackstone Group LP (NYSE: BX) after a bidding contest with Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE: VNO). The contest forced Blackstone to up its offer from $48.50 per share to $55.5 per share. Equity Office Properties Trust had accepted Blackstones initial offer of $48.5 per share, before Vornado proposed its $52 per share offer, triggering a bidding war between them. The total transaction cost of the deal worked out to be $39 billion, placing it among the largest leveraged buyouts.

RJR Nabisco

RJR Nabiscos buyout is the largest, most controversial, hostile and aggressive takeover in the history of the private equity industry. RJR Nabisco Inc, a tobacco and food giant was bought for $25 billion by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co in the late '80s after a stiff takeover fight. The enterprise value of the deal was then estimated at $31 billion which today is equivalent to approximately $65 billion. The deal drama surrounding its buyout was so strong that it has been captured in a book (and a movie) titled as the Barbarians at the Gate. (Related reading, see: "Corporate Kleptocracy At RJR Nabisco")

Bottom Line

Some of the other prominent leveraged buyouts of the past include Hilton Hotels Corp, Kinder Morgan Inc (NYSE: KMI) (case of management buyout), SLM Corporation (NASDAQ: SLM, popularly known as Sallie Mae), Clear Channel Communication Inc, Capmark Inc, Albertsons Inc, Freescale Semiconductor Inc (NYSE: FSL) and Alliance Boots PLC. Though most of these deals are big in terms of value, only a select few have been success stories.
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With St Patricks help, some may say divine intervention and truly amazing coincidences Michael and his family were reunited, in 2016.

Its a great day for the Irish  its a great day for fair soar millions of Irish voices around the world on St Patricks Day. In the USA celebrations take on a dimension Irelands patron saint could never have envisaged. In big cities and small towns, huge and colorful parades mark the occasion. For the Irish and those of Irish descent it offers the opportunity to don the green, salute the Emerald Isle and celebrate their heritage. Most likely with pint or two of Guinness.

My Irish ancestry dates back to 1851 to the small village of Elphin, County Roscommon. It was there that my great-great-grandmother Sarah Lambert married John Nash in St Patricks Cathedral. After Sarahs death in 1871, her husband and children migrated to New Zealand.

They settled in the eastern half of the lower North Island. Many of Sarah and Johns children went on to marry the children of other Irish immigrants. Hence the maternal side of my heritage is awash with legends of disappearing leprechauns, fairy folklore, and myths of magical proportions. No family celebration was complete without my mothers many brothers entertaining the gathering in their strong baritone voices with fine renditions of Irish songs. By age five I would sing along to Ill Take You Home Again Kathleen and Its a Long Way to Tipperary. St Patricks Day was held in a reverence akin to Christmas Day and Good Friday.

And it was on St Patricks Day in March 1991, in Denver, when I was able to capture first-hand the significance of how the occasion is celebrated in the USA. It was also the occasion of a St. Patricks Day miracle, through which a missing young man would eventually be reunited with his family.

Arriving in Denver on March 15, I scheduled a two-night stay at the Youth Hostel before embarking on the next leg of my journey back home to New Zealand.

Leaving the Youth Hostel mid-morning on March 17 to catch the Greyhound bus to Albuquerque, NM I was waylaid by the St Patrick's Day Parade. Captivated and enchanted by the singing and dancing and delighted by the amazing display of the endless number of floats, I decided to embrace the moment and thus delayed my departure until the following day.

Back in the Youth Hostel kitchen, and lauding the parade, I started chatting with a young man named Michael from Iowa City. Just over 18 years of age, Michael was tall, good-looking, intelligent and charming. He was the epitome of every parents dream of a son. Having recently stayed with friends in Iowa I was interested in continuing our conversation. My Iowa friends, living in a small rural Iowa township, had a brother Joseph, who was a High School teacher in Iowa City.

The expression Its a small world never rang truer. When I mentioned Josephs name Michael told me Joseph had been his biology teacher at High School in Iowa City. He added that having completed one semester at the University of Iowa he was now taking some time off before returning to his studies. He was living, on a temporary basis, at the Youth Hostel and working in the building industry.

An incredible coincidence! A traveling kiwi over 7,000 miles from her home meets a young man, almost 800 miles from his home, at the Youth Hostel in Denver Colorado, and both know the same person in Iowa City. Two more weeks passed before I was to discover the importance and sheer impact of that coincidental meeting.

From Denver, I traveled south to Albuquerque for a few days then onwards to Los Angeles to catch the long haul flight home to New Zealand. Prior to leaving Albuquerque, I sent a postcard to my friends in Iowa telling them of my meeting with Michael.

Back home in New Zealand and settled once more into a daily routine of eat, work, sleep and play, I called my friends in Iowa thanking them for their hospitality and letting them know I had arrived home safely. It was then I found out just how life-changing my meeting with Michael was.

Upon receiving the postcard from Albuquerque my friends phoned their brother Joseph in Iowa City and told him of my meeting with Michael. His response was a few moments of stunned silence before he asked if they realized who Michael was. He asked had they not seen how the television channels of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin were showing photos of Michael at regular intervals? He was listed as a Missing Person. For the past few months, he had neither been seen nor heard from. He had disappeared. Michaels parents were distraught and shattered with worry and grief. Private detectives had been hired to help in finding him. Numerous weird and not so wonderful cults and communities had been investigated and checked out in their pursuit of finding their son.

Joseph immediately contacted Michaels parents and recounted the story. Like Joseph they too were stunned. They too struggled to believe what they were hearing. Their son was alive and well and living in Denver and a visitor from New Zealand had found him? The following day Michaels brother took a flight from Iowa City to Denver. He waited for Michael to return to the Youth Hostel then simply walked up to him and said: Come on Michael  its time to come home.

Michaels reasons for leaving the family home and disappearing were many and varied. His reasons for not returning were due in part to having been gone for so long he did not know how to go back.

As St. Patricks Day was commemorated around the world by millions of Irish and their descendants, a chance encounter took place at the Youth Hostel in Denver  a chance encounter that ended the nightmare for a family in Iowa City.

If the formal canonization of St. Patrick was reliant on a miracle then surely this must qualify. For without the interruption of the parade on this day of celebration I would not have returned to the Youth Hostel. Had I not met Michael, who knows how much longer it would have been before he contacted his family or was found by someone else?

With St Patricks help  some may say divine intervention  Michael and his family were reunited.

~~~~~~~

Marie Ashdown has lived in Taupo (New Zealand) for most of the past 35 years  interspersed with overseas travels. She credits her five years with Toastmasters International as her writing skills awakening time and has recently completed a Magazine Journalism Course with NZ Writers College. Her publishing credits include a regular column in a local community newspaper and success in Short Story writing competitions.

Read more: 95-year-old twins claim no sex and plenty Guinness as secret to long lives

* Originally published in 2016.
George Clooney talked about his Irish ancestry and its importance while visiting Syrian refugee families in Berlin, in 2016..

Clooney and wife Amal made a video about their own roots to help the Syrian refugees settle. Clooney spoke about his Irish roots and stated the way Irish immigrants were treated when they traveled to America, which he described as a "country of immigrants."

"I'm of Irish descent and in America, 100 years ago, we were refugees, my family. Irish were treated terribly in America for a period of time and not accepted, and America learned to accept all of these ideas," Clooney told a number of families in the refugee camp. "It's what our country is, a country of immigrants."

"We have no recently done a very good job of remembering who we are. And being here and talking with you is important to remind them of who we are. And who we have always been - which is you."

Read more: Court records show George Clooneys Irish family had their land stolen

Amal Clooney, a British-Lebanese human rights lawyer, talked about her own experience seeking asylum.

"My own family is from Lebanon and they also ran away from a war, and were lucky enough to be accepted by a European country in 1982 when the violence there was really bad. And many years later, everybody's doing well and my father has returned to Beirut. I hope that, as you say, you will be able to go back to a safe and free Syria," she said.

Clooney The Hail, Caesar! star said: "It's too much to talk about giant numbers, it's actually easy to dismiss giant numbers.

"But it's very hard to dismiss a young child sitting on the ground crying when her mother is telling the story about how she left, how she grabbed her daughter and sat on the ground and said, 'If I die, I want to die by a bullet because it would be quicker'.

"We, as what we like to think of as a civilized world and nation, always look around at the end of these tragedies and say, 'If we knew, we would have done something'. And the reality of it is of course - we know."
He has stayed silent for decades, and now Christopher Hyland, the deputy national political director of President Bill Clintons 1992 campaign and architect of the candidates historic Irish American outreach, has stepped forward to talk about his groundbreaking work. In recent months he also stepped up to help ensure the success of this years New York St. Patricks Day parade. Hyland talks about his multi-faceted, remarkable life. Before he was elected, Bill Clinton engaged the Irish American community like no other presidential candidate ever did before.

He made campaign promises  a visa for Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams; a U.S. special envoy to help broker peace in Northern Ireland  and he kept to his word. The Irish had unprecedented access to the Clinton White House, and the president reveled in their embrace. His leading role in securing peace in the North is one of the highlights of his presidency, and the warm Irish-Clinton relationship continues to this day.

But it didnt always come easy. And, truth be told, the alliance almost didnt happen at all given the powers in the 1992 Clinton campaign who were steadfastly against their candidate having anything to do with Northern Ireland and possibly rupturing the special relationship the U.K. and U.S. had enjoyed for years.

But the Irish and Clinton did hit it off, thanks in large part to the non-stop efforts of one man who would not take no for an answer because of his certainty that, by working together, both candidate and constituency had much to offer the other.

Christopher Hyland, 68, ultimately served as the deputy national political director of the first Clinton presidential campaign, taking a leave from his thriving home textile business in New York to head to Little Rock to support his old college acquaintance from Georgetown University, someone who I always thought would be president, said Hyland during a recent interview in the Manhattan showroom of Christopher Hyland Incorporated, one of the largest importers of luxe Italian textiles and other high-end home furnishings in the U.S.

Hylands faith was well-placed. He was one of the first recruits to the Clinton campaign, worked tirelessly on ethnic affairs in particular, and served on the transition team for the White House, chairing 11 presidential conferences.

Afterwards, out of the frame for a position in the administration, Hyland returned to New York to his life partner, Constantino Castellano, and stayed mum about his role in creating the Clinton Irish connection and encouraging peace as a rallying point for Irish Americans.

He kept abreast of what was happening in the North, and took satisfaction in the knowledge that the relationships he developed with politically minded Irish Americans significantly helped to bring about peace.

The decades passed. Hyland didnt join any Irish organizations, didnt attend dinners, never sought awards and was more or less unknown in the New York Irish American community until a few months ago, when the opportunity arose to co-host a book launch party in his Chelsea apartment with the American Ireland Fund.

Hyland had been following the politics of the New York City St. Patricks Day parade for years, and thought if he sprinkled the party guest list with a cross-section of local Irish leaders, including those from the parade, maybe a new connection or two might be made which in turn could lead to greater harmony each March 17 on Fifth Avenue.

Little did he realize that in the weeks after the party, hed be called on to provide vital behind the scenes assistance using his vast political and religious contacts to help ensure the success of this years parade.

The renewed engagement in Irish American issues got Hyland thinking: maybe it was time to step forward and talk extensively about his role in President Clintons Irish outreach. There seemed little reason not to.

His work is part of the public record. President Clinton, in his 2004 autobiography My Life, wrote that Chris started by buying about 30 ethnic newspapers and located the leaders mentioned in them. After the primaries, he organized a fundraiser in New York with 950 ethnic leaders, then moved to Little Rock to organize ethnic groups across the country, making an important contribution to victory in the general election, and laying the foundation for our continuing unprecedented contact with ethnic communities once we got to the White House.

Former Irish TimesWashington, D.C. correspondent Conor OClery highlighted Hylands role in The Greening of the White House, his definitive book about Clintons Irish awakening, revealing the initial difficulties. And Nancy Soderberg, Clintons deputy national security advisor, commented that Hylands job was a thankless one.

When Clinton took the mantle of change, he rose to the occasion and singularly did something so remarkably special, says Hyland.

Not just for the Irish but for the American people and the people of the world. What happened in Northern Ireland is an example for the world, and Ive always derived a great sense of pride from the events that took place there after Clinton won the White House, knowing that I substantially began the journey.

But believe me when I tell you, he adds, that many, many people were against it ever happening.

Politics has coursed through Christopher Hylands blood all his life.

Hes from Salem, Massachusetts, born into a family of politically connected Republicans who always, Hyland recalls, saw the need to reach out to all sections of society.

My parents nurtured action, a world view, says Hyland. Giving a voice to the oppressed elevates us all.

His family knew the Kennedys who Hyland fondly recalls.

I talked sailing with John Kennedy, he says. I still have a tie that he gave me. His words what can you do for your country informed me.

Hylands childhood saw him attend boarding schools in New England and Switzerland, and travel to places such as Syria, before enrolling in the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service where he encountered a fellow student named Bill Clinton who was a year ahead of him.

I wasnt in his inner sanctum, but he ran for student body president and I campaigned hard for him. I went door to door and canvassed for him, says Hyland.

I think that he was not only a standout person, but anybody who had any political sense could see that his personality would evolve over time and that he would become a force to be reckoned with.

Clinton was a naturally gifted politician Hyland says  even though he came up short in his bid for student body president, a defeat that he shares with Hyland who lost the same race the following year.

My memory is that I met Bill after the campaign, and I told him that perhaps he should turn his energy towards applying for a Rhodes Scholarship, and that one day he would run for U.S. president and I would help him, Hyland remembers.

I always found him congenial. I cant say we were close friends; we were acquaintances. But he was a good person. I remember him helping a student who was sight impaired to learn and study in German. I always felt one day he would run for president.

Hyland was occasionally invited to events in Little Rock when Clinton was governor of Arkansas; he was also a guest at the Democratic convention in 1988 when Clinton gave the nomination speech for Michael Dukakis  an appearance that was widely panned at the time and didnt bode well for his political future.

Hyland had called Clinton to urge him to run for the presidency, and after he announced his candidacy for the 1992 race, Hyland was invited to Little Rock to become one of the 14 founding members of the campaigns finance committee. He told the candidate he should travel to New York to meet moneyed Democratic influencers, but at the time, New York wasnt waiting with open arms.

The minute I began animating for Clinton I received very robust calls from people trying to distract me from helping him, Hyland says.

It was made clear to me that the governor of our state [Mario Cuomo] did not support Clinton and did not want him to be president. It was made clear to me that Senator Daniel Moynihan was also opposed. I did not care. I was a private citizen and could do what I wanted.

Hyland formalized his role in the campaign, taking an unpaid job as Clintons deputy national political director. His textile and design business was thriving, and I didnt want to be beholden to anyone. I wanted to work without a salary, affording me greater rein, he says.

Hylands father had served in several political postings in Massachusetts. The one lesson his son learned was campaigns can have catchy slogans and lots of funding, but if they dont connect with voters on a real level nothing else matters.

What I observed, Hyland says, was that some people in the Clinton campaign were obsessed with everything but mainstream voters. How could we win if that was the case? So I instinctively began making calls in all directions to different ethnic communities, and I got a great response.

The Irish American scene was especially fascinating to Hyland. Three-quarters Irish with roots in Co. Waterford, he had always felt an awareness about his heritage during his formative years, and surmised that the Irish and Clinton could work well together if given the chance. A regular reader of theIrish Voice and Irish Echo, he phoned both publications and instantly formed a friendship with the publisher of the Voice,Niall ODowd, who suggested that Hyland reach out to another prominent Irish American, former Congressman Bruce Morrison.

And of course there were other people, like John Dearie who had the Irish forums, says Hyland, and the ODwyers [Brian and Paul] and Bill Flynn, Boston Mayor Ray Flynn and the philanthropist Chuck Feeney. They were eager to be part of helping Clinton win the White House because I encouraged them to fully engage the campaign on issues of importance to the Irish community.

However, forces inside the campaign werent exactly thrilled to have a bunch of Irish Americans on board with a specific agenda that ran contrary to U.S. foreign policy at the time. Americas involvement with Ireland, particularly Northern Ireland, had been bland: nice platitudes on St. Patricks Day, and no interest in interceding in the North because the U.K. would strongly disapprove.

So here I am, coordinating with the Irish Americans who want things like a U.S. peace envoy, and a visa for Gerry Adams, and I can remember writing papers, with peace as the goal, to the campaign about this, says Hyland.

And there was pushback. We had three candidates running for president [George H.W. Bush and Ross Perot the other two] and you could win by only a fraction of the vote, so every vote counted in my mind. Even though I was admonished for pursuing the Irish I pressed ahead anyway.

Though he expresses respect for Clintons campaign manager David Wilhelm and deputy national security advisor Nancy Soderberg, Hyland says they were opposed to hitching the Clinton train to Irish America. [Both eventually became enthusiastic supporters, and Soderberg and became the point person at the National Security Council on Irish issues.]

It was explained to me in no uncertain terms that House Speaker Tom Foley and other leaders werent interested in this and wanted to keep the status quo, and we shouldnt pursue this in any real way, he says.

Hyland, however, had a trick up his sleeve that harkened back to his days with Clinton at Georgetown. They both studied under Father Richard McSorley, a professor and activist who was noted for his commitment to the Catholic peace movement.

We were both big fans of McSorleys teaching, says Hyland. And I thought that perhaps Clinton wasnt entirely happy with the time he spent in England as a Rhodes scholar, when everything was happening in Northern Ireland. So I definitively thought that he could be open to helping to bring peace there.

Indeed he was, encouraged by his interaction with the Irish American community. Clinton pledged to appoint a U.S. envoy to Northern Ireland and also issue a visa for Adams during an Irish campaign forum in April of 1992 hosted by then New York State Assemblyman John Dearie.

In the weeks prior to Clintons victory, Hyland says he was infuriated by talk within the campaign that the candidates Irish platform would eventually be sidelined and forgotten. During the transition the rumbling grew louder.

Hyland remembers meeting Warren Christopher, Clintons incoming secretary of state, in Little Rock, and he knew what I had been doing. I detected from him a very clear disdain. He just had no interest at all, even though the campaign made promises.

Determined to keep the Irish agenda in the loop, Hyland arranged an emergency Irish conference in Little Rock between members of the transition and activists such as Morrison, ODowd, the ODwyers, Mayor Flynn and Feeney.

There were forces who wanted to jettison the whole thing and I wouldnt allow that, Hyland says.

All of the Irish Americans I worked with, when given the opportunity to rise to the occasion they did. They werent paid lobbyists or ambassadors or anything like that, just concerned citizens who wanted to effect change.

If I hadnt worked from within the campaign to let this happen, it wouldnt have happened. So I wasnt going to see it taken away from them.

As it turns out, when the transition wrapped up Hyland found himself out of the running for an effective position within the Clinton administration. You cant move forward in an environment that isnt supportive so I removed myself, he says.

My whole thing was advocating for people and the core things that drive them. And not everybody in the campaign liked that.

Hyland returned to New York, grew his business and had intermittent contact with members of the Clinton administration such as National Security Advisor Sandy Berger and Bruce Lindsey, the presidents senior advisor. He was also in touch with Ira Magaziner, one of Clintons top aides who worked with First Lady Hillary Clinton on an abortive health care reform policy, but otherwise a life importing fabrics and plush home furnishings and selling them to the rich and famous continued.

It wasnt a life-long aspiration of Hylands to become a purveyor of luxury goods. He joined the National Guard after graduation, traveled the world, climbed to base camp on Mount Everest and spent time in graduate school. He printed up business cards that said Christopher Hyland, International Marketing and traveled on sales calls to places like Iran.

On another trek to the Himalayas he purchased some exotic fabrics that caught his eye, brought them back to New York, and began a new career.

I used to have things delivered to my apartment because I had no warehouse. I kept the business very small and very controlled; Ive never taken bank loans or had silent partners, Hyland says.

It started modestly and continued to grow. We pursued the concept that you should provide the finest quality.

Christopher Hyland Incorporated is headquartered in the Decoration & Design Building on Third Avenue. The showroom is a paradise for those who appreciate intricate, unique and supremely beautiful fabrics, many of which originate in Italy. Hylands business, which includes showrooms in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas, also engages in commission weaving, whereby mills create new textiles based on Hylands ideas gleaned from his world travels.

It goes without saying that such luxury comes at a cost. Hylands showroom is open to architects and designers shopping on behalf of clients who think nothing of spending hundreds of dollars on a single yard of fabric.

Hylands offerings can be found in some of the worlds most famous homes  he supplied textiles to the Clinton White House  and his client list is a mile long.

Someone who I really enjoy is Sharon Stone, he says of the actress. She is a woman of great taste.

His other customers through the years have included the king and queen of Holland, Bette Midler  so elegant and smart  Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Woody Allen and a woman who Hyland didnt recognize at first.

She came in and had such a great personality and look. I told her she looked like she stepped right off a stage. Sure enough she did. It was Donna Summer and I didnt know it, says Hyland of the late queen of disco.

Hyland and Constantino Castellano, together for 38 years, became immersed in Manhattans dynamic social scene, supporting charitable events and opening their 4,000 square foot apartment, filled with art and antiques, for numerous causes. Each year Hyland co-chairs with interior designer Iris Dankner Holiday House, the citys largest design show house which raises money for Evelyn Lauders Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

In September of 2015 Hyland, a committed and practicing Catholic, hosted a book launch for Pope Francis: A Photographic Portrait of the People's Pope, written by an Irish Jesuit, Father Michael Collins. The American Ireland Fund and Annette Lester were also on board to co-host. The party not only launched the book, but also Hylands return to Irish America.

The annual headlines emanating from the citys St. Patricks Day parade over exclusion of an Irish gay group and the attendant protests bothered Hyland more and more as the years rolled on.

In Ireland there was a very unfortunate, centuries old cultural environment that strongly persecuted unwed mothers, persecuted their offspring, looked down on divorced individuals and gay individuals. There was a vicious attitude there towards these people, offers Hyland.

Let me say that I am proud to be a Roman Catholic. I believe in the fundamental message of Jesus Christ which is love of everyone, and acceptance of everyone. We are all images of God, both in nature and lightness.

The book launch, Hyland thought, would be the perfect occasion to invite people who were involved in the parade. Hilary Beirne, the parades executive secretary, was in attendance, and stayed in touch with Hyland after the party.

At the time, the new parade leadership had approved the inclusion of the Irish LGBT group the Lavender and Green Alliance, finally ending the 25-year ban, but the parade was embroiled in other controversies, namely anger among some of the parades affiliate groups who charged that the march was moving away from its heritage of honoring St. Patrick towards a more secular event. Other disputes resulted in restraining orders and a lawsuit which remains unsettled, and the problems were threatening the logistics of this years march.

The required NYPD permit was a particularly worrisome issue for the new parade leadership because members of a parade committee elected by affiliates were also seeking to obtain it.

Hyland went into action, reaching out to a number of contacts help ensure that the permit remained with the official parade leadership. One of them was former New York Governor David Paterson who happens to be Irish and proud of it, says Hyland.

I hosted a dinner party at my house on December 26and he attended, and we talked about the parade. He was happy to use his contacts to help keep the parade on track.

Hyland also spoke with New York City Council Member Daniel Dromm, who arranged a meeting earlier this year with members of Mayor Bill de Blasios inner circle, including his long-time aide and director of intergovernmental affairs Emma Wolfe.

The meeting was attended by Dromm, Hyland, Beirne and St. Patricks Day Foundation co-founder Sean Lane, who stressed the importance of the mayor fully supporting the parade and its leadership now that the Irish LGBT ban was lifted. The mayor announced earlier this month that he will march in the St. Patricks Day for the first time, and hell do so twice: once with the citys uniformed services, and again with the Lavender and Green Alliance.

The parade leadership settled on a perfect choice for grand marshal this year: former Senator George Mitchell, who brokered the Good Friday peace deal in Northern Ireland. Getting Mitchell involved, though, was no sure thing. He needed to be fully convinced that the LGBT controversy was settled once and for all. Otherwise, he had no interest in leading the parade.

Hyland again offered his assistance. I certainly didnt know the senator well. I had met him a couple of times, briefly. His wife had chosen Hyland fabrics for their apartment, he says.

With the approval of parade board chairman Dr. John Lahey and members of the board, Hyland called Mitchell to ask him if he would lead the 2016 parade as grand marshal.

I spoke to him about the parade. His first concern was about inclusion. I assured him that it was all inclusive, and what a wonderful honor it would be if he was grand marshal, said Hyland.

Hyland counts Cardinal Timothy Dolan as a friend, and also had email exchanges with him about the parade. And let me say that he has been very supportive. He is a wonderful man, Hyland says.

Hyland introduced Lavender and Green Alliance co-founder Brendan Fay to Dolan at a party the cardinal hosted at his residence last month for the St. Patricks Day Foundation. Cardinal Dolan said to Brendan, Any friend of Christophers is a friend of mine. You are welcome in this house, Hyland said.

Returning to the Irish American scene has energized Hyland. Its been a lot of fun, he says. Ive met incredible people: Hilary Beirne, Sean Lane, Dr. Lahey, Frank McGreal, Frank Comerford and so many more. All just outstanding.

Hell be on Fifth Avenue this March 17, marching for the first time and reflecting on all the work that has brought him to this point.

Oh, I wouldnt miss the parade, marching with so many great Irish organizations behind the fabled Fighting 69th! he says enthusiastically. Its a day we can all be so proud of. God bless St. Patrick.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is facing a barrage of criticism for opting to campaign for Donald Trump instead of attending the funeral of Irish NJ State Trooper Sean Cullen, who died last week in a tragic collision while on duty at the scene of an earlier car accident.

Hundreds of people gathered Monday to pay their respects at Cullens funeral in Cinnaminson, the town his family emigrated to from Dublin when he was a child. The 31-year-old officer was mourned by his fiancee and their nine-month-old baby, his parents, a sister and two brothers, who of whom, Garrett, is a New Jersey State Police Detective.

Loved ones release this family image of fallen @NJSP Trooper Sean Cullen via @cazarest62 pic.twitter.com/82uGaQoThw  Blue Alert (@BlueAlertUs) March 8, 2016

Though Christie had ordered flags at half-mast in New Jersey, the governor himself was far from his state for the funeral, stumping for Trump in Florida and North Carolina.

We are focused on honoring our fallen brother today, and quite frankly we did not expect someone who has consistently shown disdain for law enforcement to pay his respects to the Cullen and state police family, Christopher Burgos, president of the State Troopers Union, told the New York Daily News.

New Jersey's Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno attended the service in Christie's place.

A few hours before the funeral, Christies Twitter account did send out a message noting that flags would be at half-mast in mourning.

All State buildings are flying flags at half-staff today in honor of the passing of New Jersey State Trooper Sean Cullen.  Governor Christie (@GovChristie) March 14, 2016

He orders flags flown at half-mast, but couldnt stay for the funeral? New Jersey Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg questioned.

Its a choice that symbolizes how he feels about the State of New Jersey. It isnt even his campaign. Every time I think theres a low point in this administration, somehow a lower point comes. And this is one of the lowest.

A panoramic view of troopers from all over the country at Trooper Sean Cullen's funeral - photo Tom Gardiner CBS 3 pic.twitter.com/7yh0FzZzqa  Cleve Bryan CBS3 (@CleveBryan) March 14, 2016

She also pointed out that the State Troopers assigned to guard Christie on his trip were consequently forced to miss the funeral of their fallen colleague.

Their responsibility was to take care of him so he could sit on a stage with Donald Trump, Weinberg told the Daily News.

The paper also reported that this marks the third police funeral Christie has missed this year.
A letter written by President Abraham Lincoln, in the midst of the Civil War promoting several members of the Irish Brigade, is expected to fetch over $70,000 at auction this St. Patricks Day.

The letter, written on the presidents third to last birthday, Feb 12, 1863 is addressed to General Henry W Halleck. It discusses three soldiers of note in the famed Irish Brigade, an infantry brigade, consisting predominantly of Irish and Irish Americans, that served in the Union Army in the American Civil War.

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It reads:

Gen. Meagher, now with me, says the Irish Brigade has had no promotion; and that Col. Robert Nugent & Col. Patrick Kelly, both of that Brigade have fairly earned promotion. They both hold commissions as Captains in the regular Army. Please examine these records with reference to the question of promoting one or both of them.

Thomas Francis Meagher, who Lincoln was with when he wrote the letter, was born in The Mall, Waterford on August 23, 1823. In 1843 Meagher joined the Young Ireland movement, radical group which published The Nation and was committed to the overthrow of British rule in Ireland. Meagher was the first person in Ireland to raise the National flag, the Tricolor. This flag was then brought to Dublin prior to 1916 by Irish Volunteers from Waterford City.

Meagher was convicted of treason for his part in the 1848 Young Ireland rebellion and was exiled for life. He eventually found his way to America, where he served in the Union Army. He began raising troops as soon as the war began and soon found himself in charge of the Irish Brigade, which saw action at Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredericksburg.

Read more: Irish honor US Civil war hero at first 1916 Easter Rising commemoration event

Those mentioned in the letter were Brigadier General Robert Nugent and Patrick Kelly .

Nugent (June 27 1824  June 20 1901) was an Irish-born US Army officer during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. He was born in Kilkeel, County Down.

Kelly (c.1822  June 16, 1864) was born in Castlehacket, Tuam, County Galway. He immigrated to the United States and started his American life in New York City. His wife Elizabeth was also from Tuam.

He led the famed Irish Brigade at the Battle of Gettysburg.

In fact, Meagher resigned his commission shortly after meeting with Lincoln. Kelly replaced him as commander and led the depleted Irish troops at the Battle of Gettysburg in July. Kelly was later killed in action during the Siege of Petersburg before ever officially being promoted. Nugent was the last commanding officer of the Irish Brigade, and was finally brevetted brigadier general until March 13, 1865.

It is estimated that 140,000 of the fighting men in the Union Army were Irish and played a significant role in the battle to stop disunion and end slavery. The Irish were awarded 11 medals of honor.

Read more: Ireland forgets Irish emigrants who fought in US Civil War

The heroic role of the Irish in the war has never been disputed. Abraham Lincoln once kissed an Irish battle flag, according to an officer present when the president visited George McClellans army at Harrisons Landing, VA during the Civil War.

The Irish Brigade had fought so bravely that an officer reported the president picked up a corner of one of the Irish colors, kissed it and said, God Bless the Irish Flag. The incident was reported in The New York Times in the Opinionator column on the American Civil War by historian Terry L. Jones, author of six books on the Civil War.

Writing in The Times, Jones said that 140,000 Irish served on the side of the union, spread across 20 regiments.

They fought so bravely, especially the Irish Brigade, that when General Edwin Sumner prepared for battle he would askWhere are my green flags? and that he once swore that if the Irishmen ever ran from the field he would have to run as well.

Jones recounts how before every major battle Father William Corby, later President of Notre Dame, would ride down along the ranks of the brigade and give every man absolution. The motto on the flags of the Irish Brigade stated in Gaelic: Who never retreated from the clash of spears and the battle cry was Fag an Bhealach (Clear the Way).

Jones says the Irish Brigades bravery at Fredericksburg was unsurpassed.

He quotes The London Times correspondent William H. Russell (himself Irish-born) who wrote, Never at Fontenoy, Albuera, or at Waterloo was more undaunted courage displayed by the sons of Erin than during those six frantic dashes which they directed against the almost impregnable positions of their foe.

General Lee was said to have said, Ah yes. That fighting 69th, when he heard who was fighting so bravely on the other side. As a result, the Fighting 69th nickname stuck.

Speaking of the Lincoln letter up for auction on March 17, Robert Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction called it an excellent wartime letter by President Lincoln with a fine association to this well-known brigade.

Also up for auction is a letter George Washington signed while president which discusses his disdain for those monetizing his likeness. That letter is expected to fetch $25,000+. A John Adams signed letter dealing with the constitution and powers of the presidency is also expected to sell for $25,000 or more.

The online bidding for the Presidential Collection of Everett Fisher from RR Auction began on March 10 and will conclude on March 17, 2016 at 7pm EDT.

For more information visit www.rrauction.com.

Photos courtesy of Sotheby's / Library of Congress.
By Daniel McConnell, Political Editor in Washington DC

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan has accused Fianna Fail of "game playing" in relation to the formation of a Government.

Speaking in Washington DC, Mr Flanagan was speaking after acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny cut short his trip to the United States for St Patrick's Day to return to Dublin to assess discussions with Independents and small parties.

Speaking at a Science Foundation Ireland St Patricks Day Event in Washington, Minister Flanagan says Fianna Fail is behaving like they won the general election, which he said "they clearly haven't".

He added that he respects "the will of the people through the ballot box - the result being inconclusive".

Mr Flanagan accused Fianna Fail of acting in a swashbuckling way as if they had won the election.

It is expected that at some point in the next week or 10 days Fine Gael and Fianna Fail will have to begin talks on either a minority Government or grand coalition.

Mr Flanagan also criticised what he called a misinterpretation of Mr Kenny's Bejaysus remarks at an Irish Embassy event last night.

Mr Kenny joked he wished he didn't have to go home and face forming a Government. Mr Kenny joked that he wished he didn't have to go home after having such a good time in the US capital.

Having been introduced to the assembled gathering by Ambassador Anne Anderson, Mr Kenny quipped he'd rather not go home.

"Bejaysus I wish I didn't have to go back and face what I have to face," he said.

Speaking about his recent losing of the election, Mr Kenny described the verdict of the electorate was a complex one but he said he respected it.

Mr Flanagan said: "I was present when the Taoiseach made a light-hearted comment and I'm disappointed that his comment has misinterpreted (and) misunderstood."

The Minister also highlighted the risks to Ireland of a British exit from the European Union.

From an Irish perspective, amongst the risks is that of Brexit  a vote by the British public in their June referendum to leave the European Union, he said.

Ireland has worked hard within the EU over many months to ensure agreement on a new settlement for the UK. This has been one of the main priorities for the Taoiseach and me in our engagement with the British Government and our EU partners, Mr Flanagan added.
A group representing landlords is calling on the government to introduce tax incentives for people to refurbish and let out vacant properties

The Irish Property Owners Association has said large numbers of former rental homes were taken off the market because landlords could not afford to bring them into line with new standards.
A council tenant in England has been evicted from her home after nearly 20 reports of criminal offences at her address per year for a decade.

Leicester City Council said there had been around 180 reports of crimes in the last 10 years at the house in Pollard Road, Braunstone.

The authority said Maxine Ellis, 41, and her family were removed from the home on Tuesday following "a series of crimes and ongoing antisocial behaviour connected with occupants of the property".

These included burglary, theft and actual bodily harm, the council said.

Andy Connelly, assistant city mayor for housing, said: "Eviction of tenants is not an action we take lightly.

"However, when neighbours are living in fear of the sort of crime and anti-social behaviour that the occupants of this property were involved in, we have to take action to put a stop to it.

"No-one should have to tolerate this sort of persistent anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhoods."

Inspector Nicky Preston from West Leicester Neighbourhood Policing Area said: "This family caused a great deal of distress within the local community. They were responsible for a number of offences and committed anti-social behaviour at all times of the day and night.

"We will continue to work with the local authority and support further evictions where individuals are causing alarm and distress within our communities."
In January, Mr Ronan continued his comeback to his Irish property scene after lodging plans for an office block development that will be six storeys high over three basement levels.

Mr Ronan acquired the site last year containing four vacant office blocks and surrounding land close to AIBs Bankcentre building, opposite the RDS grounds, on Merrion Road, for 67.5m.

The near four-acre site was sold by a receiver on behalf of Nama and Ulster Bank.

It had been acquired in 2006 by Carlow property developer Sean Dunne for a reported 200m.

The promoters of the plan say the developed campus will have the capacity to accommodate 2,200 workers.

The plan  called Project Pegasus  will be 52,247 sq m. more than five times the 9,789 sq m in gross floor area of the existing four office blocks that are set to be demolished.

However, the new plan lodged with Dublin City Council, faces opposition from AIB after the bank retained planning consultants RPS to highlight its serious concerns over the nature and extent of the proposal.

RPS says the adjacent AIB Bank Centre contains a nationally important cash management facility, saying it is is concerned about security if the plan by Mr Ronan goes ahead.

It says if a planned terrace were to be accessible to the public or future office staff members, the resulting overlooking of the existing AIB offices in Blocks E & F would be significant and could jeopardise the security of the Bankcentres activities.

Given the sensitive nature of AIBs banking facilities and the need to ensure the security of the Bankcentre premises, we wish to object to the proximity of the proposed development, it says.

AIB is one of over 20 objectors, including An Taisce. The Churchill Residents Group is objecting on the grounds of the size of the development.

Planning consultants for Mr Ronan say the plan is modest in scale.

Dublin City Council may rule on the plan next month, but it may request more information.
Revenue recouped nearly 17m in unpaid tax in the last three months of 2015, with a Galway-based hoteliers 2.3m settlement topping the list of individual payments.

The latest quarterly tax defaulters list, published yesterday and covering the three months to the end of December, showed a 60% quarter-by-quarter increase in the number of settlement cases to 107 and 16.67m being paid after interest and penalty charges were added.

In the preceding quarter, 67 settlement cases were noted, which added up to a combined payment of 13.99m.

Topping the latest list is Colm Redmond.

He is listed as a company director of the Zetland Hotel in Cashel Bay, Connemara, Co Galway.

Mr Redmonds initial tax bill came to just over 1.1m but interest of 863,558 and penalties of 332,342 brought his overall settlement to just over 2.3m.

His case related to under-declaration of income tax, Vat, and capital gains tax.

His was one of two cases that exceeded 1m; the other being Michael Holland, a building contractor in Durrow, Co Laois.

He settled for 1.7m in a revenue audit case after undeclared tax of 551,253 was added to with an interest payment of 735,718 and penalties totalling 413,439.

In all, 46 settlements were for amounts over 100,000, with four over 500,000.

Three of the 107 published settlements, yielding a combined 540,000, related to Revenues investigation into offshore assets/funds.

These related to Mary Sheehan, an airline steward from Midleton who settled for 189,096; Catherine OHanlon, a company director from Waterford who settled for just over 332,000, and Newbridge, Co Kildare-based window and door manufacturers PJ Bowes Ltd  which is in receivership  which settled to the tune of 19,523.

A total of 21 counties are represented on the latest list. Dublin accounts for the majority of cases, with 36 settlements noted. Cork and Galway each accounted for 10 cases.

Five were based in Co Louth, seven related to businesses in Co Wexford and five were in Co Tipperary. Two Kerry cases  cable distributor Electrotech and takeaway food supplier, Shahid Jamil of Tralee  were also listed.

Cork-based businesses accounted for around 1.65m of the overall near 17m total, with two of the countys cases making the list of the 10 largest settlements.

In terms of occupations, a broad range from farmers, landlords and property developers to a costume and theatre designer and a former private members club operator, are included.
The rest of the money hackers stole from the Bangladesh Banks account at the New York Federal Reserve, one of the largest cyber heists in history, went to two casinos, officials told a Philippines Senate hearing into the scandal.

They said a mix of dollars and Philippine pesos was sent by a foreign exchange broker to the ethnic Chinese junket operator over several days, a haul that would have been made up of at least 780,000 banknotes.
Growth investors quit tobacco a while back, seeing it as a utility, with reliable cash streams better suited for big pension funds and other institutional investors  at least those not averse to owning sin stocks.

Consumers were aware of tobaccos harmful health effects, and many thought the companies would slowly wind down.

Except maybe not: The three big US-based tobacco companies  Reynolds, Altria, and Philip Morris  returned 103%, 87%, and 34% to investors over the past two years, compared to a 14% return on the S&P 500.

At a February investor conference, Newport maker Reynolds American  helped by its recent acquisition of rival Lorillard  deemed 2015 the cigarette industrys best year in terms of volume since 2006.

While global smoking rates have been declining, about 20% of people around the world still smoke --down from 22% in 2005, according to Euromonitor.

In countries such as Russia, Greece and Chile, those numbers climb to about 40% of the population.

Some of the industrys performance can be chalked up to consolidation. A stream of mergers over the past few decades left just a handful of big tobacco companies.

The giants that remain have the power to raise cigarette prices every year as taxes and other costs go up, with taxes representing 70% of the price of a cigarette.

The field is likely to narrow even further, with additional mergers at home and abroad.

Many tobacco companies already work together on joint ventures and new-product research and development.

There are also macroeconomic effects at work. Five years ago, drivers paid around $4 a gallon for gas, compared with less than $2 a gallon today.

Because half of tobacco sales occur at the gas station, according to Euromonitor, low gas prices tend to boost cigarette sales, leaving consumers extra money to buy more packs or higher-quality cigarettes.

But perhaps the most interesting development is the industrys greater focus on research and technology, spawning a host of new smoking alternatives, from electronic cigarettes and chewing tobacco to vapour and smoking-cessation products.

Representing just 1% of the $900 billion (808bn) global tobacco retail market today, there is plenty of room for growth.

Initially, the industry feared some of these new products would draw smokers away from traditional cigarettes. Instead they are having an add-on effect, giving consumers more occasions to consume tobacco.

For example, a smoker who prefers conventional cigarettes at home might use e-cigs or vapour products at a friends house or a bar, where traditional cigarettes are less accepted or forbidden.

In the past, a smoker might have just abstained in those places.
The Department of the Arts and Heritage said it expected one anchor to go on display in Fenit, Co Kerry, and the other in Cobh, Co Cork, following an extensive restoration and conservation project.

A spokesman for the department said the approved method statement for the recovery, and conservation, of both anchors provides for the stockless anchor to go to Cobh, and for the admiralty anchor to go to Fenit, subject to National Museum of Ireland approval.

It is the departments understanding that the National Museum of Ireland has been in contact with Cobh Heritage Centre, with a view to progressing the matter and to advise in relation to the display of the anchor at the centre, and to review the arrangements to receive the anchor, once the conservation process is completed, he said.

Originally an English merchant vessel captured by the Germans, in 1914, the renamed Aud was disguised as a Norwegian freighter, and was dispatched to Ireland, in 1916, to deliver a shipment of arms for the Easter Rising.

It was carrying 20,000 rifles, machine guns, giant clockwork bombs, and 1m rounds of ammunition when it arrived off the Kerry coast on April 20, 1916.

However, as a result of confused communications, it was unsuccessful in landing its cargo, as planned, in Fenit Harbour.

The ship was subsequently intercepted by the royal navy, while attempting to escape into the deeper waters of the Atlantic.

While under escort to Queenstown Harbour (now Cobh) the captain of the Aud, Karl Spindler, scuttled it, rather than have it fall into enemy hands.

Expert diver Eoin McGarry and archaeologist Lar Dunne led a 2012 recovery operation, licensed by the then heritage minister, Jimmy Deenihan, under the National Monuments Acts, to recover the anchors and other artifacts.

Mr Dunne, who has spent the last three years conserving the anchors, attended their unveiling, last month, by German ambassador Matthias Hofner, former minister Mr Deenihan, and members of Tralee Bay Heritage Association.

The anchors have since been returned to Mr Dunnes facility, for the final stage of conservation, a painstaking process that should be complete within a matter of weeks.

Once the monitoring period passes, and Mr Dunne signs off on the work, the way will be cleared for both anchors to go on permanent public display in Kerry and Cork.

GPO hero Diarmuid Lynch

A new TV documentary is set to shine a light on a forgotten hero of the Easter Rising.

The dramatic story of Corkman Diarmuid Lynch  the last man out of the GPO in 1916  will air on TG4 on Easter Monday.

Diarmuid Lynch

Lynch, from Tracton, attended the fateful meeting with Pearse, MacDonagh, Plunkett, and MacDiarmada on Easter Saturday 1916 which determined that the Rising would go ahead. Four of them would be executed within a month. Lynch was the only one to survive.

Yet despite his key role in a pivotal moment in Irish history, little is known about his life. The documentary, produced by Tony McCarthy and directed by Ciara Hyland of ForeFront Productions, charts his tumultuous life, his escape from death, his jail wedding, his rustling of a herd of pigs to feed Dublins poor, his deportation to America, and his long-running feud with De Valera.

McCarthy and Hyland paid tribute to Eileen McGough whose book, Diarmuid Lynch: A Forgotten Irish Patriot, helped restore his place in history. The programme airs on TG4 at 7.30pm on Easter Monday March 28.
They were appearing, along with McDonalds and Ikea, before the European Parliaments committee investigating special tax deals between multinationals and governments, allowing them to minimise the amount of tax they paid to the state, including Apple and Ireland.

They told of the thousands of jobs they have created, directly and indirectly, and are now contributing to, through SMEs and entrepreneurs using their apps and services and availing of franchises.

Apple is the worlds largest taxpayer, paying $13.2bn, an effective tax rate of 26.5%, on its profits worldwide last year. That is according to Cathy Kearney, vice-president of Apple Europe, based in Cork. The company does not operate the double Irish tax loophole; it pays whatever tax is due in Ireland, she told MEPs.

Googles Adam Cohen, head of economic policy for Europe, Middle East, and Africa, said it pays most of its tax in the US; some 19% of its revenue over the past five years.

Like Apple, he said Google has long advocated a simple, more coherent tax system. Mr Cohen said clear rules of the road and wider co-ordination, would be better.

A patchwork of changes promote difficulty. It is up to governments to write rules and companies to follow. Google abides by the law. We make use of tax incentives and structures that are well known, that are accessible to and employed by virtually all companies, he said.

Asked about the Bermuda tax-haven, Mr Cohen said Google has a tax structure in Bermuda that does not affect the amount of tax it pays in Europe. Without Bermuda it would be the same.

Loopholes such as the Double Irish, the Dutch Sandwich, and the Bermuda tax-haven are all products of US tax laws that allow firms to keep money offshore and pay US tax only when it is lodged in the US, Mr Cohen claimed.

The Double Irish is being phased out in 2020, he noted.

The company representatives repeated several times that what businesses need are clear, simple, and straightforward tax rules that give clarity and certainty, are easy to implement, without too much bureaucracy, and which ensure equal treatment.

Both said they would welcome new tax rules agreed by the OECD as they promise more certainty and simplicity for companies.

Dublin MEP Brian Hayes (Fine Gael) asked whether the companies would use a knowledge box that would give them a tax benefit for research and development in Ireland. Both said they dont use knowledge or any intellectual boxes. Apple said the vast majority of its R&D is in the US.

They did say, however, that they are open to the proposed Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base, if and when it is introduced.
The DAA chief executive, Kevin Toland, made his comments after the issue of the proposed transatlantic service was raised in talks between Mr Obama and Taoiseach Enda Kenny during the annual St Patricks Day meeting in Washington, DC.

Mr Obama said there was no political impediment to the move.

Mr Toland said: Norwegian International Airlines is fully committed to commencing new transatlantic flights from Cork this year, and I am now urging our politicians to continue to maintain pressure on US administration officials to take action to grant the foreign carrier permit to Norwegian to allow the airline progress plans for its Cork-Boston service without delay.

While I am grateful for todays advancement, I am deeply concerned that any further administrative delays on the US side could seriously damage this business.

Meanwhile, the Cork Chamber of Commerce said there was now no reason why the transatlantic flights from Cork could not go ahead and urged all involved to speed up the process.

Speaking in Washington, DC, Conor Healy, the chief executive of Cork Chamber, said Mr Obamas confirmation that there was no political opposition to approving the Cork-Boston route was encouraging.

It is imperative that the granting of a foreign carrier permit is progressed without further delay with continued Irish political support, said Mr Healy.

Cork Chamber now calls on transport secretary [Anthony] Foxx to expedite the process, which has been ongoing for more than two years and is in conflict with the spirit of the EU-US Open Skies agreement.
The names of the horses change, but the Walsh/Mullins combo keeps on winning and the jockey and trainer team ended the first day of the latest running of this annual festival with another trio of first places. Douvan, Annie Power, and Vroum Vroum Mag did the honours this time.

Same old, same old.

Its tempting to take this sort of success for granted. Dont. We are witnessing equine and sporting history on an annual basis in the Cotswolds right now. Walsh and Mullins arent just winning horse races, they are changing our perceptions of what is possible.

A record eight winners were banked last year. The tally for Mullins now stands at 44. Walsh is a neck in front, on 48, after this latest hattrick. All three wins yesterday came in the colours of owners Susannah and Rich Ricci. Not so much pretty in pink as pretty damn good.

Mullins invades Gloucestershire with an army of the best horses every year. He has the best jockey in Britain or Ireland sitting atop the pick of them and no slouches on the rest, but there is a knack to having the right ones in the right races at the right time.

He keeps all the balls in the air as long as he can until he has to make decisions and hes in to training winners, said Walsh of Mullins.

He puts the horses where he thinks they can win and hes always been brilliant at that, from ordinary horses to the very best horses.

The less interference there is with him the more times he gets it right.

But not always.

His favourite Min, ridden by Walsh, was beaten in the opener by a local, but this was nonetheless another good day to be Irish in these parts as the usual hordes descended in their thousands: 66,770, to be precise.

Its easy to see the attraction. Prestbury Park can be a cold, wet, and windswept spot most years. Not yesterday. It was positively balmy as the old place opened its doors and it has never looked better thanks to a 45m redevelopment process that was completed last November.

Its only getting bigger, figuratively and literally.

Yesterdays attendance was up over 4,000 on the corresponding numbers from the year before and the increasing footfall was apparent first thing in the morning as breakfast buffets that were half-full during the worst years of the recession returned to something like full occupancy.

The tales of fun and financial folly are legion, but this is big business.

A recent University of Gloucestershire study found that the festival is worth in the region of 100m (127m) to the local economy, though there are no figures compiled yet as to how much the thousands of Irish punters have sucked out of it thanks to the exploits of Messers Walsh and Mullins.

With three more days to go, odds are that most of that will find its way back.
Tiarnan OMahoney, aged 56, of Glen Pines, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, and Bernard Daly, aged 67, of Collins Avenue, Whitehall, Dublin, had denied knowingly furnishing false information and conspiring to defraud the Revenue as well as conspiring to have accounts deleted from the banks internal system.

Having been found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Patrick McCartan jailed OMahoney for three years and Daly for two years on July 31, 2015.

The Court of Appeal quashed these convictions yesterday on a number of grounds.

Giving judgment, Mr Justice George Birmingham said they should not have had to stand trial on the charge of furnishing false information because the proceedings were not commenced within the 10-year time limit.

The decision to reformulate the charges after they were formally charged was made because the prosecution found there would be a complete defence to the charge presented originally, the judge said.

Because of the reformulation, the proceedings for which Mr Daly and Mr OMahoney stood trial were not commenced within the 10-year limit, the judge said.

In addition, the charges originally proffered alleged that, as officers of the company, they consented to the commission of the offence but the offences on which they stood trial saw them charged as principles, the judge said.

They successfully contended that a substantial number of documents were wrongly admitted in evidence.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the documents, which the trial judge ruled admissible, were vital to the prosecution case. These documents allowed the witness  a fraud investigator within Anglo, Patrick Peake  to trace for the jury and to explain and illustrate the means by which Anglo accounts were opened, kept, how ownership was designated, how funds were sourced and moved between different accounts, and how the names of different accounts were changed or re-designated at various times.

In circumstances where crucial documentary evidence was admitted in breach of the hearsay rule, Mr Justice Birmingham said they could uphold this ground of appeal.

Furthermore, the court held that the conspiracy counts as alleged against Mr Daly ought to have been withdrawn from the jury.

Sean Guerin, for Mr Daly, said the prosecution case against his client rested almost entirely on the banks former head of compliance, Brian Gillespie.

The evidence available to the prosecution was thin, tenuous, and, in those circumstances, the court feels that notwithstanding the level of suspicion that existed, it would have been appropriate to withdraw the conspiracy case against Mr Daly from the jury.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the conclusions reached by the court meant their convictions must be quashed.

The question of a retrial did not arise for Mr Daly because, the court concluded, there was insufficient evidence to go before the jury.

Mr OMahoneys position is different. His omnibus ground of appeal concerning multiple complaints related to the trial in summer 2015 and did not affect questions of a retrial, the judge said.

Mr OMahoney was released on bail until April 14, when the court will hear submissions on whether he should face a retrial.
Kevin OCallaghan, 42, was walking his two dogs at St Ritas Avenue, Gurranabraher, when Shirley Twohig  who knew OCallaghan as Sonic  drove in. He took exception to her failure to indicate and the row ensued.

The incident dated to 6pm on February 9, 2012, and yesterday OCallaghan who used to live at Kilmore Road, Knocknaheeny, Cork, and now lived in Youghal, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to the charge of assaulting Ms Twohig.

Inspector Mary King said OCallaghan was walking his two dogs when Ms Twohig drove into St Ritas Avenue.

There was a verbal dispute about her failing to indicate. He spat in the window at her. She got out and took out her umbrella to confront him. He whipped his dog lead at her face knocking off her glasses. She left the area. She received a cut to her nose, she had a black eye afterwards, Insp King said.

He was out of the country up to 2014 which explained some of the delay. Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said that in the verbal altercation the injured party was giving at least as good as she was getting. Mr Buttimer said rather than the dispute being black and white it was grey. He said OCallaghan felt provoked to flick the lead but was advised that provocation was no excuse for his aggression.

To that extent he acknowledges he over-reacted, Mr Buttimer said.

Judge Tim Lucey said she did something he thought was wrong, he berates her, she alleges he spat in the window. It would want to be very bad to spit in to somebodys car. Then she goes at him with an umbrella. She is brave enough but she should not do that either.

They could all have run away but they wanted to engage with each other. If you do that you take the consequences, he said.

The judge said in all the circumstances he would fine the accused 250 for the assault. Judge Lucey asked if anyone else had been charged with any offence arising out of the altercation. Insp King said only OCallaghan was charged.
Speaking at the White House, following a meeting with US President Barack Obama, Mr Kenny said Fianna Fail has responsibilities in seeing a stable administration being formed.

Last night, Fianna Fail said it has always acted responsibly, raising hopes that formal talks between the two largest parties may take place.

Mr Kennys truncated trip to Washington for St Patricks Day celebrations were overshadowed by the political uncertainty with Vice-President Joe Biden pointedly referring to the Taoiseach as having lost the election.

Mr Obama warned of volatility in the electoral process after the recent general election during his final meeting Mr Kenny. However, Mr Kenny made his most explicit plea to Mr Martin to enter talks with his party in the coming days.

I have issued an invitation from the Dail already, that my responsibility is to work to provide a lasting and working government for the people and I have invited like-minded parties to work with us in that regard, said Mr Kenny.

Enda Kenny delivers remarks at the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington

I hear different stories from Fianna Fail, when I have my priorities agreed and put in place, I have invited them already to work with us in the sense of putting together a government that will last and do its duty in respect of the people.

Mr Kenny said Fine Gael expects to finalise its list of priorities which it would see as a basis of negotiations with other parties.

So we expect to have that finalised next week and that gives us the basis for negotiations and discussions about putting a government together, he said.

Mr Kenny said he had not yet spoken to Fianna Fail.

Meanwhile, the Social Democrats last night ruled themselves out of any Fine Gael-Fianna Fail alliance.

After meeting with Fianna Fail yesterday evening Catherine Murphy said the party had come to the conclusion that the current exercise of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael talking to smaller parties and Independents is only postponing the inevitable.

Catherine Murph

Speaking at a breakfast for members of the Irish-American community, hosted by Mr Biden, Mr Kenny promised that Ireland would see a stable government formed in the coming weeks.

In highly political remarks, Mr Kenny was highly critical of the anti-austerity parties.

Mr Kenny referenced the impact of hard-left groups in Europe which he said seek to run away from responsible government and do not have the courage to do what is right for their people.

In reference to the recent general election, Mr Biden paid tribute to Mr Kenny despite the fact he lost the election.

He is the most popular guy in the State and he lost, said Mr Biden.

I can assure you, if you ran in America you would get 80% of the vote, he said.

At an Irish Embassy event last night, Mr Kenny joked that he wished he didnt have to go home.

Bejaysus, I wish I didnt have to go back and face what I have to face, he said.

Mr Kenny described the verdict of the electorate as a complex one but he said he respected it.
Fianna Fail are to continue meetings today after talks with two of the smaller parties yesterday.

Both of the two main parties are this week meeting with Independents and others in a bid to form a minority government.

The next crucial date is likely to be April 6, when it is expected another attempt to elect a Taoiseach will be made. However, both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail will need to get the support of others before that can happen.

A Fianna Fail spokesman said talks with both the Social Democrats and the Green party were positive and constructive.

However, the Social Democrats last night ruled out participation in a minority Government led by either Fine Gael or Fianna Fail.

After meeting with Fianna Fail yesterday evening Catherine Murphy said the party had come to the conclusion that the current exercise of both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael talking to smaller parties and Independents is only postponing the inevitable.

Although the Green Party leader Eamon Ryan  who was a member of cabinet in a previous coalition with Fianna Fail  last week told the Dail that his party would not be voting for a Taoiseach when it met for the first time last Thursday, this view could now be softening after he met with Fianna Fail.

Mr Ryan described the meeting with Fianna Fails four negotiators as a broad conversation in which party policy on health, housing justice and environment was discussed.

Mr Ryan said the next conversation would have to be around political reform.
Photo credit:At the launch of the energy report were, from left: Gary Jamison, HDS Energy, Prof Jimmy Burke of UCD, Dr Tony White of BW Energy, Annemarie OBrien of Ballydoyle, and Malcolm Brown of BW Energy. Picture: Lorraine OSullivan

The wife of the horse trainer, Aidan OBrien, said converting Moneypoint powerstation in Co Clare to sustainable biomass could save the landscape from a blight of wind turbines and pylons.

Ms OBrien said plans to double wind power were not the way forward, saying it was too expensive and would scar the countrys landscape.

Her husband is the trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in Co Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates.

The report was prepared by two energy specialists Anthony White and Malcolm Brown from British-based BW Energy, a specialised energy consultancy.

It maintains that converting Moneypoint to sustainable biomass is the way to achieve Irelands 2020 renewable electricity targets more cheaply than doubling onshore wind power.

It claims that only limited modifications to the plant were needed and its biomass requirements could be met by converting 8% of agricultural land to energy crops.

Ms OBrien said she bec-ame involved in the energy debate two years ago after discovering that the farm where she and her husband breed and raise thoroughbred foals was in the path of pylons planned to stretch from Kildare to Cork.

If the project was given the go-ahead it would have rendered the land totally unfit for the purpose for which it is being used, she said.

Moneypoint is Irelands largest single source of carbon dioxide emissions, producing 5m tonnes of carbon a year. It burns 2.5m tonnes of US coal each year.

The report points out that Drax power station in Britain, once Western Europes largest coalfired power station, converted to biomass in 2010.

Dr White claims converting the plant to biomass would cost about 350m, just over one 10th of the transmission reinforcement required for more wind energy.

The report argues that Ireland should offer long-term contracts to farmers to produce biomass, rather than give wind farm developers long-term fixed contracts. It says Ireland produces just more than a fifth (22.7%) of its electricity from renewables with onshore wind generation providing 80% of the green power in 2014. However, developments in sustainable biomass generation over the last five years mean it is now a cheaper way to meet the 2020 EU renewable electricity target than doubling onshore wind.

The report suggests that Moneypoint could initially operate on US-sourced biomass, switching to Irish sources as domestic supplies developed, or the conversion process could be staggered boiler by boiler, as native supplies became available.

Professor of crop science at UCD, Jimmy Burke, said the significant opportunity that a native biomass sector could provide had been largely ignored.
Tenants of up to 127 receiver-controlled apartments in the Eden development in Blackrock face an uncertain future after receivers issued a notice to terminate tenancy to occupiers of some 35 units.

Twenty of those apartments have been vacated ahead of tomorrows deadline. However, the tenants of the remaining 90 are concerned they could be next.

A spokesperson for Grant Thornton, the receivers, said it has yet to decide what to do with the rest of apartments under its control.

The Eden situation, highlighted on The Sean ORourke Show on RTE Radio One yesterday, has similarities to the Tyrrels-town situation in Dublin, where a vulture fund is selling rented homes.

The religious Ursuline Order put its Blackrock convent building and 22 acres up for sale in 2001. It was bought for 13m by a development firm which secured planning for up to 550 units, plus the conversion of the main convent building to apartments.

The firm subsequently sold its interest in the land for a reported 30m before Pierce Construction went on to develop the Eden residential development on the former convent parkland.

Launched in 2005 with a mix of houses and around 300 apartments, it was described as a model for contemporary living, with apartments priced from 330,000.

In November 2010, IBRC appointed Michael McAteer of Grant Thornton as receiver to 127 of the units plus certain undeveloped land within the wider scheme. The receivers increased rents by up to 25%  from 1,000 to 1,250  last April, prompting several tenants to take rental increase cases to the PRTB. In each case, the rent increase was upheld.

In a statement yesterday, Grant Thornton said it waited until the amendment of the Residential Tenancies Act was enacted last December before issuing the termination of tenancy notices to tenants. This Act increased the notice periods to be provided to tenants thus ensuring the maximum period was provided in cases where vacant possession was sought, said the receivers.

Sinn Fein called for emergency legislation to introduce a compulsory code of conduct for banks and funds, where they are selling buy-to-let properties that are rented.

TD Eoin O Broin (SF) said this code of conduct would give tenants an extended notice-to-quit period of up to a year and first option on becoming tenants in the property if is bought by a new landlord.

Fianna Fail housing spokesman Barry Cowen said: Vulture funds cannot be allowed to act with impunity by removing families from their homes. With the number of families becoming newly homeless in January at historic levels, more urgent and bolder actions are needed to keep families in their homes and to provide secure accommodation to families who have already lost theirs.
Michael OConnor, aged 50, had been arrested in the Netherlands in 2013 before being extradited to New Zealand in April 2014 to face charges in relation to the importation of 4.3kg of methamphetamine in 2012.

It emerged in court OConnor was part of a large-scale and sophisticated international drug importation ring. He did not touch the drugs but would remotely, from the Netherlands, monitor its importation and shipment to New Zealand.
Magnus Meyer Hustveit, aged 26, had pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault committed against his 28-year-old girlfriend between 2011 and 2012.

He was given a wholly suspended seven-year sentence by on July 13, 2015.

Hustveit, whose former partner waived her right to anonymity so his identity could be published, returned to his native Norway after sentencing.

The DPP successfully sought a review of Hustveits sentence yesterday on grounds that it was unduly lenient.

Giving judgment, Mr Justice George Birmingham said the victim had woken to find herself covered in sperm with no knowledge of having engaged in sexual activity. A few days later she awoke to find she had been penetrated but again was unclear how.

Mr Justice Birmingham said it was not in dispute that this was an unusual case.

Much of the offending behaviour occurred without the victims knowledge and all of the offending was only known because of detailed admissions made by Hustveit in an email he sent to the victim following her request to find out what had happened to her.

Mr Justice Birmingham said a combination of factors  Hustveits co-operation, his voluntary return to Ireland to be charged, his previous good character, the positive life he was now leading in Norway  justified and required a sentence that would be appreciably less than would be normal in cases of multiple rapes.

However, Mr Justice Birmingham said the court could not agree that the case was wholly exceptional as to warrant entirely non-custodial disposal and the sentencing judge erred in this regard.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the court was required to resentence someone who had been told he would not be serving time in jail, had returned to his native homeland and had then been told that his sentence was facing a review.

It had long been recognised, the judge said, that taking away from someone a chance they had been given must be particulary burdensome and difficult.

It had been confirmed that Norway did not extradite its own citizens and considerable significance could be attached to the fact that Hustveit had returned voluntarily to face the review.

Mr Justice Birmingham said it would not have been possible for the lower court to require Hustveit to serve less than two and a half years but now, at this stage, he would be required by the Court of Appeal to serve half of that two-and-a-half year sentence.

Mr Justice Birmingham, who sat with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, said the seven-year sentence would remain and all but 15 months of it would be suspended.

Hustveit made no reaction to the courts decision when it was read out. He was told again that he will be on the sex offenders register and there were certain implications by which he would be required to abide.

He was required to enter into a good behaviour bond bor seven years. When asked if he undertook to be so bound, Hustveit said I do.

His victim, Niamh Ni Domhnaill, was present in court with a number of friends and supporters.

Counsel for the DPP, Mary Rose Gearty SC, had applied to submit an updated victim impact report by Ms Ni Domhnaill. However, counsel for Hustveit, Caroline Biggs SC, objected on the basis that it contained references to memory loss, hearing loss, seizures, and blackouts but her side had not been provided with medical reports to substantiate these assertions.

Mr Justice Birmingham said it would be extremely unusual for the Court of Appeal to hear evidence as it was a review court.

He said the defences contentions about being unable to probe the assertions contained in the updated victim impact report was not without substance.

He said the Central Criminal Court sentenced Hustveit on the basis that the victim had been harmed and damaged and that harm and damage would continue. The court proceeded to sentence on the basis of what was before the Central Criminal Court.
Adrian Ismay, 52, was hurt after a booby-trapped bomb exploded under the van he was driving on March 4. Dissident republican group the New IRA claimed responsibility.

He was said to be recovering well from surgery for severe leg injuries but was taken back into hospital yesterday morning and died. Police will have to await medical evidence before confirming whether his death will be treated as murder.

Northern justice minister David Ford and Prison Service director-general Sue McAllister said: Adrian Ismay gave over 28 years of service to prisons in Northern Ireland and he was greatly respected by all those who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.

The attack happened in the Hillsborough Drive area, off Woodstock Road, a predominantly loyalist area in the east of the city, just after 7am.

Mr Ismay was based at Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre in south Belfast, where he was a trainer for new recruits to the Northern Ireland Prison Service. In a statement to the BBC, the New IRA said the officer was targeted because he was involved in training other guards at HMP Maghaberry, near Lisburn.

A spokesman said Mr Ismay was one of a number of people on a list of potential targets and the attack arose from a dispute over the treatment of dissident republican inmates. The New IRA claimed to have used the plastic explosive Semtex and a commercial detonator in the attack.

First Minister Arlene Foster tweeted: Im devastated. Cant believe the news. My thoughts are with his family. Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers said she was shocked and saddened by the prison officers death.

She tweeted: My thoughts & deepest condolences are with his family.

PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Richard Campbell said: 

The investigation is continuing. At this stage, we are working to establish the exact cause of Adrians death.
Sergeant Tom McCarthy charged Tom Murray, of 10A Wellington Rd, Cork, with a number of additional charges yesterday, including counts of assaulting the woman and her present partner, assaulting Garda Agnieszka Pizlo, and four counts of engaging in threatening behaviour.

He was also charged with harassment of the woman, with whom he had previously been in a relationship, on various dates between September 1 and December 7 last year.

Murray was previously charged with 19 counts of harassment by phone. He was before Cork District Court yesterday on those charges and the new counts, which also related to alleged incidents around that time, up to and including Christmas Day.

Inspector Mary King said the DPP had directed that the harassment charges could be dealt with at Cork District Court rather than by judge and jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Tim Lucey asked for an outline of the allegations in relation to the harassment.

Sgt. McCarthy said, It is alleged that between September and December 7, 2015, the defendant made 150 phone calls to the injured party. They were abusive and threatening in nature. He also allegedly followed her in town and tried to talk to her. He was also allegedly seen across from her home.

It is alleged he left voicemail where he threatened to kill her and threatened to kill her partner. He was abusive and threatened to get her, that he would, to use his own words, blast them out. She is fearful for her life at this stage.

Judge Lucey said he would accept jurisdiction to have it dealt with at Cork District Court.

While there has been no plea to any charges yet, defence solicitor Michael Joyce yesterday repeated that the accused had apologised to the complainant.

Murray was remanded on bail to appear in Cork District Court again in four weeks.
The banker, who was extradited from the US, was freed after he spent five months in custody in American jails and one night at Cloverhill Prison in Dublin. He faces trial over serious financial irregularities at the now defunct Anglo Irish Bank.

He blew a kiss to supporters in the public gallery of Dublin District Court when his next hearing date was set.

The 49-year-old had been granted bail terms on Monday by the district court but had to spend a night in custody. Yesterday he appeared again at the same court to take up bail in his own bond of 50,000, along with an independent surety of 100,000.

Aoife Corridan, defending, told Judge Michael Walsh that Mr Drumms mother- and father-in-law, Georgina and Daniel OFarrell, have been approved to stand bail. They have lodged 50,000 while the remaining 50,000 has been frozen in their bank account by court order.

They confirmed they were aware of court proceedings involving their son-in-law and that they risked losing the bail money if Mr Drumm breaks the bail terms or fails to turn up for his trial.

Two books of evidence were served and Judge Walsh noted that the DPP has directed that the former Anglo boss must be tried on indictment.

He was returned for trial to appear at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on April 8.

Mr Drumm was asked by Judge Walsh if he would comply with bail terms.

He replied: I will.

Judge Walsh also warned him that he must notify the State within 14 days if he intends to rely on an alibi in his defence.

Asked to confirm that the signature on his bail bond was his, Mr Drumm replied: It is, your honour.

At about 1.10pm, Mr Drumm was freed and emerged smiling from the custody area of the Criminal Courts of Justice building. He walked straight into the arms of relatives and supporters who hugged and kissed him while a media scrum awaited him outside.

The district court has heard he faces a voluminous case which could be split into two trials. The prosecution involves allegations of 7bn back-to-back transactions with Irish Life & Permanent, which the State believe was part of a conspiracy to defraud.

The charges also allege unlawful loans to the so-called Maple Ten group of investors as well as members of Sean Quinns family. His bail terms state he cannot leave the country; must sign on twice daily at Balbriggan Garda Station; and not apply for a new passport.

In 2009, Mr Drumm, who is originally from Skerries in north Dublin, emigrated to the US and set up home in Boston. Later, he unsuccessfully filed for bankruptcy.

Meanwhile, a warrant was issued for his arrest here in 2014 and an extradition request was then made by Ireland to the US authorities.

Mr Drumm, a father of two and a former chartered accountant, was arrested at his home in Wellesley, an upmarket suburb of Boston, on October 10 last year.

At first, he refused to consent to his extradition but after two failed attempts to get released on bail, he changed his mind. Ahead of his extradition, he has been held in custody in four different detention centres in two US states.

He arrived in Ireland on Monday morning accompanied by fraud squad detectives and was brought to appear at Dublin District Court where the State objected to bail on grounds he was a flight risk.

However, Judge Michael Walsh had held that he was entitled to bail. He said Mr Drumm, who is to reside at Shenick Avenue in Skerries, would be unlikely to face trial until 2017 and would be facing a trial involving a voluminous amount of evidence involving emails; 400 hours of phone recordings; and millions of documents. He also said the former Anglo boss was an Irish citizen with strong ties to Ireland.

Some 31 of the charges related to his alleged role in the so-called Maple Ten transactions to secure Anglos falling share price, and two charges in relation to 7bn back-to-back transactions with Irish Life & Permanent designed to strengthen the banks books.

There are six types of offences alleged, including charges relating to forgery and falsifying documents; conspiracy to defraud; giving unlawful financial assistance for share-purchasing purposes; false accounting practices; and the disclosure of false or misleading information in a management report.

It follows a seven-year probe by detectives from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation attached to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement into alleged financial irregularities at the failed bank which was later nationalised  costing taxpayers 30bn.

His wife is putting their Boston home up for sale and she is returning to Ireland in June.

Mr Drumm must reside at Shenick Avenue in Skerries; sign on twice daily at Balbriggan Garda Station; and cannot leave the country.

He has surrendered his passport and cannot apply for a new one, while the Department of Foreign Affairs is also to be notified of the court order.

Judge Walsh also ordered the former Anglo boss to carry a mobile phone and that any calls from gardai are to be returned in a timely manner.

The investigation began following a complaint by the financial regulator.

At 1.30pm yesterday Mr Drumm emerged from the courthouse with his supporters and walked straight into a phalanx of news photographers and reporters.

He declined to comment before he got into a car and was driven away.
Patrick Roche, aged 51, and his son Philip, aged 23, appeared before Judge Marian OLeary on charges relating to the armed raids at Sunville House, Pallasgreen, and at the Creed family home where three elderly siblings were tied up on May 31, 2012.

According to gardai, it is alleged that Patrick Roche, of Kilcornan Close, Clondalkin, was part of the gang that terrorised families in county Limerick during a burglary spree in 2012.

The 51-year-old is charged with the alleged aggravated burglary of the Creed family home in Ballyluddy, Pallasgreen, on May 31, 2012.

According to gardai, the three elderly Creed siblings were tied up and assaulted in their home when an armed gang raided their house.

Patrick Roche made no reply when he was charged with the aggravated burglary at Creed home, the false imprisonment of Nora Creed, the false imprisonment of Christina Creed, and the false imprisonment of William Creed. Mr Roche also faces charges of aggravated burglary at Sunville House, Pallasgreen, on April 16, 2012, the false imprisonment of Gerard Garvey, his wife Ann, and three of the couples children. The Clondalkin man is also charged with handling a stolen Volkswagen 4x4 that was used by the raiders at the Creed home. The vehicle had been stolen in Mallow.

Patrick Roche is also charged with handling a stolen 2006 Kildare registered Toyota Land Cruiser jeep at the Horse and Jockey in Tipperary in May 2012.

Also before Judge OLeary was Roches 23-year-old son Philip, who was charged with; aggravated burglary at the Creed home at Ballyluddy, Pallasgreen, on May 31 and with the false imprisonment of Nora, Christina and William Creed.

He is also charged with aiding and abetting his father and other gang members in the commission of the serious crime at Sunville House in Pallasgreen; as well as the possession of a stolen Wicklow-registered BMW that had been taken in Cappamore days earlier and used in the Sunville House raid.

The State will say Gerry Garvey was handcuffed and told he would be shot at his home in Sunville House while his family was held captive by raiders.

Philip Roche faces two further charges relating to the alleged possession and intention to sell or supply 6,000 worth of cannabis. He

made no reply when the charges were put to him by Det Garda Mike Reidy and Det Gda John OConnell when he was arrested before court.

Separately, Alan Freeman, aged 35, with an address at Pearse Park, Tipperary, is charged with the alleged false imprisonment of Ian Cruise on April 13, 2012 and with aggravated burglary at the victims address in Killuragh, Cappamore, Co Limerick.

The three men were remanded in custody until next week to appear before the court via video link.
THE humour comes dripping slow in new Netflix comedy Flaked. The languid 10-part series stars Arrested Developments Will Arnett as a mid-life layabout in bohemian Los Angeles. Chip is selfish, insincere and self- obsessed and the jokes mostly spring from the gulf between the characters flaws and his idea of himself as an upstanding example to others. Youll laugh when you feel you should be crying.

It isnt really a comedy, says Dublin actress Ruth Kearney, who plays Chips potential love interest London . There are good little comic moments. Overall, the sensibility is darker. It felt grounded in reality. It wasnt a difficult tone to get right. It was more a case of worrying Is it going to be hard for people if they are expecting one thing and get something else?

Life as a jobbing actress can be tough , says the 27-year-old . So when the opportunity arises to star in a Netflix comedy you grab it and hold on tight. In the pantheon of prestige television, the streaming goliath is right up there.

It felt like we were shooting a small indie movie in some ways, she says. The whole thing was shot in Venice Beach in Los Angeles. We were all in it together. There wasnt a big separation between the producers, the directors or the actors. Nobody was going off to their own trailer or anything.

When you do something for Netflix, it is definitely of interest to people. Friends will ask, What are you up to? You mention Netflix and their level of engagement definitely moves up.

CAREER BOOST

Kearneys career will surely receive a boost with Flaked. Arnett is a major comedy figure and has already had a hand in one Netflix hit, the dark animated series BoJack Horseman (he voices the eponymous lead character).

Flaked and BoJack swim in the same gene pool. In both, Arnett excels as a wayward 40-something adrift in contemporary Los Angeles. But Flaked is, were it possible, even bleaker than the crepuscular BoJack. As noted above, though nominally a comedy, the new show isnt funny in the conventional, laugh out loud sense. Rather it belongs to the increasingly popular genre of dramedies, where the humour is pickled in sourness, the chuckles delivered with a distinctly bittersweet flavour.

Arnett sees the series as an investigation of our ideas of ourselves  how the mask we present to the world can be very different from the face we wear in private. We wanted to investigate the idea of authenticity and how we project who we are, he told Elle magazine. We always talk about the idea of the face that you show the world versus the face that you look at in the mirror when you go home. If the divide is too great, youre in trouble. Its very rare that people are exactly who they appear to be.

Kearney is perhaps best known for the ITV dinosaur romp Primeval. She has also starred alongside Kevin Bacon in The Following (as a serial killer) as well as in the SyFy Channel B-movie Jet Stream.

In this business you have to try to be optimistic, she says. Of course nobody can be optimistic all of the time. You have your highs and lows. You arent always busy.

When you get a show like this it does make it feel worthwhile  it really does, she continues.

Its a tough industry to crack, and a really tough industry to stay in. You have to have a lot of patience and determination and the conviction that something will come along. When you land a gig such as Flaked there is a sense of, Yeah, Im being rewarded for hanging in there. I feel very lucky.

AT HOME IN LA

Kearney is not officially based in Los Angeles but spends much of her time there. She generally resides in London where she lives with her boyfriend, Divergent star Theo James. The actress was actually born in the UK, moving back to Dublin aged five. She studied drama at Trinity, then enrolled at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, graduating in 2009.

Shes had her ups and downs. But with Flaked there is a sense that her career is cranking up a gear. In early reviews, Kearney has drawn praise for her portrayal of London, a quirky Gen Y-er.

You have to make sure you arent reliant on your career to define who you are. Its important that success in the professional realm isnt the only thing that makes you happy. You need to have perspective and not be defined in your own mind by what you do for a living.

London is a complex character, not at all the generic rom-com creation she is initially presented as. Playing a hayseed with a dark secret was a challenge Kearney enjoyed getting stuck into. With any character, they start off written down on the page. When the actor is cast inevitably they are going to bring something to the role.With London, its not me. We are very different. But obviously I tried to ground her in reality.

I worked hard to get into her headspace. In a way, theres not a huge amount to relate to if you know the full story, with her having gone through what shes going through and all that. I havent had to deal with the things shes had to deal with. But shes not a fantasy character, where I find it hard to imagine going through those things. You have to find things to root in reality. An actor is inevitably going to put a bit of themselves into a character, simply because theyre the one playing the part.

Flaked is on Netflix now.

1. Daredevil (Friday)

Charlie Cox returns as the eponymous mild mannered lawyer /PVC clad crime-fighter. Season one of was a surprise hit for Netflix, the shows noir ambience breaking new ground for a Marvel adaptation.

2. The Ranch (April 1)

Debra Winger and Ashton Kutcher are among the familiar faces in this comedy series set on a modern-day ranch in Colorado.

3. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (April 15)

A gentle serial comedy about the survivor of a cult kidnapping, on paper Kimmy Schmidt should be a mess. But the Tiny Fey show brims with offbeat charm and zinging dialogue.

4. Special Correspondents (April 29)

The unlikely comedic tag team of Ricky Gervais and Eric Bana star in this feature length remake of a French-language news satire. It is just the latest movie to debut on Netflix, following on from Beasts Of No Nation.

5. Orange Is the New Black (June 17)

The ferociously popular prison-set drama returns for a fourth season. Buckle up for feisty exchanges, heart-swelling drama and wry social commentary.
Echoing the lines of WB Yeats famous poem Easter 1916, all is changed, changed utterly for our embattled leader.

The bags under the eyes and his normal upbeat demeanour, particularly when away from home, was noticeably absent throughout his engagements in the American Capital yesterday.

The assembled media record all the goings on as the Taoiseach speaks with the US president.

He got visibly emotional in his various addresses throughout the day, a sign that the recent weeks have taken their toll on him.

The extent to which Official America opens its arms to the Irish every year is truly remarkable, but try as he may, Kenny could not escape the reality of his current caretaker capacity.

Despite the impressive welcome to Kenny in Washington, the only thing people were talking about was where a government will come from.

Just what was Kennys status and how should he be addressed was the topic of much conversation between media and officials.

Acting Taoiseach, lame duck, caretaker Taoiseach or Deputy Kenny?

Kennys day began with US Vice President Joe Bidens customary breakfast for a gathering of the Irish-Amercian community, in the picture-esque Naval Observatory.

Acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny pays tribute to Joe Bidens late son Beau #iestaff pic.twitter.com/UqaZbfNOjD  Daniel McConnell (@McConnellDaniel) March 15, 2016

Biden, known for speaking loosely at times, bigged Kenny up as still the most popular guy in the State, only to hammer home the point that he lost the recent election.

He is the most popular guy in the State and he lost, said Mr Biden.

Having knocked him down, Biden then did his best to pluck up the beleaguered acting Taoiseach.

I can assure you if you ran in America you would get 80% of the vote, he said to warm applause from those present.

Enda Kenny delivers remarks at the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington

Mr Biden quoted Yeats poem on the 1916 Rising, referring to how a terrible beauty was born.

For Kenny, that terrible beauty of being an interim leader is clearly weighing heavily on the Fine Gael leader.

Biden revealed to the assembled guests that Kenny reassured him three times that all would be OK.

Once breakfast was done, Kenny and his entourage were whisked by motorcade through the streets of Washington to the White House for his bilatteral meeting with US President Barack Obama.

.@EndaKennyTD urges Speaker Paul Ryan to take action on immigration and steps to help undocumented workers @irishtv pic.twitter.com/anQPga9uR4  Deirdra Schroeder (@deeoschroeder) March 15, 2016

Given the failure of Kenny to secure his re-election, there was much angst on the American side as to whether to let him in the building or not.

Weeks of soul searching went on but Kenny and Obama met for almost half an hour before addressing the media.

Here too, Kennys purgatory overshadowed all other things.

There was just an election in Ireland, and we live at a time when theres a lot of volatility in the electoral process, said Obama.

While there were the usual positive noises about the relationship between America and Ireland being very important, it all felt a little awkward.

Shortly afterwards, in the grounds of the White House, poor Enda had to endure further questions as to his quest to retain power.

Kenny then made a fresh appeal to Fianna Fail to step up and be counted and do the right thing by the country and help him be re-appointed as Taoiseach.

Then the motorcade again rushed cross town to Capitol Hill for the Speakers Lunch, hosted by Irish-American, Paul Ryan.

Ryan, who recently paid a visit to Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny, where his ancestors are from, paid a warm tribute to Kenny in his remarks before lunch. Kenny signalled a willingness to mediate between the Republican Ryan and Democrat Obama at a place halfway between Graiguenamanagh and Moneygall, where Obamas ancestors are from.

At the lunch, Obama said the Irish influence in Washington remains strong.

With names like Obama, Biden, Ryan, and McConnell, you can rest assured that the Old Sods stranglehold on power in Washington is as strong as ever, he said.

Kenny then returned to the White House to Present Obama with a Waterford Crystal bowl of shamrock and reception.

He also extended a fresh invitation to the Obama family to visit Ireland once they leave the White House.

While we know this was Obamas last St Patricks Day in office, but whether it was Kennys was the question of the day.

Asked if he will be Taoiseach next year, Kenny simply said: I hope so.
We cannot manage the world through aid relief in the place of diplomacy and political solutions, she said under the pouring rain at a press conference in Lebanons Bekaa Valley.

Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have sought refuge in the Bekaa. Lebanon hosts well over a million Syrian refugees, who account for almost a fifth of its population.

Jolie said she had hoped to be in Syria helping victims return to their homes on the fifth anniversary of the uprising against President Bashar Assad.

She said its tragic and shameful that we seem to be so far from that point.

There are now more people displaced through conflict around the globe than during World War II, according to the UN.

The war in Syria between Assads government, rebels and foreign jihadis has drawn in world powers and generated what the UN says is the largest humanitarian catastrophe in a generation.

US actress Angelina Jolie, left, speaks during a press conference at a Syrian refugee camp, in Zahleh, Lebanon. Picture: AP

Half of Syrias prewar population of 23m has been displaced, with about 5m having fled their homeland, mainly to neighbouring Lebanon, Turkey, and Iraq.

The international relief organisation Oxfam warned yesterday that Lebanese municipalities are running out of space to bury deceased refugees.

We should never forget that for all the focus on the refugee situation in Europe, the greatest pressure is still being felt in the Middle East and North Africa, as it has for each of the last five years, Jolie said.

After a tidal wave of refugees poured into Europe last year, some countries began erecting political and physical barriers to migration, which have left tens of thousands of refugees stuck in squalid conditions in the Balkans this spring.

Jolie called on such countries to adhere to their international obligations to aid refugees.

The reason we have laws and binding international agreements is precisely because of the temptation to deviate from them in times of pressure, she said.
Unknown hackers breached the computer systems of Bangladesh Bank and transferred $81 million from its account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to casinos in the Philippines between February 4-5.

Rahmans resignation came days after the Bangladesh finance minister said the central bank did not inform him about the heist, and that he learned of it only a month later when news first appeared in the media.
The explosion occurred at about 8am (7am GMT) in the western district of Charlottenburg on a busy street leading into the heart of the German capital.

Photos from the scene showed the wreckage of a Berlin-registered silver VW Passat station wagon, its windows blown out and its front end smashed in, about a kilometre from the capitals landmark Victory Column.
As soon as prison guards removed his handcuffs, the 37-year-old turned to journalists and stretched out his right arm in a Nazi salute.

Breivik is suing the government, alleging it has violated the European Convention on Human Rights by holding him in isolation in Skien prison, about 90 kilometres south-west of Oslo.

The trial is being held in a gym inside the prison for security reasons.

Breivik set off a bomb in Oslos government district and then carried out a shooting massacre at the summer camp of the Labour Partys youth organisation.

It is the first time shaven-headed Breivik has been seen in public since he was convicted of terrorism and mass murder in 2012, over the massacres on July 22, 2011.

The government has rejected his claims, saying he is being treated humanely.

During his criminal trial four years ago, Breivik entered the court with his own salute, using a clenched fist instead of the outstretched hand that the Nazis used to greet Adolf Hitler. At the time Breivik described himself as a modern crusader, fighting to protect Europe from Muslim immigration.

In letters sent to the media from prison, Breivik said he has abandoned his armed struggle and now wants to create a fascist movement while serving his sentence.

His lawyer, Oystein Storrvik, said the goal of the human rights case is to improve Breiviks prison conditions, including interaction with other prisoners and fewer restrictions on his mail correspondence.
The joint session of the two houses of parliament broke into thunderous applause, as speaker, Mann Win Khaing Than, announced the result: I hereby announce the president of Myanmar is Htin Kyaw, as he won the majority of votes.

The state-run Myanmar TVs camera zoomed in on a beaming Ms Suu Kyi, clapping excitedly in the front row. The 70-year-old Htin Kyaw, a long-time confidant of Ms Suu Kyi, will take office on April 1, but questions remain about his position.
Spokesman Salim al-Muslat told reporters that the Russian withdrawal could also end Syrian president, Bashar al-Assads dictatorship and his crimes.

But Russia will be judged by its actions, following Putins surprise announcement, British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said.

There was no independent evidence that the withdrawal had begun, Hammond said, and it was not terribly reassuring that Russias defence ministry had indicated air strikes could continue against terrorists, a term Moscow has used to include groups the West views as moderate opposition forces.

Russia blindsided world powers by announcing that the main part of its forces in Syria would start to withdraw. It was unclear what the withdrawal would mean for the outcome of the war or for the future of Assad, who has regained ground from rebels with the help of heavy Russian air strikes.

US-Russian co-operation had already prompted a lull in the war, via a cessation of hostilities agreement that led to a sharp decline in fighting between rebels and the government in western Syria.

Muslat said that what has kept Assad in power is the presence of Russian forces.

Talks in Geneva are part of a diplomatic push, launched with US-Russian support, to end a war that has killed 250,000 people, created the worlds worst refugee crisis, and prompted the rise of Islamic State militants.

The Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committees main demand, when it began its first formal talks with a UN special envoy, was for the creation of an interim government without Assad, under a UN-sponsored road map, Muslat said.

Britains foreign secretary sounded a cautious note, telling MPs that Russia had previously claimed it was withdrawing from the Ukraine, when it was actually just a routine rotation of troops.

It was unclear what Mr Putins intentions were, as he is a very difficult partner, the foreign secretary added.

Prime Minister David Camerons spokeswoman said that the withdrawal would be welcome.

Analysis: 13
Business Dizzying Trade Deficit to Greet Burmas New Govt

With figures topping US$5 billion, a widening trade deficit is likely to greet Burmas new government on April 1, says the Ministry of Commerce.

RANGOON  With figures topping US$5 billion, a widening trade deficit is likely to greet Burmas new government on April 1, says the Ministry of Commerce.

According to the ministry, the total trade volume reached $25.7 billion between April 2015 and March of this year. Import volume hovered around $15.5 billion, while export volume reached only $10.2 billion. The fiscal year ends on March 31, and President-elect Htin Kyaw of the National League for Democracy (NLD) is due to be sworn in April 1.

The total trade figure through the first 11 months of the current fiscal year falls short of the governments expectation of $30 billion.

Our import volume has significantly increased due to the many projects that have needed infrastructure materials this year, and our export volume has declined because of less oil and gas earnings this year coupled with flooding last year that damaged agricultural products, Maung Aung, a senior economist at the Ministry of Commerce, told The Irrawaddy.

Oil and gas, jade and agriculture products are Burmas major export items, while investment and raw industrial materials and home appliances are its chief imports.

The Myanmar Investment Commission approved many projects last year, such as the many factories in the Thilawa SEZ [special economic zone]. Investment materials [for the projects] accounted for at least 60 percent of the total import volume, Maung Aung said, adding that total trade volume was likely to reach only $26-$27 billion this fiscal year.

Burmas total trade volume has increased each year since the former pariah state transitioned to a quasi-civilian government in 2011. In the last year of outgoing President Thein Seins term, however, this figure looks to have leveled off, a trend that has some observers concerned.

Aye Lwin, a central executive member of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), told The Irrawaddy it was not a good sign for the new government, describing a trade deficit of $5 billion as being hazardous to trade prospects.

This amount is at a dangerous level. If the new government cant get a handle on the issue, then it will have to rethink its trade policy and how to promote exports, Aye Lwin said, though he added some skepticism, doubting the veracity of government trade data.

Burma imported some $16 billion in goods in the 2014-15 fiscal year, and exports totaled more than $11 billion, leaving a deficit of $4.9 billion, according to ministry estimates.
Asia Major Thai Trafficking Trial Opens Amid Fears for Witnesses

The trial of 92 suspected human traffickers, arrested after the discovery of shallow graves of migrants in Thai jungle, begins amid fears about witnesses safety.

BANGKOK  The trial of 92 suspected human traffickers, arrested after the discovery of shallow graves of migrants in Thai jungle, began in Bangkok on Tuesday and the attorney-generals office said it would be over within a year amid fears about the safety of witnesses.

Traffickers abandoned boatloads of migrants at sea last year after a crackdown by Thai authorities that led to a regional migrant crisis with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Burma and Bangladesh refusing boats permission to land.

Rights groups had expressed fears that a drawn-out case, lasting anything up to two years, could put the hundreds of witnesses at risk because of inadequate police protection.

The court is accelerating the case to finish within a year, said Prayuth Porsuttayaruk, deputy director-general of the human trafficking office at the Attorney-Generals Office.

Thailand remains on the lowest tier on the US State Departments Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report for not meeting the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

Sunai Phasuk, senior researcher on Thailand at Human Rights Watch, welcomed a shorter trial but said the cases should not be rushed to impress the United States.

It will totally send the wrong message if the trial is being fast-tracked simply to impress the TIP report reviewers.

The defendants, wearing beige prison uniforms, were brought to the packed court for the start of formal hearings.

The investigation and arrests followed the discovery of 30 shallow graves at a trafficking camp near the Malaysian border. Many of the bodies were believed to be of Rohingya, a persecuted ethnic Muslim minority in majority Buddhist Burma.

Weeks later, police revealed 139 graves had been found over the border in Malaysia.

That led to a crackdown on the multi-million dollar trade which had until then flourished in Thailands southern provinces and in Malaysia.

The 92 suspected human traffickers include an army general, civilians and police.

Rights groups have called on authorities to step up witness protection after some witnesses said they had been forced into hiding because of threats.

Prayuth said the justice ministry was looking after the witnesses, but did not say how many of the more than 400 witnesses were receiving police protection.

Around 50 suspects were still at large, said Prayuth. Some had fled to neighboring Burma.

The United Nations and rights group say the number of migrants leaving Burma and Bangladesh by boat in past months has plummeted because of the Thai and Bangladeshi crackdowns on human smugglers.

The number of people trying to flee was expected to be significantly lower this year, they said.
Burma Downsizing of Ministries Expected in President-Elect Proposal

Burmas President-elect Htin Kyaw will submit a proposal expected to shake up his incoming cabinet by reducing the number of ministries within the executive.

RANGOON  Burmas President-elect Htin Kyaw will submit a proposal to lawmakers on Thursday that is expected to shake up the administrative structure of his incoming cabinet by reducing the number of ministries and ministers within the executive branch.

According to the agenda for Thursdays Union Parliament session, Htin Kyaw will put forward a proposal on the names of ministries and number of ministers to be appointed to serve in his incoming National League for Democracy (NLD) government, which will take power on April 1.

No specifics of the proposal are included in the agenda, which was released on Wednesday, but senior NLD member Win Htein told reporters on March 4 in Naypyidaw that the party planned to reduce the number of ministries that make up the executive to as low as 20, down from the current 36.

For now, we have six departments at the Presidents Office. We will merge all six into one and other ministries too. For example, we can merge rail transportation, road transport, water, airway into one, Win Htein was quoted in local media as saying.

He also reportedly said NLD members would comprise some 30 to 40 percent of the ministerial posts, with the rest of appointees drawn from other parties and the ranks of Burmas technocratic class. That would appear to slate seven to nine ministerial posts for NLD members.

Parliamentarians will discuss the proposal on Friday and the list is expected to be approved in the NLD-dominated Union Parliament next week.

Htin Kyaw was elected president by the legislature on Tuesday, and will head an NLD government that party chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi has said will be led by her from above his post.

That assertion, made in the lead-up to her partys landslide election victory in November, was made in response to questions about how Suu Kyi would circumvent a constitutional clause rendering her ineligible to become president.

A reduction of government ministries was one pledge put forward in the NLDs election manifesto, in order to decrease government expenditure and establish a lean and efficient government.
Interview Henry Van Thio: I Wish To Work For The Entire Country

The Irrawaddy speaks with Vice President-elect Henry Van Thio of the NLD.

Henry Van Thio, an Upper House National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmaker from Chin State, was confirmed on Tuesday as one of two vice presidents in Burmas executive trio, alongside the NLDs Htin Kyaw as President and Myint Swe as the vice president selected by the military. He spoke with The Irrawaddys Htet Naing Zaw in Naypyidaw on Wednesday about his past career, his sudden rise to government leadership and his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as vice president.

Please describe your life before you were elected vice-president.

I was born in Deke Village in Htantalan Township, Chin State. I studied until ninth grade at my village school and matriculated in Htantalan Township. Then I joined the service and rose through the ranks to become a major. I was in the service for 20 years. Then, I transferred to the Ministry of Industry and retired in 2009.

What drove you toward politics? How did you get involved in the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi?

Our country is one of the least developed countries in the world and it cant walk with its head held high on the international stage. I want my country to stand tall among the international community.

Such thoughts made me consider politics, and drove me to get involved. I studied the policies of the National League for Democracy (NLD), and I absolutely believed that only the NLD could help fulfill my wishes. With this belief, I joined the NLD.

There is some criticism of you and your family having lived abroad. What do you want to say about it?

Not much. We went abroad with official permission from the government.

What is your view of NLD chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi? Why has she chosen you as the vice-president from among other ethnic lawmakers?

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is highly respected not only by our citizens but also in other parts of the world. She has unwavering loyalty and immense love for the country and the people. She is the peoples leader. This is exactly how I view her.

Why do you think she chose you to be vice-president over other ethnic lawmakers?

I believe she has done so for the sake of the peace and stability of the State, rule of law, and especially national reconciliation and national unity according to her partys policy. [The fact that she selected me as vice-president] is the proof that she is pursuing her policy.

What plans do you have for Chin States development?

Im an ethnic Chin and from Chin State, but Im now assigned to the post of vice-president. As a vice-president, I am not supposed to make considerations for only one state. I wish to work for the entire country.

What approaches do you think should be taken toward the realization of peace and a federal Union, which is the aspiration of many ethnic groups?

Mainly, we need to build trust. Both the government and the military need to seek the recommendations and cooperation of concerned specialists in building this trust.

What message would you like to give the voters and the people?

I would like to say thanks. Firstly, I sincerely appreciate all the voters from Chin State Constituency (3) who elected me to the Upper House. Secondly, I am deeply grateful to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who put me on the path to the vice-presidency. And I am grateful to all the lawmakers of Upper House who elected me the vice-president, and all the lawmakers of Union Parliament who confirmed my vice-presidency.

Translated by Thet Ko Ko.
Burma Htin Kyaw: Burmas President-Elect and Talk of the Town

National League for Democracy nominee Htin Kyaws election on Tuesday as Burmas next president has received roaring applause from figures around the world.

RANGOON  National League for Democracy (NLD) nominee Htin Kyaws election on Tuesday as Burmas next president has received roaring applause from local and international figures.

Htin Kyaw, an executive committee member of an Aung San Suu Kyi-led foundation, secured 360 out of a total 652 votes from parliamentarians, effectively ending decades of leadership by a brutal military junta and its quasi-civilian successor government.

Suu Kyi, chairwoman of the NLD, met with her partys lawmakers in the capital Naypyidaw on Monday to ensure that the voting would be carried out validly.

This is just a simple goal. But we have been struggling a lot for it, she told lawmakers.

Her sense of achieving a long-delayed victory was shared by many others.

Historian and founder of the Yangon Heritage Trust (YHT) Thant Myint-U sees a Htin Kyaw presidency as an important step forward for democracy in Burma, and he told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that he believed Htin Kyaw would be a capable president.

Whats important about this moment is that its when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi begins, however indirectly, to assume executive power, he said.

Its something many have been waiting for since August 1988. Whatever comes next will be a new chapter in the countrys history.

Suu Kyi is constitutionally barred from the presidency, and Htin Kyaw is understood to be a proxy for her leadership. A confidante of the NLD chairwoman who first met her in primary school, Htin Kyaw had been tipped for the post ahead of his big reveal on March 10, but was hardly a household name in Burmese politics before that. His new stature will be noted by Burmese speakers for its poetic resonance, then, since Htin Kyaw in Burmese essentially translates as famous.

Aung Moe Zaw, chairman of the Democratic Party for a New Society, said the selection was a positive development for the country and something to be proud of, also praising the fact that Htin Kyaw is Burmas first elected civilian president in 54 years.

Its a milestone on our countrys path to democracy, he said.

Rangoon-based political analysis Yan Myo Thein echoed Aung Moe Zaws optimism.

I believe that an administrative body will be implemented, under Aung San Suu Kyis leadership, that will be able to work effectively for the country and its people, he said.

The United States, which has helped to buoy Burmas transition to a civilian government since the former pariah state signaled reformist inclinations in 2011, said Htin Kyaws election was yet another important step forward in Burmas democratic transition.

Former Union Parliament Speaker Shwe Mann released a statement on social media, encouraging Burmas newly elected president to stand with the people.

The incoming government and executive body must fulfill their obligation to the people, the statement reads.

At the same time, people must also contribute to the governments defense, security and nation-building process with [their own] visions.

Outgoing President Thein Sein congratulated his successor.

In a message sent to Htin Kyaw, Thein Sein said that, on behalf of the state and the people, he was proud of Htin Kyaw and that he was prepared to hand over the duties of the head of state.

UK Ambassador to Burma Andrew Patrick commended the people of Burma on the election of their first civilian president in over five decades.

We look forward to working with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Htin Kyaw and the new cabinet when the new government takes office, he told The Irrawaddy via email on Tuesday.

There was a lot of support to be found on social media, too, particularly on Twitter. Patricks boss, British Prime Minister David Cameron, was among them.

Congratulations to the people of Burma on their 1st democratically elected President in 50+ yrs. [I] Look forward to working with U Htin Kyaw, he tweeted.

Likewise, a tweet from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi read, Congratulations and best wishes to U Htin Kyaw on being elected President of Myanmar! Will work together to strengthen India-Myanmar ties.

In Tuesdays voting, military nominee Myint Swe won 213 votes, while ethnic Chin lawmaker Henry Van Thio secured 79 votes, making them vice president Nos. 1 and 2, respectively.
Business In Burma, a Fine Line Between CSR and Karmic Cash

Burmas business sector is still coming to terms with the differences between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and less internationally palatable forms of giving, observers say.

RANGOON  It was perhaps inevitable that Burmas business sector would struggle with the idea of corporate social responsibility (CSR), operating in a country of high charitable giving and stark contrasts between its wealthiest and poorest citizens.

At least in part, this stems from the reality that CSR, as a concept, has only caught on in the former pariah state within the past few years. Observers say this has led to overly broad use of the term and to confusion about its actual meaning by many companies, often most visibly by Burmas biggest conglomerates, including Zaw Zaws Max Myanmar Group, Tay Zas Htoo Group and Aung Ko Wins Kanbawza (KBZ) Group.

Of the trio above, Zaw Zaw and Tay Za remain on a US blacklist, preventing American firms from doing business with them, for perceptions that they are members of Burmas crony class, whose willingness to work with the former military regime ran counter to Washingtons pro-democracy agenda. Rightly or unfairly, in recent years CSR initiatives from blacklisted companies have been viewed with cynicism as the US Treasury Department has removed some names from the list and talks have turned to rehabilitating the reputations of those that remain sanctioned.

Burmas larger companies have their own philanthropic foundations to take the lead on CSR efforts. Zaw Zaw, Tay Za and Aung Ko Win have all founded their conglomerates foundations within the last decade.

While such businesses have made significant financial contributions to education, health care and various social awareness activities in Burma, this does not mean that their contributions necessarily align with international standards on what qualifies as CSR.

From what I understand about CSR, its about the long-term effectiveness of activities for the community. Its not about donations, which many businesses label as CSR, Aung Myo Shein, CSR manager of the Parami Energy Group of Companies, told The Irrawaddy.

In recent years so-called CSR initiatives have produced some awkward optics, from the repatriation of modern-day Burmese slaves who were decked out in KBZ Bank merchandise to the National League for Democracy (NLD) taking money for training parliamentarians-elect from a bank owned by US-sanctioned Tay Za.

While there is a degree of ambiguity about what constitutes CSR, some say more nefarious motivations can also be behind these initiatives.

[Using the term CSR] is a good way to launder money. For real CSR, businesses must know how theyll affect the community, but many just do it for show, Aung Myo Shein said.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that different people define CSR in different ways. Thomas Thomas, CEO of the Asean CSR Network, said CSR is not so much about how people spend money as it is about how they make that money.

Its not about doing a lot of the sins and then trying to build a church, temple or mosque and contribute, and say God forgave you, he recently told Reporting Asean.

In this, he appears to be of the same mind as Washington as it relates to the US blacklist: Following a meeting in 2014 with businesspeople on the American sanctions roster about how they could successfully be delisted, US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski told The Irrawaddy that it would take more than generosity.

We also made clear that donations to charity, while welcome, would not be taken into considerationfor this purpose, whats important is not how they spend their money but how they make their money, he said.

According to Vicky Bowman, director of the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB) and a former British ambassador to Burma, many businesses actually prefer not to use the vague term CSR because Burmese people understand it in different ways.

Bowman said MCRB recently organized a workshop for companies in Hpa-an, Karen State, polling them on whether they understood CSR to be social/community investment or contribution, philanthropy, sponsorship and disaster relief or the responsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society, the latter of which is the EU definition.

Companies representatives split 50-50, while some even thought that CSR could be both, she said.

Bowman added that instead of CSR, MCRB uses two distinct terms: responsible business to refer to business behavior, and community investment or creating shared value to get at where businesses go beyond fundamental legal and moral obligations.

The rest is philanthropy, not related to the business, she said. Theres nothing wrong with philanthropy. Indeed, it is wonderful and a source of great national pride, that Myanmar is top in the world in terms of charitable giving, she said, referring to the fact that in 2015, Burma was again ranked the most charitable country in the world by the London-based Charitable Aid Foundation.

But you arent demonstrating corporate responsibility by building schools and clinics, particularly if you made your money through environmental destruction, corruption or worker exploitation, she continued.

Key to CSR, Bowman contends, is that a company must earn and retain its social license.

Thats what allows it to operate without strikes and demonstrations and get its official permits more easily, particularly in a world in which the government is increasingly sensitive to public opinionas Myitsone and Dagon City demonstrated, she said, referring to controversial hydropower and high-rise projects, respectively, that have run up against intense public opposition.

Technically, you cant be a responsible business if you break the law. But the laws affecting businesses here are often unclear or new or unknown or contradictory or not applied consistently, Bowman added, pointing out that the main challenge for most companies in Burma is non-compliance with the law, an issue particularly obvious when one looks at the dearth of environmental regulation and resulting pollution and waste.

Chit Khine, chairman of the Eden Group of Companies, echoed these sentiments.

We need the government to advocate proper learning of CSR, he said. Its time to change from this family business-style to an international standard.
Burma Palaung Groups Accuse Burma Army of Torture in Shan State

Ethnic Palaung groups claim widespread human rights abuses perpetrated by the Burma Army amid an ongoing offensive by government troops in northern Shan State.

RANGOON  Ethnic Palaung civil society groups this week claimed widespread human rights abuses are being perpetrated by the Burma Army amid an ongoing offensive by government troops in northern Shan State.

Those alleged abuses include detention and torture of civilians, some of whom have also seen their houses set ablaze by Burma Army soldiers who have clashed with the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) across several townships in northern Shan State since the beginning of this month.

The recent conflict has forced more than 1,000 ethnic Palaung to flee their villages. The affected are staying at a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kutkai Township.

The Taang Womens Organization (TWO) reported that 23 locals from Tarmoenyin subtownship, in Kutkai Township, were detained by the Burma Army on Monday evening, accused of supporting the TNLA.

Those detained were men, and no one knows yet where they have been taken, said a statement issued by the group on Tuesday.

Earlier this month, another four locals from Ngegge village, Kutkai Township, were also detained after being accused of communicating with the TNLA. They are being held at the Burma Armys Military Strategy Operation Unit in Kutkai, the womens group said. One student was included among the four people detained on March 6 by soldiers from Burma Army Light Infantry Division No. 99, TWO added.

In a similar case, three people from Kaung Loi village were detained on Feb. 22 by troops from Burma Army Light Infantry Division Nos. 33 and 99, which TWO claims proceeded to employ torture tactics including beatings, and burns and cuts to their bodies.

Fighting in recent weeks has been particularly intense in Kutkai, Kyaukme and Namkham townships. State media, however, has been silent on the conflict despite the sustained hostilities and large population of displaced civilians.

Myo Aung, from the Taang Students and Youth Organization (TSYO), said some of the 23 people detained for suspected affiliation with the TNLA had been released since Monday.

Myo Aung said eight of the 23 were tortured and beaten by Burma Army soldiers while in detention. Three other womenone elderly and a pair of 17-year-oldswere wounded by stray fire in the course of the recent clashes.

Community leaders in Kutkai have set up two camps for IDPs, whose ranks grow daily, said Myo Aung. We do not have a stable list for IDPs as even more people keep coming.

The TNLA also claimed that its adversary, specifically Light Infantry Division No. 33, has burned civilians homes, and food stores, in villages including Loi Kan, Mang Seik, and Pain Bon villages.

They burned around 20 houses in total from the three villages, said Tar Bang Hla, who is a TNLA communications officer.

The Irrawaddy sought comment on Wednesday from the Burma Army, but Col. Khin Maung Cho, who just last month spoke with this reporter in an official media liaison capacity, said he did not have authority to speak and advised finding another contact person for the armed forces.
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 (2:21 pm) - Score 1,820

The European Court of Justice has today offered a preliminary opinion on the long-running McFadden case in Germany, which effectively concludes that operators of free (no password required) open public WiFi networks cannot be held liable for copyright infringements committed on their networks.

The outcome is perhaps a victory for common sense and may also provide some potential defence to those who accidentally leave their home WiFi networks open for anybody within range to access, as well as public libraries, cafes and other venues that offer such services.

Malcolm Hutty, EuroISPAs Liability Committee Chair, said: Todays AG Opinion further strengthens the consensus that copyright enforcement measures must be balanced with fundamental rights. It says that restricting the availability of Wi-Fi access would be a disadvantage for society as a whole, that cannot be justified by benefits to copyright holders. I agree: the economic future of Europe depends on the widespread availability of Internet access, wherever you go, whenever you need it.

The opinion reflects a key interpretation of the EU E-Commerce Directive, but it is not strictly binding. However it does come from the Courts Advocate General (AG) and therefore carries with it some significant weight.

EuroISPA also believes that the Opinion strongly vindicates the right to privacy of communications, by precluding the providers of Internet services from undertaking general surveillance of user activities on their network in search of copyright-infringing content and if approved it may help to boost the spread of public WiFi.
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 (1:55 pm) - Score 941

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, has today set out the annual Budget 2016 report for the United Kingdom, which among other things announced the plan to publish a strategy for 5G mobile services in 2017 and the release of more radio spectrum below 10GHz (bands).. but not a lot else.

Several big broadband related developments have happened since last years budget and its important to reflect those first in order to give todays events the proper context, so heres a fairly comprehensive recap of everything thats happened and is still happening on the Internet connectivity improvement front. People familiar with the developments can simply skip past it.

The Broadband Policy Recap

We kick things off with the recent promise of a new 10Mbps for all Universal Service Obligation (here and here), which BT will support, and the start of the Governments much delayed Universal Service Commitment (here). The latter saw 60m allocated to ensure that 300,000 remote rural premises could access a basic speed of 2Mbps+ via either Satellite or fixed wireless connectivity.

Ofcom has also published the outcome of their Strategic Review (here), which chose to make BTs network access division (Openreach) more independent and accessible to rival ISPs rather than split it off completely (note: it will take awhile to iron out all the details); although the latter option remains on the table as a bargaining chip.

Elsewhere the Governments Connection Voucher scheme, which gifted grants worth up to 3,000 to help smaller businesses in 50 UK cities to get a 30Mbps+ broadband service installed, finally came to a seemingly successful end (here). But so far only Wales has chosen to replace that scheme with something better (here).

On top of that the Government recently hailed their 8-10m (Innovation Fund) pilot of alternative broadband technologies as a success (here), although aside from helping to cater for the above 2Mbps USC it remains unclear how much of a role such smaller ISPs will play in any future expansion of superfast (24Mbps+) capable network coverage (more on that later).

Speaking of superfast speeds, the national Broadband Delivery UK programme is now said to have achieved its original target of ensuring that 90% of the UK can access a 24Mbps+ fixed line broadband connection (here) and theyre still working, predominantly with BT and a few smaller altnets (Gigaclear etc.), to extend this to 95-96% by 2017/18 (80% for businesses).

As a side note the Governments previous Budget 2015 announcement also pledged to help ensure that 100Mbps ultra-fast broadband could reach nearly all the homes in the country. But most of this will be achieved via natural commercial investment from BT (G.fast roll-out) and Virgin Medias cable network expansion (here), albeit with some support from the sovereign-backed 40bn UK Guarantees Scheme.

What we wanted to see

However some problems have yet to be resolved by the Government, such as the question of how they intend to bring superfast connectivity to the final 3-4% of UK premises. This is complicated by the high cost and slow pace of deployment when tackling remote rural areas, which is why altnet providers like those mentioned above could soon become much more important.

Part of the reason why we havent seen a solid policy for tackling the remaining gap in coverage is because the Governments original EU State Aid umbrella agreement for broadband projects (BDUK) expired at the end of June 2015 (here) and theyre still consulting upon its replacement (here), which might not be ready until around May 2016; altnets may well benefit from this.

Separately the last budget also proposed to create a new Broadband Investment Fund (here), which is designed to help alternative network providers to secure funding to build out their infrastructure. But so far weve seen precious little detail on this and still dont know if it will become something real and useful or not.

In short, we needed todays budget to set out how the final gaps in superfast broadband coverage would be solved and funded.

What we got

Sadly nothing fundamentally new emerged from this budget, which wed guess is a hangover from the delay with EU State Aid clearance. The Government wont wish to commit to any extra investment until it knows precisely what sort of model will be adapted. We can perfectly understand that decision, but in the meantime it leaves those in the final 5% to suffer continued uncertainty.

The outcome follows some initially enticing remarks pledging major new commitments to the national infrastructure projects of the future and that was followed later by a promise to prepare the country for the arrival of 5G technology (Mobile Broadband). However the actual Budget 2016 Document merely reiterates most of what has already been announced before.

Budget 2016  Summary of Broadband Points * The government will establish a new Broadband Investment Fund, in partnership with private sector investors, to support the growth of alternative broadband networks by providing greater access to finance. The fund will operate on a commercial basis to support the growth of alternative network developers by providing greater access to finance. * The government will deliver a 5G strategy in 2017, based on an assessment by the National Infrastructure Commission of how the UK can become a world leader in 5G. The government will also support the development of a network planning tool, to be trialled in Bournemouth. * Affordable broadband is essential for a connected household sector but pricing in this market can be opaque. The government expects quick action to ensure the price of broadband provision is as clear as possible. New proposals from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) will ensure broadband adverts do not mislead. A new cost comparison measure for telecoms services will be developed by Ofcom this year. * Electromagnetic spectrum is a valuable and scarce resource. Budget 2016 announces a new government commitment that 750MHz of valuable public sector spectrum in bands under 10GHz will be made available by 2022, of which 500MHz will be made available by 2020. This builds on governments previous 2010 commitment, and will deliver wider economic benefits by generating capital receipts and by supporting innovation in digital communications services and the development of new technologies. * The government will distribute 14.5 million in grants to extend ultrafast broadband coverage in the South West  4.5 million more than the 10 million allocated at the Spending Review. As part of its assessment of how the UK can become a world leader in 5G, the National Infrastructure Commission will use the South West as a case study.

Nearly everything listed above is already known, although we do note the additional funding to improve broadband in the South West and the confirmation that 750MHz of radio spectrum under 10GHz (bands) will be made available by 2020 is important because it plays into Ofcoms expectation that future 5G mobile services will make use of bands above 6GHz (here).

Other things

Its not all about fixed line of course and we should mention that UK mobile operators are still working to ensure that 98% of the population can access the new-ish 4G (Mobile Broadband) service by the end of 2017 (EE have nearly already achieved this).

Back in 2014 the major mobile operators also reached a 5bn agreement with the Government, which requires them to expand their geographic (landmass) network coverage from 80% today to 90% by 2017 (2G voice and text services); although data (3G and 4G) coverage will only be pushed from 69% to 85% (here). But precisely how this will be achieved remains unclear, especially while issues with land access and restrictions on mast height remain open points of contention (the Gov do plan to tackle this, but its been a very long time coming).

Similarly the Governments Digital Economy Minister, Ed Vaizey, has recently gone on record to confirm that their 150 million Mobile Infrastructure Project (MIP), which was set-up to improve mobile phone network coverage in areas where there is currently none, has sadly failed due to many of the same issues that the above commitment could encounter (here).

Finally, last years budget also pledged to invest 600m on improving mobile connectivity by moving many Digital Terrestrial TV (DTTV) services from the 700MHz to 600MHz band and then using 700MHz for mobile broadband networks. However this is expected to be a slow process and wont finish until late 2020.
Hot New Security Products Debuting at RSA Conference 2016

Last week, I wrote about how Rightside Group, a domain name services provider in Kirkland, Wash., has secured several dozen new generic top-level domains (TLDs), betting that extensions like .family and .video are the wave of the future. Another dimension of Rightsides business that warrants attention has to do with the trials and tribulations of operating as a domain name registrar in a world where spammers, malware producers, and other Internet bad guys are flourishing.

What raised my curiosity about this aspect of the companys business was having read the transcript of Rightsides Q4 2015 quarterly earnings call. According to the transcript on Seeking Alpha, Rightside CEO Taryn Naidu identified China as the country that produces the highest number of registrations for Rightsides generic TLDs. I found that interesting, given Chinas reputation as a bastion of malicious Internet activity.

In my recent interview with Naidu, I asked him for his assessment of the likelihood that bad guys in China are exploiting Rightsides services for nefarious purposes.

The thing we love about the way we built our registry business is we have best-in-class compliance services, Naidu said. So if there is any abuse of domain names in our ecosystem, theyre shut down immediately. We dont see a high level of abuse specifically from China.

If Rightside did see a high level of abuse in China, Naidu said, the abusive sites would be shut down.

We are working with high-quality partners over there, like Alibaba, to distribute domains to their consumers, he said. Being the registry, we have the information on whether theres any sort of malware or spam issues that are happening. We get alerts, and immediately would shut those down.

Naidus response about having best-in-class compliance services surprised me, because it seemed to fly in the face of data collected by URIBL.com, a site that maintains a list of the top 100 abused or abusive domain registrars. ENom.com, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rightside that operates as the companys wholesale arm to work with domain name resellers around the world, is No. 2 on the list. Name.com, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rightside that operates as a B2C retail business, is No. 11 on the list. When I last checked, eNom.com had registered 1,707 blacklisted sites, or 21.27 percent of the sites it had registered; and Name.com had registered 221 blacklisted sites, which amounted to 22.3 percent.

When I asked Naidu about that, he chalked it up to faulty information being supplied by compliance monitoring sites like URIBL.

We work with a lot of the different compliance companies on the Internet, and I think at one point we were listed as the No. 1 malware provider on the Internet, he said. What weve found in that industry, and a big thing weve been working on, is once they flag a domain for malicious activity, that flag is never removed. So if a new consumer registers a domain name because somebody did something [malicious] before, and it was deleted, and its now [made available again], that domain will still look like its bad. So what weve been doing is working with a lot of these guys, giving them access to our ecosystem, and letting them realize, Wait a minute, theres nothing here. So when we worked through this with an organization a couple of years ago, they realized that 99.9 percent of their information was wrong.

Naidu said Rightside has undertaken a similar effort with respect to illegal online pharmacies.

This is not just a domain problemit crosses domains, hosting, credit card processing, search engines, Naidu said. So we set up a process where we started working with FedEx, Google, Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, and said, Hey, guys, lets work togetherlets create an organization, and lets make sure that people cant buy ads for illegal online pharmacies. Lets make sure that we arent collecting payment; lets make sure that their names are shut down.

Unfortunately, Naidu said, there are a number of other industries that operate with nefarious goals, as well.

So I think we have to do a better job of working together, because we all dont want this bad activity to happen, he said. We work closely with the FBI, with a bunch of different organizations, to make sure that this activity is shut down.

A contributing writer on IT management and career topics with IT Business Edge since 2009, Don Tennant began his technology journalism career in 1990 in Hong Kong, where he served as editor of the Hong Kong edition of Computerworld. After returning to the U.S. in 2000, he became Editor in Chief of the U.S. edition of Computerworld, and later assumed the editorial directorship of Computerworld and InfoWorld. Don was presented with the 2007 Timothy White Award for Editorial Integrity by American Business Media, and he is a recipient of the Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award for editorial excellence in news coverage. Follow him on Twitter @dontennant.
Microsoft has set up cloud services in a German data centre for use by customers who are increasingly wary of data snooping practices in the US.

It will offer Microsoft Azure, Office 365 and Dynamics CRM Online, according to an official announcement.

The keys, both logical and physical, that control access to customer data will be held by a German company T-Systems, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, that will act as a data trustee.

Microsoft itself will, thus, have no access to the data unless permitted to do so by the data trustee.

If there is a support call from a customer, a Microsoft engineer will be granted access, but only to the area required to deal with the issue faced by said customer.

Microsoft is fighting a case at present to avoid handing over customer data from an Ireland subsidiary which it operates.

Germany has more stringent laws about privacy and this is the reason why Microsoft has chosen this method of keeping customers who want a guarantee that their data will not be accessed willy-nilly by US government agencies.

Customer data will be stored only in German data centres and if there is a need to transfer data between centres it will be done on a dedicated line leased from a German provider. This ensures that the data will always stay physically in Germany.

The debate over security has grown after former NSA contractor Edward Snowden revealed in June 2013 that the NSA was carrying out blanket surveillance of the American population.

The ongoing spat between Apple and the FBI over gaining access to an iPhone 5C used by a man involved in killing 14 people in December has brought the issue of data security into even sharper focus.
Australian based Freelancer.com is to open an office in Jakarta. Indonesias Trade Minister Thomas Lembong stopped by its Sydney headquarters to meet with its CEO, Matt Barrie and Senior VP of Growth, Indonesian-born Willix Halim.

Lembong was appointed in August 2015 as the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia. Before this, he was Managing Partner and CEO of Quvat Management, a Singapore-based private equity fund with investments in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. Before that, he had extensive experience with Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, and the public sector.

Although Lembongs visit was in no way official, he spoke to Barrie about Indonesias new e-commerce roadmap based on two principles.

Light-touch regulation to allow entrepreneurs to develop innovative new businesses and business models without too much bureaucracy.

Safe harbour to allow entrepreneurs to try new things without fear of innovative start-up failure and the potential to be sent to jail for breaking what may be inappropriate laws

Lembong said that investment in Indonesia would be leaner, faster and friendlier. He implied that some of the things this could encompass included:

Allowing Australian universities to establish campuses in Indonesia. Currently, $3-6 billion is spent by Indonesians on education in Australia. This would be a tremendous opportunity for Australian universities.

$3-6 billion is spent by Indonesians on education in Australia. be a tremendous opportunity for Australian universities. President Jokowi plans to build ten Balis, and Indonesia will require skilled labour in many areas where supply is short. This opens up the need for vocational training.

up the need for vocational training. Reducing start-up capital costs and time for foreign companies to establish themselves in Indonesia. Currently a PMA company, which allows 100% foreign ownership, requires $10 billion rupiahs (about $US1.2 million) of paid-up capital.

Barrie said, I am very impressed with how many people in Indonesia's cabinet are from the private sector with domain experience directly in the sector of their portfolio. Minister Lembong was an investment banker and ran a private equity fund before he was appointed Minister of Trade. Minister Rudiantara had held some key executive positions at Indosat, Telkomsel, and Excelcomindo (now XL Axiata) before he was appointed Communications Minister.

I thoroughly enjoyed discussing the challenges and rapid progress that Indonesia has made, and will make, through technology-enabled reform and breaking taboos to get things done. Australia has a lot to learn from the progressive mindset in Indonesian government," added Barrie.

Jakarta is the next company office; It will include the hiring of local support, engineering and data science teams.
Its not Kurt Russell, nor Russell Coight, but former Optus Consumer CEO Kevin Russell who is now top dog in charge of giving a boost to Telstras retail roost.

One of Australias most senior telecommunications executives, Kevin Russell, will join Telstra next month as Group Executive Telstra Retail leading the companys consumer, business, stores and product functions.

Russell, who is 49, isnt quite as famous nor as controversial as Telstras other big recruitment today, Stephen Elop, but nevertheless brings a wealth of telecommunications and technology experience in Australia, the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

He has held executive roles for SingTel Optus, most recently as Country Chief Officer and CEO Consumer, Australia, as well as senior positions at Hutchison Whampoa Group in Australia and internationally.

Telstra CEO Andrew Penn said Mr Russell would bring substantial expertise to the Retail role at an important time for Telstra. Mr Russell will report directly to Mr Penn.

We are looking forward to welcoming Kevin to the Telstra leadership team. He has an impressive track record working for several of the worlds largest telcos in a range of demanding markets, Penn said.

He has passionately worked to build customer experiences in new and existing major consumer brands and service business clients. He has managed major programs across national fixed and mobile networks and is well regarded in the local technology community.

Russell was with SingTel Optus from January 2012 to March 2014, holding the positions of Chief Operating Officer, CEO Consumer, Australia then the combined role of Country Chief Officer and CEO Consumer, Australia.

More below, please read on.

As Chief Operating Officer then CEO of Hutchison Three UK, he led the provider from fifth to first in network reliability and coverage. As Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Telecoms Australia, Mr Russell oversaw the launch of the 3 brand and mobile services in 2003.

He has held other telecommunications and technology positions in Israel and Hong Kong. He is currently CEO for a Silicon Valley-based technology start-up. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Accountancy and Computer Science) and is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.

Telstra is committed to improving its service to its customers and to simplifying and strengthening its core business. These are key directions in which I believe my experience will be directly relevant, Russell said.

More broadly, the market transition to the National Broadband Network and accelerating technology innovation presents growth opportunities and changing competitive dynamics requiring nimble execution.

Russell replaces Dr Karsten Wildberger, who resigned last December to return to Europe. Dr Wildberger will finish with Telstra on 31 March, with short term arrangements in place until Russell commences in late April.
Developing the digital workforce now is the key to driving future growth. It is business's turn to step up to the task.

The Australian Computer Society (ACS)  the professional association for Australias ICT sector - has launched its 2016 Australias Digital Pulse report. Prepared by Deloitte Access Economics, it shows that while the digital economy will grow from 5% to 7% of GDP by 2020, new LinkedIn data highlights that a major skills shift is underway in our economy.

The 97-page report is an impressive outline of Australias digital economy, occupational analysis, workforce planning and directions, and future directions. It is worth a read if only to ensure you understand the big technology questions facing Australia.

Australias digital economy is expected to grow significantly over the coming years. This growth will be fuelled by new waves of technological developments. Existing technologies such as cloud services, social media and mobile devices will see growing uses in new industries, sectors and occupations. But a potentially larger source of future digital disruption will be the new technologies that are now emerging and their potential for commercial applications in the future  such as 3D printing in manufacturing, drones in the construction industry and driverless vehicles on mining sites.

Australias ICT workforce is expected to increase to around 695,000 ICT workers by 2020, representing an average annual growth rate of 2.0% (compared to 1.4% for the workforce as a whole).

The report concludes:

We need to develop ICT skills in the current workforce  future ICT education is absolutely imperative, but the need is more immediate.

Australian business needs to be the driving force for this, both now and in the future. Responding to digital disruption and technological change requires changes to a business products, operations, processes and infrastructure.

Providing appropriate training and learning opportunities for workers to develop the required ICT skills is a vital step.

There may be a role for Government to highlight the importance of ICT workforce development initiatives by prioritising programs that support ICT-related skills development.

Universities and other education providers can also assist by considering how their ICT course offerings could be used to meet better the needs of employers in the digital age.

In other words, business needs to be agile and faster to respond with a do it now mentality. Business must take advantage of the economic opportunities presented by future digital disruption, and the potential gains to be had through the impact of technological developments on increasing productivity and innovation across the economy.

To do so, the critical issues is to train their workers in the ICT skills that will be required in the jobs of the future.

Other key findings include:

Tertiary graduates currently represent only 1% of the ICT workforce of 628,000. Satisfying the skills mix now being demanded by employers requires a far stronger focus on retraining and reskilling the existing workforce. This must include a focus on encouraging more women and mature age workers to pursue ICT careers.

For ICT Specialists, 6 out of the top 10 skills now sought after are non-technical skills such as project management, sales and customer service skills, and for 2.5 million Australians in non-ICT roles digital literacy skills are an increasingly important part of their job.

ACS President, Anthony Wong, said, LinkedIns data highlights that a significant and rapid skills transformation is happening in our economy. Responding to this challenge will require governments, employers and the education and training sector to work collaboratively and, importantly, to reassess current approaches to both training and recruitment. A clear message from the Report is that our economy now needs ICT specialists with creativity, entrepreneurship and strategic business skills while non-ICT workers increasingly require a base level of digital competence.

Managing Director for LinkedIn in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, Clifford Rosenberg, said, We are already seeing widespread digital disruption across key Australian industries which is leading to skill shifts. It is imperative that businesses train their employees with both tech skills and soft skills required for the digital economy.

Analysis of 25 hottest skills in Australia shows that 17 of the most sought-after are technology related as more mainstream businesses integrate technology into their core business. Our data also shows that eight of the top 20 skills demanded by employers hiring new technology workers are broader than core technical skills such as relationship management, customer service, strategic planning and contract negotiation.

Deloitte Access Economics partner, John OMahony, said, The contribution of digital technologies to Australias economy is forecast to grow by 75% to 2020 and, needless to say, there is going to be strong demand for a workforce equipped to support this growth, and the opportunities that will come with it.

The biggest driver of digital growth will be the greater use of digital technologies such as cloud computing, data analytics, and other such developments in all aspects of business by people traditionally considered non-ICT workers. But our analysis also shows that there is significant demand for technical roles, including in areas that only emerged in recent years, such as cloud computing specialists and cyber security.

Mr Wong continued, The Report highlights how information technology is becoming embedded in all our products and services. It forecasts strong growth in the digital economy to $139 billion by 2020, an increase of 75% since 2014. ICT employment is also expected to grow at 2% annually to 695,000 by 2020. However, while this strong growth is welcome, the Report provides a timely reminder that as we seek to transition the Australian economy to one based more on services and knowledge and less on mining investment, we will only be able to achieve that if we urgently address the skills mix in our workforce. ICT skills and digital literacy have never been more important to our economic success.

The Report notes that only 28% of the ICT workforce are women, compared to 43% across all professions, and only 11% are mature aged workers compared to 15% of the total workforce.
Robots, virtual reality, collaborative touch screens and 3D printing were on show at a new facility launched by Australias Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove at The University of Western Australia.

The Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove met UWA staff and students during their tour of the new Futures Observatory, which houses the latest emerging technologies to inspire academic staff across the University to create new educational experiences for students.

Professor Gilly Salmon, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education Innovation) said the Futures Observatory provided a stimulating meeting space for enabling futures thinking about learning at UWA.

The Futures Observatory is about embracing future opportunities and providing UWA students with a more engaging and exciting learning environment, Professor Salmon said.

With science, technology and innovation set to play an even greater role in our economic future and prosperity, UWA understands it has a key role to play to support students for this new world.

Scholarships are also available to staff to support their research and development into education with consumer technologies, and the Observatory will also develop partnerships with selected technology and industry organisations.

Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove congratulated the University for developing an observatory that would enable technological advancement and forward-thinking.

It will be an example to other educational institutions across Australia of a centre that applies the way we teach and learn with the imagination and genius of those who use it, Sir Peter said.

UWA Chancellor Dr Michael Chaney said the Futures Observatory would help provide an interactive and hands-on learning environment to meet the needs of a fast-changing society.

The University must embrace new teaching technologies to maintain and improve our place in the top 1% of universities in the world, Dr Chaney said.

The Futures Observatory will help UWA meet the expectations of students, who are increasingly tech-savvy and want the latest technologies in the classroom and online to support their learning experience.
Uncle Sam wants your brain power, technical expertise and imagination to help defend the U.S. No enlistment required.

The Department of Defense says it needs to understand how everyday objects and available technologies can be used by terrorists.

The range of technologies is so vast that the military's main scientific agency, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), says it needs input from as many technical people as possible.

The agency has put out an open call for anyone from a credentialed professional to "skilled hobbyist" in all technical areas, including IT.

DARPA, in its announcement, wants people to show it "how easily-accessed hardware, software, processes and methods might be used to create products or systems that could pose a future threat."

This effort is being called "Improv" by DARPA.

"The U.S. government is concerned about the use of new technologies, which may threaten the safety and security of our citizens," said Darren Hayes, an assistant professor and director of cybersecurity at Pace University's Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems in New York.

Examples include the release of blueprints for manufacturing a gun using a 3D printer, said Hayes. A drone has been used to transport drugs across the border, and hacking Internet of Things technologies such as medical devices and thermostats is now commonplace, said Hayes.

Websites such as a Shodan, which can expose IoT connections, "clearly demonstrate how vulnerable many of these devices" are, said Hayes.

"It's important to encourage young, tech-savvy people to identify how the latest technologies may be misused," said Hayes.

In an earlier time, DARPA pulled together small groups of technical experts to help it see how potential adversaries might use available technology.

But today, "the easy availability in today's world of an enormous range of powerful technologies means that any group of experts only covers a small slice of the available possibilities," said John Main, who is heading the program for DARPA, in a statement.

"In Improv we are reaching out to the full range of technical experts to involve them in a critical national security issue," said Main.

DARPA is scheduling a "Proposers Day" webcast on March 29. The government is seeking ideas that may lead to projects it can fund.

The need to use wide-ranging expertise and imagination to safeguard the U.S. been cited time and again, particularly since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

"We need to imagine the worst in order to prevent it," wrote U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), in his recently released book, Failures of Imagination (Crown Forum, 2016). The novel describes events such as a strike to knock out leadership at the U.S. Capitol and the impact of a cyber-attack on financial systems, among other major terror incidents.

Criminal syndicates are also relying more on technology, writes Vanda Felbab-Brown, a Brookings Institution security researcher. She warns that "new radical remote-warfare" is on the way, not only to smuggle drugs but "to deliver lethal action against their enemies."

This story, "Defense Dept. wants your help in imagining the worst" was originally published by Computerworld .
Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla this week are previewing browser support for the WebAssembly portable bytecode project.

All three vendors are showcasing an early preview of experimental WebAssembly backing in an AngryBots demo. The previews will run on an internal Microsoft Edge browser build, Mozilla's Firefox, and Google's Chrome. Work on WebAssembly is also proceeding via WebKit, Apple's JavaScript engine for the Safari browser.

"I'm excited to announce that WebAssembly has reached an important milestone: there are now multiple, interoperable experimental browser implementations," Mozilla's Luke Wagner, a research engineer, said." We still have a lot of work left on the standard implementation before shipping, but this is a good occasion to present our progress so far, talk about what's coming next, and invite feedback."

A Microsoft official lauded the performance WebAssembly is offering. "Despite being an early implementation, the demo starts-up significantly faster than just using asm.js as the WebAssembly binaries have a smaller file size and parse more quickly than plain JavaScript that needs to be parsed in the asm.js case," Microsoft's Limin Zhu, program manager for the Chakra JavaScript engine, said.

Microsoft's WebAssembly plans depend heavily on ChakraCore. "With ChakraCore now open source, we have been developing our WebAssembly implementation entirely in the open in the WebAssembly branch of our ChakraCore repo on GitHub," Zhu said. "Under the hood, our implementation is able to reuse much of the existing asm.js infrastructure. The WebAssembly code goes through the same pipeline as the asm.js code would, after it has been parsed."

In Google's case, the company is offering experimental support for WebAssembly in its V8 JavaScript engine and the Chromium open source browser, according to the V8 blog. "Under the hood, the WebAssembly implementation in V8 is designed to reuse much of the existing JavaScript virtual machine infrastructure, specifically the TurboFan compiler," said Seth Thompson, who cites his title as WebAssembly wrangler. "A specialized WebAssembly decoder validates modules by checking types, local variable indices, function references, return values, and control flow structure in a single pass."

WebAssembly, Thompson explained, is encoded in a compact binary format and executes at near-native speed in a memory-safe sandbox. "As an evolution of existing technologies, WebAssembly is tightly integrated with the Web platform, as well as faster to download over the network and faster to instantiate than asm.js, a low-level subset of JavaScript."

"The V8/WebAssembly team looks forward to continued collaboration with other browser vendors and the greater community as we work toward a stable release of the runtime," said Thompson. "We're also planning future WebAssembly features (including multi-threading, dynamic linking, and GC / first-class DOM integration) and continuing the development of toolchains for compiling C, C++, and other languages via the WebAssembly LLVM backend and Emscripten."

Thompson said that other upcoming changes will improve the developer experience. The list includes a standard textual representation for viewing the source in a WebAssemby binary, and a planned redesign of a wasm object to provide a more powerful idiomatic set of methods and properties for instantiating WebAssembly modules from JavaScript.

Mozilla plans to add WebAssembly support to Firefox devtools, including the debugger and profiler, as well as further reduction of cold load time and a full set of WebAssembly operators. The World Wide Web Consortium community group working on the project also plans define the official WebAssembly text format, reduce the binary size, and iterate on the WebAssembly JavaScript API, said Wagner, who participates in the group.

WebAssembly was first unveiled last year. It has the endorsement of JavaScript founder Brendan Eich.
Today

Sunny skies. Becoming windy late. High 87F. WSW winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 64F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Tomorrow

Sunny skies. High near 80F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.
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When anti-Semitism rears its head, we must be ready to fight it

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US President Barack Obama on Tuesday has warned presidential candidates to avoid fueling tensions through "insults and incendiary language," and that the violent scenes playing out at rallies for Donald J. Trump threaten to tarnish "the American brand."

Speaking at the Capitol for the annual "Friends of Ireland" luncheon with lawmakers, Mr. Obama did not mention Mr. Trump by name, but he criticized both the protesters who have interrupted the candidate's campaign events and the violent response from Mr. Trump's supporters.

"The longer that we allow the political rhetoric of late to continue and the longer that we tacitly accept it, we create a permission structure that allows the animosity in one corner of our politics to infect our broader society," Obama said. "And animosity breeds animosity."

Obama expressed his concern with the nation's political discourse and the protests that have escalated to attacks at the Trump rallies. The candidate has spoken of barring Muslims from entering the country and deporting immigrants living here illegally. Obama pleaded for civility and said political leaders can either condone "this race to the bottom" or reject it.

"We have heard vulgar and divisive rhetoric aimed at women and minorities, and Americans that don't look like us or pray like us or vote like we do," Obama said. "We live in a country where free speech is one of the most important rights that we hold. In response to those events we've seen actual violence, and we've heard silence from too many of our leaders,"

Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said Mr. Obama had decided to criticize Mr. Trump during the annual Capitol Hill celebration of Irish heritage because the camaraderie and fellowship at the event "is in stark contrast to the kind of vulgarity we see on the campaign trail."

Violence has broken out at Trump rallies in Chicago, North Carolina and Ohio as protesters increasingly seek to disrupt the events. On Friday, Mr. Trump canceled a rally in Chicago, sending thousands of people home, after his supporters clashed with protesters in an arena there.
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Burks

Paul Burks, the former owner of defunct ZeekRewards.com, is asking a federal judge for access to sealed filings from a separate criminal case involving other officials accused of taking part in the alleged Ponzi scheme.

Burks attorneys say filings involving Dawn Wright Olivares, the chief operating officer of ZeekRewards, and her stepson, Daniel Olivares, the senior technology officer, are important to Burks defense.

In August 2012, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission accused Rex Venture Group LLC, Zeekler, ZeekRewards.com and Burks of raising $850 million through unregistered securities.

The Lexington companies were shut down, and their assets frozen. The companies raised the money from at least 2.2 million customers, including more than 230,000 in the U.S., including 47,000 in North Carolina and at least 1,500 in Charlotte.

Burks reached a consent settlement with the SEC in August 2012, but he did not admit wrongdoing or that his companies operated as a Ponzi scheme. He agreed to pay a $4 million penalty.

Burks pleaded not guilty to federal charges of wire and mail-fraud conspiracy, wire and mail fraud, and tax fraud conspiracy. A federal grand jury indicted him in October 2014. He is scheduled to go on trial in May.

The wire and mail-fraud conspiracy charge, the mail-fraud charge and the wire-fraud charge each carry a maximum prison term of 20 years and a $250,000 fine. The tax-fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum prison term of five years and a $250,000 fine.

Federal prosecutors filed a bill of information in December 2013 against the Olivareses. U.S. Attorney Anne Tompkins said at that time that the Olivareses were closely involved with the alleged scheme from January 2010 until the companies were shut down.

In February 2014, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of North Carolina reached plea agreements with the Olivareses.

Dawn Olivares pleaded guilty to investment-fraud conspiracy charge and to tax-fraud conspiracy. She faces up to 10 years in prison and up to a $500,000 fine.

Daniel Olivares pleaded guilty to an investment-fraud conspiracy charge. He faces up to five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

The Olivareses have agreed to pay full restitution to their victims, the amount of which hasnt been released by federal officials.

Both were assigned a $25,000 unsecured bond and have not been sentenced. Legal analysts say it is not unusual to have the prison terms of company officials delayed until the top official is sentenced.

In June 2015, September 2015 and October 2015, pre-sentence investigation reports involving the Olivareses were filed with the court. Those documents were ordered sealed by the court Nov. 13.

Burks is asking for permission to review those reports as he prepares for trial. His attorneys said in their filing that the review is necessary in order to determine whether disclosure of these filings to Burks, through counsel, is required to meet the ends of justice.

Federal attorneys said on Feb. 29 that they will oppose any effort to unseal the filings, but would ask the court to review the filings in private chamber and would be willing to unseal limited portions that are either factual assertions made by the defendants or would provide impeachment material.

According to Burks motion, it is clear from the governments discovery productions to date that (the Olivareses) will be key prosecution witnesses against Burks.

It is also clear that both (Olivareses) have a tremendous amount to gain or lose from their anticipated testimony, particularly on company business decisions.

Burks attorneys claim the Olivareses have abruptly changed their tunes on the legitimacy of the companys operations after claiming for years that it was compliant with applicable laws and regulations.

Burks wants the court to reveal to him whom he is alleged to have conspired with, particularly when the government claims to know who those persons are, as well as other potential criminal charges that the government may file against him.

He wants prosecutors to give him a definition of what they mean by Ponzi scheme and how it is applied in his indictment.

At its essence, Burks and ZeekRewards.com officials are accused of conspiring to induce victims to invest in their scheme by falsely representing that they were generating massive retail profits from penny auctions and that the public could share in such profits through investment in ZeekRewards.

The federal indictment alleges that Burks and his conspirators did not keep books and records needed to calculate daily profit figures and that Burks simply made up the numbers. The vast majority of the revenue generated by ZeekRewards came from participants.

According to court filings, Dawn Olivares owned 95 percent of Wandering Phoenix LLC, a company that she used, among other things, to receive payments from ZeekRewards and Rex Venture. Dawn Olivares and Wandering Phoenix were said by federal prosecutors to have received about $7.2 million in victim funds.

Daniel Olivares was responsible for database design, management and operations for ZeekRewards. The attorneys office said he personally enriched himself with victim funds totaling $3.1 million.

Burks received at least $10.1 million in victim funds, according to a bill of information filed by the U.S. Attorneys Office.

The tax-fraud conspiracy charge stems from allegations that Burks and ZeekRewards.com failed to file corporate tax returns or to make corporate tax payments for the companies. In addition, for tax year 2011, Burks is accused of issuing fraudulent IRS Form 1099s, causing victims to file inaccurate tax returns for phantom income they never received.
WASHINGTON  Most Democratic voters in the five states heading to the polls Tuesday say they're satisfied with either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders as their presidential nominee both candidates with long political resumes.

But about half of Republican voters in Florida, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois and North Carolina say they're looking for a political outsider to inhabit the White House. And an overwhelming majority of GOP voters say they're unhappy with the direction of the federal government.

According to early results of exit polls conducted for The Associated Press and television networks by Edison Research, Democratic minority voters were poised to have a big impact in all five states.

On the GOP side, about 2 in 3 voters in all five states support a temporary ban on non-citizen Muslims entering the U.S., while majorities say people living illegally in the country already should have a chance to stay.

Other highlights from the exit polls:

DEMS SATISFIED WITH EITHER

Majorities of Democratic voters say they would be satisfied with either Clinton or Sanders as the nominee. And most voters describe both as honest. But Sanders edges Clinton on the question of honesty while voters are more likely to describe Clinton's policies as realistic.

At least half of voters in each state say each of the two candidates' positions on the issues are "about right," though voters are generally more likely to say Sanders' policies are too liberal than not liberal enough and to say the opposite about Clinton.

Democratic voters in all five states see Clinton as the candidate with the better chance to beat Donald Trump if he is the Republican nominee in November.

ANGER, BETRAYAL, OUTSIDERS

About 9 in 10 GOP primary voters in the five primary states are unhappy with the direction of the federal government, and on average about 4 in 10 are angry.

Majorities of Republican primary voters in all five states say they feel betrayed by politicians from the Republican Party, according to the exit polls. In each of the five states, about half of voters say they prefer a candidate who's an outsider, while about 4 in 10 want one with political experience.

IMMIGRATION

About two-thirds of Republican primary voters support temporarily banning non-citizen Muslims from entering the United States, but majorities in all five states say they want immigrants already in the United States illegally to be allowed a chance to stay.

Only about 4 in 10 Republican voters in each state want all immigrants in the country illegally to be deported. The proportion of GOP primary voters saying they want a ban on non-citizen Muslims entering the United States is as high as three-quarters in Missouri.

MINORITY VOTERS

White voters make up the majority of Democratic voters in four of five states going to the polls, but all five states included large enough percentages of minority voters to potentially affect the results.

Black voters make up at least about one-fifth of the Democratic electorate in each state, and in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina nearly 3 in 10 Democratic primary voters are black.

Black voters have formed an important part of Clinton's coalition in earlier states, supporting her by about a 67 percentage point margin across 15 earlier contests where entrance or exit polls were conducted. But in Michigan a week ago, they supported her by a smaller 40 percentage point margin.

In Florida, Hispanics made up about 2 in 10 Democratic and Republican primary voters. That includes about 1 in 10 GOP primary voters who are of Cuban descent.

___

The surveys were conducted for The Associated Press and television networks by Edison Research as voters left their polling places at 30 to 40 randomly selected sites in five states holding primary elections Tuesday.

Preliminary results include interviews with 542 to 1,399 Democratic primary voters and 579 to 1,819 Republican primary voters in each state. In Florida, North Carolina and Ohio, the results also include telephone interviews with early and absentee voters.

The results among all those voting in each contest have a margin of sampling error ranging of either plus or minus 4 percentage points or plus or minus 5 percentage points.
RALEIGH  Victories in North Carolina boosted Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump's efforts to secure their parties' nominations.

Clinton won the Democratic contest in North Carolina on Tuesday along with Florida and Ohio  two states seen as the day's biggest prizes. On the Republican side, Trump topped Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in North Carolina to add to wins in Florida and Illinois.

North Carolina's hefty cache of delegates drew both front-runners to multiple appearances ahead of the vote, stoking voter enthusiasm.

"I'm ready for the first woman president," said Clinton supporter Ashley Wilson Brook in Raleigh. "She has America's future at stake and at heart, and echoes all my beliefs. She believes in climate change. She wants women's rights. She does not want to take us back. She wants to take us forward."

Dorothy Leamon of Clemmons said she voted for Trump because she thinks he'll shake things up in Washington.

"I think he is an innovator that can change the culture of the Washington people. I'm very interested in what he can do," Leamon said.

Still, Leamon, who said she's semi-retired and runs an accounting practice, would like to see Trump shift his campaign rhetoric: "I would like for him to tone it down a little bit, but I do like that he's a leader. And I think that has been missing for so long in the Obama administration."

North Carolina has traditionally held presidential primaries in May, but legislative leaders decided in 2013 to move up the date to be more competitive.

Democrats will distribute 107 convention delegates and Republicans will allocate 72 delegates based on the presidential primary results. Both state parties allocate their delegates proportionally, either based on results by congressional districts or statewide.

The state's Democrats also have 14 superdelegates that can make their own endorsement decisions and aren't obligated to follow Tuesday's totals.

Clinton's victories in multiple states were a significant blow to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, putting her in a commanding position in the Democratic race.

But on the Republican side, Tuesday night's results  including a win by Ohio Gov. John Kasich in his home state  didn't bring clarity to the question of whether Trump can reach the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the GOP nomination.

Connie Rhoads said her decision in the GOP presidential primary was hard, but she chose Cruz.

"Faith is a big thing," Rhoads said as she exited a precinct in Winston-Salem. "Protection of separation of church and state the way the Constitution intended it."

Leaving a Raleigh voting location, Pier Williamson said he picked Kasich.

"Of all the candidates, he's level-headed. Overall, I think he has good policy and procedures in place," the lawyer and real-estate broker said.

He said he was frustrated with the rest of the Republican field, and he described the tone of the campaign as: "Terrible, god-awful."

"It's just too negative. It's funny at times. Trump's funny, but I think he has no business running the country."
A new option for creating influenza vaccine could come from tobacco leaves, with a significantly quicker turnaround time on production, according to analysts.

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma (MTP) is in Phase III clinical trials with a vaccine technology it acquired from Medicago Inc., a Canadian company it bought in 2013 through a joint venture with Philip Morris International.

Phase III clinical trials typically are the last step with humans before a medicinal product or technology is submitted for approval to the Food and Drug Administration.

The Medicago technology implants genetic material into tobacco leaves that produce flu-like particles containing antigens, which trigger immune responses. According to researchers, because the particles are not live flu viruses, chances of infection are minimal.

The turnaround time on creating a tobacco-related flu vaccine could be as little as a month.

By contrast, most current flu vaccines can take as long as six months to produce through chicken eggs.

MTP officials project that their vaccine could be ready for the U.S. marketplace in time for the 2018-19 flu season. The company will first do business in the U.S., and we will also consider Asian countries if we meet profitability goals, Masayuki Mitsuka, MTPs president, said in a statement.

Since September 2011, Medicago USA has operated a 97,000-square-foot research facility in Research Triangle Park. The facility has the annual production capacity of 30 million doses of quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine or 120 million doses of pandemic influenza vaccine.

By comparison, according to Reuters, vaccine manufacturers annually make about 155 million doses of chicken egg-based flu vaccine just for the U.S. market.

MTP officials said a primary benefit of a tobacco-based flu vaccine is that the plants grow quickly and produce a sizable yield of leaves. The Medicago vaccine is produced in greenhouses and similar structures, leading to lower production costs over time.

Achilleas Livieratos, an analyst for London research firm GlobalData, cautioned that MTP will need to demonstrate strong safety data and yearly production consistency of its tobacco-based vaccine.

If the companys product, or one like it, is approved, GlobalData expects a novel vaccine that boasts a rapid, plant-based manufacturing process to have a significant impact on the seasonal influenza vaccine landscape.

Usually the chicken egg-based doses, which protect against strains that experts predicted the previous February, are ready in time and in sufficient quantity.

However, the six-month developing period can hamper the ability of pharmaceutical companies to react to unexpected strains.

When H1N1, or swine flu, appeared unexpectedly in the summer of 2009, the lack of a swift vaccine turnaround proved deadly. About 61 million Americans got swine flu during the 2009-10 flu season, with about 12,500 flu-related deaths, including 107 in North Carolina.

Livieratos said having a quicker turnaround on flu vaccine could help reduce the impact of minor genetic mutations, which can decrease vaccine efficacy.

Individuals with egg allergies cannot safely receive vaccines, leaving them vulnerable to infection, Livieratos said.

Livieratos said there are several pharmaceutical companies attempting to create more efficient egg-based vaccines, such as Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline and MedImmune/AstraZeneca.

However, their current egg-based, quadrivalent, inactivated (split virus) seasonal influenza vaccines lack the manufacturing efficiency of tobacco plant-derived vaccines that can also generate virus-like particles, he said.

Dr. Tim Darnell, an infectious disease specialist with Novant Health Inc., said the Medicago clinical trials hold promise for a speedier response time to unexpected flu strains, as well as for those with egg allergies.

Previous studies have estimated that egg allergy affects up to 2.5 percent of young children, so this would be an exciting development for this fragile population, Darnell said.

This will hopefully be a bright spot for the tobacco industry and lead to an increase in tobacco utilization, which could help N.C. tobacco farmers.

Heather Overton, a spokeswoman with the state Agriculture Department, said growing methods for conventional tobacco products and tobacco being used for research or medical purposes dont compete.

... The tobacco grown for medical purposes is a totally different type of tobacco than what is conventionally grown. It is also all grown in greenhouses with tightly managed environment and conditions.
BRUSSELS  Belgian and French police investigating a suspected link with the November attacks in Paris stormed a Brussels house Tuesday after being fired upon, and killed a suspect armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle, authorities said.

Three Belgian and one French police officer were slightly wounded in the operation.

"We had a lot of luck," Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said. "It could have been a drama."

One police officer was wounded on his ear right under his helmet, and another was injured when his service weapon was struck by a bullet.

The major anti-terror operation, which lasted more than three hours, paralyzed an entire neighborhood of the Belgian capital, with schools and a day care center placed on lockdown and autoworkers at a nearby Audi plant instructed not to leave by management.

The operation brought back memories of the anxious days the Belgian capital lived through in November and December, when the subway and schools were closed for a time, and the New Year's Eve fireworks display was cancelled because of the threat of extremist violence.

Since it was unclear whether other extremist suspects remained at large late Tuesday, police operations were continuing.

"The investigation is actively proceeding night and day," the Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office said in a statement. It said additional details of the Franco-Belgian operation would be made public at a news conference Wednesday morning. It said efforts were still underway to identify the slain suspect.

Prosecutor Eric Van der Sypt said when gunshots rang out that many people fled, and it was too early to say if some were suspects or all were innocent bystanders simply trying to escape.

The anti-terror raid in the Forest neighborhood was linked to the Nov. 13 gun and suicide bombing attacks on a stadium, cafes and a concert hall in Paris that left 130 people dead. Yet police didn't expect violent resistance Tuesday, the prosecutor said. That indicated they weren't targeting a major suspect like Salah Abdeslam, who fled Paris and remains on the run. Most of the Paris attackers died that night, including Abdeslam's brother Brahim, who blew himself up.

More than four months on, Belgian police and magistrates are still piecing together the role Belgian nationals and others living in this country played in aiding the Paris attackers.

The suspected ringleader of the November bloodbath was a Brussels resident, Abdelhamid Abaaoud. Another attacker, Bilal Hadfi, was said to have lived for a time in the Forest neighborhood. Hadfi blew himself up outside a stadium in the northern Paris suburbs and Abaaoud was killed in a police raid on a nearby house days later.

On Tuesday, the Forest neighborhood was locked down for five hours after the initial burst of gunfire. Three of the police officers, including a French police woman, were wounded when they were fired upon after opening the door of the apartment in the Rue du Dries they had come to search. The fourth officer was wounded in a later exchange of gunfire.

After the first gunshots, police sealed off a wide perimeter around the multicultural neighborhood to keep journalists and curious residents at a safe distance. A helicopter hovered overhead as officers looked for at least one other suspect they believed might have escaped. Several hundred spectators gathered, hooded officers wearing body armor milled about and ambulances stood at the ready.

Belgian authorities have stepped up their counterterror efforts since a lone gunman killed four people at the Brussels Jewish museum in May 2014. The small western European country has also been prime recruiting ground for the Islamic State extremist group, and officials freely acknowledge their concerns about what radicalized recruits might do after returning home from the battlefields of Syria or Iraq.
This June, 2015 file photo shows the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset on display following a news conference in San Francisco. Credit: Associated Press

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Austin, Texas  Virtual reality was big at South by Southwest Interactive, the annual Austin tech festival that wrapped up Tuesday. It's a big technological development, a business opportunity  and also just a big experiment, as everyone tries to figure out how to use it.

All around Austin, companies such as Samsung, Google, The New York Times and even McDonald's were showing off their virtual reality efforts. Because it basically immerses viewers in an artificial world, VR can reach an audience in more direct and fundamental ways than other media. Companies and creators are still feeling their way with the new technology.

"Part of what's so exciting about it is that there are no rules and no best practices, it's still really unclear what this is for and how best to use it," said New York Times editor Sam Dolnick. "We're shaping that at once in real time."

Facebook's long-awaited Oculus Rift begins shipping to the public later this month, and new headsets from HTC and Sony also are on their way. Google even has a VR headset called Cardboard  which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like  for $15. All that is creating a tidal rush of enthusiasm and hype for the new technology.

The opportunity could be big: Deloitte Global predicts that virtual reality will have its first billion-dollar year in 2016, with about $700 million in hardware sales and the remainder from games and other VR "experiences." It estimates headset sales of 2.5 million units this year.

And audiences appear to find VR especially engaging, at least so far. Take, for instance, 360-degree videos, which are typically shot by multicamera setups that capture images in every direction. Viewers can then choose to look at anything in their field of view, as if they were standing where the camera is.

People are 7.5 times more likely to share such videos compared with fixed-frame video, VR journalist Sarah Hill said during a packed SXSW panel discussion on VR storytelling.

At the conference, it was a challenge to walk around Austin without stumbling across a VR presentation. The New York Times took over the Easy Tiger bar on Austin's main drag, 6th St., to host panels and parties that promoted its VR efforts. It provided swivel chairs and headsets for people to watch its virtual reality projects, including "The Displaced," a 10-minute piece in which viewers follow three child refugees in different nations through their daily lives.

Google threw a VR party to showcase its Tilt Brush 3D VR painting app. At its Google Fiber Space in Austin, animator Chris Prynoski created a painting wearing a VR headset while the image itself appeared on a large screen above him. And there was a 360-degree photo booth, where partygoers created 360 images of themselves viewable via Google's Cardboard headset.

Samsung's showcase used moving chairs and Gear VR headsets to let festival-goers take a bumpy VR ride on a roller coaster via a video it developed with Six Flags. The company also brought virtual reality headsets for festival-goers to try out, assuming they were willing to tweet the hashtag "VRondemand" and then send Samsung their location.

At McDonald's Loft near the Austin Convention Center, the fast-food giant offered festival-goers snacks, live music and VR. Specifically, that is, the chance to use an HTC Vive and its controllers, due out later this year, to paint a colorful mural on a Happy Meal box and throw paintballs in a virtual world. "It's an emerging technology that has interesting potential applications," said DeLu Jackson, a McDonald's vice president of global digital engagement.

Gary Banks, executive producer at digital content studio Groove Jones in Dallas, created the VR game for McDonald's and says interest in VR has jumped over the past year. "It's not mainstream yet, so there's the coolness factor and cachet that brands want to attach to themselves," Banks said.

Still, creating virtual reality pieces remains rife with challenges. Andrey Doronichev, a product manager for VR apps at Google, said one of them simply involves teaching audiences what to expect from VR pieces. Would-be creators of VR pieces need better tools, too.

The industry also needs new ways to measure how people interact with VR videos. The common metric of "views" may not suffice, particularly if people watch fewer VR videos but spend more time with them, said Mehrshad Mansouri, director of business development for GoPro. But he added that it wasn't clear what should replace views.
SHARE Courtesy of Krisann Rehbein

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For centuries, municipalities have organized themselves into rectangular patterns. From the scale of the city at large down to the level of a block or residential lot, grids are efficient and logical. They create a predictable way of orienting ourselves and yet, the grid can feel repetitive and rigid, too.

This week, I discovered a most welcome disruption in Milwaukee's street grid in the Historic South Side neighborhood. It was exciting to stumble across something that feels so incredibly different from other parts of the city.

In the United States, the use of a grid to divide land dates back to Thomas Jefferson who wrote a set of guidelines called the Land Ordinance of 1785. It specified that each territory be divided into a township of six square miles, with lines "running due north and south, and others crossing these at right angles."

Cities have been organized this way since the ancient Egyptians. The Greeks used grids which they introduced it to the Romans and they spread with the expansion of the Roman Empire. Milwaukee's rectangular blocks are part of a long history of urban street grids which spans the globe.

Not only is a grid an efficient way to subdivide land parcels for sale, it helps orient traffic and adds efficiency to public services like garbage collection. Looking at a map of the south side of Milwaukee, the street grid if fairly intact in most areas below 27th Street. Beyond that, there is much more irregularity, looser, more organic plans that are more typical of suburban planning. It's possible these areas were at one time considered suburban. The City annexed many outlying areas in the late 50's and early 60's, which may account for the difference.

All this to say, the grid is mighty pervasive. This week, one of the quadrants I traveled is bounded on the north and south by W. Mitchell and W. Grant streets, respectfully, and on the west and east by 20th to 27th streets. If you look at the map, you'll notice that, the grid is completely disrupted. The rectangular blocks are bisected by S. Muskego Ave., W. Forest Home Ave., W. Vilter Lane and a little, half-block long, boomerang-shaped street called W. Middlemass St. There are three little diagonal streets in this area, S. Congo Ave, S. Winona Lane and Amy Place. It took quite a long time to drive these few blocks but I was rewarded for it.

The short, slightly curving streets in this area feel cosmopolitan, more like New York City's Greenwich Village than Milwaukee. In New York, the grid was strictly imposed, but only above Houston Street, which is why the Village is so unique. In this area of Milwaukee, many of the small, winding side streets are narrow and homes are set closer to the curb. Interesting, old commercial buildings are tucked within the neighborhoods.

The design of the streets lends itself to walkable urbanism. Several of the streets have commercial buildings. Forest Home is an arterial road that provides an easy route to the suburbs. Within the neighborhood are two schools, Mitchell Elementary School and Rogers Street Academy, a Boys and Girls Club, the architecturally stunning Romanesque revival St. Adalbert's Church that was inspired by one in Krakow, Poland. There is also a fire education center called Survive Alive, the European Sausage Shop and several small-scale grocery stores.

Last year, I took the tour guide training given by Historic Milwaukee Inc. (where I am now a member of the Board of Trustees). During a lecture on the early Milwaukee history, John Gurda told us that there were several streets that ran on diagonals, connecting the city directly to farms in the hinterland and providing the city with a food source. Wind Lake and Muskego are two examples. I grew up in Muskego and was delighted to discover this connection to my roots.

How did it happen that so many small streets run on diagonals between blocks? What would it take for more commercial activity to develop along this route? Do many people who live here walk or take public transit? What could be done to increase the walkability and promote the area's unique scale and design features?

In Milwaukee, some of the most interesting questions surface when considering where the grid gets fractured. The amazing thing about participating in and observing city design is the opportunities it gives us to ask "why" and "how."

If you know anything about the development of this area, please share.

Krisann Rehbein is an educator, design advocate and an Art City contributor. She is driving, biking or walking every street in Milwaukee and sharing her observations and questions most Wednesday mornings via these "Streets of Our Milwaukee"posts. Follow her journey on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtags #everystreet and #mkeproject.
Mourners gather at the Milwaukee apartment complex where residents Phia Vue and his his wife, Mai K. Vue, and Jesus R. Manso-Perez were gunned down. Credit: Journal Sentinel files

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The triple homicide of a Puerto Rican man and a Hmong couple in Milwaukee has elements of a hate crime, but may be difficult to prosecute as such and would be largely symbolic as the suspect already faces charges that carry a life sentence.

Dan J. Popp, 39, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the fatal shooting of his neighbors Jesus R. Manso-Perez, 40; Phia Vue, 36; and Mai K. Vue, 32. If convicted, each of those charges carries a mandatory penalty of life in prison. Popp also faces a charge of attempted first-degree intentional homicide for firing toward Manso-Perez's 18-year-old son.

Popp has not been charged with a hate crime, and Milwaukee County prosecutors are still evaluating the evidence to determine whether any additional charges or enhancers are appropriate, Chief Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern said.

"It is important to note that the hate crime penalty enhancer would add only five years of potential imprisonment to each of the existing charges, including the ones that carry life sentences," Lovern said.

Witnesses told police Popp questioned Manso-Perez and his son about their background at their apartment building in the 3300 block of S. 92nd St.

When they said they were from Puerto Rico, Popp replied, "Oh, that's why you don't speak English," the son told police. A short time later, Popp pointed the gun at Manso-Perez  saying, "You guys got to go"  and pulled the trigger, according to the criminal complaint.

Mark Potok, senior fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center, said the incident "certainly contains elements that suggest a hate crime, but it's rather scant."

"We're about talking two sentences (of conversation)," Potok said. "It also seems very possible that prosecutors will decide they simply don't have the evidence to proceed."

Prosecutors say after killing Manzo-Perez, Popp went to the apartment of Hmong couple Phia and Mai Vue. He fatally shot them after pulling them out of a bedroom in front of their four children and another relative, authorities have alleged. The criminal complaint does not mention Popp, who is white, making any racist statements to the family.

Potok acknowledged that a hate crime enhancement to a homicide charge usually does not make much difference in the penalty, but said it can fulfill a symbolic role.

"I think that victims and the communities of victims very much want to see a hate crime charges brought when there is a hate element in the crime, and that seems to be universal," he said.

Popp's attorney, Christopher Hartley, has raised the question of his mental competency, and a judge has ordered a mental evaluation, which is due back next month.

Although most people with diagnosed mental illnesses are not violent, Popp's history did not come as a surprise to Potok.

"A very large number of major hate crimes and terrorist attacks involve at least some element of mental illness, but it's still a mix," he said.
University of Wisconsin Chancellor Rebecca Blank in an open letter to the community says shes concerned about the hate and bias incidents being reported. Credit: Wisconsin State Journal

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Citing "a troubling string" of hate and bias incidents, University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank announced she would accelerate the hiring of two mental health professionals dedicated to diversity and climate, roll out a program to teach students cultural competency and step up efforts to encourage students to report such incidents.

Blank in an open letter to the community Tuesday said she's concerned about the hate and bias incidents being reported to the university's rapid response team that addresses such incidents.

Since January, there have been three high-profile incidents at residence halls: pictures of swastikas taped to the dorm room door of a Jewish student at Sellery Hall; heckling a Native American elder with "war cry sounds" during a healing circle outside Dejope Hall for victims of sexual assault; and the most recent incident in Sellery Hall that occurred about 2 a.m. Saturday, during which a student made racial slurs and spit in the face of another student.

A student involved in the last incident was charged with disorderly conduct and underage drinking. University officials were still investigating the Dejope incident. And a student was held responsible through the non-academic misconduct code in the swastika incident.

"In a larger sense, these incidents affect each and every one of us and reveal that we have not made as much progress as needed on building an inclusive and welcoming community," Blank said in her letter, posted on her blog, Blank's Slate.

Blank said students who engage in hate or bias acts that violate codes of conduct will be disciplined.

"They hurt fellow Badgers, make our campus a less welcoming place and do not reflect our shared community values."

Blank announced several expanded or accelerated initiatives:

 In the fall, the campus will roll out a pilot program of cultural competency and community-building activities aimed at all new students.

"Cultural competency is important for our graduates who will work in a global economy," Blank said. "Increasingly, we hear from employers that they want to hire people who are comfortable working in diverse environments."

 Blank said she will accelerate the hiring of additional student support counseling services at University Health Services, and will provide short-term funding for two dedicated positions for student mental health issues related to diversity and climate.

 UW-Madison will improve its campus cultural center model by investigating how peer institutions are supporting their students. Blank said the university has funded student visits to centers around the Big Ten, and she expects to receive recommendations by the end of the semester.

 After spring break, the campus will have a university-wide session to share information on processes for reporting incidents along with the student conduct process.

 "Most importantly, we need our entire community to be engaged in improving campus climate, including our student organizations," Blank said. "To that end, I am seeking a partnership with students, faculty and staff who have ideas and initiatives that address cultural and behavioral change."

Blank asked anyone interested in participating to reach out to her at chancellor@wisc.edu to receive more information about crafting a proposal.

During the fall semester, 23 reports were submitted to the Hate & Bias Incident reporting system, according to the university.

Ten of the 23 incidents were in residence halls. Seven were located on campus or in campus buildings. Three were online via Yik Yak, Facebook, UW Badgers Page and Online Classroom Communication via a student organization.

Two of the 23 were on a city bus and one was off campus at a tavern.

Targeted populations included Indian, Mexican, Asian (Japanese), African-American and international students. Muslim and Jewish students were targeted, as were lesbians.
SHARE About voucher schools Voucher schools are private schools that receive taxpayer money in the form of tuition payments for qualifying students. All voucher schools are private schools, and most teach religion. As of the 2014-15 school year, 26,930 students in Milwaukee were using vouchers to attend one of 113 private schools.



The Milwaukee voucher program, officially known as the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, was started in 1990 and is the longest-running urban school voucher program in the country. Students have to come from low-income or moderate-income families to qualify for a voucher. Once enrolled, they bring the participating school a voucher payment of between $7,000 and $8,000 annually.



The state Legislature created a Racine voucher program in 2011 and a statewide voucher program in 2013. About charter schools Charter schools are public schools run by non-profit companies. They exist through a contract with a state-approved entity that allows them freedom from some state rules in exchange for quality performance. If the school's students don't meet performance goals, the authorizer can close the school. Charter schools cannot teach religion and have to report the same data as traditional public schools. Most charter schools in Wisconsin are run by school boards. But in the Milwaukee area and Racine, the City of Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and UW-Parkside can authorize charter schools. Those "independent" charter schools usually have more control over staffing and budgeting than district-authorized charter schools. As of the 2014-'15 school year, independent charter schools received $8,075 per pupil in state aid. Related Coverage Alan J. Borsuk: What latest scores say, and dont say, about school sectors

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Third- through eighth-grade students in Milwaukee's private voucher and independent charter schools outperformed their public school counterparts in math and language arts, according to statewide assessment data released Wednesday by the Department of Public Instruction.

But Racine public school students overall outscored their voucher school counterparts. And on the ACT, voucher schools outscored their public counterparts in Milwaukee, Racine and the state.

Those are among the findings that emerged Wednesday after DPI made public the voucher, independent charter and the district-level public schools' results of the 2014-'15 Badger Exam, ACT scores and the Dynamic Learning Maps exam given to students with severe cognitive disabilities.

School choice and charter school advocates touted the results as proof of the programs' successes.

"This confirms what we already know about independent charter schools  that they are providing a higher-quality education for families in Milwaukee," said Sean Roberts, executive director of Milwaukee Charter School Advocates.

Milwaukee Public Schools spokesman Tony Tagliavia called true comparisons of the data "imperfect" because they don't take into consideration such things as the higher proportion of students in public schools with special needs, movement of students among the sectors and family incomes.

"The bottom line is, as we have said when results showed MPS students with higher proficiency, no one sector of publicly funded schools in Milwaukee is performing at the level we would all want for our community," Tagliavia said. "We all have substantial work ahead of us to improve achievement."

Charter schools are public schools run by nonprofit companies. They exist through a contract with a state-approved entity that allows them freedom from some state rules in exchange for quality performance. Voucher schools are private schools that receive taxpayer money in the form of tuition payments for qualifying students.

Wednesday's release comes two months after DPI published the statewide data from the Badger Exam  a one-and-done test that will be supplanted this spring by the new Wisconsin Forward Exam.

DPI had released school-level data to the individual districts. But this marks the first time they will be publicly accessible on the department's searchable online database known as WISEdash.

DPI discouraged comparisons to past years because of differences in the tests, scoring standards or, in the case of the ACT, a change in the pool of test-takers. Broad generalities are difficult, given the myriad ways the data can be sliced.

Data highlights

That said, DPI broke out some of the results for students in the Milwaukee, Racine and statewide parental choice programs, as well as the public schools in those districts. Among its findings:

 On the Badger/DLM exams, 27% of students in the Milwaukee voucher program were proficient or above in English language arts, compared with 25.6% of all MPS students and 20.5% of those considered economically disadvantaged. Sixteen percent of Milwaukee voucher students scored as proficient or higher in math, compared with 15.8% of all MPS students and 13% of those economically disadvantaged.

 Milwaukee's independent charter school students outscored public school counterparts, with 27% proficient or above in math and 34% in language arts, compared with MPS' 15.8% and 25.6%, respectively, according to the charter school association.

 In the Racine Unified School District, 27.3% of students were proficient or above in language arts, compared with 22% of students in the Racine voucher program and 18.5% of the district's economically disadvantaged students.

 On the ACT/DLM exams, students in the Milwaukee, Racine and statewide voucher programs outperformed their public school counterparts in language arts and math. The statewide program had the highest percentages of students proficient in language arts and math, at 52% and 36%, respectively. That compared with 26.4% and 13.9% in the Milwaukee choice program, and 47.4 and 31.6% in Racine's.

 On the ACT, students in each of the three voucher programs earned higher composite scores than their public school counterparts. Those were 17.2 vs. 15.9 in Milwaukee, 20 vs. 17.8 in Racine and 20.9 vs. 20 statewide.
By of the

Seventeen people with infections caused by Elizabethkingia bacteria have died since the outbreak began in Wisconsin in November, an increase of two from last week, the state Department of Health Services reported Wednesday.

The number of cases, which are spread across 12 counties, also increased, from 48 to 54.

A source for the outbreak has not been identified. Federal, state and local investigators are involved in the search.

"Our disease detectives are working diligently to find the source," DHS spokeswoman Jennifer Miller said.

As investigators search for a source of the Wisconsin outbreaks, scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are examining 350 samples of Elizabethkingia bacteria that have been collected as far back as the early 1950s, a CDC spokeswoman said.

Using technology that hadn't been previously available, scientists have determined that about half of the historic samples were misidentified and that they are E. anophelis, the strain of the Elizabethkingia bacteria blamed for the Wisconsin outbreak.

Past outbreaks of E. anophelis were much smaller than Wisconsin's outbreak. Most prior outbreaks had fewer than 10 cases, she said.

Not only is the Wisconsin outbreak the largest with cases dispersed beyond a single facility  but the infections are more severe.

Elizabethkingia are typically nonharmful bacteria found throughout nature. Infections are rare, outbreaks even rarer.

Most of the Wisconsin cases, according to the DHS, involve people over the age of 65, and all who have died also had severe chronic conditions, such as cancer, renal disease, cirrhosis and diabetes. The infection gets into the bloodstream, causing sepsis in the most severe cases.

The 12 counties where infections have been found are Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Jefferson, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sauk, Sheboygan, Washington and Waukesha.
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Eight years ago, Greenfield police confiscated two firearms from Dan J. Popp after he sensed demons and witchcraft in his mother's house, and said he believed unknown people were plotting to murder him.

Greenfield police took a Bushmaster assault rifle and a 9mm handgun from the home  where Popp also lived  in the February 2008 incident, and transported him to Milwaukee County's Mental Health Complex on an emergency detention.

Those weapons were turned over to Popp's brother six months later.

Investigators have said a rifle and a handgun were found at the scene of a triple homicide on March 6 in Milwaukee. They would not say whether those were the same guns once confiscated from Popp, the suspected shooter.

Popp, 39, is accused of methodically shooting three of his neighbors at point-blank range inside their four-unit apartment complex in the 3300 block of S. 92nd St.

He is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the deaths of Jesus R. Manso-Perez, 40; Phia Vue, 36; and Mai K. Vue, 32. He also faces a charge of attempted first-degree intentional homicide for firing toward Manso-Perez's 18-year-old son.

The triple homicide has gained national attention for Popp's possible motive, with mourners at a vigil for the victims and many others calling it a hate crime because one of the victims was Puerto Rican and two were members of Milwaukee's Hmong community. A Journal Sentinel review of police records and interviews with people who knew him has also uncovered evidence of mental illness in Popp's history.

Popp, who is white, has not been charged with a hate crime. The motive remains under investigation, a Milwaukee police spokesman said this week.

Witnesses told police Popp questioned Manso-Perez and his son about their background. When they said they were from Puerto Rico, Popp replied, "Oh, that's why you don't speak English," the son told police. A short time later, Popp pointed the gun at Manso-Perez, said, "You guys got to go," and then pulled the trigger, according to the criminal complaint.

Popp's attorney, Christopher Hartley, has raised the question of his mental competency, telling reporters after a court hearing last week that Popp had spent time at the mental health complex and was treated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for mental health issues. A judge has ordered a competency evaluation, which is due back next month.

Efforts to reach Popp's family were unsuccessful, and his attorney did not return calls for comment.

Calls to police

The incident on Feb. 14, 2008, began when Popp called 911 to report his Bushmaster assault rifle as stolen.

When Greenfield police arrived about 6:15 p.m., Popp was gone, but his mother was still at the house. She told officers her son hadn't been acting like himself.

He used to be laid back, easygoing and talkative, she told the officers, but since she had a heart operation in September 2007, he had become argumentative and withdrawn, according to the police report.

She told an officer her son's behavior "has been getting worse and worse and increasingly frightening," according to the report. Within the past two months, he had become paranoid, thinking people were "out to get him or kill him" and had begun to drink heavily.

His mother told officers she wasn't sure, but believed he drank about one bottle of vodka a day. Over the previous few weeks she smelled strange odors from his bedroom and suspected he was using drugs.

Popp had started to follow his mother constantly, believing she was part of a conspiracy against him. She admitted to police she had thought about calling them several times, but "was afraid of what (Popp) would do to her," the report said.

His mother also said Popp believed another resident of the house  a friend of his mother  was gay and trying to kill him.

Popp's mother gave police permission to search her home, and they found a loaded Bushmaster assault rifle and eight loaded magazines scattered in Popp's bedroom. Police also found a 9mm handgun in a dresser drawer and three loaded magazines for it.

Two hunting rifles were located in another room of the house, which Popp's mother said belonged to her older son. He came to the house and retrieved them while police were there.

Demons and witchcraft

While Greenfield officers were talking to Popp's mother, Popp called 911 again to tell them he was at the Drift Inn bar on W. Forest Home Ave. Officers found Popp walking in the 4600 block of S. 84th St.

Popp told an officer "people were following him because they wanted to murder him" and that he didn't want to stay at his mother's house because he "senses demons in the other residents" and "believes there was witchcraft going on there," according to the report.

Popp told police he usually slept with the loaded assault rifle next to him on the floor "due to the homosexuals that reside in the house with him," the police report says.

The officer asked why he thought people were trying to kill him, and Popp said he had learned of it "years ago in the Navy and he stated at the time, someone had electronically controlled his mind," according to the report.

He then handed the officer a business card for an exterior design company in East Troy, told the officer to call the number on it and said he pleaded the Fifth Amendment. When the officer called the number, the man who answered said he had met Popp once about a week ago and gave him the card because Popp was looking for work. The man said he had no idea why Popp would have police call him.

Police took Popp into custody on an emergency detention. That procedure is used when officers believe someone needs emergency psychiatric treatment. After that, it's up to a judge to decide whether they can be held for long-term treatment.

When someone is detained under such circumstances, police are allowed to seize firearms for safekeeping. In Popp's case, Greenfield police took his assault rifle and handgun and secured them inside a locker at the police station.

Once police take a person to the county's psychiatric emergency room, the person is examined by a doctor to determine if he or she meets the legal standard of being dangerous to themselves or others  meaning the person is an imminent danger based on past acts. If they do, the legal commitment process begins; if not, they can be held no longer than 72 hours. It is not clear whether he was committed at the time.

An emergency detention does not prohibit someone from getting guns back or from buying new ones, under federal or state law. Experts say of the 4 million people in U.S. with severe mental illness, only about 40,000, or 1%, are dangerous. To get their guns back, someone who has been detained must petition the court.

That's exactly what Popp did.

Popp filed for a return of his property  the two guns  on March 27, 2008. On his petition, Popp wrote he had voluntarily agreed to removal of the firearms on a temporary basis and he wanted them back because he is the "lawful owner and will have the weapons secured in a safe at my sisters (sic) house."

On the petition, Popp wrote that he had cleared every hurdle: He could provide proof of ownership; he was not convicted of a felony as an adult or juvenile; he had never been convicted of a domestic violence crime; he was not the subject of a civil injunction preventing him from having a gun; he was not subject to court order under the Wisconsin Mental Health Act and had never been found not guilty by reason of mental illness; and he didn't transfer the gun to a prohibited person or allow it to be used for an unlawful purpose.

The hearing was postponed twice, once because a Greenfield official failed to appear and a second time when Popp's sister called the court to say there had been "a family emergency."

Then, on July 30, 2008, Greenfield City Attorney Roger C. Pyzyk filed a letter that the matter had been "resolved" with Popp's attorney and there was "no need to continue this matter."

Getting back guns

The city attorney was not available for comment early this week, but Greenfield Police Chief Bradley R. Wentlandt said he recently asked Pyzyk about his recollection of the case.

Pyzyk believed the judge was likely to return the firearms to Popp, Wentlandt said. Pyzyk recalled coming up with an arrangement in which Popp's brother, Ronald Popp, agreed to take and secure the guns in northern Wisconsin, away from his younger brother, according to Wentlandt.

Greenfield police records show the Bushmaster assault rifle and 9mm handgun were released to Ronald Popp on Aug. 22, 2008.

"Our policy is we generally don't give firearms back to people who are involved in a mental health-related call and we require a court order to return them," Wentlandt said. "Obviously in this case there was a resolution short of a judge."

Court records show Popp's petition was dismissed on Sept. 5, 2008.

Popp's attorney in that matter, Michael Schober, and the judge who handled the dismissal hearing, Kevin Martens, told the Journal Sentinel they did not recall details of the case.

This week, the Milwaukee Police Department, citing the ongoing investigation, declined to confirm or deny whether those two guns were the ones found at the triple homicide.

Sleeping in garage

By December 2014, Popp was sleeping in his car in his mother's garage because she wouldn't let him in the house, according to a couple who allowed Popp to rent a room from them at the time.

At their request, the Journal Sentinel is not naming the man and woman because of the nature of the case.

The man met Popp while the two worked for a tiling company operated by a mutual friend. Popp said he needed a place to stay for a couple of months and the couple had an upstairs room that no one was using, so they agreed to rent to him.

Popp initially seemed "normal," the man said, but that impression changed after Popp moved in.

The couple remembered Popp describing how his guns were taken from him after he called 911 about an alien invasion. Popp claimed he went to court to get them back and the incident led to a 2-inch stack of reports at the VA, the couple recalled.

The man said he wouldn't let Popp keep any weapons in the house  the couple have a young child  but said Popp mentioned owning two guns, a handgun and an assault weapon that had some connection to his military service.

Although Popp told Greenfield police in 2008 he had been in the Navy, his attorney in the current homicide case has said Popp served in the Wisconsin Air National Guard.

Popp also told the couple he had a claim for disability after getting injured on a construction job, while a mutual friend indicated Popp was on disability for mental health reasons, the man said.

Popp appeared to have an addiction to prescription painkillers and told them his VA doctor wanted to get him on Suboxone, a drug used to treat opioid addiction , the couple said.

'Totally empty' look

Popp often kept to himself, but the woman noticed her conversations with him becoming increasingly strange.

"He would talk about black holes or his brain," she said. "He would stop in mid-conversation and just be lost. The look in him was totally empty, like nobody was in there."

The couple discovered about a dozen jars of urine in Popp's bedroom and told him to get rid of them.

They said the most concerning incident involved a nighttime hallucination.

About 3 a.m. one night, Popp ran downstairs to their bedroom, screaming: "They're coming for us! Everybody get up! They're coming up the yard with M-16's!"

The couple looked out the window and saw no one outside.

After that, the woman told her husband she wanted Popp out. They told him it was because of rent  his mother paid the initial amount, but Popp had been slow to pay anything else. He moved out in March 2015. Since then, they have rarely heard from him. The man and Popp no longer worked at the same company.

When the couple learned Popp was a suspect in a triple homicide, they began thinking about their experiences with him. None ever involved him saying or doing anything racist, they said.

"It was always a hallucination about somebody after him," the woman said. "If you really think about it, everything boiled down to somebody after him with a gun or for his life."

"I just think he was in his own reality, as horrible as it is," she said.

John Diedrich of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.
Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele (right) is facing a challenge from state Sen. Chris Larson (left) in the April 5 election. Credit: Journal Sentinel files

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Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said Tuesday he has met with Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Darienne Driver and other officials to identify the first group of schools to be provided county health and human services inside the buildings in an attempt to boost student performance.

Abele said he is optimistic the group will identify those schools soon in a public announcement.

Meeting Tuesday with Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editors and reporters regarding his re-election campaign, Abele restated his pledge not to transfer poorly performing schools out of MPS to a special district. Such a district is authorized by state legislation creating an Opportunity Schools and Partnership Program.

Abele said he has informed Republican legislative leaders who pushed for the special district that he is working with MPS officials to "move the needle" on performance without taking schools or resources away from the public district.

"They are all right with that," Abele said of state Sen. Alberta Darling of River Hills and state Rep. Dale Kooyenga of Brookfield.

The program has been criticized as a "takeover" of public schools and an attempt to remove schools from the control of the elected school board.

State Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) is challenging Abele for the job of executive in the April 5 spring election. Larson has said he is opposed to the "takeover" and would ask the Republican-controlled Legislature to repeal the law.

Darling and Kooyenga have met with MPS officials and Demond Means, the Mequon-Thiensville district superintendent, to discuss the need for services in the schools, according to Abele.

In November, Abele named Means, a Milwaukee native, as special commissioner of the opportunity schools program. Means is not being compensated at this time for his work with the program, Abele said.

Means' appointment fulfilled a provision of Gov. Scott Walker's 2015-'17 budget that required Abele to name a special commissioner with authority to turn a limited number of poorly performing MPS schools over to public charter or private nonparochial voucher schools.

Abele recalled that Larson and other critics of the law have said Abele should have refused to accept the responsibility of appointing the special commissioner.

But those recent meetings with Republican legislative leaders and MPS officials took place because he kept the dialogue open by participating in the program, Abele said.

Means has said MPS leaders already are taking significant steps to improve struggling schools.

Instead of moving schools out of MPS, a limited number of schools will be targeted to receive services aimed at helping children and their families, according to Abele.

Access to those programs will enable teachers to spend less time on social work and more time on education, he said at the time of the Means' appointment.

In another matter, Abele was asked if he is considering hiring a private company to manage Mitchell International Airport in a step toward privatization. He said he would not and that the future of the airport is in the hands of its new director, Izzy Bonilla.

In a debate last week at Marquette University Law School, Abele said he would not sell the airport because it is a valuable public asset that helps drive economic development.

Abele, 49, is seeking re-election to a second full four-year term.

He was first elected in 2011 in a special election to fill the final year in Walker's term after Walker was elected governor. Abele was re-elected to a full four-year term in 2012.

Larson, 35, a former county supervisor, was elected to the state Senate in November 2010 and re-elected in November 2014.
Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe sent this Christmas letter to his troops in the 101st Airborne during the Battle of the Bulge which was typed by Edward Ihlenfeld, a Milwaukee police officer drafted in 1942 who earned a Purple Heart when he was shot in the leg while parachuting into Europe. The letter featured the Screaming Eagle insignia, drawings of jump wings awarded to paratroopers and a ribbon with the words "Merry Christmas."

HEADQUARTERS 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION

Office of the Division Commander

24 December 1944

What's Merry about all this, you ask? We're fighting  it's cold we aren't home. All true but what has the proud Eagle Division accomplished with its worthy comrades of the 10th Armored Division, the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion and all the rest? Just this: We have stopped cold everything that has been thrown at us from the North, East, South and West. We have identifications from four German Panzer Divisions, two Germany Infantry Divisions and one German Parachute Division. These units, spearheading the last desperate German lunge, were headed straight west for key points when the Eagle Division was hurriedly ordered to stem the advance. How effectively this was done will be written in history; not alone in our Division's glorious history but in world history. The Germans actually did surround us their radios blared our doom. Their Commander demanded our surrender in the following impudent arrogance.

December 22nd 1944

To the U.S.A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne.

The fortune of war is changing. This time the U.S.A. forces in and near Bastogne have been encircled by strong German armored units. More German armored units have crossed the river Our near Ortheuville, have taken Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompre-Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in German hands.

There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A. troops from total annihilation: that is the honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note.

If this proposal should be rejected one German Artillery Corps and six heavy A. A. Battalions are ready to annihilate the U.S.A. troops in and near Bastogne. The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hours term.

All the serious civilian losses caused by this artillery fire would not correspond with the well-known American humanity.

The German Commander.

The German Commander received the following reply:

22 December 1944

To the German Commander:

NUTS!

The American Commander

Allied Troops are counterattacking in force. We continue to hold Bastogne. By holding Bastogne we assure the success of the Allied Armies. We know that our Division Commander, General Taylor, will say: "Well Done!"

We are giving our country and our loved ones at home a worthy Christmas present and being privileged to take part in this gallant feat of arms are truly making for ourselves a Merry Christmas.

McAuliffe

Commanding
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The 2016 presidential campaign has highlighted major policy differences between Republican and Democratic candidates. However, what seems to be bringing the two parties together lately is a misguided desire to raise taxes on capital gains, particularly capital gains earned by private equity fund managers, commonly referred to as carried interest.

Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump and, before he dropped out of the race, Jeb Bush have been out on the campaign trail railing against "hedge fund guys" and, as Bush described them while defending his proposal to hike taxes on carried interest during the last South Carolina debate, "private equity people."

Wisconsin's own Tammy Baldwin has been the U.S. Senate's head cheerleader for hiking taxes on capital gains, introducing legislation with Sen. Sander Levin (D-Mich.) last year that would raise rates on carried interest. While carried interest is an expedient tax hike target for Baldwin, raising rates on carried interest would negatively impact Wisconsin's economy.

Private equity is a key industry in Wisconsin and important to our economic health. Wisconsin ranks 16th in the nation in private equity investment, and private equity firms have invested approximately $68.2 billion in Wisconsin-based companies since 2003. The tax hike that Baldwin, Clinton, Sanders and Bush are all calling for would be detrimental to the approximately 401 private equity-backed companies headquartered in Wisconsin. All told, these 401 Wisconsin companies employ more than 335,000 people. There are more than 20 private equity firms that call Wisconsin home. These companies employ our friends, our neighbors and family members.

Why would one of our own elected officials want to harm so many hardworking Wisconsinites?

The tax hike Baldwin is championing also would harm Wisconsin retirees. Since both the State of Wisconsin Investment Board and the Milwaukee Employees' Retirement System have significant investments in private equity, a tax hike on carried interest ultimately would take a bite out of the retirement plans of hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin pensioners.

The optimal rate for capital gains is zero. Capital gains taxes are a type of double taxation, and investment income taxes are among the most economically damaging forms of taxation. Also, the attempt to raise taxes on carried interest is the first step toward the long-held progressive goal of taxing investment income at the higher rates at which wages are taxed. Proponents of raising taxes on carried interest often talk about tax parity and fairness, but note they never want to reduce wage income tax rates to the lower capital gains rate in order to achieve this. That's because the goal for most of those targeting private equity is to raise taxes on net in order to grow the size of government.

Many proponents of a carried interest tax hike play loose with the facts when making their case. For example, Baldwin went on Morning Joe and claimed her bill would raise "nearly $457 billion." That's false. $457 billion is how much all of the tax hikes in President Barack Obama's budget would generate for government coffers, not just his proposed rate hike on carried interest. In fact, Obama's budget indicates that this damaging tax increase would raise just over $2 billion per year in additional tax revenue, which is basically a rounding error in a more than $3 trillion federal budget.

The belief that keeping the tax burden as low as possible promotes economic growth is supported by a large body of research. John Hood, chairman of the John Locke Foundation, analyzed more than 680 peer-reviewed academic journal articles going back to 1990. Most of the studies Hood analyzed found that lower levels of taxes and spending correlate with stronger economic performance.

Wall Street is an easy pinata for politicians to beat mercilessly on the campaign trail. Yet the fact is that raising taxes on carried interest and any other form of capital gain would harm the Wisconsin economy and depress growth. After being hit with more than 20 federal tax increases over the last six years, the last thing Wisconsin taxpayers need is another president who thinks Americans aren't taxed enough.

Brett Healy is president of the MacIver Institute, a free market think tank based in Madison. Patrick Gleason is director of state affairs at Americans for Tax Reform, a nonprofit taxpayer advocacy organization founded in 1985 at the request of President Ronald Reagan.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to supporters at his primary election night event at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla., on Tuesday. Credit: Associated Press

On Tuesday night, the Republican Party finally pulled the pin from the grenade it has been holding throughout the presidential primary season. Unfortunately for the party, it is glued to its hand.

With Marco Rubio's stunning Florida defeat and subsequent withdrawal from the race, the GOP is now left with a candidate who probably can't beat Hillary Clinton (Ted Cruz), one who definitely can't (Donald Trump), and one whose path to the nomination is a near mathematical impossibility (John Kasich.)

While avoiding having Trump as the nominee  and consequently chain sawing the party in half  is still a viable plan, Trump already has won. Like P.T. Barnum and all other attention-seeking hucksters before him, Trump has made his mark on the American tale, his name now forever echoing through the political history books.

While the Trump phenomenon has been wonderful for both Trump and people who were sheepish about publicly expressing their racism, it already has been disastrous for America. Republicans came into the campaign season stocked with candidates who plausibly could have been president, but they all fell by the wayside as the Trump steam roller crushed them all. Week after week, instead of talking about policy, we were talking about Trump's latest outrageous utterance.

Of course, the media covered every syllable of Trump's freak show, giving it literally billions of dollars worth of free advertising. Instead of growing tired of Trump's antics, media coverage of Trump only grew as his poll numbers climbed. And thus began one of the most blatant codependent relationships in political history; Trump provided ratings, and ratings provided Trump. The New York Times ran the numbers and found that Trump has received nearly $2 billion worth of free media airtime; next closest in the GOP race is Ted Cruz at a paltry $313 million.

We will look back at the candidates Trump forced out of the race and retroactively think, "Oh, of course those candidates couldn't have been president." We will chuckle at the fact that Bobby Jindal and Scott Walker and Lindsey Graham once thought they could be the party's nominee.

But such ridicule is unfair. Virtually every candidate now out of the race is eminently more qualified than Trump. Even Rick Perry, who was the first to be eaten alive by Trump's electoral piranha, would be a pretty good president  but he was left gasping for air as the ridiculous Trump saga was written. And with each candidate who dropped out, Trump further cemented his place as a revolutionary troublemaker.

Clearly, Trump lives by Oscar Wilde's dictum that there is "only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." So even if he were denied the nomination at a bloody convention, he already will have won. If his goal was to make America a more comfortable place for whites to openly disdain ethnic and religious minorities, he already has won. If he sought to burn the Republican Party to the ground, he already has won. If he set out to coarsen the public dialogue and foment violence in our public places, he already has won.

Just a year ago, the GOP was riding a wave of high expectations, knowing it had a young crop of impressive candidates ready to face a flawed candidate in 2016. But as Shakespeare warned in Twelfth Night, "Oft expectation fails, and most oft there Where it most promises."

Now, Republican expectations have been lowered to the point where the party would be happy with simply avoiding Trump. They would be thrilled to shed a candidate who certainly would lose in favor of one who probably would lose. At least down-ticket candidates can stand on a stage with Ted Cruz in good conscience; but a Cruz candidacy might also mean loss of the U.S. Senate.

Trump once promised Americans that under his administration, they'd do so much winning they'd be sick of it. And he is partly right; his winning is sickening. All the GOP can now hope for is that it isn't fatal.

Christian Schneider is a Journal Sentinel columnist and blogger. Email cschneider@jrn.com. Twitter: @Schneider_CM
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A bill to help anguished parents get a child seizure treatment failed to get a vote amid a hastily adjourned Senate session, even though a majority of senators support the proposal.

Three top GOP senators blocked the bill, which would have made it easier to get a drug that is derived from marijuana and used to treat children who suffer from severe seizures and have few other medical options.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) stymied a floor vote on the legislation Tuesday by scheduling a hearing on the bill and then canceling it Wednesday. Bills can't be brought to the floor if a hearing is pending.

Fitzgerald, who indicated he would have voted for the bill himself, said he used the parliamentary rule to keep other GOP senators from having to vote against a bill that they support.

When Democrats tried to take a two-thirds vote to override that rule, Fitzgerald abruptly adjourned the Senate before the vote could be held. The action drew sharp criticism Wednesday from the bill's bipartisan supporters, including Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester).

"They should use actual facts to explain why they are blocking the will and hope of parents statewide," Wanggaard said.

"That three senators stopped that bill  it's outrageous...," Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) said.

The measure, AB 228, passed the Assembly last month, so approval by the Senate Tuesday would have sent it to Gov. Scott Walker.

Cannabis oil is a byproduct of marijuana that proponents say may reduce seizures in children who suffer from as many as 100 of them in a single day. Under normal circumstances, the oil won't make users high because it's extremely low in THC.

Legislators and Walker approved legislation in 2014 to allow families to obtain cannabidiol oil, known by the acronym CBD, in certain limited cases to treat a patient. But the conditions have proved so restrictive that families and physicians have been unable to make use of it.

The bill that failed to come to a vote Tuesday was aimed at expanding that access.

Fitzgerald said that three Republicans, Senate President Mary Lazich of New Berlin and Sens. Duey Stroebel of Cedarburg and Leah Vukmir of Wauwatosa, had adamantly opposed the bill out of concerns it could lead to the legalization of marijuana in Wisconsin. The three had no comment Wednesday.

Amylynne Santiago Volker is among those who were disappointed Wednesday. Volker's son Nic, the subject of a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel series, has suffered from crippling seizures.

"I think it's sad that it didn't get a vote," she said of the bill, which Volker doesn't believe went far enough.

Volker said families can buy CBD oil over the Internet from reputable sources but currently lack legal protections if they choose to do so.

CBD opponents worry the proposal might be used by Native American tribes to force the legalization of marijuana in federal court. The argument is similar to the one state tribes successfully used when they argued legalization of the lottery opened the door to tribal casinos.

But Timothy Purdon, a former U.S. attorney who represents several tribes including the Menominee, said he was skeptical of that argument.

Lance Boldrey, a Michigan attorney who has represented Walker on some tribal issues, said passage of the latest cannabidiol legislation would not have strengthened the tribes' arguments because the state already legalized cannabidiol in 2014. Current law includes so many restrictions that it remains virtually impossible to obtain the drug legally in Wisconsin.

"Easing the restrictions doesn't change the legal arguments the tribes have already made," said Boldrey, who also represents tribes.

Meanwhile, Chris McGeshick, chairman of the Sokaogon Chippewa (Mole Lake) Community, said his tribe is pursuing plans to eventually grow cannabis to make cannabidiol that would be used for research.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, a Janesville Republican, chats with Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) following a closed-door caucus meeting at Republican National Committee headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday. Credit: Associated Press

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Washington  House Speaker Paul Ryan sought Wednesday to bury speculation about whether he would accept the GOP presidential nomination at a contested convention.

"The speaker is grateful for the support, but he is not interested," Ryan spokesperson AshLee Strong said after reports Wednesday that former House Speaker John Boehner had "endorsed" Ryan for president.

"He will not accept a nomination and believes our nominee should be someone who ran this year," Strong said.

Ryan himself followed that with a categorical rejection of the idea, saying in an interview with Politico that there is "no situation" in which he would accept the nomination this year and that "I am not going to become the president through Cleveland."

Cleveland is the site of the party's July convention.

Boehner said Wednesday at a conference in Florida that if no candidate reaches the convention with a majority of delegates, "anyone" can be selected, and Ryan is his pick.

Speculation about a deadlocked convention often turns to Ryan, who was the choice of his House Republican colleagues when there seemed to be no other consensus choice for speaker after Boehner stepped down. But Ryan passed up a chance to run for president in this cycle and recently disavowed an effort to draft him for president, prompting the committee behind it to disband.

CNBC reported Tuesday that in an interview, Ryan didn't rule out accepting the nomination at a deadlocked convention.

But Ryan aides challenged that interpretation of his remarks and issued an emphatic denial Wednesday that Ryan would be open to such a scenario.

Ryan also denied any interest in being House speaker before agreeing to serve in that role. But Ryan said Wednesday that was a different situation because he was already serving in the House at the time. One other difference is that Ryan agreed to serve as speaker only when there was a consensus in the party to elect him. There would be no consensus in the party possible for Ryan in a deadlocked convention because supporters of GOP front-runner Donald Trump would be sure to rebel.

Trump is the only Republican candidate with a realistic chance of winning a delegate majority before the convention, but he is far from a lock to do so. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is his closest competitor.

Trump warned on CNN Wednesday of violence and upheaval if he arrives at the GOP convention with close to a delegate majority and a clear delegate lead but is denied the nomination.

"I think you'd have riots," Trump said. "I'm representing...many, many millions of people...If you disenfranchise those people, and you say, 'Well, I'm sorry, but you're 100 votes short,' even though the next (candidate) is 500 votes short, I think you would have problems like you've never seen before. I think bad things would happen, I really do. I wouldn't lead it, but I think bad things would happen."
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Madison  Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill Wednesday that will allow people to register online to vote, but end the ability of special registration deputies to sign people up to vote.

The measure will also allow people to use for voting ID cards issued by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs. Under the 2011 voter ID law, only certain forms of ID can be used for voting, such as driver's licenses and state-issued ID cards.

"Senate bill 295 makes it easier for Wisconsin veterans and seniors to vote and empowers our citizens to assist their communities in registering to vote," the GOP governor said in a statement. "The new online registration also ensures this process is more effective and brings Wisconsin elections into the 21st century. We remain focused on protecting the integrity of our state's election process and this bill helps us accomplish that goal."

Having an online registration system drew broad support, but other provisions of the new law caused groups such as the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin to oppose it. The group disliked the provision on special registration deputies and one that will require absentee ballots to be returned by the time polls close, rather than on the Friday after election day.

"Although the legislation offers some benefits, the advantages are more than offset by unnecessary restrictions which will make it more difficult for many citizens to register and vote," said a statement issued by Andrea Kaminski, executive director of the Wisconsin league.

The Republican-led Senate on Tuesday signed off on the bill on a voice vote, sending it to Walker. The Assembly approved the bill 56-38 last month, with three Republicans joining all Democrats in opposing the measure.

Political parties, nonprofit groups and others for decades have used special registration deputies to help people sign up to vote. These workers and volunteers often stake out college campuses and street corners to make sure people are registered to vote.

The state will end the special registration deputy program once the online registration system is set up, which is slated for spring 2017.

While they could no longer operate as they have in the past, registration deputies will have the option of using computers or other electronic devices to help people sign themselves up to vote online.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said the city has more than 1,000 special registration deputies, who help 30,000 to 50,000 people register in election years at libraries, high schools, college campuses, summer festivals and ceremonies for newly naturalized citizens.

"This bill will undermine Milwaukee's efforts to register voter populations that are historically underrepresented at the polls, and cause hundreds of voters to lose the opportunity to have their ballots count in future elections," Barrett wrote in a letter to Walker.

Under the new law, people could sign up online to vote if they had a current and valid state driver's license or state-issued ID card. They will have to use the same name for voter registration that appears on their state license or ID.

People will have to work with local clerks or sign up to vote at the polls if they don't have licenses or state-issued IDs. To register, people prove their residency in a number of ways, such as with a lease or utility bill, but to vote they have to have a photo ID.

Special registration deputies for years have helped people register to vote at the polls, but they no longer will be able to assist with that effort. That could lead to a bottleneck at the polls during high-turnout elections, critics said.

While the measure will allow people to register online, voters will still have to cast their ballots at the polls or with absentee ballots in clerk's offices or through the mail.

In addition to requiring absentee ballots to be returned earlier, the law Walker signed will allow absentee ballots to be thrown out if the witness for the person casting the absentee ballot does not provide his or her address.
Presidential candidates (clockwise): Businessman Donald Trump, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Credit: AP & Getty Images

By of the

Winning the lion's share of states and delegates on a momentous day of voting, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton rolled on toward their parties' nominations Tuesday.

But two developments added suspense and uncertainty to the GOP contest.

A dramatic victory in Ohio by home-state Gov. John Kasich robbed Trump of a key battleground that might have all but clinched the Republican nomination for him.

And Florida Sen. Marco Rubio dropped out after losing badly to Trump in his own state. Going forward, that could help Trump's closest GOP competitor, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, consolidate the party's anti-Trump vote that has been divided so far among multiple candidates.

Trump had another very big night Tuesday with wins in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina. He was battling Cruz in a close race in Missouri.

Clinton had a huge night on the Democratic side, easily winning Florida, North Carolina and Ohio. She narrowly beatVermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in Illinois and the race was too close to call in Missouri. The net result was to further pad a seemingly impregnable delegate lead.

The implications were mixed for Wisconsin's April 5 primary. It is three weeks away, but there is only one more primary (Arizona next Tuesday) and a handful of caucuses in the interim.

Wisconsin looks like a more meaningful contest on the Republican side at this point, with Cruz and Kasich left to challenge Trump in a state where Trump has not polled particularly well.

Wisconsin also offers Sanders a good chance for a victory against Clinton, but it may be too late to truly matter. After Tuesday, her delegate lead is more daunting than ever.

Tuesday's five primaries represented the second-biggest delegate haul of the nominating process. And it featured the two premier electoral battlegrounds of modern times  Ohio and Florida.

Both were winner-take-all on the GOP side, magnifying their importance, and they represented do-or-die home-state tests for two of the last four Republicans in the race: Kasich and Rubio.

For Rubio, losing Florida is the final failure of his 2016 candidacy, one that started with great promise. Like Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, he offered the potential to unite different factions in the party. But like Walker, Rubio never carved out a strong core of support.

"America is in the beginning of a real political storm, a real tsunami, and we should have seen this coming," Rubio said Tuesday night.

Tuesday's primaries perpetuated one of the most striking patterns of the 2016 race: the education gap among white voters.

In every contest so far where there are exit polls, Trump has done better with whites who lack a college degree than with college-educated whites. In the Democratic race, Sanders, too, has consistently done better with "blue-collar" whites.

But the pattern is far more dramatic and consequential in the GOP contest, because blue-collar whites constitute a much larger share of the Republican vote, and Trump's advantage with them is so big.

In Ohio, Trump won non-college whites by 8 points over Kasich, while losing college-educated whites to him by 22 points. In North Carolina, Trump won less educated whites by 13 points over Cruz, while losing more educated whites by 3 points to Cruz. Trump won blue-collar whites by 8 points in Missouri, 16 points in Illinois and 32 points in Florida, according to exit polls. In most states, these voters represent close to half the GOP electorate.

Both Trump and Sanders have attacked trade deals for killing blue-collar jobs.

"We had a fantastic evening," Trump said Tuesday night. "It's very tough.

"If you get to the end, you can handle a lot of things...lies, deceit, viciousness, disgusting reporters, horrible people."

His loss in Ohio makes it measurably harder for Trump to win an outright delegate majority before the summer convention. But with faint hopes of catching him in the delegate chase, his opponents' and critics' main hope remains a contested convention.

Tuesday's primaries were the first contests since physical clashes began disrupting Trump rallies, with the front-runner drawing fire that his rhetoric is encouraging violence. They also came on a day when President Barack Obama decried the tone of the 2016 campaign and the violence at some rallies, saying it was tarnishing the "American brand."

To underscore the point, Obama turned to House Speaker Paul Ryan, the Wisconsin Republican attending the same Washington event, and noted their many political disagreements.

"But I don't have a bad thing to say about you as a man," the president said, as Ryan nodded. "I know you want what's best for America."

Clinton's victories underscored how her strength in the South and among African-American voters have propelled her candidacy and kept Sanders at bay.

She easily won the two most diverse states  Florida and North Carolina  with one-sided backing from black and Latino voters.

But with her victory in Ohio, she also staged a mini-comeback in the industrial Midwest after losing in Michigan last week. Clinton won both white and African-American voters in Ohio, according to exit polls.

The Democratic front-runner seemed more determined than ever Tuesday to pivot to the general election, attacking Trump, saying his political outlook "doesn't make him strong, it makes him wrong."

Meanwhile, Republicans continued along their fractious and volatile path.

In Trump, the party has a front-runner who keeps piling up GOP victories, but has shockingly little support from elected officials in his own party, and who continues to inspire doubts among a large fraction of the Republican electorate. About 4 in 10 GOP voters Tuesday would consider backing a third-party candidate in a Trump-Clinton race, according to exit polls.

Trump voices confidence daily about his ability to win in November, but many Republican strategists and pollsters are dubious and fearful.

"Any Republican presidential candidate will face a significant electoral challenge this fall," wrote Ed Goeas, a longtime GOP pollster who advised Walker's failed presidential bid, in a recent memo written for an anti-Trump Super PAC.

But Trump "is currently turning off more voters than he is turning on with the tone and tenor of his campaign and divisive persona," and "clearly appears to be winning his battles for the Republican nomination but losing the war for the White House in November ...The question is how many down-ballot Republicans will he take with him?" wrote Goeas.

"We're going to win, win, win, and we're not stopping," Trump said Tuesday night.

For more coverage

For the most up-to-date coverage, go to jsonline.com/news/usandworld

For AP video, go to jsonline.com/video/world

Tuesday's winners

Florida:

Trump, Clinton

Illinois:

Trump, Clinton

Missouri:

Both races too close to call

North Carolina:

Trump, Clinton

Ohio:

Kasich, Clinton
Marya Christiansen is seen in an undated photo released by a group of family and friends who are searching for her.

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Family and friends of a missing young mother from western Wisconsin are meeting with an American Legion post to organize searches for the woman.

Twenty-three-year-old Marya Christiansen has been missing since early Saturday when she left a bar across the Mississippi River in Red Wing, Minnesota after a night out with friends and presumably headed home to Hager City.

Her father, Steven Christiansen, says his daughter loves her two boys and her family and would never leave them. He says her disappearance doesn't make any sense.

KSTP-TV says the woman's longtime boyfriend and one of her boys joined in search efforts Tuesday.
Milwaukee Ald. Bob Bauman has paid $48,000 for campaign office space, despite facing little opposition over the years. Credit: Rick Wood

Milwaukee Ald. Bob Bauman has enjoyed an easy ride politically since being elected in 2004.

Over the past three elections, he has faced a token opponent, no challenger and two political lightweights in this year's race. He is a big favorite to win in April.

Yet records show Bauman has rewarded himself with a political perk by using donated funds to keep a year-round campaign office, something usually done only by major candidates with election staff. The alderman has no campaign staffers.

In all, the third-term alderman has paid $48,348 in monthly rent since late 2007 to keep the third-floor office in the Century Building on N. Old World 3rd St. He previously used the same space for his law practice, and the building directory still lists his office as such.

By declaring it a campaign space, Bauman  who represents downtown  has avoided footing the cost personally.

Reached recently, Bauman said state law permits candidates to spend campaign contributions on offices and office-related expenses.

In several reporting periods, rent was one of Bauman's only campaign expenditures.

"I had the space coming in to this situation," Bauman said, noting that he already was paying for the office before 2007. "I thought this is a good opportunity to just keep the space available."

Craig Peterson  a GOP operative supporting a slate of Common Council candidates, including Bauman's opponent, Monique Kelly  said he's not buying it.

For one, Bauman lists the Century Building as the address for his legal practice on the Wisconsin State Bar address.

By contrast, he lists his home address on his campaign registration and on his campaign website and as the address to which donations are to be sent.

"He went years without an opponent  went many cycles where the only expense to his campaign was rent," Peterson said. "So there's no campaign activity. None. Nada. So how can you rationalize it as a campaign office?"

Ronald J. Sanfelippo, who owns the building, confirmed that rent, plus utilities, for Bauman's office came to $528.85 a month. That's how much Bauman is paying from his campaign fund each month.

Sanfelippo said he understood the office was used for campaign and legal purposes.

But Bauman said that's not true. He said he quit practicing law when he was elected alderman in 2004, something he said he promised to do. The only case he has handled since then, he said, was his own divorce.

Online records show that he has made no court appearances  outside of his divorce  since 2003.

In campaign years, he said, he visits the office two or three times a week. When there isn't a race, he said, he simply checks the mail there on occasion.

The door on the third-floor office at the building was locked and no one responded when I visited there a half-dozen times in the past month.

So if the office is being used for no legal work and for apparently little campaign activity, why is Bauman paying to keep the space year after year?

For possible future political use, he suggested.

"Who knows when you might need it?" Bauman asked. "Who knows when you might run for higher office and you really need a full-fledged, staffed-up campaign office? I have it in place, and I don't have to run around looking for something."

So is that something he's actively considering?

Uh, no.

"I'm not running for anything," he concluded. "I'm just saying anything is possible in politics."

Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 224-2135 or dbice@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice.
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Gregory D. Foster | ( Tomdispatch.com ) |  

Item: Two U.S. Navy patrol boats, with 10 sailors aboard, stray into Iranian territorial waters, and are apprehended and held by Iranian revolutionary guards, precipitating a 24-hour international incident involving negotiations at the highest levels of government to secure their release. The Pentagon offers conflicting reports on why this happened: navigational error, mechanical breakdown, fuel depletion  but not intelligence-gathering, intentional provocation, or hormonally induced hot-dogging.

Item: The Pentagon, according to a Reuters expose, has been consciously and systematically engaged in thwarting White House efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and release cleared detainees. Pentagon officials have repeatedly refused to provide basic documentation to foreign governments willing to take those detainees and have made it increasingly difficult for foreign delegations to visit Guantanamo to assess them. Ninety-one of the 779 detainees held there over the years remain, 34 of whom have been cleared for release.

Item: The Pentagon elects not to reduce General David Petraeus in rank, thereby ensuring that he receives full, four-star retirement pay, after previously being sentenced on misdemeanor charges to two years probation and a $100,000 fine for illegally passing highly classified material (a criminal offense) to his mistress (adultery, ordinarily punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice) and lying to FBI officials (a criminal offense). Meanwhile, Private Chelsea (nee Bradley) Manning continues to serve a 35-year prison sentence, having been reduced to the Armys lowest rank and given a dishonorable discharge for providing classified documents to WikiLeaks that included incriminating on-board videos of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed up to 18 civilians, including two Reuters journalists, and wounded two children, and of a 2009 massacre in Afghanistan in which a B-1 bomber killed as many as 147 civilians, reportedly including some 93 children.

What do these episodes have in common? In their own way, theyre all symptomatic of an enduring crisis in civil-military relations that afflicts the United States.

Hyperbolic though it may sound, it is a crisis, though not like the Flint water crisis, or the international refugee crisis, or the ISIS crisis, or the Zika crisis. Its more like the climate crisis, or a lymphoma or termite infestation that destroys from within, unrecognized and unattended. And yes, its an enduring crisis, a state of affairs that has been with us, unbeknownst to the public and barely acknowledged by purported experts on the subject of civil-military relations, for the past two decades or more.

The essence of the situation begins, but doesnt end, with civilian control of the military, where direction, oversight, and final decision-making authority reside with duly elected and appointed civil officials. Thats a minimalist precondition for democracy. A more ideal version of the relationship would be civilian supremacy, where there is civically engaged public oversight of strategically competent legislative oversight of strategically competent executive oversight of a willingly accountable, self-policing military.

What we have today, instead, is the polar opposite: not civilian supremacy over, nor even civilian control of the military, but what could be characterized as civilian subjugation to the military, where civilian officials are largely militarily illiterate, more militaristic than the military itself, advocates for  rather than overseers of  the institution, and running scared politically (lest they be labeled weak on defense and security).

That, then, is our lot today. Civilian authorities are almost unequivocally deferential to established military preferences, practices, and ways of thinking. The military itself, as the three items above suggest, sets its own standards, makes and produces its own news, and appropriates policy and policymaking for its own ends, whatever civilian leadership may think or want. It is a demonstrably massive, self-propelled institution increasingly central to American life, and what it says and wants and does matters in striking ways. We would do well to consider the many faces of civil-military relations today, especially in light of the role the military has arrogated to itself.

A Crisis Appears and Disappears

University of North Carolina historian Richard Kohn raised the specter of a civil-military crisis in a 1994 National Interest article titled Out of Control: The Crisis in Civil-Military Relations. He focused on the ill-disguised disdain of many in uniform for Commander-in-Chief Bill Clinton, highlighting the particularly politicized behavior of Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Colin Powell, who had spoken out in opposition to two prime items on the Clinton agenda: intervention in the Balkans and gays in the military. Typical of how the bounds of propriety had been crossed, Kohn also alluded to the example of the Air Force major general who, at a military gathering, contemptuously characterized the president as gay-loving, pot-smoking, draft-dodging, and womanizing.

Too alarmist for many pundits, Kohns claim of a growing crisis gave way to the milder thought, advocated most forcefully by journalist Tom Ricks, that there was simply an increasing cultural, experiential, and ideological gap between the military and society, a thesis that itself then went dormant when George W. Bush entered office.

Those who profess expertise on civil-military relations have tended to focus almost exclusively on civilian control and the associated issue of the militarys political neutrality. Thats why so much attention and controversy were generated over President Obamas highly publicized firing of General Stanley McChrystal for the climate he created that led to the disparagement of senior Obama officials by his subordinates (as reported in the 2010 Rolling Stone article The Runaway General). Yet far bigger and more fundamental matters have gone largely unnoticed.

Civil-military relations are built on a tacit but binding social contract of mutual rights, obligations, and expectations among the military, its civilian overseers (executive and legislative), and society. Four things are expected of the military as part of this compact: operational competence, sound advice, political neutrality, and social responsibility. Operational competence and social responsibility are rarely even part of the discussion and yet they go to the heart of the crisis that exists, pointing both to the outsized presence of the military in American life and statecraft, and to a disturbingly pervasive pattern of misconduct over time among those in uniform.

The Failure of Operational Competence

If we enjoyed a truly healthy state of civil-military relations, it would be characterized by a strategically  not just a militarily  effective force. By implication, such a military would be capable of successfully accomplishing whatever it is called upon to do. The military we have today is, arguably, ineffective not only militarily but demonstrably strategically as well. It doesnt prevent wars; it doesnt win wars; and it certainly doesnt secure and preserve the peace.

No, the military doesnt prevent wars. At any given time over the past quarter century, on average roughly 40 violent conflicts a year have been underway around the world. The U.S. military has had virtually no discernible influence on lessening the outbreak of such conflicts. It isnt even clear that its size, configuration, and positioning, no less the staggering sums invested in it, have had any appreciable deterrent effect on the warring propensities of our so-called peer competitors (Russia and China). That they have not sought war with us is due far less to simplistic Washington assumptions about deterrence than to factors we dont even grasp.

And no, the military doesnt win wars anymore. It hasnt won one of note in 70 years. The dirty wars in the shadows it now regularly fights are intrinsically unwinnable, especially given our preferred American Way of War: killing people and breaking things as lethally, destructively, and overwhelmingly as possible. Its an approach  a state of mind  still largely geared to a different type of conflict from an era now long since past and to those classic generals who are always preparing for the last war. Thats why todays principal adversaries have been so uniformly effective in employing asymmetric methods as a form of strategic jujitsu to turn our presumed strengths into crippling weaknesses.

Instead of a strategically effective military, what we have is quite the opposite: heavy, disproportionately destructive, indiscriminately lethal, single-mindedly combat-oriented, technology-dominant, exorbitantly expensive, unsustainably consumptive, and increasingly alienated from the rest of society. Just as important, wherever it goes, it provokes and antagonizes where it should reassure and thereby invariably fathers the mirror image of itself in others.

Not surprisingly, the military today doesnt secure and preserve peace, a concept no longer evident in Washingtons store of know-how. Those in uniform and in positions of civilian authority who employ the military subscribe almost universally and uncritically to the inherently illogical maxim that if you want peace, you had best prepare for war. The result is that the force being prepared (even engorged) feeds and nurtures pervasive militarism  the primacy of, preference for, and deference to military solutions in the conduct of statecraft. Where it should provide security, it instead produces only self-defeating insecurity.

Consider just five key areas where military preferences override civilian ones and accentuate all manner of insecurity in the process.

Rapacious defense spending: The U.S. military budget exceeds that of the next 10 countries combined, as well as of the gross domestic products of all but 20 countries. At 54% of federal discretionary spending, it surpasses all other discretionary accounts combined, including government, education, Medicare, veterans benefits, housing, international affairs, energy and the environment, transportation, and agriculture. Thanks to the calculations of the National Priorities Project, we know that the total cost of American war since 2001  $1.6 trillion  would have gotten us 19.5 million Head Start slots for 10 years or paid for 2.2 million elementary school teachers for a decade. A mere 1% of the defense budget for one year  just over $5 billion  would pay for 152,000 four-year university scholarships or 6,342 police officers for 10 years. What we spend on nuclear weapons alone each year  $19.3 billion  would cover a decade of low-income healthcare for 825,000 children or 549,000 adults.

Promiscuous arms sales: The United States remains by far the worlds leading proliferator of conventional arms, accounting for some 50% of all global sales and 48% of all sales to the developing world. During the 2011-2014 period alone, U.S. weapons deliveries included a wide array of advanced weapons technologies: 104 tanks and self-propelled guns, 230 artillery pieces, 419 armored personnel vehicles, 48 supersonic aircraft and 58 other aircraft, 835 surface-to-air missiles, and 144 anti-ship missiles, much of that to the volatile Middle East. Skeptics would say that such transactions are motivated less by an urge to enable recipient countries to defend themselves than by the desire to buy influence abroad while aiding and abetting arms manufacturers at home. The result of such massive sales is, of course, the creation of yet more instability where stability should be.

Garrisoning the planet: The military maintains up to 800 bases in more than 70 countries and stations more than 200,000 active-duty personnel in some 150 countries. This global presence represents the geostrategic equivalent of Parkinsons law: operational and social entanglements expanding exponentially to fill the space created by these far-flung outposts.

The nuclear black hole: The military remains the permanent keeper and executor of the worlds largest nuclear arsenal: an estimated 4,700 nuclear warheads on some 800 delivery systems, as well as another 2,340 retired but still intact and presumably usable warheads. A three-decade, trillion-dollar upgrade of this already monstrous arsenal is now underway. The Economist has called this Washingtons unkicked addiction. It should be clear, but apparently isnt, that these are weapons of disuse. Other than for destroying the planet if used, their only value is as a measure of muscularity against mirror-image peers. They deter nothing at other levels of muscle-flexing but do feed an insatiable thirst for emulation among jealous non-possessors of such weaponry.

Spurning the rule of law: Though the U.S. regularly espouses and pretends to practice the rule of law, administration after administration has chosen to forswear important international agreements for parochial, largely military reasons. Among those not even signed are the 1969 Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, the 1997 Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty, the 2002 Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture, the 2006 International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions. Among those Washington has signed but not ratified are the 1977 Protocols I and II to the Geneva Conventions, the 1994 Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, and the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Add to this list the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, ratified in 1972, from which the U.S. withdrew in 2002. Then there are agreements to which the U.S. is a party, but which we nonetheless choose to ignore or circumvent, wholly or in part. These include the 1928 Kellogg-Briand General Treaty for Renunciation of War as an Instrument of National Policy; the 1968 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (Article VI of which states: Each of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control); and the United Nations Convention against Torture and selected provisions of the Geneva Conventions. (We dont do prisoners of war; we do unlawful enemy combatants. We dont do torture; we do enhanced interrogation. And of course we dont engage in other illegalities, like extraordinary rendition or targeted killing or the use of black sites where hostile parties can be disappeared.)

Militarizing Americas World  At Home and Abroad

Added to the foregoing excesses are many examples of what we might call organizational hypertrophy. Institutions like the military are, by nature, self-selecting, self-fulfilling, self-perpetuating constellations of values and practices that generate their own realities and can rarely be disestablished once born. As at Hotel California, you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

Of particular note in the post-9/11 world is our bloated intelligence apparatus of 16 separate agencies, nine of which are military organizations (if you count Coast Guard Intelligence). Most notably, there is the National Security Agency (NSA), always commanded by a general or admiral who now also heads up the U.S. Cyber Command. NSAs massive surveillance culture and capabilities foreshadow a totalizing new-age cyber warfare regime guaranteed to completely redefine traditional notions of aggression, self-defense, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in hair-trigger terms.

The military itself has nine combatant commands, six of which are regional and divvy up the planet accordingly. Except for NATO, there are no regional ambassadors, so the face we show to the world, region by region, is military  and combatant  not diplomatic. Even the homeland now has its own combatant command, the U.S. Northern Command. In tandem with the civilian Department of Homeland Security, it has produced the militarization of the domestic front, dispensed with historical border sensitivities vis-a-vis Canada and Mexico, magnified concerns about civil liberties, and fed a permanent state of paranoia and alarm among the public about both illegal immigration and terrorism.

Special attention also must be given to the massive expansion of U.S. Special Operations Command, once a modest cohort of elite specialists, into a force now larger than the militaries of many countries. Its ostensible raison detre is waging permanent war against terrorism. The growing presence of and preference for using special operations forces globally ought to command the attention of anyone concerned with civil-military relations. Each armed service has a special operations command, as does each combatant command, including Northern Command. Estimates are that special operations personnel already number or are expected to number around 70,000 (roughly the equivalent of four and a half Army divisions). This provides an almost infinite amount of potential space for meddling and mission creep abroad and at home due, in part, to the increasingly blurred lines between military, intelligence, police, and internal security functions.

Of the various ways the military could be configured  for warfighting; peacekeeping, nation-building, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response; or covert special operations  the last poses by far the greatest threat to effective civilian control of the military. An increasing reliance on and reverence for Special Operations forces (SOFs) only exacerbates already existing civilian deference to military preferences, practices, and mindsets. Conducting a range of operations, from low-profile assignments unknown to most Americans to secret missions beyond the bounds of stringent congressional oversight, the very nature of SOF missions fosters a military culture that is particularly destructive to accountability and proper lines of responsibility. Especially in times of divided government, as at present, when working around Congress is a preferred norm for getting things done, the temptation to employ forces that can circumvent oversight without objection is almost irresistible.

The Failure of Social Responsibility

As an institution, the military is accorded carte blanche authority to possess and wield violence on behalf of the state. It is also a mammoth social institution that reaches deep into American society and many other societies worldwide. It thus is tacitly expected to comport itself in a socially responsible manner and its members to demonstrate professionalism in their conduct. And yet the pervasive, long-term misbehavior of those in uniform is striking, even alarming. This is where civilian subjugation to the military manifests itself most glaringly, and where the lack of a willingly accountable, self-policing military comes most clearly into view.

Each year for at least the past two decades, literally hundreds of incidents have occurred that undermine any claims the military might make to moral superiority: atrocities, corruption and bribery, fraud and waste, sexual misconduct, cover-ups, racial and religious persecution, and acts of cultural intolerance. Moral arrogance is in abundant supply among those in uniform, genuine moral superiority in short supply. To cite just a small sample of such incidents from the recent past:

* The continuing Fat Leonard scandal that involved an exchange of bribes, gifts, and prostitutes for classified information on ship movements, implicating at least seven officers and officials and leading to the censure of three rear admirals.

* The ongoing Army National Guard recruiting fraud and kickback scandal involving thousands of soldiers and tens of millions of dollars in illegal payments.

* The four-star former head of U.S. Africa Command, reduced in rank and forced to pay restitution for lavish spending of public funds on private business; the three-star former deputy nuclear force commander who used counterfeit poker chips at a casino; the two-star commander of the ICBM force who went on a drunken binge and insulted Russian counterparts at a joint exercise; the one-star commander of Fort Jackson, South Carolina, relieved of duty for adultery and physically assaulting his mistress; the one-star assistant division commander of the elite 82nd Airborne Division, fined $20,000 and reduced in rank for multiple affairs and other sexual misconduct; and the one-star commander of special operations forces in Latin America, relieved of command and reduced in rank for drunken altercations.

* The forced resignation of the under secretary of the Navy over a scandal in which the brother of a naval intelligence official billed the military $1.6 million for weapons silencers that cost only $8,000 to manufacture.

* The proficiency exam cheating scandals that implicated several dozen Air Force and Navy nuclear weapons personnel.

* The Army staff sergeant, sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering 16 civilians and wounding six others in Afghanistan.

* The Army staff sergeant, also sentenced to life imprisonment, and five other soldiers who, as part of a thrill kill unit, murdered three Afghan civilians for sport and took their body parts as trophies.

* The Rolling Stone expose of the Special Forces A-Team that allegedly disappeared 10 men and murdered eight others in Afghanistan.

* The video of four Marines urinating on dead Afghan bodies, alleged to be Taliban fighters.

* The photos of 82nd Airborne Division soldiers posing with body parts of dead Afghan insurgents.

* The burning of as many as 100 Korans and other religious texts by American troops in Afghanistan.

* The unceasing surfeit of sexual assault reports in the military (22,000 between 2010 and 2014).

Such episodes arent, of course, only of recent vintage. Walking the calendar back a few years reminds us of many other similar examples:

* 2011: the suicides of Marine Lance Corporal Harry Lew and Army Private Danny Chen after hazing and harassment by fellow soldiers.

* 2010: the Khataba raid in Afghanistan in which Army Rangers killed five civilians, including two pregnant women and a teenage girl.

* 2009: the massive sex scandal at Lackland Air Force Base, in which 43 female trainees were subjected to sexual predation by instructors.

* 2008: revelations about a Pentagon military analyst program in which retired senior officers working as news commentators received special access to insider briefings and information in return for publicly promoting Bush administration policies.

* 2007: a U.S. Naval Academy scandal involving a Navy doctor secretly videotaping midshipmen engaged in sex acts; a Walter Reed Army Medical Center scandal involving extensive patient neglect and execrable living conditions; and revelations concerning massive Iraq War contracting fraud, bribery, and kickbacks totaling $15 million.

* 2006: the rape and killing of a 14-year-old girl and the murder of her family by five Army soldiers in Mahmudiyah, Iraq; the murder of an Iraqi man in Hamdania, Iraq, with associated kidnapping, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy, by seven Marines and a Navy corpsman; and the relief of the USS Enterprise captain for producing and showing sexually explicit and offensive videos on board.

* 2005: the massacre of 24 Iraqi men, women and children by Marines in Haditha, Iraq, and the associated cover-up in which all criminal charges were dismissed; and the Pentagons planting of stories favorable to the war effort in the Iraqi press.

* 2004: the friendly-fire death of Pat Tillman and the tragedys associated cover-up, extending up the chain of command to the Pentagon.

* 2003: massive acts of prisoner sexual abuse, torture, rape, sodomy, and murder by Army personnel at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

* 2002: the deaths of two unarmed civilian Afghan prisoners, who had been chained to the ceiling and beaten by U.S. troops, at the Bagram internment facility in Afghanistan.

All of this is but the tiniest tip of the military misbehavior iceberg, a sample of countless incidents that have regularly occurred over an extended period of time. Remember the Tailhook sexual assault scandal, the Aberdeen sex scandal, the Camp Lejeune water contamination scandal, the Cavalese cable car disaster, the firing and reduction in rank of the sergeant major of the Army for sexual misconduct, the murder of Private First Class Barry Winchell, the discharge of Air Force Lieutenant Kelly Flinn?

Such a tidal wave of ethical breakdowns cant be dismissed as mere exceptions to the rule or deviations from the norm. Institutional defenders nonetheless persist in claiming that such incidents represent the actions of a few bad apples in an otherwise healthy cultural barrel. In this, they are simply wrong, yet their positions are eternally bolstered by the fact that annual opinion polls of public trust and confidence in societys institutions invariably place the military at or near the top of the list.

What Is to Be Done?

To this question  What is to be done?  there is no easy answer, perhaps no answer at all. Part of the reason is that the underlying crisis in civil-military relations has gone largely unrecognized, unacknowledged, and unaddressed for decades now. A first step, therefore, might simply be to break the bonds of denial and admit that there is a problem.

A second step  admittedly a far march onto an unknown planet  would be to encourage serious, thoroughgoing institutional self-reflection from both the military and civilian authorities. This would, of course, mean facing up to those facets of military culture that warrant reengineering: aggression, intolerance, authoritarianism, parochialism, congenital secrecy, and pronounced anti-intellectualism among them. It would also mean acknowledging the numerous myths that have come to define the institution over time  for example, that the military nurtures and rewards leadership (rather than dutiful followership); that it instills discipline (rather than indiscipline); that it exemplifies competence and efficiency (rather than incompetence and inefficiency); that it is committed to accountability (rather than cover-ups and secrecy); and that its members, especially at senior levels, regularly demonstrate moral courage (rather than moral cowardice).

A third step would involve a concerted educational effort, inside and outside the institution, to enhance strategic thinking, ethical thinking, and civic literacy (especially, but not exclusively, among those in uniform).

A fourth step  ultimately the most fundamental and paradigm-shattering, as well as the least likely to occur  would be to reconsider the very purpose and function of the military and to reorient it accordingly. That would mean transforming a cumbersome, stagnant, obsolescent, irrelevant warfighting force  with its own inbuilt self-corrupting qualities  into a peacekeeping, nation-building, humanitarian-assistance, disaster-response force far more attuned to a future it helps shape and far more strategically effective than what we now have. Translated, counterintuitive as it might sound, this would mean seeking to demilitarize the military, an overarching strategic imperative if bona fide lasting peace is ever to be achieved on this planet.

Humpty Dumpty posed the question to Alice in Through the Looking Glass of whether words are to be the masters of men or men the masters of words by determining their meaning. Similarly must we ask whether an institution, the military, supposedly endowed with supernal character by objective circumstances, is to master us, or we to master it by determining for ourselves what it properly is and does.

Gregory D. Foster is a professor at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., a West Point graduate, and a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War.

Follow TomDispatch on Twitter and join us on Facebook. Check out the newest Dispatch Book, Nick Turses Tomorrows Battlefield: U.S. Proxy Wars and Secret Ops in Africa, and Tom Engelhardts latest book, Shadow Government: Surveillance, Secret Wars, and a Global Security State in a Single-Superpower World.

Copyright 2016 Gregory D. Foster

via Tomdispatch.com



Related video added by Juan Cole:

TYT from a couple of months ago: Bernie Sanders: Audit the Department of Defense!
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |   

Despite Donald Trumps big wins on Tuesday, he is still only halfway to the delegate count he needs to win the GOP presidential nomination outright, and his remaining rivals of Kasich and Cruz could siphon off enough delegates to deny him that clear victory. It seems clear that if the Republican convention goes to a second vote, the GOP establishment will attempt to dump Trump. But it is also possible that he will show up in Cleveland in mid-July with the 1237 needed to triumph.

Hillary Clintons victories were not as decisive as Trumps, since the Democratic primaries were not held on a winner-take-all basis, but it has to be admitted that it was not a good night for Bernie Sanders. Still nothing can yet be ruled in or out as future contests shift to blue states where he has so far had an advantage.

But if Tuesdays winners squared off, what would it mean for US policy toward Iran and ISIL in the Middle East?

Donald Trump denounces President Obamas and the UNSCs deal on Irans civilian nuclear enrichment program as the worst deal in American foreign policy history. Unlike his rival Ted Cruz, he doesnt threaten to tear it up on day one of his presidency, but he does say he will insist on renegotiating it. It is not clear that Trump understands that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was a global deal, involving 5 other powerful nations (the permanent UNSC members plus Germany, representing the European Union). Of if he understands that Iran was brought to the table by UN sanctions as well as US ones. A president Trump could renege on the JCPOA, but hed never get France, China and Russia to cooperate in reimposing sanctions on Iran, where there is a lot of money to be made. All he could do is slap stringent US sanctions back on Tehran, which would have the effect of preventing US companies from joining in the Iran bonanza, putting them at a disadvantage with regard to their European and Asian competitors which is against everything Trumpism stands for. Trump complains that the deal gives Iran $150 bn. Actually, it releases to Iran some of Irans own money, which the US sequestered as part of sanctions. The sum is probably only $50 bn., and given the fall in oil prices, Iran will need it just to run its economy.

Trump has warned about Iran dominating the whole Middle East, saying that they are going into Yemen and want Syria and have Iraq. He doesnt say what he would do about all this Iranian domination (most of which is only imagined or is rather less impressive than he makes it out to be). At other times, he seemed to endorse the Putin plan for Syria, which involves restoring Bashar al-Assads regime to power. As for other Iranian allies like Hizbullah, Trump didnt seem sure of who they were.

In a recent debate, Trump called for 30,000 US ground troops in Iraq and Syria to fight Daesh (ISIS, ISIL). He and the other GOP candidates seem to have no understanding that Iran is a key ally in defeating Daesh. In addition to sending in over a division worth of US troops against Daesh/ ISIL, Trump has also called for the US to take their oil (i.e. the small fields or refineries in Daesh control), and to kill their women and children, and to waterboard and otherwise torture Daesh fighters. He seeks changes in the law to legalize torture beyond waterboarding.

Hillary Clinton is a hawk against Iran and once threatened to nuke it. Although she now says she supports the Iran nuclear deal, she rejects the idea that it is a basis for a diplomatic opening with the Iranian government.

Going forward, she wants to put Iran in a corner by giving nuclear-armed Israel an even more massive arms package and using increased numbers of US troops in Iraq to cut Iranian overland supply lines to Hizbullah in Syria and Lebanon. She also wants to work hand in hand with Saudi Arabia against the Zaidis of Yemen, which she incorrectly sees as Iranian proxies. Saudi Arabia has been indiscriminately bombing Yemen and yesterday killed dozens of civilians at a market. Clinton also wants to overthrow the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and it is not clear if she would support the current ceasefire she might want to start the civil war back up with backing for the hard line Salafi armed rebels, most of whom are de facto if not formally allied with al-Qaeda in Syria. She has urged a US-inforced no-fly zone in Syria, even recently, though that plan makes no military sense given that Russias air force and anti-aircraft batteries now dominate western Syria.

Although Clinton has ruled out sending tens of thousands of US troops back into Iraq, the invasion of which she supported in the first place, she does want to greatly increase the number of US war-fighting forces to defeat Daesh. She also urges targeting Daeshs oil infrastructure and its leaders. Clinton opposes waterboarding and the use of torture and has called for stronger anti-torture legislation.

Aside from Trumps determination to renegotiate the JCPOA on what he thinks are better terms for the US (he doesnt say exactly how he thinks the deal disadvantages Washington), his over-all view of a danger of Iranian geopolitical dominance in the Middle East seems indistinguishable from Clintons.

A main difference between the two is that Trump seems sanguine about Russias intervention in Syria and the prospect that it might prop up the al-Assad regime. Clinton distanced herself last October from President Obamas acquiescence in a direct Russian role in Syria and urged that Putin be confronted about it. More recently she has allowed as how Russia should have a place at the negotiating table.

With regard to fighting Daesh, both want to great increase US troop presence in Iraq, though Trumps recently proposed numbers dwarf those of Clinton. Clinton agrees with Trump that Daeshs oil fields and refineries should be targeted, though she doesnt talk about the US grabbing them for itself. She also agrees with him about targeting Daesh leaders personally, though she hasnt suggested torturing them or deliberately murdering their children and wives.

The policies of these two and their world views on these two foreign policy challenges appear to me to differ only at the margins, not as a matter of principle on most matters with the exception of torture and deliberate killing of innocents.



Related video:

Wochit News: Trump Wants Soldiers in Iraq And Syria
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Maan News Agency |  

BETHLEHEM (Maan)  Israel has reinstated a policy of confiscating vast swathes of Palestinian land for settlement expansion in a trend not seen since the pre-Oslo period in the 1980s, Peace Now reported Tuesday.

The Israeli settlement watchdog pointed chiefly to a vast tract of Palestinian land south of Jericho that was declared state land by Israels civil administration last week in one of Israels largest land grabs in recent years.

The group reported 2,342 dunams (580 acres) of land in the southern occupied West Bank area had been signed off as Israeli government property on March 10.

The seizure far surpassed the 1,500 dunams (370 acres) in the area initially approved for a takeover by Israels Minister of Defense in January, according to the watchdog.

It paves the way for the construction of 358 housing units in the illegal settlement of Almog, and will set aside large amounts of land for Israels trade and tourism sectors, despite belonging to Palestinians in occupied territory.

Branding the recent declaration of state land as a de-facto confiscation of Palestinian land, the group noted that a number of Israeli tourist sites, souvenir shops, and a gas station have long been operating on the land.

Instead of trying to calm the situation, the government is adding fuel to the fire and sending a clear message to Palestinians, as well as to Israelis, that it has no intention to work towards peace and two states, the group said.

[Israeli Prime Minister] Netanyahu proves yet again, that settler pressure is more important to him than the deteriorating security situation.

The group said that Israel has not confiscated such large swathes of land for the purpose of settlement expansion since the pre-Oslo period in the 1980s, with recent moves indicating a clear change of policy.

Israels growing settlements in that earlier period played a significant role in triggering the First Intifada, or uprising, which led to the 1993 Oslo Accords.

Peace Now said the recent takeover followed that of around 5,000 dunams (1,240 acres) of Palestinian land in Bethlehem district, which was declared state land in August and April of 2014.

The area south of Jericho now declared state land lies on the opposite end of the E1 corridor  a strip of land that runs across the central occupied West Bank from Jerusalem.

Palestinians in E1 have slowly been pushed out of the corridor by expanding settlements deep inside the West Bank, and Palestinians believe that a complete takeover of the corridor would split the occupied West Bank in two, making a contiguous Palestinian state impossible.

On Tuesday, PLO Secretary-General Saeb Erekat condemned Israels confiscation of the Jericho land as a continuation of its colonial project by maintaining its belligerent occupation and by annexing more Palestinian lands throughout the occupied West Bank.

He said that a culture impunity, granted by the international community was the main obstacle to ending Israels occupation and the realization of the systematically denied inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.

In a rare criticism of Israeli policy, US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro in January slammed Israels takeover of vast tracts of Palestinian land as state land.

He said that the creation of two states would become more and more difficult if Israel plans to continue to expand the footprint of settlements.

He added: The question we ask is a simple one: what is Israels strategy?

Via Maan News Agency



Related video added by Juan Cole:

World Bank from last year: Area C and the Future of the Palestinian Economy
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 16, 2016) - Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (the "Company" or "Purepoint") (TSX VENTURE:PTU.V) today reported the results of the next series of four holes drilled at the Spitfire Zone. Drilling now confirms that uranium mineralization is continuous for at least 200 metres down-dip of a graphitic shear zone beginning just below the unconformity. High-grade uranium mineralization is consistently seen in association with brittle structures crosscutting the shear zone. Purepoint is the operator of the Hook Lake project on behalf of its Joint Venture partners Cameco Corp. and AREVA Resources Canada Inc.

"We are particularly encouraged by the thickness of mineralization where it is associated with cross-cutting structures," said Scott Frostad, Purepoint's V.P. Exploration. "HK-16-47 is mineralized for over 30 metres within a 40 metre interval while HK-16-52 came back with over 18 metres of mineralization and both these intercepts are considered close to true width."

"The continued expansion of Spitfire is helping us define the potential for yet another regional deposit." said Chris Frostad, President & CEO at Purepoint. "We are very excited at the prospect of what the remainder of this season may deliver."

Highlights:

Uranium mineralization is primarily associated with the upper contact of a graphitic/pyritic shear zone and a halo of moderate to intense clay alteration.

High grade mineralization is associated with brecciation that occurs sub-parallel to but cross-cuts the graphitic shear zone.

Highlights of the downhole gamma probe results are HK16-47 with 19.6 metres of 0.82% eU3O8 that includes 7.2 metres of 1.3% eU3O8 and HK16-52 with 18.5 metres of 0.68% eU3O8 that includes 4.3 metres of 2.6% eU3O8.

The targeted graphitic shear zone remains open both along strike and to depth.

Drilling is ongoing and is currently targeting the projected intersection of known brittle structures and the graphitic shear zone.

Spitfire Downhole Probe Results

Drill Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width (m) %eU 3 O 8 HK16-47 177.8 183.7 5.8 0.06 194.7 205.6 10.9 0.15 216.4 236.0 19.6 0.82 Inc. 219.5 226.7 7.2 1.3 Inc. 229.1 230.5 1.4 1.4 HK16-49 220.8 226.8 6.0 0.12 237.5 245.5 8.0 0.30 Inc. 239.2 239.9 0.7 1.7 249.7 253.2 3.5 0.55 Inc. 252.0 252.8 0.8 1.6 HK16-51 331.9 338.1 6.2 0.10 HK16-52 232.0 250.5 18.5 0.68 Inc. 245.2 249.5 4.3 2.6

Note: Down-hole thickness are reported; true width varies depending on drill hole dip; most 2016 drill holes were aimed at intersecting the mineralized structures close to perpendicular therefore true width are close to down hole width (approximately 65% to 75% ratio)

Spitfire Holes to March 14, 2016

Drill hole HK16-47 was collared as a 35 metre NNW step-out from HK16-43 with an azimuth of 295 degrees and a dip of -80 degrees. The unconformity was reached at 153 metres then strongly clay altered granitoid rocks intercalated with metasedimentary rocks were encountered to 193 metres. Numerous clay altered fractures both crosscutting and parallel to foliation returned 0.06% eU3O8 over 5.8 metres. Strongly-sheared chloritized pelitic gneiss was drilled to 201 metres followed by strongly sheared graphitic pelitic gneiss to 208 metres and returned 10.9 metres of 0.15% eU3O8. Granitoid rocks with strong clay alteration occur to 218 metres followed by 19.6 metres of brick-red, oxidized rocks hosting uranium mineralization that is centered on a weakly radioactive 1.2-metre-wide chloritized brittle fault and increases in concentration into the adjacent wall rock. The downhole probe returned 19.6 metres of 0.82% eU3O8 that included 7.2 metres of 1.3% eU3O8. Strongly clay-altered granitoid gneisses and metasediments were encountered to the end of hole at 380 metres.

Drill hole HK16-49 was collared as a 25 metre NNE step-out from HK16-43 with an azimuth of 285 degrees and a dip of -80 degrees. The unconformity was intersected at 151 metres then strongly clay altered granitoid and pelitic rocks were drilled to 224 metres. A fault zone at 220 metres was associated with 6.0 metres of 0.12% eU3O8. The graphitic shear was encountered from 224 to 244 metres and returned 8.0 metres of 0.30% eU3O8 and a second interval with 3.5 metres of 0.55% eU3O8 that includes 0.8 metres of 1.6% eU3O8. Clay and chlorite altered granodioritic gneiss continues to 272 metres and is then unaltered to the completion depth of 398 metres.

Drill hole HK16-51 was collared 90 metres NW of HK15-27 (2.8 metres of 2.23% U3O8) with an azimuth of 315 degrees and a steeper dip of -85 degrees. The unconformity was intersected at 155 metres then strongly silicified granitoid and pelitic rocks were drilled to 262 metres becoming clay altered to 333 metres. The graphitic shear was encountered from 333 to 346 metres and returned 6.2 metres of 0.10% near the upper contact. Graphitic/pyritic pelite mixed with 30 to 50% quartz vein material continued to 377 metres followed by clay altered granodioritic gneiss to the completion depth of 429 metres.

Drill hole HK16-52 was collared 15 metres W of HK16-43 and drilled with an azimuth of 315 degrees and a steep dip of -85 degrees. The unconformity was intersected at 158 metres then strongly clay and chlorite altered granitoid and pelitic rocks were drilled to 244 metres. The graphitic/pyritic shear was encountered from 244 to 284 metres and returned 18.5 metres of 0.68% eU3O8 that included 4.3 metres of 2.6% eU3O8. Granodioritic gneiss with clay alteration was then encountered to 487 metres then the unit is unaltered to the completion depth of 497 metres.

Gamma Logging

A Mount Sopris 2PGA-1000 downhole total gamma probe was utilized for reporting the low-grade mineralization as a %eU 3 O 8 while a Mount Sopris 2GHF-1000 downhole triple-gamma probe was used for estimating the high-grade mineralization. Reported equivalent uranium grades (%eU 3 0 8 ) are downhole calibrated gamma probe results composited by length using a cut-off of 0.05% eU 3 O 8 and maximum internal dilution of 2.0 metres. All drill intercepts are core width and true thickness is yet to be determined.

It is emphasized that the downhole calibrated gamma probe results (eU 3 0 8 ) are preliminary and subject to confirmation by geochemical assay. Further downhole probe results and follow-up geochemical assays will be released as they become available.

Hook Lake JV Project

The Hook Lake JV project is owned jointly by Cameco Corp. (39.5%), AREVA Resources Canada Inc. (39.5%) and Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (21%) and consists of nine claims totaling 28,683 hectares situated in the southwestern Athabasca Basin. The Hook Lake JV is considered one of the highest quality uranium exploration projects in the Athabasca Basin due to its location along the prospective Patterson Lake trend and the relatively shallow depth to the unconformity.

Current exploration is targeting the Patterson Lake Corridor that hosts Fission's Triple R Deposit (indicated mineral resource 79,610,000 lbs U 3 O 8 at an average grade of 1.58% U 3 O 8 ), NexGen Energy's Arrow Deposit (inferred mineral resource 201,900,000 lbs U 3 O 8 at an average grade of 2.63% U 3 O 8 ) and the Spitfire Discovery by the Hook Lake JV.

About Purepoint

Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. is focused on the precision exploration of its seven projects in the Canadian Athabasca Basin. Purepoint proudly maintains project ventures in the Basin with two of the largest uranium producers in the world, Cameco Corporation and AREVA Resources Canada Inc. Established in the Athabasca Basin well before the initial resurgence in uranium earlier last decade. Purepoint is actively advancing a large portfolio of multiple drill targets in the world's richest uranium region.

Scott Frostad BSc, MASc, PGeo, Purepoint's Vice President, Exploration, is the Qualified Person responsible for technical content of this release.

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - March 16, 2016) - Starcore International Mines Ltd. (TSX:SAM) (the "Company") has filed the results for the quarter ended January 31, 2016 for the Company and its mining operations. The full version of the Company's Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis can be viewed on the Company's website at www.starcore.com, or SEDAR at www.sedar.com. All financial information is prepared in accordance with IFRS and all dollar amounts are expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Financial Highlights for quarter ended January 31, 2016:

Cash and short-term investments on hand is $10.5 million at January 31, 2016 compared to $6.0 million at July 31 2015;

Gold and silver sales of $6.9 million for the quarter ended January 31, 2016 compared to $7.1 million for the quarter ended January 31, 2015, a decrease of 2.8%;

Net income of $0.2 million for the quarter ended January 31, 2016 compared to net loss of $0.1 million for the quarter ended January 31, 2015;

EBITDA(1) of $3,911 for the six months ended January 31, 2016 compared to $3,160 for the six months ended January 31, 2015, an increase of 24%.

The following table contains selected highlights from the Company's unaudited consolidated statement of operations for the three and six months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015:

(in thousands of Canadian dollars)

(Unaudited) Three Months ended

January 31, Six Months ended

January 31, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Revenues $ 6,954 $ 7,143 $ 14,658 $ 14,812 Cost of Sales 6,284 6,930 (12,852 ) (14,148 ) Earnings from mining operations 670 213 1,806 664 Administrative expenses (670 ) (512 ) (1,578 ) (1,011 ) Income tax recovery 240 183 574 1,101 Net income (loss) $ 240 $ (116 ) $ 802 $ 754 (i) Income (loss) per share - basic 0.00 (0.00 ) $ 0.02 $ 0.01 (ii) Income (loss) per share - diluted 0.00 (0.00 ) $ 0.02 $ 0.01



Reconciliation of Net income to EBITDA(1) For the six months ending January 31, 2016 2015 Net Income $ 802 $ 754 Income tax recovery (574 ) (1,101 ) Interest 252 44 Depreciation and depletion 3,431 3,463 EBITDA $ 3,911 $ 3,160 EBITDA MARGIN(2) 27 % 21 %

(1) EBITDA ("Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization") is a non-GAAP financial performance measure with no standard definition under IFRS. It is therefore possible that this measure could not be comparable with a similar measure of another Corporation. The Corporation uses this non-GAAP measure which can also be helpful to investors as it provides a result which can be compared with the Corporation's market share price. (2) EBITDA MARGIN is a measurement of a company's operating profitability calculated as EBITDA divided by total revenue. EBITDA MARGIN is a non-GAAP financial performance measure with no standard definition under IFRS. It is therefore possible that this measure could not be comparable with a similar measure of another Corporation. The Corporation uses this non-GAAP measure which can also be helpful to investors as it provides a result which can be compared with the Corporation's market share price.

Production Highlights for quarter ending January 31, 2016:

Equivalent gold production of 4,544 ounces in quarter ended January 31, 2016 compared to 5,130 ounces in the quarter ended January 31, 2015, a decrease of 11%;

Mine operating cash cost is US$786/EqOz for the quarter ended January 31, 2016 compared to US$936/EqOz for the quarter ended January 31, 2015, a decrease of 16%;

All-in sustaining costs of US$943/EqOz for the quarter ended January 31, 2016 compared to US$1,080 for the quarter ended January 31, 2015, a decrease of 13%;

The following table is a summary of mine production statistics for the San Martin mine for three and six months ended January 31, 2016 and the year ended July 31, 2015:

Unit of measure Actual results

for 3 months

ended

January 31,

2016 Actual results

for 6 months

ended

January 31,

2016 Actual results

for 12 months

ended

July 31,

2015 Production of Gold in Dore thousand ounces 4.2 9.0 18.3 Production of Silver in Dore thousand ounces 27.7 56.1 97.1 Equivalent ounces of Gold thousand ounces 4.5 9.7 19.6 Silver to Gold equivalency ratio 76.2:1 75.6:1 71.6:1 Gold grade grams/tonne 1.99 2.11 2.14 Silver grade grams/tonne 20.9 21.2 18.2 Gold recovery percent 84.2 % 85.5 % 85.1 % Silver recovery percent 53.2 % 53.1 % 53.1 % Milled thousands of tonnes 77.5 155.5 311.9 Operating Cost per tonne milled US dollars/tonne 46 49 57 Operating Cost per Equivalent ounce US dollars/ounces 786 786 903

"This quarter we were able to announce two significant milestones; we entered into an agreement to sell our San Pedrito Property, expecting to net the Company approximately US$7million; and we poured our first dore bar from the newly commissioned Altiplano Concentrate Processing Plant located in Matehuala, Mexico. Along with our continued production and positive cash flow from our San Martin mine in Queretaro, we are expanding our profitable footprint in Mexico in accordance with our long term goals." reported Robert Eadie, President of the Company.

About Starcore

Starcore is engaged in exploring, extracting and processing gold and silver through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Compania Minera Pena de Bernal, S.A. de C.V., which owns the San Martin mine in Queretaro, Mexico. The Company is a public reporting issuer on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The Company is also engaged in owning, acquiring, exploiting, exploring and evaluating mineral properties, and either joint venturing or developing these properties further. The Company has interests in properties which are exclusively located in North America.

ON BEHALF OF STARCORE INTERNATIONAL MINES LTD.

Gary Arca, Chief Financial Officer and Director

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed nor does it accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
GRAND ISLAND -- One of the ways into Grand Island may be on its way out.

Grand Islands Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA) is scheduled to talk at 4 p.m. Wednesday about eliminating the free-right-turn lane from westbound Highway 34 to northbound South Locust Street.

Traffic there merges from the highway to South Locust on a curved roadway, similar to an on-ramp, without stopping.

CRA Director Chad Nabity said the developers of a proposed 250- to 300-apartment complex at the former Vanosdall softball fields have asked to have a road into the development from South Locust Street.

Currently, the 12-acre Vanosdall property only has an access easement that crosses CRA-owned property at 3235 S. Locust St., the former location of the Desert Rose night club.

The CRA bought the Desert Rose in 2010 for $450,000 and spent another $40,000 to demolish the 40,000-square-foot substandard building. It has had the remaining three acres of land there for sale.

Nabity said access to both the CRA property and the Vanosdall property has always been a challenge because of the free right turn, but if that turn were eliminated, both pieces of land could have direct street access to South Locust Street, which could aid development.

Eliminating the free right turn is something the Nebraska Department of Roads would consider.

At this location, if they want to get access to South Locust  we would prefer to have the free right gone, said Wes Wahlgren, District 4 engineer for the Nebraska Department of Roads. Its really not needed.

Wahlgren said the Highway 34/South Locust intersection is already a regulation intersection that allows both right and left turns. Having the free-right-turn lane is duplicative and also is at an angle that causes drivers to look over their shoulder.

Therefore, eliminating the free-right-turn lane and allowing a new street onto South Locust from the former Desert Rose and Vanosdall properties may make sense, he said.

That new road would be about 600 feet north of Highway 34, according to preliminary drawings from the apartment developers.

They are requesting that the CRA consider directing staff to draft and prepare for execution the necessary paperwork to relocate the access easement for the Vanosdall property, Nabity said. They are also asking the CRA to consider directing staff to prepare and send a request to NDOR (Nebraska Department of Roads) to close the free right from U.S. Highway 34 westbound to South Locust and allow a full-access intersection onto South Locust at the northwest corner of the Desert Rose property.

But even if the state allows the free right to be eliminated, there are several costs and details to work out.

Wahlgren said the adjoining property owner typically has first right to obtain the land where the free right is located, but they have to pay fair market value for the land. Maps show it is just less than one acre in size.

The new owner would also be responsible for taking out the free right pavement and possibly for narrowing Highway 34 to the typical size for a regulation intersection, Wahlgren said.

Whether those changes would be the cost of a developer or the CRA, Nabity said they are changes that are likely to help spur development at Highway 34 and South Locust Street.

If we work with them (NDOR) to eliminate it now, it would allow the CRA property to have full access to the street, he said.

The Grand Island City Council recently declared the former Vanosdall softball field land blighted and substandard. That makes the ground eligible for redevelopment assistance, including tax-increment financing. Much of the land along South Locust Street was previously declared blighted and substandard.
WASHINGTON  A top Obama administration official on Tuesday blamed logistics rather than immigration policies for her agencys failure to detain Eswin Mejia after police say he caused a fatal accident in Omaha while street racing.

Mejia, 19, slammed into the back of Sarah Roots vehicle early on Jan. 31, according to police. Prosecutors say Mejias blood-alcohol content was .241, three times the .08 legal limit.

Root, 21, died a short time later at a hospital. Mejia, who was allegedly in the country illegally, was arrested and charged with felony motor vehicle homicide, but he disappeared after being released on $5,000 bail.

Sarah Saldana, director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, appeared Tuesday before the Senate Homeland Security Committee. Sen. Ben Sasse, a Nebraska Republican, pressed her on why her agency failed to act.

We acted  we tried to act, sir, but I believe there was a matter of hours between the time that we were contacted and the actual release, Saldana testified. It is very hard for us to get to every inquiry that is made by law enforcement, and unfortunately it had a horrible consequence here. But we try very hard to respond as quickly as possible; we just cant get to every site within a matter of hours.

Mejia was charged on Feb. 3, three days after the Jan. 31 crash. His bail was set Feb. 4, and he left jail the evening of Feb. 5.

Saldanas response would seem to contradict an earlier statement by an ICE spokesman. When asked why ICE declined repeated Omaha police requests to detain Mejia, the spokesman said Mejias arrest did not meet ICEs enforcement priorities as laid out in a 2014 memo issued by the secretary of Homeland Security. That memo prioritizes detention and removal for those with felony convictions; it does not specifically authorize an immigration hold simply based on a felony arrest.

Asked about the spokesmans statement, Saldana said: I would not have said that.

She said the agency looks at each case and determines whether a detainer is appropriate.

There is not a single injury or death that occurs at the hands of an illegal immigrant that doesnt weigh heavily on me, she said.

In response to further questions, she said the spokesmans statement represented one persons interpretation.

Every situation we have that results in something as horrific as this, we always try to learn from it, and Ill be following up to look at the specific individuals involved, how the judgment was formed, and why that was done, she said.

Nebraska and Iowa lawmakers have been calling on federal officials to release more information about the case.

Rep. Brad Ashford, D-Neb., sent a letter on Tuesday to Saldana seeking details about what went wrong in this case and what steps the agency is taking to track down Mejia.

After the hearing, Sasse noted that Saldana had admitted that Mejia was a threat to public safety, but he said he was not satisfied with her answers.

After todays hearing, we are not any closer to a clear account of what went wrong, Sasse said. I am disheartened by ICEs excuses and evolving explanations. ICE has promised to provide a full accounting of what happened by March 25th. I look forward to their response.
Organisers of St Patricks Day celebrations are gearing up for Kilkennys biggest parade to date, with over 40 participants, community groups and clubs taking part in the annual parade. Over 20,000 members of the public attend the parade in 2015. The theme for the 2016 parade is Kilkenny 1916-2016, Reflect Our Past History - Celebrate Our Future.

Chairperson of the St Patricks Day Festival Committee Cllr Malcolm Noonan states This years festival is going to be the biggest and best yet. The forecast looks promising and that will bring out the crowds.

Irish wolfhound Fionn is the newly acquired mascot for the 3rd Infantry Battalion at James Stephens Barracks and along with members of both the Permanent and Reserve elements of the Battalion, will lead the parade which starts at 1pm from St. Johns Church on Thursday 17th March.

With participants travelling from all over the world, organisers are excited to welcome the Shorecrest Marching Band from Washington, USA. The 110 musicians and 24 flag wavers and majorettes from the Shorecrest High School Marching Band join the parade.

We are pleased that the civic element of the Parade will be acknowledged in the procession of invited Mayors with our own City Mayor leading the Parade. We also have a number of significant twinning and friendship agreements to be signed at a special ceremony afterwards in Kilkenny Castle. This in my view represents the new Ireland; the legacy of 1916 is an Ireland reaching the hand of friendship across Europe and beyond. Kilkenny has welcomed refugees, children from Chernobyl, people from many nationalities and we want our Parade to be a celebration of inter- culturalism and welcome to all said Cllr Noonan.

Pre and post Parade activities include a an exciting day of history at James Stephens Barracks. James Stephens Barracks will open their gates to the public and invite people to visit their stunning Museum, which is seeping in Irish history. The Museum Open Day starts at 11am until 3pm. A unique chance to wander around the grounds of James Stephens Barracks.

From tunes on the streets with Anthony McAuley and The Maguire Family to The Tallest Smallest Circus to Hakuna Matata Acrobats and not to mention the crazy Mountebonk crew from Westport, the streets of Kilkenny will be shining bright and bold throughout the day.

This is a family friendly event and we want people of all ages to enjoy the parade and other activities we have planned for the day. We are asking the business community to come on board and to decorate their premises, shopfronts and above shops. stated Malcolm Noonan.

Kila will headline in the beautiful grounds of Kilkenny Castle Park post parade. Up and coming local acts Martin Power and Ryan Thomas will open for Kila in the park at 2.15pm.

St. Patricks Day organisers are encouraging people to join the start of the parade at 1pm from St Johns Church on Thursday. For details on Kilkennys St Patricks Day visit www.kilkennytradfest.com
What if you learned you could get in on the ground floor of the next hot start-up -- investing right alongside the company's founders with as little as a few hundred dollars? And you'd be potentially multiplying your initial investment several hundred times over?

Sounds great. But what if instead of the next Twitter, you might actually be investing in a beer-brewing venture run out of your neighbor's garage? And even if the business took off, you would likely have to wait seven years or more to get your money back. Oh, and the Web site you're investing through? It has a history of raising money for fraudulent ventures.

Welcome to the fun-house world of crowdfunded investing. You're probably already familiar with crowdfunding, the process by which inventors and artists can raise donations for projects on Web sites such as Kickstarter and GoFundMe, and might reward donors with, say, a sample of their work. Crowdfunded investing, also known as equity crowdfunding, follows a similar process, but a commitment of funds earns you a bona fide ownership stake in a nascent business.

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Equity crowdfunding isn't new, but to date it has generally been restricted to "accredited investors" -- meaning those who meet certain income or asset thresholds (either assets of more than $1 million, excluding a primary residence, or income in the current year and each of the last two years of more than $200,000 for individuals or $300,000 for married couples).

Under new regulations, starting May 16, equity crowdfunding sites such as Crowdfunder, SeedInvest and Wefunder will be able to start taking investments from anyone. The new regulations limit how much you may invest according to your income. Investors with annual income or net worth of less than $100,000 can invest up to the greater of $2,000 or 5% of the lesser of annual income or net worth over 12 months. Investors with net worth and annual income of at least $100,000 can invest up to 10% of the lesser of annual income or net worth over 12 months. Investors cannot invest more than a total of $100,000 in crowdfunded offerings over 12 months.

Investors may be drawn to equity crowdfunding for the potential for outsized returns. Consider Zenefits, a human-resources-management Web site. Zenefits raised money in 2013 on Wefunder, when the company was valued at $9 million. Just two years later, Zenefits was valued at $4.5 billion -- almost a 500-fold increase. "Now, smaller investors can get a seat at the table" for such deals, says James Murphy, chief executive officer of EquityNet, an equity crowdfunding Web site.

However, the chance at big gains comes with a greater chance of losing your principal. Only about one-third of small businesses survive 10 years or more, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Start-ups that want to raise money from a large number of small investors, rather than primarily from accredited investors, will be doing so under new U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules called Regulation Crowdfunding. Under the new rules, start-ups can raise no more than $1 million in a 12-month period. And firms must provide investors with annual reports -- a step they generally may skip by working only with accredited investors. With these and other restrictions, "it's going to be a very costly way of raising capital," says Brian Korn, a lawyer with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, in New York City. Because of these costs, the best and the brightest companies will probably skip Regulation Crowdfunding and instead work with venture capital firms and accredited investors.

Another drawback: If you invest in a successful start-up, you typically won't be able to cash out until the company is either acquired or goes public. Crowdfunding Web sites caution investors to expect to wait between three and nine years to see an investment return. As CircleUp, an equity crowdfunding site for accredited investors, states on its Web site, "there is no way to predict if or when you may receive a return"

Finally, although Regulation Crowdfunding does offer some guardrails to protect against fraud, these companies won't be going through the kind of intense vetting that precedes a public offering. The regulations require that crowdfunding Web sites conduct background checks on issuers. And start-ups must provide financial statements to prospective investors, although in many cases those statements won't be audited.

But so far the Web sites' record on keeping fraudsters off their platforms has been spotty. In October, the SEC took legal action to freeze the assets and stop fund-raising efforts of a company called Ascenergy. The firm billed itself as an oil-and-gas venture, but according to the SEC it was actually sending investor dollars straight to its chief executive's pocket. Ascenergy had used the Web sites of Crowdfunder, EquityNet and Fundable to solicit for investments.

Know What You're Buying

If you'd still like to venture into this brave new world, arm yourself with information. Be sure the Web site you're investing through is registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (www.finra.org (opens in new tab)). And consider choosing a site that turns away more prospective start-ups than it accepts. SeedInvest, for example, generally accepts less than 1% of companies that apply to use its platform for funding.

Read the issuer's disclosures carefully, and pay particular attention to information on what rights your shares entitle you to and where your investment sits in the company's capital structure. For example, are you buying common shares, preferred shares, convertible notes or something else? Does your investment bestow voting rights? Remember, too, that as a company grows it typically goes through several rounds of capital raising, so your ownership stake -- and your possible returns -- will almost certainly be diluted over time.

You won't be able to track the value of your investment. Instead, you'll be waiting in the dark for the company's next annual report, or for eventual news of an acquisition or initial public offering. If the company survives and goes on to raise more funds, you'll receive clues as to what your shares might be worth, because future investors will have to come up with a price tag for the company in deciding how much to invest.

However, until you've received cash, such figures remain hypothetical. Remember those Zenefits investors? The start-up's chief executive officer resigned in February amid revelations of compliance failures, and insurance regulators are investigating the firm. Whether the company is still worth $4.5 billion is anyone's guess.

Currently, most equity crowdfunding sites charge companies to use their platforms and don't directly charge investors. But that could change as the Web sites expand into Regulation Crowdfunding offerings, so check fees before you invest.
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By Kitsap Sun Staff

OLYMPIA  The tribe, the community and now the boat.

The fourth new Olympic Class ferry will be named Suquamish.

The state Transportation Commission chose the name of the Kitsap tribe and NK community over Cowlitz and Sammamish during its meeting Wednesday.

Proponents of each name made presentations during the commission's January meeting. People were encouraged to vote at the Ferry Riders Opinion Group and the Voice of Washington State survey sites. Nearly 6,000 responded. Forty-six percent preferred Suquamish, more than doubling runner-up Cowlitz at 21 percent. Sammamish brought up the rear at 17 percent.

There was a three-way tie among ferry advisory committee members for Suquamish, Cowlitz and none of the above. Washington State Ferries informally supported Suquamish, "given there's a lot of collaboration between the ferry system and the Suquamish Tribe and a great relationship between Washington State Ferries and the Suquamish leaders," said Debbie Young, chairwoman of the commission's ferry team.

Sammamish was disregarded because it's too similar to existing ferry name Samish, which the Coast Guard says raises safety concerns. Cowlitz didn't stack up to the Suquamish's support.

"In the end we chose to follow the vote of the people where we got an overwhelming support for the name Suquamish," Young said.

Funds for the 144-car, 1,500-passenger boat were included in the $16.1 billion transportation revenue package passed by the Legislature in June. It's expected to begin service in fall 2018. The route hasn't been determined.

The state Transportation Commission in 2014 selected the name Chimacum for the third ferry, which will join the Bremerton route in early 2017. The names of the first two Olympic Class ferries are Samish and Tokitae.
Duane Moore wheels a shopping cart of thawed and ruined pies down the aisle as he and fellow employees clean out the freezer cases Tuesday at Grocery Outlet in Bremerton. The store has been without power since Sunday's storm.

SHARE Grocery Outlet in Bremerton Grocery Outlet owner Mae Respicio waves to customers Tuesday from the doorway while apologizing that her store is closed due to lack of power after Sunday's storm in Bremerton. Grocery Outlet owner Albert Respicio wheels a cart past the empty meat case Tuesday as he and his employees power wash the cases. Signs stating the store is closed due to lack of power adorn the door at Grocery Outlet.

By Ed Friedrich of the Kitsap Sun

Power outages can be an adventure, but the fun wears off as hours turn to days.

Tuesday morning, more than 30 hours after the latest windstorm, 68 separate power outages remained in Kitsap County. Among them was Grocery Outlet in East Bremerton, the only Wheaton Mall store in the dark. Other tenants were restored around midnight Sunday.

Mae Respicio, who owns the store with husband Albert, couldn't explain the anomaly or why she had current to run emergency lights and the phone but little else.

Puget Sound Energy explained by phone that it had to address higher-priority properties, such as the hospital and those with trees and wires down.

"They apologized and apologized, 'We're doing the best we can,'" Respicio said. "I just call every two hours and say I'm still here."

Respicio was fortunate to obtain a container for refrigerated and frozen food.

"We had losses, but we don't know what it is," she said. "Right now we're saving what we can, and we'll figure out the damages later."

With cases empty and employees needing hours, she put them to work cleaning.

Shoppers stopped by, looked around in the shopping center at Starbucks, Kitsap Bank and Henery Do It Best Hardware conducting business, and wondered why they can't enter the grocery store.

"They're just amazed," Respicio said. "'Why don't you have power? Everybody around you does. I don't understand.'

"I say: 'Join the club. I don't understand either.'"

At the height of the windstorm, which began Sunday afternoon across the region, tens of thousands were without power.

Seniors living at Golden Tides I and II in Silverdale fared well despite electricity not being completely restored until 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. They had an odd mix of no, partial or full power at the complex across Bayshore Drive from Dyes Inlet, said Housing Kitsap marketing administrative assistant Carli Schmitz.

"There were just a few who had no power at all," she said. "We opened up the lobby and had the kitchen and fireplaces going."

The storm warning came early this time, so many residents made plans to stay with friends or family.

"Other residents who stayed on site hung out with their neighbors in our community area," Schmitz said. "It really worked out well."

Kitsap County was one of the hardest-hit regions, PSE spokeswoman Akiko Oda said. Besides the dozens of personnel staffing the storm base in Poulsbo, the utility had 28 line crews of three or four people, nine tree crews, 11 servicemen and 25 teams of damage assessors working around the clock to restore power in Kitsap County.

Restoration efforts can be time consuming. For example, 10 power poles had to be replaced just in Kitsap, with each one taking about six hours to install.

Anybody who isn't restored by Tuesday night should call 888-225-5773, Oda said.

"We understand losing power for multiple days is frustrating and an inconvenience," she said. "We really appreciate our customers' patience throughout this stormy March."
Hansville's Point No Point Park, which includes the lighthouse, is one of dozens of parks and conservation areas in Kitsap that benefited from Washington Recreation and Program funding. A bill passed in the Legislature tilts the program away from land acquisitions and more toward the maintenance of existing parklands. MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN

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By Tristan Baurick of the Kitsap Sun

The state's largest fund for parks and conservation areas is being reshaped to put more money into fixing up existing parks and less money into buying new ones.

A bill passed by the Legislature last week offers several concessions to critics of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, which distributes tens of millions of dollars to purchase and improve public lands for outdoor recreation, habitat conservation and farming.

"This addresses the concerns about maintenance in parks (by) putting more into stewardship rather than acquisition," said Lou-Anne Daoust-Filiatrault, a policy analyst with the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition, a nonprofit representing 280 outdoor and environmental groups.

Senate leaders frustrated with the WWRP's emphasis on land purchases sparked controversy last year when they inserted themselves into the WWRP's independent funding process. The Senate's budget writers took millions of dollars from property acquisitions and put much of the money into alleviating the maintenance and development challenges many city and county park systems face.

The coalition and several other recreation and conservation groups protested, saying the move dismantled a process that had been free of political influence for 25 years.

The Senate backed off and instead ordered the state Recreation and Conservation Office to consult with stakeholder groups and craft recommendations for altering the WWRP.

The bill, which passed the Senate and House by large margins, came out of that process. It's expected to be signed by the governor in the coming weeks.

A key change is the elimination of the WWRP's Riparian Protection Account, which buys and preserves habitat around streams and rivers.

Previously, the WWRP put 30 percent of its state appropriation into the account. Under the bill, the riparian account's share will be divvied up among other accounts. The Outdoor Recreation Account, which emphasizes park improvements over habitat preservation, will go to a 45 percent share from 30 percent.

"It does recognize some of the (maintenance) backlog in local parks and trails," said Doug Levy, a lobbyist for the Washington Recreation and Parks Association, which represents city and county parks departments. "We did feel there needed to be a slight tilt toward park development. This bill does shade it that way."

In recent years, the Kitsap County Parks Department's maintenance staffing levels have shrunk while park acreage has grown, including the addition of more than 1,000 acres since 2014.

The department has shifted some of the maintenance burden to volunteers. The number of volunteer hours logged in county parks has grown about 10 percent over the past five years, as unpaid park users take on trail maintenance, landscaping and other duties.

City park systems also are struggling. Bremerton's parks department staffing levels are about what they were in the late 1970s, and yet the city's park system has added about 20 properties since then.

The shift toward improving parks will come at a cost to critical species, including salmon, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, which backed the bill but expressed concerns about eliminating the Riparian Protection Account.

"The reconfigured allocation drastically reduces funding for riparian habitat, which is incredibly vulnerable to land-use change and whose conservation is critical for clean water and fish," said Cynthia Wilkerson, a Fish and Wildlife land conservation manager.

Earning widespread praise was a provision in the bill that makes it easier for underserved communities to get WWRP funding.

The bill would allow the WWRP to reduce or waive funding match requirements for groups or governments serving low-income areas and communities with significant ethnic minority populations. The usual requirement was to have the applicant provide a local match of the money awarded by the WWRP.

"This allows communities that can't afford or don't have the staff to participate," said Kaleen Cottingham, director of the state Recreation and Conservation Office, which administers WWRP.

About $55 million was appropriated for the WWRP last year  down from $65 million in the previous budget. Two Kitsap projects were funded. The county's proposed mountain bike park in Port Gamble was awarded $500,000 and Port Orchard received $106,000 for the Bay Street pedestrian and bike path.

The WWRP has invested more than $41 million in Kitsap since 1990. Among the 61 Kitsap projects are the expansion of South Kitsap Regional Park, several improvements at Bremerton's Evergreen-Rotary Park and land acquisitions for Old Mill Park in Silverdale, Blakely Harbor Park on Bainbridge Island and Point No Point Park in Hansville.
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MIAMI BEACH  One wouldn't call them bedfellows, strange or otherwise, but President Obama and Donald Trump are both inadvertently helping the Islamic State through rhetoric that is either too cautious or too rash.

It shouldn't be difficult to discern which is which.

Obama, through his studious avoidance of explicitly calling terrorists or the Islamic State either Islamic or Muslim, is "silly," perhaps "cowardly" and likely unproductive. And Trump, with his other-izing approach to problem solving  targeting adherents of Islam for special scrutiny  contributes to recruitment and radicalization by marginalizing Muslims.

This composite appraisal comes from two authorities on Islam-inspired terrorism  Boston University professor Jessica Stern, author of "ISIS: The State of Terror," and Abdullah Antepli, an imam and senior fellow at Duke University's Office of Civic Engagement.

The two were among several speakers at a recent Faith Angle Forum, sponsored by the Ethics and Public Policy Center, which twice annually convenes journalists and scholars to delve deeply into issues related to religion, culture and current events.

Antepli was also critical of moderate Muslims who feel the need to defend Islam even in the wake of terrorist attacks. A jovial fellow whose students have nicknamed him the "Turkish Delight Imam," Antepli said he'll "scream and pull my hair out" if he hears one more time that Islam is a religion of peace.

It is and it isn't, depending on which text one uses for one's purposes. Just as the abolitionists used scripture to end slavery, the Islamic State uses the Quran to resurrect slavery.

No religion, said Antepli, is one thing. Every religion, especially those that are centuries old, is many things. Understanding requires familiarity with what Antepli identified as the three main categories of all religions: history, people and, last, theology.

In other words, religion is only part of the terrorist equation, but denying it altogether is a mistake, both agree. On this score, Obama's critics may be correct, though others would argue that naming Islam risks alienating moderate Muslims.

Antepli countered that moderate Muslims are just as repelled by the Islamic State  and are just as often its victims  as the rest of the world.

The question that puzzles the civilized world is why the Islamic State is so successful in recruiting. For your edification, only about 120 Americans thus far have been recruited, about 40 percent of whom are converts, Antepli said. We know that the Islamic State has a sophisticated propaganda machine and a viral social media presence. But most won't know how poorly we perform comparatively. Every day, the Islamic State tweets tens of thousands of times, compared with the U.S. State Department, which sends about a dozen.

Stern emphasized that the radical jihadist ideology is undergirded with a narrative of humiliation, reinforced with branding and perverse promises  sex slaves, drugs, power  all of which can be justified with Quranic text. The promises would be especially irresistible to a certain kind of person: The typical jihadist is a male aged 14-35 who has a mental health history and feels alienated.

Yes, some percentage of recruits are surely psychopaths attracted to the brutality the Islamic State justifies with text. And some are true believers. But many of the remainders are simply ripe for the picking. We do ourselves no favors when we play into the Islamic State's hand by reinforcing their propaganda that America hates Muslims.

Nor is it useful to fight ideology with violence, which only nurtures brutality in the jihadi mind. And certainly not by creating divisions between them and us, a propagandist tool for recruitment and radicalization.

My favorite approach relates to a method Antepli uses in his work to de-radicalize young Muslims. He told the story of a young man who was considering joining the Islamic State. Antepli, who is often called in by parents concerned about their children, said though it was the lad's decision, he should thoroughly understand all the parts of Islam before making a decision.

The young man agreed to listen. By the time Antepli had finished his recitation of the nuances, history and reality of the Islamic State, the erstwhile sympathizer said, "I don't want anything to do with that. It's boring!"

Indeed, evil isn't only banal; it's a big bore.
The headline:

US spy boss in NZ on secret visit

Not that secret. There is a difference between a secret visit, and a visit that doesnt get announced via press release but is otherwise open.

The US director of national intelligence, James Clapper, is in New Zealand for farewell talks with the Government and spy chiefs. It had been a secret visit until Mr Key was asked at his post cabinet press conference if he knew why a Globemaster C-17 was parked at Wellington airport. Mr Key said Yes, because Jim Clappers in town.

If it was secret, they wouldnt have the plane parked openly at the airport.

Mr Key said Mr Clapper, who has been Americas intelligence chief since 2010, was on his way to a Five Eyes meeting in Australia. He is retiring before President [Barack] Obama effectively steps down in 2017 so I dont know if hell be back in New Zealand again. Mr Key said he had met him on a couple of occasions and he had great insights into intelligence and what is happening around the world.

We do get very excited whenever someone from the US military or intelligence community visits.

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Stuff reports:

Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Little, said immigration was positive for any country but in times when our economy is creaking, we need to be able to turn the tap down a bit.

If that was all he said, I would agree. I think adjusting immigration settings can be quite sensible if there is a strain on infrastructure.

Littles comments come after a visit last week to Lower Hutt, where he said immigration was having some downwards impact on the countrys wages. He said the hospitality industry was a good example of where migrant workers could be affecting wages. A lot of Chinese and Indian migrants with particular cooking skills could actually be sourced locally and the country didnt need to rely on immigration to fill that skill-set, he said.

Are they going check surnames of all the chefs now?

Does Little have any evidence to this claim that there are lots of NZers with these skills who are out of work?

Also most ironically the FTA signed wth China (negotiated by Labour) explicitly mandates up to 200 Chinese chefs a year can come and work here. So Little is now campaigning against Labours own FTA!

On Wednesday Little stood by those comments and said if he was in Government he would put a cap on immigration right now.

Thats a nonsense statement. He cant. Heres why.

You cant cap Australians migrating to NZ You cant cap NZers returning home to NZ

You can adjust the number of points you need to qualify for a residential visa and there may be a case for that. But that will not cap immigration. Most of the net migration flows (Australians and NZers deciding where to live) are not subject to Government decision.

Key said he couldnt work out where Little was coming from. One minute theyre saying they dont want people with Chinese-sounding names buying houses, now theyre saying they dont want people with Chinese-sounding names making chicken chop suey. Look, there are some Chinese migrants who come to New Zealand but theyre hard working and they do a good job, he said.

It is obvious Little is dog whistling at Asian immigrants with his comments.

I dare him to go to have announced at Pasifika last weekend that he thinks we have too many immigrants and he wants to curtail Pacific Island immigration!

Maybe the reason he is targeting Asian immigration, not Pasifika immigration, is because Labour doesnt get so much of the Asian vote?

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The biggest question on the minds of almost everyone following the US Presidential election race is: can Donald Trump be stopped? I will cover that question last as it is the most consequential but there are a number of other questions that Kiwi followers of the race might have. Lets cover off the Democrats side first as things are more clear cut there.

Can Sanders beat Clinton?

No. Even if he was coming close to Clinton in the recent Democrat primaries (thus garnering only slightly less delegates proportionally as all Democrat primaries/caucuses award delegates proportionally), the presence of the so-called super delegates (who are pretty much all pledged to support Hillary-the current super delegate split is 467 to 26) would ensure hed lose the nomination. However, last night on Super Tuesday 3, despite Clintons shock lost last week in Michigan, Clinton bested Sanders by substantial margins and in a series of delegate rich states such as Florida and Illinois. The delegate count stands at 1,599 vs 844 or almost 2:1.

Will Sanders drop out soon?

Unlikely. He has plenty of money; actually more than any other candidate running for either party and he has captured the activist base of the Democrat party and enjoys an almost iconic status among the young and idealist more left leaning voters. Sanders will continue to pick off the odd state with favourable demographics (such as his narrow win in Missouri last night) but it will be impossible for him to overhaul Clintons lead. Sanders will be secretly hoping that Clinton will be forced to drop out of the race if indicted for breaches of intelligence secrecy laws with her use of an external private email server to transmit top secret material during her tenure as Secretary of State.

Will Clinton be indicted?

A $64,000 question. In terms of the sheer volume of secret material that was transmitted via her unsecured home brew email server (over 2,000 emails marked secret and 22 marked with the very highest designation: Top Secret/Special Access Programs), the answer should be yes. The 22 SAP emails had material so sensitive to national security that they could not be released by the State Department (under the court ordered release) even in redacted form. General Petraeus was indicted for passing a smaller amount of less secret material to his girlfriend who was writing his memoirs. If Clinton was an employee at an intelligence agency, shed be in jail already but Clinton is no ordinary person. The FBI seems to be playing a straight bat with their investigation but the granting of immunity from prosecution to the man tasked by Clinton to set the whole separate email system up is an ominous sign for her. The FBI Director James Comey is known to be independent and unswayed by political machinations but the decisions to prosecute will not be his  that will be made by the Department of Justice and by three layers of Obama political appointees including the Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Will Obama throw Clinton under the bus? Given the detrimental effect of an indictment then leading to a Republican win, not likely. But any decision not to indict runs the risk of mass leaking of the facts by the FBI investigators of Clintons reckless disregard for national security that even the Democrat leaning media would find hard to ignore.

If shes indicted, what might happen?

Democrat insiders are reportedly very nervous about Clinton and not just because of the vulnerability over the email server issue. Plan B however is to not let Sanders prevail at the Convention as he is deemed to be too left wing to be electable even against a flawed candidate like Trump. Most likely they will parachute Vice President Joe Biden into the Convention as a salvation candidate whom the delegates will rally around to win in the November General Election. There is no other option as the Democrats front bench is so devoid of talent.

Switching now to the Republican side which is where all the drama is!

Can Trump still win a majority of delegates?

Yes, but he would have to win the remaining primary races by a margin of 53% or more which is doable but above the average of the mid 40s he has been achieving in recent primaries. Trump is still going to face Cruz and Kasich whose combined vote will likely deny Trump the majority he seeks. If all remaining contests were winner-take-all this wouldnt matter but they arent and there are still states where Cruz will likely win (e.g. Utah). Most intelligent analysts of the race are picking the race will go to what is called an open or contested Convention.

What is an open (or contested) Convention?

The US political parties formally nominate their Presidential flag bearer at their quadrennial conventions held in the mid/late summer of the Presidential election year. Most conventions are a carefully staged managed coronation as the partys preferred nominee has emerged from the primary election season with a majority of delegates. In the case of the Republican Party, it has 2,472 delegates from each of the states with delegates proportionate to each states population. The GOP nominee has to win a majority of the delegates or 1,273 [edit 1,237]. Delegates arrive at the 2016 Republican Convention in Cleveland, Ohio on July 18th nominally bound to their candidate (and some are more bound than others as each states electoral laws and thus internal party primary/caucus/nominating procedures differ). If no candidate comes with a majority of the delegates, then no candidate can win the first round of voting. Depending on governing state election laws and internal state GOP procedures, most of the delegates become unbound in the second round leaving them free to support a different candidate than the one they came to represent. The outcome will depend on a myriad of factors but most heavily on the respective strengths of the 2nd and 3rd ranked candidates and the on the horse trading and enticements that can be made. Abraham Lincoln for instance arrived at the 1860 Republican Convention in 4th place and after 4 rounds of voting, emerged as the victor due to the shifting allegiances to his three higher polling rivals as each failed to win an outright majority with each voting round.

Could Ted Cruz ever manage to win a majority of delegates before the Convention?

Cruz currently holds 397 delegates to Trumps 646 (the remaining delegates are distributed: Rubio 169 Kasich 142 Carson 8 Bush 4 Fiorina, Paul and Huckabee 1 each). For Cruz to win outright, hed need to win the remaining races by a margin of around 70%. Based on current trends, thats a near impossibility. Cruzs only pathway to the nomination is to deny Trump his majority and secure nomination on a second or subsequent ballot at the Convention.

But wont it be easier for Cruz if Rubio and Kasich both drop out leaving it as a one on one race?

First off whilst Rubio has suspended his campaign yesterday after his heavy loss to Trump in his home state of Florida, Kasichs clear win in Ohio (his home state where he has had some success as Governor) will buoy him to continue. Some of the establishment donors that initially funded Bush, then switched to Rubio for a time, will donate to Kasich enabling him to keep running. He will fancy his chances in Wisconsin (a winner take all primary where Kasich enjoys the support of Governor Walker who remains popular amongst WI GOP voters). Kasich cannot win (indeed his pathway to a majority is hed have to win 90% of votes in the remaining primaries) but he will stay in to bolster his bargaining power at the Convention.

Primary voters dont move in simple binary ways so to assume that everyone not voting for Trump is vehemently anti Trump is a mistake. Lets assume Kasich did drop out, it is wrong for Cruzs campaign to assume that all of the Rubio and Kasich voters would come to him. A majority would but not all of them. Cruz is banking on that happening and that Trump is stuck at 45%. The other thing is that not all the remaining primaries are winner take all and so even if Cruz was to consolidate the anti-Trump vote behind him, Trump would still win enough delegates to deny Cruz a majority. California is the biggest prize awarding a whopping 341 delegates (172 from the primary then 169 alternates) but it awards delegates incrementally to the candidate who wins a plurality in each of the 51 Congressional districts making it very costly and complicated for one candidate to prevail. Its primary isnt until June 2nd making it the first time in living memory that a California primary has any influence on a nomination race. For those who want to stop Trump reaching 1,271 [edit 1,237] then the longer it is a three-man race, the greater the likelihood of a contested Convention. Thus the Cruz v Trump head to head race that Cruz so desires, will not be happening until Kasich runs out of money and starts to poll so low that he cant cross minimum vote thresholds in proportional states to be awarded delegates.

CAN TRUMP BE STOPPED?

If he wins 1,271 [edit 1,237]delegates before the Convention, no  he will be the nominee. But if he doesnt, then look to the party establishment to use a variety of tactics to deny him the nomination. The playbook to do this is detailed by Sasha Issenberg of Bloomberg. Reader Digest version: the selection of GOP delegates to the Convention is a shadow hidden primary campaign of back room deals, arm twisting, granting of favours and controlled by state and local level Republicans who are much more likely to support a mainstream candidate. Whilst a few states force their delegates to stay bound to their candidate throughout, almost all states allow their delegates to be unbound after the first ballot. The race is on to fill these delegate slots across the country with anti-Trump people who can be counted on to desert Trump after the first ballot. Arcane rules will be used to challenge any questionable primary or caucus results (e.g. the known chaos at the Nevada caucus and the public role of Trump supporters in dominating enrollment procedures at key caucus sites). Some states control the delegate appointment process in the hands of very few. For example, in South Carolina you can only be a delegate if you attended the 2015 State GOP Convention and that was held before Trump even announced his candidacy. The delegate appointments are controlled by Governor Nicki Hayley known to be anti-Trump and will be supported by both SC Senators Graham and Scott who both supported candidates other than Trump. Because Trump won every SC congressional district, he was awarded all of its 50 delegates but he could find come July that none of the 50 will support him in the second round.

Stage 2 of secret campaign to deny Trump the nomination would occur at the Convention. Senior party officials will control the all-important Rules Committee and we know that this has been used to control convention floor activities before. Fearing a Ron Paul revolution in 2012, Romney ensured that the Rules Committee imposed Rule 40 requiring that a candidate can only receive votes at the convention if they had won a majority in 8 states effectively shutting down Pauls potentially rowdy and disruptive delegates. Control of convention floor procedures down to who is the Sargent at Arms and can legally eject querulous delegates, will be how the establishment will handle the likely uproar from delegates who are loyal to Trump if he cannot win in subsequent voting rounds.

If Trump does not get to 1,271 [edit 1,237] and the Convention is contested, were going to see rambunctious political theatre not seen since the infamous Democrat Convention in 1968. Buckle up people  were going to be in for a rough ride. There are lots of other questions such as: if Trump is denied the nomination wont he and his supporters get ugly and wont he run as a third party candidate? If it is Hillary v Trump, is the conventional wisdom that Hillary will easily beat him true? Could the GOP establishment parachute in someone like Mitt Romney into the Convention (IMO a silly idea despite my support for Romney in 08 and 12) and could Trump continue to defy all political conventions (as he has to date) and still win the nomination and the Presidency? These questions will need to wait  there is still some water to go under the exciting and chaotic bridge that is the 2016 GOP Primary!

[Disclaimer: I supported Rubio from the earliest beginnings of the campaign but will vote for Cruz in the upcoming Arizona primary next week and then for whoever is the Republican nominee in the November election even if it is Trump or some mainstream candidate like Jeb Bush foisted on the party at the convention. Either is preferable to Clinton.]

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SHARE Dr. H. Craig Dees

By Hugh G. Willett, Special to the News Sentinel

Provectus Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., announced Wednesday that an audit ordered by the board of directors has concluded that there were irregularities connected with the reimbursement of travel expenses for former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. H. Craig Dees.

Dees, who co-founded the Knoxville-based pharmaceutical company in 2002, abruptly resigned as chairman and CEO in February citing health and personal reasons. Almost immediately, the board initiated an audit of Dees' compensation.

The board appointed Alfred E. Smith IV, lead independent director, to replace Dees as board chairman. Peter R. Culpepper, who was chief financial officer and chief operating officer, was named interim CEO. Eric Wachter, the chief technical officer, was appointed to fill Dees' vacancy on the board.

The publicly-traded company said at that time that it was forming an audit committee, and that it would retain independent counsel and an audit firm with forensic accounting expertise to conduct an investigation into "CEO compensation."

A statement this week said the audit committee reviewed financial policies and procedures, including management expenses, and concluded that Dees "did not produce receipts for most of the travel expense advances he received, and some receipts he produced appear to have been altered."

The committee also concluded that the "Documentation of Dr. Dees' travel related expenses, in general, have not been sufficient to prevent abuse, misconduct, the appearance thereof, or may not satisfy IRS requirements."

"While these changes are undesirable and some of the findings of the Committee certainly are disappointing, the Company remains optimistic about the progress being made toward the approval of drugs that offer so much hope to cancer victims. The Company's work on that front continues unabated and undeterred," Chairman Smith said,

Based on its findings and conclusions, the committee made several recommendations to the board of directors for "immediate action," including appointment of an outside compliance consultant, and said that "the highest priority be placed on identifying and recruiting a permanent CEO and any other positions necessary."

The committee also concluded that a demand should be made to Dr. Dees for "reimbursement of any monies advanced to him (if unsubstantiated), and if so, those monies be reimbursed or recovered by legal action, if necessary."

Also, the committee and counsel will "make decisions regarding referral of these matters to regulatory authorities."

"The Committee also emphasized the necessity that the Company put in place more clearly defined, tighter controls, including a clear process for limiting, approving and documenting advances and expenses and appropriately managing them," the Provectus announcement said.

Provectus specializes in developing oncology and dermatology therapies including drugs designed for injection into solid tumors, thereby reducing potential for systemic side effects. Its oncology focus is on melanoma, breast cancer and cancers of the liver.

In a separate announcement this week, Provectus said the protocol for its Phase 3 clinical trial for PV-10 as an investigational treatment for melanoma has been amended "to reflect current and evolving standards of care and applicable patient population for a global study in melanoma."

According to CTO Wachter, these kinds of amendments are commonplace in Phase 3 studies and serve to fine-tune the patient population and study procedures to match changing care standards for a large global study.

Representatives of the company did not immediately comment Wednesday on the audit report.
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By Hayes Hickman of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Authorities have deemed the death of a Loudon County man whose body was found amid the rubble of a house fire last week "suspicious."

Firefighters discovered the remains of 60-year-old Richard Todd Dirksen after extinguishing the March 9 fire at his home at 17735 Vonore Road in Loudon.

On Tuesday, Loudon County Sheriff Tim Guider and 9th Judicial District Attorney General Russell Johnson both confirmed that shortly after the house fire authorities in neighboring McMinn County located the victim's truck, which also had been burned.

"It's definitely a suspicious death investigation," Johnson said.

Johnson said another Loudon man, Timothy Patterson, 37, admitted to "some involvement" with taking or burning the truck.

Patterson was taken into custody March 10 on outstanding warrants for violation of community corrections and failure to appear in court. He remained in custody Tuesday at the Loudon County Jail.

Johnson said Patterson has not been charged in connection with the house fire or with Dirksen's death.

The Loudon County Sheriff's Office, along with the Tennessee Bomb and Arson Division, continue to investigate the cause of the house fire.

Autopsy results in Dirksen's death are pending.

More details as they develop online and in Wednesday's News Sentinel.
SHARE A surveillance camera photograph of a Home Federal Bank robbery suspect Friday, March 11, 2016, at 2940 South Mall. (FBI/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS SENTINEL)

By News Sentinel Staff

KNOXVILLE  The FBI says a man who robbed a local bank on Friday may have also robbed three banks in North Carolina.

The Knoxville robbery happened at the Home Federal Bank of Tennessee branch, 2940 South Mall Road. A red dye pack was activated when the robber left the bank, according to police, who didn't say how much cash the robber got.

Investigators believe the same man was involved in bank robberies at the First Citizens Bank branch in Raleigh, N.C. on Aug. 11; another First Citizens Bank branch in Raleigh on Feb. 12; and a NewBridge Bank branch in Greensboro, N.C., on Feb. 18, according to a news release.

Authorities said during the two February robberies, the man is believed to have driven away in a black Chevrolet Trailblazer.

Police described the robber as a heavyset white man, approximately 6 feet, 2 inches to 6 feet, 3 inches tall, in his mid-40s with a mole on his right cheek. He drove a black or dark blue 2015 Toyota Camry in the Knoxville robbery, according to police.

Anyone with information in the robberies is asked to call the FBI at 865-544-0751 or 704-672-6100.
By Hayes Hickman of the Knoxville News Sentinel

KNOXVILLE  The Knoxville man once dubbed "Octodad" by the national media has been captured and charged in connection with an alleged attack on a woman pregnant with his child, according to arrest warrants.

Desmond Lanier Hatchett, 36, remained jailed without bond Tuesday following his arrest March 9 near Riverview Park Apartments in East Knoxville, where he rammed a police cruiser in a bid to escape, then abandoned his car and fled on foot, according to warrants.

Hatchett also had been named as a suspect in a rape reported earlier the same day, warrants state.

The Knoxville Police Department had been searching for Hatchett since Jan. 4, when he allegedly rammed a vehicle occupied by his 23-year-old ex-girlfriend and her mother near the corner of Bethel Avenue and Surrey Road, warrants state. The victim, who was pregnant with Hatchett's child, was able to flee to KPD headquarters.

Four days before the alleged attack, Hatchett had been served with an order of protection barring him from any contact with the woman.

Hatchett gained brief infamy in 2012 when numerous media outlets, including rhe Los Angeles Times, reported that his wages were being garnished to pay child support for 30 children.

A Knox County child-support magistrate later debunked the story, telling the News Sentinel that court records showed Hatchett had fathered only 24 kids  still the highest total on record in Knox County.

Hatchett, whose extensive criminal history dates back to age 18, now faces two counts of aggravated assault, aggravated stalking, two counts of evading arrest, driving on a revoked license, leaving the scene of a crash and driving without insurance, as well as failure to appear on previous charges of aggravated assault and domestic assault.

According to a KPD news release, "Other more serious charges are pending."
SHARE James Pate Williams

By News Sentinel Staff

A Parrottsville, Tenn., man has been indicted on a charge of murder in the death of his brother five years ago, according to a news release from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The Cocke County grand jury returned an indictment Feb. 22 charging James Pate Williams, 44, with one count of first-degree murder and one count of arson in the 2011 death of his 38-year-old brother Richard Williams.

James Williams was arrested Wednesday by the Cocke County Sheriff's Department and was booked in the jail. He is being held without bond.

Authorities said at the request of Fourth District Attorney General Jimmy Dunn, TBI special agents, detectives with the Cocke County Sheriff's Department and state bomb and arson investigators, were asked to investigate the Nov. 4, 2011, death of Richard Williams, whose body was found in the burned-out residence at 1120 Palmer Hollow Rd. in Parrottsville.

An autopsy found that Richard Williams' death was a homicide, according to the release, and during their investigation agents developed information that James Williams was the person responsible for the death.

More details as they develop online and in Thursday's News Sentinel.
Justice gavel in courtroom.

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By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel

A Wal-Mart executive who bragged about molesting a child while arranging what he believed would be a sexual liaison with a 12-year-old boy was sentenced Tuesday to a decade in federal prison.

Chief U.S. District Judge Tom Varlan sentenced Brian Michael Burton, 40, to a 10-year prison term for enticement of a minor for sexual purposes and another decade on supervised release.

Although the 12-year-old boy Burton thought he would be meeting in February 2015 in Knoxville was actually an undercover agent with the Knoxville Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Burton boasted in an online chat about having already molested a boy. He even shared a photo of the victim. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Morris said in a court filing authorities have been unable so far to identify that boy.

Morris noted Burton's molestation boast when urging Varlan to double the length of supervised release Burton faces after his prison term from five years to 10.

"He made clear this was not the first time he had engaged in sexual conduct with a minor," Morris said.

Defense attorney Tommy Hindman said Burton was a married father of three with a bachelor's degree in health care administration. Burton was a regional manager for Walmart's health care division at the time of his arrest.

"All of these things are somewhat inconsistent with what has happened with Mr. Burton," Hindman said.

Burton has said he was molested as a teenager. Hindman and Burton's relatives said at Tuesday's hearing that Burton sought to minimize and justify his behavior in soliciting sex with a child via the Internet after his arrest. They insisted he has since accepted responsibility.

Burton did not directly address his conduct in speaking before the judge on Tuesday. Instead, he offered apologies, quoted Scripture and thanked the law enforcers who nabbed him.

"I'm not angry at (authorities)," he said. "In fact, I want to thank them for restoring my relationship with my heavenly father."
Bus 114 after a crash on Feb. 3 on Dutchtown Road. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL)

SHARE School bus driver David Yager (ADAM LAU/NEWS SENTINEL)

By MJ Slaby of the Knoxville News Sentinel

The Knox County Schools bus driver involved in a February crash that sent 14 students to the hospital with minor injuries has been suspended through the end of the academic year, school officials said Tuesday.

On March 7, a letter was mailed to David Yager's employer, J&V Enterprises Bus Lines Inc, notifying the company of the change to the eligibility roster, said Russ Oaks, the school system's chief operating officer.

PDF: Records from the file of bus driver Hollis Walker

Oaks said Superintendent of Schools Jim McIntyre made the decision after a Knox County Sheriff's Office investigation of the Feb. 3 crash because Yager "clearly lost control" and endangered students and the driver of another car.

If Yager asks to be reinstated, Oaks said the district would consider the request.

"I can't say if it would be considered favorably or not," he said.

Yager was driving Bus 114, which serves Cedar Bluff Elementary School and Hardin Valley Academy in West Knox County, when he turned left on Dutchtown Road, hit a car and then went down an embankment, according to the KCSO.

About 75 students were on the bus at the time. Yager, who has been a bus driver since 2011, was not hurt, but the driver of the car, William Scott Goldman of Knoxville, suffered minor injuries.

According to school officials, Yager was involved in two previous crashes since May 2012 while driving a school bus, but no students were injured either time and Yager was not at fault in either case.

School records revealed several complaints from this year against Bus 114  which Yager regularly drives  including reports of bullying and of the bus not being on time or not stopping.
From left, Shannon Mize, C'Tarria Mcdowell, and Endasia Puckett answer questions during a forum at the Emerald Youth Foundation on Tuesday about hip hop's influence on youth culture and how it shapes their lives. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL)

SHARE Mikaylo Luster, left, and brother Mekhi Luster attend a forum at the Emerald Youth Foundation on Tuesday about hip hop's influence on society and culture. A panel of three high school students and one college student answered questions and talked about topics ranging from bullying to social media. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL) Colby Earles, left, and Raymond Lamar Lee are two of the three organizers that put together a forum at the Emerald Youth Foundation on Tuesday to discuss hip hop's influence on culture, including its affect on violence, anti-violence and empowerment among minorities. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL) Jay Butler and her sons, Jace Butler, right, and Jack Dempsey, attend a panel discussion at the Emerald Youth Foundation on Tuesday. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL) From left, Shannon Mize, C'Tarria Mcdowell, and Endasia Puckett answer questions during a forum at the Emerald Youth Foundation on Tuesday about hip hop's influence on youth culture and how it shapes their lives. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL)

By Lydia X. McCoy of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Knoxville's youth needs more activities and they want the area's adults to actually listen to them, a panel of young adults said Tuesday during a forum.

"I think we need to give more activities for the youth to do," said 19-year-old Devante Mack. "I feel like a lot of violence comes from youth being bored.

Mack, who was one of four teenagers on the panel as part of the Hip Hop Forum hosted by the Emerald Youth Foundation, added that the activities need to be citywide.

The forum, which was first held in 2014, uses the narrative of hip hop to address social issues and bring together community members to find solutions to societal issues.

Previous forums have looked at small businesses, financial literacy, the history of Knoxville rap, Ferguson, Mo., criminal justice and terrorism. Tuesday's forum focused on the youth and their experiences of using hip hop as a frame to their lives.

Raymond Lee, one of the event's organizers, said there has been a lot of talk in the community about violence, but the voices of teens weren't heard at any of the number of meetings that were held.

"We wanted to ask the youth: "Is it really that violent? Is that really going on and if so, what are you seeing and what do you want to happen?" Lee said.

"There's been a lot of meetings and town hall meeting with politicians and mayors and everybody, but the kids weren't involved. So we figured if we're going to talk about the kids, we need to talk to them and hear from them and actually listen for a change."

Teens on the panel also talked about a number of issues, including peer pressure, what they see as the cause of some of the violence and why is it important for adults to listen to them.

"I think it's important that you can hear anyone's perspective on certain questions," said 15-year-old Shannon Mize, who is a junior at Karns High School. "(We are) witnessing it and going through it and can answer it straight forward and be honest about it."

Lee said organizers will take the ideas and thoughts from Tuesday's forum and create action steps.

He hoped those in attendance left feeling that their voices mean something.

"What they think matters. What they have to say matters," Lee said. "They're actually going to be the people that actually change what's going on. It's up to them."
The Tennessee state Capitol. (Photo: George Walker IV/The Tennessean)

By Richard Locker of the Knoxville News Sentinel

NASHVILLE  Lawmakers dealt a fatal blow Tuesday to efforts to expand high-speed internet service to rural and suburban residents this year, deferring to next year bills that allowing public electric utilities to expand their broadband services outside their electric service areas.

State Rep. Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland, blamed a phalanx of lobbying by commercial broadband companies like AT&T and Comcast. Its a testament to the power of lobbying against this bill and not listening to our electorate. We have thousands of petitions signed (in support of the bill) and the voice of the people was not heard today, Brooks said.

The House Business and Utilities Subcommittee killed his bill, even though Brooks had amended it down to a pilot program in which the city-owned Electric Power Board of Chattanooga could expand its nationally acclaimed broadband service outside its Hamilton County service area and into adjoining Bradley County. Current Tennessee law allows municipal electric utilities to provide Internet service only within the boundaries of their electric service.

Members of the subcommittee who voted against the bill were Reps. Kent Calfee, R-Kingston, Martin Daniel, R-Knoxville, Patsy Hazelwood, R-Chattanooga, Brenda Gilmore and Jason Powell, both D-Nashville. Voting in favor of the bill were Reps. Marc Gravitt, R-Chattanooga, John Holsclaw, R-Johnson City, and Art Swann, R-Maryville.

Supporters of rural broadband have tried for seven consecutive years to win approval of some form of legislation allowing local publicly owned electric utilities to expand their high-speed internet services outside of their immediate service areas but have been thwarted annually by lobbying by for-profit companies who have been slow to expand their high-speed telecommunications services into more sparsely populated  and less profitable  areas.

Swann, chairman of the subcommittee and a supporter of efforts to expand broadband, said those efforts have all been put on hold until we come back next year. I think weve got the attention of the industry finally and I think theyre going to come to the table and start talking seriously about this rather than running continual delays and delays..

Swann said he expects the issued will be studied by a legislative committee after the General Assembly adjourns, with a report back next year. In addition to the legislature, rural broadband availability is being examined by the state Department of Economic and Community Development and the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, a state and local government research agency.

Rep. Dan Howell, R-Georgetown, said Brooks bill was a perfect opportunity for a municipal broadband provider to prove the viability of expanding service outside its primary service area but they wouldnt even let us do a pilot program.
Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, presides over a Senate floor session in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Ramsey, who was a key figure in the Republican takeover of all three branches of state government, later announced that he will not seek re-election to another term. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)

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By Richard Locker of the Knoxville News Sentinel

NASHVILLE  His voice cracking with emotion, Senate Speaker and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey announced Wednesday that he wont run for re-election to the General Assembly this year, ending a 24-year legislative career that made him the second-most powerful official in state government.

Ramsey, 60, R-Blountville, delivered the surprise news on the Senate floor at the end of a short session, making it clear he wants to spend more time at home in the Bristol area, where his auction and real estate business is located and where he, his wife, three daughters, four young grandsons and a new granddaughter due Wednesday live.

"When I ran for office four years ago, I had a 1-year-old grandson. That grandson, Parker, will be starting kindergarten in August. I now have four grandsons. My first granddaughter will be born today. I will be leaving immediately following session to celebrate the birth of little Sadie Rhea with my family," he said.

Ramsey was first elected to the General Assembly in 1992 when Democrats were in firm control, and he served two two-year terms in the House of Representatives. In 1996, he won the first of five four-year terms in the Senate.

In 2007, he defeated longtime Senate Speaker John Wilder to become the first Republican lieutenant governor of Tennessee since 1869. The late Wilder, a Democrat from Somerville, had been Senate speaker since 1971. In Tennessee, the speaker of the Senate is elected by the 33-member Senate and also carries the title lieutenant governor.

Ramsey ran for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2010 but finished third behind then-Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and former Chattanooga congressman Zach Wamp. He often argued that he would have won if he had Haslams money.

But he can accurately take credit  and often does  for being the chief architect of the Republican takeover of the state Senate, and to a lesser degree, the House as well. He has stenciled high on the wall of his Legislative Plaza conference room one of his two favorite phrases, "It matters who governs."

He cited his second most-repeated phrase, "Im living the dream," during his brief floor speech Wednesday.

"I have always been known as a straight-shooter who gets right to the point. Today is no exception. I stand before you today to announce that I will not be seeking another four-year term to the state Senate. I have served in the General Assembly for nearly a quarter of a century. ... For the last 10 years, this body has granted me the privilege of serving as lieutenant governor and speaker of the Senate. It has been a true honor to serve my state in this way.

"I have said many times, I truly am 'living the dream.' I have never meant that phrase as much as I mean it right now. I am living the dream. While serving in the Legislature, I have tried my best to keep my priorities in order."

They are, he said, his faith, his family, his business, and fourth, politics and state government. "Sindy is not only my wife but my best friend. She is truly the wind beneath my wings. I have the three best daughters a father could ask for. And now I have three wonderful sons-in-law. ...

"It has been the honor of my life to serve here. We have accomplished great things together. We have left Tennessee better than we found it. But lately, it seems like life is flying by," Ramsey said, citing the arrival over that last four years of the four grandsons and todays scheduled arrival of his first granddaughter.

"After a lot of prayer and many sleepless nights, I have determined that I simply cannot commit to another four years in office. I am ready to take priority number four off the table and commit a lot more time to priority No. 2, my growing family. This has not been an easy decision. I love the state Senate. I love being lieutenant governor."

Senators of both parties, staffers and visitors in the gallery gave him an extended standing ovation.

Reaction began flowing in immediately.

Haslam called Ramsey "an outstanding leader for Tennessee, and I will truly miss working with him on a daily basis. Ron is smart and effective, and he has been passionate about serving Tennessee and his district. I appreciate his 24 years of service in the General Assembly, and I will miss him."

Tennessee GOP Chairman Ryan Haynes: "Ron Ramsey has been a conservative leader in the Republican Party. He leaves an incredible legacy of reform that will be hard for anyone to match. The Tennessee Republican Party would not have reached its supermajority status without our lieutenant governors clear vision, guidance, and support. Ron Ramsey proves the old adage is true: It matters who governs."

House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville: "I have served alongside Ron Ramsey for many years and I have the utmost respect for him. He dedicated his time in public service to making Tennessee a great state. He often says that it matters who governs, and indeed it does  Tennessee has had a great leader in Ron Ramsey."
George Korda hosting his "State Your Case' radio talk show. (Jack Lail / News Sentinel)

The Facebook meme depicts a childrens book cover illustration of man about halfway down a multi-colored slide. Hes wearing a brown uniform and sporting a swastika armband.

The title: Everyone I Dont Like is Hitler; The Emotional Childs Guide to Political Discussion.

Thats a pretty fair summary of much of the talk surrounding Presidential Campaign 2016. The media, social and otherwise, is decorated with various complaints, particularly about Donald Trump being, acting like, reflecting, emulating, mimicking, or portending a return to the policies of Adolf Hitler.

This detailed knowledge of Der Fuhrers life and history is interesting in a country packed with many people who struggle to identify Americas first president, who dont know what nations won World War II, or who cant find Israel or Iraq on a map if you spot them on which end of the Mediterranean Sea to start looking.

The probability is higher of an uncomfortable number of Americans knowing the dates that a Kardashian last took off her clothes, which team won a particular Super Bowl, or what we celebrate on July 4 (cookouts and fireworks).

Its not as if such Hitlersteria is anything new. A lengthy list of U.S. political leaders have been said to behave in a manner that corresponds to that of the master of the Third Reich. Just last year, in a Jan. 13, 2015 Chicago Sun Times article, Chad Merda explored this tendency in a column headlined, A brief history of politicians being compared to Adolf Hitler.

Listed in Merdas column as being likened to Hitler by politicians, an educator, and various adversarial foreign leaders were President Barack Obama; President George W. Bush; and President Ronald Reagan.

This Hitler fetish has been noticed, and has occurred, north of the border, up Canada way. In the Sept. 12, 2012, Huffington Post Canada, Bernie Farber, identified as a human rights advocate, wrote a blog item headlined, Before You Compare Something to Hitler and NazisDont.

Wrote Farber: And the past is replete with examples from both the left and right of the political spectrum of those who it seems temporarily lost their minds with visions of Hitler and Nazism.

In accepting his Nobel Peace Prize a few years ago, former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore used the Hitler analogy to compare world leaders ignoring climate change to those who ignored the potential threat emanating from Nazi Germany's early days.

Here at home, the leader of our Green Party, Elizabeth May, used similar hyperbole, comparing our government's environmental plan to former British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's appeasement of the Nazis in 1938.

When Donald Trump came to Knoxville on Nov. 16, 2015, he delivered a speech, so to speak, that was remarkably un-presidential. It was instead a stream of consciousness, and occasionally profane, subject-to-subject soliloquy that sounded more like what a bunch of guys would say while sitting around a bar after hoisting a few.

Sometimes Trump makes sense. Sometimes, his words and statements range from head-shaking to distressing. But Hitler hes not.

Inevitably the evolution of the argument proceeds along this simple path: a candidate or politician a person doesnt like is another Hitler, which is followed by the same person denying it and becoming angry if a politician they favor is equated with Hitler.

Several years ago at a demonstration in Washington D.C., a woman interviewed by a national cable television network said it was awful that detractors of President Barack Obama had depicted him with a Hitler mustache.

Asked how she felt about President George W. Bush being caricatured the same way, she said that if someone were to be characterized in such a fashion, wouldnt he be the right one?

And therein is the problem. Take Bernie Farbers advice: before comparing someone to Hitler and Nazismdont.

George Korda is political analyst for WATE-TV, appearing Sundays on Tennessee This Week. He hosts State Your Case from noon  3 p.m. Sundays on WOKI-FM Newstalk 98.7. Korda is a frequent speaker and writer on political and news media subjects. He is president of Korda Communications, a public relations and communications consulting firm.


Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer told a gathering of East Tennessee officials last week it would be futile to make safety improvements to Chapman Highway without finishing James White Parkway, an irresponsible position that is dismissive of the roadway's dangerous driving conditions.

Schroer's stance shows a disrespect for the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization, which removed the James White Parkway extension from its three-year road plan in 2013.

James White Parkway originally was conceived as a bypass around Chapman Highway, at one time the primary route for tourists headed to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Once most tourists began using state Highway 66 to get to the Smokies, the parkway become more of a local road.

The TPO scratched the project off its federally-mandated Transportation Improvement Program for 2014-2017. Federal dollars can be spent only on projects included in the program, and the extension would have required more than $80 million in federal highway funding.

A 2012 study recommended improvements be made to Chapman Highway, regardless of whether the parkway was extended beyond its terminus at Moody Avenue. Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero spearheaded the effort to end the project, and she and Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett have pressed for the upgrades.

"At a time when gas tax revenues are down and the state has a $6 billion backlog of transportation projects, the focus needs to be on improving Chapman Highway and Alcoa Highway  not on building an expensive new road that the Transportation Planning Organization overwhelmingly agreed is not a local priority," Rogero said last week.

Rogero said TDOT traffic counts for Chapman Highway have been lower than estimated in recent years, vindicating the TPO's decision. TDOT has three projects planned to improve Chapman Highway, but unfortunately no upgrades are planned on the stretch of road within the city.

Another factor to take into consideration is the development of the Urban Wilderness, the network of parks and trails that is gaining popularity as an outdoor recreational area. The Urban Wilderness has grown to the point that it stands in the path of the extension.

A 1971 U.S. Supreme Court decision in a Memphis case involving the routing of Interstate 40 makes it supremely difficult to obtain federal funding for highway projects through park lands. The justices ruled that Congress put preserving park land above cost and the disruption of communities as factors in providing federal funding for highway projects. Federal dollars accounted for about 80 percent of the 2013 estimated cost of $104 million for completing the extension. Rerouting the extension is feasible but would be costly and cut through more populous neighborhoods.

TDOT officials should stop pushing for a road that locals do not want and federal law would not allow. That does not mean TDOT should ignore upgrading the existing infrastructure in South Knoxville. Improving Chapman Highway by adding turn lanes and realigning side roads as necessary would go a long way toward making the road safer.
By Choi Sung-jin

When President Park Geun-hye visited an industrial complex south of Seoul last March, most of the small-business executives there cited the difficulty in securing manpower as their biggest problem.

In a 2015 survey of small and medium enterprises, 60.7 percent of respondents also said they could not find young people willing to work on manufacturing lines.

There are a number of unemployed young people but the gap in wages and welfare programs between these SMEs and large companies is too wide to lure a young workforce.

Filling these voids are immigrant workers. Most of the parts and components makers cannot simply go on without these guest workers, mostly from Southeast Asia and South Asia. These foreign workers serve as the soil for "root industries"  businesses that process raw materials into parts and components  a small-business owner said.












Kim Joo-bi, member of Starbucks Coffee Korea's young talent group



By Lee Hyo-sik

Starbucks Coffee Korea has been nurturing a group of talented adolescents here through its scholarship and other youth empowerment programs as part of its expanding campaign to give back to the community.

The Korean branch of the world's largest coffee franchise last year selected a group of 16 underprivileged but gifted students and helped them demonstrate their full potential.

Under the company's Youth Leadership Program, 16 university students were selected and each received a $4,500 annual scholarship. They will receive the same amount of money each year until graduation.

Starbucks plans to expand the number to 17 this year in celebration of its 17th anniversary in Korea. The money comes from its community store in Daehangno, northern Seoul. The store has been donating 300 won (28 cents) from each purchase to Green Umbrella, or Child Fund Korea, which has been partnering with the coffee chain to operate the Youth Leadership Program.

Among the 16 members of Starbucks Coffee Korea's talented youth group, Kim Joo-bi, a sophomore at Sungkyungkwan University, was chosen as the most exemplary young leader for demonstrating exceptional performance in and out of the classroom, according to the company.

The 19-year-old English literature major, who has been mentoring elementary school students from low-income families for the past year, interned for Starbucks' public relations and community service team during winter vacation earlier this year.

In February, she was also given a chance to represent Starbucks Coffee Korea and give a speech at the company's Asian leadership conference in Hong Kong. Among others, she shared her experiences as a member of the Youth Leadership Program with fellow students from 16 Asian nations.

"I was really nervous about giving a speech in English before such a large crowd," Kim said. "But I did my best to explain the leadership program so that other countries can learn from us and implement programs to help young students."

Starbucks Coffee Korea CEO Lee Seock-koo said Kim's speech inspired the conference participants, adding that the company will continue to nurture and grow with talented students like her.

"Our program is not offering a one-time scholarship," Lee said. "What we would like to do is help talented students pursue their dreams in the long term. Besides giving scholarships, we are running internships and other career development programs, as well as offering students a chance to take part in social improvement projects. We will further expand our youth empowerment programs to benefit more students."
By Jhoo Dong-chan

The nation's leading tobacco company Korea Tobacco & Ginseng Corp. (KT&G) has met success in new overseas markets beyond its traditional markets in the Middle East, Central Asia and Russia.

According to a KT&G official, Wednesday, the company sold a total of 46.5 billion cigarettes overseas in 2015. Of them, 18.4 billion cigarettes, or 39.6 percent, were sold in new overseas markets including the United States and Africa. This figure has tripled for the last five years.

KT&G sold 6.2 billion cigarettes in such markets in 2010, accounting for only 15.4 percent among the company's total overseas sales.

"KT&G's success in new overseas markets like the U.S. and Africa is attributed to the company's differentiation strategy through our excellent product quality combined with thorough market research," said an official.

As part of efforts to enter new overseas markets, KT&G launched a new subsidiary in the U.S. and started selling a modified version of its Time cigarettes in 2010.

In 2015, the company sold a total of 2.8 billion cigarettes in the U.S., more than double its 1.1 billion sales in 2010.

In Africa, KT&G sold only 40 million cigarettes in 2010, but sales have skyrocketed over the last five years to reach 2.8 billion cigarettes last year. An official said that introduction of slim cigarettes in Africa has led to the company's sales success.

Sales have increased sevenfold in Latin America and doubled in the Asia-Pacific region.

"Time cigarettes lead the sales in the U.S. while consumers in Africa and Latin America like Pine. And Esse cigarettes were the company's best-selling brand in the Asia-Pacific region where Bohem Cigar was popular among Taiwanese consumers," said an official.

"KT&G's sales success in new overseas markets is significant because the company has entered into markets already dominated by transnational tobacco companies."
Eximbank Korea Senior Executive Director Kim Sung-taek, right, meets with World e-Government Organization of Cities and Local Governments (WeGO) Secretary General Nam Young-sook for the signing of an MOU at the bank's headquarters on Yeouido, Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Eximbank



By Nam Hyun-woo

The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) said Wednesday it will provide support for developing countries looking to introduce e-government systems that can raise administrative efficiency.

The bank Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the World e-Government Organization of Cities and Local Governments (WeGO), agreeing that the bank would support the international body's e-government projects in developing countries through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).

EDCF is a low-interest, long-term official development assistance loan program, established by the Korean government in June 1987. Functions related to the operation and management of the EDCF are entrusted to the bank.

The MOU also includes details on WeGO's support of Eximbank's feasibility study on EDCF e-government projects.

The MOU came amid the increasing significance of the EDCF's support for e-government projects. With the MOU, 63 WeGO member cities in countries subject to the EDCF will likely enjoy support for their e-government projects, the bank said in a statement.

"Through cooperation with WeGO, the bank will play a leading role in passing along Korea's excellent e-government system to developing countries and increase its contributions in helping cities to set up e-government systems," said Eximbank Korea Senior Executive Director Kim Sung-taek.

WeGO is an international cooperative body for cities and local governments seeking sustainable urban development based on e-government systems. Established in September 2010, it has 95 member cities and its secretariat is hosted in Seoul.
By Yoon Ja-young



Lotte and SK, which failed to have their duty free licenses renewed last November, may get a second chance as the government is considering changing regulations regarding duty free businesses.



The Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) held a public hearing on duty free regulations, Wednesday, where Choi Nak-gyoon, a senior research fellow at the state-run institute, said that the duty free business should be deregulated so that it can contribute more to economic growth amid falling exports.



Among diverse options, the government is likely to consider increasing the number of duty free shops by issuing new licenses.



"The number of foreigners who use duty free shops in Seoul increased 128 percent last year from 2011 and sales also soared 166 percent during the same period," Choi said, adding that there is room for additional duty free shops.



If the government chooses to allow more duty free shops in Seoul, Lotte and SK are likely to win back their licenses. SK Networks failed to have its license renewed for its sole duty free shop at the Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel in eastern Seoul while Lotte Duty Free lost its license for the Lotte World Tower store in southern Seoul.



New players in the duty free industry, however, say that the government shouldn't allow more players until the market stabilizes. They also doubt the institute's claims of more tourists visiting Seoul.



According to current regulations, a new duty free license can be issued in Seoul if foreign tourists in the city increase by more than 300,000. While Choi said Seoul meets this condition, as foreign tourists in the capital city increased by 880,000 last year, other duty free operators who won their licenses last year _ HDC Shilla, Hanwha, Hana Tour, Shinsegae and Doosan _ say that the measure will lead to an industry-wide crisis. Citing data by the Korea Tourism Organization, they point out that the number of foreign tourists decreased last year due to the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, which means there is no reason why the government should issue new licenses.



The government is also considering extending the term of duty free business licenses to 10 years from the current five years. This follows complaints by duty free operators that need massive investments to open stores without any guarantee that their business would remain after five years. An automatic renewal of licenses is also being considered.



"Nothing in detail has been decided yet," the Ministry of Strategy and Finance said in a media release.



The government is scheduled to put together its final plan by the end of this month.




By Nam Hyun-woo



Korea's bourse operator on Wednesday launched a probe over a "mysterious" fluctuation of an apparel brand's share price, which led to distortions in the tech-heavy KOSDAQ market.



The Korea Exchange (KRX) said that it has ordered a number of securities firms to hand over ledgers and information on accounts that intensively made buy orders on shares of apparel company Codes Combine, under suspicion of stock price manipulation. Those firms include Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Nomura.



The company's share price has been showing an unexplainable hike for nine consecutive business days since March 3. Its price has jumped more than sixfold from 23,200 won over that period and risen by the daily limit for four straight days. Trading of Codes Combine shares was suspended on March 10, but the rally lasted until Tuesday.



The price on Wednesday ended at 141,000 won ($118), down 6.68 percent from 151,100 won a day earlier, but displayed high volatility during the day, with its market cap once swelling to 6.645 trillion won to surpass IT giant Kakao's 6.642 trillion won.



Kakao has the second-largest market cap, following Celltrion, a biopharmaceutical company with some 11.9 trillion won. Given the fact that the apparel company has seen red numbers for several business years, such a hike is seemingly unexplainable, for which the company said it could not offer any explanation.



A KRX official said it will conduct an investigation on whether there was any intent to manipulate stock prices. Should the KRX find evidence of price rigging, it will report to the Financial Services Commission (FSC). If the regulator finds more evidence, the Securities and Futures Commission will alert prosecutors.



The total outstanding shares of Codes Combine are worth 37.8 million, but more than 99 percent of them are locked up by its largest shareholder Cotton Club and other creditors, with some 250,000 shares publicly traded. Experts say high volatility is oftentimes observed in an item with a small number of free floats.



As the company's share price shot up, KOSDAQ reached the 700 mark, but the KRX sees the index as seemingly distorted.



"The KRX is paying keen attention to the situation," the official said. "It is working on coming up with measures to prevent potential distortion, but it is not fixed when we will disclose such measures because the Codes Combine price is showing signs of stability."



In 2014, Codes Combine recorded a net loss of 23.8 billion won. Its operating losses were also extended to 29.9 billion won in the same year.






Young jobless rate hits record high of 12.5%

By Yoon Ja-young

The unemployment rate for young people is spiraling upwards, raising concerns that the country is entering a sustained period of high unemployment, as experienced by Japan over the past few decades.

Economists say that the rate will continue haunting the economy unless the country recovers its growth potential.

According to Statistics Korea, Wednesday, the rate for people aged between 15 and 29 marked 12.5 percent in February, the highest since 1999 when a new standard was adopted to define unemployment.

Before that, those looking for work for one week but failing to get a job were categorized as jobless, but now the search must last for more than four weeks.

The rate has been continuing to rise, from 7.4 percent last October to 9.5 percent in January, surpassing 12 percent for the first time in February.

Youth unemployment tends to increase in February as university students graduate here, but this year is still higher than before. Last year, it was 11.1 percent, up from 10.9 percent in 2014.





Neither employed nor in training

Statistics Korea attributed the rising unemployment rate to increasing applicants for the nationwide civil service exam in mid-February. The number of applicants for 4,120 government jobs totaled 222,650, up 16.6 percent from 190,987 in 2015.

Sim Won-bo, head of the employment statistics division at the statistics office, said that the government exam factor pulled up the unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points.

Overall job market conditions deteriorated, with the overall unemployment rate recording 4.9 percent, the highest since February 2010. The number of the employed stood at 25.4 million, up 223,000 from the end of 2015.

The "real" unemployment rate, including those looking for other jobs while working part-time or preparing for work, marked 12.3 percent, the highest in 12 months.

Some economists say that the high youth unemployment may continue as it did in Japan's two "lost decades."

"After the collapse of the bubble in the early 1990s, Japan's youth jobless rate rose for more than a decade," said Ryu Sang-yun, an economist at the LG Economic Research Institute. "It fell after 2003 due to the aging of the population, but there was no qualitative improvement."

Japan's youth unemployment was around 2 percent in the late 1960s when the economy was marking double-digit growth, but the rate shot up to 10.1 percent in 2003. Among young employed people, the ratio of part-time workers rose to nearly 40 percent in the 2000s. He added that young people who are neither employed nor in education or training, are likely to remain so after five or ten years, falling into poverty as they age.

"Since Korea is similar to Japan two decades ago in terms of growth patterns and the young population, the difficulty in unemployment is likely to continue unless growth potential is recovered," Ryu said. The economist pointed out that the country's growth potential is expected to fall to 2.5 percent for the next five years and into the 1 percent range in the 2020s.

Ryu suggested that structural reforms and creation of new growth engines will help recover this.

"Efforts should continue to lessen rigidity in the labor market and get rid of any mismatch between jobseekers and employers," he said.

The government is preparing measures to tackle youth unemployment, scheduled to be announced next month.

A notable rebound in the job market, however, isn't likely as businesses may decrease hiring rookies on the sluggish economy as well as the extension of the official retirement age from between 55 and 58 to 60.





Reality is harsher than headline figure

For many young people, efforts to land a job are endlessly frustrating.

Choi, a 28-year-old university graduate, remains unemployed two years after graduation. He has applied to companies  mostly well-known big firms  nearly 50 times over the period, but what he got in return was disappointment at himself and anger at society.

"It's a living hell," he said. "Unemployment feels much more than 12.5 percent. It's especially much harder for students with a liberal arts degree."

Another jobseeker, surnamed Kim, 25, said she decided to prepare for the civil service exam after being rejected by 13 companies. She cited a popular preference for working at big companies as one of the key culprits behind the intensifying competition.

"No one wants a low wage," she said. "Everyone wants to work for a big conglomerate. I think people's strong preference for that kind of work makes the job market extremely tough for young people fresh out of university."

Kim, a university graduate, could not avoid the trend despite having a perfect TOEIC score and impressive extracurricular activities.

"I applied to 13 companies in the latter half of last year, but I failed all," she said. "After failing to get a job, I decided to prepare for the public administration examination, though this is not what I dreamed of. But I think studying for the examination is much better than passing the rigmarole of obtaining a position in a private firm."

She went on, "I was offered a temporary position by a public enterprise where I had interned before. However, I rejected it because I knew how the company treated its contract workers."





Korea Times interns Lee Han-soo and Kim Da-hee contributed to this article.
By Jung Min-ho





Chung Myung-whun

Police are investigating Chung Myung-whun over suspicions that he embezzled more than 50 million won ($45,000) while employed as the music director at the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) for the past decade.

Officers at the Jongno Police Station said Wednesday that they are analyzing transactions in Chung's bank account records since he took the helm of the city-run orchestra in 2005.

The investigation is based on a petition filed by conservative activists last month, which claims that he diverted 54 million won of taxpayers' money for personal use.

They also claim that Chung arranged for members of his family to travel using airplane tickets worth 13 million won in 2009, even though he knew that the tickets were supposed to be for his manager. Also, they believe that he spent 41 million won on hotel bills while having his house repaired.

After looking into the requested documents from the SPO, the police plan to summon some of its officials for questioning.

If prosecuted and convicted, according to lawyers, Chung could face up to 10 years in prison or 30 million won ($28,000) in fines.












By Jung Min-ho





Chung Myung-whun Park Hyun-jung

The wife of Chung Myung-whun, the music director of Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO), might have been the mastermind behind the defamation campaign against former CEO Park Hyun-jung, who resigned last December amid accusations that she had sexually harassed and verbally abused members of the orchestra, police said Sunday.

Police said they recently booked Chung's wife, surnamed Koo, without detention for allegedly instructing SPO employees to tarnish Park's reputation in order to oust her.

Ten SPO employees have already been booked on charges of having falsely accused her of sexual and verbal abuse.

Police suspect that Koo led the defamation plan, giving specific directions to Baek, Chung's secretary, who carried it out with nine other employees.

Police said they have not directly questioned Koo yet as she has been abroad for about a year. Baek has also been in hospital after giving birth to a child recently, according to police.

Last December, 17 of the SPO's 27 employees claimed that Park treated them "inhumanely" with physical and verbal abuse and demanded her immediate resignation.












Chung Myung-whun / Yonhap



Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra music director Chung Myung-whun has told members he will step down.

"I would like to congratulate the SPO members on your achievements of the last 10 years - achievements that have been applauded all over the world," he said in letter to them Tuesday.

"It is sad that these achievements have been overshadowed by one person's fabricated statements. Lies and corruption may cause scandals but human dignity and truth will prevail in the end."

Chung's resignation comes amid discussions of a contract renewal. The decision to renew Chung's contract was postponed for reasons including a probe into Chung's wife, surnamed Koo, for allegedly spreading false rumors about former SPO CEO Park Hyun-jung.

Koo was booked without detention on charges of instructing SPO members to remove Park by smearing her reputation.












By Kim Se-jeong

Korea will eventually have to accept immigration as one of most effective means of tackling its decreasing population amid a record low birthrate, analysts said Thursday.

According to the government, Korea's population of 51 million will start to decline beginning 2030. The working population between the ages of 15 and 64 is expected to start decreasing in a couple of years. By 2060, Korea's population is expected to shrink to 44 million.

Against this grim outlook, the government recently said it would consider taking more active steps to encourage immigration.

In its five-year plan to cope with the low birthrate and an aging society, the government said it would set up a control tower for immigration policy, which will collect public opinion and set up long-term plans.

Many analysts say that Korean society needs to embrace immigrants and foreign workers more actively.

Kim Hae-sung, president of Global Sarang, a Seoul-based NGO supporting migrant workers, said it was too early to talk about immigration policy, but when the right time comes, it will be the ultimate solution to the problem.

"Immigration will solve problems attached to the population decrease," he said. "Discussions should start soon. What's also important is that it will be Korea's future, whether we like it or not. Look at the number of people who come for work. Look at the number of interracial marriages here."












By Kang Seung-woo



President Park Geun-hye will visit Washington, D.C. later this month to attend the Nuclear Security Summit that will focus on North Korea, Cheong Wa Dae announced, Wednesday.



The presidential office added that Park also plans to hold bilateral summits with some of the leaders of the 52 participating countries that include the United States, China and Japan.



"While exchanging opinions on increasing nuclear threats with world leaders, President Park will discuss ways to strengthen international cooperation on nuclear security during the summit, scheduled for March 31 to April 1," a statement from Park's office read.



The biennial gathering, which will also include the leaders of the United Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Interpol and the European Union will conclude with an official communique added.



Given that the summit will be held amid growing nuclear threats from North Korea, how to deal with the country's nuclear capabilities is expected to be the dominant issue at the meeting.



Pyongyang, recently placed under new international sanctions for its Jan. 6 nuclear test, said Tuesday that it would test nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles in a "short time."



Regarding this, President Park is expected to stress the importance of international cooperation in pressing the North to give up its nuclear weapons program.



On the sidelines of the security summit, Park plans to meet with leaders of countries that have a direct bearing on the North Korea issue.



Along with Park, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will attend the event, hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama. Russian President Vladimir Putin is the only leader of the major neighboring countries who will miss the summit.



Last month, Japan's Jiji Press reported that Seoul, Washington and Tokyo were working out the details for a trilateral summit during the security summit.



At the 2014 summit in The Hague, Netherlands, Park held a three-way meeting with Obama and Abe.



Park's office said that it will announce the details of bilateral summits as soon as schedules are fixed.



Future meetings about nuclear security will be hosted by the IAEA. The summit, launched in 2010 after it was proposed by President Obama, was also held in Seoul in 2012.



After the security summit, Park will visit Mexico on April 2 on a four-day trip.



On April 4, she will sit down with her Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto to discuss a wide range of issues, as well as how to cooperate for a faithful and effective implementation of the U.N. sanctions on North Korea.



"During the summit, President Park will ask the Mexican president to help Korean companies to participate in the country's infrastructure projects, while talking about cooperation in higher value-added businesses, such as education and health care," the presidential office said.



In addition, Park plans to hold a meeting with overseas Koreans there, while attending a business forum and a cultural event.




By Kim Bo-eun



Park Hyun-jung, former CEO of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO), has filed a damages suit against former SPO director Chung Myung-whun for allegedly spreading false rumors about her.



Park filed the suit with the Seoul Central District Court, March 9, demanding 600 million won in compensation from Chung. Park also filed a complaint with the prosecution against Chung separately for defamation charges.



According to Park, Chung made it appear in media interviews and in letters addressed to SPO members as if allegations of her sexual harassment and verbal abuse of SPO members were facts.



"This issue concerns the human rights of SPO members," Chung said in an interview with a local paper last August.



"As the director, I could not sit back and do nothing when 17 members requested my help, claiming they were insulted by the CEO."





Conductor Chung Myung-whun quizzed over embezzlement allegations Maestro Chung Myung-whun steps down from SPO 'Maestro's wife behind defamation' Maestro Chung under embezzlement probe Park claims the SPO members were instructed by Chung's wife, surnamed Koo, to spread false rumors about Park in order to oust her from the CEO position. Park and Chung were reportedly at odds since the former assumed the post in 2013. Police also support these claims.



Police cleared Park of sexual harassment earlier this month, citing inconsistency in testimonies against her.



Park also filed another damages suit against three Seoul Metropolitan Government officials and two SPO members, demanding 500 million won.



Park stepped down from the CEO post last December, after 17 SPO members claimed she had physically and verbally harassed them, and demanded her immediate resignation.



The three-month police investigation began the same month Park filed a complaint.

Police raided the SPO office three times and questioned 33 SPO members on 85 occasions.



The case has been sent to the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office. Police have requested that the prosecution indict 10 SPO members for their alleged involvement in spreading false rumors about Park.



Chung also resigned in December, ending his 10-year tenure with the SPO.




By Jun Ji-hye

North Korea is continuing to advertize its nuclear capabilities after the United Nations Security Council imposed harsher sanctions, March 2, following the North's fourth nuclear test and the launch of a long-range rocket.

Government officials and defense analysts say that the Kim Jong-un regime is apparently trying to attract additional attention from the international community with exaggerated claims of its nuclear power.

This is a desperate effort to be accepted as a nuclear state and treated equally with the United States at the negotiation table, while sending out the message that international sanctions will not work to make the regime abandon its nuclear program, they say.

On March 9, the North Korean leader claimed through the regime's state media that the North had miniaturized and standardized nuclear warheads to fit on its ballistic missiles, and therefore had a "true" nuclear deterrence.

At the time, the North's media published photos of a silver round-shaped object and several KN-08 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). South Korean officials presumed the object to be a mockup of a miniaturized nuclear warhead, but the North later claimed that it was a real warhead.

Then on March 10, Pyongyang fired two short-range ballistic missiles, believed to be a type of Scud, into the East Sea.
A woman, left, accused of murdering her seven-year-old stepson after months of abuse and neglect, and her husband, right, are taken by police to the prosecutors' office in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. / Yonhap



By Lee Kyung-min

The parents of a seven-year-old boy found dead with horrific injuries in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, are set to face murder charges.

The Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek Police Station said Wednesday that it referred the case to the prosecution, recommending the couple be indicted on murder charges. They were taken to the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office.

According to police, the death of Shin Won-young was caused by months of cruel treatment and physical assault at the hands of his stepmother, surnamed Kim, and neglect by his own biological father.

"The couple failed to take necessary measures, even though they both were aware of the high likelihood of the boy's death," a police officer said.

Police also said that the 38-year-old Kim admitted to killing the boy in order to lead a happy life with her husband without the burden of raising and supporting the child financially.

Kim is suspected of leaving the boy unattended in an unheated washroom after pouring cold water and chlorine bleach on him for wetting his pants on Feb. 1. He died the following day.

Police said the boy's biological father, 38, failed to take any action to take care of his son even though he knew that the child might die.

After discovering the boy was found unconscious on the washroom floor, he put a blanket over the body. The couple left the body there for 10 days, then buried it on a mountain on Feb. 12.

The day after their son's death, the couple attempted to cover up their crimes by exchanging text messages.

The father sent his wife a text message reading, "Is Won-young okay?" to which she replied, "He ate well and brushed his teeth."

However, police launched an investigation following a report from the school where the boy was supposed to enroll.

Earlier in January, the couple notified elementary school authorities that they would postpone the boy's enrollment for one year without providing a specific reason.

The couple conspired to cover up the crime by lying to police that they had sent the boy to their relative's home in Gangwon Province, police said.

Kim initially told police that the boy went missing on Feb. 24, but later said that she intentionally left the child in a crowded place and returned home alone.

A police investigation showed that Kim had abused the boy by keeping him locked in the washroom for three months from November and providing him with only one meal a day. The boy's sister, 10, who is staying at her grandmother's home, also told police of the constant abuse allegedly perpetrated by Kim.

The father earns a monthly income of 5 million won and Kim spent 60 million won ($50,000) on purchasing online game items between August last month and earlier this month, police added.

Kim told police that she would accept due punishment for the crime. "I am sorry it is all my fault. I am sorry to Won-young's sister," she told reporters in front of the police station.
Gov't will launch monitoring ystem to reduce overstays



By Chung Ah-young



The Ministry of Employment and Labor said Wednesday that it will reduce the quota of foreign workers from countries with high numbers of illegal workers here.



Minister Lee Ki-kwon urged the ambassadors of the countries that send foreign workers to Korea under the Employment Permit System to strengthen measures on their overstaying workers.



The ministry plans to introduce a comprehensive monitoring system for migrant workers this year.





Under the plan, the government will also increase the quota for foreign workers of the countries with low numbers of illegal workers.



The monitoring system is designed to determine the quota of foreign workers based on the evaluation of a countries' ability to select and train workers before sending them to Korea and their efforts to have them return to their home countries after their visas expire. The evaluation will be conducted twice a year.



"Each country should make efforts to prevent foreign workers from staying here illegally. Countries with high numbers of workers staying illegally should come up with measures to reduce this," Lee said in a meeting with the ambassadors at the Press Center in Seoul.



Lee expressed the view with the ambassadors that reducing the number of foreign workers staying in the country illegally will protect the human rights of foreign employees.



Lee also discussed ways of teaching the Korean language to the workers and other vocational skills and experiences as standards for selecting the foreign workers to come to Korea.



Illegal foreign workers who stayed in Korea after their work visas expired amounted to 16.9 percent in 2013, 15.6 percent in 2014 and 15.3 percent last year.



Since the permit system was introduced in 2004, 540,000 foreign workers have come to Korea as of last year. Currently, 280,000 foreign employees are working under the system for some 50,000 small-and-medium-sized companies.



The permit system allows employers who haven't been able to hire from the local workforce to legally employ foreign workers managed by the Korean government or public institutions.



Currently, the government has signed agreements with 15 countries such as China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand.
By Kim Bo-eun

Greenpeace's campaigning ship Rainbow Warrior will visit Busan next month to protest against nuclear power plants here, its Korean office said Wednesday.

The non-governmental environmentalist organization will unveil the results of a study on radioactive contamination in the waters off the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, marking the fifth anniversary of the 2011 tsunami-triggered nuclear accident. The tragedy disabled the power plant and caused radioactive contamination.

Greenpeace has been involved in a number of campaigns opposing the construction of additional nuclear power plants.

Korea's own Shin Gori 3 nuclear reactor will soon go into operation. Once an operation permit has been granted for Shin Gori 4, which has completed construction, Korea will have eight nuclear generators producing 6,700 megawatts of electricity.

Greenpeace will also open the ship for public view from April 9 to 10 in Busan.

Citizens can visit free of charge, but need to register online at www.greenpeace.org/korea/openboat2016.

Greenpeace, which started in Canada in 1971, is operated on donations from individuals and independent foundations.
South Korea and China held their first official round of bilateral talks Wednesday on removing non-tariff barriers to trade as both countries continue to struggle with shrinking exports.



The first meeting of the countries' Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee was held in Beijing, marking the first ever meeting of 14 trade-related committees created under the South Korea-China free trade agreement that went into effect late last year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.



"At today's meeting, the two sides discussed how the TBT committee will be run in the future and how it can boost cooperation in tackling TBT-related issues," the ministry said in a press release.



The ministry added the committee will hold annual meetings in alternating countries with additional meetings also available when necessary.



China is the world's single largest importer of South Korean goods, accounting for nearly one-fourth of South Korea's total outbound shipments.



However, South Korea's exports to China have been on the wane despite the implementation of the Korea-China FTA in December 2015.



In February alone, South Korean exports to China plunged 12.9 percent on-year to US$8.9 billion, marking the eighth consecutive month of drops. South Korea's overall exports have fallen every single month since the start of 2015.



The drop in shipments to China has partly been attributed to a cut in China's own exports, but also to China's non-tariff barriers such as what the South Korean finance minister has called "excessive quarantine" regulations.



"The Korea-China FTA went into effect late last year, but various non-tariff barriers such as excessive quarantine and safety regulations continue to keep our key export items, such as food and cosmetics, from the Chinese market," Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho said while meeting with a group of local exporters earlier this week.



Following the meeting of the bilateral TBT committee, the issue will likely be discussed at a higher level when South Korean Trade Minister Joo Hyung-hwan and his Chinese counterpart hold bilateral talks in Beijing this week, ministry officials noted.



Joo was scheduled to depart for China later in the day. (Yonhap)




President Park Geun-hye plans to attend the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington later this month, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday, amid growing tension with North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs.

Park and dozens of world leaders are expected to exchange opinions on how to strengthen cooperation for nuclear safety during the summit set for March 31-April 1, the South Korean presidential office said.

The biennial summit is meant to discuss ways to reduce the stockpile of highly enriched uranium and weapons-grade plutonium, to keep it out of the hands of terrorists and to ensure atomic safety.

Still, North Korea's nuclear issue will likely be discussed at the summit as Pyongyang has recently upped the ante in its nuclear standoff with the international community.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said his country will conduct "a nuclear warhead explosion test and a test-fire of several kinds of ballistic rockets able to carry nuclear warheads" soon, according to the North's state media.

Pyongyang was recently slapped with tougher U.N. sanctions for carrying out its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 and a long-range rocket launch on Feb. 7.

The two-day gathering will be the final session of the summit, which has been held every two years since U.S. President Barack Obama hosted the inaugural summit in 2010.

Park plans to hold separate meetings with some of the leaders on the sidelines, the presidential office said, without elaborating.

The trip also will take Park to Mexico for a summit with President Enrique Pena Nieto. The two leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of issues, as well as how to cooperate for the faithful and effective implementation of the U.N. sanctions. (Yonhap)
South Korea's Constitutional Court said Wednesday it will sign an agreement with its Indonesian counterpart for cooperation and exchanges of information and research manpower.



Under the agreement to be inked on Thursday, the judicial organizations of the two countries will also hold joint meetings, symposiums and seminars on common issues of interest, according to the court.



Specifically, the two judicial organizations plan to exchange information, insights and experience in the areas of the constitutional adjudication system and review institution as well as to push for the exchange of legal research manpower between the courts.



As members of the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions (AACC), the constitutional courts of the two countries have already reached a consensus to make common efforts to further expand the AACC which was established in July 2010.



Composed of 16 constitutional courts and institutions in Asia, South Korea served the first presidency of the AACC. South Korea held the organization's inaugural congress in Seoul in May 2012.



As the third president of the AACC, Indonesia is scheduled to hold the third AACC congress in Bali in August.



The Constitutional Court of South Korea has the final say in reviewing laws concerning the Constitution, disputes over the authority of state institutions, the dissolution of political parties and disputes over election results. It also is obliged to rule on any attempt to impeach the president.



The Constitution is the highest law in Korea, which sets the direction for its values and order, defines the governing organization and its principles, and guarantees each person's basic rights. (Yonhap)




A researcher conducts a test on a pig to establish the safety of an intravascular micro-robot created by the Robot Research Initiative at Chonnam National University in Gwangju.

/ Courtesy of Chonnam National University





Chonnam National University prods students to start businesses







Chonnam National University

President Jee Byung-moon

By Chung Hyun-chae



GWANGJU  Chonnam National University is stepping up efforts to maintain its lead in R&D of micro-robots for medical use and hydrogen fuel cell technology for automobiles.



These efforts are part of the university's strategy of boosting academic-industrial cooperation and encouraging students and faculties to create their own businesses.



"I believe our university's robotics research, especially for micro-robots, has become world-class," Jee Byung-moon, president of the Gwangju-based national university, told The Korea Times. "We've developed technologies in this area and we have a competitive edge in commercializing them."



He said that the university's R&D center, Robot Research Initiative, created the world's first colonoscopy robot in 2001 and the world's first intravascular micro-robot for the treatment of blood vessel-related diseases in 2010.



In March 2015, the center developed an active capsule endoscope and has signed a 1 billion won contract to transfer the technology to Woo Young Medical, a medical device manufacturer. Under the contact, the center will receive 2 percent of endoscope sales as a licensing fee.



Woo Young has established a subsidiary, ARESMED, to commercialize the endoscope. Doctors can control and move the endoscope, if commercialized, inside a patient's body by using a joystick.



"We will work together with ARESMED to commercialize the technology and plan to receive a medical certificate by 2017," Jee said.



If the university implements its plans successfully, he added, robot-related sales are expected to reach 5 trillion won by 2027.



Chonnam National University founded its own tech company in 2011 to commercialize technologies developed by its students, faculty and its research centers. The company now has 13 subsidiaries and plans to open five more this year.



The university took the initiative to establish the Gwangju Technology Holding Company this year in cooperation with other universities in Gwangju, the city government and local companies.



The university is also taking the lead in hydrogen fuel cell technology, which is regarded as a new growth engine because the new energy source produces no air pollution.



In 2009, the university opened the Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Institute to conduct research on converting hydrogen to electricity.



It also hosted the World Hydrogen Energy Conference 2014 at the Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju, gathering more than 500 scientists and scholars.

Last year, the Gwangju municipality built the Center for Creative Economy and Innovation, a government project to provide support for startups in collaboration with major conglomerates.



Hyundai Motor, the main sponsor for the project, wants to work closely with the center to develop a hydrogen fuel cell car.



"As Hyundai is interested in making hydrogen-powered cars, I hope our university's research center will cooperate with the automaker in developing fuel cell technology," Jee said.



Promoting entrepreneurship



"We are trying to promote entrepreneurship among students by encouraging them to put their ideas into practice and launch their own startups without fear of failure,"

Jee said.



Launched in 1999, the Chonnam National University Business Incubator has helped undergraduates, graduate students and professors launch their own businesses.



The business incubator offers opportunities for undergraduate students to experience starting a business, while providing space for those with their own business plans or technology.



"In order to reduce risks and to raise the success rate, we set up a university brand shop last year to promote and sell products devised by students and professors," Jee said.



Thanks to the school's strong support, many students have made remarkable accomplishments.



For example, Lee Su-chang, a computer science major who graduated from the university in 2002, launched Amazingsoft, a web analysis company that generated 3.5 billion won in sales in 2015. Naver, the nation's largest web portal, acquired the company in 2013 for 10 billion won.



Humanities students have also seen success. Park Ji-min, a philosophy major who graduated in 2014, opened HERZ fab cafe, a multiplex cultural space located in Gwangju, which generated 300 million won in sales in 2015.



The university won the 2015 AABI Awards from the Asian Association of Business Incubation (AABI) in recognition of its efforts to assist school members' startups.

It was the second time that a local university received such an award, after the Korea Advanced Institute of Science Technology (KAIST) did so in 2007.



Focusing on research



In addition to giving wholehearted support for technology development, Chonnam National University has also tried to enhance research capabilities in both quality and quantity.



"Most professors think that only excruciating efforts for self-reform will enable the university to revive its past glory of being one of the nation's top three regional universities," Jee said.



Theses written by the university's professors and cited by international science journals totaled 1,757 in 2014, up from 1,553 in 2012 and 1,646 in 2013.



The president said that the university ranked second in the number of thesis citations among 41 national universities across the nation.



"To strengthen our university's research capacity this year, I will allow professors to devote themselves to conducting research exclusively by freeing them from the burden of teaching students," Jee added.
By David-Pierre Jalicon

Did you know that there were near to 200 French companies operating in Korea? And that they employ 28,000 people and generate 10 trillion won of gross income? You would be amazed at how vibrant and diverse this French business community is, from multinational groups like Airbus, Total, Thales or Veolia, to SMEs and start-ups like Asiance, Direct Optic and Evasion IT Concept; from luxury brands to architecture and aeronautics. Did you also know that over 5,000 French companies export to South Korea and that bilateral commercial exchange between France and Korea was 9 billion euros in 2014? This is hardly a new development and is the result of a long history  130 years counting from the first diplomatic treaty signed in 1886!

In terms of business, actual exchanges started in the 1960s, and since then France's business presence in Korea kept growing, going along and evolving with the different stages of Korean's economic development. They can be summarized in four phases.



Phase 1: establishment of French big groups

Between 1953 and 1970, Korean GDP was multiplied by 5 and the GDP per inhabitant increased from 67 to 253 dollars per year. As the government focused on developing its industry, France, through its major groups, started collaborating to build industrial construction and infrastructure, such as power plants, road and rail transports, and ship maintenance.

In 1964, Air France was the first to open an office in Korea, followed in the 70s by major companies such as Pechiney (1972), Airbus Industries, Alstom CGE, Degremont, Indosuez (1974), Rhone Poulenc (1975) and BNP (1976) among others. From 1970 to 1979, bilateral exchanges increased from $54 million to $607 million. In 1986, these pioneers gathered to create the French Korean Chamber of Commerce (at first called the French Business Association in Korea) 30 years ago with 30 members.

Phase 2: wider French presence

The year 1988 was a new step for Korea. The Olympic Games held in Seoul drew the world's attention to the country, revealing a modern, dynamic and fascinating Korea. As the country was starting a process of liberalizing and opening its economy, more and more French companies set foot in Korea, operating in a wider range of sectors: agro-food, car manufacturing, insurance and consumption goods. The contract signed in 1993 for the high-speed train (TGV) between Seoul-Busan was the highlight of that decade: "We entered a new era for the French-Korean relationships. The future is bright," declared French President Francois Mitterrand during his state visit. This first presidential visit largely contributed to strengthen France's image in Korea and initiated a closer collaboration full of promises for the French Korean community. In 1996, the French Korean Chamber numbered 123 companies and opened its membership to non-French companies, with the purpose of encouraging synergy between France and Korea.

Phase 3: M&A opportunities

The IMF crisis in 1997-1998 was a turning point for French-Korean relationships. As Korea was opening to globalization and becoming a consumer society, France followed the country's evolution and actively participated to shape the future Korea, through major M&As and joint-ventures. Indeed, French companies, which used to work in Korea mostly through big contracts, started investing in the country  from 1997 to 2001, France was among the major foreign country investors (currently 7th). From the 2000's, French investments keep increasingly standing out for their qualitative and long-term oriented basis. Successful major partnerships, such as Lafarge Halla Cement and Renault Samsung Motors founded in 2000 or Total and Samsung General Chemicals' joint-venture in 2000, illustrate the opportunities lying in French and Korean collaboration.

Phase 4: era of partnerships and SMEs

The free-trade agreement signed in 2011 was a major tool to boost the commercial exchanges, which could double in the next 20 years!

Today, the chamber, celebrating its 30th anniversary, has over 350 French and Korean members, and is dedicated to deepen the synergy between France and Korea's expertise. This new stage in the French-Korean relationship sees the arrival and creation of numerous French SMEs, and France is now providing an always wider range of services in its areas of excellence: aeronautics, energy, agro food, fashion and luxury goods, but also tourism, marketing, IT and architecture. The opening in March of the French Tech Hub Seoul, an ecosystem aiming at introducing French start-ups to the Korean market, will be a great vector to create a stimulating and inspiring environment to develop successful partnerships.

Through this quick historical summary, France has been able to adapt itself and to evolve and be an accurate partner for Korea through time. As Korea and France are both looking towards innovation and the creative economy to build the future, I have no doubt that both countries will stay side by side, through prosperous and extensive collaboration.

David-Pierre Jalicon is the chairman of the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI).
Defense Minister Han Min-koo inspected an on-going joint South Korea-U.S. military exercise on Wednesday as the joint drills between the allies continued for the 10th day despite North Korea's relentless protests.



"As the South Korea-U.S. alliance has hardened through hardship and ordeal, this Key Resolve exercise, held amid the on-going crisis, will further solidify the alliance," the top defense official said during his visit to the allies' Combined Forces Command, located inside U.S. military headquarters in Yongsan, central Seoul.



The two countries kicked off the computer-based command post warfare exercise Key Resolve on March 7 along with the Foal Eagle field training.



With the beginning of the annual exercise, North Korea has issued near-daily military threats including nuclear attack warnings, and has denounced the drills as "an operation to advance into Pyongyang." (Yonhap)




South Korea and the United States will maintain close cooperation to implement new sanctions on North Korea as their enforcement is more important than the sanctions themselves, Seoul's top envoy to Washington said Wednesday.



Amb. Ahn Ho-young hailed Congress' passage of a sanctions bill targeting Pyongyang, saying it reflects the American people's strong support for the South Korea-U.S. alliance.



He noted, however, that implementation will be key.



"In the end, however strong the (U.N. Security Council Resolution) 2270 and however good the North Korea sanctions bill, in a way, the process of their implementation is far more important than the resolution or the bill's passage," Ahn said in a group interview with local reporters.



"That process remains. And we will continue to maintain the necessary cooperation between South Korea and the U.S."



Last month, the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2016 passed both the Senate and the House with near-unanimous approval in a demonstration of bipartisan support for a tough response to North Korea's fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 and long-range rocket launch on Feb. 7.



The legislation calls for the mandatory blacklisting of those assisting Pyongyang with its nuclear and missile programs, human rights abuses, cyberattacks and other crimes.



It is the first sanctions legislation exclusively targeting North Korea to pass both the House and the Senate.



"The South Korea-U.S. alliance is a very important element of our national security, but it needs the widespread support of Congress and the American people, not just the administration's policies," Ahn said. "North Korea sanctions bills have been introduced many times in the U.S. Congress in the past, but they failed to pass due to a lack of momentum."



This time, however, North Korea created the momentum by launching a series of provocations from the start of the year, which pushed the sanctions bill through in a record short period of time, the ambassador said.



U.S. President Barack Obama is soon expected to issue an executive order authorizing the new sanctions.



Earlier this month, the U.N. Security Council also adopted Resolution 2270 calling for the mandatory inspection of all cargo going in and out of the North and a ban on the country's exports of coal and other mineral resources, a key source of hard currency for the cash-strapped regime. (Yonhap)




By Choi Sung-jin

University campuses these days are more lively and jovial than at any other time of the year. It's not only spring flowers that brighten up the campuses of March, but fresh faces beaming with hopes and expectations for college life.

Sadly the romantic ideals and aspirations of these students last only until they face the cold reality. As soon as they clear the big hurdle of entering university, they have to begin preparations for another one: landing decent jobs. So they struggle to get good grades, obtain several certificates and go through many experiences.

Students who can focus on these activities without worrying about money are lucky. Those with less wealthy parents must work at part-time jobs, or full-time jobs, to earn their tuition fees and pocket money. More than half of all college students think that their parents' wealth will determine the jobs they get.

The millenials of Korea were born in an era when machines are rapidly replacing humans in the workplace. Moreover, they are living in a country where almost everything  wealth, schools and jobs  are inherited. Young people from mid- to low-income families those born with bronze or "dirt" spoons  realize they can change very little with their own efforts. So modern Korea goes back to "Hell Joseon," the hellish version of the medieval kingdom where one's birth determined one's fate.

The modern-day Republic of Korea cannot, and should not, go on like this.

The time has long past for young people to shed their fatalism and isolationism. They should flatly reject those older people who say, "Painful is youth." True, some difficulties harden young people. More often, however, this is little more than a cheap sentiment uttered by older generations who were unable and/or unwilling to change things for the struggling youth.

Others, including President Park Geun-hye, say, "Nothing is impossible if you try hard enough." If you are not extremely foolhardy or hopelessly optimistic, you will recognize this is an attempt to turn the structural problems of society into individual ones. Yet others say, "Passion, not pay, matters." That's a deceptive way of saying, "I want to exploit your labor."

As an old saying goes, "The squeaky wheel gets the grease." Young people have to make their voices heard. And there is no better time for doing this than election season. Today's youth needs to become more political.

In the United States, people age 18 to 29 are voting in big numbers, helping to push an otherwise unlikely candidate, a 74-year-old democratic socialist who is a Jew, Bernie Sanders, to the center stage of the presidential primaries. In Taiwan, the New Power Party, an extension of the student movement that calls for better redistribution, political transparency and independence from China, emerged as the third party by winning five of the 133 parliamentary seats last year, shaking up what they call the "Ghost Island," the Taiwanese version of "Hell Joseon."

I don't expect similar events will happen here anytime soon. Yet it was comforting to see a group of representatives from 10 universities, including the so-called SKY trio of Seoul National, Korea and Yonsei, form the "Network for the collective action of students and youth," or Collective Action, last week. It made six demands  half-price tuition, a minimum hourly wage of 10,000 won ($8.3), more public rental homes for youths, creation of more and better jobs using corporate reserves, no government-led restructuring of colleges, and more democratic school management.

Some will say that these demands reflect the selfish interests of a specific generation, and others will criticize that these students are too focused on money, lacking the lofty ideals befitting students.

I would attach more significance to the fact that these students finally have their eyes opened to the harsh realities of life and are starting to "act collectively." It was also encouraging to hear that the group will continue its activities after the parliamentary polls. I hope this movement continues, and, with the passage of time, expands their scope of attention to the remainder of society and all generations.

Korea is now a gerontocracy. Canada has a prime minister in his mid-40s, but there are few ministers in their 40s in this country's Cabinet.

The average age of legislators is 58, almost the oldest parliament in the world. Age should not necessarily be a problem for public officials. The problem is their old politics and adherence to vested interests in which there are no policies for people but instead mostly consist of factional power struggles for the politicians themselves. Just look at the ongoing nomination process of the two major parties whose leaders do not seem to care a bit about the people.

No one is calling for young Koreans to form a party right now. They only have to hit the polls and discern who will work for young people, or people as a whole, not for their bosses and parties.

Students and other young people changed the course of this country to become a political democracy, on both April 19, 1960, and June 29, 1987. Yet "economic democracy" has not yet been established in Korea. Enabling this was President Park's biggest campaign pledge in 2012 but was thrown away upon her election.

Young people ought to judge which parties and politicians will work for them or for the family-controlled conglomerates that create and possess more than half the nation's wealth. They should also discern which parties and politicians will seek to bring peace and stability on this divided peninsula and which are more prone to play with fire, risking countless lives, particularly young lives.

If young people raise their turnout from 40 percent four years ago to 60 percent on April 13, they will begin to turn "Hell Joseon" into "Heaven Korea."

Choi Sung-jin is The Korea Times senior writer. He can be reached at choisj@ktimes.com.
By Peter Huessy



On Jan. 6, 2016, North Korea again exploded a nuclear device and a month later on Feb. 7 launched a satellite aboard a missile with a range of upwards of 13,000 kilometers.

The conventional response to what some saw as Pyongyang's reckless behavior was that nothing had significantly changed from previous Korean capabilities. Mirren Gidda in Newsweek that same week, under the headline "What We Know About North Korea's Hydrogen Bomb," reflected such assurances by writing "International experts doubt that North Korea has manufactured nuclear weapons small enough to fit on a missile."

But this commonplace assertion by Newsweek was simply untrue. For almost a decade, the testimony of top American intelligence officials has been the North Korean nuclear missile threat is real. For example, in 2008, the CIA's top East Asia analyst publicly stated that North Korea had successfully miniaturized nuclear warheads for delivery on its Nodong medium-range missile.

In 2009, European intelligence agencies at NATO headquarters said that North Korea's Nodong missiles were armed with nuclear warheads. In 2011, the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Lt. General Ronald Burgess, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that North Korea has weaponized its nuclear device into warheads for arming ballistic missiles.

Then in early 2015, former top national security officials from the administrations of Presidents Reagan and Clinton warned that the North Korea threat was quite specific, and capable of delivering by satellite a small nuclear warhead to make an EMP attack against the United States.

Shortly thereafter, on April 7, 2015, at a Pentagon press conference, Admiral William Gortney, Commander of North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD), responsible for protecting the U.S. from long-range missiles, warned that the intelligence community assessed that North Korea's KN-08 mobile ICBM could strike the U.S. with a nuclear warhead.

And on Oct. 8, 2015, Gortney again warned the Atlantic Council: "I agree with the intelligence community that we assess that they (the North Koreans) have the ability, they have the weapons, and they have the ability to miniaturize those weapons, and they have the ability to put them on a rocket that can range the (U.S.) homeland."

But even when acknowledging North Korea has such missile capabilities as we have outlined above, popular reaction has been to minimize the security threats the missiles represent, claiming it isn't accurate enough or the attached warhead is too small, or the technology demonstrated is not sufficiently worrisome.












North Korea is ramping up its nuclear threats continuously. More recently, the reclusive regime in Pyongyang claims to have secured the warhead re-entry technology needed to bring a nuclear-armed ballistic missile back into the Earth's atmosphere.

The North Korean Central News Agency reported Tuesday that leader Kim Jong-un had ordered a nuclear warhead test and multiple ballistic missile launches "in a short time'' to boost the reliability of the nation's nuclear deterrent. "We have proudly acquired the re-entry technology possessed by a few countries styling themselves as military powers, by dint of self-reliance and self-development,'' Kim was quoted as saying.

Kim's threat is taken as meaning that the North could conduct another nuclear test and missile launch ahead of a major congress of the ruling Workers' Party in May.

It's not difficult to understand why Pyongyang has been escalating its nuclear threats.

First of all, it is intended to prevent possible internal unrest by expressing a firm resolve not to yield to international sanctions. Also, the impoverished state aims to make its nuclear capabilities a fait accompli.












Park foes culled, loyalists prevail at nomination

Tuesday deserves a footnote in Korea's political history that marks another setback in democracy, putting the legislative branch  the ruling Saenuri Party in this case  under firmer control of the executive, the President. It is another testimony that the system of checks and balances among the three branches of government is on precarious ground right now, opening the doors for one person to gain unrivaled power.

The ruling party by and large has finished its nomination process, the results highlighted by the strong advance of the incumbent lawmakers and aspirants loyal to President Park Geun-hye in getting the party's nominations for the April 13 parliamentary general elections.

What happened on the day Park's detractors called "bloody Tuesday" was well illustrated by the list of those who didn't make the cut. The fifth-term Lee Jae-oh, a vocal critic of President Park and ally of former President Lee Myung-bak faltered as the party chose to make a single nomination of a non-incumbent newcomer. Lee's constituency is Eunpyeong, a northern district in Seoul where the ruling party is not popular.

Third-term Chin Young, who represents the opposition stronghold in Yongsan, also didn't make it. Chin, as health and welfare minister in the President's inaugural Cabinet, had an open spat with her over a key campaign pledge on the basic pension and resigned. Rumors about him not getting the party's nomination had been around for months. Problematic candidates such as the International Olympic Committee member Moon Dae-sung who was found to have plagiarized his doctoral thesis was re-nominated. By some estimates, the rate of the incumbents being dropped, often the barometer of the level of reforms, was incomparable to the above-40 registered in the outgoing 19th assembly.












Rob High, chief technology officer (CTO) at Watson, speaks in a keynote during the International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence held in southern Seoul, Wednesday. The IBM executive said Watson's cognitive computing will bring dramatic changes to everyday lives for human begins within 10 years in such areas as mobile devices and vehicles.

/ Yonhap



By Lee MIn-hyung



International Business Machines (IBM) is seeking to draw public attention lost to the Google-developed artificial intelligence (AI) program AlphaGo which has been in the limelight over the last few days with its battle with world go champion Lee Se-dol.

As Google has its DeepMind unit which has been leading the AI drive, IBM, the world's dominant mainframe computer manufacturer, also has its AI supercomputer, Watson.

Watson chief technology officer (CTO) Rob High, who visited Korea, Wednesday, a day after the final go match, said the Watson project is all about how to use the technologies for resolution of problems in the real world.

"Relative to the progresses we have made with our cognitive computing and making a comparison to Google in respect to that progress, it is a bit like apples and oranges," High said in a keynote speech during the International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence held in southern Seoul. "If you think about individual technology, it is about how we combine these technologies and apply them in solving real problems."

Commenting on the AlphaGo match, he said it "came at great timing."

"I think it was auspicious for our industry to advance into artificial intelligence," he said. "It was a very interesting demonstration of how artificial intelligence could be applied to decision-making."

During the speech, he said the AI drive will change the fundamental landscape of information and communication technology, adding that AI will penetrate into every aspect of human interactions in areas such as mobile devices and vehicles.

IBM offers 32 distinctive cognitive computing services under four categories  including language, data insight, speech and vision. In particular, he said Watson will play a central role in analyzing enormous amounts of big data which the company expects will reach up to 44 zettabytes in 2020.

Amid the growing awareness of AI businesses, IBM created a new division, the "Watson Group," in January 2014, pledging to make an annual investment of more than $1 billion (1.19 trillion won) to speed up its leadership in cognitive computing.

In particular, the company has identified health cloud businesses as a core growth area for Watson Group. The U.S.-based technology giant has since formed partnerships with Apple, Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic to provide data collecting systems that are compatible with healthcare products.

The Watson executive said the companys health systems will play a pivotal role in helping doctors better manage medical data, thereby reducing management time and costs significantly in the near future.

Last year, the company also launched the Watson-based cognitive computing platform Watson Zone in what it calls a move to create a Watson ecosystem where thousands of developers across the world have so far created more than 7,000 applications.
Amal and George Clooney will be "getting old and gray" in the U.K.

Yahoo! News reported that the 54-year-old "Gravity" star revealed the reason why he bought his estate in Berkshire, South East England last year.

"Not in the near future," George Clooney said when he was asked whether he will be moving permanently from Los Angeles to England.

"But, in the long run, that's a house where I can imagine living with my wife and getting old and gray. When I speak about old and gray, I'm only referring to myself!"

The publication noted that Amal and George Clooney are desperate to start their family. The Human Rights lawyer has reportedly started easing off her workload.

Cindy Crawford, wife of George's best pal Rande Gerber, has shared her thoughts on the couple's relationship and the possibility of them having kids.

"Rande always said he will when he meets the right girl," the supermodel explained. "If you had asked me five years ago, George was like, 'I am never having kids.' George has surprised me so who knows. I would never say never."

According to Design&Trend, the Human Rights lawyer persuaded her husband to sell his Lake Como home. "Amal has good business sense and it's a good time to sell," an insider told RadarOnline.

"She found out how much he paid for it 13 years ago and its value has tripled. She asked if he'd ever sell and he pretty much told her no, and to not bother asking that again. She loves Como, but she hates how open it is and she'd love him to get something more private."

It was previously reported that Amal Clooney has received death threats for helping former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed.

George Clooney has asked help from South Oxfordshire district councilor Paul Harrison to increase the security for his wife. The councilor has also been involved with negotiations with the actor and the village regarding security cameras.




SRI LANKA INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS CONCLAVE

Address by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs

8 March 2016



Mr. Samantha Ranatunga, Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce,

Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister for Special Assignments,

Datuk Azzat Kamaludin, Chairman of Dialog Axiata and the Keynote Speaker today,

Captains of Industry, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to begin by commending and thanking the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce for organizing this Investment and Business Conclave bringing investors from 27 countries, including a number of Overseas Sri Lankans, to Sri Lanka at a time when the country is embarking on a new journey towards peace and prosperity. I would also like to thank the potential investors here today for placing your confidence in the possibilities that our country has to offer.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Sri Lanka gained independence on the 4th of February 1948 amidst much hope and expectation. A British newspaper editorial written on that day not only predicted a bright future for our country but also went so far as to say that, given its strategic position on one of the worlds busiest sea and with an abundance of natural and human resources, Ceylon would no doubt soon become the Switzerland of the East. The comparison to Switzerland reflected the general anticipation that this newly independent island nation would be a rich and developed democracy united in its diversity.

68 years later, or if I may say so, two youth insurrections and a 26 year-old civil war later, Sri Lanka has yet to achieve that promise of hope. Many opportunities have been squandered away for reasons of political expediency. The refusal by many of our post-independence politicians to acknowledge the ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity of our country and the lack of political courage by those who understood this reality made Sri Lanka prey to politics of extremism. The deafening silence of the moderate majority on both sides of the divide, combined with political leaders who lacked the courage of their convictions to tell the truth, pushed Sri Lanka to the precipice.

On the 8th of January 2015, the people of Sri Lanka took a bold decision not to stare any longer into that abyss; they decided to pull back from the precipice and the country embarked on a new journey to win the future our people truly deserve.

This journey towards peace and prosperity is based on three pillars: democratisation, reconciliation and development. These objectives must be addressed in parallel if we are to succeed. There can be no sustainable development without democracy and reconciliation and vice versa. As President Sirisena often says, development cannot only be measured by bricks and mortar alone but the hearts and minds of the people must be taken into consideration. Today the people of Sri Lanka have chosen democracy, good governance and the rule of law over authoritarianism, arbitrary rule and impunity; they have chosen stability, reconciliation and peace over the politics of fear and hate. And they have also chosen openness to the world and a competitive, transparent rules-based economy over isolationist crony capitalism. Therefore, it is on the basis of these goals that the government is building a firm foundation for unleashing Sri Lankas potential for the 21st Century.

Ladies and Gentleman,

In my view, it is the failure of our present and previous constitutions to acknowledge the diversity of Sri Lanka and its inherent multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-lingual character that has been in many ways at the centre of our failure to build and sustain the durable peace that our country so desperately needs.

Therefore, this government has embarked on the process of creating a new, truly democratic, constitution that reflects the needs and aspirations of all Sri Lankans. The new constitution must be the flagship of Sri Lanka's commitment to being a modern vibrant democracy united in its ethnic, religious and cultural diversity; it must also reflect our commitment to individual and human rights, as well as internationally accepted humanitarian laws. The new constitution must also ensure non-recurrence of the various tragedies our country has endured over the last 68 years.

For the first time in history, the traditional rivals in Sri Lankan politics  the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) - have come together to form a grand coalition for the first time, heralding a new era of consensual politics based on a collective determination to ensure Sri Lankas unity and stability by building a durable peace based on equality, justice and freedom.

Also, after decades of violent conflict we need to understand, come to terms and deal with our past, if we are to move forward. Therefore, based on the proposals outlined by the Government at the Human Rights Council in September last year, the Government took the bold and historic step of co-sponsoring a UN resolution on promoting human rights, accountability and reconciliation. This was taken not to appease the international community but as President Sirisena said in his Independence Day message on the 4th of February this year,

It is now time for us to seize the current opportunity that is before us to implement the provisions of the Resolution, not because of international pressure, but because, as a nation, we must implement these provisions for the sake of restoring the dignity of our nation, our people, and our military, in order for Sri Lanka to regain her due position as a strong democracy among the community of nations.

Under this resolution, the government committed itself to a comprehensive approach to dealing with the past via the creation of four reconciliation mechanisms viz an Office of Missing Persons, a Truth, Reconciliation, Justice and Non-Recurrence Commission, a domestic accountability mechanism and an Office of Reparations. This resolution was welcomed by the main political parties, including the main minority political parties. Together with the new constitution, these measures will collectively address many of the root causes of conflict and ensure true long-term unity, stability and durable peace. And public consultations on both the constitution and the reconciliation mechanisms are already underway.

However, the Government recognizes that reconciliation alone will not create the necessary systemic political stability and good governance that Sri Lanka requires. Over the last year, a range of steps have been taken to restore Sri Lankas democratic heritage.

Last year, the Government passed a constitutional amendment which re-established term limits and restored the independence of the judiciary, public service, police and other public bodies. The days of impunity and political violence are also over: Sri Lanka recently signed the Convention on Enforced Disappearances and investigations into the countless crimes that took place over the last few years are underway. After systematic censorship and abuses against journalists, full press freedom has been restored. The Freedom of Information Act will be presented in Parliament as soon as the concurrence of all provincial councils have been obtained.

But if democracy and reconciliation are to succeed, the peace dividend must be felt by all sections of society; it must trickle down from the very top to the very bottom improving the living standard of all, especially the vulnerable. The peace dividend for the unemployed youth must be greater and better job opportunities, for the housewives better living standards, for the farmers, higher prices and access to markets, for the students more schools, technical colleges and universities with better-trained teachers, for the elderly greater access to hospitals and medicine.

As a result we are restructuring our economy to encourage greater investment and increase exports. To this end, we are in the process of creating a transparent and rules-based level playing field for business, leveraging our unique geo-economic location and securing greater market access for goods and services produced in Sri Lanka.

Our foreign policy has been reset to achieve these objectives. The first and foremost basis for our foreign policy today is our national interest. As Nehru said in 1947, shortly after independence, 'Whatever policy you may lay down, the art of conducting foreign affairs of a country lies in finding out what is most advantageous to the country.'

We want the best the world can offer for our people. Our friendship with our sister and neighbor, India, has reached new levels of excellence in the last twelve months and Sri Lanka is positioning herself as the gateway to India and the sub-continent to share the economic benefits of one of the worlds fastest growing economies.

Our historic relations with our other powerful friend and neighbor, China, are as strong as ever and next months visit by our Prime Minister to Beijing will further strengthen our ties.

Our cordial ties with the US have now been elevated to that of a very special friendship making the US one of Sri Lankas staunchest friends in the international community. The US-Sri Lanka partnership dialogue bears testimony to this bond. The EU again stands ready to assist Sri Lanka's march forward and the U.K. remains a time-tested friend. Securing the GSP+ concession seems a possibility again.

Japan and South Korea [which I am visiting tomorrow] are as always rallying around Sri Lanka. Our friends in Russia and the Middle East are extending their hands in friendship and support.

Sri Lanka is now at the centre stage of international relations. Along with Myanmar and Tunisia, there is a tsunami of goodwill and support developing around the globe for Sri Lanka. An unprecedented widow of opportunity has opened and as Sri Lanka turns 70 in 22 months time, we are firm in our resolve win and overcome all the challenges which have held our nation back for so long.
The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary

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The U.S. Justice Department didn't wait for Wednesday's planned auction to raise serious doubts about Tribune Publishing's bid to acquire the Orange County Register and other assets of bankrupt Freedom Communications. Tribune's ownership of the Register and the Press-Enterprise in Riverside, when it already owns the Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune, "poses a serious risk of harming newspaper readers and advertisers in Orange County and Riverside County," the head of the Justice Department's antitrust division said in a letter to Freedom.

From the LA Times story:

The letter adds a potential complication to the auction, which was shaping up to be a battle among three companies with strong local interests: Digital First Media, which owns the Los Angeles Daily News and several papers in the South Bay and San Gabriel Valley; Tribune Publishing, which also owns the San Diego Union-Tribune; and a group of Freedom insiders backed by Orange County real estate developer Mike Harrah.

Antitrust authorities said they do not have the same concerns with the other two bidders. If it won the bidding, Tribune Publishing could face a protracted battle to secure the Justice Department's consent to the acquisition.



Some anti-trust objection to the LA Times' parent company controlling all of the big newspapers from Los Angeles to the Mexican border was expected. I don't know that anyone expected it to come as a pre-emptive strike. Bankruptcy Court Judge Mark S. Wallace has called a March 21 hearing in Santa Ana to approve the sale.

Here is how the Register covers today's news.

We wish to inform you that, based on our review to date, the division believes the acquisition of the Freedom assets by Tribune poses a serious risk of harming newspaper readers and advertisers in Orange County and Riverside County, wrote William Baer, assistant attorney general in charge of the antitrust division.

If Freedom selects Tribune as its purchaser, the division will exercise its antitrust law enforcement responsibilities to ensure that the transaction does not deprive newspaper readers and advertisers in these areas of the benefits of competition.... Tribune officials declined to comment Tuesday on the antitrust letter. But Tribune attorneys filed a motion in bankruptcy court challenging Digital Firsts designation as the stalking horse bidder and asking the court to eliminate $1.3 million in stalking-horse benefits for Digital First should that company not win the bidding. [skip] Ron Hasse, president of Digital Firsts Los Angeles Newspaper Group, said he is keenly aware of the competitive problems that a Tribune-Freedom merger could create for his companys business. Not only would there be tough competition for readers and advertisers, Freedom prints six of Digital Firsts nine Southern California newspapers.






PRESS RELEASE

Austrian School Fascists Lead Campaign To Overthrow Brazilian President

March 14, 2016 (EIRNS)Sundays demonstrations in some 245 Brazilian cities, calling for the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, are being reported as the largest in Brazils history, with estimates of the participants ranging from three to five million people, the majority of them in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Participants are largely from the middle-class, who are being mobilized as much by the economic collapse over the past year as by anti-corruption hysteria created around the "Mani Pulite" (Clean Hands) operation. That operation is headed up by State Department-trained Judge Sergio Moro; it has already crippled the state oil company and Brazils major construction and engineering companies, paralyzed public investment, jailed the admiral who founded and led the countrys nuclear program, and now seeks to jail former President Lula da Silva and President Rousseffamong others.

The intent of the British Empire, as stated by the Telegraphs Ambrose Evans-Pritchard on March 7, is to destroy Brazil, to destroy the BRICS grouping, in which Rousseff has played a leading role. The leadership of the "social movements" organizing this "Color Revolution" in the streets are Margaret Thatcher-espousing proponents of the British Empires fascist "Austrian School of economics" associated with the infamous Von Mises and Von Hayek. These are the bankers anti-government shock-troops, who would hand Brazils middle class over to the vulture funds, if they succeed, as their co-thinker, Argentine President Mauricio Macri is now doing in Argentina.

The case of the Free Brazil Movement (MBL) is exemplary. The MBL, founded by a group of students, dominates the marches in Sao Paulo, which is the center of the opposition nationally. The Austrian Schools Atlas Foundation reported last year that

"many members within the Free Brazil Movement have passed through Atlas Networks premier training program, the Atlas Leadership Academy, and are now applying what they learned on the ground...."

But the MBL is only the leading group among several other equally rabid, anti-government shock troops, joined in the so-called "Liberty Network." Brazils Ludwig Von Mises Institute was thrilled that 10,000 balloons reading "Less Marx, More Mises" were released in Sundays demonstrations!

Wall Street and the City of London are now betting, on their futures markets, that an early fall of Dilmas government is now assured. The Establishment daily, O Estadao de Sao Paulo, demanded in its editorial on March 13, the day of the demonstrations, that Rousseff resign immediately.

President Rousseff, however, reminded reporters three days ago that she had survived jail and torture under the military dictatorship, and is not a quitter. The demand that she resign, she pointed out, just shows that the interests behind this know that there are no grounds for her impeachment.
PRESS RELEASE

Putin Changes History Again with Syria Withdrawal Announcement

March 15, 2016 (EIRNS)Russian President Vladimir Putins announcement, yesterday, of the partial Russian military withdrawal from Syria, indicates that Russia has now shifted, fully, into supporting the peace process that the military intervention, along with determined diplomacy, helped to bring about. The Kremlin transcript of the meeting between Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov demonstrates as much.

Shoigu reported that during the campaign, the Russian air contingent had flown over 9,000 missions and that the military had demonstrated, for the first time, the capability of carrying out "massive strikes with dispersed weaponry at a distance of over 1,500 kilometers using both air- and sea-based missiles." More important was the effect: terrorist operations in Syria were significantly hindered by the cutting of their oil smuggling to, and supply lines from, Turkey; government control was re-established over large areas of Syria; and, Shoigu said, more than 2,000 "criminals" from Russia were eliminated on Syrian territory.

"In total, with support from our air force, the Syrian troops liberated 400 towns and over 10,000 square kilometers of territory,"

Shoigu said. "We have had a significant turning point in the fight against terrorism."

"[O]ur Aerospace Forces operation helped create conditions for the political process," Lavrov said.

"We have consistently advocated establishing an intra-Syrian dialogue in accordance with the decisions made in 2012. Our suggestions were met with a lack of will on the part of all our partners working on this process. But since the start of the operations by our Aerospace Forces, the situation began to change."

Putin fully agreed. "The truly effective work by our troops has created conditions to start the peace process," he said.

"I feel that the objectives set before the Defense Ministry and the Russian Armed Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic have generally been fulfilled."

Then came the part that no one in the West apparently expected.

"I feel that the objective set before the Defense Ministry and the Armed Forces is generally fulfilled, so I order the Defence Ministry to begin withdrawing the main part of our military group from the Syrian Arab Republic, beginning tomorrow,"

he said.

"I ask the Foreign Ministry to intensify the Russian Federations participation in organizing the peace process to resolve Syrias problems. At the same time, our base pointsour maritime base in Tartus and our aviation base at the Hmeymim airbasewill function as before. They must be protected securely from land, sea and air."

In other words, Putin has ordered a reconfiguration of the Russian military presence in Syria to support what is now a peace effort, in which Russia will remain fully engaged, and a continuing war on ISIS and al Nusra.
The tax and revenue information of everyone who worked for the nations third-largest parking company last year may have been stolen by an unknown individual, the company said.

LAZ Parking Ltd. said this week that W-2 tax form information for some 14,000 full- and part-time workers had been compromised.

LAZ operates in 26 states, controls 875,000 parking spaces and has annual revenue of $930 million. It has 160 parking lots and garages in Los Angeles County, and 1,100 employees worked in the county last year, company spokeswoman Mary Coursey said.

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Coursey said the company has hired cybersecurity specialists and is doing everything it can to make sure such a breach does not happen again.

San Diego State University professor Murray Jennex, an expert on identity theft, said the stolen information can be used to file false tax returns for individuals, and this is the time to do it.

Its a low-risk crime, he said. Its right in the tax season, the time of the year when the IRS is flooded. It is not likely to catch it as quickly as they should. [Criminals] will probably get the money out of it.

LAZ, based in Hartford, Conn., said in a letter to employees that someone pretending to be an executive with the company tricked a LAZ worker into giving up 2015 W-2 forms in mid-February by email.

The company offered to give employees identity-theft protection for two years at no cost and to pay to freeze credit reports if employees chose to do so.

The Internal Revenue Service is not allowed to comment on individual cases, but its website gives instructions to companies that have a data security breach. The IRS says businesses must notify law enforcement agencies, along with any affected businesses and employees.

Our systems remain secure, and we alerted authorities as soon as we were made aware of the situation, said Coursey, the LAZ spokeswoman. We sincerely regret any inconvenience this may cause our employees.

Last year, Intuit Inc.'s TurboTax division stopped submitting electronic tax returns for about 24 hours because at least two states  Minnesota and Utah  had seen a rise in suspicious e-returns and attempts to use stolen identity information.

In addition to being used to steal tax returns, W-2 information could be used for proof of employment or to get a loan, said Jennex, the SDSU professor.

He said the scam that hit LAZ reflects poor training at the corporate level because sending sensitive information over email is one of the key things companies are supposed to avoid.

Jennex said the IRS will likely sort everything out but it will greatly slow down any returns of a person that had multiple returns filed.

Times staff writer Samantha Masunaga contributed to this report.

phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com
Charter Communications proposed takeover of two other cable companies  Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks  is nearing the finish line as federal officials appear poised to approve the mammoth $67-billion deal in the coming weeks.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler privately has indicated that he probably will support the deal  as long as Charter agrees to a long list of conditions designed to protect consumers, according to people close to the merger review process who asked not to be identified because the FCC has not taken action.

The FCC and the U.S. Justice Department must each approve the consolidation, which would make Charter the nations second-largest cable TV and Internet service provider behind Comcast Corp. Charter also would become the largest provider in Southern California, boasting more than 2 million customer homes.

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The proposed merger comes amid a wave of industry consolidation. Last summer, AT&T acquired DirecTV, based in El Segundo, in a $49-billion merger that catapulted the phone giant into the nations largest pay-TV provider with 26 million customers. Frontier Communications is expected to complete its $10.5-billion purchase of Verizons wireline, broadband Internet and FiOS TV businesses in California, Texas and Florida this month and take over Verizons operations April 1.

The bulked up Charter would have about 20 million customers for Internet, cable TV or phone service. Some critics fear the consolidation will be bad for consumers.

This deal can be summed up in three words: What a waste, Craig Aaron, chief executive of the consumer group Free Press, said in a statement. The sheer expense of this merger is staggering.... Charter is taking on nearly $27 billion in new debt to finance this deal. It can only recover that by hiking prices for its subscribers.

Lawyers representing the FCC, Charter and Time Warner Cable have spent the last few weeks negotiating merger conditions, according to the knowledgeable people. That process is expected to continue into next week.

The earliest that Charter would take control of Time Warner Cable would be mid-May. Thats because Charter still will need the blessing of the California Public Utilities Commission, which has scheduled a May 12 vote on the merger.

The timing means that legions of Los Angeles Dodgers fans face the grim prospect of starting a third baseball season without the TV channel SportsNetLA, owned by the Dodgers organization, Guggenheim Baseball Management. The new baseball season begins April 4.

If the merger is approved, Charter would inherit from Time Warner Cable the festering dispute over carriage of SportsNetLA. Charter would be unable to tackle the thorny problem of

the channels distribution until after the transaction closes.

Charter and Time Warner Cable are the only providers in Southern California carrying the channel as other pay-TV companies,

including DirecTV, Dish Network and Cox Communications, have refused,

citing the high cost of the channel.

We are trying to build a community, and we want to root for the home team, Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) said in a recent interview. We need the FCC to push these companies into binding arbitration.

It was unclear Wednesday whether the FCC plans to address the Dodger channel dispute as part of the merger conditions.

Charter has already agreed to increase the number of families who receive broadband Internet service as a way to take steps to close the so-called digital divide  the gap between demographics and regions that have access to the Internet, and those that dont. Nearly one-quarter of the people who live in Los Angeles County do not have easy access to the Internet.

The FCC also is expected to demand that Charter make assurances that it will not thwart online streaming services, such as Hulu, Netflix or Dish Networks SlingTV, that compete with Charters core business of selling bundles of traditional cable TV channels. The FCC is expected to ask Charter to agree not to impose data caps on its high-speed Internet customers.

Opponents of the deal have been worried that Charter could use its increased clout in the market to hamper the development of video streaming services. Much of the negotiations in recent weeks have focused on ways to protect the growing business of online video streaming, according to the knowledgeable people.

This month, executives from Time Warner Inc.'s HBO met behind closed doors with top FCC officials to express concerns about allowing just two cable companies  Charter and Philadelphia giant Comcast  to control Internet connections into so many homes in the U.S.

Comcast, which provides service in San Francisco, Sacramento and Chicago, and Charter would serve more than two-thirds of the nations homes with broadband Internet. The FCC has considered whether to demand that Charter agree not to work with Comcast to stymie the development of streaming services, according to one knowledgeable person.

Charter also is expected to be asked to abide by FCCs rules on net neutrality  treating all Internet traffic the same  even if those rules are overturned by an appellate court.

The Justice Department separately is reviewing the deal to make sure that it is not anti-competitive. Charter, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, which serves Bakersfield, offer their products in geographic areas that largely do not overlap.

This transaction, as proposed, profoundly threatens competition and choice in the cable-and-broadband marketplace, according to a statement from an alliance of opponents called the

Stop Mega Cable Coalition. This FCC and DOJ have made clear that these problems are a top priority and have a track record to back it up. This all suggests that the deal will not be approved without strong, enforceable and long-lasting conditions that protect consumers.

An FCC spokeswoman declined to comment.

The Wall Street Journal first reported that Wheeler was planning to circulate an order approving Charters deal among his fellow FCC commissioners.

meg.james@latimes.com

Twitter: @MegJamesLAT
In recent years, theres been a mini-trend of faith-based films concerned with proving the existence of heaven. Based on true stories, films such as Heaven Is for Real and 90 Minutes in Heaven take up this task. Ostensibly following on their heels is the Jennifer Garner-starring Miracles From Heaven, based on an amazing  and weird  true story. But although the film is centered on Christian-based faith, it argues for the power of miracles that are more terrestrial and quotidian.

Garner plays Christy Beam, mother to Anna (Kylie Rogers), who suffers from a debilitating, incurable intestinal disorder. After months in the hospital, one day Anna is playing with her sister, climbing a tree, when she falls, headfirst, 30 feet inside the dead tree trunk. She is stuck for hours. When firefighters pull her out, not only is she unharmed, but shes miraculously cured. That premise is the one presented in all of the films marketing. But Miracles From Heaven manages to be more than that.

Patricia Riggen, who also directed last years The 33, the story of the Chilean miner rescue, brings to life the despair felt by the family during Annas illness. Much of the film is centered on Christys tireless search for a cure for Anna. Losing her faith, questioning why such a small kid is in such pain, Christy has a hard time recognizing the small miracles that occur daily during their ordeal  the small kindnesses of a receptionist who helps her, or a friendly waitress, Angela (Queen Latifah), who offers friendship when Christy and Anna need it most.

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Even the love shown by their specialist, Dr. Nurko (Eugenio Derbez), is in itself a small miracle. We come to realize that the larger, more amazing miracles are made up of all these small tokens of love and selflessness.

Riggen effectively creates a sense of how intimidating hospitals and medical procedures are for a child, often shooting from Annas perspective. The emphasis on Anna and Christys experience of these trials is a smart choice, as both Garner and Rogers are strong, charismatic performers. Garner is compelling as the dedicated mom questioning everything she believes while fighting for her daughters life, and young Rogers gives an impressive performance as Anna struggling to maintain her sunny outlook while coping with pain and suffering.

In terms of religion, Riggen and writer Randy Brown, who adapted Christy Beams book, emphasize the power of community offered by the Beams church, which is of the contemporary, fun, spiritual-rock-band variety. But even this tightknit group has its ups and downs, especially when some question Annas ordeal.

While the film runs a bit long, and the heartstrings-tugging becomes overwrought, overall, this family melodrama is surprisingly effective, even for those of little faith. There are those who can choose to see it as unassailable evidence that heaven exists, but the film reaches beyond that audience and provides confirmation of the more human miracles that exist in everyday life, if you choose to see them.

Walsh is a Tribune News Service critic.

------------

Miracles From Heaven

MPAA rating: PG, for thematic material, including accident and medical images

Running time: 1 hour, 49 minutes

In general release
Though attention out of the event this year has largely been on larger studio movies such as Everybody Wants Some, Keanu and Sausage Party, the South by Southwest Film Festival has also long been a vital launching pad for new talent. Past competition wins have been important moments of discovery for filmmakers and performers in films such as Tiny Furniture, Short Term 12 and last years winner Krisha.

This year, the festivals narrative feature grand jury award went to Adam Pinneys The Arbalest, a dry, offbeat story of obsession. The documentary feature grand jury winner was Keith Maitlands Tower, a multimedia look at the mass school shooting at the University of Texas in 1966.

See more of Entertainments top stories on Facebook >>

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Its something that I dont understand, said Maitland in accepting the documentary award. But what Ive come to understand over the last four years of working on this film is the resilience of the human spirit and the opportunity to grow and learn from just talking.

In accepting the narrative prize, Pinney said, In filmmaking you have to surround yourself with a lot of people who support you and you support them and you try to make each others dreams come true. And thats happening right now.

The evening at Austins Paramount Theatre was hosted by comedian Mike Birbiglia, who was at the festival premiering his new film as director, writer, producer and actor, Dont Think Twice.

In his opening remarks, Birbiglia noted that, regardless of who won or lost, this was a room full of people who had all managed to make something, and that Its important to remember that art is not a competition; but if it were, tonight we would be celebrating the winners.

Special jury prizes for the narrative competition were given to Lily Rabe for best actress for her performance in Miss Stevens and Andre Royo for best actor for his performance in Hunter Gatherer.

A special jury prize for portrait documentary was given to Matt Ornstein for Accidental Courtesy: Daryl Davis, Race and America. The documentary jury also gave a special jury prize for visual design to Laura Dunns The Seer, shot by cinematographer Lee Daniel.

1 / 72 Kelly Rowland speaks during her Chasing Destiny SXSW interview at the Austin Convention Center on March 19. (Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for BET) 2 / 72 DJ Steve Aoki poses with a fan at the Pandora Discovery Den on March 19. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for Pandora) 3 / 72 The Roots brought their legendary Jam Sessions to the festival for the first time during an exclusive performance at the Bud Light Factory on March 19. (Rick Kern / Getty Images for Bud Light) 4 / 72 Rapper Tory Lanez performs at the Pandora Discovery Den on March 18. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for Pandora) 5 / 72 Actor Paul Reubens answers questions at the premiere of Pee-wees Big Holiday at the Paramount Theatre on March 17. (Mike Windle / Getty Images for SXSW) 6 / 72 Actors Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara attend the premiere of Pee-wees Big Holiday at the Paramount Theatre on March 17. (Mike Windle / Getty Images for SXSW) 7 / 72 Wynonna Judd, center, with her band the Big Noise attend the Pandora Discovery Den on March 17. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for Pandora) 8 / 72 DNCE perform at Music Is Universal Styld.by Gap presented by Marriott Rewards and Universal Music Group at the JW Marriott Austin on March 17. (Christopher Polk / Getty Images for Universal Music) 9 / 72 Rae Sremmurd take the stage at the Bud Light Factory during the Interscope Showcase on March 17. (Rick Kern / Getty Images for Bud Light) 10 / 72 Har Mar Superstar performs on a table at the McDonalds Loft on March 17. (Jay Janner / Associated Press) 11 / 72 The Cactus Blossoms perform onstage during the Pandora Discovery Den on March 17. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for Pandora) 12 / 72 Iggy Pop performs at ACL Live the Moody Theater on March 16. (Rich Fury / Invision/Associated Press) 13 / 72 Chvrches Lauren Mayberry performs at the MTV Woodies/10 for 16 taping on March 16. (Jack Plunkett / Invision/Associated Press) 14 / 72 Anderson.Paak performs at the MTV Woodies/10 for 16 taping on March 16. (Jack Plunkett / Invision/Associated Press) 15 / 72 Ryan Adams performs at Music Is Universal on March 16. (Christopher Polk / Getty Images) 16 / 72 John Legend headlines the AXE Collective + Crew on March 17. (Rick Kern / Getty Images for AXE) 17 / 72 Musicians Thao Nguyen, center, and the Avett Brothers attend a screening of A Song For You: The Austin City Limits Story on March 17. (Mike Windle / Getty Images for SXSW) 18 / 72 Actor-director Don Cheadle attends the screening of Miles Ahead on March 16, (Mike Windle / Getty Images for SXSW) 19 / 72 First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at the South by Southwest festival on March 16. (Neilson Barnard / Getty Images for SXSW) 20 / 72 Big Boi performs at South by Southwest Interactives closing party at Stubbs on March 15. (Jack Plunkett / Invision / Associated Press) 21 / 72 Actor Don Cheadle poses in the Samsung Studio at the South by Southwest festival on March 15. (Jonathan Leibson / Getty Images for Samsung) 22 / 72 Aluna Francis of AlunaGeorge performs at Spotify House during the South by Southwest festival on March 15. (Anna Webber / Getty Images for Spotify) 23 / 72 From left, recording artists Sleepy Brown, Ray Murray and Rico Wade of Organized Noize attend a screening of The Art of Organized Noize at the Paramount Theatre during the South by Southwest festival on March 15. (Mike Windle / Getty Images for SXSW) 24 / 72 Texas meets Hollywood near the Paramount Theatre as the South by Southwest festival kicks off in Austin, Texas. (Larry W. Smith / EPA) 25 / 72 A general view of The Powerpuff Girls parade and screening at SXSW on March 14. (Robin Marchant / Getty Images for Cartoon Network) 26 / 72 Seth Rogen, left, and Evan Goldberg answer questions at the premiere of the work-in-progress Sausage Party at the Paramount Theatre on March 14. (Mike Windle / Getty Images for SXSW) 27 / 72 Actor Greg Poehler, from left, actress Rachel Blanchard, You Me Her creator John Scott Shepherd and actresses Priscilla Faia and Melanie Papalia attend the SXSW premiere of AT&Ts Audience Networks You Me Her on March 15. (Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for DIRECTV/AT&T) 28 / 72 Actors Melanie Papalia, from left, Priscilla Faia and Greg Poehler attend a brunch celebrating the premiere of AT&Ts Audience Networks You Me Her on March 15. (Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for DIRECTV/AT&T) 29 / 72 Bella Thorne, a Shovel Buddies cast member, attends the movies South by Southwest screening on Monday. (Neilson Barnard / Getty Images for SXSW) 30 / 72 Motivational speaker Tony Robbins attends the screening of the documentary Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru on Monday. (Mike Windle / Getty Images for SXSW) 31 / 72 Andrew Jarecki, director of the documentary The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, speaks at SXSW on Monday. (Rich Fury / Invision / AP) 32 / 72 Actor Craig Robinson, at SXSW with the movie Morris From America, poses for photos in the Samsung Studio on Monday. (Jonathan Leibson / Getty Images for Samsung) 33 / 72 Comedian Hannibal Buress serves as host at the Spotify House on Monday. (Anna Webber / Getty Images for Spotify) 34 / 72 Rapper Tory Lanez performs at the Spotify House on Monday. (Anna Webber / Getty Images for Spotify) 35 / 72 Actors Dominic Cooper, from left, Ruth Negga and Joseph Gilgun attend the screening of Preacher at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas on Monday during the South By Southwest festival. (Mike Windle / Getty Images for SXSW) 36 / 72 Directors Evan Goldberg, left, and Seth Rogen attend the screening of Preacher at Paramount Theatre during SXSW on Monday. (Mike Windle / Getty Images for SXSW) 37 / 72 Director J.J. Abrams speaks after the screening of Secrets of the Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey at the Paramount Theatre during SXSW on Monday. (Mike Windle / Getty Images for SXSW) 38 / 72 R2-D2 attends the screening of Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey at the Paramount Theatre during SXSW. (Mike Windle / Getty Images for SXSW) 39 / 72 Sia performs at Samsung Galaxy Life Fest at SXSW on March 13. (Rick Kern / Getty Images for Samsung) 40 / 72 Sia, background, and dancers perform at Samsung Galaxy Life Fest. (Rick Kern / Getty Images for Samsung) 41 / 72 Willie Nelson performs at the Spotify House during SXSW on March 13. (Anna Webber / Getty Images for Spotify) 42 / 72 James Caan attends a screening of his new film The Waiting at the Paramount Theatre on March 13. (Jack Plunkett / Invision/Associated Press) 43 / 72 Andrei Dementiev, wearing the GoPro camera setup, attends a screening of Hardcore Henry at the Paramount Theatre on March 13. (Jack Plunkett / Invision/Associated Press) 44 / 72 Singer Elle King performs onstage at Samsung Galaxy Life Fest at SXSW on March 13. (Jonathan Leibson / Getty Images for Samsung) 45 / 72 Actor Johnny Galecki experiences Samsung Gear VR at the Samsung Studio at SXSW. (Jonathan Leibson / Getty Images for Samsung) 46 / 72 Actresses Kate Micucci, left, Alia Shawkat and Gillian Jacobs at the Samsung Studio on March 13. (Jonathan Leibson / Getty Images for Samsung) 47 / 72 Director Mike Birbiglia attends a screening of Dont Think Twice at the Paramount Theatre on March 13. (Mike Windle / Getty Images for SXSW) 48 / 72 Scandal actress Kerry Washington speaks during South by Southwest at the Austin Convention Center. (Rich Fury / Invision / Associated Press) 49 / 72 Mr. Robot actor Rami Malek speaks during South by Southwest. (Rich Fury / Invision / Associated Press) 50 / 72 Mr. Robot actor Christian Slater speaks during South by Southwest. (Rich Fury / Invision / Associated Press) 51 / 72 Anthony Bourdain speaks during South by Southwest at the Austin Convention Center. (Rich Fury / Invision / Associated Press) 52 / 72 Jake Gyllenhaal, left, Jean-Marc Vallee and Bryan Sipe arrive at the screening of Demolition during South by Southwest at the Paramount Theatre. (Rich Fury / Invision / Associated Press) 53 / 72 Actor Alexander Skarsgard, left, director John Michael McDonagh and actor Michael Pena at a screening of their new movie War on Everyone during the South by Southwest Film Festival. (Jack Plunkett / Invision / Associated Press) 54 / 72 Actors Jordan Peele, left, and Keegan-Michael Key attend the screening of Keanu during the 2016 SXSW Music, Film + Interactive Festival in Austin. (Mike Windle / Getty Images for SXSW) 55 / 72 Miguel performs as part of the SteelHouse Concert Series during the South by Southwest Interactive Festival. (Gary Miller/Getty Images for SteelHouse) 56 / 72 Burt Reynolds sits on a 1977 Pontiac Trans-Am at the world premiere of The Bandit during the South by Southwest Film Festival. (Jack Plunkett / Invision / Associated Press) 57 / 72 Ellen Page speaks at a panel discussion during South by Southwest. (Rich Fury / Invision / Associated Press) 58 / 72 Vice Principals Georgia King, left, David Gordon Green, Jody Hill, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Danny McBride and Walton Goggins gather during the South by Southwest Film Festival. (Jack Plunkett / Invision / Associated Press) 59 / 72 Zoey Deutch arrives at the premiere of Everybody Wants Some at the Paramount Theatre. (Rich Fury / Invision/Associated Press) 60 / 72 Director Richard Linklater at the premiere of Everybody Wants Some at the Paramount Theatre. (Rich Fury / Invision/Associated Press) 61 / 72 Actors Glen Powell, left, Juston Street, Austin Amelio and Wyatt Russell at the Samsung Studio at SXSW. (Jonathan Leibson / Getty Images for Samsung) 62 / 72 Dallas Mavericks wwner Mark Cuban speaks during Sports and VR, presented by Gear VR, at the Samsung Studio at SXSW. (Rick Kern / Getty Images for Samsung) 63 / 72 Festival goers experience Samsung Gear VR at the Samsung Studio at SXSW. (Rick Kern / Getty Images for Samsung) 64 / 72 Actors Nathan Parsons and Ksenia Solo at the Samsung Studio at SXSW. (Jonathan Leibson / Getty Images for Samsung) 65 / 72 President Barack Obama, right, talks with Texas Tribune Editor in Chief/CEO Evan Smith at the Center for Performing Arts in Austin as part of the South by Southwest Festival. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP) 66 / 72 President Barack Obama waves upon his arrival on Air Force One at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Hell speak at SXSW and attend two Democratic National Committee fundraisers. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP) 67 / 72 The First Order, from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, has landed at SXSW. (Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios) 68 / 72 The Austin Convention Center is ready for the publics arrival on the first day of South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, on Friday. (Larry W. Smith / EPA) 69 / 72 A state trooper and a volunteer walk through the hall inside the Austin Convention Center before the public was let in on the first day of the South by Southwest festival. (Larry W. Smith / EPA) 70 / 72 People line up inside the Austin Convention Center to register on the first day of SXSW. (Larry W. Smith / EPA) 71 / 72 People wait in line to see President Obama participate in a South by Southwest interactive panel on March 11 in Austin, Texas. (Erich Schlegel / Getty Images) 72 / 72 Visitors look over movie posters inside the Austin Convention Center at SXSW. (Larry W. Smith / EPA)

Three special awards were also announced. The SXSW Gamechanger award for female directors went to Sophie Goodhart for My Blind Brother. The Louis Black Lone Star award for Texas film went to Maitlands Tower. The Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship, given to documentary film editors, was given to Eileen Meyer, who edited the recent doc Best of Enemies.

Damien ODonnells How Was Your Day? won the narrative short award, while Dan Taberskis colorfully titled These ... Tears won the documentary short prize. Simon Cartwrights MANOMAN won for midnight short and Alexa Lim Haas and Bernardo Brittos Glove won for animated short.

A prize for excellence in poster design went to Miss Me for The Artful Vandal. The excellence in title design prize went to Aimee Duchamp for Sunstone.

The 2016 SXSW Film Festival ends Saturday, when audience award winners will be announced.

Follow on Twitter: @ZeitchikLAT

Follow on Twitter: @IndieFocus

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The Venetians were as perplexed as anyone in the room last week when a member of the California Coastal Commission suddenly began speaking in Spanish at a public hearing in Santa Monica.

Commissioner Mark Vargas offered no preface or explanation. He simply launched into Spanish and was several lines into a speech about his favorite beach  Lechuza, in Malibu  when Kevin Keresey of Venice spoke up from the audience.

Id like an interpreter, said Keresey, who was sitting with two Venice neighbors.

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Sounded reasonable enough. But this is the Coastal Commission.

So would all of the Spanish community in California, Vargas responded, in English.

Fine, Keresey said.

And youre excluding them, said a defiant Vargas.

Vargas continued in Spanish for another couple of minutes.

When he was done, another spectator complained about the language barrier.

Commission Chairman Steve Kinsey weighed in, saying that Vargas could speak directly to a specific community if he so pleased.

As it happens, Keresey and Venice neighbors Robin Rudisill and Ilana Marosi say they were at the meeting to speak up about what they saw as the gentrification and mansionization that have made their coastal enclave less inclusive than it once was.

But why couldnt Vargas have later translated what he said into English for the sake of the vast majority of attendees, they wondered?

The Venetians approached the dais during the break to ask Vargas, and to see if he would tell them what they had missed.

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I said, Are you always going to do your comments in Spanish in the future, and are you going to bring a translator?  Rudisill recalls. Then he said something about, How do you think my people feel? 

Keresey didnt have much better luck with Vargas.

He started yelling at me really fast, in Spanish, says Keresey. I said Stop. There are no Mexican people left in Venice. Theyve all been kicked out.

At that point, say the Venetians, things turned ugly. So much so that two days later, on the last day of the hearing, Marosi stepped to the microphone to report what was said by Vargas in that brief conversation.

Excuse me in advance and please block your ears, but Im going to repeat Commissioner Vargas words verbatim, Marosi told the commissioners.

His exact quote: '[F] off. Im tired of listening to your [Fing BS] and get the [F] out of here...

Is this the appropriate temperament and maturity for a commissioner?

Later at that same meeting, Vargas responded.

I want to take this opportunity to apologize for using foul language during a private conversation I had with some members of the public that were here earlier, Vargas said.

But it wasnt a terribly convincing mea culpa, and you had to wonder if Vargas would have said anything at all if he had not just been shamed by Marosis public remarks. In fact, Vargas all but blamed the episode on Keresey. He brought up Kereseys comment about Mexicans being driven out of Venice and said institutionalized racism still is a problem....

Keresey said that if Vargas was calling him a racist, it was unfair.

Thats the worst insult, he said.

Heres how Marosi responded when I asked what she thought about the apology:

What apology? He didnt address us or me. He didnt look at us. He basically just excused it away and shunted the blame back on us, or I guess Keresey.

I asked to speak to Vargas about this and other matters, and he emailed to say he was tending to a family matter, but would then be happy to consider a sit-down interview.

Ill take that as a maybe.

In the meantime, if you ask me, Id say that Vargas threw his little F-bomb tantrum because he doesnt know how else to respond to lingering public anger over a mess he helped create.

He often yammers on about looking out for the little guy, but this is the commissioner who traveled to Ireland in November for a U2 concert and meeting with band member David Evans  the Edge  just days before he joined the unanimous vote to approve Evans Malibu project: Five sprawling homes on a gorgeous coastal ridgeline that the commission should be preserving.

He initially blew off my questions about that meeting, which was arranged by the states most powerful developer-loving consultant. He offered only a two-sentence explanation for the visit on a form that requires complete and comprehensive accounts.

Of course Vargas has since branded himself a crusader for total transparency on Twitter.

And in February he voted to fire Charles Lester, the widely admired head of the coastal commissions staff.

Vargas says Lester didnt diversify his staff quickly enough, and in Spanish last week, he said theres now a chance to choose a new leader more committed to access for all. But if Lester actually had shortcomings in this regard, Vargas hasnt spelled them out in full, nor has he indicated what his own plan for improvement might entail.

In fact, Lester worked closely with environmental groups committed to access for all, and Vargas has spent several weeks now bashing those organizations for their lack of diversity.

One of his favorite targets is the Surfrider Foundation. That nonprofit gave Vargas one of its lowest conservation ratings. It also fought for guaranteed public access as part of a Malibu beach restoration project last year.

Vargas and the commission rejected the bulk of that plea.

Thank you, Mr. Inclusivity.

Vargas has a puffed-up manner that reminds you of someone you once knew, and then you realize who. It was the kid standing ankle deep in the wading pool telling you what a great swimmer he was.

I think he needs to be removed, Marosi said.

Rudisill made calls to officials in Sacramento to ask that something be done about Vargas. She was referred to the office of Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, whose predecessor appointed Vargas to a new four-year term that began last summer.

Rudisill says she was told that someone would get back to her by the end of the week, but the options are limited given Coastal Act requirements.

Ive got something Id like to say about that.

But Id be repeating Vargas.

steve.lopez@latimes.com

@LATstevelopez

MORE FROM STEVE LOPEZ

Power grab topples another defender of Californias environment

Important questions linger after firing of Coastal Commission chief

Coastal Commission needs a bigger overhaul than the one sought by lawmakers
Im Davan Maharaj, editor of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I dont want you to miss today.

TOP STORIES

Florida and Ohio: Outcomes and Implications

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The presidential campaign is like nothing weve even seen. Fights break out at rallies. Name-calling is the norm, and pragmatism seems doomed. No wonder pundits and politicos have been waiting for Florida and Ohio to calm the roiling waters. Tuesday their wishes were answered  up to a point. Hillary Clinton wins big over Bernie Sanders. Donald Trump crushes Marco Rubio in Florida, and John Kasich takes his home state. Rubio suspends his campaign.

More About the Primaries

Republican presidential candidate and Ohio Gov. John Kasich gestures at his primary election rally in Berea, Ohio. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)

 California looms large with Kasichs big win in Ohio. Can he keep the momentum until June when the Golden State weighs in with its 172 GOP delegates? Its all about the math.

 Trump varies his campaign slogan. Were going to make our country rich again, he said. We need the rich in order to make the great, Im sorry to tell you.

 Locked in a tight battle with Trump in the Missouri primary, Ted Cruz argues that he is the only viable candidate to beat the GOP front-runner.

 Missouri is too close to call in either contest. The night drew to a close with Trump and Clinton holding razor-thin leads over Cruz and Sanders.

 Do not give into fear, said Rubio in a moving concession speech. America, he declared, is in the middle of a real political storm, a real tsunami.

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Physicians, Heal Thyselves

In no uncertain terms, federal health officials lay blame for the nations ongoing prescription drug crisis on physicians who for the last 15 years have recommended opiates for routine ailments such as back pain and arthritis. Calling the drug epidemic a doctor driven crisis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would like to see less potent medications used.

Visitation Rights for Children

Legendary DJ Casey Kasem was dying, and his daughter, Kerri, wanted to get him to the hospital. Actor Peter Falk was confused by his dementia, and his daughter, Catherine, wanted to visit. But both women were pushed away by their stepmothers, and legal challenges got them nowhere. In the course of working to reform visitation laws, Kasem and Falk have learned they are not alone in their heartache.

Were No. 1!

Step aside Washington, San Francisco and New York. Of all metropolitan areas in the U.S., Southern California has claimed the honor of having the worst traffic. Drivers last year spent 81 hours poking along at speeds  among its slowest, 8 a.m. Wednesday on the eastbound 101  of less than 17 mph. Take heart, though: London has the worlds worst traffic.

News Junkie

Matthew Hay-Chapman may be homeless, but he still has time to follow the news. He is also $100,000 richer after receiving his reward for recognizing the van that belonged to the escaped Orange County jail inmates in January. Hay-Chapman led a police officer to the stolen vehicle where one of the prisoners was hiding.

CALIFORNIA

 The Los Angeles Police Commission will revamp the LAPDs use-of-deadly-force policy with provisions to evaluate whether officers could have defused the tense encounters. Critics call it a no-win situation for officers. Theyre going to get reamed, said one.

 A Facebook message proved to be the undoing for Mohamad Saeed Kodaimati, who had claimed that he wanted to get his family out of Syria. Arrested in April, Kodaimati was sentenced for lying to federal authorities about his connections to the Islamic State.

 Relentlessness, gumption and dumb luck have been attributed to the success of Ktown Cowboys, a Web series about Korean Americans coming of age. With more than 2 million views, it also shows how the industry has underestimated the appeal of Asian American projects.

NATION-WORLD

 President Obama will announce his choice for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court at 8 a.m. PDT Wednesday.

 Turkeys months-long offensive against the Kurds has left tens of thousands displaced from their homes in countrys southeast. Ignored by the West, it has fueled a fiercer resistance among fighters.

 The democratic reforms in Myanmar led first to parliamentary elections in November and now a new president. Htin Kyaw is a childhood friend of Aung San Suu Kyi and the first civilian to hold the post.

 This years Iditarod dog sled race brought tragedy to mushers and served as a vivid reminder that the winters in Alaska are getting warmer.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS

 Objecting to the targeting of Asians and the perpetuation of racist stereotypes during last months Oscars, 25 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences posted their complaints to academy president Cheryl Boone.

 The film academy named African American director Reginald Hudlin, Latino writer Gregory Nava and Asian American animator Jennifer Yuh Nelson as governors.

 Indiana Jones is one of the greatest heroes in cinematic history, so claims the chairman of Walt Disney Studios in announcing a fifth movie, this one reuniting Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg.

 CBS launched its radio network in 1928. Today, it is one of the largest networks in the country with 70 million weekly listeners. But with advertisers moving to digital platforms, the broadcasting company will sell the brand.

BUSINESS

 The U.S. economy continues to lack momentum, say top executives around the country as they try to scale back expectations for 2016. Dont expect hiring and economic growth to take off soon.

 The ride-hailing service Lyft has called General Motors Co. to help launch a short-term rental program for prospective drivers who dont have qualifying cars. First city for the San Francisco-based company? Chicago.

SPORTS

 In a significant concession, the NFLs top health and safety executive acknowledged a link between football head injuries and degenerative brain disease.

 The long arm of the law is reaching back to retest hundreds of samples from athletes who participated in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics in order to ferret out cheaters.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

 For most of human history, parents have relied on tradition and ancestral wisdom for help raising children. Now we have classes. Can they help? (The Atlantic)

 Theyre just normal people, says one long-time observer of the Supreme Court. Never mind they help chart the course of the country, they too enjoy baseball games, theater, even NASCAR races. (Washington Post)

 Novelist Marilynne Robinson (Housekeeping) looks at the Trump candidacy and finds that nativism and resentment have a dangerous momentum of their own. (The Guardian)

ONLY IN L.A.

When USCs basketball team reached the NCAA tournament this year  after a dismal season last year  coaches and player tried to answer why. Success, it turns out, comes from beets. The Trojans have been chugging juice from the root vegetable before workouts and games. The taste is not popular (You ever have some spicy food, and it kind of comes back up? asked one player), but the results speak for themselves.

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.
In its back-and-forth legal wrangling with the FBI over a killers locked iPhone, Apple got a final word in Tuesday  arguing again in court papers that forcing the company to help federal officials access the phone would be illegal and dangerous.

The filing in U.S. District Court in Riverside was the latest turn in a heated and high-stakes struggle over the encrypted iPhone used by Syed Rizwan Farook, one of two assailants who attacked the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino on Dec. 2, killing 14 and leaving many more wounded.

Officials have concluded that the killings by Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, were an act of terrorism.

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The case has become a battleground in a broader dispute among elected officials, law enforcement and technology executives over how far companies must go in aiding criminal investigations.

With several briefs from both sides filed and a hearing in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym scheduled for next week, attorneys for Apple took one more swipe at the case U.S. Atty. Eileen Deckers office has made.

At the crux of the fight has been the All Writs Act, a sweeping, centuries-old law intended to provide judges the authority to issue orders when other avenues are unavailable. Prosecutors have insisted the act provides a solid legal foundation for Pyms order that Apple write new software to allow FBI agents to circumvent security features built into the iPhone Farook had used.

In its latest filing, Apple repeated its assertion that applying the act in this case would be wrong since it does not permit judges to make rulings that go beyond the limits of existing law. Congress, Apple wrote, has considered passing legislation that would force companies to develop software at the governments behest, but rejected the idea.

The company also reiterated the argument that being forced to write computer code would violate its constitutional rights, since courts have found that written code is akin to speech.

After the attack that ended with Farook and his wife dying in a shootout with police, a judge issued a warrant to allow the FBI to search the phones contents. After lengthy discussions, Apple refused the agencys request for help.

Pym last month issued the order compelling Apples assistance, but gave the company time to make its case.

Attorneys for the company continued Tuesday to portray the governments demand as being the cusp of a slippery slope. The requested computer code, they have argued, would amount to a master key that hackers could use to access any iPhone.

Prosecutors have rebuffed the idea, saying Apple would retain control of the code.

joel.rubin@latimes.com

Twitter: @joelrubin

paresh.dave@latimes.com

Twitter: @peard33

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South Los Angeles parents who give their childrens elementary school an F are exploring legal recourse after the L.A. Unified School District announced on Saturday that a state law allowing parents to take over failing schools does not apply to the district.

In rejecting the petition concerning 20th Street Elementary School, the district said that Californias 2010 parent trigger law, which allows parents to take over low-performing schools if they gather enough signatures, is not valid because it asks for outdated performance measurements.

An attorney for the district, David Holmquist, argued in a letter rejecting the petition that even if the law were valid, the district has a federal waiver that exempts it from using the Academic Performance Index and Academic Yearly Progress as performance measures.

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Schools no longer measure API, instead using a new form of tests based on Common Core state standards.

The district has tried to make this argument before, under then-Supt. John Deasy in 2014. But the last superintendent, Ramon Cortines, said later that year that he would allow the petitions.

To invoke the parent trigger law, a school was required to have an API below 800 and have missed AYP benchmarks. In 2013, the school had a weighted three-year average API of 765.

The districts letter notes that the school achieved adequate yearly progress by the states measurement in 2015.

Even on recent state standardized tests, though, only 19% of students met literacy standards and 20% met math standards. Thats below the statewide results, in which 44% of students in all grades met literacy standards and 33% met math standards.

There hasnt been an improvement in the childrens education, said Lupe Aragon, the coordinator for the 20th Street Parents Union, whose daughter and granddaughter both attend the school.

Parent Karla Vilchis disagrees. Vilchis said her 5-year-old daughter is already reading and she credited the work of the teachers at the school.

There are a lot of things that we could get better at, Vilchis said. Improvements are always welcome but we should be working together with our teachers and the principal.

Vilchis was one of dozens of parents who attended a meeting Tuesday night with school and district administrators, including Supt. Michelle King.

King told parents that the district would work more closely with them to address their concerns.

The important thing that I have learned over the course of the last month, or six weeks or so, is the need to bring this entire school community together in a unified way, King said.

20th Street Elementary is almost 95% Latino, half of the students are English learners and 92% receive free-and-reduced lunch.

Unhappy parents at 20th Street almost submitted a petition last year to convert the school into a district-managed pilot school, but put their campaign on hold when the district offered a plan to improve the school.

Those parents say the district didnt do enough -- the teachers dont invest time in the students, the school doesnt offer enough tutoring and the students, especially English learners, are unprepared when they enter middle school, said Maribel Mani, a parent who signed the petition.

Parent leaders began collecting signatures again this year with the intent to almost completely remove the districts control and convert the school into a charter.

The petition drive was carried out with the help of locally based Parent Revolution, which has taken a lead role in organizing dissatisfied parents using the trigger law. The organization receives money from groups that support the growth of charter schools, including the Walton Family Foundation, the Wasserman Foundation and the Broad Foundation.

Los Angeles teachers union has criticized Parent Revolution, noting that parents who choose not to sign the petitions have no say in the future of schools that are taken over.

The districts rejection letter argues that the petition doesnt specify whether it wants to convert the school into a school model that the district would run, or an independent charter school that an outside group would operate.

If the parents decide to take legal action, they could sue to reverse the districts decision.

A school district in Anaheim offered similar reasons for rejecting a parent trigger petition last year, and a judge overturned the districts rejection. That case is now under appeal.

Reach Sonali Kohli on Twitter @Sonali_Kohli or by email at Sonali.Kohli@latimes.com.

Times staff writer Zahira Torres contributed to this report.

Editors Note: The Times receives funding for its Education Matters digital initiative from one or more of the groups mentioned in this article. The California Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Los Angeles administer grants from the Baxter Family Foundation, the Broad Foundation, the California Endowment and the Wasserman Foundation to support this effort. Under terms of the grants, The Times retains complete control over editorial content.
Two students at Palisades Charter High School were arrested in connection with racist graffiti that was spray-painted on a sign and an iconic mural at the Westside campus, police said late Tuesday.

Both students are under the age of 18 and were released to their parents, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement. Their identities were not released.

One was cited for vandalism; the other was cited for conspiracy to commit vandalism, police said.

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Racist graffiti was found about 6:30 a.m. Sunday by a person who lives near the school, located in the 15700 block of Bowdoin Street in Pacific Palisades, said Lt. Cheron Bartee of the Los Angeles School Police Department.

Symbols and phrases that referenced the Ku Klux Klan, Jews, African Americans and LGBT people were found on the 11-acre campus, as well as a bus stop, the sidewalk and nearby trees. Surveillance video showed a person who was wearing a red beanie and a white mask while defacing the property.

The vandalism roiled the school, which has nearly 3,000 students. During the first period of the school day Monday, students refused to attend class and demanded school officials discuss the graffiti, said Brad Daley, the executive assistant to the principal. Students later called for a swift investigation, he added.

About 300 students and community activists also gathered Monday to protest the vandalism.

Principal Pamela Magee advised students and parents that there were no threats to the school, which police reiterated in a statement issued late Tuesday.

PCHS does not tolerate hate speech or related actions and is working closely with law enforcement to identify and apprehend those responsible, Magee said in an email to students and parents.

The high school, which was established in 1961, has a student body that is 53% white, 22% Latino and 15% black. An additional 10% of students are Asian/Pacific Islander, according to demographic data published on the schools website.

For breaking news in California, follow @MattHjourno and VeronicaRochaLA

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As summer approaches, some worry that warmer weather could attract mosquitoes and bring the fast-spreading Zika virus stateside. But new research finds that, in the West at least, that probably wont be the case.

In a study published Wednesday in the journal Public Library of Science Currents: Outbreaks, researchers from the National Center for Atmospheric Research analyzed travel and weather patterns to estimate the potential size of mosquito populations from month to month in 50 major U.S. cities. They focused on Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which have been carrying the Zika virus across more than 30 countries in the Americas.

The researchers found that even in the warmest months, the dry climate probably will keep mosquito populations at low levels in cities in the West, including Albuquerque, Bakersfield, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and Tucson.

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Other parts of the country were not so lucky.

Weather conditions in Miami and Orlando, Fla., and New Orleans create summer conditions suitable for large infestations of mosquitoes, the study found. New York, Washington and Philadelphia could have moderate infestations.

The study, however, looks only at the factors that could bring mosquitoes to the U.S., not that stop them from spreading.

Lead author Andrew Monaghan said that even if weather conditions are suitable for severe mosquito infestations, health and insect control agencies in the United States are effective at limiting the insects spread. Theyve prevented outbreaks of dengue or chikungunya, two diseases also carried by the insects, he said.

You can count the number of outbreaks on your fingers and toes, said Monaghan, a meteorologist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

The Zika virus, suspected of causing birth defects, was once found only in Africa and Southeast Asia, but has been spreading rapidly across the Americas this year. So far, no one in the United States with Zika virus has been infected by a mosquito here.

For the virus to be transmitted, an infected person needs to be bitten by an Aedes mosquito, which then must go bite another person. Experts say that stopping the mosquitoes from multiplying is vital to preventing outbreaks of Zika, which has no vaccine.

They found that Zika risk is low in many parts of the country for much of the year. In March, only parts of Texas and Florida have weather conditions suitable for any kind of mosquito infestation, the study found.

The Aedes mosquitoes arent native to California, but were introduced to the state five years ago. Experts think an infestation in L.A. County began when a shipment of bamboo from Southeast Asia arrived in El Monte.

Kelly Middleton, director of community affairs for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District -- a public entity charged with managing mosquitoes -- agreed that a local outbreak is unlikely.

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However, I can definitely tell you that in some communities, the populations of these mosquitoes is certainly not low -- especially by late summer, she said in an email.

The National Center for Atmospheric Research scientists said that unseasonably warm weather this year due to El Nino could make weather conditions in most of the country more favorable for mosquitoes.

But in the hottest parts of California, Texas and Arizona, increasing temperatures could have the opposite effect, pushing temperatures past mosquitoes sweet spot of development and survival, Monaghan said.

Once we get beyond about 90 degrees Fahrenheit it starts going the other way, he said.

Follow @skarlamangla on Twitter for more health news.

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Mixed martial arts fighter Jason Mayhem Miller is in trouble with the law again.

This time, Miller was arrested on a warrant in connection with vandalizing a now-shuttered tattoo shop in Lake Forest on Jan. 27, said Lt. Mark Stichter, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriffs Department.

Miller was stopped in his vehicle in Mission Viejo on Tuesday night, and has been cooperating with investigators, Stichter said. The fighter was held on $1 million bail.

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The ex-reality TV star was scheduled to appear Wednesday in a Orange County courtroom. He is charged with felony vandalism and committing a crime while out on custody on another offense, according to Orange County Superior Court records.

Miller is accused of vandalizing a brick wall outside of Stay Ready Tattoo with graffiti, said Roxi Fyad, spokeswoman of the Orange County district attorneys office.

Millers latest arrest comes nearly six months after a run-in with Orange County deputies at his home on Avenida Calidad.

In that incident, deputies went to his home in October after a womans screams were heard coming from inside. Miller confronted deputies when they entered a side yard, Lt. Jeff Hallock said. He threw a ceramic tile at deputies and threatened them with a fire extinguisher and metal pole during an eight-minute struggle, authorities said.

Miller ignored the deputies commands, so they used a Taser on him. Eventually, Miller was handcuffed and taken into custody.

Miller is still facing charges in that case as well charges in an attack on Laguna Beach police officers.

He was charged in March with resisting an officer by using violence, battery on the officers and resisting arrest and obstructing in connection with a fight in Laguna Beach.

After breaking a glass at the White House restaurant in the 300 block of South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach police said, Miller walked out and headed south on the highway on foot. But when he turned around and walked back toward the restaurant, he was confronted by four Laguna Beach officers. Police said Miller kicked and spat on the officers during the brawl.

He was placed in the back seat of a police cruiser, where Miller kicked at the back windows on the way to the jail, according to police.

In October 2014, Miller barricaded himself inside his home and live-tweeted his standoff with deputies who tried to arrest him on warrants in connection with domestic violence and stalking allegations and a court-order violation.

The MMA fighter told followers, If you would like to see this drama unfold, please come to his address.

In 2012, Miller was taken into custody after deputies found him sleeping naked on a couch in an Orange County church that had been burglarized and vandalized, officials said.

Police said when they asked him his name, he kept saying, Mayhem, Mayhem. They didnt know who he was  they thought he was being uncooperative.

For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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An off-duty Fontana police officer shot and killed a suspected robber at his Apple Valley home Wednesday morning, authorities said.

The officer awoke about 5:39 a.m. to find a man trying to steal personal belongings inside his home in the 20000 block of Ochoa Road, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department. The intruder was armed with a handgun, sheriffs officials said.

During a brief struggle, the officer tried to subdue the man and was able to hold him at gunpoint, authorities said.

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But the intruder ignored the officers orders to show his hands and lie on the ground, sheriffs officials said. The man reached for his waistband, and the officer shot him in the upper torso, authorities said.

He was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead. Authorities identified him Thursday as Vincent Avila, 25, of Apple Valley.

The officer, an eight-year department veteran whose name was not released, was not injured. He has been placed on paid administrative leave, Fontana police spokeswoman Martha Guzman-Hurtado said.

Sheriffs homicide detectives are investigating.

The shooting comes a day after an off-duty Los Angeles Police Department lieutenant shot two suspected burglars inside his San Gabriel home. One of the suspects was in critical condition, and the other was in stable condition.

The LAPD lieutenant, who was not identified, was inside his home in the 600 block of Los Olivos Drive when he confronted the two men in his backyard after they climbed out a window. He was standing in his kitchen near a window when he saw one of the men reach for his waistband, said Lt. Eddie Hernandez of the L.A. County Sheriffs Departments homicide bureau.

Fearing the suspect had armed himself and was going to seriously hurt or kill the homeowner, the officer fired and struck both men in the upper torso, a sheriffs statement said.

For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA
State prison inmate Donta Baker was approaching the finish line.

He had just one month to go in a reentry facility in Los Angeles and his four-year sentence for grand theft would be fully served.

Then prison officials said Baker tested positive for marijuana use.

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And with that, they said, he allegedly walked out of the reentry facility about 5:20 p.m. Monday. He left behind a GPS device, said Terry Thornton, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

He could face new charges for escaping, she said.

Prison officials notified law enforcement agencies in the area after they learned he was missing. Correctional officers were also sent out to look for Baker and are seeking help from the public.

Baker, described as 6 foot 1 and 205 pounds, arrived in prison Dec. 6, 2013, after being convicted of grand theft exceeding $950.



Officials said he was then transferred from the California Institution for Men to the Male Community Reentry Program in Los Angeles on Feb. 2.

The program allows eligible inmates to serve the end of their sentences at the center. The program links offenders to a range of community-based rehabilitative services that include help with substance use disorders, education, and housing.

Had he not smoked marijuana and then walked away, Baker would have been released to parole in mid-April.

Anyone with information on Bakers whereabouts should call 911.

Stay informed, follow @latvives.

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A defense attorney representing convicted murderer Daniel Wozniak will have until the end of April to file a brief asking the court to throw out the jurys death penalty verdict.

Wozniak was expected to receive his final sentence in Orange County Superior Court last week. Instead, Judge John Conley granted public defender Scott Sanders additional time to file a court brief, which will seek a ruling vacating the verdict and replacing it with life in prison without parole.

Sanders plans ask the judge to grant a new penalty phase of the trial.

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The brief will include a detailed analysis of the trial and the relevant law, which the defense believes should be considered before a sentence of death is imposed, Sanders wrote in the motion.

Wozniak, 31, a community theater actor from Costa Mesa, was convicted Dec. 16 of killing Army veteran Sam Herr, 26, and his friend Juri Julie Kibuishi, 23.

According to prosecutors, Wozniak was desperate for money to cover his rent and fund his upcoming wedding and honeymoon. So he hatched a plot to kill Herr, his neighbor, and steal $62,000 that Herr had saved from his military service in Afghanistan.

On May 21, 2010, Wozniak shot Herr twice in the head in the attic of a Los Alamitos theater, according to testimony from detectives and a videotaped confession from Wozniak. He then used Herrs phone to send messages to Kibuishi to lure her to Herrs apartment, where he shot her to death.

The next day, Wozniak returned to the apartment and staged Kibuishis body to appear as if Herr had sexually assaulted her and fled.

Wozniak used an ax and saw to remove the head, hands and a tattooed forearm from Herrs body before dumping the parts in a Long Beach park.

Police arrested Wozniak days later at his bachelor party in Huntington Beach after ATM withdrawals from Herrs account led them to him, authorities said.

Wozniak is expected to appear in court May 20 for final sentencing. The date marks almost six years since Wozniak shot Herr in the attic of the theater.

Steve Herr, the victims father, said the significance of the date isnt lost on him.

Im OK with that date, he said. On the very last day of the fifth year its time to put this thing to rest.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN



Fry writes for Times Community News.
The winters keep getting warmer. The racers keep getting faster.

When Dallas Seavey and his team of sled dogs arrived in this remote old gold rush town on the Bering Sea shortly after 2 a.m. on Tuesday, Seavey celebrated his fourth victory in just five years in the nearly 1,000-mile sprint across the Alaska wilderness that the world knows as the Iditarod dog sled race. At eight days, 11 hours, 20 minutes and 16 seconds, it was the fastest time in Iditarod history  and the second time Seavey set a course record on his way to victory.

Yet race times are not the only records being broken here this year.

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Alaska just completed its second-warmest December-February of the last century, and many parts of the state, including Anchorage, the largest city, are seeing their warmest winters ever recorded. The trendline of temperatures dips now and then, but the momentum is steadily heading upward.

Its unequivocal, said Rick Thoman, the National Weather Services climate science and services manager for Alaska. Winters in Alaska are not as cold as they used to be. The cold winters now are in line with the average winters of the 1950s.

As the winters have warmed, the Iditarod has become not just a colorful Alaska tradition but a vivid window into the uncertainties presented by the changing climate. Over the years, the Iditarod has become Alaskas most popular sporting event, even as the conditions and imagery surrounding it have shifted.

This year, the ceremonial start of the race in Anchorage was complicated by the fact there was very little snow in the city. That led race organizers to shorten the event and haul snow in by train, only to decide not to use it because it was mixed with too much debris, the races executive officer, Stan Hooley, said Monday in Nome. It helped that it happened to snow in Anchorage the day before the ceremony.

Im not sure winter ever came to south-central Alaska, Hooley said.

Last year, low snow prompted officials to move the start of the race 300 miles north to Fairbanks. In 2014, low snow and muddy conditions caused crashes and damaged sleds that ended the race early for some mushers.

No snow, Aliy Zirkle, one of the states top mushers said at the time. Zip. Zero. None.

Then again, low snow meant high speeds.

2014 was perfect for a fast race, Seavey said on Tuesday. That trail was made for a record-breaking  and bone-breaking  race.

Big winter weather  say, deep snow and 60-mph winds  can make the race much more difficult. Completing it in fewer than nine days is a fairly recent development  early winners needed 20 days  but one which mushers say is likely to become more common.

The only way it will be won in over nine days again is if its a real heavy snow year with a lot of wind, said Wade Marrs, who finished fourth Tuesday. Otherwise, its just going to be like this all the time.

But Marrs, who is 25 and one of the races rising stars, noted that weather is just one way the Iditarod is changing.

The mushers and dogs, I wouldnt say are getting better, but they are learning more about the sport, he said, gulping down a pork sandwich and caribou stew at the races Nome checkpoint shortly after finishing. They are figuring out better ways of training and preparing.

Marrs trains his dogs at a kennel near the one Dallas Seavey runs in the town of Willow, which is where the Iditarod officially starts. Seavey has brought a new level of data and precision to the race, training his dogs on a treadmill in a climate-controlled trailer in the summers.

Seavey said after the race on Tuesday that he had developed 20 different tactics for balancing when to run and when to rest his dogs, depending on the conditions and where he is in the race. The idea is to be prepared for the unpredictable.

He called this years race just a good old Iditarod.

We had snow; we had wind, he said. Not any super, super cold, but this was a normal race that a couple of excellent dog teams just broke the record on.

The other team that broke the course record this year? The one that was led by Seaveys father, Mitch Seavey, who finished second, just 45 minutes behind his son. Mitch Seavey won the race in 2004 and again in 2013, a year after Dallas won it for the first time.

Nome, not just the route there, is always part of the Iditarod story as well.

Thoman, with the National Weather Service, noted anecdotal reports of low sea ice in Norton Sound. While the area covered by sea ice can vary, he said, the quality of the ice, how continuous and thick it is, has been a concern for mushers and native Yupik and Inupiat subsistence hunters from the area.

One man serving up chicken strips to the hungry race crowd Tuesday did not hesitate to offer an explanation when asked about the open water.

Global warming, he said.

william.yardley@latimes.com

Hopkins is a special correspondent.

For more news on global sustainability, go to our Global Development Watch page: latimes.com/global-development
Environmentalists and energy experts have been saying it for a while now. So have private investors and federal regulators. Lawmakers across the West are increasingly saying it, too: The reign of King Coal is over.

Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon just signed into law a measure that would eliminate coal from the states power supply in less than two decades. Here in Washington, the Legislature also just adopted a plan that would eliminate coal. Last year, California moved to use renewables for half of its electricity by 2030.

And then there is Utah.

In the final hours of the states legislative session last week , the Utah House of Representatives began final debate on a measure to loan $53 million for a planned export facility in San Francisco Bay that would ship Utah coal to Asia. The idea is to provide a guaranteed market for coal mined in southern Utah, a region hard hit by the declining domestic coal market.

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Opponents were exasperated that the plan  developed in secret last year by an investment banker who moonlighted as head of the Utah Transportation Commission  had suddenly emerged as legislation and made it to the floor barely a week after being introduced.

If we were businessmen or a bank, and we were putting out $53 million, would we get an independent review before making that decision? Rep. Joel Briscoe, a Democrat and the minority whip, asked the chamber. I think we would.

But speaker after speaker rose to say that no outside analysis was necessary. Utah coal is cleaner than most, they said. So clean it will actually help China solve its pollution problems. Wary investors will be proven wrong, they said, just as they were during the Great Recession.

Besides, this was about more than coal. This was about protecting rural jobs and families beaten down by federal regulation and limited economic options. Perhaps, they said, Utah could use the access it would gain to the terminal to export oil or potash, grain or alfalfa. Or even, somehow, the message of the Mormon church.

Lets bless the world, Rep. Derrin Owens, a Republican, told his colleagues on the House floor.

The bill passed, 52 to 17, with six lawmakers not voting. Gov. Gary R. Herbert, also a Republican, is expected to sign it into law.

It he does, experts say, Utah will be going against well-established momentum. While coal is expected to remain an important part of the nations energy supply for many years, the rise of cheap natural gas and renewable wind and solar energy has sent its value into steep decline.

Coal dust fills the air at the Absaloka coal mine in Montana. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Utah acted on the same day that one of the nations largest coal companies, Arch Coal, facing bankruptcy, announced that it was suspending its long-standing plans to develop an ambitious mine in Montana -- in part because demand in Asia had plummeted.

It was also the same day that the United States Energy Information Administration released estimates showing national coal production declined 29% in the first 10 weeks of 2016 compared with the same period last year.

It acted even as the editorial page of the Deseret News, one of Utahs more conservative publications (and that is saying something), said that the bill had too many red flags.

Yet it did not necessarily act out of character with all corners of the West. Montana lawmakers and some tribal leaders there have expressed deep frustration that states on the coast have fought efforts to export coal, with some governors and tribal leaders traveling to the coast to show support for port projects.

Rail cars are filled with coal and sprayed with a topper agent to suppress dust at Cloud Peak Energys Antelope Mine north of Douglas, Wyo. (Ryan Dorgan / AP)

Wyoming, which produces more coal than any other state, has pledged $15 million toward a testing center that will look for ways to turn carbon dioxide into new products, and it has spent smaller amounts to promote the industry. Last year, it passed a law giving its public-private development arm, the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority, the ability to invest as much as $1 billion in projects out of state if it can sell bonds for them. The idea was to help build coal export terminals.

But the state has made no such investments and Jason Begger, executive director of the Wyoming agency, said in an interview this week that doing so would be risky in light of the current market and resistance to coal terminals on the coast.

You never say never, but it would probably be unlikely that our bonding authority would ever be used on a port project, Begger said.

Other than Utah, he said, referring to coal-producing Western states, Im not aware of any states that have stepped up and actually provided a mechanism to provide funding to a port project.

The Utah plan did not begin in the Legislature. Last spring, Jeffrey Holt, a longtime investor in port and infrastructure projects who also served as chairman of the state transportation commission, helped develop a plan that would use $53 million in federal royalty payments from mining leases to help four coal-producing counties invest in the project. Holt and his firm, the Bank of Montreal, stood to gain more than $1 million in the deal and a related rail line.

Holt tried to keep the plan secret, saying in emails later made public that the script was to downplay coal. The plan was criticized by environmental groups, who wrote to the Utah attorney generals office raising questions about the legality of the arrangement. In December, Holt abruptly resigned his position on the transportation commission, but he was present at the Utah Capitol this week as lawmakers considered the bill.

The law passed by the Legislature would use state money to fund the port project, but it would reimburse the state with the federal royalty money.

Its being laundered, said Ted Zukoski, a lawyer for Earthjustice.

Piles of coal wait to be loaded into trucks at the Sufco Coal Mine, 30 miles east of Salina, Utah. (George Frey / Getty Images)

The plan has also met strong opposition in Oakland, where city officials have been weighing whether they can take action to stop it. Loni Hancock, a Democrat in the California state Senate who represents Oakland, wrote to her counterparts in Utah expressing opposition.

We have to consider the broader impacts of what we do, and exporting Utah coal through the city of Oakland would undermine the many climate change and environmental policies adopted by California, Hancock wrote March 1.

The Oakland terminal project has been led by by Phillip Tagami, a longtime friend and investment partner of Gov. Jerry Brown. A company owned by Tagami has agreed to lease the site to a newly created entity called Terminal Logistics Solutions.

Public records from March 2015, however, show that, at least under a plan being developed at that point, the company that would operate the terminal would be controlled in part by Bowie Natural Resources, the company whose Utah coal mines would serve the terminal. A report in the East Bay Express last week showed Bowie had made $29,000 in campaign contributions to Utah lawmakers who have supported the states involvement. It has given $14,000 to Gov. Herbert since 2014.

Terminal Logistics Solutions did not respond to requests for comment. A lawyer for Tagami said in an email that Terminal Logistics Solutions had not yet exercised its option to develop the terminal.

We understand they are in the midst of comprehensive due diligence regarding commodity providers interested in shipping through the terminal, the lawyer, David Smith, said. As we understand it, Utah is one of many avenues they are looking at.

Many Western states taking strong action against coal use relatively little of it for power and have few coal mines or none at all. Many trying to save it burn lots of coal and depend heavily on mining. Many opposed are blue states with progressive environmental records, while many showing support are also challenging the Obama administrations new Clean Power Plan, which would reduce coal-burning power plant emissions. The plan has been stayed by the Supreme Court while the challenge to it proceeds in federal court in Washington.

Experts say they understand the desire coal states may have to preserve what has been essential to their economies, but they say such thinking risks long-term problems. Spend $53 million to invest in solar energy instead, some say.

Either you plan for an orderly transition, or else its going to happen and you wont be prepared, said David Schlissel, an analyst with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, a nonprofit that supports renewable energy. The market forces arent going away. The ostrich strategy never works.

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President Obama has selected Merrick Garland, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, to fill Justice Antonin Scalia's Supreme Court seat. Garland's name has been mentioned for the nation's highest court since the late 1990s and he is considered to be one of the most qualified candidates for the job.

Here's a rundown of who else was mentioned in the run-up to Obama's selection:

HIGH CHANCE

Sri Srinivasan, 49 | Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C. Circuit

(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Background: Born in India. Clerked for Republican former Justice Sandra Day OConnor. Confirmed unanimously less than three years ago. Had extensive experience as a corporate litigator and deputy solicitor general before going onto the bench. Has argued numerous cases before the Supreme Court.

Advantages/Disadvantages: Has strong bipartisan appeal, but given the Republican opposition to any nominee this year, Democrats might prefer to hold him in reserve for a future vacancy. Many liberals regard him as too conservative and business-oriented.

Read more >>

Paul J. Watford, 48 | Judge, U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

(Bill Clark/Getty Images)

Background: A law clerk to Ruth Bader Ginsburg and before that to Judge Alex Kozinski, one of the best known conservatives on the 9th Circuit. He worked as an appellate lawyer in a major Los Angeles firm and as a federal prosecutor before appointment to the bench. Watford was confirmed 61-34 in 2012.

Advantages/Disadvantages: A well regarded, young African American judge, he could be difficult for Republicans to oppose. Some liberal activists consider him too moderate. When nominated before, he drew GOP opposition for cases he had worked on involving the death penalty and immigrant rights.

Read more >>

MEDIUM CHANCE

Jane Kelly, 52 | Judge, U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals

(Paul Duginski/Los Angeles Times)

Background: A former public defender, shes earned praise from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Graduated from Harvard Law School in the same class as Obama. Confirmed to the Court of Appeals 96-0 in 2013.

Advantages/Disadvantages: A well regarded female appellate judge, recently confirmed by the Senate, she could be difficult for Republicans to oppose.

Patricia Millett, 52 | Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C. Circuit

(Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press)

Background: Obama nominated Millett in 2013. She had experience in the U.S. solicitor generals office, and has argued 32 cases before the Supreme Court.

Advantages/Disadvantages: A favorite in Democratic legal circles, Millett overcame a filibuster to win confirmation. Some Republican senators continue to be angry about the parliamentary tactics the Democrats used to win that fight, which might make her nomination a point of controversy.

Jeh Johnson, 58 | Secretary of Homeland Security

(Olivier Douliery/Getty Images)

Background: Was Pentagon general counsel and a federal prosecutor before taking the helm of the Homeland Security Department. He's been involved in many of the government's most complex national security and counter-terrorism issues as well as immigration policy.

Advantages/Disadvantages: Well regarded African American lawyer with strong government experience. Confirmation fight would distract from his current job, and many Republicans strongly disapprove of Obama's executive actions on immigration, which Johnson has been involved in shaping.

Adalberto Jordan, 54, Judge, U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals

(Paul Duginski/Los Angeles Times)

Background: Born in Cuba, he came to the U.S. at age 7. He graduated from the University of Miami Law School and was a clerk for Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. After a decade of work in a large law firm and as a federal prosecutor, he was named to the U.S. District Court in Miami by President Clinton in 1999, then to the appeals court by Obama in 2012.

Advantages/Disadvantages: Well regarded as a judge, and his background as a Latino from Florida could be politically attractive. But Obama may want to name a woman or an African American to the high court.

Amy Klobuchar, 55 | U.S. senator from Minnesota

(Susan Walsh/Associated Press)

Background: Klobuchar, in her second Senate term, is a former prosecutor and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Advantages/Disadvantages: Regarded as a rising star in her party. No member of the Senate has been appointed to the court for decades.

(Molly Riley/Associated Press)

Loretta Lynch, 56 | U.S. attorney general

Background: Received relatively well by both parties. Before becoming U.S. attorney general, she was the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, based in Brooklyn -- the top federal prosecutor for one of the country's busiest judicial districts and handled several high-profile cases.

Advantages/Disadvantages: As a former prosecutor, she has a tough-on-crime image, but any administration official could be opposed by Republicans on the grounds of cronyism, and the confirmation process could become a forum to debate other administration policies.

Jacqueline Nguyen, 51 | Judge, U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

(Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times)

Background: Born in Vietnam, she came to the U.S. as a refugee at age 10. Her parents owned a doughnut shop in Glendale where she worked in high school. A graduate of Occidental College and UCLA Law School, she worked as a federal prosecutor and L.A. County Superior Court judge before Obama made her a federal District Court judge in 2009. She was elevated to the appeals court in 2013, confirmed 91-3.

Advantages/Disadvantages: In addition to her compelling life story, Nguyen would be the first Asian American on the high court. Her record as an appeals court judge, however, is relatively sparse, with few major cases. One decision, in which she sided with a police officer who shot a bystander with a taser, has drawn criticism from liberals.

Robert Wilkins, 53 | Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C. Circuit

(Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)

Background: Chemical engineer by training, was a public defender before appointment. Known for his involvement in civil rights issues. Won a major case against the Maryland State Police over traffic stops aimed at black drivers.

Advantages/Disadvantages: His involvement in civil rights litigation earlier in his career is potentially attractive to liberal Democrats. He's less well known than some of his colleagues on the high-profile D.C. Circuit.

LOW CHANCE

David Barron, 48 | Judge, U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals

(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Background: A graduate of Harvard College and Law School, he was a professor there when President Obama appointed him to the bench. In Obama's first term, he headed the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, where he was the main author of a controversial memo authorizing the use of a drone strike to kill Anwar Awlaki.

Advantages/Disadvantages: His memo on the Awlaki drone strike led to some liberal groups opposing his nomination to the appeals court, and Obama may not want to revive that controversy.

Kamala Harris, 51 | California attorney general

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Background: Elected in 2010, Harris, the former San Francisco district attorney, is a rising Democratic star. Shes running for the Senate to succeed Barbara Boxer.

Advantages/Disadvantages: Would have to give up Senate race; says I do not wish to be considered.

Pamela Karlan, 57 | Professor, Stanford Law School

(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Background: A graduate of Yale University and Law School, she clerked for Justice Harry Blackmun at the Supreme Court, who credited her with being the main drafter of his dissent in Bowers v. Hardwick, which became the first major judicial statement in favor of gay rights. She worked for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund before becoming a law professor and headed the Justice Department's voting rights section in 2014.

Advantages/Disadvantages: One of the most celebrated liberal legal scholars of her generation, Karlan is probably the most liberal candidate Obama would consider. She would be the first openly bisexual member of the court. "Would I like to be on the Supreme Court?" she said once in a graduation speech, "You bet I would, but not enough to have trimmed my sails for half a lifetime.

Leondra Kruger, 39 | Associate justice, California Supreme Court

(AP Photo/California Governor's Office)

Background: Grew up in South Pasadena, graduated from Harvard and Yale Law School, clerked for Justice John Paul Stevens, served in the Obama administration in the Justice Department in the solicitor general's office and the Office of Legal Counsel. Appointed to the California Supreme Court by Gov. Jerry Brown in December 2014.

Advantages/Disadvantages: Likely too young to make the short list this time around, Kruger is nonetheless considered a potential Supreme Court pick in a future Democratic administration.

Goodwin Liu, 45 | Associate justice, California Supreme Court

(Paul Sakuma/Associated Press)

Background: A former professor at UC Berkeley School of Law and expert on constitutional law, he drew praise as a scholar. Obama tried to name him to the 9th Circuit but was blocked by a Republican filibuster. Gov. Jerry Brown then named Liu to the California high court.

Advantages/Disadvantages: He would be the first Asian member of the Supreme Court, but as his previous nomination showed, he faces strong opposition from GOP senators who consider him too liberal. Young enough to be a future nominee.

Deval Patrick, 59 | Former Massachusetts governor

(Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Associated Press)

Background: A friend of Obama's, he was well regarded in his two terms as governor. He headed the Justice Department's civil rights division in the Clinton administration.

Advantages/Disadvantages: As a prominent black former elected official, he could attract considerable political support, but Republicans would home in on his lack of judicial experience.

UPDATES:

An interactive version of this list originally ran on Feb. 17.
Tuesday, one of the biggest days in this presidential primary season, proved a very good night for Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, a pretty good night for Republican front-runner Donald Trump and an awful night for onetime rising star Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who withdrew from the race after a dismal showing in his home state. Here are a few things that stood out:

Rubio lost because of Rubio, not because of Trump

Rubio looked like so much roadkill on the Trump convoy when he dropped out after a humiliating shellacking in Florida at the hands of Trump.

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But he wasnt. If anything, Rubio benefited from Trumps rise when the GOP establishment panicked and consolidated behind him with its endorsements and money.

Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | March 15 election results | Track the delegate race | Sign up for the newsletter

Rubios bigger problems were his own. His memorably robotic performance in a debate last month, when he repeated his lines over and over almost verbatim, revealed a candidate who was overly packaged, under-seasoned and a bit too obviously primed to seek political success, wherever it lay.

Follow the bouncing ball:

He rose as speaker of the Florida House through his ability to navigate the establishment. He won his seat in the U.S. Senate in 2010 as a tea party, anti-establishment candidate.

He slipped on the establishment mantle again when he tried to pass an immigration overhaul in Congress three years ago, then backed away when polls showed it was a loser.

In this years presidential election, he reconnected with his establishment leanings  until he dropped out of the race Tuesday night.

Guess whom he attacked? A political establishment that for far too long has taken the votes of conservatives for granted, and a political establishment that has grown to confuse cronyism for capitalism and big business for free enterprise.

Clinton has the night she was waiting for

Clinton, the former secretary of State and first lady, won with women, minority voters and voters who came of age before her husbands presidency, her usual coalition.

But perhaps more crucial, her message  a progressive who can get things done  also had a good night. Democratic voters gave Clinton an edge over Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont on the question of which candidate had the most realistic policies, exit polls showed. She did best in states where that gap was larger.

Clinton has had a hard time inspiring core Democratic voters with that brand of pragmatism, which has prevented her from scoring as many breakaway victories over Sanders as she would like.

But Tuesdays results in the two biggest states, Ohio and Florida, will give Clinton the type of boost in delegates and psychology she has sought. They also happen to be a pair of crucial states for the general election. Throw in North Carolina, another swing state won by Clinton, and her electability argument gets more convincing

But tight races with Sanders in Missouri and Illinois  along with Sanders hourlong speech Tuesday  are evidence that Clinton still has work to do, both in fighting off Sanders and in winning over skeptical Democrats.

Tuesday was hardly a firewall against Trump

The Republican establishment had been pointing to March 15 as its last chance to block Trump. It did not work out.

The anointed challenger, Rubio, was burned badly in Florida.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich won his home state, which will make it more difficult  though not impossible  for Trump to win the 1,237 delegates he needs to clinch the nomination. Still, hoping for a chaotic nominating convention is far from a dream scenario for GOP establishment figures.

Trump proved his broad appeal in Florida. He won by huge margins among voters who want to deport immigrants in the country illegally, according to exit polls. Thats not surprising, given that Trump has made his hard-line immigration policy central to his campaign.

But more surprising, Trump also won narrowly among voters who want to offer legal status to those immigrants.

Kasich wins. Now what?

Kasich has been waiting for Tuesdays primary since he entered the race. He worked hard to win Ohio, his first victory of the primary season. It keeps him in the race. It wounds Trump.

But where does Kasich go from here? He came in a distant fourth in Florida, lost Illinois and didnt do much better in North Carolina. His roster of endorsers keeps growing, but many of his top supporters had their political primes two or three decades ago.

During his victory speech, Kasich said he would go next to Pennsylvania, where his campaign is fighting a legal challenge to remain on the ballot when the state votes April 26.

GOP hawks retreating

Rubio was the most aggressively hawkish Republican in the field. The top two remaining Republicans, Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, have expressed strong misgivings of engagement abroad.

Trump has accused the George W. Bush administration of lying about weapons of mass destruction to justify the war in Iraq, and he has complained that the U.S. is being taken advantage of by Japan and other allies it has pledged to protect. Cruz has talked of carpet-bombing the Islamic State militant group but has been critical of prolonged nation-building efforts.

In a dramatic switch from the usual party alignments, Clinton is arguably more aggressive on foreign policy than her top two GOP rivals. She voted for the war in Iraq (and now says she regrets it), advocated for the intervention in Libya and has called for a no-fly zone in Syria.

The rescrambling on foreign policy is one of the starkest examples of Trumps effect on the race, which has flipped many traditional divides between the two parties.

noah.bierman@latimes.com

Twitter: @noahbierman

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President Obama sought Wednesday to reshape the clash over presidential power that has engulfed the vacancy on the Supreme Court, nominating a federal judge with a centrist reputation, Merrick Garland, and all but daring Republicans to hold fast to their refusal to consider his choice.

Obama held up his pick of the 63-year-old Garland as an opportunity for Republicans to reverse course and avoid making the judicial system an extension of our divided politics.

I said I would take this process seriously  and I did, Obama said as he stood alongside Garland, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. At a time when our politics are so polarized, at a time when norms and customs of political rhetoric and courtesy and comity are so often treated like theyre disposable  this is precisely the time when we should play it straight.

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The presidents Rose Garden announcement amounted to a political challenge to Republicans just as they appear to be grappling with the consequences of their own stalwart opposition to Obama throughout his presidency with the surprising rise of GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump. Obama tried to frame his decision as an effort to look past election-year politics and create an implicit contrast with Republicans stonewalling.

He praised Garland as the kind of candidate he had promised to choose: one with sterling credentials and a widely respected temperament.

Garland is known as one of Americas sharpest legal minds and brings to his work a spirit of decency, modesty, integrity, evenhandedness and excellence, Obama said.

These qualities and his long commitment to public service have earned him the respect and admiration from leaders from both sides of the aisle, he added.

Republican leaders, though, held firm to the position they first claimed just hours after the death last month of Justice Antonin Scalia, a staunch conservative: that they wouldnt even meet with the nominee, insisting Obama doesnt have the mandate so close to the end of his term to be making such a consequential move, and preferring instead to leave the choice to Obamas successor.

Its about a principle and not a person, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on the floor of the Senate moments after Obama and Garland left the White House Rose Garden. It seems President Obama made this nomination not with the intent of seeing a nominee confirmed, but in order to politicize it for the purposes of the election.

White House officials said Obamas choice was driven by a desire to pick the most qualified candidate, unaffected by the politics of an election year that undergirded McConnells pledge.

Its fair to say that theres simply nobody better qualified, said White House counsel Neil Eggleston, who helped lead the vetting process.

Garland was a leading contender for the last Supreme Court vacancy, in 2010, and an early favorite in part because of the bipartisan support he won when the Senate confirmed him to his current post.

Several longtime GOP members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have publicly lobbied for Garlands selection in the past, underscoring the political bind the presidents choice puts them in. Seven current Republican senators voted to confirm Garland to the federal bench in 1997.

White House officials believe they stand a chance of getting a confirmation hearing for Garland in the Senate despite McConnells opposition and pointed to some Republicans appearing to break ranks by opening the door to at least meeting with Garland.

The White House lobbying effort began as soon as Garland left the Rose Garden. He started calling senators right away and will go to Capitol Hill to meet them  at least those willing to invite him in  on Thursday.

Garland has experienced this type of standoff before. President Clinton nominated him to a federal judgeship in 1995, but he wasnt confirmed until two years later, after the Democrats reelection.

Obamas announcement came a day after he challenged politicians in both parties to examine what role they have played in helping to give rise to a vicious atmosphere in our politics. He seemed to be appealing to Republican senators who have tried to distance themselves from Trump amid concerns that his inflammatory rhetoric could hurt their own chances for reelection and cost the party its control of the Senate.

 President Obama has nominated federal Judge Merrick Garland to replace Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court, setting up a showdown with Senate Republicans, who have vowed to block any nomination Obama makes.

Democrats say Republicans are instead enabling Trump to potentially choose the court nominee.

Senate Republicans who continue their Supreme Court obstruction are saying unequivocally that they want Donald Trump to appoint the next Supreme Court justice, Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said at a news conference.

The discomfort was visible as several Republican senators dashed through the halls of the Capitol on Wednesday, refusing to comment on the nomination, while others  particularly those up for reelection  eased off their unequivocal refusal to consider Obamas nominee.

As many as six GOP senators indicated they might be willing to meet with Garland, said Democratic aides keeping a tally  more than just the one or two before Trumps decisive victories in Tuesdays primaries.

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Sen. Susan Collins of Maine was among many senators whom Obama called, and she said Wednesday she was happy to meet with the nominee and believed it would be best for the Senate to hold hearings and vote.

Even though Collins voted to confirm Garland for the D.C. Circuit Court in 1997, her approval is not guaranteed, she said, also raising doubts about Republicans position.

They risk seeing a more liberal Supreme Court justice seated if Hillary Clinton wins the presidential election and Democrats retake the Senate majority, she said, noting: That certainly would be an ironic outcome.

Two senators in tough reelection campaigns, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Rob Portman of Ohio, said that they would give the nominee the courtesy of a meeting but that their positions were unlikely to change.

Republican strategists said they doubted voters would cast ballots only on the Supreme Court issue, and remained confident GOP senators could run on their record of getting the Senate working again.

Democrats who cheered Garlands selection said there was greater potency in showcasing Republicans reflexive opposition to the president than if Obama had opted for a nominee who would more clearly tip the courts ideological balance or rally the Democratic base heading into the fall.

Garland is so unquestionably qualified that the Republican opposition just got more politically untenable, said Dan Pfeiffer, a former senior White House advisor who helped shepherd Obamas first two nominees, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, to confirmation.

Both parties and their allies have been preparing for a public lobbying campaign, which will ramp up as senators leave Thursday for a two-week recess.

Whether Obamas third Supreme Court pick will be confirmed depends almost entirely on how much pressure Republicans can withstand from the left and the evolving opinions of swing and independent voters before the November election.

There are a handful of Republican senators in states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Illinois and New Hampshire who cannot win unless they get some folks who voted for Obama in 2012, Pfeiffer said. That hard task is about to get impossible.

Sen. Mark Steven Kirk, a Republican seeking reelection in Illinois, reiterated his break with his partys plan and his commitment to represent the people of Illinois in an independent and thoughtful manner, free from the partisanship and political rancor that too often consumes Washington.

The Senates constitutionally defined role to provide advice and consent is as important as the presidents role in proposing a nominee, and I will assess Judge Merrick Garland based on his record and qualifications, Kirk said.

The president also appears to be weighing his own legacy. A fresh illustration of GOP intransigence, especially on a compromise choice like Garland, highlights the deep-seated opposition that Obama faces and sees as an important theme of his presidency.

He repeatedly referred to the seriousness of the task before him and Republicans to fulfill their constitutional roles. I hope theyre fair. Thats all, he said.

Garland, Obama said, has exemplified the kind of approach he wants Republicans to join him in taking.

Hes shown a rare ability to bring together odd couples, assemble unlikely coalitions, persuade colleagues with wide-ranging judicial philosophies to sign on to his opinions, Obama said.

He is the right man for the job. He deserves to be confirmed.

Times staff writer Christi Parsons in Washington contributed to this report.

Twitter: @mikememoli

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A switch in strategy yields no progress for Bernie Sanders, and campaign floats Hail Mary move

(Charlie Neibergall / Associated Press)

At the beginning of the month, Bernie Sanders focused on winning a few targeted states, ceding large swaths of the country to Hillary Clinton.

The strategy allowed Clinton to rack up big margins in Southern states and build a lead in delegates needed to secure the Democratic nomination.

So on Tuesday, with five states in play, the Sanders campaign spread its resources more broadly in hopes of scooping up as many delegates as possible.

The result, however, was similar -- Clinton expanded her lead once again.

Also similar was the reaction from Sanders team on a conference call with reporters. In whats become something of a mantra from the campaign, strategist Tad Devine said that winning the nomination is not a matter of delegate arithmetic and said more favorable contests lie ahead.

Were at halftime here, and we agree were behind, but we think were going to win this game, Devine said.

Jeff Weaver, the campaigns manager, expressed frustration with the sentiment that Clinton was already locking down the nomination, calling it a media drumbeat to essentially disenfranchise half of the Democratic voters.

If Sanders picks up steam, Devine said he could start peeling off superdelegates, who are party leaders and elected officials who can choose which candidate to support. So far theyve overwhelmingly backed Clinton.

Even pledged delegates could switch their votes to Sanders, Devine said.

Were not out trying to convince anyone to do anything at the moment, he said. We do believe, if we can succeed in the second half of the process as much as Hillary did [in the first half], or even more so, there will be enormous pressure on people who are going to be delegates at the convention to do the right and responsible thing.
For almost a year, the University of California has been struggling to address complaints that campus protests against Israel have crossed the line into harassment of Jewish students, but to respond in a way that wouldnt undermine the universitys commitment to free speech. The latest effort, a report by a UC regents working group, says a lot of the right things and includes a proposed set of Principles Against Intolerance that, while imperfect, represents an earnest effort to balance condemnation of hateful conduct with support for robust debate.

In one crucial respect the report goes dangerously astray: It conflates anti-Semitism with anti-Zionism.

But in one crucial respect the report goes dangerously astray: It conflates anti-Semitism with anti-Zionism and says both are forms of discrimination that have no place at the University of California. Its difficult to read that as anything other than a warning to those students or faculty members who have fundamental disagreements with the state of Israel. It apparently rules out of bounds an assertion by, say, a Palestinian professor that Israels creation was unfair and unjustifiable, or by a Jewish student that Israel should be replaced by a nonsectarian state. Both are ideas that this page opposes but they are fully entitled to protection at a public university under the 1st Amendment.

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The equation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism might also make it easier to stigmatize protests against Israeli policies  particularly the treatment of Palestinians  even if they dont actually oppose the idea of a Jewish state. Pro-Palestinian activists on campus are right to fear that such a statement would target their advocacy even when it doesnt involve anti-Semitic language or harassing behavior.

The UC regents will consider the working groups report at their March 23 meeting. The regents could approve the entire document, including the language that equates anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, or they could decide to endorse only the Principles of Intolerance, which are more restrained in their language and refer simply to anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination. Or the regents could go back to the drawing board.

We arent convinced that any new statement is necessary, given a plenitude of policies and disciplinary procedures already on the books. They include a Policy on Ethical Values and Standards of Ethical Conduct stating that UC prohibits discrimination and harassment and provides equal opportunities for all community members and applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran.

But if the regents insist on adopting some further statement, it should be pruned of any suggestion that criticism of Israel  or Zionism  is anti-Semitism.

To be fair, neither the working group document nor an earlier statement presented to the regents last September adopted the principal demand of the activists who have driven this issue: that UC endorse the so-called State Department definition on anti-Semitism, a 2010 document that defined anti-Semitism to include demonizing the State of Israel, subjecting it to double standards or denying its right to exist.

But the reports linkage of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism blurs an important distinction. It is no doubt true that there are anti-Zionists who are also anti-Semites. But it is certainly possible to oppose Israel and not harbor or express prejudice against Jews. Some critics of Zionism are themselves Jewish. No doubt many Jewish students at UC strongly identify with Israel and are deeply offended by criticism of its policies or attacks on its legitimacy. But that doesnt justify equating those opinions with bigotry or stifling their expression.

Some at UC point to incidents in which they say Jewish students have been the victim of acts of harassment by tormentors who made no distinction between Judaism and Zionism. The working group cites similar complaints that opposition to Zionism is often expressed in ways that are not simply statements of disagreement over politics or policy but also assertions of prejudice and intolerance toward Jewish people and culture. When that happens, the university should act swiftly and strongly to protect victims of anti-Semitic harassment, intimidation and physical threats. UC seems to have adequate existing procedures to address such conduct.

The working groups document makes many important points: that free speech principles should be paramount at a public university, that students should expect to be challenged intellectually and emotionally on campus, and that they may have to hear notions that are abhorrent to them or shocking.

All absolutely true. And all in utter conflict with the conflation of anti-Semitism with anti-Zionism.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook.

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Visits to campaign rallies in Florida this week confirmed what polls have been suggesting for months: Donald Trump is leading the race for the Republican nomination in large part because hes winning over throngs of nonhabitual voters.

The latest challenger to fall: Sen. Marco Rubio, who lost his home state in a landslide Tuesday and dropped out of the race.

Rubio drew healthy crowds in Florida  a thousand or more in West Palm Beach, 500 or so at a retirement community near Orlando  and his supporters were fervent. But they looked and talked like traditional Republicans: polite, well-dressed, and serious about their conservatism.

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Trump is using his impact on primary turnout as a selling point, arguing that if hes the nominee, hell be able to draw more voters to the polls in November.

Politics is not the same as it used to be, Nancy Dudley, 73, of St. Augustine, told me with a sigh as she waited for Rubio to speak on Sunday. The things theyre saying these days! Its been just terrible. She sounded more resigned than defiant.

At a Trump rally in Boca Raton, meanwhile, the crowd of 6,000 was younger and much noisier. We want Trump! they chanted in unison, a spectacle that would have been striking even if it hadnt been at night, in an outdoor amphitheater, with spotlights ranging across their heads.

Trump is the change we need, Allison Polikoff, 47, of Plantation, told me.

Simply put, theres a social divide between Trump fans and not-Trump fans, as my colleague Ron Brownstein has noted.

Rubio supporters (and voters for other not-Trump candidates) are disproportionately college-educated, longtime GOP voters. Trump voters are disproportionately blue-collar (which, in practice, sometimes means no collar, plus tattoos), and some said theyd never voted in a GOP primary before.

Some werent Republicans at all. Im an independent, said Richard Patronik, 67, of Coral Springs. I cant vote in the primary. But Id vote for Trump if I could.

Even before election day, Florida officials were reporting that the turnout for early and absentee voting was up sharply over earlier years. And already, Trump is using his impact on primary turnout as a selling point, arguing that if hes the nominee, hell be able to draw more voters to the polls in November.

Weve been all over, and the biggest story in all politics worldwide today is whats happening with the Republican Party, Trump told a rally in Tampa on Monday. Its a phenomenon. Millions and millions of people are going out and theyre voting. But theyre not voting for Democrats; theyre down 35 % from four years ago. Theyre voting for Republicans.

Ask Trump supporters why they back him, and you hear different versions of the same litany: Hes not a politician. Hes a businessman who can get things done. He doesnt bow to political correctness.

Hes a billionaire, explained Deborah Patronik, Richards wife.

Hes saying a lot of things that were thinking, said Gil Brown, 54, an African American businessman from Lakeland. Its so refreshing to hear somebody say things clearly.

(Brown said he wasnt worried about Trumps views on race. Ive been on the receiving end of racism. I know what its like, he said. Im not hearing it from him.)

Their faith in Trumps ability as a businessman to overturn the traditional order in Washington is hard to shake with conventional political arguments.

Anti-Trump groups spent more than $15million on television ads in Florida, accusing him of straying from conservative orthodoxy and saying demeaning things about women. Both charges were true, but they didnt seem to make much difference.

Nor did the violence between Trump supporters and protesters at recent events. One poll even suggested that the incidents made Republicans more likely to vote for Trump, not less, (They have the 1st Amendment right to say they dont like what Mr. Trump is saying, but we have the right to hear him, too, said Brown.)

But what about all those Rubio voters? Will traditional Republicans who loathe what Trump is doing to their party hold their noses and vote for a nominee who breaks all the rules?

The unscientific sample I interviewed this week all said yes: Theyll vote for Trump if its the only way to keep Hillary Clinton out of the White House.

Im a Republican, said Dudley, the Rubio voter from St. Augustine. After a few months, Ill settle in and vote Republican.

Even Rubio has said hell probably vote for Trump. I still at this moment continue to intend to support the Republican nominee, he said Saturday  adding: But its getting harder every day.

Those are anecdotes, not data. But they suggest that if Trump wins the nomination, he could find a path to winning the votes of most regular Republicans  in addition to all the irregular ones hes lured to the polls.

doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com

Twitter: @doylemcmanus



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Having lost the primary in his home state of Florida to Donald Trump, Sen. Marco Rubio has dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination, and his departure may be a telling sign that the GOP is no longer the party of Ronald Reagan.

Of all of the 17 Republican candidates who mounted campaigns in the last year, Rubio, arguably, was the most Reaganesque. Like Reagan, Rubio is a doctrine-driven movement conservative. So is Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, but, unlike Cruz  a shrill cultural warrior  Rubio is able to articulate his deep conservative beliefs in a way that is more inclusive and inspirational, much in the Reagan style. And Rubio, like Reagan, has a smile thats hard to resist. Its easy to like the guy, even if you disagree with 90% of his policies.

In his poignant withdrawal speech Tuesday night, Rubio said he was proud that he resisted playing the politics of resentment, division and hate  an obvious allusion to Trump. His conservatism, he said, was built on ideas and principles, not on fear and anger. That sounds pretty Reaganesque (at least the idealized, presidential library version of Reagan that has made people forget the hard-right-wing rhetoric the man employed at various points in his political career).

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Despite being modeled on the positive side of the Reagan legacy, Rubios candidacy failed for two crucial reasons. First, he does not have the star power that Reagan had among conservatives. (This years celebrity candidate is Trump.) Second, a big share of voters in the 2016 Republican primaries do not want a smiling guy with an uplifting, inclusive message  they want someone as angry as they are; someone who will build walls, ban refugees, deport Mexicans, beat up on the media and take America back to a time when gays and minorities knew their proper place in the social pecking order. And if they feel like punching out a protester, they want a guy who says to go ahead and take a swing.

They want Trump, and if he becomes the GOP nominee, the party will be his, not Reagans.

In the current issue of Time magazine, Peter Wehner, a policy wonk who served the past three Republican presidents, bemoans the change in his party. He believes Trump is the antithesis of Ronald Reagan.

The fact that Trump is the favorite to win the Republican presidential nomination shows how far the GOP has drifted from the animating spirit of the most consequential and revered Republican since Abraham Lincoln, Wehner writes.

He notes that the party was not suddenly transformed when Trump showed up; the change has been long in the making. Reagan was willing to adapt to changed circumstances and find opportunities to make deals with adversaries, from Democratic House Speaker Tip ONeill to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Those who followed him, though, made a rigid, narrow ideology out of Reaganism, turning it into a simplistic anti-tax, anti-government philosophy that has made governing nearly impossible. And they adopted what Wehner terms apocalyptic rhetoric that characterizes political adversaries as despicable enemies and sensible compromise as betrayal.

Such reckless language is evidence of fevered and disordered minds, Wehner writes, and paves the way for Trumps incendiary rhetoric.

One of Rubios biggest demerits in the eyes of much of his party is that he was part of the Senates Gang of Eight who crafted a compromise immigration reform bill that would have provided a path to legalization for millions of undocumented immigrants now living in the country. Even though Rubio eventually disavowed the bill, the anti-immigrant forces who love Trump never relented in their attacks.

Reagan, of course, was the president who gave amnesty to illegal immigrants back in the 1980s, but that was a different time and a different Republican Party. Todays GOP not only rejected Rubio, it is rejecting the optimistic openness of Ronald Reagan.
Get Carol Roszka talking about why she does not want Hillary Clinton in the White House, and it is hard to get her to stop. Roszka vents about how Clintons handling of the Benghazi attacks was disgraceful, her feminism is phony and her ambition is off-putting.

She wants to be elected at all costs, said Roszka, a 63-year-old from suburban Detroit who often votes Republican, as she did in last weeks primary.

Yet Roszka says when she votes in November, it will very likely be for Clinton.

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Donald Trump has driven her to it. I do not want Trump under any circumstances, she said of the New York billionaire who looks headed to appear on the ballot alongside Clinton, after both candidates won a round of key states Tuesday. So much so that I will not vote for the Republican Party at all if he runs.

Roszka is part of what you might call Clintons coalition of the unwilling. They are the independent and moderate Republican women who dont like Clinton  some even despise her  but are so repulsed by Trump that they are already preparing to vote for the Democrat they anticipate will be on the ballot in November if thats what it takes to keep him out of office. Either that, or sit out the election altogether.

This loose coalition is large and growing.

More Republican women view Trump more negatively than positively, according to Gallup. And in a hypothetical matchup with Clinton, a Washington Post/ABC News poll found this month that Trump loses the womens vote by 21 points. A taste of what Trump could expect as nominee came when an anti-Trump super PAC run by Republicans began airing an ad Monday titled Real Donald Trump Quotes About Women. Female actors read aloud such Trump remarks as his summation of former rival Carly Fiorina: Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that?

Trumps problem with women has driven more than a few Republican strategists to warn that his name on the ticket in November would be a surefire path to their partys defeat.

If the election is close and looks like Donald Trump could be president, there are Republican women who will say, I cant believe I am saying this, but I am going to vote for Hillary Clinton, said Christine Matthews, whose firm specializes in helping Republicans target women. The only other scenario she foresees with Trump on the ballot is those voters staying home because Clintons lead heading into election day is big enough to win without them having to commit the unconscionable act of voting for her.

Trumps strategy of hyper-targeting disaffected, white working-class men may be bringing new voters to the polls, but it is coming at a heavy cost, exacerbating the GOPs chronic troubles luring female voters in presidential elections, according to Kristen Soltis Anderson, a Republican pollster. Trump is taking an approach that is exactly the opposite of what the Republican Partys famous autopsy report following Mitt Romneys loss in 2012 advised: Adopt policies that are more inclusive to broaden the partys base of support.

It is very dangerous math, Anderson said of Trumps strategy. It is unlikely to pay off in the general election.

Trump is characteristically unconcerned.

The unease this large swath of the electorate feels toward him, he says, will pass once he has locked in the nomination. With typical Trump bombast, he explains it in a way that many of those very women are sure to find insulting.

To be victorious, frankly, I had to be very tough, he said on MSNBC last week, following electoral victories in Michigan and Mississippi. I had to be very sharp and smart and nasty. And I can see women not necessarily liking the tone, but also I had to get to the finish line  I had to be harsh in order to win. I can see women not liking that. That will change.

Some Democrats warn not to discount such vows, as Trump has proven masterful at adapting to the contours of the race. Donald has surprised everybody at every step of the way, said Ed Rendell, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

For a lot of women, though, anxieties about Trump run much deeper than tone.

Hes sexist; hes racist; he says things that will cause businesses to lose money, said Roszka. He wants to be king or emperor. He does not want to be president.

Kelly Grayburn, an occupational therapist in South Carolina, recoiled when asked what she will do if Trump is on the ballot in November. I cant even say the words, said Grayburn, a Marco Rubio supporter, before bringing her voice to a whisper. I would seriously consider voting for Hillary.

Another South Carolina Republican voter, Cindy Hipszer, said she would need divine intervention to guide her on how to vote if, heaven forbid, Trump is on the November ballot. Her plan: Pray hard.  Be on our knees for days.

Not all women share that view. Millions will have voted for Trump by the time the Republican primary ends, many of them drawn by his tough line on immigration, his repudiation of international trade deals, his hawkish talk on national defense. They might agree with the billionaire that his off-color remarks about women, his disparagement of Mexican immigrants and his warnings about Muslims are not the words of a misogynist, racist and xenophobe but of a truth talker who will not be bound by political correctness.

This is the first time Ive felt excited about a presidential candidate since Reagan, said Kimberly Dial, an employment agency owner who organized an event for Trump supporters recently at a gun range in McDonough, Ga. He speaks his mind. Hes not politically correct ... not worried about who he offends.

Trumps problem is that so many more women find him problematic than inspiring. When a Washington Post/ABC News poll recently explored how Republican women would vote if the primary were winnowed down to Trump and just one other rival, barely any of the women not already aligned with Trump picked him.

I dont think there is a lot of middle ground about Donald Trump, said Matthews. Voters have pretty much figured out if he is somebody they support and could support or not at this point. That does not bode well if Trump plans to ease off in the general election from some of the many things he has said in recent months  and years  that have women expressing more anxiety about him than any major party front-runner in recent memory.

There is so much out there in terms of things he has said, or tweeted or done not only in this campaign but before now that I think women might find particularly disturbing, said Kelly Dittmar, a scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. These things can be brought out against him, and they are not going to go away.

They will target voters like Margot Kahl, a supporter of Sen. Ted Cruz in Michigan deeply unsettled by the prospect of Trump being the Republican choice in November. If Donald Trump would win, I dont know what would happen to our world, she said.

Halper reported from Grosse Point Woods and Mascaro from Columbia, S.C.

evan.halper@latimes.com | @evanhalper

lisa.mascaro@latimes.com | @lisamascaro

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Marco Rubio launched his bid for the Republican Partys presidential nomination with a bold promise that yesterday is over, an optimistic message from a young, charismatic son of Latino immigrants who many believed would be the face of the GOPs future.

But Rubios team never anticipated a candidate like Donald Trump. And the Florida senators uneven performance on the campaign trail did little to convince Republican voters and donors that Rubio was the best alternative to the billionaire, even as party leaders clamored for one.

Rubio announced Tuesday he was suspending his campaign, seeing no path forward after failing to win his home state and the 99 delegates he desperately needed to emerge as a viable challenger to Trump.

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FOR THE RECORD

10:24 p.m.: A previous version of this article said Rubio promised that yesterday is gone. He said yesterday is over.

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This year, we will not be on the winning side, he said to supporters in Miami.

America is in the middle of a real political storm, a real tsunami, and we should have seen this coming, Rubio said, his voice hoarse from the final days of campaigning. Look, people are angry and people are very frustrated.

Rubio, 44, was once seen as a transformational party figure, but his failure to launch stems in part from an inability to deliver a compelling vision or campaign operation that could win over voters more interested in expressing anger at the status quo than backing a young senator whose resume too closely resembled that of President Obama.

His failed campaign was a stinging defeat in a mostly charmed political rise, where success had come swiftly and often easily. He liked to boast that hed never lost an election and rose earlier in his career to become the youngest state House speaker in Florida history.

Timing looked to be on Rubios side almost a year ago when he entered the presidential race from a Miami landmark known as the Ellis Island of the South.

His candidacy seemed tailor-made in response to the GOPs post-2012 political autopsy, which concluded that the partys future ability to win the White House depended on doing a better job attracting younger and more ethnically diverse voters beyond its base of older, white Americans.

The working-class son of Cuban immigrants, Rubio was considered an easy favorite among many in the Republican Party establishment. He was embraced on Capitol Hill as a fast-rising lawmaker who arrived at the Senate on the 2010 tea party wave, in stark contrast to a 2012 tea party arrival, Sen. Ted Cruz, who was reviled as a disruptive gate-crasher.

Rubio breezily conveyed  in English and Spanish  more modern conservative ideals, drawing comparisons to Ronald Reagan.

But the 2016 political environment turned out to be almost nothing like the one strategists envisioned. Positioning himself as neither a Bush nor a Clinton, Rubio was prepared to first topple his former mentor Jeb Bush in the GOP primary and then tackle Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.

Then came Trump. All the candidates have struggled to counter the New York businessmans rise, but Rubios campaign was particularly slow to adjust, allowing losses to mount in Iowa and other early-voting states, then overcorrecting with trash-talking assaults on Trump that sullied his own brand.

The religious-minded Rubio tried to match Trumps bullying with some of his own, blasting Trumps spray tan and small hands, including a not-so-veiled reference to Trumps genitalia, seen by many as a new low in presidential politics. Rubio later said he regretted the remarks because they had embarrassed his small children and did not reflect the person he wanted to be.

It all backfired anyway. Trump dismissed him as Little Marco, zeroing in on one of his biggest vulnerabilities: voters concerns that Rubio was too young and inexperienced to be president.

A high-profile debate gaffe in which Rubio repeated the same talking point verbatim four times only heightened such concerns. He came in fifth in New Hampshire, and opponents began showing up at his rallies dressed as Rubio Robot.

It all reinforced worries that Rubio was not ready. Twenty years from now hes probably going to be somebody, Nick Stratton, a plumbing contractor, said at a Trump rally in South Carolina.

Rubio bounced back, but not nearly enough to catch up to Trump. His only victories came in nominating contests in Minnesota, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

As Florida approached, the senators team understood it was Florida or bust, as one fundraiser put it.

Because Rubio opted against running again for his Senate seat, his political future is uncertain. He has long been mentioned as a possible candidate for governor in Florida, where he has a home in Miami with his wife and four school-age children.

His last days on the campaign trail were as much about winning Florida votes as burnishing his image as a future party leader.

On Tuesday, his voice unsteady amid interruptions from the crowd, Rubio tried to return to a note of optimism and rejected the politics of the front-runner he declined to name.

While this may not have been the year for a hopeful and optimistic message about our future, I still remain hopeful and optimistic about America, he said.

I ask the American people: Do not give in to the fear. Do not give in to the frustration. We can disagree about public policy  we can disagree about it vibrantly, passionately  but we are a hopeful people and we have every right to be hopeful, he said, calling Americans the descendants of go-getters.

Though Trump loomed large in Rubios stumble, many also cite strategy missteps in a campaign that at times seemed overly confident and insufficiently committed to the hard work of retail campaigning.

The senator relied on made-for-TV appearances and spent much of his time courting the suburban young families who Rubios advisors thought would be crucial to his success. Instead, angry GOP blue-collar voters drove the primaries, energized by Trump.

His past work on immigration reform legislation dogged his campaign, leading some skeptical Republicans to worry he was too lenient at a time when many preferred Trumps proposals to build a wall along the Mexican border and block Muslim immigrants from entering the U.S.

Not quite nimble enough to adapt to the changed political environment, Rubio did become a better candidate, but he left too much undone in the early states to pave the way for his success in the later ones.

Twitter: @lisamascaro

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Rubio transcript: I ask the American people: Do not give in to the fear
Violence at Donald Trumps campaign events and the ensuing controversy did not slow his march toward the Republican nomination, but it may have helped Hillary Clinton in her pursuit of the Democratic nod.

The boost that Trump has given Clinton was suggested in surveys of Tuesday voters. In Ohio, the industrial state in which Clinton and her challenger Bernie Sanders fought most fiercely, two-thirds of voters said that Clinton was the strongest candidate to defeat Trump, and they went for her by a factor of 4 to 1.

More than half the Ohio electorate actually embraced Sanders main argument in the state, that trade deals such as those Clinton has backed in the past had cost American jobs. But the majority of those voters sided with Clinton anyway.

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Those who made up their minds on election day, and thus were most influenced by recent events, also went easily for Clinton over Sanders. All told, it suggested something of a cascade toward the former secretary of State as Trump has dominated news coverage of the campaign.

The 2016 race has been marked by gyrations, and its possible that there is another turn in store for Clinton. But it was hard to imagine a better setting for a Sanders victory than Ohio after his upset victory last week in Michigan. And, still, the Vermont senator, who had expended much time and money on the state, fell flat.

Clintons victory in Ohio, and thumping wins in Florida and North Carolina as well as a narrow one in Illinois, were important for political and psychological reasons.

Clinton has maintained a strong lead in delegates throughout the primary season and has an additional advantage in her sweeping lead among party officials who serve as superdelegates, unbound by election results. But she must still unify a party in which much of the passion has come from Sanders self-described revolutionary candidacy.

Winning in states that Democrats must carry in Novembers general election makes that unifying task much easier. That would make her nomination one of acclamation rather than insider pull.

For Republicans caught in the midst of a civil war, meantime, Trump continued to soar above his opponents. He vanquished one of them as Florida Sen. Marco Rubio suffered an embarrassingly distant second-place finish in his home state and departed the race. That development, too, could count as a Clinton victory of sorts, given how concerned Democrats had been about facing the young, fresh-faced Rubio in the general election.

The GOP race now features a tug of war below Trump between Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who is trying to consolidate the non-Trump factions of the party, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, whose win in his home state Tuesday gave him fresh reason to stay in the race.

Both Clinton and Trump came into Tuesdays voting with something to prove  Clinton that her humbling loss in Michigan was a fluke and Trump that yet another crisis would not weaken his hold on his voters. Both accomplished what they set out to do, and both tried to turn attention Tuesday night to the general election.

That move is in both of their interests. For Clinton, the supposition that she will be the nominee, the increasingly likely Democratic outcome, could cause a slow decline in support for Sanders, as undecided voters tend to gravitate to a winner.

Apart from a glancing congratulation to Sanders, Clinton spent her entire victory speech aimed at November and the prospect of a showdown with Trump.

Our commander in chief has to be able to defend our country, not embarrass it, she said. She cited Trumps support for deporting the estimated 11 million immigrants here illegally and for banning Muslims from entering the country.

That doesnt make him strong; that makes him wrong, she said. To be great we cant be small; we cant lose what made America great in the first place.

Then, as if her reference to Trumps campaign slogan didnt make her target clear enough, she said: This isnt just about Donald Trump. All of us have to do our part. But of course, it was about Donald Trump.

Trump, for his part, opened his election night remarks by praising Rubio, whom he had derided for weeks as Little Marco, and telling his audience that he had recently spoken with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. That was his way of suggesting his nomination was all but inevitable, which it may be.

He bragged that hed won despite a multimillion-dollar array of ads against him. And he reminded Republicans that his candidacy has drawn in more and different voters to cast Republican ballots this year. Implicit in that, of course, is that if he is stripped of the nomination, those voters will depart, and the party will lose its third straight presidential election.

We have a great opportunity, he said.

But the truth is not that simple. Theres a reason that Clinton wants to turn to the general election, and it is Trump. Specifically, his unpopularity among the broad swath of American voters.

An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll last week found that two-thirds of registered voters could not see themselves supporting Trump in a general election. (Clintons number wasnt great, either, but at 56% hers was lower than Trumps.)

No nominee in the history of polling has ever begun a presidential campaign with negative impressions as widespread as Trump has now.

In exit polls conducted in Ohio, perhaps the most significant state in the fall election, 3 in 10 Republican voters said they would not vote for Trump. In Florida, the second-ranking state in general election importance, a quarter of Republican voters said they could not cast a ballot for him.

Unless he can find a way to turn them around, those sorts of losses within his own party, coupled with huge opposition within Democratic constituencies such as minority voters and women, would give Trump no path to the presidency.

In both parties, the path forward requires salving the splits that have developed, and deepened, during the primary season. For Democrats, that seems an easier task. Even if Clinton has her Democratic detractors, they agree with her on important policy positions and have another reason to show up: a Supreme Court seat that probably will still be open when the next president takes office.

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Trump mentions that opening in many of his speeches, as if to remind Republicans of the stakes involved. But his partys divisions seem more resistant than the Democratic ones; among other things, many Republicans are concerned that Trump would nominate a justice too liberal for their tastes.

The partys difficulties came into fresh view Tuesday when Rubio left the race with a broadside against the party establishment  for whom he was the most recent, if unsuccessful, anointed favorite  and against the forces that Trump has unleashed in dividing the party.

Do not give in to the fear, he said. Do not give into the frustration.

Rubio may have failed as a candidate, but his words spoke to the continuing fears among Republicans about what a Trump nomination would mean. And it spoke to the great advantage that fear of Trump, on the part of both Democrats and Republicans, delivers to Hillary Clinton.

cathleen.decker@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter: @cathleendecker . For more on politics, go to latimes.com/decker.

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The following is the text of remarks made by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio on March 15 in Miami. Rubio spoke to supporters after a second-place finish behind Donald Trump in Florida and then suspended his presidential campaign.

MARCO RUBIO: First of all, thank you all for everything. I want to begin  I havent had a chance to speak to him yet but I want to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory, big victory in Florida. We live in a republic and our voters make these decisions and we respect that very much and it was a big win. I want to begin by thanking all of you here today. And, I want you to know that I am the beneficiary of the best group of supporters, the hardest working people I have ever been associated with and Im so grateful to you guys, thank you. Not just here in Florida. Not just here in Florida, but around the country.

I want you to know that you worked as hard, not just here, but all over the country. I want to talk to people in Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina and in the great state of Minnesota, where I won and territory of Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. All over. We have a great team.

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Im so grateful for all the help that you guys have given us. I just want you to know that there is nothing more that you could have done. You worked as hard as anyone could have worked. I want you to know, we worked as hard as we ever could.

America is in the middle of a real political storm, a real tsunami, and we should have seen this coming. Look, people are angry, and people are very frustrated. It really began back in 2007, 2008 with this horrifying downturn. People are very frustrated about the direction of our country. People are frustrated. In 2007 and 2008, there was a horrible downturn in our economy and these changes to our economy that are happening are disrupting peoples lives. And people are very upset about it.

And theyre told that, you know, people are angry, they are frustrated, theyre being left behind by this economy and then they are told, look, if youre against illegal immigration that makes you a bigot. And if you see jobs and businesses leaving to other countries you have no right to be frustrated. They see America involved in the world and Americans spending money and losing their lives and they see that there is very little gratitude for all the sacrifice America makes. And quite frankly, theres millions of people in this country that are tired of being looked down upon. Tired of being told by these self-proclaimed elitists that they dont know what they are talking about and they need to instead listen to the so-called smart people.

And I know all these issues firsthand. Ive lived paycheck to paycheck. I grew up paycheck to paycheck. I know what its like to have to figure out how to find the money to fix the air conditioner that broke last night. I know my parents struggled and I know millions of people that are doing that.

I know immigration in America is broken. No one understands this issue better than I do. My parents are immigrants. My grandparents were immigrants. Jennettes parents were immigrants. I live in a community of immigrants. Ive seen the good, and the bad, and the ugly. Ive battled my whole life against the so-called elites, the people who think that, you know, I needed to wait my turn or wait in line or it wasnt our chance or wasnt our time. So, I understand all of these frustrations.

And yet, when I decide to do run for president, I decided to run a campaign that was realistic about all of these challenges. But, also one that was -- one that was optimistic about what lies ahead for our country. I know that we have a right to enforce our immigration laws, but we also have to have a realistic approach to fix it. I know that we are living through this extraordinary economic transformation that is really disruptive in peoples lives. Machines are replacing them, their pay is not enough. I know its disruptive. But, I also know this new economy has incredible opportunity. I know America cant solve all of the worlds problems. But I also know that when America doesnt lead, it leaves behind a vacuum and that vacuum leads to chaos. And most of all, I know firsthand that ours is a special nation because where you come from here doesnt decide where you get to go. Thats how a 44-year-old son of a bartender and a maid, thats how I decide that, in fact, I too can run for president of the United States of America.

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So, from a political standpoint, the easiest thing to have done in this campaign is to jump on all those anxieties I just talked about, to make people angrier, make people more frustrated. But I chose a different route and Im proud of that.

That would have been -- in a year like this, that would have been the easiest way to win. But that is not whats best for America. The politics of resentment against other people will not just leave us a fractured party, they are going to leave us a fractured nation.

They are going to leave us as a nation where people literally hate each other because they have different political opinions.

That we find ourselves at this point is not surprising, for the warning signs have been here for close to a decade. In 2010, the tea party wave carried me and others into office because not enough was happening and that tea party wave gave Republicans a majority in the House, but nothing changed. In 2014, those same voters gave Republicans a majority in the Senate and, still, nothing changed. And I blame some of that on the conservative movement, a movement that is supposed to be about our principles and our ideas. But I blame most of it on our political establishment.

A political establishment that for far too long has looked down at conservatives, looked down at conservatives, as simple-minded people. Looked down at conservatives as simply bomb-throwers. A political establishment that for far too long has taken the votes of conservatives for granted, and a political establishment that has grown to confuse cronyism for capitalism, and big business for free enterprise. I endeavored over the last 11 months to bridge this divide within our party and within our country because I know that after eight years of Barack Obama this nation needs a vibrant and growing conservative movement and it needs a strong Republican Party to change the direction now of this country or many of the things that are going wrong in America will become permanent, and many of the things makes us a special country will be gone. America needs a vibrant conservative movement, but one thats built on principles and ideas, not on fear, not on anger, not on preying on peoples frustrations.

A conservative movement that believes in the principles of our Constitution, that protects our rights and limits the power of government. A conservative movement committed to the cause of free enterprise, the only economic model where everyone can climb without anyone falling. A conservative movement that believes in a strong national defense and a conservative movement that believes in the strong Judeo-Christian values that are the formation of our nation.

But we also need a new political establishment in our party, not one that looks down on people that live outside of the District of Columbia, not one that tells young people that they need to wait their turn and wait in line, and not one thats more interested in winning elections than it is in solving problems or standing by principles.

And this is the campaign weve run, a campaign that is realistic about the challenges we face but optimistic about the opportunities before us. A campaign that recognizes the difficulties we face, but also one that believes that we truly are on the verge of a new American century. And a campaign to be president, a campaign to be a president that would love all of the American people, even the ones that dont love you back.

This is the right way forward for our party. This is the right way forward for our country. But after tonight it is clear that while we are on the right side, this year, we will not be on the winning side. I take great comfort in the ancient words which teaches us that in their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. And so yet, while this may not have been the year for a hopeful and optimistic message about our future, I still remain hopeful and optimistic about America.

And how can I not? How can I not? My mother was one of seven girls born to a poor family. Her father was disabled as a child. He struggled to provide for them his entire life. My mother told us a few years ago she never went to bed hungry growing up, but she knows her parents did, so they wouldnt have to. She came to this country in 1956 with little education, no money, no connections. My parents struggled their first years here. They were discouraged. They even thought about going back to Cuba at one point, but they persevered. They never became rich. I didnt inherit any money from my parents. They never became famous. You never would have heard about them if I had never run for office. And yet I consider my parents to be very successful people. Because in this country, working hard as a bartender and a maid, they owned a home and they retired with dignity. In this country, they lived to see all four of their children live better off than themselves. And in this country, on this day, my mother, who is now 85 years old, was able to cast a ballot for her son to be the president of the United States of America.

And so while it is not Gods plan that I be president in 2016 or maybe ever, and while today my campaign is suspended, the fact that I have even come this far is evidence of how special America truly is, and all the reason more why we must do all we can to ensure that this nation remains a special place.

I ask the American people: Do not give in to the fear. Do not give in to the frustration. We can disagree about public policy, we can disagree about it vibrantly, passionately. But we are a hopeful people, and we have every right to be hopeful. For we in this nation are the descendants of go-getters. In our veins runs the blood of people who gave it all up so we would have the chances they never did. We are all the descendants of someone who made our future the purpose of their lives. We are the descendants of pilgrims. We are the descendants of settlers. We are the descendants of men and women that headed westward in the Great Plains not knowing what awaited them. We are the descendants of slaves who overcame that horrible institution to stake their claim in the American Dream. We are the descendants of immigrants and exiles who knew and believed that they were destined for more, and that there was only one place on earth where that was possible. This is who we are, and let us fight to ensure that this is who we remain. For if we lose that about our country, we will still be rich and we will still be powerful, but we will no longer be special.

And so I am grateful to all of you that have worked so hard for me. I truly am. I am grateful to my family, to my wife, Jeanette, who has been phenomenal in this campaign. To my four kids who have been extraordinary in this campaign. And I want you to know that I will continue every single day to search for ways for me to repay some of this extraordinary debt that I owe this great country. And I want to leave with an expression of gratitude to God in whose hands all things lie. He has a plan for every one of our lives. Everything that comes from God is good. God is perfect. God makes no mistakes. And he has things planned for all of us. And we await eagerly to see what lies ahead. And so I leave tonight with one final prayer, and I use the words of King David because I remain grateful to God:

Yours O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth. Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and you exalt yourself as head overall. Both riches and honor come from you and you rule over all. And in your hand is power and might and it lies in your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.

May God strengthen our people. May God strengthen our nation. May God strengthen the conservative movement. May God strengthen the Republican Party. May God strengthen our eventual nominee. And may God always bless and strengthen this great nation, the United States of America. Thank you and God bless you all. Thank you very much.

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After all the losing, all the anguish of a season gone asunder long ago, what would the Lakers do if the unthinkable happened?

What if they lost their first-round draft pick?

Its top-three protected, meaning it goes away because of the Steve Nash trade if they fall below third at the May 17 lottery.

See the most-read stories in Sports this hour>>

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They currently own the NBAs second-worst record, giving them a 55.8% chance of staying in the top three at the lottery. If the less-desirable 44.2% popped up that night, Lakers Coach Byron Scott didnt want to even think about his reaction.

1 / 6 Lakers forward Metta World Peace drives between Sacramento Kings defenders during a game last season. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 6 Lakers forward Ryan Kelly is stripped of the ball by Kings forward Omri Casspi during a game on March 15 at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 6 Lakers forward Ryan Kelly tries to grab a rebound from Kings forward Omri Casspi during a game on March 15 at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 6 Kings guard Darren Collison drives past Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson during a game March 15 at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 6 Tarik Black dunks over Kings forward Willie Cauley-Stein during a game at the Staples Center on March 15. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 6 Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson helps referee Mark Ayotte after falling into the crowd during a game at Staples Center on March 15. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

I dont know. Youll have to ask me then, he said Tuesday. I dont know right now.

The Lakers (14-54) play a big game for lottery enthusiasts Friday against Phoenix (18-49). The Lakers chances of keeping their pick fall to 46.9% if Phoenix drops below them in the standings. The Lakers and Suns also play next Wednesday, with that one in Phoenix.

The NCAA tournament has 32 games over the next two days. The Lakers will be watching.

Louisiana State did not make it, which meant no Ben Simmons, not even in the NIT because LSU declined the invitation, but plenty of other top talent was playing this week, including Duke forward Brandon Ingram, Providence guard Kris Dunn and California forward Jaylen Brown.

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak was at Kentucky two weekends ago to watch Simmons in person. He is probably the top pick but he fizzled in a vital game for LSU last week, scoring only 10 points in a 71-38 loss to Texas A&M in the Southeastern Conference tournament.

Ingram might be the only player who could be taken ahead of Simmons. He isnt as strong with the ball as Simmons but has a better outside shot.

The Lakers would forward their pick to Philadelphia if it fell below third at the lottery.

If you lose it, you lose it, but youve got to be prepared to have the pick, Scott said. So our guys, theyve been doing their work as far as looking at all the top guys in the nation. Right now we have the pick until the lottery.

The Lakers were lucky last year, moving from fourth to second on lottery night and later drafting DAngelo Russell from Ohio State.

Scott represented the team on the live lottery broadcast. It was unclear who would be the representative this year.

My luck might have ran out, Scott said. We might have to bring James [Worthy] back.

The Lakers dropped a spot, from sixth to seventh, when Worthy represented them at the 2014 lottery.

His luck can turn around, Scott said, smiling.

The Lakers also have their second-round pick, currently 32nd overall.

Bass sidelined

Reserve power forward Brandon Bass sat out Tuesdays game against Sacramento because of a scratched right cornea.

He hadnt been a factor this season until hitting double-figure scoring in nine of his last 12 games.

Bass, 30, has a player option for $3.1 million next season. If he declines the option, the Lakers will have about $60 million to spend on free agents this summer.

Follow Mike Bresnahan on Facebook and Twitter @Mike_Bresnahan
At least 16 people were killed and 40 wounded when a powerful bomb ripped through a moving bus Wednesday in the northern Pakistani city of Peshawar.

Officials said the bus was carrying government employees on their way to work. The bus carrying more than 50 men and women was passing through a congested road in Peshawar near a mosque when an explosive device went off, witnesses said.

It was the latest attack in northern Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which has been hard-hit by militant violence in recent months as the Pakistani military has pressed an offensive against Islamist extremists in the countrys troubled tribal belt.

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I was serving breakfast when I heard the blast, said Rehman Ullah, a waiter in a nearby restaurant. I thought it happened inside the mosque, but suddenly I heard cries of people from inside the bus.

Local people rushed to remove bodies and wounded people trapped in the bus. One witness said he and other volunteers retrieved 12 bodies.

Doctors at Lady Reading Hospital, one of the largest in Peshawar, the provincial capital, said five wounded people were in critical condition.

A senior police officer, Mohammad Kashif, said the explosive was a timed device that was planted inside the bus. Government employees from rural areas of the province used private buses to commute to work.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but militants have intensified their attacks on civilian targets in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa despite pressure from the army offensive. The army has launched what it said is the last phase of its anti-militant operation -- dubbed Zarb-e-Azb -- in the Shawal area of the North Waziristan tribal area.

The explosion came a day after the army chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif, signed off on the death sentences of 13 men convicted by Pakistani military courts of involvement in acts of terrorism. An official statement said all the convicts were members of the Pakistani Taliban, a banned militant organization that has been waging a long-running insurgency against the Pakistani state.

Ali is a special corespondent.

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On paper, the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of Africas richest nations.

Its eastern hills are estimated to contain about $24 trillion worth of mineral deposits, including gold, diamonds, copper and cobalt. Its nearly 200 million acres of arable land could feed much of Africa, and the mighty Congo River holds the power to light up the continent.

Yet it remains one of the poorest, most hopeless and corrupt nations on Earth. More than two decades of conflict  fueled by an array of militias, some supported by the countrys eastern neighbors  have killed millions and caused the United Nations to label Congo the rape capital of the world.

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Now a businessman in Denver is trying to convince donors and influencers that he can turn Congo around.

Emmanuel Weyi, who was born in the Central African nation and founded a fair-trade mining company with operations in four Congolese provinces, is running for president in elections slated for November.

It is unclear whether Weyi, who left Congo at 18, can rally significant support  or even whether the election will take place this year. The governments opponents accuse President Joseph Kabila, a former taxi driver who succeeded his slain father as leader, of delaying tactics in an attempt to circumvent a two-term limit.

But Weyi, 56, says that peace and prosperity are within Congos grasp. What the country lacks, he told the Los Angeles Times in a recent interview, is good leadership. Here are excerpts from the conversation:

Why did a Colorado businessman decide to run for president in Congo?

The decision was in 2009. I was in the mining business, a company I co-founded, a renewable business. When I went home, when I saw what the country has become, the poverty, the misery, people going three or four days without eating anything, thats really when I decided that the country needs a better leader, and I know I can do better.

Why are people living like this?

I believe the problem starts from the top. We have a very incompetent president, a very weak government. They dont really understand what it takes to run a country.

That is why there are all those troubles in the eastern part of the Congo. Those bad guys, they know when a government is weak, and they take advantage.

The conflicts in the east go back years. How do you propose to bring peace to the region?

Im going to propose two elements. The first one is as a government, to call on those countries that we border in the east  Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi  to sit down and create a treaty [so] that everybody is watching everybodys back. If we have peace, if we help people do commerce on both sides, and they are paying taxes, everybody is winning.

The second one is an effective army. In Congo, what they do is they take young guys, they give them uniforms, they dont pay them, they dont give them accurate training. They just give them guns. We know that the army has to be trained, it has to be paid, it has to be housed, and you have to give them healthcare. Without those elements, I dont think youre going to have a good army. Thats why the bad guys are coming and doing all the bad things they do.

That will take money. How do you propose to get the resources?

We have more than 300 different minerals. So its a rich country.

Those minerals have often been used to line the pockets of corrupt officials and fund armed groups. How do you change that in a country that has become a poster child for the idea of the resource curse.

I dont like that word, mineral curse or resource curse. The minerals are something that God gave to us and its a blessing. The only thing God didnt send yet is a good leader.

I know people, before they started working for the government, they didnt even own a bike. But now they own villas in the south of France.

My father was a banker. My mom was a businesswoman. So riches for me, its not something new. We had a chance to go live in Europe. I came to the United States. I started my business. Little by little, the business grew.

I took half of my company back home. I created good paying jobs. My sons went to college. Theyre doing well. So there isnt anything that Im going to see for the first time and say, lets start stealing from the government. No.

But how do you fight pervasive corruption?

There is no way you can eliminate corruption 100%. But first you pay people well. Second, you hold people accountable.

A former prime minister of Israel is going to prison because of what? Corruption. It doesnt mean because we are in Israel, we are in the United States, there is no corruption. No, the difference is when you get caught, you are going to pay the price.

Second, if I know that every month, my paycheck is there, do you think Im going to jeopardize my job by letting someone corrupt me?

In Congo, sometimes people go two or three months without getting paid. So, if you bring him 100, 200, 1,000 dollars, yes hes going to take the money.

Questions have been raised about whether President Kabila will step aside. Do you think the elections will even take place?

Kabila knows that the constitution clearly says you have two terms. If he doesnt respect the constitution, there will be pressure coming from the international community, so we know that he is going to step down.

Even if he does, do you think the vote will be fair?

Its a good question. We are going to have everyone who can vote in a database, and everyone is going to have a biometric card. Im not saying were going to have an election that is fraud free, but with technology, Im expecting things to go well this time around.

Tell me about the people you are running against.

All of them, without exception, they worked for the government. [And] when they came to work for the government, they didnt have what they have, so there is a real question of integrity.

I am the only one who can say every penny I have, I sweated for it, and all the taxes, every last cent, are paid. I never even cheated one penny out of the government.

Should your lack of political experience be of concern to voters?

I have never been in politics, but as a businessman I believe I am bringing more. Because as a businessman, I know how to create jobs.

Why should Congolese voters support someone who has lived in the U.S. for nearly 20 years?

Its a fair question. I have been going to Congo every year. I own land there. I have a home there. My parents are there. I have a company there. I know the country well. I am a tribal chief. Maybe as somebody who comes from outside, I can see things from a different angle. I can bring [solutions] they didnt see.

Twitter: @alexzavis

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American Otto Warmbier weeks ago had tearfully begged his North Korean captors for forgiveness as he confessed to trying to remove a political banner from a hotel in Pyongyang, the capital.

That request was denied Wednesday as North Korea sentenced the 21-year-old University of Virginia economics student to 15 years of hard labor for acts against the state, North Korean state media reported.

Warmbier, a Cincinnati native, was arrested in early January as he prepared to board a flight out of North Korea after traveling to the country as a tourist. He was later accused of trying to remove the banner.

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The accused confessed to the serious offense against the DPRK [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea] he had committed, pursuant to the U.S. governments hostile policy toward it, in a bid to impair the unity of its people after entering it as a tourist, the Korean Central News Agency said.

Warmbier is the latest in a succession of U.S citizens who have run afoul of North Korean authorities and sent to prison. These travelers committed acts, such as leaving a Bible in a hotel, that would get a traveler no more than a slap on the wrist in most authoritarian countries, but in North Korea, missteps by foreign nationals carry stiffer penalties.

Warmbier held a teary news conference in North Korea last month at which he ostensibly confessed to stealing the banner, saying, Ive made the worst mistake of my life and I apologize to each and every one of the millions of the Korean people. Such confessions by detainees in North Korea are generally coerced; former detainees have reported being instructed what to say before the confessions were recorded.

The U.S. State Department strongly discourages Americans from traveling to North Korea, warning that American citizens risk arrest and long-term detention.

Young Pioneer Tours, the company that organized Warmbiers trip, said in a statement Wednesday that it is continuing to work closely with relevant authorities to ensure a speedy and satisfactory outcome for Mr Warmbier.

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Shortly after Warmbiers arrest, Young Pioneers said the company was in contact with the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang, which handles U.S. consular affairs in North Korea, as the U.S. and North Korea do not have diplomatic relations and there is no U.S. Embassy in Pyongyang.

Warmbier received the same 15-year sentence as Kenneth Bae, a 47-year-old from the Seattle area who was accused of attempting to topple the North Korean state.

Bae was held in North Korea for more than two years then released, along with Matthew Todd Miller of Bakersfield, in 2014 when National Intelligence Director James Clapper flew to North Korea to negotiate their release.

It usually takes a visit by a prominent American for North Korea to agree to release American detainees. Former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter have made such trips.

The ruling comes at a time when North Korea is stepping up its aggressive rhetoric, having recently claimed to be capable of hitting New York City with a nuclear bomb, saying in its state media all the people there would be killed immediately and the city would burn down to ashes.

North Korea in recent months has carried out a nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch. In response to those moves, the United Nations enacted additional sanctions meant to cut off North Koreas sources of outside income.

Pyongyang has stepped up its saber rattling since then, with a string of harshly worded statements and claims to have made key advances in its development of nuclear weapons.

Last week, leader Kim Jong Un said in a state media report that North Korea had acquired reentry technology, an important part of long-range launch capability that allows a missile to travel through space and then reenter the Earths atmosphere and strike a target. The reports included photos of Kim next to various missiles and a model of a nuclear warhead. The development of such technology would allow the North far greater range on its ballistic missile launches, and could make it capable of hitting the mainland U.S.

Borowiec is a special correspondent.

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JUBA, South Sudan  After South Sudans optimistic 2011 vote for independence, the countrys deadly December descent into ethnic fighting has tried the patience of Western donors, diplomats, humanitarian organizations and investors alike. But for African leaders, when the West demurs, theres always China, with its deep pockets and generous credit lines.

Or is there?

As South Sudans biggest economic partner, consuming 80% of the oil that accounts for almost 99% of its revenue, China matters here.

But now, even the Chinese are unwilling to move forward on business contracts.

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Unfortunately, everything has changed, Chinese Ambassador Ma Qiang said in a recent interview. So everything is on hold.

The worlds newest nation flushed away years of hard-won, expensive progress when a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and rival Riek Machar spilled into bloody ethnic violence Dec. 15. An estimated 10,000 people have been killed in the fighting between the Dinka and Lou Nuer ethnic groups, and an additional 860,000 have been displaced.

It happened just as South Sudan was poised to take off: 10 days after a business conference in Juba, the capital, where 500 Western companies weighed investment opportunities that the Economist predicted would result in the worlds fastest growth clip this year, 35%.

You are not going to see the IMF and World Bank coming now, said Toby Lanzer, United Nations humanitarian co-coordinator on South Sudan. The IMF and World Bank were on the verge of significant engagement, and that has been dealt a blow.

And those 500 interested companies? Also unlikely, analysts say.

The fighting began only days after the powerful Export-Import Bank of China was preparing to offer $2 billion in loans and credit to build six strategic roads, including a crucial 1,500-mile highway linking the capital with Sudans main port. The plan also called for construction of a hydropower plant in the state of Eastern Equatoria, bridges across the Nile (there are now just two), schools and hospitals in every county, a government conference center and a stadium.

And just two days before the December fighting began, Ambassador Ma met with Kiir to discuss the final stages of a Chinese plan to rebuild the chaotic airport in Juba, the capital.

Ma had planned to sign the airport deal after the weekend party conference of the ruling Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement. But the political meeting ended in acrimony, triggering the bloody battles that pushed the fragile country to the brink of civil war. A cease-fire and peace talks deal signed last month havent stopped the fighting, and some analysts worry about prolonged instability and a guerrilla rebel campaign.

China has long maintained a no-strings-attached approach to doing business in Africa, with little involvement in conflict resolution. But the friction in recent years between Sudan and South Sudan, and now within South Sudan, has resulted in a marked change because of Chinas interest in maintaining its oil supply.

The China National Petroleum Corp.'s investments in South Sudans oil industry are vital to the Chinese economy, Ma says, but Beijings legendary patience with high-risk environments has been tested.

Since South Sudan gained independence, oil production has repeatedly been interrupted or threatened by conflict as the nations leaders have launched war on each other, invaded Sudan and temporarily shut down production.

When President Kiir abruptly turned off the spigot two years ago in a clash with Sudan over oil transit revenue, it cost Chinas national oil company millions. China exerted pressure on Kiir as well as Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir to end the dispute and get oil flowing again, which came 14 months after the shutdown.

In the latest fighting, both Kiir and Machar appeared willing to sacrifice the lives of hundreds of innocent people to maintain the strongest position at the negotiating table. In the ethnic violence, Lou Nuer people were rounded up and killed in Juba; in rural areas, Dinka were slain.

After the violence erupted, Ma called on Kiir to agree to unconditional peace talks. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met the warring sides in Ethiopia, asking for an end to the violence.

South Sudan could have a good future through political dialogue. Stop any violence or war or any conflict, Ma said.

The fighting shut down oil production in Unity state and Chinese workers and engineers had to be evacuated, but production has continued in Upper Nile, Ma said.

The change in South Sudans prospects has been devastating.

It was going to be the year of South Sudan, the year when it was all going to take off, said Jose Garcia Barahona, country director for Oxfam.

Now, instead of economic growth, foreign aid is needed to head off starvation.

Its obvious to everybody that the priority must be lifesaving assistance, said Lanzer of the U.N. The world body has launched a $1.27-billion emergency appeal as about 3 million people face acute hunger.

What has happened is not only a terrific blow to those who have been directly affected, but its a blow to the aspirations of the country, because it would have been moving forward far faster  and now its moving backwards, he said.

New roads, which Western interests usually dont build because of the difficulty and expense, remain the key piece to transforming the economy and the lives of rural South Sudan residents, Ma said.

In China, we have a proverb: If you want to reach somewhere, first you have to build a road. Thats our plan to help South Sudan and its people and government, the ambassador said. After building the roads, we can establish all development, more and more projects, industrial, agricultural and infrastructure. Everything can start.

Of course, he said, if a peace deal is reached and the country stabilizes, China will be able to sign the airport contract quickly, perhaps even in March.

Maybe next month, if everything is OK, everything is smooth." He trailed off, with a small regretful smile, shaking his head almost imperceptibly.

But I think we will need time now. Im afraid this political dialogue between the two sides needs more time. I think it will not be a short time before you can reach agreement and dissolve all the problems between them.

So." Again the delicate pause. We just wait.

robyn.dixon@latimes.com
President Obama levied sanctions against North Korea on Wednesday in response to the reclusive countrys recent illicit nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

The sanctions blocks certain transactions on property belonging to the North Korean government and to the Workers Party of Korea. They follow the U.N. Security Councils unanimous adoption this month of some of the toughest sanctions in decades against North Korea for defying the world by pushing ahead with its nuclear program. Obama enacted separate U.S. sanctions last month.

An executive order signed by Obama and effective Wednesday merges both sets of sanctions, enabling the U.S. government to implement them.

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These actions are consistent with our longstanding commitment to apply sustained pressure on the North Korean regime, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a written statement announcing Obamas action. The U.S. and the global community will not tolerate North Koreas illicit nuclear and ballistic missile activities, and we will continue to impose costs on North Korea until it comes into compliance with its international obligations.

In a vote that reflected growing anger over North Koreas repeated violations of a ban on all nuclear-related activity, the U.N. Security Council on March 2 unanimously approved the toughest set of sanctions against the country in two decades. The punishment includes mandatory inspections of cargo leaving and entering North Korea by land, sea or air; a ban on all sales or transfers of small arms and light weapons to Pyongyang; and expulsion of diplomats from the North who engage in illicit activities.

Legislation that Obama signed into law on Feb. 18 was designed to deny North Korea the money it needs to develop miniaturized warheads and the long-range missiles required to deliver them. It also authorizes $50 million over the next five years to transmit radio broadcasts into North Korea, purchase communications equipment and support humanitarian assistance programs.

North Korea opened the year with claims of having tested its first hydrogen bomb on Jan. 6. It followed up by launching a satellite on a rocket on Feb. 7.

The White House announcement came the same day that North Koreas highest court sentenced American tourist Otto Warmbier  the latest U.S. citizen to be detained by the nation  to 15 years in prison with hard labor for subversion. The sentence came weeks after the 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate was presented to the news media and tearfully confessed to trying to steal a propaganda banner.

Earnest said the stiff sentence made it increasingly clear that the North Korean government seeks to use these U.S. citizens as pawns to pursue a political agenda. He urged North Korea to pardon Warmbier and release him on humanitarian grounds.

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Moscow began withdrawing its warplanes from Syria on Tuesday, a day after President Vladimir Putin ordered most forces home after an almost six-month-long aerial onslaught that helped shift the conflict decisively in favor of the Syrian government.

Although there were mixed views about Putins motives, experts generally agreed that Russia had avoided getting bogged down in a military quagmire in Syria while accomplishing significant goals. The campaign reasserted Moscows standing as a major international player and solidified the once-tenuous military position of Syrian President Bashar Assad, a Moscow ally.

Moreover, Putins words were sufficiently vague to allow Moscow to redeploy its air power in Syria if needed.

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Russian officials said that hundreds of military personnel would remain behind to staff Moscows still operational air base and naval facility in Syria. Russia vowed that a scaled-down campaign against terrorism would continue.

It is too early to speak about a victory over terrorism, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolay Pankov said in a ceremony honoring departing pilots at Russias Hemeimeem air base in the northwestern Syrian province of Latakia, reported the state-owned RIA Novosti news agency.

Moscow has framed its mission in Syria as a battle against terrorists threatening the Assad government. Assad regards all his armed opponents as terrorists.

An advanced S-400 antiaircraft system will also remain in Syria, along with attack planes and bombers, to effectively guarantee the security of remaining troops, Sergei Ivanov, a former defense minister who is now Putins chief of staff, told Russian television.

Putins announcement caught governments and observers across the globe off guard and sparked a wave of conjecture about what was behind the decision.

On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rebuffed one of the main threads of speculation  that the withdrawal was a sign of a frustrated Putin putting pressure on a stubborn Assad to make concessions in United Nations peace talks. The Kremlin spokesman denied any such motive, though speculation was rampant about a rift between Moscow and Damascus.

Reading between the lines, it is clear that Russia has grown frustrated by the intransigence and incompetence of the Syrian regime, said a U.S. intelligence official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal assessments. Putin may have propped up Assad in the short-term, but he has also learned firsthand just how hollow the Syrian forces are.

After Putins announcement, Assads office in Damascus put out a statement denying any Syrian-Russian dispute and saying that Putins decision did not signal a Russian abandonment of the fight in Syria. The move to withdraw Russian forces was studied with care and accuracy before being implemented, the statement said, adding that Putin and Assad discussed the pullout on the phone.

Still, the prospect of a Russian withdrawal unnerved some Assad supporters. Reaction was generally muted in Iran, which has been Assads other principal international backer.

The Russians have emphasized that they will maintain their bases, Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior foreign affairs advisor to the Iranian leadership, told the conservative Tasnim News Agency. According to our assessment, the Russians will take up the very important fight against terrorists whenever necessary.

It remained unclear how often Russian aircraft would continue to hit targets in Syria. But the pace was sure to diminish from the peak, when fighter jets and bombers conducted as many as 100 sorties a day in Syria.

On Monday, Putin said that both the Russian naval facility in the Syrian Mediterranean city of Tartus and the Hemeimeem air base would remain operational. The air base was the hub of the Russian assault, which involved about 9,000 sorties between Sept. 30 and this week.

The bombardment helped push back various opposition factions fighting to overthrow Assad, who invited the Russian intervention. Putin said the military had done its job and had helped facilitate the renewal of United Nations-sponsored peace talks that opened Monday in Geneva.

The U.N. special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, called Russias decision a significant development, which we hope will have a positive impact.

Putins drawdown order became a public relations coup for the Russian president, who was able to portray himself as a peacemaker. The international reaction was generally positive, if guarded.

This week marks the fifth anniversary of the Syrian war, which began with peaceful street protests in March 2011. It soon escalated into a sectarian-fueled civil war that has left much of the country in ruins and forced almost half of Syrias prewar population of 23 million from their homes.

The Syrian turmoil has also produced a new wave of Sunni Islamist radicals who have been blamed for attacks in Paris; Ankara, Turkey; and Beirut, and for the downing of a Russian civilian airliner over Egypt.

One of Russias stated goals in Syria was to wipe out the 2,000 or so Russian-speaking militants who have signed up for jihad in Syria. Moscow says many have been killed.

Moscow has never specified how many of its service personnel were in Syria, though some unconfirmed reports put the number at about 4,000. The Russian press has reported that about 70 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters were involved in the Syria campaign.

A Russian senator, Viktor Ozerov, told the private Interfax news agency on Tuesday that as many as 800 service members would remain in Syria, largely to protect the Russian air base and naval facility.

In addition, Russian forces in Syria continue to monitor Syrias partial cessation of hostilities, which began Feb. 27. Both Russia and the United States are keeping track of reported violations. Russia also has a significant force of drone aircraft in Syria monitoring the cease-fire, authorities have said.

For most of Tuesday, Kremlin-controlled television channels showed the landing of three Su-34 bombers, the first Russian planes to return from Syria after the announced withdrawal. State-run media repeatedly touted the successes of Russias relatively brief campaign.

The militants have been pushed out of Latakia, communication with Aleppo restored, one television anchor announced. Remaining terrorists are being cleared out of Palmyra.

For weeks, Syrian government forces backed by Russian airstrikes have been closing in on the central city of Palmyra, which was overrun last year by militants of Islamic State, the Al Qaeda offshoot. Recapturing Palmyra  home of magnificent, Roman-era ruins  would be a major coup for Assads government.

McDonnell reported from Beirut and Bennett from Washington. Special correspondents Mansur Mirovalev in Moscow and Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran contributed to this report.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump had a good Super Tuesday night as he won four of five primary states on March 15.

Florida Results

In the Sunshine State, Trump had a successful win, even defeating Florida's junior senator, Marco Rubio, by double digits. According to the Florida Division of Election, Trump received 46.73 percent (1,075,881 votes), comfortably ahead of Rubio's 27.04 percent (636,128 votes). Rubio was banking on a Florida win, especially given the state's "winner take all" status, which gives all of its 99 delegates to the Republican candidate with the highest votes. As a result of the loss, Rubio did suspend his campaign on Tuesday night.

In third place was Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, receiving 17.13 percent (403,087 votes), easily ahead of Ohio Gov. John Kasich's 6.77 percent (159,241 votes).

In total, nearly 2.4 million votes went for the 13 Republican candidates that were listed in the ballot, although most have dropped out of the race.

Ohio Results

In Ohio, another "winner take all" state with 66 available delegates, Kasich received his first primary win. Based on polling data prior to the March 15 election, Kasich's main opponent was Trump, but come Super Tuesday night, he outperformed the businessman by double digits

Based on data from the Ohio Secretary of State, Kasich received 917,284 votes, or 46.98 percent, while Trump attracted 700,325 votes, or 35.87 percent. As with Florida, Cruz placed third, although not winning any delegates. Cruz received 259,643 votes, or 13.30 percent. Rubio placed four with less than three percent.

North Carolina

Trump received another win in North Carolina. Unlike Florida and Ohio, North Carolina is not a "winner take all" state, and its 72 delegates are proportional.

According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, Trump won with 40.24 percent (458,233 votes), and he led with on-the-day voting and absentee votes. Cruz performed better as he received 36.77 percent, or 418,783 votes. Kasich attracted 12.68 percent, ahead of Rubio's 7.71 percent.

Based on RealClearPolitics' projections, Trump narrowly won the state's delegate count and he will win 29 of its 72 delegates. Cruz will win 26 delegates and 9 will go to Kasich. Although he's no longer in the race, Rubio would have received five delegates.

Illinois Results

Illinois, another proportional state, offered 69 delegates and Trump saw another win. Trump won with 38.8 percent, followed by Cruz's 30.3 percent. Kasich also received double-digit support with 19.7 percent. Rubio fell to single digits with 8.7 percent.

Missouri: Too Close to Call

As of 4 a.m. Wednesday, Missouri's Republican presidential primary is too close to call despite 99 percent of the precincts reporting. Trump has been leading with 40.8 percent, but Cruz is narrowly behind with 40.6 percent. Far behind, Kasich received 10.1 percent, ahead of Rubio's 6.1 percent.

Missouri offers 52 proportional delegates.

Overall Delegate Count

While the latest Super Tuesday delegate count is expected to change once Illinois and Missouri determines its allocations, Trump maintains his lead with 621 delegates, followed by Cruz with 396 and Kasich with 138 delegates. Rubio had 168 delegates and he may receive a few more despite suspending his campaign. A Republican presidential candidate requires 1,237 delegates to clinch the party's nomination.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.
Hillary Clinton won big on the latest Super Tuesday primary elections on March 15, scoring huge results in Florida, Ohio and North Carolina.

Winning Florida & The Latino Vote

With more than 1.7 million votes cast, the Florida Division of Elections showed Clinton won the Sunshine State with 64.45 percent, or 1,096,797 votes. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., received 33.27 percent, or 566,104 percent. Although no longer running for president and had suspended his campaign in early February, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley received 2.28 percent, or approximately 38, 800 votes.

"We are moving closer to securing the Democratic Party nomination and winning this election in November," Clinton said told supporters from West Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday night.

Clinton used her victory speech to attack Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, criticizing him for his plans to deport all 12 million undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S., temporarily pausing Muslims from entering the country and embracing torture tactics.

"We should be breaking down barriers, not building walls. We're not going to succeed by dividing this country between us and them," added Clinton.

Based on exit poll data, Latinos overwhelmingly favored Clinton. Of 1,659 respondents, 20 percent were Latino. Within the 20 percent, 72 percent voted for Clinton and 28 percent favored Sanders. More Latinas voted than their male counterparts, but regardless, both favor overwhelmingly favored Clinton.

According to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, more than two million Latinos are registered to vote in Florida and nearly 1.7 million are projected to vote this November.

RealClearPolitics projects Clinton will win 124 of Florida's delegates, while Sanders will gain 60 delegates, although the aforementioned are subject to change.

Ohio Results

Ohio comfortably went for Clinton, 56.51 percent to 42.72 percent. Of the 143 pledged delegates, not taking account of superdelegates, Clinton is projected to win at least 76 delegates, but Sanders will leave Ohio with a healthy 59 delegates.

North Carolina Results

Clinton also scored another win in North Carolina. She received 616,568 votes, or 54.59 percent, to Sanders' 460,343 votes, or 40.76 percent. Of the 107 pledged delegates, Clinton's projected to win at least 59 delegates from North Carolina, but Sanders isn't too far behind wit 44 delegates.

Illinois

Illinois showed a much narrow finish, but it was another victory for Clinton. The former secretary of state won with 50.5 percent to 48.7 percent for Sanders. With 98 percent of the precincts reporting, of the 156 pledged delegates at stake, Clinton will win at least 54 delegates and 35 delegates for Sanders, although the numbers will change once all votes are counted.

Missouri

It's too close to call in Missouri. With 71 delegates at stake and 99 percent of the precincts report, Clinton and Sanders appear to be tied at 34 delegates. Clinton has a narrow voting lead with 49.6 percent to 49.4 percent for Sanders. One county, namely Lewis County, even had a tie with 239 votes, each.

Overall Delegate Count

Based on CNN estimates, Clinton leads the pledged delegate count with 1,096, but her count increases with superdelegates to 1,538. Sanders' pledged delegate count is 774, and he has 23 superdelegates. A Democratic presidential candidate must secure 2,382 delegates to clinch the party's nomination.

Despite the losses, Sanders remains optimistic of his chances. In a statement on Tuesday, he congratulated Clinton and the millions of voters and pledged delegates who will support him at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

"With more than half the delegates yet to be chosen and a calendar that favors us in the weeks and months to come, we remain confident that our campaign is on a path to win the nomination," added Sanders.

Must Read: GOP Presidential Primary Results in Ohio & Florida: 'Winner Take All' States Give Trump, Kasich Victories

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.
A Mexican official believes that legalizing cultivation of opium poppies for medicinal purposes could help the country's longstanding battle against the drug trade.

Guerrero Governor Hector Astudillo, a member of President Enrique Pena Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary Party, said that the government should consider allowing the cultivation of the plant.

"Let's do some sort of pilot scheme," Astudillo told Milenio television in an interview, as quoted by Reuters. "Provided it's used for medical issues ... It's a way out that could get us away from the violence there has been in Guerrero."

In September 2014, 43 trainee teachers disappeared in Guerrero, one of Mexico's most violent regions. The government believes that the teachers were massacred by a drug gang in connivance with corrupt local officials and police. The crime has stoked international criticism of the state of law and order in the country.

Opium poppies are also used to make heroin, morphine and other pain-killing drugs. The plant can be legally cultivated in countries, including Australia, India and Turkey.

Guerrero's Fight Would Not be Easy

The heroin trade is also lucrative in the state of Guerrero, which is mostly controlled by the Sinaloa cartel. By the end of 2015, Guerrero saw its homicide rate surge up to 56.5 per 100,000 residents, a number that was four times higher than the national average of 14.07 murders per 100,000, state-level data obtained by the Mexican government stated.

Astudillo said that Guerrero cannot solve violence on its own, adding that legal poppy cultivation could loosen the drug gangs' control over local farmers. The governor, however, didn't provide details on how such a scheme would work in Mexico.

Drug Cartels Taking Over Mexico's Tortilla Business

Drug cartels have been taking over the tortilla business in the southern state of Guerrero, Vice News reported. Mexico's tortilla industry is usually concentrated in poor barrios, which are places that are also populated by criminal groups.

The cartels, such as Guerreros Unidos and Los Rojos, want to use the tortilla shops as a route for expanding their drug activities. Controlling the business owners and the workforce could give them well-placed drug distribution areas, lookouts and street dealers under the facade of a legitimate business.

More than 100,000 people have died in Mexico caused by the feud between drug gangs and the state since the previous government issued a militarized crackdown against the cartels in late 2006.

According to the study published by the journal Health Affairs in January, male life expectancy rates dropped in all of Mexico's 31 states as violence related to the drug war escalated between 2005 and 2010, per Eurek Alert. Life expectancy for Mexican men is now slightly lower than 72 years, which is six months lesser than in 2005.
The Mexico City government has declared a pollution alert on Monday, its first in 11 years.

Ozone levels in the city reached almost twice the acceptable limit. On Tuesday, the government required older and more heavily polluting vehicles to stay off the road in Mexico City as a measure to improve air quality.

Officials also advised people to remain indoors and to refrain from performing vigorous exercise outdoors. The alert also limits highly polluting industrial practices.

Causes

Mexico City's environment office blamed the poor air conditions on a high-pressure system and intense sunlight. The city was accustomed to high smog levels in the past before the introduction of a rule that prohibited the use of cars that are more than 8 years old.

That rule, however, was eased by a court order. According to officials and environmental activists, the court order caused more cars to end up on city streets.

Mexico City, which is 7,350 feet (2,240 meters) above sea level, is situated in a high mountain valley surrounded by mountains that can trap pollutants and stop them from dispersing. The smog currently permeating the city contains ozone, which can cause respiratory problems.

Mexico City's last alert for ozone was in 2002 while the last pollution alert for air particles occurred in 2005.

Remedies

In April 2015, Mexico became the first developing nation to declare a formal pledge in cutting global warming pollution. Environment Minister Juan Jose Guerra Abud said that the country expects greenhouse gas emissions to rise by 2026 and then decline.

Part of Mexico's efforts to tackle pollution is the pending standard to regulate emission from heavy duty vehicles, NRDC reported. The standard called NOM-044 is projected to bring economic and health benefits to Mexicans as well as lessen climate-inducing air pollution.

The standard was penned with input from academics, civil society and the industry. However, Mexico's Environment and Natural Resources Secretariat, or SEMARNAT, is currently thinking of easing it due to pressure from a sector of the industry.

The World Health Organization, or WHO, has categorized diesel exhaust and outdoor air pollution as carcinogens. The black carbon element of diesel exhaust is the most powerful climate pollutant, second to carbon dioxide. Mexico's Paris climate commitment aims to reduce black carbon emissions by 51 percent by 2030, and by 70 percent if international aid is given.

With NOM-044, Mexico also expects to avoid more than 55,000 premature deaths. It could also bring more than $120 billion in net benefits to the country.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has devised a new strategy to address the country's major power crises.

All workers will now have an extended furlough adding three days to next week's Easter holiday, the official gazette announced on Tuesday.

The weeklong holiday for all workers was announced a day after Venezuela's electricity minister warned of the declining water level at the Simon Bolivar dam, the country's largest. The dam's water level fell to within just 3 meters (10 feet) of its minimum operating level.

Repercussions of the Drought

Maduro's socialist administration points to the drought caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon as the cause of the dam's declining water level. The president also claimed that his political opponents have been repeatedly sabotaging the electrical grid.

The drought pushed Venezuela to reduce the use of energy-wasting appliances as well as shorten the work hours for public employees. Industry experts, however, said the crisis could be averted if the government invested in the dam's maintenance. Experts added that the administration should have pushed through with the planned expansion of thermoelectric plants that run on fossil fuels.

The Simon Bolivar dam, along with two other hydroelectric facilities downriver, supplies around 70 percent of Venezuela's electricity. The nation is one of the countries with the world's largest oil reserves.

Industry experts warned that electricity rationing will be essential as temperatures continue to rise and the rainy season is still weeks away.

Venezuela Struggles Amid Drought

In January, Venezuela's state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela, or PDVSA, temporarily suspended its export of natural gas to its neighbor Colombia due to climate factors.

These gas exports are part of the two countries' agreement, which also includes a provision that both nations should be able to supply their own markets before exporting to their neighbor. Colombia was an important supplier of gas to Venezuela for eight years.

Suspending gas exports is also due to the need to generate electricity. Like Venezuela, Colombia is also suffering from an El Nino-triggered drought, which has caused the plummeting levels of hydroelectric dams.

In February, residents in Venezuela's capital, Caracas, had no access to drinking water allegedly due to a maintenance project intended for keeping water levels high throughout the drought, Breitbart reported.

Water Minister Ernesto Paiva said last month that the majority of the dams that generate electricity to Caracas are now empty, which could result in the absence of water and electricity in the city. Throughout February, periodical suspensions of running water have been carried out.
New Zika virus cases push the numbers higher in the United States, but is it cause for panic already?

Rising Numbers in Florida, Alabama

The latest update from the Florida Department of Health confirmed two additional cases in the state, bringing the total number of Zika patients in Florida to 62, which is the highest in all of the states in the country.

There are scattered numbers throughout the East coast state, nearly half of the confirmed Zika cases in Florida are in the Miami-Dade County with 30 people suffering from the virus. Four of the patients are pregnant women, although it wasn't revealed which counties they reside.

So far, all of the Zika patients in the United States acquired the mosquito-borne virus through travel-related means, but the department is urging the citizens to be vigilant and cautious. The health officials advised the people to drain standing water at least once a week since even the smallest amount can be used as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. They're also encouraged to use insect repellents when outdoors.

Meanwhile, Alabama has also issued an update on their figures with two more cases bringing the state's total to three people with the Zika virus. These two recently-confirmed patients were reported in the counties of Jefferson and Shelby. The first was revealed last month in Morgan County.

Doctors Downplay the Outbreak Threat

Despite the concern over the increasing number of Zika cases in the country, U.S. doctors remain calm in the face of the virus. Director of Women's Services at Memorial Hospital Jill Bodden revealed to Florida Times Jacksonville that although the doctors at the hospital are fielding more questions from pregnant women, they remain calm.

Karen Harris, a Gainesville-based physician and the chair of District XII of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, explained that there is a good chance the United States will fare better than other countries when it comes to the Zika problem.

"I don't think that we will have as much of a problem that countries in Central and South America have because we do a better job at mosquito control," she said.

"[Mosquito control] would be critical for the Department of Health to make sure they are controlling the mosquito populations," fellow physician Mobeen H. Rathore agreed, adding that aside from better mosquito control, the country's living conditions and health care system will prevent the virus from becoming a major threat as it is in other countries.
While there can never be an industry disruptor quite like Mark Zuckerberg, Russia has found its own version of the technology icon.

Pavel Durov, the 32-year-old CEO of Telegram, is one of the most successful businessmen in the world, but his story is unique. Durov was forced out of his home country.

What Is Telegram?

Billions of people around the world, including a sizable Latino user base, use Facebook every day, making it one of the most popular social media networks. But Telegram is not as well known outside of Russia.

For uninitiated, Telegram is an encrypted messaging app that allows users to connect in remote locations, coordinate groups and encrypt personal and business secrets. It also allows users to destroy messages.

Durov built the application, and it has gained 100 million users, a number that is likely to continue to grow as it gains popularity.

A photo posted by Pavel Durov (@durov) on Mar 13, 2016 at 11:48am PDT

Who Is Durov?

Durov created the social media platform VKontakte, known as the Russian Facebook. However, the government gained control of the network, and Durov decided to leave the country after the Kremlin raided his apartment. He remained defiant on social media, as he did not want to give up control.

When he left for New York, he decided to begin Telegram, a company he kept secret until he had finished the app. He brought some of his employees from VKontakte and used profits from his first venture to fund Telegram. The site, which encrypts chat and makes it incredibly difficult for governments to spy on users, was in many ways a response to the intrusion into VKontakte by the Kremlin.

Today, Telegram is not making revenue, but Durov has kept it alive by investing $1 million of his own money. He is also traveling a lot and does not stay in one place for too long. However, it is unlikely he will return to Russia, where he would probably be arrested.

Durov has become something of a hero to privacy activists for his stand against the Russian government after it took control of his work.

The technology mogul is very active on social media, keeping his fans and followers in constant conversation. He shares updates on his status as he travels, as well as news about Telegram, with his followers on Twitter. In his latest pictures, Durov featured Paris, including a party to celebrate Telegram reaching 100 million users.
A growing group of conservatives are planning a closed-door meeting in Washington to discuss ways to slow the momentum of Republican front-runner Donald Trump.

Led by Bill Wichterman, a liaison to former President George W. Bush; South Dakota businessman Bob Fischer; and conservative activist Erick Erickson, the group is rumored to be willing to pull out all the stops to halt Trump. Discussions reportedly include the idea of fielding a third-party "true conservative" to face off against Trump in the general election, should he secure the party's nomination.

"Please join other conservative leaders to strategize how to defeat Donald Trump for the Republican nomination," the trio wrote in an invitation circulated among conservative leaders. "And if he is the Republican nominee for president, to offer a true conservative candidate in the general election."

A person close to the discussions said the planned meeting was in the "embryonic" stages.

"It's not like there's a royal grand plan that's going to be unfurled," the source added. "People aren't giving up on the Republican Party yet."

Trio Opposes Trump

Wichterman, Fischer and Erickson all have deeply rooted ties to the social conservative movement. Chief Trump rival Ted Cruz has strongly sought to align himself with this group as well.

Wichterman also once served as a senior adviser to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, while Fischer previously brought together conservatives from across the country to unite behind the candidacy of Rick Santorum.

Meanwhile, Erickson and Trump have publicly sparred ever since the New York real estate magnate announced his 2016 candidacy.

"I will not be voting for Donald Trump at all. Ever," Erickson vowed on his conservative radio broadcast.

Other GOP donors have also recently expressed openness to considering last minute options to slowing Trump. A group recently commissioned a study on the feasibility of launching a last-minute Independent challenge.

Latino Voters to Play Key Role

No matter how the official plan turns out, Latino voters could play a key role in the coming strategy. Pew Research recently reported 44 percent of Hispanic voters now describe themselves as Independents, opposed to 34 percent who identify as Democratic and 13 percent Republican.

In addition, more than twice as many Latinos now either align with the Democratic Party or lean that way than identify as Republicans or lean toward the GOP (56 to 26 percent).

Trump Dominates Super Tuesday II

The meeting is scheduled to take place just 48 hours after Trump reveled in yet another strong showing on Super Tuesday II, winning primaries in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina. The candidate is closing in on the 1,237 delegates he needs to officially become the face of the party.

With GOP primary votes already counted in nearly half the states, Trump holds a sizable lead in delegates, and according to some estimations, he would need to bag just over 50 percent of all remaining delegates to the secure the nomination.
A bill which is known as the "Bathroom Bill" would require students to use restrooms and locker rooms that match their sex at birth rather than the one they choose to identify with.

ABC News reported that the Bathroom Bill is advancing despite opposition from Bill Haslam, a Republican state governor. The bill passed unanimously in the Administration, Planning Subcommittee, and Education on Tuesday.

Many transgender students, including their supporters, were disappointed by the lawmakers' political move. The Lesbian Community Center and the people of Memphis said this bill is problematic for the youth, particularly the transgender individuals. The Americans Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee also expressed their disappointment to the bill, saying it discriminates against transgender kids.

According to FOX13, House Bill 2414 requires public college and public school to use a bathroom and locker room assigned for use by people of the same sex as the sex specified on the student's original birth certificate.

The house bill was pushed by the conservatives, sponsored by Representative Susan Lynn, R-Riceville, R-Mount Juliet, and Senator Mike Bell. The Republicans who backed the measure said that it would protect the privacy of the students. Meanwhile, Republican Mark White from Memphis said members had a compassion for transgender youth, however, they had to create a balance while creating a law for all the youth of the nation.

An organization named Gender Spectrum formed to address concepts of gender expression and gender identity, said gender can be detrimental to any young individual that does not fit into a specific category. The organization also pointed out that biological sex and gender are different and that gender is not inherently connected to an individual's anatomy, says The Tennessean.

South Dakota became the only state in the US to pass a legislation that would require transgender to use restrooms that correspond to their sex at birth, but Rep. Gov. Dennis Daugaard vetoed the bill.
The nurse who sued New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and some state health officials is asking a judge handling her case not to throw out the lawsuit which Christie reportedly tried to block from advancing. She claims the politician's quarantine decision was made in bad faith.

The lawsuit was filed by the nurse identified as Kaci Hickox, who was mad after she was quarantined at a hospital due to having contact with Ebola patients in West Africa. The attorney for Hickox said the constitutional rights against unlawful seizure, unnecessary restraints, and due process were violated during her quarantine, Portland Press Herald shared. This comes after the government attempted last January to have the federal civil rights lawsuit dismissed.

State lawyers, however, argued that the health workers who handled Hickox acted with public safety in mind, thus the order for her to be quarantined, ABC News reported.

In the latest filing, Hickox added that the law permits limited immunity to officials who order legal quarantine but it requires one's good faith. She argued that the quarantine was made without any medical or epidemiological justification making it done in "bad faith." According to NJ.com, the latest brief also said the detention is ceased to be constitutional "when Defendants received the first set of blood test results indicating that Hickox was negative for Ebola."

The attorneys aargued that Hickox could have been on "direct active monitoring," meaning officials could take her temperature daily rather than having her quarantined immediately.

Other people sued by the plaintiff are former Department of Health Commissioner Mary E. O'Dowd and other department officials.

Hickox worked with Doctors Without Borders in Sierra Leone during the 2014 Ebola outbreak which had record-high number of deaths. She was stopped when she arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport and was questioned before being quarantined. She was held for 80 hours in a tent at University Hospital. She tested negative for Ebola and was allowed to return home to Maine but she has since moved to Oregon.
Thailand's human trafficking trial began on Tuesday and the human rights groups have expressed their fear over the security of witnesses. The 92 defendants include high-profile people, including a military general, government officials and police officers accused of death of dozens of people and smuggling. They all pleaded not guilty over the charges.

Thailand's human trafficking trial follows the shocking discovery of mass graves in a jungle near the Malaysian border last year. The defendants were charged with human trafficking linking international crimes, illegally detaining others and concealing bodies. If they will be proven guilty of the offenses, they may face a sentence of up to 15 years and a fine of up to 1 million baht (U.S. $28,469). Due to the sensitivity of the case and the involvement of the prominent people in the case, the rights group are fearing he safety of the witnesses due to the lack of police protection, National Multimedia reports.

"The court is accelerating the case to finish within a year," said Prayuth Porsuttayaruk, deputy director general of the human trafficking office at the Attorney General's Office. Thailand's human trafficking trial may take up to two years to finish.

The unearthing of the graves led to Thai's crackdown on human-trafficking networks. The authorities first discovered 30 shallow graves before they found 139 graves over the Malaysian border. The remains were believed to be of Rohingya "boat people," the ethnic Muslim minority who were persecuted due to their religion in Buddhist Myanmar. Former Thai army Lt. Gen. Manas Kongoaen and other defendants were accused of transnational human-trafficking that happened from Myanmar to Malaysia via Thailand. According to Telegraph, the traffickers asked $2,000 (1,400) ransoms to the families before they were sent to Malaysia.

A Rohingya witness and a trafficking victim who testified in Thailand's human trafficking trial on Tuesday described his five-day sea journey from Myanmar to Ranong last year. "Both hands were tied with rope and we were forced to board the vessel, walk down to the second deck and sit on a cramped floor," Roshiduila said, RFA Org reported.

Late last year, country's chief anti-trafficking police investigator Major General Paween Pongsirin fled out of Thailand as he feared for his life. He said that influential people wanted to silence him after his findings of the largest human-trafficking in Thailand's history. The attorney-general's office has declared that they are looking into the possibility of finishing the trial in less than a year as the witnesses' life have been at high risk.
Six former students have filed a lawsuit against an Iowa Boarding School located in Keokuk. The students have accused the owner, Benjamin Trane and the now-closed Midwest Academy of sexual harassment and various kinds of abuse.

As Yahoo reported, the students claimed that they were kept in isolation boxes and were provided with insufficient medical care and improper living conditions. The lawsuit against the Iowa Boarding School alleged that the expensive therapeutic school for struggling teens failed in their mission to provide appropriate and quality education, medical and therapeutic services. Several parents have joined the students in their fight against the Iowa boarding school.

"My role here is to try to use the law to bring some fairness and justice to this horrible situation," said one of the plaintiffs' attorneys, David Ferleger, of Pennsylvania.

According to ABC News, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Human Services (DHS) investigated Trane and the Iowa Boarding School for a series of offenses. There were reports claiming Trane assaulted a female student. Another claim tells that students were kept in a small and concrete isolation room and they were not fed properly as a punishment. The school officials were also accused of forcing students to listen to 24-hour pumped-in noise. A former student claimed that Trane offered him lunch and books after he was interviewed by the investigators.

"This was an effort by Benjamin Trane to interfere with the FBI and State of Iowa investigation," the lawsuit alleges.

According to Desmoines Register, the Iowa Boarding School was charged with negligent hiring and violations of Iowa's Consumer Fraud Act, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, educational malpractice, battery, assault, false imprisonment, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The lawsuit names Trane, Midwest Academy, Midwest Academy Treatment, Midwest Twister, and the Midwest Academy Scholarship Fund as the defendants. The plaintiffs include former students, Grace Ferguson Hunt, Roger Palinsky, Kodi Dick, Radhi Choukaier, Elijah Meyer, and a minor identified as Z.D.

Trane nor his lawyer, George Jones, haven't commented publicly on the charges against him and the Iowa Boarding School. He was placed under the state's central child abuse registry after DHS' probe.
Mar 16, 2016, 2:38pm ET

Automatic emergency braking to become standard by 2022?

A group of 20 major automakers have reportedly joined a voluntary initiative.

Many automakers have reportedly joined a voluntary initiative to make automatic emergency braking a standard feature in the US by 2022.

The group is said to include 20 companies including the biggest players such as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford, General Motors and Toyota, unnamed sources have told The Detroit News.

The pending announcement appears to represent the next step in a voluntary program announced last September. The list originally included just 10 automakers, with no time-frame for the delivering on the promise.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that AEB tech can reduce insurance injury claims by up to 35 percent. In a separate study, the National Transportation Safety Board claimed rear-end collisions are responsible for 1.7 million accidents and 1,700 fatalities in the US each year.

"We are entering a new era of vehicle safety, focused on preventing crashes from ever occurring, rather than just protecting occupants when crashes happen," US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said last year. "But if technologies such as automatic emergency braking are only available as options or on the most expensive models, too few Americans will see the benefits of this new era."

The 2022 commitment is expected to be formally announced Thursday morning.
An Easton man accused of throwing semen on two women in Bethlehem has been committing the same crime since the early 1990s around the Lehigh Valley, police revealed Wednesday.

Michael Kevin Morris, of Easton. (Photo Courtesy Bethlehem Police Department)

Michael Morris was charged in two more incidents in Bethlehem, including a previous incident involving the same victim from the Feb. 22 Valley Farm grocery store case, Bethlehem police said.

In court records, police said a retired Allentown detective reported Morris committed similar crimes from 1992 to 1993 at a shopping center in the city.

In those cases, police say, Morris indecently assaulted seven females, and attacked one of the women twice.

In new charges filed Wednesday, Bethlehem police said the accuser from the Valley Farm incident reported in a follow-up interview that Morris assaulted her two weeks prior while she was loading groceries into her car outside the store at 1880 Stefko Blvd.

The woman said on Feb. 8, Morris squeezed between her and the vehicle parked beside hers, according to police. The woman felt wetness on her hand, and turned to see Morris running across the parking lot, and then head north on Stefko Boulevard, police said.

In that case, Morris is charged with two counts of indecent assault.

Police said Morris squirted semen on the same woman on Feb. 22 in the store, and that the woman chased him and took cellphone photos of him. Morris was caught after police put out a call for the public's help in identifying him.

The other incident for which he was charged Wednesday occurred in 2014, at the nearby Dollar Tree store, 1838 Stefko Blvd. in Bethlehem, police said.

A woman in the store said in August or September that year she saw a "creepy" man lurking in the toy aisle. The man, later identified as Morris, walked behind her and squirted her with an unknown bodily fluid, thought at the time to be urine, according to police.

The woman screamed at Morris, and he ran away, police said. In that case, Morris is charged with two counts of indecent assault, as well as open lewdness, disorderly conduct and harassment.

Morris is being held on $122,000 bail for all five cases.

Morris is due in court on Friday for his preliminary hearing charges he sprayed a flammable liquid on a woman in June 2015 at an Allentown bus terminal. He has also been charged with allegedly following a woman off a LANTA bus in June 2014 in Bethlehem, and squirting her with semen.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A Bethlehem man who claimed he never watched the "bad" porn he downloaded and deleted it all, actually had 300-plus pictures and videos of child pornography on his computers, the state Attorney General's office said.

Peter Medve, 31, of Laurel Lane, was arrested Wednesday and charged with disseminating recordings of child sex abuse, criminal use of a communication facility and 318 counts of possession of child pornography.

Medve was arraigned and sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of 10 percent of $150,000 bail.

Investigators with the attorney general's office began investigating Medve in the fall of 2014, authorities said, monitoring the IP address for his apartment on Seneca Street in Bethlehem as it downloaded child pornography from a file-sharing network.

One of the videos depicted the sexual abuse of a girl between the ages of 8 and 10, agents said.

Agents raided Medve's apartment a year ago and took all the computer and electronic devices, authorities said. Medve was not home at the time, but agents located him at his workplace in Allentown.

In an interview on March 2, 2015, Medve said he was using peer-to-peer filing sharing software for nine years to download adult pornography, and that he would download several files, erase all the "bad" pornography and watch the adult videos, according to investigators.

The bad pornography was child pornography, and Medve said he would see the file preview, realize it was child porn and delete it, agents said.

Medve said he used search terms such as "young" and "jailbait," but was not searching for child pornography, only girls 18 and older, agents said.

Medve wiped his devices with cleaning software whenever he felt it was needed, agents said.

Agents didn't get the forensic analysis until last Thursday, court records say.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Bethlehem City Council has approved the sale of the fire damaged Bethlehem Silk Mill property to a developer that intends to build 89 apartments.

Council had to sign off on the sale to Michael Perrucci's Peron Development because the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority once owned part of the land. The authority already approved the sale.

Council voted 6-0 with Councilman Bryan Callahan abstaining because his brother, former Mayor John Callahan, the director of business development for Florio Perrucci Steinhardt and Fader, is involved with the project.

Peron could not formally purchase the property without council's vote. Now the project must go through the city planning process.

The $8.4 million complex is targeting Moravian College grad students and millennials as tenants. Peron hopes high-end apartments in close proximity to downtown and the college campus are a draw.

The project is called the Silk Mill Apartments at Moravian College, although it has no official affiliation with Moravian. It does aim to meet the school's graduate student housing needs.

Plans call for tearing down the former silk mill buildings due to structural problems.

Peron wants to build 33 1,080-square-feet, two-bedroom apartments; 12 540-square-feet studios; and 44 roughly 750-square-feet one-bedroom units. Rents will start around $850 for a studio and cost about $1,400 for a two-bedroom space, John Callahan has said.

There are already 61 apartments at adjacent 238 W. Goepp St., units redeveloped by Abraham Atiyeh, who has since sold the building and undeveloped land.

In 2006, an arson gutted plans for Moravian apartments on the site, just four months before the complex's $15 million to $20 million redevelopment wrapped up. Moravian later built new dorms on its Priscilla Payne Hurd Campus in 2009.

Atiyeh bought the five-building complex in 2008. In 2012, he sold the 61 apartments to a real estate company and sold the remaining land where 90 more units were planned to former business partner Ramzi Haddad and two of his business partners.

But Haddad did not complete the work before a December 2015 deadline set by the authority.

Haddad is ensnared in Allentown's pay-to-play scandal and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in September.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Three people intended to use methamphetamine at a Bethlehem Township hotel on Nov. 5, 2015, but the plan turned deadly when one allegedly injected another with meth and the person injected began to overdose, a witness testified Wednesday in Northampton County Court.

Jason Laduca (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Lauren Miller, a friend of the late Rachel Dannucci, 27, of Bethlehem Township, testified during a preliminary hearing before District Judge Patricia Broscius. She said the women wanted to get high together on Nov. 5, 2015. They began at Dannucci's home shooting up with heroin that morning, Miller said.

The women then headed to the The View Inn & Suites, 3191 Highfield Drive, Bethlehem Township, to meet Jason Laduca, of the 800 block Reveres Way in Forks Township. Miller was a high school classmate of Laduca and Laduca dated her cousin, she said.

Miller pointed to Laduca, seated at the defense table on his 27th birthday and dressed in a green prison jumpsuit with shackles and handcuffs, as the one who provided Dannucci with methamphetamine. Laduca is facing charges of drug delivery resulting in death, aggravated assault, delivery of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and reckless endangerment.

Laduca told the women he had meth; they could come to the hotel and he would share it with them for free, Miller said. When asked by Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Michael Thompson how Dannucci's state was after injecting heroin, Miller described her as functional and not having any signs of withdrawal.

"She wasn't sick," Miller said. "She drove fine."

Miller told the court Dannucci never tried methamphetamine and eagerly "wanted to go and get high."

Laduca was the first to try the methamphetamine, mixing the drug with water and putting it into a syringe before injecting himself, Miller recalled. She told the court the meth had a "euphoric effect" on Laduca.

Dannucci was next, asking Laduca for help preparing the meth and handing over her own syringes, Miller said. Laduca prepared the meth for Dannucci the same way he did for himself, mixing it in a bottle cap with water and putting it in the syringe, Miller described.

Laduca then went into the bathroom with Dannucci and they emerged shortly after, Miller said.

"She (Dannucci) had a hard time hitting herself because her heroin use was pretty bad," Miller said. "She asked for help. I have no idea if he helped her."

'Something's wrong'

Miller told the court within minutes after Dannucci took meth, something went very wrong.

"She started to get bad very quickly," Miller testified. "Her legs were giving out. She kept saying, 'Something's wrong,' over and over."

Dannucci complained of having a strong headache and needing to vomit, Miller recalled. So she placed Dannucci in a bath tub and put on the shower head to help her come to as Laduca ran to a market to get aspirin, Miller said.

"Her condition continued to get worse," Miller said. "She could only speak a word or two."

Miller testified she had never seen Dannucci in that condition before or after taking heroin before. Once Laduca returned, he picked up Dannucci and placed her in the passenger side of the vehicle with Miller in the driver's seat. Miller said she was on her way to the hospital, but didn't get very far from the hotel before being stopped by police.

Defense attorney Angelo Perrucci questioned Miller's own state of mind after injecting herself with a few bags of heroin that morning. He asked how she feels after injecting heroin and if it hinders her memory.

"A little bit," Miller replied. "It depends on how much I'm using. Certain things can be fuzzy."

Police stakeout

Three law enforcement officers testified they already had their eye on Laduca on Nov. 5.

Laduca was a suspected drug dealer of methamphetamine and had his Toyota backed into a space -- a clear sign to investigators the driver was likely trying to get out of the hotel fast or hide his license plate, police said.

Officers saw Laduca leave at 1:42 p.m., return at 2:31 p.m., and go into the hotel room with the two women. Police also said they saw Laduca leave the hotel to get Dannucci aspirin from Giant Supermarket, and when he came back, he parked in the nearby Perkins parking lot and walked to the hotel room with a grocery bag.

Minutes later, Dannucci was being carried out of the hotel room and police suspected she was overdosing. An officer then stopped Miller's Kia on Route 191.

Dannucci was semi-conscious with her eyes rolling into her head, Bethlehem Township police Sgt. Richard Blake recalled on the stand. He tried to keep her conscious by talking loudly, telling her to squeeze his hand and reassuring her an ambulance was on its way, he said.

Blake then asked Dannucci what happened.

"She said, 'He shot me up,'," Blake said, noting Dannucci was making shooting motions with her hand into her arm. "I yelled, 'Did Jason shoot you up?' She said, 'Yes.'"

"I was fearful she was dying," Blake said. "She really was in a poor state at that point."

Several substances in system

Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim said Dannucci was found to have several substances in her system, which included heroin, methamphetamine and two kinds of prescription anti-anxiety medication.

Grim said Dannucci's cause of death was mixed substance toxicity and he deemed the manner accidental, which he said is the manner in all overdose cases.

When questioned by Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Patricia Mulqueen if meth or heroin independently could have caused Dannucci's death independently, Grim said he couldn't answer it.

Grim also testified he has been involved in overdose cases with both less and more amounts of heroin than Dannucci was found to have had in her system at the time of death.

Mulqueen asked if Narcan worked at all to help Dannucci and Grim replied it had no effect on her. Grim was unsure if Narcan would have an effect on just a methamphetamine overdose without heroin.

In closing arguments, Perrucci told the judge it would be impossible to determine if Laduca providing methamphetamine was to blame for Dannucci's death based on Grim's testimony.

"His findings and his testimony today were much different than his conclusion," Perrucci said.

Mulqueen told the judge Grim's conclusions are definitely backed up by his findings, noting he concluded Dannucci died as a result of mixed substance toxicity.

"There could be more than one direct cause of death. The heroin didn't certainly help Ms. Dannucci, but (the witness testified) she was acting normal," Mulqueen told the judge. "Shortly after she took the meth was when her demeanor changed. That shows it was the meth that affected her more than the heroin."

"It is reasonable to believe the meth is what pushed her over; the meth set Ms. Dannucci over the edge and caused her death."

Broscius told Laduca she agreed with prosecutors and sent the case onto Northampton County Court, where he now is facing possible trial. Laduca is scheduled to appear for a formal arraignment on May 22 in county court.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Easton Area School District released a draft policy Tuesday for searching students' lockers, cell phones, cars and the students' themselves.

Ronnie DelBacco, of the 9/12 Project of the Lehigh Valley, said searches of students should be left to police in all circumstances. If a gun, knife or drugs are hidden in a student's underwear, "it's not an immediate threat," and can stay put until police arrive, he said.

Ronnie DelBacco

Superintendent John Reinhart said last month that administrators sometimes need to conduct strip searches to keep children safe. He recalled an incident several years ago when a student shot himself with a gun he brought to school.

Assistant to the Superintendent Alyssa Emili said in the rare event a student is searched, the search would be conducted by someone of the same gender as the student with a witness who is the same gender as the student. Privacy is a priority during those searches, she said.

The search policies will be up for discussion again in mid-April with a possible vote coming in late April.

Resident Bill Timmann thinks students are too young to consent to any search. He thinks locker searches are fair game, but disagrees with the search of a student's personal belongings, including a cell phone locked with a password.

Rather than prevent lawsuits, the policies will force the district into court in order to defend the policies, he said.

"We're going to end up with the 'I Heart Boobies' bracelet in court again ... wasting our taxpayers money," he said.

The district paid $385,000 in attorney fees to settle a case in 2014 where the district sought to ban a middle school student from wearing an anti-breast cancer bracelet that said "I Heart Boobies."

District solicitor John Freund said an attorney from his office would meet with parent teacher association members to explain the search policies.

"This keeps coming up a lot," said Lynn Alexander, the Easton Area Middle School 5/6 PTA president. "Parents want to know. 'What are my rights with my child? Will I be called?'"

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
A car hit four parked cars Tuesday and then backed into a North Whitehall Township tavern, according to reports.

Pennsylvania State Police from the Bethlehem barracks responded about 5:40 p.m. but troopers on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning said they had no information on the crash.

The 65-year-old driver, who was a regular at Sliders Pub at 4650 Route 309, was hospitalized, according to the Morning Call.

It's possible he suffered a medical issue as he drove from the tavern, the newspaper said.

"I saw three cars, four cars total, five I guess, including the driver," Nicholas Pappas, a bartender at the tavern, told WFMZ-TV. "Apparently he was driving, left the bar, hit one car, hit my car, hit another car, that car backed into a car and then he threw his car into reverse and ran into the building."

The business remained open while the investigation continued, WFMZ said.

A side door and part of the stone exterior of the bar were damaged in the crash involving an all-wheel-drive station wagon.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Aside from the disruption to the educational process, a teachers' strike in the Nazareth Area School District can throw a monkey wrench into working parents' plans.

Teachers said Wednesday they intend to go on strike Friday because of a contract dispute.

School district officials noted that most day care centers have limited availability and openings aren't guaranteed. But they suggested these alternatives in a memo to parents:

- Child Care Information Services of Northampton County can provide assistance in finding child care. Call 610-419-4500

- Forever Friends Childcare, 2 E. Belvidere St., Nazareth. Call 610-759-3344

- Holy Cross Lutheran Church Day Care Center, 696 Johnson Road, Moore Township. Call 610-759-8761

- Kids Learning Kingdom (kindergarten only), 9 West St., Nazareth. Call 610-746-9100

- Lehigh Valley Children's Centers: Open registration sessions for Nazareth-area residents will be held. The location will be communicated via the district website. For other locations in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and Emmaus, visit the LVCC website.

- Little Buddies Child Care, 1068 Bushkill Center Road, Bushkill Township. Call 610-746-4444

- Nazareth YMCA, 33 S. Main St., Nazareth. Call 610-759-3440

Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.
An Allentown man early Wednesday led Pennsylvania State Police on a 120-mph chase, spanning Bushkill Township to Bethlehem.

Sammod Tyson Field (Courtesy photo)

Sammod Tyson Field, 20, of the 100 block of South 12th Street, shortly after 2 a.m. was allegedly driving 89 mph in a 2014 Nissan Sentra along Route 33 south in Bushkill Township. State police in Belfast were monitoring the area with radar devices in the 65-mph zone.

As a trooper began to follow Field, he sped up, reaching speeds of 110 mph to 120 mph, police said. Field refused to pull over despite the trooper enacting sirens and emergency lights, police said.

Field continued on, at one point traveling partially in both southbound lanes before jetting down the ramp from Route 33 to the Hecktown Road exit, according to police. Police said the Nissan then traveled through a stop sign, crossing Hecktown Road and driving up the ramp and back onto southbound Route 33.

Field allegedly continued with roundabout maneuvers to avoid police, traveling eventually to the Route 22 interchange. He allegedly continued driving through on and off ramps before ending up on Route 22 west.

At Route 22 west near Schoenersville Road, Field swerved, nearly striking a concrete divider when he saw a patrol vehicle, police said. He then allegedly drove up another off ramp, through a grassy area and back onto an on ramp leading to Route 22 westbound again.

The chase continued onto Route 378 to Catasauqua Road. Field then made his way onto Schoenersville Road to Illick's Mill Road, traveling 100 mph in a 35-mph zone, police said.

Field eventually crashed into several trees along the side of Illick's Mill Road in Bethlehem, ending the pursuit. Troopers found Field pinned inside the vehicle against the steering wheel.

Police say Field's eyes were bloodshot and glassy and a smell of marijuana was coming from the vehicle. Field allegedly told police he was traveling from the Pocono area, police said.

Field didn't have a valid driver's license, according to police.

He was taken to St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill for injuries and later, a blood draw was taken at the Northampton County DUI Center in Bethlehem Township.

Field is charged with eluding police, three counts DUI of a controlled substance, recklessly endangering another person and several motor vehicle offenses. He was arraigned before District Judge Richard Yetter III, who set bail at $65,000.

In lieu of bail, Field was taken to Northampton County Prison.

The judge ordered he enroll in Pretrial Services and submit to random drug and alcohol testing. The judge allowed 10 percent of $65,000 bail if Pretrial Services approved it.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A Merchants Bank executive whose blood alcohol-level allegedly was more than four times the legal limit when she crashed into two vehicles plans to apply for a first-time offenders' probationary program, her attorney said.

Tracey Smith will give up her right to a preliminary hearing on DUI and related charges and eventually apply to a rehabilitative program, her attorney says. (Courtesy photo)

Tracey Smith, 54, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, will give up her right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Jacqueline Taschner, said attorney Philip Lauer.

Smith is charged with drunken driving, DUI highest rate, accident involving damage to a vehicle or property, accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles (three counts), failure to stop and render aid, careless driving (two counts) and driving on the wrong side of the road (two counts).

A formal arraignment date will be set for about six weeks from now in Northampton County Court, Lauer said.

At that point the process will begin for Smith to request Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, a pretrial intervention program for nonviolent first-time offenders, Lauer said. If the program is properly completed, Smith's record can be expunged.

"The application hasn't been filed, but, yes, that's the plan," Lauer said about ARD.

Smith, who was expected to become Merchants Bank's chief executive officer, continues to work for the bank, Lauer said. She was chief operating officer and executive vice president when the crashes happened in Palmer Township.

"She did take responsibility," Lauer said of Smith's actions, but he wouldn't elaborate when asked whether she entered an alcohol rehabilitation program.

Bank board Chairman Richard Hotchkis said he can't speak to Smith's position at the bank because it's a personnel issue, but he added that the board is aware of the criminal case and "will do what is in the nest interest of the bank's customers."

Smith was northbound about 5:10 p.m. Dec. 23 in a 2014 Audi that struck a southbound vehicle head-on in the 900 block of Greenhill Avenue, township police said earlier. Erica Koplin, the driver of the other vehicle, went to ask Smith if she was OK and Smith backed up and drove away on Greenhill Avenue, police said.

Smith's Audi then hit a vehicle a short distance away in the 2000 block of Edgewood Avenue, police said. Prior to the second crash, a township officer was investigating the first crash and found property damage, including two struck mailboxes and a wooden post in the 900 block of Chelsea Street and the 900 block of Greenhill Avenue, police said.

Another officer was called to the second crash and quickly learned Smith was the same driver in both accidents, police said.

Smith was unable to find her driver's license, registration or insurance papers, police said. She then told the officer she "messed up" and was "drinking at a party after work," according to police.

Smith had trouble keeping her balance, police said. After a breath test revealed the presence of alcohol, she was arrested and taken to the Easton DUI Center for a blood test, police said.

Her blood-alcohol content was 0.36; penalties for most drivers in Pennsylvania start at 0.08, police said in January.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Toomey: 'Wise' to let next president fill high court vacancy

President Barack Obama, left, shakes hands with Judge Merrick Garland, chief justice for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, right, after announcing him as his nominee for the Supreme Court in the Rose Garden of the White House on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (Tribune News Service | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania is reiterating that he believes President Barack Obama shouldn't fill the seat of the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

Toomey, the Lehigh Valley's former congressman, issued a statement Wednesday after Obama nominated federal appeals court Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court.

"He is the right man for the job. He deserves to be confirmed." @POTUS on his #SCOTUSnominee Merrick Garland https://t.co/c7xefbX3pc  White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) March 16, 2016

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. (AP file photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Toomey is running for re-election to his swing-state seat. His stance drew a swift attack by Democrat Katie McGinty, who's running in the party's four-way primary.

McGinty's campaign says it's airing a TV ad starting Wednesday in which McGinty accuses Toomey of obstructionism and trying to create a court that's an extension of "Republican partisan politics."

Toomey says he'd consider Garland's nomination, if he's nominated by Obama's successor. But he says it's "wise" to let voters pick a new president.

With election less than 8 months away and SCOTUS balance at stake, it is wise to give the American people a more direct voice 1/2  Pat Toomey (@PatToomey) March 16, 2016

Should Merrick Garland be nominated again by the next president, I would carefully consider his nomination like dozens of judges before 2/2  Pat Toomey (@PatToomey) March 16, 2016

See the candidates in Lehigh Valley primary races

Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The Party has produced a couple of graphic quite rightly having a go at Labour over their abstention on the IP Bill.

and

A craven Andy Burnham made this extraordinary comment on the Daily Politics yesterday:

It would be irresponsible to say well just go into outright opposition because I dont think that is right.

What do they think they are for? No wonder the Tories are making as much hay as possible. They should be fighting for every vote with such a small majority.

He then went on to list a whole load of things he wanted to see changed about the Bill. Well, had he pressed that point a bit further, he might have got some concessions. Governments only change their positions if they think they might lose. As it happened, if Labour and the SNP had bothered to show up for business, this awful legislation would have been killed off last night.

However, its not enough I think to just talk about Labour sitting on their hands. The are actually enabling this Government to do horrible things. The effect of their vote is that they might as well walk into the Aye lobby with them. The list of things that could have been avoided had Labour been an effective opposition is growing. We could have had votes at 16 for the EU referendum and for local government. We could have avoided the cuts to Universal Credit and not have had to rely on George Osborne to pull his cuts to tax credits for one year only.

It wasnt just Labour who enabled this intrusive nightmare bill to proceed further, though. The SNP, having talked a good fight for months about how they were going to oppose the Snoopers Charter, caved at the last minute and abstained. Their own record on civil liberties is questionable to say the least so its hardly surprising, but thats a further dent to their credibility.

On issues like this that arent Scotland specific, I think that the Federal campaigns should absolutely have free rein to attack the SNP too. They are voting on issues that affect us all, not just Scots.

The main attacks, including Alistair Carmichaels comments, have come from the Scottish team. theyre very good, but need to have a wider audience.

via GIPHY

Alistair Carmichael said:

Yesterday in the Guardian, Joanna Cherry said the SNP would oppose the IP Bill but today declared that they will abstain at Second Reading. This remarkable flip-flop shows the SNP are not to be trusted with civil liberties, but we know that already because of their intention to create a super ID database in Scotland and Police Scotlands aggressive stop and search tactics. Your civil liberties are not safe in the hands of the SNP.

The SNP are the third largest party in our Parliament. When they make bizarre decisions like this, and their Sunday trading vote, they deserve to be called out across the whole country.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
Conference must be congratulated on passing the Diversity motion on Sunday. But contentious issues and some mysteries remain. One is why have we taken 14 years to get round to all-women short-lists for constituency selections, when they became the law of the land in the 2002 Sex Discrimination Act?

In theory, any local party could have operated all-female short-lists at any of the three general elections since then, safe in the knowledge they were legal, passed by Parliament. Had that happened, the battle for all-BME (now BaME) lists could have begun at least a decade ago.

Perhaps before Parmjit Singth Gill, only our second ethnic minority MP in 120 years, could have been given proper support in the general election of 2005. The party gave the impression of not giving a tuppeny bowel movement about full diversity or wanting BAME MPs. They hung him out to dry, with the self-fulfilling prophesy that he would lose.

Now that women have won a much-deserved victory, the battle for ethnic minority representation must get serious. Based on current growth rates, British non-white citizens will form about one-in-six of the population by 2020. White women will fall to about 44 per cent.

Sadly, another impression the party demonstrates is that Lib Dem Diversity is only about women; just three Black members were called in the conference debate.

Ethnic Minority Lib Dems had prepared a short amendment calling for parliamentary action, or secondary or other legal processes. So we felt extremely grateful to Tim Farron and Sal Brinton for a statement pledging to seek those solutions in Parliament.

So thankful, indeed, that we dropped the amendment, and wished them luck.

It would have been exceedingly churlish to oppose the all-women clause, merely because BAME members dont yet enjoy this advantage. If we dont win it soon, probably through changes to the Equality Act 20120, expect one hell of a battle.

As to compelling local parties in held seats to choose a female successor should the MP stand down, it is unlikely to be an issue in 2020. By 2025, will black members also be seeking something similar?

If you would like an all-black short-list, I know how, having run one.

* Jonathan Hunt is President of Camberwell & Peckham local party and chair of the Southwark Co-ordinating Committee. He is an elected Life Member of the NUJ, and a former parliamentary candidate.
PRIMARY schools all over Limerick city and county took advantage of the gorgeous spring weather to celebrate Proclamation Day this Tuesday afternoon.

All over the country, as part of the 1916 centenary programme, pupils were tasked with writing their own Proclamation, which was read out after the raising of the tri-colour flag and the singing of the national anthem.

OConnell Avenue was one of many city areas to be bursting with patriotism, as pupils at Limerick School Project celebrated Proclamation Day with their parents, teachers, Minister for Education Jan OSullivan and newly-elected TD Maurice Quinlivan.

Before the national flag was raised by two pupils, principal Orla McCoy congratulated the schools efforts, and said that their own Proclamation will hang next to the original for generations to come.

Minister OSullivan said Proclamation Day was about commemorating the events of 1916 and re-imagining Irelands future.

That is why the schools have been asked to write a Proclamation for the future, and I know everybody got really involved.

All of you young people are our future. And it is really important that we have all really engaged in this, and we are here today, on Proclamation Day, to celebrate our country, to celebrate everything that is good and positive about our country, to remember our history, and to look to the future.

Deputy Quinlivan said that he was delighted to be attending the celebrations at the school.

One of the kids over there suggested that I ask the teachers to give them no homework tonight, he added, which prompted a chorus of cheers from the children.

A line in the Proclamation got me involved in politics and that is cherishing all the children of the nation equally, and hopefully we will be able to deliver the Republic that the men and women of 1916 fought for.
A SOUTHILL man who set fire to rubbish at an apartment complex in the city will have to complete community service to avoid a prison sentence.

Danny Cooper, aged 29, who has an address at Bawnmore View, OMalley Park pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage relating to an incident at Mount Kennett on September 5, 2014.

Limerick District Court was told shortly before 10pm the defendant set fire to a bag of rubbish in the corridor outside his brothers apartment and that a short time later he set fire to a commercial wheelie bin which was located on the ground floor of the complex.

Inspector Helen Costello said no serious damage was caused by either of the fires and that nobody was injured  although the apartment complex was evacuated.

Solicitor John Herbert said his client, who has six previous convictions, had been visiting his brother earlier in the night when a dispute erupted.

There was a family row, he said adding that Cooper had also been drinking and was in a state of inebriation.

Mr Hebert said his clients life has been marked by extreme dysfunction and that he has effectively been homeless since he was 18.

He said his client now realises the enormity of his actions but he stressed that nobody had actually been put in danger by his actions.

Judge Marian OLeary said she could not understand the actions of the defendant adding that the consequences could have been horrific.

She said anybody who gets involved with fire should be required to attend a hospital burns unit for three months to see the consequences but noted that the court had not power to impose such a sanction.

She requested a community service report, indicating that she is considering a penalty of 200 hours in lieu of a five month prison sentence.

The defendant was remanded on continuing bail until April 27, next.
A MAN who was seriously injured in a road collision in Limerick city last night has been transferred to Cork University Hospital.

The man, who is aged in his 20s and from Limerick city, was one of two men who were travelling in a car which collided with a van at Hyde Road at around 7.30pm.

The second man, who was also aged in his 20s and from West Limerick, died from his injuries a short time after the collision.

The occupants of the van  a man in his forties and his five-year-old daughter  were taken to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) as a precaution.

A section of Hyde Road between Careys Road and Lenihan Avenue which was closed to facilitate technical and forensic examinations is expected to re-open shortly.

Hyde Rd closed btw Lwr Careys Rd & Lenihan Ave due to fatal crash.Bus Eireann route 301 via Edward St to/from HydeRd https://t.co/r19oH1u8F2  AA Roadwatch (@aaroadwatch) March 16, 2016

A post mortem will be carried out later on the dead mans body at UHL

The fatal collision was the second in Limerick in less than a week and the seventh so far in 2016.

Gardai at Roxboro Road are investigating last nights collision and can be contacted at (061) 214340.
THERE are three new permanent visitors in Limerick's Peoples Park, thanks to the crafty work of a local artist.

Hospital-based wood-sculptor, Will Fogarty, was tasked by the council with transforming a lime tree that fell down in the recent storm into a wooden sculpture.

Realising he had plenty of material to work with, Mr Fogarty decided to carve out three dogs; a Springer Spaniel, a Scottish Terrier and a Jack Russell, as captured by photographer Sean Ryan above.

We [Mr Fogarty and the council] went down there, and we saw people walking around the park with their dogs, and we then got the idea that we would try carve some dogs into it, he said.

It took me about five or six days to do the whole lot, and it was good fun doing it. There were a lot of people going by and they were very interested in what was happening. And it turned out pretty well.

He claims that since he put a photo of the finished project on his Facebook page, entitled Fear na Coillte, it has been seen by more than 70,000 people.

Mr Fogarty recently completed a similar project at Scoil Ide, Corbally, which consists of an owl, a heron, a salmon and many other wildlife creatures, all perched on a standing tree on the school grounds.
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This digitally-colorized image shows particles of Zika virus, which is a member of the family Flaviviridae. The virus particles are colored red in the picture. They are 40 nanometers (0.00004 millimeters) in diameter.

A new estimate suggests that one in 100 women who become infected with the Zika virus during the first trimester of pregnancy will give birth to a child with microcephaly, a condition that causes an abnormally small brain and head. The finding comes from researchers' study of a single outbreak of Zika.

The new results support the idea that pregnant women who become infected with the Zika virus in the first trimester of pregnancy may have the highest risk of giving birth to babies with the condition, compared with women who become infected later in their pregnancies, researchers said.

"Our analysis strongly supports the hypothesis that Zika virus infection during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of microcephaly," study co-author Dr. Simon Cauchemez, of the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France, said in a statement.

However, the findings are based only on data from one six-month-long Zika outbreak in French Polynesia, and so it is not yet clear whether this estimate will also apply in other countries affected by the ongoing outbreak, he noted. [Zika Virus News: Complete Coverage Of The Outbreak]

In the study, researchers looked at the prevalence of microcephaly among babies born during or around the time of a Zika virus outbreak in French Polynesia that began in October 2013 and ended in April 2014. The researchers identified eight babies born with microcephaly during the 23-month study period, between September 2013 and July 2015.

Among these cases, seven of the infants were born during the four-month period between March 2014 and July 2014. The researchers estimated, based on their calculations, that the women who became infected with the virus in the first trimester of pregnancy had a higher risk of giving birth to babies with microcephaly, compared with women who became infected later in their pregnancies, according to the findings, published today (March 15) in the journal The Lancet.

"The finding that the highest risk of microcephaly was associated with infection in the first trimester of pregnancy is biologically plausible," because the first trimester is an important period for the development of a fetus' brain, Dr. Laura Rodrigues, of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, who was not involved in the new study, wrote in a related editorial published in the same journal.

But the finding that the risk of microcephaly is one in 100 (or 1 percent) among the babies born to women infected during the first trimester is lower than expected, the researchers said. That expectation is based on the risk of birth defects in babies born to women who had been infected with some other viruses, the investigators said. [Zika Prevention: Can Pregnant Women Safely Use Mosquito Repellants?]

For example, babies born to mothers who are infected during pregnancy with a common type of herpes virus called cytomegalovirus face a 13 percent risk of birth defects. And the risk of an infant having congenital rubella syndrome ranges from 38 to 100 percent if a mother is infected with rubella during her first trimester of pregnancy.

However, the percentage of people who become infected with these other viruses is normally much lower than the incidence of infections with the Zika virus during outbreaks, the researchers said. For example, only about 1 percent to 4 percent of pregnant women become infected with cytomegalovirus per year, the scientists said.

In comparison, during the Zika outbreak in French Polynesia, 66 percent of the population was infected, the researchers said. Therefore, the link between microcephaly and the Zika virus remains an important public health issue, they said.

Moreover, microcephaly is not the only birth defect that has been linked to the virus, said Dr. Gregory Kapinos, a neurointensivist at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York, who was not involved in the study.

"Severely small heads is only 'the tip of the iceberg,' as many other birth defects are now studied as potentially correlated with Zika's infection, too, increasing the burden of disability and devastation that these babies could be facing, if they survive," Kapinos told Live Science.

Follow Agata Blaszczak-Boxe on Twitter. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Originally published on Live Science.
Fairy circles, mysterious barren patches once known only in Namibia, have been discovered in Australia. And the discovery might help resolve the controversy over why fairy circles exist.

Fairy circles are regular patches of barren dirt arranged in a repeating hexagonal pattern. They've long been a flashpoint of controversy in the African country of Namibia, where researchers have postulated that they're the work of termites, that they're definitely not the work of termites, that they're caused by toxic underground gases or uneven distribution of soil nutrients. Researchers have even found that the pattern of Namibian fairy circles shares an uncanny resemblance to the pattern of skin cell organization.

Now, the Australian discovery of fairy circles bolsters another theory, according to ecological modeler Stephan Getzin of the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research in Germany. The fairy circles seem to be a self-perpetuating pattern caused by the competition for scarce water. [See Photos of the Fairy Circles Discovered in Australian Outback]

New circles

Getzin and his team had previously championed the water theory, arguing that fairy circles occur only in certain arid regions and that grasses often form strange striped or twisty growth patterns in areas where water is scarce.

A large fairy circle in Australia. (Image credit: Dr. Stephan Getzin)

The new discovery of fairy circles in Australia came courtesy of an Australian colleague of Getzin's, who sent Getzin an aerial photograph of the dry landscape around Newman, a small town in Western Australia's Pilbara region. This is flat, sunbaked terrain, where soil surface temperatures can reach a sizzling 167 degrees Fahrenheit (75 degrees Celsius), Getzin told Live Science.

The harsh conditions may be the reason fairy circles spread, Getzin and his colleagues reported Monday (March 14) in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In Australia, there was no correlation between termite or ant activity with the number of fairy circles or their size. And the termite and ant nests that were visible tended to be spaced in irregular clusters, while the fairy circles were remarkable regular.

Thirsty grass

The researchers methodically measured the fairy circles in three areas near Newman. They took soil samples, measured temperature and tracked how water infiltrated the soil. They analyzed aerial photographs and created computer simulations of the landscape.

(Image credit: Bronwyn Bell, Landgate/Government of Western Australia)

The Australian fairy circles occur on sandy soil topped with a hard clay crust, they found. Water essentially can't penetrate this crust, and instead runs off toward spots where plants have managed to take root. It's a beneficial feedback circle for those plants that survive on the edges of the circles, because they catch all the rainwater that rolls off the barren soil. Meanwhile, the barren spots stay bare because no small seedling can hope to take root there  the center of the circles are simply too hot and too hard-packed. Getzin and his colleagues argue that a similar situation occurs in Namibia, though the soil there drains water more efficiently and the uneven flow takes place underground instead of on the surface.

Other fairy circles may lie, undiscovered, in remote drylands, Getzin said.

"They are strongly confined to a narrow climatic envelope," based on rainfall, he told Live Science. "Hence, they occur not easily everywhere over huge areas, but if conditions are right, they could be found somewhere else," he said.

The new study is unlikely to completely put the controversy over the cause of fairy circles to bed, Getzin said. But it's a check in the water-scarcity column and a blow to the termite theories.

"I think [we] have just made an important step forward by showing that identical fairy circles to the Namibian ones can be found around the globe, without correlation to termite activity," he said.

Follow Stephanie Pappas on Twitter and Google+. Follow us @livescience, Facebook& Google+. Original article on Live Science.
The happiest country in the world is famous for its butter cookies, Lego bricks and fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen  it's Denmark, according to the 2016 World Happiness Report.

Denmark's top spot isn't exactly a surprise. The country ranked first in the 2013 World Happiness Report and third in the 2015 report. In fact, most of the top 10 happiest countries have retained their spots from last year, "although there has been some swapping of places," the new report said.

The new report comes out just before World Happiness Day on March 20, and was released at the Bank of Italy during a conference on happiness and subjective well-being today (March 16). [See the Top 20 and Bottom 20 Happiest Countries of 2016]

Denmark scored a happiness rating of 7.526 out of a possible 10 points, with Switzerland (7.509), Iceland (7.501) and Norway (7.498) close on its heels. The United States (7.104) placed 13th  up two spots from last year, when it ranked 15th out of 158 countries.

Promote well-being

Chart showing top and bottom 20 countries ranked by happiness index. (Image credit: by Karl Tate, Infographics Artist)

In an effort to foster sustainable development, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commissioned the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) in 2012, with goals such as ending world hunger and poverty, ensuring healthy lives, and promoting well-being. The network of leaders from academia, governments and the private sector published their first happiness report in 2012 and every year after that except for 2014 because at first the report was published with18-month intervals.

The 2016 Happiness Report includes the rankings of 157 countries based on survey data from 2013 to 2015. Each country had an average sample size of 3,000 people who answered questions pertaining to six variables: gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, generosity and absence of corruption.

The top 10 countries are "all small or medium-sized Western industrial countries, of which seven are in Western Europe," according to the report. Surprisingly, the top 10 countries averaged a happiness score of 7.4  more than double the 3.4 average of the bottom 10 countries, according to the report.

The least-happy countries include Benin (3.484), Afghanistan (3.360), Togo (3.303), Syria (3.069) and Burundi (2.905).

Ministry of happiness

The rankings are telling, as they account for more than just the economics of a country, said Jeffrey Sachs, director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University and co-editor of the report. [5 Weird Ways to Measure Happiness]

"Measuring self-reported happiness and achieving well-being should be on every nation's agenda as they begin to pursue the Sustainable Development Goals," Sachs said in a statement. "Indeed, the goals themselves embody the very idea that human well-being should be nurtured through a holistic approach that combines economic, social and environmental objectives."

In fact, five governments (Bhutan, Ecuador, Scotland, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela) have appointed "ministers of happiness," according to the report. However, it's unclear how much these ministers have helped to boost happiness. Though Venezuela created the position in 2013, the country dropped from the 20th- to 23rd-happiest country between 2013 and 2015, according to CNN.

Venezuela isn't the only country to move up or down the blissful ladder. The authors of the report compared data from 2005-2007 with that from 2013-2015, and found that out of 126 countries, 55 showed significant increases in happiness while 45 showed significant decreases. The remaining 26 countries had no significant change, the researchers found.

"The rankings show both consistency and change," said study co-editor John Helliwell, a professor emeritus of economics at the University of British Columbia. "The consistency at the top reflects mainly that life evaluations are based on life circumstances that usually evolve slowly, and that are all at high levels in the top countries.

"The year-to-year changes are also moderated by the averaging of data from three years of surveys in order to provide large sample sizes," he added. "However, when there have been long-lasting changes in the quality of life, they have led to large changes in life-evaluation levels and rankings, as shown by the many countries with large gains or losses from 2005-2007 to 2013-2015."

Overall, average happiness worldwide is 5.1, the researchers found. They added that people tend to be happier in societies that have more equal levels of happiness among its people.

Follow Laura Geggel on Twitter @LauraGeggel. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.
The sun is captured in a "starburst" mode over Earth's horizon by one of the Expedition 36 crew members aboard the International Space Station, as the orbital outpost was above a point in southwestern Minnesota on May 21, 2013. (Image cropped.)

Rush Holt is CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and executive publisher of Science and its family of journals. Chris Field is director of the Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology and a professor for interdisciplinary environmental studies at Stanford University. The authors contributed this article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

Multiple lines of well-established evidence point to the reality of human-caused climate change. The impacts are now apparent  and range from rising sea levels to increased weather extremes, including more severe storms, droughts, heat waves and wildfires. In response, the world's nations came together late last year at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Paris with a commitment to fix the problem.

Yet, back in the United States, Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas  as Chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee  continues to call for "all documents and communications" related to research by a team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that seemed to debunk the notion of a global warming slowdown, or "pause." Such efforts, which came up again when NOAA Administrator Kathryn Sullivan testified March 16 before the House Subcommittee on Environment, are little more than a red herring. In other words, they distract Americans from the primary point: that climate change is real , it's happening now and it's caused mostly by human activities such as fossil-fuel burning and deforestation.

This is not the first time climate researchers have had to cope with ill-considered requests for emails and other documents. When climate scientist Michael Mann, now at Pennsylvania State University, was at the University of Virginia, he withstood then-Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's sweeping demand for documents regarding his climate research. The Supreme Court of Virginia eventually ruled in Mann's favor. There also was controversy when Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., sent letters to seven universities, seeking information on funding for several scientists who have been skeptical of, or have made controversial remarks about, climate change. He later acknowledged that he was overreaching in requesting the scientists' communications.

The U.S. National Climate Assessment shows that summers are getting hotter, heat waves are lasting longer, and weather is getting more extreme. (Image credit: By Karl Tate, Infographics Artist)

Climate in context

The science on climate change is convincing. In its Fifth Assessment Report, published in 2013, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that warming between 1998 and 2012 was "around one-third to one-half" less rapid than over the period from 1951 to 2012.

Those who choose to ignore the overwhelming evidence of climate change have used that statement to argue that global warming has stopped, that something other than greenhouse gases is at work or that climate scientists have a poor understanding of their subject.

The IPCC was careful to acknowledge, however, that any trend inferred from only a few years of observations is tenuous, largely because natural variations like El Nino can have an outsize influence. [Unilever CEO: Why Sustainability Is No Longer a Choice (Op-Ed )]

Indeed, selecting 1998 as a starting year automatically makes trends for the next few years look small because 1998 was an unusually warm El Nino year. Still, the IPCC was frank in making the best available interpretation of the data available  data that have been examined, analyzed and validated by research teams around the world.

But based on newly available information, one of the teams that analyze global temperature data realized that some of the temperatures could be made just slightly more accurate.

The refinements to the temperature record are subtle but important, like adding the final buff to a freshly waxed car. However, an understanding of our planet and the way it is changing improves with each refinement, even if it is small.

Science at work

Consistent with their responsibility as scientists, the team that developed the refined temperature time series  Thomas Karl and colleagues at NOAA  described their results in a paper in the journal Science last June and argued that the improved temperature record no longer shows evidence of a slowdown in global warming. Such revisions are part of normal scientific discourse, and the government-funded scientists who pursued them should not be subjected to legislative subpoenas.

The Science paper was part of a large effort by Karl and others at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, as well as climate analytics specialist James McMahon of LMI Consulting, to develop the most accurate possible record of the Earth's surface temperature, based on thermometers.

Developing an accurate record involves many refinements, as Karl's team has done, to adjust for factors like the growth of cities around weather stations, increases in the number of stations on land, and changes in the techniques for measuring ocean temperatures. These changes include buckets thrown overboard (where measurements were very spotty), to engine intakes (which tended to report temperatures a bit too high), to automated buoys (with greatly expanded coverage and accuracy).

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Since the publication of the paper by Karl and colleagues, additional groups have examined the data. Bala Rajaratnam and colleagues at Stanford, writing in the journal Climatic Change (opens in new tab) last September, took a sophisticated statistical approach. Looking at the same data set as the NOAA team, the Stanford researchers found even stronger evidence against a global warming pause. And in February, a team led by climate modeler John Fyfe, of the University of Victoria in Canada, again considered the same data set. In the journal Nature Climate Change, Fyfe and colleagues noted that recent warming, while clearly continuing, has been slower than many models have predicted.

So, working independently, several research teams have converged on almost identical results for warming over the past century at the global scale, but with periodic fine-tuning as additional information becomes available.

This is the way science is supposed to work. Asking tough questions and re-examining evidence make up the essence of the scientific method. Scholarly research papers undergo multiple rounds of scrutiny by independent peer reviewers, and the Karl paper was no exception. The more recent papers provide a classic illustration of the way science progresses. Successive studies take new perspectives and use new techniques to reanalyze data and refine interpretations. [February Blows Away Global Heat Record ]

Making the newly corrected and updated global surface temperature data readily accessible to other scientists, as NOAA did, is a critical step in that process. Rather than subjecting the NOAA scientists to the threat of a "compulsory process," policymakers should applaud them for advancing scientific knowledge and promoting transparency in research publication.

Don't be fooled by red herrings. Human-caused climate change is real. Attacking the integrity of scientists will not further our understanding of what's happening to our planet. Similarly, efforts to undermine research findings for ideological reasons are a confusing disservice to the public. Policymakers certainly have a responsibility to exercise appropriate oversight, but thinly veiled political attempts to discredit researchers can have a chilling effect on the scientific discovery that is our best hope for improving people's lives.

Follow all of the Expert Voices issues and debates  and become part of the discussion  on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. This version of the article was originally published on Live Science.
Giant craters on the ocean floor in the Barents Sea hold secrets about ancient methane, not the Bermuda Triangle. The color indicates the depth of the craters, the purple area being the deepest at approximately 118 feet (36 meters).

There's a saying that any publicity is good publicity. But scientists whose discoveries inspire misleading headlines would probably beg to differ  like the researchers whose recent description of deep-sea craters was hailed by many news outlets as an explanation for mysterious disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle.

The scientists suspected that the craters were caused by methane explosions on the ocean floor that occurred after the last ice age, about 11,700 years ago.

A number of media outlets took that to mean that similar explosive methane activity in the Bermuda Triangle region of the Atlantic Ocean could be blamed for unexplained disappearances. Since the inexplicable 1945 disappearance of "Flight 19"  five U.S. military aircraft  a number of ships and airplanes containing hundreds of people have been reported missing after passing through or over waters in the Triangle, which is bounded by points in Bermuda, Florida and Puerto Rico. [Photos: Lost in the Bermuda Triangle]

In an abstract published online March 2016 following its submission to the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly, the scientists detailed a number of craters in the Barents Sea, an area in the Arctic Ocean with a basin shared by Norway and Russia.

The craters are distributed around an area measuring about 39 square miles (100 square kilometers), Karin Andreassen, one of the researchers, said in a statement. The scars on the seafloor were quite large  measuring as much as 0.6 miles (1 km) wide and up to 44 yards (40 meters) deep.

These craters likely were formed by gas "blowouts" from the seabed, when methane in the form of ice thawed as the last ice age waned and the Earth warmed, said Andreassen, a professor of marine geology and geophysics at The Arctic University of Norway.

Fortunately for geoscientists, those blasts would have sent seismic waves through Earth. High-resolution, 3D visualizations of seismic data from the craters obtained in 2015 allowed the researchers to investigate the "fingerprints" left behind by the explosions that shaped the craters, providing a clearer picture of how violent methane blasts could have left their mark in the rocky ocean floor.

But "blowouts" of the type that shaped the craters were particular to that period in Earth's history; they were triggered by geologic processes that followed roughly 100,000 years when much of Earth was covered by ice sheets.

"Conditions during the last ice age cannot be compared with what we see today," Andreassen said. "We are not making any links to the Bermuda Triangle."

Follow Mindy Weisberger on Twitterand Google+. Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.
For people who've had a stroke, a treatment that involves applying an electric current to the brain may help boost recovery of their mobility, a small clinical trial found.

Stroke is the most common cause of severe, long-term disability. Rehabilitation training, which helps patients re-learn how to use their bodies, can help some patients recover their ability to move. But it is often costly and time-consuming.

The new study looked at 24 patients; each had experienced a stroke that affected his or her ability move a hand and arm. Half of the participants were picked, at random, to receive nine days of rehab paired with a brain-stimulation technique known as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). This method uses electrodes placed on the scalp to deliver constant, low electrical currents to specific areas of the brain. The other patients received a sham control treatment; they were fitted with electrodes but did not receive tDCS.

Compared to the control group, patients who received brain stimulation and rehab were better able to use their hands and arms for movements such as lifting, reaching and grasping objects, the researchers found. [10 Technologies That Will Transform Your Life]

"It was hard work for the patients. They had to come into the lab every day for two weeks," study co-lead researcher Heidi Johansen-Berg, a neuroscientist at the University of Oxford in England, told Live Science.

But the findings showed that "we can speed up stroke rehab with brain stimulation," Johansen-Berg said. "If we could routinely add brain stimulation to rehabilitation, this could help ensure that each patient reaches their true potential for recovery."

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the patients' brains revealed that these benefits, which lasted for at least three months, were associated with higher levels of activity in the brain's motor cortex (which controls voluntary movements) during movement, as well as an increased amount of brain matter in the motor cortex.

Previous research showed that tDCS could boost motor learning in healthy individuals. This led scientists to explore whether tDCS might also help reinforce patients' rehab training, the researchers said.

"The training was exhausting,like being in the gym every day, but it was huge fun," a study participant named Jan said in a statement. "Even after the first session, I felt as if I could do more, even though I was knackered. That made me go back every day, and I found it easier and easier."

The stimulation felt like amild tingle or a static electric shock, Jan said. "The worst part was that my head itched afterwards.

"I have definitely improved and benefited," Jan added. "People who haven't seen me say, 'Wow  you can move better now.'"

"For many patients after stroke, there is minimal opportunity to regain lost functions; tDCS has the potential to make the brain more plastic and so more responsive to treatment," said Marom Bikson, a biomedical engineer at City College of New York who was not involved in the study. "This is a well-controlled clinical trial toward that goal."

In the future, the researchers would like to conduct a larger clinical trial "to understand who benefits most or least from this approach," Johansen-Berg said. [5 Amazing Technologies That Are Revolutionizing Biotech]

How safe is this kind of brain stimulation? "This is an important question, as although this method is noninvasive  that is, we don't have to open up the skull  we are putting electrical current into people's brains, and this is not something that should be done lightly," Johansen-Berg said. "We need to be careful about how much current is being applied, and for how long.

"As this type of stimulation can boost learning, it could potentially be used as a cognitive enhancer in healthy people," Johansen-Berg said. "However, there is much still to be understood about how it works and what its long-term effects are, so we should be cautious before progressing to widespread use of the approach."

The new findings are published online today (March 16) in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Follow Charles Q. Choi on Twitter @cqchoi. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Originally published on Live Science.
The Tully monster likely used its tail to propel it forward in the water.

In 1958, amateur fossil collector Francis Tully found a prehistoric creature so strange that even scientists called it a monster. The beast has perplexed researchers ever since, with some calling the so-called "Tully monster" a worm and others classifying it as a shell-less snail.

But now, an analysis of more than 1,200 Tully monster (Tullimonstrum gregarium) fossils has uncovered the monster's true identity. It's a 307-million-year-old jawless fish, a creature in the lineage leading to modern-day lampreys, the researchers found.

"It's a very unusual animal," study co-author Scott Lidgard, curator of invertebrate paleontology at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, told Live Science. [See Images of the Bizarre Tully Monster]

The roughly foot-long (0.3 meters) monster had a narrow body with eyes like a hammerhead's on the top of its head and a long, slender snout ending in a toothy jaw.

This specimen shows a clear view of the Tully monster's eyes (right), proboscis (middle) and mouth (left). (Image credit: Nicole Karpus)

Scientists formally described it in 1966, and in 1989, Illinois designated it as the official state fossil. But experts still couldn't make heads or tails of it. They couldn't even place it in a phylum, a big-picture category that includes about 30 broad subcategories, and explains the origins of almost every living thing on Earth.

Researchers have found thousands of Tully monster specimens in Illinois over the years. Many of them were digitally scanned into The Field Museum's electronic database, so scientists had plenty of samples to examine while undertaking the new study.

"Basically, nobody knew what it was, study co-author Derek Briggs, a professor of geology and geophysics at Yale University and a curator of invertebrate paleontology at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, said in a statement. "The fossils are not easy to interpret, and they vary quite a bit. Some people thought it might be this bizarre, swimming mollusk. We decided to throw every possible analytical technique at it."

The researchers combed through the database and also used synchrotron elemental mapping, a technique that uses a powerful light source to determine the chemistry within a fossil.

Although soft-bodied, the Tully monster is a vertebrate that likely used its tail to propel itself forward in the water. Moreover, analyses showed that "the monsters are related to the jawless fishes that are still around today by a unique combination of traits, including primitive gills [and] rows of teeth," Paul Mayer, The Field Museum's fossil invertebrates collections manager, said in the statement.

It also has "traces of a notochord, the flexible rodlike structure along the back that's present in chordate animals  including vertebrates like us," Mayer said.

The big-eyed and pointy-toothed fish was likely a predator, said study lead author Victoria McCoy, who conducted the research as a Yale graduate student and is now at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. However, it's unclear when the animal first developed and when it went extinct, she said.

The study was published online today (March 16) in the journal Nature (opens in new tab).

Follow Laura Geggel on Twitter @LauraGeggel. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.
A controversial circus which had come under fire from animal rights protestors in Granard at the weekend appears to have been well received by the public.

'Circus Belly Wien arrived into the north Longford town last Wednesday ahead of a planned three day showcase on the grounds of Granard Mart.

Circus Watch Ireland called on the people in Granard to boycott the Dutch Circus Belly Wien/Renz.

In a statement, Circus Watch Ireland said that this circus, banned in its home country of Holland since September last year, has moved operations to Ireland with up to sixty animals in tow, including elephants and giraffes.

There were concerns too from the management of Granard Mart.

A contract between both parties had been signed in the lead up to last week's planned shows.

However, that agreement was thrown into doubt last Wednesday when a stand off between circus representatives and Granard Mart officials resulted in the gardai having to be called.

While Gardai confirmed they attended the scene, a Garda spokesperson told the Longford Leader that no public order incidents were reported and no investigation has been launched.

Speaking to the Leader in the aftermath of those events as Circus organisers prepared to pull out of town, Mart manager Charlotte Kearney said she just wanted to draw line under the controversy.

We had big question marks over their (circus) insurance certificate, she said.

Ms Kearney also claimed agreements concerning the circus's arrival onto the Mart's grounds had also been breached.

The shows were for the 11th, 12th and 13th (March) but they (circus) pulled into the yard on March 9 when a sale was just over and cattle trucks were still in the yard, she said.

Ms Kearney however, conceded the circus seemed to have gone down well with locals.

They (circus) did get a certain amount of support and it did look like it was well supported on Saturday and Sunday evening though there were a few protestors there on Friday night, she said.

Local councillor PJ Reilly said the circus attracted sizeable crowds from the greater Granard area.

It did go down well and there was a good crowd in to see it.

Cllr Reilly also said any fears over animal cruelty were alleviated over the course of the weekend.

As far as I am concerned and from the reports I have heard back, it was quite successful.

Fodder and silage was delivered as soon as they (circus) arrived while bedding and straw was also provided, he added.

However, animal rights activists continued to call on local people to boycott the three day spectacle.

Attempts to establish contact with representatives from Circus Belly Wien proved unsucessful this week.

It is believed that the circus has now left the area.
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A screen shot of Shaybat al Hukamas Twitter feed.

An al Qaeda media operative known as Shaybat al Hukama returned to Twitter on Feb. 15. Hukamas account has been shuttered several times, only to reappear under a new handle after each suspension. Hukama has used his social media accounts to provide new information about al Qaedas operations in the past. And this occasion has been no different.

Hukama has tweeted clues concerning the whereabouts of Saif al Adel, a senior al Qaeda leader who has long been wanted by the US government for his alleged role in the 1998 US Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.

On Feb. 25, Hukama wrote that Al Adel (seen on the right) will be one of the reasons why Russia is defeated, just as Khattab helped cause the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Khattab is a legendary Saudi jihadist who was backed by al Qaeda and organized Chechen jihadists to commit attacks in Russia.

Hukama did not explicitly say that Al Adel is in Syria, but that may be the implication of his tweet. Al Nusrah Front, al Qaedas official branch in Syria, is battling Bashar al Assads regime, which is backed by Russian forces. President Vladimir Putin deployed Russian soldiers to Syria last year and he recently announced that they will begin to withdraw.

Al Qaeda has sent a number of veteran figures to Syria to help lead Al Nusrah in its fight against Assad. If Hukamas tweet means Al Adel has relocated to Syria, then the Egyptian jihadist is one of them. Other published reports have similarly placed Al Adel in Syria.

Al Adel and four other al Qaeda leaders were reportedly released from custody in Iran last year. The details are murky, but press accounts indicated that the five jihadists were exchanged for an Iranian diplomat who had been kidnapped in Yemen. [See LWJ report, Senior al Qaeda leaders reportedly released from custody in Iran.]

Al Qaeda released several publications by Al Adel last year. The writings were apparently intended to reintroduce Al Adel to al Qaedas rank and file. One of the works that was posted online deals with guerrilla warfare and revolutions. Al Adel has a reputation in jihadist circles as a sharp military strategist, and the release of the pamphlet was likely intended to expose his thinking to a wider audience.

Unlike the Islamic State, al Qaeda has pooled its resources with other rebel groups in the fight against Assads regime. Early last year, Al Nusrah and another al Qaeda-linked group, Ahrar al Sham, cofounded the Jaysh al Fath (Army of Conquest) alliance, which quickly overran the northwestern Idlib province. It is possible that Al Adel is now helping to guide Al Nusrahs guerrilla warfare strategy, including al Qaedas relations with other Syrian rebel organizations.

In late August 2015, Al Adels eulogy of Abu Khalid al Suri, an al Qaeda veteran who served as both a senior figure in Ahrar al Sham and as Ayman al Zawahiris representative in Syria, was also released. Al Suri was killed in February 2014 by fighters dispatched by the Islamic State, al Qaedas jihadist rival. Al Suri was assigned by Zawahiri to broker a truce between Abu Bakr al Baghdadis organization and Al Nusrah Front, but his efforts failed. Al Suri was one of the Islamic States harshest critics at the time of his demise.

In his eulogy, Al Adel described al Suri as the lion of Jihad Wahl, a training camp in pre-9/11 Afghanistan. Al Adel remembered al Suris time training the youths, helping them to build their bodies and teaching them target practice. Al Adel also reminisced about al Suris time yelling at the new recruits with his peculiar voice. Years later, al Suri would serve the same role in Ahrar al Sham, training the organizations new members. A video released by Ahrar al Sham in July 2015 included a short snippet of al Suri instructing Ahrars recruits. And Ahrar al Shams own eulogy in 2014 confirmed that al Suri supervised its training camps.

Al Adels eulogy contained an implicit criticism of the Islamic State, as he wondered who could possibly dare to kill a sheikh among the sheikhs of the mujahideen, meaning al Suri. Al Adel described al Suris killers as having twisted and perverted thoughts.

Other leadership details

Shaybat al Hukama is a nom de guerre meaning the eldest of the wise. The alias is likely a tribute to Ayman al Zawahiri, as al Qaedas overall leader is often referred to as the wise man of the Muslim nation. The pseudonym is also intended to convey the jihadists familiarity with al Qaedas thinking at the highest levels. [For more on Shaybat al Hukama see LWJ report, Well-connected jihadist tweets, then deletes, explanation of al Qaedas oath to Mullah Omar.]

Indeed, Hukama has tweeted statements attributed to Zawahiri. On Feb. 21, for instance, he posted a letter by Zawahiri discussing the appointment of Abu Ubaydah Ahmad Umar as the emir of Shabaab, al Qaedas branch in East Africa. Abu Ubaydah became Shabaabs emir in September 2014. Hukama said the letter included the recommendations of the wise man, meaning Zawahiri, to the mujahideens emir in Somalia (Abu Ubaydah).

In the letter, Zawahiri approved of Abu Ubaydahs appointment, saying he is now in charge of preaching and jihad in East Africa. Zawahiri urged Ubaydah to establish the sharia court system and enforce its rule over all and to use shura [consultation] as the basis and foundation of his work.

Contrary to the widespread belief that al Qaeda doesnt seek to conquer territory, Zawahiri referred to Ubaydahs duties as a ruler in East Africa.

Ubaydah should exercise patience and forgiveness, since both are great supports to the emir and wali [governor] in their respective territories, Zawahiri wrote. The al Qaeda leader also enumerated Abu Ubaydahs duties, explaining that he should strive to provide for the mujahideen brothersand their families, care for the widows and orphans of martyrs and prisoners, ensure that the schools are strongholds for the jihadist ideology, and make certain that the preachers and scholars have decent lives so they can focus on proselytizing.

In other posts, Hukama has underscored the close relationship between Taliban emir Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour and al Qaedas senior leaders. For example, one of his tweets included a passage in which Mansour praised Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the founder of al Qaeda in Iraq, for their opposition to the West.

Hukama has also explained that al Qaedas leadership is no longer confined to South Asia, as the group now has senior operatives in the Khorasan (meaning Afghanistan and Pakistan), Yemen and Syria. Zawahiris man noted that this makes it more difficult for the US to hunt them down, a fact he was all too happy to trumpet on social media.

Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for FDD's Long War Journal.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
The Islamic State West Africa (ISWA), formerly known as Boko Haram, killed more than 20 people in a double suicide attack today at a mosque in northern Nigeria. Both suicide bombers were women. ISWA has now used women in 105 suicide attacks in Nigeria and neighboring countries since June 2014, according to data compiled by The Long War Journal.

Todays suicide bombings took place in the village of Ummarari near the city of Maiduguri in northern Nigeria, where ISWAs insurgency has raged for more than a half a decade. According to the Nigerian Army, the first female suicide bomber entered a mosque and detonated her explosives. The second suicide bomber triggered her bomb about 50 meters outside of the mosque just minutes after the first explosion, Vanguard reported.

The second suicide attack likely was targeting first responders rendering aid to those wounded in the initial blast. This is a tactic frequently used by jihadist groups, including the Islamic State and al Qaeda, throughout the world. Officials said that 22 people were killed and 18 more were wounded.

ISWA suicide bombers have targeted a wide range of civilian targets that includes mosques, schools, refugee camps, markets, and government buildings, as well as military installations and security checkpoints.

Despite a coordinated military offensive by Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon  which has targeted ISWA strongholds in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region  the jihadist group has maintained the ability to launch organized attacks and assaults throughout the region. Many of these include the use of women and/or girls as suicide bombers.

The majority of the suicide attacks involving women have occurred in Nigeria. At least 11 have occurred in neighboring Cameroon, though, and three or more took place in southern Chad in the Lake Chad region.

The ISWAs deployment of women and girls as suicide bombers is a common tactic in Nigeria over the past two years. The groups first known instance of using a female suicide bomber was on June 8, 2014, when a middle-aged woman on a motorcycle detonated near a Nigerian military barracks in Gombe, killing one policeman. In one of the deadliest attacks, on Nov. 27, 2014, two women killed 78 people and wounded scores more at a market in Maiduguri.

The use of women make it easier for jihadist groups to carry out suicide attacks, as explosives are often easier to hide, and men are less likely to search women due to cultural sensitivities. The ages of the bombers have ranged from just nine-years-old to middle-aged. Many of the women and girls used in these bombings are likely forced into committing the attacks, however, some could be the widows or daughters of killed fighters. In Russias southern Caucasus region, several widows of killed fighters, dubbed Black Widows, have conducted various suicide bombings in the region. Despite efforts by regional countries to make it tougher for ISWA to use females, by banning the niqab (face veil), the jihadist group will likely continue to exploit females in its attacks in West Africa.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of The Long War Journal. Caleb Weiss is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
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Adler Thermae Introduces New Way to Tackle Stress



HAKI stretch & relax (massage focusing on head, neck and shoulders; a vibrating effect is achieved using specific pulling, pressure and stretching actions)



HAKI sacral (focusing on the body's mid-section, particularly the buttocks and back of the thighs; again, a vibrating effect is achieved using specific pulling, pressure and stretching actions)



HAKI flow (using two elastic ropes, the neck, shoulders and back are gently stretched and rotated while in water leading to improved body alignment and a feeling of elongation; particularly popular with those who love water and its healing powers).





HAKI sacral deluxe (specially designed for women, the treatment begins at the neck and leads along the back, with special techniques employed to ease and discharge tensions via targeted rhythmic and vibrating pressure; the treatment activates and enriches the body with the energetic fire of life)



HAKI purna (a full body treatment, during which your body is brought back into balance from head to toe, using HAKI movements; the busy person of today, who is desk-bound or whose muscles shorten on account of endurance sports or the demands of a physical job, will feel stretched and energised by this treatment).



Add in the fact that we spend so much time in front of a computer, tablet or smart phone, and it is not surprising that lots of us suffer serious tension in our neck and shoulder, leading down into the back; tensions that can cause all sorts of other ailments, including headaches, lack of concentration and insomnia.Adler Thermae; HAKI Flow ADLER THERMAE Spa & Relax Resort in southern Tuscany is introducing a new treatment in 2016 to help ease, if not solve, this modern dilemma. The HAKI Method has been developed by Austrian therapist Harald Kitz to help release the tensions in our body through a range of special massage techniques paired with rhythmic vibrations, which re-balance the nervous and muscular systems giving the body a chance to regenerate.The multiple award-winning HAKI Method focuses on the head, neck and shoulders, releasing tension from these areas in order for the whole body to gain new energy and return to a state of wellbeing. HAKI treatments, which are only carried out by specially trained therapists, can take place both on a massage table or in water.There are three core treatments:Two additional treatments are:In addition, guests are given exercises to do at home afterwards, so that the effects continue long after the treatment has taken place, bringing the body renewed energy and peace of mind.Overall, the HAKI Method supports general health and prevention by optimizing the guest's physical and mental power and agility. By focusing on the head and back, headaches and back pain are alleviated, with tension being released and muscles strengthened. The cardiovascular system is also stimulated and the immune system reinforced.Adler Thermae is offering a four-night HAKI treatment package, which costs from Euros 752 (approx 585) per person sharing a double on a half-board accommodation and includes one 50-minute HAKI treatment of your choice; this package is only valid till 21 April.Alternatively, individual HAKI treatments can be booked at a cost of Euros 87 (approx 68) for 50 minutes, with HAKI Purna, which lasts 75 minutes, costing Euros 125 (approx 98).Visit www.adler-thermae.com for more details; bookings can be made by telephone +39 0577 889001, e-mail info@adler-thermae.com or via the website.
Santa Fe Announces New Museum Exhibits For Spring

The new shows will highlight the past, present and future through photography, miniatures, watercolor paintings, exotic jewelry and more. Here's a selection:In 2009, photographer Alan Pearlman set out on a quest to capture the soul of Santa Fe in a series of staged portraits. The exhibit will feature a selection from 90 portraits, aiming to reveal a moment in The City Different's' history, focusing on the ways that clothing and settings speak to identities and occupations. Visit www.nmhistorymuseum.org Every year at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture's Native Treasures: Indian Arts Festival, the museum chooses to honor an artist as a MIAC Living Treasure. This year, Dan Namingha is being honored. Namingha was born and raised on the Hopi reservation and his art is inspired by the Southwest region and subjects within his culture. For the past five decades his work has continuously evolved as he has refined his studio practice by experimenting with different mediums and techniques. Namingha's art has been extremely well received on both the national and international art scene at numerous exhibitions. Visit http://www.miaclab.org Anne Noggle was a woman of many talents, working as a pilot, photographer, curator and professor. This exhibit features more than 35 photographs and will reintroduce the artist to the public ten years after her death and include recent additions to the museum's holding of nearly 100 of her prints. Visit www.nmartmuseum.org After 30 years, the beloved Morris Miniature Circus returns to the Museum of International Folk Art. The Morris Circus was built over the course of 40 years by W.J Morris and is modeled after a 1930s railroad circus, when the circus would come to town by rail, set up in a day and pack up to the next venue. The collection consists of an estimated 100,000 pieces made through a variety of techniques from woodcarving and painting to clay modeling and mold making. Visit www.internationalfolkart.org This exhibit will showcase the watercolors created by Georgia O'Keeffe during the years she lived in Canyon, Texas (1916-1918), a period of radical innovation and the time when O'Keeffe's commitment to abstraction was firmly established. The exhibition will analyze the unique situation that fostered her abstractions at the intersection of her disciplined art practice and her allegiance to the techniques of her mentor, Arthur Wesley Dow. Visit www.okeeffemuseum.org
Every new Slack user gets a welcome greeting from the messaging apps Slackbot, but thats just the tip of the iceberg in terms of bot-enabled functionalities that Slack wants to add in the next five years.

Were trying to make some bots, but were really about facilitating bots by other companies, Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield told the audience during his South By Southwest panel on Tuesday.

Butterfield revealed that the average Slack user spends two hours and 20 minutes a day on the platform, not just with the app open, but actively sending messages or uploading files. According to the CEO, utilizing Slacks third-party bots for ordering office supplies, booking travel, or simply asking when a coworker is coming back from vacation makes employees feel 32 percent more productive during the workday.

These bots wouldnt make sense as part of email, or a Wiki page, or a task manager program, Butterfield added, claiming that Slack has the potential to become the go-to communication platform for bot-enabled functionalities and third-party integrations. This year alone, Slack launched a Skype integration and video conference calling.

These bots wouldnt make sense as part of email, or a Wiki page, or a task manager program.

Slacks 5-year plan is to seamlessly integrate a suite of third-party integrations and become the Windows of bot applications, Butterfield said.

Slack might end up resembling a service more along the lines of WeChat, the app that has gained a massive audience in China by becoming a one-stop shop for messaging, photo-sharing, mobile gaming, and even online bill-paying.

I love the shirt Im wearing, but I would never install the clothing stores app, Butterfield said. There are way more apps than we could ever download. I wish, though, that it was like some of these Chinese apps so I could message the store about buying another one if I cant tell which one it is from their catalogue.

Slack is not the only company interested in bringing more functionality to its messaging app. Facebook has been deploying new features in its own Messenger, like placing voice calls, requesting Uber rides, and making Venmo-style payments. While Messenger is geared toward consumers, Slack is focused on work messaging (for now). However, Butterfield acknowledged growing competition from Facebook. In January, the social network launched Facebook at Work, an internal collaboration platform with well-known social features.

Butterfield noted that this competition from bigger tech players could be a motivating factor behind the company seeking a new round of funding. However, the CEO did not confirm the recent rumors that Slack was in talks to raise between $150 and $300 million in financing. If it did raise that much money, Slack would be valued at around $4 billion. Butterfield did say that given the option, he would choose to keep Slack an independent company.

If there was ever a company to take all the waywith its success so far and the potential for the futurethis ones it, Butterfield said. Previously, he was a co-founder at Flickr, now owned by Yahoo. Earlier this month, news surfaced that Microsoft was looking to acquire Slack for $8 billion, but ultimately nixed the idea and invested that money into Skype.

Siding with Apple on privacy and security

The Slack CEO also addressed a recent string of incidents where internal work conversations in the app have been made public either through media leaks or court orders. Despite these incidents, Butterfield still believes that Slack is a more secure method of communicating sensitive information than, say, text messages.

We have had companies conducting business over text messages, and [in the case of a legal situation] wouldnt you prefer to hand over just your workplace messages in Slack and keep texts private, Butterfield said. He reminded the audience of the sexual discrimination lawsuit at Tinder that was substantiated by personal text messages.

Butterfield even mentioned Macworld contributor Glenn Fleishman and his idea to potentially prevent Slack convos from being leaked. Glenn tweeted that Slack could implement embedding a unique pixel to see every time a message had been screenshot. However, the CEO said that Slack is not considering such feature.

@romanmars Wait till Slack embeds unique invisible steganographic pixel patterns  Glenn Fleishman (@GlennF) March 14, 2016

When asked about Apples recent privacy turmoil with the FBI, Butterfield said that Slack had filed an amicus brief in support of Apple. Slack joins other tech companies, like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, in offering public support for Tim Cook.

I dont agree with the government compelling Apple to do that kind of work, he said. Given all the things the NSA has done in the past, it seems well within the bounds [to hack into Syed Farooks iPhone]. This seems like a cherry-picked case to get public sympathy.

Butterfield pointed out that because Slack is an internal communication platform, its inherently more secure. The company has no plans to create a product intended for external messaging.

[Opening it up] makes it more susceptible to things like spamming, phishing, hacking, and excessive LinkedIn requests, he said.
Apple managed to keep its cool on Tuesday when replying to the governments last, rather incendiary, briefing. In its reply to Judge Pym, Apple laid out its legal arguments for refusing to comply with the FBIs request for assistance in breaking into the iPhone 5c of San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook.

Apple also vigorously defended itself against the governments claims that the company made iOS more secure in a deliberate attempt to thwart law enforcement, or as a marketing decision, even submitting supplemental declarations from Craig Federighi and a senior director of worldwide advertising. Itll be interesting to see what issues are emphasized at the hearing, because right now it doesnt seem like Apple and the Department of Justice see eye to eye on, well, pretty much anything.

Heres a summary of Apples brief, which will be its last word before the first hearing, scheduled for March 22 at 1pm PST.

The All Writs Act is inappropriate

The courts order for Apple to create a new version of iOS that would be easier for the FBI to crack was issued under the All Writs Act, a law first passed in the late 18th century. This act allows courts to issue warrants that arent authorized by more specific laws. But in this case, Apple argues, there is a more specific law called CALEA that cant be stretched to fit the governments request. Apple also argues that Congress had a chance to pass even more specific legislation, but declined to act.

Basically, Apple says the government is trying to use the All Writs Act to authorize anything the government wants that isnt aleady on the books as being illegal.

The government attempts to rewrite history by portraying the [All Writs] Act as an all-powerful magic wand rather than the limited procedural tool that it is. According to the government, short of kidnapping or breaking an express law, the courts can order private parties to do virtually anything the Justice Department and FBI can dream up. The Founders would be appalled.

Nobody but the FBI thinks this is a good idea

While Apples brief focuses on the law, it doesnt ignore the broader context of the encryption debate. This is bigger than the FBI and Apple disagreeing about if and how to break into Farooks iPhone, in other words, and even top officials that used to work for the government can see the risk.

Indeed, the Justice Department and FBI are asking this Court to adopt their position even though numerous current and former national security and intelligence officials flatly disagree with them, reads Apples filing. It goes on to quote several from the community, including former NSA and CIA Director Michael Hayden, who said, America is more secureAmerica is more safewith unbreakable end-to-end encryption.

The filing also points out that if Apple is forced to weaken its own encryption, real criminals will just seek out other encryption tools. It quotes FBI Director James Comey, who said at a recent Congressional hearing, Encryption will always be available to bad actors. At the same hearing, the filing notes, Professor Susan Landau agreed that the order would weaken us but not change [the availability of strong encryption] for the bad guys.

Apple also rejects the governments insistence that this GovtOS could be made, tested, used once, and destroyed without ever getting out. The filing quotes cybersecurity experts both in and out of the government as saying that simply isnt true, that hackers are always looking to exploit these kinds of weaknesses. One footnote even cites the Mac ransomware attack from just last week, in which malicous software was even cryptographically signed to trick Macs into thinking it was legit.

Theres no limiting principle

Good laws come with limits. In its earlier motion to dismiss the court order, Apple complained that the All Writs Act, since its designed to fill in the gaps between statutes, doesnt have that limiting principle. So if the government is allowed to use the All Writs Act to compel Apple to write a new, crackable version of iOS, this could be precedent for even more alarming scenarios. A drug company be compelled to make lethal injection drugs against its wishes, for example, or Apple could be compelled to make a version of iOS that would allow the government to track a single phones location or use it to eavesdrop. If the All Writs Act really is a magic wand, lets see what it can do, right?

In this new filing, Apple notes that in the DOJs last brief, it didnt touch Apples hypotheticals with a 10-foot legal pole. Indeed, it is telling that the government fails even to confront the hypotheticals posed to it (e.g. compelling a pharmaceutical company to manufacture lethal injection drugs), or explain how there is any conceivable daylight between GovtOS today, and LocationTrackingOS or EavesdropOS tomorrow.

(In fact, that isnt purely hypotheticalone of Apples footnotes cites a Texas case in which courts wouldnt allow the government to hack a vehicles OnStar system to take photos and report its location. The government is adept at devising new surveillance techniques, Apple notes dryly, with so leave us out of it, please left unsaid.)

The All Writs Act cant circumvent CALEA

CALEA, or the Communication Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, was passed in 1994 to require telecom carriers to assist the government with some wiretapping and surveillance. Since then, its been expanded to cover Internet and VoIP traffic as well. Apples brief reads:

CALEA defines the circumstances under which private companies must create systems to assist law enforcement in its investigatory efforts, as well as the circumstances where such providers are not and cannot be required to build programs and systems to enable law enforcement access.

In other words, CALEA has limiting principles. Thats good since those limits came from Congress, and they give the lawyers a framework for their arguments.

CALEA has specific language about encryption: Telecom carriers shall not be responsible for decrypting, or ensuring the governments ability to decrypt, any communications encrypted by a subscriber or customer, unless the encryption was provided by the carrier and the carrier possesses the information necessary to decrypt the communication. Apple says that Farook chose to encrypt the phone by setting a passcode, and that Apple doesnt possess the information necesary to decrypt itthats what the government is asking for.

To put a finer point on it, since the phone in question was provided by his employer, its very likely that his employer required him to use a passcodewhich his employer could have easily reset at any time by using even the most basic of multi-device managment practices.

And to put an even finer point on it, while Apple is a communications company under CALEA, it is not legally considered a telecommunications carrier, and so the language about carriers not being responsible for decrypting doesnt apply to Apple. So, the filing argues, If companies subject to CALEAs obligations cannot be required to bear this burden, Congress surely did not intend to allow parties specifically exempted by CALEA (such as Apple) to be subjected to it.

In fact, when CALEA was passed, this very question came up in the debate. From Apples filing:

During congressional hearings on CALEA, then-FBI director Louis Freeh assured Senator Leahy that CALEA would not impede the growth of new technologies. When Senator Leahy asked whether CALEA would inhibit the growth of encryption, he responded, this legislation does not ask [companies] to decrypt. It just tells them to give us the bits as they have them. If they are [en]crypted, that is my problem.

Whats next?

Now Judge Pym has some time to read and consider all of these filings before the scheduled March 22 hearing in Riverside, California. Well be keeping a close eye on this, but we want to know what you think. Has Apple made a compelling case to dismiss the order? Let us know in the comments.
Phillips 66 actively offering U.S. crude in Asia.



Japan will receive a U.S. crude cargo in May, its second such purchase from the United States since Washington lifted a four-decade ban on crude exports, industry sources said on Wednesday.



This will follow the arrival in April of Japan's first crude cargo from the United States, bought by Cosmo Oil Co earlier this year, indicating a growing willingness among Asian refiners to experiment with new grades as they seek to diversify their feedstock sources away from the Middle East.



The May shipment will be from Phillips 66, said the sources, who did not want to be named as they were not authorised to speak to media. Phillips 66 has sold a Panamax-sized cargo likely to Japan's TonenGeneral, they added.



The U.S. firm could not be reached for a comment, while a spokesman for the Japanese refiner declined to comment.



Japan usually gets more than 80 percent of its crude from the Middle East. But Cosmo and TonenGeneral, which have bought U.S. condensate previously, are among the more adventurous Asian buyers who are willing to experiment with new grades.



Chinese refiner Sinopec Corp has also bought U.S. crude, to be loaded from a Gulf Coast port in March.



ACTIVE SELLER



To meet this rising demand, Phillips 66 has been actively marketing U.S. crude to Asian buyers since Washington lifted the export ban, joining a string of trading houses who are taking advantage of the relatively new arbitrage.



However, the U.S. crude's economics or whether it is more competitively priced than oil from the Middle East can only be determined after it is processed at refineries, one source said.



Phillips 66 has likely shipped out its first U.S. crude cargo, which is set to arrive into Singapore next month, shipping data on Thomson Reuters Eikon showed.



Phillips 66 has also been planning to co-load U.S. crude with Colombian grade Castilla for Asia, although it is unclear if it has found any buyers for such a cargo, a Singapore-based trader said.



In addition to U.S. crude, Phillips 66 has been marketing Black Hawk condensate and it also regularly sells heavy naphtha from the United States to Asia, traders said.





By Liz Hampton and Osamu Tsukimori
Exit polls haven't shed any light on which candidates have cornered the key one-year old vote. Photo by Scott Olsen/Getty Images.

Editors' Note: Our discussion of politics and elections is focused purely on potential market impact. Stocks favor neither party. Believing in the market/economic superiority of one group of politicians over another can invite bias-a source of significant investment errors.

Here is a statement we hear all the time in election years: "I hope So-and-So wins because So-and-So is exactly what our economy needs to start growing fast again!" Indeed, at last week's debates and the many whistle stops before and after, all the remaining candidates spouted off about what they will do to improve the economy once they're in the White House. Parallel to that, we've seen a fair amount of hypothesizing on which candidate or party will be best for the economy and stocks. Yet neither have such a huge influence. Most pledges either never come to fruition or are heavily watered down. What's more, politics are only one factor of many driving market returns. Love or loathe any candidate's economic proposals, making investment decisions based solely on the personality or party controlling the White House is a prescription for errors.

In election years, investors regularly cheer or jeer every new administration-depending on their political leanings-thinking it will be either economic magic or poison. But for good or ill, most candidates' campaign pledges never become reality. Just consider the last four presidents. Barack Obama planned to jumpstart a renewable energy boom while imposing a windfall profits tax on oil companies. George W. Bush (Bush 43) proposed partially privatizing Social Security and paying down a chunk of the federal debt. Bill Clinton sought national, single-payer health care, support for factories and increased manufacturing employment. George H. W. Bush (Bush 41) aimed to keep taxes low.

None of these happened. Solyndra, the Obama administration's green darling, went bankrupt (along with a few others) and that windfall profits tax was blown away. Social Security is as public as ever, and US debt rose under Bush 43. Factory jobs fell under Clinton, and national health care reform didn't come until 18 years after his election-and only then in a very watered-down form. Bush 41 famously violated his signature pledge of, "Read my lips. No new taxes!" Anyone basing investment decisions solely on these folks' flagship campaign pledges would have been sorely disappointed.

Despite this history, partisan bias often leads investors to overrate politicians' promises-and their impact. Many Republican-leaning investors, taking traditional campaign rhetoric at face value, believe their party is inherently pro-business and therefore better for stocks-and that Democratic presidents tend to be bad for stocks. Democratic-leaning investors, by contrast, cite strong returns under Democratic Presidents to support their bullishness, noting the historically subpar results under Republicans.

Exhibit 1: Returns by President/Party

Source: Global Financial Data, Inc., as of 3/11/2016. S&P 500 price returns, 3/4/1929 - 3/9/2016. Red font indicates Republican administration, blue font Democratic. We present this with Kennedy/Johnson and Nixon/Ford separate (italicized) and combined (boldface), as the administrations sum to one eight-year period of uniform party control, despite the non-election change in President amid both.

Contrary to common fears, no party is "bad for stocks." Democratic administrations have coincided with fine returns, gutting the notion they are bad for stocks. Since 1926, in years the US has had a Democratic President, stocks rose 79% of the time. But then again, Republican administrations coincide with positive returns most of the time, too (67%). Now, all that may seem to favor the Democratic argument. But that is far too narrow a view. While neither Democrats nor Republicans are categorically "bad for stocks," these data can't and don't prove either party's superiority.

Take Hoover's returns. (And don't bring them back, please.) Markets fell a lot under him, and he made some mistakes, for sure. (Signing the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 chief among them.) But as Milton Friedman and Anna Schwartz showed in their seminal work, A Monetary History of the United States, the Fed's overly tight monetary policy was the primary culprit for the massive economic downturn and -77.1% S&P 500 returns from 1929 - 1933. This theory is widely accepted today. Former Fed head Ben Bernanke put it well in concluding a 2002 speech celebrating Friedman's 90th birthday : "Let me end my talk by abusing slightly my status as an official representative of the Federal Reserve. I would like to say to Milton and Anna: Regarding the Great Depression. You're right, we did it. We're very sorry. But thanks to you, we won't do it again."

Roosevelt's returns might look wonderful-and they are far better than Hoover's-but he was in office 12 years. When you compare annualized returns during his presidency (7.5%), they trail returns during Bush 41 (10.9%), Reagan (10.2%) and Eisenhower (10.9%).[i] Moreover, Bush 43 took office in 2001, 10 months into the dot-com bear, which began in Clinton's last year in office. Reagan also took office on the cusp of a bear that began under Jimmy Carter. And, while the Bush 43 administration's haphazard response to the global financial crisis contributed to the depth of the downturn in 2008, FAS 157 (the mark-to-market accounting rule implemented in 2007) wasn't a Bush 43 administration-led policy-it was a rule passed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, a body designed to be independent of administration directives.

Markets soared under Clinton, but this was largely due to a Technology boom that he had little to do with. The beginnings of the Internet's commercialization spawned a boom in personal computers, e-Commerce and Internet infrastructure. Moreover, Clinton dealt with gridlock from 1994's "Republican Revolution" through the close of his presidency. Similarly, while markets have done well under Obama (annualizing 12.7%), consider: He has operated under gridlock since January 2011, and he came to office near the trough of one of history's worst bear markets. Absent a counterfactual, it isn't possible to know for sure what would have happened had McCain won. Maybe the bounce would have been bigger. Or smaller. Or the same. After all, when bear markets end, stocks historically tend to bounce big.

Maybe this last point strikes you as odd, but consider: The ultimate reason thinking partisan is wrong in investing is that America's economy is dominated by the private sector. (Exhibit 2) The bulk of our economy is outside the control of the folks in DC. Perhaps that strikes you as a thunderclap of duh. That's fine, but thinking the president you love or hate is going to fundamentally alter the course of hiring, output, wages, exports, stock prices, or, or, or, overlooks this point. What's more, the US is only about 25% of global GDP today. That means 75% of world economic activity isn't subject to an administration's policies[ii], whatever they are. Finally, equity market results are often the result of how sentiment compares to reality. If investors generally fear President So-and-So will be awful for stocks, anything better than awful will be a positive surprise. That may not be the most patriotic sentence you've ever read, but markets are unemotional.

Exhibit 2: Private Sector and Government Share of US GDP, as of 2014

Source: FactSet, US Bureau of Economic Analysis, as of 3/14/2016. 2014 annual data are the latest available as of this writing.

None of this is to say politics and presidencies are irrelevant. As one major driver of stock returns, it would be foolish to conclude there is no impact from government. Politicians can affect market direction through passing sweeping legislation. Or they might influence performance at the sector level. From 2009 - early 2011, while the Affordable Care Act debate and initial passage created uncertainty, Health Care stocks lagged the US market. But after it became reality, stocks moved on and Health Care outperformed.

There is also a big impact on sentiment in election years: Typically, US markets post above-average returns in years a Republican wins-as the Republican-leaning investor class anticipates a business-friendly administration. When they turn out to be politicians,[iii] post-inauguration, disappointment tends to weigh on returns. Election year returns tend to be below average when Democratic candidates win, but rebound on relief when they prove to be politicians,[iv] too. This year, we have a weird election dotted with outsiders and untraditional candidates, making us wonder if these trends apply-a factor we'll continue weighing as this year progresses.

We have no idea today who will wind up winning the White House next January. But we do know that whomever you plan to vote for isn't hugely relevant to how you invest. When it comes to assessing markets' likely direction, your portfolio should be registered independent.
The fourth murder suspect in the March 8 murder of Damien Anthony Ferrell of Fieldale  Adrian Lewis Purcell, 32, of 1420 Yancey Street, Reidsville, North Carolina  turned himself in in Reidsville on Tuesday morning, according to Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry and a news release from the Henry County Sheriffs Office.

Purcell turned himself into the Reidsville Police Department at about 8 a.m. Tuesday, the news release said.

According to Perry, family members of the other three other suspects -- Malik Davon Galloway, 20, of 45 Vera Drive Apartment 7, Collinsville; Kerry Marcel Scales Jr., 19, of 148 New Hope Drive, Bassett; and Sean Demetrus Goddard, 18, of Martinsville  turned them in on March 8.

All four suspects are charged with first-degree murder, robbery and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Purcell also is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to news releases from HCSO, the murder occurred March 8 at about 12:10 a.m. The Martinsville/Henry County Emergency 911 Center received a call that an individual had been shot at 167 Chadmore Drive, Fieldale. The victim  Ferrell, 20, of 167 Chadmore Drive, Fieldale  was transported to Memorial Hospital in Martinsville where he was pronounced dead.

The releases added that through the course of the investigation, it was determined that an argument ensued between the victim (Ferrell), Galloway, Scales, Goddard and Purcell. The argument culminated in Ferrell being shot multiple times.

Perry has said, We think the suspects went to the location to buy drugs or wanting to take drugs.

Anyone having information regarding this crime is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriffs Office at 638-8751 or Crimestoppers at 63-CRIME (632-7463). The Crimestoppers Program offers rewards up to $2,500 for information related to crime. The nature of the crime and the substance of the information determine the amount of reward paid.
Daniel McKinney, a teacher at Fieldale-Collinsville Middle School, was named Henry County Public Schools 2017 Teacher of the Year at a dinner held at Chatmoss Country Club on Tuesday evening.

Kimberly Draper of Stanleytown Middle School was first runner-up, while Celena Hairston of Laurel Park Middle School received second runner-up.

Other top-five finalists were Brook Hankins of Magna Vista High School and Ashley Adams of Rich Acres Elementary School.

Ten other teachers were honored at the dinner, including Debra Easley, Axton Elementary School; Hope Perry, Bassett High School; Tammy Doss, Campbell Court Elementary School; Yvonne Elgin, Center for Community Learning; Elizabeth Green, Collinsville Primary School; Ashley Cox, Drewry Mason Elementary School; Amy Agee, G.W. Carver Elementary School; Susan Hatfield, John Redd Smith Elementary School; Teressa Fridley, Mount Olivet Elementary School; and Cindy Anderson, Sanville Elementary School.

McKinney will be considered by the Virginia Department of Education for regional honors and possibly state and national honors as part of the National Teacher of the Year program. He said that he intends to wear his Teacher of the Year Award as "a badge of honor" and will do his best to represent Henry County.

Winning the top honor was a humbling experience, he said, and came as a complete surprise.

"Many of the people in that room helped me to get to this point," he said. "The amazing educators in that room  obviously, they are just as deserving.  It was an incredible moment to know that your work and your effort has led to something. To know that the people in that room that love you and care about you helped you to get to that point  it was a thrilling moment."

McKinney, 26, currently is in his third year of teaching. A product of Henry County Schools, he attended the University of Virginia and received a bachelors degree in history and a masters degree in teaching.

The school winners, district finalists and top three in the district competition received gifts donated by local businesses and entrepreneurs, and the top three each received use of a new car for the summer by Nelson Automotive Group.

Two Honda Civics were available, along with a Honda CRV. As first-place winner, McKinney was given first choice of vehicles and made a bee-line for the CRV.

"I was hoping I could fit into it," he said, laughing. "Im a little bit taller than others. That was probably the biggest factor."

Teaching isnt always easy, McKinney said, but it is always rewarding. All of his students come from different walks of life, he said, and his job is to find out what makes them tick so that he can connect with them and engage them.

"You just try every day," he said.

Speakers at the event included Henry County School Board Chairman Betsy Mattox, who spoke about the impact that teachers have on their students lives; Henry County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jared Cotton, who read from letters of recommendation submitted on behalf of the recognized teachers; and Amy Elliot, the 2016 Teacher of the Year, who reminded teachers to occasionally take some time for themselves  even if its not always easy.

School Teachers of the Year were nominated and elected by peers at their schools. Each school winner completed an application portfolio that detailed the teachers community involvement, philosophy of teaching, educational issues and trends he or she considers most important, and three letters of recommendation.

A selection committee made up of school administration, school staff and members of the community selected one of the five finalists to be HCPS Teacher of the Year.
CHICOPEE - Police officers from across Western Massachusetts will be waiting tables on March 29 to raise money for the Law Enforcement Torch Run, which helps fund Special Olympics.

Through the Tip-a-Cop program police officers from Chicopee, Springfield, Ludlow, Amherst and the Hampden County Sheriff's Department will be waiting tables at the 99 Restaurant on Memorial Drive from 5 to 8 p.m.

All the money officers earn in tips will be donated to the Massachusetts Special Olympics athletes to help defray the cost of the programs, said Michael Wilk, public information officer for the Chicopee Police Department.

Police from other departments will be waiting at other 99 Restaurants in Westfield, East Longmeadow, West Springfield, Holyoke and Springfield on the same evening. If people print out vouchers from the Chicopee Police Department Facebook page, the Restaurant will also donate 15 percent of the cost of the meal to Special Olympics.

Chicopee Police have participated in fundraisers for Special Olympics in the past. Last summer officers worked at Dunkin' Donuts to raise money for the organization and this Decemberl they stood on the Walmart roof to raise money to help the athletes.


Westfield District Court

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A Connecticut woman is facing charges after allegedly driving drunk through several front yards in Agawam, crashing through fences and hitting a parked car before coming to a halt.

Agawam Police were called to scene of disarray on Pine Street shortly before 10 p.m. last Thursday, according to a police report. Officers reported finding a green Ford Explorer which had plowed though several yards, hitting a wheel barrow, a parked Jaguar and a fence before hitting a large rhododendron and coming to rest.

Agawam Police Officer Brian Strong began to speak to the Explorer's driver, who was standing on the steps of a home near the site of the accident. Strong identified her as Lynaire Stanton, 54, of West Suffield, Conn.

"I observed Stanton's eyes to be bloodshot and glossy, her face flushed and she appeared to be being held up by another woman," Strong wrote.

Stanton allegedly denied driving the car at first, before admitting to being the operator. Her breath allegedly smelled of alcohol and she allegedly had difficulty walking down the steps, Strong wrote

Strong concluded that Stanton was drunk and handcuffed her, when she allegedly became "enraged and defiant." She allegedly began yelling and slumped to the ground; officers maneuvered her into a squad car after struggling with her for several minutes, according to Strong's report.

Police examined the crash scene and concluded that the Explorer was traveling south on Pine Street through the intersection of Barry Street, missed a curve and crossed over a white road line before crashing through several yards, landscaping elements and the parked Jaguar.

Stanton was arraigned March 11 in Westfield District Court on charges of operating under the influence, resisting arrest, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and a marked lanes violation. She posted a $100 bail and is due back in court April 8.

Stanton could not be reached for comment prior to publication.
Courtney Stewart

Courtney Stewart, a senior at Central High School, won an unprecedented third state championship on Sunday in the "Poetry Out Loud" contest, giving him a new, final chance at a national championship in May.

(Submitted Photo)

(A related story was published Wednesday morning, seen here.)

SPRINGFIELD  Central High School senior Courtney Stewart, a three-time state champion in the Massachusetts Poetry Out Loud competition, said the competition combines two of his loves  poetry and performing  which he described as "the perfect world."

"I'm extremely overjoyed," Stewart said Wednesday, just days after his victory. "I've worked very hard to get to this point. This competition brings so many opportunities and so many moments of enjoyment."

He won the state title in the Poetry Out Loud contest both his freshman and sophomore years, earning an all expense-paid trip to the national finals both years in Washington D.C.

Stewart lost at the district level during his junior year, which he believes served to motivate him even more this year, he said.

"It was devastating," Stewart said of last year's loss, in which he acknowledged having some minor accuracy errors."That made winning this year so much more."

Stewart said he worked even harder this year and hopes to fare well in his third try in the national competition in Washington D.C. May 2-4.

The national finals were "amazing both times," and have led to some lifelong friendships, with some of the contestants who have kept in touch, Stewart said.

Stewart, 18, said he has had a "strong appreciation" for poetry since he was very young and it "just kind of stuck with me."

Having been in the nationals twice probably does not help that much except to know what to expect, but the rules are pretty much the same, he said. At the state finals, contestants had to memorize and recite three poems.

Stewart said that stage fright "is foreign to me," but he admits getting a bit jittery before the competitions because he loves to win so much.

He expects to travel to Washington D.C. with is mother Shamieka Stewart and possibly other relatives.

He said he does not get many opportunities to indulge in his love for poetry but "digs his fingers into it" when chances occur, he said.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Huntington Theatre Company sponsor the Massachusetts contest.

The program encourages youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance, according to a program description. In addition, it helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage, according to a statement from the Huntington Theatre.
Kotfila.jpg

John R. Kotfila Jr., center, in a photo posted on the Falmouth Police Department Facebook page.

(Falmouth Police)

FALMOUTH - Florida Sheriff's Deputy John R. Kotfila Jr., 30, who was killed while reportedly protecting another vehicle from a head-on impact with a wrong-way driver, will be buried in his hometown of Falmouth next week.

State Police spokesman David Procopio told the Boston Herald that a wake and funeral "as befits a hero who gave the full measure of sacrifice in performance of his duty" will tentatively take place Tuesday or Wednesday. Kotfila's service in Florida is expected to take place on Friday before his body comes home to Massachusetts.

Kotfila was a graduate of Westfield State University and is the son of Massachusetts State Police Sgt. John R. Kotfila Sr. and the brother of Falmouth police officer Michael Kotfila, according to reports. He had worked as a sherriff's deputy in Hillsborough County, Florida for six years.

A woman who witnessed the wrong-way crash said that Kotfila pulled his vehicle in front of hers at the last minute, apparently trying to shield her vehicle from the head-on crash.

Sarah Geren told Bay News 9 in Tampa that she was panicking as a driver sped straight in her direction on the Selmon Expressway early Saturday, and she pulled over when she saw Kotfila's cruiser behind her.

Kotfila pulled in front of her and was struck head-on by a car driven by Erik McBeth, 31, of Hudson, Florida. He died at the scene, she told the news station.

"He saved my life," Geren told Bay News 9. "If this deputy had not made a split-second decision to pull around me, that would have been me dying."

Investigators have not said whether they believe that Kotfila saw the approaching vehicle and acted deliberately.

The Falmouth Police Department shared stories about Geren's account on the department's Facebook page. Bourne Police did the same, referring to Kotfila as "a hero to the end."
Neffinger vs. Mellis file.jpg

Interim East Longmeadow town administrator Gregory Neffinger, left, is seen in this composite photo with Police Chief Douglas Mellis.

(The Republican file)

EAST LONGMEADOW-- In a strongly-worded letter, East Longmeadow's interim town administrator accused the town's police chief of possible insubordination toward the Board of Selectmen and creating a hostile environment for a police chief search committee.

An initial investigation, interim administrator Gregory Neffinger wrote in a letter to Police Chief Douglas Mellis, has "led to a preliminary conclusion that you may have acted in an insubordinate manner toward the Board of Selectmen."

Neffinger's said in his letter that he plans to recommend to selectmen that a "full investigation" into Mellis' conduct be conducted.

The letter contained accusations from Neffinger that Mellis colluded with the chiefs of police from two other towns, and a sergeant under his command threatened a selectman while the town conducted a search for a new police chief.

"Some people have alleged that there has been some collusion (between Mellis, Hampden Police Chief Jeffrey Farnsworth and West Springfield Police Chief Ronald Campurciani)," Neffinger said in an interview on Tuesday. "Were they working together to try to prevent the will of the selectmen from going forward?"

Allegations, which Neffinger told a reporter come from phone calls and emails he received from East Longmeadow residents, include that he used his relationship with Farnsworth to "bring disparagement upon the reputation of the town administrator."

Farnsworth yesterday said he never spoke to Mellis throughout the selection or interview process. Further, he said, he wishes to extricate himself from what he deems "a dysfunctional" town government.

"East Longmeadow can choose to govern however they see fit; in whatever matter they see fit. But it's not a manner I choose to be involved in, which is why I withdrew from the process ... I'm done; I'm out," Farnsworth said.

Also brought to Neffinger's attention, he wrote, is Mellis' relationship with Campurciani, and "what appears to be collusion to cast disparagement on the reputation of Police Chief candidate Capt. Daniel O'Brien."

Campurciani could not immediately be reached for comment.

Neffinger further said that Mellis' presence last week at a meeting of the five-member committee that screened candidates for the police chief position created hostility. And Mellis' participation in an appropriations committee meeting, to which the committee invited him to answer questions about the police department's overtime budget amounts to using the committee to publicly badmouth the Board of Selectmen.

"The use of the appropriations board as means to criticize the Board of Selectmen was, in my opinion, conduct unbecoming and perhaps insubordinate."

The letter was sent to Mellis after Neffinger consulted with the town's labor council, he said. Other lawyers have told Neffinger that the letter and advising an investigation of Mellis is the appropriate action right now.

"As various things happen, we have to begin to make determinations are these coincidences, or is there a plan to make sure the Board of Selectmen don't have regular meetings and their subcommittees can't have peaceful meetings?" Neffinger said, referring to Mellis and supporters attending a police chief search committee meeting last week. "It appears there's enough information to warrant an investigation."

Mellis' lawyer Austin Joyce, said he was baffled by the letter, adding that it does not appear to have any legal legitimacy. Joyce is interested in filing suit against Neffinger in response, he said.

"I haven't the slightest idea, I don't know what's on (Neffinger's) mind," Joyce said. "I think there's an ulterior motive here, and I think the investigation that I'll conduct about who put the town administrator up to this (letter) will involve depositions ... and testimony before a jury."

Selectmen Chairman Paul Federici said he does not agree that Mellis' conduct should be investigated, considering that more serious allegations regarding the search process have drawn the attention of the Attorney General's office and the FBI.

Neffinger's assertions amount to the latest dust-up in a process that has resulted in allegations of bribery and a scheme to insert former West Springfield Police Captain, O'Brien, as the East Longmeadow chief, and Neffinger as the permanent Town Hall head.

In a December meeting of the Board of Selectmen held in executive session, all three voted in favor of putting Mellis' contract out to bid. When they voted publicly, Selectmen Angela Thorpe and William Gorman voted to seek other candidates for Mellis' position for when his contract expires at the end of March, while Federici voted against the measure - saying he voted incorrectly during the private meeting.

Selectmen on Wednesday are scheduled to meet for the first time since O'Brien pulled out of the race amid public scrutiny of his record in West Springfield, and an allegation from Federici that former Springfield City Councilor and convicted felon Francis G. "Frank" Keough III had approached him around the beginning of January.

Federici said Keough sought his support for O'Brien for police chief and Neffinger as permanent administrator. Keough told Federici that his cooperation would be repaid with a yet-to-be-created position in Town Hall, Federici said.

The AG's office is currently investigating the incident, Federici said, and the FBI questioned him about it last week.

But Gorman said he agrees with Neffinger's action, and supports the call for an investigation, especially after an East Longmeadow police sergeant threatened him - an allegation Neffinger noted in his letter to Mellis. Gorman said the sergeant, who he has declined to name, accosted him in the parking lot outside Town Hall.

"It was a threat to my family, saying that 'I hope nothing happens up at your house, we might be a little slow getting there," Gorman said.

Joyce said Mellis was never informed of the alleged exchange.

Selectman Angela Thorpe, who was up for re-election on Tuesday, did not immediately return a voicemail and text message requesting comment.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STEPHANIE BARRY
kevin burke 2.jpg

EHS principal Kevin Burke said he has faith in data and in cultivating a "growth mindset" to solve complex problems. Burke has led the high school since September 2015.

(Mary Serreze photo)

EASTHAMPTON -- Easthampton High School principal Kevin Burke said having access to good data and maintaining a positive attitude are essential when it comes to helping students reach their full potential.

"Good data helps us identify patterns," Burke said during a recent interview. "It helps us identify where we already excel, and also helps us understand where we need to improve."

Burke said he continually strives to communicate the concept of "growth mindset," an idea developed by Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck. In adopting a growth mindset, instead of a "fixed mindset," students are encouraged to let go of limiting self-perceptions and break through old self-imposed limits.

"Instead of saying, 'I'm not good at math,' we encourage students to say, 'maybe I need to approach this problem differently,'" he said. "It's about keeping a positive outlook on learning."

Burke said a "data team" at the high school analyzes information from various sources, including standardized tests, while also observing classrooms in a consistent manner. He said the data, which allows for comparisons across categories and over time, drives professional development and is used to target achievement and learning gaps.

Burke, a former math teacher, was named permanent principal just last week, but has led the school since July, when he was chosen as an interim replacement for former principal Vito Perrone. Burke was assistant principal under Perrone, and during that time, Easthampton High School achieved a coveted "Level 1" accountability rating from the state for its success in narrowing student achievement gaps.

"And we're going to work to maintain that rating," he said, while offering words of praise for interim assistant principal Sue Welson. "We have a great team here; a terrific group of teachers and administrators."



Burke said building students' capacity to tackle complex and difficult tasks is a major focus across all grade levels. As part of the initiative, teens are taught how to access prior knowledge, procure new knowledge, and approach complicated problems in a systematic and creative way.

"We're encouraging higher-order thinking," he said. "It's an inquiry-based model."

When asked if teachers at Easthampton High School feel that they must "teach to the test," Burke said no. "We teach to the state curriculum standards," he said.

The high school offers a range of advanced placement classes, said Burke, including AP calculus, chemistry, U.S. government, statistics, and history. For special education students, he said the school offers an autism program, intensive instructional support, inclusion support, MCAS tutoring, and much more.

Burke said visitors to the high school often remark that Easthampton teens seem particularly well-behaved and engaged.

"We're pretty lucky," he said. "It speaks well of our community."

Burke grew up in Longmeadow and attended Colorado State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in natural resource management. He worked in the field of urban forestry before moving back to western Massachusetts to be closer to family and to pursue a career change.

"Natural resource management is a data-driven field, and I was strong in math, so it seemed like a natural fit to become a math teacher," he said.

Upon his return to the area, Burke landed a teaching job at Van Sickle Middle School in Springfield. When a math position opened up at White Brook Middle School in Easthampton, Burke applied and was offered the job. Before long, he was not only teaching, but attending American International College, where he earned a master's degree in education, with an emphasis in administration.

When asked about the biggest challenge facing the high school, Burke said his first priority will be maintaining and developing a culture of excellence.

"Our goal is to keep improving; to strive for excellence; to keep closing those learning gaps," said Burke. "We want our students to know that there are no limits on what they can learn."

____________________________________________________________________

Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com.
williston.jpg

Memorial Hall dormitory at The Williston Northampton School in Easthampton.

(Mary Serreze)

NORTHAMPTON - The spouse of a teacher at The Williston Northampton School pleaded guilty to a single charge in Northampton District Court Wednesday in connection with a police officer's discovery in October of a gun and other weapons in a residence on campus.

Gregg S. Hutchins, 47, whose address is listed in court documents as being in Amherst, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm without an FID card and received one year probation. He also admitted to facts sufficient for a guilty finding on counts of possessing ammunition without an FID card and possessing a stun gun, and those charges were continued without findings for one year.

The district attorney's office dismissed the remaining charges against Hutchins: three counts of carrying a dangerous weapon on school grounds, one count of carrying a dangerous weapon, and possession of a class E drug.

Court documents identify the teacher as Beatrice Cody, who according to the school website is the head of the language department.

While on probation, Hutchins must stay away from The Williston Northampton School, not possess any guns, ammunition or dangerous weapons, avoid alcohol and illegal drugs and submit to random screenings, and participate in mental health counseling.

Hutchins was charged after his son on Oct. 22 disclosed to an Easthampton High School guidance counselor that Hutchins had made suicidal statements and placed his handgun inside his own mouth when he was upset.

Easthampton School Resource Officer Alan Schadel contacted Williston staff and they went to the residence in Memorial Hall East dormitory, where Hutchins denied putting the gun in his mouth, court records state.

Police wrote in court documents that Hutchins denied there were weapons in the apartment and allowed police to search it. They allegedly recovered a handgun, a stun gun and a switchblade, boxes of ammunition, two expired FID cards, and propranolol, a medication used to treat angina.

They also found marijuana, but it was legal as Hutchins had a medical marijuana card.

Cody was placed on administrative leave and "is no longer on campus," according to a letter sent to parents from the school. She is not facing criminal charges.

Police said Cody seemed surprised when the weapons were found at her residence.

A call seeking comment about Cody's current status at The Williston Northampton School was not returned Wednesday. Hutchins' attorney, Alfred Chamberland of Easthampton, also did not return a call for comment.
President Barack Obama delivers final State of the Union address before Congress

President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool)

(AP)

President Obama is expected to announce at 11 a.m. his choice for filling the vacancy on the Supreme Court created by the death of Antonin Scalia.

Citing Congressional sources, the Associated Press is reporting that the president has tapped Merrick Garland, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals in D.C., for the slot.

The livestream from the White House is available below.

In a White House email to supporters titled "I've made my decision," Obama said, "I'm confident you'll share my conviction that this American is not only eminently qualified to be a Supreme Court Justice, but deserves a fair hearing, and an up-or-down vote."

The move sets up a brawl with Senate Republicans who say the president should not seek to nominate and confirm a justice to the nine-member Supreme Court in the last year of his term, with an election looming over the nation.

During an appearance in Boston last month, Chief Justice John Roberts expressed dismay at the nomination and confirmation process.

"I do think the process is not functioning very well," Roberts said. He pointed out senators confirmed Ruth Bader Ginsburg by a wide margin in the 1990s and Antonin Scalia by a unanimous vote in the 1980s.
Update, 5:30 p.m. ET: The Mass. State police announced trooper Thomas Clardy died from his injuries.

Multiple police agencies were offering condolences Wednesday following the report of a Massachusetts State Police trooper that was reported "seriously injured" following a crash on the Mass. Pike earlier in the day.

A press conference was scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. at the Massachusetts State Police barracks in Charlton, near where the crash occurred shortly after noon. The press conference has been delayed. State police have not released any further details since early in the afternoon. The name of the officer injured and his condition has not been released.

But several law enforcement agencies Wednesday afternoon tweeted out condolences. Dover Police tweeted out "Our thoughts & prayers are with the @MassStatePolice and the family of the Trooper we lost today in a crash."
Kasper vs. Kohl file.jpg

Northampton Police Chief Jody Kasper, left, is seen in this composite file photo with police officer Andrew Kohl.

(The Republican file)

NORTHAMPTON - Despite a number of court decisions that require disclosure of internal affairs investigations, the city's Police Department is refusing to provide information about an officer who was suspended without pay from November through early March.

Police Chief Jody Kasper has declined to release information that could explain why officer Andrew Kohl - who was ordered to surrender his firearms and have no contact with an alleged victim who filed an abuse prevention order against him in November - was investigated by the department.

Kohl was suspended without pay for 75 working days after the abuse prevention order was filed, He returned to work on March 6.

Court rulings, and advisories issued by Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin's office, say police internal affairs investigations are not exempt from disclosure, they are not personnel records, and that releasing them is in the public interest.

But the chief, in denying access to information on Kohl, says information related to him in this instance cannot be shared.

"You requested access to the following items: Internal affairs documents related to an alleged disturbance in South Hadley that involved Northampton police kfficer Andrew Kohl. Your request for these records is denied," Kasper wrote on March 2.

"This exempts personnel ... information," she said.

She said personnel information "relating to a specifically named individual . . . may constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy."

"It is also contended that the disclosure of witness information in this matter would be contrary to the public interest," she also wrote in her letter. "Without an assurance of confidentiality of investigatory materials, witnesses would be discouraged from coming forth and speaking openly with law enforcement officials in matters alleging police misconduct. This, most certainly, would severely hinder law enforcement in its future investigative efforts."

In January 2013, Galvin published "A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law."

Included in the 60-page document are references to police internal affairs investigations -- and why they are not exempt from disclosure, when requested.

"The Appeals Court of Massachusetts distinguished 'personnel records' from 'internal affairs' records. The Appeals Court held that materials in a police internal affairs investigation are different in kind from the ordinary evaluations, performance assessments and disciplinary determinations encompassed in the public records exemption for personnel files or information," Galvin wrote.

"The Appeals Court held that officers' reports, witness interview summaries, and the internal affairs report itself do not fall within the personnel information exemption, as these documents relate to the workings and determinations of the internal affairs process whose quintessential purpose is to inspire public confidence."

In her denial of the Kohl materials, Kasper advised that the decision could be appealed to the secretary of state. The Republican plans to file such an appeal.

"You have the right under Massachusetts General Law . . . to petition the supervisor of public records -- Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth -- for review of your request. The petition must be in writing and be made within 90 days of the date of this notice."

The Republican has withheld the name of the individual who sought the abuse protection order against Kohl.

The APO lists several conditions, and states: "There is a substantial likelihood of immediate danger of abuse. You are ordered to immediately surrender ... all guns, ammunition, gun licenses and FID cards. Your license to carry a gun ... and your FID card ... are suspended immediately."

Court records show the order was first issued on Nov. 15, that hearings were held on Nov. 16, and Nov. 24, when it was extended to Feb. 23. The individual who filed it was granted permission by the court to terminate it on Dec. 3.
The author of a book on downtown Missoulas historic underground has resigned her seat on the Missoula Historic Preservation Commission http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/495/Historic-Preservation amid the furor over the Missoula Mercantile building http://www.themercdowntown.com/ .

"It just seems like its kind of a useless board at this point," said Nikki Manning, a doctorate student at the University of Montana and the anthropology departments public archaeologist.

She said she will instead help lead a "Save the Merc" campaign https://www.facebook.com/SavetheMerc/ under the auspices of the nonprofit Preserve Historic Missoula. Its something Manning said she couldnt do as a member of the city board.

KIM BRIGGEMAN [email protected]

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/missoula-merc-advocate-quits-historic-preservation-commission/article_4ceb1b53-e901-5628-8354-0572f35adff2.html
For more than half a century, in such books as The Art of Happiness and The Dalai Lamas Little Book of Inner Peace, the Dalai Lama has guided us along the path to compassion and taught us how to improve our inner lives. In A Force for Good, with the help of his longtime friend Daniel Goleman, the New York Times bestselling author of Emotional Intelligence, the Dalai Lama explains how to turn our compassionate energy outward. This revelatory and inspiring work provides a singular vision for transforming the world in practical and positive ways.

***

Daniel Goleman will be on the Oprah show on Sunday March 20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvK4ljKE7ZI

Many thanks to Dave Rich for sharing this information.
Chicken will be the best-positioned protein due to its low price position in times of pressure on consumer spending power but rises in production costs and the long-term impact of COVID-19 threaten to disrupt the sector, according to Rabobank.
by Chuck Martin , Staff Writer, March 15, 2016

The attributes of connectivity may be the new twist to draw consumers.

With The Internet of Things, more activities can originate from more devices. For example, in addition to making a purchase via PC or smartphone, consumers increasingly are able to buy things from many devices.

Recent research indicates that most bankers expect it to eventually be common for consumers to make financial transactions using smart TVs, as I wrote about here yesterday (59% Of Bankers See Payments By Wearables As Common Within 2 Years).

And with Amazon Dash buttons, consumers can easily re-order household supplies with just a touch. With similar technology inside devices, machines can act on their own, so a printer can automatically order its own ink when running low.

And now brands are starting to attempt to leverage the IoT technology in the positioning of their products.

For example, Samsungs portfolio of products, like smartphones and consumer appliances, come with the smarts built in so that they can automatically connect to other devices in the home.

The Samsung devices can be monitored remotely, so air conditioning or heat can be activated while on the way home, for example.

The key is that Samsung can market the connectivity of its products as a differentiator from competing brands.

Another brand, Audi, is starting a campaign promoting the advanced tech features in its cars. Rather than zeroing in on how the car drives, the viewer will be shown how the latest smartphone integrates with the cars infotainment system.

Other automakers are taking essentially the same approach, focusing on advanced connected features in their cars.

In major purchases, this may lead the shopper of the future to consider connectivity as a major part of the purchase decision.

And that connectivity may ultimately determine how well the new product serves the consumer.
by Erik Sass , Staff Writer @eriksass1, March 15, 2016

James Bennet is leaving his position as editor-in-chief of The Atlantic to return to The New York Times as editor of its editorial page, the publisher announced yesterday, replacing Andrew Rosenthal, who is stepping down after eight years in the top spot.

It remains to be seen whether Bennett can breath new life into this stagnant institution.

Indeed Bennet, who previously served as the NYTs Jerusalem bureau chief and a White House correspondent, among other roles, faces an interesting and unusual challenge. The NYT is one of the best-known newspapers in the world and is considered the paper of record in the U.S. But in recent years, its editorial page has been perceived as punching below its weight in terms of influence and insight.

It will come as no surprise that the NYT editorial page reliably presents the views of the bicoastal liberal establishment. However, within this fairly well-defined ideological target area, there are still a range of opinions, of varying sophistication, that a well-composed editorial page could compare and contrast.

Still, the NYTs editorial page has tended to hew to conventional wisdom, presenting simple solutions to complex problems and failing to marshal sufficient arguments in their support.

The NYTs recent take on gun control, published on the front page of the newspaper following the San Bernardino terrorist attack, was a good example. The editorial essentially called for new limits on assault weapons, deeming them weapons of war inappropriate for civilian ownership, and lashed out at politicians (both Republicans and Democrats) who refuse to take action on this issue.

But the editorial gave scant attention to the one insuperable fact standing in the way of gun control: the Second Amendment, the revision of which would require a new constitutional amendment, in turn, requiring ratification by three-quarters of the states.

In short, effective gun control remains politically impossible, as the meaningless executive measures ordered shortly afterwards by President Obama tacitly acknowledged. The NYT glossed over this entire issue  the logical heart of the matter  with one remark: It is not necessary to debate the peculiar wording of the Second Amendment. No right is unlimited and immune from reasonable regulation.

The NYTs basic stance on gun control didnt come as a surprise  what was surprising and disappointing, especially considering the prominent placement accorded to the piece, was the lack of useful suggestions and pragmatic political perspectives. All were bypassed in favor of well-rehearsed moral indignation and rote condemnation.

The newspaper of record should be able to offer something more substantive  or remain silent.

Its not just a lack of substance in the NYTs unsigned editorials. Oftentimes, the NYTs regular columnists, supposedly appointed for their unique insights, are clearly phoning it in or (even worse) seemingly unaware that they are trapped in a classic ivory tower.

Examples abound. Earlier this month, Nicholas Kristof wrote a piece, After Super Tuesday, Bracing for President Trump, in which he posed questions (and provided answers) to an imaginary Trump supporter  apparently because he couldnt find any real ones to talk to.

Contrast that with The Washington Posts Dana Milbank, who at least went to an actual Trump rally and listened to real people talking.
by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, March 15, 2016

With GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, you never know whats next. Hes now associated with high-drama skirmishes during his rallies  shown on TV, apparently.

We dont know where this story is going. However, like any good TV drama, you cant help but watch.

Adding marketing political fuel, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said on TV recently that what is going on with Donald Trump is political arson. Guessing many candidates would like to light a fire under certain voters.

Whats left for presidential candidates? More cameras in the audience of their rallies, attack ads  or something more sobering?

Since the first of the year, the Donald J. Trump For President effort has spent a grand total of $27,637 for national TV advertising, according to iSpot.tv.

During this time, nearly $4.9 million has been spent in national TV advertising for all presidential candidates. After the spending for Hillary for America -- some $1.9 million -- comes the Conservative Solutions PAC, totaling $1.38 million. Much of this GOP PAC spending, according to analysts, are attack ads on Trump.

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Is this spending making a difference? Trump is still the dominant GOP candidate in polls -- even with Sen. Ted Cruz making delegate gains.

Now theres violence rising. Trump blamed supporters of Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders campaign for this activity. Trump even called off an event in Chicago because of what could have been a dangerous situation.

Absence may make the heart grow fonder. All that means the next event might draw even bigger crowds -- if not more TV news coverage. More drama?

Even if you dont believe any of this is planned, the result is clear. We all want to watch -- and perhaps get titillated.
by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, March 15, 2016

Comcast said today it is rolling out Gigabit service to Atlanta, where it will compete with Google Fiber.

Comcast won't impose its widely disliked data caps on Gigabit subscribers in Atlanta, provided they sign three-year contracts for 1 GB service priced at $70 a month. Otherwise, the company will charge $139.95 a month for 1 GB speeds with a 300 GB cap. People who pay month-to-month and exceed that cap will be charged $10 for each 50 GB overage, or can pay $35 for unlimited data. The company also is offering 2 GB speeds for $299.95 a month.

Google, which doesn't cap the amount of data that subscribers can consume, intends to offer stand-alone 1 GB service for $70 a month in Atlanta, and stand-alone 100 Mbps service for $50 a month. Google also will offer a combined TV and Internet option for $130 a month.

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Comcast obviously is hoping to sign up customers before Google arrives in Atlanta. That might make sense from a business point of view, but the move calls into question Comcast's justification for any data caps. After all, if it's capable of offering unlimited data without experiencing congestion on its network, why would caps ever be necessary?

Digital rights groups have raised that same question. Earlier this month, Public Knowledge called attention to Comcast's data caps in a Federal Communications complaint. The advocacy group asked the FCC to order Comcast to stop capping broadband data, or alternatively to stop exempting its stand-alone TV service, Stream, from the caps.

Comcast isn't the only company experimenting with pricing structures for unlimited data. AT&T said earlier this year that it will once again offer unlimited mobile data plans, but not to cord-cutters. The telecom said in January that it will sell unlimited data to smartphone users, provided that they purchase television packages from DirecTV (acquired last year) or U-Verse.
by Erik Sass @eriksass1, March 15, 2016

With advertisers pushing for more detailed analysis of cross-platform media campaigns and more precise forms of attribution, publishers are looking for ways to demonstrate prints impact alongside and in conjunction with digital and broadcast media.

On that note, Time Inc. and Nielsen Catalina Solutions, which connects TV and digital ad exposure to in-store CPG sales, unveiled a new cross-platform measurement service that adds print ad exposure to the mix.

The service, available to CPG advertisers, brings together different forms of measurement tailored to specific media, including Time Inc. subscription data and GfK MRI. Fr the first time, it integrates pass-along magazine readership.

NCS new proprietary analytics tool, Cognitive AdVantics, combines these data to connect media exposure to each CPG purchase decision, accounting for factors including time of exposure to print ads, and including secondary audience accumulated through pass-along readership.

advertisement advertisement

The partners tested the new cross-platform analytics service with inaugural client Crystal Light, owned by Kraft Heinz, and uncovered synergies between print, broadcast, and digital ads. They presented the data from the beverage brands campaign at the Advertising Research Foundations annual ReThink conference.

The announcement comes not long after Nielsen took a majority stake in Nielsen Catalina Solutions, which is a joint venture with shopper marketing intelligence company Catalina. On a related note, Nielsen is said to be developing a platform called the Connected Buy System, an automated data exchange that will incorporate machine learning.

Last month, Nielsen rival comScore said it will begin offering a cross-platform measurement system spanning traditional TV, over-the-top (OTT) and mobile and desktop digital viewing starting in April.

The company also plans to launch a syndicated, cross-platform daily ratings offering in time for the fall TV season.
by Laurie Sullivan , Staff Writer @lauriesullivan, March 16, 2016

Marco Rubio quit the presidential race Tuesday after losing his home state to Donald Trump in the Florida primary. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has swept Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina. Ohio Governor John Kasich won in his home state.

Woven into the political news-making headlines, Google introduced new features to Google Search that track the primaries to educate those who are interested more about the candidates.

Google added campaign finance information to show the percentage of funds coming from SuperPACs versus individuals, and how they are trending compared with one another -- as well as the industries that are more heavily backing a candidate.

Another feature analyzes search trends related to the candidates and makes data from those available directly through Google Search. Search results for a candidate show how others have searched for them and their opponents over time. The features are available on desktop as well as the mobile Web and mobile apps.

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The trending feature, which is not new, shows how events such as debates and speeches can trigger spikes in search queries on Google for specific candidates. It shows search activity, but provides no indication of intent or sentiment related to how U.S. voters will cast their ballot or how they feel about a specific candidate.

Bing also supports a trending feature. In February, Bing added a feature powered by Bing Predicts called Search Wave to its engine that provides a closer look at presidential candidates. The tool provides a closer look at each candidate, allowing people to see what others search for about that candidate on Bing.

The data breaks down the demographics by age. For example, Bing estimates that 41.1% those ages 18 to 34 are searching for information about Trump, followed by Sanders at 22.9%, Clinton at 15.3%, and other at 21.7%.

Overall on Tuesday evening, Trump led the number of search queries in the U.S., according to Google Trends, which monitors the number of searches on google.com. Ted Cruz started out trending in the No. 2 position, but by 7 P.M. PT Rubio stepped up from No. 4 into the No. 2 position. Cruz slipped to No. 3 and Kasich to No. 4.

In Ohio, trending data looked a little different for the Republican Presidential candidates. Trump came in at No. 1, followed by Kashich, Cruz, and Rubio.

Overall, across the U.S. on Tuesday evening, searches on Democratic candidates held steady with the majority of searches on google.com going to Bernie Sanders vs. Clinton.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, March 15, 2016

WPPs J. Walter Thompson has hired a top New York labor and employment attorney to head its internal investigation looking into charges that its CEO Gustavo Martinez sexually harassed a senior staffer at the firm and then retaliated against her when she complained.

JWTs own investigation into the matter began last week and was handed over to the outside counsel  Bettina Plevan with the law firm of Proskauer Rose earlier this week.

Plevan will be looking into charges made by JWT Chief Communications Officer Erin Johnson that Martinez sexually harassed her on numerous occasions and then retaliated when she complained. She filed suit last week, also charging that Martinez regularly made racial and anti-Semitic slurs and frequently made inappropriate comments about sex and rape.

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WPP CEO Martin Sorrell told senior company executives about the hiring of Plevan in an update memo circulated Monday, according to sources familiar with the situation. In the memo, those sources said, Sorrell stated that JWT had decided to retain an outside law firm to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations in the [Johnson] complaint. Bettina Plevan of Proskauer Rose LLP will lead this. Feel free to use this information with clients, our people and other parties as you see fit."

Johnson filed an amended complaint Monday asking the U.S. District Court (Southern District) in New York to allow her to submit a DVD recording of a JWT company retreat in Miami last year that she argues supports some of her claims.

While Plevan is now overseeing JWTs internal investigation, sources said that WPPs lead attorney in the U.S., Gilbert & Davis, is currently defending WPP, JWT and Martinez in the lawsuit filed by Johnson. A formal response to the suit isnt due for several more weeks.
by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, March 16, 2016

AUSTIN, TEXAS -- Mr. Robot, the USA Network hit that kickstarted with a preview at SXSW Interactive last year, is known for doing lines -- both the powdered drug and computer code kind -- but the most important ones, according to the shows star Rami Malek, were in the script.

Asked during a presentation at this years festival if he and fellow star Christian Slater have learned to write -- or at least read -- lines of code form software systems like Python or Java, Rami quipped, "Were just trying to learn our lines, basically.

Both he and Slater took down the fourth wall with SXSWs tech crowd, explaining that as much as theyve tried to immerse themselves in the hacker culture, theyre just actors reading scripts and performing their roles as best they can.

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In an effort to be as authentic as possible, Slater said he spent time boning up on hacker terms and concepts on Wikipedia before the took the part, but said everything he learned was virtually outdated by the time the cameras began rolling.

Well get there by Season Five, series creator and producer and sole director Sam Esmail quipped about Slaters and Maleks technology learning curve.

Esmail, who was a hacker and self-proclaimed nerd before creating the series, attributed the series success to its authenticity. He said the producers and writers consult with technology and cybercrime consultants, including the FBI, to make it as real and as contemporary as possible.

He even alluded that Season Two might draw from the current debate over encryption, security and privacy swelling around the governments efforts to get Apple to open the iPhone used as part of the San Bernardino terrorist attacks, which as been a source of constant discussion during SXSW this year.

Mostly, he said, the show is just trying to utilize current events and realism to be entertaining.

Esmail said the techniques include having Malek physically type in actual code on screens to create that sense of realism and he said every line is authentic.

Asked whether he could relate to his character Elliott on the show, Malek said the series taps into universal themes of isolation being created by the cyber age of ubiquitous social media.

He recalled a scene in which he was reviewing the Facebook pages of another character and said, It really got me sad. We can all relate to having that loneliness and sometimes being distanced by technology and these manicured Facebook pages.
by Sarah Mahoney @mahoney_sarah, March 16, 2016

Lord & Taylor may have settled with the Federal Trade Commission on charges that it misled customers, both with a native ad violation in Nylon as well as 50 influencer posts on Instagram. But some experts think the FTCs latest move may be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to policing the latest guidelines surrounding sponsored content, and reining in the fast-expanding world of influencers.

This is such a widespread problem in the industry, says Julia Cantor, a senior strategist who oversees the influencer programs at Moxie, an Atlanta-based marketing agency that handles such clients as Coca-Cola and Nike. Influencer marketing is growing so fast, and many of these bloggers are what we call accidental influencers. They just dont have the business acumen yet to fully grasp the FTC rules, so agencies and larger brands really need to step up their education efforts.

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The settlement centers on a paisley dress from the launch of Lord & Taylors DesignLab collection last spring. As part of the campaign, it used branded blog posts, photos, video uploads, native advertising editorials in online fashion magazines, and online endorsements by a team of specially selected fashion influencers, the FTC says in its statement. These 50 fashionistas were paid between $1,000 and $4,000 to post a photo of themselves in the dress on Instagram and other social platforms. While it could be styled any way they wanted, they were required to tag both Lord & Taylor and Design Lab in their posts.

Lord & Taylor needs to be straight with consumers in its online marketing campaigns, says Jessica Rich, director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection, in its statement. Consumers have the right to know when theyre looking at paid advertising.

The FTC says the retailer is banned from misrepresenting that paid ads are from an independent source, and is required to ensure that its influencers clearly disclose when they have been compensated in exchange for their endorsements.

Lord & Taylor, owned by the Canadian Hudson Bay Co., which is also the parent of Saks Fifth Avenue, maintains that it didnt do anything wrong. We never sought to deceive consumers in any way, nor would we ever, it says in a statement. In the FTC's consent order, there is no finding of wrongdoing whatsoever. It says it took immediate action with its social agencies as soon as it was aware of the problem to make sure disclosures were clearly made.

But the FTCs finding also points to the power of these campaigns to fool consumers on a grand scale, noting that the influencers posts reached 11.4 million individual Instagram users over just two days, led to 328,000 brand engagements with Lord & Taylors own Instagram handle, and the dress quickly sold out.

Cantor tells Marketing Daily that the problem isnt limited to fashion and beauty brands, despite the high profile of many bloggers in those categories.

Influencers dont understand their reputation is on the line as well with their audience. Unless specifically educated, they will never know, she says. This is an issue that all parties need to take ownership of, brands, influencers and any agencies working on behalf of brands.

And while many individual influencers are nervous, I believe the FTC will continue cracking down on brands in the months ahead, but large brands with big pockets.
by Sara Guaglione , March 16, 2016

Tribune Publishings plans to acquire the Orange County Register have hit a snag. The U.S. Department of Justice has sent a letter to the lawyers representing the newspapers parent company, Freedom Communications, alerting them that Tribunes bid could raise antitrust issues.

The division believes that the acquisition of Freedom assets by Tribune Publishing Company poses a serious risk of harming newspaper readers and advertisers in Orange County and Riverside County, Assistant Atty. Gen. William Baer, head of the antitrust division, wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to an attorney representing Freedom, the bankrupt owner of the Register and Riverside Press-Enterprise.

According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, the DOJs antitrust division told Freedom that it would intervene if the company selects Tribune Publishing at Wednesday's auction.

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If Freedom selects Tribune as its purchaser, the Division will exercise its antitrust law enforcement responsibilities to ensure that the transaction does not deprive newspaper readers and advertisers in these areas of the benefits of competition, the letter stated.

Antitrust authorities said they do not have the same concerns with the other two bidders -- Digital First Media, which owns the Los Angeles Daily News and several papers in the South Bay and San Gabriel Valley, and a group of Freedom insiders backed by Orange County real estate developer Mike Harrah.

Digital First Media was selected Sunday in a stalking horse phase of bidding, setting the minimum bidding price at $45.5 million in todays auction.

Ironically, both Digital First Media and Tribune Publishing are saddled with debt. DFMs paper, The Denver Post, is suffering from staff cutbacks and the resignation of one of the papers editorial writers, Jeremy Meyer.

Tribune Publishing lost $2.7 million last year on $1.67 billion of revenue. Their plan to acquire Freedoms newspapers is funded mainly by an investment from Michael Ferro, who purchased a 16.6% stake in Tribune for $44.4 million earlier this year.

Tribune wants to buy the Register and Press-Enterprise to expand its business base in the Southern California region, while cutting costs among its newspapers by consolidating printing and distribution operations.
by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, March 16, 2016

AUSTIN, TEXAS -- First Lady Michelle Obama ruled out her own Presidential run at a panel discussion at SXSW here today.

I will not run for president. No, no, not going to do it, Obama said at the closing of the panel discussion comprised of top women musicians and moderated by Queen Latifah.

Obama cited her daughters as the primary reason she wouldnt consider a run for the highest office, noting: Being the daughters of a President -- just think about it, its not so easy.

While she said she doesnt plan to go into politics per se, Obama said she plans to remain active in public service and that, in some ways, she might be able to accomplish some things outside the White House that she could not do while serving as First Lady, or even President.

There are so many ways to impact the world -- you dont need to be President of the United States to do wonderful things, she said calling on the SXSW audience to consider a life in public service.

That sentiment -- cajoling the SXSW community to participate in public service -- was a recurring theme during SXSW, beginning with President Barack Obamas keynote on March 12, and other speeches, presentations and panels with other members and former members of his administration, especially the U.S. Digital Service.

During her appearance today, Michelle Obama said she had no regrets in her role as First Lady, but that she would miss the interaction with people -- especially young people -- that she had in that role.

That said, she said, theres a lifetime after the White House and alluded that she and her husband would continue to play a role in influencing the world.

We will keep pushing, she said.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, March 16, 2016

Marketers have many definitions of what "omnichannel" advertising means, but vendors hope the release of Google Analytics 360 will enable brands to get a better grasp of how to best apply it.

Pivotal Research Analyst Brian Wieser released a research note Wednesday that clearly describes how Google Analytics 360 Suite -- which the company announced Tuesday -- will increase competition for those in the space, but will pose no immediate threat to competitors' business.

"Google will inevitably position itself as better able to integrate marketing technology tools with media placements (both through Google AdWords and DoubleClick products) vs. its software-centric competitors," Wieser wrote.

The combination of the integrated data and marketing analytics products clearly intends to position Google to compete with public companies such as Adobe, Oracle, Saleforce.com and NeuStar, as well as privately held companies like IgnitionOne. Executives at IgnitionOne welcome the news with open arms, because some have been struggling to explain to clients the benefits of what the industry calls "omnichannel" marketing.

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In fact, Christopher Hansen, IgnitionOne chief product officer, points to helping marketers understand the benefits of using an integrated "marketing stack," where the platform triggers search and programmatic display media campaigns and from a dashboad can manage the data from all their campaigns.

"We do things like serving ads in milliseconds, but processes seem to move glacially," Hansen said. "If Google can help to change behavior it helps us."

Marketers are not conditioned to think about true integration and the buzz word "omnichannel" continues to live as a pie-in-the-sky figment in the imagination of marketers who cannot quite grasp the concept, Hanson said. Now it has finally become a term that marketers think they need to understand a bit better, he said, but it will likely take months, if not years to become more comfortable with the approach.

Andrea McFarling, marketing director at Adlucent, said brands previously relied only on search and intent data to guide ad programs, but tools like Google 360 gives brands the ability to reach consumers based on actual preference and behavior, down to the individual customer.

"Using CRM data for ad targeting can become challenging, as the data often lives in disparate sources across the organization, making it difficult to access and use," McFarling said. "Google's new DMP could be a potential solution to that challenge, giving companies easier access to their data. Search marketers, for example, could now use existing CRM data in conjunction with tools like Google Customer Match, resulting in more personalized ad programs, a more holistic view of the entire customer journey and the ability to better understand the impact of investments across all channels.

Consumers will see the bigger benefit in a world full of fewer, but more targeted ads, McFarling said.
An elderly woman in Phoenix. A Toledo toddler. An accountant in Indianapolis. All poisoned by food. Quickly uncovering that their illnesses are connected can make all the difference in halting a deadly outbreak.

About 276,000 cases of foodborne illness are avoided each year because of PulseNet, a 20-year-old network coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, new research has found. PulseNet links U.S. public health laboratories so that they can speedily share details about E. coli, Salmonella and other bacterial illnesses.

The averted illnesses translate to $507 million in annual savings on medical bills and lost productivity, according to a study led by Robert L. Scharff of The Ohio State University and Craig Hedberg of the University of Minnesota.

PulseNet has created a climate that encourages better business practices and swift response to trouble, Scharff said, and that likely explains most of the avoided illnesses in the study.

In the face of public scrutiny, lawsuits and lost revenue, businesses have responded with better self-policing, he said.

"Companies are saying, 'We can't have this risk. This risk is too big for us,'" said Scharff, an associate professor of consumer sciences.

"What's exciting for me is this shows the power of information in the market to force change on industry. It's not just a way of tracking illness, but of allowing markets to work better."

Scharff worked with experts from the CDC and elsewhere to assign a value to PulseNet, both in terms of illnesses prevented and dollars saved. The team analyzed data from 1994 to 2009.

The results, published in conjunction with PulseNet's 20th anniversary, appear in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

PulseNet's annual price tag is $7.3 million, according to the analysis. The network includes 83 state and federal laboratories where microbiologists uncover DNA fingerprints of illness-causing bacteria that tie cases together and confirm outbreaks.

"If more agencies used information as a tool instead of trying to fight the markets, I think we would all be better off," said Scharff, also an economist who is part of Ohio State's Food Innovation Center.

Tainted food is responsible for about 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths in the United States each year.

PulseNet's purpose is to use DNA fingerprinting techniques to link illnesses that are likely to have a shared cause, even if the cases are widely dispersed. Food moves far and wide in the modern world and the first clues of an outbreak aren't always clustered geographically.

Until now, health officials have not been able to assign a value to the service.

"PulseNet has been very impactful. We've known this for many years, but it's been anecdotal. This gives us some hard figures," said John Besser, deputy chief of the CDC's enteric diseases laboratory branch.

PulseNet identifies about 1,750 clusters of disease a year, including nearly 250 that span multiple states.

"PulseNet is an integral part of our food-safety system and it helps improve the quality and safety of all the food that we eat," said Besser, who formerly worked with PulseNet in Minnesota, one of the first states to embrace the program.

"Part of that effect is containing outbreaks, but a really significant portion of the benefit is giving feedback to the food industry and the regulatory agencies so they can make food safer," he said.

Besser said he's hopeful the federal government will be able to sustain PulseNet as changes in laboratory testing methods evolve. Placing a value on the service should help, he said.

To participate in PulseNet, state, county and city labs evaluate samples from people sickened by food and look for the DNA fingerprint of the bacteria, molecular subtyping that goes deeper than simply naming the responsible pathogen.

Salmonella cases, for example, arise all the time. And most are sporadic, meaning the strain of bacteria in one person's stool sample isn't likely to match the strain in the sample across town, or across the country. When they do match, there could be big trouble.

Scharff and his colleagues found that in states that put more DNA data into the system, the chance of future illnesses declined significantly.

Their work focused on E. coli, Listeria and Salmonella - the bacteria that have been analyzed by the network the longest. The team used two models. One was designed to capture indirect effects of PulseNet - the food contamination that never happened because the network exists.

This was possible because states have adopted PulseNet to differing degrees and at different times, opening the door for a calculation based on how rates of illness differ by PulseNet participation level.

"The more that a state uploads into the system, the lower reported illnesses will be," Scharff said.

The second model estimated the direct effects of product recalls when outbreaks arise and are linked to a specific food. Faster identification of outbreaks, resulting in more timely recalls, led to 16,994 fewer Salmonella cases and 2,819 fewer E. coli cases a year at a savings of $37 million, the study found.

Though the study provides estimates of illness reduction, it's unclear how many illnesses are being prevented because of improvements in fields, factories and slaughterhouses or how many are avoided due to better-informed government and consumer actions.

It is also impossible to know about spillover effects - reductions in foodborne illnesses from pathogens not included in this analysis.

"The calculations probably underestimate the impact of PulseNet," Scharff said. "We did not examine whether illnesses from pathogens outside of the three in question were reduced as a result of industry efforts, though they likely were."

The economic model also may not fully include all of the costs.

"We used a very conservative economic method of measuring health costs," he said. The study did not assign a dollar value to losses from premature death and reduced quality of life, a number that could be quite large, the researchers wrote.

On the other side, "we aren't able to estimate the cost to industry from remedial actions," he said. "These could be significant for affected companies, but are lower than the costs of having foodborne illnesses associated with their products."
Future Science Group (FSG) today announced the publication of a new article in Future Science OA, reporting data that explore the effect of frailty on the natural history of diabetes and the implications it will have for therapeutic plans in older people.

In old age, diabetes is associated with high comorbidity burden and increased prevalence of geriatric syndromes, including frailty. Weight loss and malnutrition are characteristic of frailty, which may lead to decreased hyperglycemia and normalization of blood glucose levels, a state that may be termed "burnt out diabetes". As a result, the emergence of frailty may change the natural history of type 2 diabetes from a progressive to a regressive course with increased risk of hypoglycemia. Current guidelines suggest relaxed glycemic control in diabetic, frail elderly patients.

In a new article, "The effect of frailty should be considered in the management plan of older people with Type 2 diabetes", Ahmed H Abdelhafiz and Luan Koay from Rotherham General Hospital (UK), joined by Alan J Sinclair (Foundation for Diabetes Research in Older People, Diabetes Frail Ltd, UK), reviewed the impact of frailty on blood glucose level normalization, and its implications for clinical management of Type 2 Diabetes.

"Although guidelines have suggested a relaxed glycemic control in frail elderly with diabetes, this may not be enough and complete withdrawal of hypoglycemic medications may be necessary in these frail populations," explains Abdelhafiz, corresponding author of the study. "Normoglycemia has been shown in chronic wasting diseases and in frail populations, which led to safe and successful withdrawal of hypoglycemic medications. The main determinants of successful withdrawals of hypoglycemic medications were significant weight loss, and development of multiple comorbidities including dementia."

"This review therefore outlines the importance of regular medications review with consideration of gradual reduction or complete withdrawal when frailty and significant weight loss emerge. It also highlights the need for future research to investigate the effect of frailty on glucose/insulin dynamics and the possible amelioration of hyperglycemia."

"The increasing prevalence of diabetes alongside the increased expected life expectancy apparent in many countries means it is important to continually evaluate diabetes guidelines to ensure they are meeting the needs of the patient population," commented Francesca Lake, Managing Editor. "We hope this work will encourage further research, and improve clinical management, for frail patients suffering diabetes."
Traumatic brain injury appears to be related to both increased risk and earlier onset of mild cognitive impairment, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report.

Researchers discovered those who had experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) with loss of consciousness for more than five minutes were at greater risk of being diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, and showed signs of that impairment 2.3 years earlier on average than those with no TBI history. The study analyzed cases of 3,187 people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment versus a normal-cognition group of 3,244 in a large, multicenter national database.

Other studies have implicated traumatic brain injury as a risk factor for later development of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, but this report was the first of a possible link between TBI and MCI. The study was published recently in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

The researchers found several important variables associated with a higher risk for MCI: TBI with loss of consciousness for greater than five minutes, certain genetic risk factors, and a history of depression. However, these MCI risk factors need closer examination, researchers said.

"This is one of the first studies to demonstrate later-life risks of mild cognitive impairment in relation to a remote history of traumatic brain injury in a large population sample," said senior author Dr. C. Munro Cullum, Professor of Psychiatry, and Neurology and Neurotherapeutics at UT Southwestern. "We cannot yet determine who is at greatest risk for later-life cognitive decline following TBI, but these results suggest that a relationship exists for some people. Our ultimate goal is to identify various risk factors that may play a role."

In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that TBIs accounted for approximately 2.5 million emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States. Mild cognitive impairment, which typically occurs later in life, affects 10 to 20 percent of those aged 65 and older, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

In the database sample group, researchers found TBI patients who had lost consciousness were 1.2 to 1.3 times more likely to be diagnosed with MCI than those who had not suffered brain injuries. Much of that elevated risk also was influenced by a history of depression, added Dr. Cullum, who holds the Pam Blumenthal Distinguished Professorship in Clinical Psychology.

The data came from patient information documented in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center database, which is pooled from 29 National Institute of Aging-funded Alzheimer's disease centers in the U.S. The group studied included those age 50 or older who had initial and follow-up visits completed between September 2005 and December 2013.

"TBI is hypothesized to activate a neurodegenerative process that may interact with age and other factors over time," Dr. Cullum said. "This study shows a correlation between TBI and MCI, but more research remains to be done to explore this apparent link. Factors such as neuroinflammation and buildup in the brain of proteins such as tau or amyloid following injury and over a person's lifetime may play a role."
Gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM), including those thought to be at "high risk", are not getting HIV tests often enough, according to new research.

The study, which was carried out by researchers at the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, found that while national guidelines suggest all MSM test annually for HIV and those "at higher risk" every three months, neither recommendation is being met.

This study, which is published in the HIV Medicine journal, is the first to explore the frequency of HIV testing amongst MSM in the UK. It found that fewer than one in five men reported having four or more tests in the last two years, while the authors estimated that only 54.9% MSM test annually.

Dr Lisa McDaid, the lead author of the study, said: "HIV testing is a core component of current HIV prevention, but despite substantial increases in the uptake of HIV testing in recent years, our results suggest MSM in the UK do not test frequently enough.

"Furthermore, given that current guidelines suggest individuals at risk of HIV test as frequently as every three months - as well as after a risk event - and that men newly diagnosed with HIV are known to have been less frequent testers, there is a clear need to promote frequent testing as routine and address barriers to frequent testing accordingly."

Among the HIV testers, more than half reported that their most recent test was part of a regular sexual health check and over one third tested in response to a perceived risk event.

The study notes that HIV prevention requires men to "incorporate increasingly complex understandings of transmission risks and adaptive behaviours into their sexual lives" and that there is currently no consensus on who "at risk" groups were.

Overall 21.2% reported more than four HIV tests and 33.7% reported two to three tests in the last two years. The study also found that 56.7% tested for HIV as part of a regular sexual health check and 35.5% tested following a risk event.

The guidelines for HIV testing were set by the British HIV Association (BHIVA), British Association of Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH).

The study looked at data from cross-sectional surveys completed by 2,409 MSM in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London in 2011 and a Scotland-wide online survey conducted in 2012/13.

Dr McDaid said: "Frequent testing will be central to the success of biomedical HIV prevention. HIV self-testing kits are now available in the UK, but it remains to be seen if these can increase testing frequency. Regional, demographic and behavioural differences and variations in the risk profiles of testers also suggest it is unlikely that a 'one size fits all' approach to increasing the frequency of testing will be successful."

The study, 'Frequency of HIV testing among gay and bisexual men in the UK: implications for HIV prevention' is published in HIV Medicine. The Glasgow/Edinburgh survey was funded by the Medical Research Council and Health Protection Scotland. The London survey was funded by the Health Protection Agency. The Scotland-wide Online Survey was partly funded by NHS Lanarkshire BBV and supported by advertising from Gaydar.co.uk and Grindr.
A new study presented at the European Association of Urology Congress at Munich and published in the Clinical Endocrinology indicates that around a third of infertile men run at a risk of suffering from metabolic diseases as they grow older.



Metabolic diseases are conditions where the body cannot function properly at the cellular level due to its inability to break down nutrients or excrete waste material. Metabolic diseases are often inherited. In such cases, genetic abnormalities may result in the absence of an enzyme required to carry out a chemical reaction. In addition, conditions affecting organs like liver and pancreas can also result in metabolic disorders. Diabetes is a common metabolic disorder where glucose levels in the body are higher than normal.

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Infertile men may be at a risk of metabolic diseases like diabetes and osteoporosis as they grow older.

Infertility in Males and Increased Risk for Diabetes and Osteoporosis: Are They Associated?
"Due to the security situation, I should stay away from anything related to mobile phones or the internet. Thus, I don't have a direct relationship with Facebook. However, I am always up to date on all sorts of discussions, rumors, and conversations happening on Facebook, through reports and summaries on the issue." (Hizbullah Leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, Al-Akhbar, Lebanon, August 14, 2014)

On December 16, 2015, Congress passed the "Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015." The act requires a report to be presented to Congress within 90 days, by March 15, 2016, detailing the activities of entities doing business with the terrorist group, including with its TV network Al-Manar.

The section of the legislation relating to Al-Manar states:

"SEC. 101. REPORT ON IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS ON CERTAIN SATELLITE PROVIDERS THAT CARRY AL-MANAR TV.

"(a) In General. - Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and leadership a report on the following:

"(1) The activities of all satellite, broadcast, Internet, or other providers that have knowingly entered into a contractual relationship with al-Manar TV, and any affiliates or successors thereof.

"(2) With respect to all providers described in paragraph (1) -

"(A) an identification of those providers that have been sanctioned pursuant to Executive Order 13224 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking property and prohibiting transactions with persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism); and

"(B) an identification of those providers that have not been sanctioned pursuant to Executive Order 13224 and, with respect to each such provider, any information indicating that the provider has knowingly entered into a contractual relationship with al-Manar TV, and any affiliates or successors of al-Manar TV.

Over the past five years, MEMRI has published a series of reports about Hizbullah's activity on social media.[1] Many of the accounts highlighted in these reports have been shut down; however, most of them have been reactivated. It is worth noting that as the 90-day deadline approached, Iranian media reported that Hizbullah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah's account on the social media site Instagram had been shut down.[2]

The following report details Al-Manar's current online activity on U.S.-based websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, as well as Al-Manar's own websites, which are hosted on U.S.-based Internet service providers (ISPs). If they are named in the report to Congress, which is now overdue, ISPs in a contractual relationship with Al-Manar could be targeted with sanctions on their property and financial transactions. It is unclear what, if any, additional penalties may apply.

It should also be noted that in March 2016, both the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Arab League passed resolutions designating Hizbullah a terrorist organization.

Hizbullah Creates Telegram Account For Leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah

In September 2015, Hizbullah launched an official account for its secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, on the Germany-based encrypted messaging app Telegram. While the Al-Manar TV app was removed from iTunes and Google Play in 2012, the messages of Hizbullah and of other jihadi organizations are accessible via Telegram.[3]



Hassan Nasrallah's Telegram page was opened on September 25, 2015. As of March 7, 2016, the page has 2,052 followers. Content hosted by the Telegram account includes his lectures and speeches.

Al-Manar Website Hosted By Miami-Based Company

Al-Manar's website has been hosted in Miami for over four years, and MEMRI has informed the ISP, Vault Networks, of this. MEMRI previously reported that Vault Networks and other U.S.-based companies have been used to host Al-Manar's website.[4]



Vault Networks, the company whose servers host almanar.com.lb, is located in Miami, FL. Its website describes its services as including "server solutions, colocation services, cloud computing, hybrid cloud solutions, backup services, and technical service." The Al-Manar website, accessed at the URL host almanar.com.lb, has been traced to a computer system located in Miami.

Al-Manar Website Starts Live Broadcast Via YouTube, Facebook



On December 2, 2015, Al-Manar announced its decision to broadcast its programs on Facebook and YouTube. This makes the channel accessible to everyone online, including in countries where it has been blocked and outlawed.

Al-Manar News English Twitter Page - Still Active



Al-Manar's English-language Twitter account. As of March 7, 2016, the account had 2,030 followers. The account has been operational since December 2013.

Al-Manar News Arabic Twitter Page - Still Active



As of March 7, 2016, Al-Manar's Arabic-language Twitter page had 312,000 followers. The account was opened in July 2010.

Al-Manar French Twitter Page - Still Active



This page had 811 followers as of March 7, 2016. It has been online since December 2013.

Moqawama Games Twitter Page - Still Active



This page had seven followers as of March 7, 2016, and has been online since November 2013.

Moqawama is Hizbullah's secondary news source aside from Al-Manar. In addition to Al-Manars social media pages, Moqawama has accounts on Twitter and Facebook.[5]

The Al-Manar TV Arabic Facebook Page - Still Active



The "Al-Manar TV (Lebanon)" Facebook page, which hosted some of the channel's live broadcasts, had 12,990 followers on March 7, 2016. The page was created in June 2011.

The Al-Manar TV English Facebook Page - Still Active



The "Al-Manar News English" Facebook page had 1,032 followers on March 7, 2016. The page was created in February 2014.

"AlManar Channel" On YouTube - Still Active



The "Al-Manar Channel 2" YouTube page had 14,204 subscribers as of March 7, 2016. The channel went online on September 18, 2013.

Al-Manar's Live Streams In Action



These are examples of an Al-Manar live-stream broadcast on YouTube. During this broadcast, the page had 2,524 followers and, as of March 7, 2016, it had 3,037 followers.

"Channel AlManar 1" On YouTube - Still Active



The "ChannelAlManar1" page on YouTube had 5,575 subscribers as of March 7, 2016. The channel has been online since April 24, 2013.

"Channel AlManar 2" On YouTube - Still Active



"ChannelAlManar2" on YouTube had 2,769 subscribers as of March 7, 2016. It has been online since May 9, 2013.

"Almanar" YouTube Channel - Still Active



The "Almanar Channel" on YouTube hosts additional broadcasts, which have been shared since the introduction of the mobile broadcasting service. It had 1,123 subscribers as of March 7, 2016. This channel has been online since August 17, 2013.

Arabic "Al-Manar" YouTube Channel - Still Active



As of March 7, 2016, the Arabic "Al-Manar" YouTube channel had 3,555 followers. The channel has been online since December 17, 2012.

The "Sayed Nasrallah" YouTube Channel - Still Active



This YouTube account, opened in the name of Hizbullah leader Nasrallah, hosts news reports from Al-Manar. It had 2,176 followers as of March 7, 2016, and was launched on May 22, 2010.

Al-Manar Sport YouTube Channel - Still Active



Al-Manar hosts an additional YouTube channel dedicated to sports. It had 372 followers as of March 7, 2016. The channel went online on December 29, 2011.

Al-Manar's Google+ Page - Still Active



The "AlManar Channel" Google+ page had 796 followers as of March 7, 2016.

*Steven Stalinsky is Executive Director of The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).

Endnotes:
On March 8-9, 2016, as part of their annual missile drill, which this year is named "Power of the Rule [of the Jurisprudent]" (Eqtedar-e Velayat), Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces launched long-range ballistic missiles, including Qadr-F and Qadr-H missiles, with ranges of 2,000 and 1,400 kilometers, respectively; Qiam missiles, launched from underground silos with a range of 800 kilometers, as well as Shahab-1 and Shahab-2 medium-range missiles. The launch was attended by IRGC commander Ali Jafari and the head of the IRGC aerospace and missile division, Amir Ali Hajizadeh.[1] On the backdrop of the missile launch, IRGC officials also explicitly threatened Israel, stating that the missiles were meant "to destroy the Zionist enemy."

Media reports also indicate that missiles launched on March 9 were emblazoned with the slogan "Israel should be wiped off the face of the earth" written in Hebrew and Farsi (see image below).[2]

In a video, Hajizadeh presented an underground missile silo and said: "These ballistic missiles, which possess pinpoint accuracy, are deep underground. When needed, they are fueled and activated and then moved to underground silos for launch." According to him, the IRGC's underground missile launch silos are the main complimentary element to the IRGC's "missile cities."[3]

For excerpts from his statements, see the MEMRI TV clip below:

This document will review statements by IRGC commanders regarding Iran's missile capabilities and the missiles' intended targets :

IRGC Commander: "Our Missiles Cover The [Territory Of The] Occupying Zionist Regime, Therefore They Fear [Us] The Most"

IRGC Commander Ali Jafari said on March 8 that "holding this drill and launching ballistic missiles from different points in Iran are a decisive response to the boastfulness of [our] enemies regarding levelling sanctions [on Iran] due to the missiles. This missile launch displays only a portion of the capabilities of the IRGC's underground launch silos, which have been expanded throughout Iran.

"The Eqtedar-e Velayat drill will make our enemies realize that the robustness of our defense and national security are red lines, and we are totally unwilling to negotiate about them. The regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran considers security in the face of hostility to be the most important issue and a top priority... Nearly 100% of our production is domestic, and we do not rely on foreigners. We grew under sanctions and have become independent [despite them].

"Iran's officials consider the IRGC's missile capabilities to be a red line and are of one mind on this issue. Our enemies, too, have understood that increasing the sanctions and the security pressure has no impact on the growth of our capabilities. That is why they are levelling economic sanctions, in order to limit our missile capabilities.

"The Eqtedar-e Velayat drill sends a message of security to Iran and neighboring countries in the region. Iran's security is the security of the countries of the region, and all our efforts are meant to maintain our national security.

"While confronting the enemies, the IRGC's finger is always on the trigger. The enemies of the Islamic Revolution should fear the roar of the IRGC's missiles.

"The main threat against Iran comes from the Zionists. Those most hostile towards Iran should naturally fear this readiness and these capabilities the most. Our missiles cover the [entire territory of the] occupying Zionist regime, therefore they fear [us] the most."[4]

IRGC Deputy Commander: The Zionist Regime Will Collapse In The Near Future; Hizbullah Has 100,000 Missiles And Iran Has Tens Of Times That Amount

IRGC Deputy Commander Hossein Salami said at a press conference held after the March 9 missile launch: "If the enemy wishes to realize its ill intent towards Iran, it must know that our missiles are ready to launch and ready to strike it. These missiles are the product of the sanctions, and the more the sanctions increase, the more our development [of them] will increase as well.

"The Zionist regime will collapse in the near future. Hizbullah has stockpiled over 100,000 missiles, while Iran has a variety of missiles [and a stockpile] tens of times greater than Hizbullah's, and this power will not be stopped. We stockpile many ballistic missiles with varying ranges, which can hit enemy targets at any moment from different locations in Iran.

"Yesterday we launched missiles from underground silos and today we launched them from the heart of Iran. The purpose of this drill is to demonstrate our desire for defense and deterrence. Our storage capabilities are smaller than our production capabilities. We are relaying all of our experience and all of our operational, scientific, tactical and strategic achievements to our brothers in the Islamic world and in the front of resistance to America, Israel and their regional allies."[5]

IRGC Aerospace And Missile Division Commander: These Missiles Are Iranian But Belong To The Palestinian, Lebanese, Syrian, And Iraqi Peoples... Their 2,000-Kilometer Range Is Intended To Confront The Distant Zionist Regime

IRGC Aerospace and Missile Division Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh said after the missile launch on March 9, 2016: "These capabilities are the product of the enemy's sanctions, and the more its sanctions increase, the more our response, progress, and capabilities will increase as well. After the JCPOA, the enemies are targeting the Iranian nation's security. Sanctions [due to missile activity] compromise Iran's security, but the IRGC is protecting it...

"These missiles are totally Iranian but [also] belong to the Palestinian, Lebanese, Syrian, and Iraqi peoples, and to all of the world's oppressed peoples. We do not wish to expand the state's borders, but rather to assist the oppressed against evil. Anyone who wishes to tyrannize the oppressed Muslim nations must know that these missiles will threaten it. We do not use these missiles against terrorist groups, even though this is possible.

"Israel is currently surrounded by Islamic states and its life expectancy is short. In a war, it will collapse before these missiles are [even] launched.

"We believe in America's hostility and attribute importance to it. We will not start a war, but neither will we be caught by surprise. Therefore, we have located our tools [of war] in a place that cannot be destroyed according to the enemy's whims, and [therefore] we can wage a prolonged war.

"For us, Israel's evil is totally clear, and the 2,000-kilometer range of our missiles [is intended] to confront the distant Zionist regime. We are expanding our tunnels and silos, and will respond harshly to enemy folly."[6]

Hajizadeh: Even An Atomic Bomb Cannot Destroy Our Tunnels; Some Of Our Missiles Are Ready For Launch; We Can Instantly Launch Hundreds Of Missiles At Designated Targets

Hajizadeh told the Tasnim News Agency that, "in many cases, the IRGC has helped the government with large scale projects of tunnel construction. For 31 years, we have been working day and night to construct tunnels. We have also constructed missile storage facilities, silos and other underground facilities...

"We must be strong so that we can defend the Iranian nation. We must not allow foreign elements to easily create problems for our people. Now Iran is safe and secure. The security of the people is a red line for us, and on this matter we do not observe agreements with anyone, and the IRGC is not remiss in this.

"The people will accept poverty, but no one will agree to jeopardize our security. Therefore, the Majlis and government must help us to strengthen our defensive and missile capabilities in the coming years...

"We have extensive experience in constructing tunnels and we are certain that even if an atomic bomb hits them, they will not be destroyed. We dug these tunnels under mountains and they have high security ratings.

"A large number of our units are on call 24 hours a day and do not know the meaning of vacation. Some of our missiles are upright and ready for launch... Officers have authorization [to attack], and immediately following an attack they can respond [by] instantly launching hundreds of missiles at designated targets.

"It is a complete mistake to think that America can supervise our missile cities. Some attribute importance to America, but America is not that powerful. Perhaps some of our tunnels can be identified, but they certainly cannot be destroyed.

"For us, America is nothing, since we are highly capable and it cannot fight us. [The Americans] are so weak that in 2009, when they wished to leave Iraq, they were concerned about leaving without getting harmed. They sent an Iraqi official from the American embassy [in Iraq] and asked the IRGC for help so their troops could withdraw with dignity. When that representative returned to Iraq, the American ambassador waited for him at Baghdad Airport to see what Iran had said...

"We have acquired the ability to produce missiles with complex mechanisms... Even if they surround all of Iran with walls, our missile production will not stop. We have no need for [the help of] any country."[7]

In a dig at President Rohani, who visited France and posed for a photo in front of French planes, Hajizadeh said: "Some took souvenir pictures with the French Airbus, but we take pictures with our local Iranian products, which are our source of pride and honor."[8]



Hajizadeh and Salami with Iranian reporters with a missile in the background

Advisor To Khamenei's Representative In The IRGC: 'America's Dreams Of Limiting Iran's Missile Strength Will Never Come True... Iran Has Missile Cities, Underground Silos, And Thousands Of Missiles'

Yadollah Javani, an advisor to Khamenei's representative in the IRGC, said on March 9, 2016: "This drill demonstrates the deterrence and multifaceted defensive capabilities of the armed forces, particularly of the IRGC, who can confront any kind of external military threat to the Islamic Revolution...

"Military experts rank Iran fourth in the world in terms of missile strength... After America, Russia and China, Iran is the fourth country to possess underground ballistic missile launch facilities...

"Launching IRGC ballistic missiles from underground silos sends a clear message to the enemies of the Iranian nation. The roar of the IRGC's ballistic missiles is a decisive response by the Iranian nation to the missile sanctions against it. If some enemies thought that the JCPOA and missile sanctions could limit Iran's defensive strength, this drill has shown that these thoughts are starkly at odds with reality... The message is clear: America's dreams of limiting [Iran's] defensive might, particularly its missile strength, will never come true, but as time goes by, Iran's missiles increase in quantity, range, accuracy and effectiveness... The Iranian nation is determined to preserve its deterrent force, and add to its reliability every day.

"Presenting the missile cities and expanding them to a depth of 500 meters underground in many points in Iran, as well as constructing missile silos and storing thousands of missiles with varying capabilities in these cities, indicate that [these cities] house thousands of professional experts who possess a jihadi spirit and Basij thinking. These forces are prepared to respond to any invader. This prominently strengthens Iran's defensive and deterrent power.

"The enemies' fear of the roar of the IRGC's missiles is evident from their efforts to level missile sanctions in order to limit Iran's defensive programs. The enemies must know that there is a fundamental difference between Iran's peaceful nuclear program and Iran's defensive missile program. The most important difference is that the nuclear program is open to discussion, while the missile program and Iran's other defensive military measures are not. No nation can agree to negotiate and agree with its enemies on its own defensive measures. The message sent by the Eqtedar-e Velayat drill stresses this matter to all enemies."[9]

APPENDIX: Images From Ballistic Missile Launch

Below are images from the launch of a long-range Qadr-H missile, with a range of 1,400 kilometers. The missile was launched from the Alborz Mountains in eastern Iran to the coast of Makran in southern Iran near the Gulf of Oman. The missile weighs 17 tons, is 16 meters long and 1.25 meters in diameter, and carries a detachable 650 kilogram warhead.[x]

Endnotes:

[1] Fars, Tasnim (Iran), March 8, 2016.
The concept of langar at the Golden temple, Amritsar is now even more divine and holy. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has initiated serving organic food to the pilgrims in the langar hall. Over one lakh devotees participate in the community service every day.

 YouTube

The idea is to serve chemical free food to the devotees and also inspire other Gurudwaras to follow suit. Currently the shrine is serving organic radish, carrot and cabbage and plans to increase the supply of the organic vegetables in the coming period. The SGPC is also planning to seek expert advice from Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Limited to help them in this noble initiative.
The committee passed two bills in a broader package designed to overhaul the financially struggling school system that is hundreds of millions of dollars in debt. Described by one Democrat on the committee as "emergency" legislation, the measure now goes to the House floor for consideration.

House Appropriations Committee chairman Al Pscholka, R-Stevensville, said the money will come from the state's tobacco settlement fund and not a loan.

The Republican representative also acknowledged the urgency of the situation. He said the bills are meant to keep the schools open, and told Democrats during the committee meeting that contentious portions of the legislation would be worked out and debated on the House floor after Democrats failed to gain support for a number of amendments they introduced.

"This is not the final solution," Pscholka said.

Detroit schools' manager Steven Rhodes said last week that he couldn't "in good conscience" ask teachers to continue working without assuring them that they'll be paid.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Voters in five states are making their choices Tuesday in party primaries. Florida and Ohio are the big prizes sought by front-runners Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, as they aim to prevent rivals from narrowing the delegate gap. Voters will also cast ballots in Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina.

Here's a look at what some voters had to say:

___

When deciding which candidate to vote for, Eduardo De Jesus treated it like a job interview. He evaluated which candidate would continue the changes started by President Barack Obama and which candidate would take the nation "to the next step." On Tuesday, he made his choice at a polling station in Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Hillary Clinton.

Clinton is the only candidate who can work with Congress to get things done, he said.

"Hillary Clinton. She is the best prepared. She has done it," said De Jesus, a 56-year-old Navy veteran who currently is director of operations for a medical insurance company. "She has been there. She is the person that should replace Barack Obama."

Trump has been disrespectful to the election process, De Jesus said.

"My hope is that America can wake up and say, 'This is our process for democracy.' And this will come to pass," he said.

___

James Cantrell, a Republican from Columbus, Ohio, said he voted for Ted Cruz because the Texas senator is "the best constitutional conservative of the bunch" and the one who adhered to his views on taxes and illegal immigration.

"I can't stand (Florida Sen. Marco) Rubio, he's pro-immigrant. (Ohio Gov. John) Kasich has no backbone. He's so spineless he won't stand up to anything," said Cantrell, 52, who runs his own water-well drilling company. "I don't personally care for Trump. I would vote for him in the general election if that's my only choice, but I would rather have Cruz."

___

Sheri Scott, a 44-year-old divorced mother of three children, voted for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders at her precinct in Chicago because she said he seems more trustworthy than Clinton. That trustworthiness gives him a better chance than Clinton of winning against a Republican in the general election, she said.

"I believe he's a genuine person with a good heart. I trust him," said Scott, a customer service worker. "I don't trust her as much. I will vote for her if she makes the nomination."

___

Ross Nichols, a 64-year-old retiree voting in Tallahassee, Florida, said he had planned on voting for Ben Carson until his wife persuaded him to switch over to Trump. Nichols joked that "Ben wouldn't keep his eyes open" during the debates.

His wife, Elvira Nichols, is a naturalized citizen who moved to the United States from Colombia 18 years ago. Elvira Nichols, 60, said she did a lot of research and decided to back Trump. "I believe he's a leader" and that he has shown it through his business accomplishments, she said.

Nichols said she feels that illegal immigrants get "free schools" and "free benefits" while "my husband has been struggling."

"I think it's not fair," Nichols said.

___

Albert Griggs voted for Clinton at a church on Chicago's South Side. The 48-year-old mechanic who is married with two kids said he thinks Clinton has a better chance than Sanders if Trump is the eventual Republican nominee.

"Hillary is going to have the women behind her. Young voters will vote for her," Griggs said.

Griggs also thinks Clinton's husband, Bill, did a good job as president in the 1990s.

"She is his wife. I think she should follow suit. She is more down-to-earth, a people person," Griggs said. "She's not trying to pull the race card or start animosity among the people in the United States."

___

Cruz got 65-year-old Lois Saad's vote, even though the Republican from Columbus, Ohio, couldn't make up her mind between the Texas senator and Trump for the longest time. Her top priority was limiting the size and scope of government.

"Cruz has a proven record. I was on the fence, honestly, between Cruz and Trump. Reason is, Trump because he's not a paid politician and the American people are leaning more toward they're sick and tired of politicians," said Saad, a quality manager for a logistics company. "But Ted Cruz has a proven record and in what he has done and what he has completed, he is a true conservative who walks the walk and talks the talk."

___

North Carolina State University student Elijah Morgan is not registered as a Democrat or Republican, but he voted for Rubio.

"I don't love him as much as I'd like to. You know, like, if the bar for candidate that I'd like to vote for is up here, Rubio's here and everybody else is much below that," said the 21-year-old electrical engineering student in Raleigh, North Carolina. "So he's not my picture-perfect candidate."

Morgan said he's hoping for a contested GOP convention this summer.

"I would prefer that outcome over Cruz or Trump," he said. "I don't really like Cruz. I think he's dishonest. Smarmy, kind of ... I think that (Trump) stands for everything I stand against.

___

Tom and Cathy Lewis cast their votes for Kasich, who lives in their hometown of Westerville, Ohio. Beyond feeling a hometown connection to the Ohio governor, the couple said they were looking for a candidate with integrity and someone they can trust. Cathy Lewis said she likes that Kasich is "presenting the truth" about Donald Trump. Kasich has in recent days criticized Trump for creating a "toxic environment" in the Republican race.

"We need to have a man who will speak against things that are wrong," she said.

___

Sheila Green is a financial specialist at the College Foundation of North Carolina who works with students who want to go to college. She said she thinks Sanders is doing a disservice by leading students to believe they can attend for free. Green, 55, voted for Clinton at her polling station in Raleigh. She doesn't think Sanders' plan for free tuition would work or get through Congress.

"It's not going to happen," she said.

___

On the west side of Columbus, Ohio, Vietnam veteran and registered Democrat William McMillen said he voted for Trump, even though the candidate is a Republican.

McMillen, 70, a part-time warehouse worker, said he is concerned about the country's economic direction.

"He's a businessman," McMillen said. "America is a big business, and he could make money for us."
BAD AXE  Officials will soon have to narrow a list of 10 applicants to three for appointment to the county planning commission.

Three-year terms are expiring for three current members: Carl Duda, who is seeking reappointment, David Peruski, who says he will resign, and Ted Sheldon, who wont seek reappointment after 29 years.

The board of commissioners interviewed applicants Tuesday. Two of the 10 did not show (Todd Cooper and Todd Talaski).

Only one of the applicants, incumbent Carl Duda, lives in one of the 16 townships under county zoning. All are white males (theres currently one female member). The commission also lacks members from the west side of the county.

The candidates: Todd Cooper of Pigeon; Brion Dickens, who chairs Oliver Townships planning commission; Gerald Doyle, a disabled veteran who worked as a mechanic, contractor and truck driver; Carl Duda, current member of the county planning commission seeking a second term, lifelong farmer and former township supervisor and assessor; Terry Heck of Elkton, who owned a commercial roofing company for 36 years and served on the Elkton Village Council; Alan Kretzschmer, Owendales Department of Public Works supervisor and former fire chief; Robert McLean of Minden City, who has been vice chair of Paris Townships planning commission since 2013 and worked in the dental industry for nearly 30 years; Charles OConnor of Lake Township, who retired from DTE Energy after installing underground transformers; and William Renn, Chandler Township supervisor and lifelong farmer.

The board took turns asking, for the most part, the same questions of candidates. Some answered directly while others did not give a definitive response. Responses are listed in the order applicants were interviewed.

Farmland preservation

How familiar are you with PA 116? (Commissioner David Peruski. Farmers enroll in the states Public Act 116 to keep land in use for farming and not develop it for a number of years. Certain conditions must be met for land to be released.)

Dickens: Appreciates the value of PA 116, but says it can be abused.

Kretzschmer: Cannot remember.

Renn: Noted it preserves agricultural land and is an avenue for farmers to reclaim taxes.

OConnnor: Couldnt find any information on the web after looking last night.

Doyle: Doesnt think hes read anything on it.

McLean: PA 116 provides a tax abatement for farmers and preserves farmland.

Heck: Not a whole lot. Its good, he said, but should be more lenient if a project proposed on PA 116 land benefits the community.

Duda: PA 116 preserves farmland.

Wind energy

No applicant has a lease, easement or agreement with a wind energy developer filed at the county Register of Deeds Office. However, records show three current members do: Chair Clark Brock, with RES Americas as part of its incoming Deerfield project; Secretary Jeffery Krohn, as part of a project in Oliver Township; and member Joel Weber, who has multiple wind power documents on file with Heritage Energy as part of its Big Turtle project.

Do you have either a pro-wind or anti-wind bias? (Commissioner Rich Swartzendruber)

Dickens: I fully appreciate the fact that yes, I have a pro-wind bias. I somewhat make my living in wind energy, from small wind, solar  as well as teaching at the college level and formerly lecturing on behalf of the state of Michigan.

Kretzschmer: No clear stance, but says each project is unique and should be evaluated based on its own merits.

Renn: Says he is in favor of wind energy, with which hes been involved since 2007 in Chandler Township, but a planner must weigh the issues on both sides.

OConnor: Says he is in the middle.

Doyle: Wind energy is good when used properly, but if turbines generate enough noise to contribute to health problems, it should be reduced.

McLean: Commissioner Khoury prefaced the question with: Everybody knows youve been very vocal not in favor of wind. He asked McLean if he could make decisions impartially. McLean: Absolutely.

Heck: Not one way or another, but it doesnt look good with turbines falling down and breaking.

Duda: 50/50  on the fence line.

There are 328 wind turbines currently in Huron County. Should there be a cap? (Commissioner Sami Khoury)

Dickens: This is a gray area. There is going to be a finite number. But, Dickens said, it should be determined by government policy rather than open space.

Kretzschmer: No. If property owners want to be involved, I think you have to look at that.

Renn: Against setting a cap. I really doubt if its legal. I think they call that exclusionary zoning. Renn said he doesnt see how a cap could be set with a wind ordinance in place and landowners desires.

OConnor: No, not at all  but keep them off the lakeshore.

Doyle: It wasnt bad when it started, but now there are red blinking lights he can see from his backyard, which he says doesnt affect him.

McLean: Setting a countywide cap would be legally doable, and were rapidly approaching that. It should be set near 500, he said.

Heck: Yes, 500, 600 maybe.

Duda: Yes  Huron County has done its share.

Huron Countys future

What is your vision for the countys master plan, a document setting the blueprint for land use that planners are currently working on? (Commissioner Ron Wruble)

Responses mostly focused on promoting agriculture and tourism. Heck says there should also be more commercial and retail businesses.

Leadership

What is your leadership style? (Commisioner John Nugent)

While no candidate named a specific leadership style, several said they would get input from both sides and base decisions on facts rather than opinions and feelings  to which Nugent countered feelings and opinions from residents should factor into decisions.

Other notables

Board Chair John Bodis was met with the obvious when asking if candidates could make decisions impartially, and whether a project fully meets ordinance requirements should be approved  a Yes from all candidates. Doyle, as an independent consultant in the past, said he had nobody to look at besides himself. OConnor said he does not have many relations in the area or to those in public office.

Im green, I admit it, OConnor said, when asked of his leadership style. He was also asked if he thought his past with DTE Energy would conflict with county planner business. OConnor said he could remain neutral and that he is not swayed by his 33-year career with the utility.

The planning commission has been top heavy on pro-wind, according to McLean.

We used to have five members with contracts, now its down to three, he said, adding hes not pursuing a spot to warm the seat because Im not a seat warmer.
UBLY  A graduation requirement for Ubly students was slashed from the list after the school board heard from parents voicing their concerns at this weeks meeting.

The state of Michigan requires students to complete two years of a world language. However, theres only one year of a foreign language needed for graduation. Students can make up for the other credit in other ways. For example, taking a course that could fill the credentials at the Huron Area Technical Center.

The board heard from three concerned parents during the public comment portion at Mondays meeting. Jeanne Gusa, Sheila Grifka and Scott Messing all addressed their frustrations with the requirement.

My issue is with the Spanish II requirement, Gusa explained. We are the only school in the Huron County area that still requires two years of a foreign language.

 There is a plethora of students and young adults here who do not need that course of action and who have other places they could better serve their time here, she explained.

Grifkas son wanted to replace Spanish II with either AP chemistry or AP physics  two classes he was highly interested, she told board members.

I believe many students will still choose Spanish II because they enjoy it, Grifka

said. I also believe that with the classes we already offer, our students will still have plenty of choices to fill their time.

So please, next time you have a choice, please make Spanish II a choice not a mandate, Grifka added.

Messing told the board he started his own business in the dairy industry after high school and it puts him in direct contact with Hispanics three to four days a week.

I never took any Spanish at all in high school, Messing said. I guess my point of the matter is, one year of Spanish, I think, is plenty. Two years of Spanish for the majority of children that are going to graduate out of this school is not a necessity.

 If I wouldve had two years of Spanish in high school, 10 years later Im sure I wouldve forgotten most of it, Messing said. Because if you dont use it, you lose it. The second year requirement of Spanish is aggravating.

The superintendents recommendation was to keep Spanish II, but board member Roger Osentoski made a motion to eliminate Spanish II as a requirement to graduate.

After some back and forth discussion between members  and determining the appropriate wording of the motion  the board approved a motion to eliminate a second year world language as a requirement for high school graduation.

It should be noted, Spanish II will not be eliminated as a course, but students will not be required to take a second year of a world language  Spanish II being one  to receive their diploma.
BAD AXE  The Huron County Farm Bureau, at its 96th annual county meeting last fall, took official stances on renewable energy, federal water rules and farm-related issues.

The Farm Bureau on Tuesday made those positions clear at an annual lunch with county commissioners. Judge Gerald M. Prill, county law enforcement, farmers and others joined the conversation.

Heres a look at where the Farm Bureau stands on major issues in the county this year:

Drains and weight restrictions

More money should be spent maintaining county drains, according to the Farm Bureau. Road Commission Secretary-Manager Neal Hentschl says it costs $2,500 per mile to maintain drains.

The Farm Bureau opposes lowering weight restrictions for trucks on Michigan roads. Michigans unique truck weight regulations state that trucks weighing up to 160,000 pounds and having as many as 11 axles are able to travel throughout the state. Multi-axle trucks reduce road wear and congestion, and boost the states competitive advantage, some industry experts argue.

Others say Michigans truck weights are partially responsible for the poor conditions of the states roads. A proposal to lower truck weights failed in the Senate in December 2014. Dale Oeschger of the Farm Bureau says more axles increases the ability for trucks to haul more with dispersed weight.

Renewable energy

Last year, the Farm Bureaus stance on renewable energy was simple: support state tax incentives.

That hasnt changed  but much more was said this time around.

We believe the burden of the (states renewable energy) policy has been unfairly placed upon the rural areas of Michigan, most especially the Thumb and Saginaw Valley areas.  As issues over zoning cause

problems for local residents and utilities, it is imperative that county officials show timely leadership in setting clear, actionable guidelines for further development of wind and solar projects. Failure to set a clear vision for renewable energy projects in the area - years after the start of similar projects  has resulted in confusion and division within local communities and wide quality inconsistencies within projects.

I know this has been a controversy and commissioners have been doing a lot of work on this, Oeschger said.

After two years spent overhauling the countys wind energy ordinance, neither side came away 100 percent happy, so it was a true compromise, Board of Commissioners Chair John Bodis said.

You can never have 100 percent agreement, but we do need the energy; that is the problem, Oeschger said, adding, maybe were getting too many wind turbines and there may be less controversy with solar panel installations.

Which the Bureau supports: solar energy can play a major role in meeting current and future goals and can be constructed without placing an undue burden on any one sector of the Michigan geography or its citizens, the Bureau says. Panels can be installed easily on nearly every roof of every building, in addition to ground level placement in every area of the state be it rural or metropolitan.

We see a number of those on rooftops and theres probably room for a few more, Oeschger said.

Other issues

Locals are skeptical of the Environmental Protection Agencys intent to redefine which waterways fall under federal jurisdiction.

Under no circumstance should any agricultural drainage ditch be considered a Water of the United States, part of the Farm Bureaus resolution states, adding that states should regulate water.

The Farm Bureau says it supports unlimited on-farm fuel, chemical and fertilizer storage with consistent and adequate containment standards outlined.

Community banks under $500 million of assets should be taxed the same as credit unions, according to the Bureau.

We oppose credit unions being tax exempt if the banks are not allowed to be too, part of a resolution states.

The Farm Bureau says it supports the use of unmanned aircraft systems for agriculture, forestry and other natural resource use, with consent from the landowner if the aircraft surveys or gathers data about the property below navigable airspace.

But it opposes a federal or state agency using unmanned aircraft for the purpose of regulatory enforcement, litigation and as a sole source for natural resource inventories used in planning efforts or to gather data without a landowners consent.
Pentagon officials said Tuesday that the sweeping changes proposed under the "Force of the Future" military personnel reforms would go forward and even be expanded despite the surprise resignation of the plan's "architect."

"Nothing's changed with regard to Force of the Future," Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said of the plan that has been trumpeted as a legacy initiative for Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.

"The secretary remains squarely behind the initiatives he's already unveiled and has more to come," Cook said. Carter will be making the case for Force of the Future in upcoming congressional testimony, Cook said.

"And he feels confident that these are changes that are critical to this department going forward" and adapting to retain personnel and recruit more into the ranks in a changing economy, Cook said. "It's our goal to continue working with Congress."

Force of the Future suffered a major setback Monday with the resignation of Brad Carson, the Pentagon's top personnel chief as acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.

Carson, considered the "architect" of Force of the Future, was expected to leave the building on April 8. Morgan Plummer, a former Army officer and Carson's top adviser, was expected to leave along with Carson, Pentagon officials said.

In a statement after Carson announced his resignation, Carter said, "Brad Carson has developed some of the most important and groundbreaking work in years to modernize our personnel policies."

"At my direction, he charted a path forward for the Department and our people that will leave a lasting legacy, and will improve the mission effectiveness, readiness and the quality of life for our civilian workforce, uniformed service members and families," Carter said.

Carson was nominated last year by President Obama to succeed Jessica Wright in the Under Secretary's personnel post but immediately ran afoul of the Senate Armed Services Committee over alleged violations of the obscure Federal Vacancies Act, as well as the reforms he was proposing.

The resignations of Carson and Plummer followed a particularly confrontational hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) at which the Force of the Future proposals were called "outrageous" and Carson's qualifications were questioned.

"This initiative has been an outrageous waste of official time and resources during a period of severe fiscal constraints," Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican and the SASC chairman, told Carson. "It illustrates the worst aspects of a bloated and inefficient defense organization."

"I find it deeply disturbing that you are proposing to add expensive fringe benefits allegedly aimed at retention during a time when we are asking 3,000 excellent Army captains to leave the service who would have otherwise chosen to remain on active duty," McCain said.

McCain and other members of the panel also expressed concerns that Carson had violated the Federal Vacancies Act by performing the duties of the undersecretary for personnel and readiness while still in the "acting" status.

The Federal Vacancies Act had also tripped up the nomination of Eric Fanning, the acting Secretary of the Army, to become the first openly gay head of a service branch. The Pentagon got around that by changing Fanning's title and his nomination was approved by the SASC earlier this month to become secretary of the Army.

However, Fanning's nomination was still on "hold" because of Sen. Pat Roberts, a Kansas Republican. Roberts was seeking assurances from the White House and the Defense Department that Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, prisoners will not be transferred in the future to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, before he will lift the hold on Fanning's nomination.

Carson, 49, a Navy veteran of Iraq and a former Democratic congressman from Oklahoma, was influential in Carter's move to open up combat roles to women in the military, and also in the proposal to allow transgender troops to serve openly.

Carson's reform proposals under Force of the Future, which he billed as the "biggest personnel overhaul in 45 years," were aimed at fundamental changes in the way the Defense Department recruits, pays, promotes and manages the military.

In an article for Defense One last June, Carson bluntly described what he was attempting in Force of the Future as an effort to discard the hidebound ways of doing things that had become entrenched in the Pentagon bureaucracy.

"In this modern, data-informed world, neither the business community nor the Defense Department has time or decision space for the bureaucratic needs of hierarchical, linear organizations of a former era," Carson said.

"Unfortunately, the department has been just that type of institution when it comes to personnel management -- until now," Carson said.

The major personnel changes sought by the Pentagon require the approval of Congress. Other changes can be authorized by Carter without the input of Congress.

With only 10 months left in the Obama administration, it remained unclear whether the major changes could be put in place this year, or whether Carter would turn to seeking to lay the groundwork for reform for the next president.

Critics of the plan question the viability of adding personnel programs that could potentially cost billions at a time when the Defense Department was cutting the Army to 450,000 troops and also was continuing to face the possibility that the arbitrary budget caps known as sequestration could be re-imposed.

One of the main proposals in the Force of the Future plan that would require congressional approval would revamp the military pay system by creating new basic pay tables for high-demand career fields such as cybersecurity to allow commanders to dole out merit-based cash bonuses.

Another major proposal, also requiring congressional approval, would change the "up-or-out" system of promotions under federal law that limits the number of times an officer can be passed over for promotion before being forced to leave the military. Under Force of the Future, promotions would be based more on experience and performance rather than time in grade.

Carter has unveiled the proposed Force of the Future changes in three "tranches," which were detailed by Military Times. The first tranche disclosed in November included:

-- Creating a new high-tech personnel management system for matching individual troops with job assignments in an online network Carter compared to Facebook.

-- Creating a new civilian "chief recruiting officer" to oversee efforts to attract top talent.

-- Expanding corporate fellowship programs to allow service members to work in the private sector.

In January, Carter offered "tranche two," with changes that included:

-- Extending the forcewide maternity leave benefit to 12 weeks for all women and 14 days for men. (The Navy, which had a policy of 18 weeks maternity leave, would reduce the leave to 12 weeks.)

-- Expanding mandatory hours for on-base child-care facilities.

-- Expanding options for military service members seeking specific duty stations to provide more stability for their families.

Carter has also been considering a "tranche three" and possibly a "tranche four" of personnel changes. One of the additional reforms Carter was expected to propose involved changing regulations to make it easier for mid-career civilian professionals to seek "lateral entry" to join the military without having to start at the bottom of the traditional rank and pay structure.

In his statement announcing his resignation, Carson said, "I'm very grateful to the men and women of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. Their commitment to those that serve our country, in and out of uniform, is unparalleled, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have served with such an outstanding team."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at richard.sisk@military.com.
FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky -- The Department of Justice want troops and military law officials to pass on their complaints about bad lending practices and financial predators, one top DOJ official told soldiers at a town hall event here today.

"What we're trying to do through visits like this one is to hear from service members about the concerns and issues that thevety face that we at the Department of Justice might be able to help address. To hear from the lawyers, including the JAG lawyers who we've met with here, who work with soldiers on those issues and to take that back to see how we might improve the work that we're doing on behalf of this population," Stuart Delery, acting associate attorney general, told reporters before the event.

The town hall meeting marks the one-year anniversary of the DOJ's service members and veterans initiative, which focuses on case enforcement over financial protections and education on troops' consumer and legal rights under the Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA).

A series of legislative proposals presented by the DOJ to Congress late last year seeks to amend existing legislation to expand service member and military family legal protections. Among those amendments are measures that would increase penalties to employers, rental and lending businesses that violate the SCRA, and give military family members expanded state residency rights. That legislation has yet to be fully considered.

"The package ... that we proposed last year came out of our experience doing this work on behalf of service members but also from visits like the one we're conducting today," Delery said. "So that's one way in which visits like this one to installations around the country have proved incredibly valuable. It tells us problems that we might need work to address, including potentially through legislation."

Delery told soldiers at the town hall that the DOJ is relaunching its Servicemembers.gov site to include expanded assistance to service members looking for legal help, education and information about ongoing pertinent cases.

"Servicemembers.gov is a work in progress and we are just at the beginning of a long process toward creating the best possible educational resource for you and your families, and for the people who want to help protect your rights," he said. "We look forward to feedback from the military community as we work to make the website as useful as possible."

The town hall meeting, which was attended by about 125 soldiers, is the fifth such event held over the past year, a DOJ public affairs official said.

-- Amy Bushatz can be reached at amy.bushatz@military.com.
A lawmaker on Tuesday suggested Congress may have to redraft part of the initial legislation authorizing the Veterans Affairs Department to grant claims compensation to Persian Gulf War veterans suffering from multi-symptom ailments that make up Gulf War Illness.

Responding to testimony showing the VA has denied compensation to more than 90 percent of veterans claiming Gulf War Illness, Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, D-New Hampshire, said it was not Congress' intent to require VA accept an undiagnosed multi-symptom disorder as a condition.

"We created this Catch-22," Kuster said during a joint hearing of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and Oversight and Investigations subcommittee. "It sounds like an unintended consequence of what we were trying to do to help Gulf War veterans  They had multi-symptoms and we didn't have the science and the words" to properly describe what we wanted VA to do.

Gulf War veterans and advocates say that 90 percent or more Gulf War veterans who apply for compensation for Gulf War Illness are turned down. VA officials say veterans filing claims for Gulf War Illness may still be compensated when a particular symptom or symptoms are diagnosed and service-connected. But the compensation would be for the chronic symptom -- sinusitis or gastritis, for example -- but not for Gulf War Illness.

Congress in 1994 authorized the VA to compensate Gulf War vets suffering from a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed -- or combination of undiagnosed illnesses -- linked to service in the Gulf War. But the result, Kuster suggests, is that VA awards claims for Gulf War Illness when symptoms cannot be diagnosed.

She suggested the committee could urge VA Secretary Bob McDonald to move toward a single Disability Benefits Questionnaire tailored for Gulf War Illness claims. There are currently about 70 individual DBQs, according to the VA.

"But we may need to also unravel the Catch-22 we created in our attempt to help Gulf War veterans," she said.

Also during the hearing lawmakers said there is a need to extend the deadline by which Gulf War veterans need file claims for benefits for undiagnosed illnesses.

The deadline period is currently Dec. 31, 2016, and lawmakers want it extended by five years.

David R. McLenachen, VA Deputy Under Secretary for Disability Assistance, told the panels that McDonald has the authority to extend the deadline but was unable to say if that would happen.

But Ron Brown, president of the National Gulf War Resource Center, told Military.com on Tuesday that McDonald already informed him the presumptive date would be pushed back. He said McDonald told him in a letter dated Feb. 9, 2015 that he also was concerned with the "end date" for filing.

"We, once again, plan to use our existing regulatory authorities to extend the presumptive date beyond the current December 31, 2016, deadline," McDonald wrote. "This is consistent with our beliefs, our policy and our past actions."

In 2011 then-VA Secretary Eric Shinseki used the same authority to extend the date -- then about to lapse -- to the end of 2016.

Rick Weidman, Executive Director for Policy and Governmental Affairs for Vietnam Veterans of America, likened the VA's treatment of Gulf War Veterans to that experienced by Vietnam veterans, who were told for years that that chronic health issues were not related to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

He said VA forces Gulf War veterans to try to link their conditions to the war when "VA knows that you cannot pin down exact cause when you have a multi-toxin environment, which is exactly what you had with the Gulf War."

The VA has relied on work from the Institute of Medicine, or IOM, in deciding how to handle Gulf War Illness, and Weidman said IOM appears predisposed to seeing the illness as psychological.

During a meeting last month the IOM Gulf War panel recommended no further research into Gulf War Illness, said Weidman, who attended the meeting. He said half the member panel, along with the chair, is made up of psychologists and psychiatrists and the other by research scientists.

Weidman said IOM should be conducting an epidemiology study comparing Gulf War veterans in certain military occupational specialties with troops in the same job who did not deploy to the war, as well as civilians with no military background.

Brown said there has been 20 years of studies, though he does not know if one suggested by Weidman has been carried out.

-- Bryant Jordan can be reached at bryant.jordan@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @bryantjordan.
Russian warplanes continued bombing in Syria and "fewer than 10" departed the region following President Vladimir Putin's stunning announcement that his forces had accomplished their mission and a partial withdrawal had begun, Pentagon officials said.

"We have seen some Russian aircraft depart Syria and return to Russia but we have not seen a large contingent of Russian forces" pulling out, said Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook. "So we'll have to wait and see like everybody else what the Russians do in regard to President Putin's reference to a partial withdrawal."

Cook said that the remaining Russian aircraft carried out airstrikes Tuesday. He did not say how many strikes were conducted or specify where the targets were located, but said that the airstrikes appeared to be aimed at areas controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

"I'm not aware that any of these strikes technically violated" the Feb. 27 cessation of hositilities" that was agreed to earlier this month by the U.S., Russia and other nations through the mediation of special United Nations envoy Staffan de Mistura. The cessation of hostilities excluded ISIS and the Al-Qaeda- affiliated Al-Nusra Front.

Cook said he could not give a figure on the number of Russian planes that have left Syria but "fewer than 10 is what we've seen." Russia was believed to have 45-50 warplanes in Syria, including advanced Su-34 bombers, Su-24M bombers and Su-25 attack aircraft.

Most of them have been flying out of the Russian-controlled Hmeymim airbase, also known as Khmeimim, near the northwestern city of Latakia. Despite the announced withdrawal, Russia has said that it will maintain control of the Hmeymim airbase and the small Russian naval base near Latakia that has been its only base in the region for decades.

Putin's announcement initially appeared to catch the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as much off guard as the West but a Syrian official later claimed that al-Assad had been kept in the loop.

"We were not surprised because the decision was made in coordination and consultation with us," Bouthaina Shaaban, a senior adviser to al-Assad told CNN.

"We knew beforehand that this is what was going to be announced because the Russians came here to achieve certain jobs, and we and they agreed that most of the jobs have been achieved," she said.

In making the announcement Monday, Putin said that "the task that was assigned to the Ministry of Defense and the armed forces as a whole has achieved its goal."

Putin's move came as Syria entered its sixth year of a civil war that has claimed at least 250,000 lives, sent more than four million refugees into neighboring countries and caused a refugee crisis in Europe.

Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday that he would go to Moscow next week to meet with Putin to discuss the way ahead but added that "we have reached a very important phase in this process."

In a statement Tuesday, Russia's Ministry of Defense said that its troops in Syria were loading equipment and gear into cargo planes to prepare for the withdrawal.

The ministry said that the warplanes leaving Syria would be accompanied by military transport aircraft and would be making stops at airfields in Russia for refueling, as some were homebased more than 3,000 miles from Syria.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at richard.sisk@military.com
Three top officials at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, are being targeted for removal.

VA Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson on Tuesday identified the three as Associate Director Lance Robinson, Chief of Health Administration Service Brad Curry, and hospital Chief of Staff Dr. Darren Deering.

The Phoenix VA became ground central to the wait-times scandal that eventually revealed that officials across the VA system were hiding their inability to meet appointment standards by keeping secret lists of veterans seeking care.

"It is vitally important to veterans in Phoenix and across the nation to understand that we will take appropriate accountability action as warranted by the evidence," Gibson said in a statement. "Frankly, I am disappointed that it took as long as it did for proposed actions to be made, but I am satisfied that we carefully reviewed a massive amount of evidence to ensure the accountability actions are supported."

The VA did not detail the allegations against the three but The Arizona Republic reported last month that the executives were under investigation to determine their "knowledge, involvement and culpability" in the wait-times manipulation and retaliation against whistle-blowers who exposed the problem.

Gibson said the cases against the three distracted from progress being made to improve veterans care, but removing them is an important step in getting past the past controversy and "refocusing solely on caring for our nation's veterans."

Two months ago Gibson changed VA policy to allow him to place officials subject to an administrative investigation into non-patient care where they could carry out duties as assigned. Previously, VA policy was to put the officials on paid administrative leave.

Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Florida, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said he applauded Gibson and VA Secretary Bob McDonald's move to fire the three, saying it "is clearly the right thing" to do for the veterans depending on the hospital's care and employees working there.

"But we cannot forget the fact that it took nearly two years of investigations just to get to this point, and this is just the beginning of the disciplinary process," said Miller, who has been the leading voice in Congress demanding accountability for the wait-time delays.

"The truth is, because of arcane civil service protections that put the job security of corrupt bureaucrats before the safety of veterans, it will take many months and possibly years for VA to complete these proposed disciplinary actions."

But it should serve as a wake-up call -- including to the Senate -- to reform the system.

Had the Senate passed legislation sent over from the House last summer, the three Phoenix employees could have been fired in weeks rather than continue collecting salaries while the process moves forward, Miller said.

The wait-times scandal found its way into the public eye in 2014, leading to congressional hearings and, ultimately, to the resignations of senior leaders in Washington. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki demanded resignation of Under Secretary for Health Dr. Robert Petzel in May, but within weeks President Obama asked for Shinseki's resignation, as well.

Some 30 veterans awaiting appointments at the Phoenix medical center died before getting care, investigators concluded. VA inspectors concluded the delays contributed to the deaths but did not cause them.

After first placing Phoenix health care system Director Sharon Helman on administrative leave while it investigated the mess, the department fired her. She appealed to the Merit System Protections Board, but the firing was upheld -- not because of the wait-times manipulation but because she accepted lavish gifts from a former VA colleague turned lobbyist for a company wanting to do business with the hospital.

The Phoenix system's current director, Deborah Amdur, was appointed to the job in November. She previously was the medical center director of the VA Medical Center in White River Junction, Vermont.

-- Bryant Jordan can be reached at bryant.jordan@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @bryantjordan.
The chief of the Army Reserve on Wednesday recommended that Regular Army soldiers be assigned to Reserve units to beef up the component's full-time support and boost readiness.

Lt. Gen. Jeffrey W. Talley, in his last appearance before the Senate Appropriations Committee before retiring, said the Army Reserve's manning support is only about three-quarters of what it needs to be.

"I strongly believe that full-time support is essential for readiness," he said. "Full-time support provides administrative, medical, training, maintenance and mobilization support for Army Reserve units and is absolutely necessary for generating and sustaining individual readiness, [which is] a prerequisite for leader and unit readiness."

He said the Reserve is at only 76 percent of identified requirements and suggested one way to fix that would be to resurrect a program in which active-duty soldiers were used to augment the active Guard and Reserve.

Talley said the program "was tested and implemented back in the '90s and in my opinion should be reinstated." It would benefit the active duty as well as both reserve components, he said.

The Army Reserve's current strength is just over 199,500. The Army National Guard is 348,000.

But both are facing reductions next year, with the Army Reserve going to 195,000 and the Army National Guard to 335,000.

Talley made his recommendation Wednesday as the commanders of the country's reserve components offered their own assessments of needs to the appropriations panel.

A common concern among the reserve leadership is the possibility that the financial relief they gained from the last sequester cuts when lawmakers agreed to a special deal will not be repeated. The onerous Budget Control Act that mandates cuts across the board covers only the 2017 budget unless Congress rescinds it.

Gen. Frank Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said that the coming end-strength reductions will mean the smallest National Guard since the Korean War, notwithstanding the U.S. has military operations backed by reservists across the world.

"We face these realities within a daunting fiscal environment that requires us to balance the need to keep Americans safe against budgetary constraints and increasing national debt," Grass said.

Lt. Gen. Timothy J. Kadavy, director of the Army National Guard, said 2017 funding for construction will allow the guard to take care of only the most critical projects at a handful of locations across the country.

"However, many of our facilities are not modernized," Kadavy said. "Forty-seven percent of Army National Guard facilities are over 50 years old. It is necessary that out-year funding levels increase, as these facilities are in need of extensive modernization and resourcing."

Vice Adm. Robin Braun, chief of the Navy Reserve, said aircraft recapitalization is its "number one equipping priority."

"It is critical for the Navy Reserve's required operational support" to Navy aviation, she said.

Fiscal constraints have created an environment in which the command has to be increasingly focused on extending the service life of its infrastructure and hardware, she said.

"However, each has a finite lifespan and we accept increasing risk as we approach that limit," she said. "Compounding the situation are the long process times at our aviation depot-level maintenance facilities caused by reductions in the skilled work force."

-- Bryant Jordan can be reached at bryant.jordan@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @bryantjordan.
The Marine Corps will roll out a brand-new version of its 21st century warfighting strategy in May, the commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command said this week.

The Corps will debut a refreshed edition of Expeditionary Force 21 at the massive Sea Air Space symposium near Washington, D.C., Lt. Gen. Robert Walsh said, allowing troops to get a glimpse of what lies in store for Marine Corps operations. The symposium kicks off May 16.

First published in early 2014, the 47-page EF-21 document drew a roadmap for the Marine Corps into the 2020s, emphasizing smaller units operating independently and a return to sea-based operations. But Walsh told Military.com the document may have focused too much on the non-combat elements of the Corps' global role.

"I think the original writing, in a lot of ways we got a lot of comments back that it made it look like we were doing distributed operations to do theater security cooperation, to touch more countries, train with more people, more in that sense. That's exactly opposite of what we originally intended," Walsh said. " ... Some of it works in a non-hostile environment, to do [humanitarian assistance and disaster relief], that sort of thing. But I also think what we're seeing is, how we're going to operate on a future modern battlefield is to be able to disaggregate."

He likened the Marine Corps' new approach to an amphibious version of the Navy's "distributed lethality" concept, with deployed ships spread out across one or more areas of operations, instead of grouped closely together. The ships can then move back in close in the event of a large-scale fight.

"I think that's the piece that we're really looking at," Walsh said. "We see that, we'll cover more battlespace, we'll bring more capabilities to bear quickly, and we've got to be able to aggregate when we need to."

Like the original EF-21 document, the refresh will focus on company-sized Marine units operating with limited oversight, conducting amphibious landings in contested environments, and maneuvering through complex operating environments.

Walsh said the document will detail plans to develop the Corps' distributed logistics operations, precision fires, command and control, and maneuver capability to support these nimble units.

Incorporation of new and developing technology is also key to the future strategy. Information reviewed by Military.com indicated that the EF-21 refresh will discuss new ways to use autonomous technology and "human-machine combat teaming" with unmanned aerial vehicles to increase the power and ability of the warfighter.

This summer, these concepts will be on display as Marine units participate in the massive Rim of the Pacific joint exercise, Walsh said.

During the exercise, he said, a Marine unit will "deploy" from Camp Pendleton, California, to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center -- Twentynine Palms, to demonstrate a mock battle against an opposing force armed with cutting-edge technology.

"They'll have robotics, both ground and air capability. They'll have drone capabilities that can sense, locate, lase, and also acquire weapons," Walsh said. "How we use that, how we operate against that. The first Marine in the door is probably going to be a robotic [device] doing the breaching operations."

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@monster.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.

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Lawmakers raised concerns with top Pentagon leaders today over the costly program to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

Members of the House Armed Services Committee questioned leaders from the Air Force and Navy about the proposed overhaul of what is known as America's nuclear triad -- a three-pronged system consisting of strategic bombers, intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

The endeavor -- which is scheduled to cost billions over the next two decades -- has many lawmakers looking for ways to reduce costs at a time when all the services are struggling with maintain the readiness and modernization of their conventional forces.

"We are going to spend $3.3 billion on every single one of the nuclear weapons," Rep. John Garamendi, D-California, said at the March 16 hearing.

"The question that we need to ask ourselves is are we prepared to send all of you on a mission of spending close to a trillion dollars over the next 25 years on revamping and rebuilding our entire nuclear arsenal and delivery systems?

"The question is what are the really important things that we need to do? Do we really need to replace the Minuteman IIIs with Minuteman IVs in the next 20-25 years? Do we really need to have a new, long-range cruise missile? Or can we delay that? And instead spend the money on wrapping up" the Army's current problem of sacrificing modernization for near-term readiness.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley spoke up first.

"I just want to be clear, I don't have a part of the triad, but I can tell you that in my view ... that nuclear triad has kept the peace since nuclear weapons were introduced and has sustained the test of time," Milley said. "That is not unimportant and the system is deteriorating, Congressman, and it needs to be revamped. It needs to be overhauled."

Garamendi responded by saying, "We are not debating on whether it needs to be revamped. The question is how much and when?"

Rep. Trent Franks, R-Arizona, asked if the Obama administration has "conducted analysis of eliminating one or more legs of the triad or significantly altering the U.S. nuclear posture."

"Congressman, I'm not aware of any detailed look at that," said Navy Secretary Ray Mabus. "We have been obviously focused on our leg of the triad -- the Ohio-class replacement."

The Navy has done a detailed analysis on a program to replace the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines and the program is on track to begin in 2021, Mabus said.

The nuclear deterrence mission is a "matter of our national existence and from a Navy standpoint, it's our top modernization program," Mabus said.

"You are going to have to look at this program in a national lens because if you drop this in the middle of a Navy shipbuilding budget, it will gut Navy shipbuilding for decades to come. And so the reason we are focused on how to do it, is to do it without damaging our conventional superiority as well."

Franks asked Air Force Secretary Deborah James for her view on the importance of the triad.

"I absolutely support it, and I believe that the administration supports it precisely because it has worked for us for decades," James said. "It has provided that deterrent, and each leg of the triad is a little bit different aspect of that. The ICBMs are considered responsive, the sea-launched are considered survivable and the bombers, of course, are flexible."

Rep. Robert Wittman, R-Virginia, asked the Navy about the possibility of funding the Ohio-class replacement with the National Sea-Based Deterrence Fund.

"If we take the cost of that boat and we put that in the middle of a shipbuilding budget, we know what happens; it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out," Wittman said. "What I believe we need to be looking at is what do we do to mitigate that?

"What kind of cost savings would we be able to accrue by funding Ohio-class replacement with the National Sea-Based Deterrence Fund? There is still some resistance here. I think that is the way to do it, and it doesn't interfere with any long-term viability of any other ship-building program."

Adm. John Richardson, chief of naval operations, said that "significant savings are achievable by the use of a fund like that."

"With the authorities that the fund may provide, it would allow you to make very wise business decisions," Richardson said. "The projection is you could save more than 10 percent over the cost of the program, which is essentially getting one submarine for free."

James said she was not familiar with the NSBDF, but said "if it would help and benefit one leg of the triad, I would ask that all the legs of the triad be included in such an approach."

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

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Syrian regime forces have significantly reduced attacks on opposition groups since Russia declared its intention to withdraw most of its air and ground assets, a U.S. military spokesman said Wednesday.

"We have seen a fairly notable reduction in the amount of activity against the opposition forces" following the surprise announcement of the withdrawal by Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Army Col. Steve Warren, a spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve.

"It's difficult to tell" the long-term impact of the Russian move, Warren said, but "generally speaking -- of course, there are exceptions -- there haven't been significant operations against the opposition."

In a video briefing to the Pentagon from Baghdad, Warren said that the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with Russian backing were continuing to press an offensive against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) near the historic town of Palmyra in eastern Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported that Assad's troops were conducting heavy shelling of Palmyra and its vicinity.

However, attacks on ISIS and the al-Qaida-affiliated Al Nusra Front would not be in violation of the loose guidelines of the "cessation of hostilities" brokered three weeks ago by United Nations envoy Staffan de Mistura.

The U.S. military and Moscow differed widely on the pace of the Russian withdrawal. "We have seen a small handful of Russian aircraft depart -- eight to 10, somewhere in there," Warren said. "We've seen some movement of troops" but "no significant numbers of troops have departed. It's still too early to tell how this Russian withdrawal is going to develop."

In a statement, the Russian Ministry of Defense said a second "batch" of planes had left Syria on Wednesday, following another group that departed Tuesday shortly after Putin's announcement that his forces had completed their mission in Syria.

The ministry's statement said the second group of planes "took off from the airbase in Khmeimim (near northeastern Latakia) heading to places of permanent deployment on the territory of the Russian Federation." Without giving a number, the ministry said the second group of planes included Su-25 ground attack aircraft and an Il-76 cargo jet.

Despite the Russian announcements, Warren was wary of declaring that Russia was matching its words with actions. "We haven't seen a significant reduction of their combat power, and particularly their ground combat power remains static," Warren said. "It's difficult to know what their intentions are. As we compare their words to their actions, we'll have to wait and see what develops."

State Department spokesman John Kirby backed up Warren's assessment. "The Russians have largely been meeting their requirements under the cessation of hostilities," Kirby told CNN.

As a result, "for the first time in five years, organized violence is down" in Syria, Kirby said.

Coupled with Russia's stated intention to withdraw, "it could be a very positive sign," he said.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at richard.sisk@military.com.
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IIHS frontal offset test

(Courtesy image)

DETROIT, MI - Automatic emergency braking will be a standard feature in major automakers' cars and trucks by 2022, according to multiple reports.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expected to announce a final agreement with automakers Thursday morning in Virginia, Reuters reports.



The agreement includes at least 10 automakers, including General Motors, Ford Motor Co., Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motors Co. and Volkswagen AG.

All told, the automakers participating in the automatic emergency braking agreement with NHTSA represent 99 percent of U.S. light vehicle sales, Reuters reports.



Automatic emergency braking uses radar, cameras and sensors to detect an object in the vehicles path and then brake accordingly to avoid a collision, regardless of whether the driver hits the brake pedal.

Related: Michigan inventors hope auto braking system becomes standard equipment

The feature is already found on many newer vehicles, but is by no means standard and is still considered an extra advanced safety feature, alongside things such as lane departure warning systems, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that the automatic-braking technology would prevent 20 percent of all vehicle crashes.

"Automatic emergency braking systems already have already been proliferating and are an essential element to the autonomous vehicles that are coming in the future," said Michelle Krebs, senior analyst for Autotrader. "Automakers, with the prodding of NHTSA, are adding automatic emergency braking systems, designed to prevent crashes by applying the brake or applying the brake with more pressure than the driver can, to improve safety for today's consumers and prepare for self-driving vehicles of the future."
MassMutual MidMichigan, a financial services firm with 125 years serving West Michigan, moved its offices to 99 Monroe Avenue.

MassMutual MidMichigan's rapid growth was the catalyst for a downtown location to accommodate its aggressive hiring plans while also offering flexible, contemporary space to host educational workshops and expand community partnerships.

"We are delighted to join the vibrant community at 99 Monroe," said Mark Keating, General Agent, MassMutual MidMichigan. "The location is a reflection of the innovation and forward thinking that allowed us to thrive in West Michigan over the last 125 years. This move enables us to offer services and value to our clients, and our agents, that separates us from the other financial service companies in West Michigan," he said.

Since the firm's inception, MassMutual MidMichigan's goal has been to help clients make good financial decisions while building community relationships that increase in strength over generations. This goal has remained vital to the firm's evolution and has fostered its growth to now include over 65 financial service professionals serving clients in branches across the state.

"We are excited to welcome MassMutual MidMichigan at 99 Monroe," said Julie Maue, Director of Marketing, Franklin Partners. "Their entry takes our building to full capacity. We appreciate their commitment to Grand Rapids and look forward to the value they add to our tenant community."

The new headquarters includes a highly versatile, technology-enhanced community room or training space that can accommodate up to 80 people.

"One of our primary goals is to open the dialogue about financial issues facing our community and to provide insights and potential solutions," Keating said. "We are delighted the space allows us to both host educational events and offer our space to similarly minded community resources. We look forward to the professional community partnerships we will both form and strengthen as a result."

MassMutual MidMichigan relocated to its new headquarters Monday, March 1, 2016 with a Grand Opening scheduled for May.

If you are interested in learning more about MassMutual MidMichigan, contact Melissa Simonson at 616-447-6226 or email melissasimonson@financialguide.com.
In her various capacities as editor of Gourmet Magazine, Top Chef Masters judge, restaurant critic, author, chef, and PBS host, Ruth Reichl has had her finger on the pulse of the nation's - and the world's - restaurants. But somehow she missed Michigan's burgeoning dining scene.

"Had lovely meals in Michigan; who knew there was such an interesting restaurant scene there?" wrote Reichl on her website, RuthReichl.com.

During a recent swing through the Great Lakes, Reichl hit two Michigan restaurants: Malia Mediterranean Bistro in Battle Creek and Antietam in Detroit, and she had high praise for both restaurants.

Malia (34 West Michigan Ave., Battle Creek) was described as "a stunningly ambitious restaurant with some of the sweetest service I've encountered lately." Reichl started her meal with a burrata and fried basil salad, and an "enormous - and delicious" bowl of tomato pasta. The dessert, a bacon-Nutella brownie was intense, but "not my thing."

Antietam (1428 Gratiot, Detroit) was called out for "serious ambition, incredibly kind service," by the chef and author. The first course at Antietam was a tasty-looking caramelized goat cheese-topped beef tart, but Reichl saved her enthusiasm for the main course: a "gorgeously roasted" white fish with fried sage.

During her time as a restaurant critic for The New York Times, Reichl was known for donning elaborate costumes, including wigs, to avoid detection by restaurant staff. In recent years, she's become an avid social media user, and her distinctive tweeting style has been the subject of some attention, including a parody account that tweets as Ruth Bourdain.

You can read the whole Michigan-focused post on RuthReichl.com.
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10 ways to make sure the next movie isn't a dud like 'Crystal Skull'

When news broke that Steven Spielberg would direct Harrison Ford in the fifth "Indiana Jones" movie for a July 19, 2019 release, a lot of fans reacted with tempered enthusiasm. The last outing, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," the one with Shia LaBeouf and those stupid aliens, left a bad taste in our mouths. But with more than three years before it hits screens, the movie is likely still in its embryonic stage - so I humbly present Spielberg with 10 things he could do to not screw it up. (Even though he's probably not listening.) - John Serba

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1. No CGI

Keep it old school, Spielberg. (Harrison Ford will keep it just plain old.) No obviously phony CGI ant attacks and whatnot. Real cars, real snakes and real people doing real things.

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2. Keep George Lucas away

We love George Lucas. He created Indiana Jones (and something called "Star Wars"). But the guy has a tin ear now. His recent track record is lousy: Three crummy "Star Wars" prequels and story and producer credit for the not-great "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." If "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" proved anything, it's that no Lucas results in a better movie.

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3. Find a top-shelf screenwriter

Hollywood tends to work backwards on a big project: concept/franchise, name director, big star and release date are ready to go for "Indy 5." Um, may I suggest they start with a screenplay? They could hire "Guardians of the Galaxy" co-writer to take a pass at the script. Or Christopher McQuarrie, a mainstream filmmaker with just enough edge to make his work a step outside the norm. Maybe "Ex Machina" filmmaker and "28 Days Later" and "Sunshine" scripter Alex Garland? How about hiring Edgar Wright as a script doctor?

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4. Steer clear of Shia LaBeouf

Spielberg may inexplicably love the one-time Hollywood hopeful, but must of us didn't dig his "Crystal Skull" performance, and are pretty much LaBeouffed out at this point. No one says you can't re-cast the role of Indy and Marion's son, Mutt Williams - or tell a story without him.

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Indiana Jones Is In This Movie For 5 Minutes And Then It's About His Badass Daughter #FakeIndy5Titles @nerdist pic.twitter.com/BeYAfQmwyX  Political Padme (@PoliticalPadme) March 15, 2016

5. Cast Anna Kendrick

OK, I stole this idea after running across this tweet. If any young star of either gender could hang with the wily wit and charisma of Indiana Jones, it's Kendrick. Maybe she's young Marion in a flashback. Maybe Indy needs a daughter. Or maybe any and every movie could be improved by casting Anna Kendrick.

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6. Cast Werner Herzog as the villain

The world's greatest living film director is an imposing screen presence, even when he's not playing himself - you've seen his nihilistic turn as bad guy The Zec in "Jack Reacher," right? Right. Of course, Herzog going nihilistic isn't much of a stretch from his everyday persona. But if you want an inspired choice to play a Nazi or any other nasty, Werner is a winner.

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7. Keep it of this Earth

The UFO story in "Crystal Skull" - well, it sucked. Hard. Real hard. It makes the cartoonish "Temple of Doom" look like a documentary. If the last movie proved anything, it's that Indy is best when he's digging up stuff from under the ground, not seeing things fly above it.

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8. Bring back Marion again (and not Willie)

Karen Allen is a true charmer as Indy's love interest Marion, and the character could use a re-do after her presence was squandered a bit in "Crystal Skull." She's a strong woman, so why not work on making her stronger? And whatever happens, Spielberg should leave Kate Capshaw's "Temple of Doom" squealer Willie in mothballs - she was the rare casting misstep in the first three films.

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9. Make sure Indy is too old for this s**t - but just a little

Part of Ford's appeal here in the 21st century is his grizzled demeanor and world-weariness - something he brought to his revisitation of Han Solo in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," with great success. Truth be told, Han Solo and Indiana Jones are different riffs on the same theme: the scruffy, cocky adventurer, wriggling out of scrapes. The fifth "Indiana Jones" movie should acknowledge his age, and not have him act too much younger than he is; there's a great story to be told about a greying, wrinkled Indy, and I hope this is it.

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Photo: Andy Kropa/Invision/AP

10. Do what J.J. Abrams did

I know, telling the master to follow in the footsteps of his protege seems like putting the cart before the horse. (If you don't think Abrams is Spielberg's direct directorial descendant, then you haven't seen "Super 8.") But with "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," Abrams greeted franchise nostalgia with open arms, and made the movie a fan would want to see. It's a point of view Spielberg should consider. Because have you ever met anyone who didn't like "Raiders of the Lost Ark"?
The thriving illegal business in gold across Myanmars porous borders is likely to continue unchecked until the government legalises trade of the raw material, said traders and industry sources.





Industry bodies have asked the Ministry of Commerce to strike the precious metal from its list of restricted goods, saying this would boost government coffers and help to combat smuggling.

Traders exploit international price differences for the raw material, selling to smugglers who transport the metal out of the country, said U Myo Myint, chair of the Yangon Region Gold Entrepreneurs Association.

Gold enters and leaves Myanmar through Muse on the Chinese border, Myawaddy on the Thai border and Maungdaw on the border with Bangladesh, he said. When the price of gold is high in Yangon, gold is smuggled into the country and when the price is low, it is sold overseas.

Traders confirmed there is profit to be made by selling Myanmar gold to neighbouring countries, where it can often fetch a higher price than in the local market.

We send gold overseas because it makes more profit. It is transported by various routes including across the Indian border at Tamu [in Sagaing Region]. Smugglers do not have to pay tax, which means they can make a good income, said one Yangon-based gold trader who asked not to be named.

U Maung Aung, adviser to the Ministry of Commerce, said demand is strongest from India. India is the country with the most demand for raw gold, as well as for finished products. Gold is also one of Indias main exports, which it sells on to other countries including to the Middle East.





A senior official from the Myanmar Gold Trading Association confirmed that gold is mostly smuggled to India, where demand is highest, but also to China, Thailand and Bangladesh.

Which country has the most demand? It fluctuates, but when demand and the value of gold are both high, there is a lot of smuggling. Many of the traders are Indian, and they send gold to India, he said.

According to the World Gold Councils Gold Demand Trends report for full-year 2015, India and China are the mainstays of the international consumer market for gold, with China seeking gold bars and coins as a wealth preserver during times of domestic currency weakness.

Indian consumers have been resolute in their demand for gold despite adverse weather conditions and a squeeze on rural incomes, the report said. Recent reports in Indian media suggest that illegal gold enters the country by land from Myanmar into Kolkata, where it is distributed to other cities.

Rules in Myanmar forbid the trade, but are widely broken. Smugglers are therefore able to take advantage of a tax-free environment, pocketing all the proceeds at the expense of Myanmar livelihoods and the wealth of the country, said the senior official at the Myanmar Gold Trading Association.

He did not attempt to estimate the value of the trade, saying only that it is a large amount.

Gold sellers agreed that the illegal business is damaging to Myanmar, though warned that if the government tried to tax the commodity, smuggling would likely continue as sellers seek to maximise profits. Most traders are smugglers, said a Yangon-based seller, asking not to be named.

Smuggling is more profitable than production, he said. Gold is sourced from mines across Myanmar and taken across the border according to demand. They buy wherever they can make the most profits, including in the most remote areas, the trader said.

The commerce ministry is assessing plans to allow gold to be exported as jewellery or other finished products. U Myo Myint agrees with traders that this would not prevent illegal sales, arguing that buyers in other countries do not necessarily favour Myanmar designs.

An alternative solution may be a gold and metal exchange that would allow local businesspeople to legally trade with the international market. Entrepreneurs have proposed the idea to the Ministry of Commerce but the project has not yet been approved  it would depend on gold being removed from the ministrys list of restricted items.

U Maung Aung previously told The Myanmar Times that legalising the trade is not a decision for the ministry alone. We need recommendations from everyone, he said. The trade should be legalised if we can also make finished products. Perhaps it will happen in the next government term.

Secretary of the Myanmar Gold Entrepreneurs Association U Kyaw Win said the proposal is still under discussion, and will need to be considered by the new government.

If the market is approved, local traders will be able to sell to international buyers and the government can begin to profit from the industry through taxation, he said.

The illegal ways will disappear gradually when the state and private enterprises can cooperate in supervising the sector. If smuggling routes were replaced by legal exchanges, it would help to preserve our natural resources, and introduce some control and balance, said U Kyaw Win.

If foreign countries can publish figures about how much gold they buy from Myanmar there would be more transparency and it would be very beneficial.

Translation by San Lay and Khine Thazin Han
At a glance, the K10,000 note seemed real  but extensive examination under a lamp at a neighbourhood stall gave it away as a counterfeit.





The bill, which felt more papery than its authentic counterparts, somehow duped or dodged counterfeit checking machines last week at a local moneychanger, ending up in the hands of an unwitting customer.

New K10,000 bills were introduced last year in part to deter forgeries, but fake cash can still be found in circulation. Though official sources say such bills lack watermarks and feel different than real money, these notes sometimes make their way through Myanmars economy unnoticed.

While the Central Bank dismisses the problem as minor, and downtown Yangon moneychangers say they hardly ever see forged money, one local bank says counterfeiting is a growing concern  especially with higher-value bills.

The Central Bank says the difference between real bills and fake ones is clear.

The public can distinguish easily between genuine and counterfeit notes if they look at them thoroughly, it says on its website. But the volume of counterfeit notes is very small compared to currency in circulation ... Hence there is no major [counterfeiting] problem in Myanmar.

Counterfeiting is not a growing problem in Myanmar, said currency management department deputy director general U Kyaw Win Tin. A very small percentage of it is in circulation. Every country using a cash base faces counterfeiting problems.





Co-operative Bank (CB Bank) managing director U Zayar Kyaw said that a tiny percentage of the money in circulation per year is counterfeit.

Such cases are very rare, he said.

In downtown Yangon, money changers on Anawrahta Road said that fake money almost never came to their attention.

One cashier, Ko Aung Win Htut, said that counterfeit money was prevalent in the past  cropping up twice a month four years ago  but not anymore.

He pinned the printing of forgeries on middlemen, whereas another moneychanger said the bills may come from outside the country.

Cashier Ma Hnin Sapal Soe spoke of two experiences with counterfeit kyat through her job. In the first case, the money was cheaply made and clearly fake, and she suspected it was made locally. The second involved a more sophisticated forgery brought in by a traveller, which she thought may have been printed overseas.

Police say that counterfeiting is small-scale in Yangon, with more forged cash printed near to the countrys borders.

Fake money in large amounts has been [seized] at the China-Myanmar border area, said Police Major Moe Aung of the Criminal Investigation Departments Number 6 unit, adding the counterfeiters hope to sell the notes for cash. For example, they may attempt to hawk false K1000 notes for K500, he said.

Elswhere, forgers prefer to keep the money for themselves, he said.

In Yangon, sometimes police make arrests for counterfeit cases, but the amount is not too big because the [counterfeiters] make money to use themselves.

One local bank official, who asked not to be named, said that counterfeit bills have in the past made their way over from Thailand and China, adding that potential forgers in Myanmar may lack the technology to print fake money.

Meanwhile, Yoma Bank chief executive officer Hal Bosher said that forgers could fall somewhere between laymen with home printers and larger groups.

I dont think of Myanmar as low-hanging fruit for sophisticated syndicates, he said. [They could be] people in the country who dont have massive resources, but are better than you would be with your computer.

If Yoma finds counterfeit money at the bank, it sends the bills to the Central Bank where the official process dictates they are destroyed, according to Mr Bosher.

We can be compensated by the Central Bank electronically, he said.

On the other hand, non-bankers can get stuck with counterfeit bills if they try to use the money  or even face questions from the authorities, as moneychangers said counterfeit cash would prompt them to call the police.

Besides the threat of arrest, the experience of dealing with counterfeit bills can be annoying. I think it can certainly be frustrating for customers in the normal course of business, said Mr Bosher. It puts the bank and the customer in an awkward situation.

To battle fraud, the government has issued superior-security bills, and the Central Bank has shared information on the difference between genuine and counterfeit bills with all of Myanmars banks, said the Central Banks U Kyaw Win Tin.

Yangon moneychangers said counterfeit-checking machines were helpful in sorting fake money from real.

Mr Bosher said Yoma was investing in technology that would allow for more effective bill screening.

The Central Bank has put further controls on the new bills. They have different characteristics, and are harder to forge, he said. But as that improves, so do the counterfeiters.

Additional reporting by Thin Yee Mon Su and Toe Wai Aung
The Central Bank of Myanmar has pledged to ensure that the normal course of business is not disrupted as banks prepare to operate under the new Financial Institutions Law, an official at the monetary authority said yesterday.





The Central Bank and the World Bank held a forum to discuss the banking industry on March 14 and 15 in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw, to address concerns among local lenders that adapting to the new law, enacted on January 25, would be challenging.

Daw May Toe Win, deputy director general of the Central Bank, said the law should cause very little disturbance to banking operations and that the Central Bank would monitor compliance.

Until new regulations or directives are issued by CBM under the [new] law, existing regulations or directives are applicable, she said.

The Central Banks regulation department plans to issue rules regarding the acquisition of substantial interest in local banks, the maximum permissible shareholding, banks investments, corporate governance, accounts and net positions of foreign banks, and customer due diligence related to anti-money laundering, according to a Central Bank presentation seen by The Myanmar Times.

The Central Bank is also preparing to improve its own supervisory capacity with technical assistance from international finance institutions including the World Bank, the presentation said.

All banks including financial services companies and the representative offices of foreign banks must follow compliance guidelines set out by the Central Bank, and return their licences and registration certificates within six months, said U Soe Thein, deputy managing director of Asia Green Development Bank.





The Central Bank will then issue replacement licences under the new law.

But the Central Bank has not demanded that banks adhere to specific requirements within the next six months, such as reserve ratio requirements, though we do have to provide details of the backgrounds of our shareholders, he said.

Under the new law, domestic banks must have a minimum paid-up capital of K20 billion and comply with stricter corporate government rules and reserve ratio requirements.

Existing shareholder licences will automatically be renewed under the new law once banks have submitted the information and documents required by the Central Bank, the presentation said.

The World Bank has also suggested that the Central Bank and commercial banks cooperate more on law implementation, to make compliance more effective, said U San Thein, a financial expert at German international cooperation agency GIZ.

The new law includes separate categories for commercial banks and development banks. This had led to some concern among local banks that feared their existing businesses may be curtailed.

Development banks can provide long-term finance, issue guarantees and commitments, and carry out other activities prescribed by the central bank, while commercial banks are allowed to engage in a wider variety of services including foreign banking and mobile banking activities.

However, lenders issued with commercial banking licenses under the new law can carry out both commercial and development banking activities, the presentation said.
Grand Andaman Islands Company has taken over the right to harvest birds nests on four groups of islands in Tanintharyi Region that were put out to tender, after the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings failed to make a cash payment for one of the bids.





UMEHL had won the right to produce and harvest swiftlet nests on one lot of islands, in a tender announced on February 9. However, the company failed to make the necessary payment on time, officials said. The UMEHL lot was then awarded to Grand Andaman Islands, which had already won the right to farm the other three lots.

Regional forestry department deputy director U Win Naing said, After discussions with the regional government and the ministries of forestry and mining, we decided to give Grand Andaman Islands the right to harvest.

Grand Andaman Islands thus becomes the first Myanmar private company to hold a licence from the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry to harvest birds nests on the Moscow, Yay Aye, Kasai Hla, Kaunt Ngar and Mali islands.

Birds nests are harvested across Southeast Asia, partly for local consumption and for export to China and Hong Kong, where they are considered a delicacy and believed to have healing powers.

Made from the saliva of swiftlets, the nests are typically eaten as part of a soup.

U Tin Thein, director of the Tanintharyi Region forestry department, said UMEHL had been in the birds nest business for years.

Last financial year, UMEHL won all four lots for a bid of more than K620 million. This year, the value of total bids on the four lots reached K1.8 billion, he said.





An open tender system was launched in 2013 but UMEHL has been the sole bidder and winner for the past two years, and has subcontracted a company called Padamyar Yaung Chi to harvest the nests, which can be dangerous work.

The first lot includes eight islands in Dawei district, the second includes 10 islands in Myeik district, the third is for nine islands in Kawthaung district and the fourth is for a group of five islands in Myeik.

U Myo Win Than, director of Grand Andaman Islands, said the main target was to conserve the islands and to prevent the extinction of bird species.

Only 80 percent of the nests are to be harvested, and the remaining 20pc will be conserved. We will harvest only enough to cover our capital costs, and will not look for profit, he said.

If a proposed plan for a wildlife conservation area is approved by the Ministry of Forestry this year, the area of the 20pc of unharvested nests will become a bird sanctuary.

Apart from the harvested area, which will be restricted, the rest of the islands will be open to the public, he said.

Grand Andaman Islands said it would seek to develop the islands as tourist destinations.
Each year, a handful of Myanmars young leaders are selected to travel more than 10,000 kilometres journey to New Zealand. With a population of more than 4.5 million, snow-capped mountains, a thriving cafe culture and left-hand drive, New Zealand is a world apart from the temple-adorned townships and bustling cities of Myanmar. Reporter Emily Spink meets the alumni of various academic and business leadership programs, who braved an unexpected journey and are now helping to shape the economic, social and political development of Myanmar.





Ko Khin Maung Htwes first attempt to study in New Zealand ended inauspiciously, with a rejection letter from Victoria University. My [Myanmar] university degree was not enough, he explained.

Perseverance paid off, however, and more than two years later, the 31-year-old is at the helm of the newly opened New Zealand Scholarship Centre in Yangon, and holds a masters degree in public policy from Victoria University. He said there was never any question that he would return to Myanmar after completing his degree.

Most of the ASEAN Scholar alumni see the different worlds and they have that feeling that we should go back to our own country, he said in a recent interview.

Since 2010, 959 students from the ASEAN region have been granted one of the New Zealand Aid Programs scholarships, attending nine institutions. Some 52 of them were from Myanmar.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said the network of scholars would go on to make a difference in government, business, NGOs and their local community.

Ko Khin Maung Htwe hopes to make the scholarship application process more accessible to young people, including those living in remote areas, and where access to a computer or internet was limited.





Its quite hard, and very few candidates apply, he said.

In 2010, he gained a place in the Myanmar Young Leaders Program (MYLP), through which he had his first taste of the land commonly associated with sheep, mountain ranges, rugby and hobbits.

For some in Myanmar that was all they had seen of New Zealand: limited knowledge gleaned from programs on the Discovery and National Geographic channels.

Ko Khin Maung Htwe was one of 39 students from Myanmar who had passed through the young leaders program, which involved three months of English language learning and 10 weeks studying human rights, democratic processes, basic economics, and research and proposal-writing skills.

After working in Myanmar for three years, Ko Khin Maung Htwe returned to New Zealand in 2014 as an ASEAN Scholar.

I hope at some point I can persuade MPs to adopt a public service complaint mechanism, he said.

Ma Thin Myat Khine, 31, was also determined to return home and contribute after studying in the Netherlands and New Zealand.

Now working on the Thai-Myanmar border, the ASEAN Scholar returned from New Zealand in 2014 after completing a masters degree in public health.

Before I went to NZ, my work experience was limited. I was very naive. I didnt have critical thinking and I couldnt participate in higher-level meetings. We didnt dare think outside the box, she said.

The experience gave her the confidence to develop a voice and respectfully express her opinion and discuss programs  whether it be in front of leaders from the National League for Democracy or officials of the Ministry of Health.

If I hadnt gone to university, I wouldnt have been able to do this kind of thing, she said.

When she returned from New Zealand, the health worker set up a Facebook page to disseminate information and connect with prospective scholars.

In this transitional time, we need a lot of educated young leaders for the future, she said.

As the public health institute project manager at the Karen Department of Health and Welfare, Ma Thin Myat Khine offered support and training on health-related issues, including immunisations programs and how to reduce malaria and the mortality rate during pregnancy.

Broadly speaking, I want to help poor and vulnerable people throughout the world. Specifically, I want to change the lives of people in Myanmar, especially those in very remote, poor, and ethnic areas, she said.

Ma Wint Wint Khaing Tun hoped that she too would be able to use her experience to contribute in some way to his evolving country.

The ASEAN Scholar completed her bachelors degree in Japanese at Victoria University in Wellington in 2013.

I hope the future of Myanmar will be better. I hope to do something useful for my country as a diplomat, she said.

Now working as first secretary at the Myanmar embassy in Jakarta, she said education was crucial to helping figure out whether [something] is right or wrong by our own thinking.

We can have rational thinking and common sense, he added.

Applying for a scholarship for postgraduate study in an English-speaking country presents high barriers for many young Myanmar people.

Ma Seik Nyan considers herself one of the lucky ones. In 2009 she received the only undergraduate scholarship offered by New Zealand through the MYLP program.

For disadvantaged people its very difficult to apply for a masters, said Ma Seik Nyan, a workshop coordinator at the International Labour Organization. Even though they complete their BA from government school, they cant do a masters degree in New Zealand.

Its about improving your world experience and bringing back skilled human resources to your country. Myanmar needs that.

Ma Seik Nyan arrived a week late due to a visa delay. As a result, she missed the orientation and then had just three hours to enrol in subjects and decide on a major.

There were so many challenges, said the now-33-year-old, who was able to navigate application forms with the help of Kiwi connections.

She said she hoped to see more undergraduate study opportunities offered in the future.

As Myanmar opens up a bit, and as English classes are made available, young people will understand how valuable education is for their future. With an international degree, Im really sure you can get a more professional job, she said.

As a die-hard hobbit fan, Ko Thuta Aung found his happy place among the shires in the remnants of the Hobbiton village movie set, while in New Zealand on an ASEAN Young Business Leaders Initiative (YBLI) 2014.

The managing director of the consultancy firm Hamsahub was one of 52 top business leaders and entrepreneurs who had visited New Zealand since the inception of ASEAN YBLI in 2011.

Myanmar is a tricky place to do business. You need to be flexible and to take risks. You cant expect to make a lot of money in the early stages and you cant play safe, said Ko Thuta Aung, 31.

He attended two weeks of classes at Victoria University to learn strategies on where to take his business and how to ensure it would remain relevant over the next five years.

We want to play a key role in bringing economic dignity to the people of Myanmar, he said.

He worked with organisations to create better governance structures.

The Asia New Zealand Foundation was contracted by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to manage the program, and about 10 Kiwis had visited ASEAN under the YBLI.

Ko Thuta Aung said gaining international exposure through experiences like those offered in New Zealand was crucial for the future development of Myanmar.

If you want Myanmar to stay relevant to ASEAN, you cant leapfrog. You cant leapfrog if you dont know what youre jumping to  We cant overtake Thailand if we dont know what their advantages are.

Myanmar was once known for its rice and rubies. What will the new Myanmar be? What do we become? That is a journey we will all have to take together.
You hear her coming down the street each morning, the thanakha-clad street vendor hollering her wares to the rooftops. Beans, mangos, corn  if you can name it, a Myanmar saleswoman can balance it on her head.





These women who carry their wares head-high inspired Yangon design firm Yangon Redesigned to develop a series of designs based on their lives. Featuring work from artists Monika Traikov, Maggie Prendergast and Julie Ann Pedida, the gallery will be titled Head Shop!

We are all female illustrators and we only illustrated the women carrying things on their head, Traikov said in an interview with The Myanmar Times. Its a celebration of how incredible it is that, you know, women are able to carry massive watermelons around on their head in the hot sun.

Traikov, who works at the Yangon-based Nex design firm with co-designer Juli Ann Pedida, started the project a month ago. They connected with travelling painter Maggie Prendergast to collaborate in the design production before printing them on posters, postcards and stickers.

Maggie went on the circle train and took photos of all the ladies selling things from the top of their heads, Traikov said. Then we bought all the products  dried fish, pe pyoke beans, watermelon, pineapple  Basically all the things you could buy, we bought.

Once they had source material, Prendergast developed watercolour sketches that Traikov and Pedida transformed into digital designs using Adobe Illustrator. They added components such as shadows, information and details to produce the final product.





The gallery is Yangon Redesigneds first, though Traikov indicated the group has plans to develop more designs in the next few months. Their work can also be seen showcased at the La Carovana market on Saturday mornings, and the initiative offers weekly Night Talks about design on Friday nights.

Head Shop! opens tomorrow at Nex Labs, Apartment #6A, 9 Kyaung Lan, Sanchaung. Postcards will be available from K2000 and posters from K7000. For more information, including directions to the gallery, visit the Head Shop! Facebook event.
Myanmar's United Nations-appointed human rights investigator has given the new government a 100-day challenge. The task list  starting from its first day in office next month  includes lifting restrictions on freedom of movement in Rakhine State, meeting a 30 percent quota for women participating in the peace process and stopping the use of landmines.





Speaking to the UN Human Rights Council on March 14, Myanmars special rapporteur on human rights Yanghee Lee presented a summary of her observations throughout the country over her year-long mandate.

Ms Lee began her assessment by noting the success of the November 8 election, calling it a watershed moment in the countrys reform process.

It is a testament to the scale of change that over 100 political prisoners once of concern to this council are now sitting in parliament, she said.

However, she also urged that celebrations of the polls not eclipse ongoing rights issues, reminding the council that hundreds of thousands of voters were disenfranchised, and not one Muslim lawmaker currently represents the largest minority religious group.

Ms Lee noted challenges that will soon be on the table for the next government, including an entrenched system of judicial corruption, an institutionalised culture of harassing critics and the mammoth undertaking of legislative reform.

At the end of the month, the council will determine whether, and in what capacity, to extend the mandate of the special rapporteur for Myanmar. Rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called for a full extension despite the democratically elected government, noting several protracted human rights crises, not least the ongoing armed clashes.

Now is not the time to relax international scrutiny: a single election and the militarys partial withdrawal from governance wont transform the situation, Human Rights Watch said.





Ms Lee also noted the need for sustained vigilance.

There is also a deep scepticism from many born from historical experience, she said. One civil society actor told me while there are changes in Myanmar they are not effectively reaching remote rural and ethnic areas. There is a feeling they are being left behind.

In her submitted report, Ms Lee hit on a subject that has earned her intense ire from opponents in Myanmar  religious discrimination and communal tension in Rakhine State.

Development efforts alone will not be enough, she said.

She urged the next government to immediately allow Rohingya Muslims held in internally displaced persons camps for the past four years to move freely. She also pressed for equal access to healthcare, education and basic services. Of her eight recommendations to the new government, several centred on Rakhine State.

How can you expect communities to recreate bonds if they continue to be segregated? she said.

According to the special rapporteur, official orders in northern Rakhine State have required Rohingya  officially referred to as Bengalis  to obtain permission to marry and have attempted to limit couples to two children. Barring access to medical treatment has also continued to cause preventable deaths.

There are more than a million Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar deprived of some of their most fundamental rights. This is a million too many, Ms Lee said.

Responding to the special rapporteur, Myanmars representative to the council, U Maung Wai, said the criticism was exaggerated.

Many delegations want to bring religious and faith issues to the forefront. This is very improper for them, he said. He added that regarding allegations of military perpetrated sexual abuse, the reports were exaggerated for effect.

[Delegates] use the Human Rights Council to air their views, but actually they are making hate speech, he said.
Sporadic fighting across northern Shan State is sending civilians fleeing in different directions, with some attempting to return to their homes and then being forced on the run again.





Aid workers say the unpredictability of the conflict, which covers half a dozen townships and involves the Tatmadaw and armed forces of two ethnic groups, is complicating relief agency efforts to track numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Many are staying in makeshift camps in Buddhist monasteries, while large numbers have sought refuge in the homes of friends and relatives but still need aid.

The pattern of short armed clashes, population displacements, returns, and re-displacements sadly continues to categorise life for conflict-affected communities in Shan State in 2016, said Pierre Peron, a spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

While the Tatmadaw is focusing its offensives on the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), analysts see the militarys main objectives as securing strategic territory lying across trade and energy routes leading to China, while driving a wedge between the Kachin Independence Army mainly to the north and the United Wa State Army  the largest of Myanmars armed groups  further to the southeast.

In political circles the Tatmadaws deployment of more troops and air power is also seen as an assertion of the militarys strength and independence from the executive as Daw Aung San Suu Kyis new government prepares to take office.

OCHA staff working with local organisations in reception areas estimate that more than 1000 people have been newly displaced in the past week following the latest outbreak of fighting north of Kutkai between government forces and the TNLA. UN staff were granted access to arrival sites on March 14 to assess humanitarian needs.

An estimated 650 displaced people have arrived at Nam Hpet Kar village, with more people arriving daily. A further 440 people fled to Mong Yu Lay village, where they are staying with host families and monasteries who are providing initial assistance, Mr Peron said.





He also noted recent outbreaks of violence and small displacements in Kyaukme, Namkham, Mong Shu and Mansi townships.

In Kyaukme, some 3000 people have been able to return home, but there are still about 1200 who cannot go home due to ongoing insecurity and clashes in their specific village areas, he said.

TNLA officer Tar Pan Hla said that according to the groups latest figures there were a total of 3225 IDPs in the three townships of Kutkai, Namkham on the border with China, and Manton. He did not give figures for civilians displaced in Kyaukme, Namhsan and Nawngcho townships.

Those seeking refuge in Nam Hpet Kar and Mong Yu Lay in Kutkai township are ethnic Taang, also known as Palaung, according to U Mai Hla Shwe, chair of the Taang Literature and Culture Association.

The numbers of people displaced by war has increased in recent days. They are worried that clashes would break out in their villages, although most of the fighting is in the forest far from villages, he said yesterday.

The associations U Mai Yu Kyaw, who is in Kutkai, said there are just a few donor organisations on the ground and that supplies are inadequate. Rice, medicines and clothing are needed, he said.

The fighting has prompted international appeals for restraint by all sides.

Forces of the Restoration Council of Shan State, an armed group that signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement with the government last year, have also clashed with the TNLA but deny coordinating military operations with the Tatmadaw. The government and military shut the TNLA and two allied groups out of the ceasefire pact.

Additional reporting by Lun Min Mang and translation by Thiri Min Htun
The main ethnic Chinese armed group in Shan States Kokang border area has warned businesses of dangers to their security while claiming that the military is preparing a mass mobilisation of forces.





The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) released two statements in Chinese, on March 13 and 14, which followed its declaration last month that it had added a new brigade to its own forces.

The MNDAA, which launched a failed bid in February 2015 to regain control of the area in a conflict that displaced tens of thousands of civilians, said the Kokang region was in a critical situation and that fighting could happen at any time. It urged ethnic Chinese compatriots to shun the Tatmadaws alleged mass mobilisation campaign and to join the revolutionary MNDAA instead.

A military official in the Kokang regional capital of Laukkai, where casinos and sugar cane are economic mainstays, told The Myanmar Times yesterday that the groups intention was to disrupt stability.

The Kokang region is under control. There is no possibility or situation that fighting would happen again. There is no need to worry about stability, said the senior officer, who asked not to be named.

Despite the groups claims to have formed a new brigade, military officials said the MNDAA was not active in the self-administered region, where nine months of martial law was lifted last November shortly after the November 8 election, which went ahead peacefully despite security concerns.

Reports of fighting in Kokang last month could not be independently confirmed.

Political commentators have expressed their concerns over stability in Kokang, with the MNDAA excluded by the government and military from the peace process which resulted in the signing of a nationwide ceasefire pact last October.





Two allied ethnic armed groups, the Taang National Liberation Army and the Arakan Army, were also shut out of the ceasefire and have been fighting on several fronts with the Tatmadaw in northern Shan State and Rakhine State.

The MNDAA warned residents of Laukkai not to enter conflict areas, but did not say where these are. While we are carrying out our military activities, we dont want to harm peoples properties and wealth, the group said.
A small bomb in the Sittwe compound of a Rakhine online news agency last week may have been prompted by its reporting on sensitive military and political developments, its chief editor said yesterday.





U Min Min, who is also general manager of Root Investigative Agency (RIA), told The Myanmar Times that he suspected the blast on March 10, which damaged a wall of the agencys compound, might have been linked to their fair reporting.

Before the night of the blast, U Min Min said he had received threatening comments on the agencys Facebook page. I saw some comments suggesting a prize for my death, he said.

This has hurt our operation. We reported news about the Arakan Army, and the internal conflicts of the Arakan National Party, he said. We also reported the seizure of narcotics in the state, he added.

Police said the blast was caused by a sound bomb intended to scare but not kill. But U Min Min disagreed.

We saw holes in the wall of one of the buildings. The explosion had a deadly intention, he said. No one was injured in the blast.

U Min Min said his family living in the compound had asked for and been granted police protection. He declined to speculate who might have been behind the attack, which police are still investigating.

RIA is a local online news agency set up last August providing reports to domestic news organisations.





The Rakhine Journalist Network and Tachileik News Agency, a media outlet affiliated with the RIA, condemned the blast, which they called a direct threat to the media.
Yesterday, parliament's overwhelming endorsement of National League for Democracy candidate U Htin Kyaw was greeted with celebration  and a bit of relief  by MPs and citizens. But what do the experts think? Myanmar Times senior reporter Wa Lone polled analysts on both sides of the aisle about their thoughts on the country's new chief executive  and what it means going forward for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.





U Bo Kyi

Joint secretary, Association of Assistance for Political Prisoners

I am really glad U Htin Kyaw has been elected as president. He is from the NLD. He is a civilian, not from the military, and also a former political prisoner. But the National Defence and Security Council will have the upper hand, as it is dominated by military members. The country will still be under military influence we can say.

On the positive front, a relationship will begin between civilian rulers and the military, and it will depend on both to resolve problems through cooperation, especially on the peace process, release of political prisoners, land grab issues, student rights. It will be fine if the new government and military cooperate. I also believe the new government will release all political prisoners because the commander-in-chief will directly manage any security concerns.

U Thiha Saw

Chair, Myanmar Journalist Association

This is an historic event in parliament with election of a civilian as president after a long rule by military generals. U Htin Kyaw has his own qualifications although we wanted Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as a president in this transition. I really welcome that. I think U Htin Kyaw can drive most important policy-making, but the two vice presidents will not be involved in an important role as in the previous government. But the Tatmadaw has more votes in the National Defence and Security Council so it will remain dominant in major decisions.

Ko Jimmy

88 Generation and Open Society

Members of parliament have decisively elected a peoples president from the NLD. I really welcome this. I have no criticism of Daw Aung San Suu Kyis choice of president and vice president because people voted for her and her party with all conviction. But the Tatmadaw has appointed a vice president without the peoples wishes.

According to the 2008 constitution, there are two different categories of people  appointed and elected  in both parliament and government. I am really concerned about conflict between them. They should work in harmony if they really want to see a progressive future for the country.

U Ye Htut

Spokesperson for President U Thein Sein

We have held free and fair elections in 2015 according to the 2008 constitution, and a president has been elected by parliament as representative of the party voted by the people. That is the progress of our democracy in the transition period. We are working to transfer power to the new government systematically. President U Thein Sein has sent a formal message of congratulations to the new president, U Htin Kyaw. The new government will face high expectations. I am sure the new government will manage them the best. But people and the media should understand and give some time to wait and see the

solutions.

Pado Saw Kwel Htoo Win

General secretary, Karen National Union

I can say he is a peoples president. I can say the MPs have truly elected a president for these times. The NLD already stated that peace and stability is really needed. I believe they will actually act on their own desire for peace. Although the previous military government worked on peace to a certain degree, I believe the new government will have to keep working strongly to achieve peace for the country.

 Reported by Wa Lone

Read more:
The installation of the National League for Democracy government, both at the Union level in Nay Pyi Taw and in Mandalay, could see a long-term dream come to fruition for supporters of Thakhin Ba Hein, a hero of the 1300 Revolution.





The anti-colonial uprising took place in 1938-39, and its 75th anniversary was observed in Mandalay last month. Now supporters want to erect an obelisk in the memory of Thakin Ba Hein, said committee member U Min Htet Nyein.

We are determined that Thakin Ba Hein should never be forgotten, and his memory should always be with us, he said.

The obelisk was carved in 2013, and the organising committee wrote to the Mandalay Region chief minister and Mandalay City Development Committee at that time asking for it to be erected in the Martyrs Mausoleum. Approval was never granted, however.

Why didnt they grant permission to set up the obelisk of Thakhin Ba Hein? Why dont they want people to know that their ancestor was a martyr? The decision of the outgoing regional government is inexplicable, said U Thein Han, 70, who lives in Seinban ward, Maha Aung Myay township.

Thakin Ba Hein worked alongside Bogyoke Aung San for independence, the committee said.

The obelisk is to be set up in Arzarni Gone, the site of the Martyrs Mausoleum devoted to the 17 martyrs shot by the British colonial authorities during the 1300 Revolution.

Translation by Thiri Min Htun
As Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than read out U Htin Kyaws name yesterday, declaring him the winner of Myanmars presidential election, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi clapped her hands. A genuine smile broke out across the face of the National League for Democracy leader as she sat in the front row of the parliament.





Barred from becoming president due to her sons holding foreign citizenship, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has catapulted the unassuming U Htin Kyaw into the international limelight. In a matter of weeks the 69-year-old politician has gone from being barely known outside party circles to a household name.

While U Htin Kyaw has been described as Daw Aung San Suu Kyis proxy, many observers say the former civil servant, who was educated in the United Kingdom and the United States, can make an important contribution in his own right as president. He has been praised for his leadership style, which people close to him say helps create an environment of cooperation and trust.

These hopes were repeated by MPs in parliament yesterday, who said they had confidence that Daw Aung San Suu Kyis faith in U Htin Kyaw was not misplaced.

Like their party leader, NLD members were euphoric in the aftermath of the vote.

Senior party official U Aung Kyi Nyunt said he was delighted when he heard the Speakers announcement. Today is a great day for us. We have achieved a very good result, reflecting our efforts. Its like the first step forward for building a democratic country, he said.

Even for the partys younger MPs, the selection of an NLD president represented an important marker on a long, hard road toward freedom and democracy.





U Myo Zaw Aung, who joined the party 15 years ago as a youth member and spent six months in prison after the Depayin massacre in 2003, said he had sometimes doubted whether change would ever come.

At that time we were in the dark, as we did not know when the country would change. But in the end, today, we can see the future of our country, he said.

Congratulations from around the world:

On his election as president, I am very proud on behalf of the state and the citizens. The duties of the head of state and chief executives of the government are ready to be transferred. President U Thein Sein

Thai-Myanmar relations are always good regardless of a civilian or military government. Junta leader Prayut Chan-o-cha, quoted by AFP

Congratulations and best wishes to U Htin Kyaw on being elected President of Myanmar! Will work together to strengthen India-Myanmar ties. Indian President Narendra Modi

I congratulate the people of Myanmar on this historic step in its ongoing political transition. I also wish to acknowledge the role of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her long struggle for a democratic Myanmar. Her ongoing unifying role in Myanmars political and economic development will be vital. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

Congratulations to the people of Burma on their 1st democratically elected President in 50+ yrs. Look forward to working w/ U Htin Kyaw. UK Prime Minister David Cameron

Other NLD representatives said they felt sadness as U Htin Kyaws name was announced, for it extinguished any hope of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi becoming president  at least for now. The party has vowed to continue negotiations with the military in an effort to reach a deal on amending the constitution.

She is the right person to lead the country but she couldnt, said Daw Cho Cho Win, an NLD member who had travelled to Nay Pyi Taw from Yangon to observe the presidential vote.

But the response of ethnic minority party MPs was perhaps more instructive.

Being outside the NLD, they appeared to see Daw Aung San Suu Kyis exclusion from the presidency in different and less personal terms. They expressed hope yesterday that U Htin Kyaw could preside over the creation of a genuinely federal system of government, and said they expected him to be more than simply a proxy.

What we hope for the most from him is to create equality among ethnic groups and ensure genuine peace in conflict regions, said Daw Nan Moe, an ethnic Pa-O MP from the Taang National Party.

U Pe Than, a lower house MP from the Arakan National Party, said he believed the NLD selected U Htin Kyaw because he had the skills to lead the country.

He should be more than a proxy president and should not just follow whatever [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi] says, said U Pe Than. He can refuse if he gives a reasonable explanation for doing so. If he just follows what she said, he wont get respect from the people.

These hopes and expectations were reflected in yesterdays vote, where the NLD picked up the majority of support from ethnic minority party MPs.

U Htin Kyaw won the count with 360 votes, ahead of former general U Myint Swe, the militarys candidate, who was elected first vice president with 213 votes. Henry Van Thio, an NLD upper house MP and an ethnic Chin Christian, was elected second vice president with 79 votes.

U Myint Swe collected 204 votes from the 166-member military bloc and 38 Union Solidarity and Development Party MPs, but just nine votes from the 60 ethnic minority and independent representatives.

The two vice presidents, Sai Mauk Kham and U Nyan Tun, as well as Minister for Industry U Maung Myint, did not vote as they were required in cabinet. One NLD representative was also absent due to illness.

Prior to the vote, Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than warned MPs to ensure they voted according to procedure. Vote counting took place in front of representatives from the NLD, the USDP, the ANP, the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy and the military. No votes were declared invalid.

It was not until 12:45pm, more than two hours later, that the final votes were tallied and U Htin Kyaw declared the winner.

I was very excited while I was voting but wasnt worried for U Htin Kyaw because we were well prepared, said Daw Khin San Hlaing, an NLD central executive committee member.

Now we all feel very happy as we can elect a civilian president and an ethnic [minority vice president] as well. Our hopes become shiny and bright, she added.

What do the experts think? Expert Opinion: the new president

When U Htin Kyaw takes office after being sworn in on March 30, he will be  unofficially  sharing power with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. This, in itself is fraught with risks. Experience from countries such as Thailand and India has shown that managing such a relationship can prove difficult, with the proxy president either left politically exposed by their subservience, or so independent-minded that competing circles of power are created.

But he will also be sharing power with the military. The constitution gives the Tatmadaw a range of political powers, including 25 percent of seats in parliament, three important government ministries, and control over the National Defence and Security Council.

Analysts say a degree of military support will be essential for the administration to function smoothly.

While U Htin Kyaw attended parliament to watch the election yesterday  arriving with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi through an entrance normally reserved for the Speakers  he said little as he left.

This is a victory for the people, a victory for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Htin Kyaw told reporters before getting into his car and leaving parliament following the vote.

But the military had a clear message for the countrys incoming president.

Brigadier General Tint San Naing, a senior military MP, said that while he believed U Htin Kyaw could lead the country well, no one had the right to rule above the president.

We can accept [U Htin Kyaw] as president. He might be a good person. But one thing is that no one can be above the president because the president is the highest leader of the state, Brig Gen Tint San Naing said. Thats what the constitution clearly states.
16.03.2016 LISTEN

Sonnie badus latest single, Imani, has made Apples A list African Music List. Out of 25 songs on the list, Imani made number 8 on the list. Imani on Apples A list makes it the only gospel music that officially made it to the list of 25 A list songs.

A-list songs by Apple is selected by Apple music of the most popular songs that has bought or that is trending and that is what has brought Imani on this list. Imani, which means faith and believe in Swahili was released in the beginning of the year. It is a song dedicated to Sonnie badus daughter, who goes by the name Imani.

Imani is a prelude ahead of Sonnie badus upcoming album, Soundz of Africa, which was recorded live in Maryland, USA is a song of thanksgiving. According to Sonnie Badu, Imani is a song of thanksgiving to God for all his faithfulness through his ministry.

The Worshipper dedicated Imani to his over 100k followers on social media and fans in Kenya. Imani is an Afro pop song produced and recorded by one of Ghanas finest producer, Francis Osei of groove house studio.

In a related development, Minister Sonnie Badu is set to release a second single titled Amazing God. The single is due to be released via social media come April 1st. Though Minister Sonnie Badu is tight lipped about Amazing God single, he advised his fans to stay put and wait for another hit song.
16.03.2016 LISTEN

Ebenezer Appiah, a cultural music and dance promoter and chief executive officer of Nezer Solutions, arrived in the country a couple of days ago on a working visit.

His arrival is aimed at studying the Ghanaian cultural music and dance industry, and also to proffer solutions to some of the problems confronting the industry players.

The CEO of Nezer Solution, a New Jersey-based organisation, has already visited a number of groups at Alajo, Abeka, among others.

Ebenezer Appiah, who has worked with a number of international event organisers, disclosed the numerous projects that he would be embarking whilst in the country.

I am here to also extend an invitation to the Amamere Folk Music & Dance Ensemble to participate in this year's edition of the Inter-Cultural Heritage Festival which will be held in November in the States, he added.

.

Ghana's culture and tourism industry, he pointed out, has a bright future and when promoted very well on the international scene it can contribute towards the socio-economic development of the country.

He also disclosed his intentions to invest in some of the traditional music and dance groups to create more jobs for the youth in the country.

Ebenezer Appiah added that he would liaise with some international event organisers when he returns to the States to secure gigs for Ghanaian cultural dance groups as a way of helping to help to promote Ghanaian and African cultural dance and music.

On his part, the leader of the Amamere Folk Music & Dance Ensemble, Badu Evans, says the group is working on a number of projects with some international event organisers to help put Ghanaian music and dance on the international scene.

By George Clifford Owusu


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The United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme regrets to announce the death of a United Nations Volunteer who was serving as civilian personnel in the Engineering Section of UNOCI.

Mrs.Anita AndreevskaMitrovskawas killed during the attack that took place on Sunday, 13 March in Grand-Bassam, outside of Abidjan, condemned by the Secretary  General of the United Nations.

The late MrsAnita AndreevskaMitrovskahad arrived in Cote d'Ivoire on 28 December, 2015 to take up her assignment as Camp Manager in Anankouakoute for ONUCI. Originally from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,Anita AndreevskaMitrovskahad also served as a UN Volunteerfrom 2012 to 2015 in Afghanistan.

UNOCI and UNV are sincerely saddened and express their condolences to the late Mrs.Anita AndreevskaMitrovskafamily, friends and colleagues.
IOM Ghana in partnership with the Government of Ghana installed four infectious disease holding units at Sampa and Elubo Points of Entry (border with Cote d'Ivoire), as well as the Hamile and Paga Points of Entry (border with Burkina Faso), to enhance the screening and surveillance capacities for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and other communicable diseases at these key border posts.

The holding units will facilitate the isolation of suspected cases of infectious diseases prior to their referral to the nearest health facilities for further management.

The holding units are equipped with examination couches, washrooms, hand washing sinks and a store room which is stocked with Personal Protective Equipment (including disposable gloves, disposable face masks, hand sanitizers, disposable aprons) as well as hygiene and cleaning equipment, and laser infra-red thermometers. The units also have their own individual sewer systems which are separate from the general public sewage system to avoid contamination.

The provision of these holding units comes as a result of a joint IOM/Ghana Health Service assessment of some selected major entry/exit points in Ghana to evaluate their EVD preparedness, which was carried out in May-June 2015.

While the team realized that the Aflao border had a structure for a holding unit which received some support by way of equipment, Sampa, Elubo, Paga and Hamile land borders did not have any holding sites to isolate suspected cases, and as such risked exposing travellers and border staff to infection from sick travellers. These units will go a long way to helping Port Health and other key border agencies to properly manage sick travellers with high infectivity at these points of entry.

Between February 19 and 24, the four holding units were handed over to the respective District Health Management Teams and District Assemblies. The handing over brought together Regional Directors of Health, District Directors of Health, District Chief Executives, District heads of the Ghana Immigration Service, Port Health Unit, Customs Division, Police Service as well as other stakeholders and opinion leaders.

The IOM Chief of Mission in Ghana, Sylvia Lopez-Ekra participated in the handing over ceremony that took place in Sampa on 19 February 2016. On this occasion she reiterated the need to ensure that frontline Port Health Officers work in the best conditions of safety and effectiveness possible, but also stressed the importance of interacting with sick travelers in a way that fully respects their dignity and is non-stigmatizing.

The Ebola epidemic in West Africa taught us two important things: First that the spread of Ebola was fueled among other things by the inability to control and screen population movements across borders, and second, that sick travelers should be swiftly identified and cared for with extra caution. With these new infectious disease holding units we are making an important contribution to addressing those two issues, she said.

These activities are part of the IOM Ghana EVD Preparedness programme implemented since April 2015. The programme supports the government of Ghana's efforts to prevent outbreaks of EVD and other infectious diseases, and to strengthening the capacity of border officials to conduct EVD surveillance.

The programme also protects frontline officers through the provision of protective and hand washing equipment, and EVD related screening and infection control procedures training and guidelines on the distribution of Health Declaration Forms.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has approved the deployment of the African Union Short-Term Observation (STO) Mission to the Presidential Elections in the Republic of Cape Verde scheduled for 20 March 2016. The STOs are expected in Praia  Cape Verde, on 16 March 2016 and will remain in the country until 24 March 2016.

The African Union Electoral Observation Mission (AUEOM) will be led by H.E. Zainabou Sylvie Kayitesi, former Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR). The Mission comprises Twenty (20) Short Term Observers (STOs) from the Pan African Parliament, the Permanent Representative Committee (PRC) of the African Union, election management bodies, civil society organizations, think tanks, media and academic institutions. They will be deployed throughout the electoral constituencies of the country to monitor the electoral process and to consult with key stakeholders involved in the electoral process including government and electoral officials, political parties and candidates running for the parliamentary, civil society representatives and media to provide a critical assessment of the conduct of election.

The Electoral Observation Mission is inspired from relevant African Union and international instruments comprising but not restricted to the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, the OAU/AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa, the African Union Guidelines for Election Observation and Monitoring Missions, the International Covenant on Civil Political Rights (ICCPR), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the 2005 Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation to which the AU is a signatory. This Mission is also in the AU's aim of promoting democratic governance on the continent. In line with the national laws of the Cape Verde, this Mission shall contribute to the reinforcement of the democratization process in the country by providing an objective, independent and impartial assessment of the conduct of the elections in line with the aforementioned international and regional best practices and standards.
15.03.2016 LISTEN

Dear Sir,

I refer to the front page headline: Blows over $26m ENI contract and the report carried on it at page 3 of Wednesday the 2nd March, 2016 edition of your paper and wish to say that it contains a lot of factual errors, inaccuracies and disparaging of the image my company has over the years striven hard to achieve hence this rejoinder to set the record straight.

Firstly, I wish to state that De Simone limited is a Ghanaian and not an Italian company as alleged by your publication. De Simone limited was incorporated under the laws of Ghana on the 31st of August, 1964 and obtained a Certificate to Commence Business in Ghana on the 17th of September, 1964.

I, as the majority shareholder of the company (holding over 80% of its shares) and its Managing Director, was born on 10th of July, 1960, at Takoradi. So I am not only a Ghanaian by birth but also a naturalized Ghanaian holding a Ghanaian passport. By virtue of these facts and others, which were not raised in your said publication, my company fully met the local content requirements for the job.

As regards the allegation that De Simone limited did not meet the technical and financial assessment required for the job. I wish to state that of all the companies that applied for the job, my company is arguably the best qualified technically and financially for the job as cursory look at the construction works the company has done in this country since its incorporation would attest.

Besides, the decision to advance the application of my company to the next stage was on merits and not on perceived favoritism, as your publication would make Ghanaians believe. As to the allegation that the bids of the other companies were lower than mine, I have no answer to that because I am not privy to the bids of those companies. But if my company's bid has been accepted then it means it has met the requirements.

Finally, as to whether the companies whose applications were rejected were far better than my company, I cannot say much since I cannot tell the basis for that comparison, but would say that if the job at stake in this conversation is one of construction, then I will leave that to the ordinary Ghanaian to judge.

I hope this rejoinder would be published in your esteem newspaper with the same prominence as your initial publication to give the average Ghanaian the opportunity to read our side of your story failing which my company would have no other alternative but to advice itself.

Yours sincerely,

Enrico De Simone

Managing Director, De Simone limited
London (AFP) - Britain has no plans to extend bombing or send troops to Libya, the defence ministry said in a statement Tuesday, after a committee of lawmakers said the nation could deploy a force of 1,000.

The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee had said that Britain could be part of a 6,000-strong international force in Libya, which has been riven with unrest since the fall of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon was expected to agree Britain's contribution to the force at a conference in Europe this week, the committee added.

But a government spokeswoman said that the Foreign Affairs Committee was "wrong on a number of counts."

"There are no plans to extend airstrikes to Libya nor are there plans to send British troops to provide security on the ground in Libya," the spokeswoman said.

"It is therefore also wrong to suggest the Defence Secretary will agree any UK contribution this week."

Western countries have agreed that action is needed to dislodge Islamic State (IS) jihadists from Libya but world powers say they want a national unity government to request help before formally intervening.

On Saturday, Libya's UN-backed unity government said it was taking office despite lacking parliamentary approval, with its US and European allies urging it to move to Tripoli and begin governing.

The allies also warned they would impose sanctions on anyone who acted to "undermine" Libya's political process.

The British committee had said that the interim Libyan Government of National Accord's "likely first formal action will be to request that the UK and its allies conduct airstrikes against ISIL (IS) targets in Libya."

The international force would seek to train the Libyan army and protect the newly-formed government, it said.

Libya descended into chaos after the 2011 ouster of Kadhafi allowed extremist organisations, including IS, to gain significant ground.

Italy has agreed to lead a UN-mandated international stabilisation force into its troubled former colony, but the sticking point has been getting credible cover from a national authority.
16.03.2016 LISTEN

President John Mahama has said the Government is in the process of expanding the progressive Free Secondary Education Programme to include boarding students before the end of the year.

He said the programme would begin with students from Senior High Schools in underprivileged districts, before eventually covering those in the cities.

President Mahama said this at the 70th Anniversary-Speech and Prize Giving Day of Holy Child School in Cape Coast, on the theme, Seventy years of Excellence in Catholic Girl Child Education.

He said a total of 2,300 SHS students received a scholarship of GHa 2,000 each in 2015 to enable them to pay their fees, levies, transportation and other relevant stationery and explained that it was to ensure that children from needy families had access to sound education.

He urged the Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) to support the Governments efforts and ensure that parents paid fees approved by the Ghana Education Service in order to make education affordable for all.

The President said the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the World Bank , was undertaking a Secondary Education Implementation Programme, aimed at increasing access in underserved districts and improving the quality of the output of non-performing SHS.

He said Science, Mathematics and Technology had become indispensable and urged parents to encourage their children to pursue courses in these and other disciplines that easily make them employable after school to facilitate economic growth and development.

Instead of restricting them to subjects they are currently studying or compelling children to pursue same careers as their parents, they should be allowed some reasonable flexibility to make adjustments, which responds to the increasing competitive global and national world of work he stated.

President Mahama applauded the Ghana National Teachers Association (GNAT) and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) for ensuring healthy dialogue over the resolution of their remunerations and said they should be patient, while efforts were made to improve working conditions.

He assured teachers that the Government was working within the constraints of the budget to improve the rewards that teachers earned to increase their motivation because there is no better teacher than a motivated teacher.

He commended the Catholic Church for its involvement in especially the health and education sectors, to complement the efforts of Government.

The Headmistress of the School, The Reverend Sister Josephine A. Anto, expressed gratitude to the Government for some ongoing expansion projects and appealed to the Old Students, corporate institutions and other stakeholders to support them with a modern ICT centre.

She said the school also needed a language laboratory, school bus, staff bungalows and both new and additional access roads

She said the school presented 367 candidates for the 2015, West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), out of which two had eight As, eight had seven As, nine had Six As, and 12 had 5As.

She said the school recorded 100 per cent passes in all but four of the subjects; and expressed optimism that the 2016 batch had the capacity to perform better.

Staff and students who had distinguished themselves over the years were awarded, while the 1991 year group, which spearheaded the celebration, donated a 15-seater Toyota Hiace Mini bus to the school.
Animals, be it wild or pet, food or sport, there is much humans must do to be humane towards them. Some years back, Ghanaians were agitating for freedom and they finally became the first sub-Saharan country to gain theirs. Other countries followed and still are. Non-human animals sadly, have no champion, but fortunately some humans have stood up for them in many countries.

Ghana is now gaining grounds as an online search can reveal to you there are animal right activists in the country. Critics of animal rights argue that animals are unable to enter into a social contract , and thus cannot be possessors of rights, a view summed up by the philosopher Roger Scruton , who writes that only humans have duties, and therefore only humans have rights.

One may ask, what are animal rights and animal welfare and how similar or different are they? The simple answer to that is: Animal rights is the philosophy of allowing non-human animals to have the most basic rights that all sentient beings desire: the freedom to live a natural life free from human exploitation, unnecessary pain and suffering, and premature death.

This is what the animal rights movement is about; it is not about working for equality between human and non-human animals. Animal welfare on the other hand seeks to alleviate the suffering of animals while they are being exploited, without attempting to question the fundamental basis of whether it is acceptable to exploit animals in the first place. How does humanity intend to solve differences among its own species when it cannot learn to make peace with the other animals on earth? Humans need to start thinking and living in terms of co-existence, as opposed to dominance. You certainly do not have to love your neighbors, but you should be able to get along with them.

Peace begins with the individuals who make a conscious effort to go through life making the least negative impact possible. The 21st-century debates about animals can be traced back to the ancient world, and the idea of a divine hierarchy. In the Book of Genesis 1:26 (5th or 6th century BCE), Adam is given "dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." Dominion need not entail property rights, but it has been interpreted, by some, over the centuries to imply ownership.

However, Bernard Rollin writes that "dominion does not entail or allow abuse any more than does dominion a parent enjoys over a child. According to Immanuel Kant, cruelty to animals is wrong only because it was bad for humankind. He argued in 1785 that "cruelty to animals is contrary to man's duty to himself, because it deadens in him the feeling of sympathy for their sufferings, and thus a natural tendency that is very useful to morality in relation to other human beings is weakened. There is a saying which reflects how animals rights have been abandoned by their neighbours (humans in this sense):

When they came for the socialists, I didn't do

anything, for I wasn't a socialist.

When they came for the Gypsies, I didn't do

anything for I wasn't a Gypsy.

When they came for the Jews, I didn't do

anything for I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me, there wasn't anyone

left to do anything for me.

So the choice is ours. We can seek for the welfare of animals or their rights, and it all depends on background factors, such as gender , occupation , type and level of education , religion , and one's attitude towards nature. This is because, animals whether kept as a pet or food at least deserve:

suitable environment to exhibit normal behaviour patterns, housed with, or apart from, other animals, suitable diet and water and be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

Abibimman Foundation is therefore dedicated to promoting Animal welfare and rights in Ghana and the World. Lets Join hands and create an environment for peaceful coexistence with our neighbours: animals. Coalition of Animal Rights and Welfare Action in Ghana. (CARWAG)

Isaac Korku Dorgbetor

Animal Rights and Welfare Activist,

Abibimman Foundation

[email protected]

[email protected] .
NDC Media Monitors in the Ashanti region are calling for a general condemnation of what they refer to as the unacceptable, uncultured, disrespectful and awful behavior of some members of the New Patriotic Party towards the President during the late Bantamahenes funeral.

A statement released by the serial callers specifically called on the National Peace Council, Traditional leaders, Christian Council, Islamic leaders, Civil society groups as well as the media to condemn the hooting of the President during his visit.

Many supporters of the largest opposition party, hooted at and called the President names last Thursday, March 10, 2016 in Kumasi; a behaviour the serial callers believe is unhealthy for our dispensation.

They also believe the act constitutes a security threat and ask that the NPPs flag bearer; Nana Akufo Addo and the NPP render apologies to the President for the action of their supporters.

Chairman of the Media Monitors, Abdul Latif Abdullahi tells rawgist.com the behaviour of the NPP supporters was a bad precedent and should not be countenanced as it may affect the moral standard of body politic of the country and lead to undesirable outcomes.
Rashid Pelpuo

16.03.2016 LISTEN

Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, incumbent National Democratic Congress(NDC) member of parliament for Wa Central constituency should braze himself for the contest of his life as the Peoples' National Convention's aspirant has vowed to unseat him.

Sherif Ghale, the only person who has so far picked forms to contest the PNC's primaries slated for 19th March, 2016, says he is going all out to kick out Dr. Pelpuo who he says is short of new ideas.

According to Mr. Ghale, though he acknowledges development done by the incumbent, its time for him to pave way for someone with new ideas to push the area forward.

He explained that with his ideas for starting up a business and sustaining it, he can help the youth who are currently grappling with not being employed, to set up their own businesses.

Mr. Ghale who is the CEO of Fortune Builders, a private enterprise operating in the northern part of Ghana said, any leader who fails to focus on empowering the youth is not fit to lead.

In this regard, he told this reporter that he will focus more on helping the youth set up and also support those who are already into business ventures to expand. This way, he believes the social vices currently confronting the area will be minimized drastically as the youth will not have time to spare on unprofitable ventures.

Mr. Sherif Ghale is expected to be acclaimed by the PNC on the 19th March,2016 since he is the only person who has filed to contest in the primaries.

His emergence has sent people talking as to the impact he would make in the November 7 parliamentary elections.

There are suggestions his presence has thrown wide the chances of candidates in this year's elections. He is expected to pull votes from the two leading contenders representing the ruling NDC and the opposition NPP.
16.03.2016 LISTEN

The SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS is a situation that has resulted from the empass in Syria resulting from the quest of some Syrians for democracy. Even though started from Tunisia in 2011 as the "Arab Spring" with the suicide of Mohammed Bouazizi, a real Jihadist, it was to taste democracy the touted government of the moment.

Champions of democracy should therefore do their best to help in the resettlement of these refugees if only to show the good side of democracy.

Remember the democracy champions refused to interfere with the Syrian conflict because of their previous experiences elsewhere like Iraq. For the same human rights that democracy expounds globally, these refugees are entitled to resettlement, and at best in places where democracy is best practised. This will be the small compensation for the bitterness experienced by themselves and/or their loved ones relatives in seeking it.

To the advanced democratic nations this would be the small price for their non-involvement in the "Arab Spring" in Syria. Understandable, considering the unfortunate Iraq mission which somehow backfired; however, now the refugees are not in Syria; they are in your territories and their plight and status are well known globally, and therefore any assistance ceases to be an interference.
African energy stakeholders met at a 5-days for the 2nd Africa Smart Grid Forum and 5th African Electro-technical and Standardisation Commission (AFSEC) General Assembly to develop cooperation at the continental level, towards the development of Smart Grids on the continent and to support AFSEC to achieve its mandate in key areas such as awareness creation, especially in the national levels on the importance of standardization, accreditation and measurement.

The aim of the Africa Smart Grids Forum is to continue building awareness and frameworks to promote the utilisation of Smart Grid solutions in the African electricity sector with a view to developing renewable energy and enhancing the efficiencies of electricity systems on the continent. The 2nd Africa Smart Grids Forum was attended by more than 300 Technical Experts from 48 African countries, African Regional Centres, Private Sector and Civil Society

The 2nd Africa Smart Grids Forum and Exhibition was opened by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy of the Arab Republic of Egypt and H.E Dr. Elham Ibrahim, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, the African Union Commission.

H.E. Dr. Elham Ibrahim mentioned at the opening that utilising Smart Grids provides one of the technical solutions to the challenges facing the African energy sector and this will support the implementation of the African Union Agenda2063 on universal energy access for all Africans. Commissioner Dr. Elham IBRAHIM and H.E. Dr. Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy of the Arab Republic of Egypt and highlighted in their speeches that almost 600 million out of the1.1 billion people in Africa still lack access to electricity and smart grids provide an important option to increase the share of renewable energy in the grid systems and decrease the losses in transmission and distribution.

The 5th AFSEC General Assembly opened on 9 March 2016 by the Chairman of the Egyptian National Committee, AFSEC President, the Executive Director of the African Energy Commission (AFREC) and the African Union Commission (AUC).

Dr. Claud Katoua, President of AFSEC noted the increasing recognition of AFSEC by African stakeholders and called on the African Union Commission and Member States to continue providing support to AFSEC.

Mr. Atef Marzouk, Acting Head of Energy at the Department of Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission highlighted the support the African Union to ensure the operationalization of AFSEC and recommended increasing the memberships of AFSEC. Mr. Marzouk also called for organisations to support AFSEC in its activities at the continental and national levels.
The Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Mr. Anthony Lake, has expressed UNICEF's full commitment and support to work with the African Union on the education of girls and protection of children within the framework of Africa's Agenda 2063. The UNICEF Executive and the African Union Commission Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, agreed on these focus areas when they met at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday 15 March 2016.

The UNICEF Executive Director said that he was very impressed with Agenda 2063, which he noted was in sync with the Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2030. Africa's Agenda 2063 provides an opportunity for the transformation of two generations of girls in Africa, Mr. Anthony Lake noted, lauding Dr. Dlamini Zuma's leadership on human rights, particularly on girls' rights, including the right to education.

Girls' education on the continent is very critical. We know the benefits of educated children to families and societies at large. Girls education is paramount, and therefore needs a lot of emphasis. The AU Commission Chairperson said, adding that, girls should also be assisted beyond basic education so that they can proceed to higher education. Primary education is important, but no country has developed with primary education alone, she noted.

Aside from girls' education, they also discussed the need to focus on nutrition to ensure proper early child growth, as well as give more attention to the protection of children in conflicts. Concurring with the UNICEF Executive Director, the AUC Chairperson highlighted the importance of focusing on the protection of both children and their mothers. This will protect girls from being made wives and boys from being soldiers when they are meant to be just children.

They two leaders agreed that AU and UNICEF will strengthen their partnership by developing and implementing a programme plan of action around Agenda 2063 across the continent in the coming years.
16.03.2016 LISTEN

Children are a gift from God. Parents who are blessed to have them must train them to become responsible and productive members of society.

The training will aim at inculcating in the children timeless principles, truths, good character, leadership qualities and personality traits for a successful life. They need knowledge and wisdom to guide them to make the right decisions and solve problems.

Parents have been instructed to teach their children about God, his attributes, commandments, and the need to live righteously. This sacred duty of parents is found in Psalm 78:1-6 as follows, Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children. That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children. In short children need to know God and his law (Bible) and live by his teachings.

I love what the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve have said: Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives-mothers and fathers- will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations. (The Family: A Proclamation to the World, Ensign, Nov. 1995).

We must teach our children to appreciate the fact that when they surrender their lives completely to God, they will not have to struggle to meet their needs. God will grant them favour and they will meet their needs effortlessly. In Matthew 6:31-33 the word of God declared: Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or, wherewithal shall we be clothed?

For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Children must be taught gospel principles. This means parents must live an exemplary life. Parents must study the scriptures with their children. Achieving a fulfilling life lies in righteous living. The prophet King Benjamin admonished parents: Ye will not suffer your children that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil

But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another. (Mosiah 4:14-15)

Parents should teach their children about prayer. Children should know that prayer is a powerful way to communicate with God. They should not take their life for granted. When praying they should thank God for his numerous blessings. They can also ask for his guidance. They can pray for themselves, their parents, siblings, friends, teachers and even their leaders.

Children should be taught life skills. They need financial literacy, money management, how to save and invest, personal hygiene, how to get along with others, and take care of clothing and property. They should love such values as honesty, integrity, hard work, patience, forgiveness, love of self and neighbor, kindness, compassion etc.

Children need guidance in selecting their friends. They need Godly friends who would add value to their lives. They should be children who fear God and obey his commandments and strive to keep themselves morally clean.

In conclusion, parents have a responsibility to teach the gospel to their children including truths that will bring light into their lives. Prophet David O McKay said, There is no greater responsibility in the world than the training of a human soul.

Yours in inspiration,

Abundant Robert K. AWOLUGUTU

Correction Officer, Priest & Author,

Email: [email protected]

The Role Of Parents As Teachers

By Abundant Robert K. AWOLUGUTU
1.Japan and the Republic of Kenya reached an agreement in principle on the Japan-Kenya Investment Agreement after five rounds of negotiations. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Hon. William Arap Ruto, Vice President of the Republic of Kenya, confirmed in June 2013 to launch a preparatory meeting for the start of negotiations on the investment agreement between the two countries. Both countries also confirmed their intention that they will continue to negotiate on the remaining points of concern with a view to the early signing and completion of the agreement.

2.The Republic of Kenya, which spearheads the East African region both politically and economically, with its steady economic growth at an annual average rate of 6%, enjoys investment increase by the Japanese private companies in the recent years. This agreement is aimed at improving the legal stability with respect to the investment, and is expected to promote mutual people-to-people exchanges in tandem with bilateral investment as well as to bolster economic relations between the two countries.

3.Japan will continue to promote Japanese companies' investment in Africa towards the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) to be held in Nairobi, Kenya in August this year.
16.03.2016 LISTEN

The march towards the November 2016 polls continues unabated and we all must be involved in the process. The outcry of leadership nemesis by the citizenry invariably emanates from our lack of civic responsibility in our democratic process. This piece is a clarion call on all citizens to contribute to the success of these imminent elections.

Our unflinching quest to scrutinize our political leaders and collaboratively work towards national development shall be an exercise in futility if we fail to do due diligence in the November polls. Your role is very simple. You must listen attentively to the messages across the political divides and make some logical reasoning. We should be responsible enough to sieve the real, practicable, and realistic messages from the chaff, rhetorics and propaganda based messages which are often full of empty but mouthwatering promises which are the bane of political desperados who want to attain political power by all means.

Indeed that is very vivid and consistent in our political history where parties in position embellish very pertinent sensitive issues by riding on people emotions to accomplish their political ambitions. We need to change the dynamics by putting all the parties in the lane so as non can implore any infantile, honey coated and to some extension, violence to win elections. We have passed that level of politics.

There is an adage that "passion drives actions but emotions are unreliable". I am certain that, discerning Ghanaians have passion for development and should not in any event entertain political violence, vote buying, tribal bigotry and politics of lies and insinuation.

In an already polarized state like ours, the uncharitable behavior of unscrupulous people and party thugs are inevitable but if we have stand up to discharge our civic responsibilities very well, they cannot get any fertile ground to operate.

Notwithstanding, let's be careful with our association with any group or individual who stands to convince us to partake in anything that is inimical to the peace and unity of Ghana. My colleagues youth who are vulnerable in this regards, must be very seriously vigilant. Our actions and inactions have the propensity to sparking off conflicts and its attendant adverse ramifications.

I urge all stakeholders to embark in a solid educational campaign on the impending elections. The EC, NCCE, Civil Society groups, Religious groups, Traditional Authorities and many others must all be involved. By that, we shall do away with the allaying fears that are usually emergent characteristics of our national elections

An equally important issue that must not be taken for granted is the readiness by our security agencies to take the bull by the horns should there be any incident of violence. Am saying this because, the rapidity and celerity at which the militant groups are enrooting themselves in the West African soil leaves much to be desired. These militant groups can easily take elections characterized by any form of violence to lunch a bombarding attack on us. The security should there prepare very well because prevention they say is better than cure.

Conclusively, the sustenance of our peace as a nation is a collective effort. We must be proactive, vigilant and absolutely responsible in our politicking. Ghana is the only country we have.

Shall return.

Denis Andaban

(Youth activist/social commentator)

0549735023
Hon. Alban Bagbin

16.03.2016 LISTEN

Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli/Kaleo constituency and the leader of the Majority in Parliament, Hon. Alban Bagbin, has described as unique, this years address on the State of the Nation by President Mahama.

He said the President vividly addressed Ghanaians on the current state of the country, by demonstrating to the world how the theme of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, (Putting People First) has been deciphered from oratory to reality.

Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament to conclude a seven day Parliamentary sitting debate on the State of the Nation Address 2016, he said Presidents have come to the august House to tell the good people of Ghana the state of affairs but all those addresses come after this years address by way of ranking.

The Constitution of the Republic of Ghana demands every sitting President of the country to appear before the legislators at the beginning of every Parliamentary session and before the dissolution of Parliament to deliver a message on the condition of the nation.

According to Article 67 of the constitution, the President shall, at the beginning of each session of Parliament and before the dissolution of Parliament, deliver to Parliament a message on the state of the nation.

The Majority Leader said that I have listened to four Presidents of our dear country deliver 25 messages on the State of the Nation. It is 25 Messages because H. E. President J. A. Kufour delivered 9 Messages; a Message at the beginning of each session of Parliament during his 8-year rule and one Message before the dissolution of the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

The 25th Message, the Message now under scrutiny of Parliament and the country stands out. It is refreshingly unique. It is unique in presentation, unique in innovation, unique in clarity and unique in detail, he stated.

He further said the President ably discharged the constitutional duty (delivering the message on the state of the nation) with distinction and that the House was right in moving a motion to thank President Mahama for delivering the Message on the state of the nation.

This years Presidential Message is unique. The President stood to his billing of being an accomplished Public Relations expert. He understood the subject, read the political environment well and delivered the Message in style to the admiration of all objective listeners.

The MP for Nadowli / Kaleo lamented on some of the developmental projects the President indicated in this Message on the state of the nation and commended his Colleagues (MPs) for their debate on the state of the nation address.

This is a President who is running an all-inclusive government, a leader who knows that governance is teamwork, that development is an unending journey, a process and not an event. I thank all Hon. Members for the debate and useful contribution to the national discourse on the State of the Nation, Ghana, he added.
16.03.2016 LISTEN

Guided by the objectives of the AU to achieve greater unity and solidarity between the African countries, and bearing in mind the negative socio-economic impacts and human costs of the American's unilateral coercive measures imposed on the Sudan since 1997, particularly on the civilian population, and cognizant of Sudan tireless efforts in peace-making locally and regionally, the 26th African Union head of states and governments summit has adopted a declaration calling upon, not only the US to lift all sanctions and restrictions imposed on the Sudan, but likewise, upon all states of the world, not to recognize or apply these measures, and to effectively counter them as appropriate.

Such courageous African position affords valuable impetus to the ongoing mass rallying, spearheaded by a coalition of Sudanese civil rights organizations and activists in Sudan and diaspora, to mobilize 100,000 signatories for a petition to the US Administration, to promptly lift this stifling and politically-motivated sanctions on Sudan which actually deprive the whole nation of basic and life-saving health care.

According to doctors and scientists in Khartoum, these sanctions have become increasingly complex and difficult to navigate over the years, making it tough to import equipment, even such basic items as sutures. They have struggled to import supplies and conduct research that could eventually save lives. They often make do with old or inadequate technology, rely on black-market imports or simply go without. Inevitably, it is ordinary citizens who suffer the consequences.

Such grim reality has already been highlighted by a UN top official, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and International Sanctions, IdrissJazairy, who in a press conference, called for revising these sanctions, stressing their full impact on innocent populations, and how they do contribute to social stratification, inter-regional disparities and to the broadening of the black market, as well as to the loss of control over financial transfers. More importantly, Mr. Idriss called for setting a time frame to lift US sanctions on Sudan.

COLLECTIVE SANCTIONS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW:

Economic sanctions run contrary to the spirit of human rights, as they explicitly and implicitly expose the ordinary citizen of the sanctioned country to considerable suffering. The ensuing scale of such suffering amounts to the crime of collective punishment.

The Human Rights Council adopted resolution on 26 September, 2014 on human rights and unilateral coercive measures. The resolution stresses that unilateral coercive measures and legislation are contrary to international law, international humanitarian law, the Charter and the norms and principles governing peaceful relations among states, and highlights that on long-term, these measures may result in social problems and raise humanitarian concerns in the states targeted.

To that effect, the UN General Assembly Resolution 44/215 (December 22, 1989), reaffirming that developed countries should refrain from threatening or applying trade and financial restrictions, blockades, embargoes, and other economic sanctions, incompatible with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and in violation of undertakings contracted multilaterally and bilaterally.

Further, under the 1949 Geneva Conventions, collective punishment is a war crime. Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states "No protected person may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed", and "collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited".

The UN General Assembly, Resolution 2131 (XX), 21 December, 1965, states that "No state may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measures, to coerce another state in order to obtain from it, the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights or to secure from it advantages of any kind". Note citing here, this very resolution was adopted without any vote against, and with only one abstention.

Paradoxically, "Genocide Convention" protects what could be described as a "collective right to life" and would prohibit deliberate starvation of a national, ethnic, racial or religious group if committed with intent to destroy the group, as it would then be subsumed into the definition of genocide. It is an irony of fate, the prohibition of genocide applies in time of peace and in time of war. It makes no sense that something illegal during war is not only legal but a preferred tool to pursue aggressive foreign policy agenda in peace time.

Adding insult to injury, the US introduced extraterritorial sanctions, which in essence violate the legal equality of states, and principles of respect for and dignity of national sovereignty and non-intervention in the internal affairs of the state nations, and deprive them of their right to development and self-determination. The economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Sudan had been tightened, and its extraterritorial implementation had also been strengthened through the imposition of unprecedented fines, totaling $11 billion against 38 banks, among them French Bank BNP Paribas, for carrying out transactions with Sudan and other countries.

SUDAN AND THE UNITED STATES:

For more than two decades, Sudan has left no stone unturned, trying to normalize relations with the United States. However, it takes two to make a tango; foreign policy hawks in the successive US administrations, regrettably continue to block all potential routes towards a real rapprochement with the Sudan. The US keeps on turning a blind eye to Sudan's ongoing constructive efforts in maintaining peace and security in the region. Sudanese government's significant and tangible assistance to regional anti-al-Qaida and recently ISIS, Houthi and Boko Haram operations, not only continue to fall on deaf ears in Washington, the latter continues shamelessly, nevertheless, to link Sudan with terrorism, to justify the extension of its regime of sanctions every year for the past two decades.

Interestingly, on last October, 2015, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has removed Sudan from the list of countries with strategic deficiencies in their legal and regulatory framework for combating money laundering and terrorism, whereby, Sudan will no longer be subject to FATF's monitoring under its ongoing global AML/CFT compliance process.

Mr. Doug Bandow, the senior fellow at the Cato Institute (Washington NGO), appealing for sanctions against Sudan to be scrapped altogether, pointed out that the US sanctions have remained in place, and even though the State Department acknowledges that Sudan's cooperation in efforts to limit the reach in Africa of groups linked to Al-Qaida.

More revealing, however, was landmark testimony before the Congress in 2009, of General J. Scott Gration, the US's presidential Envoy to Sudan, where he called for Sudan's removal from the US State Department's state sponsor of terrorism list. The General noted unequivocally, that there was "no evidence" for Sudan's inclusion on the list which he called a "political" (rather than a national security-related) decision; reminding the Congress that the CIA has already referred to Sudan's strong record on counterterrorism cooperation as having "saved American lives".

THE HIDDEN AGENDA OF THE UNITED STATES:

Despite all the above rationale, the mind boggling question remains "why should the Sudan remain amongst very few countries that are still under comprehensive unilateral coercive sanctions?" The subsequent statements conspicuously opens the Pandora's Box on the hidden agenda the American Administrations, and perhaps more importantly, on how powerful is the Israel lobby in the US?

Wesley Clark, the former NATO Commander, in an infamous video recorded on October 3, 2007, at the Commonwealth Club of Californiain San Francisco, talks about the neocon plan, to invade seven countries in five years including the Sudan. This video gives more credibility to the understanding that, the current sanctions on Sudan fit into a larger strategic context, subsequently, dwarfing all the US hollow and unruly sanctions discourse into a mere double standard and hypocrisy.

THE ROLE OF ISRAEL:

The perplexing question has always been how powerful is the Israel lobby in the US? Chuck Percy, the three-term Republican Senator from Illinois, said to have been defeated in 1984 as a result of an AIPAC-led campaign against him. Pat Buchanan, the senior advisor to US Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, goes to the extreme when he once describes the Congress as "Israeli-occupied territory", whether true or false, one thing is incontestable: the Congress is overwhelmingly supportive of Israel. In fact, both Democrat and Republican neocons are decidedly Israeli-centric in their geopolitical stance - Sudan is not an exception.

To highlight this fact beyond any doubt, let us be reminded that AviDichter, the former Israeli Minister of Internal security, gave an important lecture at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies in 2008, where he said that since the independence of Sudan in the mid-1950s, there were some Israeli estimates that this African state must (not) be allowed to become an added force in the Arab world because if its resources continue under stable conditions, it will make it a power to be reckoned with. "We had to weaken Sudan and deprive it of the initiative to build a strong and united country. That is necessary for bolstering and strengthening Israel's national security. We (produced) and escalated the Darfur crisis to prevent Sudan from developing its capabilities."

Darfur, said to be sitting atop lakes of oil with large supplies of uranium, and other minerals, remains one chapter in the history of Israeli sinister role in pillage of African continent. Hence, make no mistake, in all blatant Darfur-driven American sanctions, it was Israel which, not only wrote the script, but continues to select and train its regional and international actors.

The "Save Darfur" farce was the campaign that began as an exclusive project of the American Jewish community, with hardliner Zionist groups, leading the way in the propagandistic assault on the government of Sudan. The ensued American consecutive bogus warnings that Darfur is heading for an apocalyptic humanitarian catastrophe have been widely exaggerated by administration officials to justify military intervention in Darfur, in conformity with Israeli sinister agenda in the Sudan, as spelled out by AviDichter.

The dimension of the Israeli lobby influence, with regard to Darfur, was made clearly manifest, when on May 28, 2008, in what has been promoted as a historic display of solidarity, presidential candidates John McCain, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, issued a joint statement, demanding an end to the violence in Darfur and pledging to pursue this goal with unstinting resolve once elected.

SUDAN IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CUBA:

Needless to say, the African solidarity with the Sudan, is very crucial at this juncture, and as Ahmed Badawi, the Managing Director of the Sudan Centre for Strategic Communications (SCSC) in Khartoum, put it "Just like Cuba and Iran, the unintended consequences of US sanctions on ordinary Sudanese have been devastating to living standards, however, and unlike these two other countries, the Sudanese government has zero leverage with America to engineer a mitigation of the embargo's impact on vulnerable social groups. It lacks advocacy support from the diaspora in the US (as in the case of Cuba) or even the potential nuclear capacity that would pose a strategic threat to the existence of US allies (as in the case of Iran).

The US had to eventually succumb to international pressure, and officially lift its 50 years sanctions against Cuba, particularly in the aftermath of the general Assembly of the UN which almost unanimously adopted a resolution in 2014, calling for an end to the United Stateseconomic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba. With only US and Israel voting against, that vote was the strongest support, the world body has expressed for ending the embargo on Cuba, during the 24 consecutive years it has taken up the issue. Thanks go to the staunch support and solidarity exhibited by the group of 77 developing countries and China.

Taking stock of the latest African support for Sudan in Addis Ababa, and deriving strength and inspiration from the aforementioned Cuban historical victory in the general Assembly hall, may warrants wondering is it not high time for Africa to follow suit? Mobilizing yet another similar worldly support for the people of Sudan, in the very hall of the General Assembly? Being the unique forum of international issues and in the footsteps of the Cuban landslide victory.

SOURCE : Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan
Obinim

16.03.2016 LISTEN

I personally have nothing against Obinim, because, while not being so judgmental, I dont consider him as a man of God. I rather consider him a God of man. Obinim has dominated the headlines of newspapers and featured prominently in social media when he audaciously claimed that he was capable of transmogrifying himself from human being to animal and other non-human creatures in his spiritual escapades. Such statement elicited sharp criticisms from most Ghanaians. Obviously, there are a few Ghanaians who support him, and such ones remain faithful and committed to him.

Every man is religious, but we can choose to suppress our sense of religiosity, which is innate and intrinsic. That is why those who claim they are atheists have a bigger challenge in proving that there is no god. In any case, the sophisticated arguments contemporary radical atheists, like Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens, generate against God are themselves an indication that they recognize that there is God, but they are only suppressing that God-consciousness in them. After all, if there is no God why do they argue against Him? In the case of Africa, several scholars, including John Mbiti and Geoffrey Parrinder, have convincingly argued that Africans are notoriously and incurably religious.

Recently, some African atheists have contested this assertion. They have argued that Africans were humanists. In 2007, for example, a group of African atheists convened at the University of Cape Coast, my alma mater, to provide a historical justification for their position that Africans have not been religious always, and that atheism is indigenous to Africans. The conference, which was patronized by some academics on the continent, was convened by advocates, including Leo Igwe, the Nigerian human rights advocate and humanist.

Some critics, particularly humanists and secularists, have anticipated that the force of religion would wane as man progresses in his knowledge of science. For such critics religion thrives on ignorance of the natural laws of nature. This is a reverse of Islamic Jahiliyyah, where ignorance drove men away from God. Indeed, the forefathers of these critiques include James Frazer, Sigmund Freud, and Herbert Spencer, who argued that the notion of God is a figment of imagination. According these humanists, the underling logic of the death of religion, and by extension God, is based on their conviction that God is the creation of the human mind.

The fixation on the part of these scholars to study the so-called primitive societies was for them to dismiss religions likes Christianity that make a big show of God. The theory that provided the impetus and rationale for these scholars was social Darwinism. When the German philosopher and cultural critic, Friedrich Nietzsche, arrogantly announced the death of God, he was definitely not talking about the literal death of God, as Christians do when they talk about Jesus Christ. He was talking about the irrelevance of God to the scientific world. By trumpeting the death of God, Nietzsche was saying that man has outgrown his need of God: God is no longer relevant! Nietzsche repeated what Protagoras, the Greek philosopher, said that, Man is the measure of all things!

Contrary to the predictions about the eventual death of religion, it appears that the unprecedented stride man has made in the area of science has not dispel the idea of God. It is true that secularization is gaining more adherents in the world, but the belief in God is still alive in the world. The 1970s saw a resurgence of religion and this has continued till today. There are countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, where religion stands supreme to the state.

In fact, in these countries, there is no distinction between the church and state. The two are fused together. There are also countries like the United States of America, where there is a complete decoupling between church and state. In Communist China, it was the state that controlled religion. Religion was subordinate to the state.

In Ghana, our constitution is secular; such that religion is no religious script is above that state. No religious text serves as a point of reference for adjudicating national issues. Even so, the Ghanaian environment is so charged religiously that religion permeates every life of the Ghanaian. The Ghanaian farmer prays before he cultivates the land; the carpenter prays before he works, the teacher prays before he teaches. Religion is at the heartbeat of the Ghanaian. At all state functions, religion finds expression.

The pervasiveness of religion explains the furor that encountered the temporary ban that was placed on the pouring of libation at state functions when the country was under the regime of the late President John Evans Atta Mills. The Ghanaian religious landscape is so fertile that all religions, including Eastern religions like Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, have found acceptance among Ghanaians.

It is the religious proclivities of the Ghanaian that has energized some so-called men of God to dupe and exploit Ghanaians. These so-called men of God claim to have such metaphysical powers that enable them to intercede for Ghanaians, making them (so-called men of God) God of men. Usually, these God of men have very scanty knowledge about the bible.

They attend wayside bible schools, where they learn nothing but the arts and quasi-science of exorcism. Their knowledge of the bible is very rudimentary and primary. Their homiletics is polemical, while their hermeneutics is nebulous. And by their teaching, they reverse the gains of the reformation of the 16th Century. The bible for these God of men is not the standard against which the repertoire of life must be judged.

Their modus operandi is to magnify witchcraft. They, therefore, have a dualistic theology, where God, the creator, is pit in an unending battle against Satan, the creature. They take unsuspecting Ghanaians captive by assigning superstitious explanation to everything in life, including very mundane ones such as headaches. By hyping witchcraft, they create and reified witchcraft mentality in Ghanaians, and make Ghanaians very vulnerable. They feed into such vulnerability that they have created in Ghanaians to have their business thrive. They are also religious entrepreneurs, who make huge sums of money out of their jejune theology.

One of their main theologies is deism: A theology that posits that God created the world, but he is like an absentee landlord, who is far removed from His creation. These God of men, therefore, create a vacuum and widen the perceived gap in theocentric relationship. In the process, they present themselves as the right persons to intercede between God and men. Because of this created responsibility, they promote themselves more than they praise God. They also make miracle, which is not necessarily the sole mark of Christianity, a huge enterprise. Thus, to imprison the gullible Ghanaian, they deploy all forms of familiar spirits to do exploits in miracles.

I have observed, for some years now, that these God of men have survived and also gain more acceptances, because they exploit the despondency of Ghanaians. After all, if you are sick and doctors do not have their medical solution to you sickness, you would be compelled to go to these God of men, who claim to have answers to the poly-challenges of life. Again, if you are a worker and your income never seems to be enough, and these God of men promise to help you, you would, by virtue of your circumstance, yield to their exploitation. In short, these God of men take advantage of the existential challenges of life. They ascribe to themselves the power to solve all lifes challenges.

The sexual, financial, and physical abuses and exploitations that go on in the churches of these God of men should be given the needed attention by the state. While Ghana provides freedom of religion, the state must guard against these God of men who use religion as opium to dupe the masses. I personally think that the state should intervene as quickly as possible to bring sanity to the Ghanaian religious landscape.

Here, my understanding is informed by the fact that freedom of religion should not be misconstrued as freedom of religious exploitation. The next solution is that the Ghana Christian Council should be given additional powers to enforce their code of conduct. Here, I think that we can weed out these God of men if the Ghana Christian Council is constitutionally empowered to de-register churches that have doctrines and dogmas that are very inimical to the welfare of Ghanaians.

In sum, my argument is that the Ghana Christian Council should be constituted as the determinant of religious teachings and practices. They should ensure that, while churches should be free to teach their church-centered doctrines, no church should have a doctrine and dogma that could potentially injure Ghanaians. For example, stepping on pregnant women by some of these God of men should not be allowed. No stretching of religious freedom to entertain such despicable practice.

The state must also provide social intervention programmes to bring some relief to Ghanaians. The failure of the state to provide for its citizens is one of the reasons for the mushrooming of the churches of these God of men. Here, I believe that if the state were able to provide for adequate health facilities, accommodation, and food, most Ghanaians would not be driven by the despondency of life to go after these God of men.

I conclude on the note that the state and other stakeholders should closely monitor the activities of these God of men. The few remnants of God should be proactive in condemning these God of men. Christians all over the country should be taught to understand that life is always punctuated by several challenges. They should encourage Christians that suffering is part and parcel of the fallen world.

The existentiality of suffering finds expression in the suffering of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. So, while we do not resign to fate in the face of challenges, we should be encouraged that on the cross, Christ defeated sin, and by His resurrection, He conquered death. Thus, in Christ alone is found the solution to the all time greatest challenge of the human race: death. We should be encouraged to work hard to better our lot, but in so doing, we should be assured that there is a better world after here. Eternity is just a breath away, do not gamble with your soul.

Satyagraha!!

Charles Prempeh ( [email protected] ), Makerere Institute of Social Research, Makerere University, Uganda
Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) has further deepened its relationship with one of its subsidiaries, HFC Bank Ghana Limited with a visit by Mr. Nigel Baptiste, the new Chief Executive Officer of Republic Financial Holdings Limited and Managing Director of Republic Bank Trinidad and Tobago.

This is his first visit to Ghana since assuming office on the 11th of February 2016asPresident ofRFHLafter the retirement of Mr. David Dulal Whiteway.

Nigel Baptiste, a Banker for the past twenty-five years is a graduate of the Harvard Business Schools Advanced Management Programme.Mr. Baptiste also holds a diploma with distinction from the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking (USA).He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (England), and holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Economics from the University of the West Indies.

Prior to assuming his current position as Managing Director, he held several management positions includingDeputy Managing Director, Executive Director, Managing Director of the Groups subsidiary in Guyana and General Manager, Human Resources.

Mr. Baptiste currently is a member of the board of the Groups subsidiary in Guyana as well as various other subsidiaries in Trinidad.As part of his visit to Ghana, Mr. Nigel Baptisteheld strategic discussions with Mr. Robert Le Hunte, Managing Director of HFC Bank Ghana Limited and his management team on deepening Republic Banks involvement in HFCBank and the progress that HFC bank has made since becoming a subsidiary of the Republic Bank group. Mr. Baptiste also took the opportunity to visit some of the Banks branches in the Greater Accra region

He paid a courtesy call on Dr. Kofi Wampah, the Governor of the Central Bank -Bank of Ghana, where he pledged Republic Financial Holdings Limiteds continued support for HFC Bank and the Ghanaian Banking sector. In a statement, Mr. Baptiste said The Groups investment focus is consistent with Ghanas long term focus and We will be working closely with HFC Bank to develop it to become a formidable force in the Ghanaian Banking Industry.

Mr. Nigel Baptiste was Guest of Honour at the official opening of the Banks 42nd Branch at Adjiringanor, East Legon on the 8th of March 2016 in Accra.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who had thought that he had seen the worst of how corrupt practices have in the last few years brought Nigeria to her knees, last week, almost lost his cool when it was brought to his attention that a whopping $16billion  at the official exchange rate of N196, this comes to N3.136 trillion; while, with the parallel market rate of N315, it comes to a whopping N5.04trillion  of the nations crude oil revenue loss could be traced to some sharp practices by some individuals in Nigerias oil and gas sector.

The quantum of funds in question are revenue that ought to have accrued to Federal Government through oil-lifting deals which are now subject of intensive investigations.Specifically, one of the arrow heads of the crude oil lifting scam who has been invited and interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at least twice before, has been granted administrative bail, and who is alleged to be warehousing a sizable chunk of the money, drew the ire of Mr. President, an Aso Rock Presidential Villa source disclosed.

According to Vanguard, even visiting South African President, Jacob Zuma, was caught in the cross winds of Buharis reinvigorated anti-graft stand, as he said every kobo of the stolen funds must be recovered.Similarly, information suggests that the United States government is helping in the provision of intelligence on how to trace some of the stolen funds from Nigeria that were secretly moved out.

Benin Republic and South Africa have both become safe havens for Nigerias stolen funds.

$16BILLION

According to Aso Rock insiders, the funds were supposed to be proceeds from some of the crude oil sold on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria by these people and for which they were said not to have made the necessary returns to the coffers of the country.

Continuing, one of the sources said: You needed to have been there. You needed to have seen Mr. President. He was almost moved to tears at the colossal fraud that had taken place in the country.

He became dejected because at a time when the nations resources had gone down badly, at a time when the foreign reserves are also not as much as would be befitting of a nation with vast potentials, such a huge amount of money can be traced to the illegal activities of some people.

But Mr. President has ordered that every kobo must be recovered. Whatever it takes, he has made it clear that those funds must be recovered.

Records of the oil-lifting schedules, timelines of transactions as well as proceeds that were meant to have accrued to government, the source said, showed that some people just constituted themselves into a parallel government and were just making away with the nations resources.

TRACING STOLEN FUNDS

Powerful forces in the Goodluck Jonathans presidency were neck deep in the mindless looting. As part of its bilateral agreement on intelligence sharing and anti-money laundering surveillance, the US government is collaborating with the Buhari administration on how to trace some of the stolen funds.

It was discovered that whereas the Federal Government has relaxed its forex policy, there has been a heavy movement of cash (in dollars) from Benin Republic back into the system in Nigeria.

The simmering diplomatic row between Nigeria and South Africa, sources disclosed, has more to do with the seeming unwillingness of the South African government to repatriate alleged stolen funds that have been traced to that country.

This was part of what President Zuma came to resolve with Nigeria during his visit last week.
Accra, 16th March, 2016 - United Nations has set aside 8th March annually to celebrate International Womens Day, a day to celebrate womanhood and empower young ladies around the world as various organisations partner UN to celebrate them in the month of March.

Quame Owusu, a top fashion design label that came into prominence in the year 2015, when the lead designer (who named his fashion brand after himself) won the much coveted VLISCO STUDENTS AWARDS partnered VLISCO Ghana to celebrate the day in grand style at the Vlisco Boutique in the Accra Mall.

Vlisco, an internationally reputed wax print manufacturer honours all inspiring women in Ghana during the entire month of March, kick started with an announcement of the 2016 Vlisco Ambassador for Ghana.

This years theme, DREAMS COME TRUE, paid tribute to all African women with dreams, and especially those who dare to take the right steps to bring them to life. The much anticipated event saw models clad in designs of Quame Owusu displaying beautifully crafted pieces out of Vlisco wax prints, to the admiration of patrons invited.

The collection exhibited by Quame Owusu sort out to creatively communicate the beauty, calmness, yet ambitious and daring qualities of women in Africa, who despite the many challenges they face are able to inspire greatness in many by ignoring barriers and achieving their lives purpose by breaking the status quo and redefining excellence in varied fields of endeavour.

Patrons present were full of admiration to the lead designer, Quame Owusu during the catwalk session just after the Vlisco new ambassador was introduced to speak about her vision for the year long.

The Vlisco Womens Month 2016 campaign had a different approach than before as there was no voting element to elect a new ambassador. Instead, Regina Honu of Soronko Solutions, a software development powerhouse and social enterprise, was announced as the new Vlisco Ambassador for Ghana.

Regina was chosen because of her powerful story of achieving her dream and finding incredible success in her field as well as her passion for building up and empowering young women to also identify and achieve their own dreams. She represents the brand by daring every woman to choose the path less travelled and to be unafraid of being unique and expressing their individuality.
Senior lecturer at the Kofi Anan International Peace-Keeping training Centre, Dr Kwesi Aning says the public alert of a possible terror threat issued by government is not enough.

The National Security Council, after a meeting called by President John Mahama Tuesday, March 15, 2016 asked the public to be vigilant, saying that Ghana faces a credible terrorist threat.

The Council advised the general public to be cautious, curious, and report any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.

But the security expert, Dr. Aning said, the alert lacks details on what the public must look out for when being vigilant.

Speaking to Joy News Beatrice Adu, the security expert said, It is very good that the National Security Council finally, after close to 10 years delay, has recognized the change in security dynamics in West Africa and the way that it poses a threat to us.

But I think it raises concerns as to whether this is too little too late. Having said that, how do you build security and make it a shared responsibility? What is the role of ordinary people and if the threat is credible, what should the market woman be looking out for when she goes to the shop? What is it that the farmer should stumble on, on his way to his farm? What is that I, coming to work stuck in traffic, might see that I might find a little odd and out of place? he queried.

President John Mahama and his security chiefs at Tuesday's meeting reviewed the security situation in the country in the wake of a terrorist attack in Cote dIvoire.

According to reports, 15 civilians and three members of the special forces of that country were killed with 33 people others wounded in the attack in Grand Bassam, a weekend retreat popular with Ivorians and westerners about 40 km (25 miles) east of the commercial capital, Abidjan.

A statement issued after the meeting by Communication Minister, Edward Omane Boamah, urged Ghanaians and other nationals resident in Ghana to bear with security measures that may be enforced at various locations from time to time for the purpose of public safety.

Dr Aning said, a mere statement is not enough, more has to be done because ordinary Ghanaians cannot take any action on their own.

I am still expecting, almost 12 hours after the release that there will be some more information saying these are hotlines, manned 24/7 and as you go out, these are some of the things we expect you to look out for, because Grand Bassam did not just happen.

He said it was important for more people, with different skills set to be brought in to support the efforts being made.

If the statement really means what it says, then much more information needs to be coming out, he added.

Some people who spoke to Joy News' Kwetey Nartey on measures they are taking to protect themselves said they are carefully choosing the kind of places they go to and have become extremely cautious in public.

A gentleman told Kwetey he avoids huge crowds and I tend not to go to the mall where people can strike easily because I know they [terrorists] target those places.

When I go to the beach or the hotel, I do my own checks around the place and if I find something suspicious I leave, another said.
Doe Adjaho

16.03.2016 LISTEN

Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho has been sworn in as the Acting President of the Republic of Ghana by the Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood on Wednesday.

The swearing in was necessary following a letter dated March 16, 2016, from the office of the President informing the Speaker of the absence of the President from the country.

President Mahama was, by the letter addressed to the Speaker fulfilling the demand of Article 59 of the constitution of the republic of Ghana which states that "The President shall not leave Ghana without prior notification in writing, signed by him and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament".

Meanwhile the Vice President, Kwesi B. A. Arthur is also on official duty outside the country.

Therefore, per the dictate of Article 60 clause (11) and clause (12), the Speaker of Parliament has to be sworn in as the Acting President.

Article 60 (11) says that "Where the President and the Vice-President are both unable to perform the functions of the President, the Speaker of Parliament shall perform those functions until the President or the Vice-President is able to perform those functions or a new President assumes office, as the case may be".

And Article 60 (12) adds that "the Speaker shall, before commencing to perform the functions of the President under Clause (11) of this article, take and subscribe the oath set out in relation to the office of President".

President John Mahama will leave the country on Wednesday 16th March, 2016 to Scott Land and return on Saturday, 19th March, 2016.

The Vice President on the other hand is on a 2 day summit at India.

The Presidency of H. E. Edward Doe Adjaho commences today, Wednesday March 16, 2016 and ends when the President and the Vice returns on Saturday March 19, 2016.
16.03.2016 LISTEN

Sometimes when political clowns like Bernard Antwi Bosiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) speak, the natural inclination is for discerning and well-meaning people to hold back any comments or rebuttals to the incendiary comments that have become the trademark of that political neophyte. But then again, as wisdom and history have taught us, to hold back is to accept and have these same preposterous claims documented as facts.

Indeed, posterity would not look kindly on us if all right-thinking men of this beloved country sit by for this dim-witted personality to have his words enter into our history books without any countering statements to his claims.

It is in view of this that, we, the members of the Young Cadres Association(YCA) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have vowed to match people like Wontumi boot-for-boot whenever they spew their rubbish into the public domain.

Anytime this so-called Chairman Wontumi and his opposition-consigned political party decide to contribute to the national discourse, nothing but utter gibberish comes out.

After taking a beating from his own Members of Parliament (MPs) who he has been trying to undermine after failing to extort money from them, this corrupt extortionist of a chairman, with his tail between his legs, has the audacity to tell the whole nation that President Mahama's government has been a curse unto the nation.

This statement, carried on Peacefmonline, has all the markings of a desperate man from a desperate party which has no campaign message, except to insult and throw dust into the eyes of the good people of Ghana. They are jumping on straws now - straws as light as three young ladies carrying out criminal conducts that have nothing to do with the political leadership of the state. How ridiculous for such an apology of a leader to say such things about the President!

For the chiefs and people across the length and breadth of this country praising the President and endorsing him for a second term, President Mahama's rule has not been a curse; for the countless school-going kids who would have hitherto spent their times sweating their lives on the streets, the President's interventions in the education sector can only be a blessing; for the Kejetia market woman who will be trading in ultra-modern stores and sheds in the next couple of months, the President's term in office cannot be seen to be a curse; and for the millions of Ghanaians who will benefit from improved health due to the unprecedented investments in the health sector, President Mahama's reign can only be equated to a period of prosperity.

Well, maybe for people like Wontumi whose galamsey operations have virtually been brought to a halt thanks to a retooling of the security services for effective monitoring, they are now living in hell and thus they cannot see any blessings under President Mahama. Little wonder he has resorted to blackmailing his own MPs for money. But for us, our nation is fast regaining its tag as the beacon of hope in Africa under President Mahama. We are regaining what we lost!

Indeed, we have lived in this country and have witnessed a period when our nation was internationally tagged the 'Cocaine Coast' under a certain regime; yes, we were in this country when in an unheard of experience in our history, three women party executives of the NPP in Dzorwulu in Accra were caught smuggling cocaine to Europe, and nothing was done to bring them to justice because their dockets mysteriously got lost!

Yes,we have been in this country when diplomatic passports went missing from the safe of a Foreign Affairs Minister and ended up in the hands of drug dealers. This same man now walks around with angelic gait, touting his incorruptibility credentials. And in all these, no one said the President at the time had brought curses on the nation.

If there has been any time in our political lives in which our land had been cursed, it surely was the time when the national disgrace barometer climbed to its highest point because our country had been reduced into a cocaine trafficking hub. That time, is certainly not the time of President John Mahama!

Wontumi's penchant for preposterous claims has made him a laughing stock even in his own party and the earlier he desists from such claims about the first gentleman of the land, the better it will be for him. Indeed, we doubt if he has any reputation left, but if he wants to protect whatever is left of his tattered image and that of his out-of-tune flagbearer, he must stop attacking the President.

Signed:

Bright Botchway

General Secretary

Young Cadres Association(YCA)
Government has deployed 50 Military men to intensify a campaign to flush out nomadic herdsmen in Kwahu Afram Plains in the Eastern region.

The military men made up of Army Officers and Army recruits will complement efforts of traditional leaders to address the menace of herdsmen in the area, Acting President of the Kwahu Traditional Council, Nana Asiedu Agyemang has confirmed.

He said the decision to heighten security was taken at a crunch meeting by traditional leaders of the Kwahu Traditional Council and members of the Eastern Regional Security Council (RESEC).

He described as threatening the activities of the nomadic herdsmen saying they can speak to their cows to attack you if you attempt to drive them out of your farm.

Nana Agyemang said the herdsmen have mingled with the local residents such that when the farmers cultivate their crops, the herdsmen drive their cows to destroy them.

According to him, since one herdsman can owe as many as 1,000 cattle in the area, they are collectively able to cause serious destruction to farms of the local residents.

Recent activities of Fulani herdsmen:

Activities of the nomadic herdsmen have come to the attention of the public as a result of their destructive tendencies resulting in the loss of lives of residents in some cases.

On February 26, residents of Agogo in the Asante Akyim North District of the Ashanti region banned all political activities and state functions in the town until the herdsmen menace is addressed.

They also demanded the transfer of the District Police Commander, ASP Asamoah Agyekum whom they described as being indifferent to demands to drive out the nomadic herdsmen from the area.

Nana Agyemang disclosed to Joy News that the Kwahu Traditional Council has given the herdsmen until the end of March to get their cows and belongings out of the area, adding "We want them to move".

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | Email: [email protected]
On 16 March the British Embassy hosted Dr. Denis Mukwege, doctor at Panzi Hospital in DRC, whose invaluable work has helped victims of sexual violence in DRC for several years. During a press conference Dr. Mukwege took questions from diplomats and international press present in Kinshasa.

Welcoming the UK's ongoing commitment to tackling sexual violence in DRC, Dr. Mukwege outlined the challenges that remain. He said that those responsible for sexual violence must be held to account for their crimes. He urged the government to take action on this, and to protect survivors and pay reparations where these were due.

The UK welcomes the engagement of Dr. Mukwege and other activists on this issue, and the steps taken by the DRC government. The UK will continue to support their efforts to help put an end to the scourge of sexual violence.
Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom

16.03.2016 LISTEN

Presidential hopeful of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has challenged President John Dramani Mahama to a public debate over the management of the affairs of the state.

Dr Nduom does not understand why President Mahama would limit his call for a debate to only the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Dr Nduom's challenge follows an interview in which President Mahama said he was willing to debate the NPP strongman any day.

In a subtle response on his Twitter handle, Nana Akufo-Addo also accepted the challenge saying if that would solve the myriad problems facing the country under Mahama's leadership.

But Dr Nduom thinks the challenge should have been extended to him instead.

In a statement issued yesterday, he questioned why President John Dramani Mahama would prefer debating Nana Akufo-Addo of the NPP instead of him (Dr Nduom), wondering whether the NPP flagbearer comes across as an easier match for the president.

For him, that approach in itself is as contentious as the president's reference to Akufo-Addo's critique of him as contentious.

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Dr Nduom, who has a business empire, believes he offers alternative solutions to the many disillusioned Ghanaians and that the people would appreciate a healthy debate between him and the president. According to him, A healthy debate on policies will help find solutions to the countrys problems.

Does President Mahama think he can ignore people that I appeal to? he asked rhetorically, insisting that as president of the country, Mr Mahama should make himself ready to debate him on detailed policies on corruption and job creation and therefore believes he can withstand him (Mahama) in a debate.

The PPP leader prides himself as having been consistent with his proposals for alternatives to the Mahama administration, insisting that the country's energy crisis for instance could not be fixed within a year or two.

He has, since entering into active politics in the year 2008, stressed the belief that the only way to ensure development at the local level is to elect metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) to ensure that they are responsible to the people who voted them into power and are therefore obliged to heed to their wishes or get the sack after four years.

Dr Nduom has been a strong anti-corruption advocate who believes that Ghana could deal decisively with the canker if the Attorney General's (AG's) Department were separated from the Ministry of Justice.

He is confident that this can ensure that the AG's Department is replaced by an independent prosecutor who will not cover up corruption at high places because of political affiliation.

He has often referred the president to the Chapter 6 of the country's Constitution that defines what good governance should be: that is high quality, compulsory and continuous education at the basic level and how there should be no excuses for any president or administration not implementing that chapter called Directive Principles of State Policy.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu


Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

16.03.2016 LISTEN

To celebrate Commonwealth Day 2016, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has made a clarion call for all inhabitants of the Commonwealth of Nations, to support those in need.

In her speech delivered at Westminster Abbey on Commonwealth Day, the Queen reiterated the need for inclusiveness which she noted will: lay the foundations of a harmonious and progressive society. The greater the diversity of those included in such a shared enterprise, the greater the gains.

The former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who also attended the event, commended Queen Elizabeth for showing an  unwavering and steadfast devotion to humanity and the Commonwealth. He added: We are greatly honoured and deeply grateful for your extraordinary commitment to its people.

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Mr. John Apea, Representative for the Commonwealth Region in Africa, added  Everywhere you turn in Africa, from Botswana to Zambia, the Queen is loved and respected.without her strong leadership, the Commonwealth would have fallen apart.



About the Commonwealth



The Commonwealth is a loose association of former British colonies and current dependencies, along with some countries with no historical ties to Britain. Members include Australia, Britain, Canada, Cyprus, Ghana, Grenada, India, Jamaica, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore and South Africa. It represents approximately 2.3 billion people of which 60% are aged less than 30 years of age.
President John Mahama

16.03.2016 LISTEN

The National Security Council, chaired by President John Mahama, yesterday reviewed the security situation in the country following the rising insurgency by Al-Qaeda militants in the West African sub-region, especially in Ghana's neighbouring countries.

The council convened the meeting to put in place stringent measures to forestall the clearly imminent danger lurking at the corner and warned Ghanaians to endure some of the measures to be adopted.

The meeting was attended by service chiefs and all other members of the council who reviewed the recent attacks in Mali, Burkina Faso and La Cote d'Ivoire.

Al-Qaeda elements recently attacked an Ivorian major beach resort in the Grand Basam area in the capital Abidjan, killing about 18 people and injuring several others. They had previously attacked hotels in Mali and Burkina Faso where guests were held hostage, with some losing their lives.

A National Security source told DAILY GUIDE that the council, on the basis of briefings by the intelligence agencies and partners, had determined that there was a credible terrorist threat to all countries in the sub-region and that Ghana was not an exception.

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The council reviewed its anti-terrorism preparedness, joint services operations and other measures to ensure the safety of the citizenry, the source said.

Ghana recently accepted Al-Qaeda remnants from the United States detention centre, Guantanamo Bay, creating security concerns among Ghanaians about possible Al-Qaeda attacks.

With red alert following the attacks in Ghana's neighbours, the council has advised that the general public be vigilant, cautious and curious.

It has urged the public to report any unusual circumstances to the law enforcement agencies.

The council urges all Ghanaians and other nationals resident in Ghana to bear with security measures that may be enforced at various locations from time to time for the purpose of public safety, the source underscored.
The rejected gari

16.03.2016 LISTEN

Students of the Dambai College of Education in the Volta Region on Monday pulled a major surprise on the leadership of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the school authorities when they defied attempts to seduce them.

That was when vice presidential candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, stormed the school.

Bawumia had scheduled a meeting to interact with the students on campus but that was not without a drama.

Information reaching DAILY GUIDE indicated that there was fear and panic among the leadership and members of the NDC.

According to a source in the party who spoke on condition of anonymity, the ruling party was on tenterhooks regarding the ongoing Volta Regional tour by Dr. Bawumia.

To this end, the NDC had conceived a series of overt and clandestine plots to ensure that the planned tour of Nana Akufo-Addo's running mate in the region was sabotaged.

A day before the meeting, a directive came from the authorities who were acting on 'orders from above' (the Ministry of Education) that Dr Bawumia could no longer be allowed to meet members of the NPP's Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON) on campus.

So far, two institutions  the Dambai College of Education and St Francis College of Education in Hohoe  have denied Dr. Bawumia access to their assembly halls where he was billed to meet members of TESCON.

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DAILY GUIDE sighted the reply letter by St Francis College of Education refusing to permit the use of the assembly hall by members of TESCON to interact with Dr. Bawumia.

In one of such letters dated March 14, 2016, and addressed to NPP parliamentary candidate for Hohoe, Marlon Anipa, principal of St Francis College of Education-Hohoe had stated, With reference to your letter dated 12th March, 2016 to use our Assembly Hall for the above meeting, Management of the College regrets to inform you that the premises cannot be used due to reasons beyond our control.

The principal however, indicated that members of TESCON in the College would be allowed to attend the meeting wherever it would be held, whiles apologising for the inconvenience.

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Drama

Unperturbed as they were, some of the students who were bent not only to see but listen to Dr Bawumia, hurriedly organised the forum on a park outside the campus.

Ruffled by the botched attempt to stop the programme, leadership of the NDC resorted to 'plan B' to sabotage the programme. It flooded the campus with hundreds of bags of gari for the students for free.

Each student was being given two kilograms (olonka) each of the gari.

The party gurus thought that that could have diverted the attention of the students from the policy speech of Dr Bawumia and boycott the programme, but that also did not suffice as the students refused the gari and attended the function in their numbers.

Later, other students who went for the gari also joined their colleagues to listen to Dr. Bawumia.

It therefore did not come as a surprise that one lecturer at the Dambai College of Education who is also Head of the Social Sciences Department, Lambert Ahiadzu Sefadzi, spoke against the vile attempt to scuttle the programme.

Condemnation

When he took his turn at the forum, he decried the development as he considered it not only a show of bad faith, but shameful.

Because of this programme, a political party is today sharing gari on the Dambai College of Education. The press can rush to the campus right now to find out at the dining hall. This is just to prevent students from coming to this programme. So this is how they think they can buy our conscience? he remarked before the gathering.

Speaking at the same forum, National Youth Organizer of the NPP, Sammi Awuku, could not hide his joy at the turn of events. According to him, it gave a clear indication of the level of frustration of the NDC government regarding the continuous expose' by Dr Bawumia.

For him, it was indicative of the choices available when Ghanaians go to the polls on November 7, 2016 to vote between the future of the youth and the restoration of teacher trainee allowances which the NPP was offering and the desire to win votes through cheap means and buying the people's conscience with fleeting desires such as gari and handouts.

Just when I thought this government was going to get serious, I have realised that they are still reducing our politics. I am happy that they have given us a clear option. This election is about gari or teacher trainee allowances, he rhetorically said.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu& Fred Duodu, Ho


16.03.2016 LISTEN

Accra, Mar. 15, GNA - In an effort to recapture the Ghanaian market, Royal Unibrew, a brewery based in Denmark which is the manufacturer of Vitamalt, Powermalt and Faxe Beer have re-launched the three products on the market.

The re-launch of the three products was also to position them to compete better with similar products already on the market.

Speaking during the launch of the products, Mr Wissam Raad, Managing Director, Otis McAlester-Ghana, main distributor of the three products in Ghana, said the company has started investing in new facilities at its head offices in Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi and would soon open another distribution centre in Tamale.

He said this would not only help them serve the Ghanaian market better, but would also help to generate employment.

He said the three brands were also doing well in Nigeria and would also endeavour to get more wholesalers and distribution depots across the country to make the products readily available.

'We will also come with great products, good pricing and promotions to make us compete effectively in the country', he said.

Mr Kenneth Hansen, Marketing Manager I/C malts, Royal Unibrew, said apart from Ghana and Nigeria, the Vitamalt was already common on the Caribbean and the US markets 'while Powermalt is only focused on the African market'.

Mr Yesper Dalby, Marketing Manager I/C beer, said due to its strong brand, Faxe Beer has been on the Ghanaian market for the past three years.

'The beer has also been successful around the world due to the richness of its taste and quality', he said.

Mr Kwamena Van-Ess, Former Director, Food and Drugs Authority, appealed to Royal Unibrew Denmark to establish a branch or a brewery in the country so that they could produce their products here and create more jobs for the youth.

He said everything about the three products were clear indications that they had been made to meet international standards.

GNA
[16th March, 2016] Airtel Business, the Enterprise solutions sub brand of Airtel Ghana on Thursday 10th March hosted its second SME breakfast series for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) within the Kumasi Metropolis with the ultimate purpose of e empowering them to face their internal and external business challenges while innovatively taking advantage of opportunities in country.

Under the theme Innovation  the wheels for driving todays business the session empowered SMEs through knowledge sharing and capacity building. The session covered topics such as harnessing the transformational power of technology to grow businesses, Human Resource management processes and best practice in financing for SMEs amongst others.

Kwame Annor, HR Business Partner at Airtel Ghana advised business owners on best practice HR practices to harness the best from employees whilst urging the latter to work not only for their salaries but for the ultimate development of their employers.

On his part, Sebastian Yalley, Group Head, eBusiness at First Atlantic Bank shared with participants the various ebusiness platforms in Ghana that they could use to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in their financial administrations. He recommended Airtel Money as the most preferred Mobile Money platform service in the country.

As the leading provider of unparalleled solutions for SMEs in Ghana, Airtel brought together more than 100 business owners and decision makers from the business community in Kumasi under the same roof to engage, network and share ideas that will propel their business. The SME Business series provides a platform for SMEs to learn, benefit from the wide array of bespoke communication, connectivity and collaborative solutions we have at Airtel to enhance their businesses. Todays session has been truly impactful and we will be organising these sessions regularly to support our SME sector.

Airtels Director for Legal and Corporate Affairs, Hannah Agbozo encouraged participants to strive for excellence in their operations. She said the SME sector is critical to Ghanas economy contributing significantly to GDP and employment. All the big businesses in the world started off as SMEs but with commitment to excellence, innovation and the right partnerships have transformed into the big businesses we see today. We live in a rapidly transforming operating environment and innovation is the key driver for business success. Airtel Ghana is committed to the SME sector through the cutting edge solutions we have to support your dreams as you steer your businesses to the greatest heights. We will journey with you all the way.

Airtel Business provides custom-made end-to-end business and enterprise solutions with cutting-edge technology that delivers great value propositions for all forms of businesses  large, medium and small enterprises.

Airtel Business solutions for SMEs includes, hybrid solutions to provide unmatched value and reduced cost, fixed voice for business contact lines, Airtel money for M-commerce, Airtel internet for all connectivity needs and Audio conference for business collaboration.

The Breakfast series was instituted by the Smartphone Network to empower businesses and provide a platform for business owners and senior business people to engage and network.

Airtel is Ghanas fastest growing telecom network and leader in data and digital innovation offering unparalleled telecommunications and lifestyle products and services to its customers.

About Bharti Airtel

Bharti Airtel Limited is a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa. Headquartered in New Delhi, India, the company ranks amongst the top 3 mobile service providers globally in terms of subscribers. In India, the company's product offerings include 2G, 3G and 4G wireless services, mobile commerce, fixed line services, high speed DSL broadband, IPTV, DTH, enterprise services including national & international long distance services to carriers. In the rest of the geographies, it offers 2G, 3G and 4G wireless services and mobile commerce. Bharti Airtel had over 353 millioncustomers across its operations at the end of January 2016. To know more please visit, www.airtel.com

About Airtel in Africa

Airtel is driven by the vision of providing affordable and innovative mobile services to all. Airtel has 17 operations in Africa: Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Airtel International is a Bharti Airtel company. For more information, please visit www.airtel.com , or like the Airtel Ghana Facebook page via www.facebook.com/airtelgh or follow us on Twitter via the handle @airtelghana.
Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Education Minister

16.03.2016 LISTEN

Every nation aspires to provide education with the needed strength and stamina to confront ignorance, unemployment and poverty. Good quality education service delivery promotes peace, unity and wealth among people. Ghana resolves to imbibe knowledge, skills and competencies in its citizens for healthy living.

In its paper, Defining Quality in Education, the United Nations Childrens Fund (2000) identifies the learner, learning environment, content, processes and learning outcomes as the determinants of any education that aims at the rights of the whole child and all children to survival, protection, development and participation. The Education for All Global Monitoring Report of UNESCO (2005) analyses quality education using the learner characteristics, enabling inputs and learning outcomes as Professor Francis Amedahe (2014) decides to use parental support, class size, supervision and management, teacher characteristics and professional development, and instructional inputs as well as time on task for his argument.

The Ministry of Education (2016) on Quality of education: what has improved over the past decade_2005-2015 says, Over the years, the quality of delivery of the Ghanaian education system has been assessed through the observation and analysis of certain key quality indicators like the pupil-teacher ratio, pupil-core textbook ratio, percentage of trained teachers and time on task.

Which ever way one would want to look at it, the fact still holds that quality education arises from the support services received from sources, such as the parent, teacher, school environment, learner and the system itself in relation to the national and global demands. Pigozzi (2004) could not also have put it any better when she reiterated the need for education to be made relevant to the society in which the learner lives for it to be tagged as being effective. Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah in 2009, at the launch of a book titled, Teaching and Education for Teaching in Developing Countries: Essays in Honour of Prof. Jophus Anamuah-Mensah at Winneba also called for effective stakeholder support in designing policies and programmes that would meet global demand.

This write-up gives a highlight of the extent to which our pre-tertiary education has performed so far. EdQual (2010) says quality pre-tertiary education develops in the young individual the knowledge, skills and attitude that are needed for laying the foundations for further education and sustainable livelihood. Though faced with some mishaps, Ghanas system of education can still be said to be potent among the comity of nations. We are a strong model and reference to nations. They envy us and copy a lot of things from us. My Malian ex-mate at Ghana Institute of Journalism, Ramata, once told me, Ghana is a strong reference for education; we respect you a lot and thats why Im here to do this course.

Governments, over the years, have done their bits to place us at where we are today as a country. Our records, in terms of access to equity and quality education, have been quite okay. Statistics at Ghana Education Service (GES) indicates that the pupil-to-teacher ratio moved from 30 pupils per teacher to 34 pupils per teacher from 2000 to 2012 as against 42 pupils per teacher in sub-Sahara Africa within the same period. It has also emerged that the number of trained basic school teachers has risen from an average of 44.7% in 2001/2002 to 75.1% by 2013/2014 with focus on Education Strategic Plan (2010-2020), which prescribes an average of 95% trained teacher population for the basic level.

In its bid to enhance accountability in schools, improve teacher presence and time on task, GES embarks on quarterly visits to and monitoring of schools and institutions with collaboration from the National Inspectorate Board of the Ministry of Education. According to Ministry of Education (2016), the effect of proper supervision and monitoring is drastic reduction in teacher absenteeism by 11%. It says a total of 12.5 million textbooks have been distributed to public basic schools resulting in the improvement of the core textbook-to-pupil ratio from 1:1.1 in 2008/2009 to 1:2.8 in 2013/2014. It also informs that 1,437,500 readers and 9,200 teaching guide in eleven languages have been supplied to basic schools to improve pupils understanding of numeracy, arithmetic, literacy and basic life skills in their local languages.

Available data from the Education Management Information System of the Ministry of Education has revealed a huge support from the Ghana Partnership for Education Grant (GPEG) and GES to train 6,865 pupil teachers in under-served districts for them to become professional teachers under the Untrained Teacher Development for Basic Education (UTDBE) programme. The module is also targeted at enhancing the number and quality of teachers that are needed to provide early childhood care and education.

Hard work, they say, pays. We would not have reached this far as a nation if we had relaxed and slept off on the job at the offices and schools. Ghana takes part in pre-tertiary examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) with Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Gambia. And we have, for the past four consecutive years, claimed all of WAECs top international academic excellence awards at the senior high school category, hurray! It all started when Asafo-Adjei Priscilla and pals; Tsorgali Josephine and Nyarko David Kofi took the first, second and third positions respectively in 2008 to beat their Nigerian, Liberian, Sierra Leonean and the Gambian counterparts. In 2009, Adu-Poku Frank, Ofori Maame Afua Otua and Karim Fathia scored first, second and third. The year, 2010 did not witness any external examinations. The nation was busily reverting its four-year senior high school programme to three years.

Yvette Yeboah-Kordieh, Josebert Abaasa Ayambire and Bright Seyram Tsevi; Ivy Ama Mannoh and Mwinmaarong Lucio Dery, and Hasan Mickail, Kenyah Blaykyi and Archibald Enninful lifted all three awards for first, second and third positions in each of the respective year groups of 2012, 2013 and 2014. These feats are same as what were recorded by Master Parker Bessant Allen and friends in 1992, Agbadzi Anthony Kweku and colleagues in 1993 as well as Dodoo Nii Lartey and others in 1994.

President John Mahama, represented by his vice at the Presidents Excellence Awards, awarded some 20 candidates who distinguished themselves in the 2015 edition of the Basic Education Certificate Examinations on the eve of the nations Independence Day. It is gratifying to note that 13 of the awardees came from public schools, a development which goes to confirm that public school education is not doing badly, after all.

The claps are not over yet. The 64th Annual Council Meeting of WAEC has just ended. It happened at the International Conference Centre in Accra and President Mahama was there. Jessica Ayeley Quaye, Ruth Ewura-Ama Awudzi and Danielle Amo-Mensah, all of Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast, swept all the awards for last year. It was, indeed, a feminine-victory rally as all the winners happened to be mistresses. Teachers, students and Old Girls of Wesley Girls High School, including the Education Minister Prof. Opoku-Agyemang herself an old student, sang their school anthem and cheered up their awardee sisters. In fact, they showed off and everybody was happy for them! Dr. Evelyn Kandakai, chairperson of WAEC, and delegates from the Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone also attended.

Lets continue to work together on our education for our own good!

E-mail: [email protected]

The writer is an educationist and a Public Relations Officer at the Headquarters of the Ghana Education Service.
16.03.2016 LISTEN

AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, a mining firm based in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region, has organised a free medical screening for about 500 women at Adeiyie, one of the mine's host communities in the region.

The medical screening which was done in collaboration with the mine's medical team, was also part of the company's quarterly rotational medical screening with all expenses borne by the company.

The women were screened for diseases such as respiratory tract infection, malaria, hypertension, skin infection, among others. They were also given a talk on reproductive health.

Cynthia Odoom Wilson, a physician assistant of the mine in a brief speech, encouraged the women to seek prompt medical attention when the need arises.

A Community Development Officer in-charge of Gender of the mine, Roseline Dauri, on her part, explained that the initiative by the mining company was also part of efforts to bring healthcare to the doorsteps of the residents in the mine's host communities.

She stressed that AngloGold Iduapriem Mine would continue to roll out more of such interventions to ensure women were empowered at all levels of life; a phenomenon she underscored was in line with the 2016 objectives of the mine.

The assemblyman for Adieyie, Ernest Amoateng, remarked that the health, water and sanitation component of the mine's social investment strategy had been beneficial to people in the mining community.

He, therefore, called on the mining firm to sustain the initiative and encouraged all to make good use of the myriad opportunities the mine presented to them.

From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi


Nana Agyenim Boateng I, the Amoamanhene

16.03.2016 LISTEN

NANA AGYENIM Boateng I, the chief of Amoaman in the Atwima Nwabiagya District, marked his fifth-year on the throne, which coincided with the Akwasidae festival, with a mammoth durbar, on Sunday.

The colourful traditional event, which was held at the Amoaman Township, attracted people from various backgrounds including chiefs, top politicians, the clergy and businessmen, among others.

Nana Agyenim Boateng I, who was dressed in a splendid-looking 'Kente' cloth, arrived at the durbar grounds in a palanquin to a rapturous applause from a charged crowd, most of whom are natives of Amoaman.

The traditional leader, who without doubt is development-oriented person, used his resources to construct the New Amoaman DA School at the cost of a whopping GH 1 million during his first year on the throne.

Addressing the huge crowd after moving round the durbar grounds to exchange pleasantries with some selected personalities, the Amoaman Chief stated that developing Amoaman is his utmost priority.

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He announced that plans are far advanced for him to construct a modern infusion plant, valued at a staggering $ 11million at Amoaman to help provide jobs for the unemployed and energetic youth.

To serve the northern sector of the country after its completion, Nana Agyenim Boateng said the company which would be christened 'Northern Ghana Infusion Company' would open the area to the rest of the country.

He announced that construction works have also started for the construction of a modern police station, a spacious market and hospital at Amoaman, to help make living comfortable and enjoyable for his people.

Nana Agyenim Boateng entreated people in responsible positions like chiefs, to lead the crusade to ensure the smooth development of their areas to make their people, including women and children benefit.

Government, he said, cannot develop the country alone, hence the strongest need for influential people like chiefs and other affluent people in society to play roles to transform the society.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Amoaman


Nii Amaa Ollennu, Vice President, Italian Business Association of Ghana

16.03.2016 LISTEN



The Ghana chapter of the Italian Business Association will be launched today at the La Villa Boutique Hotel in Osu.

Vice President of the Italian Business Association of Ghana (IBAG), Nii Amaa Ollennu, told BUSINESS GUIDE that the association is aimed at creating opportunities for Italians and Ghanaians.

Noting that the association was open to companies and individuals without nationality restrictions, he said it was registered and incorporated on 16th June 2015.

He added that the event would be used to outdoor the association's constitution, as well as aims and objectives.

Mr. Ollennu noted that the association intends to organize focused interviews, events, workshops and seminars on specific sectors of the economy by bringing experts to the table, facilitate business-oriented capacity building programmes for members to enable them advance in their various business endeavours.

We are also focused on advisory services for Ghanaian companies with business interest in Italy, as well as Italian companies that are planning to invest in Ghana by sharing local knowledge of the territory acquired over the years to help new investors understand the Ghanaian/Italian market, creating cultural exchanges between Italy and Ghana, undertaking various projects and activities as part of IBAGs social responsibility.

IBAG is a non-profit, non-political and non-religious association which supports free expression of views and opinions.

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It will collaborate with other associations and chambers of commerce to become the voice of the business community in dealing with government institutions and bodies, as well as networking and lobbying.

We call on all who desire to invest, build and strengthen business relationships with Italian companies in Ghana and Italy to join the association to help attain strong business connections, Mr. Nii Amaa Ollennu mentioned.

The event is expected to be attended by representatives from government agencies, ministers, chief directors, diplomats and business associates.

A business desk report


Nii Amaa Ollennu, Vice President, Italian Business Association of Ghana

16.03.2016 LISTEN



MTN, the leading telecommunications company in Ghana, says it will focus on improving coverage in the rural communities.

According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Ghana, Ebenezer Asante, the company has solid network infrastructure in the urban areas which could remain intact for more than a year without any problem.

We are going to work with the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) to enhance rural coverage.

Speaking at the annual MTN Editors and Stakeholders' Forum in Accra, Mr Asante said the company was focusing on rural telephony to improve the quality of voice and data services in the rural communities.

He said part of the companys expenditure for this year would be used to improve systems network, growth, innovation and business optimization investments and further invest in sites and upgrade existing ones in the rural communities.

Mr. Asante said the company has earmarked $62 million this year to grow its network.

Revenue growth

Despite the increased competition, he said MTN recorded about GH2,315 million increase in revenue and 17.3 percent increase in subscribers.

Mr Asante said MTN Ghana contributed significantly to the overall profits of the MTN Group for the year under review, with revenue increasing by 0.1 percent to 146.4 billion South African Rand.

He revealed that the company had invested a total of $163.5 million in country, explaining that $67.5 million alone has been used for the acquisition of a 4GLTE licence from the National Communications Authority (NCA).

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He said MTN will soon roll out its 4G service to give its customers a new digital communications speed.

Taxes To Gov't

For very GH1 spent by a customer, he said a total of 34.5% of that goes into the payment of taxes such as the Value Added Tax (VAT), National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL), National Communications Authority (NCA), among others.

MTN Ghana in 2015 alone paid a whopping GH675.6 million to the government as taxes as against GH605 million in 2014.

By Cephas Larbi

[email protected]


Eric Boakye

16.03.2016 LISTEN

A 22-year-old man, Eric Boakye, who lives at Asokore, a suburb of Koforidua, is decomposing on a daily basis for allegedly using his one-and-half-year-old son for money rituals.

DAILY GUIDE gathered that Eric Boakye had two kids. For three years he worked in Accra as a washing bay attendant but last year December he returned to his family house at Asokore in Koforidua.

Sources said Eric Boakye then took his one-and-half-year-old boy to a popular fetish priest at a shrine near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region and used him for money rituals.

DAILY GUIDE learnt that the financially frustrated man had told his family in Asokore that he was taking his son to a family member at Kumasi to spend the Christmas vacation there but never returned with the kid to Asokore to continue schooling.

The Shrine

Eric Boakye, as gathered, was instructed by the fetish priest to hit his son with his two hands so that he would become deaf. According to reports, the fetish priest claimed Boakye's son would then begin decaying on a daily basis, which would generate money for Boakye.

Eric Boakye, after performing the other necessary rites at the shrine, did what the fetish priest instructed him to do but the son didnt turn into a deaf person. Rather, he started barking like a dog, collapsed and died on the spot.

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Boakye, according to a family source, then buried his son in the bush without telling anybody.

DAILY GUIDE learnt that last month February Eric Boakye started growing boils on all parts of his body and the family questioned him about it but he failed to answer.

Members of the family then went to a different fetish priest for consultation and were told that Eric had taken his son to a fetish priest for money rituals but didnt succeed and that it had resulted in his son's death.

Eric Boakye later confessed but failed to give out the location of the fetish priest. His body then started rotting, emitting an offensive stench which has forced all the co-tenants, except the family members, to vacate the family house at Asokore.

The worried family, as gathered, has not taken any decision as to whether to send Eric Boakye to the fetish priest for help or take him to the hospital.

However, the issue which has spread like fire in the New Juaben Municipality has shocked most residents.

FROM Daniel Bampoe, Asokore  Koforidua




16.03.2016 LISTEN

At the recent brand re-launch of Tigo's digital revolution at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, the Deputy Minister for Communication, Mr. Ato Sarpong praised the company for its social responsibility flagship project, Shelter 4 Education.

He commended the project for its positive impact on the lives of school children, the beneficiary communities and the country's educational landscape as a whole.

Over the past few years, Tigo has been top of mind in the media, particularly with Shelter 4 Education, building schools across the country. The project supports government's effort to tackle the lack of educational infrastructure particularly in rural parts of the country, he said.

The telecoms company constructed 4 schools and refurbished 2 others which is expected to serve as motivation to encourage parents to send their wards to school, thereby increasing enrolment.

Tigo launched its new tagline 'Live it. Love it.', which reflects the company's ambition to become the most consumed digital services brand of choice. At the launch, the Deputy Minister, was hopeful of the telecom sector and upbeat about Tigo's transformational journey, explaining that despite the various industry challenges over the year, Tigo is still a dominate force in the market.

He praised the company for investing millions of Ghanaian cedis in the last couple years to improve network quality, rollout of new cell sites and data centers.
16.03.2016 LISTEN

It was Chinua Achebe, the late Nigerian novelist who wrote that those who the gods want to kill, they first make them mad. I knew it will come to this, one day. In fact, I knew the end result will be total disgrace to Ghana as a country. When the NDC came to power and started packing the Flagstaff House with rubble-rousers, half-baked politicians and half-baked administrators who call themselves foot soldiers, I knew the day of disgrace will come as it came during the 59th anniversary celebration of Ghana's independence.

I wonder what Kenyans who accompanied their president to Ghana told their compatriots when they returned to their country. And I also wonder what their compatriots will be saying when they see the brochure which described their president as His Excellency, Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Ghana Probably they will feel proud that their president has been chosen by the John Mahama administration to be the president of Ghana. President Uhuru Kenyatta had his presidency in Ghana on a silver platter. He did not contest any election as a Presidential Candidate but was given the post through the mistake of some persons at Ghana's seat of government.

Probably, the compilers of the brochure might have been told that when Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown he sojourned in Guinea where his best friend, President Sekou Toure made him the co-president of that country. Armed with that information, they thought it will not be wrong to make Uhuru co- president of Ghana since we have precedence. How sad!

The whole mystery started when the 'former' president of Ghana, Mr. Dramani Mahama delivered his State of the Nation Address. As if the man was bewitched, he looked in the faces of the parliamentarians, the Diplomatic Corps and those who went to parliament house to listen to his address and told them that 'change was coming'. Indeed, change will have to come in November 7th to save us from total disgrace. By saying that he knew he was exiting the Flagstaff House in November. It took officials at the seat of government nearly two months to compile the brochure but as fate might have it, not a single person detected any mistake in the brochure. And come to think of it: This guy called Stan Dogbe who takes delight in misbehaving towards journalists led the team which produced the brochure but sadly he could not detect such a simple mix-up. God really works in mysterious ways. Instead of dismissing Stan Dogbe, the Hampers Man, when he continued to fool around, President Mahama rather gave him more responsibilities. If the president had heeded the call for his dismissal earlier, particularly the one which came from the Media Foundation for West Africa, of which yours sincerely was a signatory, this national disgrace would not have come knocking on our doors. Just look at how the Kenyan media houses are mocking Ghanaians.

When the 'Lone Star of Africa becomes the Loadstar of Africa, then the services of psychiatrists or exorcists are seriously needed at the seat of government. In describing the colours of the flag of Ghana, Stan Dogbe and his team of ignoramuses said the Dark Green represents the forest and farms of the country. Ebei! Dark Green? If Coat of Arms becomes Coat of Arm then there is something brewing in the stomachs of some people at the seat of government. In their rush to write something down and rush to collect their usual 10% kickback, listen to one of their serious blunders: As if by divine-designed Ghana is strategically positioned on the equator making her the center of the of the globe. Tweaaa!

The questions Ghanaians are asking are: was the Chief of Staff aware of the printing of the brochure and did he get the opportunity to read through when the printing was done? Did anyone see the brochures before they found their way to the Black Star Square for distribution to dignitaries? You see, the seriousness of this blunder is that because it is a document, some people will keep it for many more generations to come and see it and since it has gone viral, the whole world is reading it. Children yet unborn will grow to see this document and they will be made to believe that at a point in time Uhuru Kenyatta ruled Ghana. Who knows, Al Shabbab may attack a shopping mall in Ghana like they did in Nairobi which led to the untimely death of many innocent souls including our own illustrious son, Professor Kofi Awoonor. Members of this terrorist group who are mostly illiterates may have the funny feelings that Uhuru Kenyatta, their number one enemy has been given the extra responsibility to rule Ghana. That is my worry.

59 YEARS OF BUILD AND DESTROY!

We started well as a nation when we had our independence under Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. On our way to becoming an industrial hub of the sub-region, we started building bridges, schools, Training Colleges, Secondary Schools, Universities, hospitals, roads and topped it up with Akosombo Hydro Electric Dam etc. In no time, factories started sprouting like mushrooms. We had the Kade Match Factory, The Akosombo Textiles, Juapong Textiles, Takoradi Cocoa Products Company, Takoradi Veneer Factory, Samraboi Plywood Factory, Tema Food Complex, Nsawam Cannery, Wenchi Tomato Factory, Takoradi Paper Convention Factory, Mim Scantile Furniture Factory, Bonsa Tyre Factory and a huge rubber plantation near Tarkwa to feed the factory, Aboso Glass Factory, the Twifo Praso Palm Oil Plantation, Komenda Sugar Factory, Saltpond Ceramics Factory, Bolgatanga Meat Factory, Kumasi GIHOC Shoe Factory and many many more dotted across the length and breadth of the country. In order for us to engage in international trade, we established the Ghana Black Star Line and bought sixteen cargo ships which used to carry cocoa, timber, sawn wood etc to overseas and at the same time carry back home goods we imported from abroad. Then we established the Workers Brigade whose main aim was to engage in serious mechanized farming. We imported thousands of Zetor tractors from RUSSIA to help in the mechanized farming and also established the Farmers' Council to take oversight responsibility. Those were the days when we used to sing Work and Happiness. Good Lord, how nostalgic! Are you aware we used to have a Pito Brewery Factory located somewhere in the northern part of this country? Don't laugh because it is a serious issue.

Then General Kotoka and his Khaki Boys came storming like the way General Norman Schwarzzikopf stormed Iraq during the Gulf War.

For three years, the clock of progress started turning back until Professor Busia held the reins of power. For the barely two years that this meek and gentleman took over from the destructive Khaki Boys, things started going well until General Acheampong and another batch of Khaki Boys usurped power once again. These bunch of soldiers who knew nothing about governance took us through seven years of trial and error until Rawlings too came bulldozing his way only to hand over to Dr. Hilla Limann after holding the reins of power for barely three months.

In a matter of twenty seven months in power, Hilla Limann turned things around and was trying to put things right, but the same Rawling usurped power once again and took us through eleven years of stultifying brutal and bloody revolution which brought nothing but death and misery to the good people of Ghana. The guy came on the wings of Probity and Accountability but at the end of the day he was never probed nor was he accountable to Ghanaians. Then he metamorphosed into an elected civilian president and ruled for another eight years before getting off our nerves. His performance as an elected president for the eight years was more impressive than when he ruled as a de facto dictator.

Mr. Kufuor took over from Rawlings and set out to bring civility into the governance of the country. He introduced so many social interventions which went a long way to assuage the sufferings of the people. The international community began to have confidence in Ghana and investors started trooping in to do business in Ghana. As for the achievements of the Kufuor administration, one cannot get enough space in this column to recount.

The late Professor Fiifi Atta Mills did not complete his first term in office but he left a legacy worth emulating. He worked so hard to earn the respect of Ghanaians and was never found insulting like Opana is doing to Ghanaians. Like Professor Busia, this particular man would not hurt a fly as he went about his duties as the President of Ghana.

Enter Opana, young and burning with youthful exuberance. We thought as a young m

n he would be able to bring dynamism into the presidency but sadly he rather brought corruption, disgrace and indiscipline. Can Ghanaians endure yet another four years under this incompetent man and his cohorts who think lining their pockets is the panacea to nation building? Never! This man and his corrupt officials always ask us to tighten our Opanka leather belts but they make sure their belts are made of elastic materials, which give room for expansion. Time will tell!!!

By Eric Bawah
Kofi Buah

16.03.2016 LISTEN

The Member of Parliament(MP) for Ellembelle,Mr.Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has intimated that government will assist the Uthman Bin Affan Islamic School(UBAISH) to be one of the well-endowed and leading Islamic schools in the country.

He said the school which started as a private entity but became a public school through his efforts and government in 2012, is currently counted as one of the best in the District and the Western Region.

Mr. Buah,who doubles as the Minister for Petroleum, said this during the Founder"s day and fund raising ceremony of UBAISH at Kamgbunli in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.

He paid glowing tribute to the founding fathers of the school especially Sheik (Dr.) Mozu for mooting the idea to set up the school in 2008 and commended school authorities for having achieved a lot within a short time with more than 96% of candidates passing the WASSCE yearly.

Mr. Buah attributed this feat to the collaboration between the District Assembly,the District directorate of education and the office of the MP adding that they continue to put education in the district on a high pedestal and promised the school an additional bus to augment its shuttle services.

The MP said he was in constant touch with Tullow oil to initiate a water project for the Kamgbunli community as he continues to tar the principal streets in the town.

He advised them to avoid inflammatory speeches and guttural language which have the potential to fuel conflict especially as the nation goes to the polls in November 7.

The Ashanti Regional Imam of Ahlusunn ,Sheik Ismail Saeed said education is an essential component of Islam which God bequeathed to the prophet Mohammed and entreated Muslims to pursue higher education and use the knowledge acquired for the betterment of society.

He however regretted that education had been relegated to the background which had resulted in certain anti-social vices and insurrections such as Boko Haram.

Sheik Saeed reminded the Muslim community that Islam stands for unity,peace but have given way to divisive tendencies and urged Muslims to restore Islam to its former glory.

The Headmaster of the school,Alhaji Zakaria Osman said the school started with 62 students in 2008 but now has a population of 375.

He lauded the government of the National Democratic Congress(NDC) for incorporating the school as a public entity and also lauded the efforts of the Kamgbunli community for their spirit of communalism in establishing the school.

Alhaji Osman said the school placed second to the Nkroful Agricultural Senior High in the 2013/20134 WASSCE and second in the Osagyefo cup competition but mentioned that the school was in dire need of a Girls dormitory and a befitting Science laboratory and also mentioned the absence of a duty post vehicle and more classrooms to accommodate the yearly intake of students.

The District Director of Education,Rev.(Mrs.) Elizabeth Akuoku speaking on the theme,Quality Education,the role of teachers and students asked the students to read widely.

She said the District placed 24th in the BECE nation-wide and called for all hands on deck to help better the results.

GNA
16.03.2016 LISTEN

The First Lady Dr Lordina Mahama has called on the Ghanaian society to encourage community service with effective supervision for minor offences as an alternative to imprisonment to help reduce congestion in the prisons.

She said minor offences like stealing should be given community services as their sentences, instead of putting all such offenders to prisons which are already congested.

This, I believe, would help decongest the prisons as well as reduce the burden on the budget of the Prisons Service, Mrs Mahama said in an address during a visit to the Medium Security Prison in Nsawam in the Eastern Region recently.

The Nsawam Medium Security Prison is made up of two prison establishments male and female prison and these facilities are currently holding in custody the largest number of prisoners in the country.

It currently has 2,915 convicts and 333 remand prisoners.

The visit, therefore, afforded the First Lady, who is also the President of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA), the chance to interact with the inmates and to present the infirmary at the Nsawam Prison with some hospital equipment to aid the smooth running of the health facility.

By the visit, Mrs Mahama has been recorded as the first-ever sitting First Lady to have visited a prison, a move which has been highly appreciated by both authorities of the Prisons Council and the inmates as well.

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Among the items presented were theatre beds, catheters, syringes, mosquito nets, collar, forceps, bandages, gauze, beds, mattresses, blood pressure devices, wheel chairs, blood sample machines, bandages and pairs of gloves.

The inmates were also given some bags of rice, cooking oil, canned tomatoes and packets of sugar for their nourishment.

Mrs Mahama, who earlier on visited the Akropong School for Blind as a patron of the school to interact with inmates there, said her maiden visit to the Nsawam Prison followed that of President John Mahama's visit last year where he launched the 'Efiase Project'.

She said since the Lordina Foundation has been involved in medical outreaches and having presented medical equipment, supplies and logistics to many disadvantaged medical facilities all over the country, she deemed it fit to donate the items to the Nsawam Prison.

Mrs Mahama said even though it is not compulsory to test for HIV and AIDs, inmates should consent to testing for HIV and AIDS in order to know their status and to receive early treatment.

She emphasised the need for prisoners to enjoy their basic rights to healthcare, saying that their living conditions should improve rather than destroy their good health.

She also asked that female prisoners especially should be given access to healthcare treatment, whilst adequate arrangements must be made for pregnant prisoners to give birth at a health facility outside the prison.

The First Lady expressed government's commitments to improving and resourcing the Prison Services with various logistics like vehicles to help ease the longstanding transportation challenges and expansion of accommodation facilities.
Nairobi (AFP) - Kenya's armed forces said they had thwarted an assault by Shebab jihadists on a military camp in southern Somalia early Wednesday, killing 19 insurgents and seizing a haul of weapons.

Kenyan troops operating under the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) "foiled a planned attack" by Shebab militants near a camp operated by the Somali National Army and AMISOM at Afmadhow in the Lower Juba area, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) said in a statement.

"The... terrorists had approached the camp at night with the intent to attack and cut off the SNA from the AMISOM KDF camp," it said.

"KDF soldiers on patrol identified the militants and engaged them in a fierce battle. The (Shebab) attempted to fight back, but were swiftly repulsed by the KDF soldiers on patrol and those at the camp, it said, quoting army spokesman David Obonyo.

"Following the incident, 19 (Shebab) militants were killed and one technical vehicle destroyed. Some of the arms and ammunition recovered include 10 AK 47 rifles and three rocket-propelled grenades."

The KDF statement could not be immediately confirmed independently.

The al-Qaeda-aligned group was ousted from the capital Mogadishu in August 2011 and today concentrates on carrying out attacks from the countryside.

It has claimed responsiblity for a string of recent attacks in Somalia, including a twin bombing in the city of Baidoa on February 28 that killed at least 30 people.

On January 15, Shebab fighters overran a military outpost in El-Adde, southern Somalia, manned by up to 200 Kenyan soldiers deployed under AMISOM.

Shebab fighters are targeting AMISOM because in the absence of a functioning national army, the 22,000-strong force is the only protector of the internationally-backed government that the jihadists are committed to overthrowing.
Grand-Bassam (Ivory Coast) (AFP) - The toll from a jihadist shooting rampage at an Ivory Coast resort rose to 19 Wednesday when a body washed up on the beach, as the president said the country would not be cowed.

Images of the body of the young man shot in the head featured on state-run RTI television, which quoted its finder as saying it had been "washed back by the waves".

Several witnesses had reported seeing the attackers firing on people bathing in the sea or swimming.

"Ivory Coast will not be intimidated," said President Alassane Ouattara on chairing an extraordinary cabinet meeting in the popular beach town of Grand-Bassam where Sunday's shooting took place, urging the nation to show "our unity and strength."

Sunday's attack by at least three gunmen was claimed by an Al-Qaeda affiliate. It was the first in the country but the third such recent incident in West Africa.

Attacks also claimed by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) took place in Mali in November, and Burkina Faso in January, likewise targeting venues frequented by foreigners.

"I'm sure business activity at the hotels will be back to normal this weekend," said Ouattara.

"We want to tell the hoteliers that we must do everything we can to get back to business."

The attack has raised concerns it could affect the country's key tourist industry, just as Ivory Coast, the world's leading cocoa producer, was rebuilding its economy after years of unrest.

Nationals from several different countries were among those killed when the gunmen stormed three hotels and sprayed the beach with bullets.

Government spokesman Bruno Kone said the dead included eight Ivorians, a Nigerian, four French citizens, a German and a Macedonian woman and a Lebanese national. Three Ivorian special forces troops were also killed.

The sleepy town of Grand-Bassam, with its pristine beaches and UNESCO-listed French colonial-era buildings, is a short drive from Abidjan, Ivory Coast's main city and commercial capital, and is packed with visitors at weekends.

Spokesman Kone said the government was pledging emergency budgetary aid for the city to the tune of 550 million CFA (840,000 euros), to be distributed between hotels, crafts people, street vendors and the town hall.

AQIM said the attack was one of a series of operations "targeting dens of espionage and conspiracies".

It warned France and its allies that nations involved in the anti-insurgent Operation Barkhane and the 2013 French-led Operation Serval in Mali would "receive a response", with their "criminal leaders" and interests targeted, according to the SITE group which monitors extremist groups.

On Tuesday, former colonial power France announced it would deploy a dozen crack GIGN special operations troops specialised in counter-terror and hostage rescue missions in neighbouring Burkina Faso.

France has some 600 troops at four military bases in Ivory Coast.
Nairobi (AFP) - Thirty insurgents in Somalia's Al-Qaeda-aligned Shebab jihadist group were killed Wednesday in heavy clashes in the south and northeast of the country, Kenya's armed forces and local authorities said separately.

In the first incident, the Kenya Defence Force (KDF) said it had thwarted an assault on a military camp at Afmadhow in the Lower Juba area in southern Somalia, killing 19 rebels and seizing a haul of weapons.

Kenyan troops operating under the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) mission "foiled a planned attack" near the camp, operated by the Somali National Army (SNA) and AMISOM, the KDF said in a statement.

"The... terrorists had approached the camp at night with the intent to attack and cut off the SNA from the AMISOM KDF camp," it said.

"KDF soldiers on patrol identified the militants and engaged them in a fierce battle. The (Shebab) attempted to fight back, but were swiftly repulsed by the KDF soldiers on patrol and those at the camp, it said, quoting army spokesman David Obonyo.

"Following the incident, 19 (Shebab) militants were killed and one technical vehicle destroyed. Some of the arms and ammunition recovered include 10 AK 47 rifles and three rocket-propelled grenades."

- Fighting in Puntland -

In a separate incident on Wednesday, troops in Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region killed 11 Shebab in heavy fighting in villages on the northeastern coast, local authorities said.

The clashes came a day after around 100 insurgents sought to take control of the villages of Garmal and Suuj, near the port of Eyl, a pirate hotspot, local officials and residents said.

"Puntland forces have attacked elements of the Shebab group who have attacked coastal villages in the Puntland region in order to destabilise the area," Mohamud Hassan, the Puntland administration's information minister, said at a press conference.

"Eleven of the fighters were killed in the fighting and the rest are surrounded now," he said, adding that the clean-up operation was still ongoing.

It was not immediately possible to independently verify the information.

Residents in the Eyl district said the Shebab arrived in the villages in fishing boats.

They seized Garmal late Tuesday and then took up positions in Suuj village where the fighting on Wednesday was "very heavy", said Ali Weli, a resident.

"The fighters are armed with heavy machine guns, mortars and RPGs, they don't have vehicles and heavy weaponry like the Puntland army but they are putting up fierce resistance," he added.

Several other residents confirmed the clashes but were unable to give details or casualty estimates.

The Shebab were ousted from the capital Mogadishu in August 2011 and today concentrate on carrying out attacks from the countryside.

The group has claimed responsiblity for a string of recent attacks in Somalia, including a twin bombing in the city of Baidoa on February 28 that killed at least 30 people.

On January 15, Shebab fighters overran a military outpost in El-Adde, southern Somalia, manned by up to 200 Kenyan soldiers deployed under AMISOM.

Shebab fighters are targeting AMISOM because in the absence of a functioning national army, the 22,000-strong force is the only protector of the internationally-backed government that the jihadists are committed to overthrowing.

Puntland set up its own government in 1998, but unlike neighbouring Somaliland, it has not declared full independence.
16.03.2016 LISTEN

Accra, Mar. 16, GNA - Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, the Speaker of Parliament, was on Wednesday morning sworn-in as President of Ghana following the absence of both President John Mahama and Vice President Kwasi Amissah Arthur from Ghana.

The first gentleman and his vice are both visiting the Republics of Scotland and India respectively.

Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood swore the Speaker on the floor of Parliament.

The Speaker's swearing in is in accordance with Article 60(11) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

Article 60 (11) and (12) of the 1992 Constitution states that: '(11) Where the President and the Vice-President are both unable to perform the functions of the President, the Speaker of Parliament shall perform those functions until the President or the Vice-President is able to perform those functions or a new President assumes office, as the case may be.'

'(12) The Speaker shall, before commencing to perform the functions of the President under clause (11) of this article, take and subscribe the oath set out in relation to the office of President.'

The Supreme Court in December 3, 2015 ruled that the Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho violated the Constitution when he refused to take the oath of office as President in the absence of both the President and his Vice from Ghana.

The highest court of Ghana ruled on the matter brought before it by Mr Samuel Atta Mensah, the Chief Executive of Accra-based City FM, and US-based Ghanaian lawyer, Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare.

A nine-member Supreme Court panel chaired by Justice Sophia Akuffo ruled that the Speaker is obliged to take the oath of office as president whenever both the President and his Vice are out of the jurisdiction.

In line with the Constitutional provision, the Chief Justice Theodora Georgina Wood on two occasions in November last year went to Parliament to swear-in the Speaker in the absence of President John Mahama and his Vice Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.

But on both occasions, Doe Adjaho refused to be sworn in despite accepting to act as President. GNA
Tamale, March 16, GNA - The Inspector General of Police, Mr John Kudalor has assured all political parties that the police would remain neutral and impartial to them all, to ensure peaceful and violent free general elections in November, 2016.

He observed that the 2016 general elections was going to be very competitive and fiercely contested by all the political parties, noting that a neutral security was therefore very necessary that public peace, law and order was maintained.

Mr Kudalor gave the assurance in Tamale on Tuesday when he paid a courtesy call on the Northern Regional Minister as part of his nationwide tour to assess the preparedness of the Ghana Police Service towards the 2016 polls.

The IGP started the tour from Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region on Monday and is expected to move to the other regions after touring the Northern Region.

Mr Kudalor said the police was very much prepared to maintain law and order across the country noting that the Northern Region was dear to his heart and would not want to have any violent incident in the area during and after the general elections.

He appealed to the chiefs and traditional authorities in the area not to relent in the pursuit for peace, saying, 'Try to solve all chieftaincy related disputes to give the Region utmost peace'.

Mr Abdallah Abubakari, Northern Regional Minister, expressed his condolences to the IGP and the entire Police Service over the demise of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Angwubutoge Awuni, Eastern Regional Police Commander, who passed on.

He also used the occasion to commend the police in the Region who according to him have been very proactive at maintaining law and order especially in conflict-prone areas of the Region.

Mr Abubakari appealed to the people and chiefs of the area to ensure that peace became their walking tool since without peace, there cannot be any development.

The IGP later paid a courtesy call on the Gulkpegu Naa Alhassan Abdulai and Dapkema Naa Alhassan Mohammed Dawuni and urged them to collaborate with the Police for a peaceful general election.

Mr Abubakari also inspected a police stimulation exercise to ascertain the preparedness of the personnel in dealing with violence situations. He finally addressed a durbar of police personnel in the Region.

GNA
Sunyani, Mar.16, GNA - The youth of this country have been advised to jettison all moves, clandestine or overt, likely to be perpetrated by self-seeking politicians to influence them to foment trouble in this year's general election slated for November 7.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Habiba Twumasi-Sarpong, National Director, Community Police Unit of the Ghana Police Service, gave the advice when speaking on Ark FM, a Sunyani-based local Radio on Monday as part of her three-day educational tour in the Brong-Ahafo Region.

Additionally, she has counseled managers and talk show hosts of radio stations to moderate political talk shows with some circumspection to stop political parties' serial callers who phone into programmes, from making inflammatory utterances that had the tendency to tear the nation apart,

ACP Twumasi-Sarpong is leading a five-member team from the Unit on a nationwide peace tour to help educate the general public on the need to promote and protect the peace before, during and after the Election 2016.

The team would also address target groups including Churches, Mosques, Zongo communities and transport unions about their roles to preserve the prevailing peace in the country.

They had already been to the Western Region, and would move to Ashanti Region from Brong-Ahafo.

She stated that it was part of her group's mandate to assist prevent the outcomes of the tendency of certain politicians who normally incite the youth to cause mayhem and violence during election period.

'The resultant effect of these acts, is the painful loss of lives and properties to the detriment of national development', the team leader added

ACP Twumasi-Sarpong, entreated the youth to be agents of peace and say no to electoral violence, adding that they were the productive force for the future and must not yield to any inducement to commit acts that could cause them to lose their lives or fall foul of the law

Advising politicians to accept election results, she said 'election is like a game only one party emerges a winner, "everybody must be ready to accept election results in good faith to show political maturity".

'The resultant effect of these acts, is the painful loss of lives and properties to the detriment of national development', the team leader added

ACP Twumasi-Sarpong, entreated the youth to be agents of peace and say no to electoral violence, adding that they were the productive force for the future and must not yield to any inducement to commit acts that could cause them to lose their lives or fall foul of the law.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Christopher Tawiah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) implored the general public to assist the Police with useful, credible leads which could facilitate the arrest of criminals to aid crime reduction in the society.

GNA
Accra, March 16, GNA - Eminent personalities including diplomats, law professionals and other stakeholders from many African countries are expected to attend the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Africa Conference which comes off from March 17 to March 18, 2016, at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in Accra.

They include Her Ladyship, Justice Sophia Akuffo of the Supreme Court of Ghana who will chair the opening ceremony, and Madam Fatou Bensouda, Prosecutor of the ICC who is expected to deliver the Keynote Speech.

Needless to say, the establishment of the ICC raised a lot of controversy bordering mainly on legitimacy and its claim to judicial neutrality. The Accra Conference is intended, among other things, to provide a platform for addressing these and other burning issues.

The controversies aside, however, perhaps the most remarkable outcome and most significant achievement of the Conference will be the proposed establishment of an Africa Regional Centre on International Criminal Justice, considering the fact that there is at present no coordinated and sustained response to critiques of the ICC.

The Centre will be dedicated to providing a platform for the constructive engagement of all actors and players in the field of criminal justice in Africa. Given GIMPA's leadership role in providing public service training and capacity building over the years, the Centre will offer an opportunity for the capacity building of leaders and other stakeholders in Africa on issues of international criminal law and policy, as well as the Court's overall work.

It is envisaged that the Centre will also provide an opportunity for research, collaborative engagements and exchanges across the Continent on a sustainable basis, geared towards improving perceptions of the Court's work and cooperation towards it.

Furthermore, it will foster thinking on international criminal justice through the incorporation and mainstreaming of topics on the subject matter in the curricula and teaching of Faculties of Law in Ghana and across the Continent.

The database which will emanate from the Conference is expected to provide a platform for establishing a critical network of scholars and academics, judges, practitioners, experts and consultants, civil society and governments for whom the Centre will provide a voice or a conduit to address the serious issues of international concern. By so doing it will build a body of knowledge on international criminal justice, its necessity and the place of Africa within that paradigm.

What's more, the Centre will organise regionally based short courses aimed at making it a hub for training and capacity building on international criminal justice for participants across the Africa region.

These courses, in addition to specialised Master's Degree programmes in international criminal justice, will collectively promote a more positive narrative on the ICC's work in Africa in the long term.

Without doubt, the Accra conference presents an extraordinary opportunity for Ghanaians to see the ICC at close quarters.

Apart from successes the judiciary has marked in dealing with the situations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Darfur and the Central African Republic, the conference will also bring to the fore other outstanding achievements.

And of course, in spite of the positive developments, the Court nevertheless faces a number of significant challenges, notably the issue of state cooperation with the Court and security and safety issues faced by investigators. The expediency of proceedings is also a matter of concern where interlocutory appeals and the participation of victims threaten the right of the accused to be tried without undue delay. These and many more are pertinent issues that need to be explored at the forum.

Indeed, interested observers who follow the trends at the ICC with more than mere interest would be interested in finding out what efforts are being made to address these challenges, so as to ensure a sustained and continued success of the Court in the years ahead.

GNA
Accra, Mar. 16, GNA - Public and private sector employees across the country will be smiling all the way home with the launch of Access Bank's new and exciting campaign for salaried workers.

Dubbed 'Get Paid Anyday', the campaign is expected to support workers with a suite of loan products including Automatic Salary Advance and Personal loans, with flexible payment terms and other amazing benefits.

'Get Paid Anyday' will run on the back of Access Bank's M-Power Salary Account, which is specifically designed to provide smart financial solutions for employees, to help them meet their daily needs and aspirations.

Employees who decide to move their salary account to Access Bank will also enjoy other benefits such as Educational and Vehicle Loans plus Lifetime free account maintenance charge, Free ATM card and cheque book, Free e-banking, Exclusive discounts at outlets of loyalty partners, access to insurance products and much more.

Speaking to the media on the unveiling of this new campaign, the Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana, Mr Dolapo Ogundimu noted:

'We are building on the successes of our just ended Change Your Level promotion which saw many individuals move their accounts to Access Bank. This new campaign for salaried workers is another way of rewarding new and existing customers, while helping them to take advantage of their monthly income to achieve their aspirations and meet their daily expenses.'

Group Head of Personal Banking, Mr Stephen Abban, also said: 'We promised our customers more exciting offers this year and the M-Power account is a result of this commitment. The Get Paid Anyday campaign is a clarion call to any salaried worker who wishes to get the most out of their salary to take advantage of this opportunity. The switching process is easy and takes less than 24 hours'.

The Get Paid Anyday campaign will run throughout the year. To apply for an M-Power Salary Account, existing and new customers will have to visit any Access Bank location, complete an M-Power Salary Account form with necessary documentation and advise their current employers.

The campaign will further showcase Access Bank's bouquet of unique savings and current products for children, under-graduates, pensioners and small business owners.

Currently operating from 45 business locations covering 9 regions in Ghana, the Bank continues to build long- term relationships with its customers based on trust, fairness and transparency.

Access Bank Ghana has over the years developed a deep understanding of its customers, delivering excellent service and empowering them to achieve more through finance, education and financial inclusion.

GNA
Accra, March 16, GNA - The Lebanese Government has awarded scholarships to the children of some soldiers who died while serving the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The 14 beneficiaries are in various tertiary institutions across the country.

Mr Ali Halabi, the Lebanese Ambassador to Ghana, at the award ceremony said the Lebanese Government would continue to show its support for Ghana to strengthen their long standing relationship.

He said although the Lebanese Community in Ghana had supported the education of some 150 Ghanaians across universities in the country, it was time to extend the gesture to the children of soldiers who lost their lives in Lebanon.

The scholarship package, he said, would go a long way to lighten the beneficiaries' financial burdens.

Mr Halabi told the beneficiaries to be mindful that it was through the hard work of their parents that they had merited this gesture; therefore, they should make good use of the scholarship to make the country and departed parents proud.

Air Vice Marshal Michael Samson-Oje, the Chief of Defence Staff, thanked the Lebanese Community for the gesture, saying, 'The support to education, in general, to the dependants and families of Martyrs of the Ghana Armed Forces is much appreciated.'

He also urged the beneficiaries to study hard, pass their examinations, and progress in life so that the supportive efforts would not be in vain.

Mr Benjamin Kunbuor, the Minister of Defence, also advised the beneficiaries to ensure that the legacy of those who shared their blood for the country lived on by studying hard and accepting calls to national duty.

According to the UNIFIL official site, the body was created by the Security Council in March 1978 to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore international peace and security and assist the Lebanese Government in restoring its effective authority in the area.

The mandate had to be adjusted twice, due to the developments in 1982 and 2000, it says.

It explains: 'Following the July/August 2006 crisis, the Council enhanced the Force and decided that in addition to the original mandate, it would, among other things, monitor the cessation of hostilities; accompany and support the Lebanese armed forces as they deploy throughout the south of Lebanon; and extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons.'

GNA
16.03.2016 LISTEN

Kofisah (E/R), March 16, GNA - Nana Abegya III, Chief of Kofisah near Nsawam-Adoagyiri in the Eastern Region, has called on chiefs to support the Government in the provision of school infrastructure.

He said this would help promote education in the communities.

Nana Agbegya made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after the chiefs and people of Kofisah had celebrated their annual Odwira Festival.

The festival was on the theme: 'Education Tomorrow: Leaders Today,' aimed at reducing the illiteracy rate of the nation.'

The occasion was used to inaugurate a Royal Scholarship Scheme.

Nana Agbegya said the scheme would be used to support hard working and brilliant but needy students of Kofisah and its surrounding to further their education and contribute meaningfully to national development.

He said he had already donated 20 bags of cement and some roofing sheets towards the construction of a kindergarten in the town.

Ohemaa Awo Kwabea II, Queenmother of Kofisah, pleaded with parents and guardians to enroll their children in school rather than engaging them in activities that would not yield a better dividend.

She said education was key to development and that the children, after schooling, could become agriculturalists, doctors, and lawyers among other professions to move society forward.

Nana Okoo Anadwo Afutu Dompreh II, Chief of Adoagyiri and Ankobeahene of Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area, who chaired the function, appealed to the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipal Chief Executive and Mr Frank Annoh Dompreh, Member of Parliament of the area, to assist the people of Kofisah to complete the kindergarten early.

GNA
Abetifi-Kwahu (E/R), March 16, GNA - MTN Ghana, one of the nation's mobile telecommunication giants, has unveiled a support package for this year's Kwahu Easter festival to boost the event's attraction to holidaymakers.

This involves street hip-life performances and concert in selected towns in the Kwahu area by celebrated artistes.

Added to this, would be data activation by the company, throughout the festive period to give its customers smooth access to internet and data services.

Mr. David G. Boadi, Senior Manager, South East Business District, said being a good corporate citizen, it was determined to be associated with efforts at promoting cultural tourism to create job opportunities and wealth for the people.

He announced this when he presented cash of GHE7,000.00 to four divisional chiefs of the Kwahu Traditional Council - the Abetifihene, Obohene, Mpraesohene and Obomenghene to aid preparations towards the festival.

In addition to the money, MTN also made available other items and airtime costing about GHE3,000.00.

He gave the assurance that the company would continue to stand with the chiefs every step of the way to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the people.

Nana Asiedu Agyemang VI, the Abetifihene and Adontenhene of Kwahu Traditional Area, thanked the company for the gesture.

He called for decent conduct by the expected large number of people, who would be participating in the festival and advised against provocative dressing and other disgusting behavior. GNA
Tema, March 16, GNA - The Centre for Pregnancy and Childbirth Education (CePaCE) with support from Airtel Ghana Limited, has presented assorted items to some mothers of newborns at the Ashaiman and Manhean polyclinics to prevent postnatal and neonatal infections.

The items include maternity pads, diapers, wipes, antiseptics and washing powder.

The objective of the first phase of the give-away project was to show care to the mothers by providing them with essential items needed during the early weeks of birth and to educate them on healthy childcare practices.

It is also aimed at building contacts with the beneficiaries to track the health of the mothers and their babies.

The give-away project mainly targeted newborns between zero and six weeks because that is a delicate period prone to infections.

Some pregnant women in their last trimester also benefitted from the packages. In all, 100 packages were distributed at both health centres.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Eleanora Baffour - Agyei, the Executive Director of CePaCE, advised the mothers to patronise both ante natal and postnatal clinics and not to wait for complications before they visited the clinic.

She also directed the mothers on the right ways to use the essential products.

Mr. Yaw Owusu-Takyi, an employee of Airtel, who led the Airtel Make a Difference Initiative, said Airtel was happy to put smiles on the faces of people, including the beneficiaries, and was committed to make a difference in their lives.

The midwives and nurses at both clinics were also given various items in appreciation of their zeal and dedication.

CePaCE is a non-governmental organisation committed to improving maternal and child health in Ghana through education campaigns, research, advocacy and material support to communities and health facilities. GNA
16.03.2016 LISTEN

Accra, March 16, GNA - Ghana's second powership is expected to arrive by September 2016, barring any hitches.

Ms Zeynep Harezi , Executive Director Business Development, for Karpowership Company Limited told journalists that work on the second powership is 70 per cent complete.

The second powership will have the capacity to produce 225 megawatts of power but could be scaled up to produce up to 450 megawatts.

'The construction of the second power ship is about 70 percent complete and would be delivered on schedule this year in line with the stated contract obligations,' Ms Harezi said.

In June 2014, Karpowership signed a 10-year PPA with Ghana's Electricity Company of Ghana for the provision of 450MW directly to the country's national grid via two Power ships.

The project dubbed: 'Power of Friendship for Ghana' is the first Powership project in Africa and seeks to meet the electricity demand of Ghana.

The project is expected to account for 22% of the Ghana's total energy generation.

The first of 225 megawatts was delivered in November 2015.

Ms Harezi said the use of low cost heavy fuel oil was an economical solution to Ghana's existing electricity supply, which relies on expensive crude oil, allowing a competitively priced tariff and savings to government.

Mr Patrick O'driscoll, sales director Karpowership Company Limited, said it is not the company's business proposition to sell its powerships to governments on the expiration of the contract.

He said the company only provide a bridge for government to get its medium to long-term electricity infrastructure in place and then the powerships could be moved to other countries which needed to deal with their energy deficit.

GNA
17.03.2016 LISTEN

A United States official has stressed that the two Guantanamo Bay detainees currently being hosted by Ghana pose no threat at all to Ghanas security and its people as both the US and Ghanaian governments are in control of the situation.

Making this remark in a press briefing to foreign reporters in the United States last week, Mr. Mark Toner, who is the deputy spokesperson of the United States Department of State, additionally expressed the US gratitude to Ghana and other countries for accepting the detainees.

As part of President Barack Obamas decision to close down the Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba before he leaves office in 2017, the United States are distributing some of the detainees to some other countries, for which reason two of them - Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby who were held since 2002  were transferred to Ghana in January.

But the decision of the Ghanaian government to accept these two detainees of Yemeni nationality has become a big issue in Ghana in the last two months and raised wild criticisms from especially the opposition concerning the risk involved in accepting theses persons seen as terrorists and security threat.

This prompted the intervention of President John Mahama and his government to come out to strongly defend Ghanas decision to accept the detainees, a move which has still not satisfied most people.

In support of Mahamas defense, Mr. Toner pointed out that the US made sure the two detainees are risk-free before deciding to transfer them to Ghana.

In terms of how these countries, these governments, or law enforcement within these governments are able to track these individuals, keep eyes and ears, if you will, on them, first of all, all of the individuals who are repatriated or sent to other countries overseas have gone through a very, very rigorous exercise, screening process, to  in order to be deemed fit to be able to  or fit for resettlement overseas, he said, And that screening process determines that these individuals are no longer the threat that they may have once posed as terrorists or would-be terrorists in the battlefield.

He also revealed that the US is keeping tabs on all of the detainees sent to Ghana and other countries.

But without getting into too many specifics in a public setting, we obviously always try to monitor all of these detainees as they resettle abroad  monitor their progress. Obviously, we want to see them resettle successfully, but we work with those governments generous enough to host them in order to ensure that their security concerns are addressed.

The US department of state deputy spokesperson observed that the decision to transfer some of the Guantanamo detainees to some countries is a collaborative effort in Obamas desire to see the end of the detention centre before his term expires next year, and as such expressed the USs gratefulness to countries such as Ghana for their support in this case.

First of all, we work with a number of countries around the world as weve sought to accomplish, frankly, one of the core objectives of this Administration. Once President Obama came into office, he said he wanted to close the Guantanamo detention center there because he felt like it was a  it had become an image of the United States that was, frankly, counterproductive to the kind of image we want to present around the world.

"Part of that effort, and we have relied greatly on the  on countries like Ghana, but other countries around the world. Albania is another leader in accepting some of these detainees. We have managed to find homes for many of these detainees.

And again, were extremely grateful to countries like Ghana and, as I said, many other countries around the world who have helped us or are helping us achieve, as I said, our goal of closing down Guantanamo. (We) appreciate it.
Ivanpah Solar project, mirrors (foreground) and tower.

Ivanpah Data Undermines Solar Reserve Claims

The Crescent Dunes Solar project built by Solar Reserve in Nevada. The company has issued misleading statements regarding the project's impact on birds, and ongoing monitoring of another solar power tower project - the Ivanpah Solar project in California - suggests there are no simple fixes that can prevent bird mortality at these projects. Photo by Basin & Range Watch.

Biologists estimate that as many as 1,314 birds died at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (ISEGS) - a solar power tower project that also burns natural gas - from 25 May to 17 August 2015 based on partial searches of the sprawling facility. Many of the birds died from collision with giant mirrors or after flying through zones of intense heat above the project. The deaths last summer are in addition to thousands of others caused by the project since it was constructed.The peregrine falcon was found in July and euthanized in September; the raven was found already dead.According to a previous monitoring report, two other birds with burned feathers were found incidentally - not during organized surveys - outside the main project area. All of these incidents are reasons that the mortality surveys should also cover the desert habitat beyond the fence line of the project since severely burned birds can fly a good distance before dropping to the ground. This is not only important to get a more accurate sense of how many birds are dying, but also to identify the impacts of the project on all species, including those capable of flying beyond the current survey area with severe injuries.Solar Reserve hastily attempted to portray the project as bird friendly after a leaked video showed the project burning as many as 130 birds during an initial test in January 2015. The company then inaccurately claimed that simply focusing the mirrors away from the tower stops bird deaths. Unfortunately, this is a misleading public relations move by Solar Reserve because the mirrors must be focused on the tower in order for the project to operate. Also, birds can die at power tower projects from collisions with the mirrors or exposure to elevated heat above the mirror field.Outside of the leaked video, little is known about the extent of ongoing bird mortality at the project, or what the Department of Interior (the project is built on public lands) is doing to monitor or mitigate the bird deaths. Now, desert conservation group Basin & Range Watch has filed a legal challenge to compel the release of bird mortality data at the project. The ongoing study of bird mortality at Ivanpah suggests there are no simple fixes, so Solar Reserve's Crescent Dunes project almost certainly continues to cause bird deaths. Because these projects are built on public lands and have impacts on wildlife, it is important for us to study and understand the environmental impacts so we can make wiser choices as we develop and deploy renewable energy. Keeping data in the dark only helps corporations, not the public.
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business Tough to breakeven at 30% load factor for 2 revived plants: GVK The government on Tuesday saw lukewarm response to its third auctioning under the gas pooling scheme for stranded power plants, receiving bids for only 7.2 mmscmd.
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business Sell Gammon India, says Pankaj Jain Pankaj Jain of SW Capital is of the view that one may sell Gammon India.
The Chancellor has said one of the main aims of this Budget was to help more people save support the next generation. To this end he announced plans to:

In an unexpected move George Osborne announced than from next year, April 2017, those aged under 40 would be able to take out a new Lifetime ISA, which would offer the tax benefit of a pension for basic-rate taxpayers but the flexibility of an ISA.

He claimed this would mean that the younger generation would no longer have to choose between saving for a house or saving for a pension.

Under the rules of this scheme savers can put up to 4,000 a year into this new ISA, and for every 4 they add, the Government will put in a further 1  boosting their pot by up to 1,000 a year. For basic-rate taxpayers this is equivalent to the 20% tax relief they would get on pension contributions. Some pundits warned that this would be the end of pension saving and pointed out that lifetime ISAs would not benefit from additional employer contributions as workplace schemes do. Higher-rate taxpayers would be better off paying into a pension as this offers them 40% tax relief.

As with current ISAs there will be no restriction on when you can withdraw funds and no tax to pay on these withdrawals. The Government will consult on whether people will be able to pay back withdrawals then reclaim the Government bonus. Similar rules apply in the US with their popular 401k retirement funds.

Pension U-Turn

This move comes after Osborne was forced to drop plans to reform the pension tax relief, replacing the current pension system, with something akin to the ISA regime. This was met with fierce opposition from the pension and savings industry, wealthier savers, and many of his own Conservative MPs.

However it remains to be seen whether the lifetime ISAs will prove popular with younger savers, helping to reduce the amount of money the Government spends on tax relief.

Younger Savers Set to Benefit

The lifetime ISA will clearly help younger workers, saving to get on the property ladder  a priority for this government. The current Help to Buy ISA can be rolled into this new ISA plan. However, there are concerns that this could effectively kill-off pension saving among the younger generations.

Dean Mirfin, technical director at Key Retirement warned: The introduction of the lifetime ISA giving greater access and saving incentives may well seem a great addition, especially for younger savers but could this be yet another barrier to pension savings where there is commitment and focus on retirement.

David Brooks, technical director at Broadstone said Osborne had laid his cards on the table. The future is the Pension ISA. He added: The Lifetime ISA, with a combination of pension and mortgage saving, sounds like a very interesting idea but is surely the thin end of the wedge.

With the age of 40 set rather arbitrarily it isnt hard to see, if successful and with high take up, that it couldnt be opened up to all savers in due course.

ISA Allowance Increase for All

Those aged more than 40 also had some good news on saving: the annual ISA allowance, currently 15,240 will be raised to 20,000 for the next tax year.

Reforms in previous Budgets have removed the restrictions on how much can be kept in cash, and allowed savers to switch from equities to cash - and back again - without losing this tax-free wrapper.

Help to Save

Osborne also confirmed details of the new Help to Save scheme, announced by the Prime Minister on Monday. This scheme, offered to those on universal or working tax credit will effectively boost peoples savings by 50% if they commit to saving over a two year period.

To get the bonus savers need to save up to 50 a month into the scheme. At the end of the two year the Government will pay a 50% bonus into the account. So if the maximum is saved each month theyll have 1,200 in the bank, to which the Government will add a further 600. Theres the option to then extend this for another two years on the same term.

While the scheme is certainly generous there are questions as to whether many of this target group will be able to save sufficient amounts to qualify for the bonus.

Saving Allowance

In his last Budget George Osborne announced a new savings allowance, which means the majority of savers in the UK will not pay any tax on their savings.

This comes into effect in the new tax year on April 6. Basic-rate taxpayers can earn 1,000 in interest a year before they need to pay tax. Higher-rate taxpayers can earn 500 a year in interest, but there is no tax-free savings allowance for additional-rate taxpayers.

This means basic-rate taxpayers can have almost 75,000 on deposit in a best-buy easy access account, before they need to pay any tax on the interest earned. Higher-rate taxpayers can have around 37,000 on the same account before theyll need to include details of interest on their tax return, and pay tax on the balance due.

George Osborne said that as a result 95% of savers in the UK will no be taxed on their savings. However one knock-on effect will be that cash ISAs are effectively pointless for many savers.

However those who have all their savings in cash may still want to shelter some of their savings in these ISAs, this may protect them from being hit with an unexpected tax bill should taxes rise sharply in future.
Jumbo Channel Changes; Disaster Policy News; IT Risk

Does anyone really know for sure what happens in China? With that many billion people there are a lot of moving parts. For example, the PBOC is easing some mortgage down payment rules for certain home buyers, lowering the amount to 20-25%. (In Chile it is the same.)

There is legislation afoot to eliminate the caps on VA loans, which will make them much more popular in high cost areas. Basically it will become a no money down jumbo. It has passed the House, and the prospects are good in the Senate and the White House.

A First Community Mortgage recent announcement pertains to its Non-Conforming Jumbo program.

Fifth Third Mortgage's March communication addresses updates to all Freddie Mac and Non-Agency Jumbo Products Condominium requirements, its Ineligible Condo List and an appraisal document delivery reminder.

Flagstar is no longer requiring the social security number verification form on non-delegated loans with the exception of Jumbo loans, AUD findings requiring SSA results or underwriting determination requiring SSA.

Franklin American Mortgage reduced the minimum required FICO from 640 to 620 for the FHA Standard Fixed and 5/1 ARM products. FHA Standard Streamlines will remain at 640 and there are no changes to the FHA Jumbo FICO requirements. In addition, Its FHA Jumbo guidelines have expanded to reflect that there is no limit to the number of financed properties owned if the borrower's credit score is > 720, and the DTI does not exceed 45%. Borrowers who do not meet these requirements may not have any financed properties other than the subject property.

Effective for loans registered on or after 02.08.16, NYCB Mortgage updated its underwriting guidelines for the Jumbo Fixed 30 Year product. For complete product details, visit Gemstone's Jumbo Fixed 30 Year product page.

And news from the primary markets on flood & weather challenges?

A TransUnion analysis determined that using court record violation data aids in predicting homeowners policy claims and losses. The non-weather loss ratio was two times more for those with the most severe court violations compared to a clean household. The report identifies that 25 percent of policies had at a minimum, one criminal or traffic violation based on the primary named insured. Additional household members were found for 60 percent of the policies analyzed and the violation hit raised jumped to 34 percent to 25 percent.

The NAMB recently commended the House Financial Services Committee for taking up HR 2901, the Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act of 2015. Sponsored by Reps. Dennis Ross (R-FL) and Patrick E. Murphy (D-FL) HR 2901 affirms and clarifies Congress' intent in Section 239 of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 to encourage a vibrant private market in flood-insurance products that would compete with the taxpayer-subsidized offerings of the National Flood Insurance Program. "Whenever private parties are allowed to compete, the consumer wins," said NAMB President Rocke Andrews, CMC, CRMS. "Allowing private flood insurance companies to compete for flood insurance business will bring more options to the consumer and should drive down costs."

Unfortunately, the areas affected by disasters continue to grow. Lenders are continually posting updates to impacted counties. For up to date information, view the FEMA website.

The disaster hits just keep coming. As a result of the Governor of California's emergency proclamation for the areas affected by the Aliso Canyon gas leak and the ongoing efforts to contain the leak, Pacific Union Financial, LLC is monitoring the impact. While it has been announced that the leak has been temporarily contained, Pacific Union is proceeding with caution for the funding of loans secured by impacted properties.

Late last year I had lunch with a group of mortgage professionals. Lumped in with the requisite underwriters, processors, and secondary folks, was an individual who assumed a tremendous amount of daily operational risk; however, by his own admission, he claimed he wasn't "a mortgage guy." The man in question was the IT administrator (presumably there for the free pinwheel sandwiches and brownies), and was a little taken aback when I replied that whether or not he highlighted his mortgage experience on his resume, he was in fact "a mortgage guy" now. There's no denying the impact Dodd-Frank has placed on IT departments. Lending institutions have, among other things, been saddled with the responsibility of data retention and archiving, disaster recovery and business continuity planning; all areas which were woefully under-addressed ten years ago.

Mortgage bankers are notoriously bad at compartmentalizing risk. Ask an executive, "Who handles credit risk?", and they'll probably give you the name of their head of underwriting; inquire as to who assumes price risk, and they'll probably point you to the lock desk manager. I'm reminded of a conversation I had with a U.S. Navy Captain one time when he said,"regardless of rate and rank, in the Navy, everyone from the cook to myself, is first and foremost, a fire fighter." While I know not everyone is in the business of IT, everyone should be concerned with technology, because according to some, EVERYONE is in the business of technology. Angel Mendez writes, "At an all-company meeting last fall at Cisco Systems in Silicon Valley, Chairman and CEO John Chambers made an important point about Cisco's customers. "In the future, every company will be a technology company," he said. "Bank of America will be a technology company specializing in banking." It's an important point. IT is routinely overlooked in the mortgage business with respect to risk.

We hear it all the time now, "real estate values are higher now than they were back in early 2007." I'm not sure what to make of this, however, what I do know is that the housing market is currently one (if not the only) bright spot to a rather dismal economy....but I guess that was the case too back in the late '00s. If I knew how to use a witty hash tag remark, like the youngsters are doing these days, I would, but back in my day we called "# "a pound sign. Wells Fargo writes, "23.5 Percent Probability of Recession in the Next Six Months. Recent economic and financial developments have brought talk of recession back into the spotlight. Some potential sources of the recession talks are volatility in financial markets, stress in the manufacturing and mining sectors and global factors. For instance, between January 2015 and January 2016, the ISM-Manufacturing index (ISM-M) dropped over 10 percent, industrial production (IP) declined 0.7 percent (including negative growth for 8 of the past 13 months) and the Commodity Research Bureau's Index (CRB Index) declined over 15 percent. The S&P 500 index dropped over 5 percent during the same time period. In addition, the index of leading indicators (LEI), one of the most well-known predictors of the near-term state of the U.S. economy, recently reported negative growth for two consecutive months (December 2015 - January 2016), which has only happened one other time (August - September 2011) since the Great Recession."

Turning to the markets for Tuesday, we had a spate of potentially market-moving news - although once again rates barely budged. Retail Sales fell 0.1% in February, although declining gasoline prices had a lot to do with it. Ex-autos and gas, they were up 0.3%. The downward revisions to January got everyone's attention however as the initial 0.2% estimate was revised downward to -0.4%. The Producer Price Index fell 0.2% in February as well - below the Fed's desires. Ex-food and energy, it was flat on a month-over-month basis and is up 1.2% YOY. The Empire Manufacturing Index rebounded smartly to .62 after a heavily negative start to the year. Lastly the NAHB Homebuilder Sentiment Index was unchanged at 58 in March. This is a 9 month low, and slightly lower than expected. The builders are saying there is a shortage of decent lots and skilled labor. The builders have been able to drive the top line by raising prices, not by pushing volume.

Today for excitement we'll have the MBA Mortgage Index, February CPI and Core CPI, February Housing Starts and Building Permits, February Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization, and the March FOMC rate decision - don't expect a change. We wrapped up Tuesday with the 10-year at 1.96% - pretty steady so far this week!

Jobs and Announcements

If you are an IT executive who is excited by the chance to build and shape an innovative production technology platform for a growing Consumer Direct organization in the Dallas area, this is a rare opportunity to build the technology and your own team from the ground floor. "This head of Mortgage IT position requires developing a strong, agile Mortgage IT organization that is in tune with the business and will make a strategic difference in achieving the Company's mission. You will be required to not only fully leverage Encompass LOS business functionality and integrate ancillary applications to enhance the CD point of sale and fulfillment process workflows, but also have a vision to implement innovative technologies to make technology a differentiator for the organization. LOS IT leadership experience with an organization originating at least $2 billion annually & knowledge of the mortgage regulatory compliance environment are required." Interested parties can send confidential resumes to me. (Please specify opportunity & excuse delays in response due to travel.)

Indecomm Global Services, a leading provider of mortgage technology, training, and outsourcing services is seeking an experienced Project Manager for Processing. Clients include prominent top tier, mid-tier lenders, and regional lenders as well as title and settlement companies. The successful candidate will provide a high level of customer service, communicating well with loan officers, brokers, account executives and processors with the primary function being to ensure the timely and accurate closing of loans as well as implementing the Project Execution Plan. The candidate may also be assigned additional duties as required. This position is based out of Charlotte, NC. The ideal candidate should have 3 years minimum, 5 years preferred, of continuous processing experience and management. Interested candidates should send their resume to HR Manager Candy Mechels.

Are you an independent mortgage banker, credit union or community bank, looking for MORE from your investor counterparts, beyond just competitive pricing, a wide array of products and solid service? Well, with last year's partnership with CastleLine's Certified Loan Program, Plaza Home Mortgage, Inc. has done just that with its National Correspondent division, extending automatic rep and warranty relief directly to its correspondents, thereby limiting their repurchase risk/exposure on every delegated loan sold to Plaza. Plaza is one of the few investors to currently provide its correspondents with this automatic insurance coverage, and does so at no additional cost, substantially mitigating the losses caused by repurchase demands due to borrower or employee fraud and misrepresentation, manufacturing defects (underwriting errors, guidelines violations, etc.), appraisal discrepancies, compliance violations (including TRID), and more. Find out more by contacting Plaza today at 858-404-0166 or at the link above.

In personnel news Inlanta Mortgage announced that Nicholas DelTorto will remain president and assume the role as CEO. Congrats! "I consider myself privileged to know and work with Nick. He has done a great job in leading our company and senior management team since his promotion to president in 2012. He is dedicated to Inlanta and the success of our company," said John Knowlton, Chairman of the Board. Mr. DelTorto was recently elected to the National Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Residential Board of Governors (RESBOG). With this appointment, DelTorto becomes the first member of the Wisconsin Mortgage Bankers Association (WMBA) to be elected to the RESBOG.

Parkside Lending recently announced that it has added the Premier Jumbo to its existing suite of Jumbo products. "Premier Jumbo offers competitively priced ARMs and 15-year fixed loans for borrowers with strong credit. We are pleased to offer another product to help borrowers who need loan amounts greater than $417,000. For more information on Premier Jumbo or any of our other Jumbo products, contact your Parkside Account Executive or info@parksidelending.com. Let Parkside Lending bring the power of caring to your business through our exceptional customer service supporting this new program and all of our products."
VATICAN CITY (AP)  Mother Teresa will be made a saint on Sept. 4.

Pope Francis set the canonization date Tuesday, paving the way for the nun who cared for the poorest of the poor to become the centerpiece of his yearlong focus on the Catholic Church's merciful side.

The announcement was expected after Francis in December approved a second miracle attributed to Mother Teresa's intercession  the final hurdle to make her a saint. The actual date falls on the eve of the 19th anniversary of her death.

In Kolkata, the eastern Indian city where Mother Teresa spent decades caring for the sick and homeless, there were joyous celebrations at a school and orphanage founded by her in 1949.

"The news of Mother's sainthood is a matter for joy. But Mother Teresa is already like God to us," said Jyotsna Patra, one of the early students of the school, now in her mid-50s.

Archbishop Thomas D'Souza conducted a special Mass on Tuesday, while the nuns of her order, the Missionaries of Charity, held prayers at her tomb.

"Mother Teresa's canonization means that the Mother's message will become better known," said Sister Christi, one of the senior nuns at the Kolkata headquarters of the order.

The Vatican ceremony will draw tens of thousands to honor the tiny, stooped nun who was fast-tracked for sainthood just a year after she died in 1997. St. John Paul II, who was Mother Teresa's greatest champion, beatified her before a crowd of 300,000 in St. Peter's Square in 2003.

Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on Aug. 26, 1910, in Skopje, Macedonia, Mother Teresa joined the Loreto order of nuns in 1928. In 1946, while traveling by train from Kolkata to Darjeeling, she was inspired to found the Missionaries of Charity order.

The order was established four years later and has since opened more than 130 houses worldwide to provide comfort and care for the needy, dying, sick and "poorest of the poor."

Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her work with Kolkata's destitute and ill  work which continued even after she herself became sick. She died on Sept. 5, 1997, at age 87. At the time, her Missionaries of Charity order had nearly 4,000 nuns and ran roughly 600 orphanages, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and clinics.

"She built an empire of charity," said the Rev. Bernardo Cervellera, editor of the Vatican-affiliated missionary news agency AsiaNews. "She didn't have a plan to conquer the world. Her idea was to be obedient to God."
Support groups this week

 Bariatric Support Group, 11:30 a.m. today, ACT Counseling Center, 2445 E. 11th St., Odessa; 272-4333.

-- New Beginnings cancer support group, 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Texas Oncology - Allison Cancer Center, 400 Rosalind Redfern Grover Parkway, Suite 100, 218-8714, fatima@giftsofhopemidland.org.

-- Diabetes support group, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Midland County Public Library Centennial branch; sponsored by Midland Memorial Hospital; 221-3286.

-- Diabetes Support Group for Spanish Speakers, 2-3 p.m., Casa de Amigos; sponsored by Midland Memorial Hospital; 221-3286.

 West Texas Amputee Support Group, 11 a.m. Saturday, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital; 550-4371.

-- Midland Odessa Chapter of the United Ostomy Association, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Midland Memorial Hospital West Campus.

-- The Knot Adoption Support Group, 11:30 a.m. March 23, First Presbyterian Church; Kathy Hagler, Kathy@WTIE.net

-- Caregiver support, noon March 23, HospiceMidland 911 W. Texas Ave., 682-2855.

Weekly support groups

-- TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Christian Church of Midland, 2609 Neely Ave. 694-8643.

-- Overeaters Anonymous; 7-8 p.m. Tuesdays and 3-4 p.m. Sundays; B&J Plaza, 206 N. Midkiff Road, Suite 1-D; 553-1031.

 survivors of sexual abuse; interactive Bible study to help deal with the consequences of sexual abuse meets Tuesdays. Child care available; House of Hope, 570-5935.

* * *

Alcoholics Anonymous  hotline 580-7868.

 Serenity Group, 8 p.m. daily, 3101 N. A St., Building C; 685-3100.

 710 Group, 7 a.m., noon and 8 p.m. Wednesdays, 710 Ohio Ave.; 682-8162.

 Alpha Omega, 8 p.m Tuesdays and 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 311 S. Pecos St.

--12-Step Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 a.m. Saturdays; 206 N. Midkiff Road; 697-0272.

Narcotics Anonymous  hotline 582-2926.

 Laundry Group, 8 p.m. daily and noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 104 N. Marshall St.

 Xodus Group, 5:30 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 7 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays, 206 N. Midkiff Road.

-- CODA Group, 12-step program for relationships, 7 p.m. Thursdays, 206 N. Midkiff Road; 697-0272.

-- La Hacienda Alumni, support group for former patients, 7 p.m. Thursdays, 206 N. Midkiff Road; 697-0272.

***

- Weigh to Success Informational Seminar, 4-5 p.m. Thursday, Midland Memorial Hospital. Contact Sundae Adkins at sundae.adkins@midland-memorial.com or 638-8081 for more information

- Diabetes Support Group, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Midland County Library Centennial Branch, 2503 W. Loop 250. Contact Megan Casselman at megan.casselman@midland-memorial.com or 221-3045 for more information

- St. Patty's Day 5K/10K Dash, 8 a.m. Saturday, MISD Central Office, 615 W. Missouri Ave. Registration starts at 8 a.m. at MISD Central Office, located at 615 W. Missouri. The race begins at 8:45 a.m. Contact Mary Thompson at mary.higby@midlandisd.net for more information.

- Clostridium Difficile Update, 12:15 p.m. March 23, Midland Memorial Hospital. Contact Rebecca Pontaski at rebecca.pontaski@midland-memorial.com or 221-1625 for more information.

***

MH payment options

Midland Memorial Hospital recognizes that our community is facing challenging financial times. Resources are tight and families are having to make important decisions about what to spend money on now and what has to wait.

Realizing health care can be expensive and the increasing deductibles make it hard to manage, the hospital has adjusted its payment procedures. We want to make sure you receive the care you need, when you need it. To find out about the new options now offered to better accommodate your payment needs, call 221-4705.

Source: Midland Memorial Hospital

***

How sick are you?

Midland Memorial Hospital offers a a nurse triage program 68-NURSE.

The program is designed to help people determine whether their health situation warrants a trip to the emergency room. Midland residents can call the line by dialing 686-8773.

The program is free and available 24 hours a day-365 days a year. Local nurses are available to help you determine the best place to receive care for your situation. 68-NURSE can help you save time and money by directing you to the most appropriate healthcare option, whether its a neighborhood clinic, urgent care center, emergency room  or just staying home.

* * *

Contact your Hospital District representative

MIDLAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

400 Rosalind Redfern Grover Parkway, Midland, TX 79701

Phone: 221-1111

Website: www.midland-memorial.com

President Russell Meyers 221-1584

President Russell Meyers 221-1584

Directors -- District 1: Dwain Tomlin, District 2: Dorothea Logan, District 3: Tommy Lent, District 4: Cressinda Hyatt, District 5: Alison King, District 6: Joe Kiowski, District 7: Jeffrey Beard
In health care today, bigger is better, and collaborating may be best of all.

Last week, the states largest health care system, Baylor Scott & White Health, announced a joint research venture with Baylor College of Medicine, a leader in medical research. Across town, Texas Health Resources is in the process of integrating with UT Southwestern Medical Center, a research power in its own right.

While the deals are different, theyre driven by similar forces: the pressure to reform health care and find better ways of treating more people for less.

These institutions are among the biggest, most respected players in the state, and they concluded that hooking up was better than going it alone.

Theres a need to create a different health care economy, said Barclay Berdan, CEO of Texas Health Resources, which has 16 acute-care hospitals and over $4 billion in annual revenue. The systems near a point where it cant continue without breaking the bank.

Rising premiums for health insurance and large deductibles can eat up much of the family budget, he noted. Employers, which sponsor coverage for about half of Americans, and federal payors such as Medicare and Medicaid are all trying to squeeze reimbursements.

Thats led to mergers and consolidation among hospital systems and doctors practices. The Affordable Care Act has accelerated the trend by pushing providers to focus on the overall health of their patients, rather than a traditional fee-for-service model.

In this environment, its simply smart to pool assets and spread resources across many more customers. Teaming with medical schools offers some unique benefits, including a reputation boost for the hospitals. Patients also get more access to leading-edge research and clinical trials, and everybody gets more referrals.

The upshot is that health care players can add revenue and talent without incurring a lot of upfront costs. As a result, collaborations are emerging in surprising places. Baylor Scott & White helps staff retail clinics at nine Walgreens locations while THR works with about three dozen clinics in CVS stores.

Some high-profile deals in Dallas involve national brand names: the Mayo Clinic teaming with Methodist Health System and Cleveland Clinic working with Baylor Scott & White.

UT Southwestern and THR may be the deepest partnership, at least among those that havent actually merged (as occurred with Baylor and Scott & White in 2013).

Texas Health Resources and UT Southwestern have really come together in every dimension, said Dr. Daniel Podolsky, president of UT Southwestern. This is not a merger, but it is a fully integrated network -- clinically and financially.

Doctors from both organizations will work collectively throughout the region, he said. If THR patients are diagnosed with an illness that requires expert treatment from the medical school, they can be transferred to a school facility. And faculty and medical students will be able to work in THRs community health settings.

The network, known as Southwestern Health Resources, is scheduled to be operating by April 1, the CEOs said, and executive leaders will be named soon.

The two groups also have been working together on an accountable care organization that has 68,000 Medicare patients. In the first year, the collaboration generated Medicare savings of 6.5 percent, placing it among a small group of top-performing ACOs, Podolsky said.

He credited better coordinated care, analytics that are shared with doctors and care pathways that are considered best practices. In addition, the two have already exchanged over 340,000 electronic records.

This is an example of what we think well be able to do in an even broader way, Podolsky said.

And the school wont have to spend millions on facilities to expand its reach. Theres no reason for us to duplicate the network of hospitals that THR has built over the years, he said.

Baylor Scott & White has been using collaborations regularly, with leaders often saying, You cant own everything. The deal with Baylor College of Medicine will bring the latest research to patients in Texas and the school will get access to a large, diverse population. Thats a big advantage in competing for federal research grants.

Baylor Scott & White already has partnerships and alliances in surgery, imaging, emergency treatment and rehabilitation. Four partner companies contributed $1.2 billion in revenue last year, said LaVone Arthur, chief integration officer.

That money allows us to use additional resources for our mission-driven items -- patient care, research and medical education, Arthur said.

Expect to see a lot more collaboration among health care players. And thats a good thing, said Dr. Steve Berkowitz, a consultant in Austin, because its driven by the marketplace, not a government mandate.

Its creative consolidation, he said. And it will improve outcomes and reduce costs overall.

---

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Midland College board of trustees on Tuesday approved an increase in tuition and general use fees. All courses, lower division and upper division, for in district, out-of-district and non-resident students will increase by $4 per credit hour.

In-district lower level students  anyone not seeking a bachelors degree  will pay $86 per semester credit hour, out-of-district students will pay $136 per credit hour and non-residents will pay $176 per semester credit hour.

For upper-division courses  for a bachelor of applied technology  in-district students will pay $134 per semester credit hour, out-of-district students will pay $184 and non-residents will pay $224.

A portion of the out-of-district dual credit tuition and early college tuition rate will continue to be exempted to $10 above the in-district rate, which will increase to $72 per semester credit hour.

Meal plans will be increased by 4 percent. The 19-meals-per-week plan offered in spring and fall semesters will increase by $50 to $1,300, the spring interim or 12-meals-per-week plan will increase by $13 to $335 and the summer I or summer II 12-meals-per-week semester plan will increase by $26 to $660.

All changes will be effective this fall.

President Steve Thomas and Rick Bender, vice president of administrative services, said the increase would still keep MCs tuition at or below the state average. Bender attended the annual meeting of the Texas Association of Business Officers and a poll indicated that tuition will increase at other colleges, too.

We anticipate we will still be pretty close to the state average, Bender said during a presentation at Tuesdays meeting.

The state average for semester credit hour is $82, which is Midland's rate for the current year.

Follow Cassie on Twitter at @Cassie_Burton51
ORANGE, Texas (AP)  Gov. Greg Abbott is scheduled Wednesday to tour flood-ravaged communities in Southeast Texas where swollen waterways have displaced thousands of people and floodwaters are forecast to rise even more.

Joe Mires, spokesman for the Orange County emergency management office, said the Sabine River could rise by another 6 inches near Interstate 10 along the Louisiana border.

The Sabine's flood stage is 4 feet and the National Weather Service said it was cresting Wednesday at 7.5 feet. Mires said the river should recede later in the day, but that forecasts for rain on Friday or Saturday could complicate relief efforts.

The floods have forced thousands of people from their homes in a region that was slammed by up to 20 inches of rain over four days last week, including hundreds who have evacuated their homes in the town of Orange, about 100 miles east of Houston. No deaths or serious injuries have been reported.

Paul Craycraft, who ranches near the Trinity River west of Orange, said the river has overflowed its banks over the past year, causing difficulty for ranchers who have been forced to move livestock to higher land. He said drought has prevented any flooding over the past several years, but "six times in the last year the Trinity has flooded."

Craycraft, who operates East Texas Livestock in Crockett, said pastures along riverbanks are attractive to ranchers because the rich soil allows for the thick growth of grasses for livestock to feed on. He said the land, often called river bottom, "is some of the best land in terms of grazing."

The American Red Cross said encroaching floodwaters in Orange forced the closure of two shelters. People are being sent to another shelter opened at Lamar University in Beaumont, where about 200 people stayed Tuesday night.

Authorities have warned people to watch for wildlife looking to escape the water for high ground, often in residential areas. Poisonous snakes such as cottonmouths are found in the area and alligators reside in the bayous, according to Lori Ardoin, with the Orange County emergency management office.

Large rodents known as nutria rats are commonly found and people have reported seeing wild hogs in populated areas, she said.

While the bayous and other swampland are home to myriad wildlife, they've also helped lessen the impact of the flooding, Ardoin said. They act like a sponge in absorbing runoff, lessening the flooding in some areas.

Emergency personnel went door-to-door in Orange on Tuesday, encouraging residents to leave.

But one resident, Richard Cook, told the Beaumont Enterprise he planned to wait out the flood on the second floor of his two-story home. The 77-year-old said this is the highest he's seen the water since 1954.

"I'm a little concerned, but many of these things can be replaced," Cook said. "We're just trying to protect life and limb."

The flooding has led to intermittent closures of I-10, one of the country's major transportation arteries. More than 48,000 vehicles travel that portion of the interstate each day, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
For fans of EDM, there are few events during the year that compare to the enormity of the Ultra Music Festival in Miami. The annual festival, which first launched in 1999, takes place every March at Bayfront Park and has become renowned for its regular rotating cast of the best electronic dance artists.

This year's festival, which launches March 18-20, will feature just about every major name in the genre including Afrojack, Armin Van Buuren, Hardwell, Avicii, Kaskade, Miike Snow, Martin Garrix, deadmau5, Tiesto, Zedd, DJ Snake, Purity Ring and countless others. The popular festival has sold out entirely on the primary market, leaving just VIP tickets up for grabs. Fans looking to get general admission 3-day passes to Ultra Music Festival in Miami must rely on the secondary market, where tickets are currently available--but rising quickly in price.

(Photo: Aaron Davidson/Getty Images)

As it stands, 3-day passes for Ultra are averaging a whopping $990 on the resale market, with the cheapest pass priced at $475. With limited passes available, fans are encouraged to purchase sooner than later. Last year, 3-day passes were in similarly high demand, averaging $818 for the whole weekend, with the cheapest pass available for $336. In 2014, 3-day passes averaged $738, with the cheapest pass available for $464, according to data provided by ticket aggregator, TiqIQ.

Fans traveling to the festival can secure parking in Miami ahead of time through Parkwhiz.com, where rates begin for as low as $10.

Recently, Ultra Europe announced the first batch of artists for their 2016 festival, which will be held in Croatia from July 15-17. Many of the same acts appearing in Miami next week will also make their way to Europe this summer, and headliners include Hardwell, Martin Garrix, Above & Beyond, Alesso, David Guetta, DJ Snake and more.

Many of the Ultra headliners are slated to top the bill at a number of other electronic music-based festivals this summer, with the largest one being Electric Daisy Festival in New York City on May 14 and 15, as well as Electric Daisy Las Vegas from June 17-19. 3-day passes for EDC Vegas are currently averaging $450 on the resale market, but the cheapest pass is available for $395.

Parking in New York City can also be secured through Parkwhiz, where rates begin for as low as $12 for the festival weekend.

 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
25 years ago, The Smashing Pumpkins released their debut album, Gish, which makes them eligible to be considered for induction into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. They are not going to be inducted in 2016, and most likely not 2017, but frontman Billy Corgan believes that his rock band deserves a place in the coveted Hall.

"If it's a meritocracy, I think my band belongs in there because we were one of the prime bands of our era and we continue to be a top band. Next year will be, technically, our 30th year," the TNA Impact Wrestling executive told Rolling Stone in a recent interview this week (via UPROXX) So the fact that I've been in this band, you know, essentially 25 of the last 30 years, I think that says something."

As the interview continues, we learn that Corgan isn't really pulling for the Smashing Pumpkins to be in the Hall of Fame. He goes on to say that it isn't truly important to him and that full genres are sometimes skipped over by the Hall of Fame.

Also, the fact that Corgan is the only original member still in the band, and the fact that he isn't friendly with his surviving ex band members, would cause some difficulties when it comes to which members to induct. While the Hall of Fame prefers to induct original members, the Smashing Pumpkins feature a long list of former and current musicians including James Iha, D'arcy Wretzky, Jeff Schroeder, Mike Byrne, Melissa Auf der Maur, Nicole Fiorentino and Ginger Reyes.

According to Corgan, he's not too worried about this, despite his semi-genuine appeal to have the Smashing Pumpkins inducted in 2016.

Considering the popularity of the band, Corgan isn't wrong. If you forget about the current and recent lineup changes, you might agree with Corgan.



 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
After organizers announced a stacked 2016 lineup including artists like Radiohead, Deftones, Of Monsters and Men, Die Antwoord and Goldie (who will play a set featuring his groundbreaking album Timeless) comes word that 20 ticketholders to Iceland's Secret Solstice Festival will get to party inside the now-dormant Thrihnukagigur Volcano. While the artist scheduled to perform the surprise set remains to be revealed, the event marks the world's first concert held inside a volcano.

The third annual Secret Solstice Festival takes place in Reykjavik on June 16-19 during Iceland's summer solstice when the country celebrates its longest days, including 24 hours without even a wink of a dark night. In addition to the main stage headliners, the event will feature acts like Jamie Jones, Action Bronson, Skream, Artwork, Flatbush Zombies, Kelela, Lady Leshurr, Slow Magic and Afrika Bambaataa.

New 2016 lineup announced@! DIE ANTWOORD, ART DEPARTMENT, FLATBUSH ZOMBIES, M.O.P. and more added to our 2016 lineup! View the new lineup in full on our latest announcement video on our official Facebook and YouTube. Get your tickets NOW at SecretSolstice.is - see you in the midnight sun this June! A photo posted by Secret Solstice (@secretsolstice) on Mar 3, 2016 at 1:16am PST

The "Secret Solstice Presents Inside the Volcano" special showcase will be held June 18 during the main event. Attendees lucky enough to snag one of the 20 tickets will be transported via helicopter from Iceland's capital city to the entrance of the Thrihnukagigur volcano before descending about 400 feet -- a depth greater than the height of the Statue of Liberty -- into the belly of the inactive magma chamber.

Although the festival's organizers have not yet named the artist who will be playing the stunningly unique gig, they have dropped a few hints.

"We have someone special, though we want attendees to be surprised when we announce who it is at a later stage," director Fred Olafsson said. "I will say that it will be an acoustic performance by a very famous name, and we promise guests will be impressed when we finally make the big reveal," Mixmag reports.

With only 20 tickets available for such an extravagant experience, it goes without saying that the tickets come at a hefty price. Each ticket will cost 250,000 Icelandic krona, or about $1,970, and includes the special geological event, helicopter transport, refreshments and a VIP ticket for the main festival. For more information, head over to the event's website Secret Solstice Festival made history last year when it hosted the world's first ice rave inside a glacier and then offered a $200,000 festival experience, officially the world's most expensive VIP concert tickets ever sold, Dancing Astronaut reports.

 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A story so scary it could have been written by Stephen King, the small town of Charlton, Massachusetts has been facing a crisis so large that it may need to call the federal authorities to assist. On Monday, the police department posted on Facebook that a group of 2-3 males wearing open-toed sandals in broad daylight pulled up on three other teenage males in a black SUV and challenged those young teens on foot to battle rap or "spit some bars" as the public police report puts it.

The story only gets better the further you dive into it. One of the battle rapping assailants is described as a "male with brown hair a pale complexion, wearing gray pants and open-toed sandals" (was he wearing socks underneath those sandals though?). He reportedly got out of the car and started rapping at the peasants going for a walk, while the occupants in the car asked the kids walking if they wanted to "spit some bars."

It ended peacefully as the kids said no and the microphone fiends drove off presumably to go find some new victims of their molten hot bars, though no other lyrical assault was reported that day.

The police would like to make it clear that this does not appear to be an abduction, but just suspicious and frightening activity they are investigating.

The incident has gone somewhat viral and as a result, the Charlton police department has had to defend itself. They say they aren't investigating rap being sung in Charlton (it is being spit here), but rather are concerned that older individuals are approaching younger children on the street.

So watch out for roaming bands of rappers looking to spit bars at any point. They may even have a fire mixtape to give you.

* * * * Community Notice * * * *On 3-12-2016 approximately 3:00 p.m. a black SUV with 2-3 male occupants, in their... Posted by Charlton Police Department on Monday, March 14, 2016

 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Someone should sue the President for ...
Sonora, CA  Those on boil water notices from Blue Bell Valley Mutual Water Company may be able to use water straight from the tap again without boiling it by Friday.

Clarke Broadcasting touched base Wednesday morning with D-1 operator John Turner, who explains that chlorine was added and flushed through the system for 24 hours. It was then flushed out ahead of fresh sampling that was completed this morning. According to Turner, within 48 hours or sometime Friday the company should know; if the samples remain clean through the watch period, the company will lift the notice.

As previously reported here, last Friday, the companys 90 water customers began receiving the notices due to a water sample that came back that day testing positive for fecal coliform. Since that time, residents of the Blue Bell Valley Development and other nearby customers who receive Blue Bell Valley Mutual Water Company water have been advised until further notice to boil tap water and let it cool before using it, or alternately use bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes as a safety precaution. Turner adds that the company appreciates its customers continued patience as it works through the issue.

For more information, customers should call the Blue Bell Valley Mutual Water Company Answering Service at 209 533-7954.
200 trees to be removed due to Bark Beetles Leisure Drive Sugar Pine View Photos

Sonora, CA  Supervisors got some gloomy news related to the countys tree mortality issues, along with new details regarding a pilot project for taking on the crisis.

At its Tuesday meeting, the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to extend the Local State of Emergency due to drought conditions and imminent threat of disaster. The vote came after hearing details from a Bark Beetle Forum, District 2 Supervisor Randy Hanvelt recently attended where a Colorado state official revealed how the insects plagued the state for nearly 12 years with devastating effects. Hanvelt shares, This is terrifying, but I want people to understand the seriousness of the situation. Trees near buildings are a threat. When they die, they become a threat immediately. This problem is huge and its not going away overnight. Were going to live with it for a long time.

Acknowledging how critical the situation is along with the threat to human life and property, officials with the countys Tree Mortality Taskforce reported on its new proposed pilot program, still a work in progress, on to deal with dead and dying trees. Mike Albrecht explained, PG&E is going to do what they are good at, get the trees on the ground. We are [the County] going to do what we are good at, log them. Cal Fire is going to come clean it up. So, it will be moving along with that kind of a system. Then Caltrans has agreed wherever county roads intersect the highways or we are working adjacent, they are going to provide traffic control. He added we explained this plan to officials on the Governors task force and they stated they are looking for exactly that type of coordinated approach, which can also save on overall costs. Albrecht reports the plan is to begin in the Leisure Pines area, then head to the Mi-Wuk and Groveland areas. He added in order for the plan to work residents need to make sure and sign Right of Entry forms allowing crews on their lands.

Additionally, the U.S. Forest Service has expressed a desire to get in on the act in regards to tree work along Ferretti Road, offering to also pick up and haul away trees brought down by the county in that area, according to Albrecht.
Firefighters continue to battle a blaze that broke out Tuesday night at a mansion in Cocoa Beach.



Around 9 p.m. a dozen fire crews from multiple agencies  Brevard County Fire, Cape Canaveral, Patrick Air Force Base and Cocoa Beach  responded to the former estate of the late Al Neuharth, who founded USA Today and Florida Today and helped build Gannett into the largest newspaper company in the country.

The home, called The Pumpkin Center, was undergoing renovations by the new owners. The estate has 11 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms and is 10,000 square feet. According to Cocoa Beach Fire Chief Ryan Duckworth, Neuharth died in 2013 and his widow sold the home in 2014 to Jeffrey Wells.



Wells told the Florida Today newspaper earlier this month that his intent was to allow people to hold weddings at the property, once renovations were complete.

Duckworth said, There were no injuries. We did notify the homeowner. We did speak to him briefly. He wanted to know if there was anything he could do to help. We let him know what was going on and were keeping him updated on the situation.

The fire chief says they know the house was under construction because of the sign out front but they are not sure what kind of work was being completed at that time or if it had anything to do with the fire. He described the property as a "total loss.''



Constructed mainly of wood, the home is at Third Street and South Orlando Avenue in Cocoa Beach.



Duckworth said they closed off the area and are treating this as crime scene because any loss over $1 million is considered suspicious.



And a lot of people not from here would hear Pumpkin Center and research it and understand the history of it. And how much history Mr. Neuharth had in this community, said Duckworth. It means a lot to me personally, to all of us in Cocoa Beach, especially the residents were hoping to get some really adequate information that helps answer some hard questions.

On Wednesday, firefighters were using their tower to spray off any active hotspots.

The cause of the fire is unclear at the moment. The State Fire Marshal is investigating to determine how the fire started.
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Editor's note: There are conflicting reports on what happened in the crash.



A woman from Illinois was killed early Wednesday morning after the SUV she was a passenger in was hit by another vehicle.



The crash happened at 1:45 a.m. at the intersection of U.S. Highway 192 and Four Winds Boulevard.



The Florida Highway Patrol said a 2003 Ford Expedition being driven by Alberto Vasquez of Orland Park, Illinois was traveling westbound on U.S. 192, and while attempting to make a U-turn, drove into the path of a car driven by 35-year-old Joseph Polkey of St. Cloud.



Troopers said Polkeys car hit the rear of the SUV, which then overturned onto its roof. FHP said there were eight people in the SUV, and only three were wearing seatbelts. Six were transported to Osceola Regional Medical Center, where one, 21-year-old Elisha Ortiz of Orland Park, Illinois, died. Vasquez was not injured.



Polkey was also transported to Osceola Regional Medical Center in serious condition.



FHP said the crash remains under investigation.


More than a dozen citizens protested outside the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office Wednesday afternoon, a day after ballot printing errors caused problems at about a dozen polling places on Election Day.

The polling places in Orange County ran out of ballots Tuesday during Florida's presidential primary. A data glitch is being blamed for causing several printing errors that affected polling places in Apopka, Belle Isle, Ocoee, Maitland, Windermere and Winter Park.

People go to vote, and the issue is they're running out of ballots. I would just hope that in 2016, were beyond that, said Maria Bolton-Joubert, who protested outside of the elections office.

Potential could exist for voter suppression. Its good to raise awareness about this, get the conversation going, Bolton-Joubert added.

Orange Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles said a new way of printing ballots was intended to save time and resources.

What we did this year for the first time is we went from basic ballots styles to precinct-unique ballots, which meant that the ballots were printed for that precinct," Orange Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles said. "It was programmed with the precinct number, so that the machine would recognize that precincts ballots.

This was across the board for efficiency, he said. I think if we did a better job up front, proofing and verifying the correct orders, then we wont have the problem on the election-day side.

But protesters wanted answers.

Every person has a vote, every person has a voice, and human folly, while that is certainly a variable or a factor into what happens... It really shouldnt cost people their voice, Dylan Kelly said.

I regret that it happened, but as a professional, Im going to find out where, and were going to make the corrections going forward with the Aug. 30 primary election and the Nov. 8 presidential election, Cowles said.

News 13 is still working with Cowles to get specific numbers on how many voters were affected by the ballot issues.

This is important, because thats the foundation of our democracy, Kelly said.


The colors of Easter are the colors of spring: The vibrant green of tiny, new leaves beginning to unfold on the willow and pear trees, the cheerful yellow of tulips and daffodils opening to catch the morning sun, the fragrant blues, purples, and whites of hyacinths, and the delicate pink of cherry blossoms. We think of Easter colors as being pastels, less intense than the bright reds and greens of Christmas, the orange and black of Halloween, or the patriotic red, white and blue of Independence Day, but Easter provides its own unique blend of color commentary.

Consider the crimson flow of blood from the wounds to the Saviors side, the cruel nails in His hands and feet, and the crown of thorns on His head. It is central to the Christian faith that the offering up of His own life on the cross was the basis upon which Jesus could become our Savior. One of the witnesses to that day of destiny later interpreted it in this way: For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed . . . but with the precious blood of Christ . . . (1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV).
HARTFORD  A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pushing legislation that would prevent the state from diverting payments away from hospitals in the future.



State Rep. Catherine Abercrombie, D-Meriden, and Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, spoke Wednesday in support of a bill before the legislatures Human Services Committee that would require the state to reimburse hospitals. Earlier this month, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy suspended about $140 million in payments to acute-care hospitals in the state, citing budget difficulties.



You have a lot of support in this building, Abercrombie told hospital workers and members of the Connecticut Hospital Association gathered at the Capitol Wednesday. Its not just words, but were going to put some meaning behind those words.



Abercrombie serves as co-chairwoman of the Human Services Committee, which is expected to vote Thursday on whether to advance the pending bill.



If we dont pay you what we owe you, you dont pay us the taxes that you owe us, she told members of the hospital association.



In 2011-12, hospitals started paying a providers tax to the state based on an agreement that a portion of the tax would be reimbursed by the state and federal matching funds. This year, the industry was budgeted to pay $556 million in taxes and receive $256 million in reimbursements. A portion of funding was cut during Decembers special session. To date, the industry has only received about $22 million in reimbursements. The state owes the industry about $31 million, while the remaining $109 million being withheld is from the federal government. But because Malloy suspended payments to the industry, the state hasnt applied for the additional federal funds.



I think, in these difficult times, its really irresponsible for us to leave the federal money thats on the table right now, Abercrombie said.



Malloy has said the payments are being held temporarily until the legislature comes up with a solution for the $220 million budget deficit. The money should be released immediately, Abercrombie said.



The longer we wait, the longer it takes for us to get the money, she said.



This issue of holding back payments to hospitals has drawn criticism from Democrats and Republicans. Sen. Dante Bartolomeo, D-Meriden, and two of her Senate colleagues are distributing a petition asking that the governor release the funds.



Legislative leaders and the governor met Wednesday morning to discuss the budget. Fasano told hospital officials that the mindset among leaders is to do what we can do to get you the money.



Were going to make every effort for that to happen, he said.



aragali@record-journal.com 203-317-2224 Twitter: @Andyragz






Apple's most successful iPhone yet -- the iPhone 6. Image source: Apple (via 9to5Mac).

Late last year, Apple introduced the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, which serve as direct replacements for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus as the iDevice maker's flagship products. Naturally, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus saw price reductions of $100 for each model, making larger-screen iPhones more affordable.

One question that I think is worth pondering is the following: Once Apple introduces the iPhone 7/7 Plus, should it keep selling the iPhone 6/6 Plus? Here are my thoughts.

It depends on the region

In developed markets where people generally have the cash (or the carrier subsidies) to buy new iPhones, keeping the older iPhone 6/6 Plus around at reduced prices doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Fairly high-end phones are quite accessible in developed markets thanks to carrier subsidies and/or common monthly installment plans.

Additionally, in regions where Apple is seen as a status symbol and folks are willing to pony up significantly in order to get their hands on the latest -- though pricey -- Apple products, it would again make little sense to potentially risk cannibalizing sales of newer/higher end iPhones by lower-end ones.

However, in regions where Apple has very little market segment share due to its products being too expensive for many potential buyers (who instead are forced to purchase lower-cost Android devices), keeping the iPhone 6/6 Plus around and reducing prices on them makes perfect sense.

In those regions, there is so little high-end iPhone business to potentially cannibalize that price-reduced iPhone 6/6 Plus models would likely be a net positive for Apple in terms of revenue and total profit.

iPhone 6/6 Plus will probably be quite cheap to produce

The nice thing about Apple "water-falling" older-generation iPhones to lower price points is that by the time Apple needs to use those devices to try to gain share in emerging markets, the cost structures on said devices should be quite good.

Take the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, for example. The machines and tooling that Apple had installed at its manufacturing partners are probably fully depreciated at this point, which should help lower manufacturing costs. Additionally, the components inside of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus should also be very cheap for Apple's suppliers to produce and Apple to ultimately acquire.

This should give Apple quite a bit of room to take down pricing on these devices (again, in select markets) while still maintaining reasonable gross profit margins per device.

How low could Apple go?

I don't think Apple needs to go crazy with price reductions on the iPhone 6/6 Plus. Taking them down from the current $550/$650 starting price points to, say, $450/$550 for the entry-level 16 gigabyte models could be enough to drive non-trivial incremental demand.

These price points are still well in the range of "premium smartphone," but for many potential customers in emerging markets, that $100 difference could have a real impact.

This could be an interesting part of the Apple story in fiscal year 2017

Although Apple's main priority should be to build a compelling enough product with iPhone 7 to get its flagship products back on a growth path, I believe that lower-cost iPhone 6/6 Plus models (to go along with price-reduced iPhone 5s models) could help Apple grow in markets where it simply doesn't have much of a presence.

We'll see what Apple does come September.

3 companies poised to explode when cable dies

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The article Should Apple Inc. Keep the iPhone 6 Around Once the iPhone 7 Launches? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Copyright  1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


Samsung's Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. In North America, both handsets are powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820. Source: Samsung

Qualcomm and Samsung are back together.

The Korean tech giant's current flagship handset, the Galaxy S7, is powered by Qualcomm's latest processor, the Snapdragon 820. It's a major win for Qualcomm, as the company was notably devastated by Samsung's decision to forsake the firm's silicon for its 2015 flagship.

The Snapdragon 810 burned Qualcomm shareholders in 2015

Qualcomm's top mobile processor of 2015, the Snapdragon 810, was poorly received. Reports of overheating plagued the chip, and though it made its way into several handsets, other vendors went in a different direction.

Since the debut of the Galaxy SII in 2011, Samsung had used Qualcomm's processors and modems in all of its flagship handsets. The Galaxy SIII, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy S5 shipped with Qualcomm CPUs and modems in North America, and Qualcomm's shareholders benefited. From 2011 to 2014, Qualcomm kept pace with the broader S&P 500 on a total return basis, rising around 56%.

Since, then, however, the stock has moved lower, losing about one-quarter of its value over the last two years, with most of that loss coming in 2015. Reports began to surface in January that Samsung was poised to move away from Qualcomm, favoring its own chips for its (then) forthcoming Galaxy S6. Those reports were confirmed in March when the phone was finally unveiled. Given Samsung's size (it's the largest seller of smartphones in the world) analysts began to fear the worst and some downgraded the firm. Other vendors stuck by Qualcomm, but opted to use its lower-end chips. Rather than use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 to power its 2015 flagship, the G4, LG chose Qualcomm's slightly slower Snapdragon 808. Several poor earnings reports followed, and Qualcomm ultimately closed the year down more than 30%.

Qualcomm enjoyed strong revenue growth in 2013 and 2014, with its annual sales rising 30% and 7%, respectively. But in fiscal year 2015, its revenue slid 5%. In total, Qualcomm's chip sales actually rose, from 861 million in its fiscal 2014 year to 932 million in fiscal year 2015; still, its chip business performed poorly. Writing in its annual report, Qualcomm noted:

"Despite the increase in [chip] shipments, [our chip business] revenues decreased by 8%, and its earnings before taxes as a percentage of revenues decreased to 14% from 20% in fiscal 2014, primarily due to the effects of a shift in share among our customers within the premium tier, which reduced our sales of integrated Snapdragon processors and skewed our product mix toward lower-margin modem chipsets in this tier, a decline in share at a large customer [read: Samsung] and the competitive environment in China."

Snapdragon is back on top

But Qualcomm shouldn't have that problem in 2016. The Galaxy S7 isn't the only Android flagship making use of Qualcomm's latest silicon -- LG's G5 will also use the chip, as will Xiaomi's Mi 5.

That said, it shouldn't have been too much of a surprise for Qualcomm investors. Throughout 2015, management attempted to allay investors' fears, arguing that it could win Samsung back. Ahead of the Galaxy Note 5's debut last fall, Qualcomm's CEO Steve Mollenkopf was asked about the prospects for a Snapdragon-equipped Samsung phablet in 2015. Mollenkopf was dismissive, but hinted at a win for the S7. "Next design cycle ... I think we feel that we have a very competitive roadmap," he said. Some investors may have discounted Mollenkopf's confidence, but news of Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S7 wasn't a total shock.

Qualcomm shares have risen more than 20% in the last month, but could move even higher if the Galaxy S7 sells well. Even if it doesn't, Qualcomm could still benefit if one of the Galaxy S7's many Snapdragon 820-equipped rivals takes share.

Qualcomm's turnaround isn't complete (the company projected further sales declines last quarter) but its chip business is in much better shape than it was last year.

A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity

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The article Yes, the Galaxy S7 Has Qualcomm Inside originally appeared on Fool.com.

Copyright  1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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For Sandra Cisneros, a home is first and foremost a tranquil place to write.

Her latest book, A House of My Own, is a memoir that the reader pieces together from works of non-fiction covering 20 years.

It has a running theme of home, houses that the author of House on Mango Street has lived in and loved over her lifetime, from Chicago to San Antonio.

Cisneros, who lived in San Antonio for two decades and now resides in Mexico, returns to the city March 26-28 as the featured artist for Gemini Inks annual Autograph Series events.

She will give a free public reading Saturday and speak at a March 28 ticketed luncheon/colloquium.

Its like a photo album of 30 years of your life, Cisneros, 61, said of her latest book during a telephone interview from her home in Mexico.

More Information A House of My Own: Stories of My Life By Sandra Cisneros Knopf, $28.95 Gemini Ink Autograph Series Public reading, 7 p.m. Saturday, Palo Alto College Performing Arts Center, 1400 W. Villaret Blvd., free. Book-signing follows. Ticketed author luncheon/colloquium, 11:30 a.m. March 28, Leeper Auditorium, McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave., $75, geminiink.org/autograph-series, 210-734-9673. Book-signing follows. See More Collapse

Its kind of a diary, I suppose. I didnt think of it as a memoir. It was more a way of claiming my real life. I just felt that there was so much invented about me, this mythology about me, this exaggeration of my persona and my life. I get so upset when I read things about me that are totally off the mark. Sometimes you make a comment, and people misinterpret you. So, I wanted some clarity without writing an autobiography, which I think is a form of weaving ones own death shround.

Cisneros equates home with a state of being.

To me, home should be a place you feel safe, she said. It should be a place you feel like writing. That you feel at peace. That you feel that nobody is going to interupt you. To me, its about privacy and safety and tranquility. Its a place that is peaceful and beautiful.

Sandra Cisneros San Antonio schedule of events:

Public reading, 7 p.m. Saturday, Palo Alto College Performing Arts Center, 1400 W. Villaret Blvd., free. Conjunto musician, publisher and Palo Alto College faculty member Juan Tejeda will introduce Cisneros and emcee a Q&A. Book-signing follows.

Ticketed author luncheon/colloquium, 11:30 a.m. March 28, Leeper Auditorium, McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave., $75, geminiink.org/autograph-series, 210-734-9673. Author and UTSA faculty member John Phillip Santos will introduce Cisneros, and playwright and poet Gregg Barrios will interview her. Book-signing follows.

sbennett@express-news.net
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An East Texas judge resigned Monday following allegations that he sent a woman several sexual text messages while meeting with a judicial conduct board in Austin, according to media reports.

RELATED: Florida man dresses up as Donald Trump's penis outside rally before Tuesday primary elections

Smith County Judge Joel Baker resigned from his position on the State Commission on Judicial Conduct on Monday amid the allegations, the Tyler Morning Telegraph reported.

Baker told the newspaper that his resignation and the allegations were not related.

"My resignation is simply a result of the overwhelming level of stress I've been under," Baker told the newspaper in a letter co-signed with his wife.

RELATED: North Texas school police officer arrested on charges of sexual assault of child

News station KLTV reported that a woman who wished to remain anonymous claims she and Baker exchanged sexual messages during commission hearings in Austin, county work hours and out-of-town conferences paid for by taxpayers.

Baker and the woman also exchanged nude photos, including photos of Baker's genitals, the woman told KLTV.

The woman told the news station that she and Baker had never met, but that he sent her a friend request on Facebook during 2015.

Baker allegedly sent her several sexual messages before she broke up with her boyfriend in October.

"He messaged me and said something along the lines like, 'Hey, how are you? I would love to come drink a glass of wine with you,' is how it started," the woman told KLTV. "That's how our initial contact was."

The woman's friend told her to contact private investigator Tim McLemee, who convinced her to continue the online relationship.

In a Feb. 10 message, Baker told the woman he was in a meeting looking "at complaints about judges"  and proceeded to send her several lewd messages, according to the news station.

"Had Joel Baker simply said 'I am in a very important court hearing, I cannot talk right now. I will contact you after I get off work today,' I would have had the utmost respect for that response," McLemee told the news station.

RELATED: Police: Naked New Mexico woman used heroin, pills and drank whiskey before high-speed chase

Baker told the Tyler Morning Telegraph that the allegations are false.

"Since my re-election campaign in 2014, I have been the target of ridiculous allegations via anonymous blogs," Baker wrote in the letter to the newspaper. "It has been a very difficult time and has caused a tremendous amount of stress for me and for my family, and we desperately wanted to find out who it was who held so much hate that they were determined to destroy our family."

Baker said he went along with the woman, who asked him about a job and then sent him a sexually explicit email.

"I never sent any explicit videos or photos of myself to (the woman) as has been alleged," Baker wrote.

The commission is now investigating Baker, according to KLTV.

jfechter@mySA.com

Twitter: @JFreports
A man mistakenly beaten by San Antonio police officers - and left paralyzed by surgery months later to treat his injuries - has sued the city as a criminal investigation by federal authorities into the beating continues.

Rogelio "Roger" Carlos III and his wife filed the federal lawsuit late last week, listing several officers as defendants, including the three he says beat and kicked him or jumped on his back and neck with their knees. One of the three is an undercover SAPD officer assigned to a multi-agency drug task force. The other two are SWAT officers.

The SWAT officers have been identified as Carlos Chavez and Virgilo Gonzalez, and are defendants in the lawsuit. The SAPD will not identify the third officer, who first encountered Carlos, citing safety concerns because of his work on the undercover task force. The suit names him a defendant and calls him "Detective John Doe."

The incident occurred May 20, 2014, as Carlos, dressed in a white T-shirt, photographed construction of his family's pediatric clinic at Westover Hills and Rodgers Road.

San Antonio Police Officers had been pursuing a suspect who ditched his car at a nearby restaurant before fleeing on foot. The undercover officer, dressed in civilian clothes, thought Carlos was the suspect, and used force against Carlos and was then joined by the uniformed SWAT officers. The undercover officer later claimed Carlos did not obey police orders, though Carlos denies that and said the officers would not listen to him as he tried to explain his situation.

The suit said the officers involved in the pursuit failed to communicate with others. It also said officers did not follow proper protocol to ensure they had the right man, and used unnecessary and excessive force, violating Carlos' civil rights. The suit accuses the department of inadequate training, policies and supervision.

"Defendants Chavez, Gonzalez, and Detective John Doe are liable to Plaintiff because they knowingly and intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth, brutally assaulted Plaintiff without any reasonable suspicion that a crime had been committed or that Plaintiff was actually engaging in a crime," the suit said. "It is not illegal to

wear a white T-shirt."

The plaintiffs seek unspecified compensatory and punitive damages and attorney's costs and fees.

Meanwhile, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office continue investigating the three officers for possible civil rights violations. The U.S. Attorney's Office assigned the case to prosecutors in Austin because the agency's lawyers in San Antonio might know the undercover officer or prosecuted people he helped arrest.

"We are actively working on that case," U.S. Attorney Richard Durbin said in a text message. "I can't share what we are doing, but we have not declined prosecution. It just takes some time, but I think we're moving as fast as we can."

To read more, including how the officers were disciplined, visit www.express-news.com or read the full story in Thursday's print edition.

gcontreras@express-news.net

Twitter: @gmaninfedland
SAN ANTONIO  The close-knit ties of a mother-daughter bond were severed early Monday morning when Amanda Acosta, 17, was fatally shot near downtown following an alleged altercation at a party.

"She has nephews, three sisters  they ask me 'why her?' and I don't know what to tell them  that's what I want to know," Rose Nunez, the teen's mother, told mySA.com on Wednesday. "We're all looking for answers."

RELATED: Teenage girl shot, killed near downtown San Antonio

Aside from her relationship with her family, Nunez said the teenager maintained several close friendships and was the "shoulder to lean on" within her circle. Roles were reversed Monday when some of those friends became Acosta's support in the final moments of her life.

While no arrests have been made and details from police are still vague, investigators say Acosta was in a vehicle with friends leaving a party near Nogalitos Street when she was fatally shot around 3:40 a.m. Monday.

According to SAPD, witnesses told police Acosta left with the group vehicle following a "possible scuffle" they were involved in at the location. While en route, the occupants of the vehicle heard a gunshot, followed by Acosta telling them she had been hit, police said.

RELATED: AHPD: One suspect in a fatal shooting in Alamo Heights arrested, second still on the loose

The group took her to Santa Rosa Children's Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Acosta's mom said her daughter located herself at the 200 block of Cavalier Avenue, off Nogalitos, in a final post to her Facebook profile, which is now flooded with countless messages from friends expressing their condolences and remembering happier memories.

RELATED: Shooting at San Antonio car wash ends in death

Some of those times were spent at San Antonio Can High School, where Nunez said her daughter made friends instantly. After graduation, she planned on pursuing a career in the medical field with a goal to one day be able to help sick children, whom her mother said she shared a special connection with.

Acosta was counting down the days to her 18th birthday on March 22. Instead, her family is now planning her funeral  a GoFundMe account has been created in her name to help with the costs  and investigators are searching for answers.

RELATED: SAPD: No timeline, 'nothing imminent' in investigation of David Molak's suicide

Sgt. Jesse Salame told mySA.com detectives were previously unsure where the shooter was in relation to Acosta when she was shot. They now believe the suspect was riding in a vehicle, accompanied by other passengers, which was following the one she was in.

There was one shooter, but multiple people in the vehicle, Salame said. We believe that somebody knows what happened, were hoping someone comes forward so we can try to wrap this up.

The grieving mother said she has been promising her late daughter that justice will be served.

I told my other daughters she should be burying me, I shouldnt be burying her, Nunez said. Everybody is miserable, well find closure once they find who did it [] I just want to put this to an end so I can let my daughter rest.

RELATED: Rob the Original's disabled teen brother attacked, robbed in San Antonio crime spree

Acosta was one of two minors to be killed Monday morning. The body of Celso Tristan Compean, also 17, was found riddled with gunshots in Alamo Heights around 2:30 a.m. One of the suspects, 19-year-old Michael Abraham Teneyuque, has been arrested in that case while another remains at large, according to the Alamo Heights Police Department.

From the span of 2007 to 2015, a person under the age of 18 has been the victim in about one of every 12 killings, according to the San Antonio Express-News database. This year, Acosta and Compean will be added to the 82 kids who have been killed in homicide incidents.

Look at all these kids being killed, it breaks my heart because I know what their moms are going through, Nunez lamented. These kids get crazy over a gun and they get anxious to use it. I wish there was something that we could do to stop the violence, because its getting out of hand.

She urges parents to cherish their children and keep them close by. She is also begging anyone with information in her daughters death to come forward.

mmendoza@mysa.com

Twitter: @MaddySkye
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SAN ANTONIO  An armed 33-year-old man was shot and killed by San Antonio Police Department SWAT officers on the South Side Wednesday after a standoff that was sparked by an early-morning shooting.

SAPD Chief William McManus said officers were initially called to a home in the 300 block of East Pyron Avenue around 2 a.m. Wednesday morning after receiving reports that a man had fired at one of his neighbor's homes as its residents were moving furniture outside.

SEE ALSO: Man paralyzed after San Antonio police beating sues city

When police arrived, they were not able to make contact with the suspect, but remained at the location as a precaution until an arrest warrant for deadly conduct was filed. When officers attempted to serve the warrant around 10 a.m. Wednesday, the man emerged from his home with a handgun.

McManus said the suspect was waving the weapon around in the street, and based on his actions, police believed that neighbors in the area could have been in danger. SWAT officers set up around the property shortly after 10 a.m. and police blocked off several blocks in the area.

READ MORE: Rep. Castro disagrees with SAPD chief's reversal of punishment for officer who killed unarmed man

As they were taking positions around the house, McManus said the suspect came face to face with two of the officers. The officers both fired their service weapons.

The suspect, who has not yet been identified, died from his injuries, McManus said.

Jerry Arredondo, an area resident of nearly seven years, said he heard at least three gunshots early Wednesday morning, but didn't think much of it because gunfire is so common in the area.

"I've heard gunshots coming from that direction before," he said. "This morning I looked out and saw all the cops and was like 'what's going on?'"

Arredondo said he watched the situation unfold from a window at his home. He said he heard police telling the man to get his hands up, or to drop his weapon, then he saw the suspect run out of view.

"After that I heard one gunshot. I guess that's when they shot him," he said.

Text "NEWS" to 72727 to sign up for breaking news from mySA

mdwilson@express-news.net

Twitter: @MDWilsonSA
Tuesday night's crucial presidential primaries proved to be full of opinions on the social media realm, as usual, but a few topics particularly stood out: namely, Marco Rubio leaving the race after losing his home state of Florida to Donald Trump, and social media rejecting Florida after its primary results.

Rubio came in a distant second place, with 27 percent of the vote after Trump's 45.7 percent. With this choice in Florida's GOP, many social media users used a meme of Bugs Bunny sawing Florida off and pushing it away from the rest of the country.
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Authorities arrested a fugitive Mexican drug cartel boss nicknamed after a furry creature from the "Star Wars" movies after he spent four years on the run from law enforcement.

RELATED: Feds: Suspects in North Texas slaying of ex-Mexican drug cartel lawyer tied to 12 other killings

The Brownsville Herald reported that Edgar "Ewok" Hinojosa, a 39-year-old man from Brownsville, was arrested Tuesday in Matamoros, four years after he was convicted in U.S. federal court on drug conspiracy and possession charges.

According to the newspaper, Hinojosa's arrest was made in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals, Cameron County Sheriff's Office and Mexican law enforcement authorities, Cameron County Sheriff Omar Lucio announced Wednesday.

RELATED: The rising Mexican drug cartel figures that could replace Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman

Hinojosa was previously a bodyguard for Hector Manuel Sauceda-Gamboa, a Gulf Cartel plaza boss in Reynosa, Mexico.

The Mexican military shot and killed Sauceda-Gamboa during a firefight in 2009.

Prosecutors during the 2012 trial showed evidence that Hinojosa headed an organization that smuggled multi-ton quantities of cocaine from Brownsville to Houston and trafficking millions of dollars in drug money from Houston to the Gulf Cartel's home city of Matamoros, Mexico.

RELATED: Police: Mexico 'satanic ritual' killing suspects thought victim would come back to life as 'vampire'

In September 2012, Hinojosa fled before the third day of his trial in McAllen after paying a $5,000 deposit on a $100,000 jail bond.

The 39-year-old man, now in federal custody, faces a possible life sentence in prison on the charges.

jfechter@mySA.com

Twitter: @JFreports
Throughout her life, Josie Hugman Joann Broekhove cared for others.

If no one close needed her, she would find someone to help, her niece Tanya Draheim said.

Broekhove died March 6 at 80.

The oldest of two sisters, Broekhove worked with her family on a farm during the summers, feeding chickens, milking cows and learning to cook by the time she was 7.

During the school year, the family returned to Boerne.

We didnt have much, but we made do with what we had, her sister, Bernadine Draheim said. We were pretty happy  we could find all sorts of things to do.

More Information Josie Hugman 'Joann' Broekhove Born: Sept. 27, 1935, Boerne Died: March 8, 2016, San Antonio Preceded by: Husband, Aviel L. Broekhove; parents, Amanda Kohls and William Hugman. Survived by: Sister Bernadine Draheim; nephews Robert Draheim and wife Tanya, Mike Broekhove and wife Julie; nieces Debra Draheim Balsley and husband Craig, Carolyn Trip and her husband Buryl, and Jennifer Benson and husband Chris; and numerous other nieces and nephews. Services: Visitation at 5 p.m., rosary at 7 p.m., Sunday at Roy Akers Funeral Home, 515 N. Main Ave.; funeral at 10 a.m. Monday, also at the funeral home. See More Collapse

In high school, Broekhove turned her attention to others.

One of our friends was in a wheelchair, and Joann was her caretaker all the time, Bernadine Draheim said. She was strong, and so the girl  trusted her to help her.

Broekhove also made extra money by assisting an elderly neighbor.

Attending business school after high school, Broekhove became a bookkeeper, working at the Union Stockyards.

She met her future husband, Aviel, a local farmer, at a dance, and they married in 1960.

Working their farm in South Bexar County, Broekhove and her husband also ran a vegetable stand, and later an antiques store.

They did a lot of entertaining in the early years, Tanya Draheim said. She and Aviel made and shared their wine.

The couple never had children, and Broekhove doted on her nieces and nephews.

She was very involved with my two children, her sister said. She was their second mother.

A lifelong seamstress, Broekhove later put her skill to use sewing pillows, toys and blankets for military veterans and childrens organizations with The Stitchery Group of the North San Antonio Retired Teachers Association.

Broekhove also helped collect books to donate to area schools. She knew what it was like to do without.

We didnt read much as children, Bernadine Draheim said. We didnt have any books, and there was no library.

Broekhove also loved to bake, making birthday and wedding cakes, and whipping up dozens of cookies for everyone she knew.

Around Christmas, her favorite holiday, Broekhoves whole yard was covered with lights, Tanya Draheim said. You could see it from 35.

mheidbrink@express-news.net
Eugene H. Colver, who was awarded the Bronze Star Medal twice for his service during two tours of duty in Vietnam and the Legion of Merit upon retirement, died March 7 at 77.

Colver, who grew up in Montana, joined the National Guard immediately after high school, quickly switching to the Army to become a medical laboratory specialist.

After training at Fort Sam Houston, Colver served in Pakistan in the early 1960s, meeting his future wife, who was a native of Karachi.

The couple married in 1962.

Sent to Vietnam in 1966, Colver was a door gunner serving with the 170th Assault Helicopter Company of the 52nd Aviation Battalion at Camp Holloway in Vietnam. The company was so named because of the vulnerability of the UH-1 Huey helicopter in which they flew.

They were flying Special Forces into Cambodia and Laos, dropping them off and picking them back up, his son Gary Colver said. He got in a few skirmishes  got shot down twice.

More Information Eugene H. Colver Born: Feb. 13, 1939, Glasgow, Montana Died: March 7, 2016, San Antonio Preceded by: Parents William Harold "Curly" Colver and Thara Zgoda; a sister. Survived by: Wife Judi Colver; son Gary Colver; daughter Michele Colver-Hilliard and son-in-law James; stepdaughter Rebecca Thompson and son-in-law Scott; three grandchildren; two sisters; and a stepbrother. Services: No services will be held. See More Collapse

Another time Colver was shot in the hand.

They tried to give him a Purple Heart for that and he refused, Gary Colver said.

It was during his second tour in Vietnam that Colver fought in the Tet Offensive, the 1968 series of surprise attacks against South Vietnam by the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam.

He also began working to help local children who had a cleft palate, arranging for them to get corrective surgery, a cause he supported for the rest of his life through donations to Smile Train.

Returning to the U.S. in 1969, Colver moved to San Antonio with his family before being assigned to Hawaii for about two years.

Staying close to his children after he and his wife divorced in 1974, Colver often took leave to travel the country, his son said. We went to Yellowstone, to Montana, saw Little Bighorn where General Custer made his last stand.

After postings at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma, and Fort Bliss in El Paso  where he was promoted to command sergeant major  Colver retired, continuing to travel with his second wife.

He followed me around because I was still active duty, his wife Judi Colver said. When the couple moved to Germany for an assignment, Colver joined the Army Officers Wives club.

The couple also watched as the Berlin Wall came down in 1989.

We were close enough to  see the influx of people into West Germany, his wife said.

Once back in the U.S., Colver volunteered and ran the household.

His greatest love was entertaining, his wife said. He was a great cook; people hankered for invitations to our house in order to experience some of his cooking expertise.

mheidbrink@express-news.net
Watching FXs The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, brings me back to the one day I spent in 1995 at Simpsons murder trial. I play that day over and over in my head.

The prosecution had spent an inordinate amount of time asking the coroner about an indentation in Nicole Simpsons back caused, if I recall correctly, from the hook in her bra strap. I thought prosecutors were wrong to burn hours on minutiae instead of presenting a simple but devastating three-week case. No, reporters who had followed the trial from the start, assured me; prosecutors had to establish the indentations cause rather than hand an opening to Simpsons legal Dream Team.

I should have realized that the trials press corps had gotten sucked into the public relations spin  in heeding them, I was too. The Dream Team had done such a fine job wooing the media that prosecutors started playing to the cameras, not the jury. Distorted by media saturation, I believe the Trial of the Century ended with Simpson getting away with killing his ex-wife and waiter Ronald Goldman.

How fitting that the mini-series  based on Jeffrey Toobins book, The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson  is airing as 2016 GOP presidential primary front-runner Donald Trump is looking for new ways to play the victim and dominate the news cycle.

The Dream Team had convinced jurors that Los Angeles police had it out for Simpson because he was black when, to the contrary Toobin notes, cops had been too easy on Simpson when he beat his wife because Simpson was a celebrity. In like fashion, the billionaire Trump has supporters thinking that he is an outsider when, to the contrary, he is an insider, and that he is an underdog when he is a rich bully.

The Trump Shows latest plot twist started when left-leaning activists fell under the mistaken impression that they have the right to suppress Trumps free-speech rights. Wrong. They have a right to protest outside a Trump rally, but if they try to interrupt the candidate inside a campaign event, Team Trump has the right to evict them. Things went south last week when a 78-year-old fanatic punched a protester as he was escorted outside.

It is fair to assign some of the blame on Trump as The Donald at a recent rally harkened back to the good old days when pesky protesters would be carried out in stretchers. He also said he would pay the legal bills of supporters who punched protesters.

Trumps true believers see a system stacked against them even though, according to media watchdog Andrew Tindall, Trump garnered 32 percent of the three major networks nightly news presidential campaign coverage in 2015  more than 2.5 times the time for the second most covered candidate, Hillary Clinton. Sen. Marco Rubio should be so aggrieved.

Saturation media coverage distorts reality. Toobin writes that 95 million Americans watched some of the Bronco chase that followed Simpsons failure to turn himself into authorities; it exceeded the number who watched the Super Bowl that year by 5 million.

Usually when a suspect tries to run from police, the act itself is considered a sign of guilt. Yet during the Bronco chase, Angelenos cheered. Likewise, when Trump bashes the media, fans applaud. They hate the media but they love Trump because he is on TV.

Debra J. Saunders is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: dsaunders@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DebraJSaunders
We told you not to buy the rhetoric surrounding the U.S. Supreme Courts 5-4 decision regarding the Environmental Protection Agencys ability to regulate mercury.

At that time, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared it a significant victory in our efforts to rein in an out-of-control EPA.

It wasnt. It still isnt.

Case in point: Chief Justice John Roberts recent refusal to block the implementation of the EPAs mercury regulation as the agency continues to study the costs to industry. Thats right  the rule is still in effect, even as costs are studied.

Texas and 19 other states had sought to stop this, but Roberts, without explanation, said no. The general thinking among legal experts is that Roberts is saying the Supreme Court is not interested in stopping EPA regulations under legal review. Yes, it just did that for the Clean Power Plan, but that was an extraordinary circumstance.

Heres why last summers decision on the mercury rule wasnt nearly as momentous as Paxton & Co. made it sound:

To begin with, the Supreme Court did not ban the mercury regulation, which a Paxton spokeswoman recently asserted. The high court said the cost of the mercury rule to industry must be calculated before developing and implementing it. The EPA has said it should finish that analysis by April 15.

Second, the rule was developed in 2012, and despite the rhetoric from Paxton and others, most power producers have already adjusted to it. An analysis from the firm SNL found about 1 percent of power in the U.S. comes from plants lacking mercury controls.

Why is Paxton fighting this? The same reason he does so much of what he does. Its not about protecting industry or the public, who will benefit from fewer toxins in the air. Its all about the formulaic politics of these times, not facts. It is the worst of groupthink.
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

TPP/TTiP/TISA

TTIP Proposal for Chapter: Good Regulatory Practices [Lobby Control]. A leaked proposal:

For planned major regulatory acts undergoing impact assessment each party shall make publicly available, as early as possible, information on planning and timing leading to their adoption, including on planned stakeholder consultations and potential for significant impacts on trade, investment and on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Note that regulatory acts are defined as draft bills introduced in Congress.

Meeting today in Washington, Richard Trumka, President of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), together stressed that, from available information, the current negotiations on the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) are on the wrong course. If this course isnt corrected, TTIP will fail to create the people and planet-centered agreement needed to benefit the working peoples of the European Union and the United States [ETUC]. Thats not a bug. Its a feature.

CETA: Who pulled the plug on the right to regulate? [Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure].

Clinton may have evolved on TPP, but her surrogates havent, and she hasnt slapped them down. So were entitled to question the sincerity of her new convictions. First example: Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn touted Hillary Clinton as the best prepared candidate to be president, but went past Clintons positions in his defense of free trade agreements. [Tampa Bay Times]. Buckhorn has even acknowledged that promoting free trade wont help him with traditional Democratic constituencies like unions if he runs for governor in 2018, but could help build political good will in Washington that could pay off when his city applies for federal grants in the future. As he put it in January, relationships are mutually beneficial.' Ka-ching. Second example: [F]ormer Missouri Gov. Bob Holden, who backs Clinton, contends that her victories Tuesday in the other four primary states bolster another [trade] narrative [than Sanders]. It sends a very strong message that she has the ability to unite their nation and lead us into the 21st century global economy.' [St Louis Public Radio]. Oooh! 21st century global economy! Sounds focus-grouped!

2016

Policy

Myth Busting Sanderss Single-Payer Plan [Health Care Now]. Bernie Sanders Wife, Jane, Tours Tent City, Challenges Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Racial Profiling [Phoenix New Times]. Good read, and also good tactics that shes out there before next Tuesdays primary.

The Scorps

How the New York Times Sandbagged Bernie Sanders [Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone]. I came to the same conclusions that Steinhauer did initially: that Sanders was skilled at the amendment process and also had a unique ability to reach across the aisle to make deals. And then the editors got hold of it Read the whole thing. And then theres CNN: CNN during Bernie Sanders' speech  pic.twitter.com/BlOHWWHVRP  David V. Johnson (@contrarianp) March 16, 2016 Heres Sanders speech.

The Voters

Public college towns go for Sanders (chart) [The New Republic]. Private college towns do not. North Carolina voter ID law may have discouraged student voters [Think Progress]. So the Republicans drive to limit voter access helped Clinton. All things work together for good! Whatever you want to call this, it isnt democracy. America has more Democrats than Republicans, and Sanderss support among Democrats is greater than Trumps among Republicans: he has a larger slice of a bigger pie. But somehow we seem set to propel Trump to the Republican nomination, making him the standard-bearer for the American right, while relegating Sanders to the status of a historical footnote [Felix Salmon, Fusion]. Why I Reject Lesser-of-Two-Evils-ism [34Justice]. From December 2015, but ever-green. Its hard for me to see how we will ever fix our political process and reclaim our democracy by refusing to draw some lines in the sand.

Trump Panic

But it is Trumps claim that he can carry New York that most clearly undermines his promises of victory [Stuart Rothenberg, Roll Call]. New York State performs at least 10 points more Democratic than the country does, which means Trump would need to win the popular vote nationally by close to 60 percent to have a chance of carrying New York. And that, of course, will never happen.

The Trail

Revealing: In virtually every general voter preference survey this year, one candidate jumps out. No, it's not Hillary Clinton. pic.twitter.com/p5irKgApWJ  Matt Karp (@karpmj) March 15, 2016 How to Steal a Nomination From Donald Trump [Bloomberg]. If the primary season thus far can be understood as a triumph for the candidate who defies the norms of politics, the shadow campaign now underway will reflect the primacy of rules, including some that can be wantonly rewritten to serve the interests of those in charge

Stats Watch

Industrial Production, February 2016: Industrial production fell 0.5 percent in February but includes a respectable and higher-than-expected 0.2 percent gain for manufacturing production which pulls this report to the positive column for the economic outlook [Econoday]. Lots of tap-dancing, followed by this report, together with positive indications in yesterdays Empire State report, do suggest, or at least offer the hint, that the worst may over.

Consumer Price Index, February 2016: The CPI core is showing pressure for a second month, up a higher-than-expected 0.3 percent in February with the year-on-year rate up 1 tenth to plus 2.3 percent and further above the Federal Reserves 2 percent line [Econoday]. Gains are once again led by health care.

MBA Mortgage Applications, week of March 11, 2016: While rising only 0.3 percent in the March 11 week, purchase applications for home mortgages remain very robust, up 33 percent year-on-year [Econoday].

Housing Starts, February 2016: Housing starts & permits are mixed with starts way up but permits, which are the more important of the two, way down [Econoday]. Starts rose 5.2 percent to a 1.178 million annualized rate while permits, which were expected to show no change, dropped 3.1 percent to 1.167 million. And: rolling averages are the best way to view this series  and the data remains in the range we have seen over the last 3 years. There are no warning signs except the rate of growth of building permits is decelerating [Econintersect].

Honey for the Bears:

Chart: Big decline in average weekly earnings in the US. Workers losing overtime? pic.twitter.com/eTuCtUw37F  SoberLook.com (@SoberLook) March 15, 2016

The Fed: From traders: In conversations with customers this week, we heard a lot of skepticism about the Fed raising rates at all this year. Many sophisticated traders think the FOMC is making the same mistake the BOE did in 2014: Sure, they say theyre going to raise rates, but how can they? [FTN Financial, Across the Curve].

Deutsche Bank AG shares dropped as much as 6.2 percent after co-Chief Executive Officer John Cryan said he doesnt expect the German lender to report a profit this year [Bloomberg].

Someone using official codes stole $100 million from Bangladeshs account at the New York Fed over a recent weekend. Authorities in four countries are still piecing together what happened [Wall Street Journal, Crime Scene: Who Stole $100 Million From Bangladeshs Account at the New York Fed?]

Todays Fear & Greed Index: 72, Greed (previous close: 73, Greed) [CNN]. One week ago: 71 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Mar 16 at 12:31pm. The leisure suit. Was it a 70s thing?

Health Care

Obamacare: Little-known provision allows Californians stuck in bad plans to switch [San Jose Mercury News (MS)]. Exchange officials say its possible to change plans even after the mid-April open-enrollment deadline because of a little-known provision under the qualifying life events section for special enrollment.

But the qualifying events also include misconduct or misinformation that may have occurred during the enrollment period; incorrect plan data that may have been presented when selecting a plan and health insurers violating their contracts.

This is Covered California; Im not clear whether this applies to all of ObamaCare but at the least its good news for Californians.

More than 1 million patients suffer harm each year in U.S. health care facilities. Often, their harm isnt acknowledged even as they live with the consequences. ProPublica set out to capture their stories. Here is what we learned [ProPublica].

Police State Watch

 Almost half of the people who die at the hands of police have some kind of disability, according to a new report, as officers are often drawn into emergencies where urgent care may be more appropriate than lethal force [NBC]. Eesh. The 26-year-old with Down syndrome who went to go see Zero Dark Thirty only to get whacked by a cop

Corruption

Egypts dirty wheat problem [Reuters]. At a glance, the architecture of the scam looks just like election fraud with an electronic voting machine.

JPMorgan Chase appoints a former Obama advisor to lead its burgeoning fintech strategy [Quartz]. How cozy.

Guillotine Watch

Louis XVI. Loser!

You can always tell when the king is here, said Trumps longtime butler at Mar-a-Lago https://t.co/b5b65ufXFp pic.twitter.com/U01NqFTHAK  NYT Politics (@nytpolitics) March 15, 2016

Class Warfare

Shared office space giant WeWork Cos., recently [***cough***] valued at $16 billion, and a handful of smaller startups are experimenting with coliving, a concept that involves tiny apartments, shared kitchens and lounges, and a communal atmosphere [Wall Street Journal, Venture Capitals Answer to High-Priced Housing: Dorms for Grown Ups]. I think Id prefer a shipping container.

People-powered:

Take life in emerging markets. Add a shiny front-end mobile app. Behold the on-demand economy.http://t.co/7aLlxYDB62 pic.twitter.com/0rXr4JMTla  Subrahmanyam KVJ (@SuB8u) May 6, 2015

News of the Wired

Paramount Says Star Trek Fan Flick Violates Copyright On Klingon And Uniform With Gold Stars' [TechDirt]. But not a very nearly gold chain?

* * *

Readers, feel free to contact me with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, and (c) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi are deemed to be honorary plants! See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. And heres todays plant:

Trees will be creaking with the weight of the ice

* * *

If you enjoy Water Cooler, please consider tipping and click the hat. Water Cooler would not exist without your support.
Yves here. This is an extremely important post. It eviscerates the performance of the armed services, not just in terms of evading oversight and accountability to citizens, but in terms of operational competence.

By Gregory D. Foster, a professor at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., a West Point graduate, and a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. Originally published at TomDispatch

Item: Two U.S. Navy patrol boats, with 10 sailors aboard, stray into Iranian territorial waters, and are apprehended and held by Iranian revolutionary guards, precipitating a 24-hour international incident involving negotiations at the highest levels of government to secure their release. The Pentagon offers conflicting reports on why this happened: navigational error, mechanical breakdown, fuel depletion  but not intelligence-gathering, intentional provocation, or hormonally induced hot-dogging.

Item: The Pentagon, according to a Reuters expose, has been consciously and systematically engaged in thwarting White House efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and release cleared detainees. Pentagon officials have repeatedly refused to provide basic documentation to foreign governments willing to take those detainees and have made it increasingly difficult for foreign delegations to visit Guantanamo to assess them. Ninety-one of the 779 detainees held there over the years remain, 34 of whom have been cleared for release.

Item: The Pentagon elects not to reduce General David Petraeus in rank, thereby ensuring that he receives full, four-star retirement pay, after previously being sentenced on misdemeanor charges to two years probation and a $100,000 fine for illegally passing highly classified material (a criminal offense) to his mistress (adultery, ordinarily punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice) and lying to FBI officials (a criminal offense). Meanwhile, Private Chelsea (nee Bradley) Manning continues to serve a 35-year prison sentence, having been reduced to the Armys lowest rank and given a dishonorable discharge for providing classified documents to WikiLeaks that included incriminating on-board videos of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed up to 18 civilians, including two Reuters journalists, and wounded two children, and of a 2009 massacre in Afghanistan in which a B-1 bomber killed as many as 147 civilians, reportedly including some 93 children.

What do these episodes have in common? In their own way, theyre all symptomatic of an enduring crisis in civil-military relations that afflicts the United States.

Hyperbolic though it may sound, it is a crisis, though not like the Flint water crisis, or the international refugee crisis, or the ISIS crisis, or the Zika crisis. Its more like the climate crisis, or a lymphoma or termite infestation that destroys from within, unrecognized and unattended. And yes, its an enduring crisis, a state of affairs that has been with us, unbeknownst to the public and barely acknowledged by purported experts on the subject of civil-military relations, for the past two decades or more.

The essence of the situation begins, but doesnt end, with civilian control of the military, where direction, oversight, and final decision-making authority reside with duly elected and appointed civil officials. Thats a minimalist precondition for democracy. A more ideal version of the relationship would be civilian supremacy, where there is civically engaged public oversight of strategically competent legislative oversight of strategically competent executive oversight of a willingly accountable, self-policing military.

What we have today, instead, is the polar opposite: not civilian supremacy over, nor even civilian control of the military, but what could be characterized as civilian subjugation to the military, where civilian officials are largely militarily illiterate, more militaristic than the military itself, advocates for  rather than overseers of  the institution, and running scared politically (lest they be labeled weak on defense and security).

That, then, is our lot today. Civilian authorities are almost unequivocally deferential to established military preferences, practices, and ways of thinking. The military itself, as the three items above suggest, sets its own standards, makes and produces its own news, and appropriates policy and policymaking for its own ends, whatever civilian leadership may think or want. It is a demonstrably massive, self-propelled institution increasingly central to American life, and what it says and wants and does matters in striking ways. We would do well to consider the many faces of civil-military relations today, especially in light of the role the military has arrogated to itself.

A Crisis Appears and Disappears

University of North Carolina historian Richard Kohn raised the specter of a civil-military crisis in a 1994 National Interest article titled Out of Control: The Crisis in Civil-Military Relations. He focused on the ill-disguised disdain of many in uniform for Commander-in-Chief Bill Clinton, highlighting the particularly politicized behavior of Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Colin Powell, who had spoken out in opposition to two prime items on the Clinton agenda: intervention in the Balkans and gays in the military. Typical of how the bounds of propriety had been crossed, Kohn also alluded to the example of the Air Force major general who, at a military gathering, contemptuously characterized the president as gay-loving, pot-smoking, draft-dodging, and womanizing.

Too alarmist for many pundits, Kohns claim of a growing crisis gave way to the milder thought, advocated most forcefully by journalist Tom Ricks, that there was simply an increasing cultural, experiential, and ideological gap between the military and society, a thesis that itself then went dormant when George W. Bush entered office.

Those who profess expertise on civil-military relations have tended to focus almost exclusively on civilian control and the associated issue of the militarys political neutrality. Thats why so much attention and controversy were generated over President Obamas highly publicized firing of General Stanley McChrystal for the climate he created that led to the disparagement of senior Obama officials by his subordinates (as reported in the 2010 Rolling Stone article The Runaway General). Yet far bigger and more fundamental matters have gone largely unnoticed.

Civil-military relations are built on a tacit but binding social contract of mutual rights, obligations, and expectations among the military, its civilian overseers (executive and legislative), and society. Four things are expected of the military as part of this compact: operational competence, sound advice, political neutrality, and social responsibility. Operational competence and social responsibility are rarely even part of the discussion and yet they go to the heart of the crisis that exists, pointing both to the outsized presence of the military in American life and statecraft, and to a disturbingly pervasive pattern of misconduct over time among those in uniform.

The Failure of Operational Competence

If we enjoyed a truly healthy state of civil-military relations, it would be characterized by a strategically  not just a militarily  effective force. By implication, such a military would be capable of successfully accomplishing whatever it is called upon to do. The military we have today is, arguably, ineffective not only militarily but demonstrably strategically as well. It doesnt prevent wars; it doesnt win wars; and it certainly doesnt secure and preserve the peace.

No, the military doesnt prevent wars. At any given time over the past quarter century, on average roughly 40 violent conflicts a year have been underway around the world. The U.S. military has had virtually no discernible influence on lessening the outbreak of such conflicts. It isnt even clear that its size, configuration, and positioning, no less the staggering sums invested in it, have had any appreciable deterrent effect on the warring propensities of our so-called peer competitors (Russia and China). That they have not sought war with us is due far less to simplistic Washington assumptions about deterrence than to factors we dont even grasp.

And no, the military doesnt win wars anymore. It hasnt won one of note in 70 years. The dirty wars in the shadows it now regularly fights are intrinsically unwinnable, especially given our preferred American Way of War: killing people and breaking things as lethally, destructively, and overwhelmingly as possible. Its an approach  a state of mind  still largely geared to a different type of conflict from an era now long since past and to those classic generals who are always preparing for the last war. Thats why todays principal adversaries have been so uniformly effective in employing asymmetric methods as a form of strategic jujitsu to turn our presumed strengths into crippling weaknesses.

Instead of a strategically effective military, what we have is quite the opposite: heavy, disproportionately destructive, indiscriminately lethal, single-mindedly combat-oriented, technology-dominant, exorbitantly expensive, unsustainably consumptive, and increasingly alienated from the rest of society. Just as important, wherever it goes, it provokes and antagonizes where it should reassure and thereby invariably fathers the mirror image of itself in others.

Not surprisingly, the military today doesnt secure and preserve peace, a concept no longer evident in Washingtons store of know-how. Those in uniform and in positions of civilian authority who employ the military subscribe almost universally and uncritically to the inherently illogical maxim that if you want peace, you had best prepare for war. The result is that the force being prepared (even engorged) feeds and nurtures pervasive militarism  the primacy of, preference for, and deference to military solutions in the conduct of statecraft. Where it should provide security, it instead produces only self-defeating insecurity.

Consider just five key areas where military preferences override civilian ones and accentuate all manner of insecurity in the process.

Rapacious defense spending: The U.S. military budget exceeds that of the next 10 countries combined, as well as of the gross domestic products of all but 20 countries. At 54% of federal discretionary spending, it surpasses all other discretionary accounts combined, including government, education, Medicare, veterans benefits, housing, international affairs, energy and the environment, transportation, and agriculture. Thanks to the calculations of the National Priorities Project, we know that the total cost of American war since 2001  $1.6 trillion  would have gotten us 19.5 million Head Start slots for 10 years or paid for 2.2 million elementary school teachers for a decade. A mere 1% of the defense budget for one year  just over $5 billion  would pay for 152,000 four-year university scholarships or 6,342 police officers for 10 years. What we spend on nuclear weapons alone each year  $19.3 billion  would cover a decade of low-income healthcare for 825,000 children or 549,000 adults.

Promiscuous arms sales: The United States remains by far the worlds leading proliferator of conventional arms, accounting for some 50% of all global sales and 48% of all sales to the developing world. During the 2011-2014 period alone, U.S. weapons deliveries included a wide array of advanced weapons technologies: 104 tanks and self-propelled guns, 230 artillery pieces, 419 armored personnel vehicles, 48 supersonic aircraft and 58 other aircraft, 835 surface-to-air missiles, and 144 anti-ship missiles, much of that to the volatile Middle East. Skeptics would say that such transactions are motivated less by an urge to enable recipient countries to defend themselves than by the desire to buy influence abroad while aiding and abetting arms manufacturers at home. The result of such massive sales is, of course, the creation of yet more instability where stability should be.

Garrisoning the planet: The military maintains up to 800 bases in more than 70 countries and stations more than 200,000 active-duty personnel in some 150 countries. This global presence represents the geostrategic equivalent of Parkinsons law: operational and social entanglements expanding exponentially to fill the space created by these far-flung outposts.

The nuclear black hole: The military remains the permanent keeper and executor of the worlds largest nuclear arsenal: an estimated 4,700 nuclear warheads on some 800 delivery systems, as well as another 2,340 retired but still intact and presumably usable warheads. A three-decade, trillion-dollar upgrade of this already monstrous arsenal is now underway. The Economist has called this Washingtons unkicked addiction. It should be clear, but apparently isnt, that these are weapons of disuse. Other than for destroying the planet if used, their only value is as a measure of muscularity against mirror-image peers. They deter nothing at other levels of muscle-flexing but do feed an insatiable thirst for emulation among jealous non-possessors of such weaponry.

Spurning the rule of law: Though the U.S. regularly espouses and pretends to practice the rule of law, administration after administration has chosen to forswear important international agreements for parochial, largely military reasons. Among those not even signed are the 1969 Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, the 1997 Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty, the 2002 Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture, the 2006 International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions. Among those Washington has signed but not ratified are the 1977 Protocols I and II to the Geneva Conventions, the 1994 Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, and the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Add to this list the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, ratified in 1972, from which the U.S. withdrew in 2002. Then there are agreements to which the U.S. is a party, but which we nonetheless choose to ignore or circumvent, wholly or in part. These include the 1928 Kellogg-Briand General Treaty for Renunciation of War as an Instrument of National Policy; the 1968 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (Article VI of which states: Each of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control); and the United Nations Convention against Torture and selected provisions of the Geneva Conventions. (We dont do prisoners of war; we do unlawful enemy combatants. We dont do torture; we do enhanced interrogation. And of course we dont engage in other illegalities, like extraordinary rendition or targeted killing or the use of black sites where hostile parties can be disappeared.)

Militarizing Americas World  At Home and Abroad

Added to the foregoing excesses are many examples of what we might call organizational hypertrophy. Institutions like the military are, by nature, self-selecting, self-fulfilling, self-perpetuating constellations of values and practices that generate their own realities and can rarely be disestablished once born. As at Hotel California, you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

Of particular note in the post-9/11 world is our bloated intelligence apparatus of 16 separate agencies, nine of which are military organizations (if you count Coast Guard Intelligence). Most notably, there is the National Security Agency (NSA), always commanded by a general or admiral who now also heads up the U.S. Cyber Command. NSAs massive surveillance culture and capabilities foreshadow a totalizing new-age cyber warfare regime guaranteed to completely redefine traditional notions of aggression, self-defense, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in hair-trigger terms.

The military itself has nine combatant commands, six of which are regional and divvy up the planet accordingly. Except for NATO, there are no regional ambassadors, so the face we show to the world, region by region, is military  and combatant  not diplomatic. Even the homeland now has its own combatant command, the U.S. Northern Command. In tandem with the civilian Department of Homeland Security, it has produced the militarization of the domestic front, dispensed with historical border sensitivities vis-a-vis Canada and Mexico, magnified concerns about civil liberties, and fed a permanent state of paranoia and alarm among the public about both illegal immigration and terrorism.

Special attention also must be given to the massive expansion of U.S. Special Operations Command, once a modest cohort of elite specialists, into a force now larger than the militaries of many countries. Its ostensible raison detre is waging permanent war against terrorism. The growing presence of and preference for using special operations forces globally ought to command the attention of anyone concerned with civil-military relations. Each armed service has a special operations command, as does each combatant command, including Northern Command. Estimates are that special operations personnel already number or are expected to number around 70,000 (roughly the equivalent of four and a half Army divisions). This provides an almost infinite amount of potential space for meddling and mission creep abroad and at home due, in part, to the increasingly blurred lines between military, intelligence, police, and internal security functions.

Of the various ways the military could be configured  for warfighting; peacekeeping, nation-building, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response; or covert special operations  the last poses by far the greatest threat to effective civilian control of the military. An increasing reliance on and reverence for Special Operations forces (SOFs) only exacerbates already existing civilian deference to military preferences, practices, and mindsets. Conducting a range of operations, from low-profile assignments unknown to most Americans to secret missions beyond the bounds of stringent congressional oversight, the very nature of SOF missions fosters a military culture that is particularly destructive to accountability and proper lines of responsibility. Especially in times of divided government, as at present, when working around Congress is a preferred norm for getting things done, the temptation to employ forces that can circumvent oversight without objection is almost irresistible.

The Failure of Social Responsibility

As an institution, the military is accorded carte blanche authority to possess and wield violence on behalf of the state. It is also a mammoth social institution that reaches deep into American society and many other societies worldwide. It thus is tacitly expected to comport itself in a socially responsible manner and its members to demonstrate professionalism in their conduct. And yet the pervasive, long-term misbehavior of those in uniform is striking, even alarming. This is where civilian subjugation to the military manifests itself most glaringly, and where the lack of a willingly accountable, self-policing military comes most clearly into view.

Each year for at least the past two decades, literally hundreds of incidents have occurred that undermine any claims the military might make to moral superiority: atrocities, corruption and bribery, fraud and waste, sexual misconduct, cover-ups, racial and religious persecution, and acts of cultural intolerance. Moral arrogance is in abundant supply among those in uniform, genuine moral superiority in short supply. To cite just a small sample of such incidents from the recent past:

* The continuing Fat Leonard scandal that involved an exchange of bribes, gifts, and prostitutes for classified information on ship movements, implicating at least seven officers and officials and leading to the censure of three rear admirals.

* The ongoing Army National Guard recruiting fraud and kickback scandal involving thousands of soldiers and tens of millions of dollars in illegal payments.

* The four-star former head of U.S. Africa Command, reduced in rank and forced to pay restitution for lavish spending of public funds on private business; the three-star former deputy nuclear force commander who used counterfeit poker chips at a casino; the two-star commander of the ICBM force who went on a drunken binge and insulted Russian counterparts at a joint exercise; the one-star commander of Fort Jackson, South Carolina, relieved of duty for adultery and physically assaulting his mistress; the one-star assistant division commander of the elite 82nd Airborne Division, fined $20,000 and reduced in rank for multiple affairs and other sexual misconduct; and the one-star commander of special operations forces in Latin America, relieved of command and reduced in rank for drunken altercations.

* The forced resignation of the under secretary of the Navy over a scandal in which the brother of a naval intelligence official billed the military $1.6 million for weapons silencers that cost only $8,000 to manufacture.

* The proficiency exam cheating scandals that implicated several dozen Air Force and Navy nuclear weapons personnel.

* The Army staff sergeant, sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering 16 civilians and wounding six others in Afghanistan.

* The Army staff sergeant, also sentenced to life imprisonment, and five other soldiers who, as part of a thrill kill unit, murdered three Afghan civilians for sport and took their body parts as trophies.

* The Rolling Stone expose of the Special Forces A-Team that allegedly disappeared 10 men and murdered eight others in Afghanistan.

* The video of four Marines urinating on dead Afghan bodies, alleged to be Taliban fighters.

* The photos of 82nd Airborne Division soldiers posing with body parts of dead Afghan insurgents.

* The burning of as many as 100 Korans and other religious texts by American troops in Afghanistan.

* The unceasing surfeit of sexual assault reports in the military (22,000 between 2010 and 2014).

Such episodes arent, of course, only of recent vintage. Walking the calendar back a few years reminds us of many other similar examples:

* 2011: the suicides of Marine Lance Corporal Harry Lew and Army Private Danny Chen after hazing and harassment by fellow soldiers.

* 2010: the Khataba raid in Afghanistan in which Army Rangers killed five civilians, including two pregnant women and a teenage girl.

* 2009: the massive sex scandal at Lackland Air Force Base, in which 43 female trainees were subjected to sexual predation by instructors.

* 2008: revelations about a Pentagon military analyst program in which retired senior officers working as news commentators received special access to insider briefings and information in return for publicly promoting Bush administration policies.

* 2007: a U.S. Naval Academy scandal involving a Navy doctor secretly videotaping midshipmen engaged in sex acts; a Walter Reed Army Medical Center scandal involving extensive patient neglect and execrable living conditions; and revelations concerning massive Iraq War contracting fraud, bribery, and kickbacks totaling $15 million.

* 2006: the rape and killing of a 14-year-old girl and the murder of her family by five Army soldiers in Mahmudiyah, Iraq; the murder of an Iraqi man in Hamdania, Iraq, with associated kidnapping, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy, by seven Marines and a Navy corpsman; and the relief of the USS Enterprise captain for producing and showing sexually explicit and offensive videos on board.

* 2005: the massacre of 24 Iraqi men, women and children by Marines in Haditha, Iraq, and the associated cover-up in which all criminal charges were dismissed; and the Pentagons planting of stories favorable to the war effort in the Iraqi press.

* 2004: the friendly-fire death of Pat Tillman and the tragedys associated cover-up, extending up the chain of command to the Pentagon.

* 2003: massive acts of prisoner sexual abuse, torture, rape, sodomy, and murder by Army personnel at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

* 2002: the deaths of two unarmed civilian Afghan prisoners, who had been chained to the ceiling and beaten by U.S. troops, at the Bagram internment facility in Afghanistan.

All of this is but the tiniest tip of the military misbehavior iceberg, a sample of countless incidents that have regularly occurred over an extended period of time. Remember the Tailhook sexual assault scandal, the Aberdeen sex scandal, the Camp Lejeune water contamination scandal, the Cavalese cable car disaster, the firing and reduction in rank of the sergeant major of the Army for sexual misconduct, the murder of Private First Class Barry Winchell, the discharge of Air Force Lieutenant Kelly Flinn?

Such a tidal wave of ethical breakdowns cant be dismissed as mere exceptions to the rule or deviations from the norm. Institutional defenders nonetheless persist in claiming that such incidents represent the actions of a few bad apples in an otherwise healthy cultural barrel. In this, they are simply wrong, yet their positions are eternally bolstered by the fact that annual opinion polls of public trust and confidence in societys institutions invariably place the military at or near the top of the list.

What Is to Be Done?

To this question  What is to be done?  there is no easy answer, perhaps no answer at all. Part of the reason is that the underlying crisis in civil-military relations has gone largely unrecognized, unacknowledged, and unaddressed for decades now. A first step, therefore, might simply be to break the bonds of denial and admit that there is a problem.

A second step  admittedly a far march onto an unknown planet  would be to encourage serious, thoroughgoing institutional self-reflection from both the military and civilian authorities. This would, of course, mean facing up to those facets of military culture that warrant reengineering: aggression, intolerance, authoritarianism, parochialism, congenital secrecy, and pronounced anti-intellectualism among them. It would also mean acknowledging the numerous myths that have come to define the institution over time  for example, that the military nurtures and rewards leadership (rather than dutiful followership); that it instills discipline (rather than indiscipline); that it exemplifies competence and efficiency (rather than incompetence and inefficiency); that it is committed to accountability (rather than cover-ups and secrecy); and that its members, especially at senior levels, regularly demonstrate moral courage (rather than moral cowardice).

A third step would involve a concerted educational effort, inside and outside the institution, to enhance strategic thinking, ethical thinking, and civic literacy (especially, but not exclusively, among those in uniform).

A fourth step  ultimately the most fundamental and paradigm-shattering, as well as the least likely to occur  would be to reconsider the very purpose and function of the military and to reorient it accordingly. That would mean transforming a cumbersome, stagnant, obsolescent, irrelevant warfighting force  with its own inbuilt self-corrupting qualities  into a peacekeeping, nation-building, humanitarian-assistance, disaster-response force far more attuned to a future it helps shape and far more strategically effective than what we now have. Translated, counterintuitive as it might sound, this would mean seeking to demilitarize the military, an overarching strategic imperative if bona fide lasting peace is ever to be achieved on this planet.

Humpty Dumpty posed the question to Alice in Through the Looking Glass of whether words are to be the masters of men or men the masters of words by determining their meaning. Similarly must we ask whether an institution, the military, supposedly endowed with supernal character by objective circumstances, is to master us, or we to master it by determining for ourselves what it properly is and does.
Yves here. I must apologize for the state of my inbox. Mathew Rose sent this post in right after the German elections, but I wasnt expecting it and missed seeing it then. Thats unfortunate in that his piece flagged the importance of high turnout before any English-language press accounts did. But there are other insights about the election, particularly regarding Alternative fur Deutschland, that are valuable.

By Mathew D. Rose, a freelance writer based in Berlin

Last weekends German elections contain some rather interesting developments. Just as intriguing is how these are being interpreted by German media.

The real surprise of the three German state elections on Sunday was the number of people who voted. There was an impressive surge. Under normal circumstances one would have expected the number to have been around 60 percent in the two western states (Baden-Wuerttemberg and the Rhineland Palatinate) and less than 50 percent in Saxony-Anhalt, formerly part of the German Democratic Republic. Instead voter participation leaped to round 70 percent in the first two and over 60 percent in Saxony Anhalt, an increase of almost 20 percent in comparison to its last state election.

In other words this was an election characterised not by resignation, which has been the trend in German politics for years, but of political mobilisation. This development can be written down to a single factor, the ultra-right party Alternative for Germany (Alternative fur Deutschland  AfD). Strip their votes out of the results and there would have been the expected decline in the number of voters. The results of the AfD are impressive. In Saxony Anhalt they received nearly a quarter of the votes cast (second place), in Baden-Wuerttemberg 15.1 percent (third place) and in the Rhineland Palatinate 12.6 percent (third place).

Another party that did well in the elections is the AfD of the wealthy, the Liberals (FDP). Actually a party of institutionalised corruption (Pay us and we will pass any law you wish, sell you a state company or give you a public contract), it has shadowed many policies of the AfD closely, attracting those voters who do not wish to be identified with the raucous with the AfD.

For the established parties represented in the Bundestag the elections were a disaster, which three of them are trying to ignore, as they each won one of the state elections. The Greens triumphed in Baden-Wuerttemberg, while Merkels Christian Democratic Union (CDU) lost almost a third of their votes and the Social Democrats (SPD) almost half. In the Rhineland Palatinate the SPD won. The CDU that looked to win the election, ended up losing ten percent of its voters. The Greens lost two thirds of theirs. In conservative Saxony Anhalt the CDU was first, although obtaining 10 percent fewer votes than at the last elections. The SPD lost over half of its electoral support, the Greens a quarter and the Left Party (Links) a third.

The second most salient surprise of the elections beside the voter mobilisation is the initial attempt by most of German media to interpret the elections results as a major victory for Germanys Chancellor Angela Merkel. One has to understand that in an authoritarian culture like the one in Germany the leader is not questioned. On the contrary, the more glaring the problems, the more lies need to be constructed. A typical example was former Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who was increasingly portrayed as a great statesman until it was revealed that he was a corrupt scumbag, something that German media still tries to forget, even actively revise.

So, how did Ms Merkel win these elections if her Christian Democratic Union party did so poorly? The story line goes so: the two leading CDU candidates, in Baden-Wuerttemberg and the Rhineland Palatinate, had distanced themselves somewhat from Ms Merkels refugee policy late in the campaign in the hope of stopping irate CDU voters from defecting to the AfD or FDP. CDU voters were so indignant at this affront to Ms Merkel, we are told by the hacks, that they did not vote for their own party. One does not criticise the leader. Proof is provided by the fact that the leading candidate of the Greens in Baden Wuerttemberg, who is extremely popular and a clever chap, said he supported Ms Merkels refugee policy (the Greens are more or less refugee friendly) and won. Furthermore, anyone voting for the Greens and SPD, as both parties claim to more or less support accepting refugees, was voting for Ms Merkel. Thus it was a landslide victory for the Chancellor, who apparently won round 80 percent of the votes, and unfortunately a defeat for her traitorous party blackguards. That the leading candidate in Saxony Anhalt had overtly distanced himself from Ms Merkel with regard to refugees very early on and won, is simply ignored. Welcome to German media.

So what do the elections mean then? First we have to look at the AfD and its shadow, the FDP. In German media the AfD is synonymous with neo-Nazis. In reality it is comparable with many other ultra-conservative parties in the EU. It too has a policy of racism, and like the others, has agitated aggressively against refugees entering their nation. There are without a doubt neo Nazis in the party, but many others as well. What is unique about the AfD is its economic policy. It is neo-liberal. It supports the EU, liberalisation of the economy as well as reducing government and taxes, especially for the rich, as does the FDP. This is unique for ultra-right populist parties in Europe  who at least do not say this openly.

This seems to be in contradiction with the people voting for the AfD. They are supposed to be the downtrodden: victims of German reunification and neo-liberalism. So why are they voting for the AfD? Firstly, this has a lot to do with anger and disappointment. It really does not matter what the party policy is, but what it stands for. If you ask supporters, they will mention refugees and the fact that the AfD is against the political establishment. That is enough, they look no further. This is nothing all that unusual in todays democracies.

Racism plays an important role in Germany as it is socially acceptable. In the past, when the Christian Union (today Ms Merkels party) the Social Democrats and the FDP were losing voters, they would initiate a synthesised campaign against immigrants. A typical motto was The boat is full, Germanys culture is threatened Muslims wearing headscarves in schools and universities should be forbidden (which became law in many federal states) or Crosses should be hung in classrooms. The AfD simply picked up on this tradition and ran with it. Racism was always here, maybe shrouded, but after two schnaps the beast is loose. Germans like to believe that following the Third Reich racism was exiled from their nation, but which society has managed that  except maybe the Germans in their odd perception of themselves?

What comes now is unclear. A political party based on hate like the AfD tends to have a short life. Parliamentary life is rather bureaucratic and routine. Fiery speeches become humdrum after a while (and they will surely be ignored by German media). Many of these parties, with little parliamentary experience tend due to disappointed expectations to eventually eviscerate themselves. That will depend on party discipline. For the FDP it is simple. They just want to get rich. The AfD will be hoping that developments, such as a failing German economy, Greeces debts having to be financed by the German taxpayer or refugees, provide them with new opportunities to attack the German political establishment. Those parties only answer seems to be Ms Merkel Victrix and calling the AfD neo Nazis. As the elections proved, that may be inadequate.
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Here is another post full of hot takes on yesterdays primary results. For the Republicans, Im doing to look at the demise of Rubio (such a shame), and then at the remaining three candidates (Trump, Cruz, and Kasich) and the prospect of a brokered convention. For the Democrats, Florida and North Carolina being Clinton blowouts, Im going to look only at the results in Ohio, Illinois, and Missouri, which might have been expected to be yield Michigan-style results for Sanders, but did not, though Illinois and Missouri were far, far closer than should be the case when the incumbent is virtually loved and the favorite is a stellar campaigner.

Little Marco

After losing his home state to Trump by twenty points, Little Marco dropped out. Nothing in his campaign became him like the leaving it; he gave a heartfelt speech (interrupted by a Trump heckler). What had not, it seems, been reported on is the dysfunction in the Rubio campaign, of which Politico gives a vivid retrospective:

Rubios strategy was always an inside straightoverly reliant on a candidates ability to dominate free national media in order to outperform, outwit and eventually outlast a wide field of rivals. It was sketched out by an inner circle of advisers who believed they could eschew the very fundamentals of presidential campaigning because they had a candidate who transcended. Thats exactly what happened in 2016; it just turned out Rubio wasnt the one transcending. So while other campaigns touted shock and awe fundraising networks and precise, psychographic analytics and voter targeting operations, Rubios tight-knit group of mostly 40-something bros believed wholeheartedly that they didnt need a specific early-state win. They didnt need a particular political base. They didnt need to talk process. They didnt need a ground game. They didnt need to be the immediate front-runner. All they needed was Marco. The campaign spared no expense in setting up events to be television-friendly. There were invariably press risers, tidy backdrops and television lighting to portray Rubio, quite literally, in the best imaginable light. But one of the things [campaign manager Terry Sullivan] seemed least interested in was field offices. The campaign would force volunteers and supporters to pay for their own yard signs, posters and bumper stickers.

No!

Rubio seemed to agree. In August, he was due to open his Iowa state headquarters the morning after flipping pork chops at the state fair, but he bailed at the last minute. The reason: heading back to Florida for his childrens start of school. The grand opening would be delayed for 10 days, and it would occur without Rubio. He wouldnt announce a state director to run operations in the crucial caucuses for another month.

Pardon the length of the quote, but my goodness! The schadenfreude![1] Whats interesting is that Rubios demise also signals the demise of the Republican reboot that was supposed to happen after Romneys loss to Obama in 2012:

Since Mitt Romneys devastating loss in the 2012 presidential election, the Republican National Committee and leading voices at think tanks, editorial boards and Capitol Hill symposiums have charted a path back to the White House based on inclusive rhetoric and a focus on middle-class issues. Nobody embodied that vision better than Rubio, a charismatic standard-bearer for conservative orthodoxy who readily embraced the proposals of the rights elite thinkers. The senator from Florida spoke urgently and eloquently about raising stagnant wages and eradicating poverty. He had an immigrants tale to match the rhetoric. And on foreign affairs, he was a passionate defender of the GOPs hawkish tilt.

The rights elite thinkers. Sad! Lets move on.

Mr. Trump Goes To Cleveland

Here are the Republican results in tabular form from the Wall Street Journal:

As you can see, Trump almost swept the board; Kasich won Ohio, and Cruz won enough not to have to drop out. The issue is whether Trump reach the magic number of 1237 delegates, or whether the convention will be contested and end up brokered in a smoke-filled room full of Republican establishment types. (To be fair, Lincoln came into the 1860 convention trailing, and left, the nominee.) Note that the only establishment Republican left in the race is Kasich (rhymes with basic), the weakest. Vanity Fair:

If the threat level of Trump is the first thing to considerand it remains difficult to estimate, with much of the press devoted to a pre-set narrativethe second thing to think through is what happens if Republicans take Douthats advice to come together at the convention this summer to deprive Trump of the nomination. Its not necessarily a recipe for war. If Trump were to slip into second or third place for the last couple of months of the race, winning only 1,000 of the 1,237 delegates required, then a contested convention would probably feel legitimate, as would a non-Trump outcome. On the other hand, if he finished up with the required number of delegates, or close to it, an anti-Trump heist would mean mayhem. Technically, all sorts of maneuvers exist to deprive Trump of the nomination, and wonks can read the amazing Sasha Issenberg piece that lays them out. Politically, though, a brazen anti-Trump heist would be close to impossible.

(Newsweek has a good outline of the convention process.) In this connection, its worth noting that Kasich, after gloriously winning his own state, hired staff with contested convention skills. The Columbus Dispatch:

The Kasich team already is laying the groundwork to win a strenuously contested convention when Republicans gather about 15 miles from the site of his victory celebration. Tuesday night they announced the hiring of a quartet of nationally known operatives, including two who worked on opposite sides in the last contested GOP convention in 1976. The rules committee will be all powerful, said Kasichs top campaign strategist, John Weaver. Thats a 112-member panel chosen later this year by each state delegation that can decide, for example, how many ballots delegates must remained pledged to to support their candidate  if any. Kasich will bid for the top spot even though he might remain behind both Trump and Cruz in the delegate count. This (a brokered convention) happened eight times before in American history, and six times the people who had the most delegates didnt win their partys nomination, Weaver said. The grassroots delegates, activists, party leaders will make a decision about who the nominee is.

Meanwhile, Trump says Wed have riots. And Paul Ryan just opened the door to being a compromise nominee by refusing to make a Sherman statement. Pass the popcorn.

Clinton vs. Sanders

Here are the Democratic results in tabular form from the Wall Street Journal. These are not winner-take-all-states; delegates are allocated proportionally. So winning a state is a nice-to-have; winning delegates is have-to-have.

First, Ill look briefly at the campaign results in Ohio, Illinois, and Missouri, in that order. Ill use local sources, and youll note that Illinois and Missouri are a lot less triumphalist than the national press. Youll also see that each race was different! Then, Ill present county maps for each of these three states. Next, Ill look at the exit polls. Finally, Ill look at where the Sanders campaign goes from here.

A summary of the results in Ohio, from the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Hillary Clinton dominates Bernie Sanders in Ohio from Lake Erie to the Ohio River (map) The 56 percent of the vote she picked up bettered her performance eight years ago, when she defeated Barack Obama in Ohio, 54 percent to 45 percent. Clintons strongest showings were in three of the larger counties in the state. She picked up 64 percent of the vote in Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), 60 percent in Hamilton County (Cincinnati) and 59 percent in Montgomery County (Dayton). Sanders ran strongest in Athens County, home to Ohio University. Sanders won 61 percent of the vote there. Sanders also did well in four smaller northwest Ohio counties, including Wood County, home to Bowling Green State University. Sanders won 54 percent of the Wood County vote.

And from the Cleveland Patch:

Polls showed Sanders, hoping to ride a wave of discontent over the loss of manufacturing jobs that once gave Ohio one of the strongest economies in the nation, was narrowing in on Hillary Clintons lead as voting began Tuesday. Forecasts predicted a margin of less than 20% between Clinton and Sanders in the state.

In the end, Clinton won by 13 points, which isnt 20. But still.

Illinois, from the Chicago Tribune:

Clinton ekes out win over Sanders in Illinois Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton pulled out a narrow win Tuesday night as she held off a late surge by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to secure a hard-fought victory in the state where she grew up. Sanders quick close on Clinton in Illinois mirrored his surprise come-from-behind victory in Michigan. A Chicago Tribune poll conducted March 2-6 showed Clinton with a sizable lead, 67 percent to Sanders 25 percent. But in the final days leading up to Tuesday, national polls showed the race tightening, and exit polls for major cable news and TV networks showed late-deciding voters in Illinois breaking for Sanders over Clinton.

So in Illinois, Clinton blew another lead. And from the Springfield Daily Herald:

Clinton squeaks past Sanders Park Ridge native Hillary Clintons campaign was dealt a bit of a psychological blow Tuesday as her projected victory over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders came down to the wire in her home state. Despite Clintons strong campaign organization, deep pockets and wide array of party leaders among her supporters, a growing sense of frustration with the party establishment helped Sanders pick up votes. Clinton took early leads in suburban Cook and Lake counties. Sanders, meanwhile, had a strong showing in DuPage, Kane, McHenry and Will counties. He also exceeded expectations in Chicago, where he worked in recent days to erode Clintons stronghold of black voters support by tying her to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Finally, lets look at Missouri. From the St. Charles Patch:

UPDATE: Hillary Clinton With Razor-Thin Victory Over Bernie Sanders In Missouri Primary With all precincts reporting, Hillary Clinton defeated Bernie Sanders by less than one-half of 1 percent, or 1,531 votes, the office reported. A recount is possible. In the latest state poll, conducted by Fort Hayes State University, Clinton was in a statistical dead heat with her Democratic rival Sanders, who pulled off a stunning victory in Michigan last week.

So if the polls are to be believed, in Ohio Sanders had a modest surge, in Illinois he had a major surge, and in Missouri the race was tied. In Ohio, Sanders lost the state badly. In Missouri and Illinois, he almost pulled off the upset. Why?

For one answer to that question, lets look at the county maps. (One of the nice things about this election is that theres a lot of data, neatly presented. That doesnt compensate for the shrinking quantity of local coverage, though.) Here they are:

And I did say lets look, because I simply dont know these states well enough. What I am hoping, readers, is that some of you will know Ohio, Illinois, and Missouri well enough to make some educated guesses about why some counties voted for Sanders, and some for Clinton.

For a second answer to this question, we can look to the exit polls (I used CNNs). Most of the data is as we would expect: Sanders wins (most) youth, Clinton wins (most) blacks, and so on. However, when we look at income, heres what we see:

For Illinois, Missouri, and Ohio:

Constrast New Hampshire and Michigan:

Do you see the difference? In New Hampshire and Michigan, Sanders is winning the bottom of the income scale. But in Illinois and Ohio, the pattern is reversed, and in Missouri its weakened; Sanders skews to the top of the income scale. Obviously, if I were Sanders, Id find that concerning; a working class advocate not winning votes in the working class? Bad!

Im not sure why this pattern would be happening, but I can guess that Clintons message of lowered expectations is taking hold. As Gaius Publius recently wrote at NC:

Why do neo-liberal Democrats, like the Clinton campaign, not want you to have big ideas, like single-payer health care? Because having big ideas is resistance to the bipartisan consensus that runs the country, and they want to stave off that resistance. But thats a negative goal, and theres more. They not only have to stave off your resistance. They have to manage your acceptance of their managed decline in the nations wealth and good fortune. Again: The goal of the neo-liberal consensus is to manage the decline, and manage your acceptance of it.

We cant have single payer! (Even though Canada does.) We cant have tuition-free college! (Even though Germany does.) If Clinton has somehow managed to turn her incrementalism into a perceived defense of working class interests, thats just not good news for the Sanders campaign.

Finally, where does the Sanders campaign go from here. Well, as Gaius Publius has urged, the Ides of March are half-time. The second half remains to be played:

Because of the way the Democratic Party voting calendar is structured this year, Clintons largest lead will occur on March 15. After that, most of Sanders strongest states will vote. What this means is simple: Hillary Clinton will grow her lead until the March 15 states have voted.

Bernie Sanders will erase that lead  partly or completely  after March 15.

How much of Clintons lead he will erase depends on your not buying what the media is selling  that the contest is over.

In most scenarios where Sanders wins, he doesnt retake the lead until June 7, when five states including California cast their ballots.

Politico gives one scenario for how the second half might play out:

Despite their heavy spending in states that voted Tuesday, Sanders aides were privately projecting for days that their realistically their best shot was in Missouri. While they were hoping for a few surprises, they were prepared for a difficult night and looking ahead to Arizonawhere the Vermont senator campaigned Tuesday night without mentioning his big state lossesand upcoming caucuses in Idaho, Utah, Alaska and Washington. But Sanders campaign aides say theyll be able to keep Clinton from reaching the 2,383 delegate magic number shed need to clinch the nomination at the convention and, by being close enough, convince the superdelegates to switch, as some did when they changed from Clinton to Barack Obama in 2008.

My personal view, wholly unbacked by any evidence other than bitter experience, is that Clinton and the Democratic Establishment affirmatively do not want Sanders or Sanders voters. As neoliberas, they hate even a whiff of socialism, because markets, and more importantly they hate his small donor model, because it would lay waste to their personal networks in the political class, and deprive them of the pleasure of servicing squillionaires and suits. They want Trump as a nominee, at which point they will tack to the center, seek moderate Republican support, and throw the left under the bus. Were the girl youll take under the bleachers but you wont be seen with in the light of day, as Susie Madrak said to Axelrove in 2010, and thats still true today. Thats all the more reason for Sanders to keep on, to make that dynamic crystal clear.

In addition, there are policy-based reasons for Sanders to stay in the race. The New Republic:

As long as Sanders is in the race, though, Clinton cant take her left flank for granted and shift rightward in anticipation of the general election; doing so would risk embarrassing losses to Sanders. And the more delegates Sanders has, the bigger voice he will have in crafting the partys platform at this summers Democratic convention. But theres another reason for Sanders to stay in the campaign: Trump. Even if Sanders doesnt win the nomination, he can still use his campaign platform to influence how the Democrats respond to Trump. Trumps likely nomination gives Sanders a strong incentive to continue in the race not only to pull Clinton to the left on economic issues, but to argue that her pursuit of well-to-do Republicans is a mistake. This strategy would essentially cede the white working class to Trump, which is risky not only in immediate electoral terms but fraught with danger for the country. If Democrats dont make a pitch to win back the white working class, they will become ever more alienated and susceptible to the next Trump-style demagogue who comes around. Sanders-style economic populism offers a chance to peel away these voters from Trump, dooming any chance he has of defeating Clinton in November.

My personal view here is that the idea that the Democratic establishment will ever attempt to appeal to the bitter/cling to types that they threw under the bus in 2008 is highly unlikely; being Democrats, they dont express their hatred of the working class as viscerally as the National Review, but its simply foolish to think its not there.

Finally, we have Events, dear boy, events! The international financial system, not to mention the real economy, seems awfully fragile. You know not the day or the hour, but a second crash would sweep away all incumbents. And of course, there are any number of scandals that might take Clinton down, especially since Clinton has refused to release half of the email on her privatized server, and is being FOIAed for it. There are 236 days til the election. Thats a long time in politics.

Conclusion

My question has always been: What does victory look like? The conventional answer is being nominated for President.[2] But I think a standalone organization, like OFA could and should have been, is the far greater prize. The Sanders campaign has the platform. It has the organizers. It has the funding model. It has the mailing list. It has a big pile of money. Is there any particular reason for Sanders to fold, at all?

NOTES

[1] I did note, when I used my Magic Markers on Rubios announcement speech, that Rubio started to repeat himself. A verb, a noun, American exceptionalism.' But I could hardly have predicted how true that would be in the New Hampshire debate, or that Christie would call him on it, or that American exceptionalism would be the topic of Rubios robot-like repetition.

[2] Its possible that Sanders could run as an independent.
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On March 5, members and friends of the Bonita Springs-Estero Association of Realtors gathered at Ellie Drive in San Carlos Park to help construct the walls of a new home for Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties.

New office

Larue Pest Management Inc. has opened a satellite office located off Alico Road at 16750 Link Court, Unit 202, Fort Myers. Information: laruepest.com; 239-455-7023

Events

Brandon G. Phillips, founder and president of Global HR Research in Bonita Springs, will present at the April 7 Founder Talk event. Hosted by the Tamiami Angel Fund II, the "Inside a Startup" presentation will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Paragon Pavilion Theater in Naples. Information: www.Tamiami-e.co

The Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce will kick off the first of a seven-event lunch series at 11 a.m. April 20 at Artichoke & Company, 11920 Saradrienne Lane, Bonita Springs. Information: 239-992-2943; www. BontiaSpringsChamber.com

The Collier Building Industry Association will host its March mixer at 5:30 p.m. Marcch 30 at Monark Premium Appliances, 27180 Bay Landing Drive Suite 1, Bonita Springs. Information: monarkhome.com; Nancy@cbia.net; Ashley@BIA.net; 239-436-6100

Honors

The Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa was honored for the 17th consecutive year with the AAA Four Diamond Rating.

Appointments

DeAngelis Diamond Healthcare Group has added Senior Project Manager, Joshua Rhodes to its staff.

To submit your business news directly online, go to naplesnews.com/BIZwire or email news@naplesnews.com.
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Lori Sampson, principal with Myers, Brettholtz & Company, PA, Certified Public Accountants & Business Consultants, has been appointed to the Cape Coral expansion executive committee for the capital campaign to bring Gulf Coast Humane Society to Cape Coral.

Intech Printing & Direct Mail Inc. has added Rodney Held and Dale Haddad to the executive team. Held as chief executive officer and Haddad as chief financial officer.

New website

Wilbur Smith Attorneys at Law has a new website: www.wilburlaw.com.

Events

A free construction seminar, "Fundamentals of Construction Law: Building the Framework for a Home Construction Project, " will be presented by attorney Kevin F. Jursinski. It will be held at 9 a.m. March 24 at the Crown Plaza Hotel  Bell Tower, 13051 Bell Tower Drive, Fort Myers; and March 25 at Hilton Naples, 5111 U.S. 41 N. Information: http://www.kfjlaw.com/ seminars/

Volunteers sought

The Naples Chapter of SCORE, counselors to America's small businesses, is looking for volunteers to greet clients and answer the telephone at the office at 900 Goodlette-Frank Road in Naples. Information: https://naples.score.org; 239-430-0081

New business

Ingrid Goldberg has opened A-Plus Accounting Inc. on Fort Myers Beach. Information: 407-619-0180

Good deeds

Dr. Carlos Cuello, chief cardiologist at two Physicians Regional locations in Naples, is the first volunteer physician from the United States to visit Heartbeat International's new location in the Dominican Republic. In February, Cuello volunteered his time to assist with lifesaving heart care procedures for those who cannot afford them.

To submit your business news directly online, go to naplesnews.com/BIZwire or email news@naplesnews.com.
Southern rock's flame continues to burn bright throughout the world, with the first match lit in northeast Florida.

Jacksonville years ago became the birthplace of that genre of music. Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers led the way, with others including Molly Hatchet and .38 Special.

Members of Molly Hatchet  who perform Saturday night in Immokalee, along with the Tampa-based Outlaws  continue to expand into countries such as Bulgaria, Romania and Russia, said Bobby Ingram, lead guitarist and, at 30 years, the longest-serving member of the band.

"Molly Hatchet has always been, in my opinion, one of the harder-edge of the Southern rock bands," Ingram said Tuesday in a telephone interview.

"We push the envelope. And I think it's just because of our sound and what we're doing. The hard rock and heavy metal community in Europe has embraced the band."

Ingram grew up in Jacksonville, along with members of the first family of Southern Rock  the Van Zants, some of whom helped to form Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special. Ingram said he became friends with current Skynyrd lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant (younger brother of Ronnie, the original Skynyrd frontman who died in a plane crash in 1977) and Donnie Van Zant, who helped form .38 Special.

"We've all been friends for all our lives. We still live here," Ingram said. "It's home to us."

"Back then, we didn't call it Southern rock. We were just bands out having fun, playing music. We didn't know all this stuff would be coined later."

The term "Southern rock" originated the latter part of the 20th century, referring to a musical style of blue-collar boogie, blues and rock, mixed with lyrics about a Southern lifestyle that included drinking and relationships.

Yet Ingram said Southern rock style delves much deeper into life beyond the partying side of it. Molly Hatchet's hits include "Flirtin' With Disaster" and also "Dreams I'll Never See," a cover of the Allman Brothers hit, "Dreams."

"Dreams I'll Never See" opens with the lyrics: "Just one more morning I had to wake up with the blues/Pulled myself out of bed yeah, put on my walking shoes/Climbed up on a hilltop baby, see what I could see/The whole world was falling down baby, right down in front of me."

"We write about truth, honesty, friendship and family," Ingram said.

"And maybe that is the best description of Southern rock, the taking of people's lives  good times, bad times, the triumphs and heartbreaks  and we incorporate it into music and that relates. And maybe that's why Southern rock through the years is what people go home to, what people relate to, what people hold dear to them."

Molly Hatchet later this year will release a double-disc live album recorded in Switzerland and Germany. And the band plans to return to the studio in June to record another album in Sofia, Bulgaria, said Ingram, a second-year law school student.

Ingram said he's looking forward to the Saturday show in Southwest Florida.

"We're bringing the party to town, man," he said. "We're going to have a lot of Southern rock 'n' roll, and we're going to go wild. "

IF YOU GO

MOLLY HATCHET AND THE OUTLAWS

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

Where: Seminole Casino Immokalee, 506 S. 1st Street, Immokalee

Cost: $25

Information: seminoleimmokaleecasino.com or 239-658-1313

tICKETS GO ON SALE

Comedian and actress Amy Schumer returns to Southwest Florida after four years.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday for her 8 p.m. Saturday, May 14, show at Germain Arena in Estero. They range from $47 to $97.

Schumer, 34, last performed standup in Southwest Florida in 2012, at Off The Hook Comedy Club on Marco Island. The venue has since moved to North Naples, off Vanderbilt Beach Road.

She has appeared in films in recent years, including the hit "Trainwreck" last year.

TICKETS REMAIN

ArtisNaples, artisnaples.org and 239-597-1900: Branford Marsalis, 8 p.m. through Saturday. From $32.

Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, bbmannpah.com and 239-481-4849: comedian Brian Regan, 7 p.m. April 24, all seats $44.93; Styx, 7 p.m. May 10, $45.75 to $105.35; Weird Al Yankovic, 7 p.m. June 5, $42.75-$85.15

Germain Arena, Estero: germainarena. com: Chase Rice, 8 p.m. April 14, from $30.

American Airlines Arena in Miami: Selena Gomez, 7:30 p.m. June 11, $36.50-$96.50.

BB&T Center, thebbtcenter.com: Twenty One Pilots, 7 p.m. July 2, $30.75-$40.75

Amway Center in Orlando, amwaycenter .com: Selena Gomez, 7:30 p.m. June 10, $49.50 to $79.50; Justin Bieber, 7:30 p.m., $47.50 to $112.50, excluding fees; Twenty One Pilots, 7 p.m. July 1, $23 to $43; Maroon 5, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9, $28.50 to $123.50

Hard Rock Live Orlando, hardrock.com/live/locatons/orlando: Joe Satriani, 8 p.m. Friday, $23 to $53.

MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre, amphitheatretampa.com: Steely Dan and Steve Winwood, 7 p.m. June 30, $39 to $139.

Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach, amphitheatre-fl.com: Steely Dan and Steve Winwood, 7 p.m. June 29, $39 to $139.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks during a Republican primary night celebration rally at Florida International University in Miami, Fla., Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Rubio is ending his campaign for the Republican nomination for president after a humiliating loss in his home state of Florida. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

March 15, 2016, might go down in history as the day Marco Rubio's presidential aspirations ended.

But a more accurate date might be April 17, 2013.

That's the day he joined seven other U.S. senators to introduce the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.

More than any other issue, immigration, specifically Rubio's support of what was widely branded as amnesty for undocumented immigrants, undid his chances.

Rubio was a tea party darling of the right in 2012, when he beat Gov. Charlie Crist for a Senate seat. But his support of the so-called "Gang of Eight" bill so angered his erstwhile supporters that they still are fuming about it nearly three years later.

Outside the Republican candidates' debate last week in Coral Gables, demonstrators still stinging about the 2013 bill outnumbered Rubio supporters.

As he announced the end of his campaign Tuesday evening, Rubio said no one understands the nation's broken immigration system better than he.

But the "Gang of Eight" bill and its comprehensive approach to immigration reform drove a wedge between Rubio and his conservative base.

At the same time, it provided a platform from which Donald Trump sprang to contention.

Trump's simple  some would say simplistic  promises to build a wall and deport anyone in the country illegally scratched the itch of millions of voters fed up with years of lax enforcement and empty promises to do more. He was able to parlay the issue into an anti-establishment movement.

Rubio's cooperation with Senate leaders from both parties on the "Gang of Eight" bill attached his name permanently to that establishment.

The immigration-based angst over Rubio's candidacy has shown up in primary results, most devastatingly Tuesday in his home state of Florida.

Naples mayor

How unpopular was Mayor John Sorey?

So unpopular he didn't win a single one of Naples' seven precincts and finished last among the three candidates in six of them.

Former and future Mayor Bill Barnett voted with Sorey almost all the time the two shared on the City Council, but his comfortable, easygoing style contrasts with Sorey's dogged determination to get action.

Clearly, Neapolitans prefer the former to the latter.

Money raised

There is much hand-wringing about the influence of money in politics.

Even more so about the influence of outside money in politics.

There was plenty of both in play in Tuesday's local elections.

Sorey had raised more than $179,000 through March 10 and spent $125,000 of it in his re-election campaign.

Barnett, challenging Sorey, had spent $94,000 of the $119,000 he'd raised heading into the final weekend.

Going back to at least 2004, no one had raised more than $100,000 to win the mayor's seat.

The Naples City Council races, with six candidates vying for three seats, produced some impressive fundraising totals.

Candidate Reg Buxton raised more than $41,000. Ellen Seigel raised over $46,000.

More than $20,000 of Seigel's haul came from about 80 donors listing addresses outside Southwest Florida. No other candidate had more than a handful of such donations. Seigel donors hail from New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and from Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton on Florida's east coast.

In Bonita Springs, outside money took a different form via PAC efforts supporting successful mayoral candidate Peter Simmons.

Mailers and radio spots paid for by a group called the Committee for Effective Representation called on voters to back Simmons.

The Committee for Effective Representation is based in Tallahassee and draws its financial support from business interests including Associated Industries of Florida, a lobbying group that touts itself as "The Voice of Business." Since its inception in 2012, the committee has collected about $784,000, state records show. Florida Crystals Corp. contributed $104,500 and U.S. Sugar $5,000 in 2013.

The latest campaign finance reports show the group spent about $20,000 on Feb. 24 on mailers and telemarketing.

On his own, Simmons raised almost $60,000 through March 10, while his chief opponent, Steve McIntosh, raised just over that amount.

The PAC money spent on Simmons behalf, with more late-campaign disclosures sure to come, gave him an edge in the money race.

It also might have violated the spirit of the city charter, which says candidates shouldn't spend more than a little over $2 per voter, about $70,000 in this year's race.

But neither Simmons nor the city charter can regulate what a PAC chooses to spend.

For all the worry about money and outside money, it's important to remember that money in politics is a form of free speech. If you think a candidate is the best person for the job, you have a right to say so, and to use any medium you choose to say it.

That freedom isn't bound by geographic limits.

The best remedy for whatever problems are created by money is transparency. Knowing where candidates' support comes from and judging their performance accordingly is preferable to trying to limit people's right to express their opinions.

Connect with Brent Batten at brent.batten@naplesnews.com, on Twitter@NDN_BrentBatten and at facebook.com/ndnbrentbatten.
<p>Sakura Buffet opened Sept. 6, 2015, in Cameron Commons retail center on Immokalee Road just east of Collier Boulevard. Photo by Tim Aten</p>

Tim Aten In The Know SHARE Sakura Buffet opened Sept. 6, 2015, in Cameron Commons retail center on Immokalee Road just east of Collier Boulevard. Photo by Tim Aten Three different dining areas are available at Sakura Buffet opened Sept. 6, 2015, in Cameron Commons retail center on Immokalee Road just east of Collier Boulevard. Photo by Tim Aten Patrons are greeted by a lighted bubble wall at Sakura Buffet, which opened Sept. 6, 2015, in Cameron Commons retail center on Immokalee Road just east of Collier Boulevard. Photo by Tim Aten Hibachi grill selections are available at Sakura Buffet, which opened Sept. 6, 2015, in Cameron Commons retail center on Immokalee Road just east of Collier Boulevard. Photo by Tim Aten

Help yourself to Sakura Buffet, which debuted Sunday in North Naples.

The all-you-can-eat Japanese buffet includes a sushi sashimi bar, hibachi grill items, Asian hot food, seafood and desserts. The 100-seat restaurant moved into a 3,400-square-foot space near the middle of the new Cameron Commons retail center on Immokalee Road just east of Collier Boulevard.

Patrons are greeted by a lighted bubble wall when they walk in the door, a surprise element that creates anticipation for what is yet to come. Tables and booths are split into three distinct dining areas featuring sleek designs bathed in a calming blue light.

I want people here to be enjoying, relaxed, enjoying with their eyes, enjoying with their stomach, said Lin Lin Wang, a longtime Naples resident who owns Sakura Buffet and also operates the China Gourmet takeout that she opened in 2002 across the street in the Publix-anchored Shoppes of Pebblebrooke.

Although it shares a similar name, Sakura Buffet is not affiliated with or similar in concept to Sakura Asian Grill, which just opened this spring in Meridian Marketplace on the northeast corner of Pine Ridge and Livingston roads. Sakura Buffet also is independently owned and not associated with a chain or other buffet restaurants with similar names.

In Japan, cherry blossoms and cherry trees are called sakura, a national flower with special symbolic significance. The popular name is quite common, hence, its multiple use.

Sakura Buffet quietly launched over the weekend, but a few details are still being fine-tuned. For instance, tags individually labeling food selections were not ready Monday, but Wang promised they would be in place this week. The restaurant wont have a license to sell beer and wine until next week, she said.

Its not perfect yet. Its good now, but its not perfect. I have a lot of things to do to make it perfect, Wang said.

Buffet options are available from at least five different stations, one of which is a long display of sushi. Two islands feature hot items, and an area adjacent to the sushi display has a hibachi cook preparing food to order on a flat-top grill.

Of the endless buffet items, Wang expects the most popular will be coconut shrimp and sushi, expertly prepared by a team led by Chef Leo Lee. The restaurant offers both raw and cooked sushi, which will be clearly labeled, she said.

The buffet gives diners the opportunity to try a sushi roll they may have heard about or think looks good, but they dont want to spend a lot and order a serving at a traditional restaurant when they are not sure if they will enjoy it. The buffet lets patrons sample many different items.

Here, they pick out whatever they want, Wang said. You just eat all you can eat, but dont waste the food.

Wang, of Chinese descent and a longtime operator of Chinese restaurants, expanded her culinary reach to Japanese cuisine to provide local alternatives for Asian food and please her older daughter, who loves sushi. She thinks the buffet offers an alternative for families to enjoy sushi at a reasonable price.

Ive been here 20 years. Ive seen young people grow up, so I understand that, she said.

Flat rates are charged for the lunch and dinner buffets, but soft drinks, draft and bottled beers and wine are extra. Lunch prices are $9.95, but children age 6 to 10 are charged only $5.95, and age 3 to 5 only $4.95. Dinner is $15.95 Monday through Thursday and $17.95 Friday through Sunday. Dinner for children age 6 to 10 is $9.95, and $5.95 for children age 3 to 5.

After lunch ends in the late afternoon, the buffet is not available for at least an hour every day to prepare for the dinner buffet, which begins at 5 p.m.

You still can come in and relax and get a drink or get some beer for waiting or get something else, Wang said.

Sakura Buffet joins neighboring Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Cameron Commons, which has many more eateries planned to help satiate the growing appetite of nearby communities. The third area location of Pelican Larrys Raw Bar & Grill is targeted to open within the month at the eastern end of the center, and the second location of New York Pizza & Pasta is planning to open next door to Sakura before the end of the year.

Construction is set to break ground next week on a Starbucks outparcel, and two or three other major restaurants are planned next year in freestanding spaces in Cameron Commons second phase immediately to the east of the retail center, said Bill Young, senior associate for CRE Consultants.

Wang was interested in locating her restaurant in this area because of the current and expected growth.

Thats why I chose here. One of the reasons, she said. The second reason is because Im living here. The third reason: I have family, friends and a neighborhood coming here.

Sakura Buffet, 8855 Immokalee Road, units 6 and 7, is open for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The restaurant is open for dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 5 to 9:30 p.m. Friday through Thursday. For information, call 239-348-7313.

For the latest in local restaurants coming and going, see In the Know archived columns at naplesnews.com/intheknow, and on Facebook at facebook.com/timaten.intheknow.
By Arek Sarkissian

TALLAHASSEE  After three months of dodging questions about his silence in presidential politics, Gov. Rick Scott announced Wednesday his support for Donald Trump in his bid for the GOP's presidential nomination.

Scott wrote in a message on Facebook that Republicans should come together under one presidential candidate after Trump's victories in Tuesday's primary elections, including Florida.

"With his victories yesterday, I believe it is now time for Republicans to accept and respect the will of the voters and coalesce behind Donald Trump," Scott said.

The governor later wrote he thinks Trump would help spur job growth.

"Here's what really matters  we have to elect a Republican in the fall to grow jobs, rebuild our military, and put a person who respects the Constitution on the Supreme Court," Scott said.

Scott spokeswoman Jackie Schutz pointed all questions to the governor's Facebook post.

Trump thanked Scott on his Twitter account:

"Thank you to the Governor of Florida, Rick Scott, for your endorsement. I greatly appreciate your support!"

Scott's endorsement of Trump comes after Trump beat U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida in his home state, pushing the first-term senator out of the presidential race. Rubio suspended his campaign Tuesday night.

Until the Tuesday primary, Scott shrugged off questions about whom he planned to endorse.

After former Gov. Jeb Bush ended his campaign, Scott was asked a number of times whether he would endorse a candidate. Despite Rubio being the only Florida candidate still in the race, Scott later said he trusted the Florida voters and would not offer an endorsement.

On Wednesday, Scott told Fox News' Greta Van Susteren he would call as many people as possible to drum up support for Trump.

"I'm going to talk to everyone I can, just like I talked to my daughters this morning, and say, 'Let's think about what we want,' " Scott said. "The only way were going to do this is if we coalesce now and get behind (Trump)."

Scott also told Van Susteren he would not ask U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, or Ohio Gov. John Kasich to drop out of the race. He also would not say whether he was interested in a position within Trump's administration.

"I like the job I have now," Scott said, later adding he was frustrated by the federal government telling him "how to do my job."

Scott's interest in Trump first surfaced in a letter he wrote that was published Jan. 6 in USA Today. Scott wrote that Trump has captured the frustration Americans feel after seven years of President Barack Obama.

Call Daily News reporter arek.sarkissian@naplesnews.com or 850-559-7620
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By Liz Freeman of the Naples Daily News

Collier County is the second healthiest in Florida for the third year in a row, according to 2016 rankings by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The healthiest county is St. Johns County, and it has held that distinction since 2014. The least healthy this year is Gadsden County.

Lee County ranks No. 16 this year, which is an improvement from being No. 20 last year.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation looks at a number of health factors, such as longevity, premature death, babies with low birth weight and overall mental and physical health days.

Lifestyle habits such as adult smoking and obesity are considered, which both decreased by one percent in Collier since last year while physical inactivity increased by one percent, according to the data.

The adult obesity rate stands now at 19 percent and the smoking rate is 14 percent. The physical inactivity rate is now 18 percent.

The excessive drinking rate stayed the same both years at 18 percent in Collier.

Stephanie Vick, administrator of the Florida Department of Health in Collier, said the department is elated with the results that the county is the second healthiest.

"Where we live has a large impact on our health, and these rankings show that wellness is more than just health care," she said in a statement. "By taking small steps to improve our lifestyle choices in areas such as healthier eating, increased physical activity, tobacco cessation, safety, and prevention we can together make a big impact on the health of Collier County."

The teen birthrate dropped to 34 births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19 this year. In 2015, the rate was 39 births for the same group.

Dr. Allen Weiss, president and chief executive officer of the NCH Healthcare System, said the ranking validates a recent finding by Gallup-Healthways that Collier is the healthiest and happiest community in the nation, and another recent report that said it is the best place to retire.

Overall, Collier saw improvement in 18 measurements, 12 were unchanged and five worsened.

"We're still trending," he said, but added there is opportunity to improve.

The decline in teen birthrate is a noteworthy and was something the county and school system worked on.

"I hope that is cause and effect," Weiss said.

It is likely too early to say if any of the improvements can be attributed to the Blue Zones Project to improve longevity and make healthier lifestyle choices more readily available. NCH is underwriting the initiative that will span several years.

"I think we need a little more trending to see what is accurately happening," Weiss said.

Despite the Affordable Care Act which requires the uninsured to get coverage with some exceptions, Collier's uninsured rate increased from 28 percent last year to 30 percent in 2016.

Another unfavorable change is that 26 percent of Collier's children live in poverty this year whereas it stood at 24 percent last year.

"That worries me," Weiss said, adding that a recent speaker at a Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce said 37 percent of residents are one paycheck away from being impoverished.

In Lee County, the adult smoking rate dropped to 16 percent from 20 percent, the obesity rate stayed the same at 26 percent and the teen birthrate dropped to 37 births from 42 births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19. The child poverty rate declined one percent.

The third healthiest county is Sarasota, followed by Martin and Seminole, according to the rankings. After Gadsden as the least healthy, Union, Putnam, Madison and Hamilton also ranked in the bottom.

Overall, residents in rural counties have the poorest health with higher obesity, smoking and inactivity rates. Rural counties have seen rises in premature deaths and uninsured rates.

Vick said health promotion, disease prevention and control, and health policy are efforts that are shared among community partners and enables Collier to be the second healthiest.

To look at the rankings, go to www.countyhealthrankings.org.
By Joseph Cranney of the Naples Daily News

Bill Barnett, who has served three terms as Naples mayor, won a fourth Tuesday, beating incumbent John Sorey and City Councilwoman Teresa Heitmann.

Barnett received 4,350 votes, or 46 percent. That more than doubled the vote total of Sorey, who received 21 percent, or 2,019 votes. Sorey, who won an unopposed election in 2012, also finished behind Heitmann, who got 33 percent, or 3,091 votes.

In a brief speech at Cosmos Cafe & Pizzeria, Barnett stood on a bar stool and thanked his supporters.

"I was the underdog," Barnett said. "I love being the underdog."

Heitmann said the results show a large part of the community is unhappy with the city's direction.

"We won the minute we started campaigning," Heitmann said, surrounded by dozens of supporters at her Aqualane Shores home. "For someone who was supposed to be a contrarian and not have any support, I think we've gotten the issues out there."

At his campaign party at the Naples Beach Hotel, Sorey said he knew he lost after seeing the early absentee ballot and early voting results.

"It's over," Sorey said. "The voters have made their decision."

Sorey, who served one four-year term, congratulated Barnett and said he will stay involved in Naples

"I've been honored to be a mayor all these years," he said.

The city voters turned out in large numbers. Approximately 5,700 votes were cast through early voting or by mail. At least 4,200 voted Tuesday. The city's turnout rate, at approximately 62 percent, was a jump from turnouts in presidential primaries in 2012 and 2008. The city turned out 51 percent of its voters in 2012 and 56 percent in 2008.

The vote ended one of the city's most competitive and expensive races in recent memory.

Barnett, 75, and Sorey, 72, combined to raise close to $300,000, dwarfing the amounts raised by any Naples mayoral candidate on record. Most of the money was donated since September, when Barnett announced he was opposing Sorey.

That move came after a monthslong lobbying effort by local businessmen and politicians, who didn't approve of the job Sorey was doing and thought Barnett could do better. Barnett joined the mayor's race when he learned he would have the support of three sitting members of the council  Doug Finlay, Linda Penniman and Vice-Mayor Dee Sulick.

Penniman and Sulick volunteered for Barnett at voting precincts Tuesday, holding up signs and thanking people for voting. Finlay drove a 94-year-old voter to the polls who said he wanted to vote for Barnett, but couldn't get there.

In the backroom at Cosmo's for Barnett's viewing party Tuesday night, the first cheer came around 7:20 p.m., when the two TV's above the bar showed Barnett's 12-point lead after early voting and mail-in ballots were counted.

The Naples Daily News called the election for Barnett a little after 8 p.m. Barnett learned he won when a supporter handed him the news story on a cellphone. Barnett raised his right fist and yelled, "Where's my wife?"

The crowd of dozens started to chant, "Mayor Bill! Mayor Bill! Mayor Bill!"

Barnett was mayor from 1996-2000 and 2004-12. His decision to run for a fourth term, which came as he gave up his candidacy for another four years on the council, was a surprise to some.

"Both of us have our work cut out," Sorey, who served with Barnett on the council from 2004-12, said on Sept. 4. "I don't think Bill's ever had a real election. This will be a real election."

Less surprising was Heitmann's announcement in January that she was entering the race. She said her constituency was tired of the "good ol' boy network" and said she posed a viable alternative to Barnett and Sorey, noting their similar voting records.

Heitmann's eight-year term on the council was marked by dissension. She has sparred with the city manager and the city clerk over city business and the handling of city records. She often votes in the minority, and voted by herself more than all of the other council members combined since 2012.

Heitmann, 53, said she wouldn't run a major fundraising campaign. In two months, she raised about $20,000. Barnett raised more than $118,000 and Sorey raised close to $180,000. Barnett and Sorey's totals are the largest in a Naples mayor's race since 2000, as far back as the city keeps contributions records.

But in debates, Heitmann stood out when she consistently took different positions than Barnett and Sorey on hot-button issues like downtown redevelopment and the city's building and land-use plans. Heitmann seemed to win over an overflow crowd at the City Council chambers on Jan. 25, during the race's first three-way debate, when she took an impassioned stance against overdevelopment.

Barnett said his relationship with Sorey has been "damaged," but said he would like Sorey and his wife, Delores, to stay involved. Barnett noted their participation on the design of Baker Park.

"The campaign's over," Barnett said. "Had it been the other way, we would have shaken hands and we would have moved on with the business of the city."

Reporters Maria Perez and Greg Stanley contributed to this report

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RELATED STORIES:
Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks during a Republican primary night celebration rally at Florida International University in Miami, Fla., Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Rubio is ending his campaign for the Republican nomination for president after a humiliating loss in his home state of Florida. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

By Arek Sarkissian of the Naples Daily News

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a first-term Florida senator once a rising Republican star, ended his presidential campaign Tuesday after a trouncing in his own state and a series of losses this primary season across the country that doomed his higher ambitions.

"It is not God's plan that I be president in 2016 or maybe ever," Rubio told a crowd of supporters in Miami.

Rubio came in second in Tuesday's Florida GOP primary with 27 percent of the votes behind Donald Trump, who earned 46 percent of the vote. A loss of such a size in Florida is devastating for Rubio, who won his Senate seat in 2010 just short of a majority with 49 percent of the vote in a three-candidate race.

"It's a stunning loss for Florida's junior senator," said Carole Jean Jordan, the former chairwoman of the Florida Republican Party. She said what was spent in advertising against Trump for the end result was impressive, adding, "He just has a huge lead. You'd have to be foolish to think Trump's not going to be the nominee."

Rubio's decision to suspend his campaign was prompted by losses in all but three of the presidential nomination contests, but Florida's winner-take-all primary proved the most devastating. Only six years earlier, he was a tea party favorite who crushed the GOP's "establishment" candidate, Charlie Crist, to win a seat in the U.S. Senate.

"It's not shocking, but I didn't expect it to come tonight," said Kyle Foley, a GOP media consultant from Orlando. "I didn't think there was a shot a week ago, but once you lose your own home state, the narrative is there to tell you that there's no chance."

Foley, along with other Florida Republicans and Rubio supporters, noted the road for Rubio to the party's nomination was difficult, and some said he should have considered dropping out earlier.

Tallahassee-based GOP strategist Mac Stipanovich said Rubio should have followed former Gov. Jeb Bush's lead after he dropped out following the South Carolina primary. Rubio could have preserved his political reputation in his home state, Stipanovich said.

"In that regard, (Bush) may have been pretty wise," Stipanovich said. "Certainly, it's not good in the short or long term to get waxed in your own state."

Rubio's loss left one supporter questioning whether he would continue to support the Republican Party. Longtime GOP strategist and die-hard Rubio supporter Jacob Perry said he briefly thought of leaving the party altogether.

"I'll say I'm suddenly at the thought of casting my last Republican vote today," said Perry, of Stuart. "I won't have anything to do with Trump."

Tallahassee-based lobbyist Nick Iarossi, a Rubio supporter, said even if Rubio knew the odds were not good, he owed it to his home state to run in its primary.

"I would have looked at it as quitting before your home state," Iarossi said. "I much more respect a man who, knowing he's going into a tough battle, and he is willing to go into that tough fight even if it hurts his brand or his future."

One of Rubio's political allies from his eight years in the Florida House of Representatives said he would stand behind him despite the loss. Martin County Sheriff William Snyder, who had been picked by then House Speaker Rubio to become House Criminal Justice Committee Chairman, said Rubio's message of the country's future did not match the anger and frustration among GOP voters that draws them to Trump.

"I've lost plenty of races and there are some times when it's just not your time," Snyder said. "I know him and I will do anything to support him just like any cop would do when another one of us is in trouble."

Contact Daily News reporter arek.sarkissian@naplesnews.com or 850-559-7620

Washington correspondent Bartholomew Sullivan and the Associate Press contributed to this report.

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By Ryan Mills of the Naples Daily News

Donald Trump steamrolled through Florida and over Sen. Marco Rubio on Tuesday, winning 46 percent of the statewide Republican vote and dominating conservative Collier and Lee counties in the presidential primary.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton won a commanding victory over Bernie Sanders with nearly 65 percent of the vote.

Trump's crushing victory dashed the hopes of Rubio, who had been banking on winning his home state's 99 delegates in the winner-take-all primary. Instead, Rubio suspended his campaign after collecting only about 27 percent of the Florida vote and losing every county other than his home, Miami-Dade. He said his efforts played to optimism in a year of anger.

"After tonight, it is clear that while we are on the right side, this year we will not be on the winning side," Rubio said in a 12-minute speech from his campaign headquarters in Miami.

Trump was also triumphant in Illinois and North Carolina on Tuesday, but he was in a tight race with Cruz in Missouri and he lost Ohio to Gov. John Kasich. Rubio placed fourth in each of those states.

Trump said his campaign is attracting disaffected Democrats, independents and people who have never voted before. Now, he said, it's time to unite the Republicans.

"We have to bring our party together, we have to bring it together," Trump said. "We have something happening that actually makes the Republican Party probably the biggest story in the world."

In Collier, Trump won 46 percent of the vote  and every precinct  with Rubio far behind at 24 percent. Trump won 48 percent of the Lee vote, Rubio 22 percent. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz took third in both counties with under 20 percent.

"Personally, I'm tired of politicians stealing our money," said George Schmidt, 60, a Trump supporter who celebrated with red wine at a small Trump get together at Aqua Seafood and Steaks on Fifth Avenue South. "I think Trump resonates with voters when he wants to change things, and we're tired of the establishment. The Republicans won the House and the Senate, and they didn't do anything with it. I think people are fed up with it.

"Let's see what happens when we have a businessman in there."

Clinton won 66 percent of the vote in Collier County and 63 percent in Lee County. In addition to winning Florida, she swept the contests Tuesday with victories in Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio.

With strong ties to Miami's Cuban community and an inspirational up-by-your-bootstraps family story, Rubio had long pinned his hopes on victory in Florida. The need to win here became all the more crucial when he underperformed in nearly two dozen earlier primary states  he won only Minnesota, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico.

But polls dating back to August had predicted a big Trump victory in Florida.

Rubio had hoped to catch a gust of wind in an effort to sail past Trump in always important Florida, and use that victory to propel him forward through the rest of the primary season. However, he never really regained his footing after a robotic debate performance before the New Hampshire primary. A last-ditch effort to take on Trump through an ugly bit of schoolyard taunting  a tactic he late apologized for  may have done more to harm his own sunny persona than Trump's.

Sharon Phillips, a Naples libertarian, said she registered as a Republican so she could vote for Trump. He'll have more appeal in the general election than people may think, Phillips said.

"Things can't keep going the way they are," she said. "Political games are being played and Trump can just go in there and say, 'Game's over.' The middle class has been forgotten, Obamacare needs to be repealed. With China, North Korea and Russia, well, who would you want to face Putin?"

Rubio's strategy had echoes of New York Gov. Rudy Giuliani's failed bid to win the Republican nomination in 2008 by holding back in early primary states and decamping to Florida. Neither had momentum by the time the race got here.

MGay Hendricks, 65, of Estero, typified the plight of Rubio-leaning voters on Tuesday.

Hendricks, who voted Tuesday morning at Germain Arena, said she liked Rubio, but because he has done so poorly in earlier primary contests, she said, "he took himself out."

"My only option then was to vote for Donald Trump, so someone with a whole lot of clout in the Republican Party can defeat, I believe, Hillary Clinton," she said, calling it one of the most difficult elections in her lifetime.

Clinton has held a commanding lead in Florida's Democratic primary for months.

While the insurgent Sanders has kept the race close and won some upset victories around the country, the Real Clear Politics average of the last six Florida polls showed Clinton up by 28.9 percent.

During a victory speech Tuesday in West Palm Beach, Clinton said she is fighting for strong schools, good-paying jobs for the middle class and to defend the country, not embarrass it. She also took a swipe at Trump's calls to torture enemy combatants, build a wall along the southern border and deport all undocumented immigrants.

"That doesn't make him strong. It makes him wrong," she said. "We're not going to succeed by dividing this country between us and them."

Although she likes what Sanders has to say, Kathy Leshner, a retired teacher from North Naples, voted for Clinton.

"I believe in Democratic principles, and I think she has the best shot to win the election," she said.

Juliana Griffin, 36, of San Carlos Park, voted for Sanders because, she said, "the others are evil." She called Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, "the less of the evil," though she expects Clinton will eventually win the nomination.

"It's doubtful Bernie is going to win," she said, "but you can only hope."

Staff writers Greg Stanley and June Fletcher contributed to this report.
Where to give, get supplies, help in Collier County after Hurricane Ian
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Race for White House

The Florida and Ohio votes in Tuesday's presidential primary all but sealed the November matchup between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, even before Sen. Marco Rubio announced he was dropping out of the presidential race.

Rubio's defeat in his home state wasn't surprising, given his attention to the presidential race at the expense of the job he was sent by Floridians to the nation's capital to do and his expressed lack of interest in continuing on in the U.S. Senate.

Floridians previously saw one of their elected leaders decide to prematurely seek higher office, with Republican turned Independent turned Democrat Charlie Crist  and they didn't take kindly to it when Crist sought another gubernatorial term.

Rubio made the right decision Tuesday night to graciously bow out now rather than drawing out the inevitable, while sticking in his concession speech to his message of concern about a troubled Washington establishment.

Trump's huge margin over Rubio, about 45 percent to 27 percent, awards Florida's 99 delegates to Trump in a winner-take-all state. In the Republican hotbed in Southwest Florida, Trump's margin of victory was even larger in Lee County at 47 percent to 22 percent, and 45 percent to 25 percent in Collier.

Although Gov. John Kasich won Ohio's winner-takes-all 66 delegates over Trump, it simply means he did Tuesday what he was supposed to do that Rubio couldn't  win the home state. We also see it as a somewhat hollow victory in that it came with a plurality instead of a majority, with about 43 percent to 35 percent for Trump. In addition, some of that margin came from Rubio essentially throwing his anti-Trump support to the Ohio governor.

The question is whether Kasich can build on winning Ohio. With Trump's momentum, that's not likely.

The Democratic outcome was clear: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won both key states with about 65 percent of the vote. Among Southwest Florida Democrats, she won about 63 percent in Lee and 66 percent in Collier over Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Expect Florida to again move into the national spotlight in the November presidential race. If the 4.5 million registered Democrats and 4.2 million registered Republicans largely stick to party lines, Florida becomes a swing state to be decided by nearly 3 million voters registered without party affiliation or with a minor party.

Naples election

One of the first tasks ahead for Naples Mayor-elect Bill Barnett is to become a healing force after an election that became unexpectedly bitter.

Based on Barnett's amicable demeanor throughout his combined 24 years as mayor and a council member, we're sure he's up to the task.

Barnett won Tuesday with about 46 percent of the vote. That means the other 54 percent either preferred the get-things-done tactics of defeated current Mayor John Sorey or the neighborhoods-first approach of Councilwoman Teresa Heitmann. Her second-place finish at 32 percent should send the entire council a strong message that she has a significant constituency for her often dissenting views.

The three winning council members in a six-way contest  Michelle McLeod, Ellen Seigel and Reg Buxton  each has service on a city advisory board. They are ready to contribute immediately in moving forward with several important city projects under way.

Bonita Springs election

Close results in two of the three Bonita Springs races decided Tuesday weren't a surprise. Almost across the board, city voters had all winners to choose from on their ballot.

Fiscally conservative Councilman Peter Simmons won by about 800 votes, with 50.5 percent to Councilman Steve McIntosh's 45 percent. Other council winners were Assistant Fire Chief Greg DeWitt and political newcomer Amy Quaremba, whose victory was impressive with 49.7 percent against a business-backed candidate and a former council member.

Among this election cycle's crop of strong candidates in Bonita Springs, we hope we haven't heard the last of the next-generation leaders who didn't win Tuesday's election.
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Michael Zubrow, Naples

Kiss the ring

Both Sen. Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are making efforts to appeal to their base, so one will be the Democratic Party nominee.

Sanders is promising everything: free health care, free college education, forgiveness of all student loan debt. A question that comes to mind is "Who is going to pay for it?"

The trillions of dollars required don't just fall out of the sky. The payers of his plan will be every business, every employer and every employee. Yet, the benefactors of his socialist revolution will have nothing to pay until they attain some level of success in the real world and then they will be called upon to pay for everyone else.

As Margaret Thatcher said: "Socialism is fine until you run out of other peoples' money.

I give Sanders credit  at least he speaks honestly. Clinton never speaks the truth. This is family tradition  a mainstay of their rise to the elite class in the U.S. Polls validate the fact that she can't be trusted. She raises money from Wall Street billionaires and then criticizes them. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.

Yet her supporters continue to worship her. Madeleine Albright will be going to the netherworld for saying women aren't smart enough to think for themselves and if they don't vote for Clinton, they will go to hell.

Each candidate has detractors and supporters. What I cannot resolve is why each went to get the blessing of the No.1 race-baiter in the country; a man who owes millions of dollars in taxes (you and I would be in jail for much less), a man who spouts vitriol at every opportunity and whose only real connection to Martin Luther King is his race.
A new mini-facelift designed to lift facial tissue with fewer incisions and a quicker recovery time will be explained at a free seminar conducted by facial plastic surgeon Dr. Stephen Prendiville April 8 in Bonita Springs.



Dr. Prendiville created the Pre-Lift as an alternative to a full facelift. The procedure helps lessen the bands and sagging skin under the jawline while raising the cheek area and adding volume to the midface through the use of VolumaXC, an FDA-approved injectable gel that instantly adds volume to the cheek area.



The Pre-Lift will be discussed along with other procedures for rejuvenating the face at a seminar Dr. Prendiville will conduct Friday, April 8, at 11:30 a.m. at the Trianon Bonita Bay Hotel at 3401 Bay Commons Drive in Bonita Springs. A light lunch will be served. The seminar is free, but reservations are required by calling 239-437-3900. Space is limited.



This combination procedure has the advantages of fewer incisions, instant volume in the midface area and a somewhat quicker recovery, Dr. Prendiville said. Not every patient is a candidate, but many people are.



The Pre-Lift is most appropriate for men and women who have mild to moderate aging changes in the cheeks, jawline (jowls), and neck. Although there isnt a definite age range, most patients who qualify for this procedure are aged late 40s to mid-60s.



The Pre-Lift is one of several procedures, both surgical and non-surgical, that Dr. Prendiville will discuss at his All About Face seminar. Using before and after pictures of actual patients, Dr. Prendiville will discuss the latest advances in facelifts, eyelid lifts, nose surgery, lasers, and reconstructive surgery. He also will review injectable wrinkle fillers Botox, Sculptra, Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse and Voluma.



In addition to a light lunch, attendees will be able to make an appointment for a free consultation with Dr. Prendiville.



Dr. Prendiville is the only Fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon in Fort Myers who is certified by both the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology  Head and Neck Surgery. He has performed more than 3,000 surgical procedures during his 10 years of practice in Fort Myers.



He is recognized nationally as a facelift expert with more than 20 articles published in medical journals and he has served as guest editor for Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America.



In 2015, he was selected as one of 100 doctors in the nation to receive the prestigious RealSelf 100 Award from RealSelf, the leading online community that helps people make confident choices in elective cosmetic procedures. Dr. Prendiville has been a reviewer on RealSelf.com since 2008 and has now achieved Distinguished Member status for his responses to patients with questions about facial plastic surgery and skin rejuvenation techniques.



Dr. Prendiville is the past president and secretary/treasurer of the Florida Society of Facial Plastic Surgery, an association consisting of 250 facial plastic surgeons in the state.



Dr. Prendiville graduated with his M.D. degree with high honors from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and served his residency at Georgetown University.

He was awarded a Fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at St. Louis University in Missouri, where he was a clinical instructor in the St. Louis University Department of Otolaryngology.



All surgeries are performed at Dr. Prendivilles state-of-the-art Surgical Center adjacent to his office in South Fort Myers at 9407 Cypress Lake Drive, Suite A. The Surgical Center is accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (AAAASF), which is the largest accrediting body for outpatient surgical facilities in the United States. For more information about Dr. Prendiville, please visit his website at www.drprendiville.com.
Jennifers womens boutique is celebrating 33 years in business by giving back to local charities at monthly Fashion Forward Friday events. The Miles of Smiles Foundation will receive 5% of all sales from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 1. Shoppers will enjoy champagne and cupcakes and will receive 15% off all tops.



Miles of Smiles Foundation provides Equine Assisted Psychotherapy & Equine Assisted Learning programs for Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) & Enduring Freedom (OEF) veterans suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There is no charge to veterans in the program. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 11  20% of Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Some 68,000 veterans live in Lee County alone.



Miles of Smiles Foundation provides another avenue for veterans for treatment of PTSD, said Jennifer Williams of Jennifers. I am honored to support and bring attention to this worthy cause.



From 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. representatives from Decorating Den Interiors will be at Jennifers to provide information about their services and their spring theme of Harmony in Design. All shoppers will receive a gift and Decorating Den will give away two $200 gift certificates in a prize drawing.



Jennifers is located at 13451 McGregor Boulevard at Cypress Lake Drive (Cypress Square) and is open from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Call (239) 481-8582 or visit Jennifers online at jennifersfortmyers.com or at facebook.com/jennifersfortmyers.


The Collier County Sheriff's office is hosting an exhibit of ARTREACH paintings at their office at 3319 Tamiami Trail E. Collier County Courthouse, Naples. There will be an admission free open reception from 5 pm to 6:30 pm on March 17 in the Sheriff's Administration building on the 2nd floor in the Community Gallery.

At Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships we use our ARTREACH program to educate youth on the signs of human trafficking and empower them to be agents of change. We then exhibit their artwork in a variety of different venues so that their message can be heard.



Exhibiting the artwork is an important element of our ARTREACH program. The more people who see the paintings, the more they will understand the issues.


The Irish Defence Forces is widely regarded as a career less ordinary.

The Irish Defence Forces is widely regarded as a career less ordinary.

One becomes an integral part of an organisation where daily physical and mental challenges across many diverse fields are the norm.

Defence Forces personnel have presided over a number of peace support operations (mainly in the Middle East) since 1958, before becoming more predominantly present in many other parts of the world following the conclusion of the Cold War.

Comdt. Conor OShea, a native of the Glen of Aherlow, has recently returned home from a stint in Africa, where he was actively involved in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Based in MONUSCO Force Headquarters in the town of Goma, Comdt. O Shea was positioned as a Military Staff Officer, engaging with surroundings vastly different to his inherent Tipperary background.

The Congo trip was my fifth with the Defence Forces, having previously been to the Lebanon twice, Afghanistan and Chad, Comdt. OShea explained.

However, this was my first time being away from home since I got married, and I also have a young child, which brings with it many human challenges when abroad.

Goma is a dusty border town which is steeped in rich history.

In 2002, a nearby volcano called Mount Nyiragongo erupted, killing 45 people in the first 24 hours alone and destroying 30 per cent of Goma.

To this day Goma is still very basic in the sense that the roads are in extremely poor condition and water can come and go, Comdt. OShea continued.

We were three months without electricity. But the people are well used to the UN and foreigners, so from a security perspective I didnt feel any way nervous during my stay.

MONUSCO currently has a contingent of 19,815 military personnel, incorporating only four officers from the Defence Forces.

The 39-year-old said difficulties such as integrating ones self into such a multi-national environment was challenging, but very rewarding.

One issue for me was the language; they speak French with Swahili and a great deal of the people I worked with use French, he added.

Personally, I speak French which was useful, but I found that I improved my proficiency during the mission.

I was also communicating with people with different levels of training, different levels of education, diverse languages and computer skills. I had to combat all these challenges which were thrown at me.

Located on the northern shore of Lake Kivu, Goma is in close proximity to the Rwandan city of Gisenyi.

Following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and the formation of a new government in the country, some 1.2 million Rwandese Hutus  comprising elements who had taken part in the genocide  fled to the adjoining Kivu regions of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), formerly Zaire, an area occupied by ethnic Tutsis amongst others.

In 1996, a rebellion took place pitting the forces led by Laurent Desire Kabila against the army of President Mobutu Sese Seko.

Kabilas forces, assisted by Rwanda and Uganda, claimed the capital city of Kinshasa in 1997 and renamed the country the DRC.

Comdt. OShea, stationed in the Joint Operational Centre, was responsible for monitoring daily operations in both a military and civilian context. From an operational perspective, it was essential to deal with any incident that happened there and then, gathering up all the relevant information and compiling a report for the UN headquarters in New York in order to keep them updated, the former Aherlow GAA dual player noted.

But how do the locals view the workings of the mission today?

I believe the mission would struggle in places to convince the locals that its doing the work its supposed to be doing, Comdt. OShea said.

On a daily basis, there are atrocities being committed out in rural parts of the Congo, and the locals look at the vast resources of the UN and question how these killings continue to happen.

But its impossible to police a country the size of the Congo.

Nonetheless, Comdt. OShea is confident that the Defence Forces will retain their involvement in the Congo for the foreseeable future and hails his completion of the mission as a significant achievement in his career. The four Irish officers were also very fortunate to visit the area home to the tragic Niemba Ambush, which took place in November 1960, when nine of an 11-man Irish patrol were slaughtered by Baluba tribesmen.

This was followed by visits to the locations where the Siege of Jadotville took centre stage in 1961.

Irish military personnel had been ordered to protect the local population from the Katangan militia and mercenaries, but sustained casualties in the process. Being one of the only Irish people to have been back to these watershed locations topped off a very enjoyable and worthwhile experience, he concluded.
The Federal Housing Administration revised its proposed lender certification requirements on Tuesday in an effort to assure lenders they won't be penalized for minor loan defects or mistakes.

"The sum of these changes provide clarity to what lenders are certifying to and clearly define the kind of loan-level mistakes that we have no intention of pursuing in an enforcement action," said Ed Golding, the principal deputy assistant secretary for FHA.

The FHA set off a firestorm in September when it released a loan certification plan that appeared to make it easier for the Justice Department to pursue FHA lenders for minor loan defects.

Now, the FHA is trying to reassure nervous lenders that they won't be penalized for minor defects.

The final loan-level certification clarifies that FHA will only hold lenders accountable for "mistakes that would have altered the decision to approve the loan," according to a letter Golding issued Tuesday.

The new certification goes into effect Aug. 1.

FHA is also revising the annual lender certification that company executives are required to sign. This certification is aimed at making sure the company is not involved in fraud or other serious criminal or civil violations. That proposal will be issued for a 30-day comment period.

In issuing the new loan level certification proposal, Golding told reporters that FHA significantly revised the certification to alleviate lender concerns.

"Our goal is to make sure lenders make every effort to obtain accurate information and validate that information. At the same time, recognizing that errors sometimes occur," Golding said.

Over the past few years, almost any loan defect was considered a major defect, according to attorney Phillip Schulman, a partner at Mayer Brown in Washington.

"This is a response by HUD to the concerns by lenders that the definition of a loan defect was too broad," he said Tuesday.

The Justice Department released a blog that backed up the FHA's action, saying that it will "continue to be guided by the language of the" False Claims Act "that prohibits the submission of knowing and material false claims."

"In the FHA context, this means that no lender will face False Claims Act enforcement based on an unknowing mistake or an immaterial requirement," the department said.

The Justice Department's statement may not be reassuring to some lenders, however.

"If DOJ's past conception of materiality will be extended to the future, then we are no better off," said Laurence Platt, an attorney at Mayer Brown. "If, however, the DOJ, like HUD, defines materiality in terms of whether a defect in origination affected the eligibility of the loan for insurance, the industry will be in a better place."

But industry observers said the changes could have an impact, despite the lingering fears prompted by the Justice Department's statement.

"At first blush, the FHA's certification changes appear to meaningfully clarify lender liability which should be viewed as a positive development for mortgage credit availability but not a seismic shift as enforcement anxiety remains," wrote Isaac Boltansky and Amy DeBone, policy analysts at Compass Point Research and Trading, in a note to clients.

Meanwhile, some industry groups were taking a cautious approach to FHA's announcement. "We appreciate FHA's efforts to increase certainty in the underwriting and processing of FHA-insured mortgages, and on first review this language appears to be an improvement over the previous lender and loan-level certifications," said David Stevens, president and chief executive of the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro said the new loan certification proposal shows that FHA is committed to being a good business partner with lenders and opening the door to qualified borrowers with credit scores below 680.

"Now our partners know exactly what we expect when they do business with us," Castro told a National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals conference in Washington on Tuesday.

"And we hope to see more responsible Americans with average credit scores get that email message saying 'Congratulations, your mortgage has been approved,'" Castro said.

Kate Berry contributed to this story
It should have been no surprise that the Department of Housing and Urban Development's proposed 2017 budget, which Secretary Julian Castro unveiled last week, included yet another push for a sizeable increase in the Housing Choice Voucher program, the rent subsidy program for low-income tenants.

The proposed $1.2 billion addition would bring the share of HUD's $48 billion budget allocated for the voucher program to $20 billion. Devoting such a significant amount to rent subsidies overlooks a range of problems and complications that should give pause to those who would expand it.

HUD's increasing focus on rent subsidies represents a historic departure from the original concept of the agency  which was predicated on the belief that low-income neighborhoods, where the majority of those in poverty live, could be transformed into better neighborhoods.

Castro's proposal to increase funding to the Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8, was couched in the context of recent enthusiasm for using vouchers to "deconcentrate" poverty  to provide the means for poor households to move to more affluent areas where their opportunities might be better. A voucher budget increase, said Castro, "would provide 2.2 million families with the chance to move into neighborhoods with better schools, safer streets and more jobs  and stay there for the long term."

There is no doubt that the voucher program can lead to such an outcome  and that some families will be better off as a result. Indeed, that was the finding of 2015 social science research published by the Harvard economists Raj Chetty, Nathan Hendren and Lawrence Katz, who found that "low-income children are most likely to succeed in counties that have less concentrated poverty."

Notwithstanding Secretary Castro's emphasis on "moving to opportunity," the structure of the program itself creates incentives for voucher holders to cluster, not scatter. For instance, a 2014 study by Eva Rosen of Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies found that landlords whose units are in neighborhoods in which it's hard to find non-subsidized tenants are those most likely to turn to voucher tenants.

The result, the study found, is a "balkanization of the rental housing market that retains voucher holders where they can be most profitable to landlords  in the very neighborhoods policymakers would like to provide them with the opportunity to leave. Landlord tactics serve as a powerful mechanism in the reconcentration of poverty."

Put another way, property owners in better-off neighborhoods lack an incentive to rent to voucher holders  thus creating the possibility of replacing public housing towers with what Sen. Barbara Mikulski once called "horizontal ghettoes."

Moreover, rather than being a path up from poverty, the program Castro would expand may well encourage dependency, rather than upward mobility. HUD data shows that the typical voucher tenant has lived for nearly nine years in her unit. (Women, whether young single mothers or the elderly, predominate in the program. Two-parent families comprise but 4% of voucher tenants.)

The lack of any limit on how long a voucher holder can remain in the program means that waiting lists for the limited number of rent subsidies will inevitably remain long. It's worth noting the Census Bureau reports that of the 45 million Americans in poverty, more than half lived in "poverty areas" in 2010. The current $19 billion voucher appropriation supports a small proportion of such families  only 2.38 million voucher households, composed of 5.3 million individuals.

Secretary Castro would be well advised, if he is to convince a Republican Congress to increase the HUD budget, to be open to rules changes in the voucher program that would address its problems. Current rules, for instance, meant to protect tenants, actually discourage them from increasing their income. That's because a tenant's share of the rent is fixed at 30% of income; if their income goes up, so does a tenant's rent. It would be far better for voucher tenants to enjoy the same fixed-rate rent that other tenants do  and to keep their own money if they start to earn more.

Public housing authorities administer the voucher program and a small handful of them have moved to fixed-rate rent, while also setting a time limit for new voucher tenants. Both of these strategies are permitted through a small HUD regulation-waiver program called Moving to Work. Republican members of Congress would like to expand that program. It's just the sort of compromise Secretary Castro should consider if he's serious about pushing to increase the HUD budget.

Finally, HUD should not abandon its founding mission: to help ensure that poor neighborhoods are good neighborhoods. Notwithstanding the current fashion for "deconcentrating" the poor into higher-income neighborhoods, there are some cold hard facts that must be kept in mind. Convincing landlords in more affluent ZIP codes to accept voucher tenants would mean increasing the rent the government is willing to pay. That would require greater subsidies per housing unit, as rents are typically higher in higher-income neighborhoods. In turn, that would mean that fewer households could be supported with the same appropriation level.

Expanding the program to serve all those of low income currently living in neighborhoods of concentrated poverty would require an approximate five-fold increase in program size. Such a combination of program expansion and "deconcentration" would, moreover, risk backlash in higher-income neighborhoods, which would be asked, for instance, to bear increased education costs.

Low-income neighborhoods can have good schools  as the charter school movement is demonstrating. They can also provide good parks and recreation programs  and, with the right policing methods, can be safe. HUD was founded to help save America's cities. Now is not the time for it to give up that fight.

As founding HUD Secretary Robert Weaver (who was also the first African-American Cabinet secretary) said in 1965: "Our most critical domestic problem is improving the quality of urban life for all Americans. It is our goal to reconstruct the physical and social fabric of the American urban environment." In effect, the emphasis on Moving to Opportunity is an admission of defeat in the battle to improve high-poverty neighborhoods themselves.

Howard Husock is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute.
What's REALLY going on?

Have we learned nothing?

(NaturalNews) You may have heard or read about so-called "chemtrails" being sprayed in the sky , but others have discovered evidence of chemwebs with similarly sinister origins and designs. video posted Feb. 7 onattempts to explain what the chemwebs are, and where they are coming from.According to the video, which is from The HAARP Report, the webs aremolecules of various types which, when they get longer, form webs on the ground.As to why they are in existence, the video says that phthalates are able to block UV light better than any other organic acid normally floating around in the atmosphere. They are formed in cooling jet exhaust by a "vanadium catalyst in the jet fuel," says the video.In explaining why the program exists, The HAARP Report referenced a 2004 scholarly paper from Norway showing that phthalic acid is better at absorbing harmful UV light in the Earth's atmosphere. The video also cites scientific studies that indicate high exposure to phthalates by pregnant women can lower the IQ of the child, as well as having other negative health impacts. NaturalNews editor Mike Adams , the Health Ranger, published microscopic photos of the web-like fibers in November, after someone sent them to him. Adams examined and photographed the filaments in his forensic science lab , noting that the person who sent them reported this:"These filaments were as high as approximately 35' to 50' above the ground, gently floating from west to east. I didn't see any floating past me below the trees. The sky was blue and cloudless, except for some wisps of contrails or chem-trails. The previous 3 days in this area we were HEAVILY chem-trailed, especially at night."But if these are man-made "webs," what is the purpose of regularly distributing them in the skies above? Is it some sort of geo-engineering program, and if so, what is it for? What is the government attempting to geo-engineer?According to an editorial review on Amazon.com about the DVD what is occurring may well be something sinister:"By now everyone has seen crisscrossing streaks of white clouds trailing behind jet aircraft, stretching from horizon to horizon, eventually turning the sky into a murky haze. Our innate intelligence tells us these are not mere vapor trails from jet engines, but no one yet has probed the questions: who is doing this and why. With the release of this video, all of that has changed."Here is the story of a rapidly developing industry called geo-engineering, driven by scientists, corporations, and governments intent on changing global climate, controlling the weather, and altering the chemical composition of soil and water - all supposedly for the betterment of mankind. Although officials insist that these programs are only in the discussion phase, evidence is abundant that they have been underway since about 1990 - and the effect has been devastating to crops, wildlife, and human health."We are being sprayed with toxic substances without our consent and, to add insult to injury, they are lying to us about it. Do not watch this documentary if you have high blood pressure."Others claim that what is occurring is "solar radiation management," hence the use of phthalates to block UV rays. Even thehas discussed this concept, but claims it isn't a real one  yet  and that anyone who believes chemicals are being sprayed via plane exhaust is a lunatic conspiracy theorist (no surprise there).But the fact is, scientistsactively pursuing this kind of technology, if it doesn't exist already (and a number of scientists and scholars have come forth to say that it does). More than that, even theacknowledges that weather control research has gone on since the 1940s.It's hard to imagine that scientists have learnedin more than 70 years.
Latest in string of mishaps

Raises greater safety questions

(NaturalNews) U.S. biotechnology company AquaBounty has been ordered to pay nearly the maximum possible fine for multiple violations of environmental law in its experimental genetically modified (GM) salmon-growing operation in Panama.In response, the advocacy organizations Food & Water Europe, Food & Water Watch, the Center for Food Safety and Friends of the Earth U.S. called on the FDA to reject AquaBounty's pending application for the commercialization of GM salmon in the United States."The FDA has always assured the public that it is checking, monitoring and regulating AquaBounty's production platform to ensure that the company can mitigate the well-documented environmental impacts of escaped GM salmon," said Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Europe."We now know that AquaBounty is unwilling or unable to follow basic rules and regulations, and that the FDA is unable or unwilling to enforce them. It's time to put an end to this dangerous experiment."The AquaBounty salmon are Atlantic salmon -- the species of salmon that are farmed and are thus most commonly found in stores and restaurants -- that have had genes from eelpout and Pacific Chinook salmon inserted into their DNA. The company claims that these changes cause the fish to produce abnormally high levels of growth hormone and therefore grow as much as six times faster than usual.At the end of October, the Panamanian National Environmental Authority ruled that AquaBounty had violated a wide range of environmental safety rules, including failure to secure the proper water use and discharge permits. The violations were brought to the government's attention by national environmental group Centro de Incidencia Ambiental (Environmental Advocacy Center)."We are of the opinion that it [AquaBounty] has repeatedly violated the aforementioned environmental regulations," Panama's National Environmental Authority said, leveling a fine of US$9,500. This is just shy of the maximum US$10,000 fine permitted by Panamanian law.The regulatory slapdown is only the latest problem to plague AquaBounty's Panamanian operations, including the disappearance (and likely escape) of salmon during a storm, and a visiting journalist describing the facility as a "run-down shed."The latest news lends credence to long-standing accusations that AquaBounty selected a remote location for its facility as a way to avoid serious scrutiny. It also supports arguments that the FDA's regulatory approval process for the GM salmon is flawed.Under the current process, the FDA is considering only a single production scenario, as promised by AquaBounty: The company raises the salmon at a Panamanian facility, then sends fillets back to the U.S. This would be the first GM animal approved for human consumption anywhere in the world."One of the big reasons we are fighting the U.S. approval of GM salmon for food is the grave doubts surrounding the ability of either AquaBounty or the U.S. food system to keep these GM fish out of exports headed our way," said Eve Mitchell, EU food policy advisor for Food & Water Europe. She noted that, in contrast to European practice, GM foods are not even labeled in the United States.AquaBounty's failure to follow Panamanian law undermines the credibility of its promises to the FDA, critics said."If AquaBounty doesn't even have legal permission to do what it is doing, it only adds to worries that the entire regulatory process is too full of holes to be trusted, especially on something as important as a safety assessment," Mitchell said. "We do not want GM salmon in the EU, and we don't think anyone else does either, so it's time for the FDA to reject the application and put this thing behind us."
Researchers link soy agrochemicals to rare genetic defects in Argentine farming villages

(NaturalNews) It's as if populations of people are being put into fishbowls, confined to an idea of glass walls that forces the people to be like helpless goldfish, looking up for their food, accepting whatever is tossed in. Corporate hands operating in a global economy feed the fish, the people, spraying them with chemicals in the process. The people swim around with no say, doing what they are told, consuming whatever is handed their way. Instead of being wild and free fish, feeding on what is natural, they have been confined to consume and produce within the glass walls.Large-scale chemical-based agriculture takes over entire countries and their farming communities, exposing the people there to agrochemical toxins year after year. The people accept what is fed into their fishbowl, not seeing the cancer and genetic defect apocalypse occurring within the tank to which they are confined.Argentina is no exception. Instead of producing the food that the country needs, the Argentine people are forced to farm GM soy for export. In the process, the people are being stripped of their food sovereignty and agricultural diversity, while being forced to withstand an onslaught of agrochemicals that researchers are now confirming to be causing the population's genetic defects.According to research in Chaco province, Argentina, by Professor Andres Carrasco and biochemist Raul Horacio Lucero, severe damage is being done to the human genome in areas most sprayed with agrochemicals. The late Carrasco spent his life fighting for the people of Argentina and the world, who are suffering from new birth defects and early-onset cancers all because of agrochemicals like glyphosate. In his research, he found a cancer cluster in the "pampa gringa" region, a place dense with genetically modified soy and careless agrochemical spraying. He found that the death rate from these cancers is double the national average in the "pampa gringa" region.His colleague, Dr. Lucero, confirmed the findings, saying, "This was official confirmation of what we have denounced for years. Cancer cases multiply like never before in areas with massive use of pesticides." Dr. Lucero had tracked the damage more than two decades ago, when he investigated major malformations and birth defects in people in rural Chaco. Those working closest to the chemicals were most at risk.The late Dr. Carrasco strengthened the research when he linked the agrochemical glyphosate to malformations in amphibian embryos -- the same kind of defects typically seen in the farmers working in Chaco. The passionate Dr. Carrasco went on to tour several universities with other scientists and spoke about the repercussions of chemical-based agriculture, how farmers were suffering from one generation to the next. Dr. Lucero met Carrasco on the speaking tour and added to his research. Dr. Lucero showed documentation from the Pediatric Hospital of Chaco's Genetic Studies Laboratory that revealed severe cases where patients suffered serious orthopedic and genital malformations. He witnessed various cases during his research in Chaco, documenting anomalies such as phocomelia, which is a defect of the arms. There are also cases of arm bone aplasia, shortened limbs, imperforate anus and hypertrophy of the clitoris.Lucero, stating what he saw firsthand: "I never had any doubt that the defects were caused by exposure to agrochemicals during pregnancy at an early gestational age. Anyway, I could not publish these comments because they required substantiation from large scale epidemiological studies, as well as measurements of pesticides or their metabolites in blood and urine, and measurements of the level of DNA damage in these patients through genotoxicity studies."Right now, the Institute of Regional Medicine, UNNE, is engaged in a research project to validate the work of Drs. Carrasco and Lucero. The project will look at the blood of exposed populations in the Chaco province of Argentina , investigating the biomarkers of genetic damage called chromosome aberrations and micronuclei."All patients came from areas of high agricultural production and the mothers of these children had been exposed to pesticides in a very direct way. Working in the field, they were exposed to agrochemicals sprayed from planes flying overhead," Dr. Lucero confirmed.
One-stop GMO resource

Addressing all aspects of GMOs

(NaturalNews) As mostreaders are aware, we have always done our best to expose the harmful effects genetically modified organisms and foods (GMOs) have on both humans and the environment. And we will continue to publish the truth about GMOs, and why they should be shunned.But a newly condensed book that has exposed the truth about GMOs 3rd Edition, by Claire Robinson, MPhil; Michael Antoniou, PhD; and John Fagan, PhD  is bound to become one of your go-to resources for the subject matter."Many who defend the use of GMO crops and foods claim that there is no evidence that any GMO is harmful to health or the environment. But this is wrong," says Richard Jennings, PhD, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge, U.K., in discussing the book. "There is plenty of sound empirical evidence of such harm, presented by qualified scientists in peer-reviewed literature. This book is a succinct summary and documentation of that evidence."Again, as many of you know, there is quite a bit of misinformation surrounding GMOs . The enormous wealth of the pro-GMO lobby feeds a gargantuan public relations machine that seeks to cloud the issues and present GMOs in a positive manner.Moreover, this lobbying wealth translates into political clout, whereby governments and the GMO biotech industry conspire to mislead the general public, in order to promote GMO crops and foods.As reported by"The industry and its supporters say the technology is safe, increases yields, is better for farmers and the environment, uses less chemical inputs and is necessary to feed the world. They also say critics are ideologically driven, deal in pseudoscience and are Luddites who are stealing food from the bellies of the poor by campaigning against GMO . Such attacks have no basis in reality. But spin and smears are what the industry and its supporters have increasingly come to rely on. It reflects their failure to force GM onto the public and into the fields across most of the world."Now, however, you have a one-stop resource for all things GMO-related  a comprehensive resource to combat the well-funded pro-GMO lobby, in GMO Myths and Truths The book does this by presenting thebehind GMO crops and foods. Its meticulous research debunks the propaganda and myths put forth by the massive GMO lobby.Originally published online in 2012, with the 2nd Edition also published online in 2014, the new print edition was developed and written in response to requests for a shorter publication in traditional book form, that could be easily read and then passed around to others, including policy- and lawmakers."For the layperson, it explains in easy-to-understand terms and steps what genetic engineering is and how it is carried out. It describes and provides access to important scientific studies carried out into the safety and efficacy of GM and looks at the environmental impacts of the technology,"explained."Every person who buys and consumes food needs to read this book. It exposes the full details of GMO risks and deceptions that the biotech industry hopes you never learn," added Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, editor of NaturalNews.com , and science lab director of the Consumer Wellness Center Labs. Adams' own new book , is slated for release in July.An advantage of GMO Myths and Truths is that it adopted a comprehensive approach to GMOs by moving beyond science to wider issues that are related to intellectual property rights and seed patenting; alternative models of farming that can be more productive and highly sustainable; what food security means; and hunger and poverty."By addressing these issues, the authors demonstrate that GM is not needed and is being offered as a proxy solution for more deep-seated structural factors,"reported.
Who really profits under Obamacare?

Skewing the debate

(NaturalNews) It's no secret thatdisplays a liberal bias in reporting , even when publishing so-called "fact-checking" pieces examining statements made by presidential candidates in the debates.Roger Aronoff, editor of, decided to do some fact-checking of his own regarding a recent NYT article by Margot Sanger-Katz entitled: "Debate Prep: Fact-Checking the G.O.P. Candidates on Health Care."Aronoff wrote:"Once again The New York Times is peddling its own false narrative about Obamacare's success, this time aimed at the Republican candidates. But while Margot Sanger-Katz claims to fact check Donald Trump, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), it is her own reporting that needs an additional check. After all, why didn't Sanger-Katz include statements from Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in her Obamacare fact check? Neither the Times nor The Washington Post seems eager to print anything that might undermine the Democratic candidates on this issue."In challenging Trump's assertion that insurance companies are making an "absolute fortune" under Obamacare, Sanger-Katz wrote that many insurers have "taken bigs hits or gone under." She admits, however, that "private plans sold to states for residents covered by Medicaid" have "flourished."As Aronoff points out, that means that the real profits are in government-provided insurance , including those generated from possible widespread fraud within the Obamacare system  as recently revealed by the Government Accountability Office.Obama's promised drop in employer-based insurance premiums didn't materialize  in fact, instead of the predicted $2,500 decrease, premiums increased nearly double that amount between 2008 and 2015. In the same period, deductibles have skyrocketed:"On top of that, deductibles have gone through the roof, meaning that many of those insured by Obamacare policies won't benefit from their coverage since they are unlikely to spend enough in a year to reach their deductible, unless they have a major illness or accident in the family."While the largest insurers flourish  along with the beneficiaries of fraud within the system  many exchanges are indeed in trouble."The fact that the exchanges are doing so poorly is just another reason why Obamacare should be repealed. As we have reported, Obamacare has resulted in skyrocketing premiums and poorer care for its enrollees. It has been a boondoggle for the American people. Yet Sanger-Katz's critique of the GOP candidates skirted the question of premium hikes on consumers, focusing instead on the income of insurers."By cherry-picking the data and ignoring inconvenient facts, Sanger-Katz downplays the shortcomings of Obamacare, while demonizing GOP candidates. For example, in refuting the claim that Obamacare is causing the loss of jobs, she uses the manipulated employment rate figures to support her argument. These statistics, of course, have little meaning in the real world, where the American labor force participation rate is "abysmally low."Ignoring the Democratic candidates' statements and positions regarding Obamacare issues  while challenging Republican inaccuracies  also serves to skew the debate in favor of the leftist agenda.For example, through side-stepping the fact that Hillary Clinton was aware as early as 2009 that Obamacare was incapable of managing costs, Sanger-Katz keeps the ball in her field. Aronoff notes that this story should have received far more attention:"The fact that Hillary Clinton knew in 2009 that cost controls under Obamacare could involve rationing should have been a blockbuster revelation and a problem for her campaign. Instead the news media are delighted to focus instead on divisions within the Republican Party, and on Mitt Romney's attempts to undermine Trump."In a mass media market owned and dominated by a powerful few, objective journalism is pushed aside in favor of biased, agenda-driven reporting that serves only its masters  not the public good.publishes little more than a steady stream of leftist propaganda; a balanced picture can only be found in alternative media outlets.
The voters resoundingly rejected Ted Cruz's pro-Monsanto stance on food, chemicals and GMOs

Bernie Sanders totally supports GMO labeling

Donald Trump remains a wild card on the issue of GMOs and food

Ted Cruz a traitor to the American people

(NaturalNews) Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz suffered nationwide devastating defeats at the polls just one day after denouncing health-conscious Americans as "anti-science zealots" for their opposition to GMOs. In a shameless endorsement of agrichemical giant Monsanto during an Iowa speech, Cruz made it known that he was all-in for thethat poisons America with weed killers and toxic GMOs linked to cancer But Ted Cruz didn't just casually say he supported Monsanto; he went out of his way to parrot Monsanto's talking points and domineering arrogance, choosing to insult tens of millions of health-conscious Americans by calling them "anti-science zealots" and mocking their legitimate concern over pesticides, herbicides and GMOs in food.A man who would unwittingly eat a horrific booger on national live television, in other words, doesn't think Americans should have the right to know what they're eating, either. Somehow, this is just as grotesque.Natural News, U.S. Right to Know, the Robert Scott Bell Show and dozens of other independent media outlets ran my story that attacked Cruz, where I accused him of committingfor siding with Monsanto over the food safety of Americans. I also directly accused Ted Cruz of denying Americans the right of self-defense against, stating, "In effect,."In less than 24 hours after my article ran,, all but ending his attempt to challenge Donald Trump for the Republican nomination.Riding an accelerating wave of anti-establishment sentiment from Americans who are fed up with being lied to, poisoned, over-medicated and economically punished by bad government, Donald Trump achieved resounding victories in Florida (yep, Rubio is out!), Illinois and North Carolina, with Missouri results too close to call at the time of this writing., and while he did pick up a few delegates for his partial losses, it has become increasingly clear to everyone that Ted Cruz can't beat Donald Trump. Nor can he beat Hillary Clinton, for that matter, because his overly preachy demeanor and holier-than-thou attitude is nakedly offensive to nearly everyone except the delusional devout.Nor is Ted Cruz even a constitutional liberty supporter as he claims to be, or else he would support the right of all Americans to freely choose what food they eat by supporting. There is no freedom to choose if your choices are concealed by a corrupt cabal of Washington sellouts who are little more than legislative prostitutes for corporate interests. Hence my new nickname for Ted Cruz: "Monsatan's Preacher.": The Environmental Working Group has just issued a late-hour alert on a sudden Senate vote on the DARK Act, which would outlaw GMO labeling nationwide. Ted Cruz is no doubt set to support this malicious, freedom-destroying attempt by Monsanto to pull the wool over everybody's eyes and continue its covert poisoning of American consumers. Click here to take action now at EWG.org.On the Democrat side of things, Hillary Clinton is a complete Monsanto sellout... she actually did legal work for the biotech giant when she worked at a law firm in Arkansas. Bernie Sanders, in contrast, bringsto the issue by fully supporting GMO labeling laws like the one passed in Vermont, his home state.Sadly, the Hillary Clinton criminal elections machine has already steamrolled Sanders' chances, as the DNC obviously pre-decided that Hillary would be the Democrat nominee long before any votes were cast. (The DNC does not believe the choice of their nominee should be left up the their voters, after all... and neither does the GOP for that matter.)If Sanders had been able to beat Hillary Clinton, he would instantly be the anti-GMO choice for President. Sadly, he appears to have already been mathematically "extinguished" due to the rigged superdelegates controlled by the Clinton camp, which is staffed and run by criminals worthy of being prosecuted for treason.So where does Donald Trump stand on the issue of GMOs and honest food labeling?There have been clues that Trump supports organics, and he's definitely an anti-establishment personality. He's also from New York, which tends to be more progressive on issues of clean food and food transparency. Doctor Oz, for example, runs his show out of New York and has been a remarkable pioneer in teaching the public about food issues.But until Trump actually says something on the record about Monsanto, we can't be quite sure where he stands on the issue. There was a tweet that went out a few months ago from his account which implied that Iowans might have made poor choices in their votes due to them being poisoned by genetically modified corn, but Trump retracted that tweet by saying it came from a staffer, not himself. Perhaps he really did tweet it but decided the backlash from Iowa was too great to let it stand.So as of right now, we remain in limbo on the Trump question when it comes to GMOs and Monsanto.What we know for sure is that Ted Cruz is a Monsanto shill and a traitor to all Americans who seek the right to choose safer food. We also know thatwith the desperate demise of Marco Rubio (and Jeb Bush before that, thank goodness).The pro-biotech Republican establishment has just imploded. The masses of America have now turned anti-establishment in record numbers... this is a watershed moment for this nation, as every single attempt by the media, the GOP insiders and all the big money lobbyists to push another Monsanto-controlled Republican puppet into the White House has utterly failed.Make no mistake that. And my guess is that he's very likely to support honest food labeling for America.Be sure to monitor alternative news headlines on Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton at Trump.news and Clinton.news to stay up to date on these candidates and their views on Monsanto, glyphosate and GMO.
The Senate voted 49 to 48 not to advance a revised version of legislation calling for voluntary national biotech labeling standard that would basically block states from mandating labels on genetically engineered (GE) foods. The bill, originally introduced Feb. 19 by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), failed to secure the 60 votes needed to advance to the floor for full debate.

The revised version gave food companies two years to enroll 70 percent of their products in the Grocery Manufacturers Associations SmartLabel program or face mandatory GMO-labeling policy from the federal government. Many lawmakers criticized Roberts bill claiming it would hide ingredient information from consumers by overturning state GMO labeling laws.

Interestingly, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell supported the bill but voted against it invoking a procedural step that allows him to bring the legislation back to the floor if a compromise is reached with Democrats.

Todays defeat is a win for Vermonts law that requires labels on GE foods by July 2016 and bans use of the word natural" and similar words that promote GE foods. Connecticut and Maine also have passed GE labeling laws, but they dont take effect unless neighboring states adopt comparable measures.

Commenting on the defeat Chairman Roberts said: Senators are judged by how they votenot what they say. The Senators who voted against todays biotechnology labeling solutions compromise voted against farmersand ultimately consumers. When they go back to their home states next week, Senators who voted no will have to tell their constituents that their grocery bills will increase by over $1,000. Thats not a message Id want to deliver."

With the GOP bill essentially stalled, focus now turns to an alternative bill introduced March 2 by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D.-Ore.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that would ensure U.S. consumers can find GMO-ingredient labeling on food packaging while ensuring that food producers are not subject to confusing or conflicting labeling requirements in different locations.

Specifically, the Biotechnology Food Labeling and Uniformity Act would require manufacturers four mandatory labeling options to disclose the presence of GM ingredients on the Nutrition Fact Panel:

Manufacturers may use a parenthesis following the relevant ingredient to indicate that this ingredient is Genetically Engineered." Manufacturers may identify GM ingredients with an asterisk and provide an explanation at the bottom of the ingredients list. Manufacturers may simply apply a catch all statement at the end of the ingredient list stating the product was produced with genetic engineering." FDA would have the authority to develop a symbol, in consultation with food manufacturers that would clearly and conspicuously disclose the presence of GM ingredients on packaging.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a co-sponsor of the Biotechnology Food Labeling and Uniformity Act, issued the following statement: The Senates decision today to vote down this misguided GMO legislation is a victory for American consumers. This deceitful legislation was a brazen attack on a on a very important, basic consumer right: the right to know what is in your food. The right to know what youre putting in your body. The right to know what you are serving on your childrens plate. This legislation would have undermined strong state GMO-labeling laws, like Connecticuts, and thwarted efforts to ensure consumers have access to basic, on-package information about their food. The American people have overwhelmingly called for mandatory GMO labeling, and now it is time for us to take up commonsense legislation to provide a strong mandatory on-package GMO labeling standard."
Michelle Obama showed off her vocal chops at the South by Southwest Music Festival but drew a round of disappointed sighs when she told the crowd she has no plans to run for president.

The first lady made her debut at the Austin showcase of buzzworthy bands and technology on Wednesday, sitting with Grammy winners Queen Latifah and Missy Elliott to talk about girls' education and empowerment.

But Mrs. Obama broke into song when reflecting on seven years in the White House. She said "time is almost up" before softly singing some of the Boyz II Men hit "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday."

Mrs. Obama says she'll most miss interacting with people as first lady  but says she has no presidential aspirations of her own.

"No, no. Not going to do it," she told the packed convention center crowd in liberal Austin.

She mentioned her teenage daughters, Malia and Sasha, as two of the main reasons.

"The daughters of a president. Just think about it. Come on, young people. Not so easy," Mrs. Obama said. "They've handled it with grace and with poise, but enough. Enough."

President Barack Obama opened the festival last week with a talk about civic engagement, becoming the first sitting president to attend SXSW in the festival's 30-year history. He weighed in on Apple's legal fight against the federal government over encryption, and told a crowd of tech enthusiasts that Republican lawmakers in Texas aren't interested in making voting easier.

Mrs. Obama steered clear of hot-button topics. She instead promoted her "Let Girls Learn" initiative, which encourages world leaders to provide education opportunities to an estimated 62 million girls globally who do not attend school.

She also says she won't disappear from public view or slow down once she leaves the White House next year.

"Sometimes there's much more you can do outside the White House without the constraints, the lights and the cameras, and the partisanship," Mrs. Obama said. "There's a potential that my voice can be heard by people who can't hear me now because I'm Michelle Obama, the first lady. I want to be able to impact as many people as possible in an unbiased way to try to keep reaching people. I think I can do that just as well by not being president of the United States."
A $150,000 reward for the capture of two inmates who escaped a Southern California prison in January will be divided among four people, including two Target employees and a homeless man, the Orange County Board of Supervisors decided Tuesday.

Two Rosemead Target employees, a van owner who reported his vehicle stolen and a homeless man from San Francisco will all get a share of the reward. The Target employees, Hazel Javier and Jeffrey Arana, will be awarded $15,000 each, and Armando Damian, the stolen van owner, will receive $20,000.

Matthew Hay-Chapman, a 55-year-old homeless man who recognized escaped inmates Hossein Nayeri and Jonathan Tieu and followed them into a McDonald's, will be awarded the majority of the bounty: $100,000.

Chapman flagged down officers who were on duty on Jan. 30 and reported seeing the two prisoners. Shortly after, San Francisco police were able to find and capture Nayeri, who was wanted on charges of kidnap and torture, after a brief chase. They then tracked down Tieu, who was imprisoned in Santa Ana on murder charges, as he was hiding in the white van nearby.

Chapman told the San Francisco Chronicle on Feb. 2 that he hoped to use the reward money to help his children and his grandchildren, who are in foster care in Oregon.

"I had a duty to help bring these individuals back into custody," Chapman said in a voicemail to Supervisor Todd Spitzer.

The Target employees tipped off police after spotting Nayeri and the third escaped inmate, Bac Duong, buying cellphones at their store in Rosemead. Their information helped investigators track down the cellphone numbers the escapees were using and find Damian, who provided police with additional information.

One man involved in the case, taxi driver Long Ma, was not named as one of the reward recipients. The driver was integral to the capture of the fugitives, his attorney said at the board of supervisors meeting on Tuesday.

Ma was taken hostage by the three inmates and forced to drive all over California.

"In the interest of justice and basic fairness, we ask that the Orange County Board of Supervisors reconsider and ... award Mr. Ma his share of the reward," said his attorney, Hoang Tu. "Not because he is a victim, but because [of] ... the instrumental role he played in the capture of these dangerous fugitives."

Spitzer responded, saying that giving Ma a cash reward would be an unlawful gift of public funds, though he is "morally deserving."

Ma, who has not gone back to work since being taken hostage, intends to fight the board's decision not to allocate him a portion of the reward, Tu said.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story stated that the reward was $200,000. The Board of Supervisors approved a $150,000 reward, and the other $50,000 was offered by the US Marshals Service and the FBI. That portion has not yet been allocated.
Its a Bay Area story thats had national eyes on it since the beginning  the murder of 26-year-old Michelle Le, a nursing student who first disappeared from the Kaiser Permanente parking garage in Hayward in May 2011.

Dateline NBC producers have been in touch with the Le family and with Hayward Police, the lead investigators, for the more than year-and-a-half that have gone by.

Friday night, NBC aired the two-hour special that, for the first time, revealed footage from convicted killer Giselle Estebans interrogations.

One portion of it went as follows:

Insp. Madrid: You don't like her.

Ms. Esteban: Yeah. That's evident. That's very clear.

Insp. Madrid: How would you classify your dislike for her?

Ms. Esteban: How -- what do you mean? I just dislike her. I don't --

Insp. Madrid: I mean, do you hate her? Do you want to see something bad happen to her?

Ms. Esteban: No. I just want her to stay away from my child.

And she went the distance in thinking up the murder.

Inspector Fraser Ritchie with Hayward Police was the first to speak with Esteban after Michelle disappearance, describing her as both cooperative and annoyed.

He said it was clear Esteban was lying right away. She stated she did see Michelle at Kaiser Hospital in Hayward the night before on the 27th. She stated she had never had conversation with her or anything like that but as we kept talking to her she would fabricate information, Fraser recalled.

She actually said at one point  I said were you arguing with her  she says I dont remember. So right there she was telling me she was speaking with her and as the conversation progressed, we caught her in a few more lies.

He said that Esteban did everything from going to Samuel Merritt College in Oakland where Michelle was a student, trying to register for classes there, stole a lab coat and even a key card.

Police revealed the mounds of evidence and footage to Michelles family on September 7, 2011  the same day they arrested Esteban.

Shocking and damning, described Krystine Dinh, Michelles cousin.

She had called the university several times, called different departments in the university to figure out Michelles schedule.

So, that amount of premeditation and conscious thinking behind her murder was really shocking. Perhaps the hardest part was watching the footage of Michelle walking to the parking garage at Kaiser  the last place she was seen.

We never found out the cause of death because it was out of camera view, but its hard, Dinh explained. You really just want to go into the screen, grab her and protect her. You know those last minutes of her life were really hard to see.

The Le family members havent spoken with Esteban and say theres no desire to, especially after they said she showed no hint of remorse or shadow of guilt  all the way up to a month ago when Esteban was sentenced to 25 years to life.

For people like Dinh, the way forward is keeping Michelles legacy alive by helping the countless other families who are struggling with the same kind of nightmare.

Hopefully one family out there who has their loved one missing wont feel so alone.

Below is an interview with Dateline reporter Keith Morrison about his two hour special.
The fate of two faltering campaigns depended on the results of Tuesdays primaries. Sen. Marco Rubios fell when he lost his home state of Florida, but Gov. John Kasich, who staked his presidential hopes on a victory in Ohio, beat Donald Trump there. Residents in Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina also voted Tuesday. On the Democratic side, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders lost to Hillary Clinton in Ohio, where observers had wondered if he could replicate his surprise success in Michigan. Here are some notable moments from the day.

[NATL] Photos From March 15 Primaries

Kasichs First Win: Ohio

Kasichs much-needed success in Ohio  his first win  gave him all of his states 66 delegates and kept his campaign going.

We are going to go all the way to Cleveland and secure the Republican nomination, he told his supporters, referring to the partys nominating convention in the summer.

How did he win his home state? Satisfaction with the economy may have played a part, according to the NBC News exit poll in Ohio. About 60 percent of residents said their family finances were holding steady and another 20 percent said they were getting ahead. Only about 15 percent said they were falling behind.

Kasich has been praised for running a campaign based on issues, not insults, and he told his supporters he would continue that approach.

"I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land," he told his supporters.

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Republicans Fracturing?

Trumps rivals ratcheted up criticism of the New York businessman in the days before the primaries, especially after violence broke out at his rallies, saying he would fracture the party should he win the nomination. Tuesdays exit polling in the five states showed some signs of discontent among the GOP voters. When asked by the NBC News exit poll if they would seriously consider voting for a third-party candidate if the presidential contest was between Trump and Clinton, 37 percent said they would. Fifty-seven percent said they would be satisfied with the choice.

Among Republican voters who chose someone other than Trump on Tuesday, the dissatisfaction was greater -- six in 10 said they would seriously consider a third-party choice.

In his concession speech, Rubio warned that politics of resentment would leave the country fractured.

America needs a vibrant conservative movement but one thats built on principles and on ideas, not on fear, not on anger, not on preying on peoples frustrations, Rubio said.

Watch E! Live 360 Tonight

A Good Night for Trump

Trump celebrated a series of victories, again at his Mar-a-Lago club in West Palm Beach. The Associated Press described a large ballroom filled with more than a dozen crystal chandeliers, gilded walls and ceilings.

Trump called for bringing the Republican party together but defended the anger among his supporters.

"They're not angry people but they want to see the country properly run," he said. "They want to see borders, they want good health care, they want to see things properly taken care of, they want our military rebuilt."

'It Makes Him Wrong'

Hillary Clinton also had a good night, with strong victories in Florida, North Carolina and Ohio.

She took the battle to Trump, saying that when a candidate calls for rounding up 12 million immigrants and banning all Muslims from entering the United States, when he embraces torture, That doesnt make him strong, it makes him wrong.

We should be breaking down barriers not building walls, she said. "We are not going to succeed by dividing this country between us and them. You know, to be great we cant be small. We cant lose what made America great in the first place."

Footage shows towering flames in San Francisco as crews battle a fire caused by a gas explosion.
Chicago's City Council on Wednesday agreed to Mayor Rahm Emanuel's recent tobacco proposal and voted 35-10 to raise the minimum purchasing age from 18 to 21.

The ordinance increases the minimum age for buying products such as cigarettes, e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.



The council also approved an ordinance to eliminate smokeless tobacco use at sports venues in Chicago where any organized sports are played, including at Wrigley Field and U.S. Cellular Field.

This step is designed to help prevent young people from becoming addicted to nicotine at an early age - in fact, research shows that four out of five smokers start the habit before the age of 21, Emanuel's office said when the mayor first proposed the ordinance.



After the vote, Emanuel tweeted, "Chicago is choosing kids over big tobacco."

The proposal cited cities such as New York, Boston, Cleveland, Kansas City and Evanston that have already implemented similar ordinances.



The American Lung Association in Greater Chicago applauded the mayor and the council's vote.

We congratulate Chicago for joining other major cities, like New York, Boston, Cleveland, Kansas City, and our suburban neighbor Evanston in this smart policy to protect our kids from the scourge of Big Tobacco, Kristen Young, executive director for the Lung Association said in a statement. "This ordinance will also save millions in health care costs and, most important, will ultimately save lives."



"In addition, 95 percent of adult smokers start before age 21," Young said. "Raising the legal age would put tobacco products on par with alcohol and protect young adults from developing a dangerous lifelong habit and ultimately save lives."
On an Election Day that saw Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown fighting for her job, a former lower-level employee in her office agreed to plead guilty to federal charges.

Sivasubramani Rajaram was charged in November with lying to a federal grand jury investigating the purchasing of jobs and promotions in the clerks office.

Rajaram, 48, of Glenview, was rehired by Brown after he allegedly loaned $15,000 to Goat Masters Corp., a company whose president was Browns husband, Benton Cook III, according to the indictment. Rajaram was charged with one count of making false declarations before a grand jury, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The announcement of the indictment was made four weeks after Cook County Democratic Party leaders withdrew their endorsement of Brown for the March 15 primary. They instead threw their support to a newly declared candidate, Ald. Michelle Harris, a strong supporter of Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

During the partys meeting rescinding the endorsement, Brown at the time dismissed any idea shed done anything wrong, telling party leaders, Investigations are started all the time.  Many of you probably had investigations related to you.

Brown and Cook have not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing, though the FBI in October seized Browns county-issued cellphone as part of the investigation.

Rajarams attorney Robert Lee Gevirtz confirmed Tuesday afternoon that his client will plead guilty. A change-of-plea hearing is scheduled for April 20 before U.S. District Judge John W. Darrah.

Edward Genson, a criminal defense attorney whos been representing Brown and Cook, had no comment.

Mr. Sivasubramani Rajarams last date of employment with the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County was Jan. 7, 2016. He was a good employee; however, we are not privy to details of his case and have no further comment, Jalyne Strong-Shaw, Browns spokeswoman, wrote in an email.

Rajaram had worked in the circuit clerks office for more than a decade, leaving in 2011, records show. He had been living in India before moving back to the Chicago area in August 2014 and returning to work for Brown the next month, according to the indictment.

He purportedly loaned $15,000 to Goat Masters the same month he returned to Chicago, the indictment reads.

According to county records, Rajaram was rehired with a yearly salary of $30,678 on Sept. 8, 2014. In late June, he got a promotion, helping bring his current salary to $41,151.

Rajaram allegedly lied twice under oath when testifying before the grand jury early last month.

He testified that he hadnt spoken with Brown since after his rehiring. He also testified hed spoken with a person identified as Individual B, a high-ranking employee in Browns office, maybe like three or four times since moving back from Indiabut not by phone.

Rajaram, in fact, had spoken with Brown on or about September 8, 2014, prosecutors allege. He also had spoken by cellphone with Individual B dozens of times, between August 2014 and Oct. 1, 2014, according to the indictment.

In a brief interview with a reporter at his modest Glenview apartment last month, a noticeably ill Rajaram declined to comment when asked about loans or money being traded for jobs or promotions in Browns office. He referred questions to an attorney, who also declined to comment.

Cook, Browns husband, formed Goat Masters in 2014. Cook and Brown were listed as directors of the business, which was based at their South Side home. Its unclear what Goat Masters does or did.
Rep. Tammy Duckworth and Sen. Mark Kirk used their name recognition and lengthy lists of endorsements to secure their respective parties' nominations in Tuesday's Illinois primary for Kirks U.S. Senate seat.



Duckworth defeated Urban League President and CEO Andrea Zopp and state Sen. Napoleon Harris in her bid for the nomination. Kirk beat James Marter, a political newcomer with 30 years of business experience.



Duckworth and Kirk maintained commanding leads over their primary opponents and already started campaigning against one another in preparation for the Nov. 8 general election.



Incumbent Kirk is a combat veteran considered to be a social moderate and fiscal conservative. He has voted with his party 73 percent during his time in Senate. He has held the office since 2010.



Since being elected to the Senate, Kirk has made the fight against terrorism a top priority. Recently, the senator called for a temporary cessation to the program bringing Syrian refugees to the U.S.



Duckworth has served as a U.S. Representative for Illinois 8th congressional district since 2013.



"The choice for Illinois voters is clear," Tim Schneider, chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, said in a statement. "Mark Kirk has a record of fighting for all Illinois families to change the broken status quo in Washington, while Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth has been an ineffective ideologue who has chosen partisan division over bipartisan consensus."



Duckworth, a combat veteran who lost her legs co-piloting a helicopter in Iraq, previously served in the state and national VA. She has campaigned on a platform advocating for small businesses, investing in infrastructure and cutting government waste and fraud.



Kirk retired from the Navy Reserve in 2013 after 23 years of service. He has since called for reforms to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
In the Illinois presidential primaries, billionaire Donald Trump scored a decisive victory, while former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held off Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in a tight race

The state's Republican primary was called for Trump early in the night. With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Trump garnered 39 percent of votes, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz received 30 percent, Ohio Gov. John Kasich received 20 percent and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio received 9 percent, according to NBC News.

With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton was declared the apparent winner of the Democratic primary, garnering 51 percent of the vote. Sanders received 49 percent.

Presidential candidates made their final Ilinois campaign efforts in the lead-up to Tuesday's primary elections. Democratic presidential frontrunner Clinton visited a Pilsen not-for-profit Monday and promised to make immigration reform a priority.

She also made a brief stop at the Kids Off the Block memorial in Roseland. The memorial is dedicated to children killed by gun violence.

Later Monday, she visited the bakery workers union hall at 79th and Kedzie.

Former President Bill Clinton stopped by a South Side Chicago polling place Tuesday morning to speak with voters on Illinois' primary Election Day.

He also appeared with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Kim Foxx, candidate for Cook County State's Attorney.

The former president made an earlier stop in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side, greeting young chidren and voters flanked by Congressman Danny K. Davis and Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

Sanders held a packed rally at Chicagos Auditorium Theater late Monday night, encouraging Illinoisans to "lead the country into a political revolution."

At the rally, Sanders pledged to address Chicagos street crime problem, if elected president. There have been over 100 shooting deaths in Chicago this year.

Sanders also greeted diners at downtown Chicago restaurant Lou Mitchells Tuesday.

The Democratic presidential hopeful sat down for breakfast with Cook County Board commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, who lost a surprisingly strong bid last year to unseat Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Sanders has been critical of Emanuel in the lead-up to the Illinois primary.

"I don't want the endorsement of a mayor who is shutting down school after school and firing teachers," Sanders said at a rally in suburban Summit Friday.

Trump postponed a Chicago rally Friday, citing safety concerns, after thousands of protesters descended on the event to protest the Republican frontrunner's candidacy. He recently replaced his Illinois campaign director as a result of an alleged lack of organization. Trump held a campaign rally at Bloomington's Synergy Flight Center Sunday.

Cruz attended the Northwest Suburban Republican Lincoln Day Dinner last Friday. His wife, Heidi Cruz, addressed a City Club of Chicago breakfast last Wednesday.

Kasich appeared at a town hall event at a truck manufacturing company in suburban Lisle last Wednesday. He also held a Town Hall at Palatine's Park District Community Center that same day.

Rubio had no commitments in Illinois, although Conservative Solutions PAC, a super political action committee backing the senator, has spent over a half-million dollars on anti-Trump ads in the state.



Outside of Illinois, Clinton campaigned at a polling place at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School in Raleigh, N.C. Tuesday as voters headed to the polls to cast their ballots in the states primary.

North Carolina's Democratic primary has been called for Clinton. With 94 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton is beating Sanders by a margin of 55 percent to 41 percent, according to NBC News.

Trump also held a town hall event in Hickory, North Carolina Monday.

He has been declared the projected winner in that state's Republican primary. With 95 percent of precincts reporting, Trump has garnered 40 percent of votes, with Ted Cruz receiving 37 percent, John Kasich receiving 13 percent and Marco Rubio receiving 8 percent.

Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin stumped for Donald Trump at a rally Tuesday in Florida. During her speech, she accused Trump protesters of "thuggery."

Florida's Republican primary has also been called for Trump. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, he has garnered 46 percent of the state's vote, with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio receiving 27 percent, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz receiving 17 percent and Ohio Gov. John Kasich receiving 7 percent.

Rubio suspended his candidacy after losing soundly in his home state.

On the Democratic ticket, Florida has been called for Clinton. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton has garnered 65 percent of votes, with Sanders receiving 33 percent.

Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney campaigned for Kasich in his home state of Ohio earlier this week.

Ohio's Republican primary has been called for Kasich. With 95 percent of precincts reporting, he has garnered 47 percent of the vote, with Trump receiving 36 percent, Ted Cruz receiving 13 percent and Rubio receiving a paltry 3 percent.

Clinton has also been declared the Democratic winner in Ohio. With 92 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton received 57 percent of votes, with Sanders receiving 43 percent.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Trump has been named the apparent winner in Missouri's Republican primary, according to NBC News. Nonetheless, he and Cruz remain tied with 41 percent of votes. Kasich has garnered 10 percent, with Rubio receiving 6 percent.

In Missouri's Democratic primary, Clinton has been named the apparent winner with 99 percent of precincts reporting. She beat out Sanders by a margin of 50 percent to 49 percent.
The state of Ohio can try again to put to death a condemned killer whose 2009 botched execution was called off after two hours, the Ohio Supreme Court said Wednesday.

The court by a 4-3 vote rejected arguments by death row inmate Romell Broom, whose attorneys said giving the state prisons agency a second chance would amount to cruel and unusual punishment and double jeopardy.

Prosecutors had argued double jeopardy doesn't apply because lethal drugs never entered Broom's veins while executioners unsuccessfully tried to hook up an IV. They also said a previously unsuccessful execution attempt doesn't affect the constitutionality of his death sentence.

Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger sided with the state, saying the execution never began because the drugs were never administered.

"Because Broom's life was never at risk since the drugs were not introduced, and because the state is committed to carrying out executions in a constitutional manner, we do not believe that it would shock the public's conscience to allow the state to carry out Broom's execution," Lanzinger wrote.

The majority opinion said it was unclear why Broom's veins couldn't be accessed, a fact that brings the rejection of his appeal into question, Justice Judi French wrote in a dissent.

"If the state cannot explain why the Broom execution went wrong, then the state cannot guarantee that the outcome will be different next time," French wrote.

Broom was sentenced to die for raping and killing 14-year-old Tryna Middleton after abducting her in Cleveland in 1984 as she walked home from a Friday night football game with two friends.

His 2009 execution was stopped by then-Gov. Ted Strickland after an execution team tried for two hours to find a suitable vein. Broom has said he was stuck with needles at least 18 times, with pain so intense he cried and screamed.

An hour into the execution, the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction recruited a part-time prison doctor with no experience or training with executions to try  again, unsuccessfully  to find a vein.

Broom's appeals in federal court were on hold while the state court heard the constitutional arguments.

Broom, 59, has been back on death row since. No new execution date has been set.

Requiring Broom to endure another execution attempt would double up his punishment by forcing him to relive the pain he's already been through, his attorneys, Adele Shank and Timothy Sweeney, argued in a court filing last year.

During a June hearing, Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor asked Shank about a prison official's testimony that Broom may have caused the problems with his veins by taking an entire box of antihistamines the day before to dehydrate himself. Shank said she witnessed Broom drinking coffee the day of the procedure. Chris Schroeder, an assistant Cuyahoga County prosecutor, said the antihistamines allegation was not part of the state's argument.

In 1947, Louisiana electrocuted 18-year-old Willie Francis by electric chair a year after an improperly prepared electric chair failed to work. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to allow the second execution to proceed, rejecting double jeopardy arguments. A state's administration of its criminal law isn't affected by due process rights, when "an accident, with no suggestion of malevolence, prevents the consummation of a sentence," the court ruled at the time.

Ohio prosecutors said lower courts properly determined that any mistakes happened during Broom's execution preparations, not the actual procedure.

Schroeder said the evidence shows that the state wasn't deliberately trying to hurt Broom and that nearly two dozen successful executions since 2009 mean such an event couldn't happen again.
President Barack Obama nominated Illinois native Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court of the United States Wednesday in a ceremony at the White Houses Rose Garden.

Garland currently serves as the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and is considered a centrist.

A statement from the White House claims Garland has more federal judicial experience than any other Supreme Court nominee in history.

Garland, who was born in Chicago and raised in the citys suburbs, graduated from Niles West High School in 1970. He later received a scholarship from Harvard University, where he graduated summa cum laude. He also attended Harvard Law School.

He previously served as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorneys Office in D.C. as part of President George H.W. Bush's presidential administration. In this role, he prosecuted cases involving public corruption, drug trafficking and fraud.

Garland was later selected as the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division at the Department of Justice, and then as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General.

He also oversaw the high-profile Oklahoma City bombing case in 1995.

During Obamas nomination Wednesday, he urged Republican senators to move forward with the process to confirm Garland to the Supreme Court.

I simply ask Republicans in the Senate to give him a fair hearing, and then an up-or-down vote, Obama said. If you dont, then it will not only be an abdication of the Senates constitutional duty, it will indicate a process for nominating and confirming judges that is beyond repair.

Nonetheless, Republican lawmakers are pushing to block President Barack Obamas Supreme Court nomination until a new president is elected next year. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called Garland Wednesday to inform him that the Senate would not move forward with the confirmation process.

Rep. Tammy Duckworth, who last night won the Democratic nomination for Mark Kirks U.S. Senate seat, called out McConnell and Senate Republicans in a statement Wednesday.

Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans doubled down today on their vow to block Judge Merrick Garlands nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, despite his impeccable credentials, Duckworth said. What that means is Mark Kirk is more inclined to have Donald Trump select our next Supreme Court justice, since Kirk said only last Friday he 'certainly would support Trump for president if he is the Republican nominee.

Like most Illinoisans, I find that possibility frightening, Duckworth added.

Kirk also responded, claiming he will consider Obamas Supreme Court nomination.

When I climbed the 42 steps of the U.S. Capitol and returned to the Senate following my stroke, I reaffirmed my commitment to represent the people of Illinois in an independent and thoughtful manner, free from the partisanship and political rancor that too often consumes Washington, Kirk said. The Senates constitutionally defined role to provide advice and consent is as important as the presidents role in proposing a nominee, and I will assess Judge Merrick Garland based on his record and qualifications."

Duckworth urged Kirk to move forward with the Supreme Court confirmation process last month despite interference from Republican legislators. Kirk ultimately broke with fellow Republicans earlier this month to support moving forward with the process.

Nevertheless, the battle over Garlands confirmation is expected to continue.
A man accused of taking his 5-year-old son from his mother in Alabama more than 13 years ago and creating new lives for them in Ohio pleaded guilty Monday to kidnapping and other charges.

Bobby Hernandez, 53, pleaded guilty in a Cleveland courtroom to two counts of kidnapping, two counts of interference with custody and 10 counts of tampering with records. Hernandez's ruse fell apart last fall when his son Julian, then 18, discovered discrepancies with his Social Security number when he began applying for college.

Hernandez gave brief replies to a judge's questions Monday but otherwise didn't speak. His attorney, Ralph DiFranco, said after the hearing that he'll ask that Hernandez receive probation or a minimum prison term when he's sentenced April 13. DiFranco said Hernandez has been a "model" father to Julian, a straight-A student and an athlete.

DiFranco has said that Hernandez knew that someday he'd be caught. It hasn't been explained how Hernandez managed to create new identities and Social Security numbers for himself and Julian; details about their lives in Cleveland haven't been revealed publicly, either.

"He's very remorseful, and I think he's relieved that it's all over with," DiFranco said.

Julian Hernandez's mother, who hasn't been identified by name, issued a statement Monday through her California attorney, Gloria Allred.

"I have hoped that my son would be spared from having to testify at trial and the plea this morning means that his testimony will not be needed," the statement said. "Resolving the criminal case will help us to rebuild our lives together."

Julian visited his mother and other relatives in Alabama for Thanksgiving and Christmas. He hasn't spoken to his father since a judge issued a no-contact order at Hernandez's arraignment in early December.

An Alabama prosecutor, Shawn Allen, said authorities would meet with Julian's relatives after Hernandez is sentenced in Ohio to determine whether to extradite him to Jefferson County, where he could face additional prison time for interfering with custody.

In Ohio, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty called Hernandez's actions a "horribly cruel crime" and said he'd recommend a lengthy prison sentence. Hernandez deprived Julian of a relationship with his mother and family, McGinty said.

Julian learned from a school guidance counselor last fall that his name was listed on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children website. Over the years, police investigated hundreds of possible sightings across the country.

"This is a pain the mother and the family had to live with every day," McGinty said. "What kind of thing is that to do to a child? That's not a good parent."

McGinty said after the hearing that Hernandez had told the boy's mother that he would take him away if she ever broke up with him. Hernandez vanished with the boy in 2002 after leaving a note saying he'd taken the child, authorities have said. Hernandez and the boy's mother weren't married.
Two Schaumburg police officers are being credited with saving the life of a 19-month-old girl who was choking on the side of the road last week in the northwest suburb.

Officers Bryan Poradzisz and Kevin OConnor were called to Higgins Road near Route 53 about 8:50 p.m. Thursday for a toddler in respiratory distress, according to Schaumburg police.

The infant was in the car with her grandmother heading home to Chicago after spending the afternoon in Schaumburg, police said. The child appeared to stop breathing and her grandmother pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road, took her out of her car seat and called 911.

Schaumburg Police

Officer Poradzisz arrived moments later and found the girl unresponsive, not breathing and with blue lips. He administered the Heimlich maneuver, followed by CPR. Officer OConnor arrived moments later and performed a finger sweep of the infants mouth.

Almost immediately, the infant began breathing on her own and regained consciousness. The officers comforted the girl until paramedics arrived and took over.

Police said it is still not yet known what caused the infant to choke, but she appears to have made a full recovery.

The Schaumburg Police Department commends Officer Poradzisz and Officer OConnor for their outstanding work, the statement said.
A bomb ripped through a bus carrying Pakistani government employees in the volatile northwestern city of Peshawar on Wednesday, killing 15 people, police said.

Though no one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing, the attack underscored how despite Pakistan's sweeping military offensive, militants are still able to stage large-scale assaults. Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, is still reeling from a December 2014 massacre at an army public school in the city that killed 150, mostly children.

Hours after the explosion, the Pakistani army chief signed the death sentences for 13 Taliban militants convicted of several attacks, including an assault on a mountain resort that killed 10 foreign tourists.

Wednesday's explosion took place in an area of Peshawar that houses military institutions and residences, according to police official Abbas Majeed Marwat. The bus was taking government employees from several nearby towns on their daily commute to work at the provincial secretariat in Peshawar, he said.

At least 54 people, including women and children, were also wounded in the blast, which was set off by an improvised explosive time device planted under a seat, he added.

Suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban and other allied militant groups who have been waging a war on the state for more than a decade, killing tens of thousands of people in a quest to overthrow the government and install their own harsh brand of Islam.

Local TV footage showed the wreckage of the bus as police and rescue officials rushed the wounded people to hospitals. Footage from a surveillance camera had captured the moment of the explosion, showing the bus moving on a road and then blowing up into a cloud of thick smoke.

"I saw people flying out of the bus shortly after it exploded with a bang," bystander Amir Aalam, 35, told The Associated Press.

From his hospital bed, 50-year-old Kafayatullah Khan, who suffered multiple wounds, said he was "struck by something hard."

"It was like the sky falling," added Khan, an auditor in the provincial government. He was on the bus with about 70 other people, he said.

Rescuers had to cut through the bus to pull out several of the victims, both dead and wounded, said another police official, Mubarak Zeb. He said some 8 kilograms (about 17 pounds) of explosives was used in the bomb.

The bus bombing was the deadliest this year in Peshawar, though there have been major attacks in recent weeks in towns and districts just outside it. One of those was the January assault by Taliban gunmen on a university in the nearby town of Charsadda, when 21 students and teachers were killed.

Peshawar sits on the edge of Pakistan's lawless tribal region that is home to the Taliban and al-Qaida-linked Islamic groups. The Pakistani military in June 2004 launched a massive offensive in the region.

"We are facing these cowards," provincial spokesman Mushtaq Ghani told reporters at the scene of the blast Wednesday.

He said the militants who fled the military offensive in the countryside have found refuge in urban areas, where they now stage attacks seeking to strike at soft targets.

Since the 2014 Peshawar school attack, Pakistan has resorted to strict measures to battle insurgents, including setting up military courts and lifting a moratorium on the death sentence.

Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif on Wednesday confirmed death sentences for 13 Taliban militants, an army statement said.

Those convicted were tried in the closed door military courts for several attacks, including a 2013 attack at a base camp of a Pakistani northern peak called Nanga Parbat, popular with mountain climbers where the Taliban killed 10 foreign tourists and a Pakistani.
Metrorail reopened Thursday morning after the subway system was closed all day Wednesday for emergency inspections of 600 power cables -- and after workers repaired at least 26 cables that were damaged.

The damage at three locations was so severe that those parts of the track were "showstoppers," where "we would not be running trains if we came upon these conditions," Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said Wednesday at a press conference.

Frayed power cables are believed to have been the cause of a fire on the tracks early Monday and of an emergency in Jan. 2015, when smoke filled a Metro tunnel, dozens of passengers were sickened and one woman died.

Wiedefeld showed a picture of one torn cable that he said Metro officials were afraid would break.

"Clearly this is a hazardous condition that we cannot accept," Wiedefeld said.

The federal government is planning a safety inspection blitz of the Metro rail system starting next week.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said the Federal Transit Administration would redirect millions of dollars Metro has not spent to address safety concerns. At a congressional hearing, he brought up track integrity, operators running red lights and operators' use of emergency hand brakes.

Experts say Washington's Metrorail issues are representative of transportation-related safety issues nationwide. A quarter of the nation's roads are in disrepair and the country's bridges are also in need of billions of dollars in extreme maintenance.

Foxx put the blame squarely on the shoulders of D.C., Maryland and Virginia for what he called a lack of oversight.

"We took over state safety oversight temporarily to give them time to get it stood up correctly and yet we have no concrete movement on the part of these jurisdictions," he said.

Metrorail had never shut down completely for equipment problems, and the surprise announcement Tuesday that it would close left hundreds of thousands of commuters, visitors and residents of Washington, D.C. scrambling to figure out how to get around the region

As of 10 p.m. Wednesday, Metro said workers had completed inspections of approximately 600 jumper cables. Twenty-six issues were found that require repair or replacement, Wiedefeld said.

Metro announced Wednesday night that trains on the Red, Yellow and Green lines would operate on a regular schedule Thursday.

Wiedefeld acknowledged the traffic caused by the shutdown to Metro, saying, "I know today's presented hardship to the region."

"We are sorry this had to happen," said Jack Evans, chair of the Metro Board of Directors, who then called upon the responsibility that the rest of the region has to the aging system. "I think it's important to remember that Metro is not some standalone organization."

Metro workers were joined along miles of underground tracks by electrical engineers from Amtrak and other commuter rail systems.

All of the crews' findings on the state of the third-rail equipment will be shared with the Federal Transit Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, Metro said.

Those agencies helped investigate the smoke incident at L'Enfant Plaza in Jan. 2015 which killed one person and injured dozens of others. In that incident, a Metro train filled with smoke while it was stopped in a tunnel near the L'Enfant Plaza station. Carol Inman Glover, 61, of Alexandria, Virginia, was a beloved mother and grandmother who had just won her company's employee of the year award.

A similar problem with cables caused a fire at the McPherson Square station early Monday, according to a preliminary investigation. Many travelers Wednesday said they understood the life-or-death stakes of keeping the rails safe. But in a region that is growing quickly, and trying to become less dependent on cars, the sudden shutdown of the commuting backbone threw many for a loop. "I mean, there are a lot of people traveling, like myself, working. We depend on the Metro," commuter Kevin Williams said Wednesday. "It just never occurred to me to think about an alternate route to get there, and then I have to think about that, so it's making it really difficult."

Commuter Peggy Delaney said her commute wasn't too difficult Wednesday morning, and she appreciated Metro's efforts to ensure the system is safe.

"It's really not that bad," she said. "The bus takes about an extra 15, 20 minutes [longer] than the train, so it's really not that bad. Safety first, so that's cool. I can get around."

On NBC Washington's Facebook page, commuters chimed in about their plans for the day, which ranged from making early commutes to taking a day off from work.

"Sharing a ride with a neighbor and making a new friend," Patty Stephenson posted.

"Commute[d] from bed to computer without incident. Thanks OPM!" Judy Warner Weixel wrote.

Twitter user @stephaniedmv wrote, "Traffic from Rosslyn into DC is definitely heavier than normal."

However, many other roads were experiencing normal or even lighter traffic than usual.

"I was braced for disaster, but the 50 buses were actually not that much more crowded than a normal day," Twitter user @wholenewedu tweeted.
New Zealand is renowned for its wondrous scenery, and among the country's top tourist attractions are two glaciers that are both stunning and unusual because they snake down from the mountains to a temperate rain forest, making them easy for people to walk up to and view.

But the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting at such a rapid rate that it has become too dangerous for tourists to hike onto them from the valley floor, ending a tradition that dates back a century. With continuing warm weather this year there are no signs of a turnaround, and scientists say it is another example of how global warming is impacting the environment.

Tourism in New Zealand is booming and nearly 1 million people last year flocked to get a glimpse of the glaciers and the spectacular valleys they've carved. But the only way to set foot on them now is to get flown onto them by helicopter.

Tour operators offer flights and guided glacier walks, although logistics limit this to 80,000 tourists per year, half the number that once hiked up from the valley floor. Up to another 150,000 people each year take scenic flights that land briefly at the top of the glaciers.

Flying in the UNESCO World Heritage area comes with its own risks, highlighted in November when a sightseeing helicopter crashed onto the Fox Glacier, killing all seven aboard.

Sitting near the base of the Franz Josef Glacier, Wayne Costello, a district operations manager for the Department of Conservation, said that when he arrived eight years ago, the rock he was perched on would have been buried under tons of ice. Instead, the glacier now comes to an end a half-mile (800 meters) further up the valley.

"Like a loaf of bread shrinking in its tin, it's gone down a lot as well," Costello said. "So it's wasted away in terms of its thickness, and that's led to quite a rapid melt."

Because of that melt, the valley walls that were once braced by the glaciers have been left exposed and vulnerable to rock falls, making hiking up too dangerous. Tour operators stopped taking guided hikes onto the Franz Josef in 2012 and the nearby Fox in 2014.

A 2014 paper published in the journal Global and Planetary Change concluded the two glaciers have each melted by 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) in length since the 1800s, making them about 20 percent shorter. The glaciers have recently been melting at a faster pace than ever previously recorded, the authors said.

Heather Purdie, a scientist at the University of Canterbury and lead author of the paper, said climate change is the driving factor.

"We know that glaciers around the world, including the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers, are responding to that warmer temperature and they're retreating," she said. Small changes in temperature and snowfall tend to be magnified in the two glaciers and their retreat has been interrupted by advances that can last years, she said.

Costello and tour operators are hoping to see another advance soon. But there's no sign of that: February was the second-hottest month ever recorded in New Zealand.

The hot weather has even created a new type of tourist attraction over the other side of the mountains. Purdie said the glaciers there are also rapidly retreating, resulting in tourists taking boat rides on the lakes to see some of the massive icebergs that have begun to shear away.

A helicopter trip onto the Fox Glacier reveals deep crevasses in the translucent blue ice and stunning ice caves through which guides take crampon-wearing tourists. A guide retells the indigenous Maori legend which would have it that the Franz Josef Glacier began as a stream of tears left by a young woman whose lover was killed by an avalanche.

The glaciers are formed by prevailing westerly winds dumping snow in a high-altitude basin. It compacts into ice and is pushed down the valleys much like toothpaste being squeezed from a tube. The glaciers slide and roll down the mountain at a rate of 4 meters (13 feet) each day, picking up rocks and debris along the way.

"It's the uniqueness, the rawness of the environment," that draws tourists from Australia, North America, Europe, and, increasingly, China, said Rob Jewell, chairman of the Glacier Country Tourism Group.

It's also a region which is subject to rapid changes in the weather. At the time of November's helicopter crash  which killed four tourists from Britain and two from Australia, as well as the New Zealand pilot  some observers said the weather and visibility were marginal for safe flying.

Jewell said he didn't want to comment until an investigation by authorities was complete. He said the crash hasn't affected tourist numbers, which have been stronger than ever this year.

At the base of the Franz Josef, Dutch tourist Dieuwke Derkse said she was overwhelmed by the beauty of the glacier and the purity of the environment.

She said she believed global warming was responsible for its retreat and felt a little guilty even visiting New Zealand because of the fossil fuels burned by the plane ride there. But she said the glacier also helped inspire her to live in a more environmentally conscious way.

"It makes me a little bit sad because you see how fast everything is going," she said. "The river is going very fast but the snow and glacier is going backward."
Hillary Clinton triumphed Tuesday in the Florida, Ohio and North Carolina presidential primaries, putting her in a commanding position to become the first woman in U.S. history to win a major party nomination. Donald Trump strengthened his hand in the Republican race with a big win in Florida but fell in Ohio to that state's governor, John Kasich.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio ended his once-promising campaign after his devastating home-state loss, so the GOP primary is now down to three candidates: Trump, Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

Trump also picked up wins in North Carolina and Illinois, and was locked in a close race with Cruz in Missouri that NBC News called an apparent win for the billionaire businessman.

Trump told a victory rally, "This was an amazing night."

Trump is the only Republican candidate with a realistic path to the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination before the July convention. But his loss in Ohio kept hope alive for mainstream Republicans dismayed by his candidacy and suggesting the real estate mogul can still be stopped in a convention fight.

"The campaign goes on," Kasich declared at a victory rally. Now thrust into the center of a campaign that has been bitingly personal, Kasich vowed to "not take the low road to the highest office in the land."

A confident Clinton pivoted quickly to November during her victory rally, assailing Trump's hardline immigration positions and support for torture. "Our commander-in-chief has to be able to defend our country, not embarrass it," she declared.

Underscoring Republican concerns about Trump, Rubio focused heavily on an implicit critique of Trump in a speech announcing he was dropping out of the race. The senator urged Americans to "not give in to the fear, do not give in to the frustration."

A favorite of Republican leaders, Rubio is the latest candidate to fall victim to an unpredictable election cycle and Trump's unmatched ability to tap into the public's anger with Washington and frustration with sweeping economic changes.

Clinton's victories in Ohio and Florida were a blow to rival Bernie Sanders and bolstered her argument that she's the best Democratic candidate to take on the eventual Republican nominee in the general election. Her win in Ohio was a particular relief for her campaign, which grew anxious after Sanders pulled off a surprising win last week in Michigan, another important Midwestern state.

Clinton kept up her large margins with black voters, a crucial group for Democrats in the general election. Democratic voters were more likely to describe Sanders as honest, but more likely to describe Clinton's policies as realistic, according to exit polls.

Campaigning Tuesday in North Carolina, Clinton said "the numbers are adding up in my favor." She signaled an eagerness to move on to a possible general election showdown with Trump, saying he's laid out a "really dangerous path" for the country.

Votes were counted late into the night Tuesday in Missouri, where both the Democrat and Republican races came down to a margin of a few thousand votes. NBC News called Clinton and Trump the apparent winner in the state, while Clinton was also named the apparent winner in a tight race with Sanders in Illinois.

Trump entered Tuesday's primaries embroiled in one of the biggest controversies of his contentious campaign. The GOP front-runner has encouraged supporters to confront protesters at his events and is now facing accusations of encouraging violence after skirmishes at a rally last week in Chicago.

The atmosphere at his events has deepened the concern over his candidacy in some Republican circles. Rubio and Kasich have suggested they might not be able to support Trump if he's the nominee, an extraordinary stance for intraparty rivals.

His closest competition so far has come from Cruz, who has kept relatively close to the businessman in the delegate count and has been urging other candidates to drop out so he can take Trump on one-on-one.

After another good night for Trump, some Republicans were struggling to come to grips with the prospect of him becoming the nominee and desperate to find long-shot ways to stop him.

A group of conservatives planned to meet Thursday to discuss options including a contested convention or by rallying around a third-party candidate. While such no candidate has been identified, meeting participants planned to discuss ballot access issues, including using an existing third party as a vehicle or securing signatures for an independent bid.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., did not rule out the idea of being drafted by the party at the convention.

"People say, 'What about the contested convention?'" Ryan said in an interview with CNBC. "I say, well, there are a lot of people running for president. We'll see. Who knows?"

Despite concerns from party leaders, Republican voters continue to back Trump's most controversial proposals, with two-thirds of those who participated in GOP primaries Tuesday saying they support temporarily banning Muslims from the United States.

The exit polls were conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks.

Trump's Florida victory brought his delegate total to 619. Cruz has 394 and Kasich 136. Rubio left the race with 167 delegates.

Clinton has at least 1,488 delegates, including the superdelegates who are elected officials and party leaders free to support the candidate of their choice. Sanders has at least 704. It takes 2,383 to win the Democratic nomination.
The Massachusetts State Police trooper injured in a crash on the Massachusetts Turnpike on Wednesday has died.

The accident was reported around noon in Charlton, Massachusetts. Interstate 90 was temporarily shut down in both directions so a medical helicopter could land on the highway, but has since reopened.

Killed in the crash was Trooper Thomas Clardy, 44, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who joined the state police in April of 2005. His colleagues described him as "a great man" who was well-liked and known for his professionalism and dedication. He leaves behind a wife and six children ranging in age from 4 to 17 years old.

"Today we pray for him. We pray for them," state police Col. Richard D. McKeon said. "The Massachusetts State Police are devastated for their loss. We'll never be able to fill the hole that has left in their lives from this day forward, but they will always be part of our state police family. We will forever hold them tight to our hearts, for the rest of our lives."

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Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker issued a statement saying he was "deeply saddened" to learn of Clardy's line of duty death.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, loved ones, fellow troopers and the entire law enforcement community during this very difficult time."

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.

Police, Fire Line the Streets for Fallen Trooper

State police said Clardy was working a special accident reduction shift aimed at preventing crashes when he pulled over a Chevrolet Tahoe in the breakdown lane of I-90 westbound for a traffic violation. He walked up to the vehicle, obtained information from the driver and got back into his Ford Explorer cruiser to begin processing the motor vehicle stop.

At that time, state police said a Nissan Maxima traveling westbound in the left lane at what witnesses said was a high rate of speed suddenly swerved to the right, crossing all three travel lanes, and struck Clardy's cruiser. The impact pushed the cruiser into the Chevrolet, knocking that vehicle onto the grassy side of the highway.

McKeon said responding troopers and emergency personnel found Clardy inside the cruiser with "traumatic injuries" and began administering first aid. He was transported by ambulance to UMass Medical Center in Worcester, where he was pronounced dead.

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Killed in Crash

The driver of the Nissan - David Njuguna, 30, of Webster, was taken by medical helicopter to UMass Medical Center with serious injuries. McKeon said he will be issued a criminal summons for negligent operation of a motor vehicle and failure to stay within marked lanes. Police are also asking that his license be suspended.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. State police said additional charges could still be forthcoming.
The undercover Prince George's County narcotics detective killed Sunday after a gunman opened fire was "deliberately" shot by a fellow officer during crossfire, Police Chief Hank Stawinski announced Wednesday.

Sources close to the investigation told News4 the officer fired the fatal shot in a case of mistaken identity, confusing Officer 1st Class Jacai Colson, 28, for a suspect.

The police chief declined to characterize the shooting but said in a news conference Wednesday afternoon there was no indication the officer who shot Colson harbored any "malice" toward him.

Colson was dressed in plainclothes and had exited an unmarked police car when he tried to take down the shooter, police said.

Michael Ford, 22, opened fire on officers in Palmer Park, Maryland, about 4:30 p.m. Sunday, sparking return fire from several police officers. Colson, 28, was shot by a fellow officer and died.

"The shot that struck and killed Detective Colson was deliberately aimed at him by another police officer," Stawinski said.

Police officers are receiving counseling, Stawinski said.

Ford is facing 25 counts, including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, in the shootout that turned fatal for Colson.

Ford, who is being held without bail, fired on the District III station to draw officers' attention and hoped to die in a "suicide by cop," police said.

Ford's brother Malik, 21, drove him to the police station, police said. His brother Elijah, 18, recorded Ford's will, in which he mapped out the shooting, officials said. The firefight also was recorded.

Elijah and Malik Ford appeared in court Wednesday via video and were held without bond.

The father of the three brothers, Michael Thomas, spoke in their defense in the courtroom.

"My son [Michael] is excellent. I never thought I'd be standing in front of you pleading for his life," he said. "I've lost three sons in one shot."

Malik Ford passed out during the court appearance, causing a break in the proceedings.

A sister of the young men told News4 Elijah Ford is a good person who needs to return to Bowie High School. She spoke about why the 18-year-old filmed the video of the shootout.

"Elijah was in awe by what happened," she said. "She knew no one would believe him."



Charging documents reveal new information about the chain of events leading up to Colson's death.

The District III station was first shot at about 4:25 p.m., prosecutors said in the documents. Two rounds shattered the glass front door of the station. Michael Ford then fired at passing cars and a police cruiser with two officers inside, prosecutors said. He then fired at one officer walking near the door of the police station and four other officers in a nearby parking lot, according to the documents.

Colson arrived on the scene by car and exchanged gunfire with the shooter. He then was shot by a fellow officer.

Colson was rushed to Prince George's County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Michael Ford was arrested and taken to a hospital. He was found with a handgun, police said.

As News4 previously reported, Ford's brothers told police they had discussed with Michael Ford his plan to "attack the police and engage the police in a 'shootout,'" prosecutors said.

During the shootout, officers asked Ford's brothers if they knew where Ford was, prosecutors said. Police said he had hidden behind a police van. Malik Ford said he did not know, but on video shot by one of his brothers, the suspect can clearly be seen hiding behind the van.

The brothers face numerous charges, including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. A court commissioner rejected second-degree murder charges against Malik and Elijah Ford on Tuesday, but Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said she believes there is probable cause to file second-degree murder charges against them and that those charges can be presented by prosecutors to a grand jury.



Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said Tuesday he couldn't explain the "frightening" actions of the shooter or his brothers.



"It doesn't make any sense,'' Stawinski said.

Elijah and Malik Ford are due back in court April 13. Michael Ford was still in a hospital as of Wednesday evening.
Evacuations are continuing in Southeast Texas as floodwaters are expected to rise in some areas and further snarl traffic along a major interstate at the Louisiana border.

Joe Mires, spokesman for the Orange County emergency management office, said Wednesday the Sabine River could rise by another 6 inches near Interstate 10.

TX #NationalGuard rescued over 60 pets from flooding in East TX. See more photos at https://t.co/lvOZTNubfB #txwx pic.twitter.com/d0nlTTKJxy  Texas Military Dept (@TXMilitary) March 16, 2016

But he says the river should begin receding by late Wednesday, although forecasts for rain Friday or Saturday could complicate relief efforts.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott toured flood-ravaged communities in East Texas where swollen rivers have displaced thousands of people.

Abbott tweeted a photo from his aerial our over the town of Orange.

Orange Mayor Jimmy Sims, said he'd never seen the kind of flooding that has hit the area about 100 miles east of Houston over the last week.

No deaths or serious injuries have been reported in the region, which was slammed by as much as 20 inches of rain over four days last week. Steadily rising waters along rivers prompted evacuations beginning last weekend.

The flooding has led to intermittent closures of stretches of Interstate 10, one of the country's major transportation arteries.

Louisiana State Police said Wednesday that Interstate 10 is closed in both directions at the Texas state line.

Sgt. Gary Smith with Troop D in Lake Charles says rising water from the Sabine River is covering the interstate Wednesday morning on the Texas side. Troopers say drivers should use Interstate 20 to travel between the two states or U.S. 190, another alternate route.

National Weather Service meteorologist Stephen Carboni in Lake Charles says the Sabine will crest at 7.7 feet at the Orange, Texas, gauge Tuesday evening. Flood stage is 4 feet.

Carboni says it may take several days for the flood waters to recede.

State police say they're monitoring I-10 at the Mississippi state line. Flood waters from the Pearl River are threatening to close the highway on the Louisiana side.


If there was a Sunlight-Discussion-o-Meter, or some sort of recording device that captured how often people discussed the daytime and the nighttime and the times on the clock, it would surely have its biggest week following the start of Daylight Saving Time.

Some people love to rhapsodize about that "extra hour" of sunshine at the end of the day, while others talk of the difficulty of waking in the morning. It's a fine time, then, for an annual event observed around the planet, one that deals in time and light and darkness and the vital issues swirling about our planet: Earth Hour.

Always falling within a few days of Daylight Saving Time -- and the spring equinox, of course -- Earth Hour raises awareness about conservation, the climate, being cognizant of the energy we consume, and all of the beings that share our home turf.

The 2016 Earth Hour happens from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., regardless of location on the map.

As is tradition, many landmarks around the world will lower their lights, or fully extinguish them, for 60 minutes on Saturday, March 19. In past years the pylons at the entrance to Los Angeles International Airport and parts of Santa Monica Pier have dimmed in honor of the worldwide happening.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is throwing an Earth Hour 2016 to-do at 111 North Hope, complete with live tunes and information about World Wildlife Fund event. You're invited to stop by and "see landmarks like City Hall and our downtown skyscrapers all go dark at 8:30 sharp."

If you want to observe Earth Hour at home, it is recommended that "non-essentials" be shut off, like computer screens, though some participants go the full lights-out route.

How will you honor the hour? Where you be? Find out more at Earth Hour's online HQ.
The Miami Dolphins will keep Matt Moore as their backup quarterback with a two-year contract, according to a report from the NFL Network.

Moore will earn $3.5 million under the reported terms of the deal, and will continue to serve as depth behind Ryan Tannehill. For Moore, this deal will extend a run with Miami that began in 2011.

It takes going back to Moore's first season in Miami to find his last start. In that season, Moore actually started 12 games for Miami and played in 13. Ever since that campaign, Moore has played a grand total of six games, while coming off the sidelines. While Moore has not had much of an opportunity, he continues to give Miami some confidence in terms of playbook knowledge and experience in practices with the team.

If the Dolphins and Moore were unable to come to terms on a deal, the team would have needed to find a new name in a thin market. There were no closely connected QBs in reports with Miami, while Moore had discussions with the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys recently.

Miami has had a very active off-season already with contract restructuring, trades, signings, and releases. The team also tried to snag a new running back in CJ Anderson. Miami had signed the RB to an offer sheet which was matched by the Denver Broncos on Tuesday. After letting Lamar Miller leave via free agency, Miami will likely continue to search for a new member of its ground game.

The Dolphins also will likely look to make some improvements to its offensive line. A good amount of time has thus far been focused on the defense. Finding an improved line to protect Tannehill will be critical to the success of the team. In 2015, Tannehill was sacked 45 times and was rushed on many more passes.
Friends and family are mourning a Philadelphia high school student who died of bacterial meningitis.

Jonathan Briggs, a freshman at George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science in North Philadelphia, passed away at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Tuesday. He was 15-years-old.

Students gathered at George Washington Carver High School to remember a 9th grader who died from bacterial meningitis Tuesday. NBC10s Rosemary Connors has more.

Briggs' classmates honored him Wednesday, releasing balloons into the sky as a tribute. Briggs, who played on the school's JV basketball team, was described as a good athlete and a funny and calm "gentle giant."

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The Philadelphia School District's Emergency/Crisis Response Team sent trained professionals at the school to provide counseling and help for students and staff. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is also monitoring the situation.

The incident is the first meningitis death in Philadelphia this year. Meningitis symptoms include fever, headache, a stiff neck, nausea and vomiting. Patients may also be confused and sensitive to light. Experts say meningitis normally isn't deadly.

"If you are fully vaccinated you're going to be protected," said Dr. Stacey A. Gorski of the University of Pennsylvania. "If you're a healthy individual you're protected. It's most often those people who are immunocompromised, something wrong with their immune system."

Health officials have been reaching out to anyone who was in close contact with Briggs. Students told NBC10 they last saw him in school Friday. While officials confirmed he died at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia they have not yet revealed when he was admitted.

School administrators insisted the student body is safe. A meeting for parents addressing their concerns was also held at the school Wednesday evening.

"We're working very closely with the CDC and really taking our points from them," said George Washington Carver principal Ted Domers. "They're the experts on this. As they've given us guidance on uncleanliness, sanitation and all of that there's been nothing to worry about."

Learn more about bacterial meningitis HERE.




New Jersey taxpayers are on the hook for more than $1 million for the state's failed attempts to keep records secret over the last four years, according to data obtained by The Associated Press.

The information, obtained through the state's Open Public Records Act, shows that the state paid out $1,076,013 in taxpayer money reimbursing plaintiffs' lawyers fees in 54 cases from January 2012 through March 4.

That includes $360,780 from 12 cases in which individuals and media organizations successfully fought decisions by Gov. Chris Christie's office not to release information. Other cases involved requesters forced to go to court to get information from the state police, Department of Education and other state agencies.

Christie took office promising "a new era of accountability and transparency," but his administration has been accused of stonewalling records requests. While journalists say there have been signs of improvement in how the administration handles some requests, media outlets have sued over access to visitor logs at the governor's mansion, out-of-state travel records and details about public contracts.

"You're either in this to have a transparent government, or you're in this to fight it tooth and nail," said Bruce Rosen, an attorney who represents media organizations. "I for one don't know why they would fight any of this. It's not their government, it's our government."

Kevin Roberts, a spokesman for Christie, said that the number of settlements and court-ordered reimbursements can be traced to the "unprecedented number of OPRA requests that this administration has been subject to." He said that many of the denials stem from lawyers determining that releasing information could compromise the governor's safety.

Information wasn't available on how many OPRA requests the governor's office had received compared with previous administrations, but Roberts said that Christie's office received 10,000 more requests last year than in his first year in office.

Roberts also notes that the state attorney general's office, which represents the state in the OPRA court fights, netted about $350 million last year for the state through unrelated legal settlements.

OPRA gives anyone the right to request documents from government agencies, except for records covered by a series of exemptions. A requester who disagrees when a government agency says something isn't public can appeal to either the Government Records Council or state courts. The state can be forced to cover legal fees if a judge determines documents were unlawfully denied.

The state paid plaintiffs' lawyers in eight cases last year as Christie was preparing for and then running for the Republican presidential nomination. The cases included a fight by WNYC and investigative reporter Mark Lagerkvist for a media contact list created by the governor's office, and Lagerkvist's request for records of Christie's travel outside of the state in 2012 and 2013.

"It's bad enough that Gov. Christie uses the power of his office to withhold any public records that might embarrass him. It's even worse when he saddles taxpayers with the costs of defending that unwarranted secrecy in court," Lagerkvist said in an email. "The good news is that all of the bad press and adverse court rulings have forced the governor's office to be more responsive in how it handles records requests."

The $1 million figure doesn't include the cost for state lawyers to work on the cases. There are still 37 OPRA cases open, according to the attorney general's office.

Iris Bromberg, a transparency law fellow for the ACLU of New Jersey, said that the unlawful denials divert resources from protecting the public's right to access information, cutting away at the public's trust.

"Open government is the cornerstone of democracy," Bromberg said. "We need it for the public to access the performance of public officials."
The former chief financial officer of the Philadelphia-area tourism bureau has been charged with embezzling $200,000 from the nonprofit organization, spending the money on fancy dinners, skin care regimens and a New York furrier, a district attorney said Wednesday.

Joyce Levitt, 61, faces felony charges of fraud, theft and forgery. She oversaw the finances of Visit Philadelphia, which promotes travel to southeastern Pennsylvania and gets most of its money from the city's hotel tax. Levitt's responsibilities included monitoring the tax's income and cash flow and compiling financial statements.

Levitt turned herself in Wednesday. It's not clear if she has hired a lawyer.

The DA's office began investigating after a newspaper reported that she was allowed to quietly resign in 2012 and return the money. Levitt told The Philadelphia Inquirer in July 2014 that she had resigned after "a disagreement over how money was being spent."

Philadelphia DA Seth Williams said Wednesday that he was "disgusted by Joyce Levitt's embezzlement of money that was meant to benefit the people and city of Philadelphia and not her lifestyle."

Visit Philadelphia hired Levitt in 2003. She became its CFO in 2005, the same year she started taking money for her own use, the prosecutor's office said. She put $118,000 on her corporate credit card and wrote more than $80,000 in corporate checks from 2005 to 2012, according to the prosecutor's office.

That figure included nearly $20,000 on meals at high-end restaurants, nearly $19,000 at wholesale clubs like Costco and more than $5,000 at a skin care facility and a furrier, authorities said.

Even before allegations of Levitt's transgressions were noted in the media and a criminal investigation began, an internal audit found that she had manipulated financial records, the DA's office said.
Bustling Little Italy stands to lose more than 50 parking spots under a transportation plan in the works for the city of San Diego.

Members of the Little Italy Association of San Diego filled a room to protest Civic San Diegos downtown mobility plan that aims to install a series of bike lanes, widened sidewalks and shortened street crossings on urban streets.

"To take away any parking in the area is devastating to the community," one business owner said during public comment.

Community members came together Wednesday evening to speak at the Downtown Community Planning Council meeting, voicing their thoughts on the plan aimed at making the entire downtown area more bicycle, pedestrian and public transit friendly.

"As far as parking goes, everyone in Little Italy can testify, we're in a daily episode of Survivor," a resident said.

In a letter to Little Italy residents, Chris Gomez, district manager of the Little Italy Association, said the proposed plan means that 50 parking spaces would be eliminated on State and West Beech Streets.

"We recommended all our North/South streets in Little Italy would be converted to diagonal parking and all our East/West streets would be converted to headed parking," Gomez said.

He said protected bike lanes would be implemented that are not safe or viable for our community or cyclists.

Andy Handshaw with Bike Coalition San Diego County supports the Mobility Plan, saying its goal is to accommodate future growth.

"You reduce parking demand when you have a mobility plan like this," he said. "When you give them the option to come by walk, by bike by transit."

Officials said there is still a ways to go until the fate of the plan is determined.
If your neighbor tried to kill someone, would you want to know? What if they were charged with child abuse, domestic violence, felony assault, drunk driving or fleeing police?

According to the U.S. Department of State, thats classified and secret information if it involves foreign diplomats working on American soil.

It should make people angry, said Nate Jones at the National Security Archive. Theyre using a classification stamp to keep this stuff secret. Its not national security but people being sloppy with secrecy.

The News4 I-Team has been embroiled in a seven-year battle to access the names of foreign diplomats accused of violent and dangerous crimes. It began in 2008, when we filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the State Department, asking for a list of diplomats charged with our nations most serious driving offenses.

In 2014, six years into our fight, we received a partial list of offenders pulled over by police between 2001 and 2009. We found one-third were caught drinking and driving, some going more than 100 mph, while others were charged with hit-and-run and trying to elude police.

We also uncovered employees working for the Saudi Arabia embassy had four times as many tickets for reckless driving, DUI and possession of marijuana than any other country's embassy. The embassy did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

But the list we received was incomplete  it only went to 2010 and didnt provide basic information like the suspects first name or the location of the crime. Instead, we pieced many of those details together by making more than a dozen visits to our local courthouses. Thats how we discovered many of the names were actually repeat violators with additional charges not included on the State Departments list.

In an effort to get more up-to-date records, we filed a formal FOIA appeal in 2014. A panel made up of three ambassadors ruled the State Department had to give us a more recent list dating from 2010 to 2012.

But this new list was missing even more information  critical information like names and countries. All we got this time was a list of dates and crimes  with no way of telling where they happened or who committed the crime.

The State Department is bending over backwards to not embarrass diplomats, Jones told us after reviewing our documents. The people who are doing the redacting are doing it willy nilly and erring too much on the side of secrecy.

Jones and his group at the National Security Archive use FOIA to win access to politically sensitive documents on topics like Iran Contra, CIA human experiments and White House emails.

Even though federal law says you should receive a response to any FOIA within 20 days, Jones and his group have been waiting 23 years for what many believe to be the oldest outstanding FOIA  a request to review documents from the 1940s on British negotiations over nuclear weapons testing.

Jones told us waiting seven years to get a list of crimes without any names is really against President Obamas directive to make government records more accessible to the public.

He wondered if the State Department decided to purposefully redact information because they didnt like your report.

But the agencys transparency coordinator, Ambassador Janice L. Jacobs, disagreed. We have people in our office that are trained in FOIA law and they do redactions very carefully.

Jacobs said she was brought on last October to fix the State Departments FOIA problems. It definitely needs improvement, she said. But Secretary John Kerry is very committed to transparency and open government.

She found FOIA requests have tripled since 2008, with her office now responding to more than 20,000 requests a year. She said she hired an additional 50 people to process those requests (bringing the total number to almost 150 employees) and is now looking at new technology to speed up response times. Our responses are taking too long, she admitted. I would love it if we made the 20-day limit, but the truth is not many federal agencies can meet that because there is so much information you have to search.

But Adam Marshall at the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press said refusing to release the names of diplomats accused of committing crimes goes beyond negligence since the information we requested contained true public safety threats involving people hurting other people.

Diplomatic Violent Crimes

Because, as we waited for the updated list of diplomatic drivers, we put in a second FOIA asking for a list of all diplomats accused of committing other types of crimes while working in the United States.

The list we received contains 30 crimes reported between 2012 and 2014, including an Ethiopian diplomat who returned to his home country after being accused of assault with intent to kill while armed. Another was sent back to Equatorial Guinea after being accused of malicious wounding, while a diplomat from Morocco had to stand trial here in the United States for robbery and purse snatching. Other crimes on the list include fleeing and eluding police, armed robbery, larceny, prostitution and a wide variety of assaults and property crimes.

But we dont know where these crimes occurred or who committed them. Nor do we always know what happened to them. There are charges of child abuse and domestic violence against diplomats from Indonesia, Venezula, Bolivia, Malawi and the Phillipines. In each of those cases, the Department of State lists Unknown for what happened to the suspect.

The hallmark of the American criminal process is that prosecutions and convictions are open and done in an open court, Marshall said. We dont have secret criminal prosecutions. But its impossible for the public to figure out what happened to these diplomats.

The State Departments Office of Foreign Missions is in charge of tracking diplomatic bad behavior. The offices director, Ambassador Gentry O. Smith, said, We take the responsibility of protecting the American public very seriously.

Were not shy about going after matters if they impact the public to ensure the public is safe, he continued. We have a robust enforcement program where we do monitor the activities of anyone brought to our attention by local law enforcement. We have no tolerance for violent crimes. If they dont have diplomatic immunity, they go through our criminal courts. If they have immunity, they go back to their country.

We had previously reported the State Department told us it kicked 45 diplomats out of the country in a two-year period.

He said violent offenders also lose their diplomatic visas and are tracked by the State Department so they cannot reenter the United States.

But while the notion of diplomatic immunity might protect these foreign workers from prosecution, Jones said, It does not mean they shouldnt have to release a name because it might embarrass diplomats.

What is really upsetting and worrisome, Marshall continued, is your original story pointed out that the State Department isnt even tracking or isnt aware of repeat offenders. Inhibiting the public to track repeat offenders is a really serious problem for public safety and is putting peoples safety in jeopardy.

For both of our FOIAs, the State Department cited privacy exemptions for why it wouldnt release names and other critical information. Both Jones and Marshall said the agency should have made the names public because federal law requires agencies to weigh public interest against an individuals right to privacy. The public needs to know there are people out there committing serious crimes, Marshall explained. These are very serious charges.

If the public doesnt know their name and the government doesnt know what happened to them, Marshall explained, then its impossible for the public to figure out what happened, and that is a true public safety threat.
Alan Gross, the Maryland man who was imprisoned in Cuba for five years, recounted his experiences in prison on Tuesday and called for an end to U.S. trade sanctions against Cuba.

Days before President Obama leaves for a historic trip to the Cuban capital, Gross spoke at an event Tuesday at the National Press Club, thanking those who helped bring him home.

In this room, in this community, in this country and beyond -- thank you, Grossman said. "Freedom is bliss.

Gross is a former federal subcontractor who was arrested in Cuba in 2009. His wife and others said he was there to set up Internet access for the small Jewish community on the communist island. He was released Dec. 2014 as part of an announcement by Obama that the U.S. would restore diplomatic relations with Cuba after five decades.

Gross described difficult conditions in prison.

The first year was a year of sensory deprivation. I lost 70 pounds the first year, Gross said.

Gross was detained with constant, bright fluorescent lighting overhead and bugs in the food, he said. For his first year, he had a lack of any mental stimulation whatsoever, he said.

The worst part of my imprisonment was isolation, he said.

After the first year, Gross had more contact outside the prison. He said he recieved visits from Cuban officials, who brought him food and reading materials. Sens. Bernie Sanders, Jon Tester and Heidi Heitkamp visited Gross in 2011 while he was in prison, a news release Sanders previously issued said.

Gross said the senators brought the largest bag of peanut M&Ms Ive ever seen and many hocolate chip cookies. The senators also brought reading materials -- but each senator brought the exact same periodicals.

Next month, Gross will turn 67 years old, he said. He said he would visit Cuba again.

I would return to Cuba in a heartbeat, he said.

He wants to see the beaches on the island and introduce his wife to his fellow prisoners and their families, he said.

Gross expressed gratitude to the people who facilitated his release, and frustration with the U.S. government.

He called for the U.S. to end trade sanctions against Cuba. President Obama has been restoring relations with Cuba for more than a year. However, the embargo remains in place.

Cry me a river, build me a bridge and get over the failure of the embargo by lifting it, Gross said.

He even said he sees an opportunity for his home state to trade with Cuba.

One of the reasons they dont have a lot of poultry in Cuba is because they dont have feed, he told News 4's Derrick Ward, suggesting that Maryland could find a new market for chicken feed if trade opened up with Cuba.

Gross wants to change another government policy -- this one for personal reasons. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear his lawsuit against the U.S. government because Gross was harmed outside the U.S., NBC News reported. Gross wants to overturn laws that allowed his case to be thrown out.

After the elections, I am going to try and find a champion in the Senate and a champion in the House who will look at the foreign exclusion clause that got my suit against the U.S. government thrown out of court, he said.

NBC News also reported Gross reached a $3.2 million settlement with the government in another related case.

Gross needed several teeth replaced when he returned from Cuba. He flashed a smile at the National Press Club event and called his dentist an engineer and an artist.

My wife says that I whistle a lot in a very irritating way these days. Im a very happy camper. Im free, he said.
The Harlem Globetrotters celebrated the birthday of Virginia McLaurin, the 107-year-old woman who became famous for dancing with the Obamas at the White House.

The Globetrotters met McLaurin on Tuesday at Roots Public Charter School in Northwest D.C., where she still volunteers regularly.

McLaurin, who celebrated her birthday Saturday, was born 17 years before the Globetrotters team formed.

The Globetrotters' Julian "Zeus" McClurkin and Alex "Moose" Weekes taught McLaurin a few new tricks and presented her with a personalized #107 jersey and a cake.

As the "Ambassadors of Goodwill," the Globetrotters spoke to the elementary school students about the positive attributes McLaurin demonstrates and how the students can incorporate them into their own lives through the team's "C.H.E.E.R. for Character" program.

Additionally, the Globetrotters will donate 107 tickets for students to see the team play at four games in D.C. and Fairfax this weekend.
The undercover Prince George's County narcotics detective killed Sunday after a gunman opened fire was "deliberately" shot by a fellow officer during crossfire, Police Chief Hank Stawinski announced Wednesday.

Sources close to the investigation told News4 the officer fired the fatal shot in a case of mistaken identity, confusing Officer 1st Class Jacai Colson, 28, for a suspect.

The police chief declined to characterize the shooting but said in a news conference Wednesday afternoon there was no indication the officer who shot Colson harbored any "malice" toward him.

Colson was dressed in plainclothes and had exited an unmarked police car when he tried to take down the shooter, police said.

Michael Ford, 22, opened fire on officers in Palmer Park, Maryland, about 4:30 p.m. Sunday, sparking return fire from several police officers. Colson, 28, was shot by a fellow officer and died.

"The shot that struck and killed Detective Colson was deliberately aimed at him by another police officer," Stawinski said.

Police officers are receiving counseling, Stawinski said.

Ford is facing 25 counts, including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, in the shootout that turned fatal for Colson.

Ford, who is being held without bail, fired on the District III station to draw officers' attention and hoped to die in a "suicide by cop," police said.

Family says Elijah is a good student and person who needs to return to Bowie High to continue school. @nbcwashington  Tracee Wilkins (@TraceeWilkins) March 16, 2016

Ford's brother Malik, 21, drove him to the police station, police said. His brother Elijah, 18, recorded Ford's will, in which he mapped out the shooting, officials said. The firefight also was recorded.

Elijah and Malik Ford appeared in court Wednesday via video and were held without bond.

The father of the three brothers, Michael Thomas, spoke in their defense in the courtroom.

"My son [Michael] is excellent. I never thought I'd be standing in front of you pleading for his life," he said. "I've lost three sons in one shot."

Malik Ford passed out during the court appearance, causing a break in the proceedings.

A sister of the young men told News4 Elijah Ford is a good person who needs to return to Bowie High School. She spoke about why the 18-year-old filmed the video of the shootout.

"Elijah was in awe by what happened," she said. "She knew no one would believe him."



Charging documents reveal new information about the chain of events leading up to Colson's death.

The District III station was first shot at about 4:25 p.m., prosecutors said in the documents. Two rounds shattered the glass front door of the station. Michael Ford then fired at passing cars and a police cruiser with two officers inside, prosecutors said. He then fired at one officer walking near the door of the police station and four other officers in a nearby parking lot, according to the documents.

Colson arrived on the scene by car and exchanged gunfire with the shooter. He then was shot by a fellow officer.

Colson was rushed to Prince George's County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Michael Ford was arrested and taken to a hospital. He was found with a handgun, police said.

As News4 previously reported, Ford's brothers told police they had discussed with Michael Ford his plan to "attack the police and engage the police in a 'shootout,'" prosecutors said.

During the shootout, officers asked Ford's brothers if they knew where Ford was, prosecutors said. Police said he had hidden behind a police van. Malik Ford said he did not know, but on video shot by one of his brothers, the suspect can clearly be seen hiding behind the van.

The brothers face numerous charges, including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. A court commissioner rejected second-degree murder charges against Malik and Elijah Ford on Tuesday, but Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said she believes there is probable cause to file second-degree murder charges against them and that those charges can be presented by prosecutors to a grand jury.



Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said Tuesday he couldn't explain the "frightening" actions of the shooter or his brothers.



"It doesn't make any sense,'' Stawinski said.

Elijah and Malik Ford are due back in court April 13. Michael Ford was still in a hospital as of Wednesday evening.
The District has had a version of a lottery and instant games since the early 1980s.

Games and scratch tickets have grown expansively.

The lottery takes in about $200 million and returns a profit each year of about $55 million to the citys general fund after commissions and prize payouts of about $135 million and other expenses.

Over those years, there have been occasional reports of mismanagement, severe personnel disputes, lottery ticket shortages and even questions about the awarding of the lucrative lottery contract itself. The financial control board in 1996 abolished the board of political appointees that ran the operation, a move reaffirmed in 2005 by Congress. It has since been run as an arm of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

Even with all that, the lottery has been a major source of revenue since it began operating in 1983. Since that time, it has awarded over $3 billion in prizes and returned $1.8 billion to the city treasury.

But how is the lottery really run now? How does it stack up against other state-run lotteries?

The answer: surprisingly well.

The D.C. Lottery is one of the most successful lotteries in the U.S., says a new report that was commissioned by D.C. Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey DeWitt. The report by Delehanty Consulting noted the D.C. Lottery was in the top 10 of state lotteries per capita even though it is the only city-run lottery and has severe federal restrictions on selling on federal properties within the city. (Thats a lot of properties.)

DeWitt, according to his staff, asked for the review because of the turbulent history. He wanted an objective, outside opinion, a staff person told The Notebook. The review cost $180,000.

Ward 2 D.C. Council member Jack Evans, whose Finance and Revenue Committee oversees the lottery, has also wanted reform. When DeWitt first arrived in 2013, Evans asked him to take care of it and he did, the legislator said. It was a remarkable achievement given where we were.

Evans, DeWitt and the report all agree that city now has some of the best system security to recognize ticket scams or other cheating.

The new report wasnt all good news. The Delehanty report, which runs 133 pages, reviewed 50 different aspects of running the lottery and made more than a dozen suggested improvements.

Find the study at tinyurl.com/dclotteryreport.

 More, more, more. Another new report suggests the Washington region will be bursting at the seams by 2045, gaining a total of 1.5 million more people. Thats an increase from 5.4 million to 6.9 million.

How will they all get around? asked NBC4 transportation reporter Adam Tuss. Thats a good question for which there are no clear answers right now.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments issued the report early this month.

While the outer suburbs will continue to develop, the report said the inner jurisdictions of Arlington County, Alexandria and the District of Columbia will grow by 42 percent.

Stunningly, the District alone is forecast to have 315,000 more people in the next 30 years. If so, our population would reach nearly 1 million people. The most weve ever had was about 800,000 around World War II.

If the report is anywhere close to right, city policies on height restrictions and land use will come under even more pressure. The citys zoning rules already have been adjusted in anticipation of more growth.

And Tuss wasnt joking. Transportation is critical to the regions growth. And its not just a question of building more suburban roads or limiting parking in the city. Harriet Tregoning, a former D.C. Office of Planning director and now a U.S. Housing and Urban Development official who sits on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authoritys board, was clear that the city wont drive its way out of that growth.

The Metro system  rail and bus  must be made much more effective. And pedestrians and cyclists need to be seen as routine  normal and desirable  parts of the transportation mix, not seen as alternative transportation.

Nothing said more about the troubled regional transportation system than Metros emergency announcement Tuesday. Metro said it was shutting down its entire rail system for 24 hours starting at midnight last night to inspect every rail line for faulty electrical connectors.

I cannot rule out a life and safety issue, said a grim-faced general manager Paul Wiedefeld. I fully recognize the hardship on hundreds of thousands of commuters, he said.

At our deadline, the federal and local governments, businesses and others were scrambling to decide whether to open or close on Wednesday, facing what could be a nightmare of a travel day in the nations capital and its suburbs. For its part, D.C. Public Schools announced that the system would be open, with officials planning to arrange extra bus service and to excuse student absences and tardiness.

 Senate debate. Tune in the WAMU 88.5 Politics Hour at noon on Friday. Kojo Nnamdi and your Notebook will be asking questions of Marylands leading Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate, Chris Van Hollen and Donna Edwards. Its their first of four debates scheduled before the April 26 primary.

Tom Sherwood, a Southwest resident, is a political reporter for News 4.


On Wednesday afternoon, Massachusetts State Trooper Thomas Clardy was killed in a car accident on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Charlton, Massachusetts.

Many New England police departments took to Twitter to express their sympathies for Trooper Clardy's family and colleagues.

Our thoughts and prayers are with our brothers and sister in the MSP. A trooper was struck and killed this afternoon on I90. #justmoveover  West Brookfield PD (@WBrookfieldPD) March 16, 2016

It is with a broken heart that we share the news of the passing of the Trooper involved in the accident on the Pike... Posted by MA Law Enforcement Support on Wednesday, March 16, 2016

The Mansfield Police Department wishes to express our condolences to the Troopers friends and family as well as to our... Posted by Mansfield, MA Police Department on Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Today is a sad day in Massachusetts Law Enforcement. We mourn the loss of Massachusetts State Police Trooper Thomas L.... Posted by Bourne Police Department on Wednesday, March 16, 2016

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The driver of a First Student school bus that hit a tree in Hamden on Wednesday morning suffered major injuries, according to the Hamden Fire Department.

The school bus crashed at Brook Street and Wintergreen Avenue around 8:11 a.m. and it took firefighters around half an hour to extricate the female driver because of severe damage to the front of the bus.

She was conscious when an ambulance transported her to Yale-New Haven Hospital, but firefighters described her injuries as major.

The driver was the only person on board at the time of the crash and it's not clear why the bus went off the road.

Brook Street is closed between Wintergreen Avenue and West Side Drive.

Police are investigating and ask anyone with information about the crash to call Officer Mark Atwater at (203) 281-8213.
Gov. Peter Shumlin, D-Vermont, expressed gratitude that a vote failed in the United States Senate, on a bill that could have undone his state's work to become the first in the nation to require food labels that reveal the presence of genetically-modified organisms, or GMOs.

"We have won this battle, but we have not won the war," Shumlin said Wednesday, after the vote's failure meant Vermont's labeling law could stand. "As Vermont goes, the rest of the nation shall follow."

Starting July 1, Vermont will require food labels to say if ingredients were bio-engineered in laboratories. Many makers of packaged foods rely on GMOs to improve efficiency of production.

However, a push in the Senate, led by Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, would have barred states like Vermont from setting their own labeling requirements. Roberts suggested national, voluntary labeling guidelines would be better than a patchwork of individual state rules.

"Today, our decision is about whether or not to prevent a wrecking ball from hitting our entire food supply chain," Roberts warned on the floor of the Senate, before the vote.

Roberts said many farm groups and food makers want to see the Vermont law halted, including growers of corn and soybeans in his state, claiming those farmers could be discouraged from seeking more efficient methods of production if companies buying their crops had to jump through hoops to label products containing certain ingredients.

Roberts argued if states were to establish varying rules on GMO labeling, food manufacturers and distributors would find it onerous to respond to different expectations from different states. Consumers could thus face higher food costs, Roberts predicted.

However, Vermont advocates for more information on food labels dismissed Roberts' claims.

Sen. David Zuckerman, P-Chittenden County, noted if food companies can change labels seasonally, like to put Santa Claus on soda cans at Christmastime, surely they can adjust to new labeling requirements with little or no impact on their operations.

Shumlin praised Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, for his behind-the-scenes work to encourage colleagues to reject the measure that would have blocked Vermont from enacting the law.

Leahy issued a statement about Wednesday's vote against the bill, calling the notion of a bill that attempted to roll back Vermont's labeling law "hasty" and "short-sighted."

"We are not asking manufacturers to change their production processes," Leahy noted in the written statement. "We are simply asking them to tell consumers what is in the products that go on store shelves. Vermont has led the way in this debate, as our state has in so many important national issues. This is a significant and hard-fought victory for Vermont, but this fight is not yet over."

GMO labeling advocate Andrea Stander, of the Vermont Right to Know Coalition, agreed that more fights likely lie ahead for Vermont's labeling law.

Stander said all over the country, passionate consumers are demanding to know what is in their shopping carts, and that those voices leaned on U.S. Senators to help defeat the bills advancement Wednesday.

"I think people feel food is so fundamental to their daily lives," Stander told necn. "They have the right to know what they're consuming, and particularly what they're feeding to their kids."

Stander said additionally, many advocates for labels on products containing bio-engineered ingredients remain deeply suspicious of corporate interests that aim to block the implementation of labeling laws.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, who is also seeking the Democrats' nomination for the White House, shared concerns over corporate interests.

"I am pleased that Congress stood up to the demands of Monsanto and other multi-national food industry corporations and rejected this outrageous bill," Sanders wrote in a statement to Vermont news organizations. "Today's vote was a victory for the American people over corporate interests."

Sanders went on to say that United States citizens overwhelmingly want more information on the food their families consume, and noted GMO labeling exists in 64 other countries. "There is no reason it can't exist here," Sanders wrote.

Shumlin also pointed to two big national brands, Cheerios and Campbell's Soup, for how they are providing more information to consumers through labeling their products. He argued if major consumer products like those can make GMO food labeling work for them, a lot of other companies surely can, too.
On Wednesday afternoon President Obama nominated Washington D.C. Circuit Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court.

New England politicians released statements about the nomination, some urging the Senate to confirm the nomination, others encouraging senators to wait until the next president takes office.

Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey urged the Senate to "fulfill its constitutional obligation to provide it's 'Advice and Consent' on the nomination.

Markey added, "If Senate Republicans refuse to hold a hearing on Judge Garlands nomination, it will constitute an historic failure to do their job. Senate Republicans must do their job and give the American people the fully functioning Supreme Court to which they are entitled under the Constitution.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, also from Massachusetts, praised Garland for his accomplishments and said, "Along the way, he has won praise from Democratic and Republican Senators, liberals and conservatives - even the Bush-appointed Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court."

Warren urged the Senate to "do its job" and take the necessary steps to review the nomination fairly.

Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy congratulated Garland and said, his "qualifications are impeccable...he is widely admired throughout the legal profession and is one of the most accomplished judges on the federal bench."

Leahy added, "The President consulted with both Republican and Democratic Senators before making this nomination. Now it is time for the Senate to do its job."

The second senator from Vermont, Peter Welch, argued, "The Senate has an obligation to conduct a fair hearing on his nomination and hold an up or down vote. A failure to do so will undermine the effectiveness of the Supreme Court."

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy called on the Senate to confirm the nomination as well.

Murphy said, "When each one of us took the oath of office, we swore to support and defend the Constitution and to faithfully discharge the duties of a Senator. If Senate Republicans refuse to consider the presidents nominee, they will be willingly violating the spirit of that sworn oath."

Maine senator Susan Collins released a statement as well.

She said, "When deciding whether to support a nominee, I consider the individuals intellect, integrity, qualifications, experience, temperament, and respect for the Constitution and the rule of law. This is the approach I have taken with every judicial nominee who has come before me throughout my service in the Senate, and that is the process that I will follow with this nomination as well."

Jeanne Shaheen, senator from New Hampshire said she was looking forward to meeting Judge Garland and "reviewing his qualification."

She also added, "Without question, the American people expect us to do our jobs. The Senate has a longstanding bipartisan tradition of giving fair consideration to Supreme Court nominees and I will continue to honor that tradition."

Today, the President fulfilled his constitutional responsibility. Now its the Senates turn. #SCOTUS #nhpolitics  Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (@SenatorShaheen) March 16, 2016

New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte believes the new president should nominate the next Supreme Court Justice.

She said, "In the midst of a presidential election and a consequential debate about the future of our country, I believe the American people deserve to have a voice in the direction of the court. I continue to believe the Senate should not move forward with the confirmation process until the people have spoken by electing a new president.

New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan is running for Senator against Ayotte.

Hassan released a statement criticizing Ayotte for her decision not to confirm the new nominee.

Hassan said, "Rather than do her constitutional duty, Senator Ayotte has decided to cater to her party leaders and her special interest backers by playing politics with justice for millions of Americans."
A Norwich educational charity, set up in memory of a Norwich Anglican priest, to support students from a Palestinian refugee camp, is inviting people to support its Christmas appeal  to be launched on November 29.

A Norwich educational charity, set up in memory of a Norwich Anglican priest, to support students from a Palestinian refugee camp, is inviting people to support its Christmas appeal  to be launched on November 29.

Norfolk drug and alcohol charity pays tribute to its founder Andy Sexton, CEO of the Matthew Project, introduces a series of tributes from the charity to its founder, Peter Farley. Read more

Cliff look alike at Cromer Church breakfast Cliff Richard tribute performer Will Chandler will be the speaker at a special Mens Breakfast at Cromer Parish Hall next month, and all men are welcome to come along. Read more

Heartsease Lane Methodist church to close As part of a reorganisation of the Norwich Methodist Circuit, Heartsease Lane Methodist Church will be closing towards the end of the year. Read more

Free Julian of Norwich reflection and prayer day The Friends of Julian of Norwich present a free Quiet Half-Day with Robert Fruehwirth, author and former Priest Director of the Julian Centre, on Saturday November 12, 10.30am-2pm. Read more

What it means for us to repent Nigel Fox believes that now is the time for a tide of repentance, and shares his thoughts about what that actually means for our society. Read more

Christmas card shop opens in Norwich church Thousands of Christmas cards from around 30 local Norfolk charities have gone on sale today (October 19) at the Original Norwich Charity Christmas Card Shop inside St Peter Mancroft church in Norwich city centre. Read more

Revelation Christian Resource Centre and Cafe Revelation in Norwich is a Christian resource centre, offering a bookshop, a meeting place and a welcoming refuge for refreshment open to visitors of any faith or none. Read more

Farewell as Yarmouth church leader moves on Captain Marie Burr, the Salvation Army leader in Great Yarmouth, has paid tribute to everyone at the church and charity after she left her post at the end of last month to move to a new role. Read more

Norwich Cathedral chorister in BBC final Norwich Cathedral chorister Alice Platten has her sights set on being crowned BBC Young Chorister of the Year after reaching the final stages of the prestigious nationwide competition. Read more

Norwich to hear pastor, Policeman and tramp tale Essex Baptist Pastor Dave McDowell has been a Policeman, fed orphans in India and lived under a boat as a tramp. He will tell his remarkable story at the October dinner of Norwich FGB on Wednesday October 26. Read more

Pioneer UK leader speaks at Sheringham church Ness Wilson, national leader of the Pioneer network of churches, was the main speaker at a day of teaching and worship held at Lighthouse Community Church in Sheringham on 12 October, to be followed up by Word and Worship sessions at October half term. Read more

Norwich event to give tips on bouncing forwards St Stephens in Norwich will be hosting an evening in October with Patrick Regan OBE, as he explores themes from his book Bouncing Forwards. Read more

Youth for Christ lights a fire in north Breckland North Breckland Youth for Christ will be putting on a mini residential camp this year to coincide with Bonfire Night. Read more

Delia Smith interviewed at Norwich church Top TV cook and well-known writer Delia Smith spoke about her faith at SOUL Churchs weekly Chapel gathering on October 11. Read more

Children's Christian holiday club in Briston A half term childrens holiday bible club is taking place in Briston next week, and there is no charge to take part in the fun. Read more

Ashill church puts on music to touch the soul The Fountain of Life Church in Ashill is hosting an afternoon concert in early November with classical, jazz, opera, ballads and pop classics. Read more

Fakenhams new rector is officially installed Rev Tracy Jessop has been officially installed as Rector for Fakenham during a service at Fakenham Parish Church on Tuesday September 27, fourteen months after their last reverend retired. Read more
Fitness wearables are apparently in superb shape when it comes to collecting your health data: Heart rate, sleep patterns, steps taken per day, calories burned, weight gain or loss, mile splits, stress levels, location  even sexual activity or how youre doing in your effort to quit smoking.

But they are in lousy shape when it comes to protecting that data and keeping it private.

And given the number of them in use  there were more than 13 million sold in the U.S. just in the last two years according to Statistica  there are more vocal warnings from Internet of Things (IoT) experts and privacy advocates that users need to be aware of how vulnerable their health data are, and how it could be used for identity theft, discrimination and more.

The makers of fitness trackers  the biggest names are Samsung, Pebble, Fitbit, Apple, Jawbone, Nike, Sony, Lenovo and LG  generally stress their commitment to privacy, and say they do not sell the data they collect.

But, as numerous experts note, selling is not the same as sharing or protecting. Theresa Payton, president and CEO of Fortalice and a former White House CIO, said fitness wearables and associated apps, have a track record of poor privacy and security measures.

The culprit is the innovation life cycle. There is tremendous pressure to get cool and affordable products on the market at a dizzying speed.

Theresa Payton, president and CEO, Fortalice

The culprit is the innovation life cycle, she said. There is tremendous pressure to get cool and affordable products on the market at a dizzying speed. That means the time to put the devices in the lab and attack them like an adversary is too short or nonexistent.

The resulting security flaws in hardware or companion apps, often allow someone to track your whereabouts or your patterns, she said.

While there has so far not been a reported catastrophic breach of one of the major fitness wearable companies, Craig Spiezle, executive director of the Online Trust Alliance (OTA), said that, data can and has been captured off fitness bands easily with $100 and a determined adversary. As more of these devices are amassing data, the risk is increasing.

And while Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), said she thinks fitness wearable data are one step down in privacy value from EHRs (electronic health records) that, include enough PII (personally identifiable information) to commit ID theft almost immediately, the trackers still include sensitive information.

She said data on heart rate, weight, food log, BMI (body mass index) and exercise are generally not enough on their own to allow identity theft, but the privacy implications are there. We need to take a much closer look at where its valuable and who its valuable to.

The privacy implications are there. We need to take a much closer look at where (fitness data) is valuable and who its valuable to.

Eva Velasquez, president and CEO, Identity Theft Resource Center

Indeed, even if it does not contain specific PII, Spiezle noted that, the data on wearables is unique to an individual and ultra-sensitive in the data types collected.

Its value, especially when accumulated over time, can be significant, and more intimate than users may expect. If it is shared with insurers, it could affect the rates people pay. If it is shared with employers, it could affect job status.

Mother Jones reported in January 2014 that Ira Hunt, then the CIAs chief technology officer, had said at a data conference in New York City that the agency, likes these things (fitness trackers). Whats really most intriguing is that you can be 100% guaranteed to be identified by simply your gait  how you walk.

Much more recently, just last month, Open Effect, along with the Citizen Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, released a report titled, Every Step You Fake: A Comparative Analysis of Fitness Tracker Privacy and Security. They studied eight popular fitness trackers and found that all but the Apple Watch, wirelessly emit a persistent unique identifier over Bluetooth. This leakage lets third parties, such as shopping centers or others interested in location-based monitoring, collect and map out peoples movements over time.

The study also found vulnerabilities that could allow the user or an intruder to manipulate the data generated, which would falsify activity levels.

Another privacy problem is the one that exists with virtually any connected device: Terms of service and privacy policies are long, complex and hard to read  most of them are 4,000 words or more. Beyond that, if a user does not check the agree box, thereby consenting to the policy, in many cases the device or app may limit functionality or it cant be used at all.

[ MORE: Why smart devices and wearables will be security's new headache ]

Not surprisingly, experts agree that most users simply check the box without reading the policy. And that puts their information at risk. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported in 2014 that when they studied a dozen health and fitness apps, they found they were collectively disseminating data to 76 third parties. One app alone shared data with 18 other entities.

Also in 2014, Jessica Rich, director of the Bureau for Consumer Protection at the FTC, said data from fitness trackers could end up in the hands of data brokers or other companies, and eventually be used, to market other products and services to (users); make decisions about (their) eligibility for credit, employment, or insurance; and share with yet other companies.

Even if it is shared voluntarily, with an employer or insurance company, the results could be unwelcome. At the start, we may look at this as a great way for people to get a break on their medical or life insurance, Velasquez said. But what if I gain 20 pounds and my insurer knows Ive stopped exercising regularly? I could see it first being an option, then being compulsory and then leading to penalties if youre not meeting a standard.

She also noted that if users share their fitness data with their health provider, and then the health provider gets breached, that could be another entry point to their information.

What to do about both risks has prompted intense discussion and is also the subject of a number of private sector initiatives.

The OTA formed the IoT Trustworthy Working Group about a year ago, and since then has published an IoT Trust Framework  30 principles for building security and privacy into connected devices. Spiezle also moderated a panel at the recent RSA conference in San Francisco titled Diffusing the IoT time bomb  Security and privacy trust code of conduct, which discussed those principles.

The IEEE Center for Secure Design recently released a paper titled, WearFit: Security Design Analysis of a Wearable Fitness Tracker, which created a fictitious wearable aimed at showing how developers of fitness trackers can design a device that, addresses each of the top 10 software security design flaws.

Jacob West, cofounder of the center and lead author of the report, said he doesnt think fitness trackers have more security vulnerabilities than other consumer devices, but the challenge for any product company is to determine the right balance between security, functionality, and usability.

To address that, he said, we need to expand the focus in security away from simply finding and fixing bugs to include avoiding design flaws as well.

We need to expand the focus in security away from simply finding and fixing bugs to include avoiding design flaws as well.

Jacob West, cofounder, IEEE Center for Secure Design

West also said he thought market pressure could be effective. He said better-informed consumers who, understand security and privacy and make buying decisions based on that knowledge, could lead to improvements in both security and privacy.

Velasquez is a bit skeptical of market wisdom. The market has failed (to cause product improvements) in the past, she said. But it does respond to losing customers.

The way it needs to be framed is: Today youre not concerned, but at the pace were moving, in five years you will be.

Susan Grant, director of consumer protection at the Consumer Federation of America, shares the skepticism. Bad publicity (about breaches) is helpful but not it's not enough because not everything that companies are up to gets exposed, she said.

Grant called for a stronger general privacy law at the federal level, or at the least, a specific law covering health devices and services that are not already subject to law.

Spiezle called for consumers to have a true choice about how their data are used. Non acceptance (of a privacy policy) should not impact the core functionality of the product, he said.

Data can and has been captured off fitness bands easily with $100 and a determined adversary.

Craig Spiezle, executive director, Online Trust Alliance

But Payton said the reality is that if consumers truly want to protect their privacy when using connected devices, dont wait for government or industry to do it for you. The standards are still emerging, and by the time they are adopted, they will be out of date.

Payton offered several suggestions on how to do it yourself:

Give the device a name that is not your actual name.

Assign your device and corresponding account strong passwords that are unique to each.

Tedious or not, read the privacy policy. Most spell out how your data can be used. Then make sure your privacy settings dont broadcast your whereabouts when using it.

Many devices are designed to be open and social, and you may be shouting out your personal details and data unwittingly, she said.

Spiezle suggested it may be time to shame the industry into providing better security. In meetings last week a major brand told me the cost to protect the device would be 11 cents and potentially impact battery life as a reason to not make a change, he said. This is like Ford not willing to protect the gas tank in the Pinto.

This story, "Fitness wearables: Who's tracking who?" was originally published by CSO .
New proposals include sugar tax and radical overhaul for schools

A Sugar Tax, cuts to corporation tax, lower than expected growth rates and a radical overhaul of all primary and secondary schools across the country.

Those were some of the key changes outlined today (Wednesday) when Chancellor George Osbourne delivered his Budget 2016.

And in West Berkshire, people have been quick to voice their opinions on the chancellors eighth budget.

Primary school head teachers have blasted one measure which will force every school in England to become an academy by 2022, severing their ties with the local authority.

The chairman of the Primary Heads Association for West Berkshire Paul Field said the plans would damage schooling across the district.

He told Newbury Weekly News: Academies are not wanted by primary heads in West Berkshire.

We do want to be free to make decisions that will benefit our schools, we do accept the need to change and we actively support the building of collaborative partnerships.

There is, however, no evidence that supports the idea that academies are good for all schools.

There is evidence that the risk of financial mismanagement increases, accountability decreases and conditions for hard working, committed people in schools worsen.

We do not want to be portrayed as nay-sayers who are afraid of change and just want to maintain some kind of cosy existence in the past.

We are far more ambitious for our children than this government and could achieve so much if politicians stepped away, stopped meddling and allowed evidence based professionalism to lead improvement.

Mr Field has now penned an open letter on behalf of West Berkshire primary school heads calling out the government plans and saying it is not in our name.

Unions have also come out against the new measure and Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: Forcing all schools to become academies will do little, if anything, to improve the quality of education.

Many schools want to keep their links with local authorities and not be forced into academy trusts. Evidence shows improved standards are not guaranteed and financial problems can occur.

Meanwhile, rail infrastructure has been promised a boost and Newbury MP Richard Benyon took to Twitter to announce that Newbury rail station would benefit from a share of 7m in infrastructure improvements.

He said: "Page 72 of Budget Red Book: 7m to improve rail station facilities at (Redhill) NEWBURY (and High Wycombe)."

There was also some good news for motorists, too, with fuel duty to be frozen once again.

Quentin Willson, of FairFuel UK said: Freezing duty for a fifth year is hugely significant.

The Treasury now has five years of evidence to prove that keeping fuel duty low has helped improve GDP, stimulate economic activity and actually improve tax receipts.

The Chancellor knows that low transport costs have had an enormous economic benefit to the UK over the last five years.

Corporation Tax is also set to be cut to 17 per cent by 2020 which the CEO of Entrepreneurial Spark Jim Duffy argued would have a transformational effect on new businesses.

He said: Additional small business relief will ensure more small businesses pay no rates at all, which is to be applauded as we encourage people to start their own businesses and create wealth.

Removing VAT loopholes for international e-commerce businesses will help the UKs digital firms be much more competitive.

Other measures include a levy on the soft drinks industry, longer opening hours for a quarter of secondary schools, and more newly elected mayors for towns and cities in the south of England.

Responding to the proposed Sugar Tax, Baroness Shelia Hollins, BMA Board of Science Chair, said: The chancellors decision to introduce a new levy on excessive sugar in soft drinks is a welcome step forward and a move called for in the BMAs recent Food for Thought report.

"This is an important initiative that could help to begin to address the obesity crisis among young children, although the delay in introducing it for two years is disappointing.

More needs to be done to invest in proper preventive measures that protect peoples lives and the publics resources. The implementation of minimum alcohol unit pricing is still also badly needed given the billions spent on the impact of excessive alcohol consumption.

Baroness Hollins added, however, that it was "disgraceful" that the NHS had not been promised extra funding and warned it was "buckling under the pressure from rising patient demand, falling resources and staff shortages."

She added:The political rhetoric does not match the reality on the ground of an NHS in crisis. The governments funding promises have simply not materialised.

How will the new budget affect you? Get in touch and let us know via newsdesk@newburynews.co.uk
Columnist

Tom Kacich is a columnist and the author of Tom's Mailbag at The News-Gazette. His column appears Sundays. His email is tkacich@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@tkacich).
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. Gusty winds diminishing during the afternoon. High around 80F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

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Reporter

Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey).
Our County Editor

Dave Hinton is editor of The News-Gazette's Our County section and former editor of the Rantoul Press. He can be reached at dhinton@news-gazette.com.
The ongoing debate about breast cancer diagnostics has left many women confused  particularly over what age they should get mammograms and who needs treatment. An issue with current methods is that they often identify lumps but cannot conclusively pinpoint which ones are cancerous. To help resolve this uncertainty, researchers have developed a pill that could improve imaging techniques so that only cancerous tumors light up.

Today, the researchers report their diagnostic approach at the 251st National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS, the world's largest scientific society, is holding the meeting here through Thursday. It features more than 12,500 presentations on a wide range of science topics.

"There's a lot of controversy right now about when patients should start screening for breast cancer," says Greg Thurber, Ph.D. "Screening can potentially catch the disease early in some patients, but false positives can lead to unnecessary, aggressive treatments in patients who don't need them. We don't know how to select the right patients to treat. Our work could help change that."

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women. Mammograms, the current standard for screening, are X-rays of breast tissue. They give doctors information about a lump's location and size, but they can't distinguish between cancerous and benign growths. To find out more, doctors have to take a biopsy, which can involve needles or surgery. Biopsies, however, aren't 100 percent conclusive.

When suspicious lumps are found, doctors and patients will often opt for treatment ranging from surgery to radiation or chemotherapy, which can take months and cause serious side effects.

To better weed out patients who don't really need treatment, Thurber's team from the University of Michigan developed an oral pill containing an imaging agent that selectively binds to cancer cells or blood vessels that are unique to tumors. Once attached to its target, the dye fluoresces under near-infrared light. Although at this wavelength, fluorescent tumors can only be detected 1 to 2 centimeters deep, Thurber says given the elasticity of breast tissue, pairing his technique with ultrasound in the same instrument should be able to detect most cancers.

Testing in mice showed that with the proper formulation, a considerable proportion  50 to 60 percent  of the agent gets absorbed into the bloodstream. It also binds specifically to cancer cells with little background noise in the image. That is, the fluorescent signal from the tumor was far stronger than the signal from the surrounding tissue.

If his team succeeds in formulating the pill for human patients, Thurber says the high image contrast should bode well for women with dense breast tissue whose mammograms are difficult to read. Additionally, Thurber is designing the agent to specifically seek out aggressive tumors, an approach that could distinguish them from slow-growing cancers such as ductal carcinoma in situ, a noninvasive breast cancer.

Now Thurber is coupling the probe with molecules to make it easier for human patients to absorb. Predicting when his agent might go into human clinical trials is difficult, he says. However, the dye is already used in Europe for other clinical applications, which could help speed the approval process in the U.S.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers are leading a multicenter genetic study of prostate cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa to try to find new information about the genetic etiology of prostate cancer.

The researchers from eleven institutions in the U.S. and Africa will look at genetic susceptibility and population genomics of prostate cancer in men of African descent. Specifically, the study hopes to provide new information about the genetic etiology of prostate cancer and evaluate how population differences and history of African and African American populations affects the underlying reasons for high rates of prostate cancer in African Americans.

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The five year study, funded by the National Cancer Institute, is being led by principal investigator Timothy Rebbeck, PhD, professor of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and professor of Cancer Epidemiology at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.

"Men of African descent suffer disproportionately from prostate cancer compared to men of other races and ethnicities. Our understanding of this disparity is incomplete and we hope to find some of the answers in this study," said Rebbeck. "Aggressive prostate cancer is the form of the disease that is the most important to control. African descent men, including African Americans, seem to have biologically more aggressive forms of prostate cancer than other groups. By studying African descent men, we may also learn about aggressive prostate cancer so that we can better prevent and treat the disease," Rebbeck added.

The Data Coordinating Center at Dana-Farber will play an important role in this study as the data coordinating center for all of the institutions.
Thanks to the electrodes system a stable signal is obtained, which allows precise control like handling an egg without breaking. It also provides sensations as if it were a real hand.

The first prosthesis in the world that connects directly to the bone, nerves and muscles, allows the person to experience sensations, free mobility and is handled using the mind.

It was created by the Mexican Max Ortiz Catalan, who lives in Sweden, the device becomes an extension of the human body through osseointegration, this means that it connects directly to the bone via a titanium implant, and thanks to the neuronal and muscle binding interfaces a robust and intuitive control of the artificial hand is achieved, this way just by thinking about it is possible to move the limb.

The Mexican graduated from the Tecnologico de Monterrey says that Magnus, a patient with an arm amputated above the elbow, is the first person to use technology and, since 2013, it has allowed him to develop a normal working life, return to his activity as operator of heavy machinery on the border between Sweden and Finland, as well as manipulate an egg without breaking it.

The doctor in biomedical engineering Ortiz Catalan explains that thanks to the electrodes that are connected in muscles and nerves stable signals that allow precise control, such that the patient handling a small and delicate items without breaking it or throw it obtained, also provides sensations as his own hand and is protected from interference such as sensors in retail stores.

The research was conducted at Chalmers Technological University in Gothenburg, Sweden, in collaboration with the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and the implant company called Integrum AB, which works with bone anchoring prosthetics.

Setting up

The device consists of two parts, an implant and a prosthesis, the first part requires surgery in which a titanium piece is placed into the bone and a control system that connect electrodes to the muscles and nerves is installed.

The second corresponds to a removable prosthesis, maintaining a mechanical connection with the bone and an electrical connection with the implanted electrodes. This robotic component can be taken off, so the patient can get wet and have a bath.

About 400 people worldwide already have a titanium implant, but only two count with the system of electrodes implanted in nerves and muscles. It is expected that this year more than ten patients receive the neural control system.

New technology

Technology osseointegration puts an end to inflammation problems, chafing and discomfort that conventional prosthesis cause. "This one strongly presses the stump, it feels like having shoes half a size to small, which is not comfortable; however, by having a direct connection to the bone and not having any components that disturb the skin, the use increases considerably, as well as the quality of life ".

In addition, by having a titanium implant allows the bone to grow around it and bind between them, which would not happen with other materials such as stainless steel which generates a reaction of encapsulation and creates mechanical instability.

The titanium implant to anchor the prosthesis to the bone is only available in Europe, Australia, Chile and the United States, but agreements are being sought to develop it in Mexico.

"We aim to make technology that people can use in their daily activities, and we would like it to become a standard treatment for every amputation, thus prices would fall," concludes Dr. Ortiz Catalan.
Australian scientists have developed a new method for harvesting stem cells, which is less invasive and reduces side effects for donors.

For bone marrow transplantation, stem cells are routinely harvested from healthy donors and used to treat patients with cancers including leukaemia.

Current harvesting methods take a long time and require injections of a growth factor to boost stem cell numbers. This often leads to side effects.

The discovery, published today in Nature Communications, reduces the time required to obtain adequate numbers of stem cells, without the need for a growth factor.

The method, developed by a team of CSIRO researchers working within the manufacturing arm of CSIRO with the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) at Monash, combines a newly discovered molecule (known as BOP), with an existing type of molecule (AMD3100) to mobilise the stem cells found in bone marrow out into the blood stream.

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CSIRO researcher Dr Susie Nilsson said her team was able to demonstrate that combining the two molecules directly impacts stem cells so they can be seen in the blood stream within an hour of a single dosage.

"Current treatment requires the patient to have growth factor injections for several days leading up to the procedure," Dr Nilsson said.

"Using the new method eliminates the need for this, meaning a procedure that once took days can be reduced to around an hour."

Until now AMD3100 has only been effective in increasing stem cell numbers when combined with the growth factor.

"But the growth factor can cause unpleasant side effects like bone pain and spleen enlargement for some patients," Dr Nilsson said.

"Other patients simply don't respond well, and their stem cell count never gets high enough for a successful transplant."

The scientists found that combining the two small molecules not only eliminates the need for the growth factor, but when the harvested cells are transplanted they can replenish the entire bone marrow system, and there are no known side effects.

Professor Peter Currie, ARMI Director, said a major benefit of the discovery is that harvesting stem cells will become more efficient and effective, considerably reducing the stress for donors.

"We're looking forward to seeing patients benefit from this discovery," Professor Currie said.

So far successful pre-clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of the treatment.

The next step is a phase 1 clinical trial assessing the combination of BOP molecule with the growth factor, prior to the eventual successful combination of the two small molecules BOP and AMD3100.
New research, based on data from the 2013-14 Zika outbreak in French Polynesia, further supports the association between Zika virus and microcephaly. The study, published today in The Lancet, estimates that the risk of microcephaly is about 1 for every 100 women infected with Zika virus during the first trimester of pregnancy.

The authors say that quantifying the risk may help better inform the broader public health response. Although the risk of microcephaly associated with Zika virus infection is relatively low compared to other maternal infections, the authors say that the association remains an important public health issue because the risk of Zika virus infection is particularly high during outbreaks, such as the current one in South America.

Our analysis strongly supports the hypothesis that Zika virus infection during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of microcephaly, says Dr Simon Cauchemez, co-author from the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France. We estimated that the risk of microcephaly was 1 in 100 women infected with Zika virus during the first trimester of pregnancy. The findings are from the 2013-14 outbreak in French Polynesia and it remains to be seen whether our findings apply to other countries in the same way.

On 1 February 2016, the WHO declared the suspected link between Zika virus and microcephaly as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Microcephaly is a neurological abnormality that is present at birth. In Europe and Brazil, about 2 per 10000 babies are born with microcephaly. Babies are born with abnormally small heads, and the condition is associated with a reduction in brain volume, often leading to intellectual disabilities, speech impairment and behavioural issues. Causes include genetic and environmental factors, including prenatal viral infections (such as rubella or herpes), maternal alcohol use, and hypertensive disorders.

Although evidence of the association between microcephaly and Zika virus is growing, the risk has so far not been quantified. The outbreak in French Polynesia began in October 2013, peaked in December 2013 and ended in April 2014. Over that period, more than 31000 people saw their doctor with suspected Zika virus infection.

Over the course of the outbreak, 8 cases of microcephaly were identified. Of these, 5 pregnancies were terminated through medical abortion (average gestational age 30.1 weeks), and 3 cases were born. Nearly all of the cases of microcephaly (7; 88%) occurred in a 4 month period around the end of the outbreak.

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In this study, the research team used mathematical and statistically modelling to estimate the expected number of microcephaly cases under different assumptions about the risk of microcephaly from Zika virus infection. They compared models where the risk was highest during different trimesters of pregnancy and a model where there was no association. The researchers used data on the total number of cases of microcephaly, the weekly number of consultations for suspected Zika virus infection, blood tests confirming the presence of Zika virus antibodies taken post-outbreak, and the total number of births during the outbreak.

By comparing these models to the number and timing of actual cases of microcephaly, they found that the scenario where the first trimester of pregnancy was associated with an increased risk was most consistent with the observed data. The researchers were able to estimate the risk of microcephaly as 95 in 10000 women (or approximately 1 in 100) infected with Zika virus in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Professor Arnaud Fontanet, co-author of the study, also from the Institut Pasteur adds:

Data from French Polynesia are particularly important since the outbreak is already over. This provides us with a small, yet much more complete dataset than data gathered from an ongoing outbreak. Much more research is needed to understand how Zika might cause microcephaly. Our findings support WHOs recommendations for pregnant women to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

Writing in a linked Comment, Dr Laura Rodrigues, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK, siad:
Time for action is now!

In accordance with the consensus of the Global Conference held in Geneva on 10-11 December 2015, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are releasing their global framework for the elimination of dog-mediated human rabies, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and with the support of the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC).

This document concludes the conference report and provides a coordinated approach and vision for the global elimination of the disease. It is intended to harmonise actions worldwide and provide adaptable, achievable guidance for countries and regions to reach zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030 in participating countries.

Dog-mediated human rabies still kills tens of thousands of people every year in the world. Freedom from this plague is a global public good and is feasible with currently available tools.

The new framework, which results from the fruitful discussions engaged among nearly 300 participants  including experts, donors, as well as veterinary and public health officials - during the WHO/OIE Conference on rabies, last December, identifies actions needed to achieve effective rabies elimination and promises to be a milestone in its success.

Built on five pillars, the action plan combines socio-cultural, technical, organisational, political, and resource-oriented aspects. It notably calls for three key actions:

making human vaccines and antibodies affordable;

ensuring people who get bitten receive prompt treatment;

implementing mass dog vaccinations in at-risk areas.

Rabies is 100% preventable through vaccination and timely immunization after exposure, but access to post bite treatment is expensive and is not affordable in many Asian and African countries. If we follow this more comprehensive approach, we can consign rabies to the history books, said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General, during the Conference.

The vaccinated dog is the soldier in the fight against rabies

Knowing that more than 95 % of human rabies cases are caused by dog bites, the most cost-effective way to eliminate rabies is to prevent it at its animal source. Sustainable vaccination of 70% of the at-risk dog population is recognised as the key to eliminate the disease in endemic areas.

In this context, the action plan encourages the promotion of responsible dog ownership and dog population management practices, including dog vaccination, in accordance with OIE intergovernmental standards.

It also reaffirms the need to strengthen animal health and public health systems, so as to ensure sustainable, safe, efficacious and accessible dog and human vaccines and immunoglobulins, and promote and implement mass dog vaccination as the most cost-effective intervention to achieve dog-mediated human rabies elimination.

To this aim, ensuring sufficient supply of quality-assured canine rabies vaccines is essential. This is the reason why, the OIE has created a model of dog vaccine bank since 2012, that guarantees the availability of high-quality vaccines complying with its intergovernmental Standards as well as their rapid delivery on the ground and an adequate price obtained after a global competition between potential providers. This model has already supported the success of several dog vaccination campaigns in some of its Member Countries of Africa and Asia.

As of today, more than 15 million doses of canine rabies vaccines have been ordered or delivered in many countries through the OIE Vaccine Bank.

The case of rabies in The Philippines is an example of a success story. They deployed a very important programme to combat human rabies, with the support of the WHO. And recently WHO sought for OIEs help to handle the dog vaccination campaigns in particular through the provision of canine vaccines. This is a great example of institutional collaboration involving the teams which organise vaccine campaigns at national level and international organisations. This kind of collaboration is very interesting, because it does not only involve the creation of common tools, but also the implementation of real practical action in the field, analyses Dr Monique Eloit, OIE Director General.

Moreover, the framework calls for coordinated activities targeting dog and human populations by adapting proven control strategies. It promotes the One Health approach and intersectoral coordination through national and regional networks.

The Philippines Rabies vaccination campaign: a One Health success story Play

Dr Monique Eloit, OIE Director General defines the example of the rabies vaccination campaigns led in the Philippines as a One Health success story.

To support the implementation of these strategies, it is crucial that the international community invests in dog-mediated human rabies elimination. Consequently, WHO, OIE, FAO and GARC have jointly published a Rationale for investing in dog-mediated human rabies, aimed at persuading countries, policy makers and donors of the feasibility, merit and value of investing in rabies elimination strategies.

All participants and other interested parties consider the global framework as refined and adopted at the conclusion of the Conference as the most effective means to achieve the elimination of dog mediated human rabies for participating countries by 2030. Time for action is now!
A protein called ROBO1 may delay the progression of breast cancer, according to a paper published in The Journal of Cell Biology. The study, "Loss of miR-203 regulates cell shape and matrix adhesion through ROBO1/Rac/FAK in response to stiffness" by Lily Thao-Nhi Le and colleagues, identifies a signaling pathway that may protect breast cells from the tumorigenic effects of stiff extracellular matrices.

In living tissues, cells are surrounded by a matrix of secreted molecules. Changes in this extracellular matrix can stiffen tissues and activate oncogenic signaling pathways, but cells may try to protect themselves by reorganizing their cytoskeleton and remodeling their attachments to the matrix. The ROBO family of signaling proteins - best known for their role in guiding the growth of developing neurons - regulates the cytoskeleton, and may therefore help cells sense and respond to such changes in their environment.

A team of researchers led by Professor Lindsay Hinck at the University of California, Santa Cruz, examined the ROBO signaling pathway in breast epithelial cells and found that one family member, ROBO1, enhances cellular contractility and stimulates assembly of cell-matrix adhesions. Stiffer environments caused breast cells to downregulate a microRNA, miR-203, that normally suppresses Robo1, thereby elevating ROBO1 protein levels. This, in turn, enhanced cellular contractility and adhesion, allowing cells to retain their shape and position within stiff extracellular matrices.

Breast cancer cells lacking ROBO1 were more invasive, suggesting that the upregulation of ROBO1 in stiff environments may prevent cells from metastasizing to other tissues. Moreover, ROBO1 has previously been shown to suppress cell proliferation, suggesting that this pathway could delay tumor progression. Accordingly, breast cancer patients whose tumors displayed low miR-203/high Robo1 expression had better long-term survival rates. Hinck and colleagues now want to confirm that ROBO1 can counteract the pro-tumorigenic effects of tissue stiffening in both mice and humans.
Traumatic brain injury appears to be related to both increased risk and earlier onset of mild cognitive impairment, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report.

Researchers discovered those who had experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) with loss of consciousness for more than five minutes were at greater risk of being diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, and showed signs of that impairment 2.3 years earlier on average than those with no TBI history. The study analyzed cases of 3,187 people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment versus a normal-cognition group of 3,244 in a large, multicenter national database.

Other studies have implicated traumatic brain injury as a risk factor for later development of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, but this report was the first of a possible link between TBI and MCI. The study was published recently in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

The researchers found several important variables associated with a higher risk for MCI: TBI with loss of consciousness for greater than five minutes, certain genetic risk factors, and a history of depression. However, these MCI risk factors need closer examination, researchers said.

"This is one of the first studies to demonstrate later-life risks of mild cognitive impairment in relation to a remote history of traumatic brain injury in a large population sample," said senior author Dr. C. Munro Cullum, Professor of Psychiatry, and Neurology and Neurotherapeutics at UT Southwestern. "We cannot yet determine who is at greatest risk for later-life cognitive decline following TBI, but these results suggest that a relationship exists for some people. Our ultimate goal is to identify various risk factors that may play a role."

In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that TBIs accounted for approximately 2.5 million emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States. Mild cognitive impairment, which typically occurs later in life, affects 10 to 20 percent of those aged 65 and older, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

In the database sample group, researchers found TBI patients who had lost consciousness were 1.2 to 1.3 times more likely to be diagnosed with MCI than those who had not suffered brain injuries. Much of that elevated risk also was influenced by a history of depression, added Dr. Cullum, who holds the Pam Blumenthal Distinguished Professorship in Clinical Psychology.

The data came from patient information documented in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center database, which is pooled from 29 National Institute of Aging-funded Alzheimer's disease centers in the U.S. The group studied included those age 50 or older who had initial and follow-up visits completed between September 2005 and December 2013.

"TBI is hypothesized to activate a neurodegenerative process that may interact with age and other factors over time," Dr. Cullum said. "This study shows a correlation between TBI and MCI, but more research remains to be done to explore this apparent link. Factors such as neuroinflammation and buildup in the brain of proteins such as tau or amyloid following injury and over a person's lifetime may play a role."

For more information on this and related studies, Dr. Cullum will speak at the Spring Forum of the Friends of the Alzheimer's Disease Center, scheduled at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 31 at UT Southwestern. Dr. Cullum, a member of the Alzheimer's Disease Center at UT Southwestern, will discuss the relationship between traumatic brain injury and cognitive disorders later in life. The free presentation is open to the public; reservations can be made by calling 214-648-2344.

Lead author of the study was Christian LoBue, a graduate student in UT Southwestern's Clinical Psychology Program, and contributing authors were David Denney, also a graduate student; Dr. Linda Hynan, Professor of Clinical Sciences and Psychiatry; Dr. Heidi Rossetti, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry; Dr. Laura Lacritz, Professor of Psychiatry, and Neurology and Neurotherapeutics; Dr. John Hart, Professor of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, and Psychiatry; Dr. Kyle Womack, Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, and Psychiatry; and Dr. Fu Woon,

Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today

DALLAS - March 16, 2016 - Traumatic brain injury appears to be related to both increased risk and earlier onset of mild cognitive impairment, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report.

Researchers discovered those who had experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) with loss of consciousness for more than five minutes were at greater risk of being diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, and showed signs of that impairment 2.3 years earlier on average than those with no TBI history. The study analyzed cases of 3,187 people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment versus a normal-cognition group of 3,244 in a large, multicenter national database.

Other studies have implicated traumatic brain injury as a risk factor for later development of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, but this report was the first of a possible link between TBI and MCI. The study was published recently in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

The researchers found several important variables associated with a higher risk for MCI: TBI with loss of consciousness for greater than five minutes, certain genetic risk factors, and a history of depression. However, these MCI risk factors need closer examination, researchers said.

"This is one of the first studies to demonstrate later-life risks of mild cognitive impairment in relation to a remote history of traumatic brain injury in a large population sample," said senior author Dr. C. Munro Cullum, Professor of Psychiatry, and Neurology and Neurotherapeutics at UT Southwestern. "We cannot yet determine who is at greatest risk for later-life cognitive decline following TBI, but these results suggest that a relationship exists for some people. Our ultimate goal is to identify various risk factors that may play a role."

In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that TBIs accounted for approximately 2.5 million emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States. Mild cognitive impairment, which typically occurs later in life, affects 10 to 20 percent of those aged 65 and older, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

In the database sample group, researchers found TBI patients who had lost consciousness were 1.2 to 1.3 times more likely to be diagnosed with MCI than those who had not suffered brain injuries. Much of that elevated risk also was influenced by a history of depression, added Dr. Cullum, who holds the Pam Blumenthal Distinguished Professorship in Clinical Psychology.

The data came from patient information documented in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center database, which is pooled from 29 National Institute of Aging-funded Alzheimer's disease centers in the U.S. The group studied included those age 50 or older who had initial and follow-up visits completed between September 2005 and December 2013.

"TBI is hypothesized to activate a neurodegenerative process that may interact with age and other factors over time," Dr. Cullum said. "This study shows a correlation between TBI and MCI, but more research remains to be done to explore this apparent link. Factors such as neuroinflammation and buildup in the brain of proteins such as tau or amyloid following injury and over a person's lifetime may play a role."
Forests the world over are in trouble, not only because we are cutting them down at frightening rates, but because the planet is heating up.

The forests not being chopped to make room for agriculture and development are under attack from increased fire hazards, insect outbreaks and alterations to tree cycles.

As scientists and foresters look ahead, they worry about future generations of humans.

What kind of environment are we going to leave them? Richard Olsen, director of the U.S. National Arboretum, asked at a meeting last week of the Roanoke Valley Urban Forestry Council and Trees Virginia. Its not looking really good.

The Risky Business of Trees: Risk, Selection, Care and Planning for a Healthy Future was the subject of the workshop held at Virginia Western Community College and attended by a handful of Lynchburg Tree Stewards.

Olsen said 35 percent of the tree canopy in Northern Virginia has been lost in the last 20 years due to development. We are not leaving adequate space for trees, which serve humans and wildlife in numerous ways.

Trees provide cooling shade, particularly important in urban environments, as well as habitat and food for a variety of animal life.

Trees naturally soak up carbon dioxide from the air through photosynthesis. Forests absorb about a quarter of the annual human-created carbon emissions that otherwise would contribute to a warming atmosphere.

Increasing temperatures will be catastrophic to many species, Olsen said. Red oak, for example, will virtually disappear from Virginia and North Carolina.

We need to start planting heat- and drought-tolerant species, similar to those found in the Caucuses, he said. When asked how planting non-native trees would impact native species of insects, birds and other animals, Olsen said it is important to plant trees, like ginkgos, that can survive. That doesnt bode well for life as we know it.

The northeast and the mountains of Virginia are projected to become increasingly Mediterranean-like with wetter winters and drier summers and falls. By 2085, for example, we can expect temperatures to be 4 to 8 degrees warmer. Maryland will experience 21 more days with temperatures above 95 degrees.

Rainfalls exceeding an inch will increase while the number of days with rain will decrease.

Many of these concerns already are coming to pass. The Pacific Northwest and Alaska experienced massive fires last year. Hotter temperatures are causing reduced winter snowpack, earlier snowmelt and longer summer drought that increase fire risk.

Scientists with the United States Geological Survey have found warmer temperatures and drought are contributing to increased tree mortality in all major forest types around the world. In the West, for example, there is a rapidly rising death rate in old-growth forests.

Hotter temperatures also contribute to outbreaks of insects or diseases, both native and non-native, as evidenced by tree-killing bark beetles.

As the climate changes, it affects the timing of leaf emergence, the amount of foliage and when leaves begin to fall, all factors that affect the health of trees and the other species that need them, including us.
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Bedford County Public Schools officials involving questions surrounding a middle school student and a marijuana leaf, more than a year after it was filed.

Until now, public attention on the case has centered on the leaf, in the possession of a then-sixth-grade Bedford Middle School student referred to as R.M.B. in September 2014. The leaf was field-tested negative three times for marijuana, creating questions about probable cause, among other issues.

The case, which was set for a jury trial March 21 until presiding Judge Norman K. Moon issued a summary judgment filed Friday, had been whittled down from a complaint against the school board and administration until it involved just three officials: Chief Operating Officer Frederick Mac Duis; Brian Wilson, a Bedford Middle School assistant principal; and the school resource officer, M.M. Calohan.

The boys parents, Bruce and Linda Bays, said they did not learn of the repeated tests until a criminal case against their son was dismissed, by which point he already had been suspended from school for a period to last 364 days.

R.M.B.s suspension was amended from an initial recommendation for expulsion, and shortened in the spring, when the boy was allowed to return to a different middle school, court documents said.

A leafy green substance with the size, shape, color, and smell of marijuana was found with a lighter and in the possession of an individual reported to possess marijuana and who admitted to receiving the leaf and lighter to keep. These facts are enough to raise the belief in a reasonable mind that the leaf is marijuana, the negative field tests notwithstanding, Moon wrote in his opinion of the case.

Moon also ruled although the school officials did not specifically tell the Bays there had been three negative field tests, the schools disclosure that the leaf did not react was sufficient. Last summer, Moon allowed the case to continue in part on the basis exculpatory evidence was not disclosed.

[T]he value of requiring school officials to disclose such evidence is substantial: it brings transparency to the decision-making process and provides the student with a meaningful opportunity to meet the charges against him, he wrote at the time.

The leaf recently was proven to be marijuana by experts from both sides of the case, but the nature of the substance was only one issue in the case, according to court documents.

In a note to his opinion, Moon wrote the question of whether the officer in the case had probable cause to believe the leaf was marijuana was more important than whether it actually was. Nonetheless, the fact it was found to be so illustrates why negative field tests do not rule out probable cause, he wrote.

The three claims dismissed included a Virginia state law claim of malicious prosecution; a claim of deprivation of due process; and a claim of deprivation of substantive due process, according to court documents.

The Bays and their attorney, Mel Williams, are considering an appeal to the Fourth Circuit Court, Williams said via email.

Bedford County Schools attorney Jim Guynn was not immediately available for comment.
The teacher who interrupted a Liberty University gospel choir performance during a Black History Month assembly at P.L. Dunbar Middle School for Innovation on Feb. 26 has resigned, the Lynchburg City School Board announced at its regular meeting Tuesday.

In an email Tuesday night, Jason Tyree said he will miss the Dunbar community.

My actions were for what I thought was the good of a minority group of students. My actions were not against any group, he wrote.

During the assembly, he said, he did not say he was offended; instead his statement, in his words, was If anyone would like to meet me in the gym, because you are offended by this, you may do so.

His email continued, Not being able to finish the year with my wonderful group of students is my biggest regret. I am proud of them and know they will do great things.

I will miss the students, parents, and faculty of Dunbar; my family and I would like to thank them for all of their support in this matter and the past ten years.

Board chairwoman Mary Ann Hoss announced the teachers resignation will be effective June 30, 2016.

Mr. Tyree will not return to the classroom, but will pursue other teaching opportunities with the support of the school administration, she said. The board appreciates Mr. Tyrees contributions to the division over his 10-year tenure. However, the parties mutually agree that this resolution is in the best interest of all concerned.

Superintendent Scott Brabrand said after the meeting he would not elaborate on what support meant.

Id let [Tyree] speak to that, Brabrand said. I want to respect a personnel matter, and if an employee wants to speak more about what that looks like in terms of support, thats up to the employee.

In a statement at the beginning of the meeting, Brabrand said because many aspects of the incident already have been widely discussed in the public domain, he felt some comment on the nature of the interruption was appropriate.

Based on the investigation, I am confident the employees actions were not racially motivated, but were related to his concerns about the religious content of the assembly. However, that is not to deny or minimize the way those in attendance felt about or perceived the interruption, or to express approval for the way in which that interruption occurred, he said.

An attorney has advised the schools as a minor component of a secular program, the gospel music did not violate religious neutrality, Brabrand said.

In spite of the legality of the overall program, however, its clear that even the very limited religious content sparked strong feelings, both in favor of and against the manner in which the religious content was presented, he said.

As a result, the schools will review and clarify policies surrounding religious content, he said.

Three people, including eighth-grade students Delaney Taylor, who started a petition on Tyrees behalf, and Kate Staton spoke during time allowed for public comment.

In statements prepared before the announcement, they asked that Tyree keep his job. All three also objected to the name Brotherhood Assembly as dismissive of womens contributions to the civil rights movement.

We understand that this music played a role in the civil rights movement, but so did lots of other music. The mission of LU Praise is not education, or to share historical facts. Their mission is to spread praise to Jesus Christ, Kate said. I am grateful that one teacher showed moral uprightness and tried to protect our rights.

Im really proud of the way our school and community have come together and showed how much we love this teacher.

In similar comments, Delaney said the situation had been blown out of proportion.

You have taught us that for speaking up, we get punished, she said. What is this teaching the students and kids? To be afraid of speaking up for what is right?

Parent Martha Johnson said she was concerned about the precedent set by the situation.

Music is certainly an important aspect of black history, she said, adding the citys Legacy Museum has an excellent exhibit on it.

But, she said, In a public school, if we cannot find a way to teach our students about musical genres as art forms without proselytizing, then we are obligated to leave them out.

Another important aspect of black history is civil disobedience. While that moment in the Dunbar auditorium was awkward, this teacher demonstrated a rather modest act of civil disobedience, but since examples are so rare, it seemed scandalous. Civil disobedience is not always polite, but it is peaceful protest and it offers an alternative to silent fear and powerlessness, and violence.

She feels that lesson is critical for children today, especially because she said she knows of students and teachers in the system who were afraid to sign the online petition.

This, to me, is far more troubling than the teachers actions, she said.
Red Hulk, Ronin, and more: 10 Heroes and Villains whose secret identities were hidden from readers

There's a longstanding superhero tradition of hiding the identity of certain characters even from readers
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Planting new hope with peas

When they came to me I was the chairman of the corporation, so we partnered we got things done, together, we had quite a lot of meetings and ensured that we made it as productive as possible. Plans to replicate in other areas Christopher said she hopes that the festival can be moved to other areas within the Diego Martin area. She said a lot of the areas youth are slowly becoming involved in growing pigeon peas. This, she added, has become a deterrent to crime in the area and has demonstrated new ways of income generation.

She gestured for me to come over. Eunice Walker shelled approximately 150 to 200 pounds of peas for the festival. Although she is not from the area, for Walker this is the kind of thing desperately needed in communities across TT . The Long Circular, St James resident said it took her from 7 pm to 1 am to shell the peas. But the effort was worth it.

This is what revives our culture. If every village came up with something like this we would see a big difference in TT , she said with simple sagacity.

The following recipes were taken from the Pigeon Peas Festival 2015 Commemorative Cookbook produced by the Upper Cemetery Residents Association.

For more info on the book and the festival: 307-2493 orFacebook.

com/UCSRA

Ellsies Pigeon Peas Balls 1 lb pigeon peas (cooked) 1 egg 1/4 cup fine dry breadcrumbs (enough to hold the balls together) or 1/4 cup soft breadcrumbs (enough to hold the balls together) 3 tbsp mayonnaise (Hellmans is best) 2-3 tbsp chopped onions or 2-3 tbsp green onions, if desired 2-3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or 1-2 teaspoon dried parsley 2-3 tbsp chopped almonds 1 tsp poultry seasoning, to taste . cup crushed corn flakes (for coating) 3 tbsp melted butter seasoning salt black pepper, to taste (optional)

Method: Set oven to 375 degrees.

Prepare a greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan, or any size to fit the pigeon peas balls.

In a bowl, combine the pigeon peas, egg, breadcrumbs, mayo, onion, parsley, almonds, mustard, poultry, seasoning, salt, pepper and fresh garlic; combine well.

Shape into 40 balls (for cocktail size) or larger balls, any size you desire. Roll completely and evenly in the crushed Corn Flakes cereal to coat well. Dip the coated balls completely in melted butter.

Place on a baking sheet/pan. Bake for 10 minutes (for the cocktail size), and 20-25 minutes (depending on how large you make the balls) for the large size, Dont overbake, these do not take long to get done.

Harrys Cream of Pigeon Peas Soup 1 cup shelled green pigeon peas 1 onion, thinly sliced 1 tsp flour Salt and pepper to taste 1 cup milk 1 tsp margarine 1 oz pumpkin, peeled and diced Method: Cook peas in boiling, salted water until tender. Sieve. Prepare cream sauce using margarine, flour and milk.

Add sieved peas. Stir until well mixed. Season to taste. Puree using hand blender. Serve hot with bread rolls or biscuits.

Andreids Green Pigeon Peas Au gratin 1 lb green peas 2 heaped tablespoon Flour Salt and pepper 2 eggs, beaten lightly 1 cup breadcrumbs 3 ounces butter 1 cup milk . tsp nutmeg 2 tbsp grated cheese Method: Clean and cook peas until tender. Drain, set aside, and keep warm.

Add 1 ounce butter.

Make a smooth sauce with 2 ounces butter, flour, and milk. Add beaten eggs and cheese.

Stir until smooth. Combine peas, white sauce, and  cup crumbs.

Butter a large baking dish or pan. Dust bottom and sides with breadcrumbs. Pour mixture into dish. Pack well. Sprinkle with remaining breadcrumbs and dot with butter.

Bake in hot oven.

Rogers Pigeon Pea Cake 1 cup of pigeon peas . cup of evaporated milk 6 oz butter 2 cups of sugar . tsp vanilla extract . tsp of coconut extract 4 eggs 2 cups self-rising flour (cake flour) . tsp cinnamon . tsp baking soda Method: Puree the pigeon peas with the milk in the food processor. Cream the butter and sugar in mixing bowl. Add the eggs one by one and mix well. Mix the flour with the cinnamon and the baking soda. Add slowly to the wet mix.

Once all the dry ingredients are incorporated add the pigeons peas puree.

Grahams Pigeon Peas Sweet-Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup pigeon peas

1 cup sugar .

cup butter . cup of each: raisins, cherries, and mixed fruit

1 egg

3 tsp baking powder

2 tsp Angostura bitters

1 tsp mixed essence .

tsp nutmeg

1 cup of coconut milk

Method: Puree the Pigeon Peas in a blender with 1 cup of water. Add 1 cup of coconut milk.

In a separate bowl, mix together the blended pigeon peas, sugar and egg. Cut in the butter. Mix well: Add the Angostura bitters and mixed essence. Sift together the flour and baking powder.

Mix in the nutmeg and cinnamon. Blend together the pigeon peas mixture, and flour mixture. Blend to make soft dough. Add the mixed fruit, raisins, and cherries to the dough. Mix well. Pour in greased dish and bake for 350 degrees F for about 52 minutes or until a knife inserted in the enter comes out clean.

Prescotts Pigeon Peas Ice Cream

5 cups water 3-13 ox can condensed milk 1 tbsp cornstarch 3 tbsp custard 2 tbsp sugar 1 tbsp plain gelatin 3 cups cooked pigeon peas pureed

Method: Bring water to the boil, add milk and mix well. Remove from stove. In a small bowl, mix gelatin, custard, corn starch and sugar with a little water to make a smooth paste.

Add gelatin paste very slowly to the milk, stirring briskly to avoid lumps. Return mixture to stove and simmer slowly until mixture thickens. Allow to cool and strain. Stir in peas puree to cooled mixture and freeze.

pigeon peas ball
DEAL WITH MISS

Speaking yesterday, the worried father told Newsday, that his son who he said is straight, is now a victim because he stood in defence of his gay friends who were damned and condemned, last Thursday, by a teacher during the schools assembly.

It was reported that the following day in a classroom session which was reportedly recorded on tape by a Form Five student, the teacher was heard issuing threats to kill the boy, his parents and his siblings.

The matter was reported on Monday to the San Fernando Police Station and a Justice of the Peace. The worried parents in company with a police officer visited the school but were unable to meet with the teacher.

The scholarship-winning school is one of five secondary schools run by the Presbyterian church.

My son is not gay for Gods sake and I am really scared for him, the father told Newsday. Yesterday (Monday) we met with the Principal and the police and told them of the situation and today (yesterday) someone smashed his phone in school. She (the teacher) has incited violence against him and the other students are reacting. The father went on to blame the rant of the teacher in the classroom last Friday in which she asked for a gun to deal with homosexuals, among other issues. An audio recording, of which the teachers voice was identified as the one using strong and coarse language, is now the subject of a probe by the Ministry of Education following a report submitted by school officials, on Monday. In the recording, the teacher is heard referring to the teenagers parents as atheists, screw-ups and persons who do not believe in God and should not be parents. Give me a gun and I will fix all the problems in the world, both of them (parents) first, then their offspring, the teacher is heard saying, adding Dont tell me there is no God. The father said he and his wife know very little about the teacher.

He added: We are his parents, we are not atheists, for Gods sake.

We have never dealt with this woman in our whole life and she has made threats to kill us. He further explained that last Thursday in assembly it was the teacher who damned all gay people saying they are not good. It was his son who went to the front and told the assembly it is okay to be gay. He is not gay himself, the father affirmed. Some of his friends are gay and he found it was wrong for her to target gays. He would always stand up for the rights of other people. The father said a Form Five student decided to go ahead and tape the teacher because she had been making the rounds to various classrooms discussing the matter as she had been thrashed by some of her fellow teachers.

The father told Newsday, The JP and police heard the tapes and are horrified to know that a teacher could blatantly and openly make a comment to threaten and kill me and my whole family and it is being taken lightly by the Presbyterian Board, the school itself and the Ministry of Education. Where is the justice in Trinidad and Tobago? He asked: Where is the justice for the children? Somebody could stab my son and they will say they have nothing to do with that. The only time the prestige school will react is when something happens. Saying he remains scared for his sons life, the father accused the school of victimizing the teenager and not protecting him.

The school dont protect anybody because they say they have limited resources but they could raise $250,000 in a bazaar, the father said. They have for other things but not to seek the interest of the children, they seek only the interest of the schools name. Yesterday, Minister of Education Anthony Garcia said he had nothing to say on the matter. I am aware of it as I read it in the Newsday but I have no comment, absolutely none at this time, the Minister said.

Chairman of the Presbyterian Secondary Schools Board Robert Ramsahai stated that the board will meet tomorrow with church moderator Reverend Annabelle Lalla- Ramkhelawan and all principals of their secondary schools. Ramsahai however believe the matter has been blown out of proportion and the meeting will properly analyze the issue before making any pronouncements.

I listened to the tape and in my opinion, my only objection is the coarse language. They are senior male students and sometimes you need to wake them up with the kind of language we use sometimes We use it as strategy , sometimes it doesnt work out well as in this case, Ramsahai said. Newsday also spoke to Rev Lalla-Ramkhelawan who promised a thorough investigation.

I had a conversation with the Principal yesterday and he has furnished me with some reports concerning the matter and we are going to have a stakeholders meeting to discuss the matter, after which we will be in a position to issue a statement, Rev Lalla Ramkhelewan said. Meanwhile, a senior school official told Newsday the teacher, who is receiving counselling, reported for duty as normal yesterday. The official said, we cannot be judge jury and executioner.

The Ministry has to do their part. Meanwhile, she is still employed as a teacher in school.
More females testing positive for HIV

The HIV epidemic is becoming increasingly feminised; it reveals that globally, regionally, and in Trinidad and Tobago, the face of HIV has become young and female, she said. Bailey-Sobers was speaking yesterday at an HIV Symposium in commemoration of International Womens Day held at City Hall, Knox Street, Port-of- Spain.

She explained that local national statistics on HIV/AIDS indicate that women account for 45 percent of HIV cases; 70 percent of new infections in the age group 15 to 24, and 70 percent of all new infections in persons between the age group of 15 and 24 are females.

However, she encouraged her audience that while HIV is no longer a death sentence, it still is a condition that affects ones entire life. Bailey-Sobers indicated that the initiative by the HIV Unit must be applauded, as it continues to demonstrate the understanding of the important role a woman plays in society.

I am told this symposium is designed to educate you on both a personal and a professional level, on the topic of gender disparity, and how it encourages the vulnerability of women; and increases the risk of contracting HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases, she said. She said this years theme Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up For Gender Equality also recognises that the UNs 2030 Agenda for Sustainability Development cannot be achieved without full and equal rights for half of the worlds population, women, in both law and in practice.

According to data from the HIV/AIDS Unit in the Ministry of Health, the majority of persons testing for HIV/AIDS are women.

Also speaking at the symposium, Ann Marie Libert De Four in the Ministry of Health emphasised that stigmatisation and discrimination cause women not to access routine health services and HIV testing out of fear of victimisation.

We have a lot of young women and young people who prefer for young people to talk to them, hence the reason for peer education training. We have a lot of young females who do not want to go to the health centres because they may see health care providers who they feel would not understand when they are going through, De Four said.

While there are more women testing, De Four indicated men sometimes get tested when they visit hospitals to do regular procedures.
Hospital agrees to see girl with mysterious bleeding

Two weeks ago her mother Sian and her husband Felix Manreque took their daughter Ghinelle to the San Fernando General Hospital and was told to wait for a letter of admission to the Mount Hope facility.

I was happy that Dr Chattergoon has called us and is making the necessary arrangements for Ghinelle to carry out further medical tests, Sian said. Only yesterday, teachers of the South Oropouche Government School had to attend to Ghinelle as she cried out in pain and her hands and feet bled.

Sian is now worried whether this occurrence is a condition described as stigmata. Stigmata (singular stigma) is a term used by members of the Christian faith to describe body marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ, such as the hands, wrists, and feet. An individual bearing the wounds of Stigmata is referred to as a stigmatist or a stigmatic.

It is primarily associated with the Roman Catholic faith.

Both Sian and Felix are baffled about this painful ordeal involving their first born and are calling on the Health Minister to look into this matter. If this is something spiritual then we could understand this from that level. But if this child has a medical problem that is causing the pains and bleeding then we would like to know, Sian said, adding that they are leaving no stone unturned regarding this matter.

Sian said many are saying that this is the work of the devil and others are saying it is a reminder to the people of the pains that Christ endured in the days leading up to his crucifixion.

Roman Catholic church researcher Father Thomas Harricharan, who is based in the parish of South Oropouche where Ghinelle lives, recalls meeting the child quite by accident when he went to deliver a package to someone who lives in the area. Although he has not seen her bleeding , he is convinced from what has been told to him by the parish priest, Father Pax that it is indeed a stigmata.

He said he came across the condition once in the 1980s when he was based at Mount St. Benedict.

Father Thomas claimed that stigmata occurs when someone has a heightened sense of spirituality.

He is convinced that what is happening to her is the work of God.

He recalled when he placed his hand on her head last week Saturday to give her a blessing, she reacted normally. He said if it were something diabolical she would have reacted abnormally. Thomas, who also practices exorcism, said another way to identify whether what is happening is from God is to hold up a cross or a rosary in front of the person.

He claims if the persons tries to get away from the holy symbols then what is happening is evil . He said he did not get any negative vibrations from Ghinelle. He is not sure if the bleeding would continue.

He said
Mariano welcomes Tripartite Council

WASA supplying water and losing billions of dollars. The only answer to that is that we are not paying an economic price for water. He said the only companies that pay an economic price for water would be the energy sector companies. On foreign exchange, Browne said price is a great equalizer.

The price of our foreign exchange was overvalued at $6.34. On a trade-weighted basis, we are not earning the type of foreign exchange that we did before. So by definition you would expect our exchange rate to slide. Noting the Central Bank has the capacity for an auction system, Browne said, If we were to use an auction system, we would find that the price would stabilise fairly quickly. In his earlier address to club members during the luncheon, Browne said, Our outlook is grim, it is difficult but it is soluble, once we make up our minds to address it. Explaining that global oil prices are expected to average between US$37 and $40 per barrel for the rest of this year, with prices expected to recover to US$70 per barrel by 2018-2019, Browne stated that the revenue shortfall that the Government is experiencing is not a short-term shortfall. Outside of any unforeseen developments, the former minister said the needed adjustment process could take between five to seven years.

Referring to the Gorgon gas project in Australia and similar initiatives being pursued by Cheniere in the US, Browne said this country also faces the prospect of declining natural gas prices and this will affect the domestic petrochemical sector. He added that when bpTTs Juniper platform becomes operational, even that will not satisfy 100 percent of our demand, even for domestic purposes. He said last Septembers general election resulted in a management change and that the conversation to be had now is one about a crisis stabilisation. He added there is a crisis in terms of revenue and expenditure profile. Browne also said last Octobers Budget left the country with a pregnant pause until the Mid- Year Review on April 8, reiterating his view that the review was coming too late.

On Sunday, senior government officials disagreed with Browne about the timing of the Mid-Year Review.
Shoppers complain about prices

The issue is some of the prices in the groceries. You go to different groceries, you have different prices. Some of the major groceries (names called) are more expensive than anybody else. I have not really seen any change in prices. Some of the prices are regulated and some are not. You go to one grocery and you get one price, you go to another grocery and its a next price, one concerned citizen told the Newsday as the Ministry of Trade and Industry observed World Consumer Rights Day yesterday.

This years theme was Know Your Price, KnowYour Value. It was also a drive to inform consumers about the antibiotics that were being added to their foods.

Officials of the Ministry took the time to meet with consumers and listen to their concerns at Railway Road, Tunapuna, adjacent to the Tunapuna market.

However, Trade and Industry Minister, Paula Gopee-Scoon indicated that she could not attend the event as she was at another function with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. She later sent her apologies an hour and a half into the function.

Also on hand was the Ministrys caped crusader, Captain Consumer, who encouraged passersby to find out about their rights.

Director of Consumer Guidance and Protection at the Consumer Affairs Division, Dexter Morgan said they are looking at supermarekts and general stores.

We are looking into the issue and we are continuously monitoring the daily market, not only supermarkets and hardware, but also poultry. We intend to look at stores in the general sense to see the effect of the Value Added Tax (VAT), and whether they are adhering to the VAT decrease, Morgan said.

Last month, VAT had been decreased from 15 per cent to 12.5 percent
Tunapuna Piarco steps up Zika fight

The Committee has organised a programme of works  Zika Project, which is a programme aimed at eradicating the Aedes Egypti mosquito, carrier of the disease. The Corporations main focus is to reduce the source of the Zika virus.

The programme has two groups of five going around the region using various methods to halt the breeding process of the Aedes Egypti mosquito, the same insect that transmits dengue fever and the feared Chikungunya.

It is expected that the teams would be visiting the various areas in the Corporation to eliminate the carrier.
'He Had the Chance to Go in

and Save the Children'
(Newser)  The family of a 17-year-old who was fatally shot by a homeowner while allegedly breaking into her Miami home doesn't believe she was justified in killing him, CBS Miami reports. According to the Washington Post, the state will likely see it differently. Gwendolyn Jenrette rushed home last Thursday after her security system alerted her to an intruder. There, she shot and killed Travon Johnson as he was fleeing. There are no signs Johnson was armed, and officers arrived just seconds after he was shot. While homeowners who've shot intruders in recent years have been charged with manslaughter and murder, the Post believes Jenrette is unlikely to face charges, as Florida laws strongly protect homeowners in confrontations with intruders.

That leaves Johnson's family angry and without any easy answers. Whats wrong with her, Johnsons sister asks CBS. She did not have to shoot him. Johnson's cousin, Nautika Harris, echoed that sentiment: If she called the police already, why would she shoot him? A police spokesperson attempted to answer those questions. "You have to remember, she's 54 years of age, OK?" WSVN quotes Det. Dan Farrin. "She's a person that obviously is a little distraught because this is her home that someone obviously was in." The Florida attorney's office will decide whether or not to press charges against Jenrette. Johnson lived and went to a technical college within blocks of Jenrette's home. He was not supposed to die like this. He had a future ahead of him," Harris tells CBS. "He was a funny guy, very big on education, loved learning. (Read more home intruder stories.)
(Newser)  A US appeals court has dismissed Jaycee Dugard's lawsuit alleging the federal government failed to properly monitor her captor while he was on parole before her abduction. Phillip Garrido was on parole for kidnapping and forcible rape when he and his wife, Nancy, abducted 11-year-old Dugard in 1991 and held her captive for 18 years, reports the AP. In a 2-1 decision, the court found parole officials did their jobs since it was impossible to know that Dugard would eventually become Garrido's victim. The ruling upheld a lower court decision in 2013 to dismiss the case.

Dugard argued parole officials failed to properly supervise Garridolater sentenced to 431 years to lifeand should have revoked his parole for violations including drug use. If that had been the case, Dugard said she would never have been abducted. Judges Richard Clifton and John Owens said "parole officials can be sued for failing to carry out their duties only by people who were identifiable victims at the time of the alleged failure," reports Bay City News. Judge William Smith said the government should be liable for foreseeable victims. It isn't clear if Dugard will appeal again. (She's now writing a second memoir.)
(Newser)  North Korea's highest court sentenced an American tourist to 15 years in prison with hard labor on Wednesday for subversion. Otto Warmbier, a University of Virginia undergraduate, was convicted and sentenced in a one-hour trial in North Korea's Supreme Court, the AP reports. He was charged with subversion under Article 60 of North Korea's criminal code. The court held that he had committed a crime "pursuant to the US government's hostile policy toward (the North), in a bid to impair the unity of its people after entering it as a tourist." Warmbier was arrested as he tried to leave the country in early January. He was in North Korea with a New Year's tour group.

Before the trial, the 21-year-old from Wyoming, Ohio, said he had tried to steal a propaganda banner from a hotel as a trophy for an acquaintance who wanted to hang it in her church. That would be grounds in North Korea for a subversion charge. In a tearful statement, echoing a televised confession last month, Warmbier claimed he had been offered a used car worth $10,000 if he could get a North Korean banner, and that he had been encouraged by UVA's "Z Society," a semi-secret philanthropic group that North Korea claims is in league with the CIA. Such confessions tend to be recanted as soon as foreigners detained by North Korea are released, the AP notes. (Warmbier's parents have been unable to contact him since he was detained.)
(Newser)  With Marco Rubio out of the race following a crushing defeat in his home state, attention has turned to the 163 delegates the senator amassed before Tuesday, which could be the key to the nomination in the event of a contested GOP convention. But Rubio won't be able to simply hand the delegates to another candidate, the Huffington Post explains. The rules for delegate allocation vary greatly from state to state, and of the 19 states where Rubio has won delegates, more than halfaccounting for 134 of his delegatesrequire delegates to vote for him in the first convention ballot whether he's in the race or not. Only nine Rubio delegates are from states that release delegates to choose again as soon as their candidate drops out.

Rubio didn't endorse another candidate when he spoke to supporters in Miami on Tuesday night, though he made some comments clearly aimed at Donald Trump, Politico reports. "America needs a conservative movement, one that is based on ideas, principles," he said. "Not on fear. Not on anger. Not on preying on people's frustrations." Rubiowho finished nearly 20 points behind Trump in Floridaspent years building a base among establishment Republicans and mastering policy issues, only to be undone by a race in which anger was more important than policy and GOP voters abandoned the establishment, the Washington Post finds in a post-mortem on his candidacy. (Read more Marco Rubio stories.)
(Newser)  No one imagined Jared Fogle would have an easy time in prison, and TMZ reports that the ex-Subway pitchman, serving a 15-year-plus sentence in Colorado for child porn and child sex crimes, was involved in a prison-yard dust-up that apparently didn't end well for Fogle. Per documents seen by the site, a 60-year-old inmate by the name of Steven Nigg attacked Fogle Jan. 29 at the Englewood federal prison while they were in the rec yard, shoving Fogle down and then punching him repeatedly. Fogle is said to have suffered a bloody nose, scratches on his neck, and a swollen face, while Nigg walked away with just a cut on his left hand (and a stint in solitary for his efforts).

Nigg is in Englewood for a weapons conviction linked to a robbery spree decades ago, reports the New York Daily News, which dives more into Nigg's own interesting backstory. This may not be Fogle's first "vigilante" encounter in prison, either: An inmate reportedly slapped him after calling him a "dirty child rapist," a recently released prisoner said, per the New York Post. (Fogle doesn't think he should be punished for his fantasies.)
(Newser)  The front-runner will once again be absent: Donald Trump says he's skipping Fox News' GOP debate in Salt Lake City on Monday because nobody told him about it, per Politico. Trump is already scheduled to speak at a conference of the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, and he says there have been "enough" debates already. Or perhaps he's just had enough of Megyn Kelly, who will return as one of three moderators, reports Fox News Insider. Trump tweeted Tuesday that Kelly is "trying so hard to bash" him, reports the Hill. "Can't watch Crazy Megyn anymore," he added. (Read more Donald Trump stories.)
(Newser)  File this under "only in Canada." A suspected thief had the Royal Canadian Mounted Police hot on her heels when she allegedly used an ice floe as a getaway vehicle Sunday in British Columbia, the CBC reports. Police say 25-year-old Philicity Lafrenier drove a stolen pickup truck to the frigid Nechako River and jumped onto the ice floe after a homeowner interrupted her mid-burglary. Police caught up with her more than a mile downriver, with the ice floe nearly stopped only feet from the shore, according to the Vancouver Sun.

Police say Lafrenier had started a fire on the ice floe, possibly in an attempt to burn evidence. She was apprehended by an officer and police dog with the help of some local boaters. "It's definitely a first. It's something we've never come across and probably never will again in our careers," a police spokesperson tells CBC. "We just shake our heads." Lafrenier has been charged with multiple crimes, including breaking and entering and resisting arrest. (Read more weird crimes stories.)
(Newser)  Fox News, apparently uninterested in hosting a forum in which Ted Cruz debates, alone, on live national TV, has canceled Monday's GOP presidential debate. Donald Trump was the first to drop out of the Utah debate, claiming on Wednesday that there have been "enough" debates already, and John Kasich dropped out soon after. "We had hoped to contrast Governor Kasichs positive inclusive approach to problem solving with Trumps campaign of division. If he changes his mind, we will be there," Kasich's chief strategist told Fox 13 in a statement. Now, Fox 13 confirms, the debate has been canceled entirely, after Fox officials and the Republican National Committee powwowed. Per Utah Republican Party officials, Kasich's decision to withdraw pushed them over the edge.

"On Feb. 20, the Republican National Committee announced that a GOP presidential primary debate would be held on March 21 in Salt Lake City," says Michael Clemente, executive VP of news at the Fox News Channel, in a statement. "They offered that debate to Fox News Channel to host, provided there were enough candidates actively campaigning. This morning, Donald Trump announced he would not be participating in the debate. Shortly afterward, John Kasich's campaign announced that without Trump at the debate, Kasich would not participate. Ted Cruz has expressed a willingness to debate Trump or Kasichor both. But obviously, there needs to be more than one participant. So the Salt Lake City debate is cancelled." (Read more Election 2016 stories.)
(Newser)  Jacai Colson, the Maryland police officer killed by friendly fire during a shootout outside a police station Sunday, was shot by another officer who "deliberately aimed at him," the Prince George's County police chief said Wednesday. The chief clarified that there was no malice involved, but the situation was "incredibly chaotic," CBS Baltimore reports. Colson, an undercover cop, was in plainclothes when he arrived on the scene and started shooting at the attacker.

Michael Ford, the suspected shooter, has been hit with 25 charges including second-degree murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy. Police say the 22-year-old fired on the station in the hopes of being killed in a "suicide by cop" scenario. His two younger brothers, who allegedly drove him there and recorded the shootout, also face charges including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. (Read more police shooting stories.)
By the end of the month, Htin Kyaw, 69, an executive committee member of a Suu Kyi-led foundation, will finally be sworn in as President. It marks the end of Burma's military-backed government and is the first milestone of a democratic party led by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, according to washingtonpost.

Htin Kyaw has been one of the top advisers of 'Mother Suu', as Suu Kyi is known. He was by her side when she was under house arrest for 15 years, and then shifted to a charitable foundation in 2012. In 2000, he tried to travel outside Rangoon with her, but was detained by the military junta.

But in the coming weeks, Aung San and Htin Kyaw are still expected to tussle with the Generals. Even as the military held the reins of power, they voted out Suu Kyi's efforts to struggle through a constitutional provision, preventing her from becoming President.

"It's going to be a very, very critical relationship," said Priscilla A. Clapp, senior advisor to the U.S. Institute of Peace, who served as chief of mission and charge d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Burma from 1999 to 2002.

The Constitution guarantees the seats of the military wing of parliament. They have chosen a retired Lieutenant General, Myint Swe, as first vice-president.

However, the State Department spokesman, John Kirby, affirmed the U.S. position on the military reservation in Parliament last week, saying that it is a "structural and systemic flaw in Burma's constitution."

"We want to see the democratic transition move forward," he said. "We have conveyed our concerns about to Burmese leaders, and we're just - we're going to continue to watch this."

Unfortunately, in one of the poorest countries in South Asia, while a peace accord has been signed with the armed ethnic militias, there are still a lot of battles in Burma's border areas, with hundreds of thousands of regugees, and about 140,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees in camps. The country has won part of a political battle, but its economic achievements still seem a long way ahead.
Millions of Americans may have to find a home on a higher ground if they want to prevent being flooded due to rising sea levels. The number of people living by the coastline are projected to be three times more than than numbers projected earlier, reveals the study published in science journal, Nature Climate Change

The study warns that if the protective measures are not implemented soon enough, millions of Americans would be displaced and would lead to mass migration, similar to the Great Migration of African Americans in 20th Century.

"We've been underestimating what those potential impacts could be," said Mathew Hauer, applied demographer at University of Georgia, Athens, doctoral candidate in geography department of the school and the study co-author.

Needless to say, the rise in sea levels has been attributed to climate change that are posing a serious threat to some of the island nations of the world. Scientists predict that islands such as Maldives will perish under water by the end of this century.

According to Hauer, the conventional method of evaluating the impact of rising sea level is to study the existing infrastructure and current population. However, his study also takes the population growth into account.

"Coastal communities are among some of the most rapidly growing in the United States, so we have to think about the anticipated expansion of those populations that is likely to occur in this century," Hauer said.

As per their findings, if the increase in sea level by the end of 2100 reaches 35.4 inches, as many as 4.2 million people in U.S. coastal areas may be under direct threat of being flooded. However, if this number were to reach 70.9 inches, projected by NOAA at a higher end, the number of people affected will reach 13.1 million.
President Park Geun-Hye will travel to Washington later this March to attend the fourth and final Nuclear Security Summit.

World leaders from more than 50 countries and the heads of international organizations like the UN and the International Atomic Energy Agency will be attending to discuss countermeasures against the threat of Nuclear terrorism and adopt a joint communique.

On the sidelines of the summit, President Park is also slated to hold a handful of summit talks.

This will include trilateral talks with U.S. President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, where North Korea's nuclear issues are likely to dominate discussions.

President Park then will fly to Mexico City for summit talks with her Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto (Benn-nya Knee-ah-toe)

The two countries will agree upon ways to enhance cooperation in various sectors ranging from ICT to security and education.

The first Nuclear Security Summit 2016 was held in Washington, DC in 2010, and was followed by additional summits in Seoul in 2012 and The Hague in 2014. These summits have achieved tangible improvements in the security of nuclear materials and stronger international institutions that support nuclear security -nss2016.org

The NSS 2016 will continue to provide forum for leaders to engage with each other and reinforce commitment at the highest levels to securing nuclear materials.

This fourth Summit is a "transition Summit," as characterized by President Obama in 2014. An important focus at this time is ensuring that the nuclear security architecture and the important achievements of the Summit process are maintained and sustained.

For example, the Summit process has identified international institutions and initiatives that form the foundation of the global nuclear security architecture. The 2016 Summit will issue Action Plans supporting the United Nations, the IAEA, INTERPOL, the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT), and the Global Partnership.

The four Nuclear Security Summits have successfully fulfilled President Obama's commitment to raise nuclear security to senior-most levels in order to make concrete achievements in securing nuclear material and strengthening the global nuclear security architecture.
The South Korean tech giant Samsung has finally rolled out a couple of specifics regarding its latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow update on Galaxy Note 5. Previous reports from a number of media outfits suggested that the update was supposedly scheduled for release by the end of last year.

Last October, Google began its Marshmallow update albeit gradually until it reaches most, if not all, Android devices worldwide.

Despite its initial announcement of the said update, the company halted its original scheduled release for Galaxy Note. So for the last four months, Galaxy Note 5 users have been quite frustrated over the delayed release while other smartphone companies received OS update on their Android devices.

So what do Galaxy Note 5 users expect from the Google's Android 6.0 Marshmallow update?

As reported by Day Herald, the old software version obviously gets altered and replaced with a new one with this alphanumeric label: MMB29K.N920VVRU2BPB2. Once update gets successfully installed, a number of new features will emerge.

Some of these new features are as follows:

1. Doze Mode- puts all background apps to deep sleep to minimize the drain on batteries.

2. Do Not Disturb Mode- enables users to select which apps or phone contacts can send notifications

3. Google Now on Tap- gives users a roundup of what's going on their phablet's screen

In addition to the foregoing changes, users will no longer see Amazon Appstore automatically downloaded to their devices once the update takes effect.

As for other Galaxy handsets, leaks indicate that Galaxy S6 Edge+, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge will also get the firmware update in March as reported by International Business Times. The OS update for Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge will likewise follow next month.

Following Google's announcement on the new software release, network carriers such as Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile have also announced their rollout schedule on the devices that they support.

Meanwhile, a report from Yibada reveals that Marshmallow update on Galaxy Note 5 is beset with a number of technical issues such as intermittent Wi-Fi connection and battery problems. Because of these ongoing problems, Samsung reportedly plans to launch another version of the said rollout.
Patients who are difficult to deal with may tend to distract the doctor's attention away from quality care, said Dutch researchers after studying two related studies.

The experts involved in the study could not really determine why, but surmised that the doctors might be using up more of their "mental resources on dealing with the difficult patients' behaviors, impeding adequate processing of clinical findings."

The first team was captained by Silvia Mamede, an associate professor with the Institute of Medical Education Research Rotterdam at Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands. They revealed to 63 family medicine doctors, two sets of six clinical case situations that included either a tough or a neutral patient.

The doctors were told to fill in how they would treat them and also indicate how much they liked their patients. The likeability tended to be lower for the difficult patients.

Surprisingly, the doctors made more errors while dealing with the difficult patients, even if their medical condition was seen to be "simple". However, they spend equal amount of time with both kinds of patients.

"Disruptive behaviors displayed by patients seem to induce doctors to make diagnostic errors," the authors wrote. "Interestingly, the confrontation with difficult patients does however not cause the doctor to spend less time on such cases. Time can therefore not be considered an intermediary between the way the patient is perceived, his or her likeability and diagnostic performance."

The second study involved Mamede. They took in 74 internal medicine residents, who were told to diagnose patients in eight clinical summaries that included either difficult or neutral behaviors.

Again, the researchers made more errors while "hypothetically treating" tough patients.

"The fact is, that difficult patients trigger reactions that may intrude with reasoning, adversely affect judgments and cause errors," the researchers said.

Both studies were published in BMJ Quality & Safety.
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the morning. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Low 22F. Winds light and variable.
New Delhi :

Beef and intolerance news once again found its way in a private university in Rajasthan on Wednesday after four Kashmiri students were allegedly beaten for cooking beef in their hostel room. The news came out after the incident was reported on Monday at the Mewar University in Chittorgarh, a city which is about five hours from state capital Jaipur.



According to reports, the police was immediately called in to prevent the attack while some Hindu activists reportedly also raised slogans in the campus.

The meat being cooked has been sent for forensic tests, said a police officer.



University spokesperson Harish Gurnani informed a newspaper, "We have students from all over the country...from 23 states. It is like a mini India. Sometimes, these small scuffles happen because people are from different socio-cultural backgrounds."

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, reacting to the news lashed out at Centre for making Kashmiri students "insecure" by "singling them out for profiling" by security agencies across India.

Last year, a Dalit man in Uttar Pradesh was killed by a mob over beef rumours and led to a heated debate of rising intolerance in the country.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Voicing the concerns of refugees Hollywood star and UN refugee agency envoy Angelina Jolie on Tuesday met Syrian refugee families living hostile conditions in Lebanon. Jolly was in Syria on the fifth anniversary of the Syrian war.

Jolie seemed touched after meeting the victims.

On her meeting with Khulud, a 38-year-old mother of four now living in a tent in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, who was left paralysed three years ago by a sniper in Syria, according to the UN refugee agency.

Jolie later visited Beirut where she met a group of women living in poor conditions, a damp collective shelter, that left them and their families exposed to sickness, said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

We should never forget that for all the focus on the refugee situation in Europe at this time, the greatest pressure is still being felt in the Middle East and North Africa, as it has for each of the last five years, Jolie said.

The reason we have laws and binding international agreements is precisely because of the temptation to deviate from them in times of pressure, she said.

Jolie seemd touched after meeting the the victims. On her meeting with Khulud, a 38-year-old mother of four now living in a tent in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, who was left paralysed three years ago by a sniper in Syria, according to the UN refugee agency.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Delhi court has directed police officials to lodge a FIR against Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas against a complaint filed by a woman volunteer. However, Kumar Vishwas has denied any wrong doings in the case.



The police had said in court that a preliminary inquiry did not throw up any evidence against the poet-turned-politician.



A week ago, Kumar Vishwas and 6 AAP members were summoned as accused in a criminal defamation complaint filed by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley by a court.



The court summoned these six accused for alleged offences under section 500 (defamation) of the IPC read with section 34 (common intention) the IPC and directed them to appear before it on April 7.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Washington:

President Barack Obama will travel to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia in April, a visit set to be dominated by doubts over Britains EU membership and concerns about turmoil in the Middle East. The White House said Obama will visit Windsor Castle where he will have a private lunch with Queen Elizabeth II and 10 Downing Street for a joint press conference with Prime Minister David Cameron. His visit comes ahead of Britains hotly contested June referendum on European Union membership. Obama is likely to express his strong backing for keeping Britain in the EU, but will have to rebuff allegations of interference.

Londons loquacious mayor Boris Johnsona chief proponent of leaving the blochas accused Obama of exorbitant hypocrisy given Americas hysterical vigilance about its own sovereignty. In Saudi Arabia, Obama will attend a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, were Washingtons policies toward the Middle East are likely to come under the microscope.

Uneasy partners in the Gulf have been furious at Obamas engagement with Iran and perceived retreat from the Middle East. A senior Saudi royal has publicly criticized Obama for comments accusing the longtime US ally of feeding Middle East conflicts.

Saudi Arabia, the worlds top oil exporter, has long been a major ally of the United States but the relationship has deteriorated under Obama. In an opinion piece published in Saudi newspapers, Prince Turki al-Faisal, the kingdoms former intelligence chief and envoy to Washington, lashed out at Obamas recent comments to The Atlantic magazine.

You accuse us of fomenting sectarian strife in Syria, Yemen and Iraq. You add insult to injury by telling us to share our world with Iran, a country that you describe as a supporter of terrorism, Faisal wrote.

Faisal questioned whether Obama has pivoted to Iran so much that you equate the kingdoms 80 years of constant friendship with America to an Iranian leadership that continues to describe America as the biggest enemy, that continues to arm, fund and support sectarian militias in the Arab and Muslim world.

Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia has repeatedly accused Shiite Iran of interference in Arab affairs, particularly in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Bahrain.During the visit Obama will also visit Germany, and, according to the White House attend Hannover Messe - the worlds largest trade show for industrial technology - and meet Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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Mumbai:

Amid high drama, AIMIM MLA Waris Pathan was today suspended from Maharashtra Assembly for refusing to say Bharat Mata Ki Jai after it adopted a unanimous resolution, escalating the row over chanting this slogan triggered by his party boss.



Taking a cue from his party chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who said he wont chant Bharat Mata ki Jai even if a knife was put to his throat, Pathan said, We will say Jai Hind but not Bharat Mata Ki Jai and there cannot be any compulsion. Owaisi had made the remark while rejecting RSS chief Mohan Bhagwats suggestion for chanting the slogan to infuse patriotism.



Actor Anupam Kher also waded into the row, saying, The only definition of NATIONALISM for Bharatwasis should be Bharat Mata Ki Jai. Rest all are escape routes.:).



Pathan, who represents Byculla seat in South Mumbai, will not be allowed to attend the proceedings of the House till the end of ongoing Budget session.



Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat said, Pathan was suspended from Assembly for showing disrespect to national heroes and refusal to say Bharat Mata ki Jai.



The drama unfolded began when All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MLA from Aurangabad, Imtiaz Jaleel was speaking on the debate on the Governors address in the Assembly.



Jaleel said the government should not spend taxpayers money on building memorials of great personalities.



A Shiv Sena MLA interjected, saying Jaleels party leader Asaduddin Owaisi had recently stated that he will not chant Bharat Mata Ki Jai (hail mother India).



To this, Pathan said, We will say Jai Hind but not Bharat Mata Ki Jai. There cannot be compulsion on saying Bharat Mata ki Jai. The Constitution does not say this.



Immediately after his remarks, the legislators from ruling BJP and Shiv Sena and other opposition parties including Congress and NCP began making demand for the suspension of AIMIM legislators from the House.



Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse said the AIMIM MLAs should apologise but his suggestion was shot down by angry members of the House, who, setting aside political differences, sought their suspension.



Bapat said he will table a resolution seeking the approval of the House for suspension of AIMIM MLAs, after which the House was adjourned for 10 minutes It was again adjourned three more times amid noisy scenes.



When the proceedings resumed, Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil tabled the resolution, seeking suspension of Pathan, which was approved unanimously.



Pathan has misused freedom of speech, violated Parliamentary traditions and insulted Bharat Mata (Mother India), the minister said, adding the resolution was tabled keeping with the sentiments of the House.



During his suspension period, Pathan wont be able to attend House proceedings and wont be allowed near Vidhan Bhawan premises, Patil said.



Speaker Haribhau Bagade informed the House that the resolution was adopted unanimously.



Later talking to reporters, Pathan sought justice, saying, I have not disrespected my country.



I am proud of having been born in this country and god willing will be buried in the very earth here. I have not disrespected my country. And I cannot think of doing so. Jai Hind. Jai Bharat. Jai Maharashtra.

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday vowed that his administration would not show mercy to any person in its ongoing anti-corruption wa...

He said his administration would pursue the anti-graft war relentlessly until Nigerians began to see how the nations elite conspired to run the country down.According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke during an interactive session he had in Malabo with Nigerians resident in Equatorial Guinea.Buhari assured the Nigerians that he would not entertain any fear in his quest to rid the nation of corruption by bringing those who compromised their positions to book.We will be merciless and relentless in pursuing all those who abused public trust. Nigerians will see how some of the elite conspired to run the nation down, the President said.He also condemned recent political violence in Rivers State, saying the killing of people over political differences was primitive, barbaric and unacceptable.He promised to deal decisively with those responsible for the development.We will deal decisively with all sponsors of violence. I have given the security services clear directives in this regard.We will show that violence in any form will no longer be tolerated before, during or after elections, he stated.Buhari promised that the Independent National Electoral Commission would be encouraged to explore the possibility of Nigerians abroad participating in the 2019 general elections by casting their votes wherever they might reside.He noted that some African countries had started allowing their citizens, resident abroad, to vote in national elections and Nigeria could not afford not to join them.He identified with the desire of Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote in national elections, pledging that he would do all within his powers to fulfil that desire.I want all Nigerians to know that I respect them and their right to choose their leaders, he said.The President disclosed that establishing a new national airline was not currently on the Federal Governments list of priorities.He said his administrations main area of focus was reducing the level of poverty.Buhari said developing the infrastructure needed to boost production in all sectors of the economy and creating more jobs for young Nigerians, as well as other actions that would directly enhance the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians would continue to be prioritised by his administration.He was responding to complaints by members of the Nigerian community about the absence of direct flights between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has proposed a N100-per-month charge on every debit card (your typical ATM card) in Nigeria. This is separa...

The Central Bank of Nigeria has proposed a N100-per-month charge on every debit card (your typical ATM card) in Nigeria.This is separate from the existing N65 charge after the third withdrawal within the same month.For naira dominated cards, a monthly maintenance fee of N100 was also proposed for every month a debit card is used, and a N50 charge for other months when card is used or not.In its draft on the guide to charges for banks and other financial institutions in Nigeria, apex bank also proposed a N4,200-per-annum charge on foreign currency denominated cards as maintenance fee.The central bank also added that Nigerians could send in their comments on the proposed charges, seeking clarification and notifying the bank on excluded financial institutions.Kindly send hard copies of your comments by March 29, 2016 to the director, financial policy and regulation department with soft copies mailed to gbcreview@cbn.gov.ng," the bank added.
The Community Court of the Economic Community of West African States on Tuesday heard the Federal Governments objection to the fundamenta...

The Community Court of the Economic Community of West African States on Tuesday heard the Federal Governments objection to the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) and fixed April 11 for ruling.At the hearing of the governments objection to the suit, the Federal Government urged the ECOWAS court to dismiss the suit for a lack of jurisdiction.Dasuki was re-arrested on December 29, 2015, shortly after he was released from the Kuje Prison on bail.He is being prosecuted on three separate sets of charges, some bordering on alleged diversion of funds meant for the procurement of arms.In his suit, instituted by his counsel, Mr. Robert Emukpoeruo, the former NSA is asking the ECOWAS Court to declare as unlawful, unconstitutional and a breach of his fundamental right his arrest since last year without a lawful court order.The applicant also prayed the court to declare his detention as unlawful and a violation of his right to dignity of human person, privacy and family life.He said the said rights were guaranteed and protected under sections 34 and 37 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Right and Article 12 of the Universal of Human Right.He slammed the Federal Government for allegedly keeping him in dehumanising conditions after he had been granted bail by courts of competent jurisdiction and after he had fulfilled the bail conditions for his release.
Justice Lateef Akapo of a Lagos High Court on Wednesday convicted a 19-year-old secondary school leaver, Tobechukwu Igbokwe, and sentenc...

Justice Lateef Akapo of a Lagos High Court on Wednesday convicted a 19-year-old secondary school leaver, Tobechukwu Igbokwe, and sentenced him to 37 years imprisonment for defrauding an American, of the sum of $40m in an inheritance scam.Igbokwe (Alias David Prince) and his accomplice, Ifeanyi Obi, were alleged to have duped an American, M. Silva, of the sum of $40m in an inheritance scam.Silva was made to believe that Igbokwe and his accomplice had a huge inheritance which they wanted to move to a foreign account for safekeeping.The victim was asked to send money to process the transfer and in the process, he wired $40m in several instalments through Western Union to Igbokwe.Igbokwe also confessed that he had duped other foreigners. Some of them are: T. Bedwell, $6,000 and R. Hunt $15,000.The convict was then arraigned before the court on 12 counts bordering on forgery, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences.Justice Akapo found him guilty on all 12-counts and sentenced him accordingly. He was sentenced to seven years on counts 1-8; eight years on count 9; seven years on count 10, eight years on count 11 and seven years on count 12, making a cumulative of 37 years imprisonment.The sentence is to run concurrently with effect from October 28, 2013. The court also ordered Igbokwe to return the $40m as restitution to the victim and forfeit a Toyota Corolla car, which he used the money to buy.Igbokwe was arraigned on Monday, October 28, 2013 and pleaded not guilty to the 12 charges filed against him. He later changed his plea to guilty and was convicted by Justice Akapo accordingly.Before the conviction, the prosecuting counsel, Kayode Oni, tendered various exhibits before the court which were all admitted and marked as such.However, the defence counsel, D. A. Omougbai prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, since Igbokwe had shown remorse for the offences he committed.
The Nigerian Postal Service, in collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, intercepted fake financial transaction t...

The Nigerian Postal Service, in collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, intercepted fake financial transaction tools such as cheques, International Money Order and credit cards valued at N83bn in 2015.The acting Postmaster General of the Federation, Mr. Enoch Ogun, disclosed this when he received the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, who led the management staff of the anti-graft agency to the headquarters of NIPOST in Abuja on Tuesday.Ogun also disclosed that other sensitive materials, including small arms, were also seized by NIPOST at its international mail sorting office in Lagos.The PMG said the fake credit cards and cheques would have dented the image of Nigeria if they had passed the screening of NIPOST unnoticed.He said, We have been working together. In our major formations all over the country, EFCC officials are there; particularly, the International Mail Processing Centre.With the collaboration, last year, we were able to intercept about N83bn worth of financial transaction tools. These come in the form of cheques, International Money Order, credit cards, etc. With the scanning machines we have and the collaboration between NIPOST and EFCC, we were able to intercept these things.You can imagine what it would have been if those fake cheques and credit cards got to the public. The negative impact would be so much. The negative impact on our image in the international community is better imagined.In his remarks, Magu said he was at NIPOST to deepen the relationship of the EFCC with the postal system and to seek additional support for the EFCC.The EFCC boss said, We realise that in fighting corruption, every person is a stakeholder. We are here to thank you for the support so far given to us by NIPOST. We are also here to ask for more support to be able to succeed in what we are doing.We need to create awareness about the evil of corruption both in the office and at homes. We need to tell our children at home about the evils of corruption because some people dont even believe that corruption is wrong.We are here also to remind you that what we are doing is for everybody. It is for everybody. It is just by divine intervention that we happen to find ourselves in EFCC but it is on behalf of everybody that we are fighting corruption.Magu pledged to work with NIPOST in other areas in order to win the fight against corruption, including the use of stamps in the anti-corruption crusade.
LEONIA -- Latin may be a dead language, but a Leonia High School teacher is using the classical language to entertain students and maybe win a cover song video contest.

Keith Massey, 49, of Roxbury, teaches Latin at Leonia High School. He regularly creates videos of himself performing Latin versions of popular songs.

He's entered his latest effort, a cover of "Hello" by Adele, into the Illustrated Sound Network's Pop Unplugged Cover Song Video Contest.

Massey's previous Latin covers, posted on his website, include "Jingle Bells," "Hello - Goodbye" and "Do You Want to Build a Snowman." According to the site, he was born in Wisconsin and studied Latin and Classical Greek at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Before becoming a teacher, he served four years as an Arabic translator for the the National Security Agency, including a stint in Iraq.

Massey told the Daily Record a friend at the NSA brought the song contest to his attention. He chose "Hello" because his students would know the song, and because "hello" is a basic phrase his students should know.

As of Wednesday, the video has 2,500 views. The winners are announced March 29, and could win a prize of $250.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
This 2016 St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York will be especially noteworthy this year.

As Barbara Jones, Consul General of Ireland, explained to amNewYork that the historic parade "really has a great historical dimension to it this year."

Incredibly historical. This year will see the Emerald Isle celebrating 100 years of being an established Irish Republic. The country's independence came during the Easter Rising on April 24, 1916.



History.com tells us that the St. Patrick's Day Parade is not only the largest St. Paddy's Day parade but the oldest civilian parade. How large? In a typical year, roughly two million spectators watch 150,000 participants march along 5th Avenue from bands to policemen to firemen to social and cultural clubs.



Whether you plan to watch on TV, online or go in person, we whipped up this handy guide to all things St. Paddy's Day.



WHEN IS THE PARADE AND WHAT TIME DOES IT START?

The NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade is Thursday, March 17, 2016. It's a long haul, indeed. The parade starts at 11 a.m. and will end at 4:30 p.m. It begins on 5th Avenue at 44th Street and ends on 5th Avenue uptown at 79th Street. TimeOut tells us that the parade will end at the American Irish Historical Society.



WHERE CAN I WATCH THE PARADE?

If you go in person, spectators are advised to go anywhere along 5th Avenue. As with any major free public event, arrive early for a good spot. And don't forget to check the weather forecast.



WILL IT BE CANCELLED IF IT RAINS?



Doubtful. Historically, the St. Patrick's Day has marched in a variety of meteorologic conditions. Currently, the parade weather may be a bit damp.



WHO'S MARCHING?



While there are hundreds of groups marching, the New Jersey participants are as follows:



Brick Township High School Band, Brick; Clann na Vale Pipe Band; Col D B Kelly Pipe and Drum Band, South Amboy; Emerson High School Band; Garfield Community Band; Jackson Liberty High School; Lia Fail Pipe & Drums; Middletown High School Band; Neptune High School Marching Band; New Milford High School Band; Paramus Catholic High School Marching Paladins; Seton Hall University; St. Ann's of Hampton Pipes & Drum; St. Ann's Pipe Band; The Guard Pipe & Drum Corp Band; Vernon Township High School Band; West Milford High School Band; West Morris High School Band and Whippany Park High School Band. For a complete list of marchers, click here.



SOME TIPS TO REMEMBER



As is the case with most public events in the Big Apple, there will be no public restrooms set up.



With the exception of service dogs, do not bring your pet. Animals are not allowed anywhere on the parade route.



Keep the flask at home. The public consumption of alcohol is not permitted and, as the official web site reminds us, is illegal. "People displaying public drunkenness will be removed from the Parade route by NYPD," the web site says.



The NYPD wants to keep everyone safe, That said, all backpacks and large bags are subject to search.



Tickets for the grandstand were only available by mail. However, if you're a ticket holder and plan observe from there dress "business casual" and "professional." In addition, green hats, beads or other other costume-type garb are not permitted in the stands.



Expect lots of traffic in the city. Because street traffic will be detoured away from 5th Avenue (between 44th to 79th Streets), it will likely cause a significant overflow on adjacent streets.



CAN I WATCH THE PARADE AT HOME?



While the four-hour plus parade will not be televised in it's entirety, NBC will broadcast a large portion of the event from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.



CAN I WATCH THE PARADE ONLINE?



There will be a live stream of the entire parade provided by NBC.



WHO'S THE GRAND MARSHAL?



This year's grand marshal is Senator George J. Mitchell.

Anthony Venutolo may be reached at avenutolo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyVenutolo and Google+. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
NEWARK -- Residents and officials cheered when Newark Mayor Ras Baraka announced Wednesday morning that he would ensure a $15 minimum wage by 2018 for all full- and part-time city employees.

The mayor made his statement at a press conference during which he and four other politicians representing urban areas spoke out in support of a minimum wage increase.

Baraka, who previously asked Port Authority to raise its minimum wage for airport workers, did not immediately know how many city workers make less than $15 an hour. But, he told NJ Advance Media those that did were mostly part-time workers.

He pledged to institute the change by Jan. 2018, the end of his term.

"I think that we ended in a surplus. We have a few dollars to help people," he said, when asked how the city would budget for the change. The exact budgetary impacts of the wage increase were not immediately available.

The rally also included speeches from Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop; Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz, who heads the Urban Mayors Association; Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp, whose city recently passed a paid sick leave ordinance; and Assembly Speaker Vince Prieto, who has been pushing the 80 percent minimum wage increase statewide.

Fulop already issued an executive order Feb. 29 to raise the minimum wage to $15 for his city's 500 workers who were making less. East Orange and Bloomfield have also passed resolutions to bring their workers up to the $15 minimum wage, according to Connie Jackson, a spokeswoman for East Orange.

Baraka, meanwhile, is the chair of the New Jersey Black Mayors Alliance for Social Justice. The event took place in front of Newark City Hall at 9:30 a.m.

The rally was organized by New Jersey Working Families, an advocacy group which also asked several workers from the area, all making less than $15 an hour, to tell their stories.

New Jersey Working Families is currently advocating for the new minimum wage by 2021, as well as a phase-out the $2.53 minimum wage for tipped workers, and strengthened wage theft laws.

One woman at the rally said she cleans airplanes at Newark International Airport for $10 an hour; another man said he makes $12 an hour, thanks to his union, working at a distribution center for Donna Karan. A second man said he has to work 12 hour days at a pizza place just to make ends meet.

"I don't see any future right now," said Newark resident America Hernandez through an English translator. The Ecuadorian immigrant, who has lived in the United States nearly 30 years, cleans United Airlines airplane interiors and has four children and four grandchildren that she is helping support.

The $15 minimum wage issue has been in the press since fast food workers began to advocate for the raise over a year ago.

Officials emphasized that people making the minimum wage often have to work two or three jobs to make ends meet, which takes time away from their children.

In September, officials said, Essex County's freeholders made their county New Jersey's first to endorse the wage, followed by Hudson and Mercer. Prieto and Senate President Stephen Sweeney have since agreed on a merged proposal to gradually raising the state's minimum wage to $15.

Fourteen U.S. cities and states have approved a $15 minimum wage, according to the National Employment Law Project. Nearby East Orange and Bloomfield recently announced that all of their municipal employees will soon make at least $15 an hour.

Laura Herzog may be reached at lherzog@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LauraHerzogL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Georgia outside linebacker Leonard Floyd's name has picked up steam lately as a possible fit for the Giants with the No. 10 pick in April's NFL Draft. And that buzz is about to get louder, considering the Giants were out in full force Wednesday to see Floyd at his pro day.

Giants general manager Jerry Reese led a good-sized contingent from the organization that attended Georgia's pro day in Athens, Ga., NJ Advance Media has learned. Giants draft boss Marc Ross, the team's vice president of player evaluation, was also in attendance, as was linebackers coach Bill McGovern. You can see Reese (to the left) on the ground in Georgia in the 11th photo of this gallery from 247 Sports.

Reese only attends a select few pro days each year, and his presence could foreshadow the Giants' first-round selection. He was at Odell Beckham Jr.'s pro day at LSU in 2014, and then Ereck Flowers' pro day at Miami in 2015. Both players went on to be the Giants' top picks that year.

Floyd is 6-foot-6 and 244 pounds, could play some with his hand on the ground, and has an ability to rush the passer. The Giants have not taken a linebacker in the first round since 1984, when they selected Carl Banks out of Michigan State, and have only drafted four linebackers in the first round over the years. But Floyd's ability to gain size and rush the passer, as well as the Giants' needs at linebacker, could present a match come April's draft.

TALK IS CHEAP, Ep. 45: Analyzing the Giants' spending spree

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher or Soundcloud.

James Kratch can be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com or by leaving a note in the comments below. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find and like NJ.com Giants on Facebook.
TRENTON -- For the seventh consecutive year, Hunterdon County tops the list of New Jersey's healthiest counties, thanks in large part to its highly-educated population, access to doctors, and low crime and premature death rates, according to a report released Wednesday by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Also for the seven consecutive year, Cumberland County ranked at the bottom of the list. This poor and rural county recorded the highest number of premature deaths, as well as smoking, teen birth and obesity rates, the report said.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute create the rankings by collecting the most recent data on 35 factors that measure quality of life and "quantity" of life -- the percent of the population that lives to 75 and older. The analysts examine education and income levels, crime rates, proximity to grocery stores, parks and community recreational facilities, the availability of health care, and tests that monitor water and air quality.

Besides being New Jersey's healthiest county, Hunterdon is also its wealthiest county. Last year, it ranked second, behind Morris County, as the best place to raise a child, according to the annual Kids Count report.

Hudson County showed the most progress from last year, moving from 16th to 12th in the rankings, the report said. This largely urban county improved because the number of preventable deaths and hospital overnight stays declined, the pool of uninsured people also declined while the number of people screened for diabetes rose, according to the report.

Nearly 6,400 premature deaths could be avoided a year if every New Jerseyan had the same access to a healthy lifestyle, according to the report. The highest premature death rates were estimated in Essex and Cumberland counties, based on the how many people were unemployed, obese, habitual smokers and binge drinkers, among other factors.

Researchers want to see health officials and elected leaders use the analysis to identify ways people can be helped to live longer and healthier.

"The rankings data are only as valuable as the action it inspires and the lives it improves," said Bridget Catlin, co-director of the County Health Rankings. "Whether it's addressing health gaps between counties or the concentration of poverty in rural or residentially segregated communities -- targeting resources to the people and places in greatest need is essential to building a culture of health. The rankings are an important springboard for conversations on how to expand opportunity for all to be healthy."

Acting state Health Commissioner Cathleen D. Bennett said said her office will hold a symposium next month focusing on health challenges in rural counties, noting that the least populated and developed counties fall to toward the bottom of the rankings. "Improving population health through prevention and wellness is the top priority of the New Jersey Department of Health in 2016," she said.

The healthiest counties in New Jersey are:

1. Hunterdon County

2. Morris County

3. Somerset County

4. Bergen County

5. Sussex County

6. Middlesex County

7. Monmouth County

8. Union County

9. Burlington County

10. Warren County

11. Ocean County

12. Hudson County

13. Mercer County

14. Passaic County

15. Cape May County

16. Gloucester County

17. Salem County

18. Atlantic County

19. Camden County

20. Essex County

21. Cumberland County

More information may be found at countyhealthrankings.org.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
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Jason Gear, 21, appears in court in Jersey City today, March 15, 2016, on several PCP related charges.

JERSEY CITY -- A 21-year-old Jersey City man who already has four criminal convictions and is currently on probation was arrested Saturday on PCP-related charges.

Bail was set at $100,000 cash or bond for Jason T. Grear, of Union Street, when he made his first appearance on the charges this afternoon.

He is charged with possession with intent to distribute three Ziploc bags containing suspected PCP, possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of School 14, located at 153 Union St., and within 500 feet of Nelson Mandela Park, located at Oak Street and Martin Luther King Drive, the criminal complaint states.

Probable cause for the charges is listed as the observations of police officers and the evidence recovered, the complaint says.

He made his first appearance on the charges in Central Judicial Processing court in Jersey City via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny. In court, Judge Kelly Austin noted that Gear is currently on probation for multiple offenses and two of his prior offenses are similar to the new charges.
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"Ms. Marvel" by G. Willow Wilson is a book that also holds a special appeal to Muslim and Jersey City readers.

(Courtesy of William Kulesa)

For those who do not know, March is Women's History Month and last week we marked the 107th International Women's Day since it was established in 1909. This might not seem particularly relevant to comic books, but given the history of female representation in the industry and fandom this seems like a good time to highlight some of the progress that has been made.

The truth is that representation in stories and behind the stories is still woefully low, but the comic industry has been making strides in some areas and some of the most popular series on the shelves right now feature authentic and fully realized female characters that readers can look to and look up to.



If you are having trouble finding these titles or want to supplement your comic book feminism, you are in luck. In today's world of hyper niche marketing and tailored product options, if you look hard enough you can find a subscription box for just about anything - including one for women in comics. The Landfall Freight subscription box is a monthly package featuring one graphic novel published in the last 60 days featuring a female lead, a few single issues also featuring a female lead, some comic or theme-related extras such as stickers, pins, or something similar and caramel apple lollipop.

Each month has a theme and the books and items are related to the theme. Past themes to have been featured are girls' gangs and dark fantasy with very creative reading options that veer from the traditional and really stand the chance of expanding a recipient's reading horizons. Boxes from Landfall Freight start at $29.99 a month, and anyone interested in checking it out for themselves or a comic fan in their life can check out their site at http://www.landfallfreight.com.



For anyone not interested in paying for a box of stuff every month but still wanting to check out some of the ladies in comics, there are plenty of options. As some readers may remember, I wrote about G. Willow Wilson's "Ms. Marvel" not too long ago, a book that also holds a special appeal to Muslim and Jersey City readers.

Wilson's series is a book that anyone who reads comics can point to as a piece of art that is helping push a medium and an industry ahead. Anyone can read, enjoy, and benefit from it and the more that do so the better we will all be, but I do think that there are some who will get a little more out of it than others for obvious reasons.



If superheroes aren't your thing you can check out Ed Brubaker's "Velvet," the story of an international spy that would give James Bond and Jason Bourne a run for their money. Every spy story is fraught with tension and danger, but the story of "Velvet" is more so than most given that this is the story of an agent in the wrong place at the wrong time which leads her to be targeted as a mole and set up for a crime she didn't commit.

Velvet Templeton is introduced to us as nothing more than a secretary, a desk operative if you will, but three years into the book she has been on the run and only one step ahead from dangerous men and organizations that want to kill her and cover up their dirty secrets.



Lastly, for this column at least, we have a little fantasy. In "Rat Queens" we have four foul mouthed adventurers seemingly plucked from an irreverent Dungeons and Dragons campaign and making their way through a world of high fantasy squeezing everything they can from the life before them, often at the expense of others. On the surface "Rat Queens" doesn't seem to have the same feminist chops that "Ms. Marvel" or "Velvet" have, but in its portrayal of and celebration of a group of hard living characters who simply are who they are without needing to be defined by their gender or cultural norms, it breaks a mold that many other series hesitate to go into.

As I pointed out in my review of "Curb Stomp," having female representation includes having women and girls in books that are bad role models, too. Regardless, comic fans have some small successes to celebrate this month in honor of women and women's history and more to look forward to in the future as these series and many like them continue to bring joy to readers of all ages and genders.

EDITOR'S NOTE: WILLIAM KULESA can be reached at jjournalcomicbox@gmail.com.
JERSEY CITY -- The 29-year-old woman fatally shot on Monitor Street Monday morning was a "wonderful mother" to three children and had a smile on her face every day, friends and family said today.

Amelia Holmes, a Neptune Avenue resident, was gunned down at about 7:20 a.m. In the hours that followed, police searched for Holmes' boyfriend, Terrence Jackson, also 29, who was wanted for the shooting. He was found him dead at around 11:30 a.m. in Mercer Park with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Today, friends said Holmes enjoyed showing up to her job at a Secaucus security company, where everyone loved her.

"Amelia was happy-go-lucky," said Loraina Pineda, Holmes' coworker. "She was always in a good mood. She was always happy. She was always joking around. She was an amazing person."

Shannon Cook, who has been friends with Holmes since they attended Lincoln High School together, said she wished her friend's death "didn't happen the way it did."

"She's just a loving person, always put others before herself and goes above and beyond for her friends and family," Cook said.

Cook, who also works at the security company, said she and Holmes would have "girls night" at her best friend's home and that Holmes was an amazing cook.

Yesterday morning, Pineda set up balloons and candles at the spot where Holmes was killed. Since then, the memorial has grown with loved ones leaving photos, T-shirts and balloons that spell out Holmes' nickname, "Mia."

At the memorial this afternoon, Holmes' cousin Denise Robinson told The Jersey Journal that her kids have grown up with Holmes' children -- Ziasia, 13, Jazmia, 10, and Terrence, 8, whom Holmes was raising with Jackson.

"She was truly a blessed woman," Robinson said.

Shortly after Holmes was killed, Jersey City officials said the shooting was domestic in nature.

Cook said Holmes and Jackson had their "ups and downs," but that the slain woman "continued to fight for" Jackson because "that's who she loved."

Cook said while she was "disgusted" with Jackson's "selfish" actions Monday morning, she believes she will one day forgive him.

Robinson said Holmes' family is also feeling pain for the Jackson family.

"In a situation like this here, we pass judgment on no one," Robinson said. "That's just the type of family we are. Our hearts bleed for the Jackson family also."

Holmes' funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at New Hope Baptist Church in Jersey City.
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A pedestrian and bicyclist were hit by cars in two separate accidents in Jersey City last night and this morning, police said.

(Journal file photo)

A pedestrian and a bicyclist were struck by cars in two separate accidents last night and this morning, Jersey City police said.

Shortly after 8:30 p.m. last night, a 21-year-old Scarsdale, New York man was crossing Varick Street in Downtown Jersey City, when he was struck by a Volkswagen EOS, according to motor vehicle accident report.

The driver, a 47-year-old Jersey City man, told police that the pedestrian was crossing the street against the light at the time of impact, the report indicates.

The pedestrian was taken to Jersey City Medical Center-Barnabas Health with a laceration to his head, while the driver and his passenger refused medical attention, the report states.

Just after 6:30 a.m. today, a 54-year-old man riding a bicycle westbound on Communipaw Avenue was hit by a 2015 Toyota Rav 4 at West Side Avenue, police said.

The SUV's driver -- a 42-year-old Jersey City woman -- told police she was traveling south on West Side Avenue, crossing Communipaw, when she struck the man on the bike because she did not see him, a report states.

The bicyclist, a Jersey City resident, was taken to the hospital with complaints of pain in his right leg and right arm, police said.
"A Window Opens" By Elisabeth Egan

The Woman's Club of Arlington will host, "Opening the Windows to Spring," their 6th annual charity event on Sunday, April 3, 2016, at the Girl Scout House in Kearny, NJ.

Author Elisabeth Egan will be featured guest when The Woman's Club of Arlington hosts its sixth annual author's tea fundraiser, "Opening the Window to Spring," on April 3.

The charity event will take place at the Girl Scout House, 635 Kearny Ave., Kearny from 2 to 5 p.m.

Egan, the book editor at Glamour magazine, will discuss her most recent novel, "A Window Opens." Copies of the book will be available for purchase and Egan will sign copies of the book.

A tea buffet consisting of sandwiches, salads, dessert bar and tea will be served.

The event also includes a 50/50 drawing and gift basket raffles. Proceeds will be donated to local charities, given as academic scholarships, and gifted to NAMI-NJ, the state project of the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs.

Tickets are $35. Checks, payable to Woman's Club of Arlington, can be mailed to Patricia Sherwen, 210 Argyle Place, Kearny, NJ 07032. For more information contact Pat at 201-991-5107.
RARITAN TWP. - A two-alarm fire overnight damaged Angelo's Pizza located on Route 31.

The fire was reported at 1:20 a.m. Wednesday with first responders saying there was smoke coming from the roof and flames visible inside the building.

Among the fire departments who battled the blaze were Raritan Township, Flemington, Three Bridges, Lebanon Borough, the Hunterdon County Fire Coordinators, Tanker Task Force South and High Bridge Fire Dept FAST Team. Raritan Township police and the Flemington-Raritan Rescue Squad also responded.

As fire investigators examined the damage, restaurant owner Angelo Coppola stood by, waiting to find out more about how the fire started and how bad the damage is.

"It looks like it started in the attic," Coppola said. "I don't know. I got the call around 1:30."

He heard different reports, he said, of someone spotting flames as they drove by, of a JCP&L truck in the vicinity shutting down the power. He lives nearby, and "I came running over in my pajamas," Coppola said.

"I've been here 34 years. I grew up here," Coppola said, shaking his head. Coppola bought the former Doughboys pizzeria at the age of 19.

He's been in touch with his insurance agent, he said, and was waiting for a Department of Health inspector to view the scene in the early afternoon. He wasn't sure Wednesday morning what his next steps would be.

For the time being the restaurant's closed. "It's my busiest season, with Lent," he said. Then he paused. "Thank God no one was injured, no employees, no firefighters," he said.

Angelo's Pizza has been in the township since 1983, when Coppola, at the age of 19, bought Doughboys pizzeria. In a 2007 interview with NJ Advance Media, when Angelo's was marking its 25th anniversary, Coppola said he grew up in Brooklyn in a family of pizzeria owners, estimating his family owns about 120 pizzerias.

The restaurant supports many community organizations, including local scout troops, the Hunterdon County 4-H, schools and the

Hunterdon Medical Center.